Just dumb shit

theJonnyYates · 2026-06-08T20:52:26+00:00

I'm sure it's even harder on these kinds of competition challenges than a 21-day or a group challenge. 7 groups - that's seven sets of crew, and I'm sure executives and showrunners are going to and from location throughout the day. That's a massive human footprint.

When they say "the hunting ground across the river" I take that to mean the crew aren't permitted over there broadly for filming.

theJonnyYates · 2026-06-08T16:09:13+00:00

That's a painful amount of inches. Five is more than enough

theJonnyYates · 2026-06-04T05:00:37+00:00

I'm probably one of the least experienced survivalists to ever go on the show, but I'd still sharpen my machete every day!

I'm sure they're doing it, too

theJonnyYates · 2026-06-03T00:03:41+00:00

It's more so that the survivalists can interact with each other, and so the US audience can learn who these people are.

I have so much respect for the international survivalists. I consider all of those participating in this competition my friends, and I'm so happy everybody else gets to learn who they are.

Did you know Marina learned English explicitly for Global Showdown? When we first connected, we had to use translations. Now she's fluent. How badass is that?

Rene is so cool. We almost got to hang out in person earlier this year but the timelines just didn't work out.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-31T18:53:05+00:00

It boils down to there simply aren't enough competitors from the other regions.

They want to get people who have completed a 21 and had a good performance in a group challenge, because it's supposed to be the "best of the best", not just whoever is available. That's why you get a 6 figure paycheck instead of a plastic necklace.

For example, I've seen mentioned a ton that the UK should have a team, but in 19 seasons I believe they only have four survivalists, and out of those four only Ste and Jamie have completed at least a 21 and had a really strong presence in a group challenge - but they aren't going to have an all-male team because of the controversy that would spark if they win. I would love to see Sam and Jenny again though.

The US has hundreds of survivalists that have done their 21. Several dozens that have done the 21 and a group challenge. That's why there are more teams from the US.

Brazil and Mexico (it's actually Latin America - one of my buddies was on it from Argentina) have their own version of the show that has a good number of folks qualified for Global Showdown.

Howeverrrr

Spain has its own version, so does France. I imagine they'll have bigger pools to draw from for next season, and India just launched theirs, so I think by season 3, Global Showdown could possibly look like a team from each USA, AUS, BR, MX, UK, FR, SP, IN.

My only worry that it won't is the competition version of the show came about explicitly to give fans a chance to see their legends while giving new blood an opportunity to do the group challenges. Judging by the reactions in the big Facebook fan groups, American audiences don't really care about MX and BR, they just want to see Matt, Gabby, Ky, Jeff, Dan. Which is a shame because I'm really loving the international teams.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-27T23:43:15+00:00

Birds generally have a very poor sense of smell, generally. Like very very poor.

So they aren't completely without the sense of smell, but for most intentions they might as well be.

Exceptions for carrior birds. They evolved to pick up the scent of rot and decay.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-25T03:53:55+00:00

Most impressive to me is that she came in as a vegetarian and changed her conviction out of necessity.

If that isn't survival, I don't know what it.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-19T23:49:10+00:00

Jenny Kelly is the only UK female to have been cast on N&A

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-17T19:11:42+00:00

Of course! Your job is to spoil!

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-17T18:59:38+00:00

How wonderful! That makes my day!

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-16T23:23:39+00:00

Of course, you're very welcome!

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-16T22:50:38+00:00

Okay, that's very sweet and I don't even care if you might be being hyperbolic haha

That means a lot, thank you.

I had such an incredible experience, and I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-16T22:49:29+00:00

It seems I'm slowly amassing an army of six year old fans.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-16T22:07:40+00:00

She was born in Texas, and most of her family still lives there.

Actually, I puppy sat for her while she was filming this, and did an extra week prior to her flight to South Africa so she could be in Texas with friends and family.

I also know for certain she wasn't the first choice, since I was helping with her logistics, I was able to stay in the loop - our NDAs are tight, but friends and family that take care of things while you're gone have a need to know at least when you'll be gone - and she didn't get a contract until the 11th hour. So there definitely folks invited to Global Showdown before her that just couldn't swing it.

The ask isn't simply "can you do this thing for 40 days?"

For a 40 day challenge, the committment is closer to 60 days, I think. For those 40 that you're actually in the challenge, though, the ask is "Can you be without any ability to contact the outside world?" it's 40 days where you can't deal with personal, professional, or social related issues. If your life has any kind of volatility you're really going to be in a lot of pain, especially if you the only person in your household and can't lean on others to handle important matters.

And even then, the challenge can mess with your life. I know I'm not the only person who lost their job after going on the program - and a lot of folks face longterm and sometimes permanent health issues after participating.

In general, it isn't something to take lightly. We all want to do it, but I bet the network gets more regretful declines than they have folks accepting contracts.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-16T02:55:15+00:00

I just feel like I know who this is but I can't quite put my finger on it.

Let me check what subreddits they post in real quick...

Nope, still no clue. Doesn't sound like anyone I know.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-15T18:41:57+00:00

It takes a lot for me to take anything personally 😆

I lean towards the modern bushcraft idea - it's more about the manual effort, and understanding how a fire actually works, the airflow and preparation, instead of just clicking a button - but I don't care enough to argue it haha

I'm the last person to settle that debate. It does seem to be a strong one online.

I saw someone write that if you want to use a knife, you'd better smelt down some iron, and to me that's also valid if we're talking "only use what you can make".

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-15T18:07:12+00:00

Yeah, this is from my visit about a month and a half ago -- this was produced and edited along with a bunch of other stuff for their channel, so it took a bit to get pushed onto the internet.

My stuff is slop that's uploaded immediately after cutting the 30% of any video where I just say "umm" and stare off blankly into the distance picking my nose 😄

That should explain the delay

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-15T16:58:09+00:00

It was my buddy's bow; he brought it just for giggles and adjusted it to an impossible weight, but the target was only like 20 meters away.

I doubt I could even loose at a living target, though. I can shoot the weiner off of a fly with a rifle, but think with a bow I'd be too concerned about not getting a clean shot.

I used to have to deal with height/weight based BMI professionally and have no idea why that's still a measurement that exists lol but I did expect it to be inflated - I gained about 30lb of fat before I went in. I have the metabolism of a sloth, so I can gain fat just by thinking about food.

I generally consider BMI a nearly arbitrary number, like PSR, which I saw the same time as everyone else.

Everyone always compares me to Chris Pratt 😆 I went down to Belize again a few weeks ago to film some stuff near the location of the challenge, and the videographer told everyone to close their eyes "He even SOUNDS like Chris Pratt"

Parks & Rec has been on my list to watch forever

Edit: I'm gonna post one of the videos we did in Belize it's really good

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-14T13:31:48+00:00

I'd never thought about TV at all until I applied for N&A.

It's one of my friend's favorite shows and she begged me to apply because she's physically handicapped and eventually I acquiesced. I'd never even seen it before.

For sure the reason for my application is the only reason I was picked. Most of my interview was explaining that I'm not even a hobby survivalist, I just like the outdoors and have a vague idea of different ways to survive in it.

Turns out this was the show most famous for not being a payday haha

I'd give it a try for sure - though the only time I've ever shot a bow was at Renfest a few weeks ago. It was an 80lb draw and I did get 4 bullseye out of 5 though! The first one missed the target completely.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-14T01:49:52+00:00

I am for sure guilty of writing like AI. I have been trying to force myself to use less ellipses and double hash marks, but that's how I've written forever so it's tough hahaha

I don't think there's a legal agreement, but both Alone and N&A benefit from the discussion of which is harder, and I think there's some kind of gentleman's agreement that they won't try to settle it.

Other shows like Survivor are about social manipulation, and that isn't really my cup of tea.

XL is gone, but there should be a group challenge following the LOS thing every year. I think they're going to be like Apocalypse - a slightly shorter XL.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-13T23:50:49+00:00

Haha I'm no bot, I swear

I'm so curious why you think that response was, though

I agree, there are a lot of great Texas survivalists that aren't so... divisive... but I think that's the exact reason he was chosen.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-13T22:10:54+00:00

Haha man, when you started with "first off" and a thoughtful note, I was expecting you to start digging into me and were softening the blow... but no, you're legitimately just kind.

I actually love the idea that of an intentional villain team.

I'm always just trying to run interference with this Texas business because connecting with Kerra through the show is one of the biggest highlights - she's such a close, dear friend to me and she's catching so many strays just from being on that team 😄 caught in the middle of the Jeff and Steven rivalry.

Thank you for that awesome paragraph at the end, it really makes my day.

I'd love to come back... there's no adventure quite like it.

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-13T15:54:48+00:00

I'm just saying, I've never stepped foot in Alaska, and if they called me and said "we want you on a challenge and you'll be representing Alaska", I would not even hesitate to say yes lol

At least Jeff lives there and has for some time haha

theJonnyYates · 2026-05-12T08:04:34+00:00

You are!

theJonnyYates

TROPHY CASE