The Prepared Mindset Podcast

John Ketteman served 11 years in the U.S. Army were he had the opportunity to train alongside many talented men and women, and attend the legendary Q course. From his experiences in the military, he's become an outstanding professional shooter, as well as educator, sharing his lessons learned in both the tactical and competitive realms. We dive into the overlapping concepts that exist between these two ideas of what shooting is, and bridge the gap, getting into things like "getting off the X", practical tools you can use to solve problems in stressful situations, discuss how to prioritize your...

January has flown by and brought with it some record setting weather, as well as a few unfortunate events in Minnesota. In this episode of The Sunday SITREP, we examine the rising tensions between ICE and protestors, and talk about two fatal incidents which could possibly have been avoided, but may possibly have been justified as well. With so much internet speculation and media input on both, it's becoming harder and harder to see the situations objectively. Further, we're witnessing our own "community" turn on itself and speak out against the very 2A rights that so many of us...

The sports, hunting, and outdoor trade show, better known as SHOT show, takes place every year in Las Vegas, and for the first time, The Prepared Mindset was able to attend. This is something that I've been working towards and very much anticipating, as many do, for a long time, and was every bit the learning and networking opportunity that I had hoped it would be. Lexy and I sit down and recap the trip, talk about what we did, who we saw, and what we learned. Truly, if you've never attended, I'm just not sure that there are...

For years, the phrase "Modern Minuteman" has been latched on to by those of us in the preparedness community as a way to self identify, and to a extent, justify our efforts. While it's a nifty idea and catchy label, I personally think that it's become one of the more detrimental ideologies in todays community. There's a certain amount of personal awareness, and accountability that is required when discussing the idea of a truly capable man, and prepared civilian. What many do seem to forget is that in the days of the original minuteman, the lack of training and...

As a follow up from our previous discussion with Irish from Almost Covert, in this week's episode I sit down with the "other half" of the founders of A/C, the man called Bully. With a conventional background, one outside of military and law enforcement, this isn't exactly the kind of individual you would expect to find coordinating counter trafficking operations and devoting his life to helping save children. Our conversation started with personal fitness, training on and off the range, mindset, and accountability, and ended diving into the work that Tether Group is doing overseas in South Africa...

With SHOT show just over a week away, it's only fitting that we have a discussion around the unique animal, which is the city of Las Vegas. More specifically, how the various impressive properties up and down the strip approach security, manage risk, and protect guests. I sit down with Gabe this week, who has had a relatively short but impressive career working in Vegas in multiple capacities, to unpack the many facets of securing some of the most well known casinos in the world. From SRT and ERT teams, to Cash Transport, to customer service and all of...

The official first episode AND first SITREP of the 2026 calendar year! While I initially didn't think there would be a whole lot to talk about when planning this a couple weeks ago, there's been a few developments as of late that really worked themselves up the list. As always, these discussions are the monthly opportunity to talk about current events both in the United States, as well as abroad, and give lots of opinion and a little context to help keep our audience informed. Certainly, getting into the new changes the NFA, diving into the fraud scandals with daycare...

The end of 2025 is here! Hard to believe as it may be, this is the last episode/discussion of the calendar, as we get ready to turn over, and dive head first into 2026. This past year been one of intense growth for me personally, and certainly for Prepared Mindset. The changes that came about this year in many cases were extremely challenging but in some ways very rewarding too. As with the other years gone by, I take this opportunity to walk through the highlights, and unfortunately some lowlights of this year, and talk about them. From the classes...

If you've been searching for information on breaching - how it's done, why one tool is used over another, considerations and constraints - this is the one guys. This week, I sit down with Steven Laster of Core Vision Training and dive into the topic and skillset of breaching. Steve is former Army, and currently active on what I would consider a pretty high volume SWAT team. Throughout our discussion we hit on various tools, including Rams, Halligans, Shotguns, torches and saws, we even spend time talking about the benefits that Hydraulic breaching tools bring into the discussion. From...

Go Take a Class! While you can certain do a lot of self study in today's day and age, with the access to articles and videos we have, instructor led courses are still the best source of information and learning available. While they alone won't magically make you better, getting the hands-on opportunity is invaluable in your personal journey of preparedness. Unfortunately, this concept is still one that is widely unadopted, leaving us with a community full of overly-empowered individuals, who parrot the opinions of strangers online, or worse, draw vast assumptions based on personal emotion. In this discussion...

