Cold Red Podcast

What happens when the hits stop, but the damage remains?

In this powerful episode of Cold Red, hosts Ray Carr and Fitz sit down with five-time NHL All-Star Brian Propp to explore the hidden consequences of professional hockey, repeated head trauma, and the long-term neurological effects that can follow athletes long after retirement.

With more than 1,000 career points, five Stanley Cup Finals appearances, and 15 seasons in the NHL, Propp experienced hockey during an era when toughness was everything and playing through injuries was simply part of the game.

From the infamous 1989 playoff hit by Chris Chelios to surviving a life-altering stroke in 2015, Propp shares his remarkable journey through injury, recovery, rehabilitation, and survival.

Building on their recent conversation with renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Philip Stieg, Ray and Fitz examine the science behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES), exploring how repetitive brain trauma may affect memory, personality, emotional regulation, and behavior.

The conversation goes beyond professional sports, examining a fascinating intersection of neuroscience, behavioral analysis, and forensic linguistics: Can brain injuries change the way someone thinks, speaks, or behaves—and how do we recognize the difference between neurological damage and intentional behavior?

It's an eye-opening conversation about the price of greatness, the hidden battles athletes face, and the resilience required to rebuild a life after devastating neurological injury.

Subscribe to Cold Red on Apple Podcasts and follow us on social media for more conversations exploring criminal behavior, forensic science, neuroscience, and the human stories behind the headlines.

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Stay safe and be aware of your surroundings. It just might save your life.

Can repeated head trauma change a person's behavior, destroy impulse control, or even contribute to violent actions?

In this episode of Cold Red, retired FBI agents Raymond Carr and James Fitzgerald sit down with renowned neurosurgeon, NFL consultant, and CTE researcher Dr. Philip Stieg to explore the disturbing relationship between Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), brain damage, aggression, and violent behavior.

From professional football players to individuals with a history of repetitive head injuries, Dr. Stieg breaks down what science reveals about the long-term consequences of brain trauma—and what researchers still don't know.

Together, Ray, Fitz, and Dr. Stieg examine how damage to the frontal and temporal lobes may affect emotional regulation, decision-making, and impulse control. They also explore a critical question for criminal investigators: How do you distinguish calculated criminal behavior from actions potentially influenced by neurological deterioration?

In this episode:

What CTE actually does to the brain and its four proposed stages

The potential connection between repeated head injuries, aggression, and impulsive behavior

Why some individuals experience personality changes while others develop cognitive decline

How brain trauma can complicate FBI behavioral analysis and criminal investigations

Whether neurological damage can influence speech, deception, and interrogation strategies

The limitations of current CTE research and the challenges of diagnosing the condition

How substance abuse, performance-enhancing drugs, and psychological stress may complicate the picture

Could brain scans eventually play a role in determining criminal responsibility?

Can brain damage help explain violent behavior—or are we at risk of confusing correlation with causation?

Join Ray, Fitz, and Dr. Stieg for a fascinating discussion at the intersection of neuroscience, forensic psychology, and criminal behavior.

🔴 SUBSCRIBE TO COLD RED for expert criminal analysis, true crime investigations, and exclusive conversations with leading experts in law enforcement, medicine, and forensic science.

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💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Do you believe a history of serious brain trauma should influence how violent offenders are evaluated in the criminal justice system? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#ColdRedPodcast #CTE #BrainInjury #TrueCrime #Neuroscience #FBI #JamesFitzgerald #PhilipStieg #CriminalPsychology #ForensicScience

Behind the Badge & Beyond the Case: Chief David Splain | Cold Red 1118

What happens when the realities of small-town policing meet the complexities of true crime? On this episode of Cold Red, Ray Carr and Fitz sit down with Chief David Splain of the Nether Providence Township Police Department to explore decades of law enforcement experience, historical homicide investigations, and his transition from police leadership to true crime author.

Chief Splain discusses his books, Blood on the Trolley and Secrets From the Closet, offering insight into the investigative details, hidden truths, and human stories behind real cases. Together, Ray and Fitz examine the unique challenges of investigating crimes in close-knit communities, why some cold cases remain unsolved for decades, and how behavioral profiling, forensic linguistics, and modern forensic technology can help uncover new leads.

