American Warrior Show

What if one of the greatest threats to your safety isn't a lack of awareness—but the false belief that you're paying attention?
In this episode of the American Warrior Show, Rich Brown sits down with cognitive scientist Dr. Paul Atchley to explore the science of attention, perception, and human performance.
For decades, Dr. Atchley has studied how people process information, how distraction impacts performance, and why our brains often fail to detect important details even when they appear to be in plain sight. His work has influenced conversations surrounding driving safety, human attention, decision-making, and risk assessment.
Dr. Atchley has been conducting research and teaching about cognitive factors related to hazard perception and inattention for over 30 years. He is currently on faculty at the University of South Florida. Dr. Atchley received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside in 1996 and completed postdoctoral training at the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois in 1998.
 
Dr. Atchley has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters on issues of vision and attention. He has also received awards for his research, teaching, service and student advising. Dr. Atchley's work has been highlighted by national and international press such as the BBC, NPR, and the New York Times.
During this conversation, Rich and Dr. Atchley discuss:
• The science of situational awareness
• Why people miss obvious threats and critical information
• Attention, distraction, and performance under stress
• Human perception and its limitations
• Decision-making in dynamic environments
• What instructors, law enforcement officers, and armed citizens can learn from cognitive science
• Practical ways to improve awareness and performance
Whether you're a competitor, instructor, law enforcement officer, military professional, or armed citizen, this episode provides valuable insights into how your brain works - and how understanding those limitations can make you safer and more effective.
Enjoy the show.

Episode # 431: From Navy SEAL to CEO - Clay Tippins on Leadership, Business, and Winning
Today's guest is Clay Tippins.
Clay is a former Navy SEAL officer, entrepreneur, business executive, and CEO of Vigilant Gear Holdings, the parent company of Primary Weapons Systems and Lone Wolf Arms. His career has taken him from military service and combat deployments to the executive suites of major corporations and ultimately into building and leading companies of his own.
In this conversation, Rich Brown sits down with Clay to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, building high-performance teams, lessons learned in combat, and the mindset required to succeed when the stakes are high.
Whether you're a business owner, military veteran, leader, competitor, or simply someone committed to becoming better every day, you're going to find tremendous value in this conversation.
Websites:
https://primaryweapons.com/about-us
https://lonewolfdist.com/

Show featured sponsor: Tip Top K9 Training
In this round two conversation, Rich Brown sits down with Gavin Glasenapp, former 160th SOAR (Night Stalker) pilot and current leader on the Delta Defense training team for a deep dive into what it really takes to transition from military and law enforcement into the firearms training world.
This episode goes beyond war stories. It's about teaching, influence, and carrying the mission forward in a way that actually impacts armed citizens.
In this episode, we cover:
The reality of transitioning from military/LE into the firearms industry, and where many get it wrong
Why high-level operational experience doesn't automatically translate into effective instruction
The fundamentals of teaching firearms to everyday citizens vs. trained professionals
The responsibility of instructors in shaping safe, capable, and confident protectors
A candid look at Second Amendment advocacy- what matters, what doesn't, and where we need to improve
Lessons from the 160th SOAR mindset: preparation, accountability, and performance under pressure
What makes a firearms instructor truly "high level" in today's environment
This is a conversation about evolution of identity, of mission, and of responsibility.
If you're an instructor, a protector, or someone serious about getting better, this one delivers.

Today's Featured Sponsor:  Werkz holsters
In this episode, Rich Brown sits down with John Hearn of Two Pillars Training to break down what the data actually tells us about defensive gunfights—and how most training completely misses the mark.
John has built a reputation for digging into real-world incidents, analyzing patterns, and applying that information to how we should actually train. From distances and timing to decision-making under pressure, this conversation challenges assumptions and replaces them with reality.
They dive into what the numbers reveal about how fights really unfold, where traditional training falls short, and how armed citizens can better prepare for the moments that matter most.
If you're serious about training with purpose—not just going through the motions—this episode will change how you think about practice.
In 2021, John founded Two Pillars Training and began to offer unique curriculum focusing on decision making while shooting in addition to classic skills with pistol and carbine. Besides hands-on shooting classes, John has presentations focusing on the data side of the self-defense world. His interests include human performance under life and death stress, historic gunfights, crime data, and criminal typologies.

 
John has a Master's degree in criminal justice with a concentration in Research Methods. He has instructor credentials from the FBI, FLETC, NRA-LEAD, Rangemaster, CSAT, Centrifuge Training, Tactical Anatomy Systems, Kentucky National Guard, and many others.

 
Finally, John is a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation.

John Hearne's Webstie:
https://twopillarstraining.com/

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:057785d4-265d-4214-a186-24b22607cf36-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Show featured Sponsor: Tip Top K9 Training 
In this episode, Rich Brown sits down with returning guest Simon Golob for a raw and timely discussion on recent events shaping the security landscape—centered on the terrorist attack at Old Dominion.
This isn't a distant, overseas incident. It's a reminder that violence can surface anywhere, at any time—and often where people feel safest.
Rich and Simon break down what happened, what we know so far, and—more importantly—what it means for the everyday armed citizen.
What you'll hear in this episode:
A breakdown of the Old Dominion attack and key takeaways
How modern threats are evolving—and why they're getting harder to predict
The mindset gap: why most people are still unprepared for sudden violence
Awareness failures and environmental blind spots in public spaces
Where armed citizens fit—and where they don't—in events like this
Practical considerations for movement, positioning, and decision-making under stress
This episode isn't about fear—it's about clarity.
Because the question isn't if violence exists. The question is whether you're prepared when it finds you.