Episodes
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David Shipley, Instructor at Anglia Ruskin University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the human cost of online safeguarding work and his fight to close a gap in UK law. Drawing on 16 years investigating abusive imagery and online child sexual offending, David reflects on what the work actually involves β from the scale of the problem and the relentless build-up of warrants and digital forensic backlogs, to the difficult triage decisions investigators must make when no team can examine every device. He's candid about what "safeguarding" really means in practice, and about the mental toll the role takes on the people who do it.
The conversation then turns to David's final year in policing, when his work on the David Fuller case led him to discover that much of the sexual abuse of corpses he was cataloguing was not actually illegal. David explains how he took that discovery from a Ministry of Justice rejection through a lost bill and a change of government to eventual Royal Assent β a four-year campaign that introduced a new offence and raised the maximum sentence for sexual penetration of a corpse from two to seven years. He closes with frank advice for the next generation of investigators on protecting their own well-being and holding onto an investigative mindset.
#OnlineSafeguarding #InvestigatorWellbeing #LawReform #Policing #MentalHealth #DigitalForensics #DFIR
00:00 Introducing David Shipley
01:20 An Unusual Route Into Safeguarding
03:23 The Scale Of The Problem
06:55 Warrants, Workload And Backlogs
08:40 Triage: You Can't Examine Everything
11:52 What Safeguarding Really Means
14:46 The Hidden Mental Toll
18:21 How Welfare Support Evolved
22:27 Questionnaires And Team Culture
24:58 The Session That Changed My Mind
26:15 The David Fuller Case
29:27 Retiring, Then Returning To Finish The Job
31:51 Continuity And Limiting Exposure
33:50 Discovering The Gap In The Law
36:38 Shock, Duty And Dignity In Death
38:24 Launching The Campaign
41:11 The Ministry Of Justice Says No
44:05 Setbacks, A Lost Bill And A Second Chance
47:00 Royal Assent And Mixed Emotions
50:31 What The New Law Actually Changes
55:32 Advice For The Next Generation
58:08 Closing Reflections
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/david-shipley-investigating-the-darkest-corners-of-digital-evidence/
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Marcus Rowe, Business Director β Public Safety & Forensics at Leica Geosystems, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about 3D laser scanning, forensic digital twins, and the role of LiDAR in modern crime and collision investigation. Marcus shares his path from military and civilian policing β including a career in forensic collision investigation with Devon & Cornwall Police β into industry, and explains how Leica Geosystems (part of Hexagon) is empowering investigators with tools that capture entire scenes for analysis, courtroom presentation, and cold case review.
Marcus and Si also discuss the upcoming Forensics Europe Expo at Olympia on 1β2 July, which is set to bring together senior leaders, practitioners and solution providers from across the forensic community. To learn more and secure a free visitor pass, visit: https://www.forensicseuropeexpo.com.
The conversation also turns to Marcus's involvement in the world's largest crash test, featured in the Channel 4 documentary Pile Up. Working blind to the staged scenario, Marcus reconstructed the multi-vehicle collision from post-event scene capture and 3D modelling β at times surfacing detail that the 90 cameras filming the event had missed.
#LiDAR #3DScanning #CrashInvestigation #ForensicDigitalTwins #LeicaGeosystems #DigitalForensics #DFIR
β±οΈ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Marcus Rowe
02:44 From Policing to Leica Geosystems
05:35 Leica Conference Highlights
08:43 Forensic Digital Twins Talk
17:55 What to Expect at FEE
22:29 Students and Career Pathways
26:08 World's Largest Crash Test
31:07 LiDAR Explained Simply
34:36 Courtroom Storytelling in 3D
36:02 Real Cases and Proof Standards
38:40 TV Production
41:20 Micron Accuracy Use Cases
42:25 Footprints Without Contact
46:56 From Microns to Kilometers
50:35 VR for Juries and Trust
52:04 Holistic Capture Beats Bias
56:02 FEE Event Invitation
01:00:36 Wrap Up
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/leicas-marcus-rowe-on-investigating-the-worlds-largest-crash-test-plus-what-to-expect-at-fee-2026/
π Show Notes
Leica Geosystems β https://leica-geosystems.com
Hexagon β https://hexagon.com
Leica DISTO β https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/disto
Forensics Europe Expo (FEE) β https://www.forensicseuropeexpo.com
Channel 4 "Pile Up" documentary β https://www.channel4.com/programmes/pile-up-worlds-biggest-crash-test
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Missing episodes?
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Phil Anderson, Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study. Phil and host Paul Gullon-Scott unpack the findings from a survey of 179 digital forensic investigators across the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, India, and beyond. The study used validated psychometric instruments to put hard numbers behind what the profession has been hearing anecdotally for years.
