American Contingency

Ep #30: Explore the critical aspects of mobility across personal readiness, community engagement, and practical strategies in our latest podcast episode. We delve into how physical fitness and psychological preparedness enhance personal safety, the benefits of community-led safety initiatives, and the essentials of navigating outdoor environments. Learn about the importance of rapid departure readiness, including tips on 'Go Bags,'...

Ep #29: Today, we're talking about something super important: being ready for anything, whether a natural/man-made disaster or something unexpected. It's all about having those critical conversations with your family, friends, co-workers, loved ones, church, and community to ensure everyone's on the same page. I'll share some key tips on why certain ways of discussing this pertinent topic will motivate them to engage with you, what...

Ep #28: Have you ever considered how the emotions of anxiety, judgment, and anger shape our lives and our decisions, for better or for worse? Preparing for emergencies or disasters transcends the realm of tangible supplies and bug-out bags; it fundamentally entails cultivating mental resilience and maintaining mental health and wellness to navigate crises effectively.

Today, I delve into the dual nature of these influential emotion...

Ep #27 - HAM radio offers a versatile and powerful means of communication for enthusiasts and emergency responders alike - as they operate across a wide range of frequencies, allowing users to transmit voice, data, and even images to other operators anywhere in the world, depending on the frequency band and atmospheric conditions. 

In this episode, I talk to member Max Williams about HAM radio, how to maintain communication and inf...

Ep #26 - The Adventure Challenge is your opportunity to test your skills in a semi-controlled environment so you can be prepared and respond effectively to any challenge that comes your way. Today, we welcome back Thom Rigsby to discuss the ins and outs of the Adventure Challenge. For members, you already know when your region is scheduled to participate. For non-members, the degree to which you practice is directly proportional to...

Ep #25 - Everything is fine in your world until it is not. A fall, cut, burn, crash, illness, or catastrophe doesn't send you a text to let you know it is on the way - it slams through your metaphorical door of life and abruptly stops you in your tracks to demand you go into immediate action. Emotional resilience is your fortress when times go sideways. It is not enough to think about what you would do and then hope you are capable...

Ep #24 - Communication is critical during severe weather emergencies. As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, understanding how to communicate effectively in these situations is essential for safety and preparedness.

Join us as we discuss strategies across our 12 different preparedness categories, delving into the nuances of personal and family preparedness, emphasizing the significance of clear medical communicatio...

Ep #23 - In 2024, American Contingency is bringing an Adventure challenge to our membership with the audacious goal that everyone in the nation will one day take part in learning, participating, and practicing skills necessary for life, not just disaster or crises. 

In this episode, we welcome back Thom Rigsby to discuss the Adventure Challenge and what AmCon has in store for our members in 2024.

When you’re ready to build the skil...

Ep #22 - Thom Rigsby joins us to discuss the support of the AmCon community, how our regional events and training guide members to improve their preparedness and crisis skills, and how our daily situational report brings unbiased, reliable information and news to the membership.

When you’re ready to build the skills, network, and confidence to be ready for whatever comes next - join us at AmericanContingency.com.

https://members.am...

Ep #21 - It's been a whirlwind of a 2023. Let's dive into the world of resilience in this empowering episode, where we merge the concepts of emotional and psychological resilience to arm you with the tools you need to stand firm in the face of life's adversities. We'll explore seven key strategies to build your emotional resilience, from nurturing a positive outlook to embracing the inevitability of change. We'll then shift gears t...

Ep #20 - Strengthening our community bonds, building effective communication strategies, and preparing ourselves for the unexpected by learning and training is the heartbeat of American Contingency. We care about you because we care about our world, our country, our city, our neighborhood, our street, our social circle, our loved ones, ourselves! In this week's episode, we welcome back Denny G, our training coordinator extraordinai...

Ep #19 - Cultivating strong neighborhoods and communities, active listening, and conflict resolution are keystone attributes of an effective leader in any community. American Contingency focuses so intently on leadership because we know that while we might go faster alone, we go further together - and during a crisis, man-made and mother nature, knowing there are people who have your back can make all the difference. 

Just hit play...

Ep #18 - What direction do you think the country is going? There are rumblings of discontent from all sides of the aisle and within every demographic, but...are we collectively being blinded by the immediate noise of the media machine and missing a huge opportunity to be grateful for everything we are privy to here in the United States?

Mario Q has a unique perspective as someone born in Central America, where he lived for the firs...

Ep #17 - National Preparedness Month is a time to focus on what you can do within our 12 categories to ensure you are as prepared as possible for any given Tuesday. These 7 powerful principles will guide you along your journey. Whether you are a newbie to the world of preparing or an old GOAT who loves to pass along their wisdom, these principles will speak to you and inspire you to go that extra yard today.

The 7 Principles:

Devel...

Ep #16 - Emergency communication. We talk about that so much within AmCon because we know that most people rely solely on their cell phones as their only way of communicating with anyone not directly in their immediate space. When Mother Nature blasts her chaos into our lives, that same network we love to watch funny videos on and order things so we don't have to leave our houses becomes overloaded, and then what do you do?

If you ...

Ep #15 - September is National Preparedness Month! Picture this: It's any given Tuesday, and suddenly, a situation arises that you never saw coming. It could be a man-made incident like civil unrest or a public shooting, leaving you feeling uncertain about your safety, or a natural event like a severe thunderstorm hitting your neighbor's house with lightning and knocking your power out. These are the kinds of situations we rarely f...

Ep #14 - Urban and rural environments have different needs in "normal" times. Their needs become even more exaggerated in times of calamity and emergency scenarios. Kevin Outten, our Delaware Organizer, organizes disaster and emergency preparedness for the state of Delaware, and his experience with the disparities of country versus cities shows in his knowledge.

His overall message of family and community is one echoed in the halls...

Ep #13 - Recently my neighbors house was struck by lightning right after the electric went out in my five-mile circumference - and of course after the dust settled I knew this was going to make a great American Contingency episode.

So let's explore preparations for one frequently encountered situation - power outages and one less frequent situation - lightning strikes. The strategies we've curated for each of these scenarios will o...

Ep #12 - Preparation is a core value here at AmCon. Training one another for the unexpected and then going out and doing what we've learned is an activity we actively do all around the country. Today we welcome Derek Jones to the mic to discuss the trainings and disaster scenarios simulations he coordinates within the West region of the United States.

It's one thing to read, listen, and learn. It is a whole other situation to be ru...