Three Sips to Shots Fired - What Happens Before the Sirens

What does a lifetime spent studying threats, intelligence, and force protection teach us about protecting our homes and families?In this episode of Three Sips to Shots Fired: What Happens Before the Sirens, Lori Baxley sits down with Lt. Col. Edmund S. McAlister (Ret.), a retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer, attorney, firearms instructor, and expert in tactical intelligence, counterintelligence, and force protection.Drawing from decades of experience analyzing threats and preparing for uncertainty, Ed shares practical insights that every homeowner can apply—regardless of their background, training, or experience.Together, Lori and Ed explore:✅ What Military Intelligence teaches us about personal safety ✅ The mindset differences between awareness and fear ✅ How criminals identify vulnerable targets ✅ Home defense beyond firearms ✅ Situational awareness and environmental design ✅ Layers of security that buy time and create options ✅ Common mistakes homeowners make when planning for emergencies ✅ The role of preparation, training, and decision-making under stress ✅ Why mindset may be your most important home defense toolThis conversation goes far beyond locks, alarms, and weapons.It is about developing the ability to recognize risk, think critically, and make sound decisions before a crisis unfolds.At its core, home defense is not about paranoia.It is about preparedness.It is about protecting what matters most.And it begins long before an intruder ever reaches your front door.About Ed McAlisterEdmund S. McAlister is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army specializing in Military Intelligence, Tactical Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Force Protection.He holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and has extensive experience as a firearms instructor, security professional, and educator. Throughout his career, Ed has focused on helping individuals and organizations better understand threats, vulnerabilities, preparedness, and risk mitigation.About Three Sips to Shots FiredHosted by Lori Baxley, Three Sips to Shots Fired: What Happens Before the Sirens examines the decisions, warning signs, habits, and human factors that shape outcomes before crisis occurs.The podcast is built around the STARS Framework:⭐ Scenarios – What can happen here? ⭐ Triggers – What feels slightly off? ⭐ Action – What will you do about it? ⭐ Routines – What habits protect what matters most? ⭐ Stoicism – Can you remain calm when life isn't?Memorable Takeaway"The best home defense plan isn't a piece of equipment. It's a prepared mind."Subscribe for More Conversations About✔ Home Defense ✔ Situational Awareness ✔ Military Intelligence ✔ Personal Safety ✔ Force Protection ✔ Preparedness ✔ Decision-Making Under Stress ✔ Leadership ✔ Vigilant Living ✔ The STARS Framework#ThreeSipsToShotsFired #EdMcAlister #HomeDefense #MilitaryIntelligence #SituationalAwareness #PersonalSafety #Preparedness #ForceProtection #VigilantLiving #STARSFramework #WhatHappensBeforeTheSirens #LoriBaxley #SecurityMindset #ProtectWhatMattersMost #DecisionMakingUnderStress #Resilience

What happens when tragedy becomes a mission?In this powerful episode of Three Sips to Shots Fired: What Happens Before the Sirens, Lori Baxley sits down with Barbara Jordan, founder of Always BEV, personal safety educator, speaker, and advocate for vigilant living.Barbara's journey began with an unimaginable loss—the murder of her sister, Beverly.  Rather than allowing that tragedy to define her, Barbara transformed her grief into a mission to educate, empower, and protect others.Together, Lori and Barbara explore:✅ The story behind the creation of Always BEV✅ The warning signs we often overlook✅ Why intuition frequently begins with the thought, "That's weird"✅ Situational awareness and personal safety for everyday life✅ Lessons for Realtors, professionals, and anyone who meets strangers as part of their work✅ The difference between living in fear and living with awareness✅ How tragedy can be transformed into purposeThis conversation is not just about personal safety. It is about resilience, courage, healing, and learning to move through the world with greater awareness.At the heart of this discussion is the belief that preparation is not paranoia—it is empowerment.About Barbara JordanBarbara Jordan is the founder of Always BEV, a nonprofit organization created in memory of her sister. Through speaking engagements, training programs, media appearances, and community outreach, Barbara helps individuals and organizations improve situational awareness, personal safety, and violence prevention.🌐 Website: alwaysbev.com📱 Instagram: @always_bev

Three Sips to Shots FiredWhat Happens Before the SirensMost podcasts about tragedy focus on what happened.This podcast asks a different question:What happened before?Hosted by Lori Baxley, Three Sips to Shots Fired: What Happens Before the Sirens explores the moments, decisions, behaviors, warning signs, routines, and human factors that shape our lives long before crisis arrives.Drawing from Lori’s experience as a former police officer, probation officer, criminologist, educator, and survivor of a violent home invasion, each episode examines the often-overlooked space between ordinary life and extraordinary events.Through conversations with survivors, experts, investigators, advocates, military leaders, first responders, authors, and everyday people whose lives were forever changed in a single moment, the podcast seeks to answer one central question:How can we live more intentionally before the sirens?At the heart of the show is the STARS Framework:⭐ Scenarios — What can happen here?⭐ Triggers — What feels slightly off?⭐ Action — What will you do about it?⭐ Routines — What habits protect what matters most?⭐ Stoicism — Can you remain calm when life isn't?This is not a podcast about fear.It is a podcast about awareness.About preparation.About resilience.About learning from lived experience.And about making small decisions today that may change everything tomorrow.Whether the topic is personal safety, crime prevention, addiction, domestic violence, resilience, parenting, leadership, faith, mental toughness, or recovery, every episode explores what happens before crisis—and what we can learn from it.Because sometimes the distance between three sips and shots fired is much shorter than we think.Host BioLori BaxleyLori Baxley is the host of Three Sips to Shots Fired: What Happens Before the Sirens, a podcast dedicated to exploring the decisions, warning signs, habits, and human behaviors that shape outcomes before crisis occurs.Lori's professional background spans more than two decades in criminal justice, higher education, and public safety. She holds a degree in Criminology, completed advanced studies in forensic psychology and gang behavior, served as a police officer and probation officer, and spent years teaching and mentoring others in higher education.Her perspective, however, extends far beyond the classroom and the criminal justice system.In December 2019, Lori survived a violent home invasion that left her fighting for her life. She endured catastrophic injuries, multiple surgeries, life support, temporary dialysis, and ultimately the loss of her right leg below the knee. Her survival journey transformed not only how she viewed safety and preparedness, but how she viewed life itself.Today, Lori uses her experience, education, and hard-earned perspective to help others think differently about awareness, resilience, preparedness, and personal responsibility.She is the creator of the STARS Framework:Scenarios. Triggers. Action. Routines. Stoicism.A practical approach to navigating uncertainty, recognizing warning signs, making better decisions, and responding effectively when life becomes difficult.Through her podcast, speaking, writing, and advocacy, Lori encourages others to move through the world with greater awareness—not fear; preparation—not paranoia; and resilience—not helplessness.Her mission is simple:To help people think more intentionally about what happens before the sirens.