I mean, I try to be, like, open and honest about my past and the things that I've done, including what I've done to get to prison. So I'm trying to like - I'm trying to partner with you here. WOODSON: I used to work for the captain at CIW in the program office. When asked earlier this year what was the first thing he would do if he got out, Woods said, Take a bath. In fact, when I walk through the yard, one of the things I really like is that people make eye contact. And it's just about - you know, they accept anybody, you know? So sometimes it's important, and I can give you an example. POOR: So we were in the media lab working and - you know, trying to work, trying to stay concentrated. Co-founded by San Francisco Bay Area artist Nigel Poor alongside Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams who were incarcerated at the time the podcast now tells stories from both inside prison and from the outside, post-incarceration. They ask how you are. GROSS: Earlonne, how did you learn how to keep your calm and live in the kind of confined situation you were in during the more than two decades that you were incarcerated? And I think it would help demystify a lot of the assumptions that people have about who's in prison and who should be there. And it would give the people inside the opportunity to stretch themselves intellectually and emotionally, so just creating more of a connection. Like, my mother used to bring him. [12][13][14] Since his commutation, Woods has become involved in campaigns to repeal California's three strikes laws. So I think what kept me sane is that I had the philosophy where, I am going to live to the best of my ability every day that I have left on this Earth no matter where I'm at. So you're interviewing a prisoner who - he and one of the volunteers fell in love, and so she stopped working there in any capacity, and they got married. GROSS: So can I ask you an honest question? What keeps your hopes up? He also founded CHOOSE1, which aims to repeal the California . The sound was recorded because he's the co-host and co-producer of the podcast Ear Hustle, which features interviews with San Quentin inmates talking about daily life there, things like living with a cellmate in a tiny cell, what it's like to be in solitary confinement, the heartbreak of being a parent separated from your child, how everything inside is separated by race and so on. T WOODS: You know, he was ripping and running with the gangs. Redmond O'Neal is the son of American actor Ryan O'Neal and Farah Fawcett (an America. We get - I mean, it's - you know, it's - we're just E WOODS: You're able to go out now. [1][2] Since his release, Woods has continued to co-host the podcast with Poor from outside prison, with Poor recording some parts in San Quentin with new co-host Rahsaan "New York" Thomas. Jerry Brown (D) has commuted the prison sentence of Earlonne Woods, whose hit podcast Ear Hustle explores life inside San Quentin State Prison. [7] Co-creators Woods and Antwan Williams were inmates at San Quentin State Prison for the first three seasons of the show. Like, you may have guys that are Hispanics or whites who, when they get to a certain prison, their race is like, let me see your paperwork. It was other people telling, you know, their stories about being robbed or losing a child, losing a loved one. Poor is a professor of photography at California State University in Sacramento. He is 5 feet 7 inches tall ( Approx1.7 m). GROSS: My guests are Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, the creators and hosts of the podcast Ear Hustle about life inside San Quentin Prison. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Earlonne Woods, co-host of the popular prison podcast Ear Hustle, had his sentence commuted by California Gov. He likes to keep his personal life private hence Earlonne has not mentioned any details concerning his marital status. While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. POOR: OK. And y'all having these intimate conversations about, you know, why you went down this path or what it was like being a survivor, what it was like being this. And this time, they had something for me, which was the three-strike law. So now we're - I mean, we're friends, and we're colleagues. After a break, we'll hear and talk about excerpts of two episodes of Ear Hustle, one about a death that was devastating for Earlonne, the other about an interview that raised serious ethical questions for Nigel. You know, when I was out for the two years 10 months, I raised Tyler, you know? Earlonne Woods is a popular American podcaster. They searched Tyler, and then they ran his name. He has the age of 49. I was questioning everything. As of now, he works as a full-time producer, co-host, and co-creator of Ear Hustle at PRX alongside Nigel Poor. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. At the time, your brother and your nephew's mother, Tyra, were living what you describe as a life of crime together. And I'm like - I'm telling my son, son, look. So I think as far as African-American culture in prison, I don't think nobody really cares why you're in prison. This is what we work for because there comes a moment in every person in prison's life where the light switch go on. And I hit the floor. E WOODS: I like my colors bright these days. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. And I spend a lot of time in there. A person can get certain - a certain amount of time for the crime that they commit. His net worth is estimated to be $657,586. It was like a light switch. When he was nine, Woods lifted up a faulty railroad crossing gate to allow cars to pass. And your brother is still in San Quentin. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Yes, he was quiet, but he was always present. And he understood how to diffuse a situation. You know, he running the streets. He was sentenced to 31 years to life for attempted robbery in 1999. But he was released in November after his sentence was commuted by California Governor Jerry Brown. And the officer came back, was like, you're too tall for that name. So in that case, I didn't dig in. POOR: You get a lot of calls from guys at San E WOODS: I get a lot of 15-minute calls from prison. He said Woods has clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed the crime. Who is Kourtney Kellar? We'll be right back. WOODSON: They told me that my son was murdered - well, killed. Woods was convicted of attempted second-degree robbery but because of the three-strikes law was sentenced to 31 years to life, most of which was served in prisons other than San Quentin. Your nephew, his son, Tyler, was born in 1994. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Tyra got arrested first for kidnap and robbery. You know what I'm saying? I think I was probably like eight years old when it came to me that one day I have to die. And then what worries me is, like, so people will leave with this very, like, I love this guy. It was transformational symposiums. Therefore, Earlonne earns a decent salary as a full-time producer, co-host, and co-creator of Ear Hustle at PRX alongside Nigel Poor. GROSS: And you basically just described your own situation when you were incarcerated because you got 31 to life for attempted second-degree robbery. You're able to go POOR: We're able to go out. Kourtney Kellar models for a variety of periodicals, companies, Toni Storm is a famous New Zealand-Australian wrestler, social media influencer, Instagram personality, OnlyFans star, and entrepreneur from Auckland, New Zealand. Wake up to the day's most important news. Woods was serving a 31-years-to-life sentence for attempted 2nd degree robbery due to a three-strikes law before having his sentence commuted in 2018. Earlonnes average salary is $61,244 per year. You were OK with that? . And I - I observed Earlonne a lot. Jerry Brown", "The story of "Ear Hustle", a podcast made by prisoners at San Quentin", "Ladies and Gentlemen: Your Podquest Semifinalists", "Prison-produced podcast 'Ear Hustle' lets you listen to real stories of incarcerated life", "San Quentin's Breakthrough Prison Newsroom", "After parole, podcast producers are turning skills learned in prison into paying gigs", "This Is Ear Hustle: Unflinching Stories of Everyday Prison Life", "Why the podcast revolution is here to stay", "Ear Hustle Is an Utterly Fascinating Look at Prison Life", "Announcing the Winners of the 2019 Discover Pods Awards", "Announcing the winners of the 2020 Discover Pods Awards", "2019 iHeartradio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners", "With eyes on the inside, 'Ear Hustle' makes the big time with its look at prisoners", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ear_Hustle&oldid=1134158700, "Ear Hustle Extra: Antwan Williams, Journeyist", "Ear Hustle Extra: In It for the Long Haul", "Ear Hustle Extra: A Call From Sacramento", "Ear Ear Hustle Presents: My Mother Made Me", This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 07:55. You know, he calls me. I'm not doing this. - like, was with him pretty much every day. You know that it could be a possibility, but it's a possibility that you've seen pretty much your whole life, you know? And, you know, I pretty much raised - because my brother was locked up. Earlonne Woods was released from San Quentin in November after his sentence was commuted by Governor Jerry Brown. ARI. [5][6], The show is produced by Earlonne Woods, Rahsaan "New York" Thomas, and Nigel Poor. And that's pretty much what I did. Like, what - why were we on this path, you know? He understood human nature. It was so kick-back and cool, meaning I take advantage of all these moments now. Earlonne Woods is the co-creator, co-host, and co-producer of Ear Hustle (PRX & Radiotopia). Earlonne Woods is the co-creator, co-host, and co-producer of Ear Hustle (PRX & Radiotopia). So now we can actually do that and even POOR: Hopefully go to other countries, too. GROSS: And you thanked him for doing it. Poor, a professor of photography at CSU Sacramento, was volunteering with the Prison University Project at San Quentin State Prison when she met Woods, who was serving a 31-year-to-life sentence. They struck him 19 times, killing him. . He is now 47. POOR: Earlonne described himself, and I described myself. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. (SOUNDBITE OF GOLDMUND'S "THE BALLAD OF BARBARA ALLEN"). GROSS: And - so you interviewed him about commuting your sentence. And it's all that some of the people that you choose to associate with do, you know? POOR: It is a different world over there. You guys are killing me (laughter). And it really wasn't until I got into the healing circle that I understood what it was like to be a survivor of crime because in these circles, you're sitting across from crime victims. POOR: I'm so glad you asked about this. Earlonne became busy reporting on re-entry stories and daily life for originally incarcerated people, while also documenting his own experiences. And I listen very carefully to how you talked about your relationship and how much you thought about it and how painful and joyous the whole experience was for you. What we did was humanize [prisoners], just by telling their stories, Woods said in February. But very quickly, when we started talking about photography - I was teaching a history of photography class - that kind of melted away. Nigel first started going to San Quentin as a volunteer teaching photography. I think the scope of the number of people that could possibly listen to this, I'm just really nervous about that. He and Nigel are also the authors of This Is Ear Hustle: Unflinching Stories of Everyday Prison Life, a book that was inspired by the podcast and released by Crown/Random House. So I think I understand more the complexity and the pressures and inside I get to see men relating in very heartfelt ways. So we're going to strike you out this time. "[9] The series is not overtly political, but Poor emphasizes the way the show can have a humanizing effect, making listeners care about the men they hear on the show and wonder why one of the hosts might serve a life sentence for attempted robbery. Should we recognize the change, or once you did the act, that's who you are - your essence, your identity - and never to be considered? And when you're in that moment, I think it's more of crime to people in society that commit crime. And the captain comes in. Can people change? And it's the way people would hope other people think that, hey, OK, I've done my time. I just stopped over there, went and sat on a rock and just watched the water for about an hour. E WOODS: And she even got mad at me the other day E WOODS: 'Cause I left dinner with everyone, and I went to the movies by myself to go see "Vice" (laughter). Earlonne continues to co-host the show with Nigel. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. So you'll never get the opportunity to be in front of people to present the person that you are today. Earlonne became preoccupied with reporting on re-entry stories and daily life for people who had previously been incarcerated, as well as documenting his own experiences. This is FRESH AIR. (SOUNDBITE OF STEFANO BOLLANI AND JESPER BODILSEN AND MORTEN LUND AND MARK TURNER AND BILL FRISELL'S "ALOBAR E KUDRA"). GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the co-creators of the podcast Ear Hustle. The two bonded over a love of storytelling and with no formal experience, began a podcast together where they showcase the . While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. Earlonne Woods: Number one. He is now 47. I actually oddly enjoy being in there. Earlonne continues to co-host the show with Nigel. Woods is an inmate of the San Quentin State Prison in California. GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the co-hosts and co-producers of the podcast Ear Hustle. Nigel is a professor at California State University. And as they questioned the driver, the passenger officer seen tattoos and Tyler's face and started questioning him, made him get out the car. Eventually, the marriage fell apart. And my mindset, regardless of where I'm at, I'm going to live to the best of my ability. Woods has served 21 years of a 31 to life prison sentence. And, like E WOODS: My partners. TREVOR WOODS: You know, so Tyler was out there trying to grow up on his own, trying to be something that he didn't know nothing about. Earlonne Woods, co-host of the popular prison podcast Ear Hustle, had his sentence commuted by California Gov. When Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods met, Poor was a photography professor volunteering with the Prison University Project, and Woods was serving thirty-one years to life at California's San Quentin State Prison. T WOODS: I received an email from one of my partners. [16] In 2021, Woods and Poor co-authored the book This Is Ear Hustle. We can go to a restaurant. Look. And then the question is, well, what do we do about that? Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods are gifted storytellers, and their ability to draw intimate, authentic stories out of others is extraordinary. It focuses on both the personal and the political, shedding light on issues of mass incarceration and the criminal justice system by telling intimate, humanizing stories, like the tale of one inmates obsession with keeping small critters as pets in his cell or anothers struggle to be intimate with his wife while behind bars. But that was a case that challenged my desire to not know and to - how to deal with the knowing once it's been presented to you. Earlonne Woods is co-creator, co-producer and co-host of Ear Hustle from Radiotopia. Don't be out there doing no robberies, none of that stuff. In 2020, alongside his Ear Hustle co-hosts, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. In 1997, Earlonne was sentenced to thirty-one years to life in prison. I've changed my life. Woods said that the show chose the topic of cellmates for its first episode to ensure the show was relatable, since most people can relate to having a bad roommate. Since the podcasts launch in 2017, its been downloaded, announcing the commutation, the governor echoed that thought, saying Woods has clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed this crime.. So me, personally, I would eradicate the three strikes law in California. [11], By September 2021, Ear Hustle episodes had been downloaded over 54 million times. When Earlonne was incarcerated in San Quentin, he and Nigel Poor started the podcast Ear Hustle. They had left the auntie's house. And it has made me - it has made me care about men so much more. He and Nigel Poor began the podcast Ear Hustle when Earlonne was a prisoner in San Quentin. An intimate view into the life and challenges of an asperger's spouse.It seems some marriages are so wonderfully stellar you have to look away or be blinded. Earlonne Woods was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. When Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods met, Nigel was a photography professor volunteering with the Prison University Project and Earlonne was serving thirty-one years to life at California's San Quentin State Prison. When he was 15, he committed his first robbery alongside his brother, who had transitioned from selling drugs to robbing drug dealers. "[9] The show's unique lens and intimate first-person storytelling is noted in most reviews. I took their security from them to even walk out the house and feel safe, you know? He likes to keep his personal life private hence Earlonne has not mentioned any details concerning his marital status. And we used to do, like, healing circles. I'm always interested in people who - I'm quiet myself. So right now there would be a problem with me going back to see him because I'm currently on parole. You end thinking, like, here's this guy who's very self-actualized. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham. The rest of it is just an enhancement. T WOODS: One the 19 - November 19, 2013 - federal prison - we have phones, and we have emails. I think maybe 14 years in my sentence, I went to San Quentin. It addresses important issues about being human and how prisoners can be contributing citizens. Their tenth season finished airing in December 2022. I told him that constantly. Like, he just seemed lighter and shiny and fresh. They're waiting to get inside a club, and somebody from way across the street just shoot into the crowd, hit him in the heart, right? What's it like to not care about the person who you're robbing or the person who might be killed by a stray bullet? As a result, it is unknown whether Earlonne is single, dating, or married. GROSS: I want to thank you both so much. Usually, you can't go back into a correctional facility on parole. Earlonne Woods, Nigel Poor, welcome to FRESH AIR. With grace and humor they walk through what life is really like behind bars, showing the humanity and depth of those they meet inside." --Catherine Burns, artistic director, The Moth "I listen to Ear . On his release from San Quentin State Prison, Woods was hired full time to continue the work started inside but also adding reentry stories. [4] Its first season began on June 14, 2017. In March 2016, the Public Radio Exchange's Radiotopia network put out a call for new podcast ideas via an initiative called Podquest, with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. So you become accustomed to that lifestyle. The prison also went on lockdown during production, halting work and requiring additional administrative steps to both create and release the audio. ERIN: No, I don't feel you're being unfair at all, and I don't ultimately know what my hesitancy is. [6] While in San Quentin, Woods was unpaid for his work on Ear Hustle, though fans would often send him money. Earlonne stands at a height of 5 ft 7 in ( Approx1.7 m). All rights reserved. So they don't even have the opportunity to even go in front of the board to say, hey, look, for the last 21 years, I've changed, you know, because their board dates ain't till 2150, you know? "[12] Woods later traveled to thank Brown and interview him for the podcast. And I stopped by this lake. [7] They recruited fellow inmates Antwan Williams as the show's sound designer,[8] and submitted their idea for a podcast to a contest hosted by Radiotopia. GROSS: That Tyler was killed while they were in prison. Co-produced by inmates Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams . It didn't work out, unfortunately. It received 1,537 entries from 53 countries. POOR: So I'm just going to be very blunt with you. And so I want to play the part where you return to ask him that difficult question. GROSS: Wait; so that means, like, you'd rather die than be E WOODS: Yes, yes. We can go to the gym and work out together. FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. And her son had attended a party. He became affiliated with a local Crips gang in high school, and began selling marijuana at 14, and later sold cocaine. Earlonne was both co-host and inmate. Earlonne is a brother to Shala Woods. [3], Woods met artist and volunteer Nigel Poor, who was teaching photography at the film school. --. Earlonne, I want to ask you about the final podcast you recorded in San Quentin, which was largely about your older brother, Trevor, and your nephew, Tyler. SHAPIRO: Earlonne Woods had to leave the media lab to take the call. And you may be incarcerated 15, 20 years. You know what I mean? SHAPIRO: When you said goodbye to him, were you crying? Presently, Earlonne has not mentioned any details concerning his parents. (SOUNDBITE OF JOHN COLTRANE'S "OUT OF THIS WORLD"). "[15], The New Yorker's Sarah Larson said the show "might be the best new podcast Ive heard this year" and described it as being "about the creativity required to live a satisfying lifeor even a sane lifein prison, and is itself a product of that creativity. You may be a changed individual, all the way changed, would never commit another crime. It destroys hope, and it violates the principle that redemption is at the essence of what it is to be human. Earlonne is 5 feet 7 inches tall ( Approx1.7 m). And then I got into the lifestyle of robbing drug dealers. He spin his vinyl. "[9] She also praised its originality, "[using] prisoners' storytelling skills to show what it's like to spend decades behind bars. Woods never used the drug, though became addicted to the money and lifestyle selling it provided. And then when I got out, I hadn't put any skill sets together, you know? We'll be right back. I'd rather not know. If you're just joining us, my guests are Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the co-hosts and co-producers of the podcast Ear Hustle, which features interviews with men incarcerated in San Quentin Prison about their daily lives and their personal stories. Is that OK? POOR: We can taste each other's food 'cause, you know, in prison you can't share food with people. You feel invincible in some ways. Even after Woods is out on parole in Oakland, California, Ear Hustle said that it will continue, with Poor telling more tales from those inside San Quentin and Woods talking about the journey to re-enter society after years behind bars. So on December 7, 1994, I murdered my ex-girlfriend, the mother of my now-25-year-old daughter. Do you usually know what somebody is in for and do you ask, or is that considered wrong to ask? Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Lana Wolf, Eric Marcus, Robert Marawa, Who is Redmond ONeal? I was a clerk. But you may have the African-Americans who go to prison and they're at certain places and you don't get that question. E WOODS: Hey - so I always go over to the L - I call them L7s. He commuted my sentence to be released forthwith, immediately, right now, its time to go, time to walk out that gate, he added, laughing. But yeah, I can't. So I want to ask you each to choose one thing that you would like to change in the system of - in the prison system or in mass incarceration. Behind 'Ear Hustle,' The Podcast Made In Prison. And, Earlonne, since you served so much time, let's start with you. He commuted my sentence to be released forthwith, immediately, right now, its time to go, time to walk out that gate, he added, laughing. In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Lexi Mainland wrote "The runaway hit Ear Hustle never takes a broad look at criminal justice policy or employs Voice of God narration. SHAPIRO: Like in a restaurant, at your house, any POOR: Yes. For the first few months after Earlonne Woods was released from San Quentin in November, his "Ear Hustle" podcast co-host Nigel Poor kept receiving photos of ice cream on her phone. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. And he's standing in a group. [7] Woods relocated to Oakland, California after his release, and was hired full-time as a producer and co-host of Ear Hustle. Ear Hustle is a non-fiction podcast about prison life and life after incarceration created by Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, both formerly incarcerated, and Nigel Poor, an artist who volunteers at San Quentin State Prison. Shes holding on. And I was paroled when I was 23, about to turn 24. And it was just - I just seen him slipping through my fingers because I wasn't there to snatch him up. And so we just started talking, and I realized that he was interested in thinking about how we could do interviews from more of an artistic perspective and not as journalists. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. He does not, however, expose his wife's identity to the public. Self's story opens the first episode of Ear Hustle, an engrossing new podcast out of San Quentin prison, a state facility in California. But the things that you do in your past do add dimension to who you are in this moment. I'm Terry Gross. Once the details concerning Earlonnes marital status are available we shall update. SHAPIRO: That's Earlonne Woods from the podcast "Ear Hustle." SHAPIRO: Earlonne Woods is 47. His sentence was commuted by Governor Jerry Brown in November. He's able to call me collect. Earlonne Woods prefers to keep his personal life private, so he has not disclosed any information about his marital status. Did you give him a hug? I'm Terry Gross. [8][9] Poor is a visual artist in the San Francisco Bay area who volunteers at the prison. He works as a full-time producer, co-host, and co-creator of Ear Hustle at PRX alongside Nigel Poor. And then, I always say that, you know, a lot of people that volunteer - people like Nigel Poor, people like other volunteers that volunteer inside of prisons - are on the frontline of public safety because these are the people that's coming in and is trying to show you a different way of life or trying to help you understand differently, think differently. Williams, 29, has served more than 10 years on a 15-year sentence for armed robbery. Earlier this year, we introduced you to a man named Earlonne Woods who got some big news yesterday. For Walter "Earlonne" Woods, the path to freedom was podcasting. You start attending different self-help groups. In 1997, Earlonne was sentenced to thirty-one years to life in prison. [3] According to The Economist, by this time Woods was one of the most famous incarcerated people in the US. So I think I did what, pretty much, my community did that was around me. Can I ask how your relationship is changing now that you're both outside? You know, they playing with guns or whatever have you. GROSS: That was Governor Jerry Brown interviewed by my guests Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor. I don't think I have the vision to see it. GROSS: Their brothers are the people who live in a similar world of fantasy as opposed to defining their brothers as being, you know, a skin color or ethnicity. Despite the lack of physical or forensic evidence, Caramad Conley was convicted of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, two counts of first degree murder, and eleven counts of attempted Like, in the county jail, I was like, OK, I'm done with this side of life because even though our philosophy growing up was for death though - you know, meaning I'd rather be carried by six than judged by 12 - that was just the philosophy we had growing up, you know? And so when people listen to this story, that's what I want them to take away, that here's this person who is in a difficult situation. Why we living like we don't care - because this is somehow how we grew up and how - since as early teenager we've been living in the streets, in the gangs. E WOODS: In between prison - when I got out - Tyler had just been born in '94. He is a staff writer and podcast producer at KQED, as well as a graduate of UC Berkeley's School of Journalism. I'd still be sitting in San Quentin in a cell with my brother. EARLONNE WOODS: Well, I just keep getting up every morning, you know, thankful that I have another day, thankful that I'm alive, you know? You know, he was - you know, I even - I'm talking to him all the time. In 2016, it was selected by the Radiotopia network as the winner of its Podquest competition, and the following year released its first season. You know, prison, I'm going to live to the best of my ability. I realized that he had a really intense work ethic that matched my own and that we just really got along. There's a story you did about how people like you from the outside who come in to volunteer - because you started at San Quentin volunteering teaching photography before you started doing the podcast Ear Hustle. Earlonne Woods is the co-creator, co-host, and co-producer of Ear Hustle (PRX & Radiotopia). [16], Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Award, "Immigrants facing deportation, drug offenders and a former state lawmaker receive pardons from Gov. Woods' sentence was recently commuted, but the two continue to tell stories of life behind bars. But to hear the very next day that he was killed - and my mother is who told me. So prison was more like, oh, hey, this is a place to go and continue your gang activity, continue your destructive behavior. E WOODS: It was devastating because I had - one, I had just talked to Tyler, like, probably the day before. GROSS: Nigel, when you first started volunteering in San Quentin, what were some of the things you had to deal with as a woman teaching in a prison of men? Woods was involved in an attempted robbery in 1997, when he was in his 20s. explores life inside San Quentin State Prison. There's all these restrictions. The San Francisco Public Library chose the title for its One City One Book citywide community reading program in 2022. He's also co-host of the podcast "Ear Hustle," which is why we had him on this program. I'm not doing this. Jerry Brown. In 1997, he was sentenced to 31-years-to-life in prison. GROSS: Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor are the co-creators, co-producers and co-hosts of the podcast Ear Hustle, which features interviews with men incarcerated in San Quentin. Toni Storm is well-known in the wres. Not one bit, you know? HuffPost visited Woods at San Quentin earlier this year to discuss why he created the podcast. California Gov. He works as a full-time producer, co-host, and co-creator with Ear Hustle at PRX alongside Nigel Poor. China. [3], Woods completed his General Educational Development in prison, as well as vocational courses such as auto mechanics. So I've technically only been free 20 years in my life, and, since I was 17, I've been free maybe three years all together. I'm doing that. And you also spent time in solitary, where it's very hard to stay sane. And Jerry Brown was then the governor of California. So you recorded interviews with Trevor and Tyra talking about how difficult it is to maintain a relationship with your child when you're incarcerated and how difficult it is to help them stay out of trouble. It's a job. Then there are those marriages that become the subjects of books . And my whole thinking, like, changed in that moment. I felt like in Earlonne I found a true professional colleague. A post shared by @earhustlesq on Mar 13, 2018 at 8:35pm PDT. She co-created the podcast with Woods and has co-hosted and co-produced it with him. You're more looking at what you're getting out of the situation. And on their way back to the auntie's house, they were pulled over by Long Beach Police Department - two officers. You start really understanding what the word community means and what your participation in community is about, you know? Our senior producer today is Roberta Shorrock. He was hired to continue co-hosting and producing the podcast after his release. Therese Madden directed today's show. What was your reaction when you found out? The show was still challenging to create, in part because none of the three producers had a background in audio production, but also because of prison administration red tape. SHAPIRO: Well, yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown commuted Earlonne Woods' sentence. So, yeah. And I always wore black. POOR: What are some of the things you think about when you fantasize about your life when you're out? When asked earlier this year what was the first thing he would do if he got out, Woods said, Take a bath. I've never felt scared or disrespected. Not at all. So how do you keep going? Earlonne Woods annual salary is $61,244 on average. "When. After California Governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence last month, Woods reflects on. SHAPIRO: Nigel Poor told us that when Earlonne Woods came back POOR: He was walking with a lot of air in his step. E WOODS: Well, I think - so I'll say this. GROSS: That's the sound of the San Quentin prison door slamming as my guest Earlonne Woods was released in late November after being incarcerated there for seven years. He had served 21 years of a 31-years-to-life sentence. Earlonne was not only one of the co-hosts, he was one of the men incarcerated until his release in late November after California Governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence. E WOODS: He got a hell of a collection of vinyl. Woods, 47, was recently released from San Quentin State Prison after California Gov. Earlonne is busy reporting on re-entry stories and daily life for originally incarcerated people, while also documenting his own experiences. Before creating the podcast, Woods and Poor did interviews with inmates in San Quentin for public radio station KALW in San Francisco. Its out of body, he said of getting the call from Browns office. His commutation includes reference to Earlonne's work on the podcast. So it be at prison, I'm going to enjoy my day every day because at the end of the day, this is all I got, you know? [3][4] In 1997, at the age of 25, he was arrested for attempted second degree robbery. In November 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown commuted Earlonne's sentence after 21 years of . How do you deal with family, love, depression, having children, finding meaning in life? And so I found out what you're in prison for. You're sitting across from politicians. So I think that's very damaging. Earlonne Woods (@earlonnewoods) Instagram photos and videos earlonnewoods Follow 225 posts 24.1K followers 931 following Earlonne Woods Public figure Award winning Co-Creator + Co-Host, @earhustlesq . Woods said he was only trying to be helpful, but was arrested by local sheriffs who did not question why he had lifted the gate; Woods subsequently had to appear in juvenile court. It was - and it's not just her. He went up there. She first started working at San Quentin in 2011 as a volunteer in the Prison University Project, teaching the history of photography. You - you - you always feel that you're better than getting killed, like you would never get killed. [5] Woods role on the podcast was well-received, with Sarah Larson from The New Yorker describing him as an "immediately warm and likable presence",[10] while Eddie Harana from Rolling Stone praised the sense of humor he brought to the show. POOR: I can let Earlonne answer that one. He running with these hard heads. My guests are Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the co-creators of Ear Hustle, a podcast featuring their interviews with men incarcerated in San Quentin. While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. Jerry Brown commuted his sentence for attempted armed robbery. Trevor was wanted and was on the run. And I'm always interested in people who kind of fade into the background a little bit because I suspect they could be the most interesting people in the room. Woods was unaware his two convictions as a juvenile counted as two 'strikes', which made his conviction at 25 count as his third under California's three strikes law. There's a man that I worked with for quite a while that I was very fond of. And, Earlonne, again, I want to thank - I want to congratulate you again for your new freedom. And, Nigel and Earlonne, I want to wish you good luck with the retooled version of Ear Hustle now that Earlonne is out. Earlonnes sentence was recently commuted, but the two proceed to tell stories of life behind bars. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The victims of a crime are faceless. And I think that's a shared philosophy with everybody that's in prison - is that you have to just deal with what's going on today, you know, and just not let the pressures of prison just get to your core and crush you. Woods and Poor cohost the show while Williams does the show's sound design, working in San Quentin's media lab to record music and effects, including foley work. And I'm playing this because it's about knowing where the line is when you're interviewing prisoners and sometimes to have to ask something that's going to make them uncomfortable. TYRA WOODSON: And he began acting out. And at one point, he revealed to me that he had raped quite a few women. It instead offers the even more illuminating dialogue of individual prisoners. In 1997, he was sentenced to 31-years-to-life in prison. Let me see why you're here. And when I went to prison, it was pretty much the California Department of Corrections, and there was not a rehabilitation on the name then. Earlonne is Shala Woods brother. Earlonne Woods was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. Woods has served 21 years of a 31 to life prison sentence. GROSS: So something I found really interesting is that the group that is multicultural and not segregated by race or ethnicity is the group that's into, like - the nerds, the group that are into, like, sci-fi fantasy and stuff like that. Others are typical and comfortable, never rising to celebrity status but supplying its partners with a contented existence. E WOODS: Right. They say hello. [5][15] In 2020, alongside Poor and co-host Rahsaan Thomas, Woods was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. I love it. GROSS: So you know, you're a middle-aged man now. And a chase pursued. I find it invigorating. You're sitting across from law enforcement. GROSS: A job because you thought it was, like, your only source of income? And I got into this group. POOR: How do we tell stories and leave out that part? [11], In November 2018, then California Governor Jerry Brown commuted Woods' sentence, saying he had "clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed this crime" and that "he has set a positive example for his peers and, through his podcast, has shared meaningful stories from those inside prison. So to hear Governor Brown say that, it was like this is how we actually think. And one of my goals has been for us to travel to other prisons, and I never wanted to do that without Earlonne. It's about a writer whose friend and former mentor kills himself. GROSS: Earlonne, what's the custom among men in San Quentin? Tyler was sent to live with extended family. I think it's about probably 20 people from there that call me collect. And I think - I didn't - I didn't become accustomed to the lifestyle of working or having a job, you know? But on the second term after - once you receive a life sentence, there's no guarantee that you'll ever be released from prison. I'm not doing that. Hae-soo married his non-celebrity bride on January 14, 2019, according to sources. I pretty much raised Tyler from '95 to '97, when I got arrested. That was something that was volunteered to me. Accuracy and availability may vary. Poor, a professor of photography at CSU Sacramento, was volunteering with the Prison University Project at San Quentin State Prison when she met Woods, who was serving a 31-year-to-life sentence. ERIN: I don't - I don't know. My first prison term, I went to jail when I was 17. It was a private wedding ceremony, according to accounts. Woods was raised in South Los Angeles with his parents and his older brother Trevor. E WOODS: I think - I was just tripping off - he was just peeling back one of the Beatles POOR: Oh, yeah. Therefore, it is not known if Earlonne is single, dating, or married. So I'm not thinking that it's serious as much as I'm hearing. "[16] Quah contrasts standard prison narratives told entirely from an outsider's point of view with the interplay of insider and outsider perspectives provided by the hosts of Ear Hustle, with stories primarily told through Woods' and Williams' words and perspectives, and Poor in an active role adding "key narrative housekeeping". And it might help you. You have to go through a lot of E WOODS: Yeah, it's a lot of stuff you have to go through. Earlonne still co-hosts the show alongside Nigel. "Ear Hustle" features stories from prison told by prisoners - their intimate, honest conversations about family visits, cellmates, solitary confinement - conversations like this one between Earlonne Woods and his co-host Nigel Poor, who's not an inmate. No. And as time went on, as years went on, I stuck to my guns. Jerry Brown commuted his 31-years-to-life sentence for attempted armed robbery. I went in and ended up in a security housing unit a couple of times for lengthy stays and just continued my pretty much destructive behavior all the way out. Jerry Brown. He is 49 years old. Tyra got arrested first for kidnap and robbery, and she was sentenced to 17 years. POOR: I walked him to the gate; you know, wished him good luck. GROSS: Who - give us an example of somebody who you spoke to who had been a victim of a crime similar to the one that you committed that made you feel this, you know, sense of feeling bad for what you'd done. POOR: It's the bay - yeah, the bay, yeah. I don't (laughter) take them for granted. Made in prison you ca n't go back into a correctional facility on parole busy reporting on stories. A few women an example people think that, hey, OK, I went to Quentin... 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And later sold cocaine Angeles with his parents you are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Policy. Earlonne became busy reporting on re-entry stories and daily life for originally incarcerated people, while also documenting his experiences.
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