Back before the pandemic, Nigel and Earlonne joined Jenn White (WAMU’s 1A, formerly WBEZ) on stage in Chicago for a conversation about how Ear Hustle came to be and some of the show’s most memorable moments. As always, thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Acting Warden Ron Broomfield for their support of the show. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 35 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Incarceration doesn’t just separate a parent from his or her child, it changes that relationship forever, often leaving wounds that may never heal. We talk with kids who have incarcerated parents, as well as a formerly incarcerated mom of four, and hear why sometimes acceptance is the only way forward. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Oct 21, 2020•44 min•Season 6Ep. 4
For our first-annual Ear Hustle Cook Off, four formerly-incarcerated people replicate meals they used to make inside their cells, using only the tools and ingredients they would have had access to in prison. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Acting Warden Ron Broomfield for their support of the show. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Oct 07, 2020•46 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Six cubic feet. That’s how much stuff each incarcerated person in California is allowed to have in his or her cell. The few personal objects you keep with you in prison are precious. But what’s left behind can be just as meaningful, as relics of a former life. Now available on our website: Ear Hustle face masks ! Bonus: 100% of profits from merch sales through September 30th will go to the Prison University Project. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Acting Warden Ron Broomfield for their support of...
Sep 23, 2020•52 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Being incarcerated doesn’t always mean staying in one place. Ear Hustle kicks off Season Six with stories from inside the vans and buses that carry people to and between prisons. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Acting Warden Ron Broomfield for their support. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com. The National Suicide Prevention Line can be reached at 800-273-8255. Aly Tamboura, who appears in this episode, now works for the C...
Sep 09, 2020•51 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Ear Hustle will be back with new episodes starting September 9. In the meantime, we talk with people experiencing the COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin and other California prisons, firsthand. Plus, we’re not the only podcast sharing stories and highlighting voices from prison and post-incarceration. Here are a few other shows to check out over the summer: The Secret Life of Prisons , from the Prison Radio Association in the UK Featured in this episode: “The Arrival” Birds Eye View , made by wome...
Jul 22, 2020•33 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Getting out of prison means freedom, but this liberation often comes with caveats. In our final episode of the season, three formerly incarcerated people describe the unwelcome surprises that were waiting for them on the other side of the gates. Plus, Ear Hustlers respond to the murder of George Floyd and recent protests. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Acting Warden Ron Broomfield for their support. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Find a full list of episode credits at ear...
Jun 10, 2020•56 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Hollywood loves stories about fugitives on the run, but in reality that lifestyle is anything but glamorous, especially for those who get pulled in along the way. One woman reflects back on six years spent on the lam in Mexico, after her husband was charged with murder and their family fled south. We’re nearing the end of our first-ever spring fundraiser, and we need your help. If you can spare a little to support the show, go to earhustlesq.com/donate . Thank you! Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and...
May 27, 2020•46 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Every season we answer questions from listeners in our Catch a Kite episode. This time around, formerly incarcerated people lend their experiences and lessons learned to a group of kids currently incarcerated at a juvenile facility in Madison, Wisconsin. We’re in the middle of our first-ever spring fundraiser. If you can spare a little to support the show, go to earhustlesq.com/donate . Thank you! And check out our new, limited-edition T-shirt , featuring an illustration by listener Anna Hicks. ...
May 13, 2020•43 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Four women share their stories of loving incarcerated men, and the challenges they face in maintaining their relationships, staying hopeful about an eventual reunion, and carrying on with their lives on the outside. We just launched a month-long fundraiser. If you can spare a little to support the show, go to earhustlesq.com/donate . Thank you! And check out our new, limited-edition T-shirt , featuring an illustration by listener Anna Hicks. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX....
Apr 29, 2020•46 min•Season 5Ep. 5
One crime is treated differently than all others, both inside and outside prison. People who commit sex crimes against children are often ostracized, abused by fellow inmates, and deemed beyond rehabilitation. On this episode, we talk to victims and perpetrators about the causes for, and impacts of, these crimes. A note: This episode includes disturbing content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Please use discretion in listening. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. T...
Apr 15, 2020•53 min•Season 5Ep. 4
The relationships between incarcerated people and the correctional officers who guard their prisons are often as bad as you might expect. But sometimes, they’re a lot more complicated. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter or send a question (by postcard) that might get answered in a future episode. We particularly want to hear from incarcerated people and their families about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting them. Informa...
Apr 01, 2020•56 min•Season 5Ep. 3
As the Coronavirus pandemic locks down parts of America and the world, we revisit an episode from 2018 about how the San Quentin community manages a prison lockdown. During a San Quentin lockdown, the prison grinds to a halt, and men are confined to their cells 24 hours a day. What causes a lockdown, and how do guys survive the wait when boredom, uncertainty, hunger and isolation can push them over the edge? A heads-up: this episode contains discussion of suicide and self-harm — listener discret...
Mar 18, 2020•42 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In prison, almost everyone has a nickname, and whether true or not, nearly every nickname has a story behind it. If that story is good enough, it might just become the stuff of legend. A heads-up: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter and get the details on our T-shirt design contest. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks to...
