Boylan volunteering at a Red Cross clinic in Cambodia.
another, or simply gave me food to eat. The audience was my inspiration to grind it out no matter how hard things got. What culture have you found most interesting of your trips abroad? When is comes to culture I would say “Island Life” is the most interesting. These people are disconnected from many of the worries we have back on land. It forces community in many ways. It keeps people a bit more honest when there is no place to run or hide. What countries were the most open or helpful? To pick one country would be impossible. We set off to see the world in the purest way and in turn got the chance to experience hospitality that shocked the world. Everywhere we went people offered help. But the most amazing aspect was when we experienced this in very poor countries such as Kenya, Thailand and Cambodia. When we crossed the border from Thailand to Cambodia on foot, my cameraman Zsolt and I found ourselves in this poor border town called Poipet. We had nothing and just started walking the streets when a Monk waved his hand for us to come over to his hut. With his broken English we tried to communicate the best we could. Within two minutes he asked us to stay with him in his one room
hut. He had nothing...but offered us what he could. What have you done with your $1 million prize from winning “The Amazing Race II”? I actually bought a couple properties right here in Neptune Beach, Fla. That’s about it when it came to splurging on anything...the rest I invested in developing my career in entertainment. As host of “At The Chefs Table”, you spent many hours in the kitchens of famous five-star chefs. How did the experience help shape your culinary knowledge? Quality and freshness of food is 99% of a great meal. Everything was as fresh as possible at those restaurants and many chefs had gardens on the premises where they would cut produce/herbs on the spot to maximize flavor. And don’t take food too seriously when fine dining. All these big name chefs I hosted shows with would say this over and over. How did you get involved with Touch Twice United (TTU)? My sister and brother-in-law founded TTU about 10 years ago. Throughout the years, I’d volunteer at the clinics. Time after time I was amazed at the impact they were having on communities across the country. About four
years ago, I took a position on the board of directors to help and give exposure to this great nonprofit. To learn more, visit www.touchtwiceunited.org. Besides “The Amazing Race” or ATWFF, what is your favorite reality-TV show? I think Survivor is one of the greatest concepts of television in my lifetime. This show gives us an inside peek into the sociology of human behavior and survival of the fittest. This was especially true in the beginning seasons when networks weren’t type casting as much. Unfortunately, many of these shows, including the Amazing Race, are now looking for shock value over everyday people. What’s the best advice you ever received? Life: “Go for it...don’t ever be scared to fail.” – My Mom Career: “Learn how to be a producer, there is only so long you can stay young and be on camera.” – Frank Pace ’73, producer of the “George Lopez Show” What are your plans for 2009? To produce and host a show for Rachael Ray, produce the second season of ATWFF, get my surf series off the ground, and come up with new travel show ideas so I can continue to do what I love! Fall 2008 13