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Episode | Date |
---|---|
Book Review: Larry Correia's "Defense of the Second Amendment"
1261
Larry Correia, multiple Award-Winning and frequent New York Times Bestselling author, has just released a new book on gun rights and you should know about it.
Keep in touch with us here: https://trex-arms.com/newsletter/ |
Jan 29, 2023 |
The ATF's Final Pistol Brace Rule is a Trap
1272
Is it final because it's the last one? SHOT Show was a great place to hear lots of discussion on the most recent egregious ATF rule, one that claims that 10-40m Americans are felons and have been for some time. This podcast has some of the main points, and here are some great resources to learn more. |
Jan 21, 2023 |
What the Gun Industry can Learn from Coca-Cola
2081
Over a year ago, Open Source Defense published an article on Coke, guns, and product value, which was sparked by an old Andy Warhol quote. It was thought-provoking enough that we are still talking about it. |
Jan 08, 2023 |
Manufacturing: The Secret Weapon
989
Amateurs talk strategy, but professionals talk logistics, according to General Omar Bradley. Manufacturing capability will almost always be the limiting factor OR the driving force behind the adoption of new ideas or invention. Check out this great Forgotten Weapons video for an excellent example of that: |
Dec 30, 2022 |
Rights and Responsibilities - with Dr. Kayser
2470
Today's conversation dives deeply into the question of Rights. We in the 2A community are quick to bring up our rights, to affirm them as pre-existing, to appeal to them as unlimited... but what exactly are these human rights, how should we talk about them, and how did America's founders define them? Today's guest is Dr. Phillip Kayser, a pastor and theologian who has written extensively on the topic. |
Dec 24, 2022 |
The Time Isaac Provided Legal Testimony in a Gun Case
1434
It was a long time ago... this morning! Thanks to Gun Owners of America, Isaac was able to be a witness in one of the hearings opposing Ballot Measure 114 in Oregon. This is what it was like. |
Dec 13, 2022 |
A Quiet Conversation with Jay of PewScience
5006
Today's conversation is with Jay of PewScience! While PewScience has primarily worked to develop rigorous laboratory testing standards for suppressors and develop a single Suppression Rating for easy comparisons, this chat had less to do with combustion events and pressure waves and more to do with the gun industry in general and the development of the Citizen Defense Industry. |
Dec 08, 2022 |
The Fallout from the Bruen Decision (so far)
1193
In late June, the Supreme Court handed down the Bruen decision, which has already had a significant impact on firearm laws and freedoms across the country. To hear Matt of Fuddbusters talk about this from a legal standpoint, check out this past episode, and for more reading, here are links discussing some of the cases discussed in this episode:
Keep in touch with us here: https://trex-arms.com/newsletter/ |
Nov 29, 2022 |
Black Friday Sale Logistics and Thanksgiving
784
Take a peek behind the curtain of our Black Friday Preparations, some of the lessons we've learned, logistical hurdles we've had to overcome, and learn how you can get in on the sale early. |
Nov 22, 2022 |
Red vs. Blue: Mid-Term Deathmatch
1055
Now that it's been a week since the mid-term elections, there's enough data to talk about. However, the big takeaways are more likely lessons from the last few years than the last few days, and some reasons not to have the Red Wave Blues. |
Nov 15, 2022 |
How Powerful Tools can Cause Complacency
1135
The more powerful a tool or a weapon is, the easier it is for its users to get lazy when using it. As more and more tools get automatic features, it gets easier for us to be lulled into a false sense of competence. How can we make the most of these improved capabilities without losing the deliberate skill and planning that previous tools required? |
Nov 05, 2022 |
How to Level Up Your Knowledge
1199
The 21st Century is still the Information Age... but there is so much more information floating around today, and it is so much more accessible, that it's actually hard to find real knowledge, and turn it into usable knowledge that will let you level up your capabilities. How can you overcome the obstacles in order to do that? |
Oct 31, 2022 |
The Glock AR-15 and the Return of Ryan Busse
1557
So, a bunch of random internet news about old guns, new guns, gun control, and folks from the old gun industry all coalesced into an article on The Daily Beast! Let's find out more about what is happening with the Glock-made AR-15 carbine and our old friend Ryan Busse. Bruce Willis and Tommy Lee Jones also contributed to this episode. |
Oct 15, 2022 |
A Discussion with Open Source Defense
3794
A conversation that ranges from how tech companies are able to qrow so quickly, to why social media companies have adopted certain policies, to what we need next in the gun industry. |
Oct 08, 2022 |
Our AR-15 video is Going Viral!
1635
Two weeks ago, we published "Why EVERYONE Needs an AR-15" on Youtube, and it has generated a lot of conversation and commentary. Isaac reads some of those comments, addresses some controversy, and talks about a few important points that didn't actually make it into the video. |
Oct 01, 2022 |
American Food Production - Past and Present
1476
After a road trip to the family farm in Iowa, it's time to talk about modern American agriculture, and compare it to the way things used to be. As a bonus, Isaac talks to his kids about the lessons they should be learning from their ancestors' examples. |
Sep 25, 2022 |
Flintlocks & Old-school Skills w/ Ethan Yazel
4918
A couple of weeks ago, we shot a YouTube video about the history of firearms technology, with the help of Ethan Yazel from ilovemuzzleloading.com. The final video is more about freedom, gun control, and the Assault Weapon Ban of 2022 than flintlocks, but it got us a lot more interested in owning and shooting old-school weapons. |
Sep 16, 2022 |
Why You Need More GPS Devices
1181
As we learn more about all the new satellite and internet communications technologies coming in the future, perhaps we should go back to the humble handheld GPS devices for certain things. This conversation is about GPS devices, mass surveillance, jamming and spoofing tools, and practical land navigation. |
Sep 10, 2022 |
The All-New T.Rex Ironside Holster!
1482
We launched a brand-new holster today! Actually, it's a bit of a throw-back to a much earlier T.Rex design, but it's also the result of some of our newest processes, equipment, and strategies. It builds on the tooling we made for Sidecar 2.0, but is also the product |
Aug 25, 2022 |
Death and Taxes
1034
Last week, our Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce the impact of inflation by hiring $80 billion dollars' worth of new IRS agents to squeeze more tax revenue out of the people affected by inflation.hand
|
Aug 19, 2022 |
State-Level Politics with Grant Henry
1876
With so much attention being focused on Federal laws, the Supreme Court, and the current President's administration, it's easy to forget about local politics. Grant Henry, a private Tennessee lobbyist, comes on the show to talk about why he is very deliberately working at the state level. Even if our national lawmakers weren't out completely out of control, the local level is where the real responsibilities lie. |
Aug 13, 2022 |
Complete Weapon Systems with Henry Chan
4347
Isaac has a long conversation with Henry Chan of 9Hole Reviews about understanding weapon systems as a holistic concept, not just as mere individual components. The discussion goes from Henry's experience growing up in Hong Kong to becoming an ordnance officer, the future of 3D printing in army logistics, and the age-old tech race between arms and armor. |
Aug 04, 2022 |
HR1808 - Bad Gun Bills Never Die
1146
HR 1808, also known as the "Assault Weapons Ban of 2021" did not become law in 2021. It probably won't become law in 2022. But it will never actually go away... |
Jul 28, 2022 |
Putting the "Total" in Totalitarianism
1218
After a heroic Good Samaritan stopped a mass shooter over the weekend, Isaac had some questions. Why are the advocates for big government always so gloomy? Why do they gnash their teeth when individuals do well? Can we squeeze a Bill Waterson joke into a serious look at horrifying tyranny? All these questions and more will be answered. |
Jul 20, 2022 |
Common Sense Radio Control
2668
The ongoing demand for gun confiscations, body armor bans, and night vision limits now includes calls for... handheld radio controls! Isaac dissects a recent Slate article lamenting the ability of far-right extremists to use handheld radios to communicate after they have been de-platformed from Twitter. |
Jul 11, 2022 |
Your Past and Future Gun Rights ft. Fudd Busters
3274
The SCOTUS ruling on NYSRPA v. Bruen has a lot of implications for the future legal battles surrounding gun rights. This weekend Isaac was able to spend some time with Matt Larosiere from Fudd Busters, discussing the ramifications of this decision. It's a pretty wide-ranging conversation on past and current legal theory, but it also gets into what we can expect in the future. |
Jul 06, 2022 |
The Tree of Liberty
1694
As Independence Day approaches, we reflect on the Tree of Liberty. It's a pretty long metaphorical exploration, but it goes over the different branches on the Tree, some very recent Supreme Court Rulings, and ways that different trees have in the past been refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants with very different results. |
Jun 26, 2022 |
A Conversation with Redbeard Tactical
2166
Today, Felix and Sasha stopped by to talk about a whole swath of topics, from the economy of training to the lag in military adaptation, from the consequences in Ukraine to the responsibilities of early adopters. |
Jun 17, 2022 |
The Five Big Gun Control Myths
1495
Ok, so there are LOTS of myths about gun control and gun violence, but here are five that are dominating the current news cycle and undergird a lot of the current thinking about guns. |
Jun 07, 2022 |
Big Lessons from Ukraine
1214
A couple of months ago, we talked about lessons from footage of the first defensive fights in Ukrainian. Today we're talking about some larger lessons related to defense innovation. Is the American Military model more like Ukraine's or Russia's? |
May 30, 2022 |
Wild Arms R&D and Homebuilt Rocket Launchers
3389
Wild Arms Research and Developmemt has spent the last few years building destructive devices. Specifically, developing recoilless launchers and rocket launchers like the Panzerfaust and Fliegerfaust, and then publishing the research for public edification. Isaac Botkin and Jonathan Wild have a free-ranging discussion on munitions design, launcher research, and the two books they have produced so far: |
May 23, 2022 |
Behind the Scenes Q&A
2067
It's been a while since we did a Q&A episode, so Isaac fired up his much-throttled Instagram account for a live conversation with real people who asked real questions. This included queries about 3D printers, suppressor laws, customer support, and of course, lots of curiosity about new products. |
May 16, 2022 |
The Three Worst Gun Control Ideas
1805
There are a lot of different gun control strategies that have been promoted or attempted over the years. Here are three particularly bad ones, and an explanation of who they are actually bad for. |
May 09, 2022 |
Intro to Thermal Devices
1205
The internet is buzzing about thermal devices, mostly because of GarandThumb's urban survival video (youtu.be/rL5wePSjTL8). Isaac explains a few basics about how thermal works, how to think about, what the key differentiators are between devices, and how to start learning more about them. |
Apr 27, 2022 |
The Importance of Maps
830
Maps are important. Seems obvious enough. But learning how to read them and use them to do work is the really important part. |
Apr 20, 2022 |
The FINAL ATF Rule Change
1483
Well, at least, the final language for the most recent rule change about frames and receivers. Get ready for new rules on braces coming soon! |
Apr 13, 2022 |
How To Build Political Relationships
1255
Here at T.Rex Arms we recommend getting involved in local politics. Which leads to the questions "How do I get involved in local politics?" and "Why should I get involved in local politics?" |
Apr 05, 2022 |
Three Categories of Radio Communication
1401
Due to popular demand, another comms episode! This should be helpful in determining what kinds of capabilities you want to build in one of these three categories:
And here is a link to a bonus homework assignment: FEMA's DHS radio interoperability course is interesting to read: IS-951 |
Mar 23, 2022 |
The Unpredictable Backlash against Russia
1756
The entire world has now bravely tweeted out Ukranian flag emojis in noble support, and selflessly poured out Russian vodkas in righteous indignation. The internet's reaction to a tragic war has, for the most part, been predictably laughable. And yet, a lot of these emotional kneejerk reactions could have serious long-term effects... |
Mar 15, 2022 |
Practical Lessons from Ukraine
2094
We are far from having a clear picture of the geopolitical wrangling surrounding the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, and the livestreamed video of the conflict doesn't actually clarify things much yet. However, it does provide us with a very interesting picture of citizens, militias, and light infantry pushing back against a hostile force. So, let's talk about the need to have:
And, as promised, some links to the TV shows Servant of the People and Yes Prime Minister. |
Mar 01, 2022 |
In Memory of P.J. O'Rourke
1746
P.J. O'Rourke was one of the best journalists of the 20th Century; a master of clear, concise, well-structured communication. What better way to honor his memory than a rambling, long, and completely unplanned livestream talking about some of his best work? Isaac describes what made him stand apart, and what T.REX folks can learn from him. |
Feb 22, 2022 |
Starting Conversations about the Second Amendment
829
Over the last couple of years, there have been a record number of guns purchased by the American public, and a shockingly large percentage of those were purchased by first time gun owners. While we can appreciate those folks being better equipped to physically defend themselves, they may not be ideologically able to defend their right to do so. How can we bring them along to a deeper understanding and appreciation for what the Second Amendment really means? |
Feb 15, 2022 |
Deplatforming Platforms
1427
This was a big week in the ongoing discussion about the regulation and control of large social media platforms that regularly de-platform their customers that they disagree with. All kinds of kerfuffle related to Spotify, Patreon, and GoFundMe has ensued, and a lot of stuff has happened as a result. |
Feb 08, 2022 |
The Drone Wars (Season Two)
1590
Isaac talks about continuing developments and uses of drones. Specific discussion on the Parrot Anafi drones, and newer Skydio drones, as well as the increased use of quadcopter use in Law Enforcement. |
Jan 31, 2022 |
The State of EmComm Radio in 2022
1484
The number of people building out decentralized radio communication has grown over the last few years, and a lot of lessons have been learned, and a lot of tools and capabilities have grown. Here are a few things Isaac is excited about: |
Jan 25, 2022 |
Shot Show 2022 Review
5378
Lucas and Isaac talk about some of the products that have been announced this year at Shot Show, from optics to pistols to rifles and more. There are some very encouraging trends this year, and some very cool night vision developments. |
Jan 20, 2022 |
Ryan Busse's "Gunfight" Book Review
2084
Ryan Busse spent 25 years at the Kimber firearm company, climbing his way up through sales to become Vice President of the company. Then, he suddenly switched sides to become an advisor to the Giffords gun control group, work on the Biden Presidential campaign, and write this tell-all book about the terrible radicalizing effects of the horrible NRA and fearsome gun industry. |
Jan 18, 2022 |
The Actual Insurrectionists of January 6th
1365
Last year, on January 6th, a mob of people entered the United States Capitol Building and had the audacity to walk right past countless statues of America's Founding Fathers. Who were the actual insurrectionists? |
Jan 11, 2022 |
2021 Year in Review - Behind the Scenes
3714
Isaac talks a bit about some of the experiences we had as a company during the year 2021. |
Jan 06, 2022 |
Welcome to 2022!
1210
Want to find out why Isaac is excited about 2022? Get ready. |
Jan 03, 2022 |
How Do We Build Gun Culture 3.0?
1147
What do our next steps look like? As our community develops, what skills do we need? What tools should be acquiring? What principles do we need to understand in order to answer these questions? |
Dec 20, 2021 |
How Lucas Botkin Learned to Shoot
3564
Lucas talks about some of the experiences he had as a new shooter. |
Dec 16, 2021 |
Three Generations of Gun Culture
1256
There's a lot of talk about Gun Culture 1.0 and 2.0, and Isaac lays out some groundwork on these different phases of our 2A community, in preparation for a few upcoming podcasts... |
Dec 14, 2021 |
Black Friday Wrap-Up Q&A
3970
As we wrap up all the orders that came in during Black Friday, Isaac talks about some of our experiences during this year's sale. |
Dec 09, 2021 |
The Good Kind of Dangerous
1504
Edward Durr is being called a dangerous man. Why? Because he, a mere truck driver with a miniscule $3,000 war chest, had the audacity to run for state Senate in New Jersey, beating out the entrenched incumbent, a professional politician with immense power, a thirty-year history in Government, and a $300,000 campaign budget. |
Dec 04, 2021 |
What is the Future of Radio Comms?
3911
What kinds of radio gear should you have to communicate with, and how should you be preparing for the future? Isaac talks SDRs, mesh networks, direction finding, jamming, and more. This one is better as video, since there are a few demos. |
Dec 02, 2021 |
The Purpose of Thanksgiving
1122
Not just the holiday, which this podcast is too late for, but also the actual virtue of being a thankful person, and recognizing the blessings that you need to be grateful for, preserve, defend, improve, and pass on. |
Nov 29, 2021 |
Black Friday 2021
3565
Lucas talks about ways to save money on gear and the upcoming Black Friday at T.REX Arms. |
Nov 25, 2021 |
Who Was That Masked Man?
1537
The media has predictably freaked out over the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict, calling him a vigilante, a symbol of hate, and worse. Isaac decides to get all philosophical about heroic vigilantes, symbolic outlaws, and freedom fighters of history and fiction. A fast look at Robin Hood, Zorro, Scarlet Pimpernel, The Scarecrow (and Batman, obviously), all compared with men of the War for American Independence and the resistance movements of WWII. |
Nov 21, 2021 |
Shooting Fundamentals I Don't Teach Anymore
3749
Lucas talks about some various shooting fundamentals that he used to teach. |
Nov 18, 2021 |
Lessons from Kyle Rittenhouse
1069
Isaac talks about the lessons we can learn from Kyle Rittenhouse, the situation he found himself in, and what it means for our kids. |
Nov 13, 2021 |
Three Months of Sidecar 2.0
3479
Isaac goes over some of the production details involved with the Sidecar 2.0, various things that we've improved and expanded upon, and a few things we've learned. |
Nov 11, 2021 |
The Drone Wars (Season One)
1748
Begun, these Drone Wars have. Isaac gives a super brief overview of unmanned aircraft use, both by big military and small individuals, and some some cool tools that future users could benefit from. |
Nov 08, 2021 |
Navigation and Maps Q&A
3444
Isaac goes over navigation and maps. Devices, how to buy paper maps, drones, ATAK, radios, and more. |
Nov 04, 2021 |
Building a More Robust Manufacturing Industry
1178
Isaac talks about why the best tools may not always be the best tools. |
Nov 01, 2021 |
What Helmet / Night Vision to Get
3617
Lucas talks about Helmets and Night Vision. |
Oct 28, 2021 |
Firearms on Film Sets, Cameras on Ranges
1396
For those of you that don't know, Isaac used to work in the film biz, and he breaks down how firearms are treated and should be treated on movie sets, as well as some issues related to Alec Baldwin, Adam Baldwin, hypocrisy, accountability, and complacency. There are a few lessons for those of us in the firearm biz. |
Oct 25, 2021 |
Light/Dark Technical Q&A
3541
Isaac continues low-light October with a more technical Q&A about night vision, flashlights, and optics, and various other things that you use in the dark. Also, robot dogs for some reason. |
Oct 21, 2021 |
How Communities Start
1582
Isaac continues on the long and difficult topic of how to build community. Today's rambly thoughts involve Constantine, Benedict, and Boniface. Clearly some fascinating stuff coming up. |
Oct 18, 2021 |
Rifle Loadouts Under $3,000
3500
Lucas talks about various rifle upgrades and loadouts. |
Oct 14, 2021 |
3D Printed Firearms and Legacy of JSTARK
1846
We believe that the ability to manufacture your own firearms is as fundamental a right as the ability to own them. Isaac talks a bit about the different categories of homebuilt guns, 3D printers, and some plans for the future. |
Oct 11, 2021 |
Flash Light Night Vision Q&A - Low Light October
3742
It's Low-Light October (not to be confused with No-Light November). Lucas answers questions about flash lights and night vision. |
Oct 07, 2021 |
The Backbone of a Community
814
What are the most non-negotiable, productive, indispensable aspects of a strong community? Can hobby-level pursuits hold people together well enough for long-term success, or are deeper goals required? Isaac tries the trendy practice of recording podcasts in the car, and the audio quality suffers for it. |
Oct 04, 2021 |
Rifle Build Q&A with Lucas
3885
Lucas answers random questions about rifle builds... mostly ARs, probably. No leaks... probably. |
Sep 30, 2021 |
OpSec and Persec - Privacy and Security
3740
Isaac Botkin fields questions on Operational Security and Personnel Security. He might answer some. He might not. It depends on clearance. |
Sep 23, 2021 |
The Four Types of Propaganda
1144
Isaac breaks down four types of propaganda in history, and why and how to resist it. |
Sep 20, 2021 |
Plate Carrier Dos and Don'ts
4151
