Off the Beaten Path

Send us Fan Mail The Second Amendment isn't inherited. It's taught. In the Season 4 finale of Off the Beaten Path, we sit down with Keith and the 2A Family to discuss raising responsible young men, passing down freedom, and why the next generation matters more than ever. In this episode we discuss: Parenting with purpose Responsibility over recreation Competitive shooting Mentorship Fire...

Send us Fan Mail Nobody is born a great hunter. They become one by staying curious. Scott Olmstead, Editor-in-Chief of American Hunter , joins Off the Beaten Path to discuss nearly three decades of outdoor journalism, the evolution of hunting media, and why the best hunters never stop learning. In this episode we discuss: The evolution of hunting media Print vs. digital storytelling Hunting in Afr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you inherit a 75-year-old manufacturing company? You find a way to innovate without forgetting where you came from. Chris Graham, President and CEO of Yankee Hill Machine (YHM), joins Off the Beaten Path to discuss suppressor innovation, family legacy, manufacturing, and making shooting more approachable for new firearm owners. In this episode, we cover: The futu...

Send us Fan Mail What separates good from great? Olympian Gabby Franco believes it starts with your mindset. In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, Gabby shares her remarkable journey from representing Venezuela in the Olympic Games to becoming a firearms instructor, entrepreneur, and mental performance coach in the United States. We discuss: Competing in the Olympic Games Building mental resilie...

Send us Fan Mail Education changes everything. Harrison Benton, founder of Double Tap Coalition, joins Off the Beaten Path to discuss why firearms education—not fear—is the key to building stronger communities. From serving in the Army to selling ammunition during the pandemic and becoming one of Atlanta's most respected firearms instructors, Harrison shares how education transformed his own...

Send us Fan Mail Can you advocate for the Second Amendment while also leading the conversation around mental health? Mike Sodini believes you can—and you should. As the founder of Walk the Talk America, Mike has spent years building bridges between the firearms community and mental health professionals without compromising constitutional rights. In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, we discuss:...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you realize nobody is speaking for your community? You build the room yourself. In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, Tony Simon shares the story behind Diversity Shoot, a grassroots movement introducing thousands of new shooters to firearms safety, education, and Second Amendment rights. From navigating New Jersey's restrictive gun laws to creating one of...

Send us Fan Mail What separates great shooters from everyone else? According to world champion competitor Becky Yackley, it's not secret techniques—it's mastering the fundamentals. In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, Becky returns to discuss international competition, preparing for Team USA, the mental side of shooting sports, and why simplicity wins. We cover:  International competi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a Haitian kid from West Palm Beach projects grows up to become an international journalist, storyteller, and explorer? In this inaugural episode of Side Trails , we sit down with multimedia journalist, poet, and Maps & Diaries founder Wilkine Brutus for a conversation about culture, travel, music, personal growth, and the power of exposure. From growing up in...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a young girl reluctantly picks up a .22 rifle—and discovers a talent that changes her life? In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, we sit down with Serena J, professional competitive shooter, outdoor writer, hunter, and advocate for marksmanship education. From accidentally discovering her talent as a teenager to competing at the highest levels of service rifle...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, we sit down with Through the Sights TV to talk about how curiosity turned into a deep passion for firearms, custom builds, suppressors, and community. Coming out of the DMV area, this conversation dives into the culture behind the modern 2A space—from learning through experience to building relationships that open doors in the firearms indus...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop asking for permission—and start building your own lane? In this episode of Off the Beaten Path, we sit down with Pew Culture to talk about how he went from a casual shooter to one of the most influential voices in modern gun culture. From breaking gatekeeping in the firearms industry to creating viral moments and building real community through events li...

Send us Fan Mail Season 4 of Off the Beaten Path kicks off with a powerful conversation featuring Kevin “KD” Dixie—firearms coach, civil rights advocate, and founder of No Other Choice. From growing up in St. Louis to mentoring thousands of young men, KD breaks down the real meaning behind the Second Amendment, the importance of de-escalation, and how self-respect, community, and accountability sh...

