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 - De-escalation: Protecting Dignity While Staying Safe
This episode features Chapter 17 from the full-length audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell.
In this chapter, David Burnell teaches what might be the most powerful and underrated skill in personal defense: de-escalation.
Whether it’s a gas station standoff, a heated public argument, or an unexpected confrontation, the ability to lower the emotional temperature without losing your center can mean the difference between walking away and winding up in court—or the hospital.
You’ll learn:
- How to read the signs of escalation before it’s too late
- What to say (and how to say it) to preserve dignity without surrender
- How to use voice, body language, and presence to defuse tension
- When de-escalation shifts to tactical delay—and how to use it to escape
- Why legal and ethical restraint protects you long after the threat is gone
This isn’t about backing down. It’s about owning the moment without ego—and knowing how to exit with peace, power, and purpose.
This is a single chapter from Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell—available now on Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
For more information, please visit www.echovalor.com
