In The Rabbit Hole

Author Arthur Bradley drops by to share with us how and why he made The Survivalist series for you. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e247 Arthur Bradley is a NASA engineer by day and a prepper author by night. (A real NASA engineer, not like the sort of nonsense Jonathan Jason and myself used to tell women.) This isn't just a cool side-note. His vocation shapes the fiction he writes: Facts and realism play a key role. And there's a much deeper reason Bradley has all the potential to be a great prepper author. But we'll get into that in the episode. Beyond NASA and the fiction books, he's also written a several non-fiction survival related book. And he's something of an expert on EMPs. From his bio: His "Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family" has been featured in the New York Times, Money magazine, the Toronto Sun, Popular Mechanics, Men's Journal, the Costco Connection. The handbook is widely recognized as the gold standard of family preparedness manuals. The Survivalist Series and Arthur Bradley: How he came to preparedness How he came to writing before The Survivalist series The authors who influence him His favorite books The disaster type that keeps him up at night The inspiration for The Survivalist series Is he telling a great story, teaching through a story, or both Why he chose to write a Pandemic scenario book rather than an EMP book His most important piece of survival gear His go-to rifle of choice The heartwarming story about the best $100 he never spent ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e247

We discuss whether or not arming teachers with guns is the best answer to stopping school shootings. The question is more complex than it appears. And, so is the answer. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e246 Arming Teachers Topics Discussed: Why Samuel L Jackson should stick to what he knows The red herring argument against arming teachers How many teachers would really be up for arming teachers Who's going to pay for training and ammunition What if a teacher leaves a gun where it's accessible to students How do we handle teacher liability in an accidental shooting incident Developing intelligent ways of disarming the mentally disturbed and incompetent Employing less lethal ways to deter and defend schools from mass shooters All the ways we protect things with guns, so why not the kids Why complex problems cannot be solved with singular solutions ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e246

Michael Bazzel drops in to discuss Open Source Intelligence. He shares with some extremely creepy things people can find out about you from the internet. And we'll discuss how to cleans them. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e245 Open Source Intelligence, or OSINT as it is often referred to, is anything information openly obtainable. Now, this doesn't sound very sexy. But this might be because you haven't heard just how much personal information about you can be pulled off the internet. It's downright creepy and terrifying in some cases! Imagine using deadly force to defend your life. Then, after, by the time you get home, the media is camped out on your lawn and won't go away. And image someone wanted to track you, your spouse, or even your children down. Everything they need to know to plan and execute something bad may be already floating in cyberspace without you knowing. Are you so sure you're safe? We'll cover what's out there and what you can do about it in this episode... Open Source Intelligence Topics Discussed: What is Open Source Intelligence? How is it different than say a general searching on the internet? Why should us normal people care? When we say sensitive details, how sensitive are we talking? Why do the upfront work and not just take care of cleansing the web if something comes up? What can we do to protect ourselves from people using OSINT offensively on us? Can you remove all personal information from the internet? What skills are required and how hard is this for the everyday person with a job, kids, dog, and zombie platypus apocalypse to plan for? Can you use this vulnerably of personal information to an advantage and say do offensive research? ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e245

Rhodes of Iron Edison drops back in. He shares with us the fundamentals of an off-grid solar system. You'll get the basics of what you need to know to start planning solar power for your bug out location or "vacation cabin". ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e244 Retrofitting or building an off-grid home can be very confusing, especially when it comes to how to get electricity. (And don't we have enough to fool with preparing for whatever comes next?) There's so much to consider preppers often threw up their hands in frustration. And they then put the entire topic off for another day. This then holds them back from they're goal of getting a bug out location or bug out vacation home. And done incorrectly, whether to large or too small, can be a budget killer. Building a battery-powered home with solar or other alternative energies is already a big expense. The project requires care and careful planning. But the fundaments of an off-grid solar system are relatively easy to grasp. It just takes someone with in-depth knowledge to break it down into bite-sized easy to understand parts. And they need to be someone who can keep us out of the necessary weeks. Fortunately, we know a guy. So Rhodes is back to give us just that: An easy to understand fundamentals episode. Off-Grid Solar System Fundamentals Topics Covered: Building a bug out location or viewing this as a vacation cabin, which is the best way to think about this Breaking off-grid solar systems down into it's three major parts The one major mindset that will change the way you understand off-grid homes The process of determining loads How to size batteries The upside down lease with bad math Lead Acid Batteries Lithium Iron Batteries Nickel Iron Batteries Determining how big of a solar system is right for you Estimating loads Episode Resources: ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e244

Jill Powell of Remanent Canine 360 drops back by to share with how to take care of your SHTF Dog should the world go mad. You learn all about seldom discussed food storage and medicine for dogs. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e243 Your SHTF dog could be one of your top assets in a world gone off the rails. Their senses are way better than ours for finding and warning you about a danger. Many will fight to the death to protect you and your family. And, let's face it, they're more loyal than anyone in your prepper group. Preppers spend endless hours and dollars putting things away for themselves. And we've discussed training your prepper SHTF Dog to be an asset in the past. But what about storing food and medicine for them? Our lack of preparation for them could turn an asset into a liability. So let's dive into our companion's needs a bit more to ensure they're survival too. Storing Food and Medicine for SHTF Dog Topics: The crazy truth about storing dog food in the original bag How long does dog food stay good for when properly put way The best way to store dog food for short and long-term use Dry Kibble Canned Food Their three most common first-aid needs Basic medical supplies to pack away for your best friend and personal protection dog Alternative medicine and first aid items for your SHTF dog Other items to consider for your dog's BOB ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e243

Jonathan Hollerman stops back by to discuss his book series Equipping Modern Patriots. We cover everything from him as an author to his biggest prepper fiction pet peeve. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e242 From the episode 237, you know Jonathan as the former Air-force SERE instructor turned survival retreat consultant. He takes a hard look at preparedness and judges strategies and techniques against his experience seeing some of the worse human traits in action. And he's made it his personal mission to teach others how to prepare for the worst-case scenarios. As we covered previously, he's written a nonfiction manual. But he's also written a fiction series titled Equipping Modern Patriots. In his book series, he takes you on a journey in order to teach readers survival lessons. These are the aspects of survival he feels are most important and overlooked. Most notably is human desperation and how good people can do horrible atrocities. Equipping Modern Patriots Topics Covered: How he came to writing Illustrating the hard choices people must make in a collapse Lessons learned as a SERE instructor and woven into his fiction books Hollerman's thoughts on what's wrong with most prepper fiction What one piece of equipment The biggest thing he believes most preppers get wrong Aspects of his preparedness that changed after writing this series His prepper fiction author pet peeve His go-to rifle and why ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e242

Justin Carrol drops by to discuss several tinfoil hat ways to protect your identity and make you safer for 2018. We cover buying and setting up anonymous phones, cars, mailboxes, and land. And that's just the start. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e241 We often speak of becoming a hard target. There are past episodes on guns, martial arts, mindsets, physical security, homes, and bug out locations. In addition, we've also spoken a length about hardening your life against the black swan events. These include everything from your financial life to life after a societal collapse. But what about marking your data a hard target to protect your identity? Did you know you're leaving a trail everywhere you go? Identity protection isn't just for the paranoid. But remember the old expression: Just because your paranoid doesn't mean no one is watching you. If you're new, Justin is a privacy and security expert with a long history of government service. As a result, he's made it his life's mission to become, as he says, impenetrable and anonymous. Some of these will seem right out of a Jason Bourne movie. And they will all be just as much fun. So it's time to dig in and erase yourself from the system. Crazy Ways to Protect Your Identity Topics Discussed: Securing your cell phone to protect your identity Getting an anonymous phone Using Faraday bags to protect your smartphone Using "burner" phone numbers Getting nomad status The only states you can get nomad status in Using mail forwarding services - PMB (Personal Mailbox) Services Making your driver's license safe Buying property anonymously and without your name being tied to it Using a land trust Buying a vehicle anonymously and without your name being associated with it ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e241

