Time to Head North

Don’t be a target: How Families Stay Safe During the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, crowded malls, package deliveries, and busy public spaces create new risks for families. In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vincent “Rocco” Vargas sits down with Johnny “JC”, a former Marine, law enforcement officer, SWAT team member, and high-threat protection instructor, to break down practical, real-world strategies for staying safe during the holidays.

 

Johnny shares lessons learned from years of military service, policing, overseas diplomatic protection, and executive security. Together, they discuss how mindset, situational awareness, and simple preventative habits can dramatically reduce risk for you and your loved ones. This conversation focuses on protecting what matters most—your family—without fear, paranoia, or overcomplication.

 

Topics covered include how criminals choose soft targets, why mindset matters more than gear, how to shop safely in crowded malls, parking lot awareness, walking to your car at night, protecting packages from theft, home security basics, and teaching kids situational awareness without creating anxiety. Johnny also explains why deterrence, lighting, numbers, and awareness are often more effective than confrontation.

 

This episode is designed for everyday families who want clear, actionable guidance they can use immediately during the holiday season. Whether you’re shopping, traveling, or at home with family, this conversation will help you think differently about personal safety and security.

Time to Head North is brought to you by The North Group — security refined by intelligence.

Are We Failing Our Kids? A Substance Abuse Counselor Speaks Out

Raising kids in today’s world is harder than ever: social media, school pressures, bullying, isolation, and rising mental health challenges. In this episode of Time to Head North, hosted by Vincent “Rocco” Vargas, we sit down with David Morantes, a social worker and substance abuse counselor, to talk about how parents can better support their kids before things reach a crisis point.

David shares his journey from wanting to be a police officer to becoming a master’s-level social worker, addiction counselor, and youth wrestling coach. Together, he and Vince dive into how community, honest conversations, and healthy structure at home can protect kids from feeling alienated, acting out, or slipping into dangerous behaviors.

You’ll hear real talk on:

• How sports, clubs, and community activities help kids feel like they belong

• Why some kids feel isolated and how that can lead to risky choices or violence

• How to spot subtle changes in your child’s mood, behavior, or social patterns

• Why “practice begets mastery” applies to emotions, resilience, and self-worth

• How dads and moms parent differently—and why kids actually need both

• The impact of social media, cyberbullying, and the loss of face-to-face accountability

• Practical ways to talk to your kids about drugs, sex, friends, and pressure at school

• How simple things like hugs, touch, and one-on-one time build deep trust

If you’re a parent, coach, teacher, or anyone who works with kids, this conversation is a powerful reminder:
Make your kids feel heard. Make your kids feel loved. That is one of the strongest foundations for mental health, resilience, and school safety.

Time to Head North is brought to you by The North Group – security refined by intelligence.

Disinformation is OUR greatest threat: How to Fight Back?

In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vince Vargas sits down with Steven Hernandez (CEO, The North Group) and Dr. Treston Wheat (security analyst and researcher) for a blunt conversation on the rise of targeted political violence, how disinformation and social media algorithms accelerate polarization, and what actually works to reduce risk at home, at work, and at events.

 

We cover:

* Why lone-actor attacks are rising and how “atomization” and loss of community fuel them

* The data behind polarization, terrorism trends, and why political violence may spike over the next 12–24 months

* Disinformation vs. misinformation: why “fast info” beats “true info” online—and how to fight back with real critical thinking

* Protective intelligence that works: pre-attack indicators, placement & access, and why details “fail in the advance”

* Schools and workplace safety: access control, training that actually sticks, and what to do before the headlines hit

* Fatherhood, faith, and the “little platoons”: how local community is a real security control

* Practical takeaways for families, executives, and security teams

If you lead people, run facilities, plan events, or just want your family safer, this is your playbook.

 

Chapters

00:00 Why violence feels closer now

05:38 Why polarization and algorithms supercharge division

12:45 What parents, leaders, and teams should teach to counter disinformation

18:50 What the data really says about lone-actor threats

33:30 Why protective intelligence beats paper plans (and where details fail)

41:00 What schools and workplaces should implement before a crisis

47:50 What the next 12–24 months can look like (realistic forecast)

55:40 Can community, fatherhood, and consistent drills actually reduce violence?

