Red Onion Randy - Life in a Supermax Prison
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.
Episodes
August 7, 2025 • 18 mins
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 ...
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July 24, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
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July 17, 2025 • 19 mins
We heard you loud and clear. Some of y’all been saying Randy’s too deep, too thoughtful, not enough wild prison stories. Fair. That’s not really what he’s about—but today, we’re bending the rules.
This episode is pure ear candy. Just a straight-up, jaw-dropping, no-you-didn’t kinda tale from the inside. A crazy prison story featuring Q, a dude Randy knows personally from the yard. No morals, no message, just raw storytelling the way...
This episode is pure ear candy. Just a straight-up, jaw-dropping, no-you-didn’t kinda tale from the inside. A crazy prison story featuring Q, a dude Randy knows personally from the yard. No morals, no message, just raw storytelling the way...
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July 3, 2025 • 23 mins
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.
In this powerful episode, Randy sits down with Jesse Crosson, a motivational speaker, content creator, and the founder of the Second Chancer Foundation. After serving nearly two decades behind bars, Jesse turned his life around and is now dedicated to criminal justice reform, secon...
In this powerful episode, Randy sits down with Jesse Crosson, a motivational speaker, content creator, and the founder of the Second Chancer Foundation. After serving nearly two decades behind bars, Jesse turned his life around and is now dedicated to criminal justice reform, secon...
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June 26, 2025 • 17 mins
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.
In this episode of the podcast, Randy reflects on two stories that are currently in the news, one involving child abuse and the other a death at Wallens Ridge.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:
An extended conversation about t...
In this episode of the podcast, Randy reflects on two stories that are currently in the news, one involving child abuse and the other a death at Wallens Ridge.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:
An extended conversation about t...
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June 19, 2025 • 32 mins
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.
We’re back with another episode! We’ve been getting lots of voicemails and questions lately, so in this episode, Randy answers your questions.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:
An extended conversation about this episode betwe...
We’re back with another episode! We’ve been getting lots of voicemails and questions lately, so in this episode, Randy answers your questions.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:
An extended conversation about this episode betwe...
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June 12, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
Skype—the phone system that Randy uses to record calls—was shut down in May. This week on the podcast, we’ll find out what the future holds for the Red Onion Randy Podcast and if we’ve found a solution to keep things going. This is the good news episode, so tune in to see what life...
Skype—the phone system that Randy uses to record calls—was shut down in May. This week on the podcast, we’ll find out what the future holds for the Red Onion Randy Podcast and if we’ve found a solution to keep things going. This is the good news episode, so tune in to see what life...
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June 5, 2025 • 20 mins
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.
Due to the reccent state-wide lockdown, Randy wasn’t able to record anything new for you this week—but don’t worry, we’ve got something very special lined up.
I’m sure everyone knows the story of Joe Exotic from the 2019 Netflix show Tiger King. Joe is currently serving 22 years in ...
Due to the reccent state-wide lockdown, Randy wasn’t able to record anything new for you this week—but don’t worry, we’ve got something very special lined up.
I’m sure everyone knows the story of Joe Exotic from the 2019 Netflix show Tiger King. Joe is currently serving 22 years in ...
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May 29, 2025 • 20 mins
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.
After more than a week on a Virginia-wide prison lockdown, Randy is back and recording again. In this episode, he breaks down what led to the statewide lockdown, how it affected daily life inside, and what it felt like to be cut off from the outside world. Raw, real, and straight f...
After more than a week on a Virginia-wide prison lockdown, Randy is back and recording again. In this episode, he breaks down what led to the statewide lockdown, how it affected daily life inside, and what it felt like to be cut off from the outside world. Raw, real, and straight f...
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May 26, 2025 • 27 mins
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.
Today on the podcast, I wanted to share one of our Patreon-exclusive episodes with our regular audience.
If you haven’t joined us on Patreon yet—what are you waiting for? We’ve got exclusive episodes, All episodes 100% commercial free, behind-the-scenes content, a free copy of Randy...
Today on the podcast, I wanted to share one of our Patreon-exclusive episodes with our regular audience.
If you haven’t joined us on Patreon yet—what are you waiting for? We’ve got exclusive episodes, All episodes 100% commercial free, behind-the-scenes content, a free copy of Randy...
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May 26, 2025 • 20 mins
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.
Hey everyone — quick update:
Buckingham Correctional Center has been on lockdown, which means Randy hasn’t been able to use the phones or do video visits. He’s okay — he didn’t do anything wrong — but when the prison locks down, everything shuts down: calls, visits, movement. So unf...
Hey everyone — quick update:
Buckingham Correctional Center has been on lockdown, which means Randy hasn’t been able to use the phones or do video visits. He’s okay — he didn’t do anything wrong — but when the prison locks down, everything shuts down: calls, visits, movement. So unf...
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May 15, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
On today’s episode of the podcast, Randy responds to a question from one of his Patrons — Substack writer black sheep mom — who asked:
👉 “What have you seen in prison when it comes to mothers? The good, the bad, and everything in between?”
From phone calls that never come… to the ri...
On today’s episode of the podcast, Randy responds to a question from one of his Patrons — Substack writer black sheep mom — who asked:
👉 “What have you seen in prison when it comes to mothers? The good, the bad, and everything in between?”
From phone calls that never come… to the ri...
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May 8, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
After more than 25 years in solitary and maximum security, Randy has officially transferred to a Level 3 prison — Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia. In this episode, he shares what the first few weeks have been like adjusting to the new environment, the differences from Re...
After more than 25 years in solitary and maximum security, Randy has officially transferred to a Level 3 prison — Buckingham Correctional Center in Virginia. In this episode, he shares what the first few weeks have been like adjusting to the new environment, the differences from Re...
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May 1, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
He made it! After 25+ years behind the walls of Virginia’s toughest supermax prisons, Randy is officially out of Keen Mountain and now at Buckingham Correctional Center—a Level 3! In this episode, Randy breaks down the transfer process: the bus ride, the emotions, the differences ...
He made it! After 25+ years behind the walls of Virginia’s toughest supermax prisons, Randy is officially out of Keen Mountain and now at Buckingham Correctional Center—a Level 3! In this episode, Randy breaks down the transfer process: the bus ride, the emotions, the differences ...
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April 17, 2025 • 26 mins
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.
Today on the podcast, Randy shares a personal moment — his first in-person visit with his wife, Nicole. After years of connecting through letters and phone calls, this was the first time they sat across from each other face-to-face. Randy opens up about what that moment meant to h...
Today on the podcast, Randy shares a personal moment — his first in-person visit with his wife, Nicole. After years of connecting through letters and phone calls, this was the first time they sat across from each other face-to-face. Randy opens up about what that moment meant to h...
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April 10, 2025 • 20 mins
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.
Today on the podcast, we’re going back to our roots and talking prison drama. In this episode, Randy discusses some recent drama that happened in the pod and how he finds the humor in situations he can’t avoid.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive c...
Today on the podcast, we’re going back to our roots and talking prison drama. In this episode, Randy discusses some recent drama that happened in the pod and how he finds the humor in situations he can’t avoid.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive c...
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March 27, 2025 • 19 mins
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.
In this episode of Red Onion Randy, Randy explains a "use of force" incident that happened at a California men's prison in 2022.
Check out the full video on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5uH_2wrkR0&t=178s
to watch as Randy describes it in detail.
💥 Get More...
In this episode of Red Onion Randy, Randy explains a "use of force" incident that happened at a California men's prison in 2022.
Check out the full video on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5uH_2wrkR0&t=178s
to watch as Randy describes it in detail.
💥 Get More...
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March 20, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
After more than five years and 156 episodes, is this the end of Red Onion Randy?
Microsoft is shutting down Skype, which Randy uses to record his podcast and stay in touch with his friend overseas. With Skype gone, what does this mean for the future of the Red Onion Randy Podcast?
💥...
After more than five years and 156 episodes, is this the end of Red Onion Randy?
Microsoft is shutting down Skype, which Randy uses to record his podcast and stay in touch with his friend overseas. With Skype gone, what does this mean for the future of the Red Onion Randy Podcast?
💥...
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March 13, 2025 • 17 mins
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.
In this episode, Randy discusses the DOGE or the Department of Government Efficiency
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t forget to visit our Patreon for exclusive content! You’ll get:
In this episode, Randy discusses the DOGE or the Department of Government Efficiency
💥 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 podca...
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March 6, 2025 • 21 mins
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.
In this episode, Randy discusses the tragic case of Robert Brooks, who was beaten to death by correctional officers in New York State. Randy shares his thoughts on the harsh realities of the prison system and reflects on the need for justice and reform.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t ...
In this episode, Randy discusses the tragic case of Robert Brooks, who was beaten to death by correctional officers in New York State. Randy shares his thoughts on the harsh realities of the prison system and reflects on the need for justice and reform.
💥 Get More on Patreon:
Don’t ...
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