Bear Grylls
[important] UPDATED 7/29/14 – New photo with Bear Grylls and Ben Stiller. [/important]
I spoke with Bear Grylls during a conference call on July 21, 2014 about his new show Running Wild with Bear Grylls on NBC. Grylls takes celebrities like Zac Efron and Ben Stiller into the wild for two days in what he describes as “A boys’ adventure.”
I enjoyed talking to Bear and quickly learned he has no filter, which is evident in his answer to my question. This is a refreshing change from some of the talking points we’re given in other calls. I could tell Bear is very excited about the show and has a quirky sense of humor that I wish had translated better in the transcript. Speaking of transcripts, the program used to transcribe this call seems to have had a difficult time understanding several words used. The words in parentheses appear to be guesses of the words actually said.
I wanted to ask more questions but due to a limited amount of time, we were only allowed to ask one.
Running Wild with Bear Grylls premieres on Monday, July 28, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific only on NBC.
My question is a continuation about Zac Efron’s seemingly first parachute jump and the editing of the scene to make it feel so rushed and intense; Efron did have some prior training, as Grylls mentions earlier in the call.
This is my actual question, followed by what the transcriber heard.
Greg Staffa: Thank you for taking our questions today. You’ve hinted a little bit with Zac Efron learning to parachute. The editing, gives a rush feeling, can you talk about finding a balance between safety and making the show feel intense? And does a production throw things at you that you don’t know are coming or is the two days pretty much laid out for you?
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Operator: Your next question comes from Greg Staffa with YourEntertainmentCorner.
Greg Staffa: (Kicking off) question today. You’ve kind of hinted down it a little bit with a Zac Efron learning to parachute. The (editing), which gives you a rush feeling. Can you talk about finding a balance between safety and making the show feel intense? And does a production throw things at you that you don’t know are coming or is the two days pretty much laid out for you?
Bear Grylls: It’s not laid out at all and there isn’t a production, which is, for me, how it make this so fun. We have two camera guys, two sound guy and we have a story producer, who’s making sure that we’re kind of what I say or what the guest says kind of makes a complete package and makes sense.
But beyond that, we’re super a small crew. We scout the area from the air over a few days before so we have good idea of the root and I have a good idea kind of what we want to do, “Let’s get across the river. Let’s get across this river, we try and get out one of these rock faces here and somewhere around there will be a good place to camp.” That’s going to be great extraction points because we get a helicopter in there and we’ll start off the journey on this high peak there. And beyond that, we just get in to it and do it.
And that’s what I think all of these guests have loved because they all come from a world where everything is rehearsed and pre-planned. And all of them have loved the vibe that we’re just winging and we’re doing it and some of the stuff works and some of it doesn’t.
And, (shed) that without a (snake) we (sure let) go for that or – and it makes it so fun. Fun for them, fun for me because that’s how I – if one of me rang me up and said, “You know what, Bear? I really want – would you do me a favor? Take me away for two days and to the Utah visit. And let’s just go and have a fun time and go camping.” It’s kind of like that.
It’s just – we have some cool resources to make it exciting. We have some helicopters and all of that stuff. So – and as I said, they all come from this background where everything is so rehearsed and almost (vary) by the end they go, “I can’t believe I jumped out of a helicopter or I did this or I climbed up that.” There was no practicing or warning of – and that for me is a fun part of it.
Greg Staffa: I really enjoyed the Zac Efron episode. Thank you.
Bear Grylls: Oh, it’s good. I’m glad you’ve watched it. That’s cool you watched it. Great. He did – Zac did amazing. He’s a rock star, he really is. One of my favorite bit from the whole thing was with Channing at the end of it. I said, OK, you’ve done all these crazy things. You back-flipped at a helicopter in the lake, you climbed and slept on rock (ledge). It takes time to (through) that mountain. You’ve done all of this, chased rattle snake, you name it. What was your favorite bit?
(You guy) is my favorite bit of the whole thing with Ben. We were sitting on top of the mountain and the camera crew gone, and it’s just you and me and you’re cooking the remains of the rattle snake over the fire. You had your pants off because you were drying it on the rocks. You’re bent over the fire, your bum was right next to me, and one of your testicles drops down in (front of me) your underpant.
