The Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast

Dan Skoczylas (Lt. Dan)
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Workplace violence, more specifically active shooter events are senseless and evil and take way too many lives every year. Part of the issue is that employers ignore the problem and the general public thinks that someone is going to come and save them or this will never happen here. Neither of these are true and neither mentality will protect you. People can be their own hero's, we all have the ability deep within to become the Warrior Evolved. Employers must recognize their huge liability exposure for failure to plan, train and execute or in addition to the loss of life the event may be the death of the company.

Episodes

  1. 18 Mar

    Trends in Security with HBT

    Discussion of the future of the security industry as well as the responsibilities and expectations of the entities that hire private security agents. Raising the bar on training.

  2. 26 Jan

    Episode 9- Confronting Human Trafficking

    Discussion with former Federal Agent Darlene Bradley and Heather Maravilla, (a former victim of human trafficking turned advocate) about combating the human trafficking problem through prevention and situational awareness.

  3. 17/12/2025

    We Check Because We Care-Episode 8 with Meghan Martinsen

    Conversation with Meghan Martinsen from Red Trends, regarding the huge failures in vetting and screening coaches in youth sports. We identified the major short comings and what needs to actually happen to protect our kids. Meghan and I are both in the background screening profession but more importantly we are both parents who have witnessed these failures first hand.

  4. 10/12/2025

    It's about saving yourself!- Episode 7 with Samantha Doe

    Samantha (Sam) shares her story of surviving a brutal stabbing attack and ultimately saving her own life by administering her own first aid.

  5. 12/11/2025

    Church Safety and Preparedness: A Conversation with Pastor Stacey Brown

    In this episode of the Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast, Lieutenant Dan speaks with Pastor Stacey Brown of Living Water Community Church about how houses of worship can stay safe amid rising incidents of violence. They discuss balancing faith and security, addressing mental health challenges, and building partnerships with local law enforcement to keep congregations protected.

  6. 10/11/2025

    Grant Whitus on Courage, Response, and the Cost of Duty

    In this episode of the Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast, Lieutenant Dan interviews retired SWAT Sergeant Grant Whitus, who shares his experiences in law enforcement, particularly during the Columbine and Albertsons incidents. Grant discusses the evolution of police response to active shooter situations, the importance of immediate action, and the emotional toll on first responders. He emphasizes the need for training and preparedness in law enforcement and offers practical advice for civilians on how to respond in dangerous situations.

  7. 07/11/2025

    Leadership Under Fire: Kristen Ziman on the Aurora Shooting and Building a Culture of Safety

    In this episode of the Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast, host Dan Skoczylas speaks with Kristen Ziman, former Chief of Police of Aurora, Illinois, about her experiences in law enforcement, particularly during the Henry Pratt shooting incident in February 2019. They discuss the challenges faced during the active shooter situation, the importance of leadership and preparation, and the cultural issues surrounding reporting threats in the workplace. Kristen emphasizes the need for organizations to create a culture of safety and awareness to prevent such tragedies in the future. In this conversation, Kristen Ziman and Lt. Dan discuss the critical importance of workplace safety, particularly in the context of preventing violence. They explore the need for a culture of reporting concerns, the role of management in addressing potential threats, and the significance of recognizing behavioral red flags. The discussion also covers best practices for handling high-risk terminations, the response of law enforcement during crises, and the lessons learned from a specific incident. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of communication, coordination, and training to ensure the safety of employees and the effectiveness of response teams.

  8. 05/11/2025

    Active Shooter Preparedness: What Every Employer Needs to Know

    In this episode of the Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast, Lt. Dan talks with Mike Ruggiero, President of Bo Giddle & Associates, about recent active shooter events in New York, the challenges law enforcement and private security face in responding to them, and how companies can better prepare employees through proactive training and safety assessments.

  9. 06/10/2025

    Nobody’s Coming to Save You — Be Ready! | Lt. Dan & Chris Harrington

    In this episode of the Workplace Violence Mitigation Podcast, Lt. Dan talks with Chris Harrington, owner of HBT Security and HBT Training Academy. They discuss the growing role of security professionals in preventing workplace violence, the importance of advanced guard training, and how social media and rising threats have changed the security landscape. Chris also shares insights on situational awareness, the need for collaboration between law enforcement and private security, and practical safety tips for everyday life.

  10. 06/10/2025

    From Tragedy to Training: How WVMI Is Changing Workplace Safety

    Lt. Dan sits down with entrepreneur and video producer George Vroustouris to discuss how their collaboration helped shape the Workplace Violence Mitigation Institute (WVMI). George shares his journey from the video industry to cybersecurity and explains how witnessing Lt. Dan’s powerful active shooter training inspired him to get involved. Together, they talk about expanding in-person training into online programs to help organizations nationwide create safer workplaces and comply with new safety laws like California SB 553.

  • 10 Episodes

About

Workplace violence, more specifically active shooter events are senseless and evil and take way too many lives every year. Part of the issue is that employers ignore the problem and the general public thinks that someone is going to come and save them or this will never happen here. Neither of these are true and neither mentality will protect you. People can be their own hero's, we all have the ability deep within to become the Warrior Evolved. Employers must recognize their huge liability exposure for failure to plan, train and execute or in addition to the loss of life the event may be the death of the company.

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