The Antihero Broadcast — Ep. with Jim Hood of Elevated Silence (03/25/2026)

Podcast: The Antihero Broadcast
Host: The Antihero Podcast (Tyler, Justin, et al.)
Guest: Jim Hood (Founder, Elevated Silence)
Date: March 25, 2026
Audience: Veterans, first responders, blue collar Americans

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive interview with Jim Hood, founder of Elevated Silence, a company specializing in firearm suppressors (“silencers”). The conversation explores Jim’s personal journey from a banking executive to a self-made entrepreneur in the firearms industry, the evolution of suppressor legality and technology, advice for self-employment, and a range of topical issues from law enforcement challenges to current political climates.

Throughout, the hosts and Jim maintain a laid-back, relatable, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek tone, mixing practical business insights with personal anecdotes, technical firearm discussions, and societal commentary relevant to veterans, first responders, and working-class Americans.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Getting to Know Jim Hood & His Background

• Origin Story:

  • Grew up in the Florida panhandle, didn’t move away or go to college (“graduated high school with a 1.7 GPA”, [15:13]).
  • Spent nearly 20 years in banking—served as VP of mortgage lending before being laid off in 2012 amid industry consolidation ([10:51], [14:30]).
  • “The only thing that can prepare you for being self-employed is being self-employed.” — Jim Hood ([11:29])
  • “You have to watch out for number one because nobody else will.” — Jim Hood ([13:14])
  • After being laid off (“19 and a half years, I round up” [14:33]), with a pregnant wife and 23-month-old child at home, pivoted to entrepreneurship.

• Transition to Entrepreneur:

  • Initial venture: Flipping houses with wife after real estate crash ([15:59], [16:36])
  • “I always liked to fix stuff to figure stuff out…That’s one of the mottos we have in our family: If you don’t know how to do it, figure it out. And it never hurts to ask questions.” — Jim Hood ([16:41])
  • 2015: Founded seven companies, including plumbing, electrical, concrete, construction, and a gun company ([17:20])

2. Entrepreneurship Realities

• Partnerships and Learning:

  • Most business partners didn’t last — only trusted his wife as a true partner ([19:27])
  • “The only partner that I was left with is my wife, the one I should have trusted to begin with.” — Jim Hood ([19:27])
  • Brought family into the business for trust and reliability.

• Embracing Failure & Growth:

  • Mistakes are inevitable (“You make a ton of mistakes…if I can't figure it out…I say, here, Tiffany [his sister], you handle it.” [18:31])

• Suppressor Business Origin:

  • Started Elevated Silence as a retailer; personal experience hunting with his son led to designing a suppressor (baffle stack) from a napkin drawing ([34:21])
  • “God put an idea in my head about a baffle stack…one thing led to another…we shot it, and it was perfect.” — Jim Hood ([34:22])

3. Suppressors: Technology, Legality, and Misconceptions

• Suppressor Legislation and Advocacy:

  • Sits on the board of the American Suppressor Association ([22:21])
  • Instrumental in expanding legal ownership to 43 states and fighting anti-suppressor legislation (e.g., defeating a proposed $500 state tax in Virginia) ([23:16])
  • 90% of owners “have no idea what went on behind the scenes to make it legal for them.” — Jim Hood ([23:38])
  • Recent changes: $200 tax stamp reduced to $0, electronic approvals in a few days ([25:29])
    • “The only reason you don’t buy a suppressor now is because you don’t want one.” — Jim Hood ([24:20])
  • Process is streamlined; Excuses like “not wanting to be on a government list” are unfounded ([24:54])

• Why Suppressor Control? Debunking Myths:

  • “There’s a lot of uneducated politicians in the gun world that think you can screw on a silencer…go in a crowd, shoot 50 people, and nobody knows where it came from.” ([29:48], [30:10])
  • Suppressors lower sound signature but do not make weapons “silent”; only movies and video games perpetuate this ([27:31])
    • Closest to silent: “.22 on a bolt gun shooting subsonic—that’s a snake fart.” — Jim Hood ([27:57])
  • Suppressors are safety tools—ear/hearing protection, reduce recoil/flinch, NOT “murder devices”
  • Historical context: 1934 NFA imposed the $200 tax stamp (today’s equivalent: ~$4,400) to keep them exclusive ([33:20])

• Technical Details:

  • Suppressors work by channeling and cooling gases, similar to a car muffler ([35:47])
  • Each caliber/gun type requires specialized suppressors due to different pressures ([37:04])
  • Currently developing a .45 caliber suppressor for .45, 450 Bushmaster, etc.—won’t release until perfect ([45:51])

• Industry Camaraderie:

  • High level of mutual respect among suppressor manufacturers despite being competitors ([39:54])
  • “We try to make stuff quiet…some people figure stuff out that I haven’t, I figured stuff that other people haven’t.” — Jim Hood ([40:19])
  • Testing is rigorous—e.g., a belt-fed 5.56 suppressor lasted 301 rounds in a “let it eat” mag dump ([47:41])

4. Community: Law Enforcement & Military

• Law Enforcement Applications:

