Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:48:50 -0700 https://walkthetalkamerica.org/podcast/ en-us © 2026 Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America yes 0ffc832b-6cd0-53e7-9b75-5a96c72e5f16 Walk the Talk America episodic true The Walk the Talk America Podcast is where firearm culture and mental health meet with curiosity, not confrontation.

 

Each episode brings together voices from the firearm community, mental health professionals, researchers, and everyday gun owners to have honest conversations about suicide prevention, culture, and practical solutions.

 

We focus on education over outrage, nuance over noise, and collaboration over division, because reducing negative outcomes requires diverse perspectives. 

 

And because this work is personal, every episode closes with a simple but powerful question: How do you stay mentally healthy?

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) guns and mental health, mental health for gun owners, Walk the Talk America https://storage.buzzsprout.com/lp7i62ihs3or7wynfum3kpjpvs4a?.jpg Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America https://walkthetalkamerica.org/podcast/ Jake Wiskerchen Michael Sodini Kevin Berry Ep 175: Domestic Violence Survivor Fights to Restore Her Gun Rights | Kelly Sutliff’s Updated Story Ep 175: Domestic Violence Survivor Fights to Restore Her Gun Rights | Kelly Sutliff’s Updated Story Domestic violence survivor Kelly Sutliff returns to Guns & Mental Health with a major update: after years of legal battles, having her firearm confiscated, and navigating New Jersey’s firearm permitting system, she has finally been approved to own a handgun again.

But getting there was anything but simple.

Kelly shares what happened after she reapplied for her New Jersey Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, why she was asked to undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations, how the process ultimately cost her nearly $10,000, and why she believes her experience raises serious questions about red flag laws, due process, domestic violence survivors, and the restoration of firearm rights.

Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, and Rafael join Kelly for a wider conversation about what happens when firearm laws intersect with domestic violence, mental health evaluations, victim safety, and the realities of navigating the legal system.

Rafael also shares how Bersa stepped in to help make Kelly whole by donating the handgun she was finally able to purchase after receiving approval.

The conversation then turns to Kelly’s Canines: Tales of Courage, the nonprofit Kelly founded to provide trained protection dogs to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors at no cost. Kelly explains how her own protection dog helped restore a sense of safety after her firearm was taken and how that experience inspired her to help other survivors.

This episode explores:

• Kelly’s original red flag and firearm confiscation
• Her experience as a domestic violence survivor in New Jersey
• The process of restoring her firearm rights
• Psychological evaluations for firearm ownership
• The nearly $10,000 cost of navigating the process
• Due process and red flag laws
• Firearm ownership and mental health
• Bersa’s decision to donate Kelly a handgun
• Protection dogs as another option for survivor safety
• Kelly’s Canines: Tales of Courage
• How firearm policy can create unintended consequences for victims

Walk the Talk America works to bridge the gap between mental health and responsible firearm ownership through education, conversations, partnerships, and programs designed to reduce suicide and improve mental wellness without stigmatizing gun owners.

If Kelly’s story resonates with you, share this episode. These conversations matter, particularly when laws designed to protect people may have unintended consequences for the very individuals they are intended to help.

Linbks:

Kelly Sutliff

https://www.instagram.com/kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage/
https://www.instagram.com/real_talk_with_kelly/
https://www.kellysk9s.org
https://www.youtube.com/@KellysK9sTailsofCourage
https://www.tiktok.com/@tails_of_courage

Bersa

https://www.instagram.com/bersa_usa/
https://bersausa.com
https://www.facebook.com/BersaArms

Rafael DelValle

https://www.instagram.com/rdelvalle1/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Domestic violence survivor Kelly Sutliff returns to Guns & Mental Health with a major update: after years of legal battles, having her firearm confiscated, and navigating New Jersey’s firearm permitting system, she has finally been approved to own a handgun again.

But getting there was anything but simple.

Kelly shares what happened after she reapplied for her New Jersey Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, why she was asked to undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations, how the process ultimately cost her nearly $10,000, and why she believes her experience raises serious questions about red flag laws, due process, domestic violence survivors, and the restoration of firearm rights.

Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, and Rafael join Kelly for a wider conversation about what happens when firearm laws intersect with domestic violence, mental health evaluations, victim safety, and the realities of navigating the legal system.

Rafael also shares how Bersa stepped in to help make Kelly whole by donating the handgun she was finally able to purchase after receiving approval.

The conversation then turns to Kelly’s Canines: Tales of Courage, the nonprofit Kelly founded to provide trained protection dogs to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors at no cost. Kelly explains how her own protection dog helped restore a sense of safety after her firearm was taken and how that experience inspired her to help other survivors.

This episode explores:

• Kelly’s original red flag and firearm confiscation
• Her experience as a domestic violence survivor in New Jersey
• The process of restoring her firearm rights
• Psychological evaluations for firearm ownership
• The nearly $10,000 cost of navigating the process
• Due process and red flag laws
• Firearm ownership and mental health
• Bersa’s decision to donate Kelly a handgun
• Protection dogs as another option for survivor safety
• Kelly’s Canines: Tales of Courage
• How firearm policy can create unintended consequences for victims

Walk the Talk America works to bridge the gap between mental health and responsible firearm ownership through education, conversations, partnerships, and programs designed to reduce suicide and improve mental wellness without stigmatizing gun owners.

If Kelly’s story resonates with you, share this episode. These conversations matter, particularly when laws designed to protect people may have unintended consequences for the very individuals they are intended to help.

Linbks:

Kelly Sutliff

https://www.instagram.com/kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage/
https://www.instagram.com/real_talk_with_kelly/
https://www.kellysk9s.org
https://www.youtube.com/@KellysK9sTailsofCourage
https://www.tiktok.com/@tails_of_courage

Bersa

https://www.instagram.com/bersa_usa/
https://bersausa.com
https://www.facebook.com/BersaArms

Rafael DelValle

https://www.instagram.com/rdelvalle1/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19630780 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0700 4725 7 13 full false Ep 174: Inside the NRA Annual Meeting: How the Firearm Industry is Changing the Mental Health Conversation Ep 174: Inside the NRA Annual Meeting: How the Firearm Industry is Changing the Mental Health Conversation What really happens at the NRA Annual Meeting, and how is the firearm industry evolving its approach to mental health and suicide prevention?

In this special recap episode, Michael Sodini, J Hood, and Kevin Berry reflect on their experience at the 2026 NRA Annual Meeting, sharing what stood out from dozens of meetings with firearm manufacturers, media outlets, and industry leaders. They discuss how conversations about mental health have matured, why more companies are engaging with Walk the Talk America, and the barriers that still prevent some organizations from getting involved.

The discussion explores why supporting suicide prevention isn’t just about writing a check. From including mental health resources in product packaging to sharing educational content, donating auction items, collaborating on research, and simply amplifying lifesaving resources, the team explains how companies of every size can make a meaningful impact.

They also examine the unique role Walk the Talk America plays as a bridge between the firearm industry, healthcare, and mental health communities, and share a vision for bringing those worlds together through deeper collaboration, research partnerships, and future industry summits.

Whether you’re a firearm owner, industry professional, healthcare provider, researcher, or simply interested in finding practical, nonpartisan solutions to reduce suicide while respecting the reasons people choose to own firearms, this episode offers an inside look at where the conversation is headed—and why collaboration matters more than ever.

Topics Covered:

  • Behind the scenes at the 2026 NRA Annual Meeting
  • Why more firearm companies are engaging with mental health
  • Common misconceptions that prevent organizations from getting involved
  • Practical ways businesses can support suicide prevention
  • The importance of partnerships between industry and healthcare
  • Walk the Talk America’s long-term vision for collaboration and research
  • Why changing culture takes consistency, trust, and patience

Learn more about Walk the Talk America at walkthetalkamerica.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> What really happens at the NRA Annual Meeting, and how is the firearm industry evolving its approach to mental health and suicide prevention?

In this special recap episode, Michael Sodini, J Hood, and Kevin Berry reflect on their experience at the 2026 NRA Annual Meeting, sharing what stood out from dozens of meetings with firearm manufacturers, media outlets, and industry leaders. They discuss how conversations about mental health have matured, why more companies are engaging with Walk the Talk America, and the barriers that still prevent some organizations from getting involved.

The discussion explores why supporting suicide prevention isn’t just about writing a check. From including mental health resources in product packaging to sharing educational content, donating auction items, collaborating on research, and simply amplifying lifesaving resources, the team explains how companies of every size can make a meaningful impact.

They also examine the unique role Walk the Talk America plays as a bridge between the firearm industry, healthcare, and mental health communities, and share a vision for bringing those worlds together through deeper collaboration, research partnerships, and future industry summits.

Whether you’re a firearm owner, industry professional, healthcare provider, researcher, or simply interested in finding practical, nonpartisan solutions to reduce suicide while respecting the reasons people choose to own firearms, this episode offers an inside look at where the conversation is headed—and why collaboration matters more than ever.

Topics Covered:

  • Behind the scenes at the 2026 NRA Annual Meeting
  • Why more firearm companies are engaging with mental health
  • Common misconceptions that prevent organizations from getting involved
  • Practical ways businesses can support suicide prevention
  • The importance of partnerships between industry and healthcare
  • Walk the Talk America’s long-term vision for collaboration and research
  • Why changing culture takes consistency, trust, and patience

Learn more about Walk the Talk America at walkthetalkamerica.org.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19625686 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0700 2648 7 12 full false Ep 173: A Therapist’s Journey Into Firearm Culture Ep 173: A Therapist’s Journey Into Firearm Culture What happens when a licensed therapist falls in love with shooting sports?

In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health Podcast, Stanford Spurlock shares his journey from working in the music industry to becoming a mental health counselor, competitive shooter, and advocate for reducing the stigma between firearm ownership and seeking therapy.

The conversation explores why many responsible gun owners hesitate to seek mental health care, how therapists can better understand firearm culture, and why nuance—not stereotypes—is essential for improving both mental health and responsible firearm ownership.

Whether you’re a firearm owner, clinician, veteran, or simply interested in improving conversations around mental health, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on one of today’s most misunderstood topics.

In this episode:

  • Why Stanford left the music industry for mental health
  • Becoming a firearm owner in Montana
  • The stigma surrounding gun owners seeking therapy
  • Why many therapists don’t understand firearm culture
  • How responsible firearm ownership and mental wellness can coexist
  • The importance of secure firearm storage during times of crisis
  • Why nuance matters more than labels

Subscribe for more conversations exploring the intersection of mental health and responsible firearm ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> What happens when a licensed therapist falls in love with shooting sports?

In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health Podcast, Stanford Spurlock shares his journey from working in the music industry to becoming a mental health counselor, competitive shooter, and advocate for reducing the stigma between firearm ownership and seeking therapy.

The conversation explores why many responsible gun owners hesitate to seek mental health care, how therapists can better understand firearm culture, and why nuance—not stereotypes—is essential for improving both mental health and responsible firearm ownership.

Whether you’re a firearm owner, clinician, veteran, or simply interested in improving conversations around mental health, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on one of today’s most misunderstood topics.

In this episode:

  • Why Stanford left the music industry for mental health
  • Becoming a firearm owner in Montana
  • The stigma surrounding gun owners seeking therapy
  • Why many therapists don’t understand firearm culture
  • How responsible firearm ownership and mental wellness can coexist
  • The importance of secure firearm storage during times of crisis
  • Why nuance matters more than labels

Subscribe for more conversations exploring the intersection of mental health and responsible firearm ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19509862 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0700 6722 7 11 full false Ep 172: Ton Jones on Grief, Resilience, Firearms, and the Conversations That Save Lives Ep 172: Ton Jones on Grief, Resilience, Firearms, and the Conversations That Save Lives Ton Jones is known by many as the larger-than-life personality from Auction Hunters, but behind the television career, firearms expertise, and decades in the outdoor industry is a story shaped by loss, resilience, responsibility, and human connection.

In this deeply personal conversation, Ton joins Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry to discuss the unexpected rabbit holes he discovered while listening to the Guns & Mental Health podcast, his concerns about how suicide prevention and firearm policy are approached, and why meaningful progress requires people from different communities to sit down and truly listen to one another.

Ton shares a powerful story about supporting a suicidal veteran during a hunting trip, reflects on helping researchers better understand firearms at SHOT Show, and explains how his years working in Hollywood taught him to translate complicated and emotionally charged topics between people with very different perspectives.

He also opens up about surviving on his own as a teenager, losing nearly everything when his home was robbed and burned down, the sudden death of his father, the loss of his grandfather, and the lessons that helped him rebuild rather than allow grief and anger to consume him.

The conversation also explores responsible firearm ownership, the family traditions that shaped Ton’s understanding of safety and secure storage, and the daily practices he now uses to protect his own mental wellness.

This episode is ultimately about showing up: for family, for friends, for veterans, for people who are struggling, and even for those whose perspectives may be very different from our own.

Because sometimes a conversation, a phone call, a shared campfire, or a simple question “How are you doing?” can help bring someone back to life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Ton Jones is known by many as the larger-than-life personality from Auction Hunters, but behind the television career, firearms expertise, and decades in the outdoor industry is a story shaped by loss, resilience, responsibility, and human connection.

In this deeply personal conversation, Ton joins Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry to discuss the unexpected rabbit holes he discovered while listening to the Guns & Mental Health podcast, his concerns about how suicide prevention and firearm policy are approached, and why meaningful progress requires people from different communities to sit down and truly listen to one another.

Ton shares a powerful story about supporting a suicidal veteran during a hunting trip, reflects on helping researchers better understand firearms at SHOT Show, and explains how his years working in Hollywood taught him to translate complicated and emotionally charged topics between people with very different perspectives.

He also opens up about surviving on his own as a teenager, losing nearly everything when his home was robbed and burned down, the sudden death of his father, the loss of his grandfather, and the lessons that helped him rebuild rather than allow grief and anger to consume him.

The conversation also explores responsible firearm ownership, the family traditions that shaped Ton’s understanding of safety and secure storage, and the daily practices he now uses to protect his own mental wellness.

This episode is ultimately about showing up: for family, for friends, for veterans, for people who are struggling, and even for those whose perspectives may be very different from our own.

Because sometimes a conversation, a phone call, a shared campfire, or a simple question “How are you doing?” can help bring someone back to life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19509796 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 -0700 7180 7 10 full false Ep 171: Jared Buchanan's Journey of Healing and Advocacy Ep 171: Jared Buchanan's Journey of Healing and Advocacy Jared Buchanan shares his personal journey through grief, mental health advocacy, and ultra running, all inspired by his father's suicide. Discover insights on recognizing signs, the importance of connection, and how resilience and humor can aid healing.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jared Buchanan shares his personal journey through grief, mental health advocacy, and ultra running, all inspired by his father's suicide. Discover insights on recognizing signs, the importance of connection, and how resilience and humor can aid healing.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19396658 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700 5463 7 9 full false Ep 170: Protecting Schools and Supporting Veterans Ep 170: Protecting Schools and Supporting Veterans In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, Mike and Jake sit down with the Allegiance Project Foundation to discuss a different approach to school safety.

The conversation explores how Allegiance Project Foundation hires and trains veterans for school security, helps schools build a security mindset, and supports veterans as they transition out of military service and into a renewed sense of purpose.

From threat assessment and school safety culture to veteran mental health, identity, brotherhood, and the hard realities of transition, this episode digs into what it means to protect children while also caring for the people doing the protecting.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, Mike and Jake sit down with the Allegiance Project Foundation to discuss a different approach to school safety.

The conversation explores how Allegiance Project Foundation hires and trains veterans for school security, helps schools build a security mindset, and supports veterans as they transition out of military service and into a renewed sense of purpose.

From threat assessment and school safety culture to veteran mental health, identity, brotherhood, and the hard realities of transition, this episode digs into what it means to protect children while also caring for the people doing the protecting.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19396639 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0700 6217 7 8 full false Ep 169: Listening Through Loss: Nelba Márquez-Greene on Grief, Community, and Humanity Ep 169: Listening Through Loss: Nelba Márquez-Greene on Grief, Community, and Humanity In this deeply human episode of the WTTA Guns and Mental Health Podcast, Michael Sodini sits down with Nelba Márquez-Greene, mother of Ana Grace, who was murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting.

This conversation is not about politics or taking sides. It is about listening. Nelba shares her story as a mother, wife, clinician, educator, and survivor of unimaginable loss. Together, she and Michael discuss grief, community, storytelling, faith, mental health, responsible conversations around firearms, and the importance of seeing one another as human before anything else.

It is a powerful reminder that real progress begins when people are willing to sit together, listen honestly, and refuse to let tragedy become just another talking point.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this deeply human episode of the WTTA Guns and Mental Health Podcast, Michael Sodini sits down with Nelba Márquez-Greene, mother of Ana Grace, who was murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting.

This conversation is not about politics or taking sides. It is about listening. Nelba shares her story as a mother, wife, clinician, educator, and survivor of unimaginable loss. Together, she and Michael discuss grief, community, storytelling, faith, mental health, responsible conversations around firearms, and the importance of seeing one another as human before anything else.

It is a powerful reminder that real progress begins when people are willing to sit together, listen honestly, and refuse to let tragedy become just another talking point.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19146016 Fri, 08 May 2026 07:00:00 -0700 4512 7 7 full false Ep 168: From the Firearms Industry to the Research Stage Ep 168: From the Firearms Industry to the Research Stage Michael Sodini recaps his experience last fall at Rutgers University, where he was invited to close out a summit hosted by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. 

In this conversation, Michael and Kevin break down what happened when Walk the Talk America brought a firearms industry perspective into a room full of researchers, social workers, and advocacy groups. They discuss the disconnect between policy conversations and the realities of gun ownership, the momentum behind WTTA’s ROOTS Project and Kids to Kings, and why practical solutions, trusted messengers, and better collaboration matter more than ever.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini recaps his experience last fall at Rutgers University, where he was invited to close out a summit hosted by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center. 

In this conversation, Michael and Kevin break down what happened when Walk the Talk America brought a firearms industry perspective into a room full of researchers, social workers, and advocacy groups. They discuss the disconnect between policy conversations and the realities of gun ownership, the momentum behind WTTA’s ROOTS Project and Kids to Kings, and why practical solutions, trusted messengers, and better collaboration matter more than ever.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-19029273 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0700 4333 responsible gun ownership, gun culture, firearm safety, safe storage, firearms industry, gun violence research, mental health, Walk the Talk America, WTTA 7 6 full false Ep 167: If It Moves, You’ll Know: How Kini Helps You Monitor Firearm Access at Home Ep 167: If It Moves, You’ll Know: How Kini Helps You Monitor Firearm Access at Home Firearm storage is not just about what you buy, it’s about what you know. In this episode, Mike and Nicky Zabetian from Kinisium join Mike to break down Kini Safe Alert, a small, discreet motion/tamper notification device that texts (or app-notifies) you when something you care about is moved, opened, or accessed.


They talk through the real stories that inspired the product, why “my kids know better” is not a plan, and how Kini can add a passive layer of awareness to safes, drawers, cases, ammo storage, and more. You’ll also hear how they built the product through COVID-era supply chain chaos, why they designed it to avoid subscriptions, how the settings work (sensitivity, quiet modes, multi-person alerts), and how this kind of tool can complement suicide prevention and responsible ownership without tracking you or your location.


Plus: what it’s like breaking into the firearms market with a safety product, what they’re bringing to SHOT Show, and the question we ask every guest, how do you tend to your mental health?

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Firearm storage is not just about what you buy, it’s about what you know. In this episode, Mike and Nicky Zabetian from Kinisium join Mike to break down Kini Safe Alert, a small, discreet motion/tamper notification device that texts (or app-notifies) you when something you care about is moved, opened, or accessed.


They talk through the real stories that inspired the product, why “my kids know better” is not a plan, and how Kini can add a passive layer of awareness to safes, drawers, cases, ammo storage, and more. You’ll also hear how they built the product through COVID-era supply chain chaos, why they designed it to avoid subscriptions, how the settings work (sensitivity, quiet modes, multi-person alerts), and how this kind of tool can complement suicide prevention and responsible ownership without tracking you or your location.


Plus: what it’s like breaking into the firearms market with a safety product, what they’re bringing to SHOT Show, and the question we ask every guest, how do you tend to your mental health?

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18798504 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700 4620 7 5 full false Ep 166: Financial Freedom for First Responders Ep 166: Financial Freedom for First Responders In this conversation, Seth Hendricks shares his transformative journey from a decade-long career in law enforcement to becoming a financial advisor. He discusses the impact of mental health on police officers, the importance of self-reflection, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional life. The conversation delves into the unconscious behaviors shaped by trauma, the financial considerations unique to police work, and the significance of communication in relationships, especially when dealing with the stresses of the job. In this conversation, 


Seth Hendricks shares his journey from law enforcement to financial planning, emphasizing the importance of serving others and the challenges of consent in helping professions. He discusses the emotional drivers behind feedback and reviews, the complexities of gun ownership, and the need for open dialogue in divisive topics. The conversation also touches on the importance of addressing mental health and personal well-being, particularly in underserved communities.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Symposium and Seth's Background
02:57 Seth's Journey from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning
05:53 The Impact of Mental Health in Law Enforcement
08:48 Understanding the Five-Year Drop-Off in Police Careers
11:56 The Role of Ego and Self-Reflection in Career Choices
14:46 Financial Considerations for Police Officers
18:01 The Unconscious Impact of Trauma on Spending Habits
21:05 Balancing Personal Life and Professional Trauma
23:58 The Importance of Communication in Relationships
27:09 Navigating Parenthood and Career Stress
29:53 The Gap Between Law Enforcement and Financial Planning
39:05 The Simplicity of Law Enforcement
42:49 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning
43:48 The Concept of Consent in Helping Professions
46:57 The Challenge of Change and Acceptance
50:50 The Emotional Drivers Behind Reviews and Feedback
52:08 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Topics
55:15 Navigating Difficult Conversations
01:01:59 The Complexity of Gun Ownership and Responsibility
01:04:33 The Importance of Open Dialogue
01:11:18 Serving the Underserved in Financial Services
01:14:02 Mental Health and Personal Well-being

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Seth Hendricks shares his transformative journey from a decade-long career in law enforcement to becoming a financial advisor. He discusses the impact of mental health on police officers, the importance of self-reflection, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional life. The conversation delves into the unconscious behaviors shaped by trauma, the financial considerations unique to police work, and the significance of communication in relationships, especially when dealing with the stresses of the job. In this conversation, 


Seth Hendricks shares his journey from law enforcement to financial planning, emphasizing the importance of serving others and the challenges of consent in helping professions. He discusses the emotional drivers behind feedback and reviews, the complexities of gun ownership, and the need for open dialogue in divisive topics. The conversation also touches on the importance of addressing mental health and personal well-being, particularly in underserved communities.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Symposium and Seth's Background
02:57 Seth's Journey from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning
05:53 The Impact of Mental Health in Law Enforcement
08:48 Understanding the Five-Year Drop-Off in Police Careers
11:56 The Role of Ego and Self-Reflection in Career Choices
14:46 Financial Considerations for Police Officers
18:01 The Unconscious Impact of Trauma on Spending Habits
21:05 Balancing Personal Life and Professional Trauma
23:58 The Importance of Communication in Relationships
27:09 Navigating Parenthood and Career Stress
29:53 The Gap Between Law Enforcement and Financial Planning
39:05 The Simplicity of Law Enforcement
42:49 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning
43:48 The Concept of Consent in Helping Professions
46:57 The Challenge of Change and Acceptance
50:50 The Emotional Drivers Behind Reviews and Feedback
52:08 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Topics
55:15 Navigating Difficult Conversations
01:01:59 The Complexity of Gun Ownership and Responsibility
01:04:33 The Importance of Open Dialogue
01:11:18 Serving the Underserved in Financial Services
01:14:02 Mental Health and Personal Well-being

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18798476 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0800 4952 7 4 full true Ep 165: Beyond the Boogeyman, A Nuanced Talk on Colorado ERPOs With Chris Knoepke Ep 165: Beyond the Boogeyman, A Nuanced Talk on Colorado ERPOs With Chris Knoepke Red flag laws, also known as ERPOs, get talked about in the gun world like one sweeping “boogeyman”, but the reality is messier and state-specific.

In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Dr. Chris Knoepke (University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative) to break down how Colorado’s ERPO process actually works, who can file, what due process looks like, and what the data is showing so far.

They dig into what gun owners often worry about most, including false accusations, service and enforcement realities for law enforcement, and why many clinicians are hesitant to touch ERPOs at all. The conversation also explores practical improvements if these laws aren’t going away, such as better training for clinicians, stronger “time and space” options, and connecting people in crisis to real support rather than  luck, see you in a year.”

As always, we close with the question we ask every guest: How do you tend to your mental health?

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Red flag laws, also known as ERPOs, get talked about in the gun world like one sweeping “boogeyman”, but the reality is messier and state-specific.

In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Dr. Chris Knoepke (University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative) to break down how Colorado’s ERPO process actually works, who can file, what due process looks like, and what the data is showing so far.

They dig into what gun owners often worry about most, including false accusations, service and enforcement realities for law enforcement, and why many clinicians are hesitant to touch ERPOs at all. The conversation also explores practical improvements if these laws aren’t going away, such as better training for clinicians, stronger “time and space” options, and connecting people in crisis to real support rather than  luck, see you in a year.”

As always, we close with the question we ask every guest: How do you tend to your mental health?

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18747802 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800 6010 Walk The Talk America, WTTA, Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, Dr. Chris Knoepke, Christopher Knoepke, Colorado, ERPO, Extreme Risk Protection Order, Red Flag Laws, Gun Owners, Firearm Policy, Second Amendment, 2A, Due Process, NICS, Firearm Injury Prevention, 7 3 full true Ep 164: Bridging the Gap: A Yale Researcher, Gun Owners, and What Actually Reduces Harm Ep 164: Bridging the Gap: A Yale Researcher, Gun Owners, and What Actually Reduces Harm For the first time on the WTTA podcast, we’re joined by a researcher, and not just any researcher.


Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative. Kerri shares her path from growing up on a cattle farm in Texas, to working in a district attorney’s office and running one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country, to becoming a researcher focused on what actually reduces injury, trauma, and death.


This conversation goes straight to the real tension points, without the usual talking past each other:


  • The difference between reducing firearm deaths vs reducing overall deaths and why substitution matters
  • What gun owners worry about with ERPOs, and what it would take for policies to be trusted and usable
  • Why secure storage keeps showing up as a high-impact solution, including the reality of firearm theft from vehicles
  • How research funding changed after 2020 and why more universities are building firearm research initiatives now
  • Why storytelling and lived experience still matter even in data-driven policy work

It’s candid, nuanced, and exactly what it looks like when the research community and firearm community sit at the same table and actually try to build answers together.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> For the first time on the WTTA podcast, we’re joined by a researcher, and not just any researcher.


Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative. Kerri shares her path from growing up on a cattle farm in Texas, to working in a district attorney’s office and running one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country, to becoming a researcher focused on what actually reduces injury, trauma, and death.


This conversation goes straight to the real tension points, without the usual talking past each other:


  • The difference between reducing firearm deaths vs reducing overall deaths and why substitution matters
  • What gun owners worry about with ERPOs, and what it would take for policies to be trusted and usable
  • Why secure storage keeps showing up as a high-impact solution, including the reality of firearm theft from vehicles
  • How research funding changed after 2020 and why more universities are building firearm research initiatives now
  • Why storytelling and lived experience still matter even in data-driven policy work

It’s candid, nuanced, and exactly what it looks like when the research community and firearm community sit at the same table and actually try to build answers together.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18656592 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800 5323 guns and mental health, firearm safety, suicide prevention, responsible gun ownership, firearms research, mental health awareness, domestic violence prevention, safe storage, injury prevention, gun culture, public health, firearms education, violence prev 7 2 full false EP 163: Causing a Pause for the High Performers with Charles Anderson EP 163: Causing a Pause for the High Performers with Charles Anderson In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health podcast, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Charles Anderson, CEO in the firearms media world behind Bleeker Street Publications, Athlon Outdoors, and its family of brands.

What starts as a chance bar conversation at NASGW turns into a powerful, honest discussion about what it looks like to live with mental health struggles while building a high profile career. Charles shares his path from growing up poor in a wealthy New York town, to the high pressure brokerage world later portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, to venture capital, and eventually to becoming one of the most influential voices in firearms media.

Along the way, he breaks down the reality of imposter syndrome, why “success” does not protect anyone from dark moments, and the coping framework that helped him survive when nothing else felt believable. Michael and Kevin connect the conversation to WTTA’s “Cause a Pause” mindset, and explore why the firearms industry has often been hesitant to engage tough topics like suicide prevention, and why that is finally changing.

If you’ve ever looked successful on paper but felt like you were one bad day away from unraveling, this one is for you.

Resources:

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.


Chapters

00:00 — Welcome and introductions

01:10 — How Michael and Charles met at NASGW

03:20 — The phrase that stopped Michael in his tracks

04:10 — Charles’ background, Detroit and “keeping it real”

05:30 — Normalizing mental health talk in gun culture

06:40 — Growing up poor in a wealthy town

07:40 — From teenage stockbroker to Wolf of Wall Street reality

09:20 — Pressure, substance abuse, and the crash

10:20 — 9/11 grief, New York’s collective trauma, and leaving for Michigan

12:10 — First gun, training, and starting a blog

13:40 — When the blog started outranking major gun companies

14:50 — From agency life to running major publications

16:20 — Why authenticity matters, especially in this industry

18:10 — Imposter syndrome, image, and the pressure to “fit in”

21:20 — Chat question, why so little 2A legal coverage in publications

23:50 — Why “facts only” content struggles to get attention

27:10 — Why the gun industry avoided mental health for so long

31:40 — “You could kill yourself tomorrow”, what it really means

35:10 — The link to addiction recovery and getting through the next minute

38:30 — Why it works in conversation, but not as a slogan

41:10 — Permission, options, and Dr. Conte’s framework

44:30 — How imposter syndrome shows up, even during success

48:10 — What helps, therapy, self-awareness, and catching it earlier

57:40 — External “pull backs”, friends, helping others, and connection

01:01:30 — The “doom scroll” problem and a surprising coping tool

01:08:40 — The gambler mindset vs stability, and why some people must build

01:17:30 — How Charles tends to his mental health in real life

01:21:40 — Sponsors and shout out to Aguila for Kids to Kings

01:22:30 — Where to find Athlon Outdoors and Rotten Gun Reviews

01:24:00 — Closing thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health podcast, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Charles Anderson, CEO in the firearms media world behind Bleeker Street Publications, Athlon Outdoors, and its family of brands.

What starts as a chance bar conversation at NASGW turns into a powerful, honest discussion about what it looks like to live with mental health struggles while building a high profile career. Charles shares his path from growing up poor in a wealthy New York town, to the high pressure brokerage world later portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, to venture capital, and eventually to becoming one of the most influential voices in firearms media.

Along the way, he breaks down the reality of imposter syndrome, why “success” does not protect anyone from dark moments, and the coping framework that helped him survive when nothing else felt believable. Michael and Kevin connect the conversation to WTTA’s “Cause a Pause” mindset, and explore why the firearms industry has often been hesitant to engage tough topics like suicide prevention, and why that is finally changing.

If you’ve ever looked successful on paper but felt like you were one bad day away from unraveling, this one is for you.

Resources:

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.


Chapters

00:00 — Welcome and introductions

01:10 — How Michael and Charles met at NASGW

03:20 — The phrase that stopped Michael in his tracks

04:10 — Charles’ background, Detroit and “keeping it real”

05:30 — Normalizing mental health talk in gun culture

06:40 — Growing up poor in a wealthy town

07:40 — From teenage stockbroker to Wolf of Wall Street reality

09:20 — Pressure, substance abuse, and the crash

10:20 — 9/11 grief, New York’s collective trauma, and leaving for Michigan

12:10 — First gun, training, and starting a blog

13:40 — When the blog started outranking major gun companies

14:50 — From agency life to running major publications

16:20 — Why authenticity matters, especially in this industry

18:10 — Imposter syndrome, image, and the pressure to “fit in”

21:20 — Chat question, why so little 2A legal coverage in publications

23:50 — Why “facts only” content struggles to get attention

27:10 — Why the gun industry avoided mental health for so long

31:40 — “You could kill yourself tomorrow”, what it really means

35:10 — The link to addiction recovery and getting through the next minute

38:30 — Why it works in conversation, but not as a slogan

41:10 — Permission, options, and Dr. Conte’s framework

44:30 — How imposter syndrome shows up, even during success

48:10 — What helps, therapy, self-awareness, and catching it earlier

57:40 — External “pull backs”, friends, helping others, and connection

01:01:30 — The “doom scroll” problem and a surprising coping tool

01:08:40 — The gambler mindset vs stability, and why some people must build

01:17:30 — How Charles tends to his mental health in real life

01:21:40 — Sponsors and shout out to Aguila for Kids to Kings

01:22:30 — Where to find Athlon Outdoors and Rotten Gun Reviews

01:24:00 — Closing thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18624707 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0800 5434 guns and mental health, suicide prevention, firearm suicide prevention, mental health awareness, men’s mental health, imposter syndrome, responsible gun ownership, firearms industry, walk the talk america, cause a pause, leadership and mental health, ment 7 1 full true Ep 162: When Worlds Come Together: ROOTS, Research, and Real Conversations at the National Research Conference Ep 162: When Worlds Come Together: ROOTS, Research, and Real Conversations at the National Research Conference In this special episode, Kevin Berry sits down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, Kenny Barlow from Regal Products, and WTTA founder Mike Sodini to recap a week that moved the conversation forward in meaningful ways. The National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms brought together researchers, public health leaders, industry partners, clinicians, and advocates who all share a common goal. Reduce negative outcomes and save lives.

