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 unintentionally steering themselves toward the wrong conclusions.

Brad shares powerful stories from his own career—including cases that changed the way he interviews forever—and introduces his mathematical model of criminal behavior, a practical framework for understanding motive beyond simply asking "Who had reason?"

We also discuss the importance of perspective over perception, the role of empathy without agreement, and the science-backed interviewing principles that lead to better information and better outcomes.

Whether you're in law enforcement, corporate investigations, HR, or simply interested in how people think and make decisions, this episode offers practical insights into improving communication, reducing bias, and finding the truth.

At its core, it's really about how humans make decisions, how our biases shape what we believe, and how curiosity can help us get closer to the truth. That's a theme your audience consistently responds to, and it comes through naturally in this conversation.

Check out more about Brad and his book "Tell Me Everything": Brad Beeler | Retired Secret Service Agent, Author, Keynote Speaker & Communication Expert

BOOK | Brad Beeler

Truths:

• Why intuition is both an investigator's greatest asset and greatest liability.
• How confirmation bias quietly shapes interviews and investigations.
• What false confessions teach us about outdated interrogation tactics.
• Brad Beeler's mathematical model for understanding criminal behavior.
• Why perspective—not perception—is the key to effective interviewing.
• Practical techniques for building rapport, reducing bias, and uncovering reliable information.
• How investigators can challenge their own assumptions while improving case outcomes.

Come see Brad speak at the International Association of Interviewers Elite Training Days Conference!

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, and relationship-building strategies that have shaped his career.

The conversation dives into the surprising differences—and remarkable similarities—between people around the world. Chris discusses how curiosity, humility, and adaptability can help anyone build stronger relationships, whether they're leading an international team, conducting an interview, or simply connecting with people from different backgrounds. Along the way, he shares memorable stories about cultural misunderstandings, translating investigative training across languages, and why some of the most important communication lessons have nothing to do with words at all.

Learn more about WZ's International presence!

Truths:

• People are more alike than different. Whether you're in London, Seoul, Kabul, or Chicago, the fundamental challenges of communication, trust, and information gathering remain remarkably consistent. Cultural differences matter, but human nature is universal.
• Curiosity is a communication superpower. The most effective communicators don't assume—they ask. Chris shares how approaching new cultures with humility, patience, and a willingness to learn opens doors that expertise alone cannot.
• Adaptation builds credibility. From language choices and email etiquette to dress and behavior, small adjustments can make a big difference in building rapport and trust across cultures. Adaptation isn't about changing who you are—it's about showing respect for the people you're trying to connect with.
• Don't mistake difference for resistance. What looks like disengagement, disrespect, or reluctance in one culture may actually be a sign of respect in another. Effective communicators learn to challenge their assumptions before drawing conclusions.
• Open-mindedness is the foundation of growth. Chris's message to every class is simple: "Be open-minded, and we'll learn something together." Whether you're leading a team, conducting an interview, or traveling abroad, growth begins when you're willing to see the world through someone else's perspective.

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 thinking can impact lives in the highest-stakes situations.

The episode takes listeners inside the work of The Innocence Center and the broader innocence movement, breaking down how innocent people end up behind bars — and why proving innocence is often far harder than securing a conviction in the first place. Claudia discusses false confessions, racial bias, Brady violations, eyewitness issues, and the emotional realities of post-conviction advocacy, while Dave connects these lessons directly to investigative interviewing and truth-seeking conversations.

If you’re interested in investigative interviewing, psychology, communication, criminal justice reform, or the human side of truth and deception, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Truths:

• False confessions are real — and often driven by psychology, pressure, misplaced trust, and flawed interrogation tactics.
• Wrongful convictions are rarely caused by one single mistake; they’re usually the result of bias, tunnel vision, misinformation, and small decisions compounding over time.
• Communication and rapport matter in every high-stakes environment — from investigative interviews to courtrooms to poker tables.
• Confidence isn’t about ego; it’s about preparation, emotional control, and trusting the process even when outcomes don’t immediately go your way.
• Every person — investigators, jurors, attorneys, and everyday citizens — plays a role in protecting justice and preventing wrongful convictions.