“I don’t thoughts going exterior my consolation zone, however this was one other stage,” world celebrity Chris Hemsworth, identified for taking part in Thor in Marvel’s Avengers franchise, advised TV Information Journal about taking pictures Season 2 of the investigative collection Limitless: Dwell Higher Now, wherein he braves thrilling, high-stakes conditions to check strategies for residing an extended, more healthy life.
Three themed episodes have been filmed throughout six nations over two years. In “Mind Energy,” he learns to play the drums for a reside efficiency with singer Ed Sheeran in Bucharest; in “Danger,” the actor scales a virtually 600-foot climbing wall within the Swiss Alps; and in “Ache,” he joins particular forces coaching in South Korea. Hemsworth will get suggestions from a returning knowledgeable, famend palliative care doctor Dr. B.J. Miller. He additionally meets new faces like freestyle motocross legend Robbie Maddison; cognitive scientist Maya Shankar; free solo climber and wingsuiter Steph Davis; and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh.
Right here, the actor displays on his quest to make all of us sharper and stronger.
Are you a real-life superhero now?
Chris Hemsworth: By no means. This was about diving into my fears and insecurities. This season was extra of an introspective private journey. I had extra perspective across the topics and [did] analysis. It was difficult, however I felt like I had one thing to supply moderately than standing there like an imposter.
Nationwide Geographic/Laura Radford
Which expertise would you repeat?
The drumming in entrance of 70,000 folks with Ed Sheeran. I need the sensation I had as soon as the music kicked in and I used to be on the beat and in time, and for the following hour or two after, this endorphin kick and lightness. It was a considerably out-of-body expertise. I felt this unimaginable connection: 70,000 folks and also you’re all experiencing the identical great journey. However to get to that once more, I must additionally confront the super quantity of concern and the preparation.
Proper, you had by no means performed drums earlier than! One massive takeaway from that episode was how studying a brand new ability helps reminiscence and cognitive operate. Have you ever stored on drumming?
I deliberate on it! Now we have a drum equipment. As quickly as I am going in, the children are available and take over. Like most issues, after getting youngsters, they dominate the house.
Your youngsters’s carefree manner of enjoying open air impressed the “Danger” episode. Are you continue to discovering that state or “circulate” you achieved on that dizzying Alpine climb?
Like every part, it ebbs and flows. The youngsters are a relentless reminder of residing within the second and diving headfirst into new experiences with boundless enthusiasm — which is tough as a mother or father to handle at instances. In a enjoyable and adventurous manner, it’s addictive. To maintain up with them, I embrace the experiences I would’ve sat on the sidelines and watched.
You didn’t sit on the sidelines in “Ache.” Your particular forces coaching included getting electrocuted and pepper-sprayed. Why put your self by way of that?
As a result of I’ve struggled with points with my again and again ache for years, since I used to be 15. And if somebody was going to supply up an answer, I used to be onboard, whether or not or not it might imply I’d need to stimulate some extra ache to get there. I’m now being somewhat mild with myself and having extra compassion for the ache and it as, that is my physique attempting to guard me and saying, “Hey, simply go mild as we speak,” moderately than what I had performed for years, which was attempt to stifle that and compress it and take away it and keep away from it and deny it.
Nationwide Geographic/Laura Radford
Who was a memorable individual you met?
MMA fighter Stun Gun [Kim Dong-hyun]. He mentioned when he fought within the UFC, there was a distinction between the ache whenever you win or lose. There’s superb ache — when he would win, it didn’t matter if he’d damaged his nostril or arm; he would embrace it. If he misplaced, the smallest accidents, a scratch, would harm. I took from that it’s the way you select to label the ache. He gained and he misplaced, however in the end it was his perspective.
How will you carry this collection into your subsequent performing function?
All of the experiences in life, on a set, on this documentary, add to the toolbox. The extra I find out about me, the extra I can perceive a couple of character. This expertise compelled me to confront and take into consideration issues I might’ve averted. New adventures add layers when creating a personality that assist construct one thing genuine and truthful.
Limitless: Dwell Higher Now, Season 2 Premiere, Friday, August 15, on Disney+ and Hulu, and Monday, August 25, on Nationwide Geographic