Marty Raney on What’s ‘Unnerving’ About Spinoff

Marty Raney and his children Matt Raney and Misty Bilodeau have been helping others live off the grid on Homestead Rescue for the better part of a decade. However, the family of wilderness-living experts are being challenged like perhaps never before with their new spinoff Homestead Rescue: Intervention. The upcoming Discovery Channel series sees the trio ambush failing homesteaders after being called upon by desperate loved ones. 

Over the season, they’ll venture across the country including stops in Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Vermont. During the July 14 premiere, the Raneys step in to assist an Alaskan family exiled to tents by a mold-infested cabin. The environment opens the door to threats of bears, an arsenic-laced spring, and a seven-month winter. Future episodes also bring them to Arizona where property problems have strained a marriage and wintery Montana, which brings a surprising revelation. 

Here Marty opens up about the projects tackled and challenges they face as initially unwanted visitors. 

Marty Raney, Matt Raney, and Misty Bilodeau checking in with the Judd family and Leighann’s uncle, Roger Belvin, to see if the Judd family will accept their help. (Discovery Channel)

What does it mean to have 10 years of the flagship show? 

Marty Raney: It’s not just 10 years. It’s global. I understand this show is number one in India, Brazil, Italy. All these countries. People had me do a book signing in Serbia. I’m not saying this in boast. How does the show make it 10 years, 14 seasons? I don’t ever stop to think about it too much until someone asks me a question. I think a lot of people want to do this. They want to get away from a mundane, regimented, status quo lifestyle and live out in the country. They relate to that. Then it’s not the easy actual lifestyle to live. That’s where we come in to try to give them a hand. Usually, it’s a hand up. We’re not big on handouts. We work alongside them and hopefully get them back on track.I think that’s the driver to get to 10 years or 14 seasons. I think a lot of people secretly, albeit from a  La-Z Boy, look at that lifestyle. They look at selling things and leaving the city and moving to the country and trying to live freely, self-sufficiently, independently. I think a lot of people, maybe even you, secretly would be interested in that type of change. 

It’s escapism in a way to put themselves in that position and maybe learn a couple of things. I feel it’s not all or nothing in a way you can take elements of each episode or element of a show and find that balance maybe?

I think it is. Who doesn’t want to live independently, freely, and efficiently? Everyone wants that. How many people have the gumption, the heart, the motivation, the drive? How many people not just dream, but take action, break a sweat, take risk and breathe life into it. That’s the demographic and common thread,  including me living in Alaska. You think I would think about it more, but I don’t. I’m thinking about that now. I just think it’s inherited a little bit to escape and break away. It’s not my expression, but I do say it from time to time. I say a rut when it gets deep enough can resemble a grave. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s where we come in. 

You have the people who are trying to do what you’re saying, but having a lot of problems. They want to do everything himself and are too proud to ask for help. How would you describe your approach to those cases? 

It has been borderline unnerving to show up on property when not invited. There is an aura that they will accept the help. Again, these people are independent and not perhaps prone to a lot of outside suggestions or assistance. They want to do this on their own. To have this cowboy from Alaska show up with his kids, and his crew it’s invasive. People are going to see this season that is going to happen in every homestead on day one the Raineys were not invited. 

Hero shot of Misty Bilodeau, Marty Raney, and Matt Raney in Alaska. (Discovery Channel)

Were people threatening you? Were you getting the get off my lawn reaction? Did you get that feeling? 

I’ll be honest with you. That was the first thing I said to the producers. Are we going to be in harm’s way? People are independent, and people are crazy. You put those two together and you don’t know what to expect. In the same breath, people are inherently good. That’s why I’m doing this. I believe in people that choose to do this lifestyle, who want to be a rancher or a farmer, live out in the country, be a homesteader, live freely. I think those are good people. They are trying to get away from the masses where there is a melting pot of more problems, more issues, more stress. When I come out here, I want to believe those are good people who, by and large, will accept help, albeit at arm’s length and reluctantly. 

What we’re finding thematically is that people are good and when you look them in the eye and say, “We came here to help you and have no agenda or criticize you or judge you and go to work.” This formula works. It really does work. Meaning the people they know don’t have to be reminded they are living a little bit rough, whether it’s lack of funds or knowledge or experience, whatever it is we don’t care. We’ll take an assessment after we walk around the property on day one, and at the end of day one and all these homesteads this season, we look them in the eye and say, “Listen, we looked around, and you had a chance to meet us. We see some areas we can perhaps turn this thing around. Are you interested or not?” You’ll have to wait and see what those responses are, but there are 12 episodes, and 12 different responses for sure. 

How would you describe your working dynamic and how it has evolved? At this point being around each other so often, are there family frustrations? 

That’s interesting when we landed when we flew from Alaska and rendezvous in Reno and got the truck and started the drive and stopped to have a meal because Misty and Matt are smarter than me. They thought it sounded like where we were heading there would be restaurants open at midnight by the time we get there. At that dinner that came up. My son mentioned this one show got canceled in Alaska, and he knows the family members. He said they don’t get along. I just sat there thinking that that has never been an issue in our family. We have four kids, and we always just worked together and led a very adventurous Alaskan lifestyle. 

On that 40-acre homestead in Alaska my older son [Miles] lives on the 40 acres off grid of course. My daughter lives with her husband  Maciah and son Gauge. Matt is building a house on the 40 acres. It’s a big enough piece of property across a river with no road access that all of these kids can make that decision to do that. Of course, when they do that they are living with their family. Keep in mind my other daughter [Melanee] has a business in Girdwood, Alaska, and never committed to moving out there. They were just visiting there yesterday. I don’t overthink it. It’s very important to me throughout our life that everyone gets along. To do that, you have to sometimes not have the last word and just focus on other people rather than yourself.

We got to this point where Discovery Channel knocked at my door and said, “What do you think about this?” We approached all four kids and ended up being two on the show, but all six members and grandkids and in-laws have been involved. There were two shows involved with Raney Ranch. We did a few seasons with the driver Homestead Rescue. It’s kind of a beast. It’s hard on them. I’m always standing back to watch and see how impactful it is with the travel and workload. Misty is a machine. She is a worker. You have that going on plus traveling and son, and Matt has two children. I’m always watching to see if we are redlining the stress, redlining the comfort, the priorities. Of course, family is the priority. We’ve seemed to overall make it work. 

How would you sum up the season? 

This season was ironically amazing because the people were under this banner of intervention, the dynamics, the challenges, the unknown this season and just the people the network found, and sometimes we find, it makes me want to do it again. It was so rewarding. It was challenging of course, but rewarding. It’s quite a thing to show up as we will today and meet complete strangers, and in a week’s time, they are crying their eyes out. I start out where I don’t even know their names, and by the end, there is a really good chance they are going to be telling us that we changed their lives forever. Any time personally we can continue doing this I remind myself how rewarding it is to help people and as hard as it is to watch a TV show that we are without a doubt changing people’s lives. That’s the peak of privilege. As long as the opportunities are there, I think we are going to keep on working. 

Homestead Rescue: Intervention, series premiere, July 14, 8/7c, Discovery Channel