Podcasts about Rikers Island

Film Festival Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Listen Without ads on patreon: www.pareon.com/dopeypodcast This week on the Wednesday Dose! The episode kicks off with a classic hippie Dopey email from listener MB, who recounts a spectacular Phish tour nitrous disaster. After days of ketamine, booze, overpriced cocaine, and lot balloons at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, MB face-plants into the dirt while clutching multiple nitrous balloons, destroys his glasses, spends a miserable flight home dry-heaving and hallucinating, and somehow survives a concussion-level experience. The story ends on a positive note with nearly ten months clean and sober and a request for dream guests Gibby Haynes and Jason Isbell. Dave then dives into Patreon and Spotify comments, including continuing fallout from the Dopey Sticker Contest. Selby files an official election challenge, claiming the contest was stolen and accusing Dave of failing to refresh Patreon before announcing a winner. Dave doubles down, insisting Felix Heads remains the champion despite accusations of voter suppression, corruption, and sticker fraud. Along the way listeners discuss ADHD, religion, Knicks fandom, kratom recovery, Long Island stories, and the eternal mystery of white crack dealers. The heart of the episode is an incredible interview with Michael Muniz, a 69-year-old Brooklyn native with 36 years sober. Michael tells a quintessential New York story that stretches from Brownsville gangs, schoolyard fights, and witnessing the neighborhood transformation of Brooklyn in the 1960s and 70s to marijuana, acid, cocaine, crack addiction, homelessness, Rikers Island, and ultimately recovery through Phoenix House. Michael shares stories about seeing his deceased father's face in the clouds during an LSD trip, discovering crack in the Cypress Projects and instantly becoming obsessed, losing everything while sleeping on subway trains and wandering New York's tunnels, robbing his mother, surviving violent encounters, and eventually finding his way into Phoenix House. What began as a plan to simply get clean long enough to save money and return to crack eventually became a lifelong recovery journey. The conversation explores therapeutic communities, recovery philosophy, family loyalty, homelessness during the crack epidemic, the culture of Brooklyn neighborhoods, Rikers Island in the 1980s, and the power of second chances. Michael also describes a dramatic courtroom moment where, facing serious federal charges, he convinced a judge to give him probation instead of prison after speaking honestly about recovery and wanting a different life. By the end, Michael reflects on his 36 years of sobriety, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, acting career, and belief that recovery is a lifelong process. Dave and Michael bond over drug dreams, gratitude, family, and the reality that while the desire to get high may never fully disappear, a meaningful life in recovery is infinitely better. The episode closes with Michael from the band Good Kid performing a live version of “Good So Bad,”  All that and MORE MORE MORE on the Wednesday dose of that good old Dopey Show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jose Ramos grew up the son of a cop, served in the military, and joined the NYPD to follow in his father's footsteps. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jose breaks down how it all fell apart — from getting shot multiple times by a fellow officer he trained, to becoming corrupt, to spending 3 years in solitary confinement on Rikers Island before being sentenced to over 14 years in prison. He opens up about operating barbershops in his precinct, renting space to a drug dealer who eventually flipped and set him up, getting jammed up in the NYPD ticketing scandal, and the quota system nobody in the department wants to talk about. He also shares what it was really like surviving prison as a former cop — and how he found redemption on the other side. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #RikersIsland #policecorruption _____________________________________________ Thank you to INCOGNI for sponsoring this episode: Take back your personal data with Incogni! Use code IANBICK at https://incogni.com/ianbick to get 60% off annual plans. _____________________________________________ 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 From NYPD Officer to Rikers Island Inmate — Jose's Full Story 02:31 Growing Up and the Family Influences That Led Him to the NYPD 05:47 Military Service and How It Shaped the Cop He Became 09:00 His Early Years on the NYPD — What the Job Was Really Like 14:45 The Shooting Incident That Changed His Career Forever 20:02 Life After the Shooting — What Nobody Prepared Him For 23:31 The Truth About NYPD Quotas — What Officers Are Actually Told 26:46 Ticket Fixing and the NYPD Culture Nobody Wants to Talk About 31:40 The Barbershop Dealings That Set Everything in Motion 40:00 The Arrest the Charges and What the Justice System Did to Him 48:00 Inside Rikers Island — Solitary Confinement and the Systemic Failures Nobody Talks About 01:00:01 The Trial His Conviction and the Family That Kept Him Going 01:10:01 Surviving Prison — How He Adapted to General Population 01:18:00 What It's Really Like Being a Cop Locked Up With the People You Once Arrested 01:27:29 Release Readjustment and What Life Looks Like After Everything 01:31:09 What He Thinks About the NYPD Today and What Needs to Change _____________________________________________ 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

Today, Michael speaks with Oneika Mays. Oneika is a meditation teacher, yoga practitioner, and writer whose work centers on mindfulness, loving kindness, and compassionate living. After leaving a successful career in retail leadership following profound personal loss and transformation, she spent more than a decade bringing meditation and healing practices into spaces often overlooked—working with individuals and communities who have felt judged, forgotten, or alone, leading her to working on Rikers Island with incarcerated individuals. Her book, Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, explores grief, self-compassion, unconditional friendliness, and the courage it takes to truly face yourself. Conversation Highlights Include: -How profound loss, career upheaval, and a canceled wedding became the catalyst for a completely different way of living. -Choosing discomfort and transformation over staying trapped in a life that no longer felt aligned or authentic. -A deeply honest reflection on grief, and learning to hold sadness and joy at the same time without denying either experience. -Why asking better questions creates expansion, self-awareness, and curiosity instead of emotional shutdown and certainty. -An invitation to "sit with yourself" by meeting discomfort, shame, fear, and uncertainty with tenderness instead of avoidance. -How real freedom often begins in the moments we stop running from difficult emotions and allow ourselves to fully feel them. -A powerful conversation about loving people you may never agree with, like, or understand, while still recognizing their humanity. -What more than a decade of teaching meditation inside Rikers Island revealed about judgment, compassion, trauma, and human connection. -An honest look at prison systems, accountability, restorative healing, and why true transformation requires support beyond punishment. Next, Michael closes the episode with a guided meditation on introspection, remembering your True nature, awakening to Divine Presence, and living from expanded awareness.

Joh Jarvis was a high-flying boss when grief from a terrible loss began to overwhelm her. She tried therapy, exercise and healthy eating. Then she found Vedic meditation, and the experience was 'psychedelic'. (R)Joh Jarvis is a Vedic meditation teacher in New York City.On a regular basis Joh travels to the notorious Rikers Island Prison in the Bronx.There, she teaches meditation to men waiting on remand.Inside a prison which is often violent and chaotic, she aims to give them a new way of coping.Joh grew up in Adelaide, and always wanted to live amidst the bright lights of New York.After a stint as a bicycle courier, she worked her way up to management at the ABC.As she approached 50, she had a well-paying job, a nice house, and strong connections with friends and family. But long-term grief had hollowed her out, and she asked herself, is this all there is?Then she was introduced to Vedic meditation, and she says her first encounter was 'psychedelic'.Read more about Joh's work at Rikers Island and other US prisons at her website The Light Inside.And you can see Joh in action on ABC TV's Compass.This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.It explores epic life stories, family dynamics, grief, loss, reflection, Vedic meditation, meditation, personal stories, origin stories, death, career, giving back, New York City, Rikers Island prison, incarceration, justice system, prison system, mindfulness, mantras, health and wellness, suicide.

Steven Dominguez was a correction officer at Rikers Island. Norman Seabrook ran the correction officers' union. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, they sit down face to face for a rare and uncomfortable conversation — one that holds a corrupt guard accountable in front of the man who was supposed to represent him. They debate corruption, power, and the reality of working inside one of America's most controversial jail systems — challenging each other on what's truth and what's misunderstood, and asking whether meaningful reform at Rikers Island is even possible today. _____________________________________________ #RikersIsland #PrisonCorruption #TrueCrime _____________________________________________ Watch my interview wirh Steven Dominguez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EvupiKuyuw&t=166s _____________________________________________ Watch my interview with Norman Seabrook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Q7tofDnJ8&t=1s _____________________________________________ Connect with Steven Dominguez: https://www.instagram.com/chillstevie/ _____________________________________________ Connect with Norman Seabrook: https://www.instagram.com/normseabrook/ _____________________________________________ 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 Corrupt Rikers Guard vs Honest Union Boss — The Full Story 01:53 The Corruption and Dysfunction Inside Rikers Island Nobody Talks About 04:42 How the System Capitalism and Jail Jobs Create Corrupt Officers 07:02 Why So Many Young Inexperienced Officers End Up Corrupt at Rikers 10:30 Personal Stories and the Family Ties That Pull People Into Jail Work 13:04 The Reality of Corruption at Rikers — What Becomes Normal and Why 16:17 Temptation Greed and the Moment Officers Choose to Cross the Line 18:42 How Leadership Addiction and Culture Among Officers Enables Corruption 22:17 Who Is Really Responsible When Officers Go Bad 24:18 Real Corruption Stories and the Consequences Nobody Prepares You For 27:40 The Mental Health Crisis Inside Rikers and How It Feeds the Cycle 33:40 Second Chances and What Redemption Really Looks Like After Corruption 36:20 The Lessons Learned and How Community Influence Shapes Everything 38:16 The Broken Infrastructure and Safety Crisis Nobody Wants to Address 40:54 The Leadership Decisions That Could Actually Fix Rikers Island 44:00 Closing Rikers Island — The Real Solutions and Real Consequences 46:25 What a Warden Would Actually Do Differently — Reform From the Inside 50:26 How Hip Hop Culture and Society Shape What Happens Inside Rikers 53:36 Communication Humanity and What It Really Takes to Break the Cycle 58:06 Why Supervisor Support Is the Single Most Important Factor at Rikers 01:03:11 Final Thoughts — What Both Men Want You to Know About Rikers Island _____________________________________________ 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

Dr. Becky Fenton started her career as a psychologist at Sing Sing Correctional Facility before being recruited to Rikers Island to supervise its psychiatric division — one of the largest and most challenging mental health systems in the country. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Becky breaks down what it was really like working inside one of America's most notorious jail systems from the other side of the cell door. She opens up about the violence and instability inside Rikers, the trauma on both sides of the system, her role in implementing Crisis Intervention Training for mental health emergencies, and what it takes to stay grounded when the environment around you is anything but. _____________________________________________ #RikersIsland #PrisonPsychology #TrueCrime _____________________________________________ Connect with Dr Becky Fenton: https://www.longislandpsychologyandconsulting.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 From Prison Psychologist to Private Practice — Her Story 01:48 The Early Influences and Personality That Led Her to This Work 03:37 The Education and Career Shift Nobody Expected 06:00 How She Ended Up as a Psychologist Inside Prison 08:49 Sing Sing vs Rikers Island — The Differences Nobody Talks About 11:16 Mental Health Inside Prison vs Mental Health in Hospitals — The Reality Gap 14:24 When Security and Mental Health Priorities Collide — Who Wins 18:18 Safety Violence and What It Really Takes to Advocate for Staff 20:59 How Trauma Shapes Inmate Behavior — What Most People Get Wrong 24:15 Vicarious Trauma — What Working in Prison Does to the Staff 27:15 Crisis Intervention and Deescalation — What Actually Works Behind Bars 32:33 What a Typical Day Really Looks Like Working at Rikers Island 36:31 Suicide Watch and What Inmate Care Actually Involves 39:12 Male vs Female Jails — The Shocking Differences Nobody Discusses 44:01 A Complete Day Inside Rikers Island — Hour by Hour Reality 47:20 What Destroys New Staff and How to Survive the First Year 53:01 The Truth About Solitary Confinement — What the Research Actually Shows 56:01 Rehabilitation vs Punishment — Which One Actually Works 01:00:41 Medication Management and What Happens to Inmates at Discharge 01:03:41 The Non Clinical Duties Nobody Warns You About in Federal Systems 01:06:50 How She Switched Off After Working in One of the World's Most Stressful Environments 01:10:14 The Programs and Therapy Practices That Actually Make a Difference 01:13:11 Why She Finally Left Rikers Island — The Real Reason 01:16:12 Private Practice and Why She Still Advocates for Prison Reform 01:19:01 What She Would Tell Her Younger Self — 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

In this conversation, Amy sits down with mindfulness teacher and writer Oneika Mays to talk about her new book, Sit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation—part memoir, part meditation guide, and an unflinching look at what it means to practice loving-kindness in real-world conditions, including inside Rikers Island. Oneika shares what it felt like to work inside a system built on hierarchy and dehumanization, the tension of receiving a salary inside a harmful structure, and the moment she realized that “the system isn't broken—it's working as designed.” From there, the conversation widens into the heart of metta: not as softness or spiritual bypassing, but as grounded, actionable love that can hold anger, boundaries, and truth-telling without losing our humanity. About Oneika and the BookBook: Sit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation (HarperOne / HarperCollins; on sale March 3, 2026). How Oneika describes it: “Meditation is for messy people… This book is part memoir, part meditation guide—and it's about showing up exactly as you are.” What You'll Hear in This EpisodeThe embodied “ick” of being treated as “one of us” by staff—how hierarchy shows up in small moments, tone shifts, and access.Why reform can get absorbed by a machine—and how “helping” can unintentionally make a harmful system look more palatable.The pivot from “fixing” to “serving,” and why that matters in any therapeutic or helping profession.Metta as a practice that includes righteous anger, loving accountability, and clear boundaries (not performative positivity).The inner work of not needing to be liked—and why unconditional love is not the same as being “nice.”A grounded call to action: personal responsibility, collective responsibility, and small acts that add up. Core Themes to Highlight (for your episode description)1) Metta is not performative softness. It's a disciplined practice of staying human—especially when it's inconvenient, when you're angry, and when you need boundaries.2) The “system” is not abstract—it's embodied. Hierarchy is felt through tone, access, positioning, and whose body is treated as more worthy.3) Serving is different than fixing. When we see people as broken, we become controlling or paternalistic. When we serve, we stay in relationship with wholeness.4) Choosing yourself can be an ethical act. Not as individualism, but as harm reduction—because depleted care can become harmful care.5) Collective change is built from small refusals. Not pre-agreeing to dehumanization. Practicing “no” with steadiness, clarity, and community. Resources Mentioned in the ConversationThe New Jim Crow — Michelle Alexander (recommended by Oneika in the episode)“Helping, Fixing, and Serving” — Rachel Naomi Remen (named in the episode)Sharon Salzberg's teaching stories on loving-kindness (referenced in the episode)Audre Lorde on self-care as self-preservation (referenced in the episode)Toni Morrison quote on freedom and responsibility (referenced in the episode)Timothy Snyder's guidance on resisting authoritarianism (Amy referenced at the end) Connect with OneikaWebsite: Oneika Mays www.OneikaMays.com Book Details and Where to Find ItSit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation is published by HarperOne and is listed as on sale March 3, 2026.

Jean-Claude Brizard, President and CEO of Digital Promise, joins Vicki on this Thought Leader Thursday episode of the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast. From his beginning teaching incarcerated youth at Rikers Island, where he met a young man his own age who couldn't do basic math, to leading a global nonprofit that's reshaping how teachers and developers co-create AI tools — Jean-Claude shares why he's been in education for 38 years and counting. In this episode, you'll learn: Why teachers must be "crew, not passengers" on AI How Digital Promise is co-creating with teachers to extend a science-of-reading platform for multilingual learners How Gen AI is letting students talk to the "average Americans" history forgot — including a Georgia housewife who captured seven British soldiers Why mitigating AI bias requires educators in the room from the start How to spot certified tech versus "shiny object" fluff Full show notes, transcript, and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e935 If this episode made you think, leave a review wherever you're listening — it helps other teachers find the show. And share it with a teacher friend.

Jorge Polanco started his career inside one of the most notorious jail systems in America — Rikers Island. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jorge breaks down what it was really like working inside Rikers as a correction officer, why he walked away after two years, and how that experience shaped the police officer he eventually became across Florida, Colorado and Texas. _____________________________________________ #RikersIsland #TrueCrime #LawEnforcement _____________________________________________ 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 Introduction & Early Life 01:19 Family Background and Work Ethic 02:14 Baseball Dreams & Growing Up in the Bronx 03:55 Teenage Influence and Choosing a Path 07:43 Discovering Law Enforcement 10:01 Starting in Corrections: Riker's Island Academy 12:13 First Days Inside Riker's Island 14:33 Experiences with Inmates & Managing Challenges 16:13 Mental Health & Family Impact 18:47 Temptations, Corruption & Integrity in Corrections 22:00 Learning the Hustle & Navigating the System 23:46 Officer Stories & Systemic Issues 26:16 Transitions, Family Struggles & Moving Forward 29:35 Becoming a Police Officer in Florida 31:40 Facing Discrimination and Professional Barriers 33:46 Social Media & Law Enforcement 36:50 Colorado & Different Policing Environments 39:28 Tough Cases & Feeling Powerless 41:21 Finding a Place in Texas Law Enforcement 42:10 Narcotics Detective & Personal Mission 44:20 Persistence, Setbacks & The Path to Success 47:10 Corrections Experience: Preparing for Policing 49:31 Differences Between Agencies & Career Transitions 52:30 Law Differences Across States 53:56 Murder Charges for Fentanyl Dealers 54:59 Personal Connection & Family Impact of Drugs 01:00:34 Parenthood, Family Stories & Personal Growth 01:07:01 Reflections, Goals & Role of Law Enforcement Today 01:09:03 Challenges of Policing in Modern Society 01:12:46 Therapy, Mental Health & Stress Management 01:15:41 Leaving Rikers & Lessons from Corrections 01:18:31 Memorable Inmates, Mental Health Units & Stories 01:21:29 Handling Retirement Across States 01:22:12 Policing in Texas & Drug Laws 01:24:26 Common Crimes & Domestic Violence 01:26:06 Adapting to New Regions & Reflections 01:27:32 Lessons Learned & 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

Wolfgang Hunter joins Geo and Derek on "On The Gate" to break down why the current comedy landscape is failing and why he's returning to the stage to fix it.In This Episode:The Comedy Standard: Wolfgang critiques the current state of stand-up and why so much modern content feels like "slop."Musical Comedy Legends: A deep dive into the careers of Adam Sandler and Weird Al, plus a tribute to the late Trevor Moore of The Whitest Kids U' Know.The NYC Hustle: From working in a bathhouse to the difference between service industry grind and the "soul-crushing" office life at places like JP Morgan.Current Events: The crew discusses the latest headlines regarding Rikers Island, the Pras Michel case, and the cultural impact of Alex Jones.Tech & Gaming: We look ahead to the release of GTA 6 and discuss the Mandela Effect and how AI (and Mr. Wonderful) is changing the game.ON THE GATE! ENJOY!Original air date: 5/11/26Join the live chat Wednesday nights at 11pm EST. Uncensored versions of the show streamed Monday and Thursday at 2pm EST on GaSDigital.com. Signup with code OTG for the archive of the show and others like Legion of Skanks, In Godfrey We Trust, and Story Warz. FOLLOWGeo PerezInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/geoperez86/Derek DrescherInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/derekdrescher/Timestamps:00:30 - The current state of the Podcast02:00 - Why Wolfgang is returning to Stand-Up05:15 - Musical Comedy: Adam Sandler vs. Weird Al06:35 - Remembering Trevor Moore (WKUK)07:50 - What actually defines "Alt" Comedy?12:15 - The history of fake stage names14:10 - Kevin Hart's "Funny AF" & diverse comedy rooms18:10 - Gym stories and relationship dynamics22:30 - Big Jay Oakerson & the NYC Comedy Scene28:20 - Service Jobs vs. Corporate Office Life31:15 - Real-life work site accidents and consequences36:30 - The JP Morgan case & financial headlines37:30 - Breaking News: Rikers Island updates39:00 - The Pras Michel legal case40:25 - The legacy and impact of Alex Jones43:30 - Discussing current events and news cycles46:45 - GTA 6: Expectations vs. Reality49:00 - The Mandela Effect: Why our memories lie50:20 - When Derek learned legal terminology in court53:00 - Niche subcultures and extreme social trends57:40 - Upcoming Dates & Plugs59:00 - Mr. Wonderful and the AI RevolutionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven Lee rose to the rank of sergeant in the NYPD before everything collapsed. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Steven breaks down one of the most dangerous things a cop can do — go undercover against his own department for Internal Affairs — and what the system did to him afterward. Years later an off duty incident at a nightclub ended his career and landed him on Rikers Island. He opens up about what it's really like being a former cop behind bars, the corruption he witnessed and exposed, and the true cost of speaking out against your own brothers in blue. _____________________________________________ #NYPD #PoliceCOrruption #rikersisland _____________________________________________ Thank you to RAYCON for sponsoring this episode: The Everyday Earbuds Classic are the perfect addition to your everyday routine. Go to Bhttps://buyraycon.com/IANBICK to get 15% off! _____________________________________________ Connect with Steven Lee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevefornewyork?igsh=YThycTFiMzhhemZz YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@SystemUnfiltered Website: https://www.stevefornewyork.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 From Brooklyn Streets to the NYPD — Steven's Story 04:00 Growing Up Around Gang Life and Learning Street Smarts 07:00 Asian Gangs, Chinatown and the World Nobody Talks About 14:00 The Values and Influences That Shaped Who He Became 23:00 Joining the NYPD — And Immediately Questioning Everything 33:00 The Quota System Nobody in the NYPD Wants to Admit Exists 44:00 The Harsh Realities of Police Work They Never Teach You 53:00 What It's Really Like Policing Different New York Boroughs 01:00:00 Life as a Sergeant in Flushing Queens — Where It All Changed 01:11:00 Bar Checks, Karaoke Bars and the Hidden Corruption He Discovered 01:26:00 The Moment He Agreed to Go Undercover Against His Own 01:41:00 What He Found — Corruption Spreading Across Multiple Precincts 01:55:00 Someone on the Inside Was Sabotaging the Operation 02:08:00 18 Months Undercover — Bribes, Payoffs and Living a Double Life 02:20:00 The Operation Collapsed — And Everything Fell Apart 02:40:00 Retaliation, Political Pressure and What It Really Means to Blow the Whistle 02:55:00 Depression, Mental Health and the NYPD Culture Nobody Talks About 03:07:00 The Arrest They Used to Target Him — Losing Everything 03:21:00 Fired, Fighting Criminal Charges and Navigating the Legal System Alone 03:35:00 Trial, Sentencing and the Day He Was Sent to Rikers Island 03:55:00 What It's Really Like Surviving Jail as a Former Cop 04:05:00 Transferred to Westchester — A Different Jail, Same Harsh Reality 04:14:00 Release, Recovery and What Life Looks Like on the Other Side 04:24:00 Final Thoughts — Can the NYPD Ever Really Reform? _____________________________________________ 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

Dana Kaplan, criminal justice reform expert, talks about her new role as Mayor Mamdani's Close Rikers Czar, leading NYC's efforts to close Rikers in favor of borough-based jails as required by law. Photo: An aerial image of Rikers Island. (Credit: U.S. Geological Survey via Wikimedia Commons)

Don Halloran, President of Folger Adams, joins Locked In with Ian Bick to break down the systems that keep prisons running from the inside out. In this episode, we dive into everything from repairing cells at Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and why it's unlikely to ever reopen due to extreme costs and infrastructure challenges, to the ongoing shutdown of Rikers Island and what's replacing it. Don explains how modern prison cells are built, including solitary confinement units, high-security locking systems, and the technology that controls every door in a facility. We also get into the different types of prison locks, how lockdowns actually work, and what it takes to maintain security inside some of the most dangerous environments in the country. _____________________________________________ #PrisonLife #PrisonCells #TrueCrime #PrisonSystem #BehindBars #PrisonSecrets #SecuritySystems #lockedinpodcast _____________________________________________ Connect with Don Halloran: https://www.southernfolger.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 Inside How Prisons Are Built (Full Story) 01:56 Entering the Prison Industry & First Jobs 05:52 Owning a Prison Business & Industry Changes 10:16 First Time Inside a Prison Facility 13:16 Prison Construction Boom & Market Trends 17:16 How Prison Cells Are Built & Installed 22:00 Prison Design: Security, Safety & Contraband Prevention 27:00 Solitary Confinement & Effects on Inmates 30:32 International Prisons vs U.S. Prisons 34:32 Prison Escapes, Maintenance & Cell Security 41:36 Alcatraz Stories & Reopening Challenges 46:01 Modern Prison Tech & Rehabilitation Efforts 52:01 Keys, Locks & Prison Security Systems 56:00 Personal Stories from Inside the Industry 01:00:00 Prison Living Conditions: Heat, Space & Reality _____________________________________________ 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

In this episode, Johnny sits down with Richie Ng, a former member of the Ghost Shadows gang who shares one of the most intense prison stories ever told on the show. At just 16 years old, Richie took a life and was thrown into the chaos of Rikers Island during one of the most violent eras in New York history. What followed was decades of gang politics, stabbings, solitary confinement, and survival inside some of the toughest prisons in the system. But this isn't just a story about crime… It's about transformation. After serving 18 years, Richie walked out into a completely different world. Against all odds, he rebuilt his life—launching a business, getting discovered by chance, and eventually becoming a working actor in Hollywood. Then… one mistake nearly sent him back for good. This episode dives deep into: -Growing up as a Chinese immigrant in NYC -Being recruited into gang life at just 10–11 years old -The reality of violence inside Rikers Island -7 years in solitary confinement -Prison hustle, power, and survival mentality -Rebuilding life after decades locked up -How one moment of anger changed everything again -The mindset shift that finally stuck Raw. Unfiltered. Real. Go Support Richie! IG: https://www.instagram.com/therealrichieng/ YouTube: @chinatowngangstories This Episode Is Sponsored By The Following: 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 Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/connect PrizePicks! Download the PrizePicks app today and pick your first game winner, spread or total as the playoff push rolls on! And get $50 in daily fantasy lineups when you play your first $5 lineup when you use code CONNECT. PrizePicks Predict is a registered FCM offering Team Picks and Culture Picks as event contracts. Trading involves significant risk; not for all. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to trade any commodity interest, or an offer to open an account. The Connect is not registered with the CFTC or NFA. PrizePicks Predict does not endorse or guarantee any statements made by third-party promoters or influencers. Please consult with a qualified professional before making any trading decisions. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Opening: Richie's Dark Beginnings 02:00 Gang Life and Running the Streets 05:00 Growing Up Chinese in New York 10:00 Joining the Ghost Shadows 13:00 Gang Violence and Arrest at 16 18:00 Surviving Rikers Island in the '90s 24:07 This Episode Is Sponsored By Mars Men 26:07 Rules, Power, & Survival in Prison 33:00 Family Estrangement & the Immigrant Struggle 40:00 Gang Hierarchies and Racial Dynamics 45:23 This Episode Is Sponsored By Hims and PrizePicks 49:27 First Charges: Court, Sentencing, and Mindset 53:00 The Prison Hustle: Drugs and Power Dynamics 01:00:00 Solitary: 7 Years in the Box 01:10:00 Prison Violence, Staff Abuse, and Punishments 01:20:00 Life in the Hole: Extreme Survival Tactics 01:26:00 Programming, Parole, and Getting Out 01:34:00 Return to the Outside: Rebuilding Life 01:42:00 Business & Hustles After Prison 01:47:00 From Prison to Actor: Breaking into Hollywood 02:00:00 New Life, Second Incarceration, and Growth 02:10:00 Final Reflections and Redemption 02:18:00 Looking Forward: Making Amends and Family Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Historian Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny and On Freedom, joins Preet Bharara to break down Viktor Orbán's election loss in Hungary and what it means for Trump, MAGA, and the future of American democracy. Snyder also explains what Hungarian politician Péter Magyar's victory reveals about beating authoritarians at the ballot box, why "democracy" alone doesn't rally voters, and why his most urgent lesson from On Tyranny — do not obey in advance — has never been more relevant. Then, Preet answers listener questions. He explains whether the president has to comply with the law requiring him to preserve official records and whether it's now legal to distill liquor at home. In the bonus for Insiders, Preet breaks down his experience working to reform one of New York City's most notorious prisons: Rikers Island. Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE's Youtube channel and subscribe. Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Queerly Beloved, Wil is joined by Oneika Mays, a mindfulness teacher, yoga teacher, licensed massage therapist, and author whose work is devoted to making contemplative practice more accessible to communities that have too often been left out of mainstream wellness spaces.Oneika has taught at Rikers Island, Kripalu, the Omega Institute, Lincoln Center, and beyond. She is also faculty at Embodied Philosophy/Yoga International, has been featured on SiriusXM and numerous podcasts, and is the author of the debut book Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation. Her work brings mindfulness down to earth, offering a practice that is honest, compassionate, embodied, and rooted in real life.In our conversation, we explore a wide range of rich and meaningful topics, ranging from working with inmates to the social dynamics in The Traitors. We also explore dream work as spiritual practice, loving-kindness, creating safety inside ourselves, the art of compassionate nonattachment and other juicy topics!This is a grounded, soulful, and very human conversation about what it means to stay present, care deeply, and keep coming back to ourselves.Connect with Oneika Mays: https://www.oneikamays.com/about-5Get her book: Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and MeditationLearn more about Wil here- https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/Check out the Awakened Hearts retreat here- https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/singlesSupport the show

