The Mind4Survival Podcast show

The Mind4Survival Podcast

Summary: Mind4Survival host, Brian Duff, empowers preparedness minded people to become more safe, confident, and self-reliant so that they can better protect themselves, their families, and loved ones when it matters most.

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 What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (My PTSD Battle) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:01:45

As preppers or as preparedness-minded people, we are readying ourselves for the worst SHTF scenarios. We pack our bug-out bags, and we stock our pantries. We collect our guns and knives, and first-aid supplies. Some of us exercise so that we can outrun the zombie hordes. We think about how to secure our homes or bug-out locations against marauders to keep us, our family, and our friends safe. But what are we doing to prepare ourselves for the mental toll these cataclysmic disasters will take on us? Do we think that surviving is all we will need to do? Do we believe that everything will be roses once we come out on the other side of it? What about others that are going through the disaster along with us? Can you recognize PTSD in them? In this episode, Brian talks with Dale Goodwin about his long-running battle with PTSD and how he has been able to find a way to live with the injury. He explains that this is an injury, a wound, and not just a mental disorder. Brian is an advocate for PTSD awareness and shares his knowledge of the "why" many suffer from it. What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? Post-traumatic stress disorder is an injury to the brain caused by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. PTSD is your mind trying to protect you from getting hurt again. Your brain processes experiences and files them away. If you cannot process that trauma, or if you experience many traumas happening one right after another, it doesn't get filed away. It remains an active memory. The Biology of it All PTSD manifests itself in a variety of ways. Some may experience chest pains, others panic attacks, and others may feel completely different. However, one way to know that you may have PTSD is understanding the "why" it happens. The Brain Has Two Systems In the front of your brain, behind your forehead, you'll find the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rational thought. The prefrontal cortex also plays a role in engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, which is essential for controlling sympathetic nervous system responses of the amygdala. At the base of the brain, you will find the limbic system, which is responsible for emotions and memory formation. The limbic system contains the amygdala, which is responsible for detecting fear and engaging the sympathetic nervous system. And, it's our sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for our freeze, flight, or fight response. In other words, when we perceive a grave threat, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in as part of our survival instinct. When our sympathetic nervous system kicks in, it works to override our rational thought. So, when Godzilla turns the corner in front of us, our survival mechanism kicks in instinctually. It doesn't want us to debate whether Godzilla will eat us. It wants us to survive. So, the sympathetic nervous system shuts down our rational thought and forces us to hide, run, or fight. The fact is that your emotional brain is designed to shut down the rational part of your brain to protect you from danger. When danger happens, you don't want your mind to take the time to rationalize what is going on. You want your limbic system to move your feet and get you out of there. However, the more trauma you experience, the harder it becomes for your rational brain to take over when you're not in danger. How Post Traumatic Stress Works Post Traumatic Stress is a result of our mind trying to protect us. Our subconscious mind protects us by monitoring what's happening around us. Our mind doesn't register time and place. Instead, it registers things it can detect through our senses and associates what it detects with the trau...

 Facing Death with Glen Tate & Shelby Gallagher | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:24:15

By now, we all know someone who has had COVID. Most of us know someone who has been extremely sick and facing death or has passed away from it. In this episode, Brian talks with a man who had COVID, was hospitalized and on a ventilator, came to terms with his imminent death, and still managed to pull himself out of it. Brian speaks with authors and podcasters Glen Tate and Shelby Gallagher from Prepping 2.0 about Glen's battle with not only COVID but cancer and a home move to a new state. All at the same time. We also talk about Shelby's own battle with COVID and her fight with the establishment to save her husband.  Facing Death: What does it mean to truly accept death? Not accepting death as something that will happen to you eventually, but accepting death because you realize it's here, staring you in the face. You're out of options, and it's time to check out. Do you accept it? Do you pray? Do you say what you can to the people you love if you're lucky enough to have the chance? Or do you fight it? Where do you find the motivation to fight? As preppers or preparedness-minded people, we make sure we have our beans and bullets. But have you prepared your mind, heart, and soul for the possibility of death?  Glen and Shelby's Journey Glen and Shelby dive into their unbelievable year. 2021 began with Glen's colon cancer diagnosis, which led to emergency surgery and months of chemotherapy. During his treatments, Shelby was faced with packing up all of their belongings for a move from Washington to Montana. Not an easy task for seasoned preppers with a considerable amount of food and supplies. In October, Glen faced another surgery to have his ostomy bag removed. During that surgery, he tested positive for COVID, and during this time, Shelby did as well. With his body weakened from two surgeries and chemotherapy, he was given some oxygen and sent home to recover. Sadly, his return home did not last long. Within days he was back in the hospital.  With a blood oxygen level of just fifty-one, the doctors decided Glen needed to go on a ventilator. His chances of survival were a devastating twenty percent, but they told him he was out of options. He made a phone call to Shelby to say his goodbyes, and began accepting his death.  Find Your Motivation We all have that one thing that motivates us, that one thing that gets us. For Glen, it's Shelby. He realized he couldn't leave her behind. She was the motivation behind changing his mindset from accepting death to fighting it with all he had. It was not easy. Getting off the ventilator was just the first step. He had a long road to recovery. Gaining the strength and ability to do basic things like walk… and swallow. He worked hard. He pushed his way through it with his wife's help and from thousands of people and their prayers.  This year was shared on Glen and Shelby's podcast, Prepping 2.0. The listeners and the viewers were able to track Glen's battle for his life and Shelby's battle for her husband. Shelby gave updates on Glen when he wasn't well enough to join her on the podcast. And when she decided to take on a fight of her own, she allowed her Prepping 2.0 community to watch how she navigated her battle with the establishment.  Have You Done Your Research? Shelby did her research. She knew what Glen needed to get better. She knew he needed Ivermectin and zinc with quercetin and vitamins. And she tried to get those to Glen in the hospital. But the doctors treating Glen confiscated them and then admitted they didn't know what the drugs were! Shelby had done her due diligence and research. But the doctors had not done the same. And they were standing in the way of her attempts to help her husba...

