Defenders LIVE Podcast

People can tell when someone is real.

That is one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jacob Paulsen.

We talked about leadership, faith, authenticity, business, personal growth, and why people are starving for honesty in a world that feels increasingly fake.

In this episode:• Jacob shares how ConcealedCarry.com was built from the ground up• We talk about what actually makes a great instructor• Why authenticity matters more than image• The future of AI and how it is changing business• The vision behind Guardian University and Guardian Conference• How strong brands are built through trust and integrity

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What does it take to build trust in a world full of noise?

In this conversation, Jacob Paulsen shares the real story behind building ConcealedCarry.com, creating one of the largest firearms training networks in the country, and learning what authentic leadership actually looks like along the way.

Lora and Jacob talk about everything from business and branding to faith, mindset, personal growth, and the responsibility that comes with leading others. Jacob opens up about his early struggles as an instructor, why great teachers are always students first, and how authenticity has become one of the most important qualities in today’s world.

They also dive into the future of AI, the mission behind Guardian Conference, and the launch of Guardian University, a growing platform designed to bring trusted training and meaningful conversations together in one place. Defenders LIVE is now featured inside Guardian University as part of that vision.

This episode is thoughtful, honest, and full of practical wisdom for anyone trying to lead with courage and live with purpose.

Watch more at Defenders LIVE and learn more at ConcealedCarry.com.

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What if the thing that makes you “different” is actually the thing God wants to use most?

In this solo Ride Along episode, Lora Thorson opens up about why she chooses hard things — from Tactical Games training and fitness to launching a podcast with no roadmap and stepping into uncomfortable growth. She shares how her personal self-defense journey began in 2017 with her very first firearms class, feeling overwhelmed, underprepared, and unsure of herself… and how that path eventually led her to become a firearms instructor and podcast host.

But this conversation goes far beyond guns or self-defense.

Lora shares how her pursuit of personal protection uncovered deeper battles involving fear, identity, self-worth, discipline, and people-pleasing. What began as a desire to feel safer and more capable eventually became a journey of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation. Through fitness, faith, and learning to align her thoughts with Scripture, she began building true confidence from the inside out.

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This is an honest conversation about courage, obedience, mindset, and refusing to live “normal” when God has called you to more.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re capable, struggled with fear or insecurity, or felt called to something bigger than yourself, this episode will challenge and encourage you to step forward anyway.

Correction: Philippians 4:6 reference is actually Philippians 4:8. :)

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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If you are called to protect… you cannot afford to stay undisciplined.

This episode is not about getting in shape for appearance.It is about becoming someone who can be counted on.

In this conversation, we break down:

• Why discipline is part of your responsibility as a defender• How neglecting your body limits your ability to lead and serve• The connection between physical health and spiritual drift• Why knowing what to do is not the problem• How to build systems that hold when life gets hard

This is not just about fitness. This is about responsibility.

If you are called to protect, lead, and show up for the people around you, then discipline is not optional. It is part of the mission.

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In this episode, Lora sits down with Jeff Dalzell, a fitness and nutrition coach who works with parents and everyday men and women who are tired of starting over. What begins as a conversation about health quickly becomes something deeper. They unpack the connection between physical discipline and spiritual alignment, and why so many people know exactly what to do but still avoid doing it.

Because the truth is this. When you neglect your body, you are not just making a personal choice. You are limiting your capacity to lead, to serve, and to step into the roles God has placed in your life.

Jeff shares his journey from teacher to coach, navigating uncertainty, fatherhood, and faith while building something that actually lasts. This conversation challenges the all or nothing mindset and replaces it with something stronger. Systems. Identity. Ownership.

If you want to live as a defender in your home, your community, and your faith, this is where it starts. Not with motivation, but with discipline.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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There comes a moment when you either stay quiet or step forward. Amanda Suffecool stepped forward.

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, she shares what is happening inside the NRA and what she has seen firsthand during a critical season of change.Here is what you will gain:A clear look inside the NRA’s reform and future directionWhat real courage looks like in leadershipWhy speaking truth can cost you and why it still mattersThe growing influence of women in the Second Amendment spaceA deeper understanding of service, responsibility and conviction

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Paid subscribers are invited to the live group calls.

In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora sits down with Amanda Suffecool, firearms instructor, radio host, and NRA board member, for a real and unfiltered conversation about leadership, reform, and responsibility. Amanda shares her journey from engineer to national advocate.

Amanda speaks openly about internal challenges, the rise of reform efforts, and the courage required to hold conviction under pressure. She also highlights the growing role of women in the Second Amendment community and why unity matters more than ever. Her perspective is rooted in service and driven by purpose, and serves as inspiration to others in the 2nd Amendment community.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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Buying the gun is the easy part.Carrying it safely is where many people fall short.

In this episode:What a holster is actually supposed to doThe biggest mistakes people make when choosing oneWhy “comfortable” can sometimes mean unsafeWhat to look for so your gear actually works when it mattersHow Brent went from building his own gear to building Haven Defense Co.

Most people spend all their time choosing a gun… and almost none thinking about how they’re actually going to carry it.

In this episode, Lora sits down with Brent Hickmon, founder of Haven Defense Company, to break down what really matters when it comes to holsters: what makes them safe, what makes them dangerous, and why so many people are getting it wrong without even realizing it.

Brent shares how he got started building holsters out of necessity, what he’s learned from years of hands-on experience, and the patterns he sees over and over again—from poor retention to unsafe carry setups. They also dig into common mistakes new gun owners make, why comfort and concealment don’t have to compete, and what to look for if you actually want gear you can trust.

If you carry, or plan to, this is information you need.

Resources: Haven Defense Co.

https://havendefenseco.com/?ref=defenderslive

https://www.facebook.com/havendefensecohttps://www.instagram.com/havendefenseco/PHLster: PHLster.comPHLster Concealment Workshop: https://www.facebook.com/groups/139735863409843Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe

Most people think calm is something you either have… or you don’t.

That’s not true. Calm is trained.

And if you don’t train it, your reactions will control you when it matters most.

In this episode, we break down:

• What’s actually happening in your brain under stress• How to train your nervous system to stay steady under pressure• Simple ways to build calm into your daily life• The faith foundation behind a disciplined, sound mind

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To join our live group calls, become a paid subscriber.

What if calm isn’t something you’re born with… but something you build?

In this solo episode, Lora Thorson breaks down a powerful truth: calm is not a personality trait. It’s a trained response. Drawing from a conversation with retired Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie and her own real-life experiences, Lora walks through what’s actually happening in your brain under stress—and why so many people feel hijacked in high-pressure moments.

This episode is about how your nervous system is wired, how fear distorts reality, and how intentional training—physical, mental, and spiritual—can reshape your default response. From deliberate breathing and exposure to discomfort, Lora lays out practical ways to build a calm, disciplined mind before you ever need it.

At the core of it all is a deeper truth rooted in faith: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe

Many want a warrior mindset. Very few are willing to live it.

And even fewer understand what freedom actually costs.

This conversation with Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie connects both.

Inside this episode:

* What a warrior mindset really looks like in daily life

* Why discipline matters more than motivation

* The internal fight most people avoid

* The true cost of freedom most never see

* How responsibility changes the way you live

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To receive new posts k, consider becoming a free subscriber. To join our exclusive group calls, become a paid subscriber.

In this conversation, retired Navy SEAL Chris Wyllie breaks down both through lived experience. From the discipline required to stay ready every day to the internal battle most people avoid, this episode challenges you to look at your mindset, your responsibility, and how you show up in your own life.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Through powerful stories from the Navy SEAL Museum and the legacy of Lt. Michael Murphy, Chris reveals the reality behind the phrase “freedom isn’t free.” This is not an abstract idea. It is sacrifice. It is loss. It is real people with real families.

Tune in if you want to build strength, live with purpose, and truly understand what’s been sacrificed for you to live freely.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe

In this conversation with Mark Lamb, we go beyond politics and into the heart of what it means to live with courage, conviction, and faith.

Here’s what you’ll take away:• Why comfort is the fastest way to bury your potential• How truth and authenticity build real leadership• What courage actually looks like in everyday life• How to move forward even after deep personal loss• Why chasing greatness requires risk, faith, and action

This isn’t surface-level motivation.This is a call to step up.

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this powerful and deeply grounded conversation, Lora Thorson sits down with former sheriff and congressional candidate Mark Lamb to unpack what it really means to live with courage, conviction, and faith in today’s world.

From his journey into law enforcement later in life to leading on the front lines of border security, Mark shares the mindset that shaped his leadership… one rooted in authenticity, truth, and unwavering belief in God’s purpose. But this conversation goes deeper than titles and positions. It explores personal loss, the weight of responsibility, and the internal battles that define who we become.

Mark opens up about why most people settle for “good” instead of pursuing greatness, the importance of telling the truth even when it costs you, and what it means to run toward danger instead of away from it. This episode is a call to examine your own life… your comfort zones, your courage, and the opportunities you may be avoiding.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to step into something bigger, this conversation will challenge you to listen closely.

Firearms Legal Protection: https://www.defenders-usa.com/flp

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe

Most women aren’t failing their health… They were never given the right playbook.

This conversation with Allison Tharp will challenge everything you thought you knew about health, fitness, and what it really means to take care of your body.

You’ll learn:

* Why “eat less, move more” is failing women

* How hormones impact everything from fat loss to energy

* The connection between health, identity, and self-worth

* Why community is critical for long-term resilience

* How to take ownership of your health for yourself and your family

This is about more than fitness.

It’s about living strong, thinking clearly, and showing up with purpose.

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this powerful conversation, Lora sits down with Allison Tharp, health educator and Director of the Mississippi Diabetes Network, to unpack the truth about women’s health, hormones, and why so many are struggling in systems that were never built for them. Allison shares her deeply personal journey — from battling weight and unhealthy habits to rebuilding her life through faith, discipline, and purpose.

This episode goes beyond surface-level fitness advice. It challenges the “move more, eat less” mindset, exposes the flaws in modern health systems, and calls women to take ownership of their bodies with wisdom and resilience. From metabolic health to identity, from community to courage… this is a conversation about playing the long game and living with intention.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or misunderstood in your health journey… this is for you.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe

Ever felt like your soul was just… tired?

In this episode, I share a season that brought me to my knees—and what God did through it.

What you’ll take away:

• How to navigate emotional and spiritual burnout

• Why resistance keeps you stuck—and surrender sets you free

• The power of being honest about where you really are

• How to walk through darkness without losing faith

• Why your strengths can become weaknesses without balance

Defenders LIVE is supported by you. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this deeply personal solo episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson opens up about a six-month season that tested her emotionally, spiritually, and physically. From the high of competing in The Tactical Games to a period of unexpected darkness and exhaustion, this is a raw conversation about what it looks like to wrestle with faith, identity, and surrender in real time.

Lora shares the turning point—when resistance gave way to honesty, and honesty led to healing. From confronting hidden struggles, to rediscovering purpose, to learning how even our strengths can become weaknesses without balance, this episode is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t happen in comfort. If you’ve ever felt stuck, tired in your soul, or unsure of your next step, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Watch more at Defenders-LIVE.com or subscribe for future conversations.

Thanks for reading Defenders LIVE! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.defenders-live.com/subscribe