Locked In with Ian Bick

Steven Johnson, former Latin Kings chapter president turned podcaster and speaker, shares his journey from gang life to prison and ultimately walking away. He recounts childhood instability, rising in the gang, violent incidents and transfers, the shock of dropping his colors behind bars, and how family and steady work rebuilt his path to a lawful life.

Michael Bishop, a survivor of Massachusetts juvenile detention who endured foster care and abuse, tells his lived story. He recounts childhood instability, violent restraints by staff, and life inside secure units. He also discusses recovery, therapy, and returning to the community after years behind locked doors.

Matt Frey, a licensed therapist who spent seven years working inside Rikers Island and now runs a private practice. He gives a raw inside look at daily life behind bars. Topics include extreme violence and suicidality, how mental health services are used for protection, the trauma of staff and inmates, and the long personal toll of that work.

Dylan Syer, entrepreneur and former celebrity personal shopper who faced high-profile fraud and identity-theft accusations, tells his story. He discusses the police raid, time at Rikers Island, and how a weekend-sentence arrangement shaped his comeback. Short, candid tales about luxury fashion, the collapse of his business, and rebuilding life after public fallout.

Andrew Gautreau, a former correctional officer who became a convicted offender, tells a raw life story of addiction, working at Angola prison, getting arrested in uniform, and later finding long-term sobriety. He recounts training at Angola, hiding drug use on the job, cycling through jails and a work-release program, surviving chaotic federal dorms, and now helping others in recovery.

Corey Simek, a former Texas inmate who rebuilt his life through real estate, music, and entrepreneurship. He recounts surviving state jails and prisons, navigating violent prison politics and racial rules, and the programs and hustles that helped him reinvent himself. The conversation covers brutal realities behind bars, the dehumanizing release process, and the path to legitimate success after prison.

Jim Cole, a retired Supervisory Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and global expert on child exploitation and victim identification, sits down to reveal the untold truth about fighting child predators and digital crime. With nearly 35 years in law enforcement, Jim led major initiatives including founding the HSI Victim Identification Program, co-founding Project VIC to help identify and rescue thousands of children worldwide, and serving as Chair of the INTERPOL Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children. He now serves as Chief of Law Enforcement Enterprise & Technology at Operation Light Shine and partners with law enforcement, technology providers, and nonprofits to innovate how child exploitation investigations are handled. In this heart-breaking conversation with Ian Bick, Jim shares inside stories from real cases, the mental and emotional toll of this work, and why putting victims first changes everything in the fight against online predators. _____________________________________________ #TrueCrime #CrimeStories #UndercoverWork #LawEnforcement #CriminalInvestigation #DarkSideOfTheJob #RealLifeStories #FormerAgent _____________________________________________ Thank you to GOLD DROP SELTZERS for sponsoring this episode: Head to https://www.thedryoak.com/ and use promo code LOCKEDIN at checkout for 10% off your order. _____________________________________________ Connect with Jim Cole: http://www.operationlightshine.org _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 The Emotional Toll of Law Enforcement Work 01:10 Meet Jim Cole: Career in Law Enforcement 03:39 Childhood, Family, Military Service, and Values 10:57 Becoming a Police Officer and Early Training 16:13 Patrol Work, Street Policing, and Daily Challenges 20:07 Joining the Detective Division 23:48 Crime on Tribal Lands, Limited Resources, and Jurisdiction 28:34 Narcotics Investigations, Task Forces, and Drug Crimes 34:37 Shocking Violent Crimes and Career-Defining Cases 41:08 Federal Partnerships and Complex Investigations 46:27 Technology, the Private Sector, and a Shift in Perspective 50:33 Transitioning to Federal Law Enforcement 54:00 First Child Exploitation Investigations 59:29 Victim-Centered Cases and a Turning Point in His Career 01:04:43 Understanding Offenders and the Scope of Child Exploitation 01:10:53 Child Exploitation Statistics, Tips, and Resource Gaps 01:15:47 Law Enforcement Funding, Staffing, and Hard Realities 01:23:17 Types of Offenders, Grooming Tactics, and Warning Signs 01:29:02 Human Trafficking: Myths vs. Reality 01:35:06 Casework, Prevention, and the Role of Parents 01:40:13 Female Offenders and Rare but Shocking Cases 01:46:09 Mental Health, Burnout, and the Toughest Investigations 01:53:10 Retirement, Advocacy, and Final Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sonny Von Cleveland opens up about serving nearly two decades in prison and the harsh realities of being young, white, and unprepared for prison life. Pulled into violence and survival politics at an early age, Sonny breaks down what it really takes to make it through long prison sentences, the fear, the mistakes, and the lessons learned the hard way behind bars. He speaks candidly about navigating race, identity, and power inside prison, how incarceration forced him to confront his past, and the mindset shift that ultimately saved his life. Today, Sonny has transformed his story into purpose as a speaker, mentor, and community leader, proving that even the darkest chapters don’t have to define how the story ends. _____________________________________________ #PrisonSurvival #MichiganPrison #PrisonLife #TrueCrime #LifeInPrison #PrisonStories #SurvivingPrison #incarceration _____________________________________________ Connect with Sonny Von Cleveland: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonnyvonclevelandofficial/ Website: https://www.sonnyvoncleveland.com/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 First Days in Prison: Shock, Fear, and Survival 02:00 Growing Up in the Midwest Before Prison 06:40 Family Trauma, Abuse, and a Broken Childhood 12:00 Surviving Abuse and Learning to Cope 17:00 Running Away, Street Life, and Early Crime 21:00 The Road to Prison: Charges, Conviction, and Sentencing 24:40 Entering Adult Prison for the First Time 26:00 Prison Violence, Gangs, and Losing Innocence 31:30 Regret, Lost Youth, and Missed Chances 35:40 Solitary Confinement, System Failures, and Mental Survival 41:00 Release, Reoffending, and a Second Prison Sentence 46:00 Life After Release: Family Conflict, Crime, and Betrayal 52:00 Solitary Confinement, Transformation, and Forgiveness 59:00 Self-Reflection, Growth, and Mental Survival in Prison 01:03:00 Teaching Others, Service, and Finding Purpose Behind Bars 01:09:00 Leaving Gang Life and Choosing a Different Path 01:14:00 Reentry After Prison: Starting Over From Nothing 01:19:00 Using His Story to Help Others Avoid Prison 01:22:00 Final Advice, Redemption, and Life’s True Purpose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Savannah Chrisley opens up to Ian Bick about her upbringing and what it was like navigating her parents’ legal battles while living in the public eye. She walks through the trial process, the emotional toll of visiting her parents in prison, and the pressure of fighting for justice under constant scrutiny. Savannah also breaks down the long, exhausting road to securing a pardon — from advocacy and setbacks to finally getting her parents released — and how the entire experience reshaped her perspective on family, accountability, and resilience. _____________________________________________ #SavannahChrisley #TrueStories #PrisonReform #FamilyJustice #LifeAfterPrison #CelebrityInterview #RealLifeStories #youtubepodcast _____________________________________________ Thank you to WARBY PARKER for sponsoring this episode: Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription glasses at https://warbyparker.com/LOCKEDIN — using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad _____________________________________________ Connect with Savannah Chrisley: https://www.instagram.com/savannahchrisley/?hl=en _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Parents Facing Prison: Savannah’s Family Crisis Begins 05:05 Childhood, Family Values, and Life Before the Charges 13:00 Reality TV Fame, Public Scrutiny, and Career Shifts 19:46 Thrown Into the Justice System With No Preparation 27:00 Trial, Sentencing, and Claims of Injustice 33:10 Saying Goodbye Before Prison: Visits, Letters, and Pain 37:51 Carrying the Weight: Pressure, Responsibility, and Survival 41:43 Fighting for Freedom: Legal Appeals, Advocacy, and Hope 47:03 Coming Home: Family Reunited and Healing Begins 52:04 Lessons From Prison, Faith, and Moving Forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luis Gutierrez got pulled into California and Kansas gangs at a young age after a rough childhood that set him on a violent path. In this episode, Luis tells the full story of how a crime that resulted in the murder of his close friend led him to turn down an 11-year plea deal and receive life in prison, sending him into some of Kansas’ most brutal and dangerous maximum-security prisons. He shares raw, uncensored stories from inside those prisons, the violence he witnessed, and the mindset required to survive decades behind bars. Luis also opens up about the redemption that changed his life in prison, the steps he took to earn a real chance at freedom, and an unexpected love story after meeting a prison staff member who ultimately lost her job over their relationship. Today, Luis runs a successful nonprofit and tattoo shop, using his past to help others avoid the same mistakes and prove that even a life sentence doesn’t have to be the end of the story. _____________________________________________ #PrisonSurvival #KansasPrison #PrisonLife #TrueCrime #LifeInPrison #PrisonStories #SurvivingPrison #incarceration _____________________________________________ Thank you to WARBY PARKER for sponsoring this episode: Our listeners get 15% off plus free shipping when they buy two or more pairs of prescription glasses at https://warbyparker.com/LOCKEDIN — using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad _____________________________________________ Connect with Luis Gutierrez: http://www.redemptionanimalrescueks.com _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 First Days in Prison & Early Survival 01:11 Life After Prison: Redemption Inc, Second Chances & Animal Rescue 04:46 Childhood, Family, and the Roots of Trauma 09:30 Moving States, Gangs, and Juvenile Arrests 13:30 The Turning Point: Tragedy, Charges, and Sentencing 20:11 First Time in Prison: Violence, Fear, and Reality Setting In 28:42 Prison Politics, Gang Life, and How to Stay Alive 39:39 Solitary Confinement, Prison Mentors, and Learning to Adapt 48:47 Life in Segregation: Art, Mental Survival, and Trauma 59:39 Drugs in Prison, Relationships, and a Shift in Mindset 01:12:10 Prison Dog Programs, Redemption, and Meeting Melissa 01:23:53 Preparing for Freedom, Relapse Risks, and Setbacks 01:29:06 Facing the Parole Board and Fighting for a Second Chance 01:39:01 Life After Prison: Community Work, Business, and Giving Back 01:47:02 Family, Marriage, and Rebuilding Trust After Prison 01:51:01 Advice for At-Risk Youth and the Power of Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices