What happens when you spend more than two decades helping organizations communicate, investigate, and build trust across the globe?

In this episode of Truth Be Told, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with WZ Vice President of International, Chris Norris, CFI to explore what he's learned from working in more than 45 countries and traveling to over 80. From living in the UK to teaching investigators in Afghanistan, Korea, Brazil, and beyond, Chris shares the cultural lessons, communication mistakes, and relationship-building strategies that have shaped his career.

The conversation dives into the surprising differences—and remarkable similarities—between people around the world. Chris discusses how curiosity, humility, and adaptability can help anyone build stronger relationships, whether they're leading an international team, conducting an interview, or simply connecting with people from different backgrounds. Along the way, he shares memorable stories about cultural misunderstandings, translating investigative training across languages, and why some of the most important communication lessons have nothing to do with words at all.

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Truths:

• People are more alike than different. Whether you're in London, Seoul, Kabul, or Chicago, the fundamental challenges of communication, trust, and information gathering remain remarkably consistent. Cultural differences matter, but human nature is universal.
• Curiosity is a communication superpower. The most effective communicators don't assume—they ask. Chris shares how approaching new cultures with humility, patience, and a willingness to learn opens doors that expertise alone cannot.
• Adaptation builds credibility. From language choices and email etiquette to dress and behavior, small adjustments can make a big difference in building rapport and trust across cultures. Adaptation isn't about changing who you are—it's about showing respect for the people you're trying to connect with.
• Don't mistake difference for resistance. What looks like disengagement, disrespect, or reluctance in one culture may actually be a sign of respect in another. Effective communicators learn to challenge their assumptions before drawing conclusions.
• Open-mindedness is the foundation of growth. Chris's message to every class is simple: "Be open-minded, and we'll learn something together." Whether you're leading a team, conducting an interview, or traveling abroad, growth begins when you're willing to see the world through someone else's perspective.

This episode of Truth Be Told dives into the intersection of wrongful convictions, communication, strategy, and even poker.

In this powerful conversation, Dave Thompson, CFI sits down with innocence attorney and poker player Claudia Salinas to explore how psychology, trust, bias, and human behavior shape both the courtroom and the interrogation room. From uncovering wrongful convictions to reading people at the poker table, Claudia shares how communication, emotional control, and strategic thinking can impact lives in the highest-stakes situations.

The episode takes listeners inside the work of The Innocence Center and the broader innocence movement, breaking down how innocent people end up behind bars — and why proving innocence is often far harder than securing a conviction in the first place. Claudia discusses false confessions, racial bias, Brady violations, eyewitness issues, and the emotional realities of post-conviction advocacy, while Dave connects these lessons directly to investigative interviewing and truth-seeking conversations.

If you’re interested in investigative interviewing, psychology, communication, criminal justice reform, or the human side of truth and deception, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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Truths:

• False confessions are real — and often driven by psychology, pressure, misplaced trust, and flawed interrogation tactics.
• Wrongful convictions are rarely caused by one single mistake; they’re usually the result of bias, tunnel vision, misinformation, and small decisions compounding over time.
• Communication and rapport matter in every high-stakes environment — from investigative interviews to courtrooms to poker tables.
• Confidence isn’t about ego; it’s about preparation, emotional control, and trusting the process even when outcomes don’t immediately go your way.
• Every person — investigators, jurors, attorneys, and everyday citizens — plays a role in protecting justice and preventing wrongful convictions.

What if the strongest thing you can do… is talk about it?

In this powerful episode of Truth Be Told, Pasha Palanker shares his extraordinary journey from Soviet immigrant to decorated U.S. Army veteran — and the invisible battle that followed him home.

After surviving roadside bombs, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Valor, and serving in some of the most dangerous combat environments in Iraq, Pasha opens up about the trauma, anger, PTSD, isolation, and mental health struggles he spent years hiding. He explains how survival instincts that once saved his life in combat nearly destroyed his relationships, his identity, and his future.

This conversation goes beyond military stories. It’s an honest discussion about trauma, emotional resilience, veteran mental health, leadership, stigma, healing, and the courage it takes to ask for help. Dave Thompson and Pasha explore topics like PTSD recovery, suicide prevention, emotional intelligence, therapy, journaling, resilience, trauma-informed communication, and why so many veterans and first responders suffer in silence.

Whether you’re in the military, law enforcement, leadership, mental health advocacy, or simply trying to navigate your own struggles, this episode is a raw reminder that strength doesn’t come from pretending you’re okay — it comes from facing the truth.

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Truths:

Trauma doesn’t always show up immediately — sometimes the hardest battle begins after coming home.

• Survival instincts that protect people in high-stress environments can become destructive when they follow them into everyday life.
• Isolation fuels trauma. Healing often begins with honest conversation and human connection.
• Taking responsibility for your mental health is different than blaming yourself for what happened.
• Strength is not pretending to be okay — it’s having the courage to confront the truth about yourself.
• Presence and empathy are more powerful than trying to “fix” someone’s pain.
• Recovery isn’t one breakthrough moment. It’s built through small actions, consistency, community, and purpose.