  • Growing use of suppressors in police and SWAT for hearing safety and tactical benefits
    • “If you’ve ever fired an unsuppressed 5.56 in a closed room, you need hearing aids…a lot of agencies either changing out old stuff or for signature benefits” ([55:19])
    • “Suppressors are a lot cheaper than hearing aids. And they look way cooler.” — Jim Hood ([56:48])
  • Suppressors help with “signature control” on SWAT, patrol, SROs—making it safer for officers and bystanders ([56:09])

• Military & Patriotism:

  • Discussed military “ramp-up,” possible draft, changing age requirements (from 37 to 50) ([60:23])
  • On sending his own children to war: “Selfishly as a dad, do I want that? Probably not. But if that’s what he wants to do, I’m going to support him” ([64:59])
  • Reflection on veteran experience, family balance, and the wisdom gained through time ([67:19])

• Advice for First Responders:

  • Importance of “finding outlets” and separating job from personal life ([72:03])
  • Law enforcement/military culture tends toward over-identification with the mission at the expense of health, family ([68:00], [71:36])

5. Broader Industry & Social Discussion

• Real Estate Flipping Lessons:

  • Started small with distressed/foreclosed homes after the market crash—first foray into entrepreneurship ([42:10])
  • Lessons from Deltona, FL about how housing crises and rental influxes affect community crime and property values ([42:20])

• Federal Law Enforcement Careers:

  • Discussion of ICE, TSA, HSI, and how changing administrations/political climates affect federal law enforcement jobs and job security ([83:03], [84:03])
  • Noted government pay crises, living paycheck to paycheck, and how shutdowns create cascading hardship for federal workers ([86:53])

• Current Events:

  • Covered recent news where a Boston police officer (Nicholas O’Malley) was arrested and charged for a line-of-duty shooting within seven days—hosts and Jim criticize hasty prosecution as “election year tactics” ([96:40], [104:17])
    • “A car crash investigation lasts longer than seven days.” — Jim Hood ([98:20])
    • “If his partner was about to get run over and he stopped that from happening…I think he deserves a medal, not cuffs.” — Jim Hood ([99:48])

6. Humorous & Memorable Moments

• Notable Quotes:

  • “If you don’t know how to do it, figure it out.” — Jim Hood (recurring theme)
  • “You can't argue with that level of stupid because they’re going to bring you down to their level and beat you out of experience.” — Jim Hood ([30:10])
  • “The best way to make a million dollars in the gun industry is to start with two.” — Jim Hood ([40:56])
  • “Suppressors will improve your accuracy for two main reasons: less recoil, no flinch.” — Jim Hood ([75:21])

• Running Gags:

  • Tech issues at the start (“Best, worst tech guy ever…all the tech doesn’t work, but he can work you through your tech problems.” [07:38])
  • Playful banter about law enforcement, tier-levels of military units, and the definition of “first responders” (esp. male nurses, dispatchers, [91:43], [92:55])
  • References to pop culture—Punisher, Daredevil, and the recurring need to “look cool” on the job ([76:13])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |-------------------------------------------|-------------| | Jim Hood’s background/story | 09:33–16:41 | | From banker to entrepreneur | 10:51–16:41 | | The origin of Elevated Silence | 17:20–34:22 | | Suppressor legal history & advocacy | 22:21–25:29 | | Suppressor myths and technicals | 26:56–39:45 | | Law enforcement & MIL use of suppressors | 53:15–58:44 | | Federal law enforcement job climate | 83:03–87:59 | | Boston officer OIS prosecution | 96:31–104:42 | | Reflections on war, military, family | 61:12–71:44 |

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jim on self-employment:
  “About being self-employed: the only thing that can prepare you for it is being self-employed. That’s it.” ([11:29])

• Jim on entrepreneurship:
  “You have to watch out for number one because nobody else will.” ([13:14])

• On suppressor legality: “The only reason you don’t buy a suppressor now is because you don’t want one.” ([24:20])

• On suppressor effectiveness: “22 on a bolt gun shooting subsonic—that’s about as close as you’re going to get to hearing nothing. That’s a snake fart. It is so cool.” ([27:57])

• On over-identifying with high-stress jobs: “They tried teaching you that stuff in the academy…They try to tell you, turn it off, go fishing…There's no telling a young go-getter cop that.” ([71:44])

Final Thoughts

This episode offers an engaging blend of personal entrepreneurial journey, technical firearm information, law enforcement perspective, and commentary on the social and political climate—all through a lens of humility, humor, and practical wisdom. Jim Hood stands out as a grounded, “regular guy” entrepreneur who “figures things out,” values integrity and partnership, and genuinely cares about his industry and community.

Listeners walk away with a clearer understanding of suppressors and their social narratives, the importance of adaptability and relationships in business, and a healthy skepticism toward political and media-driven narratives about firearms and law enforcement.

For More

• Elevated Silence: elevatedsilence.com — Use promo code ANTIHERO15 for 15% off
• The Antihero Broadcast: Wednesdays are #FriendsDay for current events and guest features

"Figure it out." — Jim Hood

(A fitting family motto and recurring message for entrepreneurs, first responders, and blue collar Americans alike.)