The smartest preppers realize that you should constantly be reviewing your evacuation plan to find new, more efficient ways to level-up your gear and the actions you'll take when it's "go time" in a disaster. That why I love it when our followers and Academy members ask me to review their current prepping plans and offer my advice on ways they can upgrade their level of preparedness. And that's where I met Joshua, and in this week's show, I'll take you on a 10-point journey through the highlights of his plan so you can see where there may be some crossover with YOUR current plan - and give you some actionable advice that COULD just be the difference between you and your family reaching your Plan B bugout location safely... or being trapped with the other evacuees who were ill-prepared for the danger they didn't expect.

You and I both know that MOST people don't even HAVE a plan to respond with their families to a "forced evacuation" scenario. And for those who DO, the vast majority have never "tested" it to confirm its effectiveness. Well, last weekend, I had a chance to test my OWN bugout plan when I drove out-of-state trip to a firearms course I was attending with some other preppers. This week, I'll share what parts of my plan WORKED - and what DIDN'T work as expected - in the areas of my ROUTE SELECTION, PACKING PLAN, NAVIGATION, FUELING UP, and dealing with DEAD STOP TRAFFIC... so YOU can learn from my own test results.

Like most of the hairy-backed, knuckle-dragging, crotch-scratching men out there... I'm relatively hopeless when it comes to "fashion". But while I might not know the struggle of picking the perfect outfit that screams both 'chic' and 'I can handle myself,' I do understand that women face unique challenges when it comes to concealing a firearm for personal defense. You see, it's not just about finding the right holster or firearm. It's about being "armed" while remaining "elegant" - projecting confidence and "warrior-readiness" without sacrificing your femininity. Fortunately, for all the "women warriors" out there who follow our show, Natalie Strong is the perfect guest to help us unravel the mystery of fashion-forward, firearm-friendly attire for women.

The recent hostage situation in Israel, where Hamas terrorists have abducted nearly 200 men, women, and children has brought more awareness to the need to be prepared for any threats of being taken against your will. It may not be from a terrorist attack, but with 1 out of every 6 women facing forceable rape, child being targeted for human trafficking, or even entire families being held captive in their own home by sadistic home invaders, the danger isn't as far off as you may think. The skills you need to survive a hostage scenario aren't difficult to add to your Warrior Tool Box... but it does take a concentrated look at the dynamics of abductions to know what to expect... and a special set of tactics to escape your captors and evade them until you can make it to safety.

Whether it's a targeted attack by a flash-mob of violent rioters, or the spillover from a protest-gone-wild at a political event, the threat of being surrounded by the "enemy" and forced to escape and evade the area to get yourself and your family to safety is (unfortunately) a very real scenario these days. In this peek back into our archives, former LA street gang member, Marc MacYoung offers some unique escape and evasion tactics for urban environments that will give you a different take on this critical Warrior skill-set.

Happy Veterans Day to my brothers- and sisters-in-arms out there. This week's podcast episode is a deeply personal one for me and I have some unique stories to share with you that are going to highlight the positive impact that 3 very important warriors have made in my life, and in the lives of others - and share with you 10 lessons that YOU can take from these stories that WILL - I 100% guarantee you - make you a better protector and better prepared to live YOUR life like a warrior.

What does it take to be a "strong" man? Well, that's the question posed to a cop and two combat veterans by Lora Thorson, host (and strong female herself!) on the Defenders Live podcast roundtable. I'm not sure we have all the answers... but we all really opened up with our own personal experiences, the ups and downs, the wins and losses, and the challenges we face as "men" in being strong providers and protectors. Get an inside peek under the hood of some "strong men" (who aren't afraid to tap into their "soft man" side) and have a few laughs with us!

In the late 1700's, there was a unique group of colonial settlers who were specially-selected... specially-trained... and ready to beat feet out the door with their musket and pack at a moment's notice to protect the colony from threats. They were the best of the best... the Minutemen! To them, the threats we prepare for today - like surviving a grid-down blackout... defending our homes, families and lifestyle... home medicine and first-aid care... these were all just "daily living". And this week, I have a special guest who's just released a book that brings the skills and mindset of these early warriors to modern times, and helps us all tap into our OWN inner patriot to THINK and PREPARE like a modern day Minuteman.

It's a skill that's CRITICAL for first responders, or ANYONE who regularly finds themselves in situations where you're face-to-face with an aggressive individual who may - or may NOT - be a physical threat and attack you or someone you're with. And it's a skill that FEW civilians KNOW about... and even FEWER "get right", and it can have DISASTROUS consequences for them. I'm talking about the skill of being able to read another person's "body language", and even MORE specifically, their silent "attack cues" that can be a warning sign that a confrontation is about to get violent - allowing you to take fast, decisive action to either ESCAPE the situation or launch your OWN attack to preemptively STOP your attacker before he's able to gain the offensive advantage over you. This week's guest, Sean Grogan, has made STUDYING these silent "attack signals", and teaching them to law enforcement and civilians, his personal passion and mission and for our show, we're going to dig a LOT deeper into the science of how to decode a prospective attacker's hidden warning signs so you're never caught in a no-warning ambush that you COULD have seen coming.

So I got something a little bit different for you this week. I recently was a guest on the Defender's Live Show with Laura Thorson to talk about the importance of self-reliance and how to become less dependent on the systems that so many have become accustomed to taking for granted. Well, the conversation took a few turns along the way as I'm sure you've come to known that I'm prone to do from time to time. I really enjoyed the show. And this week, I would love to share this interview with you on the topic of building self-reliance in your life.