Working with crocs, gators, rattlesnakes, and even king cobras has made me fearless—

Yes, it’s true. I was an alligator wrestler. The kind that would lure a big gator out of the pond, by feeding it, letting the crowd hear the strength of it’s jaw clap and showcasing the gator’s speed as I circled it. Old Florida tourist entertainment at it’s best.

During these shows, there were “spotters” stationed around the the perimeter of the gator pit. Staff that were there to keep an e...