17 Best Mass Incarceration Podcasts

1. Justice In America

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Justice in America, hosted by Josie Duffy Rice and Clint Smith, is a podcast for everyone interested in criminal justice reform— from those new to the system to experts who want to know more. Each episode we cover a new criminal justice issue. We explain how it works and look at its impact on people, particularly poor people and people of color. We'll also interview activists, practitioners, experts, journalists, organizers, and others, to learn. By the end of the episode, you'll walk away with a better understanding of what drives mass incarceration and what can fix it.MORE Producer/Network The Appeal
Email ****@theappeal.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 10k-50k
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 1.1K Avg Length 35 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. Beyond Prisons

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Beyond Prisons is a podcast on justice, mass incarceration, and prison abolition. Hosted by @phillyprof03 & @bsonenstein
Hosts Brian Nam-Sonenstein, Kim Wilson
Producer/Network Beyond Prisons
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 274Facebook 2KTwitter 15.8KInstagram 546 Avg Length 55 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

3. Uncuffed

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Uncuffed empowers people in California prisons to tell their own stories. The award-winning collaboration between incarcerated student producers and professional journalists shines light on the human experience of people before, during, and after their prison terms. The new Season 4 is hosted by formerly incarcerated producer Greg Eskridge.https://www.WeAreUncuffed.orgMORE Host Greg Eskridge
Producer/Network KALW
Email ****@kalw.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 194Facebook 1.8KTwitter 1KInstagram 8.5K Avg Length 22 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

4. Notes From The Pen

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A pebble in the shoe of the Prison Industrial Complex. Notes From The Pen is a modern portrait of American incarceration told, in real time, through a series of fifteen-minute phone calls between two special degenerates on opposite sides of a prison wall. Our website: Notesfromthepen.comCheck out our reviews: https://www.podparadise.com/Podcast/Reviews/1518819034MORE Host Robert Caldwell-Kim
Producer/Network Caldwell
Email ****@yahoo.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.6/5Apple Reviews 153Twitter 2.9KInstagram 745 Avg Length 45 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. 70 Million

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This award-winning and Peabody-nominated podcast documents how locals are addressing the role of jails in their backyards. Reporters travel around the country and hear from people directly impacted by their encounter with jails and to chronicle the progress ground-up efforts have made in diversion, bail reform, recidivism, adoption of technology and other crucial aspects of the move toward decarceration at local levels.MORE Producer/Network LWC Studios
Email ****@lwcstudios.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.5/5Apple Reviews 132 Avg Length 31 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

6. abolition is for everybody

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abolition is for everybody is a podcast that tackles the sometimes-difficult conversations around prison abolition. Through friendly chats, and conversations with experts, our system-impacted co-hosts explore the history, futures, obstacles, and joys of abolition.abolition is for everybody is a project of Initiate Justice (www.initiatejustice.org/podcast)MORE Producer/Network abolition is for everybody
Email ****@initiatejustice.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 94Facebook 279Twitter 360Instagram 1.9K Avg Length 44 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

7. Rattling The Bars

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Rattling the Bars puts the voices of the people most harmed by our system of mass incarceration at the center of our reporting on the fight to end it. The show was founded by the late Black Panther and political prisoner Marshall 'Eddie' Conway, and is now hosted by Charles Hopkins, better known as Mansa Musa, who himself spent 48 years behind bars.Rattling the Bars offers an honest look at the lives of prisoners, returning citizens, their families, and their communities...MORE Host Charles Hopkins
Producer/Network The Real News Network
Email ****@therealnews.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 6Facebook 314.1KTwitter 89KInstagram 24K Avg Length 32 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

8. Prison Radio Audio Feed

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Prison Radio records and broadcasts the voices of prisoners, centering their analyses and experiences in the movements against mass incarceration and state repression.
Host Mumia Abu-Jamal
Producer/Network Prison Radio
Email ****@prisonradio.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.9/5Apple Reviews 54Facebook 7.8KTwitter 5.5KInstagram 24.7K Avg Length 4 min Format Bite size Get Email Contact

9. Black Light Mass Incarceration Show

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Black Light Mass Incarceration Show is a justice-centered podcast that shines a spotlight on the hidden realities of prisons, jails, and the systems that feed them. Hosted by I Kare NC, the show amplifies the voices of currently and formerly incarcerated people, families, advocates, and system insiders, breaking down headlines, exposing corruption, and naming the trauma behind the statistics. Rooted in truth-telling and healing, Black Light pushes listeners toward accountability, reform, and real solutions that keep our communities safe, supported, and free.MORE Producer/Network Cierra Cobb
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 36 Avg Length 43 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

