PODCAST · education
Practical Prepping Podcast
by Mark & Krista Lawley
Practical Prepping Podcast Real solutions for real emergencies—no apocalypse required. The Practical Prepping Podcast cuts through the noise of extreme doomsday scenarios to focus on what actually matters: simple, actionable steps that help everyday people safeguard their families and lifestyles. Why Listen? Knowledge Over Gear: "The more you know, the less you have to carry." We emphasize skills that lighten your load because the right know-how beats an overloaded bug-out bag every time. Real Threats, Real Solutions: From power outages to wildfires, snowstorms to supply shortages, we tackle the emergencies you're most likely to face. Family-Friendly Content: Our podcast maintains clean, judgment-free advice that's appropriate for all ages—prioritizing practicality over paranoia. What Sets Us Apart Unlike some other preparedness podcasts,
Episodes
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Emergency Communications and Identifying Your Local Threats
When cell service fails, how will you reach your family? Mark and Krista explore emergency communication options, including two-way radios, ham radio, satellite messengers, and the importance of a good antenna. Then, learn how to identify local threats beyond severe weather, find reliable...
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Emergency Communication and First Aid: GMRS Radios, IFAKs, and PFAKs
Cell phones are great until service disappears, batteries die, or your group gets separated. In this episode, we explain how GMRS radios can help families, campers, off-road groups, farms, neighborhoods, and small teams stay connected during emergencies. We compare GMRS with FRS, discuss…
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Keeping Perishable Food Safe When The Power Is Out; And Refreshing Our EDC, Car, And Bug-out Bags.
We have several in the practical Prepping Private Facebook Group and other groups who have asked about how to keep frozen and refrigerated foods safe during a power outage, so we're doing a segment on that. We are also doing a segment on refreshing our everyday carry, car, and bug-out bags....
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Our Personal Everyday Carry Handgun Setups, And The ReadyFam App
In this episode, we break down two personal everyday carry setups. Krista shares why she carries the Smith and Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ, and Mark discusses his Springfield RDP 9mm. We also talk with Adam Baker, cofounder of ReadyFam.app, about using technology to organize emergency preparedness...
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Inflation Busting Ideas: Practical Ways to Save Money and Prepare for Inflation or Recession
In this episode of Practical Prepping, we discuss practical inflation busting ideas to help you stretch your money and prepare for uncertain economic times. As groceries, gas, utilities, medication, and everyday essentials continue to cost more, many families are feeling real pressure on their...
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Prepping for People Who Live Alone or Whose Spouse Cannot Help
Preparedness advice often assumes there are multiple capable adults in the home, but that is not always reality. Some people live alone, and others have a spouse who may be out of town, sick, injured, caring for others, or unable to help during a crisis. In this episode, we talk about building an...
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What to Do When an Emergency Happens Away From Home
What happens if an emergency starts while you are not home? In this episode, we discuss the often-overlooked problem of being away from your supplies when roads close, cell service slows, or your family is separated. We cover how to assess whether to stay, move nearby, or go home, and why a...
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Extreme Heat Preparedness: How to Stay Safe and Cool During Extreme Heat
Today’s episode of Practical Prepping focuses on staying safe during extreme heat, especially if the air conditioner goes out or you have to be outside. We discuss practical ways to stay cooler and reduce the risk of heat-related problems. Start with hydration. Drink water regularly and avoid too...
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The Core Categories Every Prepper Should Cover
In this episode, we look at the major categories of prepping and why balance matters. Preparedness is more than food, firearms, or gear. We discuss starting with the needs that apply to nearly every emergency, including water, food, finances, first aid, sanitation, shelter, lighting, power,...
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Survival Uses for Ordinary Office Supplies
Preparedness is not only about buying specialized gear. It is also about recognizing how everyday items can solve urgent problems when normal systems fail. In this episode, we look at ordinary office supplies and the practical survival uses hidden in desks, break rooms, mailrooms, and supply...
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Choosing the Right Generator: Gasoline, Propane, Natural Gas, Diesel, or Solar
In this episode, we explore the world of home backup power and break down the essentials of generators and solar power systems. From portable solar generators to gasoline, propane, natural gas, and diesel units, we explain how each option works and what it can realistically power during an…
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Building A 30 Day Buffer On A Budget and Handling Heat Related Illnesses
If your paycheck stopped for thirty days, would your household stay steady or start scrambling by week two? If extreme heat knocked out the power, would you know how to recognize heat stroke before it turned deadly? Today we are talking about building a simple thirty day buffer on a real life...
