Dangerous Liaisons

Navigating systemic failures within the legal system. Caroline speaks with solicitor Harriet Wistrich, founder of the Centre for Women’s Justice and author of Sisters in Law, about accountability and the criminal justice response to violence. The conversation analyses the severe legal barriers faced by individuals within abusive dynamics, exploring her extensive casework through Justice for Women...

The reality of trauma-informed care. Caroline speaks with Sue Penna, author of The Recovery Toolkit, about navigating long-term recovery and her years of experience within NHS mental health services. The conversation analyses why stability can remain fragile long after abuse has ended, deconstructing how language shapes recovery and why frontline services require systemic change and better profess...

The realities of gendered harm within institutional structures. Caroline speaks with JoJo Kirkley about the specific, hidden challenges women face inside family court systems. The conversation analyses how creative practice and theatre can preserve survivors' stories, challenge harmful cultural narratives, and engage young people in vital dialogues about misogyny and systemic responses to viol...

The practical application of consent frameworks. Caroline speaks with El Bertsa-Fuchs about how consent is taught and why precise language is vital in prevention work. The conversation analyses what a cultural shift toward affirmative consent looks like in practice, exploring the unique safeguarding challenges faced within LGBTIQA+ communities and the barriers to creating safer, inclusive educatio...

The clinical reality of non-fatal strangulation. Caroline speaks with clinical social worker Kathleen Monahan about its severe physical and neurological impacts. The conversation analyses why remorse does not lessen the severity of the act, exploring the long-term effects, established investigative guidelines, and the critical need to recognize these patterns within broader frameworks of harm. Con...

The mechanics of economic abuse. Caroline speaks with Aoife Gaffney about how financial control is systematically used to enforce dependence and compromise personal safety. The conversation analyses the vital importance of setting firm financial boundaries, exploring how practical support structures can help individuals rebuild stability and independence during and after a controlling dynamic. To...

The mechanics of reproductive coercion. Caroline speaks with Lynn Stroud about how hidden control, stalking, and sexual violence intersect to deliberately undermine a victim's bodily autonomy. The conversation analyses the severe emotional impact of navigating these unique perpetrator tactics, exploring the process of regaining independence and what long-term recovery involves. Content note: T...

Evaluating risk in abusive behaviours. Caroline speaks with retired police officer Rie Pearson about recognising early warning signs and the escalation patterns that frontline services monitor. Drawing on law enforcement insights and survivor advocacy, the conversation analyses the severe challenges faced when attempting to safely leave, the role of media narratives, and the vital importance of pr...

How stalking leads to disappearance. This episode features Caroline's live case presentation delivered at the Northumbria Stalking Interventions Programme launch. The presentation analyses how systematic bias, dismissal, and institutional gaps compound victim risk, deconstructing missing-person patterns and the unique challenges faced in rural settings. Content note: This episode includes discussi...

From being 'Hunted' to changing the law. Caroline speaks with Dr Ann Moulds about her experience of stalking and her long legislative campaign toward institutional recognition. The conversation reviews how stalking came to be recognised as a standalone offence across Scotland and Europe, deconstructing the vital importance of victim impact data and trauma-informed statutory responses. To book Caro...

Managing the psychological toll of high-pressure work. Caroline speaks with Ruth Fogg about how stress develops and impacts both physical and mental health. The conversation explores the critical role of personal and professional boundaries in preventing burnout, deconstructing the mind-body connection for individuals navigating challenging environments daily. To book Caroline Saul for corporate t...

Breaking the silence after trauma. Caroline speaks with advocate and author Madeleine Black about the long process of recovery and rebuilding life after sexual violence. The conversation deconstructs how systemic silence and shame affect a survivor’s sense of self, exploring the power of storytelling and insights from her book, Unbroken. Content note: This episode includes discussions on sexual vi...

Digital footprints and exploitation gaps. Caroline speaks with Dr Hossam Elshenraki about how everyday use of social media, apps, and smart technology creates unrecognised risk patterns. The conversation deconstructs data privacy, encryption, and the hidden tracking vulnerabilities that open up opportunities for exploitation and child trafficking. Content note: This episode includes discussions on...

Understanding women who kill. Caroline speaks with Dr Kathryn Whiteley about her critical research with women serving life sentences in maximum-security prisons across different countries. The conversation examines their experiences of harm, trauma, and incarceration, exploring how listening to women's own accounts can offer professionals deep insight into the pathways that lead to serious violenc...

Supporting stalking victims in the community. Caroline speaks with West Yorkshire Independent Stalking Advocate Ady Lowe about how his frontline service supported victims in practice. The conversation explores the practical role of community-based advocacy, looking at safety planning, recovery, and how their team helped individuals navigate the criminal justice system at the time. To book Caroline...

How grooming operates within wider exploitation. Caroline speaks with intelligence and frontline professional Adam Zarnowski about how predatory behaviours systematically target and increase vulnerability. The conversation examines why grooming patterns are frequently missed by standard reviews and highlights the vital importance of multi-agency responses that address root causes rather than surfa...

Why perpetrator stalking doesn't fit into five boxes. Caroline reviews two decades of research to examine why traditional typologies fail to map modern perpetrator dynamics on the front line. The conversation reflects on the long-term systemic risks of using static checklists and highlights the ongoing danger of staff labelling individuals without realising the severe legal liabilities involved. T...

How do we judge safety when meeting someone for the first time? Caroline speaks with deception and behavioural expert Dr Cliff Lansley about why human instinct alone can be unreliable when reading risk. Together, they walk through specific behavioural cues and the practical dynamics of staying aware during face-to-face encounters. Dr Lansley serves as a scientific adviser on the Discovery Channel...

Most people think stalking comes from relationships. That's the problem. At its core, a dangerous liaison is a connection or an alliance that results in harm, systemic failure, or entrapment. Hosted by critical criminology researcher Caroline Saul, this podcast features free-flowing conversations with researchers, PhD professionals, and front-line professionals. Together, we look at the standa...