RHAP: We Know Survivor - Mike White & Tiffany Ervin Survivor 50 Preseason Interviews

Episode Date: February 10, 2026

Mike White & Tiffany Ervin Survivor 50 Preseason Interviews Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) is here to chat to the cast of Survivor 50! Join us to hear from your favorite returning Survivor players! Today, Mike Bloom brings two fan-favorite Survivor artists together for their pre-season interviews. In this Survivor 50 preseason interview series finale, Mike is joined by Emmy winner Mike White and Survivor 46 standout Tiffany Ervin. The podcast dives deep into both players’ mindsets as they prepare to step back onto the island, revealing strategy tweaks, anxieties, and the ever-shifting dynamics among returning castaways. The episode opens with Mike White unpacking the decision to return for Survivor 50, sharing how a rare hiatus from The White Lotus made room for this ultimate adventure. Mike reflects on being both a “robbed” runner-up and a superfan, emphasizing his desire to play a game that’s not just about winning, but also about making this milestone season exciting—possibly even aiming to face Survivor icons like Cirie and Ozzie at Final Tribal Council. Tiffany Ervin then discusses her cross-country move, the lessons from her idol mishap, and her commitment to balancing authenticity with sharper gameplay. Both guests play a rapid-fire “Friend or Foe” game, sizing up tribemates and revealing who they’d trust, target, or keep at arm’s length. – Mike White’s take on the difference between playing as a first-timer versus a returnee, and the temptation to make “exciting TV” even at his own risk – Tiffany Ervin’s resolve to avoid leaning on a single ally and keep her idol play under wraps – Thoughts on returning legends: Cirie’s uphill journey, Ozzie’s unpredictability, and Angelina’s high-energy game – Funny moments, like both Mike and Tiffany reading too much into fellow players’ body language, painted toenails, or “fair maiden” auras – Mike White’s reflections on being a “pawn in someone else’s game” and how that mindset shapes his Survivor narrative As these self-described Survivor superfans get ready to “keep chasing the adventure,” the stage is set for new alliances and rivalries. Will they stay true to their plans, adapt to the chaos, or get blindsided by familiar faces? Chapters: 0:00 Intros 06:25 Mike White Reflects On Return 11:27 Friend Or Foe Game Kicks Off 24:49 Mike White On Chasing Adventure 29:10 Tiffany Ervin Interview 34:35 Tiffany Plays Friend Or Foe 40:00 Tiffany Discusses Q Relationship 45:42 Lessons From Survivor 46 Winner 52:32 Season Wrap Up And Tribes Preview Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

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of conditions like heart disease and cancer. The healthier you means more moments to cherish. Take control of your well-being and book an assessment today. Medcan. Live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Hi everybody, Mike Bloom here back with our final Survivor 50, free season interview podcast. It has been truly a marathon, but hopefully an enjoyable one as we are but two interviews away from having talked to the full 24-person cast of Survivor 50. We've got a couple of fun ones to round it out for you. Is it fun? should be the question that we're asking about one of these individuals,

because I'm talking to two true artists surrounding out the Calo tribe in Mike White and Tiffany Irvin. 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 Podcast, as well as Rob has a website.com slash YouTube for the VIII. 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 deserving acclaim outside of the world of, Survivor. A little less than 10 years ago, he was truly a Goliath, 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 Honolet, 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 hardcore 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 Sour or making sure that the Rick Devons shop

didn't show up in Survivor 41. So I really loved getting to pick his brain about his own approach to season 50, both as anuteur 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've played for the first time,

You would talk to about the fact that, like, you want it 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? I don't come back. I would definitely come back unless you don't want me back. Well, then suffice to 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 I was like wow that's actually the one time I could probably do it because I'm on kind of a mini hiatus from White Lotus and I was like I was like I don't know if I have it in me I'm you know I'm pretty depleted from shooting and doing that show 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 immerse myself in something that's totally different I mean just on for yeah my own selfish reasons plus it's like I you know when I heard like you know like I was like Christian Angeline I'm sure coming back like 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 and also Survivor 50 I mean I am I am a genuine you know watcher from the first episode

out 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 the show are, you know, not, I mean, I mean, you are, 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, and obviously, I've had some, like, anxiety about it, but I'm, but I'm obviously,

I'm also really stoked to be here. It's a family reunion in that manner of speaking. Yeah, it's a big deal for the culture. Yeah. It's like 50, that's no joke. 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 small thing.

