Lisa Bailey, former FBI Forensic Artist and author of Clay and Bones, joined me talk about her 18 years in the Bureau. Lisa brought faces back to life—working scenes from 9/11 to looking for skulls at the Body Farm, giving names to the unidentified, and dignity to the forgotten. She is the expert on skull-rendering and through her work she solved numerous crimes, to include a double-homicide. Her story is haunting, human, and unforgettable. #truecrime #fbi #womenwhoinspire #skullsandbones #forensic
This unique episode dives deep into one of the most shocking espionage cases in U.S. history. Retired FBI Special Agent Pete Lapp and journalist and author Kelly Kennedy join me to discuss their gripping book, The Queen of Cuba — the true story of Ana Montes, a senior DIA analyst who secretly spied for Cuba for 17 years. #spies #counterintelligence #books #truecrime #fbi #womenspies #anamontes
Secrets, danger & deception. Get ready for a fascinating journey into the undercover world with retired FBI Special Agent Dana Ridenour. Dana worked UC work for 13 years, several times working under deep cover. Dana shares her FBI journey and her three books Behind The Mask, Beyond The Cabin, and Below The Radar. Listen to the podcast, then read her badass stories!
#undercover #deepcover #secrets #deception #fiction #truecrime #books #fbi
What was it like to join the FBI in the 1970s? Rosemary Dew joined as the 96th female Special Agent and became the 7th female Supervisory Special Agent--a true pioneer. She dedicated 13 years to the Bureau, where she experienced numerous challenges, but also great laughs. Rosemary authored No Back UP taking us through a fantastic journey, where some stories are quite unbelievable, funny, jaw dropping, heartbreaking and heart-felt. Rosemary is a true badass, full of courage and resilience, who after resigning from the FBI, joined the DIA where in her 60s she found herself traveling to Afghanistan and even being arrested at Heathrow airport. Rosemary also shares a little a bit about her other books, her trip to Mother Teresa's house in Calcutta and her newest book on FBI whistleblowers. Get ready for mind blowing stories! #fbi #pioneer #newbook #fbiwoman #lawenforcement #inspiration #truecrime
Retired Special Agent Jeremy Rebmann unveils his captivating journey in his memoir, Send Me, Chronicles of an FBI Sniper. From his early days as a case agent to the rigorous selection process, and ultimately becoming a sniper tasked with hunting down terrorists and criminals, Jeremy offers an exclusive glimpse into the intense world of FBI SWAT. This riveting account is a must-read for anyone curious about the life of an FBI SWAT operator and sniper! #fbiswat #sniper #newepisode #newbook
Katherine Schweit is an accomplished author, attorney, andformer FBI special agent. With a background in journalism and law, she served as a Chicago prosecutor before joining the FBI, where she investigated major crimes and worked closely on mass casualty and active shooter cases. Schweit is the author of "Stop the Killing: How to End theMass Shooting Crisis," "How to Talk About Guns with Anyone," and Women Who Talk to the Dead. Get ready to listen to true crime, the story of 200 forgotten murder victims and the relentess pursuit of justice by an FBI Agent and a Detroit police detective. #fbi #police #truecrime #unsolvedmurders #newbook #detroit
Jerri Williams, kicks off Authors' Row, a series that highlights FBI and non-FBI authors that write about the FBI! Jerri is a former FBI special agent with 26 years of experience, who dedicated her career to exposing the schemes of con artists and corrupt officials. Leveraging her expertise, she writes crime fiction and hosts the popular FBI Case File Review podcast, featuring interviews with retired agents about high-profile cases. Her work aims to dispel media myths about the FBI, as showcased in her book FBI Myths and Misconceptions. She also authored crime novels centered on FBI agent Kari Wheeler, exploring themes of fraud and corruption. Recognized for her contributions, Jerri was honored as a G-Man Honors Distinguished Service Honoree by the FBI Agents Association in 2021, highlighting her ongoing support for the FBI community. #fbi #author #podcaster #bestseller #fiction
In this episode of Badass in Heels, Hannah, a remarkable woman who has made her mark in the world of shooting and extreme sports shares her journey from growing up on a ranch in Colorado to becoming a professional mountain biker and breaking barriers as a female athlete. She discusses the challenges she faced in a male-dominated industry, her experiences with relationships and motherhood, and the impact of infidelity on her life. Throughout the conversation, Hannah emphasizes the importance of resilience, determination, and staying true to oneself. In this conversation, Hannah shares her transformative journey through multiple marriages, personal struggles, and the discovery of self-compassion. She discusses the challenges of being a single mother, her awakening to her passion for firearms, and how she integrates her femininity into her training. Hannah discusses her mission to empower women through firearms training and self-defense awareness; and, she emphasizes the importance of responsible gun ownership, continuous learning, and situational awareness. Hannah shares her unique approach to training, including her Mocktails and Mace events, which combine self-defense education with a fun and engaging atmosphere. Our conversation highlights the need for women to take their safety seriously and to be prepared for any situation they may encounter. **Listener discretion is advised, content includes explicit words and discussions about suicide.**
Captain Julie Rodriguez stands as a beacon of dedicationand resilience, boasting an impressive 28 years of unwavering service with the Los Angeles Police Department. Her journey is a tapestry woven with rich experiences, spanning over two decades in pivotal supervisory roles. Beginning her illustrious career in 1996, she embraced various positions, from a vigilantpolice officer to an agile bicycle officer, a dedicated field training officer, and an undercover vice officer. Her relentless pursuit of excellence propelled her to the esteemed rank of Detective, where she played a crucial role in theelite Robbery Homicide Division and the Rape Special Section, tackling numeroushigh-profile sexual assault cases with tenacity and skill. In 2005, her exemplary performance earned her a promotion to Sergeant, where she took on themantle of a patrol supervisor and mobile field force squad leader, navigating significant events across the vibrant landscape of Los Angeles.
In 2012, Julie's ascent continued as she embraced therole of Lieutenant Watch Commander, skillfully overseeing a formidable team of 75 officers and six sergeants. Her leadership journey has been marked by her tenure as the Officer-in-Charge of a Gang Impact Team, where she adeptlymanaged a uniformed gang unit, a narcotics unit, and a vice unit, demonstrating her multifaceted expertise. Furthermore, she has served as Adjutant to the Chief of Staff, working closely with the Chief of Police, and commanded the West Valley Detectives, supervising a dynamic team of 50 detectives and five professional staff, including three insightful Crime Analysts. In December 2023, Julie reached a new pinnacle in her career, being promoted to Captain and entrusted with the leadership of the Wilshire Division, where she currently oversees a robust team of 275 police officers, 30 field sergeants, and fourlieutenants, embodying the spirit of service and commitment to her community.
Hey there! Ever wondered what it's like to get an inside look at the FBI without actually becoming an employee? Meet Alicia Wadas, a remarkable civilian leader who shares her leadership journey to becoming the President of the FBI’s National Citizens Academy Alumni Association. She's all about building bridges between communities and the FBI. And guess what? In 2023, she earned a one of a kind award from the FBI director. Get inspired by her story!
Suzanna Hasnay is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with over 20 years of law enforcement experience and is now the President of Fredericksburg, Virginia-based PoliceSpirit, LLC, where she trains on mindfulness-based strategies for human performance, leadership and well-being primarily for law enforcement and public safety professionals. After retiring from the Bureau, she became the first mindfulness and yoga coach for its Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and is a mindfulness trainer for HRT’s New Operator Training School (NOTS) and specialized FBI bomb technicians. Suzanna gets real and shares her origin story, challenges, successes, and self-discovery journey- a journey that led her to the FBI and eventually to finding mindfulness. She also shares with us her amazing trip to Nepal and tips on how to find mindfulness at the end of your day. Tune in today!
In this episode, Doris Garcia-Smith shares her unique journey from having a passion to ballet and the arts to joining the NYPD and the FBI. While at the NYPD she worked patrol, responded to emergency calls, worked an 8-month assignment in support of 911, worked in the press office, and worked in a vice/undercover unit. A New Yorker at heart, she calls the NYPD her first passion. After 12 years of service at the NYPD, she joined the FBI as a Staff Operations Specialist (SOS), where she was embedded with Counterintelligence squads in NYC and later supported the Agency as an Intelligence Analyst in Washington, D.C. Doris' passion to serve continues today as she works as a background investigator. To learn more about her, tune in today or visit badassinheels.com.
Ready to be inspired? The last episode of 2024 brings you an enthralling conversation with retired Supervisory Special Agent Sarah Draper, who takes us through her journey from West Point to the FBI! Sarah served in the Army for 8 years, was stationed in Germany and South Korea and served during the Kosovo war as an officer in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. She then joined the Bureau, where she did amazing criminal, cyber-terrorism, and espionage work for 20 years. Her final assignment with the FBI was as an instructor at the FBI National Academy, where she realized the need for leaders to discuss wellness. She is now the owner of Leading Well Strategies and if you are in dire need of coaching or a wellness talk, Sarah is your gal. If you have been wondering how to be more present, Sarah shares some tips with us.
Special Agent Alex Montilla has been with the FBI for almost 30 years and she is unstoppable. She has worked violent crimes against children, counterintelligence matters, and over 300 kidnappings. In this episode Alex candidly shares her personal story and some of her cases, such as the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Natalee Holloway. She has been in the Miami's extraterritorial squad for 18 years and for the longest time she was the only woman in the squad defying stereotypes. Her frequent deployments to hotspots around the globe, including Haiti, Peru, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, and Belize, are part of her commitment to confronting injustice. Alex is a trailblazer who received the prestigious Attorney General Award and the FBI Director’s Award for excellence in casework.
Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Debbie Michaels shares with us her 37-year journey with the Bureau. Debbie was recruited while in high school and went to do extraordinary work, from being a founding member of the FBI's first national initiative against online child exploitation to working narcotics and violent crimes. She ascended the ladder and led command posts, provided active shooter training to law enforcement officers nationwide and ended her career at Quantico as the counselor of the National Academy class session 284. For her extraordinary efforts, Debbie was recognized by WIFLE as female federal law enforcement officer in 2019! But it's not all about work--Debbie gets real and shares with us her personal story and also provides valuable advice to aspiring female Special Agents. Tune in today to listen to Debbie's badass story.
Canadian author Steve Urszenyi kicks off season 4 and lets us in the world of FBI Special Agent Alex Martel. Steve's second novel "Out in the Cold" comes out this November (2024) and Alex comes back as the main character. Alex is a sharpshooter, a kickass fighter, and a great investigator. More than that, she’s fiercely loyal and determined to mete out justice on her terms, even if she pushes boundaries when doing so. Out in the Cold is an enthralling, can't-put-down fiction book, full of high-energy and badasserie, but Alex is not all fiction, she embodies the skills many FBI and law enforcement women have! Get ready to embark into a world where you have to wonder "is this real or fiction!!"
Have you heard of the 30x30 initiative? Tanya Meisenholder, Maureen McGough and Yvonne Roman, the fabulous ladies from 30x30, joined me to chat about this amazing initiative. An initiative that is making waves as it changes the world for policewomen. If you've ever wondered what the 30x30 is and what it is not, this episode is for you! If you are a law enforcement organization and still have not signed the pledge, what are you waiting for?! Listen to this episode and join these amazing ladies and the hundreds of federal, state, and even foreign law enforcement organizations that have joined. To learn more about the 30x30, please visit their site https://30x30initiative.org.