The higher you climb in leadership, the easier it becomes to lose sight of the people you're leading.

So how do you stay connected, build trust, and make better decisions when you're responsible for a team of 57,000 people?

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson sits down with Cassandra Brown, Vice President of Asset Protection at Walmart, for a candid conversation about leadership, communication, and the importance of never letting your perspective expire.

From starting her career as an hourly associate to leading one of the largest asset protection organizations in the world, Cassie shares the experiences, mentors, challenges, and lessons that shaped her leadership philosophy.

Together, Dave and Cassie explore what it really means to lead with authenticity, why great leaders ask better questions, how investigative interviewing skills translate into everyday leadership, and why building relationships before you need them is essential to earning trust.

They also discuss the evolving role of AI and technology, the importance of investing in people, and why the human element remains irreplaceable.

The conversation also comes full circle to Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ), where Dave serves as CEO. Cassie reflects on her early experience with WZ's investigative interviewing training and how the skills she learned—asking better questions, listening with intention, and understanding human behavior—have influenced her approach to leadership. It's a powerful reminder that effective interviewing isn't just about investigations; it's about becoming a better communicator, decision-maker, and leader.

Whether you're leading a team, conducting investigations, navigating difficult conversations, or simply looking to grow personally and professionally, this episode is a reminder that great leadership starts with listening, learning, and staying connected.

Because experience may earn you a seat at the table, but perspective is what keeps you effective.

What happens when someone remembers the sound of an impact—but not the details immediately before it? When they recall pieces of an experience out of order? Or when their emotional response doesn't look the way we expect it to?

Those gaps and inconsistencies can be easy to interpret as deception. But trauma can fundamentally influence how people experience, process, store, and retrieve information.

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Bryan Barlow, CFI, Staff Instructor and Professional Standards Lead at Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, to explore the science and practice of trauma-informed interviewing.

Drawing from Bryan's experience as a Chicago Police detective, trainer, and interviewing practitioner, they discuss how trauma can affect memory and behavior—and why investigators need to be careful about imposing their own expectations on how someone "should" remember or respond to an event.

The conversation explores why memory isn't always chronological, why delayed reporting or gradual disclosure shouldn't automatically be interpreted as deception, and how safety, patience, rapport, empowerment, and even silence can improve an interview.

Dave and Bryan also examine the broader application of trauma-informed practices across law enforcement, human resources, workplace investigations, healthcare, security, fraud investigations, and everyday human interactions.

And the responsibility doesn't end with the interviewee. They also discuss the cumulative impact that repeated exposure to difficult stories and investigations can have on investigators themselves—and why self-care must be part of the conversation.

Trauma-informed interviewing isn't about excusing inconsistencies or abandoning investigative curiosity. It's about understanding what else might explain what we're seeing before we decide what it means.

Because sometimes the most important question isn't, "Why doesn't this story make sense?"

It's "What might I be missing?"

About Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) is a global leader in investigative interviewing training, helping law enforcement, human resources, loss prevention, and corporate investigators conduct more effective, ethical, and reliable interviews. WZ provides training in evidence-based investigative interviewing, trauma-informed interviewing, workplace investigations, rapport development, and other evidence-based approaches designed to improve communication and decision-making.

What do you say when someone you care about isn’t okay—and are you willing to truly listen to the answer?

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with Lindsey Gray, a mental health professional and Suicide Prevention Training Manager with Wounded Warrior Project, for a powerful conversation about veteran mental health, suicide prevention, and human connection.

Lindsey explores why veterans can face unique challenges around identity, purpose, belonging, and accessing care—and why the lessons from suicide prevention apply far beyond the veteran community. From the workplace to our closest relationships, they discuss how to recognize when someone may be struggling, ask difficult questions directly, avoid the instinct to immediately “fix” the problem, and create space for people to feel heard.

The conversation also dives into what happens in the brain during a crisis, the importance of time and connection, and a simple but powerful reminder: you don’t need to have the perfect words to make a difference.

Resources & Support

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Veterans can call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
• Vets4Warriors: 24/7 confidential peer support for veterans and the military community at 855-838-8255.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Veteran mental health, suicide prevention resources, and support.
• The Trevor Project: Crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people at 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678.

If someone is in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, contact emergency services.

About Truth Be Told

Hosted by Dave Thompson, CEO of Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ), Truth Be Told explores the psychology and science behind better conversations—from investigative interviewing and difficult workplace discussions to leadership, human behavior, rapport, listening, and the moments when communication matters most.

Wicklander-Zulawski provides science-based investigative interviewing and communication training to professionals across law enforcement, human resources, loss prevention, corporate investigations, and other industries.

Why would an innocent person confess to a crime they didn’t commit?

It’s one of the most misunderstood questions in criminal justice—and the answer reveals important lessons about interrogation techniques, false confessions, wrongful convictions, and the way we search for the truth.

In this episode of Truth Be Told, host Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with attorney, advocate, and photographer Robin Dahlberg, author of Breaking Point, a powerful project that takes readers inside the interrogation experiences of six exonerees who confessed to crimes they did not commit.

