This is episode 447 of the SSA Podcast and I am so pleased that you have joined us.

In this week’s show we take a serious look at the details of physical fitness with Brandon Powers.

Brandon has a serious resume when it comes to service and understanding of physical fitness.

• United States Coast Guard 2001-2008
• UW-La Crosse 2011; BS Exercise and Sport Science - Fitness, Minor in Nutrition, Concentrations in Strength and Conditioning as well as Coaching Competitive Athletics
• Ohio University 2013; MS Recreational and Sport Science
• Strength and Conditioning Coaching experience at the D1 and D3 levels
• Exercise Physiologist at Ellsworth Air Force Base training military and police
• Currently doing online/distance coaching through On Target Performance
• Competitive USPSA shooter - Master Class
• COO of Fireline Shooting & Training Center
• Husband and father. Been married for 8 years and have 5 year old little girl and 4 year old little boy

Today We Talk About:

• The performance pyramid (movement, performance, skill)
• Specific Purpose Prep (SPP) vs General Purpose Prep (GPP)
• Programming (Strength, Power, Hypertrophy, Endurance)
• Conditioning (Work:Rest Ratio)
• Diet / FUEL
• Warm-Up / Cool - Down
• Quality vs Quantity

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safetysolutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about beer, being a Coastie and important Coast Guard History and more nitty gritty details.

Again, check out safetysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The MagFIX is an improved magazine base pad and sleeve for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The MagFIX:

• Locks the sleeve in place for smooth and fast reloads
• Provides improved grip on the magazine for a better grip on the gun and magazine
• Helps empty mags drop free so that you can get your gun back up and running quickly when you need to most!

You can check out the MagFIX by heading to MagFIX.co to learn more or to make a purchase or you can find the MagFIX on Amazon here!

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

This is episode 444 of the SSA Podcast and I am so pleased that you have joined us.

The topic/guest of this week’s show is Michael Sodini of Eagle Imports and Walk the Talk America a pro-Second Amendment, non-profit organization dedicated to helping to bring awareness to the issues that surround firearms and mental health.

• ASU Grad with a degree in communications
• Spent time in fashion modeling and real estate before working for the family business, Eagle Imports
• Became President of Eagle Imports in 2009
• Partner in Avidity Arms
• In 2018 formed WTTA a non-profit organization dedicated to making positive change in relationship to mental health, and firearm awareness.

• What it’s like to own a firearms business based in New Jersey
• How being a fashion model breeds a sense of humor
• Stigma and how it impacts what we do and what we don’t do
• How the Second Amendment community thrusts stigma onto others to avoid being stigmatized ourselves
• How people like Colion Noir, Rob Pincus and Maj Toure are doing to change the firearms industry
• Initiatives that WTTA are actively working on
• What link mental illness and violence really have compared to what we believe they have
• Why trauma mitigation can be a linch pin for preventing violence
• WTTA’s end game and what that looks like today
• How Eagle Imports looks at mental health
• What steps you can take to make a difference

• Walk the Talk America
• Walk the Talk America on Facebook
• Mental Health America Position 72
• Dr. Jeffrey Swanson
• Colion Noir on the Bill Maher Show
  
  
• Mental Health America resources
• • Find help with a mental health challenge
  • Mental Health America screening

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about

Again, check out safetysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The MagFIX is an improved magazine base pad and sleeve for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The MagFIX:

• Locks the sleeve in place for smooth and fast reloads
• Provides improved grip on the magazine for a better grip on the gun and magazine
• Helps empty mags drop free so that you can get your gun back up and running quickly when you need to most!

You can check out the MagFIX by heading to MagFIX.co to learn more or to make a purchase or you can find the MagFIX on Amazon here!

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

Welcome to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast! If you are working to sort out the complexities of personal protection, increase the efficiency of your defensive training and demystify the tools you need to keep yourself and those that you love safe then the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is the place of you!

I am your host Paul Carlson and I am so glad have joined me today.  You can contact me by sending comments, questions and topics for future shows to paul@safetysolutionsacademy.com I would love to hear from you!

This is episode 437 of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and in today’s episode we will be our  month of content focused on the J-frame revolver. You could think of it as J-frame January if you like.  We have 4 revolver centric podcasts recorded and ready to launch with supporting blog posts and unique video content that is certain to help you learn a thing or two about revolvers.

Last week we spoke to Massad Ayoob on revolvers you can listen to that episode by simply heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/436 and you can stay on top of all the J-frame content by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/jframe

This week we will take our J-frame content in another direction as we talk with Chuck Haggard of Agile Training and Consulting.

Chuck is a career law enforcement officer who retired as a Lt. from the City of Topeka Police Department and resumed his career in LE in a rather unique situation as a LE officer, fire fighter, and air crash rescue at a Kansas airport and it’s surrounding community.

I have had the opportunity to train in and observe Chuck as an instructor in multiple courses both at the Rangemaster Tactical Conference and at Paul-e-Palooza. Several of those classes were classes specifically related to effectively shooting small guns.

Today we are going to talk about fun, interesting and educational topics such as:

• Sleep deprivation and the problems it can cause in life and in personal safety
• Revolvers and pocket poppers and why they were so popular
• • Back up guns and why the revolver fits so well in that role
  • Colt Cobras and Detective Specials
• Revolvers and their reliability and is it really as good as people think?
• The Advantages of the J-frame when it comes to

• • Concealment
  • Quick draw
• The best defensive ammunition for short barreled revolvers and what parameters you should be looking at when selecting your ammo
• And a ton more.

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to Ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners. You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron. In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun. Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast Chuck and I talk about how to train in a manner to be able to deal with real violence when it rears its head. Again, check out safefysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

Now let's get into today's show!

Welcome to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast! If you are working to sort out the complexities of personal protection, increase the efficiency of your defensive training and demystify the tools you need to keep yourself and those that you love safe then the Safety Solutions Academy podcast is the place of you!

I am your host Paul Carlson and I am so glad have joined me today.  You can contact me by sending comments, questions and topics for future shows to paul@safetysolutionsacademy.com I would love to hear from you!

This is episode 436 of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and in today’s episode we will be kicking off an entire month of content that will be focused on the J-Frame revolver. You could think of it as J-Frame January if you like.  We have 4 revolver centric podcasts recorded and ready to launch with supporting blog posts and unique video content that is certain to help you learn a thing or two about revolvers.

As far as I am concerned there is no better way to start off a month on the small wheel guns than by talking to a man that is a legend in the gun industry and is himself an accomplished revolver shooter, Massad Ayoob.

Mas is a frequent guest on the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and for good reason. He has a very strong background in the legal aspects of self-defense and the use of lethal force as well as in defensive shooting. MAs is the owner of the Massad Ayoob Group and travels the nation teaching defensive shooting, the ins and outs of the legal aspects of the use of lethal force though his flagship course, the MAG-40 which we will be hosting in May of 2018. In addition, Mas is a prolific writer and he has teamed up with Marty Hayes of the firearms Academy of Seattle to offer instructor development courses in the use of deadly force.

Today we are going to talk about fun, interesting and educational topics such as:

• Who should be looking toward the revolver as a self defense tool
• How you can learn to shoot a revolver better through a better grip and trigger press
• How a revolver can help you to learn to get your hits
• Why revolvers are great tool for learning to shoot your Semi-Auto better
• A comparison between the 442 and the 340M&P 
• And a whole lot more.

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by heading to Ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners. You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron. In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun. Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

Thanks for Supporting the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast!

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

Ohio Concealed Carry Courses

Critical Defensive Handgun

Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

Do you carry a light for personal defense?  If you do, what light have you selected?  How do you carry it?  Where does it rank in importance in your EDC?

In today’s episode Richard and I talk about things like:

• How Richard and I met in real life and social media safety
• The flashlight revolution
• The Beginnings of Flashlights
• Maglite 
• Streamlight SL20 Rechargeable
• Surefire 6P 
• Lumens is all the focus but there are more aspects to a quality light
• Candela - Candlepower “peak beam intensity” measures the largest reflected intensity.
• Lumens - Total amount of light - measures one moment in time and all of the light that is output.
• How lumens and candela work together
• Standards - ANSI/Neema/Plato FL1 Standards and how they are helping you to make good choices when it comes to lights
• Problems with FL1 standards - The runtime issue
• Tlr 6 Review and Graph 
• GHG  -  
• What makes for a good light
• My EDC Flashlight 
• Batteries and how they can improve the performance of your light
• Lithium is the way to go.
• Cr123 
• AAA 
• AA 
• How do you select a good self-defense/personal protection light?
• Specific recommendations:
• Elzetta
• Streamlight
• Protac HL 
• http://amzn.to/2zhVSEM
• SHOT Show - coverage

Exclusive Patron Only Content

Popularity does not equal expertise

Influence comes with responsibility

Credentials aren’t necessarily important either
Skepticism - Is it a bad thing?

"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."

 - Thomas Jefferson

The source of our Rights

Federalists - Whatever we write down limits us to what we write down.

Anti-Federalists - All governments eventually restrict rights so we need a Bill of Rights.

Scalia opinion in Heller 

Ruger - a stock report on rgr

Important links for the SSA Podcast:

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by heading to SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/itunes.  By subscribing you will be sure that you don’t miss a single episode. 

I would also appreciate it if you would take the time to leave a review and a rating.  Please let me and others know what you thing about the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.  The feedback helps me to create better content and it helps other folks figure out if the SSA Podcast is worth downloading.  Again, just head to SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/itunes and leave your feedback. 

The SSA Podcast is sponsored by Safety Solutions Academy and you the listeners.  If you would like to support the SSA Podcast just head to SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/support and you can learn about how you can become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast for as little as $1 a month.  Every little bit helps, so consider becoming a Patron today! 

Don’t forget there is a ton of quality content available through SSA.  A great place to start is SafetySolutionsAcademy.com.  Make sure to check out our blog and podcast content as well as the main training courses that we offer. 

You can find us on FaceBook at: 

Paul Carlson

SSAPodcast

Safety Solutions Academy

On IG you can find me at Paul_SSA 

We are getting ready to spool up our YouTube channel again as the weather starts to look better so make sure to subscribe to SSA on YouTube. 

It has been a long time since Julie has joined us on the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and with both of our crazy schedules it has been a while since we have had the opportunity to chat casually as well.  Julie and I take full advantage of the time we had to catch up on a whole variety of topics and most of them were actually related to shooting in some way!

Julie and I chat about a wide range of topics including:

• Julie recent World Championship with at IPSC World Shoot in France
• Kids and competition and when is the right time
• The recent debut of Munchkin Golob in a rimfire steel match
• Julie’s thoughts on teaching kids to shoot
• Gun storage and staging with kids in the home
• S&W Shield 2.0 with Crimson Trace laser and the rest of the M2.0 family
• Julie’s upcoming hunting season with her M&P10 and her TC Strike
• Women and other minorities in the shooting world, what the the industry can do to help encourage those that are something other than the typical shooter to dive into shooting
• Julie’s run for the NRA BOD
• The recent NRA position and why people need to stay involved with the NRA
• What is next for Julie G
• And a ton more!

The creepy side of the firearms industry and the scary face of the anti-gunners.

If you want to hear this exclusive Patron only segment simply head to our Support Page and learn how you can become a Patron for as little as a dollar a month!

Here are some important links related to today’s show with Julie.

• Julie’s book SHOOT!
• The SSA Podcast Episode 266 with Julie and Jerry
• Julie’s Website
• Julie on Facebook
• Julie’s YouTube Channel

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

Ohio Concealed Carry Courses

Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)

Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

In episode 432 of the SSA Podcast I talked about Dustin Salomon’s book, Building Shooters with friend and colleague Rob Morse.  Lot’s of folks had a really positive response to the episode, including the author, Dusty.  He reached out and shared some positive thoughts about the episode and was receptive to continuing the conversation and that is exactly what we do in episode 433.

Dusty, Rob and I dive into a deep conversation about firearms instruction.  We talk about all kinds of topics including:

• Dustin’s time in the Navy, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!”
• What key takeaways instructors should have from this episode
• What key thoughts students should be focused on
• Why is it that Building Shooters has been needed by the firearms training industry?
• A look at the terrain of the commercial side of defensive training.
• A look at the terrain of the human brain and how it guides learning.
• Priming.  What it is and why it is important
• How the brain learns
• Short term memory and how its limits are the limits of learning
• How we can help transfer skills from the short term memory into the long term procedural memory.
• Dustin’s new book, “Mentoring Shooters”
• And a ton more!

Mike Seeklander on Building Shooters - “This book should have been written years ago.”  

Dr. Jeremy Sword, Ph.D. Neuroscience- “Dustin Salomon has distilled the teaching of defensive shooting to its core elements...”

Building shooters

Dusty’s Blog

Dusty’s training site

Left of Bang

Rob’s Blog - Slow Facts

Rob’s Podcast - Self Defense Gun Stories

Polite Society Podcast

The myth of different learning styles- Dustin Salomon

Hippocratic approach to firearms training- Do no harm

Do no harm during training

What is Hojutsu

“Mentoring Shooters” by Dustin Salomon

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

Ohio Concealed Carry Courses

Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)

Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

•When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

432 - The State of Firearms Instruction

In this episode of the SSA Podcast:

I chat with Rob Morse of slowfacts.wordpress.org a collection of blog posts that I would call the opposite of knee-jerk reactions and Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast at selfdefensegunstories.com where you take a look at defensive gun uses and analyze them for lessons that can be learned.  Rob is also a member of the Polite Society Podcast where he and the rest of Paul Lathrup’s crew discuss a wide variety of firearms related topics.

On today’s episode we talk about:

• what it is that makes Rob tick
• Rob’s background in defensive gun training and self-defense
• what got Rob started thinking about the effectiveness of defensive firearms training
• the book, Building Shooters.  What it is, why it is interesting and who it might be for
• what Building Shooters made Rob and I start thinking about related to defensive training.
• who is it that tends to benefit most from a two day training course
• what we think that instructors can do to overcome some of the challenges that arise from current training models and from models that we may shift toward
• why taking notes on the range is so important
• much more!

Become a Patron to access this exclusive Patron Content:

In today’s exclusive patron only portion of the show we get into self-defense, if it really happens and the reaction that we get and how we deal with it when people find out that we are “gun guys!”

Important Links:

Building Shooters by Dustin P. Salomon

Rob’s Blog Slow Facts

The Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast

The Polite Society Podcast

Take notes in class and on the range with these waterproof note pads

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun
• Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

One of the ways that I work to stay sharp as an instructor and as a students of self-defense is to host other instructors.  This past weekend, I hosted David Maglio of Concealed Carry Associates for a MAG-30 course.  Way back when I took a MTG "Shoot till you puke" course and the high round count weekend was one of the ways I drove past a plateau in my shooting.  I shot faster with more precision after than weekend.

In order to offer that same opportunity to students of SSA I talked with David Maglio and we set up a date for him to teach his MAG-30 at Southington Hunt Club.

This is our wrap up of that course.

In this episode of the SSA Podcast:

I chat with David Maglio on our ride to the airport after wrapping up a MAG-30 Course in NE Ohio. We discuss topics like:

• What the course progression is inside the Massad Ayoob Group
• What prompted David to develop the MAG-30
• What struggles David typically sees when students are in the midst of a MAG-30 and what growth they experience as a result
• The square range, tradition and history vs. reality
• Surviving the violent encounter vs. surviving the legal aftermath
• Sights and how they can help or hinder
• And much more!

Become a Patron to access this exclusive Patron Content:

In today’s Exclusive Patron only content David and I actually set the date for next years MAG-30and then dive deeper into the trigger press and the problems that history and tradition can cause for us as instructors and students of self defense.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Patron, simply follow this link.

Important Links:

Concealed Carry Associates

Next years’ MAG-30 course

Our 2018 MAG-40

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review. 

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast. 

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017) 
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun
• Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40) 

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon! 
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells! 
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show! 

In this episode of the SSA Podcast:

We take a look at:

• Why it is important to establish a quality grip on the handgun when the gun is in the holster.
• Why a solid grip is important for defensive shooting.
• What is a quality grip on a ccw handgun?
• 8 Points of a quality grip
• I describe the 8 points of the handgun grip that I start out most shooters with in this blog post titled “Get a Grip.”
• When you should establish a quality grip?
• When you need to reestablish a quality grip?
• When it is time to release your grip?

Become a Patron to access this exclusive Patron Content:

In this episode’s Patron only content I go over the gear I will be using in the upcoming MAG-30 course that David Maglio will be teaching here on September 16-18th.

In addition, I review the goals we have set for the Safety Solutions Academy Patreon Program!

• 50 Patrons - One Patron will win a 2 day Critical Defensive Handgun Course
• 100 Patrons - One Patron will win 1000 rounds of 9mm training ammunition.
• 250 Patrons - One Patron will win 1000 rounds of 9mm training ammunition and a 2 day Critical Defensive Handgun Course
• 500 Patrons - One Patron will win 1000 rounds of 9mm training ammunition, a 2 day Critical Defensive Handgun Course and a new 9mm Gen 5 GLOCK handgun!

So, spread the word so that we can start giving away some of these awesome prizes!

Important Links:

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast to support the show and to gain access to exclusive content.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun
• Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

We chat with self-defense content task master John Correia of Active Self Protection.

Through ASP John releases daily videos on Facebook, Youtube and the ASP website that analyze real life self-defense encounters and teaches lessons in personal protection.

The lessons taught through John’s videos emphasize the Attitude, Skills, and Plan that every day concealed carry holders should be focusing on  to maximize their training, practice and chance to survive a violent encounter.

In today’s episode I talk with John about the success of the ASP YouTube channel, his recent adventure at the NRA Carry Guard Expo, the difference between being in a gunfight and a shooting, the morality difference between a violent criminal and a law abiding citizen, FIBS and FIBA, what they mean and why they are important to you, and a ton more.

In today’s exclusive, Patron only content I break down a framework for understanding violence, studying violence, experiencing violence and then completing the cycle by applying what you learn about violence without burning up your brain with excessive, needless, violent imagery.

You can access this content by pledging as little as $1 a month and becoming a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy.

Active Self Protection on the Web

ASP on Facebook (click on like and choose notifications)

Active Self Protection on Youtube (be sure to subscribe)

Tim Larkin’s book, When Violence is the Answer (my copy is on its way and I will talk more about the book when I get through it.)

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun
• Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

I know the title is a bit dramatic, but it is a concept that I have had spinning around in my head as I have been listening to the latest episode of the Hardcore History Podcast dealing with the Celtic Holocaust.

Between the times of 100 BC and around 50 BC the Celtic people found themselves engaged in a struggle for survival with the Roman empire and Julius Caesar.  As individuals and as a whole it seems like they must have had to ask themselves the question, “What are we willing to die for?”

It isn’t an easy question or one that very many of us have had to ask ourselves, yet at the same time I can see some striking parallels to the kinds of questions we should be asking ourselves when it comes to personal protection and self-defense.

I don’t know if any of this will make any sense when you listen to it.  Maybe it is just a bunch of illogical drivel.  At the same time, the concepts struck me and as I hope to be a better student to both history and to personal protection, it makes sense to me to explore the connections when they seem to appear.

So, I ask you, what are you willing to die for?  Connect with me and let me know.

Subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and leave a rating and review.

Become a Patron of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

Ohio Concealed Carry Courses

Critical Defensive Handgun (check out our CDH Course in San Antonio Nov 4th & 5th, 2017)

Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

Massad Ayoob Group Courses (like the MAG-20, MAG-30 and MAG-40)

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!

• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

In this week’s show we talk with Larry Lindenman of Point Driven Training about the role that physical fitness plays in personal protection but more importantly in life in general.

Larry is a retired Illinois State Police officer and an avid martial artist with a strong competitive background. He owns Point Driven Training and is an instructor in the Shivworks collective. Larry also has a masters degree in exercise physiology and has a deep understanding of how physical fitness can enhance an athlete’s performance. When this knowledge is paired with Larry’s understanding of the dynamics of violence, well, that is where the magic happens.

• Saps and Blackjacks a course that Larry will be teaching at this years Tac-con,
• Larry’s Background in exercise physiology,
• What physical fitness has to do with violence,
• What a person needs to do to be considered healthy,
• Why cardiovascular disease is more of a threat than violent criminals,
• Why you consider lots of LSD to be the solution to your fitness issues
• How chasing numbers can lead you away from your real goals,
• How to make exercise and nutrition habitual by removing barriers,
• Why consistency is so important in your physical fitness and,
• How you can exercise to create adaptations in your body most efficiently.

Point Driven Training

Shivworks

Starting Strength

Wim Hof Method

Rangemaster Tac-Con

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safetysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safetysolutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about

Again, check out safetysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The MagFIX is an improved magazine base pad and sleeve for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The MagFIX:

• Locks the sleeve in place for smooth and fast reloads
• Provides improved grip on the magazine for a better grip on the gun and magazine
• Helps empty mags drop free so that you can get your gun back up and running quickly when you need to most!

You can check out the MagFIX by heading to MagFIX.co to learn more or to make a purchase or you can find the MagFIX on Amazon here!

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, support the Show!

Today on  the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast we are going to chat with Kevin Creighton a gun blogger at Misfires and Light Strikes.  Kevin is also a freelance writer for Lucky Gunner, Ricochet and Shooting Illustrated. 

We chat with Kevin about my recent trip to Little Rock Arkansas and the Ringmaster Tactical Conference, the MAG-40 he will be attending in early May in NE Ohio and about a new dry fire training product he is involved in developing called the Interactive Training Pistol. 

The Rangemaster Tactical Conference was an outstanding seminar.  While there I had the chance to spend time with tons of great people, learn a ton and I had an all around fun time as well.

On May 4th Safety Solutions Academy will be kicking off it’s third annual MAG-40 Course with Massad Ayoob.    You can find out more and get registered by following this link. 

Kevin is involved with brining a new dry fire training pistol to market and an indiegogo campaign for the IPTS launches on April 15th.  We talk a bit about the Interactive Pistol Training System and what it can do to help improve your understanding of your shooting skills.  You can learn more by following the link to the Interactive Pistol Training System page. 

Thanks for tuning in to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.  I appreciate you investing your time with our show. 

The best way to make sure you don’t miss any episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is to subscribe.  Simply follow this link to iTunes and you can have the shows sent right to your phone so they are waiting for when you are ready to listen. 

If you are a regular listener I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to leave a rating or a review of the show on iTunes.  Again, just follow the link and tell me what you think.  Ratings and reviews help other folks find the podcasts that are the best for them.  So help some folks out and leave a review! 

Finally, if you find value in what the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast has to offer, consider becoming a Patron.  The patron program we offer through Patreon allows you to make a pledge to the show for as little as $1 per month.  It is these contributions that keep the SSA Podcast coming.  In the near future, I’m looking at reinvesting the pledges of Patrons into professional podcast editing so that I can spend my time creating more content and less time editing the audio.  This kind of a move wouldn’t be possible without your support! 

Thanks so much for your support and I will catch you next time! 

Kyle asks about dealing with LE's and being relieved of his gun during an official interaction and I provide Some Ohio specific advice as well as some general thoughts for all.

MAG-40 

Tony from NH wants some advice on a holster.  Tough question, but we give it a go!

Dark Star Gear 

JM Custom Kydex 

Keepers Concealment 

Dale Fricke Holsters Archangel 2 

Raven Concealment Eidolon 

Here is a post I created some time ago about selecting a quality holster. 

Aw wants some more information about traveling with firearms and ammunition and wants some thoughts on the Gunvault Nano 300.

Dave wants to know how I carry a GLOCK "18"

And I give some thoughts on the Sig P320.

In the Patron only portion of the show I rant a bit on the sissies we are turning our nation into and we get interrupted by my 7 year old, B who rolls with the punches...

• Luggage Selection - Here is an updated suitcase very similar to the one I use. Mine is pre-spinner suitcases and has lasted close to 10 years.
• Ensure Compliance
• Take your responsibility further
• Arrive early
• Head to the baggage claim ASAP

• It may have changed it, but it wouldn’t have stopped it.
• This situation is an outlier in a genre of outliers.  

Subscribe to the SSA Podcast and please leave an honest rating and review.

Consider becoming a Patron.

• Size of Gun
• Holster Selection
• Location of Carry
• Clothing Selection
• Belt Selection

• Are you ready and willing to seek knowledge
• Do you know and understand that you really know nothing

• Are you emotionally ready to carry a gun
• Type of gun to carry
• Round in the chamber

This is episode 444 of the SSA Podcast and I am so pleased that you have joined us.

In this special midweek episode of the SSA Podcast we talk with Dr. William Aprill about a difficult and controversial topic, mental health and guns.

Dr. William Aprill is a psychologist in private practice who helps people of all walks of life deal with issues such as depression, PTSD and substance abuse issues. In addition to his private practice William is the owner of Aprill Risk Consulting where he helps to unpack the criminal mind and raise awareness in how it is that the Violent Criminal Actor is different from you and me.

Provide a framework for people to understand that mental health issues affect many Americans and engage in a conversation about the stigma that surrounds mental health and some strategies that gun owners can use to help keep themselves and those that they love safe. In addition I want to provide direct resources so that those that struggle with a mental health issue or know someone that does can take action.

• The prevalence of mental health issues and the severity of those issues,
• What your 4473 really says about mental health in question 11f,
• The relationship between violence and mental health issues (really the lack of relationship,)
• What resources are available and what steps people can take to protect themselves if they are concerned about their struggle with mental health, or the health of others.

National Institute of Mental Health

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about

Again, check out safefysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The M&P from Smith & Wesson is a solid performer.  It has been since its release and I don't see that changing any time soon.

With the release of the M&P M2.0 Smith has upped the anti.  The redesigned pistol has a more aggressive texture more fit options, a new proprietary finish and a lightened and improved trigger.

The improvements aren't revolutionary, instead, they are evolutionary and an important step forward in defensive handgun design.

The question you should be asking and that I talk about today is, "do the redesigned features add up to enough for you to part with more than $500 for an improved version of an already good handgun."

Follow this link to find more resources on the Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0.

Subscribe to the SSA Podcast and leave a rating and review by following this link.

Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by becoming a Patron.

Finally, visit our website to find out about training opportunities with Safety Solutions Academy, LLC.

Make sure to check out Cecil's thoughts at http://www.iacombatives.com/

Check out Bryan's work on Modern Rifleman Radio here.

If you are interested in the MAG 40 or MAG 20 with Massad Ayoob (you should be) follow this link to the SSA MAG info page.

I hope you enjoy this epic length show and Bryan's thoughtful input.

There are a lot of things that you can do to get the most of of your defensive shooting class, but one of the easiest things you can do to get the biggest return is to invest in electronic hearing protection.

Protecting your hearing is important, but electronic hearing protection protects more than your hearing. As a Professional Defensive Shooting Instructor, my ability to communicate with my students is critical not only to the students learning, but also to their safety.

One of the hassles of hearing protection is making sure that it is on when you need it and the removal of  that same hearing protection so that you can hear range instructions, course content, or even just regular conversation.  Often, that hearing protection that you removed when you were refilling magazines gets left sitting on the table with you ammunition when you return to the shooting line.  This means you have to run back and grab your ears while everyone else waits for you to return to the line.

This may be the most important factor for most people when it comes to deciding to purchase electronic hearing protection.  Plain and simple, electronic ears help you learn.

Electronic muffs come in different sizes, shapes and levels of performance and it makes sense to know what you are purchasing.  The three areas that are most important to consider when purchasing electronic ear protection are the NRR (Noise Reduction Rating), the microphone quality, and the type of circuitry.

Everyone has to find their own balance of hearing protection that is right for them.  Quality, features and cost all come into play as well as the frequency of use and the stakes that are involved in your specific situation.  So, consider all the factors and make the decision that is best for you!

Make sure to subscribe to the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast in iTunes.

You can also support the SSA Podcast and get access to exclusive content by becoming a Patron!

In this episode I talked with Daniel Shaw the host of Gunfighter Cast and we discussed a wide range of topics from The Pale Blue Dot to Ethics in the Firearms Industry and everything inbetween.

You can find Gunfighter Cast on iTunes and you can learn more about Point Blank Range in the Charlotte area of NC.

Thank you to The Safety Solutions Academy Patrons:

• Daniel Shaw of Gunfighter Cast
• We Like Shooting
• Jeremy Kidder
• Adam Farmer

If you would like to support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and in return have access to additional content simply head to SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/support to learn how you can become a patron.

Main Topic What we can learn from the 2016 World Series

•Conversation with my kids

•What it must feel like to be an Indian and a Cub

•High Level Performers Have Common Traits

•Dedication

•Work Ethic

•Passion

•In a team sense Synergy

We can take some of those lessons to hear when it comes to our preparation for self-defense

•Cubs can sit back and feel good about what they accomplished and how they prepared.

•Cubs would be silly if they didn’t look at how things happened and worked to address weaknesses that can be identified.

•Indians need to feel proud of the success of the season, but also need to look at failures. Easier to do when things turn out poorly.

•When you have success you cannot sit on your laurels.  When you face failure you cannot wallow in despair.  You must focus on the journey and not the outcome.

•Fall in love with the hard work that will likely lead to the best outcome.

Reviews

Thank you so much for the reviews!  Today we will take a look at some of the reviews from this summer!

If you like what you hear, or you don’t, head to iTunes to leave a rating and a review.  Leaving a review will help others find the show and you will be entered to win two days of training with Safety Solutions Academy.

Patron Only Content

Correlation to flight crew cockpit training and quality learning in self-defense training

Learning and ego

If you would like access to this Patron Only content, simply head to SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/support to learn how you can become a patron.  As part of your Patronage you will receive access to a Patron only feed which you can add to your podcast listening app to automatically get your unique content.

Thank you for your support.

When it comes to defensive firearm training you need to approach it like you would approach an investment.  Like any investment, you are making a choice to exchange your resources in return for an outcome that you are interested in.

Maybe you want to learn a new skill, or increase your personal safety, or even gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have the tools, skills and willingness to deal with violence should you be forced to.  Your goal is to take value from a learning experience.

If there are things that you can do to gain more from your training course you should consider doing those things especially if you only need to make a small additional investment to gain significantly more from your course.

Today we are going to take a look at actions you can take to get more from your defensive training course.

Safety Solutions Academy’s flagship defensive handgun course is Critical Defensive Handgun and I try to make the course as accessible as possible when it comes to preparing for class.  Sign up and you will have a great couple of days on the range as well as a pleasant experience getting ready for class.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by becoming a Patron.  Simply head to our Patreon page and choose a pledge level to receive exclusive content.  Including additional audio on each  podcast.  When you become a Patron you are automatically entered to win a GLOCK 19, 2 days of training and 1000 rounds of ammo.  Seriously.  Get on it.

I would love to hear what your thoughts are on the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast and one of the best ways to give me your feedback is to head to our iTunes page and leave us a rating and a review.

Context is key when you are selecting a defensive training course.  Take the time to consider what your goals are for the course that you are going to take and then search for a course that you believe will meet those goals.

When you sign up early you have an opportunity to prepare for class by reading after action reports from other students, investigate other resources that the instructor or school has published such as social media posts, video content or podcast appearances.

Many quality instructors take advantage of modern tools such as email lists, online educational tools and more.

What ever information you receive before class needs to be looked over carefully so that you are as prepared as possible.

A few weeks before class, it is time to get to the fun stuff (at least for most people.)  You need to take the time to assemble the gear that is on the gear list from the instructor so that you know what you have and what you need to get.

