Inside Story peeks behind the iron curtain of prison labor, often referred to as “modern-day slavery” due to its charmingly low wages—think of it as a not-so-exclusive membership in the “You Won’t Believe It’s Not Slavery” club. This hard-earned labor gives birth to a vibrant underground economy that thrives on barter and side hustles, where cigarettes and ramen noodles can practically be converted into Bitcoin. Who knew jail could be a side hustle incubator?
In this episode, comedian Luenell takes a seat with our host, Lawrence Bartley, to discuss her incarceration and how she dove headfirst into the glorious world of comedy, often using her prison tales as inspiration. After all, laughter is the best medicine—especially when you’re dealing with the pain of life behind bars. Who knew stand-up could also double as stand-up-and-make-a-living?
Meet Fernando Ruiz, who didn’t just beat Bobby Flay on television, but also beat the odds. After finding his affection for haute cuisine behind bars, he clawed his way up the culinary ladder to become an executive chef. Will there be a prison cookbook in his future? Perhaps “The Culinary Felon: A Guide to Gourmet Grub From Your Cell”? Only time will tell!
Ever wondered how to whip up cheesecake within the confines of a concrete paradise? Kenyatta Emmanuel Hughes is here to reveal the not-so-secret recipe he mastered using an array of ingredients you’d never consider edible. Think of it as “The Great Prison Bake-Off,” where the stakes are high, and the ingredients are… well, questionable at best.
Bartley takes a moment to reflect on his own prison job experiences—where the pay is low, but the hustle is undeniably high. You might think working behind bars would provide handy wisdom for life after prison, but it turns out that the “side hustle economy” is the only thing keeping ex-inmates from becoming “Exhibit A” in the “How Not to Live Your Life” gallery.
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For those eager to dive deeper into the world of prison labor and artistry, look no further than the credits below, which read like a who’s who of criminal justice reform enthusiasts:
CONTRIBUTORS FROM THE MARSHALL PROJECT
Beth Schwartzapfel, Geraldine Sealey, Donald Washington, Jr., Martin Garcia, Savannah Hugueley
