Between The Lines: The Pod' With Ivana Rojas

Between The Lines Enterprises LLC
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  • Self-Improvement
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Hosted by Ivana Rojas, Between The Lines takes audiences behind the walls of the correctional facilities for a raw and unfiltered look at the true duality of human nature. We sit down directly with individuals serving time for severe offenses to uncover a profound reality, introducing you to some of the most deeply introspective minds you will ever hear. By sharing these untold stories of accountability and survival, we prove that genuine rehabilitation is possible and that a person is always more than their worst mistake. This podcast is not just an interview show; it is a blueprint for overcoming massive odds and a community for anyone fighting to rebuild their life from rock bottom. It is time to take the pen back, change the narrative, and read between the lines.

  1. 3d ago

    #26 - He Got 63 Years to Life for a Crime He Says He Didn’t Commit

    Edward Roy was 21 years old when he was sentenced to 63 years to life. In this episode of Between the Lines, Edward opens up about growing up in Compton, playing football, getting pulled into the streets, and the choices that made him a familiar face in his neighborhood. But Edward says the case he is serving time for is different. He says he was not at the scene of the crime he was convicted for. According to Edward, he knew the people involved, but he was not there when it happened. He says his conviction was built on witness identification, with no DNA, no camera footage, no gunshot residue, no weapon, and no physical evidence tying him to the crime. Edward is clear about one thing: he says he is wrongfully convicted, but not innocent of the lifestyle that put him in a position to be accused. Since being incarcerated, Edward says he has worked to change his thinking, step away from gang life, take accountability for the choices he did make, and become a better father, husband, brother, and man. One of the most emotional parts of this interview is Edward talking about losing his mother while in prison. Before she passed, she always told him to never stop fighting and to make his way home. Now, that is the promise he is trying to keep. This is a story about Compton, fatherhood, wrongful conviction, accountability, grief, resilience, and the fight to come home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. Aug 3

    #25 - He Spent 21 Years in Solitary Confinement Before Everything Changed

    Timothy Cook has been incarcerated for 35 years. When asked about his tattoo that says, “Hell Awaits.” He says that at the time, that phrase represented the way he saw himself, his future, and the world around him. Growing up in Ventura, Timothy says he was exposed to poverty, domestic violence, racism, street life, addiction, and trauma from an early age. By his teenage years, he was already in the streets, using violence as a way to survive, control his environment, and protect himself from fear. In prison, that mindset continued. Timothy says he spent 21 years in the SHU, struggled with heroin addiction for decades, and became known for drugs, violence, and power. He says he had no real plan to change — until God, sobriety, his wife, programming, and learning about trauma gave him the clarity to finally see himself differently. Now, after decades behind bars, Timothy says he is clean, married, learning emotional intelligence, participating in programs, and trying to help others understand that change is possible. This is a story about trauma, addiction, prison, accountability, faith, recovery, grace, and the long road toward becoming someone new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Jul 27

    #24 - After 7 Prison Terms, He Says He Finally Became a Man in His 50s

    Born in San Diego, Brian grew up as a Navy brat and says he came from a decent home. He played baseball, played football, and had opportunities — but the pull of gang life, street culture, money, anger, and identity led him down a path that kept bringing him back to prison. In this episode of Between the Lines, Brian opens up about his seven prison terms, his struggle with authority, the lifestyle that shaped him, and the mindset that followed him for decades. One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is when Brian talks about “the third man” — the mask he wore to hide his emotions, avoid vulnerability, and protect himself from being truly seen. Now, at 55, Brian says he did not start becoming a man until his 50s. Today, he says he wants to repair his relationships with his children, return to his community, and help young people understand who they are before the streets define them. This is a story about prison cycles, identity, fatherhood, faith, accountability, vulnerability, and becoming a different man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Jul 20

    #23 - After Years of Robberies, He Realized the Pain Started With His Father

    Frederick Bowden Jr. says he entered the streets at just 10 years old. Growing up in Los Angeles, Frederick carried deep resentment toward his father. He wanted him to be a better husband, a better father, and a better example of what a man should be. Instead, Frederick says he ran to the streets, learned the wrong version of manhood, and eventually wanted to become “worse” than his father. That pain shaped years of destructive choices. Now, after 22 years incarcerated, Frederick looks back with a completely different understanding. Through self-help work, education, accountability, and a powerful timeline exercise, he began to see how much of his hurt came from his relationship with his father. Before his father passed away, Frederick called him and told him he wanted to rebuild their relationship. His father agreed to stop drinking — and Frederick says he did. In one of the most emotional parts of this interview, Frederick shares how he was able to tell his father that he loved him, appreciated him, and forgave him before he passed away. In this episode of Between the Lines, Frederick opens up about childhood trauma, growing up in the streets, prison, fatherhood, his daughter’s words, the ripple effect of his choices, and the forgiveness that changed the way he sees himself and others. This is a story about resentment, accountability, fatherhood, healing, and the long road toward becoming a different man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. Jul 13

    #22 - Man Explains How He Walked Away From His Gang in Prison

    Alexis grew up in Union City in the East Bay Area, raised mostly by his mother. His father was alive, but not present in his life, and after losing a stepfather figure he had accepted, Alexis says he began drifting away from his family. At 14, he started running with a gang. At first, it felt like acceptance. It felt like belonging. But over time, what started small became more serious, and Alexis found himself living by a set of beliefs that pulled him farther from his family, his future, and the person he could have become. In this episode of Between the Lines, Alexis opens up about joining gang life, leaving it behind in prison, entering recovery, finding faith, and learning what accountability really means. He also speaks about the unconditional love of his mother, the moment he told her he was walking away from gang life, and the message he would give to his younger self: Mom was still waiting for you to come home. Today, Alexis says he is focused on recovery, faith, helping others, and proving through his actions that he is not the same person he used to be. This is a story about belonging, consequences, accountability, faith, recovery, a mother’s love, and the belief that it is never too late to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. Jul 6

    #21 - He Reached the Top of Gang Life… Then Realized It Gave Him Nothing

    Luis Lopez grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where the streets seemed to offer the things he felt were missing at home: acceptance, attention, money, status, and belonging.By 14, Luis says he had dedicated his life to gang culture. What started as a search for love and identity eventually led him into years of destructive choices, a life sentence, and the painful realization that the path he once gave everything to had given him nothing in return.In this episode of Between the Lines, Luis opens up about growing up as the oldest child, joining 18th Street, chasing reputation, becoming a father from prison, and the moment he realized the life he once believed in was not what he thought it was.Today, Luis says he is no longer the man he was in 2003.He has walked away from gang life, taken accountability for the harm he caused, and is working to become a better father, husband, and mentor. His message to young people is simple: it is not worth it.This conversation is about choices, consequences, fatherhood, accountability, and the possibility of change after years behind bars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Jun 29

    #20 - He Has Life Without Parole… Now He Mentors Young Men in Prison

    Joe Moore has been incarcerated for 23 years and is serving life without parole. For years, he says anger, trauma, and violence shaped the way he saw himself and the world around him. But after years in prison, Joe says one prayer changed the direction of his life. Today, he has earned multiple degrees, found purpose through mentorship, and now works with young men entering prison so they do not have to go through the same obstacles he did. He may never go home. But he says he wants to help someone else make it home to their family sooner than he ever will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. Jun 22

    #19 - Former Content Creator Now Serving Life in Prison

    Before prison, Donel was filming interviews, building a YouTube channel, and chasing a dream. Then one night changed the course of his life forever. In this conversation, he shares the story behind the 72-years-to-life sentence and the perspective he's gained since. Interviewee: Donel Poston Host: Ivana Rojas (@ivanareds) Interview Date: April 16, 2026 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

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Hosted by Ivana Rojas, Between The Lines takes audiences behind the walls of the correctional facilities for a raw and unfiltered look at the true duality of human nature. We sit down directly with individuals serving time for severe offenses to uncover a profound reality, introducing you to some of the most deeply introspective minds you will ever hear. By sharing these untold stories of accountability and survival, we prove that genuine rehabilitation is possible and that a person is always more than their worst mistake. This podcast is not just an interview show; it is a blueprint for overcoming massive odds and a community for anyone fighting to rebuild their life from rock bottom. It is time to take the pen back, change the narrative, and read between the lines.

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