RHAP: We Know Survivor - Carolyn Wiger Talks Survivor 47

Episode Date: November 23, 2024

Today, Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) is joined by Survivor 44's Carolyn Wiger to discuss Survivor 47 so far.

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New Year, New You. This year, it's more you on Bumble. More of you shamelessly sending playlists, especially that one filled with show tunes. More of you finding Gemini's because you know you always like them. More of you dating with intention because you know what you want. And you know what? We love that for you. Someone else will too. Be more you this year and find them on Bumble.

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And what a great time to talk with somebody who is a lock for the Mount Rushmore of the new era. Here she is, Carolyn Weaker. Carolyn, how are you? Good. You think so? Because sometimes I... I know so. What's that syndrome that is called where you... Imposter syndrome? I suffer from that 100% and I have a hard time. It wasn't until, I'm not kidding, during the season, when the season was airing, I didn't read anything because I had gotten the, I had scenes like some bad stuff before the season started and it made

me cry for a week. And I'm like, I promised myself I would never go online and search my name again anyway. But my dad would always send me like the good stuff, the positive stuff. Other than that, it's like, I wouldn't have known like what people thought of me or and I still now like like it's just crazy. And so hearing that, it's like, who are you? I thought you were going to like be talking about Parvati or something. Parvati is not even from the new era. Or not or whatever. Like, you know what I'm saying?

Like somebody like more. I wouldn't think me. Yeah. Carolyn, I also I wrote a newsletter for our reality TV newsletter. And I said that you were on the Mount Rushmore of all-time confessional givers. And you know what's crazy about that? And it's kind of like, believe in yourself. Yeah.

Because even then, when you see on the season, the first confessional where I'm struggling, what I was, it's hard. And I didn't think that I would, I remember thinking, I'm probably not going to get many confessionals. And I said that to production out there. I said, hopefully I don't get purpled this season. I truly believe that. I truly believed out there. I was like, I don't think I'm going to be narrating the season because why I don't speak like a lot of other people. I get nervous to come on your podcast. And I've told you that because I don't talk or sound like people who are so eloquent and so well spoken, you know? So thank you. Yeah. Well, I'm so happy that you're here. I'm so glad that you made the time to do this. And we'll talk a little bit about Survivor and everything that you have going on. You're a podcaster now.

Like there is no one who do like, I don't even want to like be like, hey, hopefully I get to the level of Rob because it won't happen. Like and you put some hard work into it, but you do so well. And not just with Survivor, it's every like you're recapping everything and people are excited to do RHAP. It's the truth. Before I did Survivor, what did I listen to? RHAP. the truth when before i did survivor what did i listen to rhap what did i what was the thing that steven fishback he post or he did the um but it was outdated he did the um vlog no this was old and then like if you read through the whole thing i think the last word was like fake fan or something steven fishback did something and the last word was was fake fan fake something. Stephen Fishback did something.

And the last word was fake fan. Fake fan. And it was a test to see if you had listened to all of it. Yes. Wow. It was, what was it? It was like how basically like a bunch of secrets that if you like play the game, like basically like a how-to guide.

Wow. And Stephen wrote this? No one uses it anymore. Like I believe. And so I wrote to you before I did 44 and I was like, is this still relevant to Survivor today? And of course you didn't see it because whatever you're you and I listened to all of it. I did all that stuff to prepare. I would go on your site. I would watch stuff. I would read stuff like all the Bloomberg crap. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah. So you just do a lot. Yeah. All right. Well, tell me about your podcast that, uh,

that you and Carson are talking about the season. Well, recently. Um, so I'm trying to, it's hard for me because I don't like to read a lot of the comments because I, not that like, I, I don't want, I want to shelter myself from like, if there is hate, you know what I mean? Not that like I don't want I want to shelter myself from like if there is hate, you know what I mean? I don't need to like rude my day. But at the same time, it helps for constructive criticism and feedback. So recently somebody had said Carson said this last night. He's like, yeah, someone was saying that we don't talk about the episodes enough.

So because we've been having guests on. So they're like, you need to if you're going to have an episode recap, you have to talk about the episode more. Yeah, but you know what though? That to me, and I don't really do a lot of episode recap of, I watched the episode. What do I need a recap for? I just watched it. Yeah, but that's what you do though.

And then this happened, and then this happened, and this happened. But I don't know, maybe because I do so many podcasts, but I don't think I've never done a survivor podcast where it's like, OK, now I'm going to say every single thing that happened on the episode. But you do a good job at it and staying structured and you keep like key points. You do where it's like, OK, I can tune in and kind of get a play by play of what happened. So people, but I'm listening to the audience and they want a little bit more recap. So we're going to, we're, you know what I'm saying? I get a little excited with the guests sometimes. Yeah. You've had some great guests on the podcast too. And, uh, you know, we'd love to talk about, uh, that and your experience. What's been the biggest challenge podcasting about the season

about this season in particular, or, I mean, I guess this is the one season. I mean, podcast about survivor 40, what? Five a little bit.

And then 46, I think, I don't even remember. And then they shut us or maybe it was 45. And then, yeah. So this season, this season. First of all, the technical stuff, you have like a great setup.

It's beautiful. It's like, you got the lights. Yes. Are you like on the second floor? It's just not, this is like, I changed my setups. I want a permanent setup like you. I also, my microphones haven't been working in my, like, I've just been having a lot of technical difficulties, but I would say other than that, like the hardest part

is like watching and it's so different once you've been on, do you not? I mean, I know it's been a little bit for you, but it's like, I see the beach and I'm thinking all of this stuff of, of like my experience, I'm watching it through my, and it's hard to watch it like how I used to. That's what's hard. And then I want to be kind to people, but also I have opinions. And so that's a balance too. It's, it's like, I don't want to be a bully because I know how it feels to like, I don't want to like be mean to people, but it's like a balance of like having an opinion. Well, could you speak to that a little bit? Because I think it's so interesting because that you, you know, you talked about how, you know, you're sensitive to criticism. And so you don't want to read a criticism that's out there about you, but also

you want to be able to talk about the show and then also keep it real and be authentic about it. And not everything is going to be just a 100% fine and dandy with everybody. So how do you find that middle ground? I don't. And I'm a hypocrite. I'm serious, Rob. I really i i do because we had angelina on and i was like she's like yes but like we you got to be kind and i'm like sometimes i don't want to and we might make fun of you so it's a hard can i say carolyn that that should also be okay you know that that somebody should be able to say that uh you know, I didn't like that. That wasn't that wasn't good. And maybe you don't say it 100 percent perfect.

And then it should be a little bit like, OK, well, you know, I did go on national TV to go play a game. So it does come with the territory a little bit. It's true. And I don't want to like say there's such a difference between like even making fun of a move versus like the personal attacks. Like I had people say that they were literally saying like, I was on drugs. She's on crack. She is just about like my personality. And like, there's something wrong with her. I had so many like personal things where it was like, okay, that's me as a person, not like I made a stupid move. So there's a huge difference, too. And I would never, ever like attack somebody's like personality.

But I have been even like when it comes to this season where I feel like protective over certain people like Andy, where I felt so bad for him that first episode. And so like as a former former player, I wanted to reach out and just be like, don't read, don't read what people say. Don't because that was a bad first episode. It was, I would be, that was really bad. Yeah. So I, I just feel like protective in that aspect of things, but also it's just like, we put ourselves out there and I'm not saying that that should welcome hate, just like we put ourselves out there and I'm not saying that that should welcome hate, but have fun with it. Make a joke of it. You know, now it's been a couple of seasons since you've played.

How often do you find yourself reaching out to the current players to like give them advice or to say like, Hey, you know, uh, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm rooting for you. I'm rooting for you. Not often. And it's not, it's just, I mean, it's only recently that I finally like even turned my notifications back on for like messages. I didn't, there's so many people that I still haven't responded to because I was really, really like during the season and then even afterwards and then stuff just kept getting like crazier and busier and I couldn't respond and it wasn't I'm not okay with giving like

responses like hey thanks or yep okay and so I would give these deep heartfelt responses to people but that's not enough either so once you do that I couldn't keep it going. And I was spending so many hours responding to people that I just I just completely shut it down and I wouldn't respond to anyone. So I wouldn't look at my reaching out to you. I don't like to separate it, Rob. I don't. And so it makes me uncomfortable, too. I don't want to sift through my messages. The players are our fans also. But even like, like people will be like, oh, so-and-so reached out to you or, oh, this person, like, you know what I mean?

Like where it becomes like, I never wanted to sift through. Yeah, I'm a fan. I never wanted to sift through the messages to like, be like this one, this person's more important than this one. So I'll reach out to that one. I want to go through all of the messages and that like was too overwhelming. So when they come in, I can't, does that make sense? And so I just don't, how people get ahold of me now, and this sounds like really weird, but like people will usually like get ahold of Carson and they'll be like, hey, I really want to get a hold of Carolyn. Can you tell her that I'm trying to get and then I'll reach out to them or or if it's somebody like Andy who is clearly was struggling and had that episode.

I naturally am going to reach out to somebody like Andy because I feel for them. naturally am going to reach out to somebody like Andy because I feel for them. How about when you played? Did the previous players reach out to you? It wasn't until like, and this is where, again, I would say like midway through the season, I stopped checking. I stopped looking. But it was like one of those things where like, again, I have like the imposter syndrome, but also it was like one of those things were like again I have like the imposter syndrome but also it was like I really thought that I was going to go on tv and just be the freaky weirdo who people made fun of and I was okay with that but I don't know it's like it's like the more um like the positive response I got then from people it's like I didn't know who was like

genuine or who just you know what I'm saying? And I just don't, I already like have trust issues. And so I didn't know, you know what I'm saying? I don't know who is actually being like- I'm not sure what you're saying, that you didn't know if people were like trying to pregame with you for a comeback or they were clap chasing.

Or just be fake with me, be fake with me. Or like, do you, like like you don't know me? And so it's like, what's your motives here? Is that not am I still playing the game then? I don't maybe I have trust issues, but I just didn't know how sincere people were. And so I just you know what I'm saying? So typically I'll need somebody like Todd Herzog to be like, hey, You know what I'm saying? So typically I'll need somebody like Todd Herzog to be like, hey, Carolyn, you can trust this person. Look out.

It's true. And I trust Todd Herzog. So it's like that I kind of need like a reference. Otherwise, like, you know what I'm saying? Does that make sense? Yes. Was that something that you had to deal with from before you played Surviv or was it going through survivor that made that a big issue to trust people oh that's just been an issue but like personally just being burnt by people you know absolutely and that's why and i'll carry this into like even that's something i'll

continuous continuously work on and i'm really open about like when I struggle I don't stay stuck I do self-help groups I'll do therapy all but that is a continuous struggle of mine and then obviously like I know the cast has been announced for the traders like put me on another show with trust and so yes it's it's it's this is a game but like the truck but it's so emotional, too, these games. And you see it with Teenie, and I know we'll talk about that, but when you're in the game, it parallels your real life. And whatever struggles you have in real life, they are going to come out a hundred times more out there. Yeah, so Carolyn, I'm glad you brought that up because this was something I was thinking about as I was watching the episode. And, you know, we have that moment with Teenie where everything is going on with Genevieve and she felt like that Genevieve,

hey, did you vote out Saul to humiliate me? And Genevieve said, no, no. Why would I do that? I didn't do that. And Teenie is in this really tight spot in the game. But Teenie tells us then in confessional, like, hey, this bad spot that I'm going through in the game but teeny tells us then in confessional like hey this bad spot that i'm going through in the game reminds me of something that i'm dealing with uh so much in my real life and i thought that that was so interesting because i i think to myself of like okay now i didn't play survivor in the new era but the whole thing about the new era is that it's fast boom boom boom boom you don't have time to think about things and so i thought that that was just very interesting in the new era. But the whole thing about the new era is that it's fast. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You don't have time to think about things.

And so I thought that that was just very interesting that Teenie was feeling that way. And with everything that was going on in the game swirling around, got Teenie thinking about life outside of the game. Of course. And I related so much. Oh my gosh. And I thought of like, I was crying right along with teeny because like, it's like you're out there and you're stripped away from everything. And so you do start to like self-reflect there's stuff that was creeping up

from like that stuff that I thought that I had dealt with stuff that, OK, I'm still struggling with that. It completely like triggers all of like whatever issues that you might be having in your regular life, because why? This is a game about emotion in relationships and people as much as they want to try to separate it. Like you even see Genevieve like kind of like, this is hard. It's hard. It's a game about emotions. So I just completely related to where Teenie was at and just feeling like, where do I fit in? Where? And now here I am out here. I keep getting blindsided. Where do I fit in? And then you go to tribal and it's all about like community and we're fitting into the community. And it's like,

Teenie's probably thinking like nowhere. I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out, but you have those moments because there is, there is, yes, it's go, go, go, but you have those moments of reflection. And so like, even when I got blindsided by Carson and from Jam Jam, I loved them. And so for me, it brought me back to every single time that people that in my life, that people that I loved and trusted betrayed me. It did. It brought back. So it's not even necessarily like I'm, I'm crying about a game move or, oh, it put me in a bad position or like it hurt because I'm a human being. I can't separate like the it's too hard for me. I can get over it, but I it takes me a little bit longer because I truly care about the

people that I'm playing with. It's hard. Yeah. Genevieve and Teenie had that conversation in the beginning of the episode and that it was so interesting that they were coming at this from two very different perspectives of Teenie who didn't want to play a very emotional game, like has been like unable to avoid playing an emotional game and making emotional connections. And Genevieve has almost come into the game and said, you know what?

I'm not going to have emotional connections to people. I'm going to be all business and I'm not going to let my emotions be part of the game. And so for, uh, for either of them, like, is that possible to be able to be just all of one thing and not both? I like, and I just still don't understand. I think that, that regardless people make emotional, like it's, there's going to be decisions that are made that are emotionally driven by some people. And I think it's more obvious than, um, with certain people when they're more outward with their emotions, but it's like, you can't deny that this is an emotional game and where you have to literally make bonds with people. But yes, I think that there are certain people that are just able

to do it. And certain people who aren't, I am one of them. I can't, I can't. And I think that it's even getting to Genevieve, like, yeah, she's out there and she's, I'm going to do this and I'm going to, but you see it kind of get to her a little bit, right? Or was she faking those tears? I don't know. She's very expressive and very fun to watch on the show. Do you think that now having gone through this whole experience, do you think that Genevieve is going to be different? Or do you think that we're going to see Genevieve as she called herself 007 last week or 00 several? she called herself 007 last week or 00 several i don't can i first of all i think it's going to catch up to her yeah absolutely i think that um you can't like eventually it catches up to you do you i mean what do you think i don't think that that can people find out people she's already like like teeny it was she was so close with teeny it's like and then the soul thing like i just i don't get it i i don't i don't understand i think it's gonna

i think it is gonna catch up with her i do people are already onto her people are already onto her and i didn't think it was going to be as big of a thing but then it felt like it kind of blew up to be a bigger thing and everybody was like whose whose idea was this and then it ends up being Genevieve so that's where Rachel is in the better position in my opinion because no one really is suspecting no one knows oh you know what I'm saying but it's like yes everyone knows now Genevieve and Teenie like well now Genevieve is kind of at the bottom and then you know she is such an intimidating player I think in the minds of the others and so I don't know how she's going to necessarily be able to come back from that now I know I don't know like I I could like yeah that's

the thing too it's like you you want to like that's what's so annoying about i haven't heard the word big moves in a while are people even saying that anymore see i think that one of the things about the new era is that that we started the new era where it's like hey gotta make a big move gotta take out whoever's the biggest threat and then what happens is you make the big move you take out the big threat guess what now you're the big threat now you're the person exactly yeah and but it's so boring but for genevieve i thought that she had kind of like stumbled onto a good idea of like hey saul's not the biggest threat he's the medium threat i'm gonna like i'm gonna take out a medium threat and then i won't be considered to be the big threat because i just took out a medium threat. It was something.

Yeah, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't. Sorry, but it doesn't matter because it's like, well, whoever just did something did is you just did something. You just did it. So you're done. It's true. Like you're done. So it just, in my opinion, too, and I've said this, like, I know it's not smart, but it's a lot more fun to watch. I think that's like a lot of the reason why people were like, even with the show or when you're on Survivor to be a little bit more inactive.

