Well-Being In Digital Forensics And Policing: Insights From Hannah Bailey
Forensic Focus
Hannah Bailey, founder of Blue Light Wellbeing, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share her powerful journey from frontline policing to becoming a psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and well-being coach. Drawing on 15 years in the police — including CID and major crime — Hannah brings unique cultural credibility to her work supporting digital forensics professionals, first responders, and other high-risk roles. She talks openly about living with PTSD and burnout, facing two breast cancer diagnoses, and how those experiences inspired her to focus on proactive mental health support. Hannah...
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Digital Forensics And Stress: Understanding Your Body’s Signals
Forensic Focus
Dr Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone from Adapt & Evolve join Paul to discuss their unique approach to mental health and well-being in digital forensics. Dr Billings is a biologist and former senior investigator, while Mark is a former Assistant Chief Constable. Together they've developed a model that focuses on recognising the early biological signs of stress rather than waiting for mental health problems to develop. They discuss how stress shows up physically in the body, why many digital forensic investigators feel unheard in their organisations, and why standard well-being support often...
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Well-Being Interventions For Forensic Practitioners – Have Your Say
Forensic Focus
Dr Jo Morrissey joins Paul to discuss her research into wellbeing challenges faced by forensic practitioners worldwide. As Workforce Strategy Lead at the Forensic Capability Network, Dr Morrissey is conducting a comprehensive study examining mental health impacts across all forensic disciplines - from digital forensics to crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, and fingerprint examination. They explore the unique psychological pressures forensic practitioners face, including exposure to traumatic material, working in isolation, and the barriers that prevent many from seeking help. Dr...
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Tom Oldroyd From Semantics 21 On Protecting Investigators And Reducing CSAM Exposure
Forensic Focus
Host Paul Gullon-Scott sits down with Tom Oldroyd, Director of Strategy and Sales at Semantics 21, to discuss S21’s digital forensics platform that prioritizes investigator mental health alongside cutting-edge technology. Drawing on his 17 years in policing and experience running a digital forensic unit, Tom highlights the psychological toll on investigators exposed to disturbing content daily, arguing it's one of the most challenging yet underrecognized jobs in policing. Tom highlights Semantics 21's innovative solutions, including their Global Alliance Database with 3.1 billion hashes that...
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Hexordia's Jessica Hyde: Navigating The Future Of Digital Forensics
Forensic Focus
Jessica Hyde from Hexordia joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss her unique journey from Marine Corps avionics technician to digital forensics expert. Jessica shares how her military background provided transferable skills for forensic investigations, emphasizing the importance of documentation, troubleshooting, and diverse perspectives in finding truth in digital evidence. The conversation explores critical topics including IoT forensics challenges, the urgent need for timely data acquisition before evidence degrades, and the role of AI in forensic analysis. Jessica also discusses her...
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Cellebrite's 2025 DFIR Industry Trends Survey - Key Insights
Forensic Focus
Heather Barnhart and Paul Lorenz join the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss key insights from Cellebrite's 2025 DFIR Industry Trends Survey. They dive into the challenges facing digital forensics today - from locked devices and encrypted applications to overwhelming case backlogs. The survey, which gathered responses from over 2,100 professionals across 95 countries, reveals notable trends: 98% of prosecutors consider digital evidence critical to their cases, and 80% of respondents believe AI can enhance investigation effectiveness. The discussion delves into the growing acceptance of cloud...
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The DFIR Investigative Mindset: Brett Shavers On Thinking Like A Detective
Forensic Focus
Brett Shavers joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the critical "investigative mindset" needed for effective digital forensics. Drawing from his unique background in undercover law enforcement operations and his transition to digital forensics, Brett shares invaluable insights on why technical skills alone aren't enough in DFIR. Digging into practical challenges with hosts Si and Desi, Brett tackles head-on why DFIR isn't an entry-level field, the importance of understanding human behavior behind digital evidence, and how to approach cases with both technical precision and investigative...
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AI Unpacked: Magnet Forensics' New Series On AI In DFIR
Forensic Focus
Brandon Epstein joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of digital forensics and the growing role of artificial intelligence in evidence analysis. Brandon shares his journey from being a major crimes detective in New Jersey to co-founding Medex Forensics (later acquired by Magnet), and discusses his current roles both at Magnet Forensics and as chair of the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE). In this wide-ranging conversation, he explains how AI is being responsibly implemented in forensic tools like Magnet Axiom's Copilot feature and Magnet Verify,...
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Rob Fried's Award-Winning Approach To Digital Forensics
Forensic Focus
Hosts Si and Desi welcome back Robert Fried, winner of the Top Professional Investigator award. Rob discusses his new book, ‘Forensic Data Collection 2.0,’ and shares insights on the evolving landscape of digital forensics. The conversation explores the importance of documentation in forensic investigations, balancing technical skills with human interaction, and meeting the challenges of AI and emerging technologies. Rob emphasizes building rapport with clients and stakeholders while mentoring the next generation of digital forensic examiners. Rob shares his fascinating journey from law...
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Protecting Investigators: Dr. Michael Bourke On Building A Healthier DFIR Community
Forensic Focus
Dr Michael Bourke joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the psychological impact of investigating internet crimes against children and how organizations can better support digital forensic investigators' mental health. As a distinguished clinical psychologist and researcher, Dr Bourke shares powerful insights from his extensive work in this field, explaining how repeated exposure to disturbing material can affect even the most resilient professionals. Dr Bourke introduces his innovative "sunburn analogy" to explain how secondary traumatic stress accumulates over time, discusses practical...
info_outlineContent warning - this episode discusses suicidal feelings.
Prof. Sarah Morris joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the critical topic of mental health within the digital forensics field. The conversation covers the impact of traumatic content on analysts, the gaps in mental health support services, and the challenges faced by the industry due to work-related stress.
The episode also explores strategies for coping with mental health issues, the role of AI in mitigating exposure to sensitive content, and the importance of organizational changes to better support professionals in the field.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, these organisations may be of help:
Samaritans – https://www.samaritans.org
Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk
Oscar Kilo – https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk/
Occupational health unit (OHU) – all police forces have access to an OHU providing a range of support services
Employee Assistance Scheme (EAS) – check with your employer to see what specific resources are available to you
GP – your GP can provide access to various local resources and make referrals to psychological support services