The Grant Cunningham Blogcast

Whether you're new to preparedness or an expert, you may feel inadequate because you don't have the bugout retreat people say you should have. But how realistic is it?

The coronavirus is an international problem — but it's not the only one, and probably not the worst one. Here's what's coming and how to prepare for it.

Everyone is talking about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Should you be concerned? What should you do? I'll try to answer these and many more questions in this extra-long episode!

When things are ambiguous, correctly processing all relevant information becomes critical.

In Part 2 of this series, I tackle the Ambiguity Zone with tripwires. What are they and why do you need them? Listen and find out!

Every event has a moment when things aren't clear, when it's not obvious what's happening (or even that anything is happening). How do we make decisions when we're not sure we need to?

Lots of people like to go shooting out in the woods or desert. Dangers lurk in those places, though, and I have some thoughts on keeping safe.

One of the things I teach is the idea that the rifle is the gun we are most unlikely to have on our person when we need it. It's the firearm that needs to be retrieved in order to use, and that affects how we train and practice.

Everyone says you should write your Congressional representative. How, exactly, do you go about doing so to ensure that your voice is heard?

What does a security camera see? It's not what you see, and that's both good and bad.

How can visualization help you in a self-defense incident? I look at a recent attack and how to use visualization to test possible defensive responses before they're actually needed.

Some people can't accept that not everyone is as interested in their hobby as they are. When that affects someone's preparedness, however, it's time to say "stop!"

What is a "lifestyle", and does concealed carry qualify? If not, what does — and how does concealed carry fit in?

The age old debate: what value does competition shooting have to defensive shooting? I've been on both sides of this debate, and come to a surprising conclusion.

Last week I talked about the knife and the flashlight as primary tools. Today I explain why they're important, and why carrying them every day is a key to long-term preparedness.

The longest journey starts with the first step. Or, in this case, the first three steps.

Understanding your own limitations is an important part of never needing to test them.

Someone asked me a question about buying ammunition, and the answer might not have been quite what he expected.

Lots of people call themselves "experts" in self defense with a firearm. But just how honest are they being?

What should you do with your gun if you catch a petty thief? I'd suggest you not follow this example.

Where have I been, and what have I been doing? Find out in this episode!

Where have I been lately? Well, I've been working on a new book — a very important new book. And today, I'm announcing it to the world!

Resetting the double action trigger trips some people up. Find out who, why, and what to do about it!

There is a defensive preparedness skill that's more valuable than all the others put together - the ability to properly assess risk. If it's so important, why doesn't anyone talk about it?

The word "should" is often just a way to avoid reality. Here's why, and what to do instead.

For some reason, people don't pay attention to the little signs the universe gives them. This makes them less safe, and in this episode I explain why.

Choke tubes aren't popular on defensive shotguns, but they should be. Here's why.

The NRA would have you believe that storing your firearms responsibly makes you a victim. I disagree, and here's why.

Self defense is a serious business, but it shouldn't be void of humanity.

What does a German physicist have to do with self defense? More than you might think.

If nothing happens, what happens to you?

Is a gunfight inevitable? Some think so, but I think that's bad thinking.

What can Ferris Bueller teach us about self defense and preparedness? It's not what you might think!

What do fishooks have to do with preparedness and self defense? It's more about what they DON'T have to do with preparedness and self defense. It's all about asking the right questions.

A woman in Tennessee recently learned — the hard way — a lesson about trusting her child's friends, and her experience is a caution for the rest of us.

Some of the worst questions start with "but what if..." Find out why I avoid answering those questions.

What does minimalism have in common with preparedness? You might be surprised.

What's important in self defense and preparedness? One way to measure is the likelihood of something happening, but it's not easy to ascertain that without a tool, a standard. Today's blog introduces that standard: The Plausibility Line.

What is a balanced rifle and why is it important? Well, I'll tell you...

Another no-nonsense look at defensive gun use; this time, it's all about rifle capacity and the "short duration gunfight".

Why do we focus so much on marketing defensive shooting, and very little on how to stay safe? Because there's no money in the latter, and almost anything can be spun to make it a shooting problem. Here's one example.

What happens when your desire for protection conflicts with the life you lead? Here's one example. (Notice the change in labeling? Readers requested that I swap the title and subtitle, so they could see the actual topics in their podcast player. I'm happy to oblige!)

What happens when you take self defense and preparedness too far? Believe it or not, chef and inveterate traveler Anthony Bourdain has the answer.

I've come to the conclusion that the defensive training world is doing something wrong, something which leads their students in the wrong direction regarding responsible self-defense. Because of this, I've made an evolution in what I teach. Listen to learn more.

The goal of self defense isn't to get to your gun, or to use your gun — it's to get out of danger. Listen to what happens when instructors forget that.

Here I go again...this time, I'm tearing into the notion of "winning a fight" and some people are going to be awfully mad at me!

Ever heard of "defensive gun use porn"? Ever read any of it? Here's why I don't like it, don't promote it, and suggest that you avoid it.

You may have been taught to move off the line of attack as part of drawing your defensive firearm. Why, though, is that important? It's not what you think, and probably not what your instructor thinks either!

Should you avoid carrying the gun you like just because it might be taken as evidence in a self defense incident? I think not, and today I explain why.

What does the term "worst case scenario" bring to mind? I'll bet I have a different way of looking at it than you do!

Understanding your tripwires, what they are and where they're set, is key to living a prepared yet relaxed life. Here's why.