Alone Archives - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

‘Alone Australia’ Season 2: Meet the Cast

Megan Elliott — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:20:00 +0000

Another season of Alone Australia is coming to the History Channel. The Down Under spinoff of the hit survival series returns on June 20 with a new group of 10 survivalists fighting to be the last one standing and take home $250,000 AUD.

‘Alone Australia’ Season 2 takes place in New Zealand

The first season of Alone Australia aired in 2023 and challenged participants to survive in a remote part of Tasmania. Gina Chick won the competition after 67 days.

For season 2, the cast will confront the wild terrain of New Zealand’s South Island, also known as Aotearoa’s Te Waipounamu. They’ll be challenged by the harsh natural environment, in addition to dangerous wild animals, extreme hunger, and complete isolation. But unlike the first season, they’ll have more tools at their disposal in their fight for survival. This time, contestants will be permitted to hunt with a bow and arrow, introducing a new set of strategies and skills.

‘Alone Australia’ Season 2 cast

[L-R] Andreas, Chace, Jack, Jason, and Krzysztof of ‘Alone Australia’ | History Channel

So, who are the 10 survivalists competing on Alone Australia Season 2? Let’s meet the cast.

Andreas is a personal trainer and subsistence hunter. He grew up in Sweden and now resides in New South Wales, Australia. Though he lives in the city, he spent his childhood honing his outdoor and fishing skills. He began hunting after he moved to Australia and now hunts and fishes for 90% of the protein he consumes.

Chace is a defense force combat engineer from Queensland with strong bushcraft and survival skills. His work as a combat engineer has helped him develop skills in exploring and surveying unknown environments, as well as enhancing his ability to think tactically and pivot quickly. The youngest member of the Alone Australia cast, Chace is also an experienced big game hunter.

Jack is a tradesman and wild game hunter from New South Wales. He’s been hunting and fishing since his family moved from Chile to Australia when he was a child. Jack believes that his work as a self-employed tradesman has given him the necessary basket of skills that will help him improvise and innovate in the wild.

Jason, a proud Yanyuwa, Waanyi/Garawa man and Jungai, is a youth worker, former rugby player, and coach. He thinks his background gives him a key advantage when it comes to dealing with the mental aspects of the Alone challenge. But he also has practical skills, including the ability to hunt using both modern and traditional methods. He’s lived in different environments around Australia and has learned traditional methods of hunting, fishing, and foraging from elders and family members.

Krzysztof is a Polish-Australian aquaculturalist from Victoria. Raised in a refugee family, he considers himself a jack of all trades, from leatherwork to medieval combat. He and his partner live in a largely self-sufficient, DIY home, and he’s eager to flex his crafting skills, his understanding of fish behavior, and his recurve bow hunting abilities on Alone Australia.

[L-R] Leanne, Mike, Rick, Suzan, and Tamika | History Channel

Leanne is a World Heritage Aboriginal Programs officer from Victoria. She’s a proud Barkandji woman who grew up fishing and foraging with her family. After devoting the past decade to motherhood, Leanne is ready to find herself again on Alone Australia. But she honed her skills on the dry, open bush, and New Zealand’s dense wet rainforest is an entirely different environment from what she’s used to.

Mike is a resilience coach from New South Wales and the oldest member of the Alone Australia Season 2 cast. He makes his living running outdoor resilience coaching and mental toughness training workshops for boys, men, and elite sporting teams. He’s also a deer hunter who’s spent years dedicating himself to learning how to live off the land. He thinks his tenacity, combined with his hunting and fishing skills, will give him an edge in the competition.

Rick is a survival educator and former SAS soldier from Queensland. He joined the military at age 17 and spent over eight years learning all forms of extreme survival, including snow and ice mountain warfare in caves and blizzards, as a member of the SAS. Now, he’s an unlikely social media star, sharing his knowledge of bushcraft, ethnobotany, and survival with a loyal audience on TikTok.

Suzan is a wilderness adventure guide from Victoria who lives off-grid with her husband and two dogs. Her skills include hunting, gathering, scavenging, and shelter-making. She’s already opened up about her connection with nature in Suzy and The Simple Man, a documentary she directed. Now, she wants to prove that even though older women might not have the same physical strength as some other survivalists, they have the life experience, patience, and wisdom to thrive in difficult situations.

