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Spandex & Wine
Spandex & Wine is a podcast for finding balance between being healthy & living a happy life. Hosted by Robin Hackney, a 23-year veteran in the fitness industry & wine consultant, this is a place to be our authentic selves as we have real conversations exploring wellness and all things wine! Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode.
Spandex & Wine
Locked, Loaded, and Lipstick On: Breaking Barriers in Firearms Training w/ Jeri Persley
Meet Jeri Persley, the force behind Be Empowered Tactical, who's revolutionizing firearms training for women. As Robin sits down with this inspiring instructor, we discover how a corporate trainer's expertise combined with a passion for firearms created a business that empowers women beyond the shooting range.
Jeri shares her journey from purchasing her first handgun in 2015 (a Glock 19 named Gloria) to founding a company where women learn in a supportive, judgment-free environment. The pivotal moment came in 2020 when she joined the National African-American Gun Association and found mentorship from another Black female instructor – representation that showed her what was possible in an industry dominated by white men.
What makes Jeri's approach special is her understanding of how women learn. While traditional firearms training often emphasizes competition, her classes focus on support and encouragement. She breaks down complex skills into manageable steps, celebrates small victories, and creates space for women to ask "why" instead of just following directions. This method transforms fear into confidence as students progress from firing single rounds to becoming comfortable with their firearms.
Some of the most powerful moments come when Jeri helps students overcome trauma related to guns. With patience and empathy, she's guided women through tears and trembling hands to find empowerment. As she explains, "Being empowered isn't just about handguns – it's about life." Many students take the confidence gained in her classes and apply it elsewhere, whether writing books, applying for jobs, or starting businesses.
Throughout it all, Jeri maintains that "shooting is simple, not easy" – the fundamentals are straightforward, but mastering them takes proper instruction and practice. With her sparkly gun grips and professional expertise, she's proving you can be "girly" and capable simultaneously, breaking stereotypes with every class she teaches.
Ready to feel more confident and empowered? Visit BeEmpoweredTactical.com to learn about upcoming classes and discover how learning firearms safety might just transform more than your shooting skills.
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Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast. I'm your host, robin Hackney, and I'm so happy that you're here. This podcast is a place for conversations about balancing a healthy lifestyle and being happy more specifically, happy hour. Together we'll explore all things wellness and wine. I hope you learn a little, laugh a lot and, along the way, know you're not alone on this balanced wellness journey. Ready to jump in? Pour something in your glass that makes you happy, because it's time for spandex and wine. Hey guys, it's Robin. Thanks for coming back to the podcast, so get ready.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is fired up, literally. I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Geri Pursley. She's the founder of Be Empowered Tactical and let me tell you, this conversation is going to leave you feeling strong, confident and ready to take on the world. Geri's mission is all about empowerment, hence the name. After 15 years as a corporate facilitator and instructor and a passion for firearms, she saw a gap in the training world. Women wanted to learn, but they didn't always feel welcome or comfortable doing it. So she created Be Empowered Tactical, a place where women can learn to shoot in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Where women can learn to shoot in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, and men too. So whether you're curious about firearms, you're looking to feel safer in your everyday life, or just love a good story about a woman following her passion and making waves, this episode is for you. So grab your earbuds and get ready to meet the powerhouse that Jerry personally is. Let's dive in Well. Hello, geri. Welcome to the podcast. Thanks so much for being here.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me. I'm absolutely thrilled to be here.
Speaker 1:Okay. So we were sitting and watching the news and I'm like, okay, this is a cool lady, this is a cool thing that she's doing. And I told my husband. I said, oh, I should have her on the podcast. And he's like, oh, yeah, you should. And then, like 10 minutes later, I said, oh, she's scheduled. And he's like what? I'm like, yeah, I just messaged her. She said yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely I. I I welcome um being able to do this. This is my first podcast, so thank you very much I appreciate that, so I'm excited about it and I really want to get the message out there to people. So I appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, absolutely Okay. So let's just start with, because we just jumped right in. Let's just start with what it is that you're doing and how did you get to this place.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow, okay. So what I do is I am a NRA and certified pistol instructor and I teach primarily women, but I teach all people to shoot their pistols, so their handguns. That's my specialty, I love it.
Speaker 1:How did you get to this place?
Speaker 2:Wow. So in 2015, like most women, I'm a single woman and I was wanting to, you know, make sure I was secure out there in the world and at home, obviously. So I purchased a handgun. I purchased a Glock 19 Gen 4. Her name is Gloria a Glock 19 Gen 4. Her name is Gloria, and, yeah, I named them and so for, and I got my concealed carry weapons permit as well, but I really didn't do much with it. I didn't go to the range. I took a couple of classes here and there, but it is a depreciating skill. So it's not something you can take one class and you're good, you know, forever. You have to continue to up your skills and keep them solid. So in 2020, when everything kind of went berserk, I found a gun club called National African-American Gun Association, naga, and I joined them because there were people that did look like me, who were interested in firearms and were gun enthusiasts, and I thought, oh, I can learn something. I can learn something that's awesome.
Speaker 2:And I met a mentor, a woman, who is a master trainer, and she master trainer meaning she can, she can train pistols, shotguns and rifles, trainer meaning she can train pistols, shotguns and rifles. So she kind of took me under her wing and it was an inspiration, because typically when you see instructors, you see men and you also see white men. I'm neither one of those. So seeing a woman, a black woman, command the range and know her stuff, that really inspired me and I thought, wow, I could possibly do that. Now let me add to that I'm also a. I've been a corporate instructor, trainer for many, many years.
Speaker 2:I have a degree in adult education or business education, however you want to say it, and so I have been in the training field, instructing field, for many years. That was extremely helpful, because something that people don't quite realize is just because you know how to shoot doesn't mean you know how to teach how to shoot. Those are two different skills, yeah. So I kind of put those together and then I decided to start a business and it's been going quite well, quite, quite well, quite well.
Speaker 1:That's great, and I love the name.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, so the name um, I I got the name. I went through so many iterations of of different names, different names, um, but I I think of it in two ways. So one just not you know empowered, which is great, don't get me wrong. But I want people to be empowered. Not try to be empowered Like maybe I'm going to be empowered, no, but you're actually going to definitively be empowered. And added to that, um, being empowered is not just about you know handguns or or any type of of of firearms. It's about being empowered in life.
Speaker 2:So there are so many women that I've I've taught over the years that, to be honest, they'll probably never touch it on the handgun. They, they probably, they probably won't, they're not going to go the range, it's just not their thing. It's just something they wanted to do or it seemed fun, or they have one and they should, they should train more, but okay. But maybe they're empowered in other ways of their life. So maybe there is a you know a book that they were going to write or a job that they were going to apply for, that they haven't a business they were going to start. So being empowered is not just in handguns or in firearms in general, but it's in life, it's, you know, they, they flex that and be empowered muscle, and then they're like Ooh, what else could I do, right? So that's, that's how far it spans. It's not just handguns, and for me, for myself as well, I mean, I started a business.
Speaker 2:I never would have thought of doing that.
Speaker 1:Never, never. I love it. Oh my gosh, it's awesome. And I have to tell you that the pictures of you on your website, uh, wow, number one, yes, it says I am empowered, and two, I mean that's a pretty sexy you look good, that was part of it too.
Speaker 2:That was part of it too. Um, I've been learning more and more at one of the issues I won't say issue but one of the things that you know I've thought about is you know, I am, I'm a girly girl Like I like. I am a girl like I like to do the adventure and, yes, I happen to like guns, but I'm the girly girl, I'm the one. I don't have it with me, I'm not going to bring it out, but you know I have a have our outfit on. So it's like a little sparkly, little grip that you put on there and people like is your gun sparkling? It is.
Speaker 2:I don't do pink as much, and that's just because I don't want it to be confused with a toy. So I want you to know that this is serious. Yeah, this is. There's no games here, but if I can girl it up, you know, whether it's pink or any type of colors, I do that as much as I possibly can. You see my logo colors definitely reflect. I don't think anybody's going to confuse me with. You know a gentleman who trains, but that also is. You know, that's part of the appeal. You can be girly and you can be honey, so you can do both of them. You don't have to be one or the other.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and not that I want to get into politics or anything, but I guarantee that there's someone listening that they're just like, oh my gosh, like they're terrified of guns. They think that they are just awful. Speak to that just a little bit.
Speaker 2:So are just awful. Speak to that just a little bit. So my take on that and you're right, people do say that we just need to get rid of all the guns. Okay, well, let's do a little thought experiment with that. So if all of the responsible, law-abiding handgun or gun owners in general gave up all of their guns, it's the criminals I'm worried about, and they're not going to give up their guns. Hence the fact that they're criminals, right?
Speaker 2:So they're not going to, and so what we're really would open ourselves up to is being more vulnerable. Yes, and they would know that. So in, especially in Missouri or Kansas, really, because we do have, we're a constitutional carry state means we don't have to have a permit in in order to to carry a concealed or or open, which I don't suggest, but, uh, we don't need a permit to do that. Um, criminals don't really know who they're up against. Yeah, you know you could be grandma, and and and which I am. I am a grandmother. Um, so you could be grandma, a mom, and you're just walking around, but they have no idea that. You know you have a little surprise for them.
Speaker 1:So yes, yeah, yeah. It's interesting that you say that, because I know a couple of ladies that I think people would be so surprised if they would take a look in their handbag.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely yeah. I had to ask no-transcript gun.
Speaker 1:Yes, I 100% agree. Yeah, and you're going to laugh. I had to ask my husband I'm like what kind of guns have I shot before I said I'm getting ready for this podcast interview? What kind of guns have I shot? Before I said I'm getting ready for this podcast interview? And it has been so long? We used to go down to the farm and he said I've shot a 22, a 410, a 20 gauge and a 12 gauge. And he said you really didn't like the 12 gauge.
Speaker 2:And I think that must've been the one that kind of kicks and had a bruise from. Yeah, yeah, it does, and it may have been how you were holding it or and whatnot. Yeah, yeah, but uh, yeah, 12 gauge it's, that's fun too. Yeah, I think pretty much all guns are fun. Um, but you know that that that's me, but it is. It is who's teaching you. And not to say that whoever was was bad.
Speaker 2:But sometimes just because as women, also this anatomically, we're different, that's one. Our shoulders aren shoulders aren't as broad and we're not as strong. Typically we're not as strong, and so we kind of have to put a little bit more into it. And I find also, I tell a lot of my my, my women students. I tell them I said can you hold a baby? Have you had babies, grandkids, nieces, nephews, anybody? And they're like oh yeah, if you can hold a baby, you can handle a gun. The difference is you're afraid of the gun, you're not afraid of the baby, you're not going to drop the baby, you're not going to do any, you know you're going to hold it. And the difference is it's because you're afraid of it. So they're like, oh, instead of like, bringing it in.
Speaker 2:So it takes a little while but after a while I'm telling you they love it.
Speaker 1:I bet Like. I mean, I feel like I would enjoy it too.
Speaker 2:And I feel like I would enjoy it too. And I'd like to do one of your classes. Could you just tell us everything? They did it, like you said, with your husband one time or you know a couple of times, and so they've never actually had the breakdown of not only how to grip the gun, the stance, your sights they never your trigger press. They've never had that breakdown. I go through really slowly. It's a four hour class and I've had people say what are we going to talk about for four hours. I mean, what do you do? You just stand there and you press the trigger. Uh no, there's a lot to it, there's a whole lot, and the thing is you don't know what you don't know. So hopefully I can introduce something to the ladies.
Speaker 2:I also do one-on-one classes. Um, I can, I've also. I don't do this with everybody because you know I'm not showing up at anyone's house, but I have done in-home. We do the classroom portion in-home and then we go to the range for the live portion. I do situational awareness presentations that just talk about, because a lot of people were just not aware.