Get out to the range and make sure everything is functional.  This is a key step that many forget.  Unless you are certain that the ammo and the gun work together, you need to test them.

One of the most important factor in learning might be how receptive your brain is to new information.  Assuming you have the foundation for the material you are about to learn and have an interest in learning it, you need to make sure that you have an amount of rest that is helpful for learning.

Being at class ahead of time sets the foundation for a great day.  Having an extra 30 minutes gives you time to meet your instructor, make sure you are in the right place, use the bathroom or other issues that can help with your comfort.  Heck, being there early might give you the seat that you want in the classroom or the spot on the bench where the rain won’t blow in on your gear.

The other advantage of planning on arriving to your defensive training course early is that if something goes wrong on the way you have built in a cushion.  That flat tire isn’t as big of a deal if you have extra time to handle it.  The same goes for when the GPS decides to take you on some crazy detour.

Get there early.

This one isn’t as much about you getting the most out of class as it is helping others to get the most out of class. 

Although proper defensive handgun fit is often ignored for various reasons it would be silly for you to not take fit into consideration when you shop for a new defensive handgun or evaluate your current handguns viability.  A properly fit handgun can help to make sure your first round is placed where it needs to be, follow-up shots are on the threat as quickly as possible, and that you are able to keep your handgun running when it is empty or malfunctioning.  All of these tasks may be important for your survival when it matters the most.  Evaluate your defensive handgun fit and make the changes you need to now while you still have control over the fit of your handgun.

In the middle of a life threatening encounter is not the time to be evaluating the fit of your defensive handgun.  The stakes are just too high.  Take a look at your defensive handgun fit today and commit to making changes if you find the fit of your handgun to be less than optimal.

www.SSAPodcast.com

https://SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/itunes

Read more about handgun fit on the SSA Website!

Check out the rest of the episodes at SSAPodcast.com!

Short notes cause I'm pretty sure you aren't reading them anyway....

This is episode 443 of the SSA Podcast and I am so pleased that you have joined us.

The in this week’s show we talk with Jon Hauptman of PHLster Holsters about how he is able to bring innovative new holsters to the market that solve problems that the average concealed carry holder faces and how they can solve those problems with PHLSTER.

Jon is the owner of PHLster Holsters and has a background as an ASCE Certified Mechanic. He also has a degree in fine arts. Jon used his skills as a mechanic and an artist to modify holsters so that they more readily accomplished the task of safely, securely and comfortably concealing his handgun. Those holsters still didn’t quite fit the bill. As Jon explored the holsters that were more capable he found that his next obstacle was the wait time associated with the holsters that were seen as the “best.”

Jon decided that his skills gave him everything he needed to learn how to build a quality holster in less time than it would take to wait for someone else to do it for him.

That was the beginning of PHLster.

• How Jon started and developed PHLster into the company it is today,
• The Lego principle and how it impacts concealed carry comfort,
• How your ccw holster is like a sailboat,
• The impact of counterintuitive principles in firearms manufacturing and concealed carry,
• Why the average person expects too much from their concealed carry holster,
• How time can help you to conceal your gun and,
• Much more!

Important links related to today’s show.

• PHLster Holsters
• PHLSTER on Facebook
• PHLSTER Flex
• PHLster EDC on Youtube

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about

Again, check out safefysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The MagFIX is an improved magazine base pad and sleeve for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The MagFIX:

• Locks the sleeve in place for smooth and fast reloads
• Provides improved grip on the magazine for a better grip on the gun and magazine
• Helps empty mags drop free so that you can get your gun back up and running quickly when you need to most!

You can check out the MagFIX by heading to MagFIX.co to learn more or to make a purchase or you can find the MagFIX on Amazon here!

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!

When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

1. The more consistent your grip is, the easier it will be to fire the gun with speed and precision.
2. The stronger your grip is the more likely you will be able to retain your handgun should there be a struggle over the gun itself.
3. A quality grip is the foundational part of shooting and having a solid grip will make everything else easier.

1. Hand as high as possible on the grip
2. Finger someplace other than the trigger
3. Middle finger hard up against the bottom of the trigger guard
4. Thumb high

1. heel of hand in space created by the high thumb
2. index finger hard up against the bottom of the trigger guard
3. Fingers parallel with fingers of the strong hand
4. Thumbs layered not crossed

1. Select a gun that fits
2. Establish what works for you
3. Habituate your grip
4. Crush your grip on your handgun
5. Get the grip in the holster
6. Train it
7. Practice it
8. Force on Force it

Pocket carry, just like all concealed carry methods, is a compromise.  You always need to be looking at where you need to value conceal-ability, comfort, security, and access.  Typically the more concealed and more comfortable the gun is, the less access you have to that gun.

It can be taken so far toward comfort or concealment that it is almost as if you don't have a gun.

However, when concealed carry is executed correctly in pants pocket it can be an outstanding way to stage a gun to deal with a specific set of circumstances.  

In today's episode of the SSA Podcast we are going to take a look at pocket carry.  We will explore:

• Why I carry a secondary gun in my pocket.
• How to decide if pocket concealed carry it is right for you
• What limitations pocket carry has.
• What guns are best for concealed carry in a pocket.
• What training considerations need to be taken into account when you are considering carry in your pocket.
• What to consider on holsters and other safety concerns with pocket carry.

 Make sure to head to iTunes to subscribe to the SSA Podcast and leave us an honest review so that others can figure out if the SSA Podcast is worth a listen and to enter yourself for a chance to win 2 days of training with Safety Solutions Academy.

When it comes to carrying a concealed handgun it pays to understand that your belt is the foundation for successful concealed carry.  Instead of acknowledging this simple idea, many people focus on the gun.

We all understand why this happens, because guns are sexy and mysterious.  The fact remains that without a good belt, you aren’t likely to carry your gun.

Why?  If you have tried to carry with a crummy belt, you know:

• A belt that doesn’t support your gun is uncomfortable
• A flimsy belt meas a gun that is constantly changing position.
• A belt that is the wrong size for your holster loops doesn’t stay where it belongs.

All of these things mean that you don’t carry that gun that you spent so much time picking out…

Seems a bit counter productive doesn’t it?  Especially if you have to deal with a violent encounter.

What makes belts such an important part of your concealed carry equipment.

What problems a subpar belt leads to in concealed carry.

What are the qualities you should be looking for in a good belt for concealed carry and

Specific recommendations of quality belts for CCW.

Make sure to check out SSA Courses that are coming up by visiting SSA.training/events or head straight to the courses you are looking for by following the links below:

Ohio CCW

Critical Defensive Handgun

Legal Courses

Medical Courses

Please head to safetysolutionsacademy.com/itunes to subscribe tho the SSA Podcast and to leave a review and a rating.

You can listen to other episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by heading to SSAPodcast.com

This past year at the SSA MAG 40 with Massad Ayoob one of the students that attended class was Steve Kent.  I have had the pleasure of training with Steve in the past at Paul-E-Palooza events and was glad to have Steve back.  

Steve is a corrections officer in the State of New York and is an avid trainer.  He spends time as both an instructor and a student.

Being that Steve works in the New York state prison system it makes sense that Steve has some experience with violent criminals and their behavior.

In today's show, we talk with Steve about how you can fail the interview process that violent criminals put you through, we talk about how you can fail that interview and why you want to.  We also dive into lessons learned on the range during the range portion of the MAG40.

Be sure to take a look at the information on this year's MAG 40 which will be May 4-7, 2017 in North East Ohio!

Make sure to subscribe to the SSA Podcast in your favorite podcast app.  

I'd also appreciate it if you could head to SSA.Training/itunes to leave an honest rating and a review of the show.

Finally check out the show notes for this episode at SSA.Training/404.

It is my humble opinion that we must take responsibility for ourselves and our actions.  There are times in everyones lives where things seem beyond our control.  At the same time REGARDLESS of the circumstances we bear responsibility in the situations that we find ourselves in.

I believe this to be true in our personal lives, in our relationships with others, our business environment and even in our own personal protection.

Recently I discussed the book Extreme Ownership on the Industrialist Podcast with Nate Barrett and that motivated me to take a second read through the book.  You can find my interview on the Industrialist here.

I found the second time through to be an even better experience than the first and I have been extending the business principles that are taught through leadership lessons learned in the urban combat of Ramadi with SEAL Team 3, Task Unit Bruiser to other parts of my life.

In today's podcast I talk about how the principle Prioritize and Execute can be applied not only to business but also to preparing to deal with violence and even a violent encounter itself.

I hope you enjoy the show!

You can find Extreme Ownership by following this link.  It is worth a read!

SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/403 is where you will find this podcast on the SSA Website!

Visit the Self Defense Radio Network for more great self defense related podcasts!

We learn best by doing.  The problem with learning by doing however, is the fact that you actually have to surmount the difficulties you face to learn the lessons.  It seems, the more important the lessons, the more difficult the learning.

There is an alternative.  We can learn from the experiences of others if we are really committed to studying their experiences and if they are willing to share.

Over the past six months, Paul Lathrop, the host of the Polite Society Podcast, and an over the road trucker has been learning some difficult and challenging legal lessons.

Paul broke no laws the night he was involved in a seemingly benign truck stop confrontation.  Only words were exchanged.  No blows were thrown or weapons drawn so it seemed that things had ended in a relatively simple manner.

30 minutes later, Paul and his trainee were stopped on I-80 by the Nebraska Highway Patrol.  When Paul arrived back at the truck stop to sort things out, the deputy dealing with the situation placed Paul under arrest.

Soon Paul found himself spending more than 4 days in a county jail without medication that he needed, or a clue about what would come next.

Paul takes some time today to discuss the situation that he found himself in, the struggles that he faced and the mistakes that he feels he made so that you can learn how to avoid those same pitfalls.

Make sure to take a look at these important resources:

Massad Ayoob Group

MAG-40 with SSA in NE Ohio May 4-7 2017

MAG-40 with Paul and Susan Lathrop in Sioux Falls SD, June 15-19, 2017 - email susan at gunsandpolitics.com

Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network

Make sure to keep an eye out for more information about the Self Defense Radio Network.

This Friday 15 episode of the SSA Podcast is brought to you by:

Aridus Industries maker of the awesome accessory for your shotgun the QDC (Quick Detach Carrier.)

You can find Aridus industries at SSA.Training/qdc

Now let’s get right to today’s Friday 15 Topic:

401 - Safety Issues in Simulated Training

Mid june - Death as a result of malfunction clearing in the classroom.

Death of 73 year old female citizen police academy cadet.

Shot fired in a middle school Tennesee during Spree Killer Simulation.  

2 deaths are tragic for lots of reasons most importantly because they are PREVENTABLE!

All three incidents resulted from a lax safety protocol in simulated training and all three incidents were completely preventable.

Lou Chiodo provides solid safety protocol for force on force training that could easily be applied to simulation events as well.

Good article for folks who are running FoF, or ever for folks who are going to take FoF training.  The Problem is the average person doesn’t understand that these protocols are important and they place their trust in the “professionals.”

Kevin Creighton - Discusses the idea that if there was wide-spread understanding of firearm safety rules outside of the gun culture these incidents could have been prevented.  In some circumstances I think Kevin is right.

But I think there is a problem that goes beyond what Lou and Kevin are getting at.  It is a problem that our nanny state has created.

For some reason, people think that because they are the student and someone else is the teacher they are in good hands.  

They believe that even if something doesn’t seem right, who are they to question it.

They forget the idea that THEY will have to live with the consequences of a training incident as much or maybe even more than everyone else involved.

You are responsible for your safety.  As soon as you turn that responsibility over, you surrender your fate.

So what should you do?

Remember what safety is.

Get educated.
Use your education to make good choices.
Pay attention to what is going on.
When something doesn’t seem right, ask for clarification.

Be ready to walk out.

NEver forget that you will have to deal with the consequences of an accident.  Ignorance doesn’t make the negative outcomes disappear….

To put this whole situation in perspective, on average  - 89 people a day die in motor vehicle accidents in the US...

Today, I woke up early, packed my gear in my truck, found a parking lot where I had a pretty good wifi connection and I skyped up Ben Branam of Modern Self Protection.  The sound quality suffered a bit as you can hear a bit of engine and AC noise in the background of my audio, but no excuses!  Time to get some episodes up!

Ben is someone I chat with pretty regularly about podcaster and professional defensive firearms instructor topics and this week we wanted to get together and record a session about the personal defense related topics that we might talk about on a typical call.

We didn't have any kind of a master plan to where things were going to head, but the theme seemed to head towards education in personal safety and personal growth.

I really enjoyed the conversation with Ben and hope that you find it enjoyable as well.

