Forensic Focus

📝 Complete the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study: https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey

Bunmi Bloom, co-founder of Sena Forensics, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the emotional reality of working in digital forensics and the psychological toll of long-term exposure to traumatic material. Drawing on her background with the Metropolitan Police and the Financial Conduct Authority, Bunmi reflects on how DFIR practitioners navigate disturbing images, case reports, and the pressure to "stay strong and get on with it."

The conversation explores coping mechanisms inside the lab, the vital role of social support, and how desensitisation can develop over time. Bunmi shares why many investigators feel unable to speak openly, how team culture shapes resilience, and what better preparation for new DFIs could look like. She also considers whether psychological screening, mentoring, and leadership-driven change could help create safer, more supportive forensic workplaces.

#digitalforensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Policing #CSAM

00:00 Introducing Bunmi Bloom

00:39 Sena Forensics: Mission and Services

03:44 Professional Background

05:35 The Impactful LinkedIn Post

07:50 Emotional Challenges in Digital Forensics

10:55 Coping Mechanisms and Social Support

15:20 Desensitization and Emotional Detachment

18:39 Preparation and Support for New DFIs

22:56 The Importance of Recognizing Stressors

25:16 The Role of Social Support

28:27 Cultural Shifts in Mental Health Awareness

31:53 Psychological Screening in Recruitment

38:53 Systemic Change and Leadership

41:20 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com

🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/preparing-investigators-for-trauma-exposure-in-digital-forensics/

📝 Show Notes

Sena Forensics on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sena-forensics-bunmi-bloom-76a592374/

Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey

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📝 Take The Surveys

An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making

https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C

Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study

https://www.forensicfocus.com/survey

Carol Brooks, a cyber and organisational psychologist and leadership consultant, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss her PhD research into covert cyber investigators and the psychological factors that shape their resilience and investigative decision-making. She explains what it really means to work "covertly" online and why inconsistent job titles across law enforcement, cybersecurity and the private sector make it difficult even to define the workforce she is studying.

The conversation explores the significant challenges involved in recruiting participants — from suspicion and cultural barriers to the difficulties of engaging freelancers and small teams — and highlights why anonymity and ethical oversight are critical to building trust. It also examines the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry if research is to have real-world impact, before concluding with a call for covert cyber investigators worldwide to take part in the study and help give this hidden workforce a much-needed voice.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #CyberPsychology #InvestigatorWellbeing #CovertInvestigations #mentalhealth

00:00 Introducing Carol Brooks

02:05 Carol's PhD Journey and Research Focus

06:49 Understanding Covert Cyber Investigators

13:11 Challenges in Recruiting Participants

27:18 Psychological Factors in Cyber Investigations

29:54 Setting PhD Goals and Challenges

31:02 Connecting with Covert Investigators

32:25 Overcoming Suspicion and Misconceptions

33:26 Strategies for Accessing Networks

36:37 Supporting Investigator Wellbeing

46:55 Bridging Academia and Industry

52:50 Balancing PhD and Personal Life

58:36 Call to Action for Covert Investigators

👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com

🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/covert-cyber-investigator-well-being-with-carol-brooks/

📝 Show Notes

An Exploratory Study of Covert Cyber Investigators and the Psychological Factors Impacting on Personal Resilience and Investigative Decision-Making - https://hud.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gwyXAR281cY12C

British Psychological Society Cyber Psychology Section – https://www.bps.org.uk

Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey

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Phil Anderson from Northumbria University joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to discuss the launch of the Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study — a global research project examining the psychological and physical impact of digital forensic work across both law enforcement and the private sector.

Drawing on his 24-year academic career and long-standing collaboration with Northumbria Police, Phil explains how digital forensics units have evolved and why DFIs are facing unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and workload pressure.

Together with host Paul, he outlines the four core research themes behind the study — early-life trauma and resilience, the mind-body impact of occupational stress, organisational protective factors, and the role of neurodiversity — and issues a clear call to action for DFIs worldwide to take part and help drive meaningful change.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicWellbeing #DFIs #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #Trauma #PoliceForensics

00:00 Phil Anderson's Journey into Digital Forensics

01:34 Collaboration with Northumbria Police

02:33 The Evolution of Digital Forensics Units

03:34 Planning the Forensic Focus Well-Being Study

11:40 Exploring the Impact of Early Life Trauma on DFIs

19:51 Coping Strategies and Physical Health in DFIs

24:37 Challenges and Stressors in Digital Forensics

27:51 Challenges in Digital Forensics

28:42 Recruitment and Retention Issues

30:18 Acknowledging the Crisis

33:34 Protective Factors Against Trauma

44:08 Neurodiversity in Digital Forensics

47:46 Call to Action: Participate in the Survey

👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/forensic-focus-international-well-being-study-have-your-say/

📝 Show Notes

Forensic Focus International Well-Being Study - https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northumbria/forensic-focus-wellbeing-survey

Forensic Focus and Northumbria University Launch International Well-Being Study for Digital Forensic Investigators - https://www.forensicfocus.com/news/forensic-focus-and-northumbria-university-launch-international-well-being-study-for-digital-forensic-investigators/

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Si and Desi close out the year on the Forensic Focus Podcast with a wide-ranging end-of-2025 wrap-up, reflecting on how the year unfolded for the show and the DFIR community. They discuss the mental health series, guest appearances, and how everyday technologies — from streaming services to wearables — are increasingly intersecting with forensic investigations, even when people don't realise it.

The conversation then broadens to bigger technology shifts, including the rapid rise of AI and its legal, ethical, and societal implications. Si and Desi explore bias, misinformation, validation, and why human oversight still matters, before turning to the resurgence of operating system "wars," Apple's growing market share, Linux's expanding presence, and what changing user behaviour could mean for digital forensics in the years ahead.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicFocusPodcast #AI #Wearables #Linux #Apple

👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast

00:33 Reflecting on the Year 2025

01:32 Challenges and Changes in 2025

02:09 Mental Health Series and Guest Appearances

04:51 Streaming Services and TV Licenses

09:27 Wearable Technology and Forensics

18:11 AI in Legal and Ethical Contexts

44:20 AI's Inevitable Rise

44:37 The Resurgence of Operating System Wars

45:19 Apple's Growing Market Share

46:31 Linux's Increasing Presence

53:14 Challenges for Linux Adoption

01:02:31 The Shift to Mobile and Tablet Usage

01:14:49 AI-Generated Content and Its Implications

01:21:50 Reflections on Free Speech and AI

01:27:57 Looking Ahead to the Future

🎧 Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/si-and-desis-holiday-special-2025/

📝 Show Notes

Forensic Focus Podcasts - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast

Forensic Focus Jobs Board - https://www.forensicfocus.com/jobs

'The old-school landline is having a cultural moment', ABC - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/landline-rotary-phone-social-media-ban-family-connect/106010638

'Judges have become 'human filters' as AI in Australian courts reaches 'unsustainable phase', chief justice says', The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov/21/judges-have-become-human-filters-as-ai-in-australian-courts-reaches-unsustainable-phase-chief-justice-says

'Founder Admits His "AI Transcription" Startup Was Just Him Joining People's Meetings and Taking Notes by Hand', Futurism - https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/fireflies-founder-startup-ai

'Man Alarmed to Discover His Smart Vacuum Was Broadcasting a Secret Map of His House', Futurism - https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/robot-vacuum-broadcasting

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Keith Lockhart from Oxygen Forensics joins Si and Desi on the Forensic Focus Podcast to examine how remote digital evidence collection is changing investigative workflows across DFIR, eDiscovery, and corporate investigations. Drawing on recent XiB mobile training and real-world deployments, Keith explains where remote and agent-based acquisition delivers practical benefits—and where traditional hands-on methods remain essential.

