The Harden Up Podcast
"The Harden Up Podcast" brings you into the world of high-performance training and adventure through the expert lens of Matt Harden—a former USMC Infantry Squad Leader, veteran SWAT Team Leader, and founder of OpTempo Training Group. Each episode delivers compelling conversations with leading specialists across tactical operations, athletic development, overlanding expeditions, and extreme sports.
Matt's military and law enforcement background provides the perfect foundation for extracting practical wisdom from his guests, offering listeners actionable strategies they can implement immediately. Whether you're a tactical professional, outdoor enthusiast, or simply someone looking to elevate your performance and push beyond comfort zones, this podcast delivers the insights and motivation you need.
The Harden Up Podcast
Ep 66: Mark Aguilar- LAPD S.I.S. Veteran
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Life After the Badge: Mark Aguilar on Retirement, Leadership & the Future of Policing
Mark Aguilar returns to the podcast following his retirement after an exceptional 31-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department, culminating in an assignment to the department's elite Special Investigations Unit.
In this follow-up conversation, we move beyond the tactical stories and dive into the realities of life after law enforcement. Mark shares what retirement has been like, the challenge of finding purpose after decades in a high-tempo profession, and the importance of building an identity beyond the badge.
We also discuss how proactive policing has evolved over the course of his career, the changing tactics of today's criminals, and the leadership qualities needed to develop the next generation of officers. Finally, we explore effective instructor methodologies and why creating adaptable, thinking officers is more important than ever.
Topics Covered:
- Transitioning from a 31-year law enforcement career into retirement
- Finding purpose and identity after the badge
- The decline of proactive policing and its impact on public safety
- How criminal tactics have evolved over the past three decades
- Leadership lessons from specialized law enforcement assignments
- Building better instructors and developing critical-thinking officers
Whether you're an active officer, instructor, supervisor, or someone preparing for life after a demanding career, this episode is packed with practical wisdom from one of the profession's most respected tactical practitioners.
We discussed training and equipment. The Iights we use and trust are American-made Inforce lights.
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Inforce Lights
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