Master of None- Adventures in a Hands-on Life: Recent Episodes
Isaac Gordon
Join me as we get our hands dirty. Whether it's farm and garden work, construction and carpentry, cooking and food preservation, or bushcraft and survival skills, you will find something that inspires your creativity. We learn from some true masters of their crafts. Other times we jump head-first into a project, figuring it out as we go. We explore an endless variety of skills, trades, and crafts using both traditional and modern tools and methods.
We're finally planting the food forest. This is a small area where we're replicating natural forest ecosystems, but we're doing it with food-producing plants.
In this conclusion to our discussion on beaver restoration and reintroduction, we go over many of the benefits of restoring beavers to the landscape and discuss the work we're actually doing on the ground to make that happen.
Just what it sounds like. This is my recipe and method for making fried cheese curds at home. Enjoy.
In this episode, we're taking a new backpack, off the shelf, and doing some upgrades, improvements, and streamlining. It's worth taking a few minutes to get your gear dialed in, even if you're just using it to carry your laptop to the office.
Don't worry, beavers are still really cool, and totally beneficial for habitat restoration. They're so much cooler than I thought though! And they do way more for wetland habitats than I ever imagined.
In the last episode, we covered the basics of riflescopes. In this episode, we talk about how to actually mount it on your rifle. Even many gunsmiths do this incorrectly, but you can easily learn how to do it yourself.
In this episode, we cover all of the basics that you need to know to select a scope for your rifle. In the next episode, we'll cover how to actually mount that scope on your rifle (the right way).
Lard is healthy! Lard is one of the highest quality cooking oils available! Lard is easy to make at home!
I don't care for liver. I also don't like to waste anything, especially meat from an animal. I had two pork livers in the freezer though and needed something to do with them. Various sausages are a great way to use some of those cuts of meat that some of us don't really enjoy. Today, we're making cajun boudin, which uses pork liver, and tastes amazing! I'll run you through my whole process and give you some ideas for making your own.
Have you ever seen a preacher pounding on a Bible and yelling that we're all going to burn in hell because we're not following some obscure law given to the ancient Israelites thousands of years ago? I know I have, and I didn't like it much. In this episode, we take a look at how to actually place some of those ancient texts into a realistic historical/cultural context. We also cover several different perspectives on how we should (or shouldn't) apply any of that to our own lives in the modern world. Whether you go to church or not, whether you've ever read the Bible or not, I think you'll find this one really informative and thought-provoking. Or maybe I'll just get burned as a heretic for daring to question so many traditional beliefs.
Do you want to make the best turkey or chicken that your friends and family have EVER tasted? This is the episode for you. Forget that dry, stringy chicken that most of us are used to. This method will give you the most tender, juicy, sweet, drippy, luscious meat you've ever wrapped your lips around.
We're putting creatures in the basement tidepool! Here's your complete breakdown of what we're adding- from the microscopic to the giant kraken.
Last time we talked about preparations for getting out on the road in the winter and the things you need to know about your vehicle. This time, we get into specific safety gear for winter driving, treating a road incident as a survival situation, vehicle handling tips, and how to get yourself or someone else out of a snow drift and back onto the road.
Winter weather can throw some serious hazards and challenging driving conditions at us. What do we need to do to tackle these challenges? We discuss some specific situations, planning, vehicle considerations, gear, vehicle handling, and emergency procedures.
Another crossover episode with the Book Besties, we discuss Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein.
Special crossover episode with the Book Besties Podcast! Thanks for the invitation to be a guest on the Book Besties Podcast. In this episode, we cover the book "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline.
Here's a quick and easy cooking project that will really impress your friends and family. We're making empanadas! Empanadas are a Latin American handheld "meat pie." In the episode, we cover how to make your own tortillas from scratch, options for filling the empanadas, and how to succeed at frying them. For a more detailed recipe on empanada fillings and tortillas, check out Hank Shaw's website, honest-food.net.
With many of us considering resolutions for the new year, let's talk about a unique fitness option. We're talking sandbags! The functional fitness advantages and versatility of an exercise sandbag might really surprise you. In this episode, we'll talk about why sandbags make such great home gym equipment, what they can do for you, what I'm using, and some simple sandbag exercises.
I'm building a tide pool in my basement. Sound crazy? Probably. Listen to learn about the tidepool ecosystem, what actually causes tides in the ocean, and how I'm replicating it in my basement.
I brainstormed a quick list of several things that I use 550 cord (paracord) for. There are hundreds of things you can use the stuff for, but these are just a few as they relate to survival skills and bushcraft.
This week, we put some other aquarium projects on hold to fight a major algae bloom in one of the tanks. What causes algae blooms? What treatment methods are available? What's the best way to get rid of algae?
We're tackling some new aquarium projects. Existing tanks need some work. Why are the tilapia growing so slowly? Why did I have a giant black algae bloom in the tetra tank? Are algae blooms bad for fish? Why did my cherry shrimp stop breeding? In addition to addressing these questions, we have some old tanks that we're repairing and getting up and running and some very exciting plans for what's going into them.
Who needs a GPS or compass when you can navigate by the stars? In this episode, I teach you some of the basics of celestial navigation.
Today, you get to come along with me as we take a look at a bunch of different ongoing projects. Sometimes things work well, sometimes they don't. Sometimes we have to adjust our tactics, but we always learn. In this episode, we'll talk about some habitat restoration work, aquaponics, gardening, fitness, growing mushrooms, home construction, and others.
As usual, we have three items to cover for the monthly bonus episode. This month, we talk about one of my best productivity tips, a book that has impacted my mindset on conservation, and sober October!
We made Italian lonzino! Lonzino is a traditional air-cured, dry-aged, pork loin. It's pretty amazing, and you can easily make it at home with equipment that you probably already have in the kitchen.
This week is all about knives. What knives are best suited to particular uses? What is the best knife for you? What do you need to know about knives before you buy one? What knife terminology should you know? What is the best steel for a knife blade? What knives do I actually use?
In this episode, we're working with a 60-ish year old Snipe sailboat. While many aspects of this boat are in great shape, it's going to take some serious work to get it ready to sail again. By the time we're done, though, we'll basically have a brand new boat.
In this final installment, we cover the last four skills on our list of ten critical bushcraft skills. We discuss knife-handling, building fires, recognizing danger in the wilderness, and backcountry emergency medicine.
This week, we continue our discussion of my top-10 bushcraft skills. We cover the next four skills on my list. Many people carry 550 cord, but how do you actually use it? Can you tie a knot that you'd bet your life on? How scared of grizzly bears should you be? How do you even choose where to pitch your tent? What happens if you need to cross a stream? Am I more likely to be struck by lightning or eaten by a grizzly bear? Is pepper spray just hot sauce for that bear's breakfast burrito (me in my sleeping bag)?
Here's your bonus content for the month. How do you get a fish bone out of your throat? Our book of the month is Ireland by Frank Delaney. The challenge for the month is to do a pencil drawing- don't worry, I give you some tips.
Survival skills are one thing, but bushcraft skills will keep you out of a survival situation. If you want to fish, hunt, backpack, or recreate in the backcountry, these ten skills are absolutely critical.
I get a lot of questions about "survival skills," so I decided to pick a few of them and answer them on this episode. We're going to discuss some basic fire starting techniques, essential survival gear, and practical exercises you can start doing to improve your own odds of survival.
Lambsquarters are one of the easiest wild plants to identify, gather and cook. That's exactly what we're doing in this episode.
Today is all about situational awareness. This is a skill that's trained and practiced, not something that's inherent in a select few.
Ok, seriously, this week I've been working really hard on moving around a lot of heavy dirt and stone. Maybe it's not so glamorous, but it's what I've been working on, so it's what I get to talk about.
More bonus content! We're back to our regular three items for the monthly bonus episodes- pro tip, book recommendation, and challenge. This month, we talk about how to light a match like a boss. Our book of the month is "All the Pretty Horses" by Cormac McCarthy. The challenge for the month is to do something you've never done before.
Many wild plants are edible. I recommend learning one at a time. Start with plants that grow where you live. Learn how to identify them, how to harvest them, and how to prepare them. Today we're doing that with wild wavy-leaf thistle.
Words are important. Words are arguably one of the most decisive single factors in human history. So it's important to know what you're saying. Speak accurately and correctly, know your implications, and be aware of the context of your expressions.
In recent years, "rucking" has become a popular form of exercise. For many decades, the ruck march, rucksack, and rucking were terms only heard in a military context. The benefits of rucking for exercise, though, apply to everyone, so let's talk about how to start rucking safely, the gear you'll need, and how to track your progress.
Last time, we talked about getting over your fear of public speaking, building confidence through competence, and some tips and tricks for putting your talk together. This week, we're actually going through our talk, line by line, and discussing and editing it as we go.
In this episode, we're talking about talking. I was recently invited to give a talk, so there's a bit of work that goes into preparing for it. Just like many of my other projects, I wanted to bring you along for the actual process of putting the talk together. In this first part of the series, we go over some tips on getting over your fear of public speaking, general tips on how to conceptualize and outline your talk, and the general subject matter we'll be covering. In the next episode, we'll actually cover the talk itself, line by line, as I polish it up.
We're mixing it up a little for this month's bonus content. Instead of our regular monthly items, this bonus episode is all about the "card deck" workout. It's simple, requires only a deck of playing cards, and is an effective whole body workout no matter what your current fitness level looks like.
40 acres of severely overgrazed, depleted, and eroded land, and we're going to restore it! We're embarking on a massive habitat restoration project, and you get to come along for the journey.
Today, we're planning out our food forest. What is a food forest? Basically, it's a method of creating a forest habitat where you get to step back and just be a hunter-gatherer. We talk about why this is a good idea for you, how it helps your local ecosystem, and how it helps the planet.
We're tackling the next step in dog training. Everyone loves a dog with good manners- greeting strangers politely without jumping, no excessive barking, coming when called, not pulling on the leash, and so-on. Dogs don't naturally exhibit good human manners though; they're dogs, so they exhibit natural dog behavior. It's our job as trainers to teach them to do something different than what they would naturally do on their own. We also don't teach a dog "etiquette" as a general idea; each individual behavior must be taught, trained, and reinforced. For more guidance on the particulars of positive reinforcement dog training, check out the two books "Zak George's Dog Training Revolution" and "Zak George's Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog."
With all of the questions that I got about our recent episodes on sailing, I decided to go ahead and do a sailing question and answer session. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions.
Here's your bonus content for the month! As always, we cove a pro tip, book recommendation, and monthly challenge. The pro tip is how to keep ice in milk jugs to make your freezer run more efficiently AND have it on hand for preserving your wild harvest. The book is "The Toilers of the Sea" or "Les Travailleurs de la Mer" by Victor Hugo. The challenge for the month is to repair something that's been sitting around your home in need of repair.
Spring is almost here, so we're getting geared up to take advantage of the warmer weather and get some projects done. In this episode, we talk about tree planting, land restoration, bird habitat, fences, breeding rabbits, and going fishing.
There's something beautifully simple about life at sea. The idea of casting off and sailing the world on your own boat may seem far-fetched, but it's actually well within reach for most of us. In the first installment, we covered the hardware that you'll need (a seaworthy sailing vessel). In this installment, we cover how to gain the knowledge and skills required to sail safely.
Ajax and Aura are growing like crazy and making great progress in their training. Last time, we talked about bringing new puppies home and some of the very first things to start working on with your furry friend. This time, we progress to basic obedience skills and commands, everything your dog needs to know to be a great family pet.
Have you ever thought about just dropping everything, buying a boat, and sailing the Caribbean? That might be a much more realistic possibility than you realize. I'll walk you through the steps of how to do it.
I thought we should do something special to commemorate our 100th episode, but a top-100 countdown was just going to take too long. Let's talk about ten things that I use every day, why I use them, and how you can go about selecting some of these items for yourself. Be ready, be resilient, be effective.
Here's your bonus content for April 2021. As always, the bonus episode includes a tip, a book recommendation, and a challenge. This month, our tip is on proper pluralization of Greek-origin words. The book is "Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl. The challenge for the month is to face one of your fears.
We're building a bow! It's mostly a traditional English longbow, but we're going to use a few modern tools and materials to improve it a bit.
Everything you ever wanted to know about barbed wire fence, other fence options, proper utilization of fencing, rotational grazing, habitat restoration, and wildlife crossings.
This is the last installment of our series on conversation skills. In this one, we talk about philosophical razors and how to apply them to our conversations. Be careful; don't cut yourself.
Today we launch a long-term project. We're beginning the training process for two German Shepherd puppies. We're using Zak George's "Dog Training Revolution" training program, and we've already seen some spectacular results. Whether you're training a puppy right now, thinking about getting a puppy, adopting an adult dog, or dealing with some behavioral issues with a dog you already have, give this episode a listen, and get on board with a dog-training program.
Yay! More free bonus content! As always, we have three items to cover for the monthly bonus episode. The tip for the month is to avoid injury by implementing a daily stretch routine. Our book of the month is "Kettlebell, Simple and Sinister" by Pavel Tsatsouline. Our level-one monthly challenge is to start that daily stretch routine. If you want to step up your game though, our level-two challenge is to start a daily kettlebell routine. Pavel's book will give you all of the tools and knowledge to use your kettlebells safely and effectively.
In this episode, the second installment in our series on conversation skills, we cover logical fallacies. We talk about both formal and informal fallacies, examples of fallacies, how to spot them, how to refute them, and even how to use them correctly.
I've decided to start grouping some of your questions into categories so that we can focus on a single topic during our Q&A sessions. This week, we're focusing on land restoration, habitat improvement, and other "land" questions.
Let's have a conversation about having a conversation. We go way beyond what you may have learned in Junior High speech class. In part one of this discussion, we cover several tips and tactics, cognitive biases, and heuristics. All of these will make you a better communicator whether you're speaking or listening.
I'm learning how to cook with my new wok. This is actually really fun, and there are so many different things you can do with a wok. We cover some of the different types of woks you might encounter while choosing one for yourself, similarities and differences between woks and cast iron pans, the seasoning process, different cooking methods, and of course some fun facts along the way.
We cover our normal three items for the monthly bonus content- a pro tip, a book recommendation, and a personal challenge. This month, the tip is how to efficiently carry duct tape with your outdoor gear. Our book recommendation is "The Dichotomy Of Leadership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The challenge is to identify a weakness in yourself and begin implementing changes to correct that weakness.
I've wanted to try my hand at bonsai for over 30 years. I'm finally trying it out, and you get to come along for the journey. We talk about some bonsai history, basic traditional bonsai styles, tools, and techniques.
The project for the episode is making home made corned beef... actually venison... whatever... get over it. Also, we chat about some of the history of the Saints of the early church: Patrick (of course), Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint Columba, Saint Brigit of Kildare... Really though, I give you a step-by-step method for making your own corned beef.
There are many ways to make tea, but the samovar is certainly one of the most intriguing. Samovar tea is unique, smoky, and brings friends and family together.
This is the second half of our discussion on playing pool. In this part, we go over some of the basics of play, rules of a few different games, and some pointers on your shooting form.
Let's take a look back at 2020 and talk about some successes and failures when it comes to our habitat restoration project. Additionally, we look forward to 2021 and talk about our plans for the upcoming year.
Happy New Year! In this episode, we talk about how to re-frame your New Year's resolution to set yourself up for success. The book recommendation for the month is "The Arabian Nights." More on that in the episode...
Merry Christmas 2020. In this Christmas Special, we sit down to read some stories of Christmas.
Let's face it, most of us love playing pool, but we aren't very good. In this two-part series, we talk all about pool. By the way, what is the difference between billiards and pool? I'll answer that along with many other questions. We'll cover some of the history of pool, how to repair pool cues, how to play pool with an odd number of players, five pool games you should know, and a few pointers that will immediately improve your pool game.
This was a really fun listener Q&A episode. I pulled a handful of questions that I thought the rest of you might be interested in hearing me respond to.
The most exciting part of setting up an aquaponics system is finally here! We are adding fish! In this episode, we talk all about the fishy side of things. We opted for blue tilapia, and it turns out there's some pretty interesting history around this particular fish.
You will most likely experience at least one or two house fires in the course of your life. Preparing for this emergency can literally mean the difference between life and death. Furthermore, some very basic measures that you take now may end up saving your home. In this 2-part series, we cover how to prevent fires in the first place, how to set up your early warning system, and how to respond to a fire. What type of fire extinguisher do you need? How do you tell what type of fire you're engaging? How many fire extinguishers should you have? Where should you keep them? How do you maintain them? What about smoke detectors? What type? Where do you install them?
The wait is over! We're finally growing plants in the aquaponics system. In this episode, we do a quick overview of what aquaponics is, how to design a system, building the system, and how it works chemically and biologically. In this first part of a 2-part discussion, we focus more on the plants. In the second part, we'll go in-depth on the fishy side of things.
You will most likely experience at least one or two house fires in the course of your life. Preparing for this emergency can literally mean the difference between life and death. Furthermore, some very basic measures that you take now may end up saving your home. In this 2-part series, we cover how to prevent fires in the first place, how to set up your early warning system, and how to respond to a fire. What type of fire extinguisher do you need? How do you tell what type of fire you're engaging? How many fire extinguishers should you have? Where should you keep them? How do you maintain them? What about smoke detectors? What type? Where do you install them?
There are many ways to clean an animal skull for display. In this episode, we cover some of the pros and cons of each method. I'll also run you through the process of how you can easily do this at home.
Everyone wants to own a chainsaw. With that in mind, I decided to do a deep dive into everything you need to know to get started with a chainsaw of your own.
We're back with more monthly bonus content! Here are your three items for this month.
Tip: issuing a warning order
Book: "Talk Like TED" by Carmine Gallo
Challenge: cut something unhealthy out of your life for one month
I love power tools, but there's one that I've never used... the sewing machine. In this week's episode, we take a look at both an antique sewing machine and a modern sewing machine and learn how to use the modern machine. Compared to stitching by hand, this tool is really an incredible time-saver.
What should you do when you find yourself naked, afraid, and running from God? Fig Leaves? Weak! Use animal skins! Tanning animal hides for clothing is one of the most ancient of human technologies. Nearly every people group, on every continent, for thousands of years, has been tanning hides and furs using remarkably similar methods. In this episode, we practice traditional tanning methods on a badger pelt. I'll walk you through some history, some biology, and all the tools and steps you'll need to tan your own animal pelt.
In this episode, we actually get our aquaponics system up and running mechanically. This includes all of the lighting and plumbing systems. We cover LED lighting, pumps, some fluid dynamics, and working with PVC.
Transforming a living animal into quality meat for yourself and your family is relatively simple, but it's a skill that has been largely forgotten by most modern humans. In this episode, that's exactly what we're doing. We cover field care of your game meat, and the basics of butchering an animal while minimizing waste. We also get into some of the specific cuts you might consider versus what goes into the grinder. Since we're hunting pronghorn antelope this week, we also take a look at what makes these particular animals so unique and special.
Forget about the expensive gym membership; invest $25 and get unlimited access to an unbelievable workout right in your own home. Today, I'm going to show you how to build and install your own pullup bar for only about $25. Alternatively, we're also going to install some gymnastic rings. The rings could be a better option if you have limited space or if you want something that can go with you when you travel. Pull-ups are one of the very best ways to build upper body strength, tone your muscles, improve posture, and crash-proof your human chassis. You're going to look better, feel better, have more self-confidence, and avoid injuries.
We're getting started on a big project this week. We are building an indoor aquaponics system to raise our own organic fish and vegetables. In this first installment, we discuss what aquaponics is, and some of the pros and cons of different systems. We talk about the design for our specific system, and we start getting all of the hardware and supplies together to make it happen. In future episodes, we will build the system, stock/plant the system (with fish and vegetables), and hopefully have a successful harvest.
One of my very favorite things, at least when it comes to food, is a good pork green chile or Puerco con chile verde. In this episode, we start with fresh hatch chiles and a cut of raw pork. We transform those ingredients into this delightful traditional sauce of the southwest. Typically, you'll find this sauce made all over New Mexico, and if you're lucky, you might find another location where it's also made. Not to worry though, after listening to this episode, you'll be ready to tackle making it on your own. From growing and fire-roasting your own green chiles to selecting an appropriate cut of pork, I've got you covered.
I'm getting back into running, and you get to come along with me on the journey. It's been about ten years since I was in the habit of running, so getting back into it isn't going to be easy. There's a whole lot to think about when it comes to the many benefits of running, avoiding injury, setting realistic goals, and forming an effective training plan. In this episode, we take two months to see how much I can improve my one-mile timed run.
On this episode, Teddy Andrion joins us again to teach us about Filipino food. We go through three recipes that you can cook at home. We begin with a basic chicken adobo, then we step it up a notch with traditional lechon. Finally, we push the boundaries of our comfort zone a little bit as we explore dinuguan. All of these recipes will be available on the show notes for this episode at www.masterofnonepodcast.com.
Here's your September 2020 Bonus Content! This time, Chris Borkert, director of the Dustim Chamberlain Memorial Foundation, joins us. Chris shares with us about making a fermented pizza dough for wood-fired pizza. The recipe he uses can be found here. https://www.thursdaynightpizza.com/neapolitan-pizza-dough/
Our book recommendation for this month is "Gut it, Cut it, Cook it" by Eric Fromm. For any of you who are interested in getting more involved in where your food is coming from, this will be a great book to help you get a handle on the entire process of taking care of your wild game meat from field care to butchering and cooking.
Finally, the challenge for the month is to embark on a 7-day fast. Chris tells us about some of his experiences with fasting and the benefits he's seen from it.
Additionally, if you're interested in learning more or getting involved with Dustin's Dream, you can check them out and get in contact through their website
www.dustinsdream.net
The new trees are growing like crazy, Our native shrubs are much larger than we expected them to be. The grasses are thick and tall and are creating a healthy topsoil layer. Our property is still mostly green while the surrounding area is scorched and dry. To top it all off, this is all in the middle of a drought year. Our habitat restoration work is really beginning to pay off. Soon, we should see some natural artesian springs emerging in the lower areas of the property, which will allow us to start creating some wetland areas. In this episode, we cover the five steps of habitat restoration that will work in any climate and on any scale.
Modern humans are soft. Our ancestors lived hard lives, constantly putting their minds and bodies to the test. If you don't intentionally seek out hard things to do, you'll fall into a routine of comfort and convenience. In this episode, we talk about going out and pushing the limits.
This is the second half of the discussion on designing our obstacle course. We run through each of the obstacles that we are planning and talk about what the purpose of each obstacle is- confidence, balance, agility, upper body strength, etc. Additionally, we give you some very specific ideas and recommendations if you want to either build or improvise your own obstacle course. Even if you have no space of your own, we'll talk about how to use your neighborhood or local park as an obstacle course.
We are building our own backyard obstacle course! In the first part of this discussion, we cover what an obstacle course actually is, why you would use one as part of your fitness or physical training program, and the basic design considerations when it comes to either building or improvising your own obstacle course.
In this episode, we cover everything you need to know to host your own crawfish boil. Crawfish can be found throughout most of the world and can usually be trapped fairly easily. This is a great wild-harvest food source that you probably have access to wherever you live.
In this month's bonus episode, we are joined by Andrew Busch. The pro tip for the month is how to oil your paintbrushes. The book of the month is Dune, by Frank Herbert. The challenge for the month is to play a board game.
This week, we conclude our discussion with Daniel and Katie Hackett, learning a little bit more about the use of essential oils in the home and outside the home. Additionally, we get to hear about some of their current plans, goals, and dreams.
Andrew Busch, artist and math teacher, joins us to discuss rules of composition as they apply to both painting and photography. We get into some of the science behind these rules and give you some easy ways to apply them to your everyday photography.
This week, Daniel and Katie Hackett join us to discuss the use of essential oils to improve many aspects of our lives.
Here's your July 2020 bonus episode!
Pro-tip: Start your day with a win.
Book: Sharpe's Rifles Series by Bernard Cornwell
Challenge: Create a log/journal of your daily wins.
Here's an hour-long crash course all about tents. We cover some more traditional styles, and some more modern styles. If you're an experienced camper, you'll probably learn some fun facts, but this episode is geared toward those individuals who are just testing the waters of camping and are unsure what would make the perfect tent. Fear not, we go over all of the terminology that you need to be familiar with to make an informed decision, different tent styles, what questions to ask yourself, and pros and cons of each type of tent.
Let's talk some real survival skills. The human body can only go about three days without water, making the ability to find water in any environment a critical survival skill. In this episode, I teach you how to build a "solar still," a device which literally pulls water out of the air even in the hottest, driest environments. I share all of my tips and tricks for maximizing the performance of your solar still. Can we actually collect enough water to survive, or are we just delaying the inevitable?
In this episode, I attempt to distill some of my experience on the water down to a few boating safety tips that you can put into practice immediately. Summer is fun, messin around in boats is fun, but let's stay safe out there.
In this bonus episode, we cover our normal three topics: a pro tip, a book recommendation, and a challenge. Our pro tip for the month is how to keep your wooden kitchen implements- cutting boards, knives, spoons, cheese presses, etc. appropriately oiled. The book for the month is "The Omnivore's Dilemma," by Michael Pollan. The challenge for the month is to eat an invasive species; don't worry, I give you some ideas on this one. Invasive species are probably going to be easier to find than you might think.
We installed our first two rain barrels! The amount of water we've already collected has been surprising. This totally transforms the runoff from the roof from a liability (creating mud and erosion) to an asset (watering our trees and garden). Additionally, we cover some pros and cons of installing rain barrels as well as our plans for the rest of the downspouts on the house.
We're back into home cheese-making! We've worked our way through a process, beginning with some very simple cheeses, and gradually progressing to more complex cheeses. Parmesan is still considered an "intermediate" level cheese, but does have some very particular requirements to get it to turn out right.
In this episode, I'm the student. We learn about traditional Thai cooking, essential ingredients, hardware, and methods. Additionally, we talk about what you could be growing in your garden, large or small, to add to your traditional Thai dishes.
Yep, that's right, we bought three rabbits. These will be our initial breeding stock for our rabbit program. In this episode, we talk about our journey toward choosing to raise meat rabbits, deciding what breed to get, setting up housing for the rabbits, and our future plans.
Let's get serious about the garden area for our homestead. We have a large area designated as the garden area, but we're starting with two 4'x12' raised beds. We'll add more each year as we expand our home garden. Why raised beds? What are some of the pros and cons of raised beds? What materials did we choose to use and why? What factors determined the dimensions of our raised beds? What is the ideal height for a raised bed? What do we fill the raised beds with? What kind of plants will we grow in the raised beds? We answer all of these questions and much more in this episode.
Last week, we were doing all of the prep work for planting some trees. This week, we picked up our order of 85 trees and shrubs and actually planted them. In this episode, we cover some of the specifics about how we plant our trees to ensure their success, bigger picture habitat restoration, and some of the transformations that we're already seeing on the property. Additionally, we go for a little walk around the property to check on the condition of various areas and make plans for future habitat restoration projects.
Three things for your monthly edification- a pro tip, a book recommendation, and a monthly challenge. For this month's pro tip, I teach you how to make perfect Scotch eggs. If you really want to impress your brunch guests, this recipe will do it. Our book of the month is "The Demon in the Freezer," by Richard Preston. For everyone who has suddenly become an expert in virology or epidemiology, go read this book first. Finally, the challenge for the month is to learn and practice a new survival skill.
Many people said it was impossible, but we have successfully gotten trees to grow on our homestead on the open prairie of southeastern Wyoming. This is one of the most challenging environments for growing trees, but we've done it! Of course, planting trees and shrubs is really just part of a much larger picture of habitat restoration on our property. In this episode, we discuss general principles of habitat restoration that can be applied in just about any environment, specific challenges we have faced, and the successes that we've seen.
Many of us live in areas that get the occasional winter snowstorm. Any time you're on the road, there's always the possibility of getting stuck somewhere. Extremely cold temperatures can make this much worse. Making poor survival decisions can be deadly. In this episode, we discuss what you should and should not do in this situation. Also, I intentionally get myself stuck outside overnight in over a foot of snow with temperatures falling below zero. All I have with me is a tarp and a blanket. If I can survive, so can you. It might not be fun, but with some basic knowledge, we'll make it through the night.
In this episode, we jump into some of the basics of home canning. Do you need a pressure canner or water bath canner? Is home canning even safe? Aside from that, let's talk about some of the benefits of turning that perishable food in your freezer into non-perishable canned food that can sit on the shelf at room temperature.
Interested in stretching your grocery dollar, stocking up your emergency food supply, or boosting your immune system? If you're not, then you have your head in the sand. Making your own bone broth at home is an easy and cheap/free way to do all of the above.
Bonus episode for the month of April 2020. We talk basic shoe-tying skills, Dracula, and meditation.
I've been getting a lot of questions lately about general emergency preparedness. Without making this a Q&A episode, I'm going to lay out some general principles and specific action items to answer those questions and help you be more prepared for any type of emergency situation
In this fourth and final installment of building the hard-to-kill human, we focus on mental preparation. This includes your knowledge base, interpreting your surroundings, and preparing yourself mentally to respond to a dangerous situation.
Just what it sounds like! In this episode, I'll walk you through my method for making Creole gumbo. And yes, it does take a full three to four days. Don't worry though, most of that time, it's just doing it's own thing; this is actually pretty easy.
In this installment of our series on becoming hard to kill, we continue our countdown of our top-10 skills. This week, our focus is largely on skills and training that revolve around your physical conditioning. We break down each skill as to why it is important, how it applies to your life, and actionable steps you can take regardless of your current level of physical fitness.
In this bonus episode, our guest, Ben Forester, provides us with his pro tip, book recommendation, and monthly challenge.
Today we discuss a controversial topic- hunting. Whether you are vehemently opposed to hunting, or staunchly support it, let's discuss it in a way that focuses on what we all have in common, and maybe we'll come away understanding each other just a little better. We don't have to agree, but we're all stuck with only one earth to share and care for.
In this second installment of our series on becoming hard to kill, we begin our top-10 countdown of "hard-to-kill" skills. This week, we have a frank conversation about the role that weapons training can play in this. This topic almost didn't even make the cut for our discussion, but it's unavoidable in any conversation about survival, so let's get it out of the way right up front. As we discuss in the episode, I believe that any use of weapons should be the last and smallest piece of the puzzle when it comes to your personal safety. Should you choose to participate in any sort of weapons-related training though, we'll give you some great advice on where to look and how to get started.
Do you know what contaminants are hiding in your tap water? If not, do you know how to find out? Once you find out, how do you remove them? In this episode, we discuss how to choose an RO/DI system that's right for you, what all of the numbers mean, and how to install it yourself. This is an easy DIY project that will only take between half an hour and a single afternoon, depending on your level of experience with tool use.
Let's work on turning an "average" human into a "hard-to-kill" human. In this series, we take a very honest look at what the real dangers are in our world and in our day-to-day lives. In the next few episodes in this series, we'll get into some very specific actions you can take and skills you can learn to make yourself and your family safer. In this episode though, we're going to lay the groundwork for the discussion, identify some of the dangers we face, and talk about something that we're going to call the "tactical mindset." The tactical mindset is not just for highly trained military units or law enforcement agencies; it applies to every single person and how they approach their environment, from buckling your seatbelt to walking down the street to eating in a restaurant. Additionally, we give you six quick "life hacks" to cheat death.
In this episode, I'll give you a crash-course in how to get started with Nordic Skiing. What are the different styles of Nordic skiing? Which style is the best fit for you? What is the essential gear to get started? Also, we talk about some pretty awesome Norwegian commandos from WWII.
Here's your bonus content for the month of February 2020. If you feel like you've already failed at your New Year's resolution, this episode is to get you back on track.
Here's your handyman episode on starting to work with glass. In this episode, we're going to be cleaning glass, bonding/sealing pieces of glass, and drilling holes in glass. Drilling glass is always a little scary for me, but it's totally doable if you follow the correct procedure.
Have you ever thought about doing your own electrical work? Is it safe? Is it even legal? Do you need a bunch of expensive tools? How will you know if your work is even "up to code?" In this episode, I attempt to answer these and many other questions while I do a simple wiring project on my own house. If you've ever wondered if you could do your own electrical work, I'll lay out all of the steps to get started, do it right, and do it safely.
We wrap up our top-10 knot-tying countdown today. We cover the carrick bend, figure-8, clove hitch, sheet bend, and bowline. Additionally, I'll tell you what three knots you absolutely must know. What's my absolute, number-one, must-know knot? Listen and find out.
In this episode, we begin a countdown of my personal top-10 knots. We cover the sheep shank, prusik, Siberian hitch, taut line hitch, and alpine butterfly loop. For most of us, knot-tying isn't an interest in and of itself; it's a practical skill that benefits us in a whole variety of other activities- sailing, fishing, search and rescue, mountaineering, hunting, rock climbing, and many more.
How are we going to make $25,000 annually in 12 square feet of the house? In this episode, we "dive" into the start of a big project- setting up a saltwater reef tank. Specifically, we're going to be setting up a tank to house and breed sea anemones along with a colony of clownfish. Along the way, we'll be working on our glasswork skills, furniture refinishing, plumbing, electrical, automation systems, and a whole lot of biology, ecology, and chemistry. Better yet, we're going to make this a profitable endeavor. At the very least, the tank is going to pay for itself by selling baby anemones (and helping to save wild anemones and coral reefs along the way). The long-term goal, though, is to actually make a substantial annual profit from this tank. You also get to hear about some of my own adventures and misadventures diving on coral reefs around the world.
Here's your bonus episode for January 2020! New Year's resolutions! Financial coach Grayson Stalvey joins us this month to give us a pro tip, book recommendation, and monthly challenge.
From campfires to geothermal heat pumps, we're going to do a deep dive into a variety of residential heating systems. From a crash-course in thermodynamics to the mechanics of a variety of residential heating systems, I'll attempt to tell you what you really need to know. Also, find out why I chose to install a hydronic radiant heat system in my own home and some of the pros and cons of that particular system.
Today we're taking a break from our normal routine to work on some Christmas preparations and reflect on the Holiday and our traditions.
In this episode, we make our own apple cider vinegar at home. Listen to learn all about what makes vinegar, where it comes from, different uses, and different types of vinegar. Why does some balsamic vinegar cost hundreds of dollars for a small bottle? What are the key ingredients in vinegar and where do we get them from? What is distilled vinegar? How long does vinegar last? What gives vinegar its distinctive odor and flavor? What is the science behind the vinegar-making process, and how did ancient civilizations make vinegar? What are some of your options to easily make gourmet vinegars right in your own kitchen?
Bonus episode for the month of December 2019! No guest this time, but we're going to start trying to make a habit of having guests on the bonus episodes more often. For this month, the pro tip is on how use time and temperature to your advantage based on the cut of meat you're preparing. Our book for the month is "Tribe" by Sebastian Junger. The challenge for the month is to do something truly kind for another person without that person or anyone else ever finding out what you did. Merry Christmas!
In this episode, we follow up on even more of our previous projects. How did the blackwater aquarium turn out? What changes have we seen to our three-acre pasture? Have our habitat-improvement efforts paid off? Are the mushrooms growing yet? How about our cheesemaking endeavors? Find out all of this and much more in this episode.
In this episode, we follow up on a whole bunch of projects from previous episodes. How did our refurbished cast iron cookware hold up over time? How is the vermiculture (composting with earthworms) project progressing? How did the cheese press work? Have we kept making yoghurt? Listen in to hear updates on all of these projects and more.
We are stepping up to some "intermediate" level cheese making. Let's put that cheese press to use. These cheeses make use of various active cultures, involve a few more steps, and often require aging for a prescribed period of time. Today, we're following a recipe to make a dill Havarti cheese.
Conclusion of the project where we began building a pantry can dispenser. In this episode, we go into detail on some of the tools we use in the project including jigsaws, measuring tapes, drills, and drivers. If you're overwhelmed when you walk into the hardware store, we're working to demystify some of the tools and materials (and many many options) you may encounter. Additionally, we actually build the prototype can dispenser, try it out, and discuss some of the changes we'll make when we build more dispensers.
Ever been overwhelmed by all of the options at the hardware store? Let's start to break it down and simplify it. In addition to building can dispensers for the home pantry, we're going to do crash-courses on all of our tools and materials. For this project, I'll cover everything I think you need to know about plywood, dimensional lumber, and screws. Tools that we talk about on this episode include the circular saw, measuring tape, jigsaw, drill bits, and driver bits.
Bonus Episode!!! Here's your bonus episode for November 2019. Shorter than the last bonus episode, but still fun. Want to start making scrambled eggs like a boss? Well, that's exactly what we're doing for this month's pro tip. Our book recommendation (and one that I've read several times and can't recommend highly enough) is "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Finally, our challenge for the month is to do some type of squats every single day of the month (heavy barbel squats, dumbel squats, kettlebell squats, air squats, balance squats, whatever). Enjoy!
This is the first in a series of easy DIY home-improvement projects. In this episode we tackle installing cedar paneling in a bedroom closet.
This episode concludes our discussion of tractors. This is the good stuff. By the end of this episode, you'll be ready to walk into a tractor dealership and test-drive a tractor.
All about tractors! If you know nothing about tractors, have no use for a tractor, and have never driven a tractor, this is for you. By the end of this two-part series, you'll have the knowledge to walk into a tractor dealership, feed store, or local ranch supply and have an intelligent conversation about tractors.
We are building a bat nesting box today! Why would we want bats around? There are so many good reasons including pollination, insect control, and reforestation. Since they go to work when most of us are asleep, and since they don't typically live near large population centers, most people don't realize how common bats are and how much they do for us. With that said though, bat populations are currently in decline globally, and these incredible animals need our help. If you have any concerns about safety around bats, rabies, and so on, we cover all of that as well.
We are in the early stages of building a wine cellar (also cheese cave, root cellar, and canned goods storage) into our basement. In this episode, we talk about some of the planning that went into this in our house design, marital disputes, koi ponds, tractors, orchards, and vineyards.
Here's another monthly bonus episode! We're going to start having some guests on the bonus episodes to give their own pro tips, book recommendations, and monthly challenges. This month, we talk to Charlie. We learn about how to properly light a cigar; the book recommendation is "The Ugly American." Charlie's challenge to us is to teach something to someone. Hope you enjoy the conversation; it's the longest bonus episode by a long shot. I promise I'm working the bugs out of the "remote recording" thing.
In this episode, we dive into one specific piece of camping gear, what it's all about, and how to effectively use it: the tarp tent. If your idea of camping involves RVs, trailers, wall tents, or even dome tents, this episode might challenge you to push your limits and get out of your comfort zone. We go over some pros and cons of tarp camping as well as nine different configurations in which you can pitch a tarp. These are just a few of the many, many ways to use a tarp tent.
In this episode, we build a birdhouse, but not just any birdhouse; we're building a nest box for an American Kestrel, the world's smallest falcon. In the course of planning our nest box though, we get to talk about a whole lot of other interesting stuff- interesting bird species, birdwatching, feral and invasive species (and eating them), and planning large and small habitat improvement projects.
In this episode, we use traditional methods to make rawhide from an antelope skin. We talk about many different uses for rawhide, and we use it to make a pictograph-inspired wall-hanging work of art.
In this episode, we learn how to grow our own mushrooms. Whether it's a plate-sized patch of shiitake on your kitchen counter or lion's mane deep in the forest, you can do this. Specifically, in this episode, we are growing shiitake, blue oyster (don't fear the reaper), reishi, and lion's mane. This is one of those projects that is way easier than you think.
Bonus episode for September 2019. As always, we have a pro tip, book recommendation, and challenge. For this month's pro tip, learn how to clean your microwave. Our book recommendation is "Coyote America" by Dan Flores. Our challenge this month is to come up with a plan, to be implemented over the course of the next year, to make your household more environmentally friendly.
Also, don't forget to check out www.campfirepiston.com to get your own fire piston, and use code MON for your Master of None listener discount.
In this dramatic conclusion to our series on fire starting, we finish our top-10 countdown, and talk to the US Forest Service about fire safety and wildland fires.
Let's talk fire starting and survival skills. In this two-part series, we go through ten different fire starting methods, discussing the merits of each. Also, we have a very candid discussion about the difference between primitive skills, bushcraft, and survival skills. Understanding this difference could literally be a matter of life and death.
In this episode, we put together a roadside trauma kit. This is based on real-life experiences, and actual emergency situations. What do you think you would do if you were the first one on scene at an automobile accident and someone needed urgent medical care? Are you ready? Will you even stop to help? Unfortunately, for most people, the answer is no. Let's change that, at least for ourselves and our families. Also, we cover some general emergency/disaster preparedness skills.
Today, we dive into the three-acre pasture project. This is a long term project, which begins with eliminating over-grazing. The project progresses through surface preparation, building a stone wall, planting berry patches, planting trees, and using chickens to fertilize and improve the landscape. No matter how large or small of an area you're trying to improve, I hope you find this episode informative and helpful.
The second episode in our cheesemaking series, we make a couple simple cheeses. The first is a traditional Mexican queso blanco, and the second is a basic farm cheese. These cheeses utilize an acid as the curdling agent, and are consumed fresh.
Bonus episode for August 2019. Pro-tip: breath control. Book: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Challenge: cut out all sugary drinks.
We're going deep on this episode! Actually, we're staying pretty shallow, but we are going underwater. Let's set up an aquarium. This is a very specific setup, but the basics will still apply no matter what type of freshwater tank you're interested in starting. On this episode, we set up an Amazon River blackwater biotope tank. We go into detail on tank prep, starting and monitoring the nitrogen cycle, and adding fish.
In this episode we make a leather belt from scratch. This involves some basic leatherworking techniques, which we discuss on the show. Also, we talk about leather care, and we oil an antique saddle. I get to dig into some of my own family history surrounding the saddle, which was fascinating, at least to me.
In this episode, we make a batch of pemmican. Pemmican was adopted from Native Americans by early trappers and explorers in North America. In my opinion, it's just about the perfect backcountry food. We talk about some history, specifically the voyageurs who paddled canoes from Montreal far into the interior of North America, bringing supplies to the trappers, and transporting bundles of furs back to Montreal. We also get to talk about beavers (the primary target of most of the fur trapping of the time), how they impact the environment, how things have changed in their absence, and how they're being restored to parts of their former range. Of course, we also make a batch of pemmican, so I'll tell you how I do that, and also why I think it's the perfect backcountry food.
In this episode, we hear from you, the Master of None tribe. Thanks for all of the questions that you submitted. If you're willing, share the podcast with a friend, submit your own listener question, and leave a review for the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Bonus episode for July 2019. As we get geared up for the summer grilling season, I'll share my method for starting a charcoal barbecue grill. Additionally, our book of the month is "Last Child in the Woods," by Richard Louv. Our challenge for the month is to find a mountain nearby, and climb it. If you don't have any mountains nearby, figure out the furthest you've hiked in the last three years, and plan a hike that will take you further. Send pictures and stories of your adventures to contact@masterofnonepodcast.com
What's your favorite cheese? Why not start making it yourself? In addition to some very basic ingredients, the main thing that you'll need is a cheese press. In this episode, we'll design and build our own cheese press. We talk about some Roman and European history, types of cheese, and methods of making cheese. Most importantly, we cover how to best enjoy eating cheese.
Now we are really getting our hands dirty! We are literally making dirt. By "dirt," I mean spongy, black, nutrient-rich soil. We are culturing earthworms in indoor bins so that we can propagate them out to our garden beds and compost heaps.
Learn to "tan" deer hides and other animal hides the traditional way- no synthetic or hazardous chemicals. Sometimes called "brain tanning," the process of making traditional buckskin only requires a few easily obtainable items and a little bit of sweat. In the end, you'll have one of the highest quality garment-making materials known to man. If you're a hunter, and you hate seeing all of your deer hides go to waste, this is the answer.
In this episode, I make a Viking drinking horn, also known as an ale horn. We talk some history, give a nod to Spartacus, greatest badass of all time, and briefly touch on some Viking shipbuilding and navigational techniques. We also manage to cover some biology with regard to horns and antlers as well as the history of some surnames. I bet you didn't know that you can find a Valkyrie in many churches. That's a lot to fit into one drinking horn. This was a fun episode to record, and I hope you enjoy listening. Slainte!
This is a bonus episode for the month of June, 2019. Each bonus episode includes a pro tip, book recommendation, and a challenge for the upcoming month. For the pro tip, we talk knife sharpening. The book recommendation is "Natural Born Heroes" by Christopher McDougall. The challenge is to do burpees as part of your exercise routine every day for the entire month of June.
Ever wondered if you could make your own yoghurt at home? The easy answer is yes, you can! It's also very simple, only uses two ingredients, and doesn't require any fancy tools or supplies. I'll walk you through the process, and along the way we'll talk about some history and biology. What is yoghurt? Where did it come from? How is it made? Why should we eat it? If the first few minutes of this one are too science-geeky for you, hang in there; we get to the fun stuff, and maybe you'll learn something along the way. For written instructions on my yoghurt-making method, check out the show notes for this episode on the Master of None Podcast website- www.masterofnonepodcast.com.
Thinking about going paleo? After you find a nice cave to live in, the next step is to craft some useful tools. We haven't quite advanced to the level of making stone tools, so let's make them out of bone. We talk about some history and we make a couple knives, a fish spear, and a sickle out of animal bones. The bone fish hook that we attempt in this episode turns out to be a total failure- more on that in a future episode. Also, why do Neanderthals make me feel pretentious?
Let's take a rusty cast iron pan that appears to be beyond repair and transform it into a piece of prized cookware. We also get into some of the pros and cons of cooking with cast iron and what cast iron actually is. If you want some tips on cooking with cast iron, cleaning it, and maintaining it, this is the episode for you. Also, on the show, we make the world's best cornbread- country custard skillet cornbread (or something like that; I think I call it three or four different names during the show). For the recipe, go to the show notes for this episode on the Master of None Podcast website: www.masterofnonepodcast.com.
After completing the construction of my family's new home, I sit down with Vic Jones to discuss building a rustic log staircase. We also get into some other aspects of home design and construction, forest management, wildfires, and bark beetles. As this is the first episode of the podcast, we also chat a little bit about where the podcast is headed and some of the topics that may be covered in future episodes.