John Fitzpatrick ‘08 and Luke Stevenson ‘15 recently took home Emmy Awards for their work on the Discovery Channel documentary series Expedition Unknown. The show, now entering its 16th season, follows host Josh Gates as he travels the world uncovering history’s greatest legends and mysteries.

For Fitzpatrick, Co-Executive Producer of the series, the Emmy represents more than just industry recognition. It’s a milestone in a journey that began with perseverance and a love for storytelling.

“After college, I took a bus to New York City and lived in a YMCA and a German Hostel. I was actually losing money in New York, but at least I had cracked into the TV business,” Fitzpatrick said. “As a glutton for punishment I decided to dump NYC, pack up and drive to LA with no leads, no job prospects and (yet again) no idea where I planned to live. But I knew I wanted to take a crack at Hollywood.”

“I moved my way up ranks from Production Assistant to Executive Producer by keeping my head down and pushing forward. So on a personal level, winning an Emmy is a culmination of 13 years of hard work. But this wasn’t an individual effort. Seeing my entire team get recognized is just as sweet for me. I truly believe we have the best crew in the entertainment business.”

That crew includes fellow Catholic Central graduate Luke Stevenson ‘15, a Segment Producer who joined Expedition Unknown three years ago.

“Three years ago when I started working on Expedition Unknown, winning an Emmy wasn’t even a thought,” Stevenson said. “I had just finished working as a production assistant on White Men Can’t Jump (2023) and the reshoots of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, when I got a call from Fitz that a spot had opened up on the Expedition Unknown team. He knew that I was interested in working on the show and told me if I was available to start the following week, I had a spot. Next thing I knew, we were at a temple complex in Cambodia filming the discovery of a Lion Statue.”

Both Fitzpatrick and Stevenson emphasized that the show’s success and their Emmy win stem from the long hours, dedication, and teamwork that go into each episode.

“We work 16 hour days, seven days a week, for weeks at a time. Our crew is a family, and to have even a shred of appreciation from the broader creative community means a lot to all of us,” Fitzpatrick said.

“When we are in the field, it is not uncommon for us to be filming from sun up to sun down and a lot of our filming locations are not just an easy drive down the road,” Stevenson added. “This means 17 or 18 hour days back to back to back, and when we do make it back to our hotel, we are still working to make sure everything is good to go for the episode we have to film the following week. This Emmy just reaffirms that that work doesn’t go unseen and for that I couldn’t be prouder.”

As Co-Executive Producer, Fitzpatrick leads the field team and oversees production logistics and creative direction.

“I manage about 15 team members, including production staff, film crew and international producers,” Fitzpatrick said. “I lead the field team during filming, running the set, directing cameras and keeping the creative on track. All in all we’re on the road for about 100 days a year. Back in the office I build the show calendars, manage the budget and keep the development train moving for future episodes. Every day I get to dive into amazing parts of history and find ways to share the stories with a wide audience.”

Stevenson’s role as Segment Producer takes him from coordinating shoots in far-flung destinations to creating historical recreations filmed back in Los Angeles.

“I work in conjunction with our Field Producers to make sure the crew is prepped for each shoot day. This means scouting locations before we shoot, sourcing any specialty item that is used in scenes, and, maybe most importantly, figuring out what we are going to eat, which can be very difficult when you are hours from the nearest restaurant,” he said. 

“I also do a lot of work on the historical recreations that we film for each episode. This means casting actors, making wardrobe and props, and finding locations in the LA area that can play as different parts of the world. I also will occasionally act in these scenes (only when I have to) but eagle eyed viewers may be able to pick me out as a WW2 pilot in a couple of episodes.”

Both alumni credit Catholic Central with helping shape their strong work ethic and sense of purpose.

“One of the most important skills I honed at CC was my work ethic, especially during my time on the football team,” Fitzpatrick said. “We were never the most athletic group, but we would wear you down and outwork you. That stuck with me - shoutout to Coach Babicz for that. I’m also thankful for my freshman English teacher, Mr. Petrovich. He encouraged me to write for the Spectrum and helped lay the foundation for my love of storytelling.”

“My time at CC was fantastic,” Stevenson said. “I was a member of both the swim and academic teams through all four years, and I constantly find myself utilizing the skills I first developed in high school when we were in the field filming an episode. Waking up for a 4:30 a.m. call time to hike up a mountain north of the arctic circle in Norway is just a little easier after all those years of waking up just as early for morning swim practice.”

Stevenson also credits his first international experience, a Latin Club trip to Italy, as the moment that sparked his love for travel.

“I still remember a whirlwind day in Rome where we visited maybe a dozen sites in about six hours,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough to film at heritage sites across the world since then, but without that first trip with people I still call friends, I’m not sure working on a travel show is something I would have pursued so strongly.”

Both men continue to work on new episodes of Expedition Unknown, which premieres its 16th season on November 5 at 9:00 p.m. on Discovery Channel. Their professional connection serves as a reminder of the enduring CC brotherhood.

“Don’t be afraid to reach out to fellow alumni,” Fitzpatrick said. “Luke sent me a LinkedIn note in 2020 just asking for general advice. We got to talking, the timing worked out, and I was able to bring him on. We’ve been working together for almost three years now. You never know what can happen.”

Stevenson echoed that sentiment. “I met Fitz shortly after I moved to LA in the spring of 2020,” he said. “I did a search for CC grads in LA who worked in the Industry. I think Fitz was the first profile that came up for me. I messaged him and he agreed to talk with me. From there he was able to help me get my first gig as a PA on a show that summer. We stayed in contact and then a few years later we were working together on Expedition Unknown. All of that is to say, without CC, I probably wouldn’t be working on this show and I wouldn’t have won the Emmy.”

Both Fitzpatrick and Stevenson hope their story encourages current and future Shamrocks to pursue their dreams, and to never underestimate the power of a CC connection.