 25 Best Bug Out Bag Food Items for Survival & Emergencies | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:14:09

When you're loading up your backpack, you want to be sure that you fill it with the items that give you the best chance for survival, including the best bug-out bag foods. After all, you might one day be staking your life on the contents of your bag. Many people who have done a trial run have discovered that the items they packed were either not quite right for their purpose or added too much weight for their value. So back to food...what are you thinking of including? Check out this breakdown on the best food for bug-out bags before you decide on what to include. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links that I may receive a small commission for at no cost to you if you choose to purchase a product through a link on this page. What Are the Best Bug-Out Bag Food Options? 1. Trail Mix Trail mix is a good option for your bug-out bag because it's lightweight and provides a lot of energy. 2. Nuts Nuts are a good option for Bug Out Bag food because they're easy to eat on the go and provide a lot of energy, fat, and protein. 3. Food Bars Food bars are ideal because they're lightweight, compact, and calorie-rich. This makes them the perfect solution for providing energy when you're on the go and need to keep your strength up. 4. Tuna Pouches Tuna contains protein that will keep your strength up when you're on the go. Tuna also has omega 3s, vitamin D, and B12, all-important nutrients. 5. Chicken Pouches Like tuna, chicken pouches are an excellent food option because it's lightweight and high in protein. 6. SPAM Pouches SPAM is a food that you can eat on the go. It is lightweight and compact, making it a good option for Bug Out Bag food. SPAM is also high in protein and fat, making it a good choice for people who need to maintain their strength during emergencies and other situations. 7. Jerky Jerky is an excellent food for bugging out. It's lightweight and compact and doesn't need to be refrigerated, so it's perfect for packing with you. 8. Pemmican Pemmican is a traditional Native American food made from dried meat, fat, and berries. It is a high-energy, protein-rich food originally used by hunters and traders who spent long periods away from home.     9. Biltong My friends from South Africa first introduced me to biltong while in Iraq. Biltong is similar to jerky and is lightweight and compact, making it easy to pack into your backpack. Second, it doesn't need to be refrigerated so that you can keep it with you at all times. Third, biltong is high in protein and fat, making it an ideal choice for people who need to maintain their strength during emergencies or challenging circumstances. 10. Dried Salami I love dried Salami and know that most people love it as well. So, when packing your bag and looking for something tasty and easy to eat on the go, grab some salami and get ready to hit the road. Note: Reader Ralph Scott warns in the comments below that "Salami has an odor and can attract animals while you sleep. The less food odor the better." 11. Protein Powder Protein powder is a shake it and drink it sustainment option that helps you keep you moving and on the go. 12. Meal Replacement Shake Powder Like protein powder, meal replacement shake powders are a convenient way to ensure you're getting the nutrients you need when you're on th e go. 13. Powdered Milk Powdered milk is a low-cost, high-nutrient food that can last for years without spoiling. It's a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. 14. Coconut & Olive Oil Packets

