Defenders LIVE Podcast

Your kids may be fighting battles you never see. Not on the playground. Behind a screen. In this conversation, Dr. Deanne Regaisis shares what years of research have revealed about cyberbullying, digital safety, and the growing emotional and spiritual challenges young people face online. We discuss why so many children suffer in silence, how cyberbullying can escalate into far more dangerous situa...

After returning from deployment and struggling with chronic fatigue, chronic pain, and nervous system dysregulation, Ryan began a journey that would change the course of his life. What started as a search for answers eventually led him into functional health, genetics, faith-based coaching, and a deeper understanding of what it means to steward the body, mind, and soul God has entrusted to us. In...

Most people think performance is determined in the moment. Kirk Holmer disagrees. A retired Army Special Forces Senior Sergeant, three-time Tactical Games National Champion, and student of human performance, Kirk has spent decades studying what separates those who perform under pressure from those who fall apart when the stakes are high. In this conversation, we explore the psychology of confidenc...

John Gilstrap has spent a lifetime studying courage from every angle. Before becoming a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 books to his name, John spent 15 years in fire and rescue, responding to some of the worst moments in people’s lives. Later, while researching real-world special operations missions, he earned rare access to Delta Force operators, military leaders, and the tru...

Most people quit when things get hard. Dakota Adelphia chose a different path. From teaching herself through educational setbacks, to biking across America at fifteen, to becoming one of the leading voices in concealed carry education, Dakota’s story is a masterclass in grit, responsibility, and courage. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why doing hard things builds confidence that can’t be faked•...

What if the hardest battle you’ll ever fight is the one inside your own mind? In this powerful conversation, Tyler Tharp opens up about: Losing his father the night he came home from the ArmyBattling anger, hopelessness, and self-destructionThe moment God told him, “Get up. I’m not done with you yet.”Why discipline includes rest and recoveryHow faith transformed the way he sees purpose, love, and...

What happens when an everyday businessman decides he’s no longer willing to sit on the sidelines? In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with Arizona congressional candidate Daniel Keenan for a conversation that goes far beyond politics. Together, they explore leadership, personal responsibility, constitutional freedom, faith, and the growing hunger Americans have for authentici...

People can tell when someone is real. That is one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jacob Paulsen. We talked about leadership, faith, authenticity, business, personal growth, and why people are starving for honesty in a world that feels increasingly fake. In this episode:• Jacob shares how ConcealedCarry.com was built from the ground up• We talk about what actually makes a great...

What if the thing that makes you “different” is actually the thing God wants to use most? In this solo Ride Along episode, Lora Thorson opens up about why she chooses hard things — from Tactical Games training and fitness to launching a podcast with no roadmap and stepping into uncomfortable growth. She shares how her personal self-defense journey began in 2017 with her very first firearms class,...

If you are called to protect… you cannot afford to stay undisciplined. This episode is not about getting in shape for appearance. It is about becoming someone who can be counted on. In this conversation, we break down: • Why discipline is part of your responsibility as a defender• How neglecting your body limits your ability to lead and serve• The connection between physical health and spiritual d...

There comes a moment when you either stay quiet or step forward. Amanda Suffecool stepped forward. In this episode of Defenders LIVE, she shares what is happening inside the NRA and what she has seen firsthand during a critical season of change. Here is what you will gain:A clear look inside the NRA’s reform and future directionWhat real courage looks like in leadershipWhy speaking truth can cost...

Buying the gun is the easy part. Carrying it safely is where many people fall short. In this episode:What a holster is actually supposed to doThe biggest mistakes people make when choosing oneWhy “comfortable” can sometimes mean unsafeWhat to look for so your gear actually works when it mattersHow Brent went from building his own gear to building Haven Defense Co. Most people spend all their time...

Most people think calm is something you either have… or you don’t. That’s not true. Calm is trained. And if you don’t train it, your reactions will control you when it matters most. In this episode, we break down: • What’s actually happening in your brain under stress• How to train your nervous system to stay steady under pressure• Simple ways to build calm into your daily life• The faith foundati...

Many want a warrior mindset. Very few are willing to live it. And even fewer understand what freedom actually costs. This conversation with Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie connects both. Inside this episode: * What a warrior mindset really looks like in daily life * Why discipline matters more than motivation * The internal fight most people avoid * The true cost of freedom most never see * How responsibil...

In this conversation with Mark Lamb, we go beyond politics and into the heart of what it means to live with courage, conviction, and faith. Here’s what you’ll take away:• Why comfort is the fastest way to bury your potential• How truth and authenticity build real leadership• What courage actually looks like in everyday life• How to move forward even after deep personal loss• Why chasing greatness...

Most women aren’t failing their health… They were never given the right playbook. This conversation with Allison Tharp will challenge everything you thought you knew about health, fitness, and what it really means to take care of your body. You’ll learn: * Why “eat less, move more” is failing women * How hormones impact everything from fat loss to energy * The connection between health, identity,...

Ever felt like your soul was just… tired? In this episode, I share a season that brought me to my knees—and what God did through it. What you’ll take away: • How to navigate emotional and spiritual burnout • Why resistance keeps you stuck—and surrender sets you free • The power of being honest about where you really are • How to walk through darkness without losing faith • Why your strengths can b...

Fear isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like hesitation, self-doubt, or staying stuck. In this conversation with Gabby Franco, we talk about what it really takes to grow under pressure and lead with courage. * How fear quietly keeps people from progressing * Why mindset training matters just as much as physical skill * What Venezuela taught Gabby about freedom and responsibility * How parents,...

Some men don’t just “retire”… they reinvent. Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Sean Keene joins me to talk about what happens when you leave Special Operations and have to rebuild identity, purpose, and standards in the civilian world. What you’ll gain from this episode: * Why the 80% rule is the key to action when you don’t have perfect information * How to recover from failure without living in sham...

If you’re still trusting “the system” to keep you safe… this episode is a wake-up call. In this Defenders LIVE conversation, John Hearne breaks down what most people never hear because it’s not comfortable, and it’s not popular… but it’s real. You’ll learn: * Why crime data can be misleading (and what that means for your decisions) * How criminals choose targets in seconds and how to stop signalin...

In this Defenders LIVE episode, Lee Weems and Tyler Tharp go head-to-head (with respect) on what training really matters and why nuance is important. What you’ll walk away with: * Why “good with a gun” is more than speed or groups * Where USPSA/competition helps and where it can hurt * The real gap between technical skill and real-world decision-making * Optics reliability: what fails, what doesn’...

I went off-script tonight… and it was scary, but it was real. In this episode with Brian Hill (The Complete Combatant), we talk about what happens when your training stops working and why the answer isn’t “try harder.” What you’ll get from this conversation: * How creativity fuels motivation when discipline starts feeling dead * Why blind spots show up as resistance (and what to do with that) * Th...

Some battles don’t happen on a competition floor… they happen when life steals your breath and dares you to quit. In this Defenders LIVE episode, 5x world champion Molly Metz shares what mastery actually costs—and why she kept fighting when the system wasn’t fair. • What elite training teaches you about failure and courage • Why growth can feel lonely (and why it’s still worth it) • The mindset sh...

He didn’t find faith the way people expect. And that’s exactly why this story matters. Christian Griffith returns to Defenders LIVE to share the most unexpected chapter of his life, from lifelong agnostic to a faith journey that changed everything. In this episode, you’ll hear: * What finally opened the door to faith after years of resistance * Why healing doesn’t end after the big achievement * H...

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with Lee Weems—career peace officer, trainer, and adjunct professor—to talk about what most people miss when they judge high-stakes incidents from a single camera angle. Lee breaks down why “objectively reasonable” is the legal standard (even when it’s emotionally unpopular), how media narratives form, and why good tactics don’t always look...