Josh Gates brings his globe-trotting explorer show to Albany’s Egg

As the host of Discovery’s long-running show “Expedition Unknown,” Josh Gates has made a career of sharing his enthusiasm for global travel and the search to find the truth behind some of history’s most fascinating mysteries. Now, he’s bringing some of those stories to Albany.

On Friday night, Gates will be at The Egg for “Josh Gates Live: An Evening of Legends, Mysteries and Tales of Adventure.” It’s an opportunity for fans of “Expedition Unknown” and other Gates shows like the early 2010s SyFy program “Destination Truth” to learn more about the making of the show, see unaired footage and find out where Gates’ globetrotting adventures will take him next.

During a phone call from Egypt, where he is on location for the upcoming season of “Expedition Unknown,” Gates explained the thought behind the live show and the reasons why it’s endured — and expanded with the spin-off series “Expedition Files” and paranormal-themed “Expedition X” — for 15 seasons.

“The live tour is an opportunity for me to come back from traveling across all corners of the world and connect with fans of exploration and adventure,” he said. “It’s another way to tell stories and connect with audiences. Tales of lost civilizations, buried treasure, they’re just inherently interesting stories to share with people.”

On “Expedition Unknown,” Gates goes on journeys to team with archeologists and historians looking to find treasures lost to time, from Nazi plunder to Viking tombs and even the ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” While his fedora and garb evoke the swashbuckling heroism and persona of Indiana Jones, Gates’ role on-air is not that of a romantic cinematic icon.

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While discovering the fortune of Sir Francis Drake or the lost Mayan City of El Mirador would be an incredible experience, the actual discovery isn’t necessarily the end result or goal. Often, Gates and the scientists he presents don’t find what they’re looking for. In a television market that is oversaturated with infotainment shows that breed skepticism, the fact that Gates and team run into logistical hurdles and mishaps and wind up empty-handed is part of what makes “Expedition Unknown” both effective and entertaining.

“One of the things I think is true is that the expedition we’re conveying is authentic; sometimes the wheels come off the cart,” Gates said. “If it’s too heroic or sensational, it never feels authentic. It doesn’t work. Travel is glorious, gritty, messy. Part of the fun is that sometimes it’s high adventure, sometimes it’s the schadenfreude of me stuck in a pit of snakes.”

When choosing where to travel and what stories to cover, Gates and the production team of “Expedition Unknown” have a few rules. The most important is determining “what is the barrier for entry to explain the story.” If viewers need too much context to understand the history behind an event or culture, it may not work for TV. The second part is finding out if there are archaeologists, historians or other interested parties working on the subject.

Gates’ goal is to observe and highlight these individuals, and if he happens to be there for a discovery, even better.

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“I see my job on ‘Expedition Unknown’ as a storyteller and vessel for the viewer,” he said. “I want to introduce them to archeologists doing important work. I’d be crazy to say, ‘This coming Thursday, watch me find the Ark of the Covenant.’ I want to go out there, meet the people involved in these searches and hopefully make discoveries.”

Sometimes working with a research crew doesn’t happen. The production team of “Expedition Unknown” has a cork board with potential episode ideas, with several having been there for “many, many years” because they lacked access to a work crew. The Dead Sea Scrolls episode was on that board since the early years of the show and didn’t happen until the seventh season.

Gates notes that he’s never done “a single show on dinosaurs,” an obvious topic, since they haven’t been able to find the right opportunity and paleontologists to work with. A substantive episode on the Aztecs is another field Gates would like to explore in future seasons as well.

Knowing there’s still so much he wants to uncover and present to viewers has Gates enthusiastic about continuing “Expedition Unknown” for as long as possible. When he graduated from Tufts University with a dual major in Drama and Archeology, a career in either field seemed elusive. But between “Expedition Unknown” and the 2007 SyFy series “Destination Truth” he’s been able to combine his passions for storytelling and history. It’s a testament not only to his own interests, but what he sees as a universal fascination with the unknown.

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“For almost 20 years, I’ve been making adventure-travel television; I never thought I would have that kind of life,” Gates said. “I think it speaks to the fact that we are innately curious about mysteries. We love wading into the darkness and bringing a mystery into the light. Whether it’s a Creature X, Paranormal Y story or lost civilizations, whether you believe or you don’t, people love to learn more, read and see what it is people actually encountered.

“I’m thrilled that I’m able to connect with an audience, and gratified to have the opportunity to take viewers on this ride,” he added.