RHAP: We Know Survivor - Survivor 47 Pre-Game Day 1: Aysha & Genevieve

Episode Date: September 5, 2024

Today, Rob and Mike discuss the first two players of the Lavo tribe, Aysha Welch and Genevieve Mushaluk....

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Starting point is 00:02:01 Faction of Revenge. Companion. Only in theaters January 31st. Hey, everybody. What's going on? Rob Sestrino back here to kick off another season of the new era to break it all down with. Give it up for Mike Bloom. Yes, I love getting to do this.
Starting point is 00:02:38 And I love especially talking about Lavo today. And oh, we've got a lot to talk about in this particular batch. Yes. OK, so today we are going to be beginning the first of our nine days in a row, listening to and then talking about the 18 Survivor contestants. Two-a-days coming up. Today we'll be talking about a woman that is named, is it, do I pronounce this Asia? Asia, like the continent. Asia Welch and Genevieve will be talking about here today on this episode of the podcast.
Starting point is 00:03:15 Two interesting women. Looking forward to talking about both of them. Of course, to hear all of our pre-season interviews that Mike recorded with the players, you can hear that in our Survivor podcast feed and the Rob's Podcast main feed. You can find them both at robiswebsite.com slash subscribe. And then also watch them on our YouTube channel at robhasawesite.com slash YouTube. Mike, this time the players were in Fiji but you were talking to them remotely yes so uh
Starting point is 00:03:47 of course over the course of the new era I've had the pleasure of being able to for the first four seasons send in questions to be asked to them and then you and I kind of reviewed them starting with 45 I've been able to talk to them face to face so I put that in quotations because for 47 it's very much like 45 where I was not at the time able to make it out to Fiji. But I did have the pleasure of getting to talk with these people over this thing called the internet, Rob. I'm not sure if you've heard about it. So I got the chance to interview these contestants in the preseason.
Starting point is 00:04:19 They have been waiting on pins and needles at the point that I've been speaking with them. I will say they have a pretty dang pristine background, which really does show that they're in beautiful. Yes. OK, so what we're going to do is that we're going to set up who you're going to hear from going to hear from Asia first and then Genevieve. And then Mike and I are going to come back after you watch the interviews. We'll have the time codes in the YouTube description. If you, I guess you, if you're listening to this for the future reference, you can just skip ahead to where the interviews are to see the interviews from the contestants. And then we will jump back into talking about how any interesting reactions we had and how we think they might do just part of our preseason coverage here on RHAP.
Starting point is 00:05:07 Yeah. So a few things before we get into it, because, again, as we'll discover with this cast, there are many different points that people can enter the highway that is Survivor, right? A bunch of different on ramps and hopefully no off ramps as it were. So there might be some people that are coming in for the first time. Maybe, I don't know, followers of one particular notable face this season, probably wondering what the heck this is. So just to reset things a little bit. I think a lot of the Asia fans are already subscribed, but OK.
Starting point is 00:05:36 Yeah, yeah, I mean, exactly. But you never know. You never know her reach out there. But I got the chance to talk with these contestants while they were out in Fiji, waiting for the game to begin. All these interviews were done before season 47 proper started. What's interesting is for those that don't know, you are not allowed to talk or engage with any of the other players while you were there in Fiji until the game starts. They really want to make that first interaction happen when the cameras are rolling on day one. So these people have just kind of been sitting with their own
Starting point is 00:06:09 thoughts about themselves, about the other players. And unfortunately for them, they have to talk to my goofy ass about it. It's one of those first people that they do get to speak with. I have to, of course, give some blanket thank yous to CBS, as always, for giving me the opportunity to do this. It is one of my favorite things I get to do because it's a great way to get to know these people and their own expectations of how they'll do in the game. Then, of course, we'll see how they measure up. Just a couple of technical things off the top. These interviews were limited to around 15 minutes apiece.
Starting point is 00:06:40 So we got to some questions in some interviews and not some questions in other ones, just to sort of fit that, some sort of it some sort of sort of follow the behind it but they all kind of range in the 15 minutes range from a timing perspective this took place uh a little bit out of time rob so these interviews were done after the final eight episode of survivor 46 aired so if you're listening to these interviews and you're like, why are they still talking about Survivor 46? Don't they know that this happened and this happened? Probably not. This happened in the beginning
Starting point is 00:07:12 of May. They just witnessed Liz's Applebee's meltdown and said, yep, that's what I'm bottling to go into Survivor with. So that's where we are in terms of history. Anything else to set up, Mike? So obviously with this being over the internet where we are in terms of history. Anything else to set up, Mike? So obviously, with this being over the Internet, we are, of course, you know, servants of the gods of connectivity.
Starting point is 00:07:32 So there might be some points, especially when you're watching the video version of this, where the video or audio might be a little bit choppy. Special shout out to the team behind the curtain here on RHAP for trying to smooth things out to the best of our ability to package things for your listening and viewing pleasure. But just know that at the end of the day, you know, where we're trying to put forward the best product we can, given the limitations that might have existed from telecasting this stuff, you know, nearly 12 hours away from each other. But regardless, there's some really fun interviews. This is a really fun cast, and I'm excited to get into it. Okay. Very fun to get into all this. Mike, are we ready to talk a little bit about Asia?
Starting point is 00:08:08 Yeah. So it turns out we're starting with a big one here. We are talking about Asia Welch. Of course, Asia is 32 years old. She is from Houston, Texas. She is a senior consultant for an HR IT company. She'll explain that in our interview. But I think she's perhaps more well-known, Rob, for being a face and name associated with this very podcast. Yeah. So Asia became a part of the RHAP podcasting team. Back in 2020, we put out a big search to add podcasting talent to our ranks here at RHAP. Asia was a standout then. She hit the ground running, becoming a big brother podcaster
Starting point is 00:08:58 very early on. She came to me and said, hey, we need to start covering Married at First Sight on RHAP. It wasn't a show that I was super familiar with. I remember the first podcast I did with her about it. We went on to start what was originally a Married at First Sight Rehap-Up. That's now the Love at First Sight feed. the Love at First Sight feed. And Asia and Jason Reed have built a nice little community of their own around the fans of that show. Asia also podcasts about Love is Blind here on RHAP
Starting point is 00:09:36 with Mary Kwiatkowski. Back in Survivor 41, we also instituted a little thing called the Survivor podcaster draft and she was one of six people who was drafting players before the season uh we will have the draft return for survivor 47 uh where very uh oddly asia will be drafted and not drafting uh for in survivor 47 and so uh be on the lookout for that. I think that was going to come up a little bit in the interview.
Starting point is 00:10:09 But Mike, I just want to assuage any concerns that people might have about any impropriety in the podcasting space about that there could be any sort of favoritism around Asia. And I look forward to the challenge of being able to have the opportunity to talk about someone that I consider to be a friend and a colleague, but also be able to talk about their game squarely as if they were any other contestant on the show. I think it is a challenge that I am up for.
Starting point is 00:10:53 I have known many people who have come through the Survivor experience and have, I feel like, been able to fairly and plainly be able to describe everybody's games. I feel like that I am uniquely qualified to be able to do this all season long. I was going to say, yeah, as someone who has been through the process there, not even once, but twice and getting to digest from very different perspectives how your game is perceived. Yes, it's really interesting because to your point, we certainly have had people who are friendly with the podcast, including a couple of other people from this season come through. And, you know, you certainly have have sort of negotiated those relationships as well.
Starting point is 00:11:35 But this is really a rarity. This is far and away the closest we have had someone within the RHAP network on one of these shows. And I think it is going to be an interesting test of as we've been talking about a lot, especially with social media discourse, truly separating conversation from the character we see on television versus the person they actually are when we're not watching them for, you know, 90 minutes a week. All right, Mike, without any further ado, are we ready to hear from Asia? Yes, it is still truly surreal. Even watching this interview back for the umpteen time.
Starting point is 00:12:10 And you can see my surreality in the moment almost immediately as well. Okay. All right, Mike, I'll let you take it away. First question I have for you is what the hell? What are you doing there? Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:12:24 I know. It's just like, what? I just, you know, What the hell? What are you doing there? Oh, my God. You know, it's just like, what? I just, you know, yeah. You know, one thing led to another, you know, decided to apply. And here I am. That's putting it mildly. I mean, we're going to get into all that. But for those who are not in the know, let's get the basic introduction out of you let's get your your name your age where you're from occupation okay so i'm asia welch and that's asia like the continent because constantly when people see the spelling of my name i get every variation but asia well be prepared i'm assuming that's going to continue in this game i know i am 32 years old i live in houston texas and i am a senior consultant at
Starting point is 00:13:08 like an hr it company okay interesting are you more on the hr side or more on the it side because i know more on the it side like i constantly get people are like oh so you hire and fire people like no no no no when people need to hire and fire people, but they can't figure out how to do it in the system, that's when they come to us and like, hey, I tried to hire somebody, but it's not working properly. So I'm like, oh, let me go look at the configuration
Starting point is 00:13:34 and let me figure it out. So it's a lot of problem solving. So I'm constantly problem solving every single day, which is why I've been in this career for 11 years, which blows my mind. But yeah, I love it because, you know, it pays the bills. Well, listen, we're talking about a career change that could also pay a very large bill at the end of the day.
Starting point is 00:13:55 Let's talk about I mean, listen again, people who follow you know that you are a fan of Survivor, but let's go in depth about, you know, your history and also what brought you from fan and content creator, podcaster to actually applying and being on the show. Yeah. So, well, Mike, I'm still trying to get over looking at you right now. I'm just still blowing my mind. Right. But yes. OK, so I've been watching Survivor since I was 12 years old and it was something like my mom watched since day one. And then at 12, I was like watching and she put me on. And so then me, my brother, her and my dad, we would always watch. And it just became one of those things. It's a family event like, you know, first Thursdays. And, you know, then it turned into Wednesdays. were you were watching Survivor every week couldn't wait and so for me growing up I was like Survivor looks so
Starting point is 00:14:50 hard like who wants to who wants to go outside and like literally I've never been camping I've never done anything to that has made me live outside I mean I didn't even grow up going to like summer camps or anything like that I was was inside. Okay. And so for me, a survivor always seems so, so, so, so hard. But now that I'm 32 years old, I'm at this point in my life where like, I have everything in a really good place. I have two dogs that I love and adore. I have a beautiful home that I bought for us. Like I'm in a great place in my career. I'm at that point where I'm like, there was so long. I was like, okay, what's the next level?
Starting point is 00:15:29 What's the next level? And I'm finally at a point where I'm like, I'm coasting. I'm in a really great place, right? You know, and then I get to have my creative outlet with podcasting, that's really fun. And so then I was just like, you know what? And I'm in a place where I feel like I really know myself more than I ever have. And I said, you know what? Let me apply and see what happens. You know, what's the worst can happen? I don't hear back. Right. But then I kept hearing back
Starting point is 00:15:54 and I kept hearing back and I kept hearing back. And I was like, how is this happening? I'm so confused how this is happening. And so I was just like on cloud nine throughout the entire casting process. And now I'm actually in Fiji and it still hasn't hit. I just like on cloud nine throughout the entire casting process and now I'm actually in Fiji and it still hasn't hit I'm still in cloud nine I wake up every morning like okay pinching myself because I'm in Fiji you know so I'm like when is it gonna hit me I'm probably when my toes are in the sand and I'm seeing Jeff that I'll just be like I'm playing the game of survivor but right now it still feels like I'm dreaming yeah I mean you'll be you might be on cloud nine because that's also the name of the pizza restaurant that is on a floating barge out in the sea. So you might be visiting that later on, but hopefully hopefully not too soon.
Starting point is 00:16:33 So looking back on Survivor history, give me one winner and one non winner who you identify with the most. Oh, that is such an easy question. OK, so one winner is Nataliealie anderson i have been like i loved her game i love how like she was so just like confident herself so physically strong just like she is who you would want to be as a woman uh to go out there and kill i mean probably some men too would want to be her to just go out there and kill it. Right. And she's just so unapologetically herself and confident. And so, like, I've been in the gym consistently for like six months preparing for like, if I need to be the strong woman on my tribe, I can do it. Right. So I did a lot of weightlifting, a lot of strength conditioning leading into this.
Starting point is 00:17:22 So I feel like I can relate to Natalie in that way. conditioning leading into this. So I feel like I can relate to Natalie in that way. And then and then even like her, you know, having that tight bond with Jeremy as like a brother, I'm looking for a brother out here, like me and my little brother. We are so close. He is six years younger than me, but he is one of my best friends. Like people look at us and they're like, wait, who's older? I'm like, well, I don't know if that's a compliment or what. Because he's six years younger. But like, I'm looking for like somebody who can fill in the role as my brother, somebody that I can like really, you know, rely on.
Starting point is 00:17:53 And so when I think of that, I think of like Natalie. But then a non-winner I relate to is definitely Seri. Love Seri. And I feel like my relationships in the game are going to be what drives me to the end. I love people. I love learning about people. I have friends of all different types. I'm just so like I'm so interested in like how people became who they are. Why do they do what they do? Why do they behave the way they behave?
Starting point is 00:18:22 Like what has happened in their life to get them to where they are today? And so people fascinate me like I'm the type of person like I took a flight some months ago where the girl next to me I was like we look the same age I talked to her for the entire three-hour flight like I was just so curious about her life and like we ended up following each other Instagram and I was like I literally have at least six or seven contacts in my phone. It's like so-and-so, so-and-so met on flight. I just always like, if I'm on a flight and you don't have headphones in your ear, I'm in the clear. Like we didn't have a conversation, especially if I'm just so intrigued. So I'm just like, I'm here, you know, seeing everybody and I'm so interested in like their stories. Like I'm like, y'all, you know, seeing everybody and I'm so interested in like their stories. Like I'm like, y'all, you know, obviously we can't talk right now, but I'm like, you're
Starting point is 00:19:10 here for a reason. I know I'm here for a reason. You're all here for a reason. Like what, what is it that, you know, survivors saw in you said you should play this game. Like, that's what I want to know about everyone. And of course, some people we might not find out because it was like, that's a secret they want to carry forward. But I still want to get to know like, well And of course, some people we might not find out because it's like, that's a secret they want to carry forward. But I still want to get to know,
Starting point is 00:19:27 like, well, where are you from? Like, there's this one guy that has on like, he wore a San Antonio Spurs hat one day. Today, he's wearing Oklahoma sweatshirt. So I'm like, where are you from? Like, I can't, I don't know. Are you from Texas?
Starting point is 00:19:38 Are you from Oklahoma? Like, I don't understand. Why'd she be from like New York or something? And so I'm so curious about learning about people and then also I want it I want it to be genuine like I want I feel like that's something that was able to do masterfully was connect with people on a genuine level because I want them to feel
Starting point is 00:19:57 like it's not my strategy because I am smart what I do for a living it requires a certain level of intelligence and I am a physical like physical I believe that I would be a physical threat because I play basketball my entire life. I love I can lift pretty heavy. And so I have endurance. And so I feel like that part of myself, I want to be able to utilize, especially to to help my tribe. But I don't want them to think that my social game is my strategy, because then I feel like it will help people genuinely like me, maybe even love me. Like I want people to fall in love in the shortest amount of time ever. I mean, listen, you cover married at first sight. You're all about, you know, love right there in the moment. Yeah. Like fall in love with me in 10 days
Starting point is 00:20:45 and then you don't want to vote me out, right? There we go. That's that's the ideal plan. Now, look, we got to talk about, you know, the 500 pound microphone in the room. You are someone who knows these shows deeply, broadcast your thoughts about them deeply. And on the one hand,
Starting point is 00:21:00 that should give you an advantage with knowledge about the show. But we know the path of Survivor is laid by plenty of super fans who come in thinking they know everything and very much don't. So like, how much are you guiding your own expectations of the skill set and knowledge you're bringing versus what might actually happen?
Starting point is 00:21:16 You know, that's why I'm relying so heavily on my personal relationships, because I could feel like I could know so much about this show. Like, I know every season in order. I know every winner. You'll pass that journey challenge then. Right. Exactly. I was like, if last season they did seasons, maybe they're going to do winners this season. I'm banking on that. I'm banking on me going on that journey. But I feel like you can know so much about this game and still fall flat on your face. We've seen it time and time again.
Starting point is 00:21:48 So that's why even coming into this, it wasn't even something that I leaned into heavily. Like I didn't lean into the like they know that I can form the, you know, the strength that I can bring the awareness of myself to be able to navigate myself with different kinds of people, because I've worked with so many different kinds of people of all, you know, political affiliations of all religions of all, you know,
Starting point is 00:22:19 everything. And so I feel like because I'm leaning into who I am as a person, that's going to help me. Whereas like my knowledge of the game is secondary and can hopefully hopefully come into play. Obviously not to repeat mistakes like season 46 and not playing idols. We need to be playing idols, but being able to just have the awareness like, wait, people are moving differently. Right. OK, maybe I do have an idol I should play it you know never never feel too safe and so I think maybe my knowledge of the history is like
Starting point is 00:22:51 not to repeat you know past mistakes but I think my strength in the game will be who I am as a person and what I'm able to bring to like relationships so you mentioned you know a bit about finding a brother or sibling in the game. You mentioned he a very confusing geography. Who are some people right now in the silent sphere you're in that you are either vibing with or not vibing with in terms of first impressions? Oh, OK. I will say so when I say so. So I do want to find a brother. And that's because the men are so hard to read this season.
Starting point is 00:23:27 I don't know what it is. I don't know what it is. But we're in when we are all together. They're just like. Stone face, like I'm like, give me a smile. Show me you're happy to be here. The women smiling, just grins. Like I swear, we're hurting our cheeks smiling at each other right and so I'm like I'm like okay this is positive vibes certain people like within the guys I'm just like I know it's gonna be a challenge so that's what makes me want to engage and playing hard to get yeah even more I'm like you I see you don't want it so that's why I'm gonna want it for you I want you
Starting point is 00:24:03 to be like wow this girl I didn't think I did not think we were going to have a connection, but I don't, I don't know. That's just my, that has been my strength in life is just like, no matter the differences, we're going to find a connection in some way, some type, some shape or form. And the other thing that I was concerned about, obviously my relation to RHAP, who would recognize me? Right. So obviously I know that some people have recognized me. One person in particular I do know has recognized me just the look on his face. And then obviously there's another person. Well, I guess not obviously, but there's another person KP. I feel like he reckoned because he like looks at me like when we first saw each other, he looked at me in a way that felt like. Do I know you, but I know I don't know him from somewhere, right?
Starting point is 00:24:52 And so, yeah, that's one thing that's going to be interesting to see if that plays a part in just like our love for our HAP. Are we going to have a connection? Are you going to think just because I do the draft that I'm a threat, which shouldn't be the case. So I just want to, I want to be able to form connections so they know like, look, it's a hobby. That's not anything that's threatening, please. This is, that's like,
Starting point is 00:25:17 this is all of our first time playing Survivor. We have no idea what we're about to face. We have no idea what Jeff and Survivor is going to throw at us and so it's just like we have to navigate that we have to be ready for the unknown be adaptable and we're all doing that no one is on any kind of like different playing field just because they talk too much about something what is your most controversial Survivor opinion give me me your survivor hot take. I know you got one. Oh, OK.
Starting point is 00:25:50 So I feel like people are hard on the wacky phrases from season 41 and 42. Bring them back, OK? OK. I feel like there's so much you could do with it. Like Matt Chatzart thing, right? So do something that like
Starting point is 00:26:03 maybe Jeff isn't aware of like make jeff laugh make make jeff belly laugh you know and if you have the ability to do that next time you go cast a vote you have an extra vote or you have an idol or something or call someone out on a different tribe yeah that's risky right but it's it's gonna be a big payoff if you can get an idol so you're basically asking for like team america to come in survivor form of like do these secret tasks right i want i want these things like i need people to be able to say a thing right at the at the match chats and then get a reward from it that's why i really like the wacky phrases like obviously the what they had the bunny rabbit and that that's too obvious do something something that someone, you know,
Starting point is 00:26:45 several, you know, say something that people will remember. Like, imagine if Jelinski was able to get something from that. That had a lasting impact. Like, we're on a Survivor 40 several. So, like, imagine. I just, I think there's so much you could do with it, and they should just revisit that.
Starting point is 00:27:02 Last question. You know what I'm going to ask? If you could pick a celebrity or a fictional character to come out for a loved one's visit, who are you bringing? Thought a lot about this and it is definitely, it definitely has to do with what I feel like I'm going to need. So I'm a person that believes a day without laughter is a day wasted. I have like, I've hung on to that quote from wherever I saw it for a year.
Starting point is 00:27:27 Just like I love laughing and I love me like when when I can find something that makes someone else laugh. Oh, I'm sticking to it. Like that's my thing. Right. And so I think my I have two people that just always make me laugh. Issa Rae, the creator of Insecure, and Quinta Brunson, the creator of Abbott Elementary. I feel like
Starting point is 00:27:49 they have just such a gift. I feel like if they were to come out, they would just make me laugh, and it would just be all the healing I need for this hard 26-day game. So, yeah, easy. One of them too.
Starting point is 00:28:05 Not to mention, it gives them inspiration to create their own, you know, survivor like comedy series. Look out Mike white. There's another one coming down the barrel. Exactly. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:14 I feel like that would be an amazing opportunity for them. So this is what I'm giving them that opportunity. Well, I want to give you an opportunity because look, I, I may be speaking out of turn, but I feel like as a drafter who is on survivor i think you deserve the right to pick the person to draft you because you know all these people are gonna be fighting for you i think you get to declare
Starting point is 00:28:38 right here right now who is picking asia welch as the winner of 547 i thought about this because i'm like okay scenario whoever goes first doesn't pick me should my feelings be hurt like should i be offended you know but then you know i i'm sure there are amazing people here there are probably other people that they can see you know some potential with potential with. Right. But if I had to pick someone, I'm not picking Shannon. I can't pick Shannon. Oh, man. Oh, if I had to pick someone. I would say either it's a close call, either Leon or Chappelle. One of those two. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:25 I like this. Let's leave it to them to fight it out. Yeah. This is you showing your skills already, right? You're like, I'm picking a select few, but like you decide amongst yourselves. I'm not picking favorites. Right.
Starting point is 00:29:39 Like if Pouya picks me, do you Pouya, right? But if I had to pick, you know, the love runs deep. But yeah, I'm just so excited to be here. I was from the moment I got the official call. I couldn't wait to talk to you. So I just I was just so excited for this moment right here. I've been waiting patiently, patiently to see your face. So I'm just really excited. And I'm just going to go out there and give it my all.
Starting point is 00:30:05 And to say I'm excited for you is an understatement. You know how much I adore you and what we've been able to build over the past few years and getting to just see right now, not only is it surreal, but hearing you talk even more about what you plan on bringing and your life and how it's led up to this point, it just fills me with so much joy and i i am still in a little disbelief that we get to see you as a survivor player but it has just made me so eager with anticipation to see what is going to happen and i i am so excited when we get the chance to next talk about this when it will be in december when you are crowned the winner of survivor 47 yes thank you so much mike mike blue oh thank you 47. Yes. Thank you so much, Mike. Mike Bloom. Oh, thank
Starting point is 00:30:46 you, Asia. I will let you get back to, you know, your silent retreat as the anticipation builds up, but I will see you on the other side, my friend. I'm so excited for you. All right, everybody. There you have it. Asia Welch and oh my God, she did so good.
Starting point is 00:31:02 She's amazing. I can't believe this is happening. Can I just like, can I briefly describe the timeline? Yes. So because I did up now. Oh, I mean, how can you not be? Here's the thing is that some people have asked me, especially when Asia's face showed up on the teaser for 47.
Starting point is 00:31:23 Like, what was your reaction? Like when you saw her sit down in front of you in front of that picturesque background. And let me just, again, talk a little bit about how the sausage gets made. So for those of us that are doing preseason press, how did people know that the background was picturesque when they asked
Starting point is 00:31:37 you this question? I don't know. I think they just had to assume. Listen, when you film in Fiji for nearly a decade, Rob, you assume that things are pretty dang picturesque. Sir, how did you get such a picturesque background?
Starting point is 00:31:51 What was your reaction? It's part of my FAQs, honestly. Top of the line. But another FAQ, again, is like, how did you react when you found out that Asia was on the cast? So those of us that do preseason press, we are given a list of cast members ahead of time just so we are at least somewhat prepared for who is going to come sit down and talk survivor with us and so my wife and angela can tell you this i was just sitting at home we were playing with our son and i got an email i
Starting point is 00:32:14 was like oh look the cast members for survivor 47 let me look through it was listed in alphabetical order by first name i thought like oh andy rueda we'll certainly get to him oh that's a film on your face i'm glad to see that he is on the cast. Oh, Anna Kadar. She seems interesting. And when I tell you, Rob, I threw my phone on the bed and stood up as if it had
Starting point is 00:32:35 transformed into some sort of large bug and like almost recoiled out of joy. It's an odd phrase, but it just sort of blew my mind because I personally had no idea that she had had any inclination of ever wanting to come on to Survivor, let alone going through all the entire process to actually make her way out there into Fiji. Yeah. Your reaction was like it was palpable, like the amount of joy that you had talking to her. And, you know,
Starting point is 00:33:08 you were very sweet at the end of the video. And, you know, it is super exciting. I think it really I've heard from so many people in the RJP community about how excited they are for Asia. And I think it just speaks to the type of person she is. And I think also the ability that I think she's going to be able to take with her into the game. She loves people. She made that very clear. I think that that happens to be the one common denominator among all the great survivor players. While there are many different survivor play styles, we've seen so many different people succeed at this game over the years. The one thing that they all have in common is that they uh have a love for getting to know people and uh asia like spoke about that uh so uh wonderfully in her like what
Starting point is 00:33:58 you know if she sees anybody raw dogging it on a plane like okay well this guy made up that phrase that's what it's called mike you just sit there and are staring ahead on the plane not listening to anything and if asia sees you she's gonna strike up a conversation and so i would be intrigued to maybe they should do like those big remember they used to do on big brother evictions like let's talk with the people from their their personal lives back up i would love to talk with the person that was on the other end of that conversation that asia had a few months back just to say like what is asian in her phone you know yeah because i i think to your point that is something that we all have in common as podcasters and
Starting point is 00:34:34 look i'm assuming that people would you know think that we'd say this but i do think asia from a skill set perspective is set up to do very well in the game and i think it's because and we'll certainly get into this with the cast rob this is an interesting cast that is full of a lot of like surprisingly broadcasty personalities she does not necessarily feel you know big and ott in a way that some podcasters might help myself included asia has always been someone to me that has come across as very down to earth, very chill and very personable. And so I don't think she necessarily would be that person that even though she does have experience, you know, being that person to speak as an expert about a number of things in reality TV. As she talked about in my interview, she's not necessarily looking to be that person that like will always have something to say at all times.
Starting point is 00:35:24 Yeah, I think she's really going to lean on that. I think that that's really the the right way to go. I think that she seems to have struck a right balance between knowledge of the show, but also not necessarily like counting on that banking on that super fan background to be able to carry her. I think that she has all of the skill sets that you would want in a survivor player for all the different facets of the game. I think she's smart. She's strong. She's super social. I think that she could be very deadly in this game. I think that she is somebody who seems accomplished in their career. So I think that she you know, she is somebody who seems accomplished in their career.
Starting point is 00:36:06 So I think that she has some strong instincts in terms of like how to move herself forward. The one thing that is a concern for me is that, you know, how many people have, you know, recognized her. She clocked a couple of people that seem to know her how much of a of a threat is that to other players that you know she is you know associated with a network that podcast about survivor yeah i mean it's an interesting point to bring up i mean we will certainly get into this with the rest of the cast and of course the various levels of fandom that are brought in i will say that there are a couple of cast members that do recognize her but without spoiling their interviews too much it's a very positive spin at the moment it's very much this is a familiar face from a very uh great community that i associate myself with perfect
Starting point is 00:37:01 this is somebody that i want to work with and i don't know i personally feel like especially when you get towards like the pointy end of the game it's knowledge about the show something that people really feel like should be wielded like a cudgel of why get to get rid of someone let me say this is where it goes sideways okay so let's say okay so okay so asia is on the the podcast network and even though she's not primarily a Survivor podcaster, she ends up, okay, another person recognizes, okay, Asia, a person who listens to Survivor podcast. Okay, great.
