The Self-Initiative Project

In this episode, we continue our discussion on the crucial topic of training versus gear with our guest, Van Seeley. We emphasize the importance of investing in training before purchasing gear. Despite the industry's focus on selling equipment, it's vital to prioritize skill development. Van shares his experiences and insights, highlighting how mission-specific training can significantly improve your effectiveness, especially when it comes to personal and home defense. We delve into the nuances of choosing the right gear based on your needs, from handguns to carbines, and discuss the significance of familiarizing yourself with your equipment through consistent practice. Van also touches on the debate between night sights and flashlights, and the practical applications of different types of optics for rifles. Throughout the episode, we stress that training is the foundation of proficiency with any gear. Van offers valuable advice on selecting quality training programs and instructors, and we explore how continuous learning and practice can enhance your defensive capabilities. Join us for an insightful conversation that will help you make informed decisions about your training and gear investments, ensuring you are well-prepared for any situation.

We are joined this time by Van Seeley, a retired Marine, seasoned firearms instructor, and manager at a local gun store and range. With over 20 years of experience, Van shares his insights on the critical debate of training versus gear. Should you invest more in training or gear? Listen in as they explore the balance needed between acquiring new equipment and honing your skills through consistent practice. Van delves into his extensive background, from his time in the Marine Corps to his role as a firearms instructor, highlighting the importance of foundational training over relying solely on gear. The discussion covers various aspects of the firearms industry, including the misconceptions around equipment and the significance of regular practice to enhance shooting proficiency. Don't miss this engaging conversation that emphasizes the core principle: training and gear should complement each other, but training is the foundation that cannot be overlooked.

In this episode, we discuss the Stop the Bleed program with Gina Solomon, Trauma Program Manager at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Gina shares her extensive experience in trauma care and the importance of the Stop the Bleed initiative. Learn how Stop the Bleed, a program born out of tragic events like the Sandy Hook shooting, is designed to teach laypeople how to control bleeding in emergency situations. Gina explains the ABCs of bleeding control: Alert, Bleeding, and Compression, and emphasizes the significance of quick, decisive action to save lives. Discover practical advice on the use of tourniquets, wound packing, and other life-saving techniques that can be applied in various scenarios, from active shooter incidents to everyday accidents. Join us as we delve into the essentials of trauma care and how you can get involved in this crucial program.

Welcome to another episode of the Self-Initiative Project Podcast, hosted by Jim O'Brien. In this episode, we dive into part two of our conversation with Kathy Loomis from Cyber Savvy. Cyber Savvy is dedicated to equipping parents with the necessary tools and resources to guide their children safely through the digital landscape. Kathy provides valuable insights on various topics, including the best choice of smartphones for children, the importance of parental controls, and the necessity of having ongoing conversations about cyber safety. She explains why iPhones might be a better option for parents due to their user-friendly features and built-in parental controls. The episode also covers critical aspects such as setting expectations and consequences, addressing cyberbullying, and ensuring children understand the importance of responsible technology use. Kathy emphasizes the significance of communication between parents and children and the use of technology usage contracts to establish clear guidelines and expectations. Don't miss this informative discussion that highlights the importance of being engaged and proactive in your child's digital life. For more resources and information, visit CyberSavvy.com.

Welcome to another episode of the Self-Initiative Project Podcast! In this episode, host Jim O'Brien engages in a compelling conversation with Kathy Loomis of Cyber Savvy. Cyber Savvy's mission is to equip parents with the essential tools and resources needed to safely guide their children through the digital landscape. This is part one of a two-part series. Kathy shares her journey from a technology professional to founding Cyber Savvy, driven by her own experiences as a parent. They discuss the rapid evolution of technology, the increasing screen time among children, and the challenges parents face in keeping up. The episode covers the importance of parental engagement in children's online activities, the risks of cyberbullying, and the alarming statistics of online predators. Kathy emphasizes the need for education and proactive communication between parents and children to navigate the digital world safely. Listeners will also learn about the classes and services offered by Cyber Savvy, including tips on securing devices, setting privacy settings, and preparing children before giving them their first smartphone. This episode is a must-listen for parents looking to protect their children in the digital age.

