Tips, Tactics, and Tools Podcast

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

"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. Oct 27

    081 - Inside School Security: What Parents and Educators Never See

    What does it really take to keep a school safe? In this episode, we sit down with Chuck Carter, Director of Security at Harding Academy in Nashville, to discuss the often-overlooked work behind effective school security. Drawing on his experience in law enforcement and school security, Chuck shares why technology alone isn't enough, the importance of involving security professionals in leadership decisions, and how building relationships with faculty, students, and parents strengthens a school's security culture. He also discusses the impact of active shooter response training at Harding Academy and why, if he could recommend just one security investment to every head of school, it would be training teachers to respond confidently in an emergency. 1:05 Chuck's law enforcement background and transition to Director of Security at Harding Academy 4:30 The behind-the-scenes work of school security: staying informed, updating procedures, keeping up with technology, and ensuring teachers stay trained and prepared 6:11 Why some schools hesitate to have visible armed security and assumptions about intimidating students 9:25 Society's perception of firearms and the importance of recognizing responsible armed security professionals 10:00 Chuck has never had a student express fear of him or his firearm 10:15 Building relationships so community members feel comfortable reporting concerns 10:40 Why uniformed security serves as a deterrent and helps distinguish security personnel during an incident 14:30 Chuck's goal of implementing active shooter response training from the beginning 16:30 Advice for security directors working with apprehensive school leaders: build trust and demonstrate value 17:45 The influence of parents and a strong reputation within the school community 18:58 How cameras, access control, and other technologies fit into a comprehensive security plan 19:45 Why operational effectiveness matters more than the equipment itself 25:00 How Chuck has helped teachers understand their role in school security 26:20 The impact of Defend Systems training and one teacher's shift toward feeling empowered to protect herself and her students 29:45 Reinforcing training lessons with teachers throughout the year 32:25 Positive feedback from Harding Academy teachers about rapid response medical training 33:15 Why security professionals should be involved in building design from the beginning to identify vulnerabilities 38:55 Chuck's top security investment recommendation for every head of school: train your teachers 41:00 Why attitude and effort matter, and how Chuck's team shares his commitment to safety 42:15 Questions about improving your school's security culture? Email info@tipstacticstools.com

  2. Oct 13

    080 - Why Everyone Needs Bleeding Control Training

    Would you know how to save a life if someone started bleeding uncontrollably? In this episode, we welcome Chris Brown, Critical Care Paramedic, Trauma Outreach Educator at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Nashville SWAT Medic, to discuss the importance of life-saving medical training and why everyone should know how to respond to a traumatic injury. Drawing from his experience in emergency and tactical medicine, Chris shares how bleeding control techniques have evolved, lessons learned from military and civilian emergencies, and why having the right equipment means little without proper training. The conversation also explores real-life examples of medical training saving lives, including three incidents involving individuals trained by Defend Systems. From Stop the Bleed to Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), this episode reinforces a simple message: You don't have to be a medical professional to save a life, but you do need to be prepared. 1:00 Introducing Chris Brown, Critical Care Paramedic, Trauma Outreach Educator at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Nashville SWAT Medic 4:30 How the Sandy Hook shooting helped inspire the Stop the Bleed initiative 6:55 Life-saving medical skills apply far beyond violent incidents, including everyday activities. 7:50 Three lives saved by individuals trained by Defend Systems 9:30 Adam discusses how the Army's approach to tourniquets has evolved 12:05 90% of life-threatening bleeding can be controlled with pressure 14:45 Chris explains why the general public must be prepared to serve as responders 15:50 Vanderbilt's role as a Level I Trauma Center and partnership with local law enforcement 17:03 Why equipping police officers with medical training makes sense 18:30 Chris' experience serving as a Nashville SWAT Medic 19:50 How strong leadership and openness to new ideas improve emergency response 24:25 How Herring Technology equips and trains its field employees in bleeding control 26:00 How one hour of Stop the Bleed training could give someone a lifetime 28:50 Everyday traumatic injuries treated at Vanderbilt 30:15 Brink shares how TECC training helped him save two lives following a car accident 36:00 Vanderbilt's military-civilian partnership and how battlefield lessons improve civilian trauma care 36:33 Chris' involvement in the ARMOR Study and rewriting Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) 38:00 Lessons from Ukraine: How drone warfare is changing injury patterns and medical training 38:50 Chris: "It's irresponsible for organizations not to have some level of medical training."  44:45 Why Defend Systems emphasizes direct pressure over unreliable improvised tourniquets 47:30 "Are we our brother's keeper?" It's our responsibility to help others in emergencies. 48:00 How to connect with Chris and explore Vanderbilt's trauma education programs

  3. Sep 29

    079 - Why Preparedness Can't Live on Paper

    What does it actually take to build an organization where safety and preparedness are part of the culture, not just policies on paper? Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre and Mike Bearden from Defend Systems to discuss why preparedness starts with leadership, how everyday habits can undermine even the best security plans, and why organizations have to move beyond simply having policies and technology in place. Drawing from real examples with clients, we discuss how we assess an organization's preparedness culture, the common vulnerabilities and attitudes we encounter, and what separates organizations that truly prioritize preparedness from those that simply have a plan in place. From schools and churches to businesses and other organizations, we explore leadership buy-in, accountability, security practices, and helping teams understand not just what to do, but why it matters. 1:10 Why a culture of preparedness matters in every industry 2:10 Preparedness starts with leadership buy-in 2:45 How leadership buy-in impacts school safety culture 4:20 How Herring Technology matches security solutions to a client's preparedness level 7:10 Leaders have to model the behaviors they expect 8:00 The problem with propped-open doors and the most common offenders - leadership 8:28 Balancing an open-door policy with proper security 12:20 How Defend Systems clients sometimes respond when vulnerabilities are identified 13:32 Focusing on a few actionable security improvements during a building walkthrough instead of overwhelming with too much information 14:32 When employees recognize vulnerabilities leadership may overlook 16:30 Looking beyond what has happened to what could happen 20:30 Why blueprints alone can't determine a security plan and how Herring Technology and Defend Systems observe client operations before finalizing plans 22:30 Challenges with safety culture in churches 26:30 How Defend Systems' historical lessons training changed one pastor's perspective on security 29:45 What security professionals learn across different organizations vs. the client lens of only seeing their own organization 31:00 Why Defend Systems teaches the "why," not just the "what" 32:00 Lessons from Sandy Hook Rooms 8 and 10 - an example of the "why" 33:00 What if we treated preparedness like professionalism? 38:44 How urgency around security fades over time 41:57 Moving from policies and plans to training and communication 46:30 Holding each other accountable for preparedness 50:28 Why accountability is "use it or lose it"

  4. Sep 15

    078 - The Pathway to Violence: Recognizing Threats Before It's Too Late

    When someone shows concerning behavior or makes a threat, how do you determine whether they actually pose a risk of violence — and what do you do next? In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with Clay Harris of Homicide Zero to explore a different approach to behavioral threat assessment. Homicide Zero turns an empirically tested threat assessment into a software platform designed to make the process faster, more consistent, and accessible beyond behavioral threat experts. Instead of relying on open-ended questions or gut instinct, users work through simple questions that help determine a threat level, explain how that conclusion was reached, and provide actionable next steps. Clay breaks down the pathway to violence, the warning signs that can create opportunities for intervention, and why prevention is such an important layer of a comprehensive safety strategy. They also discuss zero-tolerance policies, the consequences of overreacting to threats, and how organizations can intervene before concerning behavior progresses to violence. 0:57 Homicide Zero is a platform designed to help evaluate an individual's potential threat level for committing violence. 3:19 Where does an organization start when building its defense? 5:45 The "fruit basket" analogy: Why every layer of protection matters to a complete safety strategy. 6:30 Where do you start when determining whether a threat is credible? 8:30 Dr. Robert Moore's, co-founder of Homicide Zero, threat assessment tool and the research behind a structured approach to evaluating threats and determining when to intervene. 10:09 Understanding the pathway to violence: How a stressor can progress 13:20 Intervention can happen at any point along the pathway to violence, and Homicide Zero helps organize that process. 14:20 Understanding "leakage," when an at-risk individual displays indicators that could signal concern. 18:00 How Clay used Dr. Moore's expertise to create the Homicide Zero platform and make the assessment process integratable with existing systems. 20:15 "Left of bang" vs. "right of bang": Prevention before an incident compared with response after an incident occurs. 22:00 Moving beyond gut instinct and emotion when evaluating an individual. 24:20 How Homicide Zero turns threat assessment into software using simple yes, no, or "I don't know" questions, then provides a threat level and explains how it reached that conclusion. 26:12 The danger of overcorrecting: How concerning behavior can lead to serious consequences for someone who may not actually pose a threat. 28:30 What happens after a student is expelled? The importance of reassessing before a student returns to school. 31:00 The long-term cost of missing opportunities for early intervention. 32:20 The potential problems with "zero tolerance" policies. 35:15 With many threat assessment tools already available, what does Homicide Zero add? Simple questions, accessibility for facilitators beyond behavioral threat experts, and a goal of making threat assessment widely available. 39:45 An assessment can be completed in about 20 minutes, compared with manual threat assessments that may take days or weeks. 48:00 How Homicide Zero provides specific, actionable next steps based on the assessment results. 51:00 The challenges of addressing criminal behavior involving young people and how fact-based reporting can help inform decisions about potential criminal charges. 53:30 Learn more, request a demo, and see how the platform works at HomicideZero.com.

  5. Sep 1

    077 - Digital is the New DNA

    Digital evidence has transformed modern investigations, and Harding University is helping law enforcement keep pace. In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with RJ Holt, John Stone, and Jeff Cavitt from Harding University's Digital Forensics Lab, the only accredited digital forensics lab at a university in the United States. They discuss how the lab partners with local, state, and federal agencies to process digital evidence, connect cases, train investigators, and give students hands-on experience in the field. From drug investigations and scheduled text messages to the growing role phones play in nearly every case, the conversation explores why "digital is the new DNA" and what the future of digital forensics looks like. 1:05 Introducing RJ Holt, 28-year law enforcement veteran and lab manager; John Stone, Searcy PD detective and Harding professor teaching digital forensics; and Jeff Cavitt, sworn Searcy PD officer and director of the Digital Forensics Lab at Harding University 4:18 RJ's start in digital forensics as phones became a major source of evidence and investigative leads 6:45 Working with the Secret Service and adapting to changing digital forensics laws 8:00 RJ's transition from law enforcement to lab manager at Harding 8:18 Nearly 300 phones processed in the lab so far 9:15 Partnering with federal agencies and combining resources through task forces 13:15 The only accredited digital forensics lab at a U.S. university 13:35 How an 18-month evidence backlog helped inspire Harding's lab 15:30 State funding and providing services to agencies at no charge 16:50 The reward students experience when they uncover evidence that helps solve a case 18:20 Training detectives in digital forensics because "digital is the new DNA" 19:40 Maintaining chain of custody and protecting the integrity of digital evidence 26:50 The difficult reality of digital forensics involving CSAM and other sensitive material; Protecting students from exposure to certain cases 28:45 How a scheduled text message provided critical evidence in an overdose investigation 29:25 Arkansas' aggravated death by delivery charge and the importance of phones in drug cases 31:00 Connecting evidence from multiple phones to a traffic stop and larger investigation 32:20 Serving as a digital evidence "fusion center" for Central Arkansas agencies 37:55 RJ's daily work creating forensic copies of digital evidence 40:50 The lab's current caseload: 60% CSAM, 20% drug cases, 20% property crime 41:50 Completing extractions and much of the investigative analysis within 30–35 days 47:05 How to learn more or contact the Harding University Digital Forensics Lab: hudfl@harding.edu or hudfl.org 49:19 Visits from a former President, the Secret Service, and FBI, and interest in Harding students for future careers 49:45 Harding's faith-based mission supports the lab's work through difficult cases

  6. Aug 4

    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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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

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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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