American Hysteria The Last Prison Rodeo with Journalist Adam Mahoney
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Jun 2, 2025 In this episode, Adam Mahoney, a reporter at Capital B and author of 'The Wildest Show in the South,' unveils the shocking reality of the Angola prison rodeo, where inmates engage in perilous contests for cash. He delves into the dark legacy of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, originally a slave plantation, and discusses the exploitation and systemic injustices tied to this spectacle. Mahoney highlights the emotional connections forged through arts and crafts, contrasting cultural identities and the ethics of using incarcerated individuals as entertainers.
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Dangerous Rodeo Events
- Adam Mahoney attended the Angola Prison Rodeo and witnessed dangerous events like a man breaking his neck after falling off a horse.
- The rodeo includes banned and life-threatening contests, yet inmates risk their lives for small cash prizes.
Two Sides of the Rodeo
- The rodeo has two starkly different experiences: brutal events inside and a humanizing arts and crafts market outside.
- The market offers inmates rare social interaction and a modest financial lifeline, fostering meaningful connections.
Angola: Prison City and Economy
- Angola prison operates like an isolated city with housing and stores but profits heavily from inmate labor.
- Louisiana leads the U.S. in incarceration, forcing inmates to work for virtually no pay, reminiscent of past exploitative systems.