Iron Sights

Welcome back to Iron Sights for another After Dark Episode. A lot has happened since the last time I got to sit down with JP and catch up. The focus of this episode is Preparedness. It’s always on our mind but rarely do we take action until it’s too late. Since 2020 it seems our collective has been unprepared for what comes next - so what can we do about it? That’s what this episode is all about. JP and I start by catching up on our most recent day at the range and chat about the growing diversity within the firearm community. I brought up the recent fires in Colorado and ice storms in Virginia to transition the conversation into an open dialogue on what it takes to be prepared mentally and physically for natural disasters, self-defense and the health crisis we are facing in 2022.Timestamps:00:00 Catching Up with JP03:34 Diversity At The Range05:16 Training For Preparedness06:03 Natural Disasters in Colorado & Virginia09:57 What Being Prepared Looks Like in 202213:52 Living Through The Texas Ice Age14:57 Are You Physical Prepared25:43 No Pain No Gain30:53 Living In Downtown San Jose33:34 The Best Form of Self-Defense35:15 The Basics of Getting Prepared37:28 Why Dude’s Need More Yoga and Less CrossFit47:01 Functional Fitness50:43 Law Enforcement and Physical Fitness53:55 Incorporate Randomness Into Workouts59:20 Considerations When Designing Your Workout1:05:57 Episode Summary

Byron Rodgers is an Executive Protection Agent, published Author and Veteran on a global mission to educate, protect and inspire good people to become more dangerous. After leaving the Marines at 21 years old, Byron was assigned to working on of the toughest cases in Southern California where his job was to protect and service his Principle for nearly a decade, traveling to over 60 countries around the world. Byron has worked presidential inaugurations, doing whatever it takes to protect his billionaire clientele. When high net worth individuals need protection, they call Byron and his team at Bravo Research Group. In this episode, we get into Bryon’s background and what a typical day in his life looks like working as an Execute Private Security agent. I had the pleasure of training beside Byron but there is a lot of his story I had never heard before sitting down to record this episode. Just some of the topics we get into include:How To Get Started The Right Way In The IndustryThe Best Way To Transition From A Military Background Intro Private SecurityThe Importance of Social Skills When Working with High End ClienteleThe Pros and Cons of The JobServing Time In and Surviving 5 IUDs In AfghanistanBeing The Protector of Your HouseholdThe Difference Between PTSD, Paranoia and Being Ready To ProtectThe Exponential Growth of The IndustryAfter finishing up the episode I continued to chat with Byron off air. He is an incredible human being who is very passionate about people, our country and the growing threats we face when it comes to protecting and caring for the people we love. I’m looking forward to getting him back on the show. He has a wealth of knowledge so stay posted to learn more from him in the near future.Timestamps:00:00 Byron’s Background02:51 What It’s Like Protecting The Top 1%07:06 The responsibility of private security and who should do it10:19 The Most Important Trait For Success In The Industry16:53 How To Transition From Military Into Private Security20:42 What Protectors Don’t Get Taught In Training26:42 Staying Prepared For Anything In Private Security31:46 How To Stay Safe As A Civilian34:53 The security risk of being comfortable37:27 One of The Fastest Growing Industries in The USA39:53 The 4 Pillars of Private Protection44:49 How To Be The Protector of Your Family47:26 Paranoia and PTSD51:44 The First Step of Self-Defense55:23 Lessons From Combat In Iraq58:17 Mission Statement1:00:55 How To Get In Contact with Byron

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast! In this episode, I sat down with Matt Green. When Matt was in his early twenties, he had already made his way into the White House, befriended the former FBI Director and gained the trust of the 43rd President of the United States. Matt was born in California, but spent his early life living in Texas. He describes his background as an Eagle Scout and reporting directly to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. While starting his political career at the White House, Green sparked the attention of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who flew Matt Green back to California to discuss the opportunity of working beside him while serving as Governor of California. After exemplifying a passion for service driven pursuits, Matt turned his love for service inward and began weightlifting. Before Matt Green was a featured Muscle & Fitness model, he weighed under 145lbs, wasn’t genetically blessed and had never lifted a single weight in his life. Our conversation digresses into the world and evolution of Bodybuilding, modeling and monetizing a following on social media. Matt’s diverse background in politics, fitness, entrepreneurship and business made this interview one of the most fascinating 120 minutes in Iron Sights history. For more information on Matt Green visit his website: https://www.mattgreen-fitness.com/Timestamps:00:00 Welcoming Matt Green01:43 Matt Green’s Fitness Background04:13 Matt Green’s Background11:53 Befriending The FBI Director and Reporting To The 43rd President17:31 Behind The Scenes Stories Working For The President20:25 Craziest Story Working with The White House29:08 Working At the White House During The Time of 9-1132:16 How Matt Started Working For Arnold Schwarzenegger40:06 The Superpowers Matt Learned Working For Arnold Schwarzenegger45:59 How Matt Got Into Muscle & Fitness Magazine48:47 Why You Should Fail At Everything You Do52:27 Crazy Stories Working With Arnold Schwarzenegger57:57 The Secret To Becoming A Fitness Model1:12:22 The World of Bodybuilding (Early Days & The Downfall)1:19:47 The Ugliest Side of Bodybuilding & Health/Fitness1:22:15 The Gay History of Bodybuilding1:33:56 How To Monetize Fitness IG Channels: Starting C41:39:37 Working National Nuclear Security1:43:43 Advising The Current Government: County, State, Federal, POTUS.1:54:04 The Harm In Taking Blame For What’s Happened1:55:28 The Biggest Problem Is Americans1:59:28 Closing Statements

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sat down with the founder of Train with Purpose, my good friend JP. If you’ve ever felt uneducated, unhealthy or overweight you can understand how hard it can be to find a purpose big enough to transform your situation and take the necessary action towards improving everything that you dislike about yourself. JP was all three: a high school dropout who turned to alcohol and at one point weighed over 300lbs. We discuss the ups and downs of JP’s journey and the breaking point that made him realize his greatness. This episode covers the pros and cons of CrossFit and how health & fitness causes people to check their ego at the door and find the motivation to become better. JP has rapidly grown a following on social media through launching his personal brand @trainwithpurposeofficial where he documents the lifestyle Iron Sights promotes wholeheartedly. The second half of this conversation dives deep into the 2A community and gun rights. How can we create a conversation surrounding firearms that bring people together and create a country where everyone can feel protected, heard, understood and prepared for a future worth fighting for? I hope you enjoy JP! He’s already scheduled to come back next week. Timestamps:00:00 Welcoming JP To Iron Sights00:30 The Best Part of The Fitness Industry05:28 Dropping Out of High School To Play Halo13:32 Quitting Alcohol and Getting Sober20:21 The History, G.O.A.T.S, and Evolution of CrossFit29:51 Scott Howell’s Fitness Origin Story35:44 How JP Went From 300lbs To In Shape & Healthy41:47 The Boomerang of Helicopter Parenting44:36 What’s Made JP A Great Coach47:13 What CrossFit Teaches You49:18 Launching The Train with Purpose Brand54:27 This is America: Why JP Bought A Gun1:02:11 Breaking Down The 2021 San Jose Riots1:10:10 Don’t Train Just To Look Good - Do This Instead1:15:14 The Conversation about Firearms You Need To Hear1:37:38 The Firearm Community Is Losing Their Voice1:45:15 Multi-Training for Triathlon1:46:39 How The Name “Red Dot Fitness” Was Created2:02:34 Episode Closing Summary

Welcome back to the Iron Sights Podcast! In this episode of Iron Sights, we are kicking off a new series: After Dark. Jordan and Callaway Cook stopped by the studio to talk shop and catch up. Jordan Cook is the founder of Paragon Body, a rising health & wellness brand delivering corporate wellness solutions to individuals and companies worldwide. Since the founding of Paragon Body, their holistic structure for corporate wellness has been used by some of the largest global brands. To learn more about Paragon Body you can visit their website at https://www.paragonbody.com/ This is the story of how two brothers from rural Georgia made their way to establishing one of my favorite brands in silicon valley. Get ready for a new format, because we’re removing the corporate veil, drinking some booze and diving deep into what it takes to start a business and go from zero to hero in the San Francisco Bay Area.Timestamps:00:00 Welcome To Iron Sights After Dark02:50 Getting to Know The Brothers Over Shots of Tequila08:43 Hunting Racoons and Getting Pulled Over By The Cops14:22 Small Town Stories: Getting Arresting In Rural Georgia17:38 The Pros and Cons of Drinking As a Minor19:47 Moving To California From Georgia As A Personal Trainer29:12 How Callaway Started In The Fitness Business30:34 How Tough Is It To Be A Teenage Boy32:21 Working For LA Fitness and City Sports 38:26 The Life of A Trainer40:53 Going Into Business As Brothers & Personal Trainers46:51 The Standard of Red Dot Fitness51:57 Outreach As A Small Business Gym Owner In San Mateo County1:01:11 Accomplishing Business and Fitness Milestones in 20221:06:53 Virtually Scaling A Business1:09:46 Calloway’s Self-Improvement1:10:58 The Bachelors of San Jose While Balancing Work1:15:21 My Goals For 2022 Including Family and Lifestyle1:17:23 Jordan’s 2022 Goals and What Makes People Happy1:23:25 Closing Statements

Ep 28: After 18 years in the space, Donnie Oliver is an experienced leader, consultant and operator with a demonstrated successful track record working in the health wellness and fitness industry. He’s obtained elite level skill in a broad range of topics including Leadership, Sales Training and Development, CRM, and Retail to Corrective and Performance Exercise Specialties. He’s a uniquely strong sales professional with a B.A. focused in Communications from Penn State University. Donnie is currently the VP of Global Franchise Operations for UFC GYMS, a brand quickly on the path to have well over 1000 locations across 39+ countries. In this episode we reconnect on previous experiences including the good, the bad, and the ugly, that paved the way to success. We dig into the past, present, and future of the fitness industry and what it will take to be a successful gym owner or operator in the short and long term. There’s valuable insight into the impacts of culture on our health, how to become a better leader, and why the fitness industry is their own worst enemy. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 27: With over 2 decades as a fitness club operator and health & wellness educator, Steve Stonehouse has contributed as a leader to some of the most iconic brands in the industry. His career started as a fitness coach and he worked his way up from the gym floor at 24 Hour Fitness, became a multi-unit manager, and was the VP of Fitness of one of the world biggest brands, UFC. Steve is currently the Director of Education at STRIDE - Xponential Fitness brand and national franchise of premium treadmill studios that cater to clients of all ages and fitness levels. His experience across multiple consumer markets and market segments makes him an expert in the field of fitness, club operations, and organizational leadership. In this episode Steve candidly talks about his career path, the ups and downs, the leadership lessons learned, and provides insight on the future of the industry and the current landscape of fitness. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 26: Dr. Justin Brink was motivated by the self-healing power of the human body after suffering a severe strain in his lower back while playing water polo. Chiropractic became the path Dr. Brink wanted to pursue and went on to complete his doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic West. He’s been involved with Rocktape™ since its inception in 2009, as co-author of “Power Taping: Taping Movements, Not Muscles,” and as a Certified Instructor, teaching the theory and application of Rocktape™ to numerous Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Massage Therapists nationwide. Dr. Brink’s extensive training and his effective use of multiple therapies have attracted the following of many professional athletes, including triathletes and UFC and Strikeforce MMA fighters, boxers, and soccer players. In this episode Brink describes why he’s not your typical chiropractor and the truth about templated health care. He candidly talks about the truths and myths associated with the education system and how to navigate through it as an aspiring professional. We discuss being a private practitioner and business owner in today's unhealthy culture and how to be successful. And, Brink provides insight to why and how education will be the future of how we get healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 25: Chris Cheng is a media personality, strategic consultant, and civil rights advocate in the firearms community. He worked for Google from 2007-2012 in many capacities. In 2011, Cheng decided to try something wacky and audition for History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 shooting competition, having not one shooting award to his name, nor any formal shooting instruction. Cheng is History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 Champion -- he beat 17 professional marksmen and won a $100,000 cash prize, the title of "Top Shot," and a pro marksman contract with Bass Pro Shops. He left Google in June 2012 to pursue a career in the outdoor industry full time. He works closely with the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation on the Outreach Advisory Council, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association on promoting the shooting sports and protecting our Second Amendment rights. He recently created some controversy as the cover model of Recoil Magazine and used the artwork to enter into the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). In this 2 part episode Chris articulates his life and professional experience as gay Asian-American within the firearms community. He walks through his testimony in front of the U.S. Senate and his crusade to evolve the conversation around 2nd amendment rights and his frustration with the disproportionate amount of conversation between mass shootings as opposed to suicide and mental health. He hopes to bring awareness to both gun owners and non gun owners about how to have a different conversation and build community through the technology of NFTs. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!

Ep 24: Chris Cheng is a media personality, strategic consultant, and civil rights advocate in the firearms community. He worked for Google from 2007-2012 in many capacities. In 2011, Cheng decided to try something wacky and audition for History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 shooting competition, having not one shooting award to his name, nor any formal shooting instruction. Cheng is History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 Champion -- he beat 17 professional marksmen and won a $100,000 cash prize, the title of "Top Shot," and a pro marksman contract with Bass Pro Shops. He left Google in June 2012 to pursue a career in the outdoor industry full time. He works closely with the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation on the Outreach Advisory Council, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association on promoting the shooting sports and protecting our Second Amendment rights. He recently created some controversy as the cover model of Recoil Magazine and used the artwork to enter into the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). In this 2 part episode Chris articulates his life and professional experience as gay Asian-American within the firearms community. He walks through his testimony in front of the U.S. Senate and his crusade to evolve the conversation around 2nd amendment rights and his frustration with the disproportionate amount of conversation between mass shootings as opposed to suicide and mental health. He hopes to bring awareness to both gun owners and non gun owners about how to have a different conversation and build community through the technology of NFTs. Iron Sights podcast is hosted by Scott Howell. *Please make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the podcast!