Expert Council Q&A – Epi-3412

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Today on The Survival Podcast the expert council answers your questions on why tyrants hate free speech, pending recession, cheating on keto, air conditioners, community, air compressors, a new fake pandemic, China playing with Ebola and more.

Make sure if you submit content for an expert council show you do the following….

  1. Email it to me at jack @ thesurvivalpodcast.com
  2. Put TSPC Expert in the subject line
  3. Ask you question and state the expert you have the question for in one coherent sentence
  4. Hit the return key a few times and then give all the details you think are necessary
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Following that procedure makes it about 100X more likely your question will get though screening and sent on to one of our experts.  All expert council members can be found on the Meet the Expert Council Page.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • In the Ron Paul Liberty Highlights – Dr. Paul & Chris Rossinni
    • Authoritarians gain and maintain power though lies – free speech is their enemy
  • The recession has been postponed but not canceled – John Pugliano
  • Understanding what happens when you “cheat” on keto – Dr. Ken Berry
  • Dealing with AC drip noise – Tim “Toolman” Cook
  • How to maintain positive relationships with your neighbors and local community – Nicole Sauce
  • Reducing the load when starting up an air compressor – Shawn Mills
  • Here comes the bullshit again, “rare undiagnosed pneumonia in cHiLdReN” and Wuhan wanted to reverse engineer Ebola – Jack

Resources for today’s show…

 

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Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

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Knipex Cobra Pliers – Item of the Day

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Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.  Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day are Knipex Cobra Pliers.  These started with a gift during set up for TSP-23 from my friend J.R. Haley.  He had a pair of the 7 inch ones and we were using them to remove hoses to blow out pipes for a coming freeze.

He showed me how they worked, how they locked in, etc.  I was done, next thing I am snagging his pair and taking a picture so I didn’t forget to buy some.  He was like, “don’t worry jack I got you”.  Later that evening he gave me a 3 piece set of a 7 inch pair, a 10 inch pair and a 12 inch pair.

Okay I am not the guy that gets “hooked” by tools but I did on these.  Since then I have purchased the two smallest versions to evaluate for EDC tools.  The five inch ones and the tiny four inchers.  They all just rock.  Why?  German engineering is why.  First all but the tiny four inchers literally lock into the size you set them.  They have a button on the back, you set the jaws where you want them and get this, THEY STAY THERE.  Why has no one thought of this till now?

It gets better the jaw design is just exceptional.  We have all gotten a set of channel lock style pliers just right, got onto a pipe, a bolt, a nut, etc. and then, they slip.  These will not slip!  You can literally lock them on a pipe and stand on them and here is the key, in one direction.  The jaw teeth are like that of a snake, back curved to bite into the stock and hold.

It gets better because the teeth are directional they also work like a ratchet.  While they won’t slip in a down motion, they easily slip in an upward motion.  And since the jaws lock to the spacing you want you can have them just barely larger then the stock.  So that bolt you can’t get a fricken ratchet on due to spacing, he is toast now, out you go bolt.

Bluntly I am never buying anything else but these for this style of tool, ever, for the rest of my life.  That brings me to options and let me just say based on the quality of these, I would buy anything Knipex makes, not just these pliers, literally anything.

Now to options, they make these in many sizes, the most popular being….

Now these are not cheap and they should not be again the engineering is amazing on them.  But there are a few ways to get the most useful sizes and a less price per each.

  • The 5 Piece Tool Roll Kit – gives you the 5 inch, 6inch, 7.25 inch, 10 inch and 12 inch for 164 bucks.  This really is the best “bang for the buck” option because they are like potato chips you will want more than just one.
  • The 3 Piece Kit – what J.R. gave me, includes the 7.25 inch,10 inch and 12 inch for 110 bucks.
  • The 8 Piece Kit – The I want it all kit, everything from 4 inch all the way to 22 for 412 bucks.
    `

I also find the 4 and 5 inch as top contenders for my EDC and I am still evaluating both.  If I find a way to cary them that I really like one or the other is likely to knock carrying a multi tool out of my EDK all together.  On multi tools the things I use most are screw drivers, a knife blade and pliers.  The Cobras are so beyond any and all multi tool pliers that I won’t even compare them.  I mean always have a knife and there are plenty of good EDC options for screw drivers.

Now clearly the 4 inch is smaller but unless you use a belt pouch the one issue both will have is they end up in the bottom of a pocket and tumble around, scratch other gear, etc.  What they need is a clip.  Well turns out the slightly larger one and by proxy you could do it with the 6 inches too, can have a clip added.  I don’t know yet how well that will work but since a clip is five bucks it is low risk to find out.

