EXECUTIVE PROTECTION LIFESTYLE

It’s been an honor having these conversations with Elijah Shaw and they are always good. Our original conversation in Season One called “Own Your Space“ (https://www.byronrodgersmotivation.com/own-your-space-elijah-shaw-podcast-episode-6/) has gone down in history as one of the best episodes of that season so check that out. By now you know who Elijah Shaw is and hopefully, you’ve been following along because he is and has been making large contributions to the Executive Protection Industry for years now. He has not only been operating at the top of the game with regards to multiple client demographics but he has also been developing educational products to help us all elevate our game as an industry as well. Anyone who is having success and is willing to share how they are having that success or that progress is someone I respect and that’s exactly what Elijah has been doing. Between his book - "Celebrity Protection in Touring", the creation of his executive protection app called the Protector app and the co-authorship with Mr. Dale June on the fourth edition of an introduction to executive protection, Elijah Shaw is doing more than enough to contribute in ways that will leave a legacy of a man working to improve the game we all love. Mr. Dale June and Elijah Shaw have now released the fourth edition of the legendary book, "Introduction To Executive Protection". For me personally, this is exciting as I remember the first edition of this book being handed to me by a mentor when I first started in this space. If you’re serious about Executive Protection you will give this one a solid read not only because it comes from two living legends but also because of the impact the first three additions have already had on the game. If you don’t know about Mr. Dale June through this book already then do your homework and stay tuned because I have a conversation with him coming up shortly. The Protector app is another project Elijah has launched which has had such an amazing impact on our industry. If you’re looking for a place that has consolidated many of the resources you will need out in the field and join it to the digital community of protectors then you need to check this one out. These days being in the right place with the right crowd digitally is becoming more and more important for protectors in this game. Protector by nature and by trade Byron For more, visit https://www.theprotectorapp.com/ https://amzn.to/2V7hbGC https://www.instagram.com/iconglobalep/ https://www.instagram.com/sunsear/

In the executive protection game, you run into professionals of all types. Some are just pretending to know what they are doing, some truly believe they know what they are doing but they are making things worse, yet some are extremely tactically proficient yet are missing one key ingredient that makes them effective on many levels… Mehdi is one of those rare professionals who have the personality, experience, and pedigree to truly do this job in a way that’s beneficial for all parties involved. When I say that he executes his duties with excellence for his clients, principals, stakeholders, and even those who find themselves on the wrong side of the protection detail. If you ask me the ability to do this effectively is truly the mark of a high-level professional in this game. If you can do your job in this way absolutely everybody wins and everyone wins long-term. This is the art of controlling turbulent and sometimes violent outcomes with a soft hand and the art of keeping a velvet glove over your iron fist as we’ve said before executive protection is a thinking man’s game and Mehdi has had experience with rock stars, pop stars and most every client demographic at the top of this game… Beyond all of this, he is genuinely a very amazing person who values treating others with the utmost endless of respect and dignity which counter-intuitively is truly what makes him a powerhouse in this industry. Listen close and learn the art of dominance and doing no harm. This interview is truly special so don’t miss it because there truly is something in here for everyone. Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Christian West is a living legend in the executive protection industry. As the CEO of one of the largest and most well-known executive protection companies in the game and the author of many different books and publications in the executive protection space, his career has been extremely impactful! Well ladies and gentlemen he is doing it once again with a new website and platform designed to bring educational products digitally to the industry on an international level. His new endeavor call EP Access is something new, different and something I believe will revolutionize the way, we as professionals evolve our skills during the course of our careers. Like any smart professional he’s not doing this alone but he has with him a cadre of elite professionals teaching different modules and making products available that will contribute to the success of us all. It’s an honor to be connected with him and it’s truly humbling to be a conduit to bring something that I’m sure will do so much good to my fellow professional protectors. This episode will give you the background on the product, his mission and a nice walk-through of the back office of EP Access. There’s so much in here for everyone, sit back and enjoy. If you haven’t noticed already, I’ve placed links down below for you to sign up and join forces with us I’m so excited to share all of our successes as we make the industry a better place for ourselves, our principles, clients as well as stakeholders. Protector by nature and by trade Byron EP Access - How To Become An EP AGENT https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147491002/RQTGrjgf EP Access - The Art Of Networking For EP AGENTS https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147490998/RQTGrjgf EP Access - Executive Security Driver: Security Awareness By Pablo Ortiz-Monasterio https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147491000/RQTGrjgf EP Access - Executive Security Driver Bundle https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147490997/RQTGrjgf EP Access - Executive Security Driver: Understanding The Vehicle By Pablo Ortiz-Monasterio https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147491001/RQTGrjgf EP Access - Executive Security Driver: Customer Service By Aaron Mauldin https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147490999/RQTGrjgf EP Access - Executive Protection Advances: Masterclass by Christian West https://www.epaccess.com/a/2147490391/RQTGrjgf

Dr. Mary Beth is a rare breed… as I did my research before doing this episode she’s one of the most respected females I’ve discovered in our industry. Mentors of mine have referred to her as a mentor which means a lot to me so this interview was quite an honor. Her career has been extremely impressive moving through time with the Secret Service as a special agent, military forces and even PMC work. She’s the only woman ever to protect a foreign president outside of the US, she’s operated in theaters such as Peru and Haiti. She has operated as a VIP Protection Instructor for the US State Department-sponsored Anti-terrorism Assistance Program (ATA), and as the US Security Advisor to the Minister of Defense and the Vice President of Colombia. She has earned her doctorate, and with a background in Forensic and Clinical psychology, she spent the past 20 years split between practicing psychology as a therapist and serving as an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at the George Washington University where she teaches Abnormal Psychology and the Psychology of Crime and Violence. She also regularly facilitates mental health trainings and continues to consult in the fields of Forensic and Clinical Psychology. She’s written an amazing book about her story called “The Protector“. All in all I think she is such a fantastic example of what one woman can do if she’s truly willing to apply herself… I know there are so many amazing women out there serving in many different fields and I hope they will also be brought into the limelight because we both know men and women need good role models these days. Dr. Mary Beth Janke is one of those amazing role models. A lot of her work has to do with helping women gain the self-esteem they need in order to achieve their dreams. This is an amazing episode with so much to offer both men and women in many areas and especially those of us who are professional protectors… ENJOY! Learn more here: https://drmarybeth.com/about-dr-mary-beth/ Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Executive Protection Lifestyle is a brand dedicated to educating professional protectors. I started this brand with the mission to educate and contribute to a higher quality executive protection agent on the ground in order to restore honor and respect to our vocation. So far it’s been such an amazing and interesting journey building this brand and now I’m honored with the opportunity to continue expanding this work and contributing to our industry in a number of different ways. Constantine and Michael are too amazing men that run a top-shelf shop call Sentinel Security in Toronto, Canada. We’ve been in a working relationship for the last few years and they were on the podcast in the beginning episode (https://byronrodgersmotivation.com/episode-11-sentinel-security-podcast/) everything they do is done with the spirit of excellence, professionalism and focus. These gentlemen have a heart for training, our industry, and the lifestyle. Therefore it is an honor and a privilege to join forces with them and to add a Canadian chapter to the EPL brand. What this means simply is that you guys will enjoy more high-quality content and training opportunities out of this brand and up in Canada as a result. As we continue to change and elevate our industry, I will be looking for more and more brand partners around the world in order to help raise the bar, impact, and improve the lives of agents on the ground everywhere. If that sounds like something you and yours would be interested in, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Who better to impact the local security scene but the guys who are plugged into that geographical area. Sentinel security it’s a juggernaut in Toronto and it’s an honor to join forces with Michael, Constantine, and their entire family. We’ve got so much more good stuff coming down range ladies and gentlemen, enjoy! Protector by nature and by trade Byron For more, visit https://www.sentinelsecurityplus.com/

JayR is definitely a special breed and I don’t say that lightly. He is a classic example of a man who has survived so many things and has come from such dark places that he is determined never to forget where he has come from and never to forget what he has been brought through. Any man that is willing to sacrifice public opinion, hold up under social pressure and pass on things others would jump on just to maintain his authenticity has my respect. His background is very impressive as a man who is trained overseas with very high-level cadres as well as spent time in the US fighting forces as an army ranger amongst other things. Now he runs his own private security shop based in Florida called The Rat Pack that spans not just coast to coast but also internationally. To me, it’s always amazing to see what one man can do if he endeavors to be his best, try his best and give his best to the world. JayR is a prime example and living, breathing proof of the reality that no matter where you come from and what you’ve been through you can still win if you are dedicated to becoming a better version of yourself, working hard, and offering the world some thing they truly can’t resist. He and I both share a passion for pushing that message forward to our cultures, our industry, and any demographic that’s willing to fight that personal fight against weaker versions of themselves. I believe this podcast will blow your mind and there’s definitely something in here for everyone… ENJOY

Mac is a private security professional with decades of experience managing operations in a number of different international markets and theaters. He’s appeared on many huge publications such as USA Today, New York Times, and BBC as a foremost expert within the game on a number of different topics. He has done quite a bit of work with an amazing team on an international level for major companies and his name has become highly recognized in our industry as a result. When it comes to protecting structures, venues, facilities, hotels, and infrastructures, he is a foremost expert on protection. I’ve had some pretty amazing experiences with my South African Israelis, they seem to be a different breed. Nonetheless, I’m honored to have a relationship with this man because not only is he the real deal and operating at the highest levels of our game but he also is an amazing human. Very helpful, very giving, very truthful, and ultimately very respectable. Recently he has struck out to build his own shop called the AHNA Group and I have no doubt that it will render the highest quality work product with regards to the deliverables they’ve chosen. Mac is also one of the featured experts within the executive protection specialist MASTERS class I’m rolling out and you will gain more value from him concerning risk assessments there also. In this episode, we talk about his career, how to build yours from the ground up, and a lot of specifics concerning leadership itself. As we know our industry definitely needs more guidance when it comes to middle management. There is something in this episode for everyone as always… ENJOY! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

I was especially excited to do this episode with Leo. I can tell from the real-world action video of him being ambushed by AK 47 wielding thieves on the freeway that he was the real deal. You could see him work the equation in front of him in a way that only a man who’s been there before and had superior training could. In this episode, Leo takes us through a blow-by-blow tactical review of an incident where he was conducting security operations on precious cargo and there was an attempted armed robbery. This is a beautiful episode where reality gets to bisect with the conversations we generally have. I learned so much from Leo walking me through this real-world violent encounter. Leo is the real deal and it’s an honor to learn from him but more importantly, I hope that more people train with him down in South Africa because experience is the ultimate teacher, and learning from someone who has that is invaluable. Leo comes across as a very intelligent, humble, and passionate individual when it comes to private security and training. I genuinely believe that all of the good guys were blessed to have him behind the wheel on the day of that attack. There is so much in this episode for everyone, sit back and enjoy. Protector by nature and by trade Byron

When it comes to executive protection professionals Ivor Terret is not just one of the best but one of the most intelligent individuals I've come across. It’s not just my opinion but if you follow him you’ll see that he has spoken on a number of extremely reputable stages within our industry and that most if not all of the high-end events that are some time or another. He is a bona fide industry leader who is a genuine man of peace and I always admire his aim to simply be a good person, which always shines through when I interact with him. He doesn’t overcomplicate things to sound more intelligent but rather he talks about simple principles and tactics that make all the difference, period. As a person, I truly respect this man and as a professional, I can see why he is revered by so many. I’m honored to have him as a subject matter expert within our executive protection masters class curriculums and every time we interact I feel like I’ve truly gained something through our conversations. There’s so much in this episode and truly once again something for everyone. Enjoy! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Erich Schmidt is a good friend who I’ve known for many years. We’ve seen each other evolve in different directions of the protection game for well over a decade now and it’s always an honor when we get to work together. This is the second episode I’m doing with him and you can find the first one in season one (https://byronrodgersmotivation.com/episode-35-cyber-security-how-much-can-cyber-threats-truly-impact-your-life/). These days Erich is a specialist who understands how to leverage technology for protection. He’s worked for local agencies all up and down the spectrum from the top of the game to those in between in order to rescue and protect good people. As the digital age continues to gain momentum, there are certain disciplines that we all must begin to consider if we are to keep ourselves safe. The reason for this episode is to help us understand how we can better protect ourselves, our loved ones and our clients from predators that lurk all around us in the cyber realm of this reality. These topics are not to be taken lightly as they have to do with ways that innocent people are victimized many times every single day. Erich is a man with an exemplary character who’s been behind the scenes fighting a silent battle that many people don’t even know exists, it is a thankless job and for that, it is even more commendable. There is so much in this episode for everyone... ENJOY! For More Info, visit https://www.erichschmidt.com/ Instagram and Twitter: @dfir_erich LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/erich-schmidt Protector by nature and by trade Byron

From time to time I like to interview professionals at all levels of the game, Kevin has been in for just a few years but he is advancing quickly. This interview is a fresh perspective of what it’s like to penetrate the industry and to climb the ranks at this present time in the game. Kevin was definitely the rookie of the year when I found him. He jumped right in, took initiative for many things other professionals didn’t, and instantly made an impression. The magic of this is simply that guys who take pride in their work, or dependable, and do a good job are also guys that you can recommend for new opportunities with a clear conscience. You can do this knowing that they will perform and won’t let you or the person you recommending them to down. This turns out to be one of the tricks to advancing in this industry very quickly and Kevin is definitely leveraging that. One of the marks of a true professional has to do with the amount of time they invest in themselves and their craft when they are not on the clock and I’ve always been impressed that Kevin continues to train with the best of them. I’m truly looking forward to continuing to watch Kevin ground and the contributions he will make to our industry. There’s definitely something for everyone in this episode! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

In this episode, I dig into some things I’ve seen in the industry over the years, some things that have been holding us back as an industry in my opinion. I address these issues both on a macro and micro scale. We dive into them as they affect us all with regards to our public perception as well as the way that they will eventually impact you on security detail. At the end of the day what I’ve learned is that if you choose to do something different, choose to better yourself, or choose to make any type of contribution, you must be willing to face those people who are unsettled by it. They will take aim at you for various reasons but if you can just focus on improving the value of your contribution rather than taking them personally, your true value through that contribution will vindicate you in the end. I’ve seen this dynamic play out time and time again. Your haters can make you stronger if you learn from them and those you are here to serve will only benefit from your growth. Let the value of your work product speak for you, let their lack of contribution speak for them. Stay humble, stay hungry and always seek to serve those you’ve been called to you were hired to take care of. Because in the end Alexander the great was right, “All that matters is what you can achieve.” Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Tim Clemente is a living legend in many circles. While many of us have never known who he is or what he’s done he has impacted the world in his own way in a number of different elite fighting forces. He’s been an FBI special agent, swat team member, and an undercover drug smuggler assisting in the takedown of a major Mexican cartel. He’s been called one of the best terrorist hunters in the world and has been a subject matter expert on a number of major news outlets. Beyond all of this he’s also impacted Hollywood by acting as a creative consultant on films and TV series such as NCIS: Los Angeles, The Unit, Lie To Me, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, and feature films, including Now You See Me, Smokin’ Aces 2 and Killer Elite. Tim has 2 film scripts currently in production/casting: .38 and Secret Soldiers. The information and experience Tim brought to this interview were astounding… It’s always an honor to talk to a man who’s been there, done it all, and is humble enough to continue contributing and trying to share. There’s something in this interview for every protector… ENJOY! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Michael Janich is a living legend when it comes to martial arts. He’s been in the game for about as long as I’ve been alive and has been featured in many publications over the span of a few decades. It’s a rare occasion to have an opportunity to learn from men like this and so I consider it to be such an honor that he took time to speak with me on our podcast. Integrated Combatives is something that many instructors take a swing at but as you’ll see during this interview Michael definitely has something very special with regards to his system “Marshall blade concepts“. His approach is very effective on many levels beyond the realms of things I see being taught to the masses and the greater public online right now and I believe that has everything to do with his experience, pedigree, and mindset. He is an instructor amongst instructors who has an extremely robust brand with training opportunities both online and in person. If you are taking protection seriously you realized that there is so much more to this game than firearms but his brand includes training for those tools as well. There is something for everyone in this interview… ENJOY! Get a $100 discount on the annual subscription of MBC Distance Learning Program. Use code “BYRONRODGERSDLP21”. Hurry up! The code is valid up to the 10th April only. Visit https://martialbladeconcepts.tv/shop/27943 Protector by nature and by trade Byron

This episode is a special one for sure! ER Ramblers has done it again with an amazing article all about executive protection pretenders. The article has had monumental success and I know that’s because it definitely hit a pain point within our industry. As I read the article I cringed, laughed, smiled, and felt compassion for the things many different people try to do to make it in this industry. I’ve always said that executive protection can be something like modeling or being a professional artist. I remember dating and it seemed like every pretty girl I met said she was a model but only if you really actually we’re doing it full-time or making a living at it. I interview private security professionals who say they’ve done executive protection when in reality they were watching a table when a celebrity came to their club or maybe a celebrity lives within the gated community they protect… Every business owner in this industry has seen things like this and for those reasons we all found this article extremely truthful and entertaining. The flipside is simply that there are so many people in this industry trying to make it that really don’t know how and are doing a number of things that are hurting the reputation more than it’s helping them get in the game or even improving the image of what we do. So make no mistake this isn’t an episode bashing on those who have made these professional pho pause but it truly turned out to be extremely educational to my delight! Lastly this article gave me an opportunity to dig into some of the reasons why I do business the way I deal with a number of my brands and it’s nice to be able to speak about those things as they come up. Christian and Jared has truly been generating some outstanding content on their blog EP ramblers and if you haven’t found it yet or you don’t know who they are you need to go check the show notes and get caught up (https://www.ep-ramblers.com/). Both of them have done an amazing thing in this industry with this blog not only to educate but also entertain based on the truths that we live within the private security game every day. There’s something for everyone in this episode has always! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Tomislav is an amazing executive protection professional who works out of Croatia and all over Europe. He’s been a friend of mine and a very valuable contact for a few years now and so it is an honor to bring him on the show as one of my go-to guys for that part of the world. Tomislav is a visionary and a top-shelf professional with an old-school ethos and as a result, his work ethic and integrity have always been extremely impressive to me. He is a patron of my school and a member of the League of Executive Protection Specialist so when you join us you get to do your career not only with myself but also Tomislav and other high-level professionals like him. We are all assets to one another within that group and we hope that you’ll join us (executiveprotectiontrainingday.com). Beyond these things, he understands the intangible components of not only being a highly effective executive protection agent/company owner but also being a high-quality human being. I look at him as a brother because our values align so closely and I know I can depend on him which is why it is such an honor to use this platform to give his values and work ethic exposure within our beloved game of executive protection. During this interview, we cover a number of topics relative to security professionals in the United States as well as overseas. We dig into the impact of COVID-19, survival techniques in the US and internationally, and also many characteristics of what it takes to be successful within our industry. There is something for everyone in this episode as always ladies and gentlemen… ENJOY!

Max Joseph’s is a very well-known name within the realm of executive protection training especially within the California circuit of professionals. My first exposure to him was when I was encouraged to train with him through talent executive services which is a very high-end boutique private security company out of Southern California. For me, this was more than enough validation and I dove right in. I really appreciated his training because it not only covered the hard skills of executive protection but it also covered the soft skills very accurately. Being that I went to his training after existing in the space for about seven years I was able to accurately appreciate the value he was giving to the students of his executive protection course. Training with Max is an experience that gives you a window into Marine Corps culture along with the standards and proficiency of a weathered elite instructor. Max maintains his standards and as a result, certificates that come from his program are well respected in the industry. As an individual, I’ve always appreciated Max's old-school methods along with his sense of humor and he’s a professional I always appreciate interacting with. Someone from the old guard that is still teaching a full spectrum of extremely salient, relevant, and cutting-edge tactics. Additionally, The cadre of instructors he leverages is under the umbrella of his training operation is top-notch. During this interview, we cover everything from executive protection operations, what it takes to be an amazing agent and what types of training professionals should be looking for to improve their performance within the private security game. There is something in this interview for everyone, ENJOY! Protector by nature and by trade Byron

