Prison Officer Podcast

Michael Cantrell
  • 4.8 (37)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

The Prison Officer Podcast is a place where prison officers and correctional staff share their experiences, discuss leadership, cope with stress, and learn survival strategies for one of the toughest careers out there. Hosted by Michael Cantrell, this podcast delves into the lives, dreams, and challenges faced by those who work inside the walls of our nation’s prisons. It features interviews, insights, and discussions related to the unique and demanding world of corrections. Whether it’s overcoming difficult leaders, understanding rehabilitation, or addressing misconceptions about incarcerated populations, the Prison Officer Podcast provides valuable perspectives from professionals in the field. 

  1. 5D AGO

    123: Leadership, Solitary Myths, And The BOP’s Legacy - Interview w/Judi Simon Garrett

    What if your first real job at 20—walking onto a men’s medium-security yard—became the foundation for a lifetime of leadership, policy savvy, and humanitarian impact? That’s Judi Simon Garrett’s story, and it upends a lot of what people think they know about prisons, “solitary,” and the people who run complex systems under pressure. Judi explains why training that centers presence, words, and posture mattered more than keys and cuffs, and how overtime on the toughest posts built credibility that no title could.  Judi breaks down the myths around solitary confinement, reframing it as restrictive housing with services, checks, and human contact. The leap is from prison to a more controlled prison—not from a living room to a dark cell—and sometimes that move protects both staff and the individual. We talk about safety, suicide prevention, and the hard truth that a few people cannot safely live in groups. Then we pull back to language and policy: why lumping everyone in custody under one gentle label hides critical differences, how rehabilitation is a door people must choose to walk through, and why measuring systems only by recidivism misses the point. We also honor the Bureau of Prisons legacy—from Sanford Bates to modern growth—highlighting professional culture, continuity of leadership, and a mission that kept programs alive even as populations surged. Judi shares candid leadership lessons: humility over ego, influence over authority, context over commands. Finally, we pivot to her current work leading aid for Jewish communities in Ukraine, where logistics, transparency, and storytelling now deliver food, medicine, and care to tens of thousands. It’s a full-circle look at service: macro policy that keeps people safe and micro moments where one family gets the help they need. If this conversation challenged your assumptions or gave you a clearer view of corrections and leadership, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/judi-simon-garrett-24a2b4157/ Jewish Relief Network Ukraine - https://www.jrnu.org/ Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    1h 12m

  2. MAR 2

    122: Desert Waters - Transforming Correctional Officer Wellness - Interview w/Justin Stevens

    In this episode of the Prison Officer Podcast, host Michael Cantrell speaks with Justin Stevens from Desert Waters, a nonprofit organization dedicated to correctional officer wellness. They discuss Justin's journey through the corrections system, the importance of leadership and training, and the role of peer support in addressing mental health issues within the field.  The conversation also touches on the normalization of trauma in corrections, the need for a wellness culture, and the public's perception of corrections professionals. Justin shares insights on how Desert Waters is working to improve staff wellness through training and resources, emphasizing the importance of confidentiality in peer support and the need for a shift in how corrections staff are viewed by the public. justin@desertwaters.com https://desertwaters.com/ Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    1 hr

  3. FEB 12

    121: ILEETA Conference 2026 - Building a Tribe of Trainers - Interview w/Joe Willis

    In this episode of the Prison Officer Podcast, host Mike Cantrell speaks with Joe Willis, the Deputy Executive Director of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA). They discuss the importance of instructor development in law enforcement, the unique offerings of the ILEETA conference, and the value of networking and community among trainers. The conversation highlights the diverse classes available, including certifications, and the significance of emotional intelligence and decision-making in corrections. They also touch on the future of training, including innovations in technology and the importance of collaboration across different sectors of law enforcement. The nights matter as much as the days. Emerson Hour hits hard with nine-minute talks that spark laughter and tears. Tuesday stacks an author meet-up, whiskey night, and a competitive cornhole tournament. Wednesday shifts to a relaxed lounge and cigar night, and Thursday’s Symbols of Service brings a patch and coin exchange plus trivia to honor identity and build bonds. It’s deliberate by design: connect, learn, reflect, repeat. We bridge a divide that should not exist: patrol, corrections, and community supervision share core skills. Decision-making under pressure, emotional intelligence, defensive tactics, less lethal judgment, and investigative thinking belong to the entire justice ecosystem. Add the future-ready edge—VR, synthetic training environments, and panels led by researchers and seasoned trainers—and you get practical tools you can apply on day one. Ready to join a world-class community that raises the bar for training? Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow instructor, and leave a review with the one skill you think trainers overlook most.  Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    52 min

