I’m a Florida Cop — Here’s the Dark Side of the Job | Danny Herrera
2026-03-19 | 2h 16 mins.
Danny Herrera joins Locked In with Ian Bick to share his journey from being a teacher to becoming a police officer in Florida and the life-changing moments he experienced on the job. Danny talks about the first real call he responded to that still haunts him today, the officer-involved shooting he survived, and the mental health challenges many police officers quietly deal with. He also explains why he chose to become a school resource officer, what it takes to keep kids safe in today’s world, and how he later trained to become a hostage negotiator. This episode dives into the reality of modern policing, the emotional toll of the job, and the lessons Danny has learned from some of the most intense moments of his career.
Thanks 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.
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Connect with Danny Herrera: https://www.instagram.com/officerdanny.safe?igsh=MXVmemo1NHJxMnYzMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/
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Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop
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Timestamps: 00:00 First Big Police Calls & Real-Life Chaos 00:56 Growing Up in a Cuban Family 04:07 Family Values, Discipline & Life Lessons 07:19 Teen Struggles & Early Life Challenges 13:02 Personal Loss That Changed Everything 16:22 From Odd Jobs to Becoming a Teacher 21:11 Leaving Teaching for a Career in Law Enforcement 24:33 How Teaching Helped Me Become a Better Cop 26:42 Police Academy Training & First Days 32:27 First Patrols & Field Training Experience 35:35 First Arrests & Gaining Confidence as a Cop 40:19 The Call That Changed Me Forever 48:55 PTSD, Trauma & Mental Health in Policing 54:00 Officer-Involved Shooting — What Really Happened 01:01:01 Breaking Down a Critical Incident 01:08:28 Policing with Empathy, Humor & Respect 01:14:08 Becoming a School Resource Officer (SRO) 01:21:20 School Safety, Lockdowns & Crisis Preparation 01:25:20 Warning Signs in At-Risk Youth 01:27:00 Parenting, Accountability & Society Today 01:33:00 Role Models, Family & Life Decisions 01:38:00 Becoming a Hostage Negotiator 01:41:47 Hostage Negotiation Tactics & Psychology 01:48:28 Real Hostage Situations & De-escalation 02:03:02 Lessons from a Career in Law Enforcement 02:08:39 The Human Side of Policing 02:11:06 Final Thoughts & Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Was Vermont’s Most Wanted Fugitive - Then I Went to Prison | Daniel Bonyai
2026-03-18 | 1h 45 mins.
Daniel Banyai became one of the most controversial figures in Vermont after building a firearms training facility that quickly drew national attention and legal battles with local authorities. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Banyai shares his side of the story, explaining how the training compound started, why it became the center of intense controversy, and how the situation eventually escalated into court fights, manhunts, and prison time. He talks about life on the run as one of Vermont’s most wanted fugitives, what really happened behind the headlines, and what it was like navigating the legal system while fighting for his freedom.
Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/
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Timestamps: 00:00 Media Sensation & “Most Wanted” Story 01:00 Early Life & Firearms Training Background 03:30 War on Terror & Private Military Contracting 07:00 Why Real-World Gun Training Matters 12:00 Building a Controversial Vermont Gun Compound 17:00 Permits, Regulations & Early Success 21:00 Community Backlash & Rising Controversy 28:00 Court Battles, Lawsuits & Environmental Issues 37:00 Permit Revoked & Ordered to Tear It Down 45:00 Defiance, Contempt & Becoming a Fugitive 52:00 Life on the Run & Media Attention 01:00:00 Arrest, Police Encounters & Corruption Claims 01:10:00 Inside Vermont Prison — Isolation & Survival 01:18:00 Prison Life, Respect & Daily Reality 01:27:00 The Justice System & Ongoing Legal Battles 01:32:00 Life Lessons, Advocacy & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Went to Prison — Then I Was Pardoned by President Trump | Angela Stanton-King
2026-03-17 | 1h 6 mins.
Angela Stanton-King opens up about growing up in Atlanta, becoming a mother at a young age, and how the pressure to survive pushed her into hustling in the streets. Her path eventually led to two prison sentences, including the emotional experience of giving birth while incarcerated. In this episode of the Locked In Podcast with Ian Bick, Angela shares how she rebuilt her life after prison by writing books, starting a nonprofit, and becoming a voice for criminal justice reform. Her journey of survival, redemption, and reinvention ultimately led to receiving a presidential pardon, changing the course of her life forever.
Thanks to Married By The Mob for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://www.marriedbythemob.com/ to grab your tickets today!
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Connect with Angela Stanton-King https://www.instagram.com/theangiestanton/
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/
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Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop
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Timestamps: 00:00 Growing Up, Family Background & Early Struggles 01:12 Childhood Rebellion & Teen Pregnancy 03:15 Dropping Out & Entering Street Life 06:10 Crime, Scams & First Arrests 09:00 First Prison Sentence & Life Behind Bars 13:00 Life After Prison & Reentry Struggles 15:15 Back to the Streets & Nonprofit Work 17:30 Second Prison Sentence & Motherhood in Prison 21:00 Loss, Grief & Family Separation 24:40 Federal Charges & Hitting Rock Bottom 27:00 Turning Point: Meeting Alveda King 28:35 Writing Her Story & Becoming an Advocate 33:35 Lawsuit, Vindication & Book Success 36:00 Rising Influence & Public Platform 38:40 Criminal Justice Reform & Trump Connection 42:54 Presidential Pardon & Redemption Story 46:01 How the Pardon Process Works 50:00 Advocacy, Recidivism & System Failures 53:15 Restitution & Barriers After Prison 56:00 Life After Prison & Public Judgment 01:00:00 Faith, Purpose & Advice for Others Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Was a Bitcoin Kingpin — Now I’ve Been on Home Confinement for 6+ Years Awaiting Trial | Joby Weeks
2026-03-16 | 1h 6 mins.
Joby Weeks was once a major figure in the early days of Bitcoin, building a massive cryptocurrency business during the wild west of crypto. But after federal investigators targeted his operation, his life changed overnight. In this episode of the Locked In Podcast, Joby reveals how he ended up trapped on home confinement for more than six years while still awaiting trial on federal charges. He breaks down the Bitcoin boom, the investigation that shut everything down, and what it’s like living under strict government restrictions for years without a resolution to his case.
Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/
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Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop
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Timestamps: 00:00 Arrested by Federal Agents – The BitClub Case 01:00 Six Years on House Arrest 03:00 What Life Is Like on Home Confinement 08:00 Early Life and Family Background 13:00 Becoming an Entrepreneur 18:00 Manatech Business Success & Giving Back 22:00 Discovering Bitcoin and Early Crypto Investing 26:00 Building the BitClub Crypto Mining Empire 31:00 Political Activism and Cannabis Legalization 36:00 The Liberty Dollar & Ron Paul Movement 41:00 Bitcoin Mining, Data Centers & Crypto Expansion 45:00 Federal Indictment and Missing Bitcoin Allegations 50:00 Years in Legal Limbo on House Arrest 54:00 Fighting the Federal Case – Lawsuits & Plea Deals 01:00:00 Faith, Reflection, and Waiting for Freedom 01:02:00 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Was a D1 College Quarterback — Then Got 65 Years in Texas Prison | Damon West
2026-03-15 | 1h 33 mins.
Damon West was a Division 1 college quarterback with a promising future ahead of him, but a growing meth addiction sent his life into a downward spiral that ultimately led to a 65-year sentence in the Texas prison system. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Damon shares the shocking story of how drugs, crime, and bad decisions destroyed his life and landed him behind bars. He opens up about the brutal reality of Texas prisons, the mistakes that cost him everything, and the mindset that helped him eventually turn his life around.
Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/
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Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop
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Timestamps: 00:00 First Time Facing Prison: The Moment Everything Changed 01:02 Troubled Childhood & The Downward Path to Crime 03:57 Addiction, Crime & Hitting Rock Bottom 05:01 Sentenced to Life: Entering the Texas Prison System 06:01 What to Expect in Prison & Advice Before Going In 07:40 The Coffee Bean Story That Changed My Life 10:12 Arriving at a Level 5 Maximum Security Prison 11:01 Earning Respect Inside Prison 12:52 Personal Growth Behind Bars 13:36 Finding Purpose Through Leadership in Prison 14:27 Helping Other Inmates: Tutoring & Giving Back 16:01 Changing Prison Culture & Bringing Hope Inside 19:09 The Parole Hearing That Changed Everything 22:01 Life After Prison: Adjusting to Freedom 24:02 Rebuilding Life After Release 26:11 Becoming a Motivational Speaker After Prison 29:00 How “The Coffee Bean” Message Went Global 32:01 The Hidden Struggles After Prison 35:41 From Prisoner to College Professor 38:31 Inside the Prison System: Staff & Reality 41:11 Prison Animal Programs & Rehabilitation 42:42 Why Prison Reform Matters 44:00 How Background & Environment Lead to Prison 46:34 The Real Causes of Crime 50:59 The Power of Hope in Prison 53:32 Prison Violence & Survival Tactics 56:42 Adjusting to Society After Prison 01:01:00 Ending Violence Inside Prisons 01:03:09 Keys to Success on Parole 01:07:00 Addiction Recovery After Prison 01:12:15 Losing Yourself & Finding Purpose Again 01:16:18 Advice to My Younger Self 01:23:28 Staying Accountable After Prison 01:26:43 Final Message: Hope & Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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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