Ten things I’ve Learned from watching Naked and Afraid…So Far…

10. The world is not a safe place, all kinds of little wildlife is out there that can seriously cause harm or death. Season 1, Episode 1 producer Steve Rankin was bitten by a Fur-de-lance and nearly lost his life while scouting a location for the first episode of Naked and Afraid.

9. Having a good sharp blade is a must. But watch out chopping can get you if you get cocky with the blade. Season 6 episode 2- Steven Lee Hall Jr. The self-proclaimed “king of the Forest” is there to comfort Chalese Meyer as she gets stiches for a cut she gave herself as she accidentally gets a little wild with the blade.

8. Don’t play with your food. Season 7, Episode 8 of XL. Gary Golding decides to play with the eyes of the gator caught earlier in the episode and ends up catching a parasite that caused a medical tap out.

7. Boil your “Fresh” water. Just drink straight from the river is a dangerous idea in any country. Season Seventeen Episode 9, Julia, Frank, and Scott get to the camp sight and Scott drank straight from the river.

6. Without a fire, a good solid shelter is your friend in the elements. Depending on the location, don’t trust the weather to change quickly. Season 12, Episode 5 Wes and Suzanne were in the cloud forest of Ecuador. Where they were unable to get a fire and Wes was tapped due to Covid was shutting down travel routes home.

5. Know what you’re eating. If you’re not sure, don’t eat it. Season 2, Episode 7 of XL Challenge. There was a sweet and sour fruit that some of the group ate. They became sick with pain in the abdominal region and got sick. Ryan, Phaedra, and Kim are all medically tapped, it was horrible for them.

4. Do not wash off your “shart attack” in your only water source. For so many reasons I’m not going to even list them. Season 12, Episode 7 Ashley washes herself in the water source. She does come back for redemption in Season 16, Episode 4 with a new partner.

3. Know your limits, don’t let yourself get medically tapped, it’s not worth your health or your death. Remember there is sometimes redemption. Season 19 Episode1 Cole returns after leaving an XL challenge because he felt he couldn’t survive in the conditions

2. Always try to learn from your partner, it’s not about who can do what solo, it’s teamwork. And being the problem or agitating a problem can only make it worse. Season 8, Episode 6 Amber had been providing the bulk of the food. The girls were not grateful and acted like it wasn’t that big of a deal. Jeff shows up and stirs the pot. Amber was heartbroken. Trish made a point of wanting to be alpha, but she didn’t want to put in the work. Folks, she needed to remember she wasn’t the only person out there. And Jeff, for a “religious” person forgot what it meant to be humble.

1. If Matt Wright shows up there is little chance his partner is going hungry during the challenge. Season 7-episode 7 Matt, Ryan, and Rylie get about an eight-foot gator, and thus broke a brief hunger streak. Matt was distressed and felt it was his job to feed his teammates.