Sue Aikens’ 2025 live: Family Triumphs, Health Battles, and Life After Life Below Zero

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Sue Aikens—an Alaskan wilderness lodge owner, survivalist, and reality television star best known from National Geographic’s Life Below Zero —went live to reconnect with friends, fans, and well-wishers after what she described as a “weird season.” The long‑running, Emmy‑winning series—which premiered in 2013 and spanned 20 seasons until 2025— documented the harsh realities of subsistence life in Alaska, following Sue at her remote Kavik River Camp north of the Arctic Circle along with other Alaskans living off the grid. In her livestream, she blended family updates, community shoutouts, candid reflections on Life Below Zero’s cancellation, and her ongoing journey at Kavik.

Family Celebrations and Personal Notes

Sue began warmly, highlighting milestones close to her heart. She congratulated her son Jesse and daughter-in-law Megan Akins on their wedding anniversary, celebrating a love story that began in seventh grade and led to marriage on September 24, 2016. Nearly a decade later, their bond remains strong. Together they are raising their daughter, Amelia Jean Akins, Sue’s “little princess.” Amelia was born on January 23, 2020 at 11:39 p.m., weighing 7 lbs 1 oz and measuring 20 inches, and she has been a bright light in the family ever since. During the livestream, Sue made sure to give Megan a heartfelt shoutout: “Megan, I love you.”

She also shared the joy of becoming a great-grandmother this year: her granddaughter Drew Alexandra welcomed a daughter, Allison, and recently revealed she’s expecting a son. “We got a bun in the oven, so to speak,” Sue said with pride, adding that Drew had found a strong partner and was navigating life’s trials beautifully. Sue reflected that life “splats experiences” at the younger generations, who then have to turn them into their own creations, and she praised Drew for doing exactly that.

Family health also came into focus. Sue mentioned her daughter, who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS). High heat in Arizona worsened her daughter’s symptoms, prompting her to move back to Alaska and make use of a cabin Sue kept in the White Mountains. After a difficult period that included six months in the hospital and another six months recovering, Sue’s daughter has made the cabin her own. For Sue, seeing her children and grandchildren create their own paths, despite challenges, was both grounding and a source of pride.

Shoutouts to Viewers and Acts of Courage to Viewers and Acts of Courage

Throughout the live, Sue called out longtime followers and friends. She gave a “heavenly hello” to Jean Brittles on behalf of her son Clifford, and recognized Jennifer Wagner and others who tuned in.

One story that deeply moved her audience was about Cookie, a young woman who underwent full dental reconstruction under local anesthesia due to medical complications. Sue praised her courage:

“Cookie, you are beautiful. You’re my idol. I love you.”

Cookie’s new smile, Sue said, symbolized bravery and self-worth. She promised to share photos with permission, showing the transformation.

The End of Life Below Zero

In one of the live’s biggest revelations, Sue confirmed what many had suspected:

“LBZ and its old configuration is no more. Definitely canceled.”

She acknowledged rumors of talks with other networks but admitted she’s seen “no evidence.” While she left the door open to the possibility, she stressed that she has not personally been involved in any such plans.

Sue described the show’s cancellation as both a relief and a challenge. During filming, production rules limited who could visit Kavik, since every visitor had to sign releases—even though, as she pointed out, “if they walk on the screen, it doesn’t mean you got some fat paycheck.” These restrictions made it harder for her to host people freely and limited her income streams.

She also reminded viewers that despite the perception of reality TV riches, she herself never received a “fat paycheck.” For her, the show was less about money and more about survival and sharing a lifestyle with audiences. Now, with filming over, she feels free to rebuild, rebrand, and welcome people back to Kavik without the tangle of production authorizations.

Rebuilding at Kavik: Floods, Caribou, and Climate Challenges

This year at Kavik was one of rebuilding and rebranding. Sue said she had to “start from scratch again,” repairing, refitting, and adjusting after years where filming took priority.

But nature threw curveballs:

• Flooding hit hard, the second worst she has seen in 25–30 years.
• Temperatures spiked to 96°F at Kavik and 98°F in the refuge, levels that forced the caribou to flee.
• The Central Arctic caribou herd—over 400,000 strong—shifted migration routes, bypassing Kavik almost entirely. Wildlife officials confirmed the massive herd movement through aerial surveys, grid-mapping from planes, and long months of photo analysis.

Sue noted that caribou often change migration every 7–10 years, but this year’s shift was extreme. The animals ran for the Mackenzie River Delta to stand on ice sheets and escape the heat. For Sue, this meant hunters canceled trips and resources dwindled.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Susan Aikens (@sueaikens)

She managed to take only two caribou out of the five allotted, her first hunts since undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Shooting aggravated her neck and shoulder scars, leading her doctor to caution against using high-caliber rifles. With humor, Sue admitted:

“I don’t think there’s any argument I’ve got a few screws loose.”

Now, she is considering trading for lighter-impact weapons to continue subsistence hunting without risking further damage.

Personal Health and Adjustments

Sue candidly updated viewers on her health:

• Ongoing issues with her fused neck (and possibly loosened screws). She joked that she already had a “few screws loose,” but the pain from shooting heavy rifles aggravated her scars and surgical site.
• Doctors advised her to avoid high-caliber impacts, and she is considering trading or selling some of her weaponry for firearms designed to lessen recoil.
• She reminded viewers this was the first season since her spinal fusion that she was cleared to take a shot, a milestone that brought both pride and discomfort.

• She also touched on joint pain and scar tissue sensitivity, which flare up in the Arctic conditions, and noted her ongoing challenges with aging: “I’m not the crypt keeper, but I’m certainly not young.”
• The difficulty of adjusting to life after contracts with the production company, which restricted her from taking on other work.
• The financial pinch from medical bills and lost income, compounded by having spent money on treatments earlier than expected.

She admitted the year felt like being in “total limbo,” but emphasized she was slowly catching up, even if it meant taking on simple work in town to make ends meet.

Big Announcements: A Book and Touring

After five years of trial and error, Sue confirmed her memoir will be published in March 2026. She described it as a raw, honest look into her life, carefully written to respect her family’s privacy while offering fans a deeper understanding of her journey.

Leading up to the release, Sue will do some tour stops: Spokane in late September or early October, with possible appearances in Montana and Wyoming. She mentioned having to cancel a San Francisco event due to heavy fog, ice, and early snow at Kavik, showing how her environment still dictates her movements.

Dreams Beyond Alaska

Despite her deep roots in the North Slope, Sue shared dreams of travel. She’s long hoped to see South Africa, describing it as “one of my dream places.” She also mentioned plans to travel Route 66 in the Lower 48, meeting supporters along the way.

Closer to home, she plans to spend time at her Chena cabin, visit family, and even take a simple job at Sipping Streams Tea to help cover bills and keep learning:

“Something simple, just to help pay the bills, do things, learn. Oh my gosh, I can learn so much from her.”

A New Lease and Permanent Plans

One of Sue’s proudest updates: after 13 years of legal battles, she secured a new transferable lease at Kavik. Unlike before, this agreement allows her to build more permanent structures on the camp’s man-made pad. While she reassured viewers that protecting the tundra remains paramount, the lease opens the possibility for infrastructure improvements that were impossible before.

She explained that Kavik was once the largest oil and gas camp on the North Slope, hosting 1,500 workers full-time, with a three-mile runway, control tower, and multiple rock crushers. The camp’s pad was man-made, built to engineer specifications, which makes it stable enough for new structures without damaging the tundra. For Sue, this means the chance to finally put up infrastructure she’s long needed, from wells to sturdier lodging.

Closing Reflections

As the live drew on, Sue balanced gratitude with frankness. She thanked long-time followers who have witnessed her ups and downs, and admitted the difficulty of navigating both aging and the business of survival. She reflected on supporting the show during its Emmy nominations, on watching friends’ health rise and fall alongside her own, and on the emotional adjustment of stepping away from contracts.

Yet, her tone was hopeful:

“It’s all wrapping up, and you’ll be seeing me again soon.”

From celebrating family milestones to tackling climate challenges and sharing major life updates, Sue’s September 2025 live was more than a catch-up—it was a statement of resilience, transition, and determination to write her next chapter on her own terms.