Laura Zerra on Surviving 'Naked and Afraid' & Life Off the Grid | SME 016

“Naked and Afraid” star Laura Zerra joins Subject Matter Expert to talk about what real survival looks like, far beyond the TV edits. We dive into her most challenging moments on “Naked and Afraid” and “Naked and Afraid XL,” the mindset that carries you when calories run out, and the fieldcraft that actually keeps you alive. Laura also opens up about her early years hitchhiking and hopping freight trains, how solo travel sharpened her threat assessment and people-reading skills, and why trusting your gut is crucial to survival in the backcountry or on the road.A professional survivalist, author, and all-around outdoorswoman, Laura Zerra is known for multiple seasons of Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid” franchise, long solo stints living off the land, and teaching primitive skills from friction fire and stone tools to wild foods and shelter craft. She writes, guides, and films expeditions that blend practical fieldcraft with mental toughness and respect for the wild.In this episodeThe reality of life on “Naked and Afraid”Solo travel lessons from hitchhiking and freight hoppingThe survival priorities that never changeWomen in survival: myths vs realityLiving off the grid in MontanaRead Laura’s Book, A Modern Guide to KnifemakingFollow Laura on InstagramNew here? Welcome to Subject Matter Expert, hosted by Marty Skovlund Jr., featuring top experts across diverse and relevant fields without regard to political bias. If you're looking for an echo chamber, this isn't it! In each episode, Marty dives deep into high-impact topics with guests who have been there, done that, offering nuanced insights and practical takeaways, while highlighting their unique stories, knowledge, and experiences.Subscribe & FollowSubscribe to ⁠Subject Matter Expert on YouTube⁠Subscribe to ⁠Subject Matter Expert Clips on YouTube⁠Follow ⁠Subject Matter Expert on Instagram⁠Follow ⁠Marty on Instagram⁠Buy Marty's Books⁠Send Me: The True Story of a Mother at War⁠⁠Violence of Action: The True Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror⁠