Bear Grylls – Running Wild With Bear Grylls

By starrymag | December 10, 2015

Q) So can you talk a little bit about what was Obama’s concern, what made him decide he wanted to do this?

A) Well, they reached out to us, you know? We’ve gotten approached by the White House to – saying would we consider taking the president on an adventure to Alaska. I almost didn’t really believe it. When we started, it was like I thought this was spoof. But we got into it and we all came together. There are obviously quite a few hurdles along the way of trying to keep everyone happy including the whole Secret Service, presidential team and all of that. We did it and it’s an episode I’m hugely proud of and definitely this is the high point of our “Running Wild” journeys.

Q) Can you talk a little bit about your impression of him and what kinds of things did you guys do together?

A) Well, my overriding impression was just he’s really humble, family-centered, lovely guy, you know? I mean, of course, the times along the route I have to kind of pinch myself and think actually this is the president of America, you know? And I think there’s a connection when you’re out in the wild with someone. I always say it’s the ultimate learning and he’s a dad and I’m a dad and he cares about preserving. One of the big reasons he wanted to do this, that he wanted to see some of the effects of climate change close up and he’s a dad and he wants to preserve the planet for his children’s future and I feel exactly the same way, you know? I spend all of my life charging around the world and all of these wildernesses and I see the harsh reality of climate change close up. And as you would say as well, we want to protect this incredible planet. It’s the only one we got, you know, and we want to make sure our children get to enjoy these, you know, wonderful wildernesses. So there is a great connection there. But also, you know, as I said, my overriding thing was actually what a really lovely guy. And he was excited to be there and he was fun to be able to kind of pull each other’s leg a little bit in a way that if you just sort of meet someone in the White House with interview situation, it’s difficult to do, but you’re out there and you kind of light fire together and climb up trees and half eaten salmons and talking about flatulence and the berries and all of that gets out, you know? That is as you come at the great moments with the connections always come. So huge privilege but definitely a fair side of the president you never see before. I watched the other day the final cut with just some friends and family at home and they were just silent at the end. They go “Oh my god, you’ve done it.” I have no idea he was going to be quite like – quite that intimate and quite that fun and revealing him talking about his – what he really fears and what he’s learnt and what he struggles with and talked about faith and family and all of that stuff. So it’s been a huge privilege.

Q) I wanted to know how involved were the Secret Service with this episode. And also you’ve mentioned some hurdles. What were some of those hurdles that you had to get through with them?

A) Well, I think initially the Secret Service were quite wary because their job, it’s just one job, keep him safe, you know? So, this sort of things are well off pieced for them and obviously they want to make it as safe and straightforward for them. So initially, there was quite a lot of kind of pushback. But I think as soon as we got our team with (them on the ground) and a lot of our team are ex UK soldiers and stuff as well and there’s a great connection there and it was just a process of talking to the routes that we wanted to do and really checking that route and talking through every stage of what I was going to do with him and then just going through the kind of the process of casevac plans if somebody gets injured and all of that sort of thing. I thought initially they would have five or six Secret Service guys with us that end up like 50. It’s a whole team with the press corps and even got a guy who’s there to make sure if there’s any food or drink he’s drinking is approved, you know? So it’s a big, old group to move around where they got helicopter stuff in the air. But once we got going you can then obviously take the lead from him. And if he’s fine to eat what I’m producing and share water bottles and climb up and down stuff and do things, well then I was going to take my lead from him and the Secret Service obviously will do the same. So at the end of it I look back on the journey and I was chatting with our team after and they said, “Oh my goodness, it’s different between what we thought we were going to be able to do when we first met them a week ago compared to actually what we’ve just filmed” is like chasm we’ve achieved so much here. So that’s why it’s exciting and it was really driven by the fact that he was willing just to go for it and trust me doing my stuff and then I’d keep him safe and do my bit as well. So yes. So, that was kind of hard put together.

Q) Was there a moment that you impressed with the most when you are spending time with Barack or was there something that really stands out in your mind as a memorable moment from filming?

A) I’d say the kind of – if I look back in the whole thing, for me, the two moments. One was stood beforehand on the riverbank and we have this big journey to get in there, the shot down the airspace we’re on helicopter filming so far and then was on foot for the last. It was all quite frantic, you know? Just flying out from the UK the night before and straight in there. Suddenly it all went still and I was waiting at the riverbank and I can see all the Secret Service and the snipers positioned all around this mountain with the helicopters and it was like “Wow, I am really genuinely nervous.” As soon as he arrived and, you know, he was just saying “Hey, I’ve been a big fan of the show and it’s great to meet and let’s go and do it.” It was like awesome and let’s just just go for it. But I think at the end of it that really stood out for me was the little thing we did right at the end where we prayed together and it’s funny because it’s like sort of such an intimate thing to do but we talked about faith on the journey and how he’d said that one of his heroes is President Lincoln have said this quote that if you’re not a religious man when you take off you will be by the end. It brings you into your knees. And I said right at the end I said, “It’s been such a privilege. I’d love just to praise you.” And he’s a man who everyone is always taking some everyone wanting something whether it’s (poking him in the chest) about this or that or what is he going to do to solve this (problem) and for eight years, that’s all he’s had. And I think one of the reasons he said to me this seems to be one of the best days of his presidency all of eight years and he said “You didn’t want anything from me. We’re just sharing a little bit of our world.” And so nice to be able to lay hands on him and just say a little prayer to pray for protection of all the work he’s doing and it was just for ten seconds and he gave me a big hug at the end of it and I thought this is a real special moment actually and a moment I’ll never forget.

