Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras · Elizabeth Jane and Deana Lynn

Episode 83: When the Truth Comes Out: Private Investigator Ken Childs on Narcissists, Double Lives, and Protecting Yourself!

·35 min·2 clips

Ken warns that LA County background checks can miss people because date-of-birth search has been removed.

The question starts in the gut. The hosts talk about the awful feeling that someone you love is quietly pulling your sense of self apart. Ken Childs brings the practical side. He is a licensed Los Angeles private investigator with 25 years in the business, and he has dealt with double lives, digital deceit, and crypto con artists. The tone is protective, not gossipy. The hosts are speaking to women who have been confused, betrayed, and pushed into doubting themselves. Ken keeps the advice grounded. Protect personal information early. Be careful with wallets, purses, driver's licenses, addresses, and cars. That hits close to home for the hosts, who remember an ex living a double life while still looking clean on a background check. Lizzie's story is the part that stops the room. She says she never showed up in the report, even though she had been married to him for six years. Ken does not pretend to know exactly why. He says it is unusual, then explains how he would search the address itself instead of relying only on a name-based platform. Who used the same address, and when those records overlap, can reveal a relationship that a quick check missed. The takeaway is sober: a background check can help, but it is not a full investigation. The ending feels sisterly, with the hosts urging listeners to notice red flags, trust their strength, and stay discerning.

As heard by us

A grounded listen on double lives, digital deceit, and how to read the clues.

This conversation lands in the uneasy space between instinct, betrayal, and proof. Lizzie and Dina bring on Los Angeles private investigator Ken Childs to talk through double lives, digital deceit, and the kind of harm that can leave a woman doubting her own judgment.

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Why you'd press play

If you're second-guessing a partner, this gives you concrete ways to trust what you notice.

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