The Prison Officer Podcast
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.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 45 minutes
- Episodes
- 125
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
43: Finding Purpose and Value in Your Work - Interview w/Anthony Gangi
In this episode, I talk with Anthony Gangi, an author, speaker, and the Host of Tier Talk, a long-running podcast about Corrections and the challenges staff face every day. Anthony an…
A Holiday Message for Those Working Inside - 2022
Just a quick episode to thank all of you working the holidays! What you do matters and I appreciate it! Also I read A CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS CHRISTMAS just for some lighthearted fun. …
42: There is a Place in Corrections for Compassion - Interview w/Brian O'Connell
In this episode, I talk with Brian O'Connell, a retired Warden with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Growing up with two Grandfathers who worked for the Federal Bureau of Prison…
41: Leadership - Why You Need a Personal Vision Statement
In this episode, I talk about how I developed my own Personal Vision Statement and why you need one. Much like an agency or company's Vision Statement, a Personal Vision Statement can …
40: Working Columbia Correctional Center (CCI) WI - Interview w/Kevin Phillips
In this episode, I talk to former Sgt. Kevin Phillips. Kevin discusses his quick rise from rookie to sergeant to DOC Valor award winner, and how quickly things can fall down around you…
39: Doing What's Right, Even When it's Tough - Interview w/Glen MacDonald
In today’s episode, we talk with former BOP Captain Glen MacDonald about doing the right thing, even when it is tough. Glen walks us through many of the decisions throughout his life a…
38: Inmate De-escalation and Communication
Since the beginning of law enforcement and corrections, officers have had to verbally try and change the actions of others to prevent force from being used to control the situation. Th…
37: San Quentin State Prison - Interview w/Ron
You know, whenever the discussion of the roughest, toughest prisons comes up, there are several names that come to everyone’s mind…Alcatraz, Sing Sing, Leavenworth, Joliet, and of cours…
36: Change is Inevitable - Leaving the Generation Gap Behind Us
A cartoon I once saw showed a sinking boat with sailors in it. One end is going underwater, and a couple of sailors are bailing as fast as they can to no avail. The other end of the b…
35: Strangeways - A Prison Officer's Story - Interview w/Neil "Sam" Samworth
My guest today is Neil "Sam" Samworth, former UK prison officer and the author of Strangeways – A Prison Officer’s Story. Sam spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manc…
34:The Bureau of Prisons - Yesterday and Today - The Captain's Table
Today I sit down and discuss the minutes from the 1959 Captain's Conference that was held in Washington D.C. These minutes give us some insight into what challenges and changes were go…
33: Military Leadership Books Every Correctional Leader Should Read - Part 2
In this episode I finish talking about the Military Leadership Books Every Correctional Leader Should Read.
In Episode 30, I covered Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin. …
32: Norse/Germanic Runes & White Supremacy Gangs - Interview w/Dave Schilling
In this episode, I talk with author and gang investigator D.J. (or David) Schilling. He has worked in the Criminal Justice Field since 2006 as a Correctional Officer, Security Threat G…
31: Resilience, Faith, and Leadership - Interview w/Wally Long
In today's episode, I talk with Wally Long, a former co-worker of mine from the Federal Medical Center in Springfield, MO. We worked a lot of the same units together and I was always i…
30: Military Leadership Books Every Correctional Leader Should Read - Part 1
In this episode, I talk about Extreme Ownership - How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin a #1 New York Times Bestseller. One of the premier leadership books o…
29: Behind the Razor Ribbon - Interview w/Pat Bliss
In this episode, I get the chance to talk with Pat Bliss. An artist, and former correctional officer at the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary in Saskatchewan, Canada. He shares the st…
28: New Book - The Prison Officer Podcast Job Guide
Opportunities to become a correctional officer are better than ever before. Agencies are offering bonuses and pay incentives to entice new hires. Hiring fairs, online ads, and billboa…
27: How Escapes Happen and What It Takes to Stop Them
Vicki White, a jail supervisor, helps a convicted murderer escape from an Alabama jail. Mexican Mafia member and convicted murderer, Gonzalo Lopez managed to free himself from restrain…
26: How does Manipulation turn to Love and Escape? - Interview w/Toby Dorr
Much like the current story of Vicki White and convicted murderer Casey White, Dorr helped John Manard escape from custody on February 12, 2006, in a dog crate and the two lived togethe…
25: The 2022 MOCK Prison Riot in Moundsville - A Quick Recap of this week
This is a short episode, but I just wanted to talk about my first trip to the MOCK Prison Riot in Moundsville, WV, while it was stilll fresh in my mind. What a great place to train and…