Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle & Radiotopia
  • 4.9 (20K)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
Ear Hustle
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Ear Hustle is prison slang for eavesdropping, and that’s what listening to the show feels like: a raw, often funny, and always surprising peek into the reality of life inside prison.  Hosts Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods co-created the show that launched in 2017 while Earlonne was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, where Nigel was a volunteer teaching photography. Since Earlonne’s release in 2018, the show has expanded to include stories from prisons across the state, including the California Institution for Women, as well as stories about getting out of prison and starting over, post-incarceration. From finding romance, to grappling with a life sentence, to trying to parent via 15-minute phone calls, Ear Hustle stories deliver what This American Life host Ira Glass calls a “"very real” and “untragic” take on prison life.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at radiotopia.fm and learn more about Ear Hustle at earhustlesq.com.

  1. The Wrong Line of Business

    NOV 13

    The Wrong Line of Business

    Earlonne's here with his "mystery" episode, and it's a doozy. He tells Nigel a redemption story wrapped in a drug-trafficking story, and, along the way, dives deep into several subjects we swore we'd never touch. Buckle up.  Thanks to George for telling his story. He co-authored a book about moving past gangs and criminal thinking; you can find that here. Thanks also to Tanaya for the rap and listener alert, and to everyone else we talked to for this story.  This episode was scored with music by Darrell Sadiq Davis, Antwan Williams, Fernando Arruda, David Jassy, and Earlonne Woods. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women, and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show.  Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.  Radiotopia’s fall fundraiser is here! Donate today to support Ear Hustle. Thank you! on.prx.org/3s6RrL5

    46 min
  2. EH+ November Ask Nigel and Earlonne Anything

    NOV 13 • EAR HUSTLE + ONLY

    EH+ November Ask Nigel and Earlonne Anything

    Nigel and Earlonne field listeners’ questions about walk-up songs, visiting Rikers Island, favorite jokes, and much more.Got a burning question for Nigel and Earlonne or the Ear Hustle team? Apple EH+ subscribers: email them to ama@earhustlesq.com; Supercast subscribers: add them to earhustle.supercast.com/ama. We just might answer your question in our next AMA episode! Things mentioned in the episode:TurduckenEmile DeWeaver - Ear Hustle episode 1 - CelliesEmile Soutonye DeWeaver - Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine: Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist FutureLady Jay - Ear Hustle episode 18 - Down Low Curtis Roberts - Ear Hustle episode 8 - Left BehindCurtis Roberts - Ear Hustle episode 30 - I Want the Fairy TaleCurtis Roberts (book) - Sentenced to Life: The Path to Redemption and Freedom for Prisoner E-25212Prison Break (trailer)The Shawshank Redemption (trailer)Penitentiary (movie)Comedian Ali Saddiq - Mexicans Got on BootsAli Saddiq’s four-part series - Domino Effect, Domino Effect 2, Domino Effect 3, and Domino Effect 4.Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    59 min
  3. My Understanding of This Place: Nigel & Earlonne

    NOV 6

    My Understanding of This Place: Nigel & Earlonne

    Over the past two episodes we’ve been hearing about “memory places” at San Quentin: ordinary-seeming spots that become extraordinary through the eyes of people who spent time there. In this extra mini-ep, Nigel and Earlonne take us to their spots, and down Ear Hustle memory lane.    This episode was scored with music by Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams, and Derrell Sadiq Davis. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women, and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show. Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    16 min
  4. My Understanding of This Place, Part 2

    OCT 30

    My Understanding of This Place, Part 2

    In the second part of this two-part series, Nigel reveals to Earlonne the final stops in her memory-tour of San Quentin, culminating in an exploration of the prison’s former death row.  Thanks to Shaka for speaking with us for this episode.  Special thanks to Lt. Guim'Mara Berry for letting Nigel and our inside team explore and record inside East Block.  This episode was scored with music by Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams, and Derrell Sadiq Davis. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women, and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show. Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    42 min
  5. EH+ Where’s Us at Now?

    OCT 24 · BONUS • EAR HUSTLE + ONLY

    EH+ Where’s Us at Now?

    Earlonne catches up with Charles Deron, who first appeared on the Ear Hustle Season 5 episode “Us and Them.” Back then, Charles described a beating he received at the hands of corrections officers retaliating for a violent attack his gang committed on staff. Today, Charles talks about working for Tesla, what was wrong with the episode, and how he would tell it his way.Is there someone from a past Ear Hustle episode you’d like an update on? Email us at info@earhustlesq.com. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Mentioned in this episode:EH episode "Us and Them" Prison Legal News report on Crips attacking staff

    33 min
  6. My Understanding of This Place, Part 1

    OCT 16

    My Understanding of This Place, Part 1

    Nigel — with help from our team inside San Quentin — has been cooking up an episode that her co-host knows nothing about. Without giving too much away, we can tell you that it involves visiting a part of the prison no one on Ear Hustle had seen before … with, of course, a few detours along the way. Part 1 of a two-part series.   Special thanks to Lt. Guim'Mara Berry for letting Nigel and our inside team explore and record inside East Block, and to Rabbi Paul Shleffar for hosting us inside the chapel.  This episode was scored with music by Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams, and Derrell Sadiq Davis. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women, and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show. Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    49 min
  7. EH+ Looking Back at “Us and Them”

    OCT 9 • EAR HUSTLE + ONLY

    EH+ Looking Back at “Us and Them”

    Nigel, Earlonne, and Bruce listen to “Us and Them,” an Ear Hustle Season 5 episode about the relationship between corrections officers and incarcerated people, and discuss what they still like, what they would change, and where things stand today. Is there someone from a past Ear Hustle episode you’d like an update on? Email us at info@earhustlesq.com.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Mentioned in this episodePrison Legal News: Prisoners assault prison staffPrison Legal News: Eight Corcoran Guards fired, five reinstatedThe Language Project Ear Hustle episodes featuring Reggie Thorpe:Tray, Tumbler, SporkThe Five Senses12 Hours on the YardMoms Reggie talks to Marshawn Lynch and Gavin Newsom (starts a little after the 8:00 mark)Multiple COs appear in Season 3 Catch a Kite episode!

    1h 35m
  8. Election!

    OCT 2

    Election!

    Incarcerated people in California can’t vote, but that doesn't mean they aren’t tracking electoral politics as closely as many of us on the outside are. In this episode, Ear Hustle’s inside team reveals the winner of its San Quentin presidential poll, while the outside team travels to the Central California Women’s Facility to see how people there would vote, if they had the opportunity.    You can find information about registering to vote here.  Thanks to everyone who spoke to us for this episode, including: Juan, Jerry, Oola, David, Lee, Wesley, Mario, Jose, Shawn, Raymond, Jessie, Cristian, Luis, Cesar, Tomas, Adam, Daniel, Michael Tulo, Bostyon, Greg, Cory, Hardeep, Matthew, and Katy at San Quentin; Lanika, Wendy, Tameka, Latoya, Erica, Amy Lynn, Elizabeth, Mariam, Rosa, Mei, Lori Ann, Charity, Jasmine, Kaieesha, Diamond, Elisa, Debanee, Kaylee, Tina, and Cleo at the Central California Women’s Facility; and Lakshya with Split Ticket. This episode was scored with music by Antwan Williams, David Jassy, and Derrell Sadiq Davis. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women, and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show. Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    47 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
20,071 Ratings

About

Ear Hustle is prison slang for eavesdropping, and that’s what listening to the show feels like: a raw, often funny, and always surprising peek into the reality of life inside prison.  Hosts Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods co-created the show that launched in 2017 while Earlonne was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, where Nigel was a volunteer teaching photography. Since Earlonne’s release in 2018, the show has expanded to include stories from prisons across the state, including the California Institution for Women, as well as stories about getting out of prison and starting over, post-incarceration. From finding romance, to grappling with a life sentence, to trying to parent via 15-minute phone calls, Ear Hustle stories deliver what This American Life host Ira Glass calls a “"very real” and “untragic” take on prison life.  Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX, a network of independent listener-supported podcasts. Discover audio with vision at radiotopia.fm and learn more about Ear Hustle at earhustlesq.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Ear Hustle & Radiotopia
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2024
  • Episodes
    163
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Ear Hustle
  • Provider
    PRX

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