Not having a personal background in military or law enforcement, I wasn't sure I would ever actually have the chance to teach in the 2A space. Sure, I have a lot of years under my belt as an educator, teaching music and marching band, but is that really relevant in the context of shooting, self defense, tactics, etc.? Well, I finally had a opportunity presented to me to give it a go, and I spend this weeks episode talking all about it. From my apprehension about the outward appearance of someone with no operational background teaching, to the excitement...

We roll through Thanksgiving, officially into the last month of the Calendar, and lots of strong economic indicators as things politically heat up across the country. In this installment of the Sunday SITREP, I talk about some crucial current events, talking about tensions across the country as religious protests increase and the friction heats up between protestors and residents in key cities across the U.S. With things become so tense, especially in the wake of the murder of two National Guardsmen in D.C., there's a lot to consider, and a lot to evaluate. Additionally, I talk about...

Fresh off Black Friday weekend, I sit down with Kevin Holland of Custom Night Vision to catch up and talk about night vision, lasers, comedy, and more. It's always interseting to me when I get to chat with industry experts, some of the surprising stories and details their able to share. Being that devices like NODs are so prohibitively expensive for many folks, my assumption would be that when people are able to purchase finally, they've done a lot of research on basic use and common experiences. Kevin and I talk about end users, and how in fact, that...

Almost Cover is a social media presence that many of us may know, and many more of us may relate with. They started as a page, or rather a pseudo "art project" sharing good photos and funny video clips. Rather quickly however, this team of former veterans has turned into something else entirely, changing the world in ways that I think few realize. In this episode, I sit with Irish, one of the team members and founders of Almost Covert. We talk about his beginnings in the Airforce, touch on his time after service working with charity organizations, and...

I finally have the opportunity to sit down with Rick of SSV Concepts, catch up, and have a great discussion. Just as the title says, we get into dogs as a low tech early warning system and the realities of dealing with them, combatting drug operations and how the landscape has changed, and general dumb ideas, that may not be so dumb. We spent time talking about utilizing data and personal outputs to track and maximize your own performance, and that of your team. We even took a moment to touch on the idiocy of public perception, and legacy...

Breaching has long been one of the most valuable skillsets in our community. To defeat our enemy, to eliminate the threat, we must be able to access that threat, access the hold of our enemy. While there's been so many advancements in breaching technology, the core concepts always remain. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Kuras of Good Dude Concepts to talk about breaching work as a part of a SWAT team in Florida, as well as what he's been able to bring to the conversation with the invention of his Breaching Rescue Bar, or B.R...

While we call this all a community, with the social media platforms, the training events, the video content, the knowledge transfer, and everything in between, we really love to argue amongst ourselves on what's right and what's wrong. Some of these debates have been repeated thousands of times over, with different folks each claiming to have "the right answer" and feeling emboldened and empowered to tell their peers why what they're doing is wrong, and unnecessary. I'm not sure if this episode will make the problem any better, or simply add to the issue. Regardless, I share my thoughts...

We're approaching the one month mark, and the U.S. government remains in shutdown. As we come upon the Novermber 4th election day, many wonder if we'll see a resolution. Additionally, news has broken of a suspected terror attack here in Michigan, planned to take place on Halloween. As always, the Sunday SITREP is the opportunity for me to share my thoughts and insights on current events, and provide some commentary that may help you fill in the gaps on what's going on, what's already happened, and what we may see next. Theres a whole lot going on in...

Garrett is back, and this time, we're deep diving into the Carbine platform and everything that goes with it. From competition to practical shooting, we found a way to touch on a whole heck of a lot in this discussion. There's so much detail and nuance when talking about performance shooting, from optic height to grips, to muzzle devices and more. We found opportunities to talk about almost all of it in this conversation. Both myself and Garrett shared lots of personal experiences and opinions on some of the hotly contested ideas in our community, like optic risers, and...

Brandon Wombough is a former Marine, and currently the armorer at T-Rex Arms. Following up our discussion last month in the wake of the Kirk assassination, I wanted to take the opportunity to sit down with Brandon for a conversation. We touched on many different topics including personal accountability and prioritization of efforts, to how you can test yourself and your own capability, and talking the realities of pride and ego. Of course, we had to spend some time getting into the community, talking about drones, talking about the ergonomics of some laser aiming modules and how many of...

While many of us are still reeling from the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, many more of us have responded to the tragedy with righteous action. It's often unfortunate that we must see evil to know its existence, and adjust our preparation. Being reactive, rather than proactive is never preferable. Perhaps one of the most affected populations in this turbulent time, are faith based institutions and organizations. I sit down this week with Jonah Norman to talk about not only Executive Protection, but about the work being done at multiple levels to make centers of worship more safe, and...

Fresh off of our group training trip to Ben Franklin Range in Pennsylvania, I sit down with Blake Flannery of Orion Training Group and Maneuver Training Solutions, to talk about the work we did in the shoot house. Additionally, we dig into some of the concepts, as well as context, to structure clearance work and CQB in general. There's so much information and opinion floating around within the training community on this subject, it's hard to really grasp what can truly be called right and what really is wrong. To this end, we talked about some of the different...

Unfortunately, as the time has gone on over the past few years, it seems the world around us has only gotten more violent. While we at one point all wanted to believe it was a question, a discussion of right versus left, this religion versus that religion, it's becoming more and more obviously that the lines that are being drawn, aren't as clear and convenient as we would like them to be. In this iteration of the SITREP I talk about a handful of recent events, attacks on houses of worship that are a powerful illustration of the danger...

Personal Accountability. In my experience, it is the single greatest characteristic that I've seen in high performing individuals. While many folks claim they desire to be a highly capable individual with a high level of preparedness, the truth is that many simply fall flat. Accountability is at the crux of that issue more often than not. In a discussion that hits very close to home for me personally, I dig in to why it's so important and I add color and context to the situations that I think many of us run in to, while trying desperately to be...

Understanding your tools and how to use them to solve problems effectively is probably the best way to summarize much of what our training is about. Just as with any skillset or trade, if you don't know to use those tools, or understand the entire purpose of having them, you're going to run into issues, and certainly will be less effective. This is why it becomes so frustrating for many, seeing the emulation and "copy-catting" that is triggered by influencers, when it comes to equipment and supporting gear. Everything from optics and lights, to plate carriers, armor, and belts...

The fallout from the assassination of Charlie Kirk has weighed heavily on everyone's minds. What is next? What will we do? Why do we feel this way? To do my best to tackle those questions as well as bring insight on how to honor his memory, I sit down with Jeremiah and Brandon to break apart everything that's gone on over the last several days. Specifically we talk about faith, and the inherent morality that comes with it, and how it must be our guiding principle as we push forward in a world that seems to feel more and...

Unfortunately, I'm releasing this SITREP out of cadence, but in light of these events it's something that is needed. Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA and a major political voice in our country, has been assassinated. During his stop at Utah Valley University to kick off a public speaking tour, he was shot. This comes as a major blow to many, and serves at least as a shocking reminder of how far our society has fallen in these turbulent times. As always, I share my thoughts, my feelings, and do my best to speak on why this...

Night Vision. The super power that we all want, and the only capability which can be purchased. Unfortunately, to many, it's perceived to be unattainable due to the financial constraints which surround it. What many folks don't realize though, is that you have more options available than what you might think. To explore the options, and talk in depth on used and surplus options, I'm sitting down with Shane Sharp and Ty Morgan from Terrace Unity Solutions. TUS is a Michigan based night vision company just a few minutes from me, and a resource I only recently realized I...

Watches are an essential piece of field kit, and something that many of us take great pride and interest in. Understanding what goes into making a quality watch, what to look for, as well as why it's important, is critical in making a good selection. It's even more important if this is a functional tool that you'll depend on in either the military or law enforcement, out in the field. To discuss these details, and how Brigade Watch Co. is facing the challenges head on, I sit down with one of the founders of Brigade, Kevin Ding. As a...

Kevin Estela is a former History teacher and life-long outdoorsman, as well as an author, and talented educator. For me, Kevin was one of my earliest inspirations as a podcaster, and I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to sit down with him. We dive into history and fieldcraft, his transition from public school educator to full time instructor, as well as the importance of mindset in your individual training journey. Kevin shared a lot in this conversation, including the three essential elements to achieving success: awareness, preparedness, and willingness. We talked at length about how those...

