The Siege of New Hampshire

A special episode: an audio walk-around during this year's maple syrup harvest, from donning snowshoes to go out to install the taps, to collection and boiling the sap down to syrup. Along the way are a couple of diversions. Posts are uploaded to Buy Me A Coffee and Patreon with photos to accompany this audio experience. Photos on Buy Me A Coffee Same post on Patreon (same photos) Support this podcast! Consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, to keep the episodes coming. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

After leaving the village of Sawyer, the "tax men" tried shaking down Abi for food too. Matt's arrival warns them away. Abi prevails upon Matt to teach Steve and Miles how to shoot -- which they've never done before -- in hopes of putting up a better defense against the next demanding beggars. Matt reluctantly agrees, but only after completes some of his pressure canning chores. The shooting lessons are square-one basics. While there was still much more training needed, the first lesson was, at least, not a failure. Enjoying Refuge Mountain? Your gift of a virtual coffee can keep Mic alert and at the keyboard. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 10 of the Refuge Mountain story. If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

The War in Iran has already had an effect on life here in the US home front. Higher gas prices is the first to be felt. What other effects might be looming on the horizon? What might the prudent prepper do to be positioned to handle those effects? Mic and Jeff discuss the ramifications of potential supply chain disruptions or higher food and supply prices. A wildcard is the possibility of Iran-linked sleeper cells getting activated and causing outages, disruptions, or even mayhem. What, if anything, can be done about that? Help this podcast! Since you're enjoying these topical consider showing your support by becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, to keep the Doom coming. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

Matt has his new (and not particularly wanted) guest, Nicole, help with his harvesting chores. While digging potatoes, his garden fork breaks. He takes that and a few other broken steel things down to Gus's shop to be welded. He brought his extra battery and inverter to power Gus's welder. A truckload of men arrive in Sawyer soliciting food "donations" for what they describe as a state relief program. Matt and Gus aren't buying it. Neither are the other residents of Sawyer. A noisy standoff ensues, broken up by Richard Haff's arrival with armed men. The tax men depart, but could be headed for Abi's house. Be Bold! Show your appreciation. Encourage Mic to keep writing. Coffee is a great encourager. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 7 of the Refuge Mountain story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

As if part of the World Economic Forum's agenda, the business world is embracing the Subscription Model for just about everything. You will own nothing and instead rent it from corporations. What's so bad about that? Mic, Brian, and Jeff get a hot rant going over what's wrong with everything -- from clothing to friendship -- becoming a subscription. For one thing, the more of your life you outsource to others, the more dependent you become and the less skills you retain. Like Borsodi's "wage slave", you become a subscription slave. Can anything be done about it? Links: Brian's Article: Subscriptions Are Unsustainable (the opinion blog) Subscriptions Are Getting Out of Control (YouTube video) Support this podcast! Consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, to keep the Doom coming. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

Chores resume as Matt feels less beat up. He encounters some needy but fussy folks in an SUV. Matt visits Abi's house to trade eggs for salt. She laments that her son and family don't help out. While Matt helps Abi haul in firewood, the woman who the three thugs had assaulted walks up Abi's driveway hoping to find a place to stay while her car gets fixed. Abi says her house is full, so she volunteers Matt's unused first little cabin. He objects strenuously. Coffee. The perfect gift! Encourage Mic to keep writing with a virtually steaming cup of virtual coffee. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 8 of the Refuge Mountain story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

A developing trend, particularly among younger preppers goes by the name Homesteading 2.0. This hybrid of self-sufficiency and yet continued engagement with "the system" runs counter to the "old prepper" idealized vision of the totally off-grid, remote, self-sufficient homestead. An ideal that very few actually attained. So, why was it held up as the ideal? Some historical light helps explain why. Mic, Brian, and Jeff discuss this new prepper model and the old. Links: Ralph Borsodi's "This Ugly Civilization," (1929) Highlighting the wage-slavery of the modern economy that traps people into a system of wages and consumerism that is actually more costly than DIY. (archive.org) Ralph Borsodi's "Flight From the City" (1933). His book about his quest for a more self-sufficient life as a route to an improved personal economy. (archive.org) Support this podcast! Consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, to keep the Doom coming. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

