Friday & Tacos

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Friday & Tacos episodes

March 06ESI Friday & Tacos Podcast
Inside ESI's Future: New Courses, Global Expansion & EP Career Truths w/ Bethany Duggan
In this powerful episode of ESI Friday & Tacos Podcast (March 06), host Jorge sits down with Bethany Duggan from Executive Security International (ESI) for an exclusive deep dive into the future of ESI and the executive protection (EP) industry.

Key Highlights:
ESI is splitting into two entities: Bob Duggan leads ESI Global (re-launching in Mexico/South America with Spanish-first distance learning), while Bethany heads the US "mothership" focused on short-form continuing education.
New US courses launching soon: Cyber Security, Estate Management (RST), Protective Intelligence, Emergency Response Team (ERT), plus annual corporate firearms training.
Real talk on building an EP career: Start with low-paying "halls and walls" jobs ($20–$25/hr) to network, prove yourself, and climb to six figures. It's a "thinking man's game" — soft skills and business acumen beat combat skills every time.
Personal security advice: Heightened situational awareness, ditch phone distractions, know local laws, travel with a companion (especially for women), concealed carry training in the US, and never open the door to strangers.
Tech updates: AI already in Corporate Security programs; drone training in consideration.

Whether you're an aspiring protection professional, current EP operator, or just interested in personal safety and high-level security training, this episode is packed with actionable insights from one of the industry's leading voices.
Subscribe for more expert interviews on executive protection, corporate security, risk management, and real-world tactics every Friday!

#ExecutiveProtection #ESI #BethanyDuggan #CloseProtection #PersonalSecurity #SecurityTraining #BodyguardCareer
44 min
January 28Peter Warmka - Friday & Tacos
Interview with ex-CIA case officer Peter Warmka on intelligence skills for civilian life.
Key Takeaways
Verify, Then Trust: In the AI era, verify all new contacts before acting. Blind trust is a critical vulnerability, as AI-driven targeting and deepfakes make sophisticated scams nearly undetectable.
Maintain Situational Awareness: Proactively manage your environment to avoid becoming a target. This includes using surveillance detection routes, planning escape routes, and maintaining a low profile.
Elicitation for Information Gathering: Master elicitation—a conversational technique for gathering sensitive information without asking direct questions—for use in business, sales, and personal interactions.
CIA Reality vs. Myth: The real CIA experience is not like James Bond. It involves deep cover, psychological manipulation, and a focus on blending in, Not standing out.
Topics
CIA Career & The "Human Hacker" Concept
Peter Warmka served over 20 years as a CIA case officer, primarily overseas.
Case Officer: The CIA term for an intelligence officer who recruits and handles sources.
Agent: The CIA term for a recruited source, not an officer.
"Human Hacker": A professional who studies targets to understand their motivations and vulnerabilities, then crafts a pretext to manipulate them into providing information or taking action.
Key Skills for Civilian Life
1. Elicitation:A conversational technique to gather sensitive information without asking direct questions.
Method: Use indirect cues (e.g., news comments, policy criticism) to prompt the target to volunteer information.
Application: Useful for sales, investigations, and personal interactions.
2. Due Diligence:Always verify a new contact's identity and claims before engaging.
Rationale: Prevents falling victim to scams and targeted manipulation.
3. Situational Awareness:Proactive management of your environment to avoid becoming a target.
Tactics:Surveillance Detection Routes: Planned routes to confirm you are not being followed.
Vehicle Safety: Leave space at traffic lights for escape; know how to disable a car by hitting its lightest point (rear quarter panel).
Restaurant Safety: Choose a table away from entrances and windows; identify all escape routes.
Pedestrian Safety: Make eye contact with approaching people to signal awareness; observe their hands for threats.
4. Contingency Planning ("What If"):Mentally rehearse responses to potential threats before they happen.
Rationale: Enables immediate, effective action, preventing hesitation and poor decisions in a crisis.
"Verify, Then Trust" in the AI Era
Core Principle: Verify all new contacts and requests before taking any action.
Rationale: AI-driven tools (e.g., voice cloning, deepfakes) create highly sophisticated and authentic-seeming scams.
Vulnerability: Blind trust is a critical weakness. In the digital world, damage from a scam is often irreversible, making post-fact verification useless.
Action: Pause, assess the situation, and verify authenticity before responding.
CIA Career Path
Warmka was recruited by the CIA after responding to a vague Wall Street Journal ad.
The hiring process was rigorous, including a polygraph test and a full week of interviews for both Warmka and his wife.
Advice for Applicants:Research careers on the CIA website.
Read books on intelligence and espionage.
Network with retired intelligence officers on LinkedIn.
Join the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO).
Be persistent; do not give up if initially rejected.
Mexico-Specific Risks: Extortion & Kidnapping
Extortion: Widespread issue in Mexico targeting businesses and individuals.
Dilemma: Comply with demands to ensure safety, or resist and risk severe consequences?
Challenge: Limited trust in law enforcement makes it difficult to seek official protection.
Solution: No easy answer; the decision to pay is situational and often a "cost of doing business."
1 hr 2 min
January 18Keith Grounsell -Shattered Chains Human Trafficking Undercover
The Raw reality of Slavery a Multinational Business.
Explained to avoid becoming a Victim.
LEARN from the BEST or Copy-Paste like the Rest.

Here is a link to purchase on Amazon in paperback, Kindle or Audiobook. https://a.co/d/e2GyBLT

FRIDAY & TACOS PODCAST is a free thinking space to help the citizen to avoid the dangers of evil men and women.
In respect to the Guest Keith Grounsell.
I reproduce a letter to avoid any misunderstanding.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to help possible victims to stop the ignorance of badguys in 2026.
****
"Hello Jorge,
I wanted to follow up with a brief clarification on one point from the episode regarding addiction treatment and rehabilitation policy.
During the conversation, I referenced efforts to support rehabilitation and addiction recovery. To clarify for accuracy: while there was a temporary cancellation and rapid reinstatement of certain SAMHSA-administered mental health and substance-use grants as part of a broader program review, the administration's stated focus has been on restructuring, oversight, and prioritization rather than abandoning treatment or recovery services.
At the same time, broader initiatives like TrumpRx are aimed at reducing prescription drug costs, which directly impacts access to treatment, medication-assisted recovery, and long-term care for individuals struggling with addiction. Taken together, the intent I was trying to convey was a multi-pronged approach—disrupting drug trafficking, tightening oversight of programs, and reducing barriers to treatment through cost reduction.
If you're comfortable keeping that segment in the episode, I'm happy for it to remain with this clarification noted, as I believe it reflects the overall direction accurately and in good faith.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of the discussion. I truly enjoyed the conversation.
Very respectfully,
Keith Grounsell"
******
Interview with Keith Grounsell on his Law Enforcement career and human trafficking.
Key Takeaways
Human trafficking is a $150–$170B industry, now more profitable than drugs because victims can be exploited repeatedly.
Organ harvesting is a hidden industry driven by long transplant waitlists (avg. 7 years), with organs selling for up to $200k.
** is a primary gateway to trafficking,** escalating from casual viewing to illegal content and creating demand for victims.
Keith Grounsell's mission is public education via 13 books (e.g., Shattered Chains), a film (Bound), and social media, using his experience to prevent victimization.
Topics
Keith Grounsell's Background & Motivation
Career: Nearly 30 years in law enforcement (city, county, state, federal, international).
Roles: DEA agent, two-time Chief of Police, Chief Investigator for SC's largest prosecutor's office.
International deployments: 8 years as a federal contractor in war-torn nations.
Motivation: Writing as an outlet for traumatic experiences and to document his work for his children.
Public Impact:
A human trafficking case inspired the award-winning short film Bound.
His books led to the A&E show Undercover Caught on Tape.
Author of 13 books, including A Narc's Tale (undercover work) and Shattered Chains (human trafficking).
The Human Trafficking Industry
Scale: A $150–$170 billion industry and the fastest-growing criminal enterprise globally.
Profit Model: Cartel member quote → “I buy drugs, I sell them once. I buy a person, I can sell them thousands of times over.”
Victim Profile: 1 in 3 victims are children.
Labor Trafficking: Unaccompanied minors (ages 13–16) are promised a better life, then forced into agricultural labor to pay a $10k–$15k smuggling debt.
** Trafficking:** Victims are lured with false promises (e.g., modeling contracts), then blackmailed with compromising photos and videos.
Organ Harvesting: A hidden, high-profit industry.
Driver: Long transplant waitlists in the US (avg. 7 years).
Process: Cartels kidnap people, blood-test for matches, murder victims, and force doctors to perform transplants.
Organ Value: Up to $200k.
Disposal: Bodies are acid-bathed to destroy evidence.
as a Gateway
Mechanism: Casual viewing escalates to illegal content (forced , child exploitation) as users seek more extreme material.
Victim Acquisition: Traffickers use fake modeling contracts to lure victims, then blackmail them with compromising photos/videos.
Psychological Impact: Victims are forced to act as if they consent on camera, creating a warped reality.
Societal Trend: Despite age restrictions, minor exposure to has doubled in 20 years.
Systemic Challenges & Solutions
Policy Failures: Loose administrative policies (e.g., vetting sponsored families for unaccompanied minors) create vulnerabilities for trafficking.
Law Enforcement Constraints: Jurisdictional boundaries hinder international efforts against traffickers.
Political Interference: Keith Grounsell was forced out of two police chief roles after successful anti-trafficking stings, as politicians feared the negative publicity.
Proposed Solutions:
Comprehensive Approach: Combine enforcement, education, and victim rehabilitation.
Policy Reform: Create a clear, fast-track legal immigration path to reduce vulnerability.
Public Education: Empower citizens to recognize and report suspicious activity.
1 hr 3 min
December 23, 2025Friday & Tacos Father Francisco Chauvet Contreras
Discuss Father Francisco's life philosophy & new book.
Key Takeaways
Book as Legacy: Father Francisco's book, a reflection on 40 years of priesthood, is a free legacy for readers to discover life's adventure through his stories, not a source of income.
People are the Gospel: His core philosophy is that God is met in people's lives—their joys, suffering, and stories—not in abstract doctrine.
Life as Discovery: Life is an adventure of discovery, not a set of lessons. The goal is to be open to surprises and learn from everyone, including those with different views.
Vocation is Universal: Everyone has a unique vocation (e.g., parent, doctor) to live fully and contribute to the "kingdom of God."
Topics
The Book: A Legacy of Stories
Origin: Written to mark 40 years of priesthood, chronicling 40 meaningful Masses and other life events.
Purpose: A free legacy to share experiences and inspire readers, not to generate income.
Content: A collection of anecdotes from a diverse career, including:
Work in slums, United Nations, campus ministry, and with Presidents of France, USA and Mexico (Obama, Calderón, Chirac).
Experiences in the Holy Land, Australia, and US beet fields.
Interactions with Holocaust survivors, Nazis, and Freemasons.
Translation: Original Spanish; English translation complete; French translation in progress (Father Francisco is a professional interpreter for the UN/OECD).
Core Philosophy: People as the Gospel
Central Idea: God is found in people's lives, not just in scripture or doctrine.
Learning from Everyone: Intelligent people learn from everyone, including those with less formal education.
Openness to Discovery: The book encourages an open, curious approach to life, contrasting it with using social media to reinforce existing beliefs.
Illustrative Anecdotes
Brooklyn Gang De-escalation (1998):
Action: Confronted a gang, called 911, and then warned them the police were coming.
Outcome: The gang dispersed before police arrived.
Lesson: Used intelligence over force, offering help instead of judgment.
Mass for Mexico City Garbage Collectors:
Context: A last-minute request for a Mass on the Feast of Guadalupe.
Setting: A dirty sanitation yard, transformed by a clean, white altar.
Observation: The community was afraid to take communion, feeling unworthy due to past teachings.
First Communion for Children with Down Syndrome:
Context: Other priests declined to hear confessions for the children.
Observation: All mothers attended the Mass, but no fathers were present.
Lesson: Highlighted the mothers' profound dedication and love.
Call to Action: Live Your Vocation
Universal Vocation: Everyone has a unique, important role to play.
Live Your Own Life: Don't just follow others; live your own life fully and authentically.
Document Your Story: Write your own book (your life story) for your family.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Quote: "Inside every child, there is a Mozart."
55 min
November 12, 2025 Thomas Pecora – Friday & Tacos
Dive into the shadowed world of a 30-year CIA veteran (24 undercover) in Guardian: Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA's War on Terror. Tom Pecora exposes raw truths you won't find in headlines:
Why even polygraph-vetted insiders turn—~10% slip through—and how continuous checks save lives.
The fatal flaw in “iron box” protection: the 1989 Herrhausen assassination proves armor fails without a driver who thinks like the enemy.
Counter-surveillance as the ultimate weapon: attackers must watch their target—learn to spot the signature before the trigger.
From solo control freak to leading 3,700 in Iraq: the empowerment pivot that scaled chaos into victory.
Trauma's hidden toll—and why today's agents get therapy, not pink slips.
Grab Guardian first. The book's unfiltered ops and hard-won scars will leave you hungry for Tom's live breakdown on the mic.
52 min
November 02, 2025Friday & Tacos - Silent Valor
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Silent Valor's tactical backpack and its role in personal security.
The Need for Discreet, Everyday Protection
The concept of a "safe haven" is a myth; preparedness is essential everywhere.
Silent Valor's goal is to provide protection that integrates seamlessly into daily life, avoiding the bulky, tactical look of traditional gear.
Rationale: The backpack's armor is designed to protect the center mass, the target area in over 90% of shootings. This aims to prevent death, even if injury still occurs.
Cost-Benefit: A backpack offers a cost-effective alternative to high-end security measures.
Example: An armored vehicle in Mexico costs ~$200k USD with a 1–3 year lifespan. A Silent Valor backpack provides 5 years of protection for a fraction of the cost.
The Cargo Series backpack integrates soft, ballistic-resistant armor that passes airport security (TSA, gamma rays), enabling discreet, everyday protection.
Built-in RF/NFC shielding creates a Faraday cage (155 dB attenuation) to block tracking of electronics and prevent credit card skimming.
The backpack is designed for civilian integration, offering a discreet, cost-effective alternative to expensive armored vehicles (e.g., ~$200k in Mexico).
Jorge Gamez offered to translate Silent Valor's content to Spanish to expand its reach in Latin America, where security threats like extortion are prevalent.
Origin: Inspired by Andrew Pfeiffer's observation that contractors in hot zones were issued standard, unprotective backpacks.
Core Technology: Soft, ballistic-resistant armor that passes airport security (TSA, gamma rays).
Rationale: Hard plates are often treated like firearms at checkpoints, making them impractical for travel.
Electronic Security:
RF Shielding: A large Faraday cage blocks all signals (5G, GPS, Wi-Fi) with 155 dB attenuation.
Purpose: Prevents electronic tracking, which can be used to plan ambushes.
NFC Shielding: Smaller pockets prevent credit card skimming.
Warranty: 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Application: Executive Protection in High-Risk Areas
Scenario: Protecting a CEO and family in a high-risk area like Mexico, where kidnapping and extortion are major threats.
Recommended Strategy:
Bodyguards: Use higher-level, hard plate armor to remain functional and protect the client during an attack.
Family: Use the discreet Cargo Series backpacks for protection against stray rounds, as they are typically targets for ransom, not direct fire.
32 min
October 12, 2025Zumbidos de Guerra - Drones- Miguel Peñafiel
Friday & Tacos - Zumbidos de Guerra - Drones- Miguel Peñafiel
Miguel Peñafiel, es miembro del ejército español, ha escrito un libro llamado "Zumbidos de Guerra" sobre la tecnología de drones en la guerra.
Los drones están evolucionando rápidamente y se están utilizando en conflictos en todo el mundo, con importantes implicaciones para la guerra futura.
La tecnología tiene aplicaciones tanto militares como civiles, desde la entrega de paquetes hasta la búsqueda y rescate.
Antecedentes de Miguel y su libro
Miguel tiene 32 años y se interesó por los drones para detectar amenazas explosivas hace unos 12 años. Escribió el libro "Zumbidos de Guerra" sobre la guerra de drones después de que comenzara el conflicto en Ucrania en 2022.
El libro analiza las unidades de drones en ambos lados del conflicto ucraniano. La escritura del libro ha llevado a oportunidades como trabajar con la Universidad Europea de Madrid.
59 min
September 28, 2025 Tortilla de Patata - Chef Enrique - Friday & Tacos Podcast
Paso a paso la mejor tortilla de patata del mundo, usando aceite de oliva extra virgen con el Chef Enrique en Hotel Leyton en Foz, Lugo, Galicia, España.
https://www.hotelleyton.es/
51 min
September 10, 2025Friday & Tacos – Navegante Studio y el éxito de Greak: Memories of Azur
En este capítulo exploramos la historia de Navegante Studio, un estudio independiente mexicano que logró reconocimiento internacional con su videojuego Greak: Memories of Azur.
Conversamos sobre:
El lanzamiento multiplataforma del juego y su impacto global
Los 28 premios y nominaciones que consolidaron a Greak como un referente en la industria
La dinámica de un equipo creativo distribuido entre México, Latinoamérica, Europa y Estados Unidos
Los desafíos de abrirse camino en el competitivo mundo del desarrollo de videojuegos
Los proyectos futuros, incluyendo un nuevo título en desarrollo y los planes para expandir el universo de Greak más allá de los videojuegos

Un episodio imprescindible para quienes aman los videojuegos, el emprendimiento creativo o buscan inspiración en historias de éxito.
29 min
June 03, 2025Comics Friday & Tacos Podcast
Comics are powerful storytelling mediums, blending artistic and narrative elements
This episode explores with Fernando Garcia various aspects of comic culture, including history, creators, and industry trends
Discussion touched on military history, film adaptations, and the evolution of comic storytelling
Emphasis on the importance of continuous content creation and audience engagement
Topics
Comic Storytelling Power
Comics recognized as a potent narrative medium, combining visual art and storytelling
Highlighted the popularity and accessibility of comic stories
Mentioned a notable comic creator who visited Mexico, emphasizing their significant influence
Content Creation and Audience Engagement
Discussed the importance of consistent content production (e.g., "179 videos")
Emphasized maintaining audience interest through regular uploads
Explored strategies for engaging viewers and encouraging subscriptions
Comic Industry Trends and Adaptations
Touched on the evolution of comics, including digital curation and independent publishing
Discussed film adaptations of comics, noting their importance in the industry
Mentioned a "super-private film" project, possibly related to comic adaptations
Historical and Cultural Aspects
Briefly discussed military history, particularly the role of women in the military
Explored how comics reflect and interact with historical and cultural themes
Mentioned the concept of "historic festivals" in relation to comic culture
Podcast Production and Collaboration
Acknowledged the effort in producing the podcast, including music and audio work
Expressed appreciation for the collaborative aspect of creating content
Described the podcast experience as fun and important for those interested in comics
58 min

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