The picture to the above right is by a reviewer named Lionel.  I can’t link right to a review but it is on the page for the 5 inch set and here is what he had to say about them…

One modification I did to make this easier to carry is add a belt clip to it. I ordered one off Amazon (CIVIVI Deep Carry Pocket Clip) for 5$ and screwed it to where the small bolt that holds the button is, was a bit tricky and made sure to use removable locktight or thread sealer. No need for a carry pouch or anything of the sort that will get caught on something. These have been so good to me I decided to buy the slightly bigger pliers too.

So I will add the clip to my set of 5 inch Cobras and report back.  I am not totally sold on how they seem to lay in that image but Lionel seems happy so I will give it a try.

Let me finish with this, I know these seem expensive but all I can say is once you try them you will see they are absolutely a buy once, cry once investment.  Again I am so sold on them, I would consider Knipex for any and all future tool purchases.  You can find their entire store at the Knipex Amazon Store if you want to check out more of what they have to offer.

So this one has a lot of options and fits under hand tools and EDC at the same time.  If nothing else I recommend you pick up a 7.25 inch pair for general use and either a pair of 4 inch or 5 inch for EDC use.

Lastly Christmas is coming, admittedly you really need to like someone to give them a set of these, but as someone who received such a gift, I can tell you it is a really great thing to get.

 * Remember you can always find all of our reviews at TspAz.com

See This Video for More Info, Scale, etc.

Community vs. Collapse ~ The Power of Local Food – Epi-3411

The Survival Podcast Posted on by 2

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Bobbie Parr, a community developer in Wabigoon, Ontario, transitioned from leading a Recreation Therapy department to building a resilient local food network. Amidst COVID-19 and maternity leave, Bobbie shifted her focus, recognizing the challenges in long-term care and the need for greater food security. With her husband and two kids, she has developed a local food business, a community production kitchen, and a food co-op, all while homeschooling her children.

Her homestead lifestyle, mirroring her husband David’s childhood, emphasizes seasonal living, self-sufficiency, and a connection with nature. Their land provides an abundance of game, fish, berries, and wild mushrooms, supporting a lifestyle that combines traditional homesteading with modern entrepreneurship. Bobbie’s efforts have led to the launch of a smoked salts product line and ongoing initiatives to enhance community resilience and food independence.

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Bobbie’s Links

Video Version of Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

Join the MSB Today

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Remember in addition to discounts to over 80 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

 

TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band 6E Mesh System – Item of the Day

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SPECIAL NOTICE – MAKE SURE TO READ THE PSS BELOW BEFORE YOU BUY ANY OF THE OPTIONS HERE.

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is the TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band 6E Mesh System.  This is the best network I have ever had in my home and office and it happens to be on sale today for 20% off.  This system is not cheap but in the sub 500 dollar market in my opinion it is the very best.

Since installing it my livestreams have been flawless unless the ISP itself was having a problem.  This includes me streaming out while my Grandkids are streaming in their videos for homeschooling and my wife is messing around online at the same time.  Then there are the workshops when 70 people are pounding my network and it causes problems.  This year we never even had to turn off the guest network during live streams, the beauty is if we had needed to we could have done it in a second or two with the free app that comes with it.

The system works like this.  You select one of the devices, which one doesn’t matter, you use it to replace your existing router.  You can then set up your other devices in the locations you want signal extended from. These additional units can connect wirelessly to the one acting as a router or other devices closer to them with stronger connections to the master unit.  You can also run a hardline connection to remote units, this is what we did for the one out in my shop.

This is a smart mesh network, all the nodes are essentially the same.  Same network name, same password.  Your devices will simply connect to the one with the best signal and handoffs as you move around your home, office, etc. are seamless.  This set comes with three units, one again as the master and two that allow you to extend network reach.  You can get a set of two though if that is all you need and you can buy individual units to extend your network in the future.  Adding devices is very simple and set up is simply following the instructions and using the app, anyone can do it, even me.  Really super simple.

Lots of security features for instance when any device joins the network you get an alert that a new device has joined.  This is sent to an app on your phone and doesn’t require you to be connected to the wifi with your phone to know it.  Say you were away and someone hacked your network, you’d not only know it you could block their access in second from anywhere you have signal.

It has a guest network, and you give it its own password, you can turn that network on or off anytime you want.  You also can give priority access to select devices but I have not found doing so necessary.  One more thing, they call this line the “Deco” line with deco being an abbreviation of decoration.  Basically the point is the access points blend into your home or office.  They don’t look like obnoxious electronic devices, more like something you expect to see from a essential oil diffuser.

Anyway I want you guys to know that I researched a TON of options before deciding on these.  That research began after the wifi issues we had at TSP-22 and I didn’t buy these until July of this year.   I then used them and worked them hard and waited until after this year’s workshop (TSP-23) before recommending them to you.  Again they are not the lowest cost but they are the best in class based on my research and real world use.  So check out the TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band 6E Mesh System today.  Lastly if you don’t feel you need a top of the line solution, TP-Link Decos are available in lower options.  I am sure they all work great too, just less total network bandwidth.

One final thing, please remember with networks we have LAN (local area network) inside the customer premise and WAN (wide area network) from the demarcation point back to the ISP and out to the world.  In other words your WAN is what you buy from the service provider.  And no matter how good your LAN is, it can’t make up for your WAN.  So this nor any other network system you install will never make up for a poor quality internet connection.  What they do is give you access everywhere and allow devices to better share the network compared things like stand alone “network extenders”.

* Remember you can always find all of our reviews at TspAz.com

P.S. – Again the Deco Line has many options, I would not hesitate to use a lower cost option if I was not running a business and didn’t run events here.  I went top of the line due to the applications.  If you want to see all the options for the TP Line Check it Out Here.

P.S.S. – Amazon ReNewed also has One, Two and Three unit sets on deep discount right now util they run out of stock.  You can learn about the ReNewed Program here and remember you can always start with two and add more units in the future.  I only put this down here as a PS because ReNewed items sell out frequently and I wanted to make sure after all the work this review would be good for long term use on TspAz.  If I were buying this today I would personally take the ReNewed option.

12 Ways to Live Free in an Unfree World – Epi-3410

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Yep this show is about active anarchy, didn’t put that in the title so it would not immediately shut down people that do not know what real anarchy is.  Anarchy is not spoiled young adult children living in the parents basements, listening thrash music and playing games while wearing a black shirt with an A on it.

Anarchy is not burning down buildings, demonstrating in the streets or being a non conformist by getting the same tattoo 5,000 other people have.  It isn’t hating everyone who is a cop or works for “the system” while you yourself take advantage of the same “system” every day.  It to be blunt isn’t even dominantly a political view, it is more an ethics based view that drives a political philosophy.

The ethics I am talking about are things like the firm belief, that cohesion, theft and force outside of defensive force are wrong, all the time, period the end. We accept that society is currently a bunch of spoiled children not ready to step up and be moral. We also accept that our way won’t be the dominant way in our own lifetimes. Yet for us, living against our ethics is simply not an option.

We think 7-8 generations out; we live accepting the interactive edge we must tolerate with the State.   However, we adapt and we worry first about what we do, how we handle conflict and what positive change we can make before we worry one bit about what anyone else does, says, thinks or doesn’t do.

I think many who listen to this show will be surprised to learn, you may have been actually practicing anarchy for quite awhile without even knowing it.  In fact many of you are far more real anarchist then people who claim to be anarchists.  Lastly anarchy is not really an all or nothing thing, it is more like a dimmer switch and it often takes time before people develop enough courage and understanding to run it all the way up.

Join Me Today to Hear…

  • What is freedom, what does it have to do with anarchy
  • What the real goal of anarchy is – anti political
  • What the limitations currently are for anarchists
  • How anarchists must cope with the interactive edge
  • How anarchy is like a dimmer switch when it is actual anarchy
  • 12 Ways to Actively be a Modern Anarchist
    • Write contracts that exclude the state
    • Attempt to resolve all differences in absence of the state
    • Create or find a non profit truly consistent with your views
    • Make your own alcohol (avoid sin taxes)
    • Avoid using the “state’s money” when possible
    • Start a business
    • Form a group that gets positive things done
    • Be at least a “basic prepper” and step up when the state falls down
    • Grow your own food
    • Self educate constantly and follow your passions
    • Remove your children from government schools and teach them to self educate
    • Every time a law, regulation, etc. obstructs you, ask yourself, “how can I get around it”
  • Final Thoughts
    `

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Video Version of Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want all the Early TSP Episodes?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 80 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

 

End Grain Wood Bamboo Cutting Board – Item of the Day

The Survival Podcast Posted on by  

Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is the End Grain Wood Bamboo Cutting Board by Fast Easy Bread Store.  I’ll say out of the gate that an end grain thick cutting board is not something that tends to get screwed up.  Hence you don’t have to be married to this brand, but it is the one I specifically own.  According to my Amazon History I bought this item in May of 2018 and I still love it and use it almost daily.  So just know you can trust this brand.

Before I dig into this item let me confess something.  I have a “board addiction”, and I mean both cutting and serving boards.  I have more than I need, and I know I will keep buying them.  I just think they are beautiful.  My latest one is olive wood and I got in on our vacation.  Every time my wife calls it a cutting board, I am like, “no, never put a knife to that, it is a serving board”.  I also own a ton of awesome cutting boards and other serving boards in many designs.  I say this only due to what I will say next.

This board isn’t bad looking but it isn’t “beautiful” either.  It is utilitarian, setting it next to some of my other boards is like putting a old pick up next to a Corvette or a cherry condition 68 Firebird.  So why?  Why does a guy with more boards than he needs use this thing the most when it comes to slicing, chopping, meat cutting, etc.  Well why do you use that old pick up over say a sports car?  Simply because for the task at hand it works better and you don’t give a damn it it gets another scratch on the paint.

That is how I feel about end grain bamboo boards like this.  They are perfect for daily use, they require less maintenance then many hardwood boards and if you go with end grain they are not hard on a knife’s edge.  That is important by the way, the reason many don’t like bamboo is, it is hard and hence hard on that knife edge, but this is only really true with cheap long grain boards.

There is more I love about this board.  First is that juice grove all around the edge.  I always grab it when grilling or cooking on the flat top.  I bring meat in on it and I don’t end up with a juice trail on the floor and the dogs licking at my feet.  Next it is heavy, I like heavy boards for working, they are stable and stable equals safe.  It also has rubber feet and that creates a no slip board for even an even more stable work environment.

Next is just the way things cut on on a board like this, the word is perfectly.  By being end grain the grain can give just a tiny bit as a knife is drawn across it.  This give you great feel especially when doing fine slicing work with veg or like a Chiffonade with basil and other leaf herbs.  Finally size, not only is it nice and heavy but with a working area of 16″L x 12″W it is about the largest size that isn’t just too big and space consuming on a counter top or stored away.

I just look at it this way you can spend hundreds on a cutting board, it can be a work of art and that is great if like me it is just one of your things.  However if you want a great board that will last for decades with minimal maintenance this is the one for you.

So check out the End Grain Wood Bamboo Cutting Board by Fast Easy Bread Store if you don’t already have a good to cutting board that you really love.  It is restaurant chef quality at a used pickup price, you just can’t go wrong with that.

* Remember you can always find all of our reviews at TspAz.com

P.S. – I referred to maintenance a few times above so let me tell you what we do with ours which again is now over 5 years old with almost daily use and minimal maintenance.

Step One – Always wash soon after use.  I know we all tend to some nights set dishes aside and do them the next day.  Save for steal or cast iron pans, I am fine with that, but not your boards.  I wash with a very tiny bit of detergent and a scrub daddy as soon as dinner is done and fully rinse well.  It takes less then a minute to do and then I stand it up on end to let it dry.  That is all for day to day use.

Step Two – All wood has oils in it, and this oil is part of what preserves it.  To keep a board in top shape you should oil it say monthly.  I absolutely do this with hard wood boards and tend to do so with my bamboo board as well, thing is, it isn’t as important.

Honestly if always washed after use and stood on end to dry, applying oil every 60 days is fine.  And it is fast and easy to do.  Just make sure it is fully dry from being washed, then coat it with some mineral oil, wipe it in good and let it sit, I use my fingers to apply it.  If it sucks it all up in say an hour, give it a second coat.  If it won’t take the first full coat, wipe the excess off with a cloth or paper towel and carry on. Keep adding coats until the final coat does not 100% absorb into the wood and a small amount is left to be wiped off.  If you oil monthly one coat is usually enough.

Do this and these types of boards will likely belong to your kids some day.  That is a heck of value at 70 bucks in this modern world where the quality of most things have gone to shit.

The Shit is Hitting the Fan – Epi-3409

The Survival Podcast Posted on by 4

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:01 — 29.2MB)

Today I am back after a great Thanksgiving break but the world itself seems to be charging forward to a destination that would make Orwell’s 1984 look like a holiday itself.

Today we discuss Ireland’s new insane law that threatens to jail people for “misgendering”, massive layoffs in trucking logistics, the most cringe ad ever from Moderna.  We also talk about the Biden regime gaslighting Americans into fighting with their family during Thanksgiving, 40% interest rates in Turkey, Japan shows the US its’ future and more.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

  • In Ireland they may put you in jail now if you misgender someone online of possess a mean meme – link – link2 – link3
  • Massive layoffs in logistics because we have more trucks than freight – link
  • A Moderna ad you would think is satire for the “spike vaxx” but nope, it is real, they paid for this – link
  • Biden/Harris campaign makes X post on how to fight with your family during thanksgiving, the ratio is brutal – link
  • Bloomberg says “inflation will fall” because Japan shows our future, they are right and this is why it is bad news – link
  • Interest rates in Turkey are now 40% to “stop inflation” – link
  • Things we all need to be thinking about doing right now
    • Building additional income streams
    • Producing food
    • Reducing the cost of the food we buy while increasing quality
    • Personally educating our children even if we don’t home school
    • Forming “underground networks” – use things like Nostr
    • Increasing home security, opsec, situational awareness, etc.
    • Having payment options other than a bank account
    • Improving our personal health
  • Just remember this is the way of things, this is the cycle, we are just getting the power stroke in the cycle
    `

Resources for today’s show…

Sponsors of the Day

Video Version of Today’s Show

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

Join the MSB Today

Join the MSB Today

Want all the Early TSP Episodes?

Remember in addition to discounts to over 80 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.

TspAz Gift Ideas for Christmas 2023

The Survival Podcast Posted on by  

Every year I bring you a list of some of the most popular and great gift ideas from the TspAz catalog.  Here is what we have this year.

  • The EDC RazorLite Knife from Outdoor Edge – I love these knives and carry either it or its bigger brother all the time.  While I love my expensive customs for always having a scalpel on hand that you don’t mind roughing up a bit these are just awesome.
    `
  • StreamLite Flashlights – While the ProTac Dual Fuel has become my favorite light, I also still love the MicroStream and have one in my EDC belt kit.  I also still give away tons of the Stylus Pros to spread prepping and the USB Rechargeable one is great to.  Pretty much you can’t go wrong with this brand.
    `
  • Knipex Cobra Pliers – The absolute best channel lock style pliers I have ever found.  German engineered, never slips, amazing tools.  The smallest ones have become part of my EDC, the larger ones are one of my most valued hand tools.  These are pricey but they are the absolute best.
    `
  • Anker Soundcore Earbuds, Speakers and Head Phones – Anker is the best value electronics brand on the market.  Whether it is the awesome Soundcore Speakers you can Pair, the best Earbuds for the money on the market or the amazing sound quality of the Q20 headphones, any music or podcast lover will love these.
    `
  • Victorinox Meat Cutting Knives – Whether it is the 8 inch breaking knife or the 6 inch boning knife I have sold a ton of these this year and everyone loves them.  Hey if you really like someone get them a set of both.  These are the tool professional meat cutters use and they are very affordable.
    `
  • Anker Fast Charger – This is so new i don’t even have a write up for it yet but it is going to be my go to stocking stuffer this year.  This thing is super fast and not much more expensive than the shitty ones they sell at box stores.  One thing I love is it is powerful enough to charge the new MacBooks, many USB chargers are not.
    `
  • UTG Ranger Field Bag – This is one of the items I have been recommending the longest and I have no plans to stop.  I found this in 2010 when I was traveling a lot for prepper conventions.  It is rugged, cheap and HUGE.  You could smuggle small adult humans in this thing.
    `
  • Stainless Steel Insulated French Press by Secura – These just look beautiful and once you go French Press with coffee it is hard to turn back.  Pair this up with a coffee grinder and some good whole bean coffee and any coffee lover will thank you.  I gave one of these to my nephew while he was in law school one Christmas, he still says it is one of the best and most practical gifts he’s ever gotten and he still uses it daily.
    `
  • The LizzQ Pellet Smoker Tube – Every person with a grill needs one.  Even if you have a smoker these still have a place for everyday use.  I make a ton of stuff with mine including my cold smoked and then sous vide for 24 hours briskets.  Toss in say an assortment of pellets for extra points with this gift.
    `
  • Nanch 22 Piece Precision Screwdriver Set – A great little tool set that will even fix your eyeglasses but has far more utility unlike the little pieces of junk they sell as eye glass screwdrivers.  I find myself reaching for this kit a few times a month even though I actually bought it for my wife Dorothy.
    `
  • Etek City 4 Pack of LED Lanterns – One of the single best deals you will ever find, they are even on sale at the time of this post.  Give a set of 4 for only 20 bucks or give them as single units for one of the coolest 5 dollar stocking stuffers you will ever find, and batteries are included.  Yes, really.
    `
  • The American Boys Handy Book – Published in 1882 before safety police were everywhere it is a fascinating look back at what the world was like 140 years ago.  Tons of cool stuff for kids to do, there is a girls version as well.  The politically correct hate this book that is reason enough to give one to every kid you know.  It is a lot of fun to read with kids too, find projects to do with them, etc.
    `
  • The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook – If you know someone who loves herbs and wants to learn more about their medicinal use this is the book.  If I was personally limited to one book on herbs, this would be my choice.  It is like a full course on home herbalism but very easy to follow and very approachable.
    `
  • Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book – Any gardener and fan of founding father Thomas Jefferson will love this amazing historical look at the time and life of Jefferson outside of the world of politics.
    ‘
  • Instant Pot Sous Vide Circulator – I recommended the Anova for years but they just went stupid on price.  I tested this one and now have been using it for over a year and it just works perfectly.  Any foodie will love this and sous vide is easy to do and will change everything about your cooking.

 

Bonus this year – Some of these may not be great gifts but I thought I would just provide a list of the top 10 best selling items on TspAz this year.  This is by total units sold not by total dollars in sales.

  1. Black Flag Fly Window Traps – told you some were crappy gifts.
  2. Cable Matters 6 Outlet Surge Protector – honestly I’d be happy if I was given one of these and I own 4 already
  3. Streamlight Microstream – it made both lists for a reason
  4. Galvanized Metal Raised Garden Beds – I literally sold these 100% out on Amazon currently unavailable. Some of the other sizes are really good too though.
  5. Soundcore Anker Life P2 True Wireless Earbuds – Another item that made both lists and once again for a very good reason.
  6. South Chicago Packing Wagyu Beef Tallow – It will change your life just a little bit if you start cooking with it.
  7. DEWALT 20V MAX XR Battery, 5 Ah, 2-Pack – We have a lot of fans of team Yellow and Black at TSPC.  When these go on sale (like right now at 45% off) it makes sense to pick them up.
  8. Easy Fermenter Lids – These sold amazingly well, no complaints and they do make a good gift too.
  9. Zazzy Adjustable Rope Hangers – A great little item though possibly not the greatest gift unless it was asked for.
  10. Veggetti Spiral Vegetable Slicer – A super awesome kitchen tool that many foodies would love and cheap enough for stocking stuffer status.
    `

So there you go a list of my personal picks for Christmas gifts and a bonus list of the top selling items on TspAz for 2023.  Remember you can find all my reviews at TspAz in category specific listings.

An Interview with John McCann – Friday Flashbacks – Epi-5

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:18 — 12.4MB)

Today’s episode of Friday Flashbacks was originally Episode-290- An Interview with John McCann and was originally recorded on 10-5-09.  The show notes for the original episode with all relevant resources can be found here.

Welcome to Friday Flashbacks, after 15 years and hundreds of interview shows we decided to run them as flash backs ever Friday, beginning with the oldest of them going forward.  There is a tremendous library of wisdom in all the great interviews we have done over the years.  So sit back and enjoy, whether this is your first or second time around with todays episode I am sure you will enjoy today’s episode and learn a lot from it.

Resources for TSP Listeners

 

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

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The Thanksgiving Special for 2023 – Epi-3408

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:46 — 5.7MB)

Today one day before the great American Holiday we stop and pause to think about what we have to be thankful for.

Two years ago I rerecorded the original portion of this show into much better audio quality, I do hope you enjoy it. If you would like to hear the first version of it as it was recorded in my car you can find the original that was published on Nov. 26, 2008 here.

The beauty of this show is I feel it is something you can share with friends and family. The real history of Thanksgiving is actually a lot more interesting and special then many of the myths.

Tune in today to hear…

  • Why much of what we learn about Thanksgiving is wrong or at least inaccurate
  • How Thanksgiving was at one time considered a “damn yankee holiday”
  • How Thanksgiving became a way for our nation to heal and reunite
  • How the date of Thanksgiving has often been moved around and why
  • The truth about those big buckles the pilgrims wore and all that black clothing
  • What feasting meant 100 years ago to our prior generation that we have forgotten

 

Additional Resources for Today’s Show

 

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show.