Episode Details

Josh from Black Diamond Guns and Gear joins hosts Kaylee and John for a wide-ranging conversation about building a firearms YouTube channel from nothing, how welcoming the gun community is, and why budget guns matter. Josh tells the origin story of Black Diamond, which started around 2017 when he was making holsters under Black Diamond Holsters and the other Josh (Small Josh) suggested they try YouTube. Their first video, shot on a phone, was rough, but Facebook live shows pulled big audiences early on, with as many as 60,000 people watching live, and the channel grew from there. Josh shares that he lost about 90 pounds after gastric sleeve surgery and that he did it for his kid.

A big chunk of the episode is about getting into content creation. Josh and John encourage anyone interested to pick up a phone and start, because the camera in your pocket is good enough now and the first hundred videos are going to be rough anyway. John recalls Mr. Guns and Gear reframing 142 subscribers as 142 people he had touched, and Kaylee makes the case that sharing your story, even with one person, builds an on ramp into the Second Amendment community. They talk about how welcoming the YouTube gun crowd has been, naming friends like Steve (Mr. Big Kid), Patton, Sean Herron, and Opie of the Smokies.

Josh launched fattac.com, a site built for bigger guys, selling Fat Tac low-riding holsters that let larger people carry appendix comfortably, plus apparel, armor, belts, and medical gear. The back half turns to budget firearms and Josh's reaction video to GOA's earlier episode with Jamin from PSA, which became the show's most-viewed podcast at over 190,000 views. They dig into why budget guns get views, why $300 to $400 is real money in this economy, and the idea that you are not locked into one gun for life. Kaylee closes on going on the offensive politically, points to teachers being able to carry in schools as a step in the right direction, and invites listeners to the free Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS) in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Links

• fattac.com
• goals.gunowners.org

Questions this episode answers

How did Black Diamond Guns and Gear get started, and what was their first video like?

Black Diamond began around 2017 when Josh was making holsters under Black Diamond Holsters, and the other Josh (Small Josh) suggested they try YouTube. Their first video was shot on a phone and came out rough, but early Facebook live shows pulled big audiences, with as many as 60,000 watching live.

What is Fat Tac and who is it built for?

Fat Tac is Josh's site, fattac.com, built for bigger guys. It sells Fat Tac low-riding holsters that let larger people carry appendix comfortably, along with apparel, armor, belts, and medical gear.

Why do budget guns get so many views on YouTube?

Budget guns draw views because $300 to $400 is real money in this economy, so most people shopping for a first gun are looking in that range. Josh's reaction video to a budget-gun episode became the show's most-viewed podcast at over 190,000 views.

What made Josh want to make a reaction video to the PSA episode with Jamin?

Josh reacted to Gun Owners of America's earlier episode featuring Jamin from PSA because it centered on budget firearms, a topic that consistently draws views. His reaction became the show's most-viewed podcast at over 190,000 views.

Is $300 to $400 really a lot of money for a first gun?

Yes. The hosts and Josh make the case that $300 to $400 is real money in this economy, which is why budget guns matter, and they stress you are not locked into one gun for life.

Do you need expensive equipment to start a firearms YouTube channel?

No. Josh