Locked In with Ian Bick - Dpeezy: How I Survived Prison

Episode Date: September 23, 2024

Dpeezy went from stealing cars to surviving the toughest moments behind bars, and now he’s built one of the most successful prison food and cooking brands with millions of followers across all platforms. In this episode, DPeezy shares his raw and inspiring story of redemption, the realities of prison life, and how he turned his love for food into a massive brand that’s changing how we view prison cuisine. From surviving the streets to making a name for himself, DPeezy proves that it’s never too late to transform your life. #PrisonStory #PrisonCooking #DPeezy #Redemption #PrisonLife #TrueCrime #InmateSurvival #PrisonChef Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Connect with Dpeezy: https://www.youtube.com/@Dpeezy2099 https://www.instagram.com/dpeezy2099/?hl=en https://www.dpeezymerch.com/ https://www.facebook.com/daniel.phaithaisong/ https://www.tiktok.com/@dpeezy2099?_t=8Us8Ax5RfjC&_r=1 Presented by Tyson 2.0 & Wooooo Energy: https://tyson20.com/ https://woooooenergy.com/ Buy Merch: https://lockedinbrand.com Use code lockedin at checkout to get 20% off your order Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Dpeezy 00:03:15 - Building a Brand with Social Media 00:06:40 - Moving and Legal Troubles 00:09:54 - Recognition in Public 00:13:15 - Spiral and Recovery Journey 00:16:30 - Facing Prison Time and Felonies 00:19:49 - Smuggling for Comfort in Prison Life 00:22:58 - From Music to TikTok Success 00:26:24 - Overcoming Obstacles and Doubters in Pursuit of Success 00:29:34 - Overcoming Negative Comments and Depression 00:32:56 - Story of Personal Growth and Creativity 00:36:02 - Prison Food and Survival Skills 00:39:25 - Experiencing Hallucinatory Effects and Cautionary Tales 00:42:48 - Evolution of YouTube Content into Skits 00:46:03 - Making Creations with Special Ingredients 00:49:23 - Life in Prison - Unique Kitchen Set Items 00:52:42 - Creative Pizza Making in Prison 00:56:01 - Microwave Adventures and Immigration Tales 00:59:14 - Making Delicious Prison Desserts 01:02:45 - Influence of Prison Content on Society 01:06:05 - Collaboration and Getting Things Going Powered by: Just Media House : https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Creative direction, design, assets, support by FWRD: https://www.fwrd.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peezy, welcome to Lockton, man. I'm so excited to have you on the show today. You've been on my wish list of guests since I first started over a year ago. I think you're one of the first prison content creators that came up on my TikTok. Oh, okay, okay. Did you start out on TikTok? Yeah, that was where I started off. It was on 2020.

I had did a wet burrito, and it just went viral overnight. And I was like, I shall now make more jailhouse recipes. And you're like in a different category of prison. and TikTok creators, because you're not really talking about your prison experience, like other prison content creators, your storytelling through your videos, which are entertainment. It's like such a cool concept. Yeah, I try to do more things than just, because, you know, prison. I wanted to do like acting kind of and then the food. And also, I do things like on different subjects, too. Like I did the bust and no disgusting, trying foods and stuff. But I always have, I always keep my,

my jail thing going. Yeah. You know, because there's a lot. There's, because the inspiration that I've given a lot of people, they've come up to me

and be like, bro, you know, I've never thought that I'd be able to do anything when I got it to jail and just to see you being able to keep going and getting your son back

and all this stuff. So it's like, I got to keep going, you know, for this motivation. Yeah, that's awesome. And I feel like people know you for the word bussing.

Yeah, you've got to do the impersonation. So many times they'll be like, hey, you're the busing guy. What's that? I'm like, or D.P.Z. No, it's cool. It's cool. I like it's cool. I like it's, it's cool. I like it's you've created such a good brand man. You know, congratulations on it all. It's really awesome. And just like it's entertainment. Like at COVID really 2020, that was, I imagine if you came out five years later.

I know. Like you got it right. It was your time to really like do that. Yeah. Like a lot of people when I was in jail, I remember my barber was like, it's just a minor setback for a major comeback, you know? And like, I didn't know what I was going to do, man. And then once I see my son, he's watching TikToks, and I was like, oh, I could do this. And I started doing a couple things. And then I seen someone make a sandwich that they would make in jail. And I was like, oh, I'm going to make the wet burrito because I made that every day.

And then boom, it's just, yeah, it was actually, me getting locked up was kind of like a blessing in disguise, bro, because I was on Zanis every day. Like, I had prescription to two milligram bars. And I was taking lean. I was getting the prescription for that plus 90 milligrams of methadone. Like I would lie to them and be like, hey, I don't feel that 30 milligrams. Can you increase it? And I go 60.

And I was like, let me see how high you can get it. So I was like waking up first thing. I used to work at 6 in the morning. So I'd wake up, go to the methadone clinic and then go to work from there, like 5 in the morning. And it was just became to a point to where like you can't live without it. You know, your body's dependent on it. So I was even thinking to myself, man, it's like the only way I could get off of this. is if I was to get locked up,

it had no responsibilities, no job, nothing to go to. And I get locked up. So it was like a blessing in disguise, you know? I mean, most of the people that come on the show, it's the best thing that could ever happen to them. And not so often do we have, like, the big prison influencers on the show.

It's a lot of people that have just gotten out or have found success not on social media. So it's super cool to hear your perspective because you are one that, you know, like J.D. DeLay, like myself, like some of these others, have created this whole brand. I mean, what do you have across the board? Like 5 million followers?

Yeah, about 5 million. A little bit over 5 million. You're on YouTube too, right? Yeah, I got my 1.97. So almost at 2 million there. On YouTube, really? Oh, wow, that's gone up a lot since then. Yeah, I know.

It has this boost. Like, when it starts going up, it's like, it will go up like 100,000. Yeah, shorts probably really helped you. Yeah, that's what it is. So I was like, so my whole plan was, So from TikTok, do that, and then go on YouTube and then use the shorts to build my followers up until when I start ready to do my long form. That's exactly what I did.

That's so smart. Like I didn't post a single long form until I knew what I was going to do for long form. So I just, I had my first 3,000 subscribers. This is right when shorts first dropped a couple years ago. And I just did that. And then when I was ready, I did the long form and now I do a little bit of shorts. Yeah. A little bit of long form.

I've been mostly focusing on shorts because that's a couple of years. because that's like what I do with my other platforms. But I want to do some like, I don't know. I want to do some long form, but like different stuff, you know. We were just talking about something that might be. Yeah, like the cooking or even going to do something

for the inmates at a jail. Well, I could get you into jails too. We actually did a commissary cookoff inside a prison. No way. Yeah, we have some, like you could do that. You could do shows. We're working on. doing live shows. Me and J.D. are planning on doing live shows at like different states.

That could be a thing we incorporate, like where we do the podcast live on a stage. People buy tickets. They will do merch, meet and greets. Oh, that's cool. Maybe you do like a cooking segment. Yeah. Kind of like tour the country. It's never really been done before. Oh, man. Actually, that would, that's, that would be awesome. I think that would be really cool to have you on the lineup too. So we'll definitely talk about that. All right. For sure, for sure. So we're at Spotify in L.A. right now. Shout out to Spotify. Shout out Spotify. Did you grow up in California?

No, I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I stayed out there until I caught my first felony at 18 and was for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. That's what they call it out there. It's probably GTA out here, but I had the keys, so it wasn't. Was it your vehicle or now? Was it mine? Yeah. No. So you stole it.

Yeah, it was a, we were walking home one day. I was like 16. and I had, like, opening cars, and I had the keys fallout of the thing. And I was like, no way. And then I was so messed up for Zanis. I went to go pick up my homie, which is down the street, but somehow ended up in Waller County, like a whole different county inside of a ditch, halfway in a ditch.

And the cops knocking out my window, and they're like, hey, you need an ambulance? And I was like, I woke up, and I was like, what the? I tried to turn my car on and leave, but I'm in a ditch, you know, so I couldn't go nowhere. And so they gave me, I had pills. on me too. So it was like possession plus unauthorized use. What about your family? Were they in Texas with you? Yeah, my family was there and then

my aunt had moved to California and she was like, if I have your uncle bail you out, you got to move to California. You're getting too much trouble there. So I was like, okay, just get me out of jail. You know what I'm saying? And then so yeah, that's how I ended up like moving here and then back and forth. And that same case, I had to go back. So that was, I caught that case like in

2000 or like 2000, 2000. And I had to, so after all probation and everything, transferred out to California, I ended up like missing a payment. And they set a court date for me in Texas, but I'm in California. So I didn't go to that court date. So boom, Texas had a warrant out for my arrest. And so for the longest, I was just, I would get pulled over here. And then they would, oh, you have a warrant in Texas. I'm like, oh, crap.

And then they would take it to the police station. Oh, Texas don't want you. You're getting released. Okay, all right. So that happened like three or four times. Isn't that crazy? Like I've encountered so many people where. just like you're, you know, you're wanted in one state and it continues to jam you up.

Yeah, yeah. But the other state won't resolve it. Right. And then they're like, oh, they don't want you, but you still have to go through the whole process, booking and release and all that. It sucks. What did your parents do for work growing up? So my dad is in the Marines and my mom, she was a waitress. Okay.

And did you have siblings? Yeah, I have a brother and a sister. And I have two new Cuban sisters in Jersey. Were you guys close growing up? Me and my brother and sister here in California and Texas, yeah, we're really close. Now growing up, were you, like, good in school? Did you go to school? Did you like school?

Yeah, okay. So I was good in school. I was playing sports, football every year, every school. I mean, I would play basketball, track, and football, and I was really good at it. I used to break records and everything. And then once I got to, like, 10th grade, I had like a girlfriend pass away. And it just kind of like put me under a little bit. And I started hanging out with like a little bit of the older crowd doing what they're doing and thinking it's cool. And then ended up following a whole different path that I shouldn't have been to where one day I had got into a fight into my classroom.

And it was like after our school was going through a bunch of riots and my coach was like, I never thought I'd be saying this. But you have to clean out your locker. And they sent me to alternative school. They sent me to alternative school. That was even, that was even worse. They had like, I met like all the dealers in the neighborhood. I met like, you know, everyone doing like, you know, illegal stuff there. Yeah, so that opened up the door and I ended up hanging out with those people more

instead of my fellow athletes and classmates at my school. Did you have like a career path you wanted to do before you got arrested that first time? Man, honestly, I've been one, like I wanted to go to college and get a scholarship, play football or go to the Olympics, run track. Because I would like get first place in all my events and track most of the time. And so that was like what I wanted to do. And also music. Like I used to write music and, you know, do raps and stuff.

Like sing, you're, you sing too? I like rapping and stuff for melodies and stuff. I feel like you could incorporate that into what you got going on now. I think so. I've been wanting to, but I just wanted to write, like, I wanted to be the right beat and everything, you know. But, yeah, I'm going to do something soon. I just didn't want to talk too much about it because people were going to be, like, expecting. You know what I'm going to be like, boom.

How often you get recognized, like, when you're on the street and stuff? Oh, man, a lot. A lot, right? Yeah, it's crazy because, like, I don't feel that famous or whatever, but I can recognize so much everywhere. Even my son, he'll be counting. He'd be like, that's four times already. That's so cool, man. It's cool, man.

I remember the first time, one of the first times, me and my family, I was at the halfway house, and I had got a pass to go on a weekend or something. So we went up to Big Bear, and then people recognized me in Big Bear, like, first time. I'm, like, in the store taking pictures, and, like, my family's there looking at me. I was like, you see this is crazy? That's awesome. Yeah, that's cool. So how old are you when you got to California? I was 18-ish.

Yeah, 18-ish. And then I was like back and forth. And then I had to do that, when I went back to do that time, it was 2008. And I got out. No, it was like, end of 2008, and I got out in 2011. And then I moved back to California to Long Beach. And so you did that time in Texas? Yeah.

They gave me the max, bro. So after I did the probation, I did my time or whatever there. and got it transferred and I went back and then since I was absconded for so long they gave me the max. It was two years and, well it was, it was 14 months but I waited three months in California for them to pick me up

and then I had to do three months for the DUI that I caught in California too so I was just like I felt like I was never going to get released. So Texas prisons is that as bad as like what they're saying about now with the heat and everything? Oh my gosh bro. Like it is crazy. Okay, so

I went to Bartlett State jail out there, right? And it's like in the middle of nowhere, man. And yeah, it was, they have, like, big old fans for when it's hot. Like, no air conditioning. It's fans. So you're in there hot. And then for some reason, in the summer, they get grasshoppers or crickets. There's crickets everywhere on your blankets and everything.

And so I had the top bunk. And I had the fan right there. So that was kind of cool. Except when it's cold, they give you two blankets and they give you a jacket. So, I mean, it was cool. Does it get cold in there? Yeah. Really?

It gets, it gets, well, in the winter. It gets, like, super cold. Because it's, like, everything's coming from the outside. It's weird. Well, when you say cold, is that, like, 60 degrees? Is that cold for you guys? Because, you know, West Coast and... Probably, yeah, yeah, that's probably...

Cold for us is, like, negative 10. Yeah, no, I see. No, that negative 10, probably around, like, 50. Okay, because, yeah, like, back home, they're breaking out the jackets. Any November, I think they start giving you the jackets and the feds. It gets pretty cold in Texas, though, like, in the winter. Like, it gets super hot in the summer,

and then super cold. cold in the winter. So that first bid you did, is that where you developed, like, the, the food knowledge about prison, or would that come later on? Somewhat. The first one, um, like, what's the first prison meal you ever made and, and experience? Mine was Mofungo. Oh, really? Yeah, I remember seeing the Spanish crew kind of putting it together. They let me break bread with them. They said, here, bring a sausage, this, and that. And I was amazed that they could take chips. Right. Had some water into the bag. Make a whole thing. Fold it up. And it's just, beautiful meal. It's incredible. I know. It's crazy. So my first one was just a spread with the sweet and sour

pork. Okay. And I didn't even know. I was like, what? I thought it was so good. Like, I kept making that every day. I was putting like cheese hits in my little soup. I had like a little plastic bag. I'd make my soup and everything in one thing and I'd make my sweet and sour pork and then mix it all together. And I was like, I was content with that. Now when you say pork, you mean the pork grinds, right? Yeah. That's what they would use for that? For the sweet and sour pork. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When I was, oh, good? No, no, you're good.

I was just going to say we did that on the commissary cook off a little bit, and it's kind of gross. It's like flappy or whatever. Yeah, it's a little soft, but I don't know. Like, honestly, I've made some pretty good ones where people try it and they're like, hey, can I have some more? So I don't know. That's one of my favorite things. I think one of the most underrated dishes, like especially if you don't have money in prison, is ramen noodle, some mayonnaise, some hot sauce and the chips. That makes the dish.

For sure. You put the chips in there to give it the crunch? Yep. I know people, man. I know people, when I was in the halfway house, people were making that just, you know, on a daily thing. Wow, that's incredible. So you do that first bid. You get out.

You're in California now. What do you got going on? So I went, I started going back to college or I started college at Orange Coast College in Orange County. Went there for like a year. I got a little job. And then everything was going right. And then I ended up falling into like. it was an addiction.

So I ended up, I was like, started to sell code, and I was selling pills, and then I was started, and then I ended up using it. You know what I'm saying? You can't get hired. He's on supply. So now, no, so what happened was is, oh, my gosh, it's crazy. I went to go sell some to somebody.

And then he was like, hey, is it good? I'm going to rock it up and see, so it's not. I'm going to beat you out. I'm like, man, whatever. So he ends up rocking it up, and he calls me back 20 minutes later. Hey, let me get some more. I go back and he was like, you want to try it?

And I'm like, hell no. And then he kept convincing me. Ended up trying to fucking crack, right? And then so I go back and I'm like trying to cook up all this stuff I had myself and everything. And it was just, so I was buying coat, rocking it up, smoking that, getting hotels, losing everything. Like, I just started losing everything from that, right? And then I went to a heroin addiction. Bro, it's like too many addictions, you know what I'm saying?

And then luckily at the end. end of that I had got locked up again and I withdrew and everything. I was like, oh, hell no. And plus, man, I had like a lot of marks on my arms and everything. Yeah, it was, it was bad. I'm glad I got past all that. America's first pledge was freedom. Jeep still carries that fighting spirit. With the Jeep declaration of deals we're pledging our allegiance to the American people with great deals on the luxurious Grand Cherokee, with available three-row seating, premium craftsmanship and tech that turns every drive into an adventure. Or Jeep Wrangler with legendary four-by-four capability and open-air freedom. Because freedom deserves the vehicle build.

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Garden Essentials. Ellis Eden makes it easier to begin. Gardening helps you slow down, choose carefully, and stay connected to real food and the land. Learn more about Ellis Eden at A-Z-U-R-E-S-R-E-Sander.com. What do you think that trigger was? Because you were trying to get on track for that year and then all of a sudden it gets derailed. I think it's just people that I met that kind of like, I was, you know, I wasn't like officially mentally there to be like, I'm not going to be doing that. more. You know, I was just doing good. And then I was like, oh, maybe I could just do a little bit or whatever. You know, still young, trying to figure it out. And, yeah, there was a guy that I would go to. Actually, my friend had told me that, oh, yeah, I got a friend that has Zanis, you know, because I tell him that's what I used to do in Texas.

And then that's kind of how the whole door opened and that guy had, like, everything else, you know. Yeah. So would you ultimately end up getting sentenced to prison for this last, this was the last bid? Well, this last time was, all right. So they charged me. I had a firearm, possession of firearm and discharging a firearm, right? And possession of, what's it called? Ammunition.

And then they gave me two counts of child endangerment because the gun went off in the bathroom and then my son and my stepson was in living room, right? So they gave me, they tried to give me, well, they did, they gave me five felonies off of this one. But they said if I was assigned to go upstate, I would get 16 with half and only get charged with the firearm.

Right? but if I go upstate, since I was born in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, I have to deal with immigration. They had to do that to me last time. So I was like, well, this is the only choice I got is to sign for a year in county and then take the five felonies. So, yeah, that's what happened the last time, man. And that was the one that you just got out of prison for.

So you're only in there for a year? It was like a little less than a year because, yeah, a little kick-up. And these were the only two times you went to prison. in that first time and then that one. Yeah. Well, no. I had another one, commercial burglary in Orange County. This was during the whole addiction stage.

Yeah, yeah. It was in Orange County. So one of the times I had got busted, I was like going into Target and Walmart. I was taking like Xbox controllers games and then I was taking the GameStop and selling for cash, right? And I was just doing it. It was a little petty cash, nothing big. Kept doing that, ended up getting caught up for that. And then so they gave me death with prior conviction.

I got bailed out on that. And then while I was bailed out on that, I knew this gas station that my friend used to work at in Orange County. And he was like, oh, they keep the money like a safe under the register, but inside of a cigar box. So I was told this girl, I was like, hey, it's midnight. He's going to walk you to the bathroom if you ask for it. So I told me, go ask him to use the restroom.

So she asked him, they walked out. and I went through the little window that they opened for at night where I squeezed up in there went and I grabbed the box and then I opened the door and I jumped in the car ready to go if I would have left I would have got away

but then like the girl was still there so I was like come on come on and the guy was like the guy's time he was running here already noticed he was like I'm calling the police I'm calling the police I'm like fuck I'm just gonna leave then eventually like I didn't want she was still with him I was like man look

I'll give you the money back just let us go and he was like okay fine fine fine I gave him the thing boom cops rolled up so they gave me a commercial commercial burglary for that and then for the the death with the prior they gave me second degree burglary so with those they gave me a year and um a county county year in orange county and then i did um eight i did i did have to do eight months out of that at the farm what's a farm bro it was like bro it was like camp snoopy man so first you're at main jail in orange county and then if you're having you're not violent

or whatever and everything like that. They send you to the farm to work. And it's pretty much like you're working in the kitchen at the main jail that serves the inmates or you're working on the farm that grows the potatoes that they eat. Like they grow everything over there. And then they send it to the main jail. And so you're staying in like,

I was staying in some tents out there. Man, bro. They were bringing like, they would have tobacco. They had everything there. I remember we're in the back on yard smoking one time. And then the guards are like, you know, smoking is bad for your health. I repeat, smoking is bad for your health.

We're like, oh, shit. Like, they sit on the announcement, like the loudspeaker. We're like, oh, shit, they can see it. It's like it's obvious. This is a big old smoke. We're hiding behind this tree that's like, you know, very thin. And we're just trying to smoke or whatever. But it was pretty cool.

I had this girl bringing me a lot of stuff too. So I had like lockers full. Yeah, that's cool. Like outside food and whatnot? That sounds exactly like in federal. Well, not food, but like razors, mock threes, lighters, I got eyedrops for, you know, when we bring in weed, tobacco buglers, like, unlimited. You know what's interesting is that these camps and whatnot, guys aren't smuggling in, like, weapons.

They're just smuggling in things to make their lifestyle better. Right. So, like, if the prison just had that to begin with... They'd be chilling. Yeah, no one's bringing in weapons or... There was one case in the U.S. recently where, like, a guy brought a gun in during a camp. But overall... I think I heard about that.

Yeah, it was... I think it was in Atlanta or something. something, but overall, that doesn't happen. No one's smuggling in weapons. Yeah, yeah, because, I mean, you just want to do your time. Peacefully, yeah. Especially if you're in a working thing like that, you know, you just want to, you're not there for nothing too, too serious.

Yeah. So you just want to do your time and then get out. And if you're going to have something that's going to get you more time, you know, trying to want to stay away from that. Because that's what I did. I wanted to just do my time and get out. A lot of people would be in their politicking, though, you know, but, so when I came to California, the guard was like, when I,

got to California jail, they were like, who you run with? And I was like, I don't bang. And they were like, no, who you run with? I was like, I'm from Houston, man. And then he was like, let me see your last name. You're over there with the Asians and others. And I was like, damn, y'all just be segregating people like that over here. Like, I was tripping out from that. I was like, I remember I called my friend. I was like, man, they're so racist in this jail, bro. They separate everybody. Were you the minority in California as an Asian? Like, I know when I, I I had a couple. My bunk bait was Asian, and there was, like, four Asians in, I think, the unit.

We had, like, eight. So that's why they put the others together. If you're Asian, Indian, Turkish, whatever, you know, you run together. And in Orange County, it was, like, the blacks and Asians. Like, when they do the announcements at night, they'd be like, brothers and Asians, thank you for another day. So, like, that was that. Now, what about in Texas, though? Who were you running with anyone or you stayed solo?

No, Texas? I was pretty solo. I mean, you get your little crew of who you're hanging out with in there. and stuff, but it was nothing like here where there was like a lot of gang influence. It was pretty like they put everybody with everybody, you know? So I was like really like struck when I was like, the hell they just really separate us, segregate us like that. Yeah, it is pretty crazy how they just did.

I'm sure they probably tried to bunk you with an Asian bunk mate right off the back. Yeah. But you know what? It was cool because they put me with like a south side of the Mexican and they're like, do you going to be all right? I was like, bro, I'm cool with everybody, man. I'm not tripping or whatever. And luckily, all the, I had like a few.

of the Mexican South Siders, bunkeys, all of them were cool. I got the numbers and everything we'd be talking. So I don't know. I just, maybe it's just me coming from Texas. I don't see it like that. Or, I don't know.

