'The second time around was for me'

Not many people can say they’ve trekked across multiple continents completely naked. 

Lynsey McCarver has done it twice. 

McCarver, 36, is one of 12 survivalists on the newest season of the Discovery Channel’s hit reality series "Naked and Afraid XL," which premiered Sunday evening. 

The regular episodes of "Naked and Afraid" take place over 21 days. Two people are paired up, stripped down and forced to find their way through the wilderness with nothing more than a map, satchel and machete. 

The XL edition is the show’s version of an all-star game, but the challenge is extended to 40 days. 

McCarver was asked to apply for a spot on the show after being discovered by one of the show’s talent scouts in 2020. 

“I never thought in a million years they would actually ask me,” the Silver Valley native said. 

She was featured in the second episode of Season 13, in Lapalala, South Africa, where she and another survivalist completed a 21-day challenge. This time around, she’s in Colombia, South America, surviving the harsh conditions of the Colombian Badlands. 

“I needed my first challenge. It helped me discover things about myself and realize I had more grit than I ever thought,” McCarver said.  

Since her first appearance on "Naked and Afraid," McCarver has navigated a divorce, and all of the new challenges that come with being a single, working mom. She says the show has helped her heal.

“My favorite part, of doing these challenges is who I become once I complete them. After going through that much suffering, you really don't take things for granted anymore,” McCarver said. “It gives you a clearer head of how the world is supposed to work. You have so much alone time with your thoughts. You are forced to solve your own issues and problems. It’s kind of like my own twisted way of therapy.”  

McCarver’s mother, Deanne Fitzgerald, wasn’t surprised by her daughter’s initial decision to be on a show. She said she is proud of her for doing it a second time. 

“I couldn’t be more proud of Lynsey’s courage and fortitude during this challenge,” Fitzgerald said. “I know this has been quite the experience for her and she has made lifelong friends.”

"Naked and Afraid XL" airs Sunday nights at 5 p.m. on the Discovery Channel.