What would you do if a terrorist attack or violent incident unfolded around you? Would you recognize the warning signs, know how to respond, and have a plan to protect yourself and your family?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Martin "Marty" Castellanos, a retired U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officer, former Boca Raton police officer, and veteran instructor with 34 years of military and law enforcement service. Marty has spent decades training military personnel, police officers, security professionals, and ordinary citizens to recognize threats, make sound decisions, and respond effectively when something goes wrong.

Our conversation focuses on something I have emphasized repeatedly: preparing for a dangerous situation does not mean living in fear. It means understanding the risks, paying attention to your surroundings, developing practical skills, and making sure your family knows what to do in an emergency.

Marty also shares the story of his friend, Coast Guard Petty Officer Nathan "Nate" Bruckenthal, who was killed in an April 24, 2004, terrorist suicide bombing in the Persian Gulf while serving aboard the USS Firebolt. Nate's death and the lessons Marty took from that attack reinforce one of the central messages of this episode: complacency is always your enemy.

We discuss situational awareness, recognizing and reporting suspicious behavior, making family emergency plans, the importance of knowing your location when calling for help, and why medical training can be just as important as self-defense skills. We also examine what happens when first responders cannot immediately reach you and why purchasing defensive equipment is no substitute for knowing how to use it.

Marty's Scared to Prepared training program helps people move beyond fear and develop the knowledge, habits, and practical skills needed to protect themselves and those around them.

This is not about becoming paranoid or expecting danger around every corner. It is about taking responsibility for your personal safety, preparing your family, and using the time you have to develop skills that may one day save a life.

Learn More About Marty Castellanos & His Training

UMTC — Self-Defense Education, Training & Consulting: https://umtc-instructor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartyUMTC

Instagram: @marty_umtc

Learn more about Marty's Scared to Prepared seminar, which covers home defense, situational awareness, threat avoidance, personal safety, and responding to violent encounters.
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/firearms-training/instructors/florida-instructors/umtc-llc-self-defense-education-law-enforcement-training-consulting-2734354/class-boca-raton-fl-umtc-scared-to-prepared-seminar-ba8e3/

How does the Muslim Brotherhood operate in the United States, what are its long-term objectives, and how much do Americans really understand about its ideology and influence?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with John Rossomando, President of Viking Research Associates, longtime counterterrorism researcher, and author of The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria, for an in-depth discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology, organizational strategies, and activities in America.

John spent eight years as a Senior Counterterrorism Analyst with the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) and later served as a Senior Analyst for Defense Policy at the Center for Security Policy. His research has examined Islamist movements, extremist networks, political influence, and the intersection of ideological organizations and U.S. national security policy.

His book, The Arab Spring Ruse, examines the Muslim Brotherhood's role during the Arab Spring and argues that American policymakers misunderstood the movement's objectives and influence in Libya and Syria.

In this conversation, we examine the Muslim Brotherhood's ideological foundations, its organizational methods, and its efforts to establish influence within American institutions and political movements. John draws on years of research to explain how Brotherhood-linked networks operate, the importance of examining original Arabic-language documents, and why public messaging does not always reflect the movement's underlying objectives.

We also discuss the Brotherhood's relationships with leftist and activist movements, the challenges authorities face in recognizing alleged Brotherhood-linked organizations, and the broader implications for American national security. Understanding the movement requires looking beyond individual organizations to examine its history, ideology, and long-term institutional strategies.

FIND JOHN'S BOOK

The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KJVVZ88

CONNECT WITH JOHN ROSSOMANDO

X: https://x.com/John_Rossomando

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossomando-b62357/

JOHN'S RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Investigative Project on Terrorism:
https://www.investigativeproject.org/author/John+Rossomando

Center for Security Policy:
https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/author/john-rossomando/

ABOUT THE WATCH FLOOR

Hosted by former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams, The Watch Floor brings firsthand intelligence experience and expert analysis to counterterrorism, national security, extremist organizations, and geopolitical developments that deserve greater public attention.

The Taliban may control Kabul, but the fight for Afghanistan is far from over.

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Ali Maisam Nazary, co-founder and Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), the resistance movement led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendary Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.

We discuss how the National Resistance Front was established in Panjshir following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the movement's continued resistance, and its efforts to build political legitimacy and international support.

Our conversation goes well beyond the battlefield. We examine Afghanistan's growing importance as a sanctuary for terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda, the dangers of relying on Taliban-provided intelligence, and why engaging with the Taliban presents serious challenges for the United States and its allies.

Ali also discusses the relationships between terrorist organizations operating inside Afghanistan, the increasing sophistication of these networks, and the implications for international security. We address al-Qaeda's June 2024 call for supporters to travel to Afghanistan and prepare attacks against Western targets, as well as the importance of recognizing the threats developing under Taliban rule.

Throughout the conversation, we return to a central question: What will it take for Afghanistan to have a future beyond the Taliban?

This episode is part of Resistance Week, a special series highlighting Afghan voices, resistance movements, and the people working to secure a different future for their country.

Connect with Ali Nazary and follow the National Resistance Front:

Ali Nazary on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimaisamnazary/

National Resistance Front on X:
https://x.com/NRFafg