Episodes

What do you say when someone you care about isn’t okay—and are you willing to truly listen to the answer? In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Lindsey Gray, a mental health professional and Suicide Prevention Training Manager with Wounded Warrior Project, for a powerful conversation about veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and human connection. Lindsey explores why veterans can face unique challenges around identity, purpose, belonging, and accessing ...

Why would an innocent person confess to a crime they did not commit? In this episode of Truth Be Told, host Dave Thompson, CFI, speaks with attorney, advocate, photographer, and Breaking Point author Robin Dahlberg about the human realities behind false confessions. Through the experiences of six exonerees, they examine how pressure, tunnel vision, confirmation bias, coercive tactics, and unequal resources can undermine an investigation. Their conversation challenges professionals to consider the perspective of the person being questioned, record interviews in their entirety, and embrace ethical, evidence-based practices that produce information that is accurate, reliable, and able to withstand scrutiny.

What happens when fear becomes policy—and the people labeled “the worst of the worst” are no longer treated as people? In this episode of the Truth Be Told Podcast, host Dave Thompson, CFI explores the powerful story behind the documentary Leaving Hotel California and the complicated legacy of Guantanamo Bay, post-9/11 interrogations, enhanced interrogation techniques, torture, and the human consequences of abandoning evidence-based investigative practices. Dave is joined by filmmakers Chi...

Most communication problems aren't really about what happened. They're about what happens next. In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson sits down with communication expert Alex Perry to explore why even well-intentioned people misunderstand each other — and what we can do differently. From difficult conversations and feedback to active listening, empathy, body language and leadership presence, Alex challenges some of the assumptions we've been taught about what “good communicati...

Can better communication save your relationship, strengthen your leadership, and improve your toughest conversations? In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with licensed therapist Kristina Virro to explore the psychology behind effective communication, healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. Whether you're navigating a marriage, leading a team, conducting investigative interviews, or simply trying to become a better communicator, this c...

What if the most effective way to prevent crime isn't another arrest—but another conversation? For nearly 30 years, Keeley Knowles lived with a severe heroin addiction, funding it as one of the United Kingdom's most prolific shoplifters. Stuart Toogood spent those same three decades serving as a police officer with West Midlands Police. By every measure, they should have remained on opposite sides of the law. Instead, they formed a partnership that helped save a life. In this powerful e...

How do experienced investigators end up on the wrong path—even when they're trying to do the right thing? In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down once again with retired U.S. Secret Service agent and author Brad Beeler for a conversation that challenges some of the biggest assumptions in investigations. We explore how gut instinct can become confirmation bias, why false confessions happen more often than many people realize, and how investigators can avoid unintentional...

What happens when you spend more than two decades helping organizations communicate, investigate, and build trust across the globe? In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with WZ Vice President of International, Chris Norris, CFI to explore what he's learned from working in more than 45 countries and traveling to over 80. From living in the UK to teaching investigators in Afghanistan, Korea, Brazil, and beyond, Chris shares the cultural lessons, communication mistakes,...

This episode of Truth Be Told dives into the intersection of wrongful convictions, communication, strategy, and even poker. In this powerful conversation, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with innocence attorney and poker player Claudia Salinas to explore how psychology, trust, bias, and human behavior shape both the courtroom and the interrogation room. From uncovering wrongful convictions to reading people at the poker table, Claudia shares how communication, emotional control, and strategic th...

What if the strongest thing you can do… is talk about it? In this powerful episode of Truth Be Told, Pasha Palanker shares his extraordinary journey from Soviet immigrant to decorated U.S. Army veteran — and the invisible battle that followed him home. After surviving roadside bombs, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor, and serving in some of the most dangerous combat environments in Iraq, Pasha opens up about the trauma, anger, PTSD, isolation, and mental health struggl...

DISCLAIMER: This episode explores real-world investigative experiences, including discussions of violence, trauma, and high-risk situations such as war zones, child abuse, and terrorism. Some content may be intense or unsettling for certain listeners. Listener discretion is advised. What happens when the people meant to protect… become the ones you have to investigate? In this episode, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Sean Buckley—former New Zealand detective and United Nations investigat...

In this episode of the Truth Be Told Podcast, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with singer-songwriter Cami Clune (as see on NBC's The Voice) to explore communication, storytelling, and songwriting—and how artists say what others struggle to express. Cami shares her journey through the music industry, from early performances to her breakout moment on The Voice, along with the mindset needed to handle rejection, performance anxiety, and creative pressure. Follow Cami on Instagram! This episod...

The loudest voice in the room isn’t always the most effective—but the silent one can cost you everything. In this episode, Khris Hamlin, Vice President of Asset Protection and Retail Technology at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) breaks down what it really takes to lead when you don’t have direct authority, and why communication—not control—is the defining skill of modern leadership. Check out the upcoming RILA Conference! From his journey as a practitioner to becoming a voice f...

What happens when the psychology of communication meets one of reality TV’s most fascinating relationship experiments? In this episode of the podcast, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Ashley Carpenter and her father, Paul Carpenter, for a candid conversation about truth, trust, and what we can really learn from the experience of Love Is Blind. Ashley takes us behind the scenes of the pods—where connections are built without ever seeing the other person—and shares what it’s like to navigat...

Most people are communicating all wrong—especially when stakes are high. Erika Ettin, a leading dating coach and communication expert, reveals the surprising truths about how subtle words, small gestures, and online signals can make or break trust, chemistry, and connection—even beyond dating. If you've ever felt misunderstood, frustrated, or unsure how to truly connect, this episode will transform your approach to human interaction. Follow Erika on Instagram! Erika shares her research-based i...

In this episode of the Truth Be Told podcast, host Dave Thompson, CFI interviews Barry Black, a former FBI agent with a diverse career spanning accounting, bomb disposal, and sniper roles. They discuss Barry's journey into the FBI, the importance of communication in investigations, the motivations behind financial crimes, and the challenges of interagency cooperation. Barry shares insights from his experiences during major incidents like Waco and the Oklahoma City bombing, emphasizing the need f...