In this episode of A Better Way 2A, Andrew and Jordan pick back up after an unplanned break that included SHOT Show, a necessary hair cut. We get into a dark and absurd game of "would you rather" while we through where humor crosses a line and why context matters more than people want to admit. We end up talking about casual ignorance versus real malice, checking people in public, male friendships and why saying “I love you” shouldn’t be controversial, plus the strange collision between internet personas and real-life interactions at events like Shot Show. This ones basically us hanging out and seeing what happens but we're sure you'll dig it!

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Edited by Matthew Boerger

In this episode, Jordan talks with Greg Lickenbrock, Senior Firearms Analyst and Technical Advisor at Everytown for Gun Safety, who has also spent years working inside the firearms industry as an editor and writer.

They unpack how the Train SMART curriculum was developed, why firearms safety education so often becomes entangled in partisan politics, and where Train SMART intentionally overlaps with, and diverges from, traditional NRA-style training. Jordan shares his firsthand experience taking the SMART Guide to Owning a Gun class, including what surprised him, what felt different, and why its focus on mental health, suicide prevention, and protecting children stood out.

The conversation expands into broader questions about distrust between gun owners and advocacy organizations, evidence-based approaches to reducing gun violence that rarely get prioritized, and whether meaningful collaboration is possible when political incentives reward conflict over results.

A candid, long-form discussion about gun safety, harm reduction, and the limits and possibilities of working across ideological lines.

If you want to support the show, head to our Patreon for exclusive merch, extra content, and to help us build a more inclusive gun community.

Edited by Matthew Boerger

In this episode, Andrew and I sit down with Ben Spangler from Tactical Forge and Spangler Forge a firearms instructor, competitive shooter, knife maker, and content creator whose work centers on training, safety, and real-world application. We talk about identity, politics, and gun culture, and about the gap between how these topics are debated online versus how they show up in real life. The conversation covers media narratives, incentives that shape public discourse, and why discussions often break down when complexity gets replaced by simplified talking points. It’s a straightforward conversation about disagreement and what it takes to have more useful, grounded discussions across differences.

If you want to support the show, head to our Patreon for exclusive merch, extra content, and to help us build a more inclusive gun community.

Edited by Matthew Boerger