#41 - Former Secret Service Agent: The Psychology of Interrogating Evil | Brad Beeler

What does true evil look like? And how do you confront it face-to-face? In this raw conversation with Brad Beeler, who served as a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service for 25 years, we explore his extraordinary career confronting humanity’s darkest crimes, especially those involving children. Brad reveals a rarely-seen side of the United States Secret Service, reflecting deeply on his experiences as a polygraph examiner, where he faced some of the most malicious individuals imaginable. In our conversation, we also discuss: Why empathy can become a crucial weapon in interrogations, even with society’s worst criminals. How international cooperation enabled Brad and his team to crack complex child exploitation cases. The subtle psychological strategies used to identify deception, gain trust, and ultimately reveal truth. The chilling realities of interacting with truly evil individuals, and what Brad learned about the darkest corners of human behavior. Brad’s story is profoundly human, exploring the complex layers of morality, ethical boundaries, and personal resilience required to confront humanity’s most troubling personalities. Thank you for listening.   EPISODE LINKS: Buy Tell Me Everything (Book)   By using this link, we earn commission from qualifying purchases.   SHOW LINKS: Support the Show on: Patreon Listen to the Podcast on: YouTube | Apple | Spotify Follow us on: X | Reddit | Instagram | LinkedIn   OUTLINE: 00:00 Introduction 02:19 Brad’s Most Proud Career Achievement 03:09 Secret Service Beyond Presidential Protection 05:31 Future of Secret Service Investigations 06:55 Inside the Trump Assassination Attempts 10:22 Debunking Trump Assassination Conspiracies 14:21 Conspiracy Theories and Media Polarization 16:53 Strategies for Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood 20:03 Building Trust and Rapport 23:38 The Role of Empathy in Criminal Investigations 41:58 The Psychological Cost of Interviewing Criminals 46:13 Combating Child Exploitation: Global Collaboration 49:00 Navigating Legal Complexities in International Law Enforcement 50:32 Four Key Behavioral Analysis Questions 01:00:12 Detecting Deception in Interviews 01:15:34 Negotiation Techniques: Tactical Empathy & Body Language 01:28:38 Recognizing Manipulation and Assessing Intentions 01:33:00 Does True Evil Exist? 01:40:57 Brad’s Perspective on Humanity 01:44:14 Overcoming Personal and Professional Setbacks 01:46:32 “Tell Me Everything”: Brad’s Upcoming Book 01:47:36 Final Thoughts   BRAD BEELER LINKS: Brad's LinkedIn Brad's Instagram    CONTACT LINKS: Click here to come on the podcast, share feedback, ask a question, or reach out for any other reason.   This episode has been co-produced by Kate van Leeuwen.