Was gutted to see you taken off under those circumstances Mike. At the end of the day, Alone is a TV game show and not a controlled survival experiment. Once most of the contestants have tapped out and a compelling ‘narrative’ has emerged, the producers have a vested interest in wrapping up the competition and heading into post-production as soon as possible. I don’t doubt the doctors were acting in good faith, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the higher-ups told them to ‘err on the side of caution’ once it was just you and Gina. In any case, I think you’re a legend and look forward to seeing what you do next 💪
I was trying to think about the economics of producing the show. The daily rate for the boat, skipper, safety/medical staff, videographers all adds up. I wonder at what point they would reach their break even point for what they could sell the series for.
I thought about the cost too, and some more red flags: the way the show was edited, it was more emotional than about survival. I think in the end, the saddest story won.
This isn’t fair to producers or Gina. Gina was clearly in a stronger health position. The doctors would have been mindful of not letting Mike get to the point where he was unsafe coming back to the world. What if they let him go longer, was in worse shape coming home, then contracted influenza or covid with no reserves? Or was in an accident? They can’t let you get to the point where you can’t withstand additional health strains upon returning. Mike was clearly nervous about being pulled - he knew within himself he was getting close to the limit. He was clearly upset but I don’t think he was surprised. You also have to think about crew and medic safety - they are at risk going into that environment. If Mike suddenly had serious health issues due to starvation and needed urgent extraction at night or in bad weather, that would risk the lives of others. Mike was surviving, Gina was thriving. Dragging it on was entering a risk zone that was deemed unacceptable which is fair enough.
@@shaeheart Not sure why you think I’m being unfair to Gina. She was clearly doing great and appeared to be in a better position than Mike when he was removed - noting that circumstances could easily have changed for either of them had the show continued past 64 days. I won’t speculate further on what motivated the producers to drop Mike when they did - other than to restate the fact that each day the competition continued probably set them back thousands in salaries and opportunity cost. It’s naive to think that wasn’t a factor in their decision making.
Get ready for the invite to alone USA, loved watching you and Gina going those 30 plus days more than all others, a note to the producers they missed the best bit, the early episodes spent way to much time watching a parade of people go home, no criticism of those people but way too much airtime for me. The final 2 episodes covered 30 days of an amazing adventure starvation & survival. 2 different approaches, 2 very different people with the same goal made unbelievable viewing. Loved your comment of after watching the show you also wanted Gina to win, a very humble honest beautiful sentiment. Thanks to you both you did Alone Australia proud. I discovered your UA-cam channel after Alone and you are a most inclusive, determined, skilled, inspirational people to have created unbelievable content on youtube. Hurry up and finish that film I want to see the dugout canoe and I’m eagerly awaiting the book on the Great Barrier Reef adventure. Thanks for sharing, I am as equally amazed by your skills as by your thoughts and determination. Thanks no matter what the task everything is possible
I think it’s also a testament to the talent & expertise of the editing to make so many people even Mike (!!) barrack for Gina … Welldone, editing team and social engineers.
I think the psychology of having the extraction decision made by someone else is very different to the decision being made by yourself. It adds a level of exasperation and frustration to the end of a long journey with you being at the wheel the whole time. Well done for overcoming that Mike.
Thanks heaps Mike, you've done a great job of explaining things without sounding like a sore loser - which I'm sure you aren't. It was a fascinating show to watch and your recaps have been greatly appreciated. After watching you on the show I'm completely unsurprised that you've been so constructive, especially with regard to Gina - you're a much better man than some of the insecure gronks making comments about her.
It's a real shame about Covid. Thanks for the detailed explanation, it's really fascinating what goes on behind the scenes that we don't get to see. So much thinking and strategy is required to stick it out out there. Well done !!
You did really great Mike. Alone isn't a genuine competition, it's a show. There are hidden rules and some of them are arbitrary. Hard truth is that they want the most watchable show for the least dollars, and you were easier to pull than Gina. But gotta say you were inspiring
I was tempted to think along this line. But then, I think the doctors had some very objective limits relating to weight loss rate, blood pressure etc. So it was a medical decision, not a production decision.
You did amazing, they do this in TV all the time. Its all manipulated, but your explanation is great if you refer anybody to this video, they well know that this has happened throughout all of the alone shows. They manipulated the narrative to make people like a certain character in particular the characters who win. Who knows they may have wrapped the show up quick because in amercia the show lasts about 45 days and alone Australia was 60 days. They probly got sick off waiting, this is why i commented on all the videos of alone Australian, saying how the competitors should thrive not survive, maybe some challenges to determine the winner. But also like u said clovid would of caused high blood pressure at the intial health check and then after you healed from clovid your blood pressure got too low
@Chris Dewhurst highly disagree TV shows don't care about fairness ever. All they want is entertainment views a particular narrative, constantly showing things about aboriginals and the land. It's all planned and based on what they want out of the show nothing else
Mike you weren't the only one suss on that wallaby it certainly didn't look like a fresh kill, and she seemed to change her normal patterns to go for that piss after dark and the camera scenes after the 'kill' were strange to say the least... I always considered some form of illegal trap might have been used... but enough of the conspiracies Sounds like she may have won either way given her fishing successes. You were both easily the most impressive and the producers were probably honestly scared that you would both live out there indefinitely. Don't worry about the 'portrayal' it was pretty clear how in tune with nature you are and your intuition, skills and resilience shone through! Good luck with your future endeavours.
These recaps have been really great Mike. Super impressed by your bushcraft and engineering skills, tenacity, analysis, ability behind and talking to the camera and the way you celebrated the attributes and achievements of other participants even in the face of a tough medical decision
Well done Mike! So good to hear your side of the story. Your character and attitude shone through despite the biased editing. I hope the film and book are a huge success and that this only increases your reach and platform.
Would LOVE to see you back on another season of Alone. So happy my two favourites made it to the end but wish they let you stay a bit longer! Definitely loved seeing you out in your element and thank you so much for doing these videos and giving us a peek behind the curtain!
Ive gone for a run and a wallaby literally fell over and broke its neck trying to get away from me. Crazy things can happen out there. Gina got some good furtune for sure but she had some great skills
I always have to remind myself as I'm watching that I'm probably not getting the whole story, so I really appreciate that you're taking the time to fill in the gaps for us
Listening to your analysis is fascinating -- almost more interesting than watching the show. Thanks for sharing Mike. You are one tough, skilled guy. You and Gina both deserved the win but it just broke her way at the end. All the best to you, mate!
Great to hear your thought on the finale. The CoViD variable helps explain your getting pulled because you certainly didn’t appear to be requiring a medical extraction. If not for CoViD you and Gina could both still be living out there. Hoping you get another opportunity in a future series as you were great to watch. It’s a shame so much footage didn’t make it of phase 2 and not showing your pademelon catch played into the story of you needing the extraction I guess. Glad you have found some peace with it all and thanks again for the recaps and extra info you’ve provided. I’m hear for any extra stuff you are allowed to share about the show. 🙂
Great detailed recap and analysis, really enjoyed it. I agree your portrayal was a little unfair having been a subscriber of yours before alone. I was surprised how quick they jumped though the last 30 odd days. To me the most interesting part is the details of how you were both trying to build sustainability. I would’ve loved to seen more on what you’ve discussed here, all your little camp builds and trapping evolution etc. In the end though it is an entertainment show for mostly non survival viewers and the producers build a storyline to suit. As you mentioned Gina certainly had an aura that was captivating on camera and just so grounded and present in the moment. It was great to watch you both and I certainly think you’ve enhanced your own reputation. Thanks again for the journey.