 7 Best Survival Bows for Hunting & Self-Defense (2023) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:14:28

There are many different options on the market for survival bows. So, which one is the best? This article will look at some of the most popular bows and see how they stack up against each other. We'll also discuss what factors you should consider when purchasing a survival bow and provide some tips for choosing the right one for your needs. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links that I may receive a small commission for at no cost to you if you choose to purchase a product through a link on this page. What Are the Best Survival Bows? Here are my top Mind4Survival picks for the best survival bow to keep you safe and prepared! 1. Tigershark One Piece Recurve Bow The Tigershark One Piece Recurve Bow is a great choice for any preppers looking to stay safe and prepared. This bow has an impressive draw weight of 25 - 60 lbs, which makes it perfect for hunting or survival purposes. The Tiger Shark is made from 100% wood, making it both beautiful and well-functioning. Features: Weight: 3 pounds Bow Length Strung: 60" Warranty: 1-year manufacturers warranty Price: $289.00 You can't go wrong by checking out the Tigershark One Piece Recurve Bow. 2. SAS Tactical Survival Bow The SAS Tactical Survival Bow is a modern longbow perfect for those looking for a quality and affordable option. Combined, the stored length of 21" with an overall weight of 2.2 pounds makes this folding survival bow just what survival enthusiasts everywhere should consider. It's the ability to stash this in nearly any bug-out bag, large purse, or other concealed space storage that makes this compact survival bow desirable for every gray man aficionado. If you're considering purchasing a new survival bow, the SAS Tactical Survival Bow can definitely meet your needs. **Note: Due to the popularity of the SAS Tactical Survival Bow, Amazon on-hand quantities may be limited. Features: Weight: 2.2 pounds Bow Length Folded: 21" Bow Length Strung: 60" Maximum Draw Lenght: 31" Price: $219.95 Check out the SAS Tactical Survival Bow. 3. Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow The Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow is a 62-inch bow made from high-quality materials. The bow has a draw weight of 25-60 pounds, making it perfect for people just starting in archery. It is manufactured with a hard maple laminated riser, making it a lightweight and durable bow. The bow is excellent for the survivalist on the go. Features: Weight: 2.3 pounds Bow Length Strung: 62" Interchangeable limbs for extreme versatility Price: $149.99 Check out the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow. 4. HYF Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow The HYF Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow is a top-rated survival bow that comes with everything you need to start hunting. This bow is perfect for both beginners and advanced archers, as it has many adjustable parts and can be easily adjusted to suit your needs. It also features the patented HYSUB takedown system, which makes it easy to transport anywhere you go. If you're looking for a great survival bow, look no further than the HYF Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow! Features: Weight: 2.3 pounds Adjustable Draw Weight: 40 - 55 pounds Complete starter kit Price: $159.99 Go check out the HYF Takedown Hunting Recurve Bow. 5. SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve Archery Bow

 COVID Situational Awareness (What to Expect) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 51:07

We're heading into another round of COVID-Palooza. This time, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is carrying us forward into some trying times. With that, in this episode, I break down my perspective on where we're headed over the next couple of months. This episode focuses on increasing awareness of what may be coming to be mentally prepared for any ensuing craziness. By mentally preparing ourselves through increased awareness of potential COVID impacts, we as preppers will position ourselves to be the rock others can lean on. Listen to this episode and learn what to expect regarding possible media, political, and supply chain responses to the surge in Omicron. Also, learn about my personal experience with COVID, monoclonal antibodies (MCa), and things I'm doing to stay as healthy as possible. With that, click play up above and find out my thoughts about the next couple of months of COVID craziness.   Stay safe,

 SHTF Gear: The Essential Gear to Survive SHTF (2023) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:54:40

The reality is, we're probably going to discover we're not as prepared as we thought when SHTF (Shit Hits the Fan). That's why it's never a bad thing to have a Bug Out Bag (BOB) full of your SHTF survival gear ready. But what are the essential items you need for SHTF situations? We've got you covered with this essential SHTF gear list. What is an SHTF Kit? An SHTF kit is a collection of items most likely to be needed in an emergency. The acronym "SHTF" stands for when the "Shit Hits the Fan," which typically happens after an SHTF event. Examples of SHTF events are natural disasters, such as a tornado or earthquake, large-scale financial crises, such as a stock market crash, or bank failures. SHTF events can also be human-made and include acts of terrorism such as 9/11 and negligence, as with the Chernobyl meltdown. When it comes to assembling your kit, you can make it happen with very little money with a bit of planning. What Do You Need to Survive SHTF? In addition to survival skills, we all benefit from having equipment working as force multipliers for us. Here's our list of must-have SHTF survival gear items that will help you survive whatever disasters or emergencies you may face. 1. Personal Defense Items After mindset and situational awareness, the next fundamental of preparedness is survival. And the first step in survival is to avoid any catastrophic damage that ends your life. Outside of unavoidable mishaps, the most significant threat we face is from the living. Humans pose the most significant living threat to us, with animals and insects pulling up a very distant rear. Therefore, if we are to be in a position to need water, food, etc., we must first be able to defend ourselves from any life-threatening attack. That's because if you don't survive what happens in the next few minutes, you won't have a need to protect yourself from the elements for an extended period. The Toughest Guy First, the seemingly tough guys don't always win when it comes to personal defense. That's because our mindset and situational awareness count for so much when it comes to the fundamentals of preparedness. The fundamentals of preparedness are Mindset, Situational Awareness, Survival, Safety, and Self. (M4S) The point is that a small person with wits, awareness and the proper SHTF gear can overcome not-as-aware bad guys. SHTF Gear Once you have your mindset and situational awareness taken care of, it's time to focus on your personal defense survival gear. Knives Survival knives, such as the Morakniv Companion, are essential gear when you're out in the wild since you can use them to slice or prepare food, hunt for food, open canned goods, fix things, cut ropes and other m aterials for shelter, as well as defend you from attackers. While some people laugh at small folding pocket knives, I found over a decade deployed overseas that they were great for day-to-day use. That's because they took most of the beating in cutting and slicing things, saving my fixed blade fighting knife for the bad guys. Credit-card-sized knives are easy to carry and won't take up too much space in your bug-out bag. As small as it looks, it is heavy-duty and works as a knife should. What makes it an essential SHTF gear is that it can fit into your wallet without being noticed. Neck knives are also a great piece of SHTF gear. They are concealable, helping you to achieve gray man status, and are easy to carry to you're always prepped. Don't forget to maintain your knives and keep them sharp. Otherwise,

 119: Prepping Basics with George Taylor | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:04:05

Are you interested in preparedness but unsure where to start? In this article and episode, we'll go over the prepping basics that are essential. It's easy to get overwhelmed if you start out planning for epic long-term disasters reminiscent of the Mad Max movies, but the reality is, it doesn't need to be like that. The Prepping Definition Let's start with a prepping definition from the Oxford dictionary: The practice of making active preparations for a possible catastrophic disaster or emergency, typically by stockpiling food, ammunition, and other supplies. While the Oxford dictionary gives you the general idea, the true definition of prepping isn't that extreme. What are the Prepping Basics It's a mindset of thinking ahead and trying to avoid catastrophes or emergencies in the first place, and also being ready for events that only affect you personally: your car breaks down, and you have to walk home, your spouse loses their job, or you have to provide first aid for a family member. While less dramatic than Oxford's definition, all of these events will be easier to handle if you are prepared. You are far more likely to use practical prepping items like a filter for drinking water or a small food supply than a gas mask and a full-body biohazard suit. The M4S Prepping Basics There are more details in this article, but let's take a quick peek at the basics of preparedness. The basics of prepping covers five fundamental areas. Those areas are Mindset, Situational Awareness, Survival, Safety, and Self. An excellent way to remember the Mind4Survival fundamentals of preparedness is by remembering M4S. Mindset Mindset is the first and most important aspect of practical prepping. It's our mindset that establishes the foundation of our preparedness. Mindset determines how you approach your life. I say "life" because our mindset is the attitude we use to navigate life, and life includes our preparedness. Mindset sets your motivation level for preparing. Mindset sets the tenor and tone of whether people prep or not and how they go about it. And, it's our mindset which determines how we face adversity when disaster strikes. Situational Awareness So, what is situational awareness? Situational awareness is your next most important prep. It's the prepping basic that determines whether you notice what's happening around you. Your situational awareness also determines how you perceive what's happening around you. The Survival Pyramid Situational awareness is the first rung in the survival pyramid. Less than .3 seconds without situational awareness can cost you. Take your eyes or mind off the road while driving and see what happens? Stop paying attention for a third of a second as a worst-case scenario approaches, and you may not see it in time to avoid it. Stay alert! Stay alive! Perception Your perception of what is happening around you is based on how you interpret the reality of a situation. Do you unconsciously bend reality based upon personal bias, cultural perspective, and past experiences? The bottom line is that your chances of survival increase as you become more aware of what is truly happening around you. So, get out there and practice some situational awareness! Survival Now that you know what's going on around you, it's time to focus on the act of surviving. Other than your values, there isn't much that matters more than your survival. The fact is, since we're born, we're all on the countdown to exiting this life. However, delaying that as long as possible is a really go...

 118: Afghanistan Evacuations Update & Prepping Your Own Food and Water | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:47:53

In this episode, my good friend and retired Special Forces officer Ed Clark updates us on the evacuation of American citizens from Afghanistan. Ed is part of the tireless team at AFGFree.org, working to save the lives of our fellow citizens abandoned in Afghanistan. In addition to discussing the latest on the Afghan evacuation crisis, Ed dives into his experiences with freeze-drying food, water catchment systems, and a host of other good-to-know preparedness information. Episode Timestamps: 0:00:00 - Opening 0:08:07 - The Afghanistan evacuation crisis 1:06:45 - Prepping your own food and water 1:45:26 - Closing Topics Discussed: The Deep Water Horizon disaster Random Anti-Terrorist Measures (Rams) The Incident Command System (ICS) Far Recognition Signals PACE planning Risk Assessment

 117: What is Preparedness? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:55

What is preparedness? What are the goals of preparedness? How does preparedness apply to individuals, families, and communities? What's a disaster? These are all crucial questions, which I will answer using my perspective and the Mind4Suvrival philosophy. How Do You Define Preparedness? I've done a deep dive into the definition of preparedness, and here's my definition: "All the efforts taken to minimize unwanted struggle and ensure survival." In other words, we all need to work to survive and experience less unwanted struggle. Survival It only makes sense that survival is part of the definition of preparedness. That's because once you stop surviving, you're dead. And, when you're dead, getting prepared isn't a concern. Struggle Struggle is both wanted and unwanted. Wanted struggle is doing something that, while possibly rewarding, causes us to struggle. Wanted struggle includes attending a class, going to the gym, taking on additional responsibility, etc. Unwanted struggle is the adversity that we don't want. This includes losing a job, experiencing an illness, a car breakdown, etc. While we can avoid wanted struggles, we cannot avoid unwanted struggles. Instead, all we can do is to do our best to minimize our unwanted struggle. What Are the Goals of Preparedness? Now that I've defined preparing, let's talk about the preparedness goals. Goals of Preparedness With that, the goals of preparedness are: to survive to minimize unwanted struggle What Are Examples of Preparedness? When it comes to an example of preparedness, the definition of preparedness states. Preparedness is: "All the efforts taken to minimize unwanted struggle and ensure survival." Those efforts happen at the individual, family, and community levels. Individual (Controllable) Individual preparedness is everything you do to survive and minimize unwanted struggle. Individual prepping is the basic building block of all preparedness. The fact is, if EVERYONE prepares at the individual level, the need for external resources during times of adversity would be limited. Preparing at the individual level includes your efforts to be better prepared. Perhaps that's a course in hazard and risk mitigation, assembling an emergency kit, or training with first responders. As you control yourself, your preparedness is controllable. The only time you have 100% control of your prepping efforts is at the individual level. Family (Semi-Controllable) Family preparedness consists of two or more close individuals who can rely on one another during difficult times. I define family as any person you have enough regard for that you are willing to come to their aid and sacrifice for, and they you. While many consider family to be blood relatives, family, for the sake of those you can depend on and likewise feel dependable for, does not have to include blood relatives. Family doesn't help just during natural disasters. Families respond during anything that tests you and your family's resilience. Perhaps you're a mechanic and need help to recover from the theft of your tools. Your family brings resources to bear, and you have a new toolset. Preparing for difficult times within a family unit is only semi-controllable. Even as the head of a family, you do not have 100% control over the people within your family. Therefore, you are limited in your control. Community (No Controllability) Community preparedness includes all disaster prep efforts outside of individual and family preparedness. These efforts include group, local, state, regional, national, and international efforts.

 How to Fortify Your Home for an SHTF Event (2023) | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 49:31

