Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Survival Seven: Bonus Episode
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Survival Seven: Bonus Episode
Send us a text
In this episode, Reza pulls a timeless list from page 83 of The World’s Most Dangerous Places and Robert Young Pelton breaks down his 7 survival rules with real stories—from New Orleans pickpocket crews to Sahara breakdowns, embassy backrooms, and negotiating Land Cruisers in Chad.
What you’ll learn:
- Be Alert: Build situational awareness, read the “flow” of crowds, and do a 360 check—especially when phones/headphones dull your senses.
- Be Sober: Why most robberies hit between midnight–4am and how alcohol turns you into easy prey.
- Use It or Lose It: Pack light, skip “shiny” gear, and carry items you could gift without stress.
- Insure & Insure: What travel/MedEvac policies really cover—and low-cost lifelines like inReach/sat comms.
- Trust No One (and Everyone): How to be friendly without being naïve in places where intel and crime ecosystems watch outsiders.
- Stay Away from Tourists: Tourist zones = mobile ATMs. How to avoid the traps and blend in.
- Prevent Opportunists: Understand the local “market” for you, negotiate smart, and don’t feed kidnapping/grift pipelines.
More info: https://www.comebackalive.com
Disclaimer: This content is educational. Use judgment and follow local laws.
Robert Young Pelton is a Canadian-American author, journalist, filmmaker, and adventurer known for his conflict reporting and for venturing alone into some of the world's most dangerous and remote areas to chronicle history-shaping events. His work often involves interviewing military and political figures in war zones and spending time embedded with various groups, including the Taliban, Northern Alliance, CIA operatives, al Qaeda, and Blackwater .
He has been present at numerous conflicts, from Ukraine to the the Battle of Grozny and from Qali Jangi in Afghanistan to the rebel siege of Monrovia in Liberia.
Pelton is the author of several books, most notably the New York Times bestselling guide, "The World's Most Dangerous Places," which provides information for navigating high-risk zones. He has also written "Come Back Alive," a survival guide, and his autobiography, "The Adventurist: My Life in Dangerous Places". His work includes feature stories for National Geographic, Men’s Journal, Foreign Policy and Vice. He has worked as a contributing editor for National Geographic Adventure and has worked for major media networks like Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, CBS's 60 Minutes, ABC Investigative Division, and CNN.
Pelton is also the founder of DPx Gear, a company that designs rugged survival tools and knives based on his field experiences.
View all episodes
By Robert Young PeltonSend us a text
In this episode, Reza pulls a timeless list from page 83 of The World’s Most Dangerous Places and Robert Young Pelton breaks down his 7 survival rules with real stories—from New Orleans pickpocket crews to Sahara breakdowns, embassy backrooms, and negotiating Land Cruisers in Chad.
What you’ll learn:
- Be Alert: Build situational awareness, read the “flow” of crowds, and do a 360 check—especially when phones/headphones dull your senses.
- Be Sober: Why most robberies hit between midnight–4am and how alcohol turns you into easy prey.
- Use It or Lose It: Pack light, skip “shiny” gear, and carry items you could gift without stress.
- Insure & Insure: What travel/MedEvac policies really cover—and low-cost lifelines like inReach/sat comms.
- Trust No One (and Everyone): How to be friendly without being naïve in places where intel and crime ecosystems watch outsiders.
- Stay Away from Tourists: Tourist zones = mobile ATMs. How to avoid the traps and blend in.
- Prevent Opportunists: Understand the local “market” for you, negotiate smart, and don’t feed kidnapping/grift pipelines.
More info: https://www.comebackalive.com
Disclaimer: This content is educational. Use judgment and follow local laws.
Robert Young Pelton is a Canadian-American author, journalist, filmmaker, and adventurer known for his conflict reporting and for venturing alone into some of the world's most dangerous and remote areas to chronicle history-shaping events. His work often involves interviewing military and political figures in war zones and spending time embedded with various groups, including the Taliban, Northern Alliance, CIA operatives, al Qaeda, and Blackwater .
He has been present at numerous conflicts, from Ukraine to the the Battle of Grozny and from Qali Jangi in Afghanistan to the rebel siege of Monrovia in Liberia.
Pelton is the author of several books, most notably the New York Times bestselling guide, "The World's Most Dangerous Places," which provides information for navigating high-risk zones. He has also written "Come Back Alive," a survival guide, and his autobiography, "The Adventurist: My Life in Dangerous Places". His work includes feature stories for National Geographic, Men’s Journal, Foreign Policy and Vice. He has worked as a contributing editor for National Geographic Adventure and has worked for major media networks like Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, CBS's 60 Minutes, ABC Investigative Division, and CNN.
Pelton is also the founder of DPx Gear, a company that designs rugged survival tools and knives based on his field experiences.