#1931 - Mike Glover

Episode Timestamps

• 00:01:45

  Discussion About Self-Sustained Trips

  • The guest describes a self-sustained trip across the US, from Phoenix to Canada.
  • The trip was intended to prove that bugging out is not realistic without proper preparation.
  • The guest discusses the importance of self-reliance and distancing oneself from institutions in times of crisis.
• 00:05:47

  Discussion About VA Disability Evaluations

  • The guest describes his experience with the VA disability evaluation process.
  • He discusses the difficulties faced by veterans with disabilities, including the possibility of having guns taken away under red flag laws.
  • The guest expresses frustration with the questioning he faced during his psychological evaluation.
• 00:15:33

  Experience and Liability

  • The speaker talks about his past experience and how he applied for a job in security
  • He was turned down due to his past experience and was considered a liability
  • The speaker discusses gun laws and how they could negatively affect combat veterans
• 00:21:42

  Military vs Civilian Life

  • The speaker talks about how civilian life is difficult and depressing
  • The military experience was easier because of the sense of community and belonging
  • Transitioning back to civilian life is difficult and can lead to PTSD-like symptoms
• 00:27:13

  Combat Arms and Special Operations

  • Combat arms and special operations veterans may struggle even more to find purpose and belonging after leaving their communities.
  • Many may turn to drugs, alcohol, and even suicide.
  • There are some non-profits, such as Warriors Heart Foundation, that help combat veterans transition.
• 00:30:45

  Dealing with Trauma and Mental Health Issues

  • There is no incentive or sufficient tools available to help combat veterans deal with mental health issues, such as PTSD.
  • It can be difficult for veterans to self-identify problems because certain behaviors may be normalized within military culture.
  • Many veterans may see themselves as a liability and burden, leading them to check out and even kill themselves.
• 00:38:10

  Special Operations.

  • Special operators go out and do the most dangerous missions in the world and survive because of their planning and training.
  • Being in special operations is not as dangerous as being a cook in a combat situation, where you have less planning and training.
  • The lifestyle and culture of special operations include fitness, planning, contingencies, and paying attention to all necessary equipment.
  • To be better prepared, people need to live the lifestyle of preparedness and depend on themselves instead of institutions.
• 00:43:41

  Labeled as Domestic Terrorists.

  • The company's group, American Contingency, was labeled as extremist and potential terrorists by the FBI.
  • The FBI analyst discovered the group through open-source searches on intelligence.
  • The company and the founder, Mike Glover, were banned on social media platforms and suppressed for years.
  • The company is still labeled as a domestic terrorist group by Facebook's team in India, affecting their business and reputation.
• 00:48:44

  Facebook And FBI Agreement Puts Preparedness Companies On The Same List As Extremists

  • The FBI likely communicated with Facebook to create a blacklist of potentially extremist groups.
  • Preparedness companies such as American Contingency ended up on the same list as extremist groups like the Proud Boys.
  • They had to prove that they were not involved in the January 6th events to be removed from the list.
  • The burden of proof being on them instead of the FBI is "crazy."
• 00:50:37

  Preparedness Entrepreneur Being Labeled A Domestic Terrorist Despite No Evidence

  • The narrator feels he earned his entrepreneurial success after 20 years of service.
  • He emphasizes that their mission is to help people prepare for disasters and protect their families.
  • He was shocked to be labeled a domestic terrorist with no advocating or involvement in the January 6th events.
  • His business was shut down by the merchant service account when their Facebook page was deleted.
  • He questions at what level preparedness is terrorism.
• 01:03:44

  Recklessly labeling people as terrorists

  • There is a real value in knowing what to do if something goes bad
  • People need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario
  • The nonchalant ability to recklessly label people is concerning
  • The government checks little boxes to dismiss or marginalize people
  • The FBI director needs to make a statement regarding infringement upon constitutional rights
• 01:05:46

  Ruby Ridge and FBI controversy

  • Randy Weaver was a green beret from Vietnam who wanted to live off-grid
  • The FBI and ATF conducted an investigation and did surveillance
  • The FBI hostage rescue team killed Weaver’s son and wife
  • Barricading happened, and eventually, Weaver surrendered
  • The FBI was found in the wrong, but the situation became controversial
  • There is a breakdown between organizations in the government and their powers that be
• 01:13:30

  Teaching self-defense and situational awareness

  • Mike teaches self-defense and situational awareness
  • Some people criticize Mike for teaching tactical combat casualty care
  • Mike explains that his teachings are necessary for emergency situations
  • Liberals also join Phil Craft survival for self-defense training
• 01:15:35

  Importance of having a contingency plan

  • Greg Anderson says that no one is coming to save you
  • Police may take too long to arrive in emergency situations
  • Having a contingency plan is necessary for protection and safety
  • Discusses the value of learning about preparedness and worst-case scenarios
• 00:10:30

  The dangers of government infiltration and entrapment

  • The discussion turns to the dangers of government infiltration and entrapment, particularly regarding extremist groups and domestic terrorism
  • They discuss instances where the FBI has instigated or provoked individuals into activities they would not have done otherwise
  • Joe Rogan and the guest question whether these actions constitute entrapment
  • They highlight cases such as the Whitmer kidnapping plot, which involved numerous federal informants, and the Waco and Randy Weaver incidents, where government actions contributed to violence
  • They also note the lack of accountability for these actions and the damage done to innocent individuals and businesses
• 00:27:00

  The importance of resilience and preparedness

  • The conversation turns to the importance of building resilience in the face of potential disasters or catastrophes
  • The guest emphasizes that resilience is about more than hard skills like shooting or using a tourniquet
  • it is also about emotional and mental preparedness
  • They discuss the concept of "trade anxiety," where people are not conditioned to handle stress and discomfort and are more likely to fall apart in high-stress situations
  • Joe Rogan and the guest stress the importance of exposing oneself to discomfort and building resilience through adversity
  • They note that many people in modern society do not experience discomfort or stressors, which leaves them ill-prepared for potential catastrophes
• 01:42:02

  The Importance of Handling Stress and Arousal

  • Technical proficiency does not guarantee success in high-stress situations
  • The body's response to stress and arousal must be conditioned
  • Focusing on breath and mental rehearsal can help handle stress and arousal
  • Physical exertion can identify weaknesses in handling stress and arousal
  • Self-defense and shooting training must incorporate stress training to be effective
• 01:46:40

  Dealing with Alien Experiences and High-Stress Situations

  • New experiences can produce a high level of arousal
  • Dealing with stress and arousal is crucial in life-and-death situations
  • Most people are not accustomed to being able to respond to stress and danger
  • The feign response may not be effective in high-stress situations
  • Amanda Ripley's book Unthinkable discusses the importance of survival and resilience in emergencies.
• 01:48:29

  When does it become real for you to get off your ass and fight for your life?

  • The speaker questions when people realize they need to fight for their lives in dangerous situations
  • Examples of school shootings are given and the importance of understanding how to respond is emphasized
  • The concept of hypoarousal and the parasympathetic nervous system is explained
• 01:59:33

  Conditioning the Body and Mind

  • The speaker emphasizes how exposure and training can increase resilience
  • Breathing techniques are introduced as a tool for bringing awareness back to the body during times of stress
  • The importance of understanding personal triggers and ways to control them is discussed
• 02:01:17

  The importance of focus in free fall

  • Discussion of free falling and the difference between a new guy and a senior guy
  • Importance of being able to focus in high-stress situations
  • Hand and arm signals for relaxation and arching
  • Importance of breathing and affirmation techniques
• 02:06:29

  Striking a balance between self-improvement and delusion

  • Discussion of the dangers of being too self-critical or too confident
  • The importance of action and physical movement in self-improvement
  • Need for exposure to weakness and challenge to grow as a person
• 02:14:33

  Importance of Sharing Burdens and Communication

  • Holding trauma and burdens in one's head can be detrimental
  • Sharing trauma and burdens with others can help with mental health and perspective
  • Podcasts and similar platforms provide opportunities for communication and sharing
  • Social media often promotes self-aggrandizing and virtue signaling instead of healthy communication
• 02:18:12

  Importance of Intimacy and Community

  • Podcasting and other forms of remote communication lack intimacy and connection
  • Intimacy and community are crucial for mental health and resilience
  • Preparing for difficult experiences can build a tribe and provide community
  • Purpose, connection, and resilience can be built through breaking bread and sharing experiences with others.
• 02:26:09

  The addictive nature of social media and its negative impact

  • People can become addicted to social media just like any other drug
  • The dopamine released by social media can create a dependency
  • Intelligent people's lives fall apart due to constant engagement with social media
  • Children growing up with access to technology must develop discipline to avoid addiction
• 02:32:14

  The dangers of relying on technology companies and their policies

  • Technology companies can manipulate their users and spread propaganda to further their interests
  • Fake accounts and bots are used to push extreme narratives
  • Platforms can eliminate users for spreading disinformation based on biased or incorrect fact-checking
  • The rise of cancel culture and free speech concerns arise when companies impose their own rules and regulations on their users.
• 02:38:42

  PayPal's Policies and Random Cancellations

  • Narrates personal experience of getting cancelled by PayPal for advertising a hunting knife.
  • Discusses how gun businesses and products are often targeted and cancelled by banks and e-commerce platforms.
  • Mentions Shopify as a company more open to entrepreneurs than PayPal.
  • Questions why PayPal is allowed to arbitrarily remove users without proper explanation or a hearing.
• 02:40:52

  Smear Campaigns and Free Speech

  • Cites a 20-page article written by an extreme leftist organization that labelled him a domestic terrorist, CIA guy, and white supremacist without proof.
  • Shares the personal PR tactic of denying allegations and cooperating with the FBI.
  • Talks about receiving hate messages from both sides of the political spectrum, from being a right-wing extremist to a bootlicker.
  • Stresses the importance of free speech, especially since people could shape a narrative about you and remove you from social media without any recourse.
• 02:50:55

  Political Leaning of Social Media Platforms

  • One-sidedness in social media platforms can lead to a civil war.
  • If right-wing people controlled social media, there would be a different outcry from the media.
  • Because of leftist fringes in society, the narrative is controlled.
  • People need to let the best well-formed argument win and respect other's opinions and beliefs.
• 02:52:59

  Social Media Suppression of Ideas

  • Social media companies like Twitter have been caught shadow banning people at the behest of the federal government.
  • The narrative is being controlled by leftist fringes in society.
  • The speaker is disappointed in his conservative friends who won't invest in a platform.
  • Civil discourse is needed in order to hear and learn from other's opinions and beliefs.