The Survival Podcast

On this episode of The Survival Podcast, I was joined by Geoff Lawton, a familiar face and esteemed member of our expert council. Geoff, a renowned figure in the world of permaculture and regenerative design, brings with him over four decades of experience and a profound commitment to sustainable agriculture and self-sufficient communities. As the founder of the Permaculture Research Institute, Geoff has been an invaluable resource for our audience, sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise. His previous appearances on the show have provided invaluable insights and practical advice on topics ranging from restoring degraded lands to establishing resilient food … Continue reading →

Well the truth is these are 10 life skills we should be teaching every child and many adults who never learned. them.  I have done shows like this before but I want to come at it from a slightly different angle today.  More along the lines of the process behind the skills.  In other words you can teach someone to cook but showing them how a stove and a knife works and giving them recipes.  That is basic technique teaching. Of you can teach the process and theory behind cooking and a person can then create meals on the fly … Continue reading →

Sadly a component of the “sovereign citizen movement” have actually ruined the word, “sovereign citizen”.  While many in the movement are peaceful and tend to operate via turning the state unto itself via the courts, enough idiots have committed acts of violence under the phrase to widely ruin what it was supposed to mean. However, as so often is the case that which is ruined often leads to that which is better.  In this case I think the term “sovereign human” is a much better term.  Citizen denotes a state, and a state denotes control.  But no matter our state … Continue reading →

This episode was a back to basics show. Simple stuff that we all need reminding about day to day in order to stay sharp. This is also the exact type of information to give to people new to prepping, especially the totally unprepared that “don't get it”. We all have fiends like that right? So many people seem to believe you are either some sort of “extreme doomsday prepper” or you are just normal.  I say that the way most people not normal.  I am talking about adults here and adults should be first and foremost responsible.  Responsible first for … Continue reading →

Today we are going to talk about one of the primary support planks that need to be in place for real modern survival living.  It won’t be about storing food, the right guns, getting defense training or securing your property.  All of those are incredibly important and there is a ton more that is important as well.  That said, what is the primary leverage we use to get these things and many others done?  The answer is money. Money is a symbol for energy, that is what it really represents, whether human labor, natural energetic systems or man made automation, … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on Greenland, dogs, guns, eye infections, homestead automation, investing, protests and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your question will get … Continue reading →

Andrew Reed joins us today to discuss building soil, food, and self-sufficiency with low tech mushroom cultivation. Andrew is a fungal geneticist, educator, and founder of Mossy Creek Mushrooms in East Tennessee, where he runs one of the most diverse independent culture libraries in North America. His work centers on practical, scalable mycology—using mushrooms to build soil, strengthen food systems, reduce waste streams, and empower small growers with simple, repeatable methods that actually work in the real world. A lifelong naturalist with a background in microbiology and ecological systems, Andrew specializes in strain development and selective breeding of gourmet and … Continue reading →

Today we discuss a concept that is very old to me merged with a term that is brand new to me.  It is called Rebel Canning.  Rebel Canners are communities of people using traditional canning methods that gasp, ignore many recommendations by the USDA for canning.  These people however are not adult children.  The spirit in these groups is not I won’t do what you say simply because I want to be a rebel.  More I am a rebel because I can think for myself and your rules do not really make sense at all. But how could the USDA … Continue reading →

Right now all the talk in the media is about a woman who was shot in her vehicle by an ICE agent.  Most of the talk is of course retarded and angled to support the left’s claim that ICE murdered a woman in cold blood.  But what really happened, that is just one thing we will look at today.  We will also revisit the new food pyramid we discussed on Thursday and the left’s predictable reaction to it, but what is the real source of anger about it?  Also quietly last month the USDA reallocated almost 700 million dollars to … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on Venezuela, dog training, 2026 goals, tax strategy, liquid bitcoin, plant propagation, the new food guidance from the FDA and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes … Continue reading →

Over the holiday break I got out and did a bit of fishing for a variety of things but mainly just some bullhead catfish to add to my back yard ponds.  I also started to reorganize my gear after a recent surf trip and as part of my winter routine.  Then on top if it had a text conversation with a good friend about fishing.  Turns out the guy is a huge fan of catfish so I was giving him some advice on using things like range cubes for chum.  He didn’t know what range cubes were so I texted … Continue reading →

Today two of my favorite people, John Willis and Nicole Sauce join me for our First Tuesday Coffee Chat. Today we talk about some current events and news stories, some entrepreneurial topics and of course some stuff on homesteading and a few other topics. You know we are going to hit on some of the crazy current events. The US snatching Maduro out of Venezuela. The Somali Daycare scams and the end of Tim Waltz due to it. Are we really going to take over Greenland? Will the war in Ukraine ever end and more. Sponsors of the Day Join … Continue reading →

This is one of the laws of life in my new book which is almost done being written.  The law itself sounds simple and brutal but trust me as you will see today it isn’t really either, at least in the way it may appear to be.  While we will discuss physical conflict today, this law is more applicable to the office, the board room or in family arguments then on the mean streets. You see all “conflict” is a form of a fight and all fights should follow certain principles.  The first of which is the principle of non … Continue reading →

Most of today's show is a recreation of 2008’s Christmas special. Today we pause and take a moment to reflect on Christmas and how it has become the Holiday we celebrate today. Many American's have no idea just how Christmas became unique here in America, the role it played in bringing our nation together after two wars of independence and the civil war. Christmas is special and a time to pause and reflect. Christmas is indeed a special time of year, today I will cover many aspects of it that may make this Christmas just a bit more special. Tune … Continue reading →

I woke up today and did my normal morning stuff.  I then jumped on social media to sound the last alarm about the AI course going on sale today.  I made the mistake of actually reading some of the posts on X.  Here is something you guys do not know.  While I have appeared to be “active” on X lately it has mostly just been cut and past of show announcements and such.  Very much a post and ghost approach. I have been engaged in a program to improve myself a bit.  You are never too old and never too … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on the the military, eyesight issues, training dogs, first deer rifles, foraging thistle and teasel, the FishBrain app and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it … Continue reading →

Today Chef Ken Daniels returns to TSPC to talk about making Christmas Dinner.  After our show on Thanksgiving dinner quite a few requested this show, so at TSPC we try to give you what you ask for as often as we can.  As we already covered turkey and you cook a turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas the same way, we will not talk turkey today. Instead we will talk about other options for a main course.  How about say a standing rib roast, a leg of lamb, an amazing ham or even a Christmas Goose?  We will get into all … Continue reading →

It is that time again.  We may still be nine days from Christmas and have a lot of winter in front of us but spring will come before you know it.   In much of the country seeds should be started indoors some time between Feb 1st and the end of that month.  Folks I know it will sound crazy but February 2026 is just barely more than a month away. Now is the time to evaluate the equipment you have and upgrade or add the things you want in your system this year.  Select varieties of seeds to grow and … Continue reading →

Recently I posted and advertisement for guns on Facebook and X it was from 1972.  Featuring things like a Remington 1100 for 144 dollars and a Marlin 30-30 for 80 bucks.   A few people who I do applaud for doing the math pointed out that things like the Mossberg pump at 64 bucks was actually a little more expensive in 72 vs. today if measured against CPI inflation. Again I applaud anyone for doing math but OF COURSE IT TRACKS WITH INFLATION.  Yes, inflation tracks with inflation, shocking!  Seriously what actually matters is real cost, not dollar cost.  The dollar … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions the economy, taxes, rifles & optics, health, small scale wind energy, end of life planning, business motivation and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about … Continue reading →

Jeff and Rose Burkinshaw along their 5 girls have been homesteading off-grid for the better part of 20 years. They share their adventures on the Gridlessness  youtube channel and Jeff recently launched his book “Gridlessness- Finding Freedom Off-Grid”. From the suburbs to the city, they’ve built an abundant life off-grid from the ground up. Jeff’s new book divulges all the details of family life, finances, and the gritty work, mistakes and eventual mastery of life in the wilderness. Join Us Today to Discuss… How Jeff’s family started down the path to an off-grid homestead What motivated Jeff’s family to take … Continue reading →

