I Was A DEA Agent - Then I Got Shot In The Head | Joseph Piersante

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 745 Ratings

🗓️ 5 October 2025

⏱️ 128 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Joseph Piersante dedicated his life to serving his country as a DEA Special Agent — taking down dangerous drug cartels and leading high-stakes operations around the world. But while deployed to Afghanistan, Joseph’s life changed forever when he was shot in the head during a mission, leaving him completely blind. #DEAAgent #AfghanistanWar #CartelStories #TrueCrimePodcast #PrisonReform #DrugCartels #SurvivalStory #lockedinpodcast Thank you to PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Connect with Joseph Piersante: https://joep.us/ 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 Detroit Kid to Future DEA Agent 03:00 – Family Influence That Shaped His Path 08:00 – Inside the Detroit Police: Rookie Lessons 19:00 – SWAT Raids: Kicking Down Doors in Detroit 30:00 – Becoming a DEA Agent: Academy Secrets 39:00 – First DEA Assignment: Hunting Meth Labs 52:00 – DEA Drug Busts You Won’t Believe 01:07:00 – Joining DEA FAST: America’s Elite Unit 01:17:00 – Afghanistan Deployment: Into the War Zone 01:30:00 – The Mission That Changed His Life Forever 01:41:00 – Surviving, Recovery & Life Without Sight 01:50:00 – Rebuilding as a Blind Bodybuilder 01:59:00 – Hard-Earned Advice & Motivation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hey Anna, I've got a new secret weapon for print.
0:02.2	Print.
0:02.9	Vista print, right?
0:04.0	That's not a secret.
0:05.6	Print everything for your business with Vista print. Business cards, stickers, t-shirt, signage, even photo books from your last holiday. If you need it, we print it at vistoprint.co.uk. I was like, cover me. I'm reloading. Can you share an interesting story from one of those bus? I'm like, well, I was on the meth lab group and I probably been in at least foreign at meth labs.
0:24.4	How different. Can you share an interesting story from one of those buss? I'm like, well, I was on the meth lab group, and I probably been in at least foreign at meth labs.
0:24.3	How different was it being overseas and what it was doing missions that you were used to doing?
0:29.2	I vowed that I would give up my life for my teammates if I had to.
0:33.0	Do you still think about the last thing you remember seeing before you got shot and lost your vision?
0:37.6	The EA Special Agent Joseph Pirsante was on a mission in Afghanistan when he was shot in the head
0:42.9	and woke up completely blind. Today, he shares the story of working for SWAT in Detroit,
0:48.5	taking down meth labs, surviving the mission that changed his life forever, and rebuilding
0:52.8	his life after losing his eyesight.
0:57.8	Joe, welcome to Lockton.
0:59.5	Thanks so much for making the trip out here to be with us today.
1:01.9	It was my pleasure.
1:02.8	And glad Matt's been able to provide the best hospitality we could offer around here.
1:09.0	It's been grade A service the whole time so far.
1:11.5	Have you been to Connecticut before?
1:13.2	No, this is my first time.
1:14.7	Okay.
1:15.2	Well, hopefully it's a memorable experience.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ian Bick, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ian Bick and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.