Some people just be incarcerated so much that they just want to politic. But there's a lot of politickers too. Oh, absolutely. Now, do you think that year in county you did your last time actually helped your brand because it's a lot harder to make prison food in it compared to a regular prison?

That's what I'm saying. I try to do most of my videos without using a microwave and just using the hot water or the stuff they get you. But yeah, I think so because it's kind of different. Like a lot of people cook with the microwaves, and then I was making everything like hot water, mixing stuff together. And also, I mean, help my brand too by just helping me,

clearing my mind, getting off all those drugs and stuff. Yeah. Yeah. So you get out of. prison in 2020. How do you get this idea to do all of this? Well, so, you know, how I told you I was doing music. I used to be like an entertainer type.

Like, I was focused on that. So in high school, I learned how to make music on a computer. I'm using this little headset mic as a mic and I'm rap, making songs. I'd go and drop a CD with the cover on it. I had my friend take a picture of me. I had SpongeBob on it. Like, all this stuff. You know, I'm always trying to be, you know, making videos.

I was in drama and stuff. So, like, once my son was watching TikTok and I'm seeing videos and I'm like, I'm laughing at the videos, I'm like, oh, this is pretty cool. I could do that. And then I just ran with it after that. Did you ever think about getting a normal job after?

I went back to my old job and I told them. I was like, because I was, I've been there for 10 years. You know, so when I was locked up, I was actually getting my holiday pay and everything still. So I was like, cool. I got out and I picked up my last check. and they said that they're like oh if we have some openings you know and I'm like oh well I have I forgot how many I had like 500 followers or 500K followers already by the time I went and I was like yeah but

you know it's not it's not doing it's not the money that I need to take care of myself and my family and she was like all right if anything comes up and then so I'm like damn man what am I going to do what am I going to do and then I was getting unemployment at the time too so I was like my last unemployment check around December, and I had used all my money to buy my son's gifts and my girls' gifts. And I was like, it's all right. I could be without money for a week or so until I get paid again. And then I get a message from Facebook and from YouTube that says I am able to be monetized or I'm invited to the program. And it was just like blessing, bro, like perfect timing. And then so I didn't get no money until like the next month,

the next month and a half or so. But it was like, I remember I had checked the next month. I had checked to pick up my son. I was in the halfway house. And on the weekends, I'd go see him. I had checked my balance. Like, okay, let me see how much I have tomorrow, buy food and stuff. And I look, and I had like 15K right there.

And I was like, what the? Like, it was just like a big blessing that came out at a hard time. And it was just like, kind of like God saying, like, you know, if you do good, keep your mind right, I look out for you. But even though he looked out with me, because I should have died, bro. I crashed. When I got the DUI, I fell asleep behind the wheel on the 5, and I crashed where the vines the carpool. There's a wall, right?

So you go like that for the carpool, and I crashed right there. Boom, and there was a V on the front of my car. People were like, I don't know. They showed me pictures. They were like, I don't know how you survived. But a lot of people were saying because I was so messed up already, and my body was like loose, so I don't know if that helped. I just had some bruises.

and then the other time I crashed like three cars messed up in Texas sorry mom like three of hers man and then someone and another friend too like my friend fell asleep

I wanted to go somewhere we were both on Zanis I took his car BMW and crashed it straight into a wall bro because I was like trying to go fast and turn so like all these times bro

I should have you know like so now I'm like man this is really a blessing I thank God all the time just just for being here man Do you think that if that job took you back, you wouldn't be where you're at now? So when I had started my TikTok, so a lot of things that I started in the past, I was like, okay, how can I be successful as this?

Is going hard on it and not giving up? That's how it's going to separate me from other people, is not giving up and being consistent. So I already had that mindset going in. I told my roommate, I was like, hey, bro, I'm going to get on this TikTok. And I was like, I'm not going to stop until I hit like a million, million followers. And he was like, oh, okay, all right. And then I just kept going with it. Yeah, when you first started out, did you have a lot of people around you that were kind of like laughing or not taking it seriously or saying this isn't like I remember being in the car, me making TikToks because that's how I started five times a day just telling prison stories and people around me in the community.

I always had something negative to say. Yeah, yeah. But I was gaining support from people all the way across the country, but my local hometown wasn't. feeling it, you know. You're too old to be doing. Exactly. Why leave prison behind you. Leave, you know, don't, I'm talking about how to poop in prison, how to courtesy

flush all this, you know? So what was that like for you a long time? Well, they're like, oh, you must want to go back or something. But, man, honestly, I've been dealing with like 50% hate since I started. You know, like my comments, maybe 40% of it will be like, oh, why don't you go back to jail? These videos are stupid. Stop.

Oh, they don't have none of this. this in jail like oh this you don't know nothing stop making these dumb videos but then you have some support or whatever it's like 30% support then you have just like the rest of them is just random comments about lebron james legacy or something you know you need the hate though yeah yeah tell everyone that comes on my show because sometimes guests will argue with the comments on the haters i'm like you need the hate people are always going to hate it's good for engagement it is like i've had other creators telling me like i've seen them like argue back with people in the comments i'm I'm like, bro, don't argue back with them.

They're helping you out. They're watching the video. They're engaging. They're leaving something for other people to comment on. I was like, just, you know, like, I used to put smiley faces. They say something weird. Yeah, something you do something slick back or something. Yeah, just, you know, I'm saying that it's not bothering me.

Yeah. Yeah. They'll be like, oh, you took it in the ass at prison. I'll be like, you damn right. I did it. Yeah, he's got a goal. Like, don't take it personal because that'll really mess with something. I've seen people be like mad and like almost crying because like a girl is like crying because I'm like.

I think that's one of the hardest parts. once you get over that hump, because I struggled with that in the beginning when I started out, reading every comment. I still read the comments, but it doesn't affect me the way it used to. And you either have to build that tough skin or you can't do it. Because you're never going to get over that if you can't. You know what was crazy? Last year, yeah, you're never going to get over.

If you can't do that, they're always going to be coming. But last year, man, it was so weird because I had moved out of the halfway house finally or the sober living. And everything was going cool. I just got hit with like a depression, man. I didn't want to see nobody, even my people's around me. Like, I just wanted to be like, let me just hide out until I feel better and I can interact. Like, I don't know how it came on. I've never really had no depression like that before.

But like the comments, those negative comments at that time, like were hitting me, man. I'm like, what the hell? The comments don't ever bother me. I ended up, my friend called me and told me to read this book on YouTube. It's called The Master Key System about unlocking your full. potential, whatever. And I did that and actually kind of got me out of it. Like I was doing like meditation and everything to clear my mind, stop overthinking things. And so yeah, that dude, it's tough. I have those days, man. Like I get like depressed because it's just like it's a

lot. You know that you have like those creative slumps and it's like you got to push through. You know, I do, I spend a lot more time like by myself now than ever. Just like I like being at home. I don't like going out. Like I just stay at home, watch a show. cook dinner, like my values have changed since starting this whole thing, you know? I only go out, like, if it's an event related to helping grow my brand in the most part. That's smart. That's what I do. It's strategy.

Like, I'm in California working, you know, to build. Otherwise, you get caught up in something. You shouldn't, you know? Exactly. I mean, I don't think anything really good happens at 10, 11, 12, 1 o'clock at night. So at the halfway house, they tell you these classes and usually they're like, you know, they tell you set your boundaries on this. I used a lot of stuff that I learned from that, too.

But they're like, usually past midnight. There's nothing good that's going on outside. Just, you know, stay in. Yeah, I mean, you see some people that your friends with and stuff, they go in the clubs every night. They're doing this. They're doing that. I know.

That's too much. I can't do it. I can't do it either. I'm in bed by 9 o'clock now, 10 o'clock. I'm not in bed. I go to sleep kind of late. That's always like, I don't get up too early. I know.

