The Resilient Edge Podcast

Training to Fight While Injured: Tim Pierce on AU Fire and Accuracy Under Fire

In this episode of The Resilient Edge, host Dave Weiner sits down with former LAPD officer Tim Pearce, founder of AU Fire (Accuracy Under Fire), to explore a major training gap: most force-on-force scenarios don't replicate what happens when someone is actually shot and the body stops cooperating. Pearce shares the personal and professional origins of the system, including the shooting of his wife, LAPD officer Christina Repati, and how physical therapy e-stim technology inspired a wearable solution that creates involuntary muscle contractions when a trainee "takes a hit." They discuss how AU Fire builds true stress inoculation and decision-making under injury, the device's vest-and-sleeve design and remote controls, safety steps including FDA review and medical testing, early law-enforcement adoption across 80+ agencies, expansion to military needs beyond MILES, and applications for civilians, security, and active-shooter response training.

About Tim - Tim Pearce is a retired Los Angeles Police Department officer and the founder of A.U.FIRE (Accuracy Under Fire), the wearable consequence system that's changing how warfighters and law enforcement train. AUFIRE's patented, FDA-cleared muscle-stimulation technology delivers a safe, involuntary muscle contraction the instant a trainee is hit — bringing real consequences, and real stress inoculation, to force-on-force training for the first time. Adopted by 80+ law enforcement agencies in its first 24 months, A.U.FIRE is now under contract with U.S. Army PEO STRI / CPE ST3 to prototype and integrate with the Army's MILES training systems, alongside active U.S. Air Force SBIR work. See it in action at www.aufire.com/videos.

Links:

WEBSITE - https://www.aufire.com

IG - @aufiretraining

Carrying a firearm is a responsibility that goes well past range day.

In this episode, Dave Weiner sits down with his good friend Joel Persinger, founder and Chief Instructor at Practical Defense Systems in San Diego, to talk about what responsible gun ownership looks like in the real world.

Joel and his team have spent almost 20 years training more than 32,000 students in CCW, guard card, firearms, and defensive tactics. His background spans executive protection, physical security penetration testing, and church security operations. He also hosts GunGuyTV, a security and protection YouTube channel with more than 200,000 subscribers.

In this conversation:

The gap between what new CCW holders expect from training and what they need The emotional weight of carrying, apart from the mechanics of shooting

Why shooting is a perishable skill, and the daily habits that keep you ready

Thinking through the legal aftermath of a self-defense shooting before it ever happens Building church security that keeps doors open and people safe

Training volunteer church security teams versus paid professionals

Whether you just bought your first handgun or you've carried for years, this one will make you rethink how you train.

Connect with Joel -

Practical Defense Systems: https://pdsclasses.com

GunGuyTV: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRealGunGuyTV

GGTV Crew on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gunguytv

GGTV Crew on Locals: https://gunguytv.locals.com

About The Resilient Edge The Resilient Edge is the Secure Measures podcast on resilience in safety, security, crisis intervention, and leadership. Host Dave Weiner brings you expert insights, real-world stories, and practical strategies to stay prepared in an unpredictable world.

Train with Secure Measures: https://secure-measures.com

From Navy Senior Chief to Veteran Couture: Carolina Hernandez Turns Uniforms into Wearable Art

On Episode 9 of The Resilient Edge, host Dave Weiner interviews Navy Reserve Senior Chief Carolina Hernandez, fashion designer and founder of Veteran Couture, a brand that transforms refurbished military uniforms into wearable art, including her Courage Collection and a 2024 dress made from D-Day parachute material now exhibited at the Vintage Purse Museum. Hernandez shares why she joined the Navy, her roles in active duty and the reserves, and how chief-level leadership shifts focus from personal performance to developing and advocating for sailors. She explains how deployments and veteran stories shaped her design approach, addresses occasional criticism about repurposing uniforms, and describes current work such as a 1920s-inspired Speakeasy Collection honoring women in the military. The conversation covers balancing service and entrepreneurship, resilience practices, using social media and Facebook groups to share veteran resources, and advice to transitioning veterans to ask for help and build connections.