Glad you made this video as the show made it look like you weren't trying that hard. Listening to you here, no way i could have survived it for that long. Stand proud.
It looked like almost swamp lands no running current. Amazing you made a canoe to get out. You killed it mate. I'm a light weight so missing even 5 days of food is massive. How wallaby and possums never got caught up in your traps is beyond me. I'm considering applying for Alone. But leg crushed at work has set me back at least 2 years. All the best mate you earned my respect.
I was so impressed and in awe of your Alone journey. I loved spotting all the comfort items you made along the way. I feel you did luck out a little on your allotted area. Yet you seemed to always make the best of what you had and always did your best. Congratulations and thanks for some great TV watching.
I had a feeling those worms would escape. Congratulations Mike, you 'are' a winner. And thanks for the inspiration. I'm the same age as you with debilitating arthritis, so watching individuals like you motivates me to get back to doing the things I love.
Mike, you did so well and it was so great watching you. I was so disappointed when they removed you and i agree that you certainly could have continued. I agree with the other comments about it just being a game show but you were seriously inspiring and i love your attitude and ingenuity. Good stuff and I look forward to your future stories and videos!!
Mate, your mindset and approach was great. Gina was so relaxed and just took it all in her stride and I loved it cause it's the opposite way I would have approached it. I would have tried to take it on like you. Such a good series and really enjoyed watching you battle the elements.
Great job Mike, our household was flipping back and forth rooting for yourself and Gina right from episode one. I just wanted to add that our perspective of you was not as a conqueror and your understanding and respect of the natural world was clear. You just don't survive that long without it. Congratulations on your efforts, legendary work!
Congrats - it was a huge effort. Unlucky with the near misses and COVID set back but it was clear you had serious skills and you left with heaps of dignity at the end. You and Gina were awesome finalists - made for a really good series.
Mike, this is such a fascinating listen. So much knowledge and context given here, learnt a lot just listening to this. Geez I really hope you get invited to a redemption Alone season, so much more to see from you. Also, massive respect for your piece at end of this video. Even as a viewer of the show as it aired, it was crystal clear to me that you were a respectful lover of the environment and the land and nature, was never any doubt, we see it in the little things and subtleties. Love your work and your passion.
Your respect for nature came through too! It was more that your personalities were so different, but your values seemed the same. Keen to follow more of your adventures
Well done mate, hopefully see you back on alone for an all star season. Would love to see some videos explaining some of your bushcraft and how you built different things.
I have immensely enjoyed Alone Australia and your recaps, and have been inspired by your and Gina's efforts. The human body is capable of so much more than I thought it was; in particular how much food it can get by on. I would love you to do a video on this subject and how the body copes, what it needs, what it feels like to go without for so long, the value of regular fasting etc. I have ordered your book. I look forward to more Outback Mike adventures. Thanks.
Thanks Peter. I will make a video about starving. I shot a bunch of video on my phone straight afterwards about it. I just haven’t had time to edit it yet. Too busy with the book😂
Thanks so much for the recap. It’s a shame they raced through essentially half the time you guys were out there; so much interesting and totally relevant goings on would have been left on the cutting room floor, so to speak. I actually have a query I hope you can answer: at one point Gina comes across a snake and I mentions potentially trying to catch it for food, implying that they were on the ‘ok to hunt’ list. This doesn’t make any sense, as all three (not four, as the show mentioned early on) Tasmanian snake species are highly protected, more so than brush tail possum and wallaby (which can be hunted or culled under certain circumstances). And of course notwithstanding the fact both copperheads and tiger snakes are highly venomous and unlikely to be killed without putting the person at extreme risk. I’m actually qualified in snake rescue and there’s no way in hell I’d attempt to grab one without proper tools! Actually if you want an idea for a video, an explainer on all the rules and conditions placed on you would be great. I love Alone as a concept but the way they drip feed out that kind of info when they feel it suits is really frustrating!
There were several texts on the screen where special dispensation was made for the contestants with regard to killing some species that would otherwise be out of bounds.
@@teeanahera8949 Yes but they would have been for very mundane technicalities like taking trout out of season, taking wallaby and (maybe) certain duck species without a hunting or crop protection permit and taking possum without a fur harvesting permit ie. logically sidestepping existing controls/limits/requirements that can usually be taken under specific circumstances that the contestants wouldn’t be able to meet. Snakes on the other hand are completely protected in the same way quolls, platypus, wombats and basically every other native species is. Seems very odd all round, just wondering what the actual deal was?
What an interesting update. Fascinating to hear about the effects of moon phases on fishing. Glad you have reconciled yourself with the disappointment of being pulled. As a fan of the show, I was quite surprised by a number of things: the editorial choices, in particular. I think a lot of interest for many viewers is held in the construction of shelters and devices, the crafting, the ingenuity displayed, especially using found objects. You were a real McGuyver out there, and I really wish the programme makers had shown more of that. The other thing which surprised me was the speed with which they zoomed through the final weeks. Compared to other series, I thought it was way too fast. And the final aspect which surprised me was your untimely extraction. Yes, you definitely looked wasted. But as you say, you were still functioning in a rational way. I wonder whether in upcoming vid you would talk about your decision to live in a rather flimsy tent? I can’t help feeling that you’d have retained more weight and condition if your shelter were warmer and more substantial. Thank you Mike!
Thanks. I was warm in my sleeping bag. If I’d burnt more calories building a fancy shelter I would probably have been removed earlier. There’s a time and place for it but only if it’s necessary.
I'm vegetarian and even I wanted you to catch a padymelon. After watching this video I'm even more annoyed you got pulled, I would have loved to see your elastic snap trap work and catch one, that's crazy cool. Well, it was a better outcome than you having a covid-induced heart attack and not coming back at all. But yeah, I would have looooved if they'd put all that stuff about the moon phases and the fish in the episode. That's super clever! I would watch the hell out of a show that shows you making all the stuff you did that they didn't show
Keen to hear more about the experience of starvation. As a person fortunate enough to always have access to food, it’s really hard to imagine mentally tolerating not eating for weeks, and resisting the urge to quit to make the hunger end. Also keen to hear more about your plans for leveraging your exposure in Alone to support adventuring as a career
in case Mike doesn't see this: have a look at the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and the Warsaw Ghetto Hunger Study, conducted during WWII in wildly different circumstances. the MSE was a controlled environment with volunteers; the WGHS happened because the Nazis had imposed food restrictions on the Warsaw Jewish community (according to wikipedia, just 180 calories each) before outright murdering them.. Jewish doctors decided to track the effects and managed to get the bulk of their data out before the Nazis killed them. i'm pretty certain more modern research has been conducted among refugee camps, famine victims, that kind of thing, but those two are the ones i remember off the top of my head. they both have wiki pages which act as summaries, otherwise you can search them on google scholar and i'm certain you'd find modern interpretations. for a less horrifying experience, have a look at organisations dedicated to helping people with eating disorders. i recommend Eating Disorders QLD (EDQ), Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH, USA), and National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC, Canada) - all of them have factsheets about current research and best practice. this is a well-studied area! if Mike doesn't respond, there are tonnes of folks who can fill that gap. ^_^
Mate, high respect for you Unfortunate to see you get pulled out, but I admire your will to live and your strong skills and mindset Thank you for your service too, I too am in the military I enjoyed watching you thrive out there mate
I binge watched the entire series today. I really enjoyed your creativity in using your survival skills. At the end though when you were pulled I wondered and still do, what would of happened if Gina's medical check wasn't good either. Would they have made the show a tie? It seems like they should have checked you and checked her and then made the decision to pull you or her based on who was the worst medically. I know you've thought it through a hundred times more than me. You have a new subscriber here!