Rhodes Carter of Iron Edison stops by to discuss the basics of solar power. We cover everything you need to know to start your journey and one big scam you should avoid. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e240 Alternative energy is all the rage these days. Buring the liquified or charred remains of dead dinosaurs is so last century. Preppers have wished upon a star to give them energy production for a long time now. The reason was simple: We want energy independence and self-sufficiency! And it's just about the only way we're going to power our BOL when the zombies march, right? (OK... there's that cold fusion reactor, but that's not happening tomorrow.) Solar power simply wasn't realistically a viable option for the last few decades, sadly. The equipment to build a system to juice up our power hungry lives was too expensive. The efficiency didn't make sense. And it didn't produce enough electricity to meet the demands of most people. However, things are rapidly changing in the world of solar power. And we may be at the point where this type of alternative energy production verges on what most people hoped it would grow into. But figuring out the different types of systems and what you need is as confusing as a football bat. You'll need to figure out your loads, wire sizes, volts, watts, amp hours, batteries, battery chemistry, panel sizes, and on, and on. The worst part is most of the information reads like drunk engineers hastily wrote it. (English may also be a second language just to make things more exciting.) Fortunately, Rhodes joins us to give us a primer and promise to take us all the way... Basics of Solar Power Topics Covered: Are we there yet with solar Where do the real costs come in Grid-tied Solar Systems Off-grid Solar Systems Hybrid Solar Power Systems Are batteries getting cheaper? Use in remote Bug Out Locations The upside down lease with bad math Lead Acid Batteries Lithium Iron Batteries Nickle Iron Batteries ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e240

James Price drops by the studio to whip you into shape for the new year. We discuss what the habits that the best shooters and professional chefs both share. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e239 Many people watch in awe and wonder as the best shooters in the world work. These top performers seem to glide through courses of fire with ease. Long time listeners will often hear us refer to this as tactical ballet. And if you ever watch the best chefs in the world, you'll notice they seem to dance around a kitchen. All their movements are fluid, efficient, and purposeful. But there's more than a surface-deep correlation between the best shooters 'dumping mags in fools' and chefs baking a perfect soufflé. The commonality is this: They attain unconscious competence by turning skills into habits. And it all starts with a mastery of the basics. James explains in more depth with some great takeaways for you in this episode... Habits of The Best Shooters and Chefs Topics Discussed: The surprising origins of the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) The only way to reach skill perfection Innovation through refinement Weird trivia about the movie To Catch a Thief The stupidity of muscle memory and what unconscious competence really is Why the basics of any field are crucial to learn and commit to the point where they are a habit Being able to pull out the best parts and adopt new skill from trainers Cooking fish while running and gunning Mise en place - everything in its place in cooking and tactical applications The finite ability to think while in a stressful situation How cleaning up saves lives Always ending a day and training correctly Lessons from that time a co-worker of James' yawned during a shootout Making and using tactical recipes How back briefs - repeating information back - saves lives Learning the value of showing respect and keeping an open mind in order to learn Taking responsibility to the extreme ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e239

We sit down with voice-over artist Kevin Pierce aka the "Voice of the Apocalypse." He shares with us how he got started in the business of book narration and eventually became the voice reading most of our favorite post-apocalyptic prepper fiction books to you. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e238 Hiding deep in the bowls of dystopian fiction is something special, terrifying, titling, and even insightful: Prepper fiction. Some say this all started with the book Alas, Babylon. Others say it goes further back to the book Earth Abides. Then the genre slumbered for nearly 60-years only stirring occasionally as the decades rolled on. But then the money vanished, and the hordes roved in Patriots in 1998. Next, the lights went out, and the hordes roved once more in the book One Second After on March 17th, 2009. And finally, the match was lit; prepper fiction exploded. Rather than waiting for a decade or two between great stories, we're now on to the next book as soon as we finish the last. Sometimes we're attacked by Zombies. Other times we're stricken with a sweeping pandemic. Often, we're taken back to the stone age by an EMP. Whatever your prepper jam, there seems to be one voice tickling your eardrums in most of the audiobook versions of these books. Its a voice so ubiquitous in the genre your mind is immediately transported as though you've just heard some deeply embedded NLP command. You might know this voice by the name Kevin Pierce, or you might know him as the Voice of the Apocalypse. You know the sound of his voice well, either way. But most of us do not know the man behind the voice. Who is he? How did he get his start? And how did he come to be the Voice of the Apocalypse? Let's find out... Kevin Pierce on Being the Voice of the Apocalypse: How he got his start in TV and Radio His transition to book narration Is he strictly a narrator of prepper fiction? What it takes to be the narrator of more than 330 books How long does it take to produce a typical audiobook? Does he ever turn down books because they're just not good? That time Kevin played a 13-year-old Vietnamese girl His favorite non-prepper books Does he consider himself a prepper? That time reading all those prepper books paid off How does reading all these dystopian fiction books impact his state of mind How he prepares for reading the books to you The most influential and pivotal moment in his career as a voice-over artist ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e238

In this episode, we're joined by Jonathan Hollerman of Grid Down Consulting. We discuss the basics of survival retreats and bug out locations that may save your life in TEOTWAWKI. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net Bug Out Locations (aka BOLs) is a tough subject to tackle. And for this reason, it's not something we've covered too often. First, there's the expense. Researching, planning, purchasing, and stocking a survival retreat adds up quickly. Very quickly! Then there are areas most preppers just can't be sure of about their survival retreats. The how far away from a major city question comes up constantly. And the amount of research to come up with answers is staggering. It's easy to spend months reading about all the topics that go into building a remote place to take yourself and your family when the unthinkable happens. But there are a few professionals in the industry who commit themselves to helping others plan, find, and develop a bug out location for the worst case scenarios. And today, we sit down with one to answer many, if not most, of your questions. Survival Retreats and Bug Out Locations Topics Discussed: Who is Jonathan Hollerman What it's like to become an Airforce S.E.R.E. instructor How he translates what he learned as an S.E.R.E. instructor into what civilians need to know about survival Hollerman's thoughts on North Korea and EMPs The thing he believes will happen and cause the need for a bug out location The surprising types of people he has as clients Mental exercises and stories Hollerman shares with people to impress upon them the importance of bug out locations Understanding how far your BOL needs to be from major cities and small towns Selecting a property that isn't too far away from your primary residence The biggest mistakes people make with BOLs How to determine when it's time to bug out Dealing with security at your BOL What to do when you can't afford a BOL of your own Mutual Aid Groups (aka MAGs) Convincing reluctant spouses of the need for a BOL The darkness of human desperation Episode Resources: Click here to become a supporting member Show notes and resources, go here Bug Out Locations

We sit down with Jill from Remnant K9 360 to discuss how to train a dog to be a survival asset. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e236 Training a dog to be a valuable component of your survival tools doesn't get enough attention by most preppers. In fact, man's best friend gets very little attention in the community. And that's odd. Mans' best friend has a long and storied history. Some say our friendship goes back 30,000 years. And estimates place K9 ownership in the United States at 78 million. And it's estimated 36.5% of US homes have at least one dog. So you think the topic of how to train a dog would be a more frequent topic amongst preppers. But only a small fraction of survival podcast episodes and blog posts are dedicated to our furry buddies. (We're culprits of this oversight too, to be fair.) Perhaps the problem is thinking we need to turn them into full blow military working dogs. This is a long process with heaps of specialized knowledge needed and is time-consuming. The reality is this: Most of us just want something between Cujo and Mr. Buttons the spoiled pet. In this episode, we discuss making this happen. ~ How to Train a Dog And Turn Them Into a Survival Asset Topics Discussed: ~ How Jill became a prepper When she realized how valuable a dog could be in a survival situation What patrol training is Training a dog for scent detection and alert Teaching your furry friend appropriate levels of aggression The best dog breeds for survivalists The worst dog breeds for survivalists When small dogs can be an unexpected survival hero How long does dog training take for the animal to become useful Appropriate ages for different times of training Where obedience training fits in The time investment needed How online dog training classes differ from in-person classes ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e236

