Los Angeles, CA. GROSS: This is FRESH AIR. Earlonne Woods is the co-creator, co-host, and co-producer of Ear Hustle (PRX & Radiotopia). Earlonne still co-hosts the show alongside Nigel. I don't think I have the vision to see it. So I gave him, you know, a handshake with as much emotion as I could muster POOR: Appropriately. (SOUNDBITE OF GOLDMUND'S "THE BALLAD OF BARBARA ALLEN"). While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College and completed many vocational trade programs. E WOODS: It was devastating because I had - one, I had just talked to Tyler, like, probably the day before. Earlonne Woods: Number one. I realized that he had a really intense work ethic that matched my own and that we just really got along. Ear Hustle was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting, and won a Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Award in 2021. Earlonne is 5 feet 7 inches tall ( Approx1.7 m). It was transformational symposiums. And the thing that I noticed in particular about him was that whenever there was an issue going on - and, of course, inside prison, there's all kinds of issues - and if we would have to sit down to solve a problem, Earlonne was the one who would speak up, cut through all of the baloney and get to the point. You feel invincible in some ways. You're not really looking at the person. What keeps your hopes up? And then the question is, well, what do we do about that? And, like E WOODS: My partners. (SOUNDBITE OF JOHN COLTRANE'S "OUT OF THIS WORLD"). It received 1,537 entries from 53 countries. I go over to Nigel's house, hang out with her husband Rick. POOR: I'm so glad you asked about this. Nigel first went to San Quentin as a volunteer teaching photography. Just to be out there with her.. 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. 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? SHAPIRO: Earlonne Woods had to leave the media lab to take the call. So this is JERRY BROWN: It all goes to this point that something very bad happens, and people will say, OK, now we're putting you in jail for a very long time. And I stopped by this lake. ALEX BLUMBERG: And so a friend of Earlonne's, a volunteer at the prison, had an idea: with this spotlight on his work, and having served now two decades of his 31-to-life sentence, Earlonne should put in for a commutation -- make an official appeal to the governor, to set him free. Other officers got involved. E WOODS: I, personally, would like to eradicate California's three strikes law because I think that there's a lot of people that's sentenced under this law, which everybody thinks is 25 to life. 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. I think the scope of the number of people that could possibly listen to this, I'm just really nervous about that. POOR: We can taste each other's food 'cause, you know, in prison you can't share food with people. [16] In 2021, Woods and Poor co-authored the book This Is Ear Hustle. Don't be out there doing no robberies, none of that stuff. And he used to come see me, you know, a lot. Why didn't you invite me (laughter)? So me, personally, I would eradicate the three strikes law in California. GROSS: If you're just joining us, my guests are Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the co-creators of the podcast Ear Hustle. POOR: I know. Don't be - whatever you do, don't play with no guns. Nigel, I want to play an excerpt of an episode that you were very prominent in. And that was one of the things that I appreciated about Jerry Brown - especially everything he said in that clip that you played is the way people inside think. 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 . So you can't wear blue, which is what they wear. POOR: You can't blend into what the guys inside wear. Earlonne, tell us a little more about what happened to Tyler, how he was killed. He also founded CHOOSE1, which aims to repeal the California Three . But the law don't see your rehabilitation. And I was paroled when I was 23, about to turn 24. We called up Nigel Poor today to ask her about it, and she said that when they got the news yesterday, they were in the middle of making an episode. When I called my mother, she told me this, right? He and Nigel are also the authors of This Is Ear Hustle: Unflinching Stories of Everyday Prison Life, a book that became inspired by the podcast and released by Crown/Random House. 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? And, you know, I pretty much raised - because my brother was locked up. Earlonnes net worth is estimated to be $657,586. And the captain comes in. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. All rights reserved. And I spend a lot of time in there. And my mindset, regardless of where I'm at, I'm going to live to the best of my ability. And then Trevor was arrested when their son, Tyler, was 10. He has the age of 49. GROSS: Tomorrow on FRESH AIR, my guest will be writer Sigrid Nunez. We know because they did a whole episode on getting parole. When asked earlier this year what was the first thing he would do if he got out, Woods said, Take a bath. [3][4] In 1997, at the age of 25, he was arrested for attempted second degree robbery. Woods is expected to be released on parole in the coming days, after serving 21 years of a 31-years-to-life sentence. I think it's about probably 20 people from there that call me collect. In 2020, Ear Hustle was named a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting the first time the . 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. Woods has served 21 years of a 31 to life prison sentence. He also founded CHOOSE1, which aims to repeal the California . He gave up his brother name. So now we just have the opportunity to travel together, to do something like this together. So I'm going to enjoy. I love it. I'm Terry Gross. Earlonnes sentence was recently commuted, but the two proceed to tell stories of life behind bars. SHAPIRO: That's Earlonne Woods from the podcast "Ear Hustle." Others are typical and comfortable, never rising to celebrity status but supplying its partners with a contented existence. When he was 15, he committed his first robbery alongside his brother, who had transitioned from selling drugs to robbing drug dealers. And so to hear this is what happened to him - ah. ERIN: I don't - I don't know. And he said the thing that all women fear is that I raped women because I could. He likes to keep his personal life private hence Earlonne has not mentioned any details concerning his marital status. So now we're - I mean, we're friends, and we're colleagues. I'd rather deal with anyone, actually, as they are in front of me at that moment. Jerry Brown. What's it like to not think about that? [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. How do we present this? 