 

About the guests

• Steven Hernandez — CEO, The North Group (protective intelligence & security)

• Dr. Treston Wheat — Researcher and analyst on geopolitics, terrorism, and risk

 

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Time to Head North podcast, presented by The North Group — security refined by intelligence. For more information head to: https://tngdefense.com/

Cartels, Drones & Deepfakes: Modern Threats You’re Not Ready For

AI is rewriting the security playbook — from deepfakes and “deep-live” video calls to bot farms, quantum-powered hacking, cartel drones, and fast-moving disinformation. In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vince Vargas sits down with Steve Hernandez (CEO, The North Group) to break down what’s real, what’s hype, and how families, schools, and enterprises can harden their defenses right now.

 

What you’ll learn

• Deepfakes vs. deep-live: why real-time video impersonation is the next frontier
• Quantum + AI: the coming risk to banking, identity, and critical infrastructure
• Bot farms and narrative warfare: how short-form content spreads disinfo at scale
• Voice-clone fraud and “CEO scams”: simple verification workflows that stop it
• Cartels, drones, and domestic event security: what battlefield TTPs mean at home
• Protective intelligence for leaders: closing open-source exposure and access gaps
• School security that works: access control, SRO funding, training cadence that matters
• Everyday readiness: situational awareness for families without living in fear

 

Timestamps

00:00 AI hype vs. real risk, and why deep-live beats deepfake
03:05 Quantum computing + ML: what banks and enterprises should expect
04:34 Bot farms, narrative ops, and the power of short-form manipulation
05:58 Voice cloning, image theft, and social-engineered “FaceTime” scams
08:20 Who’s most vulnerable online — and why
12:05 Cartels, cyber, and drones: lessons from modern conflict zones
20:00 Radicalization, grievance, and lone-actor risk
28:00 Practical family safety and situational awareness
33:40 School security: access control, SROs, and training that sticks
40:30 A call for unity, vigilance, and measured response

If this helped, please like, subscribe, and share. New episodes weekly.

Podcast: Time to Head North — Security refined by intelligence.

Guest: Steve Hernandez, CEO, The North Group
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevehernandeztng/ Website: https://tngdefense.com/

Everyday Safety Strategies: Practical Tips for Parents and Women

On this episode of Time to Head North, Vince sits down with personal safety expert and author Kelly Sayre (Sharp Woman, Diamond Arrow Group) to break down practical, real-world strategies women and parents can use today. They unpack the viral train attack clip and translate shock into action: how to choose safer seating on public transit, create space, read baselines, use your voice without apology, and build “next-move” plans when someone escalates. Kelly also shares how to coach teens to advocate for themselves, navigate uncomfortable interactions, and keep options open—from boundary setting to disengaging and getting help.

 

You’ll learn simple habits that raise your awareness without living in fear, how to rehearse counter-moves mentally, and why confidence and calm can deter opportunistic threats. We also cover bystander basics, first-aid mindset, everyday carry considerations, and what healthy vs manipulative “niceness” looks like for coaches, coworkers, and strangers.

 

What you’ll learn

* Situational awareness you can actually use: positioning, lines of sight, creating space

* Boundary language that puts safety first without overexplaining

* “Next-move” planning: what to do when the other person escalates

* Coaching teens to speak up, accept “no,” and spot strings-attached “niceness”

* Run, talk, or fight: building options you can execute under stress

* Parenting without panic: curiosity over paranoia, conversations that stick

 

Guest

Kelly Sayre — Author of Sharp Woman, founder of Diamond Arrow Group and the Sharp Woman Collective, focused on intuition-driven personal safety, communication, and preparedness.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thediamondarrowgroup/ Website: https://thediamondarrowgroup.com/

 

Timestamps

00:00 Why this conversation now

03:06 What the viral train video teaches us

04:58 Seating, space, and safer positioning in public

09:45 Finding your voice without apologizing for safety

13:32 When “no” triggers escalation: plan the next move

20:37 After action: disengage, check for injuries, call 911

22:58 Parenting for awareness, not paranoia

30:02 Niceness vs goodness: spotting strings-attached behavior

33:24 Curiosity as a daily safety habit

36:15 Kelly’s Sharp Woman Collective

 

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Time to Head North podcast, presented by The North Group — security refined by intelligence.

The Synthetic Crisis No One is Talking About: 7-OH Explained

In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vincent Vargas sits down with John Ramsey, Senior R&D Manager at Diversified Botanics, to expose the alarming rise of 7-OH (7-hydroxymitragynine)—a synthetic compound that is up to 40x stronger than morphine and sold openly in smoke shops, vape stores, and even gas stations.

Often marketed as “stronger kratom,” 7-OH is not only unregulated but also highly addictive, with thousands of people struggling to quit after only a few doses. Parents need to be aware: free samples, candy-like gummies, and flavored drinks are being used to hook young adults into a dangerous cycle of dependence.

