Open Source Defense
In-depth interviews with outstanding founders and builders in the civilian defense industry. Culture is upstream of politics, and technology is upstream of culture.
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Episodes
Wednesday Jan 22, 2025
Wednesday Jan 22, 2025
David is the founder of Canine Defense Technologies, which makes drones for defense professionals and serious civilians.
Timeline:
0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Drone nomenclature
1:44 - Counterdrone tech and the competition between offense and defense
8:42 - Technological lessons from Ukraine
16:16 - Applying those lessons to civilian drone tech
19:16 - What is the FAA getting in the way of?
25:50 - Panics that could drive bad regulation
32:08 - History and mission of Canine Defense
43:29 - Supply chain as limiting factor
44:55 - Innovations in drone propulsion and power
50:10 - Drones as Second Amendment arms and why fears of misuse are probably overblown
58:50 - Growing Canine Defense’s business
1:05:38 - Future products from Canine Defense
1:08:22 - Decentralized community-building with drone swarms
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Jon and Sarah run PHLster Holsters, makers of the Enigma, other holsters, and groundbreaking education about how to carry comfortably.
Timeline:
0:00 - The journey to making holsters
7:58 - What was the need PHLster was responding to?
17:34 - When did Sarah know the Enigma was going to be good?
35:57 - How much of a breakthrough was the Enigma for PHLster?
41:35 - Education and holster fitment as a science
49:28 - What's wrong with telling people to dress around the gun
58:13 - The importance of online communities
1:08:52 - The dynamic around gun products marketed to women
1:20:21 - Social media as a design and manufacturing tool
1:29:48 - Nobody goes to the anti-gun range
Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
Wednesday Nov 20, 2024
Jay is the founder and technical director of Pew Science, the world's top silencer testing company.
Timeline:
0:00 - Are low back pressure silencers the end of history?
4:50 - Why silencers break the FN SCAR 17
7:12 - Pistol silencers are hard
19:21 - What were the breakthroughs in silencer technology?
24:06 - Consumers, not the military, are now driving the silencer industry
44:16 - Is there value in modular cans?
48:48 - The mechanics of silencer assembly
54:59 - Standardization in silencer attachment
1:00:41 - Consumer demand vs. military standards
1:05:36 - Flash hider vs. muzzle brake for suppression
1:09:34 - Understanding the SCAR's sensitivity to silencers
1:18:27 - About Pew Science
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Isaac Botkin is a longtime leader at T.Rex Arms and the perfect first guest for the Open Source Defense podcast. We talk about the beginnings of T.Rex, whether guns actually prevent tyranny, and future tech in the civilian defense industry.
Timeline:
0:00 - Intro and Background
2:44 - Milestones and Growth of T.Rex Arms
9:51 - Challenges of Growth as a Company
17:45 - Hiring for Passion and Mission Alignment
25:55 - Transparency and Honesty in Marketing
32:58 - The Evolution of Gun Culture
38:56 - Gun Culture 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0
51:44 - Do Guns Prevent Tyranny?
1:02:33 - The Future of Gun Culture, Body Armor, and Night Vision
1:21:47 - Lightning Round on Upcoming Gun Tech