In this episode, we dive into the risks of oversharing on social media while traveling and how it can make you a target for burglars. From real stories about alarm calls and serial burglars to why most break-ins happen during the day, Brink and Tom share practical safety tips to protect your home and yourself. Learn what to pack for safer vacations, how to check crime maps before you go, and why reviewing crime data beats relying on online reviews. They also cover essentials like firearms and permits, using pepper spray correctly, and simple hotel security hacks.

Notes:

1:05 — Risks of posting on social media while you’re away

4:00 — Why most burglaries happen during the day

5:00 — How GPS data in photos can expose you

6:23 — What to pack for a safer vacation

7:00 — Using crime maps to assess safety

7:27 — Why you should call the local narcotics department before moving

8:05 — Why people check reviews but overlook crime data

8:45 — Importance of studying a map of the area before traveling

16:55 — The dangers of being glued to your phone

23:00 — Firearms and permit considerations while traveling

23:40 — Practicing safety correctly (don’t be like bad drivers)

24:00 — Using chemical spray

32:00 — Uber safety

33:40 — Benefits of secondary locking devices

35:00 — Why you should consider not letting hotel staff into your room

Tips, Tactics, and Tools for a Safer Tomorrow was born out of several conversations between Brink Fidler and Tom Herring that always revolved around how they focus on properly educating their clients in order to maximize their effectiveness and customer service.

Both companies strive to meet the same end goal and that is to increase the safety and security posture of their clients.

Brink’s company, Defend Systems, specializes in physical security consulting and active shooter mitigation training, while Tom’s company, Herring Technology, focuses on being the best security technology integrator in the industry that can provide a one stop shop for any client’s technology needs.

The focus of this podcast is to educate and empower people. We discuss everything related to safety and security be it at home, work, church, or the mall. We take an in depth look at security technology, ease of use, reliability, and DIY products for homeowners.

Follow Brink:

www.defendsystems.com

Follow Tom:

www.herringtechnology.com

Tips, Tactics and Tools is Produced and Edited by www.itsyourshow.co

Tom and Brink break down the April 17 Florida State University shooting—an open campus event that exposes tough challenges in prevention and response. One heartbreaking detail: a student who survived this shooting also lived through the 2018 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. They also unpack a disturbing video of a bystander filming a wounded victim and walking away, raising serious questions about public response to violence. From survivor stories to law enforcement insights, this episode is a sobering look at the realities we face and what can truly make a difference when seconds count.

Notes:

2:51: Open campuses are tough to secure; safety depends on those present.

4:09: A student at FSU also survived the 2018 Parkland shooting.

5:50: Tech helps, but action before police arrive is critical.

6:50: Trained people on-site make the biggest difference.

8:12: We can’t stop every shooting, but we can reduce casualties.

10:19: “You fall to your training, not rise to the occasion.”

10:57: Classrooms must lock from the inside-Sandy Hook’s top lesson.

14:35: Vanderbilt University Medical Center credits Metro Nashville police with saving 600+ lives because of the medical training program.

16:50: Disturbing video shows bystander walking past wounded victim.

18:30: Dallas school shooting went unnoticed because no one died.

25:55: Know the addresses of places you visit often.

30:00: Not making a decision is a decision but it’s difficult if you don’t have any seeds planted in your primitive brain.

Tips, Tactics and Tools is Produced and Edited by www.itsyourshow.co

In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant Jeff Mathes of the Metro Nashville Police Department—one of the first officers on the scene at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023. Jeff walks us through the sights, sounds, and split-second decisions of that day. He speaks candidly about what it means to be a leader in a crisis—and healing through accepting that there was nothing he could have changed about his actions that day to save lives.

Jeff opens up about returning home that day to his family and the moment he heard a clip of the fire alarm on the radio the next morning that triggered a mental break.

Awarded the Medal of Valor and recognized in the Oval Office, Jeff reflects on why the relationships formed through this tragedy mean more than any honor, and the personal truth he’s had to embrace: “You can’t live your life based on this event that was one day of your life.”