Quinn has sought out and discovered amazing “Alone” participants since Season 5.
How do you find people for the show?
Last we checked, we had 60,000-plus emails in our inbox. We’re a small team and can’t read them all. So it’s helpful when people front-load their emails with relevant details. Tell us if you lived in remote locations, or any unique survival situations you’ve had, showcasing your ability to not die. Also, a sense of humor really helps us “get” who you are.
Some amazing diamonds in the rough came into our inbox who we’d never have found. Roland Welker (Season 7 winner) didn’t write in—his sister wrote for him. He didn’t have a computer, a smartphone or email. He lived in a town of eight people called Red Devil, Alaska. He’d never filmed himself. But he filmed for 100 days straight. He’s the series record holder for longest time out.
How do you screen your short list?
We do a robust, three-hour psych evaluation. Everyone takes a physical, to make sure they’re healthy enough to participate. We have some non-negotiables—medical history that could pose real risks in the wild—but we try to be as flexible as we can without putting anyone at risk. We also do background checks, social media sweeps. They take swim tests.
How are survival skills assessed?
Our survival experts carry out lengthy interviews including a practical test of specific survival skills. They’re not always looking for the end result. They’re looking for how people deal with tools, fear, safety—and whether they follow exact instructions. They’re trying to determine whether the candidate knows their materials and uses them safely. Are they performing that bow drill fire test in a really windy place? Not ideal.
