RHAP: We Know Survivor - Survivor 48 Pre-Game Day 11: Kyle Fraser & Mitch Guerra

Episode Date: February 13, 2025

Survivor 48 Pre-Game Day 11: Kyle Fraser & Mitch Guerra Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) and Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) are here to share with the listeners their reactions to the cast reveal of Survivor 48! Join us to learn a bit about the 18 new castaways to be tested on the islands of Fiji Survivor 48 premieres […]

Get ready for Las Vegas style action at BenMGM, the king of online casinos. Enjoy casino games at your fingertips with the same Vegas drift excitement MGM is famous for when you play classics like MGM Grand Millions. Or popular games like Blackjack, Baccarat, and Roulette. Download the BenMGM casino app today. BenMGM and GameSense remind you to play responsibly. BenMGM.com for T's and C's. 19 plus to wager Ontario only. Please play responsibly.

If you have questions or concerns about gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connix Ontario at 1-866-531-2600 to speak to an advisor free of charge. Mid-MGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Hi everybody and welcome to RHAP's Survivor 48 preseason interviews day 11. The final day of interviews outright. Of course Rob and I are still going to get together one last time to talk through this final SIVA tribe. But first, we got to get to know them all in full and we still have two interviews left. Those are my interviews with Kyle and Mitch. Of course, we are just getting started when it comes to not only our preseason coverage, but Survivor 48 in general, there is so much to follow from this, including it's a look, including, of course, the draft that typically occurs with the R.H.A.P. podcasters.

That's not even speaking about the fact that we are actually going to see these people play in a little less than two weeks and we will have a bevy of podcasts to follow that. So do not miss out on a second of it. Go to we know Survivor.com subscribe to all of our survivor Podcasts in one handy dandy place and if you want to see video versions of all these podcasts Including video versions of these very interviews are about to listen to go to Rob has a website.com YouTube so here we are

dot com slash YouTube. So here we are. Let's get into my second to last interview here on the Siva tribe approaching the bench. It is our attorney, Kyle Frazier, though. Spoiler alert. He will not say that he is an attorney. Of course, we know the very recent track record for that. But Kyle is 31 years old,

originally from Roanoke, Virginia, currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. Now, much like another cast member on this season in Stephanie, Kyle started his career in teaching before moving on to a different profession. So we shall see how much he is able to get to the head of the class over this 26 day period. Check out my interview with Kyle and hear what he has to say. Your name, age and occupation. Yeah, I'm Kyle Fraser.

I'm 30 years old and I'm a lawyer. Okay. What particular form of law are you working in? So I work for a judge right now. I'm a litigator. Okay. So stereotypical sort of like courtroom, arguer, attorney. But right now I work for a judge.

I did labor and employment law the first year out of law school. I worked for like a larger law firm. And then right before I went to clerk for a judge, I did white collar criminal defense. Wow. So I'm hoping to sort of segue at some point into like public defense or federal public defense,

but we'll see. Interesting. So then listen, we know that the label of lawyer on Survivor comes with a lot of things. Are you more on the Jake side of things or like the Julie side of things when it comes to revealing what your occupation is? Yeah. So I'm 100 percent on the Julie side of things with the caveat that like I watching that season was so rough for me because like I can't say I'm a lawyer.

I know strategically that's just well, it worked for Jake somehow, but I know strategically for me, that's just not going to work. And stereotypically, it doesn't work. But like, it's not that I think that lawyers are like this omnipotent, like incredibly strategic, like group of people. It's just I know that I can't say so I'm going to I'm going to say I'm a teacher. I used to teach for two years right before I went to law school. So I think it'll be good. I miss teaching and to law school, so I think it'll be good.

And I miss teaching and working with kids, so I think it'll be believable. Yeah, so then did you tell your work, you know, what was your reason for coming out here, right? Were you like, oh, I'm going on a camping trip for two weeks, but what is the work now before obviously this all gets released about what you're doing right now?

Yeah, yeah, well, you know, clerking is like a one-year stint that you do for a judge. It's very intimate and you work closely with like two to three other people. So it wasn't something that I could just like get up and leave for without like giving some sort of explanation. So I had a sort of confidential talk with that. I obviously like cleared it through other people,

but my judge is aware that something is going on, not exactly what it is. And I actually had to end up doing like a lot of my work in advance to sort of be able to come out here. So, you know. Well, let's talk about why you're out here. So what made you decide to approach the jury bench in a very different way, hopefully,

when it comes to the Survivor jury? What's the reason why you're on the island right now? Yeah, so I started watching Survivor, actually season 40, oddly enough. I think it's similar to Charlie's story. It was during COVID. I was in law school, like finishing up my second year and it hit

and my girlfriend was like, now my fiance was like, maybe we should just leave and go live with my parents. It was the beginning of COVID, so we thought it was gonna be for a week. So long story short, we drove to North Carolina thinking it was gonna be a week and we stayed at her parents' house for three months. And like, I had just met them,

but her mom was watching Survivor one day. It was like literally the episode where Denise idled out Sandra. And I was like, holy shit, like what is this game? Like I thought Survivor was like fear factor, like just eating worms out on the island, but like something completely different, this like social strategic game.

