Heather Amaro is the latest host ofExpedition X, replacing the long-time host Jessica Chobot.Expedition Xis a spinoff ofthe slightly better-knownExpedition Unknown, a reality series that premiered on the Travel Channel before moving to the Discovery Channel. The show stars host Josh Gates, an explorer and archaeologist who investigates mysteries and legends across the world. That original series premiered in 2015, and a spinoff quickly followed, titledExpedition X, in 2020. By 2025, nine seasons of the show had premiered with the focus entirely on mysteries of the paranormal kind.
Expedition Xis now available on Discovery+and follows Gates, biologist Phil Torres, and paranormal investigator Heather Amaro, who go around the world exploring spooky and mysterious claims. While Gates presents the program from the Expedition HQ, he does not usually go along with the team on their travels, meaning Amaro and Torres take on most of the presenting duties. The pair have traveled from West Virginia to the Scottish Highlands, andwhile Amaro may be a familiar face now, she has only recently joined theExpedition Xteam, having replaced Jessica Chobot in season 8.
Heather Amaro Is A Paranormal Investigator Who Debuted On The Show In Season 8
Amaro Is A Third Generation Paranormal Psychic
BeforeExpedition Xseason 8 premiered, people began to notice that longtime cohost Jessica Chobot was no longer being featured in ads, and a new host had seemingly replaced her. This new host was eventually revealed to be Heather Amaro in an Instagram post on the@expeditionunknownaccount. In the video, Amaro introduces herself as hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, and she’s a third-generation paranormal psychic. She goes on to say how she went on countless investigations with her mother, and howshe was born on the summer solstice, a time associated with the spiritual and paranormal(viaMachinations).
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Amaro has a dog who is a handful but cute, and she loves adventure. She’s been doing investigations for 20 years after all. She goes on to say that she feels like she’s been prepping forExpedition Xor another paranormal TV showher entire life, and she is most looking forward to getting incredible access to unbelievable places. Beyond that information and Amaro’s appearances onExpedition X,there is very little about the new host of the show to be found anywhere. Amaro does have an Instagram,@heatheraamaro, but it’s almost all professional posts for the show.
Heather Amaro Replaced Jessica Chobot On Expedition X
Why exactly Heather Amaro got picked to replace Jessica Chobot is unclear, but internet conspiracy enthusiasts have their theories.According to fans, there has always been a slight bit of tension between Gates and Chobot, with creative differences being a struggle for the pair to deal with. When Chobot announced she was leavingExpedition XonInstagram, she made sure to wish @PhilTorres, @heatherAamaro & the rest of the EXX crew good luck for the upcoming season 8, notably not mentioning Gates in her farewell.
She didn’t exactly say it was Gates' fault, and there is a simple excuse for her departure. Chobot also says in her post that she is working on something new with Discovery and that it will be right in line with her usual loves and style. I.e., it will be something paranormal. However, even more notably, Chobot unfollowed Gates on her Instagram, which is as big a signal as any in the social media era.At the moment, Chobot does not appear to have anything in production, and there has been no news about any upcoming paranormal TV shows on Discovery+.
She does seem to have a natural presence on camera in her introductory Instagram video, and I imagine the Discovery andExpedition Xproducers saw something similar.
Why exactly Heather Amaro was picked as Chobot’s replacement is unclear. As she has no prior credits, it can’t be that she was pulled from some other show or production. It’s possible thatExpedition Xhad an open casting call for the next host of the series, and Amaro was the victor of the competition. She does seem to have a natural presence on camera in her introductory Instagram video, and I imagine the Discovery andExpedition Xproducers saw something similar.
How Heather Amaro Has Done On Expedition X
Amaro Is Growing Into Her Role
It was always going to be an uphill battle for Heather Amaro asfans ofExpedition Xhad come to know Jessica Chobot, so her replacement would have to do a lot to justify why viewers should be OK watching her over Chobot. While some are still getting used to Amaro, pointing to her overacting as being a bit ridiculous at times, others say she has gotten a lot more comfortable in front of the camera since the beginning of the show.
The role requires a high degree of physical fitness, a love for the paranormal, and a comfort with being on television. That is a difficult Venn Diagram to complete. Add this to the fact that Chobot was a beloved part ofExpedition X, and it’s no wonder that some feel protective of the early seasons of the show and the original hosts.
Some of the most memorable moments from the show with Amaro come from her getting spookedby something as harmless as a spider. It might be grating now and then, but it’s possible viewers will fondly look back at the excitable style of the host.
What Heather Amaro Has Said About Expedition X
Amaro Has Kept Her Life Off The Air Private
Heather Amaro was not a public figure before her time onExpedition X, and she hasn’t done much to change that characterization since the show premiered.She hasn’t once spoken about the hosting gig, either in an interview or on social media. Her Instagram is filled with posts of behind-the-scenes moments in the show, but her captions are only ever some variation of “Thank You!” so, at the very least, she must appreciate some of the feedback she’s getting on the series.
It’s actually a bit refreshing to have a host of a reality series who is perfectly content to do their role and go home. Heather Amaro likes the paranormal, and that’s it. It’s why she loves being a part ofExpedition X. It doesn’t seem to be about the fame or possibility of using the show to leapfrog to something new. As long as she gets to keep exploring the spiritual world all across the globe, she’s content; critics and fans who dislike her can keep doing so. It doesn’t bother her.
