Prepared to Survive a Crisis

Former CIA officer, security specialist, and winner of ABC's hit reality series Shark Tank, Jason Hanson is a highly sought-after expert on safety and survival. He joined guest host Rich Berra (email) in the first two and half hours of the program to discuss tactics he used as a CIA officer for counterintelligence and surveillance. Hanson identified two major threats to American safety. The first, less known, is the possibility of states attempting to secede after the 2024 election, leading to civil unrest or even civil war. He suggested that government sources are concerned about this, fearing that states will close their borders, resulting in chaos. Hanson has prepared by stockpiling food, water, and ammunition to ensure his family is safe. He believes that regardless of the election outcome, the nation's polarization may lead to turbulence.

The second threat relates to personal safety and awareness in daily life. Hanson emphasized the importance of being vigilant, especially for women, in public places. Criminals target distracted people, such as those looking at their phones. He recounted a story of his wife being followed in a store and explained how she detected it through situational awareness and used a surveillance detection route to confirm the threat before seeking help. He advised listeners to avoid going straight home if they feel followed and to rely on basic but effective safety habits to avoid becoming victims of crime.

Hanson reflected on the portrayal of espionage in popular media, specifically citing Quantico, an FBI TV show that incorporated CIA training in its second season. He praised the show's technical consultant for portraying aspects like surveillance detection routes with some degree of accuracy, though overall, he acknowledged that most spy-themed entertainment exaggerates the action. In reality, espionage is often mundane, with only a small fraction of the work involving the high-stakes scenarios seen on screen, he revealed