Master of None- Adventures in a Hands-on Life
180 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsJoin me as we get our hands dirty. Whether it's farm and garden work, construction and carpentry, cooking and food preservation, or bushcraft and survival skills, you will find something that inspires your creativity. We learn from some true masters of their crafts. Other times we jump head-first into a project, figuring it out as we go. We explore an endless variety of skills, trades, and crafts using both traditional and modern tools and methods.
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Episodes
Episode 025: She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy (Part 2 of 2)
October 20, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBThis episode concludes our discussion of tractors. This is the good stuff. By the end of this episode, you'll be ready to walk into a tractor dealership and test-drive a tractor.
Episode 024: She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy (Part 1 of 2)
October 13, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBAll about tractors! If you know nothing about tractors, have no use for a tractor, and have never driven a tractor, this is for you. By the end of this two-part series, you'll have the knowledge to walk into a tractor dealership, feed store, or local ranch supply and have an intelligent conversation about tractors.
Episode 023: Living with Bats and why You Should Love Them
October 06, 2019 07:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBWe are building a bat nesting box today! Why would we want bats around? There are so many good reasons including pollination, insect control, and reforestation. Since they go to work when most of us are asleep, and since they don't typically live near large population centers, most people don't realize how common bats are and how much they do for us. With that said though, bat populations are currently in decline globally, and these incredible animals need our help. If you have any conc...
Episode 022: The Cyclops' Cave... Greek Heroes Keep Wine and Cheese Underground
September 29, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBWe are in the early stages of building a wine cellar (also cheese cave, root cellar, and canned goods storage) into our basement. In this episode, we talk about some of the planning that went into this in our house design, marital disputes, koi ponds, tractors, orchards, and vineyards.
October 2019 Bonus
September 25, 2019 19:00 - 1 hour - 50.3 MBHere's another monthly bonus episode! We're going to start having some guests on the bonus episodes to give their own pro tips, book recommendations, and monthly challenges. This month, we talk to Charlie. We learn about how to properly light a cigar; the book recommendation is "The Ugly American." Charlie's challenge to us is to teach something to someone. Hope you enjoy the conversation; it's the longest bonus episode by a long shot. I promise I'm working the bugs out of the "remote ...
Episode 021: Alone in the Woods at Night
September 22, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.6 MBIn this episode, we dive into one specific piece of camping gear, what it's all about, and how to effectively use it: the tarp tent. If your idea of camping involves RVs, trailers, wall tents, or even dome tents, this episode might challenge you to push your limits and get out of your comfort zone. We go over some pros and cons of tarp camping as well as nine different configurations in which you can pitch a tarp. These are just a few of the many, many ways to use a tarp tent.
Episode 020: Eating Stray Cats... Just Kidding... Mostly...
September 15, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBIn this episode, we build a birdhouse, but not just any birdhouse; we're building a nest box for an American Kestrel, the world's smallest falcon. In the course of planning our nest box though, we get to talk about a whole lot of other interesting stuff- interesting bird species, birdwatching, feral and invasive species (and eating them), and planning large and small habitat improvement projects.
Episode 019: Cave Art for the Modern Home
September 08, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 48.8 MBIn this episode, we use traditional methods to make rawhide from an antelope skin. We talk about many different uses for rawhide, and we use it to make a pictograph-inspired wall-hanging work of art.
Episode 018: Magic, Medicinal, and Gourmet Mushrooms
September 01, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBIn this episode, we learn how to grow our own mushrooms. Whether it's a plate-sized patch of shiitake on your kitchen counter or lion's mane deep in the forest, you can do this. Specifically, in this episode, we are growing shiitake, blue oyster (don't fear the reaper), reishi, and lion's mane. This is one of those projects that is way easier than you think.
September 2019 Bonus
August 27, 2019 03:00 - 8 minutes - 5.6 MBBonus episode for September 2019. As always, we have a pro tip, book recommendation, and challenge. For this month's pro tip, learn how to clean your microwave. Our book recommendation is "Coyote America" by Dan Flores. Our challenge this month is to come up with a plan, to be implemented over the course of the next year, to make your household more environmentally friendly. Also, don't forget to check out www.campfirepiston.com to get your own fire piston, and use code MON for your M...
Episode 017: How I Survived Hypothermia (part 2 of 2)
August 25, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBIn this dramatic conclusion to our series on fire starting, we finish our top-10 countdown, and talk to the US Forest Service about fire safety and wildland fires.
Episode 016: How I Survived Hypothermia (part 1 of 2)
August 18, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBLet's talk fire starting and survival skills. In this two-part series, we go through ten different fire starting methods, discussing the merits of each. Also, we have a very candid discussion about the difference between primitive skills, bushcraft, and survival skills. Understanding this difference could literally be a matter of life and death.
Episode 015: You're Bleeding to Death. Can I Save Your Life?
August 11, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBIn this episode, we put together a roadside trauma kit. This is based on real-life experiences, and actual emergency situations. What do you think you would do if you were the first one on scene at an automobile accident and someone needed urgent medical care? Are you ready? Will you even stop to help? Unfortunately, for most people, the answer is no. Let's change that, at least for ourselves and our families. Also, we cover some general emergency/disaster preparedness skills.
Episode 014: Chickens, Burros, and Horses
August 04, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 47.8 MBToday, we dive into the three-acre pasture project. This is a long term project, which begins with eliminating over-grazing. The project progresses through surface preparation, building a stone wall, planting berry patches, planting trees, and using chickens to fertilize and improve the landscape. No matter how large or small of an area you're trying to improve, I hope you find this episode informative and helpful.
Episode 013: Beginner Cheesemaking
July 28, 2019 07:00 - 58 minutes - 39.9 MBThe second episode in our cheesemaking series, we make a couple simple cheeses. The first is a traditional Mexican queso blanco, and the second is a basic farm cheese. These cheeses utilize an acid as the curdling agent, and are consumed fresh.
August 2019 Bonus
July 27, 2019 22:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBBonus episode for August 2019. Pro-tip: breath control. Book: Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Challenge: cut out all sugary drinks.
Episode 012: Amazon Blackwater Fish Tank
July 21, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 54.6 MBWe're going deep on this episode! Actually, we're staying pretty shallow, but we are going underwater. Let's set up an aquarium. This is a very specific setup, but the basics will still apply no matter what type of freshwater tank you're interested in starting. On this episode, we set up an Amazon River blackwater biotope tank. We go into detail on tank prep, starting and monitoring the nitrogen cycle, and adding fish.
Episode 011: Leather Belt
July 14, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBIn this episode we make a leather belt from scratch. This involves some basic leatherworking techniques, which we discuss on the show. Also, we talk about leather care, and we oil an antique saddle. I get to dig into some of my own family history surrounding the saddle, which was fascinating, at least to me.
Episode 010: Pemmican
July 07, 2019 07:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBIn this episode, we make a batch of pemmican. Pemmican was adopted from Native Americans by early trappers and explorers in North America. In my opinion, it's just about the perfect backcountry food. We talk about some history, specifically the voyageurs who paddled canoes from Montreal far into the interior of North America, bringing supplies to the trappers, and transporting bundles of furs back to Montreal. We also get to talk about beavers (the primary target of most of the fur trapp...
Episode 009: Listener Q&A
June 30, 2019 07:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBIn this episode, we hear from you, the Master of None tribe. Thanks for all of the questions that you submitted. If you're willing, share the podcast with a friend, submit your own listener question, and leave a review for the podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
July 2019 Bonus
June 26, 2019 07:00 - 7 minutes - 4.91 MBBonus episode for July 2019. As we get geared up for the summer grilling season, I'll share my method for starting a charcoal barbecue grill. Additionally, our book of the month is "Last Child in the Woods," by Richard Louv. Our challenge for the month is to find a mountain nearby, and climb it. If you don't have any mountains nearby, figure out the furthest you've hiked in the last three years, and plan a hike that will take you further. Send pictures and stories of your adventures to ...
Episode 008: Dutch-Style Cheese Press
June 23, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 33.2 MBWhat's your favorite cheese? Why not start making it yourself? In addition to some very basic ingredients, the main thing that you'll need is a cheese press. In this episode, we'll design and build our own cheese press. We talk about some Roman and European history, types of cheese, and methods of making cheese. Most importantly, we cover how to best enjoy eating cheese.
Episode 007: Vermiculture; Composting with Earthworms
June 16, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 33.6 MBNow we are really getting our hands dirty! We are literally making dirt. By "dirt," I mean spongy, black, nutrient-rich soil. We are culturing earthworms in indoor bins so that we can propagate them out to our garden beds and compost heaps.
Episode 006: Buckskin Tanning
June 09, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBLearn to "tan" deer hides and other animal hides the traditional way- no synthetic or hazardous chemicals. Sometimes called "brain tanning," the process of making traditional buckskin only requires a few easily obtainable items and a little bit of sweat. In the end, you'll have one of the highest quality garment-making materials known to man. If you're a hunter, and you hate seeing all of your deer hides go to waste, this is the answer.
Episode 005: Viking Drinking Horn
June 02, 2019 08:00 - 59 minutes - 27.4 MBIn this episode, I make a Viking drinking horn, also known as an ale horn. We talk some history, give a nod to Spartacus, greatest badass of all time, and briefly touch on some Viking shipbuilding and navigational techniques. We also manage to cover some biology with regard to horns and antlers as well as the history of some surnames. I bet you didn't know that you can find a Valkyrie in many churches. That's a lot to fit into one drinking horn. This was a fun episode to record, and I h...
June 2019 Bonus
May 28, 2019 08:00 - 14 minutes - 6.55 MBThis is a bonus episode for the month of June, 2019. Each bonus episode includes a pro tip, book recommendation, and a challenge for the upcoming month. For the pro tip, we talk knife sharpening. The book recommendation is "Natural Born Heroes" by Christopher McDougall. The challenge is to do burpees as part of your exercise routine every day for the entire month of June.
Episode 004: Making Yoghurt
May 26, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 34.3 MBEver wondered if you could make your own yoghurt at home? The easy answer is yes, you can! It's also very simple, only uses two ingredients, and doesn't require any fancy tools or supplies. I'll walk you through the process, and along the way we'll talk about some history and biology. What is yoghurt? Where did it come from? How is it made? Why should we eat it? If the first few minutes of this one are too science-geeky for you, hang in there; we get to the fun stuff, and maybe you'l...
Episode 003: Paleolithic Bone Knives
May 19, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour - 27.5 MBThinking about going paleo? After you find a nice cave to live in, the next step is to craft some useful tools. We haven't quite advanced to the level of making stone tools, so let's make them out of bone. We talk about some history and we make a couple knives, a fish spear, and a sickle out of animal bones. The bone fish hook that we attempt in this episode turns out to be a total failure- more on that in a future episode. Also, why do Neanderthals make me feel pretentious?
Episode 002: Cast Iron Refurbishment
May 12, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBLet's take a rusty cast iron pan that appears to be beyond repair and transform it into a piece of prized cookware. We also get into some of the pros and cons of cooking with cast iron and what cast iron actually is. If you want some tips on cooking with cast iron, cleaning it, and maintaining it, this is the episode for you. Also, on the show, we make the world's best cornbread- country custard skillet cornbread (or something like that; I think I call it three or four different names dur...
Episode 001: Building a Log Staircase
May 03, 2019 21:00 - 1 hour - 28.8 MBAfter completing the construction of my family's new home, I sit down with Vic Jones to discuss building a rustic log staircase. We also get into some other aspects of home design and construction, forest management, wildfires, and bark beetles. As this is the first episode of the podcast, we also chat a little bit about where the podcast is headed and some of the topics that may be covered in future episodes.