Let me ask you a question, do you really feel future generations will know anything approaching the freedoms we still have today?  Do you think even the freedom that children had in say 1985 will ever be restored?  Have you ever considered the progression of the loss of freedom in this nation? I am talking going way, way back.  It was said of the Native Americans prior to the founding of our nation that “never have there ever been a people who were so free”.  While a valid point, it isn't exactly true, as many such people were as free … Continue reading →

Many people come to preparedness from a scarcity mindset. At TSPC we have always pushed back on that. In episode one I said that preparing from fear blinds us to the good in the world. Yes, bad things happen and worse things can happen. That is always true. But the way we romanticize those who lived through the great depression does not build resilience. Especially those at the bottom of society. I respect their grit. My grandparents lived through it on modest incomes. What I learned from them was simple. It was hard. Very hard. As a kid I never … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions politics, foraging, dogs, red light therapy, home improvement, shotguns, pistol caliber carbines, technology and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your … Continue reading →

On a daily basis we ignore a very harsh reality.  That reality is something simple but not fun to think about which is why ignore it.  Every day we get one day closer to the day we die.  This is as true for a 7 year old as it is for a 70 year old.  Sure unless the 7 year old has some horrible illness or some awful disaster they have a lot longer to live then ten the 70 year old.  Of course that is true but I didn’t say anything about how much time was left in total … Continue reading →

Today two of my favorite people, John Willis and Nicole Sauce join me for our First Tuesday Coffee Chat. Today we talk about some current events and news stories, some entrepreneurial topics and of course some stuff on homesteading and a few other topics. Sponsors of the Day Join the MSB Here Law of Life – My Book on Amazon Items of the Day for this Week Anker Soundcore V20i Open-Ear Headphones – Item of the Day Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker – Deal of the Day! Suggested Bitcoin Stacking Resources Sign Up for Strike Sign Up for Fold Get … Continue reading →

Here is a fact, whether you like this fact or not won't change that it is indeed a fact.  The American people have been systematically programmed to be unable to make rational and logical decisions over many generations. Here are the key tenets that contributed to this… The State/Education System – Children are taught to learn a thing, repeat a thing and defend a thing, but never to determine a thing.  Every concept in our education system is based on a single correct answer, the student never determines anything. ` Industry/Media – Marketing itself is telling a story and not … Continue reading →

Today one day before the great American Holiday we stop and pause to think about what we have to be thankful for. Several years ago I rerecorded the original portion of this show into much better audio quality, I do hope you enjoy it. If you would like to hear the first version of it as it was recorded in my car you can find the original that was published on Nov. 26, 2008 here. The beauty of this show is I feel it is something you can share with friends and family. The real history of Thanksgiving is actually … Continue reading →

Sometimes we get too caught up in the shiny objects. Fancy gear, endless debates about calibers, arguing over which solar generator is best. None of that means a damn thing if you haven't handled the basics. So today I'm stripping it all back. Just me, answering 12 straight questions that will get anyone into the right mindset when it comes to prepping. This is the episode you send to the guy who says, “Why should I prep? Nothing ever happens here.” Really? Tell that to people in Maui who watched their homes go up in flames, or the folks in … Continue reading →

Today we lead off the week taking a look at what is going on in the world.  X released a new country of origin feature and it has revealed some incredible realities about some major accounts including the DHS account of the US government.  3D printer manufacturer Flash Forge committed absolute brand suicide.  You can now genetically select your baby with IVF+ including for things like height and IQ, at least that is the claim. In other news it looks like the war in Ukraine will soon come to an end, in a manner than anyone with a grasp of … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions government spending, public policy, what just happened in the hemp market, real estate, Stingray devices, business tax strategies, investing and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes … Continue reading →

We are in that time of year where all eyes turn toward the holiday season. The big kick off of course is always Thanksgiving. A time when family and friends gather around the table to feast and spend time together. Yet it can be stressful. Dry turkey, burnt sides and people showing up too early or too late. Well we can't do much to alter your families on time ethics but we can absolutely help with the food. From apps, to main course to deserts and drinks, we cover it all today. Don't miss this one, next week the big … Continue reading →

2025 has been an odd year from a weather stand point for us anyway.  The early summer was pretty amazing with far more rainfall than typical with more mild temperatures as well.  Everything was super green even at the end of June.  I knew the other shoe would drop and by July it did.  The rain said, good bye see you in October and kept it’s word.  The heat jacked up into daily trips well into the triple digits and the new chickens all but wrecked my main garden.  So much for my theory that fat lazy Jersey Giants would … Continue reading →

I grew up in my high school. years in rural Pennsylvania.  Much of what my family did at the time is what is considered classic prepper behaviour today.  We had a garden, we canned and stored a ton of food in the basement, we hunted and fished as much for sport as for food.  We made jerky and sausage from venison, stews from all of the odd cuts of both hunted and store bought meats.  We organized berry picking groups in blue and blackberry seasons and spilt up shares t the end of the day. My grand parents kept chickens … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions economics, cannabis, addiction, dogs, alternative medicine, guns, foraging nuts, setting goals and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your question will … Continue reading →

Today's show is a wake-up call. No sugarcoating, no apologies. Just ten hard truths school never taught you. Not because you didn't need them, but because the system gave up doing its job a long damn time ago. If you want a life that's yours, built on purpose, not permission, you're gonna have to tear down what you were told and start from scratch. We're hitting everything they left out. How to actually learn, why passion is the only GPS worth trusting, and how to keep pushing even if the calendar says you should be coasting. Whether you're fresh out … Continue reading →

Today we are back from the workshop and I am joined by John Willis of SOE Tactical and Nichole Sauce of Living Free in Tennessee for our first Tuesday coffee chat.  We will discuss as always a variety of current events, homesteading and entrepreneurship topics.  Of course some lifestyle design stuff and there is a good bet Nicole will get John and I on a roll at some point about snakes. Resources for today's show… Find Me on Nostr Article Explaining the GrowNostr Initiative Join the Members Brigade TspAz.com TSPC on Discord TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat) TSPC Telegram … Continue reading →

In our journey on this podcast, we dissected the many layers that contribute to this limiting belief system. From societal pressures to personal experiences, the poverty mindset can be a silent saboteur in our lives. It's not just about money; it's about how we perceive value, worth, and potential in ourselves and in the world around us. Furthermore, we shared actionable steps and insights to help you break free from these chains. It's time to redefine success on your own terms, embrace abundance in all its forms and pave the way for a future where you're in control. Remember, it's … Continue reading →

Today we discuss the concept of lifestyle design, which has been a core piece of TSP since the very first days of our journey.  Many credit author and entrepreneur Tim Ferris with this concept.  I love Tim and have followed his work for years.  There is no doubt that he is a big part of the movement today, but he simply made people aware of the concept.  The concept itself is as old as civilization. There have always been people who have lived differently then others, more disciplined and with a plan for their life.  For instance the 1926 classic … Continue reading →

Today we will review some of the more common diseases and fungi that limit yields and even sometimes totally destroy vegetable plants along with some varieties of seed that have disease resistance built into them.  More importantly we discuss how to identify a disease vs. pest damage vs. nutrient deficiency and what to do about them and specifically how to find disease resistant varieties based on your individual needs. The original show was titled Episode-2460- Understanding Disease Resistant Vegetable Varieties and was first published on 6-27-2019. Resources for today's show-… Find Me on Nostr Follow Me on Tik-Tok Article Explaining … Continue reading →

In the spring and early summer talk a walk in the garden section of any big store or even typical smaller plant nurseries.  Mostly you see peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and a few other veggies and herbs. There are so many other options though and many are tougher than our stand alone favorites.  Fore instance so many people love growing tomatoes but in many areas they are plagued by early and late blight.  You can usually get a decent yield and then you hit a wall, well why not grow tomatillos instead.  They make fantastic salsa, are great grilled and … Continue reading →

We talk a lot about what I call “lifestyle design” around here.  When people hear that term they get the general idea, because the words are common. Lifestyle – The way in which a person lives. ~ Design – Purpose, planning, intention and thought behind an action. ` So lifestyle design means to put purpose, planning, intention and thought into how you live your life.  So yep people generally get the basic concept, what people usually struggle with though is designing a lifestyle for today that is resilient for tomorrow. I think we have all had those moments, we are … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on war, snow blowers, product reviews, dog training, investing, podcasting and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your question will get … Continue reading →

Today I'm joined by CJ Killmer, host of the Dangerous History Podcast, for a hard look at where America might be headed as tensions and political violence keep rising. A lot of people compare our current divide to the Civil War, but CJ makes a strong case that's the wrong model. Instead, he points to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, a messy, decades-long conflict that mixed politics, religion, and insurgency in ways that feel a lot closer to what a modern breakdown could look like. CJ knows this history inside and out. He studied the British Empire and Irish history … Continue reading →

This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest lies in modern economics, that welfare helps the poor. In reality, every dollar that enters a government program eventually ends up in corporate hands. The rich use debt to buy assets and generate tax-free income. The poor use debt to survive and never escape it. From SNAP to Medicaid, the system recycles money upward through low wages, processed food, and pharmaceutical profits. We'll break down how this loop works: taxpayers fund assistance programs, benefits go to workers whose employers rely on those subsidies, and the corporations collecting those dollars … Continue reading →

We are going to cover a variety of topics today but our lead story is going to be a coming inflection point with the government shutdown.  On Nov. 1st  SNAP Benefits (food stamps) will stop unless the government shutdown ends or the congress passes some sort of exception.  Translation, 40 million plus people will stop getting free food.  Many of these people do not see these benefits as charity at this point, rather something they are entitled to.  Additionally history has show the worse political riots (where people actually target government) occur over food. I will then present an alternative … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on globalism, money, deer meat, dogs, evac planning, rifle ammo, bitcoin, cancer, the winter season and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more … Continue reading →

Today Hakeem Anwar from Above Agency joins us to discuss the rising threat of Global Digital ID & The equally disturbing roll out of School Surveillance of our children. Don't miss this one, it will absolutely shock you! Hakeem Anwar, a technologist, activist, educator, and entrepreneur, currently leads a number of projects focused on the intersection of technology and personal freedom. Exiting his corporate career as a software engineer to support activist movements – he found the true power of the internet is to bring people together under one cause. After facing mass censorship and cyberattacks, he realized that free … Continue reading →

In many ways today is truly and “old school” episode of The Survival Podcast.  “The Ant and The Grasshopper” is a timeless fable that will never stop being a great story of lifestyle design.  While many listeners will have a lot of this knocked out at this point, we can all use a refresher and a bit of work on fundamentals from time to time. For new people this one is critical.  Get away from the Doomsday Mindset and the Alex Jones style hysteria and actually build redundancy into your lifestyle.  We will tech you exactly how to do that … Continue reading →

Have you ever heard the phrase, “the lowest common denominator”.  While this is an actual mathematical principle it has also become a colloquialism meaning to cater to the lowest preforming member of a given group. Today that group is the people of the United States and the performance metrics are basic intelligence, critical thinking and the ability to use logic and reason. In essence a better title for this show may be “lowering the common denominator” with the sub title of “the dumbing down of America”, but I simply feel dropping the denominator sounds better and requires more thought, and … Continue reading →

Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on Gaza, dogs, knives, homesteading, prepping, taxes, foraging, bitcoin and more. Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following…. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com Put TSPC Expert in the subject line Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary ` Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your question will get though … Continue reading →