Widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost educators in Stone Age living skills, David is a frequent lecturer, author, and consultant on primitive technologies, edible/medicinal plants, and pre-Columbian culture. He served for 18 years as head instructor at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School and was education director of Anasazi, a wilderness program for teens. David has served as a consultant for products such as Cast Away, Survivorman, Man vs. Wild, Road Rules, and numerous others, and was most recently featured on No Man’s Land, a History Channel production.

Russell G. Redenbaugh is an economist, investor, inspirational speaker, author of the book Shift the Narrative, and one of only two known blind jiu jitsu black belts in the world.  Redenbaugh is a three-time world champion in jiu jitsu, fighting sighted opponents.  Blind from the age of sixteen due to an accident which also cost him six fingers, Redenbaugh was one of the longest serving members of the United States Civil Rights Commission (1990-2005).  He is a recipient of the Louis Braille Award from the Pennsylvania Council for the Blind.

PrepperCon is honored to have Redenbaugh join our Survivor Talks series to share his story of determination and mental fortitude, sharing lessons on the power of reframing our challenges so that they become our strengths.

“It’s not what happens to you, It’s what you do about it”

“Robbery in progress.Shots Fired!”  St. Croix (Virgin Islands) Police Chief Christopher Howell, a 25 year law enforcement veteran and his partner, sped along a darkened mountainous road to try to intercept the robbery suspects.  They passed a high speeding car and made a quick turnaround in pursuit.  There seemed to be no sign of the car’s taillights until suddenly they appeared – the suspects’ car had crashed down a ravine.  Howell parked the car unsuspecting of what was ahead.  Suddenly, a muzzle flashed and Howell’s forearm exploded sending pieces of it throughout the patrol vehicle.  Then another round tore through his driver’s side door,  passing through his carseat and striking him in the back before shooting his partner, Jones in the face.  Their Tahoe was dead.  Dispatch only heard, “We’re hit!”.

The wounded and severely bleeding officers were in the depths of an ambush!  Yet, Christopher Howell survived, but, how?  PrepperCon welcomes Chief Howell as a guest in our Survivor Talks series where he’ll retell the account of his heroic survival and the steps he took to manage the mental and physical aspects of the crisis.

Matthew Stein is a design engineer, green builder, and author of two bestselling books: When Disaster Strikes, and When Technology Fails, plus a new children’s story, Geronimo the Frog. Stein is a National Merit Scholar, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he majored in Mechanical Engineering, and recipient of the “Straight T Award,” MIT’s highest athletic honor.

Stein has appeared on numerous radio and television programs and is a repeat guest on Fox News, MSNBC, Coast-to-Coast AM, Gary Null, Alex Jones and the Thom Hartmann Show.  He is an active mountain climber, serves as a guide and instructor for blind skiers, has written several articles on the subject of sustainable living, and is a guest columnist for the Huffington Post.

A 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army and retired Army Chemical Officer, David Jones taught nuclear biological and chemical warfare defense to military personnel all over the world.  Being recognized as a weapon of mass destruction expert, six months after 9/11 occurred David was recalled to active duty.  He spent the next 22 months in the Middle East traveling to 16 different countries conducting vulnerability assessments on US interests in the area.

David is now an emergency management specialist working for the Federal Government at secure facility and has worked with Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, NASA and US Air Force Global Strike Command where he was the only civilian on a nuclear weapons accident response team.  David has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Security Management and has numerous awards from the military and civilian organizations.  His most amazing accomplishment to date was that he became a father for the first time at age 50.

Dr. Drew Miller is a USAF Academy honor graduate, intelligence officer, and retired Colonel. He earned a Master’s Degree and PhD at Harvard University. After serving as an intelligence officer on active duty, Drew entered the reserves and started a business career. He served in the Senior Executive Service in the Pentagon, and as a consultant at the top DoD think tank, the Institute for Defense Analyses. His article on the bioengineered viral pandemic threat was published in The American Interest, and he has spoken on threats and the need for preparedness at several national conferences. Drew founded “Fortitude Ranch,” a recreational and survival community to help people survive the coming collapse. He is the author of Rohan Nation: Reinventing American after the 2020 Collapse. The book lays out likely causes of the disasters Drew believes are going to occur, especially the viral pandemic threat, and illustrates how difficult surviving and recovering will be.

Boyd Craven has penned over 30 books under his real name. His “The World Burns” Series has hit the top 10 in the Dystopian Genre in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia. Boyd has made his home in Michigan with his wonderful wife and about a million kids, but travels to Texas to visit family as frequently as possible. He hunts and goes fishing when he’s not dreaming up post-apocalyptic nightmares to put his characters through. Fear not though, Boyd is a huge believer that in the darkest hour, there is always a glimmer of hope to hold onto. Lately, Boyd has been experimenting with living off the grid – an excellent way to research for his series, as well as torture his teenage sons. Prepare yourself by reading his books – they’re a thrill ride, on or off the grid.