Misty Appalachian ridgeline at dawn — The Prepping Academy
Where Preppers Unite

The Prepping
Academy.

A podcast and media hub for preparedness, survival, self-reliance, and practical living.

Honest conversations with the most respected voices in prepping, homesteading, and emergency preparedness. New episodes every week — no theatrics, no fear-mongering, just survival skills and field-tested wisdom from people who actually live it.

Food Security in Today’s Economy
Now Playing · EP 15

May 19, 2026 · 32 min

Food Security in Today’s Economy

0:000:00

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss one of the most important preparedness topics facing families today — food security in today’s economy. With rising grocery prices, inflation, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainty, and increasing concerns about the stability of the food system, more Americans are asking serious questions about how to protect and provide for their families long term. We explore practical ways individuals and families can improve food security through preparedness, home food storage, gardening, bulk purchasing, freeze-dried foods, food preservation, and developing self-reliance skills. This episode breaks down why food security is no longer just a concern for “preppers,” but something everyday families are beginning to think about as the cost of living continues to rise across the United States. We also discuss how economic conditions, fuel prices, transportation costs, and global instability affect the availability and affordability of food. Learn why many preparedness-minded families are building long-term food storage systems and taking steps now to become less dependent on fragile supply chains and centralized systems. This episode also touches on practical emergency preparedness topics, including: Long-term food storage Freeze-dried food Bulk food buying Gardening and homesteading Emergency cooking methods Off-grid preparedness Inflation and rising food costs Supply chain disruptions Self-reliance and family preparedness Building a preparedness mindset We briefly discuss alternative cooking solutions like the Made in the USA, family-owned, veteran-owned My Solar Oven, which allows families to cook using the power of the sun without relying on electricity or fuel during emergencies or power outages. Whether you are just getting started in preparedness or already building a long-term plan for your family, this episode offers practical insights into why food security matters now more than ever. If you are concerned about inflation, economic instability, emergency preparedness, or becoming more self-reliant, this is an episode you will not want to miss. Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.net PrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins. PrepperNet Support the show Please give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com www.preppernet.com

Forrest Garvin, host of The Prepping Academy
Hosted by

Forrest Garvin

About the Show

A trusted voice in a noisy industry.

The Prepping Academy is one of the most listened-to prepper podcasts in the country, covering emergency preparedness, survival skills, homesteading, and self-reliance. We've hosted some of the biggest names in the space — from former special operators to homestead pioneers — and we keep showing up because the work matters.

No fear sales. No fluff. Just the hard-earned knowledge you need to take care of the people you love when things get hard.

9+

Seasons

247+

Episodes

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Solar Cooking with the My Solar Oven
EP 014
35 min

May 12, 2026

Solar Cooking with the My Solar Oven

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive deep into the world of solar cooking with the new My Solar Oven — a family-owned, veteran-owned, Made in the USA solar oven designed for preparedness, off-grid living, homesteading, emergency cooking, camping, and self-reliance. If you have ever wondered how solar ovens work, what foods you can cook with solar power, or why thousands of preparedness-minded families are turning to solar cooking, this episode is for you. We discuss the history of solar ovens, the benefits of cooking without electricity or fuel, and why solar cooking has become increasingly important amid rising energy costs, natural disasters, power grid concerns, and supply chain uncertainty. Learn how a solar oven can help you prepare meals with only the power of the sun, reducing your dependence on propane, charcoal, wood, or electricity. In this podcast, we also discuss practical preparedness, emergency cooking, off-grid cooking solutions, and sustainable living. You’ll hear real-world examples of what can be cooked in a solar oven, including bread, meats, vegetables, soups, desserts, and freeze-dried meals. Whether you are a prepper, homesteader, RV traveler, camper, or someone looking for alternative cooking methods, this episode will open your eyes to the possibilities of solar cooking technology. My Solar Oven is proudly family-owned, veteran-owned, and manufactured in the USA. Built with durability and long-term preparedness in mind, the My Solar Oven is designed to help families become more resilient and self-reliant during emergencies and everyday life. Topics covered include: Solar cooking for beginners Emergency preparedness cooking Off-grid cooking solutions Homesteading and self-reliance Sustainable cooking methods Cooking during power outages Solar oven meal ideas Preparedness gear and survival cooking Why solar ovens matter in 2026 and beyond If you are interested in preparedness, survival skills, emergency cooking, renewable energy, homesteading, or living more independently, this is an episode you do not want to miss. Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.net PrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins. PrepperNet Support the show Please give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com www.preppernet.com

Communications Vunerabilites
EP 013
30 min

May 7, 2026

Communications Vunerabilites

Send us Fan Mail Our critical infrastructure faces multiple threats from physical security, cyber security, rust, and corporate profit over resilience. In this episode of Grid Down Comms Up, we discuss some of the threats our communications systems face to better understand how they might fail and how we can plan for those failures. Grid Down Comms Up takes listeners for a brief peek behind the fragile veil of our communications systems. Preview: The systems we built during the Cold War are being rapidly replaced by less resilient, more profitable systems every day. Area Study Map Discount code: griddowncommsup Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.net PrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins. PrepperNet Support the show Please give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com www.preppernet.com

2FA: The Simple Step That Stops Most Hacks
EP 012
19 min

May 5, 2026

2FA: The Simple Step That Stops Most Hacks

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin breaks down one of the most important—and overlooked—steps you can take to protect your digital life: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Most people rely solely on passwords, but they get stolen every day through data breaches, phishing, and simple attacks. This episode explains how 2FA works, why it’s so effective, and how it can stop the vast majority of account takeovers. You’ll learn the different types of 2FA, which ones are secure, and which ones to avoid. From authenticator apps to hardware keys, Forrest walks through what you should be using right now to protect your email, banking, crypto, and more. Topics covered: What 2FA is and how it works Why passwords alone are no longer enough The difference between SMS, apps, and hardware keys Common attacks like phishing and SIM swapping How to properly secure your accounts From a preparedness standpoint, this is about access control—protecting your digital life the same way you protect your home and resources. Most people get hacked because they’re easy targets. Don’t be one of them. Garvin Academy Free Webinars: https://prepperfinds.com/free-webinars Join PrepperNet.Net - https://www.preppernet.net PrepperNet is an organization of like-minded individuals who believe in personal responsibility, individual freedoms and preparing for disasters of all origins. PrepperNet Support the show Please give us 5 Stars! www.preppingacademy.com Daily deals for preppers, survivalists, off-gridders, homesteaders https://prepperfinds.com www.preppernet.com

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Forrest Garvin is the founder of PrepperNet, PrepperShowsUSA, PrepperFinds, and the Garvin Network of brands serving the preparedness community. He's interviewed authors, ex-military operators, homesteaders, and survival experts — pulling out the practical answers his audience came for.

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