In The Rabbit Hole Urban Survival

In this episode, we’re joined by Josh to discuss traveling with guns and knives. He’s a long-time private security professional who has been all over the world. Traveling with guns can be a tricky subject, and so can knives. However, it’s not as difficult as you may think. It’s often rather easy, in fact. But it’s extremely important to understand the laws of all the areas you’re traveling through. Sometimes cities have stricter laws than the states they’re in. And sometimes they’re the same. It’s your responsibility to know what’s what; ignorance of the law is not a defense. There are also better sources to get your information from than others. So you have to be careful to ensure the information on gun and knife laws you’re getting is up to date and accurate. This is a summer short episode that turned into nearly a full-length episode. Josh is a long-time friend of the show, and we decided to fulfill an Armada member request for a drunk episode. You’ve been warned: This episode was recorded intoxicated, at

In E217, we sit down with James Price to discuss tactical schools and training. He’s going to lift up the skirt on the tactical training industry and show us what’s going on. He’s also going to share with us where many of us are training for the wrong thing in the wrong way. We begin and end every episode with a special message. It’s our motto and the thing ITRH promises. In fact, it’s the ITRH tag line: Stay safe and sound! The show is weighed towards the Safe part of that tagline. The subjects about staying safe are the fun and exciting topics to cover, after all. But it’s important to address the Sound part from time to time. Sound, as ITRH uses it, means sound in mind. This unpacks to doing things for the right reasons, preparing for and nailing down our preps starting with the most likely, and making the most out of the limited time and resources we all have. Now, about a decade ago you would have found Jonathan, Jason, and myself feverishly looking up tactical schools and gear. But there was a problem w

In this book club episode, we're joined by author Zack Lynn to discuss surviving on a sailboat in the zombie apocalypse. Surviving on a Sailboat in a bugout scenario presents several advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include not being stuck in a bunker with now windows, fishing, and mobility, to name a few. But you are constrained by the weight of the times you can store, inclement weather, and bobbing zombies. There's also considerations about what kind of boat. And many other considerations. Years, back we explored sailboats as an option for both living and bugging out. But we never fully addressed life on a sailboat in a grid down and hostile environment. Zombies, as we've said in the past, provide an interesting and highly complicated scenario forcing deep thought and extensive nuanced consideration. So it's ripe for thought experiments most other situations don't present. As it turns out, Zack has spent lots of time considering just such a situation. He even wrote a book about it. ~ The Author, B

In this episode, James Price shares with us his trade secrets for securing your home like a high-value safe house. For new listeners, James is a veteran executive protection consultant with over a decade of experience as a high-priced civilian security contractor in the Middle East and Far East Asia. James gives his expert opinion on the mistakes you are probably making with regard to home safety; some key elements you need to consider to evaluate the safety of your house; the security systems he recommends; and what you can do to protect your home when you are away. ~ Securing your Home and Making it a Safe House Topics: ~ * Who is James and what does he do * How did James get into executive protection * What would you say is the number one thing people do to open themselves up to being a target at home * When evaluating a structure for security issues, what are the primary things you look for * How often should a regular person do some kind of perimeter check on their home * When you're setting up security

In this episode, we sit down with Cal Wilson. He’s an attorney by day and a prepper author by night. We discuss his new book about an EMP attack and life afterward. If you think this is just another EMP book, you may be in for a surprise. Tigers and Gorillas included at no extra charge. EMPs (Electro Magnetic Pulses) is now and have been for a while, a hot Prepper topics. EMPs as an antagonist are in many ways like Zombies A perfect villain with all the pitfalls needed to scare the crap out of you. And they present a wonderland of problems to contend with. But, unlike Zombies, EMPs are this side of catastrophes that are possible. The technology, will, and opportunity exists. Most of the serious and balanced minds in prep have long since considered an EMP to be an outlier scenario, however. While the tech and will exists, the technological hurdles have long been considered too great for most aggressors. Cal Wilson sides with William R. Forstchen and others. And he shows us all the ways an EMP attack isn't just

