ZERT Coffee & Chaos

The mayhem started on January 1 and many of us went to bed welcoming 2025 with a big and exciting January to come. A change in administration has most people optimistic and excited.  When we woke up, however we witnessed the carnage in New Orleans and as the day progressed we saw the chaos in Las Vegas.  Join us today to discuss some of our thoughts on the two situations and what we initially thou...

On the show today we start the chat about why ammo selection is important and some of the popular and heated discussions when it comes to caliber selection.  Whether you are part of the .45 ACP is the only real caliber you should choose or you fall into the 9mm is the king group, there is the right kind of ammo to carry with and to train with.  A while back on the Facebook page we put up a meme ab...

Today we have a special show that is dropping in tandem with the audio version of the podcast as well as a limited edition ZERT / DMO Knife drop over on their site, which is linked below. We attempted to show you the knife but the feed was cut due to the attempted reveal of privileged information! The team over at DMO Knives is a great group and they have been ZERT affiliated for a while now. We e...

The last show recorded for 2024 is the first published for 2025!  We decided to do a recap show on some of our favorite shows from 2024.  Join us for a walk down memory lane with some of the favorites from the last year.  Doing this show is an absolute blast and there are times when coming up with a topic and hoping its g0ing to flow is a real challenge.  Having a podcast that members and non memb...

The stuff in the news lately seems like it could be a new series on Fox or something hitting theaters soon.  Whether its assassinations in New York or now drones in the skies around New Jersey, there is always going to be the internet to drive the population nuts with theories.  The report coming in over the last 3 weeks about drone sightings have been hitting an all time high.  People posting pic...

The video looked like a scene from a movie. A hooded hitman walks up behind an unknowing suspect and guns them down in cold blood.  This short video clip surfaced and made its way around all of the social media outlets before it was either taken down or cut short so you can't see the entire thing.  What would follow would be a multi day and multi state manhunt for the suspected individual who woul...

The issue of stolen valor is a sad fact of reality and has been around for quite some time.  Seeing it first hand in the firearms industry is always sad as some of the greatest people we are connected with are Veterans.  With the ever growing popularity of "cool guy" things being taught to civilians across America it opens the door to regular guys making claims that they have done more during thei...

On this episode we dive back into the digital tool watch.  Whether you are a Garmin lover or Apple Watch lover or even another brand, there is one thing that they all have in common, and that is that they are multi faceted in many occasions.  For me, my watch is the one piece of EDC gear that I never really take off and that says something.  Monitoring sleep patterns to tracking steps and workouts...

We are a few weeks past Phase 1 of Project Spectre being completed and while it didn't go exactly as planned, we were able to shift on the fly, adapt and overcome and put on an amazing event.  Join us today we welcome Paul Taylor back to the show to discuss the Spectre event that we had out in Oklahoma.  We saw members from 4 different states attend the 2 days of classes and the Friday Meet &...

Back on the show today we have Jamie Franks and we take a walk down the road of is it wise or stupid to keep a rifle or pistol in your vehicle.  In the area of the "gray man" does it make sense to keep an arsenal in your vehicle and then label said vehicle with stickers that give it away?  What should you keep in your car and when does it make sense?  What is the best way to be prepared yet minimi...

On the show today we are joined by Tes Salb, an athlete, competition shooter and all around amazing person.  Today we dive into Tes's journey in pentathlon competition and how that got her into the world of competition shooting.  We discuss what preparation and survivalism means to her and how she has a plan if things go sideways.  Tes also gives us a little peek behind the curtain as to what is c...

Your daily carry pistol is crucial when it comes to kit that may be needed to save your life.  Most people on most days put their carry pistol on and never check it for function and that can lead to epic failure during a time of need.  Today we have Paul Taylor back on the show to talk about his daily routine with his carry pistol and how even as thorough and disciplined as he is with it, he still...

