Explore every episode of the podcast The Sound of Pursuit
Dive into the complete episode list for The Sound of Pursuit. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
Show Her the Money: The Dark Art of Asset Searches
02 Sep 2025
00:24:21
Money's a magician. It disappears, shape shifts, and hides in plain sight. If you don't know what to look for, it may as well not exist at all.
In this episode, Hal Humphreys talks asset searches with longtime colleague and friend Marcy Phelps, a professional researcher, licensed private investigator, and Certified Fraud Examiner. She's the author of Research on Main Street, owner of Marcy Phelps & Associates, and an instructor at PI Education.
How do asset searches work? What laws govern what you can and can't do in researching assets? How do you find hidden assets without getting into legal quicksand? Join Hal and Marcy as they dive into the what, why, and how of finding the money.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
"No Man's Ghost": An Arson Thriller by a New York City Firefighter
22 Jul 2025
00:29:49
Jason Powell is a New York City firefighter and a debut author. His first novel, No Man’s Ghost, is an arson thriller about a firefighter’s first week on the job. It's a crime novel, and it’s kind of a mystery – a whydunit, let's say. In this episode, Jason explains why he wanted to bring to life the culture of an FDNY firehouse, how natural it felt for him to write the fire scenes, and why he decided to let the arsonist be one of his POV characters. And don't miss our lightning round, where we learn about Jason's favorite crime writers and novels.
Get No Man's Ghost anywhere you buy books. Even better, head to your favorite indie bookstore and ask for a copy there. Then keep an eye out for more of Jason's writing at authorjasonpowell.com.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
Documenting Your Investigation
18 Jan 2024
00:24:08
Join host Hal Humphreys and his guest, Philip Becnel, as they talk about how and why to document your investigation. Becnel is managing partner of Dinolt, Becnel & Wells Investigative Group in the D.C. area and the author of two books: Introduction to Conducting Private Investigations and Principles of Investigative Documentation, first published in 2012.
Becnel has written a new edition (of the latter) in his own voice, complete with war stories and biting commentary. It's an essential guide to any investigator who works complex litigation and criminal cases. Buy it here, and read an excerpt at PursuitMag.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Surveillance: Observe and Document
22 Nov 2023
00:23:39
Surveillance: a French loaner word derived from the verb, "surveiller" — "to oversee/watch."
Thanks to a few terrible PI reality shows, most of the world thinks catching cheaters is all P.I.s do. In fact, some investigators do specialize in domestic surveillance. Others, including Hal and John, have taken occasional surveillance assignments over the years, often in cases involving custody disputes or personal injury claims.
The surveillance operative's job is to observe and document and, occasionally, testify about what they saw. The job can seem deceptively easy. But doing it well without being "burned" is not as simple as it seems. Listen in as Hal and John share experiences, talk best practices, and laugh about how "unnecessary human drama" is a P.I.'s bread and butter.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Rules of the Game When Working with Attorneys
08 Nov 2023
00:26:53
What's attorney-client privilege and work product? When should you deliver written vs. oral reports? Should you document all witness interviews? What information is discoverable?
Join Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi with their guest, defense attorney Jennifer Sunderland, as they talk about what private investigators need to know about rules of professional conduct when they work with attorneys.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pre-Charge Criminal Defense Investigations
13 Sep 2023
00:35:57
What's the best way to keep your clients out of prison? Prevent them from being charged in the first place. Join Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi with their guest, Steve Mason, as they talk about pre-charge investigations — and why it's ideal to start defending clients before they're even charged.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
P.I. Marketing 101: Be Your True Self.
31 May 2023
00:21:40
What's the best way to market yourself as a professional investigator? A well-executed website is a great place to start.
Join hosts Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi and their guest, Brian Willingham, for a frank conversation about how they have built strong brands online by writing well, being generous with information, and letting their true selves shine through on their company sites.
Brian Willingham's site: https://diligentiagroup.com/ John Nardizzi's company site: https://www.nardizzi.com/ John Nardizzi's author site: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
The Innocence Network Conference
10 May 2023
00:14:51
Boston area attorney and investigator John Nardizzi recaps a recent Innocence Network conference he attended and chats with Hal about the risks and rewards of innocence investigations.
The Innocence Network Conference: https://innocencenetwork.org/subcategory/conference-2022
Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") co-host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com PI Education: https://pieducation.com
When the Client Turns Out to Be a Foreign Government
29 Mar 2023
00:24:38
A client offers you lots of money to surveil someone but not much detail on the subject or the reason for the investigation. Do you take the case?
You might want to do a little more due diligence. In this episode, Hal and John talk about cases like these, in which government actors from Iran and China have hired unwitting private investigators to gather intel on dissidents living in the U.S.
Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") co-host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Anthony Pellicano and the Stereotype of the Bare-Knuckles PI
23 Mar 2023
00:20:12
In this episode, we'll explore how one man's outlaw behavior on behalf of his high-profile clients shaped the public's perception of private investigators as shady and unscrupulous operators.
Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Investigating Civil Cases
14 Feb 2023
00:28:35
Lawsuits are war. There's a lot of money at stake. These are often big, complex cases with a lot of moving parts, involving far-flung witnesses and deep-dive research. Pursuit editor Hal Humphreys and Boston PI John Nardizzi talk about how to work cases like toxic torts, harassment cases, medical malpractice, and wrongful death suits.
Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") host The Sound of Pursuit podcast each week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi share their origin stories — of how they found their calling as private investigators.
Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") host The Sound of Pursuit podcast each week.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Your wallet goes missing. You cancel everything, but the alerts just keep coming: New bank accounts and credit cards in your name. Big charges. Damage to your credit score. It can take months or years to untangle all this. You may never get paid back in full. And nobody seems to be able to help you. Not the police. Not your bank. Not the government.
Our guest, Carrie Kerskie, CAN help. She' a PI and identity theft expert who helps people recover from these crimes. And she’s made it her mission to help consumers protect themselves and to educate other investigators about how to work with victims of identity crimes. Kerskie is also an instructor with PI Education. In this episode, she talks about her upcoming ID theft investigations course — which covers how identity theft works, how these cases play out, and why fostering this expertise can be a game-changer — in your clients’ lives and in your own business.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
Junk Science
18 Jan 2023
00:33:47
Boston PI and author John Nardizzi and Pursuit editor Hal Humphreys chat about junk science — so-called forensic techniques that are based on little more than faith and hokum.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi host The Sound of Pursuit podcast each week. Join us for the live broadcast on YouTube, or drop by any time and check out the recorded version.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi, a Boston-area investigator and author, reflect on work, joy, and the movie "The Menu." Sometimes the pressures to "succeed" in a career can make us forget the love that carried us into a calling in the first place. How can we find the joy again?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
This week, in the void between holidays, Hal slows it down a notch and sums up a few takeaways from the year.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation
Gilbert King's "Bone Valley"
14 Dec 2022
00:32:34
Hal hosts author Gilbert King, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, led to the exonerations of four Black men falsely accused of rape in 1949. King is also writer, producer, and host of "Bone Valley," a new true-crime podcast that uncovers astonishing details of the wrongful murder conviction of Leo Schofield — and evidence pointing to the real killer. It's riveting storytelling and dogged reporting — a powerful combination.
King spoke with Hal about reinvestigating cold cases and what it means to him to illuminate injustice — on behalf of Schofield and many others.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Mike Spencer is a former crime-beat journalist who rinsed off the ink and turned his skills to private investigation in the 1990s. He’s also a writer, colleague, friend, and longtime contributor to Pursuit. In this episode, we’re asking him about obsession — how it can fuel good work but also erode your sanity. For Spencer, obsession drives his creative endeavors, as a writer and recently, a podcaster: “The Gary Murphy Assassination: A San Francisco Cold Case” is the story of an old case from early in his PI career that burrowed into his brain and would not let go.
“I can be a pain in the ass who knows a good story,” Spencer says in episode one of his podcast, as he introduces himself and states his motives and methods. “I am not objective. But I am fair.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
This episode explores the things we hide from the people we love most, when the truth is too terrible to bear.
Everybody lies. We lie to protect people from painful truths and to preserve the family name. We lie about affairs, flirtations, and addictions. Sometimes, we even lie to ourselves.
In this episode, we’ll hear two stories about family secrets—and the blurry line between deception and delusion: An alcoholic conceals his addiction from everyone, including himself. And Ann Walling recalls her old-school Southern family, the rites and hierarchies they observed, and the painful histories they could never bring themselves to face.
Special thanks to Jonathan for sharing his story, and to Ann Walling for reading this excerpt from her upcoming book, Sunday Dinner: Coming of Age in the Segregated South. And big thanks, as always, to our brilliant sound engineer, Simon Gugala.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
5 Stories about Life and Love, Human Connection and Extracurricular Romance, and One Super-Sad Surveillance Job
Sometimes connections can feel tenuous. It takes effort to keep the signal strong. The relationship can get lost in the white noise of day-to-day. Distractions sometimes lead to new connections, and connections, even the strongest of family connections, can sometimes lead to distraction.
As professional investigators, we deal in connections. But in the realm of human relationships, where real connections are as likely to be perceived as real, connections and distractions unfurl in real time—that is, if you can step back just enough to discern one from the other.
In this episode, we’ll hear from radio producer Emily Siner about how distance can test a relationship’s tensile strength. Radio reporter Blake Farmer reflects on how his young son distracts him from his work…or maybe, it’s the other way around. Pursuit editor Kim Green recalls a surveillance gig that turned up a web of distraction and delusion, and writer Abby White gets honest about a ten-year affair that may have been all in her head. We’ll also hear from Neil Caddell about a crazy guy at his kid’s school, and how he used TLOxp to solve the case.
Music provided by Jason White (who composed our theme), Headmint, and Lullatone.
Special thanks to Emily Siner, Blake Farmer, Kim Green, and Abby White for sharing their stories of connection and distraction. Thanks also to Transunion TLOxp for sponsoring this podcast. And big thanks, as always, to our brilliant sound engineer, Simon Gugala.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
At a live storytelling event in Nashville, private investigator Hal Humphreys tells his story of a stolen-goods sting operation gone right, then wrong, then right.
Thanks to Jakob Lewis and the Neighbors Podcast for collaborating on this episode.
A Matter of Fact
17 Sep 2014
00:19:19
We sent producer Jakob Lewis in search of the facts behind fact-checking. He discovered how high the stakes can be when we confuse fact with faith.
Editors and publishing houses, investigators and police detectives—we all get the facts wrong sometimes. Even professionals ignore facts and hold onto tidy lies, for all sorts of reasons: To close a high-pressure case. To make the client happy. Or to make a good story a little bit sexier.
In this episode, producer Jakob Lewis explores what it takes to resist those temptations and get the facts straight.
Thanks to Transunion TLOxp for sponsoring this episode.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
As PIs, we all have our greatest hits—tales we tell over and over. Mike Spencer's craziest go-to story has all the elements: Paranoia. Porn. Aliases. Bodily fluids. You get the picture.
Pursuit editor Kim Green met Spencer, an ex-journo veteran Bay-Area investigator, in San Francisco’s Mission District in 2014. He kindly agreed to share a few tales from his “Best Of” list.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
In this podcast, you'll find episodes that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. And at PI Education's YouTube channel, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with regular briefings and webinars. Subscribe to stay up to date!
How does mortgage fraud even work? And how did these risky real estate schemes help fuel the 2008 mortgage meltdown?
Tune in to this special crossover episode of the Appraisal Buzzcast and Sound of Pursuit podcast to hear a gripping morality play about greed, speculation, the fraud triangle, and the dangerous allure of easy credit. Our guest is a Utah mom who lost herself in a tangled Ponzi-style real estate scheme involving hard money loans based on inflated appraisals. She ended up underwater, scrambling to keep up with ballooning debt, and under federal investigation as the 2008 mortgage crisis loomed.
Hear Portia share her raw, powerful story of committing fraud, going to prison, rebuilding her life, and educating others. Find out more at https://portialouder.com/
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Southern Lies and Homicides
24 Jun 2025
00:47:44
Susan Waller Lehmann is a private investigator, a criminal defense and capital mitigation specialist, a journalist, and an award-winning author. She’s written for Pursuit Magazine, and she’s got a new book coming out soon. It’s a collection of stories about her casework in the Deep South, from process service and bitter divorce cases to capital murder cases.
Southern Lies and Homicides is an honest peek behind the curtain at what a private investigator’s work is really like: often tedious, sometimes alarming, occasionally heartbreaking, and always, the most rewarding work there is. This collection is part memoir, part field guide. And it’s an essential read for anyone who’s considering this profession. In this episode, Hal and Susan talk about process service, defense cases, mitigation work, trash pulls, and much more.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Reuniting Birth Families: The PI and the Client-Adoptee
04 Feb 2025
00:57:56
Meet Rachele’ Davis: a longtime colleague and friend, occasional contributor toPursuit Magazine, and now, the author of a course for PI Education. called "Finding Birth Parents for Adoptees, Donor-Conceived, and NPEs."
Rachele’ has a really interesting niche: She helps reunite birth families. Her clients are adoptees looking for biological parents or siblings, and sometimes, parents looking for the children they gave up for adoption. That process can be an emotional roller coaster for everybody involved. It requires diplomacy, ethics, and compassion to handle all that as an investigator.
In this episode, Rachele’ and one of her former clients talk about what it’s like to find out where you came from after wondering for your whole life, and what it’s like to escort a person through that process.
Get the course: Finding Birth Parents for Adoptees, Donor-Conceived, and NPEs
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
The Cases That Haunt Us
04 Dec 2024
00:32:21
"People don't understand what a bad day at the office means for people like us." That's a quote by Ben Lopez, a Chicago private investigator and the author of a moving personal essay in Pursuit about a case that came to a tragic conclusion — and the emotional toll it took on Ben.
Join host Hal Humphreys and Ben as they talk about Ben's essay, the cases that haunt all of us, and how we take care of ourselves in the face of trauma and tragedy.
And if you ever find yourself ruminating over a particularly troubling case, please talk to someone right away. You'll find Ben's number at the end of the article, and Hal shares his number at the end of the episode.
**CONTENT WARNING** - This episode includes a story about suicide.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
True Facts About Due Diligence
10 Jul 2024
00:30:18
What IS due diligence, and what ISN'T it?
To answer this, Hal turns to our longtime colleague and friend Marcy Phelps, a professional researcher, licensed private investigator, and Certified Fraud Examiner. She's the author of Research on Main Street, owner of Marcy Phelps & Associates, and an instructor at PI Education. In the episode, Hal and Marcy talk about the why and how of due diligence investigations and give us a sneak peek at her brand-new due diligence course. Keep an eye out for that — it'll be approved soon!
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
A True Story of Spies, Murder, and Justice in Northern Ireland
26 Jun 2024
00:46:13
1986, Northern Ireland. A British spy is found dead by a desolate country lane — murdered by the IRA. Decades later, his killing set in motion the largest murder investigation ever in Britain and provoked painful national soul-searching about what spies should be allowed to to while serving their countries.
Join Hal and his guest, author and journalist Henry Hemming, to talk about Hemming's gripping new nonfiction spy thriller, FOUR SHOTS IN THE NIGHT: A True Story of Spies, Murder, and Justice in Northern Ireland. Find it anywhere you buy books.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Life & Death Journeys of a Miami Detective
29 May 2024
00:19:41
Join host Hal Humphreys and his guest, Ramesh Nyberg, as they talk about Nyberg's experiences in Florida law enforcement, including 22 years as a Miami homicide detective. In his new book, Badge Tie, and Gun: Life and Death Journeys of a Miami Detective, Nyberg shares what he's learned from nearly three decades on the force. It's full of great stories for true crime fans—and investigative wisdom for gumshoes with and without a badge. Buy it here, and check out Nyberg's recent article in PursuitMag.
🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes: /pieducation
✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com
🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.com
Pursuit Magazine and PI Education are part of StoryboardEMP, a media and education company in Nashville, TN. Pursuit, a free online magazine for private investigators, explores all things investigative, from gumshoe techniques and surveillance tech to industry news and crime in media. PI Education, its sister brand, provides high-quality online continuing education for licensed PIs. Pursuit and PIed are owned and edited by husband-wife team Hal Humphreys, a PI, and Kim Green, a writer and radio producer.
At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!