In this solo Ride Along episode, Lora Thorson opens up about why she chooses hard things — from Tactical Games training and fitness to launching a podcast with no roadmap and stepping into uncomfortable growth. She shares how her personal self-defense journey began in 2017 with her very first firearms class, feeling overwhelmed, underprepared, and unsure of herself… and how that path eventually led her to become a firearms instructor and podcast host.

But this conversation goes far beyond guns or self-defense.

Lora shares how her pursuit of personal protection uncovered deeper battles involving fear, identity, self-worth, discipline, and people-pleasing. What began as a desire to feel safer and more capable eventually became a journey of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation. Through fitness, faith, and learning to align her thoughts with Scripture, she began building true confidence from the inside out.

This is an honest conversation about courage, obedience, mindset, and refusing to live “normal” when God has called you to more.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re capable, struggled with fear or insecurity, or felt called to something bigger than yourself, this episode will challenge and encourage you to step forward anyway.

Correction: Philippians 4:6 reference is actually Philippians 4:8. :)

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

This episode is not about getting in shape for appearance.
It is about becoming someone who can be counted on.

In this conversation, we break down:

• Why discipline is part of your responsibility as a defender
• How neglecting your body limits your ability to lead and serve
• The connection between physical health and spiritual drift
• Why knowing what to do is not the problem
• How to build systems that hold when life gets hard

This is not just about fitness. This is about responsibility.

If you are called to protect, lead, and show up for the people around you, then discipline is not optional. It is part of the mission.

In this episode, Lora sits down with Jeff Dalzell, a fitness and nutrition coach who works with parents and everyday men and women who are tired of starting over. What begins as a conversation about health quickly becomes something deeper. They unpack the connection between physical discipline and spiritual alignment, and why so many people know exactly what to do but still avoid doing it.

Because the truth is this. When you neglect your body, you are not just making a personal choice. You are limiting your capacity to lead, to serve, and to step into the roles God has placed in your life.

Jeff shares his journey from teacher to coach, navigating uncertainty, fatherhood, and faith while building something that actually lasts. This conversation challenges the all or nothing mindset and replaces it with something stronger. Systems. Identity. Ownership.

If you want to live as a defender in your home, your community, and your faith, this is where it starts. Not with motivation, but with discipline.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, she shares what is happening inside the NRA and what she has seen firsthand during a critical season of change.

Here is what you will gain:
A clear look inside the NRA’s reform and future direction
What real courage looks like in leadership
Why speaking truth can cost you and why it still matters
The growing influence of women in the Second Amendment space
A deeper understanding of service, responsibility and conviction

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora sits down with Amanda Suffecool, firearms instructor, radio host, and NRA board member, for a real and unfiltered conversation about leadership, reform, and responsibility. Amanda shares her journey from engineer to national advocate.

Amanda speaks openly about internal challenges, the rise of reform efforts, and the courage required to hold conviction under pressure. She also highlights the growing role of women in the Second Amendment community and why unity matters more than ever. Her perspective is rooted in service and driven by purpose, and serves as inspiration to others in the 2nd Amendment community.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this episode:
What a holster is actually supposed to do
The biggest mistakes people make when choosing one
Why “comfortable” can sometimes mean unsafe
What to look for so your gear actually works when it matters
How Brent went from building his own gear to building Haven Defense Co.

Most people spend all their time choosing a gun… and almost none thinking about how they’re actually going to carry it.

In this episode, Lora sits down with Brent Hickmon, founder of Haven Defense Company, to break down what really matters when it comes to holsters: what makes them safe, what makes them dangerous, and why so many people are getting it wrong without even realizing it.

Brent shares how he got started building holsters out of necessity, what he’s learned from years of hands-on experience, and the patterns he sees over and over again—from poor retention to unsafe carry setups. They also dig into common mistakes new gun owners make, why comfort and concealment don’t have to compete, and what to look for if you actually want gear you can trust.

If you carry, or plan to, this is information you need.

Resources:
Haven Defense Co.

https://havendefenseco.com/?ref=defenderslive

https://www.facebook.com/havendefenseco
https://www.instagram.com/havendefenseco/

PHLster: PHLster.com
PHLster Concealment Workshop: https://www.facebook.com/groups/139735863409843

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

That’s not true. Calm is trained.

And if you don’t train it, your reactions will control you when it matters most.

In this episode, we break down:

• What’s actually happening in your brain under stress
• How to train your nervous system to stay steady under pressure
• Simple ways to build calm into your daily life
• The faith foundation behind a disciplined, sound mind

What if calm isn’t something you’re born with… but something you build?

In this solo episode, Lora Thorson breaks down a powerful truth: calm is not a personality trait. It’s a trained response. Drawing from a conversation with retired Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie and her own real-life experiences, Lora walks through what’s actually happening in your brain under stress—and why so many people feel hijacked in high-pressure moments.

This episode is about how your nervous system is wired, how fear distorts reality, and how intentional training—physical, mental, and spiritual—can reshape your default response. From deliberate breathing and exposure to discomfort, Lora lays out practical ways to build a calm, disciplined mind before you ever need it.

At the core of it all is a deeper truth rooted in faith: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

And even fewer understand what freedom actually costs.

This conversation with Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie connects both.

Inside this episode:

• What a warrior mindset really looks like in daily life

• Why discipline matters more than motivation

• The internal fight most people avoid

• The true cost of freedom most never see

• How responsibility changes the way you live

In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie breaks down both through lived experience. From the discipline required to stay ready every day to the internal battle most people avoid, this episode challenges you to look at your mindset, your responsibility, and how you show up in your own life.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Through powerful stories from the Navy SEAL Museum and the legacy of Lt. Michael Murphy, Chris reveals the reality behind the phrase “freedom isn’t free.” This is not an abstract idea. It is sacrifice. It is loss. It is real people with real families.

Tune in if you want to build strength, live with purpose, and truly understand what’s been sacrificed for you to live freely.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

This call will challenge you in the best way. If you missed it, here’s the replay.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• Why most people stay stuck (even when they “know what to do”)
• The 3 fundamentals that actually change your life
• The truth about energy, discipline, and consistency
• Why identity—not information—is your real breakthrough
• How faith reframes discipline from punishment to purpose

To join our next group call LIVE, become a paid subscriber.

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Here’s what you’ll take away:
• Why comfort is the fastest way to bury your potential
• How truth and authenticity build real leadership
• What courage actually looks like in everyday life
• How to move forward even after deep personal loss
• Why chasing greatness requires risk, faith, and action

This isn’t surface-level motivation.
This is a call to step up.

In this powerful and deeply grounded conversation, Lora Thorson sits down with former sheriff and congressional candidate Mark Lamb to unpack what it really means to live with courage, conviction, and faith in today’s world.

From his journey into law enforcement later in life to leading on the front lines of border security, Mark shares the mindset that shaped his leadership… one rooted in authenticity, truth, and unwavering belief in God’s purpose. But this conversation goes deeper than titles and positions. It explores personal loss, the weight of responsibility, and the internal battles that define who we become.

Mark opens up about why most people settle for “good” instead of pursuing greatness, the importance of telling the truth even when it costs you, and what it means to run toward danger instead of away from it. This episode is a call to examine your own life… your comfort zones, your courage, and the opportunities you may be avoiding.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to step into something bigger, this conversation will challenge you to listen closely.

Firearms Legal Protection: https://www.defenders-usa.com/flp

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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This conversation with Allison Tharp will challenge everything you thought you knew about health, fitness, and what it really means to take care of your body.

You’ll learn:

• Why “eat less, move more” is failing women

• How hormones impact everything from fat loss to energy

• The connection between health, identity, and self-worth

• Why community is critical for long-term resilience

• How to take ownership of your health for yourself and your family

This is about more than fitness.

It’s about living strong, thinking clearly, and showing up with purpose.

In this powerful conversation, Lora sits down with Allison Tharp, health educator and Director of the Mississippi Diabetes Network, to unpack the truth about women’s health, hormones, and why so many are struggling in systems that were never built for them. Allison shares her deeply personal journey — from battling weight and unhealthy habits to rebuilding her life through faith, discipline, and purpose.

This episode goes beyond surface-level fitness advice. It challenges the “move more, eat less” mindset, exposes the flaws in modern health systems, and calls women to take ownership of their bodies with wisdom and resilience. From metabolic health to identity, from community to courage… this is a conversation about playing the long game and living with intention.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or misunderstood in your health journey… this is for you.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this episode, I share a season that brought me to my knees—and what God did through it.

What you’ll take away:

• How to navigate emotional and spiritual burnout

• Why resistance keeps you stuck—and surrender sets you free

• The power of being honest about where you really are

• How to walk through darkness without losing faith

• Why your strengths can become weaknesses without balance

In this deeply personal solo episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson opens up about a six-month season that tested her emotionally, spiritually, and physically. From the high of competing in The Tactical Games to a period of unexpected darkness and exhaustion, this is a raw conversation about what it looks like to wrestle with faith, identity, and surrender in real time.

Lora shares the turning point—when resistance gave way to honesty, and honesty led to healing. From confronting hidden struggles, to rediscovering purpose, to learning how even our strengths can become weaknesses without balance, this episode is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t happen in comfort. If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired in your soul, or unsure of your next step, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this conversation with Gabby Franco, we talk about what it really takes to grow under pressure and lead with courage.

• How fear quietly keeps people from progressing

• Why mindset training matters just as much as physical skill

• What Venezuela taught Gabby about freedom and responsibility

• How parents, protectors, and leaders can build stronger minds

• Why awareness is often the first step toward real confidence

This is a grounded, honest conversation about courage, growth, and learning to get out of your own way.

What happens when an Olympian, immigrant, firearms instructor, and mental performance coach sits down to talk about fear, freedom, and what really holds people back? In this powerful Defenders LIVE conversation, Lora Thorson welcomes Gabby Franco back to the show for a deep and honest discussion on mindset, resilience, and the inner barriers that keep people from becoming more confident and capable in life.

Gabby shares how her journey from Venezuela to the Olympic stage shaped her view of freedom, personal responsibility, and courage under pressure. She opens up about earning her degree in psychology, pursuing advanced work in sports and performance psychology, and why mental training matters just as much as technical skill. From coaching shooters and law enforcement to helping people uncover the fear behind hesitation, Gabby brings practical wisdom with real heart. This episode is a strong reminder that growth begins with awareness, truth, and the willingness to do the hard work from the inside out.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Sean Keene joins me to talk about what happens when you leave Special Operations and have to rebuild identity, purpose, and standards in the civilian world.

What you’ll gain from this episode:

• Why the 80% rule is the key to action when you don’t have perfect information

• How to recover from failure without living in shame

• What it means to know your triggers and lead yourself with discipline

• Why standards matter and why “common sense” isn’t always common

• How Sean went from elite missions… to mastering mezcal in Oaxaca

Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Sean Keene spent more than three decades in Special Operations, serving across Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Central Africa, and Central/South America, and leading at the highest levels when the stakes were real and the margin for error was thin. But this conversation isn’t just about what he did in uniform… it’s about who you become when that chapter ends and you’re forced to redefine yourself without the mission, the rank, or the team structure you once lived by.

Sean opens up about the mindset that carried him through selection, injuries, and “never to return” failure then into an entirely new world as an apprentice mezcalero and founder of O’Kahan Agave. We talk about the 80% rule, emotionless correction, knowing your triggers, and why “common sense” in Special Operations doesn’t always translate in the civilian world. If you’re navigating change, chasing mastery, or learning to lead yourself when life doesn’t come with a perfect plan—this one will challenge you in the best way.

Military Abbreviated Bio:
Sean Keane is a retired Command Sergeant Major (CSM) with over 30 years of experience in the US Army Special Operations/Special Forces. Sean joined the FLARNG in April of 1990 as a Rep-63 and is one of the youngest Soldiers to complete the Special Forces Assessment and Selection and the Special Forces Qualification Course. Pre 9/11, Sean attended the Special Forces Underwater Operations Course, US Army Ranger School, conduct multiple Foreign Internal Defense (FID) operations through Central/South America, assigned to the Pentagon working directly for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and JSOC OPCEN and conducted another short tour as a guest Ranger Instructor for Phase 1 of the US Army Ranger School. CSM Keane has held the positions of Junior and Senior Weapons Sergeant and Team Sergeant on Special Forces Underwater Operations ODAs, Battalion Dive Officer, Special Forces Company SGM, AOB 2310 SGM, AOB CENTAM/SOCSOUTH SGM, Battalion CSM, Combating Transnational Organized Crime Task Force CSM/Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Detachment-Central CSM, and most recently Special Operations Joint Task Force-Iraq/Syria Deputy Commanding General Senior Enlisted Leader/Special Operations Advisory Group SEL overseeing 2000 US and Coalition Special Operations Elements. CSM Keane conducted his first combat rotation into Afghanistan in 2003. Since then Sean has conducted multiple rotations to Afghanistan, Iraq/Syria, Central Africa and Central/South America. On his last rotation with the Special Operations Joint Task Force, CSM Keane found himself in the middle of the attack on the US Embassy Baghdad, the hasty EXFIL of the US Ambassador and all personnel, elimination of an Iranian General and the Iranian Ballistic Missile attack.

