On today’s show, we go back to the 1990s, which was a pivotal time in California. Over the course of the decade, the state incarcerated tens of thousands of Californians, many of them Black men. People in prisons — and their families — are still living with the consequences.
In this episode, Uncuffed host Greg Eskridge takes us back in time to talk about life-changing moments from his own childhood growing up in Long Beach. We'll also hear from producers at San Quentin about the LA riots, the unforgettable music from that time, and the rage that came out of it all. This piece was originally released in 2025
This week, we are featuring episodes of KALW’s award-winning podcast Uncuffed, which empowers people in California prisons to tell their own stories. The collaboration between incarcerated student producers and professional journalists — now in its seventh year — shines light on the human experience of people before, during, and after their prison terms.
The fifth season of Uncuffed just kicked off. Which seems like a good time to revisit some of our favorite stories from the first four seasons.