RHAP: We Know Survivor - Survivor 48 Pre-Game Day 9: Charity Nelms & Christy Sarnowksy

Episode Date: February 11, 2025

Survivor 48 Pre-Game Day 9: Charity Nelms & Christy Sarnowksy Survivor 48 pre-season interviews are here, and host Mike Bloom is back with insights from the Siva tribe. In this episode, Mike sits down with two intriguing castaways, Charity Nelms and Chrissy Sarnowsky, to explore their backgrounds and strategies as they prepare to outwit, outplay, […]

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out to TD Direct Investing. Hi everybody and welcome to RHAP Survivor 48 Preseason Interviews Day 9. We are not saying 9, we are saying yes to the third and final tribe here on our Preseason Interviews series as we are going to hear the first two interviews with members of the SIVA tribe. Of course my name is MikeBloom and I had the fantastic pleasure of getting to go out to Fiji to talk to these players in person. You'll be hearing from two of them today. The first two members of the SIVA tribe were going to SIVA and Hira from Charity and Chrissy. Of course if you missed it, my interviews with the other 12 castaways are currently out in podcast and video form.

Also, my tribe breakdowns that I did with Rob for each one of those tribes. You can check them out at we knowsurvivor.com for the audio version, and Rob has a website.com slash YouTube for the video version. And make sure you don't miss a second of it as we are Rounding the bases here and heading home, but hopefully these players won't be heading home anytime soon Let's get into it. Shall we? first up Charity Nelms Charity is 34 years old originally from Monroe, Michigan But made the trip down to Florida where she currently resides in a st Petersburg and Charity is a flight attendant and she also actually is a fitness coach which speaks to her own

Health journey Charity talks to me all about the path She has gone on in the past ten years how? Survivor has been a part of that to the point that she is sitting in front of me today on her way to becoming one of the castaways from the newest season. Charity, I will say, was incredibly charitable with her time and her story. I'm really excited for you to all hear it.

Here is my interview with Charity. Knowing that this is gonna be my view is unreal. I can only imagine. Plus you get to play a game at the same time. Like this isn't, I mean it's a vacation, but it's also a business trip, right? Well, I've done a lot of vacations. This is not, I'm not treating this as a vacation.

This is a job. I've come here to do a job. I'm Charity, I'm 33 years old, and I am a fitness coach and a flight attendant. I have so many questions about this. Which came first? Flight attendant came first. I've been doing that for almost, well, nine years.

I'm actually very close to retirement, believe it or not. That's why I'm hanging out there. Retirement, is this like a, you're like a professional sports player, you're retiring at like. Well, just with like how many years you put in, plus your age and all that, so I'm really just kind of going

for the benefits there. So I did that for five years and then became a fitness coach. So I started sharing my weight loss journey online of just what I was going through and I was absolutely inundated with questions and DMs and how did you do this and how did you do that and so long story last long started a business and within six weeks I made

double what I made as a flight attendant and I was like this is incredible because there's like purpose on this for me there's passion I enjoy it and so that was kind of born and yeah I still do both., so then when it comes to how much you're gonna reveal out here, because you know, there is the whole Liz Wilcox self-made, like this is how much I'm, like what? Oh, I saw through that in a moment. I was like, she is not a millionaire, I already know. So then what's your story?

Are you gonna leave it into one over the other when it comes to talking to your castaways? Well, when I say like I made double as a flight attendant, if you know what a flight attendant makes, it's poverty. Okay? It's poverty? I wish you won a million bucks. It's poverty.

So to make double, it was like, oh, we're going to squeak by. Like we're doing okay. And I didn't have to, you know, be gone from home all the time. So there really isn't much to reveal where I'm like, I'm not this like gigantic following. Like I have a little following, but like I'm very much do it out of purpose. Not so much like, I mean, I could make a lot of money doing it, but that's not why I do it. So I do it and keep it in a place where I can be passionate.

