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In The Rabbit Hole Urban Survival

discusses survival, preparedness, guns, tactical, urban homesteading, personal safety, food storage, gear reviews, and other topics with ACTIONABLE information every Monday with a comedic twist and NO TIGHT TINFOIL HATS.
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In The Rabbit Hole Urban Survival
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Now displaying: April, 2016
Apr 27, 2016

The final episode of this season, season 5, will be on May 25. ITRH will return August 1st for Season 6. You will be getting the now traditional summer shorts episodes roughly every 3 weeks while the show is on summer break.

Angery American Topics Discussed:

  • How did Chris get into writing?
  • Why the extra E in the Angery American nom de plume?
  • What's the significance of having the word home in every title?
  • What inspired Chris to write The Survivalist Series?
  • How should readers expect to connect with the main character?
  • How does the surviving home series start?
  • Does Chris intentionally write to fit in survival tips?
  • What disaster is Chris prepping for?
  • Does he consider himself a prepper or a survivalist or is there a distinction for him?
  • What authors inspire Chris?
  • What's his number one survivalist pet peeve?
  • What's his go to rifle?
  • What's the best $100 dollars he ever spent on preparedness?
  • What should readers expect from him the future?

This episode is brought to you by Audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at Audibletrial.com/itrh. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

Special Note:

The final episode of this season, season 5, will be on May 25. ITRH will return August 1st for Season 6. You will be getting the now traditional summer shorts episodes roughly every 3 weeks while the show is on summer break.

Become a supporting member here:

http://www.itrh.net

~ Resources from this episode can be found at:

http://www.intherabbithole.com/e168

Apr 25, 2016

In this episode we sit down with Bob Hill; knife maker, kydex maker, and owner of Bob Hill Blades. He's going to share with us the basics of knife making, how to work with Kydex, and a host of other maker topics.

~ Knife Making and Kydex Making Topics Discussed:

* How does someone start learning to make knives?
* How much tooling up does it take to get into knife making?
* How do you determine what angle to put on a knife and does the metal play any part in it?
* How long does it take to become proficient at knife making?
* Why has Kydex almost replaced leather for holsters and knife sheathes?
* What tools would they need for Kydex sheath and holster making?
* How expensive is it for a hobbyist to get started making things in Kydex?
* Besides holsters and knife sheathes, what else can you make out of Kydex?

~ Quick Takeaways from this Knife Making and Kydex Making Episode:

*// What's the best way for someone to learn knife making?

What I would suggest to a lot of folks... a number of the supply companies... professional companies where they host grind-ins or hammer-ins... there're clubs that hosts those... a buddy of mine Mike Stewart, he owns Bark River Knives... he hosts three grind-ins a year. And you can go in and see the full process of how they make a knife. And you actually go in and you make a knife. You do as little or as much as you want.

*// What's the learning curve on making a knife?

The people I've had come here to my shop to learn how to make a knife [...] to really achieve what they have in their mind, it can take a few blades. But the actual getting something functional, might not be pretty, but it'll get the job done, not that bad. I'd say one weekend. [...] That includes some of the metallurgy as well.

*// How much tooling up does it take to make knives?

You can make a knife with just files. [...] Action filing. You're using files to a fairly high tolerance. Like thousands of an inch. [...] I filed out a small drop point hunter on a Saturday.

[For the beginner] forging, I'm a big fan of the gas air forge. [...] You can build your own for about fifty to sixty dollars. [...] You need to have a good anvil and a good base. Then you're going to buy a ton of hammers. [...] You'll evolve into it. [...] But if someone wants to do hobby where they do stock removal, really you could get away with [...] you need some kind of belt grinder to be able to remove material and be able to shape the knife... grind the bevels. Basically take away all the material that isn't the knife. [...] You'll use that on everything whether you're doing Kydex, or leather sheathes... you'll use that to sharpen the knife if you have a good variable speed one and the appropriate belts. It's the tool that you use the most. [...] I would be looking at the 2 inch by 72 inch belts; they're the standard. They're a bit more expensive, but if you're really really wanting to throw down into it. [...]

*// Where does forging come in?

Forging is nice if you want to be efficient with the materials. [...] It can also be very helpful if you know what you're doing with the heat treating to actually refine the grain structure. [...] They'll anneal out any of the grain structure that they create into it. [...] It ends up being as if it was a homogeneous piece of steel. [...] With forging, you can really go fast getting the material shaped...

*// In layman's terms, why does the grain structure of a knife matter?

They're not even going to see it. That's going to be the polish and the finish. [...] I'll make word carving chisels for people that have to have a degree of spring. The way that I'm doing those, I want the grain structure to be a certain way so they'll be strong when they're flexing. [...] It's like that last 5% of performance they're trying to get out of it.

*// How important is blade geometry?

The overall geometry is probably the most important aspect of it [knives]. [...] The basics of the edges where you have hollow grind or a concave grind [...] it'll have a radius [facing into the blade]. Then you'll have falt grind and your convex [grind - radius facing out]. The strongest edge, of course, is convex. Next is the flat grind. Then the hollow grind. Depending upon what you're cutting, if you'll notice the straight razors and things like that, they'll be hollow grind. It's a very feather edge--it's very light; not very strong. Flat grind kind of in-between can be very very sharp, but a little bit stronger. Then convex, which can also be ridiculously sharp, but stronger still. [...] But grinding, setting your edge, and having it be geared towards the task you want to achieve. [For example] all of my camp knives are going to be convex and fairly tall grinds. They're not going to be a super thin edge, but still convex so that it spreads [...] if you're chopping into something it spreads. It's not going to be a hollow grind where the edges would bite whatever you're chopping into.

Then the other geometry, like point geometry, if you're having to us it to piece into something. Rocker. [...] kitchen knives I'll obsess over the rocker. The angle of the handle depending on how tall the person is... for the ergonomics. [...] The height thing in particular, I'll hand somebody who's like s 5'-5" one knife and they go, "this is terrible!" Then I'll hand them another one and they'll say, "this is fantastic!" Exactly the same blade geometry, but the only difference is the angle of the handle.

*// Why has Kydex taken off in the knife and tactical world?

One is cost. And time. Leather takes a little bit more time. [...] I've lost knives. [...] We were soaking wet and my leather sheath got so soft that the knife just fell out. I don't have to worry about that with Kydex.

The leather costs more than the Kydex by four fold. [...] Kydex is fast; I can make a good sheath in 15 minutes. [...] A good leather one [...] that can take me four hours.

Is it true that leather can hold dirt and debris that damages the gun or knife while Kydex doesn't

Generally with leather, where people let the stuff get a little bit wet and then the salts come out of the leather... cause damage to the material [metal]... I see that more often than any kind of debris or detritus that would have been in the sheath or the holster.

If you take care of it and you don't store it in it, leather is just great. You can get abrasive material in either or. It's maintenance. You have to clean and oil your leather. You have to clean your Kydex sheaths and holsters.

What is the learning curve on working with Kydex?

Kydex is pretty straight forward. [...] Kydex is the trade name; there are a lot of thermally moldable pastics you can get. [...] You get the sheet from the manufacturer and it'll tell you what the working temperature is. Basically you heat it up to it's working temperature. And you do it gradually. And then [...] with a vacum press or a foam press [...] you compress the plastic over whatever it is you want to form it to. Once it cools down it's in that shape. [...] Then cut [...] and put grommets/rivets in it. [...] Grind the edges. Buff it. Then you're done, really. [...] You may have to relax it a little with a heat gun.

What tools do you need for making things with Kydex?

* Something to cut it on.
* A box cutter.
* A hand drill.
* Appropriate size drill bits for the grommets you'll use.
* Grommet set.
* Buffer
* Grinder
* Something to heat it up on.
* A hot gun [digital infrared thermometer]
* Foam and build your on press.

~ Special Note:

The final episode of this season, season 5, will be on May 25. ITRH will return August 1st for Season 6. You will be getting the now traditional summer shorts episodes roughly every 3 weeks while the show is on summer break.

