Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America

Walk the Talk America

The Walk the Talk America Podcast is where firearm culture and mental health meet with curiosity, not confrontation.   Each episode brings together voices from the firearm community, mental health professionals, researchers, and everyday gun owners to have honest conversations about suicide prevention, culture, and practical solutions.   We focus on education over outrage, nuance over noise, and collaboration over division, because reducing negative outcomes requires diverse perspectives.    And because this work is personal, every episode closes with a simple but powerful question: How do you stay mentally healthy?

  1. MAY 8

    Ep 169: Listening Through Loss: Nelba Márquez-Greene on Grief, Community, and Humanity

    In this deeply human episode of the WTTA Guns and Mental Health Podcast, Michael Sodini sits down with Nelba Márquez-Greene, mother of Ana Grace, who was murdered in the Sandy Hook shooting. This conversation is not about politics or taking sides. It is about listening. Nelba shares her story as a mother, wife, clinician, educator, and survivor of unimaginable loss. Together, she and Michael discuss grief, community, storytelling, faith, mental health, responsible conversations around firearms, and the importance of seeing one another as human before anything else. It is a powerful reminder that real progress begins when people are willing to sit together, listen honestly, and refuse to let tragedy become just another talking point. Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 15m

  2. APR 16

    Ep 168: From the Firearms Industry to the Research Stage

    Michael Sodini recaps his experience last fall at Rutgers University, where he was invited to close out a summit hosted by the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.  In this conversation, Michael and Kevin break down what happened when Walk the Talk America brought a firearms industry perspective into a room full of researchers, social workers, and advocacy groups. They discuss the disconnect between policy conversations and the realities of gun ownership, the momentum behind WTTA’s ROOTS Project and Kids to Kings, and why practical solutions, trusted messengers, and better collaboration matter more than ever. Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 12m

  3. MAR 12

    Ep 167: If It Moves, You’ll Know: How Kini Helps You Monitor Firearm Access at Home

    Firearm storage is not just about what you buy, it’s about what you know. In this episode, Mike and Nicky Zabetian from Kinisium join Mike to break down Kini Safe Alert, a small, discreet motion/tamper notification device that texts (or app-notifies) you when something you care about is moved, opened, or accessed. They talk through the real stories that inspired the product, why “my kids know better” is not a plan, and how Kini can add a passive layer of awareness to safes, drawers, cases, ammo storage, and more. You’ll also hear how they built the product through COVID-era supply chain chaos, why they designed it to avoid subscriptions, how the settings work (sensitivity, quiet modes, multi-person alerts), and how this kind of tool can complement suicide prevention and responsible ownership without tracking you or your location. Plus: what it’s like breaking into the firearms market with a safety product, what they’re bringing to SHOT Show, and the question we ask every guest, how do you tend to your mental health? Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 17m

  4. MAR 5

    Ep 166: Financial Freedom for First Responders

    In this conversation, Seth Hendricks shares his transformative journey from a decade-long career in law enforcement to becoming a financial advisor. He discusses the impact of mental health on police officers, the importance of self-reflection, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional life. The conversation delves into the unconscious behaviors shaped by trauma, the financial considerations unique to police work, and the significance of communication in relationships, especially when dealing with the stresses of the job. In this conversation,  Seth Hendricks shares his journey from law enforcement to financial planning, emphasizing the importance of serving others and the challenges of consent in helping professions. He discusses the emotional drivers behind feedback and reviews, the complexities of gun ownership, and the need for open dialogue in divisive topics. The conversation also touches on the importance of addressing mental health and personal well-being, particularly in underserved communities. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Symposium and Seth's Background 02:57 Seth's Journey from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning 05:53 The Impact of Mental Health in Law Enforcement 08:48 Understanding the Five-Year Drop-Off in Police Careers 11:56 The Role of Ego and Self-Reflection in Career Choices 14:46 Financial Considerations for Police Officers 18:01 The Unconscious Impact of Trauma on Spending Habits 21:05 Balancing Personal Life and Professional Trauma 23:58 The Importance of Communication in Relationships 27:09 Navigating Parenthood and Career Stress 29:53 The Gap Between Law Enforcement and Financial Planning 39:05 The Simplicity of Law Enforcement 42:49 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning 43:48 The Concept of Consent in Helping Professions 46:57 The Challenge of Change and Acceptance 50:50 The Emotional Drivers Behind Reviews and Feedback 52:08 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Topics 55:15 Navigating Difficult Conversations 01:01:59 The Complexity of Gun Ownership and Responsibility 01:04:33 The Importance of Open Dialogue 01:11:18 Serving the Underserved in Financial Services 01:14:02 Mental Health and Personal Well-being Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 23m

  5. FEB 25

    Ep 165: Beyond the Boogeyman, A Nuanced Talk on Colorado ERPOs With Chris Knoepke

    Red flag laws, also known as ERPOs, get talked about in the gun world like one sweeping “boogeyman”, but the reality is messier and state-specific. In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Dr. Chris Knoepke (University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative) to break down how Colorado’s ERPO process actually works, who can file, what due process looks like, and what the data is showing so far. They dig into what gun owners often worry about most, including false accusations, service and enforcement realities for law enforcement, and why many clinicians are hesitant to touch ERPOs at all. The conversation also explores practical improvements if these laws aren’t going away, such as better training for clinicians, stronger “time and space” options, and connecting people in crisis to real support rather than  luck, see you in a year.” As always, we close with the question we ask every guest: How do you tend to your mental health? Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 40m

  6. FEB 12

    Ep 164: Bridging the Gap: A Yale Researcher, Gun Owners, and What Actually Reduces Harm

    For the first time on the WTTA podcast, we’re joined by a researcher, and not just any researcher. Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative. Kerri shares her path from growing up on a cattle farm in Texas, to working in a district attorney’s office and running one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country, to becoming a researcher focused on what actually reduces injury, trauma, and death. This conversation goes straight to the real tension points, without the usual talking past each other: The difference between reducing firearm deaths vs reducing overall deaths and why substitution mattersWhat gun owners worry about with ERPOs, and what it would take for policies to be trusted and usableWhy secure storage keeps showing up as a high-impact solution, including the reality of firearm theft from vehiclesHow research funding changed after 2020 and why more universities are building firearm research initiatives nowWhy storytelling and lived experience still matter even in data-driven policy workIt’s candid, nuanced, and exactly what it looks like when the research community and firearm community sit at the same table and actually try to build answers together. Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 29m

  7. FEB 4

    EP 163: Causing a Pause for the High Performers with Charles Anderson

    In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health podcast, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Charles Anderson, CEO in the firearms media world behind Bleeker Street Publications, Athlon Outdoors, and its family of brands. What starts as a chance bar conversation at NASGW turns into a powerful, honest discussion about what it looks like to live with mental health struggles while building a high profile career. Charles shares his path from growing up poor in a wealthy New York town, to the high pressure brokerage world later portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, to venture capital, and eventually to becoming one of the most influential voices in firearms media. Along the way, he breaks down the reality of imposter syndrome, why “success” does not protect anyone from dark moments, and the coping framework that helped him survive when nothing else felt believable. Michael and Kevin connect the conversation to WTTA’s “Cause a Pause” mindset, and explore why the firearms industry has often been hesitant to engage tough topics like suicide prevention, and why that is finally changing. If you’ve ever looked successful on paper but felt like you were one bad day away from unraveling, this one is for you. Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Chapters 00:00 — Welcome and introductions 01:10 — How Michael and Charles met at NASGW 03:20 — The phrase that stopped Michael in his tracks 04:10 — Charles’ background, Detroit and “keeping it real” 05:30 — Normalizing mental health talk in gun culture 06:40 — Growing up poor in a wealthy town 07:40 — From teenage stockbroker to Wolf of Wall Street reality 09:20 — Pressure, substance abuse, and the crash 10:20 — 9/11 grief, New York’s collective trauma, and leaving for Michigan 12:10 — First gun, training, and starting a blog 13:40 — When the blog started outranking major gun companies 14:50 — From agency life to running major publications 16:20 — Why authenticity matters, especially in this industry 18:10 — Imposter syndrome, image, and the pressure to “fit in” 21:20 — Chat question, why so little 2A legal coverage in publications 23:50 — Why “facts only” content struggles to get attention 27:10 — Why the gun industry avoided mental health for so long 31:40 — “You could kill yourself tomorrow”, what it really means 35:10 — The link to addiction recovery and getting through the next minute 38:30 — Why it works in conversation, but not as a slogan 41:10 — Permission, options, and Dr. Conte’s framework 44:30 — How imposter syndrome shows up, even during success 48:10 — What helps, therapy, self-awareness, and catching it earlier 57:40 — External “pull backs”, friends, helping others, and connection 01:01:30 — The “doom scroll” problem and a surprising coping tool 01:08:40 — The gambler mindset vs stability, and why some people must build 01:17:30 — How Charles tends to his m Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    1h 31m

  8. 12/02/2025

    Ep 162: When Worlds Come Together: ROOTS, Research, and Real Conversations at the National Research Conference

    In this special episode, Kevin Berry sits down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health, Kenny Barlow from Regal Products, and WTTA founder Mike Sodini to recap a week that moved the conversation forward in meaningful ways. The National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms brought together researchers, public health leaders, industry partners, clinicians, and advocates who all share a common goal. Reduce negative outcomes and save lives. For the first time, WTTA and the ROOTS initiative were represented on the exhibitor floor. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees were curious, supportive, and eager to learn how voluntary secure storage, mental health tools, and trusted community partnerships fit into the broader prevention landscape. Our team heard again and again how important it was to have firearm owners and industry voices present, willing to listen and willing to engage in good faith. In this conversation, we break down key themes from the conference, share insights from panels and hallway conversations, and talk about what it means when different perspectives finally have a chance to connect. This episode highlights why cultural understanding matters, what ROOTS is building, and how collaborations across disciplines can create practical, real-world solutions that help families, communities, and firearm owners. Send us Fan Mail Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier: Ruger Armscor Bleeker Street Publications Gold Tier: NASGW Lipsey's Davidson's

    51 min
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4.6
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

The Walk the Talk America Podcast is where firearm culture and mental health meet with curiosity, not confrontation.   Each episode brings together voices from the firearm community, mental health professionals, researchers, and everyday gun owners to have honest conversations about suicide prevention, culture, and practical solutions.   We focus on education over outrage, nuance over noise, and collaboration over division, because reducing negative outcomes requires diverse perspectives.    And because this work is personal, every episode closes with a simple but powerful question: How do you stay mentally healthy?

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