Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison

Some 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 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, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

It'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, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

When 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 capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Some 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 Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

The 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 1,214 years in Wallens Ridge State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy’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. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Murder, 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. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy 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 produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

In 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 State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy 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 Randy meets some students and answers their questions.

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, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

The 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 Red Onion State Prison for capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy 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 Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Frustration 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 capital murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

In 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.
 

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, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy 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, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

A 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 Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

If 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. Field and development producer, Paulie "Guinness" Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Showering 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 murder. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie "Guinness" Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

Randy 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. Directed and produced by Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie "Guinness" Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.

In 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 Michael Garbutt. Field and development producer, Paulie "Guinness" Doyle. Website and podcast design by Nishant Pandav. Sound editing and music by Julia Jooyeon Park. Title music by Joni Park and Julia Jooyeon Park.