Harmless the Podcast
Online Child Sexual Exploitation. The Truth. The Toll. Hosted by retired Phoenix Police detective Eric Oldenburg, this podcast tackles the hard truths about child sexual exploitation. Eric walks listeners through his experiences investigating online child sexual abuse cases and highlights the intensifying threat posed by advancing technology. He emphasizes the mental and emotional toll this work takes on investigators and discusses the urgent need for better support systems to protect these frontline heroes. Eric vows to provide an open platform for discussions that society typically shies away from, incorporating personal stories, shared struggles, and dedicated efforts from around the world in combating this ever-growing issue.
Episodes
Prosecuting Darkness - Jeanine Sorrentino & Lisa Andrus
Join us for a compelling episode featuring Jeanine Sorrentino and Lisa Andrus, seasoned prosecutors from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Delve into their journeys of prosecuting sex crimes, particularly those against children, and learn about the mental toll of their work.
Discover the evolution of support systems in their office and the complexities of seeking jus...
What About the Victims? - Jim Cole
A Journey of Dedication and Innovation
In this powerful episode of 'Harmless, The Podcast,' host Eric Oldenburg engages in an illuminating discussion with Jim Cole, a key figure in child exploitation investigations. They explore Jim's groundbreaking approach of shifting investigations from focusing on offenders to prioritizing victim identification.
This innovation has dramatically improved how c...
Send Backup with Dr. Paul Conway:
In this eye-opening episode of 'Harmless the Podcast,' host Eric Oldenburg speaks with Dr. Paul Conway, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southampton.
They delve into Dr. Conway's groundbreaking study on the mental health impacts, particularly moral injury, experienced by UK police officers and staff investigating child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The discussion touches...
A Global Mission - Jon Rouse
In this episode, Eric sits down with Jon Rouse a distinguished figure in child exploitation investigations, who recounts his 39-year career beginning with the Queensland Police in 1984. Influenced by his family's military background, Jon discusses his early law enforcement assignments, a critical encounter with violence, and his shift to the Child Abuse Unit.
Jon highlights his pioneering role in Task ...
Healing and Hope - David's Journey Through Trauma and Recovery
In this compelling episode of 'Harmless the Podcast,' host Eric Oldenburg interviews David four years after his initial interview and delves into David's powerful story of overcoming trauma during his career with the Phoenix Police Department.
David candidly shares the emotional and psychological toll of his work, especially in investigating Internet Crimes Against Chi...
Casual Urgency - David Frattare : ICAC Leadership on Mental Wellness in Law Enforcement
In this episode, Eric Oldenburg interviews a law enforcement veteran and current ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Commander. David recounts his journey into law enforcement, which began with an internship at the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. He describes his pivot to general crimes, and his eventual specialization in undercover ...
A Helping Heart: Inside the Heart of ICAC Investigators with Jay Houston
In this compelling episode of 'Harmless', host Eric Oldenburg engages in a heartfelt conversation with Jay Houston, the director of training for the Child Rescue Coalition and a retired ICAC commander from Mississippi. They delve into the unspoken mental health challenges faced by ICAC investigators who tackle child exploitation cases. Jay shares poignant pe...
Unseen Wounds: The Emotional Toll of Child Abuse Work
This episode of 'Harmless' features a deep dive into the emotional and psychological toll experienced by professionals who work in child abuse prevention and treatment. The host, Eric Oldenburg, interviews Dr. Kathy Coffman, a forensic pediatrician with over 30 years of experience in examining and supporting child abuse victims. Dr. Coffman shares insights into the challenges ...
🎙 Now Available - ONLY - on Harmless the Podcast:
Hidden Battles: Navigating the Depths of Child Exploitation Investigations
Long time friends, Eric Oldenburg and retired Detective Phillis Walker discuss the intense and often unseen struggles faced by law enforcement officers working in the alleyways of digital child exploitation and abuse investigations.
A detective who shifted from physical crime scenes to the virtual realm to e...
In this episode of 'Harmless,' host Eric Oldenburg interviews Kevin Laws, a retired Homeland Security Investigations special agent and author of 'Hunter of the Damned: A Walk Through Hell.'
Kevin shares his harrowing experiences working undercover in child exploitation investigations and the emotional toll it took on him, including wrestling with suicide following the death of his wife. The episode sheds light on the psychological...
In an emotionally profound and extensive discussion, Eric Oldenburg explores the career and experiences of Josh Findley, a retired HSI Special Agent and pioneering figure in Victim Identification efforts within the ICAC community. From his small-town roots in rural Oregon, to his impactful career in the military police and subsequent roles in various federal agencies, Josh shares a detailed account of his journey. The conversati...
In this episode, your host, Eric Oldenburg, has a very frank and thought provoking conversation with Debbie Garner, a retired ICAC Commander from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. She served for 8 years, from 2013 until her retirement in 2021. Debbie discusses the importance of mental wellness in law enforcement.
Debbie, shares her experience in successfully implementing a budget-friendly mental wellness program within her uni...
In Part 2 of this compelling and candid interview with a sitting Arizona State Superior Court Judge Brad Astrowsky, host Eric Oldenburg and Judge Astrowsky passionately discuss the traumatic impact of dealing with cases related to the sexual exploitation of minors in the legal domain, specifically on investigators, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, and even jury members.
They note the lasting harm such cases can inflict upon ...
In this insightful interview, the host talks with his longtime friend Brad Astrowsky - a former prosecutor turned judge. Brad shares his journey from law school to specializing in sex crimes prosecution, notably the sexual exploitation of minors. He discusses various memorable cases, highlighting the complexities, challenges, and ethical considerations involved in these sensitive matters. Brad also touches on the huge psychological...
Eric Oldenburg and Jim Cole discuss Jim's experience working in Child Exploitation Investigations.. They discuss the mental and emotional toll the work takes on investigators, highlighting the vivid and harsh images and experiences they face. The conversation further delves into the ways investigators cope with the trauma, discussing the implementation of the ARMOR program, a specialized peer support program, and how it has support...
Harmless the Podcast: Understanding Important Terminologies
In this episode, Eric Oldenburg explains important terminologies and definitions that listeners may come across throughout the podcast. He elaborates on the function and structure of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the difference between investigations and computer forensic examinations pertaining to internet crimes against children, and the role of...
In this episode, host Eric Oldenburg interviews Beth Medina, the leader of The Innocent Justice Foundation(TIJF).
TIJF was established to support the work of Internet crimes against children task force teams across the country.
Initially, their work focused on providing equipment and resources for investigations. Over time, however, they realized the immense mental health impact the exposure to distressing materials had on their m...
Part 3, The Hope is the final part of this conversation that is focused on discussing the psychological impacts of dealing with highly traumatic and stressful situations specifically in policing child crimes investigations, with a focus placed on exploring, sharing, and understanding experiences with PTSD.
Eric and David discuss changes that could be made in law enforcement and investigation departments to better support members f...
In Part two of this conversation, The Toll, Eric and David, discuss the mental and emotional toll of their work as investigators in cases involving child exploitation material. They talk about the impact it has had on their personal lives, the strain it put on their relationships, the lack of support from their employers, and the need for greater mental health resources for individuals working in this field.
In part one of this conversation, , The Truth, Eric and David discuss the challenging and traumatic experiences they faced while working in Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations. David shares his experiences as an investigator and computer forensic examiner, while Eric asks questions and seeks to understand the impact of the job on David's mental health.
This podcast highlights the disturbing nature of the conte...
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