- Cast & crew
- User reviews
It is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the frequently overlooked corners of the world. It is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the frequently overlooked corners of the world. It is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the frequently overlooked corners of the world.
- Bob Woodruff
- Mack Woodruff
- Neha Shastry
- 11 User reviews
- 2 Critic reviews
- Self - Host
- Self - Producer
- Self - Local Guide
- Self - Director
- Self - Radiation Specialist
- Expedition Guide …
- Self - Polo Player
- Self - Powerlifter
- Self - Hiking Guide
- Self - Resident of Shashamane
- Self - Music Manager & Restaurateur
- Self - Runner
- Self - Waadi Swat
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
More like this
User reviews 11
- marnie-69760
- Jul 29, 2020
- July 24, 2020 (United States)
- United States
- Viaje a lo oculto
- Lincoln Square Productions
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Technical specs
- Runtime 40 minutes
- Dolby Digital
Related news
Contribute to this page.
- See more gaps
- Learn more about contributing
More to explore
Recently viewed
- International edition
- Australia edition
- Europe edition
Rogue Trip review – National Geographic vistas with added Pixar schmaltz
Can Disney bring anything new to the trendy parent-and-child travelogue genre, with this show featuring a grizzled TV anchor and his son?
W hat is the must-have travel accessory of 2020? A parent, of course. Who would go anywhere without one? Not Jack Whitehall, Russell Howard or Romesh Ranganathan, all of whom have presented travelogues with Mum or Dad in tow. Or, if your aged parent is no longer easily portable, an adult child can be substituted, à la Bradley Walsh (and Barney) on ITV’s Breaking Dad.
So, who is the celebrity attraction in Rogue Trip? British viewers may struggle to correctly pick out the news anchor Bob Woodruff, but he has been a familiar square jaw on US television since he joined ABC News in 1996. In January 2006, his career path took a diversion when he sustained a brain injury from a roadside bomb in Iraq. Now all that experience – of reporting from war zones and adapting to unforeseen change – has been channelled into this new series for Disney+. Over the course of its six episodes, Bob and his 28-year-old son, Mack, will visit places including Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon and Ukraine. “Rougish nations” is their term to describe these former no-go conflict zones, which are beginning to open up to travellers.
First up, though, is Colombia, and as soon as the Woodruffs and their many producers roll into Farc guerrilla territory in their convoy of Ford pickup trucks, it is clear what young Mack is bringing to the mix. Some uniformed guys with huge guns force them to pull up at a military checkpoint and, while Woodruff Sr immediately leaps out of the car to engage in conversation, Woodruff Jr hangs back: “I can tell my dad is totally in his element … I’m way out of mine right now.”
This dynamic – Bob taking the lead in asking personal questions of complete strangers while Mack looks embarrassed – continues throughout the series. What is nice, though, is how the show does not try to obscure the awkwardness, instead allowing Mack’s sheepish presence to undercut that crusty top layer of bombast that can build up over several decades working in US news media. Whenever Dad begins to veer too far into Kent-Brockman-from-The-Simpsons territory, Mack is on hand with a cautionary cringe.
Whether this angle is fresh enough to justify yet another intergenerational travel show is another matter. Getting paid to discover cool places and bond with a loved family member has to be among the sweetest gigs in showbiz, so it is revealing who gets to do it and who does not. The preponderance of men in the travel genre, for instance, surely tells us something about TV commissioners’ values and priorities.
It is impossible to stay irritated for long, though, when Colombia is so full of wonders. This land of giant guinea pigs, barefoot cowboys and narco-farmers turned ecowarriors would be fascinating whoever was reading the voiceover script. With all the resources of Disney behind it, Rogue Trip can combine the awe-inspiring grandeur of a National Geographic wildlife documentary and the sentiment of a Pixar movie into an appealing package for family viewing.
Through the father’s desire to widen the horizons of his son, we also find out what this well-travelled man really thinks is worth highlighting about these places. Wildlife in the rainforest is fine, but what Bob keeps harping on is the universal importance of family, community and home. Every generation wants the next to have it better.
So, from Mack’s and Bob’s point of view, the upside of this trip is obvious. The downside, you assume, is those little crumbs of insight into their private family life that they can’t help but let slip, for nosy people like me to seize on. Does Mack still feel aggrieved that his dad was travelling so much during his childhood? Is his hero-worship of Bob a by-product of emotional distance? Is Bob still hankering after his glory days behind enemy lines, to the extent that he has lost touch with the concerns of the present?
The most curious titbit, however, comes right at the episode’s end when Bob nervously says: “I got a question for you. What do you think your sisters are gonna think about this when they see it?” Well, Bob, I imagine they will be absolutely hopping mad to be passed over like this for your favoured son. But maybe it is just human nature, this unconscious tendency to bestow all the best opportunities on the people who remind us most of our younger selves.
Most viewed
- disneypluspress.com
News Disney+
Bob and mack woodruff embark on a journey around the globe in disney+ original series “rogue trip”, complete six-part series from national geographic begins streaming july 24.
BURBANK, Calif. (June 18, 2020) – Taking viewers on a globetrotting adventure with ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruff and his son Mack, the Disney+ original series “Rogue Trip” will premiere with all episodes available on Friday, July 24. The six-part show from National Geographic follows the two as they embark on an epic journey to some of the world’s most unexpected places – roguish nations and regions mostly known for conflict - and find themselves hiking, rappelling down waterfalls with former rebel fighters and diving and parasailing their way through some of the most gorgeous and surprising places in the planet.
“Rogue Trip” is a story about second chances and the undying bond between a father and son. As a former war correspondent who was severely injured by a roadside bomb while reporting in Iraq in 2006, Bob Woodruff did not want his kids to grow up fearful just because of what happened to him. Bob has seen, and lived, through the worst of what these places have to offer, and now he and Mack explore the best in them. Along the journey, viewers will share the raw, big-hearted moments when ‘going rogue’ together changes the Woodruffs’ perspective – not just in other people and places, but in their own relationship.
TV Review: “Rogue Trip” (Disney+)
Disney is known for producing entertainment for the whole family, National Geographic brings expeditions into your home, and ABC News makes the world feel more connected. In a way, the new Disney+ original series Rogue Trip blends the unique qualities of all three brands into one series. ABC New correspondent Bob Woodruff and his son go on a National Geographic trip to exotic locations in a family-friendly series that will widen your world.
If you aren’t already familiar with Bob Woodruff’s story, the series will recap it for you in the premiere episode. The ABC News correspondent traveled the world, putting himself in treacherous situations to bring stories from across the globe into American living rooms. A landmine encounter in Iraq in 2006 left the journalist with severe head injuries and a long road to recovery. As the journalist shares in the prologue, he had to rely on his kids to help him learn to speak and walk again.
Bob Woodruff’s fellow adventurer is one of his four kids, his 28-year-old son Mack. The most heartwarming moments in the series come from their bonding as adults. As Bob shares repeatedly, he’s not the same person who raise his son and Mack will often talk about seeing his father on TV in some of the exotic and remote places they travel to in the series.
Being a National Geographic series, each episode brings Bob and Mack to a part of the world they can explore together. They’re diving in head first, learning as much of the culture as they can, living among the people, and meeting the wildlife. It’s also a look at the challenges the people in these areas have endured and the trials that await them in the future. The common theme that emerges over and over is industry and greed putting ways of life and entire species at risk.
From exploring remote regions of Colombia that recently opened up to tourists after years of war to a cannibal skull cave in Papua New Guinea, father-and-son Bob and Mack Woodruff are on the trip of a lifetime and you’re invited to join them. With the world more-or-less closed for travel, Rogue Trip offers a way for families to have a safe staycation at home while also enjoying a condensed Adventures by Disney-style trip with another family, the Woodruffs. Join them as they visit the “Most beautiful, surprising, and coolest places on the planet.”
I give Rogue Trip 4 out of 5 stylish neck gaiters.
All six episodes of Rogue Trip premiere Friday, July 24, only on Disney+ .
- Account Settings
- The Disney Bundle
- Parks & Travel
- Walt Disney World
- Disney Cruise Line
- All Parks & Travel
- Movies Anywhere
- Disney Movie Insiders
- 20th Century Studios
- Accessories
- Disney News
- Disney on Broadway
- Disney on Ice
- Disney Live!
- Walt Disney World Resort
- Disneyland Resort
- Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa
- Adventures by Disney
- Disney Vacation Club
- D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
July 24, 2020
Adventure, Shorts/Variety Series
ROGUE TRIP is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the roguish nations, territories and regions often misunderstood and frequently overlooked, but each possessing a unique power to surprise, amaze and inspire. Led by ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff and his 28-year-old son, Mack Woodruff, the two will take viewers on a globe-trotting adventure that will expose the grit and glamour of travel. They’ll share inside jokes, dirty laundry and cramped hotel rooms as Bob teaches his son about the hidden places he loves most. Expect the unexpected in this father-son guide to the beautiful, breathtaking and often hopeful experiences to be had on the edge of chaos.
Rated: TV-PG Release Date: July 24, 2020
Explore More
Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold
Genius: MLK/X
A Real Bug's Life
Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory
Secrets of the Elephants
Limitless with Chris Hemsworth
Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory
Super/Natural
America the Beautiful
The World According to Jeff Goldblum Season 2
Welcome to Earth
Growing Up Animal
Earth Moods
Secrets of the Whales
Meet the Chimps
The Right Stuff
Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom
Weird But True!
Playing with Sharks
The Acolyte
*U.S. residents, 18+ only. Access content from each service separately. Location data required to watch certain content. Offer valid for eligible subscribers only. Subject to Disney+ and ESPN+ Subscriber Agreement . For detailed information on billing and cancelation, please visit the Disney+ Help Center .
- Ultimate Fan Event
- News and Events
- Disney A TO Z
- WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES
- VIDEO & PHOTO GALLERIES
- Redeem Gift Membership
- Redeem Gold Affiliate
- Gift Gold Membership
- 2024 Gold Collector Set
- Publication
- Disney Parks
- Disney Princess
- Company History
- About Walt Disney
- Ask Archives
- Disney A to Z
- Guest Services
- Terms & Conditions
- D23 Exclusive
- D23 Inside Disney Podcast
- Just For Fun
- Videos & Photos
- Recipe Collection
National Geographic’s Rogue Trip Brings the Ultimate Father-Son Adventure to Disney+
By Beth Deitchman
As a war correspondent for ABC News, Bob Woodruff frequently reported from so-called “roguish” nations while these countries and their people were facing the worst of times, from civil unrest to civil wars. Now, on National Geographic’s new series Rogue Trip , debuting Friday, July 24, on Disney+, Bob is returning to these far-off locales, which are known mostly for conflict, to shine a lens on the best of what they have to offer: their natural beauty, their time-honored traditions, and especially, the people who are truly the heart of each region. Bob’s 29-year-old son, Mack, shares his father’s passion for travel and reporting, and their commitment to presenting a new perspective on these often misunderstood nations has resulted in a travel guide like you’ve never seen before, as well as the father-son trip of a lifetime.
The Woodruffs embarked on this extraordinary adventure in July of last year and spent about four consecutive months circling the globe. We caught up with them by phone this week, finding them right back where they started—home—where they’re staying safe and healthy, and dreaming of a trip to nearby New Jersey, let alone the other side of the world.
Bob and Mack’s Rogue Trip journey took them to remote corners of Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Ukraine, regions that most of us are unlikely to visit on our own. These extraordinary locales also invited a host of equally extraordinary experiences, and over the course of six episodes, viewers will see Bob and Mack hunt for crocodiles with their bare feet, rappel down a waterfall, and join what can only be described as a “turtle rodeo” on the open sea.
“This was not a typical vacation like we’ve taken,” Bob stresses, and Mack concurs. “If our family were to design a family trip, it would look nothing like this trip,” he says. “But if my dad and I were to design one together, it would look way more similar to what we did on Rogue Trip [than the usual Woodruff family vacation].”
For Bob, whose work as a journalist brought him to the regions featured in Rogue Trip , the show is an opportunity to tell more of each nation’s story than has previously been reported on network news. “My biggest fear is that the reporting about countries during crises could somehow make people think that the entire culture is dangerous, or the entire culture is inferior,” he shares, and he wanted each nation’s unique and “remarkable” people to be celebrated front and center. Bob notes that, overwhelmingly, the people they met in their travels take tremendous pride in their respective homelands. “And they don’t like having criticism from the outside or being imposed upon by a culture outside the country,” Bob says. “We went there to learn from them, not for them to learn from us.”
Mack believes there’s much to be gleaned about resilience from these often misjudged nations. “All of the countries that we went to have gone through some sort of war, conflict, or disaster, but they’ve all rebounded from that. They haven’t rebounded perfectly or fully and they’re always going to be a work in progress,” he says—much like any country is.
Of course, the entire Woodruff family understands resilience. In 2006, while reporting from Iraq, Bob was severely injured by a roadside bomb—an event with an impact that can be felt in Rogue Trip as well as in Bob and Mack’s relationship. During a break from the action, father and son discuss how unthinkable a journey such as this—and even a return to reporting—seemed in the aftermath of Bob’s traumatic brain injury, making it all the more special for both that they are now able to share this experience. “I love doing this right now, but I love doing this with you,” Bob says in the episode set in Papua New Guinea.
“The biggest thing is that Dad shouldn’t have lived through his accident, so any time that he can spend with me and any time that I can spend with him pretty much is bonus time at this point,” Mack tells us.
While Bob and Mack are inviting viewers to look at parts of the world in a new light, Rogue Trip has provided a natural opportunity to see new facets of each other, as well. Though Mack has grown up watching his father’s news reports on TV, the trip was the first time he was able to understand how much Bob brings to a story both before and after the cameras begin rolling. “Being able to observe his work ethic is something that I knew existed and had heard about from his friends and colleagues, but it’s a different thing altogether to witness it,” Mack shares.
“This is the first time in our lives that we have spent time together as colleagues more than really father and son, because we both love doing the same thing,” Bob says. “I wasn’t going to teach Mack anything and, more importantly, I think Mack was there to teach me more. He has a different approach to the world. He’s a different generation. He’s got views of the planet and it’s just great to be in a position where I’m the student to the teacher who is my own child. He’s 29 years old now—he’s not even my child anymore. He’s another guy.”
“Hopefully a little more special than that,” Mack laughs.
Fair warning: Watching Rogue Trip —either alone, or with one’s parental units or adult children—may just inspire you to start planning your own trip down roads less traveled. Right now, the Woodruffs are dreaming of colder climes—a Norway vacation is in Mack’s post-quarantine future, while Bob has just one continent left to cross off his list: Antarctica. Their advice to fellow world travelers looking to go off the beaten path—spoken like true reporters—is to do the research and talk to people who have already been to a destination. For Mack, it’s less about the distance covered than simply stepping outside of one’s comfort zone, and that’s what he hopes Rogue Trip inspires in people who watch. As hard as that can be, he stresses, “That’s where you really grow.”