For the first time, WTTA and the ROOTS initiative were represented on the exhibitor floor. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees were curious, supportive, and eager to learn how voluntary secure storage, mental health tools, and trusted community partnerships fit into the broader prevention landscape. Our team heard again and again how important it was to have firearm owners and industry voices present, willing to listen and willing to engage in good faith.

In this conversation, we break down key themes from the conference, share insights from panels and hallway conversations, and talk about what it means when different perspectives finally have a chance to connect. This episode highlights why cultural understanding matters, what ROOTS is building, and how collaborations across disciplines can create practical, real-world solutions that help families, communities, and firearm owners.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this special episode, Kevin Berry sits down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, Kenny Barlow from Regal Products, and WTTA founder Mike Sodini to recap a week that moved the conversation forward in meaningful ways. The National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms brought together researchers, public health leaders, industry partners, clinicians, and advocates who all share a common goal. Reduce negative outcomes and save lives.

For the first time, WTTA and the ROOTS initiative were represented on the exhibitor floor. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees were curious, supportive, and eager to learn how voluntary secure storage, mental health tools, and trusted community partnerships fit into the broader prevention landscape. Our team heard again and again how important it was to have firearm owners and industry voices present, willing to listen and willing to engage in good faith.

In this conversation, we break down key themes from the conference, share insights from panels and hallway conversations, and talk about what it means when different perspectives finally have a chance to connect. This episode highlights why cultural understanding matters, what ROOTS is building, and how collaborations across disciplines can create practical, real-world solutions that help families, communities, and firearm owners.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18287598 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0800 3076 6 30 full false Ep 161: Bringing Back Trust: Rob Beckman on the Future of the NRA Ep 161: Bringing Back Trust: Rob Beckman on the Future of the NRA In this episode of Walk the Talk America, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with firearms instructor and Firearm Trainer Podcast host Rob Beckman to discuss his candidacy for the NRA Board of Directors and his vision for “NRA 2.0.” 

Rob shares how the organization is changing under new leadership, how instructors can bridge the gap between gun ownership and mental health, and why collaboration—not division—will shape the future of the Second Amendment.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of Walk the Talk America, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with firearms instructor and Firearm Trainer Podcast host Rob Beckman to discuss his candidacy for the NRA Board of Directors and his vision for “NRA 2.0.” 

Rob shares how the organization is changing under new leadership, how instructors can bridge the gap between gun ownership and mental health, and why collaboration—not division—will shape the future of the Second Amendment.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-18099706 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0700 4506 Walk the Talk America, WTTA, Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, Rob Beckman, Firearm Trainer Podcast, NRA Board, NRA 2.0, gun culture, mental health, suicide prevention, responsible gun ownership, firearm instructors, Everytown Train Smart, gun training, Second 6 29 full false Ep 160: Waco Hoover on American Legion and MCON Ep 160: Waco Hoover on American Legion and MCON Former infantry Marine and brand strategist Waco Hoover joins Michael to dig into the impact of lip service. We cover the American Legion’s “Be The One” suicide-prevention effort, Columbia Protocol training, and VA Veterans Health Venture Studio work building real tools for care. Then we preview MCON, a celebration of military culture with range day, First Shots, and a timed secure-storage retrieval competition that reframes safety as readiness. Bring your questions, bring your team.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Former infantry Marine and brand strategist Waco Hoover joins Michael to dig into the impact of lip service. We cover the American Legion’s “Be The One” suicide-prevention effort, Columbia Protocol training, and VA Veterans Health Venture Studio work building real tools for care. Then we preview MCON, a celebration of military culture with range day, First Shots, and a timed secure-storage retrieval competition that reframes safety as readiness. Bring your questions, bring your team.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17907348 Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700 2957 WTTA, Walk the Talk America, Guns and Mental Health Podcast, Waco Hoover, American Legion, Be The One, suicide prevention, veterans, military culture, MCON, VA, Veterans Health Venture Studio, Columbia Protocol, secure storage, range day, NSSF, SHOT Show, 6 28 full false Ep 159: From Loss to Leadership: The Scott Sippel Foundation’s Fight for Suicide Prevention Ep 159: From Loss to Leadership: The Scott Sippel Foundation’s Fight for Suicide Prevention RG Stitt and Greg Harpster join us from the Scott Sippel Foundation—an organization born from tragedy that’s now raised nearly $600,000 for mental health and suicide prevention. We talk about honoring their friend Scott, why local boots-on-the-ground efforts matter, and how a community sporting clays event became a powerful engine for change.

You’ll hear:

  • How the Foundation identifies smaller, volunteer-driven groups so more funds reach real programs
  • Why rural areas need tailored mental health support, and what’s working
  • This year’s focus on LEEK, a veterans outdoor program, and other beneficiaries over the years
  • Practical ways to tend your own mental health, from daily walks to simple breathing practices learned at Outdoor Odyssey
  • How the firearms community quietly shows up to save lives

Chapters

00:00 – Cold Open: Glitches & Getting Live
 00:55 – Welcome Back + Today’s Guests
 02:25 – WTTA’s Early Days & First Connection to Scott Sippel Foundation
 05:08 – Intros: RG Stitt & Greg Harpster
 07:11 – What the Foundation Funds & Why Local Matters
 09:18 – Building Crisis Lines in PA (Penn State region)
 13:29 – Rural Realities: Suicide vs. “Gun Violence”
 15:29 – Counterintuitive? Guns, Community, and Prevention
 21:00 – Remembering Scott: Stories, Friendship, and Loss
 27:34 – Aftermath & The Questions No One Can Answer
 31:06 – Spotting Subtle Signs in Hindsight
 37:55 – From Grief to Action: Launching the Clay Shoot
 41:26 – Organic Growth: Community, Word of Mouth, Full Rosters
 42:51 – Sponsors That Show Up (ammo, firearms, food, more)
 49:42 – Event Logistics, Timing, & Volunteer Hustle
 57:42 – Where to Learn/Donate: scottsippelfoundation.org
 58:35 – How We Tend Our Own Mental Health (walks, breathing, mindset)
 1:02:41 – Open Invite & Closing Thanks


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> RG Stitt and Greg Harpster join us from the Scott Sippel Foundation—an organization born from tragedy that’s now raised nearly $600,000 for mental health and suicide prevention. We talk about honoring their friend Scott, why local boots-on-the-ground efforts matter, and how a community sporting clays event became a powerful engine for change.

You’ll hear:

  • How the Foundation identifies smaller, volunteer-driven groups so more funds reach real programs
  • Why rural areas need tailored mental health support, and what’s working
  • This year’s focus on LEEK, a veterans outdoor program, and other beneficiaries over the years
  • Practical ways to tend your own mental health, from daily walks to simple breathing practices learned at Outdoor Odyssey
  • How the firearms community quietly shows up to save lives

Chapters

00:00 – Cold Open: Glitches & Getting Live
 00:55 – Welcome Back + Today’s Guests
 02:25 – WTTA’s Early Days & First Connection to Scott Sippel Foundation
 05:08 – Intros: RG Stitt & Greg Harpster
 07:11 – What the Foundation Funds & Why Local Matters
 09:18 – Building Crisis Lines in PA (Penn State region)
 13:29 – Rural Realities: Suicide vs. “Gun Violence”
 15:29 – Counterintuitive? Guns, Community, and Prevention
 21:00 – Remembering Scott: Stories, Friendship, and Loss
 27:34 – Aftermath & The Questions No One Can Answer
 31:06 – Spotting Subtle Signs in Hindsight
 37:55 – From Grief to Action: Launching the Clay Shoot
 41:26 – Organic Growth: Community, Word of Mouth, Full Rosters
 42:51 – Sponsors That Show Up (ammo, firearms, food, more)
 49:42 – Event Logistics, Timing, & Volunteer Hustle
 57:42 – Where to Learn/Donate: scottsippelfoundation.org
 58:35 – How We Tend Our Own Mental Health (walks, breathing, mindset)
 1:02:41 – Open Invite & Closing Thanks


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17905324 Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700 4202 Walk the Talk America, WTTA, Guns and Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Firearms Community, Rural Mental Health, Scott Sippel Foundation, Sporting Clays Fundraiser, Veterans Support, LEEK, Outdoor Odyssey, Responsible Ownership, Stigma Reduction, 2A Comm 6 27 full false Ep 158: Rob Pincus on Youth Stats, ERPOs, and What Actually Saves Lives Ep 158: Rob Pincus on Youth Stats, ERPOs, and What Actually Saves Lives Mike and Kevin sit down with Rob Pincus to unpack two hot buttons that get thrown around online but are rarely explored with nuance: the “firearms are the #1 cause of death in youth” stat, and ERPOs/red flag laws. 

Rob shares what he sees inside a Tufts University led  group that puts gun-rights and gun-control advocates in the same room to hammer out policy ideas for red states. We dig into how stats are framed, why education belongs in schools, what meaningful “wins” for responsible owners might look like, and where ERPO conversations go off the rails without mental-health guardrails or due-process realities.

In this episode

  • Why that viral “#1 cause of death in youth” headline needs real breakdowns by age, suicide, and community violence
  • What a practical, developmentally appropriate firearms education curriculum could cover in schools
  • ERPOs done wrong vs. ERPOs with mandatory mental-health evaluation, cultural competency, and penalties for malicious use
  • Policy “wins” Rob is pushing, including tax incentives for training and safe storage, removing redundant state laws tied to federal regs, and pathways to restore rights for non-violent offenses
  • The big idea: be in the room, reduce negative outcomes, protect responsible owners

If you got value from this one, follow the show, rate it, and share it with a friend who cares about firearms and mental health.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches
00:39 Rob Pincus: A Multifaceted Contributor
02:26 Understanding Misconceptions in the Firearms Industry
05:07 Collaborating with Gun Control Advocates
10:56 The Importance of Being in the Room
16:33 Navigating Emotional Discussions Around Firearms
22:01 Statistics and Their Manipulation
27:50 Addressing Youth Firearm Deaths
33:16 The Role of Education in Firearm Safety
39:14 Concluding Thoughts on Firearm Discussions
45:30 Understanding Perspectives on Gun Control
48:30 The Debate on Gun Safety Terminology
51:03 Education and Youth Involvement in Gun Safety
54:51 Navigating Mental Health and Gun Ownership
58:41 Proposals for Emergency Restraining Orders
01:04:11 Exploring the Future of Gun Legislation
01:19:01 Celebrating Wins in Gun Rights Advocacy

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Mike and Kevin sit down with Rob Pincus to unpack two hot buttons that get thrown around online but are rarely explored with nuance: the “firearms are the #1 cause of death in youth” stat, and ERPOs/red flag laws. 

Rob shares what he sees inside a Tufts University led  group that puts gun-rights and gun-control advocates in the same room to hammer out policy ideas for red states. We dig into how stats are framed, why education belongs in schools, what meaningful “wins” for responsible owners might look like, and where ERPO conversations go off the rails without mental-health guardrails or due-process realities.

In this episode

  • Why that viral “#1 cause of death in youth” headline needs real breakdowns by age, suicide, and community violence
  • What a practical, developmentally appropriate firearms education curriculum could cover in schools
  • ERPOs done wrong vs. ERPOs with mandatory mental-health evaluation, cultural competency, and penalties for malicious use
  • Policy “wins” Rob is pushing, including tax incentives for training and safe storage, removing redundant state laws tied to federal regs, and pathways to restore rights for non-violent offenses
  • The big idea: be in the room, reduce negative outcomes, protect responsible owners

If you got value from this one, follow the show, rate it, and share it with a friend who cares about firearms and mental health.


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches
00:39 Rob Pincus: A Multifaceted Contributor
02:26 Understanding Misconceptions in the Firearms Industry
05:07 Collaborating with Gun Control Advocates
10:56 The Importance of Being in the Room
16:33 Navigating Emotional Discussions Around Firearms
22:01 Statistics and Their Manipulation
27:50 Addressing Youth Firearm Deaths
33:16 The Role of Education in Firearm Safety
39:14 Concluding Thoughts on Firearm Discussions
45:30 Understanding Perspectives on Gun Control
48:30 The Debate on Gun Safety Terminology
51:03 Education and Youth Involvement in Gun Safety
54:51 Navigating Mental Health and Gun Ownership
58:41 Proposals for Emergency Restraining Orders
01:04:11 Exploring the Future of Gun Legislation
01:19:01 Celebrating Wins in Gun Rights Advocacy

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17901334 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0700 6143 Keywords firearms, gun control, youth deaths, education, statistics, collaboration, emotional discussions, Rob Pincus, Walk the Talk America, firearm safety, gun control, gun safety, mental health, youth education, emergency restraining orders, legislati 6 26 full false Ep 157: Bulletproof Clothing with CIVILIAN’s Kami Kay Kirschbaum Ep 157: Bulletproof Clothing with CIVILIAN’s Kami Kay Kirschbaum Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kami Kay Kirschbaum, founder & CEO of CIVILIAN, a bulletproof clothing brand built to blend in. From growing up with active-shooter drills to a literal dream that sparked the idea, Kami walks us through turning a wild concept into light, breathable, and stylish bulletproof apparel.

We talk Sweden vs. U.S. safety culture, why most armor looks tactical (and why hers doesn’t), the maze of financing and manufacturing, getting into SHOT Show as a newcomer, and landing key partnerships, including a consumer launch with Guns.com. We also hit legality basics, women-specific armor design, and why “don’t scare people, make them feel prepared” drives CIVILIAN’s brand. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kami Kay Kirschbaum, founder & CEO of CIVILIAN, a bulletproof clothing brand built to blend in. From growing up with active-shooter drills to a literal dream that sparked the idea, Kami walks us through turning a wild concept into light, breathable, and stylish bulletproof apparel.

We talk Sweden vs. U.S. safety culture, why most armor looks tactical (and why hers doesn’t), the maze of financing and manufacturing, getting into SHOT Show as a newcomer, and landing key partnerships, including a consumer launch with Guns.com. We also hit legality basics, women-specific armor design, and why “don’t scare people, make them feel prepared” drives CIVILIAN’s brand. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17854973 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0700 4592 Walk the Talk America, WTTA podcast, bulletproof clothing, body armor, NIJ 3A, CIVILIAN armor, personal protection, concealed armor, women’s body armor, SHOT Show, Guns.com, Credova, responsible gun ownership, self defense, school safety, mental health an 6 25 full false Ep 156: Skits, Stencils, and Building a Responsible 2A Culture with The King of Camo Ep 156: Skits, Stencils, and Building a Responsible 2A Culture with The King of Camo Mike and J. Hood welcome Ryan and Nate from The King of Camo, the North Georgia custom shop and YouTube duo known for turning real counter moments into laugh-out-loud shorts that still teach safety. They share how a near-fatal motorcycle crash, a hard reset on alcohol, and honest conversations reshaped their lives, their business, and their channel. The crew digs into what “welcoming gun culture” looks like in practice, why some sales get a respectful “not today,” and how humor can open the door to real talk about responsibility, masculinity, and mental fitness.

You’ll hear:
 • The shop origin story, YouTube growth, and why authenticity matters
 • How sobriety, family, and faith fuel better decisions
 • Practical lines they draw with customers and why that protects the community
 • The purpose of pain, asking for help, and separating rights from readiness
 • Their charity motorcycle rides and why service helps heal

Take a free, anonymous mental health screening at WalkTheTalkAmerica.org. Lock up your firearms, not your feelings. If you enjoy the show, follow The King of Camo and share this episode with a friend who needs an encouraging nudge.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Mike and J. Hood welcome Ryan and Nate from The King of Camo, the North Georgia custom shop and YouTube duo known for turning real counter moments into laugh-out-loud shorts that still teach safety. They share how a near-fatal motorcycle crash, a hard reset on alcohol, and honest conversations reshaped their lives, their business, and their channel. The crew digs into what “welcoming gun culture” looks like in practice, why some sales get a respectful “not today,” and how humor can open the door to real talk about responsibility, masculinity, and mental fitness.

You’ll hear:
 • The shop origin story, YouTube growth, and why authenticity matters
 • How sobriety, family, and faith fuel better decisions
 • Practical lines they draw with customers and why that protects the community
 • The purpose of pain, asking for help, and separating rights from readiness
 • Their charity motorcycle rides and why service helps heal

Take a free, anonymous mental health screening at WalkTheTalkAmerica.org. Lock up your firearms, not your feelings. If you enjoy the show, follow The King of Camo and share this episode with a friend who needs an encouraging nudge.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17822373 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700 6404 Guns and Mental Health Podcast, WTTA, Walk the Talk America, King of Camo, custom camo, Cerakote, laser engraving, gun shop, FFL dealer, North Georgia, Cumming GA, 2A, Second Amendment, gun culture, firearm safety, responsible gun ownership, mental health 6 24 full false Ep 155: Biometric Slide Lock: How B.O.S. Lock is Evolving Firearm Safety Ep 155: Biometric Slide Lock: How B.O.S. Lock is Evolving Firearm Safety Join hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry as they welcome Keith Bombaugh of B.O.S. Lock to the show. What began as a family-driven need for safer firearm storage has grown into a groundbreaking product designed for speed, reliability, and peace of mind. From technical details and real-world testing to the bigger conversation about responsibility and mental health, this episode explores how innovation can transform safety in the firearms industry.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Join hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry as they welcome Keith Bombaugh of B.O.S. Lock to the show. What began as a family-driven need for safer firearm storage has grown into a groundbreaking product designed for speed, reliability, and peace of mind. From technical details and real-world testing to the bigger conversation about responsibility and mental health, this episode explores how innovation can transform safety in the firearms industry.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17718370 Sun, 24 Aug 2025 16:00:00 -0700 6216 biometric slide lock, BOS Lock, firearm safety, gun storage, responsible gun ownership, firearm technology, biometric gun lock, Walk the Talk America, WTTA podcast, guns and mental health, Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, Keith Bombaugh, suicide prevention, g 6 23 full false Ep 154: The Intersection of Gun Rights and Domestic Violence with Kelly Sutliff Ep 154: The Intersection of Gun Rights and Domestic Violence with Kelly Sutliff In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini welcome Kelly Sutliff, a licensed professional counselor and domestic violence survivor. Kelly shares her harrowing story of surviving an abusive relationship, the night she escaped her ex-husband, and the subsequent legal battles she faced regarding gun ownership.

Kelly's journey highlights the need for better protection for victims and raises critical questions about the intersection of mental health, gun rights, and domestic violence. Kelly also talks about the role of trained protection dogs in healing and empowerment.

Kelly's K9s

Kelly's TikTok


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini welcome Kelly Sutliff, a licensed professional counselor and domestic violence survivor. Kelly shares her harrowing story of surviving an abusive relationship, the night she escaped her ex-husband, and the subsequent legal battles she faced regarding gun ownership.

Kelly's journey highlights the need for better protection for victims and raises critical questions about the intersection of mental health, gun rights, and domestic violence. Kelly also talks about the role of trained protection dogs in healing and empowerment.

Kelly's K9s

Kelly's TikTok


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17620664 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0700 6907 Domestic Violence Survivor, Mental Health, Gun Rights, Firearms and Mental Health, Trauma Recovery, Self-Defense, Legal Battles, Second Amendment, Protection Dogs, Personal Safety, Women and Firearms, Counseling and Healing, PTSD, Abuse Recovery, Empowerm 6 22 full true Ep 153: GOALS, Advocacy, and More with Gun Owners of America Ep 153: GOALS, Advocacy, and More with Gun Owners of America In this WTTA Guns and Mental Health podcast episode, hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry engage with John Fahrner from Gun Owners of America (GOA). They discuss personal updates, John's journey in the firearms industry, the mission of GOA, and the importance of advocacy and community engagement. The conversation also covers legislative efforts, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' significance, collaboration among gun rights organizations, and the upcoming GOALS Show. 


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
02:09 Understanding GOA and Its Mission
05:11 John Fahrner's Journey in the Firearms Industry
07:39 The Role of GOA in the Gun Community
10:19 The Big Beautiful Bill and Legislative Efforts
13:00 Challenges and Triumphs in Advocacy
15:54 The Importance of Compliance in the Firearms Industry
18:32 Community Support and Member Engagement
27:55 Collaboration Among Gun Rights Organizations
31:09 Reflections on the Goals Show
39:56 Overcoming Challenges in Event Planning
44:34 Future Goals and Legislative Aspirations
50:37 Supporting the Gun Community
55:40 Mental Health and Personal Well-being



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this WTTA Guns and Mental Health podcast episode, hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry engage with John Fahrner from Gun Owners of America (GOA). They discuss personal updates, John's journey in the firearms industry, the mission of GOA, and the importance of advocacy and community engagement. The conversation also covers legislative efforts, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' significance, collaboration among gun rights organizations, and the upcoming GOALS Show. 


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
02:09 Understanding GOA and Its Mission
05:11 John Fahrner's Journey in the Firearms Industry
07:39 The Role of GOA in the Gun Community
10:19 The Big Beautiful Bill and Legislative Efforts
13:00 Challenges and Triumphs in Advocacy
15:54 The Importance of Compliance in the Firearms Industry
18:32 Community Support and Member Engagement
27:55 Collaboration Among Gun Rights Organizations
31:09 Reflections on the Goals Show
39:56 Overcoming Challenges in Event Planning
44:34 Future Goals and Legislative Aspirations
50:37 Supporting the Gun Community
55:40 Mental Health and Personal Well-being



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17520756 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700 4330 Keywords Gun Owners of America, firearms industry, mental health, advocacy, legislation, community engagement, GOA, Second Amendment, Goals Show, collaboration 6 21 full false Ep 152: Dwayne Edwards on Changing Veteran Mental Health Ep 152: Dwayne Edwards on Changing Veteran Mental Health What happens after the mission ends? In this episode, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran and founder of VMHA, Dwayne Edwards, for an honest conversation about life after service, the identity crisis many veterans face, and why our system still fails to meet their mental health needs.

Dwayne shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica and navigating Brooklyn as a kid, to leading Marines in Iraq and later reinventing himself at Yale. He talks about the cultural pressure veterans face when seeking help, how “claim sharks” exploit those who’ve served, and how VMHA is disrupting the system by providing ethical, transparent, and high-quality mental health assessments.

We also dig into the overlap of firearms, identity, and mental wellness, and why removing stigma is more important than ever.

Whether you're a veteran, know someone who is, or simply care about building better systems for those who’ve served, this episode will challenge and inspire.

🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:

  • Why the transition out of the military is harder than people think
  • The roots of VMHA and how it's doing things differently
  • Mental health stigma in the veteran community
  • The tension between firearms and mental wellness
  • What civilian allies and organizations can do better

🔗 Connect with Dwayne and VMHA:
Website: https://vmhaforvets.com
Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube: @vmhaforvets

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> What happens after the mission ends? In this episode, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran and founder of VMHA, Dwayne Edwards, for an honest conversation about life after service, the identity crisis many veterans face, and why our system still fails to meet their mental health needs.

Dwayne shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica and navigating Brooklyn as a kid, to leading Marines in Iraq and later reinventing himself at Yale. He talks about the cultural pressure veterans face when seeking help, how “claim sharks” exploit those who’ve served, and how VMHA is disrupting the system by providing ethical, transparent, and high-quality mental health assessments.

We also dig into the overlap of firearms, identity, and mental wellness, and why removing stigma is more important than ever.

Whether you're a veteran, know someone who is, or simply care about building better systems for those who’ve served, this episode will challenge and inspire.

🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:

  • Why the transition out of the military is harder than people think
  • The roots of VMHA and how it's doing things differently
  • Mental health stigma in the veteran community
  • The tension between firearms and mental wellness
  • What civilian allies and organizations can do better

🔗 Connect with Dwayne and VMHA:
Website: https://vmhaforvets.com
Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube: @vmhaforvets

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17480400 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0700 5851 veteran mental health, military transition, PTSD awareness, veteran benefits, VA claims, veteran entrepreneurship, suicide prevention, Marine Corps veteran, mental health stigma, responsible gun ownership, trauma recovery, mental health support, therapy f 6 20 full false Ep 151: I Was Almost a School Shooter Part 2 Ep 151: I Was Almost a School Shooter Part 2 In this unfiltered conversation, Aaron Stark returns to continue a story: how he went from the brink of committing a school shooting to becoming a national voice for prevention and mental health reform. Host Jake Wiskerchen digs into the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid.

Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever. You’ll also hear honest critiques of the counseling profession, cultural dysfunction in schools, and why emotional honesty, not more checklists, is what might save a life.

This episode is perfect for anyone trying to understand what drives violence and how to stop it before it starts.

Topics Covered:

  • Why schools and systems often fail to intervene
  • The real role of parents in missed prevention
  • Why Aaron avoids the terms “gun control” and “mental health”
  • How trauma, shame, and identity create a dangerous mix
  • The cultural shift from abuse being joked about to being addressed
  • The power of community, compassion, and being seen


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this unfiltered conversation, Aaron Stark returns to continue a story: how he went from the brink of committing a school shooting to becoming a national voice for prevention and mental health reform. Host Jake Wiskerchen digs into the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid.

Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever. You’ll also hear honest critiques of the counseling profession, cultural dysfunction in schools, and why emotional honesty, not more checklists, is what might save a life.

This episode is perfect for anyone trying to understand what drives violence and how to stop it before it starts.

Topics Covered:

  • Why schools and systems often fail to intervene
  • The real role of parents in missed prevention
  • Why Aaron avoids the terms “gun control” and “mental health”
  • How trauma, shame, and identity create a dangerous mix
  • The cultural shift from abuse being joked about to being addressed
  • The power of community, compassion, and being seen


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17292954 Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0700 5022 school shooting prevention, Aaron Stark, Walk the Talk America, mental health and guns, gun violence prevention, trauma recovery, childhood abuse survivor, suicide prevention, mental health stigma, counseling culture, emotional honesty, shame and violence 6 19 full true Ep 150: I Was Almost a School Shooter Part 1 Ep 150: I Was Almost a School Shooter Part 1 Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini sit down with Aaron Stark, a man who once nearly became a school shooter, to explore the roots of despair, the systemic failures that allow trauma to fester, and the moments of compassion that can save a life. 

Aaron shares his deeply personal story of abuse, neglect, and hopelessness, and how two friends changed everything. From the dangerous effects of untreated shame to the failure of our systems to identify and intervene with at-risk youth, this conversation is a raw, honest, and emotional dive into what truly drives people to the edge—and what pulls them back. 

Part two of this conversation will be released shortly after this episode. In it, Jake Wiskerchen will explore the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid. 

Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini sit down with Aaron Stark, a man who once nearly became a school shooter, to explore the roots of despair, the systemic failures that allow trauma to fester, and the moments of compassion that can save a life. 

Aaron shares his deeply personal story of abuse, neglect, and hopelessness, and how two friends changed everything. From the dangerous effects of untreated shame to the failure of our systems to identify and intervene with at-risk youth, this conversation is a raw, honest, and emotional dive into what truly drives people to the edge—and what pulls them back. 

Part two of this conversation will be released shortly after this episode. In it, Jake Wiskerchen will explore the raw truths that don’t get discussed enough, from the failings of our systems to the unrelenting weight of shame and what it means to truly reach a hurting kid. 

Aaron speaks candidly about what it’s like to test adults as a desperate teenager, how he challenged the narrative around “mental health” and “gun control,” and how one spontaneous act of compassion changed his life forever.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17292917 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700 3105 school shooting prevention, Aaron Stark, Walk the Talk America, mental health and guns, gun violence prevention, trauma recovery, childhood abuse survivor, suicide prevention, mental health stigma, counseling culture, emotional honesty, shame and violence 6 18 full true Ep 149: Why We’re Getting Suicide Prevention Wrong, and How to Fix It with Rob Bogue Ep 149: Why We’re Getting Suicide Prevention Wrong, and How to Fix It with Rob Bogue Rob Bogue of Robust Futures and SuicideMyths.org joins Jake and Mike to challenge some of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in suicide prevention. From questioning the predictive power of warning signs and screening tools to highlighting the harmful consequences of forced hospitalization and red flag laws, this conversation peels back the layers of a flawed system.

Rob shares the personal story that drove him to launch Suicide Myths—a growing library of evidence-backed debunkings—and discusses the importance of trauma processing, the limits of behavioral intervention, and how meaning and emotional functioning must return to the center of mental health care. The crew also explores real-life solutions like providing mental health resource sheets with legal documents and building practical firearm storage education.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Rob Bogue of Robust Futures and SuicideMyths.org joins Jake and Mike to challenge some of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in suicide prevention. From questioning the predictive power of warning signs and screening tools to highlighting the harmful consequences of forced hospitalization and red flag laws, this conversation peels back the layers of a flawed system.

Rob shares the personal story that drove him to launch Suicide Myths—a growing library of evidence-backed debunkings—and discusses the importance of trauma processing, the limits of behavioral intervention, and how meaning and emotional functioning must return to the center of mental health care. The crew also explores real-life solutions like providing mental health resource sheets with legal documents and building practical firearm storage education.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17292894 Fri, 06 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0700 3896 suicide prevention, mental health, suicide myths, trauma recovery, emotional health, firearm safety, mental health and firearms, suicide awareness, Walk the Talk America, Guns and Mental Health, Rob Bogue, Jake Wiskerchen, Michael Sodini, gun culture, beh 6 17 full false Ep 148: Meet the Pressers: A Journey Through Firearms and Mental Health Ep 148: Meet the Pressers: A Journey Through Firearms and Mental Health In this episode of the Walk the Talk America podcast, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini are joined by Klint Macro and Matt Mallory from Meet the Pressers. 

They discuss their journey in the firearms industry, the importance of mental health in relation to gun ownership, and the responsibilities that come with being a gun owner. The conversation delves into training for critical incidents, the role of visualization in preparation, and the impact of red flag laws on mental health and gun rights. The episode emphasizes the need for better research and understanding of the relationship between firearms and mental health. 

Learn more about Klint and Matt here: https://meetthepressers.com/ 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the Walk the Talk America podcast, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini are joined by Klint Macro and Matt Mallory from Meet the Pressers. 

They discuss their journey in the firearms industry, the importance of mental health in relation to gun ownership, and the responsibilities that come with being a gun owner. The conversation delves into training for critical incidents, the role of visualization in preparation, and the impact of red flag laws on mental health and gun rights. The episode emphasizes the need for better research and understanding of the relationship between firearms and mental health. 

Learn more about Klint and Matt here: https://meetthepressers.com/ 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17248555 Thu, 29 May 2025 16:00:00 -0700 5384 6 16 full false Ep 147: Grant Magers and the Rise of Smart Ammunition Kiosks Ep 147: Grant Magers and the Rise of Smart Ammunition Kiosks Grant Magers, founder and CEO of American Rounds—an innovative company bringing ammunition vending machines (yes, really) to retailers nationwide. In this refreshingly light-hearted but deeply insightful episode, Grant breaks down the origin story of American Rounds and how the technology works, from ID verification to facial matching. 

We also discuss some controversy, including fears about surveillance, facial recognition, and pushback from both sides of the gun debate. Grant shares how he's building trust with the 2A community while creating new security and convenience standards. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Grant Magers, founder and CEO of American Rounds—an innovative company bringing ammunition vending machines (yes, really) to retailers nationwide. In this refreshingly light-hearted but deeply insightful episode, Grant breaks down the origin story of American Rounds and how the technology works, from ID verification to facial matching. 

