Prison Officer Podcast

Michael Cantrell

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. 2d ago

    132: Functional Strength For Correctional Officers - Interview w/Letha Keown

    You can be “in shape” and still be useless in a real response. That gap is what we dig into with Letha Cowan, a former Washington State correctional officer and the owner of Watchline Fitness and Watchline Supply Co. She combines lived experience behind the walls with NASM personal training and nutrition coaching to build functional fitness for correctional officers who work overtime, sit posts for hours, then suddenly have to sprint, grapple, and control chaos without warning. We talk honestly about what the job does to the body: mandatory doubles, short sleep, stress, and the food reality of vending machines and microwave meals. Letha shares her own wake-up call, including gaining 50 pounds during her time in corrections, and why bodybuilding style training didn’t prepare her for the moment she had to run to a fight and arrived winded. From there we connect the dots between officer wellness, morale, and a safety culture that too often feels upside down. You’ll get practical ideas you can use right away: simple strength training built around squats and deadlifts, grip and core work for control, short conditioning that mimics the “go time” surge, and meal prep tactics that keep you from living on Red Bulls and desperation. If you care about correctional officer fitness, prison officer wellness, shift work nutrition, and getting home healthy when the uniform comes off, this one is for you. Subscribe for more real conversations about corrections, share this with a partner who needs it, and leave a review so more officers can find the show. Letha's Email - watchlinefitness@gmail.com WatchLine Supply Company - https://watchlinesupply.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/watchline_fitness/ Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  2. Aug 3

    131: Broken Windows Behind Bars - Interview w/Shaun Klucznik

    The fastest way a jail gets dangerous isn’t a single riot or headline event, it’s the quiet drift: missed checks, inconsistent rules, sloppy units, and leaders who stop sweating the small stuff. We sit down with Major Sean Klucznik, Jail Administrator at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and immediate past president of the American Jail Association, to talk about what actually stabilizes a facility when staffing is tight, budgets are political, and public trust is fragile. We get into what he saw while traveling during his AJA presidency, including the funding battles agencies face nationwide, the importance of professional networking in corrections, and how relationships can turn into real outcomes like regional training partnerships. Sean shares how connecting with NYC corrections led to the launch of the Northeast Regional Correctional Training Center and why “back to basics” direct supervision still matters when everything feels like it’s changing. Then we go deep on his book, Broken Windows Behind Bars: Transforming Jail Operations Through Order and Accountability. The core idea is simple and hard at the same time: consistent standards prevent bigger problems. We talk mentorship, first-line supervision, ethics as a slow creep, micro training that supervisors can run every shift, and why line staff can shape culture by “setting the tone” with professionalism, presence, and follow-through. Subscribe for more real-world corrections leadership conversations, share this with a partner who cares about doing the job right, and leave a review so more officers can find it. What’s one small standard you’d enforce tomorrow to make your facility 1% better? You can reach Shaun - Email - shaunk@aja.org LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/shaunklucznik Website - https://www.keeperofthekeysleadership.com/ Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

    131: Broken Windows Behind Bars - Interview w/Shaun Klucznik

  3. Jul 6

    130: A Return to Where It All Began – Behind Those Walls

    After nearly three decades in corrections, I returned to the prison where my career began. Walking those old cellblocks brought back memories I hadn't thought about in years—the lessons, the mistakes, the friendships, the fear, and the moments that shaped the leader I eventually became. In this deeply personal episode of The Prison Officer Podcast, I take you behind the walls of the institution that started it all. You'll hear stories from those early days, reflections on how corrections has changed, and why some lessons never leave you, no matter how many years pass. This visit also became the perfect opportunity to introduce my new book, The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons. Many of the experiences that began behind these walls ultimately found their way onto its pages. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to spend a career in corrections—or how those experiences shape a person long after they leave the institution—this episode is for you. Tour the Missouri State Penitentiary: https://missouripentours.com/ Buy The Weight of Justice: Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Buy on Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice Send us Fan Mail Support the show NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  4. Jun 8

