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Modern Self Protection Podcast

155 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 145 ratings

The Podcast for everyday people to learn how to defend themselves.

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Episodes

MSP 346 Heroism Podcast

October 19, 2023 23:35 - 54 minutes - 25 MB

For this podcast, I got with Rob Morse of the Slow Facts Blog, Self-Defense Gun Stories, and Gun Freedom Radio.   We talked about some of the terrorist attacks in Israel and what you can do if those come to our shores.

When to Change out Carry Ammo

June 26, 2023 01:57 - 33 minutes - 15.5 MB

When should you change your carry ammo?  Is it necessary? Will carry ammo go bad?  What could make it go bad? Check out show notes at ModerSelfProtection.com for anything you might have missed. P.S.  I'm riding to raise money to fight Alzheimer's and would love if you could throw a couple bucks at it.  Click here to help me and the Alzheimer's Association out. Get some ammo here. Stay Safe,  Ben

Battlefield Leadership; Prepare Now

June 11, 2023 22:11 - 18 minutes - 8.38 MB

Be the leader now so that you can learn to be better if you ever have to defend yourself or your family.

De-Escalation Requires Practice

June 04, 2023 22:10 - 13 minutes - 5.98 MB

Like every skill you have for self-defense, de-escalation should be practiced any time you can.

MSP 342 Tactics over Skills

May 27, 2023 20:46 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

I'm here to tell you that tactics are more important than the gear and the skill you have with the gear. Your understanding of what is going on and your move toward what you want to happen is your tactics.   A definition of gear is obvious, it's the stuff you have. The definition of skill is how you can use that gear. Your tactics are the overall mindset and how to employ your skills towards a goal. It's just bigger thinking... See the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com Tactics over Sk...

Welcome to the Party

May 13, 2023 22:18 - 21 minutes - 9.92 MB

I spent 10 years in the Marine Corps including a combat tour and being part of an anti-terrorism force. I left the Marine Corps to return to Iraq as a private contractor for the U.S. Government fighting terrorism. I gave a large portion of my adult life to fighting terrorism and the horrors that most people don't want to deal with. To me, a terrorist is about the lowest scum on earth.   Then in 2008, I was called a terrorist for the first time by then-President Obama. The term domestic...

Wimps in Our World Podcast 340

September 05, 2022 00:15 - 25 minutes - 11.5 MB

Going against the grain takes humility, guts, and the chance to lose. Courage, like most things, is a muscle that you have to exercise in life.  If you don't practice courage, it will atrophy and die.   How often do you practice courage?  Moral and or physical?  Do you do new things that you are going to look foolish at?  Do you accept challenges when others ask you to do something that should be possible?  Do you do things that are hard that others say are hard, shouldn't be done, or is...

Should You Give Medical Attention to a Bad Guy

May 03, 2022 01:13 - 27 minutes - 12.4 MB

If you have to defend yourself should you give medical aid to the person that just tried to hurt you?  No.  Is the simple easy answer and should be the end of it. Three things to consider when making this decision:  The Tactical Situation; will this act put you further in danger?  Morally; is it the right thing to do?  Legally; will this make your actions more or less defendable in court?  See the entire discussion on https://modernselfprotection.com

Habits, Good, Bad, and Training Scars Podcast 337

April 24, 2022 20:57 - 34 minutes - 15.6 MB

Habits are good and bad, but Training Scars will get you in trouble. Start with a good war story to show you had training scars creep into all of us. What training scars and bad habits do you have that will "get you killed in the street?"  I know you have at least one, we all do. Check out the full notes at ModernSelfProtection.com/habits-good-bad-and-training-scars

Be Prepared for anything Podcast 336

March 09, 2022 03:06 - 25 minutes - 11.9 MB

Last weekend I participated in a church mass shooter training event. Most of the time I’m the instructor or coordinator, but this time I actually got to participate. My church got a bunch of volunteers to volunteer to be actors in the scenarios. Our head of church safety organized and ran the training. It was a lot of fun, and I got to mix it up with the bad guys more than once. Didn’t even die this time. Not bad…. but… Most of the scenarios were normal church shooter events; one domes...

Should You Get Involved?

February 15, 2022 01:13 - 25 minutes - 11.9 MB

Should you get involved in a crime in progress? Yesterday on the way home from work I saw a crime in progress or what looked like one. I was driving down a busy street that has a large homeless problem and high crime. It's a shortcut to miss some traffic through downtown San Antonio. It is a shortcut I use a lot. As I stopped at the light I saw one guy running full speed from around the back of a business and someone hot on his heels. The second guy gave away that a crime was prob...

