LSU Alumni Test their Limits on New Survival Competition Television Show
February 19, 2025
Imagine you’re dropped off into the Canadian wilderness, forced to take on challenges and try to survive, with no training. For LSU 2016 graduate, Meagan Delatte Murphy, it’s her reality, and it’s airing in a new reality television program.
Murphy and 11 other people are competing on the FOX television show “Extracted,” the competition will test their strength physically and mentally, while their families are miles away watching them navigate their survival on a 24/7 live stream.
Murphy’s father, and Professional in Residence in the LSU Department of Construction Management Gerrad Delatte, and her best friend, LSU graduate Abby Hayes, are part of the show, and they have the power to decide whether Murphy should keep going on the show or if she should be extracted from the competition. Her fate lies in their hands.
From left, LSU graduates Abby Hayes and Meagan Delatte Murphy, with Murphy's father, Professional in Residence in the LSU Department of Construction Management Gerrad Delatte.
– Provided promotional photo
What have you been doing since your time at LSU?
Meagan Murphy: After graduating from LSU, I pursued a professional dance career and moved to Chicago. After some time, I retired from the dance life and pursued a career at Equinox in Chicago. I was a full-time group fitness instructor, personal trainer, lead instructor, and events planner in the community. After many years in Chicago, loving every bit of my time there, I found myself back in Louisiana where I met my husband! I do think everything happens for a reason.
After moving back to Baton Rouge, I spent time with my family. I helped open a franchise in Baton Rouge while teaching group fitness classes and coaching at corporate wellness events. Then, in 2024, we got married on August 5, bought a house a week later, and then he dropped me off at the airport for me to live in the woods. It has been quite the journey since my time at LSU, to say the least!
As a wellness coach, how do you think mental and physical wellness played into your experience on “Extracted?”
Meagan: As a wellness coach, I knew what I needed to do in order to keep my body on track. My body changed depending on the environment I was in and I had to figure out how to survive in those conditions. Mentally, nothing could have prepared me for something like this.
Did your LSU education shape your approach to the challenges you faced on “Extracted?” If so, how?
Meagan: 100%! Grit. Determination. Trusting the process. Trusting in our loved ones.
What role did the support from your family, especially your loved ones watching back at headquarters, play in your survival experience? Was there ever a moment when you felt their influence had a major impact on your decisions?
Meagan: They had my fate in their hands. They could hear my struggles, my needs, every waking moment….And it was up to them to play their game in HQ to help me get what I needed, if they could….. I had no clue what was going on at HQ honestly so I just had to figure out my survival strategy at hand. We will have to watch and see if they had a major impact on me!
What were the most difficult or rewarding parts of the competition for each of you? What mental or physical challenges did you face that pushed you beyond your limits?
Meagan: The most difficult part was surviving out in the wild with nothing, no food, no water, nothing! I had to trust that my dad and Abby were going to help me in HQ. The most rewarding part was the growth I had gained within myself. You'll have to wait and watch how my journey shows on screen!
As an LSU faculty member, how did your experience in academia and the education you received shape your approach to the challenges you faced while overseeing the competition from the HQ?
Gerrad Delatte: I used a systematic approach and performed a quick SWOT (strategic analysis tool, covering strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis with every decision
What roles do your professions (or personal experiences) play in how you tackled the survival challenges from HQ?
Gerrad: To always be level headed and keep your emotions and reactions in check
What was your favorite memory or lesson learned during your time at LSU?
Gerrad: Persistence is the key. Never give up!
Did any of those moments or lessons impact how you handled challenges on “Extracted?”
Gerrad: Yes, make the best decision on the current situation but always think about what comes next because your decision will have impacts
Were there any skills or insights from your own work that helped guide the decisions you had to make for Meagan and Abby during the competition?
Gerrad: I had to always think strategically with every word spoken and action taken
What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about competing on a show like "Extracted" or taking on a major challenge like this in life?
Meagan Delatte Murphy in action on "Extracted"
Gerrad: Life is so short. Take advantage of any life experiences presented to you!
Meagan: Go for it! You never know where life can take you. When you have an opportunity, take it! Explore the opportunities that are out there and give it your all!
How can the LSU community support one another in pushing boundaries and facing challenges, much like you did on "Extracted?"
Gerrad: Let’s have more outdoor adventure activities….runs, hikes, adventure races
Meagan: Let's explore more outside! Maybe put on some adventure races (biking, running/trekking, navigation with map and compass, adventures finding checkpoints, kayaking) ! Spend quality time with friends and family.
What’s next for you, now that "Extracted?" is behind you?
Meagan and Gerrad: Short term:preparing/training for adventure racing in March. Long term: sign me up for "Survivor," "Amazing Race," "Special Forces-World’s Toughest Test," or "Race to Survive.”
Can you share a story from your "Extracted" experience that was a defining moment for you? Whether it was a moment of triumph or struggle, how did it shape your journey on the show?
Meagan: Can't share much of this- but I can say….human touch, family love…..I will never take it for granted EVER! Stay tuned - we can circle back on this one after the series.
Gerrad: There were lots of defining moments but I can't share them yet. If it was a triumph or struggle, it helped me remain focused on the job ahead.
Were there any moments on "Extracted" when you thought about how LSU had prepared you for this, whether it was academically, emotionally, or through your support system?
Meagan: The support system. 100%! Knowing that I could put my fate into my family and friends hands was something else! They were going to do what they needed to in order to help me out in the wild.
Can you give us any sneak peeks or spoilers about what we can expect from "Extracted?”
Meagan: Other than what you guys have seen on the screen so far, I can't give any spoilers! All I know is that they have NEVER done anything like this before. And this is unlike anything you have ever seen!
“Extracted” premiered on Monday, February 10 on FOX. Tune in every Monday to see how far Gerrad and Abby will let Meagan go for a chance to win $250,000.
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