Ear Hustle

PRX is Seeking an Editor for Ear Hustle

~ jen

PRX is seeking a full-time, Bay-area based editor to play a key role in the production of Radiotopia’s Ear Hustle, a podcast that features stories of life inside prison, shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration. The deadline for submitting your application is January 31, 2020.

This person will work closely with the team to shape all aspects of stories told in each episode, both from inside San Quentin State Prison, where the podcast started, and outside the prison, as we continue to explore the re-entry experience. This position starts in early 2020, will be based in Emeryville, CA, but will also include days spent (2-4 per month) with the Ear Hustle team in San Quentin.

The position reports to the senior produce and works closely with the executive producer.

Responsibilities include:

  •  Shape and edit stories from initial pitches to published episodes
  • Craft content in creative new ways while maintaining Ear Hustle’s distinctive style
  • Provide editorial mentorship to producers and hosts
  • Pitch their own story ideas when appropriate
  • Assist in scriptwriting
  • Communicate mix notes to sound designer
  • And more!

Requirements include:

  •  Minimum five years experience in audio storytelling
  • Experience in editing longform narrative audio stories
  • Expertise in script writing
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Solid Pro Tools skills
  • Flexibility and an ability for creative problem-solving in a high-stakes and unpredictable environment
  • And more!

For more details about the responsibilities and requirements of this position, and to apply for it, visit the PRX website where the want-ad is listed.

Radiotopia Launched Ear Hustle Podcast

~ jen

In November of 2016, Radiotopia announced the winner of Podquest.  They narrowed it down to ten finalists, and then declared Ear Hustle to be the winner. Recently, Radiotopia launched the first episode of Ear Hustle.

Ear Hustle is the newest show from Radiotopia. The podcast brings you stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it.

Ear Hustle is a partnership between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, who are currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison; and Nigel Poor, a Bay Area artist. The team works in San Quentin’s media lab to produce stories that are sometimes difficult, often funny, always honest, offering a nuanced view of people living within the American prison system.

The first episode of Ear Hustle was released on June 14, 2017.  It is titled “Cellies”. A “cellie” is a person that a prisoner shares a cell with. The episode describes the 4’x9′ cell and what it contains, and provides stories about negotiating space and relationships in such close quarters.

Part of the About Page for Ear Hustle says: “All of Ear Hustle’s episodes are reviewed and approved by an official at San Quentin prior to release. Due to the unique nature of our production, we do not respond to outside requests or pitches for material. We also do not comment on any inmate activity (beyond episodes) or relay messages to anyone inside the facility.”

To celebrate the launch of Ear Hustle, all of the Radiotopia podcasts will produce episodes around a common theme: Doing Time. You can check the the full list of episodes that fit this theme from each of the Radiotopia podcasts, and listen to as many as you want to.

Radiotopia Revealed Podquest Winner

~ jen

Radiotopia Podquest logoEarlier this year, Radiotopia launched Podquest, which was an open call for new podcast ideas. They wanted to diversify their network and reach new audiences. After sifting through the entries, the semifinalists, and the finalists, Radiotopia has revealed the winner of the Podquest contest.

When Radiotopia launched Podquest, they received submissions from 1,537 people from 54 countries. Topics included “everything under the sun”. Those submissions were narrowed down by Radiotopia executive producer Julie Shapiro, who led a committee of 11 PRX staff and Radiotopia producers. A total of 99 Radiotopia donors reviewed the top 50 entries.

In June, the entries were narrowed down to a total of 10 semifinalists (called the PQ10). From those ten, four finalists were selected.

The winner of Radiotopia’s Podquest is Ear Hustle.  The podcast is a collaboration between Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, who are currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, and Nigel Poor, a collaborator and artist living on the outside.

Ear Hustle unveils the hidden stories of life inside the prison, told and produced from the perspective of those who live it. The show includes stories of both the good and the bad.

Radiotopia will pick up the first 10-episode season of Ear Hustle and it will debut later in 2017. Ear Hustle will use the proceeds from their prize to create their show, and to significantly upgrade the equipment at the San Quentin media lab (where the podcast is recorded).