Best Tactical Tangents Podcasts (2024)

1
173: Dancing With Exotic Weapons 1:10:43

1h ago1:10:43

1:10:43

Mike and Jim discuss how to handle CBRN- Chem, Bio, Rad, Nuke threats and how to set your preparedness to the current threat landscape with synthetic bio-terror weapons on the rise. Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, art…

1
172: Making Worthwhile Exercises 1:34:41

13d ago1:34:41

1:34:41

A lot of training exercises and drills can be a waste of time. Mike and Jim explore ways to improve military readiness, disaster preparedness, and school safety by making better training events. Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our …

1
171: Sticks and Stones: Survival Skills 101 1:24:04

1M ago1:24:04

1:24:04

We take it out to the woods with how to build a fire, 7-step Checklist for Land Navigation, knots, PACE planning, forging resilience and a positive mental attitude, and more in this disaster prep, end-of-the-world, stuck-on-a-deserted-island overview of basic field craft and considerations for packing and planning. Find us on social media (Facebook…

1
170: “Time is on our side right now…” -Uvalde School District Police Chief 1:09:34

1M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

“Help!” “Help!” “Help!” “I don’t want to die. My teacher is dead.” “One of my teachers is still alive but shot.” “Officer!” “Officer!” “Are they [officers] in the building?” “There is a lot of dead bodies.” These were the words of nine- and ten-year-old children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, during a call with 911. We…

1
169: What a Wreck: Scene Size Up 1:03:51

2M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Car accidents are something that are likely to touch all of us in some way or another, whether we are involved in one or manage them professionally as first responders. Not only are they exceptionally common, sometimes they are also challenging to manage well. We talk about some of the competing priorities and offer some ideas to get the emergency …

1
168: Sniper in the Tower: 1966 Austin Clock Tower Shooting 1:05:35

3M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Back in the 1960s a former Marine took the high ground in one of the first and deadliest school shootings in American history. This watershed event was part of the discussion that brought the idea of a SWAT team to the national stage and arguably brought momentum to what some now consider to be the militarization of the police. We talk about counte…

1
167: Calling Bull$h!#: Responding to Swatting Hoaxes 1:10:58

3M ago1:10:58

1:10:58

No one should die over a false report. Internet gamers, celebrities and public figures, and maybe even one of your neighbors have been the victim of this sort of prank. These hoax emergency calls that can lead to an exaggerated police response are becoming more common, so we discuss strategies to make sure we tailor our response appropriately and k…

1
166: Run the Clock: Time, Talk, Tear Gas, Tactics 1:22:14

4M ago1:22:14

1:22:14

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Downs v. United States was a benchmark case for domestic law enforcement that establishes our requirement to attempt negotiations for a peaceful resolution. We define a hostage situation and talk about strategies to manage them in contrast to active killer and barricaded criminals. Downs v US (6th Circui…

1
165: Separating the Wanna-Bes from the Gonna-Bes: Motivation, Grit, and Discipline 42:00

4M ago42:00

42:00

Your Recipe for Success looks something like equal parts of three things. Motivation, the spark and desire. Discipline, your habits and structure. And Grit, your capacity to overcome challenges, adjust, and perservere. Mike shares some of the research that’s been done on these topics and ways you can integrate them to get your closer to where ever …

1
164: Power Lines and Wildfires 2023 Maui Disaster 1:29:15

5M ago1:29:15

1:29:15

Over 100 people were killed, more than 2,000 structures destroyed, and over $5 billion in damage were left behind after wind and fire tore through the historic Lahaina district and adjacent areas in Maui, Hawaii. We dive into some of the public safety and disaster planning takeaways from this event including evacuations, notifications, misinformati…

1
163: Strategy for Door Kickers 1:27:15

5M ago1:27:15

1:27:15

Is “strategic” the size of the bomb you drop, the scale of the map you use, or way you play Monopoly? In this episode, Mike and Jim turn Sun Tzu’s fortune cookie sayings into operational reality. We work through how we can win fights all over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam and still lose. We also cover strategies for winning against Active Shooters…

1
162: Ordering Troops to their Deaths 1:05:32

6M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Is the American military prepared for the sacrifices that we can expect in a World War? Mike and Jim discuss whether commanders can lead and whether the troops will follow when it comes time to storm the beaches knowing many will not return. Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in …

1
161: Tactical ADHD: Managing Attention 1:06:43

6M ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Situational awareness demands focus and selective attention. Sometimes playing on your phone can help, and sometimes it can kill you. Most people can’t multitask as well as they think, but Mike and Jim will give you strategies to outmatch your enemy and avoid becoming a LUMP. FAA Task Management White Paper: https://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/tech…

1
160: Lights in the Sky: Aliens or Drones? Jim Spills the Beans on UFOs 1:17:12

7M ago1:17:12

1:17:12

Just because it's not aliens doesn't mean we can ignore it. Let's develop a comprehensive air defense and counter drone plan in the wake of Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza. We investigate Unidentified Flying Objects, UAVs, aliens, killer drones, spy satellites, Chinese balloons, and Foo Fighters. UAP Task Force : https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Rele…

1
159: What’s up with the beards? Setting and Enforcing Standards 1:07:26

7M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

Green Berets have to work with a different rule book than the troops guarding nuclear weapons—and for good reasons. We explore the balance between strict adherence to rules and the often necessary flexibility to go off-script in tactical operations and your organization’s culture. Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTan…

1
158: “Your Children Are Not Safe”: DC Beltway Snipers 51:24

8M ago51:24

51:24

In October 2002, a 17 and 41 year old carried out a series of serial murders, killing 10 and wounding 3 others in what were described as random attacks against people doing every day tasks like pumping gas and mowing their lawn. We cover lessons from this large scale, multi-agency investigation with takeaways for individual cops and police leaders …

1
157: Use it or Lose it: The Essence of Officer Discretion 37:13

8M ago37:13

37:13

There are over 18,000 police Chiefs and Sheriffs in the United States, and every one of them has their own version of what right and wrong looks like. But unless they plan on showing up at every traffic stop, they are going to have to trust that their Officers and Deputies on the front lines are doing the best they can. Empowering law enforcement o…

1
156: I AM THAT B*TCH! Erica Gaines of TacMobility 1:22:55

9M ago1:22:55

1:22:55

Erica is the founder of TacMobility, a wellness training company and online resource with a ton of free material for public safety. TacMobility is implementing a blend of mobility training and mental health support by working its way past the tough “sheepdog” exterior. Through eye-opening surveys, TacMobility highlights the not-so-funny truths abou…

1
155: Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say 1:08:48

9M ago1:08:48

1:08:48

Here’s the thing about plane crashes: We all die at the same time. Inefficient and ambiguous communication has serious tactical implications when managing a crisis as a team. Sometimes, we water down what we need to say because we don’t want to step on toes or piss anyone off, especially when talking to authority figures. This is called mitigated s…

1
154: Get with the times: Pistol Optics are the way of the present 1:07:46

10M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

For some reason there are a lot of people out there who still feel like putting an optic on your pistol isn’t reliable or practical, and our handsome hand model in the photo John Correia calls those people the Gun Amish. We agree with that title, because it’s 2024 and pistol mounted optics are a game changer. Mike and Jim talk about some of the cha…

1
153: Guns n’ Guitars: Go learn something new 1:00:49

10M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

There is an art and science to learning a new skill. Whether you are picking up new hobbies and trying to improve performance at essential job tasks, there are some tricks and concepts to understand to break plateaus and keep training fun. We cover crawl walk run, the balance between simple and technical, developing a growth mindset, and embracing …

1
152: Do you trust me? Selflessness in Teamwork 48:27

11M ago48:27

48:27

We say that we should put Service before Self, but it's more than just a mantra. Where the rubber meets the road is all in how we develop implicit trust among teammates so that we know where each other is going to be and what they are going to do when the going gets tough. We can accomplish this with the intentional application of Standards, Contra…

1
151: All's Well...If We Make it Well 47:38

11M ago47:38

47:38

Wellness isn’t just a soft and fuzzy term bandied about in the Human Resources department. Healthier, happier employees perform better, and in professions where the rubber meets the road, wellness is tactical. The trite concept of Work/Life balance isn’t so trite when lives are on the line. How do you keep yourself all happy and centered and still …

1
150: Team Selection: Real-Life Fantasy Draft 1:14:27

12M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

When drafting players for your fantasy sportsball team, stats provide an easy benchmark. Just pick the ones with the most home runs, passing yards, and the highest free-throw percentage. It’s a little harder selecting people for your real-life tactical team, but having a similar checklist in mind helps. In this episode Jim and Mike talk about what …

1
149: A Good Commander Knows What to Control 1:30:53

1y ago1:30:53

1:30:53

No team in law enforcement is composed of robotic textbook-following automatons, nor would we want it to be, if we’ve ever found ourselves at 2MPH over the limit. But when a worst-case incident unfolds, we want every first responder to make the right decision at the speed of life, because in those incidents seconds often equal victims. How can we r…

1
148: Sleeping for Success 1:13:40

1y ago1:13:40

1:13:40

The downsides of sleep deprivation are legion: irritability, poor judgment, even lowered testosterone. Yet the duties of the .mil and LE career fields are well known for demanding odd and/or long hours that can make it hard to get good sleep. Mike talks with Dr. Paul Sargent of O2X, a specialist in human performances and sleep factors, in how to ge…

1
147: Finding the Bomber 1:02:26

1y ago1:02:26

1:02:26

In the spring of 2018, the city of Austin, Texas was rocked by a string of package bombs, five in all, that killed two and injured five. The story of how local and federal agencies tracked down the perpetrator is almost all open source and a great illustration of how these investigations proceed. Listen to Jim and Mike tell the tale in this episode…

1
146: Put Me In, Coach! 1:09:56

1y ago1:09:56

1:09:56

Do you know what every great slugger in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown had in common? They all had hitting coaches. Today we have an abundance of riches in the form of internet videos to teach almost any skill, but at some point most everyone will benefit from the feedback of a skilled coach. In this episode Mike and Jim explore the value…

1
145: Both Sides of the Door - Breonna Taylor and Bad Outcomes 1:27:56

1y ago1:27:56

1:27:56

In the world of ugly warrant execution, there are a lot of bad scenarios that have happened with lessons to be learned for people on both sides of the door. In this episode, Mike & Jim break down a notorious recent incident: The 2020 shooting of Breonna Taylor during a narcotics warrant service in Louisville, Kentucky. While it’s about the Breonna …

1
144 : The Real Burdens of Everyday Carry 40:59

1y ago40:59

40:59

If you’re a habitual firearms toter, how do you carry to and from places where you can’t carry? Do you? What if it’s someplace where there’s no provision for securing it at your destination? Whether going to and from the neighborhood BJJ gym or visiting a military base, this can be a real dilemma for the carrier. In this episode, Jim and Mike take …

1
143: Problem Solving As A Team Sport 1:04:17

1+ y ago1:04:17

1:04:17

In the pop-culture tactical world today it’s common to see Col. Boyd’s Decision Cycle, the famed “OODA Loop”, applied to individuals and their actions, but indeed it has its origins as an institutional concept. If you need to solve problems as a team, or even an institution, it’s important to know how it applies to group tactics and operations. In …

1
142: Making Sure the Kids are Alright 55:18

1+ y ago55:18

55:18

In any organization it’s almost a tradition to turn and look at the people coming up through the ranks behind you and bemoan how much better things were in the Good Old Days. Of course, things were better then because the people who had come up through the ranks before you helped mentor you into effective operators. In this episode, Jim and Mike ta…

1
141: Having Public Affairs Without Screwing Up 1:25:06

1+ y ago1:25:06

1:25:06

Mike reminds us that “Responsibility to the Community” is not just a slogan on a squad car door in this episode, where he and Jim talk about the necessity of keeping the public informed in a manner that is both helpful to the public and not harmful to ongoing investigations. ”Public Affairs” is more than just a job title, and requires keeping in mi…

1
140: The Case of "The Mission v. The People" 55:53

1+ y ago55:53

55:53

In dangerous career fields like the military or law enforcement, there’s an unavoidable tension of priorities between the mission and the safety of the people on the team who need to accomplish it. It’s one thing to say you put your people first, but if it was a safe job, they wouldn’t issue body armor. In today’s episode, Mike and Jim demonstrate …

1
139: We Don't Like Bombs, The Bombs That Go Boom 1:02:21

1+ y ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Bombs are scary. You can’t shoot back at an explosion or talk it into surrendering or leaving you alone. But you can learn ways to spot the bad guy’s device before it does its thing. In today’s episode, Jim and Mike delve into some basics of the hows, whys, and wheres of improvised explosive devices to help you develop a risk picture based on likel…

1
138: Your Candle Only Has Two Ends 1:06:52

1+ y ago1:06:52

1:06:52

High-stress jobs, such as those in the military or law enforcement fields, tend to attract mission-oriented people, dedicated to the team and the public, who thrive on stress. Well, plants thrive on water, too, but you can still wind up drowning them with too much of it. In today’s episode, Jim and Mike look at job-related burnout, its negative eff…

1
137: Most Danger Doesn't Come From Strangers 1:07:30

1+ y ago1:07:30

1:07:30

Part of our mission here at Tactical Tangents is to overcome the “tactical fantasy”, and in this episode, Mike and Jim talk about avoiding one of the most pernicious ones. It’s easy in a world full of tacticool training classes to get focused on the sort of threats to ourselves and loved ones that jump out of the bushes and can be thwarted with kin…

1
136 The Bear, The Dragon, and You 57:21

1+ y ago57:21

57:21

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be over (for now) but that doesn’t leave us in a world without conflict. While we were hip-deep in the Global War on Terror, major great power competitors have been nursing grievances and feeling rising ambitions and opportunities. In this episode, Jim takes a detailed look at the state of play with respect to R…

1
Colonoscopy Queenz Go Out With a Bang 38:51

1+ y ago38:51

38:51

Debbie and Kerri get emotional during the season finale, but not in the way you think! Their emotion comes from the SUPER inappropriate commercials from the 60s and 70s that WROR’s Lauren Beckham Falcone shared: Loves Baby Soft and the “sexy baby,” Nestea’s tasting the “taste of wetness” and Maxwell House’s captain, “me captain, you wife.” The unra…

1
135: Operationally Supporting Supporters Who Operate 52:57

1+ y ago52:57

52:57

In both the military and law enforcement universes, there’s often an understandable amount of friction between the people out where the action is and those who help them get there and support them in their work. In this episode, Jim and Mike discuss ways to smooth cooperation between the people behind the scenes and the officer on the street or the…

1
134: Dangerous Driving 1:12:34

1+ y ago1:12:34

1:12:34

In a cool tactical podcast, everybody wants to talk about a gunfight and nobody wants to talk about getting t-boned in an intersection on the way to the gunfight. This episode features Mike & Jim, who’ve bent enough fenders between them to have some advice to offer, talking about the realities of driving. Whether you’re driving the government’s veh…

1
Too Tired to Fck, the Bullsht Banning of Drag Shows, and More About the Pelvic Floor 25:20

1+ y ago25:20

25:20

The penultimate episode of season five is short and silly and everything everywhere all at once. The ladies discuss Debbie’s nickname and their fondness for matinee concerts so they can get to bed early. Kerri shares her go-to dish that “worked every time” when she was young and single. They lose their shit over Martin Sheen falling off the buildin…

1
The Cheese Tax, Anti-Abortion Scare Tactics, and Sugar Daddy (and Mommy) Appreciation Day 28:03

1+ y ago28:03

28:03

The cheese tax, the cheese tax…WTAF? The cheese tax has exploded, and thanks to Kerri, you'll be humming that catchy tune all day. This episode has the ladies teetering on the edge of many rabbit holes, but somehow they manage to stay on track. Debbie needs pelvic floor physical therapy, so of course, the ladies discuss what that entails and if it …

1
133: There's Nothing "Friendly" about "Friendly Fire" 1:09:24

1+ y ago1:09:24

1:09:24

The only thing more frightening than being shot at by your own team is finding out you just shot up your own team. The very idea of fratricide…aka “Blue-on-Blue” incidents…is scary, but being a professional means you can’t just be scared, you have to work on your skills and knowledge to counter the possibility of it happening to you or because of y…

1
Just a Taste - Round Two 5:12

1+ y ago5:12

5:12

Check out round two of the “Just a Taste” episode, and indulge in what we hope will be the most hilarious and inappropriate five minutes of your day. You’re Welcome!By I'm Not Sorry

1
Handmaids and Dirty Barbies 32:09

1+ y ago32:09

32:09

Debbie + Kerri continue to slide down all the rabbit holes and off the deep end into oblivion. The topics range from the enormity of women's responsibilities over school vacation week (and in general), and why women are called "nags" for trying to get shit done. The reality of their deeply suburban life isn't lost on these two. Debbie has too many …

1
132: You Can't Spell "Officer" without "Office" 47:01

1+ y ago47:01

47:01

Offices come in a variety of shapes and guises, from a room with desks and whiteboards to the front seat of a squad car. In this solo episode, Jim sounds off on his favorite topic: Management is not a dirty word, to be shunned in favor of “leadership”. Rather, management is part of leadership. It’s the art & science of allocating and coordinating r…

1
Tips to Look After Your Husband and a Wicked Happy Ending 35:28

1+ y ago35:28

35:28

This episode is ridiculously HI LAR IOUS. As out of control as ever. And WAIT until you get to the end; brace yourselves for a gut punch of uncontrollable laughter. Join Kerri + Debbie as they slide down all of the rabbit holes, off the motherf*cking rails, off the deep end into oblivion. The girls keep it lite, covering topics ranging from The Han…

1
Betty White Ping Pong 31:48

2y ago31:48

31:48

This episode is off to a rocky start! Debbie + Kerri attempted to record the podcast on video, but their performance in front of the camera was less than stellar. Kerri wins the competition of "who has the most control issues." Debbie's a wee bit hungover and still wearing last night's makeup, somehow leading Kerri to explain how to play "Betty Whi…

1
131: Ending the Threat, Reasonably 53:39

2y ago53:39

53:39

Sometimes bad training passes down information that might once have been good, but garbles it. Take “Shooting to Stop the Threat”…please. This episode sees Mike and Jim discuss the nuances of using lethal force to reasonably end the capacity of an assailant to harm you. What exactly is incapacitation? What’s the difference between “shoot to kill” a…

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