One Kitten, One Soldier, One Extraordinary Journey: Silopi - A True Story of Love and Resilience
This week on Cattitude, Michelle Fern welcomes Brad Beyer, author of the touching new memoir SILOPI: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE AND RESILIENCE. Brad shares the remarkable journey of how, in the aftermath of the first Gulf War, he rescued a tiny black and white kitten he discovered curled up in his Army hat in a chow tent in Silopi, Turkey. In this heartfelt episode, Brad recounts his military service — from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the deserts of Turkey — and the deep, life-changing bond that formed between a young infantryman and an unlikely feline companion. With warmth, humor, and emotion, he tells the story of sneaking the kitten back through Berlin and all the way home to Philadelphia. More than a tale of survival, SILOPI is a moving tribute to love, family, and the unexpected ways animals can shape our lives.
Listen to Episode #269 Now:
Silopi - A True Story of Love and Resilience
BIO:
Dr. Bradford J. Beyer brings an extraordinary combination of practical law enforcement experience and academic credentials to his examination of criminal interrogation practices. Since 1996, he has served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, currently as a Special Agent in the Detroit Division, where he has investigated white collar crime, violent crime, and foreign counterintelligence.
His unique expertise extends beyond traditional law enforcement roles—since 2005, he has served as an FBI polygraph examiner, and since 2015 as an FBI crisis negotiator. This hands-on experience is complemented by an impressive academic background including a doctorate in psychology with a forensic specialization, master’s degrees in both criminal justice and forensic psychophysiology, and specialized certification in psychophysiological detection of deception.
As a contributing faculty member at Walden University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, Dr. Beyer bridges the gap between academic theory and law enforcement practice. His research and instruction span polygraph techniques, interview and interrogation methods, crisis negotiation, and various aspects of forensic psychology and criminal justice, making him uniquely qualified to challenge prevailing assumptions about false confessions.