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17 Overlooked Everyday Items With Real Survival Uses
Walk through your house with me for a minute. That baking sheet in your oven? It’s not just for cookies, it’s a radio antenna ground plane, a cooking surface over coals, and a drying rack for seeds. That petroleum jelly in the medicine cabinet? Fire starter, skin protection, rust prevention. That...
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Redneck Engineering and the Lost Art of Self Reliance
What if survival is not about expensive gear but about mindset? Redneck engineering proves that resilience comes from creativity, grit, and knowing how to use what is already in your hands. When things break or systems fail, practical self reliance becomes your greatest advantage. Mentioned In…
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Flooding Is One of America’s Deadliest Weather Hazards. These Decisions and Actions Save Lives and Property
Flooding kills more Americans each year than many storms that get far more headlines. Over 100 lives are lost annually, and most of those deaths follow the same predictable pattern. The water doesn’t surprise us. Our decisions do. Today, we’re talking about why. Flooding remains one of the...
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Emergency Evacuation and Getting Family Onboard in Prepping
Emergency preparedness is more than checklists and supplies. It is about making critical decisions under pressure and navigating the emotions that come with them. In this episode, we look at the essentials of evacuation planning, including how to identify clear triggers for leaving, choose…
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Get-Home Bag Food Guide: Lightweight, Heat-Stable, Ready-to-Eat Options
A get home bag is designed to get you home within 24 to 72 hours. It is not a long term survival kit. The goal is simple. Carry efficient fuel that supports movement, not full meals that slow you down. Every item in your bag should earn its place. Mentioned In This Episode: ReadyFam Preparedness...
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Power Outage, Gas Savings, and Forgotten Small Things
This episode has three segments: Building A Lights Out Kit, Paying Less At The Gas Pump, and Often Forgotten Small Things. Mentioned In This Episode: ReadyFam Preparedness App Support Practical Prepping 72 Hour Prepping Checklist Download this episode If you find value in what we do, if you've...
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12 Military Principles That Improve Our Preparedness Plan
What can preppers learn from the military? In this episode, we look at 12 proven military principles that can strengthen your preparedness plan. From logistics and redundancy to teamwork, fitness, and mental resilience, these lessons will help you move beyond collecting gear and start building a...
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Road Trip Readiness: Preparing Your Vehicle for Travel
If you were stuck on the side of the road, or hung up in stand-still traffic for three hours this summer, would you be comfortable… or suffering? Most people assume they’re fine, until they’re not. Krista sat alone for five hours due to an earlier wreck on one trip, and we sat for a couple of…
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The Six Most Frequently Asked Prepping Questions
Today we are talking about six of the most frequently asked prepping questions, the ones that I see in our inbox, or that are asked in prepping groups, again and again. If you are just getting started or even if you have been at this for years, you have probably asked at least one of these...
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The Calm Before the Chaos; Preparing For Hurricane Season
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway — and while forecasts call for 12 to 15 named storms, 5 to 9 hurricanes, and up to 3 major storms, there’s one number that matters most: one. It only takes one storm making landfall in your community to turn an ordinary week into a...
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17 Multi Use Items That Earn Their Keep When Things Go Sideways
17 Multi Use Items That Earn Their Keep When Things Go Sideways When things go wrong, it is rarely the big, expensive gear that saves the day. More often, it is the small, overlooked items that can handle multiple problems without missing a beat. The challenge is that most people prepare for...
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Prepping Pitfalls: The Mistakes, Myths, Failures, and Lessons Learned
Download This Episode Here Today we’re taking a hard look at the gaps that can quietly undermine even the most well-intentioned preparedness plans. Because the truth is, most failures in a crisis don’t come from a lack of effort, they come from blind spots. The things you didn’t practice, didn’t...
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15 Prepper Uses for Honey That You Should Know
15 Prepper Uses for Honey That You Should Know Mentioned in this episode: Manuka Honey Additional Manuka Honey Options Download This Episode Here Most preppers have a jar or two of honey tucked away in their supplies, but very few realize just how much this single item can actually do. In this...
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Ten Prepping Items That Could Save Your Life
Most people picture preparedness as expensive and overwhelming. A garage full of gear. Thousands of dollars spent. Months of planning. In reality, the gap between no preparation and meaningful preparation is much smaller. It comes down to having a handful of the right items and knowing how to use...
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Cyber Disruptions Are Coming. Build Redundancy for Data, Money, and Communication
Most disruptions don’t arrive as dramatic failures, they show up as small, compounding inconveniences. In this episode, we explore what happens when the digital systems you rely on every day become unreliable, and how to build simple, practical redundancy across your data, finances, and...
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When the Grid Fails: Chronic Illness Continuity Planning
Most preparedness advice is built around a healthy, mobile adult who can adapt on the fly. But real life looks different for millions of households. If you rely on dialysis, insulin, oxygen, CPAP, a ventilator, or time sensitive prescriptions, your safety is tied to systems that can and do break....
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Top Twelve Prepping Items After Water And Food
This episode focuses on the kind of preparation that rarely looks exciting on social media but makes the biggest difference when real life hits hard. The theme is simple and consistent throughout the conversation: prepping is not about fantasy scenarios or expensive gear. It is about the…
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Home Preparedness Basics: Water, Food Storage for Emergencies, and the “Poop Plan”
Today we wrap up a three part series on the basics of prepping. We’ve covered the planning and protection stages. And in this episode we are covering the provisions stage; what it takes to keep daily life functional when the power goes out, the grocery shelves are empty, or a winter storm traps…
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From Plan to Action: How to Protect Your Family Before Disaster Strikes
Preparedness isn’t about collecting gear, it’s about taking action. In this episode, we move beyond planning and focus on practical steps to secure your home and protect your family. We cover the non‑negotiable safety essentials every household should have, including smoke and carbon monoxide...
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How to Prioritize Preps: The Top 3 High Probability Emergencies to Plan for First
Prepping doesn’t start with gear, it starts with a clear head and a realistic plan for the emergencies you’re most likely to face. In this episode, we walk through building a practical prepper mindset, doing a simple risk assessment for your region and household, and choosing your top priorities…
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Make Reality Your Training Partner: Break Your Prepping Gear Before Life Does
Preparedness isn’t a pile of equipment - it’s proof under pressure. Today we’re talking gear failure testing: how to find the parts that snap, clog, drain, or freeze before they cost you. We’ll also share a simple After Action Review format to capture what happened, what went wrong, and what to...
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Cold Makes You Stupid: How Hypothermia and Frostbite Sneak Up on You
Cold doesn’t just make you miserable. It makes you sloppy, and that’s usually where people get into trouble. Once you’re cold, you start cutting corners without even thinking about it. You skip a snack. You don’t drink anything. You leave your gloves off “just for a second.” You keep pushing...
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When Winter Weather Becomes the Emergency You Didn’t See Coming
Across much of the country, winter weather is disrupting power, travel, and daily life. For most people, nothing dramatic happened — conditions just kept getting worse. That slow deterioration is what makes winter emergencies so dangerous. This episode explains what to watch for and when to act...
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Why Good Plans Fail When You’re Tired
Most emergency plans fail for one simple reason: they expect you to be calm, rested, and thinking clearly. But real emergencies don’t wait for your best day. In this episode, we discuss why fatigue silently sabotages even “good” plans, and how real preparedness works when you’re tired, stressed,...
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Prepping for the Inevitable; How to Prepare as We Get Older
If we’re blessed to live long enough, we’re going to grow old, and that can mean less strength, less mobility, and less mental bandwidth (especially under stress). So the real filter for every prep becomes: “Can I do this on my worst day, injured, tired, or stressed?” The good news is that you...
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Cold, Dark, and Dangerous: Surviving a Winter Storm in Your Car
When people get stuck in a winter storm, their instincts often push them toward the most dangerous choice they can make. In this episode, we’re exposing the biggest blizzard survival myths—and explaining why staying in your car, managing heat correctly, and avoiding carbon monoxide could save…
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12 Must Have Items for Prepping, Survival, and Self Reliance
In this episode, Mark and Krista dive into twelve essential categories of preparedness gear, not specific brands or fancy gadgets, but foundational items that every prepper should have ready. From water and food to cash and fire‑starting tools, this conversation is a practical guide for building…
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Building an Urban Get‑Home‑Bag; Surviving in the City
You’re halfway across the city when the power grid goes down. Streets jam. Transit stops. Your phone’s dead, and there’s no Uber, no train, no help coming. How long would it take you to get home — and what would you need to survive the trip? Today, we’re talking about building an Urban…
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Building Resilience Without Spending a Fortune: Eighteen No-Cost and Low‑Cost Prepping Activities
Imagine your power goes out tonight; no lights, no phone charger, no warning. Could you navigate your home in the dark, cook a meal without electricity, or contact your family if the grid stayed down for days? In this episode, we’re going into simple, no‑cost and low‑cost prepping steps that…
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Don’t Drink That! Busting 12 Common Water Myths in Prepping
Water is essential for survival, especially in emergency situations. Today, we debunk twelve common myths and misconceptions about water preparedness within the prepping community. Knowing the truth can help you stay safe and hydrated when it matters most. Mentioned In This Episode: Expanded Show...
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Government Shutdown & Safety Awareness: How to Stay Ready
In this episode, Krista and Mark discuss the real-world impact of the government shutdown on SNAP and EBT recipients and what that could mean for community safety and personal awareness. They share practical tips on staying alert, protecting yourself while shopping, and preparing for supply...
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Mental Fortitude: Staying Calm & Thinking Straight When Disaster Strikes
When disaster hits, panic spreads fast, but calm is contagious. In this episode, Mark and Krista talk about one of the most powerful, and overlooked, preparedness skills: your mindset. You’ll learn how to manage stress when life gets chaotic, what to watch for when anxiety sneaks up on you, and…
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“Beyond the Headlines: The Real Work of FEMA”
You’ve heard the frustration. You’ve seen the memes. Maybe you’ve even wondered — what does FEMA actually do? In this episode of we look beneath the public perception to uncover FEMA’s real purpose, its response process, and how that understanding can make you more personally prepared for…
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Big Brother Is Listening, Watching, And Tracking Us, And He Is Being Nosey
It's not a conspiracy, and we bring proof of that today from our own phones and computers. We are talking about Government Over Reach, and you had better believe that they are listening, and watching, and still being nosey. Expanded Show Notes If you find value in the podcast, would you be…
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Every Day Carry And A Complete EDC Dump
What's in YOUR bag? What needs to be? What does NOT need to be in your bag? Inquiring minds want to know and that's what we are going to cover today - the Every Day Carry bag. Please share this podcast with your friends, family, and on social media accounts. Here's the link:...
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Ten things that a prepper should not do
Are you the reason your prepping efforts might fail? Could your own actions, or inactions, be setting you up for disaster when a crisis hits? What if, despite all your efforts, you're unknowingly ensuring your survival plan collapses when it matters most? Mentioned In This Episode: Muirhead…
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How To Practice "Minimalist Prepping" In Our Get Home Bags
We've all seen the memes of the 400 lb dude carrying a 400 lb bug out bag Everything he could ever want in there. That's not at all practical. Actually, many of us probably carry more in our bags than we need, and that adds weight, especially in a get home bag we might have to wear for an…
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Water, Calories, Bugging In, and Ditching Gear Dependence
"In today’s episode we are discussing How to make safe drinking water, calculate post-disaster calorie needs, master the art of bugging in, and reduce your dependence on survival gear." Mentioned In This Episode: Muirhead Canning (Discount code PREP10) Proof Minimalist Wallets (Discount code...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Practical Prepping Podcast
Real solutions for real emergencies—no apocalypse required.
The Practical Prepping Podcast cuts through the noise of extreme doomsday scenarios to focus on what actually matters: simple, actionable steps that help everyday people safeguard their families and lifestyles.
Why Listen?
Knowledge Over Gear: "The more you know, the less you have to carry." We emphasize skills that lighten your load because the right know-how beats an overloaded bug-out bag every time.
Real Threats, Real Solutions: From power outages to wildfires, snowstorms to supply shortages, we tackle the emergencies you're most likely to face.
Family-Friendly Content: Our podcast maintains clean, judgment-free advice that's appropriate for all ages—prioritizing practicality over paranoia.
What Sets Us Apart
Unlike some other preparedness podcasts,
HOSTED BY
Mark & Krista Lawley
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Practical Prepping Podcast have?
Practical Prepping Podcast currently has 575 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Practical Prepping Podcast about?
Practical Prepping Podcast Real solutions for real emergencies—no apocalypse required. The Practical Prepping Podcast cuts through the noise of extreme doomsday scenarios to focus on what actually matters: simple, actionable steps that help everyday people safeguard their families and lifestyles....
How often does Practical Prepping Podcast release new episodes?
Practical Prepping Podcast releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 575 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Practical Prepping Podcast?
You can listen to Practical Prepping Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Practical Prepping Podcast?
Practical Prepping Podcast is created and hosted by Mark & Krista Lawley.
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