Debashine Thangevelo
WITH more than 10 different TV series to his credit, it would be fair to say that Bear Grylls’s aptitude for surviving the wild is legendary. So legendary, in fact, that US President Barack Obama is among his legion of fans around the world.
Not just that, Grylls even received a request from The White House, asking if he would be open to taking Obama along on his adventure to Alaska in his latest series, Running Wild With Bear Grylls, on Discovery Channel. And that’s exactly what he did.
And the wildlife expert also has a host of environmentally conscious celebrities joining him this season. They include Kate Hudson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kate Winslet, Ed Helms, Michelle Rodriguez, James Marsden, Michael B Jordan as well as NFL quarterback, Drew Brees.
Of him hanging out with the president of the US in one of the episodes, Grylls says: “I almost didn’t believe the request at first. I thought this was a spoof. But we all came together. There were obviously quite a few hurdles along the way – the whole Secret Service Presidential team and all of that – but we did it.
“You know, one of the big reasons he wanted to do this is he wanted to see some of the effects of climate change close up. He’s a dad and he wants to (help) preserve the planet for his children’s future. 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. We want to protect this incredible planet and make sure all our children get to enjoy the wonderful wilderness.”
Naturally, Grylls nursed some anxiety before meeting the president. But, who wouldn’t be a little intimidated? And when Obama arrived, the president allayed all that nervousness when he said: “Hey, you know, I’ve been a fan of the show. It’s great to meet you. Let’s go and do it.”
On their memorable conversations during the journey, Grylls recalls, “He (Obama) said: ‘I’m always a believer in science. The truth is, this is happening and America can’t do it on their own. We have to form this global partnership to really tackle this. Otherwise, the consequences will be huge’. 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. But we talked about so much: family, what life is like in The White House, have you ever got lost in there? And the stuff that really soars at the end of it is, he’s a real human being.”
Offering his take on what he believes Obama took away from the experience, he says: “He really does live in such a bubble; almost like a cage. 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. So I hope we did something that really put a smile on his face that lasted a while. As for me, I think I came away with an impression that even if you are the president, he’s a good guy whether we agree with his policies or not. As a man, he’s just doing his best, with heart, and trying to protect his country, protect his family and has given his all for it.”
What’s surprising is that Obama set a new precedent by being on this show.
A chuffed Grylls reveals: “What’s cool is that no living president, let alone a serving president, has ever done a TV show that’s not an interview. They’ve never done a reality show, let alone an adventure reality show.”
Grylls and Obama’s hike through the picturesque Exit Glacier captures many candid, off-the-cuff chats. It showcases both men, sharing like-minded concerns on climate change, also bonding as fathers.
Running Wild with Bear Grylls airs on Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) from Tuesday at 8pm.