Ear Hustle was the first podcast entirely created and produced inside a prison.
The show was developed at California’s San Quentin State Prison by incarcerated residents Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams with artist and volunteer Nigel Poor. The team worked from the prison’s media lab, producing interviews, narration, sound design, music, and other audio elements within the institution.
Its production was unusually challenging. Prison lockdowns could halt recording, and the creators had to navigate administrative rules governing equipment, interviews, and the release of material. Williams contributed sound design, including music and foley effects, while Poor brought experience from her photography work and Woods contributed firsthand knowledge of prison life.
The description refers to where the podcast was created and produced, not merely to its subject matter. Many prison-focused podcasts are recorded externally or made by journalists who visit correctional facilities. Ear Hustle’s distinction is that its original production team worked inside San Quentin, giving the series an unusual perspective on incarceration and, later, reentry after release.