We recently have had the privilege of getting to know Ben from the Buried Life. If you are unfamiliar with The Buried Life, they are a group of four guys who have created an amazing bucket list. They have travelled the world, have had a television show on MTV and have even published a best selling book. What makes this really special, is the boys are from beautiful Victoria, BC, so we thought we'd share our interview with our fellow Canadians who might want a little extra inspiration to get out there and live your life to the fullest.
Q: Hey guys, you guys have a pretty amazing story, can you share with us how The Buried Life got started.
The four of us were in University and a bit disillusioned with life, we knew we were putting off the things that were really important to us. We decided to make a list of 100 things to do before we die and go after it. With every list item we accomplished, we made a promise to help a stranger we met do something on their list. We borrowed an RV, bought a camera on eBay, made matching shirts, took two weeks off work one summer and hit the road.
Q: I understand you guys have put a pretty big emphasis on helping others achieve their dreams. What is the coolest thing you've done for somebody?
A few months ago, we saw some people tweeting #HandForTorri. We realized it was a group of friends trying to get their friend, who was born without a hand, a bionic arm. We were able to get a state of the art bionic arm donated by Hangar Clinics and surprised Torri with a new arm. We then followed her back to Ohio as she learned how to use her new arm and hugged her dad with two arms for the first time.
Q: Of the completed items on your bucket list, which one was the most rewarding.
#19: Write a Bestseller. We wrote the book with our fans, it's like a bible of dreams. The book hit #1 New York Times. This one was especially sweet for Dave. He failed English 11 so sent a signed copy of the book to his english teacher.
Q: Throughout all of this, what are you most proud of?
I think we're most proud of the ripple effect the project has had. We never expected Buried Life to be more than a 2 week road trip and somehow it has taken on a life of it's own, much larger than the four of us. When we get letters from kids that were suicidal and saw something in the show that gave them hope, or someone decided to go to college when previously they never believed they could, that's pretty cool.
Q: How many total countries have you guys visited so far?
Over 100.
Q: Best bar you've been to anywhere in the world
Kater Holzig in Berlin
Q: Craziest food you've eaten?
Duncan was in Ecuador living at the base of Mt. Chimborazo and he loved a local drink called Chicha. After drinking it for weeks he found out it's chewed up corn that is spit into a cup by elderly female locals. He liked it too much to stop.
Q: What are you guys working on now?
We've always wanted to send two people on a life changing trip around the world, crossing off epic bucket list items along the way. Things like 'Skinny Dip the Great Barrier Reef', 'French Kiss atop the Eiffel Tower' and 'Swim with Sharks in the Galapagos'. We recently teamed up with Contiki to throw The Most Epic Bucket List (Ever). Take a peak: