When Will Smith set out to traverse the globe for his new National Geographic series, Pole To Pole With Will Smith, he wasn’t just chasing adventure—he was answering a challenge issued by a trusted friend and mentor. The result: a 100-day odyssey across all seven continents, now streaming on Disney+, and a soundtrack release that’s making waves on digital platforms. But behind the scenes, it was a raw, profanity-laced conversation with fellow Hollywood titan Denzel Washington that pushed Smith to embrace risk and vulnerability like never before.
Five years in the making, Pole To Pole With Will Smith is no ordinary travelogue. According to National Geographic, the series follows Smith as he skis to the South Pole, catches a giant anaconda in the Amazon, milks a venomous tarantula, climbs Himalayan peaks, and dives beneath the Arctic ice. Guided by scientists, explorers, and indigenous communities, Smith’s journey is as much about forging human connections as it is about breaking physical limits. The show’s cinematic storytelling, paired with a score by Benjamin Wallfisch and Chris Egan, brings a sense of grandeur to each challenge—whether that’s braving unpredictable waters or meeting the San people of the Kalahari.
On February 7, 2026, Hollywood Records dropped the official soundtrack for the series, making it available on Amazon, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. The album features 24 original tracks, each echoing the emotional highs and lows of Smith’s journey. Titles like “Beautiful but Terrifying,” “Survivors Guilt,” and “Under the Ice Sheet” capture the spirit of an adventure that’s both awe-inspiring and fraught with danger. For fans, the music is a way to relive the series’ most gripping moments—and for Smith, it’s a reminder of the mental leap that made it all possible.
That leap, as Smith recently revealed in an interview on February 4, 2026, was the direct result of a no-holds-barred phone call with Denzel Washington. Far from a gentle pep talk, Washington’s advice was blunt, peppered with F-bombs, and impossible to ignore. Smith describes venting about the mounting pressure and expectations he faced, only for Washington to cut through his anxieties with a single message: stop overthinking, stop chasing approval, and start doing what you want—even if that means putting yourself in harm’s way.
“Once you decide to be fully yourself, you have to accept everything that comes with it, including fear, criticism, and physical risk,” Smith recalls Washington telling him. The exchange, which Smith jokingly sums up as “I Blame Denzel,” became a turning point. Instead of asking whether a stunt might go wrong, Smith began to ask whether it felt true to the person he wanted to be. That mindset, he says, is what led him to embrace the dangerous stunts and emotionally raw moments that define Pole To Pole.
Smith’s willingness to lean into discomfort isn’t just a new phase for the star—it’s a marked shift from the carefully curated action hero persona he’s cultivated over decades. As he explained during the show’s promotion, “Denzel told me to decide who I am and live with the fallout.” That insistence on authenticity, even at the cost of safety or reputation, is now woven into Smith’s late-career projects.
The roots of this dynamic run deep. Smith and Washington’s friendship dates back to the early 1990s, when Smith was still best known for his music and sitcom work, while Washington was already a leading man. Over the years, their relationship evolved from admiration to a bond built on mutual respect. Fans have chronicled their journey, calling it “a testament to respect, support, and enduring ties between two of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces,” as highlighted in several fan tributes and retrospectives.
Washington’s influence on Smith isn’t limited to career advice. During the infamous Oscars incident, when Smith’s reputation was on the line, Washington pulled him aside and offered a warning that quickly became one of the most quoted lines of the night: “At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.” Smith has since recounted how those words, delivered in the chaos of a career-defining evening, stuck with him. Washington later explained that he and others reached out to Smith in the aftermath, surrounding him with what he called “a world of love and kindness.”
For Smith, Washington is the person who shows up both when he’s flying high and when he’s crashing hard. The F-bomb-laced pep talk that inspired Pole To Pole is just the latest example of Washington’s role as a mentor willing to say what needs to be said—no sugarcoating, no ego. It’s a style that Smith credits with helping him break free from the constraints of public expectation and embrace a more daring, honest version of himself.
That honesty is on full display throughout Pole To Pole. Whether he’s learning survival skills from indigenous communities or facing down his own fears in the wild, Smith isn’t afraid to be seen sweating, scared, or even out of control. The show’s blend of cutting-edge science, environmental storytelling, and bold exploration is matched by Smith’s willingness to be vulnerable—a quality he says was unlocked by Washington’s advice.
For viewers, the series is a window into both the wonders of the planet and the inner workings of a Hollywood star grappling with risk, legacy, and self-discovery. The soundtrack, with its sweeping orchestration and evocative track titles, serves as a companion to the journey, underscoring moments of triumph, doubt, and revelation. With Pole To Pole With Will Smith now streaming on Disney+ and its soundtrack available everywhere, audiences can experience the full scope of a project that’s as much about personal transformation as it is about global adventure.
As Smith continues to chart new territory—both geographically and artistically—one thing is clear: sometimes, all it takes is a friend willing to drop a few F-bombs to push you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. For Will Smith, that friend is Denzel Washington, and the world is watching as he rises to the challenge.