Through the stories of Jeffrey Deskovic, Vanessa Gathers, Byron Halsey, Eddie Lowery, Christopher Ochoa, and Raymond Santana of the Exonerated Five, Dave and Robin explore how an investigation can go wrong long before a confession ever occurs—and why understanding the human experience inside the interrogation room matters for investigators, attorneys, and anyone interested in criminal justice reform.

The conversation examines some of the most important questions surrounding modern interview and interrogation practices:

• Why do innocent people falsely confess? • How can tunnel vision and confirmation bias influence an investigation? • What happens when investigators become convinced they have the right suspect? • How can maximization, minimization, threats, promises, and false-evidence tactics influence a suspect’s decisions? • Why is recording the entire interview and interrogation so important? • How can investigators obtain reliable information without relying on coercive or guilt-presumptive interrogation techniques? • What role do public defenders, expert witnesses, and unequal resources play in wrongful conviction cases? • And what can today’s investigators learn directly from people who experienced a wrongful interrogation and conviction?

One particularly important theme is perspective. Dahlberg’s Breaking Point uses photography and the words of exonerees to put the audience in the other chair—to understand what an interrogation can feel like to the person being questioned. The goal isn’t to vilify investigators. It’s to recognize that investigators, suspects, victims, attorneys, and families are all human—and that reliable investigations require practices designed to protect the integrity of the evidence and the search for truth.

Dave also connects these cases to the evolving science of investigative interviewing and the importance of continually challenging our own methods. Better interviewing isn’t simply about avoiding false confessions. It’s about

obtaining information that is accurate, reliable, and capable of withstanding scrutiny.

For law enforcement investigators, criminal justice professionals, attorneys, workplace investigators, forensic interviewers, and anyone interested in wrongful convictions or interrogation reform, this conversation offers an important look at what can happen when pressure, assumptions, and certainty replace curiosity.

About Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates provides investigative interviewing and interrogation training focused on ethical, evidence-based and non-confrontational methods for obtaining reliable information. WZ training helps law enforcement, corporate investigators, human resources professionals, loss prevention teams, and other investigative professionals strengthen interviewing skills, recognize bias, build rapport, and conduct more effective investigations.

If you’re searching for investigative interviewing training, interrogation training, false confession training, science-based interviewing techniques, rapport-based interviewing, or professional development for investigators, explore the training and educational resources available from Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates.

Most communication problems aren't really about what happened.

They're about what happens next.

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson sits down with communication expert Alex Perry to explore why even well-intentioned people misunderstand each other — and what we can do differently.

From difficult conversations and feedback to active listening, empathy, body language and leadership presence, Alex challenges some of the assumptions we've been taught about what “good communication” actually looks like.

They explore why curiosity may be more valuable than certainty, why listening doesn't always mean fixing, how leaders can show empathy without lowering expectations, and why our desire to quickly reach an answer can prevent us from actually understanding the person in front of us.

The conversation also tackles communication myths — including the often-cited 93/7 rule — and examines how the same principles apply across leadership, relationships, sales and investigative interviews.

Because sometimes the most important question isn't, “What should I say next?”

It's: “What am I missing?”

Want to improve how you handle difficult conversations, workplace conflict, and high-stakes communication? Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates (WZ) provides evidence-based training for leaders, HR professionals, investigators, and organizations looking to strengthen communication, active listening, rapport, and decision-making. Explore WZ’s training and resources to build practical skills for navigating the conversations that matter most.

Can better communication save your relationship, strengthen your leadership, and improve your toughest conversations?

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with licensed therapist Kristina Virro to explore the psychology behind effective communication, healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution. Whether you're navigating a marriage, leading a team, conducting investigative interviews, or simply trying to become a better communicator, this conversation is packed with practical, research-backed insights.

Together they discuss:

• Why recurring arguments are rarely about the surface issue.

• The communication habits that quietly damage relationships.

• How curiosity outperforms assumptions in both personal and professional conversations.

• The science behind the Gottmans' research and the predictors of relationship success.

• Why defensiveness, criticism, and poor listening derail trust.

• Communication strategies leaders can use to build stronger teams.

• How couples, managers, investigators, and HR professionals can ask better questions and create psychological safety.

• Practical tools—including Kristina's weekly relationship check-in—that improve connection before problems become crises.

If you're interested in communication skills, emotional intelligence, leadership, couples therapy, active listening, conflict management, workplace communication, investigative interviewing, relationship advice, difficult conversations, psychology, or personal growth, this episode delivers actionable techniques you can begin using immediately.

Whether you're a business leader, law enforcement professional, HR investigator, therapist, or someone simply looking to build healthier relationships, you'll leave this conversation with one powerful reminder:

Replace assumptions with curiosity—and watch every conversation change

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Why This Matters

While this conversation centers on relationships, its lessons extend far beyond couples therapy. Many of the same communication principles discussed in this episode—curiosity, active listening, emotional intelligence, and avoiding assumptions—are the same evidence-based skills taught by Wicklander-Zulawski for investigative interviewing, workplace investigations, leadership, and other difficult conversations.

Whether you're leading a team, interviewing a witness, conducting an HR investigation, or working to strengthen a personal relationship, better conversations lead to better outcomes.