GOLD SHIELDS

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This week on GOLD SHIELDS, prepare for an edge-of-your-seat interview with Trevor Fortner, a U.S. Navy veteran and elite Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) expert who spent years confronting some of the deadliest ticking time bombs in combat zones around the world.
When every second matters… how do you decide which wire to cut?
What goes through your mind when one wrong move could mean instant death? How do bomb technicians stay calm while facing unimaginable pressure?
Trevor takes us deep inside the terrifying reality of bomb disposal, IED detection, military special operations, and the life-or-death decisions that few people on Earth will ever understand. 
But this conversation goes far beyond explosives.
Trevor also delivers powerful insight into the importance of leadership and why great leaders change lives, why leadership matters in every profession, and how strong leadership can shape teams, families, and personal success. 
You do not want to miss Episode 167 of GOLD SHIELDS.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to EOD and Special Ops Mindset
03:11 The Journey to EOD: Personal Experiences and Inspirations
05:58 Training and Challenges in EOD School
08:59 First Experiences and Lessons Learned in the Field
12:00 Understanding Bomb Makers and Their Signatures
15:12 The Reality of Bomb Disposal: Insights from the Field
18:04 Hollywood vs. Reality: The Hurt Locker Discussion
29:25 Decompressing After High-Stakes Missions
35:23 Transitioning from Military to Civilian Life
36:25 Everyday Spy: Bridging Skills for Decision Making
42:51 Leadership Challenges in Modern Environments
49:20 Honoring Service and Sacrifice

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Netflix captivated audiences with How To Rob A Bank, the unbelievable true story of Scott Scurlock, better known as "Hollywood," the mastermind behind a string of high-profile bank robberies that stunned law enforcement and fascinated the public.
In Episode #166 of GOLD SHIELDS, Tom and Dan bring together two of the most important people connected to this extraordinary case. Shawn Johnson, the retired FBI Special Agent who led the hunt for Hollywood and his crew, and Steve Meyers, one of Hollywood's accomplices during the robbery spree.
This unique conversation explores the investigation from both sides—law enforcement and criminal. Shawn shares the challenges of tracking one of the country's most elusive bank robbers, while Steve provides a rare inside look into the mindset, planning, and reality of life inside a notorious bank robbery crew.
From the headlines and Hollywood-style disguises to the relentless FBI manhunt that ultimately brought the case to an end, this episode offers an unforgettable look into one of America's most fascinating true-crime stories.
Don't miss this exclusive conversation with the people who lived it.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to a Unique Collaboration
02:47 The Evolution of Bank Robberies
05:54 The First Encounter: A Cop and a Robber
09:06 The Planning Behind the Heists
11:49 The Role of Media in Criminal Investigations
15:07 Understanding the Criminal Mind
17:57 The Mechanics of a Bank Heist
21:04 The Dynamics of Criminal Partnerships
24:03 The Aftermath and Reflections
27:02 Conclusion: Lessons Learned
30:50 The Boldness of Bank Robberies
32:01 Technological Evolution in Banking Security
34:00 The Role of Surveillance and Public Involvement
34:53 The Mindset of Investigators
36:04 The Hollywood Moniker and Its Impact
36:46 The Progression of Robberies
39:01 Challenges in New Locations
41:04 The Final Robbery and Its Consequences
53:18 The Hasty Decision: A Turning Point
56:18 The Chaos of the Getaway
01:00:39 Tracking the Criminals: Technology in Action
01:02:56 The Search for Scott: Uncovering the Truth
01:08:27 The Final Confrontation: A Tragic End

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A psychiatric nurse gets punched on shift and goes back the next day. That's the world Julie and Laurie live in — and it's the same world that produced every case Dan and Tom ever worked.
Two psychiatric nurses from Night Shift: Darkness Diagnosed sit down with Gold Shields and get into the questions the criminal justice system has never fully answered: Are killers born or made? Does the brain of a serial killer actually know what it's doing? Why does a man walk calmly away from a crime scene while another runs? And are there people who are simply beyond rehabilitation?
Clinical, direct, and nothing like what you've seen on television. This is the conversation detectives and psychiatric nurses have when no one's performing for a camera.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Mind of Killers
02:27 Nature vs. Nurture: Are Killers Born or Made?
09:30 Understanding the Consciousness of Killers
19:16 The Legal Perspective on Insanity
22:31 Debunking the Myth of Split Personality
27:29 Understanding Flat Responses in Crisis Situations
30:10 The Complexity of Mental Health and Crime
31:36 Choosing Cases for Discussion
34:16 Accountability in Mental Health Care
39:05 The Challenge of Proving Criminal Insanity
43:05 The Debate on Rehabilitation vs. Punishment
46:37 Favorite Episodes and Insights

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Step back into the tense and turbulent streets of New York City in 1977, when an elusive serial killer turned everyday life into a nightmare. In this special episode, we explore the terrifying case of David Berkowitz, the man who became infamous as the "Son of Sam."
Over the course of more than a year, Berkowitz carried out a series of random shootings that left six people dead and seven others wounded. His attacks, often targeting young couples sitting in parked cars, spread fear across the city and dominated newspaper headlines. Taunting letters sent to police and the media fueled public panic, earning him the nickname "Son of Sam" after claims that a neighbor's dog was possessed and commanding him to kill.
This episode examines the investigation that gripped New York, the massive manhunt that followed, and the eventual arrest of Berkowitz in August 1977. We also explore the social atmosphere of a city already struggling with crime, economic hardship, and the infamous blackout of 1977, all of which amplified the fear surrounding the case.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Son of Sam Case
03:05 The Context of New York City in the 1970s
05:54 David Berkowitz: The Man Behind the Murders
08:59 The First Victims and Initial Reactions
11:50 The Media Frenzy and Public Panic
15:05 The Investigation and Challenges Faced
17:57 Eyewitness Accounts and Their Impact
21:02 The Task Force and Ongoing Search
24:02 Conclusion and Reflections on the Case
29:12 The Breakthrough Clue
32:40 The Capture of the Son of Sam
36:38 Lessons from the Case
40:53 The Impact of the 1977 Blackout
45:00 Reflections on a Dark Time

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He prosecuted a serial killer who escaped on bedsheets and turned himself back in. He took the Brittanee Drexel case from 600 miles away with no law license and no jurisdiction, because Dawn Drexel made one phone call and you don't say no twice. He stood over a dead baby on Christmas Eve morning and sat next to his daughter in church that night.
Jarrett Ferentino spent 20 years as a prosecutor in northeastern Pennsylvania. This is what that actually looks like — the homicide scenes where the trial starts before anyone is arrested, the Hugo Zelensky case that lasted 15 years, the child cases nobody talks about, and the question every prosecutor eventually has to answer: if you stop caring, how do you get anyone else to?
GOLD SHIELDS. Two former NYPD Detectives. The guests who go deeper because of who's asking.
0:00 — Introduction 0:23 — Welcome to Gold Shields 
3:20 — How Farentino Got Here 
4:48 — The Trial Starts Outside 
5:52 — First Scene, First Case 
8:04 — Speaking for the Dead 
9:38 — The New Guy at the Scene 
12:19 — Reading the Room 
13:31 — When Defense Attorneys Burn You 
17:13 — The Case That Lasted Fifteen Years 
19:24 — What Zelensky Left Behind 
20:18 — Three DAs and a Corrupt Courthouse 
22:32 — Something Happens to My Family 
23:10 — Inside the Zelensky Case 
26:45 — The Cases No One Talks About 
28:51 — Christmas Eve 
31:50 — Mothers, Murders and Motivation 
34:15 — The Brittany Drexel Case 
37:22 — What Really Happened 
39:08 — When You Encounter True Evil 
40:30 — The Last Line of Defense 
42:40 — High-Profile Cases and Bad Crime Scenes 
47:36 — Pride Gets in the Way 
48:25 — Where to Find Jarrett 
50:20 — Rapid Fire 
53:27 — Best Advice for Young Lawyers 
54:07 — Closing

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