Echo Valor Podcast
The Echo Valor Podcast is where courage meets storytelling. Hosted by David Burnell—a U.S. military veteran, special operations team leader, and rescue operator—the show dives into the real stories of those who serve in the shadows and on the front lines. With a high-threat security and humanitarian response background, David brings raw insight and deep respect to each episode. Through powerful interviews, battlefield reflections, and original tribute music, Echo Valor honors the warriors, medics, and rescuers who risk everything for others. This podcast is part of the greater mission at EchoValor.com—to preserve legacy, inspire courage, and give voice to those who carry the weight of valor.
Echo Valor Podcast
Before It Happens - Mental Models for Survival
This episode features Chapter 11 from the full-length audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell.
Mental Models for Survival explores one of the most powerful tools in personal safety—not technique but thought structure. In moments of chaos, the mind either panics or performs. This chapter shows you how to ensure that it performs.
From combat zones to crisis convoys to everyday parking lots, David has relied on a few core mental frameworks—OODA Loops, Baseline + Anomaly, Pre-Decided Lines—to stay calm under pressure and act purposefully.
You’ll learn:
- How to override panic with clarity using the “Next Right Move” model
- Why “thinking faster” beats “fighting harder”
- How to spot danger by noticing what doesn’t belong
- The life-saving value of mentally pre-drawing your line in the sand
- How to simplify decisions under stress for faster, smarter reactions
This is more than a self-defense episode—it’s a mindset blueprint for living with alertness, confidence, and peace in the world.
This is a single chapter from the full audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell, available now on Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.
For more information, please visit www.echovalor.com
