Cellblocks to Mountaintops
Cellblocks to MountaintopsA 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
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
Gasping for Air
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 Prisons across the state were forced to evacuate, adding even more strain to an outdated infrastructure.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 of the hearing in The Decision. See Anthony’s life take a sharp turn in Yellow Fire Hydrant.
Correction: Four prisons were evacuated to Oregon State Penitentiary in September of 2020 not three as mentioned in the podcast. Coffee Creek Correction Facility, a women’s prison also has an Intake Center which processes both men and women. The men from Coffee Creek Intake Center were evacuated to Oregon State Penitentiary.
To watch our companion videos, read the transcripts, and to see our complete show notes with media links, sources, and references please visit our website: www.cellblockstomountaintops.com
Featured in this episode:
Sterling Cunio
Karuna Thompson, Former Prison Chaplain and Victim Liaison at the Oregon Department of Corrections
Alleen Brown, Independent Investigative Reporter covering climate change and its impact on communities with a focus on prison populations
Ryan O’Connor, Criminal Defense Attorney
Cheryl Cunio
Professor Aliza Kaplan, Professor of Lawyering and Director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School.
Chloe Williams, Criminal Defense Attorney
Anthony Pickens
Companion Videos for this Episode:
Video 7A - The Decision
Video 7B - Yellow Fire Hydrant