About this episode

David Challen shares his experiences of living with a coercively controlling father and discusses the importance of recognizing warning signs of abuse.

In part 2 David speaks candidly about his experience, excavating the patterns he now recognises, the behaviours that were normalised at the time, and the lasting effect of living with a coercively controlling father. Together, Laura and David examine the subtle and often missed warning signs, the insidious nature of coercive control, why recognising these patterns in law is critical to prevention, protection and saving lives and how men can be part of the solution in changing this behaviour. David also recently joined Laura for a Crime Analyst Squad exclusive live event. David dives deeper into his experiences, sharing a photo which depicts what life was like living with his father, and more information about his mother’s murder trial. JOIN the Crime Analyst Squad now and listen using a new special promo to mark the two-year anniversary of the Squad: 50% off annual membership for new members and Ringleaders. Use code 6D923 #SallyChallen #CoerciveControl #DavidChallen #PowerAndControl #DomesticAbuse #CrimeAnalyst #TrueCrime #Podcast #WarningSigns #Manipulation #UnthinkableBook #DomesticViolence Clip https://fb.watch/G3VrhhcNHB/ Sources Buy David’s Book The Unthinkable…

People in this episode

Host: Laura Richards

Guest: David Challen

Topics covered

• coercive control
• domestic abuse
• childhood trauma
• warning signs
• law and prevention
• father-son relationship

Keywords

• coercive control
• domestic violence
• warning signs
• childhood trauma
• David Challen
• Laura Richards
• The Unthinkable
• Crime Analyst

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Crime Analyst Squad

Books & works: The Unthinkable

More episodes of Crime Analyst

• Ep 331: Australia’s Landmark Coercive Control Conviction with Sam Bouffler, Part 2 · April 27, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Ep 330: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 6 · April 23, 2026 · 47 min
• Ep 329: A Line in the Sand: Sam Bouffler and the Landmark Coercive Control Conviction, Part 1 · April 20, 2026 · 59 min
• Ep 328: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 5 · April 15, 2026 · 58 min
• Ep 327: Analysing Life’s Namaste Motherf*cker Moments, with Cally Beaton · April 13, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Ep 326: Remastered: The Murder of Gabby Petito, Part 4 · April 8, 2026 · 49 min

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