Ear Hustle: Connecting Prison and Public
Ear Hustle: Connecting Prison and Public
The acclaimed podcast Ear Hustle is a valuable resource for understanding the possibilities of media in creating networks. Speaking to men of all types at the San Quentin State Prison, their goal is to construct a rethinking of convicts and prison. Co-hosted by Nigel Poor, a visual artist, and Earlonne Woods, an inmate at the correctional facility. Each episode centres on topics: ranging from cellmates to birthday parties.
Lituenant Sam Robinson, Antwan Williams, Earlonne Woods, Nigel Poor (from left to right)
Testimony is at the heart of this series, and what makes the program so fascinating. Moreover, it is not just the testimony but how this testimony is structured. The production does not force the convicts to speak of their sentencing or build some plot for them. The show observes testimony by allowing a platform in which convicts can practice, share, and discover elements of their story. Ear Hustle is broadcasted throughout San Quentin, thus allowing prisoners to connect with one another.
Another important element of the show is the idea of the public and private. The public is often in the dark on what happens when it comes to the space of prison, Ear Hustle serves as an illumination. The fun and friendly dynamic between Poor and Woods acts as way to connect the listeners and inmates. Woods provides the commentary of a prisoner, while Poor acts as the public, asking questions and reacting in ways a non-incarcerated person likely would. Further, Ear Hustle’s unexpected popularity has allowed prisoners and citizens to interact, with listeners sending postcards and inmates answering questions.
Works Referenced
Ear Hustle. “About.” Accessed November 25, 2018. https://www.earhustlesq.com/about/
Gilchrist, Andrew. “Ear Hustle: how San Quentin’s inmates made a boundary-breaking podcast.” The Guardian, 1 July 2018. Accessed Novemember 25, 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/jul/01/ear-hustle-podcast-san-quentin-jail-american-prison-life