Gray Area

Art by Mara J. Reynolds Corbett O’Toole is 72 and lives in a van in the desert. But her life story embodies the strength of empowered disabled people who are agents of change, people who, like Corbett, have made history and continue to do so. “Travels With Corbett” was co-produced and co-reported by Julie Reynolds and Mara J. Reynolds with guest reporting by Brenda Zorn. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

This is the story of John Spence, a Gros Ventre/Sioux elder who uses equine therapy to heal Native youth. Made in collaboration with The Imprint, Uncle John is part of the multimedia project Healing the Children of Horse Nations and was co-produced by Nancy Marie Spears. See grayareapodcast.com for detailed show notes and links.

Season 3 is on the way! Here’s the trailer for Gray Area Podcast, Season 3: ELDERS, including a sneak preview of Episode 1, Uncle John. Premiers April 3, 2024. Uncle John is produced by Julie Reynolds, Nancy Marie Spears and Mara J. Reynolds, published in partnership with The Imprint and Voices of Monterey Bay. More details, plus all our previous episodes, show notes and newsletter signup are on our website, GrayAreaPodcast.com.

In our final episode, Gilbert settles into a new home while he continues to work on solutions to violence and injustice. Then, just as he gets comfortable with his new normal, he ends up in a place he thought he’d left for good. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

It’s 2020. Just as Gilbert is adjusting to his new world outside prison, that world shuts down. Gilbert goes online during a year of joy and sorrow, until he and Marlena take to the streets to honor Manny. Soon, there’s a new development in the case of the deputy who killed him. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Free at last, Gilbert has to find his way through a world that’s changed dramatically over the 21 years he’s been in prison. Though he feels joy reuniting with loved ones, he also panics over the littlest things. Yet he sees this new world in ways the rest of us might take for granted. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

California lawmakers start paying attention to what neuroscientists are saying about the adolescent brain. Changes in the law now mean Gilbert suddenly has a chance for parole — years before he thought he would. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

SPECIAL EPISODE – Gilbert grew up in the shadow of the LA County Sheriff’s Department — ever since the day he was taken from home in a deputy’s patrol car at eight years old. This investigation looks at the darker side of that department’s legacy, and digs into a culture of criminality by law enforcement that still haunts the region today. Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of violence. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Gilbert’s penpal Rebecca flies to California from Texas so they can meet face to face. Even though Gilbert might not come home for years or even decades, a small piece of string in the prison visiting room changes the course of their relationship. But then a phone call to After Life producer Julie Reynolds Martinez shatters Gilbert’s world. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Gilbert’s younger brother Manny, who is also in prison, isn’t doing well. He’s deeply involved in prison gang “politics” and has spent years in the SHU — full-time solitary confinement. It’s taking a severe toll on Manny’s mental health. Saddened but knowing how dangerous isolation can be, Gilbert decides to do something about his own loneliness. He puts his name and picture on a prison penpal site, and wonders if anyone will write back. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Gilbert realizes he has a lot to learn when he meets a man who changes his outlook on the world. As he struggles to stay close to his young daughter in prison visiting rooms, he also discovers he has a gift for working with “at-risk” kids. Soon he and a handful of incarcerated men are starting to change not only themselves but the entire California prison system. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

It’s the late 1990s. Although no one was injured in the shoot-out he took part in, Gilbert is sentenced to 24 years to life in prison under California’s strict gang sentencing laws. While he technically has a shot at parole, almost no one with “life” in their sentence goes home, and he expects to die behind the walls. As he starts his term, Gilbert has to decide if he’ll play along with prison gang “politics” or find a way to stay —somehow, some way — in his 3-year-old daughter’s life. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara J. Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

AFTER LIFE: The untold story of how a group of incarcerated men reshaped rehabilitation in California Meet Gilbert Bao, who was sentenced to life in prison but found a new life after life. In our first episode, Gilbert takes us through his old neighborhoods as we explore the many factors and reasons why a frightened 8-year old from East Los Angeles grows up to become a man facing a life sentence. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez, Mara Reynolds and Gilbert Bao. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Four years in the making, our 10-part audio documentary launches November 21, 2022. This entire season focuses on the story of Gilbert Bao. While serving a life sentence, Gilbert helped lead a group of incarcerated men who have revolutionized the way we approach rehabilitation in California prisons. You may remember him from Season One, Episode Five: A Gray Winter’s Tale, where he shared his recipe for making his grandmother’s tamales while still in prison. And his story about it for Voices of Monterey Bay. Now on the other side of his life sentence—and so much more—Gilbert joins us as co-producer for this groundbreaking project. He recorded tape, conducted interviews, and helped shape our entire production—creating a truly unique, first-hand audio documentary series. Through the lens of Gilbert’s experiences, After Life explores how our criminal justice system reshapes communities, and how formerly incarcerated people like Gilbert are taking it upon themselves to step up where the system has failed to help…

In this episode, we explore how the law intersects with what can be the most intimate and difficult decision a person ever makes — if they get the chance: choosing how to die. Death is likely the most difficult thing we all face sooner or later. But mourning the death of a loved one can be harder still when they’ve decided to die. And then… there’s coming to terms with the fact that you supported this choice. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

As the days reach their shortest and coldest extremes here in the northern hemisphere, humans of every culture find reasons to come together and celebrate holidays, traditions, and community. We reached out to three people who’ve been separated from their communities, whether by their own actions, by force or by happenstance. We asked what they do to reclaim and redefine the spirit of community in the face of imprisonment, disaster, racism or displacement. Listen as they share their ideas for making your ‘white Christmas’ just a little more gray. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Lou Hammonds started out like lots of kids — playing Little League with neighbors and classmates, getting good grades and attending summer school just because he wanted to. But by the time he was a teenager, Lou was pursuing a career as a criminal. His goal was to keep up with other young men who had committed multiple homicides. That’s not the end of Lou’s story, though. Something unexpected happened inside a remote supermax prison’s walls that changed Lou for good. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

How can two brothers turn out so utterly different? Born 15 years apart to different fathers, Roy and Reynaldo found very different paths as they grew up. By the time he reached adulthood, Reynaldo decided he’d had enough of his brother’s criminal antics. After Roy died in prison, it took Reynaldo years before he was ready to try to make sense of the life his brother led — in fact, it took a dream. What we learned on this journey was more than just the shocking truth about Roy — we would uncover a connection to legendary criminals and folk heroes. We’d also dig deeply into the indigenous struggles of North America. Like many Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, Reynaldo assumed his family’s ties to their indigenous roots were severed centuries ago. But as we discovered, that rupture was not so far in the past. The trauma and scars remain alive in the present — from massacres and enslavement to lynchings, extermination and displacement. For Reynaldo what started as a search for insight about his brother turned…

How do you forgive the unforgivable? Cheryl Ward-Kaiser leads us down a path of shocking twists and turns. Her story contains detailed descriptions of violence, so it may not be appropriate for everyone. But by the end, we know you’ll understand why Cheryl’s story inspires us and needs to be heard. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

What makes a man decide to switch sides and buck everything he’s always stood for? Episode One is the surprisingly tender story of an ace prosecutor who goes from putting murderers and child abusers behind bars to — yikes — defending them. With some Gray Area twists and turns along the way, of course. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.

Introducing Gray Area, A Show About Justice and Redemption Gray Area tells the stories of people who are dealing with this whole thing we call justice, people who are trying to get beyond labels of right and wrong or good and evil to get to something bigger – redemption. We make documentaries for your ears. Produced by Julie Reynolds Martinez and Mara Reynolds. For detailed show notes, visit grayarepodcast.com.