So, our modern times have you wondering how to fortify your home for an SHTF event. Whether it's the craziness of our current times, the riots, the economy, the state of politics, the pandemic, China, etc., you're right to be concerned. And, if you're concerned, then this blog post is for you. In it, I will share the ins and outs of fortifying your home so that when life goes south, at least your house won't be taken by surprise. With that, let's get into getting your home for an SHTF event. What Does It Mean to Fortify a House? More and more people are turning to prepping these days to protect themselves and their families in the event of an emergency. But what does it mean to "fortify" your home? Fortifying your house means making it more secure. When it comes to making your home safer, there are three main areas that you can work on. The areas that you can work on to make your home more prepared for a potential SHTF event are: The perimeter of your property The exterior of your house The interior of your home. Next, what does it mean to fortify a house rests with you, the person doing the fortifying. How to prep your home for an SHTF event is your definition to define. It's your definition because it's you, as the informed, preparedness-minded, person who must determine your greatest risks. Likewise, it's you who must choose the most effective, value-driven threat mitigation strategies and practices based upon your risk profile. When you do all of that, you'll not only know the generic answer to "What does it mean to fortify a house?" You'll also see the solution as it applies specifically to you. And that's the purpose of this post. To help you, the reader, the securer of your home, to be better prepared when any disaster hits, natural disasters, or two-legged criminal disasters. Why Should You Fortify Your House? Since the beginning of time, people have been preparing for the worst. Whether it's stocking up on food and water or building a shelter to protect themselves from the elements, humans have always tried to make sure they are prepared for anything life might throw their way. For the security conscious, this means fortifying your home against potential threats. By making your house as secure as possible, you can do your best to ensure that you and your family will be safe no matter what happens. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider fortifying your home: 1) A fortified house is more likely to be prepared for and withstand a natural disaster. 2) A fortified house will help stop violent crime such as break ins and home invasions, which are on the rise. 3) A fortified house provides a safe place for your family during a crisis, including SHTF events. When it comes to answering the question of why you should fortify your house, the answer should be, "Why wouldn't you?" Is it Legal to Fortify House? Yes, I cringe at writing that heading, and not all jurisdictions are the same. The fact is that local laws are as varied as the local authorities who make up the laws. Therefore, unless you want to run afoul of your local authorities, you'll want to know what you should and should not do ahead of time. Some security measures that some people may consider using and may get you into legal hot water are booby traps and security bars without safety releases in the home. As a former firefighter, I agree with laws requiring burglar bars to have a safety feature. After all, the thought of myself, a family member, or a friend stuck on the inside of window bars without a safety release during an emergency is frightening. Don't be that person! In the end, it's always best to start with a review of current la...

 How to Start Prepping With What You Have | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:21:00

by Pete Orndorff So you think you should learn how to start prepping for SHTF - or at the very least, potential emergencies. You look online, check out social media, and browse some websites. And you go into sensory overload—lists here and lists there. If you're going to start prepping for SHTF, you've got to have this to survive the coming apocalypse, and then you must have to have this other thing to make your life in the woods bearable. You're wondering what you have gotten yourself into with all this stuff and the expense. But hold on. You don't need all the stuff. You need food and water. And any medications you are on. But guess what? You probably already have nearly everything else to begin prepping for SHTF. How to Start Prepping for SHTF with Everyday Items It's not all about the fancy survival gear. You can use everyday items you already own in a pinch; they may not be thought of as "survival tools," but they will work. You've been using them for months or years already. Why should they suddenly become obsolete when an emergency happens? So, take a walk around your home and garage. What kind of stuff can you use, not as a hack, but as the product was meant to be used as? Those everyday items you don't really think about will help you get through those emergencies that pop up. Knives Do you need a $300 bush crafting knife, or even a $30 one? Look in your drawer or knife block; you have knives already. Are they perfect? Nope, but will they work in a pinch? Yep. Will they hold up over a long period of time? It all depends on how you treat them, use them, and maintain them. For the average person, they will last quite some time. Grandpa's 55-year-old Buck knife he gave you on your 16th birthday that you tucked away in your drawer, yep, it's still there. Sharpen it up and put it to work. You don't need to depend on purpose-made items to get you through a scrap, specialty knives included. Fire OMG, how will you start a fire without six months of dryer lint and petroleum jelly? Or a Ferro rod or the knowledge of how to make and use a bow drill? You will. You probably have matches or even a couple of lighters stored away somewhere. Many will argue you need a specific skill to make a fire. Yes, you should eventually learn how to do it without modern tools, but a good old lighter or match will work. And for a little extra tip here, maintaining a fire is as important as getting one started. If you can maintain a steady burn and use your coals correctly, you may not have to light it again for days or weeks. So, round up those matches and lighters and get them organized. Cooking Is a lightweight backpacking cook set absolutely needed for your survival? Not in my book. You have pots and pans. Are they big and bulky? Yep. Will they work? Also yep. Start a fire wherever you can—inside a grill, in your landscaping using some blocks, out in the middle of the driveway (be careful with asphalt). Remember, this is for survival; it does not have to be pretty to work. Grab a rack from your oven. Use over the flame or preferably the coals once the fire dies down and get to cooking some of that meat that is rapidly defrosting. Call the neighbors over to the house; make it a good time in the middle of a crappy one. YOU do not need the latest ultra-lightweight cook set. If you're wondering how to start prepping for SHTF-style cooking, you'll probably find that you already have much of what you need. Bug Out Bag The most talked-about item or tool, the one pushed aggressively on just about every survival/prepper group, page, or website, is the BOB or Bug Out Bag. Should it be a top priority for your well-being and safety? Not really.

 114: Perspective for Preppers | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:08:58

For preppers, one of the most overlooked elements of preparedness is perspective. We tend to think that our perspective is reality, but that is not the case. In fact, it often skews our views about reality. So, how do we limit the influence of perspective on our decision-making? After all, it’s not our actions that decide the outcome of an event. It’s the decisions we make before the action that are the real influencer. Perspective can be defined as our personal view of the world around us. Everything happens within our own bubble, and our ‘horizon of lived experience’ rarely changes. This is what creates the differences between our views and the objective reality of the world around us. Even within a single household, perspective can vary greatly. Imagine 30 people in a circle staring at a white vase with a blue dot on one side. Every person in that circle sees the vase from a different perspective. It’s not just their position that affects their interpretation, either. Some may be wearing glasses. Some may need glasses but are not wearing them, while some may be colorblind. Others may have previous experience with a vase that warps the processing of the image. The imperfections of our thoughts skew our perspective, whether it be through existing biases, physical limitations, or other factors. To make more accurate decisions, we need to strive to limit the imperfections in our perspective. Even within the prepper community, there are extreme variances. Some think homesteading is the answer to preparedness. Others focus on safety and security. Both groups feel strongly about their decisions, so how do we go about eliminating the differences in perspective for preppers between the factions? By understanding each other’s points of view. The exchange of ideas is vital, as it can help people find common ground and discover some validity in the opposing point of view. A Little Background Since it has been well over a year since the last M4S podcast, this episode will also serve as a sort of re-introduction to some and a new introduction to others. As the host of the podcast, I have a set of experiences, and therefore perspective, that I would like to share so that you may find common ground and decide which elements to introduce and incorporate into your preparedness lifestyle. You will need to understand my overall philosophy in order to be able to parse the information he provides and decide what is right for you. I grew up as a SoCal surfer kid in the 1970’s, where the Los Angeles melting pot was influential on my upbringing and views of life.  My preparedness journey began in 1971 when I can remember the San Fernando earthquake occurring and my mother not grabbing the ceramic Snoopy from above the head of my bed. I recall at the time thinking having a heavy piece of plaster over the head of my bed was probably NOT a good idea. From then on, my perspective included a mindset for safety.  Before seat belts became mandatory, I was the munchkin in the back of the car, trying to get the lap belt on, just in case. That morphed into Boy Scouts and Indian Guides, followed by jobs as an EMT, paramedic, and firefighter before joining the Army Rangers and launching a career in diplomatic security.  While I welcomed the change in perspective that these opportunities afforded me, I was unprepared to deal with the aftermath of my experiences and began to suffer from PTSD, which significantly altered my perspective on safety and preparedness. It was at this point I also became more interested in dealing with the aftermath of the events we, as preppers, prepare for. It was during my PTSD recovery where I learned how vital our living up to our core values are to our existence. Our belief system serves as a backstop for us, and our subconscious is working 24/7 to filter information through that ...

 113: 5 Ways to Spot Fake News | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:07

One of the critical abilities needed to master today's world is the capacity to spot fake news. Knowing ways to spot fake news helps verify the information we base our decisions upon. When we can do that, we make more effective decisions, which is pretty important when it comes to preparedness.  Imagine if you made a change in your route based on misinformation and that change led you into greater difficulty, like straight toward the protest you were trying to avoid. What Is Fake News? Knowing how to spot fake news helps purify and verify the information we base our decisions on. Fake news is misinformation. It's important to note that sometimes reports are not intentionally fake - they're just based on inaccurate information in the first place. One of the ways to spot fake news is by the headline. Is it "clickbait?"  Merriam-Webster defines clickbait as  "Something (such as a headline) designed to make readers want to click on a hyperlink especially when the link leads to content of dubious value or interest." In other words, people create headlines and images designed to get readers to investigate their links. When we click on the links, they gain money and influence. Back in the old days, when people obtained their news primarily from newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, it was generally easy to determine when someone was pulling your leg.  Pretty much anything in the National Enquirer was suspect. For example, tabloids featured stories with outrageous headlines, such as "Woman Gives Birth to Alien." We may laugh at such titles, but what's not so funny is in the last decade or two, with the growth of the internet and social media, fake news stories and entirely fraudulent news sites have proliferated. It's important to note (especially over the past year - murder hornets, anyone?) that not all headlines that seem outrageous are necessarily fake. Who Creates Misinformation There are three types of people, in my mind, who create misinformation. Those Who Make Money From Clicks People With Agendas Folks Who Have Nothing Better to Do If you have ideas on why people create fake news, comment on the post to let us know. I want to keep expanding this topic so that over time, it becomes more comprehensive in giving people more ways to spot fake news headlines or articles. Five Ways Spot Fake News Examine the website domain. Does it look odd, long, unusual? Legitimacy: Is the source legitimate or one known for publishing garbage? If you're not sure about the source, what about the other titles on the site? "Mother Gives Birth to Three-Headed Alien With Blue Eye." Are sites you know to be reputable carrying the story as well? Satire sites such as The Onion, the Babylon Bee, and others use satire. These sites rely upon irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, to expose, denounce, or deride vice, folly, etc. Is the story some prediction of future events? In other words, is it an opinion piece? Does it predict future disasters, future cures, future certainties? If it's about predicting the future, it's likely an opinion piece. Remember the definition of clickbait?  Fact-check. Use Google, DuckDuckGo, etc., to research facts in the story, such as the names of people, places, and things discussed. You may find additional information or the writer of the story is slanting or that it's total BS. Try to find sources from different sides of the political spectrum to get a more balanced view of the story. Does the headline or the story cause enough emotion to make you want to share right away? Does the article make you feel good because it says something you agree with? Or how about a headline that makes you angry? Biased News Closely related to fake news is biased news. You can use different search engines to look up the exact same topic and g...