  4. FEB 2

    120: Less Lethal Tools and the Threats Redefining Corrections - Interview w/Robert Sorensen

    Two gym riots. Same tools. Completely different outcomes. That’s the pivot point Robert Sorensen brings to the table as we dive into less lethal tactics, executive buy-in, and the real cost of undertraining in corrections. Robert spent 27 years in government service—lieutenant, emergency preparedness officer, NTOA section chair, and internal affairs special agent—and he’s candid about fear, failure, and what finally worked. We walk through the practical lessons that turned chaos into control: how inmate mindset dictates munition effectiveness, why tabletop drills and contingency planning decide outcomes, and the simple way to flip leadership from “no” to “go” on modern tools. Robert lays out the case for 40mm accuracy, not as a cool upgrade, but as a liability reducer that protects staff and inmates by making point-of-aim, point-of-impact a reality when it matters most. From there, we confront today’s front-line threats. Fentanyl exposure has already taken lives, and Robert breaks down decon protocols and sodium-chlorite solutions designed to oxidize powders in seconds—plus a defense cleanse that shrinks OC and PAVA recovery from 30–40 minutes to minutes. Then we go vertical: drones are now the easiest path for contraband into secure facilities. Robert outlines entangling 40mm counter-UAS rounds and autonomous intercept systems that bring down drones with minimal collateral risk, along with the policy gaps and budget choices holding agencies back. SoRite Products - https://sorite.com/ NTOA - National Tactical Officers Association - https://www.ntoa.org/ Email Robert - rsorensen@sorite.com Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review with the one upgrade you’d prioritize now. Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    59 min

  5. JAN 19

    119: Best of The Prison Officer - Interview w/Mark Schrieber - Missouri’s Prison Legacy

    This is a "Best of" from January 16, 2023, Episode 24 in remembrance of Mark Schieber, who passed away on November 17, 2025.   We sit with former MSP assistant warden and historian Mark Schreiber to trace Missouri corrections from segregated tiers and whistle calls to cameras, structured movement, and a museum that fights tornadoes and time. Stories of investigations, integration, inmate culture, and saving archives reveal how people, not just buildings, define the work. • starting at MSP in 1968, early mentorship and undercover work • major cases, investigations and use of force evolution • pay, professionalism and building maximum-security capacity • integrating a segregated prison and managing factions • “colonist” inmates, reentry fears and modern life gaps • cameras as deterrence, logistics during riots and moves • preserving history: ledgers, photos and museum plans • EF3 tornado damage, tours recovery and future headquarters • inmate art, tools like line sticks and Oregon boots • new book Forgotten Shadows and why people matter most Here is Mark's Obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/mark-schreiber-obituary?id=60095560 Shanks to Shakers: Reflections of the Missouri State Penitentiary Somewhere in Time (170 Years of Missouri Corrections) Send a text Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    1h 29m

  6. JAN 5

    118: From Secure Walls To Open Halls: A Corrections Officer’s Guide To Safe Hospital Escorts

    We walk through the hard truths of hospital escorts: layers of security vanish, complacency creeps in, and small mistakes become big risks. From intel control to room setup, we share a field-tested checklist to keep officers, medical staff, and the public safe. • controlling timelines and blocking leaks • gathering inmate intel and risk factors • conducting full inmate and vehicle searches • using maximum restraints and wheelchairs • hospital reconnaissance and secure entry points • room layout, line of sight, and door control • protecting medical staff during care • anti-fatigue tactics and accountability • professionalism in public and clear communication • training needs and administrative support Make sure you like, subscribe, go to our website and check it out there Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    35 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    117: We Rewind 2025 And Share What’s Coming Next

