The Prepared Mindset Podcast

The 2A training community is one of diverse backgrouns, both from the trainers, as well as the students that attend their courses. As we've intermixed social media and influencers to that equation, the whole ecosystem that orbits firearms training, has only gotten more confusing. As we see more and more training companies in the community pop up, with AI created ads, and exciting social media content, I'm finding that there's less and less accountability amongs both students, and the trainers. For years we point the finger at students not spending enough, not taking enough courses, as if that was the biggest issue faced in the industry. Today though, we see borderline deceptive resumes from instructors, and deliberately vague backgrouns, making it difficult for consumers to understand who they're learning from, and why they should listen. Here's my observations on these developments over the last several years, and why I think we as consumers need to take greater accountability.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'RMA Armor - www.rmadefense.com code 'preparedmindset5'

Its been over two years, but I finally have a chance to sit down and talk nylon with Dan again! If you haven't heard of Dynamic Principles, they're an outstanding nylon company that makes belts, mag pouches, placards, plate carriers, and more. Dan and I talk about our shared experience at SHOT show this past year, and get into the impact of the new UCAS designs within the market, as well as the other trends driving the community and our gear over the past couple years. We also dug into the product lifecycle behind many of our favorite products like optics, night vision, handguns, and the development processes that go into making those all come to life. There's also a couple super interesting product teasers in here, so if you're a fan of the Dynamic Principles products, you'll definitely want to check this out!Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'RMA Armor - www.rmadefense.com code 'preparedmindset5'

Happy 4th of July! With the holiday comes a new month, and another SITREP discussion. This time around, we're jumping into the wildly concerning, and somewhat fascinating conversation around public surveillance, the 4th amendment, and Flock cameras. With a recent 5-4 Supreme Court ruling it Chattree v. United States, there has been a pivotal change in how digital tools can be used against citizens, and we're here to talk about it. While we certainly aren't getting any less digitally enabled as a society, we are thankfully seeing some stronger adjustment to the risks that digital tools present. As always, I give you guys my perspective and concerns on the matter.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'RMA Armor - www.rmadefense.com code 'preparedmindset5'

As we approach the 4th of July, our Independence Day, I think it's an extremely appropriate time to have the discussion around the prepared citizen, why "staying in your lane" is a terrible idea, and the history of armed civilians and their impact. From the very inception of our great country, the capable citizen has been one of the most vital parts of our country, and our culture. In today's community, we're often looked down upon, and mostly for good reason. While we have a lot to offer, and own a tremendous piece of the battle for our independence, in recent times, we have allowed ego and weak confidence to validate poor performance and low standards. I dive into the opportunities presented to all of us as citizens of the United States, and highlight the importance of becoming more fit, more proficient, and more effective. For those of us without a uniform, I think this is a critical point of conversation, and one we hold ourselves accountable for.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

CQB and the arguments around it may never truly go away. As monotonous as they may seem, many will provide fantastic learning opportunities for those eager to understand. To dive into the concepts behind structure clearance, or as you may know it, combat clearance, i'm joined by Ben Wallick. Ben is a former SEAL and Contractor, and is also the owner of Vanilla Gorilla Security, a training company based in Illinois. We absolutely dive into the subject at hand, talk about the flexibility required between both dynamic and deliberate methodologies, the importance of asking the question "why do we do that?" as well as, potentially more importantly, being able to articulate this, and demonstrate a depth of understanding. With all the back and forth online about CQC, CQB, team clearance, whatever you call it, I think this will make for a fantastic listening experience!Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

As we get older, as we all work harder on improving our health, our strength, our fitness, it seems like we get injured more and more. How to truly meet our fitness goals, and how we recover from those injuries, are where we see actual success and failure. After a couple years now, I finally catch up with Alex, and sit down to talk about his work with coach within the tactical space, recovering and coping with serious injuries, and get a healthy dose of perspective on personal fitness. As a former serviceman for over a decade, and now an instructor with Maneuver Training Solutions and Orion Training Group, Alex understands the demands on the body, under stress in combat, and how to build to be capable on the range. This was a great conversation for me, as I continue on my own fitness journey, and I have no doubt will be valuable for the many of you out there who are doing the same.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

It's been a few years since Austin was last on the pod, and a handful of months since we were able to connect at SHOT show this year. We finally have a break in our schedules to sit down, and dive into everything from Radios and Communications, to Night Vision, group based planning and training, overall preparedness, and more. Austin is certainly a subject expert when it comes to communications and is an instructor with Mojave Repeater, while also running his own business in the 2A community. There's a lot to unpack in this discussion, looking at GMRS radios compared to DMR and FRS setups, understanding signal intelligence and levels of sophistication, as well as obviously getting his best recommendation for a "middle of the road" unit for tactical comms. I always have a blast chatting with Austin, and this was no exception. I think you all are gunna enjoy this one!Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Gun violence prevention. Potentially the most over leverage political ideal in the history of modern politicking. It remains an omnipresent issue within every discussion, debate, and campaign, and certainly can be relied on for every election and midterm that rolls around. Unfortunately, as that time draws near, we here in Michigan are dealing with this once more as Governor Whitmer signed another executive order, to create another task force, to "address" the "ongoing crisis" of gun violence. There's always so much behind the scene that seems to motivate these moves and while it's hard to predict exactly why it's happening right now, you can anticipate that in the end, we'll likely have to endure more hardships as lawful gun owners here in Michigan. Give it a listen, share your thoughts.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Are you really committed to living more prepared? Or is this simply something you take interest in as a hobby? While there are degress to both, I think most of us read those questions, and would like to be included among those counted as "committed" but in the back of our minds fear we are only truly interested. This is a interesting discussion, as I think it forces you to contemplate choices made, past, present, and of course, future. Our ecosystem is filled with influencers, trainers, students, all with varying backgrounds and goals. Regardless of which you are, I think taking an objective look at your own goals and choices from time to time is extremely helpful, and that's truly the goal of this conversation. If it means you change nothing, then so be it. However, if it even helps spur a bit of positive change, I think that that proves it to have been helpful. Give this a listen, which are you?Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

If you've seen any action movie, ever, you love explosive breaching. There's something incredible about seeing a special forces soldier or SEAL place a charge, and blow a door. While most of us don't have the means or the access to try such things, we can always learn about them and position ourselves for greater success in our futures. To dive into this conversation, I'm catching up with Steve, owner of Chimera Concepts and breaching instructor for Core Vision. We spend some time touching on the logic and rationale behind shotgun breaching, but then dive all the way in, as we get into energetic breaching, and the science behind the skill. There's lots of legal considerations, and a absolute ton of fascinating science involved with using explosives to breach a door or structure; understanding over-pressure once inside a structure, the dangers involved with it. We got into so much, in a relatively short amount of time. An outstanding conversation, and one I'm sure you'll learn a ton from.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Are we seeing Gun-tube die before our very eyes? This has become a wildy popular topic over the past week or two, and I thought it deserved its own conversation. For better or for worse, the community has been driven by digital content creators for the past decade, and in some cases longer. Information shared, inspiration sparked, goals set, myths disproven, and all because we had the tools available to connect to each other through the various platforms. However, taking an objective look at things in 2026, we've certainly fallen from grace, and definitely morphed into something uglier, and far less pure than it was originally imagined to be. No, I don't think it's dying, but I do think we're experiencing some uncomfortable but necessary changes. In this episode, I do my best to explain, and give some perspective.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Gear. For better or worse, it drives a huge part of our community, and in many ways, are the tools that enable us for success, or failure. There's more and more options available to us every day, and while it definitely can be exhausting, it's certainly worth talking about the trends, the pitfalls, the truths, and the lies. In this episode, I catch up with Walsh, of Thin Line Defense, who has a depth of knowledge and lots of experience evaluating, testing, and reviewing gear. We dive into all sorts of stuff from the truth behind BARRY compliance, materials and the trends we're experiencing with them today, the difference between cost and value, and more. We even took some time to talk drones, and how it's the next iteration of civilian preparedness, and just how available it really is. Absolutely a fun conversation, and one you're all going to love.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Buying NODs is probably one of the most confusing processes in our community. Understanding the new options that are available almost every month, as well as the plethora of secondhand devices, can be an almost impossible maze to navigate. To try and address what I think is the most critical part of a positive night vision purchase, intensifier tube selection, I'm sitting down once again with Shane Sharp and Ty Morgan of Terrace Unity Solutions. We get into the common myths behind the different tubes on the market and dig into why brand name alone will never be enough to guarantee your happiness as a end user. Further, we talk about dreaded "blemishes" in the tube image, and why it's the most misunderstood concern by new users, and even discuss the finer points behind reading a spec sheet, and the "death by spec sheet" paralysis that so many fall in to. If you're planning to get into Night Vision, this will definitely be a helpful discussion for you!Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

The May SITREP is here, and with it the unfortunate news and impact to consumers, of the failure of Spirit Airlines. Additionally, we have the recent attempt on the President at the White House Correspondents dinner, and a very recent surge in gas prices. As civilians in the continental United States, we have been getting absolutely hammered the last several weeks with price increases at the gas pumps, and the last several years with post-pandemic price increases and supply decreases. Things are very tough for so many of us right now, and there's simply not much that can be done. As always, I do my best to talk about my feelings on these critical issues, and share the insight that I can.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'

Priorities of Work. While this term/title gets applied most commonly to close quarters battle and structure clearance, I think it's a very appropriate lable for this weeks conversation. As men, as husbands, as heads of households, it is our responsbility to care for our home, our spouse, our children. The decisions we make, the positions we place our families in, are our primary responsibilities. While this isn't a new concept by any stretch, its one that's commonly forgotten. It's easily leveraged for justification for gear and training, however when it comes down to what we truly do to care for and support our homes, it's conveniently forgotten and ignored. In this discussion I call out some of this tragic behavior, and identify the opportunities we have to improve our lives, and care more completely for our families, and our homes.Visit our sponsors!Our Patreon - www.patreon.com/prepared_mindset_podCustom Night Vision - www.customnightvision.comUS Duty Gear - https://usdutygear.com/ code 'PreparedMindset'