The Targeted Violence Podcast

In March 2024, Forensic Psychologist Dr Marisa Mauro interviewed and assessed Bradley Cadenhead to determine the circumstances associated with his offending and the creation of the 764 Discord group. In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast , I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Mauro about her assessment of Bradley Cadenhead, who has been credited with pioneering a new subculture o...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, I’m joined by Associate Professor Benjamin Spivak from Swinburne University of Technology to explore what we know about people who repeatedly abuse intimate partners, how our understanding of domestic violence perpetrators has evolved, and Benjamin's views on the challenges involved in assessing the risk of serious and fatal violence. Domestic...

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I sit down with criminal defence barrister Tim Marsh, whose career has seen him represent some of Australia's most high-profile homicide offenders. As defence counsel, Tim occupies a unique position within the criminal justice system. His role extends far beyond arguing points of law. To effectively represent his clients, he must understa...

In the latest episode of the  Targeted Violence Podcast , I’m joined by journalist, author, and stalking survivor Nicole Madigan. For three years, Nicole was subjected to a relentless stalking campaign that impacted nearly every aspect of her life. In this candid and powerful conversation, she shares her experience of being stalked by another woman, the challenges she faced in having her concerns...

In Part Two of my conversation with former New South Wales Police Detective Sergeant Peter Moroney, we shift from the historical lens of Operation Pendennis to the modern-day realities of terrorism and targeted violence in Australia. This episode explores how the threat landscape has evolved—particularly since around 2014, where we’ve seen a notable rise in lone actor attacks occurring with increa...

In this episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, we sit down with former New South Wales Police Detective Sergeant Peter Moroney to explore one of Australia’s most significant counterterrorism investigations—Operation Pendennis. Spanning several years and involving an unprecedented level of coordination between agencies, Operation Pendennis was a joint counterterrorism effort between the New Sout...

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Belinda Board and Professor Katarina Fritzon to explore insider threats, dark personalities, and the individuals who derail organisations. More than 20 years ago, Belinda and Kate published their groundbreaking paper, Disordered Personalities at Work. Their research revealed a striking finding: business managers displayed hig...

In Part Two of our conversation on The Targeted Violence Podcast, I’m again joined by Steven Keogh, former Scotland Yard homicide detective, as we shift from murder investigation into his work in counter-terrorism in the years following September 11, 2001.Before moving into homicide full-time, Steven spent several years working in counter-terrorism during a period of significant operational intens...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, we are joined by Detective Inspector Steven Keogh, a former Scotland Yard homicide detective who spent 30 years with the London Metropolitan Police, including 12 years investigating homicides at the sharp end of policing. In Part One of this conversation, Steve takes us inside his career — from joining the Met as a young officer to finding his way...

In this episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast , I step back from the usual focus on cases to reflect on the future of the threat assessment and management profession. Drawing on insights from my recent keynote presentation in Canada, I explore the challenges that lie ahead for practitioners, academics, and organisations working to prevent targeted violence. As the landscape of violence continue...

In this episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, we speak with Dr Matt Logan, Criminal Investigative Psychologist and retired Senior Sergeant with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Dr Logan played a critical role in developing the RCMP’s Behavioural Analysis Unit and has supported hundreds of major crime investigations across Canada as an operational psychologist. We discuss Dr Logan’s ca...

In this episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, we speak with Emeritus Professor Paul Mullen — one of the world’s leading forensic psychiatrists — about his assessment of Martin Bryant, the perpetrator of the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre in Tasmania. Professor Mullen shares insights from his extensive experience examining some of the most significant mass casualty events, including the Aramoana sho...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast , retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent James R. Fitzgerald joins the show to revisit one of the most notorious cases in U.S. history—the hunt for the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski. James shares how he was thrown into the deep end of the investigation in 1995, after it had already spanned more than 15 years. We dive into his groundbreaking work in f...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, we speak with Dr Lisa Warren, Director of Code Black Psychology, to talk about a topic that’s often misunderstood and too frequently dismissed: Stalking. Together, we explore:🔹 Why stalking must be taken seriously🔹 The importance of viewing it through both victim and offender lenses🔹 How multi-agency responses are essential to effective interven...

In the latest episode of the Targeted Violence Podcast, we speak with Retired Detective Paul Mitton from the Durham Regional Police Service, Ontario, Canada. In a shift from our usual focus on targeted violence, this episode explores the world of serial offending. Det. Mitton shares his experience interviewing serial killer Adam Strong, who murdered two young women roughly a decade apart. The case...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, Detective Sergeant David Thomason of Cheshire Police joins us to discuss the pioneering work of the Harm Reduction Unit—a specialist team focused on identifying and addressing stalking and other harmful behaviours. Through a proactive, multi-agency approach, the unit is reshaping how serious cases of stalking are understood, assessed, and managed....

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, we sit down with Professor Charles Scott, a leading Forensic Psychiatrist who conducted the psychological assessment of Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator of the Parkland school shooting. Professor Scott offers a rare and in-depth look into Cruz's mind—exploring his planning, violent fantasies, personality traits, and craving for notoriety. This is...

In this episode of The Targeted Violence Podcast, we speak with esteemed Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. William Reid, who assessed Aurora, Colorado mass shooter James Holmes. Dr. Reid provides a rare insight into Holmes’ psychology, his motivations, and the complexities of forensic mental health assessments in high-profile cases. We explore what drives individuals to commit such horrific acts and what...

Welcome to the Targeted Violence Podcast. On April 23rd 2018, a 25 year old male drove a rented van through a crowded street in downtown Toronto. In the immediate aftermath of the event, Detective Rob Thomas from the Toronto Police Service was tasked with interviewing the perpetrator and learning about his motivations for the attack and his identification with the Incel ideology.