If you’ve been with me this long I wanna say thank you. I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for going on this journey with me and this brand. I want you to know that there is so much more coming out of this shop that hopefully will improve the lives of all of us. I am on this journey with you and it is truly an honor. I don’t make these episodes because I think I’m anything special. In fact, if there is anything special about me is that I know I’m nothing special but I still want to contribute and so I use my creativity to find ways to do that in ways that will still give value to others. It’s been an honor elevating others through this platform both by amplifying their message and visibility in the industry, as well as by sharing high-quality content that helps people improve the level of the game they’re playing at. I’m genuinely looking forward to everything that is to come and I pray that this work remains valuable to all of you. In this episode I share some of my thoughts about what it takes to be a professional Protector. In the private security industry, there are many different types of protective agents but there’s one huge distinction I’ve seen consistently over the years. It is the one thing that definitely divides us from them but never closes the door on anyone who has the desire to elevate their game. I’ve talked about this before and I will probably talk about it again because I believe it makes all the difference. The difference could have something to do with nature because of the time of this podcast and after doing this for a few years now I genuinely believe in “protector DNA“ so maybe it has something to do with our genes. The measure distinguishing factor I see in agents these days is that to some of us private security/executive protection is a cool job and for others it truly is simply part of our lifestyle. It’s an honor and a crowning jewel to have a career that aligns with The person we are on the inside. This doesn’t mean that we necessarily always love the job but it means that the pre-requisite skills necessary to fulfill the various requirements of the job are supported by habits built into our daily, weekly, and monthly lives. Interestingly enough I’ve found that this lifestyle does not have only to do with physical abilities and combative but it also has to do with the rate and regiment of learning we implement in our lives in order to continually improve our software, a point I will speak about on another episode. In this episode, I’ll talk about the hard skills and habits behind what we do and why we do them. At the end of the day, many people get paid to do this job but very few are truly professional protectors in my opinion and make no mistake, I am still a student of the game. Train with protection Instructors who train the best in the world at the Protector Symposium 3.0. Go to https://www.protectorsymposium.com/​ To join my coaching program, go to https://www.executiveprotectiontrainingday.com/ Protector by nature and by trade Byron

Jerry Jacobs is an individual in the executive protection game who has been operating at some of the highest levels for years. With experience in law enforcement, running the California governor‘s detail, and also organizing international security operations on the private side; he brings a wealth of knowledge that is deep and truly multidimensional. Beyond all of those things, he has an amazing heart for service in general. His deep internal drive to serve others and create healthy, positive leaders have carved out a place for him successfully within our industry many times over the years. This is a man I am honored to be connected with and genuinely excited to share my platform with. This interview covers so many topics having to do with resumes, powerful leadership principles, and quite a few tales from the crypt. There truly is so much to learn from this man and in this episode… ENJOY!

I believe that in these times when things are changing all around us with regards to threat levels, enemy tactics, and social unrest it is very prudent to look outside the box at new protective measures. Yehuda Shmuel is a man who has had a career spanning multiple decades overseas in many permissive and non-permissive environments. Much of his career honestly remain in the shadows but what I love about this man is simply his heart to be a protector and to bring protective technologies to the world so good people have opportunities to protect their clients in those they love. Naturally, this vision aligns perfectly with mine and that is the reason for this podcast. In this episode, Yehuda introduces a new Game-changing safe room technology from a truly salient company Global Secure Consulting that has been in the game of solving problems on the battlefield through superior technology and structures for years. Now, this technology can be implemented in your home, place of business, or battlefield to give us all a chance at creating a real safe space to protect when it counts. ENJOY! For more information visit https://globalsecureconsulting.com/

Sandile is a very close personal friend and an amazing executive protection agent. I’ve literally watched him work his way up the ranks using the secret weapon of service in order to gain enough ground to accomplish his goals. No matter what the obstacles have been in his way, he has overcome them through sheer determination, focus, and the maintenance of an unparalleled servant's heart. Being willing to do whatever needs to be done in order to contribute to the team allowed him to carve out a position for himself time and again right in front of me as we’ve conducted operations all over the world. Fortunately, now it is his time to lead, shine and show others what can be possible for absolutely anyone who is willing to truly apply themselves and do what’s necessary to become the type of person you can acquire success within our private security industry. It’s with great honor that I have him on the show and that we have this conversation in front of you. This conversation talks about one man and his struggle to join a high-powered executive protection team from across the globe and how that journey has blossomed into the things he’s doing now to improve the lives of others. Enjoy!

Chris Story is a very well-known name within many high circles of our industry. He wouldn’t think so but he has an impressive background with time in special military units, contracting, and other great accomplishments. He has climbed the ladder of success in private security in order to be seen as a very valuable instructor and industry leader. He has shared the stage with other professionals at the top of our industry at a number of well-known venues. But what I truly appreciate about Chris Story more than all of that is his ethos of humility and practicality. Beyond those values, I also feel that I detect in him a genuine desire to assist others and make contributions to their professional careers. With a good sense of humor that is sometimes a bit cynical but effective in helping us to not take ourselves too seriously, Chris leads by example and actively instructs private security professionals on how to achieve success in many areas. We are fortunate to have him and it was an honor to spend this time with him on the podcast. This episode is packed with a lot of knowledge from the game but also some considerations for the times we now face. ENJOY!

Anton Kalaydjian is one of those rare executive protection kingpins who has built his organization out of the values codes of honor and brotherhood. I see this more when it comes to professionals that have a gritty background with regards to the streets but I don’t know that much about Anton‘s past. What I do know is that he has been willing to go all the way to protect his teammates and his clients on multiple occasions and as he has proven during his time with 50 Cent where he was shot while dealing with a gunman in a consequential altercation. These types of employers and individuals in this business are the real deal and in many ways, I’ve found that people like Anton are becoming more and more rare. He’s a wealth of knowledge with regards to the celebrity protection game and has been a dominant player am Down south in Miami and Florida for quite some time. Antoni s the type of agent and business owner I can respect both on a professional level and on a personal level based on what I gathered from our conversation. In this video we talk about his real-life encounters with combative situations on the job, what it takes to make the transition from bouncer to BodyGuard, what it takes to be successful in the executive protection industry, and what it takes to gain respect on a high power team working with a list of acting and singing talent. If you’re in the game you’ll love this podcast. Much respect to Anton and his agents with the guardian, they are doing good work. Know More: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton-kalaydjian-b6658713/ Protector by nature and by trade Byron

We live and now are required to work in a world where we must learn to deal with the reality of the digital age effectively. This means our security measures must also fully incorporate strategies that prepare us for additional and some unforeseen factors brought to bear as a result of the new digital landscape. Many professionals have been looking for ways to keep up with the changes and additional vulnerabilities and risks brought to our clients through the digital realm we are now all in contact with. During my own personal career, I’ve also been looking for answers not only to help me keep up but place me in a position of advantage with regards to anything that happens concerning my principles and clients digitally. I must say that at the time of this podcast episode and as I write this I’m very happy to cross paths with two former Marines that have been together within a company Naman Edgworth to present a number of digital solutions to myself and my clients that are proving to truly be invaluable. What I also find invaluable is the character with which they do business, being a Marine and always having a personal bend toward troop welfare and the ethos of honor, courage, and commitment; I always find it very refreshing when I find other individuals who conduct business in the same manner. With Kenneth Young at the head of the company and Chad Brockway as the VP Edgeworth security has been able to do a number of things digitally that I believe the whole entire industry should know about. Not only on the side of open source intelligence but also with regards to artificial intelligence behind the camera systems we’ve all been watching for so many years. This episode has a lot of potentials to change the game… Enjoy.

Bazzel Baz has emerged to be one of the most special men I have interacted with in a very long time. A true warrior of the physical and spiritual kind. Individuals like him are of the rarest breed in my opinion and experience and I can only hope that as I evolve and mature, one day I can join the ranks of these great men. Bazzel has lived the life of a warrior and has done everything from CIA special operations leadership roles to Marine Corps Unit leadership roles to even having a career in Hollywood. The question I think that is posed to a man after he has climbed most of the mountains he has seen and survived many battlefields that have swallowed up so many of the best of us is simply what fight do I contribute to next? What battle may I be honored to participate in and what adversity deserves my attention given the skill sets and experience a warrior like this acquires on his journey. So these days Bazzel Baz finds himself leading an elite organization rescuing children called “Association for the recovery of children” (ARC). This organization is the real deal, not the type of place you just give money to so you feel better and can sleep better at night but rather the type of place that puts boots on the ground and snatch the children from pitch-black darkness. We’ve got more than an epidemic of children missing in America and around the world and they’re being sold into modern-day slavery but you won’t hear anything about it in the media because they’re so busy causing social disruption over trivial issues that are designed to weaken the public. We live in an age of modern-day child sex slavery and I’m honored to be connected to a man who, by the grace of God, has to do his part at ending legitimate modern atrocities. We talk about everything in this episode from the current state of America to Bazzl‘s CIA operations and about the work that can be done for our children being stolen and sold to the highest bidder on the black market… Enjoy! Get to know more about Bazzel's journey here: www.bazzel-baz.com/ www.recoveryofchildren.org/

Ryan has worked all over the Rock and Pop scene of the entertainment executive protection industry. He’s been at it for over 20 years and so he is a wealth of knowledge. He also started in his early 20s around 22 years old so he’s grown up in this game… Growing up in this game is almost like evolving in dog years when it comes to what we do. Many professionals dabble in and out of executive protection for many years before getting on a full-time contract, and so while they may claim to do Executive Protection it is simply that, they don’t make a living providing Executive Protection, they just do it every once in a while. Guys like myself and Ryan have only had maybe one other job just for a few years of our entire adulthood. This interview showcases the depth of his understanding of the lifestyle he’s lived for the past 20 years all over the world in the shadows of people you all know the names of. Even after living a life with so much access, experience, and operating at the top of the entertainment industry, Ryan is a down to earth guy who will tell you straight up “check your ego or it will get you checked“ not only do I always appreciate that but we all need to hear it from time to time! There’s something in this episode for everyone… ENJOY! https://casuallyviolent.com/product-category/fldwrx/

Josh is an industry leader in the Australian Executive Protection market. His company Empire Protection is a well-known and well-respected shop down under. Needless to say, it was an honor to be able to do this episode with him in order to add more flavor, diversity, and awareness to the Executive Protection industry about the differences and similarities of our beloved industry around the world. We talk about ways to network, techniques for finding work, and how to get in with the executive protection companies. We talk about networking, mentorship, and the importance of having an international network that affords you the ability to leverage international assets as needed over the span of your career. We recorded this episode with a live audience who got to interact with us, ask questions and it was a total blast! I hope that in the future you will join us for one of these live recordings. Needless to say, this episode has something for everyone in it. Enjoy! https://www.empireprotection.com.au/

This episode was taken from a live session I did inside of the Executive Protection lifestyle Facebook group. The EPL Facebook group is where it all started. At first, it was a dream simply to create a place where Executive Protection agents could share opportunities and industry tips tricks, and tactics with one another. It quickly grew and became much more than that as people started continually learning, sharing, and growing within our profession together there. As a result, I started this podcast which has turned into a beautiful project where I’m able to make contributions to the industry through those who will listen to help us all hopefully perform on higher and higher levels. This is important because it improves the quality of our deliverables to our clients which brings honor back to us as service providers and that has always been my ultimate goal. I am now honored to have developed the Executive Protection Training Day Success Package which really represents the most holistic and robust training, networking, marketing, and placement opportunity that I’m aware of in our industry from a purely digital standpoint. Naturally, I won’t stop there but this is where things are right now and there’s no time to understand how to be digitally competitive and dynamic with regards to helping your career out such as this present time. I go deep into tactics around getting into the game of executive protection in this interview and I also speak about some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that should help most professionals who tune in. ENJOY Join the Executive Protection Lifestyle Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExecutiveProtectionLifestyle Train with me: https://www.executiveprotectiontrainingday.com/

Ilya is an extremely rare type of security professional. He has a fast background and a number of different technical aspects of security, the management of field operations and teams as well as collegiate teaching experience. The synergy of experience and skills he brings to the private security industry is not only rare but taken with his overall level of intelligence and scholastic capabilities… Ilya is the type of professional I believe we all can learn so much from. I’m genuinely very excited that he has chosen to put together his life‘s work into the educational path he’s now offering to the private security game. Beyond his passion for educating is his ability to do it thoughtfully, intelligently and very effectively… I am seriously excited and honored to do my part in introducing his work to as much of the private security industry as possible because I know for a fact it will help us all render a higher quality of service to our clients in the world. As you all know my mission is to bring Honor back to our industry so that the private security professionals are looked at just as other specialists such as lawyers, doctors and accountants; well Ilya is the type of man who can contribute heavily to helping us all get on that level. There’s quite a bit in this podcast for all of us.… Enjoy!

Every once in a while, a Marine comes along and wants to make even more of a contribution. Brady seems to be one of those types of Marines. Although he has already completed his service, he continues to serve the communities and cultures he belongs to on many levels and in extracurricular ways. He is now an executive protection agent which is initially how I stumbled across him. He has a nonprofit that helps veterans find their way through taking them out in nature to do hunts, hikes, camp trips, etc. to use nature as therapy. One of his newer products and projects is what initially caught my eye which is the “Gray Man Project“ where he aims to train people of the gray man mentality and way of life in order to empower them to protect themselves and their families. It was an absolute honor to have this conversation with Brady as there are so many crossovers and overlaps between the two of us and the paradigms we live by, there will be many more things to come out of this relationship but for now, enjoy this podcast and get plugged into work this man is doing because there will be some really big things coming down the line. ENJOY! www.instagram.com/gray.man.project/ www.instagram.com/triplebadventures/ www.tba.vet/

When I first met Philip I was honestly impressed. It was at the very beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic and my company was being over tasked with security work. As the demands for manpower came in, I did everything I could to find high-quality individuals to train and put to work within Bravo Research Group. I conducted a virtual interview with Phillip to initially gauge his personality, social skills, and a few forms of intelligence. This interview is a very casual tool I use to help me understand people. Philip instantly presented as a very intelligent, very well-spoken, clean person with a high drive and a work ethic that is truly rare these days. He is literally the exact type of young block I like to bring on to my company based on what I saw in that interview, coupling that with the fact that he is also a Marine, makes him a grand slam. Unfortunately, we lived in separate states and this detail I was interviewing him for wasn't the type of detail that would allow me to relocate him to California. Nonetheless, he joined forces with me by entering the league of executive protection professionals after graduating from my executive protection training day success package. This course will allow him and I to do our careers together, along with the other certified executive protection specialists in that extremely powerful growing networking group. So naturally as I get ready to do my weekly group session with "the league" (my training day students) I see a news article with the video of him rescuing a child falling from a burning building… This was a truly spectacular example of a protectorate work. Naturally, we had to make an episode out of it because I really want both civilians and paid protectors to be inspired to act like Philip in the face of catastrophe. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing Philip in our beloved private security industry. if you're looking to bring someone on your detail that will actually make a play, I want you to heavily consider him.

Daniel Farr is private security professional. I have lots of respect for him, because he puts his heart and soul into the job he’s chosen to do. Always looking to raise the bar in his own life, gives him the ability to raise the bar in his company as he leads from the front and in the industry as his standards for training and work product are some of the highest. I first started my relationship with him at last year‘s Protector Symposium in November. It was an extremely good time and an absolute honor to meet, shake hands, and train with every single protector present regardless of location or background. With all that having been said, there are some people you meet that you know you’re meeting them for a specific reason. Since that day, Daniel has joined forces with me to bring the Protector Symposium 2.0 to the world and we look forward to you also hosting a Protector Symposium at his absolutely amazing facility on the East Coast near Virginia. That’s right, Daniel is located right in the heart of things where the big boys and federal agents reside so it’s nice to have a brother on the other coast who’s getting it done. For all, Daniel represents to himself, his family into the industry, I consider myself very fortunate and have a friend like him. This interview gives us an opportunity to talk about a number of values to our beloved Executive Protection game, the direction we see the industry going and we give some pointers to new agents looking to start a career doing what it is we’ve come to love doing… Keeping people safe. So go get your ticket to the Protector Symposium 2.0 at protectorsymposium.com then sit back and enjoy the show!

When I first met Richard I was a little bit unsure… He reached out to me concerning a mentorship program I run through my Patreon account that I have since expanded through my online Executive Protection Training Course. Initially, I always wonder if the individual who I'm attempting to work with can learn how to market themselves to the industry in a dynamic way. I've learned that no matter what skillsets and abilities they come to me with if they're willing to do the work they can carve a place out in the industry for themselves. Richard surprised me, as his brand of intelligence is difficult to see coming. He executed swiftly on everything I asked him but added the magic sauce of going the extra mile and making every tactic his own by applying his personal touch. Richard was able to stay consistent, put in the work and contribute to important relationships within his world until he not only achieved his first and second line goals but is now running his own programs within a reputable security firm and conducting executive protection operations as well as training for them at a high level. I'm very impressed with Richard and it's an honor to see him elevate himself from a young man who wants to get into the security industry to the position where he is now assessing, training, and conducting operations with other security professionals as the man in charge. This is an episode all about the journey, the lessons learned along the way, and having the strength to face new challenges relative to your newfound strength and ability… ENJOY! Get to Know More about him: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-stadig/ [email protected] https://www.instagram.com/blackwolfprotectiongroup/ www.Blackwolfprotectiongroup.com

Shooter Rughi is now known to the world as the guy who snatched a rifle from the hands of a rioter during the George Floyd protests. His act of heroism was quick, decisive, violent, and effective. When you see him interact with the rioter, there is a distinct difference between the two human beings. One of them embodies the cool, calm but aggressively calculated body language of a professional, while the other person is just kind of bubbly and haphazardly flopping around not knowing what is about to happen. One of them has grown up on video games and the other has been overseas fighting for the country dealing with real anarchy and broken governments for years. When the former is confronted with the situation, he does not know how to act or react so he simply gives in. This is what violence of action, decisiveness and the type of certainty that only comes from making decisions prior to action can give you during a dynamic and kinetic violent encounter. I relate to Shooter Rughi as he did what he thought any Veteran/American/Protector would do in that situation. He saw these criminals vandalizing and burglarizing a police car and when they stole the rifles that were in the unit, he went into action. Many of you have seen the news article and the video clips but if you haven’t I want you to look it up, you’ll find them on both mine and his Instagram accounts. It is an outstanding example of what Americans stand for and once again must become. It is also an example of exactly the types of civilians we want to contribute to, at the Protector Nation. Because the more good people who can become willing, capable, and prepared to deal directly with evil and violence, the safer the world will be. The best part about Shooter Rughi is simply that he is a United States Marine Corps infantrymen and when I heard that… It explained everything. As a real good and simple conversation between two grunts talking about the modern-day protectors. My hope is that this conversation and Shooter Rughi’s actions from the other day inspire more Americans to help the civilian population police its own regardless of worldview or political stances.

Pablo has been south of the border in Mexico working hard retrieving kidnapped persons and doing many other things for well over a decade. I know him personally and can say that he is a gracious man, he speaks deliberately and takes in as much information as he can before he responds. At first, it doesn’t seem like much but after learning about his past and what he used to do for a living, it all started to make more and more sense. He now runs the AS3 Driving Academy where he trains protectors on Waze to take their game to the next level with one of the tools we use more often than anything else, our vehicles. I have taken a course from them (https://byronrodgersmotivation.com/as-solution-tactical-driving-course-review/) and I can honestly say that my eyes were open in many ways to improve my driving skills in just 48 hours. As one of the sponsors for the Protectors Symposium 2.0 I am honored to join forces with Pablo and his cadre. This interview is one of the most eye-opening, real-world interviews I’ve done so far this year… Don’t miss it! Then join us for the Protector Symposium 2.0 and go check out AS3 to improve your skillset with one of your most important tools, your vehicle. LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pmonasterio/ www.as3driving.com

I must say that meeting and interacting with Jackie Davis was an absolute pleasure. She comes across as a very down-to-earth genuine professional with a respect for security work that is refreshing and rare. I appreciate her straightforward somewhat backhanded British charm but after talking to her for just a few moments you will realize that she is an undeniable wealth of knowledge with regards to Executive Protection that has genuinely come out of a lifetime of experience. This interview is extremely grounding with regards to the understanding of what it truly takes to be an executive protection agent internationally no matter what your sex is. We do however speak about the female perspective within the industry and that was very informative but Jackie can easily go beyond all of that and she does during this interview. I also found it very interesting to learn more about what it’s like to be an executive protection agent in the UK as we touch on training, requirements for the job, how to break into the industry and pitfalls to look out for. Jackie brought a fresh perspective and it was much appreciated. Beyond all of this her movie “close“ was very entertaining and I definitely suggest we all check it out and show our support for movies about our beloved Industry! LINKS: Www.optimalrisk.com Www.jacquiedavis.com

Kevin is a professional at the top of the executive protection game in Los Angeles, California. He comes highly recommended and was nominated to be on the podcast by Elijah Shaw himself. I first met Kevin in person at this last protector symposium we had in Irvine and I knew back then I was going to have to bring him on the show because the industry needed to hear what he had to say. With a background in law-enforcement and as a man dedicated to mentorship and making a difference in the lives of others, Kevin is the type of professional I strive to be and I hope we can create more of in our industry. We talk about many different subjects in this episode ranging from how to get into private security, mistakes people make coming up in the game and even how to make the most of this COVID-19 pandemic. This was another live recording so we even field a number of questions from the crowd. There’s something in this episode for everyone, ENJOY!

Shamir Bolivar Shadow is a very interesting individual. He represents a different type of animal in this game. He’s a very strong visionary which I love and his vision may even surpass my own when it comes to some things which are refreshing to me. He’s the real deal Shamir has the street credit, as well as scars and stripes to prove it. Men like him are worth every penny if you really believe you need protection. Underneath the physique, intellect, and experience he also has a secret weapon and I believe it’s what drew me to him.… A big heart. Shamir is all about his people and to me that is the real mark of not only a warrior but a champion. He’s in the game to make sure his family and his team eat well at his table. People that are contribution centric are a special breed and I’m always so energized when I run into another one of them. This conversation is rough, raw, and rugged. We talk about humble beginnings, life-threatening altercations on the job, The best/worst aspects of the game and where we hope the industry is headed. ENJOY! https://theshadowgroups.com/

This is a new content category I’m playing with where I’m able to have you all join me for the podcast as I record it. Elijah helped me stumble over this concept and so he’s the first one to roll it out with me. This is a fun episode where we work out a few kinks but get into some really good content that can help many professionals in light of current events. We traverse many topics having to do with: COVID-19 preparedness and strategies, branding/marketing, relationship building with powerhouses in the industry and we also talked about what your endgame for your career should look like depending on your goals. If you’re in the private security industry, there is something in here for you definitely. I hope to see more of you on the next one and get more questions from the crowd as the goal with these is to have your participation, interactions and additions. Until then, enjoy! https://www.facebook.com/elijah.shaw https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuTdysrMStRTXmBl-nyndEQ

Tony Blauer is a man who has literally dedicated his entire life to teaching people how to survive and prevail through violent encounters. He's done so many notable and paradigm-shifting projects and has changed the face of personal protection so many times that I would spend this entire write-up listing his accomplishments. It is a very rare opportunity to come across a man who has been operating at a high level of a specific game for such a long duration of time to have the perspective that Tony does. In some ways, he's a mad scientist of violence and personal protection. He fuses together layers upon layers of psychology, physiology, biochemistry, physics, reflexology and a few other sciences that would bore you if I continued. What's beautiful about this approach however besides the amount of intelligence and experience it takes to execute effectively is simply that the synergy of the product he presents is actually pragmatic, realistic and grounded in reality. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” I find that the truest forms of validation for Tony's very sophisticated yet simple work product is the fact that warfighters and law enforcement officers around the globe have now been implementing these principles for decades. Beyond all of this, the concepts that are grounded in layers of interdisciplinary sciences are ironically organic to the human experience and easy to implement. It was more than an honor to have this conversation with him, it was also a journey and it's beautiful that I can bring this conversation to you in this form and hopefully in a few other forms as this year continues… Enjoy!

Craig Douglas is a man I've heard so much about over the past few years. So when he agreed to join us for this year's protector symposium, I was very excited. For all of us! His training cadre Shivworks of which he is the lead instructor specializes in a specific type of training that I think is extremely important for executive protection professionals And, for civilians as well. Learning to fight in very tight spaces is what they are all about and if you ask me, this game has much higher stakes, is faster moving and is less forgiving than your conventional 15-foot gunfight that is trained more often at the range. This is the Formula One of gunfighting and weapon implementation. Can you still employ your weapon when there's flesh on flesh, bone on bone and meet on meat contact with your enemy? Can you still operate when you can smell his breath and he's bleeding/sweating in your eyes mouth and everything else? Do you think your range Regiment and self-defense training would hold up against a dynamic combat engagement where you are already entangled with a determined enemy? In these days of Uber Black, Lift, elevators and JetSuiteX we find ourselves sharing space with unknown individuals more often than not. For the security professional, working in crowds in tight spaces and close proximity to other humans is no foreign or strange event. Keeping in mind the reality that every physical altercation you find yourself in when you have a deadly weapon on your person is a life-threatening physical altercation… Who doesn't need to know more about this art form/discipline? Craig Douglas is a man I respect, he is a master of his craft, values being a consummate gentleman, talks about healthy masculinity, he has aged like wine, and he is an “adaptable” I don't think there's enough that is said these days about the importance and power of being adaptable. In my opinion, fluid intelligence is the most powerful intelligence in every way and by teaching good people how to raise their fluid intelligence quotient to his system; I believe Craig Douglas is truly doing some valuable work with regards to making the world a safer place by making good people more dangerous. This episode was fantastic to record, and I know you will feel that too as you are listening. I look forward to working with him in order to bring you all high-quality content for this year's protector symposium and I know you'll enjoy this episode. Links: https://shivworks.com https://www.facebook.com/Shivworks-and-Shivworks-Alumni-384993038366814/ https://twitter.com/ShivWorks https://www.instagram.com/shivworks_and_alumni/

Mike comes across as the type of man who genuinely wants to do good for himself and the world. Very clean energy, a realist, a pragmatist, and altruist are some of the ways he strikes me after interacting with them on multiple occasions. Very technical very efficient and proficient at whatever he sets his mind to and so it is no surprise to me that his company is catapulting itself to the forefront of the protective armor game in our industry not only in America but also on an international level. Innocent armor has been receiving a tremendously positive response from law enforcement professionals, private security professionals, and even civilians. Just a quick Google search will show you that many influencers are also standing by the Innocent Armor protective products. Many of us have seen attempts at crossbreeding tactical products with style and many other civilian concepts. We all know how disjointed, bulky and generally, ineffective it usually is, but this time things are different. In a world where active human threats are becoming more and more common, Innocent Armor is offering a solution to civilian clothing and tactical operations that could be more perfectly timed. In this interview, I and the CEO of Innocent Armor, Mike Wang cover the product line and the principles by which he governs his company and his life. Every time I've spoken with Mike it has been a very enjoyable conversation so I'm sure you will all enjoy this one as well. https://innocentarmor.com https://www.instagram.com/innocentarmor https://www.facebook.com/innocentarmor

There are few men I run into who understand the warriors' path both internally and externally the way Alan Baker does. He’s humble, soft-spoken, intense and deep. If you pay attention you can sense the vastness of his internal presents. Many men claim to be eternal students and many of them are telling the truth but I sense that very few have taken that way to the lengths that Alan Baker has. He has lived the life of a martial artist for a few decades and he’s rearranged his entire life to do it full-time. Very few human beings can make that claim. Many of us consider ourselves modern-day warriors because we study Combatives to protect the innocent and this is fantastic. Alan and I discuss also how being a modern-day warrior is so much more than that and has much to do with an internal battle that faces us all regardless of our physical capabilities or vocation. Professionally Alan Baker develops martial arts systems for many special teams, entities, and industries that need them around the world. He has many black belts and uses his extensive knowledge of Hanahan combat to improve the spectrum of tools that many different types of warriors have when they go into their respective fights against the darkness these days. I met Alan at the Executive Protection Institute. A fantastic school that will take your executive protection game to the next level where they were teaching us their own proprietary Executive Protection centric martial art. I found it so interesting and Alan so fascinating that I absolutely had to catch up with him and do this episode. There’s something for everyone in here, as usual, ENJOY! http://www.atlantamartialartscenter.com/ https://amactactical.com/

