Cellblocks to Mountaintops

May 16 2024 26 ep. 14 mins 3

Cellblocks to Mountaintops Podcast artwork

A podcast and video series that examines how America addresses violence, defines justice and seeks accountability through the journey of one man. Years after committing a horrific crime, Sterling Cunio fully faces the ripple effects of the harm he caused. Through the power of artistic expression and human connections and inspired by restorative justice principles, he forges a remarkable personal transformation while serving decades in prison.

This story is a poignant reminder that hope, healing, and redemption are never beyond reach, even in the darkest of places.

To see our companion video series and find out more about the show, go to our website at CellblockstoMountaintops.com

Society & Culture

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Bonus Episode: Behind the Scenes

May 16 2024 40 mins

Take a look behind the scenes as Director Lydia B. Smith and Host Phil Stockton discuss the making of Cellblocks to Mountaintops. They chat about how this project came together, Lydia's original vision, and Phil's experiences teaching theater in prisons. They also delve into the importance of the arts in prison and the ways in which the current criminal justice system fails both

Making Amends - Episode 1 "If I Die Tomorrow, What Legacy Do I Have?"

May 08 2024 28 mins

We are happy to introduce the Making Amends podcast which was recorded at Oregon State Penitentiary around the same time, we started filming Cellblocks to Mountaintops and features some of the same people - most notably Anthony Pickens. Listen to Episode 1of Making Amends to hear even more about Anthony’s journey of redemption. Violence was a constant in the lives of both Antho

Video 8B - Antonio Sánchez Performs “The Bucket”

Apr 23 2024 5 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com Watch Thana Alexa and four-time Grammy award-winning musician, Antonio Sánchez perform “The Bucket” with a surprise guest of honor at the Jack Revue jazz club in Portland, Oregon. In Episode 8, A Path Forward, hear about the many twis

Video 8A – An Act of Mercy

Apr 20 2024 5 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com Watch Sterling receive startling news as his legal battles come to a head. Sterling delivers a passionate performance of his poem, “Society Imagined.” Tune into Episode 8, A Path Forward, to hear how Sterling’s fate unfolds.

A Path Forward

Apr 17 2024 36 mins

Sterling’s new circumstances bring both joy and challenges in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Meanwhile, legal advocates, community groups, and nonprofit organizations actively work to create alternatives to incarceration by facilitating opportunities for mediation, accountability, and transformation. Correction: At the end of the episode, we mention the East Bay Arts Alliance. T

Video 7B – Yellow Fire Hydrant

Apr 16 2024 5 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com See Anthony’s life take a sharp turn that dramatically impacts his wife and family. To hear where Anthony’s sharp turn went, listen to Episode 7, Gasping for Air.

Video 7A - The Decision

Apr 12 2024 3 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com Sterling finally receives his answer from the Oregon Board of Parole. His attorneys discuss the impact of this ruling and how Sterling’s juvenile status at the time of the crime leads to shocking repercussions. Hear how and why the par

Gasping for Air

Apr 10 2024 30 mins

Everything stopped in 2020 with the global Covid-19 pandemic, but in Oregon, another catastrophe was underway… unprecedented wildfires. Prisons across the state were forced to evacuate, adding even more strain to an outdated infrastructure. The twists and turns of Sterling’s legal battles finally come to a head. Watch Sterling’s attorneys and loved ones react to the results

Video 6B – The Rehearsal

Apr 09 2024 3 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com Hear from Sterling’s legal team about the intricacies of his case while they prepare for his prison term hearing. The team focuses on how best to present Sterling’s story of rehabilitation to the parole board. In Episode 6, Standards o

Video 6A – Fresh Hope

Apr 06 2024 3 mins

This episode is a video. If your podcast player does not support videos, please go to our website to watch: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com Sterling shares a potentially life-altering announcement with his peers. The news evokes emotional reactions as Sterling expresses both hope and apprehension to the news as well as his concern for the effect it may have on his victim’s fam