Concealed handgun instructor Salvatore DeGennaro joins us to discuss practical gun training. He's going to share his thoughts on handguns vs. long-guns and must have [EDC] items. We've all heard the adage, "You use your handgun to fight to your long-gun." It makes sense: long-guns are more powerful, easier to make accurate hits with, do more damage to the intended target, and tend to be immediate "fight stoppers." And long-guns posses a greater effective range. With a weekend's worth of instruction, it is possible to for someone to achieve a high degree of consistent precision out to 400 yards. By high degree, I mean the ability to hold a 4-MOA group, over the course of 40 rounds, at varying distances, while changing positions and magazines, engaging multiple targets, and under a time constraint. Good luck achieving that with a pistol in a weekend with a newer shooter. The newer shooter should be able to become effective out to 25-yards with a pistol. However, that is typically the limit. But what is realistic and practical often getting tossed to the side and ignored. And there are case studies like the financial collapse of Argentina provided by FerFal. They demonstrate the real world problems involved in relying primarily on a long-gun in a grid-down or near collapse situation. So today, Salvatore helps break it all down for us... Practical Gun Training Topics Discussed: Who is Salvatore DeGennaro and how did he get into guns Why more of the gun community aren't preppers What to look for in a handgun Lessons from the Argentina financial collapse The place and case for long-guns in a prepper's gun battery How he stays sharp as a shooter and instructor Thoughts on how to find a good handgun instructor How to decide the amount of training time you spend on rifles vs. handguns His list of essential EDC items Understanding the importance of de-escalation techniques ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e235

Best-selling author Steven Konkoly joins us. We discuss how he crafts his prepper fiction books just for you. And we learn about his latest book: KILL BOX: A Post-Apocalyptic Pandemic Thriller. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e234 Pandemics don't get enough love in the prepper fiction niche. Often, we focus on EMPs and terrorist attacks. EPMs, like Zombies, are fun thought experiment: How would people survive in a total grid scenario. But when it comes to the most likely major disaster, pandemics are a ticking time bomb. Many say we are long overdue for a pandemic, in fact. And here's where Konkoly takes to ball and runs with it. What if we took the idea of a pandemic and brought it into the modern world were man's hands meddle with things. Do we see zombies? Who writes these kinds of terrifying nightmares of prepper fiction? We get to know the man behind the words in this episode with author Steven Konkoly. Steven Konkoly and Kill Box Topics Discussed: How he came to writing His favorite prepper books His favorite non-prepper fiction books On becoming a prepper How the book starts The process of making characters come to life Whether he is telling a story with survival lessons or survival lessons being shared through a story His go-to rifle What is the best $100 spent preparing His most important piece of prepper equipment What to expect next ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e234

Joey King drops by to share news from the war front. The cryptocurrency war that is. He's going to share with us some basics, history, news, and what to do with your BitCoin Cash. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e233 The cryptocurrency world is on fire. Some would even say war is ranging. Digital currencies are seeing crazy high prices. And there's a lot of confusion about what these cryptocurrencies are. The uninformed and uninitiated often ask, "What's the new BitCoin?" There's also a lot of misunderstandings about whether or not it's too late to get into BitCoin or if you should buy an altcoin do to cost. But people are using the wrong paradigms to think about and invest in cryptocurrencies. This has lead to some scams, confusion, and kept people out of the market altogether. So we've got a bit of work to do to bring people up to speed. There's a need for a shift in thinking and a bit of backstory. Not to mention the need for some basic, straightforward, and simple information how to acquire and now to store it. And then there's wrapping our heads around what may be the worlds first true hard currency. Joey clears most of this up in this episode... ~ Cryptocurrency topics Discussed ~ * What is digital scarcity * How cryptocurrency attempts to solve scarcity in a digital age * The historical and sociological implications of a decentralized digital currency * What altcoins like Etherium and Lightcoin are and if you should pay attention to them * Why Segwit2x was canceled and what it means for BitCoin Cash * How to buy and sell * Best wallets to keep your money in * Scams to avoid * What's real and what's marketing * The future outlook ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e233

In this episode, Joshua Sheats of Radical Personal Finance stops by. He's going to share with us some fundamental truths of how to increase wealth and how to survive the most likely disaster to impact your life. Money doesn't come up often enough in the preparedness community. Sometimes there's talk of having cash on hand for emergencies. Other times there's talk of gold and silver investing, bitcoins, and other more unconventional stores of wealth. And there's sometimes talk of being debt free. But what does it take to be financially secure, resilient, and having a life you love. After all, if you've got lots of money and hate your life, what's the point? Plus, if you don't know what you're working towards besides retirement do you know retirement is going to be successful? Today's guest helps us start on the road to taking a long hard look and action to get you closer to increasing your wealth so you can survive personal disasters. And it helps you live a better more fulfilled life today. ~ Become a supporting member here:~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e232 Increase Wealth and Surviving the Likely Person Disasters: The behavior difference between the wealthy and the broke The value of direct, practical, and time-saving advice Three ways people get into credit card debt and how to undo Secured Debt vs. Unsecured Debt Developing a debt plan Getting pissed off enough to do something Setting Clear Financial Goals with a result Using questions to set goals Questioning the magic retirement age of 65 (the lies we've been sold) First steps for making financial change The devious history of retirement How the government lies about the unemployment rate When retirement was a curse How to quit your job and do something you love safely The three laws of how to increase wealth The biggest culprits bleeding your bank account Marrying the academic integrity of financial advice with practical real word output Joshua's prepper pet peeve

In this episode, Josh drops by to discuss building up the best prepper gun battery on a small budget. Many preppers obsess over their gun battery. There's a good reason: they are among the best tools to help keep us safe and defend our lives with. And, let's face it, most of us like guns a whole lot. They're fun to play with and many find shooting to be a relaxing hobby. (I often call it yoga with loud noises and a little more smoke.) But building a full prepper battery of guns is expensive; especially if you are just starting out. And guns can be the most expensive part of a preppers overall kit. It's easy to drop $5,000 just on guns and glass. Five bills or more is a big bite to take for a lot of people. Buying a full gun battery eats into what many long-time preppers feel is as important to nail down quickly: Food, medical supplies, and training. Then there's more training. So Josh and I discuss the best guns and strategies for starting out your prepper gun battery on a small budget. ~ Become a supporting member here now: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e231 Best Gun Battery on a Small Budget Topics: The benefits of using a commonality team mentality Budgeting for today and tomorrow Preparing and buying for the 80% of what might happen first What is the prepper gun battery Deciding on the order in which to build up a prepper gun battery Best budget Handguns Best budget Shotguns Most accurate and best budget Bolt-action rifles Best budget AR-15s and other semi-auto rifles Best budget 22lr Rifles How to Buy Used Guns and Save Money

In this episode, we're joined by Author RE McDermott. He shares with us who he is, his book Under a Tell Tale Sky, and how life after a coronal mass eject might go off the rails. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e230 Dystopian fiction books in the prepper niche often focus on EMPs. It's a seemingly easy target -- especially these days. North Korea and other bad actors are suspected of either being capable of or working diligently to produce a weapon that can destroy our grid. But it's not often we get a book based on a coronal mass ejection; CME for short. Under a Tell Tale Sky paints a picture of what life might look like immediately after a CME. And author RE McDermott uses this scenario to demonstrate some of the benefits of being on a boat if a CME it. A coronal mass ejection is an electromagnetic pulse caused by a solar flare, in simple terms. So it's a naturally occurring phenomenon. And there are such events in recent recorded history. Most famous and largest among them is the Carrington Event - also known as the solar storm of 1859. Under a Tell Tale Sky Topics Discussed: How McDermott become interested in writing His history in the maritime industry and how it impacted the book Why he picked a CME as the cause of the disaster for his book Natural Vs. Man-made disasters Balancing storytelling with technical details McDermott's view of prepping and what he personally focuses on The best $100 he's ever spent on preparedness (he cheats ;-) The thing that bothers him most in the prepper community What he considerers his go-to rifle

In this episode, we sit down with Jay. He's going to share with us how power grids are restored and put back together after a catastrophe. Plus, we'll discuss basic safety tips for during and after a power outage to keep you safe. Preppers like us are acutely aware of how delicate society is. And when it comes to the electric grid, we're all at least a little freaked out. (Some a lot freaked out.) EMPs, Coronal Mass Ejection, Cyber Attacks, physical attacks on plans and substations are on a lot of prepper minds. Then there's simply the mundane weather event. This massively complex thing we depend on for modern society seems to be attacking threats from all over. But often, gaining a deeper understanding of something we worry about moves us closer to the sound part of staying safe and sound. To know a thing is to have some control over it. Maybe not a lot, but some. And it can put your mind at ease simple to understand what's happening and why. And knowing some simple tips of what to do and what not to do when power grids go down and when it comes back up can keep you safe. So listen in as we discuss power grids and safety... ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e229 Power Grids and Restoration Topics Discussed: What causes a grid to go down The stages of how power is restored to an area The unexpectedly complex negotiations power companies must go through How you may be putting linemen at serious risk of electrocution and death How gasoline and diesel became a priority one resource after disasters Why controlling the flow of power to your home after an outage could save your home Where and when not to use a generator Powerfly bad puns

Justin Carroll drops back by to talk about the 1911 pistol. The US government paid a LOT of money teaching him to depend on one. And he shares real-world use lessons learned. For those who don't know, he's a former Marine Recon, Marine special operations, and former government alphabet soup guy who ran a 1911 and many other guns for a living. So Justin has just a wee bit of experience with what works and what doesn't. And today he's going to share with us some basics about the reality of depending on one and must have options for neophytes. The 1911 pistol is a deep part American lore. If you're a child of the 70's and 80's, you probably have at least one grandfather who used one in war. And your dad might have used one in a "conflict" and most likely had a 1911 as his one go-to handgun for home defense. For this reason, many of us lust after them even though we're converts to the Tupperware warrior guns like the Glock. But there's still that lust begging to be satiated. So today we talk all things 1911 so you can decide if it's right for you and what to look for. [itunes] The 1911 For Beginners Topics Discussed: The number one must-have feature on a 1911 John Browning's invention Vs. the modern striker fired pistols The secret to how the US Marines keep their pistols running in top condition Understanding the limitations and setting expectations High-end custom 1911s Off the shelf Vs. DYI Different types of sites and why ledges are important Why night-sites Skeletonized hammers Skeletonized triggers Justin's must-have feature list Pistol sites Beaver safeties ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e228

In this episode, Daisy Luther drops back by. We discuss starting and stocking your prepper pantry, cutting the grocery bills, and being a food in the apocalypse. Let's face it, building out and stocking a good pantry isn't sexy for most of us. It's meticulous work requiring a lot of thought and care -- especially for new preppers. Stocking food and water doesn't go bang, isn't shiny, won't word off zombies, and isn't something we can brag to our friends about. (Well you could, but it's not advisable.) And it can require a lot of planning ahead. You must know what your family will and won't' eat. There's no point in stocking and squirreling away food items if it's going to go uneaten. You may be thinking, "they can just eat it or go hungry" or you may be thinking, "if they're hungry enough they will eat it". But this creates unnecessary stress for everyone. Why bother? But with a bit of thought, planning, observation, and smart buying you can put together a great pantry. Then it's just a matter of maintenance; that's the easy part. There are many considerations, obviously. Fortunately, Daisy did most of the thinking for you and shares her great tips and strategies with you in this episode... Building out a Propper Prepper Pantry Topics Discussed: Where to begin Why it's important Leveraging a pantry for saving money and budgeting What are good food items to store How to store food with bugs and vermin in mind Keeping everything organized Staying on top of what you have so you don't waste or turn meal time preparation into a scavenger hunt The place for freeze dried food Episode Resources: ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e227

We sit down with author Sara Hathaway; the creator of Day After Disaster and The Changing Earth series. She shares with us her writing story and thoughts on female preppers. Female preppers tend to be greatly outnumbered by their male counter parts. Most informal reports put the percentages at 30% female and 70% male. The disparity between sexes is also evident in prepper fiction. It is dominated by male characters -- often overly stylized super soldier types. And this get's boring after a while. So when something, anything, different comes along, we tend to take notice. Author Sara Hathaway is herself a female prepper. And she's damn proud of it -- as she should be. So her crafting a series of prepper fiction books featuring a strong female character is no surprise. But some women's reactions to Sara's works are rather surprising. Listen in to hear this and many other topics... Author Sara Hathaway: Who is she How did she become a writer What is Sara's go to rifle in the apocalypse If she could only have one thing in a collapse, what would it be What's the best $100 she's ever spent on preparedness ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e226

In this episode, we're joined by author Glen Martin to discuss navigation skills for preppers and survivalists. Navigation skills are an often overlooked skill. Partly this is due to the perception of it being a non-sexy skill. And this may also be due to the perceived difficulting in learning and practicing the skill. But it turns out, it's easier than you might think. And there are some fun tricks. This includes one where your dog tries to tell you which way is north in an exceptionally odd way. ~ Navigation Skills for Preppers Topics Discussed: * His backstory * Why Martin wrote Prepper's Survival Navigation * The case for learning how to navigate overland * Teaching kids about how to navigate overland * Talent vs pure skill * Simple exercises for learning and retaining the skill * Why not simply use a GPS and forget about learning the skill * Wilderness survival tips for in case you get lost ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e225

We sit down with Daisy Luther from the Organic Prepper. She's going to tell us how canning can make a huge impact in our lives. Canning is a topic we've not given much love to, unfortunately. In fact, there's never been an ITRH episode dedicated to it. And this is a large oversight on our part. The skill of canning is important. It can play a large part in getting your pantry stocked, preserving the food you grow, and even saving you money. The truth is this: It intimidated us a bit because you hear all sorts of warnings about things exploding and people dying from botulism. And it's not a sexy activity like shooting. So we consistently put off engaging in or talking about it. But as it turns out, this isn't as hard or as dangerous as some might think. Daisy tells us all about it ~ Canning for Preppers Topics Discussed: * Daisy's story * The biggest obstacle people experience * Why we should invest the time and energy * Advantages of doing it yourself vs. buying canned goods at the store * The typical cost to start * Supplies list * Kids and canned foods ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e224

Financial prognosticator John Pugliano drops by to warn us of the robot revolution and Skynet taking your job. And, he'll offer advice on how to be the John Connor of your own financial future. Automation is quickly becoming the new boogie man in the media. This isn't without good reason: the robot revolution is on and many are killing off old steadfast jobs. Most often, we hear about this in Most often, we hear about this in fast-food chains like McDonald's. And its rise is wrongly attributed to minimum wage hikes. These robots were coming regardless or raising the minimum wage, truth be told. These robots were coming regardless or raising the minimum wage, truth be told. Employees have always been the number one liability and expense any business has. Robots, on the other hand, do not complain, call in "sick" (aka hung over), or do any number of other things employers and managers grind their teeth over. Not to say all employees do this, but it is a daily issue. So this raises a few questions: Will the robots free us or destroy civilization? Which jobs will survive? How will be the real winners and who will be the big losers in the coming wave of robot automation in the workplace? Tune in to find out... ~ Robot Revolution and Automation Topics Discussed:~ * BitCoin and Crypto Currency Futures * Historical examples of automation * Creative destruction * Luddites of days gone by and present times * Entrepreneurial thinking that may save you * The Gold and Silver outlook you might not expect to hear * The likely hood of a welfare state and Universal Basic Income * Why John believes the future is bright for entrepreneurs ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e223

We sit down with author CA Rudolph to discuss his book series What's Left of My World, his writing process, and survival lessons for Dads. What would it take to raise a strong female prepper? Two out of three hosts of ITRH struggle with this. The third just hasn't made any little preppers yet. So this is an important question for us, as of late. But this also speaks to a big piece of our community who tend to be under represented. Women are a minority in prepper circles. Perhaps men are wired to worry more about proactive survival measures. Maybe most of the personalities and information available just doesn't speak to them. Yet, figuring this out and including more women in preparedness is very important. Whatever the reasons, the first step is for Dad's and Mom's to take an active role in raising female preppers. So maybe more prepper fiction with strong female prepper character is a way to do something about this. And CA Rudolph's part in this is What's Left of My World. So let's find out more about... CA Rudolph Shares What's Left of My World: * The inspiration for What's Left of My World * Crafting bad guys to make you think * Authors who inspired him * When fiction becomes nonfiction and the implications * His favorite non-prepper books * His favorite prepper fiction books * How he came to be a prepper/survivalist and backpacker * The plot of What's Left of My World * Why he wrote it * Why the lead character in his book is a young woman * The deeper meaning of the book * The Prepper Dad's struggle ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e222

Justin Carroll stops by to discuss his bug out vehicle. To Justin, it's not a BOV; it's home, freedom, practical, and an adventure. We're big on preparedness solutions with practical uses even if the zombie apocalypse doesn't happen. Gear and changes you make to your life should be something that makes your life better in the now. Doing things exclusively for an apocalypse become a burden otherwise. This makes Justin's approach perfect for bug out vehicles, opinion. You see, Justin travels all over the US teaching digital and physical security. And he's also still young and unattached. So the opportunity to turn work into an extended road trip just made sense. And, in the process, Justin has built what most of us would consider an awesome bug out vehicle. But this hasn't been an easy, straightforward process. He's wrestled with all sorts of issues and challenges. Most of these things he overcame. He joins us to share his trials, tribulations, triumphs, and secrets to talking to people about his unique living arrangements. (You won't believe people's reaction to this.) Bug Out Vehicle Topics Discussed: * Where and how this all started * What van he started with and what kind of van he's ended up with * Insulation * Solar power for RVs * Sound proofing an RV * Building a nice kitchen * Wiring Considerations * How everything to do with water is the biggest limiting factor * How to handle not having a bathroom in your bug out vehicle (clever trick) * The process of turning a van into a livable BOV * Design considerations and inspiration * The single most important piece of advice Justin has for anyone getting into this * Does this rag smell like chloroform to you? ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e221

We sit back down with Joey King of BytesOfMan.com to find out what happened after BitCoin forked into BitCoin and BitCoin Cash. We'll also discuss what to do next and what the future for the two crypto currencies may hold. ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e220

In this episode, we sit down with Joey King; BitCoin blogger and developer. He's going to tell us all about BitCoin and the fate of money as we know it. Several years ago, Joey left his fortune 100 job to pursue his passion for BitCoin. Since then he's become a figure and influencer in the movement. And he's just getting warmed up. The world of cryptocurrency is a huge subject. And this will be the beginning of many episodes on the topic. Although, we were the first in the survival podcast community to dive into the topic and say "we're in" long ago. Although, we were the first in the survival podcast community to dive into the topic and say "we're in" long ago. But it's been so long since our first episode on the topic we'll need to start at the start. So, we pick back up where we left off all those years ago. We'll discuss what crypto-currency is, the existing scams, pitfalls, politics, drama, and possible futures. This will be a high-level episode. We'll stay out of the deep weeds of daily use. And there'll be something to learn and enjoy for everyone regardless of your interest in owning cryptocurrency. ~ BitCoin Survival Topics Discussed: * How Joey became so interested in BitCoin he left his fortune 100 job to become a developer * What is cryptocurrency * What is digital scarcity and why is it at the root of all of this * Is Bitcoin good * Is Bitcoin evil * Will it destroy the dollar and civilization as we know it * Can your mother use Bitcoin and the evolution of usability * Hardware wallets * Software wallets * Exchanges * Ether, Dash, Light Coin, other cryptocurrencies, and why they exist * How it can certain types * Going beyond currency with a glimpse at what the blockchain really is and can do * The future of cryptocurrency ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e220

Night Vision for preppers: Own the night and see bad things before they can see you. These are the phrases often used to describe the technology for tactical applications. And it's an enticing premise. Who wouldn't want the advantage and superpower of seeing in the dark? It would be a game changer should polite society ever skid out of control. But many preppers end up with sticker shock as soon as they begin investigating night vision. And is seemingly creates a perceived need out of reach for most. And most preppers don't stop to ask if night vision makes sense. It could easily become an expensive toy that sits in a drawer only to be occasionally played with and never pressed into services as a life-saving tool. So this brings up the question: How do you decide if night vision for preppers makes sense? And what generation is even worth the investment? And then there's thermal. The mind swirls with indecisiveness. We'll clear this up. ~ Night Vision for Preppers Topics Discussed: * Usable Night Vision Generations * Why Gen 1 Sucks * Why Autogating is a must for urban applications * Thermal Imagining * Swooning for SWIR imaging * Highbrid Thermal and Night-vision systems * Tactical applications and use for night-vision ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e219

In this episode, we're joined by Josh to discuss traveling with guns and knives. He's a long-time private security professional who has been all over the world. Traveling with guns can be a tricky subject, and so can knives. However, it's not as difficult as you may think. It's often rather easy, in fact. But it's extremely important to understand the laws of all the areas you're traveling through. Sometimes cities have stricter laws than the states they're in. And sometimes they're the same. It's your responsibility to know what's what; ignorance of the law is not a defense. There are also better sources to get your information from than others. So you have to be careful to ensure the information on gun and knife laws you're getting is up to date and accurate. This is a summer short episode that turned into nearly a full-length episode. Josh is a long-time friend of the show, and we decided to fulfill an Armada member request for a drunk episode. You've been warned: This episode was recorded intoxicated, at 1 AM, and then released without editing. Traveling with Guns and Knives Topics Discussed: How much we've had to drink while making the episode Traveling with guns on commercial airlines Things not to do at the check-in counter Traveling with knives Understanding gun and knife laws when the differ by state and city Resources found here: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e218/

In E217, we sit down with James Price to discuss tactical schools and training. He's going to lift up the skirt on the tactical training industry and show us what's going on. He's also going to share with us where many of us are training for the wrong thing in the wrong way. We begin and end every episode with a special message. It's our motto and the thing ITRH promises. In fact, it's the ITRH tag line: Stay safe and sound! The show is weighed towards the Safe part of that tagline. The subjects about staying safe are the fun and exciting topics to cover, after all. But it's important to address the Sound part from time to time. Sound, as ITRH uses it, means sound in mind. This unpacks to doing things for the right reasons, preparing for and nailing down our preps starting with the most likely, and making the most out of the limited time and resources we all have. Now, about a decade ago you would have found Jonathan, Jason, and myself feverishly looking up tactical schools and gear. But there was a problem with what we were doing: We were acquiring skills starting from the least likely. This can also be said about the gear we were acquiring. This episode addresses that. My scope of what I'm concerned about and see as possible are broader than James'. But the core message is the same: Train the way we prepare; start with and master the most likely first. Tactical Schools and Lies: Why training like a Navy Seal, Delta Force, Green Berret, Ranger, or Force Recon operator is all WRONG for civilians Bad tactical marketing Training for defense and realistic scenarios What does being a "good" shooter mean The lies tactical schools tell to sell Using math and probability for advantage over your attacker The specialized training your attacker has that you don't and who this will give the advantage to them Understanding fun experience vs. survival skills Why and how women should be trained differently than men and how it's not a misogynistic viewpoint The best tactical training for civilians ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e217 Note: ITRH is technically on summer break. The show will be back in full swing for seasons 7 starting August 7th. In the meantime, you will receive an ITRH summer shorts episode every three weeks. Then, August 7th, we'll be back.

In this book club episode, we're joined by author Zack Lynn to discuss surviving on a sailboat in the zombie apocalypse. Surviving on a Sailboat in a bugout scenario presents several advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include not being stuck in a bunker with now windows, fishing, and mobility, to name a few. But you are constrained by the weight of the times you can store, inclement weather, and bobbing zombies. There's also considerations about what kind of boat. And many other considerations. Years, back we explored sailboats as an option for both living and bugging out. But we never fully addressed life on a sailboat in a grid down and hostile environment. Zombies, as we've said in the past, provide an interesting and highly complicated scenario forcing deep thought and extensive nuanced consideration. So it's ripe for thought experiments most other situations don't present. As it turns out, Zack has spent lots of time considering just such a situation. He even wrote a book about it. ~ The Author, Book, and Surviving on a Sailboat Discussed: ~ * How he became a writer * Authors that inspire Zack * What prompted Zack to become a prepper * Where the inspiration for the book came from * How the book starts * Why zombies * The upside of surviving on a sailboat * The downside of surviving on a sailboat * How writing this book changed the way he and his family prepare * The main character's go-to long gun and why * What's the best $100 he's ever spent on preparedness ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e216

In this episode, James Price shares with us his trade secrets for securing your home like a high-value safe house. For new listeners, James is a veteran executive protection consultant with over a decade of experience as a high-priced civilian security contractor in the Middle East and Far East Asia. James gives his expert opinion on the mistakes you are probably making with regard to home safety; some key elements you need to consider to evaluate the safety of your house; the security systems he recommends; and what you can do to protect your home when you are away. ~ Securing your Home and Making it a Safe House Topics: ~ * Who is James and what does he do * How did James get into executive protection * What would you say is the number one thing people do to open themselves up to being a target at home * When evaluating a structure for security issues, what are the primary things you look for * How often should a regular person do some kind of perimeter check on their home * When you're setting up security systems, what are your must-have pieces? (i.e. video, motion) * What realistic limitations should people be aware of with security systems that aren't backed by an on-site security team * When away from home, what do people do that make their home target * What non-lethal tools do you find effective in personal defense * The one mistake you are probably making that is increasing your chances of becoming the victim of a home invasion. * Some of the things James looks at when he is evaluating a home's safety * Why you should have contrasting shutters for your home * What you can do to improve the security of your doors and windows * An important, but often over-looked element of personal security * The first thing James does to improve the security of a place * Two important times when you should do a perimeter check * James' must-have pieces for an ideal security system * Where you should place motion sensors * Why the placement of your security cameras is probably wrong and where you should put them instead * Why a security system is like a fire alarm * What you can do to secure your home while you're away * Some tips for staying safe in hotel rooms * A few non-lethal defensive measures you can put in place * How satin bedsheets and fog machines can increase the safety of your home * What you should use instead of pepper spray for home safety, and how * James' top tips for keeping your home safe and secure ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e215

In this episode, we sit down with Cal Wilson. He's an attorney by day and a prepper author by night. We discuss his new book about an EMP attack and life afterward. If you think this is just another EMP book, you may be in for a surprise. Tigers and Gorillas included at no extra charge. EMPs (Electro Magnetic Pulses) is now and have been for a while, a hot Prepper topics. EMPs as an antagonist are in many ways like Zombies A perfect villain with all the pitfalls needed to scare the crap out of you. And they present a wonderland of problems to contend with. But, unlike Zombies, EMPs are this side of catastrophes that are possible. The technology, will, and opportunity exists. Most of the serious and balanced minds in prep have long since considered an EMP to be an outlier scenario, however. While the tech and will exists, the technological hurdles have long been considered too great for most aggressors. Cal Wilson sides with William R. Forstchen and others. And he shows us all the ways an EMP attack isn't just possible, but probably, in his latest work: E.M.P.: The End Of The Grid As We Know It (All At Once Book 1) ~ EMP Attack Topics Discussed: ~ * Who is author Cal Wilson * How he came to writing * Why Cal chose EMP Attacks as the antagonist for his most recent book * The history of EMP Attack research * What zoo animals have to do with TEOTWAWKI * The current state of research on the topic * What will happen to Nuclear Power plants after an attack * Preparing for life after an EMP Attack ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e214

In this episode, we discuss survival skills people should be focusing on most. This is a back-to-basics episode good for new preppers and prodding old timers. There's a topic that keeps coming up more and more in the conversations I have with friends that are survival industry professionals. People don't get enough instruction and training. Instead, they go straight for gear and ignore what will actually keep them alive in a disaster: Skills. So we'll cover six basic survival skills areas every prepper should have locked down. You see, most of us tend to focus our prepper time and money on gear. And the hard truth is this: Skills will almost always be more valuable in a survival situation than gear. So most of us should be spending more our time and money on acquiring survival skills rather than increasing the size of our pile-o-prepper-shit. Survival Skills Discussed: Outdoor Skills Why these skills are less important than most might think Where to find them on the cheap How to find instructors Firemaking Backpacking Camping Medical First Aid, CPR, and AED EMT Basic Wilderness EMT Basic Search & Rescue Community Communications, there is only one Guns Traditional Tactical Training on care and maintenance Organizations and groups that are great for getting skills from CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) CAP (Civil Air Patrol) Project Appleseed NRA ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e213 Special Note: A very important message: We're coming up on summer. That means ITRH will go on summer break start May 1st. ITRH Will return for the next season August 7th, 2017. If you are new around here, ITRH Goes on summer break every year in May and Returns in August. During the summer we will drop a short episode every three or four weeks to wet your appetite and keep your feed live. We call these the ITRH Summer shorts. The show is not going away; we're just taking a little summer break to recharge the batteries and work on our prepper projects.

In this episode, we discuss how much ammo to store. This will be a short back to basics show. People often wrestle with how much ammo is enough. Today, we try to put things into perspective. Ten thousand rounds of stored ammo is a number you'll find often in online discussions about how much ammo to store. And at first blush, to new preppers, ten thousand rounds seem totally reasonable. We are preparing for SHTF and TEOTWAWKI, right? But rarely is this number justified. And when the ten thousand rounds ammo storage answer is justified, it's usually for unrealistic reasons. So in this back-to-basics episode, we'll discuss what to take into consideration rather than an exact number. And we'll do a thought experiment to investigate how much ammo to store. The result may change your mind and perspective on the topic. And we'll quickly cover a basic gun battery so we have all our ducks in a row. Debating How Much Ammo to Store The four guns that make up a basic gun battery Why .22 is such a versatile staple round of preparedness How much ammo would you go through in a year after a societal collapse Storing home defense ammo Storing practice ammo Storing hunting Ammo Why everyone gets it wrong when considering how much ammo to store Lessons we can learn from survivors of modern collapses When avoidance and evasion are a better strategy than getting into a gunfight Why you're likely to never see a prolonged gun battle in a collapse Factoring ammo storage into your bugout plans Using ammo as a barter item Why you should be storing ammo ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e212

In this episode, we sit down with author Franklin Horton to discuss his book series The Borrowed World. It's a story about an everyday non-super-ninja guy who finds himself far from home and surviving a terrorist attack and it's crippling effects. And the book wrestles with something many of us worry about: What if SHTF while I'm traveling? What would you do if you were hundreds of miles from home and a terrorist attack crippled the nation? If you had to walk home, could you make the arduous trek on foot? These questions often weigh on my mind when traveling. Thoughts of how to get home and what would happen to loved ones during that period run wild through my mind. Your thoughts turn to where and how to procure improvised survival tools, obtaining firearms, and how crazy would people be along the way. There are a lot of variables. And most of the outcomes are harsh at best. Fortunately, Horton shared the same thoughts and wrote a whole series of prepper fiction around this idea. ~ Topics from The Borrowed World Discussed: * Who is author Franklin Horton * How he got into writing * How he got into prepping * What he does in his day job and how it played a role in crafting the Borrowed World series * How surviving a terrorist attack sets the state for the series * How a love backpacking can inform a prepper's gear decisions * What's the best $100 dollars he ever spent on prepp and the piece of gear he feels is most important * How he wove practical survival information into the story without making it a technical manual * The biggest takeaway he wants readers to get from these books * What are his EDC essential items * Which authors inspire Franklin Horton * His prepper pet peeves * His go to apocalypse rifle ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e211

James Price is back with the real life-saving skills that may save your life today. We discuss skills you should start practicing today. They're probably not what you think. Many of us in the survival and preparedness community focus on tactical skills. But are we ignoring other less sexy life-saving skills which could enhance our hard skills? The answer: Probably yes. Most of us probably are ignoring these skills or letting them atrophy. We've discussed some of these types of skills in the past. But, recently during training people for missions, he's noticed some skill gaps that are causing real problems in their tactical skills. These are things that could undermine your training and hard skills. And you may be surprised to hear what they are. Topics around soft Life-saving skills we Discuss and Rant about: * How soft life skills enhance hard tactical skills * Defining "Hard Skills" * Defining "Soft Skills" * How social skills and team building plays into staying alive in an SHTF scenario * How arguing becomes counterproductive to team building * Calculating net gain * The importances of understanding, practicing, and implementing effective communication skills * How "Coms are life" * The rule of threes in high-stress communications * Weird lessons learned from paintball competitions between cops vs. firefighters * What causes your brain to shut down in a life or death scenario * Learning to fail well and learn from it * What DVM HASF is and isn't * What to never ask James about ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e210

In this episode, we welcome back Justin Carrol. He's going to share with us the reality of Vault 7 WikiLeak domestic spying info dump. And we answer the question: Is your smart home sending the CIA and NSA pictures of your pepper junk. First of all, some argue we're living in the age of George Orwell's 1984. Others would claim we are fast approaching Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. We posit the present and future seems like it will be more like This Perfect Day by Ira Levin. The reality is domestic spying is here, regardless of what it looks like exactly. And it is being conducted by corporations and government agencies alike, as it turns out. But, most noteworthy, there are measures you can take to protect yourself. And we discuss all of this in this episode: Vault 7 WikiLeaks and Domestic Spying Topics Discussed: First, what is the Vault 7 WikiLeaks dump The difference between how Chelsea Manning leaked information and how Edward Snowden leaked information What will other spy agencies do with the WikiLeaks release Is the Vault 7 WikiLeaks release a severe security risk for our country Why does Vault 7 and other leaks matter The real-world limitations of intelligence gather, processing, and domestic spying The real hacking capabilities of the CIA and the implications on your privacy Using out of band communication techniques to protect your confidentiality and tinfoil hat The Utah Data Center status How vulnerable the average person is Basic steps preppers can take to secure their computers and communications Are our smart homes sending the CIA and NSA pictures of our prepper junk Is Google spying on you The DDOS threat from smart home devices The future of domestic spying Why your metadata matters more than you think ~ ITRH Black Hats here: http://www.intherabbithole.com/product/black-itrh-hat/ ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e209

In this episode, Aaron goes back to basics with a short episode on the trio of bags for survival: Bug-out bags, car bags, and EDC Bags. A Bug-out bag is where new peppers tend to focus their early attention. And they tend to end up looking like something equipped for the zombie apocalypse. But bug-out bags should be much more straightforward. They are intended to allow you fast eagles and sustain you for up to 72-hours. Your EDC Bag, on the other hand, is the bag you should devote most of your attention. It's the bag: You're most likely to have with you when something goes wrong Is used the most And must be carefully considered due to the restrictions on size and weight And next in priority is the car bag: A mini-bug-out bag intended to get you back home. Note: The items in bags for survival are very personal. This episode does not contain an exhaustive list. But it is intended to get you thinking about the right way to view and work with these types of bags. Bags for Survival Topics Discussed: Bug-out Bags two to three sets of clothes Good pair of gloves A way to store one to two liters of water A way to purify water - tablets or a filter A flashlight and batteries Phone charger and cables An extra credit card and cash A liter or matches Small first aid kit A pack of important papers and copies of identification in a watertight bag Multi-tool Duct-tape Car Bag Same as Bug-out-bag, but for one to two days Think of this bag as the bag you use to get home if you had to leave your vehicle and walk home Include a pair of old sneakers or hiking boots Extra map in a waterproof bag Mole Skins The long skinny single strap rectangular bags work well for cars and will usually fit under a seat EDC Bag Water bottle one litter to 1.5 litters Emergency money back with a card and cash Notepad with emergency contact numbers Gloves Handkerchief A liter or matches Small first-aid kit with lip balm and dental floss and Mole Skins Small pack of wet wipes Emergency sleeping bag - Mylar Multi-tool Backup battery and charging cables + USB car cigaret lighter adapter Optional Items Aaron Mentions Lock picks Hearing protection (I've gotten to the range a few times and used mine) Two extra pistol magazines Signal Mirror Extra locking blade knife ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e208

In this episode, we discuss making a little money through urban farming with your buddy Michael Jordan the Bee Whisperer. It's not as hard as you may think. Many of us in the preparedness community have small, medium, and even larger urban farms. They're perfect for building survival skills, building a food storage pantry, and becoming more self-reliant with an urban farm. And getting out and putting your hands in some dirt or raising animals can be relaxing. But what do you do when you start producing excess. You may be sitting on extra cash or a side hustle and not even realize. You just have to like money and be willing to put in some effort. A few years ago now, we had a very respectable urban farm with chickens and rabbits. When we got to 40 chickens and 40 rabbits we were producing more than we needed or wanted. We talked at length about selling the excess, but selling rabbit meat and eggs proved problematic due to local and federal laws. And we weren't sure where to start. Urban Farming Topics Discussed Being aware of laws in your area What animals work well for urban farming Different products from your urban farm you can sell Some of the ways you can sell your products to make an income How to get around health department laws regarding meet How to hide bees, chickens, quail, and rabbits, so others do not know you have them Why a dehydrator is an urban farmers friend How using FREE Brewer's spent grain is your friend Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e207

In this episode, we sit down with Jeanna Cournoyer to discuss self-defense and firearms training. Jeanna is a bit like a female John Wick with a long resume of training in Krav Maga, firearms, and stress training. She also happens to be pretty damn cool. We dive into reality based training. This is scenario based and "real-world" techniques for hand-to-hand combat situations. And we dive into the murky waters where one must transition from a fist fit to a gun fight. But first, we go into using body language and verbal commands in an attempt to keep things from becoming physical. ~ Self-defense Topics Discussed: * What is Fear and Adrenal Stress Training? * What's the difference between self-defense and martial arts? * How did Jeanna get into Krav Maga? * What advantages does Krav Maga have over other martial arts for Jeanna? * Is there a difference between Krav Maga taught to civilians and what's taught in the Israeli military? * IS that because it focuses more on arresting techniques? * What limitations are there when it comes to unarmed self-defense techniques? * What are people's biggest aversions to taking a self-defense class? * Are there things women, in particular, should consider when looking at self-defense training? * Why have firearms played such a big role in Jeanna's personal defense training? * Why there is so much interest in women-only classes for women? * Why do women gravitate towards women-only self-defense and firearms classes? * What changes for Jeanna as an instructor, when she's teaching women-only classes? * What parts of firearms' training do women wrestle with versus men? * What aspects of firearms' training do women tend to excel at over men? * Are there calibers that just don't work well for most women and calibers that do work well for most women? * How has having a kid changed the way Jeanna keep firearms in the house? * How does Jeanna deal with a situation where one-half of a couple is hesitant or strongly opposed to the idea of firearms in the home while the other is interested in it? ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e205

In this episode, Aaron shares his thoughts on the state of the survival and preparedness community. You see, there's been much to do in recent months about a large downturn in the number of people engaged in being prepared. But there's also been a lot of press about liberals flocking to preparedness out of fear of President Trump. So what's really going on? Are we in a downturn from a false sense of security or are we in an upturn from a likely false sense of doom? The answer is... sort of both. But not really either. We'll explain the State of Survival and Preparedness in 2017: How learning to ride a motorcycle is a lot like becoming a prepper News of conservatives giving up on being survivalists News or liberals becoming survivalists Prepping the smart way and keeping your shirt on Nav Jim shares the history since the 1960s and questions the future of preparedness (phase plasma rifles and all) ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e204

In this episode, you and Aaron sit down together for the annual survival gear review show. He'll share his thoughts guns, holsters, and tools. And you'll hear about survival skills for 2017 and new things around ITRH. Every year, ITRH does a gear review show. It's nothing formal. We just cover all the things we've purchased, tried out, love, like, dislike, and hate from the last year. But before we get into the toys there are some thoughts on the rioters at the inauguration. Talking points: Rioters and damn fools Survival gear reviews Gun reviews Holsters Training aids for shooters Hearing protection SWAG coming to ITRH Gear coming to ITRH ITRH videos 2017 Skills planned ...and more Links and resources from this episode http://www.intherabbithole.com/e203 Support the show and get membership benefits here: http://www.itrh.net

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Carroll to discuss revolvers for survival and EDC. Listeners know Justin from Prepper Opsec. But he also has a passion for revolvers, as it turns out. And in this episode, he shares his journey into the world of revolvers. Revolvers are a common topic of debate for preppers... Fans often swear by them. They make claims of revolvers having superior reliability over semi-autos. Then there is the ammo interchangeability with some rifles and the ability of some revolvers to accept several different cartridges of the same caliber. There is also the fact that some revolver cartridges, like the .357, offer a wider range of powered charges allowing for greater flexibility as a hunting round. But there is the other side of the fence: Detractors. Typically, this category appreciates revolvers but see modern semi-auto pistols as having more advantages: Higher capacity, easier reloading, greater reloading speeds. The semi-auto camp also raise their eyebrows at the claim of greater reliability. So who's right? Like all things in survival and guns, the answer is this: It depends. ~ Revolvers for Survival and EDC Topics Discussed: ~ * Why Justin sold all his semi-auto pistols and went all wheel gun all the time * Revolvers as an option in restrictive states * What postal operator fundamentals translate between semi-auto and revolvers * The delicacy of revolver innards * The reality of how reliable revolvers actually are * Why J Frame Revolvers suck for new shooters and first-time revolver owners * What are the best revolvers for new shooters * The Best revolver for EDC * Double action in revolvers vs single action revolvers * Is a bobbed hammer safer * How to train to reload revolvers quickly and in defensive situations * The downside of speedloaders and revolvers for EDC * Using Speed Strips * The downsides of revolvers - Ammo capacity - Slow reloading - concealability and comfort * Advantages of Revolvers - Interchangeability of ammo - lack of magazine dependance - field gun ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e202

In this episode, we sit down with Dan from Waco Tactical Fitness. He shares with us what the WTF Biathlon is, how it started, and why they're a great sport for preppers and shooters. Let's be honest: preppers love their gear and guns. We buy rifles and handguns of nearly every caliber and flavor. We accumulate mag holders, holster, plate carriers, hydration backs, and tons of more gear. But it is rare we get the opportunity to test ourselves and gear. Shooters are relegated to standing in a box and shooting at a stationary paper target, in most cases. And even if we take an expensive class, truly testing our physical condition and gear is limited. So enter the biathlon: A way to test your body, shooting, and equipment. Running and Gunning Topics Discussed: * What a biathlon is * Who and what is Waco Tactical Fitness * How the name came about * WTF Mission * How it all started * The relationship with Appleseed Project * What the courses and courses of fire are like * How a biathlon tests your skills and your gear * The recommended gear and guns for a WTF biathlon * Where the money goes (hint: it's all for the kids) ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e201

In this episode, Aaron makes 2017 predictions and answers listener questions. And there's also a special thank you message to all the listeners from ITRH to start. You see, ITRH has crossed a major milestone: 200 episodes. Most podcasts don't make it past 6. And the show is now downloaded roughly 50,000 a month. So it seems like we may be doing something right. ~ Topics: ~ * 2017 Predictions - The Hearing Protection Act - National Conceal Carry Reciprocity - Liberal Preppers and nuclear war - The coming troubles of gun manufacturers - What 2017 may mean for ammo availability and pricing - Who Trump will piss off next and why we're laughing * Listener Questions * Where to start as a new prepper focusing on the basics * The most cringe worthy prepper purchase Aaron has ever made * Can you make insulin in a grid down scenario ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e200

In this episode, we sit down with author Brad Manuel. He'll share with us how he crafted a different kind of post-apocalyptic book. There are no super-elite-range-seals. No ninja warriors. Just regular folks trying to survive. But somehow it still caught the attention of the audio publishers of The Martian. So he might just be on to something. But The Last Tribe isn't necessarily for everyone for the reasons mentioned above. This is not a high-action prepper book. It's more about character development and overcoming adversity. And it deals with a few issues few if any, other books in the genre attempt. ~ We Discuss: ~ * Who is Author Brad Manuel? * How did he become an author? * Is Brad a prepper? * What drew him to writing apocalyptic fiction? * Why did a reviewer of his book call it the "Life Time TV" of post-apocalyptic books? * Why did he write a book low of violence in a genre dominated by violence? * What's the best advice about making it as an author did Brad ever receive? * What's the best thing Brad has spent, or not spent, money on as a self-published author? ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e199

In this episode, we sit down with Alana Barfield. We're going to discuss storage options for apartment dwellers and share a cool James Bond-like DYI project with you. Prepper Storage Topics Discussed: * Unconventional storage spaces * Hiding things in plain site * Storage ideas that won't forfeit your renter's deposit * Building a fake wall * Storage options for RVs and Campers * Getting widows to prep Resouces: ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e198