The MagLife

Jeremy Stone

Hear from Active Members in the 2A Community

Episodes

  1. 08/16/2023

    206 — Behind the Scenes of Garand Thumb with Micah and Charlie

    “Hey, it’s Jeremy from Gun Mag Warehouse.” That’s how we’re used to hearing the Mag Life Podcast open, and this episode is no different. But this time, we’re treated to different impressions of Jeremy, thanks to Micah and Charlie from the Garand Thumb YouTube channel. That’s merely the opening to a podcast driven by the guests’ unique brand of humor and more than a few interesting insights. As always, we recommend you listen to the entire episode, but here’s a quick rundown to whet your appetite. Host: Jeremy Stone Guest: Micah and Charlie Accompanying Article: William Lawson Mike is the Garand Thumb OG, but Micah and Charlie have helped him take the channel to a new level. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel) The podcast airs from an “undisclosed location” in the Pacific Northwest, probably meaning Washington State and likely near some Sasquatch village. Jeremy kicks off the episode by noting that his guests took the already very successful Garand Thumb channel to new heights with their humor and cinematography, “the likes of which the YouTube world had never seen. And now it’s created a new era of quality meets entertainment, meets information.” Garand Thumb and the Beatles It’s difficult to argue with Jeremy’s assessment. After all, 3.23 million subscribers, as of this writing, can’t be wrong. Micah seems to agree, though he throws the credit back to the OG Garand Thumb personality himself: “It wouldn’t be a thing without Mike,” who already had something really good going. “He’s intelligent, thorough, and has all the skill sets that people want.” But Mike, himself, agrees that everyone’s unique personality contributes to the Garand Thumb crew pretty much having everything down. The goal now is to keep it going. Micah says that breaking up the current Garand Thumb crew would be like breaking up the Beatles. Micah, with his videography and editing, forms one leg of the GunTube Beatles. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel) If Mike already had the knowledge and skill sets, Micah adds the top-notch videography and says he is obsessed with improving the channel’s overall quality. Charlie brings the humor, which Micah says Mike couldn’t do on his own, given Charlie’s spontaneity. “That is the Beatles,” he adds. Building on Garand Thumb’s Success Micah’s videography improvements were a no-brainer. Charlie notes that Micah’s editing takes a good video and makes it “a banger.” But Micah also regularly engages what may be the most active comment section on YouTube. Mike always acknowledges that “the comment section is out of control.” It’s part of Garand Thumb lore. Jeremy asks if the comments drive community engagement with the channel. “Yeah, probably,“ Micah responds. “I feel like if you don’t feel like you’re a part of it, and you can’t relate to it, why are you here?” But, as we all know, comments are not always positive. Jeremy asks Micah if spending time in the comments helps with shrugging off those negative opinions. Micah offers an insightful answer, acknowledging that “Not everyone’s gonna like your stuff. You can’t be perfect. You can’t please everybody. It’s literally not possible.” But even a few criticisms resonate more than the many, many positive or neutral comments. You remember the negative more than the positive, especially the negative points that make sense. But that’s how you improve things. Charlie’s not really a doctor. He just plays one on Garand Thumb. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel) A Different Vibe Anyone who watches Garand Thumb knows Mike can be very funny, but Charlie takes it to a new level. “My jokes and my dark humor, especially, it’s a constant,” Charlie says, “but I know time and place.” But he had to get a feel for time and place when he first joined the crew. He admits that his first appearance was a bit awkward as he worked through it. Micah says he had to assure Mike afterward that Charlie really was funny. Despite a somewhat rocky start, Mike warmed up to Charlie’s humor, and viewers were soon asking for more. Jeremy notes that “You need some of that chaos mixed in” to balance out Mike’s calm knowledge. Micah agrees, saying they could try to script some comic relief, but he doesn’t think it would work. Charlie’s timing is as important as what he says. “I don’t think you can script what Charlie does,” says Jeremy, “you can’t bottle it.” Charlie’s hilarity apparently doesn’t stop when the camera turns off. Micah says his compatriot’s superpower is internet trolling. I won’t spoil the stories, but they involve feet pics and fake social media accounts, among other things. Charlie especially enjoys trolling fake PVC patch salesmen. Micah refuses to reveal his “Icelandic superpower,” though he has apparently mastered abruptly hanging up the phone. Do with that what you will. Micah has definite opinions on barrel length. (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel) Gun Talk Jeremy asks an interesting and important question, given the number of new gun owners who continue to enter the sport and the hobby. He asks his guests where, if he were to start a gun collection from scratch, he should begin. And if he wanted to build a first rifle, should he build it for a specific purpose, or would a general build be better? Both guests agree that a pistol is a better first purchase than a rifle. A few basic accessories should be included, such as a light and perhaps a red dot. They recommend a duty-sized pistol such as a Glock 17. The rifle discussion is a bit more ambiguous, as you might expect. After all, the AR-15 platform is so flexible that almost anything goes. All agree that knowing the rifle’s purpose is important if for no other reason than avoiding buying stuff you don’t need. That discussion really can’t be reproduced in this commentary, but it’s very much worth a listen. It goes into brands, cost, barrel length, and even shooting range limitations for training. A couple of philosophies come to light, demonstrating once again that there is no “one size fits all” answer to gun ownership. Training and Other Topics Jeremy offers a take on how shooters train in various states. He thinks that shooters in more restrictive states, like Washington or California, take their training, by and large, more seriously than people in freer states like Texas. That sparks a great discussion about gun laws, training perceptions, and the role of public land. I found that to be one of the podcast’s highlights. Where else can you get this? (Garand Thumb YouTube Channel) True to form, however, some lighter topics come up which are no less interesting, including theoretical encounters with “mountain men” in the woods, which eventually devolve into shades of “Deliverance.” You Millennials and Gen Z types can look that one up, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. We also learn that Jeremy is into Classical Greek philosophy, though there’s some doubt as to whether he’s an “Aristotle guy.” “Ulterior Motives” Finally, Jeremy asks if there are any secret “ulterior motives” to Garand Thumb content. Charlie clarifies that as “underlying goals.” Micah replies that, “We just want people to be exposed to the joys of firearms and firearms ownership. We want people to see them being handled in a way that is both professional and fun. I just want there to be as much content, accessible to people, that it becomes normal.” Essentially, with so many people searching for firearms-related content, Garand Thumb strives to provide them with the best quality possible in a welcoming and entertaining way. There are two basic narratives. One states that gun rights and gun usage are beneficial to a free society. The other is about control. Garand Thumb seeks to counter one narrative with the other by making it appealing, especially to younger generations. Garand Thumb content is purposely not heavy, and they strive to make it fun. This is one of the Mag Life’s best podcasts yet, even if it is a bit chaotic. Or probably because it’s a bit chaotic. It is Garand Thumb, after all, and you know it’s out of control. Do yourself a favor and check it out. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/micahpodcast_audio_only.mp3 https://youtu.be/afUAFTEzGEA

    1h 3m

  2. 12/21/2022

    203 — Performance on Demand “Milspec Mojo”

    GunMag Warehouse’s Jeremy Stone is back with another entertaining and information-packed Mag Life Podcast. This month, Jeremy sits down with YouTube gun guy and real-life cop, Milspec Mojo. Mojo is widely known as one of the top firearms guys on the internet, especially when it comes to fundamentals. Those fundamentals translate into lightning operations skills, meaning that he’s a good resource to watch if you want to improve your shooting and gun handling. Milspec Mojo is one of the top gun guys on YouTube. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Instagram and Garand Thumb Mojo started off on Instagram, where he is still very active, but his YouTube channel took off when he started working with YouTube icon, Garand Thumb. As he got further into the training aspect of firearms, Mojo found that he has a knack for teaching. He loves training other people and has developed a style in which he and his friends actually train one another, even if he is the impetus behind it all. Jeremy agrees, talking about how much fun he had at his earlier session with Mojo and his team. Mojo says it’s important to train with likeminded people who want to get better. Surround yourself with folks like that and you’ll get better. That leads to the experience of everyone training everyone. Jeremy agrees that most people want that kind of situation. Jeremy observes that not all cops train regularly. Mojo says that it is a problem in the law enforcement community, but he qualifies that by saying he’s not married and doesn’t have kids. If that happens down the road, his priorities may shift. Mojo also says that, while shooting is an important skill for law enforcement officers, other skills are also very important and maybe even more so. He talks about social skills like talking to people and making your point without sounding like a jerk. De-escalation and talking your way out of a gun fight. Defensive tactics and being physically fit are also big. All those together are probably more important for a cop than pulling a trigger, but he also says that pulling the trigger is a skill that cannot be allowed to lapse. Mojo has to pay for most of his extra training himself, as do most other cops. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Much of the less-than-ideal training can be attributed to budgetary factors made worse by the ill-conceived “defund the police” movement. Agencies simply don’t possess the ammo budget to have cops train properly. If they want extra training, they have to pay for it themselves. Jeremy notes that many departments require cops to provide their own patrol rifle if they want to roll with one. Mojo says he is very fortunate that his agency provides them with some great weapons. Back to Training Jeremy returns to his range session and says he enjoyed it because he felt like he learned something and got better. He asks Mojo what he thinks is the best way to know what you’re not good at. He then answers his own question by saying it’s shooting with other people. Mojo agrees and says that shooting on camera helps too. Those things force you to home in on individual skills to learn where you’re lacking. Mojo says you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, meaning you have to accept that you need improvement and be able to accept and learn from constructive criticism. You have to lose your ego to get better. He has hundreds of video hours that he watches, trying to see what he can do better. Mojo Doesn’t Shoot Competitively…Yet Jeremy asks Mojo about shooting competitively, to which Mojo replies that he hasn’t done it seriously. He did shoot a couple of matches, in which he did very well using a stock rifle and a Beretta M9A1 against guys with custom rigs. Mojo says that he probably should compete, despite some law enforcement criticisms that competition is “gaming” and doesn’t translate to the real world. Mojo says he used to buy into that but has changed his mind. He says he constantly games scenarios at work, whether it’s pre-staging a vehicle or a weapon if he thinks something is about to go down. Mojo says he’s been working with the MP5 a lot. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Jeremy notes that certain skills from competition, like a fast draw, absolutely translate well, though some competition habits, like always pointing the muzzle downrange, can hinder real-life performance. Mojo says that, so far, he hasn’t been interested in competing because he has more fun training with his friends. “As long as you’re having fun, “he says, “that’s all that matters. If you have fun, you’re gonna learn.” Airsoft Training Jeremy compares competition shooting to Airsoft. Some things translate and some things don’t. He then says that Airsoft is “fun on a grand scale.” Mojo concurs. He and his friends play Airsoft, not only because it’s fun, but it also contributes to physical fitness and team building. They learn tactical team communication from Airsoft. The Airsoft environment provides the context within which skills can be practiced and applied. It’s also a great way to test gear, whether it be optics, lights, or any other gear you might run. Mojo says that he and his boys run their actual cop gear when they do the Airsoft thing, including armor. He learned that he doesn’t like magazines on his chest rig’s front because it hinders him when he goes prone. He does note that Airsoft stuff ain’t cheap. It’s come a long way from its beginnings. Mojo and his team use Airsoft because it’s fun and it teaches them skills like tactical communication. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) Becoming a Sniper Mojo recently qualified as a police sniper. He uses a built-out Remington 700 with a chassis setup. He talks about what he learned in the sniper course in a good discussion of the training and its continuing benefits. He puts a lot of effort into being able to run whatever gun he has at a high level, including his bolt gun. He doesn’t want to be the guy who has been to all the schools or been in combat but can’t actually run a gun. You can have training and experience, but you still have to put in the work to benefit from it. A good discussion of shooting fundamentals follows, including fast bolt gun operations. Mojo surprisingly says that the bolt gun might be his favorite weapon. Mojo with his tricked-out Remington 700 sniper rifle. (Milspec Mojo YouTube Channel) He also says that, even if you have a long-range weapon like his sniper rifle, don’t scoff at practicing at closer distances. Mastering the fundamentals at 100 yards or 7 yards with a pistol allows you to build on that as ranges increase. Genesis of a Name Mojo says his nickname comes from two places. First, the “Milspec” part comes from wanting to run standard equipment as well as, or better than, other people who run custom weapons and accessories. Hence the good performance with the Beretta and the basic rifle. He has nothing against upgrades, and has a couple himself, but he wants to be able to run whatever he has at a high level without depending on them. He picked up the nickname “Mojo” in the Marine Corps and he relates that story. Turns out the combination works, even if it took a few name changes to get the handle right. This is a very informative and entertaining podcast. Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing. You’ll probably learn something. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/mojo_audio.mp3

    58 min

  3. 10/24/2022

    201 — Entering the LARP Lair “Administrative Results”

    https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/adminpodcast_audio.mp3 This month, Jeremy had Administrative Results on the podcast to talk about kit, history, and how to be a better man. First off, this is an interesting conversation. Jeremy notes that he reached out to Admin because he not only likes the content, but the channel’s vibe. He thinks that’s missing from a lot of content creators. And he’s not wrong. Admin’s channel is unique, even though it deals with guns and shooting like so many others. There’s a philosophical underpinning that many channels lack. And the production value is first class. Admin running a Finnish RK 92 service rifle (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) And we’re calling him Admin because he’s superhero-like in that he has a secret identity. Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows. A Call to Service Admin’s background is in law enforcement, though it might have gone in another direction. He says that he “was always someone that felt called to a service capacity…I knew I had to do it, either military or law enforcement.” He tried the military first but found more doors being shut on him than were opened. Looking at law enforcement, he found he could make better money while still answering the call. Plus, there was no runaround like the military was giving him. Admin also features cool historical rifles like this German STG 44 “Sturmgewehr.” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Admin was a cop for two years until his department made a COVID vaccine mandatory for continued employment. He liked his job but passed on getting jabbed. By that time, however, his YouTube Channel had 30 or 40 thousand subscribers, so he rolled the dice and went full-time. That was a good decision since he’s now at 263k with a bullet. His quality product has attracted industry influencers and he’s going strong. He now serves through information and philosophical culture content. A Simple Success Strategy Basically, Admin advises diligence in your work and avoiding “time sucks” that “aren’t good for your brain.” Stuff that distracts like social media. He loves video games, but disciplines himself to put them aside when it’s time to work. Admin puts in a lot of work, like reconstructing Larry Vickers’ famous CAR-15. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) He also stresses positive habits—easy but crucial stuff like regular exercise and drinking water. “You have to take care of yourself,” he says. He’s big on saunas too, thanks to a trip to Finland. Admin also says you have to take risks. Calculated risks, certainly, but sitting at home in front of a video game all day and night is not the way. If you want to be something, you gotta risk something. Finally, hard work. Shooting guns on YouTube for a living sounds awesome. It is awesome. But there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that makes those cool videos possible, whether it’s planning, editing, skills development, or whatever. Admin shooting the now famous “Dicken Drill” (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Jeremy notes that good habits build momentum, but so do bad habits. If you don’t exercise one day, it’s easier to not do it another day. Admin agrees, saying that a bad day at the gym is still a day at the gym. A substandard video is still a learning experience to help him get better. Admin and Jeremy both agree that details are important, and Admin says he’s learned a lot about kit and training from the Airsoft community. That pointed him to forums, where he learned even more. It’s all a deep rabbit hole and he admits to still learning. No one knows everything, but you can always learn. Interestingly, Admin lists former SAS operator Christian Craighead as a big influence. You may remember that Craighead singlehandedly stormed a terrorist-held hotel in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. He killed two tangos and led the hostages to safety. Admin always gives us cool guns, like this Rhodesian FAL lookalike. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) Future Goals Admin says he would like to branch out and start his own company, so he doesn’t have to rely on fickle YouTube policies. He envisions that endeavor as a shooting range, complete with instructors, along with a realistic Airsoft competition complex. The goal is to promote shooting skills and “amplify” firearms culture, much as he does now, just more hands-on. Jeremy notes that politics is downstream from culture, and that influencers like Admin are doing good work there. Channels like his can counter the media narrative and may lead to positive political results moving forward. Jeremy says a Jerry Miculek video literally changed his life and he thinks guys like Admin are working to make firearms culture American culture. You know, like it used to be before people started listening to alarmists driven by the hysterical mass media. Who knows what lurks beneath the balaclava? Only Admin knows. (Administrative Results YouTube Channel) The Power of Mass Communication Jeremy and Admin have an interesting discussion about the power of mass media and how that power is flowing to regular people via the internet. They note how guys like Joe Rogan have a larger audience than much of the corporate media and how that threatens the establishment. It’s very astute, with Jeremy quoting the author Gustave Le Bon, who wrote that whoever controls the crowd, controls society. “Whoever gives them their illusions is their master. Whoever tries to show them that they believe in illusions will always be their enemy.” An appropriate quote for our times. Creators like Admin, and podcasts like this one, are helping dispel illusions. That’s why certain bad actors and their corporate cronies do their best to silence them. We need to be tuned in and not let that happen. One way to do that is to listen to the podcast for yourself to catch all the stuff I necessarily left out. And go check out Administrative Results on YouTube. You’ll be glad you did. https://youtu.be/8YyjLR7JQxw Website: https://administrativusresults.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AdministrativeResults Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/administrativeresults/?hl=en

    56 min

  4. 07/12/2021

    184 – Tu Lam | Finding Peace as a Warrior

    On this episode of the Mag Life Podcast, two warriors formally meet and for a heavy discussion about their war and peacetime experiences. Daniel is joined by Tu Lam, a Vietnamese-American former US Army Special Forces Green Beret, martial artist, trainer, entrepreneur, and TV show host. Known for his tactical gear and training company, Ronin Tactics, he is also known for his on-screen appearance on Forged in Fire: Knife or Death, as well as being featured as a playable character in Call of Duty: Warzone. Tu has carved out a public image of himself as a disciplined modern-day warrior and teacher. Daniel explores Tu’s unforgiving upbringing as a Vietnam War refugee, his decorated career as a US Army Special Operations soldier, his passion for the martial arts, and his Bushido mindset to find peace during adversity. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/184-Tu_Lam_Finding_Peace_as_a_Warrior.mp3 Host: Daniel Shaw Guest (usual Co-Host!): Tu Lam Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh 02:41 Escaping Death Daniel asks Tu about his upbringing and what lead him to where he is today. Tu reveals a tragic and violent past, being born literally in the midst of the Vietnam War. Upon the US leaving South Vietnam and Saigon falling, the North Vietnamese forces rounded up the majority of Tu’s family and had them executed. His mother took her children and fled with thousands of others to escape oppression. What awaited the Lam family was more cruelty and suffering as they, along with hundreds of other refugees, were cramped into tiny boats, sailing in the South China Sea. Upon reaching the coast of Malaysia, they were denied entry into the country. The Malaysian troops cut their motor and left the entire boat of refugees out to die. For 30 days straight, the refugees drifted out with no access to clean water or food. Just as Tu’s mother had given up all hope and contemplated feeding poison to her children to spare them of further misery, a Russian naval supply vessel spotted their boat. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, the Soviet troops showed mercy and saved the refugees by providing food and medical aid. This was nothing short of a miracle made by fortuitous timing. If the war was still ongoing, the Soviets would have been compelled to follow wartime protocol and would have taken the refugees back to Vietnam. The horrors the Lam family faced, unfortunately, did not end there. The refugees were relocated into a camp in an Indonesian jungle, with no actual facilities or resources. Dead bodies would be regularly found in the jungles near the camp as people attempted to forage and find food. The strength of Tu’s mother was all that held them together. “[My mother] is my strength… [During that time] there was a slim to no chance that we would have lived. And she goes, ‘I would have rather died than to have lived in fear’” After a year and a half, Tu’s uncle was finally able to pay for his family to immigrate to the US. 12:55 Living in a Post-War America One of Tu’s earliest memories of living in the states was entering a grocery store in North Carolina with his mother. From living through horrific starvation to suddenly being able to pick any food item of his choice was a culture shock. But post-Vietnam War America was not without its faults. Tu’s entire childhood was riddled with instances of racist encounters and harassment from his white counterparts. The context Tu gives is that the entirety of the Vietnam War was not at all popular in the US, which in turn spawned many racist anti-Asian sentiments. At eight years of age, Tu experienced bullying from a racist white classmate. One day the situation escalated to where both Tu and his bully were sent to the principal’s office to be reprimanded. The bully’s mother was called in and was informed about the incident. When she turned to speak to Tu, instead of offering any hint of an apology, she called him a racist slur, told him to leave the country, and supported her son for bullying him. Tu tells Daniel, “I was just defeated.” Even despite all of this, Tu’s mother clung to hope. She told Tu, “No matter what, if you have an education, you can never be oppressed.” It was through these continued struggles that Tu knew he wanted to become something more than just the scared, bullied child. 24:30 Aspiring to Become a Warrior The pressures of starting a new life resulted in Tu’s mother and father divorcing. Eventually, his mother remarried to a US Army Special Forces Green Beret. For the first time ever, Tu had a warrior role model that showed him something to aspire to. “He was teaching me discipline. He was a very strict man… [We’d wake up at] 4:30 in the morning, every morning, we didn’t get days off. School now? It’s ‘you’re gonna wear slacks and you’re gonna wear button-up shirts to school [and] your grades better be good’… Physical fitness is on par, so every day is single physical training along with academics.” Warrior culture was ingrained in Tu Lam’s upbringing from a very young age. Not too long after the divorce, Tu’s biological father sent him a box of VHS tapes on Bruce Lee and Bushido, the way of the samurai. He instantly became fascinated by this code of conduct and later began tying in the warrior mentality with the lifestyle and discipline training from his Special Forces soldier step-father. During this time, Tu’s mother would also regularly take Tu out to feed the homeless in their community, to instill in him the value of always helping those less fortunate in order to build a better world. It was then that Tu knew what he was destined to become. “I decided to become a Green Beret. I knew my calling… I was putting stuff together. The Green Beret, [who] free the oppressed. The way of the samurai, the Bushido code. A hard way of living. You know, I got tired of being this weak individual and I saw this path to enlightenment and this way as a warrior to be my best self. I knew it as a defeated boy” 35:18 Enlisting in the Army and the Path to Special Forces Despite his mother’s protest, Tu joined the Army with the sole intent to become a Special Forces Green Beret. At the time, there was no direct track to becoming a Green Beret, Tu simply decided to seek as much training as he possibly could by completing Airborne and Ranger school. Tu would also join a Long Range Reconnaissance Company as part of their amphibious reconnaissance team. This not only gave him more specialized skill sets, but it also fast-tracked him to Special Forces Assessment Selection as a rank E-5 sergeant in only a year and a half. It was Tu’s lifelong dream to become a US Army Special Forces Green Beret, just like his uncle and step-father. Upon completion of assessment, Tu was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group as part of their Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team stationed in Okinawa, Japan. The primary threat at the time was North Korea, as they had developed their Nodong missiles which were capable of reaching the continental US. Tu’s team was specifically trained in recovering downed pilots as well as doing reconnaissance in the region. 40:31 The Journey into Martial Arts Ever since he was introduced to Bruce Lee films and writings, Tu was a dedicated martial artist and continued this well into his military career. While in Okinawa, Tu came across a US Marine fighting club, called the “Tough Man Contest”. Tu participated in these fights against other active-duty servicemen and did extremely well. Soon after, a fight promoter noticed Tu’s fighting prowess and arranged for him to fight in paid events outside of the base. Tu gladly accepted. Bruce Lee and Bushido were key elements that instilled the passion of martial arts in Tu, having competed in full contact fights and specialized in bladed weapons. Tu gladly signed on to be the main event fight for a Japanese promotion to a fight a Pancrase champion. Despite pushback from his superiors (who specifically banned Special Operations soldiers from fighting outside of the base) and a horrible water-borne illness he had contracted, Tu went through with the fight. His sickness was so severe, Tu weighed in only at 180 pounds while his opponent came in at 210 pounds. Even fully knowing he would lose, Tu sought to go out on his shield rather than to submit without a fight. 46:01 Martial Arts and the US Army — Coming Full Circle From here, Tu continued his fighting career into Thailand, competing in Muay Thai matches. It was here that a Sergeant Major took notice of Tu’s combat sport activities and specifically requested to meet him. Tu initially thought he was to be reprimanded as he was actively going against the strict rules that barred him from participating in full-contact fights. Instead, the Sergeant Major wanted to recruit Tu to be the primary combatives instructor for a Tier 1 unit. The Sergeant Major commissioned Tu to travel around the world with an unlimited budget to study various martial arts styles and to bring this knowledge back to his soldiers. For Tu, this was a dream come true. He trained with Native Americans in their form of tomahawk fighting, the Filipinos in the art of Kali, Indonesians in Pencak Silat, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Royce Gracie, and many other martial systems. On top of this, Tu was given full access to the training amenities the rest of the Tier 1 unit was provided such as a top-of-the-line fitness coach, workout equipment, and high-quality foods. This was an incredibly rare opportunity as traditionally only rank E-9 Sergeant Majors are allowed in the CAG Tier 1 unit. Daniel reflects on how his time in the Marine Corps was a far cry from the level of resources that Tu had received in the US Army Special Operations. Typically, Marines work with whatever they are given, but the more specialized units within the Army can seemingly obtain anything. 52:5

    1h 43m

  5. 06/04/2021

    181 – Chadd Wright: Navy SEAL, Ultrarunner, and Man of Faith

    Daniel Shaw is back at it with The Mag Life Podcast, this time featuring a one-of-a-kind super-human: Chadd Wright. A decorated Navy SEAL, Chadd served as a Team Leader on multiple deployments, a SEAL instructor, and a Master Training Specialist. He later came out of the service finding a new calling in life through his Christian faith and Ultrarunning. Chadd and his brother, Blake, now lead the 3 of 7 Project, a spiritual team building and self-improvement program. In this high-energy episode, Daniel and Chadd discuss overcoming life’s obstacles, achieving goals, military service, and the power of faith. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/181-Chadd_Wright_Navy_SEAL_Ultrarunner_and_Man_of_Faith.mp3 Host: Daniel Shaw Guest: Chadd Wright Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh 03:24 Why join the SEALs? Daniel asks Chadd what specific moment in his life inspired him to join the Navy SEALs. Chadd recalls his upbringing as a kid living out in the countryside of Georgia, quickly realizing normal institutionalized life was not for him. While he did graduate high school, Chadd barely did so as it did not motivate him. He eventually found himself working in construction, but this too failed to satisfy him. “I went to work in the construction industry and I realized I was surrounded by these people that… were content with what life was giving them, their 400-500 dollar a week paycheck… For some reason, though, I was like ‘Man, I want a little bit more.’” Chadd Wright has the distinguished honor of being a former team leader of SEAL Team 8 and a multi-champion Ultrarunner. It was only when Chadd came across a Navy recruiter with a SEAL advertising banner that read “The Hardest Training in the World” that something clicked in his head. Despite not knowing a thing about the Navy or any other military branch for that matter, Chadd knew something as challenging as joining the Navy SEALs was exactly what he wanted. 06:20 Furnace of Adversity As Chadd found out, the act of becoming a SEAL is an arduous journey in and of itself. He failed his initial physical assessment for the program due to his lack of preparedness and physical endurance. Chadd explains, “I didn’t even know how to swim.” After numerous tries, Chadd eventually passed the physical assessment and was allowed to enter the Navy. However, fate would take a turn for the worst. On his last day of Boot Camp, Chadd was disqualified from joining the SEALs. The Navy doctors had notified Chadd that he had a 7-centimeter pericardial cyst on his heart. If he had passed BUD/S and become a SEAL, the extreme pressure changes from combat diving could rupture his heart. Unfortunately, the Navy was not willing to operate on an asymptomatic cyst for him to become a SEAL. Chadd was crushed and left the Navy on a medical discharge. This was on top of the fact he had given up all of his assets, possessions, and home in preparation for becoming a SEAL. However, Chadd never took ‘no’ for an answer. Upon returning to his hometown, he immediately sought out Georgia’s best cardiologists willing to operate on his heart. The leading heart surgeon in Atlanta was the only one to accept his request. The surgeon had never performed this particular kind of surgery before, nor had the surgery been performed on any previous Naval Special Warfare Candidate. “The Navy didn’t tell me… ‘If you have this cist removed, we’ll let you back in’… They just said ‘We’ll see you later, probably never again.’ So I’m going in here, driving to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning to have some surgeon cut my chest open… for what? Just for, maybe a chance to get back into the Navy.” 13:54 Undying Perseverance Simply put, Chadd dedicated his life’s purpose up until this point to becoming a Naval Special Warfare Operator. Upon a successful heart surgery, he re-enlisted in the Navy and was allowed back. However, a 5 month decision period took place in order to determine if he was still eligible and healthy enough to enter BUD/S to join the SEALs. When Chadd was finally given permission to participate for SEAL selection, he was more prepared than perhaps any of his peers. “When I finally got to line up on the start line, I had so much invested in this process… they would have had to kill me, and I don’t say this lightly, to make me go away” Chadd passed BUD/S with flying colors, completing each evolution without any issue, and became 1 out of only 18 of the graduating class from the original 300 candidates. When reflecting upon the incredibly difficult journey to become a SEAL, Chadd ultimately regrets nothing. Had he been simply handed the spot in the selection course, Chadd would have never succeeded. His stumbles and failures taught him how to adapt to adversity. The awful hand he was dealt in life made him strong enough to become a SEAL. 17:30 From Student to Teacher During his service, Chadd eventually became a Team Leader of SEAL Team 8, an instructor as well as a Master Training Specialist. It was when he achieved the latter that made him realize his passion for teaching others and helping guide people to achieve their goals. The flexibility of his instructor role allowed Chadd to teach various skillsets including CQB breaching, land warfare, and VBSS, among others. His major takeaway from his time in the SEALs is that he learned far more from teaching others than all of his combat missions combined. Daniel agrees wholeheartedly, adding that one does not truly know a craft until they have to teach it. Once you assume the responsibilities of teaching, there are others who depend on you to be absolutely correct. Chadd believes that the key to becoming a master of anything is starting out as a student of a craft, then performing the skills required in a pressure-tested environment, and then taking those experiences to teach others. The 3 of 7 Project seeks to bring together people willing to become stronger and healthier versions of themselves. Chadd brings that very idea of a student-to-teacher pipeline to his 3 of 7 Project, a program dedicated to developing and teaching individuals how to become stronger spiritually, physically, and mentally. The “Basic Course” portion brings 8 students into the wilderness to teach them both hard and soft skills to develop them into stronger human beings. Once this is completed, they can move onto the “Proving Ground” class that puts the skills they’ve learned through increased challenges to the test. Then, students are then permitted to enter the “Instructor Training” class that prepares them to be able to teach the future generation. 21:17 Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable Daniel asks Chadd why he prioritizes his entire 3 of 7 Project in the wilderness versus being in an indoor event. Chadd states simply it’s to force people outside of their comfort zone. By forcing others to be brutally honest with themselves in an uncomfortable environment, free of distractions, they will find the inner strength to persevere and overcome obstacles. Too often corporate-sponsored “team-building” events boil down to meaningless exercises that have no real long-term lessons. Being out in the wilderness also has another major benefit: it never gets boring. Nature is never predictable, and this constantly shifts the dynamics of his classes’ missions and end goals. Students adapt and overcome unforeseen challenges much in the same way Chadd did during his journey to become a SEAL. “These other companies that facilitate training… seemed to be canned to me. Like more of a corporate, ‘available to the masses’ [event]. When you do that, you have to tailor your training to the lowest common denominator or you’re going to have people getting hurt. I wanted to provide an environment, an experience in a real environment that’s not canned… I go through every single application… I handpick each person for each team… so I can take them out and put them through a real experience, legit experience here in the wilderness that’s gonna throw crap at you that you don’t see coming.” Chadd designed the 3 of 7 Project specifically to be an unpredictable challenge for his students to overcome. Daniel relates to this principle completely, stating that there is growth in discomfort. This compels individuals to be more malleable and flexible to once again adapt themselves to life’s obstacles. Daniel uses his personal experiences in adventure bike riding and combat training to illustrate the point that once you’re put to the test against non-complying external forces, the truth comes out. There is no amount of lying or ego that will save you once you’re driving a motorcycle off-road or rolling with someone in a jujutsu match. Your ability to overcome will come to light in those moments. 29:13 The Importance of Upholding Self-Reliance Daniel notes how the current state of politics has all been part of a greater strategy to end self-reliance among American citizens. It, therefore, places even more importance on the work that Chadd does, as his services and lessons are purpose-built to promote independence and self-sufficiency. Chadd encourages listeners to learn what our Founding Fathers, most notably John Adams, had to sacrifice in order to uphold self-reliance and freedom in this country. 31:45 Mental Toughness and the Willingness to Push Forward Chadd attributes the idea of self-reliance to an individual’s mental integrity in the face of adversity. His Ultrarunning experiences epitomize this. Chadd explains that the act of being an Ultrarunner is the ultimate test in mental fortitude and endurance, further emphasized by the fact that his next race will be him defending his title against several other competitors across the nation in a literal endless run to the last man standing. This race will not have a capped distanc

    1h 23m

  6. 02/19/2021

    178 – The Present and Future of Armor | ShotStop Ballistics

    In this week’s episode of The MagLife Podcast, Daniel Shaw interviews Jason Henkel, Director of Sales and Operations at ShotStop Ballistics. For those unaware, ShotStop Ballistics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality NIJ-certified lightweight body armor. Specifically, ballistic armor plates. They’ve distinguished themselves from much of their current competition through their innovative Duritium technology, which provides high threat level protection without the weight traditionally associated with armor plates. Join the discussion as Daniel and Jason dive deep into ShotStop’s amazing product offerings for 2021, the future of the company, and the future of ballistic protection technology. https://media.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/content.blubrry.com/gunfightercast/178_The_Present_and_Future_of_Armor_ShotStop_Ballistics.mp3 Host: Daniel Shaw Guest: Jason Henkel Introduction/Timeline: Eric Huh 01:41 ShotStop’s mission for their customers. Jason gives a brief overview of the vision and goals of ShotStop for their clients within the ballistic protection sphere. ShotStop does not seek to merely meet the bare minimum requirements of government contracts, but to surpass expectations and to be pioneers in the industry. “Bad guys don’t stand 40 feet away and [shoot] at a perfect perpendicular angle, and the temperature is 32 degrees. We just want folks out there on the front line to have legitimately, real protection in any given warfighter or law enforcement situation.” 02:43 What makes ShotStop stand out? Daniel inquires about what specific technological advancements have allowed ShotStop to be ahead of the curve in armor plate development. Jason explains that ShotStop has mastered a unique form of polyethylene material that offers an incredibly high tensile strength but at a fraction of the weight of competitor plates at the same threat level. This technology is their patented Duritium technology. As an example, ShotStop’s GT2 10”x12” plate weighs only an astonishing 3.8 pounds, is a little over a half-inch in thickness, and is rated to stop M855 green tip rounds. The benefits of weight savings can only improve your combat effectiveness by increasing comfort, mobility, and decreasing fatigue. ShotStop Duritium GT2 armor plates are rated to stop 62-grain M855 and weigh just 3.8 lbs. per plate. 05:37 Quality of protection. ShotStop offers plates for all the relevant threat levels, ranging from III to IV+ all while staying thin and light. All of their plates have been rigorously tested by NIJ-certified third-party institutions. Many of their customers have publicly put their armor plates to Youtube video “torture tests”, in which these plates are subjected to unheard-of levels of abuse and still being able to effectively stop rounds. The company has full transparency of all of their plates, including official NIJ laboratory test results. “We let the people do the talking” ShotStop’s ballistic plates have received many positive reviews from the field.  07:56 What is new for 2021? Jason unveils ShotStop’s new Duritium HA, a level IV multi-hit rated plate that weighs an unheard of 4.3 pounds. This particular plate has been rated for and tested to six rounds of M2 AP 30-06. Additionally, this comes with a 10-year warranty. By comparison, most level IV plates by reputable companies will weigh at least over 5 pounds per plate. In accordance with their company mission, ShotStop went above and beyond what any armor manufacturer is doing today. 09:43 Long-term cost savings. Daniel brings the question of what the real cost savings are with armor plate extended warranties and long-term expiration dates. He notes that many law enforcement agencies buying armor in bulk for their officers are limited by their department budget and do not necessarily get the best items on the market. Having an extended warranty and expiration date can add great value and savings per unit purchased. 10:14 Jason agrees and further elaborates how ShotStop products fit that bill by offering individual clients and law enforcement agencies these long-term cost savings. One should consider the full cost of ownership versus the short-term upfront charge. Most armor manufactures offer just 5 years of warranty while ShotStop offers 10-15 year warranties on their products. This effectively means the price of one plate replaces what would otherwise be the cost of owning two plates from a competitor. ShotStop plates add long-term cost savings in their durability and extended warranty. 11:25 How does the average armed citizen get this level of protection? All residents of the US can go to the ShotStop website and use the “Find a Dealer” search function to find local vendors that are verified to sell their products. Google is always the preferred option for finding local dealers. 12:18 “Boob cut” or female body armor considerations. While not in the immediate pipeline until the end of 2021 or Q1 of 2022, ShotStop is currently in development for proper female anatomy-designed armor plates. Currently, there are three models in consideration for small, medium, and large breast sizes. Daniel adds that there is a demand for this kind of product offering, as more and more female law enforcement officers participate in tactical units and combative scenarios. 14:35 ShotStop ballistic shields. Coming soon, ShotStop will be releasing rifle-rated ballistic shields. Meant for the patrol officer or the average citizen, this product line offers protection up to level III for rifle caliber threats while providing the same level of lightweight materials as seen in their previous plates. This will come in different sizes: 18”x30” and 24”x36” (perfect for use as cover while inside a vehicle). Polyethylene offers excellent protection and weight savings. 17:01 Learn more about ShotStop The best place to find out more about ShotStop, visit https://www.shotstop.net. Their website gives full transparency and discloses NIJ-certified ballistic lab reports for each plate and how they performed to each caliber. 17:43 What are other future projects ShotStop is working on? Beyond the current lineup of 2021 products, Daniel asks Jason, what are future products ShotStop is either currently or planning on working on? Jason reveals that ShotStop is further improving upon their base armor designs by combining their current polyethylene technology with carbon, which will shave 15%-20% off of the weight. This innovative design is called Carbon Duritium. Jason Henkel brings with him over 5 years of experience in the ballistic protection industry, helping to ensure that ShotStop remains ahead of the competition for the years to come. “The future is … to out-innovate everybody. The East can go ahead and copy-cat us, by the time they get their first thing shipped into the US, we’re gonna be onto our next thing. Duritium never stops evolving.” 19:31 Jason goes into further detail as to what direction ShotStop wants to take this Carbon Duritium technology. As a long-term goal, they wish to inject multi-walled carbon nanotubes at a molecular level into the strands of their polyethylene material. In theory, this would result in a 15 times increase in tensile strength. Jason expresses that the potential of this kind of material is almost limitless. He states that even something as thin and flexible as a shirt could possibly stop green tip rounds. ShotStop is already developing a John Wick style armored clothing for correctional officers, in which everyday attire such as jackets, suits, shirts, or pants would be slash, stab, and even down the line bullet resistant to small calibers. Article/Show notes by Eric Huh

    23 min
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About

Hear from Active Members in the 2A Community

Information

  • Creator
    Jeremy Stone
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2023
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©Gunmag Warehouse 2023
  • Show Website
    The MagLife