Shane Reynolds might hail from the Swamp, but that didn't exactly get him ready to face some real-life reptiles in the Everglades.
Reynolds, a UF alumnus, said he is terrified of snakes and alligators. But that's not stopping him from staring them down on national television.
He is the star of "Shane Untamed," an adventure show airing Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Nat Geo Wild. His audience members will know him as Shane O, a nickname his mother gave him growing up. Reynolds will be a one-man band, in charge of every element that makes his show, from shooting to editing.
While studying at UF, he traveled and always had dreams of one day having his own TV show.
"I think it's something that everyone hopes to do at some point, just to travel," he said. "The fact that I get to document it for the world to see is a dream come true."
The travel show will stand out from others since it is not guided by a wildlife expert, Reynolds said. He is an everyday person in situations that would normally call for an expert.
Nat Geo Wild is trying to attract a younger audience, an age demographic from 18 to 25, with this show, said Janet Han Vissering, senior vice president of development for the network.
She said that Reynolds has a contemporary appeal and will help attract that age group.
"He puts across a very vulnerable side, but it could be incredibly funny too," she said.
In some of the clips from his show found on National Geographic's website, Reynolds can be found kayaking in Alaska looking for whales and hiking through a jungle in Guyana in search of 1,500-pound bears. He wants to prove that fear shouldn't stop anyone from adventure.
"I'm hoping that people will learn that traveling to the unknown and remote places are not as dangerous as they think," he said.