    Five years in, the mission feels sharper than ever: equip correctional professionals with tools, mindset, and purpose that hold up under real pressure. We look back on a year of travel and training, thank the partners who help us serve, and pull together the most impactful moments from conversations that changed how we read risk, teach skills, and define what a good day on the tier looks like. Greg Williams and Brian Marren break down human behavior pattern recognition in a way that clicks on contact: master the baseline, spot the deviation, act before escalation. From the “watching the watcher” concept to recalibrating your mind at every threshold, their insights show why anticipation beats reaction and why prisons are the ultimate classroom for sense-making. We build on that with practical training talk from Myles Cook, who turns skills into a repeatable process: define the real problem, design adult-learning solutions, and leave with a pitch your leaders can approve and measure. It’s training that sticks because it solves something that hurts. We also get grounded in purpose with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, who frames corrections as a life of daily sacrifice in service of public safety. That perspective threads through Pete Bloodworth’s story of earning trust at USP Marion, where open bars and lever locks demanded courage and clarity, and Jimmy Cummings walks us through a can’t-make-this-up escape tale that proves the job will surprise you no matter how many shifts you’ve worked. Along the way, we share updates on my upcoming new books—The Weight of Justice and Echoes of the Ozarks If these insights help you work smarter and safer, tap follow, share with a teammate, and leave a review on your podcast app. Your support helps more officers find tools that matter and keeps this community learning together. Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    33 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    116: Stoic Tools For Tough Shifts

    The job doesn’t wait for your feelings to catch up. That’s why we unpack a clear, practical way to stay steady under pressure—using Stoicism as a daily tool for safer shifts, better decisions, and a healthier mind. We get honest about chaos on the unit, the pull to react fast, and how a few disciplined choices turn tension into control. We break down the dichotomy of control for correctional work: you can’t dictate inmate choices, staffing levels, or last-minute OT, but you can own your tone, readiness, professionalism, and tactical patience. We explore emotional regulation without suppression, the real difference between responding and reacting, and how firm, fair, and consistent behavior lowers risk and builds trust. You’ll hear why cynicism grows behind the walls, how it erodes judgment, and the Stoic virtues—wisdom, courage, justice, temperance—that keep bitterness from becoming your baseline. Leadership matters even more when the stakes climb. We look at humility versus ego, setting culture, keeping communication open, and using a Stoic pause before big decisions. We also tackle moral injury: enforcing policies you don’t support, witnessing violence, and carrying stories the public never sees. Stoicism helps separate what’s yours to control from what isn’t, so you can act with integrity inside your lane and protect your mental health over the long haul. If you want tools you can use on the next shift—reflection prompts, de-escalation habits, and mindset resets—this conversation delivers a field-tested playbook. Listen, share it with a teammate, and tell us one thing you’ll choose to control today. If the show helps, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on to a partner who needs the Stoic pause. Send a text PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.OMNIOMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail. Command PresenceBringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Also, check out Michael's newest book - POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's newest Children's Books here: www.CantrellWrites.com Support the show ======================= Contact me: mike@theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences! #prisonofficerpodcast #leadership #podcast @theprisonofficerpodcast Contact us: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!

    40 min
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About

The Prison Officer Podcast is a place where prison officers and correctional staff share their experiences, discuss leadership, cope with stress, and learn survival strategies for one of the toughest careers out there. Hosted by Michael Cantrell, this podcast delves into the lives, dreams, and challenges faced by those who work inside the walls of our nation’s prisons. It features interviews, insights, and discussions related to the unique and demanding world of corrections. Whether it’s overcoming difficult leaders, understanding rehabilitation, or addressing misconceptions about incarcerated populations, the Prison Officer Podcast provides valuable perspectives from professionals in the field. 

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Cantrell
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Prison Officer Podcast
  • Show Website
    Prison Officer Podcast

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