133 episodes

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.

Ear Hustle Ear Hustle Plus

    • Society & Culture
    • 5.0 • 47 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    EH+ A Visit to West Block

    EH+ A Visit to West Block

    Gary “Coop” Cooper is in his 70s, is pretty sick, and has a hard time getting around. Despite that, he doesn’t want to move off of the third tier of San Quentin’s West Block. We recorded this interview last summer, planning to include it in our hospice episode, but it just didn’t fit in. So we’re sharing it here.


    Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    What's Up, Michael Freeman?

    What's Up, Michael Freeman?

    A bucolic garden, six kinds of breakfast cereal, and around-the-clock bedside vigil: How one California prison is trying to mitigate the fears and unknowns of dying inside prison. Thanks to Joseph Bick, Michele DiThomas, Terrance Harris, Allan Hickman, Gerard Hite, Jerry Judson, Keith Knauf, Jeff Maria, Earl Miller, Michael Powell, and Frederick Roberts for speaking to us for this episode. This episode was scored with music by Rhashiyd Zinnamon, Fernando Arruda, Antwan Williams, and Earlonne Woods. “Down The Hall” © 2022 Open Secret Music (ASCAP) – Administered by Bluewater Music Services Corp. Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved. Big thanks to Acting Warden Smith and Lt. Berry at San Quentin State Prison, and Acting Warden Hill and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women for their support of the show. We’re also grateful to Acting Warden Cueva and Lt. Gonzalez at the California Medical Facility for allowing our team to record inside the hospice. 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.

    • 53 min
    EH+ Ask Ear Hustle Anything 5

    EH+ Ask Ear Hustle Anything 5

    It’s March’s Ask Me Anything episode! Earlonne and Nigel answer questions sent in by subscribers; EH executive producer Bruce Wallace passes them along. There’s little prep and very light editing. Stuff gets wild.


    Things mentioned in this episode:


    Mt. Tamalpais College, formerly the Prison University Project, where Nigel started volunteering in San Quentin


    “Getting a Date,” the episode where Steve Wilson talks about escaping prison


    There are a few recommendations of groups that support books and libraries in prison on this page


    Lemon Twist and Al’s Attire, two of Nigel’s favorite clothing spots


    “Keep Your Head to the Sky” by Earth, Wind & Fire, the song E wants played at his funeral


    “Stairway to Heaven” by The O’Jays


    And the song nobody could think of, “Gangsta Lean” by DRS


    Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    A Rock Across a Lake

    A Rock Across a Lake

    We’ve never based a whole episode on a poem before, but this one, by Sky, took us by surprise. It’s both a record of longing for all the things she can’t do in prison — sleep in a teepee, have a cookie jar, touch a rabbit — and a way of doing those things in her mind. Big thanks to Acting Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin State Prison, and Acting Warden Williams and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women 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 in Apple Podcasts by tapping on the "Subscribe" button. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. Find a full list of episode credits at earhustlesq.com.

    • 28 min
    EH+ Ask Ear Hustle Anything 4

    EH+ Ask Ear Hustle Anything 4

    It’s February’s Ask Me Anything episode! Earlonne and Nigel answer questions sent in by subscribers, relayed by EH executive producer Bruce Wallace. There’s no prep and very little editing. Anything can happen.


    Things mentioned in this episode:


    “Sentenced to Life for an Accident Miles Away,” the recent New Yorker article about felony murder laws


    A few sound design edit notes from Amy on the last episode of season 12



    Amy Standen


    1:53 PM Dec 19


    SD - Sorry E -- but can you try a different music? this feels too jokey. Doesn't have to be SO happy -- just something EH-y that's got some momentum to it


    Amy Standen


    8:47 PM Dec 16


    this will need to be paced so it can "dance with the music" (TM)


    Amy Standen


    8:12 PM Dec 16


    SD here in between these different voices? like a ziiiip or zaap?



    Earlonne’s karaoke song


    Nigel’s karaoke song (if she didn’t hate karaoke)


    Bonus: The song Nigel wants sung at her funeral


    Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    Ear Hustle Extra: A Sneak Peek at "Cellies, with Commentary"

    Ear Hustle Extra: A Sneak Peek at "Cellies, with Commentary"

    Season 13 is coming soon; in the meantime, here’s a glimpse of what’s going on in Ear Hustle Plus, our new subscription feed. In this excerpt, Nigel and Earlonne listen back to their very first episode, “ Cellies,” and chat with executive producer Bruce Wallace about what life was like behind the scenes when Ear Hustle first stepped into the world, what’s changed since then, and the question in that episode that drove Earlonne nuts. To hear the rest of the Cellies commentary episode, sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus. You’ll also get access to more bonus content, including monthly Ask Me Anything episodes, where Nigel and Earlonne take on listener questions — the weirder, the better! Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.

    • 11 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
47 Ratings

47 Ratings

FeeJohammesburg ,

Consistently excellent *****

Fabulous podcast, each episode delivers insight, warmth humour and much food for thought. The hosts are brilliant and the stories delve deep into prison life and the inherent limits of incarceration. Well done to the Ear Hustle team.

Silksie ,

Eye Opening and Thought Provoking

This podcast.
Firstly, it shines a light on how badly we need to reimagine incarceration and rehabilitation.
Secondly, I did not expect the humour!
It is making me research the justice system in South Africa, rehabilitation projects and wanting to know more about our own system.

This is really amazing and a real eye opener.

JoanneStark ,

Love the podcast

Critters was my favourite episode. Much love from South Africa.
Keep them coming please!!
Jo.

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