Speaker 2:Even if you have a handgun or you have any other type of defensive tool, it really won't matter if somebody's sneaking up on you, right? So if you're not paying attention, you're in your phone. You're on the phone doing something else. Someone could be right there and you wouldn't even know it, so it really wouldn't help whether you've had any, had any training or not. I also do a concierge service. I call it a purchase concierge service. Well, I will go with you to the range. We'll try out some different handguns and find one that fits you best. Okay, okay, I've also done a webinar. I haven't done one lately, but I will do another webinar where I take you through what you need to think about before you even purchase a gun.
Speaker 1:Oh, I like that, that's good, that's good. And I like the situational awareness because that makes a little sense, because if you have the gun and you're not aware of your surroundings, well then the gun could be used on you, right?
Speaker 2:It's possible, or you just won't be able to get to it fast enough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:Depending on where you carry, you won't get to it fast enough. And also as women, because typically a threat it's a threat will be a man. More than likely it will be a man, statistically speaking. So it will be a man and that man is more than likely going to be stronger than you. So if they're up on you, it's almost too late. I don't do this, but there are classes that you can take that will help you. You know how do you get away if you're in a you know you're kind of in a the situation where they're like holding you or grabbing you and you can get away and make just enough space so that you can. You know you, you can end the threat.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, stop the threat, right, right. So is this your full-time job now?
Speaker 2:No, no, no no not by far.
Speaker 2:I wish it, I wish it was, and one day I hope that it will be. I would love to do this. I would love to have my own range, I would love to have a whole team of people that would, would do just what I'm doing, and and and. In a way, obviously, everybody's personality is different, but but taking the time to explain one of the different, there's a few differences between men and women, and I and I train with men.
Speaker 2:When I do my training, I'm training with men, so I'm very aware of how, of how that works and the differences, the difference that I find between men and women with training.
Speaker 2:So men are more, men are more competitive you know that's just how they work and women are more supportive. So in my classes there's you know we're high fiving and you know clapping Yay, you did it. And so that encourages women more. And also, women want to know the details. They want to know why you grip it like that, why this happens, why you do that, and so I think, understanding that and understanding where they're coming from, that's kind of how I present. I don't just tell you to do it, I'm going to tell you why you need to do it, why it's important. And also again going back to my training, corporate training, a background I understand that that's what's going to make it click for you. I need to make it click for you and I also need to give analogies and all kinds of good stuff and there's a whole, like I said, there's a whole background on adult education. So how adults learn is very different than how children.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yes, yes. So if I were going to come to a class and I don't have a gun, is that you have? You supply them. How does that work?
Speaker 2:Yes, I can supply them, so I rent them. And that includes your eyes, your ears protection, your eye and ear protection Sorry, I'm using terminologies, but eye and ear protection and then also ammo, so we don't use a ton of ammo. I'm not going to just load your magazine and just let you go. We actually do it very, very slowly and I think that also helps because you've got one round in. When that's gone, then, because your adrenaline is flying, then it comes back down, Then we can start. Then I can start to teach you once you feel you understand what it feels like, because that's a part of it and you can hear it, you know that part of it that people now they can kind of bring it down and then we can start having some fun. So they do one, one at a time, one at a time that we do two and then we do three. I tell them they graduated, you graduate to two, you graduate to three. And I know a lot of people will think well, you're going really slow.
Speaker 2:My point is not to get you to be anti-opely. My point is to get you to be able to understand the orders of operation. That's extremely important to understand that, because then you'll understand. Do I have one in the chamber or do I not have one in the chamber? How do I get one in the chamber? How do I take one out? All of those things are important. Before I don't, I don't care about you shooting, Even that my target is so close, it's like three feet away. You're going to hit it and part of that is to hold. Yeah, you hit it, you got it. Look what you got. That encourages, that encourages. That encourages because they, they are going to hit it. You know I'm not, we're not pushing it. You know 2525 yards. Yeah, you know I'm a suck.
Speaker 1:No, you don't you don't, you're branded and I want them to be successful and want them to come back as well. Right, right, and I bet it's really rewarding rewarding for you to to see like a timid person come in and then, by the end of it, they're like oh yeah, that was amazing. I feel awesome oh absolutely.
Speaker 2:That is one of the reasons I continue to do it is because it's not my full time job and this is a lot of work Having a business together and things together and doing the website and doing everything. It's a lot of work, but what I love about it is that to see the looks on the women's face. I've had tears. I have had we do hugs. I've had people shaking, literally shaking, like I said, tears coming down, People who had had some trauma in their past around guns.
Speaker 2:I was going to ask that, yeah you have that, and so that's one of the questions I ask to ask that say, yeah, you know, something happened with my brother 20 years ago and I'm still I'm still nervous about this, no, worries. And so now I know, kind of, keep an eye on you, you know, see how you're doing, check on you. Most people continue to stay, they don't leave. But I have had one person who she shot, I think twice, and when I say twice, two rounds, right, she shot twice. And she was like, yeah, I don't think I can do this, not a problem, right.
Speaker 2:I texted her the next day and I said, hey, I just want to check on you, make sure you're okay. And she said, yeah, I'm fine. She said I'm going to come back. I said, you know what, even if you don't, I am so proud of you, I'm so proud of you, I'm so proud of you for doing that. You know, this is something that happened a decade ago to her personally and I just I was like you know what? You should be so proud of yourself and I'm proud of you. So if you come back, that's great, and if you don't, then don't worry about it, don't worry about it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't force anyone to do anything that they don't want to do.
Speaker 1:Sure, absolutely. And I bet there are some people that don't realize what they're carrying, the baggage that they're carrying, and it just comes out and they're like, oh my gosh, I had no idea.
Speaker 2:Wow, okay, that absolutely does happen. So a woman came in, her brother had been shot and he had been paralyzed and he at the time he had been shot and he had been paralyzed. And he, he, at the time he had beat his twenties and he had lived. He had died relatively recently and he, um, he had been paralyzed. You know his entire life. So, as I, it's not even your trauma.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it's the trauma of people around you that you've carried as well, because that's a scary situation, that's a horrible situation to see your brother in. So you know, yeah, you have carried that and and she, she actually stayed. She did a great job, she did an awesome job. She's like, yeah, okay, I want to get a gun now.
Speaker 1:It's like, all right, well, you just let me know when you're ready. And we can do that we can do that awesome.
Speaker 2:Well, you seem like such a a calming person and just a wonderful presence, so I can see why people will feel comfortable around you yes, yes, I think so that and and I've heard, I've had feedback that it was like one, yes, calming, she's very welcoming, but also she knows her stuff and that's that's something for my own being poweredness to have to realize, because a lot of individuals in the firearms industry and instruction they are, you know, former military, former police officers not everyone, but but a lot of people are and so here I am, just a little civilian, little civilian woman who's coming in, like you know, I can hang with the guys and, to be quite honest, yeah, to a certain extent I can, I can, but I have to work really hard at that. But I think that's what sets me apart as well.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. So in a group setting, like how many people would be in a group, like what's your max?
Speaker 2:Right now my max is six. It kind of depends. It depends on if I have assistance. Sometimes I do. Like I said, talked about my mentor, sometimes she will. I have other instructor friends and an RSO RSO is Range Safety Officer and so they have that certification and so I might bring them in from time to time if I have a little bit larger group. But for the most part, because it's a beginner group, you can go fairly slow and no one's like, well, I got to get back up there and shoot. Nah, most people are like, yeah, I'm good, I'm done, I'm good. If they go slow, it gives them time to kind of recalibrate from that adrenaline rush.
Speaker 2:It kind of gives them a little bit of time and then I can go through each one and kind of talk to them individually and give them one-on-one coaching. Training Got it.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. This has been so fun. I love this. Thank you, thank you, yeah, so tell the listeners how they can find you.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely so. My website is BeEmpoweredTacticalcom. I'm also on Facebook and of course I should have that. Facebook is BeEmpoweredTactical LLC and on Instagram it's Of course. I gotta remember. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:That's okay. I'll put it in the show notes too, so I can always add that.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, now I got it. I got it. Okay, there we go. B E period, empowered 14.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's.
