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.

Communications Vunerabilites
Now Playing · EP 13

May 7, 2026 · 30 min

Communications Vunerabilites

0:000:00

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

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

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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

Stay the Course
EP 011
25 min

April 28, 2026

Stay the Course

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Prepping Academy Podcast, Forrest Garvin discusses one of the biggest problems in the preparedness community: people stop preparing when things feel normal. When shelves are full and life feels stable, most people drift away from preparedness. But that’s exactly when you should be building skills, strengthening your plan, and staying connected. This episode breaks down the cycle of prepping, why complacency is dangerous, and how to stay consistent even when there’s no immediate threat. Topics covered: Why do people stop preparing when times are good The cycle of fear, action, and complacency Why preparedness must become a lifestyle How to stay consistent without burnout The importance of community and staying connected Preparedness isn’t something you start during a crisis—it’s something you build over time. Stay ready. Stay consistent. Stay the course. PrepperNet.com 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 www.preppernet.com

7 Steps to Take Back Your Online Privacy
EP 010
33 min

April 21, 2026

7 Steps to Take Back Your Online Privacy

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 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.

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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