The Prepared Mindset Podcast

As Josh and I head into the much anticipated 3-day Orion Training Group course we're attending, we talk about our experiences and try to compare them to some of the value that is gotten through organized instruction. Just as there is with most things in our community, there are a lot of ideas around if you need to pay for knowledge, if you should pay for training, and how much you should invest. This is still, after many years of deliberation, a hotly debated topic, and so we do our best to weigh in on the matter. Additionally we talk about some of our own expectations, and speak on the value of learning in the civilian space compared to the traditional doctrine which many have absorbed either during their military service, or through videos and text. Not everyone learns the same way, but it's fair to say that everyone benefits from multiple learning opportunities. Go ahead and give this one a listen, and see if what we're saying, aligns with what you're thinking. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Duncan Greene joins me once again, almost fifteen months later, as we sit down, and check the pulse on the night vision industry. If you've recently purchased night vision, or are currently in the market for a set of tubes and have been paying close attention, you know there's a lot going on. We're seeing some drastic changes in the market, and Duncan provides insight and his opinion on all of it. As what I would consider to be a subject matter expert, Duncan is able to shine a light on some nuance and details around these topics that many of us are simply unaware of. Some of them are extremely impactful, and others may not move the needle at all for you. Together, we talk about the price increases we've been seeing and how the world economy has impacted night vision, we spend plenty of time talking about the introduction of some noticeable Chinese made products, briefly get into the pros and cons of the second hand market, and so much more. If you're in the market for night vision, or curious about the market at all, this will be a great episode for you. Duncan was also kind enough to set up discount code 'PMP' for 3% off at usnightvision.com Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Nick Shepherd is a former soldier and active law enforcement officer, who is also the Director of Training for Jawless Hog Tactical. Through his experiences in the Army, as well as in Law Enforcement, Nick and his partners at JHT set out to provide civilians and law enforcement alike with training that answered the "why" behind modern practices and methods. We spent a good amount of time in our discussion talking about how important it is to have a depth of understanding, to be able to more effectively respond to situations and scenarios, as well as the value behind data processing when presented with those. As an instructor, Nick and the team at JHT are constantly looking to evolve their teaching, and provide better options to their students, and guide learning through a curriculum that has been tested and is constantly vetted. We touched on a awful lot, and there feels like we still have so much more to dig into together. I look forward to being able to bring Nick back, but for now, I hope you all enjoy our conversation! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

In a unexpected, and out of schedule release, we have a SITREP to dive into, talking about the April 13th attack by Iran, on the country of Israel, and its ramifications. This is a historic move, as missiles and drones were deployed against Israel in response to an April 1st attack that killed multiple IRGC targets in Damascus. As the ongoing conflict in Israel has had impact on the United States, as well as the long history of partnership between our two countries, this move raises much concern and many questions. There have been media releases made by all three governments, and all of them lead to more uncertainty about what is to come next. This is a precarious situation to say the least, and it's important to bring these events with our thoughts and research to you all, as they happen. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

This week, I'm joined by Will, the owner and founder of CAATail Antennas. If you haven't heard of CAATail, there's a good chance that you've definitely seen Will's work, as his wearable antenna's have become a very common solution across the community. As a former Marine, Will was fortunate in his experience as a radio operator to learn the in's and out's of communications, and the value and impact that a good antenna brings to any team. We talk at length about this, along with how to create and tune improvised antennas to be effective in the field. Additionally, Will is a part time law enforcement officer, and we got into a good deal of that conversation, talking about qualifications, standards, culture, and more. It was great for me, being able to connect with a fellow Michigander and have a insightful conversation about all of this, and a lot more, Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