Have enjoyed your recaps on the series. What shines through is that you really know your stuff. I’ve been catching up on your other vids a tad envious. Your disappointment at being ‘extracted’ is tangible but I love your respect and admiration for Gina. Bravo 🙌
Hey Mike, I agree watching all seasons and the Aussie season, I was a little perplexed on why they pulled you. To be honest, you were rapidly losing weight but you were clear headed and seemed ok physically. Your approach was solid - if weight gain before the event, a plus knowledge, analysis of situation, putting all tools to the test.... Mate was awesome effort. I agree, I think was a bum move pulling you for sure. Can't wait to see you in an all stars mate, it's have to have you in it!
Great recap Mike. I really hope it's not the last we see of you in the Alone landscape. Might be a long wait for a pure Australian redemption series, but perhaps an international series held on neutral land - that would be amazing. Do u have any more copies of Surviving the Kimberley to plug?
Hi Mike just wanna say that I still see you as a winner, you did very well, you lasted that long and didn't quit which is a huge achievement. You remained calm most of the time and you have very good skills. You did pretty well. it was refreshing to see you when everyone was quitting so quickly.
Just finished watching Alone Australia and I've gotta say, you were absolutely inspirational. You never broke, the small bouts of frustration were totally understandable but you never actually broke. And that fishing rod! That was awesome! You did so well mate. Got another subscriber to the channel 👍
It's a shame both you and Jimmy had your experiences cut short because of something out of your control. Is there any chance more unreleased footage will see the light of day? Also, what made you decide to go with net traps as opposed to the box trap you demo'd in your prep?
Really enjoyed how innovative, active and positive you were. All the way through. Didnt get the wibe that you'd go against nature at all. Quite opposite. And It was quite easy to see the place you are coming from no matter the narrative. Watching these shows you always choose a person you want to win. I couldnt choose between you and Gina. Both of you guys were a pleasure to watch and to learn from. Both of you came with an attitude of being self sustainable for months in front instead of just outlasting others and leave drained physically. Was hard to see how luck sometimes wouldnt be on your side. After all I was just hoping none of you would tap out soon or nothing would happen so you guys would need to be removed. Would watch the whole show of only footage of you two doing things there. Watched all the US, UK and AU shows. This one is my favourite one because of you two. Thanks for the stories you share. Subscribing and wishing all the best.
great work mike and a minumental effort. bad luck with the covid mate that sucks but i envy your adventure. the moon phase effect on the eels is facinating. congrats to gona and looking forward to a redemtion of alone. keen to give your book a read when it comes out :D
Yes that was super interesting. It would be great to hear a longer chat/womble from Mike about the fishing. Yabbies? Anything else going? Rules and limits etc.
Hi Mike, Have been following your journey since just before you left on your Surviving the Kimberley expedition. The only time I've turned the TV on this year has been to watch Alone Australia. :) Your recaps have made an interesting show so much more enjoyable as we have been able to learn of some of the behind-the-scenes things. Here are some questions if you are allowed to answer them: How did you keep track of the time each day? Was time less important the longer you were alone? How did you keep track of how many days you had been in isolation? How often did the medical checks happen? Did you wonder how many competitors were left when you were extracted? What was the time frame from when you were extracted until the reunion episode was filmed? Did you go home and then go back for the reunion? Can you tell us anything about boot camp? Did you have to dismantle your camp or did the extraction team do it? Was it difficult to be able to keep some of the things you made? What was the first thing you ate after being extracted? Disappointed for you that you didn't win, but congrats on getting as far as you did.
Hi Mike, what an incredible story and such interesting insights into what happened out there that didn’t make it into the show. Absolutely love hearing how you found it out there, telling your own version of events and not the producers. You where a total weapon and it’s such a shame that they pulled you when you when they did. Thank you for your videos, I’ll definitely be checking your book out, keep on adventuring and telling your story! I’ve seen many of the US Alone seasons and none of the contestants come close to your level of careful calculation throughout. I really hope they do a reunion competition somewhere around the globe that you can join in on! Really think you deserve a win and prize some money! All the best, legend.
I've loved all these recaps and videos of your clothes and your 10 items that you have put up. As someone who has no prior survival skills/knowledge your explanations have been great as you don't skip over steps by assuming we already know the basics but you have still kept it really interesting by delving into the analysis and scientific explanations. From your first videos I could clearly see your love for the land and you have succeeded in increasing my respect for the way that Aboriginal people manage the bush as you explained why it is better in a scientific objective manner which was really easy to understand. I have my fingers crossed that you get another chance in a future season of Alone.
Well done man. Taken out by a “technicality”. You know your body better than anyone. I really appreciated all your updates. My wife and I knew there would have been “behind the scenes” things happening etc., not to mention recorded footage that was never used. I’ve been a long time subscriber. Love your work.
Reason your blood pressure was not right is that the producers wanted it finished. If spring had hit you two would’ve been out there for another 6 months. Reason Gina flourished is that she had a mindset that it was her new home, and she had a great supply of worms. Also, if you had got some red meat you would’ve had iron which would’ve helped. You had some pretty bad luck there.
Thanks for posting this. The narrative worked on me and I came searching for answers. I’m glad Gina posted that you both have a shared love for country. I think SBS could’ve added all that and still gone with the same opposing narrative. It’s borderline character defamation. Congrats anyway on the achievement!
Really appreciate that awesome recap of your experience Mike. Great. To be reminded of the inevitable media massage of storylines & tropes: the flow-with-nature Amazonian, - the hardened nature-taming military engineer-the faith-in-God believer - the woke would-be vegetarian - the native wisdom keepers. All with a grain of truth, I’m sure- at least they didn’t focus on the sentimentality of the US series 🥲 Haha- I know who I would choose to buddy up with if put in that situation 😉 Having just binge-watched the first three episodes of the USA series - I think I’m satiated. Your recaps were as engaging as the episodes… & without having to mute the ads bonus 😀
You should have won that show mate i felt you were hard done by when they said you couldnt continue and watching your journey was far more impressive to see with your bushcraft skills it was amazing i feel as though you did the best out of everyone on the entire show
Wow! Absolutely shocked how much wasn't included in the series?! They should really consider making more content out of the collated footage, even just a montage type of amazing builds, or just covering the actual extremities of the food gathering, god they really make it all out for suspense- for better or worse I suppose.
Congratulations Mike, I commend you too, on a fabulous job well-done. Your recaps are great to watch, I hope you can do, it all again, if they do,another Alone australia, best of 2ishes on your future journeys, I would not do this for millions I'd fail within 48hours. Cheers Sandra 💮
Much respect brother. You are authentic, resilient and inspiring! Sorry that you had a somewhat unfair experience of it all. Hell yes to your book!!! Super keen :) are you going to release videos of that journey as well?
Awesome recap Mike. These videos have really added to the experience of watching the show given the editing constraints of putting their production together. Its funny little things that we as viewers take away. I walked past a sugar packed impulse buy at the supermarket this week and was like - nope don't need that, Mike's just lasted 60+ days I'll be good for 6 hrs and tough it out to dinner :-) From a technical point of view I think that was 15mins into the video until your first edit. That is really hard to do when you are capturing a blog video.
This is a fascinating, thoughtful recap, showing your true good sportsmanship and that analytical, technical mind that makes you such a competent survivalist. It's a shame that even such an 'unscripted' reality show had to manipulate the audience by selectively editing footage to pigeonhole contestants into selected stereotypes - Gina was portrayed as the laidback spiritual 'Earth Mother', at one with nature, hence her 'blessings' of fortuitous food, whilst you were the intense, science-based 'Technical Guy', attempting to combat nature with gadgets, hence the lack of luck. In reality, you were both equally worthy of respect and success, both in the show and in life after. If I was shipwrecked on some remote shore with either of you, I'd feel very fortunate. All the best with the book and your adventure films.
It was a very restricted series. Understanding of the terrain, but they could have attempted a desert scenario. More compatible to our nature. You and Kate were awesome to watch though. Cheers.
Thanks for talking about all your other activities Mike. I did feel you were protrayed in the show as a bit focused on complex solutions, so it is good to know that you were also trying more basic fishing and plant gathering as was shown for some of the other contenstants. Also difficult to understand why they didn't show your last pademelon capture (and break-out) given they showed the earlier near misses. I would have also liked to see a bit more footage of you (and others) actually making things out there. Given COVID is so new and the medium - long term effects not well understood, it makes some sense that they had to exercise some extra caution with your health. Would have been good if they had mentioned that in the show as part of the reason for pulling you out. What do you think of the idea that Gina's design for a more enclosed and insulated shelter might have helped her reduce weight loss by helping her keep warmer at night? Also, how did you know where your 'territory' ended? Were there markers?
Just finished watching the season. Wow, just wow. I kind of wish you and Gina had been in different seasons so that you could each win a show. Also they should give you all the footage they didn't use, so that you can use it in your channel or make your own show. Just an aside, When you describe at 24 minutes how there are some days between a person being immobilised by starvation and them dying, don't forget - there's a point of no return where you're alive but can't be saved even if you're given food, because the villi in your stomach have died.
Thanks. I’ve never seen a reference to the stomach thing you mention. It haven’t experienced it and I’ve pushed my body much further that where I was at when they pulled me out.
You were awesome Mike. Thanks for that recap. Loved watching your analytical brain pull apart problems and engineer solutions. Q: do you think that you lost more weight because your shelter was rudimentary and uninsulated? I would think that your body would've worked much harder to keep you warm and well compared to Gina's 'insulated' shelter. Best wishes!
So much respect for you Mike. I've loved your recaps.I lalso ove that you all have such camaraderie with each other, especially you and Gina, it shows it not about being competitive and having a conquering mentality, but it all comes down to respect and love. For each other and for the land. Can't wait to read your book.
You were smashing it out there mate. I can’t believe they took you out. I think luck and location were the only reason you didn’t thrive like everyone knows you normally would have.
I'm really glad I watched this video. I can understand why you feel a disappointed. I really don't think you need to be tho. Your tenacity and engineering was second to none. I'm sorry we didn't see more of it and all the things u made & other near misses and of the last 34 days in general. I don't think you were being portrayed as working against nature in a conquering way. You were just doing your thing. Definately trying to engineer your way through tho. It wouldve been interesting to see how long you'd both lasted if you'd been left out there and caught some more food. Maybe youd both still be there? 🤷♀️ At least you can edit your own survival mission movies your own way from here on. Its what you take from it that counts and Gina was definately a worthy winner. 🙏🏼
Amazing effort - I really got a lot out of watching these recaps alongside of the Alone episodes thank you 😊 The iris like plant could have been a Dianella species… berries also edible… we do have a native iris like species (Patersonia sp) but it’s unlikely to occur in that area.
Mike you were obviously a serious competitor and were never going to tap out, I am sure you would have died before giving up and part of the game of winning is luck that you can't control - which has happened to many otherwise good competitors in previous series. Even if they left you out there a bit longer it sounds like Gina would still have won. You did extremely well considering the difficult circumstances and good luck with your future career!
When do you plan to release the barrier reef adventure series, watched all the buildup vids and been waiting for it…hope to see it soon. Great job on alone, enjoyed the series and your recaps, thought you would do well, bad luck on the medevac.
Was gutted to see you taken off under those circumstances Mike. At the end of the day, Alone is a TV game show and not a controlled survival experiment. Once most of the contestants have tapped out and a compelling ‘narrative’ has emerged, the producers have a vested interest in wrapping up the competition and heading into post-production as soon as possible. I don’t doubt the doctors were acting in good faith, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the higher-ups told them to ‘err on the side of caution’ once it was just you and Gina. In any case, I think you’re a legend and look forward to seeing what you do next 💪
I was trying to think about the economics of producing the show. The daily rate for the boat, skipper, safety/medical staff, videographers all adds up. I wonder at what point they would reach their break even point for what they could sell the series for.
I thought about the cost too, and some more red flags: the way the show was edited, it was more emotional than about survival. I think in the end, the saddest story won.
This isn’t fair to producers or Gina. Gina was clearly in a stronger health position. The doctors would have been mindful of not letting Mike get to the point where he was unsafe coming back to the world. What if they let him go longer, was in worse shape coming home, then contracted influenza or covid with no reserves? Or was in an accident? They can’t let you get to the point where you can’t withstand additional health strains upon returning. Mike was clearly nervous about being pulled - he knew within himself he was getting close to the limit. He was clearly upset but I don’t think he was surprised. You also have to think about crew and medic safety - they are at risk going into that environment. If Mike suddenly had serious health issues due to starvation and needed urgent extraction at night or in bad weather, that would risk the lives of others. Mike was surviving, Gina was thriving. Dragging it on was entering a risk zone that was deemed unacceptable which is fair enough.
@@shaeheart Not sure why you think I’m being unfair to Gina. She was clearly doing great and appeared to be in a better position than Mike when he was removed - noting that circumstances could easily have changed for either of them had the show continued past 64 days.
I won’t speculate further on what motivated the producers to drop Mike when they did - other than to restate the fact that each day the competition continued probably set them back thousands in salaries and opportunity cost. It’s naive to think that wasn’t a factor in their decision making.
@@lukeo5908 How long is a length of string - Speculatively speaking?
Get ready for the invite to alone USA, loved watching you and Gina going those 30 plus days more than all others, a note to the producers they missed the best bit, the early episodes spent way to much time watching a parade of people go home, no criticism of those people but way too much airtime for me. The final 2 episodes covered 30 days of an amazing adventure starvation & survival. 2 different approaches, 2 very different people with the same goal made unbelievable viewing. Loved your comment of after watching the show you also wanted Gina to win, a very humble honest beautiful sentiment. Thanks to you both you did Alone Australia proud. I discovered your UA-cam channel after Alone and you are a most inclusive, determined, skilled, inspirational people to have created unbelievable content on youtube. Hurry up and finish that film I want to see the dugout canoe and I’m eagerly awaiting the book on the Great Barrier Reef adventure. Thanks for sharing, I am as equally amazed by your skills as by your thoughts and determination. Thanks no matter what the task everything is possible
I think it’s also a testament to the talent & expertise of the editing to make so many people even Mike (!!) barrack for Gina … Welldone, editing team and social engineers.
@@HonorableBeniah-A lol
Thanks so much.
Here’s the book;
outbackmike.com/product/modern-day-castaway-book/
@@OutbackMike classic Cover photo… Congrats Mike 🌞
I think the psychology of having the extraction decision made by someone else is very different to the decision being made by yourself. It adds a level of exasperation and frustration to the end of a long journey with you being at the wheel the whole time. Well done for overcoming that Mike.
Thanks. Yes you’re right. It’s very different psychology, even more so when you don’t think it’s necessary.
Thanks heaps Mike, you've done a great job of explaining things without sounding like a sore loser - which I'm sure you aren't. It was a fascinating show to watch and your recaps have been greatly appreciated. After watching you on the show I'm completely unsurprised that you've been so constructive, especially with regard to Gina - you're a much better man than some of the insecure gronks making comments about her.
She was literally the only tough contestant. The producers rigged it that way.
@@HonorableBeniah-A what makes you think that it was rigged? Do you have some insider knowledge?
@@seanalexander9531 I signed an NDA
@@HonorableBeniah-A of course you did 🙄
It's a real shame about Covid. Thanks for the detailed explanation, it's really fascinating what goes on behind the scenes that we don't get to see. So much thinking and strategy is required to stick it out out there. Well done !!
Thanks. Yeah it makes it a good challenge.
You did really great Mike. Alone isn't a genuine competition, it's a show. There are hidden rules and some of them are arbitrary. Hard truth is that they want the most watchable show for the least dollars, and you were easier to pull than Gina. But gotta say you were inspiring
I was tempted to think along this line. But then, I think the doctors had some very objective limits relating to weight loss rate, blood pressure etc. So it was a medical decision, not a production decision.
You did amazing, they do this in TV all the time. Its all manipulated, but your explanation is great if you refer anybody to this video, they well know that this has happened throughout all of the alone shows. They manipulated the narrative to make people like a certain character in particular the characters who win.
Who knows they may have wrapped the show up quick because in amercia the show lasts about 45 days and alone Australia was 60 days. They probly got sick off waiting, this is why i commented on all the videos of alone Australian, saying how the competitors should thrive not survive, maybe some challenges to determine the winner.
But also like u said clovid would of caused high blood pressure at the intial health check and then after you healed from clovid your blood pressure got too low
@Chris Dewhurst highly disagree TV shows don't care about fairness ever. All they want is entertainment views a particular narrative, constantly showing things about aboriginals and the land. It's all planned and based on what they want out of the show nothing else
Lol, watching Alone Australia, I thought “these are the people want to give China a go” I had a great chuckle.
Mike you weren't the only one suss on that wallaby it certainly didn't look like a fresh kill, and she seemed to change her normal patterns to go for that piss after dark and the camera scenes after the 'kill' were strange to say the least... I always considered some form of illegal trap might have been used... but enough of the conspiracies
Sounds like she may have won either way given her fishing successes. You were both easily the most impressive and the producers were probably honestly scared that you would both live out there indefinitely. Don't worry about the 'portrayal' it was pretty clear how in tune with nature you are and your intuition, skills and resilience shone through! Good luck with your future endeavours.
18:22 ‘fricken ninjas with night vision’…gold!
These recaps have been really great Mike. Super impressed by your bushcraft and engineering skills, tenacity, analysis, ability behind and talking to the camera and the way you celebrated the attributes and achievements of other participants even in the face of a tough medical decision
so true
Thanks Ben
Well done Mike! So good to hear your side of the story. Your character and attitude shone through despite the biased editing. I hope the film and book are a huge success and that this only increases your reach and platform.
Thanks Oliver🙏
Would LOVE to see you back on another season of Alone.
So happy my two favourites made it to the end but wish they let you stay a bit longer!
Definitely loved seeing you out in your element and thank you so much for doing these videos and giving us a peek behind the curtain!
No worries. 🙏 Thank you
Mike you’re such a legend and such a role model. I think Gina is too. Love your ingenuity, your message and your positive spirit.
🙏 thanks !
You were very inspiring on the show Mike! Congrats on getting as far you did.
Thanks Luke🙏
Ive gone for a run and a wallaby literally fell over and broke its neck trying to get away from me. Crazy things can happen out there. Gina got some good furtune for sure but she had some great skills
Yeah, and Mike couldn't even catch a wallaby while going for a wee! 😂😂😂😂
just watched the reunion. this review so much better. Id watch a series of just you and Gina. SBS produce a Gina/mike series?
I always have to remind myself as I'm watching that I'm probably not getting the whole story, so I really appreciate that you're taking the time to fill in the gaps for us
Thanks 🙏
Listening to your analysis is fascinating -- almost more interesting than watching the show. Thanks for sharing Mike. You are one tough, skilled guy. You and Gina both deserved the win but it just broke her way at the end. All the best to you, mate!
Thanks Jon 🙏
Great to hear your thought on the finale. The CoViD variable helps explain your getting pulled because you certainly didn’t appear to be requiring a medical extraction. If not for CoViD you and Gina could both still be living out there. Hoping you get another opportunity in a future series as you were great to watch. It’s a shame so much footage didn’t make it of phase 2 and not showing your pademelon catch played into the story of you needing the extraction I guess.
Glad you have found some peace with it all and thanks again for the recaps and extra info you’ve provided. I’m hear for any extra stuff you are allowed to share about the show. 🙂
Great detailed recap and analysis, really enjoyed it. I agree your portrayal was a little unfair having been a subscriber of yours before alone. I was surprised how quick they jumped though the last 30 odd days. To me the most interesting part is the details of how you were both trying to build sustainability. I would’ve loved to seen more on what you’ve discussed here, all your little camp builds and trapping evolution etc. In the end though it is an entertainment show for mostly non survival viewers and the producers build a storyline to suit. As you mentioned Gina certainly had an aura that was captivating on camera and just so grounded and present in the moment. It was great to watch you both and I certainly think you’ve enhanced your own reputation.
Thanks again for the journey.
Thanks Steve. Much appreciated.
Gina was a beautiful soul. Mike was a sweary git.
Great recap.
Any chance SBS will release your tapes to you? I would love to see more of your phase 2 experience. Cheers
Wouldn’t that be a treat! I doubt they’d do it though.
Thanks. Yes it would be great to have them😂
Glad you made this video as the show made it look like you weren't trying that hard. Listening to you here, no way i could have survived it for that long. Stand proud.
It looked like almost swamp lands no running current. Amazing you made a canoe to get out. You killed it mate. I'm a light weight so missing even 5 days of food is massive. How wallaby and possums never got caught up in your traps is beyond me. I'm considering applying for Alone. But leg crushed at work has set me back at least 2 years. All the best mate you earned my respect.
Thanks 🙏
I was so impressed and in awe of your Alone journey. I loved spotting all the comfort items you made along the way. I feel you did luck out a little on your allotted area. Yet you seemed to always make the best of what you had and always did your best. Congratulations and thanks for some great TV watching.
Thanks Jena. Did you spot the Mexican bar stool under my bed😂. It was great for when I cooked on the fire.