Starting point is 00:37:33 We're doing great so far. Now that information telephone game goes to another person, somebody who may not be a Survivor podcast listener. It's like, what? She does podcasts about Survivor? All right. We can't be having that.
Starting point is 00:37:49 So the person that doesn't even recognize her or has ever listened to her on the podcast, I think is where the most danger is coming from. The person who just like, okay, super fan, knows too much. Now she's a threat because of that. Yeah, I mean, that's an interesting perspective. I mean, the way that she sort of presented the argument to me was not unlike the way Bruce talked to me in Survivor 45 when I asked him, like, oh, what advantage will you have over the other contestants? He says, I'm trying to put forward the argument of once those 11 hours pass on day one, we're all in the same boat. And he's just trying to do the same thing as well.
Starting point is 00:38:25 Like I've talked about the show, but we're all experiencing it for the first time. That being said, we saw this as recently as Q targeting someone for their favorite player. You could come up with any reason A to Z to go after somebody. I personally think the dangers that Asia could face is less about what she's affiliated with off camera and just more so for who she is on camera. I'm really intrigued, Rob, about how are these players going to approach
Starting point is 00:38:51 this season, having seen all of 45 and most of 46 and in particular, watching someone like D in 45. Of course, they don't know that Kenzie had won 46, which is this like mermaid dragon, right? The super social congenial player but we saw someone like d as well who was able to maintain incredible relationships do people have the the ddar the ray d if you will where they're going to be looking at someone like asia who is very good socially has strategic acumen apparently very very good in challenges as well obviously has been physical her entire life and are their ears going to be more perked up to eyeballing someone like that than they did back in Survivor 45? Yeah, I think we've talked about this all through the new era where players are for whatever reason are able to either camouflage or
Starting point is 00:39:46 somehow minimize different aspects of their threat level where people are able to sort of like feel like, OK, I'm not as worried about them. D being the exception, except in that that she had a very strong alliance, which was able to, I think, sort of like deflect some of the heat that she might have gotten. So Asia is going to have her work cut out for her for sure. And I think that the players who play on Survivor now in this era are very astute and very quick to recognize who are the players who can win and how do I eliminate them? And, you know, the good news and the bad news is that Asia is a player who can definitely win.
Starting point is 00:40:28 Yeah. I think the good news for Asia is that barring any unforeseen circumstances, I think she'll do okay in the pre-merge. You know, I do think from a physical standpoint, she is the strongest woman on her tribe. And listen,
Starting point is 00:40:41 depending on how the weight challenges shake out and depending how weight-based there are, she might be perceived as a big asset there which should protect her it's just the thing we always talk about in the new era rob which is when those perceptions get turned around at final 10 9 8 7 6 how do you overcome that hill from when you were once in a valley beforehand from being a target so i think that asia certainly has the capabilities to do so but i think she should also expect for that to come around as much as she talks about trying to make people fall in love with her instantaneously that love eventually turns into a love for a million dollars over weighing it yeah i'm just
Starting point is 00:41:21 uh so proud of her that she is here that uh she's getting a chance to go after this survivor adventure. I meant what I said about trying to be fair about it, but it will be a challenge. Yeah. So and it's just like a palpable excitement and energy as well. Rob. Now, listen, not to talk too much about the draft, but you do have, I believe, the choice right as to picking the order. Are you going to follow Asia's rules here? I am not beholden to Asia's wishes.
Starting point is 00:41:53 I will do as I see fit, as is my right as the winner of the Survivor 46 draft. OK, there we go. Asia at least gave her statement on it. So make of it duly noted, du we go. Aja at least gave her statement on it. So make of it what you will. Duly noted. Duly noted. Okay. And I'm sure the drafters themselves will have opinions after Aja expressed the people that she did and did not want to draft her.
Starting point is 00:42:12 Okay. All right. We're going to take a quick break. And when we come back, let's hear about Genevieve. So it's a new year. You know what that means? Setting big goals. Maybe you promised yourself you're going to hit the gym every day. Genevieve. That's where Acorns comes in. Today's episode is sponsored by Acorns. You probably heard me talk about them before,
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Starting point is 00:44:00 registered investment advisor. View important disclosures at acorns.com slash Rob Pod. What's up, Spotify? This is Javi. I remember this one time we were on tour. We didn't have any guitar picks and we didn't have time to go to the store. So we placed an order on Prime and it got there the next day, ready for the show. Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. All right, let's talk about the second of our two contestants that we're going to hear from today. Mike, tell us a little bit about Genevieve. Genevieve Mushaluck.
Starting point is 00:44:32 And if you think, wow, that's a real Canadian-esque last name. Indeed, she is. She is our sort of requisite Canadian representative on season 47. Genevieve, also 32 years old from West St. Paul, Manitoba. I believe first person from Manitoba to be on Survivor. So we're slowly crossing off the provinces as we make our way throughout the new era.
Starting point is 00:44:54 And she is a corporate lawyer. And she also then follows up in her bio quote, AKA super negotiator and deal maker. Okay. Sounds good. Send her to Dandi. We'll see. It could be an immediate crossover.
Starting point is 00:45:08 Banker might like the cut of her jib. Yeah, absolutely. So we shall see. Maybe we should just start slowly funneling all Survivor contestants over to Dandi. It should just be like the next stop after Fiji. Okay. Look, don't tempt me with a good time.
Starting point is 00:45:22 All right. Let's hear from Genevieve and then we'll come back and talk about it on the other side of hearing from Genevieve. How are you doing right now? Honestly, tired and overwhelmed and like just ready to go. But I feel like I'm not the only one.
Starting point is 00:45:39 So that's comforting. That's comforting. Well, listen, we'll start you off nice and easy to hopefully ease in on the exhaustion. Give me your name, age and what you do. OK, Genevieve Mushlack, 32 years old, and I am a lawyer. A lawyer. OK, what specific field of law are you in? Great question. I am a corporate lawyer.
