Episodios

  • Do You Trust Me? Credibility is Currency

    Do You Trust Me? Credibility is Currency
    Nov 15 2025
    Most of us see ourselves as leaders, but a whole lot goes into "Leadership." One of the most vital aspects of persuasion is the credibility and trust people see in you. Credibility can grow over time, and it can also be spent or wasted. In this episode, Mike and Jim will teach us about building cred with your team, how credibility shapes a leader's ability to influence decisions, maintain team cohesion, and drive mission success. Drawing from research, philosophy, and operational experience, they outline the behaviors that strengthen trust and the missteps that erode it. Strong leadership isn't always about rank or position—it's about credibility. In high-performance teams, the credibility you have determines if you are a true influence on those around you or if you merely hold a title.

    Pretty good research article on this: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9309999/
    How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - https://amzn.to/49llmSO

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Protecting your Parents: Fraud and Scams

    Protecting your Parents: Fraud and Scams
    Nov 1 2025
    Even the best of us get played from time to time. From an Air Force pilot duped into buying thousands in Sephora gift cards, to clever banking and family scams that nearly fooled even the most skeptical of us, we talk about some of the psychology and tactics behind modern frauds: urgency, authority, distraction, and good old-fashioned trust. We'll look at how scams exploit our problem-solving instincts, how technology has supercharged the game, and why protecting your family from fraud might matter more than protecting them from burglars.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 9 m
  • To Chase or Not to Chase: Are the Risks of a Pursuit Worth It?

    To Chase or Not to Chase: Are the Risks of a Pursuit Worth It?
    Oct 15 2025
    How do you stop a car that doesn't want to stop? If you see a rabbit should you chase the rabbit? We talk about safety and statistics, what factors to weigh the risk versus reward, how policies play into decision making, what the Brits mean when they say "Red Mist," and alternatives to vehicle pursuits including the role of Air Support, PIT, The Grappler, road spikes, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 13 m
  • "Don't drop the airplane to fly the radio": Managing Bandwidth

    "Don't drop the airplane to fly the radio": Managing Bandwidth
    Oct 1 2025

    How do you prioritize your attention in a world full of distractions and competing priorities? Most people understand triage as a concept, but are you ready to sort wounded people? Both operationally and in our personal lives, we have to choose what we pay attention to. That is true in everything from time management and budgeting to room clearing and in-flight emergencies.

    We talk through some models and analogies that might help you find balance in demanding professional settings and time sensitive situations.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    56 m
  • When the US invaded Panama: Operation JUST CAUSE and the War on Drugs

    When the US invaded Panama: Operation JUST CAUSE and the War on Drugs
    Sep 15 2025

    The 1989 invasion of Panama was a quick and violent moment in the drug war. We revisit why we went and how it went down. The hung for Manuel Noriega, the messy Army Ranger airfield seizures, Navy SEAL assaults on escape air and water craft, the Little Bird Hostage Rescue of Kurt Muse, the first combat use of the F-117 (spoiler, it missed), the role AC/DC played at the Vatican Embassy, and like 20 other objectives in a joint US Special Operations and conventional forces endeavor.

    Links:

    https://aircommando.org/first-fight-special-tactics-in-panama-1989/ Semi-Official AFSOC History

    https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/Monographs/Just_Cause.pdf Official Military History

    https://amzn.to/4pFthAj Six Minutes to Freedom by Kurt Muse

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 21 m
  • So You Wanna Be an Air Force Pilot (…or Not?)

    So You Wanna Be an Air Force Pilot (…or Not?)
    Sep 1 2025

    Thinking about joining the Air Force? In this episode, we dig into the real questions behind the glossy recruiting pitch: commissioning sources, officer vs. enlisted life, active duty vs. Guard and Reserve, and what happens when the service downsizes.

    We'll talk about "up or out," promotions, cross-training opportunities, and the wide range of jobs that don't make the brochure. Is the Air Force really the "softer" service? And are you still cool if you don't fly jets? We share stories, lessons learned, and what you should really know before raising your right hand.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 11 m
  • Careers in Law Enforcement - Worth It?

    Careers in Law Enforcement - Worth It?
    Aug 15 2025

    Law Enforcement offers a wide range of career paths—but finding the right fit takes more than just filling out an application. In this episode, Jim interviews Officer Mike about what it's really like to build a career in law enforcement. Should you be a deputy Sheriff or an FBI agent? Do you need a degree?

    They discuss the pros and cons of different agencies, educational requirements, and how personal history—like prior drug use—can affect hiring. The conversation also covers safety risks, the realities of shift work, and how the job can impact relationships and social life.

    Whether you're considering a law enforcement career or advising someone who is, this episode offers a candid look at the opportunities and challenges in the field.

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 9 m
  • Stay in Your Lane? Maybe Not.

    Stay in Your Lane? Maybe Not.
    Aug 1 2025

    When is it right to stick to your role—and when do you need to step up and act, even outside your formal job description?

    Mike and Jim tackle the age-old advice to "stay in your lane" by examining what it truly means in high-stakes environments. From a cop showing up to a burning house to Marines turning wrenches one moment and picking up rifles the next, we break down how flexibility, judgment, and initiative can make the difference between failure and mission success.

    Drawing on real-world examples like the 2012 Taliban attack on Camp Bastion—where Marine pilots and maintainers dropped tools and returned fire—we ask: Is it always someone else's job, or do high-performing teams blur the lines when the stakes are high?

    This episode is about knowing your capabilities, understanding your limits, and recognizing when stepping outside your lane is not only appropriate—but necessary.

    Show notes link:
    https://amzn.to/40CUBnP - Restricted Data: The History of Nuclear Secrecy in the United States by Alex Wellerstein
    https://bit.ly/ArmyMDMP - Army MDMP (Military Decision Making Process) Lessons and Best Practices Book
    https://bit.ly/CENTCOM-Investigation - USCENTCOM Camp Bastion Investigation
    https://bit.ly/450c2zR - Rochester Business Journal Article

    Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents. You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.

    Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

    Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

    Intro music credit Bensound.com
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    1 h y 13 m