Tamika is an off-gridder and former police officer from Queensland. As the daughter of a bushman, she spent her childhood hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring. For the past decade, she’s lived sustainably, growing or foraging half of the food her family consumes. As a committed vegetarian, she thinks her toughest Alone challenge will be having to kill an animal that looks after its young in order to eat. But she’s committed to picking up her bow and arrow one more time for this experience. She hopes her journey will inspire others to connect with nature.

Alone Australia Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on History Channel.

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‘Alone’ Season 11 Location: Everything You Need to Know

Megan Elliott — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:12:43 +0000

No season of Alone is going to be a walk in the park. But the show’s latest location poses challenges that could sink the toughest and most skilled survivalist.

In season 11, 10 participants are dropped north of the Arctic Circle, in a region of Canada known for its frigid temperatures, dangerous predators, and winter days that pass in almost total darkness. Who will be the last one standing? And how long will they be able to endure the harsh conditions?

‘Alone’ Season 11 heads 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle

Aerial view of the Mackenzie River Delta | DeAgostini/Getty Images

Past seasons of Alone have challenged participants to survive in locations such as British Columbia, Mongolia, Patagonia, Northern Saskatchewan, and Labrador. This time, contestants are heading to Inuvik in Canada’s Northwest Territories, 120 miles above the Arctic Circle and just south of the Arctic Ocean. It’s the coldest location in the show’s history.

Each cast member will set up camp somewhere in the Mackenzie River Delta on land that is the traditional home of the Gwich’in people. The 4,700-square-mile delta consists of mazes of channels, lakes, marshes, and ponds. In the Alone: Before the Drop special that aired on June 13, one participant describes it as an Arctic version of the Everglades.

This part of the world may not be home to many people, but it is far from empty. Roughly 5,000 grizzly bears and 4,000 wolves live in the region. Moose and wolverines are also present, as are beaver, caribou, and other animals. The abundant wildlife could help the participants survive, if their hunting, trapping, and fishing efforts are successful. But it’s also a very real threat, and everyone involved will have to respect the surrounding environment if they hope to have a chance at winning the show’s $500,000 prize.

Bitter cold may be the biggest challenge on this season of ‘Alone’

Given how far north this season’s location is, the biggest challenge facing the Alone Season 11 participants will likely be the cold and the challenges that come with it. Temperatures can drop to -40 F.

“What’s gonna drive people out from here is hunger and cold,” said cast member Isaiah Tuck, a game warden from West Virginia, in the Before the Drop special. “This is the coldest location possible. The progression of winter is very prominent. And it’s coming hard … This place is going to suck. There’s no illusion in my mind that this is going to be easy.”

Fellow contestant Dub Paetz, a wilderness skills instructor from Michigan, agreed. He called season 11 “tougher than any other” and predicted that multiple contestants would tap out early on in the challenge.

“I think this season might be one of the shorter ones just from our extreme location,” said Peter Albano, a librarian from British Columbia.

Even those with a lot of experience in tough environments realize that this season of Alone will test them in ways they don’t expect.

“I’ve hunted and fished and trapped all my life in Labrador,” said William Larkham Jr, who works as a commercial fisherman. “And Labrador’s a very tough environment. But up here, it’s like there’s a whole new ballgame.”

Alone Season 11 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on History Channel.

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‘Alone’ Season 11 Premiere Recap: Welcome to the Arctic Circle

Megan Elliott — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:45:00 +0000

The toughest challenge in reality TV is back.

Alone Season 11 premiered June 13 on History Channel. The latest season of the survival series will follow participants as they try to survive as long as possible in a remote part of Canada’s Northwest Territories, more than 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Who will come out on top? The winner will need a combination of serious survival skills and, as we see in this episode, perhaps a generous dose of luck as well.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alone Season 11 Episode 1.]

‘Alone’ participants set up camp in the Mackenzie River Delta

Ten survivalists have signed on for the latest season of Alone. The premiere follows five of them as they are dropped off by the show’s crew and begin to set up their camps in the Mackenzie River Delta.

For now, the remote environment is relatively forgiving, with long days, above-freezing temperatures, and food available for foraging. But winter will soon set in, along with bitter cold and days with virtually no daylight. Anyone who hopes to survive for any length of time will need a snug shelter, food, and the mental strength to handle the long stretches of solitary darkness.

Michela, 34. a Cree-Metis woman, plans to draw on her indigenous heritage in her Alone journey. That includes using grass to craft duck decoys, which should attract birds close to shore, where they’ll make easy prey.

Michela has made some unconventional choices when it comes to her survival gear, opting not to bring a fishing line and hooks. She’s only the fourth contestant in the show’s history to pass on those items. Instead, she’s brought a fishing net. But she’s unfamiliar with the area, which makes finding the right place to place the net a challenge. Will she come to regret her choice to forego the fishing line?

Like Michela, William, 49, also hopes to rely on passive fishing to catch food without burning calories. Unsurprisingly, given his background as a commercial fisherman from Labrador, he plans to fish as long as he can before switching to catching small game like squirrels.

Aside from Michela, who scavenges a fresh kidney left behind after another animal’s kill, William is the only contestant in this episode who gets much to eat in this episode. He clubs several small fish, which will provide a small meal. It’s a promising start, but early victories on Alone don’t always translate into lasting success.

Isaiah Tuck | History Channel

Isaiah, 26, a game warden from West Virginia, sees evidence of fresh grizzly tracks soon after he arrives at his campsite. He suspects there’s a female grizzly with her cub nearby, which could prove dangerous.

Isaiah is also beginning to realize exactly how isolated he is. “All I can think about is how much I miss my family,” he confesses. “I have these emotions I just wasn’t anticipating.” For now, he’s going to stick it out. But as days stretch into weeks, will he be able to last? Feelings of isolation and loneliness have caused plenty of other Alone participants to tap out earlier than they hoped.

Cubby, 33, a homesteader from Missouri, starts his Alone journey strong. He builds a simple open shelter with a tarp so that he can concentrate on finding food while constructing a more permanent living space.

On Cubby’s first day, he spots a squirrel on his first day at camp. But when he takes aim, not only does he miss the shot, but he also breaks one of his nine arrows. Unfortunately, it’s not the first problem with arrows that he’ll encounter in this episode.

Finally, there’s Dub, a 44-year-old wildlife instructor from Michigan who might be the most confident contestant in this group. He gets to work right away building an insulated shelter against a berm, which he thinks will protect him from the wind. But when a bear comes sniffing around on his first night in the wild, he rethinks his decision.

“There’s mega modifications that need to happen,” he declares. “This shelter sucks.” Dub’s plan is to make his shelter stronger to give him some protection in the event of a grizzly attack.

Did anyone tap out in the ‘Alone’ Season 11 premiere?

Cubby Hoover | History Channel

Several participants experience setbacks in the premiere, including Michela’s fishing struggles and Isaiah’s mysterious bloody nose. But all seem to be adapting well to their new environment. Then, disaster strikes.

While exploring the surrounding area in search of food, Cubby stumbles in the thick brush. One of his arrows slips from his quiver ends up embedded four inches deep in his thigh. It’s a painful and potentially devastating injury. Cubby is able to remove the arrow and apply a compression bandage. Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be at risk of bleeding out immediately. But as he struggles back to his campsite, he realizes how debilitating the wound is. Tapping out is the only option.

“There’s no way I can stay,” he says. “Four days. That’s it.”

When the crew and medic arrive, they confirm that he made the right call. His injury is serious enough to require a trip to the hospital. He’s crushed.

“The realization that my chance of winning this is over is absolutely devastating,” he says. “There’s so much more I wanted to do … I had a lot riding on this. This was the chance to provide me and my family with peace and stability financially.”

But Cubby, who embraced homesteading and outdoor survival after the death of one of his close friends, is philosophical about the disappointing turn of events.

“Bad things happen in life,” he says. “Accidents happen. That’s a heaviness you should feel. Because it teaches you how important life is.”

Alone Season 11 airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on History Channel.

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Past ‘Alone’ Participant Says Post-Show Recovery Is ‘Extremely Grueling’

Megan Elliott — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:20:00 +0000

Reality shows don’t get much more real than Alone. The History Channel series – which returns for season 11 on June 13 – follows participants as they fight to survive, completely on their own, in some of the toughest conditions on Earth. And the challenges don’t end when the cameras are turned off and cast members return home. Post-show recovery is taxing, both mentally and physically, past participants have said.

Returning to regular life after ‘Alone’ is a challenge

On Alone, participants are challenged to survive in remote locations by relying on just their wits and a minimal list of survival gear. The person who lasts the longest walks away with $500,000.

But earning that money isn’t easy. While some people tap out after a few days or weeks, the longest-lasting participants spend two months or more in the wild. As the competition draws to a close, contestants are often pulled for starvation, frostbite, and other serious medical issues. Those can have serious consequences after the show ends. Even adjusting to being around other people again after a long period of isolation is difficult.

