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_outlineHeather and Jared Barnhart from Cellebrite join the Forensic Focus Podcast to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital forensics. This insightful episode dives into detecting AI-generated imagery, combating misinformation, and addressing challenges posed by deepfakes.
They discuss advancements in tools like Cellebrite's Media Origin, the importance of metadata in investigations, and the impact of AI-assisted technologies on mental health and case efficiency. The conversation also highlights the evolving legal and ethical implications of AI in forensics, from watermarking imagery to the role of human review in court-admissible evidence.
00:00 – Introducing Heather and Jared Barnhart
00:41 AI and Image Analysis: Tackling Forged and Fraudulent Images
01:08 The Rise of AI in Legal and Criminal Cases
01:58 Personal Motivations and Research on AI
02:38 The Impact of AI on Public Perception and Trust
04:39 Challenges in Detecting AI-Generated Content
05:41 The Role of Social Media and Personalized Feeds
06:14 Generational Differences in Media Skepticism
08:17 The Evolution of Photography and Computational Enhancements
11:07 Forensic Techniques for Detecting AI Manipulations
16:40 The Debate on AI Watermarking and Authenticity
22:54 The Role of AI in Forensic Investigations
30:03 AI and the Legal System: Challenges and Considerations
34:02 Future of AI in Digital Forensics
44:18 Mental Health in Law Enforcement
47:39 Funding and Policy for Law Enforcement
52:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts