Concrete Mama: The Podcast

In an environment saturated with stigma and designed to keep you isolated, where can you turn to safely talk about your feelings? For a handful of men in WSP’s medium security unit, the answer is Neurodiversity Group – a small weekly gathering that meets in a spare room to share their struggles openly, with love, honesty, and accountability. Through interviews with mental health specialists both i...

On our first journey back inside the walls of the Washington State Penitentiary, Demar, Red, and Vik sit down with Earlonne Woods from Ear Hustle to discuss the impact of Justice Media and the responsibility of representing the incarcerated population to the world, and Anthony, Vik, and Rachel host an unprecedented community celebration in Walla Walla. Chris Gates also joins the podcast team, and...

BAM! POW! CONCRETE MAMA: THE PODCAST is back for Season 2, and there’s a lot to catch up on. Since the last time we heard from our heroes, they’ve found new purpose, new opportunities, new freedoms… and even new romance. Before Episode 1 drops next week, hear from the team as they recap a whirlwind year of success and look eagerly toward the future. Thanks to Don Roff for lending his 1960s announc...

Rachel and Anthony sit down to reflect on an early recording with the full Concrete Mama team, discussing the reception of Season 1 and overcoming changes in the crew's lineup. Featured music (sourced from Artlist ) She Arrives in New York - Max H Hosted on BuzzSprout. See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for more information. Support Unincarcerated Productions by becoming a donor or sponso...

As we work on production for Season 2, we wanted to offer a few brief glimpses into how our hosts' lives are progressing in real-time. Anthony recently celebrated one year of freedom, and sat down with us to reflect on what he's learned. This special bonus episode was guest edited by our production assistant Alicia Nevarez. Featured Music (sourced from Artlist ): Soft Memory - Okaya Host...

On our season finale, Demar and Red introduce us to a handful of the most talented creatives incarcerated at WSP, and Anthony and Demar reunite for a candid conversation on freedom, family, and their hopes for Concrete Mama ’s lasting impact. See you next season! Red’s History Report: The Lifers With Hope, 1970s Featured Music (sourced from Artlist ): Missing - Livio Bartolo Illusion - Marek Jakub...

Before we wrap up the season with our finale next week, the crew sits down to answer another round of listener questions. This week, topics include having pets in prison, the life-changing power of reading, and what’s on the menu in the chow hall. Featured Music (sourced from Artlist ): Solid Ground - Assaf Ayalon Hosted on BuzzSprout. See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for more information. S...

You know him as Concrete Mama’s resident historian, but this week, we journey down the winding road of Steven “Red” Edwards’ life, painting a vivid picture of a man who’s both a compassionate leader on the inside and a beloved family man on the outside. We’ll hear him sit down with Vik to discuss their parallel journeys with addiction, and an eye-opening conversation with Demar further demonstrate...

Whether you’re doing time, visiting a loved one, volunteering your time, or clocking in as a staff member, everyone has a first day in prison. Today, the crew tackles the process of intake and arrival, sharing visceral memories of the smells, sights, and sounds of being processed. Corrections specialists Chris McGill and Josh Lancaster offer advice for new staff, and Parris Miller recounts the sta...

Follow the team on an unprecedented journey behind the scenes of prison programming and community engagement, as the Black Prisoners’ Caucus puts on a Juneteenth event open to members of the Walla Walla community. We’ll hear from residents of the town on their relationship to the prison, and get exclusive insight from some of the highest-ranking members of the Washington State Department of Correc...

As we hit the halfway mark of our inaugural season, Vik and Rachel sit down with Anthony, Demar, and Red to discuss the making of the first four episodes, and the show’s impact both inside and outside the prison. Featured Music (sourced from Artlist ): Locomotive - Jake Soffer Hosted on BuzzSprout. See https://www.buzzsprout.com/privacy for more information. Support Unincarcerated Productions by b...

Anthony’s future hangs in the balance as the Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board hears testimonies from friends and community members speaking on his behalf. Simultaneously, Anthony paints a picture of a life lived on the precipice – of cultures, of freedom, and of self-determination. Red’s History Report: WSP Ghost Stories Featured Music (sourced from Artlist ): Go On - Flint Freerolling...

Follow Demar and Nessa on an epic journey from childhood to adulthood and freedom to shackles, as they recount a lifetime of challenges, victories, and resilience. It’s a tragedy, a comedy, a romance, a crime caper – a hero’s journey straight from the mouth of the main character. Will Demar be free to write his own ending? Red’s History Report: The Curious Case of Herbert Nicholls Jr., 1930s Featu...

Anthony returns to his childhood home for the first time in 20 years, as the extended Covert family gathers to celebrate Christmas and reminisce. Anthony takes Demar on a journey through the highs and lows of his homecoming, and a serendipitous moment of reconnection proves that the bonds formed behind bars are truly unbreakable. Red’s History Report: Dr. Hunter’s “Mental Health” Program, 1970s Fe...

On our first venture inside the walls of the Washington State Penitentiary, the team explores the relationships formed while in prison, and how they’re irreparably altered when folks are released. Vik sits down with Demar, Red, and Cambo to discuss the void Anthony’s freedom has left behind, and Demar shares candid moments from the morning after Anthony’s release.  Red’s History Report: The Concre...

Concrete Mama is not just a podcast - it’s a raw and powerful journey recorded in the heart of the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Featuring Demar, Anthony, Red, Cambo, Vik, and Rachel, this groundbreaking show rewrites the narrative of life behind bars. On this inaugural prologue episode, journey down this yellow brick road with us into a world within our world. Our hosts share thei...