Rick Kirkham is an experienced journalist and filmmaker who has dedicated his life to telling stories. Best known for his 2006 HBO show TV Junkie as well as his appearance in the Netflix series Tiger King, Kirkham has always been interested in television. He was constantly on the lookout for his next big story, and after traveling the world, Kirkham has now settled in Bodø after love brought him to Norway. In this talk at TEDxArendal, journalist and filmmaker Rick Kirkham tells his life story. A journey that has involved everything from working with the police to chase down criminals to wrestling alligators and even swimming with sharks. All the while his father’s words were in the back of his head “careful what you wish for, you might end up getting more than you bargained for”. Rick’s story is a story about a man being pushed down by the weight of life, but always rising back up again. Rick Kirkham is an experienced journalist and filmmaker who has dedicated his life to telling stories. Best known for his 2006 HBO show TV Junkie as well as his recent appearance in the Netflix series Tiger King, Kirkham has always been interested in television. He is constantly on the lookout for his next big story, and after travelling the world, having a guest appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, being shot out of a cannon, and wrestling a nine-foot alligator, Kirkham has now settled in Bodø after love brought him to Norway. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.