Evolution Security Podcast

Eric brings Justin “Danger” Carroll back on, this time with Molly Johnson. Justin is a Marine vet, deputy, part-time paramedic, volunteer SAR tech, and author of Competent and Dangerous.  Justin “Danger” Carroll  - Silent Swift Deadly Blog - ⁠https://www.swiftsilentdeadly.com/⁠Molly is a paramedic (about five years), EMS for seven, and an Orangetheory coach.The conversation is about doing hard things on purpose—not talking about mindset, but building it.What they cover:What a GORUCK Tough actually is: rucksack (20- or 30-lb plate), “coupons” (sandbags, water, fire hose, beer cooler), 12 hours of team sufferingMolly’s first event: 70 burpees before they even started, then a 3.5-hour PT block on a Merrill’s Marauders themeTeam dynamics— how fast a group either comes together or doesn’tWhy the finish-line beer is the best beer you’ll ever drinkEMS/LE reality: compartmentalizing trauma, “feel-bad movies” as a pressure valve, and a pediatric arrest that turned into a later apology and hug with a civilianHelene response: water rescue, paper charts, downed comms, and why a simple AM/FM radio still matters when cell service is goneEric also talks about committing on air to a future GORUCK with them.Links / resources mentionedJustin’s book: Competent and Dangerous Justin’s first EvoSec episode (Competent & Dangerous)GORUCK events: https://www.goruck.com/Orangetheory FitnessJason McCarthy / GORUCK origin (SF background, pack company that became events)

This episode we talk about the up coming Cognitive Conclave 2026 with John Hearne, Lee Weems & Erick GelhausGet Registered: https://twopillarstraining.com/conclave/Eric sits down with the Rangemaster “Chess Club”—John Hearne (Two Pillars Training), Lee Weems (First Person Safety), and Erick Gelhaus (Cougar Mountain Solutions)—to talk about the missing piece in most firearms training: thinking with a gun in your hand, which is the focus of the Cognitive Conclave course.They remember John Holschen, then get into why typical range work often looks more like “firing squad training” than real problem-solving. Decisions get stripped out of the drill. Then people are shocked when those skills don’t transfer.Main points from the conversation:John’s “doorbell assignment” analogy — most training tells you exactly what to shoot, when, and how many timesLee on Claude Werner’s line that a lot of instruction is just firing-squad work, and why the four safety rules have to live inside the course of fireErick on Scotty Reitz’s “blue tape / judgmental prez” drill, visual processing vs. audio cues, Neuros, and Mirage targetsForce-on-force is still the gold standard for complex decisions, but logistics limit reps. Cognitive-load live fire gives far more decision cycles in a dayTechnical skill still matters. Multiple sources (including Adam Biggs’ research, plus high-level shooters like Frank Proctor and Matt Little) point to about USPSA B-class as the point of diminishing returns — after that, thinking and tactics matter more than chasing the next classificationThis work is a supplement to force-on-force, not a replacementCognitive Conclave 2026: October 24–25Coming up from the guests:Lee – Rangemaster reunion in December, TACCON presentation work, Enhanced Coaching SkillsErick – Low-light pistol (Meridian, ID), shotgun (Piru, CA), Problem Solving Pistol at Mead Hall (OK), Red Dot Instructor (New Orleans area)John – Who Wins / Who Loses lecture with Karl Rehn, Northwest Law Conference (Seattle), class with Chuck Pressburg at Mead HallLinksJohn Hearne – Two Pillars Training: https://twopillarstraining.com/Lee Weems – First Person Safety: https://firstpersonsafety.com/Erick Gelhaus – Cougar Mountain Solutions: https://www.cougarmountainsolutions.com/Erick also writes at AmericanCop.com

In this episode of the EvoSec Podcast, Eric sits down with Justin “Danger” Carroll, a long-time friend of the American Warrior Society crew and someone Eric has wanted on the show for years.Justin shares his path from a small Southern Appalachian town through eight years in the Marine Corps, overseas contracting, instructing at the Marine Special Operations Schoolhouse, writing books on digital privacy, becoming a paramedic, and now serving as a full-time deputy sheriff while still teaching EMS and law enforcement academies.Justin's awesome blog: https://www.swiftsilentdeadly.com/The conversation centers on his excellent book Competent and Dangerous: Master the Skills to be a Man Among Men. the guide he wished he’d had as a 16-year-old. Topics covered include:Building real-world competence across fitness, mindset, EDC, finances, vehicle readiness, medical skills, digital security, physical security, wilderness skills, and social/people skillsWhy general competence matters more than hyper-specializationPractical first-aid and CPR lessons (including personal experiences)Firearms recommendations for everyday people (compact 9mm options, AR platforms like BCM, and strong advocacy for the shotgun)The value of continuous learning and putting yourself in environments that force growthA practical, no-nonsense discussion about becoming more capable in the real world. Highly recommended listening, and definitely pick up Justin’s book.

In this episode of the EvoSec Podcast, the Tactical Twins (Eric & Aaron) sit down with competitive shooter Sam Elam. Youtube: @ArmoredFlycatcher Sam shares his journey from a Kentucky tobacco farm and four years in the Marine Corps (early GWOT era) to becoming a multi-division IDPA Master and strong USPSA competitor in the competitive Oklahoma/Arkansas/Texas region. He discusses:Jumping into IDPA in March 2023 and rapidly shooting nearly 190 matchesThe high talent density in the Tulsa area and how local competition accelerates skillHis practical, sustainable training philosophy (short, consistent dry-fire, frequency over long sessions)Why he deliberately switched back to Glocks after running 2011s and Shadows—to expose and correct fundamental errors the heavier guns were maskingGear lessons, range culture, and balancing competition with family lifeA straightforward, no-BS conversation full of useful insights for anyone looking to improve at competition or practical pistol shooting.Support our sponsors: www.tenicor.comFor more info on EvoSec: www.evosec.org/ Youtube @evosec2840 instagram and facebook @evosecusa

This is a throwback episode to our 2nd podcast # 49 with Craig Douglas back in July 2021.  Caveat:  Some of the topics in this show may or may not still be offered by Shivworks at this time, but suffice to say that Craig and his team are always innovating and are adaptive to their patrons.  Enjoy this fun episode, it is vastly different than most the interviews you will hear from Craig. ////////////////////////////////. This week we are extremely excited to have Craig Douglas of Shivworks back on the show. Craig is the father of the real life "Fight Club" with a gun or knife. His course work Extreme Close Quarters Concepts (ECQC) has changed the lives of countless people throughout the US and around the world.This show we change gears a bit and talk about Craig's newer Beta class Entangled Rifle Options (ERO), viability of the Carbine in Civilian defense, and the Rittenhouse shooting.  We also hit on Craig's love of clothes again and even get into some personal subjects as well.  .For more details on Craig's course work and his class schedule please visit his website at ⁠www.shivworks.com/⁠Please subscribe and share our podcast with friends and family.  Visit our website for bios, future events and info at ⁠www.evosec.org⁠  Like, follow and share us on Facebook and Instagram @evosecusaCheck out our awesome sponsors:Tenicor – ⁠www.tenicor.com⁠  they are educators, and innovators in the holster market.  They are firearms instructors themselves, pressure testing their gear in multiple force on force events every year.  We support those who do the work.