Iron Sights

This time I sit down with Zack Harrison, founder of Ascension Training and Consulting, and the conversation goes exactly where you'd hope: deep, honest, and unfiltered. Zack's name had been popping up for years across ranges and in conversations with law enforcement officers, always attached to the same kind of feedback. This guy cares. He slows down and makes sure you understand the why.

Zack walks through the whole arc: growing up, the call of service after 9/11, navigating the 18 X-ray pipeline into Special Forces, deploying to Afghanistan in the early years of the war, and then making...

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I sat down with four veteran tactical professionals at the National Tactical Officers Association Conference in Nashville to have the conversation that needed to happen two days after that 2022 NTOA position paper on no-knock warrant service dropped.

At the table: Steve Mescan, Director of Training and Education for the NTOA and a 27-year Pittsburgh Bureau of Police SWAT veteran. Chris Eklund, NTOA senior instructor and retired training coordinator and team leader from the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Florida. Matt Smith, Senior Corporal and 21-year SWAT operator with...

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Jabo Long is a 25-year law enforcement veteran, Director of Training at Guild Solutions Group, and one of the most honest voices in law enforcement. The conversation kicks off right after the Guild team wraps a breaching course in Sacramento, and the energy from the classroom and range is still in the room. If you've ever wondered what it costs a cop to show up, stay sharp, and keep their humanity through a career that was never designed to protect it, this episode is for you.

Jabo does...

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Live on the floor of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association conference in Round Rock, Texas, April 2026, we've got another full crew around the table: Chris Kuras of Good Dude Concepts, his partner Franco, Kevin Selent from Rogue Targets, and Tom Marchitto of Sub Second. Before a single product gets mentioned, the conversation lands exactly where Iron Sights always does: the people solving problems that their agencies were never going to solve for them, doing it on their own dime, on their own time, while still actively serving on agency...

Live from the 2026 TTPOA conference with the TTPOA Podcast hosts and Anthony, a nine-year law enforcement veteran, SWAT officer in the Houston area, and founder of In The Black. From getting washed out of combat controller selection at basic training, to walking mail routes, to finding his lane in USPSA competition and eventually building a coffee and tea brand out of his garage, Anthony's brutally honest story is proof that the American dream is still very much alive for guys willing to do the dumb, hard, embarrassing work it takes to figure things out.

The conversation goes...

This is a conversation about the gap between checking the box and being genuinely competent and confident when it counts. Bryan Williams, Chancey Pogue, Matt Pranka, and Dustin Mowery walk through the real roadmap: why the stigma against competition shooting is rooted in ego and not evidence, why the qualification score is one of the most useless metrics in law enforcement, and what training in isolation actually means when you strip away the buzzwords and get honest about the work.

Dry fire is the thread running through the whole episode, and not in the vague, post-it-on-Instagram way...

In this episode of Iron Sights, Scott sits down with Anthony Coley of Aegis Consulting at the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association Conference in Round Rock, Texas to unpack one of the most detailed, honest, and actionable roadmaps for changing firearms culture at the agency level you will ever hear.

Anthony walks through everything: the professional class taker problem, how competition shooting cracked open his understanding of real-world performance, and why getting bit by the PCSL bug turned into a mission to drag as many officers with him as possible. He does not pull punches about the...

On this Iron Sights episode recorded live on the vendor floor at TTPOA Conference, Scott Howell sits down for a collab with the TTPOA Podcast hosts Brandon Hernandez and Matt Smith. Their guests are Brad Ortiz, Director of Sales for the Law Enforcement Division at Silencer Shop and former officer, and Dewayne Manson, Project Manager at the American Warrior Association, to dig into the thing the Law Enforcement community has been slow to confront: the compounding weight of moral injury, and why the reactive system built to support officers is failing the people who need it most.

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You know there is a gap between how your team trains and how your team performs. You've felt it. Gabe Rivera felt it too, and instead of talking about it, he built a system to close it. Full-time SWAT officer, Lead Faucet Tactical instructor, and founder of Mindset Tactical Solutions, Gabe sits down with Scott at the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association Conference in Round Rock, Texas to walk through eighteen years of hard lessons: how to vet instructors without getting burned by theory masquerading as experience, how competition shooting exposed gaps that thousands of hours of tactical courses...

You have heard the arguments a thousand times and every time you hear them, something in your gut says it doesn't add up. In this episode, recorded live at the TTPOA conference in Round Rock, Texas, Iron Sights collaborated with the TTPOA Podcast host Brandon Hernandez and cohost Matt Smith to sit down with Matt Pranka for an honest conversation about training.

