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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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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.

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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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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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."

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/

Selco's Books on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/4abVRRB

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Dr. Arthur Bradley - NASA Engineer & EMP / CME Expert

Dr. Arthur Bradley is a NASA engineer and the bestselling author of the Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family, the Prepper's Instruction Manual, Disaster Preparedness for EMP Attacks and Solar Storms, and the post-apocalyptic series, The Survivalist. Visit him online for free disaster preparedness information at http://disasterpreparer.com.

EMF Beacon:  https://emfbeacon.com/

Dr. Bradley's New Book:  The Watchman- https://amzn.to/46GGWwn

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Privacy Email — Taking Control of Your Inbox

In this episode of The Privacy & Freedom Podcast, Forrest Garvin pulls back the curtain on one of the most overlooked privacy vulnerabilities — your email address. That single piece of digital identity connects your banking, shopping, social media, and even government records. If your email isn’t private, nothing else truly is.

Forrest breaks down why your inbox is the #1 gateway for data collection, surveillance, and hacking attempts — and how to protect it. You’ll learn how major tech companies use email data to build marketing profiles, how data brokers trace every online registration back to you, and why “free” email accounts come at the cost of your personal freedom.

He walks you through practical solutions — from alias-based addresses and encrypted email providers to domain masking, burner accounts, and password segmentation. Forrest explains how to layer your communications using services like ProtonMail, StartMail, and SimpleLogin, and why separating your real identity from your digital one is the cornerstone of modern privacy.

At Garvin Academy, Forrest teaches these same principles step-by-step inside his Privacy & Security Masterclass, where students learn to disappear from the internet, reclaim their privacy, and protect their family’s information from corporate and government surveillance. Because privacy and security are freedom — and it all starts with securing your inbox.

SEO Keywords

privacy email, secure email, anonymous email, ProtonMail, StartMail, SimpleLogin, Forrest Garvin, Garvin Academy, encrypted email, data privacy, digital security, online anonymity, disappear on the internet, privacy mindset, privacy and security, online freedom

Take back control of your online privacy with Proton Mail, the world’s most trusted encrypted email service. Built in Switzerland and protected by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws, Proton Mail ensures your data stays yours—always.

Proton Mail – Secure Email That Protects Your Privacy (60% OFF)

 

FREE Webinars:

Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!  

Dissappear On the Internet

Crypto Digital Assets Course

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Anonymous LLCs — Separating Your Name from Your Assets

In this episode of The Privacy & Freedom Podcast, Forrest Garvin takes you deep into one of the most powerful — and misunderstood — tools for modern privacy and asset protection: the Anonymous LLC. Also known as a “Ghost LLC,” this structure allows you to legally own property, businesses, and assets without your personal name appearing on public records.

Forrest explains how data brokers, trial lawyers, and even online stalkers use state business registries to track ownership, target individuals, and uncover wealth. Then he shows how Anonymous LLCs provide a legal firewall between you and your holdings — protecting your family, your finances, and your freedom. You’ll learn which states offer the strongest privacy laws (like Wyoming and New Mexico), how registered agents keep your identity off public filings, and how to layer your LLCs for maximum protection.

This episode also uncovers the biggest mistakes people make when setting up “anonymous” entities — from using the wrong address or email to accidentally revealing ownership through tax or payment records. Forrest walks you through how to do it the right way, step-by-step.

At Garvin Academy, Forrest teaches both the Disappear on the Internet course — a complete 25-hour guide to wiping your digital footprint — and his exclusive How to Create an Anonymous LLC course, which walks you through building and managing a true privacy protected business entity.
Both courses are available now at GarvinAcademy.com.

Because in today’s world, privacy and security are freedom — and if your name is tied to everything you own, you don’t truly own anything at all.

Take back control of your online privacy with Proton Mail, the world’s most trusted encrypted email service. Built in Switzerland and protected by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws, Proton Mail ensures your data stays yours—always.

