Ear Hustle brings you the daily realities of life inside prison shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration. The podcast is a partnership between Nigel Poor, a Bay Area visual artist, and Earlonne Woods, formerly incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and was co-founded with former San Quentin resident Antwan Williams. The Ear Hustle team works in the San Francisco Bay Area, both in San Quentin State Prison’s media lab and from offices on the outside, to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny and always honest. Episodes offer a nuanced view of people involved with the American prison system and those reintegrating into society after serving time.
I came to Earhustle in season 3 (I think!), and have listened to every episode.
I’m in the UK and knew nothing about the prison system in the US. I’ve learnt so much, and it’s heartbreaking and fascinating in equal measure.
I’ve recommended Earhustle to friends and family, and they’ve loved it too.
One joy has been hearing Earlone’s journey - I was SO excited when his sentence was commuted!!
Series 10 - BRING IT ON!!
2022-09-14
Heartwarming and compelling!
I am addicted to this podcast! I love the authenticity, the honest revelations, and the off the wall humour. I absolutely am invested in the stories of some of the main participants, and enjoy hearing about their journeys towards rehabilitation a renewed life on the outside. I congratulate the team behind this wonderful
Podcast!
2022-09-08
Thank you
Thank you for the straight forward, thought provoking, heart lifting podcast.
The “ About” describes what you need to know and the listen, what might do you well to know.
Thank you.
2022-09-07
Brilliant
I’ve listened since episode 1 and only just realised I’ve never left a review. This podcast is brilliantly human. It’s the best example of life (the good, the bad and the ugly) and how we behave and interact with each other. Nigel, Earlonne and New York are fantastic interviewers. They each have a brilliant, natural way about them that brings out the best of the situation they’re in and the story they’re telling no matter how hard things can be to hear. Thank goodness for them and Lieutenant Robinson.
2022-07-21
Outstanding!
I recently listened to the British equivalent”Banged Up” which was also brilliant. This digs deep and addresses so many issues with the American prison system. 3 strikes! Insane. Years of solitary confinement. Harsh and overlong sentences. Yet San Quentin seems to focus on rehabilitation. Focus groups. Redemption. Giving something back. Surely this is the way forward. They are called correctional facilities after all. This is essential listening.
2021-09-17
❤️
Ear hustle is hands down the most powerful podcast out there. It tackles some extremely sensitive subjects, provides a window into other worlds and offers a deeper insight into people and situations.
I cannot recommend it highly enough ❤️
2021-05-26
Brilliant
Easily my favourite podcast of all time. Absolutely brilliant!
2021-05-02
Absolutely fantastic
I love shows where I get to enter a world that I would otherwise know nothing about. Ear Hustle does this wonderfully. It tells touching, heartbreaking, hopeful stories with such sensitivity and warmth. I honestly can't tell you how happy it makes me every time a new episode drops.
2021-04-30
Love the Lifer
Always brilliant, always honest. Stories that are sometimes hard to hear and stories that are honest and hopeful. Beautifully presented. Thank you. Loved the Lifer Bakery episode. Sending love to Isaac and family, and all the former incarcerated people giving it their best shot, and of course to the Ear Hustle crew.
2021-03-17
The Trail
I love the show and I wanted to especially thank you for the Trail episode. It really challenged me about accountability and it felt like I had a big light bulb moment about myself. So thank you for not only sharing stories but helping me grow in the process.
2021-02-28
Heartbreaking and Amazing
I love this podcast so much, it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me want to abolish the prison system
2021-02-21
Brilliant work, love this show.
Just discovered this show and it is fascinating. The issues, experiences and details are examined extremely delicately and sensitively; some episodes have been a very hard listen but the hosts have been professional and respectful throughout. Nigel and Earlonne have a brilliant rapport, the human elements of each episodes are very insightful and the stories are so emotive in many ways. Well done guys!
2020-12-12
Such a powerful episode
Not an easy listen but thank you for doing this. That woman & her family will stay with me. I’m a listener from London, UK & love what you’re doing.
2020-12-09
Impactful sad and a challenging listen
Thank you for not flinching from broadcasting the words of a damaged, dangerous man.
I am in awe of the enormous strength and true resilience of the woman who survived that rage and hate and managed to rise again.
2020-11-26
Simply incredible
A talented team bring us incredible stories about currently and formerly incarcerated people.
2020-11-12
So insightful
Just a great podcast!
2020-09-29
Love it
Fascinating insights into prison - which we otherwise wouldn't hear. I like when they compare with British prisons too
2020-09-23
Compelling, moving, thought provoking, and very often they even manage to find humour
A compelling and addictive look into what it’s like to live through incarceration in in unjust penal system of America.
2020-09-10
Awesomely addictive
I listen to Nigel and the rest religiously.. they bring brilliant stories and flavour to each episode. This podcast brings reality, good and bad, laughter and sadness. Its an absolute pleasure.
2020-08-31
My new obsession
I love this podcast. I love hearing about life for everyone in these prisons. I’ve laughed and cried. It’s massively humanising forgotten people of society. The US has crazy sentences which can leave people with no hope but it’s surprising to hear how much hope, life and community there is. Don’t get me wrong I don’t think it’s at all nice and rainbows and butterflies at all but the resilience of humans making the best of a dire situation.
I love the chemistry between Erlonne and Nigel. Erlonne I can’t wait to hear of your life outside of prison I’m so happy for you. Good luck with life.
Please don’t give up the show though 💛 *selfishly asking!
2020-08-25
Brilliant, got me through lockdown
Listened to this compulsively while on my daily lockdown walks, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Love to Erlon, Nigel and New York 🙌 I love your message and your positive vibes.
2020-08-23
Transphobic.
