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.

7 Steps to Take Back Your Online Privacy
Now Playing · EP 10

April 21, 2026 · 33 min

7 Steps to Take Back Your Online Privacy

0:000:00

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin breaks down 7 simple steps you can take right now to regain control of your online privacy. Most people don’t realize how much of their life is being tracked, stored, and sold—from emails and searches to phones and smart devices. This episode walks you through practical, real-world actions to reduce your digital footprint and protect your personal information. This isn’t complicated tech talk. These are straightforward steps anyone can follow to stop being the product and start taking control. Topics covered: Why your data is constantly being tracked and sold How email providers monitor your communications Safer browser and search alternatives The truth about smartphones and tracking Why smart devices may be listening in your home How to clean your system and reduce tracking Adding a layer of protection with VPNs and secure messaging From a preparedness standpoint, privacy is not optional—it’s part of protecting yourself, your family, and your future. If you want to stop being tracked and start taking control, this episode will show you how. Free Webinar: https://prepperfinds.com/free-webinars PrepperFinds.com 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 Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRT www.forrestgarvin.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

4.7M

Downloads

Recent Episodes

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The Last Scenario: The Ultimate Prepping Game That Tests Your Survival Strategy
EP 009
23 min

April 14, 2026

The Last Scenario: The Ultimate Prepping Game That Tests Your Survival Strategy

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin introduces The Last Scenario —a preparedness game he created to train decision-making when everything goes wrong. This isn’t entertainment. It’s a real-world simulation designed to expose the gaps in your planning before a crisis happens. Most people focus on gear, food, and supplies—but when pressure hits, they freeze. Why? Because they’ve never been forced to think through real scenarios, make hard decisions, or face uncomfortable outcomes. The Last Scenario changes that. In this episode, Forrest walks through why he created the game, how it works, and how you can use it with your family, group, or community to sharpen your mindset and prepare for situations most people avoid thinking about. You’ll hear examples of real scenarios that challenge your judgment, test your priorities, and force you to answer the question: What would you do? Topics covered: Why most preppers fail under pressure The difference between gear and mindset How The Last Scenario was created Using scenario-based training to prepare for real life Examples of difficult survival decisions Because when things collapse, you won’t rise to the occasion… You’ll fall back on your training. The question is—have you trained your mind? https://lastscenario.com/ 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 Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRT www.forrestgarvin.com

Preppers Will Starve!
EP 008
35 min

March 24, 2026

Preppers Will Starve!

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we discuss the impacts of food production caused by the war in Iran. Natural gas from the Middle East is a key component in chemical fertilizers. What would a world without chemical fertilizers look like? How long would it take us to convert to regenerative farming practices? Are you prepared for the disruptions in toxic agriculture? What are some practical steps you can take to start building healthy soil and building topsoil to grow some part of your own food? 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 Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRT www.forrestgarvin.com

Patrick from Grid Down Comms UP looks at an Awesome New Software - Area Study Map
EP 007
22 min

February 28, 2026

Patrick from Grid Down Comms UP looks at an Awesome New Software - Area Study Map

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Patrick from Grid Down Comms UP looks at an awesome new software to move your Area Study into the 21st century. No more kindergarten crayons and construction paper, a real solution to your Areas Study mapping needs. Area Study Map is a personal reconnaissance tool that runs entirely in your browser — no accounts, no cloud, no data leaving your machine. Map population density, mark water sources, log supply caches, and build layered intelligence overlays for the terrain that matters most: yours. When cell towers go dark and roads close, the people who already know their ground are the ones who stay ahead. This isn't paranoia — it's the most practical thing you can do before you need to. Get $50 OFF with our coupon: GRIDDOWNCOMMSUP or just use this link: https://areastudymap.com/?coupon=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 Contact us: https://preppingacademy.com/contact/ www.preppernet.net Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3lheTRT www.forrestgarvin.com

The Prepping Academy Report

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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.

247+

Episodes

9+

Seasons

4.7M

Downloads

"We're not here to scare anyone. We're here to give people the skills, community, and confidence to take care of their families — no matter what comes next."

— Forrest Garvin, Founder

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