Survival Strategies for a Societal Collapse - with Special Guest Dr. Drew Miller

In this conversation, Sam Fischer interviews Dr. Drew Miller, a retired Air Force Colonel and survivalist, about the concept of survival in the face of potential societal collapse. They discuss the formation of Fortitude Ranch, a survival community designed to prepare for various threats, including pandemics and grid failures. Dr. Miller emphasizes the importance of community, training, and resource management in ensuring survival during crises. The conversation also touches on food sources, bartering items, and the skills necessary for members of the community to thrive in a post-collapse world. In this conversation, Dr. Drew Miller discusses the various aspects of survival in the event of a societal collapse, including nutrition, training, and the importance of community preparedness. He emphasizes the role of the Collapse Survivor app in educating individuals on survival strategies and the need for businesses to adapt to potential crises. The discussion also covers the structure and governance of Fortitude Ranch, a community designed for survival, and reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study for future threats.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Survival and Fortitude Ranch
03:10 Understanding Threats and Collapse
06:03 Preparing for a Grid Down Scenario
09:01 Community Structure and Member Skills
12:07 Training and Resource Management
15:01 Food Sources and Sustainability
17:56 Bartering and Valuable Resources
24:40 Survival Strategies and Nutrition in a Collapse
26:44 The Collapse Survivor App: Training for Preparedness
28:11 Consulting for Business Resilience
30:51 Fortitude Ranch: Locations and Shelter Design
36:49 Governance and Structure at Fortitude Ranch
43:17 Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic and Future Threats

Takeaways

• Drew Miller emphasizes the increasing probability of societal collapse due to various threats.
• Fortitude Ranch is designed as a survival community to prepare for potential disasters.
• The community structure is crucial for defense against marauders during a collapse.
• Training and resource management are essential for survival in a crisis.
• Food sources include gardening, hunting, and stockpiling non-perishable items.
• Ammunition is considered a valuable barter item in a collapse scenario.
• Gold may not hold value in a post-collapse economy, unlike food and ammunition.
• Members of Fortitude Ranch come from diverse backgrounds, including military and civilian professionals.
• The community is equipped to operate without electricity, relying on wood stoves and manual labor.
• Survival skills training is provided to ensure all members can contribute effectively. The health of members may improve during a collapse.
• Increased physical activity will be necessary for survival.
• Survival is primarily about obtaining calories, not perfect nutrition.
• The Collapse Survivor app offers valuable prepper education and training.
• Most businesses will struggle to survive a long-term collapse.
• Fortitude Ranch has multiple locations for member safety and shelter.
• Self-defense and community protection are critical in a collapse.
• Members of Fortitude Ranch do not have ownership rights or voting power.
• Work duties are essential for community survival and organization.
• COVID-19 was not the pandemic to fear; future threats may be more severe.