Connection: The Real Reason People Seek Out Inmate Pen Pals
When most people hear that someone has proactively decided to write, befriend, or even date a prison inmate, they think it's weird, bizarre, or unhealthy. So many people, not accustomed to the prison pen pal world, will ask, "Why would you write an inmate? Why not find a friend (or partner) who ISN'T incarcerated?" After a lot of thinking and a little research, we now know the answer: Connection. Or a complete lack of connection, as the case may be. When men and women feel disconnected from one another in the free world (thanks in large part to technology) they turn to someone who may be more inclined to listen, more inclined to pay attention -- a captive audience, so to speak. We discuss some of the research that has helped lead us to this conclusion. We learn about how people are spending much less time out of the house, and how technology is the biggest problem in so many marriages today. People don't feel heard. Many people don't even know how to connect verbally anymore. This episode will open your eyes and make you reconsider how close you truly are to your friends and loved ones.We interview two inmates, both of whom are members of PenPals.Buzz and are looking for connections of their own. Marlon Mount, a writer and musician, is locked in a Washington State facility where he sits in his pod and waits for people to call him. (Just make sure you know the secret password). Marlon, who discovered PenPals.Buzz through a radio show called Sunday Night Slow Jams, shares his story, his hopes, and his dreams on the podcast. Later, we talk with Ikemefuna Chukwurah, a Maryland inmate who has served over 22 years in prison. A fitness expert, Mr. Chukwurah hopes to one day host a podcast of his own and help educate today's youth on how NOT to end up like he did. This man is a testament to how one can successfully make changes while locked up, and how a positive mindset can overcome almost any pitfall in life.
Marlon Mount found out about us from an ad we placed on Sunday Night Slow Jams with r dub! He enjoys listening to others express their love for their partners over the radio, and he hopes one day he will be the one, calling in an "oral expression" to the one he loves. Marlon was a really fun interview. It was the first time we were ever able to actually call an inmate directly and have him answer the phone. The idea of "Bonita Azteca" was groundbreaking, too! Marlon isn't exactly still an inmate. He has actually completed his sentence but is being held at a Civil Commitment Center in Steilacoom, Washington. While in many states, once you go into a Civil Commitment Center (much like a roach motel) you never come out, Marlon's case looks much more promising, and it sounds as if he could be released within the next 1-2 years. He had a great attitude during the interview, entertained us with his off-the-cuff rap and beats, and truly seems to be making the most of his situation inside the facility.
Locked up for over 22 years, Ikemefuna Chukwurah has become a good friend of the PenPals.Buzz staff. He wants to one day start a podcast of his own and give motivational speeches to teach at-risk youth the reasons why they shouldn't make the same mistakes he made. Mr. Chukwurah (we call him that because he is large and muscular, and could crush us with two fingers if we called him Ike!) is kind, intelligent, patient, and an incredibly hard worker. He genuinely wants to help other at-risk youth, and make the world a safer place, and we applaud him for it.
And then there's some interesting dialog about why one would (or wouldn't) write a prison inmate. If you have thoughts, we'd always love to hear from you. Send us a voicemail by clicking on the icon below. Or write to us at podcast@penpals.buzz