RELATED STORIES
5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week
The Musical Theater Fan’s Guide to Disney+
Everything We Can’t Wait to Stream on Disney+ in 2020
- WEATHER ALERT Winter Weather Advisory Full Story
- ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ABC News' Bob Woodruff travels across globe with son as part of 'Rogue Trip' on Disney+
ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff went on a globetrotting adventure with his son. It's all captured in "Rogue Trip," which is now streaming on Disney+.
"Rogue Trip" is a six-part series from National Geographic, and it's available on Disney+ starting Friday.
Woodruff, a former war correspondent, and his son Mack travel to countries mostly known for their histories of conflict.
"It's about going to countries that have been defined by wars or conflicts in the past, and they've sort of been depicted as these dangerous countries. And we went back, and my dad has been reporting from them for a really long time, but we wanted to go there and show them with a little bit more balance and show the beautiful places and people that these countries have to offer, just like our own," Mack Woodruff said.
WATCH: Bob Woodruff, son take viewers around the world in new NatGeo series
The father-son duo traveled to Colombia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Ukraine.
"You see places that you don't think about having gigantic, beautiful mountains," Bob Woodruff said. "You see places with stunning water and seas, and you're going to see people that you didn't really know about much before. So it's opening your eyes to part of the world that used to be at war or in conflict."
Disney is the parent company of ABC.
Related Topics
- FAMILY & PARENTING
- DISNEY+ STREAMING SERVICE
Top Stories
South Shore clothing store targeted in crash-and-grab burglary: CPD
CFD battles extra-alarm fire at Back of the Yards furniture business
- 3 hours ago
Woman killed in south suburban shooting ID'd as postal worker
Illinois Ghost Army veteran to receive Congressional Gold Medal | LIVE
- 12 minutes ago
DOJ announces antitrust suit against Apple | LIVE
Couple arrested, found asleep as kids wander on Florida beach
- 2 hours ago
Mayor Johnson's chief of staff announces retirement
Escaped inmate, accomplice wanted after 'brazen' ambush attack
- Action/Adventure
- Children's/Family
- Documentary/Reality
- Amazon Prime Video
Latest on Rogue Trip
'Willow,' 'Dollface' and Dozens of Other Series Set to Be Removed From Disney+ and Hulu Later This Month
Stream It Or Skip It: 'Rogue Trip' On Disney+, Where Bob And Mack Woodruff Travel To Remote And Beautiful Spots And Re-Bond With Each Other
'Rogue Trip' on Disney+: All the Info on National Geographic's New Travel Show
Trending now.
This story has been shared 17,689 times. 17,689
This story has been shared 3,646 times. 3,646
This story has been shared 3,577 times. 3,577
This story has been shared 2,816 times. 2,816
This story has been shared 2,061 times. 2,061
This story has been shared 1,758 times. 1,758
This story has been shared 1,294 times. 1,294
This story has been shared 1,245 times. 1,245
Stream It Or Skip It?
Stream it or skip it: ‘dreamin’ wild’ on hulu, a contemplative music biopic about big ambitions, harsh realities, and the promise of family , stream it or skip it: ‘bodies bodies bodies’ on netflix, a bloody, hilarious satire that slashes the youth generation to ribbons, stream it or skip it: 'top chef' season 21 on bravo, where kristen kish takes over for padma lakshmi as host, stream it or skip it: 'brian simpson: live from the mothership' on netflix, one of austin's comedy migrants breaks out from traps of race and masculinity, stream it or skip it: 'palm royale' on apple tv+, where kristen wiig schemes her way into the high society scene in 1969 palm beach, more from decider.
Whoopi Goldberg Reveals To 'The View' That She Was Nearly 300 Pounds Before Taking Mounjaro To Lose Weight
Joy Behar Calls Out Men In 'The View' Audience After They Fail To Clap For Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
Sexy Netflix Movies: 9 Steamy Netflix Original Movies
Savannah Chrisley Claims Prison Officials Have Blocked Todd Chrisley From Contacting Wife Julie Chrisley: "It Just Makes It Really Difficult"
'Will & Grace' Star Eric McCormack Says Straight Actors Being Cast In Gay Roles Is "Part Of The Gig": "I Didn't Become An Actor So That I Could Play An Actor"
'Today's Jenna Bush Hager Reveals She Was Warned Not To Say "Y'all" When She Started Working In Television: "Do They Just Want Us To Be Robots In Blazers?"
National Geographic streaming series Rogue Trip hosted by journalist injured by roadside bomb
In 2006, Bob Woodruff was severely injured by a roadside bomb while reporting on the war in Iraq for ABC. He suffered life-threatening injuries as shrapnel and other debris from the explosion lodged in his brain, causing him to spend 36 days in a medically-induced coma.
“It's been a long recovery; it’s been more than 14 years now and for me and my family there's always been hope," said Woodruff, a longtime Rye resident who raised four children in the village with his wife, author Lee Woodruff.
