The Watch Floor with Sarah Adams

What would you do if a terrorist attack or violent incident unfolded around you? Would you recognize the warning signs, know how to respond, and have a plan to protect yourself and your family?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Martin "Marty" Castellanos, a retired U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officer, former Boca Raton police officer, and veteran instructor with 34 years of military and law enforcement service. Marty has spent decades training military personnel, police officers, security professionals, and ordinary citizens to recognize threats, make sound decisions, and respond effectively when something goes wrong.

Our conversation focuses on something I have emphasized repeatedly: preparing for a dangerous situation does not mean living in fear. It means understanding the risks, paying attention to your surroundings, developing practical skills, and making sure your family knows what to do in an emergency.

Marty also shares the story of his friend, Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan "Nate" Bruckenthal, who was killed in an April 24, 2004, terrorist suicide bombing in the Persian Gulf while serving aboard the USS Firebolt. Nate's death and the lessons Marty took from that attack reinforce one of the central messages of this episode: complacency is always your enemy.

We discuss situational awareness, recognizing and reporting suspicious behavior, making family emergency plans, the importance of knowing your location when calling for help, and why medical training can be just as important as self-defense skills. We also examine what happens when first responders cannot immediately reach you and why purchasing defensive equipment is no substitute for knowing how to use it.

Marty's Scared to Prepared training program helps people move beyond fear and develop the knowledge, habits, and practical skills needed to protect themselves and those around them.

This is not about becoming paranoid or expecting danger around every corner. It is about taking responsibility for your personal safety, preparing your family, and using the time you have to develop skills that may one day save a life.

Learn More About Marty Castellanos & His Training

UMTC — Self-Defense Education, Training & Consulting: https://umtc-instructor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartyUMTC

Instagram: @marty_umtc

Learn more about Marty's Scared to Prepared seminar, which covers home defense, situational awareness, threat avoidance, personal safety, and responding to violent encounters.
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/firearms-training/instructors/florida-instructors/umtc-llc-self-defense-education-law-enforcement-training-consulting-2734354/class-boca-raton-fl-umtc-scared-to-prepared-seminar-ba8e3/

How does the Muslim Brotherhood operate in the United States, what are its long-term objectives, and how much do Americans really understand about its ideology and influence?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with John Rossomando, President of Viking Research Associates, longtime counterterrorism researcher, and author of The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria, for an in-depth discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology, organizational strategies, and activities in America.

John spent eight years as a Senior Counterterrorism Analyst with the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) and later served as a Senior Analyst for Defense Policy at the Center for Security Policy. His research has examined Islamist movements, extremist networks, political influence, and the intersection of ideological organizations and U.S. national security policy.

His book, The Arab Spring Ruse, examines the Muslim Brotherhood's role during the Arab Spring and argues that American policymakers misunderstood the movement's objectives and influence in Libya and Syria.

In this conversation, we examine the Muslim Brotherhood's ideological foundations, its organizational methods, and its efforts to establish influence within American institutions and political movements. John draws on years of research to explain how Brotherhood-linked networks operate, the importance of examining original Arabic-language documents, and why public messaging does not always reflect the movement's underlying objectives.

We also discuss the Brotherhood's relationships with leftist and activist movements, the challenges authorities face in recognizing alleged Brotherhood-linked organizations, and the broader implications for American national security. Understanding the movement requires looking beyond individual organizations to examine its history, ideology, and long-term institutional strategies.

FIND JOHN'S BOOK

The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KJVVZ88

CONNECT WITH JOHN ROSSOMANDO

X: https://x.com/John_Rossomando

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossomando-b62357/

JOHN'S RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Investigative Project on Terrorism:
https://www.investigativeproject.org/author/John+Rossomando

Center for Security Policy:
https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/author/john-rossomando/

ABOUT THE WATCH FLOOR

Hosted by former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams, The Watch Floor brings firsthand intelligence experience and expert analysis to counterterrorism, national security, extremist organizations, and geopolitical developments that deserve greater public attention.

The Taliban may control Kabul, but the fight for Afghanistan is far from over.

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Ali Maisam Nazary, co-founder and Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), the resistance movement led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendary Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.

We discuss how the National Resistance Front was established in Panjshir following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the movement's continued resistance, and its efforts to build political legitimacy and international support.

Our conversation goes well beyond the battlefield. We examine Afghanistan's growing importance as a sanctuary for terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda, the dangers of relying on Taliban-provided intelligence, and why engaging with the Taliban presents serious challenges for the United States and its allies.

Ali also discusses the relationships between terrorist organizations operating inside Afghanistan, the increasing sophistication of these networks, and the implications for international security. We address al-Qaeda's June 2024 call for supporters to travel to Afghanistan and prepare attacks against Western targets, as well as the importance of recognizing the threats developing under Taliban rule.

Throughout the conversation, we return to a central question: What will it take for Afghanistan to have a future beyond the Taliban?

This episode is part of Resistance Week, a special series highlighting Afghan voices, resistance movements, and the people working to secure a different future for their country.

Connect with Ali Nazary and follow the National Resistance Front:

Ali Nazary on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimaisamnazary/

National Resistance Front on X:
https://x.com/NRFafg

The Taliban may currently control Afghanistan, but the fight for the country's future is far from over.

In this episode of Resistance Week, I sit down with Lieutenant General Sami Sadat, Chairman of the Afghanistan United Front (AUF), to discuss the ongoing resistance against the Taliban, the growing terrorist threat inside Afghanistan, and what the international community continues to get wrong about the situation on the ground.

Sami provides an inside look at the Afghanistan United Front's military operations, including its August offensive involving approximately 100 operations and territorial gains against the Taliban. We discuss the resistance's strategy, its operational capabilities, and why the fight to reclaim Afghanistan is far from finished.

We also examine the broader national security implications of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, including the presence of senior Al-Qaeda Central leaders, concerns about preparations for another major terrorist attack, and the potential threat to the United States.

Our conversation also explores China's surveillance relationship with the Taliban, India's reported financial support, and the complicated regional dynamics that continue to shape Afghanistan's future.

This is an important conversation about a resistance movement that receives too little international attention, the terrorist organizations operating under Taliban rule, and why what happens in Afghanistan still matters to U.S. national security.

Learn more about the Afghanistan United Front and follow its operations:

Official website: auf.news

AUF on X: https://x.com/afgunitedfront

Follow LTG Sami Sadat:

X: https://x.com/SayedSamiSadat

Read Sami Sadat's book:

https://a.co/d/06tYD8yg

The Taliban controls Afghanistan, but that does not mean the Taliban has won.

In the first episode of Resistance Week on The Watch Floor, Sarah Adams sits down with Afghan advocate Jazz Cannon to discuss the ongoing resistance against the Taliban, the international flow of money that has helped sustain the regime, and the Afghans who refuse to give up the fight for their country.

Jazz shares her experiences growing up in Kabul, her work challenging the flow of cash to the Taliban, and the difficult realities facing Afghans who continue to resist Taliban rule. The conversation examines how international funding and assistance can strengthen the very regime the international community claims to oppose, and why disrupting those financial flows matters.

They also discuss the resistance leaders and movements that continue to challenge the Taliban, the role of Afghan women in that struggle, and the difference between recognizing Afghanistan's harsh realities and accepting defeat.

The central message is clear: The Taliban may control Afghanistan, but the resistance is not over.

This episode launches Resistance Week, a special series on The Watch Floor featuring individuals working to challenge Taliban rule through advocacy, efforts to disrupt financial support, and resistance on the ground.

Connect with Jazz Cannon:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazz-cannon-195364135/

What makes someone embrace violent extremism? What does it take to walk away from it? And how do we prevent the next generation from being recruited?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams sits down with Mubin Shaikh, a former Islamist extremist who became an undercover counterterrorism operative and helped dismantle one of Canada's most significant domestic terrorist plots, the Toronto 18.

Mubin takes us inside his extraordinary journey, from growing up between two very different worlds in Canada and traveling to Pakistan, where he encountered the Taliban, to embracing radical ideology and eventually rejecting it. He explains how he went from being part of extremist circles to working with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), infiltrating a terrorist network planning attacks on Canadian soil.

But this conversation goes beyond his undercover work. We examine how radicalization happens, why young people are particularly vulnerable to extremist recruitment, how terrorist organizations exploit the internet, and what actually works when it comes to countering violent extremism.

Today, Mubin works to prevent radicalization and help individuals leave extremist movements, including through his involvement with Parents for Peace, an organization providing families, communities, and professionals with the tools and support needed to recognize warning signs and intervene before violence occurs. This is a conversation about the realities of radicalization, the intelligence work required to stop terrorist attacks, and why prevention must be part of the counterterrorism mission.

LEARN MORE AND SUPPORT THE MISSION

Parents for Peace: https://www.parents4peace.org/

Parents for Peace offers confidential support to families concerned about radicalization, along with intervention services, education, and training to help prevent violent extremism.

READ MUBIN SHAIKH'S BOOK

Undercover Jihadi: Inside the Toronto 18

An account of his journey through radicalization, his undercover intelligence work, and the terrorist plot he helped disrupt.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMR9T46

Is Canada doing enough to confront the terrorist threat, and what has the West failed to learn from more than two decades of counterterrorism operations?

This week on The Watch Floor, I’m joined by Phil Gurski, a 32-year veteran of Canada’s intelligence community, former analyst with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Communications Security Establishment (CSE), author, and host of Canadian Intelligence Eh!

We discuss his newest book, 9/11: The Unfinished Battle, and why the threat from jihadist terrorism is far from over. Our conversation examines the terrorist threat facing Canada, the consequences of releasing convicted terrorists back into society, the role of social networks in radicalization, and how accusations of Islamophobia can complicate legitimate terrorism investigations.

We also discuss the loss of experienced intelligence professionals, the consequences of Western counterterrorism policies, and why understanding how terrorist organizations recruit, operate, and adapt remains critical to preventing future attacks.

Phil brings decades of intelligence experience and a Canadian perspective to a threat that extends well beyond Canada's borders.

Learn More About Phil Gurski

📖 Buy Phil's New Book: 9/11: The Unfinished Battle: Why Jihadi Terrorism Is Stronger, Wider, and Far From Over

https://a.co/d/06MexgNF

🎙️ Listen to Canadian Intelligence Eh!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-intelligence-eh/id1455756173

Podcast Archive: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/category/podcast/

Connect with Phil

Website: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

X: https://twitter.com/borealissaves

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/

#TheWatchFloor #PhilGurski #Counterterrorism #CanadianIntelligence #NationalSecurity #Terrorism

How safe are our schools, and are we doing enough to protect the children inside them?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Wayne Black, a veteran security expert and author of School Insecurity, to discuss what effective school security actually looks like and where schools are falling short.

Wayne brings more than 45 years of experience in law enforcement, protective security, and threat assessments. He previously served as Security Advisor and Protection Detail Leader for former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, led security assessments for the Department of Homeland Security, and has conducted protective operations and threat assessments around the world.

We discuss the importance of keeping attackers outside school buildings, why security cameras alone are not enough, the role of behavioral threat assessments, and why training and preparation matter long before an emergency occurs.

As Wayne explains, “The side with the best plan wins.”

School safety requires more than technology, policies, and good intentions. It requires identifying vulnerabilities, understanding threats, and developing plans that work when they are needed most.

Learn more about Wayne Black:
https://www.wayneblack.com

Get his book, School Insecurity:
https://a.co/d/03U6plc5

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Steven Al Ebadi, a U.S. Army veteran, former intelligence officer, combat linguist, and journalist whose career includes supporting U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the FBI.

We discuss his journey from Iraq to serving alongside U.S. forces, the experiences that shaped his career, and his work in intelligence and journalism. Our conversation also covers the consequences of decisions made during the Iraq War, the threats he has faced, and his reporting on the war in Ukraine.

Follow Steven Al Ebadi:

X: https://x.com/Alladdin1983

Substack: https://substack.com/@alladdin1983

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenAlEbadi

What would you do if someone opened fire outside your church? Would you recognize signs of a potential threat? And if your children were in Sunday school when an emergency started, would you know how they were being protected?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams walks through the threats facing churches and religious communities, from terrorism and targeted violence to suspicious surveillance, theft, arson, and threatening individuals.

Drawing on real attacks and her experience briefing churches on security, Sarah explains what warning signs to recognize, when to report suspicious activity, and how to make decisions when a threat becomes an emergency.

The episode also covers protecting children's ministries, responding to an active shooter, handling suspicious packages, medical preparedness, and the steps churches can take now to protect their congregations.

This is a practical episode for churchgoers, pastors, volunteers, and security teams to save, share, and revisit.

Because recognizing a threat is only the beginning. Knowing what to do next could save lives.