San Quentin: The Magazine, Issue 3

Summary

Ear Hustle – "San Quentin: The Magazine, Issue 3"

Release Date: July 30, 2025
Hosts: Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods
Network: Radiotopia

"San Quentin: The Magazine, Issue 3" is a compelling episode of Ear Hustle that provides an intimate look into life at San Quentin State Prison. This edition diverges from regular episodes by featuring four distinct stories produced by the prison's internal team, offering listeners a multifaceted view of the inmates' experiences, challenges, and resilience.

---

1. Taffy-Making Competition

Timestamp: 06:00 – 17:02

The episode kicks off with a lighthearted yet revealing story about Tony Tafoya, affectionately known as the "Taffy Lord." Tony has transformed taffy-making into a popular and lucrative endeavor within the prison.

• Introduction of Tony Tafoya
  Tony explains the allure of taffy: "Taffy is basically a made-up sweet that people tend to want to flock to. It seems like it's addicting. It's like drugs in a way, but it's more legal." ([06:33] Tony Tafoya)

• The Taffy Business
  Tony discusses the physical demands of his craft, mentioning, "The only thing that's difficult about it is the wear and tear on your arms... I've got a partially torn rotator cuff and I'm still doing it." ([08:21])

• The Competition
  A friendly rivalry emerges between Tony and Russ, another inmate, leading to a taffy-making contest. During the taste test, judges praise Tony's creation for its balanced flavor: "This one's righteous. It's got the right amount of Kool." ([15:02] Darrell Sadiq Davis)

• Conclusion and Gratitude
  Despite losing the competition, Tony remains grateful: "I am extremely grateful and appreciative towards everybody who purchases my taffy. It's definitely something that you will be hooked on." ([16:20])

This segment not only highlights Tony's entrepreneurial spirit but also underscores the creativity and resourcefulness inmates employ to find joy and purpose within the confines of prison life.

---

2. Jeans Policy Changes

Timestamp: 18:00 – 24:00

The second story revisits the significant policy change regarding inmate apparel, specifically jeans, which has stirred considerable discussion among the San Quentin community.

• Historical Context
  Previously, jeans were reintroduced at San Quentin after a 20-year hiatus, symbolizing a step towards normalcy and personal freedom within the prison environment.

• Policy Update
  However, a memorandum dated March 3, 2025, announced that starting July 1, 2025, the purchase of jeans with metal rivets or buttons would be prohibited. "CDCR has disallowed any jeans with metal because they didn't pass through metal detectors," explains Darrell Sadiq Davis ([22:17]).

• Inmate Reactions
  Inmates express mixed feelings about the new policy. Upon viewing the new catalog, disappointment is palpable: "They look like some sweatpants... Pro line fit, relaxed fit, metal-free blue jeans with drawcord." ([23:54] Russ)

• Evaluation of New Jeans
  Despite initial skepticism, some inmates like Darrell note improvements when seeing the actual product: "I saw them in real life and I thought they looked really, really good... it's a really thick denim material. High quality." ([24:25] Darrell Sadiq Davis)

This segment sheds light on how even minor changes in prison regulations can significantly impact inmates' sense of self and autonomy.

---

3. Personal Story: Cellmate's Death

Timestamp: 30:09 – 39:24

One of the most poignant narratives in this episode is shared by producer Aristeo San Pablo, detailing the emotional aftermath of his cellmate's sudden death.

• Pre-Christmas Routine
  The story begins with Darrell Sadiq Davis recounting the days leading up to Christmas: "We started sharing conversations of how my family would spend Christmas..." ([30:47])

• The Tragedy Strikes
  On December 26th, Darrell is abruptly informed of his cellmate Felipe's death: "The officer is like, 'So, Pablo, your cellie died.' What?" ([31:00])

• Emotional Turmoil
  Darrell describes his descent into anxiety and fear of being wrongly blamed: "My biggest fear was to get found guilty of the death of my cellie..." ([37:10])

• Coping Mechanisms
  Seeking solace, Darrell cleans his cell obsessively and turns to peer support: "I took off my shirt, and for no reason, I just started cleaning the whole cell..." ([32:36])

• Final Reflections
  He reflects on the loss with a desire for closure: "I want to make myself believe that it was a heart attack... I want him to know that I'm sorry for the loss and that he loved him very much." ([37:10])

Amy Standen adds a critical perspective: "It's a disservice to the celly to lock 'em up in solitary confinement..." ([38:23])

This deeply moving account highlights the complex interplay between personal loss and the punitive environment of prison life, emphasizing the emotional resilience required to navigate such traumas.

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4. Single-Cell Policy and Its Impact

Timestamp: 39:26 – 48:00

The final story explores the California Department of Corrections' initiative to transition inmates to single-cell living, eliminating cellmates—a change with profound implications for the prison community.

• Introduction to the Policy
  The "California model" aims to make prison life more humane by promoting single-cell occupancy. However, this change poses challenges for those who rely on cellmates for companionship and mental health support.

• Personal Accounts

  • Ula's Perspective
    Diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Ula emphasizes the importance of his cellie in maintaining his mental health: "With a cellie like I have now, it keeps me out of trouble and keeps my mental health at state." ([43:55])

  • Otter and Danny's Relationship
    Darrell Sadiq Davis describes his cellmates Danny and Otter as essential for emotional balance: "Danny and Otter are able to keep each other balanced and emotionally safe." ([43:24])

• Host Reflections
  Both Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods express skepticism about the necessity of cellmates: "I can't imagine wanting double cell status. I can't believe it." ([46:56] Nigel Poor)

• Community Response
  Inmates have begun organizing to advocate for the preservation of double cells, forming what they call the "Single Cell Resistance." They seek to demonstrate the irreplaceable support that cellmates provide: "We have reached out to people at CDCR and have asked that a few double cells be made available for those who want them." ([44:59] Tony Tafoya)

This segment underscores the vital role of interpersonal relationships in prison settings and the potential psychological impacts of policy shifts towards isolation.

---

Conclusion and Reflections

Timestamp: 48:00 – End

The episode wraps up with the hosts and producers reflecting on the powerful stories shared by their fellow inmates. They emphasize the importance of these narratives in fostering understanding and empathy towards those incarcerated.

