Jennnifer Eskew (ATF Operations, Drug Probhibition and Corporate Greed) - Episode 1213

Behind The Shield

James Geering

Mental Health, Health & Fitness, Fitness

4.9 • 695 Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2026

⏱️ 126 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jennifer Eskew is a former Virginia State Trooper, a retired ATF Senior Special Agent, Author, and subject matter expert in undercover operations, fire and explosion origin and cause determinations and criminal investigations involving the violent crimes of arson and bombings, armed career criminals, and financial fraud. We discuss her journey into Law Enforcement, joining the ATF, the worldwide cost of tobacco use, the failure of drug prohibition, her powerful mental health story, corporate greed and so much more.

Her debut memoir, Becoming Fire—featuring a foreword by Detective Lt. Joe Kenda of Homicide Hunter and American Detective—invites readers into the hidden world of those who run toward danger when everyone else runs away.

From her beginnings in a small Virginia farming town to a groundbreaking career in policing, Eskew’s journey has been shaped by a lifelong calling to protect, serve, and seek truth. The spark was lit early—when, as a six-year-old girl, she witnessed the aftermath of a violent crime that nearly took the lives of her family and neighbors. That moment ignited a determination that would carry her through decades of service, countless investigations, and personal sacrifice.

Through Becoming Fire, Jennifer brings a rare, insider’s perspective to the realities of law enforcement—balancing the adrenaline of the job with the emotional toll of bearing witness to humanity at its worst. Her story reveals the heart behind the badge, exploring not just what it takes to stand on the thin blue line, but why some are called to do so.

Today, Jennifer continues her mission beyond the uniform—sharing her experiences through writing, speaking engagements, and advocacy for those who serve. Her voice honors the fallen, uplifts the living, and reminds us that true bravery isn’t the absence of fear—it’s walking through it with purpose.

https://www.jenniferclarkeeskew.com/

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Behind a Shield podcast. It's always my name's James Gearing, and this week it is my
0:04.1	absolute honor to welcome on the show, retired ATF special agent, law enforcement instructor,
0:10.8	and the author of Becoming Fire, Jennifer Eskew. Now, in this conversation, we discuss a host of
0:18.9	topics from her journey into the world of law enforcement
0:22.0	drug prohibition her own powerful mental health story catharsis through writing and so much more
0:30.2	now before we get to this incredible conversation as i say every week please just take a moment
0:36.2	go to whichever app you listen to this on.
0:39.3	Subscribe to the show, leave feedback and leave a rating.
0:44.1	Every single five-star rating truly does elevate this podcast,
0:48.4	therefore making it easier for others to find.
0:51.3	And this is a free library of over 1,200 episodes now. So all I ask in return is that
0:58.9	you help share these incredible men and women's stories so I can get them to every single
1:04.8	person on planet Earth who needs to hear them. So with that being said, I introduced to you Jennifer Eskew. Enjoy.
1:40.7	Thank you. Well, Jennifer, I want to start by saying thank you so much for taking the time and coming on behind the shield podcast today.
1:42.5	Thank you very much, James.
1:43.4	I appreciate that.
1:45.3	I appreciate the invite a whole lot.
1:49.6	Well, I'm glad you're on here. So where on planet Earth will be finding you today?
1:57.3	I live in coastal Georgia. That's where I sort of semi-retired to at the end of my law enforcement career. And it's, I want to tell you, it's beautiful, warm and sunny, but that little cold nor'easter kind of changed our weather just a little bit, but it's warming back up. I actually, when I worked out this morning, I worked out outside. So it's warm enough for that. Excellent. Yeah, that one, even in Florida, we felt it. I like the cold because we still have the blue skies. But yeah, it was certainly pretty frigid here.
2:19.5	You get the blue sky, the sunshine, and you're going, ooh, it's chilly.
2:23.7	Yeah, exactly.
2:24.7	Well, let's start the very beginning of your timeline then.
	...

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