The Sound of Pursuit

Hosted by Hal Humphreys

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Sep 2026

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About the show

This is the official podcast of Pursuit Magazine, an online community of private investigators, journalists, and truth-seekers of all stripes. In the podcast, we explore information sources, share tradecraft tips, and discuss ways to integrate new technology with old-school gumshoe know-how. We dig into myths about PI work and hear hard-won lessons from the field. And for the spy-curious outsider, we offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of real spies and PIs. We CAN handle the truth.

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55 recent

September 2, 202639 min

Finding Heirs, Shaping Laws, and Mentoring the Next Generation of PIs

Somewhere out there is an heir who has no idea they're about to inherit something. Or a family that's been looking for a lost relative for decades. Finding them takes a lot more than a Google search. It's deep detective work into family trees and DNA databases. Harvey Morse has spent 60 years doing exactly that. He’s President of Locaters International and Chairman of Morse Genealogical Services, the family business his grandfather started back in 1939. And he's had a huge role in shaping this profession. He served ten consecutive terms as Chair of Florida's Division of Licensing Advisory Board, a record nobody can touch. And he founded the Florida Association of Private Investigators. In our conversation, we'll get into forensic genealogy. We’ll talk about what's changed over the past half century — and what hasn't changed — about how we do this work. And we’ll consider what the industry’s future might look like — and how to mentor the next generation of investigators. Locaters International, Inc: https://www.bestpi.com/harveyemorse Morse Genealogical Services: https://www.findanheir.com/ Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Harvey Morse Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

August 18, 202632 min

Reading the Room: Jury Research

Twelve strangers walk into a courtroom. By the end of the trial, they decide whether someone walks free or loses everything. The lawyers spend months building a case. But who's been studying the twelve people who decide the verdict? That’s jury research. It’s one of the more interesting specialties a private investigator can get into, and the work can shape how a trial turns out. Our guest, Vicki Maran, does this for a living. She's a co-founder of IntelliSeek Investigations, an Atlanta firm focused on open-source digging in background investigations. In this episode, we'll hear about her work helping attorneys pick juries in cases with very high stakes. IntelliSeek Investigations: https://www.intelliseekinvestigations.com/ Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Vicki Maran Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

August 4, 202631 min

In "Night in West Texas," an Attorney Fights to Exonerate Her Client

How did a 40-year-old wrongful conviction go from a lost cause to a feature documentary watched by millions? This is the story of a closeted priest brutally murdered in Odessa, Texas and a young Apache man found guilty of a crime he did not commit. It’s about racism. It’s about homophobia. Shame. And false confessions. James Reyos spent years in prison for something he didn’t do. Couldn’t have done. And our guest, Allison Clayton is a post-conviction attorney who fought to prove his innocence. They’re both featured in a new documentary called “ Night in West Texas , as part of Texas Monthly 's Reel South series. (For now, you can watch the film on PBS .) Hear about Clayton's strategy — which in cases like these is often as much about PR and politics as it is about facts, evidence, or the law. "Night in West Texas" site: https://www.nightinwesttexas.com/ Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Allison Clayton Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

July 21, 202645 min

The Multimillion-Dollar Collection Plate: Is It Fraud?

The “prosperity gospel:" It’s a controversial movement among some charismatic Christians who believe that if people have faith, God will reward them with health and riches. In the middle of the last century, some prosperity gospel preachers discovered the power of television to help them reach more believers — and more donors. Televangelists like Kenneth Copeland became multimillionaires, while many of their donors live well below the poverty line. Is it fraud if people believe wholeheartedly and donate willingly? Let's ask our guest, Pete Evans. He leads the Trinity Foundation , an organization that has spent decades investigating televangelists who spend their congregations’ donations on lavish mansions and private jets. Since its founding in the 1970s, the Trinity Foundation has been part faith community, part homeless shelter, part televangelism watchdog and investigative firm. In this episode, you'll find out how Evans and the Trinity Foundation expose religious fraud and excess, using investigative techniques like real estate public records research, aircraft tracking, and trash pulls. The Trinity Foundation website: https://trinityfi.org/ Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Pete Evans Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

July 7, 202626 min

The Internet of Things: An Overlooked Tool for Digital Forensics Investigators

Your smart TV is watching you. Your fitness tracker knows your heart rate. Your doorbell has a camera. Your car logs everywhere you go. IoT, the Internet of Things , is everywhere. And those connected devices are priceless sources of digital evidence for investigators. The question is: Do you know how to get to the data those devices collect? Our guest Amber Schroader is a proud Trekkie and a self-taught, self-styled "computer nerd" who's been doing digital forensics for over 30 years. She's founder of Paraben Corporation , a software company specializing in digital forensics. And she's one of the people pushing this field to think bigger about what devices can tell investigators in all kinds of cases — and how to legally capture that information. Paraben's website: https://paraben.com/ FInd Amber Schroader on LinkedIn . Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Amber Schroader Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green and Stephanie Mitchell , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

