After the Fall - Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Science and Survival

John Michael Layne

  After the Fall explores post-apocalyptic fiction, real-world collapse scenarios, and the science behind how systems fail—and what comes next.  Hosted by author John Michael Layne (Seasons of Ash), the show blends storytelling, expert interviews, and practical survival insights to examine the fragile systems that shape our world.  From grid failures and pandemics to super volcanoes and societal breakdown, each episode asks the same question: What happens after everything falls apart—and who are we when it does?  Rooted in Appalachian perspective and grounded in realism, After the Fall is where fiction, science, and survival meet. 

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    Writing the End of the World

    What does military service teach you about leadership, survival, and the decisions people make when the world falls apart? In this episode of After the Fall, I sit down with U.S. Army Reserve veteran and author Eric Smith, creator of The Last Regiment series. Eric shares how his military background influences his post-apocalyptic fiction, from realistic tactics and crisis leadership to the human cost of conflict and the resilience of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances. We discuss why post-apocalyptic stories continue to resonate with readers, how military experience shapes authentic storytelling, and the challenges of building a readership as an independent author in today's crowded publishing landscape. Whether you're a fan of military thrillers, post-apocalyptic fiction, preparedness, or the writing craft itself, this conversation offers a fascinating look at what it means to write believable stories about the end of the world. Topics discussed:  Military experience and realistic storytelling  Leadership during crisis and collapse  The human side of war and survival  Why readers love post-apocalyptic fiction  Independent publishing and audience building  The inspiration behind The Last RegimentGuest: Eric Smith, author of The Last Regiment series Connect with Eric: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastRegimentSeries I would probably title the episode: Writing the End of the World with Eric Smith | Military Experience, Leadership, and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

    39 min

  2. May 18

    Preparedness Starts With Training

    What does real preparedness actually look like when things go wrong? In this episode of After the Fall, I sit down with firefighter, EMS responder, rescue instructor, and TacMed1 founder Jon Bajek to talk about the reality behind emergency response, survival, and training. With nearly two decades of experience responding to fires, rescues, medical emergencies, and high-stress incidents, Jon breaks down the difference between preparedness fantasy and real-world capability. We discuss why mindset matters more than gear, the psychological realities of trauma, communication under stress, medical readiness, and what ordinary people can do right now to become more capable in a crisis. This is one of the most practical preparedness conversations we’ve had on the show. Topics include: • Real preparedness vs “prepper entertainment” • Why training matters more than equipment • The first minutes of chaos during emergencies • Mental resilience and decision-making under stress • Medical preparedness for families • Why community matters more than lone-wolf survival Subscribe for more conversations on post-apocalyptic fiction, preparedness, survival mindset, and resilience. #Preparedness #Survival #EmergencyPreparedness #Prepping #FirstResponder #AfterTheFall #TacMed1 #PreparednessTraining #SurvivalMindset #EmergencyResponse

    35 min

  3. May 9

    The Last Generation That Knew How to Survive

    Before “prepping” became a trend, survival was simply part of everyday life. In this episode of After the Fall, John Michael Layne sits down for a conversation about growing up in rural West Virginia during the Great Depression and the practical skills that once defined ordinary American life. Hunting wasn’t recreation. Gardening wasn’t a hobby. Families preserved food, repaired what they owned, and learned to survive without depending on fragile modern systems. The conversation explores the knowledge previous generations possessed, why so much of it has disappeared, and what modern preparedness can still learn from the people who lived through genuinely hard times. From food preservation and hunting to self-sufficiency, resilience, and the fragility of modern convenience, this episode is a reminder that many of the skills we now call “prepping” were once simply called life. Website: johnmichaellayne.com

    27 min

  4. Apr 7

    "We Thought We'd Be Fine": Surviving Hurricane Katrina | Wes Gabb

    What does real collapse actually look like? In 2005, Hurricane Katrina turned New Orleans into something unrecognizable. Power failed. Communication broke down. And for a period of time, people were left to figure things out on their own. In this episode of After the Fall, John Michael Layne sits down with Wes Gabb—a New Orleans native who lived through Hurricane Katrina as a teenager. Wes shares what it was like as the storm approached, the chaos of evacuating under pressure, and the moment it became clear that things were not going back to normal anytime soon. From gridlocked highways to complete communication breakdown, this conversation reveals how quickly systems can fail—and how unprepared most people are for that reality. But this isn’t just a story about Katrina. It’s a conversation about mindset—how people respond when expectations collide with reality, and what separates those who adapt from those who don’t. In this episode:  The illusion of safety before the storm  What evacuating Katrina actually looked like  How quickly communication systems failed  The gap between expectation and reality  Lessons in preparation, adaptability, and resilience Connect with Wes Gabb: 🌐 hollywoodcreationswv.com About the Show: After the Fall explores apocalyptic fiction, real-world disasters, and the mindset required to survive when systems break down.

    26 min

  5. Mar 31

    The Shackleton Mindset: How to Stay Calm When Everything Falls Apart

    When things go wrong, most people don’t rise to the occasion—they fall to the level of their mindset. In this episode, I break down what I call The Shackleton Mindset—a way of thinking built on clarity, responsibility, discipline, and calm under pressure. Drawing from the real-world leadership of Ernest Shackleton and connecting it to modern life, we walk through the mental framework that actually determines how people respond when systems fail, uncertainty rises, and pressure hits. This isn’t about gear, tactics, or worst-case scenarios. It’s about how you think, how you act, and who you become when it matters most. We’ll cover:  Why mindset matters more than preparation alone  The difference between responsibility and victimhood  How people actually behaved during real disruptions like COVID  Why calm is a trained skill—not a personality trait  How to think clearly when others panic  And how to build a mindset that holds when everything else breaks Because when everything falls apart, your mindset isn’t tested—it’s revealed. If you’ve ever wondered how you would respond when things go wrong, this episode gives you the framework to answer that question—before it’s too late.

    13 min

  6. Mar 26

    Garrett Holt: From Navy Intelligence to Post-Apocalyptic Author

    In this episode of After the Fall, I sit down with Garrett Holt—an indie author and U.S. Navy professional whose background in intelligence, history, and political science brings a unique level of realism to his writing. Garrett is the author of Siege of the Forgotten Order, a post-apocalyptic novel that blends military strategy, dark science fiction, and elements of horror. We talk about how his real-world experience shapes his storytelling, what it’s like building a book and audience at the same time, and what actually goes into launching a series from scratch. Beyond writing, this conversation dives into survival psychology, leadership under pressure, and how large-scale systems begin to break down. It’s a grounded, practical look at the kinds of scenarios often explored in fiction—and why they resonate so strongly right now. Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or someone interested in preparedness and real-world risk, this episode offers both insight and perspective. 🔍 Topics Covered:  Writing post-apocalyptic fiction with real-world influence  Military experience and storytelling  Survival mindset and leadership  Building an audience as a new author  BookTok and modern publishing strategies  Collapse scenarios and system instability 🔑 SEO Keywords: post apocalyptic fiction, indie author podcast, survival mindset, societal collapse, disaster scenarios, military fiction, writing process, book marketing, booktok strategy, preparedness mindset, leadership in crisis, post apocalyptic series, systems failure, resilience

    29 min

  7. Mar 24

    Top 10 Ways the World Might Actually End (No Zombies)

    Everyone talks about the end of the world—but what are the real risks? In this episode, we break down the ten most likely ways civilization could collapse based on science, history, and the systems we rely on every day. From global pandemics and nuclear war to super volcanoes, solar superstorms, and cascading system failures driven by artificial intelligence, this is a grounded look at how fragile modern life can be.  This isn’t about Hollywood scenarios or worst-case speculation. It’s about understanding how interconnected our world has become—and how disruptions in one system can trigger failures in others. We also explore why most large-scale disasters wouldn’t come from a single event, but from a chain reaction that unfolds over time. In the end, preparedness isn’t about fear. It’s about resilience—and being ready when things don’t go according to plan. 🔻 In This Episode:  Global Pandemic  Nuclear War and EMP  Abrupt Climate Shift  Global Crop Failure  Ecosystem Collapse  Solar Superstorm  Artificial Intelligence and system failure  Supervolcano eruptions  Asteroid impacts  Gamma-ray bursts 🎯 Key Idea: The end of civilization is far more likely to come from something we already understand—pushed beyond what we’re prepared to handle.

    9 min

  8. Mar 21

    What Survival Training Really Teaches You (with Stuart Buchanan)

    What does real survival training actually teach you? In this episode of After the Fall, I sit down with Stuart Buchanan—former Australian Army infantryman, SERE instructor, and author of Dragon Rising—to explore what survival really looks like when systems begin to break down. We discuss the mental and physical realities of survival, the biggest mistakes people make in the early stages of a crisis, and why preparedness is about far more than just gear. Stuart shares insights from his military and survival training background, including the importance of mindset, decision-making under pressure, and how quickly normal life can begin to unravel. We also explore how post-apocalyptic fiction connects to real-world risk—and what these stories reveal about human behavior when everything changes. 🎯 In this episode: What SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) training involvesWhy survival is primarily a mental challengeThe most common early mistakes in a crisisWhat preparedness actually looks like in practiceHow fiction reflects real human behavior under pressure🔗 Links & Resources 📩 Newsletter: https://johnmichaellayne.com 📖 Dragon Rising by Stuart Buchanan: Link Here 🎙️ About the Show After the Fall explores post-apocalyptic fiction, science, and survival—looking at how the world ends, and what might come after.

    37 min

  9. Mar 19

    What Does “Apocalypse” Really Mean? (It Doesn’t Mean What You Think)

    What does the word apocalypse actually mean? Most of us associate it with destruction—collapse, catastrophe, the end of the world. But the original meaning of the word tells a very different story. In this first episode of After the Fall, we explore the origins of the word apocalypse, how its meaning changed over time, and what that shift reveals about how humans think about the end of the world. From ancient myths like Ragnarök to modern fears of pandemics, climate collapse, and technological risk, every civilization imagines its own ending. But these stories are rarely just about destruction—they’re about what catastrophe reveals. We also explore a powerful idea: that disasters don’t just destroy societies—they reshape them, exposing underlying strengths, weaknesses, and truths that were already there. If apocalypse originally meant a revealing, then maybe the end of the world isn’t just about collapse… but about what becomes visible when everything else falls away. 🔗 Links & Resources 📩 Join the newsletter: https://johnmichaellayne.com 📖 Seasons of Ash by John Michael Layne:  🎙️ About the Show After the Fall is a podcast about post-apocalyptic fiction, science, and survival—exploring how the world ends, and what might come after.

    8 min
  • 9 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

  After the Fall explores post-apocalyptic fiction, real-world collapse scenarios, and the science behind how systems fail—and what comes next.  Hosted by author John Michael Layne (Seasons of Ash), the show blends storytelling, expert interviews, and practical survival insights to examine the fragile systems that shape our world.  From grid failures and pandemics to super volcanoes and societal breakdown, each episode asks the same question: What happens after everything falls apart—and who are we when it does?  Rooted in Appalachian perspective and grounded in realism, After the Fall is where fiction, science, and survival meet. 

Information

You Might Also Like