What does 71 days alone in the Arctic wilderness really do to your body and mind?

In this episode of The Survival Debrief, British TV survivalist and former 29 Commando soldier Steven Kelly (Survival Ste) sits down with Welsh survival expert Andrew Thomas Price, who survived an incredible 71 days on Alone Season 13: World Championship, finishing fourth.

Andrew opens up about the brutal reality of surviving alone in the Canadian Arctic, where freezing temperatures, starvation and isolation pushed him to his physical and mental limits.

He reveals how his body began wasting away, why catching fish became a desperate daily battle, and how he built a traditional coracle in an attempt to improve his chances of survival.

Andrew also shares a remarkable story about catching two large fish that never made the final television edit.

With Steven having completed 56 days across Discovery's Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse, the two experienced survivalists compare their challenges and discuss what television audiences don't see.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Surviving 71 days completely alone in the Arctic

• The physical effects of severe starvation and muscle loss

• Why survival is 90% mental

• Building a coracle to reach better fishing grounds

• The temptation to raid the production camp for food

• The unseen fishing success that never aired

• Why Andrew ultimately decided to tap out

• Alone vs Naked and Afraid

• The difference between bushcraft skills and real survival

• Andrew's advice for anyone wanting to learn wilderness survival

Andrew Thomas Price is the founder of Dryad Bushcraft and has spent over 20 years teaching traditional wilderness skills and working in outdoor television.

This is an open conversation between two survivalists who have experienced extreme conditions firsthand.

Follow Andrew Thomas Price

YouTube, Instagram and Facebook: Andrew Thomas Price

Follow Steven Kelly (Survival Ste)

Website: https://www.stevenkelly.uk

Survival courses: https://www.southwestsurvival.co.uk

The Survival Debrief Podcast brings you conversations with survival experts, adventurers, military veterans and some of the biggest names in survival television.

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Which challenge would you rather attempt: 71 days on Alone or 21 days on Naked and Afraid?

Ed Stafford joins Steven Kelly on The Survival Debrief for a wide-ranging conversation about extreme survival, military mindset, isolation, television and life after major expeditions.

Ed talks about spending 860 days walking the Amazon, including being held at gunpoint, dealing with threats from drug traffickers and indigenous groups, and the mindset that kept him moving forward when things got dark.

He also opens up about spending 60 days completely alone on Naked and Marooned, why isolation became one of the hardest experiences of his life, and how that challenge forced him to question his identity and eventually seek therapy.

Steven and Ed discuss their British Army backgrounds, the difference military training makes when dealing with discomfort, and why dropping the traditional "tough guy" armour can actually make someone stronger.

They also go behind the scenes of survival television, including the reality of self-filming, the pressure of making entertaining TV while genuinely struggling, and why the moments when you least want to turn the camera on are often the moments you should be filming.

Ed gives his thoughts on First Man Out, racing survivalists such as Josh James and Donny Dust, and whether competition can push people into unnecessary risks.

Steven also asks Ed directly whether he would ever compete on Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing.

Ed gives a clear answer.

The conversation then turns to a major Antarctica expedition that nearly happened, before Ed reveals that a new series of Marooned has already been filmed, with more episodes planned.

A very open conversation about survival, fear, mindset, identity, family, masculinity, adventure and what happens when everything familiar is stripped away.

Follow The Survival Debrief for more conversations with survivalists, explorers and adventurers.

In this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, Steven Kelly sits down with Amanda “Mandy” Wilson and Ernie Hinojos from Naked and Afraid.

Amanda and Ernie have one of the most unique stories in the franchise. They went from fans of the show to taking on a 14-day fan challenge together, then returned as a duo for a brutal 21-day challenge — surviving 35 days together across Mexico and Botswana.

This conversation goes behind the edit and into what viewers did not fully see on screen: the mental pressure, the cold nights, the lack of food, the bugs, the danger, the arguments that were handled properly, and the bond that formed through real hardship.

Amanda opens up about mindset, anxiety, gratitude and pushing through her lowest moments. Ernie talks honestly about the cold in Botswana, the pressure of survival, and why having the right partner can make or break a challenge.

We cover:

How Amanda and Ernie got onto Naked and Afraid
What it felt like meeting each other naked for the first time
The difference between Mexico and Botswana
The unseen survival work that never made the episode
Their lowest moments on challenge
Why neither of them tapped
Whether they would take on another challenge together

Hosted by Steven Kelly, former British Army Commando Forces soldier, SERE survival instructor, Naked and Afraid survivalist, and host of The Survival Debrief Podcast.

For more episodes, visit:
www.stevenkelly.uk/podcast

Follow Steven Kelly / Survival Ste:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenkelly29
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survival_ste
X: https://x.com/survival_ste

In this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, Steven Kelly speaks with William “Bill” Johnson, founder of Survival Mastery — an online survival education platform designed to teach practical outdoor, preparedness, and self-reliance skills from anywhere in the world.

Bill shares how his background in software development, aerospace, and military contract work led him to build a platform that combines streaming-style lessons with real-world tasks, instructor feedback, progress tracking, badges, and practical skill development.

