Locked In with Ian Bick

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.

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#PrisonSurvival #KansasPrison #PrisonLife #TrueCrime #LifeInPrison #PrisonStories #SurvivingPrison #incarceration

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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

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Connect with Luis Gutierrez:
http://www.redemptionanimalrescueks.com

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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 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
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Kevin Donaldson, a retired New Jersey police officer, opens up about his traumatic upbringing, what drew him to law enforcement, and the career-defining call that ultimately broke him after responding to a domestic shooting incident — a moment that changed his life and led to his retirement in 2014. Kevin shares raw stories from the job that taught him about danger, mental strain, and resilience while battling post-traumatic stress, and he reveals how he turned his pain into purpose by becoming a mental health advocate, author, and motivational speaker dedicated to destigmatizing trauma and helping others find strength through struggle.

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#TrueCrime #LawEnforcement #PoliceStories #RealStories #JusticeSystem #BehindTheBadge #YouTubePodcast #crimedocumentary

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Thank you to FACTOR & PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode:
FACTOR: Head to https://factormeals.com/lockedin50off and use code lockedin50off to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. Offer only valid for new Factor customers with code and qualifying auto-renewing subscription purchase. Make healthier eating easy with Factor.

PRIZEPICKS: Head to https://factormeals.com/lockedin50off and use code lockedin50off to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. Offer only valid for new Factor customers with code and qualifying auto-renewing subscription purchase. Make healthier eating easy with Factor.

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Connect with Kevin Doladson:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realkevindonaldson/?hl=en
Website: https://www.realkevindonaldson.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

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Timestamps:
00:00 Policing Reality Check & Life on the Job
03:00 Kevin Donaldson’s Background & Why He Became a Cop
10:00 Growing Up in South Jersey & Early Struggles
16:00 Childhood Trauma, Turbulent Home Life & Lasting Impact
23:00 Breaking Family Ties & Destructive Coping Mechanisms
29:00 At a Crossroads: Trouble, College & Reinventing Himself
40:00 Early Adulthood: Teaching, Uncertainty & Searching for Purpose
47:00 Finding Structure and Identity Through Policing
53:00 Experiencing 9/11 as a Police Officer
56:00 Police Work Explained: The Good, the Bad & the Surreal
01:02:00 The Emotional Toll of Policing & Suppressed Trauma
01:09:00 The Officer-Involved Shooting That Changed Everything
01:17:00 Panic Attacks, Mental Health Collapse & Burnout
01:24:00 Losing His Identity & Hitting Rock Bottom
01:31:00 Therapy, Group Support & the Long Road to Healing
01:38:00 Life After Policing: Finding Purpose in Helping Others
01:45:00 Losing a Friend, Regret & Hard-Learned Lessons
01:55:00 Rebuilding Life & Transforming Trauma Into Growth
02:02:00 Healing, Justice Reform & Advocacy Work
02:12:00 Hope, Reflection & Final Takeaways
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Shawn Johnson shares his story of growing up in poverty in New Jersey, getting pulled into street life, and eventually joining the Bloods. He breaks down how a murder charge led to a 60-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison, what it took to survive nearly two decades behind bars, and how prison life reshaped him mentally and emotionally. Shawn also opens up about the long road to freedom, the legal fight for clemency, and what it meant to finally walk out of prison after 19 years, when he was granted clemency by the governor in 2025.

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#PrisonStories #TrueCrime #NewJerseyPrison #SurvivingPrison #LifeBehindBars #RealStories #CrimeDocumentary #youtubepodcast

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Thank you to PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode:
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

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Connect with Shawn Johnson:
YouTube: Shawn Robert Johnson
TikTok & Instagram: shawjohn1222

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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

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Timestamps:
00:00 Shawn’s Case Overview & What Led to 19 Years in Prison
02:22 Growing Up in New Jersey: Childhood & Early Influences
09:05 Juvenile Charges, Family Struggles & Early Warning Signs
18:00 From Trouble to the Streets: Choices That Changed Everything
24:45 The Incident, Arrest & Facing Serious Charges
36:13 Trial, Sentencing & Life in County Jail
43:41 Arriving in Prison: Survival, Routine & Reality Shock
48:01 Daily Life in Prison: Politics, Social Dynamics & Rules
55:04 Avoiding Trouble, Growing Up & Mental Survival
01:00:01 Appeals, Legal Setbacks & Holding Onto Hope
01:08:05 Rehabilitation, Programs & Preparing for Release
01:15:15 COVID in Prison & a Major Legal Turning Point
01:20:32 Clemency Explained: Application, Review & Approval
01:25:11 Coming Home After 19 Years in Prison
01:28:18 Life Lessons, Advice & Final Reflections
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Chase Chrisley opens up to Ian Bick about his upbringing, growing up on reality television, and how fame at a young age shaped his life and decisions. He talks about leaving college, the pressures of being in the public eye, and how his struggles with drinking escalated as his family faced intense legal battles. Chase shares what it was like watching his parents’ arrest, trial, and eventual prison sentence, and how visiting them behind bars took a heavy emotional toll that pushed his drinking even further. He also reflects on the moment everything changed — from his parents being pardoned to finally confronting his addiction, getting sober, and rebuilding his life with clarity and purpose.