So I am a devout amazing race fan. So I know this is not your first time coming back for a second season. I'm Team Mel and Mike all the way. Oh, thanks. 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 returnees. Yeah. I mean, I got to say the second season of Amazing Race was a just a general, like, dumpster fire for me. I realized very early my dad was not physically up for it and I had put like people on furlough for this show Enlightened so I could go on it.

I'd done a lot to like go and like within two days, it was. was like, we can't do this. And so, and also there was just something about it, too, which is, you know, what was my fear this time too? It was just like, you know, when you first are doing it with people who've never played before. Yeah. There's something very kind of like, I don't know, it's, it's never as, you know,

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 Rents, 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. Yeah. 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 survivors, 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? 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 White Lotus. Of course. I don't want to talk about White Lotus. You just came back from the shoot. Yeah. So, like, I don't, 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, 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, like, why is he here? I don't, I have no, like, you know, so it's, it's hard to know if, I assume it'll probably, yeah, not be 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, and specifically where things ended. You know, you have expressed a lot about the fact that you felt like you would back down at final tribal council, almost from like a storytelling perspective of like, if the Goliath won, I'm my house.

We can 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 definitely think that that's my, 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.

I'm not good of building a shelter I don't know what plants to eat or not to eat you know what I mean I'm not I'm just like I don't know things 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

is 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 my be a thread or what's an 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. Yes, that's the thing. I think 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 feel like that's something 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. And 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, you know, like when I voted out the first person in David versus Glythe, 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 gluttons like getting a second helping in the buffet 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 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. But like keeping exciting means maybe keeping players in who are to others like a huge

thread and somebody that, you know, you definitely want to take out. I feel like it would be fun to like sit with Surrey and Ozzie at the end. and not like, you know, whatever. So that feels like maybe a different strategy than maybe some other people might have. Well, let's get into it. So I have 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 viving with right now or someone that you want to get rid of as a thread. You can provide explanations if you want to. But we'll start at the tippy top here, Jenna Lewis.

friend, I feel like it would be so fun to like, I, I don't know, like, I mean, as somebody watched the first season, like, it's just, it's 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 is a great story. It's like, I, like, you know, he'd be somebody I'd want to work with, but I also, like, I can't, I'm, I'm, I don't know.

He seems maybe a little grumpy. I don't know. I can't, you know, it's hard to know off, like, when, in these things, because he's a little more reserved. How about Stephanie? Stephanie, again, like, I'm old school, so, like, I, you know, like, she's got a cool survivor story, and she seems like if she'd be cool to work with. So let's talk about, Surrey.

You mentioned her before, perhaps, in your, uh, your final three plans, getting your thoughts on her. Yeah, Surrey, like, she's like, you know, she's like, you know, she's, to be. me she's the perennial heartbreak of Survivor. She's had such a like, you know, like I feel like survivor owes her one. She's a survivor Cisophis. Yeah, exactly. And it feels like, you know, these 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 an uphill 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 foe? definitely friend. Like actually he's probably the only other person besides Christian and Angelie that I know outside of the game because he was like a manager of at a restaurant in LA that I and so struck up a friendship with him. Interesting. And also he's also like Ceree, I feel like he's had such an interesting journey on Survivor and I feel like to have him yeah like get this 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 can sense he's got a good sensitive humor,

but I also, you know, like, I, 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, I, I, I don't know, I don't really like, you know, it's like, I, I want, I am loyal, you know, I actually, but I, I don't really like, you know, like, to the, to the, to the, to the, to the brother, you know, like that kind of stuff. I mean, that's the perfect coach chief maneuver. You got it down. How about Aubrey?

Let's move into the 30s. Aubrey, yeah, I would definitely work with her. Like, I don't think she's a foe. How about Chrissy? Chrissy, I could see her being a little bit, like, she has a little bit, a little bit of like a more maternal Angelina vibe, where she's, like, going to try to, like, run the show in this kind of, like, like more mother way, which I don't know if I might bristle against.

Like I don't like it's like I don't want a mother out here. Let's get into your Dave 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 Vilever from 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 me happier than we would be on the same tribe. Yep. And go through it again together. So I definitely a friend. But like I can't, you know, Angelina only knows one one speed and like she's going to 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 going to go down with the ship. Yeah, you're going to be like in the, you know, the detonation suit like like Jeremy Renner-Hurtlock or 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. Has he talked to you?

Has he said something? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I'm kidding. 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, you know, I love Christian. And like, I, it was never personal, like, 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 hope we can at least, like, pretend to work together. How about Rick Devin's? I feel like he's, he seems so nice. And he's, like, in this, like, pregame, he's like, he's like a Labrador retriever. 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, no, 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 vuncular, like the harmless dad got vibe. And it's just like, I don't know. Yeah, you can be like, listen, I squashed the idea of you at 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 would like him a lot. I would, I would 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 travel council. Talk about the Goliath. I feel like, I have some weird feeling that I am going to be on a tribe with him, but I don't know. Why is that?

I just, I don't, I feel like it's like me, like, I don't know. Somehow I just, I just have this intuition that he's going to be on my tribe. But, um, he seems cool. He's like a, he's literally like a giant. Like I got in pretty good shape and I'm like, oh yeah, like I'm in better shape than I was when I came seven years ago. Then I like get here and I'm seeing these guys and I'm like, oh my God. What was it? Like it was like, it's like, yeah, he's he's literally like he's, he's literally like he's.

It's like if Jack and the Beanstalk was like a biblical story. I feel like, you know, it's like you climb the meat stock and like you know, like a giant Jesus shows up with the pearly gates. How 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 didn't do full recon but She's like She has like a rent fare

Kind of like She's playing like a like a harpsichord. She had that like fair maiden look to her. But like I like yeah, she's, was she a good strategist? I don't even remember her. You can't talk.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So anyway, I would take her as it comes. Like if she's cool, I'm cool. All right, let's get into Survivor 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 on Survivor. Now he's going to come back. So, 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 bet he's so, he's so good looking. 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, uh, also he's like kind of interesting to watch because he's like a little like, yeah, it's like, he's, yeah, he's got a little crazy eyes going on. Hmm, interesting. What are your thoughts on Tiffany? Tiffany seems cool.

We've been like in the same vans this whole week, so I've spent a lot of time sitting next to her. She seems, she seems cool. I don't know. I'd like to get to know her. Genevieve, any thoughts on her? Genevieve definitely feels like, I feel like, I feel like she played so. 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 help me like but like I sort of feel like I don't know

something that even tells me like she 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 you 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 so clear that they all work together. They were just working. You know, they're just, you know, it's like there's no time for, you know, like too much, you know,

daylight between the season. 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 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. I don't know, it's so funny because it's like her vibe here. 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 in detention. 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 acting like, what am I doing here? 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 Ponderosa. But I mean, I would, I really liked her on her season.

So I would work with her. Friend or foe for Kyle. Kyle would be like probably my first boat out. Okay. Just because I feel like not anything personal, but like, again, there's a lot from that season. They have like this, you know, blood bond. And then he just won. So it's just like, you've had your fun.

You were just here. Like, you were just on TV winning. Yeah, far cry from your first modem day versus Goliath. Yeah, 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 I'm allowed to say who they are.