Proton Mail – Secure Email That Protects Your Privacy (60% OFF)

 

FREE Webinars:

Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!  

Dissappear On the Internet

Crypto Digital Assets Course

Gain Freedom w

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Your Car Is Spying on You

In this episode of The Privacy & Freedom Podcast, Forrest Garvin exposes a truth most people never consider — your car is one of the most powerful surveillance devices you own. From built-in GPS trackers and microphones to data-sharing apps and telematics, modern vehicles quietly collect your movements, contacts, driving habits, and even conversations.

Forrest breaks down how automakers, insurers, and tech partners harvest massive amounts of personal data every time you start the engine. He explains how this information is sold, traded, and stored — creating a complete digital dossier of your life behind the wheel. Most drivers have no idea their car knows where they sleep, work, and worship… and who’s in the passenger seat.

You’ll also discover practical steps to reduce exposure — from disabling unnecessary connections and removing old paired phones, to deleting stored navigation data and limiting app permissions. Forrest introduces Privacy4Cars, a powerful tool designed to help you erase personal information from your vehicle before it’s sold, rented, or serviced.

At Garvin Academy, Forrest teaches how to defend every part of your digital life — not just your phone or laptop, but the hidden technologies tracking you every day. Because privacy and security are freedom, and protecting that freedom starts with awareness and action.

SEO Keywords

car privacy, vehicle data tracking, Privacy4Cars, connected cars, automotive surveillance, Forrest Garvin, Garvin Academy, car data deletion, telematics privacy, digital security, car hacking, data collection, online privacy, disappear on the internet, privacy and security, personal freedom

  

Take back control of your online privacy with Proton Mail, the world’s most trusted encrypted email service. Built in Switzerland and protected by some of the world’s strongest privacy laws, Proton Mail ensures your data stays yours—always.

Proton Mail – Secure Email That Protects Your Privacy (60% OFF)

 

FREE Webinars:

Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!  

Dissappear On the Internet

Crypto Digital Assets Course

Gain Freedom with a Home-Based Business

 

Daily deals for pre

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In today's episode, Patrick with Grid Down Comms Up lists some of  his favorite prepper Christmas gifts. If you are looking for a present for your significant other, children, mag group member, or anyone else on your gift list, there is something here for you! We focus on practical gifts that have real value, whether the grid is up or the world has come crashing down. 

From books to power tools, precious metals, and beyond, the perfect gift idea of the prepper in your life awaits.  

https://www.amazon.com/shop/preppernet

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This special “Spy Christmas” episode is your complete holiday guide to the best privacy, security, and spy-themed gear of the year. Forrest breaks down over 30 hand-picked tools and gadgets for anyone who loves preparedness, digital security, or covert everyday carry. Whether you’re protecting your home, securing your digital life, or shopping for the privacy-minded person in your life, this episode is packed with practical, real-world recommendations.

You’ll discover the top spy gadgets, concealed-carry tools, covert recording devices, encrypted communication apps, travel privacy gear, anti-tracking tools, RFID protection, secure storage devices, and must-have digital privacy products that every modern prepper should own. Forrest also highlights the best items for off-grid communication, emergency preparedness, home surveillance defense, bug-out bags, and stealth everyday carry.

From affordable stocking stuffers to high-end gear used by privacy professionals, this episode is the ultimate Christmas gift guide for preppers, homesteaders, travelers, security enthusiasts, and anyone serious about protecting their identity, assets, and communications.

If you’re ready to upgrade your personal security or help someone else stay safe and unseen, this is the one episode you don’t want to miss.

spy gear, spy gadgets, privacy tools, security gadgets, digital privacy, personal security, surveillance protection, anti-surveillance gear, covert gadgets, encrypted communication, RFID blocking gear, anti-tracking devices, cybersecurity tools, digital identity protection, home security devices, EDC gear, prepper gear, off-grid communication tools, emergency preparedness gear, Christmas gift guide

https://prepperfinds.com/blackfriday/

Get the list at:   PrepperFinds.com

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