The Survival Punk Podcast

c02 The Silent Killers in Your Home | Episode 586 Good morning. It’s 45 degrees, I’m dragging butt, and today we’re talking about something that quietly kills a lot of people every year. Carbon dioxide. Smoke. Ventilation. The invisible stuff. This isn’t sexy prepping. This is boring, basic, “why are we even talking about this?” prepping. Because a $20 device can literally save your life. Carbon Dioxide: The Cheap Life Insurance You’re Ignoring I was scrolling headlines this morning and saw another story about deaths from carbon dioxide poisoning. It happens every single year. A lot. And here’s the stupid part...

health check   Taking Care of Your Health Before It Forces You To | Episode 585 Good morning. It’s 35 degrees, it’s cold, and today we’re talking about something that doesn’t trend on YouTube and doesn’t get clicks like “grid down tomorrow” — your health. There’s a reason I’m covering this now. A guy I’ve known since I was about 11 passed away recently. Football teammate. Same schools. Long history. Early word is it may have been a cardiac event. And before we go any further — I am not saying any advice in this episode would have saved him. Sometimes things jus...

Best States for Survival   Best States for Survival (And Why It’s Complicated) | Episode 584 Every few months, someone puts out a list claiming they’ve found the “best states for survival.” Perfect land. Perfect climate. Perfect collapse conditions. This episode starts with one of those videos and then does what those lists never do — slow down and actually think through the tradeoffs. Because there is no perfect state. There are only compromises you can live with. The Problem With “Top 9” Survival State Lists I watched a video recently that ranked nine states that would supposedly do best in a collapse scenario. The c...

skills that pay     Skills That Pay You Back in 30 Days | Episode 583 Most people think “learning a skill” means years of grinding before you see a payoff. That’s wrong. There are a bunch of skills you can get to a useful level fast—like “top 10% because most people can’t do it at all” fast—and they’ll save you real money immediately. Some of them will be frustrating as hell. Some of them you’ll need to learn when to stop and call a pro. But a few basic skills can save you hundreds… and sometimes thousands… in the next 30 days. The Cheat Co...

Every prepper loves to argue gear. Expensive gear. Fancy gear. Tactical gear.
But when weather hits and shelves start thinning out, a lot of the most useful stuff people grab doesn’t come from boutique survival stores — it comes from places like Dollar Tree. "Dollar Tree Survival: What’s Worth Buying (And What’s Trash) | Episode 582" The post Dollar Tree Survival: What’s Worth Buying (And What’s Trash) | Episode 582 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

It’s been over a week of ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain, and roads that look like a skating rink. Tennessee doesn’t have enough plows, most side roads don’t get touched, and once the snow turned to ice it just sat there — two to three inches thick. "Ice Apocalypse After-Action Report | Episode 581" The post Ice Apocalypse After-Action Report | Episode 581 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Every time the forecast even whispers the word “snow” down here, the grocery store turns into a zombie movie with shopping carts. Milk vanishes. Bread disappears. People act like they’re about to be trapped in the Andes for six months… when the reality is usually a couple days of icy roads and everyone staying home. "Snow Panic Shopping in the South | Episode 580" The post Snow Panic Shopping in the South | Episode 580 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Housing is broken. Rent is insane. Mortgages are brutal. And because of that, something old is becoming new again: multi-generational living. In this episode, I talk through why more families are stacking back up under one roof, why this isn’t some fringe prepper idea, and how it’s quietly becoming one of the most practical adaptations people are making right now. This isn’t nostalgia or ideology. It’s math, pressure, and reality. "Multi-Generational Living Is Back (Whether You Planned for It or Not) | Episode 579" The post Multi-Generational Living Is Back (Whether You Planned for It or Not) | Episode 579 appeared...

It’s 14 degrees, I’m on the way to work, my voice is rough, and we’re continuing part two of the gear you don’t use — but probably should. This episode is about expensive preps people treat like insurance policies. You buy them, put them away, and assume they’ll magically work when needed. Generators. Guns. Big-ticket items that absolutely matter — but only if you actually know how to use them. "The Gear You Don’t Use (But Probably Should) – Part 2 | Episode 578" The post The Gear You Don’t Use (But Probably Should) – Part 2 | Episode 578 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

There’s a lot of gear that looks cool, feels cool to buy, and then quietly sits in a closet for years. In this episode, I’m talking about the stuff that rarely gets used — the gear you bought anyway — and how to think about whether it was a smart purchase or just fantasy prepping. Some of this gear is absolutely worth owning even if you never use it. Other gear should probably be getting a lot more reps than it does. "The Gear You’ll Never Use (And Why You Bought It Anyway) | Episode 577" The post The Gear You’ll Never Use...

It’s 20 degrees, my voice is finally back, and today we’re talking about something that keeps coming up more and more — staying out of the crazy cities. This episode isn’t about doom porn or internet outrage. It’s about pattern recognition, personal safety, and why distance matters. Not emotional distance. Physical distance. "Staying Out of the Crazy Cities | Episode 576" The post Staying Out of the Crazy Cities | Episode 576 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Eating cheap doesn’t mean eating like crap — but a lot of people act like it does. In this episode, I talk through how to eat affordably without wrecking your health, why fast food is a scam now, and how boring, repeatable food choices actually win long term. "Eat Cheap Without Eating Garbage | Episode 575" The post Eat Cheap Without Eating Garbage | Episode 575 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

This episode isn’t about breaking news or hot takes. By the time you hear this, you already know the headlines. What I care about — and what preppers should care about — is what it means when governments suddenly move fast, decisively, and with coordination. "When Governments Move Fast, Preppers Should Pay Attention | Episode 573" The post When Governments Move Fast, Preppers Should Pay Attention | Episode 573 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Buying a sleek solar generator feels good. It looks clean, it promises plug-and-play power, and it costs about as much as a used car. In this episode, I break down why building your own battery backup system often makes more sense — not for bragging rights, but for cost, repairability, and real-world usefulness. "DIY Beats Store-Bought: Power, Batteries, and Backup Systems | Episode 572" The post DIY Beats Store-Bought: Power, Batteries, and Backup Systems | Episode 572 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Most people default to buying everything off a shelf because it feels easier. In this episode, I break down why that’s often the wrong move. This is about knowing when DIY actually beats store-bought — not as a hobby, but as a smarter, cheaper, more reliable way to prep. Some things are absolutely worth buying. Others? You’re getting ripped off. "DIY Beats Store-Bought Gear | Episode 571" The post DIY Beats Store-Bought Gear | Episode 571 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, this is James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re doing something way less flashy than predictions, doom charts, or crystal-ball nonsense. We’re talking about goals — real ones — and why the new year is actually a useful checkpoint if you don’t screw it up. "New Year, Real Goals | Episode 570" The post New Year, Real Goals | Episode 570 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re talking about something that quietly scares the hell out of people once they actually experience it:
how fragile the healthcare system feels when you’re the one stuck dealing with it. "Taking Your Health Into Your Own Hands | Episode 569" The post Taking Your Health Into Your Own Hands | Episode 569 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, this is James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re doing something every prepper should do once in a while: a hard look in the rearview mirror. Not nostalgia. Not doom. Just an honest assessment of what actually hit people in 2025 and why so many folks feel worn down even though nothing “collapsed.” Because 2025 wasn’t a disaster year — but it absolutely was a pressure year. "2025: The Year That Squeezed Everyone | Episode 568" The post 2025: The Year That Squeezed Everyone | Episode 568 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today’s episode is a little different. This one isn’t about gear, food buckets, or backup power. It’s about something just as important for survival, especially when things feel shaky:
keeping traditions alive. "Keeping Christmas Traditions Alive in Hard Times | Episode 567" The post Keeping Christmas Traditions Alive in Hard Times | Episode 567 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s one of those cold, gray mornings where power outages feel just a little too plausible. Today’s episode tackles a question a lot of people quietly stress about but don’t get good answers on:
how do you do real backup power when you live in an apartment or rental? "Apartment Backup Power That Actually Works | Episode 566" The post Apartment Backup Power That Actually Works | Episode 566 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and holy hell — it’s cold. Like ten degrees, why do I live here cold. That makes today’s episode even more fitting, because we’re continuing the DIY Christmas gift series with Part 2, and this time we’re getting into non-edible gifts — the stuff you can make with your hands that people actually use, appreciate, and remember. "DIY Christmas Gifts That Actually Matter (Part 2) | Episode 565" The post DIY Christmas Gifts That Actually Matter (Part 2) | Episode 565 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and we’re continuing the Christmas run with something that hits harder than anything you can grab off a shelf:
DIY, homemade Christmas gifts. "DIY Christmas Gifts That Actually Matter (Part 1) | Episode 564" The post DIY Christmas Gifts That Actually Matter (Part 1) | Episode 564 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re finishing out the Christmas dinner series with Part 2 — the stuff that actually makes the meal feel like Christmas:
side dishes, breads, and desserts, all made from long-term storage and everyday pantry preps. "Cooking Christmas Dinner From Your Preps (Part 2) | Episode 563" The post Cooking Christmas Dinner From Your Preps (Part 2) | Episode 563 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning — it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a crisp 40-degree December morning. Today we’re kicking off Part 1 of a new holiday series:
how to cook a full Christmas dinner entirely from your preps — no grocery trip required. "Cooking Christmas Dinner From Your Preps (Part 1) | Episode 562" The post Cooking Christmas Dinner From Your Preps (Part 1) | Episode 562 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and — surprise, surprise — it’s another 36-degree morning. Today we’re continuing the Christmas prepper gift series with Part 2, diving deeper into practical gifts you can give to preppers or use to sneak-prep your non-prepper friends and family without freaking them out. "Prepper Christmas Gifts (Part 2) | Episode 561" The post Prepper Christmas Gifts (Part 2) | Episode 561 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re talking about something fun, useful, and extremely relevant this time of year:
Christmas gifts for the preppers in your life — all under $100, all practical, all survival-ready. You walked through a solid list in your recording — from Leathermans to cheap knives to power banks — so this episode breaks down those ideas into a clean Survival Punk gift guide. "Prepper Christmas Gifts Under $100 | Episode 560" The post Prepper Christmas Gifts Under $100 | Episode 560 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re continuing the series on ridiculous restrictions, overregulation, and government “solutions” that make preparedness harder instead of easier.
Part 1 hit Berkeys, rainwater, kratom, and general self-reliance.
Part 2 is all about the banned, the restricted, the neutered, and the over-regulated gear every prepper deals with. "How to Prep Around Dumb Laws (Part 2) | Episode 559" The post How to Prep Around Dumb Laws (Part 2) | Episode 559 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re kicking off a brand-new series about something every prepper eventually runs face-first into:
dumb laws that make preparedness harder — and how to prep anyway. "How to Prep Around Dumb Laws (Part 1) | Episode 558" The post How to Prep Around Dumb Laws (Part 1) | Episode 558 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today we’re talking about a part of preparedness that almost everyone forgets until it’s too late:
your pets. "Prepping for Your Pets | Episode 557" The post Prepping for Your Pets | Episode 557 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a cold 42-degree start to the day. Today we’re talking about something every man deals with, but almost nobody thinks about as a prepper:
shaving — specifically why new shaving tech sucks, what actually works, and what you should use when SHTF. "Shaving for the Apocalypse | Episode 556" The post Shaving for the Apocalypse | Episode 556 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

"TRT After Two Months — My Honest Thoughts So Far | Episode 555" The post TRT After Two Months — My Honest Thoughts So Far | Episode 555 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

It’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning the fog is thick enough to feel like Silent Hill. One of my headlights is probably pointing toward the sky like a drunk lighthouse, but that’s a problem for later. Right now, we’re diving into a topic I’m uniquely qualified to talk about because I’ve done it myself:
building your ultimate survival shed. "Building Your Ultimate Survival Shed | Episode 554" The post Building Your Ultimate Survival Shed | Episode 554 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a chilly 47-degree start to the day. Today we’re hitting a topic that’s part reality check, part rant, part parenting manual, and part prepper manifesto:
kids today would absolutely crumble in a real collapse — unless we teach them otherwise. "Why Kids Today Won’t Survive SHTF | Episode 553" The post Why Kids Today Won’t Survive SHTF | Episode 553 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone — it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and today’s episode is a little different. This is our Thanksgiving Rerun Special, not a repeat of recipes or turkey tips, but a deep look at how Americans held onto Thanksgiving through one of the hardest eras in our history: The Great Depression. "Thanksgiving Special: The Great Depression & the Spirit of Survival | Episode 552" The post Thanksgiving Special: The Great Depression & the Spirit of Survival | Episode 552 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a warm-ish 60 degrees today. We’re heading into Thanksgiving week, and if you’re a prepper who pays attention, this is one of the best times of the entire year to restock your pantry, fill your freezer, and score ridiculous deals the grocery industry practically throws at you. "Thanksgiving Prepper Deals You Shouldn’t Miss | Episode 551" The post Thanksgiving Prepper Deals You Shouldn’t Miss | Episode 551 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a cool 55-degree morning here as I cruise at metaphorical 40,000 feet thinking about one of the biggest, nastiest, most rigged disasters in America today: the housing market. "How I Would Fix the Housing Market | Episode 550" The post How I Would Fix the Housing Market | Episode 550 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a humid 63-degree Tennessee morning — perfect weather to dig into something fun, creative, and surprisingly practical:
your apocalypse uniform. Now, we don’t go full doomsday fantasy here on Survival Punk, but sometimes it is fun to wander into Crazylandia — as long as we bring back something useful. "Choosing Your Apocalypse Uniform | Episode 549" The post Choosing Your Apocalypse Uniform | Episode 549 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and this morning it’s a mild 56 degrees. Today we’re diving into something fun, messy, occasionally questionable, and very Survival Punk: DIY hacks — which ones actually work, which ones probably don’t, and which ones might just save your butt in an emergency. "DIY Hacks That Actually Work (and the Ones That Don’t) | Episode 548" The post DIY Hacks That Actually Work (and the Ones That Don’t) | Episode 548 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Good morning, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a brisk 36 degrees out there. We’re diving straight into something every one of you is feeling — the economy is getting rough, layoffs are climbing, hiring freezes are everywhere, and companies are cutting corners so hard the sparks could start a brush fire. "Surviving a Broken Economy: The Rise of Side Hustles | Episode 547" The post Surviving a Broken Economy: The Rise of Side Hustles | Episode 547 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a crisp 56-degree morning — perfect weather to tackle a topic every prepper thinks they understand… until life humbles them:
Discipline fails. Automation doesn’t. Systems work. "Discipline Fails, Automation Wins | Episode 546" The post Discipline Fails, Automation Wins | Episode 546 appeared first on Survivalpunk.