It all started when Phillip was just a kid...
Phillip grew up exploring the woods and creeks of Texas, fascinated by how his Cherokee ancestors once lived. What began with an interest in primitive bows and hunting slowly turned into a deeper passion for the essentials of survival — fire, water, food, and shelter.
As an adult, he worked a regular 9-to-5 job but felt pulled toward something more meaningful. Teaching survival skills became that path. Over time, his knowledge and approach earned him invitations to teach alongside some of the most respected instructors in the field and at national gatherings.
In 2019, he was invited to join the cast of Alone: The Beast on the History Channel — a challenge that took him into the Canadian Arctic with no modern tools, relying only on the land and a big-game animal for survival. The experience tested him deeply and shaped how he saw both wilderness and community
Along the way, he was mentored by survival legend Dave Holladay, who instilled in him the belief that “Earth is home.” That mentorship, combined with his own trials in the wild, left Phillip with a lasting conviction: survival is not just about getting by alone, but about connection — with nature, with others, and with ourselves.
From that place, Primitive Wilderness Survival was born — a way to share skills, but also to build a community of people rediscovering what it means to live close to the land.
What others say about us
From around the campfire...