With the AC-1 finally back in stock, Lucas walks through a bunch of ways to use it, and a few ways not to. This is another one that works better as a video demo. |
Sep 16, 2021 |
Tennessee's Anti-ATF letter to the Governor
3614
Yesterday, 43 members of the Tennessee legislature signed a letter requesting that Governor Bill Lee and Attorney General Herbert Slatery actively resist the proposed rule changes from the ATF. Today, Rep. Clay Doggett, who led this effort, talks with Isaac Botkin about the current situation. |
Sep 09, 2021 |
The Future of the Fighting Handgun
1285
Isaac rambles about what the next evolution of duty pistols could be. His ideas aren't so much based on any individual pistol technologies, but a number of external trends:
After some feedback and testing, this could be an interesting video study. |
Sep 06, 2021 |
Militarism in Afghanistan - The Last 100 Years
1226
The United States isn't the first superpower to leave Afghanistan, and it isn't the first to confuse multiple military issues in its decision-making process. Isaac talks though some comments GK Chesterton made about this very issue over 100 years ago. |
Aug 29, 2021 |
Budget vs Rich Rifle - Is It Worth It?
4050
There have been a lot of questions after we posted our hour long(!) budget rifle video, and Lucas is going to address some of those now. |
Aug 26, 2021 |
The Need for Decentralized Communication
1057
After watching various crackdowns on free speech last week, and then seeing serious flooding over the last week, Isaac talks about a bunch of things that should be self-evident. As usual. |
Aug 24, 2021 |
On the Topic of Force Multipliers
4032
There are a lot of factors that will effect capability, and while mission dictates gear, gear helps. Isaac and David have a discussion of some pieces of equipment that often fall through the cracks of our other conversations. |
Aug 19, 2021 |
The BATFE vs Rare Breed Triggers
1071
This is a quick episode talking about a potentially important case for firearms freedom, and how it was set up to give the firearm company that has come under fire a more strategic position. |
Aug 16, 2021 |
Sidecar 2.0 Q&A and Demonstrations
4036
There were a lot of Sidecar questions we didn't get to yesterday, so we're spending some more time talking about the holster system today. Again, this is probably better as a video, but there should be a proper audio podcast on Monday. |
Aug 12, 2021 |
Sidecar 2.0 Production and Prototypes
4657
Our Sidecar Redesign launched yesterday, and production is already in full swing! This is another episode that works best as video, since we show part of the new production line, and prototypes of the holster system and tourniquet holder attachment. There is also lots of Q&A from folks who are curious about all things Sidecar. |
Aug 11, 2021 |
The Most Savage Department at T.Rex
3995
As T.Rex Arms has grown as a company, there is one department that has grown the fastest. Lucas will chat with our terrifyingly effective Customer Service team. |
Aug 05, 2021 |
What Makes a Good Holster
3781
Isaac and Lucas try to summarize the lessons they've learned from a few years of holster-making, but since we are currently retooling a few things over at the T.Rex shop in order to make better holsters, it becomes kind of a comedy of errors or trying to avoid leaks and spoilers. |
Jul 29, 2021 |
How the Firearms Industry Drives Innovation
1230
Isaac goes on a long weapons development rabbit trail after reading a gun control suggestion from activist Michael Cogbill. Not only do we have a right to self-defense, and a right to keep and bear arms, but the incredibly high value that civilization has placed on the availability of weapons has resulted in weapons technology driving a huge amount of all other technological development. Naturally, Jeff Bezos is mentioned as well. |
Jul 26, 2021 |
Rifle Class Training Video Q&A
3553
Now that our free 3 hour long rifle training course has been up on our site for a few days, Lucas will be taking questions about it! |
Jul 22, 2021 |
How to Build a Communications Network
3631
Isaac talks through some basics of emergency communications networking. Spoiler alert: Software matters more than hardware. People are the network; radios and computers are the tools. The most important lessons we can learn from effective communication networks in the past are that preparation and relationships are key. |
Jul 15, 2021 |
The Right to Repair Movement
1663
UPDATE: This issue is hot enough that Biden already signed an executive order about it! Not that Biden Admin EOs mean much, since there are so many of them, and this one appears to just be an affirmation of some new FTC rules coming sometime. Nevertheless it's an important issue to discuss, and Louis Rossman is one of the most coherent and forthright proponents of the Right to Repair movement and best contributor to the discussion. |
Jul 12, 2021 |
Personal Rifle/Pistol Training Q&A
3369
Lucas talks through different ways to approach pistol and rifle training; with instructors, with videos, teaching yourself, and more. Just in time for dropping ammo prices... |
Jul 08, 2021 |
Explaining Independence Day
1485
Happy Independence Day! Celebrate it while you can, and remember the sacrifices, stands, and lessons of those who fought for freedom. Isaac talks to his son James about some common misconceptions about the Declaration of Independence and the War for American Independence. |
Jul 04, 2021 |
Analog vs. Digital Night Vision
3530
Is it still worth buying analog night vision? How far away are decent digital options? Isaac talks through the strengths and weaknesses of both, and answers questions on how they work. We had some serious bandwidth issues with the Youtube livestream, which we solved with a VPN partway through, but the audio is clean. |
Jul 01, 2021 |
How Night Vision is Made
1671
Isaac attempts (and fails) to provide a brief explanation of how Gen3 night vision tubes are manufactured, mostly based upon the research of David Kitson: |
Jun 28, 2021 |
Should You Buy Older Gear?