“For many, the road to recovery, finding their ‘normal’ again, navigating human relationships, eating a regular diet, and really just existing was extremely grueling at times,” Callie North, who appeared in Alone Season 3 and Alone: The Skills Challenge, told Vulture in 2023.

“A lot of us struggled when we came home,” said Britt Ahart, who appeared in seasons 3 and 5. “I know there were broken marriages.”

Both of Ahart’s stints on Alone landed him in the hospital with refeeding syndrome, a condition that can develop when a malnourished person suddenly starts eating again.

‘Alone’ participants get support from the show after filming ends

Alan Tenta of ‘Alone’ Season 10 | History Channel

Participants in early seasons of Alone lacked appropriate aftercare, Ahart said, but that changed as time went on and cast members advocated for themselves.

“[W]hen season 5 came around, I had a professional expert I could speak to about how I was feeling,” he explained. “When I tapped out and they brought me back to location, I had a handler that I could always speak to. They provided me with a driver just to help me with my daily needs.”

Season 10 winner Alan Tenta talked about the aftercare process in a video he shared on his YouTube channel, Tenta Outdoors. He and second-place finisher Wyatt Black spent a week going through a refeeding process and recovering physically before flying home.

“They don’t just release you into the world. After you’ve been in starvation mode, it’s dangerous to eat just whatever you want,” he explained.

Participants also have access to counseling after they return home, showrunner Ryan Pender told Reality Blurred.

“For a few weeks and months afterwards, they’re speaking to a psychologist to just kind of empty their heads,” he said.

While some contestants have spoken out about their rough adjustment after the show, their very real struggles are part of Alone’s appeal. It has a grittiness and authenticity that shows like Survivor lack.

“There’s always a level of fabricated conflict, and you just know there’s some puppeteering happening behind the scenes,” Ahart said of other survival series. “Alone is the only survival show I thought had real legitimacy to it.”

Alone Season 11 premieres Thursday, June 13 at 9 p.m. ET on History Channel.

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’Alone’ Season 11: Meet the Cast

Megan Elliott — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 15:14:00 +0000

The toughest show in reality TV is back. On June 13, Alone returns for its 11th season on the History Channel. The latest installment of the survival series will follow 10 people as they head to the northernmost location in the show’s history – the freezing, brutal landscape of Inuvik, Canada, north of the Arctic Circle.

Ten tough-as-nails contestants will fight to survive as long as they can in the wilderness with just their wits and minimal supplies. The person who lasts the longest walks away with $500,000. Which brave soul will join the elite ranks of Alone winners? Let’s meet the cast.

Peter Albano

Peter Albano | History Channel

Peter Albano is a 42-year-old librarian from British Columbia. “I don’t fit the mold of a typical survivalist,” he admits in a video interview with History Channel. But he has a long-standing interest in the outdoors and bushcraft that he thinks will serve him well on Alone. But will Peter be able to successfully apply the skills he learned from books in the wild?

Dusty Blake

Dusty Blake | History Channel

Dusty Blake, 36, is a welder from Arkansas. He’s loved the outdoors since he was a child and is an avid hunter and fisherman. Dusty thinks his “hillbilliness” will give him an edge in the competition. “I’ve been a hunter ever since I could walk,” he says. “I killed my first deer when I was eight years old.” But is he prepared for the harsh conditions on Alone? “The Arctic Circle is a whole new environment,” he admits. “But I’ve always been a really quick learner. I don’t give up.”

Michela Carriere

Michela Carriere | History Channel

Michela Carriere, 34, is a Cree-Metis adventure guide from Saskatchewan. She’s been nurturing her survival skills all her life. Michela was raised off the grid in the wilderness of the Saskatchewan River Delta, where she learned traditional skills such as trapping and healing from her parents.

“I’m doing this because I want to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors,” she says. “I’m excited to use all those skills I’ve grown up using my whole life.”

Timber Cleghorn

Timber Cleghorn | History Channel

Timber Cleghorn is a 35-year-old humanitarian aid worker from Indiana. He was raised in an anti-government group that embraced off-the-grid living, and he grew up idolizing early American frontiersmen. As an adult, he’s lived overseas in numerous underdeveloped and conflict areas in Asia and the Middle East. By going on Alone, he hopes to both come home with money that could lead to a better life for his family and to leave a legacy that will inspire his two sons.

Cubby Hoover

Cubby Hoover | History Channel

Cubby Hoover, 33, is a bowyer and homesteader who grew up in Arkansas and now lives in Missouri. After bouncing between jobs as a young man, a friend’s battle with cancer inspired him to find a way to spend more time with his own family. He and his wife started homesteading and Cubby started a traditional archery company. His experience living off the land has given him “the mentality to do what it takes to overcome and adapt, to really thrive,” he says.

William Larkham Jr.

William Larkham Jr. | History Channel

William Larkham Jr., 49, is a commercial fisherman from Labrador, Canada. He grew up in a small island community without running water or electricity. As a child, he was taught traditional skills of hunting, trapping, fishing, and foraging passed down from his Inuit ancestors.

“I’ve built up a lot of skills and knowledge just trying to survive,” he says.

Jake Messinger

Jake Messinger | History Channel

Jake Messinger, 42, is a professional falconer from Idaho. As a child, he explored the Rocky Mountain wilderness with his father and grandfather. In his 20s, he worked as an instructor for a wilderness therapy program, where he taught the same kind of survival skills he’ll need to draw on during his Alone journey.

“I’ve never been in an environment where I couldn’t find food,” Jake says. “And I’ve never been in a situation where I could not make a fire.” But he’s also never faced a test like the one he’ll face on Alone.

Dub Paetz

Dub Paetz | History Channel

Dub Paetz, 44, is a wilderness skills instructor from Michigan who has also worked as a fly fishing and waterfowl hunting guide in Idaho. He’s spent years honing his skills and has long dreamed of being on Alone. Now, he’s ready to test himself in the Arctic.

“Alone is the survival Olympics,” he says. “There’s no bigger, better, more kick*ss challenge. And I strongly believe I have everything it’s going to take to do this.”

Sarah Poynter

Sarah Poynter | History Channel

Sarah Poynter, 48, is a fishing lodge owner from Alaska. Her interest in wilderness survival and skills developed when she met her husband, whose life revolved around the outdoors. Eventually, they moved to a remote part of Alaska where they could raise their children amidst nature.

“Out my door, I face risks every day,” she says. That background could give her what she needs to outlast the competition in Alone Season 11.

Isaiah Tuck

Isaiah Tuck | History Channel

Isaiah Tuck, 36, is a game warden from West Virginia. He’s passionate about the outdoors, as evidenced by his career as a West Virginia Natural Resources Police Officer. Isaiah is also a member of the Air National Guard, and he thinks his military training will help him succeed on Alone.

What’s motivating Isaiah to challenge himself to survive in the Arctic? Love for his family. “Taking care of my family is always priority No. 1,” he says. “If I could pull in $500,000, that would change my life.”

Alone Season 11 premieres Thursday, June 13 at 9 p.m. ET on History Channel.

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’Alone’ Season 11 Premieres In June, and It Might Be the Toughest Location Yet

Megan Elliott — Tue, 07 May 2024 20:31:50 +0000

A new group of survivalists will test their skills in Alone Season 11. The History Channel reality series returns to TV this June for a new, 12-episode season that will see the cast fighting to survive in one of the show’s most remote locations yet.

‘Alone’ Season 11 premieres June 13

The cast of ‘Alone’ Season 11 | History Channel

Alone Season 11 premieres Thursday, June 13 on History Channel.

The new season kicks off with a “Before the Drop” special that airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It features a behind-the-scenes look at participants’ final preparations before launch day. The hour-long special will be followed by the season 11 premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Starting June 20, Alone Season 11 moves to its regular 8 p.m. ET/PT timeslot.

Where does the new season of ‘Alone’ take place?

For its 11th season, Alone heads to Inuvik, Canada. The drop site is within the Arctic Circle and is the northernmost location in the show’s history. The Inuvik Region is part of the Northwest Territories. It includes the Mackenzie River delta and borders the Arctic Ocean’s Beaufort Sea.

Ten participants will face bone-chilling cold, icy landscapes, and wild animals, including bears, wolves, and moose. They’ll also deal with mental and physical challenges. (One cast member ends up with an arrow in his leg, based on a preview for the season.) The last person to tap out will walk away with a $500,000 prize and join the list of Alone champions.

“125 miles north into the Arctic Circle is pretty crazy,” one participant says in a sneak peek.

“Whoever can thrive the longest, whoever can push through, wins,” another says.

‘Alone: Australia’ Season 2 is also coming to History Channel

This season, new episodes of Alone will be followed by season 2 of Alone: Australia, the first international spinoff of the show to air in the U.S. Season 1 of the Down Under version of the survival series aired last summer on History Channel. Season 2 premiered on SBS in Australia on March 27.

The new season follows 10 Australians as they fight to survive in the wild terrain of Aotearoa’s Te Waipounamu, also known as the South Island of New Zealand. And unlike in season 1, this time around, participants are allowed to hunt local wildlife such as wild pig, possum, tahr, and red deer with a bow and arrow.

Alone: Australia Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on History Channel.

New episodes of Alone and Alone: Australia stream the next day on the History Channel app, History.com, and through major TV providers’ VOD platforms. Episodes are also available for purchase via Prime Video and other platforms.

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‘Alone’ Casting Director Shares How Contestants Are Chosen For the Show

Megan Elliott — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 22:08:22 +0000

Alone isn’t quite like any other reality show. The History Channel series premiered in 2015 and wrapped up its 10th season in August 2023. Each season follows a group of contestants who must survive on their own in the wild for as long as they can. The person who lasts the longest wins $500,000.

Needless to say, competing on Alone requires certain skills. You won’t make it far if you don’t know how to find food and start a fire. Cast members also need a particular personality. Aside from occasional med checks, contestants are completely isolated from other people. Anyone who can’t handle long stretches of time with no human interaction is likely to tap out early. So, how do producers find people who are cut out for the intense experience? Casting Alone is a complicated process.

‘Alone’ producers look for cast members with different skills

Ann Rosenquist of ‘Alone’ Season 10 | History Channel

Alone contestants tend to be cut from the same cloth. They’re independent types who are comfortable in the outdoors and have key survival skills. But within those broad parameters, there’s quite a bit of variety. The season 10 cast, for example, included a living history reenactor (Melanie Sawyer), a second-generation survival expert (Luke Olsen), and an off-the-grid organic farmer (Ann Rosenquist).

That diversity is intentional, Alone’s casting director Quinn Fegan told Vulture.

“We always want a good number of people who have taken down big game with a traditional bow in the past,” she said. “We also typically want some military being represented, and any time we have an amazing bushcrafter is great.”

Thousands of people apply to be on ‘Alone’

As Alone has grown in popularity, the number of people interested in being on the show has increased. About 10,000 people apply for Alone every year. (If you’re interested, details on how to throw your hat into the ring are on the ITV America website.)

Alone producers have also scouted for candidates, proactively reaching out to people who they think would be a good fit for the show. That’s how season 6 contestant Woniya Thibeault ended up on the show. The Alone casting team reached out via email with an invitation to chat, she recalled in her 2023 memoir Never Alone: A Solo Arctic Survival Journey.

Thibeault, an ancestral skills teacher from California, had been approached by reality TV producers before. But was turned off by the process, which felt “forced and ingenuine.” Alone was different. Unlike some reality shows, where producers engineer situations for maximum drama, Alone is truly hands-off. Once she overcame her reservations about appearing on TV (and upending her life to do so), she was all in.

Potential contestants go through an ‘Alone’ boot camp

Whatever way they come to the attention of producers, all potential Alone contestants have to go through a rigorous vetting process. According to Vulture, that includes a test on practical skills, such as proving they know what wood to use for a bow drill. They also need to show they can use camera equipment, as cast members must self-document their journey in the wild. There’s also a psychological exam as well as on-camera interviews that help producers zero in on potential story arcs.

“We had days of meetings and tests, interviews and camera training,” Thibeault recalled of her Alone boot camp experience, which took place in a New York hotel. Later, her group of 22 prospective cast members headed to the woods, where they demonstrated their practical skills.

While there’s no magic formula for getting chosen for Alone, being too fame-focused can definitely hurt a person’s chances. While past cast members have developed substantial social media followings, people who just want to promote themselves aren’t a good fit for the show.

“Any time someone explicitly wants to be on television is a ‘no’ for me,” Fegan told Vulture. “If you even know what your brand is, that’s challenging.”

The result of that intense casting process (and producers’ commitment to not intervening once cast members are dropped off at their campsites) is one of the most authentic reality shows out there, according to past participants.

With other reality show, “there’s always a level of fabricated conflict, and you just know there’s some puppeteering happening behind the scenes,” said Britt Ahart, whom competed on Alone Seasons 3 and 5. “Alone is the only survival show I thought had real legitimacy to it.”

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‘Alone’ Season 10 Winner Alan Tenta Is Planning Fishing Trip With Runner-Up Wyatt Black

Megan Elliott — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:56:00 +0000

Contestants on the History Channel’s series Alone don’t exactly get a lot of time to bond with each other. While the cast members meet at a pre-drop orientation, they spend most of their time completely isolated from the other survivalists competing for the show’s $500,000 prize. But that doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes form serious connections with other participants. Take Alone Season 10 winner Alan Tenta. He just revealed he’s planning a fishing trip with second-place finisher Wyatt Black.

Alan Tenta says fellow ‘Alone’ Season 10 cast member Wyatt Black is a ‘class act’

Alan won Alone Season 10 after spending 66 days on the shores of a remote lake in northern Saskatchewan. The high school teacher from British Columbia beat out nine other contestants, including runner-up Wyatt Black, who tapped out on day 64.

After producers informed a stunned Alan that he was this season’s winner, he was flown back to base camp for medical checks and refeeding. Wyatt was there to greet him.

“My feet had barely hit the ground getting out of the helicopter and a big hairy man wrapped his arms around me so tightly, gave me the biggest hug, and said ‘Congratulations man. I’m so happy for you.’ And it was so real and so genuine,” Alan shared in a Q&A video he shared on his YouTube channel, Tenta Outdoors. “Just an absolute class act from Wyatt.”

Wyatt and Alan are planning a trip together

[L-R] Alan Tenta, Wyatt Black from ‘Alone’ Season 10 | History Channel

After a participant on Alone taps out, they don’t get to go home immediately, especially if they’ve been in the competition for a while. The show’s producers monitor people for a time to make sure they’re healthy and put them on a careful refeeding program.

“They don’t just release you into the world. After you’ve been in starvation mode, it’s dangerous to eat just whatever you want,” Alan explained.

For Alan, the refeeding process began with a cup of warm bone broth and a few almonds and apricots before he even left his campsite and continued for over a week. During that time, Wyatt was also going through his refeeding, and the two men ended up flying out together.

During an overnight stay in Saskatoon, they enjoyed their first real meal since filming ended. Alan chowed down on a Hawaiian pizza, but he didn’t share what Wyatt ate.But it sounds like it won’t be the last meal that the Alone contestants share. Alan says he and Wyatt have plans to meet up in the near future.

“Wyatt and I are planning a fishing trip next spring. The logistics aren’t worked out but it’s gonna happen and I’m already excited about it,” he said.

He also said that he hoped that Wyatt – who lives in Ontario – would visit him in western Canada.

“I want him to come over and I’ll take him to a hockey game in Calgary,” he said.

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‘Alone’ Contestants Add ‘Homey’ Details to Their Shelters That Viewers Don’t Always See

Megan Elliott — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 20:45:43 +0000

Alone is all about survival. To last for any amount of time on the popular History Channel reality series, participants need to have the skills to hunt, fish, and forage for food, build shelter, and make fire. But making it to the final stages of the competition requires something more. If a contestant doesn’t have the mental strength to spend months isolated in the wilderness, there’s no way they’ll take home the show’s $500,000 prize.

Every Alone cast member has different strategies for dealing with loneliness and solitude. The hard work of survival helps many to keep from dwelling on their feelings. Others stay busy by making crafts for family back home or even musical instruments to entertain themselves. Contestants will also often spend time adding details to their shelters, some of which aren’t always visible to viewers. These amenities aren’t strictly necessary for survival but do make their stay more pleasant. And the happier a contestant is with their shelter, the less likely they are to tap out.

Callie North from ‘Alone’ Season 3 wanted her shelter to be comfortable

Callie North on ‘Alone’ Season 3 | History Channel via YouTube

Callie North was a contestant on Alone Season 3, which took place in Patagonia. Early on, she realized that to go the distance in the competition, she needed to have a cozy place to rest her head. Her shelter’s amenities included a stone fireplace, rock flooring, and a broom for cleaning.

“Then I could have my shoes off when I came in and have an area separate from the outside that made it feel very comfortable and homey,” she explained in an interview with Dwell.

Callie also used a white tarp when constructing her shelter, which helped let light into the space. And outside of her A-frame cabin, she also constructed a sauna.

Nicole Apelian’s ‘Alone’ Season 2 shelter included a nightstand and a cedar floor

Nicole Apelian, who appeared in Alone Season 2, also added some basic amenities to her shelter to make her stay near Port Hardy, British Columbia, more comfortable.

“My shelter was super cozy and warm,” she shared in a 2016 Facebook update. Her modified lean-to featured a raised bed and featured a tarp on top that doubled as a rain catchment system.

“Other touches? A nightstand (behind the camera case), wooden hooks I made to hang my gear (to dry gear and so the mice didn’t chew on it), a cedar floor, my woodshed, many baskets I made, and hot rocks from my fire brought in every night to heat the space,” she wrote. “I was never cold in that shelter and felt very safe even when trees were snapping and falling from storms.”

‘Alone’ producers like creative contestants

Coming up with interesting shelter improvements and other creative projects can make a person’s time on Alone more tolerable.

For example, season 1 contestant Lucas Miller built a yurt with wooden shelves to store his belongings. He also made a ukulele and a boat. It was all part of a “bag of tricks” to help him stay positive during his time on the show, he told Outside. In season 2, Mike Lowe’s shelter included a table, fireplace, and even running water. Once he ran out of projects to keep him entertained, he tapped because he was bored.

Contestants who can work wonders with limited supplies and resources also make for entertaining TV. Alone producers have confirmed they look for people with a different mix of skills when casting the show.

“It’s not so much that we’re looking for a fan-favorite, we’re looking for creative ones,” executive producer Ryan Pender told Outside. “You have some folks who are well-versed in hunting, and others who may not be, but they’re really good with creative problem-solving using bushcraft.”

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‘Alone’ Season 10 Cast: Where Are They Now?

Megan Elliott — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 19:08:29 +0000

That’s a wrap on Alone Season 10. The winner of the most recent installment of the History Channel reality series was revealed in the show’s August 17 season finale. The victor lasted an impressive 66 days in a remote part of northern Saskatchewan. So, what have he and the other Alone cast members been up to since filming ended? Keep reading for an update on what the cast is doing now.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alone Season 10.]

Where is ‘Alone’ Season 10 winner Alan Tenta now?

[L-R] Wyatt, Alan, Mikey | The History Channel

Alone Season 10 came down to a final three contestants. When the finale began, Alan Tenta, Mikey Helton, and Wyatt Black were all still in the running for the $500,000 grand prize. In the end, it was Alan who walked away the winner, after emotional tap-outs from both Mikey and Wyatt.

Alan, a 52-year-old high school teacher from British Columbia, has been recapping Alone episodes on his YouTube channel, Tenta Outdoors. You can also follow him on Instagram, where he recently showed off a photo of how much weight he’d lost over his seven weeks in the wild.

While he hasn’t said too much about his big win, he did reveal that he was stunned when his wife Lisa appeared at his campsite during a medical check. Until that moment, he had no idea that he was the last contestant standing.

“Did you have any idea it was about to happen??” one follower asked on one of his posts.

“Nope!” the outdoor education teacher replied.

Want to keep up with the Alone Season 10 second- and third-place finishers? Wyatt is active on Instagram, while Mikey is on Facebook and YouTube.

What are the rest of the ‘Alone’ Season 10 cast members doing?

‘Alone’ Season 10 cast | History Channel

Alan beat out nine other survivalists to win Alone Season 10. While not all of the cast members are active on social media, a few have shared updates since their time on the show ended.

Ann Rosenquist, an organic farmer from northern Wisconsin, has been posting about the bountiful summer harvest on her Instagram.

Melanie Sawyer, who tapped on day 43, has opened up about her Alone experience on her YouTube channel. She’s shared videos about how she built her shelter, why she took certain survival items, and her winter preparations. She’s also keeping busy with her work with Thunderhawk Living History School, an interactive living history program in New York.

Fifth-place finisher Tarcisio “Taz” Ramos Dos Santos opened up about his experience in a social media update after his tap-out on day 40. He admitted he would have done some things differently in hindsight, such as spending less time hunting and making more use of the canoe he built. But he said he had no regrets about the experience.

“Overall, I loved my Alone experience. And left the experience positively impacted and hungry for more. Left It healthy mentality, physically and emotionally and I’m grateful for that,” he wrote in the August 2 Instagram post.

Cade Cole’s Instagram is a mix of inspirational quotes and photos from his adventures around his home state of Wyoming. Jodi Rose, also from Wyoming, spends her time foraging and gold panning, according to her recent Instagram updates.

Luke Olsen, who tapped out after 20 days, lives in Maui with his family. On his Instagram, he’s posted several updates about the devastating wildfires that recently ravaged the island. However, it seems he and his immediate family are unharmed.

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