Matter of Facts: 2025, Ready or Not

[00:00:06] Welcome back to the Matter of Facts Podcast on the Prepper Broadcasting Network. We talk prepping

[00:00:11] guns and politics every week on iTunes, Stitcher and Spotify. Go check out our content at mwfpodcast.com

[00:00:16] on Facebook or Instagram. You can support us via Patreon or by checking out our affiliate

[00:00:20] partners. I'm your host Phil Ravelet, Andrew, Nick are on the other side of the mic and

[00:00:24] here's your show. Welcome back to the Matter of Facts Podcast. I am just realizing I didn't

[00:00:33] have everything in this interface quite ready for y'all but I was close. So you know, Happy

[00:00:38] New Year's. New Year's, same half-ass podcast producer. I would say it's better than half-ass.

[00:00:46] I mean, we've got a very nice looking intro role and outro role. I mean, that's more than

[00:00:52] I have done here. Actually, I was talking to some other podcasters recently that the guys

[00:00:58] from ComSyndicate. Nice. I was talking to them recently and they posted an article that I've

[00:01:04] seen floating around for a while that pointed out like if you post, if you start a podcast

[00:01:08] and you make it past episode 21, you were in the top 1% of podcasts in terms of episode

[00:01:15] length. Like there's that many podcasts that like started and flamed out in 21 episodes.

[00:01:23] Well, you know, if you do a weekly podcast, that's five months.

[00:01:29] You know, that's a considerable time commitment and frankly, most people just can't keep up that

[00:01:35] level of consistency. I mean, hell, I'm a fan of D&D and I've been running D&D games for the last 10

[00:01:42] years. You know how hard it is to get people to meet up once a month, even if you're doing it on

[00:01:47] computers? It's like pulling teeth, man.

[00:01:52] Yeah, I mean, honestly, my daughter got us into playing and we haven't touched.

[00:01:56] The battle board is sitting over there in the corner of the room behind the door because we haven't

[00:02:03] gone back to finish the dungeon we were in for a couple of months.

[00:02:09] You need to get back on that horse, man.

[00:02:11] Yeah.

[00:02:11] Like a Sunday.

[00:02:14] Honestly, though, it's more her and like her interest and things kind of comes and goes.

[00:02:20] Like the other day, she got a wild hair. Everybody played Minecraft for four hours.

[00:02:23] She hasn't played Minecraft in weeks.

[00:02:26] Me and my buddies go through that phase where we'll get tired of the...

[00:02:31] So we play...

[00:02:34] It's like an open world survival game called DayZ.

[00:02:37] It's a zombie apocalypse game.

[00:02:40] Andrew would love it. You end up eating your neighbors.

[00:02:42] Oh, sounds fine.

[00:02:44] Yeah, cannibalism is a core mechanic.

[00:02:47] We go through a phase where we'll just get bored of that and we'll play Minecraft every

[00:02:52] other day for like two straight months and then we'll ignore it for another year and a half.

[00:03:00] It's a good fallback game, man.

[00:03:05] It's just enjoyable and relaxing.

[00:03:08] No, I guess everybody kind of goes through seasons.

[00:03:11] The one thing I've tried to encourage people that say they want to get into podcasting is two things.

[00:03:18] I tell everybody, I'm like, pick a subject that's broad enough.

[00:03:20] It can never get old, which is also why when Gillian once started a podcast, I told her, I'm like, you think you're going to talk about this?

[00:03:28] You're going to wind up talking about your everyday life.

[00:03:31] Because that gets to be what podcasting really is.

[00:03:35] It's the conversation.

[00:03:37] It's the window into your life.

[00:03:39] It's the relationship between hosts or the content creators and the audience.

[00:03:47] Because I started off thinking I was going to talk about me clearing my throat because I've been awake for 40 minutes max.

[00:03:55] I haven't finished my first cup of coffee.

[00:03:57] But I started this off thinking I was just going to talk about tourniquets and guns and preparedness stuff.

[00:04:03] And then we've weaseled in all these weird little directions over the years about just all sorts of stuff.

[00:04:09] Because that's where it went.

[00:04:13] But yeah, 21 episodes is all it takes to make the top 1% of podcast.

[00:04:18] And I think if my count is correct, this is episode 409.

[00:04:24] So we're a bit past 21.

[00:04:26] Yeah.

[00:04:27] And still not Joe Rogan famous.

[00:04:28] So, you know, let that merit.

[00:04:30] Hey, man, I do not want.

[00:04:33] Do not want.

[00:04:36] I got I got no interest in being that guy.

[00:04:38] Man, can you imagine?

[00:04:40] You could never go anywhere.

[00:04:41] You could never do anything without without the public harassing you.

[00:04:46] So I will say that, like, it is nice to be like a small, relatively unknown content creator and be able to hide in the masses.

[00:04:57] But when I would go to prepper camp, because, you know, when in past years when we were going to prepper camp, you kind of have a target rich environment because you've got all these preparedness people in one spot.

[00:05:06] A lot of them listen to podcasts.

[00:05:10] And I had that experience a couple of years in a row that, like, I'd be walking and people would like to step in front of me and be like, you're Phil.

[00:05:18] And I'm like, oh, Jesus Christ.

[00:05:20] Well, but many, many to it, many panic attack.

[00:05:25] My my happy little introvert has, you know, is waving all the red flags and turning on all the alarms right now.

[00:05:33] But I mean, it was it was fun.

[00:05:35] It was great to meet fans.

[00:05:36] But, you know, thank Christ.

[00:05:38] It was only in that one that one little annual event that couple of days out of the year and any other day I could just like walk down the street in my hometown and nobody has any freaking clue who I am.

[00:05:49] It's well.

[00:05:52] I was going to say, apparently, apparently I'm known in the town because I'm a very large guy with a very large beard.

[00:05:58] I just kind of stand out in a crowd.

[00:06:00] You're the beard guy.

[00:06:02] Literally meet Gillian and I's favorite taco place for years before we changed to another one.

[00:06:08] They the waiters and the waitresses all used to refer to me as the guy with the beard.

[00:06:13] Nice.

[00:06:14] It's a quality beard right there.

[00:06:16] Yeah.

[00:06:17] Nobody sponsored me like, you know, I pay for my own beer products.

[00:06:20] And everything.

[00:06:21] So I'm not doing something right.

[00:06:23] There are worse things to be known for than an excellent beard.

[00:06:27] Yeah.

[00:06:29] So admin work.

[00:06:31] We're seven minutes into the show and this is already like way off the rails.

[00:06:34] Let's get let's see if we can take the pennies off track, get the train back on.

[00:06:38] Thanks to the patrons.

[00:06:39] We actually just got a new patron, Scott.

[00:06:43] And one of these days I'm going to be prepared and I'm going to thank all the patrons by name or possibly nickname.

[00:06:50] Some of them might get referred to as, you know, dumbass.

[00:06:52] But that's a term of endearment around here.

[00:06:54] Could always do a credit roll.

[00:06:56] But yeah, Scott recently came into the fold.

[00:06:58] I think y'all have been welcoming slash abusing him in the patron chat, which for anybody who is a patron, who's not aware, we do have a close patron chat on Signal where everybody can get to know each other and pass information.

[00:07:12] And occasionally, you know, be the cause of everybody's therapy bill.

[00:07:17] That happens on occasion.

[00:07:20] But the patrons have been they've been breaking Scott in somewhat gently.

[00:07:29] Yeah, it's it's, you know, the usual.

[00:07:32] Eddie's being Eddie.

[00:07:33] Yeah.

[00:07:35] All right.

[00:07:35] There's links for merch in the show description.

[00:07:37] I'm not wearing merch because I have to throw on a button up shirt and run ahead of the door as soon as this is over.

[00:07:43] And Cypress survivalist.

[00:07:46] March 8th, southeast Louisiana found Blue State Park.

[00:07:49] And many of y'all are in the area looking to figure out where it is or where to make, you know, reservations.

[00:07:55] I don't know what else to say.

[00:07:56] I mean, at some point we will have to do more of a deep dive into like specific classes that are going to be taught.

[00:08:03] I can tell you that like the curriculum I'm teaching is like 98 percent already built.

[00:08:08] Like, well, but I did that.

[00:08:11] I did that the day we decided to do this.

[00:08:14] Like I sat down and I was to me like before you even had a name for the organization, before we filed paperwork to make it a thing.

[00:08:24] I sat down and built out all the curriculum.

[00:08:27] At least in like I both pointed out all of my curriculum, the curriculum that Gillian and my sister and my brother-in-law are teaching.

[00:08:34] I just kind of said, this is what I'd like you to teach, but you tell me what fits in this bucket.

[00:08:39] Like this is the vein.

[00:08:41] But for my stuff, I went ahead and just built the whole, built the entire coursework in an afternoon or two.

[00:08:46] Sometimes it's easier to backronym something like that.

[00:08:49] You know what you want to do and then you can build a structure for it easier, I think.

[00:08:56] Yeah.

[00:08:57] Well, I mean, a lot of it for me was just I'm very focused on the meat and potatoes.

[00:09:04] I'm very focused on like the content being there because if that's not, then the cool logos and the pretty names and all that stuff is useless.

[00:09:13] Right.

[00:09:14] You need all that stuff to get people to the event.

[00:09:16] You need all that stuff to hook people and bring them in.

[00:09:18] But they're not.

[00:09:20] The meat and potatoes has to be there.

[00:09:22] So I put together a lot of this curriculum, a lot of things I'm teaching, like from direct experience, from secondhand experience, from subject matter experts.

[00:09:32] I mean, bear in mind that over the eight years I've been podcasting, over the over probably the 10 years I've been in the preparedness world, I've been learning the whole time.

[00:09:42] But like I didn't I didn't come into this and decide I am God's gift or preparedness.

[00:09:46] I need to educate the masses.

[00:09:47] It was like, no, I know a little bit more than the average person.

[00:09:50] I need to share what I know.

[00:09:51] But every step of this way has been learn more, get better, do better, because, you know, for purely selfish reasons, I have a family I'd like to be able to take care of.

[00:10:02] So every time we would have a guest, every time we bring somebody on the show was an opportunity for me to learn more so I can take care of them better.

[00:10:10] And the audience gets to come along for the ride.

[00:10:13] Mm hmm.

[00:10:14] I mean, absolutely.

[00:10:16] I mean, for purely selfish reasons, most people get into content creation because we're interested ourselves.

[00:10:20] And if you were an expert, you wouldn't be a content creator necessarily.

[00:10:25] You'd be teaching and have somebody pay you for your knowledge.

[00:10:31] Yeah.

[00:10:31] Or be the person being interviewed for it.

[00:10:35] At the very least, in which case you'd be trying to sell something.

[00:10:39] True.

[00:10:40] True.

[00:10:41] But hey, got to pay the bill somehow, right?

[00:10:43] Yeah.

[00:10:43] Yeah, I do it by working for the man.

[00:10:46] Unfortunately.

[00:10:49] Oh, God.

[00:10:51] Autograph booths will be set up March 8th.

[00:10:53] I'm not doing autographs, Kyle.

[00:10:56] Kyle has already said he's planning on coming down, which he's not.

[00:11:00] He's he's within a day drive of me.

