Best Practical Woodsman Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 37: DREADFUL Hurricane HELENE: Survival & Preparedness Tricks! 57:53

16d ago57:53

57:53

Lessons of survival and preparedness from Hurricane Helene, which walloped us very hard in Appalachia. Radios, walkie-talkies, HAM. Reasons every preparedness strategy must revolve around mobility on foot. Are you an older person, up in age? This doesn't necessarily mean that preparedness for foot travel is automatically out of the question. My exp…

1
Ep 36: Spectacular! Insane! Gear that Complicates Rather Than Simplifies! 1:03:54

1M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

You won’t believe your peepers! Backpacking, wilderness, bushcraft, woodsman gear that complicates the woods, rather than simplifies life in the woods. Simplify, simplify, simply. K.I.S.S. Modern technology is fantastic in so many ways, offering so many possibilities. But does most of it really SIMPLIFY the outdoor experience? Or does it simply cre…

1
Ep 35: Survival in Sahara Desert! 47:21

2M ago47:21

47:21

I'm taking you with me on an adventure of survival into the Sahara Desert, whether you like it or not. Come along with me, I have a special machine that is going to take us back to the year 1994 where we'll watch Mauro Prosperi get himself into trouble. Desert survival has long been a fascination of mine, I wonder if it's a fascination of yours, to…

1
Ep 34: Woodsman Knives, Hatchets, Folding Saws, Machetes! 1:16:55

3M ago1:16:55

1:16:55

A fantastic discussion about (mostly) affordable knives, hatchets, folding saws and machetes! Which one is the most important? Why? In what areas do each really shine out in the woods in practical, real-life scenarios? How can you get your own and save a bunch of money doing it? Join us at thepracticalwoodsman.locals.com, or by downloading the Loca…

1
Ep 33: Spectacular! Sexiest Woodsman Ever Born! Secrets to Perfect Campsites! 59:23

3M ago59:23

59:23

How to ensure you always have the perfect, pristine camp! Most people rely on pre-determined, pre-made campsites where somebody else has already done all f the work in selecting location, creating a fire ring, picking out level ground. Let's talk instead about MAKING YOUR OWN camp, and the various considerations involved with that. Also, we will ta…

1
Ep 32: Love & Romance in Backcountry Wilderness! Hot! Sizzling! 1:11:17

4M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

How love and romance work deep in the backcountry woods and wilderness! How to do it and do it well! So much smooching even the wildlife will be jealous! Live up to the fantasies and let everybody leave happy and fulfilled! Also, how to appreciate other delicious moments in the woods even when conditions make it challenging. Join our online communi…

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Ep 31: Spectacular Bug-Out Bag Secrets! Skills to Never Go Hungry! 55:11

5M ago55:11

55:11

You'll always have food! Far beyond the realm of fantasy and fiction! Folks everywhere doubled over in amazement, not hunger! Subscribe to the video episodes of The Practical Woodsman Adventures and Exclusives on YouTube and Rumble! Join our online community at thepracticalwoodsman.locals.com, or by downloading the Locals.com app from the App Store…

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Ep 30: Delightfully Absurd 'Bushcraft' Videos. Folks can't get enough of em! 58:13

6M ago58:13

58:13

This episode dedicated to the memory of Hobo Shoestring, aka Mark Nichols. The importance of reviews and the stupidity of those leaving them. Three absurd video types the most popular 'bushcrafters' out there are making, and the reasons they are absurd. My favorite people on the internet talking about the same sorts of things I am, my admiration fo…

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Ep 29: Greatest Survival Movies of All Time 1:28:52

6M ago1:28:52

1:28:52

Do you love survival skills? Do you love movies, too? Here's forty-one of the greatest sorta-OK not-too-shabby survival movies of all time, split up into six different lists, and the reasons why they're the best. They all have flaws, but all offer worthwhile insights at the same time. Join our online community at thepracticalwoodsman.locals.com, or…

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Ep 28: The Best Backpack Gear Load of All Time 1:23:50

7M ago1:23:50

1:23:50

You folks listening to the audio-only version will have to use your imaginations! A backpack loaded with just the right things, food included, that could keep me alive in the backcountry for weeks. Had to unload after a great excursion into the backcountry, and decided to share all of the different items from my backpack with you. Very satisfied wi…

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Ep 27: Planning Mobility into Your Preparedness: Tarps, Tents, Shelters 1:03:55

8M ago1:03:55

1:03:55

Anybody giving you the idea that you’re going to be able to build a play fort in the woods and just stay there for an extended time in an emergency is ridiculous. Real survival and preparedness inherently involves a mentality of staying mobile, travel on foot, and carrying necessities on your back. In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of…

1
Ep 26: The Truth about Bushcraft Videos 1:00:21

8M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Realities of getting into the woods for real. The truth about "bushcraft" videos. Shopping, clothing, brands I like. Campfire stories. The fascinating, true story of Chartreuse Liqueur. Dumpster diving, coffee, and preparedness for the end of the world. Outhouses as a center for all the news in the community. Philadelphia, Boston, Appalachia. Murde…

