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Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Real stories from the people everyone else judges first. Locked In with Ian Bick is a podcast hosted by Ian Bick, a former federal inmate turned podcaster. The show features raw conversations with former inmates, recovering addicts, bikers, law enforcement officers, attorneys, investigators, and people who have lived through crime, prison, addiction, trauma, and redemption. Each episode dives deep into real prison stories, life inside prison, the criminal justice system, street life, addiction recovery, mental health, and what it takes to rebuild after incarceration. Guests share what really happens behind bars, how people survive prison, and the difficult road to second chances after hitting rock bottom. If you're interested in prison stories, criminal justice experiences, life after prison, and honest conversations with people who have lived through the darkest chapters of their lives, you'll feel at home here.

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  • 667 episodes
  • Updated Yesterday

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  • July 7 · 1 hr 25 min

    I Was a Florida Cop for 5 Years — Here's the Real Reason I Quit | Christie Leigh

    Christie Leigh grew up on a military base in a strict family — and the rebellion that followed eventually led her down the wrong path before she turned everything around in her late teens and decided she wanted to help people. She became a hospital tech. Then a cop in Florida. For five years Christie worked as a female police officer in Florida — one of the most challenging environments for a young woman in law enforcement. She shares what it was really like as a rookie female cop in her early twenties the way colleagues and superiors treated her the hardest calls she ever responded to her own experience with domestic violence and what dating inside the department really looks like. And then she made a decision that nobody expected. She quit after five years to pursue content creation full time — with her husband who was also a cop she met on the job. They built a platform together that generated hundreds of thousands of dollars and she never looked back. _____________________________________________ #florida #cops #model #police _____________________________________________ Connect with Christie Leigh: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christieleighhq/ Website: https://www.christieleighofficial.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/christieleighofficial?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=d565d0ec-92c0-4d6b-bbbd-08f0030f5057 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Female Police Officer Who Left the Badge for Content Creation — Christie's Full Story 00:43 Growing Up Between City and Country and the Environment That Shaped Everything 01:59 Her Strict Upbringing and the Family Dynamics That Defined Her Early Years 03:13 Teen Rebellion and the Family Struggles That Followed 05:07 Finding Direction After Her Toughest Teen Years 06:16 Working as a Hospital Tech and What That World Really Looked Like 08:11 How Her Medical Experience Prepared Her for Law Enforcement 09:28 Leaving a Troubled Crowd and What That Decision Really Required 10:42 The Perspective Shift That Led Her Toward Police Work 11:32 Improving Her Family Relationships and What That Process Looked Like 12:56 Her Transition Into Police Work and What Those First Days Required 14:03 Her Experience With Domestic Violence and What That Work Really Involved 16:35 Helping Others Through Similar Situations and What That Mission Meant 18:35 Becoming a Young Police Officer and What That World Really Looked Like 21:23 Training Hiring and the Prejudice She Experienced in Policing 25:49 Handling Low Pay and What Law Enforcement Benefits Really Look Like 29:30 Navigating the Toxic Work Environments That Define Too Many Departments 33:44 The Specific Challenges of Being a Female Officer Nobody Talks About 37:33 Her Early Job Challenges and the Harassment That Followed 44:17 Dating Relationships and the Department Drama That Came With Them 52:17 Responding to Dangerous Calls Without Backup and What That Really Felt Like 54:41 The Hardest and Most Emotional Calls That Still Stay With Her Today 57:31 Hard Arrests and What Officer Discretion Really Looks Like From the Inside 01:02:28 Meeting Her Husband and What Workplace Relationships in Law Enforcement Look Like 01:07:07 Leaving Policing for Content Creation and What That Decision Really Required 01:12:40 Reflecting on OnlyFans Her Regrets and the Advice She Wants Everyone to Hear 01:18:16 Her Transition Into Music and Social Media and What That Journey Required 01:22:01 Her Advice to Her Younger Self and Her Final Thoughts on Everything She Survived _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • July 6 · 2 hr 5 min

    I Was Arrested for Bank Fraud — Then Spent $500K on Lawyers & Beat the Feds | Ryan Bloom

    Ryan Bloom grew up in a good family in Oklahoma with dreams of becoming a dentist. Life took a different turn and he built an electrical contracting business instead. When the business lost a major contract he turned to a small bank for help — and got pulled into a high interest invoice lending situation that ultimately left him owing over $2 million and forced to declare bankruptcy. Ryan thought everything he was doing was completely legitimate. Then the feds came for him. He was indicted for bank fraud — and discovered the prosecutor had a conflict of interest with the bank. He fought back. He spent almost $500,000 in attorney fees. And he beat the federal government. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Ryan breaks down the complete story — from the business collapse to the bankruptcy to the federal indictment to the courtroom victory that cost him everything financially but gave him his freedom. _____________________________________________ #fraud #TrueCrime #arrest _____________________________________________ Connect with Ryan Bloom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rdbloom _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Early Life 01:52 Family Background and Childhood 03:23 College Dreams and Choosing a Career 04:44 Joining and Growing the Family Business 05:46 Family Infighting and Company's Downfall 06:34 New Start in Oil & Gas, Launching Own Business 07:46 Launching Pathfinder HDD and Business Pivot 08:22 Business Growth and Early Successes 09:14 Winning Big Contracts and Facing Setbacks 10:19 Losing Major Contracts and Transitioning to EV 11:16 Cash Flow Issues and Getting Hustled 13:06 Switching to Riskier Clients & Financial Mistakes 14:55 Survival Strategies and Bank Loans 16:46 Entering the Bank's Business Manager Program 19:09 Struggling with Loan Terms and Shrinking Cash Flow 23:32 Business Hits a Wall and Approaching Insolvency 26:00 Personal Consequences & Potential Bankruptcy 28:29 Winding Down Operations and Filing Bankruptcy 31:06 Bankruptcy Process and Asset Liquidation 35:51 Personal Impact and Family Resilience 39:03 Navigating Bankruptcy Exemptions 41:02 Life After Bankruptcy: Rebuilding 44:41 Facing Litigation and Bank's Aggressive Tactics 46:58 Legal Uncertainty and Approaching Discharge 50:02 Arrest by FBI and Shock of Indictment 54:41 Processing the Arrest and Immediate Aftermath 59:30 Public Reaction and Family Support 01:02:44 Beginning the Legal Battle 01:05:12 Prosecution's Case Building and Strange Accusations 01:10:01 Defending Against Fraud Allegations 01:17:01 Legal Strategy and Conflict of Interest 01:21:59 Superseding Indictment and Witness Tampering 01:27:53 Bank's Insurance Claim and Motivations for Prosecution 01:32:00 Preparing for Trial and Hiring Top Defense 01:39:13 Conflict of Interest, Disqualifying the Prosecutor 01:46:07 Case Dismissal and Pre-Trial Diversion 01:50:01 Financial Ruin and Emotional Toll 01:53:02 Life Lessons, Resilience, and Moving On 02:03:40 Advice on Integrity and Closing Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • July 5 · 2 hr 49 min

