Most people believe a dangerous lie: “If something happens, it won’t happen in public.” Crowds feel safe. Lights feel safe. Cameras feel safe. Being “around people” feels safe. And yet, again and again, violence unfolds in plain sight—on sidewalks, in parking lots, on campuses, outside stores, at transit stops—while others look away, freeze, or assume someone else will help. Public does not mean protected. Public does not mean prepared. Public does not mean safe. Understanding this truth—and...

It starts with words. Loud words. Angry words. A raised voice in a parking lot. A man yelling in public. A confrontation that suddenly feels like it’s slipping out of control. Most people don’t realize this, but many violent encounters don’t begin with a punch. They begin with intimidation. And intimidation is not harmless. If you’ve ever felt your stomach drop when someone started yelling at you—if you’ve ever wondered “Is this about to turn physical?” —this blog is for you. Because when...

Most people walk through the world hoping nothing bad happens to them. Predators walk through the world searching  for the people who hope nothing bad happens to them. Violence is not random. Assaults are not unpredictable. Attackers do not choose victims by accident. They choose targets deliberately, intelligently, and efficiently — the same way a hunter tracks prey. And once you understand how predators think, move, and select victims, you can do the single most powerful thing in...