Best Hope Beyond the Badge Podcasts (2025)

1
Jim Ward - LEO (Ret.) 1:13:35

12h ago1:13:35

1:13:35

Jimmy Ward joins us to talk about his career in law enforcement, and what he's doing now to help his fellow LEO's and first responders. Jimmy is a former Senior Trooper with the Maryland State Police, where he served for over 15 years—more than 90% of that time focused on narcotics enforcement. His work placed him on the front lines of complex inve…

1
Scamanda 50:55

13h ago50:55

50:55

GIRD. YOUR. LOINS. AND. PULL. THE. HELL. OVER. When Amanda Riley, a young wife and mother, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides to share her journey with the world via her blog. Tens of thousands of people send her love, support, AND MONEY. But when an anonymous tip is sent to an investigative reporter, CLAIMING THAT AMANDA IS FAKING CANC…

1
427: Disappeared in the Darkness 1:16:10

2d ago1:16:10

1:16:10

In December 2013, police in the Myrtle Beach area discover an abandoned car at a pitch-dark boat landing. They quickly surmise its owner - twenty-year-old Heather Elvis - has vanished. Authorities race to find Heather and stumble into a twisted web of lies, betrayal and fury. WE'RE ON YOUTUBE! Want to view the episodes and not just listen? Check ou…

1
Greg Wilcox - Suicide Loss Survivor 1:25:09

8d ago1:25:09

1:25:09

Greg Wilcox is a suicide loss survivor of a police officer . Greg shares the story of losing his husband Joe Nagle to suicide (EOW 8/4/2019). He also shares the story of falling in love, witnessing the decline of a loved one over time, and the red flags he is aware of now, that he was unaware of in real time. Joe also discusses how he was able to p…

1
426: Web of Death: Facebook Live 1:00:56

7d ago1:00:56

1:00:56

When Keisha Hawkins is tragically shot dead at a birthday party, Her father, Kalvon, is determined to get justice for his little girl. When the authorities give up looking for the killer, Kalvon takes matters into his own hands, using social media to smoke out the murderer. WE'RE ON YOUTUBE! Want to view the episodes and not just listen? Check our …

1
Ep 42- Michael Thatcher | CEO of Charity Navigator (part 1) 25:54

10d ago25:54

25:54

Part 1 of the interview with Michael Thatcher, CEO/President of Charity Navigator (rating over 225,000 charities), which helps millions of donors to align their passions and values to a charity. Michael shares how Charity Navigator leads the effort to make impactful philanthropy easier for everyone. He also discusses how his path forward, filled wi…

1
425: Worst Ex Ever: Killing for Custody 1:05:14

9d ago1:05:14

1:05:14

When Eric met Rosa, he thought he'd met the woman of his dreams--smart, funny, and interesting. But everything changed after they had their daughter. Suddenly Rosa was demanding and abusive, forcing Eric to work long grueling hours and often disappearing with their daughter. And when Eric and Rosa's relationship ended, he had no way of knowing just…

1
Chris Moore - Fire Service 2:06:14

14d ago2:06:14

2:06:14

Chris Moore Joins us on the podcast. Chris is a highly respected Fire Captain on the Chesapeake Va FD, a National keynote speaker, and one of the most influential voices in the movement to transform how first responder agencies approach mental health, wellness, and suicide prevention. Chris shares with us how years on the job began to effect his mo…

1
424: Love You to Death: Playbook for Murder 1:05:18

18d ago1:05:18

1:05:18

When Jessica and Patrick met, it was love at first sight. The two were crazy about each other. But when Patrick is murdered in broad daylight just inside his own front door, authorities have to look at everyone in his life as a suspect. And when the killer is revealed, it is one "stay stupid" moment after another that leads to their downfall. WE'RE…

1
Mark & Pat Freire - Part 2 - (LEO / Peer Support) 1:15:16

21d ago1:15:16

1:15:16

Part 2 of a 2 Part Episode - Mark and Pat Freire are father and son, they are both LEO's, they are both compassionate towards first responder trauma, and passionate about first responder wellness. Mark Freire (Father) - is a retired Boston Police officer, and past director of the departments Peer Support Unit. He speaks openly about some of the cal…

1
423: Dateline's "The Capture" 57:57

23d ago57:57

57:57

On August 23, 2008, Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout and members of her entourage were kidnapped by Semolina insurgents in southern Somalia. Amanda, in particular, would endure 15 months of torture before being released. And even when that nightmare was over, her captor still tormented her with demands of more money, "or else." This episode tell…

1
EP 41- Michael Meyer | Author of Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet 40:16

23d ago40:16

40:16

We always hear about Benjamin Franklin's accomplishments while he was alive, but his bet on America in his Final Will and Testament truly left a legacy. Author Michael Meyer joins us and shares this story and more from his book "Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife and Blueprint for American Prospe…

1
422: State of Alabama vs. Brittany Smith 1:08:01

25d ago1:08:01

1:08:01

In October of 2020, Brittany Smith was brutally attacked in her home. In order to save herself, she shot and killed her attacker. By all accounts this is a clear case of a person legally acting in self defense. But the question is, does this law apply equally to men and women? I think you know the answer. WE'RE ON YOUTUBE! Want to view the episodes…

1
Mark and Pat Freire - Part 2 - (LEO / Peer Support) 1:11:36

28d ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Part 1 of a 2 Part Episode - Mark and Pat Freire are father and son, they are both LEO's, they are both compassionate towards first responder trauma, and passionate about first responder wellness. Mark Freire (Father) - is a retired Boston Police officer, and past director of the departments Peer Support Unit. He speaks openly about some of the cal…

1
421: Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna 1:17:46

1M ago1:17:46

1:17:46

On October 21, 2021, on the set of the movie RUST, a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin fired a live bullet, wounding the film’s director and killing its cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. Within hours, the catastrophic accident was international news. In this documentary, part "who done it" and part tribute to Halyna, investigative filmmakers try …

1
Jim DeFeo (LEO - Ret) 1:48:13

1M ago1:48:13

1:48:13

Jim is an OEF/OIF Veteran who served 30 years in the Army and retired as a LTC, and a 25 year Veteran of the Boston Police Dept. Jim has worked patrol, as a bomb technician, in sexual assault investigations, and as an operations supervisor. Jim talks openly about his own struggles, personal and family problems, the challenges of being a single pare…

1
420: The Jewel Thief 1:04:37

1M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Fam! You know we're always a fan of a good heist documentary! While Gerald Blanchard was heralded as one of the most skilled and audacious thieves in modern history, his robbing exploits were far from the glamorous hijinks of "Oceans Eleven." Always chasing a bigger thrill than the last get, Blanchard eventually nabs one of the most famous pieces o…

1
Josh Goldberg (Boulder Crest Foundation) 1:18:06

1M ago1:18:06

1:18:06

Josh Goldberg is the CEO of Bolder Crest Foundation - A nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on ensuring the military, veteran, and first responder communities can live great lives in the aftermath of trauma. Boulder Crest Foundation is the home and global leader in the development of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). They exist as an organi…

1
American Murder: Gabby Petito (from Patreon) 1:00:24

1M ago1:00:24

1:00:24

In the summer of 2021, 20-year-old Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundire embarked on a "van life" adventure traveling across the country. On social media, they looked like the perfect couple. But behind the scenes, Gabby was suffering at Brian's hands. And when Brian returned home to Florida without Gabby--and nobody had heard from Gabby i…

1
419: Perfect World: A Deadly Game 1:11:56

2M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

A group of online gamers are trying to stop a murderer in real time! When one of their own suddenly starts sharing pictures of dead bodies in the group chat--and claims the pictures are of family members he just killed--they know there is a ticking clock until he kills again. And now they must pool their resources to find him and to convince the au…

1
Dr Kevin Gilmartin - LEO Behavioral Scientist / Author 1:11:18

2M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

Dr. Gilmartin joins us on the podcast, Dr Gilmartin is a behavioral scientist specializing in law enforcement and public safety related issues. He is the author of the book Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families. He previously spent twenty years working in law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona. During his tenur…

1
Ep 40- Aly Riley, author of She Spies 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

The American Revolution was fought on more than just the battlefield and it couldn't have been won without the use of female spies... especially the mysterious Agent 355. Aly Riley, historian and author, discusses her book "She Spies: Women of the American Revolution, Their Heroic Missions and Agent 355 Revealed." This is the fascinating true story…

1
Malice at the Palace 1:03:28

2M ago1:03:28

1:03:28

YOU GUYS ARE NOT READY TO HEAR PATRICK AND GILLIAN TALK ABOUT THE SPORTS! At a 2004 Sportsgitball game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pacers (oh my god, listen to me knowing the NAMES!) all hell breaks loose when a fan (who we MEET and who Gillian has WORDS for) throws a beer at one of the players. Suddenly we're in the middle of the bi…

1
Introducing "Underestimated"! You Gotta Check Out This Podcast! 2:59

2M ago2:59

2:59

FAM!! We are THRILLED to tell you about the podcast "Underestimated". This podcast is FULLY PRODUCED by a group of high school journalism students under the direction of the great Bob Ruff. These kids are DOING THE GOOD WORK investigating and reporting on unsolved cases in the hopes of making a real difference in the lives of the people involved. T…

1
Molly O'Neil - Suicide Loss Survivor of a First Responder 1:37:34

2M ago1:37:34

1:37:34

Molly O'Neil joins us and shares about her husband Chris. She talks about meeting him when she was still in high school, going to the same college, and falling in love. She talks about starting a family together, and how Chris lived and loved to be a father. She describes her experience when Chris began to struggle, and what was going on in those d…

1
418: Worst Roommate Ever: Housemate from Hell 1:07:53

2M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

When retiree Anita Cowen invites lawyer Scott Pettigrew to rent a room in her Palm Springs home, their living arrangement turns into a nightmare. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon feed, you'll find over 400 FULL AD-FREE BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW, including our episode-by-episode coverage of popular documentary series like Love Has Won: T…

1
Ep 39: Justin Lea, Founder of Hayworth Athletic 51:36

2M ago51:36

51:36

Soccer is the biggest sport in the world, but we never talk about the origin of the soccer ball or where they're made. Justin Lea, Founder of Hayworth Athletic, went on a quest to find out and it landed him in northern Pakistan, where over 70% of the world's soccer balls were made (3 million balls per month!). After witnessing the terrible conditio…

1
Mike Best (LEO - LEOSF), Tom Kelly (LEO. Ret. - SMAC), James Creed (LEO - Peer Support) 2:23:46

2M ago2:23:46

2:23:46

Mike, Tom, and Jim come together and join us on the podcast to share about their careers in Law Enforcement, why they chose to serve in the first place, some of the critical incidents they have been involved in, the impacts those incidents had on them both professionally and personally, and the ways in which they offer service and support to their …

1
417: Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story Part 2 1:12:08

2M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

We're back for more NOSTALGIA NASTINESS!!! As the marriage dissolves between Lisa and James, employees are caught like children in a divorce having to choose sides. And when the company tries to make a comeback with 90s retro partnerships, their collaborators are drawn into disaster as well. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon feed, you'll find ov…

1
38- Died 14 Times, The Chris Guiry story, Live from Northern Barrell 58:16

2M ago58:16

58:16

What's it like to die 14 times? That's the real life story that Chris Guiry shares and how his "widow maker" event changed his life. Join us as we share a beer at Northern Barrell (Voorheesville, NY) and discuss: the experience of life and death, how his wife Shelia's presence at a baseball game saved his life, the amazing first responders being th…

