Iron Sights

On this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m joined once again by my good friend, Mark Smith of JBS Training Group. This is the third time we’ve sat down together, and each conversation seems to hit a little different.  We dig into the importance of mindset—for both students and instructors—and how shifting it can drastically improve performance. Mark also breaks down strategies for...

On today’s episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m joined by Ryan and CeCe to answer one of the biggest questions in training: how much volume do you really need to build muscle?  We break down the science and the practical side of hypertrophy training, covering everything from junk volume and why it slows down your progress, to how close you should be training to failure, to the right number of s...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. Today I’m honored to be joined by Charlie Ross of Hades Consulting—and this one’s special, because it’s the very first podcast he’s ever been on. We first connected back in early 2025 through a mutual friend, and after months of scheduling and logistics, we were finally able to sit down for this conversation. Charlie spent a lo...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. Today I’m joined by Scott Savage, founder of the Savage Training Group. Scott’s a law enforcement veteran who believes today’s officers deserve more than just “check-the-box” training hours.  We sat down at the 2025 California Force Instructor Association Conference in Napa, CA, after I had the chance to watch him present...

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast. Today, I’m grateful to have Rener Gracie, a name synonymous with Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a prominent figure in law enforcement training. I connected with Rener at the 2025 California Force Instructors Association  Law Enforcement conference in Napa, CA. This event was a valuable one for me and the other 250 participants on a lot of levels. I’m anxious to sh...

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast. Today’s After Dark episode is a powerful one. I’m sitting down with John Constantine — a 23-year veteran of the United States Secret Service, with 15 of those years spent on the elite Counter Assault Team. From post-9/11 Ground Zero to protecting presidents around the world, John’s career has been defined by service at the highest levels. But this conversat...

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast! Today, I’m joined by the whole Red Dot Fitness crew, and we’re breaking down the five biggest mistakes people make when choosing an online workout program. This isn’t about coaching or personalized training — we’re talking the actual programs themselves, like Red Dot Fitness Max and Red Dot Fitness Strong. Choosing the right program can feel overwhelming, a...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Magao — a 25-year law enforcement veteran, SWAT leader, and founder of the Officer Survival Series.  With experience in patrol, narcotics, internal affairs, detective work, and 18 years on SWAT, Rob has trained hundreds in local, state, and federal agencies, as well as the military. From defensive tactics and dignitary prot...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, we’re diving into what it really takes to make online fitness coaching effective.  Whether you’ve signed up for a virtual training program or are thinking about hiring a coach online, we break down the expectations, the red flags, and the strategies for getting real results. We’ll cover the pros and cons of online vs. in-person coaching, how to make the...

In this After Dark episode, I sit down with my friend and retired law enforcement officer John “Chappy” Chapman. After decades of service, John’s taken his experience and passion and poured it into Task Force 70, a nonprofit laser-focused on rebuilding public trust through constitutionally grounded training for America’s law enforcement. We break down how the system really works—from institutional...

We’re back with another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, and today I’ve got my good friend Jake Labhart in the studio—founder of In Extremis Performance. Jake’s been on the show before, and if you’ve been around a while, you’ve heard us talk about everything from tactical performance to the mindset behind building better tactical athletes. But today we zoom out a bit and focus on pro...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Jimmy Prendergast from Modern Athlete Strength. I’ve been following these guys for a while now, and if you’re into the training side of what we talk about here—especially in the tactical space—you’re gonna want to hear this. Jimmy and his team come from a deep background in D1 sports, the NFL, and tactical strength and conditio...

We’re back with another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, and today I’m in the studio with Steven, Ryan, and CeCe to tackle a topic that comes up all the time with our clients — booze and performance. We’re breaking down the real impact alcohol has on your fitness, fat loss, recovery, and long-term goals. From the metabolic effects and how booze can stall fat loss, to the hormonal consequences,...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Jason—better known as Sierra One on Instagram and the founder of Silver Lake Special Projects. Jason’s background is deep. He’s a military veteran, a former SWAT team member with both large metro and interagency experience, and currently leads the training unit at his agency. But beyond the resume, he’s a guy who’s committed to...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, we’re getting into the weeds on plyometric training — what it is, who it’s for, and most importantly, how not to screw it up. Too many people are using plyos as a glorified cardio session, skipping the prep work and ending up hurt, frustrated, or spinning their wheels. We talk about what needs to be in place before you start jumping on boxes — foundation...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Shelton Stevens, a seasoned strength coach and human performance specialist for U.S. Army Special Operations at Fort Bragg. With over 16 years in the game, Shelton is helping elite American warfighters stay sharp, strong, and durable. We dive deep into microdosing workouts—short, effective training sessions designed for high pe...

Welcome back to another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. I’m in the studio today with Ryan, Cece, and Steven, and we’re diving into a topic that’s guaranteed to hit home for anyone trying to lean out, cut weight, or make meaningful changes to their body composition: managing hunger while in a caloric deficit. Let’s be real—hunger is part of the process. If you’re doing things right in a fat los...

We’re back with another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, and this time I’m joined by Kim Raimondi — known by some of you as PeliKim on Instagram. In this conversation, we get into all of it. Kim shares what it’s like working with departments and agencies all over the country, what she’s seeing from her side of the industry, and how Pelican plays a role in supporting first responders....

Welcome back to another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast! In this one, I’m joined by Ryan and CeCe in the studio for a deep dive into a hot topic that’s been coming up more and more in elite performance circles—microdosing your workouts.  We break down what microdosing your training actually means, where the concept came from, and how to structure it. We talk about who it’s best for, who it migh...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast! Today, I’m sitting down with someone who’s not only a good friend, but one of the sharpest dudes I’ve come across in the training space — Wild Bill Braski. If you’re on Instagram, you might already know the name. Bill is a military veteran and a full-time law enforcement officer who works directly in the training unit at h...

We’re back with another Iron Sights After Dark episode, and I’m joined once again by my friend Chris Kuras. Chris is a seasoned law enforcement officer with over a decade of SWAT experience—and he’s the guy behind Good Dude Concepts and the Good Dude Breacher Bar, a compact, mission-driven tool built for first responders, military, and civilians alike. In this episode, we get into the why behind t...

Welcome back to another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast! Today, we’re diving into the growing trend of using weight vests for fitness and weight loss, especially among women.  With claims about increased calorie burn and improved bone density, we break down what’s real, what’s hype, and what you need to know before strapping one on. We also get into smart ways to integrate weight vests into you...

We’re back with another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast, and this one’s powerful. I sat down with Tamara DuMont—a competitive shooter, firearms instructor, and the kind of voice this community needs more of. Tamara’s story is real, raw, and deeply personal. Her introduction to firearms came after a horrific tragedy: the murder of her mother by her stepfather, using a firearm. An...

Back in the studio today with another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. This time, I’m joined by Steven and CeCe—Ryan’s out, but we’re diving into a topic that comes up constantly in our world: macro prescriptions . With warmer months here and people dialing in their nutrition and training, it made sense to revisit the macros conversation. How much protein should you really be eating? What about...

Anna Heil is dedicated to bettering and preserving the quality of life for first responders and members of the American military veteran community. She the Executive Director with the American Warrior Foundation who provide resources to help individuals and agencies face the internal and external challenges both the people and institutions face. This conversation we had at the annual Texas Tactica...