Welcome to the first episode of the Self-Initiative Project podcast, hosted by Jim O'Brien. In this episode, we dive into the essentials of personal safety, self-defense, firearms, first aid, and more. Our goal is to provide valuable information to help you stay safe and prepared. Our special guest, Dennis Haynes, a 15-year Marine veteran and NRA-certified instructor, joins us to discuss the critical aspects of gun safety. We cover the foundational rules laid out by Colonel Jeff Cooper, emphasizing the importance of treating every gun as if it's loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, maintaining trigger discipline, and being aware of your target and its surroundings. Dennis shares his experiences and insights, highlighting the significance of safety in various scenarios, from hunting to self-defense. Whether you're a seasoned gun owner or new to firearms, this episode provides essential knowledge to ensure safe handling practices. Stay tuned for part two, where we'll delve into range safety, hunting safety, gun shop etiquette, and more. If you find this episode valuable, please share it with your friends and family. Thanks for listening!

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 60, Celebrating 5 Years, A Retrospective Here we are at 5 years and 60 episodes! Have a listen as we go back over our first 59 episodes in this retrospective episode. We briefly talk about the subject matter of each; and in some cases we talk about the inspiration that caused a podcast. In may cases, we talk about behind-the-scenes details, including a few mishaps along the way. If you have been looking for a summary overview to help you find something you might would be interested in, this is it. Thanks for following and listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 59, The Place for Improvised Weapons This episode we talk about improvised weapons. You cannot get away or leave an area, what are your options if your find yourself needing to fight or even distract? When I asked a few of my friends and neighbors to think about what they might would look to use, things like a pen, a rock, a broken bottle, a fork, a screwdriver all got mentioned. I usually think about pens, a stapler, or a can of beans. What can you think of you might use as an improvised weapon? What do you normally carry on your person you might could use? Where are you and what might be available nearby? If you had the time, what could you possibly make? Improvised weapons should be a consideration when thinking about our personal safety plan and what we might would do if things went sideways. What are some things you can think of that you could use as a weapon if you had to??? Sit back. Relax. And listen. Other related podcasts: Podcast 26: What If...? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 58, Tag! You're It! What You Need to Know About Trackers A buddy of mine had a recent run in with one of these tracking devices while traveling on business. Who's was it; and what were they trying to do? Bluetooth and/or GPS tags and trackers are supposed to be used to help us find our keys, our wallet, our luggage, etc. But like anything else, the bad guys have figured out how to use them for the purposes of stalking and even stealing property, like our vehicles. Chris talks with us about his experience; and we talk about how these devices operate and what you might can do to avoid becoming a victim. Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 57, More on De-Escalation with Randy King Randy King, of 80:20 Conflict Management Strategies and Randy King Live, joins us once again to continue chatting about all things related to de-escalation. De-escalation may not be the sexiest topic to cover; but it definitely has its place in everyone's personal safety plan. Randy and I talk about how de-escalation fits into bouncing (bars), the workplace, and most importantly, personal relationships, to illustrate how de-escalation has a place most everywhere. Sit back. Relax. And listen. Other related podcasts: Podcast 29: Realities of Violence with Randy King Podcast 40: De-Escalation: A Key to Conflict Management

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 56, Neighborhood Safety and Community My neighbor, Max, and I sit down to talk about safety in the 'hood and what each of us can be doing to make for a safer community. We talk about paying attention to things that seem out of place, the use of lighting, the impact that taking care of our property can have, social media safety tips, having a fire plan in place, what we can do for one another in our communities, and much more. Thanks for listening. Other related podcasts: Podcast 26: What if… ? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios Podcast 6: How to Make Your Home More Secure

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 55, Being Prepared with Rogue Preparedness Morgan, of Rogue Preparedness, joins us to discuss the merits of being better prepared and how you can get started. It is not what you might think it is. It is not what Hollywood or even maybe the media has portrayed it as being in some cases. It is not about being paranoid or hoarding. It is simply about thinking through scenarios, having plans in place, and obtaining supplies ahead of time, BEFORE bad things happen. Morgan and I talk about what prepping really is about and how you can easily get started. Sit back. Relax. And listen.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 54, Why? I talk about my purpose in operating The Self-Initiative Project, and why it is I do what I do. It is my hope that my cause resonates with you. Thanks for listening. Other related podcasts: Podcast 23: Why be Invested in Your Personal Safety Podcast 33: It Will Never Happen to Me Podcast 46: Who is This Guy? More About Me And My Personal Safety Journey

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 53, Road Rage This might be our shortest podcast yet. Nonetheless, the subject of road rage is an important topic to cover. We talk about what road rage is, its causes, and what constitutes road rage. And most importantly, we work to give you some pointers on what to do if you find yourself on the receiving end of road rage, including always paying attention, getting away, and not engaging. Sit back. Relax. And listen. Other related podcasts: Podcast 11: Safety In and Around Your Vehicle