~ Become a supporting member here:

http://www.itrh.net

~ Resources from this episode can be found at:

http://www.intherabbithole.com/e167

Apr 18, 2016

In this episode we sit down with Jason Hanson, found of Spy Escape and Evasion. He's going to share with us some of his CIA training that may just save you're life.

~ Spy Escape and Evasion Topics Discussed:~

* What is the life of the average CIA agent really like?
* How did Jason Hanson's journey start?
* What is the CIA training like?
* Why did he leave the CIA?
* What was the most important thing he learned while working for the CIA?
* What skills did he get out of his time in the CIA?
* What kind of people are signing up for civilian escape and evasion training?
* Is there an increase in people becoming concerned about they're safety?
* Why is learning about Escape and Evasion an important thing for the average person who is not a big corp CEO or political figure?
* What are the main lessons and skills does he teach students for surviving a kidnapping?
* What are the EDC items Jason recommends and carries himself?
* What hand-to-hand selfdefense methods does he teach?
* What weapons does Jason recommend?
* Are tactical pens useful and can they be carried on planes?
* What are some simple things people can do to avoid being a target of a kidnapping or violent encounter?
* How can people protect themselves while traveling?
* Can kids be trained in escape and evasion tactics to survive, or even break free, of a kidnapping?

~ Special Note:~

The final episode of this season, season 5, will be on May 25. ITRH will return August 1st for Season 6. You will be getting the now traditional summer shorts episodes roughly every 3 weeks while the show is on summer break.

~ Become a supporting member here:

http://www.itrh.net

~ Resources from this episode can be found at:

http://www.intherabbithole.com/e166


~ Quick Takeaways from this Episode:~

What's the most important skill you learned in the CIA and teach?

The most important thing I learned [...] and it's the foundation of everything I of everything else... that's situational awareness. Because if you're not aware, it doesn't matter if you're a great shot with a gun: You'll never see the threat coming... you'll never draw your gun in time. If you're not aware you'll never see that carjacker and you'll be dead and never have a chance to use your evasive driving moves. So really... remaining in condition yellow, which is Jeff Cooper's color code</a>, having your head up and aware of your surroundings, that's the most important thing. [...] If you're head is down, if you're texting, if you can't see that threat coming nothing else matters.

Why does the average person need this training?

Because it makes you safer in all areas of your life. So the average crime is a crime of opportunity. It's some criminal, for instance, who has a drug addition. And he's standing at your local mall and he's saying "I'm going to watch the entrance and I'm going to target the easiest victim" [...] So if you learn spy skills such as knowing if someone is following you or becoming a human lie detector [...] if you know these skills you'll be able to go home.

How hard is it to learn lie detection?

Lie detection is not as difficult as you think. There are many different signals. [...] It's several hours I spend on it in my course, but I can share one of the tips with you today that's one of the many things you look for: When you ask someone a question, pay attention to the first three to five seconds of their response. So most people are not born to lie. [...] But when you ask questions [...] honest people doen't hesitate. [...] dishonest people, because we're not born to lie, they pause and by time because their brain has to come up with a lie.

How do we tell if we're being followed?

In the spy world we have what's called a surveillance protection route. That's a very fancy way of saying just don't go from point A to point B. [...] Go from A to B to C so you can see if you're being followed. [...] If you see the same person there that's a good clue your being followed. [...] Exactly, you're forcing them into a pattern. Your forcing them to get out of a natural state. [...] Going to three different sections, the chances that that same guy is going to follow you and do that is very very slim. So you're probably being followed.

What skills does someone need to survive a kidnapping?

During the two day spy course we teach people how to: escape duck tape, escape rope, pick handcuffs using a hair barret and bobby pen, lock picking, lie detection, hot-wiring a car, and self defense moves.

We train people, in a way, to become a professional hostage. [...] Leave evidence to make yourself easier to find. [...] So gag yourself so you throw up. That way you're leaving DNA and all this trace evidence. You want to cut yourself, if you can. Not so you bleed to death. [...] just a little blood. [...] wipe it under a table [...] not on top of the table, so it's harder to find [...] go to a corner of the carpet, rip it up, and put blood under the carpet. So you want to leave this trail. That way your family can say to the FBI, "Hey, John was professionally trained as a hostage. He knows to leave clues. Make sure your ripping up the corners of the carpet. Make sure you're checking under tables. That way the FBI doens't just look around walk out. They actually take a lot of time."