    I Was Moving Pounds of Weed in New York — Then I Ended Up In Prison | Jared Callahan

    Jared Callahan grew up in New York with a father who was an illegal marijuana grower — and when your dad runs the operation getting brought into the business isn't a choice it's a family tradition. By his teens Jared was already selling pot and by the time he was fully in he was moving pounds and running a serious flipping operation that brought in real money. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jared tells the complete story — from growing up with a marijuana growing father to getting into the business as a teenager to his first arrest and New York state prison sentence to getting out and trying to stay straight until a probation violation pulled him back in. Then the feds picked up the case and federal prison followed. _____________________________________________ #arrest #prison #truecrimestories _____________________________________________ Connect with Jared Callahan: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BeDSQfkAZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Teen Who Discovered His Dad's Drug Operation — Then Built His Own Empire — Full Story 01:28 How He First Discovered What His Father Was Really Running 03:54 Getting Drawn Into the Drug World as a Teenager and What That Really Looked Like 05:50 His First Deals and the Friendships That Changed Everything 08:40 The Escalation From Small Time to Major Player and What That Required 13:03 How His Brother Got Pulled In and the Family Impact That Followed 18:24 Street Life and the Near Death Encounters That Should Have Changed Everything 25:03 His Reflections on the Consequences He Watched Pile Up Around Him 32:27 Losing His Savings the Family Fallout and What Kept Him Going Anyway 38:54 Stepping Up Operations and What Moving to That Level Really Involved 46:42 His First Arrest and What Entering New York State Prison Really Felt Like 01:01:11 Life Inside New York State Prison and What Surviving It Really Required 01:17:01 Getting Out and the Parole Struggles That Defined Life After His First Sentence 01:37:57 Going Back to the Streets and How the Federal System Started Closing In 01:47:57 Moving Serious Weight and What Operating at That Level Really Looked Like 02:03:31 The Feds Closing In and the Deal Gone Wrong That Changed Everything 02:10:32 The Federal Raid and What Facing Major Charges Really Felt Like 02:18:09 The Toughest Decision of His Life — Snitching Loyalty and Survival in Prison 02:35:41 Living With That Decision and What That Weight Really Does to a Person 02:42:03 His Release His Redemption and What Giving Back Actually Looks Like 02:48:02 The Lessons He Carries and What He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • July 2 · 2 hr 20 min

    I Survived Combat in Iraq — Then the Feds Sent Me to Prison | Jeremy Harrell

    Jeremy Harrell is a United States Army combat veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom suffered mental health and brain injuries from combat received a 70% plus Individual Unemployability disability rating from the VA and spent years battling PTSD depression and sleeplessness. In 2018 he started a private Facebook page to help fellow veterans. In 2019 he incorporated Veterans Club a faith based nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans overcome PTSD traumatic brain injuries substance abuse and homelessness. He was an unpaid volunteer. He received no salary. In 2024 the Biden DOJ convicted him of theft of government funds for receiving VA disability benefits while serving as an unpaid volunteer CEO. In December 2024 he was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of home confinement. He surrendered to federal prison in Ashland Kentucky on January 28 2025. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jeremy tells the complete story — from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom to the combat injuries that ended his military career to building Veterans Club from a Facebook page into a nationally recognized nonprofit to the Biden DOJ investigation that he believes was politically motivated to what federal prison was really like for a combat veteran chaplain who was there for volunteering. _____________________________________________ #prison #veteran #truecrimestories _____________________________________________ Connect with Jeremy Harrell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremy_w_harrell_official/ X: https://x.com/JeremyWHarrell Website: https://veteransclubinc.org/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Combat Veteran Who Built a Nonprofit — Then Got Sent to Federal Prison — Jeremy's Full Story 00:36 His Difficult Childhood and the Family Dynamics That Shaped Everything 03:40 His Relationship With His Father and the Family Cycles That Defined His Early Years 07:12 His Mother's Struggles and the Family Hardship That Followed 08:19 His Early Passions and What Drove Him Toward a Life of Service 10:54 Choosing a Positive Path Despite Everything Working Against Him 13:54 Joining the Military in 1999 and What That Decision Really Meant 15:54 Boot Camp — the Expectations and the Reality That Followed 18:16 Graduating Boot Camp and the Transition to Advanced Training 23:21 The Sense of Purpose He Found After Boot Camp 25:01 His Deployment After 9/11 and What Heading to Iraq Really Looked Like 27:37 Life and Work Inside Iraq Detention Centers and What That World Required 29:56 The Prisoners the Conditions and the Lessons He Learned From Iraq 33:41 The Key Lessons From Combat and the Life Long Bonds That Followed 37:23 Returning Home — the Reentry Struggles and the PTSD Nobody Prepared Him For 43:31 Coping Relationships and What Seeking Help After Combat Really Looked Like 49:01 Post Military Life — UPS Banking and the Career Struggles That Followed 53:35 Medical Retirement and the Birth of His Veteran Nonprofit 55:02 Building a Successful Veteran Nonprofit and What That Mission Really Required 56:57 The Federal Indictment — the Accusations and the Confusion That Followed 01:00:01 The Legal Fight and the Federal Trial Challenges That Defined His Case 01:07:13 The Trial the Sentencing and the Aftermath That Changed Everything 01:17:34 Entering Federal Prison and What Those First Days Really Required 01:23:41 Life in Prison — His Adjustment and How He Continued Serving Others Inside 01:36:12 The Halfway House and the Complex Prison Release Process 01:44:51 His Post Prison Life and the Pursuit of Clemency That Continues 01:52:16 Continuing the Fight — His Legal Battles and Advocacy Work 02:10:15 The Lessons He Learned the Silver Linings He Found and His Hope for the Future 02:14:49 His Impact on Veterans and the Final Reflections He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • July 1 · 1 hr 18 min

    I Was Addicted to Robbing Banks — Then Got 18 Years in New York State Prison | Tommy "Big Fatts" Sanders

    Tommy "Big Fatts" Sanders grew up in Niagara Falls New York — and by the time he was 6 years old his mother had been killed. His father was in prison. What followed was a childhood spent in group homes juvie and living with prostitutes — and an education in the streets that taught him how to rob stores and banks before most kids had their driver's license. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Tommy tells the complete story — the childhood that shaped everything the addiction to robbing that took over his early 20s the bank and store spree that sent him on the run and the 18.5 year New York State Prison sentence that finally stopped him. He opens up about what surviving New York State Prison really looked like and what it finally took to turn his life completely around. _____________________________________________ #bankrobbery #prison #truecrimecommunity _____________________________________________ Connect with Tommy "Big Fatts" Sanders: Book: https://www.amazon.com/My-Pen-Pushes-T-Sanders-ebook/dp/B07J181DBW _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Niagara Falls Bank Robber Who Refused to Snitch — Full Story 01:32 Growing Up in Niagara Falls and the Environment That Shaped Everything 03:44 Losing His Mother and the Early Trauma That Changed the Direction of His Life 05:51 His Father's Prison Story and the Family Dynamics That Defined His Childhood 07:39 His First Steps Into Crime and What That World Really Looked Like 09:39 Life on the Streets and the Early Robberies That Started the Escalation 12:12 School Years and His Attempts to Join the Army That Could Have Changed Everything 14:29 The Cycle of the Streets and the Family Influence That Kept Pulling Him Back 17:36 Living in Group Homes and the Environment That Surrounded Him 20:07 The Transition to Robberies and What Really Motivated Those Decisions 23:13 The Robbery Spree and the Failed Attempts at a Normal Life That Followed 27:04 The Bank Robbery Details and What Life on the Run Really Looked Like 31:11 Life as a Fugitive and the Criminal Addiction That Kept Him Going 34:20 His Capture the Charges and Why He Refused to Snitch 37:37 His Prison Sentence and the Transfers Between Facilities 42:58 Adapting to Prison Life and What Surviving the Violence Really Required 48:18 Navigating Gangs and Prison Relationships From the Inside 53:32 Maintaining Family Bonds From Inside Prison and What That Required 56:41 His Personal Growth in Prison and What Writing a Book Really Meant 01:00:18 His Release From Prison and the Reentry Challenges That Followed 01:03:08 Rebuilding Family Connections After Prison and What That Process Required 01:05:49 The Addiction of Robbery and the Mental Challenges That Come With It 01:09:02 Facing Temptation and What Choosing a New Life Actually Required 01:13:02 His Reflections His Regrets and the Message He Wants Every Young Person to Hear 01:14:13 His Current Life — Music Writing and Community Work 01:16:00 The SNUG Program and What Giving Back to the Community Really Looks Like 01:18:09 His Final Thoughts and Closing Message _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 30 · 1 hr 21 min

    I Was a New York Bloods Leader — Then Did 12 Years in Prison | James Pitt

    James Pitt grew up in Rockland County New York without his mother in the picture — raised by his single father alongside two siblings while watching his dad's health deteriorate throughout his childhood. The streets filled the void. He first joined the Crips before switching to the Bloods and eventually rising to become a Blood gang leader in New York. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, James tells the complete story — from growing up in Rockland County to juvenile detention at 15 to an attempted murder charge against a rival gang leader that resulted in two years county time to surviving two separate assassination attempts during his set's civil war to to a 2012 gun possession arrest where one of his own turned on him to a 10 year sentence to being pulled back on kidnapping and robbery charges five years in after a DNA match to facing persistent violent felony charges of 18 to life to being sentenced to 14 years concurrent and finally walking out on May 20 2024 after 12 years inside. _____________________________________________ #gangleader #blood #truecrimecommunity #prison _____________________________________________ Connect with James Pitt: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/american_felon_tv_/ Website: https://www.americanfelontv.com/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Prison-Zoology-archetypes-survival-systems/dp/B0GZT34MJX _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 New York Bloods Leader Survived Assassination Attempts — Full Story 02:40 Growing Up Without His Mother and the Void That Created 05:19 His Father's Impact and the Morals That Shaped His Early Years 07:47 School Life and the First Signs of Trouble 13:36 Joining the Crips Then Switching to the Bloods 18:32 The Escalating Street Violence That Defined His Teenage Years 23:24 The Gang Wars and School Conflicts That Followed Him Everywhere 31:52 His Early Arrests and What Juvenile Detention Really Looked Like 39:10 The Streets Robberies and What Cycling Through Juvie Really Required 45:51 The Attempted Murder Case That Changed Everything 53:01 Jail Time and the Prison Mindset He Had to Develop 59:10 Prison Life and the Blood Politics That Governed Everything Inside 01:06:21 The Lessons Education and the Turning Point That Changed Direction 01:14:00 His Release and What Rebuilding Life Actually Required 01:17:10 American Felon and What Building Entrepreneurship After Prison Looked Like 01:18:48 His Book His Advice and His Reflections on Everything He Survived 01:20:36 His Final Thoughts and Closing Message _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 29 · 1 hr 21 min

    I Was a Gangster Disciple — Then I Went To Prison | Pastor Michael Miano

    Michael Miano grew up with nothing — a mother addicted to drugs a father who wasn't in the picture and a childhood spent bouncing between family homes. He found the family he was looking for in the Gangster Disciples and quickly rose to becoming a recruiter for one of America's most notorious street gangs. In and out of jail from a young age — an attempted firebombing in New York finally put him away for 3 years. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Pastor Michael Miano tells the complete story of how prison became the turning point that changed everything — how he found his life's purpose behind bars and what it took to build a completely new life on the other side. From gang recruiter to pastor — this is one of the most dramatic redemption stories we've ever told on this show. _____________________________________________ #gangster #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife _____________________________________________ Connect with Pastor Michael Miano: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastor.mike.miano/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmiano Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B007XI7Y1A _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From Gang Life to Pastor — The Complete Story 03:00 Growing Up on Long Island — the Home Life and Aspirations That Shaped Everything 07:00 Family Dynamics and Sibling Relationships That Defined His Early Years 10:00 The Pivotal Childhood Moments That Pushed Him Toward Gang Life 14:00 His First Encounters With Gang Life and What That World Really Looked Like 17:00 Inside Gang Recruitment and the Early Activities Nobody Talks About 23:00 Arrests School Struggles and the Double Life He Was Living 29:00 The Escalating Violence and Legal Troubles That Defined That Chapter 35:00 His Prison Sentence — Facing Reality and What Loyalty Really Meant Inside 39:00 Life Inside Prison — the Survival Tactics and Reflection That Changed Everything 45:00 Searching for Identity — Tattoos Politics and What Prison Life Really Looks Like 53:00 The Turning Point — How He Went From Gang Life to Complete Transformation 01:00:00 Reintegrating — His Plans for Life After Prison and What That Required 01:06:00 Returning Home — Finding Work and the New Beginnings That Followed 01:10:00 Building a New Life — Jobs Faith and the Ministry That Gave Him Purpose 01:17:00 Becoming a Pastor and What Giving Back to His Community Really Looks Like 01:20:00 His Mindset His Reflections and the Advice He Wants the Next Generation to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 28 · 1 hr 45 min

    I Spent 10 Years as a Massachusetts State Trooper — Here's the Cases That Still Haunt Me | Tony Bova

    Tony Bova always felt different growing up — and the path to becoming a Massachusetts State Trooper was anything but straight. After getting rejected from law enforcement multiple times he became a Boston paramedic first before finally breaking through to the Massachusetts State Police. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Tony opens up about everything — the early days on the job the first calls that hit different why traffic stops and construction sites are genuinely some of the most dangerous situations a trooper faces and what moving into homicide and death investigations really looks like. He shares the cases and calls that will never leave him and opens up about something most law enforcement stories never address honestly — that the hardest parts of his career weren't the job itself but his personal life. After 10 years he medically retired following an injury and has been processing everything that came with it ever since. _____________________________________________ #cops #truecrimecommunity #lawenforcement _____________________________________________ Connect with Tony Bova: https://www.instagram.com/tonyjbova/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Tony Bova: Journey to Law Enforcement 02:00 Growing Up: Family, Culture, & Early Struggles 08:00 Education Challenges & Early Career Choices 11:00 Pursuing Law Enforcement: Barriers & Rejections 17:00 Paramedic Detour & Boston EMS 21:00 Finally Breaking Through: State Police Academy 25:00 Changing Culture in Law Enforcement 33:00 First Patrol Experiences & Stress 37:00 Responding to Major Calls & Homicide Scenes 42:00 Staying Calm Under Pressure 49:00 Getting Older in the Job & Life Experience 01:01:00 Traffic Stops, Crashes, & Public Safety 01:13:00 Transition Into Investigations Work 01:17:00 Inside Homicide Investigations 01:24:00 Personal Impact of the Job & Home Life Balance 01:32:00 Mental Health, Growth & Overcoming Challenges 01:39:00 Leaving the Force & New Direction 01:41:00 Coaching, Relationships, & Lessons Learned _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 25 · 1 hr 31 min

    I Was a Paramedic Who Cooked Meth — Then Got 35 Years in Federal Prison | Kevin Christian

    Kevin Christian spent 12 years saving lives as a paramedic and firefighter in Missouri — responding to crime scenes accidents and emergencies that most people never have to witness. When the money stopped being enough he made a decision that changed everything. He learned to cook meth. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Kevin tells the complete story — from his paramedic days and the devastating crime scenes that shaped him to building a meth cooking and trafficking operation that made him thousands a week. When the cops came the feds picked up the case and Kevin refused to rat on anyone. That loyalty cost him 35 years in federal prison. He shares what the federal prison system looked like from the inside through the 1990s all the way to his early release in 2020 — the prison hustle the food the commissary how the system changed over three decades the politics and what rising to shot caller of the Missouri car actually required. This is one of the most complete and honest federal prison stories we have ever told on this show. _____________________________________________ #walterwhite #prisonlife #truecrimecommunity #shotcaller _____________________________________________ Thank you to BLUEPRINT & MARS MEN for sponsoring this episode: Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Paramedic Who Cooked Meth and Got 35 Years in Federal Prison — Full Story 03:00 His Early Life and the Paramedic Career That Nobody Expected to End This Way 09:00 The Appeal and Reality of Making Meth and What Drew Him Into That World 14:30 Building a Full Meth Operation and the Lifestyle That Came With It 19:00 How Law Enforcement and the Feds Closed In and What That Process Really Looked Like 25:30 The Arrest the Sentencing and What Entering the Federal Prison System Really Felt Like 32:00 The Life and Politics Inside Federal Prison That Govern Absolutely Everything 38:30 The Hustles Contraband and Survival Tactics That Defined His Time Inside 46:00 Prison Food Commissary and How Prison Changed Dramatically Over the Years 54:30 The Violence Contraband and Shifting Norms That Defined Different Eras Inside 01:02:00 Reflecting on the Years Lost and What Reentry to Society Really Looked Like 01:10:00 Getting Out and Adjusting to a Modern World That Moved On Without Him 01:17:00 Rebuilding His Life Family and Identity After Decades Behind Bars 01:24:00 The Biggest Lessons He Carries and What He Wants Everyone to Take Away _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 24 · 1 hr 27 min

    I Smuggled $100,000 in Cash on Planes — Then Got Sent to Prison for Drug Trafficking | Jordan Myers

    Jordan Myers grew up in upstate New York with a good family — but she was always the troublemaker. When she left for Florida in her 20s and started working in the nightlife industry she met people who changed the direction of her life completely. She was recruited to smuggle drug money on planes from Florida to California — starting at $30,000 cash and eventually carrying $100,000 at a time. California became her home and her operation grew. She went from carrying cash to trafficking drugs herself — starting with weed before working her way up to harder substances. When the feds came for her in a conspiracy ring she was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. She spent 15 months in an Arizona federal women's prison camp rode Con Air and navigated a legal process most people never see from the inside. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jordan tells the complete story — and shares what happened when she got out in 2026 and her prison photos went viral on social media. _____________________________________________ #drugs #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife #viral _____________________________________________ Connect with Jordan Myers: https://www.instagram.com/jrdyhighroller?igsh=MTNzaG91cnNuZXdlNQ== _____________________________________________ Thank you to MARS MEN & BLUEPRINT for sponsoring this episode: Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 23 · 1 hr 44 min