The discussion covers targeted versus full acquisitions, consent and governance in corporate environments, and the operational realities of collecting data across networks, jurisdictions, and time zones. It also explores over-the-air mobile collection, workstation memory capture, drone forensics, and why parser development remains a constant challenge as apps and platforms evolve.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse #eDiscovery #RemoteCollection #DigitalEvidence #cybercrime

👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Welcoming Keith from Oxygen

01:59 Discussing the XiB Course Experience

05:19 Challenges and Successes in Mobile Phone Extraction

10:22 Remote Collection and Its Evolution

14:38 ROI and Practical Applications of Remote Collection

30:32 Remote Collection in Corporate and Law Enforcement

35:01 Parole Monitoring Challenges

35:20 Case Study: Faulty Monitoring Software

36:34 The Need for Reliable Monitoring Tools

37:23 Cross-Border Data and Legal Concerns

38:02 Chain of Custody in Law Enforcement

39:26 Remote Acquisition and Targeted Data Collection

41:33 Corporate Use Cases and Data Management

51:04 Drone Acquisition and Challenges

01:00:34 Concluding Thoughts and Future Developments

🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/oxygen-forensics-on-smarter-faster-remote-dfir-collections/

📝 Show Notes

Oxygen Forensics – https://www.oxygenforensics.com/

Review: Oxygen Forensics Training – Extraction in a Box (XiB) – https://www.forensicfocus.com/reviews/oxygen-forensics-training-extraction-in-a-box-xib/

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Heather and Jared Barnhart return to the Forensic Focus Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation covering Cellebrite's growing Case-to-Closure Summit, behind-the-scenes insights from building one of the industry's toughest CTFs, and their digital forensic work on one of the most high-profile US murder cases in recent years. They share why the C2C Summit focuses on practitioner-led talks rather than product pitches, what made the first event such a success, and what's planned for the next gathering — including expanded training and a keynote from Terry Crews.

The discussion also dives into how they design complex CTFs, why intentionally frustrating questions teach critical thinking, and how their mobile forensics analysis helped reveal behavioural patterns, intent, and attempts to hide activity in the Idaho murders investigation. They finish by exploring the future of investigations and AI — from cautious, evidence-bounded implementations to the importance of validation and avoiding confirmation bias.

Get 50% off Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 registration with promo code: 2026-c2c-ForensicFocus

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MobileForensics #Cellebrite #CTF #incidentresponse #ForensicFocus #AIForensics

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions

01:33 C2C Summit Overview

03:35 C2C Summit Success and Highlights

09:45 Challenges and Insights from CTF

19:56 Introduction to the Idaho Murders Case

25:10 The Slow Process of Justice

25:53 Key Evidence: The Knife Sheath and the Car

27:46 Digital Footprint and Intent

28:58 Challenges in Mobile Forensics

31:49 Behavioral Patterns and Digital Evidence

42:30 AI in Forensics

43:17 Future of Digital Investigations

44:00 The Role of AI in Investigations

50:52 Validation and Confirmation Bias

54:24 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com

🎧 Episode Page & Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/the-idaho-murders-from-behavioural-clues-to-ais-role-in-digital-forensics/

📝 Show Notes

Cellebrite – https://www.cellebrite.com

Cellebrite C2C User Summit 2026 – https://events.cellebritec2c.com/event/2026/overview

CFReDS – https://cfreds.nist.gov/

SANS DFIR Summit & Training 2026 – https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-training-events/digital-forensics-summit-2026

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Justin Tolman from Exterro joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to talk about the future of FTK and the role FTK Imager still plays in everyday casework. He explains why the original free version remains available, and what prompted the introduction of Imager Pro with added capabilities like BitLocker decryption and iOS collections. Justin also reflects on his time in law enforcement and training, and why the investigative side of the work still holds a strong pull.

Looking ahead, Justin shares where FTK development is headed — from large-scale processing and streamlined review workflows to Whisper-based audio transcription and careful, targeted use of AI for tasks like summarising long documents and cross-media searching. He also previews Exterro's upcoming Inform event — a 15-hour global broadcast featuring talks from practitioners around the world — and invites the community to get involved.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #FTK #Exterro #ForensicImaging #MobileForensics #IncidentResponse

00:00 Welcome to the Forensic Focus Podcast

00:31 Introducing Justin Tolman from Exterro

01:46 Justin's Journey into Forensics

03:10 Transition to Training and Exterro

06:31 FTK Imager Pro: Features and Benefits

14:36 Training and Community Resources

16:29 Updates on FTK Suite and Scalability

19:10 On-Prem vs. Cloud Solutions

26:57 AI in Forensics: Benefits and Challenges

37:45 Addressing AI Bias in Forensics

38:53 Case Study: AI Misinterpretation in Seattle Shooting

40:14 The Importance of Validation in AI Forensics

41:18 Challenges in Identifying Legal vs. Illegal Content

43:08 The Future of AI in Forensics

44:18 Collaboration and Integration in Forensic Tools

46:07 The Role of APIs and Open Standards

47:18 Challenges with Proprietary Forensic Formats

54:36 The Need for High Compression Formats

56:32 Forensic Focus Podcast and Community Engagement

01:00:56 Upcoming Forensic Events and Presentations

01:06:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

👉 Visit Forensic Focus: https://www.forensicfocus.com 🎧

Video/Transcript: https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-ftk-imager-pro-vendor-neutral-forensics-smarter-ai-and-exterros-forensic-vision/

📝 Show Notes

Exterro – https://www.exterro.com

FTK Imager PRO –https://www.exterro.com/digital-forensics-software/ftk-imager-pro

Exterro Inform – https://www.exterro.com/resources/exterro-inform FTK Podcasts – https://www.exterro.com/resources/ftk-over-the-air-podcast

OpenAI Whisper (speech-to-text) – https://github.com/openai/whisper

Ollama (local LLM framework) – https://ollama.ai

Project VIC – https://www.projectvic.org

CAID (UK) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-abuse-image-database

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Gareth Davies, Chairman of F3 (First Forensic Forum), joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to explore how a grassroots, vendor-neutral community has helped shape digital forensics in the UK for three decades. He traces F3's origins in the 1990s, when affordable training and tool-agnostic knowledge-sharing were scarce, and explains why the forum still focuses on byte-level, lab-ready techniques over sales pitches.

Looking ahead, Gareth previews F3's 2025 conference in Warwickshire (Nov 18–20), the not-for-profit pricing model, and upcoming trainings on UAVs, software-defined radio, implants/biomed devices, smartwatch and vehicle forensics, and video authentication/deepfakes. He also discusses international growth (including interest in an Australian chapter) and an open call for volunteers to help run events and keep training affordable.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #ForensicsTraining #IncidentResponse #VehicleForensics #CryberCrime #DigitalEvidence #DigitalInvestigtion #DigitalEvidence

👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

00:00 Introducing Gareth Davies

01:09 What is F3?

03:01 Gareth's Journey into Forensics

05:35 PhD and Research Work

06:54 Current Role and Responsibilities

09:08 Interesting Cases and Projects

12:27 Involvement with F3

14:41 F3's Global Reach and Community

20:03 Challenges and Future of F3

22:39 Personal Experiences and Networking

24:47 Becoming Chairman of F3

30:50 Upcoming F3 Event Details

35:28 Digital Forensics Teaching and Research

37:30 Upcoming F3 Training

42:38 Challenges in Digital Forensics

45:28 The Importance of Community and Resources

55:04 Personal Interests and Hobbies

57:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎥 Video/Transcript – https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-f3-building-community-and-sharing-knowledge-in-digital-forensics/

📝 Show Notes F3 – First Forensic Forum website - https://f3.org.uk

F3 – First Forensic Forum LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/f3.org.uk/

Spyder Forensics - https://www.spyderforensics.com

Bénédictine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9n%C3%A9dictine

APOLLO - https://github.com/mac4n6/APOLLO

DFRWS - https://dfrws.org

GCK File Signature Table - https://filesig.search.org

NIST - https://www.nist.gov/itl/ssd/digital-forensics

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Debbie Garner, retired Special Agent in Charge at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share insights from her 30-year career. From undercover narcotics work in her early 20s to leading Georgia's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, Debbie brings a unique perspective on collaboration, child protection, and investigator wellness.

She discusses the challenges of cyber tips backlogs, the importance of cross-border cooperation, and why well-being must be built into the culture of child exploitation investigations. Debbie explains how she introduced practical, budget-conscious wellness initiatives — from group discussions to peer support and mental health check-ins — and how these efforts helped transform trust, retention, and resilience within her unit.

Debbie and Paul also explore the stigma investigators often face, how leadership decisions can make or break support for officers, and what agencies can do to better safeguard the people safeguarding children.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #WellBeing #LawEnforcement #childprotection

👉 Visit Forensic Focus at https://www.forensicfocus.com

00:00 Introduction and Guest Background

00:49 Early Career in Law Enforcement

02:11 Specialization in Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes

03:27 Challenges and Changes in Law Enforcement

06:03 The ICAC Task Force Program

09:34 Cross-Border Investigations and Cooperation

14:46 Wellness and Resiliency in Law Enforcement

18:01 Building a Culture of Wellness

28:16 Personal Stories and Agency Support

39:57 Final Thoughts and Advice

🎥 Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/inside-the-fight-against-child-exploitation-leadership-and-wellness-lessons-from-debbie-garner/

📝 Show Notes

Innocent Justice Foundation - https://innocentjustice.org

Raven (ICAC Task Force Funding Advocacy) - https://raven.us

Hexordia - https://www.hexordia.com

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Hannah Bailey, founder of Blue Light Wellbeing, joins the Forensic Focus Podcast to share her powerful journey from frontline policing to becoming a psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and well-being coach. Drawing on 15 years in the police — including CID and major crime — Hannah brings unique cultural credibility to her work supporting digital forensics professionals, first responders, and other high-risk roles.

She talks openly about living with PTSD and burnout, facing two breast cancer diagnoses, and how those experiences inspired her to focus on proactive mental health support. Hannah and Paul discuss why cultural awareness in therapy matters, how approaches like psychoeducation and regular supervision can help, and why therapy isn't just for people who are "broken."

Hannah also explains BrainWorking Recursive Therapy (BWRT), a modern trauma therapy that transformed her own recovery, and shares practical advice for those in digital forensics and other trauma-facing roles on spotting early signs of stress and building long-term resilience.

#DigitalForensics #DFIR #MentalHealth #WellBeing #PTSD

00:00 Introduction

02:44 Hannah Bailey's Background and Career

04:08 The Onset of Mental Health Challenges

06:01 Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Its Impact

06:37 Returning to Policing and Further Challenges

09:44 Lack of Support

12:14 Proactive Mental Health Approaches

17:18 Hannah's Work with DFIs and Other Forces

20:22 The Importance of Early Intervention

26:28 The Value of Therapy in Organizations

27:35 The Importance of Culturally Aware Therapists

29:29 Introduction to Brain Work Recursive Therapy (BWRT)

33:52 Combining Trauma Therapy and Wellbeing Coaching

34:32 The Therapeutic Process and Its Benefits

36:21 Supervision and Support in Therapy

36:57 Proactive Approaches in Digital Forensics

39:11 Building Trust and Non-Judgmental Spaces

43:30 Final Thoughts

🎥 Video/Transcript - https://www.forensicfocus.com/podcast/well-being-in-digital-forensics-and-policing-insights-from-hannah-bailey/

📝 Show Notes Blue Light Wellbeing - https://www.bluelightwellbeing.uk

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