    129: Lead Up: The Art of Managing Your Boss While Protecting Your Team

    Every corrections leader eventually faces the moment when the order coming down the chain doesn't sit right — when policy, pressure, or politics puts your people at risk. Leading up isn't insubordination. It's one of the highest forms of leadership. In this episode, we're talking about how to manage your boss, influence decisions above your pay grade, and still protect the men and women counting on you to have their backs. We also dig into what actually builds influence in a prison or jail setting: checking your ego, choosing results over credit, and making yourself valuable through skills and outside training. If you want a seat at the table, you earn it by becoming the person leadership trusts for expertise. Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  5. May 25

    128: We Can Change How The Public Sees Corrections

    Corrections gets judged by headlines it didn’t write, so I’m taking you behind the scenes of a month that reminded me why this profession deserves real respect. From Correctional Officers Week events to national recognition, I share the moments that felt like the “best of corrections” and the lessons we can bring back to our own agencies. We start at the One Voice United conference (link below), where I join Pete Bludworth (Corrections Unfiltered) and Sarah Robuck (Lexipol and Corrections1) to talk about our jobs and our voices. If we don’t tell the truth about what correctional officers do, nature abhors a vacuum, and the public story gets filled with TV myths, one-sided news, and silence about the good work happening inside facilities. We also dig into wellness in corrections, efforts to get lawmakers to walk through prisons before setting policy on staffing and funding, and a powerful account from New York’s union leadership caught between political pressure and officers pushed past the breaking point. Then we pivot to the stories many people never hear: the role correctional staff played during 9/11 recovery, and how corrections shows up in emergencies with resources and readiness. I also talk about practical support for staff, including a vendor focused on home loans for public servants that explicitly includes corrections, and the National Medal of Honor for Corrections banquet, where courage and service are honored on a national stage.  One of the vendors I met at OVU (link below) is a company that is working to get public service heroes, including correctional officers, into houses. American Hero Home Loans uses its Hero Advantage+™ to connect eligible heroes with trusted real estate, lending, title, settlement, insurance, and home service partners.   We close with training and leadership: field training insights from the Southeast Field Training Officers Association (SEFTOA - link below).  I also share with a new leadership class my framework for handling change by reframing fear and walking through the next door of their life with skill and confidence. If you care about corrections leadership, correctional officer wellness, and changing public perception of corrections, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a coworker, and leave a review so more staff can find these stories. One Voice United & The National Medal of Honor for Corrections https://onevoiceunited.org/ American Heroes Home Loans Corrections Webpage: ahhlusa.com/corrections AHHL Flyer: https://canva.link/theprisonofficer  Joe Ferraro Founder & CEO American Heroes Homes and Lending 631-767-9073 joe.ferraro@ahhlusa.com or joeferraro@annie-mac.com Angela Harren Director of Business Development & Marketing American Heroes Homes and Lending 612-423-4423 angela.harren@ahhlusa.com Southeastern Field Training Officers Association https://seftoa.org/ For my new book: Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Michael Cantrell's books: https://www.cantrellwrites.com/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/4utqUSO Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  6. May 11

    127: When Provocation Meets the Professionalism - Interview w/Capt. Tevin Dixon

    We talk with Captain Tevin Dixon about the road from Oklahoma DOC Correctional Officer to shift supervisor and the mentors who shaped his calm, respectful leadership style. We also break down the gate incident with a derogatory provocateur and why professionalism, transparency, and peer support matter when corrections gets tested in public.  We also dig into what shaped Tevin’s leadership long before he wore a uniform: growing up in Oklahoma with a true village, being held accountable by family, and learning discipline through work and expectations. He shares what it felt like to step into prison work at 24 with no prior exposure, how mentors guided him, and why respect, nonverbal communication, and policy knowledge are survival skills for any corrections officer. His time in both security and case management adds another layer, showing how understanding process, paperwork, and programming can make you more effective and more approachable. The conversation goes deeper into mentorship and resilience, including what Tevin tells younger officers, how he supports staff under stress, and why corrections trauma is often invisible to the public. If you care about prison safety, correctional staff wellness, leadership under pressure, and what professionalism looks like when someone is trying to bait you on camera, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a coworker, and leave a review so more people hear what the job really takes. CorrectionsOne Article - https://www.corrections1.com/corrections-training/when-provocation-meets-professionalism-lessons-from-an-okla-corrections-incident Tevin Dixon on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/tevin-dixon-4b92b6265 Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  7. Apr 27

    126: The Case For Andy’s Law And Safer Prisons - Interview w/Jeff Noble

    A correctional officer gets assaulted at work and someone shrugs it off as “part of the job.” That mindset is poisoning recruitment, accelerating burnout, and making prisons more dangerous for everyone inside. We sit down with Jeffrey Noble, a 39-year corrections professional who rose from correctional officer to warden and later worked inside Ohio’s legislative oversight world, to explain why Andy’s Law is gaining traction and what it tries to fix. We start with the case that shaped the bill: the Christmas Day 2024 killing of Officer Andy Lansing at Ross Correctional Institution. From there, we dig into prison safety and accountability reforms that go beyond slogans, including treating spitting and feces assaults like the criminal acts they are, strengthening penalties when staff are murdered, and keeping people who commit serious violence in higher security longer. Jeff explains why behavior-based classification matters when agencies feel pressure to “push custody down” to solve bed-space problems. We also get specific about modern security risks: contraband and illegal conveyance, fentanyl exposure, the lack of detention authority when a visitor is caught bringing drugs, and why reliable K9 access can’t be a once-in-a-while luxury, and why leadership qualifications should be based on real corrections experience, not politics. If you care about correctional officer safety, prison reform legislation that targets misconduct, and practical ways to reduce contraband and violence, listen now, share this with a coworker, and leave a review so more people find the conversation. Jeff Noble email: ashleymatthew2000@yahoo.com Ohio Senator Nathan Manning   614-644-7613  ohiosenate.gov/nathan-h-manning Aide's email: lindsay.murch@ohiosenate.gov Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

  8. Apr 13

    125: What If Better Training Prevented Most Use Of Force? - Interview w/Joe Buice

    Most use-of-force problems don’t start with bad intent; they start with bad preparation. We’re talking with Joe Buice, a lifelong martial artist and retired sheriff’s office lieutenant who has spent decades in corrections, led high-liability teams, and now serves as Pepperball’s Director of Implementation. The result is a practical, no-theory conversation about what actually keeps officers safe in jails, prisons, and street encounters.  We get specific about defensive tactics and why “just grab an arm” fails when stress hits. Joe breaks down the real gap he sees across agencies: perishable skills treated like check-the-box training. We discuss how hesitation shows up in body-worn video reviews, why fundamentals and repetition create fluidity, and how control tactics can reduce injuries for both staff and inmates while staying inside policy and lawful orders.  We also connect the dots between training and leadership. Joe shares how strong teams are built by putting the right people in the right roles, leading from the front, and slowing down long enough to listen. Then we shift to safer options first, including Pepperball for distance, area saturation, buffer zones, and lowering the career-long toll of hands-on fights. If you care about corrections officer safety, law enforcement training, defensive tactics that work, and smarter use of force decisions, this one delivers.  PepperBall - jbuice@pepperball.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/joe-b-56116bb1  Surround yourself with professionals who take this work seriously. Join us Behind the Wall: https://patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer Send us Fan Mail 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 NEW RELEASE — The Weight of Justice: Leadership Lessons from Inside America's Toughest Prisons: A Correctional Officer's Journey Buy on Amazon or Kindle: https://amzn.to/3PLr5tR Available worldwide through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/WeightofJustice POWER SKILLS: Emotional Intelligence and Soft Skills for Correctional Officers, First Responders, and Beyond Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4mBeog5 See Michael's books and author updates at:  www.CantrellWrites.com 🎙️ Support The Prison Officer Podcast Go deeper with The Prison Officer Podcast on Patreon. Inside Behind the Wall, you'll get: • Exclusive content  • Behind-the-scenes insights  • Leadership discussions  • Bonus episodes and resources 👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/ThePrisonOfficer 📬 Connect with Michael Email: mike@theprisonofficer.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer Website: www.theprisonofficer.com Take care of each other and be safe behind those walls and fences. #prisonofficerpodcast  ...

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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
    146
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Prison Officer Podcast
  • Show Website
    Prison Officer Podcast

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