February 8, 2024 • 19 mins
When the bonds of family are tested by the unforgiving gears of the justice system, it's the strength of our unity that forges pathways to hope. This episode of Coffee with a Twist is a profoundly personal update on my brother's harrowing journey through incarceration, where I, Madam Ballou, share the victories and ongoing battles as we secure crucial medical attention for him and cautiously partner with a legal team amidst the complexities of his case. Through this ordeal, I've uncovered the might of organized teamwork, and I divulge the strategy that has been our lantern in the dark—a heartfelt tale that intertwines with the commitments and personal growth I'm embracing to kickstart this year.
Gratitude pours from my heart as this week's dialogue concludes, reflecting on the incredible support and stories that have intertwined with mine since the inception of this podcast. While upcoming training might momentarily quiet my presence on your feeds, the promise of crafting episodes brimming with meaning and engagement remains unshaken. I leave you with anticipation for the rich discussions to come and a wish for a splendid week and a delightful weekend. Let's continue this journey together, and until we next share this space, thank you for allowing my voice and experiences to be a part of your lives.
Thanks for listening coffee with a twist.
Email me at: coffeewitatwist@gmail.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey guys, welcome to coffee.
With the twist, you're herewith madam blue.
I hope everyone had a greatweek and looking forward to
their weekend.
This probably won't be too longof an episode.
I'm actually Doing this one Fora response to a couple of
(00:21):
comments and questions that I'vegotten About a some episode I
did a while back Um, with theprison system and things like
that and some stuff that wasgoing on with my brother.
I'd use this platform to Try toreach a little further.
Some people are wanting updateson that.
(00:43):
So First, as you guys know, Ijust want to put that this out
here.
This is not typically what mypodcast is about.
It's good, nothing withpolitics and and and just that
those conversations you see onthe news that pulled you down
(01:06):
Again.
I had put that episode outthere to For help.
I'm hoping it can reach someonethat could help us and things
like that, and also, of course,to like get it off my chest and
Speak to you guys, because, asyou guys know, I used this as my
I Guess like sounding board ina sense, but I can't say too
(01:31):
much about it, and that isbecause there are some movements
being made.
We were able to obtain Counselthat will be helping us Move
some things forward.
Unfortunately, the particularplace that my brother is located
at is unfortunately, like inthe top, in the top 10 worst
(01:57):
prisons to be in.
So I don't want to say too muchbeing the fact that we are
moving forward with some things.
But for the people who reachedout Asking questions, wondering
if my brother's okay, my brotheris okay.
He's much better.
We were able to get him themedical attention that he needed
(02:19):
.
It took a lot of work, guys ohmy god, like a lot of work on.
We had about three or fourfamily members To tackle this
process and I'm sorry that Isound so vague and things like
that.
Again, it is still kind of likean open case and I don't want
(02:40):
to.
I can't actually say.
But so much, especially withthis being so on the public
platform.
But I Definitely wanted to jumpon here because I Appreciate
the outreach.
But, yes, he's good.
We got him what he needed fornow and we were able to take it
(03:04):
a little bit further and get afew more things done that he had
some issues with even priormonths, before this incident
even happened.
So you know, overall he's doingwell.
We have things in the works.
Like I was starting to say, ittook about four family members,
(03:26):
including myself, to Get thingskind of resolved and into a
better spot.
We each had to like take whatdo you call it?
Not really like.
We each had to take a Like adepartment and work that
(03:47):
department.
In a sense, you had this set ofnumbers.
Or you make phone calls, Ishoot emails, you do this, you
know, and it was a daily thing.
We did that daily for fourweeks and um, it paid off for
the most part and the hardestthing to it is keeping your cool
through it.
(04:08):
You know, I think they're soused to dealing with criminals
or certain type of people towhere they just are nasty folks,
you know, when they try to makea lot of red tape for us.
So it really helped to havekind of a team.
I felt like I was like like ascrum master for work.
