Guns and Mental Health by Walk the Talk America

Ep 167: If It Moves, You’ll Know: How Kini Helps You Monitor Firearm Access at Home

Firearm storage is not just about what you buy, it’s about what you know. In this episode, Mike and Nicky Zabetian from Kinisium join Mike to break down Kini Safe Alert, a small, discreet motion/tamper notification device that texts (or app-notifies) you when something you care about is moved, opened, or accessed.They talk through the real stories that inspired the product, why “my kids know better” is not a plan, and how Kini can add a passive layer of awareness to safes, drawers, cases, ammo storage, and more. You’ll also hear how they built the product through COVID-era supply chain chaos, why they designed it to avoid subscriptions, how the settings work (sensitivity, quiet modes, multi-person alerts), and how this kind of tool can complement suicide prevention and responsible ownership without tracking you or your location.Plus: what it’s like breaking into the firearms market with a safety product, what they’re bringing to SHOT Show, and the question we ask every guest, how do you tend to your mental health?Send a text Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier:RugerArmscorBleeker Street PublicationsGold Tier:NASGWLipsey'sDavidson's

Ep 166: Financial Freedom for First Responders

In this conversation, Seth Hendricks shares his transformative journey from a decade-long career in law enforcement to becoming a financial advisor. He discusses the impact of mental health on police officers, the importance of self-reflection, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional life. The conversation delves into the unconscious behaviors shaped by trauma, the financial considerations unique to police work, and the significance of communication in relationships, especially when dealing with the stresses of the job. In this conversation, Seth Hendricks shares his journey from law enforcement to financial planning, emphasizing the importance of serving others and the challenges of consent in helping professions. He discusses the emotional drivers behind feedback and reviews, the complexities of gun ownership, and the need for open dialogue in divisive topics. The conversation also touches on the importance of addressing mental health and personal well-being, particularly in underserved communities.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Symposium and Seth's Background02:57 Seth's Journey from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning05:53 The Impact of Mental Health in Law Enforcement08:48 Understanding the Five-Year Drop-Off in Police Careers11:56 The Role of Ego and Self-Reflection in Career Choices14:46 Financial Considerations for Police Officers18:01 The Unconscious Impact of Trauma on Spending Habits21:05 Balancing Personal Life and Professional Trauma23:58 The Importance of Communication in Relationships27:09 Navigating Parenthood and Career Stress29:53 The Gap Between Law Enforcement and Financial Planning39:05 The Simplicity of Law Enforcement42:49 Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Financial Planning43:48 The Concept of Consent in Helping Professions46:57 The Challenge of Change and Acceptance50:50 The Emotional Drivers Behind Reviews and Feedback52:08 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Topics55:15 Navigating Difficult Conversations01:01:59 The Complexity of Gun Ownership and Responsibility01:04:33 The Importance of Open Dialogue01:11:18 Serving the Underserved in Financial Services01:14:02 Mental Health and Personal Well-beingSend a text Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier:RugerArmscorBleeker Street PublicationsGold Tier:NASGWLipsey'sDavidson's

Ep 165: Beyond the Boogeyman, A Nuanced Talk on Colorado ERPOs With Chris Knoepke

Red flag laws, also known as ERPOs, get talked about in the gun world like one sweeping “boogeyman”, but the reality is messier and state-specific.In this episode, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Dr. Chris Knoepke (University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative) to break down how Colorado’s ERPO process actually works, who can file, what due process looks like, and what the data is showing so far.They dig into what gun owners often worry about most, including false accusations, service and enforcement realities for law enforcement, and why many clinicians are hesitant to touch ERPOs at all. The conversation also explores practical improvements if these laws aren’t going away, such as better training for clinicians, stronger “time and space” options, and connecting people in crisis to real support rather than  luck, see you in a year.”As always, we close with the question we ask every guest: How do you tend to your mental health?Send a text Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier:RugerArmscorBleeker Street PublicationsGold Tier:NASGWLipsey'sDavidson's