    I Shot My Parole Officer — Then Spent 30 Years in Prison | Al Savage

    Al Savage grew up in Toledo, Ohio watching his alcoholic father beat his mother. That childhood trauma sent him toward drugs in his teens and a string of robberies and home invasions that put him in and out of juvenile detention and prison. After his first bid — instead of staying clean — he shot his parole officer. That decision cost him 17 years. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Al opens up about what nearly 30 years inside actually looked like — battling drug addiction for most of that time surviving some of America's most dangerous prisons and what it finally took to get sober and turn everything around. This is one of the most raw and honest conversations we've ever had on this show. _____________________________________________ #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife #redemption _____________________________________________ Thank you to BLUEPRINT & MARS MEN for sponsoring this episode: Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Shot His Parole Officer — Spent Decades in Prison — Al's Complete Story 03:40 The Resentment That Built Up From Childhood and How It Shaped Everything That Followed 07:00 The Early Warning Signs and the Downward Spiral That Nobody Could Stop 12:40 Family Struggles and the Survival Mindset That Defined His Early Years 20:40 His First Prison Stint and the Escalation That Followed Getting Out 27:10 The Day He Shot His Parole Officer and What Led to That Moment 32:30 Life on the Run After Shooting His Parole Officer and the Additional Time That Followed 41:30 The Cycles of Addiction and Incarceration That Kept Pulling Him Back 47:40 The Turning Point That Finally Started Him Toward Recovery 53:00 The Life Changes the Work and the Growth That Defined His Transformation 01:01:30 Spirituality and What Redemption Actually Required After Everything He Did 01:08:50 The Lessons From Prison Life That He Carries With Him Every Single Day 01:15:40 His Honest Reflections on Regret and the Growth That Came From Facing Everything 01:23:00 Giving Back and What Hope for Others Really Looks Like in Practice 01:33:00 What Living a Meaningful Life Today Actually Requires After Everything He Survived 01:42:00 His Final Thoughts on Hope Recovery and the Message He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 22 · 1 hr 53 min

    I Faced the Death Penalty — Then Spent 30 Years in Prison | Roger Aletras

    Roger Aletras grew up in New York — and by 16 years old he was already robbing people at gunpoint. What followed was a criminal career that escalated from armed robbery to working with organized crime running jewel heists across New York. When the feds came for him on a gun charge it was only the beginning. A murder during a drug deal in Vermont ultimately sent him to federal prison where he spent over 30 years inside some of America's most dangerous facilities. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Roger opens up about the complete arc of his criminal life — from his first gun robbery at 16 to the jewel heists to the murder that changed everything. He shares what life inside prison really looked like as someone connected to organized crime — the politics the power structures and the stories nobody has ever heard. And he talks about what 30 years behind bars does to a person and what life looks like on the other side. _____________________________________________ #organizedcrime #truecrimecommunity #prisonlife _____________________________________________ Thank you to MARS MEN & BLUEPRINT for sponsoring this episode: Mars Men: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com/ _____________________________________________ Blueprint: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off + free shipping at https://blueprint.bryanjohnson.com/ by using code LOCKEDIN at checkout. #Blueprint #ad _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Armed Robber Who Faced the Death Penalty — Roger's Complete Story 00:28 His Early Childhood Broken Home and the Environment That Set Everything in Motion 01:52 His First Crimes and the Juvenile Arrest That Started Everything 06:12 Life Inside Juvenile Detention and What That World Really Looked Like 14:24 Getting Caught Robbing a Gun Store and What That Moment Really Felt Like 20:00 Learning How to Be a Better Criminal Inside Prison and What That Education Looked Like 27:00 Prison Life and the Hard Realities That Defined His Early Years Inside 32:00 Getting Released Reoffending and What Getting Pulled Into Organized Crime Really Involved 41:00 Maximum Security at Green Haven — One of New York's Most Brutal Prisons 43:00 The Escalation From Theft to Armed Robbery and What Drove That Transition 47:00 Shootouts and Life on the Run — the Most Dangerous Chapter of His Criminal Career 54:00 Prison in New Jersey and the Culture That Governed Everything Inside 01:00:00 Prison Violence the Codes That Govern It and What Survival Actually Required 01:05:00 Armored Car Robberies and the Elevated Risks That Came With That World 01:11:00 The Transition to Federal Prison and What That Step Up Really Looked Like 01:18:00 Federal Prison Challenges and the Big Cases That Defined His Time Inside 01:26:00 Facing a Murder Case and the Death Penalty — the Moment Everything Almost Ended Forever 01:35:00 The Prison Transformation — Education Reflection and the Shift That Changed Everything 01:45:00 Release and What Starting Over After Everything He Survived Really Looked Like 01:50:00 His Regrets His Redemption and the Advice He Wants Everyone to Hear _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 21 · 2 hr

    I Was America's Biggest Illegal Bookie — Then Got Banned From Every Casino in Nevada | Mathew Bowyer Pt. 2

    Matthew Bowyer is back. He just got out of federal prison camp — and in Part 2 of his conversation with Ian Bick he's holding nothing back. Matthew opens up about what his nearly 6 months inside actually looked like — the stories nobody expected the prison politics the gambling economy behind bars and how he was labeled a snitch inside. Then the conversation shifts to what comes next. He owes nearly $10 million to the IRS with interest accruing at $60,000 every single month. He's been placed on Nevada's Black Book — banned from every casino in the state. He breaks down his biggest gambling swing ever how casino comps actually work the truth about counting cards why automatic shuffling tables hurt your odds and how to get a better edge at the casino. This is the most raw and revealing conversation Matthew has ever had. _____________________________________________ #casino #truecrimecommunity #gambling _____________________________________________ Thank you to NOCD for sponsoring this episode: If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started at https://www.treatmyocd.com/ _____________________________________________ Watch Part 1 With Mathew Bowyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-U0P85OuwI _____________________________________________ Connect with Mathew Bowyer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathewbowyer5/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MathewBowyer5 Website: https://mathewbowyer.com/ Buy His Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLHM4GJZ?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4MK75VR7J921G59H32J0&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4MK75VR7J921G59H32J0&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_4MK75VR7J921G59H32J0&bestFormat=true&csmig=1 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 America's Biggest Illegal Bookie Just Got Out of Federal Prison — Matthew's Full Story Part 2 02:00 Adjusting to Life After Federal Prison and What That Transition Really Looked Like 04:41 Preparing for Self Surrender and What the Days Before Prison Really Felt Like 07:52 His First Day in Federal Prison and What Nobody Prepares You For 12:12 Navigating Prison Politics and Cars — How It Really Works From the Inside 16:00 Prison Culture and What Settling In as America's Biggest Illegal Bookie Actually Required 24:34 Daily Life Jobs and the Relationships That Defined His Time Inside Federal Prison 32:00 The First Days Shock and the Emotional Impact Nobody Talks About Publicly 39:00 Family Guilt and What Maintaining Relationships From Inside Federal Prison Really Looks Like 44:00 Contraband Phones and the Prison Economy That Governs Everything Behind Bars 54:00 Prison Gambling and Bookmaking — America's Biggest Illegal Bookie Inside Federal Prison 01:01:00 Drug Use Vice and Discipline Behind Bars — What Most People Never Hear About 01:10:00 Prison Tablets and Technology — How Modernization Is Changing Federal Prison Life 01:16:00 Nevada's Black Book — What Being Banned From Every Casino in the State Really Means 01:22:00 Owing Nearly $10 Million to the IRS With $60K Interest Accruing Every Single Month 01:29:00 His Honest Reflections on Gambling the Regrets He Carries and the Lessons That Changed Everything 01:43:00 Casino Strategies and the Discipline That Separates Winners From Everyone Else 01:55:00 The Lessons He Learned and What Finding Peace After Federal Prison Really Required 01:59:00 His Final Message on Second Chances Advice and the Mindset That Got Him Through Everything _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 18 · 1 hr 34 min

