Defeating The Darkness

In this special two-part Veterans Day episode, Heather Brown sits down with the Honorable Judge 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 hi...

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...

For this episode, Heather sits down with Martha Wade, the founder of AQuarterBlue, an organization devoted to helping survivors of sexual abuse find healing, hope, and a voice.

Martha opens up about her own story, what led her to create the nonprofit, and how her team is working to educate, equip, and empower individuals and communities through trauma informed care and advocacy.

Whether you’re a survivor, an ally, or someone who wan...

Join Heather Brown in Episode 46 of Defeating the Darkness as she sits down with Brady Finta, former FBI Special Agent turned forensic accountant extraordinaire. Together, they dig into the art of following the money. From shell corporations and offshore accounts to elaborate embezzlement schemes. Learn how Brady and his team unravel complex financial webs, use data analytics to pinpoint wrongdoing, and work alongside law enforceme...

In Episode 45, Heather Brown sits down with Gina L. Osborn. She's a former FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge and U.S. Army Intelligence Officer.

This conversation cover things about cybercrime, cartels, and leadership in high stakes investigations. With decades of experience chasing down hackers, Gina offers an inside look into the digital threats facing our world and the mindset needed to lead under pressure.

This episode is a m...

In this episode, Heather Brown sits down with former Orange County Homicide Investigator Bob Taft for an unfiltered look into the world of homicide investigations. With decades of experience under his belt, Bob shares what it really takes to track down killers, the emotional weight of confronting violent crime, and how he processed the toll these cases took on his own life.From the adrenaline of chasing leads to the sobering realit...

In Episode 43 of Defeating the Darkness, Heather Brown sits down with longtime friend and fellow attorney Jeffrey “Sally” Salberg for a conversation about what it really takes to seek justice in some of the most heartbreaking and high stakes cases.Heather opens up about her time in the courtroom sharing powerful stories of child abuse, domestic violence, and homicide cases that changed her forever. Together, they unpack what it’s l...

In the final part of this gripping 3-part series, former Detective Ryan Peters and Heather Brown go even deeper into the aftermath of a brutal case that tested everything from investigative skill to emotional endurance.

Ryan reflects on the toll this case took on him personally, the lessons learned, and why writing his book LEFT became a critical step in processing trauma and reclaiming truth.

This is more than a case file. This is w...