I had a feeling those worms would escape. Congratulations Mike, you 'are' a winner. And thanks for the inspiration. I'm the same age as you with debilitating arthritis, so watching individuals like you motivates me to get back to doing the things I love.
Mike, you did so well and it was so great watching you. I was so disappointed when they removed you and i agree that you certainly could have continued. I agree with the other comments about it just being a game show but you were seriously inspiring and i love your attitude and ingenuity. Good stuff and I look forward to your future stories and videos!!
You did an awesome job out there Mike! Thanks for the recaps and the detailed analysis. Fascinating insight. Keep up the good work!
Mate, your mindset and approach was great.
Gina was so relaxed and just took it all in her stride and I loved it cause it's the opposite way I would have approached it.
I would have tried to take it on like you.
Such a good series and really enjoyed watching you battle the elements.
Great job Mike, our household was flipping back and forth rooting for yourself and Gina right from episode one. I just wanted to add that our perspective of you was not as a conqueror and your understanding and respect of the natural world was clear. You just don't survive that long without it. Congratulations on your efforts, legendary work!
Congrats - it was a huge effort. Unlucky with the near misses and COVID set back but it was clear you had serious skills and you left with heaps of dignity at the end. You and Gina were awesome finalists - made for a really good series.
Thanks so much Tom!
Mike, this is such a fascinating listen. So much knowledge and context given here, learnt a lot just listening to this. Geez I really hope you get invited to a redemption Alone season, so much more to see from you. Also, massive respect for your piece at end of this video. Even as a viewer of the show as it aired, it was crystal clear to me that you were a respectful lover of the environment and the land and nature, was never any doubt, we see it in the little things and subtleties. Love your work and your passion.
Your respect for nature came through too! It was more that your personalities were so different, but your values seemed the same. Keen to follow more of your adventures
Well done mate, hopefully see you back on alone for an all star season.
Would love to see some videos explaining some of your bushcraft and how you built different things.
I have immensely enjoyed Alone Australia and your recaps, and have been inspired by your and Gina's efforts. The human body is capable of so much more than I thought it was; in particular how much food it can get by on. I would love you to do a video on this subject and how the body copes, what it needs, what it feels like to go without for so long, the value of regular fasting etc. I have ordered your book. I look forward to more Outback Mike adventures. Thanks.
Thanks Peter. I will make a video about starving. I shot a bunch of video on my phone straight afterwards about it. I just haven’t had time to edit it yet. Too busy with the book😂
Thanks for your insights Mike. I’ll be following you and your adventures from now on! Have pre ordered the book!
Thanks so much for the recap. It’s a shame they raced through essentially half the time you guys were out there; so much interesting and totally relevant goings on would have been left on the cutting room floor, so to speak. I actually have a query I hope you can answer: at one point Gina comes across a snake and I mentions potentially trying to catch it for food, implying that they were on the ‘ok to hunt’ list. This doesn’t make any sense, as all three (not four, as the show mentioned early on) Tasmanian snake species are highly protected, more so than brush tail possum and wallaby (which can be hunted or culled under certain circumstances). And of course notwithstanding the fact both copperheads and tiger snakes are highly venomous and unlikely to be killed without putting the person at extreme risk. I’m actually qualified in snake rescue and there’s no way in hell I’d attempt to grab one without proper tools!
Actually if you want an idea for a video, an explainer on all the rules and conditions placed on you would be great. I love Alone as a concept but the way they drip feed out that kind of info when they feel it suits is really frustrating!
There were several texts on the screen where special dispensation was made for the contestants with regard to killing some species that would otherwise be out of bounds.
@@teeanahera8949 Yes but they would have been for very mundane technicalities like taking trout out of season, taking wallaby and (maybe) certain duck species without a hunting or crop protection permit and taking possum without a fur harvesting permit ie. logically sidestepping existing controls/limits/requirements that can usually be taken under specific circumstances that the contestants wouldn’t be able to meet. Snakes on the other hand are completely protected in the same way quolls, platypus, wombats and basically every other native species is. Seems very odd all round, just wondering what the actual deal was?
Well done Mike! Great to watch. 🙂
Thanks heaps 🙏
What an interesting update. Fascinating to hear about the effects of moon phases on fishing. Glad you have reconciled yourself with the disappointment of being pulled. As a fan of the show, I was quite surprised by a number of things: the editorial choices, in particular. I think a lot of interest for many viewers is held in the construction of shelters and devices, the crafting, the ingenuity displayed, especially using found objects. You were a real McGuyver out there, and I really wish the programme makers had shown more of that. The other thing which surprised me was the speed with which they zoomed through the final weeks. Compared to other series, I thought it was way too fast. And the final aspect which surprised me was your untimely extraction. Yes, you definitely looked wasted. But as you say, you were still functioning in a rational way. I wonder whether in upcoming vid you would talk about your decision to live in a rather flimsy tent? I can’t help feeling that you’d have retained more weight and condition if your shelter were warmer and more substantial. Thank you Mike!
Thanks. I was warm in my sleeping bag. If I’d burnt more calories building a fancy shelter I would probably have been removed earlier. There’s a time and place for it but only if it’s necessary.
Solid Mike! Appreciate the love to Gina and was gutted you both couldn't split the money 😂
I'm vegetarian and even I wanted you to catch a padymelon.
After watching this video I'm even more annoyed you got pulled, I would have loved to see your elastic snap trap work and catch one, that's crazy cool. Well, it was a better outcome than you having a covid-induced heart attack and not coming back at all. But yeah, I would have looooved if they'd put all that stuff about the moon phases and the fish in the episode. That's super clever! I would watch the hell out of a show that shows you making all the stuff you did that they didn't show
Keen to hear more about the experience of starvation. As a person fortunate enough to always have access to food, it’s really hard to imagine mentally tolerating not eating for weeks, and resisting the urge to quit to make the hunger end.
Also keen to hear more about your plans for leveraging your exposure in Alone to support adventuring as a career
in case Mike doesn't see this: have a look at the Minnesota Starvation Experiment and the Warsaw Ghetto Hunger Study, conducted during WWII in wildly different circumstances. the MSE was a controlled environment with volunteers; the WGHS happened because the Nazis had imposed food restrictions on the Warsaw Jewish community (according to wikipedia, just 180 calories each) before outright murdering them.. Jewish doctors decided to track the effects and managed to get the bulk of their data out before the Nazis killed them.
i'm pretty certain more modern research has been conducted among refugee camps, famine victims, that kind of thing, but those two are the ones i remember off the top of my head. they both have wiki pages which act as summaries, otherwise you can search them on google scholar and i'm certain you'd find modern interpretations.
for a less horrifying experience, have a look at organisations dedicated to helping people with eating disorders. i recommend Eating Disorders QLD (EDQ), Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH, USA), and National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC, Canada) - all of them have factsheets about current research and best practice.
this is a well-studied area! if Mike doesn't respond, there are tonnes of folks who can fill that gap. ^_^
Thanks so much @flippyfloppy007. I will elaborate in another video.
@@elfinvalethanks so much. I’ll look them up.
You’re a legend mate
Mate, high respect for you
Unfortunate to see you get pulled out, but I admire your will to live and your strong skills and mindset
Thank you for your service too, I too am in the military
I enjoyed watching you thrive out there mate
Thanks Scotty.