    I Tried to Rob a Bank — Then Ended Up in a Texas Prison | Steven Trevino

    Steven Trevino grew up battling opiate and pill addiction — and when the money ran out he made a desperate decision that changed everything. He tried to rob a bank. Then a civilian. He got caught by state police and then the feds — and ended up spending over three years in Texas state and federal prisons. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, he opens up about what surviving Texas prisons really looked like — race fights gang threats and being targeted for refusing to fall into prison politics. He rolled with the Paisas and navigated one of the most dangerous environments imaginable. Then came 20 days in segregation after a prison fight — and the spiritual awakening nobody saw coming. He came out of that cell a completely different person. Released in 2020 with nothing — no license no car and strict parole conditions — he built himself back from absolute zero. And he did it by starting a business called I Scoop Poop — your dog's business is his business. _____________________________________________ #BankRobbery #truecrimecommunity #prison _____________________________________________ Connect with Steven Trevino: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.trevino.3572/ Website: https://www.iscooppoopdfw.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: From Top Salesman to Federal Prison 03:35 How Sales Success Fueled My Addiction 05:55 Hooked on Prescription Pills 09:02 Heroin Addiction & My First Rehab 13:13 Rock Bottom: Losing My Job, Seizures & Crime 16:01 The Botched Robberies That Got Me Arrested 21:22 Facing Federal Charges & Real Prison Time 23:31 Surviving Racial Politics Behind Bars 26:06 Prison Fights & How I Made Peace 32:32 Solitary Confinement & Finding Faith 40:32 Divorce & Reinventing Myself in Prison 49:01 Parole, Transition & the Politics of Getting Out 58:01 Walking Out: Rebuilding Life From Zero 01:03:03 Starting My First Business After Prison 01:11:19 Love, Relationships & Redemption 01:14:47 Scaling the Business & Learning to Win 01:27:01 A Second Federal Case & the Lessons It Taught Me 01:29:29 The Biggest Lessons From It All 01:33:01 Faith, Contentment & Final Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 17 · 1 hr 39 min

    I Was a CIA Officer for 18 Years — Here's What They Never Tell You About the Job | Charles Finfrock

    Charles Finfrock grew up with one dream — to become a spy. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Charles takes us through the extraordinary journey it took to make that dream a reality — from the US Navy to the National Air Intelligence Center to 18 years as a Senior Operations Officer at the CIA living and working across Europe the Middle East and Asia. He pulls back the curtain on CIA interrogation tactics and how to spot when someone is lying — skills he used in some of the most sensitive operations conducted at the direction of the President. He opens up about what nobody talks about — leaving the CIA with no support no follow up and a wave of trauma that led to struggles with alcohol. He shares how he rebuilt — moving to Tesla where he built their Insider Threat Program before founding Vigilance his own intelligence and security firm in 2018. He also gets into the cyber security threats most people don't take seriously enough — what to actually worry about with AI the Nancy Guthrie case and accessing home video systems whether your phone is really listening to you and what corporations and individuals need to know to stay safe. _____________________________________________ #CIA #CyberSecurity #truecrimecommunity _____________________________________________ Connect with Charles Finfrock: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-finfrock-302021109 Website: https://vcci.io/charles-finfrock/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Former CIA Officer Finally Tells the Truth About What the Job Really Looks Like 02:27 His All American Upbringing and the Early Aspirations That Set Everything in Motion 05:27 His Path to the Military and What That Journey Really Looked Like From the Beginning 09:00 Military Boot Camp SEAL Ambitions and the Realities Nobody Prepares You For 13:10 From SEAL Training to Navy Law Enforcement — the Unexpected Path That Changed Everything 16:18 His First Assignments in Bahrain and the Early Lessons That Defined His Career 19:40 Developing the Investigation and Interrogation Skills That Would Define His CIA Career 23:09 Moving Beyond the Navy — Education and Setting His Sights on the CIA 27:27 Getting Into Intelligence — the Student Years Mentors and Internships That Opened the Door 32:09 Joining the CIA — the Preparation the Culture and What Public Perception Gets Completely Wrong 38:00 The Impact of 9/11 on His Training and How That Moment Changed Everything About the Job 43:24 His First Field Assignments as a CIA Officer and What That World Really Looked Like 47:00 The Reality of the Job — the Early Excitement and the Daily Grind Nobody Talks About 51:40 Living Undercover — the Psychological Difficulty of Secrets and Hidden Identity 54:52 The Interagency Relationships and CIA Ethics That Defined How the Job Really Works 59:41 Career Longevity and What the Transition From CIA to Civilian Life Actually Required 01:03:40 The Mental Health Struggles and Bureaucratic Disconnect Nobody in Intelligence Talks About 01:09:01 Coping After CIA Service — the Reinvention and Finding New Purpose That Followed 01:14:11 Corporate Security and Insider Threats — What Life After the CIA Really Looks Like 01:20:31 The Tech Threat — Privacy Data and What Everyone Needs to Know About Everyday Security 01:32:00 Digital Forensics Data Deletion and What Your Car Knows About You That You Don't 01:36:07 The Life Lessons and Advice for Success He Learned From a CIA Career 01:38:53 His Final Reflections and What He Wants Everyone to Take Away From His Complete Story _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 16 · 1 hr 44 min