[00:11:02] Yeah.

[00:11:04] But yeah.

[00:11:05] So that's.

[00:11:06] That's all the administrative work now.

[00:11:09] 2025 ready or not.

[00:11:13] We you and I decided to talk about like goals for the year and like reflect on last year before we found out about all the nonsense that happened this morning in New Orleans.

[00:11:23] Yeah.

[00:11:23] I don't know how deep we're going to get into because like Gilling is literally watching the news on the other side of this wall.

[00:11:29] Like we're still trying to figure out what in the world happened.

[00:11:32] I think it would be wise to hold off on that until next Thursday.

[00:11:36] And maybe we can do.

[00:11:39] At least at least do a better job of covering it because we will have better information, because as of this morning, while I was getting my coffee made for for hopping on here, there was new information coming out, correcting prior information.

[00:11:53] So yeah, it might be doing a bit of a disservice to talk about it today.

[00:11:57] I wouldn't I wouldn't advocate for talking about today or then just to mention it to say, yeah, you know, like I'm praying for the victims and their families.

[00:12:06] And for those that aren't aware, we're just we're talking about the terrorist attack that happened in New Orleans last night.

[00:12:11] Yeah, about about an hour and a half away from me, give or take.

[00:12:15] I mean, this is fairly close to home.

[00:12:17] Scott, by the way, who the new patron lives earlier about two miles that direction.

[00:12:24] Like he's local to me, very local.

[00:12:28] But yeah, Benji, we had to crank it a little bit early because I have I have some New Year's Day festivities to take my family to in a little bit.

[00:12:37] But like I said, we're not going to discuss the terror terror attack.

[00:12:41] We don't know anything yet.

[00:12:42] I did just want to mention and say that I hope the perpetrator burns in hell for all of existence.

[00:12:47] Yes, hopefully their end is slow and painful if they are not already dead.

[00:12:52] I guess it won't be a slow and painful enough for my liking, but that's just probably not.

[00:12:56] But, you know, it just goes to show you that these large social gatherings around any holiday are there.

[00:13:04] To be frank, they're an ideal target for anyone that is looking to do bad things.

[00:13:09] Yeah. And we can't always avoid being in those situations.

[00:13:12] All we can do is try to minimize our risk by bringing appropriate emergency medical equipment with us.

[00:13:20] You know, call it a tourniquet.

[00:13:23] Maybe it's a full blowout kit.

[00:13:25] If you're in your car near your car, that can that can be possible.

[00:13:29] I know Andrew carries a pretty extensive medical kit in his truck.

[00:13:32] I keep a, I would say much smaller kit than that, less capable kit than that in my truck, just because the number of times I've rolled up on accident scenes at 430, 530 in the morning has been far more often than I've ever needed any other of my kit.

[00:13:50] So, you know, fortunately we, from the limited amount of video that I was able to see this morning, it seemed like first responders were on the scene immediately.

[00:14:00] And they were doing their job in an expedient and aggressive manner, which I very much like to see props to them.

[00:14:09] Yeah.

[00:14:09] I mean, I have no doubt that there were, that there were first responders very close at hand when this happened because it's new year's bourbon street.

[00:14:18] It's bourbon street.

[00:14:19] Like, you know, but, um, they, they are needed there.

[00:14:23] I assume regularly.

[00:14:24] Yeah.

[00:14:25] Uh, the one thing that I would correct because I, I have to be walking past the, the, the mainstream media, which I still think 80% of it should be shot, but that's a different discussion.

[00:14:37] But like, I was walking past it on my way back here to start podcasting.

[00:14:40] And I heard somebody say like, this has never happened here.

[00:14:44] And I looked Gillian and I'm like, that's not true.

[00:14:48] A truck driving down Bourbon street.

[00:14:51] Maybe I'll give you that has never happened before.

[00:14:53] But like, there are gang related shootings up and down Bourbon street, literally like every month in this city.

[00:15:01] It's not, this is not a, this is not maybe a bombing attack on Mayberry.

[00:15:07] This is Bourbon street.

[00:15:08] This happens all the time down here.

[00:15:09] Like, wasn't there something that happened a few years ago where somebody drove a truck into a restaurant on Bourbon street?

[00:15:16] It might not have been a terrorist attack.

[00:15:18] I think it was targeting a specific people, but I seem to remember hearing about that on the news years ago.

[00:15:24] Well, they didn't even want to admit this was a terrorist attack when it initially happened.

[00:15:28] Who would want to?

[00:15:29] Nobody wants, no mayor wants a terrorist attack on their, on their city.

[00:15:33] People interested in telling people the truth because there could, they work for their constituent.

[00:15:37] I don't know.

[00:15:38] Really idealistic that I would dare say that, you know, the anointed work for the unwashed masses, but I'm an idealist.

[00:15:44] That's the way this is supposed to work.

[00:15:46] It is.

[00:15:47] But really, I mean, this happening on anyone's watch.

[00:15:52] No one, no one's going to want to admit that because it, it makes them look bad.

[00:15:56] It does.

[00:15:57] Frankly, it makes them look bad.

[00:15:58] Not that it's preventable because a lot of these things just flat are not preventable.

[00:16:03] You can't have perfect security.

[00:16:05] Well, going back to what I was saying before, though, like the, the violent crime rate in New Orleans is such that if Latoya Cantrell thinks this makes her look bad, then she's a freaking grade A blithering idiot.

[00:16:17] Because this is just, this is just icing on the cake.

[00:16:20] That is a failed, a failed city run by morons.

[00:16:25] I, I would agree.

[00:16:26] It'd be the same as it happening in Chicago.

[00:16:28] This is, this is the least of our problems.

[00:16:31] Yeah.

[00:16:32] And Kyle.

[00:16:32] Yes.

[00:16:33] It's shocking.

[00:16:34] Kyle hit the nail on the head at this point.

[00:16:37] We have no idea who the hell is in our country anymore.

[00:16:40] Correct.

[00:16:41] And I, I brought it up in the Patreon chat and I'll bring it up here is.

[00:16:45] Uh, uh, I dropped it in the comment of in before the FBI says that he was known to the FBI on the terrorist watch list came through the country at the southern border from a.

[00:16:57] Middle Eastern country.

[00:17:00] Like, come on.

[00:17:02] I mean, we can't be surprised that these terrorist attacks are happening on us soil when we're not controlling the people that come and go from this country in any kind of reasonable amount of reasonable way.

[00:17:13] But can I, can I just say that the, the, the part of this that boils my blood the worst is that I have little, I have little doubt that we're going to get that little footnote and was known to the FBI because that's been, you know, the, the attempt to assassination on Trump and the other attempt to assassination on Trump.

[00:17:32] And that's been all these school shootings.

[00:17:34] So can I, can I just say between me and the audience, like y'all, y'all at this point, y'all know me, I'm a libertarian, which means I think government should be about that big and do the bare minimum humanly possible as constrained by the constitution.

[00:17:47] And leave everything else to hell alone.

[00:17:49] But I'm not an anarchist that says no government period.

[00:17:52] Like I have friends that are anarchists.

[00:17:53] I'm not there.

[00:17:54] I'm like, no, no, I'm still clinging to this idea that maybe just maybe like we can treat government like fire.

[00:18:01] And as long as it stays in the fireplace, it warms the house.

[00:18:03] It doesn't burn to the ground.

[00:18:04] So I'm, I'm clinging to my idealism here.

[00:18:06] But can I just say that every time I see known to the FBI on the back of one of these freaking, these terror attacks or these, these mass shootings, that angry little a cab anarchist that I keep locked up in, in, in the cell in the back, he starts scratching at the walls, trying to get out.

[00:18:24] Because I just, I go, my brain goes to these places where it's like, okay, if we fund this enormous organization that doesn't have clean hands as far as committing acts of atrocities against Americans, if we're prepared to tolerate that organization because they do good and they serve a purpose.

[00:18:39] But they don't.

[00:18:42] If they do all the, if they missed all these frigging things that result in life's lost, then how far do I have to go emotionally before I'm like, you know what?

[00:18:51] Screw the FBI, wipe them off the board, be done with the whole organization.

[00:18:53] By the way, why don't we just get rid of cops as a general rule to hell with all of them?

[00:18:57] Because from my perspective, I'm not trying to shoot people because it's not nice.

[00:19:04] But I generally have, but there are generally, but there are quite, but there are quite a few places I can't carry a firearm because I'll go to prison.

[00:19:16] So if the people enforcing the laws that disarm me weren't there, I could carry wherever I want and be responsible for my own safety and my families.

[00:19:24] And the people who are taking away my ability to carry firearms wherever I want aren't doing the job properly either.

[00:19:32] I think what we need to have.

[00:19:35] And now I hate, I hate saying the government is the solution to this, but there is a reasonable point here.

[00:19:44] The FBI and all these, these departments have been, I would say, not justifying their own existence of late.

[00:19:57] I would like to see a congressional investigation on a massive scale.

[00:20:04] They don't need to release all the information to the public because ways and means.

[00:20:09] Yep, we don't want to release to the public how we're catching the terrorists before it happens, because I'm sure they are catching some people before it happens.

[00:20:15] But I would like to see justify justification for why these people have the budgets they are, they are having and the powers that they have.

[00:20:23] If they are still unable to stop most of these, unless they are stopping most of these, in which case, perfect.

[00:20:32] Prove it to us. Prove it to Congress at the very least.

[00:20:36] Okay, so on the back of that, I'll entertain that for a moment.

[00:20:41] Nick, let's say hypothetically, you work in manufacturing, right?

[00:20:45] I do.

[00:20:46] So let me make this analogy.

[00:20:48] Let's say you get told to do something by your boss and you fork it all up.

[00:20:53] Mm-hmm.

[00:20:54] Happens.

[00:20:55] I have been known to throw a part out of a vice.

[00:20:58] I'm sure it does.

[00:21:00] Because, you know, you're human.

[00:21:02] The things you do are very, I don't want to say very, like, mechanical, but, like...

[00:21:07] Oh, they are.

[00:21:08] The things you do are such that even the most experienced operators are going to screw it up once in a while.

[00:21:14] Because it's very hands-on.

[00:21:16] It's very one-to-one.

[00:21:18] It's not like you just push a button on a machine and let it run.

[00:21:21] Like, there's going to be accidents.

[00:21:23] Stuff's going to go wrong.

[00:21:24] It's going to happen.

[00:21:25] There is...

[00:21:26] There is...

[00:21:27] Machine error.

[00:21:27] So there is an acceptable level or rate of error that is just expected in manufacturing.

[00:21:35] Yes.

[00:21:35] But even that being said, do you and your boss and your supervisor and your subordinates not go back and ask yourselves, what could we have done to prevent this?

[00:21:45] Was there anything that could have been done to prevent this?

[00:21:47] Like, should I have tightened the vice up a little bit more?

[00:21:48] Should I have made sure this was square?

[00:21:50] Was this made of the right material?

[00:21:52] Was the program from the mill correct?

[00:21:54] Like, you go through this exercise of, yes, like, we know we're going to scrap one out of every hundred or thousand or two thousand or whatever.

[00:22:02] We know we're going to scrap one every now and then that happens.

[00:22:04] But the goal is always to get it to zero.

[00:22:06] And you ask yourself questions like, why did this work?

[00:22:09] Or as close to zero as possible, yeah.

[00:22:11] Yes.

[00:22:12] The goal is to get to zero, not the expectation.

[00:22:14] Exactly, yeah.

[00:22:15] So in this vein, if I'm going to accept that the FBI cannot get the rate down to zero, and I don't think it's rational to expect that.

[00:22:25] Oh, I agree.

[00:22:25] But I would like to see them justify their success rate at the very least.

[00:22:30] I want to see them justify their failures.

[00:22:33] True.

[00:22:33] When they fail, I want to see what happened, where they went wrong, and I want some corrective action.

[00:22:40] Because I feel like what we get in a lot of these congressional debriefings is, well, we don't know what happened.

[00:22:48] We get all this stone-facing nonsense, like the Babe Lost in the Woods look on their faces.

[00:22:53] We're like, well, I mean, I filed a report.

[00:22:56] It was like, your job's to friggin' enforce the law and stop people from doing bad stuff.

[00:23:03] Whoopsie-daisy's not really enough when people are dead.

[00:23:06] Well, I mean, there are times when whoopsie-daisy is the answer, where human error caused by whatever, misfiling, or a guy went to take a leak, you know, and then something happens.

[00:23:22] Spilled coffee on the computer, the information gets destroyed.

[00:23:25] There is room for whoopsie-daisy.

[00:23:28] I get it.

[00:23:29] It should be minimized, and there should be data redundancy and maybe some process redundancy to a point.

[00:23:36] Yeah.

[00:23:36] But I guess what I'm saying is, I would appreciate and demand some honest retrospective analysis of what went wrong so it doesn't continue to happen.

[00:23:48] And maybe they-

[00:23:50] What do that?

[00:23:50] But here's the problem, Nick.

[00:23:52] The very fact that you said in before known to the FBI tells me it's happening way too mother-effing much.

[00:24:00] For my-

[00:24:00] What do you mean every single time this last year?

[00:24:03] I can't think of any mass shooting that's happened in the last year where known to the FBI was not a sentence that I heard on the news.

[00:24:12] Yeah.

[00:24:13] I mean, like I said-

[00:24:14] Kyle, that is fair.

[00:24:15] And Kyle, if the answer is officer is overworked and hasn't slept, cool.

[00:24:20] Then the problem has been identified.

[00:24:21] We need to hire more officers.

[00:24:23] We need to friggin' retain them better.

[00:24:24] We need to do something.

[00:24:26] But whenever the problem is, whatever is causing all of this nonsense to slip by the FBI needs to be addressed and fixed.

[00:24:34] And if-

[00:24:35] Or at the very least, if it was a novel technique used by whoever.

[00:24:39] Okay, great.

[00:24:40] We've now implemented a process to look for this novel technique.

[00:24:44] Yeah.

[00:24:45] And the other thing I would say is that-

[00:24:46] They don't have to tell us what the process is in order to protect agents and effectiveness.

[00:24:52] Well, but if they're not going to tell us what the process is, then I have to have some faith that there is actually a process.

[00:24:58] And it is-

[00:24:59] Well, I mean, telling us, like telling you and I, perhaps they should justify it to Congress.

[00:25:04] I mean, they can do closed sessions.

[00:25:05] You know, it's-

[00:25:07] I realize it requires some trust.

[00:25:09] But look, we have a government.

[00:25:10] We have to exercise a little bit of trust in them or abolish the government.

[00:25:14] Those are our only two choices.

[00:25:15] Don't tease me.

[00:25:16] Don't threaten me with a good time, Nick.

[00:25:18] Don't do that.

[00:25:19] Hey, man.

[00:25:21] Well, let's be real here.

[00:25:23] Those are the only two choices.

[00:25:24] Either we have to trust that the processes they are doing are what they tell us they are,

[00:25:32] or we have to dismantle it because we can't go in and prove that those are the actual processes without dismantling it.

[00:25:43] I'm going to leave that whole train of thought alone.

[00:25:46] We're going to put it back on the track, send it on its way.

[00:25:49] Fair enough.

[00:25:50] I will just say that, like, that is where my mind goes at moments like this.

[00:25:56] It's like when the same government with a big G tells you at the same time, like, we're here to look out for you and protect you,

[00:26:05] and that's why you don't need to carry a firearm everywhere.

[00:26:09] But we knew about this guy before he did bad stuff, and we didn't do anything about it.

[00:26:14] When the same government apparatus does both of those things at the same time, I get this look on my face like,

[00:26:19] if you're not going to be responsible for the self-preservation protection of the people,

[00:26:27] then get out of people's way and let them do it themselves.

[00:26:29] Now, I don't think it's reasonable to expect police officers of any stripe to be everywhere simultaneously and protect people 100% of the time.

[00:26:38] I don't think it's reasonable.

[00:26:39] It's impossible.

[00:26:40] But then there should be some honest admission of we can't do it, so you should.

[00:26:47] It's not just the guns are bad, you don't need to carry a gun everywhere that aggravates me.

[00:26:53] It's that in tandem with we can't protect you.

[00:27:00] And the lack of the admission that they can't.

[00:27:03] Yes.

[00:27:04] I mean, look, let's be honest.

[00:27:05] I mean, it's the reason why I've tried to teach my wife and daughter so much of the things I know about.

[00:27:10] Like, I try to teach my daughter how to shoot.

[00:27:13] My wife and I were actually just talking the other day about how the two of us need to go to the gun range because she needs to put some rounds into the burp.

[00:27:19] Like, I'm trying to teach the two of them some of the things I know because I'm not always going to be by their side.

[00:27:25] And they have to know how to think and how to react.

[00:27:29] So I just wish that, like, we had the relationship with our government where they could admit,

[00:27:34] we can't protect you 100% of the time.

[00:27:37] So maybe just maybe we should do away with some of this nonsense that prevents you from carrying a firearm where you want to so that you can protect yourselves.

[00:27:43] That's all I'm saying.

[00:27:45] That's all I'm saying.

[00:27:45] Look, Bourbon Street is filled with people every freaking day.

[00:27:49] And anybody that says nobody on Bourbon Street has a gun already is full of it because there's a gang shooting down there like every other weekend.

[00:27:55] So there's plenty of people down there that have guns.

[00:27:57] But the people who are peace loving and trying to mind their business don't because they can't.

[00:28:03] Well.

[00:28:05] Or they're not supposed to.

[00:28:08] Because, you know, NOPD would put them under the jail forever in a day.

[00:28:13] But I digress.

[00:28:16] So that was not on my bingo card talk about today.

[00:28:19] But, you know, I woke up an hour ago to that.

[00:28:23] Yeah.

[00:28:24] So.

[00:28:26] Unfortunate.

[00:28:26] Hopefully we'll have some more information and we can go into it a little bit more.

[00:28:30] Kind of AAR it a little bit.

[00:28:32] Maybe next Thursday.

[00:28:33] We'll see what comes out.

[00:28:35] It might be two, three weeks before we actually get the realistic information out there.

[00:28:39] But.

[00:28:41] Yeah, we'll see.

[00:28:42] We meant to talk about today.

[00:28:45] Uh.

[00:28:46] So, Phil.

[00:28:48] Do you want to cover retrospective on last year first?

[00:28:52] So.

[00:28:53] I mean, looking back at this past year, like I.

[00:28:56] I remember because Andrew and I did this a year ago and I started off with goals.

[00:29:01] And.

[00:29:04] Some of them.

[00:29:05] How'd you do?

[00:29:07] 50-50.

[00:29:09] Hey, man.

[00:29:09] Life gets in the way for us all.

[00:29:10] Let's.

[00:29:11] What's your.

[00:29:12] Let's talk successes, man.

[00:29:13] What went well?

[00:29:15] Well.

[00:29:15] Okay.

[00:29:16] So I will.

[00:29:16] I will start off by saying that.

[00:29:20] I did.

[00:29:21] I did invest a lot of time.

[00:29:23] Fair amount of money.

[00:29:24] But a lot of time.

[00:29:25] Like.

[00:29:25] Beefing up that family.

[00:29:27] Back of communications plan.

[00:29:29] Mm-hmm.

[00:29:30] Uh.

[00:29:30] Got a lot of the equipment.

[00:29:31] Started freaking programming.

[00:29:32] Started learning it really well.

[00:29:34] Um.

[00:29:34] I picked a radio system being GMRS that's like.

[00:29:37] Very, very easy to teach the layperson.

[00:29:40] So that my wife and daughter are fully capable of operating all the equipment.

[00:29:44] Perfect.

[00:29:45] You know.

[00:29:45] I've even encouraged my dad to get into GMRS.

[00:29:48] Which he's a.

[00:29:49] He's an old school ham operator.

[00:29:51] Oh.

[00:29:51] So he'll pick GMRS up for like nothing.

[00:29:53] Oh.

[00:29:54] He already did.

[00:29:55] Like.

[00:29:56] Already did.

[00:29:56] He's.

[00:30:00] Um.

[00:30:01] He's been a licensed ham operator since before I was born.

[00:30:05] Nice.

[00:30:06] For.

[00:30:07] He would be a fun person to get on the show.

[00:30:09] But he's a very private person.

[00:30:10] But.

[00:30:11] Um.

[00:30:11] He.

[00:30:12] He tells me stories.

[00:30:13] And I remember this like.

[00:30:14] Hundred foot tower in the backyard.

[00:30:16] When I was growing up.

[00:30:17] Yeah.

[00:30:18] And he tells me.

[00:30:19] He was telling me stories the other day.

[00:30:20] About how him and a friend of his on the other side of town.

[00:30:23] They were bridging together a repeater net.

[00:30:27] Across.

[00:30:28] The.

[00:30:29] Uh.

[00:30:29] The southern half of the country.

[00:30:30] That was kind of paralleling.

[00:30:32] I-10.

[00:30:32] I-12.

[00:30:33] So my dad had.

[00:30:34] A directional antenna pointed west.

[00:30:38] And then.

[00:30:39] It was paired with a unidirectional antenna.

[00:30:41] So he would catch the signal from the repeater towers.

[00:30:44] Because in ham you can link.

[00:30:45] Okay.

[00:30:46] Yeah.

[00:30:46] Yeah.

[00:30:46] As long as the tones are set up.

[00:30:49] And your equipment can handle it.

[00:30:50] Yeah.

[00:30:50] Yeah.

[00:30:51] But it.

[00:30:51] It is permitted by the FCC.

[00:30:53] To link repeaters using RF frequencies.

[00:30:57] It is not permitted under GMRS.

[00:31:00] Okay.

[00:31:00] But he had a.

[00:31:01] But he was using a directional antenna.

[00:31:02] And then a unidirectional antenna.

[00:31:04] To catch that signal from the west.

[00:31:05] And rebroadcast it.

[00:31:07] And then a friend of his.

[00:31:08] Who I knew growing up.

[00:31:10] Cool guy.

[00:31:10] But he was on the opposite side of town.

[00:31:13] And had the exact opposite setup.

[00:31:14] With a.

[00:31:15] A directional antenna pointed east.

[00:31:18] To kind of catch that signal from my dad.

[00:31:20] And shoot it east.

[00:31:21] Across the state line.

[00:31:22] And to Lake Charles.

[00:31:24] Nice.

[00:31:24] So these.

[00:31:25] These two.

[00:31:26] These two radio nerds.

[00:31:28] Were the bridge.

[00:31:29] In the Beaumont area.

[00:31:31] To get that signal from Houston.

[00:31:33] All the way to Lake Charles.

[00:31:34] That's fantastic.

[00:31:36] Yeah.

[00:31:36] So when I told dad about GMRS.

[00:31:38] And how.

[00:31:39] How it works.

[00:31:40] And the.

[00:31:40] The crossover with FRS.

[00:31:42] Because the gun range that he volunteers at.

[00:31:44] A lot.

[00:31:45] They use.

[00:31:46] FRS radios.

[00:31:47] Yeah.

[00:31:47] So once I got him set up with GMRS.

[00:31:50] He was like.

[00:31:50] Now I can just use my own radio.

[00:31:52] Because I'm on the same frequencies.

[00:31:53] All of them are on.

[00:31:54] So.

[00:31:54] It's been interesting to kind of like.

[00:31:56] Get that whole thing stood up.

[00:31:57] Because that was a goal of mine for 2024.

[00:31:59] Was to.

[00:32:00] To figure out backup communications.

[00:32:02] Because it's one of the places where like.

[00:32:04] We really got kicked in the teeth.

[00:32:06] During Hurricane Ida.

[00:32:07] That we hadn't quite dealt with yet.

[00:32:09] Lessons learned.

[00:32:10] Yeah.

[00:32:11] And.

[00:32:12] I had a.

[00:32:13] I had kind of a.

[00:32:14] Thing where I wanted to be able to.

[00:32:15] I wanted.

[00:32:16] I wanted radio coverage across my town.

[00:32:18] So that if I were.

[00:32:20] If I were away from home.

[00:32:21] And Gilliam was home.

[00:32:22] Or vice versa.

[00:32:23] We'd be able to talk back and forth.

[00:32:25] We were kind of pushing in the direction.

[00:32:27] Of building a.

[00:32:29] A.

[00:32:29] Like an ammo can radio for her.

[00:32:31] So that she'd have more range.

[00:32:32] And she would with a handheld.

[00:32:34] And then the local amateur radio club.

[00:32:37] In Slidell.

[00:32:38] They have a tower.

[00:32:39] It's 600 feet.

[00:32:40] In Lacombe.

[00:32:42] And they reprogrammed that.

[00:32:43] That repeater from.

[00:32:45] UHF ham frequencies to GMRS.

[00:32:48] Nice.

[00:32:48] And it's been impressive.

[00:32:50] Like I.

[00:32:50] I was able to.

[00:32:52] Talk on that tower.

[00:32:52] From Ponchatoula.

[00:32:54] Louisiana.

[00:32:55] All the way down.

[00:32:56] Into New Orleans east.

[00:32:57] We've had contacts.

[00:32:58] As far down as Bell Chase.

[00:32:59] It's been.

[00:33:00] It's been impressive.

[00:33:02] So far.

[00:33:03] It's seeming like.

[00:33:05] 30.

[00:33:05] If you're within 30.

[00:33:06] 35 miles.

[00:33:07] Of Lacombe.

[00:33:07] Louisiana.

[00:33:08] You can hop up there.

[00:33:09] With impunity.

[00:33:10] Well it's not like you're going to have.

[00:33:11] Horizon issues down there.

[00:33:13] I mean you don't have.

[00:33:14] Hills.

[00:33:15] To block.

[00:33:15] No.

[00:33:16] Lots of.

[00:33:17] Well in here.

[00:33:17] The thing we have.

[00:33:18] Worse than anything.

[00:33:19] Is trees.

[00:33:20] Yeah.

[00:33:21] But when the tower.

[00:33:22] Is 600 feet off the ground.

[00:33:24] You're lying aside.

[00:33:25] Over all the trees.

[00:33:26] Anyway.

[00:33:27] Yeah.

[00:33:29] Well then.

[00:33:29] And oddly enough.

[00:33:30] You say that.

[00:33:31] About how you don't have any.

[00:33:33] Line aside.

[00:33:33] Or horizon issues.

[00:33:34] Down here.

[00:33:35] But one of the reasons.

[00:33:36] One of the reasons.

[00:33:37] I found that I was having so much trouble.

[00:33:39] Talking to the New Orleans repeater.

[00:33:41] Was.

[00:33:42] I'll talk about on the show.

[00:33:43] At another time.

[00:33:44] There's a tool.

[00:33:45] I found online.

[00:33:45] That lets you look at.

[00:33:46] What the.

[00:33:47] What the elevation is.

[00:33:48] Between you.

[00:33:48] And a known point on a map.

[00:33:50] There is a hundred foot.

[00:33:51] Elevation hill.

[00:33:52] Between me and New Orleans.

[00:33:54] It's in the middle.

[00:33:55] Of the state park.

[00:33:57] Interesting.

[00:33:57] I have no idea.

[00:33:58] How that's a hundred foot hill.

[00:33:59] Because I've been all throughout.

[00:34:00] That state park.

[00:34:01] But apparently.

[00:34:02] It's high ground.

[00:34:03] It's probably.

[00:34:07] Yeah.

[00:34:07] I mean.

[00:34:08] I'm very well.

[00:34:08] It's.

[00:34:09] Yeah.

[00:34:09] It's not like a.

[00:34:10] A mountain peak.

[00:34:11] Or anything.

[00:34:11] But like.

[00:34:12] Right.

[00:34:12] But a hundred feet.

[00:34:13] That's a.

[00:34:13] That's a significant line of sight block.

[00:34:15] If you're talking about man pack radios.

[00:34:17] Or handhelds.

[00:34:18] Yeah.

[00:34:18] The only way I was able to get over it.

[00:34:20] Was by standing up my antenna.

[00:34:22] Like 20 to 30 feet up off the ground.

[00:34:24] And the fact that the New Orleans repeater.

[00:34:26] Was 200 feet up.

[00:34:28] And we could like just skim over the top.

[00:34:30] But this thing here in the comb.

[00:34:31] Is.

[00:34:32] That's a game changer.

[00:34:33] Like I might be able to.

[00:34:34] 600 feet.

[00:34:35] Is a lot of line of sight.

[00:34:36] I might be able to talk to my dad.

[00:34:38] And Hammond.

[00:34:39] With him on a handheld.

[00:34:41] It's.

[00:34:41] It's got that kind of legs to it.

[00:34:44] Nice.

[00:34:45] Other than spending like.

[00:34:46] Way too much freaking time on that.

[00:34:51] Oh.

[00:34:51] There is something else.

[00:34:56] I mean.

[00:34:56] I had some.

[00:34:57] I had some things.

[00:34:58] I want some preparedness stuff.

[00:34:59] I wanted to upgrade.

[00:35:00] That kind of got pushed by the wayside.

[00:35:02] Because some of y'all bullied me.

[00:35:03] Into buying a 12 gauge.

[00:35:04] 12 gauge.

[00:35:06] That's a preparedness thing.

[00:35:08] It is a preparedness thing.

[00:35:09] There's no game.

[00:35:11] Two legged or four.

[00:35:12] Or winged on this continent.

[00:35:14] You cannot take with a 12 gauge.

[00:35:19] I will agree with that.

[00:35:21] There's something about frigging.

[00:35:23] Hitting.

[00:35:23] There's something about hitting a person.

[00:35:25] With a one ounce slug.

[00:35:26] That just says get off my lawn.

[00:35:28] Right.

[00:35:30] I mean.

[00:35:31] There are very few vehicles.

[00:35:33] If you had to interdict in the vehicle.

[00:35:35] That are going to.

[00:35:36] That are going to do well.

[00:35:37] After a one ounce slug.

[00:35:39] Into the engine block.

[00:35:41] I mean.

[00:35:42] Most of these modern ones.

[00:35:43] Are half plastic anyway.

[00:35:44] So you just.

[00:35:45] True.

[00:35:47] Half plastic.

[00:35:48] With aluminum.

[00:35:48] With aluminum blocks.

[00:35:50] Yeah.

[00:35:51] But yeah.

[00:35:52] I mean.

[00:35:53] So.

[00:35:53] Yeah.

[00:35:53] There was some reprioritizing of things.

[00:35:55] The one big fail that I had.

[00:35:57] I told Gilly the other day.

[00:35:58] Like.

[00:35:58] I.

[00:35:59] I am really serious.

[00:36:00] About wanting to.

[00:36:01] Sure this up for 2025.

[00:36:03] I've just got a.

[00:36:04] It's just.

[00:36:05] You know.

[00:36:05] The time.

[00:36:06] The money.

[00:36:06] And everything else.

[00:36:07] Everything else is going on.

[00:36:08] But I told her.

[00:36:09] I had set a goal for myself.

[00:36:10] To get it myself.

[00:36:11] Into a professional firearms training class.

[00:36:13] For 2024.

[00:36:14] Okay.

[00:36:14] That did not happen.

[00:36:16] Not between.

[00:36:17] Understandable.

[00:36:19] Not between.

[00:36:20] Like.

[00:36:20] It just.

[00:36:20] Everything going on.

[00:36:21] It just.

[00:36:22] It always kept getting pushed.

[00:36:24] Down the priority list.

[00:36:25] Until it.

[00:36:26] Went down too far.

[00:36:28] And we got to the end of the year.

[00:36:29] But this year.

[00:36:30] I'd really like to do that.

[00:36:33] There are some pistol.

[00:36:34] And some carving courses.

[00:36:36] Within striking distance of me.

[00:36:38] Honestly though.

[00:36:39] Since I.

[00:36:39] I would.

[00:36:41] Since I just got this.

[00:36:42] Beretta.

[00:36:42] I would really love to get into a shotgun class.

[00:36:44] That's not.

[00:36:46] Two days of driving.

[00:36:47] To go to MDFI.

[00:36:49] Yeah.

[00:36:49] Well.

[00:36:50] I mean.

[00:36:50] You don't like the idea.

[00:36:51] Coming to Illinois.

[00:36:53] We got a patron.

[00:36:54] That runs some classes up here.

[00:36:56] That are shotgun.

[00:36:58] I like the idea better.

[00:36:59] Of like.

[00:37:00] Getting him a plane ticket.

[00:37:01] Having him come down here.

[00:37:02] I mean.

[00:37:03] If you put together.

[00:37:04] Enough.

[00:37:05] Enough students.

[00:37:05] I'm sure you could go.

[00:37:06] Rope him into doing it.

[00:37:08] I mean.

[00:37:09] Yeah.

[00:37:09] I just.

[00:37:09] You can.

[00:37:10] You can bribe Trek.

[00:37:11] With enough money.

[00:37:12] And cigars.

[00:37:14] I mean.

[00:37:14] I can.

[00:37:15] The problem.

[00:37:16] I face down here.

[00:37:17] And the reason.

[00:37:18] I think that.

[00:37:19] Classes are so sparse.

[00:37:21] Is because.

[00:37:22] The majority.

[00:37:23] Of the.

[00:37:23] The majority.

