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So, Tonight, Let’s talk about goals for 2026. Every New Year's day, historically, we all get a sense of renewal. Wind in our sales, so to speak. Excitement for the year to come. We close the door to last year, but not before Last Year puts its big’ol foot in the door and whispers… “Not so fast. 

Ya see, we all hope for this grand change to happen when the clock turns over at midnight. That’s why we have New Year’s Eve parties, and fireworks, and The Ball Drop at Times Square in NYC.

But if there was no party… no sparkles… no ball.

Would we even know there was a change?  

Years turn over, in the same way that seasons change…
Quietly, and without ceremony. Unimpressed by intentions, or by hope.

2026 will be a year of change. It’s almost a foregone conclusion. The Trump Administration, whether you like it or not… has seen to that.

The question is… what changed for you at 12:01am on January the 1st…? My guess is, very little.

At 12:01am on January 1st…

Out there, farm fields and gardens rest beneath cold soil.
Pantries… hold what they hold.
Our hands remember only the work they’ve done before.

Those of us who prepare live closer to this truth.
We read the land, the weather, the cracks in the system.
We know how thin the line can be between order and chaos.

This coming year calls for intention and planning..
It calls for steady hands and minds that will shape reality into a path forward.

Maybe less noise, more focus. Instead of a dramatic entrance, maybe a strategic retreat.

Tonight, we talk about what must be strengthened.
We do that by setting goals…

Reasonable. Realistic. Achievable… Goals

Every goal is as unique as the Prepper who sets it.

We’ll tell you some of our goals, in hopes that it helps you start working on yours.

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• Kaisvin Lock Pick Set & Training Kit
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• Water Storage Paperback
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So, Tonight, we're talking about…

Regrets and Disappointments of 2025

And 2025 didn’t pull any punches.

It tested our focus… drained our energy…
And for a lot of us with prepared lifestyles, it exposed a hard truth that we don’t like hearing…

We knew better, but we didn’t always DO better.

Not because we didn’t care. But because life got loud and busy.

We talked about expanding skills, strengthening community, and creating plans. We watched the world wobble, felt that familiar pressure in our gut… and still, some of the most important work got pushed off to “later or even never.” Our pantries went unrotated. Training stayed theoretical. Hard conversations never happened. And some of that motivation that we felt in the mornings… went quiet by the end of day.

If you’re feeling accountable… We are too… but that’s good.

Cuz that's a great place to start.

Missed opportunities hurt. Not because we failed, but because deep down, we knew we could have done better.

And that sting? That’s not shame. That’s your instincts reminding you to get back on track.

It's the uncomfortable truth that readiness doesn’t fade all at once… it erodes, quietly, one excuse at a time.

But all is not lost…

Awareness is where real course correction begins.

Let’s talk about that…

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Tonight, we're talking about exhaustion.
The type of tired that sleep doesn't fix. Not tired from splitting firewood or hauling water or putting in the long honest day's work. That kind of tired makes sense. That kind of tiredness comes with purpose and fades quickly.
No, I'm talking about the tired that settles into your bones when you've been watching the horizon for too long. If you've been in this world that is preparedness, self-reliance, readiness, for any length of time, then you may know exactly what I mean.
That steady drumbeat of bad news, the endless cycle of be ready for this and don't forget about that. Another supply list, another warning, another reminder of just how fragile everything feels.
At first, preparedness feels empowering. You wake up. You see the world clearly. You start learning skills and storing food and finding like-minded people. There's momentum. There's energy. And then, somewhere along the way, that energy changes. Now, you still care. You still know that preparedness matters. But the fire feels dimmer. Motivation comes in short bursts instead of steady burns. The projects pile up. The gear sits untouched. The checklists feel heavier than they do helpful.
That, my friend, is called prepper fatigue.

It doesn't mean you failed. It doesn't mean you were wrong to prepare. And it certainly doesn't mean that you should quit.
Prepper fatigue is what happens when vigilance turns into weight, when readiness becomes pressure, when the responsibility of being the one who's prepared starts to feel lonely, overwhelming, and even thankless.
It shows up quietly. You stop reading the articles. You skip the training. You tell yourself you'll get to it later. Or, it can show up loud. Irritation, burnout, frustration, even guilt for feeling burned out in the first place.
And here's the hard truth that we don't talk about enough. A burned out prepper is not a resilient prepper. Preparedness was never meant to be a constant state of fear. It was meant to be a foundation, something that supports your life, not consumes it.
Preparedness sometimes feels like standing guard, staring at the sky, and waiting for it to fall, but that's not it at all. Preparedness is building a roof strong enough that it won't matter if the sky falls.
And stepping back to catch your breath doesn't mean you've let your guard down. And if you're feeling worn out, you're not alone. If you're questioning your motivation, you're not broken. And if you're still here, still listening, still thinking, then you haven't lost what matters most.
Tonight, we're going to talk about prepper fatigue, honestly, what it really is, what it happened why it happens to good, thoughtful, capable people, and most importantly, how to work through it without losing your edge or your purpose.
Let's talk about how to carry the load without letting it crush us. Let's talk about how to prepare, and live. Let's talk about how to keep going, more balanced, stronger, and steadier, and with more hope than fear.
So, let's get to it.

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… Tonight, we keep it simple stupid for all of our listeners who are still on the fence about what gifts you’ll be giving to the Prepper Survivalist Homesteader in your life for Christmas this year. Ya know, we do this every year before Christmas, and it still amazes me about how many great new and old gadgets and gear the Prepper Survivalist world comes up with every year.

You don’t have much time left to get it in gear, pun intended, so tighten your bootstraps and grab your carts, cuz Survival Santa is coming to town.

Let’s get shopping.

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• BATTLEBOX 
• Kaisvin Lock Pick Set & Training Kit
• How To Pick Locks - Paperback
• Garmin Handheld GPS
• BTECH FRS RADIO
• ANKOR Power Bank
• Jackery Solar Generator
• Swiss Tech
• Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio
• AMAZON Gift Card
• Grayl GeoPress Titanium
• Grayl UltraPress Budget Bottle
• CANON EOS 2000D DSLR Camera
• WaterDrop TST-UF 0,01 Ultra-Fitration Whole House
• iSpring UVF8 LED UV Water Filter
• PUREWELL 8-Stage 0.01 Ultra-Filtration Countertop
• VEVOR Alcohol Still
• Water Storage Paperback
• The Preppers Water Survival Guide Paperback
• Rainwater Harvesting Paperback
• RockPot Slow Cooker
• SWISS TECH 

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Tonight, we continue our discussion on Hunting for your protein during an SHTF Grid-Down situation. This is a topic seldom discussed within the preparedness world, at least not with any realism or truth.

In other words, reality vs fantasy - facts vs hope and desire. Yes, in a grid-down scenario we will all hope and desire to feed ourselves in the best most efficient way we can. We fantasize about being that hunter gatherer… be it, killing a large game animal or scavenging abandoned stores, warehouses, and homes. Some will even attack and rob other survivors of their stockpiles, sometimes and more often then not, commit murder in that process.

All, are forms of Hunting and Gathering. 

As Preppers, and Survivalists, we must stick to the facts when it comes to survival. We have to set aside the fantasy, disregard those romantic daydreams of being the hero that hunts and kills and provides the much-needed protein to their people. Fun to think about… dangerous to believe.

Consider this. There are seasoned hunters that go out and hunt for large game like deer and elk, spend the entire week, maybe even the entire season, doing all the right things, perfect strategy, scent control, proven location - only to never even see a single target and ultimately come home empty handed. This, is realty. This is truth. It’s happening right now, as we speak, this hunting season.

Oh, maybe we’ll get lucky, and hit a deer with the car on the way out to the woods. Instant meal, pre-tenderized. It could happen right? Ya never know. 

But the probability of a first timer or a rookie game hunter getting a successful kill on day one, week one, during an SHTF Grid-Down situation is very low. We’re more likely to get shot at buy other hunters, then take a shot at a deer.

This is part two of our Hunter Gatherer series where I talk with my co-host Jeremy about raising that probability much higher so that we can all find success as Hunter Gatherers.

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• TLC Sport Hunting Blind Pop-Up 360 See Thru Design RealTree

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Tonight we talk Turkey about US Thanksgiving Holiday traditions like Black Friday Prepper Deals, Cooking the Bird, and whatever the hell else we want. Let's get to it.

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• LIFESTRAW Personal Water Filtration Device
• OLIGHT Baton4 Premium Edition Flashlight with Charging Case
• NestOut Elecom Rugged Power Bank
• SkyOcean Premium Pocket Chainsaw
• Stanley Wildfare Go 4 Piece 2 Cup Cook Set
• eGreen Emergency Fire Starter Kit WeatherProof Matches
• Rite In The Rain Weatherproof Top Spiral Notebook
• Paracord Planet 50' 7 Strand Paracord Camo Color
• ReferenceReady Outdoor Knots Tying Cards With Carabiner
• AB Emergency Seat Belt Cutter with Holder 2-Pack
• BYRNA Self-Defense Kinetic Launcher Kit
• Walkers Razor Ultra Slim Electronic Ear Protection Muffs
• OSTBA Food Dehydrator 5-Tray
• Megawise Vacuum Sealer - Bags & Cutter Included

Music & Media:

• Adam Sandler - Thanksgiving Song
• Wordsplained - Origins of Black Friday
• Funny Songs & Song Parodies - Trump Sings Black Friday Blues
• SNL - Black Friday

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Today we’re talking about one of the biggest decisions a Prepper Survivalist can make, especially if you are an aspiring Homesteader: Choosing the right piece of land to purchase. Whether you’re looking to start a small off-grid setup, build a full working homestead, or to simply move your family toward a more self-reliant lifestyle - real estate choices matter. The land you buy determines your water options, your food production, your security, your daily challenges, and your long-term success.