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 52, Weather Safety In this episode, we talk about safety for: Specifically, we walk through some of the commonalities shared across some of these weather situations and related safety considerations, including: In addition to safety tips and general advise, we talk about the differences between a watch and a warning, things you can do to help reduce stress and anxiety in emergency situations, as well as the importance of prepping ahead of time, planning, an some ideas for gear. Thanks for listening. Other related podcasts: Podcast 7: How to Make Your Trauma Kit(s) Podcast 11: Safety In and Around Your Vehicle Podcast 22: How to Build Your Get Home Bag (GHB)

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 51, A Briefing With The Grayman Wesley, of Grayman Briefing and Superesse Straps, joins us to talk about being better prepared and your personal safety. Wesley is former U.S. Army and law enforcement and now spends his time sharing intel to the public to help folks stay better informed and selling gear that can help them be better prepared should a life altering event occur (or SHTF). We talk a lot about home security measures you can take as well as a few about vehicles as well. Do you know the purpose of purple paint or a flashing blue light on your mailbox? Listen to learn about these unusual items. Have you ever thought leaving your car in your driveway might be a good thing? Listen to Wesley explain why it may be the better option. There is definitely a lot here to consider and determine if they are right for for you and your family. Sit back. Relax. And listen. Other related podcasts: Podcast 6: How to Make Your Home More Secure Podcast 11: Safety In and Around Your Vehicle Podcast 26: What if... ? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 50, When Do I Know I Might Be Attacked; and When Should I Consider Responding? My buddy from high school inspired this episode when he asked, "How do you know when it is time to go?" What he means is how do you know when you should engage and maybe throw that first punch or kick? Knowing some of the signs to look for in a potential aggressor, whether social or predatory, is fairly straight-forward, if you know what to look for and you are actually paying attention. What I argue is more important are the things that come before that point and the aftermath. We spend most of our time in this episode talking about the things we should doing leading up to a potential physical encounter, and some things you may want to consider in the aftermath. Of course, we also cover some of the body language and signs that may be telling you something may be about to happen too. NOTE: Like all of our podcasts, this episode is for informational purposes only. We are not trying to tell you what to do, nor are we providing any legal advice. We are only trying to give you things to work on, think about, and consider in determining what is right for you. Thanks for listening. Other related podcasts: Podcast 25: Situational Awareness and More Podcast 40: De-escalation: A Key to Conflict Management Podcast 26: What if… ? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 49, Be a Sharp(er) Woman with Kelly Sayre Kelly, from The Diamond Arrow Group, joins us again. This time to talk through her new book, Sharp Women, a book women (and men, alike) can take something away from. We talk about the importance of listening to our intuition, paying attention to our surroundings, how our upbringing impacts the way we view and respond to the world around us, and how hard it is to uphold boundaries with those we know. All of this and much, much more. While mostly written for women, this book is a great read for men as well as it helps us maybe better understand their perspectives, especially when it comes to their safety and security. It is a long listen but well worth it. Sit back. Relax. And listen. Other related podcast: Podcast 25 - Situational Awareness and More (w/ Kelly) Podcast 26 - What if... ? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 48, Carjacking What's the difference between car theft and carjacking? We discuss it. We also talk about some legal concepts that may come into play with either car theft or carjacking, though we give no legal advise. We talk about some things you can do to help make you less likely to be a victim of a carjacking. Ultimately, we have to take responsibility for our own personal safety. And lastly, we chat through what you may consider doing should you ever find yourself a victim of a carjacking and some scenarios you will want to consider and think through. Thanks for listening. Other podcasts: Podcast 11 - Safety In and Around Your Vehicle Podcast 26 - What if.. ? The Importance of Thinking Through Scenarios

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 47, Cyber Security We cover the topic of cyber security and some things you need to know to better protect yourself. Ever wondered what the difference was between phishing, smishing, and vishing? Do you know how to recognize them and when you do, what you should do? We cover some terminology, some action items relative to the use of our personal devices and home networks, as well as what to do to better avoid being scammed, hacked, or taken advantage of via emails or texts. While it is not a new subject, it is still worth understanding the threats and the part we play in better ensuring our cyber safety and security, especially for our aging population and kids. Sit back. Relax. And listen. Resources: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber