Defeating The Darkness

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Heather Brown is joined again by former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Brian Gurwitz. This time after the trial has concluded.Following the release of Part 1, which was recorded more than a year before the case went to trial, Heather and Brian return to break down what actually happened in court. They examine the prosecution’s strategy, the defense’s arguments, the evidence presented to ...

This is Part 1 of a two-part series that was recorded more than a year ago and intentionally held back until now.In this episode, Heather Brown sits down with fellow former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Brian Gurwitz to examine the shocking case of Orange County Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Cheryl Ferguson.At the time this conversation was recorded, the case had not yet gone to tri...

In Part 2 of our series with cold case investigator Bob Taft, we step into a case that stretches across decades, countries, and generations. The disappearance of a young mother whose remains were discovered in 1983, but whose identity remained unknown for nearly 40 years.This episode follows the extraordinary journey of Dawn, a daughter who grew up believing her mother abandoned her. She didn’t know the truth. She didn’t know the l...

Cold case investigator Bob Taft returns for a powerful two-part series, beginning with one of the most unsettling cases of his career. The death of a ten-month-old baby girl left with an unlicensed babysitter in 1982.From the start, nothing about the babysitter’s story aligned with the physical evidence. The injuries were severe. The timelines didn’t match. Key details changed. And critical steps that should have been taken in the ...

In this hilarious episode, Heather Brown sits down with her friend Salberg to uncover some of the strangest, most ridiculous laws that are still technically on the books today.

From laws about hunting and fishing to rules that will make you say, “Wait, that’s real?” This episode reminds us that sometimes the best way to shine light in the darkness is with laughter.

Heather and Salberg bring humor and heart to the table, proving that ...

The Night Everything Changed: Honoring the 24 Who Never Came HomePart 2 of this special Veterans Day series brings you into the most defining night of Richard M. King’s service.

The coordinated attack on March 31, 1968, that claimed the lives of 24 young Americans. In this episode, King walks Heather through the chaos of the ambush, the courage of the Seabees and Marines who held the line, and the moments that stayed with him for th...

In this special two-part Veterans Day episode, Heather Brown sits down with the Richard M. King. A man whose journey from the battlefields of Vietnam to the California courtroom is marked by courage, loss, and a lifelong sense of duty.

Before becoming a prosecutor and judge, Richard King was just 19, a young man from the Midwest who enlisted in the Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War. In this first part, he shares his early childhoo...

In this continuation of her story, Jolene returns to share what healing looks like after surviving the life. From escaping exploitation to building a new identity, she reveals how community, faith, and holistic health helped her find freedom and purpose again.Heather Brown and Jolene discuss breaking generational cycles, the importance of physical activity in trauma recovery, and the role of community in rebuilding a life. Jolene o...

At 18, Jolene met a man at Union Station who told her she was beautiful. What began as kindness turned into control and a decade of manipulation, exploitation, and pain. In this raw and courageous conversation, Heather Brown sits down with Jolene, a survivor who escaped the sex industry, rebuilt her life, and found faith, freedom, and purpose beyond the darkness.Jolene shares her journey from “the life” to a life redeemed. Raising ...

In this chilling episode, Heather Brown sits down again with Dr. Leslie Dobson. Clinical and forensic psychologist, author, and host of Intentionally Disturbing. Here they'll unpack how online grooming can twist vulnerable minds toward the unthinkable.This isn’t about politics... it’s about the loss of life and the growing danger of digital radicalization. Together, Heather and Dr. Dobson explore the assassination of Charlie Ki...

Some stories are hard to hear but that’s exactly why they need to be told.In this chilling and necessary conversation, Dr. Leslie Dobson joins Heather to expose the unseen world of sexual abuse, trauma, and what really happens when the Dr. is in session. As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Dobson has worked with attackers, survivors, law enforcement, and the court system to not only help people heal but to hold predators accountable.In...

When the bombs went off at the 2013 Boston Marathon, the world watched in horror. But behind the headlines was a team of federal agents racing against time to track down the perpetrators and former FBI agent Kristen Von KlonSmid was one of them.

In this gripping episode, Kristen joins Heather to share what it was really like to be on the ground during one of the most intense manhunts in American history. From identifying the suspect...

Former SWAT operator and FBI agent Tom Brown returns to Defeating the Darkness with more stories from the frontlines. From training with flashbangs and shotguns to the chilling reality of the “funnel of death,” Tom breaks down the tactics, dangers, and split-second decisions that define survival in high-risk situations. He also shares wild behind-the-scenes moments, including FBI training trips to Russia, the truth about tasers, an...

In this episode of Defeating the Darkness, Heather Brown sits down with John Kelly, the larger-than-life founder of Kelly’s Smoke Shop in Tustin.

From opening his tobacco shop at just 17, to becoming the youngest city councilman in Tustin at 24, John’s story is packed with history, politics, colorful characters, and a lifelong passion for tobacco culture.

He shares wild tales about the rise of clove cigarettes, the social hub his sho...

What happens when your loved one is on trial but you’re the one seeking justice?In this special episode of Defeating the Darkness, Heather Brown sits down with criminal defense attorney Michael Molfetta to talk about the cases you don’t see on the news. The ones where families come to him not because they believe their loved one is innocent, but because they believe they still deserve a fair trial.Michael shares what it’s like to r...

After surviving a near-fatal undercover sting, former FBI agent Rob Preijers stepped out from behind the badge. In Part 2 of this powerful two-part series, Rob sits down with Heather to share the next chapter of his story: chasing mafia bosses, investigating spies, and ultimately turning his attention to the mental health crisis inside law enforcement.Rob pulls back the curtain on his time in counterintelligence, what really goes i...

In this episode of Defeating the Darkness, Heather sits down with former FBI agent and police officer Rob Preijers to unpack one of the most harrowing nights of his life. Rob shares the gripping, real-life story of an undercover drug sting gone sideways. An operation that ended in a deadly shootout, a paralyzed suspect, and Rob barely escaping with his life.With raw honesty and sharp detail, Rob recounts how he kept his cool under ...

In this episode of Defeating the Darkness, Heather sits down with Julie Green, author of A Thousand Little Memories: A Mother’s Pilgrimage to Reclaim Joy After Traumatic Loss. Julie opens up about her journey through unthinkable grief, navigating the pain of loss while finding healing, faith, and hope along the way.Her story is a tender yet courageous reminder that even in the darkest valleys, joy can be rediscovered one step at a ...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Martha, founder of A Quarter Blue, we explore the journey of reclaiming value and purpose after trauma. Martha shares the hard but hope-filled process of healing, the power of speaking your truth, and why giving survivors both a voice and a choice changes lives. This is a conversation about courage, advocacy, and the kind of hope that turns pain into purpose.🎧 Follow & SubscribeDon’t miss the...