Women’s prison series headlines CBC Podcasts’ spring slate

CBC Podcasts has released details of its Spring 2021 slate, headlined by original series Life Jolt and A Death In Cryptoland, alongside new seasons of Other People’s Problems and Inappropriate Questions.

Life Jolt – prison slang for a life sentence – examines the lives of women navigating Canada’s correctional system. Debuting April 27, the production team behind the nine-episode series gained unprecedented access to Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, ON. Over more than two years, they followed women going into prison for the first time, lifers who have been there for years, and parolees as they left. The series tackles a wide range of issues including parenting behind bars, segregation, the over-representation of Indigenous women, addiction, trauma and the many obstacles of reintegration. The series is produced by radio producer and documentarian John Chipman alongside Danielle Carr, and is hosted by Rosemary Green, who served five years in the U.S. penal system, and is now an advocate for prison reform.  

A Death In Cryptoland, premiering May 25, is an investigative series about Gerald Cotten, the young CEO of Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange – QuadrigaCX – who is reported to have died while honeymooning in India. The six-part podcast dives into the crypto-tycoon’s secret past, his mysterious death, and an online sleuth’s obsession with uncovering the truth. The series is hosted by technology journalist Takara Small and produced by documentary producer Joan Webber and investigative journalist Enza Uda.  

“Life Jolt and A Death In Cryptoland are amazing examples of the rigorous investigative and storytelling talents of the teams who work tirelessly to bring our podcasts to life,” said Arif Noorani, Executive Producer of CBC Podcasts, in a release. “Both series take listeners deep inside different worlds: behind the walls of a women’s prison and into the shadows of the cryptocurrency underground. We’re pleased to bring these stories to audiences this spring, and to share the powerful and engaging insights on these top-of-mind topics with audiences in Canada and throughout the world.”

CBC Podcasts’ April/May lineup also features new seasons of Inappropriate Questions (Season 3; April 21) and Other People’s Problems (Season 3; May 18). Recurring series include weekday podcast Front Burner; Sickboy (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays); Pop Chat (Wednesdays); The Dose (Wednesdays); Party Lines (Thursdays); The Secret Life of Canada (twice monthly); and Chosen Family (bi-weekly Thursdays). 

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