RHAP: We Know Survivor - Rachel Reilly Talks Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick | The Survivor 50 Files

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

Today, Brandon talks to Rachel Reilly about Stephenie LaGrossa's time on Survivor.

No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC Optimum Points on your first five orders. Shop now at NoFriills.ca. What is going on, everybody? We are back with another episode of the Survivor 50 Files. I am here, we're here. We've got a good gang to talk about. And I'm joined by a legend. You know her from Big Brother? You know her from Snake in the Grass? You know her from the Traitors? You know her from the deception that she got back from hours ago? It's great. Hours ago. Things are having me. I am beyond excited to be talking to you

about Survivor 50. First of all, this is such an epic cast. I hear so many people online, like, hate or tating, they are wrong. This is like, oh my God, Coach. Like, we have Stephanie, Sabrina. I mean, the fact is, is that like reality TV, and I was just talking about Rob too, being on Traders,

but Natalie's on Traders, Yam Yam's on Traders, since we're talking Survivor. It is just like, we have so much to look forward to. We are going to be eating in the second half of 2025 and 2026. It's just like, I am so excited about who we have appearing on our televisions. I just, I can't with this. Survivor 50 cast is so good. And it's folks that we haven't seen in a minute. Also, you know, like Rob is on a 20 year sabbatical. There's a couple people on season 50, Colby, Jenna Lewis, 15, 20 years. And Stephanie, you know,

Stephanie, we just saw with you twice. But Stephanie hasn't been on Survivor in 15 years. I know. Tell me what is your what is your survivor history? Now? Do you ever watch Survivor before Big Brother or are you a newer convert? We my family started watching Survivor right when it came out first season one.

We were like a big reality TV, like survivor family. Like every week it came out and aired. We were watching it with like, you know, pizza, dinner, whatever it was. Like we had, it was like a night, like an event, okay? So we did that all throughout like high school. And when I got to my sorority, we did that. That and the bachelor I have to admit,

we did bachelor nights too. But we were big into survivor, big brother, bachelor. Those were what you watched. And I think that's the nice like charm of those shows is that we grew up watching them differently than these kids do, right? Like you said, when you were 14, you were watching me, but like how lucky are we that we got to grow up,

like having a family event watching Survivor. It was not just a, you know, it wasn't just like, hey, I'm gonna stream Survivor to see what happens and fast forward it. It was like, you watch that live, you watch the commercials and you got excited for what was gonna happen next. And it was like happening right in front of you.

And these people were going from like normal looking people to like being super thin and they were just like beaming and it was so fun. Yeah, so that's my history with Survivor. I think I've just been really into it since the inception. Lately, I've been watching it, streaming it, like per usual, like everyone else. But it used to be an event. And I would love for Survivor 50 to be an event as well.

Yeah, I mean, they, you know, they said in all the promotional, like ad collateral, you know, Jeff, Matt Van Wagonen, who runs the show, was very much like, we want this to be like a year long celebration of this now institution of this show. And I'm excited for it. Cause it's, you know, it's funny you mentioned watching, me watching you, you know, I think that was like the second wave of these like fans, like the first wave is what you were in watching.

And then I think I got in later. And then I think post COVID, we have a whole new generation of folks, you know, who are catching up, knowing you. So tell me, do you remember watching Stephanie way back when? Do you remember Stephanie like on Survivor? I like, I literally remember the minute that Stephanie became the sole survivor. And I remember watching, I remember sitting

with my family saying like, oh my god, I couldn't imagine being the only person to fight for food and to help with shelter. And just, I thought the fact that she was alone on the island was such a big deal. So I think looking back at her struggles and watching her go through this and going through the whole, everything that she went through

and just seeing her overcome it was such an amazing story. And that's why I think everyone fell in love with Stephanie, right? I mean, how crazy for her to conquer all, being the sole survivor, period. But by the way, she was also great at competitions. And by the way, she was also great at Survivor. So it was like, she was this player

that we hadn't really seen, you know? Yeah, and not only, she is one of, to this day, So it was like she was this player that we hadn't really seen, you know? Yeah. And not only like she is one of to this day, the most popular people that's ever been on the show. Yeah, of course. I know. I'm sure you know this, but she inspired the Hunger Games. Legend has it. Legend.

I did hear that. Yes. Legend has it. There is an entire franchise of books and movies, everything because the author, Suzanne Collins, is flipping through channels. This is the story living through channels and sees Stephanie as the sole survivor on the beach in Palau. And then a channel later sees footage of the war that's going on at the current time in 2005.

Oh, wow. I was her to be like, you know, maybe I can make a story that blends these two things together. How interesting. Years and years of the Hunger Games, which is crazy. Crazy. Nobody else has that under their belt that's been on Survivor. No, literally. When did you, Rachel, meet Stephanie? Okay, so the first, so I met Stephanie at these reality TV events that we do and I think I met her maybe either in Temecula or in Orlando during one of the events throughout

the years and I remember talking to her about it. I specifically remember, we both had talked about, we specifically remember like this event that we were at together, but we didn't really become friends. It was like, let's talk and let's hang out. And like, that was it. And then when I became her friend

was when we did Snake in the Grass together and we lived in the jungle in Costa Rica and then like we were fast friends and I just remember sitting there at a fire that we had built and thinking that Stephanie and Seree just built a fire in a jungle that I am on a show with them. I was like such a meta fangirl moment like could you imagine being on a show with them. I was like such a meta fan girl moment. Like could you imagine being on a show in a jungle with Stephanie and Serene building a fire for you? Like I would love it. You know, I'm here with you. You know what I mean? This is this is I'm thrilled to be here. It's crazy. And then Serene told me she was like, Oh, you'd actually be really good at survivor

because I was like having the best time just like with the bugs and like camping out and everything. And so I was like, this is the biggest compliment I've ever gotten in my life. Well, it's interesting that that never happened because you are one of the rare people that has done both the Brother and the Amazing Race. Was there ever a conversation about you on Survivor?

