Kentucky fan/TV personality Andrew Shayde took over UK Athletics’ Instagram account during one basketball game last season.
He loves University of Kentucky sports and grew up in Lexington often going to UK games. However, he had no idea what happened to coach John Calipari’s team in NCAA Tournament play in March.
Instead, UK fan Andrew Shayde was in Panama filming “Naked and Afraid: Castaways” which is now airing on Sunday nights on the Discovery Channel and streaming on Discovery+ and MAX.
The show has nine former cast members of the reality series stranded on an island in the South Pacific Ocean with no tools or maps for 21 days. Shayde has been on two previous “Naked and Afraid” shows where contestants have no clothes, shoes, or food but normally have some survival items to help them manage in primitive conditions.
Why does anyone volunteer to do this not once, not twice but three times? Shayde calls himself an “adrenaline junkie” who won’t snowboard or jump out of a plane but will “go pretend to be a wild man” to challenge himself.
“I did ‘Amazing Race (a reality show on CBS-TV in its third season)’ with my dad. It was an incredible adventure,” Shayde said. “Twenty years later I met someone who did ‘Naked and Afraid’ and thought it sounded cool. I grew up doing (Boy) Scouts and hunting with my dad.”
He applied to be on the show, got an interview, and in a short time was on his way to Africa to participate in his first challenge.
“Then they called me again and I did it again. This time the call came asking if I wanted to do this with no supplies,” Shayde said.
Two of eight episodes of his latest challenge have already aired (the next one will be Sunday at 8 p.m.).
“It’s 1,000 times harder actually being there than it looks on TV. The bugs, sleepless nights, heat, and thorns are horrible. Guys that were Marines for years have had to tap out in three or four days. It’s that hard,” Shayde said.
“I am 6-2, 220 pounds and all you think about is food. You are very, very hungry. My brain fixates on pizza or something. I try to add weight for several weeks prior to going and then slow down a few days before I go so my body does not go into total shock when I go days without food.”
He admits when he watches the show on TV with family or friends it sometimes reminds him of something that happened that he did not remember.
“It’s such a blur. You never know what they will show. They record us all day and have to cut out hundreds of hours of footage to make it work on TV,” Shayde said.
Shayde normally has been able to remain mild-mannered but in the latest episode did have his first “fight” with another castaway over the best way to make fire.
“Everybody has skills out there. They might be the best at this or that. My best skill set is the ability to stay calm and find humor in it all,” Shayde said. “But trying to start a fire pushed me a little over the edge and I had to let her know it.”
Because his first two “Naked and Afraid” appearances were only one-night episodes on TV where this one has eight shows, more people in Lexington and other places are recognizing him.
“My face is more familiar now,” he said.
That won’t change since CBS-TV is promoting a new show — “Buddy Games” — that will premiere Sept. 14 and Shayde’s photo is part of the commercial promos (he could not comment or answer any questions about the show).
Shayde’s current dilemma is that he’s been traveling so much that he has not got his UK football tickets yet.
“I was born in Louisville but moved to Lexington at age 6. My dad went to UK. We are a Wildcat family. Every shirt I have is Kentucky blue. I love tailgating at all the home (football) games,” he said. “I don’t know all the players’ names or stats but I think there are a lot of fans like me who love UK, bleed blue, and don’t know all the stats.”
He obviously cannot wear Kentucky gear on “Naked and Afraid” but he says cast members talk about sports and a lot more because there is so much time with nothing else to do.
“I tell my new friends (on the show) about going to UK football games and what it is like,” Shayde, who took a Kentucky football jersey with him to Africa on his first “Naked and Afraid” trip, said. “For me, tailgating has always been a family affair. We have a big group that tailgates together and has for years. We are upfront in the red lot and get there six hours before kickoff.”
Shayde cheered for four years at Tates Creek High School and also was part of an all-star team before going on to cheer at Eastern Kentucky University. He’s a past national cheer champion. He also worked as a stunt actor in Florida.
“I have always been into sports in some ways and have always loved Kentucky sports, especially football,” he said.
He cannot give any hints on what might happen during the next six “Castaway” shows even though friends and family constantly ask him for upcoming details. The shows are filmed months before they air and Shayde admits it can be hard at times not to talk about his experiences.
“But it’s also fun to see it through the eyes of those who don’t know what will happen and see how they react,” he said.
And if someone has not watched “Naked and Afraid” before, why should they do it now?
“Just for the adventure of it all and see what it is like to disconnect. I love disconnecting from the outside world. We live on our phones or some people watch Netflix all day,” he said. “I am one that says get out and have your adventure. Not everyone can go to Africa like I did but you can see different parts of the world through the show and that’s pretty cool.”
2 Responses
Sick. I think he ought to keep his clothes on. Shows like that are a disgrace. Just a sign of the times.
I just love Andrew on both Naked and afraid and the buddy games. He has such an amazingly positive attitude. I could see him as someone I’d love to hang out with if I were 30 years younger. He’s perfect BFF material. You go Andrew!!!!