The Sound of Pursuit

Hal Humphreys

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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Episodes

Documenting Your Investigation
Jan 18 2024
Documenting Your Investigation
Join host Hal Humphreys and his guest, Philip Becnel, as they talk about how and why to document your investigation. Becnel is managing partner of Dinolt, Becnel & Wells Investigative Group in the D.C. area and the author of two books: Introduction to Conducting Private Investigations and Principles of Investigative Documentation, first published in 2012.Becnel has written a new edition (of the latter) in his own voice, complete with war stories and biting commentary. It's an essential guide to any investigator who works complex litigation and criminal cases. Buy it here, and read an excerpt at PursuitMag.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /pieducation✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.comPursuit 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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Surveillance: Observe and Document
Nov 22 2023
Surveillance: Observe and Document
Surveillance: a French loaner word derived from the verb, "surveiller" — "to oversee/watch."Thanks to a few terrible PI reality shows, most of the world thinks catching cheaters is all P.I.s do. In fact, some investigators do specialize in domestic surveillance. Others, including Hal and John, have taken occasional surveillance assignments over the years, often in cases involving custody disputes or personal injury claims.The surveillance operative's job is to observe and document and, occasionally, testify about what they saw. The job can seem deceptively easy. But doing it well without being "burned" is not as simple as it seems. Listen in as Hal and John share experiences, talk best practices, and laugh about how "unnecessary human drama" is a P.I.'s bread and butter. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /pieducation✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.comPursuit 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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Rules of the Game When Working with Attorneys
Nov 8 2023
Rules of the Game When Working with Attorneys
What's attorney-client privilege and work product? When should you deliver written vs. oral reports? Should you document all witness interviews? What information is discoverable?Join Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi with their guest, defense attorney Jennifer Sunderland, as they talk about what private investigators need to know about rules of professional conduct when they work with attorneys.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /pieducation✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.comPursuit 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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
Pre-Charge Criminal Defense Investigations
Sep 13 2023
Pre-Charge Criminal Defense Investigations
What's the best way to keep your clients out of prison? Prevent them from being charged in the first place. Join Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi with their guest, Steve Mason, as they talk about pre-charge investigations — and why it's ideal to start defending clients before they're even charged.🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /pieducation✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.comPursuit 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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
P.I. Marketing 101: Be Your True Self.
May 31 2023
P.I. Marketing 101: Be Your True Self.
What's the best way to market yourself as a professional investigator? A well-executed website is a great place to start.Join hosts Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi and their guest, Brian Willingham, for a frank conversation about how they have built strong brands online by writing well, being generous with information, and letting their true selves shine through on their company sites.Brian Willingham's site: https://diligentiagroup.com/John Nardizzi's company site: https://www.nardizzi.com/John Nardizzi's author site: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /pieducation✅ NEED INVESTIGATOR CE? We've got you covered: pieducation.com🔥 STAY INFORMED with articles by and for investigators: pursuitmag.comPursuit 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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!
The Innocence Network Conference
May 10 2023
The Innocence Network Conference
Boston area attorney and investigator John Nardizzi recaps a recent Innocence Network conference he attended and chats with Hal about the risks and rewards of innocence investigations.The Innocence Network Conference: https://innocencenetwork.org/subcategory/conference-2022Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") co-host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com​​PI Education: https://pieducation.com
When the Client Turns Out to Be a Foreign Government
Mar 29 2023
When the Client Turns Out to Be a Foreign Government
A client offers you lots of money to  surveil someone but not much detail on the subject or the reason for the investigation. Do you take the case?You might want to do a little more due diligence. In this episode, Hal and John talk about cases like these, in which government actors from Iran and China have hired unwitting private investigators to gather intel on dissidents living in the U.S.Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") co-host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com​​PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Anthony Pellicano and the Stereotype of the Bare-Knuckles PI
Mar 23 2023
Anthony Pellicano and the Stereotype of the Bare-Knuckles PI
In this episode, we'll explore how one man's outlaw behavior on behalf of his high-profile clients shaped the public's perception of private investigators as shady and unscrupulous operators. Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") host The Sound of Pursuit podcast (almost) each week.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com​​PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Investigating Civil Cases
Feb 14 2023
Investigating Civil Cases
Lawsuits are war. There's a lot of money at stake. These are often big, complex cases with a lot of moving parts, involving far-flung witnesses and deep-dive research. Pursuit editor Hal Humphreys and Boston PI John Nardizzi talk about how to work cases like toxic torts, harassment cases, medical malpractice, and wrongful death suits.   Hal Humphreys ("The Beard") and John Nardizzi ("The Dome") host The Sound of Pursuit podcast each week. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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 high-quality 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.At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com​​PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Junk Science
Jan 18 2023
Junk Science
Boston PI and author John Nardizzi and Pursuit editor Hal Humphreys chat about junk science — so-called forensic techniques that are based on little more than faith and hokum. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hal Humphreys and John Nardizzi host The Sound of Pursuit podcast each week. Join us for the live broadcast on YouTube, or drop by any time and check out the recorded version.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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 high-quality 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. At this channel, you'll find an archive of briefings and webinars that dive deep into the work and the business of private investigations. Every month, we make more free stuff for you at this channel and PursuitMag, thanks to our generous expert-colleagues who contribute their expertise. And at PI Education, you can dive even deeper into the knowledge pool of this fascinating profession, with quality multimedia courses on dozens of topics. Subscribe to stay up to date!Pursuit Magazine: https://pursuitmag.com​​PI Education: https://pieducation.com
Gilbert King's "Bone Valley"
Dec 14 2022
Gilbert King's "Bone Valley"
Hal hosts author Gilbert King, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, led to the exonerations of four Black men falsely accused of rape in 1949. King is also writer, producer, and host of "Bone Valley," a new true-crime podcast that uncovers astonishing details of the wrongful murder conviction of Leo Schofield — and evidence pointing to the real killer. It's riveting storytelling and dogged reporting — a powerful combination.King spoke with Hal about reinvestigating cold cases and what it means to him to illuminate injustice — on behalf of Schofield and many others.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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​
Mike Spencer's Creative Obsessions
Feb 16 2021
Mike Spencer's Creative Obsessions
Hal talks with Bay-Area PI Mike Spencer about his podcast, “The Gary Murphy Assassination: A San Francisco Cold Case,” and how obsession fuels his creative work.Mike Spencer is a former crime-beat journalist who rinsed off the ink and turned his skills to private investigation in the 1990s. He’s also a writer, colleague, friend, and longtime contributor to Pursuit. In this episode, we’re asking him about obsession — how it can fuel good work but also erode your sanity. For Spencer, obsession drives his creative endeavors, as a writer and recently, a podcaster: “The Gary Murphy Assassination: A San Francisco Cold Case” is the story of an old case from early in his PI career that burrowed into his brain and would not let go.“I can be a pain in the ass who knows a good story,” Spencer says in episode one of his podcast, as he introduces himself and states his motives and methods. “I am not objective. But I am fair.”* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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​
Cell Phone Pinging and Triangulation
Jul 21 2014
Cell Phone Pinging and Triangulation
In the summer of 2008, the original editor of Pursuit Magazine posted an article with the following headline: “Locating Mobile Phones Through Pinging and Triangulation.” That is, finding someone you’re looking for by turning that person’s cell phone into a kind of homing device.Over the years, that article set a record for the most hits of any PursuitMag story ever...and it's still getting lots of hits to this day—apparently, because a whole lot of people type "cell phone pinging" into Google search. People really want to know if this is possible, and if so, how to do it.Of course, in technological terms, 2008 is primeval. So when I stumbled across this article again, I got to thinking: What’s possible NOW in terms of pinging a mobile phone? And what’s legal? So I got a hold of an old radio buddy of mine, Sean Cole, and asked him to make some calls.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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​
Right and Wrong
Jun 8 2014
Right and Wrong
In sxn 1 ep 2, we profile Norma Tillman, a private investigator who specializes in finding people—without resorting to lies or trickery.When Norma Tillman started her career in law enforcement, she had to learn fast how to play up her advantages. At 5’2″, she’d never be as physically strong as most of her male colleagues. But she had mad skills: Diplomacy. Tenacity. Smarts. And a healthy self-esteem that valued team play over competition. In a word, she knew how to make allies.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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​
PI Perceptions
Mar 19 2014
PI Perceptions
In our first-ever Sound of Pursuit podcast, we dig into the myths and misconceptions surrounding private eyes, then peel back the curtain to offer a glimpse into the real lives of professional investigators. Our team: Jim McLeod, Hal Humphreys, Kim Green, Stephanie Mitchell, Doug Hayes, Ruben RoelThanks to Brian Willingham, Kelly Paxton, Eli Rosenblatt, and Joe Stiles.Music provided by Jason White (who composed our theme) and Financier.Special thanks to radio producer Daniel Potter and engineer Simon Gugala.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *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​