If you fought like crazy and ended up in that [kidnapper's] van [...] that's when you switch to looking soft. [...] I'm acting sheepish and wimpish [...] this guys a wimp. He's not causing trouble. Just throw him in the corner. [...] You clearly don't want more security on you. [...] It gives me more of an opportunity to escape, because there less security on me... they're paying less attention to me.

Are there cues people give off that attract criminals?

Absolutely. [...] That bad guys sees [...] He/she is walking around. They've scanned. They've made eye contact with me. [...] A while back [...] There was a study [by researches Betty Grayson and Morris I. Stein], [...] it showed it doesn't matter if your a fourfoot tall women. The guys [criminals] would not attack the person walking tall who's head is up. They would attack the person who was slouching, who's head is down, and didn't look like they were paying attention or knew where they were going.

What can we do to keep ourselves safe while traveling?

There's so much! [...] I'll give you a hotel tip. [...] any time you check into a hotel the hotel representative usually asks you, "Ms Jones, how many keys would you like?" Walks say, "Two keys." [...] criminals will sit there in hotel lobis [...] they'll case it. And if they see a woman go up and ask for one key, they think to themselves well this woman is probably alone, we know we can go attack her, there's probably going to be less people to fight off. So... I travel alone the majority of the time, but no matter what I always ask for two keys. That way, if someone is listening they hopefully think I'm with someone else.

[...] try to stay between the third and sixth floor of a hotel. [...] Lower floors make it easier for a criminal to go break and quickly run out. [...] The reason you don't want to stay on floor 87 incase there was a hotel fire. Obviously 87 floors is a long way to get down to safety. Plus, here in the US, firetruck ladders only go up to the sixth floor.

Apr 11, 2016

In this episode we sit down with Sam Coffman, founder of The Human path. We’re going to discuss going beyond first aid, his survival school, and herbal medicine without the nonsense.

Sam is known for running one of the most respected survival, emergency wilderness medicine, and herbal medicine schools in the coutnry. But he's definately not what you'd expect from someone involved with herbal medicine. He's a no nonsense straight shooting kind of guy who lays it all out for us today.

Topcs Discussed:

  • Who is Sam Coffman and how did he get into herbal medicine?
  • What is he trying to accomplish with his survival school the human path?
  • How do martial arts and medicine coexist and intertwine
  • Are there formal schools for herbal medicine?
  • What is the real history of the medical and pharmacology?
  • How did herbalism devolve into woowoo silliness for a number of years?
  • What is alopathy?
  • Does herbal medicine actually work and in what instances?
  • When is conventional medcine the right choice over herbal medicine?
  • What is the correct perspective in which to understand herbal medicine?
  • What's the difference between ditch medicine, wilderness emergency medicine, and herbal medicine?
  • In a grid down situation, how much can actually be accomplished medically speaking with herbal medicine?
  • Going beyond first aid, where should preppers start getting trained in emergency medicine and herbal medicine?

 

 

  • The Human Path goes way beyond medicine. What other survival courses are taught?
  • What are the three most important things preppers need to focus on when it comes to emergency medicine?

Become a supporting member here:

http://www.itrh.net

Resources from this episode can be found at:

http://www.intherabbithole.com/e165

Apr 4, 2016

In this episode sit down with Paul Martin. He’s going to share with us lessons in making preparedness a full contact community sport. We'll also discuss practical things preppers often overlook while being distracted by the more exciting yet unlikely scenarios.

~ Topics covered in this episode:

* Who is Paul Martin?
* Mistakes all preppers make
* The impracticality of chemical attack suits
* Preparedness as a community action instead of solely going it alone
* Practical prepper advice for the NON-zombie Apocolypse emergency
* Life insurance as a prep
* Disability insurance as a prep
* Longterm care insurance as a prep
* Why is preparedness good citizenship?


~ Become a supporting member here:

http://www.itrh.net

~ Resources from this episode can be found at:

http://www.intherabbithole.com/e164

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