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 - Eyes, Hands, Direction of Travel
This episode features a standalone chapter from the book Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts by David Burnell.
In Chapter 8 – Eyes, Hands, Direction of Travel, David reveals one of the most powerful threat-detection tools you’ll ever carry: the ability to read human behavior before violence starts.
Whether you’re walking a quiet parking lot or standing in a crowded store, people don’t just “snap.” They leak intent. Through their eyes, their hands, and their direction of travel, would-be attackers send subconscious signals long before they act.
From war zones to city streets, David shares stories and insights that teach you how to:
- Recognize predatory eye behavior (from target fixation to glance patterns)
- Spot the hidden danger of concealed or fidgeting hands
- Understand how the direction of travel reveals true intent
- React early by trusting social pattern disruptions
- Avoid danger—not through paranoia, but presence
This chapter isn’t just about avoiding a fight—it’s about winning the encounter by seeing it before it starts.
This is a single chapter from the full-length audiobook Before It Happens: The Art of Staying Safe Before Violence Starts, available now on Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon.
For more information, please visit www.echovalor.com