We also discuss some controversy, including fears about surveillance, facial recognition, and pushback from both sides of the gun debate. Grant shares how he's building trust with the 2A community while creating new security and convenience standards. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17204498 Thu, 22 May 2025 12:00:00 -0700 4403 ammo vending machines, firearm industry, American Rounds, responsible gun ownership, Second Amendment, gun rights, automated retail, facial recognition, gun safety technology, Walk the Talk America, WTTA podcast, mental health and firearms, gun owner inno 6 15 full false Ep 146: Mike and Kenny Barlow Recap NRA Ep 146: Mike and Kenny Barlow Recap NRA Michael Sodini recaps the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits live from the Regal Products booth with Kenny Barlow.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini recaps the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits live from the Regal Products booth with Kenny Barlow.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-17101414 Mon, 05 May 2025 07:00:00 -0700 1639 6 13 full false Ep 145: A Veteran’s Mental Health Crisis and the Woman Who Stood By Him Ep 145: A Veteran’s Mental Health Crisis and the Woman Who Stood By Him Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini sit down with Tom Cruz — not that Tom Cruz — to talk about the moment that changed everything. A 26-year Army veteran, Tom shares his harrowing story of a seven-hour mental health crisis in which he took his fiancée hostage — an event he doesn’t fully remember, but one that would define the next chapter of his life. 

What followed wasn’t a prison sentence — it was a redemption arc powered by compassion, self-awareness, and one woman’s extraordinary strength under pressure. Together, Tom and his wife would navigate law enforcement, stigma, the military system, and ultimately, the long journey to healing.

Tom now travels the country with his family, sharing their story to change the conversation around suicide prevention, trauma, and firearm responsibility — especially within the military and veteran community. In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How Tom’s wife calmly de-escalated a life-or-death situation — without formal training
  • The importance of lived experience in suicide prevention policy
  • The gray area between law enforcement, mental health, and justice
  • Why Tom trains his son to be a part of his support system
  • The work Tom does now to bridge police and community through mental health education

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini sit down with Tom Cruz — not that Tom Cruz — to talk about the moment that changed everything. A 26-year Army veteran, Tom shares his harrowing story of a seven-hour mental health crisis in which he took his fiancée hostage — an event he doesn’t fully remember, but one that would define the next chapter of his life. 

What followed wasn’t a prison sentence — it was a redemption arc powered by compassion, self-awareness, and one woman’s extraordinary strength under pressure. Together, Tom and his wife would navigate law enforcement, stigma, the military system, and ultimately, the long journey to healing.

Tom now travels the country with his family, sharing their story to change the conversation around suicide prevention, trauma, and firearm responsibility — especially within the military and veteran community. In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How Tom’s wife calmly de-escalated a life-or-death situation — without formal training
  • The importance of lived experience in suicide prevention policy
  • The gray area between law enforcement, mental health, and justice
  • Why Tom trains his son to be a part of his support system
  • The work Tom does now to bridge police and community through mental health education

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16961805 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0700 4523 mental health, suicide prevention, hostage situation, military experience, communication, recovery, support systems, legal implications, mental health, gun laws, suicide prevention, family support, leadership, vulnerability, firearm ownership, children ed 6 12 full false Ep 144: Why Doctors Need to Understand Gun Owners with Dr. James Bigham Ep 144: Why Doctors Need to Understand Gun Owners with Dr. James Bigham In this episode of the Walk the Talk America podcast, host Michael Sodini talks with Dr. James Bigham, a family physician who emphasizes the importance of understanding firearm ownership within the context of mental health. The conversation explores the fears that gun owners face when discussing firearms with medical professionals, the need for cultural competence in healthcare, and the significance of responsible firearm ownership. 

Dr. Bigham shares his journey in bridging the gap between the medical community and gun owners, advocating for open dialogue and education to reduce risks associated with firearm access, especially in mental health crises. The episode also highlights the Lock, Stock, and Barrel program, which aims to demystify firearms for medical professionals and promote safe practices. 

*The views and opinions expressed by James Bigham are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.*

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the Walk the Talk America podcast, host Michael Sodini talks with Dr. James Bigham, a family physician who emphasizes the importance of understanding firearm ownership within the context of mental health. The conversation explores the fears that gun owners face when discussing firearms with medical professionals, the need for cultural competence in healthcare, and the significance of responsible firearm ownership. 

Dr. Bigham shares his journey in bridging the gap between the medical community and gun owners, advocating for open dialogue and education to reduce risks associated with firearm access, especially in mental health crises. The episode also highlights the Lock, Stock, and Barrel program, which aims to demystify firearms for medical professionals and promote safe practices. 

*The views and opinions expressed by James Bigham are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.*

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16863664 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0700 4871 firearms, mental health, healthcare, responsible ownership, patient care, gun culture, medical training, suicide prevention, open dialogue, cultural competence, firearm safety, gun ownership, physician training, cultural competence, injury prevention, fir 6 11 full false Ep 143: Inside the Mind of a School Shooter with Jon Romano Ep 143: Inside the Mind of a School Shooter with Jon Romano In this episode of the Guns and Mental Health podcast, host WTTA Founder Michael Sodini and Patrick Bertagna, CEO of GunAlert, engage in a profound conversation with Jon Romano, who shares his journey from a troubled youth to a pivotal moment in his life when he brought a firearm to school with the intention of suicide by cop. Jon discusses the trauma he faced, the mental health struggles that led to his actions, and the importance of open communication and connection in preventing similar tragedies. The conversation also touches on the role of medication, firearms education, and the need for ongoing dialogue about mental health and safety in schools. 



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the Guns and Mental Health podcast, host WTTA Founder Michael Sodini and Patrick Bertagna, CEO of GunAlert, engage in a profound conversation with Jon Romano, who shares his journey from a troubled youth to a pivotal moment in his life when he brought a firearm to school with the intention of suicide by cop. Jon discusses the trauma he faced, the mental health struggles that led to his actions, and the importance of open communication and connection in preventing similar tragedies. The conversation also touches on the role of medication, firearms education, and the need for ongoing dialogue about mental health and safety in schools. 



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16829703 Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700 4870 mental health, gun safety, suicide prevention, trauma, school shooting, technology, firearm storage, youth support, emotional well-being, community awareness, mental health, kindness, medication, firearms education, communication, school shootings, conseq 6 10 full true Ep 142: The Mind-Body Connection Explained with Dr. Bob Smith Ep 142: The Mind-Body Connection Explained with Dr. Bob Smith Dr. Bob Smith discusses his extensive experience in primary care mental health and the importance of patient-centered interviewing skills. He highlights the crisis in mental health care, particularly the lack of training for primary care doctors to recognize and treat mental health issues. 

We also explore the historical context of the mind-body split in medicine, its implications for mental health care, and the need for better integration of mental health services within the healthcare system. He emphasizes the significance of recognizing co-occurring disorders, the mind-body connection in chronic pain, and the stigma surrounding mental health in medical settings. We also touch on the role of emotions in health and the importance of spirituality and self-actualization in the healing process.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dr. Bob Smith discusses his extensive experience in primary care mental health and the importance of patient-centered interviewing skills. He highlights the crisis in mental health care, particularly the lack of training for primary care doctors to recognize and treat mental health issues. 

We also explore the historical context of the mind-body split in medicine, its implications for mental health care, and the need for better integration of mental health services within the healthcare system. He emphasizes the significance of recognizing co-occurring disorders, the mind-body connection in chronic pain, and the stigma surrounding mental health in medical settings. We also touch on the role of emotions in health and the importance of spirituality and self-actualization in the healing process.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16747852 Thu, 13 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700 4720 mental health, patient-centered care, doctor-patient communication, mind-body connection, medical education, primary care, mental health crisis, empathy in medicine, healthcare integration, emotional intelligence, osteopathic manipulation, mental health a 6 9 full false Ep 141: Innovative Technological Solutions with William Sandoval Ep 141: Innovative Technological Solutions with William Sandoval Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini talk with William Sandoval about the innovative technology developed by Ocufii to enhance firearm safety. William shares his journey from a technology background to creating a proactive safety device that alerts users to movement around their firearms. The discussion also addresses concerns about data privacy, the importance of educating both the firearms community and behavioral health professionals about available safety options, and the future of firearm safety devices in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. 


Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini talk with William Sandoval about the innovative technology developed by Ocufii to enhance firearm safety. William shares his journey from a technology background to creating a proactive safety device that alerts users to movement around their firearms. The discussion also addresses concerns about data privacy, the importance of educating both the firearms community and behavioral health professionals about available safety options, and the future of firearm safety devices in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. 


Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16736011 Thu, 06 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0800 5426 guns, mental health, technology, firearm safety, data security, OccuFi, innovation, gun ownership, suicide prevention, community education, firearm safety, biometric technology, gun locks, OccuFi, safety devices, technology innovation, firearm storage, gu 6 8 full false Ep 140: Confidentiality Concerns in Military Mental Health with Christopher Jachimiec Ep 140: Confidentiality Concerns in Military Mental Health with Christopher Jachimiec Christopher Jachimiec joins us to talk about a recent Rand report that sheds light on a critical issue in the military-trust and confidentiality in mental health care.

It found that over half of service members worry that seeking treatment could harm their careers, impact their security clearances, or affect deployment opportunities.

Even more striking, nearly 90% of respondents said they would hold back on what they share with military mental health providers due to privacy concerns. These findings highlight the urgent need to address barriers to care and build trust so those who serve can access the mental health support they need without fear of negative consequences.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Christopher Jachimiec joins us to talk about a recent Rand report that sheds light on a critical issue in the military-trust and confidentiality in mental health care.

It found that over half of service members worry that seeking treatment could harm their careers, impact their security clearances, or affect deployment opportunities.

Even more striking, nearly 90% of respondents said they would hold back on what they share with military mental health providers due to privacy concerns. These findings highlight the urgent need to address barriers to care and build trust so those who serve can access the mental health support they need without fear of negative consequences.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16709935 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0800 3831 mental health, gun ownership, veterans, suicide prevention, military, trust, Rand report, firearms, mental health care, VA, military, mental health, veteran support, firearm rights, red flag laws, leadership, trust, community, suicide prevention, personal 6 7 full false Ep 139: How Gun Owners Can Change the Narrative on Firearms & Mental Health Ep 139: How Gun Owners Can Change the Narrative on Firearms & Mental Health In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry explore the misconceptions surrounding firearms and the gun community. They address common arguments against gun ownership, the effectiveness of gun laws, and the importance of communication in bridging the gap between differing perspectives.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry explore the misconceptions surrounding firearms and the gun community. They address common arguments against gun ownership, the effectiveness of gun laws, and the importance of communication in bridging the gap between differing perspectives.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16660830 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0800 4325 firearms, gun laws, misconceptions, communication, mental health, gun ownership, media influence, training, safety, legislation, gun ownership, mental health, firearm safety, parenting, training quality, cultural shifts, suicide prevention, responsible st 6 6 full false Ep 138: The Role of the Firearms Industry in Mental Health Solutions with Brandon Roper Ep 138: The Role of the Firearms Industry in Mental Health Solutions with Brandon Roper In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Brandon Roper, the President of Camfour, discuss the critical intersection of mental health and the firearms industry. Brandon also takes us through his journey in the firearms industry, from sales to his current role as President.

Through this conversation, they emphasize the need for the industry to take responsibility for addressing mental health issues, particularly among gun owners and veterans. The dialogue explores the challenges of engaging with anti-gun advocates, the importance of controlling the narrative surrounding gun ownership, and the diverse perspectives within the gun community. They also highlight the significance of community support following tragedies and the role of data in shaping discussions about firearms. Personal mental health strategies, including hobbies and spending time in nature, are shared as effective coping mechanisms.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's




Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Brandon Roper, the President of Camfour, discuss the critical intersection of mental health and the firearms industry. Brandon also takes us through his journey in the firearms industry, from sales to his current role as President.

Through this conversation, they emphasize the need for the industry to take responsibility for addressing mental health issues, particularly among gun owners and veterans. The dialogue explores the challenges of engaging with anti-gun advocates, the importance of controlling the narrative surrounding gun ownership, and the diverse perspectives within the gun community. They also highlight the significance of community support following tragedies and the role of data in shaping discussions about firearms. Personal mental health strategies, including hobbies and spending time in nature, are shared as effective coping mechanisms.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's




Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16618582 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:00:00 -0800 5162 firearms industry, mental health, distribution, Camfour, leadership, stigma, community support, Walk the Talk America, product selection, sales experience, mental health, firearms industry, gun ownership, suicide prevention, industry leadership, community 6 5 full false Ep 137: Kenny Barlow Recaps National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms Ep 137: Kenny Barlow Recaps National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms In this episode of the Guns and Mental Health podcast, host Michael Sodini and Kenny Barlow discuss their experiences at the National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearms-Related Harms.

They explore the diverse perspectives on firearm research, the importance of technology in gun safety, and the challenges faced in the field. The conversation emphasizes the need for education and awareness to address misconceptions surrounding firearms and mental health while also highlighting innovative solutions for improving gun safety practices.

In this conversation, Kenny Barlow and Michael Sodini discuss the challenges and nuances surrounding gun policy, mainly focusing on outdated data, reliable research, and the role of anecdotal evidence in shaping perceptions of firearm safety. They emphasize the need for credible messengers in the gun rights conversation and explore innovative solutions for gun storage and safety. The discussion highlights the importance of building trust within the community and the necessity of supporting research that accurately reflects the realities of gun ownership and mental health.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the Guns and Mental Health podcast, host Michael Sodini and Kenny Barlow discuss their experiences at the National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearms-Related Harms.

They explore the diverse perspectives on firearm research, the importance of technology in gun safety, and the challenges faced in the field. The conversation emphasizes the need for education and awareness to address misconceptions surrounding firearms and mental health while also highlighting innovative solutions for improving gun safety practices.

In this conversation, Kenny Barlow and Michael Sodini discuss the challenges and nuances surrounding gun policy, mainly focusing on outdated data, reliable research, and the role of anecdotal evidence in shaping perceptions of firearm safety. They emphasize the need for credible messengers in the gun rights conversation and explore innovative solutions for gun storage and safety. The discussion highlights the importance of building trust within the community and the necessity of supporting research that accurately reflects the realities of gun ownership and mental health.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16569071 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0800 4694 firearms, mental health, gun safety, suicide prevention, firearm research, technology, policy, education, awareness, conference, gun policy, firearm safety, suicide prevention, research challenges, anecdotal evidence, trust, credibility, gun storage, inno 6 4 full false Ep 136: Rob Pincus Recaps National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms Ep 136: Rob Pincus Recaps National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Rob Pincus discuss their experiences at a recent gun violence prevention conference in Seattle. They reflect on the interactive nature of the event, the importance of engaging with researchers, and the challenges of addressing outdated data and misconceptions about gun ownership. The discussion highlights the need for more research focused on affected populations, particularly regarding suicide prevention, and the influence of funding on research outcomes. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of honest dialogue and the recognition of responsible gun ownership. In this conversation, Rob Pincus and Michael Sodini discuss the complexities of gun research, the intersection of activism and objectivity in scientific inquiry, and the challenges faced by gun owners in a politically charged environment. They reflect on a recent conference where the keynote speaker's approach raised concerns about research integrity, and they critique the presence of gun control advocates at the event. The discussion emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives in gun research, the importance of mental health considerations in gun laws, and the upcoming Walk the Talk America survey aimed at gathering data from real gun owners.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Conference Overview
01:51 Interactive Learning and Engagement at the Conference
04:26 Positive Interactions and Challenging Perspectives
08:15 Addressing Outdated Data and Misconceptions
11:48 The Importance of Acknowledging Limitations in Research
14:09 Funding and Research Focus on Affected Populations
18:41 Navigating Sensitive Topics in Gun Violence Discussions
22:14 The Role of Funding in Research and Outcomes
27:10 Common Themes and Misconceptions in Gun Research
29:08 Research and Narrative Conflicts
30:03 Keynote Speaker Insights
31:58 Activism vs. Objectivity in Research
33:25 Gun Control Pep Rally at the Conference
36:45 Confronting Gun Control Advocates
39:29 The Need for Diverse Perspectives
42:06 Collaboration with Opposing Views
44:11 Lack of Research on Assault Weapons
46:24 The Importance of Mental Health in Gun Laws
48:57 Upcoming Walk the Talk America Survey



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Rob Pincus discuss their experiences at a recent gun violence prevention conference in Seattle. They reflect on the interactive nature of the event, the importance of engaging with researchers, and the challenges of addressing outdated data and misconceptions about gun ownership. The discussion highlights the need for more research focused on affected populations, particularly regarding suicide prevention, and the influence of funding on research outcomes. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of honest dialogue and the recognition of responsible gun ownership. In this conversation, Rob Pincus and Michael Sodini discuss the complexities of gun research, the intersection of activism and objectivity in scientific inquiry, and the challenges faced by gun owners in a politically charged environment. They reflect on a recent conference where the keynote speaker's approach raised concerns about research integrity, and they critique the presence of gun control advocates at the event. The discussion emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives in gun research, the importance of mental health considerations in gun laws, and the upcoming Walk the Talk America survey aimed at gathering data from real gun owners.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Conference Overview
01:51 Interactive Learning and Engagement at the Conference
04:26 Positive Interactions and Challenging Perspectives
08:15 Addressing Outdated Data and Misconceptions
11:48 The Importance of Acknowledging Limitations in Research
14:09 Funding and Research Focus on Affected Populations
18:41 Navigating Sensitive Topics in Gun Violence Discussions
22:14 The Role of Funding in Research and Outcomes
27:10 Common Themes and Misconceptions in Gun Research
29:08 Research and Narrative Conflicts
30:03 Keynote Speaker Insights
31:58 Activism vs. Objectivity in Research
33:25 Gun Control Pep Rally at the Conference
36:45 Confronting Gun Control Advocates
39:29 The Need for Diverse Perspectives
42:06 Collaboration with Opposing Views
44:11 Lack of Research on Assault Weapons
46:24 The Importance of Mental Health in Gun Laws
48:57 Upcoming Walk the Talk America Survey



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16539844 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0800 3497 gun violence, harm reduction, conference, gun rights, research, suicide prevention, gun ownership, funding, community engagement, mental health, gun research, firearm safety, gun control, activism, mental health, conference insights, research integrity, g 6 3 full false Ep 135: Engaging with Researchers: Mike Goes to Seattle Ep 135: Engaging with Researchers: Mike Goes to Seattle In this conversation, Michael Sodini shares his experiences from the recent firearm violence prevention research conference in Seattle, where he made a historic presentation as a representative of the firearms industry. He discusses the positive reception of his presentation, the importance of engaging with researchers, and the challenges faced in funding and establishing a presence at such events. The conversation also touches on the need for more comprehensive research on gun-related issues, particularly suicide prevention, and the importance of addressing biases in the discussion surrounding gun violence. In this conversation, Michael Sodini discusses his experiences and insights from a recent conference focused on gun violence and research. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with differing perspectives, the role of research in understanding gun violence, and the need for open dialogue between gun owners and researchers. Throughout the discussion, he challenges existing laws and perspectives, advocates for community engagement, and reflects on the opportunities for change within the healthcare industry regarding gun violence prevention.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Seattle Conference
04:31 Historic Presentation and Audience Engagement
08:13 Role and Contributions in the Presentation
12:16 Positive Reception and Networking Opportunities
15:11 Challenges of Funding and Presence
19:36 Addressing Bias and Misconceptions
22:24 Strategizing for Future Conferences
26:35 Positive Interactions and Feedback
30:45 Disappointments and Areas for Improvement
40:54 Engaging with the Anti-Gun Perspective
44:06 The Role of Research in Gun Violence
49:01 Opportunities for Change in the Healthcare Industry
56:15 Challenging Existing Laws and Perspectives
01:01:28 The Importance of Open Dialogue
01:09:15 Reflections on the Conference Experience



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Michael Sodini shares his experiences from the recent firearm violence prevention research conference in Seattle, where he made a historic presentation as a representative of the firearms industry. He discusses the positive reception of his presentation, the importance of engaging with researchers, and the challenges faced in funding and establishing a presence at such events. The conversation also touches on the need for more comprehensive research on gun-related issues, particularly suicide prevention, and the importance of addressing biases in the discussion surrounding gun violence. In this conversation, Michael Sodini discusses his experiences and insights from a recent conference focused on gun violence and research. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with differing perspectives, the role of research in understanding gun violence, and the need for open dialogue between gun owners and researchers. Throughout the discussion, he challenges existing laws and perspectives, advocates for community engagement, and reflects on the opportunities for change within the healthcare industry regarding gun violence prevention.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Seattle Conference
04:31 Historic Presentation and Audience Engagement
08:13 Role and Contributions in the Presentation
12:16 Positive Reception and Networking Opportunities
15:11 Challenges of Funding and Presence
19:36 Addressing Bias and Misconceptions
22:24 Strategizing for Future Conferences
26:35 Positive Interactions and Feedback
30:45 Disappointments and Areas for Improvement
40:54 Engaging with the Anti-Gun Perspective
44:06 The Role of Research in Gun Violence
49:01 Opportunities for Change in the Healthcare Industry
56:15 Challenging Existing Laws and Perspectives
01:01:28 The Importance of Open Dialogue
01:09:15 Reflections on the Conference Experience



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16539822 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0800 5055 Seattle conference, gun violence prevention, research, firearms industry, mental health, Walk the Talk America, audience engagement, funding challenges, bias in research, future strategies, gun responsibility, gun safety, research, gun violence, healthcar 6 2 full false Ep 134: Comedy Meets Mental Health with Roy Wood Jr. Ep 134: Comedy Meets Mental Health with Roy Wood Jr. In this episode of the WTTA Guns and Mental Health podcast, hosts Michael Sodini and J. Hood talk with comedian Roy Wood Jr. about the intersection of comedy, mental health, and firearms. Roy shares his unique approach to using humor to address sensitive topics, his experiences at pro-gun events, and the evolving landscape of gun ownership within the Black community. The discussion also explores the importance of mental health advocacy and the role of humor in navigating serious issues. Throughout the episode, Roy emphasizes the need for open dialogue and the power of comedy to foster understanding and connection.


Support WTTA Here

Roy's Links: YouTube Channel
X
Instagram
Website

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the WTTA Guns and Mental Health podcast, hosts Michael Sodini and J. Hood talk with comedian Roy Wood Jr. about the intersection of comedy, mental health, and firearms. Roy shares his unique approach to using humor to address sensitive topics, his experiences at pro-gun events, and the evolving landscape of gun ownership within the Black community. The discussion also explores the importance of mental health advocacy and the role of humor in navigating serious issues. Throughout the episode, Roy emphasizes the need for open dialogue and the power of comedy to foster understanding and connection.


Support WTTA Here

Roy's Links: YouTube Channel
X
Instagram
Website

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16398544 Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0800 2800 mental health, comedy, firearms, Roy Wood Jr., humor, social commentary, gun ownership, black culture, media, pro-gun rally, gun ownership, mental health, comedy, humor, advocacy, responsible gun ownership, societal issues, stigma, personal growth, legacy 6 1 full false Ep 133: Insights from the ER on Firearms and Mental Health with Dr. Emmy Betz Ep 133: Insights from the ER on Firearms and Mental Health with Dr. Emmy Betz Join hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini as they sit down with Dr. Emmy Betz, an emergency physician specializing in suicide prevention and firearm safety. Together, they navigate the intricate relationship between mental health and gun access, offering a respectful, collaborative approach to these critical topics.

Dr. Betz brings valuable insights on managing suicide risks, the role of firearms in crises, and the importance of empowering communities with education and resources for informed decision-making. The episode explores complex issues such as the nuances of legislation, the significance of data-informed strategies, and addressing the unique needs of diverse communities.

Highlights include:

  • Restoring trust in research related to gun safety and mental health.
  • The impact of programs like Pause to Protect reshaping firearm safety narratives.
  • Challenges in securing funding for vital initiatives.
  • Practical approaches to mental health and self-care.
  • Strategies for fostering open dialogue and bridging divides across differing perspectives.

Through honest conversation, Jake, Michael, and Dr. Betz explore how positive messaging, upstream prevention, and community engagement can drive meaningful change in addressing firearm safety and mental health.

More Links:
Injury and Violence Prevention Center
Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Join hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini as they sit down with Dr. Emmy Betz, an emergency physician specializing in suicide prevention and firearm safety. Together, they navigate the intricate relationship between mental health and gun access, offering a respectful, collaborative approach to these critical topics.

Dr. Betz brings valuable insights on managing suicide risks, the role of firearms in crises, and the importance of empowering communities with education and resources for informed decision-making. The episode explores complex issues such as the nuances of legislation, the significance of data-informed strategies, and addressing the unique needs of diverse communities.

Highlights include:

  • Restoring trust in research related to gun safety and mental health.
  • The impact of programs like Pause to Protect reshaping firearm safety narratives.
  • Challenges in securing funding for vital initiatives.
  • Practical approaches to mental health and self-care.
  • Strategies for fostering open dialogue and bridging divides across differing perspectives.

Through honest conversation, Jake, Michael, and Dr. Betz explore how positive messaging, upstream prevention, and community engagement can drive meaningful change in addressing firearm safety and mental health.

More Links:
Injury and Violence Prevention Center
Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16186196 Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0800 5424 full false Ep 132: Opening Conversations on Mental Health in the 2A World with Katie Gardner Ep 132: Opening Conversations on Mental Health in the 2A World with Katie Gardner In this episode of the WTTA podcast, Michael Sodini and co-host Kevin Berry talk with Katie Gardner, a passionate advocate for the Second Amendment and mental health awareness. They discuss Katie's journey into the 2A community, her experiences with Gun Owners of America, and the importance of empowering women in firearms. The conversation highlights the need for open discussions about mental health within the gun community, the significance of community events, and the personal stories that drive advocacy efforts. Katie shares her insights on overcoming fear at the range and the cultural shifts in women's involvement in firearms. The episode concludes with a look at future events and the ongoing mission to bridge the gap between mental health and gun rights.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the WTTA podcast, Michael Sodini and co-host Kevin Berry talk with Katie Gardner, a passionate advocate for the Second Amendment and mental health awareness. They discuss Katie's journey into the 2A community, her experiences with Gun Owners of America, and the importance of empowering women in firearms. The conversation highlights the need for open discussions about mental health within the gun community, the significance of community events, and the personal stories that drive advocacy efforts. Katie shares her insights on overcoming fear at the range and the cultural shifts in women's involvement in firearms. The episode concludes with a look at future events and the ongoing mission to bridge the gap between mental health and gun rights.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16072164 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0800 3049 2A advocacy, mental health, firearms education, women empowerment, Gun Owners of America, community events, political engagement, suicide prevention, mental health awareness, self-defense full false Ep 131: Faith and Firearms with Jeremy Van Winkle Ep 131: Faith and Firearms with Jeremy Van Winkle Jeremy Van Winkle, the founder of GunLox, a new technology-driven firearm safety product, joins Jake Wiskerchen and Mike Sodini. The conversation explores the importance of integrating technology into firearm safety, the challenges faced in the gun industry, and the personal journey of Jeremy, who overcame addiction and is now dedicated to creating products that protect lives. The discussion also touches on mental health issues related to firearm access and the need for responsible gun ownership. Jeremy shares his vision for future innovations and the purpose behind his work, emphasizing the importance of community and support in overcoming personal struggles.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jeremy Van Winkle, the founder of GunLox, a new technology-driven firearm safety product, joins Jake Wiskerchen and Mike Sodini. The conversation explores the importance of integrating technology into firearm safety, the challenges faced in the gun industry, and the personal journey of Jeremy, who overcame addiction and is now dedicated to creating products that protect lives. The discussion also touches on mental health issues related to firearm access and the need for responsible gun ownership. Jeremy shares his vision for future innovations and the purpose behind his work, emphasizing the importance of community and support in overcoming personal struggles.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-16013296 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0700 4643 GunLox, firearm safety, mental health, technology, suicide prevention, personal journey, innovation, product development, second amendment, responsible gun ownership full false Ep 130: Empowering Youth Through Firearms Education with Kevin Dixie Ep 130: Empowering Youth Through Firearms Education with Kevin Dixie The conversation focuses on the Kids to Kings program, which aims to provide firearms education and emotional intelligence training to youth in underserved communities. Kevin Dixie, the lead instructor in Atlanta, Georgia, shares insights on the importance of community outreach, mental health, and financial literacy in shaping the lives of young men. The discussion highlights the need for corporate support and the impact of mentorship on children's lives, emphasizing the program's potential to break stereotypes and foster responsible gun ownership.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The conversation focuses on the Kids to Kings program, which aims to provide firearms education and emotional intelligence training to youth in underserved communities. Kevin Dixie, the lead instructor in Atlanta, Georgia, shares insights on the importance of community outreach, mental health, and financial literacy in shaping the lives of young men. The discussion highlights the need for corporate support and the impact of mentorship on children's lives, emphasizing the program's potential to break stereotypes and foster responsible gun ownership.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15944683 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0700 4147 Kids to Kings, firearms education, community outreach, emotional intelligence, mental health, youth programs, financial literacy, Second Amendment, corporate support, transformation stories full false Ep 129: Why We Should Address Mental Health Over Gun Control Ep 129: Why We Should Address Mental Health Over Gun Control Jake Wiskerchen, Michael Sodini, and Kevin Berry discuss the recent US News article that attributes high firearm deaths in the U.S. to gun prevalence rather than mental health issues. They critique the research methodology, explore the complexities of mental illness and violence, and emphasize the importance of education and emotional functioning in addressing these issues. The conversation also touches on the need for hope and empowerment in the gun community, advocating for responsible gun ownership and mental health awareness.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen, Michael Sodini, and Kevin Berry discuss the recent US News article that attributes high firearm deaths in the U.S. to gun prevalence rather than mental health issues. They critique the research methodology, explore the complexities of mental illness and violence, and emphasize the importance of education and emotional functioning in addressing these issues. The conversation also touches on the need for hope and empowerment in the gun community, advocating for responsible gun ownership and mental health awareness.

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and want to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15944654 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0700 5625 guns, mental health, gun violence, suicide prevention, firearm deaths, mental illness, research critique, public health, gun control, education full false Ep 128: Addressing Misconceptions in Gun Culture and Mental Health Ep 128: Addressing Misconceptions in Gun Culture and Mental Health In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the misconceptions surrounding guns and mental health. They touch on topics such as the prevalence of guns, the misconceptions about AR rifles, and the need for education and understanding between the gun and mental health communities. They also discuss the challenges of navigating legislation and the importance of having solutions ready to address these misconceptions. In this part of the conversation, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the importance of offering mental health resources in gun shops and the misconceptions that both the gun community and healthcare organizations have about each other. 

They emphasize the need for open and nuanced conversations to bridge the gap between these two communities. Michael shares personal stories of engaging with individuals with opposing views and finding common ground. They also touch on the importance of respectful dialogue and its impact on changing perspectives.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the misconceptions surrounding guns and mental health. They touch on topics such as the prevalence of guns, the misconceptions about AR rifles, and the need for education and understanding between the gun and mental health communities. They also discuss the challenges of navigating legislation and the importance of having solutions ready to address these misconceptions. In this part of the conversation, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the importance of offering mental health resources in gun shops and the misconceptions that both the gun community and healthcare organizations have about each other. 

They emphasize the need for open and nuanced conversations to bridge the gap between these two communities. Michael shares personal stories of engaging with individuals with opposing views and finding common ground. They also touch on the importance of respectful dialogue and its impact on changing perspectives.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15841349 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0700 5302 guns, mental health, misconceptions, prevalence, AR rifles, education, legislation, solutions, mental health, gun shops, misconceptions, open dialogue, opposing views full false Ep 127: The Role of Technology in Responsible Gun Ownership with Patrick Bertagna Ep 127: The Role of Technology in Responsible Gun Ownership with Patrick Bertagna The conversation discusses the potential Gun Alert, a technology that can notify gun owners if their firearm has been moved or removed from its usual environment. The technology aims to address issues such as suicide, domestic violence, and unauthorized access to firearms. It is well-received in various communities, including law enforcement and the firearms industry. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collective action and sensible solutions to reduce gun-related tragedies. The product is seen as a deterrent and an extra layer of security, especially for households with children or individuals going through mental health challenges. It is also seen as a tool for responsible gun ownership and can be used in scenarios such as temporary firearm storage or during times of crisis.

The conversation highlights the need for a holistic approach to address the root causes of gun-related problems and the importance of education, technology, and collaboration among different stakeholders. Gun Alert is a new technology that aims to prevent accidental shootings and unauthorized access to firearms. The device is a sensor that attaches to a gun and sends an alert to the owner's smartphone if the gun is moved or tampered with. The goal is to promote responsible gun ownership and reduce gun-related accidents and tragedies. Gun Alert is currently focused on creating awareness and forming partnerships to get the product in the hands of those who need it the most, such as new gun owners, underserved communities, and veterans. The company's long-term vision is to make Gun Alert a standard accessory for gun owners, just like seat belts are for car owners.

Patrick's LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The conversation discusses the potential Gun Alert, a technology that can notify gun owners if their firearm has been moved or removed from its usual environment. The technology aims to address issues such as suicide, domestic violence, and unauthorized access to firearms. It is well-received in various communities, including law enforcement and the firearms industry. The conversation emphasizes the importance of collective action and sensible solutions to reduce gun-related tragedies. The product is seen as a deterrent and an extra layer of security, especially for households with children or individuals going through mental health challenges. It is also seen as a tool for responsible gun ownership and can be used in scenarios such as temporary firearm storage or during times of crisis.

The conversation highlights the need for a holistic approach to address the root causes of gun-related problems and the importance of education, technology, and collaboration among different stakeholders. Gun Alert is a new technology that aims to prevent accidental shootings and unauthorized access to firearms. The device is a sensor that attaches to a gun and sends an alert to the owner's smartphone if the gun is moved or tampered with. The goal is to promote responsible gun ownership and reduce gun-related accidents and tragedies. Gun Alert is currently focused on creating awareness and forming partnerships to get the product in the hands of those who need it the most, such as new gun owners, underserved communities, and veterans. The company's long-term vision is to make Gun Alert a standard accessory for gun owners, just like seat belts are for car owners.

Patrick's LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15828819 Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0700 5633 gun alert technology, firearm safety, suicide prevention, domestic violence, unauthorized access, responsible gun ownership, collective action, sensible solutions, mental health challenges, temporary firearm storage, holistic approach, education, technolo 4 61 full false Ep 126: Harnessing Anxiety: Dr. Chloe Carmichael on Free Speech, Groupthink, and Mental Health Ep 126: Harnessing Anxiety: Dr. Chloe Carmichael on Free Speech, Groupthink, and Mental Health In this episode, Jake and Mike sit down with Dr. Chloe Carmichael, clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. Together, they dive into the benefits of free speech, the mental health advantages of self-expression, and the dangers of groupthink. Dr. Carmichael introduces nine practical techniques from her book to help manage anxiety, including mindfulness, emotion-based to-do lists, and mental shortlists for redirecting energy. 

They also examine cultural trends contributing to the overuse and medicalization of anxiety, including the financial incentives driving overdiagnosis and the diminishing role of spirituality in society. Parenting challenges, such as schools shouldering too much responsibility and limited parental involvement, are discussed as factors influencing childhood anxiety.

Dr. Carmichael and Jake highlight concerns with the current mental health system, which often focuses on symptom management rather than addressing root causes. They also stress the importance of the cautious use of screening tools to prevent the pathologization of normal experiences. The conversation explores barriers to finding the right therapist, from financial limitations to insurance challenges, and concludes with a deeper look at the intersection of mental health and gun ownership. Topics such as red flag laws, cognitive dissonance in mental health diagnosis, and the shortcomings of research on gun ownership are all addressed.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Jake and Mike sit down with Dr. Chloe Carmichael, clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. Together, they dive into the benefits of free speech, the mental health advantages of self-expression, and the dangers of groupthink. Dr. Carmichael introduces nine practical techniques from her book to help manage anxiety, including mindfulness, emotion-based to-do lists, and mental shortlists for redirecting energy. 

They also examine cultural trends contributing to the overuse and medicalization of anxiety, including the financial incentives driving overdiagnosis and the diminishing role of spirituality in society. Parenting challenges, such as schools shouldering too much responsibility and limited parental involvement, are discussed as factors influencing childhood anxiety.

Dr. Carmichael and Jake highlight concerns with the current mental health system, which often focuses on symptom management rather than addressing root causes. They also stress the importance of the cautious use of screening tools to prevent the pathologization of normal experiences. The conversation explores barriers to finding the right therapist, from financial limitations to insurance challenges, and concludes with a deeper look at the intersection of mental health and gun ownership. Topics such as red flag laws, cognitive dissonance in mental health diagnosis, and the shortcomings of research on gun ownership are all addressed.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15777097 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0700 5834 Keywords guns, mental health, anxiety, free speech, groupthink, self-awareness, techniques, anxiety, overuse, culture, medicalization, monetization, religiosity, spirituality, diagnosis, parenting, schools, mental health system, screening tools, therapis 4 60 full false Ep 125: Exploring Gun Laws and Ranges in All 50 States with Heather Allen Ep 125: Exploring Gun Laws and Ranges in All 50 States with Heather Allen Heather Allen, a 2A advocate and author, joins the podcast to discuss her book, '50 States in My Sights,' where she traveled to all 50 states to shoot and learn about each state's gun laws and ranges. She also talks about her background and experiences with firearms. She shares how she got into shooting and became an advocate for Second Amendment rights. Heather also talks about her work as an instructor, teaching women how to shoot and obtain concealed carry permits. She discusses the importance of self-defense and the misconceptions around the effectiveness of smaller caliber firearms.

Heather will also donate a portion of the proceeds from all book purchases during the month of September to WTTA!

Links:
Buy Her Book
Instagram
Website

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Heather Allen, a 2A advocate and author, joins the podcast to discuss her book, '50 States in My Sights,' where she traveled to all 50 states to shoot and learn about each state's gun laws and ranges. She also talks about her background and experiences with firearms. She shares how she got into shooting and became an advocate for Second Amendment rights. Heather also talks about her work as an instructor, teaching women how to shoot and obtain concealed carry permits. She discusses the importance of self-defense and the misconceptions around the effectiveness of smaller caliber firearms.

Heather will also donate a portion of the proceeds from all book purchases during the month of September to WTTA!

Links:
Buy Her Book
Instagram
Website

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15742314 Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:00:00 -0700 2833 Keywords 2A advocate, firearms, shooting, Second Amendment rights, concealed carry, self-defense, smaller caliber firearms, book, 50 states, gun laws, ranges, gun laws, book, research, anecdotes, gun shops, ranges, mental health, therapeutic benefits, ho 4 59 full false Ep 124: Recapping GOALS with Mike and Kenny Ep 124: Recapping GOALS with Mike and Kenny In this conversation, Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, and Kenny Barlow discuss Mike and Kenny's experiences at the inaugural Goals conference held by Gun Owners of America (GOA). They talk about the importance of organizations like GOA stepping up in uncertain times and the positive reception they received at the conference. They also touch on attending firearms shows and the challenges manufacturers face in managing their budgets for these events. 

The conversation then shifts to the importance of promoting responsible gun storage and its potential concerns and benefits. They emphasize the need for open dialogue and proactive measures to address issues related to firearms and mental health. The conversation covers various topics related to the gun industry, mental health, and suicide prevention. The hosts discuss the importance of creating a unified message and working together to address these issues. They also highlight the need for firearms companies to be brave and engage in conversations about mental health and responsible storage. The hosts share their experiences at the GOALS Conference and the VA Suicide Prevention Conference, emphasizing the value of networking and collaboration. They also mention the Kids to Kings event, which aims to introduce firearms and life skills to underprivileged youth.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this conversation, Michael Sodini, Kevin Berry, and Kenny Barlow discuss Mike and Kenny's experiences at the inaugural Goals conference held by Gun Owners of America (GOA). They talk about the importance of organizations like GOA stepping up in uncertain times and the positive reception they received at the conference. They also touch on attending firearms shows and the challenges manufacturers face in managing their budgets for these events. 

The conversation then shifts to the importance of promoting responsible gun storage and its potential concerns and benefits. They emphasize the need for open dialogue and proactive measures to address issues related to firearms and mental health. The conversation covers various topics related to the gun industry, mental health, and suicide prevention. The hosts discuss the importance of creating a unified message and working together to address these issues. They also highlight the need for firearms companies to be brave and engage in conversations about mental health and responsible storage. The hosts share their experiences at the GOALS Conference and the VA Suicide Prevention Conference, emphasizing the value of networking and collaboration. They also mention the Kids to Kings event, which aims to introduce firearms and life skills to underprivileged youth.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15702318 Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0700 4350 Goals conference, Gun Owners of America, firearms industry, attending shows, manufacturers, responsible gun storage, secure storage, legislation, mental health, suicide prevention, gun industry, mental health, suicide prevention, Kids to Kings 4 58 full false Ep 123: Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO of NSSF Ep 123: Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO of NSSF Joe Bartozzi, the president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), joins Mike and Jake to discuss his history working in the firearm industry, suicide prevention, and the NSSF's role and activities in advocating the gun industry.

Joe is the President and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (“NSSF”) and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (“SAAMI”). He is also the Chairman of the Project ChildSafe® Foundation. He has spent over 40 years in a variety of technical, legal, and executive management roles.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (“CAHSS”) and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (“CSF”).

Joe also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross and is a past Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries of Southern New England, where he is still serving as a member of the Goodwill Operations Committee.

Joe is an American Society for Quality (“ASQ”) Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, and Certified Quality Technician.

He graduated cum laude from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts of Connecticut, the state of Maine, and in the United States Supreme Court.

Joe is a 2014 recipient of the Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award, presented by the Connecticut Bar Association.

Links

NSSF
Project Child Safe
Gun Storage Check Week
Brave Conversation

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Joe Bartozzi, the president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), joins Mike and Jake to discuss his history working in the firearm industry, suicide prevention, and the NSSF's role and activities in advocating the gun industry.

Joe is the President and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (“NSSF”) and the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (“SAAMI”). He is also the Chairman of the Project ChildSafe® Foundation. He has spent over 40 years in a variety of technical, legal, and executive management roles.
He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (“CAHSS”) and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (“CSF”).

Joe also serves on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross and is a past Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries of Southern New England, where he is still serving as a member of the Goodwill Operations Committee.

Joe is an American Society for Quality (“ASQ”) Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, and Certified Quality Technician.

He graduated cum laude from the Quinnipiac University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts of Connecticut, the state of Maine, and in the United States Supreme Court.

Joe is a 2014 recipient of the Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award, presented by the Connecticut Bar Association.

Links

NSSF
Project Child Safe
Gun Storage Check Week
Brave Conversation

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15660683 Thu, 29 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0700 4919 National Shooting Sports Foundation, NSSF, firearm industry, advocacy, education, compliance, safety, secure storage, Project ChildSafe, youth shooting sports, due process, record-keeping, collaboration, firearms industry, mental health organizations, sec 4 57 full false Ep 122: Paul Santilli Ep 122: Paul Santilli Paul Santilli, a clinical social worker, discusses his paper on the utilization of gun principles and gun handling in psychotherapy. He explains how he integrated gun principles into everyday life and how they can be applied in mental health counseling. The conversation highlights the importance of bridging the gap between firearms culture and mental health culture and the need for cultural competence in the clinical community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Paul Santilli, a clinical social worker, discusses his paper on the utilization of gun principles and gun handling in psychotherapy. He explains how he integrated gun principles into everyday life and how they can be applied in mental health counseling. The conversation highlights the importance of bridging the gap between firearms culture and mental health culture and the need for cultural competence in the clinical community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15624063 Thu, 22 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0700 3151 Keywords gun principles, gun handling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, firearms culture, mental health culture, cultural competence, safety, collaboration, firearms education, mental health treatment, fear, misconceptions, access to care, gun co 4 56 full false Ep 121: Yehuda Remer AKA The Pew Pew Jew Ep 121: Yehuda Remer AKA The Pew Pew Jew Yehuda Remer, known as The Pew Pew Jew, discusses his journey as a gun rights activist and author. He talks about his book "Bullet Points: Reasons Why America Should Embrace Common Sense Gun Law" and the powerful endorsements he has received. Yehuda emphasizes the importance of gun rights for all American citizens, regardless of their background. He also addresses the sensitivities and challenges he faces as a Jewish gun rights activist and the need to move on from the past and focus on empowering the Jewish community through self-defense. 

More About Yehuda Remer

The Pew Pew Jew began as a fun moniker that some of his non-Jewish friends in the gun industry gave to Yehuda Remer, an orthodox Jew, as he chronicled his journey into the business. Beginning with his book "Safety On An Introduction to the World of Firearms for Children," Yehuda was thrust headfirst into the gun world, quickly becoming a voice in Second Amendment Advocacy.

After numerous TV, radio, and podcast appearances, Yehuda decided to embrace The Pew Pew Jew and is now attempting to dispel the notion that "all Jews are anti-gun." He is battling every day to give a voice to those Jews who are proud gun owners and staunch defenders of the Second Amendment.  

Yehuda is an award-winning Second Amendment Advocate, author, and public speaker living with his wife and kids in Texas. 

Links:
Website
X
Facebook
Instagram

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Yehuda Remer, known as The Pew Pew Jew, discusses his journey as a gun rights activist and author. He talks about his book "Bullet Points: Reasons Why America Should Embrace Common Sense Gun Law" and the powerful endorsements he has received. Yehuda emphasizes the importance of gun rights for all American citizens, regardless of their background. He also addresses the sensitivities and challenges he faces as a Jewish gun rights activist and the need to move on from the past and focus on empowering the Jewish community through self-defense. 

More About Yehuda Remer

The Pew Pew Jew began as a fun moniker that some of his non-Jewish friends in the gun industry gave to Yehuda Remer, an orthodox Jew, as he chronicled his journey into the business. Beginning with his book "Safety On An Introduction to the World of Firearms for Children," Yehuda was thrust headfirst into the gun world, quickly becoming a voice in Second Amendment Advocacy.

After numerous TV, radio, and podcast appearances, Yehuda decided to embrace The Pew Pew Jew and is now attempting to dispel the notion that "all Jews are anti-gun." He is battling every day to give a voice to those Jews who are proud gun owners and staunch defenders of the Second Amendment.  

Yehuda is an award-winning Second Amendment Advocate, author, and public speaker living with his wife and kids in Texas. 

Links:
Website
X
Facebook
Instagram

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15595062 Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0700 6605 4 55 full false Ep 120: From Kids to Kings with Devin Perkins - Youth Firearms and Mental Health Education in Urban Communities Ep 120: From Kids to Kings with Devin Perkins - Youth Firearms and Mental Health Education in Urban Communities This episode discusses the importance of educating and empowering youth in underprivileged and underserved areas about firearms. Devin Perkins, the program Director of Kids to Kings, discusses why there has been a lack of focus on youth education in the firearms industry and how individual trainers and gun ranges have taken up the responsibility. 

Devin also highlights the need to modernize youth firearms programs to align with the interests of today's youth. Emphasizing the importance of teaching impulse control and emotional intelligence to the youth and creating a safe and supportive environment for them to learn about firearms. 

Devin shares stories of the positive impact of introducing firearms to the youth and the importance of teaching responsible firearm ownership and safety. They also discuss the role of mental health in these communities and the need to break down stigmas and provide support. 

If you would like to support Walk the Talk America's Kids to Kings program, you can donate on our website: https://walkthetalkamerica.org/kids-to-kings/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> This episode discusses the importance of educating and empowering youth in underprivileged and underserved areas about firearms. Devin Perkins, the program Director of Kids to Kings, discusses why there has been a lack of focus on youth education in the firearms industry and how individual trainers and gun ranges have taken up the responsibility. 

Devin also highlights the need to modernize youth firearms programs to align with the interests of today's youth. Emphasizing the importance of teaching impulse control and emotional intelligence to the youth and creating a safe and supportive environment for them to learn about firearms. 

Devin shares stories of the positive impact of introducing firearms to the youth and the importance of teaching responsible firearm ownership and safety. They also discuss the role of mental health in these communities and the need to break down stigmas and provide support. 

If you would like to support Walk the Talk America's Kids to Kings program, you can donate on our website: https://walkthetalkamerica.org/kids-to-kings/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15551411 Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0700 4052 youth firearm saftey, youth gun saftey, education, firearms, emotional intelligence, mental health, responsible gun ownership 4 54 full true Ep 119: The Hidden Toll of Constant Connectivity on Kids Ep 119: The Hidden Toll of Constant Connectivity on Kids We're tackling the growing issue of excessive screen time among kids and its effects on mental health. We discuss the latest recommendations from health officials, the challenges parents face in setting boundaries, and the hidden dangers of social media. Hear from our hosts about their experiences, strategies for reducing digital dependency, and ways to encourage outdoor activities and genuine interactions. Discover how small changes can lead to big improvements in your child's life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> We're tackling the growing issue of excessive screen time among kids and its effects on mental health. We discuss the latest recommendations from health officials, the challenges parents face in setting boundaries, and the hidden dangers of social media. Hear from our hosts about their experiences, strategies for reducing digital dependency, and ways to encourage outdoor activities and genuine interactions. Discover how small changes can lead to big improvements in your child's life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15482226 Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:00:00 -0700 5424 4 53 full false Ep 118: The Critical Need for Youth Gun Safety Education with Derek LeBlanc Ep 118: The Critical Need for Youth Gun Safety Education with Derek LeBlanc In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry of Walk the Talk America (WTTA) are joined by Derek LeBlanc, founder of Kids S.A.F.E. Foundation, to discuss youth's critical need for gun safety education. The conversation dissects the manipulation of gun violence data, the importance of educating children on firearm safety, and the role of secure storage. Derek shares insights from his experiences teaching gun safety to children across the country and highlights the challenges and opportunities in changing the narrative around firearms. Together, they explore how to bridge the gap between perception and reality, emphasizing the importance of being in the room where these crucial conversations happen.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry of Walk the Talk America (WTTA) are joined by Derek LeBlanc, founder of Kids S.A.F.E. Foundation, to discuss youth's critical need for gun safety education. The conversation dissects the manipulation of gun violence data, the importance of educating children on firearm safety, and the role of secure storage. Derek shares insights from his experiences teaching gun safety to children across the country and highlights the challenges and opportunities in changing the narrative around firearms. Together, they explore how to bridge the gap between perception and reality, emphasizing the importance of being in the room where these crucial conversations happen.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15440620 Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0700 5422 Youth gun safety, kid gun safety, 4 52 full false Ep 117: Shattering Stigmas - Michael Sodini Recaps Co-Presenting with Mental Health America Ep 117: Shattering Stigmas - Michael Sodini Recaps Co-Presenting with Mental Health America Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry recap Michael's experience co-presenting with Mental Health America at the Stop the Stigma Together conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The topic for their presentation was addressing the shared stigma faced by the mental health and firearms communities. The session was met with enthusiasm and requests for Walk the Talk America resources, emphasizing the importance of bridging conversations between gun ownership and suicide prevention.

They highlight Michael's memorable moments, including his candid discussions with various groups, such as Moms Demand Action and LGBTQ gun owners. They conclude with a discussion on the necessity of including gun owners' perspectives in national conversations about gun control and mental health. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry recap Michael's experience co-presenting with Mental Health America at the Stop the Stigma Together conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The topic for their presentation was addressing the shared stigma faced by the mental health and firearms communities. The session was met with enthusiasm and requests for Walk the Talk America resources, emphasizing the importance of bridging conversations between gun ownership and suicide prevention.

They highlight Michael's memorable moments, including his candid discussions with various groups, such as Moms Demand Action and LGBTQ gun owners. They conclude with a discussion on the necessity of including gun owners' perspectives in national conversations about gun control and mental health. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15386619 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0700 5715 4 51 full false Ep 116: Promoting Community and Mental Health from Behind the Counter with Jacquelyn Clark Ep 116: Promoting Community and Mental Health from Behind the Counter with Jacquelyn Clark In this episode, we sit down with Jacquelyn Clark, co-owner of Bristlecone Shooting, Training & Retail Center, to discuss the crucial role of community and mental health in the firearms industry. Jacquelyn shares her personal journey into the industry. She highlights the importance of providing secure storage options at local gun ranges and shops to prevent access to firearms during times of crisis. 

Jacquelyn emphasizes the need for a welcoming and inclusive environment in gun shops and ranges, where conversations about mental health can occur without judgment. She details her store's efforts to offer secure storage solutions, including lockers and temporary storage, to support gun owners facing difficult times.

We also discuss the impact of fostering a community that supports mental health, addressing the challenges of stigma, and raising awareness. Jacquelyn also details the obstacles faced by gun shop owners, such as liability concerns and the need for greater knowledge about mental health. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, we sit down with Jacquelyn Clark, co-owner of Bristlecone Shooting, Training & Retail Center, to discuss the crucial role of community and mental health in the firearms industry. Jacquelyn shares her personal journey into the industry. She highlights the importance of providing secure storage options at local gun ranges and shops to prevent access to firearms during times of crisis. 

Jacquelyn emphasizes the need for a welcoming and inclusive environment in gun shops and ranges, where conversations about mental health can occur without judgment. She details her store's efforts to offer secure storage solutions, including lockers and temporary storage, to support gun owners facing difficult times.

We also discuss the impact of fostering a community that supports mental health, addressing the challenges of stigma, and raising awareness. Jacquelyn also details the obstacles faced by gun shop owners, such as liability concerns and the need for greater knowledge about mental health. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15302540 Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0700 4806 gun safety, mental health, firearms industry, secure storage, gun industry, community, gun shops, ranges 4 50 full false Ep 115: Navigating Controversy: Mental Health and Firearms Advocacy with Ashley Hlebinsky Ep 115: Navigating Controversy: Mental Health and Firearms Advocacy with Ashley Hlebinsky Ashley Hlebinsky discusses her work as a firearms historian and her experience in the court system as an expert witness. She highlights the importance of public education and providing unbiased information about firearms history. Ashley also shares her frustration with the polarized gun debate and the negative impact it has on mental health. She emphasizes the need for civil discourse and finding common ground to save lives. 


Ashley Hlebinsky is a firearms historian specializing in material culture studies. She is also a firearms and ammunition-related museum consultant, expert witness, freelance writer, guest lecturer, television personality, and producer. Previously, she was the Robert W. Woodruff Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum (CFM), overseeing the museum's full-scale multimillion-dollar renovation. In 2022, Hlebinsky co-founded the University of Wyoming College of Law's Firearms Research Center.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Ashley Hlebinsky discusses her work as a firearms historian and her experience in the court system as an expert witness. She highlights the importance of public education and providing unbiased information about firearms history. Ashley also shares her frustration with the polarized gun debate and the negative impact it has on mental health. She emphasizes the need for civil discourse and finding common ground to save lives. 


Ashley Hlebinsky is a firearms historian specializing in material culture studies. She is also a firearms and ammunition-related museum consultant, expert witness, freelance writer, guest lecturer, television personality, and producer. Previously, she was the Robert W. Woodruff Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum (CFM), overseeing the museum's full-scale multimillion-dollar renovation. In 2022, Hlebinsky co-founded the University of Wyoming College of Law's Firearms Research Center.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15245655 Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0700 4957 Keywords firearms history, expert witness, public education, unbiased information, gun debate, mental health, civil discourse, common ground, saving lives, firearms, historian, expert witness, gun debate, pressure, labeling, statistics, balance, historia 4 49 full false Ep 114: Megan Braganza and Ashley Hlebinsky on Service Dogs and Their Impact Ep 114: Megan Braganza and Ashley Hlebinsky on Service Dogs and Their Impact Megan Braganza and WTTA Board Member Ashley Hlebinsky join the podcast to discuss all things service dogs. Megan is a skilled dog trainer specializing in service dogs and one of the trainers who trained Ashley's service dog. We touch on the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals, the training process, and the tasks these dogs perform. 

Megan shares her personal journey with her service dog, who helps manage her migraines, hypoglycemia, and anxiety. Additionally, they address the challenges of training and maintaining a service dog and the emotional impact of losing a beloved companion.

The discussion also explores the experiences of having a service dog in public spaces, including handling crowded places and loud noises. Megan and Ashley highlight the issue of people falsely claiming their pets as service animals, which complicates life for legitimate service dog owners. The episode wraps up with anecdotes about taking service dogs to unique venues like Disneyland and concerts, offering listeners a comprehensive look at the life and experiences of service dogs and their owners.

Megan's Bussiness: Canine Collaborations

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Megan Braganza and WTTA Board Member Ashley Hlebinsky join the podcast to discuss all things service dogs. Megan is a skilled dog trainer specializing in service dogs and one of the trainers who trained Ashley's service dog. We touch on the differences between service dogs and emotional support animals, the training process, and the tasks these dogs perform. 

Megan shares her personal journey with her service dog, who helps manage her migraines, hypoglycemia, and anxiety. Additionally, they address the challenges of training and maintaining a service dog and the emotional impact of losing a beloved companion.

The discussion also explores the experiences of having a service dog in public spaces, including handling crowded places and loud noises. Megan and Ashley highlight the issue of people falsely claiming their pets as service animals, which complicates life for legitimate service dog owners. The episode wraps up with anecdotes about taking service dogs to unique venues like Disneyland and concerts, offering listeners a comprehensive look at the life and experiences of service dogs and their owners.

Megan's Bussiness: Canine Collaborations

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15207650 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0700 5071 4 48 full false Ep 113: Maj Toure Part 2 Ep 113: Maj Toure Part 2 Maj is back and out of the salon chair to resume the conversation with Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini! Maj Toure is the founder of Black Guns Matter and the Solutionary Center. Maj discusses the Solutionary Center's mission, a community education hub addressing responsible gun ownership, the Second Amendment, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and mental health. He shares stories of conducting events nationwide and how these experiences created a centralized space to teach skills like yoga, meditation, personal protection, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Solutionary Center, funded by voluntary donations, aims to foster a sense of collective responsibility and empowerment without government intervention.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Maj is back and out of the salon chair to resume the conversation with Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini! Maj Toure is the founder of Black Guns Matter and the Solutionary Center. Maj discusses the Solutionary Center's mission, a community education hub addressing responsible gun ownership, the Second Amendment, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and mental health. He shares stories of conducting events nationwide and how these experiences created a centralized space to teach skills like yoga, meditation, personal protection, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Solutionary Center, funded by voluntary donations, aims to foster a sense of collective responsibility and empowerment without government intervention.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15170680 Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:00 -0700 7716 Solutionary Center, community center, firearms ownership, mental health, self-improvement, cooperative economics, balance, fundraising, Black Guns Matter, serving others, interconnectedness, asking questions, challenging authority, personal stories, hero' 4 47 full false Ep 112: Maj Toure Part 1 Ep 112: Maj Toure Part 1 In this episode, Maj Toure, founder of Black Guns Matter and Solutionary University, emphasizes the critical role of firearms education and responsible gun ownership. Despite a scheduling mix-up, Maj speaks candidly from his salon chair about the misconceptions surrounding firearms and safety, the historical racism of gun control policies, and the importance of diverse voices in the Second Amendment dialogue. He shares his dedication to making firearms training accessible and stresses the need for collective action to protect civil liberties. Maj's passionate discussion highlights the need for community engagement and education to reduce violence and promote safety.

https://www.solutionaryuniversity.org/

https://blackgunsmatter.shop/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Maj Toure, founder of Black Guns Matter and Solutionary University, emphasizes the critical role of firearms education and responsible gun ownership. Despite a scheduling mix-up, Maj speaks candidly from his salon chair about the misconceptions surrounding firearms and safety, the historical racism of gun control policies, and the importance of diverse voices in the Second Amendment dialogue. He shares his dedication to making firearms training accessible and stresses the need for collective action to protect civil liberties. Maj's passionate discussion highlights the need for community engagement and education to reduce violence and promote safety.

https://www.solutionaryuniversity.org/

https://blackgunsmatter.shop/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15149736 Tue, 28 May 2024 07:00:00 -0700 5478 4 47 full false Ep 111: Gun Curious with David Yamane Ep 111: Gun Curious with David Yamane In this episode, we explore the world of gun culture with author David Yamane, who aims to bridge the divide between gun owners and skeptics. His book covers why guns resonate with their owners while addressing concerns about the risks they pose in some people's eyes. David highlights the efforts of Walk the Talk America and explores founder Michael Sodini's background growing up.

Yamane's book speaks to gun enthusiasts, skeptics, and the curious alike. He encourages readers to embrace different perspectives and seek common ground. Join us as Yamane discusses what it has been like promoting his book, navigating criticism, and the importance of engaging in meaningful conversations about guns.

About David Yamane:

For the first 20 years of his academic career, Professor Yamane specialized in the sociology of religion, a field in which he authored, co-authored, or edited 6 books and 2 major scholarly journals.

Since 2011, Professor Yamane has become a nationally recognized scholarly authority on guns in America, with a unique voice in our cacophonous debates on the subject, one that reaches audiences across the spectrum of opinion on guns. He especially seeks out opportunities to speak about and to the broad and deep middle of the American population whose views do not skew to the extreme in either direction. Recent publications include  “Gun Culture 2.0: Evolution and Contours of Defensive Gun Ownership in America,”  “Understanding and Misunderstanding American Gun Culture and Violence,” and Concealed Carry Revolution: Liberalizing the Right to Bear Arms in America. His book, Gun Curious: A Journey Inside America’s Evolving Culture of Firearms, will be published by Exposit Books.



Pre Order The Book











Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, we explore the world of gun culture with author David Yamane, who aims to bridge the divide between gun owners and skeptics. His book covers why guns resonate with their owners while addressing concerns about the risks they pose in some people's eyes. David highlights the efforts of Walk the Talk America and explores founder Michael Sodini's background growing up.

Yamane's book speaks to gun enthusiasts, skeptics, and the curious alike. He encourages readers to embrace different perspectives and seek common ground. Join us as Yamane discusses what it has been like promoting his book, navigating criticism, and the importance of engaging in meaningful conversations about guns.

About David Yamane:

For the first 20 years of his academic career, Professor Yamane specialized in the sociology of religion, a field in which he authored, co-authored, or edited 6 books and 2 major scholarly journals.

Since 2011, Professor Yamane has become a nationally recognized scholarly authority on guns in America, with a unique voice in our cacophonous debates on the subject, one that reaches audiences across the spectrum of opinion on guns. He especially seeks out opportunities to speak about and to the broad and deep middle of the American population whose views do not skew to the extreme in either direction. Recent publications include  “Gun Culture 2.0: Evolution and Contours of Defensive Gun Ownership in America,”  “Understanding and Misunderstanding American Gun Culture and Violence,” and Concealed Carry Revolution: Liberalizing the Right to Bear Arms in America. His book, Gun Curious: A Journey Inside America’s Evolving Culture of Firearms, will be published by Exposit Books.



Pre Order The Book











Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15086758 Fri, 17 May 2024 08:00:00 -0700 5866 4 46 full false Ep 110: Chemical vs Process Addictions Ep 110: Chemical vs Process Addictions Jake and the clinical podcast team talk about chemical and process addictions. Chemical addictions involve substances that latch onto parts of the brain and release an excess of dopamine, creating a dependency. Process addictions, on the other hand, involve behaviors like gambling, video games, and social media, which also release chemicals in the brain and can become addictive. This conversation highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing all types of addictions, as well as the need for patience, support, and intentional efforts to break addictive patterns. Jake Wiskerchen and the group discuss the similarities between substance addiction and process addiction, such as the patterns of behavior and the underlying emotional issues. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake and the clinical podcast team talk about chemical and process addictions. Chemical addictions involve substances that latch onto parts of the brain and release an excess of dopamine, creating a dependency. Process addictions, on the other hand, involve behaviors like gambling, video games, and social media, which also release chemicals in the brain and can become addictive. This conversation highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing all types of addictions, as well as the need for patience, support, and intentional efforts to break addictive patterns. Jake Wiskerchen and the group discuss the similarities between substance addiction and process addiction, such as the patterns of behavior and the underlying emotional issues. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-15040014 Thu, 09 May 2024 08:00:00 -0700 5167 addictions, chemical addictions, process addictions, dopamine, dependency, substances, behaviors, social media, video games, gambling, addiction, substance addiction, process addiction, patterns of behavior, emotional issues, instant gratification, 4 46 full false Ep 109: Ex-CIA Nic McKinley on Brain Health and Countering Human Trafficking Ep 109: Ex-CIA Nic McKinley on Brain Health and Countering Human Trafficking Nic McKinley, a former CIA operative, talks about his inspiring transition to founding Deliver Fund - an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking.

Nic shares his multifaceted journey encompassing experiences from military service to intelligence work, shedding light on how these roles have informed his approach to tackling one of today’s most pressing social issues: human trafficking. Nic also addresses the essence of brain health in maintaining mental fitness, addressing misdiagnosis within psychiatric practice, and emphasizing dietary influence on psychological well-being. The dialogue transitions into critical reflections on systemic failures addressing human trafficking, critiquing current governmental responses while underscoring potential strategies for improvement through public engagement and policy reform.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Nic McKinley, a former CIA operative, talks about his inspiring transition to founding Deliver Fund - an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking.

Nic shares his multifaceted journey encompassing experiences from military service to intelligence work, shedding light on how these roles have informed his approach to tackling one of today’s most pressing social issues: human trafficking. Nic also addresses the essence of brain health in maintaining mental fitness, addressing misdiagnosis within psychiatric practice, and emphasizing dietary influence on psychological well-being. The dialogue transitions into critical reflections on systemic failures addressing human trafficking, critiquing current governmental responses while underscoring potential strategies for improvement through public engagement and policy reform.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14955586 Thu, 02 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700 5913 4 45 full false Ep 108: WTTA's $100K Fundraiser by Top Shot Chris Cheng Ep 108: WTTA's $100K Fundraiser by Top Shot Chris Cheng In this special short podcast episode, Top Shot winner Chris Cheng announces a $100,000 fundraising challenge for Walk the Talk America during Mental Health Awareness Month. Chris explains his passion for mental health and suicide prevention in the firearms community, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between gun owners and non-gun owners. He encourages smaller donations and challenges the firearms industry to contribute. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this special short podcast episode, Top Shot winner Chris Cheng announces a $100,000 fundraising challenge for Walk the Talk America during Mental Health Awareness Month. Chris explains his passion for mental health and suicide prevention in the firearms community, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between gun owners and non-gun owners. He encourages smaller donations and challenges the firearms industry to contribute. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14952631 Wed, 01 May 2024 05:00:00 -0700 684 4 44 full false Ep 107: Positive Legislation for Firearms Ep 107: Positive Legislation for Firearms Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the crucial role of constructive firearm legislation and its intersection with mental health. They explore the need for laws that promote responsible storage and comprehensive firearms education and enhance mental health resources accessible to the public. They invite the audience to consider the impact of positive messaging within the firearms community, advocating for proactive solutions that support responsible gun ownership. 











Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry discuss the crucial role of constructive firearm legislation and its intersection with mental health. They explore the need for laws that promote responsible storage and comprehensive firearms education and enhance mental health resources accessible to the public. They invite the audience to consider the impact of positive messaging within the firearms community, advocating for proactive solutions that support responsible gun ownership. 











Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14952607 Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0700 5493 4 43 full false Ep 106: Guns, Guitars, and Growth with Brandon Covey Ep 106: Guns, Guitars, and Growth with Brandon Covey Brandon Covey, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), shares his journey of becoming a mental health professional and his interest in firearms. He took us through the different paths that led him to the mental health field and become an LPC. Brandon also talks about his introduction to firearms and how it led him to Walk the Talk America (WTTA). 

He explains his role in spreading awareness about mental health in gun shops and ranges. Brandon shares his passion for trauma therapy, particularly Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and how it has helped his clients.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brandon Covey, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), shares his journey of becoming a mental health professional and his interest in firearms. He took us through the different paths that led him to the mental health field and become an LPC. Brandon also talks about his introduction to firearms and how it led him to Walk the Talk America (WTTA). 

He explains his role in spreading awareness about mental health in gun shops and ranges. Brandon shares his passion for trauma therapy, particularly Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and how it has helped his clients.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14919772 Sun, 21 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0700 4196 4 42 full false Ep 105: Combatting Gun Legislation in Colorado and Kids to Kings Ep 105: Combatting Gun Legislation in Colorado and Kids to Kings Devin Perkins discusses recent legislation in Colorado and his organization, Kids to Kings, a Walk the Talk America program that aims to help young people avoid the struggles and issues he faced growing up. 

Devin emphasizes the importance of addressing trauma and mental health in inner-city communities and introducing firearms in a healthy manner. Perkins also highlights the need to combat misinformation and optics used by anti-gun groups and the importance of speaking to the middle ground and presenting well-spoken ideas.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Devin Perkins discusses recent legislation in Colorado and his organization, Kids to Kings, a Walk the Talk America program that aims to help young people avoid the struggles and issues he faced growing up. 

Devin emphasizes the importance of addressing trauma and mental health in inner-city communities and introducing firearms in a healthy manner. Perkins also highlights the need to combat misinformation and optics used by anti-gun groups and the importance of speaking to the middle ground and presenting well-spoken ideas.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14916490 Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:00:00 -0700 5128 guns, mental health, Kids to Kings, feel-good legislation, gun culture, legislation, assault weapons ban 4 41 full false Ep. 104: Building Bridges: Guns, Mental Health, and Public Policy Ep. 104: Building Bridges: Guns, Mental Health, and Public Policy Michael Sodini and co-host Kenny Barlow talk with Gala True, a dedicated researcher and professor, and Caleb Morse, a 13-year Army veteran and gun shop owner.

This episode explores the innovative The Armory Project (TAP) in Louisiana. Discover how this initiative is fostering community engagement, offering crucial support to individuals in crisis, and challenging the stigma around mental health in the firearm community. Through personal stories and expert insights, the episode illuminates the collaborative efforts to promote safety, support, and understanding, highlighting the positive impact of community-driven solutions in suicide prevention and mental health awareness within the firearms industry.

Gala True, Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine at LSU School of Medicine and a Research Investigator with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a founder and the director of The Armory Project, a VA-funded partnership with firearm retailers to promote secure firearm storage and prevent suicide. She also directs VA-funded research to support caregivers of Veterans in secure firearm storage to prevent suicide.

Caleb Morse is an Army combat veteran who has deployed multiple times supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. A Louisiana native, Caleb owns and operates the Rustic Renegade, a firearms retail shop in Lafayette that also offers coffee, gifts, and a gathering place for veterans and firearms enthusiasts. Caleb is a founding partner of The Armory Project, offering out-of-home storage options in his gun shop and consulting on the evaluation and spread of TAP to additional states.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Michael Sodini and co-host Kenny Barlow talk with Gala True, a dedicated researcher and professor, and Caleb Morse, a 13-year Army veteran and gun shop owner.

This episode explores the innovative The Armory Project (TAP) in Louisiana. Discover how this initiative is fostering community engagement, offering crucial support to individuals in crisis, and challenging the stigma around mental health in the firearm community. Through personal stories and expert insights, the episode illuminates the collaborative efforts to promote safety, support, and understanding, highlighting the positive impact of community-driven solutions in suicide prevention and mental health awareness within the firearms industry.

Gala True, Ph.D., is a Professor of Medicine at LSU School of Medicine and a Research Investigator with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is a founder and the director of The Armory Project, a VA-funded partnership with firearm retailers to promote secure firearm storage and prevent suicide. She also directs VA-funded research to support caregivers of Veterans in secure firearm storage to prevent suicide.

Caleb Morse is an Army combat veteran who has deployed multiple times supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. A Louisiana native, Caleb owns and operates the Rustic Renegade, a firearms retail shop in Lafayette that also offers coffee, gifts, and a gathering place for veterans and firearms enthusiasts. Caleb is a founding partner of The Armory Project, offering out-of-home storage options in his gun shop and consulting on the evaluation and spread of TAP to additional states.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14808702 Thu, 11 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0700 5706 4 40 full false Ep. 103: Unlocking Safety with Timmy Oh, Co-Founder of Vara Safety Ep. 103: Unlocking Safety with Timmy Oh, Co-Founder of Vara Safety Jake and Mike take the hosts' seats to talk with Timmy Oh, co-founder of Vara Safety. Timmy discusses the development of their fast access safes using biometric technology. Timmy shares his motivation for entering the gun safe manufacturing business and his challenges in creating reliable biometric systems. He explains the different types of fingerprint technology and how Vara Safety's products have improved upon existing solutions. Timmy also discusses the importance of battery life and charging options for their safes. He emphasizes the balance between affordability and reliability in the market and shares insights into future product development. 

He also highlights the personal connection between mental health and firearms and the importance of maintaining mental wellness as an entrepreneur. Overall, this conversation sheds light on the intersection of technology, mental health, and gun storage.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake and Mike take the hosts' seats to talk with Timmy Oh, co-founder of Vara Safety. Timmy discusses the development of their fast access safes using biometric technology. Timmy shares his motivation for entering the gun safe manufacturing business and his challenges in creating reliable biometric systems. He explains the different types of fingerprint technology and how Vara Safety's products have improved upon existing solutions. Timmy also discusses the importance of battery life and charging options for their safes. He emphasizes the balance between affordability and reliability in the market and shares insights into future product development. 

He also highlights the personal connection between mental health and firearms and the importance of maintaining mental wellness as an entrepreneur. Overall, this conversation sheds light on the intersection of technology, mental health, and gun storage.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14693932 Thu, 04 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0700 4269 Vara Saftey, Quck Access Safe, Gun Safe, Gun Storage, 4 39 full false Ep. 102: An Interview with WTTA Board Member Dr. DB Palmer Ep. 102: An Interview with WTTA Board Member Dr. DB Palmer This week, Kevin will take the host seat to interview WTTA Board Member Dr. DB Palmer! He discusses his background and the launch of 2A Mental Health. He shares his connection with Walk the Talk America and the importance of addressing mental health in the firearms community. Dr. Palmer highlights the stigma around mental health and the need to de-stigmatize conversations about it. 

Dr. DB Palmer also talks about his journey into the mental health profession and the differences between wilderness therapy and telehealth. Finally, he discusses the impact of political restraints on mental health practices. He also explores the relationship between mental health and the firearms community, the role of religion in treatment, and the importance of personal responsibility. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> This week, Kevin will take the host seat to interview WTTA Board Member Dr. DB Palmer! He discusses his background and the launch of 2A Mental Health. He shares his connection with Walk the Talk America and the importance of addressing mental health in the firearms community. Dr. Palmer highlights the stigma around mental health and the need to de-stigmatize conversations about it. 

Dr. DB Palmer also talks about his journey into the mental health profession and the differences between wilderness therapy and telehealth. Finally, he discusses the impact of political restraints on mental health practices. He also explores the relationship between mental health and the firearms community, the role of religion in treatment, and the importance of personal responsibility. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14693920 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0700 5062 4 38 full false Ep. 101: Navigating the Ego: From Inner Conflicts to Authenticity Ep. 101: Navigating the Ego: From Inner Conflicts to Authenticity In this enlightening episode of our podcast, Jake Wiskerchen, a seasoned marriage and family therapist, takes us on a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche alongside a panel of esteemed experts. Join us as we unravel the layers of our inner selves, shedding light on the intersection of mental health and everyday life.

This episode is not just an academic discourse; it's a practical guide to understanding ourselves and others. Through personal anecdotes, theoretical discussions, and interactive dialogue, the panel examines the significance of the unconscious, the role of the ego, and the transformative power of self-reflection.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this enlightening episode of our podcast, Jake Wiskerchen, a seasoned marriage and family therapist, takes us on a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche alongside a panel of esteemed experts. Join us as we unravel the layers of our inner selves, shedding light on the intersection of mental health and everyday life.

This episode is not just an academic discourse; it's a practical guide to understanding ourselves and others. Through personal anecdotes, theoretical discussions, and interactive dialogue, the panel examines the significance of the unconscious, the role of the ego, and the transformative power of self-reflection.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14693886 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0700 5475 4 37 full false Episode 100: Beyond the Battlefield: A SEAL's Journey Rebuilding Identity After the Uniform Episode 100: Beyond the Battlefield: A SEAL's Journey Rebuilding Identity After the Uniform In this episode, former Navy SEAL Will Chesney shares his experiences as a dog handler in the military. He discusses his background growing up in a trailer park and his decision to join the military. Will explains how he became a dog handler and the dogs' valuable role in combat. He also opens up about the mental and physical health challenges he faced during his time in the military and the importance of seeking help and support. In this part of the conversation, Will Chesney discusses his struggles with alcohol and the impact it had on his camaraderie with his teammates. He also talks about the physical ailments he experienced, including a grenade explosion, and how it affected his ability to perform.

Will shares his transition from the military and his new identity challenges. He explores different treatments and tools he has used to improve his mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of a multi-faceted approach. Will also discusses the value of therapy and coaching in his journey. Lastly, he reflects on his childhood and the impact it had on his mental health. In this conversation, Will Chesney discusses using criticism to motivate personal growth. He shares the role of his dog, Cairo, in his life and how caring for Cairo gave him purpose and helped him through tough times. Will emphasizes the value of dogs as tools and companions, highlighting their loyalty and the joy they bring. He also talks about his transition to the next chapter of his life and how he uses his experiences to help others. Will reflects on the importance of finding purpose, embracing challenges, and taking care of mental health through blood work and physical activity.

Will's Book: No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, former Navy SEAL Will Chesney shares his experiences as a dog handler in the military. He discusses his background growing up in a trailer park and his decision to join the military. Will explains how he became a dog handler and the dogs' valuable role in combat. He also opens up about the mental and physical health challenges he faced during his time in the military and the importance of seeking help and support. In this part of the conversation, Will Chesney discusses his struggles with alcohol and the impact it had on his camaraderie with his teammates. He also talks about the physical ailments he experienced, including a grenade explosion, and how it affected his ability to perform.

Will shares his transition from the military and his new identity challenges. He explores different treatments and tools he has used to improve his mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of a multi-faceted approach. Will also discusses the value of therapy and coaching in his journey. Lastly, he reflects on his childhood and the impact it had on his mental health. In this conversation, Will Chesney discusses using criticism to motivate personal growth. He shares the role of his dog, Cairo, in his life and how caring for Cairo gave him purpose and helped him through tough times. Will emphasizes the value of dogs as tools and companions, highlighting their loyalty and the joy they bring. He also talks about his transition to the next chapter of his life and how he uses his experiences to help others. Will reflects on the importance of finding purpose, embracing challenges, and taking care of mental health through blood work and physical activity.

Will's Book: No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14690491 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0700 5445 4 36 full false Episode 99: A Lawyer's Perspective: The Intersection of Law, Liberty, and Justice with Orrin Johnson Episode 99: A Lawyer's Perspective: The Intersection of Law, Liberty, and Justice with Orrin Johnson Orrin Johnson is an attorney in Nevada who shares a colorful mix of childhood trauma, military service, free speech advocacy, and legal practice. His firm specializes in criminal law and prioritizes veterans and gun rights. In this interview, he offers an intelligent, encouraging, and well-articulated perspective on firearms and defensive use, mental health, politics, and recent military history affecting today's veteran experiences. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Orrin Johnson is an attorney in Nevada who shares a colorful mix of childhood trauma, military service, free speech advocacy, and legal practice. His firm specializes in criminal law and prioritizes veterans and gun rights. In this interview, he offers an intelligent, encouraging, and well-articulated perspective on firearms and defensive use, mental health, politics, and recent military history affecting today's veteran experiences. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14653927 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0800 6149 4 35 full false Episode 98: From Social Wreckage to Social Worker with Austin Pollard Episode 98: From Social Wreckage to Social Worker with Austin Pollard Austin is a master social worker, Marine Corps veteran, and 2A advocate. He has experienced homelessness and drug addiction and survived his own suicide attempt. He is now a proud father and happily married. This incredible and inspiring interview begins by discussing the social drivers of health and explores Austin's own experiences of having gone from face-down failure to redemption, faith, vulnerability, and strength by centering on personal accountability and ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Austin is a master social worker, Marine Corps veteran, and 2A advocate. He has experienced homelessness and drug addiction and survived his own suicide attempt. He is now a proud father and happily married. This incredible and inspiring interview begins by discussing the social drivers of health and explores Austin's own experiences of having gone from face-down failure to redemption, faith, vulnerability, and strength by centering on personal accountability and ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14601815 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0800 5339 4 34 full false Episode 97: An Exploration of Psychedelics with Janine De Mesa Episode 97: An Exploration of Psychedelics with Janine De Mesa Janine De Mesa, doctoral student and psychedelic substance researcher, joins the show to discuss the benefits (and possible detriments) of substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, ayahuasca, and others. The clinicians share their varying views and opinions, along with plenty of live audience chat commentary on their applications, uses, misunderstandings, triumphs, and personal recovery stories.

Book: How to Change Your Mind 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Janine De Mesa, doctoral student and psychedelic substance researcher, joins the show to discuss the benefits (and possible detriments) of substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, ayahuasca, and others. The clinicians share their varying views and opinions, along with plenty of live audience chat commentary on their applications, uses, misunderstandings, triumphs, and personal recovery stories.

Book: How to Change Your Mind 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14541986 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0800 5521 4 33 full false Episode 96: The 5 Stages of Grief Episode 96: The 5 Stages of Grief In this episode, Brandon teaches about the stages of grief that many of us experience when dealing with the pain of loss.

While we don't necessarily experience all of them (and certainly not necessarily in order), understanding that it's normal to feel this stuff can be quite liberating for those are.

 Book: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross - On Death and Dying

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Brandon teaches about the stages of grief that many of us experience when dealing with the pain of loss.

While we don't necessarily experience all of them (and certainly not necessarily in order), understanding that it's normal to feel this stuff can be quite liberating for those are.

 Book: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross - On Death and Dying

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14510653 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0800 3913 grief 4 32 full false Episode 95: MAN Therapy with Eric Jones Episode 95: MAN Therapy with Eric Jones In this episode, we sit down with Eric Jones, the Director of Man Therapy Partnerships, to explore the intricacies of mental health. Man Therapy stands out for its innovative, comprehensive approach, designed to engage men effectively by meeting them right where they are in their mental health journey. Eric sheds light on the organization's mission and unique strategies for promoting mental wellness among men. Additionally, Eric opens up about his own mental health experiences, offering a personal perspective that adds depth and relatability to our discussion.

Mentioned in this episode:
Grit Digital Health
Man Therapy
Cactus
The Head Strong Project

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, we sit down with Eric Jones, the Director of Man Therapy Partnerships, to explore the intricacies of mental health. Man Therapy stands out for its innovative, comprehensive approach, designed to engage men effectively by meeting them right where they are in their mental health journey. Eric sheds light on the organization's mission and unique strategies for promoting mental wellness among men. Additionally, Eric opens up about his own mental health experiences, offering a personal perspective that adds depth and relatability to our discussion.

Mentioned in this episode:
Grit Digital Health
Man Therapy
Cactus
The Head Strong Project

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14465597 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0800 5314 Man Therapy, Men's Mental Health, Grit Digital Health, Eric Jones 4 31 full false Episode 94: How Proper Journalism Covers Firearms with John Diedrich Episode 94: How Proper Journalism Covers Firearms with John Diedrich John is a reporter for the Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel who covered gun deaths, specifically focusing on gun suicides.

 discusses the need to use language carefully and avoid catchphrases that may be misunderstood or divisive. The conversation also touches on the reception and backlash to the coverage, highlighting the importance of understanding different perspectives. John emphasizes the complexity of the issue and the need for nuanced solutions rather than relying on quick and easy legislative measures. The role of politicians in addressing gun deaths is also discussed, with a recognition of the challenges and limitations they face.

The changing landscape of journalism and the financial challenges news organizations face are discussed, along with John sharing his journey with firearms and the role of mental health, therapy, and God in his life.

We have a renewed hope for journalism and the potential for positive change through connection, unity, and seeing each other's humanity.

Read the article series here.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> John is a reporter for the Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel who covered gun deaths, specifically focusing on gun suicides.

 discusses the need to use language carefully and avoid catchphrases that may be misunderstood or divisive. The conversation also touches on the reception and backlash to the coverage, highlighting the importance of understanding different perspectives. John emphasizes the complexity of the issue and the need for nuanced solutions rather than relying on quick and easy legislative measures. The role of politicians in addressing gun deaths is also discussed, with a recognition of the challenges and limitations they face.

The changing landscape of journalism and the financial challenges news organizations face are discussed, along with John sharing his journey with firearms and the role of mental health, therapy, and God in his life.

We have a renewed hope for journalism and the potential for positive change through connection, unity, and seeing each other's humanity.

Read the article series here.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14421077 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0800 6057 John Diedrich, 4 30 full false Episode 93: Liberty, Competitve Shooting, and Mental Acuity with Gabby Franco Episode 93: Liberty, Competitve Shooting, and Mental Acuity with Gabby Franco Olympic shooter, freedom champion, 2A advocate, mom, and military wife Gabby Franco joins the show to share her thoughts, opinions, and insights on a variety of topics. A native Venezuelan, Gabby understands very well the need to protect rights in the face of those who would rather oppress and control.

This conversation also spends a great deal of time on a different mental angle, that of performance and competition. Having been a competitive shooter since childhood, Gabby's insights can help anyone with their ability to focus, control emotions, and execute strategy regardless of the application or use.

Find out more through her website or purchase her marskmanship book on Amazon.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Olympic shooter, freedom champion, 2A advocate, mom, and military wife Gabby Franco joins the show to share her thoughts, opinions, and insights on a variety of topics. A native Venezuelan, Gabby understands very well the need to protect rights in the face of those who would rather oppress and control.

This conversation also spends a great deal of time on a different mental angle, that of performance and competition. Having been a competitive shooter since childhood, Gabby's insights can help anyone with their ability to focus, control emotions, and execute strategy regardless of the application or use.

Find out more through her website or purchase her marskmanship book on Amazon.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14333809 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0800 5964 full false Episode 92: Mental Health in the (Gun) Workplace Episode 92: Mental Health in the (Gun) Workplace Holly Schneider and Andrew Nett join us to talk about their work within and around Delta Defense, the parent company of USCCA.

Leadership at both organizations has prioritized mental health in the workplace, employing Holly and Andrew full-time and making them available for therapy during office hours for all 600+ employees. 

The clinical team talks about this process, how it began, how it was integrated, and how it has been received (spoiler alert: it's gone smashingly!), as well as the broader topic of firearm owners' mental health. 

During this episode, we plug Holly's Book and highly recommend reading it and sharing it around.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Holly Schneider and Andrew Nett join us to talk about their work within and around Delta Defense, the parent company of USCCA.

Leadership at both organizations has prioritized mental health in the workplace, employing Holly and Andrew full-time and making them available for therapy during office hours for all 600+ employees. 

The clinical team talks about this process, how it began, how it was integrated, and how it has been received (spoiler alert: it's gone smashingly!), as well as the broader topic of firearm owners' mental health. 

During this episode, we plug Holly's Book and highly recommend reading it and sharing it around.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14292113 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0800 4660 4 28 full false Episode 91: An Interview with a Suicide Attempt Survivor Episode 91: An Interview with a Suicide Attempt Survivor In an incredibly redemptive interview, Jake and Mike sit down with Emon Alexander Mahban, who survived a suicide attempt with a firearm. With the bullet still lodged in his skull, this discussion explores where Emon was mentally during that time, the series of events that led up to the suicide attempt, the events of that night, and where he is in life now.  

Emon's story serves both as inspiration and a cautionary tale. Suicide is often so impulsive that no one sees it coming, and yet, the demons lurking beneath the surface can sometimes arise when we least expect it. And still...life is worth living.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In an incredibly redemptive interview, Jake and Mike sit down with Emon Alexander Mahban, who survived a suicide attempt with a firearm. With the bullet still lodged in his skull, this discussion explores where Emon was mentally during that time, the series of events that led up to the suicide attempt, the events of that night, and where he is in life now.  

Emon's story serves both as inspiration and a cautionary tale. Suicide is often so impulsive that no one sees it coming, and yet, the demons lurking beneath the surface can sometimes arise when we least expect it. And still...life is worth living.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14257197 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0800 6141 4 27 full false Episode 90: Red Flag Laws and Liberal Politics with Attorney Lara Smith Episode 90: Red Flag Laws and Liberal Politics with Attorney Lara Smith  As the national spokesperson for The Liberal Gun Club, Lara Smith bridges a unique gap between the political left and firearms ownership, highlighting the growing demographic of left-leaning gun owners. She shares the challenges of addressing root causes of violence and the need for practical solutions while also touching on the impact of tribalism and the lack of accountability in politics and sharing her personal journey from being anti-gun to becoming a pro-2A gun owner.

As an attorney, Lara also covers the ethical, legal, and civil rights obstacles to exercising 2A rights, such as the federal 4473 form (completed when purchasing any firearms) and so-called "Red Flag" laws as they pertain to mental health and the LGBT community.

The Liberal Gun Club is a 501(c)4 nonprofit whose membership is open to anyone and can be followed on Facebook and on X.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]>  As the national spokesperson for The Liberal Gun Club, Lara Smith bridges a unique gap between the political left and firearms ownership, highlighting the growing demographic of left-leaning gun owners. She shares the challenges of addressing root causes of violence and the need for practical solutions while also touching on the impact of tribalism and the lack of accountability in politics and sharing her personal journey from being anti-gun to becoming a pro-2A gun owner.

As an attorney, Lara also covers the ethical, legal, and civil rights obstacles to exercising 2A rights, such as the federal 4473 form (completed when purchasing any firearms) and so-called "Red Flag" laws as they pertain to mental health and the LGBT community.

The Liberal Gun Club is a 501(c)4 nonprofit whose membership is open to anyone and can be followed on Facebook and on X.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14194027 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 12:00:00 -0800 5035 4 26 full false Episode 89: WTTA Mental Health Survey Results Episode 89: WTTA Mental Health Survey Results Join hosts Jake Wiskerchen, Michael Sodini, and Kevin Berry in this episode as they delve into the revealing insights uncovered by Walk the Talk America's latest mental health survey conducted in September. Gain an in-depth understanding of the survey methodology, explore anticipated outcomes, and discover the surprising revelations that emerged. This engaging discussion goes beyond the numbers, offering valuable perspectives on mental health awareness and the importance of open dialogue in the gun community. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Join hosts Jake Wiskerchen, Michael Sodini, and Kevin Berry in this episode as they delve into the revealing insights uncovered by Walk the Talk America's latest mental health survey conducted in September. Gain an in-depth understanding of the survey methodology, explore anticipated outcomes, and discover the surprising revelations that emerged. This engaging discussion goes beyond the numbers, offering valuable perspectives on mental health awareness and the importance of open dialogue in the gun community. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14150785 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:00:00 -0800 4255 4 25 full false Episode 88: Overcoming Adversity with Dustin Hayes Episode 88: Overcoming Adversity with Dustin Hayes Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini interview Dustin Hayes, a Navy veteran and CEO of Red, White, and Badass Brew, a coffee company that offers badass flavors like Whiskey Business and Vanilla Warfare. In this conversation, Dustin talks about facing a lot of challenging times during his life, which sets the stage for discussions in the back half of this episode about mental health and suicide. 

As a veteran who faced challenging times post-medical retirement, Dustin has gone from construction and outdoor labor to a veteran-branded e-commerce store. All of the sales of their coffee and merchandise have a donation that goes to help fight PTSD and suicide in the veteran community. His business mission is to give back and continue to support fellow veterans. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini interview Dustin Hayes, a Navy veteran and CEO of Red, White, and Badass Brew, a coffee company that offers badass flavors like Whiskey Business and Vanilla Warfare. In this conversation, Dustin talks about facing a lot of challenging times during his life, which sets the stage for discussions in the back half of this episode about mental health and suicide. 

As a veteran who faced challenging times post-medical retirement, Dustin has gone from construction and outdoor labor to a veteran-branded e-commerce store. All of the sales of their coffee and merchandise have a donation that goes to help fight PTSD and suicide in the veteran community. His business mission is to give back and continue to support fellow veterans. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14088529 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0800 7571 Dustin Hayes, Suicide Prevention, Veteran's Mental Health 4 24 full true Episode 87: Restoring Reason and Balance to Therapy with Dr. Andrew Hartz Episode 87: Restoring Reason and Balance to Therapy with Dr. Andrew Hartz Dr. Andrew Hartz is the founder of Open Therapy Institute, which is working to re-establish the fundamental tenets of professional psychotherapy. In the face of an increasingly polarized (and politicized) culture, Dr. Hartz and OTI aim to restore reason, balance, and an appropriately welcoming environment to all those who need help, including centrists, moderates, conservatives, libertarians, and liberals.

He is a professor of clinical psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn. Drawing on years of training and practice, Dr. Hartz provides psychotherapy that addresses all aspects of his patient’s goals and personalities. He received training at Columbia Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the William Alanson White Institute. He completed coursework at Columbia University, Columbia Medical Center, Haverford College, and Long Island University. Dr. Hartz uses evidence-based tools from CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic psychotherapies to address each patient's unique needs.

Dr. Hartz's Links:
https://hartzpsychology.com/
https://www.opentherapyinstitute.org/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dr. Andrew Hartz is the founder of Open Therapy Institute, which is working to re-establish the fundamental tenets of professional psychotherapy. In the face of an increasingly polarized (and politicized) culture, Dr. Hartz and OTI aim to restore reason, balance, and an appropriately welcoming environment to all those who need help, including centrists, moderates, conservatives, libertarians, and liberals.

He is a professor of clinical psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn. Drawing on years of training and practice, Dr. Hartz provides psychotherapy that addresses all aspects of his patient’s goals and personalities. He received training at Columbia Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the William Alanson White Institute. He completed coursework at Columbia University, Columbia Medical Center, Haverford College, and Long Island University. Dr. Hartz uses evidence-based tools from CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic psychotherapies to address each patient's unique needs.

Dr. Hartz's Links:
https://hartzpsychology.com/
https://www.opentherapyinstitute.org/

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-14007243 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800 5680 4 23 full false Episode 86: Christian Counseling with Johnny Sanders, LPC Episode 86: Christian Counseling with Johnny Sanders, LPC Johnny Sanders is a LPC in Oklahoma and Texas. He started an online Christian Counseling practice to align with his conservative Christian values. Johnny provides online individual and group counseling for adults in Oklahoma and Texas. He specializes in homeschooling mothers struggling with anxiety, firearm owners (including police officers/military), and pastors dealing with burnout in the ministry.

In this episode, the clinical team explores why and how counseling and Christianity are not mutually exclusive concepts and how professional psychotherapy services can serve those with a belief in Jesus. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Johnny Sanders is a LPC in Oklahoma and Texas. He started an online Christian Counseling practice to align with his conservative Christian values. Johnny provides online individual and group counseling for adults in Oklahoma and Texas. He specializes in homeschooling mothers struggling with anxiety, firearm owners (including police officers/military), and pastors dealing with burnout in the ministry.

In this episode, the clinical team explores why and how counseling and Christianity are not mutually exclusive concepts and how professional psychotherapy services can serve those with a belief in Jesus. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13971635 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800 5250 4 23 full false Episode 85: Mental Health Misconceptions Episode 85: Mental Health Misconceptions The WTTA clinical team addresses common misconceptions about the mental health field. In many instances, non-clinical people have widely divergent (and inaccurate) opinions on practices, treatment plans, diagnoses, insurance coverage, and confidentiality.

 If you have questions or feedback, we welcome your input through our social media channels or website contact. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The WTTA clinical team addresses common misconceptions about the mental health field. In many instances, non-clinical people have widely divergent (and inaccurate) opinions on practices, treatment plans, diagnoses, insurance coverage, and confidentiality.

 If you have questions or feedback, we welcome your input through our social media channels or website contact. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13920346 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800 4397 4 22 full false Episode 84: Understanding Your Emotions Episode 84: Understanding Your Emotions In this episode, Jake dissects and explains the 10 core emotions inherent in every human being's brain. Understanding one's emotional functioning is critical not only to navigating life itself and all the stimuli we encounter as we move through the day, but it can also improve communication, intimacy, leadership, parenting, work ethic, patience, and so much more.

To learn more about this, please click here to watch Jake's emotional functioning video series. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, Jake dissects and explains the 10 core emotions inherent in every human being's brain. Understanding one's emotional functioning is critical not only to navigating life itself and all the stimuli we encounter as we move through the day, but it can also improve communication, intimacy, leadership, parenting, work ethic, patience, and so much more.

To learn more about this, please click here to watch Jake's emotional functioning video series. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13920338 Thu, 09 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800 5740 4 21 full false Episode 83: An Interview with Eddie Davenport Episode 83: An Interview with Eddie Davenport Guest host Kevin Berry interviews Eddie Davenport in this episode, which lets the audience get to know a member of our clinical podcast team better. Eddie gets vulnerable in this conversation, telling us about his journey from a gun owner to a gun-owning therapist. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Guest host Kevin Berry interviews Eddie Davenport in this episode, which lets the audience get to know a member of our clinical podcast team better. Eddie gets vulnerable in this conversation, telling us about his journey from a gun owner to a gun-owning therapist. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13899393 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0700 3886 4 20 full false Episode 82: Finding Meaning and Freedom in Life...and Death... Episode 82: Finding Meaning and Freedom in Life...and Death... The WTTA clinical team, led this episode by Dr. DB Palmer, explores the concepts and foundations of one of counseling's oldest (but least understood) orientations: existential psychotherapy.

In this exploration, Dr. Palmer and the team discuss how to handle all sorts of life matters - including death - as viewed through the existential therapy lens. To learn more about this, we recommend reading books by Irvin Yalom, such as Love's Executioner, Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, or anything by Rollo May.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The WTTA clinical team, led this episode by Dr. DB Palmer, explores the concepts and foundations of one of counseling's oldest (but least understood) orientations: existential psychotherapy.

In this exploration, Dr. Palmer and the team discuss how to handle all sorts of life matters - including death - as viewed through the existential therapy lens. To learn more about this, we recommend reading books by Irvin Yalom, such as Love's Executioner, Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, or anything by Rollo May.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13809270 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0700 4194 4 19 full false Episode 81: Yield Theory with Dr. Christian Conte Episode 81: Yield Theory with Dr. Christian Conte Dr. Christian Conte, creator of Yield Theory and one of the world's foremost anger management experts, joins the WTTA clinical team to discuss improving communication, avoiding conflict, and de-escalating potential problems.

Dr. Conte has written multiple books and workbooks, including Walking Through Anger, Advanced Techniques for Counseling and Psychotherapy, and 21 Days To Change Your Life.

His YouTube channel is full of free insights and skills, and his 60-second podcast provides pithy life lessons useful for anyone.  We invite you to subscribe to both. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dr. Christian Conte, creator of Yield Theory and one of the world's foremost anger management experts, joins the WTTA clinical team to discuss improving communication, avoiding conflict, and de-escalating potential problems.

Dr. Conte has written multiple books and workbooks, including Walking Through Anger, Advanced Techniques for Counseling and Psychotherapy, and 21 Days To Change Your Life.

His YouTube channel is full of free insights and skills, and his 60-second podcast provides pithy life lessons useful for anyone.  We invite you to subscribe to both. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13809280 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0700 4339 chistian conte, dr christian conte, yield theory, 4 18 full false Episode 80: Exploring Veteran Suicide and VA Care Episode 80: Exploring Veteran Suicide and VA Care Mike and Jake have a frank discussion with Russell Lemle and Aimee Johnson about their multiple decades of experience working with the veteran community and dispelling myths about veteran care within the VA system and how best to help someone who is in need.

Russell B. Lemle, PhD is a Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute Policy Director. He’s authored numerous scientific publications and media commentaries, and testified to Congress, on veterans’ health care and the prevention of firearm suicide, including in Guns & Ammo, The Hill, The American Prospect, Washington Monthly, Task & Purpose, and Federal Practitioner. From 1993 to 2019, he served as Chief Psychologist for the San Francisco VA Healthcare System.

Aimee Johnson, LCSW has over 20 years of experience as a clinical social worker. From direct clinical practice with youth, families, and adults in crisis working with military service members, Veterans, and their families, she has worked in the private sector and for the federal government, most recently at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is considered a national subject matter expert on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety strategies, creating and launching media campaigns, building, leading, and implementing public-private partnerships, and leveraging innovation to bring new strategies to the field of suicide prevention. She owns and operates Aimee J Consulting.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Mike and Jake have a frank discussion with Russell Lemle and Aimee Johnson about their multiple decades of experience working with the veteran community and dispelling myths about veteran care within the VA system and how best to help someone who is in need.

Russell B. Lemle, PhD is a Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute Policy Director. He’s authored numerous scientific publications and media commentaries, and testified to Congress, on veterans’ health care and the prevention of firearm suicide, including in Guns & Ammo, The Hill, The American Prospect, Washington Monthly, Task & Purpose, and Federal Practitioner. From 1993 to 2019, he served as Chief Psychologist for the San Francisco VA Healthcare System.

Aimee Johnson, LCSW has over 20 years of experience as a clinical social worker. From direct clinical practice with youth, families, and adults in crisis working with military service members, Veterans, and their families, she has worked in the private sector and for the federal government, most recently at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is considered a national subject matter expert on firearm suicide prevention and lethal means safety strategies, creating and launching media campaigns, building, leading, and implementing public-private partnerships, and leveraging innovation to bring new strategies to the field of suicide prevention. She owns and operates Aimee J Consulting.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13743524 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0700 5877 4 17 full false Episode 79: Getting Defensive - How the Mind Handles Psychological Conflict Episode 79: Getting Defensive - How the Mind Handles Psychological Conflict When presented with new information, sometimes we don't handle it in the best manner, which means sometimes we get defensive. 

But what are we defending?

We all try to maintain our worldview in a way that makes sense to us so when we get information that conflicts with the way we see things, our minds will deploy certain mechanisms. 

In this episode, Jake teaches about psychological defenses that often present in our lives, and how some of them can be helpful to us, while others can be harmful. The clinical team dissects and applies these concepts to the gun community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> When presented with new information, sometimes we don't handle it in the best manner, which means sometimes we get defensive. 

But what are we defending?

We all try to maintain our worldview in a way that makes sense to us so when we get information that conflicts with the way we see things, our minds will deploy certain mechanisms. 

In this episode, Jake teaches about psychological defenses that often present in our lives, and how some of them can be helpful to us, while others can be harmful. The clinical team dissects and applies these concepts to the gun community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13700209 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0700 4390 4 16 full false Episode 78: Isaac Richey (Part II) Episode 78: Isaac Richey (Part II) A year after first appearing on the show to tell us about being victimized by the New York SAFE Act, US Army Veteran Isaac Richey returns to give an update on the injunctive releif lawsuit he has filed against the State of New York. The ins and outs of the story are enough to make any reasonable person's blood boil, but hope exists for all those who cherish freedom and respect the rule of law, as Isaac shares his optimistic take on his story. If successful, his legal action could send a message to others who would use a temporary mental illness to revoke someone's civil rights: that liberty infringements simply due to being sick are totally unacceptable. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> A year after first appearing on the show to tell us about being victimized by the New York SAFE Act, US Army Veteran Isaac Richey returns to give an update on the injunctive releif lawsuit he has filed against the State of New York. The ins and outs of the story are enough to make any reasonable person's blood boil, but hope exists for all those who cherish freedom and respect the rule of law, as Isaac shares his optimistic take on his story. If successful, his legal action could send a message to others who would use a temporary mental illness to revoke someone's civil rights: that liberty infringements simply due to being sick are totally unacceptable. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13662809 Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:00:00 -0700 6533 4 15 full false Episode 77: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: What is it? Episode 77: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: What is it? CBT has been around for more than six decades and although it is well known in the clinical counseling community, very few people outside the profession truly understand how it works - and more importantly - that they can use these skills without even coming into the therapy office. 

In this episode the clinical team explores the foundational concepts of this modality and shares why it works so well and underpins so many of the counseling techniques used in modern psychotherapy.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> CBT has been around for more than six decades and although it is well known in the clinical counseling community, very few people outside the profession truly understand how it works - and more importantly - that they can use these skills without even coming into the therapy office. 

In this episode the clinical team explores the foundational concepts of this modality and shares why it works so well and underpins so many of the counseling techniques used in modern psychotherapy.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13613642 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0700 4686 4 14 full false Episode 76: Get the Scoop on Trauma Treatment Episode 76: Get the Scoop on Trauma Treatment Brandon Covey leads this episode, teaching us about EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Brandon is certified in EMDR and gives us a basic understanding of EMDR. Then he answers the group questions about this method that is commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brandon Covey leads this episode, teaching us about EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Brandon is certified in EMDR and gives us a basic understanding of EMDR. Then he answers the group questions about this method that is commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13536255 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0700 4106 4 13 full false Episode 75: Jerah Hutchins Episode 75: Jerah Hutchins Returning to our traditional format in this episode, Mike and Jake interview Jerah Hutchins to discuss her work helping get women out of abusive relationships, being a 2nd Amendment actionist, and more. 

Jerah is a firearms trainer, 2nd Amendment actionist, and entrepreneur.  She began shooting when she was 11 years old, taught by her grandfather (a Sicilian immigrant who loved the 2nd amendment). She was a competition 3 gunner in her youth and began teaching firearms in 2008. Jerah consulted on several gun range projects from 2013 to 2019, then concentrated on speaking engagements and testifying in gun rights hearings beginning in 2019.

 In 2018, she founded WADE (Women’s Awareness & Defense Endeavor), a non-profit that assists women in liberating themselves from abusive relationships and provides self-defense education. To date, 56 women have been through the WADE program, and 55 remain free from their abusers. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Returning to our traditional format in this episode, Mike and Jake interview Jerah Hutchins to discuss her work helping get women out of abusive relationships, being a 2nd Amendment actionist, and more. 

Jerah is a firearms trainer, 2nd Amendment actionist, and entrepreneur.  She began shooting when she was 11 years old, taught by her grandfather (a Sicilian immigrant who loved the 2nd amendment). She was a competition 3 gunner in her youth and began teaching firearms in 2008. Jerah consulted on several gun range projects from 2013 to 2019, then concentrated on speaking engagements and testifying in gun rights hearings beginning in 2019.

 In 2018, she founded WADE (Women’s Awareness & Defense Endeavor), a non-profit that assists women in liberating themselves from abusive relationships and provides self-defense education. To date, 56 women have been through the WADE program, and 55 remain free from their abusers. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13446379 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0700 5277 4 13 full false Episode 74: The Power of Choice in Getting What We Want Episode 74: The Power of Choice in Getting What We Want In this episode of the podcast Walk the Talk America's clinical team dives into the importance of making conscious decisions in order to achieve fulfillment and really get what you want out of life. Jake Wiskerchen leads the first half giving you a background on Dr. Glasser's work and the five basic needs that all humans possess - and most importantly, how to get them met. Then the group explores how his five basic needs of survival, belonging, power, freedom, and fun relate to gun ownership.

To understand this concept in greater depth, please watch this brief video.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode of the podcast Walk the Talk America's clinical team dives into the importance of making conscious decisions in order to achieve fulfillment and really get what you want out of life. Jake Wiskerchen leads the first half giving you a background on Dr. Glasser's work and the five basic needs that all humans possess - and most importantly, how to get them met. Then the group explores how his five basic needs of survival, belonging, power, freedom, and fun relate to gun ownership.

To understand this concept in greater depth, please watch this brief video.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13446377 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700 3825 4 12 full false Episode 73: Interview With Our Founder Episode 73: Interview With Our Founder Guest host Kevin Berry interviews Michael Sodini, the founder of Walk the Talk America, to shed light on the pressing issues that gun owners face today. During the interview, Sodini recounts his experience at the prestigious Aspen Ideas Festival, highlighting the key takeaways that resonated with him and how he was treated at an event where he was the only person from the firearms industry. 

Sodini goes on to explain how Walk the Talk America has evolved since its inception and how he breaks many misunderstandings and stigmas associated with gun ownership by creating open dialogue and providing a platform for people to have honest conversations.

Michael Sodini also talks about potential positive legislation for gun owners that offer solutions to the issues in America but doesn't require restriction. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Guest host Kevin Berry interviews Michael Sodini, the founder of Walk the Talk America, to shed light on the pressing issues that gun owners face today. During the interview, Sodini recounts his experience at the prestigious Aspen Ideas Festival, highlighting the key takeaways that resonated with him and how he was treated at an event where he was the only person from the firearms industry. 

Sodini goes on to explain how Walk the Talk America has evolved since its inception and how he breaks many misunderstandings and stigmas associated with gun ownership by creating open dialogue and providing a platform for people to have honest conversations.

Michael Sodini also talks about potential positive legislation for gun owners that offer solutions to the issues in America but doesn't require restriction. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13446258 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700 4868 4 11 full false Episode 72: Negative Impacts of Red Flag Laws Episode 72: Negative Impacts of Red Flag Laws The team takes on the newly adopted SB23-170 in Colorado. The bill, which allows school counselors and mental health professionals to petition for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), has sparked heated debates amongst supporters and detractors alike. In this episode, Walk the Talk America delves into the arguments of those who claim that the ERPO's expansion will lead to a reduction in suicides and homicides but warns of the chilling effect that the law may have on those who seek help. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of "red flag laws" and their impact on gun owners as the group uncovers why many Americans hesitate to seek professional assistance. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The team takes on the newly adopted SB23-170 in Colorado. The bill, which allows school counselors and mental health professionals to petition for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), has sparked heated debates amongst supporters and detractors alike. In this episode, Walk the Talk America delves into the arguments of those who claim that the ERPO's expansion will lead to a reduction in suicides and homicides but warns of the chilling effect that the law may have on those who seek help. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of "red flag laws" and their impact on gun owners as the group uncovers why many Americans hesitate to seek professional assistance. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13403185 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700 4484 red flag laws, erpo, extreme risk protection order 4 10 full false Episode 71: Aspen Ideas Festival Recap Episode 71: Aspen Ideas Festival Recap The Walk the Talk America clinical team talks with founder Michael Sodini to recap his experience at the Aspen Ideas Festival. In this conversation, Michael summarizes his trip experience and answers questions from the group. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The Walk the Talk America clinical team talks with founder Michael Sodini to recap his experience at the Aspen Ideas Festival. In this conversation, Michael summarizes his trip experience and answers questions from the group. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13309079 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700 5361 4 9 full false Episode 70: How To Improve Your Emotional Self-Awareness Episode 70: How To Improve Your Emotional Self-Awareness The Walk the Talk America clinical team discusses the value of self-awareness with your emotions. The group discusses things like body language, de-escalation, and habits about themselves they've had to be mindful of. 

Jake Wiskerchen, Dr. DB Palmer, and Eddie Davenport also talk about how these things can negatively impact important things like relationships, parenting, and kids. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> The Walk the Talk America clinical team discusses the value of self-awareness with your emotions. The group discusses things like body language, de-escalation, and habits about themselves they've had to be mindful of. 

Jake Wiskerchen, Dr. DB Palmer, and Eddie Davenport also talk about how these things can negatively impact important things like relationships, parenting, and kids. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13296953 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0700 4553 4 8 full false Episode 69: Overcoming the Lie of "Imposter Syndrome" Episode 69: Overcoming the Lie of "Imposter Syndrome" In this episode, the Walk the Talk America clinician team talks about imposter syndrome, therapists getting therapy,  and more!

For those unfamiliar with imposter syndrome, Oxford Languages defines it as "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills."  Jake Wiskerchen, Dr. DB Palmer, Brandon Covey, and Eddie Davenport talk about their experience with imposter syndrome and tips that have helped them deal with it. 

This is the first episode of this new season, where we will be mixing in traditional interviews and mental health conversations with our team of clinicians. The mental health podcast episodes will have green cover art, and the interviews will have blue background episode cover art.  






Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode, the Walk the Talk America clinician team talks about imposter syndrome, therapists getting therapy,  and more!

For those unfamiliar with imposter syndrome, Oxford Languages defines it as "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills."  Jake Wiskerchen, Dr. DB Palmer, Brandon Covey, and Eddie Davenport talk about their experience with imposter syndrome and tips that have helped them deal with it. 

This is the first episode of this new season, where we will be mixing in traditional interviews and mental health conversations with our team of clinicians. The mental health podcast episodes will have green cover art, and the interviews will have blue background episode cover art.  






Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13288804 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0700 5162 imposter syndrome, walk the talk america, dr db palmer, jake wiskerchen, eddie davenport, brandon covey 4 7 full false Episode 68: A Shift in Direction Episode 68: A Shift in Direction WTTA is proud to have added more clinicians to its board of directors and advisory board! Join Jake, DB Palmer, Eddie Davenport, and Brandon Covey as they introduce themselves and set the stage for what is yet to come in future podcast episodes.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> WTTA is proud to have added more clinicians to its board of directors and advisory board! Join Jake, DB Palmer, Eddie Davenport, and Brandon Covey as they introduce themselves and set the stage for what is yet to come in future podcast episodes.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-13074636 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0700 737 4 6 full false Episode 67: Rafael Del Valle Episode 67: Rafael Del Valle Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-12652738 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:00:00 -0700 4822 4 5 full false Episode 66: CloverTac Episode 66: CloverTac Chris Dover is a lifelong gun owner, Second Amendment advocate, children's firearms instructor, and host of his own podcast and YouTube Channel, CloverTac Productions.

On his channel, Chris shares firearm education, reviews, interviews, podcasts and a whole lot more. He is a proud member of the Firearms Radio Network, Professional Outdoor Media Association, Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Chris Dover is a lifelong gun owner, Second Amendment advocate, children's firearms instructor, and host of his own podcast and YouTube Channel, CloverTac Productions.

On his channel, Chris shares firearm education, reviews, interviews, podcasts and a whole lot more. He is a proud member of the Firearms Radio Network, Professional Outdoor Media Association, Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-12652683 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:00:00 -0700 4652 4 4 full false Episode 65: Open Arms TV Show Episode 65: Open Arms TV Show Brian Lockerman is the creator of Open Arms and the president of MB Studio Productions, a full-service production company specializes in all forms of multi-media, television, commercials, music videos, and films.  MB Studio Productions has produced various commercials, pilots, reels, and reality based programs.  

Today, Open Arms is the successor to “Shoot To Thrill” that he also created.  Brian is a passionate firearms owner and a gun-collector over the years, and has a strong belief and respect for the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the 2nd Amendment.  His professionalism in front and behind the camera with Open Arms is safety-first with respect to actors and crew handling firearms.  

Brian’s enthusiasm and charismatic likeability was highly noticed, back in the day, as a talented rock drummer who has since traded-in his quick-handed sticks for his first love weaponry; his increasing knowledge, experience, and passion over the years, and now as a skilled producer with Open Arms.  He is eager to show Americans today that responsible people can enjoy gun ownership for sport and personal protection with confidence. 

His inspirational message is simple and true: Safety, Family and The 2nd Amendment.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brian Lockerman is the creator of Open Arms and the president of MB Studio Productions, a full-service production company specializes in all forms of multi-media, television, commercials, music videos, and films.  MB Studio Productions has produced various commercials, pilots, reels, and reality based programs.  

Today, Open Arms is the successor to “Shoot To Thrill” that he also created.  Brian is a passionate firearms owner and a gun-collector over the years, and has a strong belief and respect for the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the 2nd Amendment.  His professionalism in front and behind the camera with Open Arms is safety-first with respect to actors and crew handling firearms.  

Brian’s enthusiasm and charismatic likeability was highly noticed, back in the day, as a talented rock drummer who has since traded-in his quick-handed sticks for his first love weaponry; his increasing knowledge, experience, and passion over the years, and now as a skilled producer with Open Arms.  He is eager to show Americans today that responsible people can enjoy gun ownership for sport and personal protection with confidence. 

His inspirational message is simple and true: Safety, Family and The 2nd Amendment.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-12132943 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 13:00:00 -0800 3679 4 3 full false Episode 64: Trey Miller Episode 64: Trey Miller Trey Miller is a Marine Corps veteran who started Ghost Tactical Productions in 2017. He’s a 2A advocate who preaches on concealed carry, self-reliance, and all aspects of firearms training. Ghost Tactical is not just a home base for Trey’s podcast network- there are thorough product reviews, written columns, and much more. Trey is the host of a live podcast “The Armed Citizen Podcast” where he and his guests talk everything gun culture. It is a part of the Self Defense Radio Network. He also hosts “The Jarhead Podcast”, a part of the Veteran Podcast Network and Military Podcast Network, where he and his guests talk all things military and being prepared for civilian life after service.

Trey also prides himself on working with local and State politicians to improve quality of life and benefits for Active Duty military, veterans, and their families.  He continues to push politicians to increase coverage and available resources to help with homelessness, injury care, and mental health rehabilitation for our warriors. 

Trey has and currently serves on many Boards of Directors and Task Forces for organizations to help provide services needed by our military community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Trey Miller is a Marine Corps veteran who started Ghost Tactical Productions in 2017. He’s a 2A advocate who preaches on concealed carry, self-reliance, and all aspects of firearms training. Ghost Tactical is not just a home base for Trey’s podcast network- there are thorough product reviews, written columns, and much more. Trey is the host of a live podcast “The Armed Citizen Podcast” where he and his guests talk everything gun culture. It is a part of the Self Defense Radio Network. He also hosts “The Jarhead Podcast”, a part of the Veteran Podcast Network and Military Podcast Network, where he and his guests talk all things military and being prepared for civilian life after service.

Trey also prides himself on working with local and State politicians to improve quality of life and benefits for Active Duty military, veterans, and their families.  He continues to push politicians to increase coverage and available resources to help with homelessness, injury care, and mental health rehabilitation for our warriors. 

Trey has and currently serves on many Boards of Directors and Task Forces for organizations to help provide services needed by our military community.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-11998867 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0800 7738 4 2 full false Episode 63: Nathan Jones Episode 63: Nathan Jones Nathan Jones is president of the Bay Area Black Gun Owners Association. An unwitting leader, he saw a need in his community and seized on it. 

The Bay Area chapter of the Black Gun Owners Association  is a gun rights advocacy group assisting law abiding citizens of the Bay Area in becoming safe and effective firearms owners. They partner with certified firearms instructors to provide a wide variety of firearms training courses, member range days, and community service events. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Nathan Jones is president of the Bay Area Black Gun Owners Association. An unwitting leader, he saw a need in his community and seized on it. 

The Bay Area chapter of the Black Gun Owners Association  is a gun rights advocacy group assisting law abiding citizens of the Bay Area in becoming safe and effective firearms owners. They partner with certified firearms instructors to provide a wide variety of firearms training courses, member range days, and community service events. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-11886950 Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:00:00 -0800 6143 4 1 full false Episode 62: Anthony Anderson Episode 62: Anthony Anderson Anthony Anderson is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and small business owner. After his military service, Anthony worked with Veterans struggling to successfully reintegrate after their service ended.

In 2013, he and a fellow Veteran walked across the United States in an effort to heal themselves and raise awareness to the host of issues impacting Veterans and their families. Their walk and work is featured in the award winning documentary, Almost Sunrise, in which they reveal and detail the concept of moral injury. As co-founder of LiT Beard Company, Anthony supports Veterans and their families with charitable donations from each sale.



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Anthony Anderson is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and small business owner. After his military service, Anthony worked with Veterans struggling to successfully reintegrate after their service ended.

In 2013, he and a fellow Veteran walked across the United States in an effort to heal themselves and raise awareness to the host of issues impacting Veterans and their families. Their walk and work is featured in the award winning documentary, Almost Sunrise, in which they reveal and detail the concept of moral injury. As co-founder of LiT Beard Company, Anthony supports Veterans and their families with charitable donations from each sale.



Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-11886735 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0800 6504 3 14 full false Episode 61: Sandy Richardson (Part II) Episode 61: Sandy Richardson (Part II) Sandy Richardson, a victim of the New York SAFE Act, is back to update us on her absurd and blood-boiling experience with getting falsely reported and having her rights restricted. She has since pursued multiple Freedom of Information Law requests and obtained overwhelming information that suggests the NY SAFE Act not only doesn't help people, but it actually keeps hundreds of thousands from seeking care. 

Please share this episode as widely as you can, and particularly with healthcare workers.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Sandy Richardson, a victim of the New York SAFE Act, is back to update us on her absurd and blood-boiling experience with getting falsely reported and having her rights restricted. She has since pursued multiple Freedom of Information Law requests and obtained overwhelming information that suggests the NY SAFE Act not only doesn't help people, but it actually keeps hundreds of thousands from seeking care. 

Please share this episode as widely as you can, and particularly with healthcare workers.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-11582388 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0700 4729 3 13 full false Episode 60: Rob Pincus & GunPRO Episode 60: Rob Pincus & GunPRO For more than two decades Rob Pincus has taught all aspects of firearms across the globe. Since 2018 he has served as a board member for Walk the Talk America and in 2022 he launched GunPRO, a Pledge of Responsible Ownership, to invite firearms owners to take an affirmative step toward even more mindfulness regarding their involvment with the guns that they own. 

This is his pitch to gun owners to engage in this totally voluntary and competely decentralized accountability mechanism with their friends and colleagues. This is the gun community "doing something" to curb unnecessary negative outcomes with firearms and Walk the Talk America is proud to support the effort.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> For more than two decades Rob Pincus has taught all aspects of firearms across the globe. Since 2018 he has served as a board member for Walk the Talk America and in 2022 he launched GunPRO, a Pledge of Responsible Ownership, to invite firearms owners to take an affirmative step toward even more mindfulness regarding their involvment with the guns that they own. 

This is his pitch to gun owners to engage in this totally voluntary and competely decentralized accountability mechanism with their friends and colleagues. This is the gun community "doing something" to curb unnecessary negative outcomes with firearms and Walk the Talk America is proud to support the effort.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-11527649 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0700 2672 3 12 full false Episode 59: Isaac Richey Episode 59: Isaac Richey Isaac is a former infantryman in the US Army and, due to seeking help at the right time when he needed it, is now no longer allowed to own firearms.

But the story gets nuttier: after discharge from the hospital and completing his care, he was returned to duty and used all kinds of firearms for quite a while longer while working for the Army. Yet now, as a civilian, he has had his career opportunities limited, all because of an activist hospital staffer in New York. 

Born and raised in Oregon and grew up shooting, hiking, fishing and all other sorts of outdoorsy stuff, he is pursing a cybersecurity degree in Texas. He has long-term goals of working in federal cyber security/federal law enforcement, as he believes that would be the best way to use his skills to help people. 

This is his testimony.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Isaac is a former infantryman in the US Army and, due to seeking help at the right time when he needed it, is now no longer allowed to own firearms.

But the story gets nuttier: after discharge from the hospital and completing his care, he was returned to duty and used all kinds of firearms for quite a while longer while working for the Army. Yet now, as a civilian, he has had his career opportunities limited, all because of an activist hospital staffer in New York. 

Born and raised in Oregon and grew up shooting, hiking, fishing and all other sorts of outdoorsy stuff, he is pursing a cybersecurity degree in Texas. He has long-term goals of working in federal cyber security/federal law enforcement, as he believes that would be the best way to use his skills to help people. 

This is his testimony.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-11382277 Sun, 25 Sep 2022 15:00:00 -0700 6405 3 11 full false Episode 58: Brandon Covey Episode 58: Brandon Covey Brandon Covey is a licensed mental health counselor, professional musician, and avid shooter.  
In his counseling work, Brandon specializes in dealing with anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as helping his clients find meaning and purpose through life's most challenging circumstances.  Brandon takes a cognitive behavioral approach to correct negative thinking patterns, combined with reality and existential therapies to promote sound choices and decision making.  Brandon believes healing and resilience can be found by anyone with desire, an open mind, and a willingness to learn.  

Outside of counseling, Brandon works as a freelance bassist in various settings; church, rock bands, recording sessions, etc.  In addition to playing professionally, Brandon has a passion for composing his own music; finding personal meaning in turning his personal struggles into art that can be appreciated by others.    

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brandon Covey is a licensed mental health counselor, professional musician, and avid shooter.  
In his counseling work, Brandon specializes in dealing with anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as helping his clients find meaning and purpose through life's most challenging circumstances.  Brandon takes a cognitive behavioral approach to correct negative thinking patterns, combined with reality and existential therapies to promote sound choices and decision making.  Brandon believes healing and resilience can be found by anyone with desire, an open mind, and a willingness to learn.  

Outside of counseling, Brandon works as a freelance bassist in various settings; church, rock bands, recording sessions, etc.  In addition to playing professionally, Brandon has a passion for composing his own music; finding personal meaning in turning his personal struggles into art that can be appreciated by others.    

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-11286307 Thu, 08 Sep 2022 15:00:00 -0700 5335 3 10 full false Episode 57: John McClain Episode 57: John McClain John McClain is a member of Team Armscor as a Pistol/MultiGun Competitor. He also worked 8 years in Las Vegas as an EMT responding to all kinds of 911 calls. He credits firearms, and the 2A community for being one of the main reasons why he was able to fight though one of the darkest times in his life.

In this episode he offers insight into what he witnessed and experienced in the world of medicine and discusses some of the issues that we all are facing in the battle for those that need/want help when it comes to mental health.

Also, he feels "elevator sexy" after listening to our intro music.

Thank you to our Platinum sponsors, Armscor and Ruger, for their incredible support.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> John McClain is a member of Team Armscor as a Pistol/MultiGun Competitor. He also worked 8 years in Las Vegas as an EMT responding to all kinds of 911 calls. He credits firearms, and the 2A community for being one of the main reasons why he was able to fight though one of the darkest times in his life.

In this episode he offers insight into what he witnessed and experienced in the world of medicine and discusses some of the issues that we all are facing in the battle for those that need/want help when it comes to mental health.

Also, he feels "elevator sexy" after listening to our intro music.

Thank you to our Platinum sponsors, Armscor and Ruger, for their incredible support.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-11120345 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 22:00:00 -0700 7414 3 9 full false Episode 56: Locked & Loaded Latinos Episode 56: Locked & Loaded Latinos Rolo and Jo are a husband-and-wife team working to expand and normalize the fiream and freedom movements through education, entertainment, and exposure After Florida's Republican-led government enacted gun control laws in 2018, they knew they needed to become advocates for their rights and the Locked & Loaded Latinos came to fruition.

Each week on their live podcast they discuss topics from the 2nd Amendment advocacy, politics, pop culture, gaming, current events, and also have bilingual discussions about our rights and Founding Documents.

Find Rolo and Jo on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as wherever podcasts are found.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Rolo and Jo are a husband-and-wife team working to expand and normalize the fiream and freedom movements through education, entertainment, and exposure After Florida's Republican-led government enacted gun control laws in 2018, they knew they needed to become advocates for their rights and the Locked & Loaded Latinos came to fruition.

Each week on their live podcast they discuss topics from the 2nd Amendment advocacy, politics, pop culture, gaming, current events, and also have bilingual discussions about our rights and Founding Documents.

Find Rolo and Jo on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as wherever podcasts are found.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10887102 Thu, 30 Jun 2022 17:00:00 -0700 5729 3 8 full false Episode 55: Sharyn Hinchcliffe Episode 55: Sharyn Hinchcliffe Sharyn works in IT by day, but by night she is a civil rights advocate, mental health proponent, and fits neatly in no boxes of any kind.  Prepare to have your worldview expanded.

IG: s.a.hinchcliffe
Twitter: @sacrebleu141

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Sharyn works in IT by day, but by night she is a civil rights advocate, mental health proponent, and fits neatly in no boxes of any kind.  Prepare to have your worldview expanded.

IG: s.a.hinchcliffe
Twitter: @sacrebleu141

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10813305 Sat, 18 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0700 7399 3 7 full false Episode 54: Kevin Berry Episode 54: Kevin Berry Kevin Berry joins the Guns and Mental Health Podcast to discuss how social media is affecting our mental health. We also discuss how firearm content and individuals working in the industry are purposely suppressed on social media.

Kevin is a father of one and husband who enjoys getting outdoors and sports. He has been working in marketing for over seven years and started his small marketing agency in 2018 to help smaller businesses. He works in multiple areas, including advertising, branding, digital marketing, and website design. Kevin is passionate about educating people about marketing and social media. 

Follow Kevin on Twitter or LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Kevin Berry joins the Guns and Mental Health Podcast to discuss how social media is affecting our mental health. We also discuss how firearm content and individuals working in the industry are purposely suppressed on social media.

Kevin is a father of one and husband who enjoys getting outdoors and sports. He has been working in marketing for over seven years and started his small marketing agency in 2018 to help smaller businesses. He works in multiple areas, including advertising, branding, digital marketing, and website design. Kevin is passionate about educating people about marketing and social media. 

Follow Kevin on Twitter or LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10603153 Wed, 11 May 2022 16:00:00 -0700 5139 3 6 full false Episode 53: David Yamane Episode 53: David Yamane David Yamane is Professor of Sociology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For the first 20 years of his academic career, he specialized in the sociology of religion, a field in which he authored, co-authored, or edited 6 books and 2 major scholarly journals. Since 2011, Professor Yamane has studied guns, especially the new self-defense oriented core of American gun culture that Michael Bane calls Gun Culture 2.0. Among his publications in this area is a short history of concealed carry in the U.S., Concealed Carry Revolution: Liberalizing the Right to Bear Arms in America, and a review essay on “The Sociology of US Gun Culture.”

As he continues to work on a book combining his personal experiences and sociological observations of Gun Culture 2.0, Professor Yamane shares his thoughts on two blogs, gunculture2point0.com and guncurious.com, and on Twitter at @davidyamane and @gunculture2pt0. In 2022, he launched a YouTube channel, “Light Over Heat with Professor David Yamane,” on which he posts weekly short videos about issues related to his scholarship.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> David Yamane is Professor of Sociology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For the first 20 years of his academic career, he specialized in the sociology of religion, a field in which he authored, co-authored, or edited 6 books and 2 major scholarly journals. Since 2011, Professor Yamane has studied guns, especially the new self-defense oriented core of American gun culture that Michael Bane calls Gun Culture 2.0. Among his publications in this area is a short history of concealed carry in the U.S., Concealed Carry Revolution: Liberalizing the Right to Bear Arms in America, and a review essay on “The Sociology of US Gun Culture.”

As he continues to work on a book combining his personal experiences and sociological observations of Gun Culture 2.0, Professor Yamane shares his thoughts on two blogs, gunculture2point0.com and guncurious.com, and on Twitter at @davidyamane and @gunculture2pt0. In 2022, he launched a YouTube channel, “Light Over Heat with Professor David Yamane,” on which he posts weekly short videos about issues related to his scholarship.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10523417 Thu, 28 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0700 4978 3 5 full false Episode 52: Tony Simon Episode 52: Tony Simon Tony Simon is United States Marine Corps veteran, certified firearms instructor and certified range safety officer. He founded and hosts  the 2nd is For Everyone: Diversity Shoot and the 2nd is For Everyone podcast. 

The 2nd is for Everyone is dedicated to welcoming people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation and backgrounds into the firearms community, educating them on their civil rights and on the human right of self defense while introducing them to 2A advocacy organizations.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Tony Simon is United States Marine Corps veteran, certified firearms instructor and certified range safety officer. He founded and hosts  the 2nd is For Everyone: Diversity Shoot and the 2nd is For Everyone podcast. 

The 2nd is for Everyone is dedicated to welcoming people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation and backgrounds into the firearms community, educating them on their civil rights and on the human right of self defense while introducing them to 2A advocacy organizations.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10393432 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 17:00:00 -0700 5893 3 4 full false Episode 51: Samantha Mann Episode 51: Samantha Mann Samantha is a practicing psychologist and professional counselor in West Virginia who actively writes for the NRA, along with being a certified firearms instructor. Living in both worlds gives her a unique perspective on both cultures and in this episode, she discusses the role and evolution of women in the gun community, the concept of "gun bunnies," and of course, mental health.

For those who are curious about how clinical practitioners handle suicidal firearms owners, this episode should help shed some light on the often-misunderstood process.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Samantha is a practicing psychologist and professional counselor in West Virginia who actively writes for the NRA, along with being a certified firearms instructor. Living in both worlds gives her a unique perspective on both cultures and in this episode, she discusses the role and evolution of women in the gun community, the concept of "gun bunnies," and of course, mental health.

For those who are curious about how clinical practitioners handle suicidal firearms owners, this episode should help shed some light on the often-misunderstood process.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-10292671 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0700 4120 3 3 full false Episode 50: Cam Edwards Episode 50: Cam Edwards Cam Edwards is the editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the long-running 2A show Cam & Co.  A husband and father of five, Cam grew up in a gun-free household before purchasing his first firearm for self-defense and defense of his family after he became a husband and insta-dad to two stepchildren almost 25 years ago. Since then, he's become passionate about ensuring access to the right to keep and bear arms, as well as making sure that gun owners have the tools they need to be safe and responsible. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Cam Edwards is the editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the long-running 2A show Cam & Co.  A husband and father of five, Cam grew up in a gun-free household before purchasing his first firearm for self-defense and defense of his family after he became a husband and insta-dad to two stepchildren almost 25 years ago. Since then, he's become passionate about ensuring access to the right to keep and bear arms, as well as making sure that gun owners have the tools they need to be safe and responsible. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-9909693 Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0800 4269 3 2 full false Episode 49: Dylan Sessler Episode 49: Dylan Sessler Dylan Sessler is an author, mental health advocate, speaker, and US Army Veteran.  He survived parental suicide, PTSD, child abuse, bullying, war, life-changing injuries along with depression and anxiety. 

At one point Dylan was going to take his own life but (literally) wound up not pulling the trigger. Today he coaches others into better lifestyle choices and creates inspirational content for social media, YouTube, and also has his own podcast. With more than half a million subscribers on TikTok, Dylan has re-engineered his life into one of meaning, purpose, and encouragement.  


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dylan Sessler is an author, mental health advocate, speaker, and US Army Veteran.  He survived parental suicide, PTSD, child abuse, bullying, war, life-changing injuries along with depression and anxiety. 

At one point Dylan was going to take his own life but (literally) wound up not pulling the trigger. Today he coaches others into better lifestyle choices and creates inspirational content for social media, YouTube, and also has his own podcast. With more than half a million subscribers on TikTok, Dylan has re-engineered his life into one of meaning, purpose, and encouragement.  


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-9884832 Thu, 13 Jan 2022 22:00:00 -0800 6700 3 29 full false Episode 48: Jesse Bugarin Episode 48: Jesse Bugarin Jesse Bugarin was raised in the Los Angeles area where homeowners owned guns for security reasons with little access or knowledge of safes to lock up their firearms.

He joined Cannon Security Products in 1989. During this time the company was small in volume and consumer reach. Jesse realized early on that safes were a necessary item for every home in America, which led to adopting “A SAFE IN EVERY HOME” as the company BHAG or, "Big Hairy Audacious Goal." 

The growth and success of the company has been attributed to promoting and environment where people are challenged to learn, grow, and contribute to society. He has dedicated his career to helping customers secure what they value, to help prevent injury or death by promoting education and providing product for proper gun storage, and working with retailers to make safes both accessible and affordable.

Throughout his 32-year career, he has held various executive management level roles with responsibilities in logistics, customer service, and in sales and marketing.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jesse Bugarin was raised in the Los Angeles area where homeowners owned guns for security reasons with little access or knowledge of safes to lock up their firearms.

He joined Cannon Security Products in 1989. During this time the company was small in volume and consumer reach. Jesse realized early on that safes were a necessary item for every home in America, which led to adopting “A SAFE IN EVERY HOME” as the company BHAG or, "Big Hairy Audacious Goal." 

The growth and success of the company has been attributed to promoting and environment where people are challenged to learn, grow, and contribute to society. He has dedicated his career to helping customers secure what they value, to help prevent injury or death by promoting education and providing product for proper gun storage, and working with retailers to make safes both accessible and affordable.

Throughout his 32-year career, he has held various executive management level roles with responsibilities in logistics, customer service, and in sales and marketing.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-9795238 Mon, 27 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0800 3500 2 28 full false Episode 47: Ashley Hlebinsky Episode 47: Ashley Hlebinsky What is Bipolar II Disorder and what does it have to do with this podcast?

For the past 15 years, Ashley Hlebinsky has been immersed in the study of firearms history, technology, and culture becoming one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the subject. Hlebinsky has researched and worked in several nationally recognized firearms and weapons collections, including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Firearms Collection and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Cody Firearms Museum. For the past decade, she worked for and ran the Cody Firearms Museum, one of the largest and only accredited firearms museums in the country.

Ashley has accomplished a lot during her relatively short career - achieving all of these milestones before her 30th birthday. While many have described her as the "energizer bunny" and "overly passionate," juggling multiple high stress, high level projects, that level of energy is often punctuated with behind-the-scenes exhaustion and depression.

In November 2020 she finally made sense of the opposite sides to her life. Realizing that maybe it's not "normal" to have a full time job, build a museum, run a consulting business, as well as film an entire season of a TV show at the same time, she was ultimately diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder. 

Find Ashley at The Gun Code, on Instagram, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> What is Bipolar II Disorder and what does it have to do with this podcast?

For the past 15 years, Ashley Hlebinsky has been immersed in the study of firearms history, technology, and culture becoming one of the nation’s foremost authorities on the subject. Hlebinsky has researched and worked in several nationally recognized firearms and weapons collections, including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Firearms Collection and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Cody Firearms Museum. For the past decade, she worked for and ran the Cody Firearms Museum, one of the largest and only accredited firearms museums in the country.

Ashley has accomplished a lot during her relatively short career - achieving all of these milestones before her 30th birthday. While many have described her as the "energizer bunny" and "overly passionate," juggling multiple high stress, high level projects, that level of energy is often punctuated with behind-the-scenes exhaustion and depression.

In November 2020 she finally made sense of the opposite sides to her life. Realizing that maybe it's not "normal" to have a full time job, build a museum, run a consulting business, as well as film an entire season of a TV show at the same time, she was ultimately diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder. 

Find Ashley at The Gun Code, on Instagram, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-9244140 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 16:00:00 -0700 4768 full false Episode 46: Deborah Alexander Episode 46: Deborah Alexander Deborah Alexander is the widow to the late Frank Alexander, former bodyguard for rapper Tupac Shakur. Frank was seemingly torn between two worlds and Deborah bore witness to all of the torment, joy, frustration, pain, triumph, and chaos that Frank endured, all the way through the moment where he took his own life - in front of Deborah, in their home - with his own gun.

Deborah's story is full of tears and hope, confusion and inspiration. She shares her story with us in an effort to improve awareness related to mental illness, firearms, and suicide. Her book, The Private Life of Big Frank: Bodyguard to the Greatest of Gangster Rap is available for purchase on Amazon. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Deborah Alexander is the widow to the late Frank Alexander, former bodyguard for rapper Tupac Shakur. Frank was seemingly torn between two worlds and Deborah bore witness to all of the torment, joy, frustration, pain, triumph, and chaos that Frank endured, all the way through the moment where he took his own life - in front of Deborah, in their home - with his own gun.

Deborah's story is full of tears and hope, confusion and inspiration. She shares her story with us in an effort to improve awareness related to mental illness, firearms, and suicide. Her book, The Private Life of Big Frank: Bodyguard to the Greatest of Gangster Rap is available for purchase on Amazon. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-9160566 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0700 5763 3 6 full false Episode 45: Sherry Molock Episode 45: Sherry Molock Dr. Sherry Molock is an associate professor of psychology at the George Washington University and also holds a Master of Divinity degree. She works with faith-based communities to educate on sexual matters, HIV/AIDS, and suicide prevention. Mike met Sherry through their work together with Convergence, a group of disparate leaders across the firearms, violence, and suicide prevention communities across the United States. 

When she began her involvement she lacked any knowledge of guns whatsoever and has grown to understand the reasons that people own guns and advocate to protect that right. Her work in multiple arenas to bridge the gap between seemingly divergent and incompatible viewpoints and cultures contributes mightily to the conversation about guns and mental health. We hope you find this conversation as enjoyable as we did. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dr. Sherry Molock is an associate professor of psychology at the George Washington University and also holds a Master of Divinity degree. She works with faith-based communities to educate on sexual matters, HIV/AIDS, and suicide prevention. Mike met Sherry through their work together with Convergence, a group of disparate leaders across the firearms, violence, and suicide prevention communities across the United States. 

When she began her involvement she lacked any knowledge of guns whatsoever and has grown to understand the reasons that people own guns and advocate to protect that right. Her work in multiple arenas to bridge the gap between seemingly divergent and incompatible viewpoints and cultures contributes mightily to the conversation about guns and mental health. We hope you find this conversation as enjoyable as we did. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-9057295 Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:00:00 -0700 4887 3 5 full false Episode 44: Mychael Waller Episode 44: Mychael Waller Perhaps best known in the gun community for successfully defending his life against an armed attacker, Mychael is also a gun store owner, follower of Jesus, and father of three young children. He is also the first African American under the age of 25 in the state of Illinois to obtain a FFL and also the youngest FFL holder in the country to date. 

In this episode Myke shares his story of self defense, some insights on entrepreneurship, his strength in spiritual faith, his journey through counseling after the shooting, and what he plans to do in the future to help gun owners prepare better.  He believes his story can inspire responsible gun owners to avoid falling victim to gun violence.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Perhaps best known in the gun community for successfully defending his life against an armed attacker, Mychael is also a gun store owner, follower of Jesus, and father of three young children. He is also the first African American under the age of 25 in the state of Illinois to obtain a FFL and also the youngest FFL holder in the country to date. 

In this episode Myke shares his story of self defense, some insights on entrepreneurship, his strength in spiritual faith, his journey through counseling after the shooting, and what he plans to do in the future to help gun owners prepare better.  He believes his story can inspire responsible gun owners to avoid falling victim to gun violence.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8807949 Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0700 5500 3 4 full false Episode 43: Sandy Richardson Episode 43: Sandy Richardson Sandy RIchardson lives in New York and has owned guns her whole life. She also works in health care. Those two world collided in 2020 when she sought some counseling for pandemic- and other life-related stress, only to discover that she was "flagged" in a state health database designed to prevent law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms after receiving mental health treatment. 

This is her story. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Sandy RIchardson lives in New York and has owned guns her whole life. She also works in health care. Those two world collided in 2020 when she sought some counseling for pandemic- and other life-related stress, only to discover that she was "flagged" in a state health database designed to prevent law-abiding citizens from obtaining firearms after receiving mental health treatment. 

This is her story. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-8619654 Mon, 31 May 2021 12:00:00 -0700 5762 3 3 full false Episode 42: Chris Cheng Episode 42: Chris Cheng Top Shot Chris rejoins Mike and Jake to discuss mental health in deeper detail, sharing his own path to recovery via counseling, as well as his perspective on the increase in violence crime perpetrated against Asian Americans. He also talks about home defense and the stress that has befallen many people due to the economic downturn.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Top Shot Chris rejoins Mike and Jake to discuss mental health in deeper detail, sharing his own path to recovery via counseling, as well as his perspective on the increase in violence crime perpetrated against Asian Americans. He also talks about home defense and the stress that has befallen many people due to the economic downturn.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-8619339 Sun, 30 May 2021 13:00:00 -0700 5989 3 2 full false Episode 41: Tom Nguyen Episode 41: Tom Nguyen Tom Nguyen bought his first gun intentionally to take his own life with it. In this episode we discuss masculinity, race relations, liberalism and conservatism, and a few other subjects.

Tom is a Liberal Gun Club certified Instructor, NRA certified Instructor & Range Safety Officer, and National African American Gun Association member. He offers private & group lessons at various locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.

As a refugee who fled a war, Tom understands that guns can be triggering and have traumatic associations in many BIPOC communities. He had to overcome his immigrant parents’ fear of guns to fulfill his childhood dreams of owning and shooting firearms. After witnessing a gun homicide in his 20s, he started taking his shooting and training seriously, from handguns to rifles and shotguns.

Upon seeing scores of new gun owners who would've never considered firearms before the pandemic and civil unrest, he founded L.A. Progressive Shooters in 2020 as a non-intimidating and inclusive community, focused on safety and education, for BIPOC and liberals new to firearms.

When Tom isn’t teaching or shooting, he documents LA’s multicultural music & dance scene at EnClave.LA.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Tom Nguyen bought his first gun intentionally to take his own life with it. In this episode we discuss masculinity, race relations, liberalism and conservatism, and a few other subjects.

Tom is a Liberal Gun Club certified Instructor, NRA certified Instructor & Range Safety Officer, and National African American Gun Association member. He offers private & group lessons at various locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.

As a refugee who fled a war, Tom understands that guns can be triggering and have traumatic associations in many BIPOC communities. He had to overcome his immigrant parents’ fear of guns to fulfill his childhood dreams of owning and shooting firearms. After witnessing a gun homicide in his 20s, he started taking his shooting and training seriously, from handguns to rifles and shotguns.

Upon seeing scores of new gun owners who would've never considered firearms before the pandemic and civil unrest, he founded L.A. Progressive Shooters in 2020 as a non-intimidating and inclusive community, focused on safety and education, for BIPOC and liberals new to firearms.

When Tom isn’t teaching or shooting, he documents LA’s multicultural music & dance scene at EnClave.LA.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8446032 Sun, 23 May 2021 01:00:00 -0700 6278 3 1 full false Episode 40: Erin Yeung Episode 40: Erin Yeung Erin Yeung has been in Public Safety Dispatch for 17 years and is the owner/host of the podcast "Your Oxygen Mask First", which is aimed at guiding people in "helping" roles and professions to resources for mental health and overall wellness.  The podcast also shares stories of people who have overcome struggles and are now thriving, as well as interviews with experts in these fields. You can't help others unless you help yourself first! 


Erin also serves on the board of directors of the Nevada Peer Support Network, a non-profit organization that works to provide training for peer support groups and members, as well as training and resources surrounding mental health and resiliency for members of the public safety, medical, and veteran communities in Nevada and Northern California.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Erin Yeung has been in Public Safety Dispatch for 17 years and is the owner/host of the podcast "Your Oxygen Mask First", which is aimed at guiding people in "helping" roles and professions to resources for mental health and overall wellness.  The podcast also shares stories of people who have overcome struggles and are now thriving, as well as interviews with experts in these fields. You can't help others unless you help yourself first! 


Erin also serves on the board of directors of the Nevada Peer Support Network, a non-profit organization that works to provide training for peer support groups and members, as well as training and resources surrounding mental health and resiliency for members of the public safety, medical, and veteran communities in Nevada and Northern California.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8446038 Mon, 10 May 2021 16:00:00 -0700 5364 2 20 full false Episode 39: Kim Petters Episode 39: Kim Petters Kim served in the United States Air Force and presently advocates in many areas for firearms owners, including as the Delaware delegate for DC Project. 

In this podcast Kim shares multiple stories and opinions; using cannabis as a substitute for all psychotropic medication, women as targets for assault, self-defense with a firearm, and about how she leads community members to have their voices heard among elected officials. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Kim served in the United States Air Force and presently advocates in many areas for firearms owners, including as the Delaware delegate for DC Project. 

In this podcast Kim shares multiple stories and opinions; using cannabis as a substitute for all psychotropic medication, women as targets for assault, self-defense with a firearm, and about how she leads community members to have their voices heard among elected officials. 


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-8445619 Sun, 02 May 2021 15:00:00 -0700 6091 2 19 full false Episode 38: Jimmy Graham Episode 38: Jimmy Graham Jimmy Graham spent more than a decade and a half as a Navy SEAL while earning multiple certifications and promoting several times. He has served overseas in combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Libya. He has trained federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as EMS, firefighters, and dispatch personnel, traveling across the nation to do all of the above.

Jimmy works closely with civilians and professionals alike to improve their knowledge, understanding, and preparation in both armed and unarmed responses to life-threatening situations including active shooter situations and terrorist attacks.

Find out more about Jimmy and his team at ableshepherd.com

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jimmy Graham spent more than a decade and a half as a Navy SEAL while earning multiple certifications and promoting several times. He has served overseas in combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Libya. He has trained federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as EMS, firefighters, and dispatch personnel, traveling across the nation to do all of the above.

Jimmy works closely with civilians and professionals alike to improve their knowledge, understanding, and preparation in both armed and unarmed responses to life-threatening situations including active shooter situations and terrorist attacks.

Find out more about Jimmy and his team at ableshepherd.com

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8402490 Sun, 25 Apr 2021 17:00:00 -0700 5613 2 18 full false Episode 37: Gianni Pirelli Episode 37: Gianni Pirelli Mike and Jake affectionately refer to Gianni Pirelli as the "Godfather" of guns and mental health because he authored the book that formed the foundation of Walk the Talk America's work in the clinical realm . The Behavioral Science of Firearms  is the seminal publication that gave WTTA the impetus to educate clinical practitioners in their gun community cultural competence. 

Dr. Pirelli has experience in numerous clinical and clinical-forensic settings, many of which have included psychiatric and forensic-psychiatric centers and prisons, and his area of expertise is psychological assessment, particularly in the area of forensic evaluation. He has worked on cases at the county, state and federal levels, and he has conducted evaluations for matters in 19 of the 21 New Jersey counties, in addition to various other states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and California. Dr. Pirelli’s expertise and work has been highlighted in various media and press outlets: click here for Media & Press links. You may also click here to view Dr. Pirelli’s Curriculum Vitae and click here to view his biosketch.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Mike and Jake affectionately refer to Gianni Pirelli as the "Godfather" of guns and mental health because he authored the book that formed the foundation of Walk the Talk America's work in the clinical realm . The Behavioral Science of Firearms  is the seminal publication that gave WTTA the impetus to educate clinical practitioners in their gun community cultural competence. 

Dr. Pirelli has experience in numerous clinical and clinical-forensic settings, many of which have included psychiatric and forensic-psychiatric centers and prisons, and his area of expertise is psychological assessment, particularly in the area of forensic evaluation. He has worked on cases at the county, state and federal levels, and he has conducted evaluations for matters in 19 of the 21 New Jersey counties, in addition to various other states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and California. Dr. Pirelli’s expertise and work has been highlighted in various media and press outlets: click here for Media & Press links. You may also click here to view Dr. Pirelli’s Curriculum Vitae and click here to view his biosketch.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8227579 Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0700 7355 2 17 full false Episode 36: Darin Balaam Episode 36: Darin Balaam Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was founded in 1861. He took the oath of office on January 7, 2019, a momentous step for a law enforcement career that began when he was 21 years old. 

Sheriff Balaam’s career includes more than 21 years at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. He held every rank from deputy sheriff to third-in-command as an Assistant Sheriff. His experience encompasses all three bureaus: Operations, Detention and Administration.

As Sheriff, he firmly believes in the importance of education. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada Reno and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville.  Additionally, he is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Southwest Command College and the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course. He is committed to supporting education in the schools as well as promoting continuing education for his staff.

Sheriff Balaam is a fifth generation Nevadan. He is a native of Sparks where he still lives with his four children and wife Heather. 

Sheriff Balaam is committed to enhancing mental health services for inmates held within the Washoe County Detention Facility, attacking the opioid crisis, combatting sex trafficking in our community and working with all Washoe County residents and businesses to ensure neighborhoods are safe, diverse and have the ability to thrive. He is a proponent of community policing and is dedicated to proactively addressing the root cause(s) of crime. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was founded in 1861. He took the oath of office on January 7, 2019, a momentous step for a law enforcement career that began when he was 21 years old. 

Sheriff Balaam’s career includes more than 21 years at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. He held every rank from deputy sheriff to third-in-command as an Assistant Sheriff. His experience encompasses all three bureaus: Operations, Detention and Administration.

As Sheriff, he firmly believes in the importance of education. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada Reno and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville.  Additionally, he is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Southwest Command College and the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course. He is committed to supporting education in the schools as well as promoting continuing education for his staff.

Sheriff Balaam is a fifth generation Nevadan. He is a native of Sparks where he still lives with his four children and wife Heather. 

Sheriff Balaam is committed to enhancing mental health services for inmates held within the Washoe County Detention Facility, attacking the opioid crisis, combatting sex trafficking in our community and working with all Washoe County residents and businesses to ensure neighborhoods are safe, diverse and have the ability to thrive. He is a proponent of community policing and is dedicated to proactively addressing the root cause(s) of crime. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8227496 Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:00:00 -0700 5681 2 16 full false Episode 35: Matt Miller Episode 35: Matt Miller Dr. Matthew Miller is an Air Force veterans and the Director for Suicide Prevention for the U.S. Department of Veterans  Affairs, where he leads a team dedicated to the implementation and reinforcement of  evidence-based community and clinical interventions addressing suicide prevention,  intervention, and postvention for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  

Having previously served as the Director of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), under his  leadership VCL became the world’s largest and most efficient suicide crisis call center. He  began his VA career as the Chief of Mental Health at Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in  Saginaw, MI, where he later became the Deputy Chief of Staff.  

Dr. Miller received his PhD from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Health  (MPH) from the University of Michigan. He completed his professional residency in Clinical  Psychology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center and served as the Chief of  Mental Health at a Joint Services Pilot Training Wing. 

Dr. Miller was responsible for  overseeing outpatient mental health operations for all active duty service members and  dependents within the installation community. In addition, he was head of the installation’s  suicide prevention, alcohol and drug demand reduction, critical incident response and family  advocacy programs.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Dr. Matthew Miller is an Air Force veterans and the Director for Suicide Prevention for the U.S. Department of Veterans  Affairs, where he leads a team dedicated to the implementation and reinforcement of  evidence-based community and clinical interventions addressing suicide prevention,  intervention, and postvention for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  

Having previously served as the Director of the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), under his  leadership VCL became the world’s largest and most efficient suicide crisis call center. He  began his VA career as the Chief of Mental Health at Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in  Saginaw, MI, where he later became the Deputy Chief of Staff.  

Dr. Miller received his PhD from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Health  (MPH) from the University of Michigan. He completed his professional residency in Clinical  Psychology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center and served as the Chief of  Mental Health at a Joint Services Pilot Training Wing. 

Dr. Miller was responsible for  overseeing outpatient mental health operations for all active duty service members and  dependents within the installation community. In addition, he was head of the installation’s  suicide prevention, alcohol and drug demand reduction, critical incident response and family  advocacy programs.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8227172 Sun, 28 Mar 2021 13:00:00 -0700 3772 2 15 full false Episode 34: Brooke Cheney Episode 34: Brooke Cheney Brooke Cheney is an accidental advocate. She had been around guns all her life but didn't really know anything about them. Once she had children, she decided to learn how to handle firearms safely. Learning how to handle firearms safely led her to competition, which taught her that a 10-round magazine ban is a gun ban. 

Her first time testifying - against the 10-round mag ban - was in 2010 in front of the Connecticut legislature.  On December 12th 2012, the Sandy Hook tragedy happened, and her kids were 5 & 6 years old at the time. Broken hearted, she started researching how to prevent violence. What she found is that there are many ways to approach violence prevention and none of the studies pointed to legislation, they pointed to programs that build communities.  Looking at reports, programs, and statistics from the CDC, Department of Justice, the F.B.I., and more, she learned that all the "gun violence deaths" people talked about were not primarily violence, but 66% were suicides.  Since then she has been actively engaged in the local and Federal legislative process asking our representatives to use the programs that work. Her goal is to get across the message, if we focus on suicide awareness imagine how many lives we could save.

Brooke currently owns and instructs at A Great Start Shooting School in Harwinton CT. She is an NRA Training Counselor, Chief Range Safety Officer and instructor, and an IDPA Safety Officer. She has competed in NRA Bullseye, USPSA, Steel Challenge, and IDPA.  You can also find her on Saturday nights on Facebook & YouTube doing a quick 10-minute spot on suicide prevention.  She started Suicide Prevention Saturday one night in 2018 not knowing if she would keep going and it is 2021 as this is being written, with the program still going strong.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brooke Cheney is an accidental advocate. She had been around guns all her life but didn't really know anything about them. Once she had children, she decided to learn how to handle firearms safely. Learning how to handle firearms safely led her to competition, which taught her that a 10-round magazine ban is a gun ban. 

Her first time testifying - against the 10-round mag ban - was in 2010 in front of the Connecticut legislature.  On December 12th 2012, the Sandy Hook tragedy happened, and her kids were 5 & 6 years old at the time. Broken hearted, she started researching how to prevent violence. What she found is that there are many ways to approach violence prevention and none of the studies pointed to legislation, they pointed to programs that build communities.  Looking at reports, programs, and statistics from the CDC, Department of Justice, the F.B.I., and more, she learned that all the "gun violence deaths" people talked about were not primarily violence, but 66% were suicides.  Since then she has been actively engaged in the local and Federal legislative process asking our representatives to use the programs that work. Her goal is to get across the message, if we focus on suicide awareness imagine how many lives we could save.

Brooke currently owns and instructs at A Great Start Shooting School in Harwinton CT. She is an NRA Training Counselor, Chief Range Safety Officer and instructor, and an IDPA Safety Officer. She has competed in NRA Bullseye, USPSA, Steel Challenge, and IDPA.  You can also find her on Saturday nights on Facebook & YouTube doing a quick 10-minute spot on suicide prevention.  She started Suicide Prevention Saturday one night in 2018 not knowing if she would keep going and it is 2021 as this is being written, with the program still going strong.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8149739 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0700 4706 2 14 full false Episode 33: Christy Butler and Ryan Hale Episode 33: Christy Butler and Ryan Hale In this episode we discuss what it's like for mental health professionals to intervene in mental health crises with alongside law enforcement. Our outstanding guests come from two different programs in two different states, and they outline their experiences beautifully with regard to all the laws and policies that fold into and regulate this effort, including so-called "red flag laws."

Ryan has been a mental health co responder with the Estes Park, CO Police Department for two and a half years. He spent ten years working as an EMT on the Estes Park Health Ambulance Service before becoming a counselor. Ryan has also worked in education, both as a counselor and an instructor at Colby College in Kansas and continues to teach part time. He is also a PhD candidate in positive neuropsychology.

Christy is a military veteran currently licensed in Nevada as a Clinical Professional Counselor, and Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, as well as being nationally certified as a Master Addiction Counselor. She is the mental health counselor supervisor for the Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST). She has worked with law enforcement in the capacity of MOST for eight years and is part of the Critical Incident Negotiation Team (CINT) with the Reno Police Department. Christy attends the CINT monthly trainings and is part of the team that is called out during critical incidents and negotiation is needed.  She is certified to ride a bike with the Downtown Enforcement Team (DET) to have that face-to-face interaction with the homeless and those struggling with severe mental illness who reside in the downtown Reno area. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this episode we discuss what it's like for mental health professionals to intervene in mental health crises with alongside law enforcement. Our outstanding guests come from two different programs in two different states, and they outline their experiences beautifully with regard to all the laws and policies that fold into and regulate this effort, including so-called "red flag laws."

Ryan has been a mental health co responder with the Estes Park, CO Police Department for two and a half years. He spent ten years working as an EMT on the Estes Park Health Ambulance Service before becoming a counselor. Ryan has also worked in education, both as a counselor and an instructor at Colby College in Kansas and continues to teach part time. He is also a PhD candidate in positive neuropsychology.

Christy is a military veteran currently licensed in Nevada as a Clinical Professional Counselor, and Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor, as well as being nationally certified as a Master Addiction Counselor. She is the mental health counselor supervisor for the Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST). She has worked with law enforcement in the capacity of MOST for eight years and is part of the Critical Incident Negotiation Team (CINT) with the Reno Police Department. Christy attends the CINT monthly trainings and is part of the team that is called out during critical incidents and negotiation is needed.  She is certified to ride a bike with the Downtown Enforcement Team (DET) to have that face-to-face interaction with the homeless and those struggling with severe mental illness who reside in the downtown Reno area. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8112720 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 21:00:00 -0800 5776 2 13 full false Episode 32: Christian Conte Episode 32: Christian Conte Christian Conte, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, Level 5 Anger Management specialist, former university professor, husband, dad, and creator of Yield Theory, which aims to revolutionize how we communicate with one another.

Dr. Conte has spent more than a dozen years helping people who have committed violent crimes and he is currently training the entire Pennsylvania Department of Corrections - including staff and inmates - in Yield Theory. In this interview he discusses violence, emotional functioning, the neuroscience of communication, and shares multiple tips and techniques for living a life of peace.

To learn about Yield Theory, pick up his book Walking Through Anger.
His incredible YouTube channel can be found by clicking here.
Also check out the Tackling Life podcast with co-host Ray Lewis.

Other books:
Mastering What you Practice
Zen Parent, Zen Child
Life Lessons
Teaching Stories

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Christian Conte, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, Level 5 Anger Management specialist, former university professor, husband, dad, and creator of Yield Theory, which aims to revolutionize how we communicate with one another.

Dr. Conte has spent more than a dozen years helping people who have committed violent crimes and he is currently training the entire Pennsylvania Department of Corrections - including staff and inmates - in Yield Theory. In this interview he discusses violence, emotional functioning, the neuroscience of communication, and shares multiple tips and techniques for living a life of peace.

To learn about Yield Theory, pick up his book Walking Through Anger.
His incredible YouTube channel can be found by clicking here.
Also check out the Tackling Life podcast with co-host Ray Lewis.

Other books:
Mastering What you Practice
Zen Parent, Zen Child
Life Lessons
Teaching Stories

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8083436 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0800 5345 2 32 full false Episode 31: Brandon Cassinelli Episode 31: Brandon Cassinelli Brandon Cassinelli is a 5th generation Nevadan and a Reno native.  Hailing from a law enforcement family, he followed his father and two uncles into work at the Reno Police Department beginning in 2007.  Throughout his 14-year career he has occupied numerous roles within the Department, including Tactical Flight Officer in the region’s helicopter response unit, detective with the family and sex crimes divisions, and downtown enforcement officer focusing on bicycle patrol for focus directed issues.  

While at the Department, he returned to the University of Nevada and received his bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies in 2015, followed by his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2019 and began his Nevada state internship in counseling the same year.

His current position with the Department—the Embedded Resource Officer—was established in 2019 and is a full-time role directed toward the reduction of stigma surrounding and engagement with mental health services in first responders, one-to-one & group peer support provision and inter-agency community behavioral health project management.  He has also been a critical incident negotiator for the Reno Police Department for more than 10 years and has performed successful de-escalations with suicidal people in mental health crisis, armed and barricaded subjects and active assailants.

To practice his own mental health; when he isn’t working he enjoys writing, narrating audiobooks and woodworking.

Yes, that is Irvin Yalom in his picture.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Brandon Cassinelli is a 5th generation Nevadan and a Reno native.  Hailing from a law enforcement family, he followed his father and two uncles into work at the Reno Police Department beginning in 2007.  Throughout his 14-year career he has occupied numerous roles within the Department, including Tactical Flight Officer in the region’s helicopter response unit, detective with the family and sex crimes divisions, and downtown enforcement officer focusing on bicycle patrol for focus directed issues.  

While at the Department, he returned to the University of Nevada and received his bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies in 2015, followed by his Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2019 and began his Nevada state internship in counseling the same year.

His current position with the Department—the Embedded Resource Officer—was established in 2019 and is a full-time role directed toward the reduction of stigma surrounding and engagement with mental health services in first responders, one-to-one & group peer support provision and inter-agency community behavioral health project management.  He has also been a critical incident negotiator for the Reno Police Department for more than 10 years and has performed successful de-escalations with suicidal people in mental health crisis, armed and barricaded subjects and active assailants.

To practice his own mental health; when he isn’t working he enjoys writing, narrating audiobooks and woodworking.

Yes, that is Irvin Yalom in his picture.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-8058286 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:00:00 -0800 5524 2 11 full false Episode 30: John Petrolino Episode 30: John Petrolino John Petrolino is a United States Merchant Marine Officer, writer, firearms instructor, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use.  He matriculated at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he received a BS in Marine Engineering.  John's call to write developed towards the end of high school and he has continued to develop both his style and the scope of content he covers.

His exposure to the shooting world occurred when he was a youth, learning the fundamentals with a pellet gun in his back yard.  Hunting and shooting became activities that John and his father began to do regularly starting around the age of eight.  John's involvement in shooting sports grew further through the Boy Scouts and he spent some time as a shotgun shooting, rifle shooting, and archery instructor at a Boy Scout camp when he was 16.  While attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he spent a season on the varsity Rifle Team.

With literary interests deeply rooted in the Beat Generation, through the 2000's, John buried himself in literature and writing exploring the concepts behind that turbulent time in American history.  Through the 2010's his work primarily focused on the actual rights surrounding the literature he loves and freedom represented in those works.  Taking a closer look at what American rights are and the true and earnest preservation of them became part of his creative process.  His work on the Second Amendment has appeared in The Truth About Guns, AmmoLand, Bearing Arms, Save New Jersey, the JM4 Tactical blog, and The Shore News Network.

John has been a National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor in Basic Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and Refuse to be a Victim for several years and recently became a United States Concealed Carry Association instructor.  

He believes that learning is a life-long journey and an important part of leading an enriched life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> John Petrolino is a United States Merchant Marine Officer, writer, firearms instructor, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use.  He matriculated at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, where he received a BS in Marine Engineering.  John's call to write developed towards the end of high school and he has continued to develop both his style and the scope of content he covers.

His exposure to the shooting world occurred when he was a youth, learning the fundamentals with a pellet gun in his back yard.  Hunting and shooting became activities that John and his father began to do regularly starting around the age of eight.  John's involvement in shooting sports grew further through the Boy Scouts and he spent some time as a shotgun shooting, rifle shooting, and archery instructor at a Boy Scout camp when he was 16.  While attending Massachusetts Maritime Academy, he spent a season on the varsity Rifle Team.

With literary interests deeply rooted in the Beat Generation, through the 2000's, John buried himself in literature and writing exploring the concepts behind that turbulent time in American history.  Through the 2010's his work primarily focused on the actual rights surrounding the literature he loves and freedom represented in those works.  Taking a closer look at what American rights are and the true and earnest preservation of them became part of his creative process.  His work on the Second Amendment has appeared in The Truth About Guns, AmmoLand, Bearing Arms, Save New Jersey, the JM4 Tactical blog, and The Shore News Network.

John has been a National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor in Basic Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and Refuse to be a Victim for several years and recently became a United States Concealed Carry Association instructor.  

He believes that learning is a life-long journey and an important part of leading an enriched life.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7947739 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 5791 2 10 full false Episode 29: The Liberal Gun Club Episode 29: The Liberal Gun Club Ed Gardner and Lara Smith of The Liberal Gun Club join Mike and Jake for a conversation about core concepts of Second Amendment rights.

The Liberal Gun Club provides a voice to gun owners who do not subscribe to the right-wing rhetoric surrounding firearm ownership by engaging the public on important firearms issues,  allowing liberal and moderate views to be expressed and actively debated.  They encourage well thought out and reasoned positions and discourage personal attacks and emotionally reflexive tirades.

In addition to the dialogue, the club hosts regular shooting events to promote marksmanship and safety and offers several training programs, including a Range Safety Course, Firearms Familiarization, Defensive Pistol, and responsible ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Ed Gardner and Lara Smith of The Liberal Gun Club join Mike and Jake for a conversation about core concepts of Second Amendment rights.

The Liberal Gun Club provides a voice to gun owners who do not subscribe to the right-wing rhetoric surrounding firearm ownership by engaging the public on important firearms issues,  allowing liberal and moderate views to be expressed and actively debated.  They encourage well thought out and reasoned positions and discourage personal attacks and emotionally reflexive tirades.

In addition to the dialogue, the club hosts regular shooting events to promote marksmanship and safety and offers several training programs, including a Range Safety Course, Firearms Familiarization, Defensive Pistol, and responsible ownership.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7945537 Fri, 19 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 6505 2 9 full false Episode 28: Andrew Langlois Episode 28: Andrew Langlois Andrew Langlois spent many years as a law enforcement officer and is now in graduate school for public health doing research on firearms policy and its effect on preventing negative outcomes. He is a Second Amendment advocate and continues to make leather rifle slings, a hobby he has been doing for many years. 

Having traveled the world, Andy has learned many lessons on economics, social policies, policing, and mental health treatment that inform his interactions with the world. We are pleased to have him on discussing all of these things and particularly how to help those struggling with mental illness while preserving rights and freedoms. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Andrew Langlois spent many years as a law enforcement officer and is now in graduate school for public health doing research on firearms policy and its effect on preventing negative outcomes. He is a Second Amendment advocate and continues to make leather rifle slings, a hobby he has been doing for many years. 

Having traveled the world, Andy has learned many lessons on economics, social policies, policing, and mental health treatment that inform his interactions with the world. We are pleased to have him on discussing all of these things and particularly how to help those struggling with mental illness while preserving rights and freedoms. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7793956 Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 4049 2 8 full false Episode 27: Jason Griego Episode 27: Jason Griego Jason Griego is a retired Air Force C-130 & C-17 Loadmaster with 24 years of service. He flew combat missions in Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason is the Founder of Vegas Veterans Hockey Foundation and President of Community Outreach. 

Jason is on the Board of Directors for Warrior Suicide Prevention Foundation, and is a member of the Las Vegas Mayor’s Veteran Suicide Challenge Team. He is also a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach with handicapped and sled hockey certifications.  He coaches the Vegas Junior Golden Knight Girls travel teams as well as many hockey development programs. Jason also is on the Board of Directors of Miracle League Las Vegas, a nonprofit that works to engage youth with special needs and disabilities in sporting activities. 

He has lived in Las Vegas for over 10 years with his wife, kids and six rescue pets.  

And no, he is not Hugh Jackman's face double in the X-Men movies. But he could be...

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jason Griego is a retired Air Force C-130 & C-17 Loadmaster with 24 years of service. He flew combat missions in Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Jason is the Founder of Vegas Veterans Hockey Foundation and President of Community Outreach. 

Jason is on the Board of Directors for Warrior Suicide Prevention Foundation, and is a member of the Las Vegas Mayor’s Veteran Suicide Challenge Team. He is also a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach with handicapped and sled hockey certifications.  He coaches the Vegas Junior Golden Knight Girls travel teams as well as many hockey development programs. Jason also is on the Board of Directors of Miracle League Las Vegas, a nonprofit that works to engage youth with special needs and disabilities in sporting activities. 

He has lived in Las Vegas for over 10 years with his wife, kids and six rescue pets.  

And no, he is not Hugh Jackman's face double in the X-Men movies. But he could be...

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7699882 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 4097 2 7 full false Episode 26: Rob Morse Episode 26: Rob Morse Rob Morse: designer/analyst by day, civil rights advocate by night.

He hosts the Self-Defense Gun Stories podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society podcast. He has written for many years about guns and gun safety, with his articles appearing at the SlowFacts blog, Ammoland, and Clash Daily, and is a frequent guest on Gun Freedom Radio. 

He enjoys exploring the deeper psychological and sociological concepts and motivations behind human behavior, including mental illness and social interactions. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Rob Morse: designer/analyst by day, civil rights advocate by night.

He hosts the Self-Defense Gun Stories podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society podcast. He has written for many years about guns and gun safety, with his articles appearing at the SlowFacts blog, Ammoland, and Clash Daily, and is a frequent guest on Gun Freedom Radio. 

He enjoys exploring the deeper psychological and sociological concepts and motivations behind human behavior, including mental illness and social interactions. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-7685284 Fri, 05 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 5720 2 6 full false Episode 25: Colion Noir Episode 25: Colion Noir Colion Noir is a Houston native, but for the past eight years he has made Dallas his home.  While attending law school, a friend invited him to the local gun range to shoot for the first time.  Being scared of guns, every fiber in his body urged him to decline but he accepted.  That was the day that changed his life and the lives of millions of his followers who have grown with him on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.  His trademark has become the use of unique and colorful prose in his firearm videos to describe the guns that he so appreciates for their beauty, mechanical engineering, defensive properties, and embodiment of American freedom.


While his library of videos showing him on the range doing what he loves to do continues to grow, his driving passion is generating his biting and brilliant commentary videos.  His aim is to educate all Americans, no matter their station, as to why the 2nd Amendment recognizes an essential, individual liberty worthy of being jealously guarded against encroachment.  Many would argue he has become the leading voice in the never-ending battle to preserve gun rights and the right to self-defense.


This voice, conveying complex arguments in a way that makes them simple and entertaining, has been heard by the most powerful political leaders of our time.  He is a regular guest on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight and Fox & Friends.  He has had the courage to face down the brash Bill Maher on his own HBO show and has had fun talking with his buddy Joe Rogan on his world-famous podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. 

His goal from the beginning was to reach the masses with his message and he has achieved it.  However, the battle – and the fun on the range – continues.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Colion Noir is a Houston native, but for the past eight years he has made Dallas his home.  While attending law school, a friend invited him to the local gun range to shoot for the first time.  Being scared of guns, every fiber in his body urged him to decline but he accepted.  That was the day that changed his life and the lives of millions of his followers who have grown with him on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.  His trademark has become the use of unique and colorful prose in his firearm videos to describe the guns that he so appreciates for their beauty, mechanical engineering, defensive properties, and embodiment of American freedom.


While his library of videos showing him on the range doing what he loves to do continues to grow, his driving passion is generating his biting and brilliant commentary videos.  His aim is to educate all Americans, no matter their station, as to why the 2nd Amendment recognizes an essential, individual liberty worthy of being jealously guarded against encroachment.  Many would argue he has become the leading voice in the never-ending battle to preserve gun rights and the right to self-defense.


This voice, conveying complex arguments in a way that makes them simple and entertaining, has been heard by the most powerful political leaders of our time.  He is a regular guest on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight and Fox & Friends.  He has had the courage to face down the brash Bill Maher on his own HBO show and has had fun talking with his buddy Joe Rogan on his world-famous podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. 

His goal from the beginning was to reach the masses with his message and he has achieved it.  However, the battle – and the fun on the range – continues.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7577524 Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0800 6374 Top Episode 2 5 full false Episode 24: Kenyon Gleason Episode 24: Kenyon Gleason Kenyon Gleason is the president and secretary of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW), and has been with the organization since 2015. 

He is an award-winning journalist and has worked in television, radio, and print newsrooms across the upper Midwest. Gleason has over 25 years of media, communications, marketing, public and government relations, and political experience in a variety of industries including healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, and shooting sports. Kenyon also the owns Connect Consulting, LLC, a management consulting company based in South Dakota.

Prior to leading NASGW, he was the vice president of development and field operations for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association in Washington, D.C., focused on U.S. transportation-related issues, legislation, and advocacy.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Kenyon Gleason is the president and secretary of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW), and has been with the organization since 2015. 

He is an award-winning journalist and has worked in television, radio, and print newsrooms across the upper Midwest. Gleason has over 25 years of media, communications, marketing, public and government relations, and political experience in a variety of industries including healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture, and shooting sports. Kenyon also the owns Connect Consulting, LLC, a management consulting company based in South Dakota.

Prior to leading NASGW, he was the vice president of development and field operations for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association in Washington, D.C., focused on U.S. transportation-related issues, legislation, and advocacy.


Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-7423918 Mon, 25 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0800 3862 2 4 full false Episode 23: Jose Fierro Episode 23: Jose Fierro Jose Fierro was a fighter pilot for the US Marine Corps and serves as a WTTA board member. In this episode he explains his passion for helping veterans and preserving gun rights, discusses some really cool technology related to drone capabilities, and explains why he does not have any social media (spoiler alert: it's good for your mental health). 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jose Fierro was a fighter pilot for the US Marine Corps and serves as a WTTA board member. In this episode he explains his passion for helping veterans and preserving gun rights, discusses some really cool technology related to drone capabilities, and explains why he does not have any social media (spoiler alert: it's good for your mental health). 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-7361356 Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:00:00 -0800 5286 2 3 full false Episode 22: Randy Miyan Episode 22: Randy Miyan Randy “Miyanovich” Miyan is the full-time Executive Director and co-founder of Liberal Guns Owners: a 501(c)4 organization which supports firearms ownership rights, the mitigation of firearms-related violence, and firearms ownership participation for the left-leaning.

Randy is a former remodeling and renovation business-operator who worked within the parameters of Green and Eco-sensitive building projects for 17 years. He has a substantial connection to the world of mental and physical health improvement through his 25 year dedication to Buddhist meditation, Buddhist psychology, and Chinese forms of mind-body exercise like Tai Chi and Qigong. For over five years, Randy taught Tai Chi and meditation to both the senior citizen and HIV /AIDS community.

Randy’s gun perspective is unique in that he was involved in firearms as a kid but walked away from them for over two decades. He returned to guns from the world of dedicated non-violence due to an increased need for self-defense in relation to his family.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Randy “Miyanovich” Miyan is the full-time Executive Director and co-founder of Liberal Guns Owners: a 501(c)4 organization which supports firearms ownership rights, the mitigation of firearms-related violence, and firearms ownership participation for the left-leaning.

Randy is a former remodeling and renovation business-operator who worked within the parameters of Green and Eco-sensitive building projects for 17 years. He has a substantial connection to the world of mental and physical health improvement through his 25 year dedication to Buddhist meditation, Buddhist psychology, and Chinese forms of mind-body exercise like Tai Chi and Qigong. For over five years, Randy taught Tai Chi and meditation to both the senior citizen and HIV /AIDS community.

Randy’s gun perspective is unique in that he was involved in firearms as a kid but walked away from them for over two decades. He returned to guns from the world of dedicated non-violence due to an increased need for self-defense in relation to his family.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-7189477 Sun, 10 Jan 2021 04:00:00 -0800 6901 2 2 full false Episode 21: Eddie Davenport Episode 21: Eddie Davenport Eddie is a social worker out of North Carolina who grew up in the firearm competition world and holds multiple national shootings titles. As such, he believes that he is uniquely positioned to help bridge the gap between the mental health and the firearms communities. Eddie also has a background as a first responder and is open about his past struggles with PTSD, as well as the struggles between being pro-second amendment within the mental health world. 

He is a proud supporter of WTTA and its mission to reduce suicides across the world.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Eddie is a social worker out of North Carolina who grew up in the firearm competition world and holds multiple national shootings titles. As such, he believes that he is uniquely positioned to help bridge the gap between the mental health and the firearms communities. Eddie also has a background as a first responder and is open about his past struggles with PTSD, as well as the struggles between being pro-second amendment within the mental health world. 

He is a proud supporter of WTTA and its mission to reduce suicides across the world.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-7134340 Wed, 06 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0800 4679 2 1 full false Episode 20: Aaargo Jay Episode 20: Aaargo Jay If you ask him, he'd tell you that he is just a guy.  However, spend a few minutes with him and you will soon find out that he is all of the aforementioned. His passion for advocacy is directly related to the love he has for his family. Making sure the world is a safe place for them to live their lives is paramount for Aaargo Jay. 

Find out more on his website or follow him on all the usual social media platforms.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> If you ask him, he'd tell you that he is just a guy.  However, spend a few minutes with him and you will soon find out that he is all of the aforementioned. His passion for advocacy is directly related to the love he has for his family. Making sure the world is a safe place for them to live their lives is paramount for Aaargo Jay. 

Find out more on his website or follow him on all the usual social media platforms.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Buzzsprout-7092856 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 13:00:00 -0800 6426 1 20 full false Episode 19: Shauna Springer Episode 19: Shauna Springer Shauna "Doc" Springer is a psychologist who has worked for a long time with veterans on their posttraumatic stress and has written extensively about the subject, including in her book, Warrior:  How to Support Those Who Protect Us . In this encouraging conversation she covers a lot of ground, but chiefly an emerging practice that alleviates PTSD (or, more accurately, PTSI) with a simple anesthetic injection and some outpatient talk therapy.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Shauna "Doc" Springer is a psychologist who has worked for a long time with veterans on their posttraumatic stress and has written extensively about the subject, including in her book, Warrior:  How to Support Those Who Protect Us . In this encouraging conversation she covers a lot of ground, but chiefly an emerging practice that alleviates PTSD (or, more accurately, PTSI) with a simple anesthetic injection and some outpatient talk therapy.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6992683 Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0800 5562 1 19 full false Episode 18: Sherman Gillums Episode 18: Sherman Gillums For more than a decade and a half Sherman Gillums, Jr., has continued serving this country's disabled and paralyzed veterans after he spent a dozen years serving as a marine. 

On this podcast he discusses his tireless efforts as an advocate for paralyzed veterans, his own disability, and being a father, along with veterans policy matters and getting their mental struggles treated without infringement upon their gun rights.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> For more than a decade and a half Sherman Gillums, Jr., has continued serving this country's disabled and paralyzed veterans after he spent a dozen years serving as a marine. 

On this podcast he discusses his tireless efforts as an advocate for paralyzed veterans, his own disability, and being a father, along with veterans policy matters and getting their mental struggles treated without infringement upon their gun rights.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6961364 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:00:00 -0800 4902 1 18 full false Episode 17: "At the Intersection..." webinar recap Episode 17: "At the Intersection..." webinar recap One of WTTA's most important efforts involves training mental health professionals in firearms culture. This competency training helps clinicians better understand the foundational principles of why people own guns so that they can create a more welcoming, non-judgmental environment for those who want mental health care to get it without nervousness or suspicion.

The classes will be a full-blown certificate course in three parts, with this summary covering part one and its last four iterations. Jake and Mike discuss the benefits, the purpose, the increasing attendance, and what the gun community can do to support the ongoing efforts.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> One of WTTA's most important efforts involves training mental health professionals in firearms culture. This competency training helps clinicians better understand the foundational principles of why people own guns so that they can create a more welcoming, non-judgmental environment for those who want mental health care to get it without nervousness or suspicion.

The classes will be a full-blown certificate course in three parts, with this summary covering part one and its last four iterations. Jake and Mike discuss the benefits, the purpose, the increasing attendance, and what the gun community can do to support the ongoing efforts.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6722692 Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:00:00 -0800 4000 1 17 full false Episode 16: Myra Fukuno Episode 16: Myra Fukuno Myra Fukuno has an intimate relationship with suicide and firearms; her boyfriend of five years took his own life with one.  Today, she still advocates fiercely for gun rights and shares openly some of her own struggles in pushing through the pain and overcoming the loss.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Myra Fukuno has an intimate relationship with suicide and firearms; her boyfriend of five years took his own life with one.  Today, she still advocates fiercely for gun rights and shares openly some of her own struggles in pushing through the pain and overcoming the loss.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6706855 Sat, 05 Dec 2020 11:00:00 -0800 5850 Top Episode 1 16 full false Episode 15: Chris Jachimiec Episode 15: Chris Jachimiec Chris Jachimiec is a recently retired member of the United States Air Force.  He served in multiple military leadership roles in Nevada, Germany, and Korea, and is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.  

In July 2017, he lost his brother, Lance Corporal Adam Jachimiec, United States Marine Corps, to suicide after a courageous battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Throughout his grief journey, Chris noticed gaps in suicide postvention in the Armed Forces.  He serves as a Care Group Facilitator and Peer Mentor for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and is a distinguished member of the Las Vegas Mayor's Challenge Team.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Chris Jachimiec is a recently retired member of the United States Air Force.  He served in multiple military leadership roles in Nevada, Germany, and Korea, and is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan.  

In July 2017, he lost his brother, Lance Corporal Adam Jachimiec, United States Marine Corps, to suicide after a courageous battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Throughout his grief journey, Chris noticed gaps in suicide postvention in the Armed Forces.  He serves as a Care Group Facilitator and Peer Mentor for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and is a distinguished member of the Las Vegas Mayor's Challenge Team.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6522454 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:00:00 -0800 5790 1 15 full false Episode 14: Jesse Lott Episode 14: Jesse Lott Jesse is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Nevada who specializes in couples, adolescents, mood disorders, and substance abuse. He is trained in multiple intervention strategies and has practiced for more than 15 years. Jesse is also a lifelong firearms owner and supporter of WTTA. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jesse is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Nevada who specializes in couples, adolescents, mood disorders, and substance abuse. He is trained in multiple intervention strategies and has practiced for more than 15 years. Jesse is also a lifelong firearms owner and supporter of WTTA. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6334282 Wed, 11 Nov 2020 17:00:00 -0800 4790 1 14 full false Episode 13: Kevin Dixie Episode 13: Kevin Dixie Kevin Dixie is the owner-operator of No Other Choice Firearms Training (NOC) and the Founder of Aiming For The Truth, a 6-spoked approach to healing broken families and strengthening the community bonds of neighbors, to improve the lives of people in the cities and states of our nation. The program focuses on the roots of the factors that are driving violence in our communities; a mission of solving real issues and dealing with the complexities that exist within them, while not blaming of tools of violence to avoid discussion. 

Through his articulate and well-researched reasoning and passionate commitment, KD has gained numerous followers and become an influencer for 2A advocates and social justice seekers alike. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Kevin Dixie is the owner-operator of No Other Choice Firearms Training (NOC) and the Founder of Aiming For The Truth, a 6-spoked approach to healing broken families and strengthening the community bonds of neighbors, to improve the lives of people in the cities and states of our nation. The program focuses on the roots of the factors that are driving violence in our communities; a mission of solving real issues and dealing with the complexities that exist within them, while not blaming of tools of violence to avoid discussion. 

Through his articulate and well-researched reasoning and passionate commitment, KD has gained numerous followers and become an influencer for 2A advocates and social justice seekers alike. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6197116 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 01:00:00 -0800 5832 1 13 full false Episode 12: Kevin Reichard Episode 12: Kevin Reichard Kevin is a husband to his wife and father of two daughters. You may know him as "Tacdaddy" on the Internet. Additionally he is the author of Logically Emotional in Parkland, a Unique Perspective, the former host of Gun News Weekly from 2012-2018 with more than 205 1-hour live episodes, owner and operator of AwareAndPrepared.live, and ongoing video content creator in the firearms industry, with more than 2,000 produced content pieces and a combined 70 million views across YouTube Facebook at “Kevin the TacDaddy.”

Kevin Reichard joins Michael Sodini and Jake Wiskerchen on the podcast this week.   This is a very special episode that everyone needs to check out.  Hear Kevin open up about what it is like to have two daughters in the middle of the Parkland tragedy, what it’s like to be a “gun guy” during a time of grief when everyone is in a highly emotional state, and how they moved forward!

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Kevin is a husband to his wife and father of two daughters. You may know him as "Tacdaddy" on the Internet. Additionally he is the author of Logically Emotional in Parkland, a Unique Perspective, the former host of Gun News Weekly from 2012-2018 with more than 205 1-hour live episodes, owner and operator of AwareAndPrepared.live, and ongoing video content creator in the firearms industry, with more than 2,000 produced content pieces and a combined 70 million views across YouTube Facebook at “Kevin the TacDaddy.”

Kevin Reichard joins Michael Sodini and Jake Wiskerchen on the podcast this week.   This is a very special episode that everyone needs to check out.  Hear Kevin open up about what it is like to have two daughters in the middle of the Parkland tragedy, what it’s like to be a “gun guy” during a time of grief when everyone is in a highly emotional state, and how they moved forward!

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-6196483 Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0800 5252 1 12 full false Episode 11: Yehuda Remer Episode 11: Yehuda Remer Yehuda Remer is a husband, father, children's gun safety book author, gun rights advocate, and devout follower of God. As an Orthodox Jew he is somewhat of a firebrand among his people, which he explains. He has dealt with his own mental struggles and shares them candidly in this podcast. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or go to his website to buy his merchandise. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Yehuda Remer is a husband, father, children's gun safety book author, gun rights advocate, and devout follower of God. As an Orthodox Jew he is somewhat of a firebrand among his people, which he explains. He has dealt with his own mental struggles and shares them candidly in this podcast. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or go to his website to buy his merchandise. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5993038 Tue, 20 Oct 2020 22:00:00 -0700 5543 1 11 full false Episode 10: Rob Pincus Episode 10: Rob Pincus Rob Pincus is an educator, author, and entrepreneur who has worked in the firearms industry for over 20 years. He is the owner of I.C.E. Training Company, the Executive Director of Personal Defense Network and the developer of the Combat Focus Shooting Program, which has been the core of many curricula used over the past decade by hundreds of defensive shooting instructors around the world.

Rob has been active in the fight for Second Amendment rights since the days of the Federal “Assault Weapons Ban” and has worked with many State, National and International Organizations to expand people’s right to include firearms in their preparation for personal defense. In addition to developing programs for armed civilians, he has also provided training to US Military Special Operations Personnel, Law Enforcement Officers and Executive Protection Agents since the early 2000s. 

Since 2012, Rob has shifted his primary focus to Instructor Development and the evolution of defensive training in general. He has written 9 books, produced over 100 training DVDs, written countless articles on topics related to firearms & personal defense and is regularly invited to speak about gun rights and related topics by the media.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Rob Pincus is an educator, author, and entrepreneur who has worked in the firearms industry for over 20 years. He is the owner of I.C.E. Training Company, the Executive Director of Personal Defense Network and the developer of the Combat Focus Shooting Program, which has been the core of many curricula used over the past decade by hundreds of defensive shooting instructors around the world.

Rob has been active in the fight for Second Amendment rights since the days of the Federal “Assault Weapons Ban” and has worked with many State, National and International Organizations to expand people’s right to include firearms in their preparation for personal defense. In addition to developing programs for armed civilians, he has also provided training to US Military Special Operations Personnel, Law Enforcement Officers and Executive Protection Agents since the early 2000s. 

Since 2012, Rob has shifted his primary focus to Instructor Development and the evolution of defensive training in general. He has written 9 books, produced over 100 training DVDs, written countless articles on topics related to firearms & personal defense and is regularly invited to speak about gun rights and related topics by the media.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5858686 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 20:00:00 -0700 5859 1 10 full false Episode 9: Marcella Williams Episode 9: Marcella Williams Marcella survived the October 1, 2017 shooting at the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a strident Second Amendment advocate, survivor of domestic violence, small business owner, and mother of three. Her story is powerful and her testimony is compelling.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Marcella survived the October 1, 2017 shooting at the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a strident Second Amendment advocate, survivor of domestic violence, small business owner, and mother of three. Her story is powerful and her testimony is compelling.  

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5708692 Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0700 5175 1 9 full false Episode 8: Devin Perkins Episode 8: Devin Perkins Devin is the founder of Kids to Kings, an organization that helps young children from disadvantaged circumstances rise above them through education about confidence, self-efficacy, communication, and mental wellness. He is a 2a advocate through and through. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Devin is the founder of Kids to Kings, an organization that helps young children from disadvantaged circumstances rise above them through education about confidence, self-efficacy, communication, and mental wellness. He is a 2a advocate through and through. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5353978 Mon, 28 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0700 5363 1 8 full false Episode 7: Mark Gorodetzer Episode 7: Mark Gorodetzer Mark works in suicide prevention in southern Nevada where he serves on the Las Vegas Mayor's Challenge and Nevada Governor's Challenge teams. He does not own guns but realized he needed to educate himself on firearms if he was to be successful in his suicide prevention efforts, which led him to WTTA. His personal effort is made through grilling and as a brand ambassador for Veterans Barbecue, which donates all profits to veterans groups. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Mark works in suicide prevention in southern Nevada where he serves on the Las Vegas Mayor's Challenge and Nevada Governor's Challenge teams. He does not own guns but realized he needed to educate himself on firearms if he was to be successful in his suicide prevention efforts, which led him to WTTA. His personal effort is made through grilling and as a brand ambassador for Veterans Barbecue, which donates all profits to veterans groups. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5350459 Mon, 28 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0700 5480 1 7 full false Episode 6: Derek LeBlanc Episode 6: Derek LeBlanc Derek created and runs Kids Safe Foundation, a firearms education and training organization specifically focused on children. He is a powerful force in the gun industry but quietly does his work with little fanfare, though he probably deserves more.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Derek created and runs Kids Safe Foundation, a firearms education and training organization specifically focused on children. He is a powerful force in the gun industry but quietly does his work with little fanfare, though he probably deserves more.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5349622 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0700 4649 1 6 full false Episode 5: Dustin Jones Episode 5: Dustin Jones As a published author of The First 30, Dustin brings a unique perspective on personal well being and self-efficacy. As the Chief Financial Officer for Armscorp International, Inc., he has been instrumental in supporting WTTA's mission from a manufacturer standpoint. Not originally from the gun community, Dustin shares his thoughts on why bringing the two cultures together is so important for so many reasons.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> As a published author of The First 30, Dustin brings a unique perspective on personal well being and self-efficacy. As the Chief Financial Officer for Armscorp International, Inc., he has been instrumental in supporting WTTA's mission from a manufacturer standpoint. Not originally from the gun community, Dustin shares his thoughts on why bringing the two cultures together is so important for so many reasons.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Walk the Talk America Buzzsprout-5349532 Mon, 14 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0700 6323 1 5 full false Episode 4: Edgar Antillon Episode 4: Edgar Antillon Edgar Antillon, founder of Guns for Everyone, is a Mexican-American who shares his views on how race and culture affect firearms ownership, among many other topics. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Edgar Antillon, founder of Guns for Everyone, is a Mexican-American who shares his views on how race and culture affect firearms ownership, among many other topics. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen Buzzsprout-5130277 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0700 4639 1 4 full false Episode 3: Cheryl Todd Episode 3: Cheryl Todd Cheryl Todd, owner of AZfirearms.com and host of Gun Freedom Radio, holds a psychology degree and speaks to the value of her 2nd Amendment Rights through the lens of self-protection and instilling those values in the generations to come.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Cheryl Todd, owner of AZfirearms.com and host of Gun Freedom Radio, holds a psychology degree and speaks to the value of her 2nd Amendment Rights through the lens of self-protection and instilling those values in the generations to come.

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen Buzzsprout-5130181 Sun, 30 Aug 2020 23:00:00 -0700 3176 1 3 full false Episode 2: Chris Cheng Episode 2: Chris Cheng Winner of History Channel's Top Shot Season 4, Chris works with computers by day. However, in his off time he lends his voice to the LGBT community, advocates for 2A rights, and has written a book called Shoot to Win, available everywhere books are sold. For more about Chris, visit his website: http://www.topshotchris.com/about.html 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Winner of History Channel's Top Shot Season 4, Chris works with computers by day. However, in his off time he lends his voice to the LGBT community, advocates for 2A rights, and has written a book called Shoot to Win, available everywhere books are sold. For more about Chris, visit his website: http://www.topshotchris.com/about.html 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Wiskerchen Buzzsprout-4942238 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 03:00:00 -0700 5090 1 2 full false Introduction: Jake and Mike Introduction: Jake and Mike In this inaugural podcast, Mike Sodini, Walk the Talk America's founder, and Jake Wiskerchen, WTTA board member and mental health practitioner, explain the mission and philosophy of WTTA, why the conversation about guns and mental health is important, and what they hope to accomplish with this effort. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> In this inaugural podcast, Mike Sodini, Walk the Talk America's founder, and Jake Wiskerchen, WTTA board member and mental health practitioner, explain the mission and philosophy of WTTA, why the conversation about guns and mental health is important, and what they hope to accomplish with this effort. 

Send us Fan Mail

Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below!

Platinum Tier:
Ruger
Armscor
Bleeker Street Publications

Gold Tier:
NASGW
Lipsey's
Davidson's


]]> Jake Buzzsprout-4909748 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 10:00:00 -0700 4938 Top Episode 1 1 full false