ATHLEISURE MAG #75 MAR ISSUE | NEVER GIVE UP Bear Grylls

When it comes to being an adventurer and navigating an array of terrains and working with what's around you, Bear Grylls is a man that you think of that you'd want to have on your team!

Known for his National Geographics' Running Wild with Bear Grylls where he takes A-list celebs on his expeditions, he has spent his life perfecting his craft and sharing his knowledge with many of us! His survival school comes from years of work that included serving in the Territorial Army of the 21 SAS, he has been awarded the honorary of Lt Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve and was awarded Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines Reserve. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as the youngest ever Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories.

We talk with him about how he became an adventurer, shared these skills with us through his TV shows and how he stays fit to continue to do what he loves on and off the camera.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve been a fan of yours for a number of years watching you go all around the world in these amazing environments and taking on nature. How did you decide that this was something that you wanted to do and then doing it as a career and being able to have these TV shows that showcase this profound series of skills and activities that you’re doing?

BEAR GRYLLS: That is so sweet of you to say. I’m not sure that it’s something that is so very profound. But you know, it’s been the only thing that I have been good at in my life! As a kid growing up, I loved adventure and it was a huge part of my upbringing with my dad doing this sort of stuff. Then I joined the military and my job there involved combat survival, the climbing and the sky diving. After the military, to be able to do a show like Man vs. Wild which then became Running Wild – it’s been a true privilege. I’ve been able to take incredible Hollywood and sports stars from all over the world to take them on great adventures and to introduce them to the power of the outdoors and how adventure can inspire us. Like I said, I’m very privileged.

I think it’s been a stumbling journey with many failures as well. People often like to talk about the good stuff, but I think it’s also important to be honest and say that behind the scenes there have been many failures! There have been many failed expeditions, failed TV shows and failed projects you know? It’s through that door that you get to go through to the good stuff! Never give up! I think that that’s the message isn’t it, for all of us for life!

AM: From our standpoint, we find it to be impressive and profound simply because you’re introducing things to us and people at large that we have never seen before or thought to do! It’s amazing to see you taking all of these celebrities and even President Obama to these places. You can kind of imagine what it would be like to do it, although we would not be able to do that! But we can appreciate that you do it!

BG: I’ll take the compliment. You’re so kind! When I talk with my family, they say, “Papa, you’re head is just filled with so much useless information.” And I go, “you might say that until it all goes wrong and your life is on the line.” I love this stuff and It’s a huge privilege to be able to do it and I hope to continue to be able to do it well into the rest of my life long after TV cameras – it’s been the beating heart of things that I have always loved! It’s a pleasure to share it with people – thank you!

AM: Do you have a favorite location that you like to go to or what do you look for from a TV perspective in terms of an area you want to go to? Is there a checklist or a criteria?

BG: Yeah, we try to keep every season of our Running Wild's as diverse as we can. We’ll hit a bunch of jungles and deserts and mountains – but at the same time, we have to be mindful that we’re taking rookies and they may be iconic people but in this world, they are rookies. You have to moderate as well as it can’t be too inacessible and you have to have safety back up with us as well. You need to have rescue guys in case things go wrong. We try to avoid the real extremes of temperatures now because it really limits what you can do with people and it makes it super hard work for the crew in minus degree weather or in 125 degree weather. So, on the whole, we try to pick iconic places that are going to deliver adventures. So, it’s always fresh, it’s always new and it always puts a smile on my face that’s for sure!

AM: You just released your latest book, Never Give Up: My Life in the Wild, why did you want to write this book and how long did you spend putting it together?

BG: Well, I think that these are the stories that I get asked about all the time by people – including my own family, you know as my kids are growing up. I’ve never written about these things before – about the closest I’ve ever come to dying, behind the scenes filming with President Obama, filming Running Wild or Man vs Wild narrow escapes! Getting chased by snakes and this and that! All of those stories are things that I get asked about a lot and I spent 10 years writing about this. I wanted to write every word myself and I wanted to do it from the heart. I wanted to include the struggles and failures you know? That’s why, for me, the book was ever going to be called Never Give Up because that is the journey of life, you know? You hit some storms, you have to get back up and you have to be resilient and it’s the key to so much. I think that in this current climate with people as we re-emerge from this COVID time, I think it’s especially tough for young people. We need a spirit of resilience, determination and to know that the power of a never give up spirit – how much it counts for in life.

AM: Tell us about Cardio Miracle and why you wanted to partner with them?

BG: Well, Cardio Miracle is something that I have believed in for a long while. I think that the world of supplementation is really a minefield for people and I'm super conscious of my health and fitness. I need to be fit and strong for my job. You know, when I’m not out at adventures, I do everything that I can to stay fit and finding a supplement like Cardio Miracle which is all in one and does it all, has been amazing for me. Just reading the stories from all around the world from people that have been taking the supplements and how it’s enhanced and strengthened their lives is amazing to see. They pour in every day. I love that! I try to do things that really empower people’s lives and I think that all of us as we get older, we have to be conscious of our heart health. You know, I lost my dad far too young to a heart attack and it’s made me super conscious about getting really good proper supplements that’s really good and all natural – great antioxidants, great anti-inflammatory and good amino acids that are good for our hearts as we get older and we want to stay fit for these adventures.

AM: Absolutely. How long have you been taking it and in terms of your partnership with them, what are the things that you are going to do to spread the word?

BG: Well, I’ve been taking Cardio Miracle for a few years now. I had been on the lookout for something like Cardio Miracle for about 10 years. A lot of people have not been able to find something that has everything that I believe is really great and is natural for your health.

It’s been a journey. There is also an alignment of values there and the fact that they are really trying to do something positive for heart health for people’s metabolic health. As we come out of this COVID time, I think that one of the messages that is resounding for all of us is that we just can’t rely on vaccines.

It's important to also be metabolically strong and to have a strong immune system – I think this is part of that, physical training is part of that - but definitely in the modern world getting supplementation that really helps you metabolically to help you stay ahead of the curve to stay strong and fit. It’s so key and they do an amazing job. For me, it’s just seeing the stories like I said, that are pouring in and how it has helped people. I’m proud to do that.

When we’re not filming, I love championing that message for people. We want people to have good heart health long into their life.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for that you can share with us?

BG: Well we’re back on filming Running Wild right now. Never Give Up was just pushed in America. I’m also sharing that message of Cardio Miracle for people that want to stay in good health as they get older. So those are my 3 focuses of the moment! Stay fit and healthy, enjoy these stories and I’m back on the road filming Running Wild.

IG @beargrylls

PHOTO COURTESY | PG 96 Bear Grylls | PG 98 - 109 Ben Simms/National Geographic |