There's purpose on it, I'm not dreading it. And so I keep my clientele, I always have a wait list, I keep the clientele low, because I give my all in that. It can be very emotionally draining. And so, yeah, there's nothing to reveal there. I'm not some millionaire, influencer, that is not what's happening here. So you talk about having this client list. What was the story of, oh, I'm gonna be gone

for a few weeks, what was the little fiction you told the people in your life about where you were going and what you were doing? Well, it was actually really easy. Two things, one, I can blame everything on flying. Oh, I'm gonna be flying for a bit. Yeah, I'm not. I mean, you just take a flight here, check the case out.

And working as a flight attendant, all my clients know that I will do that part time. And so in order to keep my flight benefits, I have to work a certain amount of time throughout the year, which is usually like five days a month, but sometimes I'll do it all in six weeks. So I kind of gave that story to some that were kind of aware of that.

And then to some I just timed out where it was like, okay, we're gonna take a break. And then to be honest, for the last five years, I have never taken a day off fitness coaching. I have been in Thailand making coaching videos. I have been in Maui waking up at 3 a.m. with a time difference so I can meet on a Zoom call with clients.

My phone's always blowing up with messages. I'm always fixing plans. I'm always just keeping the business operational because it's a one man or one woman show. It's me. So I've also given that story where I'm like, you know what? I haven't taken any time off and I'm going to be off for the summer and we'll reconvene and here's what I want you to do while I'm gone. And I have people that I can have check in on them. And well, that's the work ethic of a 26 day game, right? Jeff always says you got to keep hustling. It feels like that's just something that's been in your blood for the past five

years. My dad was a business owner and my whole family is made up of entrepreneurs. And after building this business of really, I mean, it's scary to kind of share things online, especially such an intimate part of struggling with an eating disorder and losing 100 pounds and how I got healthy both inside and out because it's not about weight, it's really about what's going on in here. Weight is just the reflection of what's happening on the inside. And so sharing all of that and really building a business and like starting from the ground up, you know, like I didn't, I didn't know where to start. I'd never owned or ran a business and having gone

through that experience, the confidence it's given me to go, I can do whatever I want. I let anything I set my mind to, I'm going to do it. I've just always been that person. Once I make the decision, it's very rare that I make that decision because I know if I make the decision to do something, I'm 100% all in. And that is what I've done with Survivor. I am 100% all in. You'll see me at the finish line. Okay, well let's talk about what got you

to the starting line in the first place. What's your history with watching the show and what made you feel like this was something that you could add to the resume in a manner of speaking? Yeah, so Survivor is kind of making up for lost time for me. So a decade ago, literally 10 years ago, I was in ministry school in Alabama. I was struggling with an eating disorder.

At that time I was like 100 pounds overweight, the heaviest I'd ever been, and I was skipping morning prayer, because just to be honest, it was really boring. I was skipping morning prayer. Cause just to be honest, it was really boring. I was skipping class and morning prayer multiple times a week to lay in bed and watch Survivor. I know, right? My family loves that.

They don't know this, but they're gonna find it out. You just worship the different religion at the time. Not quite, but it was an escape for me. And it was, I started watching it and I remember just being like, I have such an adventurous spirit, I love to travel, but I was like, this is so cool, I would love to do this. But just from deep rooted insecurity,

was like, I could never do that. I could never hold up in those physical competitions. I don't want people to see my body. I don't even want to be in a swimsuit. Like so self-conscious that for years of my life I held my own self back from really incredible experiences I could have had. And now making long story less long, I'm here.

And it's because I put in the work. I've completely changed my life. I live in such a place of health and balance, truly inside and out. And so being on Survivor is a deep well for me. It runs deep. This is not just like, oh, cool game and maybe a million bucks.

I have something to prove to myself. I have worked really hard to be here. I pick up a shovel and I start digging until I hit water. And stepping onto this island in Fiji, I've hit water. This is it. There we go. Luckily they have the wells, so not much digging for water needed,

but I know I totally get it. I mean, that being said, where and when did you pick up the shovel? Was this something you watched as a kid? Did you like find it during the pandemic? How did you start watching the shovel? No, I started watching it 10 years ago. And I was just in ministry school, flat broke,

had like $5 in my account. And like I watched whatever was free online. And the first, you know, and at that time, that's a decade ago. So what the first 20 something seasons were all free online at that time. And I watched every season and I was like, this is incredible.

Like I want to do that, but I could never. So that being said, if I could ask you to give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most personally, strategically, who would that be and why? Winners, I love Tony. Like he is my guy. Like he's sitting in his spy shack, like I love him. I don't need, okay, and I don't,

I hate that I'm saying this. I can't remember if he got this nickname on the show, if it's just a nickname my husband and I gave him. But we called him Tony the Rat. Like he was always like sneaking around. I don't think I recall anyone calling him Tony the Rat. So that's the nickname we gave him. That sounds like the name of like a New Jersey mobster.

Well, it's a little Tony. It's a little bit. So I love Tony as a winner. As a non-winner, my favorite survivor, and this is going old school, very niche, is Jane. Jane from Nicaragua. Okay. Interesting. Again, I'm a nickname person.

Even out here on the show, I'm like, I'm going to have nicknames for people. That's just how I show my love. But Jane, we always called Farm Strong, because this woman was out here bony skeletor, beating these big bodybuilder men in strictly strength competitions. And it's because she worked on a farm, she owned a farm. People who grow up in the country on a farm, they're built different.

And so I just loved her, she always like, and she was just the kindest, the most lovely woman. I wish they would bring her back for 50. I think she's awesome. Manifested right now. I don't know if she'd want to. That's valid. What is your favorite moment in survivor history?

Does it involve Jane or Tony the Rat? Oh yeah, I mean, iconic, number one, I am sitting in my spy shack. Like I say that to my husband all the time. Are you building a spy in Sir Noun here? Maybe. Okay. Wouldn't you like to know? We'll see out there. Maybe we won't. Maybe you'll be disguised. I definitely have some tricks up my sleeve. But yeah, I mean Tony iconic, that's an iconic moment. Another one that I think is just like legendary, like how did this even happen is the season

where Brandon and Coach made the whole survivor tribe into like a cult. The level of power you have to have to get all these people on board to be like, okay, we're gonna pray before dinner. Okay, we're all gonna like do this, whatever. Like that, and I mean, I come from, you know, a religious background.

Like I am spiritual, I have faith, but that isn't, I would never impose that, like, it's so wild to me that they built that and people went along with it. It makes me realize like, okay, cults are real and people will follow you. It's all about the confidence. So what would you say is one life experience

that has prepared you the most for this? Because you talk about being so ready, and you've obviously gone through so many shifts in your life. Do you feel like there's one in particular that has made you the most adequately prepared for what you're about to go under? I think it's just the journey

of that deep rooted insecurity, being 100 pounds overweight, thinking I was gonna deal with that for the journey of that deep-rooted insecurity being a hundred pounds overweight thinking I was gonna deal with that for the rest of my life. I really had no hope and picking myself up Getting myself out of that and going I will work Until and until there is no ending it's I'm going to keep working and your health never ends You know and so even just to physically be in the place of like, no, I'm a competitor here. But then to mentally be in such a place of confidence of I know who I am, I know what

I've been through, I know who I'm not, I have such a settled feeling. And to be honest, we're all sizing each other up and looking at each other. I'm not intimidated by anyone. Jersey muscles, Jersey Muscles over there, big deal. Not intimidating. You gotta channel that Jane energy, right? I am coming in farm strong, even though I wasn't raised on a farm, but I will channel it. So, what would you say is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite when

it comes to this game? Okay, superpower, I think, and I don't want this to sound like, like, oh, I'm just so great, because really I'm not. I think I have a level of charisma that makes people comfortable. I, and that's genuine of like,

I love to bring a group together, I'm a natural born leader, let's all rally, I will make anybody laugh, even to the point where I'm embarrassing myself, very self-deprecating. I don't know. That's just, that is my personality. And I think people feel comfortable with that. Um, on the flip side, my kryptonite, um, speaking my mind. Okay.

Sometimes my tongue will get me into trouble cause I am like a no BS person, like just straight to the point. I'm from Michigan, I married someone from the South and so I now realize like, oh I'm very frank. We're very to the point. Let's hurry it up, who cares how your day's going. Let's go, I got places to be. I don't need the whole 20 minute backstory.

So I think that could get me into trouble, but I'm very aware of it. So. Well you talked about sizing other people up, and listen, you're not intimidated by them, but I'm sure you have thoughts about them. I'm gonna start on the positive first. Who described.

You guys love this. You guys want us to size everybody up. Of course, listen, well here's the thing. It's either these could be your best friends, or these could be your worst enemies. So on the positive side, talk to me about, you know, best case scenario you hit the beach day one, this is like a possible ride or die for you,

or a co-pilot, if you will. Okay, I love my fellow tall girl with curly hair. We're both tall, we both have curly hair. I just love her vibe. She's got the big blonde, like I have really curly brown hair. She just has this like cool kind of like hippie vibe. Love it.

I feel like we could mesh together really well. Obviously, I don't know her, but you definitely pick up on Q's. I also really like he is probably one of the older gentlemen in the group. Like olive complexion has tattoos on his forearms. That man is a deep well. He's got a lot going on. You can just sometimes you can just see it in someone that he's carrying something in there. But also I just feel like there's something solid

about him that I really like, you know. Other than that, I don't know. I mean, you get a first impression of everybody. There's some people that you can tell are a little bit more outgoing and want attention And then there are people that are just like very quiet or maybe a little bit more meek and that sort of thing So it's just gonna depend. It's interesting that you bring up that that man that that deep well is that sort of what you're you're seeking people who you want to work with are these kind of like

Complex people that have had such a story journey like you have I think everybody here has to have some type of story just to make it on the show. You have to be interesting. I mean, if there's no conflict, it's not that interesting. It's great for you, but not my reality. That's when your kryptonite comes in. Right, exactly. Um, but there is just, I don't know, there's just something about him that I can tell is a little different that there he's holding onto something. And I don't know,

you can just tell when someone has some depth. It's not all just surface. It's not all just, Oh, well me, I've been through this and that, that, like, there is some depth there and I can, I can sense that. And I, um, I want to work. I mean, obviously this is survivor. We're going to double cross each other. We're going to lie, blah, blah, blah. But I also in real life, I am loyal to a fault, and so that will be very hard to get rid of, so I definitely see myself finding someone

that is not just like, oh, you're the person on Survivor I could connect with, but no, you're a person I actually connect with. I wanna find that person out here. So then on the other side, is there anybody that's not given that for you, or anyone you can't read in general? I'm sure you also have nicknames for these people.

Oh, my journal has a nickname for everyone. I'm like, I got Jersey Muscles over there. I got like everybody. I've got Minnesota hockey player like because, you know, I'm looking at t shirts. I'm looking where they're from. You know, so it's not so much as like, oh, I don't want to play with that person, but I'm already leery I already can see okay. There's stuff going on here There's one person that around us is very kind of just like won't make eye contact won't smile back Almost kind of like gives us a loop board feeling. Mm-hmm, but then I can hear like in Interviews when they go in it's like a total, it's like a total change of energy. And I'm like, okay.

So there's some play going on here. And that might be my BFF when I get out there. I don't know. But yeah. So when it comes to obviously the new era, advantages, idols, journeys, they are rife with appearances throughout here. How much are you incorporating that into your game?

Do you have, I mean, again, you talk about that Tony who made all those types of things. His peasants, as he became king of the jungle, are you approaching it a similar way? Absolutely, I'm swinging for the fences. I don't have a million dollars in my bank account, so I have nothing to lose. I'm playing this game like it's the second time

I'm out here, period. I will go for anything I can. I will go for anything I can, I will volunteer for whatever I can, I am home run every time, swinging for the fences, let's go all out because if I get voted out knowing I played that way, I will be at peace. Interesting, yes, a little bit of a no regrets approach about it, about how you wanna walk out

no matter what place it's in and hopefully it's first, but you wanna walk out with very little, oh I should have done that. Yeah, I'm going in trusting my gut, no matter what anybody it's in and hopefully it's first, but you wanna walk out with very little, oh, I should have done that. Yeah, I'm going in trusting my gut. No matter what anybody says to me, if it doesn't feel right in here, this is what I'm going with. And if I get voted out because of that,

again, I will be at peace with that. It's okay. I'm not going to, but. There you go. What's your hottest survivor take? What's your most controversial opinion about a player, the show? Two.

Number one, us as fans, we want villains back. I want more villains. I love the stories, but I love the gameplay too. And I love a Tony or a Russell or a Coach or a Brandon. Iconic moments like when they, I forget her name, when she like dumped the rice everywhere. Like we want a little bit of that back. I think, you know, that's my hot take on Survivor.

But like truly, I'm probably gonna get totally like slayed for this, but I think Russell was one of the best players there was. And he should have won. I would have voted for him personally. Either season, first one, any particular one? Every time he played. Every single time he played.

Russell, I'm voting for you. He is the goat. I mean, he dominated it. I'm intrigued when it comes to that first perspective. Cause there's been so much argument as well as to like, is so and so a villain from the new era? Do you think there is anyone from the new era, like the last couple of seasons in particular

that falls into that bucket for you? Soft. I think every- Really? Yeah. Even this even this last season everyone's like oh Q is a villain. I'm like no, it's not like Q's just like being himself. He beats himself up makes people mad and like no like Even even the whole thing of like not picking Liz for the yeah Liz was not like she's not entitled to that. She didn't win Yeah And Q shouldn't out of pressure have to pick her if that's not who he wants to spend the time with,

especially if it's a strategic decision for him. So I'm just like, people call him like Q a villain. I'm like, no, everybody's gone soft. Like who knows, maybe I'll come out here as a villain. I was gonna say, are you, how much is that gonna be intentional in your head? I don't know if it'll be intentional, but I definitely feel like I have some rough edges

that might show out here. And I'm not afraid of that because that's just the reality of who I am. Absolutely. Yeah. You gotta have some grit out here if you wanna win. You cannot just be like everybody's BFF and I don't know. I miss a little bit of that where I'm like, everybody's so excited, kind and happy

when they get voted off. I'm like, are you kidding me? Of course I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I'm ticked. I just got voted off, like this, you know, but that's hopefully won't happen. Well, while we're staying on the note of 486, I do feel like from the past couple seasons,

it does feel like the new era has kind of like taken a big step. It's ramping up, yes. So then talk to me about what is some of your biggest takeaways from the past couple seasons in particular that you are gonna bring into your own game. It's ramping up, yes. So then talk to me about what is some of your biggest takeaways from the past couple of seasons in particular that you are going to bring into your own game? It moves quick. It's much quicker with these smaller tribes. It moves a lot quicker. Um, and just being flexible. It is not just the, all right, me and you to the end, let's do it and go all the way.

That really is not the reality here. Um, which I would love it to be, but it's not. So it's just having to really trust your gut, being able to read people. I feel like as a flight attendant, you know, we're trained even on nonverbal cues and just the way people make eye contact and all those things, because we're always looking for that. There's, you know, just a lot of safety and security. And so, yeah, being able to kind of pick up on those things and know, okay, I think this person is not telling me the whole story. If you could pick a celebrity or a fictional character to bring out as a loved one for a loved one's visit,

who would you pick and why? That is also the adequate nonverbal response to that question. I thought you were gonna say, like, let me build, like, celebrity survivor, because I was like, I already built it. I mean, you look- They need to do that. Wouldn't that be incredible? I mean, give me some highlights of some cast members here.

Jack Black, Snoop, Shaq. Shaq. Those would be like my top three. Maybe like Martha Stewart, let's put her out here. She could be interesting. Well, Snoop and Martha all would have an automatic alliance, right? Well, that's true, they know each other.

Yeah, that might be. Just put them on separate tribes, it's fine. Yeah, there we go, we'll start out that way. But yeah, celebrity survivor would be incredible. Oh yeah. But yeah, if I had to pick like a, oh, Cesar Millan, I'd put him out there. Cesar Millan? He would be great.

The dog whisperer. Yes. Oh dude, if I'm telling you Brad Pitt and Cesar Millan are in the airport, I'm going to get my picture with Cesar Millan. Don't care, Brad, goodbye. Interesting. It's because he Brad, goodbye. Interesting. It's because he is an expert on energy.

What you put out, people are gonna sense. You can control people with the energy you bring into the room. It really is, you know, it's true. It works with pets and it works with people. I do it on board every day with people. You see a flight attendant that's stressed and nervous and anxious and has this energy, or calm.

You know, I've been through, I've had emergency landings where I just go, okay, I've got my energy. They're watching me. I am going to control this situation with just the energy in the room. So, um, yeah, I put, put Caesar Milan out there for sure. Absolutely. Um, but you're saying like for love, for loved ones. I mean, and that, this could be Caesar. This could, it's, it's something that you've never met. Before. I'm bringing Shaq out. He's my boy, I mean, this could be Caesar. This is something that you've never met before. Nah, it's Shaq. I'm bringing Shaq out.

Shaq. He's my boy. Dude, I freaking love Shaq. I don't watch basketball, don't care. I love Shaq. Wait, are you a fan of like, it's Kazam? I am a fan of Shaquille O'Neal. Shazam's wonderful.

Shaq had his own little reality show. I just think he is like so fun. He's like finally like an athlete with personality. He's hilarious. he's very generous. I'm just all about Shaq and I'm just, I'm literally obsessed with how tall he is. He's like seven foot two or something. Yeah, sometimes when I'm in a bad mood,

I will literally just Google like Shaq with normal size objects, sorry. And it'll be like Shaq holding a water bottle and I promise it will improve your mood. I'm gonna take you up on that, yeah. Do it, I'm telling you. Look at like Shaq holding a water bottle and I promise it will improve your mood. I'm going to take you up on that. Do it. I'm telling you. Look at like Shag holding a water bottle and you'll be like, this is insane.

I feel better. Well, last thing I want to ask is, and this is speaking to a bit of what you mentioned before from where we started this thing. We know the 50s around the corner and we know it's returning players. How are you going to make your mark on Survivor 48 that's going to have you back out here a year later? I don't know if I want to come out. Who knows? You want to be a one and done? No. If you win? No, I'm sure I want to do it again. Yeah, once you're bit by this bug it's very hard to find or repel it.

You know, that's something I wish I could answer, but I'm not willing to just like make up some crap that I don't know. Like to be honest, the game moves so quick and it's such a day to day decision of what you're doing. I think it's just literally lasting in the most creative and lasting way. You know? I don't really know how to answer that. It's just it just depends when I get out there TBD. Absolutely. I'll let you know after. And there you have it. My interview with Charity very excited to see what she's going to bring to the game. If you have been paying attention to a bit of the visual descriptors onto my interviews, you notice that Charity is drawing a lot of eyes to her in various capacities

So we'll see so we'll see how much those end up playing out on the beach and see if this flight attendant can Push back that round-trip ticket from Fiji and hopefully lasting the full 26 days well you have to last a little bit longer on this podcast because I'm going to take a brief break here. But when I come back, I'll have my next interview raring to go with Chrissy. 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?

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Alright, next up from the SEVA tribe is Chrissy Sarnowski. Chrissy is 55 years old, actually the oldest cast member here on Survivor 48, which is actually trending to be one of the older casts in general that we have had in quite some time. Chrissy is born and raised and currently resides on the south side of Chicago and she is a fire lieutenant. Of course firefighters have had a long history of great performances on Survivor and we even have a fellow firefighter here on this season. So let's see what Chrissy tells me about how she's going to be able to keep her torch lit for the next 26 days. Here's my interview with Chrissy.

Your name, your age and your occupation. Last name too? Sure. Chrissy Sarnowski. I'm 54 years old. I'm from the South Side of Chicago and I'm a lieutenant onarnowski, I'm 54 years old. I'm from the South Side of Chicago, and I'm a lieutenant on the Chicago Fire Department. So have you always been a firefighter? How'd you find your way into that? That's a great story, actually. Well, I was young, I was young.

