Ear Hustle gives you an inside look on prison life
- Arshia Sultan
- Mar 13, 2018
- 2 min read
Image Credit: @earhustlesq on Instagram
When you think about what prisoners sound like (or talk about) what do you imagine? Do you think it's possible to truly change for the better after spending time in prison?
These might be some of the things you'll have on your mind when you start listening to Ear Hustle. Trust me, if you haven't listened to the first season, start now... especially since season 2 is BACK on March 14.
I used to whip through podcasts pretty quickly... but I wanted to take my time with this one. Considering the topic of this podcast, I felt like I needed to not just listen carefully, but also take some time to reflect on every episode.
The best part about Ear Hustle is that it draws you into prison life in a way that you wouldn't expect - through casual conversation.
The podcast is produced by Earlonne Woods and Antwon Williams (both inmates at San Quentin State Prison) and Nigel Poor, an artist who volunteers at the prison. Earlonne and Nigel spend every episode interviewing various prisoners about prison life at San Quentin, and each inmate is surprisingly candid in their answers, even with heavy topics like solitary confinement and morality. Earlonne himself is currently serving 31 years to life in prison for attempted second-degree robbery. Despite this, he has an upbeat podcasting style that compliments Nigel's voice, who reminded me a little of Serial podcast host Sarah Koenig.
The podcast definitely humanizes prison inmates. Personally, I became more convinced that prison truly changes some individuals for the better, making them more aware of the impact of their unlawful actions. At a few points, I felt angry that the three-strikes law was so harshly enforced in some cases. But overall, Ear Hustle made me happy that inmates at San Quentin maintain their dignity through their hobbies, friendships and marriages.
A few random "fun" (ish?) facts about prison life in San Quentin that I discovered through Ear Hustle:
"Ear Hustle" is prison slang for eavesdropping.
San Quentin is one of California's oldest prisons.
Volunteers like Nigel can't wear certain colours. This is so she won't blend in with inmates or prison staff.
Only four states allow conjugal visits : New York, California, Connecticut and Washington.
Ear Hustle: The Men Behind the Hit San Quentin Podcast
Have you listened to Ear Hustle? Let me know what you think in the comments below!
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