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Correctional Officer (Russ Hamilton)
Episode 4414th October 2025 • Baggage • The Baggage Podcast
00:00:00 01:08:25

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In this episode, the guys are joined by Russ Hamilton, a former correctional officer with extensive experience in the prison system. Russ shares his journey from starting at San Quentin State Prison to his current role in reentry and rehabilitation work. He discusses the challenges and dangers faced by correctional officers, the complexities of prison dynamics; and shares some wild stories about fights, riots, and ... well, other crazy prison stuff.

You can find Russ's latest book here: Killing Complacency: Tactical Awareness for Correctional Professionals. You can also check out his Substack here. He's also on YouTube where he helps support other correctional officers on TierTalk. For more on the psychology involving corrections, check out Inmate Manipulation Decoded: A Definitive Guide to Understanding the Manipulation Process.

Music provided by Quincy Ledbetter (https://www.qledbetter.com/).

Artwork provided by Megan Weaver (https://meganweaverart.com/).

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What Was That Like

What Was That Like is a storytelling podcast, with first-hand amazing stories presented by Scott Johnson and Meredith Hackwith Edwards. Each storyteller tells their own personal true story, with all the details of what happened. Animal attacks, plane crashes, mass shootings, and more – you'll hear what happened directly from the person who experienced it, and the inspirational outcome of how they came out on the other side. To learn more visit https://whatwasthatlike.com/ or search for What Was That Like wherever you get your podcasts.

Leleka Foundation

Leleka Foundation is a volunteer-driven organization that operates with minimal overhead, maximizing the impact of every donation. By leveraging our personal resources, we ensure that 96-97% of all donations go directly to life-saving programs. Leleka was founded in December 2014 when several Ukrainians in the United States joined their efforts with several volunteer initiatives in Ukraine to procure and supply medical and first-aid supplies to paramedics, ambulances, and hospitals. Since February 2022, Leleka has focused on the urgent supply of critical medical supplies and protective gear to Ukraine’s defenders and civilians. To support Leleka, visit https://leleka.care/en.

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