If we’re all lucky, our deaths will come at the end of a long, well-lived life and of natural, painless causes. Falling from a great height, drowning, being crushed by heavy machinery, or being burned to death are things we all hope to avoid in our lifetimes. And yet, these are the things Bobby Bones risks in his new National Geographic series, Breaking Bobby Bones. Each week, the radio personality, author, podcaster, music mentor, and Mirror Ball Trophy winner tries something new, joining experts in the field to hopefully come out on the other side with a newfound appreciation for the risks they take.
(National Geographic)
In this half-hour format, each new adventure finds Bobby Bones rising to the occasion of each challenge. The series premiere, titled “Grand Canyon Cliffhanger,” finds the host shadowing a Rope Access Technician as he and his team clean the underside of the Grand Canyon Skywalk, suspended by ropes 4,000 feet in the air. It’s a death-defying challenge for anybody, especially a first timer, and you’ll never look at a glass-bottom suspended experience the same way again.
Surprisingly, Breaking Bobby Bones has a lot of heart. It’s clear that Bobby Bones is a true people person and he takes the time to really get to know his mentees in each experience. There’s a human interest component to each episode whereby Bones shows his gratitude to his host in a unique way. I went into the series expecting to be impressed by the challenges, but each episode makes you feel good, too.
Lonnie Bedwell (L) gives Bobby Bones a lesson in kayaking on the Yellowstone River. (Credit: National Geographic/Vanessa Perez)
“Fight, grind, repeat” is Bobby Bones’ mantra and he brings that same approach to the series. Like his book, Fail Until You Don't: Fight Grind Repeat, the series highlights how life’s messes can be transformed into successes. In an episode titled “Lights Out Kayaking,” he learns how his trainer Lonnie lost his vision and didn’t let it stop him from doing what he loved, challenging Bobby to take a trip through Class III rapids without his sense of sight.
In the end, it looks like nobody will be Breaking Bobby Bones anytime soon, not physically at least. But what viewers will find is a world full of extraordinary people who have overcome hardships and perform tasks that may be your own worst nightmare. It’s fun to watch Bobby Bones tackle these challenges, but the real draw is seeing him walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and teach us what he learns.
Breaking Bobby Bones premieres Monday, May 31st, at 10/9c with two back-to-back episodes.