Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison cover art

Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison

Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison

By: Michael Garbutt Randall Via Prison Audio
Listen for free

About this listen

 Randall Via-- Red Onion Randy -- was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 2001. In this podcast Randy reports on daily life in Red Onion State Prison, the supermax facility in the Virginia Appalachians where he is serving his sentence.Michael Garbutt, Randall Via, Prison Audio Art Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • ROR 172: You Ain’t Beyond Saving

    ROR 172: You Ain’t Beyond Saving
    Aug 14 2025
    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 producer
    All 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-free
    An early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon

    🎙️ Credits:
    Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall Via
    Field & Development Producer: Paulie Doyle
    Sound and Video Editing by Prison Audio
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
  • ROR 171: Knives, Drugs, and Cell Phones

    ROR 171: Knives, Drugs, and Cell Phones
    Aug 7 2025
    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 producer
    All 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-free
    An early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon

    🎙️ Credits:
    Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall Via
    Field & Development Producer: Paulie Doyle
    Sound and Video Editing by Prison Audio
    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • ROR 170: The Virginia Parole Board

    ROR 170: The Virginia Parole Board
    Jul 24 2025
    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 producer
    All 155 episodes of the podcast, 100% commercial-free
    An early copy of Randy’s upcoming cookbook, “Ya Gonna Eat That?”, launching soon on Amazon

    🎙️ Credits:
    Founded by Michael Garbutt and Randall Via
    Field & Development Producer: Paulie Doyle
    Sound and Video Editing by Prison Audio
    Show More Show Less
    21 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.