I got that from you. But I'll just be chilling at home. I'll be doing. doing my editing or watching YouTube or playing my PlayStation or the piece of it. I just, yeah, I became a homebody. Even when I was younger and like wild and out on the streets, it was just me going with the homies to a park, smoking, and then, yeah. So when I had caught, I had got caught for, um, burglary of a motor vehicle.

So you break into the car, it was in Texas. And it was so dumb. My friend had came over and he had. He had like a bottle of some zanis. He had a pint of some lean and some wheat. We had a quarter pound and we were chilling, right? And so after we take the zanis for some reason, it makes you want to do like weird shit, like come up on stuff, like steel and everything. So we're like chilling, we're playing GT.

We're playing Grand Def Auto on my Xbox. And then we were like, hey man, this is boring. Hey, let's go bust the mission. We say, let's go bust the mission. So we go in my closet, we put on like all black and everything. And then we go and end up getting caught up. And then my mom found everything in my room. She said she, like, sold it or got rid of it or something.

But I'm like, bro, if we would have just stayed, we had everything to be chilling, you know? Yeah. But at the same time, you wouldn't have what you have now. Yeah, oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, that's one of the things that, like, I can't say that I have any regrets because it led me to be where I am right now. And it's like everything, I tell my son, everything you're going to go through as a young man is just building your character for when you become a full man, you know?

So that's what I feel like. And that's kind of what separates everybody as their own personal life stories that creates the mold of who they become. And that's what this podcast is all about. Own it all. Pay off your home, travel for life, drive a Ferrari. In celebration of the world premiere of the Monopoly

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View in. Details at Yamava.com must be 21-20. Please gamble responsibly. Monopoly is a trademark of Hasbro. Hasbro is not a sponsor of this promotion. Oh, nice. So I really want to dive into the food aspect. What do you think is the most creative thing that either you've made or you've seen made in prison food-wise? Like totally out of the box. And I know you've done hundreds and hundreds of videos. Yeah, I mean, honestly, when the Lafee-Taffy kind of tripped me up. out because I was like, where are they getting this gelatin? Are they getting that stretchy stuff from to make it? And once I found out it was just powdered creamer and water and collaid.

I'm like, what the? So that really tripped me out. And how do they make that? So you just, okay, so you put a little thing, pouring a bunch of creamer, like a pile, and then you just pouring like two capfuls of water, very little, and then put your Kool-Lade in there. It makes it. It looks like it's not mixing.

It's all powdery, but it's mixing. You smush all the buttery. bubbles. And then once it kind of gets semi-moist or whatever, you put on some gloves and start pushing it and compressing it and then it starts forming into a little ball and then keep mixing it up and next thing you know you're going to be stretching it out. It's crazy. I was like, how did they figure that out? And they can do different flavors based on the Kool-Aid pouch. Yeah. So the other day, I did a video rainbow strips. I used like five different ones and I put them all together and then cut them up into little pieces. So it was like a little

piece that had five different Kool-A flavors on it. Wow. And how much will these taffy strips sell for? Usually, so they used to do three for a dollar. Sometimes you could do two for a dollar, you know, if you really need the hustle. But it was usually three, four dollars. Were you selling food at all in prison? Or do you kind of just? No, I was buying it.

Like, I learned a lot of the stuff from my bunkeys that had came in. Like, one guy came in. And when I learned the wet burrito, that's what we were making a lot. We were like, hey, you want them throwing on a wet brie? we're going to make some later. He was new to the cell. And then he was like, oh, sure, yeah, what you need? He throws in and I asked him. I was like, you want to cook? Or you know how to cook anything? He was like, no, I don't know how to make shit. I was like, all right, for sure, I'll make it. Boom, made it. And the next day, I was like, hey, what's up? You want thrown in a wet burrito?

He was like, bro, you get another wet burrito? He was like, I'm going to make something. And he ended up making, like, some Chinese food. And the next day he made like, like, like saviage. I was like, bro, you say you didn't know how to cook. He was like, I just didn't watch y'all asking me every time so yeah he came in and he was he was facing life but he was he was cool people's man showed me a lot of recipes that i never even imagined food really is something that people bond over in prison like breaking bread on the meal um there's the guys that hustle that you bring them like 10 bucks and they make you a whole tray like the ice guy or the sugar if you need real sugar hit the kitchen workers up anything yeah or you know bringing back your chowdish to spice it up

make it better. Anything like that, like Chicken Day, we would always spice that back up. I was crazy as in L.A. County, since it was going through COVID. Bro, it was just, it was the craziest job I've ever been to.

And I've been to, like, you know, five or six. When I got extra dought, they put me in all different jails. But, bro, it was like, so I was still coming off of being from Zanis and stuff. So when I'm, like, waking up and seeing,

it was just so dirty and so loud and no organization. Like, the guards didn't even want to walk down the tears, right, because of COVID. And then so inmates, when they would close all the tears for the nighttime, they would put books. So it would go clink, clink, clink, and it wouldn't close all the way. And they see, you see it everybody running around. You got fights. Even the people were like, the lifers, they were like, they run it.

You know what I'm saying? So they would be like, hey, we need to check someone and sell three. A guard pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And they're like, they're running it. They're going to cell three. All you hear us, pop, po, pop, up, shoo. comes out. All right, close sale thing.

Really? Bro, it was the crazy. Like, L.A. County was like, you got to be like, vigilant, like, ready to survive. You know, that's how I felt there. The other places, I was just chilling, laid back, but over there I had to be like,

all right, keeping on my toes. All my cellies were cool, though. You know, they helped me. Dude was buying spice, those spice chips. I don't know if y'all got that out there? No, like seasoning packets? No, no, no. the like synthetic

Like K2 Yeah yeah K2 They'd be having that out there? Yeah Oh guys would be in the bathroom They'd set up a chair Yeah

And then when it was count time The inmates would pick up the chair And carry the guy back And kind of post them up That's so bad Damn like that Oh they must have been And they bring the guys to the shoe

And then they'd let them out Because they can You don't test for anything Right right Yeah so my bunky was getting So first time we got it Let me see if I could show you The size of it

And this comes in on paper, right? Yeah, so they get a mail, a letter, and it's just soaked in, so they cut off these little strips. Like, this will probably be like 50 to 100 bucks, maybe. And then you would only need like that to make a blunt. And how much will that that'll sell for 50 bucks right there? No, that'll be like 25, 25 bucks or whatever. But it also depends on how strong it is, because some people have like, oh, you got the,

you got the stuff that I'll take it to the moon. I remember. And it's like, I don't know if they like soak it more or something. But yeah. So I was like, bro, what thing is that? And then at first they were calling it THC strips. I was like, oh, yeah, THC strips, whatever. How much?

50 bucks. Damn. I end up throwing in half with my other, my bunky. And then we get it and it's this little thing. So we have to take a razor and cut it up into little pieces and make a line, right? And then he got Bible paper, the very beginning of the Bible where it's like all white. He gets that. And then he puts, we ordered.

He ordered tea from commissary, a tea bag, and then he puts tea in it, rolls it up. And then I remember it was like, there was three of us smoking. And I had hit it. I don't know if I'm feeling it yet. And so my other guy hits it, and then another one hits it.

And then I started feeling it. And I was like, damn, how are I getting rid from that? And the next thing you know, the other guy's up on top, he's on top bunk, and he's just like, nah, there ain't no weed, man. And he's like tripping out. I'm like, bro, you're all right? He was like, nah.

I'm like, damn. So I didn't really have no bad tripouts. like that. Yeah. But I've seen people like, they call it catting out. Like, damn, dude, cat it out. I remember he was like, one dude down the cell, I can't move. I can't move.

And they were like, shut up. Who you don't get us caught up? Like, I don't know. But yeah, that whole spice stuff is crazy. Yeah, dude, I've seen people go crazy, lose their minds over that stuff. Yeah. It's like, I don't know if it's when they do a bunch of it or something or it's just other people have different reactions to it.

But yeah, that trip me. It made me scared to do it. You know, I'm like, bro, I am. I don't want to mess with that no more. That's going to happen to me. Yeah, that's wild. And then people who were bringing in, like, in L.A. County, like, meth, too, but in the cards. So, bro, it was the nastiest stuff ever because they were, like, passing around a rig, like, a needle to do this stuff.

And they would share it with, like, everybody on whoever's doing it on the tear. I'm like, bro. And then so one of the guys, I was like, bro, don't you have hep C? he was like yeah or whatever I'm like damn hell no are guys open about if they have hep C or HIV or anything in prison are they common about it

I don't know about AIDS but most of the people that I've met that had Hep C they were pretty they'll say hey I got that they'd be like oh yeah I I take medication for it or whatever and I'm that's when I'm like oh man

do I got to watch out for this or what well some guys like when someone sick, they'll overthink it. And they'll think if you just touch the person, they're going to get it. There are those guys that have been down a while that if you have something, they think you're going to, like, die for it. Yeah. So, at first, I didn't know how to react. I'm like,

okay, so, actually, two of my bunkers had hefty. And from sharing needles or something, but I didn't really know. And then, like, I was just like, well, we're not doing anything. We're exchanging body fluids or anything like that, so it's cool. And I got it along. I remember,

because they were all south-siders. and I was the only Asian in there and it was a four-man cell in LA County. And I remember at the beginning they had to ask the big homie through doing life. He was like, hey, he's Asian, it's cool. We eat with him? They were like, yeah, man, he's your celly.

They were like, oh, okay, all right. So that's kind of what opened the door to, you know, just cooking all together and stuff. Yeah, so when you're building this brand on social media on probation, did you have any trouble with the probation office? Yeah, I did actually because one time I went to the probation office, and I didn't record her, but I recorded me talking to her. And then so the next time I went in, she was like, hey, you know, it's a federal crime to record unauthorized inside of a court building or something like that.

And I was like, really? And then they were like, we've seen your video. My co-workers showed me. And she was like, hey, that's your voice. She was like, yeah, delete that. Because if they want to, they could take you to court or something like that. What was a video about? It was just talking to her like, when's your next check-in?

You've been in any trouble? No, police contacts, no. All right. You know, just like that. Yeah. It was just me checking in. Just a quick short, you know? So how did your videos evolve from just, like, making the food to actually doing skits?

Because now you incorporate other people. You, and I've seen skits of you guys, like, running into a store, like, doing different things. Yeah, it's, um, um, so I like to take trends and see how I can flip it into, like, a jailhouse way. You know, that's kind of how it first started when someone was like, looking at my future self putting on a fan while I sleep for the first time. And then now he's like addicted to having the fan on him, right?

So I was like watching my first, watching my future self about to commit his first felony. And so I did that one where I like jumped aside the car and everything and took it. I don't know, I have fun doing it, you know? And I'm like, since I started, I was like, I don't want to do just jail food. You know, I like, I do me.

music, I'm athletic, and I like to act, you know. So I was like, I'm going to just try to bring everything together. I'm going to try different things, see what pops, and then hopefully I can make it. Because a lot of people told me, hey, you should only have one niche, one niche on your channel. And I was like, but there's so much stuff I want to do, you know, create another channel. But I just been doing it all on my one channel. And luckily, it's been having, you know, success somewhat. What do you think is like the favorite food item you've made that,

has responded the most with the audience. Probably the wet burrito one, because every time I posted it, like, does well. You keep talking about that. Tell us about the wet burrito. I don't know. I don't know. That one was the one that made me go viral at first, and plus I ate that, like, oh. I went in at 185 and got out at 2.30, all from like wet burrito and eating, bro.

It was crazy. Tell us how to make it. Yeah. What's a wet burrito? It's pretty easy. You put everything, your sausage, you get your summer sausage, your pickle, you chichiorones soup, hot Cheetos, put it all in a bag, mix it well, like shake it all up, right? And then you take your chip bag and put the tortilla inside there, okay?

So you have a tortilla inside a chip bag, and now you scoop it out. So if there's four people, you take one scoop and then pass it around, another scoop and pass it around. And then so we would all have our bags and then put in the hot water and then roll it up. And then so the tortilla sits on top of that whole spread you just made. So when you cut it open, it's like a burrito. It's like that. And then you could just cut into it, put your toppings, put some mayo or cheese or whatever on top. You eat it from that.

And that would fill you up just with minimal ingredients, you know? And we all could throw in one bag of chips for people could eat from it. And so that's why I keep talking about it because, one, it goes viral. Two, it's because of the visual of it. Like, you're throwing all this stuff in a bag and you're opening it and it comes out as a formed freaking edible burrito. And you could eat it in, I don't know, it's a lot with the visual. was too like what how do you do that so that's why i say the wet breeder because that was like sometimes when i'm like man it's not channel not doing too good time for a wet breeder yeah it's

always like you could always repost viral tictox to bring it back i'll do it over i won't even repost the same one i'll redo the whole recipe again just maybe and it just does well yeah i'll throw in like maybe say something different at the beginning or throw in different chips this time yeah did you You guys have like the Shabang chips too, or no? Yeah. That was best. Dude, I put up a post on Facebook. I was like, if you know, you know, because I went into one of those exotic food

stores, they had the bag of chips. They were selling it for like $8. I was like, if you know, you know, and it blew up because it relates to so many people. Yeah, when I used the whole shabangas, I think I made the muffungle with the whole shabangs. People were like, oh, man, they don't know about them whole shabang. They were like, where do you get those from out here? I had ordered a box from eBay. It came like 20 of them.

Yeah, you get them on Amazon there. crazy priced when you do it. That's so cool. Pay like 35 bucks or something for this. So how much time when you're making one of these videos that we see, how much time behind the scenes filming goes into these videos? Oh man, a lot, bro. Like more, because like some people would be like,

hey, can you do a quick? Can I be in your jail video real quick if you do one real fast? I'm like, bro, they're not quick. Even though it's 60 seconds, it's a lot because I have an up camera and then I use my phone. and so I have to do like throwing everything on the ground, getting that step one, open to the bag, boom, then crush, check the camera,

make sure the sound and everything is good. You know, I want to get the sound and the quality is good. So like I'm really like intricate and I try to like, what is it called? Like almost like a perfectionist? I'd be looking like, trust me, I overthink it sometime. My girl would be like, it doesn't even matter. But yeah, that's kind of what, like, I don't know.

I'd just be overthinking it too much. Have you come up with recipes that you never used in prison before just from being like, wow, this could be a good creation? Because that's how prison recipes like work. You know, you learn how to do this with one. And then you're like, oh, can you do that with this ingredient? Let's make this. And that's kind of, that's kind of like I made Laffy Taffy in there, right? And for the videos, I've done the crystal Laffy Taffy where I put Jolly Ranchers in it.

I've done the Charleston Chew. Aba Zab. Aba Zab, I did that in jail, though, but I did the Charleston Choo. So, like, I didn't do the Charleston 2 in jail, but I was able to make it out here because using the ingredients, you know, I'm just thinking like, sometimes I'll see food. Like, I'll be driving or at a store and I'll be like, hey, I can make that jailhouse style, you know? Yeah, I mean, you ever see those videos where it's like they bring the McDonald's to the executive chef and they're like turned this into a good ice cuisine? Hey, I wanted to do that with Nick Tio Devana. Nick Tiovani, what's your name? Oh, the Italian guy?

Yeah, yeah. The one that's in, that does the pasta and the Italian food. Yeah, I was like, or like Gordon Ransy or something like that. Yeah, that's what you need. Have you had celebrities reach out to you at all with your channel? Just that, the biggest one was the phase rug one. Okay. Yeah, but I don't know, like, let me see, back in the day, I've had some,

but it wasn't like anything notable. It was just people that I would follow That had a lot of followers But nothing like celebrity wise Now tell us about the tools That the unique ways People would make tools in prison Oh you got to see what here?

Oh yeah Look check it out This is our inmate vending card Oh this is awesome You can see it's awesome You use this for to cut up a sausage That's it right there Your ID card can cut up a lot of stuff

And we would get like metal plates made for To cut an onion Right People would make a cutting board You would get that not as weapons, but they would use that. For cutting. Yeah, for cutting.

Cutting. Every inmate had its own kitchen set that he would get personally made. Because I used to use the little razors to cut things. And once that guy came in, he was like, hey, if you use this, it's a lot better. Hey, so I was speaking of the prison IDs, you know, in Texas, do you know what kind of IDs they give you? No, what do they give you? I want to show you. They call it a fender.

So over here, it's like inmate or whatever. Yeah, down south, they refer to everyone as like a fender. Okay, right? So my card had my picture on it and it said, TDC, Offender. Right? So I saw the idea I had. So I'm coming to California with that, right? The people are like, Offender.

What kind of offender, bro? And I'm like, oh, it's just inmate, bro. Like, I had to explain to everybody, man. I even, like, I used it to get into a club. And I remember, I was like, yeah, it's my prison ID. And they're like, offender. Yeah, those prison IDs work just as good as a driver's voice. Yeah, it has your birthday and everything on it.

Yeah, when I was getting out and I had to go on the place. lean back I had to use that. And I've been doing a lot of traveling lately for the show. And I sometimes now at the airport, I see the guy with the white net bag just getting out with his paperwork. I've seen coming here, I saw a DOC guy. And then the other week, it was a federal guy. And I'm like, wow, you know, that was me. Yeah. They're getting out. I don't know if state stutes do furloughs. I did Fed time. But in the feds, you could get a furlough, or you're either getting out or going the halfway house on the plane. Is it Virginia? You went to Virginia? No, I was in Connecticut.

And then I was, I flew back from Wisconsin when I was in, that's where I did the last time. How much time did you do again? Almost three years. Oh, okay. Is it crazy over there? How many discounts does USAA auto insurance offer? Too many to say here. Multi-vehicle discount. Safe driver discount. New vehicle discount. Storage discount. How many discounts will you stack up?

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Yeah. They all thought I was a chomo, a sexist, you know, because of the look. Yeah, so you got to be like, hey, well, check my paperwork. Yeah, exactly. But like you, it was the best thing that could ever happen to me. Like, we wouldn't be here right now talking if it wasn't for prison. Like, it just opens up so many doors. And the other thing I've learned about, like, prison food, too, is...

The certain things you can apply on it that enhance a meal, for example, pickles on nachos is the best thing I've ever tasted. Oh, yeah, for sure. Or in a burrito, there's some, my friends call me weird when I say that and mackerel. You put mackerel on pizza, nachos. And I learned about the cold nacho. That's a, it's literally nachos, but cold. Like you melt your cheese and then you add all cold toppings. I've never heard of that before.

You got to, see I gave you one. Yeah, yeah, I got to check that out. desserts on your thing? I know you did the taffy. I was a cheesecake man in prison. Oh, okay, I did cheesecake too. Yeah, I would make non-bake. I've never heard of this before I went to prison and you used the creamer and the lemon juice to lock it up.

Well, I used Sprite and creamer. Oh, interesting. And you would use the full thing of the coffee mate. Yeah, pretty much. And then cream cheese. Did you guys have the commissary cream cheese that didn't need to be refrigerated? No. So you would have to smuggle it out of the chowel. We had to get it from the kitchen workers. Yeah. So,

we had that it was like two bucks it was gross but it was cream cheese not refrigerated or when I worked in the bakery not refrigerated not refrigerated how does that work I guess it's the same as like the cheese spread that's not refrigerated you know like the mayo to it yeah mayo is not right it's like that but when I worked in the bakery we would smuggle out Philadelphia logs that when you had that and it was always harder to to work into it you know it was really crazy you let us sit out for a bit like yeah I guess it's It's really soft. That's what we'd have to do.

Have you made a BLT pizza? No. Dude, you got to try it. Really? Dude, so good. You take your tortillas. Okay. How did you guys make pizza crust in the microwave if you had one?

Well, we didn't use. I never did the pizza in the microwave. We would do it with the ramen and crackers and make crust. How do you make pizza crust with that? You just crush up the ramen and then the crackers, throw in some seasoning, and then start flatten it out and it turns into a bread. Throw your tomato sauce. So it's not like a pizza you can actually hold too much, but you get your slice and then you can eat into it. So how we made pizza in the feds because we are spoiled with the microwaves is you have your tortillas.

And you take water and you dip the tortilla in it and press the tortillas together. So they kind of lock themselves like glue. And then you form a little bit of a square or circle and then you'll cut your crossed off so it squares it up or put a circle. Okay. If you want, then you put it in the microwave and you put it on for like 30 seconds. gets a little hard, and then you put your cheese on. So now you have this crust with the cheese or you could add sauce. But the BLT pizza is you pop this out, you have your cheese melted on the tortillas,

and then you'll add a mixture, and you add bacon too. We had the bacon strips that were already cooked. Then you add lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and oil, and salt and pepper and ranch dressing in a bowl mixed up. And so when that pizza comes out with your cheese, your bacon, and your tortilla, you throw that on top. Yeah, with some hot gardener. Dude, make a video with that. Yeah.

Yeah, I'm on, yeah. Dude, that's a good one. And make that in the recipe book. So you put the tortillas, you wet them so they can stick together. Yes. And then you heat them up and they turn into a hard crust. Exactly. Only, you don't want to overcook it because then it gets, well, that's how it gives it the crunch.

Right. You don't want to burn it because it burns in the microwave. And you put your cheese to help lock it together. And what's cool you do is stuff crust. So if you... I've seen a stuffed crust video. I've never done that before. Yeah, you can tighten it like that.

that's how they would make sometimes mufungo with the burrito tortillas. And then what we would also do is you put sazone in the water. So now your crust is getting flavored. Right, right. And you would take like your wet fingers and rush it around. So it's like a red crust now with the sazone. Damn. Yeah.

That's buses. Yeah, I know I've seen a couple of federal meals. Like, yeah, y'all be getting down over there. Yeah, I mean, you get your hot water dispenser. They call it the 190. Is it the, um. No, it was built. into the unit. That's how they got in Orange County. Like it's a red spot and put a

boiling water. Yeah, that thing's hot. It's how to get your ramen done or coffee. And then we'd have a microwave, like three or four microwaves. And those things are running nonstop. You get there at four as soon you have to race down there if you're cooking a meal to get to those microwaves. Everybody want to cook. Yeah, but guys are frying rice like bowls. They keep opening it up like it's crazy. That's crazy. How much stuff like? Yeah, you could, that That fried rice is incredible. I've actually, where was I that had a microwave? I don't know if it was Texas.

Because I had to do time in a detaining center for the immigration thing. You were in an ice unit? Bro, it's so dumb. It's because I was born in Okinawa, Japan. And my birth certificate says born in U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan, like that was in the Marines. But when I came over, I got my soul.

and everything and then they forgot to like put me as a permanent or apply for permanent resident or something so then I went all these years and then so when I started getting in trouble they were like oh wait hold on we got to see so they made me stay for three months instead of a detaining center over there I was like what they're going to deport me to my mom's tie my dad's Cuban so I'm like what the hell I've never been nowhere else you know and then but after 90 days there are 60 days I think they were like all right you're going to get released you just have to check in once a year so that's what I'd be doing now those ice units are terrible Actually, the one I was in was super nice. Really? It was like brand new. And they had microwaves, like four microwaves. Everything was new. Like, it was, I was like, wow. So you have to check in for the rest of your life?

I think so, man. Unless, I don't know. I got to get a lawyer to work on this stuff. Do you have any of the court hearings or anything scheduled? That's so weird. Yeah, it's, I got to get a lawyer, man. I had a lot of court hearings back in the day, but I ended up getting locked up and those just went in the win.

Yeah, I mean, when you get locked up, time just kind of like stops for you. Every time is going. through everywhere else. But just like there's so much to keep up with. I know. Cards. Like I really had nothing when I went to prison. But now like it just bills everything.

I don't know what I would do. Yeah. Now if I was to go off. I mean, I had to start over. So it was like you got to start over every time. Yeah. I've had to start over like five or six times, man. It sucks.

So now I got to ask you this, the Bussin thing. Where does that come from? How did you even come up with saying that? And what's the meaning with busing? Actually, it's with my son, man. because he'd be like, oh, that's Bussing, Bussing. And then I started saying it with him. And then, because he would see, like, the younger kids on TikTok say Bustin or whatever,

and they say Bussing. And I was like, oh, that's pretty cool. And I was like, oh, it's Bussing. And then I just ran with it. So Bussin means good. Yeah. And then you'll say this is Bussing. Some people will say it's just for food, but, I mean, I use Bussing for a really.

Like, oh, that watch, I watch Bustin for real. So at the end of every video, do you always rate it Bussin are disgusting or no? Or is it just... The gel videos? Well, usually if I make it, it's going to be bussing. You know, but if I'm trying something else, I'll see if it's busting or disgusting. But a lot of people have been telling me,

you got to make something that you don't like and say disgusting at the end. But I'm thinking, like, why would I make something I don't like, you know? Maybe something like a mackerel or something. Guys would, like, pop open a patch and just drink the juice. Oh, I tried that. Yeah, that's too thing. But the mackerel's good.

Like, when he made this savicee, it was with carrots, crushed carrots. I saw the video. I think you did something like that. Pickle juice, the mackerel and I think some tuna. He even threw some sardines in there? And it was like legit. That's awesome. And no way you made savages.

What are like the top desserts you can make or that you've made in general? I know you said cheesecake and the taffy. The cheesecake and then of course the jailhouse cake. I think it's called the steak cake. I saw that. He just mixed kind of mix everything together. Ice cream. Sweets.

Yeah. And then just kind of press it out. and then also the steak cakes with the icing on top so probably those were made the most was the cakes how do you make ice cream icing you're just scraping the um so you get the Oreo cookies you scrape out the inside and then put the cookies in one put all the icing on the other and then put creamer

and then a little bit of Sprite mixing up and put in a little bag and squeeze out the corner I never thought to use Sprite that's so genius yeah Sprite it's because it also makes it like I forgot what they put in food to make it fluffy or like fluff up but it kind of makes it fluffy too like if you're going to make it the cheesecake

it'll make the crust a little fluffier what do you think are the top ingredients that are common among most prison dishes that are like used ramen hot Cheetos um summer sausage maybe or because you got to have a meat source or the cheetahones

What about over in the feds? What was there? Yeah, I think definitely like mayonnaise was a base sazone. Oh, yeah, Mrs. Dash. We were spoiled with a lot of the seasonings. It's like a salt and pepper with herbs type of mix. Oh, it's a seasoning. Yeah, it's a seasoning.

And then your mac, you eat either for your meats, your summer sausage, your mackerel, they had chicken pouches or they had spam. You fry up the spam. So those were good. Those were kind of like your basics. If you were lucky, you had olive oil. some commissary with olive oil. Yeah, I remember, like, someone was telling me that they get, like, soy sauce.

Yeah, we have soy sauce, cheese. That's crazy. Dude, it's... We did everything. We have probably... The feds has more condiments than the state. Syracia, every meal I'd go with a bottle of Franks Red or a saracha or the sweet chili sauce. You put that in the meal, makes everything better.

I used to carry, I think it was a Louisiana hot sauce when I was in Texas, too. I had to bring that, because the food they gave you was so plain when you go to child. You need it, dude. It's never seasoned. Either take that or a seasoning packet from your ramen, you know. Yes, that's perfect. So what's next for you, man? Like, where do you go from here?

What do you have on the horizon? So I want to get the book out and be working on the book. What's the book going to be about? It's going to be kind of with the recipes of what I've made and also a story behind of how they got created and just where I'm at how I felt. trying all those for the first time. A little story on my back life.

So it's kind of a story of my life and a little motivation and inspiration to keep someone going through this particular or similar situation as me. It'll help them out a little bit. Plus, give them some recipes to look. A lot of people's been asking for it since the beginning.

Oh, you got to come out with a cookbook and I just didn't know how to go about it. Yeah. And I want to get some collabs. Maybe I get you one time. I want to do different collabs with bunkeys. and be like, hey, Bunky, I'm going to make this and then have them come in. And it's just a little quick collab.

And I just, you know, I want to get out. I want to meet people and all that stuff. Yeah. No, I'm looking forward to doing some stuff with you, man. I think that would be incredible. I didn't even think of it until we, you know, we connect it today. Yeah, that would be so cool too. Definitely.

I think there's a lot that could be done there. There's just like this whole world of like, I feel like whoever taps into the prison content influencer market, like makes it, a reality TV show or whatever, it's going to be huge. Because there hasn't been like that. Right now the world's kind of like hesitant because it's like, oh, the person wants to prison, this and that. But when that breaks free, it's, it's entertainment.

It's the next Jersey short. It's the next thing. All those, I mean, look how cops does. Looks how 60 Days In does and locked up abroad. Like those videos, those shows do so good. People want to learn all this. Have they ever asked you to go on 60 Days in? I think I did get something for 60 days in.

But I just feel weird going into that because I'm like, doesn't that make you kind of like a snitch almost or a rat? Because you're going in and you're kind of showing what they're doing. So I don't know. It's kind of iffy on that. But I've had a couple people ask me about it. You also have to take that much time off of making content. Yeah.

Which it's like it's not worth it to necessarily do. Unless they're going to compensate you that much to make up for all your work. Yeah. I wonder if you could take, I don't know. Now with the recipe book, do you think that there'll be. people that haven't went to prison that'll try to make these recipes just to get to see. I've had people in comments and people send me pictures. Hey, I made it look. It's never been to jail, you know? They're females or they're young. Yeah. Yeah.

They're like, hey, these are struggle meals also. They're not just jail meals. It really is. There's a couple times I come back from a long trip. I make a little ramen. Quick, quick and satisfying. It's so good. Do you drain your water or you leave it in? I leave about mid. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't realize, well, growing up, I would always leave it in, but then the noodles are pretty good without it.

Yeah, once I started, actually, once I came to jail, that's when I learned that if you didn't use so much water or whatever, less water, it's good, too, like that. Yeah. And last question for you, how did you get the nickname D.P.E.Z? Oh, so I've had that since I was, like, back in high school, yeah, back in high school when I was in football. So my last name is Faitai song. So they used to be like, they would butcher it all the time, you know,

Pai Tia song or Pai or whatever. So my coach, he would just be like, D.P. or Daniel P. And so I just had a bunch of friends. I was like, hey, D. Peasy, D. Peezy. And it just started like that. And then I was just like, let's go with T.P.C. Dude, that's incredible. And then what's crazy is the 2099 on my name.

when I was like 16 years old, I was thinking like, what can I put? And then I remember seeing like the futuristic Spider-Man or, you know, Venom. And it says 2099, Spider-Man. So I put D-P-Z 20-99, and it's been with me since. I thought that was just like a random one because the other D-PZ account was taken or something. Yeah, a lot of people were like, hey, you're from the 209 area? I'm like, no, it's not. That's not what it is.

That's awesome, man. Well, D.P.Z, thank you so much for coming, man. I'm glad we could finally do this. Thank you for having me, man. I appreciate you. Yeah, this has been a long time coming. I think that we've been trying to get this going for a while. Yeah, definitely, bro.

You know, I appreciate you collabing and being so responsive about everything. And definitely we're going to be in touch, man. We're going to get something going on. Hey, man, let's make it happen. Let's make it happen. Let's do it. Thanks, Bunky. Oh, thank you.

Hey, Bunky.