Tin Can Phone began with Armon interviewing 12 currently incarcerated men from inside Columbia River Correctional Institution for a book project called Great American Stories. In the process of their interviews with Armon, each participant came to understand something about themselves that they had not thought of before, leaving a singular mark on the project that could only come from their insights. Queaz and Joseph were interviewed by Armon early on in the project, and began to hang around for other interviews. Incrementally becoming more involved with the project, the resulting conversations were unlike those they were having with the guys on their block, or anywhere in life before.The three remained in contact with Michael as they began to parole. At the beginning of the pandemic the Tin Can Phone team started recording episodes online over Zoom. The content that was recorded in 2018 inside prison remains in bondage awaiting approval for use.