As we welcome in April, we're seeing a turning of the tide in public support, some new ideas that could really change the conversation around school security, and potentially a legal situation that could shake several popular arguments to their very core. In this months SITREP, I share my thoughts and my feelings around the rapidly diminishing support for the current President from some very large names in media. Typically, these talking heads throw their support without question behind the party on the left, but some rather noticeable comments as of late, have turned some heads, to say the least. There's also a very interesting bill being proposed in Tennessee that potentially could allow for the arming of school teachers and staff, and could possibly bring about a drastic change in how we see school security. I wrap, but touching on the hot topic, of a Illinois court ruling that illegal aliens are constitutionally protected by the second amendment. There's a lot to dig into in this one folks, give it a listen! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

J.T joins me once again, and we dive into a discussion around one of the most contentious topics in our community. Equipment and Gear. More specifically, we talk about how to leverage your kit to maximize your success, while minimizing any negative side effects. Having spent time on both a full-time SWAT team, with a high volume, as well as currently working in a capacity to operate with a special investigations team, J.T. has unique insights around gear, and how you can make a little, go a long way.. This is a opportunity to connect the law enforcement world, with some of the same challenges and questions that we as prepared civilians face, and learn how we can possibly overcome them. We touched on having multiple gear setups, the importance behind knowing and testing your gear, benefits and impacts of ancillary items like gas masks and NODs, and a lot more. Give this one a listen, I think you'll be surprised at some of what we unpack in this discussion. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Jason "Jabo" Long is a twenty-five year veteran of law enforcement, and a current cadre member with Guild Solutions Group. During his years as an officer, Jabo had the opportunity to serve seventeen years as a full time member of his agencies SWAT team, working in a variety of capacities including as a sniper, breacher, dog handler, and bomb technician. Jabo and I get into his experiences and some of the observations he took away from his time in uniform. We talk about changes in weapons and gear, the challenges that law enforcement face both within society, as well as within their own infrastructure, and more. As a active instructor with Guild, he constantly helps his students overcome their challenges and share the benefits of the lessons he has learned. We even spend time talking about qualities of a good teachers, and the true importance of facilitating learning for pupils. Truthfully, we didn't even get into everything I had wanted to touch on, and I'm certainly looking forward to our follow on conversations. Give this one a listen, I'm sure you're going to enjoy it. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Two of the most dominant and followed disciplines within our community are that of Close Quarters Battle, or CQB, and Small Unit Tactics, or SUT. Both of these have skillsets have their benefits, and many individuals develop a deep passion for one or the other. This sort of "this or that" mentality has led, as I'm sure many have you have seen, to one side decrying the other, pointing to how obviously nonsensical it is. In this weeks episode, Josh and I fight this out, and sort out what actually makes more sense for the prepared civilian, and why a lot of the rest is just plain garbage. We talk past conflicts, we talk practicality, and we get into impacts of this dilemma on our culture, and how we can best address it. This was definitely one of the more passionate episodes that Josh and I have done together, and I'm interested to hear what you all think as well. Give this one a listen, and see what you think! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

By the week, more and more people are making the choice to be more aware, be more accountable, be more prepared. It's as if before our eyes, whether we see it or realize it, our community is growing by leaps and bounds. For the first time in a very long while, we're seeing citizens start to question the own stability, security, and safety, and asking what to do to fix it. In this weeks episode, Josh and I talk about how we all can help mentor those willing to make the lifestyle changes and who are seeking out both knowledge, and guidance. As a community, we often preach against ideas like gatekeeping, but we're notoriously bad at actually enforcing the ideals which condemn that behavior. Bringing new folks into the fold through skills like land navigation, or hiking, and activities like working out, and yes, hitting the range, are essential steps in helping to show the uninformed, a better way of being. We talk about all of this, and also share our opinions on some of the largest missteps, and how to best help your fellow man. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com Lead and Steel - www.leadandsteel.co One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Emergency Management, as a phrase, usually triggers thoughts of Hurricane Katrina, flash flooding, and natural disasters. In general, it's still a relatively young discipline, with new ways of thinking and more importantly planning, being developed. To dig into this, I sit down with Chris Downs, owner of Gray Tusk Emergency Management, and jump down the rabbit hole into a number of different concerns and considerations that should be included when trying to prepare and plan for worst-case-scenario type situations. Chris and I together get into evacuation planning, the importance of maps and navigation, bio and cyber terrorism implications, the impact of artificial intelligence, preservation of critical infrastructure, and more. This was an extremely insightful and thought provoking discussion that highlighted a lot of gaps in my own plans, and I'm sure will for yours as well. I encourage everyone who's pursuing general preparedness and overall capability planning to give this a listen, and reach out to Chris for his expertise! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com

Another month, and more to unpack in the March SITREP discussion. We're currently experiencing one of the most turbulent political times in recent memory, with both the pending election this year, as well as news of Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell announcing that he will be stepping down later this year. Unfortunately, since politics and politicians so heavily influence much of our daily lives and our lifestyle, this has the volatile potential to have a tremendous impact in more ways than we can probably imagine, when combined with the fallout of our next presidential election. I dig into this a bit, and as always I provide you with commentary around my concerns, as well as a few predictions for the months ahead. We also talk about Canada's latest contribution to the ever-present conflict in Ukraine, and find time to hit on the ongoing Supreme Court case regarding the Trump-era bump stock ban. There's a lot to chew through on this one, so give it a listen, and as always, feel free to reach out with your thoughts and comments! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Ben Franklin Range - www.benfranklinrange.com

Its 2024, and the primary election here in Michigan. It appears, that just as we were four short years ago, we're likely to be faced with a Trump v. Biden election. Looking back, 2020 was a year of outrageous violence and tremendous change in our country. Many of us were left to watch as cities burned and lives were shattered, clinging only to the fact that we weren't the ones whos lives were torn apart. In this discussion, Josh and I beg to question what we can do today, to further protect ourselves and our families from that which may come. Since we've all seen it come to past relatively recently, it's no longer simply an idea. It's now a memory, with lasting impacts, and it's real to us. When we talk about a "modern minuteman" we talk a lot about rifles, but beyond that, what does it truly mean? Both of us share our thoughts and some of our unique feelings on the subject and hope that it will move you to take steps to better enable yourself, and better protect your families. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

Content reviews and advertising are an almost integral part of our community in 2024. The latest and greatest optic, pistol, carrier, or whatever have you drops, and you're not only inundated with reviews, but you have a vast library of content to consume and compare it to, should you wish. It's how many, if not all of us, shape our purchasing decisions. In this weeks episode, I'm joined by Elliot Delp, who is a YouTube personality who's got a lot of experience in the industry, building a presence from nothing, to something. Elliot makes some great video content, and was even nominated for some awards for his videos this past year. Together, we had a great discussion and dive into not only some of the lessons Elliot has learned while growing, but we spend quite a bit of time talking about monetary exchanges behind content, as well as the stigmas that can accompany some of those transactions. I found our chat to be very insightful, and I think ya'll will enjoy it too. Give it a listen! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

Content reviews and advertising are an almost integral part of our community in 2024. The latest and greatest optic, pistol, carrier, or whatever have you drops, and you're not only inundated with reviews, but you have a vast library of content to consume and compare it to, should you wish. It's how many, if not all of us, shape our purchasing decisions. In this weeks episode, I'm joined by Elliot Delp, who is a YouTube personality who's got a lot of experience in the industry, building a presence from nothing, to something. Elliot makes some great video content, and was even nominated for some awards for his videos this past year. Together, we had a great discussion and dive into not only some of the lessons Elliot has learned while growing, but we spend quite a bit of time talking about monetary exchanges behind content, as well as the stigmas that can accompany some of those transactions. I found our chat to be very insightful, and I think ya'll will enjoy it too. Give it a listen! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

If you've been working to hone and refine your skills, push your limits and improve your performance, but have hit the plateau, this may be just the episode for you. This week, I'm joined by Rob Epifania, a USPSA Grand Master, Orion Training Group Cadre member, and owner of Systematic Performance Concepts, to talk all about getting better. As a competitive shooter as well as an athlete, Rob has a deep passion and drive for performing and excelling at high levels of competition. Throughout our talk, we dig into Rob's experience and growth not only as a shooter, but as a teacher, touching on things like not only what you're training, but how you train it. We talk quite a bit about the importance of details and deliberate evaluation, as well as the value in introspection. I personally had a lot of fantastic takeaways from our chat, and look forward to bringing Rob back on in the future to expand on this conversation. You can find Rob on Instagram at @robepifania as well as more information and free lessons at https://www.robepifania.net/free-drills?utm_campaign=skedlink&utm_medium=button&utm_source=skedlink Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

Many of us carry a firearm when we leave our homes every day. It's as much a part of our routine as is putting on shoes. While it's great to talk about training, and proficiency, performance, and culture, there's one very vital part of the discussion that seems to constantly take the back seat. The legal impact of employing that tool, and the profound life change you may experience the day you have to reach for it. For some of us, and I pray all of us, that day may never arrive. However, hope, isn't a plan, and therefor we must understand the position we put both ourselves and our families in when taking on the responsibility of carrying a firearm. I'm joined in this weeks discussion by Jason, or as you may know him on Instagram, @Beardmohawk, who is an attorney and part time law enforcement agent. We get deep in the weeds on laws, gun control, why your personal awareness matters, and a ton more that I can't share here. It's important to hear this one, and I implore you all to take the time to get this information, and make some changes accordingly. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

As it is the beginning of February, it's time for yet another iteration of our SITREP series. In this months episode, we get into the ongoing and constantly evolving situation in Texas, as Governor Abbott works to secure the southern border while pulling in support from half the union. As the border security concern has only gotten worse over the past few years, this because a hot button issue and will likely be incredibly impactful on the outcome of the election later this year. I also share my thoughts on California and the storms threatening the state as their infrastructure continues to fail, along with thoughts and opinions around some of the new laws coming into effect here in the state of Michigan this month. There's a whole lot that we share in this episode, check it out for yourself! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

When most of us think of comm's, we think of all those scenes from movies like Navy SEALs and The Rock with dudes magically having their radio's pre configured, running throat mic's and push-to-talk devices. Behind the scenes though, is a whole world of tech wizardly and understanding that has to be well understood to culminate in that level of effectiveness and capability. To dive into some of the finer points to this. I'm joined by returning guest, Lyndsey Do of LKD communications and Orion Training Group, as well as Austin Joe Miller, who is one of the instructors for Mojave Repeater. This was a dynamic conversation, and the three of us got into a whole mess of different topics. We talking about the importance of fundamental skills and understanding, we talked about radio selection and equipment standardization, as well as inter-operability of your equipment and the impact it can have on your performance. So much good information is packed into this discussion. If you're needing to take serious steps in your COMSEC planning, or are even a newcomer and trying to figure out what you don't know, this is a great episode to check out. Give it a listen! Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Ben Franklin Range - www.benfranklinrange.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!

You've more than likely been told, by more than one person who claims to be an expert, that as a civilian, you shouldn't be learning C.Q.B. It's not something that the average joe will find themselves needing, and therefor learning it is a fantasy. Until the day that comes to pass where it isn't, and you find yourself needing those skills. To dig into this point, and many others, I sit down once more with Troy, of Defender Series Training Group. We chat about the importance of not only training law enforcement, but also civilians how to search and clear a structure. We also get into the psychology behind training, and the importance of effective communication. I had a great time catching up with Troy, and the conversation was top notch. If you're someone on the fence about committing the time and resources to any of this, I encourage you to give this episode a listen first, and then make up your mind. Visit our sponsors! Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_pod Custom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.com HRT Tactical Gear - www.hrttacticalgear.com One Hundred Concepts - www.onehundredconcepts.com Ben Franklin Range - www.benfranklinrange.com Larp Labs - www.larplabs.com discount code "preparedmindset" for 10% off!