The National Police Association Podcast with Samantha Borgos, Co-Founder of Sovereign Self Defense
On this episode of the National Police Association Podcast, Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith sits down with firearms instructor and content creator Samantha Borgos, co-founder of Sovereign Self Defense.
Samantha has built a viral social media presence by blending “edutainment”—educational content wrapped in entertainment—with videos of herself legally open carrying in everyday places like Whole Foods, Sephora, and Starbucks. She and Betsy talk about how those videos started as a simple experiment after Florida’s open carry law changed, and how they’ve evolved into a powerful way to normalize responsible carry, especially for women.
They also dive into the heart of Samantha’s work: teaching civilians, cops, and veterans how to think, train, and live like true protectors. From understanding the realities of home invasions to what to do legally and practically after a defensive shooting, Samantha emphasizes that citizens must be prepared to act as their own first responders long before police can arrive.
________________________________________
In This Episode, We Discuss:
• Samantha’s path into firearms & training
o How she went from knowing nothing about guns to co founding a self defense company
o Her background running a marketing and branding agency
o Meeting her husband (a U.S. Marine and weapons & tactics instructor) and becoming his first “Warrior Workshop” student
• The Warrior Workshop & Sovereign Self Defense
o How one experimental class turned into a full multi level training program
o The concept of “where personal protection meets personal development”
o Training not just skills with a gun, but the character, courage, and mindset required in a real fight
• Normalizing armed, capable women
o Why Samantha didn’t see herself represented in the typical “tactical” or “flimsy” female gun stereotypes
o Her mission to show you can be feminine, fashionable, and still highly competent with a firearm
o Using social media “edutainment” to help women feel more confident carrying
• Open carry as a social experiment
o How Florida’s change in open carry law led to her first viral video
________________________________________
Connect with Samantha
https://sovereignselfdefense.com
https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorworkshop
https://www.instagram.com/samanthajaclyn_
https://www.facebook.com/samantha.loomis.33
Samantha has built a viral social media presence by blending “edutainment”—educational content wrapped in entertainment—with videos of herself legally open carrying in everyday places like Whole Foods, Sephora, and Starbucks. She and Betsy talk about how those videos started as a simple experiment after Florida’s open carry law changed, and how they’ve evolved into a powerful way to normalize responsible carry, especially for women.
They also dive into the heart of Samantha’s work: teaching civilians, cops, and veterans how to think, train, and live like true protectors. From understanding the realities of home invasions to what to do legally and practically after a defensive shooting, Samantha emphasizes that citizens must be prepared to act as their own first responders long before police can arrive.
________________________________________
In This Episode, We Discuss:
• Samantha’s path into firearms & training
o How she went from knowing nothing about guns to co founding a self defense company
o Her background running a marketing and branding agency
o Meeting her husband (a U.S. Marine and weapons & tactics instructor) and becoming his first “Warrior Workshop” student
• The Warrior Workshop & Sovereign Self Defense
o How one experimental class turned into a full multi level training program
o The concept of “where personal protection meets personal development”
o Training not just skills with a gun, but the character, courage, and mindset required in a real fight
• Normalizing armed, capable women
o Why Samantha didn’t see herself represented in the typical “tactical” or “flimsy” female gun stereotypes
o Her mission to show you can be feminine, fashionable, and still highly competent with a firearm
o Using social media “edutainment” to help women feel more confident carrying
• Open carry as a social experiment
o How Florida’s change in open carry law led to her first viral video
________________________________________
Connect with Samantha
https://sovereignselfdefense.com
https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorworkshop
https://www.instagram.com/samanthajaclyn_
https://www.facebook.com/samantha.loomis.33