Matt goes about his daily chores, still suffering from the injuries he sustained in the fight the day before. Abi persuades him to attend a town meeting in the village of Sawyer, to learn more about the outage. Matt reluctantly agrees. At the meeting, in Gus's two-bay repair shop, the residents learn that the outage is widespread. When they worry about their futures, a tall man named Richard Haff tells of his shelter compound: Cliffhaven. He shares MREs and other supplies with the residents. Don't be shy. Show your appreciation. Encourage Mic to keep writing. Coffee is a great encourager. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 7 of the Refuge Mountain story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

The group discussed the two Greenland movies, focusing on their prepper relevance. Jeff provided a synopsis of the first movie, which follows Gerard Butler's family as they try to reach a safety bunker in Greenland before a comet hits Earth. The group criticized the movie's lack of realism and reliance on coincidences, but agreed it had some prepper lessons, such as the importance of having a bug-out plan and considering potential obstacles. They also discussed the second movie, which takes place five years after the comet impact. Even though the sequel was more of a disaster flick, it still offered some prepper lessons. Wasn't this episode informative? You can watch both movies with enlightened eyes! Show your gratitude by becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

The start of the 4th novelette. Matt Stakel lives alone on "his" mountain in the White Mountains of NH. His quiet, hermit-like lifestyle consists mostly of the slow rhythm of harvests and subsistence chores. A routine harvest of berries down near the highway is interrupted by a group of three young men assaulting a women whom they had driven off the road. Against his own self-advice to not get involved, he interrupts their plans. A three-on-one fight ensues. Ready for a new grid-down adventure? Encourage Mic to keep writing. Coffee is a great encourager. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 6 of the Refuge Mountain story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

The Doomcast team discussed some online predictions for 2026, focusing on economic challenges, political unrest, and technological advancements. Brian highlighted a K-shaped economy, fragmented supply chains, and rising civil unrest, while Jeff emphasized AI's role in healthcare and geopolitical tensions. Mic shared predictions about media fragmentation and potential misinformation. The group explored prepper strategies, including stockpiling essentials, using backup power sources, and developing security measures against AI-generated scams. They also considered the impact of infrastructure costs and potential brownouts. Link to 2026 Predictions Article Brian mentioned Link to 2026 Predictions Video Jeff mentioned in the DoomCast. If this DoomCast had you preppared for all this predicted doom, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, to keep the Doom coming. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

The final chapter in the Utopians story. Andy is rescued from his snowy hut by Martin and his people. They take him back the Simmons house to warm him up. Andy tells of the Utopians' final days. Following that short epilogue is a set of author's notes on the origin and development of the Utopians for Books 2 and 3, how that served as a foundation for their story, but also what was not developed before and needed to be fleshed out. Show Mic that you enjoyed this story. Keep him going! Buy him a cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee -- maybe two!. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 3 of the fourth novelette -- Refuge Mountain. Become a member, and you can read it too!

Mic, Brian, and Jeff discuss the apparent decline in prepper content and community engagement, exploring various reasons such as burnout, shifting demographics, and changing consumer habits. They noted that while the number of preppers may have increased post-COVID, their interests and consumption patterns have evolved, with younger preppers focusing on short-term preparedness and community action rather than long-term survival scenarios. The conversation highlighted how political dynamics influence prepping motivations, with cycles of fear and preparedness tied to political leadership changes. If you were entertained or found this DoomCast made you go "Hmmm", consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

As November grows colder and the food more scarce, the mood of the Utopians is dark. Discontent rises to the surface and tempers flare. Both Mara and Brandon try to encourage the others but it's too little, too late. Andy returns from hunting for acorns to find Mara and Brandon embroiled in a heated argument. Mara grabs at Brandon, causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock. Fearing that she killed him, Mara runs away with all her gear. Andy is left alone -- the last of the Utopians. Show Mic you are enjoying this story. Buy him a cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee -- maybe two!. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the next chapter of the fourth novelette -- Refuge Mountain. Become a member, and you can read it too!

For your entertainment, and with a nod to the onset of winter, Mic, Brian, and Jeff have each watched a movie about winter survival (or not) or a post-apocalyptic Ice Age Doom. They share what the movies are about (with spoilers) and use them as springboards to some winter advice you can use now -- before any new Ice Age hits. The Movie Links: (all free on YouTube) The Colony (2013) — After some geoengineering either failed to fix, or caused a new Ice Age, survivors are holed up in scattered underground 'colonies'. When Colony 5 gets a distress call from Colony 7, the trouble turns out to be worse than anyone imagined. To Build A Fire (1969) An adaptation of Jack London's 1908 tale of a naive man in the Yukon who opts to walk to his friends' camp during -75°F cold. He eventually gets too cold to make a fire. (spoiler alert: the dog lives) Quintet (1979) Paul Neuman stars in an obscure story about a post-apocalyptic world that is slowly freezing to death. The survivors, "the city," pass the time playing a board game called Quintet. The losers are killed. If you found this DoomCast entertaining or informative, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

Mara returns to the Utopians' camp with Andy. She advises them, in an impassioned speech, about the lingering danger of capitalist survivors. Andy disagrees that his experience was all that bad, but Mara insists he was nearly captured, tortured, and made a slave. The next day, Andy continues his search for vegan-friendly nuts. He encounters a starving mother on a hill. Don'f forget to Show Mic you are enjoying this story. Keep him going! Buy him a cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee -- maybe two!. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting chapter 3 of the fourth novelette -- Refuge Mountain. Become a member, and you can read it too!

Recent events and indicators suggest that America might be drifting into socialism. Never mind that it's been a crushing failure every time it's been tried. The Nordic countries are held up as an example to follow, but America has very little of the advantages that make their success possible. So, what's a prepper to do, to position oneself to be better able to weather the Titanic voyage that will be socialist paradise? Brian's Article on America's Slide Into Socialism If you were entertained or felt informed by this topical DoomCast, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

The six Utopians have settled into their new home, creating rustic blankets, making pottery and gathering food. The vegans among them are not keen on the animals that Mara hunts. Andy goes in search of more nut trees to provide some protein to the vegans. He encounters Martin Simmons after venturing onto his property. Martin and Mara do not hit it off well. Enjoying the adventures of Andy and the Utopians? Encourage Mic to keep writing. Coffee is a great encourager. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the next chapter of the Refuge Mountain story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

Mic, Brian, and Jeff echo the tradition of old TV variety shows with a Thanksgiving Special. They list off some of the Dooms they are they are thankful we all missed. They discuss bargain shopping the sales for prepper gear. They discuss various food preservation techniques to preserve some of the seasonally-cheaper foods for the pantry. Links mentioned in this episode That Daily Deal — One semi-random bargain each day Prepping Deals — Curated deals on prepper goods and gear Camel Camel Camel – Price history tracker for Amazon products. Is that "sale price" really a bargain, or just hype? Check and see. If you were entertained or felt informed by Holiday Special DoomCast, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

The Utopians arrive at their third alternative Bug Out Location, only to find it angrily guarded by locals. Unfazed, Brandon leads them on to his Site D, which turns out to be a former sand and gravel extraction site in the middle of a vast woods. There, they construct their debris huts, gather wild foods, and celebrate having finally found a place for their Paleo Island of the New Humanity. Show Mic you are enjoying this story. Buy him a cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee -- maybe two!. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the first chapter of the fourth novelette -- Refuge Mountain. Become a member, and you can read it too!

Mic, Brian, and Jeff discuss the likely coming digital national ID, whether (and how) it might be a problem for even the law-abiding citizen. Brian shares some salient audio clips. To monitor 340 million people via their digital ID requires heavy use of algorithms. Those are prone to flag innocent people — some by mistake but more by design. "Safer" to flag many innocent people than let one bad guy get away. Links Mentioned BiometricUpdate.com Take Back Our Tech Big Brother Watch (UK) https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/My Spin Squad (Easy way to start with Bitcoin) https://myspinsquad.com/The BritCard Digital ID Psyop https://iaindavis.substack.com/p/the-britcard-digital-id-psyopThe Only REAL Solution to Digital ID ID2020 https://id2020.org/ If you were entertained or felt informed by these DoomCasts, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, Members get to read ahead as we start Novelette #4: Refuge Mountain. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

The group of Utopians play uneasy hosts to two armed "neighbors" who dropped in for supper. Brandon decides that the group needs to sneak away the next morning. Andy concocts an outrageous diversion to buy them some time to break camp. The women of the group strongly disapprove, but the die is cast. Come morning, the diversion is not enough. The duped "neighbors" show up angry. Things are getting tense for the Utopians. Encourage Mic. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the last chapter of the Utopians' story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