Starting point is 00:46:01 So like deals, negotiations, contracts, like I'm in my most comfortable, happy place buried behind paperwork. I mean, I'm hearing deals and negotiations. I'm thinking survivor. Were you thinking the same way? What has led you to these beaches? Yeah. You know, that's why I wanted to become a lawyer, because I thought one day I'll get to be on season 47. I mean, to be fair season you watch season 45 where there were three of them in the cast so like it's not too bad of a line to go down I know but three in the top six so now like I have no choice I have to make up a fake profession right um and I don't know anything else that well so and I'm a terrible liar so this it's gonna be great it's a recipe for success right oh my god do you have anything
Starting point is 00:46:46 on top of mind at the moment or is you're just gonna wing it when you get there no i've got a i've got a few the leading idea is uh something like trademark brand related because that's a type of law i used to do and so i can make it um i get there's something there i got a new but i've got nothing but time to prepare and like picture my fake life and timeline and then i'll pick a title that's boring enough that like people's eyes glaze over when i talk about it and it sort of kills the conversation let's talk about what brings you to put your trademark on the game as it were what's your history with watching survivor and what made you decide that this was the game you wanted to play? So I have been watching since I was a young child. I definitely cannot accept the title of super fan
Starting point is 00:47:33 because I don't have this all like committed to memory, but I've watched for a long time and like casually enjoyed the show. What made me want to apply was when I started watching, I was like a very overconfident young woman watched. And of course was like, Oh, I could totally do that. Like 11 year old, 11 year old me looking at the screen being like, I could, I could win this. I'd be so amazing at those challenges. Of course, like I don't eat fish. I don't camp. Um, I was like not athletic at all, but like this totally unearned sense of confidence if I could do that um and I got older but never really lost that so I applied the night that Canadians could first apply and so it's been
Starting point is 00:48:12 a long time coming and each year I'd get a little bit closer and then rejected a little bit closer and rejected um but this year I'm out here unless like Jeff's going to be like, oh, sorry, wrong Genevieve, and take me out last minute. But yes, so that's why. I will test the scope of your fandom here. Can you give me one Survivor winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most? Okay. Yes.
Starting point is 00:48:41 For a winner I identify with the most, let's go with Marianne. New era. So Marianne, because when I get out there, I'm going to be like buzzing and smiling so big and not able to control my excitement. Right. I know you wrote in your little blurb here. You said that you're like a kid at heart, basically, that you have the energy of a seven year old. basically that you have the energy of a seven-year-old uh yeah i've got a lot i'm a bubbly bouncy person um even when i'm sleep deprived i'm like constantly going at at a million miles a minute so i gotta try and contain that and not like rub people the wrong way with it but uh to answer your original question okay non-winner i identify with the most i would say like a mix of Chrissy and then Lindsay from 42. Depends on the day. I'm a very mood driven person. So like,
Starting point is 00:49:30 yeah, that's interesting. I saw that as well that, you know, you talked about how you gave a couple of new era players in your bio, like between D and Sydney, basically saying like, I could see my game going either way.
Starting point is 00:49:43 Is it as simple as like, catch me in the right time, in the right place? I might be two different people. Yeah, catch me before or after a meal, before or after a bad sleep. Well, I got bad news for you when it comes to Survivor. I know, it's going to be great.
Starting point is 00:50:00 But yeah, and that's such a good point. There are so many women that I could that I could draw from. And actually, there you go. I should have said D and Sydney because that answers your last question, too. Right. But there's so there's so many good ones to choose from. But no, I think I'm going to I'm going to control it and just vibe with everybody else that's out here. Everyone seems really cool, which, you know, I think they'll be even cooler when they vote for me to win a million dollars and we'll all be friends. What do you think is one life experience that has prepared you most for this game?
Starting point is 00:50:31 OK, I would go back to like so. So picture a giant table and like a big Ukrainian family sitting around it and like not just immediate family, relatives, cousins, grandparents. And when we were young growing up, like that was every holiday or just like, you know, a Monday, any excuse to get together with the whole family. And so from an early age, I was talking to my cousins, my parents, my grandparents, my wacky aunt, my crazy uncle. And like, you just learn to speak to people of all ages with all different interests. And like growing up that way helped me develop a natural interest in everybody no matter how different or similar they are to myself and i think that'll that'll help me i hope what well what do you think is your biggest superpower
Starting point is 00:51:16 and your biggest piece of kryptonite that you are bringing from your life into this game? Okay, my biggest superpower would be if I sense somebody else is struggling or more nervous than I am, I can put aside the way I'm feeling and engage with them, help them, give them the care they need, which in turn helps me, right? If you were more nervous than I am,
Starting point is 00:51:41 I would be like, it's okay, relax. And then I would be zen here, but that's not the situation. So I think being able to sort of assess what people might need and fill that need will really help me. Um, and that's my biggest superpower power. My biggest kryptonite would be like all the yucky things out here. I'm really, I'm the type of person, like if I see a spider in my house, I'm like, ah, Mark, my husband, like, can you come get this? If he's not home, I'm fully capable. I'll grab, grab a piece of paper towel or a shoe and kill it. But like, if there's someone else
Starting point is 00:52:15 around me who can help, um, I will often take them up on that, which, you know, so yeah, the yucky things are going to make me a little uncomfortable, but I have it in me to deal with them. I would just prefer not to. Well, to that point, I mean, you talked before about how, you know, you were watching it back in the day and you were saying, oh, yeah, I'd love to do this, even though this is something that is very much out of my wheelhouse. Once you found out you were coming out here, what was your preparation like to get in survivor shape, as it were? preparation like to get in survivor shape as it were so lots I would say I haven't had like any caffeine for like 45 days um sounds like you don't need it I know right could you imagine me after an espresso martini like it's fun but it's a lot um so I did that I was working out like sort of the
Starting point is 00:53:01 I was not grip strength training for two years, unfortunately. That one slipped by me, but I was working out trying to like eat healthier things, cut out, like, you know, all the Kit Kats that I would have if I am PMSing or like had a bad day. I tried to like, well, you won't have that out there, Genevieve. But unfortunately, one of my friends told me about this amazing video game, like three weeks before coming out here that I like started. And then it like really derailed some of my survivor prep. So I meant to like practice making fire with Flint a little more and research how to build a bamboo shelter. But instead, I played Baldur's Gate for like 40 hours. I was about to say if it was Baldur's Gate.
Starting point is 00:53:41 I mean, listen, you can craft in Baldur's Gate. It just isn't as applicable. Yes, exactly. I feel like I'll have way less items out here, listen, you can craft in Baldur's Gate. It just isn't as applicable. Yes, exactly. I feel like I'll have way less items out here, but I will be looting everyone that I can. Well, let's talk about perhaps
Starting point is 00:53:51 some of the people that will make up your party or the aforementioned people that you will loot, because you said that everyone's super nice out here, but I'm sure you're picking up vibes from specific people.
Starting point is 00:54:00 Who are some individuals that you are thinking best case scenario, like I want to end up on a beach with you. You could be a possible ride or die okay there is an older woman with like beautiful long blonde hair and she's clearly very fit and her and i both like drank our welcome drink excessively quickly and like made eyes at each other and i I was like, yes, you. So I would really love to work with her. Who else? There's a man with sort of short curly hair that every time he like does a lap around
Starting point is 00:54:32 the pool, he gives me eyes and a smile and I give him a smile. And he's also up in the middle of the night. Like he's a bad sleeper, just like me. So those are two people that like stick out on my radar as people that I will get along really well with. Was there also a part two? Did you want me to say who I don't want? Oh, you read me loud and clear. Absolutely. Objection.