John shares his expertise on how the compound is made, how it differs from natural kratom, why the market exploded into a $9 billion industry in under two years, and what parents should look out for to protect their families.

This conversation is not about fear—it’s about awareness, education, and protecting your loved ones.

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Get more information on kratom here:
https://diversifiedbotanics.com/

Unpacking the deadly NYC shooting: Why C-Suite security is failing?

In this episode of Time to Head North, host Vincent Vargas sits down with security expert Denny Caballero, host of the Security Hope Podcast, to unpack the recent tragic New York City office shooting. Together, they explore the systemic issues behind corporate security failures, the mental health crisis stemming from traumatic brain injuries (CTE, TBI, RHI) in veterans and athletes, and the growing threat of lone-wolf violence driven by radical online ideologies.

 

Denny and Vince dive deep into:

- Why corporate offices still lack basic AI-enhanced security protocols

- How traumatic brain injuries can lead to erratic behavior and violence

- The shocking ease with which threats can access sensitive office locations

- The responsibility of leadership to adapt their safety protocols in 2025

 

Whether you're a corporate leader, veteran, or everyday citizen, this episode will challenge your understanding of modern-day safety and the psychological toll of overlooked injuries.

“AI Is the Future… But It’s Also a Threat” | 5 Critical Threats to U.S. Infrastructure Right Now

In this update episode of the Time to Head North Podcast, host Vincent "Rocco" Vargas returns after a brief hiatus to share major life updates—relocating from Texas to Utah and stepping away from the Border Patrol to pursue new leadership roles in the private sector.

Vargas also breaks down the Top 5 cybersecurity threats currently making headlines, offering critical insight for professionals in security, IT, government, and corporate sectors. From China's zero-day attack on Microsoft SharePoint to ransomware threats and AI’s growing role in cyber defense, this episode delivers practical takeaways and urgent updates.

If you’re involved in infrastructure, cybersecurity, or digital transformation—especially in the veteran, corporate, or public safety communities—this is a must-listen.

📌 Topics covered:

- Nation-state cyberattacks on critical U.S. systems

- Emerging ransomware targeting hospitals and utilities

- New York’s $2.5M cybersecurity initiative for water systems

- AI's role in the future of cyber defense

- New Coast Guard cybersecurity rules for U.S. ports

Stay tuned for upcoming guest interviews and in-depth conversations around leadership, resilience, and national security.

Training Saved Kelli Herron: A Self-Defense Survival Story

This episode of Time to Head North spotlights the real-life story of Kelli Herron, a runner who survived a violent attack in a public bathroom during a training run in Seattle. Her fight wasn't just physical—it was mental, strategic, and courageous. She turned her worst nightmare into a message of empowerment for runners, women, and survivors everywhere.

 

In March 2017, four miles into a half-marathon training run, Kelli stopped at a public restroom in Golden Gardens Park. Moments later, she was attacked by a registered sex offender. But thanks to her quick thinking and recent self-defense training, Kelli fought back with everything she had—using her elbows, voice, and sheer will to survive. She escaped, locked her attacker inside, and alerted the police.

 

Her Garmin GPS watch recorded every second of the incident—her sudden heart rate spike, erratic movements, and sprint to freedom—providing powerful proof of her story. Now, Kelli uses her experience to speak out and educate others on personal safety. Her message? "Not today." It's more than a phrase—it’s a mindset.

 

Read the full story here: https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20...

Veterans Break Down Real Security - Protecting Your Family, School & Business with Tactical Insight

Welcome to the first episode of Overwatch, a new roundtable series from the Time to Head North podcast, presented by The North Group — security refined by intelligence.

 

In this episode, host Vincent "Rocco" Vargas is joined by three experienced professionals in the worlds of military, law enforcement, and security to discuss The Four Fronts of modern safety:

- School Security

- Family Security

- Personal Security

- Corporate Security

 

Together, they bring over 80 years of combined expertise and dive into real-world concerns and overlooked vulnerabilities that impact everyday Americans, executives, and parents alike. This is a raw, honest, and tactical conversation designed to give you awareness, insight, and actionable takeaways on how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

 

Guests:

Warsaw DelRosario – https://www.instagram.com/warsaw.delrosario/

Denny Caballero – https://www.instagram.com/danny_tanner_jr/

TJ White – https://www.instagram.com/tjwhitergr/

 

This series is dedicated to empowering Americans with the mindset and tools to stay ready — not paranoid — but prepared.

 

Subscribe for more episodes of Overwatch and Time to Head North where we cover real threats, real training, and real talk.