Speaker 1:Instagram Got it. Okay, I will definitely put that in the show notes. So is there anything that we didn't cover, that you would want to want everyone to know about, any kind of frequent questions that you get that we didn't cover?
Speaker 2:I I would say the biggest thing is it's shooting is simple, not easy, and so what I mean by that is it's simple. You know you grip. You don't hold it, but you grip the gun. You press the trigger, but there is so much that goes into. You know how do you load the magazine? How do you load the magazine? How do you load the firearm?
Speaker 2:Safety is a big thing because that's where a lot of things we have negligent and accidental discharges. Yeah, part of that is because people are not paying attention to the safety protocols. Do not point the muzzle at anything that you do not want to destroy. That is number one. And all handguns and all guns period are loaded. So I think that that is you know the safety rules and an understanding that this is a skill. It's not as easy. You are not John Wick. Nobody, nobody really is Even John Wick. Keanu Reeves even had to go through a lot of training to do those movies, to make it look real. Yeah, not even real, but to make it look real, he had to go through hours and hours and months of training to make it look real.
Speaker 2:Not even real, but to make it look real. He had to go through hours and hours and months of training to make it look real. So it's simple, not easy, and so get someone that can help you with that and help you learn the correct way, the proper way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, I did think of one more question, Wasn't it, alec Baldwin, that the gun went off on the movie set? Because you had just mentioned that. So how would that happen?
Speaker 2:uh, I don't know that it would happen. I don't. I don't know a lot about that.
Speaker 1:I'll say that first I don't know a lot about that before a gun to just go off.
Speaker 2:That is an extremely rare. Now there could be some mechanical misfunction there we go. Malfunction there could be. That's extremely, extremely rare, though that's that's like saying, well, could a car's brakes just all of a sudden go off? Well, yeah, they could, but that's very, very rare that that happens like that.
Speaker 2:So yeah no, typically the only way that a firearm would go off is if someone actually pressed the trigger, and then it could be accidentally, but that someone actually pressed the trigger, and so that's why you always want to, you know, point your firearm in a safe direction, whether it's at home, you're cleaning it, or whether it's at the range. You always want to put it in a safe direction because you know something could happen Accidentally. You press the trigger and some of the triggers, especially when you're talking about competition firearms. The trigger and some of the triggers, especially when you're talking about, um, competition firearms, the trigger is extremely light.
Speaker 2:Oh, if you've ever had what's called a double action like a revolver, and it's been like really, really hard to press and and and people think that all guns are like that, not at all, not all. Some are like literally so, um, and those, but those are competition and most people don't have competition, yeah, competition firearms, but, but some of them can be very, very easy to press. So you always have to be careful about this direction and to keep your finger on the trigger. That's the first thing, yeah.
Speaker 1:There you go, there you go. Well, jerry, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to be here. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much, Robin, for inviting me, and I had a pleasure, and I cannot wait to see how this turns out, because I'm so excited to share it and share what you do too. So you've had some interesting conversations, so I would love for people to see yours as well.
Speaker 1:Oh, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Okay, you take care. All right, bye. I told you Jerry was the real deal. Thank you so much for being here and sharing your time and knowledge with us, jerry. I hope this conversation left you feeling inspired, educated and maybe even a little more curious about stepping into your own power. If you're ready to learn more or want to experience one of her amazing classes for yourself, head over to beempoweredtacticalcom. You can check out upcoming classes. You can learn more about Jerry's mission and sign up to leave feeling confident, capable and, yes, empowered.
Speaker 1:And, as always, if you love this episode, share it with a friend, hit that follow button and leave a quick review. Five star, please. I'll catch you next time. Thank you for listening. If you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to follow Spandex and Wine so you don't miss an episode. To do this, just go to the podcast and click subscribe or follow. Wherever you're listening, look for the plus sign or follow button. This is one of the best things that you can do for the podcast. If you'd also be willing to give a five star review, that would be amazing and much appreciated. Lastly, please share an episode with a friend or five to keep the love going and join the spandex and wine community in our private Facebook group by searching Spandex and Wine. Feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing info at spandexandwinecom or text me at 913-392-2877. I appreciate you, thank you.
