#22 - Man Explains How He Walked Away From His Gang in Prison

#22 - Man Explains How He Walked Away From His Gang in Prison

Alexis grew up in Union City in the East Bay Area, raised mostly by his mother. His father was alive, but not present in his life, and after losing a stepfather figure he had accepted, Alexis says he began drifting away from his family. At 14, he started running with a gang. At first, it felt like acceptance. It felt like belonging. But over time, what started small became more serious, and Alexis found himself living by a set of beliefs that pulled him farther from his family, his future, and the person he could have become. In this episode of Between the Lines, Alexis opens up about joining gang life, leaving it behind in prison, entering recovery, finding faith, and learning what accountability really means. He also speaks about the unconditional love of his mother, the moment he told her he was walking away from gang life, and the message he would give to his younger self: Mom was still waiting for you to come home. Today, Alexis says he is focused on recovery, faith, helping others, and proving through his actions that he is not the same person he used to be. This is a story about belonging, consequences, accountability, faith, recovery, a mother’s love, and the belief that it is never too late to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#21 - He Reached the Top of Gang Life… Then Realized It Gave Him Nothing

Luis Lopez grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where the streets seemed to offer the things he felt were missing at home: acceptance, attention, money, status, and belonging. By 14, Luis says he had dedicated his life to gang culture. What started as a search for love and identity eventually led him into years of destructive choices, a life sentence, and the painful realization that the path he once gave everything to had given him nothing in return. In this episode of Between the Lines, Luis opens up about growing up as the oldest child, joining 18th Street, chasing reputation, becoming a father from prison, and the moment he realized the life he once believed in was not what he thought it was. Today, Luis says he is no longer the man he was in 2003. He has walked away from gang life, taken accountability for the harm he caused, and is working to become a better father, husband, and mentor. His message to young people is simple: it is not worth it. This conversation is about choices, consequences, fatherhood, accountability, and the possibility of change after years behind bars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#20 - He Has Life Without Parole… Now He Mentors Young Men in Prison

Joe Moore has been incarcerated for 23 years and is serving life without parole. For years, he says anger, trauma, and violence shaped the way he saw himself and the world around him. But after years in prison, Joe says one prayer changed the direction of his life. Today, he has earned multiple degrees, found purpose through mentorship, and now works with young men entering prison so they do not have to go through the same obstacles he did. He may never go home. But he says he wants to help someone else make it home to their family sooner than he ever will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#19 - Former Content Creator Now Serving Life in Prison

Before prison, Donel was filming interviews, building a YouTube channel, and chasing a dream. Then one night changed the course of his life forever. In this conversation, he shares the story behind the 72-years-to-life sentence and the perspective he's gained since. Interviewee: Donel Poston Host: Ivana Rojas (@ivanareds) Interview Date: April 16, 2026 About The Program: Between The Lines is a nonprofit organization focused on reducing recidivism through mentorship, educational programming, and sports as a form of therapy. Additionally, we provide a platform for incarcerated individuals to share their unique stories, connecting them with the outside world and offering a deeper understanding of their experiences. Our mission is to build bridges between the incarcerated population and society, creating opportunities for growth and rehabilitation. SUBSCRIBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@betweenthelinesus?sub_confirmation=1 FOLLOW ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthelines/ ► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betweenthelinesus ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betweenthelinesus ► X: https://x.com/btl_us WEBSITE ► https://www.betweenthelinesus.com/ #prison #reform #testimony #human #humanity #love #understanding #prisonreform #rehabilitation #justice #growth #redemption #compassion #forgiveness #education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#18 - Former Prison Shot Caller Explains How He Climbed the Ranks

Teiquon Lewis is serving 150 years to life with five separate life sentences for second-degree robberies and attempted robbery as a third-strike case. In this episode of Between the Lines, Teiquon opens up about growing up in Vallejo, California during the crack era. After losing his father at a young age and growing up around poverty, drugs, and street life, Tyquann says he became known in his town for the wrong things — selling drugs, robberies, and violence. At 14 years old, he started selling crack. By 17, he tried the drug he was selling and says he was hooked from the first time. His life quickly shifted from making money to addiction, robberies, and repeated prison sentences. After being sentenced to 150 years to life, Teiquon says he was angry at everyone except himself. That anger pulled him deeper into prison politics, where he became involved with prison gangs, drugs, violence, and life as a shot caller on Level 4 yards, including Pelican Bay and New Folsom. But after losing family members, his wife, and decades of his life behind bars, Teiquon began asking himself who he really was and what kind of legacy he wanted to leave. Through faith, self-help programs, accountability, and service, he says he has become a changemaker — someone committed to helping others avoid the life that cost him everything. This is a story about the crack era, addiction, three strikes sentencing, prison politics, power, loss, accountability, faith, and redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]