In 2002, the Aboriginal broadcasters at 3CR Community Radio invited First Nations people on the “inside” to get behind the mic for the first NAIDOC live prison broadcast. Brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles gathered to tell their stories, sing their songs and build connections with each other. Messages to loved ones filled the airwaves, and people on the “outside” were finally listening to those “inside”.

In this first episode, we remember the early days of “Beyond the Bars” and reflect on what, or if, anything has changed in the last twenty years. We listen to poets, storytellers, singers, and activists, and reflect on the “prison economy” in so-called Australia.

In today’s episode, we hear from Paulie, Robbie, Bear, Angie, Erica, Rob, Guy and Kylie in prisons across Victoria, as well as “Beyond the Bars” broadcasters Freddy Norris, Gilla McGuinness, Viv Malo and Lisa Bellear.