Send us a text In this episode I finish talking about the Military Leadership Books Every Correctional Leader Should Read. In Episode 30, I covered Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. In this episode, I talk about Left of Bang by Patrick Van Horn and Jason Riley. This book will help you hone your intuition and your understanding of human behavior. A must-read for anyone working in prison. Have you ever stood mainline and thought "It's too quiet." This is the type of intuition that...
Aug 15, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with author and gang investigator D.J. (or David) Schilling. He has worked in the Criminal Justice Field since 2006 as a Correctional Officer, Security Threat Group specialist, and gang instructor. His specialties are the use of the Runes & Norse Pagan symbology used by white supremacist groups, criminal intelligence processes, and alternative religions/beliefs, such as radicalized Asatru & Odinism, Christian Identity, and various occult topics. He ...
Aug 01, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Send us a text In today's episode, I talk with Wally Long, a former co-worker of mine from the Federal Medical Center in Springfield, MO. We worked a lot of the same units together and I was always impressed by his resilience, his unwavering faith, as well as his leadership, and drive to always better himself. As you will hear today, retirement has not slowed him down any. From Prison to Politics, he is currently running for a seat as a Missouri State Representative. Support the show Contact us:...
Jul 18, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Send us a text In this episode, I talk about Extreme Ownership - How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin a #1 New York Times Bestseller. One of the premier leadership books of the last decade, Extreme Ownership is written by retired Navy SEALS on the lessons they learned in combat and leading some of the toughest men on the planet. I discuss some of my takeaways from the book and how Extreme Ownership became relevant to me. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and...
Jul 06, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Send us a text In this episode, I get the chance to talk with Pat Bliss. An artist, and former correctional officer at the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary in Saskatchewan, Canada. He shares the stories behind his artwork and the many things he saw during his varied career. Behind the Razor Ribbon: A Correctional Officer's Perspective Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls ...
Jun 20, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Send us a text Opportunities to become a correctional officer are better than ever before. Agencies are offering bonuses and pay incentives to entice new hires. Hiring fairs, online ads, and billboards are all trying to recruit new staff to become part of the corrections family. But, where to start? With so many options it seems impossible to find the information you need. A new book The Prison Officer Podcast Job Guide by Michael Cantrell is the starting place you have been looking for. He has ...
Jun 05, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Send us a text Vicki White, a jail supervisor, helps a convicted murderer escape from an Alabama jail. Mexican Mafia member and convicted murderer, Gonzalo Lopez managed to free himself from restraints, break out of a transport cage, and attack the driver of the prison bus he was in. If you have looked at the news lately, there seems to be an epidemic of escapes. So what are the circumstances that allow inmates to escape? More importantly, how do we stop escapes from happening? In this episode, ...
May 23, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Send us a text Much like the current story of Vicki White and convicted murderer Casey White, Dorr helped John Manard escape from custody on February 12, 2006, in a dog crate and the two lived together in a cabin for 12 days until their capture and arrest in Tennessee. Married mother of two, Toby Dorr (Young at the time) was running a dog program at a Kansas prison when she met inmate John Manard through the dog program and love blossomed between the two, She would eventually spend 27 months in ...
May 10, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Send us a text This is a short episode, but I just wanted to talk about my first trip to the MOCK Prison Riot in Moundsville, WV, while it was stilll fresh in my mind. What a great place to train and meet people from all over the world who work in our prisons and jails daily. Shout out to my Correctional brothers and sisters in Ecuador, Columbia, Trinidad-Tabago, North Hampton, FCI MCDowell, and all the others who I was able to shake hands with. Stay Safe! The Mock Prison Riot Support the show C...
May 06, 2022•12 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with a friend, former co-worker, and Leavenworth Historian/Author - Ken LaMaster. Ken retired after 31 years in the Correctional field which included working at the US Disciplinary Barracks, Kansas State Penitentiary, and the United States Penitentiary Leavenworth. I have always enjoyed listening to Ken's stories and research, and I know you will enjoy hearing about his passion for Leavenworth's history also. He is the author of Leavenworth Seven: The Deadl...
Apr 17, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Send us a text There are currently 59,100 female officers working in local jails in the US. Another 10,500 female staff work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Across the country, female correctional officers make 38% of the total correctional officers nationwide. In this episode I talk with Sgt. Natasha Blake and her experiences as a Prison Officer. I wanted to know how being a female Prison Officer is different, or is it? From the time she started at Iowa State Penitentiary (ISP) to being the ...
Mar 08, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Send us a text What started as an offhand remark to family and friends, turned into a real conversation about what I would do if I were the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. More than 20 years on the job, gave me some definite ideas about what could be improved. In this episode I talk about how we can save taxpayer money, hold inmates and staff accountable, and improve our inmate programs to a point that they make a difference...if I wake up tomorrow as the new Director of the Federal B...
Mar 01, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Send us a text In this episode, I do a little soul searching about God, religion, and faith and how prison affects our spiritual life. Friend and former co-worker Chaplain Daniel O'dean joins me to bring another perspective to these issues. We discuss prison volunteers, the First Amendment, inmate manipulation and the nature of evil inside the fence. U.S. Missions Assemblies of God Chaplaincy Ministries Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Send us a text I this episode I ask and try to answer the questions”Does ethics in Corrections matter?” How important is integrity, honesty and ethics, and how do we build a culture of ethics where we work. Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!...
Jan 19, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Send us a text In this episode I talk about Positivity and Gratitude. Inspired by a Facebook post that simply asked "Name something positive you were able to accomplish because you have a good steady job as a Correctional Officer," I look farther into why it is so important that we find something positive to keep us motivated at work. Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls a...
Nov 14, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Send us a text In this episode I talk about Correctional Leadership. The skills I have learned through my career when I had to deal with crisis and change. Two of the most difficult events that leaders face. I also discuss the difference between Tactical Leadership and Strategic Leadership and the expectations staff have of both types of leaders. Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind t...
Sep 16, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Dennis Treadway, a retired Captain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dennis walks us through his career and the tips and leadership lessons he learned along the way. Dennis served as a Captain at USP Leavenworth twice , activating Captain at AUSP Thomson and as the Chief of Custody for a private prison in Leavenworth. He has a varied knowledge of what it takes to be highest ranking Custody officer in a prisons and the struggles that come along wi...
Apr 29, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Send us a text The hosting platform for the Prison Officer Podcast is Buzzsprout. First, let me tell you, I love Buzzsprout, they have helped me every step of the way in building and bringing this podcast to you. One of the nice things Buzzsprout was send me my compiled 2020 statistics for the Prison Officer Podcast, I would like to share them with you. From the lasting effects of COVID-19 to private prisons and recruitment I will review some of the biggest challenges facing Corrections in 2021....
Feb 28, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text It's early Christmas morning here at our house and I just wanted to take a minute and say Merry Christmas. Whether you are lucky enough to have the day off and get to spend it with your family, or if you are working a shift ( or two ) in one of the prisons, jails, or correctional centers around the world. I just wanted to remind you that what you do is appreciated. I spent many Christmas and other holidays working inside, and despite everything, I do have some good memories of tho...
Dec 25, 2020•8 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text Retirement Day. For most of us, this is a once in a lifetime event. The one day most of us inside spend our shifts dreaming about. When we don’t have to walk past those grills. When we don’t have to spend 8 hours trying not to notice the smell of urine. Maybe we can even let our guard down just a little with those around us and enjoy a little less stress in our lives. Well, October 24 was that day. I am now a retiree from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. After 21 years with the BOP ...