So like- No, you're eating each other, not the worms. Yeah, exactly. And so that drew me in. I thought I would just like it for the strategic stuff. But after like sort of plopping around I just love the concept in general just like this idea of being dropped somewhere with a diverse group of people Like you don't necessarily know each other's backgrounds, but you can sort of like use your strengths and we I don't know It's just such an interesting game. Like yeah, so then through through, because I imagine then once you fell in love, you're like, okay,

I got to watch through everything. And obviously through the new era, if you could give me a winner and a non-winner who you identify with the most, who would it be and why? Yeah. Okay. So, you know, winner is really tough, but I would have to say, I would probably say Wendell. Like I know that's so, that's probably like two on the nose for me, but he's a lawyer, he's black man who kind of like sheds this box in a lot of ways that like by doing different things and sort of like making different life decisions

that I just found were so interesting. I think what I identify him with him the most from a game perspective wise is just like his social game. Like I think that one of the reasons Wendell was able to beat out Dom was because like you could see like from the snippets that we had that he actually like really cared about the other contestants. Not saying that Dom didn't, but that just came across so starkly for Wendell in a non sort of greasy way. And I'm hoping that like that's how I can play this game. Like I love people. I hope to make connections, you know, like I could see myself

like picking up a seashell and giving it to a guy like Sebastian, like holding on to a like forum. Like, I don't know. I just I really resonated with his game. His game resonated with me rather. And then non winner. That's also very tough. But I probably say Jay. Jay from Adam's season.

I loved his game. I thought he was like the full package. Like, listen, I'm an athletic presenting person. I think I don't know if that's going to like completely be his game. I thought he was like the full package, like, listen, I'm an athletic presenting person, I think. I don't know if that's gonna like completely be my game. I hope that I can pull out a challenge or two. But what I loved about him was that like, he was sort of good at challenges. People respected him and he respected other people.

And because of that, he like strived socially. And like, he just seemed like a free flowing, easy going guy, but underneath it all, he really kind of had these like ambitions. He talked about like how he was different than Figtails. Or like Taylor, he was like, he's like my buddies, but like I have these other ambitions. Like I feel as if my upbringing was very similar to that.

So what's your favorite moment in Survivor history? Does it connect back to the one that got you into it all with Denise idling out Sandra? Can I give you two? Oh, please. There's like two for very different reasons that come to mind. The first is Keith is one of my favorite. He was one of my recipes.

One of my favorite players. Him driving the tuk tuk on the island is like one of my favorite things. Like that was one of the first seasons that we watched season one then bounced around after I watched season 40. And that was like one of the first scenes that I can visually remember. And I was like, here's this guy, like just with a complete group of people that he would have no business being around otherwise, excelling with them and connecting with them. And the tuk-tuk scene just like tied that all together.

And then the other one is just on Ben's season when Dr. Mike says, like, he has a, he has a like a ferocity that transcends this game. I think that is like one of the most underrated survivor lines in the entire world. I mean, it's hilarious. And it's like the very definition of a deep cut. I love it so much. No, don't apologize. Listen, you're not gonna apologize to me for quoting a random quote from Survivor 35.

No, I'm, there's mutual awe going on right now. There we go, there we go. Well, so let's talk a bit about your own preparation for this experience. Cause you talked about, you know, having a little bit of that athleticism going on. But once you found out you were coming out here, what was sort of the prep experience to get you to the island in the first place? Yeah. So, you know, from a physical perspective, it's actually really funny. I fluctuated like 15 to 17 pounds in a matter of like two and a half months.

Like I first like bulked up, so like, oh, I need to be strong. But then I like sort of realized like, I don't need to be that strong. So then I like started what I thought about the best scenario of being like putting on a bunch of weight so I can get as strong as possible. And then I shed a ton and started conditioning to sort of like, cause I think endurance matters the most for pregame.

And then like two weeks prior to coming out here, I've just been fricking wrecking burgers and like, and like just putting on a ton of fat. Like I read an interview with Malcolm from like years ago where he talked about his like McDonald's diet. And like, I kind of see it. Like I feel like I'm in great shape. Like I've definitely put on some pounds,

but I know I have those fat reserves. So physically I've kind of just like, and I focused a lot on like flexibility and like just concentration and things like that. They say grip strength is the most important thing. Yeah, yeah, you know, I, you know, I got one of those little grippy things. I fidget around with it at work every now and then.

Mentally, like, you know, listen, I'm not a puzzle guy. I'm not gonna be good at puzzles. So I kind of just like decided, you know what? I'm gonna put that to the wayside and focus on other things mentally. Like I really tried to just incorporate like survivor into my everyday life. Like if I have a, not a disagreement with a coworker,

but maybe we see something differently, I think about how would I approach this in the game and try to implement that. Work on controlling emotions or thinking through what emotion you're feeling in certain circumstances. Like little things like that to over time where I feel like I'm ready to play this game. Yeah.

What's one life experience you feel has prepared you most for this? Yeah. So like I mentioned, I was a teacher. I actually taught at a boarding school for two years. But during the summers, I taught at a juvenile detention center. There was a charter school attached to a juvenile detention center, and they were able to like earn credits like in money. So when they get released, when the kids would get released, they would have like something to go out into the world.

And that was a really hard experience. Like learning when you're in a juvenile detention center I couldn't imagine learning was hard enough for me as a kid in school. These kids are dealing with, I mean this is outside of Maryland. So it houses kids from Baltimore and DC and areas that were that were not easy environments

to grow up in and trying to connect with them when they're trying to figure out when the hell I'm gonna get out of jail was really hard. But I figured out a way to do it in different circumstances. And I feel like some days it was really, really hard and painful to see what they're going through, painful to try and connect with them, but you've gotta keep on pushing.

And I feel like I kind of have to have that same mentality in Survivor. Yeah, I mean, it's all about making connections under arduous circumstances. And, you know, even when you don't necessarily feel like you're in the mood or in the state to do it, it's sort of an inevitability that needs to happen to get an end goal.

So I think it totally feels like a one-to-one comparison. Yeah, yeah. It definitely was like, I mean, just, and even going from teaching at a different boarding school that was like very affluent, like sort of community, like, you know, very expensive to go to. And like, it was hard to connect with those kids too. I think like another thing that will be helpful

is like going from that community that was so starkly different to my juvenile detention center community and figuring out ways to like navigate both of them in a way that like helps the kids. And I think that's what Survivor is too like there are going to be so many different players from different backgrounds that like will need you not to be a different person but meet them in the way in which they want to play the game in a different way. Somebody wants to be super strategic, super calculated, and somebody like may just want to have fun. And I think it's important not to just play your game to meet other people where they're at game wise, too.

Give me your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite when it comes to this game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. My biggest superpower. You know, I, I, I, charm is like, I hate using the word charm, but like I do love people. I've been like this way since I was like a kid. My mom talks about like me running onto the playground. Like the first day of school is like a five year old. Like I can be pretty persuasive. I can also just like be charming in a way that I like.

I like to connect with people and I think people see that. Like I'm genuinely interested in them. So I think that that will be very helpful to me. It could be a weakness in that, like, you know, I don't want to come across. I'm really going to focus on, like, one on one connections, not trying to be the guy that's like outwardly like, you know, courageous or outwardly like running the room. Yeah. But I think charm and like sort of persuasion, if you want to call it, that would be a superpower.

Weakness? I'm an impulsive person. You know, like I'm a very, I guess that's not like stereotypical for a lawyer, but like I am a very like impulsive sort of like- Listen, you're not the judge, so impulsivity is okay. Yeah, exactly. Exactly, like I just want to sort of like,

if an opportunity presents itself, like I want to go for it. Yeah. Like if I see a be sort of like, if an opportunity presents itself, like, I want to go for it. Yeah. Like, if I see a very rare advantage, like, I'm opening it up. I think more importantly, though, it's the people around me. Like, this is not a game where, like, you can just say whatever's on your mind. Oftentimes, that's, like, fun in real life. But if you say something, like, that could not rub even somebody the wrong way, but if I say something that just, like, has any bearing on the game, that could plant the seed in somebody's mind. Oh, he's gotta go. How many times have we heard that?

Oh, like I heard Aubrey's, he likes, she likes Aubrey, she's gotta go. Like, you know, you gotta watch your mouth. Yeah, absolutely. So then from that perspective, what do you think people are gonna perceive you as? Whether it's taking in that charm, taking in that impulsivity.

I mean, you talk about your athleticism. Are you trying to steer into that sort of like not alpha male, but like I'm here to to talk to you and win challenges and that's it. Don't don't expect anything else from me. No, no, no. That is that is the exact opposite of what I want. Like, I do think that I can be a leader in real life sometimes. But I, you know, I wouldn't always cast myself in that role, nor would I want to be that out here. Like, I think kind of what I was touching on earlier is

is what I want people is what I want people to perceive me as is like a friend. Like I actually my like motto throughout this game is going to be people first. Like I want to connect with people to then build a foundation to play the game. I think we see too many strategic players who don't have like the social foundation to get far in this game. What I think people will perceive me as, I don't quite know. Like I'm really hoping that they see me as somebody genuine, but I could totally see a situation where like I'm off talking with a lot of different people genuinely and somebody thinks like, wow,

that guy's trying to work the room a little too hard. So I'm going to try and temper that down. I hope people see me as like a genuine, authentic person who can help them in any way they need, whether that's camp life or hopefully challenges. But I know at least if I'm not doing and tamper that down. I hope people see me as like a genuine, authentic person who can help them in any way they need, whether that's camp life or hopefully challenges. But I know at least if I'm not doing well on the challenges, I can work my ass off at camp and like help that way.

So yeah. Well, let's talk a bit more about your competition because listen, you've been hanging around for a bit. I'm sure you've been making eyes or observing some of these people that you'll be playing against. So let's start on the positive side. Who are some people describe them to me that you'll be playing again. So let's start on the positive side. Who are some people, describe them to me, that you feel, best case scenario,

you hit the beach on day one, like this is a perspective ride or die, this is someone I feel great about? Yeah, yeah. So there is a taller blonde woman who I think would, she just seems like very fun. Like she, you know, she's kind of like not afraid to like when we're in the dinner line, like Bob and we've sort

of danced a little bit or like not like, not like outwardly. She just seems like she's very comfortable with herself and that she like would like to have fun. I really, I think it'd be fun to work with her. Like I want to, I want to work with somebody who like is smart, but also like wants to play this game in a fun way, not like dictate to one another. I've heard players talk about how it's nice

to have somebody who views the game the same way you do. And I'm like a fun person. So I think it would be fun to work with her. I'm trying to think if there's, there's like, I literally like everybody. Like I, I, every, I- There's that charm coming through. There's Mr. I wanna be everybody's friend.

I don't know. I just see like, I don't even know. I'm sure everybody's doing it, but I keep on making up stories for everybody in my head. There's, oh, there's another guy, Superman. I call him Superman. He's, I mean, he literally looks like Cart Clan. And I could say this,

because I'm sure that I'm not being creative here. I'm certain he's been called this throughout his entire life, or at least the past two, three years. Because he just looks very like physical and like that he would do well in this game in that manner. But he also kind of comes across to me as like a very like teddy bear sort of dude. Just seems like a genuine person from what I've seen so far.

So, yeah. Well, what about on the other side? We'll go from Superman to Lex Luthor here. Who are some people that you're you're not necessarily vibing with at the moment? Yeah. So I don't I would not say that there's somebody that I'm not vibing with. I really tried to keep it tampered like during this pregame. I don't know. I hope I hope I've done a good job of that. But there is one person I can't get a read on. It's this gentleman with a beard.

And he's got a large beard and he's got like sort of like a very well-groomed like sort of mullet wavy sort of hair deal. And it's not that I don't vibe with him. I just can't put a read to him. Like I mentioned to you like, I've been able to sort of, like I've been making backstories up for everybody in my head.

Obviously those will go by the wayside day one. But him, it's really hard to get a read on. Like there's nothing really consistent about him. And that's not scary to me, but it just like puts a little bell in my head. Like, you know, I got to look into this a little bit further. You know, who knows if that's even worth doing. But yeah, interesting. So you mentioned before people first is your motto.

But when it comes to idols, advantages, journeys, you spoke about that impulsivity. Are you the type of person that's just going to grab every opportunity? Bo comes to your camp. You're like, me, me, me. Find that beware advantage. Is that how you're approaching things? No, absolutely not. So let me be clear.

When I say people first, it's more so like you can't play this game without people. You can't just come out here and be like, I want to make this move, this move. You need people as a foundation. Like these aren't chess pieces or cards. Like you got to be able to sort of build a foundation before you can play. But that said, like I'm good at keeping a secret. There are certain parts of my life that I just don't feel comfortable sharing with people. And I'm totally cool not like blurting out. When I'm impulsive. It's more so with things that can like affect me like in the moment Like I can't dive if I get up on a challenge though

And like and like I see that there's like an opportunity to go for it I might and I might belly flop, but that's what I mean sort of Impulsive metaphor for the game. Yeah, who knows and the next time maybe I'll land the dive But no, I'm keeping that stuff to myself, unless I have to. Like Tiffany last season, that's a situation you got to. But you know, so who knows? Well, I was gonna ask about that

because it does feel to me like 45 and 46 felt like such a distinct step forward in the new era from the first four seasons. So I'm sure you have those top of minds coming into all this. What would you say is like your main takeaway from those two seasons that you're incorporating into your own game? Yeah, you know, it's going to sound dumb.

But again, it's people first. Like, I think, like, you know, we're talking about different blocks of time and Survivor. And like, if you look at like, you know, 30s, like we have this voting block idea that comes into play. And I think that, like like when season 45 and 46 were being playing, even 44, like they all acted like it was this bloating block

like sort of game still, but it wasn't, right? Like you have Reba 4, you have Tika 3, and you have Charlie and Maria. Or if you don't want to do Charlie and Maria, you have the goat four, which they call themselves, I'm not calling them goats. Like, you know, those are like not voting blocks. Those are like people who actually trust each other.

Even though you have all this extraneous talk about number ones being taken out, the people who run the game are the people who actually trust each other pretty much close up until the very end. That's my takeaway. That's why this people first thing is sort of my strategy. But the other takeaway is just like,

everything is just dangerous. You gotta keep your head on a swivel. Maybe that's just the new era as a whole, not just 45, 46 though. What would you say is your hottest survivor take? Your most controversial opinion about a season, a player, etc. Yeah, yeah, this is this is difficult. You can tell some of the 30s are on my mind recently. I did some rewatching of those in the new era, obviously.

OK, I'm going to go back to to Adam season. I think that Adam was a phenomenal player. But I think that what season was that? Millennials versus Gen X. What's the number? 33. I think that there are five players on that season that were better survivor players in Adam. Hannah, number one, justice for Hannah. And then in no particular order, David, Zeke, and Jay.

I think like pound for, so that's four. I think pound for pound, those were like, I just think that season had so many great players and it's like not talked about because like every single one of them had a legitimate shot to win the game and they were all great, including Adam. I just think that he, and maybe this is what makes him the winner of that season, his timing was impeccable.

I really enjoyed watching him too, but I just came away from that season thinking I loved all those players, even Ken as well. Like his end game was kind of like a little rough shot, but like I really thought that was a great play. So I think that's my hot take. Four of them were better than Adam. I'm making it hot. There we go. It is spicy right now, but I love it. If you could pick a celebrity or a fictional character to bring out for a loved one's visit, who are you picking and why? Do they have to be, you said fictional character? Fictional character, yeah.

Yeah, you know, I'll bring out Stringer Bell from The Wire. Hells yeah, man. Has that been said before? No, I think you're the first man to bring him in. You know I just I feel like maybe out of those two which this might be the hot take I'm probably Avon like you know when I first watched The Wire I was like I am like Stringer for sure like well poised put together. Exactly coming in with like a bushi- yeah he's going to business school bookish aspect to the entire ring and everything. Exactly but like the second re-, I was like, I'm more of Avon.

Like I wear my heart on my sleeve and that gets me far enough, but I need somebody to ground me. So I would bring Stringer Bell and like just walk through every scenario with him and then and then execute after that. Yeah. But then he'd be like, I don't want to get along with you. When I'm on one on one with people, bad things happen. That's true. Where are the pigeons?

Exactly. Brother Musan's coming. Last thing I want to ask, obviously Survivor 50 has been announced to be big returning season. How are you going to make your mark right now on 48? That's going to get you back here a year later for Survivor 50. That is a really difficult one. I'm just, I think I'm going to show listen, I'm not saying that I'm going to be the winner, but if I win, I think it has to be a dominant game. Like I run the sort of scenarios in my head. I don't know how I can hide in a lot

of ways. I have to come out and I have to play hard. I think, I think my, my mark is going to be that you can play. I mean, we've seen it with Dee. We've seen it with a lot of different players. But I think that you can play a dominant game in the new era. I don't think you have to hide. I don't think you have to wait for the exact moment to strike. I think you can actually play hard the entire time. People might not see it. I mean, Charlie almost did it even.

But I think you can get it done. So I think I can get it done in a dominant fashion. And I think that would leave my mark for sure. There you have it. My interview with Kyle Frazier, Kyle playing with a people first strategy. And he is the first person I got to speak to in this podcast. But of course, there is another we have one more interview for you to check out. And it's a good one with Mitch.

But first, let's take a quick commercial break. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp everybody Rob Cisternino here you know we talk about a lot of red flags in relationships those warning signs that tell us that something might be off we talk about them on Survivor too but how often do we stop to look for green flags what if we focus more on those positive traits that show a friend or partner has the potential to truly build us up?

Whether you're dating, married, or simply aiming to be a better friend, it's all about forming relationships that give back the love and respect you deserve. And therapy can help identify those green flags to help you nurture them, both in others and in yourself. I found that talking to a professional counselor can help with boundaries, communication skills,

and recognizing the type of qualities we want to encourage in our relationships. Therapy isn't reserved for major life issues. It can also empower you to handle everyday challenges and keep you growing as a person. BetterHelp is fully online, making it a more convenient way to fit therapy into your busy schedule.

They've already served over five million people worldwide. Their network has more than 30,000 credentialed therapists, so it's easier to find someone with the right experience for your needs. And if you want to switch therapists for any reason, you can do that anytime at no extra cost. Discover your relationship green flags with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com slash RHAP today to get 10% off your first month.

That's BetterHELP.com slash RHAP. This is Carry the Fire. I'm your host, Lisa LaFlamme. Carry the Fire, a podcast by the Princess Margaret cancer Foundation featuring inspiring personal stories about what happens when world leading doctors, nurses, researchers and their patients come together to ignite breakthroughs. Carry the fire launches Monday, January 27. Wherever you get your podcasts.

Wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, last but certainly not least in my Survivor 48 preseason interviews, I'm speaking with Mitch Guerra. Mitch is 34 years old, born, raised, and currently lives in Waco, Texas, and he is a PE coach. Befitting to his job title, Mitch is incredibly in shape. There's a lot of these high endurance races, particularly in the last couple of years. But Mitch makes Survivor history. Mitch does have a stutter, and he is advertised as the first player with a speech impediment in survivor history. Mitch talked a lot about how he grew up, how that gave him that sense of resilience

and self-confidence that he hopes to bring into a game that has been a decade of application in the making for him to be on the speech. Without further ado, here's my interview with Mitch. Your name, your age, and your occupation. My name is Mitch. I'm 34 years old and I'm an elementary school PE coach from Waco, Texas. So how long have you been working in schools for?

This is my fourth year at the current school that I'm at. Is this something you've always wanted to do? Having kids climb ropes and pass sit-up tests? Honestly, it's been something I've always thought about doing, but I honestly didn't ever know if anyone would actually hire me. I'm a person who stutters, so I'm just wasn't ever sure if anyone would take a chance on me. Interesting. And by the way, feel free to take your time with any of these answers. You know, we got we got all day, so no need to worry about rushing through anything. Talk to me a bit about that. I mean, what what has life been for you for the past 34 years? Yeah Growing up with this speech impediment was definitely challenging. I remember as early as like

Kindergarten and first grade like hating going to school every morning like would get sick to my stomach like most days just because I was anxious like the idea of just walking down the school halls and someone asking me like hey like how are you today like what time is it I'm Just like simple everything, simple everyday things would make me anxious. So it taught me so much about just kind of like hanging in there and obviously as a person who stutters, I like got picked on a lot just because it was something

that, because I didn't speak like everyone else. So- It makes you stick out. Yeah, absolutely. So it forced me to be really resilient. And it also taught me to be like super empathetic to other people so definitely had some hard moments but also like really taught me so many other things as well. Yeah, I would imagine there's a lot contained in that.

Also, like you said, the idea that you can live a life just like everybody else. You can work with kids and maybe help those as well that maybe you're not in the exact same position as you, but you see yourself in them. And I think that's such a noble pursuit Thank you. Yeah at the end of the day like each of us has a

Stutter, but they just look a little different. That's a fun way to put it. Yeah, like each of us like have something we might be insecure about or about something we're self-conscious of or something that we like bring to the table that is maybe played a big impact on us so unfortunately sometimes I can't hide it and it's in your face, but I've really figured out, hey, this is a part of my story. It doesn't define me. It doesn't limit me.

It might make things more challenging or hard in some moments, but it doesn't mean it's not, uh, not, uh, um, um, like possible. So then you talk about your story. Let's talk about the next chapter. Talk to me about Survivor, because again,

you're talking about how you realize you could do anything. I mean, this is part and parcel with that yeah I remember falling in love with survivor watching survive for Africa of like Ethan and Tom all right and he's like throwback yeah he's like incredible person now letalities and growing up in a way, go to Texas, like the idea of traveling and playing at some exotic place was like something I always dreamed about. And I remember watching survive for Amazon and there was a contestant named Christy out there who was hard of hearing. And it was like, wow, this is someone who also struggle

with something and is not like everyone else. And watching her like have to overcome that. And like, she like what's enabled to like read people's Lips like it they Evening and was like still able to do really well in that season just like to do really well in that season just like encouraged me of like hey like maybe one day too.

Like I could go out there and play survivor. So it's been a crazy journey just to get out here. I've been applying since 2014. Wow. So literal 10 year journey. 10 year journey. I feel like it was this toxic relationship that I just like couldn't get out of. It was like every year I would apply. One of the casting directors would call me Mitch we like you and then I'd get absolutely ghosted and Like I applied for the year and would get

some call and stuff and then the last few see since I was like listen mate be this Sent just like meant to be so I like took a break from applying It was like I'm gonna go and do things. I've always dreamt about doing so the past year and a half I like started running and I Did my first half half Marathon and a full marathon and a half Ironman and I was like, well

Maybe I should try and become a teacher and a coach. So I like quit my job during the global pandemic and decided to take a part-time teaching job and got hired on full-time and they offered to pay for my teacher certification so just a lot of the things the last few years of like man like these are things I've always dreamt about doing so started just going after some crazy opportunities and look at me now. I'm here in Fiji about to play

Survivor. So it's clear you are you know a dyed-in-the-wool decades-long fan. Give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most personally strategically. Are those some of the people you had mentioned prior? Yeah, I haven't said this yet, but I think the winner that I like resonate with a lot is could be controversial, but season 15 China, I'm going to say Todd played a really good game. Yeah. I'm gonna say Todd played a really good game. Yeah, he played a super strategic game He like built really good relate shin chips with people and he used those really shin chips to his Edby and then she was really good about

stroking people's Egos and had some really big Some big Big Big Line sides that season. He did a really good job at a final try will count so like Shroking some egos which helped him out So yeah, I would say Todd and a non-winner. A non-winner.

I really loved Caleb from season 44. He's honestly the reason I'm kind of out here. Really? So the casting director who picked him, he was the same guy who called me a couple seats ago and he like made an Instagram story post about, hey, like you played a great game. And about Kate Web, so I just like commented on his story. I was like, oh my gosh, he was awesome out there. And then the next thing you know, he's like, hey Mitch, like I'm still working for Survivor if you want. Now I have another fall. Little up conversation. And then the next thing you know,

I'm out here in Fiji. So I appreciate Caleb a lot because without getting asked, who knows? What's your favorite moment in Survivor history? My favorite moment, gosh, that's a hard question. Man, I'm gonna give you two. I think when Kelly Wentworth played her idol and she didn't go home and it ended up sitting.

Savage home. Mm hmm. One hell of a move there was crazy. And then another move that was honestly just like really heartbreaking to watch was in game changers when everyone played their. Those Edsery with the idol give it the idol. I am from the first time she played. I left her but watching her handle

go wing out that way like to me. And I'm like like I would have Probably like had an emotional breakdown in that man because she was playing such a good game like nobody But before her like she like oh my gosh. It was tough Yeah, I mean that's the thing is of all the people who have watched that experience that series the one that's taking it the best I'm anybody in the world, which is why I'm it was her fourth time playing so Talk to me about your preparation for this because obviously again This was something that you were dreaming about doing for a decade and you're also somebody who was clearly in a good physical condition

But once you actually find out you're coming out here. What was the process to try to get yourself in survivor shape? Yeah I'm honestly in like the the the The the The best like physical shape by that for a band like that last October just Doing it half half an iron. Mmm physical shape by that for a band like this last October just doing a half iron man like was super big and just giving me a lot of confidence so I like

feel a lot more confidence with me yeah but over the last few months have just been a lot more, a lot more to supplant and like eating and doing like a lot of crossfit and still like doing so much running as possible but I definitely was like not trying to do as much just so I could put on as much weight as possible. So over the past few months I put on like 15 to 16 pounds. pounds which honestly I feel so so heavy but honestly like I feel as good as I've ever felt before I had a good butt. You have mine who sit stir was on season 36 Ghost Island Libby okay, yeah fellow Texas. Yes, so over the last it's like three or four years have become like super good

three or four years have become like super good family friends with all, lived them so over the year. So I've just had a lot of hypothetical questions with her, like hey, like whatever experience you wanna get to me in hopes of me one day planning. So like got a lot of really good call, received with her in the pre V. S like couple of

Couple of years. So I like stop drinking caffeine for about a couple months now and I've been drinking a lot of coconut water and yourself used to it yeah yeah just any thing I could do to help. Mm hmm. So let's talk about when it comes to your gameplay, what is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite that you think is going to come from your personality, your life into what's going to happen over the next 26 days? Yeah. I think like something I just naturally do really well is like I love people.