No, I applied for Survivor in 2012 after I did Big Brother and had won. And they were just like, look, if we want you to be on Survivor, we'll call you. So for me, I was like, oh, man, you know, I would love to do Survivor. I think I would be so good at Survivor. And it's always been like a dream of mine to go on Survivor just because I'm such a big fan. And I think it's a cool story. Like you said, go on Survivor, just because I'm such a big fan. And I think it's a cool story. Like you said, like I did Big Brother, I did Amazing Race.

Like let's put the girl on Survivor and see if she can do the jungles. But I think like, you never know. You never know what's gonna happen. Maybe it wasn't my time before. And now that I'm a mom and I'm more mature, I think I would also play the game a little bit differently, right? So, hey, you never know.

Hopefully, maybe Jeff is listening to this right now. Winky, wink. Jeff, we're ready. Rachel and I are ready. We're ready. Let's go. I have so many people ask me all the time. They're like, I would love to see you on doing Survivor. Like, because I am very competitive, you know, all the things, but we'll see. And you don't have to be uber competitive to win Survivor now.

No, you don't. You can be great at strategy. Yeah. And you got social and you've got social. You made it to the end. I've got social. I got social. I got strategy. And that's what I love about Stephanie. And like, I feel like she's just so wet. Okay, by the way, girlfriend can't lie. On Snake in the Grass, such a disaster. I wanna talk all about it. I watched it an hour ago, Rachel. I'm dying to talk about it.

Listen, I have to tell you, they told us a day before we went in the jungle. Like it was not like we knew for a month or a week or like we could strategize. We didn't even know what show we were going on. So I do give her credit for that. Can you set up the premise of Snake in the Grass just for folks who are listening?

I haven't seen more Rachel on Twitter and on like Reddit about Snake in the Grass until the past couple of weeks since the Survivor 50 cast this amount. Right. Because there's like a big drama with Seree and Stephanie from Snake in the Grass until the past couple weeks since the Survivor 50 cast. Right. Because there's like a big drama with Seree and Stephanie from Snake in the Grass. I'm like, what are they? What are these people like so confused about? So this is OK. So we move into the jungle in Costa Rica. And there's four of us.

It's me, Janelle from Big Brother, Seree, of course, from Survivor and Big Brother. Now she's on Big Brother. And then Stephanie, who was on Survivor only at the time. And we go into the jungles, one of us is a snake who is supposed to like steal the money. It's almost like a Trader's prequel. So their job is to keep the money for themselves, right? And then the other, the rest of us have to, or they can sabotage us, whatever it is.

Um, the rest of us have to figure out who the snake is and we get clues, which is nice because we get clues. I don't think that they took into consideration that we knew each other so well, so that we're actually friends because the clues were like, they ended up being so obvious. But Stephanie also was kind of a bad liar about it. Yeah, so Stephanie, in this episode, so the word on the street, people who are talking about Stake in the Grass, they are talking about Stephanie's

performance in Stake in the Grass. It's her return to reality television after quite a few years, over a decade. She gets picked to be this saboteur, if you will. And her objective is to lose the challenges for the four of you and stay undetected. Stephanie is nearly immediately detected. It is a very quick detection from all of you guys. Talk me through that.

Now, like we see on the show, she tears up a couple of the clues. Everybody's pretty suspect of her. But was the the edit accurate to was she clocked immediately as lying to the three of you? I would say yes and no. So the edit for her. Like, okay, there's a part of the episode where Janelle and I are like, it's obviously Stephanie and Serene is like, it's obviously Stephanie. But we never knew for sure because Janelle still said, I think it's Rachel and Serene was thinking it was me.

And then what really did her in was when her job was to sabotage this. So we didn't get another clue. And she tipped the boat over. And then I was willing to dive to the bottom of the ocean, swim back to shore. And then because I was so willing to swim back to shore so that we got that clue, Suri and Janelle immediately knew that I was not the snake or the saboteur, whatever you want to call it. And they started saying, okay, it's obviously Stephanie. The clues again were super obvious. But I thought it was really interesting how they edited our episode versus all the other episodes, Peppy Guessing the whole time. And ours, they kind of told you that Stephanie was the snake.

Yeah. I mean, it was so, I think, obvious to them and to all of you that it was just easier to just get it out front in the edit than it was Stephanie. Yeah, Stephanie, to reset what Rachel's saying, they're all in a boat paddling. Rachel jumps out to go get this clue in the middle of the ocean. And to try to sabotage, Stephanie literally flips the entire boat over.

Flips the boat. And Seree, we all know Seree. Seree's not the biggest fan of just, you know, that situation. Water. Yeah, she doesn't like, she didn't want it. Go swimming at all. Yeah. Yeah. And then you, like you just said, you know, you grab the clue, you get back to shore, you count the, you guys pass the challenge,

and then it is immediately out at that Stephanie, because that clue out Stephanie, she's a liar. You know, talk me through how bad of a liar Stephanie is. It seems like Stephanie's a really bad liar. She was such a bad liar on this. I don't know if it was just like us confronting her and her just like dancing around the subject or what it was because she does have strategy and she does have a social game. I just think when it comes to a bold- face lie, she's just not made for lying because like,

we would look at her in the eyes and just say, you're the snake. And she would be like, no, no, no, no, what are you talking about? And like, it was so obvious because like nobody would react like that. So it's funny, but I do think she learned so much from that. And she learned a lot from traders. So I think we're gonna see a different Stephanie on Survivor 50.