    I Was a Soccer Mom — Then I Got 32 Felonies | Lara Love Hardin

    Lara Love Hardin had the perfect cul-de-sac life: a million-dollar home, kids, the soccer-mom routine. What no one knew was that she and her husband were funding a heroin addiction by stealing their neighbors' credit cards. When the police finally knocked, she was charged with dozens of felonies and became inmate S32179. In this conversation, Lara takes us inside her descent into opioid addiction, what her time in county jail was like and the unlikely path that took her from a jail cell to ghostwriting New York Times bestsellers and an Oprah's Book Club pick for her own memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love. We talk addiction, shame, the criminal justice system, second chances, and how she rebuilt a life most people thought was over. _____________________________________________ #addictionrecovery #TrueCrime #secondchances _____________________________________________ Connect with Lara Love Hardin: Website: https://www.laralovehardin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laralovehardin/?hl=en Book: https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Mama-Love-Stealing-ebook/dp/B0BPDNW33W/ref=books_amazonstores_desktop_mfs_author_smart_catalog_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=NMLe6&content-id=amzn1.sym.aec507cb-142c-4f68-9ae5-803b8e7b33f1&pf_rd_p=aec507cb-142c-4f68-9ae5-803b8e7b33f1&pf_rd_r=136-6178201-4449817&pd_rd_wg=GRZoL&pd_rd_r=3432d7e9-c686-4577-8237-d731c18fd71a _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Laura Love Harden's Story 00:30 Her Childhood and Upbringing 01:45 Escaping Through Books and Education 03:42 Family Secrets No One Talked About 06:07 Trying to Fit In During High School 07:00 College and a Fresh Start 08:48 Marriage, Motherhood & Quiet Struggles 09:54 The First Painkillers 11:02 The Hidden Pattern of Family Addiction 13:45 Fighting Pill Addiction—and Denial 16:26 Sobriety, Remarriage & New Beginnings 17:41 The Day She Found Out: Heroin Relapse 20:08 The Rapid Downfall Into Crime 22:15 What Daily Life as an Addict Was Really Like 24:50 How She Justified the Crimes 27:02 The Arrest That Broke the Family Apart 31:15 First Days in Jail 36:33 A Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars 41:03 The Legal System and Family Fallout 47:00 The Plea Deal & Gender Disparities in Sentencing 53:13 Motherhood, Shame & the Community's Reaction 01:00:02 Life After Jail: Rebuilding From Zero 01:11:20 Starting Over: A Career in Literary Agency 01:20:28 Facing Stigma & Earning Redemption 01:26:20 Advocacy and Supporting Incarcerated Women 01:33:01 Writing the Modern Memoir 01:38:18 Regrets, Lessons & Parenting Reflections 01:41:45 What's Next: Fiction and TV _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 15 · 1 hr 27 min

    I Was in Prison With Mackenzie Shirilla — Here's What She Was Really Like | Kat Crowder

    Kat Crowder grew up in Alabama with an alcoholic father and started getting into trouble as a teenager — eventually getting sent to a troubled teen program that was supposed to help but couldn't prepare her for what came next. When she got out her father took his own life. That loss derailed everything. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Kat tells the complete story — from her teenage years spiraling into identity theft check fraud and in and out of Tennessee jails to eventually catching a case in Ohio and spending nearly a year inside an Ohio state prison. But what makes her story completely unique right now is who she was locked up with. Kat was in Ohio prison with Mackenzie Shirilla — the subject of the viral Netflix crash documentary — and she went viral for sharing what Mackenzie was really like inside. The Netflix documentary got it wrong. Kat was there. This is the complete unfiltered truth. _____________________________________________ #MackenzieShirilla #OhioPrison #truecrimecommunity _____________________________________________ Thank You To CASH APP For Sponsoring This Episode: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. _____________________________________________ Connect with Kat Crowder: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@boujeebehindbars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boujeebehindbars/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@boujeebehindbars _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 She Was Locked Up With Mackenzie Shirilla — Kat's Complete Story 02:30 Her Struggles at Home and the Teenage Turmoil That Started Everything 05:30 The Rebellion the Troubled Teen Program and the Family Tragedy That Changed Everything 09:30 What the Troubled Teen Program Was Really Like From the Inside 12:00 Coming Home to Find Her Dad Gone — Grief and the Coping Mechanisms That Followed 16:20 College Substance Abuse and the Escalating Behavior That Nobody Could Stop 19:30 The Legal Troubles That Started the Criminal Justice Cycle She Couldn't Break 24:30 Probation Drug Court and the Setbacks That Kept Setting Her Back 28:20 The Criminal Lifestyle and the Consequences That Finally Caught Up With Her 32:00 The High Speed Chase and What Jail Really Felt Like for the First Time 36:00 Getting Pregnant in Jail and the Turning Point That Changed How She Saw Everything 41:00 Sentencing Day and What Heading to Ohio State Prison Actually Felt Like 45:00 Her First Impressions of Ohio State Prison and What Nobody Prepares You For 47:40 What Women's Prison Is Really Like — The Truth Nobody Talks About Publicly 50:30 The Prison Programs That Kept Her Out of Trouble and What She Learned From Them 53:00 Being Locked Up With Mackenzie Shirilla — What She Was Really Like Inside 57:00 Prison Hierarchy Gossip and How Perceptions of Mackenzie Shifted Inside 01:00:00 Contraband Relationships and the Everyday Challenges of Ohio State Prison 01:05:00 Prison Hustles and Pen Pals — The Underground World Nobody On the Outside Sees 01:09:00 Ohio Prison Food Commissary Life and the Halfway House Transition 01:15:00 Coming Home — Reuniting With Family and What Moving Forward Really Looked Like 01:19:00 Why She Finally Decided to Share Her Story Online and What Happened Next 01:22:00 The Lessons She Learned and the Reflections That Changed How She Sees Everything 01:25:00 Rebuilding Family Bonds and Her Advice to Anyone Who Needs to Hear It 01:26:30 Her Final Words and the Message She Wants to Leave With Everyone Watching _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 14 · 1 hr 53 min

    I Hunted America's Most Wanted Fugitives as a US Marshal — Then the Agency Destroyed Me | Robert Ledogar

