Locked In with Ian Bick

Sasha Larkin spent more than 26 years with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, rising through the ranks to become the first woman in Nevada history to serve as an Assistant Sheriff. In this episode, she takes us inside her career in Las Vegas law enforcement — from her unlikely path from professional dancer and bartender to police officer, to working the streets, rising through leadership, and responding to some of the most difficult moments the city has ever faced. Sasha shares stories from decades on the job, the trauma officers carry home, and her experience serving as an incident commander during the October 1, 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting.
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.
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Connect with Sasha Larkin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasha-larkin-2012sjs108
Website: https://www.sashalarkin.com/
Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://ianbick.com/\
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: The Shooting
00:40 Childhood and Early Life
03:31 Inspired to Become a Cop
04:48 From College to Vegas Showgirl
07:30 The Ride Along That Sparked a Calling
10:40 Family and the Switch to Policing
14:35 The Police Academy: Equal Pay, Equal Hair
19:30 Early Career and Mentors
23:00 A Humbling First Chase
25:15 Realizing Your Strengths
28:20 Policing a Distrustful Community
31:05 The Suicidal Man and the Car Hood Death
36:15 A Captain's Advice: The Gray Cloud
38:20 Becoming a Training Officer
39:10 The First Officer-Involved Shooting
50:55 The Second Shooting: Thanksgiving Chaos
59:20 Guns and Uniforms
01:01:45 The Sergeants Test and Kathy O'Connor
01:07:55 First Day as a Sergeant
01:12:00 The Mosque Outreach
01:17:15 Learning from a Notorious Drug Dealer
01:20:00 The Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
01:55:25 Re-Entry and Prison Reform
02:06:15 Retirement and a New Chapter at FIFA
02:14:30 Reflections and Wisdom
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Edward Mitchell entered state custody at just 5 years old and later became associated with the Gorilla Stones Bloods in Brooklyn. After a gang-related drive-by shooting left three people shot and an 11-year-old dead, he was sentenced to 20 years to life. Edward spent nearly 30 years behind bars. He opens up about growing up in prison, surviving decades inside, his thoughts on gang life today, experiencing life and relationships for the first time after release, and how he's now rebuilding his life and making amends. 
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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.
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Connect with Edward Mitchell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamedwardmitchell/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1502845946?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAaeXUTjvFlqtnAvWBVdvvvwPw41yLzuqJ8ZuJF110WyhtRenwMRE4lKygtIYQQ_aem_ic37UgGRXH2FKxCec-0OFQ&utm_medium=social&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2SMSV55M8MP62J7KG1GZ&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_source=ig&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_2SMSV55M8MP62J7KG1GZ&plpRedirect=mhFallback
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://ianbick.com/
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: Edward Mitchell's Story
00:28 Sponsor Message: Membership and Cash App
01:07 Childhood in Bushwick and Family Background
02:41 Parents and Upbringing
04:19 Relationship with Father
06:18 Early Influences and Joining a Gang
07:24 Juvenile Detention and First Incarceration
08:05 Shooting by Police at 14
12:52 Aftermath and Joining the Bloods
15:56 Becoming a Blood: Meaning and History
18:00 Bloods History and Set Dynamics
21:35 Verification and Integrity in Gang Life
23:40 Leadership and Responsibility
25:20 Sponsor Message: Cash App Security
