Best Crimelab Podcasts (2025)

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#89: Dr. Nancy La Vigne - A Conversation with the Dean of Rutgers’ School of Criminal Justice 45:27

8d ago45:27

45:27

Nancy La Vigne is the Dean of the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, based at the campus in Newark, New Jersey. In this episode of Crime and the Courtroom, John Collins and Dr. La Vigne discuss her new responsibilities at Rutgers, as well as contemporary priorities in criminal justice research, technology, and education. Dr. La Vigne also shares h…

1
#88: Preventing Catastrophic Misconduct in Accredited Forensic Science Laboratories (Part 2 of 2) 1:00:19

22d ago1:00:19

1:00:19

In this episode, John Collins builds on the themes and recommendations covered in episode 87, with regards to forensic laboratory accreditation and its strengths and limitations. Seven policy priorities are discussed to help forensic science laboratories, their parent agencies, and their jurisdictions prevent instances of catastrophic misconduct be…

1
#87: When Catastrophic Misconduct Happens in a Forensic Science Laboratory (Part 1 of 2) 35:57

1M ago35:57

35:57

John Collins answers an email from an audience member who wonders: What’s the point of accreditation if a catastrophic failure or major act of misconduct can still happen under the radar. Season: 5 Episode: 87 Duration: 35:57 YOUTUBE CHANNELSMain Podcast Channel Highlights Channel FROM OUR SPONSORLearn About the Innovators at Promega International …

1
#86: Caitlin Burchill, Investigative Reporter with NBC Connecticut 40:30

2M ago40:30

40:30

Caitlin Burchill is an investigative reporter with NBC Connecticut and a proud member of the production team that created the documentary, Traces of Doubt: The Forensics of Dr. Henry Lee, which is now available in its entirety on YouTube. Caitlin speaks with John Collins about her life and career as an investigative reporter, and sheds light on her…

1
85# Sarah Chu on Forensic Evidence and Post-Conviction Advocacy 59:02

2M ago59:02

59:02

Dr. Sarah Chu is the Director of Policy and Reform at the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at the Cordoza School of Law in New York. In her role at the center, she applies her own extensive background in science and public policy to take an active lead on advancing our criminal justice system's efforts to utilize forensic evidence with maximum e…

1
#84: Forensics - A Different Kind of Science, and Here's Why 43:22

3M ago43:22

43:22

In Episode 84 of Crime and the Courtroom, John Collins explores why forensic science is distinct from traditional sciences and often misunderstood. He examines how forensic methods—such as fingerprint and bullet comparisons—are rooted in stochastics, the study of randomness and unique patterns. Addressing past criticisms, Collins argues that forens…

1
#83: Remembering a Forensic Science Pioneer - John Murdock 26:03

3M ago26:03

26:03

The profession of forensic science has lost one its greatest thinkers and pioneers. His name is John Murdock, and his body of work contributed to the professionalization and trustworthiness of the evidentiary analyses performed by forensic science laboratories all over the world. In this update, your host John Collins commemorates the life and care…

1
#82: One Officer, One Bullet, and Two Critical Lessons on Police Culture 34:24

3M ago34:24

34:24

In this inaugural episode of Crime and the Coutroom, John Collins shares what he describes as "the craziest case I ever experienced in a forensic science laboratory." As he explains, sometime in late 1995 or early 1996, John conducted what started as a routine forensic analysis of a firearm used by a police officer in a shooting invovling an armed …

1
#81: One thing kids must learn to keep themselves safe (Update) 5:34

4M ago5:34

5:34

In this quick holiday update, John Collins shares what he argues is the one key message to teach children so that they can grow up as attentive, cautious adults who can take care of themselves.By John M. Collins

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#80: Forensic Evidence in the Luigi Mangione Investigation 14:25

4M ago14:25

14:25

John Collins discusses emerging forensic results in the investigation of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and why one evidentiary issue might allow the defense to make some noise. References Mangione attorney says he will challenge forensic results’ admissibility, accuracy Crime Lab Report (2019, Academic Press)…

1
#79: Announcing Major Change to Podcast Name and Format 14:26

4M ago14:26

14:26

A major decision has been made to expand the reach of our podcast while continuing to prioritize the challenges and opportunities facing the forensic laboratory community. In this final CoachCast update of 2024, John Collins explains the changes that are taking effect, and the strategic basis for those changes. The result will be an expanded audien…

1
#78: CoachCast Update and Tip on Thinking Strategically 11:13

5M ago11:13

11:13

John Collins, in a special Crime Lab CoachCast update, reflects on the importance of creating conditions for the criminal justice system to be elevated by professionals with the right expertise, attitudes, and leadership skills. He emphasizes the significance of executing consequential roles in striving for personal success, and the need to careful…

1
#77: It's Strategy Season! | Conflicts of Interest in Outside Employment 46:47

5M ago46:47

46:47

We are entering "strategy season" here at Critical Victories. John Collins discusses how to take advantage of the opportunity to plan your coming year and the positive psychological impact it can have on yourself and your organization. John also provides some follow-up to his comments in episode #75 by discussing some of the inherent conflicts of i…

1
#76: Historic DNA Analysis Breakthrough | When Technical Units Don't Play Nice 46:56

6M ago46:56

46:56

In today's coaching session, John discusses the problem of technical units and their supervisors not playing nice with their laboratory administrators, the damage this causes, and approaches to dealing with it - and preventing it - effectively. We also enjoy a conversation with Bob McClaren, Director of R&D in Genetic Identity at the Promega corpor…

1
#75: Emotional Pain and its Threat to Quality 1:09:16

6M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

There are times when life confronts us with great loss or the threat of loss, and the emotions we feel can be overwhelming. Deep emotional pain, however, can have adverse effects on the brain that threaten the quality of a sufferer's work. In this episode of the CoachCast, John Collins provides insight and tips for dealing with emotional pain, and …

1
#74: Interview Sabotage by Restrictive HR Policies 45:53

7M ago45:53

45:53

Coming off a recent tour of workshops and presentations on the subject, John Collins discusses the threat of excessively restrictive policies that prevent hiring managers from really getting to know their job candidates. When forensic science laboratories are forced to follow a structured "script" that prohibits a conversational connection with int…

1
#73: CoachCast Update - Live from AFQAM 2024 9:17

7M ago9:17

9:17

This is a Crime Lab CoachCast Update for Monday September 30, 2024. Live from the 2024 meeting of the Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers. Coach's Message for Today "Honorable and competent work performance arise from professionals who know how much they truly matter."By John M. Collins

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#72: National Association of Forensic Science Boards | Kermit Channel and Jennifer Naugle 55:22

8M ago55:22

55:22

The newest forensic science organization got off the ground in November 2023. The National Association of Forensic Science Boards is now set to host its 2nd annual meeting in Albany, New York. In this episode of the CoachCast, John speaks with Kermit Channell and Jennifer Naugle about the organization's mission, future, and upcoming meeting. John a…

1
#71: Prevent Team Insanity when Leadership Changes 51:49

8M ago51:49

51:49

Few things are harder on a team or organization than a change in executive-level leadership. The experience can leave even the best-running teams feeling like everyone has lost their minds. In this episode, we explain why it happens and how to prevent it with a more thoughtful and open approach to transitioning between leadership regimes. Our Seaso…

1
#70: The People You Must Not Hire 40:46

8M ago40:46

40:46

There is a particular kind of individual with a particular temperament that you must identify and eliminate from hiring consideration. Doing so will save you and your team valuable time and energy, and it will prevent the poisoning of your team and its ability to nurture a communicative and collaborative environment. Our Season Sponsor Visit our Fr…

1
#69: True Integrity and the Challenge of Ethics 34:54

9M ago34:54

34:54

What is integrity and how does the study of ethics ensure that professionals will demonstrate integrity during the most difficult situations? The answer is that it can't. Ethics is a highly misunderstood and often misapplied field of study. In this episode, your host, John Collins, will discuss his new situational readiness workshop, True Integrity…

1
#68: Groom and Hire Local Talent to Maximize Retention 44:35

10M ago44:35

44:35

Job satisfaction leads to higher levels of energy, which translates into better engagement and better performance. But the factors leading to one's job satisfaction are complicated and often include personal matters that are outside the control of the laboratory. In this episode, John Collins discusses some of the key elements of job satisfaction a…

1
#67: Fill Your Leadership Positions without Delay! 34:29

10M ago34:29

34:29

In this episode of the Crime Lab CoachCast, John Collins, your host and author of HR Management in the Forensic Science Laboratory - A 21st Century Approach to Effective Crime Lab Leadership, discusses the importance of filling vacant leadership positions as soon as possible. He also discusses the damage caused by unnecessary delays. For those of y…

1
#66: From Laboratory Leader to Chief of Staff - A Conversation with Jody Wolf 1:09:19

11M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Jody Wolf is an award winning forensic laboratory veteran and former president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. She is one of the few forensic laboratory administrators to climb beyond the laboratory into the police command ranks. Jody is now the Chief of Staff for the Phoenix Police Department. In this episode, John speaks wi…

