Beyond the Yard: Cancer, Loss, and an Unlikely Brotherhood at Pelican Bay

Samoan Blood on Level 4 Prison: The Kamau Atuatasi Story

In episode of seven (7) of California Tier Talk, Alex Alonso is joined with Kamau Atuatasi, a Samoan guy who grew up in the South Bay section of Los Angeles, specifically the Harbor City and Wilmington area. In this episode of California Tier Talk (Episode 7), host Alex Alonso engages in a powerful, deep-dive conversation with Kamau Atuatasi, a current inmate at Solano Prison who offers a raw look at his life journey and the complex intersections of cultural identity and street culture. Growing up in the Harbor City section of Los Angeles, Kamau details the powerful, foundational role that the church plays within the Samoan community, contrasting it against the violent reality of the surrounding neighborhood gangs like the Waterfront Pirus. He shares his personal trajectory of navigating the Blood side of Samoan gang culture as a youth, while providing critical insight into how Samoan inmates uniquely handle incarceration—often prioritizing their shared cultural heritage to keep internal violence remarkably low, even when divided by Crip and Blood identities on the street. The conversation traces Kamau's troubled youth, from drinking at twelve years old and committing robberies while attending Banning High School, to his very first juvenile incarceration at Los Padrinos juvenile hall. He opens up about the challenges of growing up without a father and a short-lived stint in the military that was derailed by legal trouble, leading to a pivotal 2004 domestic violence conviction that sent him to adult state prison. Kamau vividly describes the brutal reality of serving time on a high-stakes Level 4 yard at Calipatria State Prison, a heavily Hispanic environment where survival meant navigating constant stabbings and volatile daily interactions with the Fresno Bulldogs on the top tier. Now having spent fifteen years behind bars, Kamau reflects on his move to Solano Prison in 2023, explaining how its lower-violence environment finally offers inmates the peace and institutional support necessary to create and run meaningful rehabilitative programs. -Join Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHPFwv4YFLehTMkkxSAyHg/join -🔥SUBSCRIBE to Street TV: http://bit.ly/2bVAU47 * Listen to entire 🎙Straight Politicking Podcast 🎙🎙 * ➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-talk/id1869218630 * ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yUT87B0uzzhYulMnE8iiY Timecode: * 00:00 - California Tier Talk, Episode 7 with Kamau Atuatasi * 00:05:28 - Growing up Samoan in the Los Angeles area * 00:05:46 - Church play a huge role among Samoans * 00:06:28 - The Samoans in Long Beach were Crips * 00:07:51 - Kamau grew up on the Blood side of Samoan gang culture in Los Angeles * 00:08:22 - Samoans in prison put their culture first before Crip and Blood * 00:09:31 - Does the Crip / Blood gang identity divide the Samoan culture * 00:10:50 - Samoan internal violence is low * 00:13:07 - Living in the Harbor City section of Los Angeles * 00:14:28 - Water Front Pirus were in the area * 00:15:50 - Kamau was 15 in 1993 going to Banning High School * 00:16:52 - Started selling drugs in Wilmington as a teenager * 00:17:34 - Experience first time being incarcerated as a juvenile * 00:18:00 - Going to Los Padrinos juvenile hall * 00:19:06 - Growing up without a father * 00:22:53 - Banning High School was surrounded by gangs * 00:27:01 - Committing robberies in high school * 00:28:47 - Started drinking alcohol at 12 years old * 00:30:46 - Kamau been in prison for 15 years * 00:31:32 - What was family thinking during these troubled youth years? * 00:34:28 - First time in adult prison * 00:35:13 - Kamau joined the military after a jail term * 00:37:53 - Kamau goes to jail as a soldier in the military * 00:43:04 - Kamau finds out his wife was cheating * 00:44:36 - In 2004 he went to prison for domestic violence * 00:53:53 - Being at Level 4 Calipatria prison was violent * 00:54:26 - Calipatria prison was mostly Hispanic * 00:56:32 - The Fresno Bulldogs are on the top tier * 00:57:39 - The Bulldogs came outside they started barking * 00:58:19 - Stabbings were occurring on the level 4 yard * 00:59:29 - Incrementals in prison * 01:00:06 - The Bulldogs were being escorted to medical * 01:01:15 - Been in Solano prison since 2023 * 01:02:08 - There is less violence at Solano prison * 01:05:51 - In Solano Prison you can create programs Follow Our Instagrams * Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 * Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #catiertalk #prisontalk #StraightPoliticking #PrisonReform #RestorativeJustice #ElMonte #PelicanBay #MassIncarceration #ReentryMatters #HumanInterest #PodcastLife #SocialJustice #OvercomingObstacles #Transformation #CommunityHealing #LosAngelesHistory #RealTalk #SystemicChange #Brotherhood #HealthAwareness #DocumentarySeries #SocialSociology #CalipatriaPrison

