Iron Sights

Latest Episodes:

The Good Dude Collective ft. Chris Kuras, Bruno Fallon, Blake Cook, Jack Lewis & Jon Dufresne Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

This is a special SHOT Show 2026 edition of the Iron Sights Podcast, recorded on the floor in collaboration with Good Dude Concepts.

I’m joined by Chris Kuras (Good Dude Concepts), Bruno Fallon (Born Primitive), Jon Dufresne (Connecticut’s Consulting / See The Night), Blake Cook, and Jack Lewis (Black Tiger International). We talk about what brought us to SHOT, what stood out, and then let the conversation go where it needed to go — firearms training, health and fitness, leadership, culture, and the realities behind the industry.

No scripts. No marketing pitches. Just honest conversations, new connections, and perspectives from people doing real work.

If you’ve somehow missed Good Dude Concepts, they make the BRB breacher bar for real-world entry work—grab yours at good-dude.com and save on shipping with code IRON SIGHTS.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:06 SHOT Show
05:44 Night Ops Summit
12:50 Community Ties
26:25 Sobriety Journey
30:43 Good Dude Concepts
40:58 Mentorship
45:19 LE Training
55:28 Standards
01:12:16 Close Call
01:17:55 High Standards
01:31:07 Leadership
01:39:48 Positive Energy
01:41:48 Culture Shift
01:51:44 Final Thoughts
02:08:56 Closing

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#220 - Health & Fitness In 2026: AI, GLP-1s, Wearables And What Actually Matters Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

In this roundtable episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, Ryan, Cece, and I kick off the year by taking a hard look at health and fitness in 2026. We revisit what we were talking about this time last year, what’s changed, and what’s somehow gotten louder — without necessarily getting better.

We break down the new food pyramid push, GLP-1s and what we’re seeing with real clients, the body positivity conversation, and how AI is reshaping coaching, wearables, and the consumer fitness market. No doom, no hype — just perspective from the studio and the trenches.

Sit back and enjoy this one.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:01 2025 Health Trends

06:12 GLP-1 Overview

10:28 GLP-1 Experiences

22:02 Food Pyramid Changes

36:30 Social Media Experts

37:58 AI In Fitness

42:59 Risks Of AI

55:16 Gamified Fitness

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#219 - 5 Nutrition Mistakes Coaches Hate (And Clients Too) Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m joined by my favorite nutrition coach, Steven Brenna, to break down the five most annoying—and avoidable—things that drive both nutrition coaches and clients crazy.

If you’re currently in a nutrition coaching program, thinking about hiring a coach, or you are a coach yourself, this conversation will save you time and frustration. These are the mistakes we see over and over again because, as the saying goes, we know a few things because we’ve seen a few things.

This episode is about setting better expectations, improving communication, and getting more out of the nutrition process—without the nonsense.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:21 Coaching Frustrations

03:09 Setting Expectations

10:14 Why Tracking Matters

29:01 Blame Game (Age & Hormones)

35:20 Comparison Trap

37:20 Diet Trends & Consistency

45:30 Training Vs. Nutrition

53:33 Trust & Honesty

01:06:55 Carb Myths

01:09:17 Changing Beliefs

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AD #195 - Changing Law Enforcement Training From The Inside With Raphael @redhats_slowgats Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

In this After Dark episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Raphael, a 17-year law enforcement veteran and range staff member at a major Bay Area agency. A Grand Master–level shooter, Raphael has been instrumental in helping move training at his agency in a better direction.

We talk about his journey, what it takes to challenge outdated training systems from the inside, and the practical steps that have actually worked for him and his partners. If you’re law enforcement, a shooter, or an instructor trying to improve training without blowing things up, this episode has real takeaways.

Follow Raphael on Instagram at @redhats_slowgats and enjoy this After Dark conversation on the Iron Sights Podcast.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:00 Raphael’s Background

05:17 LE & Competition

09:15 Training Challenges

17:18 Red Dot Adoption

29:12 Training Standards

33:44 Fundamentals

38:08 Skill Builders

41:40 Leadership

48:39 LE Competition

55:23 Training Balance

01:07:56 Compete To Improve

01:11:12 Explore Vs Perform

01:16:39 Training Culture

01:21:25 Social Media

01:35:28 Wrap-Up

#218 - 9 Smarter Ways to Make Cardio Actually Work Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Cece and Ryan breaking down nine practical tips to make your cardio training more effective—without turning it into a science lecture or chasing fitness rabbit holes.

Most people approach cardio with the wrong focus. Today we help you reframe how you think about your cardio sessions, what actually matters, and how to stop wasting time while still improving endurance, efficiency, and recovery.

We also touch on heart rate–based training and point you toward our free Heart Rate Zone Training Guide, which shows you how to structure cardio using personalized zones—whether you’re using a treadmill chart, a heart rate monitor, or a smartwatch.

Grab it free at reddotfitness.net/rdfguides and start training with more intention.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:27 Cardio Myths

05:03 Smarter Cardio

14:25 Walking Benefits

28:26 HIIT Explained

37:57 Skill vs Intensity

42:47 Cardio vs Strength

46:12 Fat-Burn Myth

48:58 Making Cardio Stick

58:52 Play & Longevity

01:03:14 Cardio Takeaways

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#217 - Essential Amino Acids (EAAs): Do You Actually Need Them For Muscle & Performance? Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Red Dot Fitness nutrition coach Steven Brenna to talk about essential amino acids (EAAs) and what role they actually play in muscle, performance, and long-term health.

We break down what the research says, what it doesn’t, and how EAAs compare to BCAAs—without getting lost in the weeds. If you’re training hard, trying to maintain muscle, or just want to make smarter decisions about supplementation, this episode will give you some real clarity.

No hype. Just context and practical takeaways you can use.

25% OFF! Red Dot Fitness Programs: rdfprograms.com

FFA Program: https://reddotfitness.net/fitforaction

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:40 Creatine

04:50 EAAs vs BCAAs

12:28 Amino Basics

20:54 Muscle & Aging

33:29 Protein Intake

36:22 Bulk vs Cut

45:08 EAA Timing

50:39 Choosing EAAs

58:13 HMB

01:00:02 Wrap-Up

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AD #194 - The Process Behind Elite Shooting Performance With Billy Barton Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Today on the Iron Sights Podcast After Dark, I’m sitting down with Billy Barton — a Grand Master USPSA shooter, high-level competitor, and the owner of SpecTrain | Firearms Training. Billy has been on my short list for a long time, and after a few missed connections, we finally made it happen here in California.

What makes Billy interesting is not a military or law enforcement background — it’s his process. He’s a shooter who went all-in, became highly competitive in a short period of time, and then naturally transitioned into coaching and instruction. In this conversation, we dig into how he trains, how he thinks about skill development, how he prepares for competition, and how he approaches teaching shooters at every level.

This episode is especially valuable if you’re deep into your shooting journey — whether you’re competing, instructing, or trying to figure out how to train smarter instead of just doing more reps. Billy breaks down the systems, habits, and decision-making that actually move the needle. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there is a formula, and Billy does a great job laying it out.

If shooting performance matters to you, grab a notebook. Billy doesn’t waste words, and there’s a lot here worth unpacking. Sit back and enjoy this After Dark episode with Billy Barton of Spectrain on the Iron Sights Podcast.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:54 Billy's Background

06:22 Competition

22:28 Spec Train

39:23 Fundamentals

41:31 Structure

42:19 Dry Fire

44:24 Hard Lessons

49:15 2026 Plans

59:57 Consistency

01:09:40 Skills

01:18:08 Modes

01:21:58 Evolution

01:38:26 Coaching

02:02:43 LE & Competition

02:13:12 Closing

#216 - When Training Stops Being Fun (And Why That’s Okay) Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Training doesn’t always feel good. It doesn’t always feel motivating. And it definitely doesn’t always feel “fun.”

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I’m back in the studio with Ryan and CeCe to talk about what happens when your workouts stop giving you that sense of enjoyment or fulfillment. If you’ve been training long enough, you’ve probably hit this phase at least once.

We talk honestly about where training fits into our lives, why workouts don’t have to be fun all the time, and why chasing motivation is usually the wrong move. This isn’t about quitting or forcing yourself through it either. We walk through five practical ideas to help you reframe your approach, stay consistent, and keep moving forward even when you’re not feeling it.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m just not into this right now,” this episode is for you. Sit back, listen in, and hopefully take away a few tools to help you keep training in a way that actually works for the long haul.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:52 Loving (and Hating) Training

08:19 Finding Your Why

14:13 Community Matters

16:45 Training Environment

18:18 Coaching Matters

20:17 Coach’s Role

23:06 Learning New Skills

29:09 Changing Programs

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#215 - 5 Things to Do If You Want to Fail Your Nutrition Goals This 2026 Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Iron Sights Podcast, I sit down with Stephen Brenna, our nutrition coach at Red Dot Fitness, for a raw, unfiltered conversation. We hit record and break down the five things we’d absolutely be doing if our goal was to not achieve our nutrition and fitness goals going into 2026.

No trends. No shortcuts. Just honest insight into the habits and mistakes that quietly derail progress—and what to think about if you want real results.

25% OFF! Red Dot Fitness Programs: rdfprograms.com

FFA Program: https://reddotfitness.net/fitforaction

(NEW) Iron Sights Podcast Website:
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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:52 Planning Failure

05:44 Weight Loss Mistakes

11:29 Overtraining

13:57 No Plan

17:25 Routine & Flexibility

19:38 Accountability

21:05 Diet Basics

22:23 Support Systems

28:31 Injuries

30:15 Future Goals

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#214 - One of the Biggest Myths in Fitness: The Repetition Continuum Dec 09, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to the Iron Sight Podcast. Today I’m in the studio with Cece and Ryan, and we’re digging into one of the most persistent myths in the fitness world: the repetition continuum. You’ve heard it before — heavy weights for strength, moderate reps for hypertrophy, and light loads for endurance. It’s simple, it’s clean… and it’s not really true.

In this episode, we break down where that model came from, why it stuck around for so long, and what the current research actually says. We talk about some of the voices online influencing this conversation, and a well-known researcher who pretty much takes a sledgehammer to the old rep-range chart.

We’re going to cover what really drives strength, growth, and endurance — and how to use that information to train smarter, adapt better, and get more out of the work you’re already doing.

Enjoy the show!

25% OFF! Red Dot Fitness Programs: rdfprograms.com

FFA Program: https://reddotfitness.net/fitforaction

(NEW) Iron Sights Podcast Website:
ironsightspodcasts.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:48 Fitness Myths

05:26 Rep Continuum

08:44 Industry Issues

14:56 Practical Tips

29:42 Hypertrophy Zone Myth

33:35 Rep Basics

39:07 Failure Training

39:39 Programming

47:56 Endurance Myths

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