The Mind4Survival Podcast

Reader Sam Cook asked, "What is the number one low-cost thing people can do to prepare a better disaster mindset?" As most preppers know, survival is all about disaster mindset, some good luck, and the right knowledge. (This episode is the second half of a two-part episode featuring Sam Bradley. You can find the first half here in episode 14.) To answer Sam's question: Knowledge is Power! First, people can get loads of free education and training all about disaster planning and awareness. Here are a few suggestions Online Classes People can get free education through FEMA online courses. (Yes, I know many people in our little corner of the world have their issues with FEMA. Regardless, they have excellent courses that can help you improve your preparedness.) C.E.R.T. training is another good source of information. Hands-on Training is the Best When you can learn hands-on instead of just virtually, you will absorb more. Become involved in organizations such as the Red Cross. Local police, fire, and EMS agencies offer courses. The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have courses and training available for both kids and adults. Social Media Social media gets a bad rap, but it can be a great way to connect with like-minded people who are happy to share their knowledge. Facebook pages like the Mind4Survival page and others are ideal for adding to your knowledge bank. Check out Prep Club on MeWe. Always be careful with your online OpSec. You never really know who's in the groups with you - people can pretend to be anyone online. Don't give out too much information, and be cautious when planning to meet up with others in person. It can really feel like you know someone when you interact with them regularly on social media, but any of us who are all about disaster mindset understand the need to be careful. All About Disaster Events in Your Area It's essential to take the time to learn all about disaster events that are likely in your area. This includes: What disasters are most likely to strike locally The local resources to help people after an emergency Which protocols are in place for local events It's also important to learn more about your area in general. Where are your water sources? What are your alternate routes out of town? It's always interesting what you learn when you look at a familiar place through new eyes. Your Family's Disaster Mindset By getting the entire family involved in preparedness, you can help to enhance their disaster mindset. That, in turn, will help keep you on your toes. Creating a family emergency plan doesn’t cost anything other than time. Make sure you practice your plan and run drills. Make it fun so that everyone will want to participate instead of making it feel like drudgery. Putting a family emergency kit together does have a cost, but you can minimize it. For example, you don’t need an expensive tent. A plastic tarp will work fine during an emergency if you know how to set up a shelter with it. You don't need expensive paracord when twine or other cord works just fine. The kit can be built over time and developed specifically for your family. And if you do an inventory before purchasing supplies, you'll probably be surprised to learn how much you already have on hand. Talking to Children About Disasters and Disaster Mindset It's important you talk with children about preparedness without scaring them. Use the Internet. There is a lot of information available on how to talk with kids about specific events. The more you educate kids at their level, the better off they will be. Give kids a task so they have something to focus on; find the cat...

M4S Facebook Group member, Sam Cook, asked, “What is the number one low-cost thing people can do to prepare a better disaster mindset?” (This episode is the second half of a two part episode featuring Sam Bradley. The first half can be found here in episode 14.)   To answer Sam Cook’s question: Knowledge is…

How to Achieve a Preparedness Life The preparedness life entails more than just buying stuff. Must know how and why to use the things you buy. People need to use what they buy: Learn how to cook the food you want to eat. Know how to start a fire. Learn what works and doesn’t work.…

How to Achieve a Preparedness Life The preparedness life entails more than just buying stuff. Must know how and why to use the things you buy. People need to use what they buy: Learn how to cook the food you want to eat. Know how to start a fire. Learn what works and doesn’t work.…

