Defenders LIVE Podcast

Fear isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like hesitation, self-doubt, or staying stuck.

In this conversation with Gabby Franco, we talk about what it really takes to grow under pressure and lead with courage.

* How fear quietly keeps people from progressing

* Why mindset training matters just as much as physical skill

* What Venezuela taught Gabby about freedom and responsibility

* How parents, protectors, and leaders can build stronger minds

* Why awareness is often the first step toward real confidence

This is a grounded, honest conversation about courage, growth, and learning to get out of your own way.

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What happens when an Olympian, immigrant, firearms instructor, and mental performance coach sits down to talk about fear, freedom, and what really holds people back? In this powerful Defenders LIVE conversation, Lora Thorson welcomes Gabby Franco back to the show for a deep and honest discussion on mindset, resilience, and the inner barriers that keep people from becoming more confident and capable in life.

Gabby shares how her journey from Venezuela to the Olympic stage shaped her view of freedom, personal responsibility, and courage under pressure. She opens up about earning her degree in psychology, pursuing advanced work in sports and performance psychology, and why mental training matters just as much as technical skill. From coaching shooters and law enforcement to helping people uncover the fear behind hesitation, Gabby brings practical wisdom with real heart. This episode is a strong reminder that growth begins with awareness, truth, and the willingness to do the hard work from the inside out.

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Some men don’t just “retire”… they reinvent.

Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Sean Keene joins me to talk about what happens when you leave Special Operations and have to rebuild identity, purpose, and standards in the civilian world.

What you’ll gain from this episode:

* Why the 80% rule is the key to action when you don’t have perfect information

* How to recover from failure without living in shame

* What it means to know your triggers and lead yourself with discipline

* Why standards matter and why “common sense” isn’t always common

* How Sean went from elite missions… to mastering mezcal in Oaxaca

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Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Sean Keene spent more than three decades in Special Operations, serving across Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Central Africa, and Central/South America, and leading at the highest levels when the stakes were real and the margin for error was thin. But this conversation isn’t just about what he did in uniform… it’s about who you become when that chapter ends and you’re forced to redefine yourself without the mission, the rank, or the team structure you once lived by.

Sean opens up about the mindset that carried him through selection, injuries, and “never to return” failure then into an entirely new world as an apprentice mezcalero and founder of O’Kahan Agave. We talk about the 80% rule, emotionless correction, knowing your triggers, and why “common sense” in Special Operations doesn’t always translate in the civilian world. If you’re navigating change, chasing mastery, or learning to lead yourself when life doesn’t come with a perfect plan—this one will challenge you in the best way.Military Abbreviated Bio:Sean Keane is a retired Command Sergeant Major (CSM) with over 30 years of experience in the US Army Special Operations/Special Forces. Sean joined the FLARNG in April of 1990 as a Rep-63 and is one of the youngest Soldiers to complete the Special Forces Assessment and Selection and the Special Forces Qualification Course. Pre 9/11, Sean attended the Special Forces Underwater Operations Course, US Army Ranger School, conduct multiple Foreign Internal Defense (FID) operations through Central/South America, assigned to the Pentagon working directly for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and JSOC OPCEN and conducted another short tour as a guest Ranger Instructor for Phase 1 of the US Army Ranger School. CSM Keane has held the positions of Junior and Senior Weapons Sergeant and Team Sergeant on Special Forces Underwater Operations ODAs, Battalion Dive Officer, Special Forces Company SGM, AOB 2310 SGM, AOB CENTAM/SOCSOUTH SGM, Battalion CSM, Combating Transnational Organized Crime Task Force CSM/Senior Enlisted Leader, Special Operations Detachment-Central CSM, and most recently Special Operations Joint Task Force-Iraq/Syria Deputy Commanding General Senior Enlisted Leader/Special Operations Advisory Group SEL overseeing 2000 US and Coalition Special Operations Elements. CSM Keane conducted his first combat rotation into Afghanistan in 2003. Since then Sean has conducted multiple rotations to Afghanistan, Iraq/Syria, Central Africa and Central/South America. On his last rotation with the Special Operations Joint Task Force, CSM Keane found himself in the middle of the attack on the US Embassy Baghdad, the hasty EXFIL of the US Ambassador and all personnel, elimination of an Iranian General and the Iranian Ballistic Missile attack.

More about O’Kahan Agave:

https://okahanagave.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okahanagave

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okahanagave

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@OKahanAgave

Reference video from interview: The Power of Why - Simon Sinek Ted Talk

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If you’re still trusting “the system” to keep you safe… this episode is a wake-up call.

In this Defenders LIVE conversation, John Hearne breaks down what most people never hear because it’s not comfortable, and it’s not popular… but it’s real.You’ll learn:

* Why crime data can be misleading (and what that means for your decisions)

* How criminals choose targets in seconds and how to stop signaling “easy target”

* The truth about clearance rates and why “they’ll catch the guy” isn’t a plan

* Simple, high-leverage steps to harden your home against property crime

* Why your car is NOT a holster and how stolen guns become crime guns

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Tonight on Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with returning guest John Hearne, founder of Two Pillars Training and longtime federal law enforcement professional, to separate myth from reality when it comes to crime, criminals, and personal safety. John breaks down why the “big” crime numbers can’t always be trusted, how clearance rates expose hard truths about the legal system, and why responsible people must learn to assess risk with clear eyes: not just the odds, but the stakes.

You’ll also hear eye-opening insight into how criminals select targets in seconds, why property crime is more common (and more preventable) than most people realize, and what actually moves the needle for home security. And yes, we go straight at a message that needs to be shouted from the rooftops: your car is not a holster. John explains how unsecured vehicle storage feeds criminal gun pipelines and what responsible ownership really looks like. This episode is honest, practical, and rooted in the kind of personal responsibility that builds stronger families and safer communities.

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

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In this Defenders LIVE episode, Lee Weems and Tyler Tharp go head-to-head (with respect) on what training really matters and why nuance is important.

What you’ll walk away with:

* Why “good with a gun” is more than speed or groups

* Where USPSA/competition helps and where it can hurt

* The real gap between technical skill and real-world decision-making

* Optics reliability: what fails, what doesn’t, and why

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Tonight’s Defenders LIVE episode is a rare kind of conversation… two strong voices, one shared mission, and a whole lot of nuance. Returning guests Lee Weems (law enforcement trainer, use-of-force and decision-making instructor) and Tyler Tharp (competitive shooter, coach, and performance-driven instructor) unpack a debate that started online: the value—and limits—of shooting sports as training for real-world defensive and law enforcement environments.

They get honest about what “good with a gun” actually means, where competition builds real capability (and where it can build bad habits), why context matters as much as mechanics, and how you can train with both excellence and accountability. They also tackle pistol optics reliability with real-world numbers, plus the practical realities that keep most officers from getting the training they want—time, funding, and red tape. Most of all, this episode models something we need more of: disagreeing without disrespect, and sharpening each other without tearing each other down.

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I went off-script tonight… and it was scary, but it was real.

In this episode with Brian Hill (The Complete Combatant), we talk about what happens when your training stops working and why the answer isn’t “try harder.”

What you’ll get from this conversation:

* How creativity fuels motivation when discipline starts feeling dead

* Why blind spots show up as resistance (and what to do with that)

* The edge of chaos vs. order—where real growth happens

* Why sleep isn’t optional if you want skill to stick

* How to move forward without shame when you fall off track

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Tonight on Defenders LIVE, I welcomed back my friend Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant and I did something that honestly scared me: I showed up without a script. No outline. No safety net. Just heart, courage, and a willingness to practice letting go in real time.

Brian breaks down a powerful framework for creativity and growth and why motivation dies when practice turns rigid, how blind spots hide inside our resistance, and why real progress happens on the edge between chaos and order. We talk about the trap of high-volume “grind” training, the role of sleep in performance, and what it really means to develop self-mastery without living in shame. Then we go deeper…into identity, pain, purpose, and how suffering can be transformed into something that strengthens you instead of breaking you.

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

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Some battles don’t happen on a competition floor… they happen when life steals your breath and dares you to quit.

In this Defenders LIVE episode, 5x world champion Molly Metz shares what mastery actually costs—and why she kept fighting when the system wasn’t fair.

• What elite training teaches you about failure and courage

• Why growth can feel lonely (and why it’s still worth it)

• The mindset shift that happens after pain, setbacks, and injustice

• How to keep moving forward when you feel outmatched

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What does mastery really demand, and what happens when life hits hard enough to knock you off your feet? In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with Molly Metz, a five-time world champion jump rope athlete, coach, entrepreneur, and inventor whose story goes far beyond athletics. Molly opens up about the discipline and precision it takes to build elite skill and why she believes real growth often comes only after you’ve been forced to stop.

Molly shares how a serious car accident woke her up to bigger purpose, how she built a jump rope training movement that reached 800+ gyms, and what it cost her to defend her inventions when larger companies allegedly copied her patented technology. This is a conversation about resilience, integrity, and courage…the kind that keeps moving forward even when the fight isn’t fair. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood while trying to grow, or tempted to quit when the opponent looks bigger than you… this one’s for you.

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He didn’t find faith the way people expect.And that’s exactly why this story matters.

Christian Griffith returns to Defenders LIVE to share the most unexpected chapter of his life, from lifelong agnostic to a faith journey that changed everything.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

* What finally opened the door to faith after years of resistance

* Why healing doesn’t end after the big achievement

* How to keep moving when life feels heavy and motivation is gone

* The power of small, faithful steps on the hardest days

* What resilience looks like when you’re rebuilding again

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Here is the previous interview with Christian from 2024 that started it all:

Two years after his unforgettable first appearance, Christian Griffith returns to Defenders LIVE with a story no one saw coming, not even him. Known for extreme endurance, unfiltered honesty, and relentless resilience, Christian opens up about the most unexpected turning point of his life: a faith journey that began not with certainty, but questions.

In this deeply personal conversation, we talk about what happens after the big feats. After the 3,000-mile run, after the spotlight, after the grind, when life gets heavy again. Christian shares how healing actually unfolds over time, why small acts of obedience matter more than massive wins, and how faith entered his life through moments he could never explain away. This episode is about courage, surrender, and learning how to keep moving forward, even when you are starting over.

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

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In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Lora Thorson sits down with Lee Weems—career peace officer, trainer, and adjunct professor—to talk about what most people miss when they judge high-stakes incidents from a single camera angle. Lee breaks down why “objectively reasonable” is the legal standard (even when it’s emotionally unpopular), how media narratives form, and why good tactics don’t always look good on video.

They also go deeper into what makes training actually work: adult learning, asking better questions, and coaching the individual instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all method. Lee shares the moment bureaucracy rerouted his path, why he still can’t walk away from the profession, and how cognitive load exposes the gaps in our “square range” confidence. This is a conversation about truth, accountability, and becoming the kind of protector who can think clearly under pressure.

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In this Defenders LIVE conversation with Lee Weems, we go deep on what really matters when pressure is high:

Why video clips can distort the truth (and inflame the public)

What “objectively reasonable” actually means in use-of-force decisions

How bureaucracy reshaped his life—and pushed him toward purpose

Why coaching beats commanding when you’re training adults

The difference between technical skill… and real-world application

Learn more about Lee at: www.thatweemsguy.com and www.firstpersonsafety.com

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Tyler Tharp doesn’t just teach shooting. He coaches people through pressure, plateaus, and the fear that keeps them stuck. In this episode of Defenders LIVE, Tyler shares how early experiences with being graded can shape a lifelong fear of failure, and why identity work and process-driven training can unlock real performance, both on the range and in everyday life.

Tyler is the lead instructor at Synergy Training Group, a competitive shooter across USPSA and IDPA at the Master level, and a mentor with a background in tutoring, leadership, and church security. We talk about building a make-ready process, learning to live in the moment, and how personal loss reshaped his faith, purpose, and mission to serve. We also get practical, covering how to evaluate training and gear marketing, what makes a quality holster, and why live fire combined with pressure testing matters if you want real growth.

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

In this Defenders LIVE episode, you’ll learn:• Why fear-based ceilings form and how to dismantle them• How identity and mission clarity unlock performance under pressure• What actually builds skill versus what just feels productive• How to spot bad training and gear marketing before it costs you time or money• Why living in the moment changes both shooting and life performance• How faith, loss, and purpose shape resilience and growth

This isn’t just about shooting better. It’s about thinking clearer, training smarter, and showing up stronger when it matters most.

More about Tyler at www.synergyshooting.com.

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Lately, I have been sitting with the idea that we do not really stay the same.

Even when nothing looks like it is changing on the outside, something is always happening underneath. Sometimes that movement feels like momentum. Other times it feels like uncertainty, quiet, or doubt.

That tension between shrinking and growing is what this video touches on.

It is not a lesson or a breakdown. Just a real check-in and a bit of perspective on stepping into what comes next before you feel fully ready.

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A few quick updates I share at the end of the video:

* Defenders LIVE has some excellent guests coming up over the next couple of months, starting next week

* I have been invited to speak at an online summit at the end of January and will share more details soon

* Paid subscribers will be receiving an email about an upcoming reflection and goal-setting group call

That is it. The rest is in the video.

Thanks for being here and for walking into this year with me.

Lora

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