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Outlast, the Netflix reality TV survival competition series recently wrapped up its season 2 as the finale aired on September 11, 2024. Team Bravo's Drake and Drew emerged as the winners this season. 16 contestants competed in groups of four for a grand prize of $1 million. With the harsh weather conditions in Alaska, each team had to survive with a lack of basic necessities.
Throughout the series, each Outlast team faced various challenges, whether it was hunting for food or keeping themselves warm at night. Team Charlie faced similar obstacles leading to two of their teammates deciding to shoot the flare and stepping back from the competition.
On Outlast season 2 episode 3, Meghan Buchanan requested medics due to frostbite. At that time she had had only 250 calories in the past eight days. Meanwhile, Julio was having spasms for which he needed immediate assistance.
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In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Meghan Buchanan shared details of her time on Outlast season 2. She revealed how her positive mindset and optimistic approach to the game alongside Team Charlie's group strategy, helped them. Reflecting on her journey in Alaska, Meghan reviewed her team's performance, their strengths and weak points, as well as the challenges they had to face.
The adventure athlete also talked about her decision to shoot the flare into the sky and Bri's exit. Meghan highlighted how she "mentally prepared" herself ahead of the survival competition, Outlast. She said:
"I knew that I was mentally prepared for really difficult challenges, prepared to take on things never done before."
Meghan Buchanan reflects on her overall experience on Outlast season 2
Q. Going into the competition, on the Outlast, how did you prepare yourself beforehand, knowing you won't have access to basic necessities such as food or shelter?
That's a really good question because, by the time I knew that I was actually gonna be on the show, I didn't have a lot of time to prepare. I did as much studying as I possibly could on plants in the area, you know, forging that type of thing.
Also, I live near Colorado, near the town I grew up there, is a great place called Survival University, I actually went there for three days to really brush up on one being how to start fire. So I did as much prep as I could but I went into it knowing I'm not a survivalist and I was just mentally prepared to take on whatever came my way.
Q. What was your mindset going into the competition? During your confessional interviews, viewers saw that you had an optimistic approach to the game. How did you maintain that during your time on the Outlast?
I think that's one of the reasons that I have accomplished the Seven Summits and some of the things because I live by that positivity, tenacity, and reliance. So, I live by these principles of gratitude, growth, resilience, integrity, and tenacity. When you keep using those tools, over any challenge or obstacle you face, it allows you to keep renewing in that cycle.
If one person gets really negative it can completely change the dynamic of the entire team so I just know, through practice you've got to stay positive and keep people lifted so all of our energy goes into solutions instead of going down into a negative suckhole.
Q. Do you think that never giving up mindset was one of the positive things about team Charlie on the Outlast? Did you bring that element to your team?
I really like to think so. And you know what, I think a lot of my teammates also had that element within them. If at least one of you can stay positive, you can inspire the others around you to stay positive.
Q. Now that you've watched Outlast season 2, could you identify your team's weak points?
I think that the Charlie Camp side, our area, it wasn't as abundant as the other areas. So, we had a really windy point, we didn't have edible mushrooms around us, any wood to be able to cut down many logs. We had a lot of obstacles against us. It was hard for us to make the fire and then the biggest part was, we didn't have enough firewood to get to us, to keep us maintained through the night. So we would lose our fire and then we had to start it again. It got tough.
Q. What motivated you to join Outlast season 2? Did you watch the previous season?
I had seen it and actually the casting agency had reached out to me. For me, I love any new challenge. I'm not afraid to put myself in situations, of the unknown or where I am not skilled or I have something to learn. I'm always so excited to try something new even though I know I might suck at it, even though I know it might hurt. I really love to go through the process of learning a deeper level of myself.
Q. How much did your perspective change from when you first joined Outlast to when you were going home?
I left with such respect and eyes open to so many new things. One, I have to tell you, the crew that films us, what amazing professionals they are. I was so impressed by them, it was so cool to see how an actual production of a reality TV show goes. And then, I left with a new passion to want to learn more about true survival skills. I have such respect for people who live off the land, survivalists.
Q. If Netflix reached out to you for an Outlast spinoff, would you be willing to join it?
A hundred percent. When I was on the boat back after I flared out, I told them if you guys do a redemption show I am in, a hundred percent. It was such a fantastic experience. This is such a bonding experience, all my cast mates, everyone's on a text chain together. I'm so lucky to have met so many people. Netflix, I'm in for the redemption show.
Q. What was the one major lesson you learned from this experience on the Outlast?
I started mountaineering probably like, in my late 20s, I just turned 50. The lesson that I learned is that I've grown up and in my 20s and 30s, I would have to be dragged out of there. I would've had to have passed out and you dragged me out because I was so stubborn and really committed. My biggest lesson is, you know what, I'm gonna walk out of here and get help versus being dragged out of here. And really having that experience and knowledge to make good decisions. I was really proud of myself for that.
Q. On the Outlast season 2 episode 3, you mentioned there was a lot of micromanaging in your team. Do you think that was one of the reasons why Team Charlie struggled?
Yes, but I think if you dive deeper down into that, the problem was none of the four of us were survival experts. There wasn't one lead because there wasn't one person who had more experience in this area. I think it was difficult for us to really agree on what needed to be done first. It was more of a group mentality, so actually we did get things going pretty quickly. At the end of the day, I think the environment was a little difficult for us at our spot.
Q. What was your reaction when Outlast contestant Bri decided to leave? What was going through your mind in that moment?
When Bri left, it was not actually surprising to me. They didn't show this but we had had a conversation about it. She had a strategy and she was playing the game, I'm not mad. I'm not mad at her at all. It was more of like, 'Oh crap! now we're down to three.' I just went right into solution mode, I think with the three of us left, we remained positive and were like okay, we're going to make the best of this and we're gonna keep moving forward.
But at the end of the day, everyone needs to understand out there, that this is a reality competition, and she was playing the game. And I have no problem with Bri at all. She did a great job.
Q. Are you still in contact with your fellow Outlast cast members? Who are you now closest to?
Like I said, we are all, the 16 of us on a text chain together and it's every day. So, Emily and I are getting really close cause we both live in Colorado. I have been in close contact with Julio since, like over the last year. And then Joey. A lot of us are really close. I have gotten really close with Tina and Tonia. We've also started just girls, the five of us, on a chain as well.
Q. What is one piece of advice or a message you want to share with the audience? How did you achieve this positive mindset?
Goals are obstacles, life constantly throws us obstacles that we didn't want. But when something like that is thrown at you, change your narrative and make it your goal. Own it, own what is happening in your life. The way that you're gonna get through it is, you're gonna take a step forward. And even when you wanna give up, you're going to make the choice to take another step forward.
Outlast season 2 is available on Netflix.