Plus, the team tackles audience questions about protecting victims' families, avoiding critical mistakes during the first 48 hours of an investigation, and the evolving role of investigative genetic genealogy in cold cases.

Subscribe to Cold Red for more expert analysis, real-world investigations, and the psychology behind the cases that continue to raise questions.

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Stay safe, stay aware, and remember: it just might save your life.

Four major true crime stories. New legal battles, disturbing allegations, and serious questions about how investigations are handled.

On this episode of Cold Red Podcast, retired FBI agents Raymond J. Carr and James R. Fitzgerald break down four developing stories, examining the evidence, investigative procedures, behavioral patterns, and legal consequences.

🔴 THE CORNELL 7 INVESTIGATION

🔴 "GAS STATION HEROIN" — THE KRATOM CRISIS

🔴 GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD — FACTS VS. INTERNET SPECULATION

🔴 NOLAN WELLS — FEDERAL INVESTIGATION & TERRELL OWENS LAWSUIT

Four stories. Four complicated investigations. What does the evidence actually tell us?

Join Ray and Fitz as they separate facts from speculation and explain how experienced federal investigators approach these cases.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for expert FBI analysis, criminal profiling, and true crime investigations.

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💬 LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS: Which of these four stories deserves a deeper investigation?

#ColdRedPodcast #TrueCrime #FBI #GypsyRoseBlanchard #NolanWells #Cornell7 #Kratom #CriminalProfiling #JamesRFitzgerald #RaymondCarr

Could new forensic research point investigators toward a previously overlooked Zodiac suspect? Ray Carr and Jim “Fitz” Fitzgerald sit down with researchers Chad and Kylie to examine newly acquired research surrounding the Zodiac Killer case and an individual referred to as “Subject X.” The discussion explores the Zodiac’s known crimes, behavioral profile, cryptic communications, and the linguistic patterns found in the killer’s letters. Fitz examines the case through the lens of forensic linguistics and questioned authorship, including contraction rates, British phrasing, word choice, misspellings, and other structural patterns. The researchers also present potential connections involving handwriting characteristics, blue felt-tip pen usage, schematic drawings, and distinctive phrases found in the Zodiac communications. What would it take to move this research from theory to evidence? Ray and Fitz discuss the additional forensic testing that could help confirm or eliminate “Subject X,” including archival fingerprints, travel records, and genealogical DNA. **Cold Red Podcast** brings true crime through the eyes of former FBI agents, examining behavioral analysis, forensic evidence, investigative procedure, and the questions that remain unanswered. Subscribe to Cold Red Podcast and visit coldredpodcast.com for more. #ColdRed #ZodiacKiller #Zodiac #TrueCrime #ColdCase #FBI #ForensicLinguistics #CriminalProfiling #UnsolvedMystery #ForensicAnalysis

Richard Marx recalls what it was like being at ground zero the day after September 11th.  He tells us what it was like digging through the wreckage to find clues.

Twenty-five years after September 11, questions remain about what U.S. intelligence agencies knew before the attacks—and why critical information may never have reached the investigators who needed it.

Ray Carr and James R. Fitzgerald examine the unsealed sworn declaration of Military Commissions defense investigator Donald Canestraro and its explosive allegations surrounding pre-9/11 intelligence.

The discussion examines CIA Alec Station, hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, their time in San Diego, Operation Encore, alleged Saudi connections, and testimony from former FBI investigators who believe crucial intelligence was withheld or suppressed.

Ray and Fitz also explore the difference between bureaucratic failure, deceptive omission, and active obstruction—and ask the question that remains 25 years later:

Was this simply an intelligence failure, or was critical information deliberately kept from investigators?

This is Part 1 of Cold Red’s investigation into the Canestraro Declaration.

Subscribe to Cold Red Podcast and visit coldredpodcast.com for more.

Cold Red sits down with Joanna Rivera to discuss the nuance of domestic violence. She dives deep into her experiences and what she is doing now to help more the conference further

Were critical investigative opportunities missed in the Nancy Guthrie case? Former FBI profiler James "Fitz" Fitzgerald and retired FBI agent Ray Carr examine the investigation from an investigative perspective, discussing the decisions they believe deserved closer attention and explaining how they would have approached the case if they had been leading the investigation. Drawing on decades of FBI experience, they break down investigative strategy, behavioral analysis, and the key moments that may have shaped the direction of the case. What would you have done differently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.