Practical Prepping Podcast

Episode Title: 12 Must Have Items for Prepping, Survival, and Self Reliance
Hosts: Mark & Krista Lawley
Release Date: December 8, 2025
Episode Number: 535

Overview

This episode focuses on a straightforward, actionable list of the "12 Must Have Items" every person should consider for practical prepping, survival, and fostering daily self-reliance. Mark and Krista avoid paranoia and extreme scenarios to instead offer family-friendly, experienced advice for real-life emergencies—events like power outages, sudden storms, or supply chain disruptions. They emphasize the importance of preparing for the most likely scenarios and advocate for prepping as a stepwise process focusing on needs over wants or brands.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Water ([01:39])

• Why it matters: "It's probably the most important that we can have, and that's water." – Mark (01:39)
• Minimum requirement: At least one gallon per day, per person, plus more for pets, cooking, and hygiene.
• Methods: Need to store, find, and purify water (refer to past episodes: #344 on rainwater collection, #327 on purification).

2. Non-Perishable Food ([02:44])

• Store foods you actually eat; not just “mystery freeze-dried”.
• Quote: “We don't want to be breaking into our stock of 25-year storage food if we're in a snowstorm for four days. We want to be having the canned goods.” – Mark (03:10)
• Include proteins (canned meats, tuna), veggies, dried foods, rice, beans, etc.

3. First Aid Supplies ([04:12])

• From "tiny boo-boos to broken legs"—be ready to self-treat until professional help is available.
• Stock OTC medications, wound care, splints, and especially your prescription meds.
• Krista: “Some of us must be on a daily chronic medication, but make sure you’ve got some preps for that.” (04:56)

4. Flashlights & Batteries ([05:09])

• Power outages require reliable light sources: LED flashlights, headlamps, and plenty of fresh batteries.
• Note: Winter outages last longer after dark; keep extras handy.

5. Radio (with Batteries/Hand Crank) ([06:08])

• Includes both AM/FM and a dedicated NOAA weather radio.
• Mark: “Every household—prepper or not—needs to have a NOAA weather radio in that house.” (06:25)
• Stay updated on emergencies when the grid is down.

6. Multi Tool ([06:46])

• Small enough for everyday carry (EDC); includes pliers, blades, openers, scissors, saw, file.
• Real usage: “I have literally dug a piece of wire out of somebody’s hand with it. I’ve actually used one of my Leatherman multi tools to skin a deer.” – Mark (07:10)
• Krista: “As handy as a pocket on a shirt.” (06:50)

7. Personal Hygiene Items ([08:24])

• Learned from COVID: tissue, soap, toothpaste, deodorant; stock more than bare minimum.
• Krista: "I would have never in a million years guessed that bathroom tissue would have been the hot needed item for the year 2020." (08:35)
• Soap and mouthwash are essential for health and morale.

8. Warm Clothing & Blankets ([10:22])

• Critical to avoid hypothermia during winter power outages.
• Don’t forget extra blankets in your car for sudden snow/ice storms.
• Krista: Recounts how people stranded in unexpected storms regretted not having warmer gear. (10:50)

9. Cash (Small Bills) ([11:31])

• When power’s out: ATMs and credit processing fail; cash reigns.
• Keep small denominations (1s, 5s, 10s, 20s) for easier transactions.
• “Cash is king when it comes to negotiations.” – Mark (12:05)

10. Maps and Compass ([12:26])

• GPS can fail—have regional/local paper maps and orienting skills.
• Krista: "A little bit of orienteering experience is great." (12:48)

11. Fire Starter and Tinder ([12:51])

• Carry lighters, matches, Ferro rod, plus tinder (cotton/petroleum jelly, fatwood).
• Mark: "Once we get that spark, once we get that tiny flame, we can go to fatwood..." (13:16)

12. Self Defense Items ([14:17])

• Options depend on legality and personal comfort: firearms (with proper training/legal compliance), or non-lethal alternatives.
• Krista: "You’ve got to think about your self defense or the protection of those for whom you are responsible." (14:17)
• Referenced past episodes on both armed and unarmed home protection.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On prepping basics vs. gear snobbery:
  "We're not going to tell you what you must have to be a prepper... but there are some things that we really do need to have. Neglect these at your peril." – Mark (01:31)

• On eating what you store:
  "Store the types of things you normally eat.” – Krista (03:01)
  “In this house, [spaghetti and sauce is] its own food group." – Mark (04:09)

• On learning from COVID:
  "They began to realize that they needed more than two rolls in the house at any given time." – Krista on toilet paper shortages (08:35)

• On self-reliance during disaster:
  "You may have to be your own doctor in some situations." – Krista (04:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------| | 01:39 | Water | | 02:44 | Non-perishable food | | 04:12 | First aid supplies | | 05:09 | Flashlights & batteries | | 06:08 | Radio & weather radio | | 06:46 | Multi tool | | 08:24 | Personal hygiene/toilet paper | | 10:22 | Warm clothing, blankets, vehicle prep | | 11:31 | Cash (small bills) | | 12:26 | Maps, compass | | 12:51 | Fire starter, tinder | | 14:17 | Self-defense options |

Closing Thoughts

Mark and Krista urge listeners to review their preparedness in each of these 12 areas, focus on improving weak spots, and embrace practical prepping as an empowering, everyday practice for caring for family and community.

“Look this list over and see in the areas that you may need to add or improve where you are so that you can have a little bit more well rounded preparedness.” – Krista (15:48)

The overall tone is supportive, knowledgeable, and always practical: “Stuff happens. We want you to stay prepared.” (16:33)

For more details and related episodes, check out the episode notes at practicalprepping.info/535.