I binge watched the entire series today. I really enjoyed your creativity in using your survival skills. At the end though when you were pulled I wondered and still do, what would of happened if Gina's medical check wasn't good either. Would they have made the show a tie? It seems like they should have checked you and checked her and then made the decision to pull you or her based on who was the worst medically. I know you've thought it through a hundred times more than me. You have a new subscriber here!
Thanks 🙏
Have enjoyed your recaps on the series. What shines through is that you really know your stuff. I’ve been catching up on your other vids a tad envious. Your disappointment at being ‘extracted’ is tangible but I love your respect and admiration for Gina. Bravo 🙌
Thanks Paul.
Hey Mike, I agree watching all seasons and the Aussie season, I was a little perplexed on why they pulled you. To be honest, you were rapidly losing weight but you were clear headed and seemed ok physically. Your approach was solid - if weight gain before the event, a plus knowledge, analysis of situation, putting all tools to the test.... Mate was awesome effort. I agree, I think was a bum move pulling you for sure. Can't wait to see you in an all stars mate, it's have to have you in it!
Great recap Mike. I really hope it's not the last we see of you in the Alone landscape. Might be a long wait for a pure Australian redemption series, but perhaps an international series held on neutral land - that would be amazing. Do u have any more copies of Surviving the Kimberley to plug?
Fantastic Effort Mike, thanks for making these recaps!
No worries. Thanks Jacob.
Hi Mike just wanna say that I still see you as a winner, you did very well, you lasted that long and didn't quit which is a huge achievement. You remained calm most of the time and you have very good skills. You did pretty well. it was refreshing to see you when everyone was quitting so quickly.
Thanks Kelly🙂
Thanks so much for your fascinating and insightful recap videos Mike, and well done for such
an amazing achievement.
Hey Mike, loved watching you on Alone! Will you be doing an audio book version of your new book?
Just finished watching Alone Australia and I've gotta say, you were absolutely inspirational. You never broke, the small bouts of frustration were totally understandable but you never actually broke. And that fishing rod! That was awesome! You did so well mate. Got another subscriber to the channel 👍
Thanks heaps Codey.
It's a shame both you and Jimmy had your experiences cut short because of something out of your control.
Is there any chance more unreleased footage will see the light of day?
Also, what made you decide to go with net traps as opposed to the box trap you demo'd in your prep?
Just finished watching last season today. Greatly appreciating the insights! Thank you for sharing.
No worries. Thanks 🙏
Really enjoyed how innovative, active and positive you were. All the way through. Didnt get the wibe that you'd go against nature at all. Quite opposite. And It was quite easy to see the place you are coming from no matter the narrative.
Watching these shows you always choose a person you want to win. I couldnt choose between you and Gina. Both of you guys were a pleasure to watch and to learn from. Both of you came with an attitude of being self sustainable for months in front instead of just outlasting others and leave drained physically. Was hard to see how luck sometimes wouldnt be on your side.
After all I was just hoping none of you would tap out soon or nothing would happen so you guys would need to be removed.
Would watch the whole show of only footage of you two doing things there.
Watched all the US, UK and AU shows. This one is my favourite one because of you two.
Thanks for the stories you share. Subscribing and wishing all the best.
Thanks so much. You’re very kind,
great work mike and a minumental effort. bad luck with the covid mate that sucks but i envy your adventure. the moon phase effect on the eels is facinating. congrats to gona and looking forward to a redemtion of alone.
keen to give your book a read when it comes out :D
Yes that was super interesting. It would be great to hear a longer chat/womble from Mike about the fishing. Yabbies? Anything else going? Rules and limits etc.
Hi Mike,
Have been following your journey since just before you left on your Surviving the Kimberley expedition. The only time I've turned the TV on this year has been to watch Alone Australia. :) Your recaps have made an interesting show so much more enjoyable as we have been able to learn of some of the behind-the-scenes things.
Here are some questions if you are allowed to answer them:
How did you keep track of the time each day? Was time less important the longer you were alone?
How did you keep track of how many days you had been in isolation?
How often did the medical checks happen?
Did you wonder how many competitors were left when you were extracted?
What was the time frame from when you were extracted until the reunion episode was filmed? Did you go home and then go back for the reunion?
Can you tell us anything about boot camp?
Did you have to dismantle your camp or did the extraction team do it?
Was it difficult to be able to keep some of the things you made?
What was the first thing you ate after being extracted?
Disappointed for you that you didn't win, but congrats on getting as far as you did.
Thanks Anne. There are a lot of questions and I can’t answer them all sorry but I’ll try to answer some in future videos.
Hi Mike, what an incredible story and such interesting insights into what happened out there that didn’t make it into the show. Absolutely love hearing how you found it out there, telling your own version of events and not the producers. You where a total weapon and it’s such a shame that they pulled you when you when they did. Thank you for your videos, I’ll definitely be checking your book out, keep on adventuring and telling your story!
I’ve seen many of the US Alone seasons and none of the contestants come close to your level of careful calculation throughout. I really hope they do a reunion competition somewhere around the globe that you can join in on! Really think you deserve a win and prize some money!
All the best, legend.
Thanks so much. Yep I’m super keen for another crack without Covid this time😂
I've loved all these recaps and videos of your clothes and your 10 items that you have put up. As someone who has no prior survival skills/knowledge your explanations have been great as you don't skip over steps by assuming we already know the basics but you have still kept it really interesting by delving into the analysis and scientific explanations. From your first videos I could clearly see your love for the land and you have succeeded in increasing my respect for the way that Aboriginal people manage the bush as you explained why it is better in a scientific objective manner which was really easy to understand. I have my fingers crossed that you get another chance in a future season of Alone.
Thanks so much Helen🙂
Great to hear about the behind the scenes. Look forward to reading your book.
Well done man. Taken out by a “technicality”. You know your body better than anyone. I really appreciated all your updates. My wife and I knew there would have been “behind the scenes” things happening etc., not to mention recorded footage that was never used. I’ve been a long time subscriber. Love your work.
Gina deserved to win. She didn't need all the canoe-building, net-weaving, animal-trapping BS, just herself.
Reason your blood pressure was not right is that the producers wanted it finished.
If spring had hit you two would’ve been out there for another 6 months.
Reason Gina flourished is that she had a mindset that it was her new home, and she had a great supply of worms.
Also, if you had got some red meat you would’ve had iron which would’ve helped. You had some pretty bad luck there.
1000% would love to see you on a redemption series!
Thanks. Me too😂
Thanks for posting this. The narrative worked on me and I came searching for answers. I’m glad Gina posted that you both have a shared love for country. I think SBS could’ve added all that and still gone with the same opposing narrative. It’s borderline character defamation.
Congrats anyway on the achievement!
Both you and Gina made the show for me. If you want ideas for videos, I would love to see you do a live Q&A on UA-cam.
Really appreciate that awesome recap of your experience Mike.
Great. To be reminded of the inevitable media massage of storylines & tropes: the flow-with-nature Amazonian, - the hardened nature-taming military engineer-the faith-in-God believer - the woke would-be vegetarian - the native wisdom keepers. All with a grain of truth, I’m sure- at least they didn’t focus on the sentimentality of the US series 🥲
Haha- I know who I would choose to buddy up with if put in that situation 😉
Having just binge-watched the first three episodes of the USA series - I think I’m satiated.