    Robert Ledogar spent over 30 years serving his country — first in the Navy then as a Supervisory Deputy US Marshal for the Eastern District of New York. He spent decades hunting down and capturing some of America's most wanted fugitives, transporting federal prisoners including El Chapo during his trial, and running some of the most dangerous operations the US Marshals Service has ever seen. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Bob pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like to hunt fugitives in New York City — the process the stories and the cases he'll never forget. He opens up about transporting El Chapo on Con Air and what that experience was really like. And then he tells the story nobody inside the agency wants told — how after 30 years of unblemished service he stood up for a female deputy marshal being harassed and assaulted by her own colleagues — and how the agency spent the next four and a half years trying to destroy him for it. Fired two months before retirement eligibility. He fought back. And in August 2021 — he finally won. _____________________________________________ #USMarshal #ElChapo #truecrimecommunity _____________________________________________ Thank You To CASH APP For Sponsoring This Episode: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. _____________________________________________ Connect with Robert Ledogar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ledogar-276277146 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 US Marshal Who Hunted Fugitives and Worked the El Chapo Case — Robert's Full Story 01:00 Growing Up in Queens and the Early Life That Led to Federal Law Enforcement 03:00 The Early Influences That Set Him on the Path to the Navy and Eventually the Marshals 06:00 Navy Service and What Desert Storm Really Looked Like From the Inside 08:00 The Investigative Work Overseas That Prepared Him for Everything That Followed 11:00 Transitioning Out of the Navy and What That Career Change Really Required 13:00 Joining the US Marshals Service and What That Process Actually Looked Like 15:00 Marshal Academy Training and the Early Days That Defined His Career 18:00 Learning to Track Fugitives and What That Education Really Looked Like 21:00 Task Forces and How His Responsibilities Expanded Into Major Operations 23:00 Working Big Cases and the Surveillance Tactics That Most People Never Hear About 26:00 The Most Memorable Fugitive Capture Stories From His Entire Career 29:00 The Challenges of Probation Violations and What That World Really Looks Like 32:00 Supervising Warrants and the Team Dynamics That Define the Job 35:00 The Realities and Risks of Arresting Fugitives That Nobody Talks About Publicly 38:00 Transporting Detainees and What the Court Logistics Process Really Involves 41:00 Bounty Hunters Escape Attempts and the Stories That Still Surprise Him 44:00 High Profile Cases and His Connection to the El Chapo Investigation 47:00 The Investigative Successes and Lessons That Defined His Career 50:00 Probation Halfway Houses and the Escape Attempts That Kept Him on His Toes 53:00 What Working With Different Agencies Actually Looks Like From the Inside 56:00 Serving Warrants in New York City and What Makes That Environment Unique 59:00 The Big Arrests That Required the Most Due Diligence and Preparation 01:02:00 Balancing Duty Family and Legacy After a Career Hunting America's Most Wanted 01:05:00 His Honest Reflections on the System and the Personal Lessons That Changed Everything _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 11 · 1 hr 36 min

    I Was a Border Patrol Agent for 18 Years — Here's What They Never Show You | Frank Vallejo

    Frank Vallejo grew up in Texas dreaming of serving his country. After six years as a police officer across two cities he was recruited to join the Border Patrol — and spent the next 18 years on the front lines of one of America's most complex and controversial assignments. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Frank pulls back the curtain on what border patrol work really looks like — from the human smuggling operations he dismantled to the major drug busts that defined his career. He breaks down exactly how smugglers operated and how agents spotted them, shares the heartbreaking stories from the job that never leave you, explains why the border wall actually increased security, and reveals how the catch and release policies of the early 2000s allowed millions of people into the country unchecked. This is the conversation about the border that nobody in the media is having. _____________________________________________ #BorderPatrol #TrueCrime #bordersecurity _____________________________________________ Thank you to RAYCON for sponsoring this episode: Upgrade your dad's everyday routine. Go to https://buyraycon.com/IANBICKOPEN to get 15% off. _____________________________________________ Connect with Frank Vallejo: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franciscovallejo544?igsh=MWU0ZzFzbzR3MTVzMA== Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Lines-Patrol-Betrayal-Enforcement-ebook/dp/B0GRPXBYP1 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction - Border Patrol Agent Interview 03:54 Frank's Early Life and Background 07:31 How to Become a Police Officer: First Jobs & Academy 14:49 Why Police Officers Switch Departments 21:27 Border Patrol Training: Academy & What to Expect 28:17 What Does Border Patrol Actually Do? Duties Explained 36:08 Day in the Life of a Border Patrol Agent 44:00 How Drug Smuggling Works at the Border 51:46 Border Patrol Chase & Pursuit Stories 58:28 Border Patrol Catch Rates & Community Impact 01:07:28 Drug Smuggling, Tip-Offs & Police Corruption 01:13:13 Border Patrol Policy Changes & Supervisor Roles 01:20:17 Does the Border Wall Work? Wall vs Technology 01:27:27 Emotional Toll & Public Misconceptions About Border Patrol 01:33:35 Career Reflections & Writing a Book 01:36:19 Closing & Where to Buy the Book _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  • June 10 · 1 hr 51 min

    I Was an Arizona Crip — A Home Invasion Led to 12 Years in Prison | Rahja Rose

    Rhaja Rose grew up in Arizona — raised by his mom and stepfather without his father in the picture. Despite a passion for football that could have taken him somewhere, he dropped out of high school and joined the Crips. A home invasion led to a murder charge that sent him to Arizona's prison system for 12 years. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Rhaja opens up about surviving some of Arizona's most violent prisons — the gangs the politics and the daily violence that defines life behind bars. But halfway through his sentence something shifted. He dialed in, earned a college degree from inside his cell, turned his life completely around and came home with a new purpose — becoming a tattoo artist and building a life nobody saw coming. _____________________________________________ #gang #TrueCrime #prison _____________________________________________ Thank You To CASH APP For Sponsoring This Episode: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. _____________________________________________ Connect with Rahja Rose: https://www.instagram.com/rahjarose/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Growing Up Broke: Raja Rose's Story Begins 03:00 The Family Struggles That Shaped Him 06:00 Big Dreams as a Kid 08:00 How Football Fell Apart 11:00 Too Much Pressure, Too Young 13:00 First Signs of Trouble 15:00 High School, Drugs, and Growing Up Fast 17:00 Pulled Deeper Into the Streets 20:00 Gang Life and a Family Falling Apart 24:00 The Home Invasion That Changed Everything 28:00 Arrested: The Interrogation Room 34:00 On the Run Before Prison 38:00 Inside Juvenile Detention and Prison Politics 46:00 The Plea Deal and Facing the Sentence 01:00:00 Surviving Prison: Fights, Politics, Transformation 01:08:00 The Books That Changed His Mind 01:16:00 Learning to Tattoo Behind Bars 01:26:00 Grief, Loss, and College in Prison 01:31:00 Finally Free: Life After Release 01:40:00 Relationships and Advice for Young People 01:46:00 Why He Left the Gang Life Behind 01:50:00 How to Break the Cycle for Good _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices