Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle & Radiotopia
Ear Hustle
Latest episode

184 episodes

  • Ear Hustle

    Revisiting "Getting a Date"

    24/06/2026 | 42 mins.
    Earlonne relistens to the final episode of Ear Hustle’s first season, about one official and one unofficial way to get out of prison. 
    Steve, Danny, Phillip, and Ron are all trying to make their way out of prison. In our final episode of the season, these men share their stories of going through the parole hearing process, and contemplate life on the outside after being incarcerated for decades.
    Big thanks to Steve Wilson for telling his story, and to Danny Plunket, Phillip Melendez, and Ron Self for sharing their parole board experiences. In revisiting this episode, we tried to reach Steve, but the phone number we have for him doesn’t work. Steve, if you’re out there, let us hear from you! 
    Music used in this episode was contributed by Antwan Williams, David Jassy, E. “Phil” Phillips, and Earlonne Woods.
    Support our work and help us reach 1,000 donors! Make your gift today.
    Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX. 

    Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
  • Ear Hustle

    Over and Over and Over and Over

    10/06/2026 | 39 mins.
    Even though they share a difficult past, Sadiq and Demarion had never met in person, and it was probably best that it stayed that way. When an event at San Quentin brought them together, Demarion faced an agonizing choice. 
    This episode was scored with music by Derrell Sadiq Davis, Demarion English, David Jassy, and Antwan Williams. 
    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. 
    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
  • Ear Hustle

    Tricks of the Trade

    28/05/2026 | 43 mins.
    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
  • Ear Hustle

    Bag of Skittles

    13/05/2026 | 41 mins.
    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
  • Ear Hustle

    Corny-Ass Episode

    29/04/2026 | 42 mins.
    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
More Documentary podcasts
About Ear Hustle
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. 
Podcast website

Listen to Ear Hustle, The Documentary Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Ear Hustle: Podcasts in Family