What Interviewing Murderers Taught Me About Violence –

For over 20 years, I’ve sat down with more than 30 murderers—from mass shooters and school attackers to family killers and kidnappers—to understand the human stories behind extreme violence. Their experiences reveal a powerful truth: violence is not inevitable. By uncovering these patterns, we can learn how to stop violence before it happens.

Social Media and Violence

In an age where violence can explode online, social media has become a dangerous playground—fueling radicalization, enabling mass shooters to connect in chatrooms, and encouraging violent acts to be broadcast for viral fame. This talk dives into the latest data and trends, offering practical prevention strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to keep young people safe in a digital world.

How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic

Drawing from my award-winning book, this talk breaks down the tragic rise of mass shootings in the U.S. by exploring the common pathway that leads shooters to violence. I share clear, nonpartisan strategies that communities, policymakers, and individuals can adopt to help prevent the next attack before it ever happens.

Holistic Violence Prevention

Violence doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It stems from trauma, moments of crisis, feelings of hopelessness, social disconnection, and radicalization. This data-driven talk explores these root causes and offers tailored strategies to prevent violence across diverse settings—whether in workplaces, schools, houses of worship, or healthcare environments.

Mental Health and Violence

Mental health and violence have a nuanced relationship that is often misunderstood. This talk provides evidence-based insights and practical tools for de-escalation, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and building supportive care teams. It’s designed for workplaces, schools, medical settings, and communities looking to foster connection and reduce harm.

Political Violence

With the most comprehensive database of political assassinations and attempts since the 1960s, I reveal alarming trends showing that political violence is at an all-time high. By studying the backgrounds and motivations of perpetrators, this talk offers critical insights on how to prevent violence in a deeply divided society.