Melissa Soalt is a veteran women's self-defense trainer specializing in practical and full-force, scenario-based methods. A former psychotherapist who has successfully staved off physical attacks, she has been featured on NBC Nightly News and in Self, Woman's Day, The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek Japan. She has published numerous articles and is working on a book. Also known as "Dr. Ruthless," she is a Black Belt Hall of Fame Recipient and Woman of the Year, and was recently named Winner of Black Belt's Industry Award for Best Women's Self Defense of 2008.

In Melissa’s latest video Fierce and Female, Melissa teaches women how to remain focused and unleash a ferocious counterattack to repel rape-specific pins and assaults.

Listen along as we talk to Melissa about the history of women’s self defense and what she would like people to learn from her experience and knowledge.

Phil Motzer, the Crucible’s chief firearms instructor, recently completed his first Paladin video, Pocket Pistols: Small-Frame Handgun Strategies for the Street, which is volume two in Kelly McCann’s Crucible High-Risk Environment Training series (available now at paladin-press.com).

Pocket Pistols demonstrates that it’s not the size of the gun in the fight, but where and how you place your rounds that determines whether you arrive home safely or go to the morgue. Cutting through all the myths and misinformation swirling around about pocket pistols, Motzer teaches various concealment and carry methods, shooting tactics, and ballistic effect on flesh. Using calibers from the .22 to the .38, Pocket Pistols is a comprehensive study of the real-world use of the pocket pistol in combat.
 
In this podcast, Phil discusses how he became an instructor at the Crucible, some of his overseas experiences working in high-risk environments, and what motivated him to create Pocket Pistols. He also shares some thoughts  about his next Paladin title, Exploding Handgun Myths, which will be volume five in Kelly McCann’s Crucible High-Risk Environment Training.