The A Better Way 2A Podcast

This one was super rad! Spose is a rapper from Maine, an independent artist, a dad, and the guy a lot of people first heard from “I’m Awesome.” His new EP, The American Flag Is a Red Flag, is a much sharper political turn, with songs like A World Without Billionaires and Open Their Wallets connecting with people who are sick of pretending everything is fine. We got into political rap, capitalism,...

We sat down with Dr. Butch Ware, the Green Party's 2024 vice presidential candidate and current candidate for governor of California. He's a tenured historian at UC Santa Barbara, half of a hip hop duo, a lifelong partisan of the black self-defense tradition, and the kind of politician you basically never see anymore because he's not on anybody's payroll. Butch converted to Islam at 15 after readi...

We sat down with Jarrett Sleeper and this one went way longer than planned because we could not stop talking. Jarrett is an actor, a jiu jitsu black belt with about 20 years on the mats, a shooter, and a guy who thinks about violence and identity more deeply than pretty much anyone we've had on this show. He also has ADHD so between the two of us this conversation went everywhere. We got into why...

We brought Brian Recker on the show because a ton of people were curious about his views on guns and the Second Amendment. Brian's a former Marine officer, a father, a self-described stubborn Christian, and the author of a book about why the concept of hell is a toxic doctrine. He also doesn't own a gun and favors common sense gun control. So we knew this one was going to be interesting. What we g...

Ammon Bundy was acquitted of all federal charges in two major trials, spent two years in federal prison, and had $5 million in assets seized through lawfare. He supports BLM, condemns the killing of George Floyd, argues for open borders, and thinks ICE raids separating families betray the constitution. His old conservative allies turned on him for it. We had to talk to this guy. Most people know A...

In this episode, Jordan talks with Stephen Jones of Ships Co. about martial arts, creativity, masculinity, and what it means to build something with actual character in a space that often rewards posturing. They get into the culture around jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai, why so many people feel alienated by the politics and ego that can come with combat sports, and how Stephen carved out a different lane...

In this episode, Jordan sits down with Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Adrian Bonenberger for a conversation about community, decentralization, gun rights, and what real local resilience could look like in a moment when trust in institutions feels thinner than ever. They dig into Adrian’s proposal for a large voluntary state guard in Connecticut, why he sees it as a way to rebuild civic respon...

Jim from Pipehawk Consulting joins the show for one of those episodes that goes everywhere and still somehow works. We bounce from workplace stories and dry humor into heavier conversations about Trump, authoritarian creep, historical revisionism, 3D printing laws, mesh networks, drones, and the gear that’s actually worth spending money on. Along the way, we get into medical kits, tourniquets, civ...

This week, we talk with Alexandria Augustine , an organizer who’s been on the ground protesting ICE in Los Angeles and Minnesota, building mutual aid networks, and dealing firsthand with the fallout of state repression. What starts with dark humor and chaos turns into one of the most serious conversations we’ve had yet, covering tear gas exposure, arrests meant to cripple organizing, the way gover...

In this episode, Jordan speaks with Jake Hanrahan, founder of Popular Front, about independent journalism, censorship, and political division. He explained why YouTube’s demonetization pushed him to rethink documentary work and launch Away Days , a project focused on underground subcultures without moral framing. Jordan and Jake discuss culture-war politics, performative activism, and why most Wes...

In this episode of A Better Way 2A, Andrew and Jordan pick back up after an unplanned break that included SHOT Show, a necessary hair cut. We get into a dark and absurd game of "would you rather" while we through where humor crosses a line and why context matters more than people want to admit. We end up talking about casual ignorance versus real malice, checking people in public, male friendships...

In this episode, Jordan talks with Greg Lickenbrock , Senior Firearms Analyst and Technical Advisor at Everytown for Gun Safety , who has also spent years working inside the firearms industry as an editor and writer. They unpack how the Train SMART curriculum was developed, why firearms safety education so often becomes entangled in partisan politics, and where Train SMART intentionally overlaps w...

In this episode, Andrew and I sit down with Ben Spangler from Tactical Forge and Spangler Forge a firearms instructor, competitive shooter, knife maker, and content creator whose work centers on training, safety, and real-world application. We talk about identity, politics, and gun culture, and about the gap between how these topics are debated online versus how they show up in real life. The conv...

In this episode of the A Better Way 2A Podcast, Jordan and Andrew are joined by firearms historian and researcher Ashley Hlebinsky for a deep dive into the overlooked history of women, feminism, and gun ownership. Ashley explores armed feminist movements of the 1960s and 70s, including radical self-defense pamphlets that paired sharp political messaging with accurate, well-researched firearms educ...

In this episode, we sit down with Leroy “The Liberal Trucker” Voyles, a Marine Corps veteran, longtime truck driver, and outspoken left-leaning creator with a massive online following. The conversation moves fast and covers everything from political polarization to firearms culture, from growing up in small-town Missouri to what it means to protect your community, and why meaningful conversations...

In this episode, Jordan and Andrew sit down with Zach from Panther City Tactical for a candid conversation about building a small firearms-industry business from the ground up. Zach talks about how PCT accidentally grew from a few safety selectors into a full paint warehouse, what it takes to survive in a crowded market, and why reinvesting everything back into the business is both necessary and e...

Comedian Geoffrey Asmus joins Jordan and Andrew for a chaotic, brutally honest, and surprisingly thoughtful episode that covers everything from dark humor and 9/11 jokes to AI ethics, generational brain rot, and nuclear power. They talk about the weird line between what’s “offensive” and what’s just true, conservatives taking over cancel culture, Trump burgers, and why it’s possible to be pro–free...

A lot of people are tired of hearing “a few bad apples” when the problem feels built into the system itself. This episode does not defend that system. It asks why we still train people to fail. Former cop turned instructor Bill “Braski ” joins Jordan and Andrew to talk about what really makes policing dangerous, from bad leadership and weak standards to the lack of accountability until someone die...

Women in firearms - Gear and budgets - Community and culture In this episode of A Better Way 2A , Jordan sits down with Kenzie “3 Gun Kenzie” Fitzpatrick to talk about her journey in the firearms world, from growing up hunting with family to becoming a competitor, instructor, and writer. Kenzie shares how an accidental introduction to competition shooting led to a career in marketing, media, and t...

In this episode, Jordan talks with Dave Kiwacka from Hi-Point Firearms. The discussion covers the launch of the HP 15 AR platform, the evolution of the YC9 “Yeet Cannon,” and why Hi-Point has built a reputation for making reliable, affordable firearms backed by a true lifetime warranty. The conversation moves beyond products into the culture of the gun community, addressing online criticism, acces...

In this episode, we talk with Danielle Campbell, firearms instructor, community organizer, and co-founder of Protect Peace. Danielle explains how her organization works at the intersection of gun rights and community safety by combining firearms training with anti-violence initiatives. The conversation covers how Protect Peace builds alternatives to policing, the importance of creating spaces wher...

In this episode, Jordan and J Drago dive deep into conversations about life, politics, and community. From humorous takes on Shot Show memories to more serious discussions on the pitfalls of fanaticism and the importance of nuance, the episode covers a wide range of topics. Jay shares his background in the firearms and private security industry, touching on his journey to becoming a suppressor man...

AKs - Pizza - E-Bikes In this episode, we have a lively chat with Jose Diaz III, aka gastronomichedonist. We dive into everything from competitive shooting and gun culture to the culinary world. Jose shares his unique perspective on the joys and struggles of the gun community, his passion for cooking and working in a restaurant, and his experiences with e-bikes. If you want to support the show, he...

Double Standards - Content Creation - Being a Boss In this episode, we sit down with Kris Chanski, the COO of the Range 702 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kris shares her journey from being anti-gun to running a premier gun range. We discuss her path to discovering a passion for firearms, overcoming traumatic experiences, and her dedication to making the gun community more inclusive and welcoming. Kris als...

Inclusive Gun Culture - Running a Shop - Spiders In this episode, we sit down with Dustin Fagnani, owner of Fagnani Firearms in Throop, Pennsylvania. We cover everything from building a gun shop that treats everyone with basic decency and respect, to the headaches of zoning boards and why most local ranges just aren't cutting it. Dustin talks about what it’s like being one of the only truly welcom...