August 25, 2026 • 22 mins
Are you looking for ways to safely carry a firearm without changing your entire wardrobe? In this episode recorded live at the 2026 SHOT Show, hosts Erica Chin and Maggie Reese talk with firearms business owner and instructor Amber G. Johnson. Amber explains how she started creating content to show women that concealed carry can fit into everyday dresses and female fashion.
She shares her passion for mentoring new shooters as a "range doula" and introducing them to body-attached holsters, purse carry, and bra-mounted options. Amber emphasizes that true self-defense begins with personal awareness and understanding that you are your own primary weapon. She also highlights her "Fired Up and Fearless" events, which blend range practice with positive affirmations and community support. Women interested in learning more about her events or training can connect with Amber through her business and social media channels.
Mentioned Links
- 02:39 - Spelman College (Historically Black liberal arts college for women)
- 08:07 - Sticky Holsters (Manufacturer of friction-based holsters)
- 10:41 - Staccato Vegas (Firearms training and range facility)
- 14:40 - Fired Up and Fearless (Women's firearms and community event series)
- 19:10 - Maroon Tiger Student Media Group (Student-run media outlet at Morehouse College)
- 21:04 - amber@futuristicfire.com (Contact email for Gayles Futuristic Fire)
- 21:29 - @TheAmberGJ / Gayles Futuristic Fire (Instagram social media profiles)
Key Takeaways
- Women do not need to give up personal style or wear tactical gear to carry a firearm safely.
- You are your primary weapon—voice, awareness, and discernment come before drawing a firearm.
- Personalized mentorship ("range doulas") helps new shooters overcome fear and build lasting confidence.
- Firearms training combined with positive affirmations can reframe past anxieties and foster empowerment.
- Community-focused events centered around food, discussion, and support create accessible entry points for new gun owners.
Keywords Used Amateurs and Experts Podcast, SHOT Show, Amber G. Johnson, Concealed Carry, Female Firearms, Range Doula, Gayles Futuristic Fire, Fired Up and Fearless, Holsters, Self-Defense, Affirmations, Staccato, Spelman College, Morehouse College.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:08):
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcasts.
My name's Erica Chin, and I'mhere with Maggie Reese.
We're at 2026 SHOT Show, whichis exciting.
And more exciting though is wehave guest Amber G.
Johnson.
And if you don't know Amber, sheis, I mean, I love your content.
(00:32):
She is definitely femaleforward.
Because it's great content.
It's something that a lot oftimes it's something that I go,
man, it's uh you know, I it'ssomething I would never do, but
(00:55):
I love that you do it.
And so um welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (00:59):
Thank you for having me.
I'm so glad to be back here atShasha with you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:03):
I know I met you um 2024.
SPEAKER_00 (01:06):
Yeah, 2024.
SPEAKER_01 (01:08):
Yeah, and uh it was just like wow, we have to do
something together because umyou bring this great energy.
Thank you.
And um, and like I say, I meanyou're you're doing stuff that
uh I only wish I I could, youknow, and um you you're every
time I I see your stuff, it'syou're trying on whether it's
(01:30):
trying on a dress, whether it'strying on um undergarments to
show people that yeah, you cancarry safely and it doesn't
matter what you're wearing, uhcarry.
SPEAKER_00 (01:40):
Yes, you know, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
Yeah, and and encourage women to do that.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Um I know what made you start does deciding that you
needed to carry?
What was what was theinspiration in in your life?
How did that come out?
SPEAKER_00 (01:53):
I actually purchased my first firearm, and then it
the connection started happeningwhere I would go to the range
with it, and then it would be athome, and I will be at the
range, and I would be coming sooften that they'd be like, Okay,
so do you carry?
I was like, Well, I'm reallyhaven't built the confidence to
to really carry, and I don'tknow if I really want to carry
with how I dress.
(02:14):
And the range, the RSO at thetime was like, Well, why can't
you?
And I don't think he reallyunderstood that beyond the
range, I look like a lady.
So I had to do some real deepdiving to find the right
products that matched with thedifferent outfits that I wanted
to wear.
I didn't want to have thisrandom tactical belt with a pair
(02:36):
of baggy sweatshirt and I don'tdress like that.
Exactly.
I own one hoodie and it is formy alma mater, Spelbin College.
It's literally in my go bag.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah.
Uh huh.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
That is what it's used for.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
But I I think that so often, like, yeah, we we
don't have like functionalrepresentation of like, I want
to wear a dress and I and I Iwant to feel comfortable and
confident in my body, and I wantto express my style, and I don't
want to be limited, you know, inmy clothing choices, just to be
safe at the same time.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
So I had to go out and find different accessories
that worked for me, but then Ihad also had to make
modifications in my ownwardrobe, whether it be layers
or choosing slits over floorlength, and concealed carry
turned into getting concealedcarry purses to conceal carry
holsters that stayed attached tomy body when I went to the
(03:29):
restroom.
And then that shifted to concealcarry crossbody bags that look
more like fanny packs, which ismore my style when I'm in a more
casual setting.
But I was getting further andfurther away from the
traditional just kayx inside thewaistband simply because I
wasn't wearing a belt seven daysa week.
(03:51):
So that was something I had toseriously consider.
And once I realized that I wasmaking ways with my outfits, I
started making content.
And but before I started makingcontent, I worked at a range.
So I worked in sales, I I soldsold thousands of holsters,
thousands of guns, and I'vetrained thousands of people how
to shoot different platforms,and many of them had
(04:12):
conversations.
Well, how do I take this out ofthe range?
Yeah.
So I ended up being that go-toperson of how do I find the
right accessories withoutspending too much money on what
I need.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (04:26):
And now you have your own firearms for business.
SPEAKER_00 (04:28):
Yeah, well, for my FFL, yes.
Yeah.
Yes.
So any of the clients that cometo me for training, they get an
FFL transfer, whether it betheir first or their 50th uh
firearms purchase.
So it's something it was anoffer I wanted to be able to be
have that made it a little sortof like a closed process.
(04:50):
Yeah.
You come to train with me, youdecide to get your first
firearm, I can make sure thatyou get it, and you'll get it
from me.
SPEAKER_02 (04:58):
And you've been out here.
You we were saying you came outhere a couple days early and you
were actually at instructingrange.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:04):
Well, I wasn't instructing, I was shooting.
Oh, good for you! Yes, I tookoff my instructor head as soon
as I landed in Vegas.
SPEAKER_01 (05:10):
Oh, good for you.
I think it's really it's reallycool how um women that might not
have ever shot before can comeand it's like you mentor them,
and I heard you call yourself arange jeweler.
And I think that is fabulous.
You know, and kind of get thembecause we all need one.
(05:32):
Yes.
We all need that person to buildour confidence, to show us how
to shoot, how to be safe, allthat, up into this is what you
can wear, this is what you couldcarry, um, how you could carry
without outfit.
Exactly.
And I don't think I've everheard of anything like that.
I mean, this is like I thinkit's a niche market.
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
It really is.
And especially we have so manyemerging accessory brands now
that are more so fashionforward.
It helps when those companiesare more also in the f in the
limelight, and then you havecreators like myself you can
match up with and find youthat's a whole new market of gun
owners who are a little bit moreattracted to the lifestyle than
(06:13):
it would be than they would beif they were only told about
tactical range packs.
SPEAKER_01 (06:18):
Right.
Exactly, exactly.
And you don't have to wear thetactical pants, the tactical
pants anymore.
And you know, I mean, there's somany ways to carry.
And whether it's a purse,whether it's on your person, um,
and for different body types.
Exactly.
Like I'm I'm chunky, so I can'tI can't waist carry.
It just isn't comfortable forme, and I have some folds and
(06:41):
rolls and all that stuff.
Um, but I am chesty, so it'seasy to hide anything in my
chest.
And um so you know, that that'sa great option for me.
Uh bag, you know, whether youwhether you like that option or
not, I tend to just that's whereI carry because it's easy for
me.
And I figure, I mean, once Ilift my shirt, it's almost like
(07:05):
a shock and awe, right?
SPEAKER_03 (07:06):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (07:09):
But you can I'm trying, I'm sitting here going,
okay, I can segue somehow, butbut you gotta have like those
real world, you know,conversations because like you
said, it's not always gonna goon the hip.
Sometimes it's gonna go on thebra.
You know, you gotta be able tohave somebody that that spells
(07:30):
it out for you like that, youknow?
Right.
And says, okay, we're not we'rewe're not chick like the boys.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
No, we're not, and and we have to be realistic and
say these products are made forthe bulls.
Yes, they really are.
They really are.
So when we consider that, wehave to make modifications, and
sometimes the modificationsdon't look safe or right by
those who have been doing thisfor 30 years.
Right.
But unfortunately, the times arechanging and those modifications
(07:57):
sometimes do work.
Sometimes a kydex holster in areally good sturdy bra right
here in the summer is theprotection that we need, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (08:06):
You know, yeah, sticky holster.
I I like sticky holster.
Yes, um, because it sticks toyou, but then also if you know
it covers the um trigger guardand all that stuff.
Right.
And um and instead because Iused to carry a flashbang, which
was great too, but um sometimesit it got pinchy.
(08:28):
And this was years ago, so I'msure that's been modified.
Um, but I just, you know, it'scomfortable for me.
SPEAKER_02 (08:36):
Do you feel more empowered now that you've like
figured this out for yourselfand and you're able to walk
around and you're able to takelike accountability for your own
safety?
Did that does that change likehow you approach the world?
Has it given you like a littlebit more just confidence in
terms of like being out there inyour surroundings and stuff like
that?
SPEAKER_00 (08:54):
As far as being a firearms owner?
Yeah.
I would say I always walk aroundlike that.
You you were just born with it?
I'm not carrying right now, youknow.
But I mean, most will probablyassume that I have some kind of
weapon, but it's like, no, I wasraised that you are the weapon
first.
So I'd say when I do carry, I dounderstand it's a
(09:17):
responsibility.
SPEAKER_02 (09:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:18):
And I I do believe that I'm a little bit more aware
of not just what's happening formy own safety, but the safety of
those around me.
Yeah.
Because I do believe that whenwe carry our firearms, we're not
here to just protect ourselves.
We're taking the responsibilityof take protecting others as
well when we go out and about.
Yeah.
So that just means a littlebeing a little bit more vigilant
and uh caring a lot more aboutothers' safety than not just
(09:40):
your own.
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
Yeah.
I love that you said word theweapon first.
Yes.
Because uh there's so manydifferent levels of that,
whether it's um your voice,whether it's you know, hands-on
or whatever, or just runningaway.
Um, you know, there's so manythings in the toolbox that you
could do besides uh and and notsaying that sometimes you you're
(10:03):
out of tools.
Right.
But um, you know, to to not gostraight from you know, not you
know, you have to really thinkof all the things that you could
do, and that's beingresponsible.
Absolutely, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (10:18):
Well, it's not the wild, wild west.
Like you know, you're not gonnajust draw your gun every time,
you know, you hear a loud noise.
Right, right you know, so thatreally is actually an important
message of like, you know, justjust thinking about what tool do
I want to use in the moment andhaving all the resources that
you possibly can.
SPEAKER_00 (10:32):
Absolutely.
And that's just discernment.
SPEAKER_02 (10:35):
Yeah, yeah, I love it.
Absolutely.
So what were you what were youshooting when you were shooting?
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
Yesterday?
Uh-huh.
Uh I saw I shot the first whatis it, staccato 3-6.
I shot a lot of the in the inthe C4 as well.
Yeah.
And they were compensated.
Well, one of them wascompensated.
Uh-huh.
Both were compact.
I shot a few ARs.
I got a chance to look at thenew situational self-defense
(11:02):
scenario build-outs that theyhave out there.
They've done a wonderful job outthere at Staccato Vegas.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:09):
Nice.
SPEAKER_00 (11:09):
They have a mile, mile, long, a mile-long range.
And I, although I could notshoot on that range, it was
something that I wanted toexperience.
I'll definitely be coming back.
SPEAKER_02 (11:21):
Something for next year, then.
Absolutely.
We're sitting here, they'resinging the happy birthday in
the background, and there's alot going on.
SPEAKER_00 (11:30):
They just passed.
SPEAKER_02 (11:32):
That's right.
On Saturday, right?
The wishes are singing too.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
I do not have a singing voice though.
I don't either.
Uh, it's more like a noisemaker.
SPEAKER_00 (11:46):
That's fair.
You gotta know yourself.
You have to know yourself.
Are you great at karaoke?
SPEAKER_01 (11:52):
Umly when I'm drunk and I think I'm great.
SPEAKER_02 (11:54):
I was gonna say it depends on the level of alcohol.
Random side note.
I used to actually work at akaraoke bar.
I used to cocktail at a karaokebar when I was 21.
SPEAKER_00 (12:06):
Yeah, in the era.
SPEAKER_02 (12:07):
But I think those days are behind me.
Do you karaoke?
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
I from time to time.
I can actually sing all thehidden talents.
SPEAKER_01 (12:17):
I know.
I think it would probably not begood to ask you to sing happy
birthday to yourself.
But uh happy birthday.
Thank you.
Did you do anything exciting andfun?
SPEAKER_00 (12:26):
Well, for my birthday, yes.
Yeah.
I had a party.
Yeah, we had a party in Atlanta.
And then I came here.
That's sort of like my but Iwent to a basketball game with a
friend of like the weekendbefore, and we went out to
oyster well, it's more so likehappy hour with oyst target
oysters.
SPEAKER_01 (12:45):
Oh.
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
And we did that.
I did something like every daylast week.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Are you one of those people that you're like, it's
not my birthday, it's mybirthday week, or it's my
birthday month.
Celebrate the month.
SPEAKER_01 (12:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (12:57):
I like it's still my birthday right now.
SPEAKER_01 (13:00):
I hope that people are taking you out this week.
SPEAKER_00 (13:02):
I uh hey, look, let's put it out there.
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Hey, um, so another really exciting thing happened.
SPEAKER_00 (13:11):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:12):
Uh shot well, this this year.
You were um the Gandhi's.
SPEAKER_00 (13:17):
Yes, I was at the Gandhi's.
I was nominated most influentialfemale of the year.
I although I did not make topfive.
Uh this is my second year in therole being nominated.
SPEAKER_01 (13:27):
But that is amazing.
And one day I know that you willmake top five and win an award
because your content is reallycool.
SPEAKER_00 (13:37):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
Thank you.
And you're reaching, I mean,you're reaching more people all
the time.
And uh, and I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (13:44):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:44):
I absolutely love that.
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Thank you.
I love it too.
I'm really passionate about whatI do, and you know, I don't I
try my best not to turn downopportunities to be recognized
because I'd hate to be doing 10years from now and grumpy, like
nobody knew who I was because Ididn't speak up.
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
So that's an important message.
Like it it's you don't alwayshave to stand back and and be
humble.
Like, you know, no, like I didsomething and I and I I worked
hard for it, and it's anaccomplishment.
Like, you know, and and thataccomplishment inspires somebody
else to work for themselves andand fight for their own
recognition.
(14:20):
Like it's okay, like as women,sometimes, like, you know, maybe
there's an expectation that westand in the background, but
like, no, come to the forefront,come to the forefront and be
recognized.
SPEAKER_00 (14:30):
Yeah, and I'm answering the call.
Yes.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:34):
I'm so glad you're here with us.
And you have some other stuff inthe works, right?
SPEAKER_00 (14:40):
Yeah, I do a monthly event, it's called Fired Up and
Fearless, where I rent out arange for ladies and winners to
come and I provide everythingthey need to start off their gun
journey.
Uh, we shoot 22 just for theexperience to move a little
faster.
But it's an opportunity for themto connect with one another.
I design all the targets, andthe targets actually have
(15:01):
phrases on them that representthe things that sort of hold us
back as women.
And while they shoot, they sayaffirmations to themselves.
Wow.
And then they get an opportunityto set a new standard, but also
like setting a new intention forthe upcoming month after because
of the event.
SPEAKER_01 (15:19):
That is so Wow, I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (15:22):
Like I'm just sitting here going, oh my gosh,
like what what a great concept,and and and to to really think
about that and and visualizewhat it is that you want to
accomplish every time you pullthe trigger.
SPEAKER_01 (15:32):
Yes.
Uh-huh.
And affirmations, like that'sthat's big because you are, I
mean, your self-talk is whatreally drives you.
Absolutely.
And in order to, you know, ifyou do self-affirmations while
you're doing um you know,something like shooting or or
sport or something like that, itwe just had Lexi Lagan on.
(15:54):
Yes, Lexi.
And she was talking about howyou know the the thought process
and working through things, butum, you know, your self-talk and
what what you tell yourselfreally um has such a big impact
on on how you perform.
SPEAKER_00 (16:11):
Absolutely, yes, it does.
SPEAKER_02 (16:12):
Like I was not born with confidence.
I like I I just wasn't.
Like I I I had to get to a placein my life and it's still like
an ongoing process.
So I I just think that that'samazing because you know, some
of us need a little bit of aextra push or we need a little
bit of of somebody telling usthat we can do it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:30):
Absolutely, you know, and sometimes firearms
really put us put put our mindsin a place where we're younger
than we are presently.
So a lot of folks they getacross that firing line and they
turn into a younger version ofthemselves, the version of
themselves that was a screenafraid of the dark, yeah, or
wanted to call mommy becausethey didn't know they were lost
(16:51):
in the store.
You know, it doesn't always gothat we aren't going on the
firing line having theseflashbacks of war, flashbacks of
uh hand-to-hand encounters halfthe time.
It's about the first time we werealize that we abandoned
ourselves, or the first time werealized that we weren't
protecting ourselves.
So the I just try to use is thefiring line as a means for us to
(17:14):
heal that loop and close thatloop of knowing that we're worth
protecting and sort of steppinginto that power, knowing that
while we're behind the gun,we're in control.
That is the best message ever.
Yes, I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
I'm like, dang girl, that's good.
We're like, I'm like sitting oneverywhere.
I was like, Erica, we're goingto Atlanta.
SPEAKER_00 (17:39):
So the fired up and fearless event, that's
bi-monthly.
And the the first time we wentout of the state was actually in
Michigan, and we're still inStiletto with uh Amy Lucas.
She took a chance on bringing itout there, and we had about 20
ladies sign up.
Wow.
And we it's this it was semi-thesame rented out range experience
because we went there before therange opened.
(18:01):
So the ladies got one-on-onetime with us as instructors.
We built out a big charcuterieboard, we had breakfast, no
champagne, no mosas.
It's still a good time, though.
Still a good time.
SPEAKER_01 (18:12):
I love food at the range.
SPEAKER_00 (18:14):
Yes, yes, I do too.
Because my first event wasactually called Bullets and
Brunch.
And that's how I sold out myfirst event.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (18:21):
Like, got ladies to come to the range, and then they
came back to my house forbrunch.
SPEAKER_01 (18:26):
Wow.
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (18:28):
So I want to continue.
I've been working with somedifferent catering companies and
folks who just throw events inAtlanta who are a little bit
more 2A friendly to findlocations near ranges where we
could just go from the range tothe location to have the
debriefs.
So all of my first events when Istarted in the industry were
(18:49):
involved some type of food.
So I wanted to be consistentwith that because I am a host
naturally.
So I love that.
But you started out writing.
Writing?
Not in the industry, but yes, Idid start out writing.
When I was in undergrad, wow,you did wow.
Whoa.
(19:11):
Had my office moment where youhave to look right at the
camera.
But no, I started writing, yes.
When I was in undergrad, I tookon the role as business manager
and public relations director ofthe Maroon Tiger Student Media
Group, which was a media groupthat funded itself to do
projects it wanted to do whileat Morehouse College.
(19:32):
I went to Spelman.
I was the first female to hostthose hold those two roles.
And I wrote reviews aboutmovies.
I went to movie premieres andmet authors like Zane.
And I wrote about food runswhere we raised money by giving
(19:54):
giving away PBJs to thehomeless.
I I've written about my peersand interviewed them for the
different projects that they'vehad.
So for a while, yes, I wroteabout other people and I made a
lot of content behind the camerawith a team about a lot of
people, and now I am the talent.
But you always have thispassion, obviously, in a way of
sharing information.
(20:15):
Yes, I've always been astoryteller, story sharer, and
I've always been encouraged toget in front of the camera.
It's not that I didn't want to,it was a matter of I saw it as
vanity, but I didn't realize Godwas trying to get me to use my
light and my testimony to reachpeople.
SPEAKER_01 (20:31):
Yeah, well the camera loves you.
SPEAKER_00 (20:32):
It does.
SPEAKER_01 (20:33):
Yeah, you're great.
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (20:35):
Yeah, I do enjoy it.
I can't lie.
Yeah, it felt wrong.
Um but I had to realize that Iwas not chasing the attention, I
was chasing the intention.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:47):
And using your talents, yeah, and in a way that
benefits other people and helpsthem and gives them what they
need in their life.
So somebody's got to be themessenger.
Yes.
You know?
Yes.
Good for you for being themessenger.
Thank you.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (21:00):
Amber, if somebody wants to get a hold of you, how
do they do that?
SPEAKER_00 (21:04):
Honestly, they can reach me by sale 404-317-8399.
If you need me, you can call me.
If you need talent, you can callme.
And my email is amber atfuturisticfire.com.
But as far as like business,collabs, same thing, collabs at
email at futuristicfire.com,excuse me.
SPEAKER_01 (21:25):
And what about your um Instagram social media?
