
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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 210 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureDocumentary | |||

From beatboxing, to blues, to a song of praise once heard in the Met Museum, musicians in San Quentin have created some indelible songs. And we have featured a number of them on Ear Hustle. In this episode, Earlonne and Nigel listen back to some of t... more
Earlonne brings his second selection from the archives: an episode from Ear Hustle’s first season about how people care for each other in a harsh place.
Dealing with aging and death is never easy. But in prison, these issues are fraught with extra ... more
At the start of a new year, Nigel revisits an episode about time passing and one man’s experience of four decades behind bars: our 2023 episode “Saber-Toothed Cat.”
What’s the difference between an over-under and a lower-lower? How many pairs of und... more
For the final episode of our all-NYC series, we take the train uptown to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, where a group of incarcerated dads from Rikers Island are playing games, eating lunch, and doing arts and crafts with their kids.
This is t... more
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I discovered Ear Hustle about 3+ years ago. I have been hooked ever since. I can’t wait for another new season! In the meantime, I will start reading the Ear Hustle book. Hopefully I can also catch a live show in the very near future.
Insightful, human, and incredibly thought-provoking. This podcast shares stories from prison with empathy, humor, and honesty, focusing on people rather than just their crimes. The hosts have a natural, genuine connection, and the storytelling is respectful and deeply engaging. Eye-opening, refreshing, and unforgettable.
Like, constantly. It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, challenging, funny, thoughtful… goddamn, this show is something else entirely. And Erlonne, you’ve got a special place in my heart. Thank you to the whole team that makes Ear Hustle what it is. Just…wow. Thank you.
I enjoy listening to Ear Hustle so much. I love your focus on the personal stories over the crime. I learn a lot!
Great show
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #29 | |
Apple Podcasts | #204 | |
Apple Podcasts | #46 | |
Apple Podcasts | #63 | |
Apple Podcasts | #231 | |
Apple Podcasts | #65 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The content provides a candid and multifaceted glimpse into life inside prison, showcasing the human experiences and deep emotions of those impacted by incarceration. Topics range from aging in prison, coping with health issues, the emotional struggles of family reunification, to navigating past traumas and aspirations for a better life post-incarceration. Each episode features authentic storytelling that highlights the resilience and coping mechanisms of individuals behind bars, as well as their complex relationships with family members, educators, and volunteers. This podcast is particularly noteworthy for its unique contributor blending—tales of inmates and their loved ones, revealing a side of incarceration that often remains hidden fro... more
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Ear Hustle launched 9 years ago and published 210 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Ear Hustle include:
1. Lonnie Morris
2. Richard Lathan
3. Andres Eric Watson
4. Jerry Walker
5. Liz McFall
6. Isaiah Garcia
7. Cory Thomas
8. T. Wright
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.