1
#65: Getting Your Confidence Back 52:07

11M ago52:07

52:07

Confidence is the blissful feeling of self-assurance that you can handle whatever people or situations you encounter in your life and career. But you can lose it and, when you do, it can leave you feeling lost, hurting, and desperate for answers. The good news is that you can get it back, and in this episode you will learn how. Our Season Sponsor V…

1
#64: Workplace Relationships, Problems, and Solutions 1:09:05

11M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Relationships are the raw materials from which teamwork is made. But what happens when problems arise in workplace relationships and what can be done to fix them? John Collins will share his thoughts about relationships within the forensic science environment and will also share a strategy for repairing broken relationships when they start getting …

1
#63: Be Strong and Still: A Conversation About Faith with Kevin Smith 1:09:15

12M ago1:09:15

1:09:15

Faith is not a subject we typically associate with science, but even scientists rely on their faith to orient themselves in this world and this life. Faith is not the same as religion and is not rooted in certainty. It is something we struggle with. John Collins speaks with his friend, colleague, and fellow coach, Kevin R. Smith, about having faith…

1
#62: Extroversion and Introversion - Debunking the Myths 42:12

1y ago42:12

42:12

In today's episode of the Crime Lab Coach Cast, John discusses the most widely discussed element of personality, which is the extroversion/intoversion spectrum. But there are myths that need to be replaced with facts and healthier attitudes about our desire to socialize and communicate with others. Where do YOU fall on the spectrum, and how do you …

1
#61: History, Philosophy, Standards, and the Police - A Conversation with Max Houck 1:04:46

1y ago1:04:46

1:04:46

John speaks with forensic science veteran, educator, and philosopher, Max Houck, to discuss some of the deeper issues facing forensic science laboratories today. Join Max and John as they tackle issues such as the relationships between laboratories and police agencies, standards, acceditation, the future of forensic science, and some interesting bi…

1
#60: Crisis Response and the Trust Fantasy 45:04

1y ago45:04

45:04

Bad things happen in all occupations, but when nightmares come true, it's vital that your team stick together to come out on the other side better than you were before. In this episode of the CoachCast, John Collins discusses the one mistake and the one fantasy that get in the way of forensic science laboratories seeking to address - and prevent - …

1
#59: Employee Motivation and the Origins of Enthusiasm 45:58

1y ago45:58

45:58

Employees can only motivate themselves, a truth that invites important questions about what both managers and employees should be prioritizing in their efforts to contribute toward a high-energy laboratory team. John Collins, "America's Crime Lab Coach," shares his tips and ideas in this next edition of the Crime Lab COACH Cast. References Promega …

1
#58: Engaging Difficult People and Personalities 39:00

1y ago39:00

39:00

In this 3rd episode of the 2024 season, John reaches into his bag of coaching strategies to help listeners cope effectively with people having pathologically challenging personalities. References Promega (Season Sponsor) Coping with Difficult People (Book by R Bramson, PhD)By John M. Collins

1
#57: Timothy Kupferschmid, NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner 45:20

1y ago45:20

45:20

John Collins speaks with Tim Kupferschmid, Chief of Laboratories for the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Tim is also the current president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. In this episode, Tim shares his thoughts on current events and issues facing today's forensic science laboratories, as well as the issue…

1
#56: Mark Stolorow on Standards, Progress, and Technology 1:10:55

1+ y ago1:10:55

1:10:55

In this first episode of our 4th season, John Collins chats with Mark Stolorow, the former Deputy Director of the Special Programs Office at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he was also the Director for OSAC Affairs (Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science). The mission of OSAC is to produce c…

1
Update: January 8, 2024 18:53

1+ y ago18:53

18:53

In this Crime Lab COACH Cast update, John discusses the newly released 2020 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Science Crime Laboratories, the upcoming SCOTUS ruling in Smith v. Arizona, and strategies for dealing with artificial intelligence "cheating" when administering essay questions during the application process for new scientists. References…

1
Update: January 3, 2024 8:28

1+ y ago8:28

8:28

By John M. Collins

1
#55: Ann MacPhetridge of Promega on Commercialization and Marketing in Forensic Science 53:39

1+ y ago53:39

53:39

Ann MacPhetridge is the Senior Manager in charge of Genetic Identity Commercialization & Marketing at Promega Corporation. Ann speaks with John Collins about the rewards and challenges of commercializing and marketing within the forensic science marketplace. She also explains the history of the ISHI meeting and the impact DNA scientists have had on…

1
#54: The Wisconsin Case Submission Advisory Committee 54:25

1+ y ago54:25

54:25

The top decisions-makers at the Wisconsin DOJ Division of Forensic Science join John Collins to discuss an innovative approach to developing and building support for case submission policies. Nicole Roehm and Jennifer Naugle explain the history of the committee, the benefits of the committee on keeping backlogs down, and what's happening nationally…