To help us break down what really matters when buying property for preparedness, we’ve invited a special guest who knows this world inside and out. Christina Bowers, owner of Bowers Realty Group, is a real estate professional who’s helped countless people find homes and land that fits their goals, their budget, and their overall survival plan. She’s ranked within the top 500 real estate agents in Oklahoma City Metro and is on track to close over 7 million in sales this year. She understands soil, zoning, utilities, inspections, access, and all the hidden details that can make or break your homestead dream.

So, if you’re considering a move, planning for the future, or just want to understand what to look for in a property built for resilience and self-sufficiency, this episode is for you.

Bowers Realty Group

Christina Bowers - 405.615.2093

[email protected]

BRG - Facebook

• Complete Guide - How to Buy Land When You’re Broke - Paperback
• Land Buying Tips from the Pros - Paperback
• Land Investment Mistakes: You Need to Know - Paperback
• How To Buy Land When You're Broke - Paperback
• The Practical Homesteading Encyclopedia - Paperback
• How To Buy Land Cheap 5th Edition - Paperback
• How To Buy a Homestead Property, Complete Guide - Paperback

Music: The Talbott Brothers, "Deadmans Pass"

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The holiday season has a way of lowering our guard.

Lights flicker and blink, music fills the air, crowds swell, and everyone moves a little faster, laughs a little louder, and unfortunately, pays a lot less attention.

And that… right there… is the crack in the armor that predators wait all year to exploit.

While families are shopping… they’re stalking.

While travelers rush through airports… they’re watching.

While we’re juggling bags and phones, coats and conversation… they’re looking for that one moment, when we slip up.

You see, Predators thrive on distraction and sometimes even create it.

They love the chaos, the noise, the shopping frenzy.

They love rushed decisions and unlocked car doors.

And dark lonely parking lots where they find travelers fumbling with luggage in the freezing cold.

The holiday season creates opportunities for them.

As Preppers, it’s up to us to be ready. But we’re not alone.

Tonight, we’re bringing backup.

Special Guest and subject matter expert, Alijandro from SODOG Security Services is very familiar with The Naughty List of predators out there this holiday season looking for soft targets.

He knows how they think, how they probe for weakness, how they move through the shadows, and blind spots, and online where these predators live and thrive.

So, let’s cut through the tinsel and start thinking about safety, so we can be festive and fortified this holiday season… and Al’s gonna show us how.

Let’s get to it.

SODOG INC

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• SOFIRN SC31 PRO 2000 Tactical Security Flashlight 2000 Lumens
• FAKE TV FTV-10 TV Home TV Simulator for Security
• TacMed SOF Tourniquet Gen5 Military Grade First Aid
• CLTAC Tactical CCW Fanny Pack
• Vertx Every Day Carry Fanny Pack Sling Pack w/ CCW Gun Holster
• TacMed IFAK Operator Full Load-Out Incl
• SABRE Pepper Spray & 2in1 Stun Gun and Flashlight Combo Kit
• StreetWise Pain Pen Stun Gun 25 million Volts Self Protection

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Welcome to TOPS Bunker Podcast

This Episode discusses and reminds us all to Prepare for Winter. Yeah, it's that time of year again. This will be a 2-Part Series with the 2nd half dropping in a week or so. Don't forget your Winterizing Checklists and help support the show by clicking on the product links below.

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Winterizing Checklist PDF

Winterizing Checklist PDF Fillable

• SOFIRN SC31 Pro 2000 LED Flashlight
• Country Creek Garlic Cloves for Fall Planting - Non GMO
• Sea Foam Moter Treatment & Fuel Stabilizer 3 Pack
• EcoAngel LED Road Flares Pucks - Rechargable 6 Pack
• Tranqun Safety Flags 18"x18" Reflective 2 Pack
• Prepared4X Fire Torch Fire Starter Kit
• Arcturus Military Wool Blanket - HD 64"x88"

"Winter Is Coming" Poem By Keith Otworth

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Tonight, join Rhonda, Missy, Ennette, and Laney at their Halloween Party and have some fun. From Terrifying Criptids to Delicious Chocolate Spiders, we've got your Spooky Desires covered on this episode.

Give us a shout out on Speakpipe and we'll put you on the show.

SPEAKPIPE.COM/TOPS

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Creator Credits:

Carolina Case Files: Reall 911 Audio - It's Not Human!

Real Horror TOK: 5 DISTURBING Appalachian Videos

Outro Music

"Halloween" by artists Helloween

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