28:10 Case at 17: Carjacking and Attempted Murder
30:30 Carjacking Incident and Arrest
33:50 Thoughts on Incarceration and Mindset
35:15 Second Case: Gang-Related Shooting
38:00 Aftermath of Shooting: Guilt and Fear
40:00 On the Run and Betrayal
43:00 Arrest and Codefendant's Betrayal
44:30 Victim's Identity and Remorse
47:00 Arrest and Reaction
49:00 Thoughts on Sentence and Glorification of Prison
51:00 Desensitization and Compassion
52:55 Rikers Island Stories: Leroy Ebron and Fights
55:00 The Bing and Solitary Confinement
01:03:00 Coping Mechanisms in Solitary
01:04:30 Plea Deal and Sentencing
01:08:00 Programs and Education in Prison
01:09:45 Sentencing and Victim Impact
01:12:50 Reflections on Fair Sentence
01:18:40 First Prison: Sing Sing
01:23:20 Violence in Prison: First Cutting
01:27:00 Stabbing Incident and Aftermath
01:28:15 Fight for Sosa and Scars
01:33:00 Prison Life and Violence
01:36:00 Relationships and Love in Prison
01:42:00 Cultural Adaptation and Prison Experience
01:45:55 Reactions to News and Youth Violence
01:49:00 Parole Denials and Spiritual Guidance
01:51:00 Worst and Best Days in Prison
01:55:30 Release and First Day Out
01:58:45 Adjusting to Freedom and Dating
02:02:00 Disappointments and Support Systems
02:04:00 Future Plans and Life After Prison
02:06:30 Advice to Younger Self
02:09:10 Closing and Gratitude
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John Bunn grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and at just 14 years old was arrested for a murder he did not commit. His case was handled by NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella, whose investigative practices would later come under intense scrutiny in numerous wrongful-conviction cases. Despite Bunn and his 17-year-old co-defendant not matching the description of the shooters, both teenagers were convicted in 1992, and John was sentenced to 7 years to life. Behind bars, he taught himself to read, earned his GED at 17, and ultimately spent years fighting to prove his innocence. After being paroled in 2006, that fight continued for another 12 years until his conviction was vacated and all charges were dismissed in 2018. In 2020, New York City settled his wrongful-conviction lawsuit for $5.9 million.
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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.
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Want a FREE Locked In welcome box? Become a member and get the box + bonus episodes, ad-free listening & exclusive content. Join here:
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Connect with John Bunn:
https://www.instagram.com/therealjohnbunn/?hl=en
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://ianbick.com/
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Timestamps:
00:00 Wrongfully Convicted at 14
00:34 Growing Up in Brooklyn
03:12 Anger and Illiteracy
06:18 Father's Murder
08:50 Arrest and Interrogation
14:00 Trial and Conviction
20:00 Sentencing and Prison
28:00 Life After Exoneration
38:00 The Guards and the Crime
45:00 Mother and Family
51:00 Stopping a Prison Assault
56:00 Release from Prison
01:03:00 Path to Exoneration
01:15:00 Adjusting to Freedom
01:28:00 Prison Life and Violence
01:38:00 Exoneration and Lawsuits
01:49:00 Advocacy and Public Speaking
01:56:00 Lessons Learned
02:03:00 Conclusion and Gratitude
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Ricardo Martinez II spent 13 years as a 911 dispatcher in Michigan — answering thousands of calls from people experiencing the worst moments of their lives. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Ricardo shares the heartbreaking, bizarre, funny, and unforgettable calls that stayed with him, what it takes to remain calm during life-or-death emergencies, the mental toll of the job, and why he ultimately decided to walk away after 13 years behind the phones. 
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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.
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https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/
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Connect with Ricardo Martinez:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardomartinezii
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmarti23/
Website: https://www.withinthetrenches.net/ricardom
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://ianbick.com/
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Timestamps:
00:00 The Call That Never Left Him
00:44 Growing Up in Small-Town Michigan
04:21 Inspired by Rescue 911
05:39 Pulled Over on the Way to Senior Pictures
10:57 Hitting Rock Bottom
12:55 A Sign from the Radio
15:11 Moving to Frostproof, Florida
17:12 The 911 Dispatcher Interview
20:46 Sponsor: Cash App Security Lock
22:34 Starting the Job That Same Night
25:51 Harry's Three Rules
29:00 First Big Call: The Hanging
35:53 Visualizing Calls with Dispatch Ear
39:15 The Call That Went South
45:37 The Infant CPR Call
51:31 Reaching Out to Families
52:52 The Girl on Thin Ice
57:30 Taking His Own Grandmother's Call
01:07:34 The Acid Trip Caller
01:11:56 Bomb Threats and SWAT
01:16:55 Silly Calls: The Breathalyzer Request
01:26:03 The Call He Can't Unhear
01:35:09 Working on Himself
01:41:39 From Conference to #IAm911
01:53:52 Sounds That Transport You Back
02:00:53 Life Lessons from 911
02:08:27 The Yoga Call
02:11:49 Closing Thoughts
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John Constantine spent 23 years in the United States Secret Service, including 15 years on the elite Counter Assault Team protecting four U.S. presidents and carrying out high-stakes protective operations in nearly 90 countries. He rose through leadership roles overseeing CAT operations, the Joint Operations Center, and the Dignitary Protective Division before retiring in 2025. Now, as the author of Hallways and Stairwells, John opens up about the side of the Secret Service most people never see — the pressure, ego, mental health struggles, loss of identity, transition back to normal life, and what redemption looks like after more than two decades protecting others.
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Thank you to AG1 & HUNGRYROOT for sponsoring this episode:
AG1: Go to https://drinkag1.com/lockedin.com and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro.
Hungryroot: Explore my digital cookbook on Hungryroot today and find recipes that are right for you. Go to https://www.hungryroot.com/lockedin to access my cookbook: The Commissary Upgrade. 
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Connect with John Constantine:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-constantine-754b65380 Book: https://www.amazon.com/Hallways-Stairwells-Unhealthy-Identities-Self-Worth-ebook/dp/B0H2JFPKXZ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=ua0gO&content-id=amzn1.sym.ac827e48-2948-4721-83ef-3e7648ac35cb&pf_rd_p=ac827e48-2948-4721-83ef-3e7648ac35cb&pf_rd_r=139-6322356-3953107&pd_rd_wg=cSAPW&pd_rd_r=7d5c7d02-167a-48fe-b942-c41b1596ad61 Website: https://constantineunclassified.com/
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Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick:
https://ianbick.com/
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Timestamps:
00:00 Counter Assault Team Intro
00:35 Growing Up in New Jersey
01:54 Wrestling and Rutgers
04:43 9/11 and Joining the Secret Service
07:28 Choosing the Secret Service
08:40 Secret Service Training
12:50 First Assignment: Newark
16:50 First Big Investigation
21:00 Compassion in Investigations
26:20 Interviewing Suspects
29:50 Corruption and Two-Tier Justice
34:00 Power, Morality, and Authority
38:50 Corruption in Protection
39:50 Joining the Counter Assault Team
43:00 Life on the CAT Team
44:50 Becoming a Real Boy
48:00 White House and Domestic Threats
50:30 Rising Threats in America
52:00 Inhibitions and MK Ultra
55:20 Psychology of Attackers
57:30 Interagency Coordination
01:01:00 Funny Stories from the Team
01:03:00 The Suicide Bomber Incident
01:05:00 Stories That Never Get Reported
01:07:50 Butler and Real-Time Operations
01:09:00 Overseas Threats and Counterintelligence
01:16:20 Per Diem and Hotel Security
01:18:20 Trusting People Overseas
01:20:40 Most Dangerous Countries
01:22:20 Schedules and Deployments
01:24:00 Campaign Season Pressure
01:26:30 Work-Life Struggle
01:29:20 Turning It Off
01:31:30 The Worst Part of the Job
01:33:00 Fighting the Establishment
01:36:30 Teaching and Innovation
01:38:50 Leadership and Compassion
01:41:50 The Hardest Part of Retiring
01:44:00 Loss of Identity and Suicide
01:46:50 Life After the Secret Service
01:49:00 Doing It All Over Again
01:51:50 Closing Thoughts
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