• Hosts' Insights
  Nigel Poor highlights the emotional depth and resilience showcased in the stories, particularly praising the personal touch in Darrell's account: "You have the creativity, but it also makes you trust them because they're reacting in real time to what they're seeing." ([26:09])

• Encouragement to Listeners
  The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the stories and support the ongoing dialogues about prison life, mental health, and human connections.

---

Notable Quotes

• Tony Tafoya on Taffy Addiction:
  "Taffy is basically a made up sweet that people tend to want to flock to. It seems like it's addicting. It's like drugs in a way, but it's more legal." ([06:33])

• Darrell Sadiq Davis on Personal Loss:
  "I never did find out the cause of my cellie's death, but I want to make myself believe that it was a heart attack." ([37:10])

• Ula on Cellie Importance:
  "I am diagnosed with high functioning autism. But with a cellie like I have now keeps me kind of lined up to what the world really is and keeps me kind of out of trouble and keeps my mental health at state." ([43:55])

• Earlonne Woods on Single-Cell Policy:
  "We call ourselves the single cell resistance. We are hopeful for Ear Hustle." ([45:10])

---

Final Thoughts

"San Quentin: The Magazine, Issue 3" offers a nuanced and heartfelt exploration of prison life, highlighting both the struggles and the unyielding spirit of its inmates. Through stories of entrepreneurship, personal loss, and the fight for mental well-being, Ear Hustle continues to shed light on the complexities of incarceration, fostering a deeper understanding among its listeners.

Transcript

[Nigel Poor]

Hey, listeners, if you like Ear Hustle, you should check out another show about an epic migration story.

[Earlonne Woods]

I think he had like two to.

[Nigel Poor]

Three babies on his back.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Then he also had his rifle.

[Nigel Poor]

From Iraqi Kurdistan, the word came around.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

That he is literally going to kill every single person. To Nashville, Tennessee.

[Nigel Poor]

It's a story of bloody genocide, sacrifice, perseverance.

[Tom Nguyen]

It's a story about a people's fight to exist.

[Nigel Poor]

Listen to the country in our hearts from Nashville Public Radio. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts.

[Amy Standen]

From fitness routines to mental resilience, navigating personal goals to tackling burnout, we all need a little help being human. That's what the Life Kit podcast from NPR is here to do.

[Nigel Poor]

Life's complicated and none of us know what to do all the time. But still, we're constantly making choices, some big, some small, that shape the direction of our lives.

[Amy Standen]

Life Kit offers real stories, relevant insights, and clear takeaways to help you meet those decision making moments with confidence. Nige, I know you've been checking this show out.

[Nigel Poor]

I have, and recently. Earlonne. I listened to this episode about how to bring more play into your life. And I loved it because it pointed out how we can find these little moments of joy as we go about our day. And it was a very clear and easy way to kind of redirect whatever mood you're in. And right now we can probably all use some of that redirection.

[Amy Standen]

Yeah, I just heard one that dealt with mosquitoes.

[Nigel Poor]

Really? Was it interesting?

[Amy Standen]

It was very interesting. I heard a lot of things about mosquitoes. You know what I'm saying?

[Nigel Poor]

What?

[Amy Standen]

What did you learn about mosquitoes? I learned that mosquitoes, they look for the breath that's emanating out your body and the smell. So that's why, I guess if you spray certain things on so you don't have an odor, they can't find you, but they usually looking for the heat.

[Nigel Poor]

Okay. I've heard that thing about the breath. I'm glad to hear it confirmed.

[Amy Standen]

Definitely. And that's what I heard on the show.

[Nigel Poor]

So we're both learning. Life Kit isn't just another podcast about self improvement. It's about understanding how to live a little better. Starting right now.

[Amy Standen]

Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from npr. Hey, Nige.

[Nigel Poor]

Hello.

[Amy Standen]

For some reason, whenever the weather gets warmer, I start thinking about my clothes. Do you do the same?

[Nigel Poor]

I do. I get that spring urge to update my closet, but I try not to waste money on pieces I'll only wear for one season.

[Amy Standen]

That's what's up? I mean, that's why we both like shopping at Quint's. Their clothes are timeless.

[Nigel Poor]

Yes, exactly. And I love these stylish tapered cargo pants. I've already bought one. I just ordered a second. And I also told my sister she had to get a pair because they look great and they are totally perfect for summer and actually other seasons, too.

[Amy Standen]

So you'll be wearing them live on stage in August?

[Nigel Poor]

Oh, you know, I will, definitely. And the best part is, everything with Quince is half the cost of similar brands.

[Amy Standen]

By working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middleman, Quint gives you luxury without the markup.

[Nigel Poor]

And Quint only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices. And premium fabrics and finishes.

[Amy Standen]

Give your summer closet an upgrade with quint. Go to quint.comearhustle for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N c e.com earhustle to get free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Nigel Poor]

Quince.com your hustle this is Anne Irwin, founder and director of Smart Justice California. The following episode of Ear Hustle contains language and content that might not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised.

[Amy Standen]

Welcome to the San Quentin magazine.

[Nigel Poor]

These magazine episodes are a little different from our regular episodes because these stories are produced by the inside team with help from Amy Standen and Bruce Wallace.

[Amy Standen]

Yeah, they're stories about stuff that's going on inside the prison. Kind of like a news magazine.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah. And it's really fun to hear these stories, Earlonne, because we're not involved in making them, so they're always a surprise. And we get to hear what the guys are thinking about and see what they're learning along the way while they produce more stories.

[Amy Standen]

Well, it seems like we're doing great teaching.

[Nigel Poor]

I'm Nigel Poor.

[Amy Standen]

I'm Earlonne woods and this is ear hustle from PRX's Radiotopia, the San Quentin magazine edition. Today we've got four stories from our inside team and the plan was to go in there and have each one of the guys present their story to us.

[Nigel Poor]

I like how you emphasized was was. Yes, because prison being prison, there was a sudden shutdown and that meant that no volunteers were able to go in for a week. And Earlonne, who knows why?

[Amy Standen]

The main thing, you know, it's usually the safety and security of the institution, which mean that they're searching the whole institution for either contraband, weapons, something in that category.

[Nigel Poor]

That's one way to look at it. I feel like it always happens when we're on deadline.

[Amy Standen]

Oh, like they know Ear Hustle's coming in.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah. Anyway, so instead of us going in, we're going to do this a little bit differently. Our editor produce, Amy, is here. She's been working with the guys inside on these stories. So she's going to play the story for us and kind of talk us through it. Hey, Amy. Hi, guys.