So I'm like a big people person. I like do good at building relationships with anyone and everyone. So I think for me that it's like the biggest thing I'm like hoping to you. So here, but on the other side. That like, I just don't wanna be too trusting. Like there've already been moments where I'm like,

oh, I want to work with this person. Oh, I like, really like these people already. Then I'm like, okay, like this is a game for a million dollars. There's Mitch like we gotta, yes, it's great to build really. Shin Chips, but at the end of the day, like you're playing for yourself. Like these people don't care about you.

Like we're out here to play a game. I sure want sweet leaf feet. You gee, we're all here to play a game. I sure want sweetly feet. You see, we're all going to hang out instead. But right here, like these people are in between you and a male. You and. Callers. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, let's talk about some of those people that I'm sure you've been eyeballing because I'm sure you've been making some assessments to your point

I will you've been sitting here not able to talk. Let's start on the positive side I know you said like hold them at an arm's length But describe to me some people that you are getting good vibes from that you're like best case scenario We hit the beach day one. This is a ride or die. Yeah, um, there is this girl. She has a sleep Tattoo her hair slick back. She's like pretty tall, athletic looking. You can just tell she has a big personality really flirty just like yeah, it was off like really confident energy. Please someone I'd want to work with. Energy death please someone I'd want to work with

There this is a guy that has like a full beard Like looks just so excited to be out here too like Definitely have like been making Some some I some eye connections and stuff like that. At least somebody I wanna work with. But overall, like a lot of the guys out here are like pretty fit, sickly fit.

Honestly, I would look forward to working with like all of them. Interesting. Yeah. Is that something you're sort of seeking out some meat shields to build out your own survivor P class? Yes, 100 percent. If there's one thing I know about me, I love talking. I kind of love being the center of attention.

I kind of love being the center of attention unfortunately, so trying to build a group of people around to me who also have big personalities who are all so tall Good if if you look at the past 46 You look at the past 60 zens like none of the winners have been huge fit. Sickle threat at all. A lot of them are like very like unexpected. And I wanna do whatever I can to keep around some big personalities out here.

Well, let's move to the other side of things. Is there anyone you're picking up some not so good vibes from or you're having trouble reading? Yeah, there are a few of the ladies out here who won't give me anything. Like just very calm, like reserved, don't really get you a lot of smiles or just not making an effort to get you anything so for me it's like if it's me and them and we're at the merge together, well, I am probably gonna go before all of them.

I think come a bit, your physical threat and a social threat. So unfortunately, like those quiet players just make it through all 10 times and nobody really wants to take them out because no one's really concerned with them. But in my opinion, in the end, everyone out here is a threat and oftentimes the people you don't suspect to be a threat to win the game are the people who were going to

to it to it and up there. Absolutely. Let's talk about idols advantages. It's like the DNA of the new era. Yeah, right. How much are you incorporating those types of things into your own game considering how much you were talking about that that merge threat already looming? Yeah, I don't necessarily want to go looking. I don't want to paint a bigger car, get on myself, then I probably already will have. But I want to know who has them. How can I get up there? People to do my dirty workout here and. Just really hoping to use my relational skills to find out who has

what and how can we use those to our advantage? Yeah, you were speaking about the the new era winners and the way the game goes for maybe people of your archetype. I feel like the past couple seasons in 45, 46 really took the new era in a new direction. I'm sure as you're watching and you know that you're coming out here, you probably have some takeaways from those couple seasons that you want to incorporate into your own game.

What would those takeaways be? Yeah, I think the biggest takeaway from seasons 44 and 45 are like, man, like you can still play this game with a group of people. Like you can still build enough trust where even if you don't vote to get thrown one vote, like you can still come back together and work with each other. Honestly, like for me, I'm gonna have those conversations. Man, I really loved watching season four. Forty five.

45. Like, I want to find people that I can work with through this whole game. That's the dream. It just seems like the best chances to make a deep run at this game. Honestly, watching C sin 46 scared the shit out of me because because you never knew who was going home and it's like everyone wanted to um to vote someone out and everybody was repped. They used to pull the trigger on anyone and everyone and unfortunately when you do that you're gonna end up getting

ending up the trick or point near that you too and um you look at all those big play your soda and tevin and hunter like man like at some point you gotta be like listen like how about we not take each other out and let's get rid of some of these other people so I Want to try and keep us the many big threats around me as possible I'm sure at some point after the first few First few try bulls go there is gonna be these conversations of like hey like if I of first few try. We'll just go there.

This is gonna be these conversations of like, hey, like if I'm sitting at the end, I have this incredible story like Mitch, who's the first person who stutters, who gets to come out here and play survivor. So definitely trying to hype up everyone else around. The me of like each of us got this story. definitely trying to hype up everyone else around. The me of like each of us got this story. Like it's not just me.

Like there were thousands of thousands of people who applied to be out here. Like just because I stuttered doesn't mean my story is any more important or dramatic than anyone else is here. Right. So just trying to bring everyone else along with me of like, Hey, like it's fine. Well, on that note,

I'm really intrigued as to how you think you'll be perceived because you have so much to you, but also, you know, first impressions are made. And like you said, there's also this thing that I'm sure is hanging over your head as well as everyone else of like, oh, well, if he gets to the end, are people going to vote for him for specific reasons? Yeah, totally. Like I have been like, dream me about this for years and years. Like Mitch, like how am I going to have these conversations with people?

And honestly, like the first day we get out there, I'm gonna like be open about it. I'm like, hey, like my name is Mitch and I stop under and this is what it means and this is what it's gonna look like and this is what would be the most helpful thing for me. It's not a big deal. It's just the way I speak some time.

And if you have questions, we can talk about that later, thing for me it's not a big deal it's just the way I speak some time and if you have questions we can talk about that later but try and blow it over as smooth as possible but I want people to feel a deep connection with me and I think because I am so willing to like talk about my struggles. It creates an environment where other people want to tell me stuff too. And I'm just hoping that like if I can build this relationship with someone and be like, Hey, like I want to play with you and I'm going to do whatever I can for both of us to make it far. I'm really hoping that if I can get my feet under me and I can help us stay out of a few

tribal so that we'll be able to go from there. What is your hottest survivor take? What do you think is your most controversial opinion about a player, a season, the show in general? Yeah, I think boxing raw is extremely overrated. He did- He's not on your run, Mount Rushmore? He played four times with a bunch of scrubs.

Of course he was gonna win. It's like, listen, Jeff, we know that you he's a great storyteller. Absolutely. We know that. But like whenever you put him head to head with with Russell, he had to everyone hated already. It just like it made him look that much better. And yes, he did an awesome job out there. Like, I don't know how he was able to like stay that long in the game and nobody even tried to make a move. But I don't think he's one of the best to ever play

because he's been given so many opportunities. It's like, yeah. Yeah. If you could bring a celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one for a loved one's visit, who would you pick and why? That's a great question. Um, uh, fictional character or a celebrity.

Yeah. As long as it's not your family, that's not my family. Um, honestly, because I'm a big competitor, I would probably have to bring out like... Ooh, here we go. I'm gonna say Serena Williams. Yeah, you're a tennis guy, right? Yeah. There is just something about her. Um, she knows how to get it done on the tennis court. She plays a very big, emotionally driven game. She knows how to dig deep. Um, so I think just having

her out here to be like, hey, like, let's go like this. This is what you've been waiting for would be incredible. Absolutely. Last thing I want to ask is obviously Survivor 50 right around the corner. How are you going to ace, for lack of a better term, this season to make it to the next one

where we're going to be having a conversation one year later. Yeah. The idea of coming back a year from now is definitely a peer. I think the way that happens is I just got to come out here. I got to be myself. I got to play hard and I think if I'm who they get to come out here for 48 There is no reason that I won't be back out here for season 50 so we're gonna play a bit game. We're going to be a little bit Drum bit drum drummatic out here. OK, probably not in front of anyone, but the cameraman will hear it for sure. I just know that I'm extremely competitive.

I hate losing more than anything. So I promise you that I'm going to do anything and everything to stay here as long as I can. And that's all he spoke. I guess he being me. And let's be honest, I will do much more talking from here on out. But at least that's the end of my Survivor 48 preseason interviews. I will give these profuse acknowledgments, I'm sure, in the many podcasts to come, but I just have so much appreciation for these people.

You know, they have been sitting around in this environment of like heightened anxiety, not knowing when the game is going to start, trying to make these base judgments of people that will either be their best friends or their worst enemies, trying to make these base judgments of people that will either be their best friends or their worst enemies Trying to run through a game plan in their head of what they're going to do to ensure that they get that million dollar prize And then they come and sit down with me and it kind of opens up the bottle and allows them to you know Actually speak with a person for the first time in a lengthy way. And so I had such a great time getting to know these people. I had a lot of laughs, a lot of incredibly emotional moments as well. And I can only imagine how those moments are going to manifest out on that island tenfold.

So, again, I have so much gratitude to the cast of Survivor 48 and so much gratitude to you all for checking it out as well. I know these were some long interviews, but hopefully by the end of it, cast of Survivor 48 and so much gratitude to you all for checking it out as well. I know these were some long interviews, but hopefully by the end of it, you will have learned a lot about the people that we are going to see out on the island for the next few months to get your drafts prepared. Any preseason assessments that you might be making or just to get you hyped for Survivor 48 coming in a little less than a fortnight. Speaking of assessments, we've got one more in the books here. The bell may have rung

to dismiss these 48 preseason interviews, but I'll be talking with the bell ringer himself, Rob Cicernino, one last time tomorrow to close out the week, to close out the SIVA tribe as we give our thoughts on these six particular people, how they'll work together or against each other. And to close out this preseason interview series in general. Really excited about that, to get Rob's thoughts, to give our overall opinions as to who was eyeballing each other, both positively and negatively. And to both end one phase of the preseason and look ahead to another. Again, thank you all so, so much, dear Lee. This is one of my favorite things I get to do not only in my career, but in my life,

in general, in the world. And to have such positive, kind, receptive words towards these interviews and these people honestly make my day I week my month rave in my year friends Well, we'll be back tomorrow with Rob breaking down one last tribe with this group called SIVA Until then everybody take care. Bye. Bye Take care, buh-bye.