Alexander Gibson | We Don't Smoke the Same podcast

We Don't Smoke The Same
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About this episode Guest Alexander Gibson shares his 11-year prison experience, detailing survival tactics like gaming marathons … AI summary

Guest Alexander Gibson shares his 11-year prison experience, detailing survival tactics like gaming marathons and improvised cooking, while discussing his successful transition into a SAG-eligible actor. The conversation covers specific anecdotes from his incarceration, including the culture of prison poker, the reality of rehabilitation, and his post-release hustle in the entertainment industry.

Key takeaways 5
  • Prison Gaming Culture: Inmates utilized PlayStation and Xbox consoles during overcrowding transfers to out-of-state facilities, with some playing single-player games like Red Dead Redemption for up to 36 hours straight during lockdowns.
  • Acting Career Path: Gibson achieved SAG eligibility not through traditional background acting accumulation, but by being cast in a recurring role on the series 'The Curse' (starring Emma Stone), which granted automatic eligibility.
  • Prison Economy: Inmates played poker using paper chips made from cut-up pancake decks, with a 'bank' system to track debts and a 'rake' taken by the house or used to balance debts when players were transferred.
  • Rehabilitation Reality: The guest notes that short sentences (6 months to 2 years) often fail to provide rehabilitation, leading to high recidivism, whereas longer sentences force inmates to confront the reality of their situation.
  • Prison Cooking: A popular prison dish called 'spread' consists of noodles, beans, sausage, pork rinds, hot Cheetos, Doritos, mayo, cheese, Sriracha, and squeeze sauce, often prepared using improvised heating methods like sanded-down bunk frames.
Notable quotes 4 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
  • “I think I would be honestly if I would have not have gotten locked up on the path I was on I probably would have died. I probably would have died or I probably would have caught life.”
    ▶ 39:03 Gibson reflecting on how his incarceration, while traumatic, potentially saved his life by removing him from a destructive trajectory.
  • “There is no rehabilitation in CDC PCR... People that come in dog will get short time and they're coming right back most of the time.”
    ▶ 34:37 Gibson's critique of the California prison system's failure to rehabilitate inmates serving shorter sentences.
  • “I was literally be stuck on that [ __ ] for like like around the clock. Like literally, I'm pretty sure I I did like a 36-hour run one day.”
    ▶ 28:02 Describing his intense gaming habits while incarcerated during lockdowns.
  • “You need three [gold vouchers]. So I was I worked my way up to two vouchers and I was like, 'Fuck, I'm gonna get my second one, my third one.'... That turned me into an automatic eligible.”
    Explaining how he bypassed the traditional multi-year grind for SAG membership by landing a major role.

Chapters & Sections (89)

