Mike White & Tiffany Ervin Survivor 50 Preseason Interviews

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Of course, if you missed any of my chats with the calo tribe as well as either of the other two tribes on this season, you know what to do. Final plug here, we know survivor.com for all of our survivor podcasts as well as Rob has website.com slash YouTube or the video versions of these podcasts. I truly cannot believe we are almost at the end of this preseason interview experience, but we've got a job to do here and my first interview today is with a man who has many jobs, especially on the set of his critically acclaimed series, the white Lotus. I'm talking about and two Emmy winner Mike White. And though he has had so much deserved to claim outside of the world of survivor, little less than 10 years ago, he was truly a galaic both outside of the game and in his season coming in second place. Some have said that Mike White was robbed. And so he's here to rectify that. And perhaps make sure that season 50 is one to remember some quick facts on Mike white here. Mike is 54 years old, originally from Pasadena, California, currently lives in Honolay Hawaii and he is a writer slash director. If I had an emoji to describe my personal experience talking with Mike white, it would be beaming from ear to ear. Obviously Mike is an incredibly witty and funny person. But he's also a really hard core survivor fan. It's what sort of brought him into the sphere in the first place and let the things like getting rid of redemption island for San Juan del Sore or making sure that the Rick Devons shop didn't show up in survivor 41. So I really love to get into pick his brain about his own approach to season 50, both as an author as well as a player proper and his opinions on cast members old and new. So without further ado, here's my interview with Mike White. Ever since you played for the first time, you had talked about the fact that like you want to come back, you know, no matter what was going on in your life. Well, I don't know about no matter what, but I mean, Jeff once was like, oh, you're never coming back. And I'm like, you don't know that. Come back. That would definitely come back unless you don't want me back. Well, then suffice say there's a lot going on, you know, in your life. So what was the choice like for you to when you got the offer? Well, first they just kind of said, would you be available right now, which is June of this year? And I mean, honestly, if they'd said almost any other time in the last five years, it would have been like a no. Yeah, I was like, wow, that's actually the one time I could probably do it because I'm on a kind of a mini hiatus from White Lotus. And I was like, I was like, I don't know. Do I have it in me? I'm pretty depleted from shooting and doing that show. Yeah. But I was like, maybe this is what I maybe this will help me. Like, you know, I'm a little like burnout. And so like to like get away from the show, my show and like, you know, I'm immersed myself in something that's totally different. I mean, just on for yeah, my own selfish reasons. Plus, it's like, you know, when I heard like, you know, like, I was like, Christian Angelina, I'm sure coming back. I don't want them to like, have more fun than me. Yeah. So like, yeah, there was just a little bit like it's like, um, and also survivor of 50. I mean, I am, I am a genuine, you know, watcher from the first episode of the first season. Yeah, you're a fan. And now it's part of my life. And it's, and Jeff is a friend and the people that produce a show or, you know, I mean, I'm, I'm like, I feel like I'm part of a survivor family. And I feel like it's cool to be able to participate in it. And so yeah, I just felt really flattered that like, you know, that they would want me and obviously I've had some like anxiety about it. But I'm obviously, I'm also really stoked to be here. Yeah, it's a family reunion in that main earth. Yeah, it's a huge, it's a big deal for the culture, you know, it's like 50, that's no joke. And especially in this culture where it's like, you know, shows don't seem to last more than like, you know, a season. It's like it's to have this as a perennial kind of constant in the culture is no, no small thing. So I am a devout amazing race. And so I know this is not your first time coming back for a second season. I'm team Mel and Mike all the way. So what do you think from your perspective is like the fundamental difference in terms of an approach to a first season versus coming back with, you know, fellow attorneys. Yeah. I mean, I got to say the second season of amazing race was a just a general like dumpster fire for me. My, I realized very early, my dad was not physically up for it. And I had put like people on furlough for this show in lightened so I could go on it. Like I said, I'd done a lot to like go and like within two days. It was like we can't do this. Like and so and also there was just something about it too, which is, you know, what was my fear this time to just like, you know, when you first are doing it with people who've never played before. There's something very kind of like, I don't know. It's, it's never as, you know, it's sometimes the people come back and it's like they lean into like the personality they're supposed to have and it feels a little more canned or something. Yeah, a little more inorganic. Yeah. And so I was like, yeah. So the second season of amazing race, I was just a little bit like, okay. Yeah. I don't, it felt more like I was on a reality show than it was like I was getting a chance to play this game. I've always wanted to play. And my hope is this season of survivor that I will still feel like, yeah, I'm here. Yeah, like I'm getting to play this really America's game basically. And with people who are really into the game and it's not, yeah, and it kind of avoids that feeling of like, oh, this is just like we're just, you know, America's survivor. Like it's a job or something. Yeah. Well, I mean, are there people out here that might be looking for another job with you? I, you know, I imagine that you've had some thoughts about if people might try to work with you or curry favor with you, you know, for the instance of maybe trying to advance things. Is that something you could possibly wield like a cudgel? Or are you trying to steer away from that curve? I mean, honestly, like being here like, I don't really want to think about why it load is. Of course. Yeah, I mean, I don't really see myself like dangling that. Like I don't really under, you know, it's