Episodes

  • Primitive Camping Q&A What Real Campers Are Talking About Right Now
    Jul 7 2025

    In this episode, Chris pulls straight from the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Facebook group to reflect on the posts, questions, and tips shared by its members. From tarp shelter setups and gear hacks to battling Mississippi mosquitoes and testing DIY fish hooks, it's a gritty mix of story, survival, and spiritual insight. You’ll hear about Rhett’s summer tarp camp, the underrated genius of 10x10 tarps, bush pots and bedrolls, and even freeze-dried meals cooked in a state-licensed restaurant. The episode wraps with a heartfelt devotional from Psalm 51 on repentance, restoration, and the kind of real transformation that only God can bring.

    What You'll Learn

    The pros and cons of different tarp sizes (8x8 vs 10x10 vs 12x12)

    Why low-budget gear might outperform high-end brands

    How to use dog fennel as a natural mosquito repellent

    Tips for summer camping in high heat and humidity

    Behind the scenes of launching freeze-dried camping meals

    How Psalm 51 speaks to personal repentance and community encouragement

    Mentioned in This Episode

    Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Facebook group
    → Join here

    Cold Cracker Bushpot & Self Reliance Outfitters Bedroll

    DD 3x3 tarp and the new DD 4x4 tarp

    Tony Powers’ custom “Bobcat” knife (Dirtbound Survival)

    Thermacell & Tiny Repel mosquito solutions

    Freeze-dried meal experiments: Stroganoff, Chili Mac, Breakfast Skillet

    Faith Reflection
    Psalm 51:15 — “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise.”
    Chris reflects on David’s brokenness and how the words we speak reflect our heart, especially in a group where encouragement and honesty go hand in hand.

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    33 mins
  • Don’t Let Gear Fail You: Simple Tools for Backwoods Repairs
    Jun 30 2025

    When you're deep in the woods and gear breaks down, do you have what you need to patch it up and keep going? In this episode, Chris answers a listener question from the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Facebook Group about field repair kits. From duct tape on a Bic lighter to sail needles and floral wire, he walks through real tools, real fixes, and why preparation isn't just about survival—it's about staying in the game when things go sideways. Plus, a quick look at the Entropy Survival Go Bag and why it's a solid pick for unexpected situations.

    Topics Covered:

    What should be in every bushcraft repair kit

    Creative uses for duct tape, zip ties, and tie wire

    How floral wire earns a permanent spot in your gear

    First aid crossovers: super glue, needles, dental floss

    Real stories of gear failure and on-the-spot repairs

    Using the Entropy Survival Go Bag as a foundation

    Why spiritual and gear readiness go hand in hand

    survival bag https://youtu.be/k7bmtYVoCyY

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    29 mins
  • How to Preserve and Flavor Fish in the Wild (Bushcraft Style)
    Jun 23 2025

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    Step-by-step method for smoking fish in the field without fancy gear

    What types of wood are safe for smoking (and what to avoid)

    Why Magnolia wood might be one of the most underrated smoking woods for fish

    How to build a simple smoking tripod using green saplings and floral wire

    The difference between grilling, roasting, and real smoking in a bushcraft setup

    Why floral wire is one of the most versatile tools you can pack in your kit

    How to preserve fish while still getting bold flavor at camp

    Real-world examples from Mississippi river trips, including stories of pike, bass, and catfish

    Field hacks for getting steady smoke without catching your gear on fire

    Simple tricks to build a smoke tent for long smoking sessions

    Tools and Tips Mentioned:

    Magnolia, oak, hickory, pecan, mesquite woods

    Avoiding resinous woods like pine and cedar

    Building a cooking tripod

    Using mechanics or floral wire to hang fish

    Scoring fish to cook it evenly

    Using sheets to trap smoke without flame-up

    Key Takeaway:
    Smoking meat in the wild isn’t about perfection — it’s about patience, method, and knowing your materials. When you understand how smoke works, you can preserve and flavor your catch right where you caught it.

    Extras:

    Grab the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft book on Amazon for full setups and photos

    Join the Facebook group and share your favorite smoking wood

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    29 mins
  • Primitive Pest Control: Real Mosquito Defense from the Campfire
    Jun 16 2025

    In this episode of the Primitive Camping and Bushcraft Podcast, host Chris Speir takes you deep into mosquito season with no fluff and no gimmicks—just real outdoor experience. Broadcasting from under the tarp at Camp Wut-Da-Heck, Chris shares personal stories of getting eaten alive by bugs, the dangers of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile and Lyme disease, and his hard-learned lessons from red bug bites and backwoods blunders.

    We walk through:

    Real risks: West Nile, Zika, Alpha-Gal, and more

    Why natural repellents like dog fennel and American beautyberry work—and how to make your own tinctures

    Which commercial repellents are actually worth using (Permethrin, Thermacell, Picaridin, and more)

    Common bug myths that don’t work (bracelets, dryer sheets, essential oil patches)

    DIY candle experiments with garlic powder, coffee grounds, and citronella

    A spiritual parallel: how bug defense mirrors preparing for spiritual warfare

    Practical steps to get spiritually ready: Scripture intake, prayer, obedience, and accountability

    Chris ends the show by tying together real camping advice with raw biblical truth. Because it’s not enough to know what gear to pack—you also need to guard your soul.

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    40 mins
  • Soap in the Wild: Clean Hands, Clean Heart
    Jun 9 2025

    In this episode of the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Podcast, Chris breaks down practical, field-tested ways to stay clean in the woods. From simple DIY soap paper strips to pack-friendly sponge-based products, this talk covers everything you need to know to wash up when you’re off-grid. The episode also features a brief look at traditional soap-making concepts using lye and fat, and closes with a reflection on spiritual cleansing based on 1 John 1:9.

    Topics Covered

    Real-world hygiene challenges when camping

    Listener question from Clay: “How do you make soap from nothing in the wild?”

    Making lightweight soap paper at home using liquid dish soap and regular paper

    Testing and using “Skunky” 60-second shower sponges for bushcraft use

    The benefits and downsides of different packaging methods (tins vs. Ziplocs)

    Intro to soap-making: hardwood ash (lye) and rendered fat

    Modern tools you can bring to reduce risk of infection and illness

    The connection between physical cleanliness and spiritual cleansing

    DIY Soap Paper Method (Field-Ready Soap Sheets)

    Supplies: Regular paper or newspaper, liquid dish soap

    Steps:

    Cut paper into squares or strips

    Lay the paper flat and apply soap

    Let it dry completely (air-dry or use a dehydrator)

    Store dried sheets in a Ziploc bag

    Tips:

    Avoid paper towels—they don’t dry well

    Ziplocs are better than tins for waterproofing and convenience

    Add water when needed to activate soap

    Field-Tested Option: Skunky 60-Second Shower Sponges

    Compact sponges infused with soap

    Lightweight and mess-free

    Biodegradable and disposable

    Use: Just add water, scrub, rinse

    Ideal for hands, body, and general trail hygiene

    Primitive Soap-Making: Brief Overview

    Use hardwood ashes to make lye (not explained in detail)

    Render animal fat to mix with lye

    Caution: Real lye can be dangerous without proper ratios and handling

    This method is for long-term wilderness setups, not short trips

    Faith Reflection: 1 John 1:9

    “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

    You can make soap out of ash and fat. You can wash your hands with the best gear. But none of it changes what’s inside. Christ is the only one who can cleanse the heart. Just like hygiene takes work and preparation, so does spiritual cleanliness. Confession brings cleansing. Not because you earned it, but because He promised it.

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    21 mins
  • Food, Gear, and Faith: A Fireside Chat from the Riverbank
    Jun 2 2025

    In this episode of the Primitive Camping & Bushcraft Podcast, Chris and Dave sit beside the fire the morning after a rugged night on the river. They cover everything from owls calling through the darkness, the pros and cons of high-end hammocks, cooking steak over open flames, and real talk about spending smart on gear. The episode weaves in reflections on Christian faith, learning website design the hard way, and how to stop posting random content and start filming with purpose. It’s real. It’s unscripted. It’s camp life.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Hennessy Hammock Explorer XL

    NightCat Lay Flat Hammock

    Moores Spicy Marinade

    Camp Wut-Da-Heck updates

    Proverbs 3:6 and the new Speir Outdoors slogan

    Transitioning Speir Outdoors into a purpose-driven brand

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    31 mins
  • Not All Firewood Is Dead: Starting Fires with Green Trees
    May 26 2025

    Join me at Camp Wut-Da-Heck for a raw, hands-on breakdown of three primitive fire-starting tinder's you can find and process in the wild—arrowwood, mimosa, and tung nut. I walk through scraping wet bark, sun-drying techniques, and using tools like the ferro rod and Pull Start Fire to get real flames in real conditions. If you’ve ever asked, “Can green wood actually work?”—this episode gives you answers you can take into the woods today.

    Spiritual Reflection:
    But this episode doesn’t just deal with physical fire. It turns the corner into a deeper challenge: Is your heart prepared like good tinder—soft, stripped down, ready to respond? Using 2 Timothy 1:6 and Hebrews 12:29, we’ll explore what it means to fan the flame of faith and what happens when the spark of God’s presence hits something truly ready to burn.

    Why This Matters:

    If you’re looking to expand your fire-starting skills using local resources—this episode gives you real, tested results.

    If you’ve felt dry, distracted, or unprepared spiritually—this message will call you back to readiness.

    And if you’re just tired of overproduced survival fluff and want faith and fire, stripped back and spoken real—you’re in the right place.

    Gear Mentioned:

    Ferro rod

    Lagom folding saw

    Pull Start Fire

    Char cloth

    Sun-heated rocks

    Natural tinder (arrowwood, mimosa, tung nut)

    Scripture Anchors:

    2 Timothy 1:6 – “Fan into flame the gift of God.”

    Hebrews 12:29 – “Our God is a consuming fire.”

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    29 mins
  • The 25-Pound Rucksack: What Gear Really Matters
    May 19 2025

    Chris shares his honest process of rethinking his pack—what gear matters, what gets left behind, and why less is often more in both bushcraft and faith. He dives into the real-world testing of three different camping bags, reviews the Rothko European Rucksack, and explains why tools should serve, not define, a man. Scripture focus is Matthew 6:19–21.

    Pull Start fire link: https://amzn.to/3ZkFqyQ

    What You’ll Hear:

    The problem with packing too much gear

    Breakdown of three camping bag setups

    Review of the Rothko Canvas Rucksack

    What gear stayed and what got cut

    A field-tested packing list under 25 pounds

    A biblical challenge: pack lighter spiritually too

    Why your real weight should be carried by Jesus

    Mentioned Gear & Links:

    Rothko European Rucksack

    Pathfinder Bushpot + Skillet

    Grille Geopress Filter

    Nightcat Lay Flat Hammock

    East Hills Jungle Explorer Hammock

    Lucy Solar Lantern

    Membrane Solutions Water Filter

    Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel

    Pull Start Fire (sponsor)

    Challenge for the Week:
    Lay out your gear—and your heart. Ask: what actually earns its weight?

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    📩 Email: Admin@speiroutdoors.com

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    34 mins