1
Ep 25: Survival Bag for Road Trips 57:44

10M ago57:44

57:44

Staying self-sufficient while on road trips. Preparing for self-sufficiency in ways that will work for both the civilized world and the wilderness. Specific discussions around towels, soap, cups, spoons & forks, blankets, and belt knives. Some smart money-saving measures when buying gear. Ocean currents. Real-life stories about the sea and bears. J…

1
Ep 24: Stay Away from the Edge 1:02:51

11M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

The illogical urge to stand right on the edge, and why you shouldn't do this. The Idiot-Proof Zone: What it is and how you can apply it to various aspects of life. The Instagram/Selfie Age. Book recommendation, Over The Edge: Death in Grand Canyon. The book and movie A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Cost/Benefit analysis in everything you do in …

1
Ep 23: When You’re Sick & Alone in Winter Woods 1:10:45

11M ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Coming down with the flu is rough when you're at home and have all comforts within easy reach. What about when you're alone, thirty miles in the backcountry, in the wintertime? What to do then? In this episode I talk about strategies to adopt in case this were ever to happen to you. I also discuss a list of items that would be in your best interest…

1
Ep 22: Bears, Forest Fires, Caves & Parasites 1:03:16

12M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Everybody always wants to know if I worry about the bears. News reports revealing how dumb people are with nature. Bear attack inside a Colorado hotel. Fire season in Appalachia, what it means, what's currently happening, how to live with it. Stories from the Tri-State area of West Virginia, Kentucky, and southeastern Ohio. Everything in California…

1
Ep 21: The Tragedy of Wilderness Gear 50:18

1y ago50:18

50:18

Two-thousand-year-old seeds for extinct trees are growing. The truth and tragedy of wilderness gear. A true story about Ozzie, the eagle, and the snake. Join our online community at thepracticalwoodsman.locals.com, or download the Locals.com app from the App Store and search for The Practical Woodsman within. Exclusive livestreams there Saturdays. …

1
Ep 20: Solar Powering Your Bug-Out Bag 55:55

1y ago55:55

55:55

All about solar chargers, solar panels, power banks, everything you need to take into consideration and be aware of. Different types, different styles. The ones that perform well and why, and the ones that perform poorly, and why. The proper way to use a solar charger and the wrong way. The absolute best portable solar charger on the market that I …

1
Ep 19: Classifying Wild Edibles (and Sissies) 57:24

1y ago57:24

57:24

Pokeweed, acorns, cattails, 'sours', mushrooms, fungi, and more! My two primary categories for wild edibles, and how to become comfortable with the idea of experimenting with them. Also, as The Practical Woodsman accumulates viewers, I've started noticing patterns in people, so I've started categorizing them as well! Let's see which one you fall in…

1
Ep 18: The Art of Doing Without 1:05:41

1y ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Getting by in the woods with less. The art of doing without. Distinguishing luxuries from true necessities. More talk about the fake, play-pretend 'bushcrafters' out there. The Bear Grylls Bullcrap Effect. What being out in real backcountry or wilderness really means. Learning to play the Cost/Benefit game. Leaving one reality for another. Stories …

1
Ep 17: My 20 Most Terrifying Moments in the Woods 1:22:39

1y ago1:22:39

1:22:39

Haints, Boogers (Bigfoot), Ghosts, Animal Encounters, Medical Emergencies, Strangers & Weirdos, Unexplained events, Really disturbing murders. It's just you and me around the campfire on this episode and I want to tell you all about the most terrifying moments that I have experienced in my lifetime out in the woods, the backcountry, the natural wor…

1
Ep 16: Old Ways Vs.The New 1:00:29

1y ago1:00:29

1:00:29

The old bushcraft gear and ways of doing things of the frontiersmen and woodsmen of times past, versus the new, modern, hippie backpacking gear and ways of doing things. A true story about Earl Shaffer, the first man to ever thru-hike the infamous Appalachian Trail: Walking With Spring. Cotton canvas army pup tents are a lot of fun, but they're hea…

1
Ep 15: The Woods & LANTERNS 1:14:58

1+ y ago1:14:58

1:14:58

Lanterns are something I really enjoy taking with me into the woods. This is something relatively new for me, since I've gone without one for most of my life in the interest of keeping things as simple as possible. Over the years though, I've learned that the right lantern can justify its place in my pack. But not just any lantern will do! In this …

1
Ep 14: Why Others Die in What You ”Would Have Survived” 56:01

1+ y ago56:01

56:01

The real killer out in the wilderness may not be Mother Nature, but rather Attitude. The story of Wall Street trader Ekaterina Matrosova and the White Mountains. A personal experience of my own of finding myself overwhelmed and in over my head. "Unknown unknowns". The reason I hate locator beacons. What I personally find most difficult when it come…

1
Ep 13: Feeling Out Your Topo Map 57:09

1+ y ago57:09

57:09

Topographical maps allow you to get a feel for the woods before you ever get out there. I try never to go into the woods without a couple of them. In this episode I talk about how I use topo maps to get a pretty accurate idea of of what it’s going to feel like in the backcountry long before my feet ever hit the trail. Also, I tell the story of Will…

1
Ep 12: Tales & Gear for Summer. Poop Stories. 1:04:56

1+ y ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Let me show you what I have in my pack for an upcoming multi-day and night excursion in mountain backcountry wilderness. I give you an up-close and personal look at my handmade shoulder pouch for my water bottle & mug set, and I tell you why I had to resort to making my own. An update about my recent litter of pups. My commentary on some recent pos…

1
Ep 11: The Woodsman & DOGS. Plus: 7 Secrets for Staying Warm in the Cold Woods 1:08:58

1+ y ago1:08:58

1:08:58

Without a dog, you can't be fully equipped as a woodsman. My dog Bradbury ("Braddy"), his passing, and some stories of our adventures together. New puppies, new beginnings. Dogs as an early-warning system: They can sense what you cannot. Getting bitten by a timber rattlesnake. Training a companion dog for the woods starts right away. Lies and myths…

1
Ep 10: Nineteen Tips for When You’re Lost 57:41

1+ y ago57:41

57:41

Nineteen tips for when you're lost. Why burning a bit of your plastic in the wilderness is ok. Why 'cooking' in packaging is stupid. The wisdom of carrying a kettle. The good and bad about Bear Grylls. Building rafts in real life ain't anything like you imagine. Hypothermia and hyperthermia ain't anything to take lightly, or to walk around thinking…

1
Ep 9: Food, Booze & Gadgets 42:59

1+ y ago42:59

42:59

This was recorded primarily for video format. Please subscribe to The Practical Woodsman on YouTube, Rumble & Locals to view. Filmed (recorded) in November, right before The Practical Woodsman, Adventure 10: 'A Few Tricks in the Frozen Backcountry'. Published now for your enjoyment. Food, booze, gadgets and more for winter excursions. Things to thi…

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Ep 8: Seven Things Wrong with Your Bug-Out Bag 1:20:13

1+ y ago1:20:13

1:20:13

7 Things Wrong with Your Emergency Bug-Out Bag. My four primary areas of preparedness. The concept of being able to help without taking a personal loss. A comprehensive look at my personal emergency bug-out bags, and the reasons for why I include certain things and not others. Some of the gear featured here: L.L. Bean Ridge Runner 26 backpack, Bore…

1
Ep 7: Why Complicate Wilderness Survival? 56:50

1+ y ago56:50

56:50

Simple and easy is almost always best when in the woods, but all of the messengers want to convince you of the opposite: They want you to get sucked down the black hole of what is most elaborate or complex. Don't overcomplicate your fires, your food, or anything else for that matter. GPS can overcomplicate things. Not knowing how to use your cuttin…

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Ep 6: Backpacking Water Filters Are A Gimmick 1:00:43

1+ y ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Finding Clean Drinking Water in the Backcountry. Some brief discussions about what is the most important consideration in the woods. What is most important: Shelter, food, fire, or water? The mountain lion I encountered. The time I had a parasite under my skin. The reason backpacking water filters are a money-making gimmick. How to find clean, natu…

1
Ep 5: Bushcraft, Survival, Backpacking, Corrupted! 1:05:35

1+ y ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Watch me eat lots of crow, admit I'm wrong, and ask for forgiveness. I plead for your help with something I am working on and I appeal to others who share similar attitudes to me. Terminology has been corrupted - why 'bushcraft', 'survival', 'wilderness backpacking' have strayed from the ideals that they once represented. John Muir. Simon Kenton. W…

1
Ep 4: Trekking Poles are Dumb 52:05

2y ago52:05

52:05

The difference between hiking, backpacking, and 'camping', and sex with no intention of ever having an orgasm - what's the point? Modern camping is not a real outdoor activity. Wilderness backpacking as an activity inherently includes both hiking and camping. But hiking as an activity does not inherently involve backpacking or camping at all. And c…

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Ep 3: Outdoor Hats Ain’t For Indiana Jones Make-Believe 1:00:32

2y ago1:00:32

1:00:32

All about outdoor hats for survival, bushcraft, and wilderness backpacking. Do 'outdoor hats' like fedoras, cowboy hats, Australian outback hats, and so forth, serve legitimate purposes out in the backcountry? Or is it all for vanity and show? Is it just part of an 'outdoorsman costume'? Are there good reasons to make a brimmed hat a permanent part…

1
Ep 2: Overlooked Survival Tips 1:24:20

2y ago1:24:20

1:24:20

Why practicing bow-drill fires is impractical and silly in most cases. The true nature of most true survival situations. Why emphasis on catching wild game in true survival situations is ridiculous. Five practical tips for how to normalize the idea of eating bugs for yourself, and why this is important. The basic items I always carry in my right po…

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Ep 1: Bushcraft & Survival Lies 1:02:29

2y ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Happy to have you here for the very first episode of The Practical Woodsman podcast. What will it become? Who knows? But ain't it exciting to be at the beginning of something new! In this episode, we talk about the lies that 'bushcrafters' and 'survivalists' are telling you on an everyday basis, and why these things are lies. Also, I explain why I …

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