Shows / Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Randall Via, known as Red Onion Randy, is currently incarcerated at Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia. From inside prison, Randy shares honest, unfiltered conversations about daily life behind bars, prison culture, personal growth, accountability, and survival.
The Red Onion Randy Podcast gives listeners a rare, first-hand look at incarceration through storytelling, reflection, and real talk from someone living it every day.
Episodes
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 144: A Conversation With My Podcast Producer
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 143: The Alaskan Avenger
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 142: Hunter Biden
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR:141 The Prison Library
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 140: Incentives
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 139: An Open Letter To Donald Trump
Today on the podcast, Randy shares what he would say to President-elect Donald Trump if given the chance. What would Randy do to turn the country around? Tune…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 138: Be A Man
Randall Via AKA, Red Onion Randy has been in prison since the age of 11. He is currently serving 1,214 years at Keen Mountain Correction Center. Welcome to his…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 137: Religion
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 136: Battles Worth Fighting
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Oakwood, Virginia for capital murder and armed…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 135: Wedding day in prison
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Oakwood, Virginia for capital murder and armed…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 134: Hate Mail
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Oakwood, Virginia for capital murder and armed…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 133: Chaos, Part 3
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 132: Chaos Part 2
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 131: Chaos Part 1
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 130: Prison Weight Pile
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 129: Nicole
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 128: Answering listener questions
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 127: Friends
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 126: Keen Mountain
We are back with a brand new episode! The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
ROR 125: Life Update December 2023
The Red Onion Randy Podcast features the life and times of Randall Via, who is currently serving 1,214 years in Virginia for capital murder and armed robbery…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Psychic Vampires
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Drugs in Prison
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Some Men Can Handle It. Some Can't.
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Praying for a Lockdown
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
A Glimpse of Freedom
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
If it’s not treated, it’s going to kill you
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Eight Crazy Days
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
New Pod
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Glad to Be Back
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Questions from Kyrgyzstan
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Transfer Pain
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
A Way Out of Prison
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Endless Frustration
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
An Emotional Pressure Cooker
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
A Cast of Characters
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
A Young Man in Trouble
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Writing to Prisoners
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Prison Showers
Showering in prison can be a very unpleasant and sometimes dangerous experience, as Randy explains, along with some good advice to reduce the risks…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Convict Conditioning
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Keeping Sane Inside
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…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Anger and Forgiveness
In this first episode of the new season, Randy responds to listener Mikayla's questions. How does he manage anger, she wants to know. Does solitary confinement…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
John Q. Smith and a Season Break
Randy responds to a question a listener recorded on our toll-free line (+) 1-888 524 1932, and announces a season break. As Randy explains, Red Onion Randy…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Pornography and Masturbation
Randy reflects on the addictive nature of masturbation and pornography and how they can damage our lives and those of our loved ones. Red Onion Randy features…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Shawshank Redemption - Fact or Fiction?
How realistic are movie representations of prison? Randy compares the fictions he's seen with the facts he knows so well.Documentary mentioned by Randy in the…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Hotline for Messages
In this 100th episode, Randy reflects on two years of podcasting and introduces a new toll-free phone message service for listeners (+) 1-888 524 1932…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Tattoo
Tattoos are an important part of the prison culture and economy. After describing how to make an inking gun and ink, Randy explains what his own tattoos mean…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Little John
Having experienced so much violence and death, Randy thought nothing could upset him. But when he sees his buddy Little John close to death, Randy finds…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Reputation
At Red Onion, where every inmate is either predator or prey, reputation is everything. Randy has a certain reputation that turns out to be a double-edged…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Gunning
Listener Advisory: This episode describes sexual practices in graphic detail, including the practice of "gunning".Red Onion Randy features the life and times…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Red Onion Then and Now Part 2
Times have changed at Red Onion, but not necessarily all for the better, as Randy explains.Red Onion Randy features the life and times of Randall Via, who is…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Will Smith v Chris Rock
This week everybody's talking about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. It's a big topic at Red Onion too, though as Randy explains, there's no doubt…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Betrayal
One of the most difficult things to deal with is betrayal. How do you deal with the emotional wound after someone betrays you?Red Onion Randy features the life…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Spiraling Down
After two weeks in lockdown Randy finds himself in a dark place of anxiety and frustration, pacing his cell like a caged animal. In this remarkably frank and…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Flower in the Wasteland
After more than twenty-five years in prison, thirteen of those years in solitary confinement, Randy's learned to have faith in himself and understand the…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Red Onion Then and Now: Part 1
In the decades Randy has spent at Red Onion, he's seen some big changes. In the first of two episodes charting these changes, Randy recalls the times the…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Republicans vs Democrats
For everyone at Red Onion-- both inmates and COs--it makes a big difference if the governor is a Republican or a Democrat.Red Onion Randy features the life and…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Randy in Quarantine
After Randy tests positive for Covid, he finds himself confined to a quarantine cell in his old pod. As Randy explains, serving time gives inmates a very…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Joe Giarratano
Joe Giarratano was on death row, convicted of a murder and rape he had not committed. Three days before his execution in 1991, his sentence was commuted to…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Sports - One of the More Beautiful Forms of Escapism
If you're doing time, watching sports games on TV can offer a welcome escape from prison life. But it can also complicate things, if you're not careful.Red…
- Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
Randy's Model Prison
Randy outlines his vision for how prisons could promote rehabilitation. For more information about the Enneagram Prison Project…