How Do I Prepare For A Societal Collapse?

Summary

Summary of "How Do I Prepare For A Societal Collapse?" Episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights

Release Date: May 12, 2025
Host: Ramsey Network
Featuring: Dave Ramsey, Chris Hogan, Dr. John Deloney

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Introduction to the Topic

In this compelling episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, the discussion centers around a highly pertinent and often anxiety-inducing topic: preparing for societal collapse. Hosted by the Ramsey Network, the episode features insights from financial expert Dave Ramsey, motivational speaker Chris Hogan, and societal resilience advocate Dr. John Deloney. The conversation delves into the fears surrounding national debt, the viability of the U.S. dollar, and practical steps individuals and families can take to safeguard their futures.

Concerns About National Debt and Economic Stability

The episode kicks off with Dave Ramsey expressing his personal concerns about the burgeoning national debt and its long-term implications:

Dave Ramsey [00:36]: "I'm looking at the national debt and how we're really getting into some significant debts. I can imagine in several decades it being unmanageable and perhaps collapsing the dollar."

Ramsey articulates a common fear that the unsustainable national debt may lead to a collapse of the U.S. dollar, potentially causing severe economic and societal repercussions. He doubts that current influential figures, such as Donald Trump or Elon Musk, possess the capability to rectify the situation in a manner that would prevent significant civil unrest.

Expert Insights on Societal Collapse

Dr. John Deloney, brought in by Chris Hogan to address Ramsey's questions, provides a nuanced perspective on societal collapse:

Dr. John Deloney [01:10]: "It's a problem that's got to get solved. ... What I do know is this, that when you gin up a story about you, you have confirmed in your mind about a tragedy that's coming your way... it takes you away from being present... with those precious little girls that you want to preserve their livelihood."

Dr. Deloney acknowledges the ongoing concerns about national debt, referencing historical warnings from figures like Ronald Reagan. He emphasizes the unpredictability of future technological advancements, such as autonomous vehicles, highlighting the difficulty in foreseeing societal changes over the next few decades.

Practical Steps for Preparation

1. Financial Preparedness

Dr. Deloney advocates for returning to fundamental financial principles before considering more drastic measures like accumulating precious metals or ammunition:

Dr. John Deloney [02:12]: "Do I owe anybody any money? As for me and my family, are we actually free? And I'm going to work really hard to do that."

He underscores the importance of eliminating debt and achieving financial freedom as foundational steps in preparing for any potential economic downturn.

2. Building Community Relationships

One of the most valuable forms of preparation, according to Dr. Deloney, is fostering strong, supportive relationships with neighbors:

Dr. John Deloney [03:50]: "One of the greatest hedges... is robust connected relationships with your neighbors. They trust you, you trust them, and y' all solve problems together."

He suggests practical ways to build these relationships, such as hosting dinners, engaging in communal activities, and sharing common values. This sense of community provides emotional support and practical assistance in times of crisis.

3. Physical Preparedness

While not dismissing the importance of physical preparedness, Dr. Deloney advises against extreme measures. He shares his personal approach:

Dr. John Deloney [04:40]: "Do I have a deep freezer with about a year's worth of meat in it? Absolutely. That proved pretty useful during COVID."

He emphasizes practical storage solutions for essentials like food, which can provide stability during unforeseen disruptions.

4. Mental and Emotional Preparedness

Dr. Deloney highlights the significance of maintaining mental and emotional well-being amidst fears of societal collapse:

Dr. John Deloney [05:55]: "Take a news fast for the next 60 days. Just get off, turn it off and do something that's going to be both super boring and drive you a little bit mad. And that will give you peace that you might not have had in a while."

He recommends engaging in simple, present-focused activities such as coloring with children, wrestling on a mat, or hiking. These activities help ground individuals in the present moment, reducing anxiety about an uncertain future.

Diverging Opinions on Precious Metals and Gold

Chris Hogan offers a critical perspective on the conventional advice to invest in precious metals as a hedge against economic collapse:

Chris Hogan [07:17]: "At no time has gold been used as a medium of exchange in a crashed economy since the Roman Empire. So it's, I don't own any gold."

He argues that in the event of a complete economic collapse, traditional investments like gold would be irrelevant, and barter systems would prevail. Hogan emphasizes the importance of not making financial decisions based on fear, which can lead to poorer outcomes rather than providing security.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Concluding the discussion, Dr. Deloney offers heartfelt advice and encouragement:

Dr. John Deloney [07:43]: "Thank you for being a dad that's looking to the future and that's concerned about the direction of our country... Let's make my bed first. Let's clean up my household. And then let's go to our neighbors, and then we'll go from there."

He underscores the importance of taking actionable steps within one's immediate environment—starting with personal and family well-being before extending efforts outward to the community.

Conclusion

This episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights provides a balanced exploration of the fears surrounding societal collapse and offers practical, grounded advice for listeners. By combining financial wisdom, community-building strategies, and mental health practices, the discussion equips individuals with a holistic approach to preparing for uncertain futures without succumbing to fear-driven decisions.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dave Ramsey [00:36]: "I'm looking at the national debt and how we're really getting into some significant debts. I can imagine in several decades it being unmanageable and perhaps collapsing the dollar."

• Dr. John Deloney [01:10]: "It's a problem that's got to get solved... it takes you away from being present... with those precious little girls that you want to preserve their livelihood."

• Dr. John Deloney [03:50]: "One of the greatest hedges... is robust connected relationships with your neighbors."

• Chris Hogan [07:17]: "At no time has gold been used as a medium of exchange in a crashed economy since the Roman Empire."

• Dr. John Deloney [07:43]: "Thank you for being a dad that's looking to the future and that's concerned about the direction of our country... Let's make my bed first."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and practical advice shared in the episode, providing valuable takeaways for listeners interested in preparing for potential societal challenges.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

Brought to you by Y Refi.

[Chris Hogan]

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[Dave Ramsey]

Ramsey do you all personally own any physical precious metals, gems, have visas, or even ammunition for the purpose of protecting against societal collapse?

[Chris Hogan]

Great question. I got just a guy here to answer that. The only guy I know who's actually mentioned the word societal collapse. Dr. John Deloney.

[Dr. John Deloney]

I guess. Tell me what's going on in your heart, man.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, thank you very much for taking the call again. And you know, I have two young girls, I'm an aspiring grandfather, I'm pretty young. I'm looking at the national debt and how we're really getting into some significant debts. And I can imagine in several decades it being unmanageable and perhaps collapsing the dollar. And I don't think Trump or Musk can fix it. And even if they could, I don't think that could be sustained long enough to where, you know, you wouldn't cause huge civil unrest.

[Dr. John Deloney]

Hmm. So as a guy who's a fellow worrier and a guy who's a fellow looking to the future to always try to read the tea leave so I can start doing things now, right? I'm with you. And the national debt, it super concerns me and somebody sent me a video of Ronald Reagan doing a speech before he was president and he was talking about the national debt and so was the next president. And on like. So it's been something that's been in the air and in the water for a long time. It's a problem that's got to get solved. I also saw a thing today that Waymu has like 2, 000 automated cars that are about to start doing like Uber type driving in your area in Phoenix. Right? Why do I bring that up, dude? Who knows what 10, 20, 30 years are going to look like from now. And what I do know is this, that when you gin up a story about you, you have confirmed in your mind about a tragedy that's coming your way even 20, 30, 40 years away, your body responds as though it's happening right now. And it takes you away from a critical thinking in the, in the, in the current moment. And it takes you away from being present from those precious little girls that you want to preserve their livelihood and their, and their, and their way of life into the future. And so here's a couple of ways that I have dealt with this. Number one, going back to the basics. As my friend Dr. Lane Norton says, I don't step over $100 bills to pick up nickels anymore. So before I'm going to get into precious metals and bullets, I'm going to say, do I owe anybody any money? As for me and my family, are we actually free? And I'm going to work really hard to do that. Right before I get into some, like, biohacks, I'm going to go to the gym and I'm going to start exercising and I'm going to start eating right. I'm going to start there and then I'll start hacking around the edges. The second thing is, is the data on collapses. One of the greatest hedges, if not the greatest hedge you can have, is robust connected relationships with your neighbors. They trust you, you trust them, and y' all solve problems together. And that doesn't get a lot of press and you can't buy that off of Amazon. And so if you are truly, truly concerned about the US dollar going away and the world imploding, really get to know the people around you, have them over for dinner, become friends with them, talk about values, go fishing together. You don't have any water in Phoenix, so I don't know, maybe go for a walk in the desert. But. But that's not sexy and that's not cool and that's not in a John Wick movie. But that's the. That's the truth and the reality. Then, no, I don't have hidden jewels in my backyard. I don't have. I have lots of ammunition, but I'm. I travel a lot for hunting and stuff like that, so.

[Chris Hogan]

For other reasons.

[Dr. John Deloney]

Yeah. Not for apocalypse stuff. Right. And I've had the misfortune sl. Blessing of being in active shooter situations. I have been to situations where AF in the aftermath of somebody dying and with by gunshot and it's not what it looks like on tv. And so this idea that I'm going to. I'm good, man. I'll tell you what, it's different re in real life. I've also been in some SWAT hostage negotiation training where I was the bad guy. Multiple times I've done this, and it ends terribly for me because they're good at what they do and I'm not. I just watch a lot of movies. So I'm telling you all that to tell you this. Be present where you are. Don't pick up the $100 bills in front of you. Make sure your family's healthy, make sure you all love each other and you're connected and you'll have dinner together as much as you can around the table. Make sure you invite your neighbors over and you'll know each other. Do I have a deep freezer with about a year's worth of meat in it? Absolutely. I do. Right. So I'm a little bit. Okay, maybe. And that proved pretty useful during COVID Right. So there's some little bitty things that are. I would call rational. That makes sense. If the US dollar dissolves, your problems will be existentially bigger than do I have a jar of jewels buried in my backyard? It will be. It will be such an epic wild west scenario that any sort of fantasy to try to think through what you would do and how you'd handle it is futile. It's a waste of time and energy. It's just a distraction. From present with your daughters. What I would recommend is taking a news fast for the next 60 days. Just get off, turn it off and do something that's going to be both super boring and drive you a little bit mad. And that will give you peace that you might not have had in a while. And that is get some coloring books and start coloring with your daughters. Get a small wrestling mat from academy and start wrestling with your daughters. You'll just have fun. Go outside. As spring starts to. I mean, y' all are in a perpetual summer, right? But as spring starts to come on board, take your daughters out for hikes in. In the. In the mountains and become present where you are. And that's not a panacea, and that's not me putting my head in the sand. It's just getting out of that anxious, anxious, anxious, anxious state right into a world that I can actually impact, which is my family, my home right now. You get what I'm saying?

[Dave Ramsey]

Yes, I do.

[Dr. John Deloney]

And that is the least sexy unfun. Unlike. Yeah, let's get. It's the least of all of that. But this is just me trying to be as practical as I can.

[Chris Hogan]

And the more you talk about it, Chris, the more your phone listens and then feeds you ads saying buy gold. It's all coming crashing down. And here's Robert Kiyosaki telling you, you know, like, I've seen it all. And so the truth is, when you're talking about societal collapse, you're saying every company in America goes bankrupt, goes to zero. That's what would have to happen for the stock market to collapse and for us to have economic collapse. And if that does happen, gold's not going to solve it. We'd go back to the bartering system, trading for food, water, fuel and ammunition.

[Dr. John Deloney]

Pelts will food.

[Chris Hogan]

And as Dave Ramsey said, at no time has gold been used as a medium of exchange in a crashed economy since the Roman Empire? So it's, I don't own any gold. And I think if things go down and we make decisions based on fear, we end up poorer, not richer. And so I avoid precious metals. I don't encourage anyone to buy them. If you want to have some for fun, like you would buying some crypto with some fun money, knock yourself out. But I wouldn't use it as a hedge against anything.

[Dr. John Deloney]

Is that helpful at all, brother?

[Dave Ramsey]

Yes. That helps a lot. Thank you so much for answering that.

[Dr. John Deloney]

Hey, let me tell you this. Thank you for being a dad that's looking to the future and that's concerned about the direction of our country, about the way people are handling their business. Thank you for being that kind of dad. And then let's close our front door and say, okay, what can I do here? Let's make my bed first. Let's clean up my household. And then let's go to our neighbors, and then we'll go from there.

[Chris Hogan]

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