Tonya Higdon grew up in a good family, but childhood trauma pushed her into years of addiction involving nearly every drug you can imagine. She became a young mother while struggling to stay clean, bounced in and out of trouble, and eventually went on the run after multiple arrests for driving without a license. When she was finally caught, Tonya was sentenced to three years in the Florida state prison system—where she formed a long-term relationship with another woman that lasted her entire sentence. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Tonya shares her full story: her upbringing, addiction, life on the run, surviving prison, the realities of having a prison girlfriend, and how she worked to rebuild her life afterward. This conversation offers an honest look at trauma, recovery, and resilience for anyone interested in real-life stories, addiction journeys, and the truth about life behind bars.

Ken Rideout joins Ian Bick to share his unique path from working as a corrections officer to struggling with addiction and eventually rebuilding his life through discipline and endurance sports. Ken opens up about his background, his experiences inside the prison system, his battle with opioids, and how running became a foundation for stability, structure, and long-term recovery. Today, Ken is known for his work in fitness, long-distance running, and co-hosting The Fight with Teddy Atlas podcast.

Leticia Duarte joins Ian for the 500th episode of Locked In to finally share her side of the story — her arrest, her past, how the two met, and what it’s really like dating someone with a criminal record. Leticia opens up about her childhood, the mistakes that changed her life, the moment she was arrested, and the lessons she learned along the way. She talks honestly about supporting Ian through his journey, what dating a felon actually looks like behind the scenes, and how their relationship grew through challenges, questions, public eyes, and the realities of redemption. This episode also includes fan questions, behind-the-scenes moments from their relationship, and conversations about love, loyalty, mental health, personal growth, and rebuilding your life after setbacks. If you’re interested in real stories, prison and arrest experiences, relationship struggles, and honest conversations about life after mistakes, this episode gives you a raw and personal look at everything you’ve always wanted to know about Leticia and Ian — together.

Michael Martinez grew up in San Diego and started getting into trouble as a teenager before turning his life around and heading to Hawaii for college. His goal was to serve and protect — but his past made getting into law enforcement a challenge. While waiting to be accepted, he worked animal control in San Diego County before finally joining the San Diego Police Department. Within his first two years, Michael was involved in three officer-involved shootings, an experience that led to severe PTSD, alcoholism, and a complete personal breakdown. This episode dives deep into the reality behind the badge — the trauma, the toll, and the long road to redemption. Michael opens up about how he rebuilt his life, saved his family, and learned that asking for help isn’t weakness — it’s survival.

Jeff Pike grew up surrounded by law enforcement — his father was a sheriff and later a Deputy U.S. Marshal — so from the time he was 13, he was visiting jails and crime scenes instead of playgrounds. Following in his father’s footsteps felt inevitable. After becoming a game warden in Virginia, Jeff transitioned into undercover police work, where he took on some of the wildest cases imaginable — from major drug operations to male prostitution stings and violent street investigations. As his career grew, Jeff joined the sheriff’s department, working deep inside the criminal underworld. But over time, he began to see the other side of policing — the corruption, the internal politics, and the moral conflicts that come with trying to do the right thing in a broken system. Eventually, he made the difficult choice to walk away from law enforcement altogether and start over as a private detective.