In this episode of Walk the Talk America, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with firearms instructor and Firearm Trainer Podcast host Rob Beckman to discuss his candidacy for the NRA Board of Directors and his vision for “NRA 2.0.” 

Rob shares how the organization is changing under new leadership, how instructors can bridge the gap between gun ownership and mental health, and why collaboration—not division—will shape the future of the Second Amendment.

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Former infantry Marine and brand strategist Waco Hoover joins Michael to dig into the impact of lip service. We cover the American Legion’s “Be The One” suicide-prevention effort, Columbia Protocol training, and VA Veterans Health Venture Studio work building real tools for care. Then we preview MCON, a celebration of military culture with range day, First Shots, and a timed secure-storage retrieval competition that reframes safety as readiness. Bring your questions, bring your team.

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RG Stitt and Greg Harpster join us from the Scott Sippel Foundation—an organization born from tragedy that’s now raised nearly $600,000 for mental health and suicide prevention. We talk about honoring their friend Scott, why local boots-on-the-ground efforts matter, and how a community sporting clays event became a powerful engine for change.

You’ll hear:

• How the Foundation identifies smaller, volunteer-driven groups so more funds reach real programs
• Why rural areas need tailored mental health support, and what’s working
• This year’s focus on LEEK, a veterans outdoor program, and other beneficiaries over the years
• Practical ways to tend your own mental health, from daily walks to simple breathing practices learned at Outdoor Odyssey
• How the firearms community quietly shows up to save lives

Chapters

00:00 – Cold Open: Glitches & Getting Live
 00:55 – Welcome Back + Today’s Guests
 02:25 – WTTA’s Early Days & First Connection to Scott Sippel Foundation
 05:08 – Intros: RG Stitt & Greg Harpster
 07:11 – What the Foundation Funds & Why Local Matters
 09:18 – Building Crisis Lines in PA (Penn State region)
 13:29 – Rural Realities: Suicide vs. “Gun Violence”
 15:29 – Counterintuitive? Guns, Community, and Prevention
 21:00 – Remembering Scott: Stories, Friendship, and Loss
 27:34 – Aftermath & The Questions No One Can Answer
 31:06 – Spotting Subtle Signs in Hindsight
 37:55 – From Grief to Action: Launching the Clay Shoot
 41:26 – Organic Growth: Community, Word of Mouth, Full Rosters
 42:51 – Sponsors That Show Up (ammo, firearms, food, more)
 49:42 – Event Logistics, Timing, & Volunteer Hustle
 57:42 – Where to Learn/Donate: scottsippelfoundation.org
 58:35 – How We Tend Our Own Mental Health (walks, breathing, mindset)
 1:02:41 – Open Invite & Closing Thanks

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Mike and Kevin sit down with Rob Pincus to unpack two hot buttons that get thrown around online but are rarely explored with nuance: the “firearms are the #1 cause of death in youth” stat, and ERPOs/red flag laws. 

Rob shares what he sees inside a Tufts University led  group that puts gun-rights and gun-control advocates in the same room to hammer out policy ideas for red states. We dig into how stats are framed, why education belongs in schools, what meaningful “wins” for responsible owners might look like, and where ERPO conversations go off the rails without mental-health guardrails or due-process realities.

In this episode

• Why that viral “#1 cause of death in youth” headline needs real breakdowns by age, suicide, and community violence
• What a practical, developmentally appropriate firearms education curriculum could cover in schools
• ERPOs done wrong vs. ERPOs with mandatory mental-health evaluation, cultural competency, and penalties for malicious use
• Policy “wins” Rob is pushing, including tax incentives for training and safe storage, removing redundant state laws tied to federal regs, and pathways to restore rights for non-violent offenses
• The big idea: be in the room, reduce negative outcomes, protect responsible owners

If you got value from this one, follow the show, rate it, and share it with a friend who cares about firearms and mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches
00:39 Rob Pincus: A Multifaceted Contributor
02:26 Understanding Misconceptions in the Firearms Industry
05:07 Collaborating with Gun Control Advocates
10:56 The Importance of Being in the Room
16:33 Navigating Emotional Discussions Around Firearms
22:01 Statistics and Their Manipulation
27:50 Addressing Youth Firearm Deaths
33:16 The Role of Education in Firearm Safety
39:14 Concluding Thoughts on Firearm Discussions
45:30 Understanding Perspectives on Gun Control
48:30 The Debate on Gun Safety Terminology
51:03 Education and Youth Involvement in Gun Safety
54:51 Navigating Mental Health and Gun Ownership
58:41 Proposals for Emergency Restraining Orders
01:04:11 Exploring the Future of Gun Legislation
01:19:01 Celebrating Wins in Gun Rights Advocacy

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Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kami Kay Kirschbaum, founder & CEO of CIVILIAN, a bulletproof clothing brand built to blend in. From growing up with active-shooter drills to a literal dream that sparked the idea, Kami walks us through turning a wild concept into light, breathable, and stylish bulletproof apparel.

We talk Sweden vs. U.S. safety culture, why most armor looks tactical (and why hers doesn’t), the maze of financing and manufacturing, getting into SHOT Show as a newcomer, and landing key partnerships, including a consumer launch with Guns.com. We also hit legality basics, women-specific armor design, and why “don’t scare people, make them feel prepared” drives CIVILIAN’s brand. 

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Mike and J. Hood welcome Ryan and Nate from The King of Camo, the North Georgia custom shop and YouTube duo known for turning real counter moments into laugh-out-loud shorts that still teach safety. They share how a near-fatal motorcycle crash, a hard reset on alcohol, and honest conversations reshaped their lives, their business, and their channel. The crew digs into what “welcoming gun culture” looks like in practice, why some sales get a respectful “not today,” and how humor can open the door to real talk about responsibility, masculinity, and mental fitness.

You’ll hear:
 • The shop origin story, YouTube growth, and why authenticity matters
 • How sobriety, family, and faith fuel better decisions
 • Practical lines they draw with customers and why that protects the community
 • The purpose of pain, asking for help, and separating rights from readiness
 • Their charity motorcycle rides and why service helps heal

Take a free, anonymous mental health screening at WalkTheTalkAmerica.org. Lock up your firearms, not your feelings. If you enjoy the show, follow The King of Camo and share this episode with a friend who needs an encouraging nudge.

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Join hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry as they welcome Keith Bombaugh of B.O.S. Lock to the show. What began as a family-driven need for safer firearm storage has grown into a groundbreaking product designed for speed, reliability, and peace of mind. From technical details and real-world testing to the bigger conversation about responsibility and mental health, this episode explores how innovation can transform safety in the firearms industry.

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In this episode of Guns and Mental Health, hosts Jake Wiskerchen and Michael Sodini welcome Kelly Sutliff, a licensed professional counselor and domestic violence survivor. Kelly shares her harrowing story of surviving an abusive relationship, the night she escaped her ex-husband, and the subsequent legal battles she faced regarding gun ownership.

Kelly's journey highlights the need for better protection for victims and raises critical questions about the intersection of mental health, gun rights, and domestic violence. Kelly also talks about the role of trained protection dogs in healing and empowerment.

Kelly's K9s

Kelly's TikTok

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In this WTTA Guns and Mental Health podcast episode, hosts Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry engage with John Fahrner from Gun Owners of America (GOA). They discuss personal updates, John's journey in the firearms industry, the mission of GOA, and the importance of advocacy and community engagement. The conversation also covers legislative efforts, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' significance, collaboration among gun rights organizations, and the upcoming GOALS Show. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
02:09 Understanding GOA and Its Mission
05:11 John Fahrner's Journey in the Firearms Industry
07:39 The Role of GOA in the Gun Community
10:19 The Big Beautiful Bill and Legislative Efforts
13:00 Challenges and Triumphs in Advocacy
15:54 The Importance of Compliance in the Firearms Industry
18:32 Community Support and Member Engagement
27:55 Collaboration Among Gun Rights Organizations
31:09 Reflections on the Goals Show
39:56 Overcoming Challenges in Event Planning
44:34 Future Goals and Legislative Aspirations
50:37 Supporting the Gun Community
55:40 Mental Health and Personal Well-being

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What happens after the mission ends? In this episode, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran and founder of VMHA, Dwayne Edwards, for an honest conversation about life after service, the identity crisis many veterans face, and why our system still fails to meet their mental health needs.

Dwayne shares his journey from growing up in Jamaica and navigating Brooklyn as a kid, to leading Marines in Iraq and later reinventing himself at Yale. He talks about the cultural pressure veterans face when seeking help, how “claim sharks” exploit those who’ve served, and how VMHA is disrupting the system by providing ethical, transparent, and high-quality mental health assessments.

We also dig into the overlap of firearms, identity, and mental wellness, and why removing stigma is more important than ever.

Whether you're a veteran, know someone who is, or simply care about building better systems for those who’ve served, this episode will challenge and inspire.

🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:

• Why the transition out of the military is harder than people think
• The roots of VMHA and how it's doing things differently
• Mental health stigma in the veteran community
• The tension between firearms and mental wellness
• What civilian allies and organizations can do better

🔗 Connect with Dwayne and VMHA:
Website: https://vmhaforvets.com
Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube: @vmhaforvets

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