Toure show featuring UnCuffed

Summary

Toure Show Featuring UnCuffed

Host: Toray
Guest: Greg Eskridge
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Podcast: UnCuffed

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of the Toure Show, hosted by Toray of DCP Entertainment, the spotlight shines on UnCuffed, a transformative podcast that empowers incarcerated individuals to share their narratives. The episode delves deep into the emotional journey of Greg Eskridge, one of the founding producers of UnCuffed, who was released after serving over 30 years at San Quentin State Prison. This episode not only celebrates Greg's monumental release but also explores the broader mission and evolution of the UnCuffed podcast.

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Greg Eskridge's Release: A Day of Freedom and Reflection

The episode opens with Toray introducing Greg's significant milestone. [00:00] Toray shares, "Last summer, something monumental happened. One of the founding producers of Uncuffed, Greg Eskridge, came home after more than 30 years in prison." This poignant moment sets the stage for Greg's personal narrative.

Greg Eskridge vividly recounts the contrasting experiences of leaving prison:

"Normally, when you leave the prison, you leave in a van... in a bright yellow or orange jumpsuit, your hands are shackled..." ([00:39])
"Today it was different. I have on black jeans and regular street clothes. No restraints whatsoever." ([00:39])

Greg emphasizes the proximity of freedom to the prison gates:

"Freedom is literally just a few feet away." ([01:20])

The emotional weight of his release is palpable as Greg describes the overwhelming support he received:

"I saw my little sister, saw my baby... hugged about 20, 30 people... felt like I hugged a thousand people that day." ([02:24]).

He shares a heartfelt moment with his family and community, highlighting the joyous reception:

"It was so many people from so many different walks of life that were really there to welcome me home. And it was beautiful." ([03:22])

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Navigating Reentry: The Realities Beyond Freedom

Amidst the celebration, Greg addresses the often-overlooked challenges of reentry. He candidly discusses the bureaucratic hurdles that accompany release:

"What's going on with all this paper?... it's just a reminder that I'm not really, truly free." ([04:00])

Greg illustrates the constrained freedom that still lingers post-release, referencing his ongoing connection to incarceration identifiers:

"I'm still attached to this K07041 number that I've had for the past 30 years." ([04:00])

He humorously likens the proximity of San Quentin to everyday navigation:

"San Quentin really is not that far away. If I make a mistake. What's it called? Google Maps. Can we say, Siri? Where is it at?" ([04:00])

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Evolution of UnCuffed: From Inmates to Hosts

Greg provides an insightful look into the origins and growth of UnCuffed. He reflects on his decade-long involvement:

"I was one of the original guys in UnCuffed program about 10 years ago. It started with just a few of us inside San Quentin doing radio stories for KALW." ([05:00])

The podcast has since expanded beyond San Quentin to other institutions, evolving into a platform that amplifies inmates' voices. Greg announces his new role as host, marking a new chapter for UnCuffed:

"Now I'm going to be your host. That means I'll be here with you every episode sharing more of my own story." ([05:45])

He underscores the importance of continuing the conversation beyond release day, promising to delve into his upbringing and the factors that led to his incarceration:

"Because getting out, it's not just about the day you get out. It's everything that happens afterward." ([05:45])

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Personal Reflections and Future Directions

Greg opens up about his internal struggles and the emotional journey accompanying his release:

"I was filled with so much anger and just so much resentment, and it was almost like I just couldn't control myself." ([06:11])

He touches on pivotal moments that shaped his path:

"The decision I made inside prison that got me where I am today." ([06:11])

Looking ahead, Greg reveals UnCuffed's ambitious plans to broaden its reach:

"For the first time ever, we will be leading classes and featuring stories from a women's prison, the California Institution for Women." ([07:08])

He expresses excitement about introducing new producers and expanding the podcast's mission:

"I am so excited to hear them. So whether you're on the inside or you've gotten out... there is something for you on this season of Uncuffed." ([07:08])

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Conclusion

This episode of the Toure Show masterfully intertwines Greg Eskridge's personal liberation with the evolving mission of UnCuffed. Through Greg's heartfelt storytelling and candid reflections, listeners gain profound insights into the complexities of reentry and the enduring spirit of those seeking to rebuild their lives post-incarceration. UnCuffed stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment, amplifying voices that have long been unheard, and this episode beautifully encapsulates its transformative impact.

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Notable Quotes

• Greg Eskridge [00:39]:
  "Freedom is literally just a few feet away."

• Greg Eskridge [02:24]:
  "It felt like I hugged a thousand people that day."

• Greg Eskridge [04:00]:
  "I'm still attached to this K07041 number that I've had for the past 30 years."

• Greg Eskridge [05:45]:
  "Because getting out, it's not just about the day you get out. It's everything that happens afterward."

• Greg Eskridge [07:08]:
  "There is something for you on this season of Uncuffed."

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This episode serves as an inspiring testament to resilience, community support, and the power of storytelling in the journey toward redemption and reintegration. Whether you're directly impacted by the prison system or seeking to understand its human side, this episode of the Toure Show offers valuable perspectives and heartfelt narratives.

Transcript

[Toray]

Hey, it's Toray. We're doing something a little bit different this week. I want to tell you about a new podcast and an amazing episode you're about to hear. The podcast Uncuffed, empowers people who are incarcerated to tell their own stories. Last summer, something monumental happened. One of the founding producers of Uncuffed, Greg Eskridge, came home after more than 30 years in prison. This episode takes us back to that emotional day last summer when he finally walked out of the gates of San Quentin free. And he introduces us to the newest season of the Uncuffed Podcast from KALW Public Media. Check it out.

[Greg Eskridge]

K A L W Normally, when you leave the prison, you leaving a van. If you're going to the hospital, going to some appointment, and you're in a bright yellow or orange jumpsuit, your hands are shackled, your feet are shackled, and there's a cage inside of the van that they put you inside of and lock you in. Today it was different. I get in the van, and I have on black jeans and regular street clothes. No restraints whatsoever. Then you go through the gate, you come to another gate, and then you finally get to a last gate before you actually are off the premises. And it's just a parking lot. It's just a parking lot. It's so. It's so crazy how you would think, like, freedom would be miles and miles away from the prison, but freedom is literally just a few feet away. That's true. What's up, everybody? I'm Greg Eskridge, and this is Uncuffed, the podcast that empowers people in prison to tell their own stories. You might remember hearing me coming at you from inside of San Quentin. Well, things have changed. In July, after more than 30 years in prison, I got out.

[Lonnie]

Let's go.

[Greg Eskridge]

So before I even got out of the van, I just saw so many people just standing outside. I just heard the cheering, the roaring, and I just saw the officer open up the door, and he says, eskridge. And I just got out. And for some reason, I don't know why, but. But I just put my hands up in the air, and I guess it was just one of those moments of just, like, free, free at last. And after that, looked to the left, saw my little sister, saw my baby.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Amen.

[Greg Eskridge]

Five times. I shifted my direction to the right, hugged about 20, 30 people. Then I came back and hugged about another 20, 30 people. It seemed like it felt like I hugged a thousand people that day.

[Lonnie]

The fresh Nike zone and all that, you know what I mean?

[Greg Eskridge]

My mother, my aunts, family members, cousins. So many supporters, so many of the KLW staff, correctional officers were out there. Correctionalieutenants were out there. It was so many people from so many different walks of life that was really there to really welcome me home. And it was beautiful. Hey. Hey, Lonnie. I was talking to my boy Lonnie, and I was like, bro, like, let's pause all of this happiness and let's get down to this business. Like, what's going on with all this paper? Parole conditions of what they called. And this is. It's like about 20, 30 pieces of paper. It has all these dates and had all these times and all these names and numbers of people that you have to contact when you get out. And so I was like, bro, walk me through. Who do I need to contact? So it was. It was just a reminder that. That I'm not really, truly free. Like, I'm still attached to this K07041 number that I've had for the past 30 years. Even though I walked out of San Quentin. Like, in reality, San Quentin really is not that far away. If I make a mistake. What's it called? Google Maps. Google Maps. Can we say, Siri? Where is it at? So after all the hugs and all the photos were taken, it was time to go out to breakfast. And we all piled up in various cars and drove to the eating spot. I see all that breakfast. That was the beginning of my new life on the outside. I was one of the original guys in uncuffed program about 10 years ago. It started with just a few of us inside San Quentin doing radio stories for kalw. Over the years, uncuffed expanded to other prisons, and then it became this podcast where we share stories by people on the inside. On this season, we are going to be doing something new. We'll still be bringing you stories from inside of prison. But now I'm going to be your host. That means I'll be here with you every episode sharing more of my own story. Because getting out, it's not just about the day you get out. It's everything that happens afterward. And we're gonna get into all of it. We're gonna go back to my childhood.

[Unnamed Speaker]

And we would roll over in the blanket. So we would be the little brown meat inside the enchilada or the burrito.

[Greg Eskridge]

Try to better understand the decisions that led me to prison. I was just filled with so much anger and just so much resentment, and it was almost like I just couldn't control myself. And the decision I made inside prison that got me where I am today.

[Unnamed Speaker]

I wrote the letter just kind of hoping to somehow get you to tell me the truth.

[Greg Eskridge]

And, of course, we are going to keep bringing you stories from inside San Quentin and Solano. I'm going to introduce you to a new group of amazing producers.

[Lonnie]

I was crying, walking to the car. My mom was like, what's wrong with you, boy? I was like, mom. They flocked me.

[Greg Eskridge]

The only thing that was scared me the most was if I was gonna fall out that treehouse or not.

[Unnamed Speaker]

There's embers. Like, you could tell there's a big fire going on somewhere. Smoke. Ashes. Like it's raining ashes.

[Greg Eskridge]

And for the first time ever, we will be leading classes and featuring stories from a women's prison, the California institution for women. I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I come from a deep struggle with my mental and emotions.

[Unnamed Speaker]

I come from a small village of warriors.

[Greg Eskridge]

Man, I am so excited to hear them. So whether you're on the inside or you've gotten out, whether someone you love is locked up or you've never met anyone who's been in prison, trust me, there is something for you on this season of uncuffed.