"I never met a survivalist. How do you get a job like that anyway?" she asked, showing curiosity about the profession. Her tone suggests that survivalism might seem unusual or hard to attain for someone unfamiliar with it.
She then smiled faintly and explained, "First you need a TV show." This indicates that gaining fame or credibility as a survivalist often involves media exposure, such as appearing on television, which is perhaps a common way to break into the field according to the book Chomp by Carl Hiaasen.