[Amy Standen]

Hello.

[Nigel Poor]

How are you feeling about this episode of the magazine?

[Tom Nguyen]

Well, I'm bummed that they can't play them for you because the guys worked really hard on their stories, and I know they were excited for you to hear them. But anyway, they will be glad to know that you're finally getting a listen today. I'm excited for you to hear them.

[Amy Standen]

So who's up first?

[Tom Nguyen]

So the first story comes from inside producer Darrell Siddique Davis.

[Nigel Poor]

Okay.

[Amy Standen]

Sadiq.

[Tom Nguyen]

Yeah. And Siddiq has kind of become our food reporter inside San Quentin.

[Nigel Poor]

I'm sure you remember.

[Tom Nguyen]

So this, the story that he's about to tell is about a food trend at San Quentin. This has been going on for a while. It's something that guys are making themselves and it's very popular. And Sadiq is gonna introduce us to someone who has gotten a really big following there making this food.

[Russ]

The Taffy Lord of Alpine. Well, welcome to Ear Hustle.

[Tony Tafoya]

Thank you.

[Russ]

I want to ask you, what is taffy?

[Tony Tafoya]

Taffy is basically a made up sweet that people tend to want to flock to. It seems like it's an addicting. It's like drugs in a way, but it's more legal. It's basically creamer and Kool Aid.

[Russ]

So you mean to tell me taffy is made out of just creamer and Kool Aid?

[Tony Tafoya]

Just creamer and Kool Aid.

[Russ]

Out of all the things you can make, why taffy?

[Tony Tafoya]

It's easy. The only thing that's difficult about it is the wear and tear on your arms, you know, because as you're doing it, you're using a lot of muscles in your arms and in your shoulders. In fact, by me doing it as long as I've been doing it, I've got a partially torn rotator cuff and I'm still doing it. But you know, when I first tasted it and knew that, I was like, there's something here. I heard about it about a little over 11 years ago, I was at CCI and there was a Pisa that was making it, and he was real secretive about it. He was the only one on the yard making this taffy and he was not giving up that recipe for nothing. I offered everything under the sun. I mean, I even. I told him. I said, look, I'll give you. I'll give you my tv. You know, I want to know about how to do it. And he said no. He was not gonna budge.

[Russ]

In the end, Russ was able to convince him. Now he's got a regular taffy empire going on here at San Quentin.

[Tony Tafoya]

On the average last month alone, I went through 120 creamers in a month. And that's all making taffy.

[Russ]

That's a lot of creamers.

[Tony Tafoya]

Yeah, that's a lot of taffy, too. I'm making. Out of every eight creamers, I can bring in 96 pieces of taffy.

[Russ]

Are you selling for a dollar each?

[Tony Tafoya]

No, I actually lower. I'm actually the cheapest one in the yard.

[Ula]

What?

[Tony Tafoya]

Yeah, I do it for two soups a piece.

[Russ]

Two soups?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Yeah.

[Russ]

You got this name, the Taffy Lord. Are you not intimidated by other taffy makers?

[Tony Tafoya]

You know, I'm not intimidated. Actually, I take that back. Let me back up a little bit.

[Russ]

Because you said that very with real confidence.

[Tony Tafoya]

Well, you know, back in 2018. And I don't like talking about it, but it's part of my rehabilitation to be able to talk about things that you don't want to talk about. But when I was making taffy on D yard and cci, there was another character that he was making taffy in my building. And I kind of felt disrespected because the guy was making taffy in my building. And I'm not. I'm not a big tough guy. I mean, I. I can handle my own. But in this case, I kind of met my match with that one. I kind of approached the guy and told him, hey, man. And I got him a little sideways. And the guy didn't like that. He didn't like the way I approached him. And so it wound up to where we took it to the back. And when we took it to the back, he. Yeah, he got me. He got me good. In fact, I spent three days in a hospital bed after that because he did a number on me. After that, I learned real quick that, you know what? I need to change a lot more about me before I go doing something that's stupid again. I actually have a logo.

[Russ]

Wait a minute.

[Tony Tafoya]

And I even have a name for my business. I've got about three years left, and when I get out, I'm gonna try and market it.

[Russ]

So you said you've been doing it for at least 11 years. So what keeps you going?

[Tony Tafoya]

Like I said, making taffy. It releases the monkey mind in my head, you know, and it actually gives me a chance to just release all that anger and frustrations of being in prison.

[Russ]

Russ is doing well with his taffy business, but some people wonder whether it's really worth it if this taffy thing is just a gimmick.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah.

[Earlonne Woods]

I'm not sure why they sell taffy. You can just make it yourself. It's not that difficult.

[Russ]

This is inside managing producer Tony Tafoya. But it's kind of like easier to just buy it, right?

[Earlonne Woods]

Like, no, because then you have to spend money.

[Russ]

It's like buying fast food, though. I'd rather go buy the fast food.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah.

[Earlonne Woods]

If you don't feel like cooking that night. But when I was on the street, like, if I was going to go get something, it's something I can't make at home. Right. I cannot make Wendy's chicken nuggets at home. It's just not possible. But, like, I can easily make taffy.

[Russ]

So the reason why you want to challenge him in taffy competition?

[Earlonne Woods]

Yeah. To show that anyone can make it. And just because everyone thinks you're so great. Are you really that great?

[Russ]

Next, I went to Russ and told him he had a challenger. So you know Tony Tafoya, right?

[Tony Tafoya]

I believe so, yes.

[Russ]

I believe Tony Tafoya wants to challenge you in the taffy making a contest. A few days later, Russ and Tony came down to the media lab to make their taffy to find out who is the real taffy lord. So it's Sadiq here, Ear hustle producer, along with tham, Tony Tafoya, Bruce and the Taffy Lord. Mr. Russ, what are we doing today?

[Tony Tafoya]

Well, we're going to have a competition and to see who's actually the best taffy maker here.

[Russ]

What's the first step? What are we doing here?

[Tony Tafoya]

I'm going to break out my bowl. The. The bowl. I've got a can of creamer here. I have a little bit of lemon juice here, my measuring cup, just to show you that I am wearing the gloves. So that way we're good and sanitized. And then after that, we're going to go ahead and pop canisters of creamer and get started on this.

[Earlonne Woods]

So I'm making a strawberry lemonade, and I will be using a giant plastic trash bag, which I've never used before. So I'm out of my element.

[Russ]

Bro, you make all kinds of excuses. I hear a lot of excuses.

[Tony Tafoya]

Yeah, that One sounded like a pretty big excuse.

[Russ]

I didn't go to canteen. I have a headache. I'm all over the place. I never used a bag before.

[Tony Tafoya]

I got a hangnail. I got a.

[Russ]

It's like everything is happening all of a sudden. Tony, so walk me through this process that you're doing right now.

[Tony Tafoya]

Basically, I'm taking the caps off the creamer. It's a lot easier to pour out, pouring it into the bowl.

[Russ]

Can you describe what you're doing, Tony?

[Earlonne Woods]

So at this current time, I have my creamer outside of its container and it's inside the bag. And I am opening up the Kool Aid. Three tiny little satchels of strawberry starburst instant Kool aid and two satchels of lemon Starburst instant Kool aid and the juice of two lemons and one 12 ounce container of non dairy creamer.

[Tony Tafoya]

For mine, I'm going to use four sticks of sunkissed pineapple. I'm going to use four sticks of skittles strawberry and two sticks of sunkissed orange for just that hint of orange. I'm also going to use pure lemon juice. And I'm going to go ahead and pour the. Put these into the bowl. I go ahead and I stir it with my finger. Of course, there's a glove on my finger, mixing it thoroughly and turning the bowl as I do it.

[Earlonne Woods]

I squeezed one whole lemon into my creamer and now I'm going to kind of seal up my bag and mix it all up. I'm gonna massage it.

[Russ]

So we have a lot of smells coming in here right now. I can smell it. Smells like fruity and tangy. Like, I smell a little mango in there. I smell a little lemon. Like some zest coming from the lemon juice. It smells like Skittles, actually. Russ and Tony took about 20 minutes to mix their ingredients into the right consistency. Tony massaged his in a plastic bag while Russ kneaded his in a bowl with his gloved hands. Then they each broke off pieces for the judges to try.

[Earlonne Woods]

My name is Miguel Yostinero Munoz Huerta.

[Russ]

First, Miguel tried Tony's, which was the pale pink one.

[Tony Tafoya]

Could have probably used a little more Kool Aid.

[Russ]

Then the Taffy Lords, which was the yellow one?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

This one's righteous. It's got the right amount of Kool.

[Tony Tafoya]

Aid, right amount of water. The texture is right.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

The yellow one wins.

[Russ]

Inside, producer Tham Nguyen tried Tony's first.

[Ula]

Hey, that's not bad. It tastes kind of creamy. The consistency is kind of like gummy. Like, is it nowhillators. It's not, like, too strong, but it tastes more creamy than anything.

[Russ]

Next, he tried the yellow one. That was the Taffy Lords.

[Ula]

I like the one with more flavor. So this darker yellow one.

[Russ]

And finally the last. Judge me. They both are good. I know who made which one, and I'm gonna give you why they're both good. So, Tony, yours is good because it reminds me, like, of a. Like a strawberry and cream. Like, you know those Werther's they used to have, like, the cream ones, too. So that made it good. You don't have to always have a bunch of sugar or a bunch of sweetness to it. So I love that one, too. Yours is, like, just bursting with flavor, which I love it because I love a lot of flavors. But I like both of them. For sure. I like both of them. But if I have to pick a winner, I will pick taffy. Lord, he got all of them. Sorry, Tony. And we had a winner.

[Tony Tafoya]

I just want to let the listeners know that to everybody who are customers of mine, I want to eternally say that I am extremely grateful and appreciative towards everybody who purchases my taffy. And if there's anybody out there who is here at San Quentin or anybody who wants to come to San Quentin, make sure to come look me up and try the taffy. It's definitely something that you will be hooked on.

[Russ]

Okay. I appreciate it, Russ.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

All right.

[Russ]

Thank you very much.

[Tony Tafoya]

Thank you very much, man. I appreciate it.

[Russ]

For Ear Hustle, this is Darrell Sadiq Davis in San Quentin.

[Nigel Poor]

Did you know making taffy was an arm workout?

[Amy Standen]

Well, I can imagine it is, because it gets tough, and you have to keep it going before it solidify on you and just become a rock.

[Nigel Poor]

Wow. I just like the idea that you're making the sugar thing. But you could get a workout at the same time. And also wild that the Taffy Lord wanted to trade his TV for a recipe.

[Amy Standen]

I would say this. He must have seen how beneficial or how lucrative it was. Cause he can definitely go buy another tv.

[Nigel Poor]

I see.

[Amy Standen]

Because once you got the recipe, you gotta.

[Nigel Poor]

Oh, this is the difference between giving a man a fish and teaching him how to.

[Amy Standen]

Exactly. Once you got that recipe, give a man some taffy. Yeah. You creating a product, you know, Shoot.

[Nigel Poor]

Very funny. You know, I didn't realize that Tony was so competitive. I don't quite know why he said it was a gimmick. I mean, one of the things the story pointed out that I love is that commonality between inside and outside. We buy stuff all the time we could make, but like, the convenience of it.

[Amy Standen]

Hamburgers, French fries.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah, hamburgers, French fries, tacos.

[Amy Standen]

Coffee, hamburgers, French fries, tacos. But I think Tony has a competitive nature. I didn't know that about himself. To where if he see it, he probably feel he can do it.

[Nigel Poor]

It's very clear that comes across here. But I love that Siddiq had the taste test as part of it. That's where I really got drawn into the story. When you hear them describing the different flavors, and it's like, too Kool Aid forward or some are not Kool Aid forward.

[Amy Standen]

And Tony talked all that shit and lost.

[Nigel Poor]

He did lose.

[Amy Standen]

So wait a minute. They got lemons now?

[Nigel Poor]

Oh, that was one of my. They have fresh lemons now they get lemon juice. Amazing. Things have changed, right? Earlonne.

[Amy Standen]

Even when fish. They don't even give you a slice of lemon. Yeah.

[Nigel Poor]

All right. Well, that was a nice. Listen.

[Tom Nguyen]

I'm so glad you guys liked it. I thought that turned out really nicely.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah.