NYC Mayor Mamdani is following through with opening city-run grocery stores that will have essentials that will be cheaper than traditional grocery stores in the city. A hearing was held to discuss the voting difficulties for detainees on Rikers Island. WFUV's Jordan tells us more. At the Bronx River Foodway, New Yorkers can learn how to forage and harvest edible plants. WFUV's Lainey Nguyen reports. Host/Producer: Xenia Gonikberg Editor: Tess Novotny Reporter: Xenia Gonikberg Reporter: Jordan Donegan Reporter: Lainey Nguyen Theme Music: Joe Bergsieker

NYC Council member Tiffany Cabán (District 22, Astoria, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, Woodside and Rikers Island) talks about the Delivery Protection Act, which would regulate "last mile" delivery subcontracting by retail giants like Amazon, and Mayor Mamdani's first 100 days in office. Photo: An Amazon Prime delivery van parked in Hillcrest, Queens. Credit: Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons.    

Feeling invisible can quietly erode our sense of worth, but being seen is often where healing begins. Oneika Mays is a meditation teacher who's helped people from yoga studios to Rikers Island find compassion and resilience through mindfulness. She discusses how mindfulness and meditation can help us manage stress, build self-worth, and create healing spaces for those who feel forgotten. Oneika is the author of Sit With Me , A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation.

Comprehensive coverage of the day's news with a focus on war and peace; social, environmental and economic justice. Strait of Hormuz (image by Goran_tek-en) Trump pulls back threat to end a civilization, after Iran agrees to 2 week truce and opening of Hormuz; Islamic, Middle East advocacy groups blast Trump's war rhetoric as “off the rails” language of fear and humiliation; “Refuse Fascism” activists organizing against “fascist lunatic” Trump's war threats with emergency protests across country; CA Senate committee hears bill making it felony for older minors to harass, coerce younger children online; NYC mayor Mamdani announces prison health reforms, looking forward to closure of notorious Rikers Island jail; Trump's Board of Peace gives Hamas ultimatum to disarm this week; Environmental groups ask appeals court to lift halt on closing Florida's Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention center The post Iran agrees to 2-week truce and opening of Hormuz Strait; Refuse Fascism organizing protests against Trump's war threats – April 7, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

On this episode, Laura speaks with author, yoga instructor, and meditation teacher Oneika Mays. They are talking about her new book, Sit with Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation. Oneika spent nearly 15 years teaching meditation in yoga studios, hospitals, and correctional facilities, including at Rikers Island. As a queer Black teacher, she emphasizes that meditation isn't just for those who have it all figured out—it's for all of us: the anxious, the heartbroken, the angry, the lost, and those who have been marginalized or overlooked. Pull up a cushion and settle in for this candid conversation on meditation, identity, and showing up as you are. Learn more about Oneika at oneikamays.com.

----- Shout out to all our members who make this content possible, sign up for only $5 a month https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNNTZgxNQuBrhbO0VrG8woA/join Promote Your Music with No Jumper - https://nojumper.com/pages/promo CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE STORE!!! https://nojumper.com NO JUMPER PATREON http://www.patreon.com/nojumper CHECK OUT OUR NEW SPOTIFY PLAYLIST https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5tesvmDS8h50LkjnSAWMOs?si=j6sJD6DkR4mk5NZZWnlK7g Follow us on SNAPCHAT https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_Jumper/4874336901 Follow us on SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4z4yCTjwXa4an6sBGIe7m5 iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/no-jumper/id1001659715?mt=2 Follow us on Social Media: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/No_Jumper/4874336901 http://www.twitter.com/nojumper http://www.instagram.com/nojumper https://www.facebook.com/nojumper http://www.reddit.com/r/nojumper JOIN THE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/Q3XPfBm Follow Adam22: http://www.instagram.com/adam22 adam22bro on Snapchat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest lives at the intersection of real life and deep inner work. Meet Oneika Mays, a meditation teacher, yoga instructor, and the author of Sit With Me, A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation. It is a book that honestly says what so much of wellness culture quietly ignores.Meditation isn't for the calm. It's for the messy. It's a your-life-cracked open, and now what? kind of book. For nearly 15 years, Oneika has been teaching mindfulness and loving kindness. From yoga studios and hospitals to spaces, most teachers have never entered, like Rikers Island Correctional Facility. She's helped people who'd been told they didn't deserve care, discover something radical, they could be kind to themselves.Her work centers around accessibility, compassion, and real world practice, not perfection. And her book is part memoir, part guidebook, all about showing up exactly as you are. Not more zen, not calmer, just you. And her passion for this work comes from her own experience. When her own life shattered through personal tragedy, mindfulness and yoga became part of her survival.So unpack love and kindness with us. The no BS of meditation and why these practices are for everybody, not just for the peaceful ones. It's time for you to sit with Oneika Mays. MORE FROM ONEIKA MAYSVisit oneikamays.com to find about her book, events and offerings. Follow @oneikamays Visit seekingcentercommunity.com for more with Robyn + Karen and many of the guides on Seeking Center: The Podcast. You'll get access to live weekly sessions, intuitive guidance, daily inspiration, and a space to share your journey with like-minded people who just get it. You can also follow Seeking Center on Instagram @theseekingcenter.

Mindfulness, meditation, healing, resilience, and compassion are at the heart of this conversation with author and meditation teacher Oneika Mays.After a personal tragedy changed the course of her life, Oneika left a successful career and began teaching mindfulness in one of the most unexpected places — Rikers Island.There, she became the first mindfulness expert to assist incarcerated individuals, introducing meditation and compassion practices to people navigating some of life's most difficult circumstances.For nearly 15 years, Oneika has dedicated her work to bringing real-world mindfulness practices to communities often excluded from traditional wellness spaces. Her message is refreshingly honest:Meditation isn't about perfection.It isn't about always feeling peaceful.And you don't have to like people to love them.In her book Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, Oneika shares a deeply human approach to mindfulness that replaces pressure and performance with honesty, compassion, and presence.In this inspiring episode of Women Road Warriors, hosts Shelley Johnson and Kathy Tuccaro explore:• How tragedy can lead to personal transformation• What working inside Rikers Island taught Oneika about compassion• Why meditation doesn't require incense, silence, or a perfect mindset• How mindfulness helps people navigate grief, stress, and life's hardest moments• The power of learning to simply sit with what is realOneika's work reminds us that mindfulness isn't about escaping life.It's about meeting it with courage, honesty, and compassion.If you've ever felt overwhelmed, judged, or disconnected, this conversation offers a powerful reminder:You don't have to change who you are to begin healing.You just have to show up and sit with yourself.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani visited his city's notorious Rikers Island prison this week to break the Ramadan fast with inmates there. In so doing, he promoted yet again Islam and encouraged conversion to it. Mamdani's excursion called attention to a troubling fact: Large numbers of convicts have done just that. Thanks in no small measure to the Muslim Brotherhood's success dating back to the Clinton administration in insinuating its chaplains into federal and other prisons, what is arguably the most dangerous population in America has been assiduously recruited to sharia-supremacism by a group two governors have designated as a terrorist organization. While Democrats are resisting needed electoral reforms in the SAVE America Act, there's one they are very keen on: restoring the voting rights of felons after their incarceration ends. Jihadist Mamdani understands that means more, and more perilous, Muslim votes.   This is Frank Gaffney. 

Send us Fan MailIn this deeply honest episode, host Andrea Atherton sits down with author Esther Laurenceau to explore the painful yet transformative journey of navigating toxic relationships. Esther opens up about the lived experiences that inspired her book, The Ugly Truth My Love Life Sucks!, sharing how years of unhealthy patterns, emotional confusion, and a loss of self-worth catalyzed a profound personal transformation. Her story takes an even more sobering turn as she reveals a pivotal breaking point, being arrested, and ultimately serving time at Rikers Island. This experience forced her to confront the reality of how far she had drifted from herself. This conversation is not just about heartbreak, it's about awakening. It's about those moments when life interrupts the pattern so dramatically that you can no longer ignore the truth.Together, Andrea and Esther unpack the subtle and not-so-subtle dynamics of toxic love, how it can slowly erode identity, distort self-perception, and keep women emotionally stuck in cycles that feel impossible to break. Esther speaks directly to women who may feel trapped, unseen, or disconnected from themselves, offering both validation and hope. She shares how hitting her personal bottom became the very thing that initiated her return to herself. Through her story, listeners are invited to see that even the most painful consequences can become a doorway to clarity, accountability, and change. This episode creates a compassionate space for reflection, asking the deeper question: what is it costing you to stay, and what might become possible if you chose yourself instead?For women who are ready to reclaim their voice, rebuild their self-worth, and step out of toxic dynamics, this episode serves as both a mirror and a guide. Andrea's grounded, heart-centered presence allows Esther's raw vulnerability to land with depth and resonance, creating a conversation that speaks directly to the soul. This is for the woman who knows something has to change, even if she doesn't yet know how. If you've been searching for strength, truth, or the courage to begin again, this episode offers a powerful reminder that your lowest point does not define you, but it can become the moment that transforms everything.30-minute Consultation with Andrea https://www.andreaatherton.com/booking-calendarAndrea Atherton  Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/Love Anarchy Websitehttps://www.andreaatherton.com/podcasthttps://loveanarchypodcast.buzzsprout.comLove Anarchy Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/loveanarchypodcast/Andrea Atherton Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/andreaatherton-17/

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has brought his Muslim faith to the center of his political life, but his effort has faced a backlash.During this Ramadan he's hosted half a dozen public prayers and celebrations, the latest Monday night when he broke fast with incarcerated men at Rikers Island. NPR's Brian Mann reports on how Mamdani's efforts to celebrate his Muslim faith and the backlash that has accompanied those efforts. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Jason Fuller, Sarah Ventre and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. It was edited by Jason DeRose, Andrea de Leon, Daniel Burke and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Harvey Weinstein gives a DEFIANT interview from Rikers Island. Victoria Everest is back on the internet with ZERO apology and products to sell. A mum is moving to Dubai and leaving her kids — does she owe child support? The aunties are back and EP 281 is one for the books.

Rubicon - Part 4 of the documentary "I Made It Out" Narrated by Sharel Jones: She talks about being incarcerated snd how easy it was to get drugs even behind bars.

[REBROADCAST FROM Dec. 8, 2025] A new documentary chronicles the journey of Tim Johnson, a former Super Bowl Champion turned pastor whose faith inspired him to minister to incarcerated men on Rikers Island. Kayla Johnson, the film's director and Tim's daughter, discusses "Fatherless No More," which is nominated for Outstanding Documentary (Film) at this year's NAACP Image Awards.

Anna Delvey sits down with Ian Bick and finally tells the part of her story the world hasn't heard, not the fake heiress headlines, but the arrest, LA County jail, surviving Rikers Island, doing time in New York state prison, and ending up in an ICE detention center, breaking down the everyday survival, politics, fear, and pressure of prison life that no Netflix series ever showed. _____________________________________________ #IanBick #AnnaDelvey #LockedIn #RikersIsland #PrisonLife #ICEDetention #TrueCrime #prisonstories _____________________________________________ Thank you to AVA & FACTOR for sponsoring this episode: AVA: Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app and when you join using my promo code LOCKEDIN, you'll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice. _____________________________________________ 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. _____________________________________________ Connect with Anna Delvey: https://www.instagram.com/theannadelvey/?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 Why I'm Skipping The Fake Heiress Story 01:00 The Day My Life Changed: Arrested In LA 03:00 Inside LA County Jail: Processing Shock 05:30 First Night Locked Up & Meeting My Cellmates 07:00 The Phone Call That Made It Real 09:00 Shackled & Flown To New York: Arraignment 12:00 Jail Food Hacks & How I Survived Inside 14:00 Breaking Down Physically & Mentally In Jail 18:00 Welcome To Rikers: Intake, Strip Search, Reality 22:00 Rikers Dorm Life & Dangerous Cell Politics 25:00 Commissary, Currency & The Jail Hustle 29:00 Facing Trial: The Biggest Decision Of My Life 32:00 Court, Cameras & Becoming A Headline 37:00 Trial, Verdict & Hearing My Sentence 42:00 From Rikers To Prison: Landing In Bedford/Albion 46:00 Prison Jobs, Food & The Social Hierarchy 50:00 Adapting To Prison Fashion & Daily Routine 54:00 Prison Art, Hustles & Becoming Self-Sufficient 59:00 Parole, Release Day & A New Nightmare: Immigration 01:04:00 ICE Detention: No End In Sight 01:09:00 From Inmate To Public Figure: TV, Docs & Fame 01:13:00 House Arrest, Curfews & Life After Prison 01:18:00 Finding Redemption & A New Purpose 01:23:00 What Prison Taught Me & Why Reform Matters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Joseph Williams was raised in Brooklyn by his mother and grandmother, but the allure of the streets quickly led him into fighting, selling crack, and a 4-year bid in New Jersey. After returning home and falling back into the lifestyle, Joe committed a brazen movie theater robbery that resulted in a stiff 11-year sentence in New York State prison. In this episode, we dive into how Joe survived the New York prison system, earned his college degree behind bars, and turned his life around to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker dedicated to breaking the cycle of recidivism. _____________________________________________ #IanBick #rikersisland #jailstory #NewYorkPrison #PrisonStories #Robbery #Brooklyn #redemptionstory _____________________________________________ Thank you to LUCY for sponsoring this episode: Go to HTTP://LUCY.CO/IANBICK and use promo code IANBICK to get 20% off your first order. _____________________________________________ Connect with Dr. Joseph Williams: Website Link: lyfechessynk.com Email: lyfechess.ynk@gmail.com Instagram: @Dr.4joegi LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-joseph-joe-williams-dsw-lcsw-88b41584 https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1100758 https://secure.helloalma.com/providers/joseph-williams/#More-info _____________________________________________ 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 Movie Theater Heist Gone Wrong 01:01 Dr. Joseph Williams: Streets to Social Work 01:18 Growing Up in Brooklyn 02:33 Raised by Mom & Grandma 05:07 First Fights & School Trouble 09:31 Identity, Anger & Violence 13:13 Arrests & No Father at Home 18:53 Meeting the Crew & Street Life 23:20 First Real Hustles for Money 27:29 Guns, Power & Respect 31:01 Losing Friends to the Streets 39:20 Getting Shot in 90s Brooklyn 45:57 Rikers Island on Gun Charges 52:20 Prison Survival & Hustle Mindset 57:59 Out of Prison, Back to the Hustle 01:05:07 The Heist That Changed Everything 01:10:00 Living With the Consequences 01:16:03 Clinton Prison Changes My Mindset 01:26:01 Education That Saved My Life 01:33:02 From Prison to Social Work 01:40:00 Healing Trauma & Therapy 01:45:02 Buried vs. Planted: My Life 01:46:01 New Mission & Community Work 01:48:38 Advice to My Younger Self 01:48:54 Final Reflections & Farewell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Troy Ave sits down with Ian Bick for an honest conversation about his upbringing, the path that led him into the criminal justice system, and what it took to survive time at Rikers Island. In this episode, Troy Ave breaks down his early life, the court case that changed everything, the realities of being locked up inside Rikers, and how incarceration reshaped his mindset both personally and professionally. He speaks honestly about accountability, survival, and navigating life after the system while continuing his journey in music. _____________________________________________ #TroyAve #HipHopInterview #PrisonStory #StreetLife #TrueCrimePodcast #MusicIndustry #LifeAfterPrison #rikersislandstories _____________________________________________ Thank you to AVA & LUCY for sponsoring this episode: AVA: Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app and when you join using my promo code LOCKEDIN, you'll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice. _____________________________________________ LUCY: Go to HTTP://LUCY.CO/IANBICK and use promo code IANBICK to get 20% off your first order. _____________________________________________ Connect with Troy Ave: https://www.instagram.com/troyave/?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 Troy Ave on Rikers Island & Interview Introduction 00:32 Growing Up in Brooklyn: Background & Perspective 01:44 Privilege, Exposure & Early Worldview 03:40 Family Life, Brooklyn Upbringing & Environment 06:11 Lessons From Parents & Early Business Mindset 07:27 Teen Years: Discipline, Mistakes & Street Fights 10:39 Gang Life: Attraction, Reality & Short-Lived Appeal 13:05 Life Choices After Gangs: Credit, Jobs & Direction 14:24 First Hustles: Work, Streets & School Balance 17:46 From the Streets to Music: Motivation & Drive 21:40 The Mixtape Era & Early Music Grind 24:45 Drug Money vs Music Money 27:30 Leaving the Streets & Refocusing on Music 33:00 Jail Time, Loyalty & Leveling Up Mentally 36:52 Touring Independently & Music Industry Lessons 41:01 The Real Consequences of Street Life 44:42 The Shooting, Arrest & Legal Battle 52:00 Inside Rikers Island: Firsthand Experience 01:00:32 Life in Jail: Mindset, Privileges & Survival 01:13:12 Locked Up Again: Routines & Mental Toughness 01:19:12 Money, Status & Jail Politics 01:32:00 Rikers Island: Violence, Dominance & Reality 01:46:40 Lessons Learned, Hustle & Life After Jail 02:01:47 Achievements, Missed Goals & New Perspective 02:06:06 Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the very thing people told you was “too much” about you was actually your greatest gift?In this soulful conversation, Wendy talks with Oneika Mays — meditation teacher, storyteller, and author — about what it really means to bet on yourself in midlife. Oneika shares how she moved from 20 years as a bookseller to teaching mindfulness (including groundbreaking work at Rikers Island), and how grief ultimately gave her the permission to pursue her lifelong dream of writing.At 54, Oneika is stepping fully into a creative life — with a debut book on the way and a TV pilot already winning awards. Her story is a powerful reminder that reinvention is not one bold leap, but a series of brave choices to trust yourself again and again.If you've ever been told you're “too much,” this episode is for you.What you'll hear in this episode

The sheriff running the Nancy Guthrie investigation told reporters something most law enforcement leaders would never say out loud: "I'm not used to everybody hanging on to my words and then trying to hold me accountable for what I say." On True Crime Today, we pull the full documented record of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and show exactly why that quote is the key to understanding everything happening in this case.This is the man whose $7.5 million surveillance aircraft — equipped with the thermal imaging technology built to find people in desert terrain — sat on the ground for five hours after an 84-year-old woman was reported missing. The pilot trained to fly it had been reassigned to street patrol following a dispute with the sheriff. A second pilot had been pulled from the unit months earlier. The crime scene was released after one day. A rooftop camera was missed for five days. And when the family was releasing a third video begging for their mother's return, the sheriff was photographed courtside at a college basketball game.But this episode goes further than the Guthrie case. The record stretches back a decade. An FBI investigation during his first term that uncovered half a million dollars in misused forfeiture funds. A jail death rate exceeding Rikers Island. An Arizona Attorney General investigation that flagged four specific policy violations in how his department handled a deputy's sexual assault — and the victim is still waiting for answers more than two years later. His own deputies voting 98.8 percent no confidence. The on-camera arrest of an NPR journalist wearing her press credentials — after which Nanos admitted he did not know his own department's written policy on press access. The suspension of his political opponent days before an election he won by 481 votes. And the deletion of a public records tracking policy within a week of an ACLU request.The pattern is the story. Every controversy follows the same loop. And someone else always pays.#NancyGuthrie #SavannahGuthrie #ChrisNanos #PimaCountySheriff #TrueCrimeToday #FBI #SheriffNanos #Accountability #Tucson #TrueCrimeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

Before Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home, the sheriff now leading the search had already built a record that reads like a case study in failed leadership. This episode pulls the full documented history of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos — sourced from FBI investigations, federal court filings, the Arizona Attorney General's office, his own deputies' union, and his own public statements — and connects it directly to the failures in the Guthrie investigation.A $7.5 million surveillance aircraft grounded during the most critical hours of the search because the only available pilot had been reassigned to street patrol following a personal dispute with the sheriff. A second pilot moved out of the air unit months earlier. A crime scene released after one day, then re-entered four more times. A rooftop camera missed for five days. And a sheriff who told reporters he is not accustomed to accountability.That pattern did not start with Nancy Guthrie. Nanos's first term ended with an FBI investigation into roughly half a million dollars in misused funds. His chief deputy was indicted on seven felonies. A senior official took his own life. His second term brought a jail death rate exceeding Rikers Island — nearly sixty dead since 2017. The Arizona Attorney General identified four policy violations in how his department handled the sexual assault of a female deputy. His own rank and file voted 98.8 percent no confidence. His deputies arrested an NPR journalist on camera while she wore her press credentials. He placed his political opponent on leave days before an election he won by 481 votes. And his department deleted a public records tracking policy within a week of an ACLU request.Every scandal follows the same loop: an ego-driven decision, a systemic failure, denial, exposure, and retaliation against whoever spoke up. The pilot reassigned. The union president suspended. The opponent silenced. The journalist arrested. The records deleted. And every time, the person who paid the price was not Chris Nanos.Now the whole country is watching. And the people of Pima County deserve to know exactly who is in charge.#NancyGuthrie #SavannahGuthrie #ChrisNanos #PimaCountySheriff #HiddenKillers #FBI #NoConfidence #TrueCrime #Tucson #SheriffAccountabilityJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

Forget what you know about jail-based health care. NYC Health + Hospitals' Creative Arts Therapy program on Rikers Island is rewriting the rules on how healing happens for people in the City's custody. In this episode of The Remedy, Dr. Michael Shen sits down with Dr. Barbara Bethea, Director of Correctional Health Services Creative Arts Therapy, and music therapist Jeff Angell to explore how poetry, music, dance, and drama are providing individuals with new language for hope, self-discovery, and healing.Learn how licensed Creative Arts therapists use intentional, trauma-informed arts interventions to spark connection for individuals with serious mental illnesses and histories of substance use. Listen in on a music therapy session, hear inspiring patient stories, and discover the program's impact, from the dayroom at Rikers Island to the stage at Carnegie Hall.Is creative arts therapy the key to long-term healing? Don't miss this episode's honest insights, poetry and music from patients at Rikers Island, and groundbreaking approaches to jail-based care.Tune in now.Follow UsTwitter @NYCHealthSystemFacebook @NYCHealthSystemInstagram @NYCHealthSystemLinkedIn @NYC Health + Hospitals YouTube @NYCHealthSystem Presented by NYC Health + Hospitalswww.NYCHealthAndHospitals.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Frey spent seven years working as a therapist inside Rikers Island from 2011 to 2018, a job he never imagined taking growing up in the suburbs of New York. In this episode, Matt gives a rare inside look at day-to-day life at Rikers from the inmate perspective, breaking down what really happens in both General Population and Mental Observation housing. He shares firsthand experiences with extreme violence, inmate suicides, unprovoked attacks on staff, and the psychological toll of working inside one of America's most notorious jail systems. Matt also explains how inmates sometimes manipulate mental health services for protection or legal advantage, what it's like hearing confessions protected by confidentiality, and the surreal reality of assessing people just hours after seeing their alleged crimes on the news. Now running his own psychotherapy practice after leaving Rikers, Matt reflects on boundaries, trauma, and how working inside the jail changed him forever. _____________________________________________ #RikersIsland #PrisonStories #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeSystem #PrisonLife #MentalHealthInPrison #LifeBehindBars #lockedin _____________________________________________ Thank you to AVA for sponsoring this episode: Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app and when you join using my promo code LOCKEDIN, you'll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice. _____________________________________________ Connect with Matt Frey: Instagram: @freymentalfitness @outliftathletics @mcfrey27 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585253558683 _____________________________________________ 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 Life Inside Rikers Island (What No One Sees) 01:14 Meet Matt: A Therapist Inside Rikers Island 03:00 From Rikers Island to Private Practice 07:12 Matt's Early Life & Why He Chose Mental Health 13:55 First Jobs in Mental Health & Prison Work 18:43 First Day Working at Rikers Island (Shock & Reality) 20:44 How Therapy Works Inside a Jail 23:10 Violence, Suicides & Mental Health at Rikers 27:29 Solitary Confinement & Its Psychological Damage 32:58 Daily Life at Rikers: Safety, Filth & Neglect 37:06 Confidentiality, Courts & Ethical Dilemmas in Jail 45:01 The Human Side of Rikers: Trauma & Inmate Stories 53:34 Why He Left Rikers Island 01:00:26 Lessons Learned About Justice, Mental Health & Reform Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dylan Syer speaks publicly for the first time about the high-profile accusations that upended his life, including allegations of fraud, identity theft, and grand larceny stemming from his work as a celebrity personal shopper. Prosecutors claimed Dylan used access to clients' finances to make unauthorized luxury purchases, accusations he firmly denies. In this episode, Dylan explains what he says really happened, how the charges caused his business to collapse overnight, and what it was like being sent to Rikers Island while fighting to clear his name. He also opens up about the emotional toll of the case, navigating the criminal justice system, and ultimately being sentenced to one year of weekends at Rikers — a punishment that kept him trapped between freedom and incarceration. _____________________________________________ #RikersIsland #PrisonStories #TrueCrimePodcast #CelebrityLifestyle #LifeAfterPrison #JusticeSystem #RedemptionStory #lockedin _____________________________________________ Thank you to AVA & GOLD DROP SELTZERS for sponsoring this episode: AVA: Take control of your credit today. Download the Ava app and when you join using my promo code LOCKEDIN, you'll get 20% off your first year—monthly or annual, your choice. _____________________________________________ GOLD DROP SELTZERS: Head to https://www.thedryoak.com/ and use promo code LOCKEDIN at checkout for 10% off your order. _____________________________________________ Connect with Dylan Syer: Instagram: @SireConsultant TikTok: @SireConsultant _____________________________________________ 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 Police Raid, Fraud Charges, and Everything Falling Apart 01:55 Dylan Sire's Case: The Allegations and Why This Story Matters 02:59 Childhood, Family Values, and Early Influences 05:53 Discovering Luxury Fashion and the High-End World 09:47 Breaking Into High-End Sales and Designer Retail 14:12 Launching His Own Boutique and Becoming an Entrepreneur 22:14 Building a Celebrity Personal Shopper Business 27:47 Industry Shifts, Competition, and Cracks in the Model 33:53 Big Clients, Luxury Spending, and How the Business Worked 38:18 Financial Pressure, Business Trouble, and Legal Red Flags 42:38 Account Freezes, Chargebacks, and Sudden Collapse 47:17 Arrest, Booking, and Arrival at Rikers Island 54:00 Inside Rikers Island: Survival, Fear, and Reality 01:01:56 Bail, Media Attention, and Public Fallout 01:09:01 Court Proceedings, Charges, and Legal Strategy 01:16:20 Sentenced to Weekends at Rikers: How It Worked 01:23:30 Relationships, Trust, and Personal Consequences 01:32:00 Rebuilding After the Case: Frugality, Growth, and Lessons Learned 01:36:00 Final Reflections, Accountability, and Moving Forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani told New Yorkers the city is facing a staggering $12 billion budget deficit, a shortfall he says he inherited from former Mayor Eric Adams. The news has sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum — including from some budget mavens who say the city's financial situation isn't a precarious as the mayor claims. NY1 investigative reporter Courtney Gross and political reporters Bobby Cuza and Ayana Harry break down what the deficit could mean for the new mayor's key campaign promises. Then, a federal judge appointed a new leader for Rikers Island. What does this latest move mean for the troubled jails complex and its future? The "Off Topic" team digs into yet another chapter in the long-running saga of a very problematic island.

