The Buried Life

Stars of the Hit MTV Series “The Buried Life”

New York Times #1 Bestselling Authors

They Will Ask You: “What Do You Want To Do Before You Die?”

Relying on our wits and the goodwill of others, we travel the globe to complete a list of things to do before we die. For every item completed on our list, we help a stranger achieve one of their dreams. Everywhere we go, we ask the question: what do you want to do before you die?

The Buried Life started in a garage in Victoria, B.C. Canada because the four of us were fed up and wanted something different. We borrowed an RV, bought a camera on eBay, threw a party to raise money for gas and hit the road for two weeks one summer before returning to university. We never expected The Buried Life to be more than a two-week road trip. Six years later we continue our mission for the millions of people around the world who have rallied together to do cool things and help others.

The name comes from a poem Jonnie was assigned in English class at university. It articulated the feeling we had when we started the project; we felt buried.

But often, in the world’s most crowded streets,


But often, in the din of strife,


There rises an unspeakable desire


After the knowledge of our buried life;

—Matthew Arnold, 1852

What Do you Want to Do Before You Die?

What Do You Want to do Before You Die is a thought-provoking, hilarious, and moving inspirational presentation sharing the story of the goals and dreams of the four Buried Life guys, and vividly depicts the timeless themes that every generation faces as they grow up – falling in love, suffering through loss, taking on new responsibilities, and trying to find one’s place in the world. It is an invitation to reach further, and a moving portrait of what unites us, what frightens us, and what we seek for ourselves. What is it that you want most? What is it that you fear most? What do you want to do before you die?