San Quentin-Based 'Ear Hustle' Wins Radiotopia's 'Podquest' Competition

Woods, Poor, Williams; From prx.org

PRX's RADIOTOPIA has selected the winner of its PODQUEST open call for new podcasts, "EAR HUSTLE," by SAN QUENTIN inmates EARLONNE WOODS and ANTWAN WILLIAMS and artist (and non-inmate) NIGEL POOR. The show, produced in the prison's media lab and offering an inside look at life in prison, developed from work done for the show "CROSSCURRENTS" on noncommercial News-Talk KALW/SAN FRANCISCO. 

WOODS is serving 31 years-to-life for attempted second degree robbery, and WILLIAMS is serving a 15 year sentence for armed robbery. POOR is a Professor of Photography at CAL STATE-SACRAMENTO and volunteer for the PRISON UNIVERSITY PROJECT, which will be receiving a percentage of proceeds from the podcast. As per the contest terms, RADIOTOPIA will carry the forst 10-episode season of "EAR HUSTLE" for distribution in 2017.

POOR said, “We are beyond excited to be PODQUEST winners. My hope is that EAR HUSTLE can help show that people inside and outside the prison system can work together as colleagues. We want to lead by example, and demonstrate that people with different backgrounds and experiences can actually come together and produce important work. EAR HUSTLE is not just a creative project. It is actually teaching men viable skills and showing the world the effect of rehabilitation, and that change is possible. I hope our project shows the potential for a different story about people who are incarcerated.”

RADIOTOPIA Exec. Producer JULIE SHAPIRO added, “I was beyond impressed with the range of creative ideas submitted to PODQUEST from so many talented entrant. Narrowing down to just four finalists was nearly impossible, and then deciding one winner amongst them even harder. The heart and passion that EAR HUSTLE brought to their pilot episodes, combined with the unique and important stories they aim to share, ultimately moved us to choose them as the PODQUEST winner. What they accomplished under difficult circumstances is really quite amazing -- working inside a prison with no internet, limited working hours, and limited team communication. We’re excited to help bring EAR HUSTLE into the world, and for listeners to hear stories and perspectives they’ve never heard before.”

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