Building a Defense: An Attorney’s Perspective on Working with a Private Investigator

When the System Slips: Details That Change Cases

When a podcast guest cancels, the show must go on. In this solo episode of the Blue Light Investigations Podcast, private investigator Steve Flanagan pulls back the curtain on what the PI life really looks like, raw, unfiltered, and explicit. Forget the Hollywood myths about private investigators in trench coats and high-speed chases. Steve shares real PI stories from the field: a workers’ comp fraud case where a “disabled” employee was caught on surveillance after dragging a deer out of the woods, the gritty reality of long stakeouts that end in Walmart cat food runs, and the dangerous impact of sloppy police work in criminal defense investigations. If you’re into true crime podcasts, want to know how private investigators help defense attorneys, or just love hearing wild stories of fraud, surveillance, and the justice system’s flaws, this episode is for you. Packed with humor, PI insights, and no-BS truths, Steve proves why the details matter more than the drama.

Building a Defense: An Attorney’s Perspective on Working with a Private Investigator

What really happens when a criminal defense attorney and a private investigator team up on a case? In this episode, Steve Flanagan sits down with Attorney Ryan Kolbeck for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about the attorney–investigator partnership. Together, they share gritty, real-world stories from cases they’ve worked on, break down how investigative work shapes defense strategy, and talk openly about the role of truth, persistence, and trust in fighting for justice. If you’ve ever wondered how criminal defense really works, beyond the headlines, this episode takes you inside the process from both sides of the table

Introduction to Blue Light Investigations.

In this episode, co-owner, Secretary and my wife, Alana Flanagan joins the conversation. We talk about how Blue started, discuss a case, and the future of Blue Light.

Sneak Preview

Bonus: Sneak preview for upcoming show!