Big John is the type of man I truly respect based on what I have seen of him. We live in a country where masculinity has been demonized and persecuted for a few decades now and so when I see a man who is unapologetic-ally healthily being masculine it is inspirational and rejuvenating to me. Big John uses this natural energy to inspire, teach and help others improve on a regular basis which is what healthy men do along with providing and protecting physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually for those who count on them. This episode is NOT about masculinity and femininity, in fact, we talk about female agents towards the end of the episode. Nonetheless, Big John is the type of man who is both physically and intellectually strong, he's got a good sense of humor, lots of experience and a very deep/holistic perspective to give. Beyond all of these attributes of contribution, he has chosen to give these attributes to people who are willing to listen and that is truly honorable. He was definitely one of my absolute favorite instructors at the Executive Protection Institute as well. In this episode, we talk about all of the things we wish we knew at the beginning of our careers and contrast them with things he has gleaned from over 30 years in the industry and his perspective and thoughtfulness always impresses me. This is the first of a two-part series I'm doing with John Musser because he has so much to give. ENJOY!

The "Considerations Series" was something I started during the first season of this podcast. Sometimes it has to do with executive protection but many times it just has to do with life. My goal with this series is to mix in content about what it is we are all doing regardless of where we are on our journeys and with regards to the private security game. In this episode, I talk about a number of principles that are near and dear to my heart, these are the things that have helped me on my personal journey of development. By no means are these things correct or incorrect but rather they are simply inert pieces of information like tools or a gun sitting on the counter. You can choose to pick these principles and utilize them any way you want or just leave them lying there, some of them will be appropriate for you and some will be totally irrelevant and far-fetched. The other thing I like to try and do is fight my way into the darkness of unknown concepts and thoughts at least with regards to my own intelligence… I believe living on the edge of order and chaos is the responsibility of a warrior. The people we keep safe are behind us in the realm of order but higher versions of ourselves can only be created by venturing into the darkness and fighting against the powerful resistance there. In this way and in this endeavor, we take territory for the light and bring order to the world by creating stronger versions of ourselves and serving on progressively higher and higher levels consequentially. I talk a little bit about these things in this episode and if I don’t make you think, and I have wasted my time with this one, always remember to absorb what is useful, disregard what is useless and add what is essentially your own as Bruce Lee once said with anything I submit to you. This conversation gets cut short, but I will continue right where I left off on the next episode of considerations coming soon.

Jason pillow is one of those rare men who’s doing everything he can to not only improve his life but also improve the lives of countless others he’s never met and owes nothing to. He and his wife have a corporate entity named Archangel Ministries and they specialize in snatching the innocent from the sex trade. This episode may not be easy to listen to, for many of us, but it has to do with the type of darkness that I believe, is for some of us who have been created strong enough to fight against. The stronger you are, the deeper into the darkness you can go to protect and rescue those who need you, in my opinion. We identify multiple sides to human trafficking, sex, slavery, and many other topics connected to this subject. The work that Jason and his wife do is truly righteous with regards to protecting others and the best part is simply that they are seeking people who are interested in what they are doing to re-create their model of provision and protection for those who can’t protect themselves and are caught up in “the life.” We must understand the enemy to understand how to best fight him and that’s what we do in this conversation. Enjoy!

Jesse is new to the private security game but he has already made quite an impact, many different industry leaders are noticing him and I believe it's because of a few simple yet valuable things he's doing for himself and his career. This is an episode that will inspire newcomers to the industry and remind the veterans of the passion and purpose they once found in the work that made it so invigorating in the beginning. The key is simply to have the internal discipline and thought processes that can keep us in love with this game the way Jesse has for the past four years. It is a decision that must be grounded in someone's identity, much like a marriage. Jesse has a big heart and I believe that is one of the things that attracts people to him but he has coupled that heart with a work ethic that is making him more and more of an asset consistently. He leads with respect and honor which gives him access to the honorable because respect is currency. I'm so proud of him and the distance/success he has already acquired after meeting him a little over a year ago and I am genuinely inspired to see how far he will go in this private security game that we play, live and die by. ENJOY! LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesusjauregui2018 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034430115135 http://Instagram.com/jaureguijr.jesse

All of this training with Firearms over the years has got me itching to be a bit more physical and so I have aimed to deliberately focus more on hand to hand Combatives and other things in between. So when I saw the content floating around the Internet of Raul grappling hard-core with some guys over a gun, I was naturally drawn in. After looking at much of his content, I realized that Raul is the type of protection centric professional that I can respect and naturally bond with. He’s not about being the biggest or the baddest but he’s about being his best in order to protect those who are counting on him. He’s all about empowering people to learn how to protect themselves on many different levels. With a background in the military, private security and also law enforcement, he’s been around the block, seen a few things and now he is making waves while becoming a premier instructor in the industry. Standby for more from myself and fieldcraft as I have a few reviews coming up from their courses over the trajectory of this year. This conversation between me and Raul has everything for everyone including some good stuff about getting physical with your gun and listening to it talk.… ENJOY!

I take pause before writing this review for Charles because it’s very important to me that I do a good job helping you all understand what manner of man he is. When I was coming up in the game, I worked for Charles for a few years and I must say that I’ve never had a boss or mentor go the extra mile for me in the ways that Charles did routinely and not just me but for all of the guys on his team who worked to deserve it. The ones that didn’t deserve it he would always try to save but he was never an enabler of bad character. Not only is he the type to go the extra mile for his team and his clients but he also said his people up for success, always aiming for a mutually beneficial arrangement whenever possible. The things I learned from Charles in life, business, and Executive Protection is something that I implement and use to this very day. He’s one Man I wish more people could benefit from a relationship with because I know it would make our industry a better place. Enjoy this interview and absorb what is useful my friends.

Yousef Badou teaches what I think is simply the most important component of protection, situational awareness coupled with the ability to read and predict people through human behavior. As I try to spread the art of protection like a virus I have found Yousef to be one of my greatest allies simply because spreading soft skills is easier than spreading hard skills and so we aim to spread situational awareness like a virus. When people know what pre-threat indicators to truly look for, people will be able to shut down violence before it starts and avoid it altogether. This is the art of behavioral profiling that Yousef is arming corporations, places of worship, schools and the world with. It doesn't matter how big, strong or combat effective you are which is the beauty of this discipline, anyone can get good at this and that's why it's so important we bring the art of behavioral profiling to the world. So enjoy this episode and send it to all of your loved ones! Protector by nature and by trade Byron Rodgers