Spark·SPECIAL

Incarceration and tech innovation

How training and tech Innovation in San Quentin State Prison and the stories on the podcast Ear Hustle, are building bridges between the inside and outside of prisons.

Business, tech startup, and entrepreneurial training to break the cycle of incarceration.

Spark Special: Tech innovation at San Quentin State Prison (Christian Bardenhorst/Unsplash)

Ear Hustle is a podcast about daily life in San Quentin State Prison. The term ear hustle is prison slang for eavesdropping. Earlonne Woods, who was incarcerated for 21 years, is the co-producer and co-host along with Nigel Poor, an artist who volunteers. They discuss how the podcast builds bridges between the inside and the outside. We'll also hear about the future of Ear Hustle following Earlonne Woods' recent release from San Quentin. 

The Last Mile gives the men incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison business, tech startup,  and entrepreneurial training. And in particular, teach them how the tech world functions. Today the program has expanded into other prisons and continues to help the participants break the cycle of incarceration. We look back at some Spark stories about the program and get an update from Aly Tamboura, one of the program's success stories, about life after his release from San Quentin.