The Survival Punk Podcast

save money

Saving Money Like a Prepper | Episode 545

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a chilly 45-degree morning out here — perfect weather to talk about one of my favorite survival topics that applies to everyone, every day: saving money like a prepper.

Because the cold truth is this: everything costs more, wages haven’t kept up, and if you aren’t intentional, your money will evaporate faster than a Taco Bell taco in the hands of a 90s kid.

Today we’re hitting three big money-saving pillars straight from...

Prepping isn’t stupid

Why Prepping Isn’t Stupid (Skills and Stuff) | Episode 544

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning it’s a cool 40 degrees — perfect weather to rant about something spicy: a YouTube commenter who proudly declared that “prepping is stupid.”

Yeah.
He said that on a prepping podcast video.
Bold move, Cotton.

But this episode isn’t just me roasting one random dude with a strong opinion and weak logic — it’s a deep dive into why prepping isn’t stupid, why skills matter, and why it’s not an eit...

Lost on a Back Road — Lessons from a Halloween Breakdown | Episode 543

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com. It’s a crisp 47-degree morning — not too bad, especially after the 29-degree ones I’ve been talking through lately. Today’s show comes straight from a listener story that could’ve ended badly but turned into a great learning moment for every prepper out there.

We’re talking about what to do when your car dies in the middle of nowhere, how to avoid being caught unprepared, and how a simple breakdown can expose the holes...

sauces

Pantry Sauces That Save the Day (Part 2) | Episode 542

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning we’re cranking out Part 2 of the Pantry Sauce series. Last time we hit the classics — brown gravy, white gravy, and curry — the stuff that keeps morale high when the pantry’s looking rough.

Today, we’re going international and versatile — diving into mustard, tomato, teriyaki, satay, and cheese sauces, all made from long-term storage ingredients. You don’t need fresh milk or fancy condiments — just shelf-stable pantry goods and a little DIY grit.

Because blan...

pantry sauces

Pantry Sauces That Save the Day (Part 1) | Episode 541

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning it’s a frosty 29 degrees out — perfect weather for a hot meal. Today’s episode is all about something that might not sound “tactical,” but will absolutely matter when food fatigue sets in: sauces and gravies from your prepper pantry.

If you’re living on beans, rice, and shelf-stable staples, flavor fatigue will crush morale faster than hunger. But the good news? With a few ingredients and basic know-how, you can turn bland into brilliant...

EMP Myths vs. Reality | Episode 540

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re talking about one of the most hyped and misunderstood topics in the prepping world — EMPs: Myth vs. Reality.

We’ve all seen it — the bright flash in every apocalypse movie, every car dying on the highway, planes falling from the sky, and people suddenly living in the stone age. But how real is that? How much of what we think we know about EMPs is just Hollywood drama?

Let’s dig in and separate the facts fro...

shelf life

Shelf Life Secrets — Food That Lasts Decades | Episode 539

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning we’re diving into one of my favorite prepper topics: food that lasts for decades. Not the trendy freeze-dried stuff or overpriced buckets — I’m talking about the staples you can buy cheap, store easily, and forget about until you need them.

These are the real long-haul preps — the ones that’ll outlast your pantry, your house, and maybe even you.

Canned Food: The Original Survival MVP

If you’ve got canned foo...

strength

Build Real Strength | Episode 538

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com — back with another cold morning episode at 51 degrees, talking about something every prepper should care about but too many ignore: strength.

Not the motivational poster kind — I’m talking real, measurable, physical strength. The ability to pick up heavy things, carry them, and keep doing it. Because when the world goes sideways, that’s not optional — that’s survival.

Why Strength Still Matters

One of the founding pillars of Survival Punk has always been fitness and nutrition. I’ve wrestled w...

Diy or Buy

DIY or Buy? The Prepper’s Dilemma | Episode 537

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com. It’s a crisp 51-degree November morning — and yes, I’m still coughing up half a gallon of crud — but the show must go on. Today’s topic? One every prepper wrestles with sooner or later: When to build it yourself, and when to just buy the damn thing.

There’s a fine line between DIY ingenuity and wasting months of your life reinventing something that’s already perfect. Let’s talk about how to know the difference —...

Off-Grid Laundry | Episode 536

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com. It’s another chilly 41-degree morning, and today we’re tackling one of the least glamorous but most practical topics in prepping — laundry.

It’s one of those things we all take for granted until the grid goes down and suddenly you’re staring at a pile of filthy clothes wondering how to keep your hygiene in check. I’ve never done a full episode on laundry before, and that’s a shame — because clean clothes are critical to morale, health, and...

Protect Your Hands, Save Your Hide | Episode 535

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com. It’s a chilly 41-degree morning, and we’re talking about something I’ve never dedicated a full show to — gloves.

You’ve probably heard me mention them in passing, but today we’re breaking it down: why you need them, what kinds to keep in your prepping supplies, and how the wrong glove (or no glove) can turn a simple cut into a disaster.

Your Hands: The Most Important Survival Tool

Your hands are t...

Survival Lessons from Horror Movies | Episode 534

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re talking about something a little fun — and a little dark. Halloween might be over by the time you hear this, but the lessons from horror movies never expire. This episode dives into some of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) horror flicks and what they can actually teach us about survival, mindset, and staying alive when things go bad.

Night of the Living Dead — Leadership and Panic

Let’s start with the one that bas...

Why Fear Is Fuel — Channeling Anxiety Into Action | Episode 533

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re going to talk about something that every prepper, homesteader, and human deals with — fear and anxiety. But instead of letting it crush you, I’m going to show you how to turn that nervous energy into jet fuel for preparedness.

Fear, Panic, and the Prepper Spark

A lot of people find their way into prepping through fear. Something shakes their foundation — maybe 9/11, the 2008 economic crash, or seeing empty shelves for the first tim...

navigation

Find Your Way When GPS Fails | Episode 532

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com — back again with another dose of practical self-reliance. This week we’re getting into something most folks don’t even think about until it’s too late: navigation.

In a world where every phone and truck has GPS, most people couldn’t find their way out of a paper bag without Google Maps barking directions. But what happens when satellites go down, your battery dies, or the system just stops working? Let’s dig into how to navigate the world the old-fashio...

gov shutdown

The Government Shutdown & The Looming SNAP Cut-Off | Episode 531

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com — and today we’re tackling something real scary: what happens when the system that feeds millions grinds to a halt. In this episode we break down how the current federal shutdown is putting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at risk, how many families are walking the tightrope right now, and what you as a prepper can do to stay ahead of the chaos.

Why SNAP Payments Are Suddenly on the Chopping Block

The mechanics are bru...

Where Have All the Antivirals Gone? | Episode 530

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com — and after a rough couple of weeks of family colds, mic issues, and tech hiccups. Today we’re talking about something that’s been bugging me for a while: why there’s a serious shortage of antiviral products in the world… and what you can do about it.

Cold and flu season is here, and Big Pharma’s got shelves packed with antibiotics, but almost nothing for viruses. So let’s dig into why that is, what actually work...

barter

Barter Like a Pro | Episode 529

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and after a few recording hiccups, we’re finally diving into one of the oldest survival skills in the book—bartering. In this episode, I break down how to make trades that actually work, why taxes make bartering awesome, and why every prepper should start practicing the art of the deal now, not after the collapse.

What Is Bartering, Really?

Bartering is as simple as swapping goods or services without money involved. Maybe you fix someone’s alternator and they...

winter is coming 2025

Winter Is Coming (2025 Edition) | Episode 528

Every fall, I drop a “Winter Is Coming” episode, but this one hits different. After five failed recording attempts and a cursed mic, I finally got it done — and I’m diving deeper than just telling you to “buy extra blankets.” This one’s about seasonal strategy, prepping for power loss, and fine-tuning your pantry before the freeze hits.

Adapting Your Pantry to the Season

As the seasons shift, so should your pantry. Soup season is here, and it’s a perfect time to stock up while...

troubleshooting

Troubleshooting: The Greatest Survival Skill | Episode 526

When it comes to survival — in life, in prepping, or in day-to-day problem solving — the most underrated skill isn’t shooting, camping, or gardening. It’s troubleshooting. Learning to break problems down, find the root cause, and fix what’s really wrong will save you more time, money, and frustration than anything else you can pack in a go-bag.

Learning the Hard Way

I’ve always been wired to take things apart and figure out why they don’t work — even as a kid. Half the time there were...

unpreppable

The Unpreppables: Comforts You’ll Miss (and Clever Workarounds) | Episode 526

Sometimes it’s not the collapse itself that breaks you — it’s realizing you’ll never have ice cream again. In this episode, I dive into the “unpreppable” things we love, why they matter more than we admit, and how to recreate a little bit of normal when the grid’s gone dark.

The Ice Cream Problem

Let’s start with the big one — ice cream. My wife’s an ice cream fiend, and she’d probably trade ammo for a pint of mint chip after...