This episode's guest is Nate Bennett, Vice President of Embedded Protective Operations at Rescor Group. He’s a former U.S. Marine with nearly two decades of international experience in executive protection and risk management, including work across 45+ countries and prior contracting with the U.S. State Department in Baghdad, Iraq. Nate is also a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and an Advanced EMT, bringing a rare blend of operational, medical, and strategic perspectives to the job.

In this conversation, Nate and Malinda get into the real “behind the scenes” of protective work—how identity, leadership, and decision-making get forged over time, and what it takes to build teams that operate under pressure with consistency and trust.

Malinda pulls back the curtain with Nate on:

• Leadership under pressure (and why “leadership is an insulator”)
• The reality of international protective work and what makes it “get real” fast
• Building a career in EP through problem-solving, grit, and cutting through red tape
• The mental side of the industry: bitterness, resilience, and learning from hard lessons
• Why the best protection is often a high-touch, concierge-level partnership—not a transaction

This is a candid, narrative-driven episode for security professionals, operators, and anyone curious about the mindset behind protective operations.

Available on: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Disclaimer: Experiences and opinions are those of the guest. Sensitive details are intentionally omitted, and nothing in this episode is intended as legal or professional advice.

In this episode of Lessons in the Field, we sit down with Malinda Gilbert, a seasoned executive protection specialist whose career has taken her across 15 countries, safeguarding high-net-worth individuals, Fortune 5 executives, and diplomatic delegations. With over nine years of frontline experience, Malinda shares insights from her work in covert operations, high-threat environments, and red-carpet security, all while maintaining an unmatched standard of professionalism and discretion.

From tech campuses to private aviation hubs, and from residential protection to conflict zones, Malinda offers a rare inside look into the mindset and skill set it takes to thrive in this field.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the protection industry or those curious about what it really takes to lead under pressure.