Podcast 334 Trust Your instincts; The Gift of Fear

February 06, 2022 17:45 - 25 minutes - 11.9 MB

Check out the book The Gift of Fear to learn more or go to MSP Blog post, Trust Your Instincts and the Girt of Fear.

Caught in the Aftermath of a Mass Shooter

January 31, 2022 02:31 - 48 minutes - 22.1 MB

If you get caught in the aftermath of a mass shooter what should you do?  Yes, mass killer would be a better description now that vehicles and knives are becoming popular.  If you are in the area of a Mass Killer what should you do after the killing has stopped?  Here are some things to think about. See all the bullet points at ModernSelfProtection.com/2022/01/30/caught-in-the-aftermath-of-a-mass-shooter/

Changing Schedules and Your Safety

December 19, 2021 23:11 - 16 minutes - 7.37 MB

Do you really need to vary your schedule to be safe? Common knowledge around varying your schedule and where it came from. Why you might be safer by not following the "common sense" here. Book mentioned on the podcast:  "Left of Bang" by Patrick Van Horne and Jason Riley To read more about this podcast got to ModernSelfProtection.com/Changing-Schedules Stay Safe,  Ben Branam

Self Defense Mechanisms to Use

December 04, 2021 17:50 - 20 minutes - 9.52 MB

Do the simple shit first.  Then worry about becoming John Wick. Start with what you know you should do and the advertisements you see everywhere that you ignore. Lock your doors and windows at home all the time Lock your doors, take your keys, and hide your belongings in your car, all the time, every time. Go places in groups and with a friend Look up from your damned phone  Move with a purpose  "Don't do stupid things, with stupid people, in stupid places" -John Farnam "At s...

Shooting for Fun Podcast 330

November 08, 2021 01:07 - 11 minutes - 5.31 MB

Self Defense is one of the most serious things we could ever talk about. It's all about doing combat with another individual where your life hangs in the balance. Seems like it should be serious all the time. Right?

9-11 20 Years Later

September 12, 2021 18:40 - 12 minutes - 5.8 MB

Like most disasters, it’s not the actual event that changes things, it’s the reactions to the event. I sat at home for two days waiting for my call to report. By the third day, I went back to life. Life had changed in America, for the better. Somehow we were all Americans again and all the little things, I call them “1st world problems”, were no longer a problem. People appreciated each other and wanted to help. Check out the rest at ModernSelfProtection.com

Podcast 328 Mixed Bag or Crap: NRA Cancelled, Broken Gun, and Heat Injuries

August 30, 2021 01:59 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

NRA Cancelled Not a surprise with what is going on in Texas and Covid, but their letter to people showed their true colors and they should be ashamed of themselves. Broken Gun I've been having more and more issues with my carry gun and think I figured it out. But how do you spot problems with your gun and what to do about it. Heat Injuries It's been hotter than crap lately and I was not doing well at the competition yesterday until another shooter noticed and gave me an extra bottl...

Unconventional Carry Methods: Podcast 327

August 15, 2021 20:59 - 30 minutes - 13.8 MB

Get all the links from today's podcast at ModernSelfProtection.com/327 Carrying every day is an art. It's one you have to work on all the time. And sometimes you can't always carry an optimal way. When I worked for an armored car company I carried in an optimal way. And I carried two 1911's. One on my right thigh in a tactical rig before tactical rigs were popular. The other was in a pancake holster on my left side high just behind my hip. Then there was a third gun no one knew about...

The Square Range: Podcast 326

August 07, 2021 21:13 - 21 minutes - 10 MB

Do you go to the square range to practice self-defense? Should you? Last week I went to the square range and worked on my self-defense shooting with my friend from Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership, John. We shot his new Colt Python (if you want to hear about that you will have to become a Shooter's Club Member) and I worked with my self-defense gun. Read the rest at Modern Self Protection.

Back to Basics: Have a Plan - Podcast 325

July 25, 2021 23:40 - 21 minutes - 9.97 MB

Do you have a plan for if things go wrong? While no plan survives the first contact, the best part of your plan is the objective. In the Marine Corps, we called it the Commander’s Intent. You are going to do this so that this other thing can happen. When you are the one making the plan, the first thing you need to know is what is the other thing that you want to happen. I break my planning down to simple things, in this order: My Family’s Survival, Wife and Child come first and for...

Measuring Risk: Why We Suck at It. Podcast 324

July 12, 2021 01:19 - 24 minutes - 11.1 MB

As a contractor, I was in charge of base security at a large FOB (Forward Operating Base) in Iraq. The base commander wanted me to make sure no one ever got hurt on his base. I tried explaining to him that I could simply mitigate the risks from outside the wire but I couldn't stop everything. Someone will fall out of their rack or worse, and what did happen, a soldier committed suicide on the base right after I left. It was horrific, but it was something I couldn’t stop or even begin to work...

The Best Skill to Practice for Self Defense: Situational Awareness Podcast 323

June 16, 2021 11:18 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

Situational Awareness is the one thing that was drilled into me in Law Enforcement and the Military. It is the one thing that directly overlaps from law enforcement, military, and self defense. Why? It is the one thing that will allow you to buy time in an emergency. And time is everything when someone is trying to take your life. Two things to work on, improve, and practice situational awareness are to notice normal so you can see the abnormal, and ask why people are there at that point ...

Mind Set: The Ultimate Self Defense Skill - Podcast 322

May 19, 2021 02:40 - 25 minutes - 11.8 MB

A gun and knife are only tools, your mind is the weapon, train it well. That has been the closing of the Modern Self Protection Podcast for about eight years now. Everything you learn about self-defense should start with your mindset. Your mindset is the one skill that will enhance all the others. You can break down your mindset into three easy thoughts. It can happen to you Sometimes violence is the answer / Use enough violence Never give up, never give up NEVER GIVE UP!   To ...

A Dot and a Miss: Sig P365XL and Romeo 0 Review Podcast 321

May 01, 2021 16:15 - 36 minutes - 16.6 MB

Last week I shot competition with a Sig P365XL and Romeo 0 Dot. I shoot this competition about every other week right now and love it. What I've learned about the Sig P365 serious of guns: The Good: They are a great sized gun Love the family of sizes 12 rounds in the XL makes a full grip even for my giant hands Reloads go easy with the correct flare on the bottom the pistol 15 round mags that work with both grip sizes Accuracy is amazing for such a little gun Reliability on a cle...

New Gun Shiny Syndrome; Podcast 320

March 07, 2021 23:32 - 26 minutes - 12.4 MB

Are you always looking for the "new gun?" Do you fall into the shiny new syndrome? Do you ever get shiny new gun syndrome? I do. But is it good for you? When should you want a new gun. When should you get a new gun? Does it matter? Yes, it matters. The more you stick with one gun, the more you will know that one gun and the better you will be with it. Keep trading guns and you will never know everything you can about the gun or be as good as you could be with it. But is there a ...

Do Glocks Have a Safety? Should They? Podcast 319

February 14, 2021 19:46 - 48 minutes - 22.1 MB

Modern Self Protection Podcast, a self-defense podcast for normal people. Click the Image to Subscribe on iTunes Glocks have internal safeties but no external or manual safety. Are internal safeties on a handgun you carry for self-defense enough? Should you have a manual safety on your concealed carry handgun? The answer, like most things in our world is “it depends”. See the rest of the show notes at ModernSelfProtection.com

What You Can Start Doing Now: Podcast 318

January 11, 2021 01:45 - 34 minutes - 15.9 MB

"Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on." - Nick Fury the Avengers   If you watch the news things are bleak at best. No matter what happens out there we are done is what the news says. I've decided to not watch the news. Because what do they know?   I've reached out to a bunch of my friends and they have reached out to me. You are not alone about some of the things you are thinking when you watch the news.   Have we passed the point o...

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst Podcast 317

January 05, 2021 02:58 - 35 minutes - 16.3 MB

How is your hope for the future? What is your plan for the future? Without hope, we won't do anything. You have to have hope for a better future. Admittedly, the future is tenuous at best. But it always has been. For at least 100 years people have been worried about the United States collapsing. As long as we, the American People, don't turn on each other, America will live forever. My worry is that we are turning on each other. And people are talking as if the next civil war is ine...

Top 4 Self Defense Techniques Podcast 316

December 21, 2020 02:00 - 40 minutes - 18.4 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe The top 4 self-defense techniques aren't some awesome kick, punch, or hold. The first three come in the form of your preparedness to defend yourself. The last one matches who your, what you are willing to practice, and what you can do for your self-defense. We are all different with different lives. We will all face different attackers if we ever have to defend ourselves. Going back to the 80's movie "WarGames" quote by the computer at the end is "the only ...

Christmas Travel Safety Tips Podcast 315

December 13, 2020 17:30 - 50 minutes - 23.1 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe   Christmas is here! Thank God 2020 is almost over...   Are you traveling for Christmas? Do you want to stay safe while you are doing so?   Crime is up across the country. People are pissed about the entire Covid lockdown thing and starting to take it out on each other. Law Enforcement is busy with riots and Covid calls. They are getting overwhelmed by changing policies daily on what they are suppose to do or not do. This makes them less motiv...

Podcast 314b Carrying a Firearm in the Cold

December 08, 2020 02:14 - 13 minutes - 6.36 MB

Yesterday somehow I only uploaded part of the podcast... here is the second half of the show. Thanks for listening and staying with me. Stay Safe,  Ben

Carrying a Firearm in the Cold Podcast 314

December 06, 2020 22:03 - 19 minutes - 8.89 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: I got a message from a listener asking about changing his carry gear for the season. This question comes up every year and I don’t think about it until about this time of year because it doesn’t get cold in San Antonio until about now. Last week we had our first real cold front and I had to change the way I dress. Here are the things I think about when I’m changing my clothes for the season: • Jacket Carry • Smaller vs Bigger Gun • Changing Hol...

Carrying a Firearm in the Cold Podcast 314

December 06, 2020 22:03 - 8.89 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: I got a message from a listener asking about changing his carry gear for the season. This question comes up every year and I don’t think about it until about this time of year because it doesn’t get cold in San Antonio until about now. Last week we had our first real cold front and I had to change the way I dress. Here are the things I think about when I’m changing my clothes for the season: • Jacket Carry • Smaller vs Bigger Gun • Changing Hol...

Firearms Safety and Range Edict Podcast 313

November 27, 2020 22:09 - 19.4 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe I went to the range on Black Friday with a friend just to shoot the bull and some steel. We went to Lonestar Handgun here in San Antonio where they have lots of steel out on the pistol line that we can just shoot at while talking. I was worried that on Black Friday it would be a mess. Too many people in too small a place. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. But there is always one… Unfortunately, I think it was a member of the range staff and I co...

Firearms Safety and Range Etiquette Podcast 313

November 27, 2020 22:09 - 42 minutes - 19.4 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe I went to the range on Black Friday with a friend just to shoot the bull and some steel. We went to Lonestar Handgun here in San Antonio where they have lots of steel out on the pistol line that we can just shoot at while talking. I was worried that on Black Friday it would be a mess. Too many people in too small a place. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. But there is always one… Unfortunately, I think it was a member of the range staff and I co...

Personally Surviving Covid and Mind Set Podcast 312

November 09, 2020 03:13 - 34 minutes - 15.8 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: This is my story of how I survived Covid-19. It was my mind set that kept me out of the hospital and allowed me to recover. I used “affirmations” that included cursing at myself every hour on the hour for about four days. The four days that I probably should have gone the hospital. But even in my depressed mental state I knew that going to the hospital upped my chances of not surviving and having more problems with Covid. I refused to let this kill...

Stop Stupid in the Firearm World Podcast 311

October 07, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 27.6 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: After working at the gun shows on the weekend for the last 3 months I’ve found stupid again. Most of the things I’ve forgotten about, on purpose I think.  This show we talk about some of the stupid that is out there and the things that just won’t die.  Our Stupid List: Racist Government form 4473 Lack of Courage to sign the form to get a gun Handgun stopping power Which gun is made for women Everyone needs the same gun I have I can ...

Kitting Up Part II with Frank Sharp Jr of Fortress Defense Consultants Podcast 310

September 30, 2020 01:21 - 33.4 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the “great boogaloo” sort of… We continued our conversation from two weeks ago.  We restarted our conversation with Kitting Up and fighting.  Frank starts with talking about decision making and one of my favorite tactics, patience.  Do you really need to fight?  There may be a time when you can’t avoid it, but should you fight right now?  Do you have to fight rig...

Kitting Up Part II with Frank Sharp Jr of Fortress Defense Consultants Podcast 310

September 30, 2020 01:21 - 1 hour - 33.4 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the “great boogaloo” sort of… We continued our conversation from two weeks ago.  We restarted our conversation with Kitting Up and fighting.  Frank starts with talking about decision making and one of my favorite tactics, patience.  Do you really need to fight?  There may be a time when you can’t avoid it, but should you fight right now?  Do you have to fight rig...