At the end of the podcast Ben shares his thoughts with me about the Plan B v2.0.  I sent Ben a set to try out with his Shield and I asked for his honest feedback.  I couldn't be happier with his response and if you listen to the whole podcast you will know that Ben isn't pulling any punches.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Plan B just head to http://www.ShieldPlanB.com.

Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe on iTunes.

After the second day of range at the most recent MAG 40 course hosted by Safety Solutions Academy I sat down and spoke with a gaggle of students that participated in class.  

The students were from a wide variety of backgrounds and from geographical locations from around the US.

I like to get to know the students that I am working with, especially the students that face challenges.

Richard faces the challenge of living and working in a State that has little respect for his God given rights.  NJ.

Today we talk to Richard about NJ, concealed carry, the RTKBA and a whole host of other subjects.

Make sure to take a look at NJSafe.net.

Also, please take a look at the Plan B from Safety Solutions Academy and help to spread the word!

Although the MAG 40 for 2016 has come and gone, my interview with Bryan Bolivar of Modern Rifleman Radio has tons of information that will be beneficial for years to come.

Make sure to take a listen and check out the information on the MAG 40 and MAG 20 courses that Safety Solutions Academy hosts annually. Also make sure to check out Modern Rifleman Radio with Bryan Bolivar and Ken Kowalski.

You can subscribe to the SSA podcast by heading to http://SafetySolutionsAcademy.com/itunes.

Finally, keep an eye out for lots of content talking about the MAG-40 course from the viewpoint of the students.

This is episode 442 of the SSA Podcast and I am so pleased that you have joined us.

The topic of this week’s show is how you can select a quality holster for concealed carry.

Tom is the owner of Dark Star Gear Holsters. Dark Star Gear is a niche holster manufacturer that focuses on quality holsters for the committed carrier.

Dark Star Gear is one of several companies that has been leading the revival of Appendix Inside the Waistband carry and their products tend to be on the innovative side of the industry and are designed to specifically address the problems that typical people are forced to confront when the carry a gun on a daily basis.

Tom is geared to solve these problems as he is a mechanical engineer and works to make sure that he understands the real pressure that holsters can be subjected to when they are pressed into use in violence.

His products are designed with the end use in mind and are then tested in realistic training environments to ensure proper function.

In today’s show Tom and I look deeply into the topics of holsters, what they are, what they should be, the problems they need to solve and how they can best solve them.

• Why holsters pose a significant gear problem for concealed carry holders,
• “Bargain” holsters, the problems they don’t solve and the issues they dump in the end user’s lap,
• What jobs a quality holster needs beyond serving as a gun bucket,
• What appendix carry is and why it has become so popular,
• The impact of gun size on concealed carry and why a smaller gun isn’t necessarily easier to carry,
• Specific features that can help a holster to carry and conceal a handgun well,
• How understanding the problems that holsters face is critical for the design of a good holster,
• What attachment points are reliable and which should be avoided,
• Why validation of life saving gear is important and how it should be done,
• What to look at most closely when selecting a holster so that you don’t make concessions in important areas of holsters,
• And more.

Important links related to today’s show.

https://darkstargear.com/

Dark Star Gear on Facebook

The M&P Orion - https://darkstargear.com/product/mporion/

The HitchHiker https://darkstargear.com/product/hhgs940/

J-Frame https://darkstargear.com/product/jframe/

You can learn more about the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to ssapodcast.com where you will find the latest episodes of the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast.

Please consider subscribing to the Safety Solutions Academy podcast so that each and every episode of the Safety Solutions Academy podcast will be delivered right to your phone.  You can subscribe and even leave ratings and reviews by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/itunes.

The Safety Solutions Academy Podcast is currently a podcast that is sponsor free and it is supported completely by it’s listeners.

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy podcast by heading to safefysolutionsacademy.com/support and becoming a patron.

In addition to helping to spread the Safety Solutions Academy podcast and it’s important personal protection podcast to a larger audience of people just like you, becoming a patron provides you with access to exclusive content available through a private feed for patrons only. Finally, patrons are eligible for exclusive rewards like training with Safety Solutions Academy, ammunition and even a chance to receive a new handgun.

Head to safety solutionsacademy.com/support to become a patron today.

In today’s Exclusive Patron only portion of the podcast we talk about

Again, check out safefysolutionsacademy.com/support for more information on how you can gain access to the exclusive patron only content.

The MagFIX is an improved magazine base pad and sleeve for the Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The MagFIX:

• Locks the sleeve in place for smooth and fast reloads
• Provides improved grip on the magazine for a better grip on the gun and magazine
• Helps empty mags drop free so that you can get your gun back up and running quickly when you need to most!

You can check out the MagFIX by heading to MagFIX.co to learn more or to make a purchase or you can find the MagFIX on Amazon here!

Safety Solutions Academy is dedicated to educating those that wish to be more prepared to deal with our violent world.  Please take a few minutes to check out the courses we offer:

• Ohio Concealed Carry Courses
• Critical Defensive Handgun
• Advanced Critical Defensive Handgun

You can support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast by clicking through our affiliate links:

• Click on the Amazon Affiliate link every time you shop at Amazon!
• Support the Safety Solutions Academy Podcast when you shop at Brownells!
• When you visit GunMag Warehouse for more mags, and to support the show!

Thanks for listening!

You can check out APEX Tactical Specialties by following this link.

Please follow this link to leave a review for the SSA Podcast on iTunes.

Visit Safety Solutions Academy on the web for more great content and to find out about our courses.

Have a great day!

Thanks for listening!

Please follow this link to leave a review for the SSA Podcast on iTunes.

Visit Safety Solutions Academy on the web for more great content and to find out about our courses.

Have a great day!

It is vital that we are constantly challenging our beliefs.  When it comes to the more critical aspects of our lives, we owe it to ourselves to make certain that we are evaluating on truth rather than on what we believe to be the truth. 

Of course that is an endless quest, however, it is an important one.

Today I share with you a conversation designed to help me in that pursuit of knowledge.

While at the NRAAM in Louisville, I took some time to talk with the folks at Sig Sauer. My specific questions revolved around the Sig P320 and the fact that it didn't have the trigger safety that is common with so many striker fired handguns.

The result of the conversation was this podcast.

I spoke at length with Scott Kenneson, the director of training for the Sig Sauer Academy.

The conversation was a great one and I hope that you enjoy it.

Connect with Safety Solutions Academy by heading to https://SafetySolutionsAcademy.com

Find out more information about the MAG-20 course at https://safetysolutionsacademy.com/mag