Making Shooters Better

Can you trust your training when everything goes wrong?

In this episode of Making Shooters Better, Terry Vaughan sits down with Erick Gelhaus, retired law enforcement officer, military veteran, firearms instructor, researcher, and founder of Cougar Mountain Solutions.

Erick has spent decades bridging the gap between academic research and real-world violence, earning a reputation as one of the firearms industry's leading "pracademics"...

Most people think situational awareness is about constantly scanning for danger. The reality is far more interesting and far more important: it's about recognizing danger sooner.

In this solo episode, Terry Vaughan, former Royal Marine Commando and TEDx Speaker, breaks down the three biggest reasons good people miss obvious threats, even when those threats are hiding in plain sight. Drawing on neuroscience, threat recognition, body ...

Brian Taylor has spent his life studying firearms from three very different perspectives: as a Marine infantryman, an executive protection professional, and an attorney.

Raised in inner-city Chicago with little exposure to firearms, Brian discovered shooting as an adult before joining the United States Marine Corps in the wake of 9/11. What followed was a journey through military leadership, corporate security, executive protection,...

Dianna Muller has spent her life around firearms, but her path from police officer to professional shooter to one of the most influential voices in the Second Amendment movement was anything but planned.

In this episode, Dianna shares how a childhood introduction to firearms led to a 22-year law enforcement career, a passion for competitive shooting, and ultimately the founding of Women for Gun Rights. Along the way, she explains wh...

Multi-division USPSA Grand Master and IPSC World Shoot Gold Medalist Tim Herron joins former Royal Marine Commando Terry Vaughan for a deep dive into the hidden side of shooting performance.

While most shooters focus on speed, accuracy, and equipment, Tim argues that long-term improvement has far more to do with emotional control, self-awareness, and learning how to perform under pressure.

In this conversation, Tim explains why so ma...

After reporting a crime and being threatened by the suspect afterward, Dakota realized something uncomfortable: owning a firearm without truly knowing how to use it wasn’t enough. What started as hesitation around guns eventually became a journey into competitive shooting, concealed carry, instruction, and Second Amendment advocacy.

In this episode, Dakota breaks down why skill in shooting has far less to do with talent&hellip...

In this episode, firearms instructor Karl Rehn joins former Royal Marines Commando Terry Vaughan for a brutally honest conversation about the dangerous gap between shooting skill and actual survivability in a violent encounter.

Drawing from decades of experience training armed citizens, law enforcement officers, and competitive shooters, Karl explains why minimum qualifications often create false confidence, why competition shooting...

What happens after hope starts to slip?

In Part 2, Ken Kraus takes us deeper inside one of the most feared prisons of the Iranian Revolution—a place where time disappears, rules don’t apply, and survival is no longer guaranteed.

The questions from Part 1 are gone.
What replaces them… is far worse.

You’ll hear what it’s like to live among prisoners who’ve already accepted their fate… to wi...

What happens when the post you’re sworn to protect becomes the place you’re taken from?

In this first part of a two-part episode, former U.S. Marine Ken Kraus takes us inside the opening moments of the 1979 Iranian Revolution—from standing watch at the American Embassy in Tehran… to being wounded, captured, and dragged into a system he doesn’t understand.

This isn’t a typical interview. It’s...

This episode isn’t about the Secret Service.
It’s not about psychology.
It’s about who you become when pressure shows up uninvited.

Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke has lived in environments where hesitation has consequences—pulling out of a garage in Bogotá knowing today might be the day, advising protection teams with lives on the line, and operating with a bounty on her head. 

And what she learned cuts...

She didn’t grow up around guns.
Didn’t want one in her home.
And for years… she fought against the idea entirely.

Then one moment changed everything.

What started as fear turned into curiosity.
Curiosity turned into competence.
And that competence… turned into a nationwide movement that’s reshaping how women train, think, and show up under pressure.

In this episode, Robyn Sandoval—Pres...

Most people rely on instinct when something feels off—but instinct without clarity doesn’t lead to action. And if you’re carrying a gun but don’t see the threat coming, it doesn’t matter what you’re carrying.

In this episode, Behavioral Threat Assessment Specialist Nikki Burgett breaks down how professionals move beyond gut feelings and start seeing behavior with precision. From understanding what...

Most shooters spend years chasing better accuracy… faster splits… cleaner gear.

Kita Busse took one look at the sport and asked a different question:

What if the problem isn’t your shooting at all?

Coming in as an outsider with a medical background, she saw something no one else was talking about… the massive inefficiencies in how shooters move, see, and process information under pressure.

What followed?

Natio...

He didn’t grow up around guns.
He didn’t look like the obvious candidate.
And twice… his body literally shut down on him.

But Perry Yee didn’t quit.

In this episode, former Navy SEAL Perry Yee takes you inside the moments most people never see…

This isn’t just a story about toughness. It’s about why people quit… and why some don’t.

We dive into what real pressure looks like...

In this episode, Maggie Reese, a national and international competitive shooter, shares her journey into the world of firearms and competition. She discusses the importance of mindset, training with intention, and the value of continuous learning. Maggie emphasizes the need for consistent practice and the role of self-talk in performance. She also reflects on her experiences on the show Top Shot and how they shaped her approach to ...

In this episode of Making Shooters Better, host Terry Vaughan interviews John Allen, a seasoned expert in threat assessment and personal safety. They discuss John's extensive experience advising presidents, his insights into the evolution of politics, and the importance of awareness and training in personal safety. John shares anecdotes from his time with President Reagan, the challenges faced by law enforcement, and the pressing i...

In this episode of Making Shooters Better, host Terry Vaughan interviews Olivia Albertson, a 17-year-old collegiate shooter who has made significant strides in the competitive shooting world. Olivia shares her journey from early experiences with firearms to becoming a world record holder in limited optics at the Steel World Speed Shoot. The conversation delves into her training regimen, the importance of mindset and pressure manage...

In this episode of Making Shooters Better, Terry Vaughan sits down with Jay Graves, former U.S. Army HUMINT and SIGINT Intelligence Officer, to unpack what real situational awareness actually looks like when the stakes are high.

Drawing from counter-drug operations, overseas deployments, and real-world threat assessments, Jay explains how intelligence professionals learn to establish behavioral baselines, detect anomalies early, and...