interview
Dirk Steffens
“I cried in Bali”
Dirk Steffens
© gbrci/Geisler-Fotopress / Picture Alliance
Few can explain the world as well as he can: Now the nature expert Dirk Steffens surprises us with a Saturday evening show.
Loose shirt, curly gray hair, alert eyes and always relaxed and happy: That’s how we know Dirk Steffens, 55: When the science journalist explains climate change, it immediately seems less frightening. In his new program “The Great GEO Show” he even moves prominent guests to tears. He told GALA what touches him when he travels, what he is afraid of and what hairstyle we will certainly never see on him.
Dirk Steffens in the GALA interview
GALA: Where did the last trip take you?
Dirk Steffens: I was just in Saudi Arabia with my wife Sabine. She is a biologist and shoots our documentaries. We were in the largest cowshed in the world, in the middle of the desert. 50,000 Holstein cows – and no grass around them…
And what touched you last?
When we recently couldn’t see any more sand because of all the plastic garbage in Bali at sunset in Bali, we had to hug each other and wipe away a tear because it’s so terrible what’s happening on this planet.
Still, don’t you despair?
I’m a science journalist and approach things with my head rather than my gut. What we believe and feel will eventually come true. And I believe that we will find solutions. Optimism is the only option.
What impact does this have on your everyday life?
We have a house with a photovoltaic system, so there is an electric car in front of the door. We try to eat little meat, and if we do, then from sustainable production. Not throwing away so much food. We cycle a lot, I also have a Bahncard 100. I try to avoid domestic flights. We offset all my flights.
Dirk Steffens: Only rats scare him
They have done daring things, descended crevasses or ventured into crocodile caves. Don’t you feel afraid?
Did you hear what my wife just shouted in the background? nope! (Dirk Steffens’ wife comes up and says: “But you’re afraid of rats.”) Is correct. I get nervous when rats get too close to me. Snakes are okay, so are scorpions, I even love sharks, but rats give me hectic spots.
Where do you feel at home?
Where my wife and my loved ones are. Home for me is northern Germany, Hamburg. A man without a home is not a traveller, but rather a vagabond. It’s just nice when you go somewhere else from a base, gain experience and then come back with it.
This is how Dirk Steffens keeps fit
Traveling can often be exhausting. What’s your beauty secret?
This morning while shaving I thought I looked like a Chinese wrinkled dog because I got too much sun… Basically it’s like this: I do a lot of sports. Running, cycling, mountain biking, skiing. But I don’t do anything beauty-wise. I have short hair that I fix with a crumb of wax in the morning. We often can’t shower on the go. I just don’t have time for long hair, braids and such nonsense.
Sonja Zietlow, your new colleague on the GEO show, also moderates the RTL jungle camp. Wouldn’t you like to take part?
I would actually find a request very flattering, but I would always turn it down. I belong in the real jungle with animals I admire. This is the place I love.