Kellyn Bechtold on 'chasing the high' after playing 'Survivor'

Kellyn Bechtold of Ghost Island also explains why the Edge of Extinction ‘makes no sense’

With Survivor filming for seasons 41 and 42 indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EW is reaching back into the reality show’s past. We sent a Survivor Quarantine Questionnaire to a batch of former players to fill out with their thoughts about their time on the show as well as updates on what they’ve been up to since. Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.

Naviti strong! That was the rallying cry of Kellyn Bechtold on Survivor: Ghost Island, and it was a solid strategy seeing as how Kellyn was part of Naviti, and staying Naviti strong meant staying in the game for her. But once alliances started shifting after the merge, Kellyn was forced to shift from an aggressive to a defensive stance, often having to react to the moves of others rather than acting on her own.

Kellyn didn’t win the game, but the woman who said in her bio before the season that she wanted “to prove to myself that I can take on this insane physical and mental challenge,” certainly proved plenty. She was sent to Ghost Island twice, and won the very first individual immunity challenge en route to a seventh place finish.

But, like many former players, Kellyn has found that replicating that rush of an experience out on the island is difficult to replicate once one gets home and settles back into a regular routine. “I think the adjustment that may never go away is chasing the ‘high’ of being on Survivor — living out a lifelong dream on national television,” says Kellyn. Ah, but imagine the high you can get by reading Kellyn’s Quarantine Questionnaire!

Credit: Robert Voets/CBS via Getty Images

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First off, give the update as to what you’ve been up to since appearing on Survivor.

KELLYN BECHTOLD: Since filming Survivor in 2017, life has been an adventure. Between the filming and airing of Ghost Island, I did a USA tour of visiting castmates and goofing off in that “post filming, binge-eating, game-reflection obsessing, trying to adjust back to some resemblance of normal for a few months” state of mind. I eventually moved from Chicago to Denver, where I set up a new home for a couple years. I left the states in January of 2020 to spend the year traveling through Southeast Asia. Clearly, COVID had something to say about that.

First, I attended an intense yoga & meditation retreat in Thailand, then traveled to Bali. Ultimately, I landed in Spain for 7 months to “wait out” quarantine. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain, even though it meant quarantining completely alone for over a month, unable to leave even for walks and exercise. I split my time between Malaga and Madrid and did my best to meet people and improve my Spanish language in the midst of a pandemic. The European Union finally kicked me out, and I made my way back to Denver in October.

I really look at my life as BS/AS (Before Survivor/After Survivor). I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity. Not only to go out and play the game of a lifetime, but to have the 7 week “time-out” from “real” life and also to go through the adversity of being on national television 7 months later. Both experiences, which are practically the complete opposite, really help you find the edges of yourself and your boundaries.

Being on the island is stark. You’re isolated in a completely controlled environment. You get into a routine that is centered around survival (food, shelter, game mode) and not much else. No Instagram, no Twitter, no texting, no news — a real break from the outside world. I learned that I can live with a lot less than I ever thought I could, and that real human connection is more important than anything else.

In contrast, being on national television was 1000x harder than playing the game of Survivor. You’re overexposed, the internet has its way with you and everyone has an opinion on you as an edit. Detangling that those opinions ARE of your edit, and not of you as a person was a lesson of a lifetime. Being on Survivor was like the ultimate dream come true, and I am still in awe that I actually got to meet Jeff Probst (AND Dr. Joe!)

Professionally, I’ve served as Chief of Staff at two start-ups focusing on business strategy and people operations. Additionally, I’ve been blessed to continue my career consulting business, The Self Coach, and work with people (some Survivor fans, even!) on getting new jobs, changing career paths, preparing for interviews and annual reviews and negotiating raises and severance packages.

Personally, I’ve had some ups and downs. Relationship break-ups, make-ups, real heartbreak and have fallen in love. I’ve done a lot of personal exploration work in vulnerability, spirituality and confidence building. I’m excited to see what the future holds!

What is your proudest moment ever from playing Survivor?

Probably winning an individual immunity (even if it meant putting a target on my non-athletic back!) I remember being in that challenge and watching all these major athletes drop one by one (Chris, Sebastian, Laurel) and just being so shocked that I was just hanging in there. The whole event went down in slow motion. I tried to stay calm and take it all in. Jeff’s voice, the individual challenge set and colors, the cameras — I was just telling myself “Have FUN! Soak this up! You’re on f*cking Survivor!” and it ended with a necklace.

What is your biggest regret from your Survivor experience?

Not using my extra vote to take out Wendell at final 10 and flipping to play with Michael. I was too scared of idols — and I didn’t realize my game was pretty much over anyway. If I had actually had any chance of winning the game, it all went down the toilet that night.

What’s something that will blow fans’ minds that happened out there in your season but never made it to TV?

I think the extreme personality differences look like “created for TV drama” — but a lot of it is real. You have to learn to bite your tongue and live with people who just do NOT see the world in the same way. For example, we all talk about food all the time. During a slow afternoon, we were all discussing what we would order for a take-out meal, if we could (green curry and crab wontons every time for me, FYI). Anyway, during this discussion, one of my castmates said something along the lines of “If women didn’t work away from the home — we wouldn’t need take-out services.” This was an actual WTF moment for me, and there were many like this. Sitting on your couch, you think you’d keep your cool, but out there, it is way harder than you may think!

How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?

I feel completely fine about it. While some of my “Naviti strong” was just a ruse to keep myself around — I deserve the edit I got. I played too safe. In poker terms, I just blinded down too far before making a move. Do I wish they showed more of my strategy, keeping track of numbers and plans to flip on Wendell and Dom at 8 & 7? Of course! But literally every single Survivor player wishes that! Also, I fell down and flailed around A LOT in challenges. Plenty of “dodo edit” material that the producers saved me from! I’ll take it!

What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there? Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?

Culture shock is an understatement. Not only was the physical impact on my body insane (parasites & worms, nerve damage, weight gain and loss multiple times) the mental health impact was notable as well. Silly things (like announcing I was leaving the room to go to the bathroom) and serious things (like not being able to feel comfortable in group conversations for months), all had a pretty big impact on my life.

I wanted to eat all day every day for a couple months. I put on 25 pounds when I got back, and then was so nervous to look “heavy” at the finale, that I lost all of the weight to be back to what I weighed the night I got voted out prior to going to L.A. (Not healthy.) For the most part, I’ve been able to mentally and physically recover completely, but we’re now three years out! I think the adjustment that may never go away is chasing the “high” of being on Survivor — living out a lifelong dream on national television.

Credit: Robert Voets/CBS

Was there ever a point either during the game or after you got back where you regretted going on the show?

Not really. Even with all of the trauma, I don't think I ever really wished I hadn’t gone on the show. The gifts received have always outweighed all of the negative consequences.

Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?

I stay in occasional touch with a lot of the cast, especially if you count social media interaction. In the first year, I saw over half of the cast in person (outside of the finale, even) while I was traveling around the States. Recently, my interaction with Survivor in general, and my cast, has dropped off. With that said, Dom is not only my closest friend from Ghost Island, but one of my closest friends in life. I am so proud of that friendship. We had a lot to work through after the game, and we put in the time to understand each other and why we just didn’t click out on the island. I look up to Dom as a big brother! He has a huge heart, is a stellar Survivor player, and an even more spectacular human.

I was also extremely lucky to be “adopted” by the pre-merge crew from my season! They have invited me to attend an occasional virtual and in person hangouts and it’s always been amazingly fun times! Also, I am really thankful for my connection with Jacob Derwin and Stephanie Gonzalez (both of whom I never met in the game).

Do you still watch Survivor, and if so, what’s your favorite season you were not on and why?

Of course I still watch Survivor! Although, I still cry after every single team challenge win, and I don’t know why! (Remember when I said above I thought I was adjusted?… well….)

My favorite Survivor season is Survivor: Second Chance. That cast alone is made up of some of my all-time favorites! Peih-Gee, Kass, Stephen Fishbach, Kelley Wentworth, Spencer, Tasha and I love Jeremy as a winner! And, of course, my Survivor #1 crush — Keith Nale. I typically don’t love returnee seasons, but I couldn’t get enough of Cambodia!

Who’s one player from another Survivor season you wish you could have played with or against and why?

I feel like I’ve repeatedly shared my love for Keith Nale and my desire to play with Kelley Wentworth, so I’ll pick a couple people who have played since Ghost Island. I would love to play with Christian Hubicki and Angelina Keeley from Season 37. With Christian’s charm and creative strategy and Angelina’s girlboss vibes, I think we could make quite the odd trio!

If you could make one change to any aspect of Survivor, what would it be and why?

90-minute shows. Zero advantages or idols. True storytelling and character development. I think the producers don’t give the audience enough credit. Never having an Exile Island or Extinction Island ever again. If I had to choose just one change out of those three suggestions, I’d say death to Extinction Island. Isn’t the actual point of winning Survivor to get to the end without getting voted out? It just makes no sense.

Finally, would you play again if asked?

I would consider it, if asked, of course. Realistically, it is unlikely I’d be asked back at this point. So I’m just thankful for the full experience I had the first time around. I am so thankful for the Survivor community, lifetime friends and the fans who really allow all of it to keep going!

To keep track of our daily Survivor Quarantine Questionnaires and get all latest updates, check out EW's Survivor hub, and follow Dalton on Twitter.

Related content: