Full Story How doomsday prepping went mainstream
Aug 17, 2025
Kate Lyons, a Senior reporter at The Guardian Australia, dives into the intriguing evolution of doomsday prepping from a fringe hobby to a mainstream phenomenon. She discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced personal motivations and community support around preparedness. The podcast humorously contrasts survival strategies like 'bugging in' versus 'bugging out' while also addressing the fine line between resilience and obsession in prepping. Cultural differences between the US and Australia add depth to the conversation, revealing how societal attitudes shape survival mindsets.
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Prepping Looks Different Than Stereotypes
- Prepping stereotypes (camo, bunkers, guns) obscure a more varied community.
- Many preppers keep plans secret because visible supplies can make them targets.
Pandemic Made Prepping Mainstream
- Demand for survival gear and courses rose significantly after the COVID pandemic.
- The pandemic revealed how dependent people are on global systems and fragile supply chains.
Trevor Used Prepping To Weather Job Loss
- Trevor used prepping to survive losing a high-pay job and to tide his family over for months.
- He framed prepping as building resilience for everyday shocks, not only global collapse.
