Oliver Johnson from Port Protection: Life After the Show, Career, and Relationship with Breanna Miethe

Since Port Protection: Alaska quietly wrapped its run after Season 8, fans have been wondering what became of the show’s resilient cast members—especially Oliver Johnson and his partner, Breanna Miethe. Known for their hands-on approach to frontier living and their evolving roles within the tight-knit coastal community, the pair left a lasting impression on viewers. While the cameras may have stopped rolling, their story didn’t end there.

Early Life and Background

Originally from Wrangell, Alaska, Oliver Johnson was born in 1991, making him 33 years old as of 2025. Wrangell is a coastal town in Southeast Alaska known for its strong fishing culture and deep ties to the outdoors. Like many who grow up there, Oliver learned to fish, row boats, and navigate the forest from a young age.

He attended Wrangell High School before going on to study at the University of Alaska Southeast. His father, Bill Johnson, currently resides in Shelton, Washington.

Settling into Remote Life and Building Their Home

Oliver currently lives in Port Protection, where he works as a commercial fisherman. He shares his life with Breanna Miethe, his long-term partner. The two first met back in eighth grade in Wrangell and have been together since 2008. Though they didn’t hit it off immediately, their friendship eventually grew into a lasting bond. Now together for over 16 years, they describe each other as best friends and dependable partners in both life and survival.

They made the move to Port Protection in search of a lifestyle where hard work directly translates to self-sufficiency. As Breanna shared, one of their biggest motivations was to “own your own place at our age and say, all that I own is because of the hard work I’ve put in.”

Oliver and Breanna made their Port Protection debut in Season 4 (2021), by which time they were in second years living in the remote Alaskan community. Their introduction to the show captured the practical realities of their lifestyle, including the vital role of firewood in day-to-day survival. In Port Protection, firewood serves not just as fuel, but also as a form of barter and a marker of preparedness. The couple invested considerable effort into cutting, hauling, and stacking wood to ensure they could endure the cold months. As Breanna explained, “You can survive out here alone, but at some point, you need another person to help. In Port Protection, we’re all alone together out here.”

Their approach to firewood management is methodical and essential. They select suitable trees, haul logs across water or snow, and process them into usable firewood for heat and cooking. This labor-intensive routine becomes even more critical during winter. When Oliver injured his hamstring during a particularly demanding task, Breanna took on the bulk of their physical workload, managing firewood duties and household maintenance while he recovered.

Skills, Learning, and Self-Reliance

Oliver and Breanna are both deeply committed to mastering the diverse skills required for life in Port Protection. Oliver once described himself by saying, “I try to soak up any information and knowledge I can anywhere I can,” a reflection of his proactive approach to learning. Over the years, he’s acquired essential bush skills such as hunting, fishing, and operating heavy tools—all vital for long-term survival in Southeast Alaska.

Breanna complements this mindset with a hands-on approach and strong work ethic. In addition to sharing household responsibilities, she has taken on traditionally demanding tasks such as welding, firearm training, and mechanical upkeep of their float house. Her curiosity and willingness to learn have also led her to develop a side career in photography, capturing the remote beauty of Port Protection. She shares these visual stories through prints that showcase local sunsets, landscapes, and water reflections—often accepting custom orders and including signed notes for fans who followed their journey on the show.

Breanna has expanded her skillset through hands-on experiences, including welding guidance from longtime resident Sam Carlson and participating in regular fishing and subsistence tasks alongside Oliver. Her ability to take on roles often seen as male-dominated challenges outdated stereotypes in the Alaskan wilderness. As she puts it confidently: “I do everything a guy can do. I’m definitely capable.”

Living on the Edge of Wilderness

Together, Oliver and Breanna represent a younger generation committed to a sustainable, grounded lifestyle in the Alaskan bush—built on teamwork, practical know-how, and creative expression. They live on a float house, which adds unique challenges, including extreme cold and the logistical difficulty of transporting supplies. Yet their mutual respect, sense of humor, and determination to get better and more self-reliant every day define their approach to survival.

Their relationship, often praised by viewers, is marked by genuine support and shared ambition. As seen in their firewood expedition on Life Below Zero, they not only split labor efficiently, but also lift each other up emotionally and physically. Breanna’s remark, “I didn’t even realize until it was all on me how much he does around here,” speaks to the depth of their partnership.

Social media posts and behind-the-scenes features consistently highlight Oliver’s calm resilience and Breanna’s spirited adaptability, making them fan favorites and a compelling symbol of what life in Port Protection demands—and rewards.

Building a Life Together: Boat, Home & Survival Projects

Buying a Fishing Boat

In 2021, Oliver and Breanna purchased a new, larger boat, marking a pivotal step in their journey as commercial fishers. The investment was risky—they took out a loan and had high hopes the season would pay off.

Oliver was visibly anxious about “gridding” the boat for the first time—placing it on a wooden platform at low tide to inspect the hull. Breanna assisted him throughout the tense moments, including last-minute zinc replacements and time-sensitive maintenance before the tide came back in.

After successful grid repairs, the couple tested their boat by trolling for king salmon. Following several setbacks—including lost tackle and catching debris—Oliver finally landed a fish, prompting celebratory reactions from both. Breanna declared, “Our boat’s fishy!” and they discussed dreams of raising a family, with Breanna saying, “Maybe even have kids. It’ll be big enough, it’ll be safe.”

Stabilizing the Float House (S6E3 “Sink House” – Jan 25, 2023)

Together, they live in a float house that requires constant maintenance. In Season 6, Episode 3, they worked on replacing waterlogged safety logs beneath their float to prevent structural collapse. Oliver referred to their home as a “sink house,” joking about the effort it takes to keep it afloat.

The couple demonstrated strong teamwork and affection during the repair work—Breanna looked out for Oliver’s safety, assisted with heavy tasks, and shared lighter moments, like spotting spiders or teasing him about needing suspenders.

With help from fellow resident Troy Brockway, who dove under their float to place air-filled barrels for added buoyancy, they managed to stabilize their home and extend its longevity. Oliver repaid him with a hot shower, coffee, and pizza—showcasing the barter-like community culture.

Community Projects and Skill Building

In another episode, Oliver helped Sam Carlson and Breanna set up a shooting bench and a DIY steel target rack in Whiskey Cove. While Oliver built the wooden bench, Breanna trained in welding with Sam, showing eagerness to learn hands-on skills. The family-like trio tested their shooting accuracy to prepare for future bear hunts, with Oliver, Breanna, and Sam all hitting their targets—a moment of fun, utility, and bonding.

This episode also highlighted Breanna’s journey toward self-sufficiency. Initially frustrated by a previous failed bear hunt, she aimed to improve her marksmanship and welding skills simultaneously. With Sam’s mentorship, Breanna successfully welded parts of the steel target stand, while Oliver contributed his woodworking and firearms knowledge to the shooting bench setup.

By the end of the training session, Breanna confidently hit a bullseye and shared her renewed determination to succeed in hunting, saying she was “ready to check a bear off her list.” Oliver, likewise, showed satisfaction in seeing her growth and remarked on the improved reliability of their tools—a critical necessity for hunting and survival in the bush.

Appearance on Port Protection: Alaska

From Season 4 onward, Oliver became one of the recognizable younger faces on Port Protection: Alaska. Alongside Breanna Miethe, he was featured in a variety of episodes that showcased their teamwork, problem-solving, and determination to thrive in the Alaskan frontier.

Between 2021 and 2025, he appeared in Seasons 4 through 8, participating in at least 36 episodes. The series documented their evolution as young homesteaders who took on major responsibilities—building tide-line hoists, maintaining boats, and upgrading infrastructure to suit the demands of float-house living.

As of 2025, Port Protection: Alaska has not been renewed beyond Season 8, concluding the couple’s on-screen journey for now.

Beyond the On-Screen Journey (Post-Show Life)

Following the end of Port Protection: Alaska, Oliver and Breanna have continued their off-grid lifestyle, remaining in Port Protection but also spending time in Wrangell, where they conduct maintenance on their fishing boat and equipment.

Breanna Miethe has expanded her photography business—regularly promoting and selling her canvas prints online. She takes custom orders and signs each piece personally, often sharing scenic shots of Alaska’s landscape with her followers.

Oliver Johnson remains active in commercial fishing and subsistence gathering. In recent updates, it was mentioned that he also worked as a logger, which contributed to a temporary physical transformation noted by fans. Community comments have highlighted his hard work ethic and commitment to providing for his family—clam digging, crabbing, and tackling demanding labor to support their shared life.

While no longer filming, the couple continues to live with purpose—balancing rugged survival with artistic expression and community connection.

Key On-Screen Moments

• DIY Projects: Gained attention for creating a homemade washing machine and attempting to revive an old sawmill, though later episodes show him cutting lumber with what appears to be a new mill.
• Tide-Line Hoist: Built a communal tide-line hoist with Breanna, a highlight of his mechanical ingenuity.
• Boat & Float-House Maintenance: Frequently seen maintaining their floating home and securing boats against harsh coastal conditions.
• Firewood & Infrastructure: Took lead roles in gathering firewood and maintaining homestead systems vital for Alaskan winters.
• Mentorship and Learning: Works closely with seasoned residents like Sam Carlson and contributes to projects that benefit the wider community, embodying Port Protection’s ethos of self-reliance and shared survival.