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.
Sep 22, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 21
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.
Sep 15, 2019•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 20
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.
Sep 08, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 19
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.
Sep 01, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 18
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 No...
Aug 27, 2019•8 min
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.
Aug 25, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 17
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.
Aug 18, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 16
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.
Aug 11, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 15
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.
Aug 04, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 14
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.
Jul 28, 2019•58 min•Ep. 13
Bonus episode for August 2019. Pro-tip: breath control. Book: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Challenge: cut out all sugary drinks.
Jul 27, 2019•18 min
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.
Jul 21, 2019•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 12
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.
Jul 14, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 11
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 t...
Jul 07, 2019•57 min•Ep. 10
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.
Jun 30, 2019•43 min•Ep. 9
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@m...
Jun 26, 2019•7 min
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.
Jun 23, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 8
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.
Jun 16, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 7
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.
Jun 09, 2019•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 6
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 e...
Jun 02, 2019•1 hr•Ep. 5
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.
May 28, 2019•14 min
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 some...
May 26, 2019•1 hr 15 min
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?
May 19, 2019•1 hr
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...
May 12, 2019•1 hr 19 min
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.
May 03, 2019•1 hr 3 min