And (pine) I knew this goddamn adventure is real. So, I kind of (issue) the classic Channing. So, that made me laugh.
Greg Staffa: Thank you.
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Operator: Good morning. My name is Tasha and I will be your conference operator today. You may begin the conference.
Bear Grylls: Hey, guys. Just to say they’re here. Thanks to all for joining. I’ll try to get through as many questions as I can. Just (so on here) I am on a – I’m on a little cove off the South Coast of England, and it’s raining and I’m in a pair of pant and my cellphone is slightly dying.
So, beyond that, it is on my DNA to be resourceful. So, I’ll try to many things as quickly as I can. But go for it.
Operator: Your first question comes from Rebecca.
Rebecca: Good morning. I’ll make it short and quick.
So, is there any celebrity that you did not get that you wanted? And do you have plans for a second season?
Bear Grylls: We do have plans for a second season. And as for the (guest), I just feel really lucky that we got such incredible stars to join us. It’s encouraging we reached out to – (inaudible) since we knew we (inaudible).
So, Zac and to Channing and to Ben, straight off the bat off people. (Inaudible), especially to get on the show and was really (inaudible) of my members, who were (also keen) to do it.
And total credit to all six of the guests we had. You know they threw themselves into 120 percent made – nobody said, “Hold back”. I said, “Come on your own. No entourage and just trust me.” And they did that. And the show is a real credit to them really but – to throw into it 120 percent.
But, no, I think I’m certainly really proud of them. And speaking to those guys since – they’re just – all of them are really just – they’re really excited they did it. And I’m proud to complete (it – this), so, yes.
Rebecca: Great. Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the line Anne.
Anne: Hi, there. If you can say which star was the boldest or the best of them all?
Bear Grylls: That’s a horrible question to ask. I’m not going to answer that.
(Laughter)
Bear Grylls: I’m not just giving you a (palm) or politically answer but the truth is I genuinely have so much respect for these guys. And it’s scary when you take (yourself) so out of your comfort zone and have the – go and do something you’ve never done before. And to almost all of these people, which is totally new to reign mentally, (emotionally), and everything for that.
And they’re all so fun, you know? I mean Ben was so great to film with just because everything is just hilarious. Channing and Zac – great though because they’re just so enthusiastic and have no fear and they love the Cameron is so fun to (tape) because she’s never done anything like this before and was started off so frightened by it all. But by the end, we’re just exhausted. We’re so exhilarated.
(Inaudible), brilliant. I mean he’s sort of a legend in his own right. Somebody’s hardly (by sort of a) mission ever set out by – (inaudible), so that was always going to be an adventure taking (him).
So, (I’m not going to be all be a) Hollywood legend. Again, shaking with fear in the start. But I said, “You know what? Just trust me. We’d do this together and (inaudible).”
So, you know – they – genuinely they’re all amazing. And (May) is just relieved that nobody died.
Anne: Oh god. I understand (Clip).
(Laughter)
Anne: It looks like you might fall off the cliff. Did you ever think of that or was repelling dangerous (enough).
Bear Grylls: Yes. It was 140 feet so it’s a death drop. (To my right) wasn’t long enough was a tricky bit because it was overhanging and I knew I wouldn’t – I didn’t have 140 foot of rope so it’s just going to be a question of, “How big is drop going to be off the end of the road?”
But I said this is I – I said, “Let’s – I assure you (there is no read no) how big this drop is going to be off the end of the road.” But I can tell you it’s not (inaudible) in the water because I can feel the end of the road, we pulled it back up and it wasn’t wet.
So, (inaudible). We’re so close. Just do it. Now – and that’s my man. And…
(Laughter)
Bear Grylls: And he’s great. He’s so (bulty). He loved that – the edginess of it. He liked some guests to kind of less familiar with that. But Zac with minimal sky-diving training, we gave him like an hour, had him sky diving on his own. And that genuinely – that takes courage. So, (hit on him).
Anne: OK, thanks.
Operator: Your next question comes from Rick.