What never waned was Woodruff's interest in exploring countries around the globe. He also wanted his kids not to grow up fearful just because of what happened to him.
Woodruff has combined both goals by hosting a new National Geographic series with his 29-year-old son, Mack.
SUBSCRIBERS: Can local restaurants surivive another wave of coronavius?
LEE WOODRUFF: On expecting to 'glide' through her 40s and the unexpected
IS IT PLEASANT? New British series is streaming in the U.S.
The father-son duo are featured on Rogue Trip , a series that is streaming on Disney+. Over the course of the six-part series, the duo travels to six countries including Colombia, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon and the Ukraine.
"Rogue Trip," which premiered two weeks ago, was shot over four months starting in July 2019.
After years of covering wars and environmental issues for ABC, Woodruff said the series offered him a chance to change peoples’ perspective on regions or countries not generally found on a tourist’s list.
“Nothing ever gets back to the way it was before. And sometimes things can be better than they were before,” said Woodruff. “Life can get better and countries that I reported on can do the same.”
For Mack, a professional photographer and an aspiring on-camera journalist, the series offered a chance to learn from the best.
“The ins and outs of interviewing someone and how to ask the right questions and to be an active listener and all those skills were developed as I went on,” he said.
“I was also feeling a little bit less intimidated by the idea of going up to strangers and asking them questions. But then the more I did it, the more comfortable I was and realized that they're just as curious about you as you are about them. So that became pretty natural a few weeks into the project.”
Among the adventures featured in the series: The duo explored the drainage tunnel system underneath Kiev, Ukraine, to find abandoned nuclear bunkers from the Cold War era and experienced a turtle rodeo in Papua New Guinea.
“We were chasing these sea turtles on a small boat. Once they get tired out, you can jump right onto their back and pull them out of the water. We were doing it so that we could tag them for science, but it was also something that I didn't know was possible,” said Mack Woodrfuff, who spent the last two years living in Sydney, Australia.
“So it was a really cool experience to be helping these marine biologists, but also having the time of your life while doing it.”
As a photographer and a journalist, the duo often gravitate toward different things.
“I was drawn to the beautiful scenery or the cinematic light that was hitting people's faces and taking portraits of things and people; he was more interested in getting information from people and trying to find out what their stories are, who they are, where they're from, what they do, why they do it,” said Mack Woodruff, whose photography and video clips have made it into the series. “I think we compromised a little bit.”
For Bob Woodruff, 59, curiosity about the world is what led to his journalism career.
After obtaining a law degree from the University of Michigan, Woodruff said he was fascinated by the changes taking place in China in the late 80s. He moved to China in the first year of his marriage to study Mandarin and teach law in Beijing.
CBS News hired him as an on-screen interpreter during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Woodruff was 30 years old; it was the start of his career as a journalist. Since 2015, he has been ABC's primary correspondent throughout Asia.
He said having the chance to bond with his son was one of the highlights of doing the Nat Geo series.
"Parents have a chance to spend a lot of time with their kids until they reach adolescence and then they kind of disappear for a long period of time," Bob Woodruff said. "And then they come back and they're not living with you anymore and you have great Thanksgiving dinners, but you don't get a chance to go and spend four straight months with your child again, to be at the center of your life. So it was amazing."
While both father and son had a hard time picking their favorite out of the six countries, Pakistan seems to have clearly made a special impression.
“My dad spent a lot of time there after 9/11. And so, a lot of the news that he reported from that country was about a place that was harboring terrorists, Taliban and such,” said Mack. “So I expected a somewhat dangerous place. What I saw was pretty much the opposite. It was incredibly generous people with incredible food and the most stunning, jagged mountains I've ever seen in my entire life.”
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy covers women and power for the USA Today Network Northeast. Click here for her latest stories . Follow her on Twitter at @SwapnaVenugopal. Support local journalism; go to lohud.com/specialoffer to find out how.
Bob and Mack Woodruff Talk About ‘Rogue Trip,’ Their New Adventure-Filled NatGeo Series
by LEE WOODRUFF
When my husband announced that he’d be shooting a new TV show exploring remote areas of “rogue” countries, my first response was to take a deep breath. When he told me that the show’s producers wanted to include our son, Mack, to create a father-son adventure, I took a deeper breath, trying to corral the varying thoughts pinging around my brain.
Bob’s career as an international correspondent had included many wars and conflict zones. I had learned to let him walk out the door and believe that he would eventually walk back in, whether it was weeks or months. I had imagined death for my husband but never traumatic and devastating injury. And while covering the Iraq War in 2006, as the co-anchor of ABC’s World News, a roadside bomb blast brought that reality home. Bob’s five-week coma and uncertain outcome forced me to live in a world of blind faith, hope, and lots of prayers. He was not expected to make it, but he would become our miracle man; the result of great doctors and nurses, lots of luck, a will to live, and a strong determination to drive his recovery. As a wife who had been there for all of it, the deal was no more dangerous places.