Mar 04, 2020•40 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In honor of the launch of “Over the Road,” Radiotopia’s new show about long-haul trucking, Earlonne and Nigel talk with a formerly incarcerated truck driver about being a woman in a male-dominated profession, and about how she stays safe on the open road. This episode is part of a network-wide project to welcome “ Over the Road ” into the Radiotopia family. Head to overtheroad.fm for more information about the show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Feb 20, 2020•11 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Back in 2016, our podcast network, Radiotopia, made the Ear Hustle dream a reality. In honor of Radiotopia’s annual fundraiser, Nigel and Earlonne dream a little about what other podcasts they might make one day. To support the network that supports Ear Hustle’s dreams, visit radiotopia.fm today. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Nov 27, 2019•6 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Surprise! In this season four bonus episode, Earlonne sits down with Ear Hustle co-founder and sound design contributor, Antwan “Banks” Williams, who was recently released from San Quentin after serving 13 years in prison. The two talk about Antwan’s time inside, the person he’s become during those years, his work with Ear Hustle and his musical ambitions for the future. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, st...
Nov 15, 2019•23 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Tom was a cop; Jason was a teenager in a gang. One night in 1997, they had a violent encounter that Tom describes as “inevitable.” In our season finale, Tom and Jason relate the story of that night, and the series of events that unfolded in the years afterward. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Warden ...
Oct 16, 2019•44 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Historically, death sentences in California have led to eventual execution by the state. But these days, public opinion and state protocol are in flux, and the future is uncertain for those on death row at San Quentin. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robinson and Warden Ron Davis for their support of the show, an...
Oct 02, 2019•41 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Sleep, soundtracks and signing in prison — the Ear Hustle crew tackles questions from listeners about these topics and more, in this season’s “Catch a Kite” episode. Plus, we’ll share some of our favorite listener-generated Ear Hustle theme remixes. Spoiler alert: harps ahead. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks to Lt. Sam Robi...
Sep 11, 2019•32 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Getting a job after serving time is crucial to rebuilding your life, but a criminal record inevitably gets in the way. Four people share stories about how their time inside both helped prep them for jobs outside and impacted their getting back to work. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also download and remix our theme song (remixes are due Aug. 31, so get yours in soon!!), sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a p...
Aug 28, 2019•38 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Running a prison takes a lot of work, and not just by the staff running the place. At San Quentin inmates work regular jobs, earn pennies on the hour and often supplement their income with a side hustle. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also download and remix our theme song (do it!), sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks also to Lt. Sam Robinson and Warden Ron Davis...
Aug 14, 2019•41 min•Season 4Ep. 6
I think we can all agree: It’s high time we devoted a full episode to the music of San Quentin. Thanks to all of the musicians who talked with us for this episode, and shared their songs. Find a full list of credits at earhustlesq.com , where you can also download and remix our theme song (do it!), sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , from PRX. Thanks also to Lt. Sam Robinson and Warden Ron Davis for their support of th...
Aug 01, 2019•45 min•Season 4Ep. 5
How does dating work in your 30s when you’ve been locked up since you were 15? How soon do you share your incarceration history with new love interests? And how the hell does online dating work? Recently released men and women muse about all of it, and one former San Quentin inmate tries to make a beeline from the gates to the altar. Thanks to Article and the American Red Cross for sponsoring this episode. For a full list of credits and to find out more about the show, head to earhustlesq.com , ...
Jul 17, 2019•42 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Serving a prison sentence is hard, but getting out isn’t exactly a cakewalk, either. A lot depends on who’s waiting for you, what you have lined up on the outside and how you handle the regular pressures of life after incarceration. Thanks to Article and the American Red Cross for sponsoring this episode. For a full list of credits and to find out more about the show, head to earhustlesq.com , where you can sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a prou...
Jul 03, 2019•30 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Hardly anyone writes letters anymore. On the streets it’s all texting, posting, sharing and liking. But in prison, pens, paper, envelopes and stamps are highly prized, and still considered an essential lifeline to the outside world. Thanks to Article for sponsoring this episode. For a full list of credits and to find out more about the show, head to earhustlesq.com , where you can sign up for our newsletter and order a T-shirt, sticker pack or mug. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia , fr...
Jun 20, 2019•36 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Ear Hustle is back with season four! Let’s get oriented: to a new format and a new inside host, and through the stories of guys learning the prison ropes in Reception, while they wait to find out where they’ll serve their time. A heads-up: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. Thanks to HelloFresh for sponsoring this episode. For a full list of credits and to find out more about the show, head to earhustlesq.com , where you can sign up for our ne...
Jun 05, 2019•35 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Ear Hustle is back with season four, starting June 5. Mark your calendars and tell your friends! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
May 29, 2019•4 min
Ear Hustle will return with season four later this year, but in the meantime, here’s a timely bonus episode. Nigel and Earlonne hit the road and drive south to interview the man who commuted Earlonne’s sentence in November: Governor Jerry Brown. Thanks to Governor Jerry Brown and Evan Westrup, Governor Brown’s press secretary, for sitting down with us. Ear Hustle is produced by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods with help from outside producer Pat Mesiti-Miller, who also comes in to lead the sound de...
Jan 16, 2019•14 min
As the annual Radiotopia fundraiser wraps up, we bring you one final missive of the year, including an appeal for support, a chance encounter and a musical offering from the inside. What a season! Deep thanks to our listeners, to Dwight Krizman, Richie Morris and the other guys from Quentin Blue, and as always, to Lt. Sam Robinson and Warden Ron Davis for their epic support of Ear Hustle. And to Radiotopia, the network that brought Ear Hustle to life! Donate here to support Radiotopia, and all o...
Dec 17, 2018•6 min
