“Ear Hustle” from Radiotopia and PRX is Named Among “16 Ideas to Spark Change in the World Through Media and Entertainment” in Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards
The winners of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards were announced today, honoring brave concepts, companies, policies, and designs that are pursuing innovation for the good of society and the planet.
“Ear Hustle” — part of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX, sharing the daily realities of life in prison by those living it and from outside, post-incarceration — has been selected as an honorable mention in the Media & Entertainment category as part of Fast Company’s awards. Named among “16 ideas to spark change in the world through media and entertainment,” “Ear Hustle” is cited alongside Participant Media, The One Campaign, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, SoundCloud, Riot Games, and more.
The “Ear Hustle” podcast is co-hosted by artist Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods, and by Rahsaan ‘New York’ Thomas, who is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.
“Ear Hustle” was recognized for the “Ear Hustle Challenge,” an interactive 30-day project launched by the podcast in 2021. As part of the challenge, members of the “Ear Hustle” team on the outside attempted to eat, exercise, dress, and shower following the routines of colleagues inside San Quentin. Listeners were also invited to participate in order to explore the experience of restraint in their daily routines. The “Ear Hustle” team shared out recipes, workout videos, routines, and updates, and more than 1,600 listeners participated.
The experience of the “Ear Hustle Challenge” was shared on the podcast and is available to listen to here. In addition, materials for the challenge remain available here. They may be accessed at any time.
“Ear Hustle” recently launched a new season of the podcast, with recent episodes focusing on topics including 15-minute phone calls, romance and intimacy, and the storied murals in the cafeteria of San Quentin.
A two-time Peabody Award nominee and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, “Ear Hustle” launched in 2017 as the first podcast created and produced in prison. Episodes have been downloaded more than 61 million times. In fall 2022, “This Is Ear Hustle: Unflinching Stories of Everyday Prison Life” — the book co-authored by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, published by Crown/Random House — will be the focal point for the San Francisco Public Library’s One City One Book: San Francisco Reads citywide reading program.
For more about “Ear Hustle,” visit earhustlesq.com.
About PRX
PRX is a non-profit public media company specializing in audio journalism and storytelling. PRX serves independent producers and organizations by helping them connect to their most engaged, supportive audiences. One of the world’s leading podcast publishers, PRX works in partnership with TED, PBS, the Smithsonian, Futuro Media, GBH, Religion of Sports, and more. PRX is also home to Radiotopia, known as one of the most creative and successful podcast networks. In addition, PRX distributes trusted and treasured public radio programming to hundreds of stations nationwide, including “The World,” “The Moth Radio Hour,” “This American Life,” “Snap Judgment,” “Reveal,” “The Takeaway,” and “Latino USA.” PRX programs have been recognized by the Peabody Awards, the duPont-Columbia Awards, the IDA Documentary Awards, and the Pulitzer Prizes. Visit PRX.org for more.