Ep 164: Bridging the Gap: A Yale Researcher, Gun Owners, and What Actually Reduces Harm

For the first time on the WTTA podcast, we’re joined by a researcher, and not just any researcher.Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Kerri Raissian, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of Public Health’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative. Kerri shares her path from growing up on a cattle farm in Texas, to working in a district attorney’s office and running one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country, to becoming a researcher focused on what actually reduces injury, trauma, and death.This conversation goes straight to the real tension points, without the usual talking past each other:The difference between reducing firearm deaths vs reducing overall deaths and why substitution mattersWhat gun owners worry about with ERPOs, and what it would take for policies to be trusted and usableWhy secure storage keeps showing up as a high-impact solution, including the reality of firearm theft from vehiclesHow research funding changed after 2020 and why more universities are building firearm research initiatives nowWhy storytelling and lived experience still matter even in data-driven policy workIt’s candid, nuanced, and exactly what it looks like when the research community and firearm community sit at the same table and actually try to build answers together.Send a text Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier:RugerArmscorBleeker Street PublicationsGold Tier:NASGWLipsey'sDavidson's

EP 163: Causing a Pause for the High Performers with Charles Anderson

In this episode of the Guns & Mental Health podcast, Michael Sodini and Kevin Berry sit down with Charles Anderson, CEO in the firearms media world behind Bleeker Street Publications, Athlon Outdoors, and its family of brands.What starts as a chance bar conversation at NASGW turns into a powerful, honest discussion about what it looks like to live with mental health struggles while building a high profile career. Charles shares his path from growing up poor in a wealthy New York town, to the high pressure brokerage world later portrayed in The Wolf of Wall Street, to venture capital, and eventually to becoming one of the most influential voices in firearms media.Along the way, he breaks down the reality of imposter syndrome, why “success” does not protect anyone from dark moments, and the coping framework that helped him survive when nothing else felt believable. Michael and Kevin connect the conversation to WTTA’s “Cause a Pause” mindset, and explore why the firearms industry has often been hesitant to engage tough topics like suicide prevention, and why that is finally changing.If you’ve ever looked successful on paper but felt like you were one bad day away from unraveling, this one is for you.Resources:If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Chapters00:00 — Welcome and introductions01:10 — How Michael and Charles met at NASGW03:20 — The phrase that stopped Michael in his tracks04:10 — Charles’ background, Detroit and “keeping it real”05:30 — Normalizing mental health talk in gun culture06:40 — Growing up poor in a wealthy town07:40 — From teenage stockbroker to Wolf of Wall Street reality09:20 — Pressure, substance abuse, and the crash10:20 — 9/11 grief, New York’s collective trauma, and leaving for Michigan12:10 — First gun, training, and starting a blog13:40 — When the blog started outranking major gun companies14:50 — From agency life to running major publications16:20 — Why authenticity matters, especially in this industry18:10 — Imposter syndrome, image, and the pressure to “fit in”21:20 — Chat question, why so little 2A legal coverage in publications23:50 — Why “facts only” content struggles to get attention27:10 — Why the gun industry avoided mental health for so long31:40 — “You could kill yourself tomorrow”, what it really means35:10 — The link to addiction recovery and getting through the next minute38:30 — Why it works in conversation, but not as a slogan41:10 — Permission, options, and Dr. Conte’s framework44:30 — How imposter syndrome shows up, even during success48:10 — What helps, therapy, self-awareness, and catching it earlier57:40 — External “pull backs”, friends, helping others, and connection01:01:30 — The “doom scroll” problem and a surprising coping tool01:08:40 — The gambler mindset vs stability, and why some people must build01:17:30 — How CharlesSend a text Walk the Talk America would like to thank our partners who make these conversations possible and would like to highlight our top two partner tiers below! Platinum Tier:RugerArmscorBleeker Street PublicationsGold Tier:NASGWLipsey'sDavidson's