Tips, Tactics, and Tools Podcast

What does it actually take to build an organization where safety and preparedness are part of the culture, not just policies on paper?

Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre and Mike Bearden from Defend Systems to discuss why preparedness starts with leadership, how everyday habits can undermine even the best security plans, and why organizations have to move beyond simply having policies and technology in place.

Drawing from real examples with clients, we discuss how we assess an organization's preparedness culture, the common vulnerabilities and attitudes we encounter, and what separates organizations that truly prioritize preparedness from those that simply have a plan in place. From schools and churches to businesses and other organizations, we explore leadership buy-in, accountability, security practices, and helping teams understand not just what to do, but why it matters.

1:10 Why a culture of preparedness matters in every industry

2:10 Preparedness starts with leadership buy-in

2:45 How leadership buy-in impacts school safety culture

4:20 How Herring Technology matches security solutions to a client's preparedness level

7:10 Leaders have to model the behaviors they expect

8:00 The problem with propped-open doors and the most common offenders - leadership

8:28 Balancing an open-door policy with proper security

12:20 How Defend Systems clients sometimes respond when vulnerabilities are identified

13:32 Focusing on a few actionable security improvements during a building walkthrough instead of overwhelming with too much information

14:32 When employees recognize vulnerabilities leadership may overlook

16:30 Looking beyond what has happened to what could happen

20:30 Why blueprints alone can't determine a security plan and how Herring Technology and Defend Systems observe client operations before finalizing plans

22:30 Challenges with safety culture in churches

26:30 How Defend Systems' historical lessons training changed one pastor's perspective on security

29:45 What security professionals learn across different organizations vs. the client lens of only seeing their own organization

31:00 Why Defend Systems teaches the "why," not just the "what"

32:00 Lessons from Sandy Hook Rooms 8 and 10 - an example of the "why"

33:00 What if we treated preparedness like professionalism?

38:44 How urgency around security fades over time

41:57 Moving from policies and plans to training and communication

46:30 Holding each other accountable for preparedness

50:28 Why accountability is "use it or lose it"

When someone shows concerning behavior or makes a threat, how do you determine whether they actually pose a risk of violence — and what do you do next?

In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with Clay Harris of Homicide Zero to explore a different approach to behavioral threat assessment. Homicide Zero turns an empirically tested threat assessment into a software platform designed to make the process faster, more consistent, and accessible beyond behavioral threat experts. Instead of relying on open-ended questions or gut instinct, users work through simple questions that help determine a threat level, explain how that conclusion was reached, and provide actionable next steps.

Clay breaks down the pathway to violence, the warning signs that can create opportunities for intervention, and why prevention is such an important layer of a comprehensive safety strategy. They also discuss zero-tolerance policies, the consequences of overreacting to threats, and how organizations can intervene before concerning behavior progresses to violence.

0:57 Homicide Zero is a platform designed to help evaluate an individual's potential threat level for committing violence.

3:19 Where does an organization start when building its defense?

5:45 The "fruit basket" analogy: Why every layer of protection matters to a complete safety strategy.

6:30 Where do you start when determining whether a threat is credible?

8:30 Dr. Robert Moore's, co-founder of Homicide Zero, threat assessment tool and the research behind a structured approach to evaluating threats and determining when to intervene.

10:09 Understanding the pathway to violence: How a stressor can progress

13:20 Intervention can happen at any point along the pathway to violence, and Homicide Zero helps organize that process.

14:20 Understanding "leakage," when an at-risk individual displays indicators that could signal concern.

18:00 How Clay used Dr. Moore's expertise to create the Homicide Zero platform and make the assessment process integratable with existing systems.

20:15 "Left of bang" vs. "right of bang": Prevention before an incident compared with response after an incident occurs.

22:00 Moving beyond gut instinct and emotion when evaluating an individual.

24:20 How Homicide Zero turns threat assessment into software using simple yes, no, or "I don't know" questions, then provides a threat level and explains how it reached that conclusion.

26:12 The danger of overcorrecting: How concerning behavior can lead to serious consequences for someone who may not actually pose a threat.

28:30 What happens after a student is expelled? The importance of reassessing before a student returns to school.

31:00 The long-term cost of missing opportunities for early intervention.

32:20 The potential problems with "zero tolerance" policies.

35:15 With many threat assessment tools already available, what does Homicide Zero add? Simple questions, accessibility for facilitators beyond behavioral threat experts, and a goal of making threat assessment widely available.

39:45 An assessment can be completed in about 20 minutes, compared with manual threat assessments that may take days or weeks.

48:00 How Homicide Zero provides specific, actionable next steps based on the assessment results.

51:00 The challenges of addressing criminal behavior involving young people and how fact-based reporting can help inform decisions about potential criminal charges.

53:30 Learn more, request a demo, and see how the platform works at HomicideZero.com.

Digital evidence has transformed modern investigations, and Harding University is helping law enforcement keep pace. In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with RJ Holt, John Stone, and Jeff Cavitt from Harding University's Digital Forensics Lab, the only accredited digital forensics lab at a university in the United States.

They discuss how the lab partners with local, state, and federal agencies to process digital evidence, connect cases, train investigators, and give students hands-on experience in the field. From drug investigations and scheduled text messages to the growing role phones play in nearly every case, the conversation explores why "digital is the new DNA" and what the future of digital forensics looks like.

1:05 Introducing RJ Holt, 28-year law enforcement veteran and lab manager; John Stone, Searcy PD detective and Harding professor teaching digital forensics; and Jeff Cavitt, sworn Searcy PD officer and director of the Digital Forensics Lab at Harding University

4:18 RJ's start in digital forensics as phones became a major source of evidence and investigative leads

6:45 Working with the Secret Service and adapting to changing digital forensics laws

8:00 RJ's transition from law enforcement to lab manager at Harding

8:18 Nearly 300 phones processed in the lab so far

9:15 Partnering with federal agencies and combining resources through task forces

13:15 The only accredited digital forensics lab at a U.S. university

13:35 How an 18-month evidence backlog helped inspire Harding's lab

15:30 State funding and providing services to agencies at no charge

16:50 The reward students experience when they uncover evidence that helps solve a case

18:20 Training detectives in digital forensics because "digital is the new DNA"

19:40 Maintaining chain of custody and protecting the integrity of digital evidence

26:50 The difficult reality of digital forensics involving CSAM and other sensitive material; Protecting students from exposure to certain cases

28:45 How a scheduled text message provided critical evidence in an overdose investigation

29:25 Arkansas' aggravated death by delivery charge and the importance of phones in drug cases

31:00 Connecting evidence from multiple phones to a traffic stop and larger investigation

32:20 Serving as a digital evidence "fusion center" for Central Arkansas agencies

37:55 RJ's daily work creating forensic copies of digital evidence

40:50 The lab's current caseload: 60% CSAM, 20% drug cases, 20% property crime

41:50 Completing extractions and much of the investigative analysis within 30–35 days

47:05 How to learn more or contact the Harding University Digital Forensics Lab: [email protected] or hudfl.org

49:19 Visits from a former President, the Secret Service, and FBI, and interest in Harding students for future careers

49:45 Harding's faith-based mission supports the lab's work through difficult cases

Not every security challenge has time to wait for permanent infrastructure.

In this episode, we're joined by Stephen Sutton of Herring Technology to explore how Rapid Deployment Units (RDUs) provide flexible, temporary security solutions wherever they're needed. We discuss how these mobile systems are used to protect events, critical assets, retail locations, logistics operations, and more, along with the technology that powers them, from solar and battery advancements to analytics like license plate recognition, people detection, and automated alerts.

We also cover how organizations are using cameras for more than security, including crowd management, operational efficiency, and locating lost children at large events.

Whether you're responsible for securing a special event, construction site, campus, or commercial property, this conversation offers a practical look at how rapidly deployable technology can solve complex security challenges.

0:55 Introducing Stephen Sutton of Herring Technology and the company's Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) division.

3:25 The most common RDUs are trailers and skids that can be deployed without existing infrastructure.

4:50 Why RDUs are an effective solution for unexpected security needs.

5:50 One of Herring Technology's first RDU deployments: the Smyrna Air Show.

7:41 What is a skid, and why it's difficult to tamper with.

8:45 Unique deployments, including protecting a $100,000 Christmas tree.

10:00 Where RDUs are used: festivals, parking lots, construction sites, retail, and more.

10:30 How warehouses and logistics facilities use RDUs to protect inventory.

11:42 Using RDUs as temporary alarm systems until permanent security is installed.

14:40 How battery technology has improved mobile security systems.

15:55 Methanol generators and why they outperform propane generators.

18:50 What are masts?

24:20 Solving complex security challenges with customized technology solutions.

25:20 Using loudspeakers to deter trespassers.

26:28 Analytics including license plate recognition and people, vehicle, and pet detection.

29:30 Using cameras to improve operations, crowd flow, and efficiency.

30:30 Finding lost children at large events.

32:00 Pole-mounted RDUs for temporary camera coverage.

33:30 Applying analytics to existing camera footage.

36:05 Why Herring tests products to failure before deploying them.

When a gunman entered an ROTC classroom at Old Dominion University on March 12, 2026, students and faculty were forced to make life-or-death decisions in seconds. Their actions stopped the attacker, but the incident also revealed critical lessons about mindset, decisive action, leadership, and emergency medical care.

In this episode, former Green Berets Adam McIntyre and Mike Bearden join Brink and Tom to break down the attack step by step, discuss what went right, what could have changed the outcome, and explain why this real-world incident closely mirrors the principles taught in Defend Systems' D.E.F.E.N.D.® curriculum.

Whether you're an educator, first responder, business leader, or simply want to be better prepared, this conversation offers practical lessons that could save lives.

1:00 Guests Adam and Mike, former Green Berets and members of the Defend Systems team, recap the Old Dominion University shooting and explain why it reinforces the principles we teach in our training.

7:40 Overview of the attack timeline and what happened inside the ROTC classroom.

9:00 The shooter's Army National Guard background and reported ISIS ties.

10:44 Why we intentionally don't name the shooter.

13:00 Colonel Brandon Shah becomes the first person to confront the shooter.

13:14 The decisive actions students took to stop the attack.

15:05 How a student intentionally created a handgun malfunction—a skill taught in Defend Systems training.

15:56 How many Defend Systems training concepts played out in the first 30 seconds.

16:40 The warrior mindset that empowered students to act.

18:35 Student Samuel Reineberg's account of treating Colonel Shaw's wounds.

24:40 Where bleeding control kits and tourniquets should be placed in buildings.

26:55 What to do if you don't have a tourniquet.

29:41 Recognizing the students' decisive actions and quick notification of law enforcement.

33:30 The shooter's weapon choice and why determined attackers will find a weapon.

34:25 Two critical lessons about fighting over a gun.

38:30 Accepting injury over death.

38:55 How this incident demonstrates the final step of the D.E.F.E.N.D.® curriculum.

39:13 Why an options-based approach helps people respond effectively.

40:55 Adam and Mike's three biggest takeaways from the incident.

44:55 Brink's biggest takeaway: decisive action and mindset ended the attack quickly.

45:07 How mental scripting helps people respond faster under stress.

47:40 Watch student Samuel Reineberg's interview on The Shawn Ryan Show.

49:05 Why training matters, the impact of medical training, and why everyone should learn Stop the Bleed.

In Part 4 of our Church Security Teams series, guests Adam McIntyre and Michael Bearden discuss one of the most overlooked, and most important, aspects of church security: radio communication.

Many teams focus heavily on firearms, medical training, and response tactics, but communication is what connects every part of an incident. From detection and decision-making to reunification, effective communication can make the difference between order and chaos.

Drawing on decades of military and security experience, Adam, Mike, Brink, and Tom share practical lessons on radios, communication plans, Security Operations Centers, equipment selection, radio placement, training drills, and common mistakes churches make. Whether your team is large or small, armed or unarmed, this episode provides actionable guidance to help your organization communicate more effectively during a crisis.

2:00 – Why communication is the most important element of a church security program

2:18 – Mike explains how serving as a communications specialist on a Green Beret team gave him years of experience operating and troubleshooting radio systems in complex environments.

4:40 – A rural school district exercise Defend Systems conducted where communication failed

6:00 – The three most important priorities for church security teams: people, response capability, and communication

7:15 – Building primary, contingency, and emergency communication plans

8:30 – Start simple: why every church should begin with reliable radios

8:58 – Why military units often view radios as being just as critical as weapons

10:20 – Security Operations Centers: who should staff them and why they should remain focused on coordination

14:50 – Don't just buy radios—train with them regularly

17:40 – Common communication failures churches experience

19:10 – Why Defend Systems prefers UHF radios for penetration and building coverage

24:55 – The reality of communication equipment: you often get what you pay for

26:00 – Budgeting for radios: fewer high-quality radios versus more lower-quality options

27:50 – Why used radios can be a smart option for churches with limited budgets

29:30 – Managing radio channels and keeping communication simple

32:15 – Training to ensure team members know which radio and channel to use under stress

32:50 – Parkland school shooting lessons learned: how using the wrong radio can have devastating consequences

35:00 – Why communication proficiency may be more important than marksmanship

40:00 – Building communication skills through scripting before adding movement

44:24 – "Confusion costs time, and time costs lives."

44:50 – Why plain language is more effective than complicated codes

What should you know before investing in a gun safe, vault door, safe room, or storm shelter?

In this episode, Brink and Tom sit down with Mark Brasfield, founder of Nashville Safe House and one of the largest Browning safe dealers in the world. Mark shares his journey from the airline industry to entrepreneurship, explains common misconceptions about safe ratings and fire protection, and discusses how homeowners can think strategically about physical security. The conversation also explores storm shelters, vault doors, reputation in business, and the real-world stories that have shaped Mark's approach to helping people protect what matters most.

Whether you're considering a safe for firearms, valuables, or family protection during severe weather, this episode offers practical insights from one of the industry's most experienced professionals.

1:40 Mark is the world's largest dealer of Browning safes.

2:20 How Nashville Safe House began - from the airline industry into the security business

3:40 The entrepreneurial mindset

4:45 Aviation management and becoming a pilot at 19.

9:50 Understanding safe classifications and security ratings

11:10 Mark's top safe recommendations: Fort Knox: the "Fort Knox" of the safe industry and Browning: the best all-around option for most buyers

12:20 Misleading fire and security ratings in the safe industry.

14:45 Nashville Safe House's extensive in-stock inventory

19:30 "It's easier to keep a good reputation than to repair a bad one."

21:08 The Nashville Safe House "Wall of Shame"—a collection of safes that have been broken into.

21:59 Types of safe rooms and storm shelters.

23:05 The most popular shelter for existing homes.

24:20 Safe room options for new construction

26:00 There is no such thing as a "FEMA-approved" shelter, only shelters that meet FEMA guidelines.

27:10 What a storm shelter costs

28:20 A powerful tornado story from Murfreesboro, Tennessee

32:50 Who should consider a safe room? Assessing risk levels, threat profiles, and personal priorities.

36:00 Comparing security doors and why Mark believes Fort Knox makes the industry's best vault doors.

38:15 Typical pricing for the vault doors Mark installs: $9,000–$10,000 range.

40:00 Why buying a safe room or vault door should be a thoughtful process

44:15 Learn more at www.thesafehouse.com. Nashville Safe House serves customers through locations in Nashville, Knoxville, and Atlanta.

In Part 3 of our Foundations of Church Security Teams series, we move beyond the initial response and focus on one of the most critical, and often overlooked, parts of a church security incident: what happens after contact is made with the threat.

This episode covers the realities of integrating with responding law enforcement, how to conduct effective handoffs during a critical incident, why communication failures create danger, and the importance of tracking personnel and cleared areas inside your facility. Adam McIntyre shares lessons from Special Operations leadership, practical guidance for casualty management, and why realistic, church-specific training matters far more than static range practice.

This episode provides practical insight into coordination, communication, room clearing, casualty response, and leadership under pressure. The next episode of this series will focus on radio communications.

1:05 Finishing where we left off: what happens after an incident begins and law enforcement arrives?

1:50 Why the person maneuvering toward the threat should not "sit on the radio" during the response

3:00 How support personnel should direct responders

3:53 Why teams must continue clearing the threat area even after the suspect is neutralized

4:40 The importance of establishing a designated law enforcement handoff point at your church

5:30 Understanding "battle tracking" and maintaining accountability for everyone inside the facility

6:30 Why link-up procedures during an incident can become dangerous without proper tracking

7:20 Every member of a church safety team must know how to conduct the law enforcement handoff

8:12 Near and far recognition signals: visual identifiers, radio communication, and announcing arrivals

10:50 Holding off-duty police officers and experienced personnel accountable to church procedures

13:45 Why training must happen inside your actual church facility, not just on a range or in a shoot house

17:20 Why law enforcement maintains jurisdiction and the importance of avoiding conflict with responders

18:15 Maintaining cleared areas without surrendering ground unnecessarily

20:05 The importance of secondary searches and thoroughly checking any space where a person could hide

21:53 Adam explains why declaring an area "secure" was one of the most stressful leadership decisions in Special Operations

22:45 Why church teams gain an advantage by training in the same environment they protect

23:45 Center-fed vs. corner-fed rooms and how teams should practice both

24:55 Why teams should intentionally allow failure during training to improve adaptability

27:00 Responding to casualties while the event is still unfolding

28:30 The difficult reality of prioritizing stopping the threat before treating victims

29:20 Establishing casualty collection points near exits

30:15 Prioritizing injuries during mass casualty events and why deceased victims should not be placed in casualty collection points

32:00 Plain language vs. coded language during emergencies

35:30 The importance of radio training and why it's one of the most overlooked low-cost skills for teams

40:00 The next episode of the series will focus entirely on communications training

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Bearden, Defend Systems' new VP of Strategy and a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret.

Mike shares the story of his military career, from deploying to Iraq just months after graduating high school, to working in some of the most demanding environments in modern warfare, to eventually serving in 5th Special Forces Group. Along the way, he discusses Ranger School, combat deployments to the Middle East and Central Asia, the realities behind Special Operations missions, leadership under pressure, and the mindset required to operate in high-stakes environments.

Mike also reflects on a life-changing incident in which he was accidentally shot, his transition into Special Forces, being named the 2021 Special Forces Instructor of the Year, and how his experiences ultimately led him to Defend Systems.

This conversation offers a look at leadership, resilience, training, decision-making, and what it means to Mike to prepare people for their worst day.

2:30 – Introduction to Michael Bearden, Defend Systems' newest team member and former Green Beret

3:09 – Growing up in a military family and knowing early on he would join the Army

6:00 – Deploying to Iraq just months after basic training

8:00 – Learning to drive under night vision in a Humvee during deployment

9:15 – Mike's first deployment and the events later chronicled in Black Hearts

11:45 – Second deployment with the 101st Airborne and attending Ranger School

12:55 – Why Ranger School carries so much respect in the military

15:30 – Leadership lessons from Ranger School that shaped Mike's life and career

16:20 – A 15-month deployment to northwest Baghdad during a major insurgency campaign

17:30 – Mike's first exposure to Special Forces culture and operations

19:00 – Operation Dragon Strike and fighting in Taliban strongholds

20:35 – A life-altering friendly fire incident before a patrol

24:00 – Recovering in a Kandahar hospital and deciding to pursue Special Forces

25:30 – What Special Forces looks for: critical thinkers and independent decision-makers

32:25 – The structure and self-sufficiency required of a 12-man Green Beret team

36:05 – "We train for the mission we're designed for, the mission we're assigned, and our worst day."

37:15 – Joining 5th Special Forces Group and meeting Adam McIntyre

38:00 – The reality of military free-fall operations versus Army commercials

40:50 – The decentralized decision-making culture within Special Operations

46:20 – Being named the 2021 Special Forces Instructor of the Year

48:45 – Why teaching and mentorship are core parts of being a Green Beret

50:45 – Retirement from the Army and joining Tennessee Governor's Veteran Fellowship

52:30 – Reconnecting with Adam McIntyre and joining Defend Systems

58:05 – What ultimately drew Mike to Defend Systems and its mission

1:01:00 – Connecting the 5th Group motto, "Free the Oppressed," to empowering civilians through training

In this second part of Foundations of Church Security Teams, Brink and Tom sit down with Adam McIntyre, Director of Training at Defend Systems, to discuss building and developing an effective safety team through the right mindset, strong leadership, and practical training. We cover communication, de-escalation, realistic preparation, and why consistency and standards matter. The episode also emphasizes medical readiness, proper team structure, and preparing for real-world threats beyond the basics. Stay tuned for Part 3, where we discuss handoffs to law enforcement and post-incident recovery.

1:04 This episode will focus on: training standards, equipment, and mindset

3:15 First responder mindset matters more than security team equipment

3:57 "Act now" mindset - Covenant vs. Uvalde response comparison

7:40 Leadership at the front must be followed, even if others are senior

14:00 Prioritize selecting regular, committed church attendees

17:00 Radio and comms training is often overlooked but critical

18:30 Start with basics before advancing to higher-level tactics. Use a crawl, walk, run progression.

19:22 De-escalation training and Tom's story about improper suspect engagement

28:30 Pushing through difficult training builds real-world readiness

31:40 Real gunfighting is different than range marksmanship

32:24 Firearm standards must be consistent across all team members

33:15 Follow local law enforcement training standards when unsure

37:50 Consider armed guard licensing or meet equivalent standards

39:00 Many church teams are only prepared for single threats, not coordinated attacks

41:00 "Warrior in a garden" mindset

44:30 Always have armed coverage near children's/youth areas

45:35 Trauma medical training is essential for saving lives

48:20 Use of GRG map grids to improve internal building response

50:15 Next episode: law enforcement handoff and aftermath