I've Interviewed 10,000+ Americans on the Street. Here's the #1 Thing They All Get Wrong About Self-Defense.

For the last three years, my team and I have been doing something most media companies won't — walking up to total strangers in 50+ cities across America, putting a microphone in their face, and asking them real questions about real issues.

We've filmed in Miami, New York, LA, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, San Antonio — you name it. Over 10,000 interviews. And the clips go viral. Like, hundreds of millions of views viral. We're one of the most-watched street interview pages in the country.

But here's what people don't see behind the cameras: the conversations that happen after we stop filming.

When you ask someone on the street "Do you feel safe in your city?" — they give you the short answer on camera. But off camera? That's when it gets real. That's when a 62-year-old man in Houston tells you he hasn't felt safe walking to his car at night in 5 years. That's when a mom in Phoenix says she keeps her doors triple-locked and still can't sleep.

The Same Answer Kept Coming Up

After thousands of these conversations, one pattern became impossible to ignore.

Almost everyone we talked to wanted to do something about their personal safety — but almost nobody had actually done it.

They'd say things like "I've been meaning to get my concealed carry permit" or "I know I should have some kind of emergency kit" or "I've been thinking about it but haven't gotten around to it."

The intent was there. The action wasn't.

So I started asking a follow-up: "What's stopping you?"

The answers were almost always the same: too complicated, too expensive, don't know where to start.

That stuck with me. These aren't lazy people. These are working Americans — parents, grandparents, veterans, small business owners — people who care deeply about protecting their families but got lost in the red tape or just didn't know what was available to them.

So I started looking into it myself. And what I found honestly surprised me.

The Concealed Carry Thing Blew My Mind

I always assumed getting a concealed carry permit was this whole ordeal — going to a range, spending a full day in a class, dealing with government offices, paperwork, fingerprinting, the whole nine.

Turns out? There's a program that lets you qualify online in about 30 minutes. No range time. No police station. No fingerprinting. You literally do it from your couch.

When I found out about it, I thought it was too good to be true. So I dug in. Thousands of Americans — especially folks 55 and older — have already used it. The approval rates are high. And right now they're running a 50% discount because of upcoming regulatory changes.

"I've been putting this off for three years. Wish I'd known it was this simple."
— Man, 64, San Antonio, TX (off camera)

I've shared this with people from our interviews who specifically said they wanted to get their permit. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. That's why it's our #1 recommendation on this page.

"What If Something Happens and I'm Not Ready?"

That was the other thing we kept hearing. Not about guns specifically — just about being prepared.

A 58-year-old guy in San Antonio told us off camera: "I've got a family of four and if something went down tomorrow — a natural disaster, a blackout, anything — I honestly don't know if we'd be ready."

He's not alone. That sentiment came up again and again across every city we filmed in. People know they should have some kind of emergency kit. Most don't.

Most emergency kits on the market are overpriced, under-equipped, and sit in a closet collecting dust. They're not built for real situations.

Then I found this thing called the Medical GO-BAG and it checks every box. It's not just a first-aid kit — it's 37 medical AND survival items packed into a small weatherproof bag that clips to your belt. Medical supplies, a fire starter, a compass, glow sticks, a multi-tool, an emergency blanket, a folding knife — all of it.

I grabbed one for myself and a couple family members. At $59 (normally $136) it's a no-brainer. The kind of thing you throw in your car or clip to your bag and forget about until you need it — and then you're really glad you have it.

"They're Coming for Our Guns"

I can't count how many times I've heard this on the street. And look — the regulatory environment around firearms is changing fast. New rules, new restrictions, new proposals every month.

One of the smartest guys I interviewed — a retired Marine in Jacksonville — said something that stuck with me: "The best time to learn your rights was 10 years ago. The second best time is right now."

That's why I want to share this book. It's called The Firearms Survival Guide and the author is literally giving away free copies right now. Less than 500 left.

It covers everything: how to protect your gun rights, how to build your own AR-15 for a fraction of retail cost (legally), how to reload your own ammunition so you're never dependent on supply chains, and loopholes most gun owners don't know exist.

"The Grid Is One Bad Storm Away From Going Down"

This one surprised me. I didn't expect power grid concerns to come up as often as they did. But after what happened in Texas, the rolling blackouts in California, hurricane season knocking out power for millions — people are worried. And they should be.

A woman in Houston — 67, lives alone — told us: "My biggest fear isn't someone breaking in. It's the power going out for a week and nobody coming to help."

I heard versions of that everywhere. Especially from folks who rely on medical devices — CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, refrigerated medication. When the power goes out, it's not an inconvenience. It can be life or death.

That's what led me to the Patriot Power Sidekick. It's a portable solar generator from 4Patriots — a family-owned American company out of Nashville — that weighs 8 pounds. Charges from the sun, runs silent, zero fumes, safe to use indoors. Powers your phone for 60 hours, runs a TV for 5 hours, keeps medical devices running when it matters most. Arrives charged and ready to go.

I keep one in my apartment and one in my car. But what really sold me was hearing from people in Florida after the last hurricane — the ones who had backup power were the ones who got through it. Everyone else was in the dark, literally.

The Conversation Nobody Wants to Have on Camera

There's one topic that came up more than almost anything else — but barely made it into the final edit. Because people don't want to admit it publicly.

They're terrified they don't have enough money to retire.

Off camera, after the mic is off, that's when it comes out. Especially with folks in their 50s, 60s, and older. "I don't even want to look at my 401k" or "I worked my whole life and I still don't know if it's enough."

The average American family has about $87,000 saved for retirement. For most people, that's not going to cut it. But here's the thing — most people don't even know what resources, benefits, and programs they might qualify for.

RetireSavy is a free tool that helps you see exactly where you stand — and what you might be leaving on the table. Takes about 2 minutes. No cost, no obligation. Just clarity.

I'm 21 — retirement isn't on my radar yet. But hearing thousands of older Americans talk about this fear off camera changed my perspective. If a free tool helps someone feel more in control of their future, it's worth sharing.

One More Thing — For the Patriots

I'll keep this short because it speaks for itself.

If you've watched our videos, you know the energy. You know the type of Americans who stop and talk to us on the street. Hard-working, flag-waving, no-BS people who love this country.

This came across our desk and I had to share it: Gunner Gear is giving away a limited edition Trump 2024 collectible knife. 10¾ inch fixed blade. 6-inch laser-etched "Trump 2024" stainless steel blade. American flag handle crafted from red, white and blue pakkawood with "Take America Back" surrounded by stars. Comes with a tough nylon belt sheath.

Only 250 made. Currently 70% off — when they're gone, they're gone.

Why I'm Sharing All This

I'm 21 years old and I run a media company. We interview more Americans on the street than practically anyone. And the thread that runs through thousands of conversations is that people want to be more prepared, more protected, more self-reliant. They just don't know where to start.

So I figured: we've got the platform. We've got the audience. Why not actually point people toward the resources that match what they're telling us they need?

That's all this page is. No BS, no spam. Just things I've looked into after hearing the same concerns from regular Americans in city after city, street after street.

If any of these help you or someone in your family feel more prepared — that's a win.

Stay safe out there.