The Self-Initiative Project

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 40, De-Escalation: A Key to Conflict Management

Randy King from 80:20 Conflict Management Strategies and Randy King Live joins us again. This time we talk about de-escalation. Arguably, de-escalation is one of the most important pieces to your self-defense and personal safety strategies.

De-escalation skills not only have a place in the context of personal safety; but they can be very important in our personal relationships as well. Additionally, we talk about how being able to de-escalate oneself is the first step in being able to successfully de-escalate any situation at hand.

We talk about what a great movie Road House (think: Patrick Swayze) is, how our monkey brains can adversely affect our decision making abilities and therefore our ability to de-escalate, and how the art of de-escalation is similar to delivering good customer service.

There is so much fantastic content in this episode, we cannot possibly lay it all out here. You will just have to listen. I promise you will have a lot of takeaways from our chat here with Randy.

While you are at it, go back and listen to our Podcast 29 where Randy and I discuss his Realities of Violence content too.

Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 39, Lock Up Your Guns

Tom Kubiniec, CEO of SecureIt Tactical Inc., joins us to talk about the importance of locking up your firearms.

Tom and I talk about all aspects of gun safes and why the industry could be stuck in the old ways of selling them. Consumers may have been given a story to believe in when it comes to traditional safes; and Tom believes his product is superior.

Tom definitely makes some interesting points about why you might want to consider his SecureIt product(s). Plus, we cover the key selling points of traditional safes and the hype and concerns around them.

Whatever you decide, you need a solid way to keep your firearms secure and then you need to keep them locked up.

Sit back. Relax. And listen.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 38, A Chat With Tammy Yard-McCraken, PsyD, LPC

Tammy Yard-McCraken of Kore Self Defense and Krav Maga and 500Rising takes time out to chat with us about all things self defense and more. Tammy's a psycho-therapist turned self defense badass and instructor.

We talk about the effectiveness of Krav as a self defense system overall, the need to disseminate more information in addition to all the physical aspects of self defense, and much, much more.

Hear what Tammy's takeaways were from this podcast too.

Apologize for the few cell phone connection issues experienced in this episode.

Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 37, Up in Arms With Rob Pincus

Rob and I chat again; and this time we discuss what I talked about in Podcast 35, and the fact that guns are not the answer to your personal safety.

And can you believe it? Rob does not think you really need a lot of training to use a gun. Shocker!

We wound up agreeing on a lot more than disagreeing; and I appreciated being affirmed by an industry expert as well.

If you are new to guns, thinking about guns, or already have a gun, you are going to want to listen to this one.

Sit back. Relax. And listen.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 36, Personal Safety For The Disabled

This episode Denis Haynes returns again to chat about personal safety for the disabled and what it may be like for those that find themselves in a more vulnerable state.

Having a disability may be permanent for some, temporary for others, and may even vary from day-to-day for yet others. However, having a disability or handicap does not mean you have to be less safe than anyone else.

What can you do to better ensure your personal safety when you have a disability or handicap?

We talk about several things anyone with a disability (AND their caretakers) can do.

Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 35, Guns Are Not The Answer To Your Personal Safety

Think a gun or some tool is going to make you safe?

We take a few minutes to discuss these honest facts and more:

• If guns went away tomorrow, you would still have the right and the ability to defend yourself.
• If you have a gun, you are not just magically safe, even if you feel safer with it.
• And owning a gun does not absolve your of all your other personal safety responsibilities.

Join us as we talk about some of the fallacies out there about owning guns; and how to be better prepared with or without a tool, like a firearm.

Sit back. Relax. And listen.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 34, How to Better Avoid, Respond, and Recover If It Does Happen

If you go back and listen to Podcast 33, It Will Never Happen to Me, you will be better prepared for this episode.

We revisit to stories told in 33 and talk about somethings that could have helped the individuals better avoid, respond, and recover from the events we talked about

We cover a lot of tips and pointers in this episode and leave you with 3 main pieces of advise.

Thanks for listening.

Originating podcast:

Podcast 33 - It Will Never Happen to Me

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 33, It Will NEVER Happen to Me

Think so? Apathy or optimism bias may have some people under their spells. No matter the cause, here are six stories to the contrary in this episode including:

• An active-duty Marine robbed at gun point
• A 16 year old babysitter dealing with a drunk neighbor with a shotgun
• A personal vehicle broken into and items taken even though parked under street light and with doors locked
• And more...

Learn if they saw it coming, would they have ever expected something like it to have happened to them, what they might have done differently, and how has it effected how they go about their personal safety.

Sit back. Relax. And listen.

Follow up:

Podcast 34 - How to Better Avoid, Respond, and Recover If It Does Happen

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 32, Alternative Tools for Non-Permissive Environments (NPE)

What do you usually carry that can be used as a self-defense tool or a force multiplier?

Can you carry what you normally would into non-permissive or non-permissible environments (NPE), i.e. sporting events, concerts, amusement parks, etc.?

NPE tools or tools better suited for non-permissive environments are the subject of this podcast. Join me as I talk with Tony Tran of The Necro Maker. Tony specializes in stabby tools for NPE.

Learn about NPE tools and how they might be an option for you when none of the usual items are allowed. Learn how NPE tools might be a great choice for women; and how the use of these tools is nothing new as they have had their place throughout history by various groups including Ninja.

Thanks for listening.

The Self-Initiative Project, Podcast 31, Safety While Hiking and Camping

The woods and the mountains are the places I find my Zen. Camping is something I have always enjoyed doing, including the occasional hike or backpacking trip. Spending time outdoors can be spiritually relaxing.

There are several aspects to being safer while hiking and camping too; and this episode we talk about several of them. We cover topics from the importance of carrying a basic trauma kit to handling blades of various types to why it is important we stay on the trails to the potential impacts if we do not keep our distance from the wildlife. We also talk about the importance of practicing situational awareness, listening to our intuition, and even proper fire management.

There are even some crazy stories in the mix as well.

Sit back. Relax. And listen.