No, be active. That's why I loved watching Rome. Was he smart out there? No. But was he fun to watch? Yes. I'm talking as a viewer. It's like and as a fan, I don't want to like I'm sorry. I feel like that's why a lot of people like even with. Well, no, there's a lot of reasons too in the new era where it's like, I got to be under the radar. I got to like, people can't know that. And it's so boring to watch. So I appreciate like when stuff actually happens. I like chaos. I like, like, I like people, you know, I do like eventually turning on their alliances. But with this season where I'm having a hard time connecting, I'll be real because I'm an emotional person

and I watch for different reasons. And it's the truth. I don't, I like watching crazy and I like watching chaos. So when Rome left, again, I know he was not like the people were saying how ridiculous he was and just like, he wasn't great at a lot of things yeah but he was so fun and he to he how i looked at him as somebody who went out to play survivor and to really play and not in the most smart way but in a way where it's like i'm gonna check everything off this bucket list i'm gonna make sure i do this and look for an idol and as like as someone who's been out there and a fan that that's fun. I want to see someone who's doing something not, I don't need necessarily like the smart moves. I don't. But

what I'm missing is like the, the connections with people. I think, I don't know who it was who just said, we're just like a random mix of people who it's all like chaotic as far as like who's close with who it's like a bunch of people with like broken relationships people who've turned on each other you have like Andy Rachel Sam like there's no loyalty there yeah I need some loyalty other than suit and Gabe it was like you know what I mean sue Gabe Caroline that was like kind of something. Yeah. And now Caroline screwed over Sue. And so it's just like,

I like to actually see like people working together in emotions and alliances, not just a bunch of people screwing each other. So I have enjoyed the season and I've been having a lot of fun, but it seems like what you're saying, and I think I agree with this, is that as far as the,

if you're going to retell the story of the season to somebody what has the story of survivor 47 been it's kind other than like well there was this guy andy and he kind of had an emotional moment and then he came back from it but other than that it's just been a little bit of like a mishmash there's not really like in your season there's a real story of like okay well there's carolyn and there's jam jam and there's carson and they're sort of like nobody was thinking about them and they stuck together and they were able to sort of like weave through and and there's a real story in that season to this point we have not really

gotten like you know a story of survivor 47. They're on. I don't like, cause I'm enjoying it, but I just want to see like, it's, it's, it is, I enjoy watching when like, even when the vote outs where it's like, oh my gosh, this per, this person betrayed that person. And I guess you could argue, okay, Caroline and Sue. Caroline did it last night to Sue. I liked seeing Sue's emotion and Sue being like, I can't stand Kyle. And Kyle, that whole like montage. Yeah. But it's like, that's real.

That's how Sue is feeling. But again, I liked, I liked like the connection of like, okay, these two are going to stick together. Gabe and Gabe, Sue and Caroline. And now like that's even out the window. So it's like, and then with Teenie and with- Genevieve. There. With Teenie and Genevieve, it's just like- What's your dog doing, Caroline?

I don't want him to, he's probably going to spit up his bone. So I didn't want him to do that. Okay. How's he doing? He's good. He's way hyper. Everyone who meets him, they literally say like, I can tell that that's your dog.

Like, cause I think people say that like, you are like your pet. Yeah. And so he's just really like, he's great though. I love him. He's my best friend. Yeah. I know when we had talked last, you said that he has to have a certain diet or he's great though i love him he's my best friend yeah i know when we had talked last you said that you know he has to have a certain diet or he's going to oh he died rob oh that's it oh

i'm so sorry oh my god it's fine i i've grieved it he was ready to go but this one's hairless too he died i had to put him i had to put him to sleep. So he, he was older than crap. So like there don't feel like he was, he was ready. He was ready. And so I found this one, like, I felt like I'm not ready to get another dog and it's so hard. It's so hard, like losing a pet because it's like, you don't want to replace them and nothing will replace them. But I knew I needed another hairless. I just did. And I'm like, I found Jerry. Yes. Okay. Well, I'm happy for you. You're probably like, what? Can't believe this, this monster brought up my deceased dog. It's okay. It's, oh, trust me, it's okay. And I like these dogs because for me, when I adopted the first one and you might wonder what kind of people, yeah, make fun of like dogs or make fun of even still when I go to the dog park with the hairless dog, people are like, what's wrong with him?

What's wrong with him? And that's what I love about these dogs, because they're different. And they it's literally like a teachable moment every time I go to the dog park and a little kid tries to pet them, and I get to say, you know what? He was born that way, and it's okay to be a little bit different. That's what I have in my dog. Beautiful. Deeper.

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Carolyn, how do you feel about there being a Caroline on the season? Is that annoying? I can't stand it. I don't like it. Yeah. Is that bad to say? I don't like it.

Like that's too close to my name. Yeah, it is. I would, I wouldn't like, you know, I'm, I was lucky that I played in a time when I was,

you know, there was Boston Rob, and then there was another, then there was two Robs on his first season. That's why they had to call him Boston Rob. And then there was a Rob with two Bs that had a skateboard. And then I came on, and then people said like,

how many Rob, was it a Rob every single season on that show? But then they never had another Rob since then. And it would be so annoying. I think if they had another Rob on survivor. And I know that like, and that's why I think a lot of people do try to like, do like the whole nickname thing.

You never thought about that? Like to differentiate yourself. You never thought like tribe with Boston, Rob, and then they called me Rob C. But I mean, like to do something called me little Rob. I didn't like that. Exactly.

Like you don't they shouldn't even cast people like two on one season. They shouldn't. It's too much. But I think that's why there are people who try like the Jelinski's or Voce was like, I want to like, you don't, you don't want to be a David. You don't want a common name because you're not going to stand out. It's true. It kind of takes away like, yeah, but not everyone can do that either. But I think like there's only two Robs and there's the Boston and you like,

who are the other ones? Well, thank God they call him Boston Rob. Even when I'm not around, they still call him Boston Rob. It's hard not to like what is like you know what i'm saying but you're you're rob and that's boston rob there are no other ones yeah it's true so tell me about uh gabe what do you think about gabe um i don't come back to somebody else? No, because I want to be like,

okay, I think Gabe, he was playing great. He's just not someone that I'm rooting for. And so I have a hard time then talking about Gabe in like a, you know what I'm saying? I need to be able to talk about people, even people that I'm not like rooting for. But yes, I just wasn't. Yeah, but I think that's okay.

You could not root for Gabe. What was it about him? Was it that he was overconfident? Overconfident that dance? Like, no, uh-uh. And then even just like underestimating sue like sue is coming back i do believe that and i think people are completely underestimating sue they are and it's like sue's coming back in this season yeah i think sue's kind of like i wasn't sure

if you were like making a call about sue is gonna oh no No. Like, I just think Sue is kind of like, you know, it's not, she's kind of not been in the background at all, but I think that people have kind of looked at her viewing wise as someone who's just on the outskirts of Gabe, you know? Can we talk a little bit about Sue? Because I thought coming into this season, okay, here's Sue. And I was like, and you know how it is when the new cast comes out. They say, okay, this is the new this person. This is the new this person. I said, okay, here's Sue.

This is the new, this is the next Carolyn. Now nobody, there could never be another Carolyn. But I kind of felt like, okay. You thought I was the Sue? Well, I thought that Sue was like a Carolyn type. You really did? That was going to be like a Carolyn type. You really did? That was going to be like a big character. But I have to say that Sue to this point.

I haven't heard that. Okay. Well, this was maybe a Rob original. But Sue has not been like you very much at all, I don't think. No, Rob. Are you kidding? I'm not. Like, there's not.

And I don't want to say. That's what i love about like everyone is unique and everyone is like different in their own way and i think like even when we make assumptions about like people like that's gonna be the next aussie or that's gonna there is not gonna be a next aussie there's not and I'm not like comparing myself to Ozzy either. What about Kyle though? Look at, he's won four challenges. No! No! No! Even with the wins, but you know what I'm saying? So like, I just feel like

I don't want to see like replications of other people. I think Sue is like a different, I'm just surprised you said that. Did I offend you, Carolyn? No, but like, girl, I'm just surprised you said that. Yeah. Okay. Well, I did, did I offend you, Carolyn? No, but like, girl, I just, I've never heard that. I'm shocked. And I didn't get that from, I think Sue's like sassy.

And I love like what she's doing with like the makeup out there, like with the mud and like contour and stuff. Is she doing mud as makeup? Absolutely. Okay. A hundred percent. Can I confirm that? No, but I 100,

I can't confirm that. I haven't talked to Sue. Yes. I think Sue is doing, doing her makeup out there and I love it. So anyone, can you talk that through for me? Because I have heard people say like,

okay, well maybe she's like doing like a facial. Maybe she's like using the mud. She's contouring Rob. Have you ever contoured? No. So she is doing. I don't even know what contouring is. Oh gosh. Neither did Carson. So like, it's literally like, that's a work of art. So the fact that she's able to do that without a mirror, she's doing it perfectly on her cheekbone. So when the lights and the cameras, they hit her face, you are seeing like her cheekbones so defined.

You are seeing her lips and her like right here, the way that the lights and the cameras are hitting her face. It is accentuating all of the right. Is she a game changer? Will more people start using the dirt as makeup? Absolutely. I use the charcoal as I like eyeliner and i am at there like and um and uh eyeshadow to do a smoky eye so absolutely like why not you get so bored out there sometimes i don't care that was fun i would take i would i would take the the the charcoal i would try to make it look like i had abs i think that nobody's ever tried that before but wouldn't that be but you know it would be bad because then people's like oh he's a threat

look at rob is like very defined and muscular we have to get rid of him exactly so i think that maybe i would do the opposite of i would try to like, uh, make it look like I was like in, in bad shit. I don't know how I would do that with the dirt. Oh my God. It's fault. No. Like you got to do crap like that out there. I think that what isn't talked about enough and maybe I'm just not hearing it, but like how much there again, it is go, go, go. Yeah. But there's so much downtime. There is so much time. New era. Yeah. OK. Now I sound like a hypocrite because it is go, go, go. And there definitely is like it's too fast. And at times where you feel like, oh, my gosh, give me a down day. But there is a lot of down, like there's downtime where you're just sitting around like,

there's just time in between, even after the challenge before where it's just like, I can remember my memory is literally sitting in the dirt, looking up at the tree and we're playing I spy. That's not fun. looking up at the tree and we're playing I spy. Yeah. That's not fun. And so it's like doing things like, like doing bowling or Q did the hide and seek.

Yeah. Those are the things that it's like, it makes it fun out there. But sometimes you don't have the energy. That is horrible. Like it was awful. Yeah. It's very boring. So it's,

it's like, there's those moments where it's, it's, it's, I know we're playing a game. I get it, but you'll go crazy out there. So it's like there's those moments where it's it's it's i know we're playing a game i get it but you'll go crazy out there so it's like doing makeup like having jam jam do my makeup or seeing sue like take a little bit of time and do her makeup like you gotta do fun stuff like that out there it's it's a lot of boring time too in between carolyn we saw in the episode this week that there was the rice negotiation.

Oh. Yes. You wanted to sit out for rice, right? I should have. Right, like Carson was sick and then they got the rice for the tribe. I didn't want to, Rob. Oh, you didn't want to.

Because of the challenge. And I was like, you know what? I got a tattoo on my armpit specifically for... You got an armpit tattoo for this challenge? Yes. Yes, I did. Because I had this dream and this goal of doing an endurance type challenge and having my arms up. And here it hit me. Here we are.

So that's what my driving force was with this challenge. I was like, I can't sit out. I have this armpit tattoo that's going to like keep me. This sounds so crazy, but it's the truth. So I was like, I need to do this challenge because my thought was, is I'm going to look at my armpit and see that I have a smiley face. So I'm going to look at that armpit. I'm going to see the smile and it's going to carry me through the challenge. It did not. So, all right. So you ended up doing the challenge or you sat out?

I did it. And I was the first one out. And then Jeff, I remember was like, you, Carolyn, first one out, didn't even. And I'm like, why did I do that? Did you get the armpit tattoo? You had the armpit tattoo? You didn't get it. Yes.

You got it for Survivor. For Survivor, for an endurance challenge, because I thought, if anything, I'm going to do great at an endurance challenge and I'm going to have that to carry me through. I was out first. I should have known better that, hey, looking at my challenge history, I don't think that I should be one even trying to compete. So I was not one of the people who sat out. I should have been. Yeah. Was that a painful tattoo to get in an armpit? No, no, no. I can, I can handle pain. And like, it was, it's, it's just more tickly. Yeah. So that. Carolyn, I don't have any tattoos. And I think about getting tattoos.

Don't. Now, like, I'm not saying now at your age, it's just kind of like. Because my skin is too flabby now. No. And can't hold a tattoo. If you haven't at this point. No, actually, screw it, Rob.

Get a tattoo. I take that back. And don't think too much about it, actually, screw it, Rob. Get a tattoo. I take that back. And don't think too much about it. I think I waited too long. If I would have had like 12 tattoos, I wouldn't think anything of it. But now it's like it's now it's so precious of like, oh, what's going to be the tattoo? I should just get a smiley face in my armpit. Everybody does that, though. That's the problem with a lot of things in life.

We overthink things. So whether it be a tattoo, like I'm not going to think, yeah, you could say it's on your body the rest of your life. I don't have a tattoo. I like, there's no tattoos I regret. And there's been a few, but I cover it up with something else and make a new memory. So don't think too much, but if you already, what's the most painful tattoo to get? My, I got my eyebrows tattooed before I went out on survivor because I was afraid they'd fall off in the water. And I did it like right before. So I looked just crazy and it looked like Sharpie brows, but my friend does an amazing job, but it hurts like really, really bad. It hurt. That's

the only tattoo that I've ever, which it's tattoo. Like she tattoos. That's the only one that I've ever been like, this hurts all the other ones. Like, and I can handle physical pain. Like I just can. It's like, no, it's like the mental pain, that type of torture. That's bad. I can handle physical, like tattoo me up but to go back to the smiley face that you got cast on survivor and then you went to go to the tattoo parlor and said i okay i need to get tat uh smiley face in my armpit did the tattoo artist ask you why you were doing that no no it wasn't just like the norm you know what i'm saying like that's just what we do is we get tattoo it wasn't weird and i think because i have them on so many random parts of like everywhere yeah that like you know what I mean? And who are you to question where I'm getting a tattoo? It is a little strange. I'm saying it's the artist might've said that. Cause that may be an unusual place to get a smiley face. Cause people think armpit that's, that's unhappy. It's exactly. And what's been cool is I've had quite a few people send me pictures like after because you could see it on the season.

Like they were like they did a shot of it. And I had quite a few people send me pictures like we've gotten that smiley face tattoo after. Wow. Yeah, it's cute. It's just little. It's just. So do you feel like that Jeff made a good trade to trade seven shots in the dark for the bag of rice? I just, here's the deal with those shot in the darks. I just think they're worthless, like get rid of them. And I just, I truly believe that when, when we were out that did it, did it, did it kind of like stir up the vote sometimes? Yes. But they were so like when you think of like the probability of like, OK, and we know how many times it's worked in the new era. Like we know it. You know what I'm saying? It just wasn't like I feel safe with my shot in the dark. No, it doesn't. It didn't never had that like effect with me.

Nine times out of 10, I didn't know where mine was. nine times out of ten i didn't know where mine was do you know how many times i would wake up and it would be in the sand or other people would wake up and be like hey i think i think you lost your shot in the dark that happened so many times even kyle was like i can't believe that you actually went for this you took my idea i can't believe it that was cool and i as a fan and being out there, I would be like, wow, this made history.

And I would feel like this is really cool. But other than that, like, I don't, was it like a great, I just can't stand the shot in the darks anyway. And so I like, they're not that valuable.

And if you have to rely on that thing, yeah, that's how I feel. Well, did you like it when Rachel played the shot in the dark instead of playing her idol that was smart yes so yes there's there's there's moves like that where it's like okay then that makes sense and that i get that but other when it actually comes to like i just don't feel like they have that much power yeah i think that they're very good at like really making everybody panicky about the vote.

Somebody's going to be like, oh, they might play their shot in the dark. OK, what do we do? We need a backup plan. Like if anything, it made things more straightforward for everybody. So, yes, and I like what Gabe said, like that makes sense. It like takes away that like I like now're not like, it's more like straightforward. This is what it's going to be. But I just, I don't feel like giving those away. I don't, what did you think? Were you like, wow. I was like, I was surprised that Jeff went for this because I didn't think it was that big of a deal for people. Cause I'm like,

I don't even know how much longer they could use the shot in the dark. Exactly. So, and I, I don't think people how much longer they could use the shot in the dark. Exactly. So, and I, I don't think people actually look at that. Maybe I'm the only one, but on my season, those things were falling out of people's pockets left and right. And nobody seemed to care. Yeah.

And so, so it doesn't seem like, especially at this point in the game, like I, I feel like, um, no, in the pre-merge, it's kind of a bigger deal

yes like you see like with maddie getting voted out no one's voting at tribal council that was like crazy well jamie actually hit the shot in the dark what jamie uh she was safe oh i killed my god how do i not remember i was just thinking in terms yes i was just thinking in terms of like um but just people losing their vote yeah yes yeah and she did a good job of like saying hey i'm playing my shot in the dark and then nobody vote and people didn't vote for her so i i really feel like that at this point in the game i feel like the shot in the dark is not very useful that's one that I just, I really, it just doesn't need to be there in my opinion.

It's just, no, but it was cool. It made history. It, it was cool for Kyle. Like I did, I was like,

oh my gosh, they didn't just him recognizing that. Like that's fun as a fan, but like, I don't think that the shots, the shot in the dark is that powerful. Carolyn, if you were out on Survivor 47, who do you feel like that you would be most likely to be working with in this game? Can I ask you who you think first?

