Defense for Women: The Interview Phase

About this episode

David Burnell discusses the critical 'interview phase' where potential attackers evaluate their targets and how to recognize and shut down these interactions.

Most dangerous situations don’t start with force. They start with a test. In this episode of Defense for Women , David Burnell explains the “interview phase”—the subtle, often unnoticed moment when someone is evaluating you as a potential target. This is where boundaries are tested, hesitation is measured, and decisions are made. You’ll learn how to recognize these early interactions, how attackers use conversation and behavior to assess you, and how to shut them down before they escalate. Because if you understand the interview… You can end the situation before it ever begins. Get full access to David Burnell at davidburnell.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: David Burnell

Topics covered

• self-defense
• interview phase
• boundaries
• safety
• attack prevention

Keywords

• defense
• women's safety
• interview phase
• boundaries
• attackers

More episodes of The David Burnell Podcast

• D-Day: The Longest Day · June 6, 2026 · 9 min
• Defense for Women: Introduction · June 2, 2026 · 9 min
• Defense for Women: Where It Happens · June 2, 2026 · 9 min
• Defense for Women: The Dangerous Need to Be Nice · June 1, 2026 · 9 min
• What Freedom Means to Me · May 31, 2026 · 2 min
• Defense for Women: Boundaries Are a Weapon · May 30, 2026 · 10 min