Fire Escape: Escape EP2

Fire Escape: Escape EP2

From Snap Judgment by Snap Judgment and PRX

April 23, 2026 · 31 min · Season 17 · Episode 18

About this episode

Amika shares her harrowing experience of isolation and the struggle to maintain connections while incarcerated.

Amika is thrown in the hole for forty days. Locked in a windowless cell, she can hear the women through the walls losing their sanity. To protect herself, Amika must shut down all connections with everyone she loves: her cellies, her mom, and even her kids. The world looks dark until she sees a small light that may illuminate a path to her new life when she gets a call from the firehouse. This episode contains strong language and graphic imagery. Sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you, Amika Mota, for sharing your story with us! Fire Escape , the 6-part series is dropping weekly on the Snap Judgment podcast feed. You can access the bonus episodes here . Fire Escape is a production of Snap Studios at KQED , made in partnership with Audible (previously Wondery). This series was created, written and produced by Anna Sussman. Snap Senior story editors: Mark Ristich and Nancy López. Director of Production: Marisa Dodge. Original music by Renzo Gorrio and Doug Stuart. Doug Stuart also created the theme song. Sound design and engineering by Miles Lassi. Audible senior story editor: Phyllis Fletcher. Development producer: Eliza Mills. Senior Producers: Clare Chambers, Lauren…

People in this episode

Hosts: Anna Sussman, Glynn Washington

Guest: Amika Mota

Topics covered

  • incarceration
  • mental health
  • family separation
  • personal struggle
  • redemption
  • storytelling

Keywords

  • incarceration
  • mental health
  • family
  • isolation
  • redemption
  • storytelling
  • strong language
  • graphic imagery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Snap Studios, KQED, Audible

Places: San Francisco

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