Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison

In this episode, Randy speaks with Celeste Blair, an artist, writer, and prison reform activist who was released from federal prison just over a month ago. Celeste shares her experiences and offers a woman’s perspective on the differences between federal and state prison.This is part two of a special series, In the Absence of Paint.You can find Celeste on Instagram @celestemblair or on YouTube at In the Absence of Paint.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

In this voicemail episode, Randy answers a question that was recently left by someone from Austin, Texas, who wants to know what it would be like for a 50-year-old man to go to prison.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

In this episode, Randy speaks with Celeste Blair, an artist, writer, and prison reform activist who was released from federal prison just over a month ago. Celeste shares her experiences and offers a woman’s perspective on the differences between federal and state prison.This is part one of a special series, In the Absence of Paint.You can find Celeste on Instagram @celestemblair or on YouTube at In the Absence of Paint.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

We’re back with the final installment of Cellie Adventures. If you haven’t listened to parts one and two yet, make sure you check those out first.In this episode, Randy gives an update on how life is going now that he’s lost his single-cell status.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

We’re back with part two of Cellie Adventures. The honeymoon phase is over, and now the real test begins. How is Randy going to react when the new cellie starts pushing his buttons? From cleaning habits to late-night noise, tensions rise fast, and Randy doesn’t hold back on how he really feelsThe Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

We’re back with another episode. After more than 20 years, Randy has a cellie again. This week on the podcast he lets us know how things are going so far, and let’s just say things get dirty quick. This is part one of a three-part episode we’re calling Cellie Adventures.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

We’re back with part two of “Scott’s Wild Story.” Last week, Scott revealed to Randy that he was caught up in a much larger conspiracy inside the prison. Stay tuned as the story continues, does Scott’s tale hold up, or is it just another wild yarn from behind the walls?The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

Randy is back with another episode from behind the walls of the Virginia Department of Corrections. In this one, he recounts a wild tale a man named Scott told him recently. Was Scott’s story real or just talk? You’ll have to listen and judge for yourself.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

In this episode, Randy introduces You Ain’t Beyond Saving, a raw, unfiltered self-help memoir straight from the heart of a man who’s done decades in the darkest corners of the system. Half life story, half lifeline, this book is Randy’s personal message to anyone who’s ever felt lost, broken, or forgotten. The launch date is locked for October 14th on Amazon Print and Kindle.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

Randy’s back with a raw one from deep inside the walls. In this episode, he breaks down the chaos erupting across the prison, knives getting snatched up, drugs turning up, cell phones getting found, and the whole compound getting tossed into lockdown after lockdown. It’s tension, paranoia, and survival 24/7. But in the middle of all that, Randy drops something major, after more than twenty years riding solo, he’s finally getting a new celly. He opens up about what that means for him, the nerves, the mindset, and how he’s adjusting to the biggest change in his living situation in decades. This one’s heavy, honest, and straight from the heart of the yard.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

In this one, Randy speaks his mind, raw and unfiltered, about the Virginia Parole Board. After decades behind bars, watching the system grind people down, he’s got a few things to say,and he’s not holding back. If you’ve ever wondered why so many deserving people get denied parole, or why the whole process feels rigged, Randy’s about to break it down for you from the inside. This ain’t no feel-good episode. It’s truth-telling time.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

We heard you loud and clear. Some of y’all been saying Randy’s too deep, too thoughtful, not enough wild prison stories. Fair. That’s not really what he’s about—but today, we’re bending the rules.This episode is pure ear candy. Just a straight-up, jaw-dropping, no-you-didn’t kinda tale from the inside. A crazy prison story featuring Q, a dude Randy knows personally from the yard. No morals, no message, just raw storytelling the way you asked for it.The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.In this powerful episode, Randy sits down with Jesse Crosson, a motivational speaker, content creator, and the founder of the Second Chancer Foundation. After serving nearly two decades behind bars, Jesse turned his life around and is now dedicated to criminal justice reform, second chances, and giving hope to others who are still inside.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.In this episode of the podcast, Randy reflects on two stories that are currently in the news, one involving child abuse and the other a death at Wallens Ridge.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.We’re back with another episode! We’ve been getting lots of voicemails and questions lately, so in this episode, Randy answers your questions.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.Skype—the phone system that Randy uses to record calls—was shut down in May. This week on the podcast, we’ll find out what the future holds for the Red Onion Randy Podcast and if we’ve found a solution to keep things going. This is the good news episode, so tune in to see what life is like in the Virginia DOC for Randy and what’s to come.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.Due to the reccent state-wide lockdown, Randy wasn’t able to record anything new for you this week—but don’t worry, we’ve got something very special lined up.I’m sure everyone knows the story of Joe Exotic from the 2019 Netflix show Tiger King. Joe is currently serving 22 years in a federal prison for a murder-for-hire plot against his rival, Carole Baskin. This week, we’ve got Joe on the Red Onion Randy Podcast! You don’t want to miss this one.Hope you enjoy the episode, and we’ll be back next week with a classic piece featuring Randy!💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.After more than a week on a Virginia-wide prison lockdown, Randy is back and recording again. In this episode, he breaks down what led to the statewide lockdown, how it affected daily life inside, and what it felt like to be cut off from the outside world. Raw, real, and straight from the source—this is life behind bars, unfiltered.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.Today on the podcast, I wanted to share one of our Patreon-exclusive episodes with our regular audience.If you haven’t joined us on Patreon yet—what are you waiting for? We’ve got exclusive episodes, All episodes 100% commercial free, behind-the-scenes content, a free copy of Randy’s prison cookbook, and early access to every episode a full week before anyone else gets it.So if you’ve been thinking about supporting the show, now’s the time. Join us on Patreon and be part of what we’re building.https://patreon.com/PrisonAudioIn this Patreon-exclusive episode, Randy and Mike break down the psychology of fear, the frustration of dealing with idiots in the system, and why the DOC should legalize and sell weed inside instead of letting the black market flood the yards with K2 and poison. It’s blunt talk about real issues from someone who’s lived it.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio

The Red Onion Randy Podcast, Featuring the life and times of Randall Via, currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery.Hey everyone — quick update:Buckingham Correctional Center has been on lockdown, which means Randy hasn’t been able to use the phones or do video visits. He’s okay — he didn’t do anything wrong — but when the prison locks down, everything shuts down: calls, visits, movement. So unfortunately, we haven’t been able to record anything new with him.But we didn’t want to leave you hanging.So today we’ve got a special episode featuring Ashley Johnigan, who’s currently serving a life sentence at California Institution for Women. Ashley shares what life looks like from her perspective — including her thoughts on transgender inmates being transferred into women’s prisons, and what her mornings are like behind the walls.This episode’s a little different from our usual, but we’d love to know what you think:Should we feature more incarcerated voices when Randy’s temporarily locked down?Drop a comment and let us know.Thanks for riding with us — more Randy episodes coming as soon as he’s back on the line.💥 Get More on Patreon:Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:An extended conversation about this episode between Randy and his producerAll 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-freeAn early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon🎙️ Credits:Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall ViaField & Development Producer: Paulie DoyleSound and Video Editing by Prison Audio