Who I Became

Ross Deuchar is an internationally renowned Criminologist and Professor of Criminology and former Fulbright Scholar working in the UK and America with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. He is the author of several highly acclaimed Criminology books. His most recent book Gangs and Spirituality (Palgrave MacMillan) examines the role of religion and spirituality (including meditation) in desistance from crime and disengagement from gangs from a global perspective. Ross is also a Dynamic Life, Performance & certified Meditation Coach.  Learn More About:  Ross: https://www.rossdeuchar.me.uk/  Life Coaching by Ross: https://www.mindbreathcoaching.co.uk/  Ross’s Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ivi69f  Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cUwx5z  Who I Became Facebook: https://bit.ly/3eD90pa

Denise Koster has spent the last 30 years focused on violence prevention and is a graduate of the Gavin de Becker threat assessment academy. In today's episode, Denise shares her experiences working in the security field and how the death of one of her patients at the hand of domestic abuse changed her life trajectory.  Show Notes and Links  Learn More About Denise: https://kosterconsultingassociates.com/  Denise’s book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mtYyFx  Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  Who I Became Facebook: https://bit.ly/3eD90pa  Who I Became YouTube: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

America is often known as the land of the free. It is the country where many seek opportunities and build a better life despite their circumstances. That is one of the reasons why its people love their home country and remain good patriots. Many wars and battles were fought to attain this freedom. Today, many continue to advocate for it. Amidst the many controversies and issues that have come up in the past years, many feel restricted. Katie is one of those people who continue to fight and advocate for what freedom is. She boldly tackles controversial topics and speaks up in the name of justice and patriotism. In this episode, she shares her story on how she started her journey to becoming the Good Patriot. Find out why Katie is so passionate about what freedom is and how she advocates for it in the land of the free. 3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Learn how to face being female in a male-dominated industry. Learn to take the bad news with a little bit of humor and light-heartedness. Find solidarity with Katie as she stands for America and her opinion on what freedom is. About KatieKatie is known as the Good Patriot and owns social media accounts and businesses under the same name. As the Good Patriot, she celebrates and advocates for all that she loves about America, her home country. Katie is passionate about her faith, freedom, and guns and is not afraid to share her passion with her large following. She shares items aligned to her love for her country, freedom, and guns through her business. Her social media accounts are well known for her comedic skits and her vocal stance on the Second Amendment and related issues. She aims to provide an outlet for her audience for all things American: faith, family, and freedom. If you want to learn more about Katie and her work as the Good Patriot, you can sign up for email subscriptions on her https://www.goodpatriot.com/ (website) or connect with her on https://m.facebook.com/goodpatriot/ (Facebook), https://twitter.com/_goodpatriot?lang=en (Twitter), https://www.instagram.com/goodpatriot/?hl=en (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCMT6ioHQ0S3m1fefQHfVjA (YouTube). Enjoyed this Episode? If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and family. This episode will inspire them to think about what freedom is and to speak up about many important topics today. Have any questions? You can connect with me on https://www.facebook.com/simonosamoh1 (Facebook),https://twitter.com/SimonOsamoh ( Twitter), or https://www.instagram.com/simonosamoh/ (Instagram). Thank you for tuning in! For more updates, visit my https://www.simonosamoh.com/ (website) orhttps://mailchi.mp/79a93fb461d9/simonosamoh ( join the community). You may also tune in onhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-i-became/id1514104061 ( Apple Podcasts) orhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmu-CaQ10DJk7Y1uAfk_f_MJkwt1m2441 ( YouTube).

In the years that we live our lives, we take on different missions and touch the lives of many. We meet people who encourage us to keep going and help us succeed. But we also face difficulties and meet people who can cross our boundaries. That is what John Correia also experienced in his journey to becoming who he is now—a nationally known expert on self-defense and founder of Active Self Protection. In this episode, John shares his story of how he went from being a naval officer to a pastor. From there, he grew in his faith and wisdom with God before realizing his calling to teach self-defense. John talks about the challenges he encountered in his journey: from controversy, mental health challenges, and staying humble. We also learn about John’s impact on the world and how he intends to serve his audience moving forward. Listen to this episode to learn more about John’s stories in life. Discover what helped him make his decisions and be happy where he is now, teaching self-defense. 3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode:Get inspiration from John’s insights on faith, self-defense, and finding your calling. Find out how being a Christ-follower can transform you. Learn to accept your past and celebrate who you are now. Resources  Connect with John: https://www.instagram.com/ministermalice/?hl=en (Instagram)   Visit Active Self Protection’s YouTube channels:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsE_m2z1NrvF2ImeNWh84mw ( Active Self Protection) and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-i64EAeVzk7gxlLDvWQb3w (Active Self Protection Extra) ASP: https://activeselfprotection.com/ (website) | https://twitter.com/get_asp (Twitter)| https://www.facebook.com/activeselfprotection (Facebook) Episode Highlights[03:13] Cover Your ASP● ASP stands for the name of John Correia’s company, Active Self Protection. ● It also represents their approach to self-defense. This involves having the right attitude, developing skills, and making plans for protection from criminal violence. ● ASP started in 2011 as John’s side hustle. It now has two channels with over 1.94 million subscribers in its main channel. ●  Viewers can send real-life surveillance videos of defensive encounters and criminal activities. ● John’s content ranges from after-action reports of real-life defensive encounters, teaching handgun skills, moral and legal self-defense, and much more. [06:14] John’s Journey to Becoming a Pastor● John grew up away from faith and was on track to becoming a naval officer. After moving to Oregon for a commissioning program, he realized he had to become a better person. ● He formed relationships and developed an interest in reading the Bible when his wife started bringing him with her to Church. ● In a worship session, John realized that God loves him unconditionally. Whether or not John could be better, God will love him. ● His life started changing from then on. After an accident, John chose to resign his commission and follow Jesus. ●John quit getting a paycheck from the Church on February 1, 2018, to focus on his self-defense business. John: “Okay, Lord. This isn't like a ‘make John better program’ where if I'm good enough, You'll love me. This isn’t a moral crusade. But this is a ‘You love me in the big pile of crap I am.’” [14:01] Facing Controversy● Carrying firearms and teaching self-defense can be controversial depending on the background of the Church. ● Some families in John’s church left because they didn’t think a pastor should carry a gun. ● Most understood that the Church was only about the worship of Christ. In the event of danger, they knew that John would protect them with his expertise in self-defense. ● As John’s social media presence grew, people disrupted the place of worship. ● John’s resignation as a senior pastor sparked a controversy that John chose worldly possessions. However, to John, he was simply following Jesus’ instructions. [18:20] John on...

CAUTION: Contains minor swearing. John “Weapon Snatcher” Carughi shot to fame during the civil unrest protests in Seattle following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Footage of him went viral when he was protecting a news crew during the riots. He saw a protester steal an AR15 from a nearby police car, so John took action, and his nickname “Weapon Snatcher” was born. In this episode, we look at who John was before the incident, discuss how his childhood shaped him and his journey to becoming a protector.  Learn more Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_shooter_rughi_/  Connect with Simon  Facebook: https://bit.ly/3eD90pa  Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

Mike Scully was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a young child predicted by doctors to not grow past 5 feet. He overcame this adversity through prayer and a revolutionary new drug. Mike tackled adversity again two weeks after his wedding when he was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor. Doctors said he might not survive the surgery and Mike was forced to re-evaluate his life.  Mike Scully is 1/3 of the successful Facebook Podcast The Church Safety Guys.    Where to find us:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIBecame/   Podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became   Books: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN  Church Safety Guys: https://www.facebook.com/churchsafetyguys/  Books from Safety Guys:  The Gratitude Challenge: https://amzn.to/33nYsb8 31 Day Devotional For Church Safety & Security Teams Strengthening the Body, Mind, & Spirit: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT The Road Less Traveled: Devotional and Group Study Guide for Church Safety & Security Volunteers: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT To Protect and Serve: Daily Readings for Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Church Security Teams: https://amzn.to/33r56xm --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

Dan Blevins is the creator and host of the successful podcast Church Security Through Prevention. In this episode of Who I Became he shares how a defining moment of transformation in his marriage changed him in a positive way as a husband, father, and Christian.     Who I Became Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIBecame/   Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN  Simon's books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  Dan's Podcast: https://www.cv-ministries.com/podcast.html  Books on Church Safety  31 Day Devotional For Church Safety & Security Teams Strengthening the Body, Mind, & Spirit: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT The Road Less Traveled: Devotional and Group Study Guide for Church Safety & Security Volunteers: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT To Protect and Serve: Daily Readings for Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Church Security Teams: https://amzn.to/33r56xm --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

Jimmy Meeks is a minister, former police officer, and the founder of Sheepdog Seminars. Since 2009 Meeks and his associates, Lt Col Dave Grossman, Carl Chinn, and others have presented to over 40,000 people in over 45 States on safety and security in churches.   In today’s episode of “Who I Became”  Meeks shares some of his personal journey, including receiving a call when a police officer to a dumpster where he found a 4-year-old murdered, an event that still haunts him to this day. He talks about how a chance encounter with Lt Col Dave Grossman opened the door to Sheepdog Seminars.    Show Notes & Links   Who I Became on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIBecame/  Watch on Youtube: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  Learn more about Jimmy Meeks: https://www.sheepdogsafetytraining.com/  Books on Church Safety  31 Day Devotional For Church Safety & Security Teams Strengthening the Body, Mind, & Spirit: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT The Road Less Traveled: Devotional and Group Study Guide for Church Safety & Security Volunteers: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT To Protect and Serve: Daily Readings for Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Church Security Teams: https://amzn.to/33r56xm The Gratitude Challenge: https://amzn.to/33nYsb8   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

Two major events have shaped Jim Howard's life. In 1970, when he was just 16, his father shot and killed the Deacon of their church who was helping his family because of domestic violence issues. Then at 18 years old, Jim was carjacked and when asked to identify the suspect who had hidden out on a bus, he knew it was his calling to join the police.   Jim Howard is the Executive Director of Trinity Security Allies that provides education and safety training to houses of worship, schools, and non-profits. He served 26 years in law enforcement in a variety of roles including Vice and Narcotics Investigator, Crisis Negotiation Trainer, and Supervisor, Y2K compliant Project Manager. Jim spent time doing worldwide security options analysis and executive protection at the World Bank in Washington D.C. In this episode of Who I Became, Jim Howard shares his journey as to how these two experiences shaped his life and continue to shape the person he is today.     Show Notes & Links   Follow Who I Became on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIBecame/   Watch Who I Became on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN  Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  Learn more about Jim Howard: https://www.trinitysecurityallies.com/  Books on Church Safety and Spirituality 31 Day Devotional For Church Safety & Security Teams Strengthening the Body, Mind, & Spirit: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT The Road Less Traveled: Devotional and Group Study Guide for Church Safety & Security Volunteers: https://amzn.to/3l6piKT To Protect and Serve: Daily Readings for Law Enforcement, First Responders, and Church Security Teams: https://amzn.to/33r56xm The Gratitude Challenge: https://amzn.to/33nYsb8   --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)

Jim McGuffey is the House of Worship Committee Chair for the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) which is the largest organization for security professionals worldwide and has more than 47 years of law enforcement experience. He has been interviewed on security events by CNN, ABC, New York Times, and other Canadian and US news media and publications. Jim is considered a global expert in the security risk assessment process and is VP of the Charleston Region and Board Member for South Carolina InfraGard, an FBI sponsored organization where critical infrastructure private sectors share best practices to protect against terrorist and criminal attacks. He spent 26 years in the armored security industry working for companies such as Brink’s and Loomis before retiring in 2008. During a 26-year tenure in the security/logistics/transportation industry, Jim was responsible for managing and protecting assets at 50 high-risk facilities, several thousand-armed guards, and 1,000 armored vehicles. He holds a B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s Degree in Management and is one of 200 security professionals globally to hold all three ASIS International Board Certifications in Security Management. In this episode of Who I Became, Jim shares his personal journey and the four things that he learned from being a VP at a large organization. In the balance of risk and profit, complacency is the enemy of security and as a leader, you must make tough decisions.  Show Notes and Links  Follow Who I Became on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIBecame/   Watch Who I Became on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3d52vKN  Simon's Books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jwwtLW  More about Jim McGuffey: http://churchsecurityconsultant.com/ and http://acesecurityconsultants.com/     --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support (https://anchor.fm/who-i-became/support)