Chris Weatherman (aka Angery American) Takes the Fiction Out of Prepping  Ask anyone who's into prepper fiction about their favorite author, and the chances are that Chris Weatherman (AKA Angery American) is high on their list. Chris Weatherman is not just a prolific author (check out his Angery American Amazon page here). He's also the real deal when it comes to preparedness. In this interview, Chris Weatherman provides an eye-opening reality check that should leave us all thinking about fact versus fiction. Check out what Chris had to say in the following show notes, then tune in to the interview. Romance vs. Reality Chris notes that many people have a romantic, action-movie view of prepping. Romance sounds great. However, reality sucks. Preparedness is fun to talk about and plan. Unfortunately, the reality of what we are planning for is anything but pleasant. If we have to put our worst-case scenario plans into action, we may be in for a tough time. Going it Alone Many preppers think they can and will face a worst-case scenario on their own and go it alone. You can’t go it alone. Everyone needs sleep. If the world is in such bad shape that you’re bugging out when it’s hit the fan, you’ll need others. In Going Home, the book that put Chris Weatherman on the map, Morgan Carter, his main character, found himself miles from home when it hit the fan and has to attempt to make his way home to his family. While he starts his journey alone, it's not long before Morgan teams up with others for the sake of safety. And the scenario he describes isn't really that fictional. Prepping Groups When asked about prepping groups, Chris Weatherman advises that the best group of people is people you’ve known for a very long time. If you don’t have a group, start building one now. Websites such as MeetUp.com work great. You should consider building your group around a variety of skill sets. This will improve your overall resiliency and capability. Don’t forget communications. Groups need to be able to communicate internally to remain effective. Remember, building teams take time, so get started! Personalities When building a preparedness group, you need to create relationships. As you do, you’ll learn about people’s personalities. When learning about personalities, you may want to consider the following: What stresses people? How do they react to stress? Do they have the needed skills? Are they safe and not reckless? Do they act responsibly? Are they just an eater? (An eater is someone who takes more than they contribute.) The best way to draw out character flaws and see the real person is through mutual suffering. Training in difficult and less than ideal conditions is the best way to reach meaningful levels of mutual suffering. Careful training and team-based pain also build camaraderie and cohesiveness. Despite popular opinion, training does not need to focus on weapons! Learning new skills and gaining non-weapons-related knowledge is essential. Remember, practicing and training with gear under challenging conditions not only stresses people but puts your equipment to the test, too. Coping with Difficult Situations Many non-preppers say they will give up and die in a dangerous situation. This is not usually the case because the human instinct is to survive. A drowning person will try to live. One key is to prepare now so that you give yourself a better chance later. Everyone can have a positive impact on their situation and chances for a successful outcome. It just requires forethought and effort. Equipment Gear and supplies don’t need to be expensive. Many times, lower-cost items work just as well as more expensive brand names. Buy things that work now, then over a period of time,

On Prepping: Romance vs. Reality Many people have a romance vs. reality view of prepping. Romance sounds great. However, reality sucks. Preparedness is fun to talk about and plan. Unfortunately, the reality of what we are planning for is anything but pleasant. If we have to put our worst-case scenarios plans into action, then we…

Mentally Prepare Your Disaster Mindset (Note: This episode is the first half of a two-part episode featuring Sam Bradley. The second half can be found here in episode 17.) How do you mentally prepare your disaster mindset for dealing with stressful situations? Educate and train yourself ahead of time, so you know what to do. By…

The right kind of preparedness training can help you mentally prepare for dealing with stressful situations? Educate and train yourself ahead of time so you know what to do when an emergency strikes. By preparing in advance, you’ll be better able to physically and mentally deal with stressful situations. What you need is a plan. Better yet, have a family plan. That's where preparedness training comes in. (Note: This episode is the first half of a two-part episode featuring Sam Bradley. You can find the second half here in episode 17.) Some Things Your Preparedness Training Should Cover Your preparedness training should be designed to help your family create a workable plan in which everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Here are some of the things your plan should include. Where to Meet You’ll want to know this because your family may not be together when a disaster strikes. Your home could be destroyed or unsafe to return to. It's a good idea to set up more than one meeting point. Disaster Kit Have an accessible disaster kit ready to go. (You might call this your bug-out bag.) Keep in mind, if your store your emergency kit in your home, it could be useless if your home is destroyed. Having a get-home kit in your car is also a good idea. Include extra medications. Plan for the needs of the young and elderly. Don’t forget to include the needs of your pets. Did you add extra glasses? Shoes A simple piece of preparedness training advice is related to your shoes. Many disasters, such as earthquakes, tornados, etc., strike with little to no warning. So, keep a pair of sturdy shoes near your bed. If you do, you’ll be ready to move should a disaster happen while you’re sleeping. During non-disaster times, when you wake up, train yourself to get your shoes. You do this by touching them, or at least look at them. Over time, this will burn the locations of your shoes in your mind. That way, when an emergency happens, you’ll head straight for your shoes. Lights Not having light at night when you need it stinks. If you have little ones, it can make a bad situation even scarier. Make sure you have flashlights and extra batteries for them. Consider rechargeable lights or batteries to ensure you’re ready for the long term. Solar-powered lights will work well too. Water Water is a critical need, especially for longer-term events.  Planning to have water accessible and stored where you can get to it is an essential part of your disaster mindset. Don’t forget your bathtub can hold a lot of water. Keep it clean and fill it if you can before the disaster happens. Consider using a WaterBob. Food You never know how long you might be stuck at home. Be sure to have food. You will either want food and a way to cook it or food that doesn't require cooking at all. Preparedness Training for Self-reliance You have to be prepared to take care of yourself in the event of an emergency. 911 providers may not be there to support you. They may be victims of the disaster too. Learn basic first aid and similar skills so that you can take care of your family and friends. Grocery stores, gas stations, emergency services, etc., may not be functioning. Help from anyone outside of yourself may be slow to come or non-existent. During a disaster, when you and your family are hungry, who is really to blame? Take responsibility and begin preparing now. Start with planning to be on your own for at least one week. Then, continually, within your budget, increase the amount of time you can be self-reliant. Don't Forget Preparedness Training for Personal Security How are you going to protect yourself? As recent disasters have shown,

