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Truth Be Told

Truth Be Told

Dave Thompson 68 Episodes Oct 7, 2026

Truth Be Told engages listeners in conversations that debunk myths, explore case studies, and uncover the keys to effective communication. Hosted by a Certified Forensic Interviewer, the show features interrogators, exonerees, academics, and professionals who share unique perspectives on questioning, active listening, and strategic communication. Topics include handling disciplinary issues, uncomfortable conversations, and discovering what really happened in situations. The podcast is powered by Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) and the International Association of Interviewers (IAI), bringing leading voices in communication, investigations, and interpersonal behaviors.

Episodes

When the Story Comes in Pieces: Trauma-Informed Interviewing with Bryan Barlow
When the Story Comes in Pieces: Trauma-Informed Interviewing with Bryan Barlow Oct 7, 2026 3543 What happens when someone remembers the sound of an impact—but not the details immediately before it? When they recall pieces of an experience out of order? Or when their emotional response doesn't look the way we expect it to? Those gaps and inconsistencies can be easy to interpret as deception. But trauma can fundamentally influence how people experience, process, store, and retrieve information
Are You Really Okay? Suicide Prevention & Human Connection with Lindsey Gray
Are You Really Okay? Suicide Prevention & Human Connection with Lindsey Gray Sep 23, 2026 3305 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 explor
“I Would Never Confess”: The Truth About False Confessions with Robin Dahlberg
“I Would Never Confess”: The Truth About False Confessions with Robin Dahlberg Sep 9, 2026 3226 Why would an innocent person confess to a crime they didn’t commit? It’s one of the most misunderstood questions in criminal justice—and the answer reveals important lessons about interrogation techniques, false confessions, wrongful convictions, and the way we search for the truth. In this episode of Truth Be Told, host Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with attorney, advocate, and photographer Robin
The Wrong Question About Torture: Lessons of Guantanamo Bay
The Wrong Question About Torture: Lessons of Guantanamo Bay Aug 26, 2026 5192 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 conse
You’re Not Listening: The Communication Mistakes We All Make with Alex Perry
You’re Not Listening: The Communication Mistakes We All Make with Alex Perry Aug 12, 2026 3976 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 prese
It’s not about the Dishes. The Psychology of Healthy Communication with Kristina Virro
It’s not about the Dishes. The Psychology of Healthy Communication with Kristina Virro Jul 29, 2026 3543 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 t
Could One Conversation Save a Life? Beyond the Arrest with Keeley Knowles and Stuart Toogood
Could One Conversation Save a Life? Beyond the Arrest with Keeley Knowles and Stuart Toogood Jul 15, 2026 3428 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
The Danger of Thinking You're Right: Why Curiosity Beats Certainty with Brad Beeler
The Danger of Thinking You're Right: Why Curiosity Beats Certainty with Brad Beeler Jul 1, 2026 3415 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 conf
Beyond Borders: The Universal Language of Trust with Chris Norris, CFI
Beyond Borders: The Universal Language of Trust with Chris Norris, CFI Jun 11, 2026 4037 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 A
When Innocence Isn’t Enough: The Reality of Wrongful Convictions with Claudia Salinas
When Innocence Isn’t Enough: The Reality of Wrongful Convictions with Claudia Salinas May 27, 2026 3894 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
What If the Strongest Thing You Can Do Is Talk About It? From Combat to Coming Home with Pasha Palanker
What If the Strongest Thing You Can Do Is Talk About It? From Combat to Coming Home with Pasha Palanker May 13, 2026 2984 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 environmen
From War Zones to the World’s Most Critical Conversations: What Actually Works with Sean Buckley
From War Zones to the World’s Most Critical Conversations: What Actually Works with Sean Buckley Apr 29, 2026 3595 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 investigator—whose career has taken him from local policing to some of the most complex, high-risk investigations across the globe. We get into what it’s really like to build trust in environments whe

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