Explore every episode of the podcast T.REX TALK
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incompetent People are Threatened by Competence | 03 Sep 2024 | 00:44:10 | |
Conflict comes from division, and division can be created along many lines. Geography, heritage, color, or possessions... Marxism, for example, always tries to divide between the haves and the have nots, the oppressors and the oppressed. But there is another metric that usually gets ignored until the gap is too wide to be bridged. | |||
| Weaponized Justice with Paul Vaughn | 27 Aug 2024 | 00:58:36 | |
A common theme of the current Democratic party messaging is an urgent need to stop Donald Trump from regaining the White House and weaponizing the DOJ against his political enemies. However, it is obvious that the executive branch has already been weaponizing agencies against political enemies of the DNC. Today's guest on the show is Paul Vaughn, a long time T-Rex friend and ally, who has had direct personal experience with this kind of political intimidation through our own enforcement agencies. You can learn more about his story from his articles on Substack, and the Stifled Cry podcast. https://www.stifledcry.com/listen/ https://paultn.substack.com/ | |||
| The Importance of Gunsmithing and Firearm Design | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:51:20 | |
After talking to Hoffman Tactical about their firearm projects, and doing some design work on a future fighting pistol ourselves, we wanted to dive a little bit deeper into firearm development. We review David S. Findlay's Firearm Anatomy series, talk about the different ways that physical constraints and political constraints affect how guns get designed and built, and do some Q&A with the comments on the last T-Rex Labs video. | |||
| Your Past and Future Gun Rights ft. Fudd Busters | 06 Jul 2022 | 00:54:34 | |
The SCOTUS ruling on NYSRPA v. Bruen has a lot of implications for the future legal battles surrounding gun rights. This weekend Isaac was able to spend some time with Matt Larosiere from Fudd Busters, discussing the ramifications of this decision. It's a pretty wide-ranging conversation on past and current legal theory, but it also gets into what we can expect in the future. | |||
| The Tree of Liberty | 26 Jun 2022 | 00:28:14 | |
As Independence Day approaches, we reflect on the Tree of Liberty. It's a pretty long metaphorical exploration, but it goes over the different branches on the Tree, some very recent Supreme Court Rulings, and ways that different trees have in the past been refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants with very different results. | |||
| A Conversation with Redbeard Tactical | 17 Jun 2022 | 00:36:06 | |
Today, Felix and Sasha stopped by to talk about a whole swath of topics, from the economy of training to the lag in military adaptation, from the consequences in Ukraine to the responsibilities of early adopters. | |||
| The Five Big Gun Control Myths | 07 Jun 2022 | 00:24:55 | |
Ok, so there are LOTS of myths about gun control and gun violence, but here are five that are dominating the current news cycle and undergird a lot of the current thinking about guns. | |||
| Big Lessons from Ukraine | 30 May 2022 | 00:20:14 | |
A couple of months ago, we talked about lessons from footage of the first defensive fights in Ukrainian. Today we're talking about some larger lessons related to defense innovation. Is the American Military model more like Ukraine's or Russia's? | |||
| Wild Arms R&D and Homebuilt Rocket Launchers | 23 May 2022 | 00:56:29 | |
Wild Arms Research and Developmemt has spent the last few years building destructive devices. Specifically, developing recoilless launchers and rocket launchers like the Panzerfaust and Fliegerfaust, and then publishing the research for public edification. Isaac Botkin and Jonathan Wild have a free-ranging discussion on munitions design, launcher research, and the two books they have produced so far: | |||
| Behind the Scenes Q&A | 16 May 2022 | 00:34:27 | |
It's been a while since we did a Q&A episode, so Isaac fired up his much-throttled Instagram account for a live conversation with real people who asked real questions. This included queries about 3D printers, suppressor laws, customer support, and of course, lots of curiosity about new products. | |||
| The Three Worst Gun Control Ideas | 09 May 2022 | 00:30:05 | |
There are a lot of different gun control strategies that have been promoted or attempted over the years. Here are three particularly bad ones, and an explanation of who they are actually bad for. | |||
| Intro to Thermal Devices | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:20:05 | |
The internet is buzzing about thermal devices, mostly because of GarandThumb's urban survival video (youtu.be/rL5wePSjTL8). Isaac explains a few basics about how thermal works, how to think about, what the key differentiators are between devices, and how to start learning more about them. | |||
| The Importance of Maps | 20 Apr 2022 | 00:13:50 | |
Maps are important. Seems obvious enough. But learning how to read them and use them to do work is the really important part. | |||
| 3D Printing and Hot Air Balloons with Hoffman Tactical | 18 Jun 2024 | 01:13:25 | |
Tim Hoffman of Hoffman Tactical joins us to discuss how he got involved in 3D printed guns, the death of the maker space and the need for more tinkerers, builders and open source projects. | |||
| The FINAL ATF Rule Change | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:24:43 | |
Well, at least, the final language for the most recent rule change about frames and receivers. Get ready for new rules on braces coming soon! | |||
| How To Build Political Relationships | 05 Apr 2022 | 00:20:55 | |
Here at T.Rex Arms we recommend getting involved in local politics. Which leads to the questions "How do I get involved in local politics?" and "Why should I get involved in local politics?" | |||
| Three Categories of Radio Communication | 23 Mar 2022 | 00:23:21 | |
Due to popular demand, another comms episode! This should be helpful in determining what kinds of capabilities you want to build in one of these three categories:
And here is a link to a bonus homework assignment: FEMA's DHS radio interoperability course is interesting to read: IS-951 | |||
| The Unpredictable Backlash against Russia | 15 Mar 2022 | 00:29:16 | |
The entire world has now bravely tweeted out Ukranian flag emojis in noble support, and selflessly poured out Russian vodkas in righteous indignation. The internet's reaction to a tragic war has, for the most part, been predictably laughable. And yet, a lot of these emotional kneejerk reactions could have serious long-term effects... | |||
| Practical Lessons from Ukraine | 01 Mar 2022 | 00:34:54 | |
We are far from having a clear picture of the geopolitical wrangling surrounding the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and the livestreamed video of the conflict doesn't actually clarify things much yet. However, it does provide us with a very interesting picture of citizens, militias, and light infantry pushing back against a hostile force. So, let's talk about the need to have:
And, as promised, some links to the TV shows Servant of the People and Yes Prime Minister. | |||
| In Memory of P.J. O'Rourke | 22 Feb 2022 | 00:29:06 | |
P.J. O'Rourke was one of the best journalists of the 20th Century; a master of clear, concise, well-structured communication. What better way to honor his memory than a rambling, long, and completely unplanned livestream talking about some of his best work? Isaac describes what made him stand apart, and what T.REX folks can learn from him. | |||
| Starting Conversations about the Second Amendment | 15 Feb 2022 | 00:13:49 | |
Over the last couple of years, there have been a record number of guns purchased by the American public, and a shockingly large percentage of those were purchased by first time gun owners. While we can appreciate those folks being better equipped to physically defend themselves, they may not be ideologically able to defend their right to do so. How can we bring them along to a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the Second Amendment really means? | |||
| Deplatforming Platforms | 08 Feb 2022 | 00:23:47 | |
This was a big week in the ongoing discussion about the regulation and control of large social media platforms that regularly de-platform their customers that they disagree with. All kinds of kerfuffle related to Spotify, Patreon, and GoFundMe has ensued, and a lot of stuff has happened as a result. | |||
| The Drone Wars (Season Two) | 31 Jan 2022 | 00:26:30 | |
Isaac talks about continuing developments and uses of drones. Specific discussion on the Parrot Anafi drones, and newer Skydio drones, as well as the increased use of quadcopter use in Law Enforcement. | |||
| The State of EmComm Radio in 2022 | 25 Jan 2022 | 00:24:44 | |
The number of people building out decentralized radio communication has grown over the last few years, and a lot of lessons have been learned, and a lot of tools and capabilities have grown. Here are a few things Isaac is excited about: | |||
| The Creepiest Dystopian Thriller You've Never Heard Of | 11 Jun 2024 | 00:44:55 | |
The early 21st Century is a good time to be thinking about cyberpunk dystopias. Fictional dystopian worlds (and attempted Utopian ones) are interesting thought experiments that have an effect on the populations that read them. 1984 and Brave New World have shaped political discourse in the real world to a substantial degree. But you probably want to be aware of one of the least known and least discussed dystopian novels in recent history. Its obscurity is almost as disturbing as its creepy, all-powerful computer-controlled government. Also, you should be aware of some real-life utopian experiments that have been attempted in the past. Very thought provoking: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/is-silicon-valley-building-universe | |||
| Shot Show 2022 Review | 20 Jan 2022 | 01:29:38 | |
Lucas and Isaac talk about some of the products that have been announced this year at Shot Show, from optics to pistols to rifles and more. There are some very encouraging trends this year, and some very cool night vision developments. | |||
| Ryan Busse's "Gunfight" Book Review | 18 Jan 2022 | 00:34:44 | |
Ryan Busse spent 25 years at the Kimber firearm company, climbing his way up through sales to become Vice President of the company. Then, he suddenly switched sides to become an advisor to the Giffords gun control group, work on the Biden Presidential campaign, and write this tell-all book about the terrible radicalizing effects of the horrible NRA and fearsome gun industry. | |||
| The Actual Insurrectionists of January 6th | 11 Jan 2022 | 00:22:45 | |
Last year, on January 6th, a mob of people entered the United States Capitol Building and had the audacity to walk right past countless statues of America's Founding Fathers. Who were the actual insurrectionists? | |||
| 2021 Year in Review - Behind the Scenes | 06 Jan 2022 | 01:01:54 | |
Isaac talks a bit about some of the experiences we had as a company during the year 2021. | |||
| Welcome to 2022! | 03 Jan 2022 | 00:20:10 | |
Want to find out why Isaac is excited about 2022? Get ready. | |||
| How Do We Build Gun Culture 3.0? | 20 Dec 2021 | 00:19:07 | |
What do our next steps look like? As our community develops, what skills do we need? What tools should be acquiring? What principles do we need to understand in order to answer these questions? | |||
| How Lucas Botkin Learned to Shoot | 16 Dec 2021 | 00:59:24 | |
Lucas talks about some of the experiences he had as a new shooter. | |||
| Three Generations of Gun Culture | 14 Dec 2021 | 00:20:56 | |
There's a lot of talk about Gun Culture 1.0 and 2.0, and Isaac lays out some groundwork on these different phases of our 2A community, in preparation for a few upcoming podcasts... | |||
| Black Friday Wrap-Up Q&A | 09 Dec 2021 | 01:06:10 | |
As we wrap up all the orders that came in during Black Friday, Isaac talks about some of our experiences during this year's sale. | |||
| 102 - The Good Kind of Dangerous | 04 Dec 2021 | 00:25:04 | |
Edward Durr is being called a dangerous man. Why? Because he, a mere truck driver with a miniscule $3,000 war chest, had the audacity to run for state Senate in New Jersey, beating out the entrenched incumbent, a professional politician with immense power, a thirty-year history in Government, and a $300,000 campaign budget. | |||
| Strange Night Vision Devices of the Present and Past with Nick Chen | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:58:10 | |