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#ChaseChrisley #ChrisleyKnowsBest #RealityTV #CelebrityInterview #LifeAfterFame #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #truestory

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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.

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Connect with Chase Chrisley:
https://www.instagram.com/chasechrisley/?hl=en

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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

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Timestamps:
00:00 Drinking, Family Pressure & Life in the Spotlight
01:00 Chase Chrisley’s Childhood & Growing Up on Reality TV
05:00 Fame at a Young Age: Friends, School & Social Life
10:00 Early Partying, Alcohol & Family Dynamics
15:00 College Years & Early Signs of Trouble
20:00 Living Through the Indictment, Trial & Legal Battles
25:00 Conviction, Sentencing & Impact on the Family
31:00 Alcohol Abuse After Sentencing & Emotional Fallout
35:00 Rock Bottom, Addiction & the Decision to Get Sober
40:00 Visiting Parents in Prison & Public Scrutiny
46:00 Presidential Pardon & A Family’s Second Chance
50:00 Rehab, Recovery & Rebuilding Life
55:00 Life After Sobriety: Lessons, Growth & Moving Forward
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Nicole Moorman, a top criminal defense attorney based in Atlanta, walks through what it’s really like working inside the justice system — from defending people in serious felony and federal cases to the pressure of high-stakes trials and courtroom strategy. Born in Chicago and trained in criminal justice and law at Southern Illinois University, Troy University, and Emory University School of Law, Nicole brings a unique perspective shaped by years of legal experience and time spent as a probation officer and task force agent before becoming a lawyer. She explains how she approaches complex defenses, the ethical challenges defenders face, and why protecting the rights of the accused matters so deeply, with insights drawn from real cases and her career as one of Georgia’s most respected advocates.

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#CriminalDefenseAttorney #TrueCrime #JusticeSystem #LegalReality #DefenseAttorney #RealStories #YouTubePodcast #lawandcrime

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Thank you to FACTOR for sponsoring this episode:
Head to https://factormeals.com/lockedin50off and use code lockedin50off to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. Offer only valid for new Factor customers with code and qualifying auto-renewing subscription purchase. Make healthier eating easy with Factor.

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Connect with Nicole Moorman:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kingcole_/?hl=en
Website: https://moorman-law.com/

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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

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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro: Cooperation, Ethics & the Reality of the Justice System
00:27 Nicole Mormon’s Childhood, Family & Early Influences
01:33 Education Path That Led to Criminal Justice
05:44 Why Nicole Chose Criminal Justice
07:01 From Chicago to Atlanta: Becoming a Probation Officer
11:10 First Cases as a Probation Officer & Reality Shock
13:37 Probation, Pretrial Supervision & System Flaws
14:40 Leaving Probation to Attend Law School
16:16 Law School Life & Interning at the DA’s Office
17:55 Inside the DA’s Office: What Prosecutors Really See
19:58 Starting Her Legal Career & Going Solo
20:35 First Trials, Stress & Emotional Pressure
22:00 Attorney-Client Relationships & Ethical Boundaries
23:38 Choosing Clients & Managing Expectations
24:43 Judges, Prosecutors & Fairness in the Courtroom
26:22 Prosecutor vs Defense Relationships Explained
27:16 State vs Federal Cases: Key Differences
28:53 Target Letters, Indictments & Bond Hearings
31:00 Trial Strategy: When to Push Forward or Slow Down
32:54 Preparing for Trial Mentally & Physically
35:23 Balancing Personal Life During High-Stress Trials
37:32 Trial Tactics, Verdicts & Jury Psychology
40:31 Jury Behavior in High-Profile Cases
42:27 Jury Selection & the Role of Consultants
43:32 Critical Trial Moments & Penalties for Going to Trial
44:53 Sentencing, Judges & the Appeals Process
47:17 Custody Status, Bond & House Arrest Explained
50:48 Biggest Client Misconceptions & Money in the System
53:00 Political Influence on Prosecutors & Charging Decisions
55:46 Diversion Programs, Plea Options & Fairness
57:00 Cooperation, Plea Deals & Informants
59:02 Plea Agreements, Testifying & Subpoenas
01:01:31 Trial Delays & Frustrations with the System
01:02:20 What Nicole Would Change About the Justice System
01:03:10 Advice to Her Younger Self
01:04:28 Life Lessons from a Legal Career
01:05:56 Final Thoughts & Closing Message
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