THE PODCAST

Elevating the conversation about all things tactical.

Sniper in the Tower: 1966 Austin Clock Tower Shooting

Sniper in the Tower: 1966 Austin Clock Tower Shooting

This watershed event was part of the discussion that brought the idea of a SWAT team to the national stage and arguably brought momentum to what some now consider to be the militarization of the police. We talk about counter ambush tactics, cover or suppressive fire in law enforcement, tactical medicine, and more.

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Calling Bull$h!#: Responding to Swatting Hoaxes

Calling Bull$h!#: Responding to Swatting Hoaxes

EPISODE 167 Calling Bull$h!#: Responding to Swatting Hoaxes No one should die over a false report. Internet gamers, celebrities and public figures, and maybe even one of your neighbors have been the victim of this sort of prank. These hoax emergency calls that can...

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Run the Clock: Time, Talk, Tear Gas, Tactics

Run the Clock: Time, Talk, Tear Gas, Tactics

EPISODE 166 Run the Clock: Time, Talk, Tear Gas, TacticsThe 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Downs v. United States was a benchmark case for domestic law enforcement that establishes our requirement to attempt negotiations for a peaceful resolution. We define...

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Power Lines and Wildfires: 2023 Maui Disaster

Power Lines and Wildfires: 2023 Maui Disaster

Over 100 people were killed, more than 2,000 structures destroyed, and over $5 billion in damage were left behind after wind and fire tore through the historic Lahaina district and adjacent areas in Maui, Hawaii. We dive into some of the public safety and disaster planning takeaways from this event including evacuations, notifications, misinformation, planning, and risk.

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Strategy for Door Kickers

Strategy for Door Kickers

What’s the difference between strategy and tactics? Some definitions might help, but it’s also important to learn how to think critically about complex problems. Strategy is about the big picture. Learn more here.

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Ordering Troops to their Deaths

Ordering Troops to their Deaths

EPISODE 162 Ordering Troops to their DeathsIs the American military prepared for the sacrifices that we can expect in a World War? Mike and Jim discuss whether commanders can lead and whether the troops will follow when it comes time to storm the beaches knowing many...

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Tactical ADHD: Managing Attention

Tactical ADHD: Managing Attention

EPISODE 161 Tactical ADHD: Managing AttentionSituational awareness demands focus and selective attention.  Sometimes playing on your phone can help, and sometimes it can kill you. Most people can’t multitask as well as they think, but Mike and Jim will give you...

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What’s up with the beards? Setting and Enforcing Standards

What’s up with the beards? Setting and Enforcing Standards

Green Berets have to work with a different rule book than the troops guarding nuclear weapons—and for good reasons. We explore the balance between strict adherence to rules and the often necessary flexibility to go off-script in tactical operations and your organization’s culture.

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Sniper in the Tower: 1966 Austin Clock Tower Shooting

Sniper in the Tower: 1966 Austin Clock Tower Shooting

This watershed event was part of the discussion that brought the idea of a SWAT team to the national stage and arguably brought momentum to what some now consider to be the militarization of the police. We talk about counter ambush tactics, cover or suppressive fire in law enforcement, tactical medicine, and more.

read more
Power Lines and Wildfires: 2023 Maui Disaster

Power Lines and Wildfires: 2023 Maui Disaster

Over 100 people were killed, more than 2,000 structures destroyed, and over $5 billion in damage were left behind after wind and fire tore through the historic Lahaina district and adjacent areas in Maui, Hawaii. We dive into some of the public safety and disaster planning takeaways from this event including evacuations, notifications, misinformation, planning, and risk.

read more

Home Security: Defense in Depth!

Every gun guy (and lady) has thought about how they might have to confront an intruder coming into their house.  Too many times, when talking home defense, I have heard the conversation go to that universal language of the pump shotgun

21 Foot Rule

One of the patterns we have noticed lately is how intense the tactical community’s relationship with fads can be. The Sheepdog analogy is a useful way to help a young soldier or cop begin to understand that they have to be prepared to do violence, but in a constrained way. It tends to fall apart when taken too far, though. The Spartan legacy is useful in inspiring toughness – but that doesn’t mean you have to run around wearing a helmet and shield. In the tactical training telephone game, good ideas can morph into rules and then into obsessions, and in the process, they can lose their utility. One of the big ones is the 21-Foot Rule.

Marker Training

Dog Training: Markers Maybe less tacti-cool than you’re used to, but enough people have dogs that...

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