Friends in Prison

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Clare Aaronson has 29 friends in prison. They are pen-pals scattered across the United States. Some are men, some are women, one could be released in as little as 70 days and some are on death row.Get to know Clare and her friends and learn how you can find your own friends in prison.

Clare


    • Feb 4, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 46 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Friends in Prison

    The Guy with Face Tatoos

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2023 18:35


    Can a soccer mom become friends with a guy with face tattoos?Music courtesy of JulisH

    A Great Day in Prison is still a Pretty Bad Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 14:24


    Can a person really change?  Can a person guilty of murder really change? Juan had a change of heart; can he maintain that change even if it's dangerous to get out of a gang? Can he maintain that change once he's released from prison? What's the secret? What changed Juan's heart?OH! and sorry for getting teary eyed!Music courtesy of JulisH

    Reaching out after Hurricane Ian

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2022 28:08


    Clare updates her friends no how she faired through the hurricane (spoiler alert -she's fine). An update after reaching out to 10 new penpals. Why one of Clare's friends is in solitary confinement. A news story about a sexual offender and how Clare feels about coresponding with people on the sexual offenders' registry.Music courtesy of JulisH

    Prisons in the News and Tay in Solitary

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 25:59


    There are discussions in this episode of self-harm/ suicide and sexual violence and may not be appropriate for all audiences.Music courtesy of JulisH

    Finding New Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2022 26:35


    Let's peruse profiles on penpal websites!music courtesy of JulisH

    Juan's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2022 22:33


    How could a person as intelligent, kind, respectful and friendly as Juan end up in prison? If we can understand why he got mixed up with a gang and a life of crime, maybe we can figure out how to keep him out of the gang and thug life when he's released from prison.Music courtesy of JulisH

    Be upfront! Or find yourself in an awkward situation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2022 19:37


    Should Clare tell her pen-pals that she cannot share any financial gifts with them? Or can she limit her gifts to $10/year? Or can she grow a backbone and tell a specific pen-pal, "no, I can't send you anything more."Music courtesy of JulisH

    Parole Granted! Now What?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2022 16:37


    Juan's parole is approved after 28 years in prison... what's next for Juan? What's next for Clare? Several of her pen pals will be released from prison before 2023. How can she support them as they head home? Will she find new friends in prison? You can find your own friends in prison at these sites; penacon.com, inmate-connection.com, wireofhope.com, friends4prisoners.com, meet-an-inmate.com, and donotpay.com.music courtesy of JulisH

    Did You Get Out This Summer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2022 23:38


    One of Clare's penpal's is released from prison, another is packing to go to a halfway house soon. One penpal, Daniel, is going before the parole board soon and another, Val, is hopeful she'll figure out how to home sooner than 17 years from now.Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep14 Momney, Money, Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2022 28:45


    What do you do when a penpal asks for money? What do you do when a penpal sends YOU money? How much money is a reasonable gift for a birthday? Music courtesy of JuliusH

    Casey White Prison Escape

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 15:15


    Casey White escaped from prison with the help of Vicky White, a prison guard, not a penpal.Trigger warning: this topic includes discussion of violence and self-harm.Music courtesy of JuliusH

    S2 Ep12 Holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 26:26


    If you don't know what to write to to your pen-pal or you wanna know what Clare writes to her pen-pals, send a holiday greeting. Luckily there are lots of holidays. As a bonus Clare introduces the "devos" she started writing.Music courtesy of JuliusH

    Val's GoFundMe and Tablets

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2022 21:28


    Val took down her Fundraiser for personal reasons. Inmates across the US are purchasing tablets for music, movie, games, podcasts, legal research and communication. What are the possible pitfalls? What are the advantages?

    S2 Ep10 Suicide Prevention

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2022 13:50


    An update on Clare's friend, Val, who is serving a 55 year sentence.If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm please reach out, call 1800-273-8255; the suicide prevention hotline available 24 hours a day.Music courtesy of of JulisH

    S2 Ep09 Will Work for Food

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 11:41


    An update on Aguilera-Mederos, the CO truck driver sentenced to 110 years for a crash and an update on Val, Clare's penpal who lost her father and his financial support this year.Music Courtesy of JuliusH

    S2 Ep8 Different Cases, Different Sentences

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 20:15


    Why did a truck driver in CO get 110 years for causing an accident when his brakes failed when a woman in MO got 16 for an attempted murder of her husband, the successful murder of her husband, the cover-up of those crimes and attempt to frame her brother-in-law for the murder? Is 55 years a reasonable sentence for a DUI crash that resulted in the deaths of 4 people? This last case is Clare's friend, Val who is trying to raise money for a lawyer to help with her appeal for a sentence reduction.Val's GOFUNDME demonstrates her remorse and hope to make amends for her crime, not through excessive prison time but through a contribution to society she can only make  once she's released, volunteering, raising awareness for mental health, alcoholism and driving under the influence.Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep07 Shampoo and Christmas Cards

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 17:40


    Clare's friend, Dannette, can't get shampoo in her prison but she's trying to fix the problem and get her hair clean. Clare's encouraging everyone to send a Christmas card to their penpals or find a penpal to send a first card to.Music courtesy of JuliusH

    S2 Ep6 The Quiet Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2021 21:38


    I wanted to title this one "Thanksgiving, Camping and more Duck Divorce" But I recorded it at too low a volume, please remember to turn your volume back down after you listen to this episode! And remember your friends in prison as we approach the holidays.Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep 5 Duck Divorce

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2021 30:05


    This is not an endorsement of searching for a date inside prison even though this is the 3rd episode on the topic. Andrew and Megan and falling in love while Andrew still has 3 years to serve in prison in Oregon.Remember to send Thanksgiving cards to your penpals! This is the perfect time to find a penpal and send them a Thanksgiving greeting.And a little update on the ducks Clare loves to photograph and share with her penpals.Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep4 Finding a Kidney

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2021 20:34


    Can you find love in prison? Can you find a kidney?Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep3 Finding Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2021 26:46


    Juan met someone... and he's not the only one. Why are so many of Clare's penpals finding love right now from behind bars?Music courtesy of JuliusH

    S2 Ep2 Parole

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2021 18:16


    Clare shares good news and bad news when it comes to her friends going before the parole board.Music courtesy of JulisH

    S2 Ep1 Aaryana, COVID and Crochet

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021 27:30


    Clare's friend, Aaryana, filed a lawsuit against her prison in MN for mishandling the COVID19 pandemic and placing prisoners in unnecessary danger and harm from the virus. Aaryana is crafter and crocheter and Clare is helping to send crochet patterns to keep her occupied.Music courtesy of JulisH

    Ep23 Set Strong Boundaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2021 27:44


    How do you write to someone of the opposite sex without giving them the wrong impression? This episode might not be suitable for younger listeners.Music Courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 22 They don't hate you

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2021 24:13


    Just because you write to someone in prison and they don't write back or they stop writing, it doesn't mean they hate you. Don't take it personally. Write another letter, write another pen-pal... write to Clare's pen-pal Andrew Manning atAndrew Manning #16626483OR Dept of Corrections3405 Deer Park Dr SESalem, OR 97310Music courtesy of JulisHfor the record, Care was able to copy, print and mail Andrew copies of his photos. She didn't even need help from a 12-year-old.

    Ep 21 Let Them Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2021 12:29


    How do you write a letter of support for a friend going in front of the parole board? Should you write one?Music courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 20 Facility is my PC term for prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2021 15:09


    Clare discusses the PC terms she uses, why they're helpful and why the PC terms might be hurtful. She starts with a discussion about the PC terms close to her life, those surrounding adoption and why the core of the conversation is more important than accidentally using the wrong terms. What PC terms do you use instead of prisoner, inmate, cellmate, prison and incarceration? Does the use of Politically correct talk hinder our discussions about improving prison?Music courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 19 Catching up with Juan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2021 28:53


    Clare reads the last 6 letters she's exchanged with Juan, a man imprisoned for 27 years.Music courtesy of JuliusH

    Ep 17 Recruiting New Penpals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 22:14


    Daniel and RJ are seeking new penpals for themselves and Kelly wants a penpal for an old friend of his. Is it against the rules to help inmates from different prisons communicate? Is it illegal? How can Clare find penpals for her friends? Music courtesy of JuliusH

    Ep16 Sympathy Cards

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 18:10


    Clare opens letters of condolences after losing her mom.  There's a little discussion of prisoners receiving stimulus checks, GoFundMe accounts to help prisoners, and the e3ver-controversial topic of return address labels being sent into prisons.Music complimentary of JulisH. 

    Ep.16 Catching up and The Loss of my Mom

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 14:47


    My mom passed away a month ago and my pen-pals have been so supportive and helpful as I try to come out of my funk and get back to things that used to bring me so much joy, things like writing pen-pals and posting podcasts.Music provided by JulisH

    Ep.15 Can People Change? -More from Daniel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 24:10


    Clare explores the question of why people change and how it can be applied to people being released from prison so they change their ways and never go back to prison.Music courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 14 My friend, Kelly and his appeal

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 29:19 Transcription Available


    Amateur sleuths! Clare's friend Kelly is preparing his appeal and needs help to organize his thoughts and present them to the court.Music curtesy of JulisH!

    Ep 13 My friend, RJ

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 23:11


    Clare reconnects with a pen-pal she thought was lost! She shares a great tip for locating loved ones in the prison system who have moved to a new location. And Clare introduces everyone to RJ, the very first person to write to her first. Strangely enough this is not the last time Clare will receive an unsolicited letter from someone in prison looking for a pen-pal.Music curtesy of JuliusH.

    Ep. 12 The Podcast about the Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 16:34


    Clare covers a negative reaction to the podcast and asks how to bring up the podcast with brand new penpals.music courtesy of JuilsH

    Ep. 11 Avoiding Miscommunications

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2021 15:39


    Clare shares some example of miscommunications between herself and her pen-pals as well as some quick tips to avoid misunderstandings.Also there's a quick update on friends Misti and Manda.Music is brought to you courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 10 Two Retractions and Misti's COVID Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2021 20:45


    Clare admits to two mistakes, one related to writing to people in prison and one related to last week's podcast. Misti writes 3 letters about her COVID experience in prison.Music courtesy of JuliusH

    Ep 09 Fr.Tobin The Man Who Saw Letter-Writing as a Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2021 21:06


    Fr. Tobin passed away on New Year's Day. Clare reflects on the times his story interwove with the story of her friends in prison.Music courtesy of JuliusH.

    Ep 08 Manda, My First Friend Released from Prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2021 21:07


    Manda is home from prison!  Amanda is one of the most relatable of my pen-pals. She's open, kind, humble. She likes reading, writing poetry and non-fiction. She likes camping, animals, and silly jokes. She can't be your friend in prison because she is my very first pen-pal released from prison.Our music is courtesy of JuliusH.

    Ep 07 Judgement

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2020 22:15


    How can you be friends with someone in prison and not be judgmental? Music courtesy of JulisH

    Ep 06 My friend, Valerie

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2020 19:13


    Finding a prayer partner in prison is a special kind of blessing. Listen to the first few letters Valerie and I exchanged.Bonus: you get to hear me try out a southern accent as I read for ValerieMusic by JuliusH

    Ep. 05 Meet My Friend Daniel

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 22:34


    Daniel has a Christmas Birthday, send him a "one-time" card or become his new penpal (in addition to me of course!)Daniel Chandler 01776312Price Daniel Unit938  S. FM 1673Snyder, TX 79549Intro Music used with permission from JuliusH

    Ep 04 The Perfect Postcard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 19:56


    How much time does it take to write to 29 pen-pals in prison? How much time does it take to write back and forth with just one pen-pal?Clare shares some postcards from Misti, a pen-pal who can be open, witty, funny and heart-warming all within the space of a 3x5 card.Music by JuliusH

    Ep 03 Finding Your Friend in Prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 19:39


    A review of prison pen-pal websites includingWrite a Prisoner (http://www.writeaprisoner.com)Pen A Con (http://www.penacon.com)Prison Penpals (http://www.prisonpenpals.com)Friends  Beyond the Wall (http://www.friendsbeyondthewall.com)Lost Vault (http://www.LostVault.com)Music by Julius H

    Ep.2 Rules and Safeguards For Wiring to People in Prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 20:21


    We delve into the rules at different Correctional Institutions and what might lead to a rejection of your letter. Clare shares what safeguards she takes when reaching out to inmates she doesn't know.Into music courtesy of  Julius H "Insomnia"

    Ep. 1 Why I Write to People In Prison

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2020 20:19


    Meet Clare Aaronson, a happily married wife and stay-at-mom with 29 friends in prison. Find out why she started writing to inmates, what kind of inmates she corresponds with and learn about Juan, one of Clare's first pen-pals.

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