[00:37:24] Of the customer base.

[00:37:25] For firearms training.

[00:37:26] Down here.

[00:37:26] Is law enforcement.

[00:37:28] Sure.

[00:37:28] That's a.

[00:37:29] That's a lot of areas.

[00:37:30] Of the country.

[00:37:30] I mean.

[00:37:31] I'm lucky enough.

[00:37:32] To live next to a major metro.

[00:37:34] Where there's.

[00:37:35] A big interest.

[00:37:36] In shooting.

[00:37:36] Surprisingly enough.

[00:37:37] For our gun laws.

[00:37:38] We've got a plethora.

[00:37:39] Of training companies.

[00:37:41] Yeah.

[00:37:41] But I guess.

[00:37:42] What I'm saying.

[00:37:42] Is like.

[00:37:43] The hard part.

[00:37:43] Is finding a good one.

[00:37:45] I think the problem.

[00:37:46] We have been bugging me.

[00:37:47] To come to his.

[00:37:47] So.

[00:37:48] We'll see.

[00:37:49] Frex.

[00:37:49] That's a high bar.

[00:37:50] The problem.

[00:37:51] I run into down here.

[00:37:52] Is that like.

[00:37:52] The average person.

[00:37:54] There's just not.

[00:37:55] There.

[00:37:55] There's not a lot of interest.

[00:37:56] In professional firearms.

[00:37:57] Training classes.

[00:37:59] And.

[00:38:01] There's not.

[00:38:03] By extension.

[00:38:04] There's not a lot of.

[00:38:05] Like.

[00:38:06] I don't want to say.

[00:38:07] High profile.

[00:38:08] Or well-known.

[00:38:08] But there's not.

[00:38:09] There's not a lot.

[00:38:10] Of firearms training.

[00:38:11] Course is available out there.

[00:38:12] Because there's not a huge.

[00:38:13] Mark for it.

[00:38:14] Outside of law enforcement.

[00:38:15] I mean.

[00:38:15] There's only.

[00:38:15] There's only.

[00:38:16] So many different agencies.

[00:38:17] You can farm your services.

[00:38:19] Out to.

[00:38:19] Before that winds up.

[00:38:20] Dry it up.

[00:38:22] So.

[00:38:22] I don't know.

[00:38:23] Like.

[00:38:24] There.

[00:38:24] There's.

[00:38:24] There are a handful.

[00:38:26] I will.

[00:38:26] If I cannot do anything.

[00:38:27] Are that a.

[00:38:28] A pistol course.

[00:38:29] That I'll probably just submit myself to that.

[00:38:31] But it's like.

[00:38:32] I told Gilead.

[00:38:32] I'm like.

[00:38:32] The last time.

[00:38:33] I was at a.

[00:38:35] Professional.

[00:38:36] Hands-on.

[00:38:37] Firearms training course.

[00:38:40] I was spinning up to go to Iraq.

[00:38:42] Like.

[00:38:42] That's how long it's been.

[00:38:43] It's been 20 years.

[00:38:45] And I would say that I.

[00:38:46] It's been too long.

[00:38:47] I probably shoot far better than the average person does.

[00:38:50] But there's something to be said for.

[00:38:52] Like.

[00:38:52] Putting myself in somebody's hands.

[00:38:54] And being like.

[00:38:55] Treat me like I.

[00:38:56] Treat me like I can't spell Glock.

[00:38:58] And like.

[00:38:59] You know.

[00:38:59] Start me over from scratch.

[00:39:00] Teach me.

[00:39:05] Yeah.

[00:39:05] Ben.

[00:39:06] Unfortunately.

[00:39:07] Like.

[00:39:07] I know.

[00:39:08] I know.

[00:39:09] And here's my curse.

[00:39:10] It's like.

[00:39:12] If I was just looking for a shooting buddy.

[00:39:14] I got a.

[00:39:14] I got a Rolodex full of people I could call.

[00:39:16] That we could go out to the gun range.

[00:39:18] And you know.

[00:39:18] Put lead into the berm.

[00:39:19] That's not the problem.

[00:39:20] The problem is.

[00:39:22] Of the people I know.

[00:39:24] I would say we are all.

[00:39:26] Above average.

[00:39:27] You know.

[00:39:28] Marksmen.

[00:39:28] We're all above average.

[00:39:29] With a firearm.

[00:39:31] But.

[00:39:32] Every last one of them.

[00:39:33] Is kind of in the same.

[00:39:34] All.

[00:39:34] Every last one of us.

[00:39:35] Is kind of in the same boat.

[00:39:36] Of yeah.

[00:39:37] We're pretty good.

[00:39:38] But there's no one there.

[00:39:40] That is like.

[00:39:41] Their bread and butter.

[00:39:41] Is teaching.

[00:39:43] Hmm.

[00:39:44] And that's the.

[00:39:45] That's the problem.

[00:39:45] I'm running into.

[00:39:46] I know a couple of instructors.

[00:39:48] In the area.

[00:39:49] I haven't really.

[00:39:50] Been able to.

[00:39:51] Make an inroad.

[00:39:52] With any of them.

[00:39:53] There's one in particular.

[00:39:54] Who actually.

[00:39:55] I found out recently.

[00:39:57] When I went to order this shotgun.

[00:39:58] One of them.

[00:39:59] Works part-time.

[00:40:00] At the gun store.

[00:40:01] That my friend owns.

[00:40:02] Oh.

[00:40:03] So that.

[00:40:04] And he's.

[00:40:04] He's been teaching.

[00:40:06] Mostly like concealed carry courses.

[00:40:08] But he does teach.

[00:40:09] Pistol A and carping.

[00:40:10] But he's been in.

[00:40:11] He's been teaching this area.

[00:40:12] 20 years.

[00:40:14] Sounds like you need to.

[00:40:16] Get introduced.

[00:40:18] Yeah.

[00:40:18] I'm starting to kind of get that feeling.

[00:40:20] Like.

[00:40:21] Because like literally.

[00:40:22] When I.

[00:40:22] When I walked in.

[00:40:23] Like I recognized him.

[00:40:24] And I was like.

[00:40:27] I didn't realize you worked here.

[00:40:28] He's like.

[00:40:28] Yeah.

[00:40:28] I've been working here part-time.

[00:40:29] For a couple of years.

[00:40:30] And I was like.

[00:40:30] Oh.

[00:40:31] Small freaking world.

[00:40:32] And you know.

[00:40:33] We got to talking.

[00:40:34] Because I deploy.

[00:40:35] I deployed Iraq.

[00:40:36] With the.

[00:40:37] One of the owners.

[00:40:38] Of the gun store.

[00:40:39] That's why I spent all my money.

[00:40:40] With them.

[00:40:41] Because.

[00:40:44] I mean.

[00:40:44] You know.

[00:40:45] I might as well put his kids.

[00:40:46] Through college.

[00:40:46] While I'm.

[00:40:47] Making sure that mine.

[00:40:48] Will never go.

[00:40:49] I'm joking.

[00:40:50] I'm joking.

[00:40:51] My kid is going to college.

[00:40:52] If she wants to.

[00:40:54] She's far smarter.

[00:40:55] Than her father.

[00:40:56] She deserves.

[00:40:56] She deserves an education.

[00:40:59] So anyway.

[00:41:00] Yeah.

[00:41:01] I mean.

[00:41:01] That's kind of.

[00:41:02] The retrospective.

[00:41:03] Into.

[00:41:04] What I.

[00:41:05] What I really.

[00:41:06] Want to show up.

[00:41:07] For this year.

[00:41:07] Because.

[00:41:08] It didn't happen last year.

[00:41:10] And I could make.

[00:41:11] A million excuses.

[00:41:12] But the.

[00:41:12] The simplest.

[00:41:13] Honest.

[00:41:14] Most honest.

[00:41:15] One is really just like.

[00:41:16] It was in the priority list.

[00:41:18] And then.

[00:41:19] Things got shuffled.

[00:41:20] And.

[00:41:20] The more things got shuffled.

[00:41:22] The more.

[00:41:23] The more I came back.

[00:41:24] To this.

[00:41:25] Inescapable conclusion.

[00:41:26] Of like.

[00:41:27] It's kind of like.

[00:41:28] Some of the stuff.

[00:41:29] I wanted to upgrade.

[00:41:30] From the preparedness standpoint.

[00:41:31] I have it.

[00:41:33] It works.

[00:41:34] It's not what I would like.

[00:41:35] It's not modern.

[00:41:36] It's not the best available.

[00:41:38] It's something that should get.

[00:41:39] Replaced and upgraded.

[00:41:41] Right.

[00:41:41] It's.

[00:41:42] It needs to be.

[00:41:43] But I have it.

[00:41:44] And it works.

[00:41:45] And there were other things.

[00:41:46] I did not have.

[00:41:47] So.

[00:41:48] Every time I did that.

[00:41:49] Reshuffle.

[00:41:50] The firearms training.

[00:41:52] Went down the list.

[00:41:52] Because it's like.

[00:41:53] Phil.

[00:41:53] Be honest.

[00:41:54] You shoot better than.

[00:41:56] 80% of people.

[00:41:58] I'm not a grandmaster.

[00:41:59] I'm not an IPSC guy.

[00:42:01] I'm not going to win.

[00:42:01] A3 gun competitions.

[00:42:02] I don't care to.

[00:42:04] But I know.

[00:42:05] I know from reading.

[00:42:06] The tea leaves.

[00:42:06] And looking at people.

[00:42:07] And shooting with a lot of people.

[00:42:09] I out shoot a lot of people.

[00:42:11] So it's like.

[00:42:12] Where do I.

[00:42:13] Where do I put this thing.

[00:42:14] In the priority list.

[00:42:15] When it's like.

[00:42:15] I want to improve this skill.

[00:42:16] That is already.

[00:42:17] Way above average.

[00:42:19] Sure.

[00:42:20] And it would go down the list.

[00:42:22] That's fair.

[00:42:23] And you know.

[00:42:24] I think that now.

[00:42:24] You have a new weapons platform.

[00:42:26] Really.

[00:42:26] That has to go up the list.

[00:42:28] And that's kind of why.

[00:42:29] That's kind of why.

[00:42:31] It's so different.

[00:42:32] It is so different.

[00:42:34] Shooting a shotgun well.

[00:42:35] And really.

[00:42:36] Shooting a shotgun well.

[00:42:37] 100% comes down to.

[00:42:39] Reloading a shotgun efficiently.

[00:42:42] And.

[00:42:43] Snap caps.

[00:42:44] Yeah.

[00:42:45] So let me take this.

[00:42:46] As my opportunity.

[00:42:48] To do a PSA for everybody.

[00:42:49] This is.

[00:42:49] This is a snap cap.

[00:42:50] So that's a little bit of rubber.

[00:42:52] This is a.

[00:42:53] Weighted snap cap.

[00:42:54] So it's about the weight.

[00:42:56] Of a fully loaded slug.

[00:42:58] Um.

[00:42:59] I highly recommend.

[00:43:01] And by the way.

[00:43:01] Like.

[00:43:02] I do this for every.

[00:43:03] Every new firearm I get.

[00:43:05] I have snap caps.

[00:43:06] But then again.

[00:43:06] I have a reloading press.

[00:43:07] I can usually just make my own.

[00:43:09] From components.

[00:43:10] And I usually do.

[00:43:10] But yeah.

[00:43:11] For.

[00:43:11] For centerfire components.

[00:43:12] I usually knock them out.

[00:43:13] I don't know about myself.

[00:43:14] Yeah.

[00:43:15] But all that being said.

[00:43:17] As a general rule.

[00:43:19] I make.

[00:43:20] Five.

[00:43:21] Three to five snap caps.

[00:43:23] For every cartridge.

[00:43:25] And then.

[00:43:26] I use those.

[00:43:27] A lot of times.

[00:43:27] I use them.

[00:43:28] If I'm doing like.

[00:43:30] Magazine change drills.

[00:43:31] Or anything like that.

[00:43:32] Where I.

[00:43:32] I don't want to have to hit.

[00:43:33] The slide release.

[00:43:35] To drop the slide.

[00:43:36] Like if I'm doing.

[00:43:37] Administrative reloads.

[00:43:38] Where.

[00:43:38] You know.

[00:43:39] Like you assume.

[00:43:39] You have one in the chamber.

[00:43:40] There's just different drills.

[00:43:41] That really helps to have.

[00:43:43] Snap caps.

[00:43:43] So you don't.

[00:43:44] Activate the slide lock.

[00:43:45] I got those six.

[00:43:47] Before I even.

[00:43:48] Before.

[00:43:48] When the shotgun was still on order.

[00:43:50] And from the moment it came in.

[00:43:52] I've spent an inordinate amount of time.

[00:43:54] Doing nothing.

[00:43:55] But just reload.

[00:43:56] Reload.

[00:43:57] Reload.

[00:43:57] Reload.

[00:43:58] Download.

[00:43:58] Download.

[00:43:59] Download.

[00:43:59] Over and over.

[00:44:00] And over.

[00:44:02] Out of.

[00:44:02] Out of my pocket.

[00:44:04] Off of a desk.

[00:44:06] Out of the side saddle.

[00:44:08] Teaching my fingers.

[00:44:09] And developing that dexterity.

[00:44:11] Of this is what these things feel like.

[00:44:12] This is what they feel like.

[00:44:13] When they're upside down.

[00:44:14] This is what they feel like.

[00:44:14] When they're right side up.

[00:44:16] Because.

[00:44:16] I was given some very heartfelt advice.

[00:44:19] For someone.

[00:44:19] When I talked to them.

[00:44:20] About getting into shotguns.

[00:44:23] And they told me.

[00:44:24] Given that.

[00:44:26] I'm already a reasonable marksman.

[00:44:27] With a rifle.

[00:44:28] They said.

[00:44:29] The thing I recommend you do.

[00:44:30] Is invest.

[00:44:32] Literally.

[00:44:32] 10 times.

[00:44:33] More time.

[00:44:34] Learning to reload.

[00:44:35] Than you do.

[00:44:36] To how to shoot.

[00:44:37] Because you could.

[00:44:38] If you can shoot a rifle.

[00:44:39] You already understand.

[00:44:40] Side alignment.

[00:44:40] You already understand.

[00:44:41] How to shoulder it.

[00:44:42] You already understand.

[00:44:42] You already understand.

[00:44:43] All those things.

[00:44:45] You need to learn.

[00:44:46] How to reload this thing.

[00:44:47] Quickly.

[00:44:48] Because you are going.

[00:44:49] To be reloading it.

[00:44:50] All the damn time.

[00:44:53] The way.

[00:44:53] The way he put it was.

[00:44:54] He said.

[00:44:54] You know.

[00:44:55] What's the old self-defense.

[00:44:56] Adage.

[00:44:57] If you're not shooting.

[00:44:58] You should be moving.

[00:44:59] If you're not moving.

[00:45:00] You should be reloading.

[00:45:01] Yada yada yada.

[00:45:02] He said.

[00:45:03] With a shotgun.

[00:45:05] If you are not shooting.

[00:45:06] You should be reloading.

[00:45:07] While doing anything else.

[00:45:09] Like.

[00:45:10] If you're moving.

[00:45:10] You better be moving.

[00:45:11] While topping the gun up.

[00:45:13] If you are not.

[00:45:14] Literally.

[00:45:14] Sending lead.

[00:45:15] Down the barrel.

[00:45:16] You better be.

[00:45:16] You better be hitting that.

[00:45:18] That loading port.

[00:45:19] Constantly.

[00:45:19] Because you're going to run at ammo.

[00:45:20] Real fast.

[00:45:22] Oh yeah.

[00:45:22] So I took that to heart.

[00:45:23] Five rounds.

[00:45:24] Six rounds.

[00:45:24] Eight rounds.

[00:45:25] Goes quick.

[00:45:27] Yes.

[00:45:28] Anybody that thinks otherwise.

[00:45:29] Load seven rounds.

[00:45:30] An AR-15.

[00:45:31] And tell me how fast.

[00:45:31] That goes.

[00:45:34] But that's the game.

[00:45:35] With a shotgun.

[00:45:36] Like you.

[00:45:36] You know going into it.

[00:45:37] That's what you're going to get.

[00:45:38] You have a very.

[00:45:38] A very capacitive.

[00:45:40] Limited weapon.

[00:45:41] And you are going to be working.

[00:45:43] The loading port.

[00:45:45] Like a bar winch.

[00:45:46] On $2 a night.

[00:45:47] I mean it's going to be.

[00:45:49] You're going to be.

[00:45:50] Hitting it constantly.

[00:45:52] Yep.

[00:45:52] It has to be.

[00:45:54] It has to be.

[00:45:54] It has to be.

[00:45:55] It has to be.

[00:45:55] But that being said.

[00:45:57] Yeah.

[00:45:57] I mean.

[00:45:57] I would love to get.

[00:45:59] If I can find one within drive distance.

[00:46:01] I'd love to get into a shotgun class.

[00:46:02] If not shotgun.

[00:46:03] Just because that's the new platform for me to learn.

[00:46:05] I would take handgun.

[00:46:07] Because I shoot rifles better than handguns.

[00:46:10] And I carry handguns more than rifles.

[00:46:11] For obvious reasons.

[00:46:12] So like.

[00:46:13] I really want to be in a professional.

[00:46:15] A professionally taught class this year.

[00:46:18] I think it's a great idea.

[00:46:20] You know.

[00:46:21] But.

[00:46:21] For me last year.

[00:46:23] The one.

[00:46:24] The one big goal I fell short of.

[00:46:26] Was doing.

[00:46:27] Improving my fitness.

[00:46:27] As much as I was hoping to.

[00:46:30] Oh Nick.

[00:46:31] I haven't.

[00:46:32] I haven't lost ground.

[00:46:33] I have maintained.

[00:46:35] Which is good.

[00:46:37] But.

[00:46:38] Man.

[00:46:39] It.

[00:46:40] It's not as easy.

[00:46:42] To improve my fitness.

[00:46:44] As it was.

[00:46:45] And.

[00:46:46] My life.

[00:46:47] Is very busy.

[00:46:49] There's a reason why.

[00:46:51] The camera stops.

[00:46:52] At about mid chest.

[00:46:53] For both of us.

[00:46:55] True.

[00:46:55] True.

[00:46:57] But for.

[00:46:57] For like.

[00:46:58] From my family's medical history.

[00:47:00] It is.

[00:47:00] It is extra important for me.

[00:47:02] A lot of cardiac issues.

[00:47:04] In my family.

[00:47:05] A lot of degenerative joint.

[00:47:06] Muscle and bone issues.

[00:47:07] In my family.

[00:47:09] So.

[00:47:10] I.

[00:47:10] Kind of got to be a little more.

[00:47:12] Proactive about it.

[00:47:13] Than.

[00:47:14] Than other people.

[00:47:15] Not.

[00:47:15] Not saying you can ever.

[00:47:16] Get away from it entirely.

[00:47:18] But that's.

[00:47:19] That's where I fell short.

[00:47:20] This year.

[00:47:21] And.

[00:47:22] In 2025.

[00:47:23] That's one of my.

[00:47:24] That's one of the focuses.

[00:47:25] I'm going to be working on.

[00:47:26] I mean.

[00:47:26] I was.

[00:47:27] I was able to do.

[00:47:28] To get into a firearms class.

[00:47:29] Which was another goal of mine.

[00:47:31] For 2024.

[00:47:32] 2024.

[00:47:33] Was able to take a class.

[00:47:34] With Andrew up at MDFI.

[00:47:36] Highly recommend.

[00:47:37] If you're in the Michigan area.

[00:47:39] Or.

[00:47:39] Anywhere within a reasonable.

[00:47:40] Driving distance.

[00:47:42] Not 18 hours.

[00:47:42] One of their classes.

[00:47:44] Well.

[00:47:44] 18 hours.

[00:47:45] Yeah.

[00:47:45] That's.

[00:47:45] That's.

[00:47:45] That's a lot.

[00:47:46] That's a lot to ask.

[00:47:47] But for me.

[00:47:47] It's like a.

[00:47:48] Four and a half.

[00:47:49] Five hour drive.

[00:47:50] I forget exactly.

[00:47:51] How long it took me.

[00:47:51] To get up there.

[00:47:52] But.

[00:47:52] I was able to leave.

[00:47:53] After work.

[00:47:54] Get up to Andrew's.

[00:47:55] Have dinner.

[00:47:56] Go out to the class.

[00:47:56] All day.

[00:47:57] The next day.

[00:47:57] And then drive home.

[00:47:58] The following morning.

[00:48:00] Not a big deal.

[00:48:03] Not too bad anyway.

[00:48:05] And for.

[00:48:07] For the value.

[00:48:08] I got out of that class.

[00:48:09] I would say it was well worth.

[00:48:11] The six hour.

[00:48:12] The five.

[00:48:13] Six hour drive.

[00:48:13] Whatever it was.

[00:48:14] The five hour drive.

[00:48:15] One way.

[00:48:17] You know.

[00:48:18] For.

[00:48:21] And most of that class.

[00:48:22] Was focused on reloading.

[00:48:23] Believe it or not.

[00:48:25] I'm not sure.

[00:48:25] I mean.

[00:48:27] You spent.

[00:48:27] You spent about two times.

[00:48:29] Two and a half.

[00:48:30] Or three times more time.

[00:48:32] Reloading that shotgun.

[00:48:33] Than you did actually shooting it.

[00:48:35] And towards the end of the class.

[00:48:36] They do the rolling thunder drill.

[00:48:38] Which I'm sure.

[00:48:38] Andrew's brought up on the podcast.

[00:48:40] Before where.

[00:48:41] One of the.

[00:48:42] One of the rounds of that.

[00:48:43] We did was.

[00:48:44] You were only allowed.

[00:48:46] One round in your shotgun.

[00:48:48] And some of the shots were a four string.

[00:48:50] A shot.

[00:48:52] Four rounds fired.

[00:48:53] Before you passed it off to the next guy.

[00:48:55] So it was.

[00:48:56] Four emergency reloads.

[00:48:58] In a row.

[00:49:00] At all.

[00:49:00] That slows you down.

[00:49:02] A lot.

[00:49:03] But it's also a lot of fun.

[00:49:05] So.

[00:49:06] If you guys can.

[00:49:07] Get out to a class.

[00:49:08] It's fun.

[00:49:09] This year for me.

[00:49:10] One of the big things I got to work on.

[00:49:12] Is actually.

[00:49:13] Believe it or not.

[00:49:14] More of my house.

[00:49:16] In fact.

[00:49:17] Next week or two here.

[00:49:18] I'm going to be going over to.

[00:49:19] The local hardware store.

[00:49:20] And picking up.

[00:49:21] A full filter setup.

[00:49:22] To replace the.

[00:49:24] Dead filter setup.

[00:49:25] That I have now.

[00:49:26] Which is not user serviceable.

[00:49:29] Thing you'll find out.

[00:49:31] I like user serviceable things.

[00:49:33] I like things that I can't imagine why.

[00:49:35] Yeah.

[00:49:37] I don't like having to call.

[00:49:39] A repair person out.

[00:49:41] To tell me for $200.

[00:49:43] That.

[00:49:43] Oh.

[00:49:44] Nope.

[00:49:44] It's completely shot.

[00:49:46] Because it was never serviceable.

[00:49:47] To begin with.

[00:49:49] I don't like components.

[00:49:51] That are built to function.

[00:49:52] Until they fail.

[00:49:53] Because I'd rather do.

[00:49:54] Preventative maintenance.

[00:49:55] It just.

[00:49:56] It's so much more worthwhile.

[00:49:58] For your money.

[00:49:59] In the long term.

[00:50:00] So that's one thing.

[00:50:01] I got to fix on my house.

[00:50:02] And then hopefully.

[00:50:03] I can start doing.

[00:50:05] The preventative changes.

[00:50:06] To all of my plumbing.

[00:50:07] In my house.

[00:50:08] Because the house was built.

[00:50:09] In 64.

[00:50:10] 64.

[00:50:11] And yes.

[00:50:12] Copper pipes last a long time.

[00:50:14] They do not last forever.

[00:50:16] And there is nothing worse.

[00:50:17] Than coming home after an 8 hour day.

[00:50:19] To find.

[00:50:20] Your well has been pumping.

[00:50:21] 8 hours worth of water.

[00:50:23] Into your basement.

[00:50:25] Oh.

[00:50:26] Uh huh.

[00:50:27] Amen.

[00:50:27] It happens.

[00:50:28] It happens.

[00:50:29] And if I can take the time.

[00:50:31] Ahead of time.

[00:50:32] And a few dollars.

[00:50:34] To correct problems.

[00:50:35] I'm seeing.

[00:50:37] That have not become a problem yet.

[00:50:39] But will.

[00:50:40] I think that is a far better time investment.

[00:50:42] Than the emergency repair.

[00:50:45] So I want to try to get that.

[00:50:46] Taken care of this year.

[00:50:48] Ideally.

[00:50:49] And to me.

[00:50:50] That's a prep.

[00:50:51] I mean.

[00:50:52] Dude.

[00:50:52] If it saves you money.

[00:50:53] Or pain in the ass.

[00:50:55] It.

[00:50:55] It's preparedness.

[00:50:56] Like.

[00:50:56] I agree.

[00:50:57] I see it.

[00:50:57] I agree.

[00:50:58] I think.

[00:50:59] One of the most important things.

[00:51:01] You can do.

[00:51:01] Is to.

[00:51:02] Preventatively.

[00:51:03] Maintain things on your house.

[00:51:05] Because.

[00:51:05] Entropy is going to come.

[00:51:06] And kick your butt.

[00:51:07] One way or another.

[00:51:08] You might as well try to get ahead of it.

[00:51:09] While it's not an emergency.

[00:51:11] Because.

[00:51:11] I mean.

[00:51:12] Man.

[00:51:12] An emergency call.

[00:51:13] On a plumber right now.

[00:51:14] Is like.

[00:51:14] I think it's like.

[00:51:15] 150 or 200 dollars.

[00:51:17] An hour.

[00:51:18] Well.

[00:51:18] I mean.

[00:51:19] Let.

[00:51:19] Let's.

[00:51:19] Let's just put this into context.

[00:51:21] Your home is.

[00:51:22] Your shelter.

[00:51:23] It is.

[00:51:25] Almost certainly.

[00:51:26] The location of.

[00:51:27] A not inconsequential amount.

[00:51:28] Of your.

[00:51:29] Emergency preps.

[00:51:31] It is also.

[00:51:32] More than likely.

[00:51:33] Your most expensive asset.

[00:51:36] If you're a homeowner.

[00:51:37] Probably your biggest.

[00:51:39] Appreciating.

[00:51:40] Investment.

[00:51:40] As well.

[00:51:41] Yes.

[00:51:42] And.

[00:51:43] If you have a mortgage.

[00:51:44] It's also your greatest liability.

[00:51:46] So.

[00:51:46] You know.

[00:51:46] All those things.

[00:51:47] Wrapped up together.

[00:51:48] So.

[00:51:48] It is all of the things.

[00:51:51] Yeah.

[00:51:51] But.

[00:51:52] This.

[00:51:52] This gets to.

[00:51:53] Like.

[00:51:54] This gets to another topic.

[00:51:56] Which is like.

[00:51:57] I.

[00:51:58] I was watching a content creator.

[00:51:59] The other day.

[00:52:00] Saying why he.

[00:52:01] He no longer considers.

[00:52:02] He considered himself a prepper.

[00:52:04] And I have.

[00:52:04] I have thoughts.

[00:52:05] About.

[00:52:06] Okay.

[00:52:06] His whole thing.

[00:52:08] But that's another episode.

[00:52:10] Because.

[00:52:10] Send me a link to it.

[00:52:11] I'll watch it.

[00:52:12] I gotta see if I can find.

[00:52:13] I.

[00:52:13] It was on Instagram.

[00:52:15] I can probably find it again.

[00:52:16] Okay.

[00:52:17] But.

[00:52:19] In any.

[00:52:19] No.

[00:52:20] Was it?

[00:52:20] No.

[00:52:21] It wasn't on Instagram.

[00:52:22] Yes.

[00:52:22] It was.

[00:52:23] I'll have to find it.

[00:52:29] It was a mindset.

[00:52:30] And.

[00:52:31] If it.

[00:52:32] If it.

[00:52:33] Guards.

[00:52:33] Your.

[00:52:34] Wealth.

[00:52:35] Or if it.

[00:52:36] Prevents.

[00:52:37] Some calamity.

[00:52:38] From befalling you in your family.

[00:52:39] Then it's preparedness.

[00:52:40] Like.

[00:52:41] It's a big tent.

[00:52:42] For a reason.

[00:52:43] It is.

[00:52:44] But.

[00:52:45] Before we wrap this up.

[00:52:46] Like.

[00:52:46] The other.

[00:52:47] The one other thing.

[00:52:48] I really want to.

[00:52:49] Like.

[00:52:49] We're doing it.

[00:52:50] We're in the process of doing it.

[00:52:51] Me and my wife.

[00:52:52] Is.

[00:52:52] Cypress survivalist.

[00:52:54] Like.

[00:52:54] It's the.

[00:52:55] I feel like.

[00:52:56] It's the.

[00:52:57] It's the last.

[00:52:58] Brick.

[00:52:59] In a long road.

[00:53:01] Of trying to get people to think about.

[00:53:04] Preparedness.

[00:53:05] Trying to get normal people to think about preparedness.

[00:53:08] And it's taken.

[00:53:09] This many years.

[00:53:11] To get to the.

[00:53:12] To get to the point where.

[00:53:14] I feel like.

[00:53:15] I have enough knowledge.

[00:53:17] To like.

[00:53:18] Actually offer something of value to a community.

[00:53:20] To get to the point where.

[00:53:22] To.

[00:53:23] I guess.

[00:53:23] To get to the point emotionally.

[00:53:25] Where I'm prepared to stand up in front of.

[00:53:27] A lot of people.

[00:53:28] And talk to them for eight hours.

[00:53:30] Which is a thing for an introvert.

[00:53:31] But.

[00:53:32] Hey man.

[00:53:33] I don't.

[00:53:33] It.

[00:53:34] I.

[00:53:35] I.

[00:53:35] I think that.

[00:53:36] It will be beneficial.

[00:53:38] And I think that the connection.

[00:53:39] The possibility.

[00:53:40] For the positive connections.

[00:53:42] And networking.

[00:53:42] To happen in.

[00:53:43] Your local area.

[00:53:45] Is a huge upside.

[00:53:47] And that.

[00:53:48] That is.

[00:53:48] No offense.

[00:53:49] But.

[00:53:49] Hurricane happens.

[00:53:50] I can't help you.

[00:53:51] No.

[00:53:52] And I mean.

[00:53:52] That.

[00:53:52] That's.

[00:53:58] And I've.

[00:53:59] I.

[00:53:59] I've taken it to heart.

[00:54:01] Because it's something I've been thinking about for a while.

[00:54:03] But he said.

[00:54:03] You know.

[00:54:03] The day after Hurricane Ida.

[00:54:05] He said.

[00:54:06] If I would have called.

[00:54:07] I'd have had three friends with Chainsaws in my front yard.

[00:54:09] We'd have had the whole problem unwound in a day.

[00:54:11] Correct.

[00:54:11] But.

[00:54:12] It's like Stuart said.

[00:54:13] He said.

[00:54:14] Phil.

[00:54:15] You don't need 30 friends.

[00:54:17] That are.

[00:54:18] 12 hours away.

[00:54:19] You need three friends that are.

[00:54:21] 12 minutes away.

[00:54:22] I mean.

[00:54:23] It'll be nice.

[00:54:23] When.

[00:54:24] If and when your daughter goes off to college out of state to have friends nearby.

[00:54:29] Yeah.

[00:54:29] I mean.

[00:54:30] There's something to be said for like.

[00:54:31] A broad.

[00:54:32] The broad preparedness community.

[00:54:34] All being networked.

[00:54:35] Interconnected together.

[00:54:36] But.

[00:54:37] You know.

[00:54:38] Stuart's right.

[00:54:38] We.

[00:54:39] We have to start taking the time.

[00:54:40] And putting out the.

[00:54:41] Putting in the effort.

[00:54:42] To try to build like some local groups.

[00:54:45] Because.

[00:54:46] Frankly.

[00:54:47] If things ever go bad enough.

[00:54:49] We're all.

[00:54:50] Gonna have to rely on our neighbors.

[00:54:51] Like there's no.

[00:54:52] It's.

[00:54:53] You've heard me say before.

[00:54:55] If an emergency happens.

[00:54:56] You're automatically.

[00:54:57] First.

[00:54:57] The first responder.

[00:54:58] Like you don't get to pick.

[00:55:00] You're there.

[00:55:01] You're either.

[00:55:01] You're either the victim.

[00:55:02] Or the first responder.

[00:55:03] Yeah.

[00:55:04] You.

[00:55:04] It happened.

[00:55:05] You're there.

[00:55:05] You're it.

[00:55:06] Pick.

[00:55:06] You know.

[00:55:07] Like tag.

[00:55:08] You're it.

[00:55:08] You don't get to.

[00:55:09] No.

