‘Ear Hustle’ Producer Is Freed, Prison Podcast Continues

 

In the American state of California, prisoners are usually able to get out of jail before their sentence is completed.

Some prisoners win a conditional¹, or temporary, release from jail through acts of kindness or by doing good things. Others are approved for release after showing a change in behavior, like becoming a religious leader or advising others against drug use.

But for Walter “Earlonne” Woods, the path to freedom was a podcast.

Woods was released from the San Quentin State Prison after serving 21 years of a 31-year jail sentence for attempted armed robbery. Last November, California Governor Jerry Brown cancelled his sentence. Brown noted² Woods’ leadership in helping³ other prisoners and his work on “Ear Hustle,” a podcast in which he talks about everyday life inside the prison.

The show has been very successful since it was launched in 2017. It has been downloaded 20 million times by people all over the world.

On the program, Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, a prison volunteer, talk with San Quentin prisoners about their struggles.

Some prisoners talk about the difficulty of sharing a 1.5 meter by 3-meter room with another person. Others tell why they take care of frogs or insects as if they were household pets. Some describe the effects of solitary⁴ confinement⁵ or being given a death sentence.

Woods helps listeners understand prison life. Poor is a San Francisco Bay Area artist who has volunteered at San Quentin since 2011. She asks thoughtful questions that sometimes lead prisoners to seriously consider what put them in prison.

Woods said the podcast offers listeners a closer look into lives most people do not spend much time thinking about.

“People get to see the car chases. They get to see the trial. But they don’t know what happens after you get to prison,” Woods said.

“We’ve been able to really humanize people, and people realize that those in prison are just people who made dumb decisions.”

Jerry Brown agreed. In the letter issued to end his sentence, the now former governor wrote that Woods “has clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed this crime.”

The podcast project started after Poor contacted Woods.

In 2016, Poor heard about a podcast talent competition. She asked San Quentin’s spokesman⁶, Sam Robinson, for permission to enter the prison. Another co-creator, Antwan Williams, agreed to do sound design for the project. Williams is serving 15 years for armed robbery.

Poor said their idea for a podcast from San Quentin beat more than 1,500 other proposals from 53 countries and received support from of a group of broadcasters. She added, “Everyone was shocked when we won, especially the prison.”

“Ear Hustle” has found international success. Listeners send cards and letters from as far away as New Zealand, Qatar and Mauritius. The free show can be heard in prisons throughout California and Britain.

One program talked about Woods’ first day as a free man. The first thing Woods did after his release on November 30 was get a look at the Pacific Ocean around San Francisco Bay. It looked, in his words, “as far as the eye can see.”

New “Ear Hustle” shows will be released later this year. They will include stories of Woods’ life outside of prison. The show will also have discussions with other prisoners released after long sentences. Woods and Poor plan to visit maximum-security jails and tell the stories of their prisoners.

“There’s a lot of people that’s in there that should be out,” Woods said. “I created a podcast, but I’m not the exception.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

pet – n. an animal that people keep mainly for pleasure

podcast – n. a program such as a music or news program that is like a radio or television show but that is downloaded over the Internet

solitary confinement – n. the state of being kept alone in a prison cell away from other prisoners

maximum – adj. the greatest value or level of something

talent – n. the natural ability of a person in a field or activity

dumb – adj. lacking in intelligence

1 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

5 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

6 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。