A retired Army Special Forces Senior Sergeant, three-time Tactical Games National Champion, and student of human performance, Kirk has spent decades studying what separates those who perform under pressure from those who fall apart when the stakes are high.

In this conversation, we explore the psychology of confidence, the power of self-talk, the role of identity in performance, and why the story you tell yourself may be shaping far more of your future than you realize. Kirk shares lessons from elite military training, competitive shooting, athletics, and life that challenge the way many of us think about success, resilience, and mental toughness.

We also discuss grit, goal setting, pressure, failure, and why confidence is not something you’re born with. It’s something you build through preparation, repetition, and keeping promises to yourself.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, performance anxiety, or the feeling that you’re capable of more than you’re currently achieving, this conversation will give you practical tools and a new perspective on what it takes to grow.

You’ll learn:

Why the story you tell yourself matters
How confidence is built through action
What grit actually is
How to stay focused under pressure
Why process goals matter more than outcome goals

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

Check out www.TotalOperatorChallenge.com

Before becoming a New York Times bestselling author with more than 30 books to his name, John spent 15 years in fire and rescue, responding to some of the worst moments in people’s lives. Later, while researching real-world special operations missions, he earned rare access to Delta Force operators, military leaders, and the true story behind one of the most daring hostage rescues in modern history.

In this conversation, we go far beyond books and movies. We talk about trust, leadership under pressure, what real violence looks like, and why the people most capable of protecting others are often the least interested in talking about themselves. John shares lessons from emergency response, special operations, marriage, storytelling, and a lifetime of walking toward difficult situations when others were running away.

We also discuss the responsibility that comes with being prepared, the importance of strong teams, the dangers of Hollywood myths, and why leadership is often less about authority and more about earning trust.

At its core, this conversation is about what it means to be a defender. Not someone who seeks attention or recognition, but someone who quietly accepts responsibility when the stakes are high.

In this episode, bestselling author and former firefighter John Gilstrap shares lessons learned from emergency response, special operations, leadership, and a lifetime of serving others.

You’ll learn:

What real courage looks like under pressure
Why trust is earned one decision at a time
What Hollywood gets wrong about violence and preparedness
How great leaders inspire others to follow
Why defenders accept responsibility before they feel ready

www.johngilstrap.com

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

Dakota Adelphia chose a different path.

From teaching herself through educational setbacks, to biking across America at fifteen, to becoming one of the leading voices in concealed carry education, Dakota’s story is a masterclass in grit, responsibility, and courage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why doing hard things builds confidence that can’t be faked
• How personal responsibility creates real freedom
• The mindset behind effective self-defense and preparedness
• Why community matters when you’re standing for your convictions

In this powerful conversation, Dakota Adelphia shares a remarkable journey of resilience, responsibility, and purpose. From overcoming an unconventional childhood education and biking across America at fifteen years old to becoming a respected firearms instructor, concealed carry educator, and Second Amendment advocate in California, Dakota’s story is a testament to grit, faith, and refusing to quit.

Lora and Dakota dive into the mindset behind personal protection, the importance of doing hard things, and why confidence is built through preparation, not comfort. They also explore Dakota’s work with A Girl and a Gun, her mission to help women become capable defenders, and the lessons she’s learned about leadership, community, and serving others without becoming bitter along the way.

Watch more conversations that strengthen your mindset, deepen your faith, and challenge you to live boldly at Defenders LIVE. Subscribe for future episodes and visit Defenders-LIVE.com for more inspiring content.

www.dakotaadelphia.com

https://www.youtube.com/@GunOwnersRadio

https://www.facebook.com/dakota.adelphia

https://www.instagram.com/lifewithadelphia/

In this powerful conversation, Tyler Tharp opens up about:

Losing his father the night he came home from the Army
Battling anger, hopelessness, and self-destruction
The moment God told him, “Get up. I’m not done with you yet.”
Why discipline includes rest and recovery
How faith transformed the way he sees purpose, love, and masculinity

This episode is real, raw, and full of hard-earned wisdom for anyone carrying heavy burdens or searching for deeper meaning in life.

In this deeply honest conversation, Lora sits down with firearms instructor and coach Tyler Tharp to unpack the painful journey that shaped his faith, mindset, and purpose. Tyler shares the devastating losses that defined his early adulthood, including losing his father the night he returned home from the Army, battling anger and self-destruction, and ultimately reaching a breaking point that forced him to confront his mental and spiritual health head-on.

Together, they explore the connection between discipline and rest, the trap of tying self-worth to achievement, and the healing that comes through surrendering control to God. This episode is raw, thoughtful, and deeply relatable for anyone who feels exhausted from trying to carry life on their own strength. It’s a conversation about resilience, purpose, forgiveness, and learning that true strength starts in the heart.

Watch more conversations at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future episodes focused on courage, faith, mindset, and personal growth.

In this deeply personal Defenders LIVE conversation, Lora Thorson shares the lessons she learned after stepping back into a high-pressure firearms training environment following months away from practice. What began as a conversation a…

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Daniel shares his journey from blue-collar work and homebuilding to stepping into the political arena, driven by a desire to protect faith, family, freedom, and the future of everyday Americans. They discuss border security, the Second Amendment, term limits, public safety, and why more ordinary citizens need to rise up and lead. This is a grounded, honest conversation about courage, conviction, and what it really means to serve others with integrity.

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora sits down with Arizona congressional candidate Daniel Keenan for a raw and honest discussion about leadership, freedom, faith, and why everyday Americans can’t afford to stay silent anymore.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why more citizens need to step forward

• The connection between freedom and personal responsibility

• Thoughts on border security, the Second Amendment, and public safety

• Why authenticity matters more than polished talking points

• How faith and conviction shape true leadership

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

That is one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jacob Paulsen.

We talked about leadership, faith, authenticity, business, personal growth, and why people are starving for honesty in a world that feels increasingly fake.

In this episode:
• Jacob shares how ConcealedCarry.com was built from the ground up
• We talk about what actually makes a great instructor
• Why authenticity matters more than image
• The future of AI and how it is changing business
• The vision behind Guardian University and Guardian Conference
• How strong brands are built through trust and integrity

What does it take to build trust in a world full of noise?

In this conversation, Jacob Paulsen shares the real story behind building ConcealedCarry.com, creating one of the largest firearms training networks in the country, and learning what authentic leadership actually looks like along the way.

Lora and Jacob talk about everything from business and branding to faith, mindset, personal growth, and the responsibility that comes with leading others. Jacob opens up about his early struggles as an instructor, why great teachers are always students first, and how authenticity has become one of the most important qualities in today’s world.

They also dive into the future of AI, the mission behind Guardian Conference, and the launch of Guardian University, a growing platform designed to bring trusted training and meaningful conversations together in one place. Defenders LIVE is now featured inside Guardian University as part of that vision.

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and full of practical wisdom for anyone trying to lead with courage and live with purpose.

Watch more at Defenders LIVE and learn more at ConcealedCarry.com.

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.