like, you know, the truth is like, you know, I don't really know what anyone's perception of me is, you know, like, and I don't know what the other players are or what they, you know, it's like, so yeah, maybe people will be nicer to me because of it or maybe people will have some kind of beef about that or something or like think that why is he here? I don't, I've no, I like, you know, so it's, it's hard to know if I assume it'll probably not be a necessarily a bad thing, but I could also see it be like, you know, like, we don't know who to vote for. Oh, Mike doesn't need the money or he's like, maybe just get rid of you know, he'll be fine. Like, you know, well, let's talk about your previous game, specifically where things ended. You know, you have expressed a lot about the fact that you felt like you would back down at final travel council, almost from like a storytelling perspective of like, if the Goliath's one, I'm my house, we could egg, perennially. So how are you approaching it this time around? Is that still from sort of like that storytelling narrative perspective considering how many narratives are out on the island this time? Yeah. I mean, I, I definitely think that that's my, you know, you know, being a storyteller is pretty much my only skill set. Like, I realized last time, like, I'm a pretty useless individual. Like, I don't know how to like, you know, I can't catch a fish. You know, I, I'm not good at building a shelter. I don't know what plants to eat or not to eat. You know what I mean? I'm not, and I'm just like, I don't know things. Like I'm not, and I don't, because I don't live in the real world. I live in like this, you know, like this world. But like, I also feel like, you know, that is a skill on survivor. That actually is helpful. It's like, you know, being able to see people in their narrative and be able to like articulate that and kind of get in people's heads about, you know, like, who might be a threat or what's the interesting story or what you think that, you know, like it's, because everybody wants to be the winner of survivor, but they also want to be the star of the show. Yeah. That's the thing. I think there's, there's a benefit to being able to be, and I have so much practice, like flattering actors and trying to make people feel like they're the star of the show. And I, I feel like that's something that I, that I do know how to do. Well, that's the thing is you talk about like, you know, I don't live in the real world, but the fact of the matter is, like perception is reality out here. I think you're able to craft those perceptions and gauge the way people are assessing their own story and being like, how can I be your character? How can I be your supporting character in that story? And compared to David versus Goliath, which was the story of like underdogs versus the heels, which I got cast as a Goliath, like I feel like this time, I, I, you know, like when I voted out the first person in David's life, I like, I cried. Like I felt so bad because I was like, it felt like we're like, you know, like crushing somebody's, you know, survivor experience, you know, in a kind of a nascent stage. And like I, I feel like this time, everybody's had fun. Yeah. They've all played like they've all done well. They're now just glutton's like getting a second helping up a fai. And I don't, I don't feel like I'm going to be as, you know, worried about like, I don't know. Is this, you know, is this the right thing to do? Like it just feels like, you know, you want to just, I just think like our mission here is to create an exciting season. And I feel like that's what I want to do. Like I want to win, but I also feel like winning is my version of winning would be to like, yeah, like keep it exciting and then still somehow win it by like keeping exciting means maybe keeping players in who are to others like a huge threat and somebody that you know, you definitely want to take out. I feel like it'd be fun to like sit with Sri and Ozzie at the end and not like, you know, you know, whatever. So like, so that feels like maybe a different strategy than maybe some other people might have. Well, let's get into it. Uh, it's not a little bit of a game for you. It's called Friend or Foe. We're going to go through everyone in the cast and you can tell me if this person's a friend someone you might want to work with either conventionally or conventionally or a foe. Someone that maybe you're not vibing with right now or someone that you want to get rid of as a thread and you can provide explanations if you want to. But we'll start at the tip of top here. Gena Lewis. Friend, I feel like it'd be so fun to like I, I, I, I don't know. Like it, I mean, as somebody watched the first season, like it's just, it just be a great story to have her like go deep and, you know, like, she has a vibe of very like, I don't know. There's something kind of like, you know, scattered and like goofy about her that I think is funny. How about Colby? Colby, I feel like it's a great story. It's like I, like, you know, he, he'd be somebody I'd want to work with. But I also like, I can't, I'm vibing him. I don't know. He maybe, he seems a, maybe a little grumpy. I don't know or I can't, you know, I can't, it's, it's hard to know off like when, in these things because he's a little more reserved. How about Stephanie? Stephanie's again, like I'm old school. So like, you know, like she's got a cool survivor story and, and she seems like if she'd be cool to work with. So let's talk about Sury. You mentioned here before perhaps in your, your final three plans, getting your thoughts on her. Yes, Sury, like she's like, you know, to me, she's the perennial heartbreak of survivors. She's had such a like, you know, like I feel like survivor owes her one. She's a survivor, Sysophys. Yeah, exactly. And it feels like, you know, she's like late game twists have like, boned her like multiple times and she's played such great games. So like, you know, nothing would make it a better season than to have her somehow pull it. I think she's got a pill battle, but like, I'm not going to be the one trying to pull the rug out from under her. How about Ozzy, Friend or Fell? Definitely friend. Like actually, he's probably the only other person besides Christian and Angelina that I know outside of him, because he was like a manager of a restaurant in LA that I, and so had to strike up a friendship with him. Interesting. Also, he's also like, like Sury, I feel like he's had such an interesting journey on survivor. And I feel like to have him, you know, like get this stage of his life and it would just be cool. Give me your thoughts on coach. Coach is, I think is, I don't like, I mean, I, I can sense he's got a good sensitive humor, but I also, you know, like, I, you know, like he also played a very kind of like, you know, honor, you know, or at least he talks to that, you know, it's like, so I, I don't know, I don't really like, you know, it's like, I, I am loyal, you know, and actually, but I, I don't really like, you know, like to the end brother, you know, like that kind of stuff. I mean, that's the perfect coach. She maneuver. You got it down. How about Aubrey? Let's move into the 30s. Aubrey, yeah, I would definitely work with her. Like I, I, I don't think she's a foe. How about Chrissy? Chrissy. I could see her being a little bit like, she, she has a, like, a, a, bit, a little bit of like a more maternal Angelina vibe where she's like, gonna try to like run the show in this kind of like, more mother way, which I don't know if I, my bristle against. Like, I don't, like, it's like, I don't want a mother out here. Let's get into your day versus goliath cast members. Angelina, what are your thoughts? Angelina is like, you know, a real friend and like, she was somebody I went through the entire David versus like, the day one to final tribal council. And so like, she's really part of like my, I don't know, she's like my survivor girlfriend or whatever. So like, I feel like it's like I would, I mean, nothing would make you happier than we would be on the same tribe and go through it again together. So I, I definitely friend, but like, I can't, you know, Angelina only knows one, one, one speed and like, she's gonna Angelina. And so like, I can't be responsible for her game. Like, if she blows up her own game, that's on her. I'm not gonna go down with the ship. Yeah, you're gonna be like in the, you know, the detonation suit, like like Jeremy Renter, Hurt Locker, far away from that explosion. Yeah. Yeah. So give me your thoughts on Christian because you come in with the season bond, but obviously, you know, I think that you played a bit of a role in his departure. As he talked to you, as he said something. I don't know. I don't know. I'm kidding. Um, yeah, Christian and I are friends outside of the game, but yeah, I definitely feel like it would be a great story if he somehow got his revenge on me. So like, I, I, you know, I, I love Christian and like, I, I, it was never personal. Like, and, and I feel like I don't have a lot of friends out here. So like, I actually see him as a friend. So it's nice to see him here. And so like, I hope it's like, if I'm a, you know, it's like if we're targets for each other, it's like, keep your friends close, keep your targets closer. I, I hope we can at least like pretend to work together. Mm hmm. How about Rick Devins? Rick Devins, I feel like he's, he's, he's so nice. And he's like in, in this like pregame. He's like, he's like a Labrador or a cheaver. He just constantly wants to like make eye contact and he's like smiling, you know, and there's something about that that like makes me want to vote him out. But like, I, not just, just, just because it's like, I feel like he's working so hard to like be like, you know, this kind of like a vunkular, like the, the, the harmless dad got. Yeah, I know. It's just like, I don't know. Yeah, you can be like, listen, I squash the idea of you with that, that trading outpost with Jeff. Now it's time to really put it in the ground. But I'm sure if I actually hung out with him, I, I would like him a lot. It would, I would totally, yeah, probably be wanting to work with him. Let's get into the new era here. Friend or foe, Jonathan? Jonathan, I hope he's on my tribe so we don't have to go to trial counsel. Doug, I feel like I have some weird feeling. I am going to be on a tribe with him. But I don't know why that I just, I don't, I feel like it's like me, like, I don't like, I don't know. Somehow I just, I just have this intuition that he's going to be on my tribe. But he seems cool. He's like, he's literally like a giant. Like I got in pretty good shape. And I'm like, oh, yeah. Like I'm better shaped than I was when I came seven years ago. And then I like, get here and I'm seeing these guys. And I'm like, oh my God. I was like, I'm like, it's like, he's like, yeah, he's, he's, he's literally like, he's, it's like if Jack in the Beanstalk was like a biblical story. I feel like, you know, it's like he climbed the beans. He's like, you know, like a, like a giant Jesus shows up at the pearly gate. It's hell about D. D, I feel like. Yeah, I don't know like maybe some of the, especially like the winners of these later seasons. I'm like, you've had your fun. You can go. How about Emily? Emily, she seems interesting. Like she's definitely, I don't even remember how well she did. I like, I didn't do full recon, but she's like, she has like a red fair kind of like, she should play like a, like a harpsichord. She doesn't like fair maiden look through. But like, I like, yeah, she's, was she a good strategist? I don't even remember. You can't talk. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So anyway, I would, I would take her as it comes. Like if she's cool, I'm cool. All right, let's get into five or 46. What are your thoughts on Charlie? Charlie definitely seems like guy who's smartest guy in the room vibe. Hmm. So like he, he seems like, you know, like, he's probably been, you know, smart and good at everything. And then he does really well in survivor. And now he's going to come back. It's, say, yeah, he might be somebody that I would probably like be okay voting out. Well, you were doing recon. Let's talk about the man who loves to play hide and seek. What are your thoughts on Q? Q is like, he's like the most handsome man I've ever, he's so, he's so good looking. Oh, he's like, yeah, like I would just keep him around to like just stare out. He's like, he's, he's, he's a, also he's like kind of interesting. To watch because he's like a little like, yeah, it's like he's, he's got a little crazy eyes going on. Hmm, interesting. Where are your thoughts on Tiffany? Tiffany seems cool. We've been like in the same vans this whole week. So I spent a lot of time sitting in the next, where she seems, she seems cool. I don't know, I'd like to get to know her. Jen and Eve, any thoughts on her? Jen and Eve definitely feels like, I feel like she played such a like kind of good game. And so like so, so heavy strategic. That like, I feel like I would probably be like, I'm not a good strategist to help me. But like, I sort of feel like, I don't know, something that tells me like she might, she might have made herself a target because she's so like, she played such a kind of clinical strategic game that like it'd be hard to feel like he could trust her. Let's talk about some of these recent faces we just saw. What are your thoughts on Joe? Joe, I feel like one of these three in this season has to go early. I feel like it's like, it's so clear that they all work together. They were just working. You know, they're just, you know, there's no time for, you know, like too much, you know, daylight between the seasons. So it's like, I think, I think he seems like a great guy, but like he definitely seems like, you know, one of those, one or two of those that should go, I think. Yeah. So then what are your thoughts on Camilla? Would she be, how does she fall within that pecking order, I suppose? Well, Camilla, it's funny. She's, I don't know, it's so funny because it's like her vibe here. She seems like she's like, she looks like a girl who's like waiting for her parent. It's like they forgot to pick her up from school. And she's like into tension. She's just very like, she's not very animated. She looks kind of like down and I'm like, wow, you just were the star of the last season. Survivor, you're actually like, what am I doing here? Like, like, she's in trouble or something. So like, I'm curious to get to know what she's like outside of this pre-gaming thing or like Pandarosa. But I mean, I would, I would, I really liked her on her season. So I would work with her friend or fill for Kyle. Kyle would be like probably my first bowed out. Okay. Just because I feel like not, not any personal, but like, again, there's a lot from that season. They should have like this, you know, blood bond. And then he just won. So it's just like, you've had your fun. You're just here. Like you were just on TV winning. Yeah, far from your first mode and day versus go. I'm good. Yeah, you're not missing out if you go home. Give me your thoughts on these, these mystery entities here. The 49ers. Are you picking up anything from them one way or the other? It's hard to know that, um, I'm allowed to say who they are. You consider them. Yeah. So yeah, the guy Rizzo, he has kind of a McLeven vibe. I don't really know. Yeah, he seems like he's like, yeah, like, um, yeah, like, I have a feeling he's like, yeah, like strangely confident, even though he has kind of a gauky kind of manner. Um, and he's also very young. Like, I have no, he seems like he's maybe 18 or something. But, um, and then Savannah, she seems like maybe like a parvading, nesting doll. She looks like she could fit inside parvading. Like, as a kind of like, I opened up after winter's the war and she stepped out. Yeah, like a little parvading mini me or something. I don't, I'm sorry, but she seems very poised. Like, she, she's, uh, she's very self contained and something about that I think is interesting. Who is one previous cast away that you wish was out here for survivor 50? Uh, well, definitely Richard Hatch. Hmm. Just because it's like, grow one the first season. Yeah, it's just like, I mean, if, if you want to see anybody try to play this new era, it would be Richard Hatch. So yeah, it was kind of, I mean, I, I guess I wasn't expecting this to be him, but I would have been stoked to see him. I'm going to throw a weird scenario out for you. It's the loved ones visit, but you can only bring a celebrity or a fictional character. This is a bit of an interesting situation for you considering that you know a fair amount of a celebrity. So they might be loved ones to you basically, but who would you bring out? Well, I would, I mean, yeah, she goes to my friend Jennifer Kloge. I'd probably bring out her Molly Shan and one of those two just because they're close friends and also would be so funny to have in this situation and scenario. Like I almost even asked them and then I was like, nah, like they would probably feel like they needed to do it. And then I'm like, I, you know, I wouldn't want to put them through it. Would Jen get on the boat? Jen would probably get on the boat. I don't know how else you'd get off the boat. Yeah, exactly. When they do that switch over to get to the island, she's like, all right, I've been here before. I don't know what I want to do. Yeah, exactly. Well, the last thing I'm going to ask is that when you would I talk the day after the date for school life finale and you talked about this idea that you kind of came into survival that today. You have keep chasing the adventure and you've gone on so many adventures even in the intervening what like seven or eight years since. So what does this next adventure look like for you considering where you are right now in life and how much as you mentioned before this experience means to you. I feel like I mean, honestly, it's nobody's going to like me to say it, but I feel like I've hacked the culture. Like I'm like, I don't like I just feel like yeah, like somehow like I mean, because I feel like there's probably a lot of celebrities or whatever who probably watch survivor and just be like, I can't do that. And it's again, and it's like I don't something about be able to like do you know my creative stuff and be completely grossed in that. But then also be able to I don't like do something like this, which is so you know such a you know it's like I'm such a plan and different in it. Someone else's game. I'm not you know, it's not what you know it's like I'm so it's like I I don't know I feel I'm yeah, honestly, I've just been feeling so lucky to be here. And also it's like you realize like oh it's like your life is like you know decorating a house like at some point you like you realize there's so many layers of stuff you've built up over time and and like you know I guess that's there's a satisfaction to that where you look back you like wow just keeping you know making these take these chances and then they continue to sort of pay off somehow in some like deeper way for me. And like coming back here now it's like it's obviously an adventure but like it's also it's a weird homecoming too and kind of it hasn't it because of season it's 50 it feels like it's like it hasn't it's meaningful to all the people involved. Yeah and to be able to be yeah to participate in that with those people and it's like it's it's it's it's moving. Well, well it's just cool. So I'm so well I am so happy you're here for many reasons because again I think your I mean your appreciation is it's so tantamount and it's exactly what the season needs and I think I mean you were here to make this a monumental season. Well I feel like yeah it's like it's in the hands of the fans but I'm like it's it's in your hand and your a fan. It's in your hands now so it's like I feel like I owe it to I don't know if it's the fans on reddit or whatever these message boards but the fans like in general I'm like I feel like it's my duty to yeah obviously play an interesting way but also like try to like keep the people in who are also playing interesting ways and keep it as exciting as possible for everybody. What a fun sit down with Mike white certainly his less controversial R.H.A.P. appearance but I'm really excited to get into it with Rob tomorrow specifically Mike's perspective of wanting to create the most exciting season. possible wanting to sit at the end with Ciri and Ozzy how much of that is factoring towards his own desire to win the game finally we'll see where those two priorities lay as we continue to talk about him as well as the rest of this tribe and there's only one person who remains in the rest of this tribe who has yet to be interviewed coming up after the break my interview with Tiffany Irvin. If you want to save a few quid British gas have a way you get half price leaky and it's called peak save on every Sunday it's the smart thing to do if you're regular folk or furry and blue 11 till 4 let the good times begin you could charge up the car or take the dryer for a spin half price electricity what joy that brings with British gas peak save we're taking care of things. season C supply eligible tafs and smart meter required last but certainly not least in my priesties and interview series is season 46 standout Tiffany Irvin. I think a lot of people have some questions about Tiffany being on this season but there is no question that she is absolutely ready to play especially given the way she went out last time blindsided with the night all in her pocket. Her mind clouded by performer number one ally turn number one enemy in q we of course get into her feelings on q going into their second season together as well as her feelings towards charlie who is actually on the same starting tribe as her. Just some fast facts on Tiffany because since she's last play she actually has changed post Tiffany Irvin is 34 years old originally from Franklin township new jersey and currently lives in L.A. where she is an artist and creative producer so we get into what creative ways she is going to rev up her game for her second time around as she paints a picture of why this time around she'll be walking home a million dollars richer. Without further ado here's my interview with Tiffany. I guess I want to start by asking how of those two years being because we talk about a game of making big moves you literally made a big move out from the east coast of the west coast right. I did you know what I've been enjoying my time on the west coast so much I was a little nervous at first but I made so many new friends and there is nothing that compares to walking your dog and wearing shorts in December. I do not miss the new jersey weather I'm sorry I don't. Oh my god well how does it feel for you to have you know such a big game go down such a big way and then to have great it's still two years but still pretty quick turn around you know how much you feel this approach to 50 is going to be muscle memory versus some new stuff that you bring in for Tiffany 2.0. I think it'll probably be about 75% muscle memory and then 25% Tiffany 2.0. Because obviously I don't want to play the game completely the same way I played because I lost. So we're going to do things a little differently this time but for the most part I am proud of the game I played the first time so I don't want to scrap it all you know and also we don't really know what we're walking into the fans are voting on things Jeff is crazy. We could be walking into anything we get out there so I got to stay click on my toes. So one of the things and who knows this the final vote of the fans is that we might not even have idols in the game. But if we do of course one of the big things was the plight of poridolisha went out in your pocket are you approaching either looking for them or playing them in a different way considering how things went down last time. I am not approaching looking for them in a different way. I am approaching talking about them in a different way. Really not at all if I do. Are we doing this hot take again? We're going to do that hot take but this time I'm actually going to do what I said. I'm actually going to shut my mouth. And I'm going to play it but you know an idol is a very tricky thing. Just because you have it doesn't mean you know when to use it. It's a gamble whether you play it right or whether you don't. So I'm still going to look for it. Hopefully keep my mouth shut. Let's me hold on to it a little bit longer. But I'm going to roll with my gut this time. So if my gut tells me to whip that thing out I'm going to whip it out whether it might or wrong. So something that I know you and I talked about after your episode is that you were surprised watching the episodes back how big of a target you were. That you didn't necessarily realize that while you were on the island. Does that give you a new perspective this time around? Are there like telltale signs you have to watch out for now? You know what? I have to sit and think about the signs that I need to look for this time because realizing that I was as big of a target as I was. What's definitely an eye opening experience for me. Yeah. But I don't think there's a way to shake. I don't think there's a way to shake that. I am who I am. I'm going to be who I'm going to be. But I think the thing that's different this time around is I'm not the only target out there. I might be tiffy but guess what? I think right there. Freeze right there. Christian's right there. Aubrey's right behind me. What you looking at a little bit more. I didn't play my idol. I went home with it in my pocket. There's much bigger targets out here. Yeah. You also when we talked out here before you would say that you self-amidally didn't have much of a filter. Is that something that you're going to like try to hold back on here or is it more so? Listen, it got me so far being myself last time I'm just going to continue to keep going down that path. Yeah. One thing will remain true. I'm always going to be me. I am not. Can we love it? I'm not going to change who I am. Now, one thing that I am trying to work on is giving away how I feel with my facial expression. Because I feel like I don't have a very good poker face. And we're going to work on that this time. But as far as authenticity goes, I'm still going to be me. Like, that's in my DNA. Was there a difference in prep for you for 50 versus 46 other things you didn't do or things you're now doing additionally? I don't think the prep was too different at least not physicality wise. I did focus more on mental fortitude this time around because I feel like that's where I struggled the first time. I want to say that. Like, you know, you can be and one thing about me is I can be, you know, looking cool and calm and collected on the surface. Oh, yeah. Internally, there is a storm going on. It's like that duck on water. Yeah, you know, I'm the duck. I'm cool on the surface, but I'm paddling for my life underneath. And I think this time I work like my strategy was to kind of just work on like staying mentally strong in the face of adversity because a lot of times when people get frazzled, they make mistakes. Yeah. And I did that. I got frazzled. And instead of sitting down and focusing on what my next steps would be, I just let my emotions guide me. And then I'm just cussing cute out. And then, you know, I got mad. I'm running out of each crazy person. So we're not going to do that this time. Well, let's talk about some of these people that you will not be cursing out. So we're going to play a little game right now. It's called Friend or Foe. Okay. I'm going to give you a list of the cast and one at a time. You can just give me rapid fire. If they're a friend, if you think this is someone that you want to work with. And if there is a foe, if it's someone that either you feel like you're not vibing with right now, or there's someone that you would want to get rid of as a threat. And you can provide explanations if you want to. We can certainly get into a couple of those pre-existing relationships. Oh my god, this is so hard. I feel like everybody's a potential friend. Until the potential foes. Exactly. That's the thing. It's so hard for me to cause somebody to fall until they do something to make me think that. But I'll play along. Thank you. I appreciate that. I'll play along. Well, let's start at the beginning here in Chen out. Friend. Okay. Yeah. Actually, you know what? I changed that foe. See, you know, we can be like, it's going to be so hard. No, she's a foe. No, I changed that foe. She seems very shrewd. She seems like she pays attention to a lot of things. And me as a person who wears my emotions on my face. I feel like it might be difficult to get things around her. How about Colby? Fo. Hmm. Same thing or? Uh, he just seems very stoic and I'm more of like a bubbly person. So I don't know how we would gel. I mean, it could just be, you know, everybody has their gain face on, but just preconceptions. Stephanie? Hmm. Friend. Hmm. She seems like she has a similar personality to my life. She seems effervescent. Bubbly. Fun. On that note, Sari. Uh, friend. Okay, what's the pause for? Uh, pause because Sari is one of those people that is like, you know, larger than life when you think about survivor. But I don't feel like an intimidation factor. It's just that, like, you know, it's, it's Sari. But I do think that I could work with her. She's very graceful and she seems like she would make a good ally. How about Ozzy? A smile could say a thousand words. Bro. Oh, you're going for the medium. I'm going to we could go either way. You can go anywhere. You can go with bro. Bro, we're going to go with bro. Friend. We got a little bit of a fro with that there. We're going to go either way. What is it? It's just like it's just difficult to pick up anything from him. It's not difficult to pick up anything, but he gives me vibes like he can flip a switch. Like, you know, he could be your friend one day, but I don't think that that is always going to be the case. So it's hard to read that one. How about coach? Friend. Okay. I think he could be friends. I noticed that he has his big toenails painted and that gives me like an R.C. vibe. So I feel like I only only one big toe. Only one big toe. His big toe was painted. I didn't see paint on the other toe. I'm like, I like that. How about Aubrey? Friend. Yeah. Just like with her. I don't know. She just gives me like quirky vibes. I feel like I'm a little bit of a quirky person. I think I could vibe with her. Chrissy. Friend. Yeah. She seems really sweet. Yeah. Obviously, these are people that I haven't spoken a word to, but just her aura, her vibe. She gives like a very sweet and nurturing vibe. Let's get into our David versus Goliath people. Okay. Angelina. Oh, why? Why? Why is that? She just seems like a person that will play hard right out of the gate and just like somebody that I will have to watch. Like, immediately. I don't know why those are just the vibes. I haven't spoken a word to her. Just the vibes. How about Christian? Friend. Okay. He's such a cutie, platoonie. I think that we would be friends. And Mike White? Friend. For sure. I feel like we could have a nice little key key session. He seems funny. Like, for the wine. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Let's talk about Rick Devins. So. Tell me why. So, not because of anything he's done, but just he seems overly friendly. Like, almost like it's trying to suck you in. Like, you cannot trick me. You cannot trick me. So, yeah. It seems like, give me sneaky vibes a little bit. Yeah. Well, let's start getting into your aura, your new era. Yeah. Give me your thoughts on Jonathan. Ooh. I think Jonathan could be a friend. Okay. Yeah. He seems like he's level-headed. He doesn't seem much to me. I was going to make rash decisions. And somebody that could talk too rationally when things hit the fan. How about Dee? Oh, that's tough. Can we go fro? We're going to flirt with the line. We're going to flirt with the line. Okay. All right. Because obviously, I know that Dee and I could vibe. I've met Dee. I'm cool with Dee, but also, I know how hard Dee plays. So, like, we could clash. I don't know. Yeah. What about Emily? Faults. Mm. Okay. Yeah. I feel like Emily is another one that I might have to watch. For no particular reason. She's very sweet, but she seems calculated. I mean, I imagine this is a bit of the thing as we're going to continue to get through this. It's like, the people whose season is that you're in proximity with. I know there's a lot of survivor community about, like, you typically interact a lot. A lot of the new era people I have met. Yeah. So, it's like these are people that I'm spoken to, I hung out with. And, like, I mean, by no stress in the imagination, I might mess these with any of them, but just vibes. Okay. Well, let's get into the big vibes of season 46, shall we? Yeah. Okay. What's your headspace with Charlie right now? I think Charlie and I could start off as friends, but also he is somebody who wrote my name down. So, both eyes will be open. Mm-hmm. And then the third eye is going to be open there, too. And maybe a couple eyes in the back of my head. Right. Because I know how Charlie plays. I've played with Charlie. Charlie is a person that will stab you in the back of a small and in your face. So, we could be friends with me. Mm-hmm. Well, on that note, we got to open up that box. Give me your thoughts on Q coming into 50. Q, Q, Q. This is also a tough one. Mm-hmm. Contrary to pop me believe, Q and I are friends. Like, we are actually friends. So, it's weird to say, but we're going to go fro. Okay, we're going fro. We're going to go fro. You're heading your bets a little bit, you know? Yeah, I'm not going to put any faith in Q because at the end of the day, he is Q. Yeah. But, you know, we're cool. We've buried the hatchet. We became cool instantly when he got back to Ponderosa. Oh, really? Yeah, as soon as he stepped on the beach, we like, cool. Yeah. But, survivor Tiffany and survivor Q are not friends. Yeah. Real life Tiffany, real life Q are friends. Well, so to that point, you know, I'm sure that's a perception coming in. Is that something you plan to like steer into to be like, oh, given art. Like, look what we were doing. Like, there's no way we're doing anything together. Yeah, no. I'm not going to go out there and put on a charade like Q and I aren't friends. Okay. Again, these are people that know me. These are people that follow me on social media. These are people that I've hung out with at parties. They see me and Q talking. They see us hanging out. Like, that would be foolish to do that. So, I think I'm just going to be honest. Like, I don't know how to play it. Yeah, we're cool. But, at the end of the day, you can only trust somebody as far as you will. And, trust them with a million dollars that you're fighting for. Yeah. So, like, I also, they don't call him K. I ask you for no reason. Like, yeah. Give me your thoughts on Genevieve. I think Genevieve could be a friend. She seems cool. She seems like somebody who, well, obviously she's great at challenges. I love watching her play. But then again, she's another one that I might have to, you know, grow. I'm watching you. Yeah. Let's talk about some faces we just saw. Give me your thoughts on Joe. I like Joe. But, I think Joe, at least if we're judging Ben's off the game he played before, he might be a little bit rigid, you know. I think in this game, it's easier to play with people who are a little more fluid, well, in the term, well, in the change plans after the last minute. I feel like, obviously, listen, Joe's rigid gameplay got him to the end. Right. On 48. I don't know how successful that would be out here in a beach full of former players. But I think he could potentially be a friend if he, you know, adopts a little bit more flexibility in his gameplay. Hmm. How about Camilla? I think Camilla could be. Well, actually, you know what? I was gonna say, friend. But then, you know, you know, we're gonna, we're gonna keep it. We're gonna keep it at friend. Oh, you're gonna keep it at friend. It's like, friend like verging on fro. Yeah, friend and so proven fro. Why is that? Because I also have seen what Camilla was capable of, you know. I'm not. Get that girl to ask her. She was acting out there, you know. So, I'm not going to completely let my guard down with Camilla because the way she lied to them people out there, she could certainly lie to me. How about Kyle? I was a friend. Okay. I like, I like Kyle. And maybe this is just because I've had a little bit more conversation with Kyle in the real world than Camilla. So, I have like a teeny bit more to base it off of. But he seems a little bit more open. Mm-hmm. Then Camilla, and he seems a little bit easier to read than Camilla. Hmm. Well, I guess speaking of open books or a Lactar of, any thoughts on the 249ers right now? What are you picking up from them? Um, I'm not picking up much from either of them. But I don't think that that's a good thing. In my personal opinion, I'd rather walk into a situation where I have something to go off of. Yeah. We're going to slide them both into the full category until proven otherwise. What is one person that you wish was out here from a previous season? Oh, wow, that's a great question. Uh, I would love to play with Jeremy. Mm-hmm. He seems like so much fun. He seems like such good vibes. I would love to play with him. Yeah, I mean, that would be great. And listen, if there's a fire making challenge, you can just douse it out. Yeah. Those firefighter skills. Yeah. So sometimes they say that when people come back from, for future seasons, they oftentimes take things from the winner of their first season and incorporate it into their own games. Sort of learn from them. Of course, I know the relationship that you and Kenzie had. Is there anything that you're bringing from her game into your own out here for time number two? Uh, yes, there is. Actually, it is so funny. I texted her. Um, this was like so long ago, but I texted her. I'm like, you know, like if I ever go back out there, I'm going to collect a little bit more seashells. And what I mean by that is I would get on Kenzie's ass, like all the time, because Kenzie just used to frolic up and down the beach collecting seashells and time flowers in her hair. And I'm like, bitch, get your head to get him. What are you doing? She's like, it's so beautiful. Everything's so wonderful. Like, we're having a great time, but she was present. She was always present. She was always just like taking in everything around her. And I think that that is what made it easier for her to get to the end. Yeah. Now, I'm not saying I'm about to be, you know, just floating around like a fairy. But I am going to try to be more present and kind of take things in because, you know, obviously an added benefit. An added benefit to that is that, you know, I mean, Fiji, this is amazing. It's beautiful. It's an adventure of a lifetime. But being present will also help you to pick on little nuances that are going around you that you may not have seen otherwise. So coming from 46 and especially your situation, you know, the decision to have a number one ally always comes