In this powerful episode, Chief Sean O’Brien of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Police Department shares his remarkable journey through decades in law enforcement, including an account of the July 16, 2015 terrorist attack in Chattanooga. From his first officer-involved shooting in 1994 to leading K9 units, interdiction operations, and active shooter response training, Sean opens up about the moments that tested him most.

He discusses the physical and emotional toll of life-or-death encounters and the conversation around mental health in law enforcement. Sean speaks candidly about the trauma he carried and how EMDR therapy helped him heal. This is a raw, honest, and deeply human conversation about the unseen battles that follow critical incidents.

⚠️ Note: This episode contains strong language.

Notes:

5:15 – Sean’s background and start in law enforcement

6:45 – His first officer-involved shooting on the freeway

8:45 – How life-or-death moments change your brain

10:55 – Passion for the K9 unit and bond with the dog

12:14 – Teaching active shooter response and promotion to commander

14:00 – Work in interdiction: stopping traffickers, drugs, and terrorism

21:00 – Beginning work in active shooter response

23:15 – Realistic training scenarios based on real-world incidents

27:45 – The events of July 16, 2015: Terror attack on recruiting offices

30:15 – Shooter opens fire; Sean realizes it’s terrorism

37:00 – High-stress response and breakdown of fine motor skills

50:15 – Sean engages suspect and accepts he may not make it home

56:45 – Suspect is taken down; confirmed no second shooter

59:15 – Honoring the stories of the fallen

1:06:50 – FBI waited 6 months to declare it a terrorist attack

1:09:50 – “We don’t rise to the occasion; we fall to our training”

1:10:30 – Lack of mental health support for law enforcement

1:15:30 – EMDR therapy helped reframe and process the memories

1:17:20 – Importance of both professional help and close friends

In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Hatcher, Director of Technology Operations at Herring Technology, to break down the modern landscape of security systems. From AI-powered cameras and facial recognition to the often-overlooked power of a strong network, Aaron shares how his team tests, deploys, and supports cutting-edge tech for real-world protection. We also dive into key takeaways from ISC West (the security industry’s largest international tradeshow) and why human training still matters, even with the best tools.

Learn More about Herring Technology: https://herringtechnology.com/

Notes:

7:22 – Why all modern security, from cameras to gun detection, is network-based

8:10 – Herring’s secret weapon: real-world IT lab testing, not brand loyalty

9:55 – Why the network is the single most important part of any security system

14:21 – How small upgrades can cause big issues

17:00 – The best tools still need trained people behind them

21:00 – 24/7 support: how Herring prioritizes responsiveness

25:00 – Demystifying AI to match the right tools

28:30 – Recap of ISC West: What’s big in security tech right now

33:45 – “Compliant” vs. truly integrated technologies

36:00 – Tech that holds people accountable, not replaces them

37:45 – Most exciting AI: reducing human error with smart automation

42:00 – The art and science of camera placement

In this episode, we dive into the risks of oversharing on social media while traveling and how it can make you a target for burglars. From real stories about alarm calls and serial burglars to why most break-ins happen during the day, Brink and Tom share practical safety tips to protect your home and yourself. Learn what to pack for safer vacations, how to check crime maps before you go, and why reviewing crime data beats relying on online reviews. They also cover essentials like firearms and permits, using pepper spray correctly, and simple hotel security hacks.

Notes:

1:05 — Risks of posting on social media while you’re away

4:00 — Why most burglaries happen during the day

5:00 — How GPS data in photos can expose you

6:23 — What to pack for a safer vacation

7:00 — Using crime maps to assess safety

7:27 — Why you should call the local narcotics department before moving

8:05 — Why people check reviews but overlook crime data

8:45 — Importance of studying a map of the area before traveling

16:55 — The dangers of being glued to your phone

22:45 — Firearms and permit considerations while traveling

23:25 — Practicing safety correctly (don’t be like bad drivers)

24:30 — Using chemical spray

30:55 — Uber safety

34:10 — Benefits of secondary locking devices

35:00 — Why you should consider not letting hotel staff into your room

Follow Brink:

www.defendsystems.com

Follow Tom:

www.herringtechnology.com

Tips, Tactics and Tools is Produced and Edited by www.itsyourshow.co

Tom and Brink break down the April 17 Florida State University shooting—an open campus event that exposes tough challenges in prevention and response. One heartbreaking detail: a student who survived this shooting also lived through the 2018 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. They also unpack a disturbing video of a bystander filming a wounded victim and walking away, raising serious questions about public response to violence. From survivor stories to law enforcement insights, this episode is a sobering look at the realities we face and what can truly make a difference when seconds count.

Notes:

2:51: Open campuses are tough to secure; safety depends on those present.

4:09: A student at FSU also survived the 2018 Parkland shooting.

5:50: Tech helps, but action before police arrive is critical.

6:50: Trained people on-site make the biggest difference.

8:12: We can’t stop every shooting, but we can reduce casualties.

10:19: “You fall to your training, not rise to the occasion.”

10:57: Classrooms must lock from the inside-Sandy Hook’s top lesson.

14:35: Vanderbilt University Medical Center credits Metro Nashville police with saving 600+ lives because of the medical training program.

16:50: Disturbing video shows bystander walking past wounded victim.

18:30: Dallas school shooting went unnoticed because no one died.

25:55: Know the addresses of places you visit often.

30:00: Not making a decision is a decision but it’s difficult if you don’t have any seeds planted in your primitive brain.