[Tom Nguyen]

Okay, so the next story is actually a follow up to a story that was on the last San Quentin magazine. And I don't know if you remember, but that was the story that Tony Tafoya did about jeans. It was about how, for the first time in 20 years, guys at San Quentin can finally order jeans from catalogs and wear them inside the prison, which was a really big deal. So before we play this next story, here's a clip from Tony Tafoya's piece from last season.

[Amy Standen]

Oh, okay.

[Earlonne Woods]

So the jeans are back.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Yes. Yes, they are.

[Earlonne Woods]

What do you think about them?

[Russ]

I love them. I'm glad that they're back. I wear nothing but, you know, my jeans.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

I wish I could afford it and get one myself.

[Ula]

Feels nice being able to feel like.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

A normal human being again. Well, it gives you a different feel.

[Earlonne Woods]

Different.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Gives you a little taste of freedom. Plus, you get the pockets on all four sides.

[Russ]

I like that.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

There's a lot of perks.

[Tom Nguyen]

So, as you can tell, it was a really big deal to get jeans back at the prison.

[Amy Standen]

Yeah, because usually when the prison takes something, they don't give it back.

[Tom Nguyen]

Exactly. So here's the Update.

[Earlonne Woods]

Memorandum Date, March 3, 2025. Effective July 1, 2025, the Division of adult institutions. Daisy. Will no longer authorize the purchase of personal jeans containing metal rivets or metal buttons.

[Amy Standen]

Yep, I've heard a lot of those type of memos for a lot of different things. In this situation, it was jeans. Other situations, it was sugar, you know, cigarettes, stuff like that.

[Nigel Poor]

They Give and take away.

[Amy Standen]

Yes.

[Tom Nguyen]

Yep, exactly. So inside producer Tom Nguyen is taking it from there.

[Ula]

According to this memo, CDCR has taken away our genes again. At least what we call jeans. The kind with metal buttons and rivets from regular companies like Levi's. As regular Ear Hustle listeners may know, there's only one way for incarcerated people to buy clothes or food, and it's through an approved package vendor. This memo said that starting in July, these package companies couldn't sell jeans anymore. As soon as that memo came out, guys started scrambling to get their orders out before the July deadline.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Somebody said, hey, man, they're taking the jeans away. That's when I made a point to see if I had enough to buy me two pairs.

[Ula]

This is Inside Ear Hustle producer Sam Pablo.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

That money is like my savings account where I was saving for any emergencies. So I felt like me getting two pair of jeans where I was gonna spend 100 plus. That would be everything that I've been saving working here in Pristine for the past year or so, because it was that emergency right now.

[Ula]

So it took you a year to save that. How much are you getting paid every month?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

I wind up with probably $12 in my account.

[Ula]

Starting in July, the catalogs will only sell denim pants with no metal buttons, rivets, or zippers. Can you really call these jeans? Till we saw the catalog, we couldn't know. What kind of pants do you think they're going to give us?

[Russ]

That's a great question. How can you make jeans like that? I don't know. It's going to be like some pajama jeans.

[Earlonne Woods]

Pajama jeans.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Hey.

[Ula]

This memo came out in March, but the new catalogs wouldn't come out till July. We couldn't wait that long. So we asked our outside team to call Natalie Tovar. She's a representative for a company called Walkin Horse, one of the popular package companies. The first question was, why is this change happening?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

From my understanding, CDCR has disallowed any gene with metal because they didn't pass through metal detectors and the wands specifically. And that's just from what I've gotten through the grapevine. I did go to a prison.

[Nigel Poor]

And we ran some different types of.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Metal buttons through metal detectors to see.

[Nigel Poor]

If they would pass.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

And they did pass through some of the metal detectors, but I guess not through some of the wands that are.

[Nigel Poor]

A little bit more sensitive.

[Ula]

The new jeans have plastic buttons, and some have a drawstring around the waist. They cost $49.95. Natalie told us they will not look like pajamas.

[Nigel Poor]

I mean, I would say they're more.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Of like a boot cut, relaxed fit. They're not. I would say relaxed fit. So, yeah, so that. I mean, when I looked at them, I would say they're a relaxed fit jean. So they're not like, baggy, but they're definitely not, like, slim fit.

[Nigel Poor]

For me, the most exciting part of.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

The new jean, to be honest with you, was the drawstrings.

[Ula]

When July came around, we finally got our hands on the catalog. The inside team sat down and took a look at the new jeans.

[Earlonne Woods]

It is June 23, 2025, and the Fall 2025 Walking Horse Catalog is out.

[Ula]

So, Deek, do the honors, man. Let's open it up.

[Earlonne Woods]

All right, open it up.

[Ula]

Go to the table of contents.

[Russ]

I said it's on page 308. So let's go to three. All right, here we go.

[Amy Standen]

All right.

[Russ]

Just look at them already.

[Ula]

I'm looking at them from far away. They look like pretty janky.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

They look horrible.

[Russ]

They look like some sweatpants. Pro line fit, relaxed fit, metal free blue jeans with draw cord.

[Earlonne Woods]

They're definitely relaxed fit, I'll tell you that. So I wouldn't wear them.

[Nigel Poor]

The catalog picture doesn't do it a lot of justice. I told my boss yesterday, I said.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

I don't know about this.

[Nigel Poor]

They don't look too great in the picture.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

But I saw them in real life and I thought they looked really, really good. You know, it's a really thick denim material. You know, high quality. It's a dark denim.

[Nigel Poor]

It is a really nice jean.

[Ula]

Come on, Natalie. Are you messing with me? Is this a really nice jean or are you just blowing smoke as this story airs? It's too soon to say the new jeans won't arrive until September. For the time being, I'm not going to order any. Most days I stick with my state issue blue pants that prison gives us for free. But I'm going to be real with you guys. I kind of like the kung fu pajama pants look, right? Maybe because I've been wearing these so long.

[Amy Standen]

Right.

[Ula]

It reminds me of a kung fu movie. And you know what? I even added a drawstring for ear Hustle. This is inside producer Tham Nguyen.

[Nigel Poor]

Another disappointment. Earlonne. That description. Those are not great.

[Amy Standen]

I thought it was gonna be some jeggins.

[Nigel Poor]

Totally. I think they're denim pajamas, basically.

[Amy Standen]

Have you seen them in real person?

[Nigel Poor]

No. Natalie has given a hard sell to those.

[Amy Standen]

I mean, she gotta sell the product, you know?

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah, yeah.