I truly believe she has been, her girlfriend has been practicing every day. Like I'm telling you, she has been working out. She has been doing balance challenges. She's been doing weights. Like everything you need to do to prepare for Survivor, she has been doing it for months because she was like so excited

about the opportunity to go back. Well, it's interesting that you say that there's even been more of an improvement past Traders. Did you notice a change in her like demeanor and personality in between Snake in the Grass and Traders, Snake in the Grass filming just a couple months before the Traders films? Well, it wasn't, so I wouldn't say like a change in personality off camera, but I noticed a

change in her demeanor when we were in the castle, which made me immediately know I could trust her and that she was not a traitor. And she was just a lot more easygoing, a lot more ready to kind of suss out who was lying to us. And she really, it felt like she was more, I don't know, it felt like she was more comfortable with being in that situation again, as opposed to like we had said, when she was on Snake in the Grass coming back from like,

you know, what, 10 year hiatus. It was like, I think she was like just caught off guard that she was the snake too. So she really brought it out with the next one. You do Big Brother, you know, twice in really essentially a year, you know, you do the Amazing Rice pretty quickly one after the other. What is it like having to like snap back into game mode that quickly after doing one of these experiences? I think it's easier because so what happened between 12 and 13, I was really trying to like focus on anything,

but going back on Big Brother 13. So on Big Brother 13, they gave me a envelope and they were basically like, hey, do you want to do Amazing Race? So immediately I know it's going back on and I immediately started training. So I immediately could start figuring out my strategy. So same thing with like snake and traders.

I knew after going on snake, I was like, okay, I need to really come into my own on like strategy and figure out how to like, mentally play another game that's similar to big brother, but also similar to snake in the grass, where I am responsible for figuring out who's traitor and who's lying to me. So I think for Stephanie, that those two experiences are gonna prep her so much

for Survivor 50. Spring is here and you can now get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? You can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parmesan delivered. Sunshine? No. Some wine? Yes. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. See the app for details. And like, by the way, I want to clear the air. Stephanie and Suri have no beef. Stephanie was talking about how she wants to work with Suri. She was excited to play with Suri. They have such a good friendship. So I don't know

why there was this like misinformation going around on another podcast. But as far as I know, they are both smart gamers. And they're both like, you know, mature women who are going to work together and do what's best for their game. They both want to go in and win. So at the end of the day, they're going to do what's good for them to win. You know, it's so funny you mentioned that because I wanted to ask you specifically about Saree.

Like Saree's on Staking the Grass with you, you guys win together, and then you're back in the castle or you're back with Saree in a castle. What was that like for you playing with Saree for the second time where she ultimately does win that show? Yeah, I mean, I was so excited for her. She played such a great game. It was like really hard because I wanted to just think Saree was not a traitor and she was on my team, but she was on the other team.

And so I think I knew it was Saree when I got blindsided on the traders. And after that point, I was like, man, she just, I mean, she did play such a good game. You got to give it to her. Sarie, like, what do you do? You know, she's so good at these strategically good, socially great. Sarie makes you feel so comfortable.

You just talk to her. She makes you feel like you're the only person in the room. She makes you feel like you're her number one alliance member. So it's just real and she does it in a way that's not like not malicious. It's not like hurtful. It's just the three way. So we could teach a seminar on how to like socially smooth over every situation. Well, it's so funny, like even in the snake in the grass

episode, I just watched like, it's never suspected as siree. Like you get suspected at a certain point. Janelle does also, it ultimately is Stephanie, but everybody knows it's not siree. Like it's such a funny way that she has it. They literally like asked us in an interview, do you think it's siree? And I was like, there's no way it's sweet siree. Like she's like a grandma. She's like the sweetest woman ever.

Like she is not a snake. I just didn't believe it. Didn't believe it for a day. I don't know if I know this about the, when you get out of Traders, when you're eliminated from Traders, you and Stephanie are back to back eliminated, I believe in Traders just within a couple of days.

Are you guys hanging out after that? Or do you go right home? You don't see Stephanie after the game? No, we did get to see each other right after show. I was eliminated. I was murdered. Sorry, I was banished. She was murdered. And then we both got to like, we would have seen each other afterwards, but then there was like a big COVID lockdown again. So we had like, I didn't actually get to travel home with her, which was kind of disappointing. So did you guys have a minute to like debrief

and kind of agree that it is most definitely Saree, who is the trader? I did see her for a minute and we did get to, yes. That is so funny. Yeah. I think the people who are excited to see Stephanie again are so excited to see her back in that strategic mindset. Because she is like,

she makes it to the end of, of survivor Guatemala. Her second course. Yeah. She's very, she's very good. Yeah. She's so good. I mean, Stephanie is gonna, I think Stephanie is gonna make it to the end a hundred percent on survivor 50. I would be surprised. I mean, look, she has been working so hard and training and like, I think she's so great at like talking to people and her social game and strategy is great. I would be surprised if she didn't win the survivor 50.

I really believe fully that she could win survivor 50, but if not win, I think she will 100% make it to the end. Yeah, people are, you know, and she has a good amount of people who are from her, like era of the show that aren't there with her. She has that era. And then she also has this other group that she met through, I think like they, you know, they've all,

like we all meet each other, right? So like, you know, when I saw the cast, I felt like it was definitely a possibility that she probably would know some of these people because we've done events with them. Yeah, I mean, I think here, I'll actually bring it up here. Just even looking at this top row, I mean, her and Colby are on a tribe together, her and Sari are on the tribe together, her and coach play alongside each other in Heroes vs. Villains for a

brief time. So yeah, she does have quite a few of those connections. I'm curious to see who do you think that she'll get along with the best from the new era side of the of the season? Well, that Angelina girl, are you see a considered new era or she considered? She's very late, old era, but they're very similar in terms of of when they play. You know, it's only a year. I would see D and Tiffany, her three working with them. And then I feel like that recently,

a bunch of these new survivor people just went to this event that we just did in Florida. So I think that they all met there. I swear I thought Tiffany was there. I think a few, Q was there. Q was, I believe Jonathan definitely was. I think Jonathan was. Yeah. Jonathan really feels like Stephanie's kind of guy.

It feels like a very match made in heaven. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I think too, Jonathan, he's the one from Alabama, right? Jonathan, yes. I think he's like, he's on the panhandle somewhere. I think he's- Okay, somewhere in the South. Yeah, I think that they will, he's on the panhandle somewhere. I think he's- Okay, somewhere in the South. Yeah. Yeah, I think that they will,

I think they'll get along really well. I think she has a lot of, I think she has a great chance of working with a lot of these people. I don't see them, what happened with winners at war where they just went new team, got rid of old school. I don't think that will happen on this. I think we'll see a lot more like people working together.

I think so too. I think that I mean, there were any spoilers yet. Listen, Rachel, I'm dying in those spoilers. But I'm remaining I'm remaining unspoiled just for sake of I mean, not that I would hear anything anyway, but but for the sake of this podcast, I want to go in with everybody because we're talking about everybody, every single person. So I want to remain objective, but I'm dying to know. Oh my God, do I want to know so bad? I want to know. Same. I do want to bring in, we have somebody else who's here who you know, Rachel, very well. They're the first season of The Traders. This one. This is, this is Michael Davidson, known survivor, super friend.

He is a survivor super fan. Hello. Oh my gosh. It's so good to see you. No, we were just on a cruise together. Just saw you last week. I know that's so funny. Tell me while we're here, tell me Michael, how was the cruise?

You just did the cruise of deception. The big brother cruise. How was it? Oh, they were so fun. How was it? Oh my gosh. They were so fun. Listen, they were like a ton of fun. Like it was so- Stephanie was on our cruise.

Yes, Stephanie was on our first cruise last month in April. Cruise of deception. Yeah, it went from like end of April into early May. Stephanie was on that with us. And then it was really hard for me to like be a fan and be a host. You know what I mean? Because I'm like, oh my God, it's Brittany Haynes. It was really hard for me to like be a fan and be a host. You know what I mean? Because I'm like, oh my God, it's Brittany Haynes.

But I couldn't do that because Brittany Haynes would have been like, who is this weird guy and why is he here? You know what I mean? So I had to be like playing it cool. I'm like, hey Brittany, what's up? But on the inside I'm dying, hey Brittany, what's up? You know?

It was so much fun. It was incredible. Like my life is insane. We did have a good time. Yeah, so much fun. Like it was incredible. Like my life is insane. We did have a good time. Yeah, so much fun. Michael, I think you have like the most interesting perspective about playing with Stephanie as somebody who came into the traders,

not expecting to- Ah, team Stephanie. Not expecting to play with reality people, let alone somebody that you watched, you know, 20 years ago in 2005, 2006. So talk me through watching Stephanie for the first time way back when. Oh my gosh, I can remember being a kid

and my mom raised me and so she was like 70 something years old when she took us in. So she raised me and my sister and there just wasn't physically a lot she was able to do due to her age. And so we sat around and we watched reality shows together and we trash talked people on reality TV. That's what we did.

And like, I remember watching Stephanie, and I, like, at the time, like, I used reality TV as an escape from our reality. And so, like, it was just, I don't know, like, seeing these people, like, I remember watching Stephanie, it was like, I wish this girl was my sister. You know, like, she's so strong. She's so, like I remember watching Stephanie, it was like, I wish this girl was my sister. You know, like she's so strong. She's so like persevering.

Like she's so like inspiring to watch. Like I need a personality like Stephanie in my life. And like I adopted her from TV into my life. And I don't know, and like the same thing with Suri and people like Rachel, you know, watching them on Big Brother. And it was like, I don't know, and like the same thing with Suri and people like Rachel, you know, watching them on Big Brother. And it was like, I don't know, like it was just mind blowing when I got to Scotland. It's funny because I knew instantly because we sat down on this train and they had like

our name tags in front of us. And I was like, I only know one Suri. So unless this is like a little white girl in Kansas, I'm about to be like, like just blown away right now because I know there's a twist. And I asked Andy who was sitting beside of me, I was like, what is that name? And they're like, uh, Siri?

And I'm like, you don't know. You don't know. You don't watch Survivor, you don't know. And I saw Rachel and I did for a second think Rachel Riley, but I thought also they're not gonna give me Seri and Rachel at the same table. So I don't know who, maybe Rachel's another newbie. You know, I didn't know.