As long as we've been chasing self-improvement and trying to run a gun faster and more accurately, there have been men trying to develop ways and means in which to do so with less effort, and more quickly. Certainly at the top of that list is the handgun compensator. A device which when attached to the end of the barrel, vents the gasses in various directions, helping to mitigate felt recoil to the shooter, and muzzle rise. Having just jumped into this myself, I reached out to our good friend Jake from Herrington Arms, to talk about it. As...

I think it's a safe statement to make, that we all are, or have at least at some point, struggled to understand the balance that exists between the three pillars of overall preparedness. Heck, at some points, I'm sure many of us didn't even realize that they existed. That's alright, it's part of the journey, and to a large degree, that journey never stops. You simply have many encounters along the way that shape your mission and your goals. While it can be confusing, once you're able to make sense of what you need to spend money on, what...

Chris Costa is a man who truly needs no introduction. His early work with Magpul Dynamics helped to inspire thousands of us to pick up the rifle and start training, and his continued influence on the community is at best, difficult to measure. This week, I have the opportunity to sit down with Chris, one of my earliest influences in training, and pick his brain. We started by getting into Chris' experience in the Coast Guard, traveling the world on Counter-Drug operations, how that led to not only his career in teaching but also what sparked his passion for...

August is here, and we're two-thirds of the way through the year. For this iteration of the SITREP, rather than stepping into political news, or global developments, I have a update on our own training here in Michigan to share with you. Pulling together a diverse group from across our state, with backgrounds in Military, Law Enforcement, and obviously trained Civilians, we are fresh off our first "CQB Workshop" training session. This was a targeted exercise put together and planned to "pressure test" and validate the practices and procedures that we use in our own training, and find the...

In 2025, let's be honest, there's threats that we face in our daily lives that we can realistically prepare for. However, in the same token, there's a limit to how far that preparation can carry us. From emerging technologies, geopolitical turmoil, to the potential for civil unrest growing seemingly by the day, there's a lot out there. Far more to account for than certainly any one of us can alone, and even in a group limits to what can be accomplished. In this discussion I do my best to shine a light on what truly "being prepared" means, and I...

While it's pretty well noted that I don't have a ton of knowledge or experience out in the wilderness or in the survival community, my guest this week, has more than enough to make up for what I lack. Craig Caudill is the owner and founder of Nature Reliance School, and has dedicated his life not only to teaching survival, bushcraft, and sustainment, but to continuously seeking out individuals who know more, and finding ways to learn new things in areas he's spent his whole life studying. This was a fascinating conversation for me, and we were able to...

The Red Letter Project is a unique company that takes the traditional approaches we see to skills like firearms safety and proficiency, force on force training, and individual capability, and builds on them through personal focus, and faith based principles. Maddy Scholar is the owner and founder of The Red Letter Project, as well as a avid shooter, as well as a student of business and faith. We sit down in this discussion, starting with Maddy's story of what led her to such an impactful life mission, and spend a lot of time talking not only about the benefits...

The first major piece of legislation for the new Trump Administration has passed, and it's been dubbed "The Big Beautiful Bill" by many. For me, I think it's more cheeky to simply refer to it as the "T Triple B" for reasons only a few of you will understand (but shouldn't). In this bill, which numbers somewhere between 1,000 and 1,1000 pages approximately, are a number of very impactful changes to the country. Chief among those is the removal of the unconstitutional two hundred dollar tax attached to NFA items like suppressors and short-barrel rifles, as well as hefty budgets allotted...

We're officially kicking off the second half of 2025 with the July SITREP! It's Fourth of July weekend, and with that, comes obviously the fantastic celebration by all Americans (mostly) of our fight as armed and well regulated civilians fighting for independence and to defeat tyranny. Now, in the last several decades, that notion does seem to have faded a bit over time, but it's an ideal that is uniquely American, and one that holds more value than many realize. I do my best to articulate my own thoughts and feelings around the holiday and why it's so important that...

A discussion many of you have asked for, I finally had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin, of Custom Night Vision fame, and cut it up. While our time together was shorter than I would have liked, we were able to dig in to a whole lot. From hearing the story of how Custom came to be what we know it to be today, to discussing the mindless postings and arguments on reddit, and beyond. Kevin has always been someone who's willing to share with folks his own thoughts and opinions, and has been a resource to the...