You can say their names, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, the guy Rizzo, he has kind of a McLevin vibe. I don't really know because he seems like he's, Like, yeah, like, yeah, like, I have a feeling he's like, yeah, like strangely confident, even though he has kind of a gawky kind of manner. And he's also very young. Like I have no idea. He seems like he's maybe 18 or something.

But, and then Savannah, she seems like maybe like a parvety nesting doll. She looks like she could fit inside parvety. And like it's kind of like a poverty opened up after winters of war and she stepped out. like a little harvety mini me or something. I don't know. But she seems very poised. Like she, she's,

uh, she's very self-contained and, and something about that, I think is interesting. Who is one previous castaway that you wish was out here for Survivor 50? Uh, well, definitely Richard Hatch.

Mm. Just because it's like, bro one the first season. Yeah. It's just like, I mean, if you want to see anybody try to play this new era, it would be Richard Hatch.

So yeah, I was kind of, I mean, I, I guess I wasn't, expecting to see 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, because she's my friend, Jennifer Kulid, 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. scenario. Like, I almost even asked them. And then I was like, no, like, they would probably feel like they needed to do it. And then I'm like, 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 well she would 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 if I'll want to do this. Yeah, exactly. Well, the last thing I want to ask is that when you and I talked the day after the day versus Goli final, and you talked about this idea that you kind of came into survive with that to do you keep chasing the adventure. And you've gone on so much. many adventures, even in the intervening, what, like, seven and 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, oh, I can't do it. You know, it's like, and it's like, I don't know something about being able to like do, you know, my creative stuff and be, you know, completely engrossed in that, but then also be able to,

I don't know, like do something like this, which is so, you know, such a, you know, it's like, in a someone else's game. I'm not, you know, it's not, you know, it's like, I'm, 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're like, wow, just keeping, you know, making these, taking 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 it's also, it's a weird homecoming, too. And kind of, it has a, because of season, it's 50, it feels like it's like has a, 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, it's like, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's moving almost. Yeah. So it's cool.

So I'm 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, it's exactly what this 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 in the hand of 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 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

RHAP 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 Surrey and Ozzie. How much of that is factoring towards his own

desire to win the game finally? We'll see where those two priorities lay as 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. Last but certainly not least in my preseason interview series is season 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 an idol in her pocket, her mind clouded by her former 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 played, she actually has changed hosts. 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 have those two years been, because we talk about a game of making big moves. You literally made a big move out from the East Coast to the West Coast, right? I did.

You know what? I've been enjoying my time on the West Coast so much. I was little nervous at first, but I made so many new friends, and there's nothing that compares to walking your dog and wearing shorts in December. Exactly. I do not miss the New Jersey weather. I'm sorry. Oh, my God. Well, how does it feel for you to have, you know, such a big game go down in such a big way?

And then to have, granted, it's still two years, but still a pretty quick turnaround, you know? How much do you feel this approach to 50 is going to be muscle memory versus some new stuff that you're bringing in for Tiffany 2.0? I think it'll probably be about 75% muscle memory. Okay. And then 25% Tiffany 2.0. Because obviously, I don't want to play the game completely the same way I played because I love. 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 when we get out there. So I got to stay quick on my toes. So one of the things, and who knows, this is 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 play. of poor Idelisha 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. Okay. I am approaching, talking about them in a different way. Really, not at all. If I do- All right, so 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 say, and I'm actually going to shut my mouth. And I'm gonna play it, but you know, an idol is a very tricky thing. Like, 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 still gonna look for it. Hopefully keeping my mouth shut, lets me hold on to it a little bit longer. But I'm gonna roll with my gut this time. So if my gut tells me to whip that thing out, I'm gonna whip it out whether I'm right 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 was 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 Tiffany, but guess what, Ozzy's right there. Ceres right there.

