The High Performance Podcast11 Aug 2025

Steve Backshall on Surviving Near Death, Fatherhood and What Really Matters (E365)

Steve Backshall is no stranger to the edge. As a BAFTA-winning naturalist, adventurer, and presenter of Deadly 60, he’s spent his life in some of the world’s most extreme environments, from dense jungles to deep caves. In this raw and gripping episode, Steve opens up about what really happens when you face death head-on.

He takes us through one of his most terrifying moments: being trapped underwater in Bhutan for over four minutes. Steve also dives deep into how the brain shifts gears in life-or-death moments, revealing the strange clarity and focus that can emerge at the edge.

Beyond survival, Steve reflects on why humans are wired to chase risk and adventure. He talks about fear, not just feeling it, but using it, and the powerful difference between facing hard-earned challenges versus easy wins.

This episode explores the razor-thin line between danger and discovery, and what it teaches us about our own minds.

Steve's new podcast That's Just Wild is out now. Amazing animal facts, fascinating science and stories of real-life, wildlife adventures, wherever you get your podcasts.

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