Starting point is 00:54:52 Leading the witness. Oh, you're good. You're hired. You want to train jobs? I'll be the trademark. Insert the blank here. But yeah, give me some people that you're you're sussing out a little bit. like here but yeah give me some people that that you're uh you're sussing out a little bit uh okay there's one man with long curly hair who like avoids making eye contact with me
Starting point is 00:55:09 like the plague and uh i'm like i'm if you can imagine i can't sit still for like eight hours as they have us sequestered so i also do laps around the pool like a hamster on a wheel and every time i'm like trying to trying to catch him he's like like this like like he'll turn to stone if he looks at my eyes um so he's on my radar but i don't know maybe he'll be nicest person ever and i'll have a terrible read when you talk to him like see does he look at you maybe it's just me yeah i don't know if i'm at the pool so it might not be a one-for-one comparison uh well let's let's talk about the pool of advantages you hope to come across in the game. How do you approach all the idols and journeys and things that come with the new era? OK, I would love to find a beware advantage TVD if I will open it and go either way on that.
Starting point is 00:56:00 I myself am a gambling woman, so I'm in my nature. I would love to open it. But if there's someone out there who stands out to me as like, I definitely don't want to work with this person, but I obviously will not show them that I might lead them to the beware advantage with like, let them open and be like, Hey, I want to work with you so much. Not really, but I want to work with you so much found this beware advantage. I'm so risk adverse. Do you want to open it? We can work together.
Starting point is 00:56:26 And then when they open it, I'll see what they have to do and then like make it impossible for them to do it so they don't have their vote and then get rid of them that way. Oh, interesting. Sabotage the beware advantage task. Yeah, right?
Starting point is 00:56:40 Interesting. Talk to me about your most controversial survivor opinion. What is your hottest take about the show or a person or a player? I don't know if this is a hot take. I hate fire making in the final four. Like it's probably a regurgitated take. I'm sure everybody hates fire making in the final four. I feel like it just forces the players to get out better players early. And then it like disadvantages great players like a Jesse, because it all comes down to making a fire when like, that doesn't really measure the best gameplay,
Starting point is 00:57:14 which is what I would look for as a drawer, the best best gameplay as I interpret it. So yeah, I hate final four fire making. Also, I would suck at it. So like, I'm just saying,
Starting point is 00:57:24 are you just saying that because you played Baldur's gate three instead of practicing fire making i'm manifesting maybe like jeff hears this and he like decides oh this year 47 we're not gonna do final four making fire four but oh my god final four fire you can't even say even just the utterance of it like i'm allergic to seeing it yeah exactly it feels like the past two seasons in particular have really like almost serves as a jump start from the new era even that came before it what is your biggest takeaway from survivor 45 and 46 that you plan to incorporate into your game great question okay um i will be looking for those hidden duos or groups. I think that was like a big part of what made
Starting point is 00:58:08 Dee, Julie, Austin, Drew successful. Charlie and Maria, people seem to not have sniffed out or at least as far as the last episode that I saw. So I'll be keeping my eyes open for people that seem to move in lockstep without being too socially involved because that would be a clue to me that there is something that maybe I'm not picking up or that they're doing a great job of hiding. The other takeaway would be the inverse is like, I need to find myself a Maria to my Charlie, right?
Starting point is 00:58:39 Oh, yeah. It's true to the lawyer aspect, especially. Yes, right. I'm not as like charming and quick witted as him um or as funny but we're both brunettes so don't sell yourself sure you have more in common than just your hair color last thing i want to ask you if you could bring a celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one for a loved one's visit who are you picking and why dumbledore because i feel like he would know exactly what to say in my like seemingly impossible task of winning survivor aka my version of like finding a horcrux i feel like he'd like say something that would like inspire me and like unlock that and be like oh great point yes okay yeah now and i and the loved one visit takes place late enough it's like that thing that existed at the end of every harry
Starting point is 00:59:30 potter book where like dumbledore would say okay here's what actually happened the entire time and just lays it out for everybody exactly or maybe that'll be my experience watching this show and i'll be like oh that's what was really happening god i missed all that yeah well thank you for bringing the magic to this interview it was an absolute delight to get to do it you know i i love the energy that you give out and i imagine that's only going to translate so well to the beach too so i'm really excited to seeing what you're going to bring and i i hope you have the absolute adventure of a lifetime it was so great getting to chat with you thank you thank you so much you as well of course so great meeting you all the best good luck in the days leading up and uh i'll see you
Starting point is 01:00:08 on the other side sounds good all right there you have it genevieve we wish much luck to genevieve there we go we say mush as she begins her voyage into the game as it were jeff say that at the start of like the obstacle course like uh mush mush i think then the discourse about like is survivor treating their contestants like animals spicy jeff okay i'm thinking more like ice cold jeff than ever going to like dog sledding oh that could be even uh better all right but let's talk a little bit about Genevieve. And so I think that Genevieve is an interesting player to me. Like, I feel like that she's somebody who just seems like solid, but doesn't necessarily pop off the screen to me. But I think that that might be where you want to be. be genevieve i mean she described it perfectly with the way she was talking about the two different personas she kind of occupies like before and after a meal before and after getting
Starting point is 01:01:10 a good night's sleep the fact that she wrote in her bio like two players she compares herself to rd and sydney we'll see where the game goes and that genevieve was very much perhaps a la uh you know a fictional lawyer themselves uh two-face in a manner of speaking. There are two wolves that exist inside of her. One that could do really, really well at the game, but one that might not, depending on the fact that she is, you know, not to say that that emotionality is necessarily a detractor from the game.
Starting point is 01:01:41 We have certainly explored that with someone like Carolyn, but certainly she has pointed out some things that might not make her you know a huge candidate off the top for winning but the thing about the new era rob is again if those people are able to make it through the first half of the game when they might most be in trouble the second half the game opens up for them yeah i thought that was interesting that she has the ability. She has like this empathetic side of her that she can really detect any sort of lack that a person has and sort of be a provider there. But also then is willing to completely sandbag somebody she doesn't like if they get the beware advantage. Yeah. Did you like that idea, Rob? Of, OK, I'm going to lead someone I don't like to get the beware advantage yeah did you like that idea rob of okay i'm gonna lead
Starting point is 01:02:25 someone i don't like to find a beware advantage and then whatever the task is i'm going to sabotage it so they never get their vote back yeah it seems like a little too i would not recommend that i think this is a bad plan do not do that so like i'm trying to think back to survivor 46 would it be like you help lead jem to the beware advantage and then you russell hand style hide the machete so she can never use it to measure anything something like that yeah i think that probably like survivor 45 where they had like sort of like a little bit more like complicated where austin had to like read the hieroglyphics and maybe she would like deface the hieroglyphics or like if it's sabaya and you don't have any fire like you put out the fire at tribal council
Starting point is 01:03:10 you take a big bucket of water and dump it on so you can't burn the candle at all yeah so all right but i like the creativity oh i like that she's thinking about these things i just wouldn't do them yeah but i think that speaks to again the audaciousness that she takes it i think genevieve has a really great energy you know she speaks about regardless of the deprivation she's in that bubbliness and i do think that try morale might help as well like it does seem like initially she'd be someone to to go along to get along right like she seems like a very fun person to be around i think the fear that i have for Genevieve is, is she into over her head?
