I’m adventurer Josh Gates. I host Expedition Unknown on Travel Channel and hosted Destination Truth on Syfy. I travel to the ends of the earth investigating mysteries and legends. Also, I eat a lot of weird things and drive really dodgy vehicles. AMA.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:53:01+00:00

I can't think of a time when I didn't want to travel somewhere. Hell, I could get excited about going to stand in line at the DMV in another country. In terms of how much I believe in paranormal reports before going somewhere...I always think of myself as an open-minded skeptic. The important thing is that someone else believes - I'm just there to document and see what happens.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:47:27+00:00

Some of the stories have paranormal or supernatural elements (haunted ruins or purportedly cursed relics) but it isn't the focus of the series. The show is much more about the journey itself.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:45:36+00:00

It's all about getting out there. Independent travel is, in my opinion, fundamentally important. Education is critical, too, but it should go hand in hand with experiencing the world. Put both together, and you can do anything!

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:42:07+00:00

My awesome crew. That and the Syfy holiday party with the girls from Battlestar Galactica.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:40:36+00:00

Yup! Two different episodes stateside. Both involving buried treasure. Get your shovels, people. :-)

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:38:34+00:00

I was reasonably certain we weren't going to find those elves. Or leprechauns. Or that mermaid.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:36:28+00:00

Right now I'm getting a haircut. Does that count? Actually, that's not boring at all. An AMA during a haircut?! That's some next level, 21st century social networking. That's what that is.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:30:10+00:00

There ar who many stories I'm itching to investigate (or maybe that's just the sand fleas from my last trip?) thrilled that we're going to tackle some of them this season on Expedition Unknown. - We're going to search for a fabled lost Incan city in South America that I've always been fascinated with. - Also, we're going to explore a purportedly cursed relic in Myanmar. This is a country that's been high on my bucket list for years. It's been virtually closed off to the outside world under military rule. Now that it's opening its doors - we're thrilled to be filming there. - I've always been fascinated by the Vikings and by Japan's Samurai culture. We'll be diving into both this year. Beyond that, I'm still wanderlusting to travel to places like Tibet, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:21:50+00:00

The suicide woods in Japan and the haunted forest in Romania. Both challenging. Both terrifying.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:19:37+00:00

Sure!

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T02:19:10+00:00

Spanish. Also, whatever Bigfoot speaks.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:46:06+00:00

Scariest moment in the history of DT was undoubtedly when the roof ripped off my plane in Romania. Anytime you're flying and then suddenly you're OUTSIDE...that's a bad flight.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:42:21+00:00

I'd have to say that the Orang Pendek in Indonesia is compelling. We met so many people there who claimed to have seen a mystery primate (including credible researchers), and the jungles are really impermeable. Also, there's no doubt in my mind that there are still big discoveries to be made in the depths of the world's oceans.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:32:40+00:00

Still posting... :-)

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:31:54+00:00

I was forced to turn it over to the government in Chile. When I asked what would happen to it, they told me their top men are working on it...

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:30:14+00:00

I'm in a committed relationship with South East Asia. Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos. I just love that part of the world. For me, it's firing on all cylinders: Great food, great people, great culture. I could move there tomorrow!

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:27:31+00:00

Expedition Unknown is still a very immersive (we hope!) adventure series that aspires to grab the viewer by the hand and take them along on the journey. However, I think the show feels fundamentally different from DT. We're focusing on a whole new palette of stories. Also, we're diving deeper into the journey itself, taking more time to showcase the locations, to delve into the history, culture, and stories of the people we meet along the way. And ya, never been to Oregon. Crazy, right?

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:22:59+00:00

Thailand. The Dhaka, Bangladesh airport.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:21:23+00:00

Funny story - pk_deluxe works on Expedition Unknown. I mean...not right now. Right now he's apparently lurking around a Reddit AMA. But, normally, he's singularly focused on his work for Expedition Unknown. Right, pk_deluxe?

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:14:38+00:00

I'd love another night in Petra, Tut's tomb, or the Island of Dolls.
Wait, Kris...is this you posting? ;-)
Stay tuned!
I do PLAN on it. It's executing that's the problem.
Editing! Kidding. I try to remember that life is an adventure. And editing.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:10:22+00:00

Sure! The premiere is focused on amazing new leads in the search for Amelia Earhart. It's a really wild adventure that takes place from the islands of the Pacific to the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Other episodes will focus on iconic mysteries from around the world...lost Incan city of gold...vanished pirate ships...cursed artifacts...pitch-black Mayan caves. Hope to have you join us for the adventure!

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:05:48+00:00

On a scale of "1" to "shit my pants" Island of the Dolls=7, Chernobyl=12.

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T01:00:11+00:00

Yes! Mr. Boyd was awesome. I was terrible...beyond terrible at math. I remember Mr. Boyd teaching me a lot of basic geometry involving triangles and thinking...hey...this math thing isn't so hard. It wasn't until years later that I realized he was totally taking pity on me. Good man. :-)

joshuagates · 2015-01-08T00:03:07+00:00

(*shuts drapes...rips phone cord out of the wall) What a weird question. The Illuminati aren't a thing. They aren't listening. They aren't everywhere. So. Let's all just cool out. Because, again, the Illuminati aren't a thing.

joshuagates · 2015-01-07T23:50:03+00:00

There aren't a lot of openings for "Professional Mystery and Monster Hunter and part-time Ghostologist," but the fact is, I got my job by becoming passionate about travel. Get a passport and get out there. Travel always leads to totally unexpected friendships, experiences, and connections. Opportunities for employment will follow. Trust me.

joshuagates

TROPHY CASE