State of the Second

Latest Episodes:

State of The Second 107 – The Story Behind America’s Most Patriotic Bourbon (ft. 2A Bourbon) Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

This week, John and Kailey sit down with Tim, founder of 2A Bourbon, a patriotic bourbon brand built to defend the Second Amendment and support veteran causes. Tim shares the powerful story behind the company’s founding, how bourbon and gun culture came together to fund real charitable impact, and why he donates every dollar of […]

State of The Second 106 – Train More, Lube Less (ft. Mitchell Defense) Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

This week, Kailey and John sit down with Nathan Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Defense, to dive into what makes a truly reliable AR. From his background in the military and oil field engineering to redefining “Mil-Spec,” Nathan shares how precision, durability, and smart design create rifles that perform when it counts. They also discuss everything […]

State of The Second 105 – FFL Tech Revolution: How Software Is Transforming Gun Dealers (ft. Cerberus Live Scan) Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

This week, John and Kailey sit down with Dan Peterson of Cerberus Live Scan & Merlin to show how 860+ FFLs speed NFA eForms, fingerprints, and inventory. They hit on instant Form 3s, API-driven Form 4s, the $0 tax-stamp surge, and paper vs digital compliance, plus real tools FFLs can use now. ———————– Thanks […]

State of The Second 104 – What Nobody Tells You About Micro Compacts (ft. CANIK) Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

This week, John and Kailey sit down with Adam Ruonala, VP of Business Development and Marketing of CANIK/Century Arms. They dive into the evolution of everyday carry pistols, the GOA x CANiK MC9 collaboration, and why the PRIME is packed with race-gun features. Adam also shares insights on the billboard fight in Oakland, what tariffs […]

State of The Second 103 – Building the Citizen Defense Industry the Government Fears (ft. T-Rex Arms) Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of State of the Second, John and Kailey sit down with Isaac Botkin of T.REX Arms to discuss freedom, firearms, and the future of innovation in the gun industry. Isaac shares the story of how T.REX Arms grew from a small business into one of the most recognized names in the 2A […]

State of The Second 102 – This Organization Is Doing What the Government Won’t (ft. SOWW) Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of State of the Second, John and Kailey sit down with Joel Pellici, co-founder of SOWW (Special Operations Wounded Warriors), a nonprofit transforming the lives of veterans through nature, brotherhood, and purpose. From wild pig hunts to life-changing service dogs, Joel shares unforgettable stories of resilience, healing, and the unseen battle many […]

State of The Second 101 – What If Ammo Worked Like Bitcoin? (ft. Bullet Vault) Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of State of the Second, we sit down with Clay from Bullet Vault. He shares insights into his personal firearm preferences, his experience in the gun industry, and how his companies are responding to changes in the market. Throughout the conversation, Clay opens up about the cultural and political challenges facing […]

State of The Second 100 – Why Training Is an Investment in Your Life (ft. Tre’Von Barber) Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Kailey and John sit down with Trevon Barber from Right to Bear to talk all things training, competition, and responsible gun ownership. Trevon shares his journey from wrestling to firearms competition, how he built a career teaching others, and why proper education is just as important as owning a firearm. Trevon […]

State of The Second 99 – Gun Content Creator Exposes ATF Overreach (ft. Desk Pop) Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of State of the Second, John and Kailey sit down with Desk Pop for an unfiltered conversation about gun culture, navigating restrictive states, and why the firearms community is seeing a cultural shift toward fun, welcoming, and engaging content. From working behind the gun counter to launching a thriving YouTube […]

State of The Second 97 – Why the World Is Watching American Gun Culture (ft. GunnyGal) Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Join us this week as John and Kailey sit down with Alyssa (aka TheGunnyGal) and her husband Tanner for a conversation that blends guns, cars, CrossFit, and content creation into one unstoppable lifestyle. In this episode, Alyssa shares her journey from being intimidated by firearms to becoming a confident 2A educator on YouTube. She and […]

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