[00:55:09] No takesies backsies on that deal.

[00:55:11] Well.

[00:55:12] If.

[00:55:13] A bad enough emergency happens.

[00:55:15] You're gonna depend on your neighbors.

[00:55:16] Because they're there.

[00:55:17] And the emergencies happen.

[00:55:18] And there's no way around it.

[00:55:20] So the question is.

[00:55:21] Wouldn't it be really cool.

[00:55:22] If your neighbors.

[00:55:24] Thought the way you did.

[00:55:25] And had their own food.

[00:55:27] And their own preps.

[00:55:28] And their own stuff.

[00:55:28] So that not only could they take care of themselves.

[00:55:30] But they can help.

[00:55:31] We can all take.

[00:55:32] Help take care of each other.

[00:55:34] That is what I'm trying.

[00:55:35] To build.

[00:55:37] Through this non-profit.

[00:55:38] Because if I can make that work.

[00:55:40] In this happy little suburban community.

[00:55:43] Then maybe just maybe.

[00:55:45] This could work in other places.

[00:55:47] And it could build.

[00:55:48] Lots of little groups.

[00:55:49] Around the country.

[00:55:50] Where everybody has.

[00:55:52] Kind of like that small group.

[00:55:53] That anchor point.

[00:55:54] To say these are the people.

[00:55:55] That have been in this lifestyle.

[00:55:56] For a long time.

[00:55:57] But then let's grab everybody around y'all.

[00:56:00] And build them up together.

[00:56:01] To make a whole bunch of like.

[00:56:02] Little bitty mutual assistance groups.

[00:56:04] Perfect.

[00:56:05] Perfect.

[00:56:05] Is that.

[00:56:07] Extremely idealistic.

[00:56:09] And aspirational.

[00:56:09] Hell yes.

[00:56:10] But you know.

[00:56:11] Gotta start somewhere.

[00:56:13] Well.

[00:56:13] I gotta try.

[00:56:14] And if it doesn't work.

[00:56:16] Then.

[00:56:16] I'll just keep talking to you nerds forever.

[00:56:18] And.

[00:56:19] Know that my neighbors aren't going to be much help.

[00:56:23] Hey.

[00:56:23] You know what man.

[00:56:24] If you can convince even one other person.

[00:56:27] In your local area.

[00:56:28] Or two other people in your local area.

[00:56:31] Worst case.

[00:56:32] It just makes the next hurricane.

[00:56:33] Less of a drain.

[00:56:35] On local.

[00:56:37] First responder resources.

[00:56:39] Yeah.

[00:56:41] And realist.

[00:56:42] Let's be real here.

[00:56:43] I mean.

[00:56:43] If you do have a hurricane.

[00:56:44] And it takes out.

[00:56:46] One of their neighbors houses.

[00:56:47] Not if.

[00:56:48] Well yeah.

[00:56:49] I mean.

[00:56:49] I'm saying.

[00:56:50] When you do have a hurricane.

[00:56:51] And it damages one of their neighbors houses.

[00:56:53] And they're able to help that neighbor.

[00:56:54] At the very least.

[00:56:55] Keep them.

[00:56:56] From being in a food pantry line.

[00:56:59] Great.

[00:57:00] That's room for another person that.

[00:57:02] Financially cannot handle that.

[00:57:07] Mm-hmm.

[00:57:08] It's never going to make the situation worse.

[00:57:11] To have one more person.

[00:57:12] That can handle it themselves.

[00:57:17] No.

[00:57:17] Again.

[00:57:18] Like I.

[00:57:19] I think it's something that has to be pursued.

[00:57:21] And we are pursuing it.

[00:57:22] That's.

[00:57:23] That's not going to be something that at the end of this year.

[00:57:25] We're going to say.

[00:57:26] Oh.

[00:57:26] We didn't do that.

[00:57:27] Like it's going to happen.

[00:57:28] Because we've already.

[00:57:29] You've reserved the tent.

[00:57:31] Well.

[00:57:32] Well.

[00:57:32] I reserved the event.

[00:57:34] So that I couldn't back out.

[00:57:36] And then we went and stood up a non-profit.

[00:57:39] Which for any of you that have never started a business.

[00:57:41] That the.

[00:57:41] That amount of legalese and paperwork.

[00:57:43] Will make you hate the IRS.

[00:57:45] Even worse than you already do.

[00:57:46] But at this point.

[00:57:48] Like we've got so much.

[00:57:50] We've got so much freaking paperwork.

[00:57:52] And money tied up.

[00:57:53] And just standing up this organization.

[00:57:55] That like.

[00:57:56] It has to do something.

[00:57:58] Because.

[00:57:59] It can't not.

[00:58:00] At this point.

[00:58:01] Like.

[00:58:01] It's not like we've invested our life savings into it.

[00:58:04] But we've got so much time and effort.

[00:58:06] Investing into this.

[00:58:07] We're going to do.

[00:58:08] We're going to do this one event.

[00:58:09] Come hell or high water.

[00:58:10] Even if it's like.

[00:58:11] Me.

[00:58:12] And my wife.

[00:58:13] And my daughter.

[00:58:14] And my brother-in-law.

[00:58:16] And my sister.

[00:58:16] And Kyle.

[00:58:17] And like three other.

[00:58:18] Neck beards from the community.

[00:58:20] Like I don't care.

[00:58:21] It's.

[00:58:21] It's going to happen.

[00:58:22] No matter how.

[00:58:23] Chinchia winds of being.

[00:58:25] Amen.

[00:58:26] As long as.

[00:58:27] A start is better than never starting.

[00:58:29] Perfect.

[00:58:29] Even if it doesn't go perfectly.

[00:58:32] You started.

[00:58:33] And now you can keep going.

[00:58:35] Yeah.

[00:58:36] So do you have any other goals for 2025.

[00:58:38] Before we wrap this up or.

[00:58:40] Oh yeah.

[00:58:41] I've got a.

[00:58:42] I've got some freelance work that I've been doing for.

[00:58:44] Oh man.

[00:58:44] It's been four or five years now.

[00:58:46] I think I'm finally.

[00:58:47] To the point where I need to formalize it.

[00:58:49] And probably get a DBA.

[00:58:50] And set all that stuff up.

[00:58:51] And.

[00:58:52] And talking to my sister.

[00:58:53] Who's got a graphics design background.

[00:58:55] She's going to help me set up a website.

[00:58:56] So.

[00:58:57] We're going to see if I can't make myself look like.

[00:58:59] Somewhat professional.

[00:59:02] I know.

[00:59:03] Professional Nick.

[00:59:05] I know.

[00:59:06] It's a terrible thing.

[00:59:08] But.

[00:59:09] It's necessary.

[00:59:10] I mean.

[00:59:10] I've gotten.

[00:59:11] I've gotten to the point now.

[00:59:12] Where I've got a.

[00:59:13] You know.

[00:59:13] A modest.

[00:59:14] But.

[00:59:14] You know.

[00:59:15] Steady line of customers coming through.

[00:59:17] And.

[00:59:17] It's time to start pushing and expanding that.

[00:59:20] To do that.

[00:59:21] I gotta.

[00:59:21] I gotta put a name on it.

[00:59:22] I guess.

[00:59:25] Uh.

[00:59:26] I have thoughts.

[00:59:27] But I'll save them for after the show.

[00:59:28] Perhaps.

[00:59:32] Sounds good man.

[00:59:34] Yeah man.

[00:59:35] Well.

[00:59:35] I.

[00:59:36] I certainly think that.

[00:59:38] Being you brought up intro and outro clips.

[00:59:40] Hang on a second.

[00:59:44] You do know that everyone scrolls past the intro.

[00:59:47] And stops the video before the outro.

[00:59:48] Just say.

[00:59:49] I don't.

[00:59:49] I like the music.

[00:59:50] I mean.

[00:59:51] That's a personal decision.

[00:59:52] Texas rat.

[00:59:55] I'm not mad at you for skipping past it.

[00:59:57] And I'm not mad for people that stick around for it.

[00:59:59] But.

[01:00:00] I will say that like me personally.

[01:00:03] It's.

[01:00:03] I find it very jarring.

[01:00:04] Really nice.

[01:00:05] Well.

[01:00:06] I find it very jarring when a.

[01:00:07] When a podcast like.

[01:00:09] Starts and stops.

[01:00:10] Like from a black screen very suddenly.

[01:00:12] Some people.

[01:00:13] They don't care.

[01:00:14] Some people do.

[01:00:15] It's just.

[01:00:17] Content creation is all personal preference.

[01:00:19] At the end of the day.

[01:00:19] We do it.

[01:00:20] Because Phil likes it.

[01:00:21] And that's really all that matters.

[01:00:23] Well.

[01:00:24] I mean.

[01:00:25] If it bothered the hell out of y'all.

[01:00:26] I'd stop doing it.

[01:00:27] But.

[01:00:27] The truth of the matter is.

[01:00:28] It just.

[01:00:30] I don't know.

[01:00:31] It bothers me to not have it there.

[01:00:33] Put it that way.

[01:00:34] Fair enough.

[01:00:36] But anyway.

[01:00:36] Well.

[01:00:37] We'll go ahead and wrap this one up.

[01:00:38] You have.

[01:00:39] Fun stuff to do.

[01:00:41] And I have to.

[01:00:42] Take my family to.

[01:00:44] I think.

[01:00:45] New year's lunch.

[01:00:47] I don't know.

[01:00:48] We'll see what kind of mischief.

[01:00:49] I'm going to get into.

[01:00:50] You'll at least have a good meal.

[01:00:52] Perhaps.

[01:00:54] I wonder if I could sneak off someplace with a cigar.

[01:00:57] Probably.

[01:00:58] Probably.

[01:00:59] All right.

[01:00:59] Bring two.

[01:01:00] And then you can sneak off with a friend.

[01:01:04] Signed.

[01:01:05] Sealed.

[01:01:05] And delivered.

[01:01:06] All right.

[01:01:07] Matter effects.

[01:01:08] Podcasts.

[01:01:08] Going out the door.

[01:01:09] Boys and girls.

[01:01:10] If you don't have goals for 2025.

[01:01:12] Make some.

[01:01:12] It's not the new year's resolution nonsense.

[01:01:15] Of like new year.

[01:01:15] New me.

[01:01:16] Because I don't believe.

[01:01:17] I don't believe anyone.

[01:01:19] Gets the start of a new year.

[01:01:20] And then does like this whole life turnaround.

[01:01:22] And suddenly like 180 degrees.

[01:01:24] But I do believe in personal improvement.

[01:01:26] So that means.

[01:01:27] You have to make.

[01:01:28] You have to make a reasonable goal.

[01:01:31] And put a plan together.

[01:01:32] And try to see it through.

[01:01:33] And if not.

[01:01:34] Then at the end of this year.

[01:01:35] You can sit around with the two of us.

[01:01:37] And say.

[01:01:37] Well that did work out the way I expected.

[01:01:39] Because sometimes that happens.

[01:01:42] Life do be like that sometimes man.

[01:01:44] Yeah.

[01:01:45] All right.

[01:01:46] Matter effects.

[01:01:46] Head now.

[01:01:47] Bye everybody.

[01:01:48] Bye.