Weather preparedness includes a whole lot more than just watching the forecasters on the evening news to figure out what you should wear the next day. Weather preparedness is a broad subject that includes understanding different types of weather events, forecasting, and events such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) - and how all of these affect your preparations. Real prepping requires understanding any events that might impact your home, your loved ones, and your environment. Listen to this weather preparedness podcast episode to increase your weather preparedness and be ready to overcome any challenges that may lie ahead. What Is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)? Coronal mass ejections are explosions of plasma and particles from the sun's corona that move into outer space. The magnetosphere protects the earth from harmful CME particles. The CMEs happen as the sun goes through differing activity cycles. It's important to note that solar flares are not the same thing as CMEs. Phys.org explains: "CMEs and solar flares are both explosions that occur on the Sun," the folks at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center's Scientific Visualization Studio explain. "Sometimes they occur together, but they are not the same thing." CMEs are giant clouds of particles from the Sun hurled out into space, while flares are flashes of light—occurring in various wavelengths—on the Sun. The scientists at the Space Weather Prediction Center, located in Boulder, Colorado monitor the sun and the likelihood of its effects on the earth. They monitor the sun through the use of ground-based sensors and equipment as well as satellites. Scientists can provide between 14 and 36 hours of warning for earth-impacting sun events such as coronal mass ejections. What Are the Effects of Coronal Mass Ejections? CMEs impacting the earth can cause a range of effects. On the low-end, coronal mass ejections can cause little effect other than increased Northern and Southern Lights. But on the high end, CMEs have the potential to cause significant disruptions to electronics and power grids. These effects happen when the CME overloads the power grid and electronic devices. The most massive recorded solar storm, or CME, to hit the earth was in 1859. It is known as the Carrington Event. The Carrington Event coronal mass ejection was so colossal that people saw the Northern Lights as far south as Cuba.  Also, during the Carrington Event, telegraph lines gave off sparks large enough to cause fires. If a CME like the Carrington Event CME happened today with our grid-dependent lifestyles, life as we know it could be forever changed. CMEs occur regularly. Fortunately, they do not usually impact the earth. We typically only hear about CMEs when they may cause problems with communications and navigation systems. CMEs do not physically impact people. However, electronics and electrical infrastructure may be damaged. The use of Faraday cages may help shield electronics from the effects of a CME. Unplugging electronics from your home’s power source may help as well. The Importance of Forecasting in Weather Preparedness The best way to accurately plan for weather-related impacts is to be informed. One way to be informed is through the use of weather.gov. Modern weather forecasting is based on numerical models. These mathematical models represent the atmosphere using physics and real observations. Forecasting accuracy is limited to between seven and ten days. It's important to learn what you can about forecasting in ways that don't rely on the evening news. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an excellent resource for people interested in trends related to weather preparedness. The Old Farmer’s Almanac focuses on long-term averages and trends and can help you predict a broad overview of future weather. It's important to note that any accurate daily predi...

Weather Preparedness Weather preparedness includes the understanding of weather and natural events such as CME's and how they affect your preparations. Real prepping requires an understanding of everything that may impact your preps. So, listen to this weather preparedness podcast episode and read these show notes. If you do, you'll be better prepared to overcome…

What is a Solar Eclipse? A solar eclipse is a type of eclipse that happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth.   How Long Does It Last? A solar eclipse can last up to seven and a half minutes but is usually much shorter.   Phases In a nutshell, a solar eclipse…

What is a Solar Eclipse? A solar eclipse is a type of eclipse that happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth.   How Long Does It Last? A solar eclipse can last up to seven and a half minutes but is usually much shorter.   Phases In a nutshell, a solar eclipse…

The most important thing you can do when you decide to purchase a gun is to get the proper civilian firearms training. Just "having a gun" is not enough. Training from a proficient instructor will ensure you handle your weapon safely and accurately. Here are some of the concepts that an instructor should cover in civilian firearms training. Master the Basics The number one fundamental of firearms training is to master the basics. While this article speaks specifically to civilian firearms training, many of these fundamentals apply across the entire spectrum of preparedness training. So take these tools, make them your own, and use them to improve your competence in all the skills you set out to learn. How to Get Started with Civilian Firearms Training One of the most challenging steps to starting training is going out and doing it.  Research the Instructor, Course, and School Use any search engines, forums, blogs, etc., to do your initial search for an instructor, course, school, etc. Search for a reputable school with high ratings. Then do some digging to learn more. Research the background of whatever school you are going to or the instructor you are taking the course from. Identify and compare the: Background Skill level Does he/she compete Years in business Years teaching Online reviews and testimonials Instructor’s backgrounds are based upon the totality of their background and experience. So, when researching instructors, make sure you take that into account. Here are some more tips on assessing a firearms instructor. The very best way to find an instructor is through word of mouth. Find out who your friends have used and how they liked their instructor. One reader shared that she went to a remote outdoor at her first firearms class, and the instructor threatened to shoot her if she "swept" the area with her newly acquired gun. Needless to say, she was too nervous to learn much during that course. Fortunately, she didn't give up and found another instructor that came highly recommended. You may be a little nervous attending your first course, and that's perfectly natural. But if the instructor himself or herself makes you uncomfortable, like in the story described above, leave. Don't worry about being rude. Trust your instincts. Focus on the Basics Focus on the basics of whatever you are doing. Focusing on the basics isn’t sexy, but it is essential.  Embrace the boring, repetitive stuff, and in a short amount of time, your skill level could drastically improve. Don’t outpace your mindset and ability. Be realistic in your personal views and overall expectations. Even if you are experienced, you can always find something to help yourself improve. Self-Evaluation Perform an honest self-evaluation on yourself and your ability. Don’t be overconfident in your skills. Be realistic with yourself and your capabilities.  Once you have an accurate view of your abilities, train to that and improve from there. Standards Training to accepted standards provides you with both a goal and a benchmark to measure yourself and your progress. Research accepted standards for whatever skill it is that you are trying to master. Once you have the standards, work to meet and then exceed them. When working on your shooting skills, some accepted standards are Hackathorn, Vickers, and International Defense Pistol Association (IDPA). Common Training Mistakes Don’t wait to start training. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll improve. Understand your ability and skill level. Train to provide a realistic challenge appropriate to that level. Resist the urge to go too fast. I'll repeat it: learn the basics. The basics are the foundation to all the more difficult skills you’ll use later.

Master the Basics The number one fundamental of firearms training is to master the basics. While this episode speaks specifically to firearms training, many of these fundamentals apply across the entire spectrum of preparedness training. So take these tools, make them your own and use them to improve your resiliency.   Say No Overconfidence Don’t…

Being extremely observant can seem like a superpower, but anyone can do it if they know how to practice situational awareness. Situational awareness is being aware of your surroundings and understanding what is happening within your environment. If you only focus on what is within your bubble, you won’t be aware of what is happening around you. You might miss dangerous cues that a threat is about to occur. Why You Should Learn How to Practice Situational Awareness Situational awareness applies to multiple levels. It applies everywhere, from the room you’re in to the planet we live on. So, while you need to be aware of your immediate surroundings, you need to be mindful of others areas too. You also should know what is going on in the world at large. For example, if you are a person of a certain nationality, you may need to know some places could be currently unsafe to visit. In other words, know before you go. Don’t go to unfamiliar areas without understanding at least a little bit about them. Passive Awareness Passive awareness is being “kind of aware.”  In other words, someone who is passively aware has a general idea that people are around. People who are passively aware, while knowing people are around, aren’t necessarily focusing on the details. Therefore, the passively aware person may not be aware enough to identify threats. Active Awareness People who are actively aware notice who and what is around them and what is happening in their environment. They can understand the demeanor, intent, etc., of potential threats. Increased Awareness Helps You Recognize Threats More Quickly Over time, as you gain experience, you will learn to switch between active and passive awareness. This will lead to an improved ability to increase your awareness and dial it back down, as needed.  In so doing, you’ll be able to identify and categorize threats more quickly. In the end, the ability to identify and categorize threats more quickly should be the goal of every preparedness-minded person. If successful, this will provide you with faster response times, improved capability, and resiliency. It Reduces Your Risk By adding to your situational awareness, you become more difficult to target. In turn, this reduces your potential to be targeted by bad guys or impacted by natural events. How to Practice Situational Awareness The first step in how to practice situational awareness is evaluating potential threats. When deciding whether a person is a threat or not, you want to examine their: Demeanor – Does the way someone is behaving or carrying themselves give you the feeling they are up to no good? Hands – Are their hands out and relaxed? Are they holding something? Are they hidden, clenched tight, etc. Do they present in anything other than a relaxed way to you? Eyes – Are their eyes focused on you? Perhaps they seem to be intentionally shifted away from you? Do they look like the eyes of an average person going about their day? Hyper-vigilance Hyper-vigilance is when you expect something to happen, so you are on high alert waiting for it to happen.  An example of this is military personnel who know an attack is coming. True hypervigilance is exhausting and not sustainable for long periods of time. While awareness is an integral part of your safety and security, hypervigilance is not necessarily so. Threats Everywhere! One early but soon-to-fade effect during the evolution of personal situational awareness is the over-identification of threats. The over-identification of potential threats happens because you are still learning to differentiate between threats and non-threats. As you improve, your over-identification will stop, and you’ll become efficient and effective with your situational awareness.