Bear Grylls: Face the Wild

This show's appeal is less about Bear Grylls' celebrated survival skills and more about his eagerness to share the spotlight with everyday folks who are heroes in their own (less prominent) right. The participants are making a difference in issues that are meaningful to them and living lives that deserve celebration even if they typically aren't in the spotlight. As Bear helps them realize courage and determination in themselves they otherwise might not have known they had, he's also inspired by their personal stories of triumph and assumes the unusual role of student as they share their own expertise and experiences with him.

Even though Face the Wild devotes much of its time to the participants' causes, Bear still ensures that his survival students learn a few basics of existing in the wild. They hike, they scavenge, they learn about tackling the elements, and they perform some sort of physical feat that challenges their resolve. If extreme survival drama is what you're looking for, you won't find it here, but this Bear Grylls project is inspiring in its own way.