Cree's right there. Aubrey's right behind me. What you're looking at a little on me for? I didn't even 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 had said that you self-imidly 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. And we love it. 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 is, 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. 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. But internally, there's 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 worked, 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 got me and then I ended up just cussing Q out and then you know I got mad and I running out to be like a crazy person so we're not gonna do that this time well let's talk about some of these people that you will not be cursing out so we're gonna play a little game right now it's called friend or foe okay I'm gonna 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's 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 call somebody and phone until they do something to make me think that. But I'll play along.

Thank you. I appreciate that. Well, let's start at the beginning here, Jenna. Friend. Okay. Yeah. Actually, you know what? I changed that foe. See, now, looking at you come to 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? Foe.

Same thing or? He just seems very stoic and I'm more of like a bubbly person, so I don't know how he would gel. I mean, it could just be, you know, everybody has their gang face on, but just preconceptions. Stephanie? Friend. Mm, okay. She seems like she has a similar personality to my election. seems effervescent, bubbly, fun. On that note,

Surrey. Uh, friend. Okay. What's the pause for? Uh, pause because Surrey 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 Surrey. 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 can say a thousand words, Tim. So you're going for the medium here. I'm going to, we could go either way with us.

You could be a crazy new word. You could go with fro. We go with fro. He's got a little bit of a fro with that hair. We're going to go either way. I don't know. What is? Is it 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. 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 toe nails painted and that gives me like an artsy vibe. So I feel like I. Only only one big toe. His big toe was painted. I didn't see paint on the other toes. I'm like, I like that. How about Aubrey?

Friend. Okay. Yeah. Just vibe 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. Flo. Oh, okay. Foe, po, po, po, po, po, po, po, po, po, po, po, po. Why is that? She just seems like a person that will play hard right out of the gate and just like somebody that will have to watch. Like, immediately.

I don't know why. Those are just the vibes. I haven't spoken to word to her. Just the vibes. How about Christian? Friend. Okay. He's such a cutie-patutie.

I think that we would be friends. And Mike White? Friend, for sure. I feel like we can have a nice little kiki session. He seems funny. Pour the wine. Yeah, yeah. All right, let's talk about Rick Devons.

Foe. 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 with. 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 to your era, the new era. 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 like somebody is going to make rash decisions

and somebody that could talk to rationally when things hit the fan. How about D? Oh, that's tough. Can we go fro? We're going to flirt with the line of the pro. Okay, all right. Because obviously, I know that D and I could vibe.

I've met D. I'm cool with D, but also I know how hard D plays. So, like, we could clash. I don't know. Yeah. What about Emily? Fo. 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 calculating. I mean, I imagine this is a bit of the thing as we're going to continue to get through this, is like the people whose seasons that you're in proximity with. I know there's a lot of the survivor community about, like, you typically interact a lot more. A lot of the new era people I have met.

So it's like these are people that I've spoken to. I've hung out with. And like, I mean, by no stretch of the imagination, am I messed these with any of them. But just vibes. Okay. Well, let's get into the big vibes of season 46, shall we? Okay. So 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. And then the third eye is going to be open there too. And maybe a couple eyes in the back of my head. Because I know how Charlie plays. I've played with Charlie. Charlie is a person that will stab you in the back while smiling in your face.

So we could be friend of me. Well, on that note, we got to open up that box. Give me your thoughts on Q coming into 50. Q, Q, Q, Q, Q. This is also a tough one. Contrary to poppy belief, Q and our friends. Like, we are actually friends. So it's weird to say, but we're going to go fro.

Okay, we're going to pro. We're going to go fro. You're heading your beds 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 cute. 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, all right, cool. 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, the Q&R.

Like, look at what we were doing. Like, there's no way we're doing anything together. Yeah, no. I'm not going to go out. out there and put on a charade, like Q and I aren't friends. Because, 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 in 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're willing to trust him with a million dollars that you're fighting for.

So, like, also, they don't call him chaos Q 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 loved watching her play. But then again, she's another one that I might have to like, you know,

girl, 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 based 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, willing to turn, willing to change plans at the last minute. I feel like, obviously, listen, Joe's rigid gameplay got him to the end 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. How about Camilla? I think Camilla could be. actually you know what I was gonna say friend but then you know we're gonna keep it at friend we're gonna keep it at friend it's like friend like verging on fro

yeah friend until proven fro why is that because I also have seen what Camilla's capable of love you know get that girl on Oscar 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 would say friend. Okay. 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 than Camilla.

And he seems a little bit easier to read than Camilla. Well, I guess speaking of open books or lack thereof, any thoughts on the 249ers right now? What are you picking up from him? 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. I would love to play with Jeremy. 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 firemaking challenge, you can just douse it out, right?

Yeah. Those firefighter skills. Yeah. So sometimes they say that when people come back for future seasons, they oftentimes take things from the winner of their first season and incorporate it into their own game, 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? Yes, there is. Actually, it is so funny. I texted her

this was like so long ago but I texted her and I'm like you know like if I ever go back out there I'm gonna collect a little bit more seashells

and what I mean by that is I would get on Kinsey's ass like all the time because Kenzie just used to frolic up and down the beach collecting seashells and tie flowers in her hair and I'm like

bitch get your head in the game 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 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 to that

Is that you know I'm in Fiji This is amazing, it's beautiful It's an adventure of a lifetime But being present will also help you to pick one Little nuances that are going up 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. So are there, you know, we ran down a list of obviously some of 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 what? I had an answer to that question the first time we did this. 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 faith in the number one ally I got burned. To be fair, sort of literally every other person in your cast. Yeah, yeah. Actually, you're right. My whole entire cast is like a complete shit shell. But, you know, I think when you lean too heavily on the crutch of having that number one ally, that person to fall back on, then you kind of lose a little bit of your own balance. And I don't do that this time. That'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. Yep. You know how I end these things. You know, we do the celebrity or fictional character loved one. So last time, you said Hermione 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's, uh, remind me of the. So it's basically a typical survivor loved ones visit. They're coming out on the beach, but it's, you know, it could be anybody. It's just as long that's someone that's not like a family. family or friend of yours. Okay, anybody.

Yeah. Prince. Thank you, Maggie. Rest in peace. Yes, Prince. And you got the purple on today and everything. 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 would be able to inspire me like no other. Well, we're about to party like it's 1999. We sure are, Becky. 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 Idalisha 2.0 and deciding not to tell anybody about it. but much like we experienced with my first interview with Tiffany back before Survivor 46 started, we shall see if those preseason promises blossom to in-season fruition. Well, unlike Tiffany's Idol 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 survival.

Viver cast and this one was incredibly different for me, despite the fact that I had relationships with so many of these people that I had 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, really. heartens me to hear about how much fun you all have had checking out these interviews too. Sincerely, I have gotten so many kind words from people online, on social media, in person, even,

and you 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 Sesternino to talk for one final time about the last batch of contestants. We'll be breaking down the Kalo 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 Kiki 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 a full visualization of a friend or foe chart for everybody in the cast.

Let me shout out a few individuals because a good amount of 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 5022 underscore. If you're on Reddit, you can check out Chopin Fantasy with an I-E at the end on the R-slash-survivor sub-reddit. I know in Stephen Fishback's 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 Kalo 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 Sissorino, of the contestants, and of you all for checking out all of this pre-season 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 joining for more preseason content as well, more interviews, please check out my colleagues, Dalton Ross at Entertainment Weekly, Sharon Tharp with Men's Journal and the exclusive. Terry Tarona is with the Hollywood Reporter, Nick Caruso with TV line, Kelly Boyle with TV insider,

Steph Petit, with people, Mara Reinstein with Us Weekly. And I'm sure an 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 ass 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 Kalo Tribe in its entirety alongside Rob Cessernino. Until then, everybody, take care. Bye-bye.