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. 3d ago

    Ep 172: Ton Jones on Grief, Resilience, Firearms, and the Conversations That Save Lives

    Ton Jones is known by many as the larger-than-life personality from Auction Hunters, but behind the television career, firearms expertise, and decades in the outdoor industry is a story shaped by loss, resilience, responsibility, and human connection. In this deeply personal conversation, Ton joins Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry to discuss the unexpected rabbit holes he discovered while listening to the Guns & Mental Health podcast, his concerns about how suicide prevention and firearm policy are approached, and why meaningful progress requires people from different communities to sit down and truly listen to one another. Ton shares a powerful story about supporting a suicidal veteran during a hunting trip, reflects on helping researchers better understand firearms at SHOT Show, and explains how his years working in Hollywood taught him to translate complicated and emotionally charged topics between people with very different perspectives. He also opens up about surviving on his own as a teenager, losing nearly everything when his home was robbed and burned down, the sudden death of his father, the loss of his grandfather, and the lessons that helped him rebuild rather than allow grief and anger to consume him. The conversation also explores responsible firearm ownership, the family traditions that shaped Ton’s understanding of safety and secure storage, and the daily practices he now uses to protect his own mental wellness. This episode is ultimately about showing up: for family, for friends, for veterans, for people who are struggling, and even for those whose perspectives may be very different from our own. Because sometimes a conversation, a phone call, a shared campfire, or a simple question “How are you doing?” can help bring someone back to life. 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

  2. Jul 2

    Ep 171: Jared Buchanan's Journey of Healing and Advocacy

    Jared Buchanan shares his personal journey through grief, mental health advocacy, and ultra running, all inspired by his father's suicide. Discover insights on recognizing signs, the importance of connection, and how resilience and humor can aid healing. 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

  3. Jun 24

    Ep 170: Protecting Schools and Supporting Veterans

    In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, Mike and Jake sit down with the Allegiance Project Foundation to discuss a different approach to school safety. The conversation explores how Allegiance Project Foundation hires and trains veterans for school security, helps schools build a security mindset, and supports veterans as they transition out of military service and into a renewed sense of purpose. From threat assessment and school safety culture to veteran mental health, identity, brotherhood, and the hard realities of transition, this episode digs into what it means to protect children while also caring for the people doing the protecting. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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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