Prepping Academy

Latest Episodes:

Stay the Course Apr 28, 2026

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In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin discusses one of the biggest problems in the preparedness community: people stop preparing when things feel normal.

When shelves are full and life feels stable, most people drift away from preparedness. But that’s exactly when you should be building skills, strengthening your plan, and staying connected.

This episode breaks down the cycle of prepping, why complacency is dangerous, and how to stay consistent even when there’s no immediate threat.

Topics covered:

Why do people stop preparing when times are good
The cycle of fear, action, and complacency
Why preparedness must become a lifestyle
How to stay consistent without burnout
The importance of community and staying connected

Preparedness isn’t something you start during a crisis—it’s something you build over time.

Stay ready. Stay consistent. Stay the course.

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7 Steps to Take Back Your Online Privacy Apr 21, 2026

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In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin breaks down 7 simple steps you can take right now to regain control of your online privacy.

Most people don’t realize how much of their life is being tracked, stored, and sold—from emails and searches to phones and smart devices. This episode walks you through practical, real-world actions to reduce your digital footprint and protect your personal information.

This isn’t complicated tech talk. These are straightforward steps anyone can follow to stop being the product and start taking control.

Topics covered:

Why your data is constantly being tracked and sold
How email providers monitor your communications
Safer browser and search alternatives
The truth about smartphones and tracking
Why smart devices may be listening in your home
How to clean your system and reduce tracking
Adding a layer of protection with VPNs and secure messaging

From a preparedness standpoint, privacy is not optional—it’s part of protecting yourself, your family, and your future.

If you want to stop being tracked and start taking control, this episode will show you how.

Free Webinar: https://prepperfinds.com/free-webinars

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The Last Scenario: The Ultimate Prepping Game That Tests Your Survival Strategy Apr 14, 2026

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In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin introduces The Last Scenario—a preparedness game he created to train decision-making when everything goes wrong.

This isn’t entertainment. It’s a real-world simulation designed to expose the gaps in your planning before a crisis happens.

Most people focus on gear, food, and supplies—but when pressure hits, they freeze. Why? Because they’ve never been forced to think through real scenarios, make hard decisions, or face uncomfortable outcomes.

The Last Scenario changes that.

In this episode, Forrest walks through why he created the game, how it works, and how you can use it with your family, group, or community to sharpen your mindset and prepare for situations most people avoid thinking about.

You’ll hear examples of real scenarios that challenge your judgment, test your priorities, and force you to answer the question:

What would you do?

Topics covered:

Why most preppers fail under pressure
The difference between gear and mindset
How The Last Scenario was created
Using scenario-based training to prepare for real life
Examples of difficult survival decisions

Because when things collapse, you won’t rise to the occasion…

You’ll fall back on your training.

The question is—have you trained your mind?

https://lastscenario.com/

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Preppers Will Starve! Mar 24, 2026

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In today's episode, we discuss the impacts of food production caused by the war in Iran. Natural gas from the Middle East is a key component in chemical fertilizers. What would a world without chemical fertilizers look like? How long would it take us to convert to regenerative farming practices? Are you prepared for the disruptions in toxic agriculture? What are some practical steps you can take to start building healthy soil and building topsoil to grow some part of your own food?

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Patrick from Grid Down Comms UP looks at an Awesome New Software - Area Study Map Feb 28, 2026

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In this episode, Patrick from Grid Down Comms UP looks at an awesome new software to move your Area Study into the 21st century. No more kindergarten crayons and construction paper, a real solution to your Areas Study mapping needs.

Area Study Map is a personal reconnaissance tool that runs entirely in your browser — no accounts, no cloud, no data leaving your machine. Map population density, mark water sources, log supply caches, and build layered intelligence overlays for the terrain that matters most: yours. When cell towers go dark and roads close, the people who already know their ground are the ones who stay ahead. This isn't paranoia — it's the most practical thing you can do before you need to.

Get $50 OFF with our coupon: GRIDDOWNCOMMSUP

or just use this link:

https://areastudymap.com/?coupon=GRIDDOWNCOMMSUP

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Encore Episode - Selco Begovic PART 2 - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert! Feb 12, 2026

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Selco Begovic - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert! PART 2 Interview
Selco Begovic, a survivor of the tumultuous Balkan war in the 1990s, endured the daunting challenges of living in a besieged city without access to necessities like electricity, running water, and food distribution. Today, he shares his firsthand experiences through physical courses, offering invaluable insights for those eager to learn from his real-life ordeal.
Through his online writings, Selco offers an unfiltered view of the brutal realities of survival in extreme conditions. With candid assessments of effective strategies and lessons learned from his trials, he also discusses contemporary preparations for uncertain times.
Continuing his relentless pursuit of survival knowledge since the war, Selco provides a unique opportunity for others to glean from his experiences, even if they may never face such extreme circumstances.
Explore Selco's articles, purchase his PDF books, including the highly acclaimed "The Dark Secrets of Survival," or dive deep into his expertise through his online course, the SHTF Survival Boot Camp. Enroll in his course, "One Year in Hell," to gain an insider perspective on life during a crisis.

Selco's message is clear: Real survival lacks romance or idealism; it's a brutal, arduous, and often unfair journey. Let Selco guide you through this uncompromising world and prepare you for the realities that may lie ahead.
https://www.shtfschool.com/

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Patrick with @griddowncomms - Winter Storm Fern Feb 05, 2026

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Patrick with @griddowncomms - Winter Storm Fern

Patrick with @griddowncomms takes the microphone again for an after-action report on winter storm Fern and a few rants along the way. In the communications portion of today's show, we discuss shortcomings of some popular but perhaps misguided online communications advice. Next up, we discuss the political impact of disasters. In this case, Winter Storm Fern. The leadership in your area has a massive impact on recovery, and political parties and the urban vs. rural mindset determine your outcome. Last, we discussed tips and lessons learned for power, heat, and staying warm in a prolonged grid down. Many of us prep for a few days to a week in winter storms, but an ice storm combined with terrible leadership could leave you in the cold and dark for weeks at a time. How will you prepare for a winter weather disaster?

Links mentioned in the show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yTAw5E_xSU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdEtJnVY4qE

Next week: Encore Episode - Selco Begovic PART 2 - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert!

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Encore Episode - Selco Begovic PART 1 - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert! Jan 29, 2026

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Selco Begovic - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert! PART 1 Interview
Selco Begovic, a survivor of the tumultuous Balkan war in the 1990s, endured the daunting challenges of living in a besieged city without access to necessities like electricity, running water, and food distribution. Today, he shares his firsthand experiences through physical courses, offering invaluable insights for those eager to learn from his real-life ordeal.
Through his online writings, Selco offers an unfiltered view of the brutal realities of survival in extreme conditions. With candid assessments of effective strategies and lessons learned from his trials, he also discusses contemporary preparations for uncertain times.
Continuing his relentless pursuit of survival knowledge since the war, Selco provides a unique opportunity for others to glean from his experiences, even if they may never face such extreme circumstances.
Explore Selco's articles, purchase his PDF books, including the highly acclaimed "The Dark Secrets of Survival," or dive deep into his expertise through his online course, the SHTF Survival Boot Camp. Enroll in his course, "One Year in Hell," to gain an insider perspective on life during a crisis.

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Please give us 5 Stars!
www.preppingacademy.com

Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com
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Patrick - Grid Down Comms Up discusses Verizon Wireless & Snowmageddon Jan 22, 2026

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In today's episode, Patrick with Grid Down Comms Up discusses winter preps and observations from last week's Verizon Wireless outage. With a massive winter storm on the horizon, determining how much heat and fuel you need is critical to being prepared. Electricity for critical power needs from batteries and generators can keep us operational and provide a bit of normalcy. Are you ready? Observations from the recent Verizon outage include second- and third-order impacts of a fragile telecommunications system, and considerations as our systems become more fragile and have lower uptime than the historical norm. Do you have a plan for conducting business and coordinating with loved ones when a surprise software glitch disrupts your day?

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Encore Episode - Selco Begovic - Survivor of the Balkan War - SHTF Expert! Jan 15, 2026

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

Selco Begovic, a survivor of the tumultuous Balkan war in the 1990s, endured the daunting challenges of living in a besieged city without access to basic necessities like electricity, running water, and food distribution. Today, he shares his firsthand experiences through physical courses, offering invaluable insights for those eager to learn from his real-life ordeal.
Through his online writings, Selco offers an unfiltered view into the brutal realities of survival in extreme conditions. With candid assessments of effective strategies and lessons learned from his trials, he also discusses contemporary preparations for uncertain times.
Continuing his relentless pursuit of survival knowledge since the war, Selco provides a unique opportunity for others to glean from his experiences, even if they may never face such extreme circumstances themselves.
Explore Selco's articles, purchase his PDF books, including the highly acclaimed "The Dark Secrets of Survival," or dive deep into his expertise through his online course, the SHTF Survival Boot Camp. Gain an insider perspective on life during a crisis by enrolling in his course, "One Year in Hell."

PrepperNet

Support the show

Please give us 5 Stars!
www.preppingacademy.com

Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com
www.preppernet.com

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