She Grew Up on Alcatraz. Here’s What It Was Really Like

Note: We’re resharing this conversation as Saturday marks the anniversary of Alcatraz Island closing as a federal prison in 1963. This interview originally aired in May 2025, when President Donald Trump publicly floated the idea of reopening the island. Could Alcatraz reopen today? And what was it really like to live there? In this episode of SmartHER News, Jenna sits down with Jolene Babyak — one of the leading experts on Alcatraz Island — who actually grew up on “The Rock.” Jolene shares what most people don’t know about Alcatraz: families lived there, kids took boats to school, and daily life looked very different than the movies suggest. Together, they explore: How Alcatraz evolved from a military fortress to America’s most infamous federal prison What life was like for the 75 children who lived on the island The truth about escape attempts, including the famous 1962 breakout Why Alcatraz closed—and whether it could ever reopen The surprising role of mental illness in the prison system Why Alcatraz should be viewed as a “site of conscience,” not just a tourist attraction Jolene also shares how an unexpected job loss led her to become one of the foremost historians on Alcatraz — proof that sometimes, it really does work out. If you’ve ever wondered what really happened on Alcatraz — or why it still captures our attention — this conversation offers a deeper, more nuanced look. 00:00 Could Alcatraz Reopen 00:36 From Fortress to Prison 02:00 How Her Family Moved In 05:02 Daily Life on the Rock 07:22 Prisoners and Escape Attempts 12:10 The 1962 Escape Night 14:45 Water Sewage and Supplies 18:00 Becoming an Alcatraz Historian 20:55 Who Went to Alcatraz 23:13 Capone and Famous Inmates 25:26 Was Alcatraz Effective 26:54 Why It Wont Reopen 29:49 Alcatraz as a Site of Conscience 31:46 Changing Minds and Farewell Jolene Babyak: http://jolenebabyakauthor.com/ Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines? Here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/ge... Shop our gear! https://smarthernews.com/shop/ Instagram:   / smarthernews   Website: https://smarthernews.com/