California’s Most SAVAGE Prison Gang: A Shot Caller Exposes His Life BANGING For NUESTRA FAMILIA

2026-01-11

Download

In this episode, Johnny sits down with Luis “Spider” Gutierrez, a longtime Northern California gang figure and former leader within the Norteño structure, to tell one of the most intense and unfiltered prison stories ever shared on the podcast. Raised in Salinas, California—one of the most gang-impacted cities in the state—Spider was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to decades in California’s most violent Level IV prison yards. What followed was nearly 20 years of nonstop war behind the walls: mass riots, stabbings, political ...

Raised in Salinas, California—one of the most gang-impacted cities in the state—Spider was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to decades in California’s most violent Level IV prison yards. What followed was nearly 20 years of nonstop war behind the walls: mass riots, stabbings, political power struggles, and surviving situations most inmates don’t live to talk about.

Spider breaks down:

-What it’s really like to enter prison already marked for war

-How Northern California gang politics actually function on the yards

-100-man riots, organized violence, and surviving multiple gunshot wounds

-The reality of loyalty, reputation, and respect inside high-security prisons

-Why he never dropped out—and how he eventually made it home alive

This is not a glamorized story. It’s raw, graphic, and brutally honest—told by someone who lived every second of it and is still dealing with the aftermath today.

Go Support Spider!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/level4fitnessnorcal/

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

Hims! To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://hims.com/CONNECT

Mando! Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code MITCHELL at Mandopodcast.com/MITCHELL! #mandopod

PrizePicks! Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CONNECT and use code CONNECT and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup!

Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 Intro: Meet Spider - Notorious Prisoner

02:30 Life in Salinas: Growing Up in the Gang Epicenter

10:00 From Athlete to Gangster: What Drew Me to the Streets

14:30 Joining and Rising in Nuestra Familia

19:00 Attempted Murders and Sentencing: My Case

25:30 This Episode Is Sponsored By HIMS!

27:27 Walking Into War: Reception to First Riots

32:00 Yard Wars & Violence: Surviving and Fighting in Prison

39:30 Seven Years of War: Northern Politics & Respect