 112: Lessons from the Mount St Helens Volcano Eruption | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:28

May 18, 1980, is a day that many Pacific Northwesterners will never forget - it was the day the Mount St Helens volcano erupted. The Mount St Helens volcano is located about 100 miles south of Seattle and 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon. The eruption of the Mount St Helens volcano was the most destructive in theUnited States' history. Why Is Information About the Mount St Helens Volcano Eruption Helpful for Preparedness? Hopefully, you don't ever have to experience the eruption of a volcano. However, understanding the science behind it can be helpful. It's good to know on some level how rocks form and how nature happens around us. That way, when you're driving around - perhaps you're out in the desert, or maybe you're in the mountains - you know enough about what you're looking at to realize that might be a dangerous thing. According to the USGS, volcanic ash was detected in cities in the central United States on the day of the eruption. Two days later, residents of cities in the Northeastern United States noticed it, and within two weeks, the ash had spread around the globe. The Eruption of the Mount St. Helens Volcano As mentioned above, on May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens volcano erupted. Mount St Helens is in the Cascade Mountain range along with Mt. Rainier, Mount Hood, and a bunch of other volcanoes up there. When the eruption happened, it resulted in the deaths of 57 people, along with the destruction of about 250 homes, nearly 50 bridges, and hundreds of miles of roads. Most of those who died passed away of asphyxiation when they inhaled hot volcanic ash, while some victims died from thermal and other injuries. The furthest victim of the eruption was discovered 13 miles away. According to the USGS: The lateral blast, debris avalanche, mudflows, and flooding caused extensive damage to land and civil works. All buildings and related manmade structures in the vicinity of Spirit Lake were buried. More than 200 houses and cabins were destroyed and many more were damaged in Skamania and Cowlitz Counties, leaving many people homeless. Many tens of thousands of acres of prime forest, as well as recreational sites, bridges, roads, and trails, were destroyed or heavily damaged. More than 185 miles of highways and roads and 15 miles of railways were destroyed or extensively damaged. Some bodies were never recovered because that gigantic wall of mud, boiling water, lava, and debris comes barreling down the side of the mountain at hundreds of miles per hour. It doesn't leave a whole lot left in its trace. The Mount St. Helens volcano is less than 40,000 years old, and the cone that blew in 1980 took over 2000 years to build. The USGS ranks Mount St. Helen's as the second most dangerous volcano in the United States. Geology & Tectonics The Mount St Helens volcano is a large cone consisting of layers of lava rock, ash, and other deposits. Mount St Helens is part of the Cascade Mountain Range, which is on the edge of the Cascadia subduction zone of the Juan de Fuca and North American tectonic plates. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate rides up over another.  The Cascade Mountain Range is part of the Ring of Fire known as the Cascade Arc, consisting of 160 volcanos. Yes, there are 160 volcanoes in that little volatile corner of North America.   The Ring of Fire rises out of the Pacific Ocean floor, where the Juan de Fuca Ridge lifts up out of the seaf...

 Episode 111: Why I Don’t Discuss Politics in Preparedness | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:58

I've been asked many times why I don't discuss politics with preparedness. Here's the reason I don't discuss politics and preparedness. I look at preparedness as an overarching strategy, how I face each day, how I face life. I try to eliminate or minimize distractions I don't have control over.  I keep my head up…

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