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What are some materials that we all have around the house to start a fire? Matches and gasoline excluded :)

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Mental preparedness is just as crucial as physical preparedness when facing emergencies. This episode explores how to develop the right mindset for handling crisis situations effectively, with real-world examples from Keith's law enforcement experience.

• Shout out to the Local Prepper podcast and YouTube channel where Keith recently appeared ( https://www.youtube.com/live/_oOzsKkqBJ4?feature=shared)
• Reminder about Augason Farms affiliate program with discount code "podcast prep" for 10% off
• Mental fitness is essential for preppers to handle high-stress emergency situations
• Developing scenario-based plans for different emergencies helps prepare your mind
• Keith shares a compelling story about how mental planning helped him during a bank robbery response
• The importance of maintaining calm leadership during crises even when internally stressed
• Tips for involving family, friends, and prepper groups in mental preparation exercises
• Recommendation to watch the developing tropical storm if you're on the East Coast
• Suggestion to give everyone tasks during emergencies to maintain order and purpose

Thanks for listening to the Common Sense Practical Prepper podcast. Be safe out there, take care of one another, and until next time.

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Fear of being labeled an extremist shouldn't stop you from being prepared. In this eye-opening exploration, we dive into how different cultures worldwide view emergency preparedness—with some fascinating surprises.

Starting with a practical breakdown of "junk silver" as a bartering option, we analyze whether those pre-1964 dimes and quarters (with their 3.75 troy ounces of silver per $5 face value) are worth the premium price when compared to straightforward silver rounds. The math gets complicated quickly, revealing why simplicity might trump historical currency during crisis situations.

The global perspective on prepping reveals striking contrasts. While Americans often battle stereotypes from sensationalized TV shows like "Doomsday Preppers," countries like Sweden have explicitly endorsed preparedness by mailing 5 million households a guide called "If a Crisis or War Came." Japan's approach proves even more compelling—preparedness isn't labeled as "prepping" but exists as an unquestioned cultural norm due to frequent earthquakes and tsunamis.

Perhaps most surprising is how preparedness transcends political boundaries. From conservatives to liberals to libertarians, the estimated 23.5 million American preppers ($11 billion industry) share the common goal of self-reliance during emergencies. By focusing on practical skills like "Stop the Bleed" training and maintaining basic supplies, prepared individuals actually reduce strain on emergency services during disasters—allowing resources to reach the truly vulnerable.

The stigma makes little sense when you realize preparation simply means taking responsibility for yourself and your family. Whether it's climate threats, supply chain disruptions, or unforeseen emergencies, having food, water, shelter, and basic medical knowledge represents common sense, not extremism.

Subscribe now and join our community of practical preppers focused on affordable, realistic approaches to self-reliance. Leave a rating and review to help others discover this balanced perspective on emergency preparedness!

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Fear not—unless you're unprepared for emergencies. As severe weather events intensify across the country, practical preparedness has never been more crucial.

The numbers don't lie. Already in 2025, we've experienced 1,400 confirmed tornadoes, vastly exceeding the 1,200 total from all of 2024. One outbreak alone claimed 28 lives in mid-May. Flash flooding has devastated communities from New Mexico to the Carolinas. Yet 90% of Americans still don't have a basic 72-hour emergency kit ready.

Whether facing tornadoes with minimal warning or hurricanes with days of lead time, your response strategy must be tailored to the threat. For those in traditionally sturdy structures, sheltering in place during tornado warnings remains safest—but manufactured home residents must seek sturdier refuge. Hurricane evacuation requires planning multiple escape routes rather than relying on a single highway that will inevitably become congested when thousands flee simultaneously.

Transportation preparedness deserves special attention. Maintain at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicles at all times, supplemented by safely stored fuel reserves at home. When Hurricane Hugo struck, evacuees drove as far as Boston seeking hotel rooms as accommodations filled hundreds of miles inland. Having predetermined evacuation destinations with family or friends provides security that last-minute planning cannot.

Emergency food supplies represent another critical preparation component. While there's satisfaction in self-sufficiency practices like canning and freeze-drying, commercial emergency meals offer convenience that shouldn't be overlooked. The ideal approach combines both—maintaining home-preserved foods while supplementing with grab-and-go options for rapid evacuation scenarios.

Don't wait until warnings blast across your phone to prepare. Developing multiple evacuation routes, maintaining adequate fuel, establishing distant safe havens, and preparing proper emergency kits today ensures you won't become another statistic when disaster strikes tomorrow. Subscribe now and join our growing community of practical preppers facing an increasingly unpredictable world with confidence rather than fear.

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If you are a male in your mid 40s or older or a family history of prostate cancer, please go have your PSA check if you have not already 

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 Bartering represents an essential survival skill during extended emergencies, requiring clear understanding of how to value items when traditional currency becomes meaningless. We explore the mechanics of trading everything from silver rounds to freeze-dried foods when supply chains collapse and desperate neighbors come knocking.

• Definition of bartering as direct exchange of goods or services between parties
• Supply chain vulnerability—grocery stores empty within 4 days without deliveries
• Power grid fragility during fuel shortages leading to brownouts and blackouts
• Silver as crisis currency—one-ounce rounds and their fluctuating real-world value
• Food items as premium barter goods (sugar, flour, freeze-dried products)
• Operational security concerns when trading during emergencies
• Personal responsibility to prioritize family needs before charity
• Tax implications of bartering (irrelevant during actual crises)

Don't forget about Prepper Camp in Saluda, North Carolina on September 26-28, 2025. If any listeners are planning to attend, I'd love to meet up for a chat!

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There are some politics sprinkled into this podcast.

Who is the real enemy? China, Russia, Iran?

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Do you carry a battery box or jump box in your vehicle in the event your battery dies?

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Thoughts and prayers for the people of Texas and NC

AI

Are we truly prepared? Do you have alternate preps?

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Answering an email I received recently. 

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