Podcast Summary: The Dating Detectives – "Ken Undercover: The Husband in Disguise"
Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Dear Media
Guests: Ken Childs (Licensed Private Investigator, Los Angeles)

Episode Overview

This week, professional PI Mackenzie Fultz, comedian Hanna Anderson, and returning guest PI Ken Childs dive into three wild private investigation stories, with a primary focus on Ken’s most recent and bizarre surveillance case: a husband sneaking off in the night, a cross-dressing surprise, and the ethics and pitfalls of undercover work in the dating world. The episode is filled with humor, empathy, and real-life detective missteps, giving listeners an inside look at the world of private investigation and the complexities of relationships, secrets, and trust.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Ken & Setting the Stage

• Ken Childs returns for his second appearance. The hosts gush about his popularity and charisma and tease that listeners will get not just one but three PI stories this episode.
• Hosts and Ken discuss being in the studio together in LA (03:14), the challenges of in-person recording, and Ken’s handsome reputation among listeners.

2. Case Story #1 – The Husband with "Unaccounted Hours"

Client Concern:

• Recent case: A woman suspects her husband is having an affair based on his strange work hours, especially on Thursdays and Fridays (04:57).
• The couple has been together around 10 years, living a seemingly "picture perfect" suburban life near LA.

Surveillance Begins:

• Day 1 yields nothing suspicious; husband attends a luncheon, communicates openly, and returns home.
• Odd event: Wife leaves home, shortly after an unknown woman visits the house for about 10-15 minutes. The brief visit is unclear and not obviously romantic (06:47). Ken avoids jumping to conclusions since nothing overt happens.

Day 2 Escalates: The Reveal

• Ken amps up surveillance for a later evening stakeout. After work, the husband claims he's working late, but Ken follows him for 35-45 mins to Orange County, far from home (13:02).
• The subject pulls into a XXX adult store, stays in the parking lot. Ken chooses not to enter the store but observes from outside (14:09).
• Witnesses a person in high heels, wig, breastplate—initially believed to be a woman checking makeup at car windows, but a wardrobe malfunction reveals male genitalia (16:49).
• Confirmation: Ken texts the wife a (poor quality) photo; she immediately recognizes her husband ("That’s my ding-a-ling" - 17:22).

The Search for a "Good Time":

• Husband, in full cross-dress, drives to multiple adult store parking lots, appears to be seeking a sexual encounter but never actually enters any stores (22:16, 26:33).
• He notably drives with his hazard lights on, perhaps signaling he’s seeking a hookup (22:44).
• Ultimately, he returns home late, with no evidence of an actual hookup.

Wife’s Reaction & Reflection:

• Wife is surprised, but instead of rage, approaches Ken with care and concern for her husband’s unexpressed needs (29:03).
• Ken is struck by her empathy; while lying and secrecy hurt, she seems more saddened by the lack of openness than vengeful (29:10).
• Host Hanna: “I just want everyone to kiss and wear whatever they want to wear and love each other.” (30:18).

Discussion on 'Gut Feelings':

• Most clients who hire PIs already know the answer; they need proof (31:03).
• Women usually have more evidence than they let on; men often have just a hunch (31:21, 31:29).

3. The Ethics & Limitations of PI Work

• PIs often don’t get closure on cases or follow up after handing over evidence, partly due to professionalism and payment boundaries (32:01).
• The line between providing a service and personal attachment to outcomes is strictly managed (32:37).

4. Being Recognized and Rookie Mistakes

Recognition Risks:

• Ken recounts being recognized at a bar by women who'd seen him on Dr. Phil while mid-surveillance ("Oh, honey," - 35:00), risking his cover.

Common PI Mistakes:

• Mackenzie shares a comical story of accidentally filming evidence in time-lapse and with a flash on, leading to unusable video and needing to redo work (36:33).
• Ken tells of early-career missteps, using a giant camcorder in a mesh bag fanny pack in Compton, standing out so badly in a cultural grocery store that he gets chased out by the subject and security (43:07).

Adapting Confidence:

• Both discuss the need to "own the room" or adapt their persona depending on the environment, alternating between being bold and blending in (38:01).

5. Comic Relief & Human Moments

• The hosts and Ken riff humorously on PI stereotypes, working under cover in awkward situations, and pretending to recruit bystanders to distract subjects (36:04).
• Several memorable quips emerge, like:
  • "She would know that d*** if it whacked her in the face." – Host at (17:20)
  • "I just want everyone to kiss and wear whatever they want..." – Hanna (30:18)
  • "You want a Richie Cunningham looking motherf***er like myself to go into a predominantly African American market? ...Here we go." – Ken (45:24)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "He gets home, wife leaves, and then a girl shows up." (06:47) — Ken, first hint of suspicion.
• "And now you can see everything below the waist." (17:19) — Ken observing the husband in drag.
• "She knew the ding-a-ling. She was like, that's my ding-a-ling." (17:22) — Ken, confirming subject’s ID.
• "She just wants everyone to kiss and wear whatever they want to wear and love each other." (30:18) — Hanna, reflecting on empathy.
• "My femme intuition was telling me, don’t go in the store." (48:10) — Ken on acting on instinct.
• "If you care about everyone and then you can't focus on your current job, and then it becomes a hindrance." (32:36) — Mackenzie discussing emotional boundaries.
• "I don't even follow up. I feel like it's unprofessional." (31:50) — Ken on professional distance.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro & setup: 00:38–02:46
• Ken begins 'the husband in disguise' story: 04:30
• Surveillance details, the first odd woman: 06:40
• Night of the reveal at adult stores: 13:02–17:41
• Confirmation with client: 17:17–19:02
• Discussion on wife’s reaction: 29:03–30:18
• Ethics and boundaries for PIs: 32:01–33:37
• Being recognized on the job: 34:04–35:03
• Blending in & rookie stories: 38:01–45:23
• Compton case cultural misstep: 43:07–48:14

Tone, Style & Final Impressions

The tone is candid, irreverent, and compassionate—balancing hilarious PI mishaps with genuine conversations about trust, identity, and ethics in relationships. The episode offers not only peeks into the undercover world but also reveals the humanity and humor that help investigators (and their clients) get through some of life’s most challenging revelations.

For listeners who missed the episode:
Expect a blend of true-crime suspense, unexpected empathy, and side-splitting storytelling. The PI world is stranger—and more relatable—than you think!