[Amy Standen]

You know, it's crazy. If we can go back in the day. In the day. Remember Lonnie, them pictures?

[Nigel Poor]

Yep.

[Amy Standen]

You know, they was in there with.

[Nigel Poor]

Suits, three piece suits.

[Amy Standen]

Three piece suits.

[Nigel Poor]

You know, it looked great.

[Amy Standen]

Polyester shirts, bell bottoms. They was in there looking like belts.

[Nigel Poor]

Regular people, they look like they're walking the street. Well, some of the things that stood out for me in that story that I really liked was the real time reveal where they open up the catalog and see the picture for the first time and you can hear the disappointment is in their voices. Sorry to laugh at it, but it makes it good. Like it makes you trust them because they're reacting in real time to what they're seeing.

[Amy Standen]

They were definitely disappointed. We're gonna take a quick break and when we get back, we're gonna flip a page in this magazine. It's five o' clock on the dot. We in a drop top. We just finished our first read through of our upcoming tour this August. How are you feeling?

[Nigel Poor]

N. Super excited. I mean, we're going to be traveling through the south and the Midwest, 11 different cities, and we are putting together the show right now. I think there's still stuff to figure out, but I can tell it's going to be something really special.

[Amy Standen]

Yes. Because creating the live show is like a puzzle. You know what I mean?

[Nigel Poor]

Yep.

[Amy Standen]

You're putting different audio clips together and you're thinking about stuff that we can show our audience that they've never seen.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah. And we're sprinkling in the special guests and the various surprises that we have up our sleeves. It definitely feels like a puzzle, but one that's almost complete.

[Amy Standen]

Nah. Do you know what I remember the most from our last tour?

[Nigel Poor]

What?

[Amy Standen]

Looking at the audience and really noticing the people's expressions, like seeing how they were reacting to our material in real time and, you know, getting to hang out with them a little bit after the show. You know, it's cool and I'm looking forward to that part.

[Nigel Poor]

I like that the venues we're going to are the size that you can actually be with the audience and connect though. Earlonne. There's definitely one piece of tape that I'm really curious about how people are going to react to. It's a little, what can I say, bordering on risque.

[Amy Standen]

I'm just glad my mom's is not going to be there.

[Nigel Poor]

Oh, thank God. Mrs. Woods is not going to be there.

[Amy Standen]

Well, if you want to find out what NYGE is talking about, check out earhustlesq.com tour for details about our live tour, please do.

[Nigel Poor]

We would love to see you out there in the audience.

[Amy Standen]

It's going to be fun. Come check us out.

[Nigel Poor]

Earlonne I always want to think summer is going to be a time to relax, but it always ends up being incredibly busy.

[Amy Standen]

Yeah, between seeing family going to cookouts and outdoor shows, summertime is full of.

[Nigel Poor]

Plans and honestly, the last thing I want to do is go grocery shopping and think about what to cook.

[Amy Standen]

Well, Nige, you can relax by getting the number one meal kit as voted by USA Today readers. HelloFresh HelloFresh makes it easy to fit quick home cooked meals into your busy schedule by sending delicious recipes right to your door. They've got about a hundred options to try and a lot of them, like Southwest shrimp tacos, look pretty.

[Nigel Poor]

This summer, HelloFresh has made it even easier to enjoy delicious, healthy, homemade quality meals with their new ready made meals. These heat n go meals are chef crafted and ready to go in just three minutes.

[Amy Standen]

HelloFresh meals use high quality ingredients and they have easy to follow recipe cards or simple heat em and eat them options.

[Nigel Poor]

My favorite Earlonne I know you're excited about the shrimp tacos.

[Amy Standen]

Yes, yes.

[Nigel Poor]

I cannot wait for the shawarma chicken and grilled cabbage. That combination sounds so good. Plus it has some of my favorite ingredients in it. Feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers with a dill lemon sauce.

[Amy Standen]

The chef Come in a box. Make your summers enjoyable and delicious by signing up for [e-mail] Earhustle10FM and get 10 free meals with a free item for life.

[Nigel Poor]

That's hellofresh.com Earhustles10FM for 10 free meals and a free item in every box.

[Amy Standen]

Hellofresh.com EarhUSTle10FM one per box with an active subscription. Free meals are applied as a discount on the first box. New subscribers only. Varies by planning.

[Tom Nguyen]

Okay, so the next story comes from inside producer Aristeo San Pablo. You guys know him?

[Amy Standen]

What?

[Tom Nguyen]

San Pablo? Yeah, this is his first magazine story.

[Amy Standen]

He's been in training for a minute.

[Tom Nguyen]

He has, and we've heard him on the show before, but often as a Spanish translator. He's a fluent Spanish speaking guy, so it's exciting. This is his first story.

[Amy Standen]

Cool.

[Tom Nguyen]

So San Pablo's story is about something that happened with his cellie. And this is a little different than the other two that you've heard in that this story is all just Sao Pablo telling this story of this thing that happen. And the story takes place back in December. It picks up in the few days leading up to Christmas.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

We approached that day with a lot of feelings because I saw him spending days writing cards to his people. Christmas cards. 4:00pm in the afternoon, I finished cooking. They lock us down and we just start eating. The special meal is just a regular rice bowl that is gonna have a bunch of meat put together with pork rinds and rice and just made it fancy for us. Dessert was a couple honey buns with peanut butter on top and of course, coffee. We started sharing conversations of how my family would spend Christmas and how all the things he used to do with his family. This was my favorite meal, or this is how I got ready for Christmas. I seen him calm down. I was like, hey, Celia, are you okay? He said, yeah, I'm just, you know, a little bit sad because I cannot spend time with my family. December 26th, it was back to normal program for us. Always, always started the day with, hey, good morning, Celly, how you doing? He's like, hey, Celly, well, see you later. You have a good day. I told him saying, all right, Celie, be careful and I will see you later. Came down here to the. To the media center, started working. Everything changed. When I got the phone call, it was like around 12. He said, hey, they need you back in the building. Something about your celly. I got to the building, the officer is like, hey, so, Pablo, your celli died. What? What are you talking about? The ISU came in Investigator Services Unit. That's what they stand for.

