Tips, Tactics, and Tools Podcast

Brink Fidler & Tom Herring
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Monthly

"Tips, Tactics, and Tools for a Safer Tomorrow" was inspired by frequent discussions between Brink Fidler, President of Defend Systems, and Tom Herring, Owner of Herring Technology, both driven by their commitment to educating clients on enhancing safety and security. Defend Systems specializes in physical security consulting and active shooter response training, while Herring Technology focuses on security solutions like access control, surveillance, alarms, and more. This podcast dives deep into all things safety and security—whether at home, work, church, or in public spaces. Our diverse guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, including school security experts, survivors of active shooter incidents, rescue task force managers, risk management professionals, technology specialists, federal agents, law enforcement experts, K9 trainers, and many more.

  1. 4d ago

    076 - When You Need Security Now: Rapid Deployment Technology

    Not every security challenge has time to wait for permanent infrastructure. In this episode, we're joined by Stephen Sutton of Herring Technology to explore how Rapid Deployment Units (RDUs) provide flexible, temporary security solutions wherever they're needed. We discuss how these mobile systems are used to protect events, critical assets, retail locations, logistics operations, and more, along with the technology that powers them, from solar and battery advancements to analytics like license plate recognition, people detection, and automated alerts. We also cover how organizations are using cameras for more than security, including crowd management, operational efficiency, and locating lost children at large events. Whether you're responsible for securing a special event, construction site, campus, or commercial property, this conversation offers a practical look at how rapidly deployable technology can solve complex security challenges. 0:55 Introducing Stephen Sutton of Herring Technology and the company's Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) division. 3:25 The most common RDUs are trailers and skids that can be deployed without existing infrastructure. 4:50 Why RDUs are an effective solution for unexpected security needs. 5:50 One of Herring Technology's first RDU deployments: the Smyrna Air Show. 7:41 What is a skid, and why it's difficult to tamper with. 8:45 Unique deployments, including protecting a $100,000 Christmas tree. 10:00 Where RDUs are used: festivals, parking lots, construction sites, retail, and more. 10:30 How warehouses and logistics facilities use RDUs to protect inventory. 11:42 Using RDUs as temporary alarm systems until permanent security is installed. 14:40 How battery technology has improved mobile security systems. 15:55 Methanol generators and why they outperform propane generators. 18:50 What are masts? 24:20 Solving complex security challenges with customized technology solutions. 25:20 Using loudspeakers to deter trespassers. 26:28 Analytics including license plate recognition and people, vehicle, and pet detection. 29:30 Using cameras to improve operations, crowd flow, and efficiency. 30:30 Finding lost children at large events. 32:00 Pole-mounted RDUs for temporary camera coverage. 33:30 Applying analytics to existing camera footage. 36:05 Why Herring tests products to failure before deploying them.

  2. Jul 21

    075 - The Old Dominion Shooting Through the D.E.F.E.N.D.® Lens

    When a gunman entered an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University on March 12, 2026, students and faculty were forced to make life-or-death decisions in seconds. Their actions stopped the attacker, but the incident also revealed critical lessons about mindset, decisive action, leadership, and emergency medical care. In this episode, former Green Berets Adam McIntyre and Mike Bearden join Brink and Tom to break down the attack step by step, discuss what went right, what could have changed the outcome, and explain why this real-world incident closely mirrors the principles taught in Defend Systems' D.E.F.E.N.D.® curriculum. Whether you're an educator, first responder, business leader, or simply want to be better prepared, this conversation offers practical lessons that could save lives. 1:00 Guests Adam and Mike, former Green Berets and members of the Defend Systems team, recap the Old Dominion University shooting and explain why it reinforces the principles we teach in our training. 7:40 Overview of the attack timeline and what happened inside the ROTC classroom. 9:00 The shooter's Army National Guard background and reported ISIS ties. 10:44 Why we intentionally don't name the shooter. 13:00 Colonel Brandon Shah becomes the first person to confront the shooter. 13:14 The decisive actions students took to stop the attack. 15:05 How a student intentionally created a handgun malfunction—a skill taught in Defend Systems training. 15:56 How many Defend Systems training concepts played out in the first 30 seconds. 16:40 The warrior mindset that empowered students to act. 18:35 Student Samuel Reineberg's account of treating Colonel Shaw's wounds. 24:40 Where bleeding control kits and tourniquets should be placed in buildings. 26:55 What to do if you don't have a tourniquet. 29:41 Recognizing the students' decisive actions and quick notification of law enforcement. 33:30 The shooter's weapon choice and why determined attackers will find a weapon. 34:25 Two critical lessons about fighting over a gun. 38:30 Accepting injury over death. 38:55 How this incident demonstrates the final step of the D.E.F.E.N.D.® curriculum. 39:13 Why an options-based approach helps people respond effectively. 40:55 Adam and Mike's three biggest takeaways from the incident. 44:55 Brink's biggest takeaway: decisive action and mindset ended the attack quickly. 45:07 How mental scripting helps people respond faster under stress. 47:40 Watch student Samuel Reineberg's interview on The Shawn Ryan Show. 49:05 Why training matters, the impact of medical training, and why everyone should learn Stop the Bleed.

  3. Jun 23

    074 - Foundations of Church Security Teams (Part 4)

    In Part 4 of our Church Security Teams series, guests Adam McIntyre and Michael Bearden discuss one of the most overlooked, and most important, aspects of church security: radio communication. Many teams focus heavily on firearms, medical training, and response tactics, but communication is what connects every part of an incident. From detection and decision-making to reunification, effective communication can make the difference between order and chaos. Drawing on decades of military and security experience, Adam, Mike, Brink, and Tom share practical lessons on radios, communication plans, Security Operations Centers, equipment selection, radio placement, training drills, and common mistakes churches make. Whether your team is large or small, armed or unarmed, this episode provides actionable guidance to help your organization communicate more effectively during a crisis. 2:00 – Why communication is the most important element of a church security program 2:18 – Mike explains how serving as a communications specialist on a Green Beret team gave him years of experience operating and troubleshooting radio systems in complex environments. 4:40 – A rural school district exercise Defend Systems conducted where communication failed 6:00 – The three most important priorities for church security teams: people, response capability, and communication 7:15 – Building primary, contingency, and emergency communication plans 8:30 – Start simple: why every church should begin with reliable radios 8:58 – Why military units often view radios as being just as critical as weapons 10:20 – Security Operations Centers: who should staff them and why they should remain focused on coordination 14:50 – Don't just buy radios—train with them regularly 17:40 – Common communication failures churches experience 19:10 – Why Defend Systems prefers UHF radios for penetration and building coverage 24:55 – The reality of communication equipment: you often get what you pay for 26:00 – Budgeting for radios: fewer high-quality radios versus more lower-quality options 27:50 – Why used radios can be a smart option for churches with limited budgets 29:30 – Managing radio channels and keeping communication simple 32:15 – Training to ensure team members know which radio and channel to use under stress 32:50 – Parkland school shooting lessons learned: how using the wrong radio can have devastating consequences 35:00 – Why communication proficiency may be more important than marksmanship 40:00 – Building communication skills through scripting before adding movement 44:24 – "Confusion costs time, and time costs lives." 44:50 – Why plain language is more effective than complicated codes

  4. Jun 9

    073 - What Keeps You Safe When Everything Goes Wrong?

    What should you know before investing in a gun safe, vault door, safe room, or storm shelter? In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with Mark Brasfield, founder of Nashville Safe House and one of the largest Browning safe dealers in the world. Mark shares his journey from the airline industry to entrepreneurship, explains common misconceptions about safe ratings and fire protection, and discusses how homeowners can think strategically about physical security. The conversation also explores storm shelters, vault doors, reputation in business, and the real-world stories that have shaped Mark's approach to helping people protect what matters most. Whether you're considering a safe for firearms, valuables, or family protection during severe weather, this episode offers practical insights from one of the industry's most experienced professionals. 1:40 Mark is the world's largest dealer of Browning safes. 2:20 How Nashville Safe House began - from the airline industry into the security business 3:40 The entrepreneurial mindset 4:45 Aviation management and becoming a pilot at 19. 9:50 Understanding safe classifications and security ratings 11:10 Mark's top safe recommendations: Fort Knox: the "Fort Knox" of the safe industry and Browning: the best all-around option for most buyers 12:20 Misleading fire and security ratings in the safe industry. 14:45 Nashville Safe House's extensive in-stock inventory 19:30 "It's easier to keep a good reputation than to repair a bad one." 21:08 The Nashville Safe House "Wall of Shame"—a collection of safes that have been broken into. 21:59 Types of safe rooms and storm shelters. 23:05 The most popular shelter for existing homes. 24:20 Safe room options for new construction 26:00 There is no such thing as a "FEMA-approved" shelter, only shelters that meet FEMA guidelines. 27:10 What a storm shelter costs 28:20 A powerful tornado story from Murfreesboro, Tennessee 32:50 Who should consider a safe room? Assessing risk levels, threat profiles, and personal priorities. 36:00 Comparing security doors and why Mark believes Fort Knox makes the industry's best vault doors. 38:15 Typical pricing for the vault doors Mark installs: $9,000–$10,000 range. 40:00 Why buying a safe room or vault door should be a thoughtful process 44:15 Learn more at www.thesafehouse.com. Nashville Safe House serves customers through locations in Nashville, Knoxville, and Atlanta.

  5. May 26

    072 - Foundations of Church Security Teams (Part 3)

    In Part 3 of our Foundations of Church Security Teams series, we move beyond the initial response and focus on one of the most critical, and often overlooked, parts of a church security incident: what happens after contact is made with the threat. This episode covers the realities of integrating with responding law enforcement, how to conduct effective handoffs during a critical incident, why communication failures create danger, and the importance of tracking personnel and cleared areas inside your facility. Adam McIntyre shares lessons from Special Operations leadership, practical guidance for casualty management, and why realistic, church-specific training matters far more than static range practice. This episode provides practical insight into coordination, communication, room clearing, casualty response, and leadership under pressure. The next episode of this series will focus on radio communications.   1:05 Finishing where we left off: what happens after an incident begins and law enforcement arrives? 1:50 Why the person maneuvering toward the threat should not "sit on the radio" during the response 3:00 How support personnel should direct responders  3:53 Why teams must continue clearing the threat area even after the suspect is neutralized 4:40 The importance of establishing a designated law enforcement handoff point at your church 5:30 Understanding "battle tracking" and maintaining accountability for everyone inside the facility 6:30 Why link-up procedures during an incident can become dangerous without proper tracking 7:20 Every member of a church safety team must know how to conduct the law enforcement handoff 8:12 Near and far recognition signals: visual identifiers, radio communication, and announcing arrivals 10:50 Holding off-duty police officers and experienced personnel accountable to church procedures 13:45 Why training must happen inside your actual church facility, not just on a range or in a shoot house 17:20 Why law enforcement maintains jurisdiction and the importance of avoiding conflict with responders 18:15 Maintaining cleared areas without surrendering ground unnecessarily 20:05 The importance of secondary searches and thoroughly checking any space where a person could hide 21:53 Adam explains why declaring an area "secure" was one of the most stressful leadership decisions in Special Operations 22:45 Why church teams gain an advantage by training in the same environment they protect 23:45 Center-fed vs. corner-fed rooms and how teams should practice both 24:55 Why teams should intentionally allow failure during training to improve adaptability 27:00 Responding to casualties while the event is still unfolding 28:30 The difficult reality of prioritizing stopping the threat before treating victims 29:20 Establishing casualty collection points near exits 30:15 Prioritizing injuries during mass casualty events and why deceased victims should not be placed in casualty collection points 32:00 Plain language vs. coded language during emergencies 35:30 The importance of radio training and why it's one of the most overlooked low-cost skills for teams 40:00 The next episode of the series will focus entirely on communications training

  6. May 12

    071 - Getting to Know Michael Bearden | From Green Beret to Defend Systems

    In this episode, we sit down with Michael Bearden, Defend Systems' new VP of Strategy and a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret. Mike shares the story of his military career, from deploying to Iraq just months after graduating high school, to working in some of the most demanding environments in modern warfare, to eventually serving in 5th Special Forces Group. Along the way, he discusses Ranger School, combat deployments to the Middle East and Central Asia, the realities behind Special Operations missions, leadership under pressure, and the mindset required to operate in high-stakes environments. Mike also reflects on a life-changing incident in which he was accidentally shot, his transition into Special Forces, being named the 2021 Special Forces Instructor of the Year, and how his experiences ultimately led him to Defend Systems. This conversation offers a look at leadership, resilience, training, decision-making, and what it means to Mike to prepare people for their worst day. 2:30 – Introduction to Michael Bearden, Defend Systems' newest team member and former Green Beret 3:09 – Growing up in a military family and knowing early on he would join the Army 6:00 – Deploying to Iraq just months after basic training 8:00 – Learning to drive under night vision in a Humvee during deployment 9:15 – Mike's first deployment and the events later chronicled in Black Hearts 11:45 – Second deployment with the 101st Airborne and attending Ranger School 12:55 – Why Ranger School carries so much respect in the military 15:30 – Leadership lessons from Ranger School that shaped Mike's life and career 16:20 – A 15-month deployment to northwest Baghdad during a major insurgency campaign 17:30 – Mike's first exposure to Special Forces culture and operations 19:00 – Operation Dragon Strike and fighting in Taliban strongholds 20:35 – A life-altering friendly fire incident before a patrol 24:00 – Recovering in a Kandahar hospital and deciding to pursue Special Forces 25:30 – What Special Forces looks for: critical thinkers and independent decision-makers 32:25 – The structure and self-sufficiency required of a 12-man Green Beret team 36:05 – "We train for the mission we're designed for, the mission we're assigned, and our worst day." 37:15 – Joining 5th Special Forces Group and meeting Adam McIntyre 38:00 – The reality of military free-fall operations versus Army commercials 40:50 – The decentralized decision-making culture within Special Operations 46:20 – Being named the 2021 Special Forces Instructor of the Year 48:45 – Why teaching and mentorship are core parts of being a Green Beret 50:45 – Retirement from the Army and joining Tennessee Governor's Veteran Fellowship 52:30 – Reconnecting with Adam McIntyre and joining Defend Systems 58:05 – What ultimately drew Mike to Defend Systems and its mission 1:01:00 – Connecting the 5th Group motto, "Free the Oppressed," to empowering civilians through training

  7. Apr 28

    070 - Foundations of Church Security Teams (Part 2)

    In this second part of Foundations of Church Security Teams, Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre, Director of Training at Defend Systems, to discuss building and developing an effective safety team through the right mindset, strong leadership, and practical training. We cover communication, de-escalation, realistic preparation, and why consistency and standards matter. The episode also emphasizes medical readiness, proper team structure, and preparing for real-world threats beyond the basics. Stay tuned for Part 3, where we discuss handoffs to law enforcement and post-incident recovery. 1:04 This episode will focus on: training standards, equipment, and mindset 3:15 First responder mindset matters more than security team equipment 3:57 "Act now" mindset - Covenant vs. Uvalde response comparison 7:40 Leadership at the front must be followed, even if others are senior 14:00 Prioritize selecting regular, committed church attendees 17:00 Radio and comms training is often overlooked but critical 18:30 Start with basics before advancing to higher-level tactics. Use a crawl, walk, run progression. 19:22 De-escalation training and Tom's story about improper suspect engagement  28:30 Pushing through difficult training builds real-world readiness 31:40 Real gunfighting is different than range marksmanship 32:24 Firearm standards must be consistent across all team members 33:15 Follow local law enforcement training standards when unsure 37:50 Consider armed guard licensing or meet equivalent standards 39:00 Many church teams are only prepared for single threats, not coordinated attacks 41:00 "Warrior in a garden" mindset  44:30 Always have armed coverage near children's/youth areas 45:35 Trauma medical training is essential for saving lives 48:20 Use of GRG map grids to improve internal building response 50:15 Next episode: law enforcement handoff and aftermath

  8. Mar 17

    069 - Foundations of Church Security Teams (Part 1)

    What does it actually take to build an effective church security team? In Part 1 of this series, Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre, Director of Training at Defend Systems, to break down the foundations of church safety, from who should be on your team to why having any team is better than none. Adam shares practical insights on recruitment, roles, communication, and common mistakes churches make when getting started. Whether your church is just beginning to think about safety or looking to strengthen an existing team, this episode offers clear, experience-driven guidance to help you take the next step. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll dive into how to train a team effectively. 1:03 – Introduction to the series: developing, recruiting, training, and maintaining a church safety team with Adam McIntyre, Director of Training at Defend Systems 5:50 – Why pastors should not lead safety team development and how it can polarize a congregation 7:44 – A high-level approach: prioritize the right 5 people over a large, uncommitted team 9:36 – The #1 rule: have a team 11:00 – What makes a good team member? 11:55 – The Security Operations Center (SOC): why your camera operator plays a critical role 16:00 – The challenge of multiple entry points: managing doors effectively 20:15 – Why gamers often make excellent SOC operators 21:55 – The importance of radio training and clear communication 23:40 – Key traits to look for: humility, communication, and a willingness to train 26:30 – Identifying and leveraging people who can augment your team 27:00 – Limited training time: why efficiency and clear SOPs are critical 30:47 – Reference: West Freeway Church of Christ shooting and lack of coordination 32:15 – Resource highlight: Faith-Based Security Network 35:20 – Start with private recruiting before making public announcements 38:45 – Small vs. large churches: same principles, different execution 40:00 – Local collaboration and how we can connect you with resources - email info@tipstacticstools.com  Coming Next: Part 2 – How to train a church security team

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"Tips, Tactics, and Tools for a Safer Tomorrow" was inspired by frequent discussions between Brink Fidler, President of Defend Systems, and Tom Herring, Owner of Herring Technology, both driven by their commitment to educating clients on enhancing safety and security. Defend Systems specializes in physical security consulting and active shooter response training, while Herring Technology focuses on security solutions like access control, surveillance, alarms, and more. This podcast dives deep into all things safety and security—whether at home, work, church, or in public spaces. Our diverse guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, including school security experts, survivors of active shooter incidents, rescue task force managers, risk management professionals, technology specialists, federal agents, law enforcement experts, K9 trainers, and many more.

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