More about O’Kahan Agave:

https://okahanagave.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okahanagave

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okahanagave

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@OKahanAgave

Reference video from interview: The Power of Why - Simon Sinek Ted Talk

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this Defenders LIVE conversation, John Hearne breaks down what most people never hear because it’s not comfortable, and it’s not popular… but it’s real.
You’ll learn:

• Why crime data can be misleading (and what that means for your decisions)

• How criminals choose targets in seconds and how to stop signaling “easy target”

• The truth about clearance rates and why “they’ll catch the guy” isn’t a plan

• Simple, high-leverage steps to harden your home against property crime

• Why your car is NOT a holster and how stolen guns become crime guns

Tonight on Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with returning guest John Hearne, founder of Two Pillars Training and longtime federal law enforcement professional, to separate myth from reality when it comes to crime, criminals, and personal safety. John breaks down why the “big” crime numbers can’t always be trusted, how clearance rates expose hard truths about the legal system, and why responsible people must learn to assess risk with clear eyes: not just the odds, but the stakes.

You’ll also hear eye-opening insight into how criminals select targets in seconds, why property crime is more common (and more preventable) than most people realize, and what actually moves the needle for home security. And yes, we go straight at a message that needs to be shouted from the rooftops: your car is not a holster. John explains how unsecured vehicle storage feeds criminal gun pipelines and what responsible ownership really looks like. This episode is honest, practical, and rooted in the kind of personal responsibility that builds stronger families and safer communities.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

What you’ll walk away with:

• Why “good with a gun” is more than speed or groups

• Where USPSA/competition helps and where it can hurt

• The real gap between technical skill and real-world decision-making

• Optics reliability: what fails, what doesn’t, and why

Tonight’s Defenders LIVE episode is a rare kind of conversation… two strong voices, one shared mission, and a whole lot of nuance. Returning guests Lee Weems (law enforcement trainer, use-of-force and decision-making instructor) and Tyler Tharp (competitive shooter, coach, and performance-driven instructor) unpack a debate that started online: the value—and limits—of shooting sports as training for real-world defensive and law enforcement environments.

They get honest about what “good with a gun” actually means, where competition builds real capability (and where it can build bad habits), why context matters as much as mechanics, and how you can train with both excellence and accountability. They also tackle pistol optics reliability with real-world numbers, plus the practical realities that keep most officers from getting the training they want—time, funding, and red tape. Most of all, this episode models something we need more of: disagreeing without disrespect, and sharpening each other without tearing each other down.

In this episode with Brian Hill (The Complete Combatant), we talk about what happens when your training stops working and why the answer isn’t “try harder.”

What you’ll get from this conversation:

• How creativity fuels motivation when discipline starts feeling dead

• Why blind spots show up as resistance (and what to do with that)

• The edge of chaos vs. order—where real growth happens

• Why sleep isn’t optional if you want skill to stick

• How to move forward without shame when you fall off track

Tonight on Defenders LIVE, I welcomed back my friend Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant and I did something that honestly scared me: I showed up without a script. No outline. No safety net. Just heart, courage, and a willingness to practice letting go in real time.

Brian breaks down a powerful framework for creativity and growth and why motivation dies when practice turns rigid, how blind spots hide inside our resistance, and why real progress happens on the edge between chaos and order. We talk about the trap of high-volume “grind” training, the role of sleep in performance, and what it really means to develop self-mastery without living in shame. Then we go deeper…into identity, pain, purpose, and how suffering can be transformed into something that strengthens you instead of breaking you.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

In this Defenders LIVE episode, 5x world champion Molly Metz shares what mastery actually costs—and why she kept fighting when the system wasn’t fair.

• What elite training teaches you about failure and courage

• Why growth can feel lonely (and why it’s still worth it)

• The mindset shift that happens after pain, setbacks, and injustice

• How to keep moving forward when you feel outmatched

What does mastery really demand, and what happens when life hits hard enough to knock you off your feet? In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with Molly Metz, a five-time world champion jump rope athlete, coach, entrepreneur, and inventor whose story goes far beyond athletics. Molly opens up about the discipline and precision it takes to build elite skill and why she believes real growth often comes only after you’ve been forced to stop.

Molly shares how a serious car accident woke her up to bigger purpose, how she built a jump rope training movement that reached 800+ gyms, and what it cost her to defend her inventions when larger companies allegedly copied her patented technology. This is a conversation about resilience, integrity, and courage…the kind that keeps moving forward even when the fight isn’t fair. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood while trying to grow, or tempted to quit when the opponent looks bigger than you… this one’s for you.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

Christian Griffith returns to Defenders LIVE to share the most unexpected chapter of his life, from lifelong agnostic to a faith journey that changed everything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What finally opened the door to faith after years of resistance

• Why healing doesn’t end after the big achievement

• How to keep moving when life feels heavy and motivation is gone

• The power of small, faithful steps on the hardest days

• What resilience looks like when you’re rebuilding again
  

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Here is the previous interview with Christian from 2024 that started it all:

Two years after his unforgettable first appearance, Christian Griffith returns to Defenders LIVE with a story no one saw coming, not even him. Known for extreme endurance, unfiltered honesty, and relentless resilience, Christian opens up about the most unexpected turning point of his life: a faith journey that began not with certainty, but questions.

In this deeply personal conversation, we talk about what happens after the big feats. After the 3,000-mile run, after the spotlight, after the grind, when life gets heavy again. Christian shares how healing actually unfolds over time, why small acts of obedience matter more than massive wins, and how faith entered his life through moments he could never explain away. This episode is about courage, surrender, and learning how to keep moving forward, even when you are starting over.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

They also go deeper into what makes training actually work: adult learning, asking better questions, and coaching the individual instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all method. Lee shares the moment bureaucracy rerouted his path, why he still can’t walk away from the profession, and how cognitive load exposes the gaps in our “square range” confidence. This is a conversation about truth, accountability, and becoming the kind of protector who can think clearly under pressure.

In this Defenders LIVE conversation with Lee Weems, we go deep on what really matters when pressure is high:

Why video clips can distort the truth (and inflame the public)

What “objectively reasonable” actually means in use-of-force decisions

How bureaucracy reshaped his life—and pushed him toward purpose

Why coaching beats commanding when you’re training adults

The difference between technical skill… and real-world application

Learn more about Lee at: www.thatweemsguy.com and www.firstpersonsafety.com

This is the year.

This is the year you finally have that breakthrough you have been circling for a long time.
This is the year you keep promises to yourself instead of rewriting them every January.
This is the year you stop feeling like you are behind or failing and start seeing momentum.
This is the year you realize you are not weak for needing clarity or support.
This is the year you remember you are not doing this alone.

I’m hosting our January Defenders LIVE monthly call on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 PM Central, and I want you in the room for it.

This is not another motivational talk or a goals session that feels good for a weekend and disappears by February. This is a pause. A reset. A chance to think clearly instead of reactively.

Ahead of the call, paid subscribers will receive a reflection and goals PDF. This is optional pre-work, not something you need to complete perfectly. It simply helps you slow down, get honest, and come into the call already thinking intentionally so our time together can go deeper.

Last year, almost everything I wrote down in this planner came to fruition. Not because writing it down made it happen. It happened because intentional thought led to meaningful planning, and meaningful planning led to consistent action. That combination moves the needle.

That is what we are doing together on this call.

During the live session, we will:
• Reflect honestly on where you are right now
• Identify what is aligned and what is quietly draining your energy
• Clarify what you actually want this year and why it matters
• Turn vague hopes into focused, realistic next steps
• Refine the planner together through real conversation, not pressure

This is valuable because it is participatory. You are not consuming content. You are stepping into a process with people who care about growth, follow-through, and becoming more grounded, capable, and steady over time.

If you are already a paid Defenders LIVE subscriber, you are included. You will receive the PDF and call access details in a separate email.

If you are not yet a subscriber, you can join for as little as $8 per month and gain access to:
• Monthly live calls like this
• The private Defenders LIVE community
• Replays if you cannot attend live

If you are ready for this to be the year things actually change, I would love to have you join us.

Put your shoes on. The next step matters.

Lora