Mental state and mental health are central to our legal systems, as well as our very perception of accountability. From serious “crimes of passion” to daily interactions, our mental state is used to excuse or mitigate our actions, and our attitudes towards its connection with accountability are anything but consistent. Lisa Witcher, a forensic psychologist, explains what makes us fit to stand trial and how to strike a balance between holding people accountable and understanding their circumstances.

As a criminal defense attorney, David sometimes gets confronted by people questioning the role of defending people who are (in many cases) guilty of the crimes of which they are accused. In this episode, David is joined by prominent defense attorney Dan Ross, known for his courtroom tactics and strong beliefs, to discuss what motivates them to pursue this profession, why it is important for our society, and why all of us may one day find ourselves in need of a defense attorney.

Tricia Rojo Bushnell joins David to discuss her work with the Innocence Project, fighting for those who have been wrongfully convicted. Together, they explore the difference between defending someone at trial and trying to overturn a conviction after the fact, and what that gap reveals about our justice system. Their conversation digs into the deeper question: why is it so hard for us, as individuals and as a society, to admit we have been wrong?

All parents make mistakes, but admitting them to their children or finding the way back into a strained relationship is often challenging. Sabrena Morgan became addicted to Methamphetamines during a custody battle for her daughter Lily, only to lose contact with her daughter entirely when she was sent to prison for a drug conspiracy. Now closer than ever, Sabrena and Lily join David on this episode to discuss their crazy experiences and how their relationship survived extreme challenges.

While courts are tasked with deciding guilt impartially, sentencing often demands something more human: empathy. Judges, attorneys, and jurors are asked to consider the offender’s background, the victim’s pain, and the broader impact of a crime. In this episode, Dr. Nicole Price joins David to explore the many forms of empathy and how this often-overlooked skill became central to her work. She shares how her understanding of empathy was shaped not only by her professional journey, but by an unexpected lesson from a pimp—one that her mother couldn’t teach her.

Erik Hulse’s journey is anything but ordinary—once a troubled teen and gifted musician, he went on to serve as an undercover cop and eventually a police captain. But it wasn’t until he discovered Buddhism and mindfulness that he found real peace and purpose. Now a teacher of both, Erik joins David to talk about how crime and legal struggles often stem from a loss of control, and how practices like meditation and self-reflection can help us reclaim it.

Our criminal justice system is built to deliver verdicts and sentences, but what about offering a path toward redemption? In this episode, David sits down with Laura Mars to discuss her work with group therapy for sex offenders, her Christian faith, her stand-up comedy, and the lessons she has learned about overcoming tragedy and adversity.

Policing is among the most passionately debated issues in the already boiling American political discourse. David Bell sits down with Jean Peters Baker, the recently retired Jackson County Prosecutor, to talk candidly about law enforcement, her career in the justice system, and the complexities of addressing police violence in the U.S. David and Jean discuss their perspectives and what this debate can teach us about discussing difficult disagreements in other areas.