with these drawbacks. Yeah, yeah. So are there, you know, we ran down a list of obviously some of those, those friends and those froze. Is there a particular quality you're looking for in a number one ally, especially in this season? You know, I had an answer to that question the first time we did these. And to be honest, no, I don't want no number one ally. I want me to be my number one ally because the last time I put my fifth is number one ally I got burned. And to be fair, so literally every other person in your head. Yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, actually you're right. My whole entire cast is like a complete shisho. But no, I think when you lean too heavily on the crutch of having that number one ally that person will fall back on, then you kind of lose a little bit of your own balance. And I don't do that this time. It's a good way to put it. Yeah, that it's like you have to maintain the balance on your own using your own equilibrium. If you have something alongside you, if that gets taken away, you're much more off balance. Yeah. You know how I end these things. Yeah. You know, we do the celebrity or fictional character loved one. So last time you said Hermione Granger. I'm a Granger, yes, I remember. Do you want to Mulligan? Do you want to do it again? Or do you want to double down on Hermione here? Okay. And this is the loved one that remind me of the... So it's basically a typical survivor loved one's visit. They're coming out on the beach, but it's, you know, it could be anybody. It's just as long as someone that's not like a family or friend of yours. Okay, anybody. Yeah. Prince. Make you rest in peace. Yes, Prince. And you got the purple on today and everything. Yeah, I love Prince. I listen to Prince's music all the time. And I think that when I listen to Prince, it just takes me to a different place. And I feel like he will be able to inspire me like no other. Well, we're about to party like it's 1990. Let's go. And there you have it. My 24th and final survivor 50 preseason interview. You know, I was really taken with Tiffany talking about some of the ways she fell short in survivor 46 and how she plans to maybe lean in the opposite direction in survivor 50, whether it comes to not having a number one ally considering she was kind of burned by that in multiple instances, whether it's finding Ida Lisa 2.0 and deciding not to tell anybody about it. But much like to be experienced with my first interview with Tiffany back before survivor 46 started. We shall see if those preseason promises blossom to in season for wishes. Well, unlike Tiffany's idle strategy, I certainly have not been quiet, both during the interviews as well as after the fact about how much I loved getting to do this. This is believe it or not my 12th time doing preseason interviews with a survivor cast. And this one was incredibly different for me, despite the fact that I had relationships with so many of these people that I talked to them in this context. Before this was the first time that I was able to sit down with some living legends that I was able to have them talk freely about their opinions on the other players. I cannot speak highly enough about how fun of a time I had out there. And it really, really heartens me to hear about how much fun you all have had checking out these interviews to sincerely I have gotten so many kind words from people online on social media in person even and. I have no idea how much it means to me to even have you all check out this content in the first place. I know the preseason isn't for everyone, but I hope in these chats with the contestants, especially stuff like the friend and foe game. It was able to surprise to entertain and hopefully be able to ascertain how survivor 50 might go. Of course, we have one more bit of prognosticating to do as tomorrow, I'll get together with Rob Cesternino to talk for one final time about the last batch of contestants will be breaking down the collo tribe getting Rob's reactions to my interviews and then trying to put the pieces together yet again to see what the dynamics of this group might look like when they first face tribal council. I cannot thank this cast enough for bringing the fire in each and every one of these interviews. Thank you for opening up to me about incredibly personal things that have happened in your life or just send down to key key and talk about the rest of the people in this game. It was such an immensely enjoyable experience. Now throughout this process, I have heard some people request like a full visualization of a friend or foe chart for everybody in the cast. Let me shout out a few individuals because I'll go to my people have done the Lord, I mean Jeff's work in doing that mapping out on my behalf. So if you're on Twitter, you can check out at cat 502 to underscore if you're on Reddit, you can check out chop in fantasy with an i e at the end on the r slash survivor sub Reddit, I know and Steven fishbacks discord. There's a guy named Joseph who was able to even like assign numerical values to each one as well, obviously the friend or foe game was a lot of fun to do, but it is a lot of people 24 people's opinions on 23 others. So if you want like a full scope as to what these people's opinions might look like of each other before the game starts cannot recommend those resources highly enough, I will be able to provide the one specific to the color tribe tomorrow, but just to let people know and again, thank you. I would not be able to do what I do if it was not for the support of CBS of Rupp Cisternino of the contestants and of you all for checking out all of this preseason content. It truly means the world to hear such kind words about honestly one of my favorite things to do in the world if you're judging for more preseason content as well more interviews please check out my colleagues Dalton Ross at entertainment weekly sharing tharp with men's journal and the exclusive Terry Taronis with the Hollywood reporter Nick Caruso with TV line Kelly Boyle with TV insider Steph Pettit with people Mara Rinestein with us weekly and I'm sure. And abundance of other things going on both in the couple of weeks leading into the 50 premiere proper as well as following believe it or not folks we still got a whole last season to get through and I personally cannot wait, especially getting to check out all of these interviews okay this sappy outro was long enough this is where I leave you until tomorrow when I preview the color tribe in its entirety alongside Rob Cisternino until then everybody. Take care.