The Prison Officer Podcast
Michael Cantrell
The Prison Officer Podcast is a place where prison officers and correctional staff share their experiences, discuss leadership, cope with stress, and learn survival strategies for one of the toughest careers out there. Hosted by Michael Cantrell, this podcast delves into the lives, dreams, and challenges faced by those who work inside the walls of our nation’s prisons. It features interviews, insights, and discussions related to the unique and demanding world of corrections. Whether it’s overcoming difficult leaders, understanding rehabilitation, or addressing misconceptions about incarcerated populations, the Prison Officer Podcast provides valuable perspectives from professionals in the field.
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Top 10 The Prison Officer Podcast Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Prison Officer Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Prison Officer Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Prison Officer Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
91: Can We Talk?...About Mastering De-Escalation Techniques in Corrections
The Prison Officer Podcast
10/21/24 • 30 min
What if the key to managing conflicts in corrections is as simple as mastering the art of listening? Join us as we examine the evolution of de-escalation techniques, starting from the era of "verbal judo" to contemporary methods centered on active listening and emotional regulation. You'll learn why truly hearing and understanding the other person can be transformative, not just in corrections but also in law enforcement, nursing, and dispatch roles. We underscore the critical role of listening in managing tensions and preventing conflicts.
Have you ever wondered if less-lethal and non-lethal tools like Pepperball can be effective forms of de-escalation? Sometimes the mere presence of a non-lethal system or the professional appearance of a respected correctional officer is all that is needed.
This episode weighs the effectiveness of traditional force versus modern de-escalation tactics, emphasizing the importance of attempting de-escalation first to mitigate injuries and liabilities. Discover how strategic, less confrontational approaches can be game-changers in handling disruptive inmates.
Host: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Command Presence
Bringing prisons and jails the training they deserve!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
Welcome to The Prison Officer Podcast
The Prison Officer Podcast
03/28/20 • 1 min
I know the podcast has been around a while, but Apple podcast wants a trailer....drop me a note and tell me what you think.
Hello and welcome to The Prison Officer Podcast. My name is Michael Cantrell and I spent over 28 years working in some of this country’s toughest prisons.
Most of you don’t know, but over 500,000 people work in jails, correctional centers, and prisons in the United States. Those correctional workers walk into a manmade hell each day and face some of the toughest criminals and most violent mental health inmates the U.S. has to offer. They spend eight or more hours a day forgotten by the society that depends on them. There will be no hero’s welcome for the lives they save today. There will be no fanfare or parades. Instead, they will have feces thrown at them and they will wade through blood to prevent the next suicide or stabbing on their watch.
If they do their job right today, no one will know. If they do it wrong, it will be front-page headlines tomorrow.
When the shift is over, they will be expected to drive home and act just like everyone else. To forget the images of killing, rape, blood, and violence that rattle around in their mind. To look at their wife and kids with love, and not let them know that evil does really exist.
The Prison Officer Podcast is my way to have a conversation about these officers and their resilience and leadership, their sense of duty, and their successes.
Please join us at www.theprisonoofficer.com
Be Safe out there!
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
The Basics - Cell Searches and Shakedowns
The Prison Officer Podcast
04/03/23 • 19 min
In this episode of The Basics, I am going to talk about the best practices for conducting good, productive shakedowns and cell seraches. Where to look, how to look, and what to look for.
Come listen as we talk about Correctional Basics every rookie should know, and every veteran officer should already be doing...who knows...everyone needs a refresher sometimes.
The Prison Officer Podcast Job Guide: Information and Guidance to Start Your Career in Corrections
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
The MOCK Riot - Exihibator Set Up - On Location
The Prison Officer Podcast
05/01/23 • 7 min
What an oppurtunity to meet and talk with a great bunch of Correctional Professionals. For those of you that can't be here, I talk about the first day of set up with all the vendors and describe a little about why the MOCK Riot is so important for Corrections. If you are at the MOCK Riot at The decommissioned West Virginia Penatentiary, stop by The Prison Officer booth and Say HI!
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
67: Leadership Works Best with Common Sense - Interview w/Percy Pitzer
The Prison Officer Podcast
11/20/23 • 40 min
In this episode, I speak with Percy Pitzer. Percy has had a long career in corrections starting with the Bureau of Prisons, he rose through the ranks, eventually retiring as Warden. After returning to work in private corrections, he started his own corrections audit company, Creative Corrections. Percy and his family have also started the Pitzer Family Education Foundation. The foundation has provided more than 190 scholarships to the children of incarcerated parents.
You can reach Percy by phone 409-861-2536
The Pitzer Family Education Foundation https://pfefscholarships.org/
Creative Corrections https://creativecorrections.com/
Host: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
68: Last Call at Missouri State Pen - Interview w/John Motel
The Prison Officer Podcast
12/04/23 • 55 min
In this episode, I talk with John Motel about his career, leadership lessons, the transfer of maximum security inmates from MSP to JCCC, and his five seconds of fame when he made the last radio call from the old Missouri State Penitentiary. After ten years in the United States Army, John went to work for the Missouri Department of Corrections eventually promoted to Major and retiring after 30 years of service.
John now serves as the Vice President of the Missouri Correctional Association.
Missouri Correctional Association
Heirs of Restraint
Host: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
69: The Wardens - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Prison Officer Podcast
12/18/23 • 38 min
In this episode I reflect on the Wardens I have worked for over the years. Some were amazing leaders, others were good examples of what not to do as a leader. A prison Warden can be one of the toughest jobs. Always trying to balance that line between whatever political issue headquarters is pushing and what is best at a local level for your staff and inmates.
Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
71: Leadership and Professionalism in Correctional Tactical Teams
The Prison Officer Podcast
01/15/24 • 35 min
In this episode, explore with me the strategies that forge resilience and cohesion in correctional tactical teams. I discuss how shared experiences bond a team and why selecting the right individuals is vital to maintaining a positive dynamic. Learn about the decision-making that goes into team structure, and specialized roles, and how a careful balance of discipline and personal development can maintain a ready, effective force. Join me for an episode that explores the heart of leadership and team-building in corrections.
Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
79: The Best of The Prison Officer - Strangeways - A Prison Officer's Story - Interview w/Neil "Sam" Samworth
The Prison Officer Podcast
05/06/24 • 73 min
Walking the corridors of HMP Manchester, former Prison Officer and author Neil Samworth—known as Sam—witnessed the stark realities of prison life, a tale he recounts with raw honesty in "Strange Ways: A Prison Officer's Story." Join us as we step into Sam's world, where the line between guard and guarded blurs, and where humanity faces its toughest tests. Our conversation traverses the emotional terrain of a profession that demands resilience in the face of daily confrontations with society's darkest elements.
We talk about it the good, the bad, and the ugly, including his personal struggle with PTSD.
Real Porridge with Sam Samworth https://www.youtube.com/c/RealPorridgePodcast
Strangeways: A Prison Officers Story - Sam Samworth
Strangeways Unlocked: The Shocking Truth about Life Behind Bars - Sam Samworth
Host: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
PepperBallFrom crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
61: Rodeos and Riots at The Oklahoma State Pen - Interview w/Dan M. Reynolds
The Prison Officer Podcast
08/28/23 • 53 min
In this episode I talk with Dan M. Reynolds. Dan is the author of several books about the Oklahoma State Pen, his experiences, and much more. Dan M. Reynolds takes his subjects directly from more than 30 years of correctional experience. Dan started as a case manager and would later take positions as classification auditor, administrative assistant, deputy warden, and finally as warden/administrator over several different prisons and departments. In his books, he describes his first-hand experiences with Oklahoma state penitentiary rodeo, riots, and escapes. [email protected]Caged Wisdom: Learning to See Through the Bars
On the Other Side of the Bars: Lessons Learned as a Prison Warden/Administrator
Most Hilarious, Bizarre, and Unusual Correctional Stories Ever ToldHistory of the Oklahoma State Pen Rodeo
From crowd control to cell extractions, the PepperBall system is the safe, non-lethal option.
OMNI
OMNI is cutting-edge software designed to track inmates and assets within your prison or jail.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Contact us: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePrisonOfficer
Take care of each other and Be Safe behind those walls and fences!
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Prison Officer Podcast have?
The Prison Officer Podcast currently has 103 episodes available.
What topics does The Prison Officer Podcast cover?
The podcast is about Law Enforcement, Society & Culture, True Crime, Prison, Jail and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on The Prison Officer Podcast?
The episode title '34:The Bureau of Prisons - Yesterday and Today - The Captain's Table' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Prison Officer Podcast?
The average episode length on The Prison Officer Podcast is 43 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Prison Officer Podcast released?
Episodes of The Prison Officer Podcast are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of The Prison Officer Podcast?
The first episode of The Prison Officer Podcast was released on Mar 28, 2020.
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