Beyond the Yard: Cancer, Loss, and an Unlikely Brotherhood at Pelican Bay

In episode of stx (6) of California Tier Talk, Alex Alonso is joined by Damien "TC" Doster of Los Angeles and Jerry "Boxer" Reyes from El Monte in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles. This episode features a powerful conversation between Damien and Jerry "Boxer" Reyes, exploring the intersections of prison life, personal tragedy, and cross-cultural friendship. The discussion centers on the systemic challenges of serving a life sentence while facing terminal illness and family loss. HEALTH AND LOSS IN THE CARCERAL SYSTEM A significant portion of the episode focuses on Jerry’s recent health struggles and family bereavement: * The Cancer Diagnosis: Jerry discusses being diagnosed with cancer in October 2025 while incarcerated. He shares the difficult process of navigating treatment and education regarding his health within the prison system. * Grief Behind Bars: Jerry faced the "double blow" of his diagnosis occurring simultaneously with his father's death. * The Virtual Funeral: Due to his murder conviction, Jerry was denied physical attendance at his father’s funeral. He reflects on the experience of "attending" the service virtually from prison, highlighting the emotional disconnect and the rigid policies regarding high-security inmates. BACKGROUND AND GANG AFFILIATION The podcast delves into Jerry's upbringing and the environment that led to his incarceration: * Life in El Monte: Jerry describes growing up in an area of El Monte that was almost entirely Mexican and heavily saturated with gang activity. * Family Dynamics: He notes that his entire family was gang-related, suggesting that his entry into that lifestyle was a product of his immediate surroundings. * Reflecting on the Past: Looking back on a murder committed over 20 years ago, Jerry offers a somber reflection on his past actions and the gravity of his conviction. INTERRACIAL FRIENDSHIPS AND PRISON DYNAMICS One of the most compelling themes is the relationship between Damien and Jerry: * Meeting at Pelican Bay: Despite the historical tensions between Black and Mexican factions in Level 4 yards, the two met at Pelican Bay and formed a positive, lasting bond. * Shifting Norms: They discuss the evolution of prison social structures, noting that it is now much easier for Black and Mexican inmates to function together and maintain friendships compared to previous decades. * Level 4 Realities: The duo discusses the harsh environment of high-security yards, where "self-help" groups—critical for rehabilitation—are often unavailable, making personal growth and reentry preparation significantly more difficult. -Join Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHPFwv4YFLehTMkkxSAyHg/join -🔥SUBSCRIBE to Street TV: http://bit.ly/2bVAU47 * Listen to entire 🎙Straight Politicking Podcast 🎙🎙 * ➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-talk/id1869218630 * ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yUT87B0uzzhYulMnE8iiY Follow Our Instagrams * Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 * Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #paroleboard #cdc #cdcr #prisontalk * 00:00:00 - California Tier Talk #6 with Damien Doster and Jerry "Boxer" Reyes * 01:17 - Boxer Reyes * 02:18 - Losing a loved one from family while serving prison time * 04:00 - Jerry "Boxer" Reyes from El Monte * 04:24 - Boxer was diagnosed with cancer in October 2025 in prison * 06:40 - Learning about cancer treatment as a prisoner * 08:31 - Jerry dealing with cancer diagnosis at same time his father died * 09:48 - Attending virtual funeral from prison * 10:28 - Because Jerry was convicted of murder they would not let him attend funeral * 14:37 - Born and raised in El Monte * 14:58 - Growing up in El Monte was all Mexican * 15:25 - Jerry’s entire family was gang related * 19:16 - How Damien and Gerry met in prison * 20:49 - Despite being convicted for murder, the two started a postivie friendship * 22:19 - Reflecting on committing a murder 20 years ago * 26:05 - Reyes reflects on his murder from over 20 years ago * 35:33 - Doster discusses how now it easy to be friends with a Mexican in prison * 36:56 - El Monte is covered entirely with gangs and surrounding cities * 42:02 - The self help groups in prison * 43:43 - Self help groups are not offered on the 4 yards * 45:30 - Jerry’s experience on a level 4 prison yard * 54:25 - Mexican & Blacks in prison functioning together * 55:03 - Damien and Jerry met on at Pelican Bay prison Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #catiertalk #prisontalk #StraightPoliticking #PrisonReform #RestorativeJustice #ElMonte #PelicanBay #MassIncarceration #ReentryMatters #HumanInterest #PodcastLife #SocialJustice #OvercomingObstacles #Transformation #CommunityHealing #LosAngelesHistory #RealTalk #SystemicChange #Brotherhood #HealthAwareness #DocumentarySeries #SocialSociology

California inmate granted parole after 33 years for race crime against whites

In episode of four (5) of California Tier Talk, Alex Alonso is joined by Damien "TC" Doster of Los Angeles and Brian Thames, who was convicted for a 1993 race related murder against a white man was granted parole after 33 years in prison. -Join Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHPFwv4YFLehTMkkxSAyHg/join -🔥SUBSCRIBE to Street TV: http://bit.ly/2bVAU47 1. Listen to entire 🎙Straight Politicking Podcast 🎙🎙 2. ➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-talk/id1869218630 3. ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yUT87B0uzzhYulMnE8iiY Follow Our Instagrams 1. Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 2. Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #paroleboard #cdc #cdcr #prisontalk 1. 00:00:00 - California Tier Talk #5 with Damien Doster and Brian Thames 2. 00:02:15 - Bryan Thames has been in prison for 33 years 3. 00:04:08 - Brian Thames received the best news a prisoner can hear 4. 00:06:33 - The CDCR parole board wanted Brian to address his “triggers” for violence 5. 00:07:36 - Why do some prisoners in the CDCR get a 5-year parole denial 6. 00:11:51 - CDCR and their 5-year denial 7. 00:12:29 - Thames explains the crimes he was convicted of 8. 00:15:49 - Brian created a restitution hustle in prison to help other inmates circumvent debt 9. 00:18:01 - Having to tell the truth to the board 10. 00:19:39 - What is restitution and how can that impact your sentence 11. 00:28:25 - Are restitution fees fair for the prisoner 12. 00:35:48 - Brian discusses how race influenced his crime against white people 13. 00:45:30 - Brian expresses remorse for the people he killed/attempted to kill 14. 00:47:56 - Brian was arrested in 1993 for his crimes 15. 00:50:13 - Brian served 33 years in prison for a crime he initially got away with 16. 00:54:12 - How is the parole board structured 17. 01:03:28 - Brian expresses nervousness about getting released from prison and living free Follow Our Instagrams 1. Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 2. Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #catiertalk #prisontalk

Growing Up in West Oakland, The Killing of Huey P. Newton, Hunger Strikes & Surviving the SHU