3868
As a company that tries to make new gear, we generally like new gear. But old gear has a place, and Lucas wants to talk about it. |
Jun 24, 2021 |
Government Regulation of Automation
1497
This an Audio-Only follow-up episode to Isaacs discussion on Disruptive Technology. Automation tools tend to be the most disruptive technologies, especially to large unions and government officials, and it's interesting to look through history at ways that advances in automation have been described as destructive, but usually end up being highly constructive. |
Jun 22, 2021 |
ATF Comments on Braces and Receivers
3743
The ATF has opened comments on proposed rules changes on receivers and pistol braces. Isaac talks through how to leave a comment, why to leave a comment, and some more lessons from his ongoing study of the ATF itself. |
Jun 17, 2021 |
Flashlight Advances, Disruptive Tech, and Olight
1457
Isaac follows up on Lucas's weaponlight video with an audio-only podcast about how much has changed in the flashlight world over the last few decades, how government regulation gets us the wrong kinds of disruptions when a truly disruptive technology appears, and he digs a bit deeper into the Olight flashlight can of worms. |
Jun 14, 2021 |
Weapon Light Setups and Configurations
4242
Lucas answers questions and demos different ways to set up and run weapon lights on various platforms. This another demo stream that works better as video than as audio, but check back on Monday and Isaac will try to have some audio for you. |
Jun 11, 2021 |
Welcome (Back) to the Podcast!
1326
We're trying to treat this podcast more as a real podcast than a mere backup of our YouTube Livestreams, and so we are looking forward to your thoughts on it what should be. |
Jun 02, 2021 |
Nylon Q&A - Carriers, Chest Rigs, Slings, Belts
3655
Lucas answers questions about all types of nylon gear. NO KYDEX QUESTIONS! |
May 27, 2021 |
The Summer of Peace and Love
3521
2021 has had an interesting start. The summer will be MORE interesting. David and Isaac discuss resiliency and preparedness, basic radio setups, tactical and technical lessons to be learned from Israel, and why the Amish present a clear and present danger to urban centers. |
May 20, 2021 |
Helmets and Plate Carriers
3720
Lucas discusses helmets and plate carriers; different types, purposes, support equipment, and more. |
May 12, 2021 |
3D Printing, Tools, Files, and the Future
3434
Isaac talks about the latest legal changes regarding 3D printed guns, as well as how and why to get into 3D printing for other purposes. |
May 06, 2021 |
How Lucas Botkin Flies with "Things"
3757
Lucas talks about traveling with various things on various airlines, baggage restrictions, the TSA, and of course, he will answer questions. More questions than Isaac. |
Apr 29, 2021 |
Ask Isaac: Mostly about the ATF
4047
Isaac Botkin finally decides to do a regular Q&A stream, but still ends up mostly talking about the ATF, David Chipman, Tyranny, and Law. And also comms. And also a special surprise guest. |
Apr 22, 2021 |
Grey Man Theory
3751
Lucas Botkin talks about how to become the elusive and mysterious Grey Man. He has the right equipment and clothing, not to mention friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan. He speaks a dozen languages and knows every local custom. He'll blend in, disappear. You'll never see him again. With any luck he's got the grail already. |
Apr 15, 2021 |
Building Liberty: Reading List Part 2
3680
Isaac returns to discuss censorship, gun laws, and to finish his recommended reading list of important books. |
Apr 08, 2021 |
How to Play Uno
3490
Stay on top of manufacturing or draw 25. Lucas explains the strange and confusing saga of the AC-Uno, the plate carrier of mysterious origins that appeared on our site on April first. The product is not a joke, but someone did get fooled. |
Apr 02, 2021 |
How to Market a New Company
3390
T.Rex Arms is a very old company; almost 8 years old. But if Lucas were to begin marketing a NEW company, here's a few things he would do. |
Mar 25, 2021 |
Tour of the Holster Production Pipeline
4066
Isaac walks around our current production pipeline, and explains how we make holsters now... but also talks through how we've been scaling and rebuilding our shop to make holsters faster in the future! The shop is loud, so sorry about the audio quality. |
Mar 18, 2021 |
2021 Firearm Legislation
4534
Isaac talks about some of the various gun-related legislation at the Federal level, and here in Tennessee, while at the VERY SAME TIME David Botkin testifies before the TN Criminal Justice Committee in defense of Constitutional Carry. His remarks begin at the 1:00:00 mark. |
Mar 11, 2021 |
Ask Lucas: Gear, Airsoft, Training
3784
Lucas does Q&A on gear, airsoft stuff, and training, many of which came from folks who watched the airsoft video we released on YouTube last week. |
Mar 04, 2021 |
Chameleon Targets and Tech
3572
Isaac does Q&A on the Chameleon Target System, explains how it has developed over the last year, and discusses various T.Rex Arms technology projects; projects that were, projects that are, and some projects which have not yet come to pass. |
Feb 25, 2021 |
The Doctrine of Anti-Fragility
1910
Isaac reflects on various lessons from the recent bad weather, Big Tech de-platforming, and the death of Rush Limbaugh - and why we need to be more sturdy and anti-fragile. |
Feb 18, 2021 |
Scopes, Lights, and Rifle Attachments
3775
Lucas talks about rifle builds, particularly the attachments and accesories of various rifle builds, after Isaac makes a quick political announcement about various gun bills. This is essentially a revisitation of the material from our lost September 16th episode. |
Feb 11, 2021 |
Warbelt Setup Overview
3688
Lucas talks about setting up warbelts, and all the holsters, mag carriers, medical gear, and various other bags, pouches, and first line equipment that goes on the belt. |
Feb 04, 2021 |
The January No Topic Q&A Stream
3541
It's been a long time since we did a regular Q&A stream to talk about whatever YOU want to talk about. So here it is. Our YouTube viewers ask Lucas and Isaac a bunch of completely random questions. |
Jan 28, 2021 |
Inauguration, Overreaction, and Response
1041
Isaac Botkin talks about lessons from the escalating reactions to everything surrounding the election and inauguration. Don't let the overreactions fool you. ...This produced, in 1760 and 1761, an awakening and a revival of American principles and feelings, with an enthusiasm which went on increasing till, in 1775, it burst out in open violence, hostility, and fury.” - John Adams |
Jan 21, 2021 |
Airsoft for Training?
3641
Lucas just got back from a major airsoft event, and has some thoughts on the training value of airsoft gear and activities. |
Jan 14, 2021 |
The Second Amendment Reading List
3587
On January 6th nothing happened that we're allowed to talk about on a YouTube Livestream, so Isaac talked about the books that T.Rex Arms recommends folks be reading in 2021. These are books on the 2nd Amendment, the history of tyrannical governments and resistance, and other topics TOTALLY unrelated to any events that are happening today. |
Jan 07, 2021 |
2020: Year in Review
3792
It's been a rollercoaster of a year, both for T.Rex Arms and the whole rest of the world. Isaac and Lucas talk about lessons and takeaways. |
Dec 31, 2020 |
Why Christmas in 2020 is Merry
3748
Isaac talking about end of year stuff, future stuff, and the true meaning of Christmas. |
Dec 24, 2020 |
The T.Rex Arms Ready Rig
3799
Lucas describes the new chest rig we're making, and answers questions about its development and use. |
Dec 17, 2020 |
The T.Rex Arms AC1 Plate Carrier
3685
Lucas provides information about and answers questions about about our new minimalistic Plate Carrier. This one is a little more visual, so it might be worth looking up the video version if you want to see the demo. |
Dec 10, 2020 |
Why Customer Service Matters
3768
Lucas and Kyle talk about why T.Rex Arms puts such a priority on customer service, how we built our CS department, and a few lessons we've learned over the years. |
Dec 03, 2020 |
Black Friday Sale and Thanksgiving
614
Check out this brief announcement about how to take part in the T.Rex Arms Black Friday Sale! Also, check out the new layout of the shipping and inventory area (in the video version, anyhow), hear about a few of the things that we are thankful for this year, and go have a happy Thanksgiving! |
Nov 25, 2020 |
How to Navigate Internet Censorship and Manipulation
3911
There's been a lot of talk about how Social Media platforms have or have not been censoring and manipulating the flow of information throughout 2020. Isaac and Noah Botkin will talk about how much control these platforms have, and a few ways to be less affected by that control. |
Nov 19, 2020 |
Mainstream Media vs. Internet Hearsay
3724
So it's still election night, forever, and nobody trusts nobody. We talk investigations, division, misinformation, and a bit about Black Friday and T.Rex plans for the rest of the year. |
Nov 12, 2020 |
Election Night Aftermath
4206
There are no results from last night's presidential election yet, but that's all that the internet to talk about, so I guess we're going to talk about it. But mostly we'll just answer questions about why we aren't losing hope. |
Nov 05, 2020 |
How and Why to use DMR Radios
4347
Analog radio is awesome, but digital radio has some very valuable abilities. Isaac and David discuss how to program DMR radios and why you might want a business license in addition to an amateur license. |
Oct 29, 2020 |
The Strength of the Gun Economy
4486
2020 has seen a bunch of changes that have affected different parts of the economy in different ways. Let's look at them, especially as related to skyrocketing gun sales, ammo sales, and related manufacturing. |
Oct 22, 2020 |
How Lucas Marketed T.Rex Arms
3800
Lucas Botkin talks about how he marketed T.REX ARMS back in the old days... Before the dark times... Before the shadowbanning. Also, general Q&A, because he always does that. |
Oct 15, 2020 |
How and Why to Resist Tyranny
3588
Isaac Botkin talks about the ATF's new cease and desist letter concerning the Q Honey Badger pistol, and interviews the CrossPolitic team who were recently arrested for singing in public in Moscow, Idaho. |
Oct 08, 2020 |
How Weapon Technology Affects Culture
3580
Isaac Botkin talks about how firearms have changed over the centuries, and how these changes have affected culture. Culture also affects how firearms are perceived, and how laws are changed around them. |
Oct 01, 2020 |
Everything I Know About Business I learned from X-Com
4413
Isaac and David talk about how old DOS games about fighting aliens can actually teach solid business lessons, and how games often teach solid economic models. |
Sep 24, 2020 |
The Lost Episode
615
On September 16th, we tried to do our regular weekly livestream, but were shut down! When we switched to another platform to try again, we were cancelled again. This is the explanation of what happened behind the scenes, and some of our plans for the future. |
Sep 17, 2020 |
The History of the Second Amendment
3796
The Second Amendment did not come out of a vacuum. Isaac and David Botkin talk about some of the historical ideas and presuppositions that led to private arms ownership being protected in the Bill of Rights, and the opposing ideas that challenge the concept of an armed citizenry. |
Sep 10, 2020 |
White Lights and Laser Beams
4028
This episode was streamed live after dark, so Lucas could demonstrate lights and lasers, in the visible spectrum and IR. More than any other podcast so far, this one really should be seen and not just heard, so make sure you check out the video stream. |
Sep 03, 2020 |
New Product and Media Launches
4020
The Weekly T.Rex Livestream is back! And a bunch of stuff has happened while we were away. Hear about some new products and some new media stuff, and a bit of behind-the-scenes observations about manufacturing and supply line issues in 2020. |
Aug 26, 2020 |
Holster Setup and Use
4118
How the various T.Rex Arms holsters can be set up and adjusted, some various ways to use them, and why we make them the way we make them. |
Jul 08, 2020 |
American Independence
3876
A discussion on the main lessons from the War for American Independence, the men who led, and some comparisons to other revolutionary movements before and after. |
Jul 01, 2020 |
How We Set Up Rifles
3613
There are a lot of way to configure modern rifles to do different things. This will be an overview. This has a lot of visual demonstrations, so it's probably worth checking out the video link below. |
Jun 24, 2020 |
Father's Day Conversation
4192
A discussion on the best lessons our Dad has taught us, and all the ways that he has influenced us in our lives and the building of T.Rex. |
Jun 17, 2020 |
Gun Laws and Weapon Systems
4606
Lucas and Isaac talk about weapon systems: in general, how they get built around gun laws, and how things should be. |
Jun 10, 2020 |
Riots and Revolution
3601
A conversation about civil unrest and societal change throughout history, looking at specific examples of tyranny, injustice, and resistance after the dust has settled. |
Jun 03, 2020 |
Pistol Upgrades
4415
Lucas and Steve talk about upgrades that you can make to your pistol, and to yourself. |
May 27, 2020 |
Comms Conversation
3883
Isaac and David have a conversation about emergency and radio communications, answering your questions about gear, systems, strategies, encryption and more! |
May 20, 2020 |
Rebuilding America
4278
Isaac, Lucas, and David have a discussion on business and economics, difficulties and opportunities, and things you can be doing to help build a stronger American economy. |
May 13, 2020 |
Armor and Plate Carriers
4418
ucas and David and Steve talk about different armor tech and plate carrier options. |
May 06, 2020 |
Night Vision Conversation
3536
Isaac and Lucas have a discussion about night vision tools, from technical to practical to financial. All categories, all price ranges, all uses. |
Apr 29, 2020 |
Quarantine and DON'T Chill
4060
Game, movie, and book recommendations from the T.REX team. How to improve yourself and make the most of your time.
Economics:
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Apr 22, 2020 |
Ask Lucas Anything
4221
Lucas Botkin takes questions regarding training, firearms, equipment, and the products T.REX ARMS creates. |
Mar 23, 2020 |