California Tier Talk

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

In episode of four (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

Mexican & Black prison relations | Crip and Blood unity in prison

Tier Talk is a show about California Prison living and on this episode we have Damien "Tiny Cisco" Doster from the Avalon Gardens projects, Porky from Village Town Piru in Compton and Brian from the Bay Area city, Pittsburg. This episode by Alex Alonso of StreetTV, is an in-depth conversation featuring three individuals currently incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections: Porky, T.C., and Brian. The discussion is notable for its raw look at life inside the California prison system, particularly during a time of significant transition in prison culture. Here are the key themes and takeaways from the conversation: 1. THE "OLD SCHOOL" VS. "NEW SCHOOL" A major portion of the talk focuses on how prison life has changed over the decades. The men discuss the shift from a strictly regulated, "old school" convict code to the current environment. They express concerns that the younger generation lacks the same discipline and respect for the established rules that once governed racial groups and internal politics. 2. THE END OF RACIAL HOSTILITIES The participants discuss the Agreement to End Hostilities, a landmark document among California prisoners intended to stop racial violence. They talk about the challenges of maintaining peace and the effort required to educate younger inmates who enter the system with "street" mentalities that don't always translate well to the "convict" code. 3. PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY Each man reflects on their personal journey. 1. Porky and T.C. discuss the process of aging behind bars and the realization that the lifestyle they once promoted led to a dead end. 2. They emphasize the importance of self-rehabilitation, noting that while the system offers programs, the internal will to change is the most important factor. 4. GANG IMPACT AND REGRET There is a heavy focus on the consequences of gang involvement. They discuss how the "neighborhood" loyalties that landed them in prison often disappear once the cell door closes, leaving individuals to face decades of confinement alone. They use the platform to warn younger viewers against following the same path. 5. LIFE TERMS AND PAROLE The men discuss the reality of serving "Life" sentences and the psychological toll of not knowing if or when they will ever be released. They touch on the recent changes in California law (such as SB 1437 or youth offender laws) that have provided some hope for "lifers," but emphasize that one must truly prove they have changed to benefit from these laws. -Join 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/straight-politicking/id1752263958 3. ➡️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uGhq4GvlxhHGQHSxQRTNM TIMECODES 1. 00:00 - Straight Politicking Episode 2, with TC, Porky & Rob 2. 01:03 - TC explains first 3. 01:51 - Bryan says he is onUncuffed podcast, produced in prison 4. 03:36 - Bryan on how long his incarceration has been 5. 06:27 - Porky been in prison for 25 years 6. 11:11 - A Blood and Crip in prison together 7. 12:39 - TC on Blood and Crip unity in prison 8. 20:59 - Porky 9. 21:42 - Mexicans and Black relations in prison 10. 22:44 - Using the N Word by Latinos 11. 24:53 - Are Mexicans different on different yards? 12. 28:35 - Relationship between Blacks and Mexican from the Bay area perspective 13. 32:45 - 82 years in prison among the three guests 14. 33:19 - Porky speaks on growing up in Ujima Village, Village Town Piru 15. 36:56 - the Avalon Gardens projects off 88th Street 16. 42:05 - Bryan does media production in prison 17. 47:40 - violence in california prison, staying safe 18. 50:04 - Rules in a California 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) 681.997nine #straightpoliticking #alexalonso #alexalonsointerviews #solanoprison #tiertalk #californiaprison #pelicanbayshu