Rusty Johnson is an explorer, wildlife expert, and field-driven researcher whose work spans some of the most remote ecosystems on Earth. A consultant for National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, A&E, and Dateline, he has been trusted for decades to bring authenticity, instinct science, and field knowledge to major productions — including his starring role on the Travel Channel series Hotel Amazon, filmed deep in the Peruvian rainforest.

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As a lifelong falconer, Rusty has spent decades working with birds of prey — including hawks, eagles, owls, falcons, and condors — as well as alligators, giant constrictors, and venomous snakes. His high-impact wildlife lectures — more than 3,000 live shows — have been featured at public and private schools, major museums, and elite institutions including Princeton University, The Explorers Club, and the American Museum of Natural History. His presentations offer audiences an intimate, unforgettable experience with wildlife and conservation, delivered by someone who has lived it — not studied it from afar.

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Rusty has led over 30 expeditions into the Amazon, delivering medicine and essential supplies to children in remote tribal communities — work that earned him the nickname “Tarzan Santa Claus.” He is married to Fabiola, a third-generation Amazonian shaman, and together they continue supporting jungle villages and preserving indigenous knowledge.

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Rusty is the author of Twilight of the Wild and the creator of the expanding FREEWIRED book ecosystem, including Wild Mind, The FreeWired Survival Guide, The Hunter Code, The Unquiet Mind, and additional titles exploring instinct, resilience, addiction recovery, and neuropsychology. His work bridges ancient instinct, evolutionary biology, field survival, and the way overstimulated modern environments shape the human mind.

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Rusty worked alongside legendary conservationist Jim Fowler of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom for decades, collaborating on wildlife projects, educational programs, and conservation outreach. Fowler later wrote the foreword to Rusty’s early work, describing him as:

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“A powerful spokesperson who can affect the attitudes
of the public in a positive way.”

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One of the youngest people ever inducted into The Explorers Club, Rusty’s mission blends science, storytelling, exploration, and ancient Amazonian wisdom — guiding people back to instinct, resilience, and the wild intelligence our species was built for.