Send us Fan Mail We saved the best for last. On the final day of SHOT Show 2026, with the floor emptying out around us, we sat down with Tyler from Tundra Tactical — one of the most honest, unfiltered voices in the 2A content space. And the conversation did not disappoint. Tyler's story is not a straight line. It starts with walking out of audio school two months before graduation, surviving...

Send us Fan Mail  What happens when a 16-year-old girl trips in the mud on a deer hunt and comes home with an idea that changes an industry? You get Otis Technology — and one of the most inspiring origin stories in the entire 2A space. This episode, we sat down with Heather Pleskach, VP of Marketing at Otis, live from the last day of SHOT Show 2026. Heather didn't just tell us about gun care...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a young kid from Miami with no hunting background, no gun-owning family, and no real roadmap finds his way into the firearms industry anyway? Chan's story is one of hunger, mentorship, and the kind of loyalty that doesn't ask permission. From working security at a gun show to becoming Business Development Manager at Taurus USA — this one hits different....

Send us Fan Mail Nine years ago Sean was a regular guy watching YouTube videos. No military background. No law enforcement. Just a curiosity about firearms and a decision to go get trained. That one choice sent him down a path that led to becoming a USPSA Grand Master — just three months ago — and landing a role as Pro Staff Shooter and Media Manager for Night Fision. We sat down with Sean at SHOT...

Send us Fan Mail We're live at SHOT Show 2026 from the Otis booth — and this one came with an unexpected twist when Cush's identical twin brother, Roo, kicked off the episode. We'll just say the right host showed up eventually. Heather Eckhardt is a professional 3-Gun competitor with 11 years on Team Benelli USA's Pro Staff. She grew up in a law enforcement household, shot her...

Send us Fan Mail Becky Yackley has been competing since 1989. She holds the Ladies' Metallic Division national records at the Bianchi Cup across all four events. Her son Tim is the youngest NRA World Shooting Champion ever. Her whole family — husband Mark, and sons Tim, Sean, and Andrew — compete on the world stage. She's heading to Greece for the IPSC Shotgun World Shoot and Mongolia fo...

Send us Fan Mail Maggie Reese shares her journey from first-time shooter at 18 to world-level competitor in USPSA and 3-Gun. Recorded live at SHOT Show, this episode covers competitive shooting strategy, women in the firearms industry, mentorship, mindset, and the power of simply taking the first step. We talk discipline-specific training, confidence, industry relationships, and how beginners are...

Send us Fan Mail Live from SHOT Show in Las Vegas at the OTIS booth, Erin Crooks of Freedom Outdoors breaks down what really happened inside the gun industry during the pandemic. While panic buying swept the country, Freedom Outdoors refused to price gouge — and earned lifelong customer loyalty. We dive into new shooter demographics, women entering the space, scaling a multi-location range busines...

Send us Fan Mail Live from SHOT Show in Las Vegas (OTIS booth), we talk with Amy Lucas , owner of Steel & Stilettos Firearm Training. From working with maximum security prisoners to becoming a state firearms instructor and SWAT leader, Amy explains how women can overcome fear, trauma, and intimidation — and learn to carry responsibly with confidence. We also dive into representation, women’s c...

Send us Fan Mail Recorded at SHOT Show in Las Vegas from the OTIS booth, we sit down with Patrick Collins, founder of TheGunFood — one of the most respected ammo suppliers in the space. Patrick breaks down how his business started by helping instructors stay afloat, how it evolved into a legit multi-warehouse operation shipping to 49 states, and why advocacy, training, and community matter just as...

Send us Fan Mail Recorded at SHOT Show in Las Vegas from the OTIS booth, we sit down with Jim West, CEO of Lake Erie Arms, a 94,000 sq ft indoor shooting + hospitality destination in Northern Ohio. We talk about inclusion, experience-first design, glow-in-the-dark clays, climate-controlled ranges, the famous vault room, and why their door swings are trending younger and more female. Plus: what’s n...

Send us Fan Mail Cush and Breezy wrap up an inspiring Season 2 of Off the Beaten Path, dedicated exclusively to women trailblazers in the outdoor and firearm industry. They reflect on the overarching themes of perseverance, courage, and redefining power heard in conversations with guests ranging from Olympian Lanny Barnes and world champion fisher Ronda Pitts, to firearms academy owner Des and inf...