Night vision has been one of the most magical and mysterious capabilities fielded by many militaries over many decades. However, times have changed, and Gen 3 night vision is now pretty commonplace for soldiers and civilians alike. PVS-14s and PVS-31s are the Glocks of night vision devices, and yet there are many more strange and esoteric ways to see in the dark then you can possibly imagine. Nick Chen both collects and documents the capabilities of some of the world's rarest goggles and observational tool, and he shows us some in this conversation. | |||
| 101 - What is the Future of Radio Comms? | 02 Dec 2021 | 01:05:11 | |
What kinds of radio gear should you have to communicate with, and how should you be preparing for the future? Isaac talks SDRs, mesh networks, direction finding, jamming, and more. This one is better as video, since there are a few demos. | |||
| 100 - The Purpose of Thanksgiving | 29 Nov 2021 | 00:18:42 | |
Not just the holiday, which this podcast is too late for, but also the actual virtue of being a thankful person, and recognizing the blessings that you need to be grateful for, preserve, defend, improve, and pass on. | |||
| Black Friday 2021 | 25 Nov 2021 | 00:59:25 | |
Lucas talks about ways to save money on gear and the upcoming Black Friday at T.REX Arms. | |||
| Who Was That Masked Man? | 21 Nov 2021 | 00:25:37 | |
The media has predictably freaked out over the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, calling him a vigilante, a symbol of hate, and worse. Isaac decides to get all philosophical about heroic vigilantes, symbolic outlaws, and freedom fighters of history and fiction. A fast look at Robin Hood, Zorro, Scarlet Pimpernel, The Scarecrow (and Batman, obviously), all compared with men of the War for American Independence and the resistance movements of WWII. | |||
| Shooting Fundamentals I Don't Teach Anymore | 18 Nov 2021 | 01:02:29 | |
Lucas talks about some various shooting fundamentals that he used to teach. | |||
| Lessons from Kyle Rittenhouse | 13 Nov 2021 | 00:17:49 | |
Isaac talks about the lessons we can learn from Kyle Rittenhouse, the situation he found himself in, and what it means for our kids. | |||
| Three Months of Sidecar 2.0 | 11 Nov 2021 | 00:57:59 | |
Isaac goes over some of the production details involved with the Sidecar 2.0, various things that we've improved and expanded upon, and a few things we've learned. | |||
| The Drone Wars (Season One) | 08 Nov 2021 | 00:29:08 | |
Begun, these Drone Wars have. Isaac gives a super brief overview of unmanned aircraft use, both by big military and small individuals, and some some cool tools that future users could benefit from. | |||
| Navigation and Maps Q&A | 04 Nov 2021 | 00:57:24 | |
Isaac goes over navigation and maps. Devices, how to buy paper maps, drones, ATAK, radios, and more. | |||
| Building a More Robust Manufacturing Industry | 01 Nov 2021 | 00:19:38 | |
Isaac talks about why the best tools may not always be the best tools. | |||
| Data Preservation to Battle Historic Revisionism | 29 May 2024 | 00:47:25 | |
David Botkin gets on the podcast to talk about how history is being rewritten, and some of the books that he has collected to preserve esoteric military data that used to be common knowledge. We also go down a bit of a rabbits trail involving data preservation methods, personal servers, and AI-generated Muppet war. This episode is something of a follow-up to the T.Rex Labs video on digital libraries. | |||
| What Helmet / Night Vision to Get | 28 Oct 2021 | 01:00:17 | |
Lucas talks about Helmets and Night Vision. | |||
| Firearms on Film Sets, Cameras on Ranges | 25 Oct 2021 | 00:23:16 | |
For those of you that don't know, Isaac used to work in the film biz, and he breaks down how firearms are treated and should be treated on movie sets, as well as some issues related to Alec Baldwin, Adam Baldwin, hypocrisy, accountability, and complacency. There are a few lessons for those of us in the firearm biz. | |||
| Light/Dark Technical Q&A | 21 Oct 2021 | 00:59:01 | |
Isaac continues low-light October with a more technical Q&A about night vision, flashlights, and optics, and various other things that you use in the dark. Also, robot dogs for some reason. | |||