1
#53: Beyond Bias - Understanding Mental Modeling with Indi Young 54:07

1+ y ago54:07

54:07

Indi Young is an expert at teaching clients how to prevent false assumptions from causing damage to themselves and their customers. The author of 3 books, Indi speaks with John Collins about how she evaluates individuals to understand how they think, and why they think it. Perhaps it's time to stop dwelling on bias and begin thinking about mental m…

1
#52: Peter Stout on the Houston Forensic Science Center 54:20

1+ y ago54:20

54:20

Peter Stout is the president and director of the Houston Forensic Science Center. He and John Collins discuss the current political climate in the Houston criminal justice system, its past challenges, and some potentially game-changing blind-testing strategies being employed by Stout and his team. References Proceedings of the NAS (Forensic Article…

1
#51: Junk Science or Junk Activism? A Question for the Courts. 48:48

1+ y ago48:48

48:48

After welcoming Promega as the first sponsor of the Crime Lab COACH Cast, John Collins discusses some sensitive advocacy issues related to claims that forensic science disciplines are invalid or unreliable. Are crime laboratories putting out "junk science," or is "junk activism" misportraying the reality of forensic science methods? Maybe both? You…

1
#50: Trouble in Houston; Tips on Interviewing for Expert Witness Potential 43:56

1+ y ago43:56

43:56

John Collins brings you up to speed on some more forensic controversy out of Houston, and shares a valuable interview tip for evaluating the potential of new forensic laboratory scientists to develop into effective expert witnesses. It's a busy day here at the Crime Lab COACH Cast. See you in the studio! References News out of Houston…

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#49: The State of Forensic Science Education with Dr. Pamela Marshall 48:36

1+ y ago48:36

48:36

Pamela Marshall is the Associate Professor and Director of the Forensic Science and Law masters program at Duquesne University. In this episode, John chats with Dr. Marshall about the state of forensic science education in the United States, and what employers in forensic science need to know about the new generation of students who will become tom…

1
#48: A Conversation with Kermit Channell 45:34

1+ y ago45:34

45:34

Kermit Channell is the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. In this conversation with Director Channell, John Collins asks about his coming retirement, his career in forensic science, the outlook for forensic labs in the next 10 to 20 years, and the priorities laboratory administrators will have as the profession continues to …

1
#47: Dr. Henry Lee on Trial - Part 1 11:23

2y ago11:23

11:23

Your host, John M. Collins, has issued a press release making an official statement on the significance of the recent federal court ruling holding Dr. Henry Lee liable for malpractice in the investigation of a 1985 homicide. John's comments are intended to put the situation, at least preliminarily, into proper context so that recent events aren't u…

1
#46: How to Build a Natural Style for Leading and Influencing 1:03:59

2y ago1:03:59

1:03:59

You are naturally wired to lead and influence in a particular way, but do you know what that way is? Do you know how your employees and colleagues are wired? If you don't, you have an amazing opportunity. In this impactful episode of the COACH Cast, John Collins discusses the workshop he facilitated at the 50th annual symposium of the American Soci…

1
#45: The Science of Randomness 42:19

2y ago42:19

42:19

Random characteristics are the basis of the forensic pattern identification disciplines but, too often, examiners testify about randomness without understanding what it means or if it's even a scientifically legitimate principle. It is legitimate and this episode explains why. References Memphis, Tenn Crime Lab Debate Stochastics article by John Co…

1
#44: When Judges are Bullies in the Courtroom 37:20

2y ago37:20

37:20

What happens when a judge tries to influence or intimidate an expert witness into testifying a certain way? John will explain how you can handle this situation. John will also follow up on the previous CoachCast episode on firearm identification and its scientific underpinnings. References Firearm OSAC Firearm Examiner Accuracy - Part 1 Firearm Exa…

1
#43: Firearm ID on Trial in Illinois? Nope. 44:57

2y ago44:57

44:57

In Illinois v. Rickey Winfield (15CR1406601), Judge William Hicks blocked firearm identification testimomy (Feb 2023). And, as usual, the significance of the ruling is being misinterpreted and misapplied in some of the media reporting. John Collins tells us what we need to know about this case and what we can learn from it. References Commentary By…

1
#42: Embedded Legal Counsel in Forensic Labs (w/Amy Curtis Jenkins) 44:20

2y ago44:20

44:20

Amy Curtis Jenkins is the founding president of the National Association of Forensic Laboratory Counsel, an emerging membership organization for attorneys specializing in the legal representation of public forensic science laboratories. In this episode, John Collins chats with Amy about embedded legal counsel and the issues they address. References…

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