Anthony Ivy, 32, who had served 12 years in prison, was preparing for his early-morning release when his name came over the speaker on Monday.

He didn't hear it. Someone else told him.

A few hours later, he was getting a hearty reception in a parking lot across from the prison.

The crowd included his wife, Vivian Ivy, who picked him up; his cousin Mandrell Knight and instructors from the prison's Uncuffed program where Ivy participated. It teaches podcasting and DJ skills.

For those incarcerated, there was a limited audience until 2012, when journalists from KALW and the podcast Life of the Law began teaching radio workshops at San Quentin Prison.

In 2018, the program expanded to California State Prison, Solano with funding from the California Arts Council.

A year later, the Uncuffed podcast was launched, offering the ability to reach national and international audiences.

The podcasts included coverage of Covid-19 during the pandemic.

Last year, California State Prison, Solano launched a DJ program at California State Prison, Solano and the Uncuffed Playlist, California’s first music show hosted by incarcerated people and broadcast on public airwaves.

Recently, an Uncuffed audio celebration was held, offering those incarcerated to show family the new skills they were acquiring.

1. Gary Payton II greets fans during the Warriors 2022 Championship Parade in downtown San Francisco, Monday, June 20, 2022.

2. Members of the community line up to receive their vaccines during Touro University's 100th Mobile Vaccination Program clinic at Cooper Elementary School in Vallejo, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

3. Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers march to the Kaiser Permanente Outpatient Psychiatry building during a mental health strike in Vallejo, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.

4. Adrian Gonzalez, 11, receives his Covid-19 vaccination shot from Brynn Thayer during a Touro University Covid-19 Mobile Clinic at Crystal Middle School in Suisun City, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. 

5. Members of the Unique Hair float participate in the Fiesta Days Parade in Vacaville, Saturday, May 28, 2022.

6. Anekka Thomas holds a photograph of her daughter, Janon, in Downtown Suisun City, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Janon passed away a few months before the Solano College graduation and received her diploma posthumously. 

7. A Cal Fire airtanker makes a fire retardant drop on a portion of a four-alarm vegetation fire on Nelson Hill in Fairfield, Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Multiple agencies responded to the blaze that burned approximately 22 acres.

8. Emergency officials investigate the scene of a multi-vehicle accident along westbound Interstate-80 in between the Lagoon Valley Road and Manuel Campos Parkway exits, Thursday, July 21, 2022. After the vehicles collided they plowed through a fence and ended up on Lyon Road. At least two people were taken to nearby hospitals.

9. Neil Zarchin of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, dressed as a broccoli crown, high-fives Cameron Fultz, 5, of Granite Bay during Mascot Day at the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.

10. Participants make their way down Texas Street as an American flag is displayed on a storefront window during the Fairfield Veteran's Day Parade, Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. 

11. Steve Coleman, top, shows Ron Miller his new haircut during North Bay Stand Down at the Dixon May Fair, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.

12. Members of the Underpass Brass Band entertain the unhoused residents of People's Park in Berkeley amidst felled trees and destroyed construction equipment, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, construction began to build housing for UC Berkeley students, 25% of whom claim they do not live in Berkeley. After clashes with the police, demonstrators broke through the barriers, halted construction and reclaimed the park.

13. Damon Cooke gives produce to Antonio Nunez during a food giveaway at Mission Samoa in Fairfield, Wednesday, Sep. 21, 2022.

14. Mayli Rodriguez Ramirez, 9, waits with a pile of clothing and Thanksgiving food during the Mount Calvary Food Pantry Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.