Who do I think you would be working with? Mm-hmm. So I'm trying to think of the players that you worked with in your season. of the players that you worked with in your season. So I'm going to say, I think that maybe, could it be Teenie be the person that you would be working with? Teenie, absolutely. I think so. Like even here's what my season, I think like,

I don't know how you connect with people, Rob, but how I connect with people is by sharing and opening up. And that's the thing on Survivor, especially like on my season. And it happened, like there was moments with me and Franny, um, where we actually like shared with, with one another about like past experiences, whatever. But for the most part, there wasn't a lot of that on my season. Me and Jam Jam did it. Me and Carson did it, but a lot of people, and I, I, I shouldn't have been shocked because it's like we're playing Survivor and not everyone wants to put that out there. But it's like that's how I connect with people. I can't have and that's why I struggled even like early merge. I can't go. I'm not like one of those people who can go into a room and be like, so and make normal conversation with

people. I don't know how to do that. I want to immediately talk about your trauma, your pain, your like backstory, what got you here. I want to get like deep. Not everyone wants to do that. So the surf, there's so many surface level conversations, especially entering the tribe at merge. Like I am not going to be that person anyone wants to, like, come to and talk to and be like, they'll be like, I'm not sharing that with you. And for the most part, even after a few days, people just didn't want to share. So if Teenie were to open up like Teenie did in the confessional, then I think that we would be good. But I need to feel that. Me and Jam, day one, we were telling each other our life stories because there's certain people like that

you just connect with and you feel that with. And other than that, like I didn't get a lot of that. I need that with like someone I can trust. And obviously we were like all over the place, but. Obviously we were like all over the place, but. Well, something from your season that I actually really related to was that there was a point when the merge started and you felt like that, Hey, all these people in the merge and it's like this big, this big group of people. And I don't really fit in with that. And that's something that I really do experience of that. I feel like that, uh, like a group of people coming together, I really struggle to fit in with

the group. Absolutely. And it's like where and I truly am. I've said this recently. I am blessed with the ability to not give a shit. I don't care if I let's say I walk into a room and everyone is. But you can't really do that on Survivor. But let's like I won't I'm not going to get embarrassed because I'm alone like on TV or I'm not going to get embarrassed because I look like a freak or I burn my shorts and there's a big hole or I have a big poop stain on my ass.

I don't get any of those things happen. A few. I broke my drop. Don't look at me like, okay, I'm going to avert my gaze. Whatever. I'm not normal. And I get that. And so it's like, but I also know that like, it's going to be hard for me to go into a group and like say normal things that everyone else is talking about. So, yeah, you hear me like I like sweating and I don't remember it going down like that. And I asked Franny and Matt at the fair. I was like, were you guys seriously staring at me like that? I didn't remember it like that. But again, I. She's like, yes, Carolyn, we were literally like because i was like did they edit it like that

she's like no we were literally like what the hell i'm like well that's the story of my life like i'm used i'm so used to that like i'm not gonna fit in everywhere but that is like that's okay and that's what i try to like even tell the people that i meet with when i do my sessions it's like that like for teeny everything different about you or all those areas where you feel like you don't fit in, that is the most beautiful. And as you try to like find that everything different about people is beautiful in my opinion. Like I love it. I don't want to like be with the, so I really take pride in like, if I'm not fitting in with anyone, pride in like, if I'm not fitting in with anyone, I'll sit over here alone and I'll talk to my dog or I'll, that's okay. It is so exhausting, Rob. And you know this, can you imagine going into a

group or going into a conversation and feeling like you have to put on a front of like somebody who you really aren't? I don't have the ability to do that. I just can't. And it was no different on Survivor. I can't fake and go out with these people and be like, so Danny, tell me about the cannolis. I don't fit in with Danny. And it's the same reason, like I struggled on the journey. Like they did. Those were people who they didn't want to hear from me. They didn't really respect me. And it's like, that's OK. They're not going to get deep and emotional with me. Come on the room did you feel like rachel this week when rachel was sitting there with sam and kyle and they were really going back and forth about their plans for gabe and then uh you know rachel was like okay well you know it's sam and not that

it didn't seem like that those uh you know sam and and kyle were just ignoring rachel no but it was a little bit of like the the guys talking and rachel was more sitting back and not as much that she was being ignored exactly i don't i didn't look at it as her being ignored like it was very clear that i like was and i think that like speaks to like even how rachel presents herself versus how i present myself rachel's not like i'm like even how Rachel presents herself versus how I present myself. Rachel's not like I'm like the squeaky, you know, where Rachel is like how I perceived it more is like Rachel's just kind of sitting back and like being the strategic one, kind of listening, kind of. That's how I saw it versus not like them ignoring her or disrespecting her or they they still have like valued her opinion i did not feel that at all for a lot of the game not at all you said that you uh burnt your shorts when you were on survivor we saw and so did teeny yeah teeny uh that the bag went on fire uh for for

teeny uh that what what do you do? That's symbolism. And I was like, that is your, that's your new start. I agreed. I was like, what do you do? That's the thing. So many people to like freak out. I had so many people saying like, you burn your shorts, you, and I'm like, whatever, let it happen. There's worse things that could happen. I have a hole in my shorts. How did you burn the shorts? I was drying them. And everyone told me you're going to burn them. They're too close to the fire. And I'm like, if they, if they burn, they burned and they burned and they were fine. It's like everyone else around me was stressing out about my hole in my shorts, except for me. I loved it. And I'm like, it's fine. same with her bag it's functional yeah like there's nothing

wrong with it so it's like this is a new start the bag still works yeah didn't she lose any clothes do you think or was it just the bag I think just the bag but at that point so many people are gone like I'm sure they're like I know because I would imagine that

what happened was that teeny was like sleeping by the Cause I would imagine that what happened was that, uh, teeny was like sleeping by the fire. Is that, is that what happened? And then like, that's her, her head is on that.

That's the thing. Like too. It's like, that's your pillow. That's your blanket. That's your everything. And like, you're,

you're literally sleeping in the dirt. Did you sleep in the shelter at when like your season, were you sleeping in the shelter? So that we slept in the shelter, but our, our shelter burnt down that we had i might not remember it was too long ago yeah that we had a whole fire that there was one guy butch and he collected he was like we need more firewood we need more firewood and then he got so much firewood and then we went to the we went to the reward challenge and when we came back not only did the whole shelter burn

down all of our bags were in the shelter how do i not was this on tv yes yes and and can i tell you what the the worst part was that all of our other clothes were in there so then i basically the last like eight days of survivor had just like a tank top and uh just the shorts i was wearing and that's it why didn't they move that why didn't people move like the production oh that's that that's a question for you know the survivor at the amazon production um but i think that's crazy they used to say then that that that like they would be fired if they interfered with what was going on. But yeah, no,

it was, it was not good, Carolyn. And I, we were freezing. I can't imagine. Like, cause you you're freezing at night.

That's the thing. I just basically had like a, like a little tank top and the shorts I was wearing. That's when it's hell. That's it. That was the worst. And then it also, and then it rained like every's when it's hell that's it that was the worst and then it also and then it rained like every night after it was like the rainy starting starting of the rainy season in the amazon and it was horrible the worst the hell of the game well they talked about this on the on fire podcast about uh what it's like when it rains and that's really the worst where like, I get like, you know, uh, you know, whatever

the survivor version of PTSD is like, sometimes I'm outside and it's raining as like, oh my God. There's no, that would be horrible. And then you're freezing and you, no way. And everything's wet and you don't have any clothes like that is truly hell. I'm sorry. No, it's the worst it's the the worst thing about survivor is uh you know if it doesn't rain you know and i

didn't play in the new era but i i say all the time that you could do a hundred days of survivor if it doesn't rain if it doesn't rain the rain is the absolute worst and we didn't have a ton of it but it yes it it completely you're just shivering and you're all wet and everything's wet you're a little bit ew yeah so no like and i think that what people don't get because like on the show it's like oh it's raining at nighttime and it's the next day and everybody's like groggy it's like no these people didn't even go to sleep because they were soaking wet in the rain all night. And there's a hierarchy when it comes to the tarp. And I remember when we came, it was, it really was, it was Lauren,

all of them, like all of Ratu was, they were in the shelter. We were like sleeping in the dirt, like just, well, when it came down to the tarp, even it was like me, Carson and Jam, we were like on the outskirts. I'm like, can I get a little bit? Nope. We were pushed out. We weren't even under the tarp. And I'm like, oh, my gosh, can I like can somebody just let me in?

It's awful. Yeah, that's how it was. We were on the outskirts completely, even when it came to like sleeping arrangements. And you can tell where you are in the game, right? By if you- Oh yeah, by where, it's true. It's true. The Kings are in the shelter and all of us freaks,

me, Carson Jam, I'm not kidding you. We were literally on the outskirts. Like, I'm like, can I get a little bit- No. Under the tarp? No. Nope. But anyway, like, yeah yeah now i'm like thinking about

it and i'm like no thank you carolyn i would love to hear a little bit about your podcasting experience because you've had some Hance on your podcast. Russell is, Russell's one of those, and I don't want to say characters. And I've talked with Russell many times over the years on, on the podcast and Russell that I feel like that there's like, there's like two sides to Russell. Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. And, and for me, I was like during my season, he had like started some stuff and I've heard about like Russell and even like read some of his stuff where I'm like, what is he doing? But he was starting some stuff

with me on Twitter during the season. And I'm like, what, what is he doing about that? Yes. You were feuding on Twitter. Yes. Which I'm just like, come on, it's Russell. And then, but at the same time, I was like, what is going on in this person's life? And how I looked at it is, this person just wants to stay relevant and wants attention. He likes to smoke.