But how could I say no? This was what Bob was born to do as a journalist. I’d married a man who was intensely curious about the world and interested in people’s stories. Moreover, he wanted to show our son the world through his eyes, to approach it without an agenda or a specific news story, but with the idea of simply allowing the stories to unfold. The goal was to visit countries that have experienced their share of strife, war, or bad reputation and find the beauty in not just the place but in the people and culture.
During the end of last year, long before the pandemic would prohibit global travel, before the escalation of polarization, division and angry discourse, Bob and Mack set off to visit six nations. The result is a show, “Rogue Trip,” that feels particularly relevant and poignant for all of us forced to cancel plans and vacations and stick close to home.
As a wife and mother and an excited viewer, I sat down with both men to ask what the experience was like.
1. How do you describe the show Rogue Trip?
Mack: “Rogue Trip” is a father-son adventure to countries that probably aren’t on most people’s vacation bucket lists. They’re countries that have “rogue nation” reputations for the sad and violent things that have happened in places off the beaten paths. Our goal was to uncover the wonder and beauty in the people, places and culture that don’t get reported in the news. We wanted to celebrate people going about their daily lives, creating art and music, trying to save a river, making delicious meals, playing music or even getting married.
Bob: As a reporter, I’ve covered stories in many of these countries that have usually centered around crises, famine, conflict, or war. The goal with this show was not to take the extreme side of story-telling. We wanted to report on the balance of good and bad, beautiful and ugly, safe and dangerous.
2. How did the concept for the show come about?
Bob: The show concept was originally pitched to National Geographic and when Disney Plus was in the works, they had the idea of adding Mack to make it a father-son adventure. Mack is a talented photographer and videographer, so I was very excited about the idea of taking my son along and looking at the world in a different way.
Mack: I think it’s one thing to see Bob Woodruff the journalist in these countries, but it’s a different and more personal aspect to see someone with their son. The show is a reminder that there are still adventures to be had. Although it may feel sometimes like the world is falling apart, this show is a nice reminder it’s not all doom and gloom.
3. How did the rest of the Woodruffs feel about you both going to dangerous places?
Bob: Our family loved the idea of us going to these places together. They were happy for us, although I know you tried to hide the nervous parts as my wife. I know you too well.
Mack: I think my sisters were jealous. Cathryn, who is 26, joined us for the Ukraine episode. My twin sisters were in college, so they couldn’t get away.
4. Bob, you almost lost your life covering a story, and Mack, you almost lost your father. How did that traumatic event color this experience?
Mack: My Dad should not be alive by all accounts, and his near-death experience made this time on the road with him very special. Most people might not have been ready to go back and put themselves in potentially dangerous situations, and I respect my father for wanting to live life and do his job on his terms. As his son, I’ve definitely inherited some of his same interests. But a day doesn’t pass when I don’t feel incredibly lucky to have had this second chance with my Dad.
5. What is the overall message of the show for families?
Bob: “Rogue Trip” is an optimistic series that sets out to show that people and places can overcome a dark past and history. We all get a shot at new beginnings, especially now, with a global pandemic, a more politically polarized world, ethnic strife and environmental devastation. We need to remain focused on our ability to create a better future. The countries we chose to visit reflect that; Colombia was formerly riddled with drug lords; Pakistan was war-torn; Ethiopia survived famine. And yet crises can bring out the best in people and hope and optimism can rise out of tough times.
6. Did this travel change anything about you?
Bob: Shooting this series was a reminder of the importance of family, community, and human connection. Our lives, especially in tech-driven America, are so much more isolated today than they used to be. Part of the charm of “Rogue Trip” is the chance to witness what it means to part of a “tribe,” however you define that. Human beings were built to bond and connect. So many of us are missing that right now during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mack: I learned how important it is to take yourself out of your comfort zone as often as you can. That’s where the growth happens. Places like Papau New Guinea or Ethiopia were 110 degrees, or in other countries we got food poisoning, were attacked by bugs, sun burned, exhausted. There is a simplicity and a satisfaction in learning what you are capable of handling.
7. What was hard about the trip?
Mack: Being away from home for almost six months.
Bob: It was an incredibly demanding production schedule. We shot and travelled intensely for 14 days in each place and then had to travel to the next country. We worked even in the car rides, narrating what we were doing and why we were there.
8. Would you do it again?
Bob & Mack: In a second
9. Mack, what did you learn about your father?
Mack: Growing up, I always saw his work only through the TV. “Rogue Trip” allowed me to see behind the scenes for the first time, and I could see why he’s been so successful because he is tireless. I learned he is endlessly curious, a super hard worker, and is always thinking about and doing what is needed to tell the story in the right ways and make it stronger.
10. Bob, what did you learn about Mack?
Bob: That he has the best parts of both of us. He has an intense work ethic, a great eye for the best shot or a good story and a big heart. What more could a father ask for?
11. Mack, how did this experience change your perspective on the world and your own sense of having been raised with “more than enough?”
Mack: People and communities are more resilient than I’d understood. Happiness has so little to do with the exterior things we surround ourselves with and everything to do with what’s inside; relationships, people, family and love. What I witnessed in places that survived warfare, conflict or oppression is that there is always a reason for hope. It’s pretty hard to break the human spirit, no matter where you live in this world. I saw that in my own Dad and the way that he worked to recover and rebuild his career after his injury. It’s a total privilege to bring that experience to everyone else in Rogue Trip.
Stream Rogue Trip on Disney+ starting July 24
This Q&A was featured in the July 19th edition of The Sunday Paper. The Sunday Paper inspires hearts and minds to rise above the noise. To get The Sunday Paper delivered to your inbox each Sunday morning for free, click here to subscribe .
LEE WOODRUFF
Lee Woodruff is an author and speaker who runs her own Media/Speaker Training business. She is the co-founder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a non-profit which raises money to help injured veterans and their families as they transition back to the homefront. To date, they have given away more than $70 million. Learn more and visit her website here .
Get Above the Noise Subscribe to The Sunday Paper
An award-winning newsletter that Inspires Hearts and Minds — and Moves Humanity Forward. We publish premium content that makes you feel Informed, Inspired, Hopeful, Seen, Supported, and most importantly not alone on your journey to The Open Field.
Read More Sunday Paper Articles
The secret to living your one, wildly authentic life is to claim your space. here’s how, by: eliza vancort, coda could win big at the oscars tonight, but it has already made massive steps for representation of the deaf community, by: stacey lindsay, what it’s like to live in ukraine right now: we asked one 27-year-old to take us inside his new reality, by: meghan rabbitt.
- Search Please fill out this field.
- Manage Your Subscription
- Give a Gift Subscription
- Sweepstakes
Bob Woodruff and Son Mack Explore Another Side of Conflict-Ridden Countries for Disney+ Travel Show
The former war correspondent and his son, 28, adventure through Colombia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Pakistan and more
Bob Woodruff and his son Mack are going on a very different kind of family vacation.
The ABC News correspondent, who's best known for covering dangerous conflicts around the world, is going back to some of the countries he's seen the worst of, this time looking for the best.
In a new series, Rogue Trip, created by Nat Geo and streaming on Disney+, the veteran journalist is bringing along his 28-year-old photographer son , and seeking hidden gems and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in some of the globe's most unlikely destinations.
The six-episode series will see the duo visit Colombia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Ukraine — countries that have made the news in decades past for troubles ranging from drug trafficking to terrorist activity to political unrest.
The Woodruffs' goal is to show another side of these places, some of which have emerged in recent years as alluring tourist destinations, while others are still off most travelers' radar.
Bob, who retired from fieldwork after an explosion in Iraq that left him with a traumatic brain injury, and Mack, who recently recovered from COVID-19 , are up for anything. "I didn't want my kids to grow up fearful because of what happened," Bob explains in the trailer above, premiering exclusively with PEOPLE.
In the clip, they can be seen hiking through jungles, parasailing, horseback riding and canoeing. A release from Disney+ notes they also repelled down waterfalls with former rebel fighters.
Overlooking a verdant valley in one episode, Bob recalls, "I've covered the last few wars here, I've never been to a place like this."
"The media who come here are only interested in war, and the positive side, the world never gets to learn about," their guide explains.
Mack replies, "That's why we're here."
Rogue Trip will be available to stream on Disney+ on July 24.
Documentary
Journalist Bob Woodruff travels the world with his son, Mack.
Cast & Crew
Bob Woodruff Host
Mack Woodruff Host
Where to Stream
2020 series 1 season 6 episodes.
Sorry, this show is currently not available on any streaming platforms. Check back again soon!
Upcoming TV Airings
Sorry, this show is not airing on television in the next two weeks. Check back again soon!
News about Rogue Trip
Worth Watching: Jim Gaffigan Abroad, ‘Kissing Booth 2,’ Rosamund Pike Is ‘Radioactive,’ ‘Central Park’ Finale, a Love-ly Musical Encore
Bob & Mack Woodruff on Teaming Up for Nat Geo’s ‘Rogue Trip’
9 Disney+ Series We Can’t Wait for in 2020 (PHOTOS)
- Destinations
Moscow Travel Guide
Boasting a history that spans eight centuries, Russia's capital has evolved into an expansive megapolis which resembles a city-state. Its Cold War history and massive size might give it an intimidating image, but at its core Moscow is every bit the European city offering wealth of history and culture coupled with modernity and edginess. Travel here for strikingly impressive landmarks, high art, world class ballet, lavish celebrations, along with dynamic pockets of nightlife and trendy restaurants. — Nano Betts
- Terms of Use
- Privacy Policy
- Your US State Privacy Rights
- Children's Online Privacy Policy
- Interest-Based Ads
- About Nielsen Measurement
- Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
- Nat Geo Home
- Attend a Live Event
- Book a Trip
- Inspire Your Kids
- Shop Nat Geo
- Visit the D.C. Museum
- Learn About Our Impact
- Support Our Mission
- Advertise With Us
- Customer Service
- Renew Subscription
- Manage Your Subscription
- Work at Nat Geo
- Sign Up for Our Newsletters
- Contribute to Protect the Planet
Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Rogue Trip: With Bob Woodruff, Mack Woodruff, Neha Shastry, Cathryn Woodruff. It is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the frequently overlooked corners of the world.
With all the resources of Disney behind it, Rogue Trip can combine the awe-inspiring grandeur of a National Geographic wildlife documentary and the sentiment of a Pixar movie into an appealing ...
Nat Geo Wild: Instagram. Nat Geo Wild: Twitter. Nat Geo Wild: YouTube. LEGAL. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Interest-Based Ads. Closed Captioning. Corporate Social Responsibility.
Don't miss the action when the National Geographic series launches this summer on Disney+, and check out an exclusive clip from the series above. Rogue Trip, Series Premiere, Friday, July 24 ...
Taking viewers on a globetrotting adventure with ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruff and his son Mack, the Disney+ original series "Rogue Trip" will premiere with all episodes available on Friday, July 24. The six-part show from National Geographic follows the two as they embark on an epic journey to some of the world's most unexpected places - roguish nations and regions mostly known ...
Rogue Trip is a new Disney Plus series from National Geographic starring Bob Woodruff and his son Mack Woodruff . But what else is there to know about the show? Here are all the details.
The new Disney+ original series "Rogue Trip" finds ABC News journalist Bob Woodruff and his son Mack going on a National Geographic adventure to remote and exotic locations, streaming July 24th.
ROGUE TRIP is a travel guide to all the places the average tourist is least likely to venture - the roguish nations, territories and regions often misunderstood and frequently overlooked, but each possessing a unique power to surprise, amaze and inspire. Led by ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff and his 28-year-old son, Mack Woodruff, the two ...
Disney has released the first trailer for the upcoming Disney+ Original series, Rogue Trip. This National Geographic series is led by ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruff and his 28-year-old son Mack Woodruff, takes viewers on a father-son adventure to some of the world's most unexpected places - roguish nations and territories mostly known for conflict, but each possessing a unique power ...
Now, on National Geographic's new series Rogue Trip, debuting Friday, July 24, on Disney+, Bob is returning to these far-off locales, which are known mostly for conflict, to shine a lens on the best of what they have to offer: their natural beauty, their time-honored traditions, and especially, the people who are truly the heart of each region.
"Rogue Trip" is a six-part series from National Geographic, and it's available on Disney+ starting Friday. Woodruff, a former war correspondent, and his son Mack travel to countries mostly known ...
'Rogue Trip' on Disney+: All the Info on National Geographic's New Travel Show By Brett White • July 23, 2020, 1:30 p.m. ET 125 Shares Bob Woodruff and his son Mack go where tourists never dare.
The father-son duo are featured on Rogue Trip, a series that is streaming on Disney+. Over the course of the six-part series, the duo travels to six countries including Colombia, Papua New Guinea ...
Mack: "Rogue Trip" is a father-son adventure to countries that probably aren't on most people's vacation bucket lists. They're countries that have "rogue nation" reputations for the sad and violent things that have happened in places off the beaten paths. ... Bob: The show concept was originally pitched to National Geographic and ...
In a new series, Rogue Trip, created by Nat Geo and streaming on Disney+, the veteran journalist is bringing along his 28-year-old photographer son, and seeking hidden gems and once-in-a-lifetime ...
Nat Geo Series 2020. TVPG Documentary Travel Adventure. Journalist Bob Woodruff travels the world with his son, Mack. Trailer 7.1. ... News about Rogue Trip . July 24, 2020 Worth Watching: Jim ...
Nat Geo Wild: Facebook. Nat Geo Wild: Instagram. Nat Geo Wild: Twitter. Nat Geo Wild: YouTube. LEGAL. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Interest-Based Ads. Closed Captioning.
National Geographic's latest Disney+ Exclusive show is . National Geographic's latest Disney+ Exclusive show is "Rogue Trip", which is a travel show, where ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff and his 28-year-old son, Mack Woodruff, travel to places that the average tourist would be least likely to venture.
The fifth episode of this new National Geographic travel series, "Rogue Trip", sees ABC News Correspondent Bob Woodruff and his son Mack, travel to Papua New Guinea. This series sees the father and son duo are visiting some of the world's most unexpected places and doing things normal tourists wouldn't get to see or do.
Rogue orcas are thriving on the high seas—and they're eating big whales. A fourth type of Pacific killer whale may live miles offshore from California and Oregon, preying on whales, other ...
Get amazing stories of extraordinary people, uplifting discoveries, and stunning places, plus updates from National Geographic and The Walt Disney Family of Companies.
Try the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts or the Garage Museum. 8 p.m. End your stay in Moscow with a nice meal. Café Pushkin offers antique interiors, delicious Russian dishes, and five-star ...
UNESCO Site. Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, located a 10-minute metro ride from the city center, will teleport you to medieval Moscow. Explore its scenic 390-hectares seeded with churches dating back ...
Its Cold War history and massive size might give it an intimidating image, but at its core Moscow is every bit the European city offering wealth of history and culture coupled with modernity and ...