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We saved the best for last. On the final day of SHOT Show 2026, with the floor emptying out around us, we sat down with Tyler from Tundra Tactical — one of the most honest, unfiltered voices in the 2A content space. And the conversation did not disappoint. Tyler's story is not a straight line. It starts with walking out of audio school two months before graduation, surviving a season of homelessness in a Minnesota garage in the dead of winter, and finding his footing — and his future wife — before a friend with a gun belt and a Goldeneye session changed everything.

We got into what it actually takes to build a sustainable channel in the 2A space, why he walked away from 124,000 YouTube subscribers to start over on Rumble, the Trump slump and what it means for creators and brands alike, and why the Second Amendment belongs to everyone — no exceptions. If you're a creator, a new gun owner, or just someone who appreciates someone keeping it all the way real, this one's for you.

Off the Beaten Path — where every trail has a story.

Show Notes: Guest: Tyler — Tundra Tactical Find Tyler: YouTube: Tundra Tactical | Rumble: Tundra Tactical | Instagram: Tundra Tactical MN Topics Covered:

• Walking out of audio school two months before graduation
• Homelessness, motor oil heat, and finding the one
• How a Goldeneye session and an oversized gun belt launched Tundra Tactical
• Building a sustainable 2A channel from scratch — 8 years of grinding
• The Trump slump and what it means for the firearms industry
• Why Tyler left 124,000 YouTube subscribers behind for Rumble
• Rumble's conviction — walking away from state-level funding to stay uncensored
• The 2A is for everyone — liberals buying ARs and what that means
• What's coming from Tundra Tactical in 2026

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 What happens when a 16-year-old girl trips in the mud on a deer hunt and comes home with an idea that changes an industry? You get Otis Technology — and one of the most inspiring origin stories in the entire 2A space. This episode, we sat down with Heather Pleskach, VP of Marketing at Otis, live from the last day of SHOT Show 2026. Heather didn't just tell us about gun care — she unpacked nearly 18 years of watching an industry evolve, a brand grow from a field kit to a household name, and what it really means to carry the torch for a company founded by a teenage girl who refused to quit.

We got into Doreen's wild SHOT Show story (yes, the lipstick and heels are real), how Heather cold-submitted a resume with zero job openings available and somehow built a career, the growing presence of women in the 2A space, and why gun maintenance isn't optional — it's stewardship. Whether you just bought your first firearm or you've been in the field for decades, this one's got something for you.

Off the Beaten Path — where every trail has a story.

Show Notes: Guest: Heather Pleskach, VP of Marketing — Otis Technology Website: otistec.com | shooters-choice.com Topics Covered:

• Doreen's origin story: mud, a stuck stick, and 500 units at SHOT Show 1985
• Sneaking into SHOT Show at 16 with heels and hairspray
• Heather's 18-year journey from cold resume submission to VP
• Women in the 2A space — then vs. now
• Why gun care is stewardship, not a chore
• Shooter's Choice acquisition and what brand legacy looks like
• Otis's education-first YouTube content strategy
• What's coming big from Otis later in 2026 (teaser only 👀)

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What happens when a young kid from Miami with no hunting background, no gun-owning family, and no real roadmap finds his way into the firearms industry anyway? Chan's story is one of hunger, mentorship, and the kind of loyalty that doesn't ask permission. From working security at a gun show to becoming Business Development Manager at Taurus USA — this one hits different.

We sat down with Chan on the last day of SHOT Show, recorded live at the Otis booth, and the conversation went everywhere — the cultural barriers that keep people out of 2A spaces, why owning a firearm is evidence of personal responsibility, and why gatekeeping our own industry makes zero sense. Chan also gave us an early look at the TX9 series, Taurus's next move in the duty gun space.

Plus — the reunion. If you've been riding with OTBP, you already know Chan was the first brother to put us on to the hunt. 

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Nine years ago Sean was a regular guy watching YouTube videos. No military background. No law enforcement. Just a curiosity about firearms and a decision to go get trained. That one choice sent him down a path that led to becoming a USPSA Grand Master — just three months ago — and landing a role as Pro Staff Shooter and Media Manager for Night Fision.

We sat down with Sean at SHOT Show 2026 inside the Otis booth and covered everything from Night Fision's optic plate and sight combo packs to the wildest product stress test we've heard all week — dropping five Glock slides out of a helicopter through a porthole in the floor. The plates survived. The optics did not. And Sean had absolutely no regrets.

We also got into Glow Rhino's new full color lineup of tritium glow fobs, the Neural Fob, and what's coming for both brands in 2026. If you're building out a pistol setup and you want quality gear that actually works without breaking the bank — this episode is for you.

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We're live at SHOT Show 2026 from the Otis booth — and this one came with an unexpected twist when Cush's identical twin brother, Roo, kicked off the episode. We'll just say the right host showed up eventually.

Heather Eckhardt is a professional 3-Gun competitor with 11 years on Team Benelli USA's Pro Staff. She grew up in a law enforcement household, shot her first handgun at four years old, and built a career at the intersection of competitive shooting and firearms marketing. She now serves as National Vice President of Business Development for OA Defense — and she brought their brand new 2311 Compact to show us exactly what intentional firearm design looks like.

We cover her origin story, what almost made her quit before her very first USPSA match, how the shooting sports community pulls people in and never lets go, and what it's like to shoot out of helicopters for a living. She also breaks down the USPSA classification system — from Unclassified all the way to Grand Master — in a way that actually makes sense.

Real conversation. Real community. This is Off the Beaten Path.

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Becky Yackley has been competing since 1989. She holds the Ladies' Metallic Division national records at the Bianchi Cup across all four events. Her son Tim is the youngest NRA World Shooting Champion ever. Her whole family — husband Mark, and sons Tim, Sean, and Andrew — compete on the world stage. She's heading to Greece for the IPSC Shotgun World Shoot and Mongolia for Rifle World Shoot qualifiers in 2026.

And somehow she still takes time to talk dominant eye theory, how to find a real firearms trainer (not a "tactical" cosplayer), and why she let her 4-year-old son shoot soda cans with a sawed-off Red Ryder in the backyard.

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Maggie Reese shares her journey from first-time shooter at 18 to world-level competitor in USPSA and 3-Gun. Recorded live at SHOT Show, this episode covers competitive shooting strategy, women in the firearms industry, mentorship, mindset, and the power of simply taking the first step.

We talk discipline-specific training, confidence, industry relationships, and how beginners are welcomed into the shooting sports community.

If you’re curious about starting competitive shooting — this conversation is for you.

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Live from SHOT Show in Las Vegas at the OTIS booth, Erin Crooks of Freedom Outdoors breaks down what really happened inside the gun industry during the pandemic. While panic buying swept the country, Freedom Outdoors refused to price gouge — and earned lifelong customer loyalty.

We dive into new shooter demographics, women entering the space, scaling a multi-location range business, and why training is more important than ever.

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Live from SHOT Show in Las Vegas (OTIS booth), we talk with Amy Lucas, owner of Steel & Stilettos Firearm Training. From working with maximum security prisoners to becoming a state firearms instructor and SWAT leader, Amy explains how women can overcome fear, trauma, and intimidation — and learn to carry responsibly with confidence. We also dive into representation, women’s carry options, and why training the mom often trains the whole family.

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Recorded at SHOT Show in Las Vegas from the OTIS booth, we sit down with Patrick Collins, founder of TheGunFood — one of the most respected ammo suppliers in the space. Patrick breaks down how his business started by helping instructors stay afloat, how it evolved into a legit multi-warehouse operation shipping to 49 states, and why advocacy, training, and community matter just as much as ammunition.

Welcome to Off the Beaten Path. We're grateful to have you join us in these conversations. 

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