Best Responsible Armed Citizens Podcasts (2025)

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Amir Killah - MMA Fighter, Law Enforcement, and Defensive Tactics Instructor 54:02

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2h ago54:02

54:02

A great conversation with Amir Killah - retired pro MMA fighter, cop, and owner of both a martial arts school and a defensive tactics program.By Matthew Little

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Buck Peddicord - Retired SWAT Officer, Range Owner, and Firearms Instructor 1:27:36

2d ago1:27:36

1:27:36

In this episode, my friend Buck Peddicord and I talk about training, shooting, law enforcement, and aging (somewhat) gracefully…By Matthew Little

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Mike Green - Special Forces veteran and Owner of Green Ops 1:16:12

10d ago1:16:12

1:16:12

In this episode I talk with Mike Green about our careers in special forces, and how our mentors in SF shaped us as trainers and as people.By Matthew Little

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Smart Holiday Security: From Shopping Trips To Safe Homes And Travel Plans 47:49

13d ago47:49

47:49

Send us a text Holiday cheer shouldn’t come with preventable risks. We’re sharing the field-tested tactics we use with clients and students to stay safe while shopping, traveling, hosting, and running businesses during the busiest—and most tempting—time of the year for thieves and scammers. From the moment you enter a crowded mall to the time you u…

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Lora Thorson of Defenders USA 1:21:43

9d ago1:21:43

1:21:43

In this episode I talk training with Lora Thorson of Defenders USA, and we have a great conversation on process versus goal focus and realistic levels of participation.By Matthew Little

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Mickey Schuch of Carry Trainer 56:42

16d ago56:42

56:42

Mickey and I discuss how training for shooting has evolved, the differences in civilian defensive training compared to competitive or institutional training, and being balanced in our pursuits.By Matthew Little

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Tony Blauer and the Nature of Non Consensual Violence 2:21:42

1M ago2:21:42

2:21:42

Coach Tony Blauer, creator of the SPEAR system is back on the show for what is probably our best episode yet. We do a deep dive into the nature of non consensual violence and how to train for it. You won’t want to miss this one.By Matthew Little

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Mike Seeklander - Marine, Law Enforcement, Competition Shooter, Martial Artist and Firearms Instructor 1:13:25

1M ago1:13:25

1:13:25

This episode is a conversation I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Mike Seeklander and I talk martial arts, competition and tactical shooting, the importance of a good mental transmission, and technique development versus attribute development in training.By Matthew Little

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From Domestic Violence To Self-Defense: Kas McGuire’s Journey And New Book 1:07:51

1M ago1:07:51

1:07:51

Send us a text A slow-burn relationship that turned into total control. Years of gaslighting, tracking, and violence. And then a plan strong enough to carry a mother and child into the night and toward safety. That’s the spine of our conversation with survivor, martial arts and firearms instructor, and new author, Kas McGuire—an honest, practical, …

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Dave Klaus - Special Forces Combat Veteran and SWAT medic 1:26:00

1M ago1:26:00

1:26:00

in this episode I catch up with my old teammate and good friend Dave Klaus. We talk medical and firearms training for military, law enforcement, and civilians. We also wind up sharing a war story or two…By Matthew Little

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Fit To Carry with Aaron Cobb 41:06

2M ago41:06

41:06

Send us a text Most people plan their defense around a holster and a hope. We build it around breath, movement, and the split-second choices that actually decide outcomes. With defense instructor and security professional Aaron Cobb, we walk through a practical framework for making your body a tactical asset—so you can think clearer, move faster, a…

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Equip Responsibility: Thoughtful Gifts For Everyday Carriers 31:54

2M ago31:54

31:54

Send us a text The holiday rush doesn’t have to mean guesswork. We break down a clear, practical gift guide for the armed citizen in your life—focusing on gear that fits, skills that last, and storage that keeps everyone safe. From holsters to safes, we share how to choose confidently without falling for hype or buying the wrong thing. We start wit…

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Season Wrap: Plans, Guests, Next Steps 12:51

2M ago12:51

12:51

Send us a text Ready for a clear roadmap of where Armed Guardian is heading next? We close the season by sharing what we learned, what resonated, and how we’re leveling up the show with a tighter cadence, sharper topics, and guests who’ve lived the stakes. It’s a grounded plan for anyone serious about personal safety, smarter training, and responsi…

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Smart Carry: Choosing Belts And Holsters That Fit Your Life 35:11

1M ago35:11

35:11

Send us a text The most important piece of concealed carry gear might not be your holster at all—it’s your belt. We walk through the full carry system, starting with a sturdy EDC belt that resists sag and rollover, then compare leather, kydex, and hybrid holsters so you can balance comfort, retention, and speed. Whether you prefer appendix or a str…

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Learn How To Choose, Carry, And Practice With Gear You’ll Depend On 41:18

2M ago41:18

41:18

Send us a text If your gear only works on paper, it won’t work when it counts. We break down a practical everyday carry you’ll actually keep on you, then scale it into vehicle and home readiness so you’re steady when life turns sideways. We start with the hard choices: the firearm you’ll truly carry in your climate and clothes, plus why a consisten…

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Carrying Wheel Guns In A Semi-Auto World 1:01:30

2M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Send us a text Capacity steals the spotlight, but at real defensive distances it’s access, control, and hits that decide outcomes. We sat down with trainer and gunsmith Brian Eastridge to unpack why a well-set-up revolver can still be the smartest choice for concealed carry and home defense. From pocket-carried snubs that deliver a sub-second cover…

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How Hold My Guns,A Nonprofit, Helps Gun Owners Choose Safety Without Losing Their Rights 48:12

2M ago48:12

48:12

Send us a text A lot of responsible gun owners face the same quiet question: what do you do when life gets messy and access becomes a risk? Moving across states, checking into a hospital, hosting grandkids, navigating a foster placement, or just riding out a hard season can make temporary storage the smartest choice. We brought on Hold My Guns foun…

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Holiday Travel Safety Essentials 43:52

2M ago43:52

43:52

Send us a text Crowded parking lots, long drives, and packed restaurants can turn small lapses into big problems. We break down a calm, practical approach to holiday safety that starts with the law, carries through your errands, and ends with a smart return home. No fearmongering—just clear steps that help you spot risk early, make better choices, …

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Bridging Guns And Mental Health with Walk The Talk America 45:26

2M ago45:26

45:26

Send us a text What if the most effective mental health leadership in America came from the firearms community itself? We sit down with Michael Sodini, a third‑generation industry insider and founder of Walk The Talk America (WTTA), to unpack how gun owners, trainers, and manufacturers are driving practical suicide prevention—no new laws required. …

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Melody Lauer - Firearms Instructor and Creator of the Armed Parent Training Course 1:31:18

2M ago1:31:18

1:31:18

I have a great conversation with firearms instructor Melody Lauer about training in general and her Armed Parent training course in particular.By Matthew Little

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Kerry Murakami - Law Enforcement, Martial Artist, and Combatives Instructor 1:13:50

2M ago1:13:50

1:13:50

the audio In this episode was a little rough on my end, but the conversation makes it worth it. I have a great discussion with Kerry “Kato” Murakami about martial arts and combatives training for LE and civilians.By Matthew Little

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Jared Wihongi - Kali Grandmaster, SWAT Officer and Special Forces Combatives Instructor 1:18:17

2M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

By Matthew Little

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We’re back—and we’re putting practical training, changing laws, and real-world readiness at the center of The Armed Guardian Podcast relaunch 18:24

3M ago18:24

18:24

Send us a text The mics are on again, and we’re coming back sharper: real training, clear laws, and honest talk about what responsible carry actually takes. Brian brings law enforcement and military experience from years of firearms and first aid instruction, while Crystal from I Got Her Six focuses on women’s training and workplace violence preven…

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Caleb Giddings - Wheelgun Whisperer, Top Shot Alumnus, and Internet Raconteur Extraordinaire 1:01:56

3M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

In this episode I have another great conversation with my friend Caleb Giddings - Wheelgun Whisperer, Top Shot Alumnus, and Internet Raconteur Extraordinaire, as well as handler of all things social media for Taurus USA.By Matthew Little

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Vince Jamison - Army Ranger, Firearms Instructor, and my partner on Chicago PD 2:03:42

3M ago2:03:42

2:03:42

My old partner from Chicago PD, Vince Jamison, and I talk training, military, law enforcement, and tell a war story or two…By Matthew Little

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Rob Kosack - SWAT Officer and USPSA Grandmaster 58:14

3M ago58:14

58:14

I’ve known Rob Kosack several years now, and really enjoyed catching up with him on this episode. We talk about training, competition, and the realities of the law enforcement profession in the 21st century.By Matthew Little

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Tony Villanueva - Competition Shooter and LEO 1:09:26

3M ago1:09:26

1:09:26

Great conversation this week with one of the dedicated shooters I’ve met through the ACE virtual shooting community. Tony is a very good competitive shooter who just entered law enforcement in a large urban agency. We talk about his unique perspective coming into LE as a high level shooter, the realities of law enforcement training, and the benefit…

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Jeff Gonzales - Navy SEAL and Firearms Trainer 1:29:23

4M ago1:29:23

1:29:23

In this episode I have a conversation with Jeff Gonzales, former Navy SEAL and firearms trainer. We discuss techniques, tactics, and the state of the training industry.By Matthew Little

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Krystal Dunn - The Internet has no Nuance 1:06:08

4M ago1:06:08

1:06:08

My old friend Krystal Dunn and I have a great conversation about competition shooting, the “mean girls” culture of firearms training, her work supporting the second amendment, and the internet’s lack of nuance.By Matthew Little

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Bryce Franck - Muay Thai, LE Training, and Heavy Hands 1:12:23

4M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

In this episode, I talk with kickboxing champion and law enforcement trainer Bryce Franck about the biomechanics of heavy hands, his favorite Muay Thai champion, and effective training methodologies for athletes and law enforcement.By Matthew Little

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Jason Arp - Swat Officer and LE Trainer 1:12:20

4M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

In this episode I talk with Jason Arp, SWAT officer and instructor, about the challenges currently facing law enforcement from a training perspective.By Matthew Little

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Kirk Holmer - Green Beret and Competitive Shooter 1:16:16

5M ago1:16:16

1:16:16

In this episode Kirk Holmer and I talk about Special Forces, do a deep dive into sports and performance psychology, and break a third world country’s internet…By Matthew Little

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John Holschen - Green Beret, Government Contractor, and Firearms Instructor 1:07:59

5M ago1:07:59

1:07:59

In this episode I reconnect with one of my mentors from Special Forces, John Holschen, and we talk at length about a wide variety of topics, including incorporating realistic decision making into firearms training…By Matthew Little

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Melonie Kennedy - Author and Online Chapter Leader for Armed Women of America 1:08:01

5M ago1:08:01

1:08:01

In this episode, Melonie Kennedy and I talk about firearms training, the writing process, and her work for Armed Women of America.By Matthew Little

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Eric Castillo: SWAT, Los Rokos Barbell and Tlacuache Tactical 1:07:53

5M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

In this episode, Eric Castillo of Los Rukos Barbell and I sit down and talk about fitness training for law enforcement, the demands of the job, and his charitable causes.By Matthew Little

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Callie Farill - K9 Trainer, Firearms Instructor, and Author. 1:03:09

6M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In today’s episode, I talk with Callie “Callie Bear” Farill, an accomplished K9 trainer, firearms instructor, and author about applying the lessons from training working dogs to teaching firearms, being well-rounded in our training, and her new book.By Matthew Little

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Doug Bernard - Green Beret and Mountain Adventurer 1:23:41

6M ago1:23:41

1:23:41

In this episode I reconnect with a good friend from the Special Forces Qualification Course. Doug Bernard is a combat veteran who has represented the army internationally as a biathlete and now works as a mountain guide.By Matthew Little

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Matt Rakestraw - Gunpowder and Paper 1:09:04

6M ago1:09:04

1:09:04

In this episode, I talk shooting, training, and writing with my friend Matt Rakestraw of “Gunpowder and Paper.” Matt is an insightful and intelligent writer who has documented his training journey in a series of notes that are publicly available to everyone. Matt has also become an excellent shooter along the way……

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Steve Anderson and the Mental Management Program 2:49:16

6M ago2:49:16

2:49:16

In this episode, Steve Anderson and I talk about hair metal, dryfire, and the mental game. Plus, Kita Busse makes a surprise appearance.By Matthew Little

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Jorge Tierno Ray - Spanish Military Officer and Trainer 1:13:31

6M ago1:13:31

1:13:31

I have a conversation with Jorge Tierno Ray about the state of military and law enforcement training in Spain, competition as preparation for combat, and the ACE VR shooting system.By Matthew Little

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Aaron Cunningham - Chicago PD, Filipino Martial Arts, and training cops in El Salvador 1:00:29

7M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

I’ve known Aaron for decades. I’ve supervised him on the Chicago Police Department, helped him teach combatives to police officers, and trained martial arts with him. He’s one of the smartest cops I’ve ever met, and we have a great conversation in this episode that you won’t want to miss.By Matthew Little

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Dave Cardenas - Special Forces, Airsoft, and Rock & Roll 1:04:00

7M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

My old Friend Dave Cardenas and I talk about our time in Special Forces, his music label, the scenario-driven airsoft competition he runs, and building the resilience to thrive in retirement.By Matthew Little

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Chuck Pressburg - Applying Your Skill to the Task at Hand 1:25:41

7M ago1:25:41

1:25:41

Chuck Pressburg of Presscheck Consulting is an army special operations veteran with an immense amount of real world experience. He and I geek out on night vision technology, talk about the sliding scale of speed and accuracy in shooting, and the pitfall of only pushing for speed in shooting.By Matthew Little

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Karl Rehn of KR Training 1:39:01

7M ago1:39:01

1:39:01

In this episode i sit down with one of the mainstays of both the competition and defensive shooting communities, Karl Rehn. We talk about progression in training, the realities of training for self defense, and how your level of commitment influences the skills you train.By Matthew Little

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Rob Epifania - Building On Demand Performance 1:07:41

8M ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Rob Epifania is back on the show to talk about programming your training to build consistency and performance on-demand.By Matthew Little

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Eric Kamps and the Race to GM 57:07

8M ago57:07

57:07

On today’s episode I talk with my long time friend Eric Kamps, world traveling GM shooter. We started USPSA around the same time, made Master around the same time, but he won our race to GM handily. We talk about training, matches, and that time I choked him out at a local…By Matthew Little

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Scott Jedlinski - AIWB Jedi 56:41

8M ago56:41

56:41

We do a deep dive into the AIWB draw with one of its most accomplished instructors, Scott Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project.By Matthew Little

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Chris Workman of the Army Marksmanship Unit 1:15:21

8M ago1:15:21

1:15:21

This one is a great conversation with a good friend of mine. Chris Workman of the Army Marksmanship Unit and I talk about the benefits of training like a competitor for the warfighterBy Matthew Little

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Chris Magyar - Sambo, Paintball, and ACE 1:39:21

9M ago1:39:21

1:39:21

Chris Magyar and I talk about his training journey, from Japanese Jujitsu to Russian Sambo, Paintball to USPSA, and all things self-defense…By Matthew Little

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Cecil Burch of Immediate Action Combatives 1:12:53

9M ago1:12:53

1:12:53

In this episode, Cecil Burch of Immediate Action Combatives and I talk about training practice, and culture in martial arts, combatives, and shooting.By Matthew Little