You gotta stop saying that you work "with these guys" when you KNOW there are women in that prison. It's transphobic misgendering. You gotta stop saying "men and women" when you mean people in general. There's more than two genders and genderqueer people are everywhere, even in prison. Stop reinforcing the gender binary, you transphobes.
2020-07-22
Impossibly good
Do your self a favour and listen to what is the best podcast ever
2020-07-19
So interesting
Love this show. So interesting and insightful to life inside an American prison
2020-07-03
My all time fav
This podcast brought the stories of the inmates to life in a sympathetic and humour filled way. I have so enjoyed them and recommended them to so many friends. It’s tremendous. What a podcast - listen now. From the beginning and binge on pure audio brilliance.
It kills me to hear of the Covid-19 outbreak at San Quentin. My thoughts go out to the inmates and staff there. Stay safe.
2020-06-08
Excellent podcast!
I can’t say enough to recommend this podcast - powerful, insightful and engaging. Thank you to everyone who has shared a story or been involved in this excellent podcast!
2020-06-08
Incredible listening
I have been listening to Ear Hustle from the outset and it amazes me how they keep this podcast fresh with new topics. Even really sensitive topics such as the ones in ‘Sorry means nothing’ are handled well and have even helped me keep a more open mind about issues I would previously had a set negative opinion about.
Some of the episodes are incredibly emotional and make me thankful that I came from a stable family background, unlike a lot of the incarcerated people in these episodes.
I hope the fundraising was successful and I contributed myself as I am really keen that the podcast continues to be aired.
Thanks, Adrian from Edinburgh, Scotland
2020-05-18
Brilliant!
Absolutely love this podcast!! One of the best out there❤️❤️
2020-05-01
Must listen
One of my favourite podcast. Thanks so much for bringing us these stories x
2020-04-13
Ear Hustle
I’m addicted! I love every episode but need more... brilliant programme
Thank you
2020-03-21
Fantastic initiative
Such an amazing insight into this parallel world. Really well recorded and produced, and I love it when there are features of artistic talent from the inside!
2020-03-18
Thank you
Such a great Podcast, describing a world that is so unfamiliar. And the death penalty, abhorrent to contemplate to most of us in UK. Thoughts with all of those incarcerated during these exceptionally difficult times.
2020-03-06
Stories and soul
So glad Ear Hustle is back! I missed it so much! This season started with a brilliant episode bringing us back to the PEOPLE inside. And Ear Hustle wouldn’t be Ear Hustle without the music! This episode music from Jason is something else he’s got such an incredible voice! And great choice of songs, very very soulful, Thank you guys! :)
2020-03-06
Unique, fun and insightful
Love this show. An insight into prison life, sensitively told and with a sense of humour. Impressively produced too. Good work!
2020-01-22
Really interesting and engaging
I’m a bit late to the party here seeing as this started in ‘17 but I’ve just binge listened to all of series one and loved it. The hosts are excellent and the stories are really well told. It’s a podcast page turner! Great work - I hope the rest of the series’ continue to be as good. Sending best wishes to all in SQ and as an English person - damn American laws are right!! How many lifers......? Ridiculous.
2020-01-11
Articulate and interesting
A real insight into the lives of incarcerated people in the US.
2020-01-08
Articulate insightful stories for humans
Glad I came late to the party so I can just keep the episodes rolling!
2020-01-04
Awesomeballs!!!!
This is one of the most entertaining, interesting and laugh out loud podcasts ever. I’ve recommended it to everyone I meet and they’ve said the same! Well done guys. The honesty is so refreshing.
2019-12-05
This show?... very special.
Everyone in the world should listen. A great lesson in how to be the best type of human. Life changing. Keep it coming. Love it.
2019-11-28
My favourite
Heartfelt, human, intelligent. This podcast has made me feel more raw emotions than any other. I love it
2019-11-03
Sometimes sad, sometimes joyful, always life affirming.
This is such an incredible insight into prison life and a whole sector of people you never hear from. It’s well produced, insightful and heartfelt. Every episode is a gem.
2019-10-27
Incredibly insightful and sensitive ✨
I’m a long time listener to Ear Hustle, and having just listened to “Tell Christy I Love Her” I wanted to say how much I enjoyed this episode... so engaging, so sensitively created, so important for people to hear. Keep doing the very valuable work you do!
2019-08-28
Listen to this right now!
This is a surprising, inspirational, and fascinating look at life inside San Quentin prison in California, recorded in the prison's own Media Lab. Download this now, I promise you will not be disappointed.
2019-08-15
Inspirational
Ear hustle is profound. I just listened to Inside Music while on the London Underground. Made me laugh and cry. Love you guys
2019-07-20
Amazing
Best pod cast ever
2019-07-18
Sometimes a tough listen
Sometimes jaw-droppingly tragic, often full of warmth and good humour. The only podcast that has ever made me weep tears of joy.
2019-07-12
Beautiful and moving
I’m a long time consumer of prison literature and this podcast is a truly revolutionary take on exposing the prison industrial system. The stories told are so beautiful and eloquently communicated. It’s important to hear from the mouths of incarcerated humans and give them back their humanity. Too many are willing to lock people up and throw away the key but this podcast is, I’m sure, giving new life to the prison abolition movement. Thank you for the work you do.
Moving forward I’d love for you two to shine light on how trans women’s lives are affected with San Quentin.
2019-07-05
So glad to have you back EH
Amazing podcast, insightful, as honest as they can be and I just know that it will transform the lives of so many people.
2019-07-03
Such a good podcast
I love this so insightful and powerful
2019-06-21
The only podcast I listen to right to the end
I am obsessed! I laugh, I cry, I laugh, I cry! It’s such an enlightening and incredible listen. Please never stop!!
