Gray Area

This season, our stories have centered mostly around criminal justice — people caught up in violence, courts and prison. But in Episode Six, we explore how the law intersects with what can be the most intimate and difficult decision a person ever makes — if they get the chance: choosing how to die. Death is likely the most difficult thing we will all face sooner or later. But mourning the death of a loved one can be harder still when they’ve decided to die.  And then… there’s coming to terms with the fact that you supported this choice. And this concludes Season One! Thanks to everyone who’s listened and shared their stories and reviews. Sign up for our newsletter: we’ll share exclusive content and link to a brief survey where you can share feedback and ideas while we plan Season Two. You can fill it out anonymously, but we’ve got some exciting new Gray Area swag and will draw prizes for people who submit the survey with their contact info. Follow us on social media: @GrayAreaPodcast on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/grayareapodcast/] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/grayareapodcast/] @GrayAreaAudio on Twitter [https://twitter.com/GrayAreaAudio?lang=en] More details plus all our previous episodes, show notes, a link to our survey, swag and newsletter signup on our website: GrayAreaPodcast.com [http://GrayAreaPodcast.com]. Until season 2, stay GRAY out there! EPISODE 06: UNLESS DEATH WANTS TO FIGHT https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode06-UnlessDeathWantsToFight.mp3 [https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode06-UnlessDeathWantsToFight.mp3]SHOW NOTES | LINKS | National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/] Canadian Government page on Medical Assistance in Dying [https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html] Canada’s Supreme Court Ruling [https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14637/index.do] A Good Day to Die, by Kathryn McKenzie [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2017/10/15/a-good-day-to-die/] GUESTS | Valli Barrioz Bill Monning Glenn Church Kathy McKenzie PRODUCERS | Julie Reynolds Martínez and Mara Reynolds FEATURED MUSIC | Blue Dot Sessions  | Elmore Heights [http://freehttpmusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Skittle/Elmore_Heights]| Allston Night Owl [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Skittle/Allston_Night_Owl] Lobo Loco | Just A Moment [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/Vagabond/Just_a_Moment_ID_944] Meydan | Tired of Life [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Meydan/Havor/3-_Tired_of_life_1504] Lobo Loco | Adored [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/NIce_N owhere/Adored_ID_353_1635] Meydan | Contemplate the Stars [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Meydan/Havor/9-_Contemplate_the_stars_1861] David Hilowitz |Time Passing [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/David_Hilowitz/Time_Passing_I/David_Hilowitz_-_Film_Cue_103_-_Time_Passing_I] Ketsa | better offers [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Loss_to_Gain/Better_Offers]| blue violets [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Loss_to_Gain/Blue_Violets] Thank you, Free Music Archive [http://freemusicarchive.org/]! [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Young-Arlene2.jpg]ArleneO’Bryan| Provided photo[https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ArleneTree-1024x800.jpg]Arlene in a tree | Provided photo[https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Warren-Church-Board-of-Supervisors.jpg] Warren Church | Provided photoOh and hey — if you like Gray Area, please be sure to [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]rate or review it on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]. It helps us reach more people. [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-300x77.png] [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Episode06Cover-1024x1024.jpg] Photo | Mara Reynolds @aflowerforallreasons [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] Have something to say about this story? Send us a letter [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/your-voices/]. SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate.png] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/] Episode 06: Unless death wants to fight [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/podcast/episode-06-unless-death-wants-to-fight/] was first posted on March 13, 2019 at 11:38 pm. ©2017 "Voices of Monterey Bay [https://voicesofmontereybay.org]". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at julie@voicesofmontereybay.org

Welcome to Gray Area’s  special year-end episode. As the days reach their shortest and coldest extremes here in the northern hemisphere, humans of every culture find reasons to come together and celebrate holidays, traditions, and community. So for this episode, we reached out to three people who’ve beenseparated from their communities, whether by their own actions, by force or by happenstance. We asked them what they do to reclaim and redefine the spirit of community in the face of imprisonment, disaster, racism or displacement. Listen as they share their ideas for making your ‘white Christmas’ just a little more gray. EPISODE 05: A GRAY WINTER'S TALE https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode-05-GrayWintersTale.mp3 [https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode-05-GrayWintersTale.mp3]SHOW NOTES |GUESTS | Gilbert Bao Claudia Meléndez Salinas David Little PRODUCERS | Julie Reynolds Martínez and Mara Reynolds [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/CampFire-1024x768.jpg]The Camp Fire | David Little Above is the photo David Little took with a cell phone the morning of Nov 8. Here’s [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2018/08/23/23-and-me/] the full poem (click the button to change from English to Spanish) by Claudia Meléndez Salinas. And here’s [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/2017/12/18/christmas-in-soledad/] a link to a story by Gilbert Bao about making prison tamales, as well as the actual recipe and techniques! (BONUS: Learn how to make a prison “stinger.”) FEATURED MUSIC | Ketsa | Day Before Tomorrow [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Metamorphosis/Day_Before_Tomorrow]| night fall [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Loss_to_Gain/Night_Fall]]Monplaisir | Brotherhood [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monplaisir/American_Dreams_Soundtrack/Monplaisir_-_American_Dreams_Original_Soundtrack_-_15_Brotherhood]Doctor Turtle | Always the Teasmade Never the Tease [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/none_given_1561/Doctor_Turtle_-_Always_The_Teasmade_Never_The_Tease1]| Stuff Will Never Love You Back [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/none_given_1561/Doctor_Turtle_-_Stuff_Will_Never_Love_You_Back1]Blue Dot Session | Copley Beat [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Skittle/Copley_Beat]Lobo Loco | Catch The Killer (ID 820) [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lobo_Loco/HEADCRASH/Catch_The_Killer_ID_820]John Batmann | Tupac Lives [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/tupac-lives] Thank you, Free Music Archive [http://freemusicarchive.org/]! Oh and hey — if you like Gray Area, please be sure to rate or review it on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]. It helps us reach more people. [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-300x77.png] [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] Have something to say about this story? Send us a letter [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/your-voices/]. SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate.png] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/] Episode 05: A Gray Winter’s Tale [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/podcast/episode-05-a-gray-winters-tale/] was first posted on December 17, 2018 at 1:53 pm. ©2017 "Voices of Monterey Bay [https://voicesofmontereybay.org]". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at julie@voicesofmontereybay.org