4:50 Podcast Introduction and Upcoming Plans chapter 2
4:50 Podcast Introduction and Upcoming Guest Plans
8:57 Recap of Recent Night's Exciting Events
11:30 LAFC Hello Kitty Night Event Experience chapter 3
11:30 LAFC Game Experience and Security Issues
14:27 Disastrous Experience at a Sports Event
16:42 Celebrating a Sports Team's Victory
18:54 Confrontation and Aggression in a Workplace Setting chapter 2
18:54 Experience at a Soccer Game
21:14 Adjusting to Life After Incarceration
23:21 Gaming Experiences and Xbox Console Features chapter 3
23:21 Gaming Experiences and Online Community Interactions
25:27 Life in Prison: Cellmate Relationships and Transfers
26:46 Life in Prison: Gaming and Entertainment
28:40 Addiction to Lean and Video Game Marathons chapter 3
28:40 Addiction to Lean and Video Game Marathons
30:25 Overcoming Anger and Finding Inner Peace
32:01 Physical Altercations and Street Fights
33:15 Juvenile Justice System Failures and Rehabilitation chapter 2
33:15 Rehabilitation in Juvenile and Adult Prisons
35:34 Life Inside Prison Facilities and Mental Struggles
37:30 Experiences in the Juvenile System and County Jail chapter 3
37:30 Experiences in the Juvenile and Prison Systems
39:14 Early Life Experiences and Creative Expression
40:27 Late Night Gatherings in Prison
42:01 R. Kelly's Music and Prison Life chapter 2
42:01 R. Kelly's Music and Prison Life
43:36 Jeffrey Epstein's Death and Possible Conspiracy
46:01 Paranormal Activity in Prisons chapter 3
46:01 Paranormal Activity in Prison Rumors and Experiences
47:59 Poker Game Management and Financial Balance
49:35 Learning and Playing Card Games
51:03 First Day Out and Initial Experiences chapter 2
51:03 First Day Out and Initial Experiences
52:50 Prison Life and Post-Release Adjustments
55:04 Dating and Relationships in Prison chapter 3
55:04 Dating and Relationships in Prison
56:37 Trauma Bonding and Relationships in Prison
58:10 Experiences with Domestic Violence and Crime
1:00:44 The Ethics of Animal Slaughter and Hunting chapter 2
1:00:44 Raising Children for Hunting and Fishing
1:01:56 Humane Killing Methods for Fish
1:04:50 Cultural Identity and Family Heritage Explained chapter 3
1:04:50 Cultural Identity and Family Heritage Explained
1:06:22 Career Advancement in the Entertainment Industry
1:08:06 Portraying Complex Characters in Film Roles
1:11:06 Diverse Acting Experience and Career Development chapter 2
1:11:06 Diverse Acting Experience and Skill Development
1:13:24 Breaking into the Acting Union
1:15:29 Breaking into the Entertainment Industry chapter 2
1:15:29 Breaking into the Entertainment Industry
1:17:16 Industry Insider Shares Production Experience
1:19:45 Overcoming Adversity and Setting a Positive Example chapter 3
1:19:45 Overcoming Adversity and Setting a Positive Example
1:21:16 Rivalry and Aggression Over Collectible Items
1:22:39 Trolling and Online Community Dynamics
1:24:34 Commercial Work and Compensation Discussion chapter 4
1:24:34 Commercial Work and Compensation Expectations
1:26:05 The Psychology of Commercials and Advertising
1:28:24 Pressure to Conform in the Acting Industry
1:29:40 Payment Structure for Movie Stunts and Nudity
1:30:58 The Price of Nudity in Media chapter 3
1:30:58 The Price of Nudity in Media
1:32:35 Negotiating Rent and Financial Obligations
1:33:58 Prison Life and Hooping in Correctional Facilities
1:37:22 Homemade Spread Recipe and Cooking Techniques chapter 4
1:37:22 Homemade Spread Recipes and Cooking Techniques
1:39:06 Food Preferences and Prison Cooking Experiences
1:40:53 Surviving in Prison with Limited Resources
1:42:32 Escape Plans and Prison Life Strategies
1:44:24 Prison Sentence and Time Off Incentives chapter 2
1:44:24 Prison Sentence and Time Off Incentives
1:46:48 Morning Routine and Lifestyle Challenges
1:48:47 Celebrating 710 with the Community chapter 3
1:48:47 Celebrating 710 with Music and Weed
1:51:23 Live Chat Interaction and Community Engagement
1:52:46 Experiences with Spreads in Urban Culture
1:55:10 Parenting and Financial Responsibilities chapter 2
1:55:10 Parenting and Financial Responsibilities
1:57:08 Career Impact of Controversial Roles in Entertainment
1:59:22 Gang Culture and Reality TV Influences chapter 2
1:59:22 Gang Culture and Reality TV Influences
2:01:06 Financial Struggles and Middle Class Living
2:03:40 Online Community Engagement and Personal Rants chapter 5
2:03:40 Online Community Engagement and Personal Rants
2:05:47 Live Streaming and Super Chat Discussion
2:07:16 Awarding Winners of a Glass Rig Contest
2:08:45 Patreon Giveaway and Chat Room Management
2:11:29 Upcoming Projects and Collaborations Discussed

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