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
24: History of the Leavenworth Prisons - Interview w/Ken LaMaster
In this episode, I talk with a friend, former co-worker, and Leavenworth Historian/Author - Ken LaMaster. Ken retired after 31 years in the Correctional field which included working a…
23: Female Prison Officers - Interview w/Sgt. Natasha Blake
There are currently 59,100 female officers working in local jails in the US. Another 10,500 female staff work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Across the country, female correctiona…
22: Me? The Next Director of the Bureau of Prisons!
What started as an offhand remark to family and friends, turned into a real conversation about what I would do if I were the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. More than 20 yea…
21: God vs Corrections - Interview w/Chaplain Daniel Odean
In this episode, I do a little soul searching about God, religion, and faith and how prison affects our spiritual life. Friend and former co-worker Chaplain Daniel O'dean joins me to b…
20: Does ethics in Corrections matter?
I this episode I ask and try to answer the questions”Does ethics in Corrections matter?” How important is integrity, honesty and ethics, and how do we build a culture of ethics where w…
19: Name Something Positive about Being a Prison Officer
In this episode I talk about Positivity and Gratitude. Inspired by a Facebook post that simply asked "Name something positive you were able to accomplish because you have a good stead…
18: Leadership - Leading Change & Crisis
In this episode I talk about Correctional Leadership. The skills I have learned through my career when I had to deal with crisis and change. Two of the most difficult events that lead…
17: Being the Chief of Custody - An Interview with Captain Dennis Treadway (Ret.)
In this episode, I sit down with Dennis Treadway, a retired Captain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dennis walks us through his career and the tips and leadership lessons he learn…
16: 2020 Podcast Review and Correctional Challenges in 2021
The hosting platform for the Prison Officer Podcast is Buzzsprout. First, let me tell you, I love Buzzsprout, they have helped me every step of the way in building and bringing this po…
15: A Holiday Message for Those Working Inside - 2021
It's early Christmas morning here at our house and I just wanted to take a minute and say Merry Christmas. Whether you are lucky enough to have the day off and get to spend it with you…
14: My Thoughts on Retirement
Retirement Day. For most of us, this is a once in a lifetime event. The one day most of us inside spend our shifts dreaming about. When we don’t have to walk past those grills. When…
13: 100 Year Old Prison Officer - Interview with Robert "Bob" Burks
I saw a Facebook post the other day from the Missouri Patriot Guard and the VFW who were honoring a local veteran with a motorcycle ” drive-by” to celebrate the milestone of him turning…
12: Surviving Shift Work
One in five Americans works nontraditional hours, including the many staff working the off shifts in our prisons. Someone has to be there. Although many say they enjoy these off-shift…
11: Working a Restrictive Housing Unit
In this episode, I am going to cover what I believe are the basics of working in Restrictive Housing. Restrictive Housing is the newest catchphrase that refers to “lock-down.” Some pl…
10: Staying Strong in Today's Toxic Stress
The last few months have changed the way all of us see the world around us. The COVID-19 Pandemic, the quarantine, the masks, the death of George Floyd, the anti-police backlash that f…
9: Inquiring Minds Want to Know
In this episode, I am going to answer several of the questions this podcast has generated since it started. In just less than 3 months, this podcast has grown to over 1300 downloads, a…
8: Growing Up with a Correctional Officer - Interview with Dr. Jaclyn Brandhorst
In this episode, I have invited Dr. Jaclyn Brandhorst as a guest. She has been researching stress, employee assistance programs, and PTSD in a correctional setting. She has been impac…
7: The Golden Rules of Being a Rookie
In this episode, I want to talk to the rookies and the soon-to-be rookies out there. You applied for the job, you’ve been through the academy, and now you are working in a housing unit…
6: Avoiding Staff Manipulation
In this episode, I want to talk about a taboo subject in Corrections. Something that happens to everyone who works in Corrections in one form or another, yet it is rarely admitted or d…
5: Leadership - How to Handle Mistakes
One of the things I have learned working in prison is just how much leadership matters. Whether it is the way you lead your team, your housing unit or just an inmate work detail. Lead…