Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison

Randy asks what real rehabilitation could look like inside Virginia prisons. He explores a concrete alternative to warehousing people: partnerships between the Department of Corrections and businesses, paid work, practical skills, and programs that teach people to think for themselves and prepare to return home.

Randy brings on a guest using his real name to share his firsthand account of medical care at Buckingham Correctional Center. They break down how the neglect has affected his health, what he's been dealing with, and why it rises to the level of criminal medical negligence. A raw look at what happens when the system stops caring.

Randy breaks down how he's been using AI from inside prison, what it's already changed for him, and why state prisons should treat it as a rehabilitation tool instead of a threat.

Red Onion Randy recounts former NBA player Harvey Grant's visit to Buckingham prison on October 8, 2026. From Grant's friendship with Coach and the Coaching for Life program to an unforgettable moment with Little Reggie, Randy shares why the visit mattered. Randy asks how to find balance after prison, and reflects on Grant's advice about discipline, purpose, mental health, and staying connected to...

Randy explains the four-month break from the microphone through the story of his friend Mike: heartbreak, financial pressure, setbacks, and the determination to keep moving forward. In the second part, Randy continues with The Importance of Not Giving Up—reflecting on how Mike responded, why resilience matters, and how to face hard times without turning to self-destruction. Two recordings, one com...

Randy dives into the recent upheavals at Buckingham Correctional, from unexpected lockdowns to the everyday drama that keeps life unpredictable behind bars. Honest stories and sharp observations from inside.

Randy opens up about the emotional and practical realities of starting a family while incarcerated. He shares the IVF process with his wife, the hope it brought during uncertain times, and what fatherhood truly means to him.

Randy returns to the airwaves starting September 10th with new episodes and updates from inside. Stay tuned for more powerful stories and honest conversations on Prison Audio.

Today on the podcast, Randy talks about the new tablets recently distributed at Buckingham Correctional Center. With access to this level of technology for the first time, Randy has plenty to say. Enjoy the episode. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery. 💥 Get More on Patreon: Don’t...

Getting old isn’t easy, especially in the Virginia Department of Corrections. Today on the podcast, Randy talks about what it feels like to be approaching 50 in prison. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery. 💥 Get More on Patreon: Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive conte...

Today on the podcast Randy talks about why you should get comfortable with being uncomfortable. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery. 💥 Get More on Patreon: Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get: An extended conversation about this episode between Randy...

Today on the podcast, Randy shares about two recent visitations he had with his wife. In-person prison visitations are still new to Randy, and he talks about what it felt like to sit across from her, navigate the rules, and experience those moments together after so much time without physical presence. Randy reflects on the emotions, the small details that mattered, and how these visits are changi...

This week on the podcast is Part 2 of a three-episode series where Randy is joined by Kyle Hulbert, who is currently incarcerated with him at Buckingham Correctional Center. In these episodes, Randy and Kyle go deep into a topic that comes to a lot of people’s minds when they think about prison, but almost no one really talks about it. Well, now we’re really talking about it. Special thanks to Kyl...

This week on the podcast, we’re starting a new three-episode series where Randy is joined by Kyle Hulbert, who is currently incarcerated with him at Buckingham Correctional Center. In these episodes, Randy and Kyle go deep into a topic that comes to a lot of people’s minds when they think about prison, but almost no one really talks about it. Well, now we’re really talking about it. Special thanks...

Quick update from Randy, apologies for the pause. No new episodes this month but we will be back and better in February.

We’re back with another video from the California Department of Corrections. Today on the podcast, Randy explains a video we recently received showing a nurse being assaulted in a women’s correctional center. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery. 💥 Get More on Patreon: Don’t forget...

Eric Estrada is currently incarcerated in California State Prison, Corcoran. He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Eric made a dramatic change in his life in 2012 when he left his old lifestyle to focus on religion. Since then Eric has facilitated many programs inside the prison including his own podcast called Change-Talk.   The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the li...

We’re back with another episode! If you’ve been following the show recently, you know we’ve just received some videos from the California Department of Corrections through a FOI request we completed last year. So if you’re listening on anything other than YouTube, make sure you check out the podcast on YouTube this week, especially so you can see the video Randy is talking about. The Red Onion Ran...

We’re back with another episode. Today Randy is back by himself to discuss a petition that is currently online that he’s hoping you will sign. In an unprecedented move, inmates and COs in Virginia are coming together to ask for the resignation of the people running the Virginia Department of Corrections. Will the newly elected governor of Virginia step in to make some changes, we’ll have to wait a...

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Kyle “Razor” Hulbert, inmate #1165519, currently incarcerated at Buckingham Correctional Center. In this episode, Kyle reads a remarkable piece he wrote titled “I Want to Give the World Nachos,” a story that blends vulnerability, imagination, and hard-won insight from behind the walls. His writing offers a rare window into the emotional landscape of long-term...

In this episode, Randy speaks with Celeste Blair, an artist, writer, and prison reform activist who was released from federal prison just over a month ago. Celeste shares her experiences and offers a woman’s perspective on the differences between federal and state prison. This is part two of a special series, In the Absence of Paint. You can find Celeste on Instagram @celestemblair or on YouTube a...

In this voicemail episode, Randy answers a question that was recently left by someone from Austin, Texas, who wants to know what it would be like for a 50-year-old man to go to prison. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery. 💥 Get More on Patreon: Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for...

In this episode, Randy speaks with Celeste Blair, an artist, writer, and prison reform activist who was released from federal prison just over a month ago. Celeste shares her experiences and offers a woman’s perspective on the differences between federal and state prison. This is part one of a special series, In the Absence of Paint. You can find Celeste on Instagram @celestemblair or on YouTube a...

We’re back with the final installment of Cellie Adventures. If you haven’t listened to parts one and two yet, make sure you check those out first. In this episode, Randy gives an update on how life is going now that he’s lost his single-cell status. The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbe...

We’re back with part two of Cellie Adventures. The honeymoon phase is over, and now the real test begins. How is Randy going to react when the new cellie starts pushing his buttons? From cleaning habits to late-night noise, tensions rise fast, and Randy doesn’t hold back on how he really feels The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years i...