Competitive shooter and creator Danyela D’Angelo joins She Shield Podcast to talk about what it looks like to grow up in the shooting sports, build a career around them, and still be willing to be a beginner at something new.

Danyela started shooting as a kid, moved from Steel Challenge into USPSA and 3-Gun, and is now preparing for her third World Shoot after competing internationally in rifle and PCC. We get into the years of training behind that journey, the pressure of competing at a high level, her unique shotgun loading setup, and why even experienced shooters are constantly finding things to improve.

But this episode goes well beyond competition. We talk about Danyela’s evolution from letting her dad speak for her to confidently representing herself and working with brands, the perfectionism that nearly kept her from launching educational content, and her plans to build online and in-person firearms training for newer shooters and competitors.

We also dive into concealed carry, choosing firearms you can actually shoot well, finding carry methods that work with your real wardrobe, her plans for a concealed carry bag, and why there doesn’t have to be one “perfect” way to carry.

And, candidly, we talk about the harder side of being a firearms creator: unsolicited advice, social media comparison, online hate, being underestimated, and learning how to keep creating without allowing strangers on the internet to dictate your confidence.

Whether you’re thinking about shooting your first match, trying a new discipline, carrying for the first time, or pushing yourself toward a much bigger competitive goal, Danyela’s message is simple: you do not have to be perfect to start. You just have to start.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here!

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Danyela on IG

In this episode of She Shield Podcast, Sofia sits down with Arsenal co-founder Rebby to share the story behind Arsenal Marketing & Sales Collective, who we are, why we built it, and what we believe the firearms and outdoor industry has been missing.

We talk about how our backgrounds in the industry shaped Arsenal, what it actually means to build a collective that supports both creators and brands, and how we’re working to create stronger relationships between the people making the content, the companies building the products, and the communities they serve.

We also give a few hints at what we’re currently building behind the scenes—and where we believe Arsenal can go from here.

This is just the beginning.

Follow the journey and see what we’re building at @arsenal.collective on social media.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Arsenal's Website
2. Arsenal on Instagram

In this episode, I sit down with Tennille Chidester, a member of the USA Ladies Standard Manual Team competing with a pump-action shotgun at the Shotgun World Shoot.

Tennille shares her story from a young age and the experiences that eventually led her into the firearms industry, 3-Gun competition, and working as an instructor at her local range. We follow her journey as she takes on a new shooting discipline, builds confidence behind a pump-action shotgun, and prepares to represent the United States on the world stage.

We also get honest about the mental side of being new, pushing through self-doubt, and learning a platform that demands patience, consistency, and serious work. Tennille breaks down what it actually takes to attend a World Shoot—from training and equipment to finances, travel, logistics, and the pressure that happens behind the scenes.

Whether you are curious about competitive shooting, considering a new discipline, or wondering what separates the highlight reel from the reality of international competition, this episode offers an honest look at the journey.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Tennille on Social Media

Most people picture preparedness as stockpiles, bunkers, and worst-case scenarios,but owning gear does not mean you are prepared to use it.

In this episode, Sofia sits down with Tactical Belle to break down what real-world preparedness actually looks like, from everyday emergencies to natural disasters and civil unrest. They discuss emergency communication, satellite devices, radios, land navigation, family meetup procedures, food and water storage, bugging in versus bugging out, and why a trusted community may be one of your most valuable survival resources.

They also explore the defensive side of preparedness, including concealed firearms, body armor, pepper-ball launchers, less-lethal options, medical planning, and why a gun should never be your only answer.

A quick aside about the sillcock key discussed in the episode: This small tool is designed to turn compatible square-stem water valves on and off when they do not have a standard handle. At home, it can function as a replacement key for an exterior spigot, allow you to operate a faucet whose removable handle is intentionally kept off, and help you access your own outdoor water supply during everyday use or an emergency. In public or commercial spaces, it may also fit certain secured exterior faucets—but owning the key does not give you permission to use someone else’s water. Only access those fixtures when you have authorization or when lawful emergency circumstances clearly apply. You should also never assume that water from an unfamiliar fixture is safe to drink without evaluating and properly treating it.

Whether you are starting from zero or already have a closet full of emergency supplies, this conversation will challenge you to audit your plan, test your equipment, build redundancy, and prepare for the situations most likely to affect you.

Preparedness is not about predicting the exact emergency. It is about developing the skills, systems, and trusted relationships that help you respond when life does not go according to plan.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Belle on Instagram

How does concealed carry change when pregnancy, postpartum recovery, young children, and family responsibilities enter the picture?

