EPISODE 199

The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword…

sometimes

 

Dec 15, 2025 | Podcast

a clip from the movie Clear and Present Danger, the search team locates where the sniper ate his lunch. They hold up a wrapper from a fast food resturant.

Everyone in a fight has their side of the story. That story is a crafted message that can keep someone in the fight, convince them to stop fighting, and convince bystanders you are the good guy worth helping or the bad guy worth piling onto.

Police in America are struggling with an increasingly hostile public narrative that degrades morale, budgets, recruiting, and public cooperation when you need it most. In irregular warfare, the narrative may have more impact than the guided missiles. 

The conversation focuses on practical storytelling skills leaders need to operate effectively in contested environments. Check out this episode to learn how tactical actions reverberate at the operational and strategic levels, why “neutrality” is often a false posture, and how to communicate facts through compelling, ethical narratives that build credibility rather than erode it. This episode is essential listening for professionals who operate in public-facing roles where perception directly impacts mission success.

The History of the Marine Corps: https://www.marines.com/about-the-marine-corps/who-are-the-marines/history.html

The History of Special Forces:  https://arsof-history.org/history.html#check-sf

Storytelling Tactics https://pipdecks.com/products/storyteller-tactics

Malcom Gladwell’s TED Talk about his book The Tipping Point: https://youtu.be/RmXrwKydM9k 

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell – https://amzn.to/48X1gg1 

Brian Willis TED talk most dangerous weapon in LE https://youtu.be/qwC-RHsC6gw 

Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

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Intro music credit Bensound.com

 

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