About Carolina Hernandez -

Carolina Hernandez is a Mexican-born fashion designer, U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, and founder of Veteran Couture, a fashion brand that transforms military uniforms and materials into wearable works of art. Inspired by her cultural heritage and military service, her designs explore themes of resilience, identity, sustainability, and storytelling.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design from the Art Institute of California–San Diego and a Master of Science in Digital Media Management from the University of Southern California. Her acclaimed Courage collection, created from refurbished military uniforms, has been featured by CBS News, Univision, Estrella TV, The Kelly Clarkson Show, the PenFed Foundation, and the Today Show. In 2024, her commemorative D-Day parachute dress honored the legacy of WWII Army Airborne soldiers and is currently exhibited at the Vintage Purse Museum.

She actively collaborates with local and national veteran-serving organizations, using fashion, education, and community events to empower veterans, women, and military families. Through Veteran Couture, she supports initiatives that celebrate service, preserve military history, and create opportunities for healing, connection, and creative expression. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to using art as a catalyst for social impact and community engagement.

Links:

Website - https://www.veterancoutureart.com

Socials: IG/FB @veterancouture

TV Interviews:

TODAY Show - • Navy Veteran Shares Military-Inspired Fash...

The Kelly Clarkson Show - • Navy Veteran Turned Fashion Designer Creat...

CBS News - https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/vi...

In Episode 8 of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner is joined by Dr. Piero D'Ingillo to break down ROAR through a full-picture lens—where situational awareness includes not only the environment and the threat, but the responder's own stress state, decision-making, and presence. Dr. Piero explains how self-awareness and nervous system regulation directly impact judgment, communication, and de-escalation outcomes in high-pressure moments. The conversation reframes safety as both a tactical discipline and a human skill—because how you show up can change what happens next.

About Dr. Pietro "Piero" D'Ingillo -

Dr. Pietro "Piero" D'Ingillo is a licensed clinical, law enforcement and forensic psychologist. His early career work began in the late 1990s with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). From 2006 until 2016, he attained extensive community-based experience while working for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health where his primary duty was responding to psychiatric crises. For a period of ten years, he responded with sworn officers to community-based psychiatric emergencies and was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department Mental Evaluation Unit and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Mental Evaluation Team. He has collaborated in hundreds of cases with local, federal, and international authorities and gained extensive experience with violence risk assessments as they relate to mentally unstable individuals. Since the year 2004, he has provided trainings to sworn officers on mental illness, as well as de-escalation and management of volatile situations. In 2016 Dr. D'Ingillo re-joined LASD and participated in the development of the Crisis Intervention Training-360 (CIT360) Training where he functions as a full-time instructor. In addition, he also assists the LASD Risk Assessment Management Program on high violence risk cases in the community.

"Situational awareness isn't just noticing what's happening around you—it's noticing what's happening inside you." — Dr. Piero D'Ingillo

"The most overlooked variable in safety is the responder—because you bring your nervous system into every situation." — Dr. Piero D'Ingillo

"When your body is regulated, your decisions are clearer—and clarity is what keeps people safe." — Dr. Piero D'Ingillo

In Episode 7 of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner sits down with Scot Walker to explore the often-overlooked intersection between law enforcement and corporate security. Drawing on decades of experience across federal law enforcement, military service, and global corporate investigations, Scot breaks down how generational shifts, workforce attrition, and evolving threat landscapes are reshaping both fields—and why organizations must rethink how they approach investigations, prevention, and risk management. The conversation highlights why collaboration, adaptability, and human-centered security strategies are no longer optional, but essential.

About Scot Walker -

Scot Walker is a seasoned Investigations and Corporate Security Leader with over two decades of federal law enforcement and military service, including roles as a Special Agent and Task Force Officer. He has led corporate investigations for global companies such as NVIDIA, Facebook, and Domtar, specializing in internal misconduct, fraud, workplace violence, and protective intelligence. Scot has built investigation programs, safeguarded executives on high-risk international travel, and advised firms on fraud prevention, protective intelligence, and physical security strategies.

Scot holds a Master's in Organizational Management and a Bachelor's in Strategic Security, as well as certifications as a Professional Certified Investigator (ASIS International), a Licensed Arizona Private Investigator, and multiple specialized credentials in cybercrime.

Links:

Website - https://www.walkerinvestigations.page/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotwalker1811/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ScotWalkersProtectiveFuture

In episode 6 of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner sits down with Sara Correll for an honest conversation about the human side of service. Through personal stories and reflection, Sara shares what strength really looks like beyond the uniform—how service shapes identity, relationships, and life long after the job ends. The episode centers lived experience, reminding listeners that resilience is built not through isolation, but through connection, understanding, and shared humanity.

About Sara Corell -

Sara Correll is a wife, mom of four boys, and proud grandma to two little ones. With a Master's in Crisis Response and Trauma Counseling for Veterans and First Responders, a coaching certification, and time spent as a drug & alcohol counselor to addicted homeless and convicted felons, she's walked alongside Veterans, First Responders, homeless men, and convicted felons given a second chance as they faced some of life's hardest moments.

What she kept noticing was simple but profound: when people finally tell their stories in a safe community, healing begins. That belief led Sara to found The Power of Our Story—warm, hope-filled "Coffee & Conversation" groups for Veterans, First Responders, and Gold Star families. Sara's heart is to remind every guest (and every listener): your story matters, you are not alone, and there is still light ahead.

OUR MISSION -

We are a community of Protectors (Active Duty, Veterans, Active and Retired First Responders, and Caring Supporters) passionate about reducing stigma and providing a place of safety in a no-judgment zone for those needing a community to process the journey of mental and emotional adversities from the job. Through storytelling and conversation, we provide a personal and unique platform to support the transition process, share inspiration, and encourage that empowering spirit to get up and continue the fight. We are a tribe that grows stronger together. Our stories deliver HOPE.

"Strength isn't never struggling—it's continuing to show up, even when the weight is heavy." — Sara Correll

"Service doesn't end when the job does—the impact stays with you." — Sara Correll

"Before the uniform, before the title—we're people first, carrying real lives into this work." — Sara Correll

Links:

Website - https://www.thepowerofourstory.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-correll-09b78625/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMzmBm0cvhH69sIPUipsAGQ

Faceboook - https://www.facebook.com/ThePowerOfOurStory

In episode 5 of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner speaks with Dr. Amber McDonald about the growing role of co-response models in improving safety outcomes for individuals, responders, and communities. Amber explains how pairing law enforcement with behavioral health and support professionals allows for more appropriate, humane, and effective responses—especially in complex or emotionally charged situations. The conversation highlights why coordination, early intervention, and shared responsibility are key to reducing escalation and creating safer, more sustainable response systems.

About Dr. Amber McDonald -

Dr. Amber McDonald is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and researcher specializing in trauma, behavioral health, and public safety. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Deputy Director of the Stress, Trauma, Adversity, Research, and Treatment (START) Center. Her research—funded by agencies including SAMHSA and Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute —focuses on trauma, co-responder models, law enforcement wellness, and violence risk and threat assessment and management.

In addition to her academic role, Dr. McDonald is the owner of Dr. Amber R. McDonald, LLC where she provides consultation, training and program development support to government, nonprofit, and private sector agencies. She specializes in advancing person-centered collaborative responses to behavioral health crises and the prevention of violent mass casualty events. Dr. McDonald advises for the Denver's FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.

A sought-after speaker and consultant, she has trained professionals nationally and internationally on trauma-informed assessment, intervention and violence prevention.

"The core of what we do is preserving human dignity when people are at their worst. And, doing this in partnership with public safety benefits everyone." – Dr.Amber McDonald

"Not every crisis needs the same response—but every response needs coordination." — Dr.Amber McDonald

"Safety improves when law enforcement doesn't have to carry every part of the response alone." — Dr. Amber McDonald

Links:

Website - https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry/PatientCare/STARTcenter

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-mcdonald-phd-lcsw-msw-72732694/

In this episode of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner is joined by Dr. Shauna "Doc" Springer to challenge long-standing narratives around resilience, strength, and mental health in military, law enforcement, and first responder communities. Dr. Springer explores how silence is often mistaken for toughness, why cultural expectations can prevent early intervention, and how organizations can build environments where psychological resilience includes support, connection, and honest conversation. The discussion reframes mental health not as a personal failing, but as a leadership and organizational responsibility.

About Dr. Shauna "Doc" Springer -

Shauna "Doc" Springer is a best-selling author, frequently requested media expert, keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, suicide prevention, and close relationships. She is the author of WARRIOR, RELENTLESS COURAGE, and the co-author of BEYOND THE MILITARY. A Harvard graduate who has become a trusted Doc to our nation's military warfighters, she navigates different cultures with exceptional agility. As Chief Psychologist for Stella, she advances a new model for treating psychological trauma that combines biological and psychological interventions. Her work has been featured in multiple media outlets, including CNN, VICE, NPR, NBC, CBS Radio, Forbes, Business Insider, Military Times, Gun Talk Radio, Coffee or Die Magazine, The Marine Corps Gazette, Havok Journal, THRIVE GLOBAL, Anxiety.org, Washington Post, and Psychology Today.

"The goal isn't to wait for someone to break—it's to notice the change before they do." — Dr. 'Doc' Shauna Springer

"When organizations treat distress as weakness, people learn to hide instead of heal." — Dr. 'Doc' Shauna Springer

"It doesn't take more courage to ask for help — it takes more safety to make it possible. If we keep framing support-seeking as an act of courage, we imply that those who remain silent are somehow less brave." – Dr. 'Doc' Shauna Springer

LINKS:

Website - www.drshaunaspringer.com

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/docshaunaspringer

In this episode of The Resilient Edge, Dave Weiner speaks with Dave Falco about the growing risks of surveillance, data exposure, and information compromise inside corporate environments. Drawing on deep expertise in technical surveillance countermeasures (TSCM), Dave explains how threats often hide in plain sight—and why organizations must shift from reactive security to proactive awareness. The conversation demystifies counter-surveillance and reframes it as a practical, preventative approach to protecting privacy, people, and critical business information.

About Dave Falco -

With over 25 years of progressive leadership in privacy, safety, and security, Dave Falco is a trusted expert in executive protection, security program management, emergency operations, and large-scale event support. Over more than two decades, Dave has protected some of the world's most influential people—at their offices, while traveling, and inside their homes—while successfully bridging the worlds of public safety and private corporate security.

Dave has built a global security program from the ground up, from policy and procurement to staffing and training, and is regularly called on to train professionals across multiple business verticals. Known for sharp analytical judgment, calm decision-making under pressure, and an exceptional eye for detail, he brings a rare blend of operational expertise and customer-first leadership to every environment.

"In corporate environments, privacy isn't just a preference—it's an asset worth protecting." — Dave Falco

"Most organizations don't realize they're being surveilled because the best surveillance is the kind you never notice." — Dave Falco

"Counter-surveillance isn't about paranoia—it's about awareness and prevention." — Dave Falco

LINKS:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/david-falco-the-falconator Website - www.stellarcraftprotection.com

About Jeff Caudill -

Jeff Caudill retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2018, after 32 years of service. He continues to serve as a reserve deputy with the Emergency Operations Bureau and as a contract deputy with the Special Enforcement Bureau (SWAT) as a crisis negotiator. Jeff has been a crisis negotiator for over 14 years. He has responded to over 250 callouts and has been assigned to every team position. Jeff continues to teach crisis stabilization, and Law Enforcement interaction with Veterans classes with the Sheriff's Department Mental Evaluation Team. He has presented at both LAPD and FBI negotiator training. Jeff is an NTOA instructor for both basic and advanced Crisis Negotiator courses. Prior to retiring, Jeff was the lead facilitator for the Department's 6-month Deputy Leadership Continuum.

Jeff is a member of the NTOA, California Association of Hostage Negotiators, National Council of Negotiation Associations, and was a volunteer crisis line counselor at the Suicide Prevention Center.

Prior to joining the Department, Jeff spent 5 1/2 years in the United States Marine Corps. First as a nuclear weapons technician for field artillery and then an Embassy Guard in Guatemala and Colombia.

Jeff holds a Master of Arts Degree in Education - emphasis on adult education and is a California POST certified instructor. Jeff lives in Downey California, a suburb of Los Angeles, with his wife and their two children.

"The only thing you truly control in a crisis is yourself—and that's usually enough to change the outcome." — Jeff Caudill

"Calm is contagious. If I bring calm into the conversation, it gives the other person permission to slow down too." — Jeff Caudill

LINKS: Instagram - www.instagram.com/caudill770