Uncuffed

Latest Episodes:

S5, E8 - The "Crimmigration" System Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

We usually think of coming home from prison as a joyous time to reunite with loved ones and celebrate freedom. For a specific group of people, that might not be the case. They finish their time in prison only to get locked up again by the immigration system, facing deportation. In this episode, Uncuffed alum Thanh Tran speaks to Eddy Zheng, who went through this experience. We also hear from a man incarcerated at San Quentin who is worried he’ll be in the same situation if he’s granted parole, and another person now living overseas after being deported shares his story.

The film about Eddy Zheng's life, "Breathin': The Eddy Zheng Story," is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Watch it here: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/breathin-eddy-zheng-story

For resources and support around crimmigration:

Asian Prisoner Support Committee: info@asianprisonersupport.org

New Light Wellness: elijah@newlightwellness.org

New Breath Foundation: info@new-breath.org

Asian Law Caucus: (415) 896-1701

CHIRLA: (213) 201-3797

Immigration Advocates Network: directory@immigrationadvocates.org
Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E7 - The Visiting Room Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

When you're separated from the people you love, getting a visit in prison is huge. It can make or break your whole week, month, even a year. On this episode, you'll hear about all the complicated feelings that come with a visit: the good and the difficult. Uncuffed shares two new stories from the California Institution for Women about memorable visits with family, and a vulnerable discussion from San Quentin about the complicated feelings that can come up when a visit ends and you have to say goodbye.

Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E6 - Pretty Things Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Blue scrubs, state-issued slides, hard mattresses and inadequate dental care are just some of the things Uncuffed producers say make it hard for them to feel beautiful inside prison. And aging isn't easy on the body, or the mind, when you're locked up. But incarceration can force you to find beauty in other ways. Uncuffed alum Daphnye Taylor joins host Greg Eskridge for a conversation about beauty on the inside and finding your style again, once you get out.

Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E5 - Like Father, Like Son? Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

One of the unfortunate stereotypes about men's prisons is that they are full of bad dads and absent fathers. But if you spent any time with the people host Greg Eskridge did, it's clear that it's not true.

Today on the show, we'll hear uplifting stories and positive memories of fathers and foster parents, and a special conversation about how fatherhood defines so many prison experiences — from being parented before prison to being a parent when you get out.
Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

Uncuffed Presents: Concrete Mama Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Uncuffed is excited to present an episode from our friends at Concrete Mama, a prison podcast from Unincarcerated Productions inside the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

Concrete Mama just wrapped up their second season, and they’ve done episodes on everything from solitary confinement to foster care, to restorative justice.

This episode, called "One Day At A Time," is all about addiction and recovery. And when you listen, it doesn’t feel like you’re hearing a podcast from the outside looking in. It feels like you’re pulling up a chair and sitting right in the middle of a recovery meeting.

You can find Unincarcerated Productions on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and by email at info@unincarcerated.com.

Uncuffed will be back with new episodes on September 23rd.

S5, E4 - Unexpected Family Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Family can mean a lot of different things. It can be the people we grew up with or the community we choose to keep close. Sometimes, we find family in unexpected places. In this episode, our producers discover long-lost relatives, learn about siblings they didn’t know they had, and even meet family members who surprisingly came back into their lives.
Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org. Check out more DJ sets from the Uncuffed Playlist on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@weareuncuffed.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E3 - Dance Dance Revolution Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The saying tells us that we should “dance like no-one is watching.” That’s easier said than done in prison, where lots of people are watching and many of them are judging. In this episode, we’re talking about it anyway. We’re breaking it down, busting a move, cutting a rug; we’ll hear stories about how dancing in prison can be a bridge between cultures or a way to connect with your kids. Dancing can break your heart, or it could even save your life.

Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org.

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E2 - More Than A Game Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

In sports, even when the game is extremely physical, sometimes the biggest tests happen in our own minds. In this episode, we'll hear pieces from San Quentin and The California Institution for Women that show how healthy competition can help us connect us to other people and push us to do better ourselves. And even with a special chess match or a middle school track meet, those challenges can be way more than just games.

Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook.

S5, E1 - Just A Kid Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

We're kicking off Season 5 by going back in time to the defining childhood experiences of Uncuffed producers inside three California Prisons. Host Greg Eskridge introduces us to new storytellers at The California Institution for Women, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and Solano State Prison. We’ll hear how an accusation changed the course of one girl’s life, about a kid’s misguided dream to go to prison, and what happens when you’re forced into grown up situations too soon — whether in war, or on the streets.
Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.uncuffed.org

Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, independent foundations, and donations from listeners like you.

Follow us @WeAreUncuffed on Instagram and Facebook

Get Ready For Uncuffed Season 5! Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Uncuffed is back for Season 5! Stay tuned for powerful and personal stories made by people in California prisons. Host Greg Eskridge will introduce us to a talented group of storytellers stepping up to the mic for the first time at the California Institution for Women, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and Solano State Prison. New episodes drop July 15.

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