Your recaps were as engaging as the episodes… & without having to mute the ads bonus 😀
You should have won that show mate i felt you were hard done by when they said you couldnt continue and watching your journey was far more impressive to see with your bushcraft skills it was amazing i feel as though you did the best out of everyone on the entire show
Thank you Blaize🙏
Thanks for the recaps and the great insight to some of the background communications. How much of your area did you eventually explore?
Great recap Mike. I’ve been overseas for a few weeks and binged the last few episodes yesterday. You and Gina are both legends. Well done!
Thanks heaps Max.
Wow! Absolutely shocked how much wasn't included in the series?! They should really consider making more content out of the collated footage, even just a montage type of amazing builds, or just covering the actual extremities of the food gathering, god they really make it all out for suspense- for better or worse I suppose.
Congratulations Mike, I commend you too, on a fabulous job well-done. Your recaps are great to watch, I hope you can do, it all again, if they do,another Alone australia, best of 2ishes on your future journeys, I would not do this for millions I'd fail within 48hours. Cheers Sandra 💮
Thanks so much Sandra🙏
You did incredible, your strength and courage is admirable! Good on you 😊
Much respect brother. You are authentic, resilient and inspiring! Sorry that you had a somewhat unfair experience of it all. Hell yes to your book!!! Super keen :) are you going to release videos of that journey as well?
Just bought the preorder book!
Keep doing what you are doing!! Thank you so much for sharing. Your passion and determination was extremely inspiring.
Awesome in defeat. Hold your head up high. You did well and was very enjoyable to watch
Hey Mike, I just binged Alone Australia, and I was really impressed by you. I've subbed and looking forward to watching your videos.
Thanks heaps 😊
Awesome recap Mike. These videos have really added to the experience of watching the show given the editing constraints of putting their production together. Its funny little things that we as viewers take away. I walked past a sugar packed impulse buy at the supermarket this week and was like - nope don't need that, Mike's just lasted 60+ days I'll be good for 6 hrs and tough it out to dinner :-)
From a technical point of view I think that was 15mins into the video until your first edit. That is really hard to do when you are capturing a blog video.
As I started watching the Alone series, I was on episode 6, I thought “these are the people wanting to go up against China” I had a good chuckle.
The final moments were so impressive on camera- it’s great to see your thoughts on it!
Thanks 😊
This is a fascinating, thoughtful recap, showing your true good sportsmanship and that analytical, technical mind that makes you such a competent survivalist. It's a shame that even such an 'unscripted' reality show had to manipulate the audience by selectively editing footage to pigeonhole contestants into selected stereotypes - Gina was portrayed as the laidback spiritual 'Earth Mother', at one with nature, hence her 'blessings' of fortuitous food, whilst you were the intense, science-based 'Technical Guy', attempting to combat nature with gadgets, hence the lack of luck. In reality, you were both equally worthy of respect and success, both in the show and in life after. If I was shipwrecked on some remote shore with either of you, I'd feel very fortunate. All the best with the book and your adventure films.
It was a very restricted series. Understanding of the terrain, but they could have attempted a desert scenario. More compatible to our nature. You and Kate were awesome to watch though. Cheers.
I was pissed to see them take you off so early. I was rooting for you.
I HOPE you get anther go on the show mike, would love to see gina too. great series!!
Thanks for your gracious, considered, and fascinating thoughts on it all.
Thanks Eddie. You’re welcome.
Thanks for talking about all your other activities Mike. I did feel you were protrayed in the show as a bit focused on complex solutions, so it is good to know that you were also trying more basic fishing and plant gathering as was shown for some of the other contenstants. Also difficult to understand why they didn't show your last pademelon capture (and break-out) given they showed the earlier near misses. I would have also liked to see a bit more footage of you (and others) actually making things out there. Given COVID is so new and the medium - long term effects not well understood, it makes some sense that they had to exercise some extra caution with your health. Would have been good if they had mentioned that in the show as part of the reason for pulling you out. What do you think of the idea that Gina's design for a more enclosed and insulated shelter might have helped her reduce weight loss by helping her keep warmer at night? Also, how did you know where your 'territory' ended? Were there markers?
Just finished watching the season. Wow, just wow. I kind of wish you and Gina had been in different seasons so that you could each win a show. Also they should give you all the footage they didn't use, so that you can use it in your channel or make your own show.
Just an aside, When you describe at 24 minutes how there are some days between a person being immobilised by starvation and them dying, don't forget - there's a point of no return where you're alive but can't be saved even if you're given food, because the villi in your stomach have died.
Thanks. I’ve never seen a reference to the stomach thing you mention. It haven’t experienced it and I’ve pushed my body much further that where I was at when they pulled me out.
Onya mate! True blue.
you were clearly very prepared going in and that alone is extremely impressive. unlucky you didn't win but all the best in the future
It is really interesting episode that I have never seen before.
You were awesome Mike. Thanks for that recap.
Loved watching your analytical brain pull apart problems and engineer solutions.
Q: do you think that you lost more weight because your shelter was rudimentary and uninsulated?
I would think that your body would've worked much harder to keep you warm and well compared to Gina's 'insulated' shelter.
Best wishes!
You and Gina are both absolute champions Mike and both wonderful examples of what a human body is capable of enduring
So much respect for you Mike. I've loved your recaps.I lalso ove that you all have such camaraderie with each other, especially you and Gina, it shows it not about being competitive and having a conquering mentality, but it all comes down to respect and love. For each other and for the land. Can't wait to read your book.
You were smashing it out there mate. I can’t believe they took you out. I think luck and location were the only reason you didn’t thrive like everyone knows you normally would have.
Yeah the location is a roll of the dice. Mine certainly wasn’t the worst one but it was rubbish for fishing.
Appreciate these vids you have provided. Thank you
I'm really glad I watched this video. I can understand why you feel a disappointed. I really don't think you need to be tho. Your tenacity and engineering was second to none. I'm sorry we didn't see more of it and all the things u made & other near misses and of the last 34 days in general. I don't think you were being portrayed as working against nature in a conquering way. You were just doing your thing. Definately trying to engineer your way through tho. It wouldve been interesting to see how long you'd both lasted if you'd been left out there and caught some more food. Maybe youd both still be there? 🤷♀️ At least you can edit your own survival mission movies your own way from here on. Its what you take from it that counts and Gina was definately a worthy winner. 🙏🏼
Amazing effort - I really got a lot out of watching these recaps alongside of the Alone episodes thank you 😊 The iris like plant could have been a Dianella species… berries also edible… we do have a native iris like species (Patersonia sp) but it’s unlikely to occur in that area.
Really enjoyed the season, thanks!
Mike you were obviously a serious competitor and were never going to tap out, I am sure you would have died before giving up and part of the game of winning is luck that you can't control - which has happened to many otherwise good competitors in previous series. Even if they left you out there a bit longer it sounds like Gina would still have won. You did extremely well considering the difficult circumstances and good luck with your future career!
Thanks heaps Sandrina.
Interesting - Gina wrote briefly about moon phases too regarding her catches.
Is there anything you would (or even could) have done differently?
When do you plan to release the barrier reef adventure series, watched all the buildup vids and been waiting for it…hope to see it soon.
Great job on alone, enjoyed the series and your recaps, thought you would do well, bad luck on the medevac.
Give us you up in the kimberley for a second season