Fortress Mindset: Real-World Family Defense With Joel Ryals of FortressK9

Our first speaker announcement this year is Joel Ryals, a man who knows exactly what it takes to protect his family—and yours. His session, “Fortress Mindset: Real-World Family Defense,” is straight talk about practical security. No fluff, no paranoia—just solid strategies to keep your home and loved ones safe.

Self-Reliance Festival isn’t about theory—it’s about real skills, real solutions, and people who walk the walk.

To keep things fin, I hit him with two off-the-wall questions:

🚗 If the only parking spot left was next to a Tesla Charging Station, would you take it or hike from the lot next door?

I would park my diesel truck in the charging station spot. If I can’t do that, I would probably park in the next lot and walk. 😀

🎬 What’s your all-time favorite movie?

My favorite comedy is Space Balls and my favorite Sci-Fi is Terminator with The Matrix as a close second.

What else will you learn about Joel? Stay tuned to find out! SRF 2025 is just getting started.

Connect with Joel

• Website
• Instagram: @fortressk9