Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America

Walk the Talk America
  • 4.6 (18)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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?

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    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 a text 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

  2. 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 a text 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

  3. 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 a text 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

  4. 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 a text 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

  5. 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 Send a text 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

  6. 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 a text 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

  7. 10/30/2025

    Ep 161: Bringing Back Trust: Rob Beckman on the Future of the NRA

    In this episode of Walk the Talk America, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with firearms instructor and Firearm Trainer Podcast host Rob Beckman to discuss his candidacy for the NRA Board of Directors and his vision for “NRA 2.0.”  Rob shares how the organization is changing under new leadership, how instructors can bridge the gap between gun ownership and mental health, and why collaboration—not division—will shape the future of the Second Amendment. Send a text 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

  8. 10/09/2025

    Ep 160: Waco Hoover on American Legion and MCON

    Former infantry Marine and brand strategist Waco Hoover joins Michael to dig into the impact of lip service. We cover the American Legion’s “Be The One” suicide-prevention effort, Columbia Protocol training, and VA Veterans Health Venture Studio work building real tools for care. Then we preview MCON, a celebration of military culture with range day, First Shots, and a timed secure-storage retrieval competition that reframes safety as readiness. Bring your questions, bring your team. Send a text 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

    49 min

  9. 10/02/2025

    Ep 159: From Loss to Leadership: The Scott Sippel Foundation’s Fight for Suicide Prevention

    RG Stitt and Greg Harpster join us from the Scott Sippel Foundation—an organization born from tragedy that’s now raised nearly $600,000 for mental health and suicide prevention. We talk about honoring their friend Scott, why local boots-on-the-ground efforts matter, and how a community sporting clays event became a powerful engine for change. You’ll hear: How the Foundation identifies smaller, volunteer-driven groups so more funds reach real programsWhy rural areas need tailored mental health support, and what’s workingThis year’s focus on LEEK, a veterans outdoor program, and other beneficiaries over the yearsPractical ways to tend your own mental health, from daily walks to simple breathing practices learned at Outdoor OdysseyHow the firearms community quietly shows up to save livesChapters 00:00 – Cold Open: Glitches & Getting Live  00:55 – Welcome Back + Today’s Guests  02:25 – WTTA’s Early Days & First Connection to Scott Sippel Foundation  05:08 – Intros: RG Stitt & Greg Harpster  07:11 – What the Foundation Funds & Why Local Matters  09:18 – Building Crisis Lines in PA (Penn State region)  13:29 – Rural Realities: Suicide vs. “Gun Violence”  15:29 – Counterintuitive? Guns, Community, and Prevention  21:00 – Remembering Scott: Stories, Friendship, and Loss  27:34 – Aftermath & The Questions No One Can Answer  31:06 – Spotting Subtle Signs in Hindsight  37:55 – From Grief to Action: Launching the Clay Shoot  41:26 – Organic Growth: Community, Word of Mouth, Full Rosters  42:51 – Sponsors That Show Up (ammo, firearms, food, more)  49:42 – Event Logistics, Timing, & Volunteer Hustle  57:42 – Where to Learn/Donate: scottsippelfoundation.org  58:35 – How We Tend Our Own Mental Health (walks, breathing, mindset)  1:02:41 – Open Invite & Closing Thanks Send a text 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 10m

  10. 09/25/2025

    Ep 158: Rob Pincus on Youth Stats, ERPOs, and What Actually Saves Lives

    Mike and Kevin sit down with Rob Pincus to unpack two hot buttons that get thrown around online but are rarely explored with nuance: the “firearms are the #1 cause of death in youth” stat, and ERPOs/red flag laws.  Rob shares what he sees inside a Tufts University led  group that puts gun-rights and gun-control advocates in the same room to hammer out policy ideas for red states. We dig into how stats are framed, why education belongs in schools, what meaningful “wins” for responsible owners might look like, and where ERPO conversations go off the rails without mental-health guardrails or due-process realities. In this episode Why that viral “#1 cause of death in youth” headline needs real breakdowns by age, suicide, and community violenceWhat a practical, developmentally appropriate firearms education curriculum could cover in schoolsERPOs done wrong vs. ERPOs with mandatory mental-health evaluation, cultural competency, and penalties for malicious usePolicy “wins” Rob is pushing, including tax incentives for training and safe storage, removing redundant state laws tied to federal regs, and pathways to restore rights for non-violent offensesThe big idea: be in the room, reduce negative outcomes, protect responsible ownersIf you got value from this one, follow the show, rate it, and share it with a friend who cares about firearms and mental health. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches 00:39 Rob Pincus: A Multifaceted Contributor 02:26 Understanding Misconceptions in the Firearms Industry 05:07 Collaborating with Gun Control Advocates 10:56 The Importance of Being in the Room 16:33 Navigating Emotional Discussions Around Firearms 22:01 Statistics and Their Manipulation 27:50 Addressing Youth Firearm Deaths 33:16 The Role of Education in Firearm Safety 39:14 Concluding Thoughts on Firearm Discussions 45:30 Understanding Perspectives on Gun Control 48:30 The Debate on Gun Safety Terminology 51:03 Education and Youth Involvement in Gun Safety 54:51 Navigating Mental Health and Gun Ownership 58:41 Proposals for Emergency Restraining Orders 01:04:11 Exploring the Future of Gun Legislation 01:19:01 Celebrating Wins in Gun Rights Advocacy Send a text 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 42m
  • 10 Episodes

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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