On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave sit down with entrepreneur Philip Poundstone for a conversation about faith, success, ego, business, marriage, and what happens when the life you’ve built on the outside doesn’t match what’s happening within.

Philip grew up believing he was doing everything right. He was a rule follower, valedictorian, regular churchgoer, and the kind of kid everyone viewed as a model Christian. But looking back, Philip says much of his identity had become tied to being “good” and receiving the approval that came with it. Eventually, even his faith became another measure of his own performance.

That mindset followed him through college and ultimately across the world when, at 22 years old, Philip left the United States to spend a year as a Christian missionary. But while preparing to share the Gospel with two young men overseas, Philip experienced a realization that completely changed his understanding of his own faith: he had spent years believing his actions made him worthy rather than recognizing his own need for a Savior.

Philip describes breaking down as he realized he had become his own savior—someone who proudly wore Christianity on the outside while believing his own goodness was enough. Less than an hour later, he sat down with the two men he had planned to minister to and shared the same Gospel that had just transformed his own understanding of faith. Both told him they wanted to believe and be saved that day.

From there, Philip also shares his journey as an entrepreneur, including building and selling businesses and learning some painful lessons along the way. He opens up about a business sale that eventually fell apart after he remained financially tied to partners who didn’t share the same values. When payments stopped and attorneys became involved, Philip found himself negotiating to take the company back—only to turn around two weeks later and sell it to his biggest competitor.

Today, Philip is building Pool Captains, a pool service company he says is intentionally faith-forward. He explains what it actually looks like to bring Christian values into business—not simply putting faith on a website, but admitting mistakes, asking customers and partners for grace, taking responsibility when things go wrong, and creating a culture where the people around you can hold you accountable.

The conversation also gets personal as Philip, Eddie, and Dave talk about marriage, fatherhood, conflict, and the pressure men often feel to always have the answer. Philip discusses learning to approach his marriage from a position of humility rather than needing to be right, while the guys explore why admitting mistakes—to your spouse, your employees, and even your children—can be one of the hardest and most important parts of leadership.

Together, Eddie, Dave, and Philip discuss Christianity versus performance, the danger of ego, salvation, entrepreneurship, business partnerships, money and success, vulnerability, marriage, parenting, leadership, accountability, and why strength doesn’t always look the way we think it does.

Whether you’re building a business, raising a family, questioning your faith, or simply trying to become a better leader, this episode challenges the idea that having everything together is what makes you strong—and asks what might change if you were willing to admit that you don’t.

Follow Shoot Me Straight:
📸 Instagram: @shootmestraight
🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts

Sponsors:

Elevated Silence - Use Code SMASH15
https://elevatedsilence.com

Firecracker Farm
https://firecracker.farm

Patriot Pouches
https://patriotpouchusa.com

10.40.10 Fitness
https://www.104010fitness.com

Battle Bars
https://battlebars.com

On this episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave sit down with retired ATF attorney Harry Foster and Elevated Silence founder Jim Hood to break down the National Firearms Act, the changing landscape of Second Amendment law, and what recent court decisions could mean for suppressors and gun owners across the country.After nearly 29 years with the federal government—including 23 years with ATF—Harry shares stories from a career that began in law enforcement and eventually took him to the U.S. Senate, where he worked security for Senator Max Cleland, flew on Air Force One, spent time inside the White House, and worked alongside members of the Secret Service. He later became an attorney with ATF, eventually overseeing legal operations for the agency’s Atlanta Field Division and working on major federal firearms cases.Harry also takes Eddie and Dave behind the scenes of ATF, explaining what the agency actually does, where he believes it gets unfairly criticized, and where government enforcement has gone too far. He reflects on cases that stayed with him throughout his career, including his involvement following the capture of Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph and a brutal triple homicide at a Georgia gun store that ATF agents helped solve in just seven days.The conversation then turns to the history of the National Firearms Act and the current legal battle surrounding it. Harry breaks down how the NFA began as a tax and registration system in 1934, the Supreme Court cases that shaped it, and why eliminating the $200 tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and other NFA items has opened the door to a much larger constitutional question: If there is no longer a tax to collect, can the federal government still require registration?

Jim brings the perspective of both a suppressor manufacturer and Second Amendment advocate as the group discusses the lawsuits challenging NFA registration, what current injunctions actually mean for gun owners, why the rules vary depending on where you live and which organizations you're a member of, and why the safest legal path isn't always as simple as social media makes it sound.

Together, Eddie, Dave, Harry, and Jim also discuss suppressor misconceptions, firearm registration, interstate travel with firearms, shifting enforcement priorities between presidential administrations, government overreach, legal precedent, and the possibility that one of these cases could ultimately reach the Supreme Court.

Whether you're a gun owner, Second Amendment advocate, firearms industry professional, or simply trying to understand what is actually happening with the NFA, this episode breaks down an incredibly complicated legal fight in a way that makes sense.

Harry Foster:

Website: www.atf-law.com

Jim Hood:Website:

https://elevatedsilence.com

Follow Shoot Me Straight:

📸 Instagram: @shootmestraight

🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple

PodcastsSponsors:

Elevated Silence- Use Code SMASH15 https://elevatedsilence.com

Firecracker Farm https://firecracker.farm

Patriot Pouches

https://patriotpouchusa.com

10.40.10 Fitness

https://www.104010fitness.com

Battle Bars

https://battlebars.com

On this special tribute episode of Shoot Me Straight, Eddie Gallagher and Dave revisit their conversation with decorated Navy SEAL Dan Cerrillo, honoring his life, service, and legacy following his passing.Dan entered SEAL Team 1 just before September 11, 2001, and soon found himself serving multiple combat tours throughout Afghanistan and Iraq. During his time in the Navy, Dan faced some of the most difficult realities of war, sustained numerous injuries, and was awarded a Bronze Star, Navy Commendation and Navy Achievement Medals, and a Purple Heart for his service.The conversation explores one of the most challenging chapters of Dan’s military career, when he found himself facing murder charges related to the death of a captured terrorist. Dan shares what it was like to fight for his innocence and how the experience ultimately contributed to his decision to walk away from the Navy.After leaving the military, Dan faced an entirely different kind of battle. Financial hardship, his wife’s cancer diagnosis, addiction, and a series of choices he deeply regretted pushed him into one of the darkest periods of his life. Dan speaks openly about those struggles and the intensive therapy that ultimately became a turning point, helping him rebuild his life and find a new sense of purpose.Dan went on to become CEO of Spartan 7, specializing in private security, as well as Chief of Staff for American Addiction Centers. His experiences fueled a passion for helping veterans and first responders struggling with addiction and encouraging others to seek the help they need.We originally released this conversation with Dan years ago, but following his passing, we wanted to share it again as a tribute to the man he was and the impact he made. Dan’s willingness to speak openly about his victories, failures, struggles, and recovery made this an unforgettable conversation.This repeat episode is shared in honor of Dan Cerrillo—his service, resilience, humor, honesty, and commitment to helping others. We’re grateful we had the opportunity to sit down with him and share his story.Follow Shoot Me Straight:📸 Instagram: @shootmestraight🎙️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple PodcastsSponsors:Elevated Silence- Use Code SMASH15 https://elevatedsilence.comFirecracker Farm https://firecracker.farmPatriot Pouches https://patriotpouchusa.com](https://patriotpouchusa.com)10.40.10 Fitness https://www.104010fitness.comBattle Bars https://battlebars.com