Tips, Tactics and Tools is Produced and Edited by www.itsyourshow.co

In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant Jeff Mathes of the Metro Nashville Police Department—one of the first officers on the scene at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023. Jeff walks us through the sights, sounds, and split-second decisions of that day. He speaks candidly about what it means to be a leader in a crisis—and healing through accepting that there was nothing he could have changed about his actions that day to save lives.

Jeff opens up about returning home that day to his family and the moment he heard a clip of the fire alarm on the radio the next morning that triggered a mental break.

Awarded the Medal of Valor and recognized in the Oval Office, Jeff reflects on why the relationships formed through this tragedy mean more than any honor, and the personal truth he’s had to embrace: “You can’t live your life based on this event that was one day of your life.”

On March 27, 2023, our guest was a teacher at The Covenant School in Nashville—a place she had poured her heart into. In this episode, our guest recounts the moments before, during, and after the tragedy that unfolded.

She walks us through her second-by-second decision making process as she decides the best way to help the others in the building and also get herself out safely. She fled into the woods with children, thanking God that the spring leaves had started to arrive and provided concealment as they ran from the school. She shares how prior active shooter response training prepared her for split-second decisions she made to protect children, and the aftermath of surviving one of the most traumatic events imaginable.

We also reflect on the lasting legacy of Head of School Katherine Koonce, who made the decision to bring training to Covenant staff just a year earlier. “Katherine saved our lives,” our guest says.

This episode is a moving tribute to courage, preparation, and the unwavering strength of educators in the face of the unthinkable.

Notes:

2:40 - Journey to becoming a teacher and why

8:05 - Recounting her morning on March 27, 2023

10:00 - Recognizing the sound of gunshots in a building and processing using previous active shooter response training

13:20 - “Hearing that [gunfire in a building during active shooter response training] saved my life. I probably would have gone down to investigate.”

20:20 - Realizing others in the building probably only heard the fire alarm. “How can I save as many people as possible?”

27:50 - All of this happened in under 2 minutes

30:40 - Conversation with the 911 dispatcher and getting children away from the school

40:00 - People all responded differently

43:55 - For 14 minutes, it was teacher vs. gunman.

45:40 - The staff did an outstanding job scripting and performing even after they had evaded.

1:03:40 - People can make excellent decisions under stress when they have prepared even a little.

1:15:20 - Fogginess after a traumatic event and dealing with survivor’s guilt

1:19:54 - Advice for teachers about why training is important

1:25:25 - Honoring Head of School Katherine Koonce

On March 27, 2023, Rachel Sanderson walked onto The Covenant School campus for her first day as a substitute teacher there. It was a beautiful morning—calm, full of worship, and seemingly ordinary. Within hours, everything changed.

In this conversation, Rachel recounts what happened that day—from the moment the fire alarm went off to the terrifying minutes spent locked inside a classroom with students. With raw honesty, she shares how training kicked in and how faith held her steady.

Rachel reflects on the trauma, isolation, and the unexpected strength she found in processing it. She also speaks about how connecting with others—including mass shooting survivors—has been key to her healing. Through it all, her hope is clear: to help others feel less alone, to encourage preparation, and to point toward the God moments even in the darkest hour.

Rachel’s story is a reminder of what this series is about—naming the hard things, honoring the good that still breaks through, and not looking away. This episode reminds us why we keep listening: because light still shines in the darkness.

Highlights:

8:00 – March 27, 2023: Rachel's first day subbing at Covenant

18:25 – Fire alarm triggers confusion

19:30 – Rachel hears banging noises—normalcy bias sets in

25:50 – Rachel begins praying aloud

29:10 – The 911 call: confirmation of an active shooter

35:00 – Fire station, comforting children, and immediate aftermath

43:20 – “I’m glad I was the sub that day” – leaning on training

49:00 – Debriefing with Brink; importance of safe people to process with

53:40 – Balancing trauma and motherhood

59:40 – Frustration with media

1:06:00 – Facing evil in the flesh

1:13:05 – Healing through hearing others’ stories

1:14:30 – Purpose of this podcast series: “I didn’t know someone else felt that way too”

1:19:00 – Reaching out to other survivors

1:28:00 – “I want to help others—even if it’s just being prepared for an emergency situation”

In this episode, we sit down with Abby McLean, a Covenant School parent on March 27, 2023, as she recounts the day of the shooting and the painful journey that followed. From the moment she received the first call to the agonizing time spent searching for her children, Abby shares the raw emotions, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming grief that forever changed her family and community.

Through her story, we gain insight into the heroic actions of teachers, the life-saving decisions made under extreme stress, and the aftermath that fractured relationships and reshaped perspectives on school security. We also discuss the broader implications—how schools and parents must take proactive steps to protect children, the importance of ongoing training, and the lasting impact of trauma on survivors.

This episode is a reminder that preparedness matters and that behind every tragedy are real people, real lives, and a call to action we cannot ignore.

Notes:

01:27: How people handle the aftermath

04:55: Abby recounts her experience on March 27, 2023

13:10: It took one hour to find out information on her children’s safety

18:00: Actions taken by staff during the event

23:15: We’ve seen police freeze under less stress than these teachers were under

23:40: The middle is where the difference is made

29:10: Defend Systems breaks this event down in their training because of all the remarkable decisions made on March 27, 2023

32:00: The importance of hard corners

37:35: Talk to your child’s school about forced entry protection on glass in doors

46:00: Abby’s experience at Defend Systems’ active shooter response training

58:20: The emotional aftermath of the event

1:14:00: Abby talks about society forgetting these events

1:18:40: Convincing school boards to make the investment in training for staff

1:22:00: Why Brink and Tracey did a walkthrough of the crime scene

1:26:00: When you hear data on how fast these events occur, it changes everything