The Stories Crimes Tell: Listening Beyond the Evidence explores Jon’s experience as a detective who uncovered hidden narratives through the art of listening—not just to words, but to silence, body language, and emotion. Evidence can reveal the what, but only listening uncovers the why. A confession may confirm guilt, but the hesitation, the shift in tone, or the unspoken fear reveals the deeper truth. Through years of interviewing victims, witnesses, and suspects, Jon learned that his most powerful tools weren’t his badge or authority, but curiosity, empathy, and patience. During his talk, Jon will take the audience inside the mind of a detective, sharing real stories of how careful listening exposed motives, elicited confessions, and revealed truths that evidence alone could not. He will demonstrate how the same listening techniques used in investigations can help us navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, and better understand the world around us. Jon Carda served as a police officer for 31 years, including 11 years as a Detective in the Crimes Against Persons Unit, where he investigated cases of homicide, suicide, assault, and abuse. Jon has over 240 hours of specialized training in interview and interrogation techniques, he also completed advanced coursework in homicide investigation, statement analysis, and child forensic interviewing. As a lead detective on 22 homicides, Jon conducted more than 30 homicide suspectinterrogations and interviewed hundreds of individuals involved in child abuse cases. His expertise extends beyond investigation. Throughout his career, Jon ensured that every interview and interrogation he conducted stood up in court. His dedication to uncovering the truth through listening and analysis remains the foundation of his work. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx