Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle offers an unfiltered look into prison life and post-incarceration experiences, providing unique narratives directly from those living them to a global audience. After winning Radiotopia’s Podquest competition in 2016 against over 1,500 entries, Ear Hustle launched as the first podcast produced entirely inside a prison. Co-created by Earlonne Woods, Antwan Williams, and Nigel Poor, the groundbreaking non-fiction podcast debuted on May 25, 2017, as part of the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) Radiotopia network. Ear Hustle offers an unfiltered look into prison life and post-incarceration experiences, providing unique narratives directly from those living them, aiming to humanize individuals within the American prison system.

Ear Hustle solidified its extensive reach and impact by achieving over 54 million downloads by September 2021. The same year, the podcast published its acclaimed book, ‘This Is Ear Hustle,’ on October 19, 2021, further extending its narrative platform. The podcast has garnered widespread critical acclaim for its authentic and nuanced portrayal of prison life, often interweaving serious topics with moments of humor through intimate first-person storytelling. This recognition includes being a finalist for the prestigious 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting and winning an Alfred I.

duPont–Columbia University Award in 2021. Further demonstrating its significant influence on listeners and the broader understanding of incarceration, Ear Hustle has received multiple Webby Awards and an iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best Social Impact Podcast. Continuing its mission to share these human stories, the podcast premiered its fourteenth season in September 2024, maintaining its position as a unique and essential voice in audio reporting.