Josh Bernstein
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| Josh Bernstein | |
| Born | February 24, 1971 New York City, USA |
|---|---|
| Education | Cornell University |
| Occupation | Explorer, Discovery Channel Host & Executive Producer |
Josh Bernstein (born February 24, 1971) is an American explorer, author, survival expert, and TV host best known as the host of Digging for the Truth. He is soon to appear as the host of the Discovery Channel's Into The Unknown With Josh Bernstein.[1]
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[edit] Personal life
Josh Bernstein was born and raised in Manhattan, and attended the highly prestigious Horace Mann School. In 1989, he went to Cornell University where he double-majored in Anthropology and Psychology, and double minored in Native American and Near Eastern Studies.[2][3] He served two terms as president of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. After graduating from college, he spent a year in a post-graduate program in Jerusalem studying, among other things, mysticism and ancient texts. He is of Jewish heritage. His father was born in Jerusalem's Old City and his paternal grandparents and great-grandparents are buried in Israel.
Bernstein's father died of a heart attack six weeks before his 15th birthday.[4] A year later, his three-year-old sister was killed in an automobile accident.[2] Bernstein has a twin brother, Andrew.
Bernstein has an apartment in New York City, and a yurt in southern Utah.[5]
[edit] Professional life
[edit] The History Channel: Digging for the Truth
Digging for the Truth was a History Channel adventure-archaeology series that explored ancient mysteries around the world. The series premiered with Bernstein as host in January, 2005 and quickly became the highest-rated series in the history of The History Channel. Season 3 premiered on January 22, 2007, again setting a record for the network with the highest-rated series/season premiere to date (over 2.1 million viewers). The April 16, 2007 episode marked Bernstein's final appearance as host of Digging for the Truth.[4][6] The series continued for a 4th season without Bernstein before it was removed from primetime and then cancelled.
Digging for the Truth: One Man's Epic Adventure Exploring the World's Greatest Archaeological Mysteries is a print companion to the television series, authored by Bernstein, that reveals much more of the personal trials and challenges he faced making the series. It received critical acclaim and was released in hardcover in Winter 2006, and paperback in the Fall, 2007.[7]
[edit] Boulder Outdoor Survival School
In addition to his former role as host of Digging for the Truth, Bernstein is the president and CEO of BOSS, the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, the oldest and largest traditional living skills/survival school in the world.[8] Bernstein first attended BOSS as a student in 1988, when he was 17. He returned in 1989 as an apprentice, then worked his way up to instructor, marketing director and finally CEO in 1997.[8]
[edit] Discovery Channel: Into The Unknown With Josh Bernstein
On February 20, 2007, Bernstein announced that he was leaving The History Channel and Digging for the Truth to join the Discovery Channel as an executive producer and host of a new prime-time series and specials.[5] The Discovery series -- called "Into the Unknown with Josh Bernstein" -- is scheduled to premiere in mid-August 2008, and is expected to be just as adventurous and globe-trotting as Digging for the Truth, but with less of an archaeological focus.[citation needed]
[edit] Media appearances
Bernstein has appeared on NBC, ABC, and CBS News programs, including Good Morning America and The Today Show. He appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on January 15, 2007. Bernstein is known for wearing many hats, mostly cowboy hats, which has led to him being likened to Indiana Jones. Although the History Channel played up the comparison in its promotion of Digging For The Truth, Bernstein frowns on this comparison, pointing out that he never wears a fedora (Indiana Jones' trademark cap), and his fashion sense has nothing to do with the fictional archaeologist.[1]
He has also been featured in the premiere issue of Men’s Vogue magazine, the cover of the Style section of The New York Times, and People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue.[9][10] He is a member of The Explorers Club, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a professional photographer, with published credits in USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Men's Health Magazine, Self, Marie Claire, Men's Fitness, Outside, and Backpacker magazines.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tonya Parker Morrison (2007). Josh Bernstein:Explorer and Anthropologist - Yes; Indiana Jones - No (English). QuestMagazine.com. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ a b Suzanne Kurtz (2007). Indiana Jew: Josh Bernstein is "Digging for the Truth" (English). Hillel - Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ K. Kris Hirst (2007). An Interview with Josh Bernstein (English). about.com. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ a b Stacey Stowe (2007). Josh Bernstein "Digging for the Truth" (English). New York Times. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ a b Discovery Channel (2007). Josh Bernstein Joins Discovery Channel (.pdf) (English). Discovery Channel. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ The History Channel (2007). Digging for the Truth - Meet the New Host (English). The History Channel. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ Bernstein, Josh (2006). Digging for the Truth. City: Gotham. ISBN 1592402771.
- ^ a b Backpacking Light. Backpacking Light Editor Carol Crooker biography (English). Backpacking Light. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ Felicia R. Lee (2006). Chatty Host Who Makes Archaeology Glamorous (English). New York Times. Retrieved on September 10, 2007.
- ^ Newest "Sexiest Man Alive:" Matt Damon (English). People Magazine (2007). Retrieved on November 14, 2007.
