Latest Solitary confinement Podcast Episodes
Psychic Vampires
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - December 28, 2023 04:46 - 15 minutesSome people just complain about life but don’t do anything to change their situation. They’re like psychic vampires, sucking the lifeblood out of the people they talk to. But it doesn’t need to be this way. Randy offers us some important advice. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of R...
Drugs in Prison
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - August 18, 2023 03:32 - 15 minutesIt's no secret that there are drugs in prison. But how do they get there? Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, ...
Some Men Can Handle It. Some Can't.
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - July 18, 2023 07:24 - 15 minutesWhen a woman on the outside has a relationship with an incarcerated man, is it OK for her to have sex with other men? Randy has his opinion. Not everyone agrees. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for ca...
Praying for a Lockdown
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - June 20, 2023 12:40 - 15 minutesSome of the other inmates are so damn irritating to be around, Randy's praying for a lockdown just to get away from them. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by ...
A Glimpse of Freedom
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - May 18, 2023 05:23 - 33 minutesThe Department of Corrections finally grants approval for Randy to travel to Richmond for a biopsy at Virginia Commonwealth University. It's not just the road trip that offers him a glimpse of freedom . . . Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,2...
If it’s not treated, it’s going to kill you
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - April 18, 2023 23:59 - 17 minutesRandy’s been trying for years to get a biopsy to find out what kind of tumors he has in his leg. Finally, he finds a supportive prison doctor. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Direc...
Eight Crazy Days
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - March 23, 2023 00:20 - 20 minutesMurder, ODs, shakedowns, and riots. Randy describes the wildest week in Wallens Ridge's recent history. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. F...
New Pod
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - February 23, 2023 05:05 - 17 minutesRandy describes the new pod he’s living in Wallens Ridge State Prison. There’s a lot of “backbiting”. Stay out of it, is his advice. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Directed and pr...
Glad to Be Back
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - February 16, 2023 12:59 - 17 minutesIn November 2023, Randy gets transferred to Wallens Ridge State Prison, another supermax, about 40 miles northeast of Red Onion. Three months later, he starts podcasting again. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge Stat...
Questions from Kyrgyzstan
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - November 17, 2022 05:10 - 20 minutesRandy is scheduled to be transferred out of Red Onion but he still doesn't know which prison he'll be sent to. In this last episode recorded at Red Onion, Randy calls podcast executive producer Michael Garbutt who was attending a conference at the University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, where ...
Transfer Pain
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - November 03, 2022 05:14 - 17 minutesThe Department of Corrections finally grants Randy’s request for a transfer to another prison. But he’s in for a nasty surprise when he finds out the type of prison they’re going to send him to. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in ...
A Way Out of Prison
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - October 20, 2022 04:49 - 18 minutesRandy describes possible changes to legislation that would allow early release for some inmates in Virginia state prisons. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Mich...
Endless Frustration
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - October 06, 2022 05:13 - 23 minutesFrustration has been the most difficult emotion Randy has to deal with. In this episode, Randy shows that pent-up frustration leads him to quite an unexpected place. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for ...
An Emotional Pressure Cooker
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - September 22, 2022 04:04 - 16 minutesIn another call-in episode, Dustin wants to know how Randy deals with intense emotions such as sadness and anger while incarcerated. If you have a question for Randy, you can leave him a message on our toll-free line (+) 1-888 524 1932. You can also check him out on Twitter @redonionrandy. ...
A Cast of Characters
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - September 15, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutesRandy introduces listeners to eight of his fellow inmates at Red Onion. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Pauli...
A Young Man in Trouble
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - September 08, 2022 04:11 - 16 minutesA listener wants to know how they can best support a 21-year-old loved one who has been in and out of prison. Randy responds. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by M...
Writing to Prisoners
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - September 01, 2022 06:20 - 15 minutesIf you're planning on writing to an inmate, there are things you should know so that everyone stays safe. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Fiel...
Prison Showers
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - August 25, 2022 07:28 - 20 minutesShowering in prison can be a very unpleasant and sometimes dangerous experience, as Randy explains, along with some good advice to reduce the risks involved. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital mu...
Convict Conditioning
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - August 18, 2022 05:57 - 15 minutesRandy delves into the importance of working out and introduces 'Convict Conditioning' by Paul Wade, an exercise coaching book that has changed his life. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder...
Keeping Sane Inside
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - August 11, 2022 05:58 - 34 minutesIn response to a listener's questions, Randy explains how he spends his day and what keeps him sane (writing fantasy fiction). Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by ...
Anger and Forgiveness
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - August 04, 2022 06:05 - 18 minutesIn this first episode of the new season, Randy responds to listener Mikayla's questions. How does he manage anger, she wants to know. Does solitary confinement work? Who are his friends? To put your questions to Randy, call toll free on + 1-888-524-1932.
John Q. Smith and a Season Break
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - June 09, 2022 06:13 - 9 minutesRandy responds to a question a listener recorded on our toll-free line (+) 1-888 524 1932, and announces a season break. As Randy explains, Red Onion Randy will be back in July, bigger and better than ever! Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving...
Pornography and Masturbation
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - June 02, 2022 06:36 - 17 minutesRandy reflects on the addictive nature of masturbation and pornography and how they can damage our lives and those of our loved ones. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and prod...
Shawshank Redemption - Fact or Fiction?
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - May 26, 2022 05:31 - 13 minutesHow realistic are movie representations of prison? Randy compares the fictions he's seen with the facts he knows so well. Documentary mentioned by Randy in the podcast- Solitary: Inside Red Onion State Prison https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/solitary-inside-red-onion-state-prison/ Red Onion R...
Hotline for Messages
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - May 19, 2022 13:12 - 13 minutesIn this 100th episode, Randy reflects on two years of podcasting and introduces a new toll-free phone message service for listeners (+) 1-888 524 1932. Documentary mentioned by Randy in the podcast- Solitary: Inside Red Onion State Prison https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/solitary-inside-re...
Tattoo
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - May 12, 2022 05:34 - 23 minutesTattoos are an important part of the prison culture and economy. After describing how to make an inking gun and ink, Randy explains what his own tattoos mean to him. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for ca...
Little John
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - May 05, 2022 05:23 - 17 minutesHaving experienced so much violence and death, Randy thought nothing could upset him. But when he sees his buddy Little John close to death, Randy finds himself reacting in a quite unexpected way. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 yea...
Reputation
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - April 28, 2022 05:27 - 17 minutesAt Red Onion, where every inmate is either predator or prey, reputation is everything. Randy has a certain reputation that turns out to be a double-edged sword, as he explains. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Pr...
Gunning
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - April 21, 2022 05:30 - 15 minutesListener Advisory: This episode describes sexual practices in graphic detail, including the practice of "gunning". Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Gar...
Red Onion Then and Now Part 2
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison - April 14, 2022 05:01 - 16 minutesTimes have changed at Red Onion, but not necessarily all for the better, as Randy explains. Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and developm...
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