
🎙️ The Velvet Hammer Podcast
Hard Truth. Real Missions. Life Lessons.
The Velvet Hammer is a powerful, no-nonsense podcast that delivers hard-hitting insights into real-world missions, elite training, and global events. These stories are raw, sometimes intense, but always grounded in profound life lessons and actionable wisdom.
Hosted by David Burnell—a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, and seasoned operator—this series dives into the reality of search and rescue, urban warfare, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian aid. David’s experience spans multiple continents and critical roles:
- Founder of the Urban Warfare Center (2002–2012)
- Former Dive Rescue International Instructor
- Certified bodyguard for high-risk environments
- Anti-human trafficking and defensive tactics specialist
- Small arms expert and National Taekwondo Champion
- Executive producer of over 16 commercial films
David has also built several successful businesses from the ground up, bringing that same clarity and grit to every episode.
👉 Learn more at www.davidburnell.com
Episodes
66 episodes
Quick Defense: Chapter 17 - Conclusion and Resources
This is the seventeenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it ea...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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7:42

Quick Defense: Chapter 16 - Legal Considerations in Self-Defense
This is the sixteenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easi...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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2:25

Quick Defense: Chapter 15 - Putting It All Together
This is the fifteenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easi...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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7:33

Quick Defense: Chapter 14 - The Escape Maneuver
This is the fourteenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it eas...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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7:33

Quick Defense: Chapter 13 - Ground Defense
This is the thirteenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it eas...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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7:27

Quick Defense: Chapter 12 - Choke Defense
This is the twelfth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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7:54

Quick Defense: Chapter 11 - The Headbutt
This is the eleventh episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easie...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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7:39

Quick Defense: Chapter 10 - The Push Away
This is the tenth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier t...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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7:09

Quick Defense: Chapter 9 - The Wrist Lock
This is the ninth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier t...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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7:45

Quick Defense: Chapter 8 - The Low Kick
This is the eighth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell.You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier ...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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7:31

Quick Defense: Chapter 7 - The Knee Strike
This is the seventh episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easie...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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7:44

Quick Defense: Chapter 6 - The Elbow Strike
This is the sixth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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7:20

Quick Defense: Chapter 5 - The Palm Strike Technique
This is the fifth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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7:53

Quick Defense: Chapter 4 - The Foundation of Self-Defense
This is the fourth episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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7:18

Quick Defense: Chapter 3 - Awareness and Prevention
This is the third episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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7:29

Quick Defense: Chapter 2 - The Psychology of an Attack
This is the second episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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2:35

Quick Defense: Chapter 1 - Introduction to Self-Defense
This is the first episode of 17 Chapters on Quick Defense by David Burnell. You can also listen to the entire eBook on this podcast, but the shorter episodes are presented here in smaller bite-size sessions. This makes it easier ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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3:32

Quick Defense: Mastering the Top 10 Self-Defense Techniques eBook
15 Chapters and 84 pages of no-nonsense self-defense information. TOP 10 simple ways to protect you and your loved ones. A MUST listen.This course will give you the critical and top 10 proven methods used by military, police, and ...
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1:54:40

Combat Ready: Mastering Force-on-Force Training for Real-World Engagements eBook
12 Chapters of Mastering Force-on-Force Training for Real-World EngagementsCombat readiness is crucial in military and law enforcement operations, representing an individual’s or unit’s ability to respond effectively to hostile situatio...
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1:40:49
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Bad Gods: A Bodyguard in Medieval Haiti eBook
This is the true story of my experiences in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. It has taken me over ten years to write it. This is a FREE eBook. I hope you enjoy it and can feel, at some level, the goodness of the doctors and nurses who went to h...
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1:48:39
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Danger Calls Japan: 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami Recovery Mission eBook
I just bought a ticket and went to help recover, folks. My mission became much more than looking for the dead; it became a mission for the living. This is a gripping first-hand account of the human recovery mission in the aftermath of the 2011 ...
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34:05
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Women's Live Taught Self-defense Course Overview
This is an overview of what to expect in the women's self-defense live taught course. This course is great for young women's groups, adult women or a group of family and friends. You provide the place and the people and David will come and t...
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1:52

Overcoming the Abyss through Light
With so much pressure on so many people, I am struck by the comparison of the deep black water environments where there is intense pressure and little to no light. In this podcast David talks about how we can overcome that darkness and fi...
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13:27

Respect and Leadership Interview with the Mainline Executive Coaching
Are you looking to improve your companies growth, retention, trust with employees and overall well being? Listen to this podcast and get some insights into RESPECT as one of the key principles that can take you, your team and company to t...
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42:44