“DON’T TIE MY SHOE, MOTHER F***ER!” Lou Hammonds started out like lots of kids — playing Little League with neighbors and classmates, getting good grades and attending summer school, just because he wanted to. But by the time he was a teenager, Lou was pursuing a career as a criminal. He built a life around trying to become the “worst of the worst.” His goal was to keep up with other young men who had committed multiple homicides. The law caught up with him, of course, and he wound up with a life sentence in a supermax prison. That’s not the end of Lou’s story, though. Something unexpected happened inside that remote prison’s walls that made Lou change—for good. SHOW NOTES |FEATURED MUSIC:Audiobinger [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Audiobinger/] | Bottom Feeders, My Downfall, Stress Blue Dot Sessions [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/] | Gusty Hollow Ketsa [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/] | Mindset, Good Evening Melancholy Komiku [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/] | The Wind Ryan Little [https://www.deezer.com/us/track/416131862?autoplay=true] | West Coast Thanks to the Free Music Archive [http://freemusicarchive.org/] LouCover [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/LouCover.jpg] | Art by Avalon Reynolds EPISODE 04: LOU https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/LOUjuly11A.mp3 [https://episodes.castos.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/LOUjuly11A.mp3]Oh and hey — if you like Gray Area, please be sure to rate or review it on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]. It helps us reach more people. [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-300x77.png] [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] Have something to say about this story? Send us a letter [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/your-voices/]. SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate.png] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/] Episode 04: Lou [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/podcast/episode-04-lou/] was first posted on July 11, 2018 at 7:22 am. ©2017 "Voices of Monterey Bay [https://voicesofmontereybay.org]". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at julie@voicesofmontereybay.org

Gray Area Episode 03: Reynaldo in Yaqui Land How can two brothers turn out so utterly different? Born 15 years apart to different fathers, Roy and Reynaldo found very different paths as they grew up. By the time he reached adulthood, Reynaldo decided he’d had enough of his brother’s criminal antics. After Roy died in prison, it took Reynaldo years before he was ready to try to make sense of the life his brother led — in fact, it took a dream. What we learned on this journey was more than just the shocking truth about Roy —  we would uncover a connection to legendary criminals and folk heroes.  We’d also dig deeply into the indigenous struggles of North America. [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Rogelio-M.-Miranda-229x300.jpg]Roy Miranda Reynaldo’s brother, RoyLike many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, Reynaldo assumed his family’s ties to their indigenous roots were severed centuries ago. But as we discovered, that rupture was not so far in the past. The trauma and scars remain alive in the present — from massacres and enslavement to lynchings, extermination and displacement. For Reynaldo what started as a search for insight about his brother turned into a journey that spanned cultures, nations and centuries — a journey of discovery about the ongoing struggle for a sense of place and self in the American West. This is the story of Reynaldo in Yaqui Land. https://episodes.seriouslysimplepodcasting.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode03Reynaldo.mp3 [https://episodes.seriouslysimplepodcasting.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode03Reynaldo.mp3] IMG_3119 [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_3119.jpg] Cemetery in Guadalupe, Arizona | Reynaldo Barrioz SHOW NOTES | Special thanks to Claudia Meléndez, Valli Barrioz, and Victor Almazán for editing help. murrieta2 [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/murrieta2.jpg] Joaquin Murrieta JOAQUIN MURRIETA The recording of the Corrido de Joaquin Murrieta [http://www.juneberry78s.com/sounds/tmbm-de10036a.mp3] is from the public domain roots music website, Juneberry78s.com. Thanks to KRWG-TV, Las Cruces, New Mexico for excerpts from John Valadez’s interview [http://www.pbs.org/video/fronteras_krwg-head-joaquin-murrieta-john-valadez/] on the program Fronteras. Here’s the entire interview about his film, “The Head of Joaquin Murrieta.” ernesto-miranda [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ernesto-miranda.jpg] Ernesto Miranda ERNESTO MIRANDA Miranda v. Arizona [https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_miranda.html]Complete NBC newscast [https://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/flatview?cuecard=5210] on the death of Ernesto Mirando. Cajemé [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Cajemé.jpg] Yaqui resistance leader Cajemé MUSIC Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Cajeme |Danza del Venado y Paskola Tribu Yaqui [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jna4gZZahOM&t=51s]Los Dandys | Gema [https://www.amazon.com/Gema/dp/B01H3TUUIM] FEATURED MUSIC Blue Dot Sessions  | Arizona Moon [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Cholate/Arizona_Moon]Blue Dot Sessions, | El Tajo [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Cholate/El_Tajo]Blue Dot Sessions | On Early Light [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Cholate/On_Early_Light]Blue Dot Sessions | Waltz for Zacaria [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Cholate/Waltz_for_Zacaria]Blue Dot Sessions | Villano [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Cholate/Villano] SPECIAL BONUS TRACK Mr. Miranda | Miranda’s Rights [https://mrmiranda.bandcamp.com/track/mirandas-rights-a-tribute-to-ernesto-miranda] Enlarge RoyVirgen [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RoyVirgen.jpg] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RoyVirgen.jpg] Roy's drawing of the Virgin of Guadalupe Oh and hey — if you like Gray Area, please be sure to rate or review it on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]. It helps us reach more people. [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-300x77.png] [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate.png] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/] Episode 03: Reynaldo in Yaqui Land [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/podcast/episode-03-reynaldo-in-yaqui-land/] was first posted on February 20, 2018 at 10:58 pm. ©2017 "Voices of Monterey Bay [https://voicesofmontereybay.org]". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at julie@voicesofmontereybay.org

How do you forgive the unforgivable? Cheryl Ward-Kaiser leads us down a path of shocking twists and turns. Her story contains detailed descriptions of violence, so it may not be appropriate for everyone. But by the end, we know you’ll understand why Cheryl’s story inspires us and needs to be heard. SHOW NOTES | This episode was produced by me, and co-produced by Mara Reynolds. Special thanks to KAZU-fm and Krista Almanzan for the use of their studios and time, and to Emma Wynne-Jones. The music was by Ketsa [http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/] from the Free Music Archiv [http://freemusicarchive.org/]e. Our theme song was written and performed by my brother, John Reynolds. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE RESOURCES | National and international resources The Centre for Justice & Reconciliation [http://restorativejustice.org/], a program of Prison Fellowship International based in Washington DC Restorative Justice resources in California’s Central Coast Restorative Justice Partners Inc. restorativejusticepartners.com/ [http://restorativejusticepartners.com/]www.facebook.com/restorativejusticepartners/ [https://www.facebook.com/restorativejusticepartners/]www.storiesfromsalinas.org/restorative-justice-partners/ [https://www.storiesfromsalinas.org/restorative-justice-partners/] Monterey County Restorative Justice Commission www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/clerk-of-the-board/boards-committees-and-commissions/community-restorative-justice-commission [http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/clerk-of-the-board/boards-committees-and-commissions/community-restorative-justice-commission] Confict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County www.crcsantacruz.org/services/restorative-justice [http://www.crcsantacruz.org/services/restorative-justice] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Cheryl-1024x683.jpg] [http://www.pathosphoto.com]Photo | Conner Jay MORE ABOUT CHERYL | Photo of Cheryl with a photo of her husband Jamie by Conner Jay [http://www.pathosphoto.com/photo-stories/confronting-grief/110623_cj_VictimFams-1] Not in Our Name: Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty [https://www.californiacrimevictims.org/files/2014/03/NION-CA.pdf] EPISODE 02: CHERYL https://episodes.seriouslysimplepodcasting.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode02Cheryl.mp3 [https://episodes.seriouslysimplepodcasting.com/A-show-about-justice-and-redemption/Episode02Cheryl.mp3]BONUS TRACK | We recommend listening to the podcast before the bonus track. CHERYL TELLS US HOW HER DAUGHTERS ARE FARING (3 MINUTES). https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Episode02BonusTrack.mp3 [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Episode02BonusTrack.mp3] Oh and hey — if you like Gray Area, please be sure to rate or review it on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1]. It helps us reach more people. [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Listen_on_Apple_Podcasts_sRGB_US-300x77.png] [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gray-area/id1312089415?mt=2&ls=1] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/V_icon_small.jpg] Have something to say about this episode? Send us a letter [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/your-voices/]. SUPPORT NONPROFIT JOURNALISM [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Donate.png] [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/donate/] Episode 02: Cheryl [https://voicesofmontereybay.org/podcast/episode-02-cheryl/] was first posted on December 11, 2017 at 10:30 pm. ©2017 "Voices of Monterey Bay [https://voicesofmontereybay.org]". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at julie@voicesofmontereybay.org