[Ula]

So, like the detectives or the police?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

The police of the police, yeah. He said, are you. So, Pablo? I said, yes, sir. He said, well, come with me. I'm like, I'm fucked. They gonna blame this shit on me. They was gonna send me to the hall. I was like, what do you mean? She's like, yeah. Cause it's protocol, you know. You're selling that. Two other guys that I know, they were yelling at me, what happened? Are you okay? And I just put my head down. For me, it was like the walk of shame. Like, look, that guy, it seemed so straight. But now he got caught. They put the handcuffs on me and the two officers walked me from the building all the way to the home.

[Ula]

So now that you're in the cell, what are you doing?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

I'm trying to make sense of what had happened and still thinking like, I'm fucked. I'm fucked. The cell was empty. It was just a toilet, the bed and the overhead light. They don't give you much. Two blankets and a sheet, a small toothbrush with tooth Powder. I took off my shirt, and for no reason, I just started cleaning the whole cell, top and bottom. Then I walked the whole cell back and forth, just pacing. At one point, I started doing push ups. I spent a little bit over 25 hours in the hole. It was so surreal. I mean, I was there, but I feel like I wasn't there. The fear of getting blamed was taking over. My biggest fear was to get found guilty of the death of my cellie and eventually be shipped out of this prison, end up somewhere else in a higher level with nobody around to support me. At the same time, thinking about, how is it possible that my cellie had died? I mean, at one point, my brain started playing tricks on me. Like, is it this true? Did I did something like around, I want to say, 12, Captain showed up to my door. And he come into the door and said, hey, so Pablo, he said, look, I went over the cameras, I checked your situation, and. And I'm gonna release you. Yeah. I felt like a huge relief. I was like, man, this is happening. I get to the building, I went up to the cell. It felt different. I expected to see Felipe sitting, watching tv. For some reason, the cell looked bigger without him in there on his bunk. He had a bunch of pictures of his wife, kids, grandkids, and everybody. As I'm gathering all his stuff, a lot of people keep showing to the door and keep asking me, hey, how you doing? How you doing? So one of the guys, I was like, look, man, right now I just need to be alone. I was overwhelmed. This situation was too much for me. Every feeling was trying to express themselves at once, and I couldn't really pick one to just express it. I tried to cry, but I couldn't. It was like I was just taking space. It was like if I was numb. I went down and talked to Edgar. He's one of those peer support specialists. These peer support specialists are incarcerated people. They'll help you. They will guide you. And I told them, look, I don't. I don't feel normal. And neither is like, look, we're going to send. Send the papers so you can talk to mental health.

[Ula]

What kind of things were you going through? What were you thinking about? How were you feeling?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

I noticed that I was eating less, sleeping less. I was feeling sad, angry, and lonely. I was staying up at night thinking that they can come in and snatch me at any time. I never did find out the cause of my cellie's death, but I want to make myself believe that it was a heart attack. That's One of the small windows that I can at least be at peace with myself, that it was of natural causes instead of something that I did. I feel that way because I wasn't there to help him. And that's why I feel like I let him down. If I were there, I could do something for him. That's why I kind of feel like I let him down that way. I wonder if his family will ever hear this. If they do, I want him to know that I'm sorry for the loss and that he loved him very much.

[Amy Standen]

I've seen this happen so many times. The last time, probably it happened to my neighbor. And the first thing they do is come and lock up the celly, right? Yeah, for a time, you know, as if the celly got something to do with it. But to me, it do a disservice to the celly to lock em up in solitary confinement. Because like San Pablo was saying, now your mind playing tricks on you. You know, first thing you know, I thought he would have thought was, damn, was it the food I cooked for Christmas? You know what I'm saying? Was it something, you know, like that? But yeah, it's sad when they come and lock the other person up because you don't know what happened, right?

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah, I mean, that's. I think the shocking thing about this story is that you can be mourning the loss of someone you really care about and being punished at the same time.

[Amy Standen]

Man.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah, it's pretty tough. It's great that he's going into his own experience to think about how to tell stories. Even though you don't necessarily want to make a story about you, but it's really great to bring your own experience.

[Amy Standen]

I think he did a good job.

[Tom Nguyen]

Okay, so we've got one more story to go. And this one comes from inside managing producer Tony Tafoya, who we of course heard a couple times in other stories. And this is also kind of a news piece about something that's been happening at San Quentin recently. It's about a really big new policy change. I won't say what it is, but it's gonna have major implications for everyone at the prison. And it's part of the California model.

[Amy Standen]

What are they taking away? What are they taking away?

[Nigel Poor]

I really want to know now.

[Tom Nguyen]

All right, here it is.

[Russ]

I would probably be weird. Really? It would probably be weird for me to wake up and, like, my celly's not there. And it would probably cost me because I wouldn't have somebody to wake me up and tell me that it's close to breakfast time. So that would be the. That would be the negative aspect of it.

[Earlonne Woods]

This is Ulla. He lives in west block and has since 2013.

[Russ]

I've had my celly for the past 10 years. We have this thing to where we can say anything to each other, and it's gotten us closer. Like, that's. That's all the joy in the world for me. It's not like he's my celly. It's more like he's my little brother.

[Earlonne Woods]

So as close as Ula and his celly are, they may have to part ways because of all the new changes coming to San Quentin. We've talked on this show a bit about the effort to remake the culture of California prisons, what they've been calling the California model. Part of this push is making living conditions here what they would call normal. As if there could ever be anything normal about prison and humane. And part of that is converting the prison to single cell status. In other words, no more cellies. For most people, this is fantastic news. But not for Oola. You know what's going on with the single cell situation that's happening here at San Quentin, correct?

[Russ]

Yes.

[Earlonne Woods]

You are one of the people that doesn't mind having a cellie.

[Tony Tafoya]

Yes.

[Earlonne Woods]

Why is that?

[Russ]

Well, for me, it's always been a thing of each one teach one. I think once I started changing myself and changing my ways, I thought that if I could influence people to do negative stuff, I could influence them to do positive stuff.

[Earlonne Woods]

Having a celly has given Ula some purpose, and that purpose is to provide mentorship to his younger Seli. Why is it important to stay double celled while you're a mentor? Can't you just live next door?

[Russ]

Some people have to be taught by example. So if I'm getting up and I'm going to work and I'm going to group and I'm going to school that somebody can see and say, hey, maybe I want to walk my walk like that. It's easier for them to see it instead of you telling them that and then a lot of times telling somebody something, it could come off wrong.

[Earlonne Woods]

Ula is not the only person I know who has reasons to stay double celled. So it looks like we are at cell 310. Let's go check in on Otter and Danny and see what they're doing. I climbed up, up to the third tier of west block recently to talk to Otter and Danny. They've been cellies for about a year and want to keep it that way. The cells here are tiny. So we stood over by the stairs where there was a bit more room. Describe your cellie and what they're like.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

So Otter is kind to a fault. Compassionate, way too giving, way too gullible. But he's also patient and empathetic and understanding. Oh, boy, where do I begin? Rotund, fluffy, supportive, eccentric.

[Earlonne Woods]

For Ula, having a cellie is about providing mentorship. For Otter and Dani, it's about companionship. Why do you guys want to stay double celled?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Well, I think the biggest thing is mental health, having somebody there to support you. Yesterday, for example, was another training day.

[Earlonne Woods]

On training days, all incarcerated people are locked in their cells all day long so that staff can receive training.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Those days are really hard for me, at least when I'm in the cell by myself.

[Earlonne Woods]

What did you guys do yesterday?

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

We slept. We read, watched tv, watched movies.

[Earlonne Woods]

And it's more than companionship. Danny and Otter are able to keep each other balanced and emotionally safe.

[Ula]

I am diagnosed with high functioning autism. But with a cellie like I have now keeps me kind of lined up to what the world really is and keeps me kind of out of trouble and keeps my mental health at state. Before I had a good cellie, I've had multiple write ups.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

But since moving in with Horner, I have had zero write ups. And I've been with Horner over a year now. So having borderline personality disorder, suicidal thoughts are always on my mind. And so Otter, on the other hand, will just say, well, it's okay if you jump off the fifth tier, but before you jump off the fifth tier, you have to learn how to do a backflip first. It just takes something that was depressing and frustrating and aggravating and turns it into something that. That's funny and that's very helpful.

[Earlonne Woods]

So it seems like your relationship is a balance, right? And it actually helps you guys survive prison and not only survive it, but be a little bit comfortable and feel safe.

[Darrell Sadiq Davis]

Think of it as like the odd couple.

[Ula]

It doesn't seem like it works, but it does.

[Earlonne Woods]

The reason I'm so interested in learning about other people and their needs, wants for keeping their cellies is because I'm also one of those people that would like to keep my cellie. We've been cellmates for about 10 years now, and we keep each other balanced. Our daily ritual is something I look forward to in the morning. I wake up first, I get ready and then move out of the way. Then my cellie gets ready and makes me a cup of coffee. After we leave the cell Periodically, we check in with each other throughout the day. Around 8pm when I come back to the cell, he's usually sitting on his bunk crocheting or building decks with his magic cards. He is a huge nerd. This is when my relaxation begins. We deconstruct our days, talk about our ideas and dreams, help each other with our homework, and work through thought problems. I feel safe. I feel like I can finally be myself and not judged. I cannot imagine losing this time. It is the part of the day I value most, and it can only happen when we in the cell together. So the administration is telling us that the prison could potentially be single celled by March of next year. Micelli and I have reached out to people at CDCR and have asked that a few double cells be made available for those who want to keep them, like me. We call ourselves the single cell resistance. We are hopeful for ear Hustle. This is Tony Tafoya inside San Quentin.

[Nigel Poor]

Okay, Yeah, I love that story. He did so many great things with it. I love that it's personal, it's about him, but it's also about other people. So he found that really good combination of inserting yourself into the story, but also making it about other people. But Earlonne, shocking. I can't believe anybody wants double cell status. I can't believe it.

[Amy Standen]

You know, the crazy part about it all is when you think of other sales outside of San Quentin, the width of those sales are bigger. So you got the skinny. San Quentin sale, where it's technically designed for one person.

[Nigel Poor]

Totally.

[Amy Standen]

You know, and let's just say it's.

[Nigel Poor]

Not a lot of room for one person.

[Amy Standen]

There's not a lot of room. You know, you got to get out the way. You got to. I mean, we've covered that in our episodes in the past. But. But, you know, you can't. Both of y' all can't be on the floor at the same time. You have to pass by, somebody gotta sit down, get out the way. And yeah, I can't see wanting to have a cellmate, period.

[Tom Nguyen]

Right.

[Nigel Poor]

That's what makes it such a good story is because it makes you contemplate something you absolutely cannot imagine wanting. But I really, I liked Ula when he said that. The celly. It's all the joy in the world to me. I don't remember the two guys names, but the way they talk about their relationship and Tony talks about his relationship with Squishy. I mean, the relationships are really strong in this episode, and it's surprising. And that's to me, what makes it such a compelling story?

[Amy Standen]

You know what the common denominator here is?

[Nigel Poor]

What's that?

[Amy Standen]

People that desire cellies are very loquacious.

[Nigel Poor]

Then who gets to do all the talking? Does that. You're right. Does that mean one of them is a listener? Because I know two or three of those guys are big talkers, but overall, great job, right?

[Amy Standen]

I think. Yeah, I think. Yeah. I think. Let's see.

[Nigel Poor]

Four very different stories.

[Amy Standen]

Four very different stories. I think San Pablo was the most impactful. I would give Tony story number two.

[Nigel Poor]

Okay.

[Amy Standen]

Not that Sadiq or Tom's story didn't fit in. In there, but just I would give them. I would give it in that order.

[Nigel Poor]

All right. It's gonna be great to see the guys and tell them in person how we responded to their stories.

[Amy Standen]

Okay.

[Nigel Poor]

And then talk to them about what they want to work on in the future.

[Amy Standen]

And if you're listening to this story and you have a vote, please go to our social and vote on the story that you like.

[Nigel Poor]

You mean who's gonna get the Pulitzer and who's gonna be the runner up?

[Amy Standen]

I just wanna make sure it ain't just me. You know, somebody might like the taffy story. You know, somebody might like Tom's story on the jeans.

[Nigel Poor]

You know, Taffy jeans.

[Amy Standen]

Taffy jeans. Selly and loquacious people. Thanks for sharing them with us, Amy. We appreciate it and look forward to seeing the men and talk about future stories.

[Nigel Poor]

Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Amy.

[Tom Nguyen]

Great to be here.

[Nigel Poor]

I'm Nigel Poor.

[Amy Standen]

And I'm Earlonne Woods. Thanks for listening. Radiotopia.

[Nigel Poor]

From prx.