The Self-Initiative Project

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

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 46, Who is This Guy? More About Me and My Personal Safety Journey After nearly 4 years of doing this podcast, I figured I owed it to you to tell you a little more about me. I do not like talking about myself; but I wanted to give you some idea of my background and experience. I talk about my martial arts and Krav Maga journey as well as many of the other training courses and certifications I have earned over time. And I plan to do more... The real take-away is I am just an average guy taking responsibility for my own personal safety and preparedness. Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 45, Active Shooter / Killer And What You Need to Know In this episode, I talk about active shooters and some statistics around them and what we (read: the FBI) know to-date. We examine some events throughout history, including more recent events, some with and some without the use of firearms. And we move the conversation from just active shooters to active killers and why that is important. I talk about consideration needing to be given more to the heart, intent, and mental health of the individual wielding a tool, regardless of what it is. And I talk about some things we all can be doing to help prevent and prepare for such events. Sit back. Relax. And listen. For more information: Active Shooter Preparedness Active Killer Defense - Fit to Fight A.V.E.R.T. - HSI

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 44, How Physical Fitness Fits Into Your Personal Safety and Preparedness Plan How important is physical fitness during a self-defense encounter? Very. This episode we talk about the differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise and how anaerobic is key in self-defense scenarios. We discuss the benefits of exercise and go well beyond the usual points of losing weight and building muscle; and we give some tips and points on how you can get started or re-started if it has been a while for you. Additionally, we try to make this episode a little interactive by giving you homework assignments including an exercise challenge to help jump things off for you. If you take the initiative, you will also learn more about things like: If you have any interest in your own personal safety, this is an episode you will not want to miss. And remember, push to progress... Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 43, Safety Considerations For Vendors of All Types Whether you have garage or yard sales, work at a flea market or an arts & crafts fair, you sale at a farmers' market, or you are a street vendor, this podcast is for you. We cover the 3 main areas of keeping things locked down, the importance of a heightened sense of situational awareness, and some tips on how to better handle cash when in public. Sit back. Relax. And listen.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 42, A Chat With Tony Blauer NOTE: I apologize for the sound quality through parts of this podcast. Unfortunately, we had a bad connection during the call. I have worked to clean it up as best I can. Stick with it though as we had a good conversation; and things do clear up. We welcome Tony Blauer to this episode. Tony was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to sit down and have a chat with me. We had it scheduled for nearly 2 months out. Thanks, Tony. As I previously mentioned, our cellular connection crapped out on us at several points during our conversation. He was breaking up on my end. My voice was garbled on his end; and the cable fell out of my phone twice during the call. I wound up holding my phone over my head for the majority of our conversation in attempt to maintain signal strength. For whatever reason, the cell signal was not good that day. WTH? And if you listen closely at times, you also will likely hear the birds and ducks on Tony's end, as he was sitting outside in his yard. If you do not know who Tony is, you should take some time and get to know him. The programs he has created include the Spear System, Know Fear, and Blauer Tactical Systems; and he is a very accomplished martial artist. He also figured out how to weaponize the startle-flinch response we all have inside us. We talk about the startle-flinch response, the importance of thinking through scenarios, and much, much more. Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 41, A Chat With John Correia of Active Self Protection John Correia, Founder and Owner of Active Self Protection, joins us for a chat on self-defense and the benefits of watching videos of bad things. We talk about the importance of attitude (mindset) and how the analogy of a blender comes into play. I ask John about Christians concerned about self defense, its ramifications and morality, especially in the context of the use of deadly force. John provides a unique perspective and some scriptures for reference. And of course, we talk about how it is John got into doing his video reviews in the first place; and the benefits for those who watch. And much, much more... You will want to listen to this one. So... Sit back. Relax. And listen.