Forensics Unfiltered with Gap Science

Gap Science

Welcome to Forensics Unfiltered, where we uncover real-life stories and challenges of the forensic world. Hosts Ashley Church and Erin West from Gap Science share the highs, lows, and lessons from their careers, offering insights to help you avoid pitfalls, spark meaningful conversations, and drive positive change. With no topic off-limits, a dash of colorful language, and dark humor, this podcast delivers raw honesty and a refreshing take on forensic science. Tune in for relatable advice and unfiltered truth!

  1. 6D AGO

    64. Case Reopened: What Work/Life Balance? The Job That Follows You Home (MHA Series)

    What really happens when the demands of your forensic career begin to extend beyond the job itself? As part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, we’re revisiting our unfiltered conversation about work/life balance in forensics (and what it actually looks like behind the scenes!). From on-call culture and holiday callouts to court appearances on days off, missed family events, disrupted sleep, and the constant mental load of being “ready at all times,” these conversations highlight what work/life balance actually looks like inside forensic science and crime scene investigation. How do you function for years while being tethered to phones, pagers, and call screens—often developing a level of hypervigilance that doesn’t fully shut off, even when you’re technically off duty? And over time, a difficult truth starts to settle in: there is no such thing as truly “caught up.” There are always more cases, more emails, more reports, and more demands waiting the next day. Over time, many begin to realize a hard truth: there is no true “caught up.” There are always more cases, more emails, and more demands waiting tomorrow. In this conversation, we unpack the emotional weight of that reality—guilt around taking time off, pressure from coworkers and workplace culture, the hesitation to “leave the team short,” and the ongoing internal conflict between personal life and professional responsibility. 🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science.

    36 min

  2. 6D AGO

    63. Case Reopened: The Cost of Ignoring the Warning Signs, Part 2 (MHA Series)

    How many warning signs do we miss before our bodies force us to pay attention? As part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, we’re revisiting Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Jason Cole. In Part 1, Jason shared the culture many forensic professionals know all too well: long hours, constant pressure, and the unspoken expectation to push through no matter what. In this episode, we get to the moments that changed everything. Jason opens up about two life-altering experiences that forever shifted how he views work, health, leadership, and what it really means to take care of yourself in this profession. He shares: The traumatic loss of a mentor in the labThe emotional aftermath he felt pressured to carry quietlyHis own unexpected stroke while teaching a forensic classThe difficult reality of recovery and uncertaintyWhat these experiences taught him about boundaries, health, and asking for helpThis conversation is an important reminder that in forensic science, the impact of this work doesn’t always show up immediately. Sometimes it builds slowly until your body forces you to stop and listen. For anyone who has ever believed: “I’ll slow down later.”“I’m fine.”“I just need to push through this season.” If you’ve ever felt like your job was asking for more than you could sustainably give, this episode is one you need to hear. 🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science. If Jason’s story resonates with you, or if mental health is something your forensic unit is actively working to address, we’d love to hear from you. We’re continuing to create space for these conversations—and for the people willing to share what they’ve learned along the way.

    39 min

  3. 6D AGO

    62. Case Reopened: The Cost of Ignoring the Warning Signs, Part 1 (MHA Series)

    “I haven’t been to the doctor in 18 years.” As part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, we’re revisiting this powerful two-part conversation with Jason Cole. In this episode, Jason walks through the early stages of his career, from law enforcement to crime scene investigations to latent print work and beyond. Like many in this field, he built his career on hard work, long hours, and a deep passion for the job. But along the way, something else started to take shape. A pattern that’s common in forensic science:✔️ Prioritizing work above everything else✔️ Ignoring personal health✔️ Constantly pushing through without slowing down At the time, it doesn’t feel like a problem. It feels like dedication. Commitment. Doing what the job requires. But over time, those habits can come at a cost. This episode also explores how mental health was (or wasn’t) talked about earlier in the field—and how many professionals were conditioned to “just handle it” without support or space to process what they were experiencing. 🎧 In Part 1, we cover: Jason’s path into forensic scienceThe culture of hard work and overcommitmentEarly perspectives on mental health in the fieldThe subtle ways stress and imbalance start to build🎙️ This is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting impactful conversations around stress, burnout, and the realities of working in forensic science.

    35 min

  4. MAY 1

    61. Case Reopened: The Scene That Changed Everything I Thought I Knew About Safety (MHA series)

    What happens when you’re standing at a “routine” crime scene… and don’t realize you’re in the middle of an active shooter encounter? In this powerful Mental Health Awareness series episode, we're taking you back to when CSI Supervisor Letty Ramirez shared the moment her career as well as her understanding of safety, trauma, and survival changed forever. While processing what appeared to be a standard scene, Letty suddenly found herself facing a suspect with a gun pointed directly at her. In the chaos that followed, she didn’t even realize she had survived an active shooting until after the scene was secured. Letty walks us through the immediate aftermath, the emotional denial, the identity struggle of “I’m fine” vs. what was actually happening internally, and the delayed realization that she was experiencing symptoms of PTSD. She also shares how therapy, peer support, and eventually EMDR helped her begin processing the trauma she once pushed down to stay “one of the boys.” 🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science.

    43 min

  5. MAY 1

    60. Case Reopened: The Scenes That Stay With You, Part 2 (MHA Series)

    At some point, coping stops being enough. In Part 2 of our Mental Health Awareness Month kickoff, Matt Davis continues his story. This time focusing on what happens after years of exposure to trauma in forensic work begin to accumulate. He opens up about burnout, the limits of informal coping strategies, and the realization that processing trauma requires more than just pushing through it. Matt also shares his experience with counseling and EMDR therapy, and how structured mental health support changed the way he processes his career experiences. Key topics include: Recognizing burnout in forensic professionalsWhen coping mechanisms stop workingThe role of counseling in trauma processingEMDR therapy and trauma reprocessingBuilding long-term mental health support systemsReframing what it means to “handle the job”This is where the conversation shifts: from surviving the work to learning how to sustain a career in it. 🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science.

    37 min

  6. MAY 1

    59. Case Reopened: The Scenes That Stay With You, Part 1 (MHA Series)

    Some scenes don’t stay locked away in the case folder. They follow you. In the kickoff episode of our Mental Health Awareness Month series, we sit down with Matt Davis, a forensic professional whose career includes crime scene investigation, latent print examination, and supervision. Matt walks us through the early moments in his career that shaped everything that came after... mass casualty events, high-risk scenes with significant loss of life, and child death investigations that left lasting impressions. Key topics include: Early exposure to mass casualty scenesWorking large-scale, high-stress forensic incidentsChild death investigations and emotional impactThe beginning stages of cumulative trauma in forensicsWhat professionals carry home from the sceneThis episode sets the foundation for understanding why mental health in forensic science is not optional, it's necessary. 🎙️ This episode is part of our Mental Health Awareness Series, where we’re revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had around stress, burnout, trauma, and wellness in forensic science.

    33 min

  7. MAY 1

    🧠 Kicking Off Mental Health Awareness Month in Forensics

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in this episode, we’re kicking off a series of conversations that have been part of our mission since the very beginning. Mental health in forensics isn’t something we started talking about recently. It’s been a core part of our Forensic Supervision training since 2019, long before it became a more visible topic at conferences or in professional development spaces. At the time, these conversations weren’t always easy to have. And in many cases, they were avoided altogether. But things are starting to shift. We’re seeing more awareness, more research, and more open discussions about the realities of working in this field. And while that’s progress, there’s still a gap between talking about mental health and truly understanding what it looks like in forensic science. Because the impact of this work isn’t always obvious. It’s not just what you experience directly - it’s what you see, document, analyze, and carry with you long after the work is done. Over time, that adds up. In this episode, we’re setting the stage for a month of revisiting some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had on this podcast... stories and perspectives that reflect the real challenges forensic professionals face when it comes to stress, burnout, and long-term well-being. If you’ve been in this field for any length of time, chances are you’ve seen or experienced some of this yourself. And if you have a perspective or experience you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you as we continue to create space for these conversations.

    5 min

  8. FEB 12

    58. Mid-Career Crisis in Forensics: Why It Happens and What to Do Next

    At some point in your forensic career, the adrenaline fades. You start to ask yourself... Why doesn't this feel the same? Why am I not as energized? Do I need to leave the field? In this episode, we break down the warning signs, the psychology behind mid-career dissatisfaction, and practical steps to reignite growth without impulsively leaving the field. Whether you’re navigating this personally or leading a team, this conversation matters.

    49 min
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4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Welcome to Forensics Unfiltered, where we uncover real-life stories and challenges of the forensic world. Hosts Ashley Church and Erin West from Gap Science share the highs, lows, and lessons from their careers, offering insights to help you avoid pitfalls, spark meaningful conversations, and drive positive change. With no topic off-limits, a dash of colorful language, and dark humor, this podcast delivers raw honesty and a refreshing take on forensic science. Tune in for relatable advice and unfiltered truth!

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