And then I instantly was asking everybody, what are the name tags in your seat? What are the name tags in your seat? And the girl next to me, she's like, I have a Stephanie and a Kyle. And I'm like, Stephanie, I only know one Stephanie, but it wouldn't be her because she's not played these games in a long time.

Maybe it's like a housewife. I don't know these housewives. And so when I say Stephanie get on the train, I'm like dying. And so my first meeting with her, I'll never forget. I was so excited. She was wearing this like purple velvet dress and like her thighs were showing.

And I'm telling you that girl was ripped this like purple velvet dress and like her thighs were showing. And I'm telling you, that girl was ripped. Okay, like. So ripped, it's ridiculous. I know. The muscles in her legs. I know. I'm just like trying so hard not to stare

because she would think I was a creep. But really I was like a fan and just blown away at how beautiful she was. And she comes up to me and I'm like, hi, how are you? And she's like, I hear you're a big survivor fan. I was like, yes, I am. And she's like, well, here, let me get that thread off your jacket. And she pulls it off my jacket.

I was like, that's lovely. And then she just walks away. And I'm like, nice. That's wonderful. That was my first. Your little heart melted. Yeah, I was like, that's my first meeting was definitely gross. They're all that's funny. Were you guys off to like during the game, just the couple the couple rounds there, were you guys like fast friends in the castle?

What were your you know, was she somebody that you sought comfort from when you were there? Honestly, no, no, not not right away. Rachel and three were. But Stephanie was not. And again, listening to you guys backstage, we were. You guys were talking about like the people she would hit it off with, the Jonathan's and the Joes. I'm not a Jonathan or a Jo. You know, we didn't hit it off right away.

And it was kind of nerve wracking because that first roundtable, if you go back and watch, she initially voted for me. And then erased her vote and then changed it to Geraldine. And like, it was devastating me because I wanted to work with her because I was such a fan, but she's like, this guy, he don't have it together. He don't play strength, he don't bring strategy. And she was having no part of me. But after that first round table, that's when we connected after that first management.

But yeah, it took us a while. We didn't right away. So I want to know from from both of you, what skill does she have, Stephanie, that you think will prove to be like the thing that will carry her in Survivor 50? What is that thing that she has that other people don't have as good as she does? Or this like lightning in a bottle? She's so strong. And, but she's so, she's gonna have every endurance down pat.

Like I just feel like she's so, she's strong, but she's also mentally strong. Like she's not giving up. A hundred percent. And she is so. She wants it so bad too. Like that's the thing. I don't know how bad these other people want it, but like she wants that W.

Like that is her W to lose. Yeah. She has that grit. She has the determination. Like she's been so close to the win multiple times and never got it. But like, she does have that connection with the old schoolers. She has the strength and the challenges.

She has the mental capacity to do well. And I do think she'll bond well with Joe because his wife is a professional athlete. Her husband is a professional athlete. Obviously her and Jonathan are going to be great. So no matter which way they go, I feel like she has a strong alliance and a meat shield. What it's really going to boil down to with Stephanie is who's on her initial tribe. You know, she's proven that she can outlast everyone, you know, on her tribe by herself. But I feel like what it's gonna boil down to

is who's on her initial tribe. Because if she has the Joes, the Jonathan, Ozzy, Kobe, she's got an old school mentality. She's gonna stick with people like Jenna. She's gonna stick with people like Ozzy and Saree. But she also, like leading up to it, she was texting me and she's like, okay, so I've not watched in a really long time.

She's like, give me backgrounds on information, on people. I don't need to know like how they placed in the game. I don't need to know what their strategy is. Give me the background. So I'm like sending her screenshots of like Emily and Genevieve at ballgames together. And I'm like, these two were tight, you know? And I'm like, obviously you got Angelina and you got Parvati who were tight.

They hang out. Parvati and Saree are tight. You can use that connection to pull some, you know, and we discussed all of that. And she was looking through everything and she's like, OK, Chrissy's the mom that got screwed out with the fire making challenge. I feel like I can relate to that. And I want to be with a strong mom. You know, and we were going through everything together. So she's definitely prepared as far as who everybody is.

And I think I do. I think she'll do really well depending on her initial drive. If she gets her footing, I think she's an end gamer for sure. Yeah. Do you think there's a particular thing, both of you, that she will struggle with adapting to this new season of survival? It's been 15 years since she's been on Survivor, although she's done some stuff recently. What is the thing that you would be most worried about her falling into once she gets there?

I mean, blind loyalty. She's super loyal, and I think she like blindly follows people without remembering that they are there to play game too. Yeah. Like, I do worry that she's gonna just get into an alliance and be super loyal. She's very loyal. Like, I don't see her betraying people. People betraying her would be their biggest mistake.

Like honestly, like if you make a bond with Stephanie and you betray her, you just shot yourself in the foot. Cause I can promise you she's loyal to you to the end. She's a very old school mentality, very strength oriented, very loyal. She's not one of those like voting block type players. She's a very like locked in player. Agree.

Yeah, she's going to be in a situation too where, you know, this is now, you know, she played 39 days, she played, I think, 30 the first time. You know, this is now, this is quicker. Like, there's no dead days. You know, there's, you're going to the island to find the advantage to get the key to do the thing, you know. And I wonder how she would... But we've had that because traders are so quick and snake in the grass was so quick. So I don't

think that that's going to be a problem. I don't think she's going to, I don't think she's going to have the sprint affect her gameplay. I think it might even be, because her. Yeah. And I also agree with that. And like I said, she also has the meat shield. She's in the strong alliances. Like, I know she will hit it off with Joe and Jonathan. I'll be floored if she didn't. And like, when people are coming to, hey, let's vote somebody out. Jonathan is stronger than Stephanie.

Suri is a bigger strategist than Stephanie. Joe has more friends than Stephanie. I mean, he literally has two other people from his same season. You know what I mean? And so I feel like she's going to be the low man on the totem pole in her alliance, if you look at it from strength or strategy,

because she has Saree who is, I call her the cerebral assassin. Like she's phenomenal. And like I do, I feel like she will do really well depending on that initial, oh, I love the tribe. How do you think Suri looks on this season of Survivor 50? Listen- I'm worried for her.

I'm worried for her also, but at the same time, she pulls it out every time. You know what I mean? She does pull it out, she does. How she went into Big Brother, like she went into Big Brother she pulls it out every time. You know what I mean? She does pull it out. She does. How she went into big brother, like she went into big brother and finished what? Final five, was it?

Final four. Uh huh. Like how in the world did you convince these people to let you get that far knowing like Blue knew, Izzy knew, that they were, your son was there. Izzy even said, I'll take the back seat and let you take Jared. What the heck is wrong with you, girl? I think though.

Okay. So, so since Suri did Survivor, she has done Snake in the Grass and Traders and Big Brother and Survivor Australia and she won the Traders and she did Big Brother. She did really well on Big Brother. So I think that people now know that. And I do think that it's gonna be a little bit more difficult for her. But I wanna say, I think she's so good with that social game and people don't find her threatening.

So I don't think she's gonna be their first target. I just don't know where she falls in the line of like, oh crap, Siri's still here, kind of, you know what I mean? Like, I think it'll be like no big deal. And then I wonder if people are gonna be like, how are we like Seri get to the end again, you know? Yeah. So I do worry for her just cause we know how these are.

We know how these games go. We know how people see someone that's won so many things. But you know who's gonna get to the end is that Mike White, because you why they all want a cameo in White Lotus. I want a cameo in the White Lotus. There are two people here, Rachel, and there maybe is more, but I'm going to go off the two that I know of Angelina and Aubrey are both now playing Survivor. After having just been a mom

since their last time being on. What are the changes in your strategy once you now become a mom? You lived through doing that and then you returned to one of these shows. That's a great question. Wow. So the first time I did Big Brother, sorry, the first time we did Amazing Race, I stopped, not the first, maybe the second time, I stopped breastfeeding my two-year-old so that I could go on Amazing Race. And so my brain was still mommy world. When I did Snake in the Grass, I was still breastfeeding my son, pumping in the middle of the jungle.

And I remember like my brain was also still in mommy world. So I do think it makes a difference. But I think that it also makes you more determined. And it makes you more focused on what you're there for. Because pre babies, pre relationships, you're very laissez faire. It's you know, you're having a good time. You're on the show. It's a great, fun, exciting thing. You have no responsibilities. Host, family, responsibilities, kids. You're very focused on why you're there and what the end game actually looks like for you. So I do, I think that's gonna be a big deal for them. I think,

god, that Aubrey, she's, she's gonna do great, I think. I don't really know Angelina well, God, that Aubrey, she's gonna do great, I think. I don't really know Angelina well, but I think Aubrey will do great. I love Angelina. I will say, me and Stephanie discussed this, that they just had children. And she was talking, like you said, we were discussing common ground that she could have with everyone, and she's like, oh, they're moms, you know? Like, I'm gonna miss my children so much. I'm definitely gonna bond over children. And it wasn't like a conversation being had to like manipulate people. It was like a genuine concern.

I've not met these new players. What can I do to bond with them? How can I bond with them? So when I say that stuff, I don't want you to think it was like, oh, you're gonna manipulate them and prey on their personal lives. But Stephanie did talk about the fact that they were moms and she's a mom and she was like, oh, you know, you're gonna manipulate them and prey on their personal lives. But Stephanie did talk about the fact that they were moms and she's a mom and she's like,

hopefully we can bond over that because obviously in these games, you wanna look for anything you can to make a connection with someone that you've never met. Yeah. And so she is aware that they are both new moms, but you had that discussion. I think it'll be, yeah, I think that will be

something they can all bond on. and three, two, right? Yeah. And by the way, when you're in a show and you don't have a lot of, like, anything to talk about and you're just after the days pass and it's nice to have someone that you can like say, oh my God, what's that like? Like, I remember being a mom, a new mom,

that kind of thing. And it just really does comfort you to know that someone else is going through that experience with you. I do think that is a great person for Stephanie to work with as well. Yeah. The Chevrolet employee pricing event is on now. Get a big cash purchase discount of up to $11,300 on the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado LDZR2let Silverado LDZR2

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What other nuggets, Michael, do you have from Stephanie's pregame situation? You've got all the, you built the dossiers, which is, I know, apparently. It's a great role. Oh, well, I mean, like I said, she just kind of reached out and was like, I've not watched, fill me in.

Fill me in on who has an unbreakable bond outside of this thing because I'm, like she doesn't attend a lot of the events. Like the event in Orlando, she goes like maybe one day and then goes home. You know what I mean? Like she doesn't go to the Bryce and Wynn events. She doesn't attend this stuff.

