
Meet our INSTRUCTORS
Fallout 2024

The Angery American
Chris Weatherman
CHRIS WEATHERMAN, also known as ANGERY AMERICAN, is the author of 23 published works (and counting), including USA Today Best Sellers Forsaking Home and Resurrecting Home. His books include the Survivalist Series—a sensational hit that began with the Book 1, Going Home—and has now sold more than one million copies worldwide.
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In 2023, Chris started the Angery American Nation Podcast, addressing the issues affecting America today with humor, insight, and unabashed honesty. Covering a wide range of topics including politics, social issues, current events, survival, and self reliance, he challenges conventional wisdom and encourages listeners to question the status quo. The Angery American Nation Podcast aims to contribute to a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Franklin Horton
Special Guest
Franklin Horton, an acclaimed author living in the rugged mountains of southwestern Virginia, has lived a life full of adventure and eclectic jobs before finding his true calling. From his early days as a voracious reader with a dream to write, he pursued a degree in English at Virginia Commonwealth University and embarked on a whirlwind career as a radio announcer, hotel clerk, photo processor, and more. His varied experiences also include stints as a delivery driver, substance abuse educator, retail store owner, carpenter, and general contractor.
Today, Horton has penned over thirty thrilling science fiction and suspense novels, immersing himself in a life atop the remote Clinch Mountain peak. His days are split between crafting gripping stories and tinkering in his workshop, just like his characters. Franklin will be with us the entire weekend of Fallout!!!

Pete Robertucci
Special Guest

Pete Robertucci, author of *Three Days to Eden*, *Eden under Threat*, and *Eden Army*, is not only a skilled writer but also a seasoned firearms instructor with over two decades of experience. A retired firefighter and medic with SWAT medic training, Pete has operated several training companies, including the Israeli Tactical School – Daytona and Tradecraft – Daytona. He specializes in Israeli techniques for pistols and carbines and has extensive expertise in personal security, SWAT tactics, active shooter response, and home defense.
Pete will be teaching a dry fire class at Fallout, where he will cover crucial skills such as proper grip, stance, sight alignment, trigger manipulation, and drawing from a holster.
GODs Good Table
Maureen Diaz
We are Maureen and Erin, a mother/daughter duo who love the Lord and love His people!After watching family struggle with health issues and dealing with her own, Maureen knew there were answers beyond the advice conventional medicine gave. She set out on a journey to learn and study traditional healing and cooking from every book she could get her hands on and every holistic practitioner she could find. She has been sharing what she has learned with her family, friends, and community for over 30 years! Maureen has a passion for teaching, cooking, kayaking, showing immense love for all the people who join her at the kitchen table, and being an amazing wife and mother to 9 children.

seaux Larreau

Seaux Larreau, a distinguished member of the Joel Hardin Tracking Program (JHPTS) since 1993, has significantly impacted military tracking and combat training. Initially part of Universal Tracking Services (UTS), he transitioned to JHPTS, integrating its methodologies into the 10th Group Special Forces Sniper program and various combat disciplines. His expertise led to his role as an instructor and advisor, where he effectively incorporated JHPTS techniques into sensitive site exploitation, counter-IED operations, and military K-9 training.
Larreau's influence extended beyond military applications; he was actively involved in search and rescue operations and crime scene investigations across the U.S. and Canada. His methods earned him recognition and featured him in publications. His efforts in revising military tracking manuals and advocating for practical tracking skills over expensive technology were noteworthy. Larreau retired from the U.S. Army in summer 2016 after a 28-year career. He is now a member of Tactical Rifleman and assists with many other tactical organizations.
Seaux will be working with Pineland Resources in teaching Homestead Defensive Tracking at Fallout.
Pineland Resources
Charlie Williams
SFC Charles Williams, retired from the U.S. Army Special Forces, served as a Special Forces Engineer and Assistant Operations and Intelligence NCO with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His extensive experience includes participation in Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and exercises such as Bright Star in Egypt. His missions spanned Sudan, Jordan, Somalia, Kenya, and Panama. Williams also contributed as an instructor in the Special Forces Qualification Course and authored articles on guerrilla warfare for training new cadre and auxiliary forces.
Since the late 1980s, Williams has been involved in Search and Rescue in North Carolina, significantly influencing training development across North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. As CEO of Pineland Resources Inc., he offers instruction in man tracking, wilderness search and rescue, wilderness survival, land navigation, and tactical mobility training for various vehicles and equines, catering to law enforcement and military personnel. Charlie will be teaching Homestead Defensive Tracking at Fallout.

Survival Gear BSO
Brain Loftus
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Brian's passion for Preparedness began more than 15 years ago. He spent 9 years training at several survival schools across the United States and earning his first Instructor Certification in 2015. These schools ranged from Spartan Americana with Joseph Teti to Israeli Tactical School where he earned his instructor certificate in Counter Terror & Instructor CQB. He has also trained at the world-renowned Pathfinder School.
Brian has trained in environments from the Ozarks to the Appalachians and as far as the jungles of Nicaragua.
Starting his own survival gear store in 2016 and rebranded in 2020, Survival Gear: Bushcraft & Survival Outfitters was born. Brian's vision for Survival Gear BSO is to equip those interested in preparedness with the most reliable gear that can be found without breaking the bank.
Brian will be teaching Bug out Bags and how to equip your bug out vehicle at Fallout 2024!
Survival Homestead Teaching Farm
Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright
Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright, known as "The Weed Doc," is a naturopathic physician, author, and speaker specializing in herbal medicine. She promotes self-sufficiency through her homesteading and prepping activities. Her books include titles like "Survival Herbs for Beginners" and "Herbal Goat Care for Homesteaders." You can learn more about her work and farm life at www.shtffarm.com, www.theweeddoc.net, and on her YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@survivalhomesteadteachingfarm.
Amanda will be teaching How to use Herbs Medicinally, Herbal Animal Care, and Top 10 Survival Herbs at Fallout!

Revelation Survival
John Galloway

John Galloway of Revelation Survival has a diverse background, shaped by his upbringing with missionary parents across the U.S., from Northern California to North Carolina. His father instilled in him a strong foundation in wilderness and homesteading skills. After graduating high school, John served for a decade in the USMC, gaining valuable jungle survival skills while working with indigenous communities in the Philippines. Following his military service, he joined the Fayetteville (NC) Fire Department, where he worked as a medic, Rescue Technician, and HazMat Technician, retiring as a Captain in 2016.
Transitioning to a full-time career, John pursued his passion for homesteading and began teaching firearms training, specializing in long-range precision shooting. He also offers wilderness skills training, aiming to share the beauty of God’s creation and the tranquility found in nature.
John will be demonstrating Primitive Skills at Fallout.
Gray Zone Activity
Wes Hightower
Meet Wes Hightower with Gray Zone Activities. Wes is a seasoned military professional with extensive experience in special operations and engineering. He began his service with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he spent three years as an infantry mortar man. He then graduated from the Special Forces qualification course as an 18C Special Forces Engineer Sergeant. Hightower spent seven years with the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as an Advanced Forces Operator in C 1-1. He also spent four years as a special forces physical and technical surveillance instructor at the Special Warfare Center and School. In his final role before retirement, he worked as a technical security advisor and surveillance operator. Wes will be teaching "Hardening the Homestead", "Evasion Planning for Dirty Civilians", and "Building and maintaining a Cache".
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Lost Ways Survival
Paul Christopher
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Paul Christopher grew up in Aberdeen, North Carolina, where his mother taught him how to make gourmet meals from discarded fish bones from Uncle Archie's Fish House, and his father showed him how to build a house using scrap lumber and sheet metal. As the youngest of four, Paul benefited from his brothers' expertise in hunting and fishing, which helped provide food for the family. The woods served as both his playground and grocery store, making his ascent through the Boy Scouts feel like second nature.
Paul's upbringing instilled in him a resourceful mindset, leading him to master skills in food procurement, preservation, blacksmithing, and construction. He now refers to these abilities as the "lost ways of life."
During his 22 years as a firefighter, Paul participated in special teams such as Dive and Land Search, High Angle, and Confined Space Rescue. His role as a Fire Service Instructor fueled his passion for skill-sharing, which he now channels into teaching outdoor skills, including homesteading, wilderness survival, self-rescue, and bushcraft.
Paul is the Co-Founder of LostWays Survival and Homestead, alongside his wife, Becky Christopher. When he's not at their North Carolina homestead, Paul travels across the country teaching with organizations throughout the US. He also curates courses and workshops inspired by his life experiences, aiming to preserve and share traditional skills before they are lost.
Paul will be teaching "Ferro Rod Fire Starting in any Weather Condition" and "Knots and Lashings for Bushcraft, Survival, and Homestead".
Mind 4 Survival
Brian Duff
Brian Duff, the founder of Mind 4 Survival, brings a wealth of experience in tactical and preparedness training. With a background that includes service as an Army Ranger with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, overseeing security at major U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, and working with the Department of State's Diplomatic Security Special Operations Division, Duff offers extensive expertise in security and survival. He has also served as a paramedic and remote medic in various conflict zones. His podcast and upcoming book, *Mind4Survival*, focus on preparedness and security.
At Fallout, he will teach on Situational Awareness and Decision-Making, Mindset, and The Survival Pyramid (Expanded Rule of 3's).

Homestead Medical
Chuck Peoples

Chuck Peoples brings over 30 years of extensive EMS experience to his role as the owner and operator of Homestead Medical. His background includes more than 20 years of public EMS service, international contractor paramedic work, and 25 years as an EMS educator. At Homestead Medical, Chuck specializes in teaching non-medical students about prolonged care, advanced wound care and closure, tactical and emergency trauma, and the management of sick or injured patients in long-term care settings.
His upcoming sessions will cover:
1. **Mindset of Medical Preparedness**: Understanding the right approach and attitude towards medical readiness.
2. **Levels of Medical Preparedness**: Different stages and depths of preparedness needed.
3. **Avoiding the Pitfalls of Medical Preparedness**: Identifying essential versus non-essential items and practices.
4. **Prolonged Care**: The significance and necessity of extended patient care.
5. **Advanced Wound Care Demonstration**: Practical insights into advanced wound treatment techniques.
6. **Equipment Selection and Demonstration**: Choosing and using the right medical equipment effectively.
Nick is a seasoned expert in emergency response and disaster planning with over 30 years of experience. He has a deep background in hazard and threat assessments, creating practical response plans, and developing exercises to refine those plans. He teaches national courses on communications for emergency response and leads a ham radio testing team with frequent sessions. Nick also specializes in continuity planning to ensure critical infrastructure remains functional during crises.
To make emergency planning accessible, Nick has crafted workbooks for individuals to develop family emergency plans and conduct threat assessments. His extensive writing covers various preparedness topics, from food storage to privacy management, and his mind-maps provide visual tools for effective planning.
You get all this at Fallout!
### Presentation: Developing Your Comms Plan
**Introduction:**
- **Topic Overview:** Ever wondered how those radios you see advertised on social media—claiming to "work when cell phones don’t" and have "no monthly fees"—actually function? Are you curious about their role in a disaster or emergency situation?
**Key Points:**
1. **Understanding Emergency Radios:**
- **How They Work:** These radios often use frequencies that are independent of cellular networks, allowing them to operate in situations where traditional communication methods fail.
- **Benefits in Disasters:** They provide a reliable means of communication when conventional systems are down.
2. **PACE Comms Plan:**
- **Role of Radios:** Nick will explain how these radios fit into your PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency) communication plan.
- **Decision Making:** You'll learn how to evaluate if these radios are a good fit for your communication strategy.
3. **Programming Your Radio:**
- **Baofeng and Others:** If you've purchased a Baofeng or similar radio but are unsure how to program it, you're not alone.
- **Hands-On Help:** We’ll guide you through the programming process and help you get comfortable with your equipment.
**Conclusion:**
- **Take Action:** Don’t let your radio stay in the box. Join our comms planning class to get the knowledge and skills needed to effectively integrate and utilize your radio in your emergency preparedness plan.

Fortune Favors the Prepared
Nick Meacher
Troy's Gate
Randy Martin
Randy Martin, with over 40 years in law enforcement, has extensive experience across various roles, including 5 years with the state of West Virginia, 12 years with the City of Lenoir, NC, and 30 years as a sworn deputy in Caldwell County. Now, he specializes in training and education on the use of deadly force for military, special agents, peacekeepers, and law enforcement officers. Randy's presentation will focus on the facts surrounding deadly force and human reactions to high-stress situations. A key aspect of his discussion will be the impact of Troy's Gate, a system that allows for controlled studies of behaviors in these critical scenarios.
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Mel of the Mountains
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Melonie Stanger, the visionary behind Mel of the Mountains, has led a life brimming with diverse experiences and profound passions. Her journey from a radio announcer and software engineer to a bakery owner, "cake engineer," and expert bookkeeper illustrates a life rich with curiosity and skill. Most notably, Melonie has dedicated herself to the ancient craft of brain tanning, reviving the art of creating buckskin hides.
Residing in the picturesque North Georgia mountains, Melonie's commitment to preserving and teaching brain tanning highlights her unique blend of tradition and innovation. Through her website, melofthemountains.com, she provides a wealth of knowledge on traditional tanning techniques and offers resources for those eager to learn this craft. Melonie’s story is one of resilience and continual exploration, embodying the spirit of never-ending curiosity and dedication.
Mel will be teaching a 3-day Brain tanning intensive, Oct 15th - 17th prior to Fallout. Sign up below!
https://www.melofthemountains.com/products/brain-tanning-3-day-course
Hands on make your own Medicine bag with Mel during Fallout! Link below! ( You must Have a ticket to Mountain Readiness Fallout to take advantage of this class)
Oct 18th
Oct 19th
Melonie Stanger
Simple Homestead Living
Suzanne Shires
Suzanne, a North Carolina native, has a rich background in homesteading and herbalism. Growing up in a large family, she learned canning and sustainability from her ‘mountain folk’ grandparents. Her early experiences with mountain remedies and wild plants led her to a deep dive into herbalism, whole food nutrition, and traditional practices like foraging and fermenting. Suzanne now shares her knowledge through her books, *Wild Herb Gardening* and *Wild Things from Beyond the Garden Gate*, and her educational games at Go Forage! Games. Through her website, simplehomesteadliving.com, she teaches others about natural health, foraging, and preserving, passing on her expertise in finding and using wild food and medicinal plants.
Suzanne will be teaching "Winter Wild Foods", " Making a Healing Lard Salve", and "Using Tree Resin"

Bushcraft NC
Rick Dunlap

Rick Dunlap’s extensive background in safety, education, and service highlights a lifetime dedicated to enhancing community well-being and discipline. As a certified instructor with the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) and a health and safety expert for the Boy Scouts, Rick combines his expertise with a deep commitment to teaching. His 25 years as a U.S. Army Sergeant Major and experience as a high school teacher underscore his dedication to both leadership and education, ensuring that his legacy of competence and care continues to impact others.
Rick will be teaching Wilderness First Aid for Kids at Fallout!
Opossum Soft Pouch Goods
Jay Hercules
Jay Hercules's journey from a resourceful upbringing in West Virginia to establishing Opossum Pouch Soft Goods illustrates a remarkable evolution. Raised in an environment that emphasized self-reliance and ingenuity, Jay learned to repair and modify equipment from a young age. His dissatisfaction with commercial gear led him to craft his own, driven by a need for high-quality, dependable equipment.
The turning point came when a customer took notice of Jay's handcrafted gear and shared their positive experience online. This exposure not only validated Jay's skills but also introduced his work to a wider audience, paving the way for his entrepreneurial success. Today, Opossum Pouch Soft Goods stands as a testament to Jay's commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and functionality.
Jay will be teaching "Effective Field Repair Of Soft Goods" and "Soft goods, The canvas vs nylon lie"

Night Vision Buyers Guide

Dan Keating has an extensive background in security and military operations. After serving 8 years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman, completing 5 deployments, and earning an honorable discharge as a Sergeant, he transitioned to security contracting in Afghanistan, focusing on PSD missions around Kabul. Currently, he handles various security contracts, including critical infrastructure and executive protection. Additionally, Dan is the operational training expert for Nightline Inc., where he travels globally to train military and police units on night vision technologies and tactics, including training Georgian special reconnaissance units and Panamanian Border Police. He will be teaching a course titled "Night Vision to Suit Your Needs."
Jim Bordwine
Jim Bordwine has a rich heritage deeply intertwined with the history of salt. His family's connection to a natural salt lick near their town dates back to the 1760s, with several members historically involved in the salt trade. This extensive background provides Jim with a unique and profound understanding of salt's historical significance and practical uses. He has shared his expertise on prominent platforms, including the History Channel's *Mountain Men* and the Cooking Channel's *Food: Fact or Fiction*. Through these appearances, Jim has illuminated the crucial role of salt in history and cuisine, showcasing its enduring impact on both.
Jim will be teaching " The History of Salt And It's Uses"

Don Dunn
Special Guest

Don Dunn is a seasoned expert in preparedness and survival, with over 25 years of experience in the field. He previously owned Shield Survival, a survival food company, and Ranger Proof Arms, a manufacturer of high-end AR carbines and knives. Dunn is a skilled knife designer, with several of his blades currently in use by special operations troops worldwide. He co-designed the Angery American field blade "The Dalton" with Alan Kay, winner of *Alone* Season One, and one of his knife designs was featured on *Naked and Afraid*.
Dunn has extensive teaching experience, having collaborated with Chris Weatherman, Alan Kay, Tactical Rifleman, and Greenline Tactical, among others. He has also conducted numerous private classes and contributed to YouTube channels like Tactical Rifleman and Survival Dispatch. An avid outdoorsman and certified firearms instructor for over 20 years, Dunn emphasizes the critical importance of food storage in preparedness. His passion lies in empowering responsible citizens to achieve food independence and navigate crises effectively.
Don will be teaching a hands on food preservation at Fallout!
Building Food Security
Lori Valone
Lori Valone is the author of Building Food Security: Canning, Dehydrating, and Freeze Drying. With a focus preparing families for food supply disruptions from natural and man-made disasters, Lori Valone has spent ten years studying methods for gathering and preserving food. Utilizing canning, dehydrating and, most recently, freeze drying, she researches creative ways to add to the long term food supply for both her immediate and extended family. An avid mountain gardener, she combines home-grown and store-bought foods to extend family food security.
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Taking a page from her career background in technical program and project management, Lori emphasizes the importance of taking time to plan rather than simply storing food. Only with a plan can you know you are making progress your short-term and long-term goals and identify the gaps in your plan. Lori serves as the coordinator for a local preparedness group in her western North Carolina community and is a frequent speaker at conferences around the country.

Grass Roots North Carolina

Becoming politically active in 1994, Paul Valone founded and continues to direct two political non-profit organizations, serves as president of a third, and has created numerous political action committees. Beyond legislative activities, he continues freelance writing, hosts the show “Guns, Politics and Freedom,” and has been interviewed and quoted by dozens of newspapers, and radio and television stations. Drawing on 28 years of grassroots leadership, Valone wrote Rules for ANTI-Radicals: A Practical Handbook for Defeating Leftism as a tactical guide for defeating leftism in both politics and daily life.
As a Second Amendment advocate and firearms instructor who has been certified by the NRA and the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, a deputized Federal Flight Deck Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and a United States Practical Shooting Association competitor who has completed twenty-eight advanced defensive firearms courses and certifications, Valone knows firearms and laws governing self-defense.
Paul Valone
Spartan Americana
Joseph Teti
Joseph is a veteran of both US military and US government special operations units. He is a former Force Recon Marine, Army Special Forces ‘Green Beret’, and a former operative with the CIA’s Special Activities Division / Special Operations Group…..Ground Branch.
While serving with the SAD/SOG he deployed to OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) in Iraq, and OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) in Afghanistan and numerous other countries in the Middle East and Africa fighting in the Global War on Terrorism.
Joseph is the co-star of the show ‘Dual Survival’ on the Discovery Channel. He has survived in every climate and terrain on the planet. From the jungles of Sri Lanka to the deserts of Oman to the glaciers of Norway and everywhere in between. He is considered a subject matter expert on extreme wilderness survival, urban survival as well as disaster preparedness.
Joe will be teaching " Fundamentals of Land Navigation"

Gahagan Customs
Kyle Gahagan

Kyle Gahagan brings a wealth of experience and discipline to his knife-making, drawn from his military background. Having served in demanding roles, he understands the critical importance of reliable, high-performance tools. His time in the military has deeply influenced his approach to crafting knives, emphasizing durability and precision. Each blade is designed with the same rigorous standards he adhered to in service, ensuring that they are not only functional but also dependable in high-stakes situations. Gahagan's commitment to excellence is rooted in his military experience, making his knives a trusted choice for those who need superior tools in the field.
Gahagan Customs will be instructing on blade smithing at Fallout.
The Farm & Forge
Chantal Mullen
Chantal has been Stewarding the soil and Teaching others since 2011. Her Experience Spans From Gardening to Farming! Chantal has designed, installed, and maintained edible landscapes, gardens, and this upcoming year, her second farm. From plants to animals, butchering to seed starting, she creates integrated systems that are truly sustainable and regenerative. Her hands on experience is backed by an education in Plant and Soil Science, Agriculture Education, and Sustainable Food Systems.
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“There is Freedom, Satisfaction, and Reward in growing your own food. Not only monetarily, and healthwise, but also for the Soul.”- Chantal Mullen

Shankle Homestead Leather works
Jim & Jess Shankle