In this episode, Sofia sits down with firearms instructor and Armed Parent/Guardian co-creator Melody Lauer to tackle the complicated realities of protecting a family. They discuss lead exposure and range hygiene, adapting carry methods throughout pregnancy, safely practicing new drawstrokes, securing firearms around naturally curious children, and preparing for violence when a loved one may be beside you—or in your arms.

Melody also explains why violence directed at an adult can look very different from violence directed at a child, why pepper spray deserves a place in a parent’s defensive plan, and why responsible gun ownership sometimes means recognizing when firearms should temporarily be removed from the home.

This conversation goes far beyond holsters and gear. It examines the planning, judgment, mental health awareness, and honest family conversations required to protect the people you love—without becoming so focused on defending their lives that you stop actively living alongside them.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Melody on Instagram
2. Citizen's Defense Research

In this episode, Sofia sits down with Randy Hill, founder of High Risk Fitness and a strength coach with 16 years of experience working with professional athletes, SWAT officers, special operations personnel, competitive shooters, and everyday people who want to become more capable protectors.

Sofia and Randy examine the gaps that can develop when someone prioritizes shooting, martial arts, or physical fitness while neglecting the others. Randy explains why strength is a skill, how general strength and conditioning transfer to shooting and grappling, and why athletes do not need to recreate every movement of their sport inside the gym.

They also break down the difference between simply working out and intentionally training, how to pursue multiple performance and physique goals without constantly “goal hopping,” and why more exercise is not always better. The conversation covers accountability, recovery, nutrition, command presence, body image, health advocacy, and the importance of building a program around the individual rather than following whatever is currently trending online.

This episode challenges listeners to view fitness as more than aesthetics. It is a tool for confidence, discipline, resilience, performance, and becoming harder to victimize. This includes on the range, in daily life, and when protecting the people who depend on them.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. Randy on Instagram
2. Train with Randy

Biometric firearms have been talked about for decades, but are they finally ready for real-world use?

In this episode of She Shield Podcast, Sofia sits down with Ginger Chandler, CEO and co-founder of Lodestar, to discuss the development of the LNK9, a biometric 9mm handgun designed to give firearm owners greater control over who can access their firearm. Drawing from decades of experience in engineering, product development, and leadership roles within the firearms industry, Ginger shares the journey that led her to challenge traditional thinking around firearm storage, access, and safety.

Together, Sofia and Ginger explore the realities of firearm ownership in homes with children, the concerns many new gun owners face when bringing a firearm into their household, and how technology may provide solutions for situations where unauthorized access is a legitimate concern. They also discuss domestic violence considerations, firearm theft, biometric reliability, common misconceptions about "smart guns," and the engineering challenges of creating a defensive firearm that remains practical for everyday carry.

Whether you're skeptical of biometric firearms or simply curious about where firearm technology is headed, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at innovation, personal responsibility, and the future of firearm ownership.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Episode Resources:

1. LodeStar Website to learn more about the LNK9
2. Read about Ginger Chandler in Forbes Magazine

In this episode of She Shield Podcast, Sofia is joined by David Hyman of Stay Safe Martial Arts for a real-world breakdown of viral self-defense videos. Instead of simply reacting to shocking clips online, Sofia and David analyze what is actually happening, what people often miss, and how real martial arts, grappling, verbal commands, pepper spray, medical training, and space management apply in high-stress situations.

They discuss everything from restraining an aggressive passenger on a plane, to pepper spray failing to work immediately, to the danger of staying too close when a threat is escalating. David brings technical insight from a martial arts perspective, while Sofia adds the lens of concealed carry, self-defense tools, situational awareness, and real-world decision-making.

This episode is a practical reminder that viral videos are not just entertainment. They can reveal how fast violence happens, how quickly distance disappears, and why training matters long before the moment of need.

Episode Resources & Ways to Support the Show

• 🎥 Watch this episode on the She Shield YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sheshieldpod
• 🎧 Subscribe to the podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen.
• 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.
• ⭐ Rate & review the podcast: this helps the show reach more people who can benefit from self-defense education.
• 📲 Follow on Instagram: @sheshieldpod for episode highlights, behind-the-scenes, and episode updates. Check out your host Sofia @fit4fia.

To learn more about Sofia and or to train with her, visit fit4fia.com

This Episode is brought to you by Right to Bear. Right to Bear is a legal defense membership designed to support everyday citizens who take personal responsibility for their safety. Their program provides access to experienced attorneys and legal resources if you’re ever forced to defend yourself or others in a critical incident.

See their membership options here: http://Www.protectwithbear.com/pages/plans

Use code “FIT4FIA10” at checkout to receive 10% off your membership.

Listen to David and Sofia in Episode 24!

Episode Resources:

1. David's Instagram

2. David on YouTube

3. Stay Safe Martial Arts Website

4. Shivworks