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. She'll continue to do interviews inside San Quentin. Woods was raised in South Los Angeles with his parents and his older brother Trevor. I wouldn't spend time in a place that made me uncomfortable or I didn't like. 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. Earlonne was both co-host and inmate. OK. I think I was probably like eight years old when it came to me that one day I have to die. They're the co-hosts and co-producers of the podcast Ear Hustle, which features interviews with men incarcerated in San Quentin about their daily lives and their personal stories. POOR: What are some of the things you think about when you fantasize about your life when you're out? Did you give him a hug? And then what worries me is, like, so people will leave with this very, like, I love this guy. Once you commit your crime, people think thats what it is, but individuals change. And so I want to play the part where you return to ask him that difficult question. You know, he was - you know, I even - I'm talking to him all the time. 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. [6] While in San Quentin, Woods was unpaid for his work on Ear Hustle, though fans would often send him money. Vice President . In 2020, alongside his Ear Hustle co-hosts, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. You're sitting across from politicians. So in that case, I didn't dig in. Part of HuffPost News. On his release from San Quentin State Prison, Woods was hired full time to continue the work started inside but also adding reentry stories. Now Earlonne will be doing interviews with people like him who are transitioning back into society. I'm not doing this. I'm on a podcast. And it might help you. Williams, 29, has served more than 10 years on a 15-year sentence for armed robbery. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. He is 49 years old. Behind 'Ear Hustle,' The Podcast Made In Prison. 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. [11], By September 2021, Ear Hustle episodes had been downloaded over 54 million times. In 1997, Woods was sentenced to thirty-one years to life in prison. 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? But you look back, and you're looking at it like, I've wasted, like - I can say right now, I'm 47 years old. WOODS: That's something that a lot of us behind bars fantasize about - getting out and leading a normal life. After California Governor Jerry Brown commuted his sentence last month, Woods reflects on. E WOODS: In between prison - when I got out - Tyler had just been born in '94. Woods never used the drug, though became addicted to the money and lifestyle selling it provided. Let's get back to my interview with Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, the creators and hosts of the podcast Ear Hustle, featuring interviews with prisoners in San Quentin about their lives and what it's like to be incarcerated. And I - I observed Earlonne a lot. He's also co-host of the podcast "Ear Hustle," which is why we had him on this program. E WOODS: He got a hell of a collection of vinyl. But then someone will research you and be like, did they just feed me a bunch of bull [expletive]. Our associate producer for digital media is Molly Seavy-Nesper. We don't really do stories about people's crimes at all. 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. 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. He running with these hard heads. It was - and it's not just her. 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. China. Earlonne continues to co-host the show with Nigel. In April 1989, a drive-by shooting in San Francisco, CA, left at least 11 people injured, and 2 people dead. In some ways, like, I find it hard to understand that somebody, like, wouldn't have any empathy for the victim and wouldn't care. E WOODS: Right, right. Earlonne became busy reporting on re-entry stories and daily life for originally incarcerated people, while also documenting his own experiences. He is 5 feet 7 inches tall ( Approx1.7 m). Like, all of a sudden, you know POOR: We'll be like regular colleagues. Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods are gifted storytellers, and their ability to draw intimate, authentic stories out of others is extraordinary. There's a man that I worked with for quite a while that I was very fond of. Earlonne, congratulations on life outside of prison. GROSS: The new, as yet, unannounced host will be with you (laughter). 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). This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. So what - what were the first communications like in which you tried to see, but is he a good interviewer? Earlonne, until the end of November, was a prisoner. . 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. It was like 2 in the morning. [14] In an interview with Rolling Stone, Poor said the show is "about everyday life inside a prison. He was hired to continue co-hosting and producing the podcast after his release. While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. He understood human nature. E WOODS: Well, me growing up the way I grew up, I grew up in a lifestyle where I was young when I got into selling drugs, and I was - I was real young. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Thank you both so much for talking with us. Brown cited Woods'. And I always wore black. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Therese Madden directed today's show. And then when I got out, I hadn't put any skill sets together, you know? He is now 47. As of now, he works as a full-time producer, co-host, and co-creator of Ear Hustle at PRX alongside Nigel Poor. [16], Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Award, "Immigrants facing deportation, drug offenders and a former state lawmaker receive pardons from Gov. I told him that constantly. There's all these restrictions. [12] On October 19, 2021, co-hosts Poor and Woods released a book on the podcast, This Is Ear Hustle. And I thought, well, those are kind of qualities that you need to be able to bring people out. Eventually, the marriage fell apart. I think maybe 14 years in my sentence, I went to San Quentin. Earlonne still co-hosts the show alongside Nigel. And so that's the point that I'm struck by - that human beings in a moment can do something with devastating consequences. Yes, he can come to my house. Like, I just walked away, you know? He's able to call me collect. And E WOODS: And of course I enjoy all the little moments. The San Francisco Public Library chose the title for its One City One Book citywide community reading program in 2022. Due to the complex and time-consuming bureaucratic challenges associated with unusual prison activities, she decided that audio would be easier to manage than video. T WOODS: I received an email from one of my partners. 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. co-hosted by Woods and Nigel Poor, an artist and volunteer at San Quentin interviews men in the prison about their lives there. While incarcerated, he received his GED, attended Coastline Community College, and completed many vocational programs. They surrounded Tyler around a - at a apartment building, where he was trying to climb up to the roof. That, in a nutshell, is the juxtaposition that defines Ear Hustle. But if we could just talk about it and come to some understanding about what's our responsibility, what's your responsibility? In 2018, California governor Jerry Brown commuted Earlonne Woods' sentence, citing Ear Hustle as a significant contributor to his reformation as an American citizen. You know what I'm saying? And as time went on, as years went on, I stuck to my guns. [5][15] In 2020, alongside Poor and co-host Rahsaan Thomas, Woods was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. They fell in love just like anyone else would. 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 the phone rang in the media lab. 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: Earlonne described himself, and I described myself. Oh, daddy, I'm not playing with no guns. But I took way more from that person than $1. I'm Terry Gross, and this is FRESH AIR. GROSS: And you chose Earlonne. He also founded CHOOSE1, which aims to repeal the California . They struck him 19 times, killing him. "[9] The show's unique lens and intimate first-person storytelling is noted in most reviews. POOR: But I get to see his brother and catch him up on what you're doing. 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. Tyra got arrested first for kidnap and robbery. 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. Jerry Brown commuted his 31-years-to-life . E WOODS: I don't - I think when you're living in the moment, you feel untouchable. Namcy Wong. You start attending different self-help groups. [5] He served his last seven years at San Quentin. Earlonne Woods, co-host of the popular prison podcast Ear Hustle, had his sentence commuted by California Gov. Like, me personally, what I took away from a lot of things is that, yeah, I may have robbed a person for, let's say, $1. So I think as far as African-American culture in prison, I don't think nobody really cares why you're in prison. E WOODS: (Laughter) Not no time soon, no. He was born and brought up in the United States to his caring and supportive parents. GROSS: That Tyler was killed while they were in prison. And then I got into the lifestyle of robbing drug dealers. Woods is expected to be released on parole in the coming days, after serving 21 years of a 31-years-to-life sentence. POOR: Oh, plus, I - we get to see each other in all different color clothing because POOR: In prison, Earlonne always had to wear blue. After 21 years in prison, Governor Brown the great governor of California decided that I served enough time, Woods said in the latest episode of Ear Hustle. And so I want to play an excerpt of that. E WOODS: Right. All rights reserved. POOR: While you're thinking, can I tell you some of the things that are just going through my mind about it? "[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. 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. Woods helped create Ear Hustle while incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison. And I'm not even talking about physically intimate, but just emotionally intimate is against regulations. POOR: How do we tell stories and leave out that part? E WOODS: It's the bay. Therefore, it is not known if Earlonne is single, dating, or married. Trevor has done 14 years of a 36-year sentence. It was a restorative justice group. No, people get up to a thousand years to life for something that they've done in their past. And it was very hard for that to not change the way I felt about him. Poor is a professor of photography at California State University in Sacramento. He said Woods has clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed the crime. Aaron Taylor. So even though I'm hearing stuff and then I'm talking to him, he playing - he downplaying it. And one of my goals has been for us to travel to other prisons, and I never wanted to do that without Earlonne. And many people around me wasn't like that. Woods was involved in an attempted robbery in 1997, when he was in his 20s. They say hello. Im thinking about my mama, shes 70. It's - it's - I think being in a position to step away from it all and look back and say, man, I was on something else. Earlonnes average salary is $61,244 per year. He says, I need to speak with you. [8][9] Poor is a visual artist in the San Francisco Bay area who volunteers at the prison. 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. Once the details concerning Earlonnes marital status are available we shall update. 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. Jerry Brown commuted his 31-years-to-life sentence for attempted armed robbery.
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