On today's episode of the ZERT Coffee & Chaos show!  Today we dive deep into the world of multifunctional watches that are designed for adventure, survival, and everyday resilience. Join us as we explore the latest innovations in timekeeping technology, from rugged outdoor watches to smart devices that monitor your health and environment all the way down to the luxurious time pieces that seem...

On today's show we talk about the horrible situation post Hurricane Helene and some of the stories that are coming in from the impacted states.  While it is almost impossible to prepare completely for the natural disasters that we face, we can prepare better for the aftermath.  Even though there is a fair amount of warning when a hurricane is coming, it's never known the extent of its strength unt...

Today we wrap up a three part series on navigation with the first two being about land navigation with Paul Taylor and today Jamie Franks is back to talk about navigating on and under the sea. In this episode, we’ll share expert insights, practical tips, and stories from a seasoned navigator and diver. Learn how to read the stars and the sea to guide your journey, discover essential techniques for...

Today's episode is part 2 of a 3 part show on the essential skills of navigation.  We have Paul Taylor back on the show for this part 2 of land navigation and he discusses in more detail some of the skills needed to properly navigate.  Whether it's dead reckoning or terrain association it's important to know the pros and cons  of each and what gear you will need.  There are basic gear needs for la...

Today we welcome ZERT member Larry Greeves to the show to discuss the importance of communications in non traditional formats such as HAM radio and GMRS.  This might be one of the most crucial pieces to your survival and preparedness plan, as anything after this may not work if you can't get important information.  An attack on the way we get information is a serious potential concern and having a...

Join us today for a more in depth episode about primitive shelter build and some of the most popular and easier ones to build.  The greatest thing about practicing building primitive shelters is that you can try this in your back yard with materials that you have prepared in a shelter kit.  That kit should be part of your survival plan and this helps you shake that gear out.  Understanding how to...

On today's show we have a special guest.  Vincent "Rocco" Vargas joins the show today to talk about life, family and his journey from the Army to Hollywood.  Some of you might know him from his days with Article 15 and some might know him from his time on the TV show Mayans M.C.  Rocco has done quite a bit and was a ZERT member at one time.  It was great to connect with him and see w...

The ability to navigate has become very second nature but there is a catch.  We rely on the little pocket computer that we all carry and the ability to type a destination in and hit GO.  On today's show we welcome back Paul Taylor to discuss the importance of Land Navigation and some of the different things you need to know.  What is great about learning and practicing land navigation is that it c...

At the time of recording today's show mainstream media had not really been taking about the situation that is happening in Aurora, CO.  By now most people are aware of the Venezuelan gang that seems to be taking over apartment complexes in the sanctuary state of Colorado and the city of Aurora.  Now this isn't New Jack City and not a movie but some of the videos out there reminded me of wa...

On today's show we have The Senior Chief back to discuss why he prefers the rifle over the pistol in most circumstances. As an avid supporter of carrying a firearm daily and training how you carry, it's important to talk about the amount of people who prefer to train on their rifle more than their pistol.  Today we discuss why the common thought process is that the only thing a pistol is g...

Back on the show today we have Paul Taylor, a fellow rider and ZERT Firearms instructor.  Paul enjoys the best of both worlds when it comes to riding a motorcycle with his street bike and his dual sport motorcycle.  Whether you are planning a long ride across the country or just spending a day cruising around the state in which you live in, it's important to make sure you are prepared.  The sc...

On today's show we dive into a recent situation that happened back in July involving a road rage incident that went horribly wrong.  A person decided to make a bad decision and it ultimately cost him his life.  The incident was captured by a bystander and we take some time to break it down and explain how it happened.  We speculate on the aggressor's mindset and the mindset of the individu...

On today's show we have Paul Taylor back on the show to continue discussing the OODA loop and how it can pertain to your everyday life.  We are experiencing a lot of changes in the world today, some good and some bad.  It is up to each of us to grow and evolve and become acclimated to those situations.  This can be a financial situation, a family situation or something else.  Taking a step bac...