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5 Podcasts Sharing Life Inside Prison & Beyond 🎧
A list of episodes revealing the real stories of incarcerated people.

Podcast artwork for Ear Hustle, Suave, Fire Escape, Track Change, and Uncuffed
Curator:
👉🏽 Greg Eskridge (he/him)
Why this theme?
👉🏽There’s so much to say and understand about our carceral system, but often what we miss is the humanity behind it — the personalities, stories, and aspects of life in prison that go beyond the setting.
This list of podcast recommendations spotlights those stories.
Podcast Picks
![]() Ear Hustle podcast cover art | You can’t talk about storytelling from inside prison without mentioning Ear Hustle. This is an oldie but a goodie about maintaining relationships while incarcerated — and, actually, I was interviewed for this episode! |
![]() Suave podcast cover art | Being sentenced to die in prison as a juvenile leaves you numb, struggling to accept that your life is over before it even begins. Resentencing offers a chance at freedom, but adjusting to a world that has moved on without you is overwhelming. Rebuilding relationships, finding a place in society, and carrying the weight of leaving behind survival bonds make reintegration a challenge. This episode of Suave captures that struggle. |
![]() Fire Escape podcast cover art | Female prisoners are often overlooked, dismissed under the stigma that only men commit crimes. This episode of Fire Escape follows a woman who took someone’s life through vehicular manslaughter and carries that reality every day. As she navigates prison life, she strives to do the right thing in a place that deems her worthless — all while trying to remain a mother to her children. |
![]() Track Change podcast cover art | Track Change is a documentary podcast that highlights the stories of musicians inside Richmond City Jail as they record an album about what it truly means to be free. There is never a singular path to healing, and this episode takes us beyond the jail walls and into the journey of navigating life on the outside, years after those recording sessions. |
![]() Uncuffed podcast cover art | This episode comes from Uncuffed, a podcast that changed my life — and the lives of countless others in isolation. It gave us an opportunity to express our humanity through accountability and empathy for our communities. This season, we’re sharing stories from inside prison while also taking you along on my journey of adjusting back to life on the outside. This episode reflects on a pivotal decade that shaped the lives of many incarcerated people in California. |
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Community
đź“śPieces of History explores both renowned and lesser-known historical events, uncovering the fascinating stories that often slip through the cracks of time.
đź’¸Money Unplugged with Chris Hill is a new show that teaches listeners about saving, spending, investing, stocks, and real estate.
đź—˝5 years since Covid: Join Tania Mohammad on Act Two New York as she ventures out into the resurgent nightlife of the city that never sleeps and talks to the actors, musicians, comedians, dancers, and venue owners who are redefining themselves in this new New York.
💖In Podcast The Newsletter, Lauren Passell writes: “Judge John Hodgman dropped an episode featuring my mom, my dad, and me. This time the case is more complicated, we argue over who in the family is more Gumby-like.”
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Podcast news from Podnews
For the first time, The Infinite Dial from Edison Research has reported that over 50% of Americans are consuming podcasts each month. The research, now in its 27th year, shows that podcasts are consumed by 55% of Americans aged 12+. The study has an enlarged survey size and now asks about “watching” podcasts as well as “listening”. (Podcasts grew whatever question was asked).
This is the kind of podcast review everyone wants. It’s about Alex Goldman’s Hyperfixed, written by Matthew Haughey, the founder of Metafilter. Interesting thought: “I used to say that every podcast takes about ten episodes to find its voice.”
The 20th People’s Choice Podcast Awards is open for registration. The awards have been running since 2005. Podnews will be a sponsor this year, because of course we will be.
Spotlight
![]() Teaching Through Emotions podcast cover art | Teaching through Emotions is the go-to place for teachers to learn how the power of psychodynamics can make their professional and personal lives better — way better. Psychotherapist turned psycho-coach Betsy Burris and her co-host, Joe, normalize teachers’ everyday wacky experiences — and show how to transform the wacky into the wonderful. |
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