Best Prison Survival Guide Podcasts (2025)

1
What Next | Yes, Shelves Will Be Empty 32:31

31m ago32:31

32:31

The consequences of Donald Trump’s new tariffs are working their way through the supply chain and soon will start showing up for consumers in the form of empty shelves, higher prices, and potentially even layoffs and a recession. Guest: Christopher Mims, Wall Street Journal tech reporter and the author of Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door-…

1
Get It Together 31:34

4h ago31:34

31:34

Katrina McLarin and Cheryl Womack dive deep into the chaos, confusion, and hard truths of navigating the criminal justice system. From media spin to the pressure cooker of plea deals, they unpack how women are often forced to make life-altering decisions under extreme stress. Cheryl gets raw and real about her own journey—how she prepped for prison…

51
What Next | The Arts of the Deal 32:42

1d ago32:42

32:42

How Donald Trump is attempting to shape the arts to his own liking, from installing himself as head of the Kennedy Center to canceling grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, throwing organizations and projects of all sizes into uncertainty and chaos. Guests: Alisa Solomon, director of the Arts & Culture concentration at the Columbia Journ…

51
ICYMI: Kate Mackz Can’t Outrun Politics 30:57

1d ago30:57

30:57

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim check in with the “Caveman Skincare” method and they pour one out for Skype. Then, they dive into the internet controversy surrounding a TikTok running influencer and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Kate Mackz is the host of a TikTok series called The Running Interview Show where she jogs with celebrities.…

1
#58 - "Shot In The Face" The Call Every LEO Wife Fears w/Amanda Webb 1:23:41

1d ago1:23:41

1:23:41

Send us a text What do you do when the nightmare becomes real? Amanda’s husband, TJ, a U.S. Marshal, was shot in the face during a takedown and in an instant, her life shattered. What followed was a brutal journey of trauma, isolation, and survival… not just for TJ, but for Amanda too. From navigating hospitals alone due to COVID, to becoming his f…

1
What Next | A Marco Rubio for All Seasons 32:43

2d ago32:43

32:43

Marco Rubio has been collecting titles. In addition to Secretary of State, he’s now also the acting administrator of USAID, the acting archivist for the National Archives and Records Administration—and he just became a National Security Advisor. It fits his career trajectory, wherein Rubio has proven time and time again to be whatever he needs to b…

1
Fall From Grace 34:52

2d ago34:52

34:52

In this podcast episode, Katrina McLarin and Cheryl Womack share their personal and professional journey, detailing the rise and fall of Cheryl's entrepreneurial success, leading to her unexpected incarceration in a federal women's prison camp. They discuss the importance of trust in business, the consequences of financial mismanagement, and the le…

51
What Next | Trump v. the Judiciary 30:56

3d ago30:56

30:56

Is the arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan the start of Trump’s open war on judges? Guest: Jeremy Fogel, retired federal judge and executive director for the Berkeley Judicial Institute. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly f…

51
What Next: TBD | How Elon Wields Power 37:24

4d ago37:24

37:24

What is it about the way that Elon Musk wields power that led 65 percent of Americans to agree he has too much influence on the federal government? Guest: Faiz Siddiqui, Washington Post tech reporter and author of “Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk.” Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole…

51
Slate Money | Everyone Cares About Power Grids This Week 54:01

5d ago54:01

54:01

This week: The entire Iberian peninsula lost power for 18 hours. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by energy expert John Kemp to talk about why that might have happened and nerd out on power grids. Then, the GDP is down by 0.3%. But is that really the right metric to care about? Finally, the tech world is bringing back the b…

51
ICYMI: The Harry Potter Fandom Faces Its Biggest Test 55:47

5d ago55:47

55:47

While J.K. Rowling celebrates a new UK ruling that classifies “women” as biologically female, casting for the upcoming HBO Max adaptation is underway. Which fans have stuck by the series despite the author’s views, and will others be able to resist the siren call of a brand new TV series? Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay welcome ICYMI’s new producer Vi…

51
Amicus | The Un-American Project 1:20:54

5d ago1:20:54

1:20:54

Whether it’s attempting to overturn birthright citizenship, effectively stripping citizenship from American children, or claiming Alien Enemy Act war powers under an imaginary invasion, Trump’s anti-immigrant moves are outlandishly unconstitutional. They are also being met with significant pushback from judges, even conservative ones. On this week’…

1
Camp Confidential - Beyond The Bars - Trailer 1:37

5d ago1:37

1:37

Hosted by Katrina McLarin, with co-host and author V. Cheryl Womack: Camp Confidential dives deep into Cheryl’s powerful, firsthand account of surviving a women’s federal prison camp. Based on her eye-opening book How to Go to Camp, this season is a raw, real, and necessary guide for any woman facing incarceration — and for anyone who wants to unde…

51
What Next: TBD | Marc Andreessen’s New Deal 28:42

6d ago28:42

28:42

What drove Marc Andreessen’s transformation into a political actor, and what is he looking for from having Washington in his thrall? Guest: Zoe Schiffer, WIRED journalist covering business and Silicon Valley. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcas…

1
Political Gabfest | Only 100 Days 1:10:47

7d ago1:10:47

1:10:47

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s first 100 days and recent polls, the state of American health policy and underlying DOGE cuts with reporter Dan Diamond, and a potential radical shift in American life if the Supreme Court allows a religious charter school in Oklahoma. For this week’s Slate…

1
What Next | Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ 31:15

7d ago31:15

31:15

Many of the policy changes in Trump’s first 100 days have come from the White House—but now, it’s Congress’s turn. Republicans have roughly a month to pass a multi-trillion-dollar bill to advance the president’s domestic agenda. But will the bill’s combination of tax cuts and increases in spending on defense and border security render it unpassable…

1
What Next | Inside the ICE Prison Holding Student Detainees 31:43

8d ago31:43

31:43

After Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk was abducted off the streets of her district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley is not mincing words when it comes to the Trump administration: “These are the actions of a dictator.” Last week, Rep. Pressley traveled to Louisiana with a Congressional delegation to visit Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil in the ICE detention facilities…

1
ICYMI: This Book Drama Gets Hotter in the DMs 34:13

8d ago34:13

34:13

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay break down the drama surrounding an influencer’s new book that has kicked off a whole controversy before it’s even been released. Christina Najjar, better known as Tinx, has made a successful career as a TikTok influencer who doles out dating advice to her more than 1.5 million followers. Her new book is a summer beach …

1
#57 - Shot Six Times: A Law Enforcement Officer's Survival Story w/TJ Webb 2:45:08

8d ago2:45:08

2:45:08

Send us a text What happens when a routine warrant service turns into a life-altering gunfight? TJ shares his harrowing journey of survival after being shot six times at point-blank range while serving on a U.S. Marshals Task Force. From the moment bullets tore through his body—striking his face, shoulder, hands, arm, and shattering his femur—TJ ta…

1
What Next | Will HHS Survive RFK Jr? 28:40

9d ago28:40

28:40

At his first press conference as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr. gave a glimpse of what the department will look like under his leadership: a smaller overall budget, relitigating settled scientific questions. Guest: Kiera Butler, senior editor and reporter at Mother Jones and author of Raise: What 4-H Teaches Seven Mill…

1
Money Talks: The Family Squabble That Could Change Right-Wing News 47:54

9d ago47:54

47:54

In this Money Talks: Succession may be over but the drama continues for the Roy family’s real world counterparts. Felix Salmon is joined by McKay Coppins to discuss his experience getting up close and personal with the Murdoch family and break down the dynamics behind the battle over the family empire. Want to hear that discussion and hear more Sla…

1
Hang Up | Shedeur: The Hype vs. Reality 1:14:43

9d ago1:14:43

1:14:43

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh talk about the NFL Draft and the media’s response leading up to its most shocking picks. Ben provides his April baseball rundown, and later, the panel is joined by The Entertainment Strategy Guy for an interview about major media buyers’ feelings about F1. On the bonus episode available exclusiv…

1
What Next | Are Public Schools the Supreme Court's Next Target? 33:49

10d ago33:49

33:49

The Supreme Court is hearing two cases this month regarding religion in public schools that seem to contradict each other—a public school in Maryland where parents claim books with LGBTQ characters or themes are indoctrination, and a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma arguing it has the right to state funding. Can the court’s religion-friendly maj…

1
What Next: TBD | Death of the Weather Forecast? 29:41

11d ago29:41

29:41

The Trump administration has already begun cutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the U.S. National Weather Service. What’s the advantage to understanding the weather less? Guest: Daniel Swain, weather and climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Want more What Next …

1
Slate Money | Say Goodbye to Hollywood 51:46

12d ago51:46

51:46

This week: Trump has reversed his stance on Jay Powell and his extreme tariffs on China. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss Trump’s backtrack on his threat to fire the Fed chair as well as his recent concession that his 145% tariffs on China aren’t sustainable. Then, the hosts weigh in on the growing trend of film and television…

1
Amicus | The Anti-Trump Cases That Have Changed The Game 1:15:19

12d ago1:15:19

1:15:19

As we approach President Trump’s 100th day in office (this time around) this Wednesday, Dahlia Lithwick checks in with one of the key architects of the litigation strategy that is successfully confounding the administration’s most exorbitant executive overreach. After almost 140 executive orders and scores of associated lawsuits, it’s hard to keep …

1
What Next: TBD | The Immigration Data Dragnet 31:47

13d ago31:47

31:47

One of DOGE’s goals is to get government data out of “silos” and make it more easily shared across departments. But there are good reasons for some data to be kept apart. Guest: Vittoria Elliot, WIRED reporter covering platforms and power. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and…

1
Political Gabfest: One Thing Even Trump Won’t Do 1:08:19

14d ago1:08:19

1:08:19

This week, Emily Bazelon and David Plotz are joined by Henry Blodget to discuss the financial and political fallout from the President’s threats to fire Fed Chair Powell and subsequent retreat; a Supreme Court case over free exercise of religion that could have broad implications; and why Trump stands by Hegseth after Signalgate Part 2. For this we…

1
What Next | The Flight Attendant Who Wants You to Go on Strike 30:34

14d ago30:34

30:34

The Trump administration’s actions on immigration and firing the federal workforce have drawn condemnation from all sorts of unions—from building trades to graduate students. What happens when labor speaks as one? Guest: Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL–CIO. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus t…

1
What Next | Fed Up! 30:47

15d ago30:47

30:47

Why Trump wants to ouster his own appointee, Jerome Powell, from the Fed chair—and why the rest of the world is rooting for Powell to stay put. Guest: Liz Hoffman, Semafor’s business and finance editor, host of Semafor’s World Economy Summit, and author of Crash Landing: The Inside Story of How the World’s Biggest Companies Survived an Economy on t…

1
ICYMI: The $50M Revolve Lawsuit and Sponcon Literacy 29:54

15d ago29:54

29:54

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay run through the lows of Coachella, before breaking down a lawsuit against one of the festival’s most visible e-commerce brands, Revolve. Earlier this month, Revolve was hit with a $50 million class-action lawsuit accusing them of deceiving more than 1 million customers using social media marketing tactics. The lead plai…

1
#56 - Life With The Wife: The Woman Behind The Chaos w/Brit Marshall 3:23:51

15d ago3:23:51

3:23:51

Send us a text The veil is finally lifted! After countless requests from our devoted listeners, the mysterious co-creator of Wild Chaos Podcast makes her debut appearance, transforming what might have been just another interview into a landmark episode filled with nervous laughter, genuine revelations, and unexpected insights. She's been called man…

1
What Next | Ciao Papa 30:08

16d ago30:08

30:08

Preaching for empathy and compassion, Pope Francis was at times seen as an agent of dramatic change in the Catholic Church. Did he succeed? Is that even an answerable question before the world knows his successor? Guest: David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock…

1
What Next | Why Did Big Law Fold So Easily? 29:48

18d ago29:48

29:48

Some of the nation’s biggest law firms have found themselves in Trump’s crosshairs and have pledged pro-bono legal service to maintain their security clearances and access to government buildings. Others, however, are trying to fight back. Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department. Want more What Ne…

1
What Next: TBD | The Baby Monitor Trap 31:47

18d ago31:47

31:47

If setting up a baby monitor in the room with your sleeping kids doesn’t allow you to pop out and enjoy the cruise ship, what are they actually good for? Guest: Stephanie Murray, writer for The Atlantic, the newsletter Family Stuff, who wrote “You’re on Vacation. You Leave Your Kid in Your Hotel Room With a Baby Monitor. What Could Go Wrong?” for S…

1
Slate Money | Jay Powell’s Tough Call 53:46

19d ago53:46

53:46

This week: Trump isn’t happy with Fed chair Jay Powell’s take on his tariffs. Felix Salmon, Elizabeth Spiers and guest host Cardiff Garcia discuss the economic reasoning for why Powell is resisting the president’s demands to lower rates and what would happen if Trump finds a legal way to fire him. Then, the Trump administration is both gutting the …

1
Amicus | Playing Chicken With the Constitution 1:17:50

19d ago1:17:50

1:17:50

Ever since March 15, when three flights carrying hundreds of men who had been afforded zero due process left United States airspace and landed in El Salvador, American democracy has been hurtling toward an internal conflict that the federal judiciary would very much prefer to avoid, but just keeps getting more unavoidable. On this week’s Amicus pod…

1
What Next: TBD | The U.S. vs Meta 27:25

20d ago27:25

27:25

This week, the FTC and Meta began a trial to determine if—by adding Instagram and WhatsApp to its portfolio with Facebook over a decade ago—the company became a monopoly in social media. If Meta loses, it could be forced to split up, losing Instagram—and its substantial ad revenue. Guest: Paresh Dave, senior writer at WIRED. Want more What Next TBD…

1
Political Gabfest | Trump vs. Harvard 1:10:13

21d ago1:10:13

1:10:13

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the Trump administration’s ramped up attacks on Harvard and international students, the courts flirting with findings of contempt after the administration ignores and mocks court orders, and the ways the Trump tariffs and exemptions invite corruption and “swampiness.” For this week’s…

1
What Next | Should Hospitals Drug Test New Moms? 31:04

21d ago31:04

31:04

In an ongoing opioid epidemic, hospitals drug testing new mothers and their babies has an intuitive logic. But applied unequally, rife with false positives, and prone to disrupting those important early weeks, is it a best practice? Guest: Shoshana Walter, investigative reporter for The Marshall Project Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unloc…

1
What Next | When a State Tells Trump 'No' 30:41

22d ago30:41

30:41

In February, Donald Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills got into a spat over Trump’s executive order on trans athletes, that ended with both parties tersely agreeing to meet in court. Since then, the Trump administration seems to be trying to make an example of the state—cutting off federal funding where it can. Guest: Callie Ferguson, investigati…

1
#55 - Wild Adventures and Conservation Conversations w/Lucas Paugh 3:06:34

22d ago3:06:34

3:06:34

Send us a text What happens when a successful executive trades the corporate grind for a life of global hunting and raw adventure? Lucas shares his journey from Montana farm kid to world-traveling hunter, revealing why he walked away from a 22-year career at 42 to chase purpose, not paychecks. From surviving a brown bear charge in Alaska to feeding…

1
Slate Money | Money Talks: The Student Loan Paradox 40:24

23d ago40:24

40:24

In this Money Talks: The federal student loan program was meant to help students seeking a route to a better life – so why is it putting so many of them into crippling debt instead? Journalist Jillian Berman, author of Sunk Cost: Who’s to Blame for the Nation’s Broken Student Loan System and How to Fix, joins Emily Peck to unpack the fraught histor…

1
What Next | Trump’s Weaponized IRS 31:35

23d ago31:35

31:35

On April 7, the Treasury Department and Department of Homeland Security reached an agreement to allow ICE to use confidential tax information to locate undocumented immigrants. Though this group generally pays taxes at a higher rate than comparable U.S. citizens, advocates warn that the IRS-ICE team-up could have a chilling effect. They say it’s li…

1
Hang Up | Rory McIlroy Makes History 1:13:51

24d ago1:13:51

1:13:51

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh break down Rory McIlroy’s thrilling victory at the Masters on Sunday. Also on the show: a preview of the NBA playoffs, and an in-depth look at quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s messy split from the University of Tennessee. For Afterballs, Ben shares the introduction to his new narrative podcast, “Ell…

1
What Next | Project 2025’s Plan for Your Family 30:54

24d ago30:54

30:54

Despite what Trump said on the campaign trail, his administration seems to be working right out of Project 2025, where the first goal is to “Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life—and protect our children.” What does this mean in action? It starts with a very specific type of “family.” Guest: David Graham, Atlantic staff writer and …

1
What Next: TBD | TikTok: Somehow Also Affected by the Tariffs 25:19

25d ago25:19

25:19

TikTok was on the verge of being sold to a non-Chinese company when Trump rolled out his new tariff plans. Now everything is thrown into uncertainty and the company has until mid-June to find another buyer—or be banned in the United States. Guest: Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times reporter covering TikTok, technology and emerging media companies. Wa…

1
Slate Money | The Economy’s ‘One Guy Problem’ 1:04:04

26d ago1:04:04

1:04:04

This week: Trump’s erratic tariff policies are creating a lot of volatility in the markets. Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers are joined by investments expert Barry Ritholtz to unpack the week’s wild tariff news and this uniquely unpredictable situation where one person’s decisions are having a huge effect on the markets. Then, Barry h…

1
Amicus | A Lawyer’s Guide to Not Caving to the President 1:02:09

26d ago1:02:09

1:02:09

On this week’s Amicus, autocratic creep in high and low gear. In high gear: The Supreme Court finally issued its order in Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s case, requiring that the government “facilitates” Abrego Garcia’s return from the El Salvadoran prison to which he was illegally and accidentally reditioned, but also recognizing the limits on its authorit…

1
What Next: TBD | Trump Tariffs Hit Mushroom Kingdom 27:06

27d ago27:06

27:06

The same day Nintendo was officially introducing its latest console, Donald Trump was announcing his new global tariff plan. As a result, gamers were treated to an early preview of what a world bound up in tariffs would look like. Spoiler: It’ll probably cost you a lot more. Guest: Jason Koebler, a co-founder of 404 Media Want more What Next TBD? S…

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