

Active Self Protection Podcast
John Correia and Mike Willever
Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Title music by Jorikbasov.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 6, 2026 • 28min
The Gutowski Files: AG Bondi Dismissal 2A Implications
On this installment of the Gutowski Files we sit down with investigative reporter Stephen Gutowski of thereload.com and discuss the recent dismissal of Attorney General Pam Bondi and what her replacement might mean for the Trump administration's gun policy moving forward. Then we discuss a recent brief filed by the North Carolina chapter of the ACLU on behalf of a criminal defendant in a prohibited possessor case.Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Apr 3, 2026 • 34min
Cop Races To STOP Active Shooter! -Dylan
This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with police officer Dylan and discuss the night he was working patrol when the relative peace was shattered when he was just a block away as dispatch reported shots fired at the local Walmart. Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 31, 2026 • 33min
The Gutowski Files: Texas Gun-Free Zone Law Upheld
On this installment of the Gutowski Files we sit down with investigative reporter Stephen Gutowski of thereload.com and discuss a recent ruling in Texas where a Trump-appointed judge upheld a law enacting gun free places and we delve into why the state didn't even send a representative to defend the law. Additionally, Stephen talks about his recent experience instructing journalism students on the function and proper handling of firearms.Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 27, 2026 • 31min
When A Stranger Calls -Brian
This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with self defender Brian and discuss the night he was relaxing with his wife and children when a random stranger began beating on his door in what appeared to be an attempt to break into his house and what Brian did in response.Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com Video Intro by Joe Russo

Mar 24, 2026 • 30min
The Gutowski Files: Biden Pistol Brace Rule Gone...Or Is It?
Stephen Gutowski, investigative reporter and founder/editor at TheReload.com, breaks down the tangled fight over the ATF pistol brace rule. He explains the legal basis for classifying braced firearms, ATF’s current enforcement stance, how gun-by-gun determinations work, and the pros and cons of regulatory versus legislative fixes. They also touch on the NRA’s shifting influence and political signaling.

Mar 20, 2026 • 25min
Neighbor Threatens To Shoot Dogs! -John
This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with self defender and U.S. Navy veteran John and discuss two incidents involving an angry neighbor and how he responded when the neighbor threatened to shoot and kill his dogs. Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 19, 2026 • 23min
The Gutowski Files: New VA AR-15 Ban Will Be Tough To Reverse
On this installment of the Gutowski Files we sit down with investigative reporter Stephen Gutowski of thereload.com and discuss why it will be a tough road for Virginians who are hoping to see the state's new AR-15 ban reversed for a number of reasons and why it's possible that it could be decided by the Supreme Court eventually. Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 13, 2026 • 25min
He Threatened To "Pop" Everyone -Tyler
This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with self defender Tyler and discuss the day he was in a store minding his own business when an angry man made himself known, threatened to start shooting people and then went to his car and started digging around in his trunk. This episode delves into third party encounters and whether we should stay or go when given the option.Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 11, 2026 • 36min
The Gutowski Files: 3 BIG 2A Stories
On this installment of the Gutowski Files we sit down with investigative reporter Stephen Gutowski of thereload.com and discuss several news stories involving the second amendment. D.C.'s high court struck down magazine capacity limits while Virginia is poised to restrict them AND ban the sale or transfer of many popular firearms including AR-15s. We also discuss the SCOTUS oral arguments regarding marijuana users and gun ownership.Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com

Mar 6, 2026 • 28min
The Carjacking That Wasn't -Andrea
This week on the Active Self Protection Podcast we sit down with firearms instructor Andrea and discuss the day she was driving to work when a young man she had seen around the neighborhood suddenly opened her passenger door and got in her car and what she did next and what lessons were learned in the process. . Active Self Protection exists to help good, sane, sober, moral, prudent people in all walks of life to more effectively protect themselves and their loved ones from criminal violence. On the ASP Podcast you will hear the true stories of life or death self defense encounters from the men and women that lived them. If you are interested in the Second Amendment, self defense and defensive firearms use, martial arts or the use of less lethal tools used in the real world to defend life and family, you will find this show riveting. Join host and career federal agent Mike Willever as he talks to real life survivors and hear their stories in depth. You'll hear about these incidents and the self defenders from well before the encounter occurred on through the legal and emotional aftermath. Music: bensound.com