Steven and Bill discuss how technology can be used to get people outside rather than keep them indoors, why basic survival skills are being lost, and how platforms like Survival Mastery could support families, Scouts, schools, outdoor learners, and anyone who wants to live more prepared.

They also cover Scouting America, Bear Grylls, disaster preparedness, fire lighting, shelter, water, bow making, field medicine, and the future of online survival training.

Steven Kelly is a former British soldier from 29 Commando Regiment, British TV survivalist, and host of The Survival Debrief Podcast. He has appeared on Naked and Afraid, Naked Alone and Racing to Get Home, and Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning.

Check out Survival Mastery:
https://survivalmastery.co

More from Steven Kelly:
Podcast page: https://www.stevenkelly.uk/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-survival-debrief-podcast-with-steven-kelly/id1844233698
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survival_ste
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenkelly29
X: https://x.com/survival_ste

In this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, Steven Kelly sits down with Waz Addy, one of the biggest names in the Naked and Afraid franchise.

Waz has completed five Naked and Afraid challenges, built up 170+ survival days, won Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, and became known as Mr 10.0 after earning the first 10.0 PSR.

This conversation goes deeper than the TV edit.

Steven and Waz talk about the brutal reality behind survival television — the sleep deprivation, the insects, the cold, the weight loss, the mental pressure, the editing, and what viewers never really get to see.

Waz breaks down his hardest challenge in the Peruvian Amazon, what made Montana so physically brutal, why he always planned to push beyond 40 days on XL, and what was going through his mind before winning Last One Standing.

They also share behind-the-scenes stories from Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse in South Africa, including leadership, banter, survival teamwork, and the side of Waz that does not always come across on screen.

Hosted by Steven Kelly — British TV survivalist, former British Army SERE instructor, and host of The Survival Debrief Podcast.

Listen to more episodes and follow the show:
www.stevenkelly.uk/podcast

Follow Steven Kelly / Survival Ste:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@survival_ste
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevenkelly29
X: https://x.com/survival_ste

Topics covered: Naked and Afraid, Waz Addy, Last One Standing, Naked and Afraid XL, survival mindset, Amazon survival, Montana survival, South Africa, survival TV, bushcraft, resilience, and behind-the-scenes survival stories.

n this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, I sit down with Jesse Lee to talk about her journey through Naked and Afraid, from her first challenge in Colombia to her redemption in South Africa. Jesse shares how she applied for the show while still serving in the military, what it was like going through the approval process with her chain of command, and how quickly the reality of the challenge hit once she stepped into the environment.

We talk about being left effectively alone in Colombia, surviving without a real partner, the monkey encounter that stood out to viewers, the cold and body temperature drop that ended her first run on day 20, and what it felt like to come back and finally complete the challenge in South Africa. Jesse also opens up about partner dynamics, mindset, redemption, and why she would still say yes to another survival challenge.

This episode is a strong listen for anyone interested in:

• Naked and Afraid
• survival mindset
• military resilience
• solo survival pressure
• redemption challenges
• outdoor grit and adaptability

In this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, I sit down with Nikki Smith to talk about her Naked and Afraid Season 14 challenge, Lost in Translation, filmed in South Africa with a partner who did not speak the same language. Nikki also shares her military background, the hoops she had to jump through to get approval to go on the show, and what it was like balancing service life with one of the hardest survival experiences of her life.

We talk about the things the edit does not fully show — the pressure, the pain, the foot injuries, the blood blisters, the exhaustion, and the mindset needed to keep moving when your body is struggling. Nikki also opens up about surviving with a positive attitude, why she would take on another challenge, and the lessons she has for anyone wanting to get into the outdoors.

This is a strong conversation about:

• military resilience
• Naked and Afraid reality
• partner dynamics
• survival mindset
• pain tolerance
• outdoor advice for beginners

In this episode of The Survival Debrief Podcast, Steven Kelly sits down with survivalist Holly to talk about her journey from running a bush survival school in Australia to taking on the brutal challenge of Naked and Afraid.

Holly shares how her background in bushcraft, primitive survival skills, and outdoor education shaped her approach to survival in the wild. We talk about the mental side of wilderness survival, the importance of positivity under pressure, problem-solving in extreme environments, and the lessons she learned from wildlife encounters, teamwork, and the physical demands of the challenge.

This is a strong conversation about survival training, mental resilience, wilderness adventure, and what it really takes to stay effective when conditions get hard.

• Holly’s background in bush survival and survival training
• Her journey from Australia to Naked and Afraid
• The role of mental resilience and positivity in survival
• Primitive survival skills and outdoor problem-solving
• Team dynamics and why partnership matters in the wild
• Lessons from wildlife, pressure, and real wilderness challenges
• Tips for aspiring survivalists and bushcraft enthusiasts

• “My partner is my number one asset.”
• “If I can do this, I can do anything.”
• “It’s a roller coaster of an experience.”

If you enjoy survival, bushcraft, outdoor skills, Naked and Afraid, and real conversations with experienced survivalists, this episode is worth watching.

Subscribe for more survival interviews, behind-the-scenes conversations, and real lessons from people who have lived it.

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In this episode:Key moments: