Brandon’s Commentary
I spent several years in prison between 16 and 24 yrs old. Now I am Dr. Brandon Warren, Director of Reentry Services and Adjunct Professor for a College-in-Prison program. I make commentary relevant to those affected by the criminal justice system, especially reentry issues, correctional education, critical thinking and philosophy.
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Episodes
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
This year I decided to put together three BBQ's for our formerly incarcerated network. The plan was to hold one in Houston, one in Dallas, and one in Austin simultaneously. We couldn't get the coordination right with the Austin network but it went down in Houston and Dallas. I ran the one in Houston and Tracy ran the one in Dallas. Between the two of them we had about 50 people. This is the first of many more to come every April. They'll get bigger each year.
Saturday May 06, 2023
Saturday May 06, 2023
This is a recording of my public testimony on April 17 in Austin, Tx, in favor of House Bill 4251 which will create guidelines for college-in-prison programs that make use of Pell grants beginning in the Fall of 2023. I thought it was important to post this for those incarcerated so you can see that, even if you cannot vote in your state as a consequence of your conviction, you can still be politically active on issues you believe are important. In Texas, we cannot vote while on parole or probation.
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Marcus and I served time in prison together in the early 2000s. One of our favorite pastimes was to have heated arguments over religious ideology. We've both been out for over a decade now and I caught up with him to get his insight on prison reform, education, and reentry.
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Sunday Mar 26, 2023
Health insurance can be confusing and complex, especially to people just released from prison, as they deal with other basic needs like transportation, housing, and a job. Lynn Cowles of Foundation Communities in Austin, Tx. explains how returning citizens can get enrolled for health insurance within 60 days of their release from prison. She and I cover the basics of the Affordable Care Act and who to contact for help upon release.
Lynn Cowles contact information: Lynn Cowles, Outreach and Enrollment Specialist Pronouns: she/her/hers Foundation Communities | Prosper Centers | Health Coverage
Email: Lynn.Cowles@foundcom.org Phone: 512-522-3220
Web: www.foundcom.org
Brandon's Contact info.: Brandonscommentary@gmail.com
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Brandon's Commentary - YouTube
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https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
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Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
After a decade of being in-and-out of the legal system, which culminated in prison time, Susannah Bannon went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Austin. We talk about her experience in and out of jail and prison, popular stereotypes people have of "felons", her love for teaching, and the challenges faced upon reentering society.
Contact info.: Brandonscommentary@gmail.com
Find me on these other platforms
https://www.facebook.com/BrandonsCommentary
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.instagram.com/brandons.commentary/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
At 19 years old Tracy was sentenced to 50 years in prison. After serving more than 25 of those years he's here to tell us about that experience, his educational journey while incarcerated, and what he's been doing since his release in December 2020. He is currently a graduate student at the University of Texas at Arlington and serves as the Policy Director for the Texas Inmate Families Association.
For more on Tracy's seminary experience at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while incarcerated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4C94b5I42E&t=1s
Contact Brandon at: Brandonscommentary@gmail.com
Find me on these other platforms:
Brandon's Commentary - YouTube
https://www.facebook.com/
BrandonsCommentary https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.instagram.com/brandons.commentary/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Saturday Mar 04, 2023
Saturday Mar 04, 2023
After experiencing her own struggles with the legal system, drugs, and alcohol, Cheri Garcia founded a staffing agency directed to those in need of a second chance. She explains some of her motivation in starting the company and what she thinks is the most challenging aspect of reentry.
Cornbread Hustle: https://cornbreadhustle.com/
Cheri also has a huge presence on LinkedIn I'd encourage anyone dealing with the legal system to follow:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherigarcia/
Find me on these other platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/BrandonsCommentary
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.instagram.com/brandons.commentary/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Saturday Feb 25, 2023
Saturday Feb 25, 2023
During his 17 years of incarceration, Johnny finished a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science and Master's degree in Literature from the University of Houston Clear Lake. Now the founder of Prison II Purpose he is pursuing a career as a professor and advocate of prison reform.
Johnny can be contacted at: Mr.JohnnyWard1979@gmail.com
Contact info.: Brandonscommentary@gmail.com
Find me on these other platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/BrandonsCommentary
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.instagram.com/brandons.commentary/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
Sunday Feb 19, 2023
During his 18 years in prison, Quincy Moore finished two degrees that inspired a passion for business and entrepreneurship. After two years of release, he's moved up the salary scale through several jobs, began his own business, a nonprofit, and most recently, has been involved in local Houston-area politics.
Contact Quincy at: quincymow@gmail.com or 832-903-9000
Help improve the production value of Brandon's Commentary by checking out the Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2V1WRU7KO31P4?ref_=wl_share
Contact Brandon at brandonscommentary@gmail.com
Find me on these other platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/BrandonsCommentary
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
Thursday Feb 16, 2023
After years of being in and out of prison, Terrence Coffie turned everything around in a pursuit to get his education. After finishing degrees at New York University he's had the opportunity to teach there as a professor, and will soon be teaching for a prison education program. He started an organization confronting criminal justice issues and speaks on these issues regularly. Professor Coffie can be reached at: terrencelcoffie@gmail.com and you can follow him on his weekly internet show It's Coffie Time at: https://youtube.com/c/EducateDontIncarcerate
Help improve the production value of Brandon's Commentary by checking out the Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2V1WRU7KO31P4?ref_=wl_share
Brandon can be reached at Brandonscommentary@gmail.com or on the following platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/BrandonsCommentary
https://twitter.com/BdubsCommentary
https://www.instagram.com/brandons.commentary/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-l-warren-aa2b14141/
Beats by M5: M5ive87@gmail.com