Q) What are some of your conversations that the two of you had that stand out in your mind? I mean, obviously you mentioned the one about prayer and about the president talking to you about his favorite president, but what are some conversations that you had about maybe the climate that stand out in your mind?

A) Well, we talked a lot about the climate change stuff. And I said, “Well, you always cumber. Were you ever skeptic to this?” He said, “I’m always a believer in science,” and he looked at this and he looked at it and the truth is it is happening and, you know, we’ve got to take action and we can’t do – America can’t do it on their own and we got to form this global partnership to really tackle this. Otherwise, the consequences will be huge and he said it’s like you can’t slam on the brakes. When you’re getting near a cliff, you got to start tapping the brakes early. And this is really an important thing for him and I said, “What do you want a legacy in your presidency to be” and he said this is right up there for him because it goes beyond politics. And so we obviously talked a lot about that. But speech is a one thing. But when you actually see it close up, I think it was a very powerful moment when we actually reached (the south to the back here) and he could put his hand on it and actually feel the sea how far this great, big lump of ice, hundreds of square miles in size, is retracing or shrinking. To see it close up was quite a moment I think then. And a reminder that he’s right to stand out there and really try and make a difference. And I read somewhere that I think Time Magazine said what he’d done for this climate change is actually the most significant thing anyone human being has ever done to set the ground. And, you know, that’s pretty amazing. So to be with him then as you saw it close up was definitely a special moment. But we talked about so much and so much around family and how do you get things through that you really believe in, what’s the life being in the White House, have you ever get lost in the White House, what are you scared at all of this sort of things. And there are sort of questions you’d want to ask the president but you never really see the president being asked and the stuff that really soars at the end of it he’s a real human being.

Q) How did you advise the president to prepare for this trek either mentally or physically?

A) I think I was the one that needed the preparation I think one of the things I learned is he is incredibly confident that (diving into these) different situation and, I said to him right after we just lit the fire, I said, “Annoying president, you’re good at everything. Normally people take hours doing this. You’re just naturally good at it.” But I suppose it’s no surprise you got to be (clued up) and you got to be sharp and a quick learner and a good listener if you’re president. So he didn’t have any problems with that. Of anything, you really just wanted physicality and to go and to get up and work hard and he’s really out for everything. So all I said is come along come with a smaller team as possible for the president to come with and trust us to look after you once we’re out there in the wild and we’ll have fun and I think he’s definitely got that sort of feel that he just wanted this to be a really fun day and that’s why, as I’ve said, it was so lovely hearing him say at the end that it’d been one of the best days of his presidency.

Q) You had mentioned that the White House had come to the show about the president doing the show. Was it because he was a fan? Did he watch it? Did he – I mean, was there a reason why this show in particular other than others?

A) He said, “I’ve watched your show from the beginning” from my “Man vs. Wild” days and the kind of the “Running Wild” one that we’ve done recently and he watched some of the latest season of that. But also he said you got a great international reach. It’s not just in America. The show is on every country in the world. And I think, for me, maybe it’s smart to use someone who’s not just an American cast and that you want to really reach the world and it’s quite kind of maybe I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean, he didn’t say that. I don’t know why he came to me in particular. So maybe there’s a good, strong international reach because (our show is) more than just in America. So yes, it was definitely a surprise to call us for sure.

Q) I also think it’s really fun that you mentioned that he had like a sort of 50 people surrounding him and one that was a taster. Did that taster actually taste like everything that you prepared before he did?

A) Well, I think he wanted to but he didn’t. He said to me, “What are you going to feed him?” And at least I’m trying to find some fish on our way in. So he lifted the whole platter of different fish that he prepared that his plan was just walk it out for the stuff that he cooked and same things with water and he said, “Will you make him drink the water (and pee),” and absolutely the president never films either eating or drinking on camera. I thought “Oh, gosh, it’ll be a nightmare” but we just go with it. And actually when it came to us, I saw this half-eaten salmon out, started cooking and we’re chatting away and I gave him a bit and I kind of looked over his shoulder. We’re chatting away and he was munching away and we’re sharing a water bottle and sharing the tea that I made out of cactus, berries that we collected on the way in and he said “That could have been poisonous.” He’s got sort of funny side to the taster after. He’s a great guy. And yes, that was a funny process.

Q) Was there anyone else as part of the entourage that you found was funny or kind of a shock to you that they were there other than snipers?

A) Yes. Well, the snipers are low and they have this sort of close team right there all the time. There are a couple of moments I was pulling out the bear spray and showing the president how to squirt the bear spray while I was blasting this around and they were (going a little bit crazy) and when I was pulling out knives and this sort of stuff. But I think it’s a journey we’re relaxed and they realized he’s having fun and I’ve got good intentions into heart and it’s all going to be okay. And by the end of it, we had a good laugh with the – some of the guys saying goodbye to them and we’ll get in touch and it was good. It was nice to see professional teams doing their job. His guys and my team had had a lot of (ex-military). So there was a good connection there. And we all felt we’ve done well. We’ve delivered. So we’re done. We’re moving on.

Q) What did you take away from this experience with the president and also what do you think he took away from the experience?

A) Well, he doesn’t get enough chance to do this and then he said by (doing my mission) I’m in a cage. It’s like there’s like a bubble. And it’s almost like a bit of a cage. And, you know, saying that’s a bit of a program where we show the behind the scenes and you see him and me just chatting quietly and he said that the bubble is so strong sometimes that it is very hard to actually have a freedom to go into anything and it’s just the nature of the job. And I think the impression was that what he really took away from it is that it’s so nice to have a little bit of freedom and the wild gives you that. This may set roots. You got to you work your way through first and up and down a little free flow some trees and making camps and making fires and it’s all love to do but someone like him who doesn’t get the chance to do. So I hope we did something that really put a smile on his face that lasted a while. And for me, I think I came away with an impression that reinforced somebody even though he’s the president of the US, at the end of the day, he’s still a man and at the center of all of our lives is the care for those we love. And even if you’re the president, it’s such a great reminder that actually he’s a good guy, whether we agree with his policies or not. As a man, he’s just doing his best with heart, so – and trying to protect his country, protect his family and has given his all for it.

Q) Do you think that if you took all of the naysayers and disbelievers in climate change on this same trip they would change their mind?

A) Well, what I’ve learned with people you cannot get very entrenched in their views is that sometimes you can put it right in front of their nose and they’re still – you’re never going to convert everyone. I think our job is to look at the facts and all the people I know I spend all of my life in this world. And I don’t meet many naysayers or people who really understand it. I meet a lot of naysayers but they generally don’t really understand it. And it is happening. And we do all of it hopefully even the naysayers want to protect our planet. And do you know what? Even if we’re wrong, it’s not going to harm the planet. It’s only going to help the planet because what do you want us to do? Just keep belching more the bad stuff out because eventually we’ll hurt the planet. So, you’ll always get the skeptics – we’re going to do we can to protect this incredible world.

Q) I was wondering out of all the activities, you know, that you do on your shows, were there any activities that were absolutely off limits with the president and what were you – maybe one activity you are most excited that you got to do with the president?

A) Well, we announced what we’re going to do there. So it’s a big petition on the White House saying “You got to get the president to drink his own pee.” And I’m not going to ask him to do that. And it was fun because we had a good conversation about “You tell me what is it with you and pee,” you know, “Why you’re known for this?” And he wanted to understand the science again behind it. So its funny sort of our conversation about when pee is good and when pee is bad and how these berries can help people’s flatulence and all this. I would think toilet/lavatory humor is always a great leveler. And he’s a dad. He’s going to get that.

Q) What did you take away and like what did you learn from this experience?

A) I learned that whoever you are, everybody gets a chance on one leg at a time.

Q) Did you see him do that?

A) Well, he was the president or whatever. All of our titles and our belongings and everything. And as I said, it’s what I love about the wild, you know? It doesn’t care. When you’re in bear country a lot of grizzly and brown bears and black bears around they don’t care that you’re the commander in chief or whatever. You got to be respectful and you got to make the decisions. You got to leave your ego behind. And he totally embraced that as a man who really he does a pretty selfless job and I just came in waiting. He’s an incredible man and one incredible human being. And just there’s a connection there as a father and as somebody really cares about the planet and I thought what, I love it. I love him and love the mission.

Q) If you were given the opportunity after he’s out of office to do this again with him, would you?

A) Yes, for sure. There’s so much more we could do. But yes I don’t know whether this – I don’t think it broke him. He was wanting more and there were certain confines of the job that’s going to stop him skydiving out of Marine One. So maybe another time would be but yes just as it is, we’ve delivered the program that I feel is the ultimate “Running Wild” I’ll ever do. I watched it, as I said, the other night and it’s just I’m so proud of it 0 the complete show and it’s got heart and fun and all of that – and adventure and all of that good stuff. And I won’t beat that. And also what’s cool is that no president has ever done anything like this. That, for me, was the shocker. Viewing no living president, let alone a serving president, has ever done a TV show that’s not interview. They’re never done like a reality show, let alone an adventure reality show or just a TV show. So I’d say was when they announced it, there was a clip from CNN, some news reader saying “Breaking news, Obama to do Bear Grylls’ ‘Running Wild’ show.” And it was on the bottom of the screen and the lady reading is going “No, no, this must be a mistake. Not while he’s in office. No, no, certainly not while he’s in office. This can’t be right.” And the guy again “No, its right. Look, it’s on the bottom of the screen,” and I thought that’s cool with breaking some rules and pushing a few boundaries and good for him. What a great way to get a powerful message out there.

 

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*