1
Bryan Mokrisky - Prior Law Enforcement, Public Safety Wellness Coordinator 1:47:06

2M ago1:47:06

1:47:06

Bryan Mokrisky joins us to share his journey of service, as a soldier, in law enforcement, and now as the Public Safety Wellness Coordinator for the town of Stoughton Ma. Bryan talks about serving in the Army as a Military Police Soldier, his time spent working for the Sherriff's Dept as a corrections officer, serving as a Police Officer in the tow…

1
416: Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story Part 1 1:12:10

2M ago1:12:10

1:12:10

Fam, we're diving deep into some rainbow and unicorns nostalgia today! Those nineties neon stickers may have brought joy to the hearts of little Gillians and Patricks around the world, but what mess was secretly happening behind the scenes? We'll cover all four episodes of the documentary series over two episodes of the podcast! Fam! We'll have Par…

1
Jason Palamara (Ret LEO, Author, Public Speaker) 1:38:13

3M ago1:38:13

1:38:13

Jason joins us to discuss his career of service, the lessons he learned along the way, and what he's doing now to inform the next generation of first responders. He is a Navy Veteran, retired NYC police officer with over 20 years of experience in forensic and criminal investigations, and was a member of the NYPD Peer Support Team. He co-authored th…

1
415: The Murder of Lita McClinton: From 20/20 1:14:47

3M ago1:14:47

1:14:47

Around 8am, Lita McClinton's doorbell rang. She peered through the peephole and saw a delivery man with a huge bouquet of flowers. She opened the door excitedly, but she had been tricked. The delivery man pulled a gun and shot Lita twice in the face, killing he almost instantly. It would take nearly 20 years to find out who had killed this brillian…

1
Davin Cole (Ret LEO) 1:43:12

3M ago1:43:12

1:43:12

Devin Cole is a retired Police Officer, First Responder Wellness Advocate, and Public Speaker. He discusses his career which spanned over 30 years and included roles in patrol, gang enforcement, community outreach for addiction programs, K9 officer, and attachment to the departments SWAT team. Davin explains how he suffered an on duty injury, how t…

1
Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (from Patreon) 35:26

3M ago35:26

35:26

The year was 1996, and the cola wars were raging. Ahhh, a simpler time. To stand out, Pepsi introduced "Pepsi Points" and said that if you earned 7 million of the, Pepsi would give you a Harrier Jet--one of the most advanced military jets of the time. They assumed nobody would be able to do it. But, of course, they were wrong. What ensued was a Dav…

1
414: Beyond The Headlines: The Elizabeth Thomas Story With Elizabeth Smart 1:05:26

3M ago1:05:26

1:05:26

Five years after she was groomed and abducted by the most popular teacher in school, Elizabeth Thomas shares new revelations about her ordeal, with famed kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon feed, you'll find over 400 FULL AD-FREE BONUS episodes to BINGE RIGHT NOW, including our episode-by-episode coverage of po…

1
413: BS High 1:10:04

3M ago1:10:04

1:10:04

GIRD YOUR LOINS BECAUSE THIS WEEK WE'RE DOING A SPORTS! OK, so to the best of our limited understanding, In August 2021, ESPN broadcast a high school football game that ended in multiple injuries and a blowout for one of the schools. Because THE LOSING SCHOOL WASN'T A REAL SCHOOL AND THE TEAM WAS COACHED BY A TOTAL CON ARTIST WHO WAS FLEECING THESE…

1
Dr. Medina Baumgart - LEO Psychologist 1:24:57

3M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

Dr. Baumgart is a licensed psychologist who is board certified in police and public safety psychology. She is an author, speaks publicly about the challenges police officers face when transitioning into retirement, is on staff as a psychologist within a law enforcement organization, and is married to a now retired police officer. Dr Baumgart shares…

1
412: The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot 1:15:16

3M ago1:15:16

1:15:16

What would you do if your daughter narrowly missed out on getting a coveted spot on the high school cheerleading squad? The obvious answer is to hire a hit man to kill the competition AND HER MOTHER...right? No? Well that's what Wanda Holloway did. And her daughter Shana is her to tell the incredibly true story. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon…

1
Police Chief Christopher Workman 1:33:43

4M ago1:33:43

1:33:43

Police Chief Christopher Workman began his career in the fire service before transitioning into policing. He has a combined total of over 3 decades working in first response, he is an author, public speaker, founder of the Deep Blu Project, and podcast host. Chief Workman shares openly about how the job unwittingly influenced his personality, his p…

1
411: The Witmans 1:24:13

4M ago1:24:13

1:24:13

In 1998, teenager Zachary Witman, found his brother Greg stabbed to death in their Pennsylvania home. Without motive or direct evidence, Zachary was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, sending his parents Ron and Sue on a harrowing 20-year odyssey to free their son from the deeply broken juve…

1
Doug White - LEO (Ret), Veteran, Author, Speaker. 1:34:18

4M ago1:34:18

1:34:18

Doug joins us and shares his personal journey of service, stress, struggle, and recovery. He embraces vulnerability as he tells his story, explaining how Post Traumatic Stress Injuries influenced his relationship with himself and caused his marriage to deteriorate. It was clear to us and it will be to you as you listen that Doug began to explore th…

1
410: Keith Morrison Presents: Who is Donnie Rudd? 58:16

4M ago58:16

58:16

KEITH MORRISON IS BACK, BABY! Who is Donnie Rudd? The cops say he's a killer and a con man. Donnie says he's a war hero, a brilliant scientist, and a secret agent. Our pal Keith investigates, and you know he's gonna get to the bottom of this s**t. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? On our Patreon feed, you'll find over 400 FULL AD-FREE BONUS episodes to BINGE R…

1
Lynn Lewis - Suicide Loss Survivor, Grief Coach, & Author 1:01:21

4M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Lynn Lewis is the mother of a first responder. She shares with us about the tragic loss of her son to suicide, how she processed that loss, and how she managed to not be consumed by grief. Today Lynn coaches others through their own experiences with grief & loss. She talks about striving daily to keep moving forward, and the power of self love. She…

1
409: Worst Ex Ever: Betrayed By The Badge 55:41

4M ago55:41

55:41

After Seemona learns that her boyfriend, Jerry, WHO SHE DIDN'T EVEN WANT AS A BOYFRIEND IN THE FIRST PLACE, lied about his identity, she dumps his a**. But then he unleashes an absolutely psychotic reign of torment against her. And you will not BELIEVE what he is able to pull off. I know we say this in every episode now, but GIRD YOUR FREAKING LOIN…

1
Nicole Ferry - Retired LEO / Public Speaker 1:50:52

4M ago1:50:52

1:50:52

Nicole Ferry joins us on the podcast to discuss her 26 year career in law enforcement, including a decade working in sex crimes. Nicole shares with us about her experience with co-worker suicide, what happened when trauma begin to surface within her, within her department, and what she does today to advocate for first responder mental health, resil…

1
408: The Girl Who Looked Like Me (From 20/20) 53:17

4M ago53:17

53:17

When Tamika Huston vanished, a trail of evidence led South Carolina investigators on a yearlong search to find her. Their discoveries would reveal a shocking murder and unexpected killer, but Huston's story would spotlight concerns faced by families of missing women of color and the lack of national media attention given to their cases. LOOKING FOR…

1
John & Christine (FD & EMS Couple) 1:32:20

4M ago1:32:20

1:32:20

John and Christine join us to share their stories of themselves, as individuals, as first responders, and as a couple. Both John and Christine discuss their pathways to becoming first responders, the toll that life and the job have taken on them, how trauma began to surface and the challenges that brought with it, how they were tested as a couple, …

1
Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer (from Patreon) 40:09

5M ago40:09

40:09

LET THE WOMEN DO THE WORK! This three part series tells the incredible untold story, of Dr. Anne Burgess who helped pioneer the FBI's criminal profiling unit. Dr. Burgess’s focus was on understanding the minds of some of the world’s most notorious killers in order to better help victims. Over the course of her career, she worked on some of the worl…

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