In this episode, we discuss survival skills people should be focusing on most. This is a back-to-basics episode good for new preppers and prodding old timers. There’s a topic that keeps coming up more and more in the conversations I have with friends that are survival industry professionals. People don't get enough instruction and training. Instead, they go straight for gear and ignore what will actually keep them alive in a disaster: Skills. So we’ll cover six basic survival skills areas every prepper should have locked down. You see, most of us tend to focus our prepper time and money on gear. And the hard truth is this: Skills will almost always be more valuable in a survival situation than gear. So most of us should be spending more our time and money on acquiring survival skills rather than increasing the size of our pile-o-prepper-shit. Survival Skills Discussed: Outdoor Skills Why these skills are less important than most might think Where to find them on the cheap How to find instructors Firemaking

In this episode, we discuss how much ammo to store. This will be a short back to basics show. People often wrestle with how much ammo is enough. Today, we try to put things into perspective.   Ten thousand rounds of stored ammo is a number you'll find often in online discussions about how much ammo to store. And at first blush, to new preppers, ten thousand rounds seem totally reasonable. We are preparing for SHTF and TEOTWAWKI, right?   But rarely is this number justified. And when the ten thousand rounds ammo storage answer is justified, it's usually for unrealistic reasons. So in this back-to-basics episode, we'll discuss what to take into consideration rather than an exact number. And we'll do a thought experiment to investigate how much ammo to store. The result may change your mind and perspective on the topic. And we'll quickly cover a basic gun battery so we have all our ducks in a row. Debating How Much Ammo to Store The four guns that make up a basic gun battery Why .22 is such a versatile staple r

In this episode, we sit down with author Franklin Horton to discuss his book series The Borrowed World. It’s a story about an everyday non-super-ninja guy who finds himself far from home and surviving a terrorist attack and it's crippling effects. And the book wrestles with something many of us worry about: What if SHTF while I'm traveling? What would you do if you were hundreds of miles from home and a terrorist attack crippled the nation? If you had to walk home, could you make the arduous trek on foot? These questions often weigh on my mind when traveling. Thoughts of how to get home and what would happen to loved ones during that period run wild through my mind. Your thoughts turn to where and how to procure improvised survival tools, obtaining firearms, and how crazy would people be along the way. There are a lot of variables. And most of the outcomes are harsh at best. Fortunately, Horton shared the same thoughts and wrote a whole series of prepper fiction around this idea. ~ Topics from The Borrowed Wo

James Price is back with the real life-saving skills that may save your life today. We discuss skills you should start practicing today. They're probably not what you think. Many of us in the survival and preparedness community focus on tactical skills. But are we ignoring other less sexy life-saving skills which could enhance our hard skills? The answer: Probably yes. Most of us probably are ignoring these skills or letting them atrophy. We've discussed some of these types of skills in the past. But, recently during training people for missions, he's noticed some skill gaps that are causing real problems in their tactical skills. These are things that could undermine your training and hard skills. And you may be surprised to hear what they are. Topics around soft Life-saving skills we Discuss and Rant about: * How soft life skills enhance hard tactical skills * Defining "Hard Skills" * Defining "Soft Skills" * How social skills and team building plays into staying alive in an SHTF scenario * How arguing beco

In this episode, we welcome back Justin Carrol. He’s going to share with us the reality of Vault 7 WikiLeak domestic spying info dump. And we answer the question: Is your smart home sending the CIA and NSA pictures of your pepper junk. First of all, some argue we're living in the age of George Orwell's 1984. Others would claim we are fast approaching Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. We posit the present and future seems like it will be more like This Perfect Day by Ira Levin. The reality is domestic spying is here, regardless of what it looks like exactly. And it is being conducted by corporations and government agencies alike, as it turns out. But, most noteworthy, there are measures you can take to protect yourself. And we discuss all of this in this episode: Vault 7 WikiLeaks and Domestic Spying Topics Discussed: First, what is the Vault 7 WikiLeaks dump The difference between how Chelsea Manning leaked information and how Edward Snowden leaked information What will other spy agencies do with the WikiLeak

In this episode, Aaron goes back to basics with a short episode on the trio of bags for survival: Bug-out bags, car bags, and EDC Bags. A Bug-out bag is where new peppers tend to focus their early attention. And they tend to end up looking like something equipped for the zombie apocalypse. But bug-out bags should be much more straightforward. They are intended to allow you fast eagles and sustain you for up to 72-hours. Your EDC Bag, on the other hand, is the bag you should devote most of your attention. It's the bag: You're most likely to have with you when something goes wrong Is used the most And must be carefully considered due to the restrictions on size and weight And next in priority is the car bag: A mini-bug-out bag intended to get you back home. Note: The items in bags for survival are very personal. This episode does not contain an exhaustive list. But it is intended to get you thinking about the right way to view and work with these types of bags. Bags for Survival Topics Discussed: Bug-out Ba

In this episode, we discuss making a little money through urban farming with your buddy Michael Jordan the Bee Whisperer. It’s not as hard as you may think. Many of us in the preparedness community have small, medium, and even larger urban farms. They're perfect for building survival skills, building a food storage pantry, and becoming more self-reliant with an urban farm. And getting out and putting your hands in some dirt or raising animals can be relaxing. But what do you do when you start producing excess. You may be sitting on extra cash or a side hustle and not even realize. You just have to like money and be willing to put in some effort. A few years ago now, we had a very respectable urban farm with chickens and rabbits. When we got to 40 chickens and 40 rabbits we were producing more than we needed or wanted. We talked at length about selling the excess, but selling rabbit meat and eggs proved problematic due to local and federal laws. And we weren't sure where to start. Urban Farming Topics Discusse

In this episode, we sit down with Jeanna Cournoyer to discuss self-defense and firearms training. Jeanna is a bit like a female John Wick with a long resume of training in Krav Maga, firearms, and stress training. She also happens to be pretty damn cool. We dive into reality based training. This is scenario based and "real-world" techniques for hand-to-hand combat situations. And we dive into the murky waters where one must transition from a fist fit to a gun fight. But first, we go into using body language and verbal commands in an attempt to keep things from becoming physical. ~ Self-defense Topics Discussed: * What is Fear and Adrenal Stress Training? * What's the difference between self-defense and martial arts? * How did Jeanna get into Krav Maga? * What advantages does Krav Maga have over other martial arts for Jeanna? * Is there a difference between Krav Maga taught to civilians and what’s taught in the Israeli military? * IS that because it focuses more on arresting techniques? * What limitations are

In this episode, Aaron shares his thoughts on the state of the survival and preparedness community. You see, there's been much to do in recent months about a large downturn in the number of people engaged in being prepared. But there's also been a lot of press about liberals flocking to preparedness out of fear of President Trump. So what's really going on? Are we in a downturn from a false sense of security or are we in an upturn from a likely false sense of doom? The answer is... sort of both. But not really either. We'll explain the State of Survival and Preparedness in 2017: How learning to ride a motorcycle is a lot like becoming a prepper News of conservatives giving up on being survivalists News or liberals becoming survivalists Prepping the smart way and keeping your shirt on Nav Jim shares the history since the 1960s and questions the future of preparedness (phase plasma rifles and all) ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.

In this episode, you and Aaron sit down together for the annual survival gear review show. He'll share his thoughts guns, holsters, and tools. And you'll hear about survival skills for 2017 and new things around ITRH. Every year, ITRH does a gear review show. It's nothing formal. We just cover all the things we've purchased, tried out, love, like, dislike, and hate from the last year. But before we get into the toys there are some thoughts on the rioters at the inauguration. Talking points: Rioters and damn fools Survival gear reviews Gun reviews Holsters Training aids for shooters Hearing protection SWAG coming to ITRH Gear coming to ITRH ITRH videos 2017 Skills planned ...and more Links and resources from this episode http://www.intherabbithole.com/e203 Support the show and get membership benefits here: http://www.itrh.net

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Carroll to discuss revolvers for survival and EDC. Listeners know Justin from Prepper Opsec. But he also has a passion for revolvers, as it turns out. And in this episode, he shares his journey into the world of revolvers. Revolvers are a common topic of debate for preppers... Fans often swear by them. They make claims of revolvers having superior reliability over semi-autos.  Then there is the ammo interchangeability with some rifles and the ability of some revolvers to accept several different cartridges of the same caliber. There is also the fact that some revolver cartridges, like the .357, offer a wider range of powered charges allowing for greater flexibility as a hunting round. But there is the other side of the fence: Detractors. Typically, this category appreciates revolvers but see modern semi-auto pistols as having more advantages: Higher capacity, easier reloading, greater reloading speeds. The semi-auto camp also raise their eyebrows at the claim of greate

In this episode, we sit down with Dan from Waco Tactical Fitness. He shares with us what the WTF Biathlon is, how it started, and why they're a great sport for preppers and shooters. Let's be honest: preppers love their gear and guns. We buy rifles and handguns of nearly every caliber and flavor. We accumulate mag holders, holster, plate carriers, hydration backs, and tons of more gear. But it is rare we get the opportunity to test ourselves and gear. Shooters are relegated to standing in a box and shooting at a stationary paper target, in most cases. And even if we take an expensive class, truly testing our physical condition and gear is limited. So enter the biathlon: A way to test your body, shooting, and equipment. Running and Gunning Topics Discussed: * What a biathlon is * Who and what is Waco Tactical Fitness * How the name came about * WTF Mission * How it all started * The relationship with Appleseed Project * What the courses and courses of fire are like * How a biathlon tests your skills and your g

In this episode, Aaron makes 2017 predictions and answers listener questions. And there's also a special thank you message to all the listeners from ITRH to start. You see, ITRH has crossed a major milestone: 200 episodes. Most podcasts don't make it past 6. And the show is now downloaded roughly 50,000 a month. So it seems like we may be doing something right. ~ Topics: ~ * 2017 Predictions - The Hearing Protection Act - National Conceal Carry Reciprocity - Liberal Preppers and nuclear war - The coming troubles of gun manufacturers - What 2017 may mean for ammo availability and pricing - Who Trump will piss off next and why we're laughing * Listener Questions * Where to start as a new prepper focusing on the basics * The most cringe worthy prepper purchase Aaron has ever made * Can you make insulin in a grid down scenario ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e200

In this episode, we sit down with author Brad Manuel. He'll share with us how he crafted a different kind of post-apocalyptic book. There are no super-elite-range-seals. No ninja warriors. Just regular folks trying to survive. But somehow it still caught the attention of the audio publishers of The Martian. So he might just be on to something. But The Last Tribe isn't necessarily for everyone for the reasons mentioned above. This is not a high-action prepper book. It's more about character development and overcoming adversity. And it deals with a few issues few if any, other books in the genre attempt. ~ We Discuss: ~ * Who is Author Brad Manuel? * How did he become an author? * Is Brad a prepper? * What drew him to writing apocalyptic fiction? * Why did a reviewer of his book call it the "Life Time TV" of post-apocalyptic books? * Why did he write a book low of violence in a genre dominated by violence? * What's the best advice about making it as an author did Brad ever receive? * What's the best thing Brad

In this episode, we sit down with Alana Barfield. We're going to discuss storage options for apartment dwellers and share a cool James Bond-like DYI project with you. Prepper Storage Topics Discussed: * Unconventional storage spaces * Hiding things in plain site * Storage ideas that won't forfeit your renter's deposit * Building a fake wall * Storage options for RVs and Campers * Getting widows to prep Resouces: ~ Become a supporting member here: http://www.itrh.net ~ Resources from this episode can be found at: http://www.intherabbithole.com/e198