You know, she's a mom. She goes to sporting events. Yeah. And so she was like, please fill me in on everything. So I was like, okay, well I follow this person. And at that time there was a huge rumor that Andy from 47, I think it was 47, 48, 47 was on. And I'm like, OK, if Andy is there, like, and I'm sending her like Instagram photos of screenshots that I've got. I'm like, he literally just went on vacation with Rachel

in like Korea, you know, and and I'm sending her all these photos, and she's like, I don't know. She's like, that's so overwhelming. It's just so, I feel like their bonds are gonna be so strong. If I end up on a tribe with them, I'm doomed. And she had these nerves and everything. But obviously, like I said,

we found common ground that she had with everyone. And she's like, okay, I can focus on this. I can hone in on this and say, look, even though this may be your best friend that you go watch the bills with, I still, my husband is a professional athlete. I'm also a huge sports fan, you know? And she was trying to find common ground with people

and that's what she does best. She's a genuinely, like such a great person. She really is a genuine good person and she wants to form genuine relationships. And so I think her interest in what their interests are will shine for her. I really think. 100%.

She's such a sweet person and she's such a fiercely loyal friend. And when she bonds with people, she's not just doing it to like, Hey, let's talk about the game and this will benefit me this way. I think she genuinely takes an interest in people. And I think that's why she's sets. That's what sets her apart as well. Yeah. I want to ask you both. People that think game mode constantly. Certainly. What you need to, you know, like these games are quick, but there are there is that down that downtime still exists.

It's not two days anymore, whether it's you know, three hours, but you do need to you know, be able to take yourself out of it for a second. Which of which of these people Rachel if there's any have you had experiences with that aren't Stephanie and sari have you run into anybody? If you have good experiences with any of the folks that are playing Survivor for some yeah, a lot of the older people. And I think I must have met

Q. Whoever was at this last Orlando event, I met them and they were all so nice. The problem is, is like we don't have a lot of time either when we go to events to meet everyone and to get to hang out with them. So a lot of people, unless I've done shows with them, I don't really become close friends with them. But I imagine you've run into Ozzy a few times just because I know people, unless I've done shows with them, I don't really become close friends with them. But- I imagine you've run into Ozzy a few times, just because I know Ozzy- I've definitely run into Ozzy a lot, yeah.

Yeah. And he's great. And he really has been like putting in the work at these events. Like he's been on the circuit since season 50 has been rumored, which I think is intentional. Michael, how about you? When you watch the show, is there anybody here that you're seeing

that you have particularly strong feelings about New Era or one of the older some of the older folks? I do think Genevieve obviously is like, I think she's going to give Serea run for her money in the strategy department. But also, like historically in these games, like when you bring somebody back in a returning season, it's typically the underdog. Like we saw it with Boston Robb in All-Stars. He was pre-Jury boot his first time around.

He wasn't really a threat. They went after people like Jenna and Ethan. And those people like Robb made it to the end because no one was a target right away. You know, we see it again, like even with Amber in All Stars. It's had Sandra in Heroes vs Villains, Sarah Lasina. Like we see it. So I fully think Tiffany is going to do really well based on that. I don't think she's going to be a target right away. I hope Angelina does well because she's like foot to the floor, wide open, never lets up. And a lot of people will say that they carried her to

the end and David versus Goliath just because they knew she was going to be that losing vote finalist. Angelina doesn't get carried anywhere. She doesn't grab hold of coattails. She goes wide open herself and gets herself there. She does it very messy. And so she probably doesn't get the jury votes. But the thing with Angelina this time around is she is such an iconic player. She does have the friendships. She does have all these people who watched her season.

It was like, oh my God, she's so funny. She's so great. So if she goes wide open again and makes it, I think she might get the jury votes. So I'm gonna say Genevieve or Angelina So if she goes wide open again and makes it, I think she might get the jury votes. So I'm gonna say Genevieve or Angelina or even Tiffany is possibly gonna be the winner. Oh, that's a good winner prediction.

Do you have a winner prediction? I predict Stephanie. I wanna predict Suri, but I just don't have faith that Suri after everything, I just am worried that she's gonna, people will target her. But I would love to see Suri after everything. I just am worried that she's gonna people will target her. But I would love to see Suri win. I would absolutely it would be a dream come true. Yeah. But I just don't know that people are not going to just be like, oh Suri just one trader and this that and the other. You know who is going to win Mike White.

Mike White's already the winner. Listen, my priority pick is number one Stephanie, number two Suri, number three, Angelina, and number four, Jonathan, and number five, Kobe. Those five, like those, if any of those five- I think Jonathan gets, I think they go after him when they, after they're done using him. Because he's kind of- Yeah, he's gonna be a merged boot for sure. Yeah, and he's too strong to take to the end because, you know, he's just not going to lose stuff.

So you almost have to like. Yeah. Genevieve will either go early or go all the way. Yeah. Like if they let her stick around, she's going the whole way. And what she has going for her, she has people like Saree who overshadow her a little bit. Absolutely. But if she can stick around, I think Genevieve's got in the bag. I really do. I'm hoping Stephanie does, but. Me too. I would love to see Stephanie.

That blind loyalty though, I might get her. I have to go because we're getting the kids dinner, but I'm so sorry to cut you off, Michael. Please. Yes. So I do have to go. Thank you so much. Yes.

Oh my God, of course. Thank you so much for coming. Thank you for having me. I want to ask Michael about the traders, but we will chat, we'll chat soon, okay? Thank you so much. Yes. Oh my God, of course. Thank you so much for coming. I'm gonna ask Michael about the traders, but we will chat soon, all right? Yes, absolutely. I would love to come on back, you know, talk whenever, you know, we'll get together and talk.

All the big brothers, survivor, all the things. Enjoy, we'll chat soon. Thank you. All right, thanks for having me. Yes, thank you. Bye. So while we're here, I was gonna ask Rachel, but you were there. You know, my boss, the, you know,

empire runner of Rob is a podcast, Rob Cisterino, is on the traders. I know, I'm so excited for him. Tell me about getting there and the shell shock of being in the castle. Now you have these reality folks who have like done this process before, but, you know, I'm sure it's nerve wracking for everybody to enter it. So tell me what it's like just to get there and what like, what should your opening day look like in the castle?

Oh my God. Listen. Okay. My baseline is nervous. Okay. Like that's just something you have to know about me. My baseline is nervous. I'm a geek. Like I love all things reality TV. So I show up. And I guess like I was mentioning earlier, I instantly like see Saree and Rachel, we connect, we get out at the castle. I'm not a big personality. I'm very nervous. I'm very shy. I'm very awkward. Like, people tend to like me because I'm relatable or people tend to like me because I'm like low key entertaining because they love watching me be a mess. Not because I'm like some big loud personality

like Rachel Riley. So we get there and we pull up and I've been asking them all that. I was like, is it like a legit castle or is it just a big house? You know, I was asking them. They're like, you have to see it. You have to see it. And so we pull up and we get out and I'm like, oh, my God. And everybody's like, ah, and I'm like, oh, my God, this place is

massive. And like, I'm just like dying at the side of this because I've never seen a castle before. And everyone is like hopping it up. You had the reality TV personalities who were hopping it up just for TV, hoping to get airtime. And I go in, it is so cold and drafty. It is exactly what you would think a castle would be like. Yeah, it was insane.

And they asked me in my interview, I mean, it actually made air in my first confessional, they're like, what do you think of this castle? And I'm like, brother, my whole house would fit in this thing like 700 times. Like this place is huge, you know? And like, we were sitting around the billiard room one day and we were just talking and I'm like, I'm sorry, what?

And Kate's like, what, what? And I'm like, I wasn't listening. I was looking around the room. I was looking at the detail of the walls and she'm like, I'm sorry, what? And Kate's like, what, what? And I'm like, I wasn't listening. I was looking around the room. I was looking at the detail of the walls and she's like, well, that's shady. And I'm like, that's just who I am. I'm sorry. Like, you know, like I don't, I don't know what to say.

Like, but like, it was just like incredible. And then being there with people like Suri and Stephanie and Rachel, it was a lot. It was, it was so much to take in on day one. And like, if you watch, like my personality progresses as I go along, I started out like quiet, then I started out scared because I was getting targeted. And by episode three, I get my own footing.

I started to defend myself and I started to have fun and started to joke around. But yeah, in the beginning, it was just, I don't know. I'm very excited to see Rob though. It'll be a good time. The cast looks good. Is there anybody from the cast that stands out to you and like you wish you were there with them

when they were, if they were on season one, who would you pick? Oh gosh, probably Steven from Laguna Beach, just because I love Laguna Beach. Like, I mean, let's be honest, like they made Journey Don't Stop Believing. Like, they brought it back. Like, Steven, they'll see in that car whenever he was singing, whenever they were like singing Carpool Karaoke to like Don't Stop Believing.

Like, that's what made that song a hit after so many years. That's what revived that song and made it the hit that it is like nail. Here I am thinking that was the sopranos that did that, but it was like, no, it was, it was Steven and LC from Laguna Beach. I love Natalie Anderson. Like I can just see her. Like, did you vote for who I told you to vote for it? Like, I don't know. Like I just, I love her. I think she's great.

Jam Jam is such a fun personality. Like I've met him and hung out with him a few times. He's hilarious. I don't know how well he would be as a traitor just because he's like such a lovable teddy bear. You know what I mean? And he's so fun. I think he just, he sticks out so much.

Like he sticks out in a group of a thousand people, let alone 23, where they are picking a CBS person almost assuredly every time. So I feel like it's a death wish to have him make, be the traitor. But listen, he is, I mean, socially, like he makes it the end of Survivor, despite being that. So who knows? I don't know. I'm very, very excited. Yeah, I don't know who Tara Lipinski is. I don't know who Johnny Weary is. I don't know a lot ofinski is. I don't know who Johnny Weary is. I don't know

a lot of these people. I don't watch The Housewives. I'm so excited to see all of it, Survivor 50 and the Traders. Michael, thank you so much for not to peek behind the curtain. You have active COVID as of a couple hours ago, and I'm so thrilled that you're here. Thank you so much. Again, you are and have been known as like a survivor, super fan in this space and now like you are, I think for the first time now, it's getting to see like a very good friend go and compete on it, which is crazy.

Yes, I'm so excited. As I do have this little sticker team, Stephanie, I am rooting for her. I hope she does amazing. I really do. I am worried about her blind loyalty. She's such a great person overall. She's genuinely one of the best people I've ever met. But yeah, I'm hoping she does well. I'm hoping that she doesn't have that blind loyalty. I'm hoping that she realizes this is probably my last shot to play. I'm turning on anyone and everyone

that I can if it advances me in the game. But we'll see if she has that in her though. I am so excited to see it. Michael, thank you so much for coming. Is there anything you want to promote? Anything you want people to check out? Um, not right now. No, ask me again in a few months. Listen, we'll see. Thank you everybody. We will be back next time with another episode of the Survivor 50 Files. Thank you for tuning in. I've been really trying to perfect this outro. Thank you for tuning in. And I'll see you in the next one.

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