(04:31):
I scrum master too, but it'slike like I was a scrum master
but for this project.
So it paid off overall.
But I definitely want to say,like, if you have any loved ones
, in certain situations it doestake a village.
I know it's hard work, but itdefinitely takes a village and
(04:54):
you got to assign people tasksto do daily.
And, you know, before I wouldgo to bed at night, I would
shoot out a mass text hey, youknow, reminding.
Hey, remember, start our callsthen, or start doing this at
nine, or you know.
And then we kept it all in thegroup chat so that we could, you
(05:14):
know, know where things are.
At that way, if someone didanswer, or if someone did
respond, all the informationthey needed was right there,
versus trying to call around andor, you know, you get someone
and don't know what to say.
So that was helpful.
So I'm thankful for the, forfamily members, my brothers,
(05:36):
thankful for everyone.
And yeah, we'll see what comesof it.
And as things unravel and I'mable to really talk about the
situation, I promise you guys, Iwill and I promise you this as
well Once things go where weneed it to go, I will even take
(06:03):
it a step further and we'll doan episode with my brother, and
he can, and that will probablybe a long one, not one episode,
but it'll be.
I'll make a series on that andwe you'll get it all.
You'll get it all, I promise.
But I did not want any of mylisteners that commented and
(06:26):
asked and concerned.
That's my son, he's awake.
I didn't want you guys to thinkI was ignoring, because I'm not
, so I just thought it would bebest to come on here, do a quick
episode.
I say quick, but at leastannounce it in this episode so
you guys know that we're good.
(06:47):
But yeah, yeah, so hopeeveryone's looking forward to
their weekend.
My weekend consists of training.
So I think I told you guys youknow I'm trying to start the
year off strong.
January, I set things up, andthen February and March into
(07:09):
April, things are being executed.
So I finished my one class, mytwo day training, on Tuesday.
See, this is why I get noprivacy.
I finished, I did a one dayclass on Saturday and then now
(07:31):
for the next two weekends I havecertification courses that I'm
taking and the thing is the oneI just finished on Tuesday I
need to set some time aside,study and then take the exam.
So I'm hoping within the nextweek or two I will, you know,
(07:55):
have that done.
But I'm busy this month.
So I've been trying my hardestto put out little tidbits here
for episodes.
It's hard, it's hard.
You guys got to remember when Istarted this podcast I wasn't
working and it was COVID, so Ihad a little more time, a little
(08:19):
bit more time on my hands thanI do now.
Life definitely changes busyschedules, things like that, my
son's in school, and then afterschool we typically have speech
and stuff.
So we're running around andagain I work.
But but yeah, we're, we'redefinitely, I'm definitely, you
(08:45):
know, trying to be posting morecontent for you guys.
So, as always, please send metopics or or what have you that
you know I should discuss, or orask me questions.
That brings me on here to talkabout.
If ask me a question or acouple of questions, and I'll,
(09:05):
you know, take that, thosequestions and make an episode
out of it.
If people want to know thingsabout me at some point because
I'm sure I have all differentlisteners I will go into a
little bit more of like mymother, motherhood for me and
(09:26):
with my child, who's speechdelayed.
I don't talk about him much onhere, just little pieces, but
you know, just wasn't fullythere yet, but overall he's been
doing really well.
I'm very proud of him.
He gets private speech andspeech at school and it's really
(09:50):
paying off and you know we're,we're getting there, so I don't
talk about it much because Ijust don't want to jinx anything
.
I just try to I kind of gothrough life with that, one by
myself, comments kind of tomyself and and pray at night.
Things, you know, go the way Ineed it to go.
(10:11):
I don't try to jump the gun toomuch.
So that is the main reason whyI don't discuss it much.
I don't I try not to get tooexcited, you know, and things
like that, even though thingsare progressing.
But it's like it's, it's it's.
It's a scary, worrisome typeprocess.
(10:36):
I guess is the best way to sayit for anyone who might be going
through similar.
But it's, it's hard to forminto words and put it out there,
but at some point you guys willhear more about it.
So that also will be probably asegment that I have coming down
(10:57):
the pipeline once I feel alittle bit more comfortable
discussing it.
Yes, light, but yeah, so I maytry to do another episode.
I'm gonna try guys, I'm gonnatry my hardest the next couple
of weeks to put out more for youguys with more substance.
(11:22):
Like I said today, I justwanted to really jump in and
respond to those comments andalso say how grateful I am.
I also need to thank you allfor sharing and telling people
about my podcast or peoplecoming across it, because last
(11:43):
year's numbers I got my ratingsand what have you in my podcast
was up by plus like 200%, whichis amazing.
And thank you Germany, likehave a huge fan base there.
(12:04):
Thank you so much.
Thank you everyone you knowwho's listening and sharing and
coming across it and wannalisten to it and we ramble it.
I'm very, very happy.
So it really seeing thosestatistics really made me wanna,
like, put out more, and I meanthe guy, the guy, everyone
(12:25):
that's listened to me from dayone.
You know, last year I didn'tput out much, you know, and for
my numbers to look like that,I'm like that's amazing.
So I'm really trying my hardestto get give you guys more
content, you know, and hopefullyit keeps going, you know, up
and up, and I just thank youguys for sticking with me
(12:48):
sharing things, commenting.
Please, you know, leave reviews,you know, on my podcast or
certain episodes.
I appreciate I do read them, Ido see them.
So please, you know, I wouldappreciate it.
(13:10):
That's like the best thing youcan do for me is give me a
review.
I would be happy with that andas well.
Just my information and email isand typically in all the
episodes where you can email mepersonally, things like that, I
check it.
I even check the spam.
(13:32):
If I didn't get it I apologizeor what have you.
But last I checked I didn'thave anything new.
No new emails from anyone, nonew comments, reviews.
But please, thank you guys,leave reviews, keep listening,
help me with topics.
(13:52):
I don't wanna recycle, recycle,but yeah, I'm just really
grateful and really, reallyhappy.
But I will end it there.
Again, I hope you guys have agreat rest of the week and
looking forward to your weekend.
I will be in touch, hopefullysooner than later, but at least
(14:16):
you guys know, if you don't hearfrom me for the next two weeks
it's training, just trying toget all that done, but more than
likely I'm gonna try to putsomething out that's more
meaningful and a good episodefor you guys.
But thank you all for listeningand the ones that have been
with me since day one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(14:36):
It means a lot, but yes, I willend it there.
Thank you for joining Coffeewith a Twist, madam Bullo.
Hey guys, welcome to coffee.
With the twist, you're herewith madam blue.
I hope everyone had a greatweek and looking forward to
their weekend.
This probably won't be too longof an episode.
I'm actually Doing this one Fora response to a couple of
(00:21):
comments and questions that I'vegotten About a some episode I
did a while back Um, with theprison system and things like
that and some stuff that wasgoing on with my brother.
I'd use this platform to Try toreach a little further.
Some people are wanting updateson that.
(00:43):
So First, as you guys know, Ijust want to put that this out
here.
This is not typically what mypodcast is about.
It's good, nothing withpolitics and and and just that
those conversations you see onthe news that pulled you down
(01:06):
Again.
I had put that episode outthere to For help.
I'm hoping it can reach someonethat could help us and things
like that, and also, of course,to like get it off my chest and
Speak to you guys, because, asyou guys know, I used this as my
I Guess like sounding board ina sense, but I can't say too
(01:31):
much about it, and that isbecause there are some movements
being made.
We were able to obtain Counselthat will be helping us Move
some things forward.
Unfortunately, the particularplace that my brother is located
at is unfortunately, like inthe top, in the top 10 worst
(01:57):
prisons to be in.
So I don't want to say too muchbeing the fact that we are
moving forward with some things.
But for the people who reachedout Asking questions, wondering
if my brother's okay, my brotheris okay.
He's much better.
We were able to get him themedical attention that he needed
(02:19):
.
It took a lot of work, guys ohmy god, like a lot of work on.
We had about three or fourfamily members To tackle this
process and I'm sorry that Isound so vague and things like
that.
Again, it is still kind of likean open case and I don't want
(02:40):
to.
I can't actually say.
But so much, especially withthis being so on the public
platform.
But I Definitely wanted to jumpon here because I Appreciate
the outreach.
But, yes, he's good.
We got him what he needed fornow and we were able to take it
(03:04):
a little bit further and get afew more things done that he had
some issues with even priormonths, before this incident
even happened.
So you know, overall he's doingwell.
We have things in the works.
Like I was starting to say, ittook about four family members,
(03:26):
including myself, to Get thingskind of resolved and into a
better spot.
We each had to like take whatdo you call it?
Not really like.
We each had to take a Like adepartment and work that
(03:47):
department.
In a sense, you had this set ofnumbers.
Or you make phone calls, Ishoot emails, you do this, you
know, and it was a daily thing.
We did that daily for fourweeks and um, it paid off for
the most part and the hardestthing to it is keeping your cool
through it.
(04:08):
You know, I think they're soused to dealing with criminals
or certain type of people towhere they just are nasty folks,
you know, when they try to makea lot of red tape for us.
So it really helped to havekind of a team.
I felt like I was like like ascrum master for work.
(04:31):
I scrum master too, but it'slike like I was a scrum master
but for this project.
So it paid off overall.
But I definitely want to say,like, if you have any loved ones
, in certain situations it doestake a village.
I know it's hard work, but itdefinitely takes a village and
(04:54):
you got to assign people tasksto do daily.
And, you know, before I wouldgo to bed at night, I would
shoot out a mass text hey, youknow, reminding.
Hey, remember, start our callsthen, or start doing this at
nine, or you know.
And then we kept it all in thegroup chat so that we could, you
(05:14):
know, know where things are.
At that way, if someone didanswer, or if someone did
respond, all the informationthey needed was right there,
versus trying to call around andor, you know, you get someone
and don't know what to say.
So that was helpful.
So I'm thankful for the, forfamily members, my brothers,
(05:36):
thankful for everyone.
And yeah, we'll see what comesof it.
And as things unravel and I'mable to really talk about the
situation, I promise you guys, Iwill and I promise you this as
well Once things go where weneed it to go, I will even take
(06:03):
it a step further and we'll doan episode with my brother, and
he can, and that will probablybe a long one, not one episode,
but it'll be.
I'll make a series on that andwe you'll get it all.
You'll get it all, I promise.
But I did not want any of mylisteners that commented and
(06:26):
asked and concerned.
That's my son, he's awake.
I didn't want you guys to thinkI was ignoring, because I'm not
, so I just thought it would bebest to come on here, do a quick
episode.
I say quick, but at leastannounce it in this episode so
you guys know that we're good.
(06:47):
But yeah, yeah, so hopeeveryone's looking forward to
their weekend.
My weekend consists of training.
So I think I told you guys youknow I'm trying to start the
year off strong.
January, I set things up, andthen February and March into
(07:09):
April, things are being executed.
So I finished my one class, mytwo day training, on Tuesday.
See, this is why I get noprivacy.
I finished, I did a one dayclass on Saturday and then now
(07:31):
for the next two weekends I havecertification courses that I'm
taking and the thing is the oneI just finished on Tuesday I
need to set some time aside,study and then take the exam.
So I'm hoping within the nextweek or two I will, you know,
(07:55):
have that done.
But I'm busy this month.
So I've been trying my hardestto put out little tidbits here
for episodes.
It's hard, it's hard.
You guys got to remember when Istarted this podcast I wasn't
working and it was COVID, so Ihad a little more time, a little
(08:19):
bit more time on my hands thanI do now.
Life definitely changes busyschedules, things like that, my
son's in school, and then afterschool we typically have speech
and stuff.
So we're running around andagain I work.
But but yeah, we're, we'redefinitely, I'm definitely, you
(08:45):
know, trying to be posting morecontent for you guys.
So, as always, please send metopics or or what have you that
you know I should discuss, or orask me questions.
That brings me on here to talkabout.
If ask me a question or acouple of questions, and I'll,
(09:05):
you know, take that, thosequestions and make an episode
out of it.
If people want to know thingsabout me at some point because
I'm sure I have all differentlisteners I will go into a
little bit more of like mymother, motherhood for me and
(09:26):
with my child, who's speechdelayed.
I don't talk about him much onhere, just little pieces, but
you know, just wasn't fullythere yet, but overall he's been
doing really well.
I'm very proud of him.
He gets private speech andspeech at school and it's really
(09:50):
paying off and you know we're,we're getting there, so I don't
talk about it much because Ijust don't want to jinx anything
.
I just try to I kind of gothrough life with that, one by
myself, comments kind of tomyself and and pray at night.
Things, you know, go the way Ineed it to go.
(10:11):
I don't try to jump the gun toomuch.
So that is the main reason whyI don't discuss it much.
I don't I try not to get tooexcited, you know, and things
like that, even though thingsare progressing.
But it's like it's, it's it's.
It's a scary, worrisome typeprocess.
(10:36):
I guess is the best way to sayit for anyone who might be going
through similar.
But it's, it's hard to forminto words and put it out there,
but at some point you guys willhear more about it.
So that also will be probably asegment that I have coming down
(10:57):
the pipeline once I feel alittle bit more comfortable
discussing it.
Yes, light, but yeah, so I maytry to do another episode.
I'm gonna try guys, I'm gonnatry my hardest the next couple
of weeks to put out more for youguys with more substance.
(11:22):
Like I said today, I justwanted to really jump in and
respond to those comments andalso say how grateful I am.
I also need to thank you allfor sharing and telling people
about my podcast or peoplecoming across it, because last
(11:43):
year's numbers I got my ratingsand what have you in my podcast
was up by plus like 200%, whichis amazing.
And thank you Germany, likehave a huge fan base there.
(12:04):
Thank you so much.
Thank you everyone you knowwho's listening and sharing and
coming across it and wannalisten to it and we ramble it.
I'm very, very happy.
So it really seeing thosestatistics really made me wanna,
like, put out more, and I meanthe guy, the guy, everyone
(12:25):
that's listened to me from dayone.
You know, last year I didn'tput out much, you know, and for
my numbers to look like that,I'm like that's amazing.
So I'm really trying my hardestto get give you guys more
content, you know, and hopefullyit keeps going, you know, up
and up, and I just thank youguys for sticking with me
(12:48):
sharing things, commenting.
Please, you know, leave reviews,you know, on my podcast or
certain episodes.
I appreciate I do read them, Ido see them.
So please, you know, I wouldappreciate it.
(13:10):
That's like the best thing youcan do for me is give me a
review.
I would be happy with that andas well.
Just my information and email isand typically in all the
episodes where you can email mepersonally, things like that, I
check it.
I even check the spam.
(13:32):
If I didn't get it I apologizeor what have you.
But last I checked I didn'thave anything new.
No new emails from anyone, nonew comments, reviews.
But please, thank you guys,leave reviews, keep listening,
help me with topics.
(13:52):
I don't wanna recycle, recycle,but yeah, I'm just really
grateful and really, reallyhappy.
But I will end it there.
Again, I hope you guys have agreat rest of the week and
looking forward to your weekend.
I will be in touch, hopefullysooner than later, but at least
(14:16):
you guys know, if you don't hearfrom me for the next two weeks
it's training, just trying toget all that done, but more than
likely I'm gonna try to putsomething out that's more
meaningful and a good episodefor you guys.
But thank you all for listeningand the ones that have been
with me since day one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(14:36):
It means a lot, but yes, I willend it there.
Thank you for joining Coffeewith a Twist, madam Bullo.
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