Kitting Up for the Fight with Frank Sharp Jr of Fortress Defense Consultants Podcast 309

September 15, 2020 18:37 - 59 minutes - 27.2 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: I invited Frank Sharp Jr from Fortress Defense Consultants to join me to talk about the “great boogaloo” sort of… We laugh about the term and the thought of an all out Civial War in the US. The country is just too big and diverse for another actual Civil War that has two sides squaring off and going at it.  If the fighting kicks off, it is going to be local.  You will be fighting amongst your families, friends, and neighbors. Frank Sharp Jr and ...

FMF 34 Remembering 9-11 and Unity

September 11, 2020 15:40 - 8 minutes - 3.94 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Where were you when the planes hit on 9-11?  What did you feel that day?  How did those feelings change in the following weeks? I want you to remember that feeling of unity in the following couple weeks.  How the country stood up together against one thing.  Nothing else mattered.  All the petty BS went away… even when the media tried to bring it back, we rejected it. Everyone became patriotic overnight.  American flags were everywhere, and everyone smil...

FMF 34 Remembering 9-11 and Unity

September 11, 2020 15:40 - 3.94 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Where were you when the planes hit on 9-11?  What did you feel that day?  How did those feelings change in the following weeks? I want you to remember that feeling of unity in the following couple weeks.  How the country stood up together against one thing.  Nothing else mattered.  All the petty BS went away… even when the media tried to bring it back, we rejected it. Everyone became patriotic overnight.  American flags were everywhere, and everyone smil...

The Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting: Murder, Victim, or Self-Defense Podcast 308

September 09, 2020 01:28 - 1 hour - 36.3 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Kyle Rittenhouse is a divisive figure in the world.  And will continue to be. But what can we learn from the shooting?  Tactically, how did he do?  Legally, is there anything we could do better? We need to analyze these incidents as learning tools so that you don’t end up in the same spot. You may think Kyle did a good job during the shooting, but he is still in jail right now.  And probably will be there for a long time.  The trial could take...

The Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting: Murder, Victim, or Self-Defense Podcast 308

September 09, 2020 01:28 - 36.3 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Kyle Rittenhouse is a divisive figure in the world.  And will continue to be. But what can we learn from the shooting?  Tactically, how did he do?  Legally, is there anything we could do better? We need to analyze these incidents as learning tools so that you don’t end up in the same spot. You may think Kyle did a good job during the shooting, but he is still in jail right now.  And probably will be there for a long time.  The trial could take...

Are Your AR Mags Loaded? FMF 33

September 04, 2020 18:00 - 5 minutes - 2.64 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Thirty-Round AR Mags should be loaded at 28 rounds. More and you risk your rifle malfunctioning. But how can you tell if there are 28 rounds in there?  Are there more or less? Here is an easy way to tell if you have loaded your 30-round AR Mags correctly. Stay Safe, Ben   Check out http://modernselfprotection.com for more great tips.

Are Your AR Mags Loaded? FMF 33

September 04, 2020 18:00 - 2.64 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Thirty-Round AR Mags should be loaded at 28 rounds. More and you risk your rifle malfunctioning. But how can you tell if there are 28 rounds in there?  Are there more or less? Here is an easy way to tell if you have loaded your 30-round AR Mags correctly. Stay Safe, Ben   Check out http://modernselfprotection.com for more great tips.

Podcast 307 Protecting Your Loved Ones When They Can’t Protect Themselves

September 02, 2020 01:00 - 1 hour - 28.6 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: A question from a listener on how he can protect his family when out and about and at home when he has two little girls. Having multiple people you are in charge of protecting creates more problems than one or none.  How can you protect them? We go into depth on what you can and should do before and during an attack to make sure you have the best chance of winning.  Winning, in this case, means saving your family. How do you do that when you a...

Rioters, Vehicles, and Self Defense Podcast 306

August 26, 2020 01:00 - 58 minutes - 26.9 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Today: Mobs have been moving around as protests for months now.  The violence seems more and more eminent.  The chances of you getting stuck in one of these “protests” seems more and more likely. What can you do if you find yourself in the middle of a protest with the protesters blocking traffic and starting to turn violent toward you? This is an impossible dilemma.  It’s like the Kobayashi Maru in Star Trek.  The situation is designed for you to have ...

FMF 32 Face Masks and Your Physical Security

August 21, 2020 17:00 - 6 minutes - 2.9 MB

Click to Subscribe Subscribe Face masks are becoming part of our world. Good, bad, or indifferent it seems they are here to stay. Should you wear one or not for your health? I have no idea. That isn't my area of expertise. I've read a lot about it, just like I hope you have over the last five months. But should you wear one for your physical security? I do. I'm always trying to blend into my surroundings. If you are in the local Walmart and you are the only person not wearing a mas...