Reuven Blau, reporter for The City who covers criminal justice and the city's prison system, talks about the man appointed by a federal judge as "remediation manager" and what that means for the jail's future.

Please consider donating to our Non-Profit Organization ⇨  https://www.missiondelafe.org/giveBorn prematurely and preserved by God from the very beginning, Ricky grew up knowing Jesus but later found himself pulled into the streets, drugs, and dangerous situations while trying to survive as a young father. After a near-fatal path involving guns, jail time at Rikers Island, and moments that should have ended his life, Ricky had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit that changed everything. This is a raw and honest testimony of redemption, surrender, and how the love of Jesus can pull anyone out of darkness and into a transformed life with purpose. Listen on Podcast Spotify Podcast ⇨ https://spoti.fi/3RBKdq3Apple Podcast ⇨ https://apple.co/3evzCuuConnect with ushttps://www.facebook.com/delafetestimonieshttps://www.instagram.com/delafetestimonies/Connect With RickyInstagram ⇨ https://www.instagram.com/_da_commissionerTiktok ⇨https://www.tiktok.com/@_da_commissionerCredits:Testimony by Juan Enrique "Ricky" FigueroaDirected by Darvin RamirezInterviewed by Jenifer RamirezEdited By Darvin RamirezAudio Mixed by Paul Nicholas Testimony Recorded In Orlando, FL, USA Delafé Testimonies is a global evangelistic project with the mission of creating the world's largest archive of Jesus testimonies until His return. Our vision is to save souls, build community, and set people free through the testimony of Jesus.Timecodes00:00 Intro 00:56 Born Premature in The Bronx 02:26 Being Raised By 2 Present Parents 03:34 Difficult Decisions I Made as a Single Father 06:26 A Murderous Spirit Over My Life 10:03 God Gives Me a Vision 14:55 Sentenced to 6 Months In Rikers Island 16:26 Receiving a Prophetic Word While in Prison 17:33 My Encounter With The Holy Spirit 22:37 The Impact of a Praying Mother 23:58 The Love of Jesus Begins to Fill My Life 29:16 Nothing Can Fill The Void But Christ 33:04 Giving Jesus The Glory In Everything I Do 35:51 Learning To Walk By Faith and Not by Sight 39:48 A Word For Those Tired of Living The Street Life 45:39 Prayer 52:45 Who is Jesus? 55:52 Final Words I Was Willing To DIE for The Streets Until JESUS Said THIS to Me... (Testimony 324) Ricky Figueroa TestimonyTestimony 324 

Max B sits down with Ian Bick for a raw, open & honest conversation about his life, music, and surviving more than 15 years behind bars. He opens up about growing up in Harlem, his first prison sentence at Rikers Island and in New York State prison, and how he initially got into music and rose to fame. Max B then breaks down his second arrest, being sentenced to 75 years in prison, and what it took to survive New Jersey State Prison while continuing to put out music from behind the walls. He also shares how his sentence was eventually reduced, the mindset that kept him going, and what it's been like finally getting out of prison and moving forward with his life. _____________________________________________ #MaxB #PrisonStory #NewJerseyStatePrison #PrisonSurvival #HipHopStories #LifeAfterPrison #TrueCrimeStories #redemptionstory _____________________________________________ Connect with Max B: https://www.instagram.com/maxb140/?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 Max B Speaks Out After Prison Release 03:10 Growing Up in Harlem, New York 05:10 Family Life, Values & Early Influences 08:00 School, Youth Trouble & Street Life 11:50 First Time in Prison: Jail Experience & Finding Music 17:40 Discovering Music as a Way Out 21:30 First Release & Breaking Into the Music Industry 25:00 Back on the Streets & Second Arrest 29:00 Facing a 75-Year Prison Sentence 32:00 Making Music While Incarcerated 34:40 Life Inside New Jersey Maximum Security Prison 39:00 Violence, Survival & Prison Hustles 44:20 Social Media, Fame & Cultural Impact 47:40 Family, Children & Time Lost Behind Bars 50:00 Sentence Reduction & Getting Released 54:30 Prison Food, Cookbooks & Hustling Inside 01:00:00 Life After Prison: Freedom & Reentry 01:06:00 Building New Memories & What's Next 01:08:40 Advice for the Next Generation & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the final episode of our all-NYC series, we take the train uptown to the Children's Museum of Manhattan, where a group of incarcerated dads from Rikers Island are playing games, eating lunch, and doing arts and crafts with their kids. This is the sixth episode of “The Loop,” Ear Hustle's six-part series about kids in New York City who are caught up, one way or another, in the criminal justice system. Ear Hustle would like to thank Leslie Bushara, Chief Program Officer; and Dava Schub, Chief Executive Officer and Museum Director at the Children's Museum of Manhattan; as well as the following people at New York State Department of Corrections: Patrick Gallahue, Deputy Commissioner of Public Information; Annais Morales, Press Secretary; Latima Johnson, Press Officer; Anne Penson, Executive Director of Reintegration Services; Douglas Shore, Director of Reintegration Services; Jessica Medard, Executive Director of Facility Programs (RNDC); and Betty Melecio, Executive Director of Facility Programs (OBCC). As always, thanks to Warden Andes and Lt. Berry at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center; Acting Warden Parker, Associate Warden Lewis, and Lt. Newborg at the California Institution for Women; and Warden De La Cruz and Lt. Williams at the Central California Women's Facility for their support of our work.Support our team and get even more Ear Hustle by subscribing to Ear Hustle Plus today. Sign up at earhustlesq.com/plus or directly in Apple Podcasts. Ear Hustle is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

How Steven Dominguez, a corrupt Rikers Island prison guard was taken down by the DEA.⁣ ⁣ Steven's IG https://www.instagram.com/chillstevie/⁣ Steven's book https://www.amazon.com/Across-Bridge-Rikers-Island-Story-ebook/dp/B08QYLM7CD⁣ ⁣ ⁣

Nesto, raised in Harlem by a single mother, joins Ian to share the raw and unfiltered story of how he went from early street life to surviving some of the most dangerous prisons in New York. Pulled into the streets at a young age, Nesto became involved in a string of robberies that led to his arrest and time on Rikers Island, where he faced violence, chaos, and the reality of New York's jail system before taking a 3.5-year plea deal. After sentencing, he was sent to one of New York's most feared maximum-security prisons—known by inmates as “The Jungle”—where he witnessed extreme violence, gang politics, and the daily pressure of staying alive. While inside, Nesto caught a new charge for slashing another inmate, which added 1.5 more years to his sentence and landed him in solitary confinement, where the mental toll became just as intense as the physical dangers. #PrisonStories #NewYorkPrison #InmateSurvival #TrueCrimePodcast #LockedInWithIanBick #PrisonExperience #SurvivingPrison #realprisonstories Thanks to AURA FRAMES & BLUECHEW for sponsoring this episode: Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/LOCKEDIN. Promo Code LOCKEDIN BlueChew: Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code LOCKEDIN. Visit https://bluechew.com/ for more details and important safety information 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 Growing Up Reckless & Feeling Untouchable 03:00 Harlem Childhood, Family Dynamics & Early Environment 07:00 Street Influence, First Robberies & Early Crime 13:00 Robbery Spree, Viral Arrest & Neighborhood Attention 19:00 Life on the Run, Street Conflicts & Escalation 24:00 Arrest, Charges & First Time Going Through Processing 29:00 Life Inside Rikers Island: Reality Behind the Walls 36:00 Sentencing Day & Being Sent Upstate 40:00 Surviving Green Correctional Facility: Rules & Hierarchy 45:00 Box Time: Solitary, Retaliation & Prison Discipline 51:00 Violence, Corrupt Officers & Prison Society Explained 57:00 Coping Mechanisms, Mental Shifts & Staying Alive 01:02:00 Drug Smuggling, Power & How the Inside Economy Works 01:09:00 Getting Out: Parole Restrictions, Reentry & Adjusting 01:14:00 How Prison Changes You: Mindset, Growth & Second Chances 01:19:00 False Accusations, Staying Out of Trouble & Moving Smart 01:28:00 Rebuilding Life After Prison & Future Goals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) President Trump hits the road as the White House works to steady voter confidence on the economy. While wages and inflation show improvement, layoffs and weak manufacturing numbers create new political pressure. In Minnesota, the billion-dollar Somali fraud scandal widens, raising fresh questions for state leaders. New twists emerge in the Capitol pipe bomber case as lawmakers challenge the FBI's past testimony. Debate intensifies over Trump's drone strikes in the Caribbean, with Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul pushing for full transparency. Trump also expresses regret over his pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar after the congressman reenters the race. On the immigration front, illegal aliens now face steep federal fines, and New York's release of violent offenders sparks renewed controversy. Meanwhile, a surprising new poll shows many Mexicans open to US military action against cartels, setting up a major geopolitical storyline.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump economy, inflation, layoffs, manufacturing, Minnesota Somali fraud, Keith Ellison, Ilhan Omar, Capitol pipe bomber, FBI cell data, Caribbean drone strikes, Rand Paul, Henry Cuellar pardon, Texas map, migrant fines, Rikers Island, NYC crime, Mexico cartel poll, US intervention potential

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Friday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan covers President Trump's accusation of sedition against former intelligence and military officials, the deeper pattern of political activism inside America's security agencies, the White House's meeting with New York City's socialist mayor elect, new economic and immigration data, and a sprawling welfare scandal involving Somali migrants in Minnesota. Trump Accuses Former Intel and Military Officials of Sedition: A group of Democratic lawmakers and former intelligence and military officers released a video urging current service members to refuse "illegal orders" from President Trump. Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representative Jason Crow admitted they could not name any unlawful orders but again labeled Trump a fascist and a Nazi. Trump responded by calling their actions sedition and said they should be arrested and tried, adding that such offenses can be punishable by death. Bryan argues the video is part of a ten-year pattern of partisan activism from former security officials who wrap themselves in patriotism while advancing political goals. A Personal Warning About the Deep State: Bryan recounts cases involving Ned Price, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Kevin Clinesmith, and the fifty one former intelligence officials who misled the public about Hunter Biden's laptop. He describes how some officials use the cachet of CIA or military service to shield partisan motives. He also reflects on his former boss, Jennifer Matthews, and objects to her being used for political gain. Trump Hosts New York City's Socialist Mayor Elect: President Trump will meet Zohran Mamdani, the mayor elect of New York City, who openly identifies as a Marxist. Mamdani insists the NYPD will not assist federal deportation efforts, even for violent offenders held at Rikers Island. He says the meeting will focus on public safety and affordability. Bryan questions the wisdom of giving such a figure a platform inside the White House. Economic Signals Improve for Housing and Jobs: Mortgage rates have fallen to about 6.25 percent. Rent prices are dropping in many cities and analysts tie the trend to Trump's deportation operations, which have reduced demand for rental units. Job growth in September exceeded expectations, with 119,000 new positions. Native born workers filled most new roles while foreign-born workers lost ground. Wages are growing faster than inflation. Manufacturing orders appear strong, but exact data are delayed due to the recent shutdown. Tariff Adjustments and Manufacturing Investments: The White House lifted remaining tariffs on Brazilian goods such as beef and coffee to ease grocery prices. GE Appliances will shift more production to Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee due to U.S. tariffs and competitive pressure from Whirlpool. China unexpectedly resumed large soybean purchases and placed a new wheat order, giving U.S. farmers encouraging news. Border Crossings Fall and Medical Strain Eases: Hospitals near San Diego report a dramatic drop in injuries among migrants who fall from the border wall. Emergency rooms say they can finally prioritize American patients because crossings have fallen to lows not seen since the 1970s. Judges Block National Guard Deployments: A federal judge in Washington blocked Trump's deployment of the National Guard to the capital despite clear data showing that Guard operations sharply reduced crime. Similar rulings in Memphis and other cities reflect what Bryan describes as political obstruction at the expense of public safety. Somali Welfare Fraud Funds Terrorism Abroad: City Journal reports that Somali migrants in Minneapolis defrauded Minnesota's Medicaid Housing Stabilization Services program of hundreds of millions of dollars. The money was routed to clan networks and to al-Shabaab in Somalia, making Minnesota taxpayers one of the largest funders of the terror group. More than fifty individuals have been charged. Bryan warns that state leaders have tried to minimize or dismiss the scandal for fear of appearing xenophobic. FBI Analyst Fired After Displaying Pride Flag: An FBI trainee claims he was terminated for displaying a Pride flag at work. The Bureau denies this. Bryan discusses his own experience serving alongside gay and lesbian officers and argues that all personal politics, identities, and symbols should be left outside the workplace so that the mission remains the focus.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump sedition accusation Slotkin Crow, former intel officials illegal orders video, Deep State political activism, Zohran Mamdani socialist NYC mayor elect, mortgage rates falling deportation effect, GE Appliances reshoring tariffs, China soybean wheat purchases, San Diego border crossings ER cases, National Guard deployment ruling DC, Minneapolis Somali welfare fraud al-Shabaab, FBI pride flag firing claim

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down the coming release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, explosive new evidence of his ties to intelligence services, and the political crossfire now engulfing both parties. He then turns to a sweeping set of immigration updates, covering violent attacks on federal officers, deportation operations in Charlotte and New York City, a federal judge blocking National Guard deployments, and a little known federal program that lets foreign graduates stay in the United States at lower wages than American college students. The show closes with encouraging updates on soybeans, beef supply, and groundbreaking Alzheimer's research. Epstein Files Set for Release: The House passed a bill instructing the Department of Justice to release its Epstein files, with President Trump expected to sign it shortly. Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the measure risks exposing victims, revealing child abuse images, and forcing declassification of intelligence records that may contain sensitive sources and methods. His comments suggest that U.S. intelligence agencies hold Epstein-related material, fueling long-standing questions about whether Epstein worked with the CIA, Mossad, or European services. Political Fallout for Both Parties: Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene reignited her feud with Trump after claiming he blocked earlier Epstein legislation, while Democrats are facing scrutiny over Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett, who coordinated with Epstein during a 2019 House hearing. Newly released emails also show Epstein spent years trying to damage Trump after their personal split, which Bryan argues suggests Trump had no criminal exposure. Violence Against ICE and Border Patrol Surges: Vehicle rammings and attacks on federal immigration officers are up more than one thousand percent compared to last year. Bryan links the trend to incendiary rhetoric from national Democrats, including Senator Chris Murphy's statement that Americans must do "whatever is necessary" to stop Trump. Charlotte and New York Become Deportation Flashpoints: Operation Charlotte's Web caused twenty one thousand students to stay home this week, a sign of how many families are in the country unlawfully. Bryan explains how deportations could free up thousands of homes for working class Americans. In New York, ICE is preparing major operations after city leaders blocked federal agents from accessing Rikers Island, choosing to release violent offenders instead of handing them over for deportation. Judge Blocks National Guard in Memphis: A Tennessee judge ruled that neither President Trump nor the governor can deploy the National Guard to support anti crime operations in Memphis. Her decision contradicts data showing that federal surges dropped homicides, robberies, and shootings throughout the city. Bryan calls the ruling pure political activism that harms the very communities it claims to protect. Texas Redistricting and California Citizenship Rush: A federal court struck down Texas's new GOP drawn congressional map. In California, migrants rushed to obtain citizenship before a harder civics test took effect, a change Trump implemented to restore basic knowledge of American history and law. Foreign Nationals Driving Trucks and Spreading Risk: DHS arrested an Uzbek national living in Pennsylvania who obtained a commercial driver's license despite ties to jihadist recruitment. Bryan warns that thousands of foreign drivers, many without proper vetting, may be transporting hazardous materials across the country. OPT Program Exposes American Graduates: Senator Eric Schmitt highlighted a federal program called Optional Practical Training that allows foreign graduates to work for three years without payroll taxes, making them cheaper to hire than American college students. Bryan says the program, along with H-1B visas, is shutting young Americans out of the workforce. Good News on Food and Science: China appears to have resumed large soybean purchases from U.S. farmers, and dairy ranchers are increasing beef production with new cross bred calves. Researchers also discovered a muscle released molecule that protects mice from Alzheimer's even when genetic risk is present, pointing to potential therapies and reaffirming the power of exercise.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Epstein files DOJ release, Speaker Mike Johnson intelligence concerns, Stacey Plaskett Epstein texts, ICE vehicle attacks Charlotte's Web, New York Rikers Island ICE block, Memphis National Guard ruling, Texas redistricting court decision, California citizenship test rush, Uzbek CDL jihad arrest, Optional Practical Training OPT reform, China soybean purchases, beef on dairy calves supply, Cathepsin B Alzheimer's study