Reality Behind Bars

About Reality Behind Bars

Reality Behind Bars discusses incarceration by analyzing documentaries and reality television. Hosted by a college professor and a formerly incarcerated educator, the show aims to separate entertainment from reality. Each episode examines popular shows about prison life—asking what they get right, what they get wrong, and what they leave out. Drawing on research, psychology, and lived experience, the hosts explore topics like incarceration, reentry, prison culture, criminal justice reform, and the real human impact of the system. If you watch prison documentaries, follow true crime, or want a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system, Reality Behind Bars offers thoughtful analysis and honest conversations about the stories we’re told about life behind bars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Ashley Scolaro & Carolyn Fisher

Category

education · tv & film · tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Mar 2026

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

67 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   The End of the Podcast Announcement

   Visit our website https://www.realitybehindbars.com (https://www.realitybehindbars.com) Send us an email at realitybehindbars@gmail.com Want to know more about the hosts? Check out our Meet the Hosts episode (https://shows.acast.com/reality-behind-bars/episodes/meet-the-hosts). Subscribe and leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   From Teenage Mistake to Prison: Tito’s Story of Incarceration, Probation, and Reentry

   What happens when an impulsive decision at 18 changes the course of your life? In this powerful episode of Reality Behind Bars, Ashley sits down with Tito, a West Virginia native who was incarcerated as a young adult after an incident at school resulted in a criminal charge. Tito shares his firsthand journey through the criminal justice system from his arrest and two weeks in jail to probation violations, a suspended sentence, and ultimately incarceration in state prison. Tito discusses what it was like entering jail at 18, learning the unwritten rules of incarceration, and discovering the significant differences between jail and prison. He describes prison culture, inmate hierarchy, jobs, educational opportunities, food, visitation, and the ways incarcerated people find ways to occupy their time. The conversation also explores Tito’s experiences with probation, plea bargaining, parole, solitary confinement, and the challenges of reentry. He reflects on struggling to find employment after release, couch surfing, and eventually building a more stable life. Perhaps most importantly, Tito challenges common stereotypes about people in prison. He discusses the difference between public perceptions of incarcerated people and the reality he witnessed firsthand, arguing that punishment alone does not necessarily prepare people to successfully return to their communities. This episode offers an honest, sometimes humorous, and deeply personal look at incarceration, prison life, criminal justice, probation, solitary confinement, reentry, and second chances—from someone who experienced the system firsthand. If you like our content, don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us! We'd also love to hear from you so feel free to contact us at realitybehindbars@gmail.com if you have comments, suggestions or are interested in being a guest on the show! Visit our website https://www.realitybehindbars.com (https://www.realitybehindbars.com) Send us an email at realitybehindbars@gmail.com Want to know more about the hosts? Check out our Meet the Hosts episode (https://shows.acast.com/reality-behind-bars/episodes/meet-the-hosts). Subscribe and leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   60 Days In S3E8 (A&E, 2017)

   In this episode of Reality Behind Bars, Ashley and Carolyn examine 60 Days In Season 3, Episode 8, “Bloods Rising,” and look beyond the reality television editing to explore what the episode reveals about life inside a county jail. The discussion begins with the South Annex, where Michelle and Mauri experience a jail shakedown. Ashley and Carolyn examine how searches are conducted, how incarcerated people hide contraband, and whether the shakedown shown on television would actually address the problems correctional staff are trying to solve. Carolyn also compares the televised search with her own experiences of jail searches. The conversation then turns to Mauri's distress over a missing letter and the risks of documenting experiences while incarcerated. The hosts discuss how seemingly ordinary behaviors, including journaling, can take on a different meaning inside a correctional facility. In Zone 600, Don struggles with the rules and restrictions of jail life after being locked down. The hosts explore how incarceration can create frustration, emotional exhaustion, and heightened reactions to seemingly minor events. They also discuss the importance of inmate relationships and the ways incarcerated people may support one another during stressful situations. One of the episode's most important discussions centers on jail medical care after John suffers a head injury. Ashley and Carolyn examine long waits for medical treatment, staffing shortages, triage, the physical environment of jail medical units, and the differences and similarities between jail medical care and emergency-room experiences. Carolyn provides firsthand insight into navigating medical care while incarcerated. Finally, the hosts turn to Zone 500, where Nate learns about gang culture and incarceration from his cellmate, Matt struggles with a new cellmate, and Marcus becomes increasingly confrontational. The discussion explores inmate turnover, trust, "snitching," pod hierarchy, survival strategies, and the complex social dynamics that develop inside jails. The episode closes with a broader conversation about mental health in correctional facilities, including what happens when incarcerated people experience grief, trauma, anger, or emotional crises. Ashley and Carolyn consider whether correctional officers could receive additional training to recognize behavioral changes and whether more proactive mental-health support and follow-up could help prevent crises before they escalate. If you like our content, don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us! We'd also love to hear from you so feel free to contact us at realitybehindbars@gmail.com if you have comments, suggestions or are interested in being a guest on the show! Visit our website https://www.realitybehindbars.com (https://www.realitybehindbars.com) Send us an email at realitybehindbars@gmail.com Want to know more about the hosts? Check out our Meet the Hosts episode (https://shows.acast.com/reality-behind-bars/episodes/meet-the-hosts). Subscribe and leave a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings