The Prepared Mindset Podcast

Since starting this podcast, some of the biggest questions and comments we get are how to get a spouse involved, what brought the partner into the situation, and is there a way to get your significant other more interested. This week, Lexy and I sit down, and discuss our own personal experiences and how we've been able to work together to be successful. We each have a unique set of skills and inte...

I am joined this week by Devin Soto, my good friend, and owner of The Tactical Cowboy LLC. As a former Army Ranger Devin has a lot of first hand experience with Close Quarters Battle. As a Ranger he trained to a high level of proficiency in a multitude of skills and situations. We sit down and we talk about fundamental skills and ideas that can might make you more proficient in that realm. Things...

My friend Josh Diringer joins me once again, as we dive into the concepts and ideas behind mission planning and contingency planning. During his time as a Green Beret, Josh had numerous opportunities to plan and prepare for all manner of operations. In some instances the first degree of planning was enough, and the mission was a success. In many instances, there was a need for additional plans to...

Social media has been at the core of much of the rapid growth our community has seen over the last several years. The speed and ease at which we're able to share information has helped to usher in the newest generation of prepared individuals, and continues to do so. Unfortunately with that comes the speculation of personal opinions, and more often now, the criticism of those opinions. More often...

After over twenty years in the Air Force, and multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, Fred has moved into the civilian world as the head of research and development at Spiritus Systems working on some of the best gear you can get your hands on. I was fortunate enough to get some of Fred's time to sit down and talk about his experiences, but also some of his observations around our co...

A couple questions I get a heck of a lot, is how did I get involved with shooting and training, and how I ended up running my own podcast. Well this week, given that I'm taking time out to break contact for a bit, and spend some time off teaching, I thought it would be a great opportunity to talk about my life before shooting, and how it shaped where I'm at today. As a musician, I learned a lot of...

I'm joined this week by Blake Flannery, owner of Maneuver Training Solutions, LLC, as well as cadre at Orion Training Group. Blake is a former Force Recon Marine, having spent twenty years in the corps. Throughout our discussion, we talk about a plethora of different topics ranging from standard types of gear like plate carriers, chest rigs, belts, and rucks, as well as getting into the viability...

It doesn't matter if you're a hunter, a sport shooter, competitive shooter, law enforcement, or military. If you run a gun, you have an optic. This week, that's exactly what we talk about! For my guest this episode, I'm joined by Nic Kytlica as we dive into red dots and scopes and get a first hand look at the processes that go into making these incredible devices. Nic is the Marketing Manager at L...

Time for another SITREP as the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1808 and is working to enact a "assault weapons" ban that will have a far and wide reaching impact on gun owners across the country. With something so impactful looming over the country and our 2A community, I share my thoughts and feelings, as well as some context on the situation. Additionally, I have an announcement ar...

On this weeks episode of The Prepared Mindset, I am joined by Derek Frymire, owner and founder of Drop 6. Derek does design and consulting work of nylon goods, or as we call it in the community, gear. We spent time diving into not only what led Derek down this path to learning his unique skillset, but to shaping it into a successful career. We even get into some industry discussion and shine the l...

It has been said that accountability is the glue which ties commitment to the result. With our pursuits of being more prepared, accountability is a all encompassing term that truly does tie everything together. This week, as I return from vacation, I share my thoughts on some recent events and how through accountability, we all, both as individuals and as a community, will find greater success.

Josh Diringer is my guest this week, and is also the owner of Survive First Contact LLC. As a former Green Beret, Josh has had a lot of unique experiences, and certainly many unique skills that he's learned and is passionate about sharing with students. During our conversation we touched on topics like Reconnaissance, Long distance shooting, as well as the adjacent skills, Fieldcraft, Urban Warfar...

On this weeks edition of Prepared Mindset, I had the opportunity to talk with Devin Soto. Devin is a former Army Ranger with multiple deployments, and also the owner/found of Tactical Cowboy Training Solutions. As a educator Devin and his team have had the opportunity to train civilians, law enforcement, and even children. Tactical Cowboy's mantra of measure twice, cut once, preaches above all els...

Have you ever wondered how a rifle is made? Not just built, but really made? This week, I get a in-depth look into that world, and some of the nuance behind manufacturing a firearm. Steve Winenger is the CEO of Ripcord Industries, a Tennessee based company that is designing parts, manufacturing quality rifles, as well as providing training too. Our discussion brought me a new level of understandin...

The past week has yielded landmark Supreme Court decisions around the right to concealed carry as well as the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and also seen the signing of additional federal gun control legislation. All three of these are critically impactful to our country and in many ways controversial. I sit down, I share my thoughts and my feelings around each of these and how they all impact each oth...

Ian Strimbeck is the owner and founder of Rune Nation LLC. In this episode, Ian and I sit down and discuss the training mindset, and why it's so important that we not only protect it, but share it and teach it to those within our community. We had a fascinating philosophical discussion about things like failure, personal limits, resiliency, endurance, education, culture and even more. Rune Nations...

Josh Lowry is 2A enthusiast, outdoorsman, and armorer for T-Rex Arms. This week, he and I sit down and talk not only about his time spent working at T-Rex, but about the community that he has helped to strengthen in his social media contributions and personal convictions. We talk about discovering and learning your personal limits, and then finding ways to push them. We spent time talking about co...

In much of the recent media coverage, we have seen politicians, leaders, celebrities, all railing for gun-control. We're told that in the wake of great tragedy, that the problem lies solely with guns, and gun ownership. "Facts" are thrown around imploring the general public to vote for anti-2A politicians. Lobby groups launch mass campaigns to convince the country that the root of all evil, and al...

Nine years ago, Jessica Hazelaar founded Eclipse Holsters after making her own holster and discovering that many others like her were in a need for a safe, quality way to carry. Fast forward today, and they're setting the bar in customer experience and customer service, expanding their footprint, and building some of the best holsters in the market. Jessica and I talked about how she got her start...

Drew Estell is a former Army Special Operations soldier with 5th group, founder of Baer Solutions LLC, as well as author of Process and Progress Pistol Training. This week I had the opportunity to catch Drew between classes and sit down to chat about training, and his book on pistol methods and practice structures. We hit on a lot of key topics for developing skill sets and also discussed a number...

For this SITREP I share my thoughts and feelings around the newly developing Monkeypox crisis, and compare it to the last global illness we all dealt with. What will the Biden administration push next via executive order? Also, I share my experience finally being able to get my suppressor approval and first time hitting the range. There's a lot going on to keep a eye on, so this is one you won't w...

When most of us hear the term "intel" or "intelligence gathering" we automatically jump to spy movies and ideas of military genius. At some levels, that's definitely the case, but the truth is that we all are involved with all sorts of intelligence gathering on a daily basis. This week I talk about how we encounter this "intel" daily, and more importantly, how we can and should leverage it towards...

This week I take a break from interviewing awesome guests to talk something that's been very close to my heart lately. Self care and my personal health. We see a lot of talk in the media and especially on social media about why this is important. Because it really is. However, I had some of my own thoughts I wanted to share, as well as a update on my own situation and what I've been battling throu...

Jason Ransome spent 4 years in the Marine Corps, and 18 in Law Enforcement. He's had the opportunity to work as a volunteer officer, a K-9 handler, a SWAT officer, and a bunch more. I had the privilege of chatting with Jason and hearing about his past, how he got to run his own training company, as well as trends in the community, as well as the how/why citizens have the right to be well educated,...

Chris "Dutch" Moyer spent 31 years in the military, with 26 of those being in JSOC. To say he's been around the block, and seen a lot, would be a major understatement! I had the opportunity this week to sit down and chat with Dutch about a plethora of topics. We touch on off-road racing, shooting, training, politics, and more. It was a truly fantastic conversation, that I know you will all enjoy....