How I Survived Texas State Jails & Prisons | Corey Simek

Jan 29, 2026

Corey Simek, a former Texas inmate who rebuilt his life through real estate, music, and entrepreneurship. He recounts surviving state jails and prisons, navigating violent prison politics and racial rules, and the programs and hustles that helped him reinvent himself. The conversation covers brutal realities behind bars, the dehumanizing release process, and the path to legitimate success after prison.

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ANECDOTE

Raised Around Drugs And Double Lives

Corey Simek describes growing up with a mother who was a meth queenpin and a father who later went to prison.
He watched adults live double lives and learned to navigate secrecy and anxiety early on.

ANECDOTE

Drug Sales Began With Lunch Money

At 13 Corey tried marijuana and quickly escalated into selling on campus to fund use.
He moved from selling blunts to higher-profit drugs after seeing peers' wealth and status.

ANECDOTE

Chose Jail Over Probation

Corey chose state jail over probation so he could keep using, despite his mother's pleas.
He learned prison racial dynamics fast and adopted a 'solo wood' mentality from his father.

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Cory Simek grew up in Texas surrounded by crime and addiction, with both of his parents involved in drug dealing and his father eventually sentenced to prison. Following in his family’s footsteps, Cory found himself in and out of Texas jails before ultimately receiving a state prison sentence. In this episode, Cory shares what it was really like surviving Texas state jails and prisons, including running with an independent prison group, navigating constant violence, and learning the unspoken rules of life behind bars. He opens up about how his upbringing shaped his choices, the realities of incarceration in Texas, and the moments that forced him to confront where his life was headed.

_____________________________________________ #TexasPrison #PrisonSurvival #PrisonLife #StatePrison #TrueCrime #LifeInPrison #PrisonStories #incarceration

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_____________________________________________ Connect with Corey Simek: https://linktr.ee/corywiththekeys

_____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/

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_____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Jail Respect, Survival Rules, and the Inmate Code 00:58 Meet Cory: A Life Shaped by the Streets 01:16 Growing Up in Texas: Family, Environment, and Early Influence 03:33 A Double Life, Childhood Trauma, and Loss 05:39 Early Exposure and a Parent’s Relapse 06:09 Childhood Anxiety, Pressure, and Coping Mechanisms 06:12 Teenage Years: Hustling, and Fast Money 08:22 Escalation to Street Dealing 10:31 Proving Himself, Reputation, and Street Mentality 11:08 When Street Life Turns Dangerous 12:19 Living Alone at 16 and Losing Stability 13:44 School Struggles, Chaos, and Loss of Control 14:52 First Arrest and Learning Jail Survival 15:55 Racial Politics and Jail Dynamics 17:15 State Jail Life: Gangs, Woods, and Staying Alive 22:07 Lockdowns, Group Tensions, and Constant Pressure 24:41 Standing Alone and the Cost of Independence 27:02 Culture Shock Inside State Jail 28:22 The Revolving Door: Getting Out, Getting Locked Up Again 32:31 Pregnancy, DNA Results, and Emotional Breakdown 37:00 Probation, Trap Life, and Getting Caught Again 41:35 Facing a Five-Year Prison Sentence 44:31 Inside State Prison: Daily Life and Harsh Realities 53:15 Hitting Rock Bottom: Isolation and Mental Reinvention 57:21 Unit Transfers, Prison Politics, and Power Shifts 01:05:18 Gang Politics, Violent Fights, and Survival Challenges 01:15:11 Release Day and Reentering Society 01:20:32 Rebuilding Life After Prison Against the Odds 01:23:01 Success After Prison: Real Estate, Music, and Purpose 01:25:04 Final Reflections: Change, Redemption, and Prison Reform

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