Marc Rosemond: How Music and Art Helped Transform the Life of a Convicted Murderer

In 1993, Marc Rosemond was convicted of 3 counts of murder and sentenced to Life in prison. Now, 33 years later, he calls the Prison Pen Pal Podcast from his cell at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, New York. Desperate to find answers about why he committed such horrible crimes, Marc Rosemond (inmate #93A1985) […]
Matt Reynolds: Animal Trainer, Professional Wrestler, and Prison Pen Pal

Matt Reynolds, Prison Inmate #2014486 at the Great Plains Correctional Center, is quite possibly the most interesting man in Oklahoma. This former Marine, paint salesman, and toy store manager most recently worked as a groundbreaking animal trainer and behaviorist with giraffes, rhinos, and even an albino monkey. Now serving a 20-year sentence, Matt joins us […]
A Very Prison Thanksgiving: Inmates Share Holiday Traditions

Thanksgiving in prison is a plate full of mixed emotions. On one hand, there’s excitement with the special holiday meal (often including real turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie). It’s a time for cellmates and friends to get together and create something unique and delcious, like Jovan Stewart’s Famous Banana Pudding, Rachell House’s Enchilada Bowls, […]
Ryan Rice Shares His Story

When Ryan Rice was growing up in Illinois, his parents let him do anything he wanted. Spoiled might be the word that comes to mind. The “freedom” he was granted as a young child ultimately sculpted him into a man with no direction, quitting most of the things he set his mind to…until, that is, […]
Prison Pen Pals: Still Human

Prison Pen Pals, defined as prison inmates who write letters to people on the outside, may be incarcerated for doing really bad things, but they’re STILL HUMAN. That’s the belief of Salena in Indiana, a 22-year-old student (and soon to be school teacher) who has written over 30 prisoners in the past two years. “You […]
Locked Up on Halloween: Hear Real Stories from Inmates

As we celebrate Halloween today, we thought we’d invite inmates around the USA to join in on the fun, eat some candy, and share their traditions both in and out of prison. We wondered if they watch scary movies from the prison dayroom, if they make homemade goodies or buy homemade candy from other inmates, […]
Is Marvin Dearing Innocent?

Over 25 years ago, just a few days after the turn of the millennium and the Y2K madness, Marvin Dearing was arrested, interrogated, and ultimately convicted of murder. But did he do it? New DNA evidence suggests not, but the judge is unwilling to revisit the case. Mr. Dearing, a member of PenPals.Buzz, now in […]
David Bomber: Incarcerated Artist, Blogger, and Actor

Prison Pen Pal David Bomber has been incarcerated for 15 years at Nottoway Correctional Center in Burkeville, Virginia, but there’s so much more to his story. This blogger and artist once acted in the same movie with Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning — War of the Worlds! During our interview, he shares fond memories of […]
Jason Kurtz – Incarcerated Author

Jason Kurtz, an incarcerated author at the Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, has written four highly praised books: Secrets to Wealth, Secrets to Wisdom, Secrets to Wealth and Wisdom, and Secret Tales of the Supernatural. All are available as paperbacks or e-books at Amazon. We interview Jason Kurtz, a member of PenPals.Buzz, as he shares […]
Easter Nightmare: An Interview with Colby Brookman

It was Easter, 2020. PenPals.Buzz member Colby Brookman was driving home from dinner at his mother-in-law’s house, where he had been drinking. His wife, J’lynne Stothers, was a passenger in the front seat. In the back were Colby and J’lynne’s two infant daughters, Ariana and Ava, along with his 32-year-old brother-in-law, Matthew, who was autistic. […]
Prison Wife, Therapist, and Author: Interview with Annie Perry of JailHouse Books

Annie Perry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who often helps her therapy clients learn to manage grief. She’s also a prison wife. Annie met her husband, Henry, nine years ago on a prison pen pal site called Friends Beyond the Wall. Today, their relationship is stronger than ever. Together, they formed a business called […]
Former EMF Gang Member Talks Faith, Hope, Redemption

As a young boy, Christian LaFargo was introducted to the violent El Monte Flores EMF gang, affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, in Southern California. Forced to grow up with an incarcerated father, EMF was all he ever knew. “It’s just the culture there,” LaFargo said. Chris, better known in EMF as Bossy — pled guilty […]