Starting point is 01:03:48 She admits that when she was first watching the show, she hadn't really been camping before. She's not great at lying. She doesn't eat fish. All these things on paper maybe add up to not doing so well in Survivor, but considering that this is something that she has been preparing for
Starting point is 01:04:03 for a long time, applying since Canadians could first be on the show, I'm assuming she's put in some work, with the exception of learning how to make fire. I do think she's going to be solid. I'm just like, in terms of looking at who's the winner of the season, I think that Genevieve is probably not my winner
Starting point is 01:04:19 pick for the season, but it's also somebody who I think is going to not get herself voted out of the game. I, you know, somebody who I think is going to not get herself voted out of the game. I think that she's somebody who seems like very steady. The issue is that as we're doing this, we're going through, I've only seen the interviews for these two people. So I don't know necessarily if this is like a cast of total wackos and Genevieve is kind
Starting point is 01:04:41 of normal or if the cast is a little bit more muted and, you know, Genevieve is kind of normal, or if the cast is a little bit more muted and Genevieve is a standout. So from that perspective, Rob, just a couple things about her. What do you make about her watching 45 and 46 and wanting to come in looking for hidden groups, hidden duos, right? Your Reba Four or you're Charlie or Maria.
Starting point is 01:05:05 Do you feel that's a little bit forest for the trees or do you think that's a good approach people should take? Well, it's something that we certainly see backfire a lot on Big Brother of, you know, that's the group, these two, like they're very close. I think that, you know, you should be looking, I think, to try to like make your own pairs and trios and groups more so than you want to be on the hunt for who you know, instead of like feeling like, OK, here's two people.
Starting point is 01:05:32 Let me see if I can get in over there with them as opposed to sort of like clocking that there are two people. I know there's been a lot of discourse as of late as to whether or not you should lie about your job on these types of shows. Do you want to come in with an additional lie? You have to weave into all the other lies. Do you think Genevieve is, of course, coming in and saying that she tried to create, like, apparently the most boring job ever by saying she works in trademarks? Do you think that this is sort of a special case that because we had so much lawyers proliferating the endgame of 45, which is the most recent full season they watched. Was this a wise decision on her part?
Starting point is 01:06:06 I think that it's a okay decision. I guess we'll see how it goes in practice. I just think the thing, like a common theme was like, oh, like I was gonna come up with a fake job, but I'm still not there yet. I'm still working on it. I was gonna practice making the fire, but Baldur's not there yet. I'm still working on it. Like I was gonna practice making the fire but Baldur's Gate came out.
Starting point is 01:06:29 Like it's just like, like Genevieve, like, you know when you go to court you gotta have all your stuff ready to go. Survivor's no different. I really hope she makes the final four just so we get like an actual Baldur's Gate name drop on the show of like, damn it. My worst nightmare has come true.
Starting point is 01:06:45 What would Dumbledore say right now? Yeah, I mean, Dumbledore would have a lot to say in the moment. But that was so funny to me. I like Genevieve. I think Genevieve is a very fun personality. She's both simultaneously dry and bubbly at the same time. Like a nice champagne. Like ginger ale.
Starting point is 01:06:59 Yes, exactly. Like Canada dry, if you will. Right. So that could be a good nickname for her um but that being said yeah i do like jennifer i hope i hope it's not sounding like i'm being uh too hard i'm just trying to give like my you know honest assessment of what i'm seeing from the players and look this is the fun part for us as well like if we're wrong we'll revel in a scenario yeah we'll revel it in as much as the players
Starting point is 01:07:25 don't on me all you want. OK, exactly. I do want to also foreshadow something as well, because, of course, as I get to do every season, I ask these people, OK, as you're hanging around
Starting point is 01:07:35 Ponderosa, who are you picking up good vibes and not so good vibes from? And Genevieve actually highlighted a couple people on both ends that will be recurring
Starting point is 01:07:43 motifs of this question throughout the season, Rob. This is a cast that is very high on Sue Smey. Sue is a continual talking point in the positive direction. Older woman with white hair. That is Sue. And then on the other side of things, the man with curly long hair, Gabe.
Starting point is 01:08:03 Gabe is talked about a lot. Gabe is regarded as someone who is not really giving anybody anything. As Genevieve talks about, he seems to be regarded as somebody who is like almost actively, whether intentionally or not, kind of like stonewalling people with just very blank faced reactions. And so pick up on that, because, again, these will be people that will get mentioned a few times and we'll see if that plays into it. I mean, Caleb, I think from 45, right, is sort of the the consummate example of someone where maybe these preseason expectations do end up kind of rolling into the game. OK, we will keep an eye on that. I love it when the fans like make a matrix of like who's liking who uh so far and i know in survivor 46 like it also you mentioned caleb but like a lot of the pre-season
Starting point is 01:08:52 okay this person likes this person like the 46 stuff really did track yeah there was a lot of like tevin soda and liz stuff and then obviously that ends up fracturing apart at the mid merge i mean here's the thing especially when you're when you're separated into three tribes and we don't know if there's a swap but like it's very much based on those first impressions start to start like that's really where it's instructive it's not like oh good that's gonna be a final two because they're no but if they're like on the same tribe or they go on a journey together like that's where it's like okay there's like a little bit of a head start yeah Yeah, I mean, we saw that with Hunter and Q, right? They both clocked each other as being from Mississippi.
Starting point is 01:09:27 And so when they got to that journey and formed the sixth, one of the most dominant alliances in Survivor history, it was Kismet. Yeah, OK. All right, Mike, anything else you want to say about Genevieve today? No, I think it's a great start to this tribe. And I'm excited, especially as you get to know Lavo more. And certainly by the end of it, we can kind of piece together what we anticipate the dynamic to be. I think even looking at these two, I do see Asia and Genevieve getting along. I think that, again,
Starting point is 01:09:56 these are two good personalities. I think they're both energetic enough. Easygoing. Yeah. Yeah. They can certainly feed into each other, but we'll sort of mix in these other four ingredients into the Lavo cake, if you will, and see what spills out. OK. All right. Mike, what's coming up tomorrow? So tomorrow we talked about two women on Lavo and now it's all about playing with the boys as we are going to talk to Kashan and Rome on Lavo. We are going to talk to Kishan and Rome on Lavo. Okay. All right. Looking forward to that.
Starting point is 01:10:30 Of course, we are always looking forward to reading your comments as well. So we love to get your feedback here and here every day for the next nine days. You will see our videos. So make sure you hit that subscribe button, Mike, for next for you. Yeah. So I am doing written versions of these interviews over at parade.com though to diversify it a little bit i am not starting with this tribe i actually started with uh gata which is the yellow tribe so right now you can check out my interviews with andy and annika and then tomorrow it'll be the john lovett interview as well. So be sure to check that out over at parade.com.
Starting point is 01:11:05 Okay. All right. And then, of course, we have so much more waiting for you at robinswebsite.com slash patron, where you can become a patron of Rob's podcast, help support this podcast, this community every week during the survivor season. I am taking your calls on Friday. We have a great time answering all of your Survivor questions, plus so much more.
Starting point is 01:11:29 First, access to our live show tickets and everything else that we have going on over on Patreon at robswebsite.com slash patron. Thank you for joining us. Take care, everybody. Have a good one. Bye.

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