Rick: Hey, Bear. This was…
(Crosstalk)
Bear Grylls: Hey, (Rick).
Rick: It was returned back to your (cemetary) to do a part – one of these episodes. Can you just talk about what it is you’re – something that you like, as far as terrain and elements and that type of thing?
And as far as things go in the world of places where you could stranded, is – (somebody) one those places that has enough sort of natural resources that would be – if you got to be (swimming) it that’s a good place to end up?
Bear Grylls: Well, there are a few reasons why your (cemetary) is great.
One is that it’s got – as well as a lot of the American early pioneer climbers cut their teeth when they came across these incredible spectacular (rock rules) and granite domes. It’s where a lot of the pioneers started to climb there so it’s always going to look spectacular. It’s always going to be frightening just because of the scale of it. And there’s lots of exciting wildlife from bears to mountain lions to rattle snakes. And also it’s not a million miles away from L.A. and I think – so some of the shows from Running Wild we went to the other end of the earth effectively so to have a few that was easy for some of these stars on tough schedules to get to – definitely work as well and your (cemetary) has it all. You know (it takes in that) fly from L.A. and you’re in the middle of some of the most spectacular wilderness in all of North America so it takes a lot of boxes.
And also really delivered. I mean we got there. Channing, I think, when he first saw it, we were flying over together in a helicopter hanging (off the side). He was like, “Holy shit. This is amazing.” And I (was), “Wait.” I said, “Wait till you get into it.” So, yes. So, it was pretty fun.
Rick: And, again, if you had to be stranded somewhere, are there enough natural resources that that’s a – I mean there could be worst places?
Bear Grylls: Yes, great. You’ve got forest low downs. You know got – you’re in the range (of those) – the mountain there so when it rains, it rains last and so it’s everything you need. Yes.
Rick: OK. Thanks a lot.
(Crosstalk)
Bear Grylls: It’s (classified). Out of all place I’ve been…
Rick: Yes.
Bear Grylls: That’s a good place to get stranded.
(Laughter)
Bear Grylls: And a fine place.
Rick: Exactly. Thanks a lot.
Operator: Your next question comes from Courtney.
Courtney: I joined a few minutes so hopefully you haven’t already answered my question.
Of all the places you’ve been and you’ve been all over the world, what’s the place that you connect with the most?
Bear Gryll: Home. I think what…
(Laughter)
Bear Gryll: I think what a lifetime of doing is has thought me – it thought me two things.
One is that – I do love it. I love the adventure. I love being out there. It’s where I come alive and it’s where I perform on my best. I love the wildernesses around the world we’ve gone to and it’s such a privilege.
But also going away, a lot has thought me the value of home. And it’s, I say, a really genuine – it’s the greatest driving – it’s always to me when I’m up a mountain or in a (mystical) jungle, it’s a shining light making me work hard and get out of there in one piece.
You know I’ve got a lovely family, three young boys and you see it’s a real lesson of going away. I said, “Home is good, eh?”
Courtney: And have you had a chance to take your boys on any of these adventures?
Bear Grylls: Yes. I mean I got to do that the rest of the year when we’re not – when we don’t have TV cameras around us, so they loved it. I mean where I am right now, looking at all three boys, star naked in the sea, in a pour, in the rain and I’m sheltered under a fallen tree trying to keep out of the rain talking to you so they love it. They live it. And I’m – it’s in their DNA for sure.
Courtney: And has there been any one place that was just so incredibly difficult that you have no desire to ever go back?
Bear Grylls: Probably the black swamps of Sumatra, where the tsunami hit in 2001 (desimated) a big part of the island. It’s just full of this stinking black rotting swamp with all of these crocodiles feeding off the 6500 human corpses. They lost of a lot of lives in that disaster and a disease-ridden, crocodile-filled, snake-filled place. But, yes, I’m not going to hurry back to that one.
Courtney: Well, I’m sure seeing things like that gives you kind of a new perspective on your life, doesn’t it?
Bear Grylls: Yes. Well, I say it’s the same (to really) work hard, work fast to get home and get out of there in one piece.
Courtney: Thanks. I appreciate it.
Bear Grylls: Take care.
Operator: Your next question comes from Tom.
Tom: Hey, Bear, how are you doing?
Bear Grylls: Yes, great.
Tom: You have a lot of experience dealing with some of these harsh climates and wild places to you go to. But is it a lot of responsibility to take someone – a celebrity – who doesn’t have experience in dealing with these conditions?
Bear Grylls: Yes, a nightmare. I mean, you know, when it’s – when I’m on my own I’ve got nothing to worry about apart from keeping myself alive. So, it’s definitely more challenging especially when you’re taking somebody who’s done nothing like this before and you’ve got to think for them a lot of the time. And when you’re on your own, a lot of (that happen) is subconsciously and you don’t have to think about it. But some (of these) got like, “Ben is still on the end of the road. If I start double-checking my knot and going (share). Let’s just triple check this one,” where before I can do everything so fast.
So, it’s definitely hard to work but I like that. I’ve done years of this stuff on my own and it’s been so exciting to be able to take some of these guys away. It’s what I always love. It’s seeing come alive when they’re facing difficult terrain and big challenges. Emotionally and physically, it’s great helping people overcome that, whether it’s real fear of heights, or snakes, or whatever it is. And you get to know people in a way that you never do just on a show or a (sudden) – a restaurant. You just don’t get to know people like this.
And the wild is very revealing. You get to side of your stars that is such a privilege to see because they’re uncovered really. There’s no kind of looking smart and nice make-up and nice funny stories off the bat.
It’s all – you just get – it’s a boy’s own adventure. You get to know the real people, their struggles, their doubts, their triumphs, their highs, their lows. And that’s a part of it I love. But it’s definitely – to me – more challenging than being on my own because I’m really acutely aware that we’re winging a lot of the time out there, if stuff happens in the wild, it’s unpredictable. Things go wrong very quickly, and I’ve got a massive responsibility to these guys alive.
So, keep myself alive was hard but it definitely gets harder with other people.
But I love that challenge. For me, it’s definitely the best series I’ve ever done for TV. I’m mega proud of it. And I really hope people enjoy it.
Tom: And did you have any close calls during filming with anything?
Bear Grylls: We did have quite a few close calls. But, again, my job is to try and make sure there aren’t too many close calls and if they are, I kind of – they close – they’re close calls that know are coming up. I – it’s just scary running down this (rock phase) or crossing this river. But my job is to make sure that is not at close.
Having said that, stuff happens. I mean in the last rappel, we did off the mountain with Channing. The last shot almost of the whole series, I was busy clipping him and telling him what to do and suddenly (been in clip him) myself and led back and – to the (main) you’re tired. This stuff happens and I grabbed the right and I thought, “Sure. It was a big close,” clipped (him off away and Channing probably didn’t even notice it.
Tom: And last question for you readers are in my area are going to want to know do you have any plans to film anything in the future in Pennsylvania in the swamps of the Poconos or anything in this area?
Bear Grylls: Yes. We have a short list of a lot more U.S. places the next season of it. So, no firm decisions yet but – on the (sure list).
Tom: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from the Terry.
Terry: Hi, Bear. How are you doing today?
Bear Grylls: Yes, good.
Terry: Good. Hey, so I was wondering what was the process for celebrating the celebrities that participated. And, also, were they given any kind of training beforehand to prepare them for what they’re going to go through?
Bear Grylls: Well, we can draft a list of people we really think will be great on this show, people we thought would dig it and also people that we knew have a crazy number of fans but actually that don’t necessarily know it till then – kind of them the PR side or the press side of them so we wanted interesting guests, who’ve got a great story and a big following and who would enjoy these sort of things.
And when it comes to training we said, “You know what? You’ve just got to bring two things; a big bag of fortitude and a big backpack of enthusiasm and we’ll do the best when we’re out there.” And the fun thing is that they’re not too prepared, you know? And you wing it together and you see them on camera learning together and making mistakes together and that’s the fun real part of it.
The only training I did with any of them was with Zac because I wanted to give him; I wanted to skydive with him so I gave him some training beforehand for a couple of hours the day before. But beyond that, everyone else just arrived with that fortitude and enthusiasm and I said, “We’ll just do it altogether.”
