Between The Lines: The Pod' With Ivana Rojas

#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]

#17 - Life in Prison for a Robbery? Michael Montes Tells His Story

Michael Montes is currently incarcerated for two counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of intimidating a witness from reporting a crime with gang enhancements. He has been locked up since 2009. In this episode of Between the Lines, Michael opens up about growing up in Colton, California, surrounded by gang life, domestic violence, and chaotic environments that shaped what he thought was normal. His father, grandfather, uncles, and mother were all connected to gang culture, and Michael says he grew up wanting to be like the people around him. At 19 years old, Michael confronted two men he believed had stolen from one of his friends. He took their belongings, punched one of them, and threatened them if they called police. At the time, he says he thought it was “nothing.” But because of the charges and gang enhancements, he received a life sentence. Michael was eventually sent to Pelican Bay, where he says he had to adapt to one of the most intense prison environments in California. For years, he wore a mask, tried to survive, and continued living out the destructive identity he had carried most of his life. But through disappointment, accountability, education, the Defy program, carpentry, Healing Through Art, and learning how to serve others, Michael says his life began to change. Today, he says he wants to use his story to help young people, support those impacted by domestic violence, and show others that there is another way. This is a story about childhood trauma, gang life, domestic violence, accountability, prison, transformation, service, and finding purpose after a life sentence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#16 - He Murdered a Witness… Then One Letter From His Daughter Broke Him

Saahdi Coleman is serving 84 years, eight months to life for murder, arson, and discharge of a firearm. In this episode of Between the Lines, Saahdi opens up about the childhood trauma that shaped him, including the moment he walked in on his father attempting suicide while on drugs when he was just 11 years old. After his parents became addicted to crack cocaine, his life changed overnight. He became homeless, searched for acceptance, and eventually found himself surrounded by gang members who gave him the identity he was desperate to find. By 16, Saahdi says he was walking a prison mainline with grown men. Instead of rehabilitation, he says prison trained him to become a better criminal. Years later, after being released, he lived a double life — trying to build a family while still holding onto the gang lifestyle that would eventually lead to murder. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#15 - He Was 11 When Gang Life Found Him... Now He's Serving Life

Daniel Nunez is serving life without parole for aiding and abetting murder. In this episode of Between the Lines, Daniel opens up about growing up without his father, being surrounded by gang life at a young age, and how he started believing prison was simply the life he was meant to live. After nearly 20 years in prison, Daniel reflects on regret, accountability, fatherhood, and the moment he realized he had been “lying to himself.” Today, he mentors others, helps men earn their GED, and says his sons are his reason for living. If you want to support Daniel Nunez directly on his journey through rehabilitation, use the GiveButter link below and choose his name. https://givebutter.com/btlpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

#14 - Former LA Pimp Faced 7 Life Sentences | Interview with Chosen

Roderick Cooley, also known as Chosen, grew up in Los Angeles and says he was one of the founding members of the Rolling 40 Crips. As a teenager, he became known in the streets as C. Capone, or Crazy Capone, and eventually fell deeper into gang life, hustling, pimping, drugs, robberies, and repeated prison sentences. In this episode of Between the Lines, Chosen opens up about the life he once glorified — from helping start a gang war, to becoming a pimp, to being known as the “Flashy Dresser Bandit” after a string of robberies in Los Angeles. After being arrested in 2022, he says he went from possibly receiving a program to suddenly facing seven life sentences. 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]