Skip to playerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
#dualsurvival
#history
Transcript
00:00History of Dual Survival Cody Lundeen and Dave Canterbury
00:03When Dual Survival premiered in 2010 on Discovery Channel, it brought a fresh twist to survival television.
00:14Instead of a single survivalist, the show paired two men with radically different approaches to survival,
00:20Cody Lundeen, a modern-day primitive skills expert, and Dave Canterbury, a military-trained survivalist.
00:27Their chemistry, sometimes cooperative, sometimes combative, made for compelling TV,
00:33and together they define the early identity of the show.
00:36Cody Lundeen stood out immediately, not just for his barefoot approach to survival yes, even in snow or desert,
00:43but for his philosophy, has discussed the adaptability of the human body to extreme conditions.
00:48He believes that by consistently exposing oneself to environmental stresses, such as going barefoot,
00:54the body can adapt at a cellular level.
00:57In a Facebook post, he mentioned,
00:59The body is amazing, and being able to restructure the mitochondria to withstand extreme temperatures is amazing.
01:06This suggests that he views mitochondrial adaptation as a key factor in building resilience to environmental challenges.
01:13While Lundeen's perspective emphasizes the body's potential for adaptation,
01:17it's important to note that scientific consensus on the extent of mitochondrial restructuring through environmental exposure is still developing.
01:26Nonetheless, his approach highlights the importance of gradual acclimatization and the body's remarkable ability to adjust to challenging conditions.
01:33A survival instructor by trade, Cody had lived off the grid for years in Arizona, using solar power and rainwater catchment.
01:42He emphasized mental calm, conservation of energy, and sustainable living, often quoting his belief that survival wasn't just about brawn,
01:51it was about brains and balance.
01:53He wore shorts year-round, no matter the terrain, and saw clothing and gear as a mental crutch.
01:58His minimalism wasn't a stunt, it was his lifestyle.
02:03Dave Canterbury, on the other hand, came with a military background and a more aggressive, hands-on survival approach.
02:10A former army sniper and self-styled bushcraft expert, Dave was the kind of guy who would build a spear from nothing and go hunting with it.
02:18His mindset was more tactical, more action-oriented.
02:23Where Cody might build a shelter and hunker down to conserve energy, Dave was likely to try to get moving or take risks to find rescue.
02:30The show leaned into these contrasts.
02:33One might say Cody was the monk, Dave, the warrior.
02:36And that clash of philosophies often caused tension.
02:41They argued over fire-starting techniques, over the risks of moving versus staying put, and especially over footwear, or the lack of it.
02:49But the audience loved it.
02:51They weren't just surviving in harsh environments, they were debating how best to do it,
02:56and those debates reflected real-world discussions among survivalists.
03:00Their on-screen partnership lasted for the first two seasons, from 2010 to 2012.
03:06But behind the scenes, things got rocky.
03:10It later came out that Dave Canterbury had allegedly misrepresented parts of his military background, including claiming qualifications he didn't earn.
03:19This controversy reportedly led to his dismissal from the show.
03:22While some fans were disappointed, others sided with Cody, who had a deep, almost spiritual commitment to honesty and survival education.
03:31Cody continued on for another season with New Partner, but the original magic of the show,
03:36those sparks between the barefoot survivalist and the tactical bushcrafter, was hard to recapture.
03:41However, for many fans, the Cody and Dave era remains the golden age of dual survival,
03:47a time when survival wasn't just about enduring the elements, but also about clashing ideologies, mutual respect,
03:53and two very different ways of being human in nature.
03:57In the wake of his public apology, Dave Canterbury chose the path of redemption through action rather than words.
04:03He returned to his roots, focusing on teaching practical survival skills and rebuilding trust within the outdoor community.
04:11Though his past missteps cast a long shadow, his continued dedication to the craft and willingness to own his mistakes spoke volumes.
04:19Over time, many came to respect not just the survivalist, but the man who chose to face his flaws and grow beyond them.
Be the first to comment
Add your comment

Recommended