Fresh Blair: Ask Your Weirdest Survival Questions Here!

I don't know if this is a question, or a request for a future episode, but do you have any thoughts to share on the disappearance and death of Geri Largay? Or the discourse around her? She came to mind twice during the "Auralyn" episode: once when you talked about how we consider people failures if they manage to survive a long time but still die in the end, and then when you touched on how assumptions about what it takes to survive and how we talk about survival is gendered. Because holy cow, the discourse around her made me want to scream sometimes.

Do you have thoughts about the thing where people keep going to Everest polluting it with oxygen and let’s be honest - bodies - and the way inexperienced and unprepared climbers (or experienced and prepared climbers!) can and do get into trouble and endanger themselves, the Sherpas, guides and others? (I know that you personally are not interested in climbing a mountain, but do you think that this particular mountain should maybe be left alone?) my interest in Everest was started by Jon Krakauer’s book. I wonder if you and Sarah would ever consider an episode about that in the survival/adventure correspondent area.

How to do you balance the decision to take bold action against the desire to simply try to exist in a survival situation. In the auralyn episode they obviously try to row and then have turtles pull them to shore but after seeing the futility of that they try to just survive as they float across the pacific. My question is more related to land survival when you maybe need to decide on leaving a relatively safe space where basic needs are met but little chance of rescue or chopping off an arm to escape. How do you balance that desire to just hold on with knowing you maybe need to take a bold action

Hi Blair! I hope my question is not too late. I'm biking across Alabama and Georgia right now and I listened to the Auralynn episode on the road a few days ago and loved it. A question I've been thinking a lot about this trip is - how do you know when fear is a useful tool or just a mind block to get over? For example, you mentioned in the episode that Maurice and Marilynn didn't bring a radio. I thought - maybe if they had been more afraid they would have. But also doing any kind of adventuring at all is dangerous! Maybe it doesn't matter as much as I think. My friend told me recently: “You love doing crazy shit but then you're scared as hell the whole time!“ And I wonder where the line is between a healthy fear and a when fear is just an impairement to let go of. What do you think? Have you struggled with this at all?

Have either of you read the middle grade graphic novel "Ash's Cabin" by Jen Wang? I think both of you would like it based on book discussions. Beautifully illustrated, a resourceful kid, extremely good dog

How do outdoors people manage their menstrual cycles when out in the wilderness? Can you just bury a tampon??

If I were lost/trying to survive until rescue, I’d hope to have an emotional support object. What emotional support object would y’all want? Style points if it’s not particularly helpful to not dying.

Hi Blair! First, I loved Small Game and it has a special place in my heart as I took it with me to the UK (my first trip out of the US) and was reading it right before I got engaged! Every time I see it on my shelf, I smile. I’d like to know what your favorite survival story is and why. Is there one you think about daily? What do you think is the most creative action (like strapping sea turtles to the raft) you’ve come across in one of these tales?

Speaking of kids' books about (mostly) boys surviving in the wilderness, how accurate are the Hatchet books to an actual survival scenario?

What are the best tips you have for someone who wants to live on a glacier?

Do you dream differently when you are out in the wilderness vs at home? Were your dreams different in a more intense situation (ex being on the show) from your usual wilderness experiences?

What is the most useful survival skill for the average person to know?

I can't remember if you've mentioned it before, but is a she-we as useful as it seems? We were always the only family on the camping trip without a portaloo, but I never nailed squatting to pee 🤔

Could you talk about surviving in hot climates? Partly because I'm an Australian who's never seen snow (though winter in the desert is its own brand of freezing) but also bc climate change is making heatwaves longer and deadlier for everybody

When people go through a harrowing survival situation like Aron Ralston or the team in the Andes, do they experience it as trauma in the way that people experience trauma at the hands of others? When someone is a victim of another person (or even an animal) we tend to assume that causes intense lasting fear, but we don’t seem to assume that survivors of natural events are forever scarred by snow or boulders. Does it tend to lead to triggers or PTSD in the same way? Or do people tend to grow from it in a distinct way? Does it depend on how it happened and if someone is to blame?

There are a lot of questions/comments so forgive me if this was already asked. What is the best way to handle menstruation in a survival situation? So many stories about survival are from a male perspective so it’s rarely talked about. Is there a historical account that mentions it? What if you only have one pair of pants and limited water for cleaning? What types of natural materials would you look for as substitutes? It’s not even addressed in extreme lightweight backpacking or multiple day climbs If you’re hanging off the side of a cliff portaledge style.

are there any Mythbusters survival-related myths/episodes that you have issues with? any they did well? specifically thinking about their one desert island duct-tape survival special… yes they (allegedly) drank their own pee in that one…

How would you genuinely protect yourself from mosquitos and noseeums? In which ways have you used the stars to help you navigate? What was a survivor skill someone used in a deadly nature incident that you never forgot about? Or lives rent free in your mind?

I'm a Trekkie - does Blair have any advice for surviving on the planet Vulcan or any other alien habitats? Ty for making this show it is a constant source of joy and learning for me and my family

Quicksand. Does it exist and why, as a child of the 90s did I know so much about quicksand survival?

Is there time between focusing on one’s survival tasks for mind wandering? & are these thoughts on the dreamier side, or more doom prone? Any tips & tricks to keep on the sunny side amidst hazardous isolation? xoxoo

What's your favourite kind of shark? Also, to both Blair and Sarah, how did you meet? I love your conversations so much because of your friendship and how comfortable you are together so I'd love to know about your story together. And not a survival question at all, but any ideas for a good quote to open my PhD thesis with (in astrophysics)?

What's with the popular obsession with drinking one's own urine to stave off dehydration?

What is the actual deal with salt?

Are there any non-toxic things that you could eat in a extreme survival situation but would refuse to?

What is your favorite survival TV show and/or movie? Feel free to select based on realism or if you enjoy it for other reasons :)

Do you have basic disaster preparedness tips for non-survivalists?

How did you get your grit?

What creature comfort do you miss the most when you’re out in nature/wilderness for a while? Also, what minor injury is surprisingly more dangerous than we’d realize or an injury that your anxiety fixates on when you’re out there? A million thank yous to you both, I relisten to episodes often for comfort and the Flight 571 episode really shows all the care, openness, and reverence for these stories that you bring to this work.

Can’t stop thinking about how ill-equipped contemporary houses seem for getting through stretches of time without power (in comparison to say, the cabin in Small Game or Yellowjackets). Like, if you only have an electric stove, what’s the best way to (safely) get warm and heat up food?

If you HAD to eat human meat in order to survive, what would you eat, in what order, and why?

Have you ever had a spooky or seemingly paranormal experience when out in the wilderness?

How long do I have to live in total isolation before the male gaze I carry around in my head dies? It's my dream to fuck off to the woods but I'm afraid I'll learn canning wrong from TikTok and give myself botulism

What historic disaster anywhere do you feel fairly confident you would have survived?

SPOILERS for Small Game: What happened to the crew!?!?! Was Ashley right?

Do you have to pick up your dogs poop while dog sledding? What makes for a "good" sled dog? Does a sled dog being spayed/neutered or intact make a difference in its performance? Has climate change had any noticeable effects on dog sledding? Have you seen the movie Snow Dogs? If yes what are your thoughts on it?

I have a book that I found a decade ago in a London charity shop called The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel, and I want to ask Blair’s opinion on every single thing in the book (including but not limited to how to survive a UFO abduction, a high rise hotel fire, leeches, a volcanic eruption, a runaway train) I wish I could attach a photo of this books table of contents because it’s BONKERS.

Most of my questions are here already so I just want to say how excited I am for another Sarah and Blair episode!

Hi Blair & Sarah! I’ve been thinking about this a lot and it’s hard to summarise. Christopher McCandless wrote “happiness only real when shared”. When you are Mushing do your dogs give you that sense of connection which we all crave? I guess broadly I would like to hear your thoughts on how survival completely alone (thinking Alone the TV show) is different than with animal companions. And what survival can teach us about ourselves and our need for human connection?

Practical question but how do you choose where to pitch a tent in relation to trees, with the falling branch hazard in mind? I’ve camped and backpacked a fair amount and I’m always paranoid about this and would love to hear Blair’s strategy

If you were parachuted into an unkown environment, and you don't know in advance what type of climate it is (snowy, tropical, dry...) and you can bring ONE TOOL or object with you, what would you choose and why?

For people who want to learn more survivalist and wilderness skills, where do you suggest we start? (BTW I'm so excited for another Blair and Sarah episode!!!)

How have art and survival intersected in history? Beyond memoirs and survival guides, how have people embodied their survival experiences in personal expression? Are there popular artists whose work is based in lived survival experiences that we don’t appreciate on a broad scale? Are there hidden gem survival artists who we should show more love to? I really enjoyed Small Game, which gave me a window into wondering how human artistic expression and survival have manifested in the modern age. It feels like most media is, on some level, invested in helping us forget how vulnerable we are to the forces of the world we live in

My teammate looooves asked did, and they want to know if 34 is too old to get into mushing and tromping around in cold places :')

My question is more survival ocean addition.. Do sharks really attack menstruating people at higher rates?

Love you both! Small Game made mention of how much time and effort it took to have enough water boiled and safe to drink which I feel is so vastly under- emphasized in most fictional depictions of survival (whether natural or zombie/dystopian). How hard is it to plan for enough water on a planned trip (how do you do it?) and what tools or available resources would you suggest for emergency survival situations?

I don’t intend to be buzzkill, i just want to ask for the purpose of education and appreciation for what a runaway slaves would find through. Being hunted aside, from a survival and elements perspective, what do you think the Underground Railroad experience would have been? What are they eating? When are they resting? Tools? Like what is survival in the wilderness aspect of escaping slavery if you can possibly provide insight.

Which actress would you like to see play the lead in a female reboot of Rambo? And if your answer is not Katy O'Brian, I'm dying to hear your choice.

Blair, my absolute mostest favourite of all the wonderful YWA guests!! What situations (in the wilderness or maybe in your day-to-day life) have you been in that you felt put you into survival mode, and what does that look like to you as a wilderness explorer? Do you have any mantras, superstitions, or motivating thoughts, that you rely on when you're struggling with a challenge? How do you push through? How do you train your dog team?

I've heard that in wilderness places like Bob Marshall in Montana you have to bring dynamite with your pack team bc if a horse dies out there you can't just leave the carcass for bears, I guess? Do you have any stock packing experience / is this a thing you're aware of? Do you have a go-to system for when you need to pack out your poo, or is that not required where you recreate? Do you have to pack out dog poo? Do you bring a stove and fuel for melting snow/ cooking? Do you make little snow shelters an night? What's the longest you've been in the backcountry without re-supplying? How often have you wondered what you got yourself into / why you signed up for this? Have you witnessed an avalanche?

These pictures are so sweet. Love seeing the disembodied voice I listen to having a nice time

I have 10 min to flee the house before the zombies/ICE/Republicans/Proud Boys arrive. I have no weapons. What do I grab from my kitchen, tool drawer, cleaning closet, etc.?

Can humans eat grass and leaves to survive? How is this any different from salad?

I know what to do if I experience a bear encounter, but what about a wild boar?? I found myself in a position where I knew there weren’t any bears in the area but here was loud rustling in the brush and my friend and I wear convinced we were about to be charged by a boar until a family of vultures flew out of the bush :)

Is it safe to drink your own pee once if there’s no clean or fresh water?

Do you think on average people are better or worse at taking care of themselves in the outdoors as they were 50 years ago? Has information availability helped or worsened the situation?

Cleanliness and hygiene tricks?

In your opinion, what is the grossest, gnarliest detail in a survival story that sticks in your head the most? (Not including the ones already covered)

I’ve always been an “indoor kid” and also deal with some chronic illness stuff, so I’ve always figured I’d be one of the first to go in a survival situation. I tend to stay calm in a crisis and am good at strategic thinking, but when it comes to anything physical, I kind of fall apart. What kinds of skills can people like me lean on to be useful in survival situations? (PS I loved Small Game! I listened on audiobook - my preferred way to explore nature.)

Okay so mountain goats are notoriously salt hungry and will stalk hikers/backpackers in the mountains waiting for them to pee so they can satisfy their salt cravings (sometimes even coming right at you while you pee). What’s the weirdest or creepiest (or both) wild animal x human interaction or behavior you’ve encountered out there that that’s also (for the most part) non-threatening.

What’s the weirdest thing in your first aid kit?

Have you ever been too cold and thus afraid to poop or pee?

What’s your favorite road trip gas station candy or snack?

What dessert (or food more generally) do you daydream about when you’re really remote? I was on a through hike several years back and we found out that a store near our next resupply stop carried ice cream sandwiches. I can honestly say that anticipating an ice cream sandwich for three days while hiking across the desert and drinking out of cow ponds fundamentally changed my relationship with ice cream sandwiches—they are almost a religious experience now, and my friends I was on the trip with feel the same 😂

What is your dream "Swiss family robinson" house like?

What is the strangest food you've ever brought on an outdoorsy trip?

What is your favourite survival story and which one seems the most amazing to you? Do you think that people who survive against the odds have particular qualities? As a squishy, sensitive, neurodivergent English teacher would I be able to survive in an apocalypse situation or would I be the first to die like in a horror movie?

What’s the dumbest mistake you’ve made in the wilderness? What’s the least prepared you’ve ever been? Do you have any situations you look back on and roll your eyes at yourself?

I would love to hear any survival “miracles” Blair may have experienced! Any situations where if something hadn’t gone exactly right there could have been a fatality. Or a situation where something small or critical saved them from disaster. Even the boring versions! I’m a diver and think all the time about how the tiny things that go right or the ways in which we learn to compensate for gear failure are really small miracles. I’d love to hear wilderness versions!

Hi Sarah and Blair!!! Every single episode you two have together is truly a delight!! I'm a 5th grade teacher and our last unit is on Survival and Natural Disasters. What are some stories should I share with them? Any recommended readings?? Do you have any survival fun facts that would be of any interest to 10-12 year old northeast city kids!

Hey S & B! Few questions: 1. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done to make yourself feel better/less alone when you’re in a deep wilderness situation? How are you self-soothing out there? 2. Sometimes when I squat to pee I accidentally run my butt into something or pee on my pants. What’s the worst bathroom situation you’ve gotten yourself into? 3. What’s happening in your mind palace when you’re alone in the bush? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve pondered out in the wild?

I have been an Ugly Dog (Patreon too ofc) and a huge YWA fan for many years and my idea of being in the wilderness is maybe a less than decent hotel, but ok fine no. I just love your episodes together. I have literally no questions, I just want to say that you both are awesome. And also, I have met real life in person friends because of BLER and the Ugly Dogs.

I grew up (and still live) in Alaska, both in the bush and the city, so I don't have many questions regarding survival in northern climes; but I was hoping you could talk a little bit about survival in boating situations, especially cold water scenarios. I see so many people underestimating the water, and needless deaths every year, it would be great if more people understood how fast it can go wrong on any body of water and how far something as simple as wearing a PFD can go as far as survival rates!

What's your favorite camping life hack? I live in Southeast Alaska and all my tents have a line permanently tied inside that is for hanging my socks immediately on entering. (It's wet here. Like a lot.) It's a super simple thing I did that feels so smart the moment I see it.

Long- time fan, first time inquirer: A) what makes the best toilet paper, menstrual pads, etc.? I'm a bit of a doily when it comes to hygiene and the outdoors-- what mosses are best?! B) what kind of apocalypse do you most fear (e.g., nuclear fallout, zombie, etc. )? LOVE these episodes!

Blair what are your favourite books? Do you have any authors or memoirists that inspire you?

When I was a kid, I always heard to stay put if you get lost. How do you decide when to follow conventional wisdom vs figuring you're on your own and need to make tough choices? At what point do you make a shelter vs try to stay visible? Etc

How could someone with poor vision who normally wears contacts make it in a survival situation if they didn’t have their backup glasses? I’m not saying I’m taking about me, but if I were, what could I do with a script of -7.25

Better questions c/o my dear friend: If you could only pack spaghetti for a five day backpacking trip, how much spaghetti would you pack? Or if you could only pack one food for a five day backpacking trip what would that food be? Toe socks - ever a reason why? What animal would you least want to fight? What animal is the most annoying to encounter? How big of a knife should I be carrying with me? Can dog poop be used as fuel? Have you ever trained a wild animal to do something, intentionally or not? Would you ever train corvids to do your bidding? Under what circumstances should you be reasonably carrying a gun in the wilderness?

Have you ever gone full 'castaway' and created a friend to talk to when you've been alone for a long time (excluding your dogs)?

Best plant matter you've used to keep yourself warm while in the wild? Moss, Tree bark, Cedar? Are any of them actually useful? Thanks!

The Blair/Sarah episodes are my favorites! Which animal would you prefer to encounter in the woods: cougar or grizzly? Have you ever had to befriend/develop a relationship with an animal while you're living in a remote location ie met a raven that you've interacted with, or shared a snack with a raccoon? I'm from the canadian pnw and there have been many regular cougar sightings, but I have yet to encounter one.

How many times is too many times to drink your own urine?

At what point do you become confident enough in your foraging knowledge that you can eat what you've found without second guessing yourself or being too anxious to eat it? Do people tend to stick to what they absolutely know first and just build up knowledge gradually? What's the SMART way to feel comfortable enough to eat what you find?

Best 80s/90s kids wilderness survival book? Hatchet? My Side of the Mountain? Julie of the Wolves? Little House on the Prairie series even, with all its problems. Why did I love this stuff so much as a kid? Have we lost wilderness survival stories to dystopian survival stories? Is that something we ought to reflect on?

So I heard once that a bear doesn’t need to instantly kill you because they’re such an apex predictor they don’t need to drag your lifeless body into the woods like a cougar. And that people have been alive for 20 minutes post bear attack before dying. Now I’m more terrified of bears. Can they smell that fear? How do I be less afraid? Would being less afraid work?

This will be sort of vague because I'm not sure how to phrase my thought exactly: what percentage of survival tips/advice would you describe as "intuitive" vs. unintuitive?

Do you have any trail/outdoor superstitions or rituals?

Everyone says that if you’re falling from a very great height (assume terminal velocity), landing on water is just like landing on concrete. I get that if you’re KOed alone on the water, your chances of survival are essentially zero. I also get that trees are probably your best bet (assuming there isn’t a deep pile of cardboard boxes, a slippery incline, a net/trampoline, or similar available), but I’d take either of these over *the ground*. What if you hit the edge of a wave just right and/or a dolphin or other mammal drags you to safety?

I don't think we've ever heard Blair cover any ocean survival stories. I would love to hear somthing on Steven Callahan or maybe uss Indianapolis. Blair are you afraid of sharks?

Hiya, I’d love to know what you both think of Yellowjackets? From a survival/cult/nostalgia perspective? (I see all the other questions are a bit more practical but I’d love to know if you’ve watched it and if you have any thoughts on it)

1 - How big of a concern is stepping on something unexpected to you when you're out in nature? I've been pretty lucky running through fields, stepping over logs, rolling down hills in my life. But as I get older I'm more and more concerned about stepping on something Gross or Harmful 2 - And what is the experience of roughening up your feet to be able to walk barefoot? My city slicker mind is blown when i watch contestants on Survivor run barefoot through a forest after just a few days in the jungle.

I'll be thinking of more, for sure, but what's the smallest/least-significant-seeming thing in a survival situation that would actually have the highest inverse risk of severe harm/death, and vice-versa? Something that would seem extremely dangerous/likely-to-kill-you but is actually quite safe/survivable?

Hey Blair and Sarah! Love both your work so much. Survival question: I was in a survival situation in which I was immobile in the desert for several days, and had to drink my own urine when my water ran out. So many People On The Internet feel obliged to tell me that was wrong, despite it most certainly saving my life! Wondered if you had any thoughts on this as a survival tactic, and might you be able to help clarify the perimeters around when it might help and when it might harm? Thanks so much 🥃 x

I'm in the last couple minutes of listening to small game! I'm curious if Blair has a favorite misconception about survival experiences as presented in media as well as how it bleeds into real life survival culture.

This is more of an animal/pet question… my rule for my kids has always been they can only have pets that are happier being a pet than not. So if we left the door wide open, they would choose to stay. So no pets that require cages/tanks and no pets that need to be contained/chained up/crated etc. Given your experience with sled dogs, what are your thoughts?

I’m interested in hygiene in the wilderness. Without access to running water/toiletries, how do you stay clean enough to maintain health? What do you do if/when you get your period in the wild? If one were to find themself in a survival situation, what would be the most important hygienic requirement to stay safe? Thank you both Sarah and Blair for your fascinating, thoughtful work! <3

Is there anything out of the ordinary you carry in your first aid kit and is there a certain first aid skill or process that you think is really important to know how to do in the back country?

I have carried a quote from Blair’s “Outside” article with me for a few years now: “what we think of as independence is still dependence on luck and gifts.” As a once-outdoorsy person with a chronic illness that cropped up in my young adulthood, this put words to a lost sense of capability and identity, and also helped me access more self-compassion. I have shared this quote with many people in similar situations, and plan to continue doing so as a newbie therapist. Many thanks to Sarah for introducing me to Blair’s work, and to Blair for sharing her wisdom!

Suppose you and I are stuck in a survival situation together. As a wilderness novice, what is the top thing I can be prepared to do to help? And what is the top thing I could do to make you abandon me to die?

When I was a kid (think 1970’s), quicksand seemed to be a true danger according to the tv shows I watched. In reality is quicksand a prevalent danger in the wilderness and where would one encounter it in case I ever need to know not to go there?

What fictional book, movie, or tv show dogs would you put on your fictional sled dog team? Please consider personality and unconventional skills as well as actual survival skills. For instance, would Wishbone be great as the group storyteller for long winter nights? Is Snowy from the Tintin comics going to be an asset because he’s brave and fearless in the face of danger, or a liability due to his love of whiskey?

The Bear Grylls Discovery Channel show was wild because he used to constantly resort to drinking his own piss, to the point where it became a meme. In what scenario is drinking your own piss actually a viable solution for survival?

This is a question for Blair and Sarah... Would you ever consider doing an episode about Ada Blackjack? I've seen a few articles about her but suspect there's a much deeper story.

Blair, I loved Small Game and bought it as a gift for multiple friends! Are there more survival (or non survival) stories you want to tell / write about? Fictional or non fictional?

I've camped with people who've used a specific Nalgene "pee" bottle to take care of any toilet urges at night... would love to know if you have a designated "pee" receptacle to take care of any nighttime urges in sub-zero temps!

I grew up in Florida so I was able to visit Disney World and Epcot. The Swiss Family Robinson tree house was utterly fascinating to me; if in a similar situation, what’re some strategies for material sourcing in the event I’d ever need to build an adjacent elevated wooden abode? Sustaining a stovetop fire in such a place seems difficult. P.S. feeling thankful for the cutie 10” saw I thrifted last week + this timely Q&A request. ✨🙂

Have you experienced any unexplained, seemingly-paranormal moments during your travels into the wild? Of the yetis, big foots, and skin-walkers that exist in story-telling, do you think one creature or phenomenon is more plausible than the others?

What is one routine, exercise, or food you swear by for helping with wear and tear on the body?

If a film crew had been following you around the last several years, and edited their footage into a documentary about your time in the wilderness, what taken-out-of-context scene would all the viewers judge you for?

I have hyperhidrosis: extremely overactive sweat glands. To the point that I drip sweat and soak my clothes sometimes. I have always felt that I was shit outta luck if I ever ended up in a survival situation where it was cold or freezing because I sweat even when it's cold, sometimes more so. Any tips or am I just screwed?

How do you pee outdoors in below freezing temperatures and is there a risk of ass frostbite or your pee stream freezing at the exact moment it exits your body? Can bears and other woodland creatures smell periods? Are there any crawly bugs, bacteria, unseen environmental hazards, plants, or other random little guys, we all need to be more aware of while camping and backpacking? What is the wildest survival story you’ve ever heard as far as ‘this person should definitely no longer be earthside but somehow survived’ story? Is there such a thing as some kind of Lovecraftian isolation induced psychosis whereupon you lose touch with reality after a certain period of time alone in the wilderness? Is this a real risk?

Bear Grylls famously drank his own pee in an episode of his survival show Man vs Wild: he created a contraption that collected the condensation droplets from his evaporated pee. If you are out of water, and there is no water to be found near you, should you just drink your own unfiltered pee? Or are you guaranteed a more substantial (and beneficial to your body) amount of water if you create a similar contraption good ol Bear did? I guess what i’m really asking is if its worth the rigamarole of creating this filtration system if it only yields a little bit of mostly-piss-free water… Been wondering this since 2007.

I'm so curious how you manage to train so many dogs. What is your training regime for a new puppy? How much do you think the dogs learn from the older ones vs. from you? How many dogs have you owned since dog sledding? How do you keep your dogs active during non-sledding months? For survival-what is your go-to item for comfort when you go into the wilderness? Not the usual "if you were stranded on an island what item would you bring"...I'm saying when you are going into the wilderness by choice and it's not for a TV show with rules, etc.

First off, I want to say thank you. The episode about the Uruguayan Football team genuinely changed my perspective on life, and has made me far more willing to embrace scary situations. Secondly, have you ever had a sort of, survival setback? Like a period in which you thought "damn, that one was brutal, I'm not sure I can do this anymore." If so, how did you build your confidence back up again? :)))

Please tell us about what it's like to see a lot of sky at once? Have you experienced when it was sunlight all the time or nighttime all the time?

I currently work as a mountain guide throughout WA and Alaska. One of the greatest joys of guiding is getting to exist and survive in harsh environments but that also comes with wear on the body. How do you structure your life to be able to exist in these environments for fun but also have a life in the “real” (aka capitalist society) world? Also I am getting started dog sledding and would love to hear what you wish you knew before you started

as someone going through pretty intense eating disorder recovery rn, does doing something like Naked & Afraid improve your relationship with food or make it worse?? I could see it going either way. Also! I’ve been vegetarian for almost a decade because I just could never bring myself to kill/harm an animal to eat it. How does it feel emotionally when you have to do something like kill another creature in order to survive? Is it difficult in the moment or sometime after? Or is it easy because you know you need those nutrients to survive??

As far as I know all of the “raised by wolves” etc stories of feral children have been debunked, but if I were to find myself lost in the wilderness, are there any animals that I could potentially develop a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with?

Growing up I was obsessed with facts and stories about survival (I grew up in rural South Jersey where they taught kids about cooking and eating bark in survival situations and was constantly thinking about how I would survive things like The Hunger Games in my teen years). Did you have a favorite story or fact as a kid that helped you get into wilderness-type activities as an adult?

If you were to assemble a heist team of dogs a la Oceans 11, which dog would be in which role?

What's the best problem solve/problem you are most proud of solving on an outdoor adventure? (E.g., using supplies or gear in an unconventional way, making a tool or apparatus from the environment around you, etc.). Love your episodes together!

Which environment would be harder to survive in-- hot desert or cold arctic?

Is cannibalism in extreme cases (Donner party, uruguayan soccer team, lost at sea) legal? If it is legal, has anyone been found guilty because their situation wasn't dire enough?

How do you choose your sled dogs names? Love you 😘 both 💖 🫂