But when adventurer, humanitarian, coffee expert, and world record holder Todd Carmichael wakes up and smells the coffee— he’s literally waking up in the farthest corners of the earth. Finding the world’s best coffee is his life’s work. And his adventures take him around the globe– through rough terrain, the elements and every other unimaginable challenge in some of the world’s most dangerous places…. And that’s just the first 5 minutes of shooting episode number 1 in his new show on Travel Channel.

How far will this guy go for the perfect cup of coffee??? (Bolivia, Madagascar, Haiti,…just to name a few.)

Find out when his new show “Dangerous Grounds” brews up its premiere on Travel Channel– Monday, November 5th at 10pm ET/PT (moves to regular timeslot beginning Tuesday, November 13th at 9pm.)

I got a chance to talk with Carmichael, who by the way, holds the world record for the fastest unsupported trek to the South Pole. Just him, 250 pounds of gear and the icy wind… he did it in record time. (39 days, 7 hours and 49 minutes!) Who wouldn’t want a great cup of coffee after that experience?

Clearly he’s tough. But can this awesome adventurer take on the challenges of reality tv and survive? And will his terrified camera crew make it too?

We met over a cup of coffee– by phone. Well, how else would you interview Carmichael if not with coffee in hand for inspiration! We went one on one. As you might imagine, his energy is palpable, even by phone– which led me to my first question….and much more.

Life is Sweet: Has anyone ever recommended you switch to decaf?

Carmichael: Only my wife at two in the morning! It’s funny. Often on my coffee searching trips, I don’t have coffee. I recognize there’s no real difference. I think I’m just wired for sound to begin with.

Life is Sweet: If you were a blend of coffee what would you be?

Carmichael: The first two ingredients are really important. When you blend coffee you begin with a base. And my base is husband and father. My family provides me with a foundation that I can grow on. And those are the two biggest ingredients. I’m a wanderer. I truly believe and I’m at my best when I am wandering. Whether that’s across the desert, across Antarctica, or I’m wandering around the mountains. And that’s where I find life. The most exciting things happen when wandering. The big discoveries can never be anticipated. I feel like my whole life has been just been this guy rummaging around in this awesome garage sale. Those are my main ingredients.

Life is Sweet: Would (your blend) it be bold, smooth, or insanely adventurous?

Carmichael: I would say wild and unexpected.

Life is Sweet: You’ve survived a solo trek through Antarctica, how will you fare with reality tv?

Carmichael: No, being out in Antarctica is an incredibly solo experience. Being cut off from the rest of the world. Death Valley, Sahara Desert, parts of the jungle, I’ve done it alone. This is a whole new avenue for me. When I turn to and look at the passenger seat, I see this horrified camera man that’s sitting right next to me.
I’m really liking it. Its like hearing a great joke. It’s better with someone else. It’s taken me all this time to figure it out. The ability to share it and experience it with other people and in this case behind that circle of glass there’s a whole lot of people watching. Sharing it with them too adds even more flavor to the whole experience. And it’s way different than being alone.

Life is Sweet: HOW horrified IS the cameramen in the seat next to you?

Carmichael: Well, when you see the Bolivian episode—crying like a little girl kind of comes to mind. There’s a real horrifying stretch of road along Bolivia called “death road” and when you drive it at night in the fog it really is something very special. There were some issues. He really didn’t want to be there. And then I learned when I pushed him along a zip line, over about a 1200 foot canyon, it was only when he was just just about ready to launch that he told me he was horrified. He’s really good, talented in so many ways but it’s the height thing that gets to him. I told him dude, “coffee is grown in the mountains, you’re going to run into this a lot”.

Life is Sweet: This show is completely different than anything on the air now?

Carmichael: Nothing’s been on the air like this. Coffee is so terribly important to us as a people. We drink more coffee than anything else– including soda and beer… and maybe water, but then I question that one. It’s such a big part of what we do and it’s such a massive industry.
It’s become very precious and it’s treated like as if coffee is grown in Napa Valley. But it’s not. Coffee is not grown in the Napa Valley. It’s grown in the developing world. Not only the developing world, but way up in the mountains of the developing world. Where the road ends, you keep going and there you find coffee.

And that’s where you’ll find Todd Carmichael. On “Dangerous Grounds” always. His work is never– make that– always a grind.