Paul and Phil dig into the emerging impact of AI-generated CSAM, where 60% of respondents reported finding it slightly more distressing than real material β and where victim identification is beginning to break down as the realism of generated imagery improves. They also examine the most clinically significant finding in the study: 20% of digital forensic investigators reported active suicidal or self-harm ideation at a clinically significant frequency, roughly four times the general population rate. Set against 61% of respondents lacking access to good-quality support services, alongside hypervigilance, sleep disturbance, retention risk, and physical health symptoms, the picture is one Forensic Focus is taking directly to the UK Home Office.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #InvestigatorWellbeing #CSAM #AIGeneratedCSAM #LawEnforcement
00:00 Welcome and Study Intro
00:38 Meet Phil and Motivation
03:23 Survey Scope and Global Reach
07:53 Who Responded and Why It Matters
09:38 Methodology and Validated Measures
11:38 Workload Pressures and AI Factor
15:21 Top Stressors and Management Levers
20:29 Burnout Risk and Retention Crisis
25:56 AI Generated CSAM Findings
31:36 AI Victim Misidentification
32:42 Investigator Stress Burden
33:27 Tech Outpacing Regulation
36:28 PTSD Symptom Findings
38:06 Judgment Under Trauma
40:14 Suicidal Ideation Data
45:16 Support Services Crisis
46:42 Physical Health Impacts
50:03 Report Next Steps
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/burnout-ptsd-suicidal-thoughts-the-dfir-well-being-study-results-are-in/
π Show Notes
Northumbria University β https://www.northumbria.ac.uk
Paul Gullon-Scott on LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-g-0090605/
Phil Anderson on LinkedIn β https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-anderson-a555377/
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Stuart Hutchinson, VP of Sales at ADF Solutions, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about on-scene digital forensics and empowering first responders during the golden hour. Stuart shares his journey from 23 years with the Met Police β including a chance encounter in a New Scotland Yard lift that led him into Mac forensics and the vendor space at BlackBag, Cellebrite, Oxygen, and now ADF. With 99.9% of investigations involving a digital element, he argues that mishandling digital evidence at the scene is as damaging as trampling through traditional forensic evidence.
The conversation covers ADF's preview mode and search profile methodology, which gives first responders advanced logical acquisitions in minutes rather than 45+ minutes for a full extraction. Stuart explains how one UK force cut lab submissions by over 40% using an intelligence-led CAID hash triage strategy, and the team discuss locked-down search profiles built at DFU level, managing collateral intrusion, building trust with victims and witnesses, and ADF's screen capture and OCR for Chromebooks, PlayStations, Xboxes, and anything with HDMI out.
#ADFSolutions #OnSceneTriage #MobileForensics #CAID #CSAM #FirstResponders #DigitalForensics #DFIR
00:00 Introducing Stuart Hutchinson and ADF Solutions
02:13 From Met to Mac Forensics
07:26 Why On Scene Triage
08:01 Golden Hour Decisions
13:24 What to Triage First
16:26 ADF Field Kit Overview
18:04 Preview Mode Workflow
22:34 Search Profiles and Staging
26:38 Investigator Over Automation
28:11 Impact and CSAM Hashing
29:34 CAID Hash Triage Strategy
32:45 Efficiency Versus Thoroughness
35:07 Locked Search Profiles
37:20 Training For Limitations
42:46 Device Security Pressures
44:45 From Triage To Full Forensics
47:44 Victim Witness Phone Trust
52:27 Screen Capture And OCR
57:49 Wrap Up And Resources
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/on-scene-digital-forensics-winning-investigations-before-the-lab/
π Show Notes
ADF Solutions β https://adfsolutions.com/
ADF Weekly Training Sessions β https://adfsolutions.com/weekly-training-sessions/
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Dr. Fazeelat Duran, Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Birmingham, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the psychological impact of working with distressing material in law enforcement roles. Drawing on her recent longitudinal study β the first of its kind to follow newly recruited secondary investigators and analysts from day one through 18 months in role β Dr. Duran explains how repeated, indirect exposure to traumatic material shapes mental health over time. She walks through the trajectory her team observed at six, 12, and 18 months, the concept of "dosage of exposure," and why early warning signs often go hidden in the first six months when the novelty effect masks the emotional toll to come.
The conversation then turns to coping strategies, the difference between adaptive and maladaptive responses (including the trap of thought suppression), and the idea of a psychological contract between staff and the organisation β and what happens when that contract is breached through unmanageable workloads, limited staffing, and a lack of allocated time for well-being resources. Dr. Duran and host Paul also discuss what organisations should be doing differently, why a one-size-fits-all approach to support fails this group, and the next phase of Dr. Duran's work, including brain imaging findings and a new study on neurodivergence in this workforce.
#SecondaryTraumaticStress #MentalHealth #LawEnforcement #Wellbeing #PsychologicalContract #DigitalForensics #DFIR
00:00 Introducing Dr Fazeelat Duran
02:09 Secondary Trauma Explained
03:42 Research Gap and Longitudinal Study Design
11:17 Early Warning Signs
12:51 Proactive Tailored Support
18:02 Mixed Methods Evidence
19:49 Dosage of Exposure
22:59 Daily Volume and Attrition
25:16 Coping Shifts Over Time
26:45 Maladaptive Coping Patterns
29:05 Isolation and Social Strain
30:34 Workload and AI Pressure
33:08 Psychological Contract Breach
35:23 Building a Caring Culture
37:25 Early Support and Preparation
40:27 Signs, Symptoms and Self Care
42:30 Neurodivergence Research
44:51 Closing Reflections
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/how-distressing-material-shapes-investigator-well-being/
π Show Notes
Ongoing Exposure to Distressing Material is Associated with Worsening Mental Health in UK Law Enforcement Staff: a Longitudinal Interview Study β https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11896-026-09809-2
Dr Fazeelat Duran, University of Birmingham β https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/psychology/duran-fazeelat
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Academic Centres of Excellence β https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/npcc-creating-nine-policing-academic-centres-of-excellence-p-aces
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Si and Desi discuss a range of digital forensics topics, from writing forensic reports that juries can actually understand, to whether AI is coming for "button pusher" DFIR jobs. They explore plain language standards, the classic confusion between forensic "images" and pictures, and Brett Shavers' provocative blog post on AI and job security β leading into a wider discussion about the distinction between technicians and analysts in digital forensics.
Si shares highlights from the Leica Geosystems Conference, including fascinating audio forensics research by Henry Vega on deriving vehicle speeds and weapon calibers from sound recordings, and Swedish police reconstructions of a mass shooting using audio evidence and Unreal Engine walkthroughs. The pair also explore the forensic challenges of AI-generated code, agentic processes on endpoints, and the security risks of consumer AI tools.
#DFIR #DigitalForensics #AI #PrivacyParadox #AudioForensics
00:00 Welcome
00:34 Writing Clear Forensic Reports
01:20 Visual Timelines and Storytelling
06:52 Jargon Pitfalls and Glossaries
10:50 Old Media and Blu-Ray News
12:16 UPS Backups and Failing NAS
16:58 AI Will Replace Button Pushers
18:58 Technician vs Analyst Debate
25:54 Backlogs, Privacy and Evidence
34:39 Privacy Paradox and Distrust
42:45 AI Writes Podcast Intro
43:52 Copyright Lawsuit Talk
45:24 Claude vs ChatGPT Coding
48:48 Forensic Traces of AI
50:16 Agentic IR Attribution
53:43 Consumer Agents Security Risks
59:13 Leica Conference Highlights
01:01:09 Audio Forensics Breakthroughs
01:06:44 Image Forgery History
01:12:58 Chunnel Travel
01:17:36 Wrap-Up
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/dfir-in-2026-ai-button-pusher-forensics-writing-courtroom-reports-audio-breakthroughs-and-the-leica-geosystems-conference/
Show Notes
'If you suck at your DFIR job, AI is going to take it.' (Brett Shavers) β https://brettshavers.com/brett-s-blog/entry/if-you-suck-at-your-dfir-job-ai-is-going-to-take-it
'Sony shuts down production of recordable CD-R, DVD-R and BD-R discs' (Azernews) β https://www.azernews.az/region/228058.html
Ross Ulbricht (Wikipedia) β https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Ulbricht
'Regulator contacts Meta over workers watching intimate AI glasses videos' (BBC) β https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q33nvj0qpo
'Why people don't demand data privacy β even as governments and corporations collect more personal information' (The Conversation) β https://theconversation.com/why-people-dont-demand-data-privacy-even-as-governments-and-corporations-collect-more-personal-information-262197
'Evaluating privacy - determining user privacy expectations on the web' (Science Direct) β https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404821000651
'The privacy paradox: Stay one step ahead of it' (Data Guard) β https://www.dataguard.com/blog/privacy-paradox/
Oxford Guide to Plain English (Amazon) β https://amzn.eu/d/09dj8Gr8
Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard: Using Digital Forensics and Investigative Techniques to Identify Cybercrime Suspects (Amazon) β https://amzn.eu/d/08fpfTny
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Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie, Associate Professor at the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services at Anglia Ruskin University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about mental health and well-being in policing β and the often-overlooked toll on police families. Drawing on 17 years as a police officer before moving into academia, Dr Lennie shares the moment her own mental health forced a career-defining decision, and how that experience shaped her research into the culture of silencing, stigma, and emotional masking that still pervades policing today. She explains why the context of policing β the trauma, threat, and violence β is not what harms officers most; it's how they're treated by the organisation afterwards.
Dr Lennie describes the isolation partners face, the vicarious trauma they absorb while debriefing their officers, the intergenerational patterns that pull children of police into the same job with the same emotional rules, and the practical support families are asking for. She also discusses the Leapwise National Police Wellbeing Survey, the shift away from "resilience" messaging, the role of the academic working group at Anglia Ruskin, and why properly evaluating interventions is the only way to secure lasting change.
#PoliceWellbeing #PoliceFamilies #MentalHealth #PoliceMentalHealth #VicariousTrauma #DigitalForensics #dfir
β±οΈ Timestamps
00:00 Introducing Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie
02:40 From Policing to Academia
03:51 Mental Health Breaking Point
06:54 Culture of Silence
11:13 Evidence Into Action
12:44 Biggest Challenges Today
13:59 How Families Are Impacted
18:38 Why Families Are Overlooked
19:29 Support Families Need
22:31 Kids and Hidden Trauma
26:42 Stress at Home
28:07 Emotional Silencing
29:23 Punitive Help-Seeking
32:46 Investigations and Isolation
33:32 Academic Working Group
35:32 Evidence Into Practice
46:41 Research Trust Barriers
51:57 Final Message
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/policings-well-being-problem-stigma-isolation-and-the-retention-crisis/
π Show Notes
Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services (CEEUPS) β https://www.aru.ac.uk/research/our-research-institutes-and-centres/centre-of-excellence-for-equity-in-uniformed-public-services
Dr Sarah-Jane Lennie (email) β [email protected].uk
National Police Well-Being Survey 2025 β https://oscarkilo.org.uk/national-police-wellbeing-survey-2025-deep-dive-psychological-safety
Oscar Kilo Thank You Film β https://youtu.be/f-WUJeQG_E4?si=1PgwYD24n58T0M3z
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Rob Fried, digital forensics consultant, author, and assistant professor at Hofstra University, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the evolving challenges of forensic practice, AI in investigations, and his latest book. Rob discusses his annual publication cadence β now in its fourth edition β and how each year's content is shaped by real cases, collaborations, and emerging topics in the DFIR community. This year's edition tackles AI policy, data culling strategy, and the documentation practices that keep forensic work defensible in court.
The conversation also covers the growing complexity of remote collections and the soft skills required to manage them effectively, the tension between targeted and full file system approaches, and what happens when those decisions come under scrutiny in litigation. Rob shares his experience building a forensics practice from the ground up within an established e-discovery firm, his work teaching the next generation of examiners at Hofstra, and his upcoming symposium β now in its fifth year β which this year will focus on open source intelligence and corporate investigations.
#mobileforensics #digitalforensics #dfir
β±οΈ Timestamps
00:00 Introducing Rob Fried
03:48 Why Rob Keeps Writing
07:33 AI Policies and Teaching
09:39 AI Tools and NotebookLM
11:42 AI Spam Call Story
14:33 Forensic Lab and Data Strategy
22:30 Targeted Collection Risks
26:10 Remote Collections and Soft Skills
33:41 Building a Forensics Practice
35:14 Academia and Closing Skill Gaps
39:17 Forensics Network
41:26 Learning and Collaboration
45:42 Planning the Annual Symposium
50:36 Tech Roots and Career Values
54:49 Swag, Challenge Coins and Future Plans
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π₯ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/rob-fried-on-new-challenges-in-digital-forensics/
π Show Notes
Forensics By Fried β https://forensicsbyfried.com
Rob Fried's Books β https://forensicsbyfried.com/books
AI Spoof Call (Instagram) β https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVOXY5MiGNT/?igsh=N3J0cDJwaXk1bW5o
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π Complete the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study: https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey
Bunmi Bloom, co-founder of Sena Forensics, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the emotional reality of working in digital forensics and the psychological toll of long-term exposure to traumatic material. Drawing on her background with the Metropolitan Police and the Financial Conduct Authority, Bunmi reflects on how DFIR practitioners navigate disturbing images, case reports, and the pressure to "stay strong and get on with it."
The conversation explores coping mechanisms inside the lab, the vital role of social support, and how desensitisation can develop over time. Bunmi shares why many investigators feel unable to speak openly, how team culture shapes resilience, and what better preparation for new DFIs could look like. She also considers whether psychological screening, mentoring, and leadership-driven change could help create safer, more supportive forensic workplaces.
#digitalforensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Policing #CSAM
00:00 Introducing Bunmi Bloom
00:39 Sena Forensics: Mission and Services
03:44 Professional Background
05:35 The Impactful LinkedIn Post
07:50 Emotional Challenges in Digital Forensics
10:55 Coping Mechanisms and Social Support
15:20 Desensitization and Emotional Detachment
18:39 Preparation and Support for New DFIs
22:56 The Importance of Recognizing Stressors
25:16 The Role of Social Support
28:27 Cultural Shifts in Mental Health Awareness
31:53 Psychological Screening in Recruitment
38:53 Systemic Change and Leadership
41:20 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/preparing-investigators-for-trauma-exposure-in-digital-forensics/
π Show Notes
Sena Forensics on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sena-forensics-bunmi-bloom-76a592374/
Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey
π Follow Forensic Focus
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π Take The Surveys
An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making
https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C
Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study
https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey
Carol Brooks, a cyber and organisational psychologist and leadership consultant, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss her PhD research into covert cyber investigators and the psychological factors that shape their resilience and investigative decision-making. She explains what it really means to work "covertly" online and why inconsistent job titles across law enforcement, cybersecurity and the private sector make it difficult even to define the workforce she is studying.
The conversation explores the significant challenges involved in recruiting participants β from suspicion and cultural barriers to the difficulties of engaging freelancers and small teams β and highlights why anonymity and ethical oversight are critical to building trust. It also examines the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry if research is to have real-world impact, before concluding with a call for covert cyber investigators worldwide to take part in the study and help give this hidden workforce a much-needed voice.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #CyberPsychology #InvestigatorWellbeing #CovertInvestigations #mentalhealth
00:00 Introducing Carol Brooks
02:05 Carol's PhD Journey and Research Focus
06:49 Understanding Covert Cyber Investigators
13:11 Challenges in Recruiting Participants
27:18 Psychological Factors in Cyber Investigations
29:54 Setting PhD Goals and Challenges
31:02 Connecting with Covert Investigators
32:25 Overcoming Suspicion and Misconceptions
33:26 Strategies for Accessing Networks
36:37 Supporting Investigator Wellbeing
46:55 Bridging Academia and Industry
52:50 Balancing PhD and Personal Life
58:36 Call to Action for Covert Investigators
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/covert-cyber-investigator-well-being-with-carol-brooks/
π Show Notes
An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making - https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C
British Psychological Society Cyber Psychology Section β https://www.bps.org.uk
Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Phil Anderson from Northumbria University joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the launch of the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study β a global research project examining the psychological and physical impact of digital forensic work across both law enforcement and the private sector.
Drawing on his 24-year academic career and long-standing collaboration with Northumbria Police, Phil explains how digital forensics units have evolved and why DFIs are facing unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and workload pressure.
Together with host Paul, he outlines the four core research themes behind the study β early-life trauma and resilience, the mind-body impact of occupational stress, organisational protective factors, and the role of neurodiversity β and issues a clear call to action for DFIs worldwide to take part and help drive meaningful change.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicWellbeing #DFIs #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #Trauma #PoliceForensics
00:00 Phil Anderson's Journey into Digital Forensics
01:34 Collaboration with Northumbria Police
02:33 The Evolution of Digital Forensics Units
03:34 Planning the Forensic Focus Well-Being Study
11:40 Exploring the Impact of Early Life Trauma on DFIs
19:51 Coping Strategies and Physical Health in DFIs
24:37 Challenges and Stressors in Digital Forensics
27:51 Challenges in Digital Forensics
28:42 Recruitment and Retention Issues
30:18 Acknowledging the Crisis
33:34 Protective Factors Against Trauma
44:08 Neurodiversity in Digital Forensics
47:46 Call to Action: Participate in the Survey
π Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/forensic-focus-international-well-being-study-have-your-say/
π Show Notes
Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey
Forensic Focus and Northumbria University Launch International Well-Being Study for Digital Forensic Investigators - https://www.forensicfocus.com/news/forensic-focus-and-northumbria-university-launch-international-well-being-study-for-digital-forensic-investigators/
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Si and Desi close out the year on the Forensic Focus Podcast with a wide-ranging end-of-2025 wrap-up, reflecting on how the year unfolded for the show and the DFIR community. They discuss the mental health series, guest appearances, and how everyday technologies β from streaming services to wearables β are increasingly intersecting with forensic investigations, even when people don't realise it.
The conversation then broadens to bigger technology shifts, including the rapid rise of AI and its legal, ethical, and societal implications. Si and Desi explore bias, misinformation, validation, and why human oversight still matters, before turning to the resurgence of operating system "wars," Apple's growing market share, Linux's expanding presence, and what changing user behaviour could mean for digital forensics in the years ahead.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicFocusPodcast #AI #Wearables #Linux #Apple
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
β±οΈ Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast
00:33 Reflecting on the Year 2025
01:32 Challenges and Changes in 2025
02:09 Mental Health Series and Guest Appearances
04:51 Streaming Services and TV Licenses
09:27 Wearable Technology and Forensics
18:11 AI in Legal and Ethical Contexts
44:20 AI's Inevitable Rise
44:37 The Resurgence of Operating System Wars
45:19 Apple's Growing Market Share
46:31 Linux's Increasing Presence
53:14 Challenges for Linux Adoption
01:02:31 The Shift to Mobile and Tablet Usage
01:14:49 AI-Generated Content and Its Implications
01:21:50 Reflections on Free Speech and AI
01:27:57 Looking Ahead to the Future
π§ Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/si-and-desis-holiday-special-2025/
π Show Notes
Forensic Focus Podcasts - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast
Forensic Focus Jobs Board - https://www.forensicfocus.com/jobs
'The old-school landline is having a cultural moment', ABC - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/landline-rotary-phone-social-media-ban-family-connect/106010638
'Judges have become 'human filters' as AI in Australian courts reaches 'unsustainable phase', chief justice says', The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/21/judges-have-become-human-filters-as-ai-in-australian-courts-reaches-unsustainable-phase-chief-justice-says
'Founder Admits His "AI Transcription" Startup Was Just Him Joining People's Meetings and Taking Notes by Hand', Futurism - https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/fireflies-founder-startup-ai
'Man Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His House', Futurism - https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/robot-vacuum-broadcasting
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Keith Lockhart from Oxygen Forensics joins Si and Desi on the Forensic Focus Podcast to examine how remote digital evidence collection is changing investigative workflows across DFIR, eDiscovery, and corporate investigations. Drawing on recent XiB mobile training and real-world deployments, Keith explains where remote and agent-based acquisition delivers practical benefitsβand where traditional hands-on methods remain essential.
The discussion covers targeted versus full acquisitions, consent and governance in corporate environments, and the operational realities of collecting data across networks, jurisdictions, and time zones. It also explores over-the-air mobile collection, workstation memory capture, drone forensics, and why parser development remains a constant challenge as apps and platforms evolve.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse #eDiscovery #RemoteCollection #DigitalEvidence #cybercrime
π Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com
β±οΈ Timestamps
00:00 Welcoming Keith from Oxygen
01:59 Discussing the XiB Course Experience
05:19 Challenges and Successes in Mobile Phone Extraction
10:22 Remote Collection and Its Evolution
14:38 ROI and Practical Applications of Remote Collection
30:32 Remote Collection in Corporate and Law Enforcement
35:01 Parole Monitoring Challenges
35:20 Case Study: Faulty Monitoring Software
36:34 The Need for Reliable Monitoring Tools
37:23 Cross-Border Data and Legal Concerns
38:02 Chain of Custody in Law Enforcement
39:26 Remote Acquisition and Targeted Data Collection
41:33 Corporate Use Cases and Data Management
51:04 Drone Acquisition and Challenges
01:00:34 Concluding Thoughts and Future Developments
π₯ Video/Transcript β https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/oxygen-forensics-on-smarter-faster-remote-dfir-collections/
π Show Notes
Oxygen Forensics β https://www.oxygenforensics.com/
Review: Oxygen Forensics Training β Extraction in a Box (XiB) β https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/oxygen-forensics-training-extraction-in-a-box-xib/
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-
Heather and Jared Barnhart return to the Forensic Focus Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation covering Cellebrite's growing Case-to-Closure Summit, behind-the-scenes insights from building one of the industry's toughest CTFs, and their digital forensic work on one of the most high-profile US murder cases in recent years. They share why the C2C Summit focuses on practitioner-led talks rather than product pitches, what made the first event such a success, and what's planned for the next gathering β including expanded training and a keynote from Terry Crews.
The discussion also dives into how they design complex CTFs, why intentionally frustrating questions teach critical thinking, and how their mobile forensics analysis helped reveal behavioural patterns, intent, and attempts to hide activity in the Idaho murders investigation. They finish by exploring the future of investigations and AI β from cautious, evidence-bounded implementations to the importance of validation and avoiding confirmation bias.
Get 50% off Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 registration with promo code: 2026-c2c-ForensicFocus
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #Cellebrite #CTF #incidentresponse #ForensicFocus #AIForensics
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
01:33 C2C Summit Overview
03:35 C2C Summit Success and Highlights
09:45 Challenges and Insights from CTF
19:56 Introduction to the Idaho Murders Case
25:10 The Slow Process of Justice
25:53 Key Evidence: The Knife Sheath and the Car
27:46 Digital Footprint and Intent
28:58 Challenges in Mobile Forensics
31:49 Behavioral Patterns and Digital Evidence
42:30 AI in Forensics
43:17 Future of Digital Investigations
44:00 The Role of AI in Investigations
50:52 Validation and Confirmation Bias
54:24 Closing Remarks and Future Plans
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com
π§ Episode Page & Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/the-idaho-murders-from-behavioural-clues-to-ais-role-in-digital-forensics/
π Show Notes
Cellebrite β https://www.cellebrite.com
Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 β https://events.cellebritec2c.com/event/2026/overview
CFReDS β https://cfreds.nist.gov/
SANS DFIR Summit & Training 2026 β https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-training-events/digital-forensics-summit-2026
π Follow Forensic Focus
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Justin Tolman from Exterro joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the future of FTK and the role FTK Imager still plays in everyday casework. He explains why the original free version remains available, and what prompted the introduction of Imager Pro with added capabilities like BitLocker decryption and iOS collections. Justin also reflects on his time in law enforcement and training, and why the investigative side of the work still holds a strong pull.
Looking ahead, Justin shares where FTK development is headed β from large-scale processing and streamlined review workflows to Whisper-based audio transcription and careful, targeted use of AI for tasks like summarising long documents and cross-media searching. He also previews Exterro's upcoming Inform event β a 15-hour global broadcast featuring talks from practitioners around the world β and invites the community to get involved.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #FTK #Exterro #ForensicImaging #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse
00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast
00:31 Introducing Justin Tolman from Exterro
01:46 Justin's Journey into Forensics
03:10 Transition to Training and Exterro
06:31 FTK Imager Pro: Features and Benefits
14:36 Training and Community Resources
16:29 Updates on FTK Suite and Scalability
19:10 On-Prem vs. Cloud Solutions
26:57 AI in Forensics: Benefits and Challenges
37:45 Addressing AI Bias in Forensics
38:53 Case Study: AI Misinterpretation in Seattle Shooting
40:14 The Importance of Validation in AI Forensics
41:18 Challenges in Identifying Legal vs. Illegal Content
43:08 The Future of AI in Forensics
44:18 Collaboration and Integration in Forensic Tools
46:07 The Role of APIs and Open Standards
47:18 Challenges with Proprietary Forensic Formats
54:36 The Need for High Compression Formats
56:32 Forensic Focus Podcast and Community Engagement
01:00:56 Upcoming Forensic Events and Presentations
01:06:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
π Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com π§
Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-ftk-imager-pro-vendor-neutral-forensics-smarter-ai-and-exterros-forensic-vision/
π Show Notes
Exterro β https://www.exterro.com
FTK Imager PRO βhttps://www.exterro.com/digital-forensics-software/ftk-imager-pro
Exterro Inform β https://www.exterro.com/resources/exterro-inform FTK Podcasts β https://www.exterro.com/resources/ftk-over-the-air-podcast
OpenAI Whisper (speech-to-text) β https://github.com/openai/whisper
Ollama (local LLM framework) β https://ollama.ai
Project VIC β https://www.projectvic.org
CAID (UK) β https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-abuse-image-database
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Gareth Davies, Chairman of F3 (First Forensic Forum), joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to explore how a grassroots, vendor-neutral community has helped shape digital forensics in the UK for three decades. He traces F3's origins in the 1990s, when affordable training and tool-agnostic knowledge-sharing were scarce, and explains why the forum still focuses on byte-level, lab-ready techniques over sales pitches.
Looking ahead, Gareth previews F3's 2025 conference in Warwickshire (Nov 18β20), the not-for-profit pricing model, and upcoming trainings on UAVs, software-defined radio, implants/biomed devices, smartwatch and vehicle forensics, and video authentication/deepfakes. He also discusses international growth (including interest in an Australian chapter) and an open call for volunteers to help run events and keep training affordable.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicsTraining #IncidentResponse #VehicleForensics #CryberCrime #DigitalEvidence #DigitalInvestigtion #DigitalEvidence
π Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com
00:00 Introducing Gareth Davies
01:09 What is F3?
03:01 Gareth's Journey into Forensics
05:35 PhD and Research Work
06:54 Current Role and Responsibilities
09:08 Interesting Cases and Projects
12:27 Involvement with F3
14:41 F3's Global Reach and Community
20:03 Challenges and Future of F3
22:39 Personal Experiences and Networking
24:47 Becoming Chairman of F3
30:50 Upcoming F3 Event Details
35:28 Digital Forensics Teaching and Research
37:30 Upcoming F3 Training
42:38 Challenges in Digital Forensics
45:28 The Importance of Community and Resources
55:04 Personal Interests and Hobbies
57:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
π₯ Video/Transcript β https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-f3-building-community-and-sharing-knowledge-in-digital-forensics/
π Show Notes F3 β First Forensic Forum website - https://f3.org.uk
F3 β First Forensic Forum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/f3.org.uk/
Spyder Forensics - https://www.spyderforensics.com
BΓ©nΓ©dictine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9n%C3%A9dictine
APOLLO - https://github.com/mac4n6/APOLLO
DFRWS - https://dfrws.org
GCK File Signature Table - https://filesig.search.org
NIST - https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/digital-forensics
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Debbie Garner, retired Special Agent in Charge at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share insights from her 30-year career. From undercover narcotics work in her early 20s to leading Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Debbie brings a unique perspective on collaboration, child protection, and investigator wellness.
She discusses the challenges of cyber tips backlogs, the importance of cross-border cooperation, and why well-being must be built into the culture of child exploitation investigations. Debbie explains how she introduced practical, budget-conscious wellness initiatives β from group discussions to peer support and mental health check-ins β and how these efforts helped transform trust, retention, and resilience within her unit.
Debbie and Paul also explore the stigma investigators often face, how leadership decisions can make or break support for officers, and what agencies can do to better safeguard the people safeguarding children.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #WellBeing #LawEnforcement #childprotection
π Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
00:49 Early Career in Law Enforcement
02:11 Specialization in Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes
03:27 Challenges and Changes in Law Enforcement
06:03 The ICAC Task Force Program
09:34 Cross-Border Investigations and Cooperation
14:46 Wellness and Resiliency in Law Enforcement
18:01 Building a Culture of Wellness
28:16 Personal Stories and Agency Support
39:57 Final Thoughts and Advice
π₯ Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-the-fight-against-child-exploitation-leadership-and-wellness-lessons-from-debbie-garner/
π Show Notes
Innocent Justice Foundation - https://innocentjustice.org
Raven (ICAC Task Force Funding Advocacy) - https://raven.us
Hexordia - https://www.hexordia.com
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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 β including CID and major crime β 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 and Paul discuss why cultural awareness in therapy matters, how approaches like psychoeducation and regular supervision can help, and why therapy isn't just for people who are "broken."
Hannah also explains BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a modern trauma therapy that transformed her own recovery, and shares practical advice for those in digital forensics and other trauma-facing roles on spotting early signs of stress and building long-term resilience.
#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #WellBeing #PTSD
00:00 Introduction
02:44 Hannah Bailey's Background and Career
04:08 The Onset of Mental Health Challenges
06:01 Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Its Impact
06:37 Returning to Policing and Further Challenges
09:44 Lack of Support
12:14 Proactive Mental Health Approaches
17:18 Hannah's Work with DFIs and Other Forces
20:22 The Importance of Early Intervention
26:28 The Value of Therapy in Organizations
27:35 The Importance of Culturally Aware Therapists
29:29 Introduction to Brain Work Recursive Therapy (BWRT)
33:52 Combining Trauma Therapy and Wellbeing Coaching
34:32 The Therapeutic Process and Its Benefits
36:21 Supervision and Support in Therapy
36:57 Proactive Approaches in Digital Forensics
39:11 Building Trust and Non-Judgmental Spaces
43:30 Final Thoughts
π₯ Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/well-being-in-digital-forensics-and-policing-insights-from-hannah-bailey/
π Show Notes Blue Light Wellbeing - https://www.bluelightwellbeing.uk
π Follow us here:
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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 doesn't work in law enforcement. The conversation covers practical stress reduction techniques and how understanding what stress does to your body can help people spot problems early.
Mark and Zoe have worked with various organisations including the FBI, using their combined decades of police and investigative experience to provide support that actually fits the culture of law enforcement and forensic work.
#DigitalForensics #CyberInvestigation #DFIR #Wellbeing
00:00 Introduction
00:22 Spotlight on Mental Health in Digital Forensics
00:59 Meet the Experts: Dr. Zoe Billings and Mark Pannone
01:39 The Origins of Adapt & Evolve
03:48 Biological Aspects of Stress
04:57 Implementing Preventative Measures
09:05 Leadership and Organizational Challenges
20:01 Physical Ailments from Stress
26:09 Cultural Awareness in Law Enforcement
31:45 ISO Standards and Legal Obligations
39:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Show Notes
Adapt & Evolve - https://www.adaptandevolve.co.uk/
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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 Morrissey discusses how stigma around help-seeking behavior and fears about career prospects continue to affect practitioners, and why evidence-based national guidelines are urgently needed.
Take part in the research: Dr Morrissey is seeking responses from current and former forensic practitioners worldwide across all disciplines and sectors. The survey examines well-being challenges, available interventions, and their effectiveness. Your participation could help shape future well-being support for the forensic community. Survey closes Friday 4th July 2025.
Survey link: https://forms.office.com/e/GXPMwnpyMi
#ForensicScience #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #DigitalForensics
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Jo Morrissey
01:31 Overview of the Wellbeing Study
03:34 Challenges Faced by Forensic Practitioners
08:25 Survey Specifics and Goals
14:57 Barriers and Stigma in Wellbeing
18:49 Ethical Considerations and Future Research
20:09 Open Access to Research Report
20:38 National Guidelines for Wellbeing
22:00 Challenges in Implementing Guidelines
25:07 Importance of Survey Participation
27:02 Potential for Funding and Further Research
28:06 Exploring Differences in Wellbeing
30:51 Impact of Experience and Culture on Wellbeing
33:39 Resilience and Adverse Childhood Experiences
37:05 Closing Remarks and Future Research
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