With almost every consumer product, from food to medicines to fuel, transported by truck, the trucking industry is a must-not-fail part of modern society. Yet, as crucial as the trucks are, there are several vulnerabilities that could stop the trucks. Mic, Jeff, and especially Brian (as our professional truck driver) examine those weak points. Computerization and AI have improved efficiency but not reliability. Brian also has an impassioned Public Service Announcement about not cutting off 18-wheelers. You might frighten the truck! If you felt entertained and informed by this DoomCast, consider expressing your satisfaction by buying Mic a cup of coffee at Buy Me A Coffee . If you've been enjoying these topical DoomCasts, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You'll get to read ahead in the next novelette too.

Our group of six survivalists load up Brandon's beat-up van with their survival gear and set out for their Bug Out location. Along the way, there is some trepidation about whether they were right to bug out. Eventually, they arrive at a rutted back road into a state park. They set up their camp off the road so they won't be visible to anyone else coming down that road. They were not invisible, however, as two armed men approach. Show Mic you are enjoying this story. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the last chapter of the Utopians' story .If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

How fragile is the American food-growing industry? Are empty shelves and hungry citizens just one bad harvest away? Mic, Brian, and Jeff each embraced their inner stats-nerd sides and dove into the history, the market, and the modern agricultural industry to find out. The results surprised all three of them. If you were entertained or felt informed by these DoomCasts, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You'll get to read ahead in the Utopians story too. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

That fateful Monday morning, the power goes out all over the UNH campus. Classes are canceled. Andy and his group meet up at the usual food court table to share intel. The next day, University admins try to reassure their students that all will be well soon, but Brandon thinks not. He thinks the outage will be long-term and the collapse of society that they've all been expecting will happen soon. He says they should bug out. Enjoying this story? You know you are. New characters, new scenario. Show Mic that you're enjoying these adventures by buying him a coffee on Buy Me A Coffee . He will really appreciated it. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC are getting advanced chapters of The Rise and Fall of the Utopians to read. If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

Even though Brian already told us that there would be no Civil War 2.0, many people were expecting one. Now, weeks later, they should be asking "Hey. Where's my civil war?" Mic, Brian, and Jeff explore reasons the civil war did not break out, and is looking much less like it will. Mic cites some historical examples of when revolts succeeded and other times when they failed. What can we learn from them? Brian's Article on Slacktivism (that Jeff refers to) If you felt entertained and reassured by this DoomCast, that the US is not just about to erupt into chaos, consider expressing your great relief by buying Mic a cup of coffee at Buy Me A Coffee . If you've been enjoying these topical DoomCasts, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You'll get to read ahead in the Utopians story too.

In this first installment of The Rise and Fall of the Utopians, we find the six college friends meeting on the Saturday before the power goes out. They are showing off and sharing the bushcraft skills they had learned over the past week. Several of the group talk of the certainty that society faced an immanent collapse and how they were going to flee the chaos and mayhem for a new, idealized, life in the wilderness. Show Mic that you're excited for a new Siege backstory. Go to Buy Me A Coffee and buy him a cup of virtual coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC will be getting the later chapters of this story to read in advance. If you'd like to read ahead, become a member too!

After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, worries flared up that America could be heading for a sort of civil war. Those words got mentioned over three hundred thousand times on X in the days afterward. Are they right? Is it overblown? Brian and Jeff square off in differing opinions over whether a civil war is coming. While not as action-packed as a fight in a hockey game, they both state their opinions with zeal. If you were entertained or felt informed by this DoomCast, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You'll get to read ahead in the Utopians story too. One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoy this podcast content.

Is there an "ideal" Bug Out Vehicle? Is it necessarily a jacked up monster truck with knobby mud tires? Would a humble Toyota Camry do? Mic, Jeff, and Brian discuss what they have for BOVs and what (if anything) qualifies as the ideal. They also share some recommendations for how to "idealize" whatever you've got for a vehicle. Sherp ATV — Jeff's new prepper fantasy vehicle. If you find these topical episodes interesting, or just amusing, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are a great way show Mic you enjoyed this podcast content and want to hear more.