Ear Hustle S1 | American Prisons. Human Beings

"NP:You really think people want to know what its like to be in prison
EW, AW: Hell Yeah, Of Course
EW: You got all these TV Shows, new programs like Prison Break
AW: Orange is the New Black, Locked Up,
EW: You know all the shows
AW: But they all bullshit through
NP: Why? Why are they all bullshit?
EW: Cause none of them serving time
AW: They never did no real time
EW: They acting. yeah and prison ain't really like that. Nah were just living life like everyone else." - Meet Ear Hustle 00:24 - 00:48

Ear Hustle is a Non-Fiction Podcast that "Brings you the daily realities of life inside prison shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration." It is produced and hosted by former inmates Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams and visually artist Nigel Poor. The first season was produced in the San Quentin State Prison Media Lab. It is part of PRX's Radiotopia Podcast Network. Link to the Website.

This month I was reading The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander which discusses the Prison-Industrial complex. While I enjoy dry political non fiction I find that it is important to mix the anecdotal with the statistical. America has a long history of fictionalizing the prison system as it does with every other aspect of the legal and justice system however except for consuming the works of King and Abagnale I have had very little insight into the lives of the incarcerated population. Therefore I thought that a podcast that not only is produced in a prison but deals with the intricacies of prison life would be ideal as I try to understand the fucked up politics that make America the largest in Prison Population, (over 2 million btw). Also this podcast was recommended to me by a good friend and if you are reading this just know it was just as good as you said it was.

Ear Hustle is at its core about telling stories. A few episodes such as "Cellies" and "Looking Out" deal with 'mundane' activities such as owning pets or finding roommates but viewed from the lense of a prison sentence. Other episodes deal with aspects specific to the prison sentence such as "The Shu" which dealt with solitary confinement and "Unwritten" which dealt with informal, (albeit strict), racial segregation in prisons. Besides these more abstract episodes, Ear Hustle also takes the time to feature inmates personal stories such as Misguided Loyalty, which deals with one mans experiences with street gangs in 1980's South Central Los Angeles. Regardless of the topic EH manages to add a level of humanity to its content. The people involved are sympathetic and the majority of the stories regardless of emotional content are often wholesome. That being said prison is unsurprisingly not always such a nice place and EH deals with personal tragedies with the same level of respect and nuance as with the more humorous aspects of the show.

Nigel Poor, (who is actually a fascinating artist recommend checking out some of her projects), acts as an outside perspective being a first hand witness to the prison system without actually experiencing it. Woods and Williams act as our guides explaining the social rules of prison life in a realistic and lived matter. I enjoy the dynamic between both perspectives as Poor has the distance to make observations on prison life that the men cannot see and Woods and Williams are quick to correct Poor's misconceptions and biases. Another aspect I enjoyed was the interviews, (both individual and Pop Vox), of some of the inmates of San Quentin which provided a variety of interesting stories, personalities, and world views showcasing how vibrant the prison community is as a whole. That even when one is stripped of most of their personal liberties they are still unmistakable human. The co-hosts work well with each other and their banter is one of my favorite parts of the episodes.

For a podcast created with admittedly limited resources and unique challenges the production quality is extremely well polished. Many of the anecdotes and stories told are accompanied by folley work and the structure of the podcast is fluid, mixing in commentary, music, and interviews into a subtle shifting framework. Another aspect I enjoyed about the podcast was the use of original music that was created by a few of the inmates in San Quentin. The first season includes a bonus episode of the music sampled, (I recommend listening "Worth It" by Scoob Snacks) While I found that the first few episodes where a little rough around the edges the season quickly became well polished as the hosts got into the groove of podcasting.

Ear Hustle is a honest look into the reality of over 2 million people that are currently incarcerated in the American Prison System. Enjoyable hosts, intriguing stories, and a humanising tone bring together a social conscience podcast that allows you to connect to life on the other side of the bars.