Preparing for the end of the world is a multibillion-dollar business. People are stockpiling weapons, buying luxury bunkers, and even building flammable moats...but prepping is also an American tradition.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Noel King.

 Further reading: <a href="https://cup.columbia.edu/book/be-prepared/9780231204279/">Be Prepared: Doomsday Prepping in the United States</a> by Robert E. Kirsch and Emily Ray, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709872/everything-must-go-by-dorian-lynskey/">Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell about the End of the World</a> by Dorian LynskeyListen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: <a href="http://vox.com/members.">vox.com/members.</a> Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. 

A member of the post-apocalyptic "Wasteland Warriors" group celebrating to metal music. Photo by Axel Heimken/picture alliance via Getty Images.

 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Prepping for doomsday

Today, Explained

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews