“All television is educational television. The question is, what is it teaching?”
— Nicholas Johnson, former Commissioner of the FCC

As America entered the 1960s and televisions became a common staple in most homes, the derisive term “idiot box” became a popular nickname for the household appliance. This term was a result of the perception that, rather than making us smarter and more informed, the TV was actually making us dumber. Is it true? Similar accusations have been levied against other forms of technology over the years, including the internet, radio, and even the printing press. In the end, we’d argue that the value of any one of these tools is simply a matter of how you use it. Instead of aimlessly channel-surfing or turning your brain into mush watching The Kardashians, you should use your TV as a conduit for valuable knowledge and skills.

The best survival TV shows offer both practical information and entertainment condensed into a convenient 30-minute or 1-hour format. For example, legitimate experts like Les Stroud and Ray Mears have presented content that’s fun for the whole family to watch and discuss, and more importantly, packed with useful lessons. But what about so-called “reality TV” shows that involve competition, prizes, and elabo-rate camera crews to capture the drama? What, if anything, can we learn from them? That’s the subject we’re delving into in this issue of RECOIL OFFGRID.

We spoke to seven contestants from two of the most popular and longest-running survival reality TV shows, Alone and Naked and Afraid. In these panel interviews, each individual shares unfiltered opinions on their experiences, gear, and lessons learned. Our Spot-light interview in this issue features Carleigh Fairchild, a wilderness skills instructor and avid outdoorswoman who survived a grueling 86 days in Patagonia on Alone Season 3. For a perspective from the other side of the camera, we also interviewed Grant Kahler, producer of Netflix’s new survival show Outlast. Our What If scenario analyzes the dark side of fame and public image: how to manage the media and publicity fallout of being wrongfully accused of a crime.

We also examined quite a bit of gear in this issue, ranging from a low-tech wild edibles foraging bag to a high-tech night vision kit. There’s a Pocket Preps guide to camp and field knives, a Gear Up section filled with interesting new products, and a Ford Bronco built to survive off the grid. Since you won’t be able to do much in any survival situation without being able to walk, Joe Alton, MD, wrote a guide about treatment and prevention of foot injuries (a common ailment for many of the survival show participants we spoke with).

Whether you’re a die-hard survival TV enthusiast or someone who thinks it’s all a bunch of Hollywood smoke and mirrors, we think you’ll find some valuable insight in this issue. At the end of the day, you should never take anything you see on TV at face value, but there’s still plenty that can be learned from it, even if it’s only what not to do. Don’t let your TV become an idiot box — make it a knowledge dispenser. ■