10. From Chains to Change

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Hear about the changing landscape of criminal justice reform from those most directly impacted. Our discussions range from analysis of the political landscape (local, state and federal), engaging in the promise of abolitionist praxis and of course, elevating the voices of formerly incarcerated people.MORE Producer/Network Voters Organized to Educate
Email ****@vote-nola.org
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 12Facebook 2.2KInstagram 4.4K Avg Length 47 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

11. WE GOT US NOW podcast

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WE GOT US NOW podcast shines a spotlight on the invisible population of 10 million children and young adults in the US impacted by parental incarceration. WE endure the collateral consequences of mass incarceration in the US. Our Stories are often unknown and untold. Our Traumas are misdiagnosed and overlooked. Our Futures are often misrepresented and our experiences are unheard. WE will NO longer be silenced by our pain. These are OUR STORIES! To learn more, go to www.WEGOTUSNOW.orgMORE Host Ebony Underwood
Producer/Network WE GOT US NOW
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 11Facebook 499Instagram 2.4K Avg Length 40 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

12. Shades of Freedom

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Welcome to Shades of Freedom, from The Aspen Institute Criminal Justice Reform Initiative. This podcast amplifies and uplifts promising efforts aimed at reducing mass incarceration, and examines the ecosystem of related inequalities that surrounds and perpetuates it. Fortunately, there's a movement underway to re-imagine what the justice system could be. This podcast will feature many of the people working on changing this system, from policymakers to activists, and from returning citizens to systems leaders...MORE Host Dr. Douglas E. Wood
Producer/Network The Aspen Institute Criminal Justice Reform Initiative
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 14Twitter 742 Avg Length 28 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

13. Incarceration Nations Network

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A podcast by formerly incarcerated leaders from around the world.Incarceration Nations Network is a partner-led organisation that is: globally minded but locally grounded, attuned to problems but driven by solutions, focused on systemic change even as we work to clean up the mess of mass incarceration in the here and now. We are committed to transnational solidarity, intersectionality, working toward a world without prisons and ensuring that those directly impacted by the justice system lead the way to its radical reimagining.MORE Host James Leonard
Producer/Network James Leonard.
Avg Length 26 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

14. Second Chance: voices of the unheard

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Facing 25 years to life in prison, I had to make a difficult choice, which was taking a plea of 13 years in prison—using my time wisely; earning a degree from New York University (PEP). I interview formerly incarcerated men and women, guilty or innocent, being granted a second chance at freedom. The lack of education is linked to mass incarceration. Also, I will touch on topics that will enlighten you. Here's a fact- the USA is the leading country on mass incarceration, putting a value on our citizens for monetary gains and disbanding people from their civil liberties.MORE Host Omar DeJesus
Producer/Network Omar DeJesus
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 100-1k
Apple Rating 5/5Apple Reviews 3 Avg Length 28 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

15. Formerly Incarcerated People's Performance Project

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First hand accounts of mass incarceration presented on stage how we got there, what goes on inside, and what happens after, illuminating the realities of surviving the world's largest incarcerator: the United States.FIPPP, the Formerly Incarcerated People's Performance Project, works with people who've survived jails and prison to share their experiences on stage, through the power of personal narrative. More information about our work is on our website...MORE Get Email Contact

16. Caught

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Mass incarceration starts young. These kids say the system changes them forever.
Host Kai Wright
Producer/Network WNYC Studios
Email ****@gmail.com
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.8/5Apple Reviews 841 Avg Length 32 min Format Medium form Get Email Contact

17. Plus Three

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Plus Three dives deep into the world of drugs, from local decriminalization and emerging psychedelic corporations to leftist politics and mass incarceration. Each week the team and guests attempt to make sense of the complex connections between drugs, science, capitalism, policy, and culture.The podcast is co-hosted by Psymposia co-founder Brian Normand, psychedelics research and bio-ethicist Nese Devenot, evolutionary ecologist Brian Pace, and underground researcher David Nickles.MORE Hosts Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld
Producer/Network Psymposia
Email ****@cs.umass.edu
Estimated Monthly Listeners 1k-10k
Apple Rating 4.5/5Apple Reviews 72Facebook 13KTwitter 13.9K Avg Length 50 min Format Long form Get Email Contact