SPEAKER_00 (21:29):
On Instagram, I am the Amber G J at T H E A M B E R
G J and Gail's Futuristic Fire,and it's spelled just like it
sounds G-A-Y-L-E-S is the properspelling of Gail.
SPEAKER_02 (21:41):
Uh-huh.
You have done nothing butinspire me this entire time.
Like I'm just thank you forhaving me.
Oh my gosh, going like yourmessage is so incredible, and
what you've done with yourcareer is so incredible, just up
until this point.
So I know that you are justgonna like keep on, keep on
going.
SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.
SPEAKER_00 (22:01):
I can't wait either.
I try to be patient and not plantoo much.
SPEAKER_01 (22:06):
Thank you so much for being on our podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (22:09):
Have a great show.
Yes, you do the same.
Welcome to Amateurs and Experts Podcasts.
My name's Erica Chin, and I'mhere with Maggie Reese.
We're at 2026 SHOT Show, whichis exciting.
And more exciting though is wehave guest Amber G.
Johnson.
And if you don't know Amber, sheis, I mean, I love your content.
(00:32):
She is definitely femaleforward.
Because it's great content.
It's something that a lot oftimes it's something that I go,
man, it's uh you know, I it'ssomething I would never do, but
(00:55):
I love that you do it.
And so um welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (00:59):
Thank you for having me.
I'm so glad to be back here atShasha with you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:03):
I know I met you um 2024.
SPEAKER_00 (01:06):
Yeah, 2024.
SPEAKER_01 (01:08):
Yeah, and uh it was just like wow, we have to do
something together because umyou bring this great energy.
Thank you.
And um, and like I say, I meanyou're you're doing stuff that
uh I only wish I I could, youknow, and um you you're every
time I I see your stuff, it'syou're trying on whether it's
(01:30):
trying on a dress, whether it'strying on um undergarments to
show people that yeah, you cancarry safely and it doesn't
matter what you're wearing, uhcarry.
SPEAKER_00 (01:40):
Yes, you know, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (01:42):
Yeah, and and encourage women to do that.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Um I know what made you start does deciding that you
needed to carry?
What was what was theinspiration in in your life?
How did that come out?
SPEAKER_00 (01:53):
I actually purchased my first firearm, and then it
the connection started happeningwhere I would go to the range
with it, and then it would be athome, and I will be at the
range, and I would be coming sooften that they'd be like, Okay,
so do you carry?
I was like, Well, I'm reallyhaven't built the confidence to
to really carry, and I don'tknow if I really want to carry
with how I dress.
(02:14):
And the range, the RSO at thetime was like, Well, why can't
you?
And I don't think he reallyunderstood that beyond the
range, I look like a lady.
So I had to do some real deepdiving to find the right
products that matched with thedifferent outfits that I wanted
to wear.
I didn't want to have thisrandom tactical belt with a pair
(02:36):
of baggy sweatshirt and I don'tdress like that.
Exactly.
I own one hoodie and it is formy alma mater, Spelbin College.
It's literally in my go bag.
SPEAKER_02 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah.
Uh huh.
SPEAKER_00 (02:48):
That is what it's used for.
SPEAKER_02 (02:49):
But I I think that so often, like, yeah, we we
don't have like functionalrepresentation of like, I want
to wear a dress and I and I Iwant to feel comfortable and
confident in my body, and I wantto express my style, and I don't
want to be limited, you know, inmy clothing choices, just to be
safe at the same time.
Exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (03:07):
So I had to go out and find different accessories
that worked for me, but then Ihad also had to make
modifications in my ownwardrobe, whether it be layers
or choosing slits over floorlength, and concealed carry
turned into getting concealedcarry purses to conceal carry
holsters that stayed attached tomy body when I went to the
(03:29):
restroom.
And then that shifted to concealcarry crossbody bags that look
more like fanny packs, which ismore my style when I'm in a more
casual setting.
But I was getting further andfurther away from the
traditional just kayx inside thewaistband simply because I
wasn't wearing a belt seven daysa week.
(03:51):
So that was something I had toseriously consider.
And once I realized that I wasmaking ways with my outfits, I
started making content.
And but before I started makingcontent, I worked at a range.
So I worked in sales, I I soldsold thousands of holsters,
thousands of guns, and I'vetrained thousands of people how
to shoot different platforms,and many of them had
(04:12):
conversations.
Well, how do I take this out ofthe range?
Yeah.
So I ended up being that go-toperson of how do I find the
right accessories withoutspending too much money on what
I need.
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (04:26):
And now you have your own firearms for business.
SPEAKER_00 (04:28):
Yeah, well, for my FFL, yes.
Yeah.
Yes.
So any of the clients that cometo me for training, they get an
FFL transfer, whether it betheir first or their 50th uh
firearms purchase.
So it's something it was anoffer I wanted to be able to be
have that made it a little sortof like a closed process.
(04:50):
Yeah.
You come to train with me, youdecide to get your first
firearm, I can make sure thatyou get it, and you'll get it
from me.
SPEAKER_02 (04:58):
And you've been out here.
You we were saying you came outhere a couple days early and you
were actually at instructingrange.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:04):
Well, I wasn't instructing, I was shooting.
Oh, good for you! Yes, I tookoff my instructor head as soon
as I landed in Vegas.
SPEAKER_01 (05:10):
Oh, good for you.
I think it's really it's reallycool how um women that might not
have ever shot before can comeand it's like you mentor them,
and I heard you call yourself arange jeweler.
And I think that is fabulous.
You know, and kind of get thembecause we all need one.
(05:32):
Yes.
We all need that person to buildour confidence, to show us how
to shoot, how to be safe, allthat, up into this is what you
can wear, this is what you couldcarry, um, how you could carry
without outfit.
Exactly.
And I don't think I've everheard of anything like that.
I mean, this is like I thinkit's a niche market.
SPEAKER_00 (05:52):
It really is.
And especially we have so manyemerging accessory brands now
that are more so fashionforward.
It helps when those companiesare more also in the f in the
limelight, and then you havecreators like myself you can
match up with and find youthat's a whole new market of gun
owners who are a little bit moreattracted to the lifestyle than
(06:13):
it would be than they would beif they were only told about
tactical range packs.
SPEAKER_01 (06:18):
Right.
Exactly, exactly.
And you don't have to wear thetactical pants, the tactical
pants anymore.
And you know, I mean, there's somany ways to carry.
And whether it's a purse,whether it's on your person, um,
and for different body types.
Exactly.
Like I'm I'm chunky, so I can'tI can't waist carry.
It just isn't comfortable forme, and I have some folds and
(06:41):
rolls and all that stuff.
Um, but I am chesty, so it'seasy to hide anything in my
chest.
And um so you know, that that'sa great option for me.
Uh bag, you know, whether youwhether you like that option or
not, I tend to just that's whereI carry because it's easy for
me.
And I figure, I mean, once Ilift my shirt, it's almost like
(07:05):
a shock and awe, right?
SPEAKER_03 (07:06):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (07:09):
But you can I'm trying, I'm sitting here going,
okay, I can segue somehow, butbut you gotta have like those
real world, you know,conversations because like you
said, it's not always gonna goon the hip.
Sometimes it's gonna go on thebra.
You know, you gotta be able tohave somebody that that spells
(07:30):
it out for you like that, youknow?
Right.
And says, okay, we're not we'rewe're not chick like the boys.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
No, we're not, and and we have to be realistic and
say these products are made forthe bulls.
Yes, they really are.
They really are.
So when we consider that, wehave to make modifications, and
sometimes the modificationsdon't look safe or right by
those who have been doing thisfor 30 years.
Right.
But unfortunately, the times arechanging and those modifications
(07:57):
sometimes do work.
Sometimes a kydex holster in areally good sturdy bra right
here in the summer is theprotection that we need, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (08:06):
You know, yeah, sticky holster.
I I like sticky holster.
Yes, um, because it sticks toyou, but then also if you know
it covers the um trigger guardand all that stuff.
Right.
And um and instead because Iused to carry a flashbang, which
was great too, but um sometimesit it got pinchy.
(08:28):
And this was years ago, so I'msure that's been modified.
Um, but I just, you know, it'scomfortable for me.
SPEAKER_02 (08:36):
Do you feel more empowered now that you've like
figured this out for yourselfand and you're able to walk
around and you're able to takelike accountability for your own
safety?
Did that does that change likehow you approach the world?
Has it given you like a littlebit more just confidence in
terms of like being out there inyour surroundings and stuff like
that?
SPEAKER_00 (08:54):
As far as being a firearms owner?
Yeah.
I would say I always walk aroundlike that.
You you were just born with it?
I'm not carrying right now, youknow.
But I mean, most will probablyassume that I have some kind of
weapon, but it's like, no, I wasraised that you are the weapon
first.
So I'd say when I do carry, I dounderstand it's a
(09:17):
responsibility.
SPEAKER_02 (09:17):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (09:18):
And I I do believe that I'm a little bit more aware
of not just what's happening formy own safety, but the safety of
those around me.
Yeah.
Because I do believe that whenwe carry our firearms, we're not
here to just protect ourselves.
We're taking the responsibilityof take protecting others as
well when we go out and about.
Yeah.
So that just means a littlebeing a little bit more vigilant
and uh caring a lot more aboutothers' safety than not just
(09:40):
your own.
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
Yeah.
I love that you said word theweapon first.
Yes.
Because uh there's so manydifferent levels of that,
whether it's um your voice,whether it's you know, hands-on
or whatever, or just runningaway.
Um, you know, there's so manythings in the toolbox that you
could do besides uh and and notsaying that sometimes you you're
(10:03):
out of tools.
Right.
But um, you know, to to not gostraight from you know, not you
know, you have to really thinkof all the things that you could
do, and that's beingresponsible.
Absolutely, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (10:18):
Well, it's not the wild, wild west.
Like you know, you're not gonnajust draw your gun every time,
you know, you hear a loud noise.
Right, right you know, so thatreally is actually an important
message of like, you know, justjust thinking about what tool do
I want to use in the moment andhaving all the resources that
you possibly can.
SPEAKER_00 (10:32):
Absolutely.
And that's just discernment.
SPEAKER_02 (10:35):
Yeah, yeah, I love it.
Absolutely.
So what were you what were youshooting when you were shooting?
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
Yesterday?
Uh-huh.
Uh I saw I shot the first whatis it, staccato 3-6.
I shot a lot of the in the inthe C4 as well.
Yeah.
And they were compensated.
Well, one of them wascompensated.
Uh-huh.
Both were compact.
I shot a few ARs.
I got a chance to look at thenew situational self-defense
(11:02):
scenario build-outs that theyhave out there.
They've done a wonderful job outthere at Staccato Vegas.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (11:09):
Nice.
SPEAKER_00 (11:09):
They have a mile, mile, long, a mile-long range.
And I, although I could notshoot on that range, it was
something that I wanted toexperience.
I'll definitely be coming back.
SPEAKER_02 (11:21):
Something for next year, then.
Absolutely.
We're sitting here, they'resinging the happy birthday in
the background, and there's alot going on.
SPEAKER_00 (11:30):
They just passed.
SPEAKER_02 (11:32):
That's right.
On Saturday, right?
The wishes are singing too.
SPEAKER_01 (11:39):
I do not have a singing voice though.
I don't either.
Uh, it's more like a noisemaker.
SPEAKER_00 (11:46):
That's fair.
You gotta know yourself.
You have to know yourself.
Are you great at karaoke?
SPEAKER_01 (11:52):
Umly when I'm drunk and I think I'm great.
SPEAKER_02 (11:54):
I was gonna say it depends on the level of alcohol.
Random side note.
I used to actually work at akaraoke bar.
I used to cocktail at a karaokebar when I was 21.
SPEAKER_00 (12:06):
Yeah, in the era.
SPEAKER_02 (12:07):
But I think those days are behind me.
Do you karaoke?
SPEAKER_00 (12:10):
I from time to time.
I can actually sing all thehidden talents.
SPEAKER_01 (12:17):
I know.
I think it would probably not begood to ask you to sing happy
birthday to yourself.
But uh happy birthday.
Thank you.
Did you do anything exciting andfun?
SPEAKER_00 (12:26):
Well, for my birthday, yes.
Yeah.
I had a party.
Yeah, we had a party in Atlanta.
And then I came here.
That's sort of like my but Iwent to a basketball game with a
friend of like the weekendbefore, and we went out to
oyster well, it's more so likehappy hour with oyst target
oysters.
SPEAKER_01 (12:45):
Oh.
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
And we did that.
I did something like every daylast week.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
Are you one of those people that you're like, it's
not my birthday, it's mybirthday week, or it's my
birthday month.
Celebrate the month.
SPEAKER_01 (12:56):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (12:57):
I like it's still my birthday right now.
SPEAKER_01 (13:00):
I hope that people are taking you out this week.
SPEAKER_00 (13:02):
I uh hey, look, let's put it out there.
Yeah, okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:08):
Hey, um, so another really exciting thing happened.
SPEAKER_00 (13:11):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:12):
Uh shot well, this this year.
You were um the Gandhi's.
SPEAKER_00 (13:17):
Yes, I was at the Gandhi's.
I was nominated most influentialfemale of the year.
I although I did not make topfive.
Uh this is my second year in therole being nominated.
SPEAKER_01 (13:27):
But that is amazing.
And one day I know that you willmake top five and win an award
because your content is reallycool.
SPEAKER_00 (13:37):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:37):
Thank you.
And you're reaching, I mean,you're reaching more people all
the time.
And uh, and I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (13:44):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (13:44):
I absolutely love that.
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Thank you.
I love it too.
I'm really passionate about whatI do, and you know, I don't I
try my best not to turn downopportunities to be recognized
because I'd hate to be doing 10years from now and grumpy, like
nobody knew who I was because Ididn't speak up.
SPEAKER_02 (14:00):
So that's an important message.
Like it it's you don't alwayshave to stand back and and be
humble.
Like, you know, no, like I didsomething and I and I I worked
hard for it, and it's anaccomplishment.
Like, you know, and and thataccomplishment inspires somebody
else to work for themselves andand fight for their own
recognition.
(14:20):
Like it's okay, like as women,sometimes, like, you know, maybe
there's an expectation that westand in the background, but
like, no, come to the forefront,come to the forefront and be
recognized.
SPEAKER_00 (14:30):
Yeah, and I'm answering the call.
Yes.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:34):
I'm so glad you're here with us.
And you have some other stuff inthe works, right?
SPEAKER_00 (14:40):
Yeah, I do a monthly event, it's called Fired Up and
Fearless, where I rent out arange for ladies and winners to
come and I provide everythingthey need to start off their gun
journey.
Uh, we shoot 22 just for theexperience to move a little
faster.
But it's an opportunity for themto connect with one another.
I design all the targets, andthe targets actually have
(15:01):
phrases on them that representthe things that sort of hold us
back as women.
And while they shoot, they sayaffirmations to themselves.
Wow.
And then they get an opportunityto set a new standard, but also
like setting a new intention forthe upcoming month after because
of the event.
SPEAKER_01 (15:19):
That is so Wow, I love that.
SPEAKER_02 (15:22):
Like I'm just sitting here going, oh my gosh,
like what what a great concept,and and and to to really think
about that and and visualizewhat it is that you want to
accomplish every time you pullthe trigger.
SPEAKER_01 (15:32):
Yes.
Uh-huh.
And affirmations, like that'sthat's big because you are, I
mean, your self-talk is whatreally drives you.
Absolutely.
And in order to, you know, ifyou do self-affirmations while
you're doing um you know,something like shooting or or
sport or something like that, itwe just had Lexi Lagan on.
(15:54):
Yes, Lexi.
And she was talking about howyou know the the thought process
and working through things, butum, you know, your self-talk and
what what you tell yourselfreally um has such a big impact
on on how you perform.
SPEAKER_00 (16:11):
Absolutely, yes, it does.
SPEAKER_02 (16:12):
Like I was not born with confidence.
I like I I just wasn't.
Like I I I had to get to a placein my life and it's still like
an ongoing process.
So I I just think that that'samazing because you know, some
of us need a little bit of aextra push or we need a little
bit of of somebody telling usthat we can do it.
SPEAKER_00 (16:30):
Absolutely, you know, and sometimes firearms
really put us put put our mindsin a place where we're younger
than we are presently.
So a lot of folks they getacross that firing line and they
turn into a younger version ofthemselves, the version of
themselves that was a screenafraid of the dark, yeah, or
wanted to call mommy becausethey didn't know they were lost
(16:51):
in the store.
You know, it doesn't always gothat we aren't going on the
firing line having theseflashbacks of war, flashbacks of
uh hand-to-hand encounters halfthe time.
It's about the first time we werealize that we abandoned
ourselves, or the first time werealized that we weren't
protecting ourselves.
So the I just try to use is thefiring line as a means for us to
(17:14):
heal that loop and close thatloop of knowing that we're worth
protecting and sort of steppinginto that power, knowing that
while we're behind the gun,we're in control.
That is the best message ever.
Yes, I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (17:29):
I'm like, dang girl, that's good.
We're like, I'm like sitting oneverywhere.
I was like, Erica, we're goingto Atlanta.
SPEAKER_00 (17:39):
So the fired up and fearless event, that's
bi-monthly.
And the the first time we wentout of the state was actually in
Michigan, and we're still inStiletto with uh Amy Lucas.
She took a chance on bringing itout there, and we had about 20
ladies sign up.
Wow.
And we it's this it was semi-thesame rented out range experience
because we went there before therange opened.
(18:01):
So the ladies got one-on-onetime with us as instructors.
We built out a big charcuterieboard, we had breakfast, no
champagne, no mosas.
It's still a good time, though.
Still a good time.
SPEAKER_01 (18:12):
I love food at the range.
SPEAKER_00 (18:14):
Yes, yes, I do too.
Because my first event wasactually called Bullets and
Brunch.
And that's how I sold out myfirst event.
SPEAKER_01 (18:21):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (18:21):
Like, got ladies to come to the range, and then they
came back to my house forbrunch.
SPEAKER_01 (18:26):
Wow.
That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (18:28):
So I want to continue.
I've been working with somedifferent catering companies and
folks who just throw events inAtlanta who are a little bit
more 2A friendly to findlocations near ranges where we
could just go from the range tothe location to have the
debriefs.
So all of my first events when Istarted in the industry were
(18:49):
involved some type of food.
So I wanted to be consistentwith that because I am a host
naturally.
So I love that.
But you started out writing.
Writing?
Not in the industry, but yes, Idid start out writing.
When I was in undergrad, wow,you did wow.
Whoa.
(19:11):
Had my office moment where youhave to look right at the
camera.
But no, I started writing, yes.
When I was in undergrad, I tookon the role as business manager
and public relations director ofthe Maroon Tiger Student Media
Group, which was a media groupthat funded itself to do
projects it wanted to do whileat Morehouse College.
(19:32):
I went to Spelman.
I was the first female to hostthose hold those two roles.
And I wrote reviews aboutmovies.
I went to movie premieres andmet authors like Zane.
And I wrote about food runswhere we raised money by giving
(19:54):
giving away PBJs to thehomeless.
I I've written about my peersand interviewed them for the
different projects that they'vehad.
So for a while, yes, I wroteabout other people and I made a
lot of content behind the camerawith a team about a lot of
people, and now I am the talent.
But you always have thispassion, obviously, in a way of
sharing information.
(20:15):
Yes, I've always been astoryteller, story sharer, and
I've always been encouraged toget in front of the camera.
It's not that I didn't want to,it was a matter of I saw it as
vanity, but I didn't realize Godwas trying to get me to use my
light and my testimony to reachpeople.
SPEAKER_01 (20:31):
Yeah, well the camera loves you.
SPEAKER_00 (20:32):
It does.
SPEAKER_01 (20:33):
Yeah, you're great.
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (20:35):
Yeah, I do enjoy it.
I can't lie.
Yeah, it felt wrong.
Um but I had to realize that Iwas not chasing the attention, I
was chasing the intention.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (20:47):
And using your talents, yeah, and in a way that
benefits other people and helpsthem and gives them what they
need in their life.
So somebody's got to be themessenger.
Yes.
You know?
Yes.
Good for you for being themessenger.
Thank you.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (21:00):
Amber, if somebody wants to get a hold of you, how
do they do that?
SPEAKER_00 (21:04):
Honestly, they can reach me by sale 404-317-8399.
If you need me, you can call me.
If you need talent, you can callme.
And my email is amber atfuturisticfire.com.
But as far as like business,collabs, same thing, collabs at
email at futuristicfire.com,excuse me.
SPEAKER_01 (21:25):
And what about your um Instagram social media?
SPEAKER_00 (21:29):
On Instagram, I am the Amber G J at T H E A M B E R
G J and Gail's Futuristic Fire,and it's spelled just like it
sounds G-A-Y-L-E-S is the properspelling of Gail.
SPEAKER_02 (21:41):
Uh-huh.
You have done nothing butinspire me this entire time.
Like I'm just thank you forhaving me.
Oh my gosh, going like yourmessage is so incredible, and
what you've done with yourcareer is so incredible, just up
until this point.
So I know that you are justgonna like keep on, keep on
going.
SPEAKER_01 (21:58):
I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.
SPEAKER_00 (22:01):
I can't wait either.
I try to be patient and not plantoo much.
SPEAKER_01 (22:06):
Thank you so much for being on our podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (22:09):
Have a great show.
Yes, you do the same.
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