June 24, 202652 min

Pursuing Justice as Director of Nashville’s Conviction Review Unit

On a spring day in 1999, Russell Maze called 911, frantic: his son Alex, just five weeks old, had stopped breathing. At the hospital, doctors noticed bruises on Alex’s head and abdomen. They quickly deduced that his injuries could only have been caused by “shaken baby syndrome.” Over a year later, Alex died. Russell Maze was convicted of killing his son. More than two decades later, the Nashville District Attorney’s office took the extraordinary step of asking the court to vacate Maze’s conviction. The medical examiner who helped convict him now believes Alex’s injuries were caused by an illness, not abuse. In her closing arguments, an attorney with the DA’s office said, “The state got this wrong.” Our guest today is that attorney. Sunny Eaton is senior director of the Conviction Review Unit and an assistant district attorney in the Nashville DA’s office. In this episode, Sunny talks about how a conviction review unit works and why her office chose the Russell Maze case to review. And she speaks candidly about the life-and-death stakes of her work and why pursuing actual innocence cases matters so much to her. Read Pam Colloff's ProPublica/NYTimes feature on Russell Maze's case and Sunny Eaton's work to prove his innocence: He Was Sent to Prison for Killing His Baby. What if He Didn’t Do It? Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Sunny Eaton Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

June 9, 202635 min

Cyberwarfare, Hunting Threats, and Why Companies Are Breached

How do you identify online threats before they turn into disasters? Our guest Chris Nyhuis specializes in shielding clients from cyberattacks. As co-founder and CEO of Vigilant, a cybersecurity company in Cincinnati, he’s developed defenses for the food supply chain and telecom — protecting the kind of infrastructure that, when it gets hit, makes national news. Nyhuis teaches about cyberwarfare and holds multiple patents in threat analysis. And perhaps most impressive of all: The company gives 25% of their profit to organizations fighting child trafficking and supporting orphans around the world. It's built into their business model. Listen to find out what's going on in the world of cybersecurity, who's getting hit, and how to take practical steps to keep yourself and your business safer. Viligant's website: https://vigilantnow.com/ FInd Chris Nyhuis on LinkedIn . Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Chris Nyhuis " Blood Will Tell " podcast: On Apple | On Spotify | On Audible Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green and Stephanie Mitchell , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

May 26, 202644 min

The "Blood Will Tell" Podcast

Twin brothers, 18 years old, go to a party in San Jose, California. A fight ensues. Somebody gets stabbed — and dies. The brothers are arrested, and one twin is charged with murder. The wrong twin. And he stays in jail for nearly two years before the guilty twin finally comes clean. My guest, author and journalist Jennifer Miller, met one of the brothers, Trung, while reporting a story for the Washington Post. Trung had joined a group that was performing Othello, in a program that uses Shakespeare’s plays to help rehabilitate people serving prison terms. Miller says the story Trung told her was so extraordinary that it “felt like Shakespeare himself could have written it.” She spent years getting to know the twins and earning their trust. She then shared their story in a podcast called “ Blood Will Tell ." It's not a true crime podcast in the strictest sense — Miller's burning question wasn't who did what . To her, this story was all about the why : Why did one brother take the blame for nearly two years? Why did the other one let him? Listen to this episode to find out how Jennifer Miller knew this was the story of a lifetime. And then, download and listen to " Blood Will Tell " to learn the answers to the deeper why questions asked above. Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Jennifer Miller " Blood Will Tell " podcast: On Apple | On Spotify | On Audible Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

May 12, 202648 min

Legislation & the PI Industry: What Investigators Need to Know

Some of the laws shaping how investigators work today were written decades before anyone had a smartphone. And right now, a new round of legislation is moving through state capitals and Congress that could change how PIs track people, pull records, and use the tools they depend on every day. My guest Edward Ajaeb is president of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS). He watches for new laws and regulations that are relevant to our profession. And often, he's been in the room when some of it was written, making sure the PI industry has a voice at the table. If you've ever been caught off guard by a law that changed how you could do your job, don't miss this episode. With big thanks to our sponsor, TLOxp®. Nighthawk Strategies: https://nighthawkstrategies.com/edward-ajaeb/ NCISS: https://www.nciss.org/ Edward Ajaeb's LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardajaeb/ Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Edward Ajaeb Sponsored by: TLOxp® Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation

May 5, 20261 hr 1 min

The “American Shrapnel” Podcast: Investigating a Domestic Terrorist

1996. A blast rips through Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The FBI’s initial suspect — a security guard just doing his job — is cleared. The only evidence pointing to the real bomber is a grainy photo. To the FBI, he’s simply “blob man.” They have no idea who he is or how to find him. You may remember the story of the bomber who blew up the summer Olympics. You might also recall other bombings around the South in the late 1990s. You’ll most likely remember the long manhunt that followed. Our guest is Becca Andrews, the co-producer and co-host of "American Shrapnel," a podcast that digs deep into Eric Rudolph's crimes, his escape and capture, and the extremist communities that indoctrinated and sheltered him. In this episode, Andrews reflects on investigating crimes from decades ago, interviewing traumatized witnesses, and the long shadow of violent extremism. And she shares her determination to tell these kinds of stories in good faith, with respect for the real people who've lived through violence and its aftermath. Host: Hal Humphreys Guest: Becca Andrews Music provided by Jason White , who composed our theme . Special thanks to Kim Green , who produced 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! Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com/ PI Education: https://pieducation.com/ Our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PIEducation