Dec 16, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a text I saw a Facebook post the other day from the Missouri Patriot Guard and the VFW who were honoring a local veteran with a motorcycle ” drive-by” to celebrate the milestone of him turning 100 years old on September 9 of this year. Robert “Bob” Burks, served in the US Navy during World War II from 1942 – 1945. He was in college at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and enlisted for service shortly thereafter. He served as a Pharmacist Mate in the Pacific Theater and was interestingl...
Oct 22, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Send us a text One in five Americans works nontraditional hours, including the many staff working the off shifts in our prisons. Someone has to be there. Although many say they enjoy these off-shifts, it affects them. It affects their families. It affects their mental and physical health. I have worked in Corrections for more than 28 years. Twenty-two of those years included shift work. One of the things I found the most challenging over the years is working midnight shifts. I am okay with eveni...
Oct 11, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text In this episode, I am going to cover what I believe are the basics of working in Restrictive Housing. Restrictive Housing is the newest catchphrase that refers to “lock-down.” Some places call it Segregation, the Hole, or the SHU (Special Housing Unit). Whatever it is called where you work, it is the lock-down housing unit for those inmates who either refuse to follow the rules of the open yard or those inmates who have “checked in” from fear or the debts they have accumulated. Ma...
Aug 31, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text The last few months have changed the way all of us see the world around us. The COVID-19 Pandemic, the quarantine, the masks, the death of George Floyd, the anti-police backlash that followed, the riots, the looting, it’s a lot of stress on everyone. So, this episode I want to talk about this unprecedented level of toxic stress we are all living in. How we can be resilient and take care of each other as we make it through these challenges. Support the show Contact us: mike@thepris...
Aug 04, 2020•9 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Send us a text In this episode, I am going to answer several of the questions this podcast has generated since it started. In just less than 3 months, this podcast has grown to over 1300 downloads, and hundreds of Facebook likes. But, it has also generated a lot of questions such as: What made you want to start a podcast about prison? What positive things did you do outside of prison to stay healthy? Are you going to have a show dedicated to the women who work in Corrections? Are you going to in...
Jul 20, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Send us a text In this episode, I have invited Dr. Jaclyn Brandhorst as a guest. She has been researching stress, employee assistance programs, and PTSD in a correctional setting. She has been impacted herself by correctional stress because she grew up with it. I know, because she is my daughter. After you listen to this episode, if you would like to contact Jaclyn, share your stories and help Jaclyn with her research, feel free to reach out to brandhorst@ucmo.edu The Person You Mean to Be: How ...
Jun 25, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Send us a text In this episode, I want to talk to the rookies and the soon-to-be rookies out there. You applied for the job, you’ve been through the academy, and now you are working in a housing unit as a Correctional Officer. You look around and see a lot of other officers who seem comfortable in what they do, but how do you become a good Correctional Officer? Start by being a good rookie. I’m going to share what I feel are the four golden rules that will take you from being a rookie to being a...
Jun 12, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Send us a text In this episode, I want to talk about a taboo subject in Corrections. Something that happens to everyone who works in Corrections in one form or another, yet it is rarely admitted or discussed openly. Manipulation. Staff manipulation comes in two forms, one is when inmates “get over” on the rules. The other is when a staff member is corrupted by inmates to do the unthinkable. In this podcast we talk about why inmates manipulate us, how they manipulate us and how to stop them Suppo...
May 21, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Send us a text One of the things I have learned working in prison is just how much leadership matters. Whether it is the way you lead your team, your housing unit or just an inmate work detail. Leadership matters. What I was thinking about this week is how we as leaders handle our mistakes. This is the first of many episodes where I will focus on Correctional Leadership. Calvin and Hobbes (Volume 1) Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePris...
May 09, 2020•8 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Send us a text This episode I sit down and talk with a very special person who knows a lot about living with a Correctional Officer and the stress they bring home. My wife of more than 28 years, Kathryn. Kathryn and I will talk about how corrections changed our social life, our children's life and our marriage. Support the show Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!...
Apr 28, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 4