Terry: Got you. And what was the (genesis) for the – what are the idea carved out for this concept? I know on Man Vs Wild, you had a couple of guest stars, most notably, (another with) Will Ferrell being you on time. Is that were the idea came about?
Bear Grylls: Yes. You know we now we’ve done those shows. They’ve been very successful, just really around the world. I didn’t have to – and keep going to remember so while they finish that up and then once we were done with that, we wanted to revisit this format because we could do it. We knew it was a format that worked. And for me, it’s just really fun for – I mean to be honest, that was the biggest reason.
I said, “Out of all the shows I want to do that, I really just want to do more of these,” because you get to know people in such a fun way. Yes. And they’re – it’s such a good dynamic. So, it was definitely exciting coming and getting through the health and safety hoops because you’re trying to – not a lot of it is planned and so that was quite a mountain for us to climb before we even started but NBC helped us through that and fought a few and (share his) battles and (if you held to your safety battles), but we go there.
(Laughter)
Terry: All right. Thanks a lot, Bear.
Operator: Your next question comes from Zeng.
Bear Grylls: Like Chris. Chris has held his head in his hands, go, “Hey. You can’t goddamn tell story about testicles. You crazy man.”
Zeng: Hi, Bear. How’s it going?
Bear Grylls: Hi.
Zeng: Hi. So, you’ve been in so many inhospitable places in the world. So, I was wondering how do you and your team nail down places that you want to film in?
Bear Grylls: Well, we try and pick diverse terrains from – so, we had the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It’s just barren and (windswept) the mountain has been cold and rainy. So, the hot deserts and dramatic rock faces of Utah to Yosemite to – you name it. So, we really just pick – we pick it by diversity because you want them all to look as different as you can.
And sometimes, Ben said I’ve been – we were going to take into Iceland because I know that’s actually great (room) as he said, “You know what? It just filmed (inaudible) (for wool) to meet you there at one place in (North) Scotland.” I said, “Genius. I know exactly the coolest place (today) in Scotland where it’s totally wild and remote.
So, we kind of – somebody has a real wish to go somewhere we picked that. But really, it’s about diversity and the challenging terrain.
Zeng: Uh-huh. OK. Do you have any place specifically on your wish list, some place (or as) you’ve never been to before that you really want to take a camera to.
Bear Grylls: Well, I have a lot of places I have learned to really dread going to, but I’ve also learned to shot off about those places. Because whenever I say I really don’t want to go back to this place, then I can always produce this game.
Zeng: Then we just (see) you the next time. We should go over there.
Bear Grylls: So, I’ve learned to shot off about these places now. But I’ve also learned the world is full of incredible wildernesses, and you in America are so lucky. You truly have God’s gift of a country with every sort of diversity and terrain and wilderness and weather and coastline and mountains. And so, I love filming so much, especially over there.
Zeng: Great. And do you have any – do you have any particular wish list when it comes to people you want to take out on these trips, be it (nurse) survival expert or celebrity?
Bear Grylls: Well, sorry. Yes. Yes, I did. I’ve got – we’ve got a great list of people who’ve asked us to come to them to chat about the next season of these shows. We’re keeping it a little bit quiet at the moment. But the goal for me, it’s always the same. It’s not to do too many of these shows. Keep them really explicit, really tough-end, real, you know, with the special feel about them and only to do the best guest.
I don’t want to just pay random people. I want to pay the best and that’s how we try to keep it, that’s how we try and do from now on, as well.
Zeng: Uh-huh. Thanks a lot, Bear.
Operator: Your next question comes from Courtney.
Courtney: Hi. I have one follow-up question on whether or not there is anyone who you had wanted to get for this season but who had turned you guys down.
Bear Grylls: Well, we really wanted it. We want to take Kristen Wiig who is (all) I’m afraid she suddenly got injured literally a couple of days before. So, that was sad. But she seemed to do when she’s better (and stuff). But no, not that.
Yes, I think Obama turned us down, which was a shame. I think it was – I think his scheduling was hard. But beyond that – but beyond that, no. We got really lucky early on. We got the main people we wanted. We went for it, so we didn’t
Courtney: Yes. Kristen would be great. So, hopefully next time.
Bear Grylls: Yes.
Courtney: Thank you.
Operator: Your next question comes from Chris.
Chris: Hi, Bear. Could you tell me, was there ever a point during filming where you thought that you wouldn’t be able to go on and finish the episode, either that the celebrity was scared or it’s just too dangerous?
Bear Grylls: Yes. I mean, the truth is most of the journeys have moments on it where the person felt like this. I mean, I (look) even the first time we filmed, it was with (Dione). And he was – we were halfway out this big old 500-foot sheer rock face and just total fear came over him. And I’ve seen half and a bunch of times that people then just takes time, you got to sit beside someone even then you’re going to (prepare) your slide, six-inch wide ledge and you just got to sit down and be patient with them and trying to sort them through it.
He was (speeching) in tongues and everything by the end. But actually, what a privilege, you know. Because you can’t fake that. That’s just on its raw emotion. And credit to him. He calmly, and together we started to move and kept going and he can’t go down and he reached the top of it. And what a privilege to be beside him doing those times and to see it so viscerally.
We had another time with Ben. We were filming at Scotland and we had a very long – what do you call it? Jumar ascent, which is where you’re just climbing up this rope, there’s three hanging up this (first) rock face. And it’s very tiring. I’ve done a bunch of it in the military, and it’s draining. And – five minutes are going. You could hardly just couldn’t move and he was going…
And the cameraman at the bottom, and the cameraman, he went before us (after) the top. And he digs deep, and he keeps going, and it takes forever and (eventually) after now, another hour, we get over the top. And he’s just so proud. He’s so proud that he goes, “That’s visually the most demanding and frightening and exhausting I have done in my life. I just didn’t think I could do it, but I’ve done it.”
And that’s where the sense of genuinity when the pride comes from because it’s real. It’s not make believe in the movie. There’s no one there to help you if it all goes wrong. It’s just you and me, we got to do this together. And that’s a pain, but it’s also the magic of this show.
Chris: Cool. Could you tell us a little bit about how it was different preparing as far as year goes and pick the (inaudible) gear that you packed when you’re going out with an inexperienced celebrity as opposed to just by yourself?
Bear Grylls: Well, I think the show I did by myself was always interesting when it (was) totally minimum gear. And that is the survival mission. This shows the difference from that because they’re not just a survival mission. It’s about – it’s much more of a boy’s own adventure and we’re getting to know these people in a way you don’t normally get to know them.
So, it’s more adventure-based than survival-based. Having said that, I always kept trying kept the gear we had to a minimum. So, even if we were climbing, I often wouldn’t take harnesses, I just take rope. We’d have to figure it out, and I wouldn’t take (ax) in rock faces, with little strands of rope tied around the (pair) and then something – and I think for the guest, they love seeing that side of it where you really got to be resourceful, you’ve got to improvise, and you’ve got to figure it out together.
And sometimes for them, a little bit disconcerting when they are kind of going, they’re going, “Can that really hold?” And it’s like, “Yes. It will work. Probably, you don’t want to depend your life on it too many times, but it will – it will hold, it would be fine.” And I like that. It’s fun because it’s kind of real and it’s how I adventure a lot of the time when I’m away from TV, anyway. You have a light, and you improvise and you kind of figure it out.
Chris: And one last question, a little bit more of a general question. People around the world, your viewers and the celebrities kind of looked to you as a survival expert and get knowledge of survival from you. Is there a particular teacher or teachers that you would credit for giving you the most survival knowledge during your (free)?
Bear Grylls: Well, the first thing is I never – to be honest, I don’t feel like I am a survival expert. I really genuinely don’t. I think when I started off Man versus World, I felt much more of a survival expert then in some ways because I just left the military, that’s where I learned all of my skills, all of the combat survival there, combat survival instructor.
But the more of this I’ve done, the more I realize, you know what? I know so little, really. And I’m a jack of a lot of things, but I’m a master of very little. And every day, I meet better climbers, better skydivers, better survival people, better looking, better fitness, better this, better that. And I just feel lucky that I’m a guy – I’ll always work damn hard, that’s the thing. And I’ll always keep cheerful when it’s miserable, and I go for it.
But there are always people are better some. I’m always cautious to one of my survival expert. But I love it, I’ve done it all my life, and I suppose where I got the training, 99 percent of it from the military and then a bunch of the kid with my dad who’d been a commander and a climber.
Loved all this stuff as well. If I know, he’ll be turning in his grave if I only credit him 1 percent. He’s about 50 percent. But he taught me the love of it, which actually counts for everything.
Chris: Thank you very much, Bear.
Bear Grylls: All right, buddy. We’ll probably going to need to wrap this up, guys. We can in the next few minutes. So, if there’s any burning final one.
Operator: You have a follow-up question from Terry.
Terry: Hi, Bear. My follow up is, the first thing I think of when I think of a celebrity is someone who doesn’t need to put themselves to this kind of – I don’t want to say torture, but test.
Bear Grylls: Yes.
Terry: Celebrity, you think of someone who is used of being driven around in fancy cars, fancy clothes. So, what do you think it is that would make a celebrity want to do this kind of adventure?
Bear Grylls: Well, it’s such a good question, and it’s a really good one to kind of wrap the (chat) on actually because it is the intangible. Because they’re not doing it for the money, they’re not doing it for the fame, and they’re not doing it for the recognition or the exposure. These guys have all of that. They’re top of the game. They got – they don’t need to take risks.
And the truth of doing this, it can be seen as a risk because you’re (officially) risking it. You might be wired or you’re going to look like not brave or you’re not going to look strong or whatever. And – but the amazing thing is these guys really wanted to do it. And I think what it is a testament to is that people at heart love to challenge themselves. And these guys all high achievements, have reached top of their profession.
But I think we all still have that yearning inside that could we actually really do it if it wasn’t a movie and it wasn’t make believe, if our lives or our family’s lives are really on the line, have I got it? Away from the trailers and the chauffeur- driven cars and the money and the – could I still (test) it?
And I think this a great arena for these guys to come out, learn some skills that maybe they have always wanted but they’ve never had, to really challenge themselves, to really refine themselves and reconnect a bit. And almost all of these guys have – they said, one of the best bits was just having that space and that time to kind of think about life and what they, you know, how lucky they have been and how – there’d be so many ups and downs.
And the wild does that. The outdoors does that. It creates bonds of people and it gives us space to breathe. And at the end of it, all of them had the smile on their face and there’s light in their eyes that money can’t buy. And fame doesn’t do it, and drugs doesn’t do it, and booze doesn’t do it. It’s the kind of light. And I’ve seen it a ton in people.
It’s not always the famous people I see when I take my kids out, I see when I take young scouts out for adventures. It’s a God-given thing from the outdoors when you overcome a few obstacles in your life. And for me, it’s the real pride of this show. It’s taking people who we think it’s just like the world’s kind of superstars and reminding ourselves that they’re all just normal people, they have their fears and struggles that – they have this tenacity.
And that’s the thing that goes to all of these guys. They’re all tenacious, and they want to go for it and prepare to take a few risks. And so many of us don’t want – people don’t want to take risks. They don’t want to look stupid, you know. But you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t take risk. And this is really the lesson these guys kind of remind us of, that you’ve got to go for it. Life is precious. You might fall down a few times, but at the end of it, you’ll have that light in your eyes and you’ve earned it.
Terry: Great. Thanks, Bear.
Bear Grylls: All right, guys. Thank you. I’m going to shoot off, otherwise these kids are going to go crazy.
Operator: I would now like to turn this…
Bear Grylls: Thank you for your time. I hope that helps.
Operator: I would now like to turn the call over to Neda.
Neda: As a reminder, Running Wild with Bear Grylls premieres Monday, July 28th, at 8:00 PM, with Zac Efron as the first celebrity guest. Thank you, everyone.
Bear Grylls: And it’s a really (inaudible) show, you’ll love it. Thank you good time, guys. Take care.
END
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Greg Staffa
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