Rephonic
Artwork for Ear Hustle
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin
California Institution For Women
Prison Life
Incarceration
Death Row
California
Mental Health
Camp Grace
Family Dynamics
Gang Culture
Drama Club
Rikers Island
Prison Experience
Comfort In Prison
Parenting
Hair In Prison
George Jackson
Bank Robbery
Prison

Ear Hustle is prison slang for eavesdropping, and that’s what listening to the show feels like: a raw, often funny, and always surprising peek into the reality of life inside prison.

Hosts Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods co-created the show that launched in 2017 while Earlonne was incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, where Nigel was a volunteer teaching photography. Since Earlonne’s release in... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes226Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ear Hustle

Latest Episodes

Rumors of a prison swimming pool, losing cherished memories to new technology, the right to housing in prison, and different ways of looking at a letter: Our first class of storytellers at the California Institution for Women dives deep into these su... more

YouTube

We're sharing an episode from another PRX podcast, The Science of Happiness, which explores what science can tell us about living a happier, more meaningful life. 

We think Ear Hustle listeners might be especially interested in this episode, "Why Yo... more

Nigel reexamines the fourth episode in our Last Memory series, from December of 2024. Linda’s mom brought her to a Catholic Mass because she had a sense her daughter was on the verge of something, and needed help. Thirty-seven years into her prison s... more

YouTube

Could telling Sadiq and Demarion’s story actually make things worse between them? And were we right to be concerned that SQ's public information officer wouldn't sign off on a story about penis modification? For our latest editorial roundtable, the o... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

China Worthy
Story contributor about housing and bunkies
Ear Hustle storytelling workshop
Episode: CIW: The Magazine, Issue One
Natalie Laidemola
Story contributor about CIW tablets
Ear Hustle storytelling workshop
Episode: CIW: The Magazine, Issue One
Kelly Wolf
Story contributor about CIW history and the pool
Ear Hustle storytelling workshop
Episode: CIW: The Magazine, Issue One
Bea Marquez
Story contributor about letters and love letters
Ear Hustle storytelling workshop
Episode: CIW: The Magazine, Issue One
Danny Murillo
Co-founder of Underground Scholars, policy advocate
Underground Scholars
Episode: Ear Hustle Presents: The Science of Happiness
Gilbert Murillo
Policy advocate and researcher focused on California criminal justice reform
Underground Scholars
Episode: Ear Hustle Presents: The Science of Happiness
Bob McKinnon
Director of the Social Mobility Lab and author
Social Mobility Lab
Episode: Ear Hustle Presents: The Science of Happiness
Steve Wilson
Inmate who escaped Old Folsom; parole candidate featured in the episode
Former inmate, California prison system
Episode: Revisiting "Getting a Date"
Danny Plunket
Restorative Justice facilitator; parole preparation figure
Restorative Justice Programs
Episode: Revisiting "Getting a Date"

Hosts

Earlonne Woods
Co-host of the program; co-creator; focuses on human stories from inside prisons and post-release life; contributes to investigative and reflective conversations
Nigel Poor
Photographer and co-creator; co-host; brings documentary storytelling sensibility to prison life, focusing on empathy and human stories over crime narratives

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 28.8k ratings
  • Getting A Date

    So glad you reran this episode. I’ve listened for years, but hadn’t heard this one. Was also cool to hear how things at the podcast had changed since season one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Melzie Mel
    United States2 months ago
  • My favorite

    I love Ear Hustle. So well done with very intriguing stories. I’ve listening to them all and don’t know what to do so I started again!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MeggieLiz2
    United States2 months ago
  • Over and over and over

    This has to be one of the best episodes by far. The strength these two men have shown to heal and change their mindset is incredible and should be applauded.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shotgungirl177
    United States2 months ago
  • Awesome podcast

    This last episode Over and Over and Over was so powerful. Thank you so much for this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Suthungal
    United States2 months ago
  • I barely made it past the opening. Hearing comments about how “only 180 of you have donated” at the very beginning of the episode was an immediate turnoff. It felt more like a guilt trip than a welcome to the show. I came for the content, but the tone at the start was enough to make me lose interest and stop listening.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    RainbowUnicorn
    3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests value the interviews for their depth and ethical handling of sensitive topics.
Sponsorship potential notes emphasize impact-driven work, with audiences appreciating authenticity and social relevance.
Listeners praise the show for its humane portrayal of incarcerated people and the healing power of storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ear Hustle Presents: The Science of Happiness
Q: What turning points helped you get to Berkeley and pursue this work?
Danny and Gilbert describe family adversity, therapy, education access, and exposure to college that redirected their paths toward activism, policy work, and academic opportunities.
Ear Hustle Presents: The Science of Happiness
Q: Tell us what Underground Scholars is and what it aims to do.
Danny explains the origins of Underground Scholars, a program creating pathways to higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and how they leveraged campus resources to establish a research and policy focus.
Revisiting “Saber-Toothed Cat”
Q: What was the most surprising thing that happened to you while you were in there?
That I didn't start screaming like everybody else.
The Loop Ep. 6: Make Your Partner Look Good
Q: What sorts of images did you have about that?
When you grow up without a father, you just don't know what a father looks like.
The Loop Ep. 6: Make Your Partner Look Good
Q: Can you tell us first, identify who you are and how much time are you facing?
My name is Jesus Santiago. Um, I just took three years.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Hustle

What is Ear Hustle about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A reverent, character-driven look at life inside and after incarceration, with emphasis on humanity, resilience, and community impact. Episodes center on personal stories—from mentors and families to inmates and reformers—paired with thoughtful discussions about education, restorative justice, and rehabilitation. Notable threads include the power of role models, the challenges of parole and reintegration, and how storytelling and empathy reshape public understanding of prison life. The show stands out for its intimate, documentary-style approach, ethical storytelling, and ability to connect policy, lived experience, and culture through human voices, making it a strong fit for listeners seeking social impact, deep empathy, and nuanced perspe... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Ear Hustle?

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How many listeners does Ear Hustle get?

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How many subscribers and views does Ear Hustle have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ear Hustle has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ear Hustle?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ear Hustle:

1. Criminal
2. Heavyweight
3. This is Love
4. Snap Judgment
5. This American Life

How many episodes of Ear Hustle are there?

Ear Hustle launched 9 years ago and published 226 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ear Hustle?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ear Hustle from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Ear Hustle?

Recent guests on Ear Hustle include:

1. China Worthy
2. Natalie Laidemola
3. Kelly Wolf
4. Bea Marquez
5. Danny Murillo
6. Gilbert Murillo
7. Bob McKinnon
8. Steve Wilson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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