Ear Hustle is prison slang for eavesdropping, and that’s what listening to the show feels like: a raw, often funny, and always... more
In honor of Mother’s Day, some decidedly un-Hallmark-y stories about incarceration and motherhood. Thanks to Mary Behun, Reggie, and Kat for... more
Inside prison, as well as out, some of us cling to stuff and some of us let go. In this... more
Twelve years ago, Nigel asked San Quentin resident Greg Eskridge to write a list of everything he owned in prison.... more
A bucolic garden, six kinds of breakfast cereal, and around-the-clock bedside vigil: How one California prison is trying to mitigate... more
We’ve never based a whole episode on a poem before, but this one, by Sky, took us by surprise. It’s... more
Season 13 is coming soon; in the meantime, here’s a glimpse of what’s going on in Ear Hustle Plus, our... more
In honor of our 100th episode (!) Ear Hustle revisits our very first one – “Cellies” – this time with... more
When she was in her 20s, Shanna was the victim of a violent attack. Ten years later, she’s ready to... more
Not long ago, Nigel and Earlonne spent time at the largest women’s prison in the world: The Central California Women’s... more
Can a prison be haunted? And why are good ghost stories — inside or outside of prison — so hard... more
If San Quentin were a magazine, what would it sound like? Ear Hustle’s new team inside – Sadiq, Steve, Tam,... more
Producer Rahsaan “New York” Thomas takes us inside the parole-ordered transitional housing he’s been living in since getting out of... more
Prisons weren’t designed for older folks, and the California Institution for Women is no exception. Nigel and Earlonne pay a... more
Inspired by the classic This American Life episode “ 24 Hours at the Golden Apple,” the Ear Hustle team documents... more
It’s summertime! Which means the Ear Hustle team is off cooking up a new batch of stories for our next... more
In honor of Pride month, we’re serving up some of our best stories about the LGBTQ community inside prison, including:... more
Is there such a thing as a prison uniform? Turns out, it takes two podcasts to answer that question. Nigel... more
Over at San Quentin, a new preacher has started drawing crowds on the yard. He’s charismatic, soft-spoken, and devout. He... more
Imagine you’re an archaeologist tasked with going through someone’s garbage. What will you learn about their habits and desires, their... more
Can incarcerated women dye their hair? Do they have enough tampons and pads? What makes them happy, and how realistic... more
For years, we’ve asked incarcerated people to speculate on the difference between life inside a men’s prison vs inside a... more
What’s the difference between an over-under and a lower-lower? How many pairs of underwear do you get in prison? And... more
San Quentin’s population is changing, and a lot of the old ways are dying out. But some prison OGs don’t... more
When you’re incarcerated, are your dreams set outside prison walls? Or out on the prison yard? Are they a comforting... more
After 22 years in prison, our inside colleague Rahsaan “New York” Thomas is now a free man. We meet him... more
Lieutenant Sam Robinson has been with Ear Hustle since day one. As he retires from his post as Public Information... more
While she was in jail awaiting her sentence, Karen was housed with a pregnant cellie on the verge of giving... more
If you have to serve prison time, Norway is the place to do it … at least that’s what we’d... more
The Ear Hustle music episode returns! We catch up with some guys at San Quentin who are longing for love,... more
From 180s and 270s to “just one long-ass hallway,” different kinds of prison architecture leave different marks on the people... more
For years, we’ve asked incarcerated people to speculate on the difference between life inside a men’s prison vs inside a women’s. Now... more