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Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle

Written by: Ear Hustle & Radiotopia
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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.

Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Tricks of the Trade

    Tricks of the Trade
    May 28 2026

    At North Kern State Prison, incarcerated people are being trained to do what staff cannot: provide peer support, whether it’s with addiction, cellie drama, or just adjusting to prison life. Nigel and Earlonne pay a couple visits, and hit some walls along the way.

    This episode was scored with music by Antwan Williams, David Jassy, Dwight Krisman, and Derrell Sadiq Davis.

    Big thanks to PIO Lt. Huckleberry and Warden Hixon at North Kern State Prison, as well as PIO Lt. Vogel and Warden De La Cruz at the Central California Women’s Facility, for allowing us to spend time with their peer-support programs.

    Thanks, as always, to Warden Andes, Lt. Berry, and Sgt. Graves at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and Acting Warden Padilla, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Avina at the California Institution for Women for their support of the show.

    Ear Hustle is on the East Coast! Get your tickets at earhustlesq.com/tour.

    Help us reach 1,000 donors by June 30. Make your gift today at earhustlesq.com/donate.

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

    Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • Bag of Skittles

    Bag of Skittles
    May 14 2026

    From obsessive body-building to extreme tattoos and other transformations: stories about the ways people in prison think about and try to change their bodies. Plus: “the California body,” explained.

    This episode was scored with music by Antwan Williams, David Jassy, Dwight Krisman, and Derrell Sadiq Davis.

    Big thanks to Warden Andes, Lt. Berry, and Sgt. Graves at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center; Acting Warden Padilla, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Avina at the California Institution for Women; and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Vogel at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show.

    Ear Hustle is coming to the East Coast! Get your tickets at earhustlesq.com/tour.

    Help us reach 1,000 donors by June 30. Make your gift today at earhustlesq.com/donate.

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

    Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Corny-Ass Episode

    Corny-Ass Episode
    Apr 29 2026

    Nigel says no matter where you are, everyone has a story to tell about a hug: good, bad, or awkward. Earlonne isn’t buying it.

    Thanks to Alonzo, Deonza, Harmon, Maurice, Ralph, Carlos, Michael, and Rocky for speaking to us on the yard at San Quentin.

    This episode was scored with music by David Jassy, Antwan Williams, Earlonne Woods, Derell Sadiq Davis, and Bruce Wallace.

    Big thanks to Warden Andes, Lt. Berry, and Sgt. Graves at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center; Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Avina at the California Institution for Women; and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Vogel at the Central California Women’s Facility for their support of the show.

    Ear Hustle is coming to the East Coast! Get your tickets at earhustlesq.com/tour.

    Help us reach 1,000 donors by June 30. Make your gift today at earhustlesq.com/donate.

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

    Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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