Ep. 163 - Bo Brown - Could You Survive Out in the Ozark Wilderness Alone? Primitive Tools, Cordage Techniques, and Fire Methods

If you were dropped into the Ozark wilderness with nothing but your hands—could you survive? In this episode of The Ozark Podcast, survival expert and author Bo Brown returns for a hands-on breakdown of primitive skills that have sustained humans for thousands of years. From starting a fire with nothing but sticks to crafting stone blades and forging clothing from deer hides, Bo shares the forgotten knowledge that kept early Ozarkers alive—and why it still matters today.

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Support for this episode:

⁠⁠⁠Vortex Optics⁠⁠⁠ - Industry-defining scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars

⁠⁠⁠Moultrie Mobile⁠⁠⁠ - The ONLY cell trail cameras with A.I. integration

⁠⁠⁠Umarex Airguns⁠⁠⁠ - The leader in Air Rifle technology

00:00 – Introduction

06:30 – The 5 essentials for wilderness survival

13:20 – Stuffing your clothes with leaves to fight hypothermia

22:00 – Starting fire with a bow drill vs. hand drill

36:30 – The atlatl: more powerful than a .357 Magnum

50:00 – Living off the land: a culture that honored what it took

What is The Ozark Podcast?

In the Ozarks, people have always lived in rhythm with the natural world. Hunting, fishing, and living off the land, aren't just things we do, it's who we are. And though our lives are inextricably linked to the land we live on, we've never been more disconnected from it. So join us, as we travel across the region to bring you the voices of the Ozarks to deepen your connection with the land, sharpen your skills in the outdoors, and help you learn what it means to be an Ozarker.

Our hosts are ⁠⁠⁠Kyle Veit⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Kyle Plunkett⁠⁠⁠ - and our producer is ⁠⁠⁠Daniel Matthews⁠⁠⁠

Theme music: 'American Millionaire' by ⁠⁠⁠JD Clayton⁠⁠⁠

Catch up with us on Instagram and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠@theozarkpodcast⁠⁠⁠

PLEASE reach out to us with any recommendations or inquiries: [email protected]