The Grant Cunningham Blogcast

By Grant Cunningham

What's The Grant Cunningham Blogcast about?

Grant Cunningham, noted Author, Teacher and Consultant, brings you weekly information on personal security, home and family defense, and defensive training — along with his own personal and sometimes controversial opinions on the personal security business!

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The Grant Cunningham Blogcast episodes:

03.25.2020
Should you have a "bugout retreat"?
Whether you're new to preparedness or an expert, you may feel inadequate because you don't have the bugout retreat people say you should have. But how realistic is it?
03.19.2020
Living through the pandemic — and beyond
The coronavirus is an international problem — but it's not the only one, and probably not the worst one. Here's what's coming and how to prepare for it.
02.27.2020
Coronavirus: What we know now, what's coming, and how to prepare
Everyone is talking about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Should you be concerned? What should you do? I'll try to answer these and many more questions in this extra-long episode!
09.27.2019
The Ambiguity Zone, Part 3: Information is power, but not if it's ignored
When things are ambiguous, correctly processing all relevant information becomes critical.
09.13.2019
The Ambiguity Zone, Part 2: Crossing the line
In Part 2 of this series, I tackle the Ambiguity Zone with tripwires. What are they and why do you need them? Listen and find out!
09.06.2019
The Ambiguity Zone
Every event has a moment when things aren't clear, when it's not obvious what's happening (or even that anything is happening). How do we make decisions when we're not sure we need to?
08.30.2019
Going shooting in the wilderness? Be safe!
Lots of people like to go shooting out in the woods or desert. Dangers lurk in those places, though, and I have some thoughts on keeping safe.
08.23.2019
Retrieving the rifle: an overlooked skill
One of the things I teach is the idea that the rifle is the gun we are most unlikely to have on our person when we need it. It’s the firearm that needs to be retrieved in order to use,...
08.16.2019
How to get politicians to listen to you
Everyone says you should write your Congressional representative. How, exactly, do you go about doing so to ensure that your voice is heard?
08.09.2019
You are not a security camera, and that's a problem
What does a security camera see? It's not what you see, and that's both good and bad.
08.02.2019
Make up your mind, before you need to
How can visualization help you in a self-defense incident? I look at a recent attack and how to use visualization to test possible defensive responses before they're actually needed.
07.29.2019
All or nothing? Not in my world.
Some people can't accept that not everyone is as interested in their hobby as they are. When that affects someone's preparedness, however, it's time to say "stop!"
07.19.2019
The myth of the "concealed carry lifestyle"
What is a "lifestyle", and does concealed carry qualify? If not, what does — and how does concealed carry fit in?
07.12.2019
Is there value in competitive shooting?
The age old debate: what value does competition shooting have to defensive shooting? I've been on both sides of this debate, and come to a surprising conclusion.
07.05.2019
Following up on the Three Easy Steps: Readiness as a habit
Last week I talked about the knife and the flashlight as primary tools. Today I explain why they're important, and why carrying them every day is a key to long-term preparedness.
06.28.2019
How to get prepared in three easy steps
The longest journey starts with the first step. Or, in this case, the first three steps.
06.21.2019
Luck happens, but sometimes it happens to someone else.
Understanding your own limitations is an important part of never needing to test them.
06.14.2019
What if you can't get the 'best' ammunition?
Someone asked me a question about buying ammunition, and the answer might not have been quite what he expected.
06.07.2019
There are no defensive shooting experts.
Lots of people call themselves "experts" in self defense with a firearm. But just how honest are they being?
05.31.2019
This guy got lucky. You might not.
What should you do with your gun if you catch a petty thief? I'd suggest you not follow this example.
05.24.2019
Yes, it's been a while.
Where have I been, and what have I been doing? Find out in this episode!
12.17.2018
Announcing my new book — PRAYING SAFE: The professional approach to protecting faith communities!
Where have I been lately? Well, I've been working on a new book — a very important new book. And today, I'm announcing it to the world!
11.05.2018
Revolver Knowledge: Resetting the double-action trigger
Resetting the double action trigger trips some people up. Find out who, why, and what to do about it!
10.15.2018
The critical skill no one teaches
There is a defensive preparedness skill that's more valuable than all the others put together - the ability to properly assess risk. If it's so important, why doesn't anyone talk about it?
10.01.2018
You shouldn’t listen to the “shoulds”. Or should you?
The word "should" is often just a way to avoid reality. Here's why, and what to do instead.
09.24.2018
Here's your sign.
For some reason, people don't pay attention to the little signs the universe gives them. This makes them less safe, and in this episode I explain why.
08.20.2018
Interchangeable chokes for defensive shotguns? Why not!
Choke tubes aren't popular on defensive shotguns, but they should be. Here's why.
08.06.2018
Safe storage and self defense aren't incompatible
The NRA would have you believe that storing your firearms responsibly makes you a victim. I disagree, and here's why.
07.30.2018
"Justifiable" isn’t the same thing as "desirable".
Self defense is a serious business, but it shouldn't be void of humanity.
07.23.2018
Self defense, quantum physics, and negative outcomes
What does a German physicist have to do with self defense? More than you might think.
07.16.2018
What if nothing happens?
If nothing happens, what happens to you?
07.02.2018
The best defense is still not being there
Is a gunfight inevitable? Some think so, but I think that's bad thinking.
06.25.2018
Keep your perspective as safe as you keep your jewelry
What can Ferris Bueller teach us about self defense and preparedness? It's not what you might think!
06.18.2018
The fishing hook fantasy
What do fishooks have to do with preparedness and self defense? It's more about what they DON'T have to do with preparedness and self defense. It's all about asking the right questions.
06.11.2018
When friends are strangers
A woman in Tennessee recently learned — the hard way — a lesson about trusting her child's friends, and her experience is a caution for the rest of us.
06.04.2018
"But what if..."
Some of the worst questions start with "but what if..." Find out why I avoid answering those questions.
05.28.2018
Can buying less really give you more safety?
What does minimalism have in common with preparedness? You might be surprised.
05.21.2018
A new way of looking at likelihood and plausbility
What's important in self defense and preparedness? One way to measure is the likelihood of something happening, but it's not easy to ascertain that without a tool, a standard. Today's blog introduces that standard: The Plausibility Line.
05.14.2018
The importance of rifle balance
What is a balanced rifle and why is it important? Well, I'll tell you...
04.30.2018
Yet another tactical hobbyist fantasy bites the dust
Another no-nonsense look at defensive gun use; this time, it's all about rifle capacity and the "short duration gunfight".
04.23.2018
Selling defense without talking about prevention
Why do we focus so much on marketing defensive shooting, and very little on how to stay safe? Because there's no money in the latter, and almost anything can be spun to make it a shooting problem. Here's one example.
04.16.2018
Do you have conflicting security priorities? You're not alone.
What happens when your desire for protection conflicts with the life you lead? Here's one example. (Notice the change in labeling? Readers requested that I swap the title and subtitle, so they could see the actual topics in their podcast...
04.02.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for April 2, 2018
What happens when you take self defense and preparedness too far? Believe it or not, chef and inveterate traveler Anthony Bourdain has the answer.
03.26.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 26, 2018
I've come to the conclusion that the defensive training world is doing something wrong, something which leads their students in the wrong direction regarding responsible self-defense. Because of this, I've made an evolution in what I teach. Listen to...
03.19.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 19, 2018
The goal of self defense isn't to get to your gun, or to use your gun — it's to get out of danger. Listen to what happens when instructors forget that.
03.12.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 12, 2018
Here I go again...this time, I'm tearing into the notion of "winning a fight" and some people are going to be awfully mad at me!
02.26.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for February 26, 2018
Ever heard of "defensive gun use porn"? Ever read any of it? Here's why I don't like it, don't promote it, and suggest that you avoid it.
02.05.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for February 5, 2018
You may have been taught to move off the line of attack as part of drawing your defensive firearm. Why, though, is that important? It's not what you think, and probably not what your instructor thinks either!
01.29.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for January 29, 2018
Should you avoid carrying the gun you like just because it might be taken as evidence in a self defense incident? I think not, and today I explain why.
01.22.2018
The Grant Cunningham Blog for January 22, 2018
What does the term "worst case scenario" bring to mind? I'll bet I have a different way of looking at it than you do!

What's The Grant Cunningham Blogcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Grant Cunningham Blogcast episodes:

Should you have a "bugout retreat"?

Living through the pandemic — and beyond

Coronavirus: What we know now, what's coming, and how to prepare

The Ambiguity Zone, Part 3: Information is power, but not if it's ignored

The Ambiguity Zone, Part 2: Crossing the line

The Ambiguity Zone

Going shooting in the wilderness? Be safe!

Retrieving the rifle: an overlooked skill

How to get politicians to listen to you

You are not a security camera, and that's a problem

Make up your mind, before you need to

All or nothing? Not in my world.

The myth of the "concealed carry lifestyle"

Is there value in competitive shooting?

Following up on the Three Easy Steps: Readiness as a habit

How to get prepared in three easy steps

Luck happens, but sometimes it happens to someone else.

What if you can't get the 'best' ammunition?

There are no defensive shooting experts.

This guy got lucky. You might not.

Yes, it's been a while.

Announcing my new book — PRAYING SAFE: The professional approach to protecting faith communities!

Revolver Knowledge: Resetting the double-action trigger

The critical skill no one teaches

You shouldn’t listen to the “shoulds”. Or should you?

Here's your sign.

Interchangeable chokes for defensive shotguns? Why not!

Safe storage and self defense aren't incompatible

"Justifiable" isn’t the same thing as "desirable".

Self defense, quantum physics, and negative outcomes

What if nothing happens?

The best defense is still not being there

Keep your perspective as safe as you keep your jewelry

The fishing hook fantasy

When friends are strangers

"But what if..."

Can buying less really give you more safety?

A new way of looking at likelihood and plausbility

The importance of rifle balance

Yet another tactical hobbyist fantasy bites the dust

Selling defense without talking about prevention

Do you have conflicting security priorities? You're not alone.

The Grant Cunningham Blog for April 2, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 26, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 19, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for March 12, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for February 26, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for February 5, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for January 29, 2018

The Grant Cunningham Blog for January 22, 2018