It's pretty simple. But at the end of the day, I was like, what is going on in this person? And that's where I think a lot of people would be like, who cares? Why are you even digging into it? Let that blah, blah, blah. Well, I was curious. And I'm like, what is going on in this person's life where they are going to like call me

these names and like, for what? What are you OK? So I talked to him like once or twice since then. And then like everyone else, like I was like, oh my gosh, when we started the podcast, I'm like, oh, he's so controversial. He's so, I'm like, we shouldn't have him on. And then I'm like, you know what? I've talked to him a few times and like I'm seeing a different person than the person online. And so I really wanted to just dive into that. Like, who are you as a person?

Because we know who you are on Twitter and we know who you are on TV, but is that really who you are? And he was so vulnerable and so open and like, am I excusing his past behavior? I don't know. I've done a lot of terrible things in my life too. A lot of things that I'm ashamed of and embarrassed of in my past. I mean, it's not anything recent, but when I was, wasn't when I wasn't sober. So it's like, okay, I'll give him a chance. I'll talk to him. And it's like, he gets deep. He gets real. He opened up and yes, he is 100% this like Twitter villain and this villain on TV. And I believe that he just never knew how to shut it off. And with, and that's like for everyone, we all have like the shit that we struggle with and we all,

and we, we come off in certain ways to mask that or to, he's very sensitive. I enjoyed having a conversation with him and he was, he was, I did. And I liked his perspective because whether you love him. And he was, he was, I did. And I liked his perspective because whether you love him or you hate him, just like Richard Hatch, you can't deny the impact they've had on the game

and how they've shaped it. Well, certainly. And that really is a great tie back to Gabe, who said, I want to keep the spirit of Russell Hance alive in the game. And it really is kind of a shame in that uh russell is somebody who survivor uh really you know uh you know celebrated for uh quite some time that i really that when you look back at that era in which he played yeah i you know i've called russell survivor viagra and he is he came along at a time yeah when survivor was not so much longing for

characters they had just come off of a season where they had tyson and and coach and jt and steven and taj and and and gabon had characters but in terms of the gameplay and what he did in terms of, you know, bringing together the hidden immunity idol as something that could be used as a weapon, you know, it really was not thought of in that way before Russell and the fact that he could go and just go out and create paranoia by looking for it. And then also what Gabe, I think, tried to bring back of like, he had his people and he was going to stay loyal to his people and really create panic around, well, they're not moving. So we better, we got to do something and they might play the idol.

And what are we going to do? And it really create a lot of chaos and interesting gameplay. And he really brought that to the show and they got addicted to Russell and really that he plays in, in survivor 19 and survivor 20. And then they, they take a season off from,

and they bring them back in survivor 22. Um, and then it's not even Russell himself, but then they bring back, they bring his, his nephew into the show uh and maybe that maybe that that's not a decision that should have been made because his nephew is is a very young guy at the time that they bring and then they bring him back again after he's been through the you know

the ringer of like playing um and maybe also russell's a little too hard on his nephew and then the family uh like is like oh you screwed up uh and then he comes back and is uh not in the right headspace to play the second time and then also they but you blame him rob i have so much empathy for brandon because you know what and and here's the problem right when he played i thought he was 19 or 20 but here's the deal he got so much hate from his like the family at the time oh my gosh who comes out there and is like what are you doing and then Russell coming at him at the reunion so it's like but here's the problem is like Russell feeling like he has to

play this character and then Brandon then coming back and feeling like he had to play this character and it all just explodes and I truly believe that Russell has not really known how to turn it off since leaving and then his brother plays on big brother and then gets evicted from big brother because and then I think that's that CBS is a little bit like all right you know too much we did we did too much with the Hans is let's go away from it. But, but isn't that what they wanted at that time? Like he was in no offense,

like we've been rewatching, like he has like the dumb girls Alliance and yeah, that's kind of, but at that time, you know, it, you were on the Amazon with the fricking peanut butter shit. It's like,

that's what was at around, like even back then with like people in their bikinis and they're getting naked on that was that time so with russell and his dumb girls alliance yeah that's what was going on at the time so why is he like some like bad person for half i don't know he did i think it's all the stuff like he did outside of the game it's not for anything that russell does on the show but i think that because he ends up and then i think then he's like uh you know like uh on on social media and you know you know uh saying crazy stuff on social media at you know because i think that that the show says like there's the clip of jeff where he's like i think you know, because I think that the show says like there's the clip of Jeff where he's like,

I think, you know, I think Russell's a bad guy and we don't want him to play again. But I think that Russell probably would have played again on a Game Changers or, you know. That's what I told him. That's what I told him, except for his I go, you need to just shut up outside of this and you don't know how to turn it on. And we're living in 2024. Like, but he did say like he looks at Twitter, TikTok, all of it as TV. He doesn't look at it as any different. And I'm like, you can't do that. You can't because it's offensive.

So I think that he would have been so much more successful in like future things. Or like, I'm like, why aren't you on the traders? Like you, like, do you know what I mean? Or House of Villains or any of these other how civilians needs russell like you know what i'm saying and so i said you're not you're not getting called because or unless he is i don't know but you know what it's like because you're so offensive online turn like turn that down about 20 notches he just goes one person underneath step too far exactly but he's a good person underneath and and i think that maybe that that ability to go

one step too far is what made him into the great television character uh that's the way if he didn't if he didn't have that gear would he have had all of the greatness that he had at that time? But, you know, I think that the thing about Russell, and I hope I'm not getting myself in trouble with Russell talking about this. But I think that where Russell was best was when there was an editor giving you a version of russell and then social media when russell was his own editor that was where there were problems like with the guardrail was off on social media exactly because i he was like are we gonna go live i'm like are you crazy i will never go live with you rus Russell. Like, no way. Yeah, maybe an edited Russell was always the best version of Russell.

Yes, but that's a person like, again, we want to. And I think that we live in this society, too, where it's like people get written off and then it becomes like the trendy, cool thing to like write those people off. And's just like you know what i'm saying like we all have opinions and it doesn't mean uh uh you know a chance for redemption and russell once went to redemption island yeah exactly oh i'm sorry i just like i really like people who i don't know we all have difference of opinions and he clearly is somebody who has like struggled and I don't care. I've got so many people who do, who would message me and they're like, don't you give him a chance and don't you? And he's just lying to you and he's okay.

So what if he is, then I'll get burned. I don't know, but I like to give people a chance. Yeah. Carolyn, I feel like, tell me if I'm off base with this, you're kind of like your shorts and people are like, Carolyn, those shorts, they're getting a little too close to the fire. Like, no, I like that. That's fine with me. If it gets a little, if it gets a little burned, who cares? So what I'm going to get, I'm going to get a little close to the fire. Who cares?

So what? I'm going to get, I'm going to get a little close to the fire. Let me, let me, in every conversation. They're my shorts. Let me get, let me, let me get them a little close to the fire. Who cares if they get a little bit. They'll be fine. I'll be fine.

I can hand, that's the thing. I'm like, I can handle myself, but also I do. I feel like I have this ability to, to just, when I talk to people, like for them to open up and share. So it's like, I've enjoyed my conversations with, with Russell and there's just so much more to him as a person than all of the bullshit. But I feel like people like Russell feel like they have to go into rooms or go into conversations and be this person and you don't. I'm like, Russell, I like talking to you when you aren't being this freaking freak of a character. You don't need to be. But that's what happens in real life too.

And Teenie talks about this in the episode where I feel like I have to be this way or be this way. We get put in a box. Yes, fight it. For anyone listening, fight it because it is so exhausting feeling like you have to be anything. Can you imagine going into one room going and I'm like a chameleon. Oh my God. It's too exhausting. So it's like, be okay. Being alone sometimes be okay. Just staying in with your dog. like that is it's way less stressful than like going or if you do go out places like I am when even for the watch parties and stuff that Carson

and I would go to we would be like eating macaroni at the bar with our juice boxes you know we don't need to be a part of like what is that like the cool thing to do? No, we'll be eating our kids meal. It's just if you don't fit in, you don't need to. Is that enough for Carolyn or literally you like pasta and a juice box? No, that happened. That happened. And I prefer like to just like I don't need to be in with everyone, you know, and it's OK. It's way more stressful when you put yourself in these

environments and then, huh, everybody, no, like sometimes I don't fit in. A lot of the times I don't fit in and I, that's okay. That's okay. How was talking with Richard Hatch? He's so smart that like, but he's the, he's the definition of what you just said about like players who can like separate it. And like, he doesn't even know it. He's a Genevieve, but Genevieve, I'm sorry, has emotions a little bit. I see him.

No, Richard, Richard very much. And I spent a fair amount of time with Richard when we were on the All-Stars and then we were out of the game at Ponderosa. What did you think of him? Have you talked to him? When's the last time you've talked to him? I have not spoken to him recently.

He's like, again, he's one of those people. He is an incredibly interesting person. And I think he has very interesting things to say about many many many different subjects thank you he does and i like i can't really keep up there's he's so he'll text me things and i'm like honestly you need to put this into a phone call because i don't even know what you just said he's really smart and he's deep and he's a thinker. And he does do well at these games. I mean, he didn't do so well in House of Villains,

but like, come on, that show was crazy. But he's, again, another person who like changed this game. And it's like, I just feel like- So I will say that I think that Richard is a very smart guy. And I think that he's a very interesting guy. I don't think that he has a lot of empathy oh none none he doesn't get it that makes him not such a great play i think he's he was an innovative player but i think he is as russell might say a flawed player because i think

you have to have empathy to be good at Survivor and to be great at Survivor. You have to. And the way he talks, I was like, oh, my gosh. But he recognizes it. But he was saying, like, even on House of Villains, this is where you went wrong. And this is and it's like and you can't even fake having empathy. No, no. And that's where like this isn't football. This isn't like you have to at least like you have to. This is emotional, whether you want to like accept it or not. Like you have to build bonds. You have to.

He none. He is just like, nope. And I yeah, he's a different level. But again, so he's got to adapt a little more. And's what he said with his house of villains he's like i like it's a whole different ball game now and i did not adapt to the situation i didn't know like i did not realize who else have you interviewed this season um sandra so who was it so it's reed kelly sandra reed i'm watching How was Reid? Because we're watching Survivor San Juan del Sur. It's been 10 years since Survivor San Juan del Sur. And so as you're watching it. Yeah, we're watching it week by week because it's been 10 years anniversary. so great at everything. But that speech, I'm sorry that I go, did you plan that? And yes, he did. I think he was like writing and journaling and stuff before that was that like, oh, my gosh, I would never be able to even talk like that. But it was so beautifully written. And so, oh, my gosh, I love rewatching it because it just shows his personality but he's great he's a great friend of mine and I just really respect him and he's just does really well with like he's so

talented with every he's one of those people who just is great at everything and what I love about Sandra is and you know this Sandra is the most realist person around where she just drew like nothing I could ask her the day before, will you do the podcast? Sure. What time you need me? I just really like her. She helped me so much before traders. She was like my, like just a great person to rely on, to call. And she was just so helpful, but she gives a shit. She cares. And she's so real. I love Sandra. I would like, I don't know if she would like, it is, but she's so real about it where there's certain people where it's like,

I don't know if I'd click with you. Like Sandra don't give a shit. She'll click with everyone. I would love, I didn't realize she was so amazing. Like, cause she was someone I would have been scared to like reach out to, it's true. And then the traders happened. And that's when I was like, hi, she is is so amazing I can't say enough good stuff about her but she's

just so real and so natural and just so okay I gotta oh I can see why she would do well out there she just says it and she makes you comfortable I really like herra do you ever have her on here uh many times when's the last time i just feel like she's so yeah uh we talked to her after the traders after the traders yeah she's just she's amazing so yeah yeah i just saw her at unc a couple of weeks ago oh yeah and she's at all of this stuff but even the way she's able to do it kind of like how you you're very like and you get people like you're able to stay on track. And like that's where I struggle with the podcast is like me and Richard's the same way where we went. All of a sudden it was dark out. We were talking for hours because Carson's stuff wasn't working.

Yeah. And all of a sudden it's like hours later and i'm like oh crap and i can't i'm going on tangents and richard's going on tangents that's where you're good at like do do do let's move like you're a good that's a good podcaster that's where i struggle i'll just go on into oblivion yeah but you know what i think that you are a good tandem of, you know, like I, this is what I say about podcasts and that a great podcast, and I'll say this, this way needs one organized person and one person who's a big personality. That's what a podcast needs to be. And if it's too slow, is this live right now? No. that's what a podcast needs to be.

And if it's too slow, is this live right now? No. Oh, I'm like, saw the live up there. I got distracted. I was like, recording.

Oh, sorry, Rob. You're good. Okay. Yeah. Yes. And I agree with you.

Is that what like, if you have two people there, there needs to be a polarity there of that. If you have two organized people, but neither of them a polarity there of that. If you have two organized people, but neither of them are personalities, then that's not going to work. And if you have two personalities might be fun for a little bit, but it's not going to get anywhere.

No, you're right. You're right. It's still, it's, it's, and that's where I feel like Carson, like keeps me on track,

but I've been, honestly, I've been on him recently about, he's not smiling enough. I felt like, but I get that. Like I told him he needs to smile more. crack but i've been honestly i've been on him recently about he's not smiling enough i felt like but i get that like i told him he needs to smile more don't make him fake it i i told him like start smiling or you're out you'll replace him you'll vote out your your number one ally that's very new era carolyn i have to if he not going to smile and don't you know how this is? Remember

when I even told you, Rob, I was like, you were losing, like you weren't smiling for a while, which I understand because like, these are long, but then I started to see that glimmer in your eye again. In this podcast, I wasn't smiling. Yeah. I feel like I told you that at the end of, yes, you were, you lost, like you were, you were, you were exhausted, which I don't blame you. You were doing 12 hour long podcast. That's a mistake. Oh, this is not today. Not today.

You're in the past that I wasn't always. In the past. Yeah. You, but your glimmer came back. The sparkle came back after there was like a few, maybe it was during season 43 and that could have just been because it was season 43. I don't know, but it, it was your like glimmer was it, but it came back during 44. I feel like that the start of the new era for me, I think was rough. I think that the show came back. There was a lot of stuff that people were like, I don't even know what this

is. There was a lot of serious stuff. The show was very serious and I like to have fun. I think that the show came back. There was a lot of stuff that people were like, I don't even know what this is. There was a lot of serious stuff. The show was very serious. And I like to have fun. I think Survivor is both things. I think Survivor, the best Survivor, there's serious and there's game, but it's also fun. And there's funny moments and funny characters.

And that's the peak Survivor to me. But I think that the start of the new era was very serious. And the gameplay was very jam-packed. And the fans were also like, this is too much. This is too much. And so, you know.

What are you supposed to talk about then? Right. You're like, huh? Right. And a lot of times that, I don't know if Survivor sees it that way. I'm kind of like the customer service lot of times that i don't know if survivor sees it that way i'm kind of like the customer service department of survivor you know i'm out here yes and you know if they send out a product that's defective you know they can't get a hold of you know uh the

people that made it they're calling customer service and i'm like hey hello survivor customer service how can i help you like yeah you know yes that i really didn't like they took all the votes they're calling customer service. And I'm like, Hey, hello, survivor customer service. How can I help you? Like, yeah, you know, that I really didn't like, they took all the votes away.

It's like, Oh, okay. Let me see. Is there anything that we could do about that? Do you, don't you feel like they like, cause I know you can't say all this, but like you,

you are very like, hello. Oh, people listen to you. Do you feel like they listens to me or even like CBS survivor? Like you have like, there's like a, they listen to a lot of things, but I don't have like a direct like line to production of like, Hey, change this. I don't like, um, I'm sure that there's like, they get feedback and i really do think that in the last couple of seasons that i think the presence though with the

fans that can't be ignored rob well i think that what what i do is a lot of ways i give a voice to a lot of the fans to be able to you know share some of their ideas or even their frustrations. And I think that that's a helpful part of this community that ends up happening. But I do think that they, the, they found a good balance in the last couple of years, I think from where we started in the new era. I agree though. It's like, I don't think like it was too serious and it's like at the end of the day like yes this is this is a game it should be fun like we i think your season started to be like the beginning of that that curve you know like what what are we doing i know this is a game for a million dollars and i know but like it it should be well i guess that's what 50 is all about is fun so you know we'll see

joy or joy yeah so we'll see which i do like a little bit of not joy though too but you know yeah you know with almond joy they say sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't that's why no one eats them also which is also that's why nobody which could be found very much on survivor nobody eats either one heck no don't you tell me that's your favorite candy bar or something or i will judge you yeah it's a big favorite at my house the almond joy no it's not yeah and yeah carolyn could i tell you my son when when he was little, that we would get them, and I would say, like, ooh, I'm in joy. And then my son, he was very little,

that he reached into the candy bowl and took out the other candy, like, oh, I'm in joy this Snickers. I'm in joy this... I'm shocked. Are you not lying to me right now? He thought that I'm saying I'll enjoy Oh

So he thought you were saying something else Yes So you don't actually like I do It's coconut, almond, chocolate If you asked a hundred people What's your favorite candy bar It's not my favorite

But I do I like it I think it's nice. I like it. I'm judging you. Same with people who like Milky Ways. No, don't even compare a Milky Way or a Three Musketeers to Almond Joy. Do you like the coconut

when you were on Survivor? No, I mean, I ate it because I had to, but like, no, that wasn't like, yeah, I would eat. Coconut's okay, I mean, I ate it because I had to, but like, no, that wasn't like, yeah, I would eat. Coconut's okay. But again, like I'm not going to eat. You like Kiwi? Yeah, I love Kiwi, but I wouldn't eat like that. Wouldn't be like, yeah, I love all that. Okay.

I'm just saying like, that wouldn't be like almond. It wouldn't pick it out. All right. Carolyn, what else is going on for you? Are you still cameoing? Yeah, I did take, well, there was like two days that I had to not be, like take, not take a break, but like just turn it off for two days and what they're doing right now. So now I'm like, have you heard about this? So I was posting all the time because I'm like, I want to beat Boston Rob. I'm never going to beat Boston Rob. And I've kind of accepted that. Like, no, you're not.

But they did this like two months ago or three months ago, you know, three months ago. They had this ranking system. I was always number two or three, two or three. I gave up trying to beat Boston Rob well then I turned my account off or I had to take a break for two days now I'm like number 10 or something and I'm not gonna lie it was getting to my like I was like oh my gosh like how am I gonna but you know what Rob it's like it's okay it's I don't need to like I'm not gonna be Boston Rob and that's okay I'll work my way back up.

We all have to come to terms with this, Carolyn. I don't want to though. But I was, I don't like. So are these the charts? Because I talked to, I talked to Q on the podcast the other day and he said he turned his off for a little bit. He was going to turn his back on.

Yep, I did for two days and now I'm number, and now I'm not, this was like a week ago. I just had it off for two days, like where it wasn't doing requests. Some people make a lot of cameos. I like,

I love it. I spent, so I, we, we did got her like year review thing recently. Yeah. I have spent over 66 hours filming cameos this year. So like,

I love them. I go really deep. I go really personal. I love sharing. I go longer than a few like, I love them. I go really deep. I go really personal. I love sharing. I go longer than a few minutes and I love, like, I, I truly enjoy doing cameos. I love it. It's fun. See, I thought I was, maybe I was charging too much money. I'm looking at everybody else. Maybe I'm not charging enough. Maybe people are like, oh, it's not worth it. Well, I do sales too once in a while where I'll do like a- You gotta mark it up and then have a sale

but also it's like i kind of just have kept it at this like when i couldn't keep up with them i was way higher or like you know what i mean but like i consistently get them i enjoy doing them i love cameo maybe i'm shadow banned on cameo i don't even i'm not even on the charts you gotta rob you got, like, but you're so busy with others. Like, I can't, some of these people are getting more cameos than me. Brad is getting

more cameos than me? Well, what's crazy is we were always told, or I don't want to, like, bring attention, but, like, we were always told, like, you can't do them till after the season, and now, like, oh, they're all... Yeah, I don't think they care anymore with that they don't care anymore because which is great last season people were just like in the middle of the season yes because q i was like oh my gosh how were you able to do that but you know what it's like sometimes and um you know being around the block for a

little bit maybe this isn't uh oh maybe the view top. Okay. I don't think I was looking at the top rankings. But anyway, you know, they care about things a lot. And then they sort of stopped caring so much. And then somebody, like, gets in a lot of trouble. And then they start caring about things a lot again. Boston Rob's always number one, though. Yeah. Okay.

And so I'm just saying, I post a lot about them, though. I post a ton of like Boston Rob's just one of those people that will always just be in everyone's face it's true but I post a lot about them and I share mine a lot and I enjoy doing them I think that shows yeah so book me on cameo I love doing pep talks birthdays wow uh anything yeah I'm looking I'm looking at how far I am down the list now i'm getting competitive maybe it's like is my camera turned off what is what how is this no no no rob don't i'm not in the top 53 rob don't okay what am i right now you're 10 yeah that's i've usually i'm

usually two or three so you think that wasn't messing with my self-esteem a little bit? Yeah. I mean, people that quit the show are doing better than me on cameo. What are you? Are you even on the list? All the Australian survivor people are just killing me. Rob. I mean.

Get back. Are you doing it? I don't know. Maybe I'm too accessible. That's true. Are you doing them for free? Like, are you on the list at all? I don't think I'm on the list. So you can see the whole list of people?

I'm looking at the top 53. I didn't know you could see them. Do I need to opt into being on the list? No. This is horrible. No, don't. You're Rob. You don't need to worry about it.

But like here, like because people were saying that to me, like because I kept posting and I'm like, I'm trying to beat Boston Rob. And I couldn't. But whatever. Freaking Joey Amazing is destroying me. I thought I thought people weren't even allowed to get cameos from him Who is that? I don't even know who that is Joe Anglum?

Oh, Joe Okay, I didn't know who that was Yeah, Bruce is killing me Trust me, I know how you're feeling right now And that just, again I can't just always be two or three But I was feeling really insecure. I must be shadow banned.

No, like you, here's the deal. Put this on your Instagram story, book a cameo with me and I guarantee you'll be back on that list. I'll try it. It's true. Because here's what my pitch is going to be. I got, Christmas is coming okay Unless Q cancels Christmas Yes

My kids In their free time They just put stuff in the cart on Amazon And then my wife is like Well they've been They deserve it No they don't they get in trouble every day They should get one thing.

My wife is like, it's Christmas. You're such a Grinch. It's Christmas. It's Christmas. Like, well, how am I? You call me a Grinch and then I get no, I get no cameos. Book me, book me today. Yeah. You'll do great. All right. Put that out there. Well, Carolyn, I had so much fun. Thank you. I can't wait to be back here. Yeah. Like, good, Rob. I know we don't, I'm not talking about the Traders, but it's already released.

But I'm excited to come. I get to come back on here. Yes. Okay. The Traders, what is it? First week of January? It was like January 9th? January 9th. Is it Traders?

Oh, January 9th. Yeah. I'm excited. Aren't you excited? I'm very excited. I'm very excited. You know, I try not to think about it too much because I don't want to get spoiled. I don't want to think about like how it's going to go, but that they've got an incredible lineup.

And this time around, it's you and Boston Rob and Jeremy and Tony. I mean, this is like a fever dream. Can I ask you a question before we go? I like to ask people this. So answer honestly. Were you surprised to see my name on the list? I was, because- Yes, thank you.

They have traditionally gone with people that were not recent players. And from Stephanie, from Sandra, from Parvati, from Sari, they had not been dipping into that pool. So I very much was surprised. I asked Richard this too. He said he wasn't surprised. And I, cause I was like, I was surprised. I didn't think it was real. And anyone who ever told me like, Carolyn, you'd be great. Like I was watching the show live with my son. I was loving it. And so like getting that call i never thought that especially with it being parvati all

the old school players you think like i never thought in a million years so yeah i was shocked too all right carolyn so i'm excited in the meantime carolyn is talking about server 47 with carson where could people listen to you too oh thank you i was supposed to do this you're good see that's why you're good at this rob and you know how to gosh that's what i gotta get better at okay so you can find us at let's get tribal pod and it's on spotify on apple it's everywhere that you get your podcast is that what you say rob and on youtube let's get tribal pod okay and then yeah and then you can get some carolyn cameos help carolyn on the list look yes if i mean look help carolyn actually book you

no people are i i'm joking about the cameo people are very generous with patreon and everything but i just like a little bit, like I'd like to be in the top 53. I'm not here to beg people to buy me cameos from me, but it's just like a little bit of like, oh, I'm like, hey, things are going great. And then I look at cameo and it's like, oh my God. I know it stings a little.

A little bit. They didn't have to make a chart. I know. And they a little. They didn't have to make a chart. I know. And they only did it one month. And so we were grinding like, woo. And now they've been doing it every single month. I'm like,

I can't even attempt to try to be Boston Rob every month. It's not happening. Yeah. Well, I'm not even trying to be Boston Rob. I am, you know, I'd like to just get in the top 50.

You know, top 100. I hope I'm in the top 100. They cut off after 53. They don't care about the 100. It's just 50. And if you're not there, you're not. I get it. Okay. Well, thank you, Rob. Well, Carolyn, what about Instagram?

Carolyn Rose with the zeros. Yes. All right. Carolyn, thank you so much. Thanks, everybody, so much for listening. Looking forward to seeing your comments. And please be nice. I want Carolyn's dad to be able to share positive comments with her.

Oh, but Rob, honestly, like, well, honestly, come as you are. Come as you are. But that's correct. Yeah, be nice, but if you're not, I get it. I'm not for everybody. All right.

Take care, everybody. Have a good one. Bye. Bye. Another fall line up at CBS. The season when our champions do the test. Can you cover every show? Post game, now we're all the club condo. Only one man can really know. So we say, go, go, process to me now.

You are the best that we know Just grab your mic and we go wild We're led by a simple creed If Rob has a podcast, we have a hero Rob Sestanino Time to fly For HAP This is your time.