A Conversation on Urban Preparedness: My Interview with the Urban Lady Prepper
Reflecting on pandemic lessons, community resilience, and the evolution of prepping culture.
I recently had the pleasure of joining the Urban Lady Prepper podcast to discuss my ethnographic research on New York City's prepper community and our collective experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conversation with prepper Lynn Jordan offered a unique opportunity to explore how academic research intersects with practical preparedness — and to reflect on what we've all learned since March 2020. Special thanks to Lynn for the opportunity!
[Listen to the full podcast interview on YouTube]
[Listen to the full podcast interview on Spotify]
[Listen to the full podcast interview on Apple Podcasts]
From Research to Reality
When the pandemic struck New York, I found myself in an unprecedented position as both researcher and participant. Having just published Bracing for the Apocalypse after years of studying the city's urban prepper subculture, I watched my ethnographic subjects become community heroes almost overnight. During our podcast conversation, I shared how the peppers I'd interviewed weren't the ones fighting over supplies at Costco—they were already home, helping neighbors and sharing knowledge they'd been accumulating for years.
The Urban Lady Prepper and I explored a fascinating paradox: while popular culture portrays preppers as isolated survivalists waiting for some apocalyptic Tuesday, the reality is far more practical. As one of my research participants beautifully put it, "We're not preparing for Tuesday, we're preparing for tomorrow." This distinction became central to our discussion about everyday resilience versus fantasy doomsday scenarios.
Gender, Community, and Preparedness
One of the most engaging parts of our conversation focused on women in the prepping community—a perspective often overlooked in mainstream media. We discussed how female preppers approach preparedness differently, often thinking beyond individual survival to family and community well-being. The Urban Lady Prepper brought valuable insights about single mothers and solo women entering the preparedness space, challenging stereotypes about who preppers are and what motivates them.
We also delved into the class dynamics I observed during the pandemic, particularly the exodus of affluent New Yorkers and its impact on neighborhood safety and community cohesion. These weren't simple stories of good versus bad choices, but complex questions about urban citizenship and what it means to be part of a community during crisis.
Looking Forward
Our conversation touched on everything from the evolution of prepping mindsets to the importance of mental resilience alongside physical preparedness. We discussed how the pandemic has reduced stigma around preparedness while revealing gaps in our collective readiness for extended "shelter in place" scenarios—something most preppers hadn't extensively planned for.
The Urban Lady Prepper asked thoughtful questions about my research methodology, the future of urban preparedness, and whether I'd ever consider leaving New York during a crisis. Her perspective as a practicing prepper combined with my academic analysis created a rich dialogue about community, resilience, and the lessons we must carry forward.
I'm grateful to the Urban Lady Prepper for this thoughtful conversation and the opportunity to share insights from my research. The full interview offers much more depth on these topics, including specific examples from my fieldwork and our discussion of how preparedness culture is evolving post-pandemic.