In episode of four (4) of California Tier Talk, Alex Alonso is joined by Damien "TC" Doster of Los Angeles and Tyrone Robinson aka Kambouie who was a high ranking BGF (Black Guerrilla Family) member and convicted in the murder of Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton. -Join Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHPFwv4YFLehTMkkxSAyHg/join -🔥SUBSCRIBE to Street TV: http://bit.ly/2bVAU47 1. Listen to entire 🎙Straight Politicking Podcast 🎙🎙 2. ➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-talk/id1869218630 3. ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yUT87B0uzzhYulMnE8iiY Timecodes 1. 00:00 - California Tier Talk, Episode 3 with Damien "TC" Doster from LA and Tyrone Robinson "Kambouie" from Oakland, CA 2. 00:44 - Tiny Cisco on meeting Kamboie in prison 3. 02:53 - Tiny Cisco speaking on Corcoran SHU 4. 05:01 - Kambouie speaks on the Pelican Bay SHU 5. 06:54 - Pelican Bay SHU time 6. 08:13 - Chip Fitzgerald, a Los Angeles Black Panther Member 7. 11:23 - Tiny Cisco on being in the SHU 8. 13:53 - How did Kambouie ended up in prison for murder 9. 14:19 - Kambouie explains knowing Huey P Newton as a kid 10. 16:28 - Huey was addicted to cocaine during the late 1980s 11. 18:35 - After Huey P Newton killing the case became high profile 12. 19:40 - How did the prison population react to Kambouie after being convicted of killing Newton 13. 20:48 - Tiny Cisco on meeting Tyrone Kambouie Robinson 14. 22:58 - what was the trial of Killing Huey Newton like? 15. 25:38 - David Hilliard, an original Black Panther Member 16. 26:00 - Growing up in West Oakland 17. 27:32 - What was Lake Merritt in Oakland like in 1970s 18. 29:36 - Hunger strike of Pelican Bay prison 19. 33:07 - How did BGF, Mexican Mafia and other come together duing hunger strike? 20. 38:53 - End of hostilities between BGF and Mexican Mafia 21. 42:03 - Lessons learned from being in the SHU 22. 45:57 - Why does Committee want prisoner to Snitch, Debrief or just die? 23. 46:45 - Kambouie explains why he waived his parole hearings 24. 48:04 - In 2023 Kambouie decided to go to board 25. 49:22 - Being denied 5 years at parole hearing 26. 51:17 - The importance of Self Help programs in prison Follow Our Instagrams 1. Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 2. Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #catiertalk #prisontalk

Blacks & Mexicans in Pelican Bay SHU: Allies, Tension, and Prison Politics

In episode of three (3) of California Tier Talk, Alex Alonso is joined by Damien "TC" Doster of Los Angeles and Anthony Cowie of Paramount, CA. They discuss growing up in Paramount, life in Pelican Bay SHU and Tehachapi SHU, Black-Mexican relations in prison, can Mexicans use the N-word in prison? and transformation in prison. yvYplZm3Zm1j1TbTgZXH -Join Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHPFwv4YFLehTMkkxSAyHg/join -🔥SUBSCRIBE to Street TV: http://bit.ly/2bVAU47 1. Listen to entire 🎙Straight Politicking Podcast 🎙🎙 2. ➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tier-talk/id1869218630 3. ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yUT87B0uzzhYulMnE8iiY Timecodes 1. 00:00 - California Tier Talk, Episode 3 with Damien "TC" Doster from LA and Daniel Cowie from Paramount, CA 2. 00:57 - Is 19 years in prison considered “chump change”? 3. 05:17 - Growing up in Paramount, in Compton’s shadow 4. 08:37 - Daniel used to spend time in Compton while growing up in Paramount 5. 10:25 - Daniel used to work near a cemetery in Compton 6. 12:52 - Serving time in Pelican Bay & Tehachapi SHU 7. 17:06 - Tehachapi SHU 8. 18:52 - You can only get 1 package per year in the SHU 9. 22:11 - Some Mexicans and Blacks communicate in prison despite the ‘rules” 10. 27:04 - How does Daniel have relations with other races considering prison rules 11. 29:25 - Racial tensions in prison between Blacks & Mexicans 12. 34:54 - Daniel was more famliar with Black peple growing up in Paramount than most Mexicans 13. 36:00 - Some Mexicans in Compton and Paramount have a different lingo 14. 38:17 - Daniel has went against some prison norms while incarcerated 15. 42:34 - Using the N word as a Latino in prison 16. 48:07 - TC explains his transformation journey 17. 52:50 - Daniel explains his transformation journey in prison 18. 53:49 - I did not trust other inmates if they did not have discipline write ups 19. 57:52 - Daniel talks about getting his GED in prison Follow Our Instagrams 1. Alex Alonso: https://www.instagram.com/alexalonso101 2. Street TV: https://www.instagram.com/street.teevee Street TV Media | For advertising Email: info [AT] streetgangs.com | Call / Text: (32Three) 681.9979 #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #tiertalk #californiatiertalk #catiertalk #prisontalk