Matt pulls zero punches on the dynamic versus deliberate debate, the real definition of CQB as a tactic, why slow is NOT safe when the fight is opposed, and how foundational skills are the only...

You think breaching is just kicking in a door. Shane Foster is here to tell you how wrong that is, and why that assumption is costing agencies millions of dollars, officers their careers, and in some cases, lives. Shane is the founder of Guild Solutions Group, director of training development for Pryme Infill, and one of the most quietly credentialed practitioners in the law enforcement and military training space. Over fourteen years in law enforcement across three agencies, a National Guard FAST team, deployments to Yemen and Afghanistan, time in Fortune 500 corporate leadership, and now building one of the...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Chris Woomer, founder of VEIL Solutions. Chris is a designer, builder, and instructor who has spent years developing holsters and equipment for responsibly armed citizens, law enforcement, and military professionals. He’s also a masterclass competitive shooter and martial artist who approaches his craft with the mindset of both an artist and a problem solver.

I first came across Chris while searching for people presenting ideas rooted in philosophy and methodology rather than internet noise. His stoic approach, deep conviction, and wi...

Recorded at SHOT Show 2026, I sit down with Rachel Otto — veteran law enforcement officer, competitive athlete, and the first and only female member of the United States Secret Service Counter Assault Team. Rachel and I first connected on the range a couple of years ago, and she immediately stood out as a serious professional with grit, presence, and performance to match the role she holds.

In this conversation, we talk about her upbringing, time as a military academy student-athlete, transition into law enforcement, and what it takes to operate at a high level in environments where standards ar...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, Ryan and I step outside the usual gym conversation and talk about something most people overlook — getting outside and actually playing.

We break down the physical performance benefits, the psychological and physiological upsides, and even the cognitive and sensory advantages of spending time outdoors. If you’re training hard inside the gym but feeling like something’s missing, this conversation might help you connect a few dots.

This isn’t about abandoning structured training. It’s about enhancing it. If your goal is to look better, feel better, an...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast.

Recorded at SHOT Show 2026, I sit down with Paul Costa of Broken Arrow Defense and Achilles Heel Tactical. Paul’s background was built the hard way — patrol cars, high-risk warrants, working alongside a canine, and years in environments where fundamentals weren’t optional. They were survival.

Today, Paul carries that same commitment into the training world, instructing law enforcement and responsible citizens in firearms tactics and performance. A Masterclass competitive shooter, Walther Pro Staff instructor, and Safariland cadre member, Paul is first and foremo...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Ryan and CeCe from Red Dot Fitness breaking down our top three exercise picks for performance and longevity.

If your goal is to look better, feel better, and continue performing at a high level for years to come, this conversation is for you. We walk through why these movements made the list, the reasoning behind them, and how you can plug them into your own training without overcomplicating things.

No gimmicks. No trendy movements. Just exercises that deliver long-term value.

Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast.

Recorded at SHOT Show 2026, I sit down with Bryan Williams — better known as the Unicorn Chief. From SWAT operator to Chief, a stint in City Hall, and back to policing, Bryan’s career has given him a perspective that most people in the profession never get. He’s seen leadership from the street, the admin side, and the political layer in between.

In this conversation, we dig into police culture, mentorship, accountability, and why standards in training actually matter. As a USPSA Grandmaster, Bryan...

At SHOT Show 2026, I sat down with Joe Hamilton, CEO of Vortex Optics, for a conversation that goes way beyond optics, sales, or gear.

Joe’s journey started on the floor of his family’s small retail shop in Wisconsin, long before the boardroom. That early exposure to people, service, and doing things the right way shaped what would become Vortex’s defining edge: a relentless focus on human connection.

In this After Dark episode, we dig into leadership, the Care Movement, and why people-first culture beats short-term efficiency every time. We talk about building trust...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Hunter Freeland at SHOT Show 2026. About a year in the making, this conversation covers Hunter’s journey through the military, law enforcement, contracting, and his transition into launching Hunter Freeland Shooting.

We talk philosophy, methodology, mindset, and what really matters beyond just shooting performance. Hunter is known for being stoic, disciplined, and serious about the craft—but his vision goes deeper than marksmanship. He’s focused on building responsible individuals, strong advocates for the Second Amendment, and better humans overall.This one’s honest...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Ryan and Cece breaking down flexibility and mobility without the hype. We talk physiology, anatomy, programming, and where mobility work actually fits into a real training week.

We also hit on some of the trends floating around right now—fascial training, mobility “systems,” and why a lot of this stuff misses the point. If you’re trying to move better, train smarter, and stop wasting time on things that don’t matter, this one’s for you.

Sit back and enjoy.

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This is a special SHOT Show 2026 edition of the Iron Sights Podcast, recorded on the floor in collaboration with Good Dude Concepts.

I’m joined by Chris Kuras (Good Dude Concepts), Bruno Fallon (Born Primitive), Jon Dufresne (Connecticut’s Consulting / See The Night), Blake Cook, and Jack Lewis (Black Tiger International). We talk about what brought us to SHOT, what stood out, and then let the conversation go where it needed to go — firearms training, health and fitness, leadership, culture, and the realities behind the industry.

No scripts. No marketing pitches. Just honest conversations, new connec...

In this roundtable episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, Ryan, Cece, and I kick off the year by taking a hard look at health and fitness in 2026. We revisit what we were talking about this time last year, what’s changed, and what’s somehow gotten louder — without necessarily getting better.

We break down the new food pyramid push, GLP-1s and what we’re seeing with real clients, the body positivity conversation, and how AI is reshaping coaching, wearables, and the consumer fitness market. No doom, no hype — just perspective from the studio and the trenches.

Sit b...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m joined by my favorite nutrition coach, Steven Brenna, to break down the five most annoying—and avoidable—things that drive both nutrition coaches and clients crazy.

If you’re currently in a nutrition coaching program, thinking about hiring a coach, or you are a coach yourself, this conversation will save you time and frustration. These are the mistakes we see over and over again because, as the saying goes, we know a few things because we’ve seen a few things.

This episode is about setting be...

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Raphael, a 17-year law enforcement veteran and range staff member at a major Bay Area agency. A Grand Master–level shooter, Raphael has been instrumental in helping move training at his agency in a better direction.

We talk about his journey, what it takes to challenge outdated training systems from the inside, and the practical steps that have actually worked for him and his partners. If you’re law enforcement, a shooter, or an instructor trying to improve training without blowing things up, this...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Cece and Ryan breaking down nine practical tips to make your cardio training more effective—without turning it into a science lecture or chasing fitness rabbit holes.

Most people approach cardio with the wrong focus. Today we help you reframe how you think about your cardio sessions, what actually matters, and how to stop wasting time while still improving endurance, efficiency, and recovery.

We also touch on heart rate–based training and point you toward our free Heart Rate Zone Traini...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Red Dot Fitness nutrition coach Steven Brenna to talk about essential amino acids (EAAs) and what role they actually play in muscle, performance, and long-term health.

We break down what the research says, what it doesn’t, and how EAAs compare to BCAAs—without getting lost in the weeds. If you’re training hard, trying to maintain muscle, or just want to make smarter decisions about supplementation, this episode will give you some real clarity.

No hype. Just context and practical takeaways you can us...

Today on the Iron Sights Podcast After Dark, I’m sitting down with Billy Barton — a Grand Master USPSA shooter, high-level competitor, and the owner of SpecTrain | Firearms Training. Billy has been on my short list for a long time, and after a few missed connections, we finally made it happen here in California.

What makes Billy interesting is not a military or law enforcement background — it’s his process. He’s a shooter who went all-in, became highly competitive in a short period of time, and then naturally transitioned into coaching and instruction. In this conversation, we dig int...

Training doesn’t always feel good. It doesn’t always feel motivating. And it definitely doesn’t always feel “fun.”

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Ryan and CeCe to talk about what happens when your workouts stop giving you that sense of enjoyment or fulfillment. If you’ve been training long enough, you’ve probably hit this phase at least once. 

We talk honestly about where training fits into our lives, why workouts don’t have to be fun all the time, and why chasing motivation is usual...

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Stephen Brenna, our nutrition coach at Red Dot Fitness, for a raw, unfiltered conversation. We hit record and break down the five things we’d absolutely be doing if our goal was to not achieve our nutrition and fitness goals going into 2026.

No trends. No shortcuts. Just honest insight into the habits and mistakes that quietly derail progress—and what to think about if you want real results.

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Welcome back to the Iron Sight Podcast. Today I’m in the studio with Cece and Ryan, and we’re digging into one of the most persistent myths in the fitness world: the repetition continuum. You’ve heard it before — heavy weights for strength, moderate reps for hypertrophy, and light loads for endurance. It’s simple, it’s clean… and it’s not really true.

In this episode, we break down where that model came from, why it stuck around for so long, and what the current research actually says. We talk about some of the voices online influenci...

Today on the Iron Sites Podcast, I’m joined by Josh Burton — former Delta Force operator, entrepreneur, and founder of Elevated Operator. After a long career in the Global War on Terror, Josh has stepped into a new mission that’s just as demanding: fighting the global war on mental health.

We get into his transition out of military service and the challenges operators, veterans, and first responders face when the uniform comes off. Josh speaks openly about the struggles, the blind spots, and the habits that can either support you or sabotage you. His honesty cuts throug...

Intensity gets talked about a lot in the gym… but most people are using the word completely wrong. In strength and conditioning, intensity can mean different things depending on who you learned from, what sport you’re in, and what your training goals actually are.

So in this episode, I’m back in the studio with the Red Dot Fitness crew to clear it all up. We break down what intensity really means, how we define it inside our programming, and how you should apply it so you’re training hard without training stupid.

If you’ve e...

Today on the Iron Sights Podcast I’m joined by Dustin Mowery of Mowery
 Tactical Concepts — a 27–year law enforcement veteran, long-time SWAT operator, team leader, instructor, and one of the most detail-oriented shooters I’ve had the chance to train with.

I first crossed paths with Dustin at the 2025 Combatives Summit in D’Iberville, Mississippi, where he and my good friend Mark Smith were tag-teaming a dry fire block for the students. I’d heard about Dustin for years, but seeing him teach in real time told me everything I needed to know: this guy is a pro.

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Cliff Byerly — former U.S. Marine, LAPD Gang & Narcotics Officer, and founder of Hill Country Combatives.

Cliff has spent decades immersed in high-risk environments — both in law enforcement and in training — and he’s one of those guys who brings a raw, unfiltered honesty to everything he does. I met Cliff out at the Combatives Summit 2025 in D’Iberville, Mississippi, and after missing the chance to sit down with him the year before, I wasn’t about to miss it again.

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Jerry Wetzel, founder of Red Zone Threat Management Systems. Jerry’s a lifelong martial artist, gym owner, and educator whose mission is simple — to provide real training for real people to survive real violence.

We sat down right after the Combatives Summit 2025 in Mississippi and got into everything from his philosophy on violence and self-defense to his experiences as a coach, business owner, and lifelong learner. 

In this conversation, we unpack the mindset and methodology behind Red Zone, the i...

We’re back in the studio for another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, and today we’re asking a question that every athlete and coach should think about: does form really matter?

In this conversation, the crew digs into how our experiences as coaches shaped the way we look at movement, form, and performance. We talk about where our ideas came from, how they’ve evolved, and why what you think you know about perfect form might not tell the whole story. Some of what we cover might challenge what you believe — and that’s exactly the point...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is my good friend John Valentine, who officially holds the record for the most appearances on the After Dark series. John’s been part of the show since the early days — from his philosophy on combatives and coaching to his role in shaping the Combatives Summit into one of the most respected gatherings in the training community.

In this conversation, we debrief the 2025 Combatives Summit, recorded just a day after John returned from the event. We talk about what went down on the mats, the...

Welcome back to another Iron Sights Podcast! I’m joined once again by the crew to dig into one of the most underrated tools in training — medleys. 

In this episode, we break down what medleys are, how to structure them, and the science behind why they’re so effective for building real-world strength and endurance. We’ll share practical examples for both gym and unconventional setups, plus tips to help you train smarter, not just harder. 

Whether you’re already using medleys or you’ve never tried one before, you’ll walk away with new insights to impr...

Welcome back to another After Dark episode here on the Iron Sights Podcast. My guest today is Chris Urrutia from Vortex Optics and the Vortex Edge training team. Chris and I first met a few years back, and I’ll be honest—our time together on the range left a lasting impression. There was something about the way he approached his craft, his students, and his mindset that told me I had to get him on the show someday.

In this episode, we dig into Chris’s story—his upbringing, his career in the military and law enforcem...

Welcome back to another episode of the Iron Sights Podcast. Today we’re diving deep into heart rate zone training based on your lactate threshold heart rate (LTHR). 

In this episode, we’re bridging that gap so you can learn how to train smarter, recover better, and get more efficient results from your endurance and conditioning work.

We pulled a lot of what we discuss today straight from our brand new Heart Rate Zone Training Guide, which you can download for free at rdfguides.com. Inside, we break down how to test your own LTHR, calcu...