I dropped out of high school, got my GED, was working in an office, and a girlfriend started dating a paramedic, and she goes, we should go to paramedic school. And I was like, all right, you know, it was 19 at the time. And so I went to EMT school and paramedic school. And by the time I was 21, I was a paramedic.

And at that point, everybody that I went to paramedic school wanted to be on the Chicago fire department. So I was like, well, then I want to be on the Chicago fire department. So I was a paramedic for six years on the fire department. Then I became a firefighter. I crossed over and I became a firefighter paramedic on the engine and I just recently got promoted to lieutenant. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. I have 26 years on this year. So yeah what

is it about the job? I mean obviously it's something that we all greatly appreciate but you're quite literally throwing yourself into the line of fire on a daily basis When that girl called me and we started going to our clinicals We had a motorcycle accident and the guy was degloved his skin was falling off I got and she ran out puking and I ran in and thought wow This is the coolest thing like so I learned that I really love and I love helping people you know so and to this day learned that I really love and I love helping people you know so and to this day so I've been a paramedic for 33 years and I always said from day one if I lose the compassion

for people I don't want to do this anymore and I still have the compassion I still treat everybody like they're my family member. Yeah interesting so then what made you decide to throw yourself into the raging inferno that is survivor? You know, I've been watching it. So they came out when I was 30. So I was a little older than these these younger kids here. They probably weren't even born when it started.

I mean, I just watch it with my mom all the time. And now we call each other after each show and I tape it. And so I came home one day and I was laying on the couch and and Jeff Probst was on this beautiful beach with his arms out saying, you should apply. And I'm like, I should apply. And so I applied and there you go. Next thing you know, here I am talking to you.

That's amazing. Is there a story you fed to like the people back at the firehouse as to what you were doing for the next month or so? No, well I had to tell my boss so my boss knows. But no, nobody, I just said I'm taking vaca- I took my vacation time. Okay, yes, accrued at all to be far from a vacation here, even though it's beautiful.

I know, it's not a vacation. So then, if I were to ask you to give me a winner and a non-winner who you identify with the most, personally, strategically, socially, who would that be? Well, I can go non-winner, I love Caroline. And I'm sure a lot of people, I don't know, maybe I just relate to her. I relate to her storyline that she was an ex-user and think herself up and she seemed street smart,

grew up harder, which I did too, so unapologetically herself unapologetic herself, you know. So I really liked her. Winner, you know, I'm terrible with names. That's okay, describe. I can't fill in the blank here. Well, I liked, same season, yeah, yeah. You know, I liked when he told everybody

and I tried to, you know, I didn't go back and watch seasons because I don't want to be anybody else. I want to be me. But he did relate to people where Carolyn didn't. And he said, I looked at you and I knew when you talked about your family, how your eyes lit up. And when you lied, how your eyes didn't light up. And I was like, wow, what a great perception of watching people.

So I really thought that that won him the million dollars. Yeah, absolutely. What is your favorite moment in Survivor history? Is it around season 44, as you were mentioning? Well, yeah, only because I'm old and I have a terrible memory. Well, I like, I was saying I liked the earlier seasons, even though I don't remember them,

but because Survivor was so new and now, and I hate to say this, I don't like super fans. I don't think super fans make the game super fans I don't think super fans make the game better I don't think people practicing in their basement makes this game better I think I think coming out and challenging yourself and and not knowing what to expect then knowing that puzzle is going to be on here and I could do it with my eyes closed you know it's sort of cheating to me I don't know. Interesting so would you have a favorite moment from like a modern season, from a recent season

that you saw? Not that I can think of. I like all the moments. I think they're all really, really, I mean, to me it's taking 18 strangers. It's like, it's like an experience, a weird scientific experiment. They take 18 people, strangers from all different places of the world and throw them on an island and starve them to death and make them do these challenges to earn food, to earn stuff and see what happens and nobody can predict what can happen. It's like putting 18 mice in a cage and

seeing who's gonna be the lead mice. So I don't know, it's a great experiment. I can't wait to see what happens. So then how have you put yourself in fighting shape for this experiment? What has your prep experience been like? Because obviously you keep yourself busy in your day to day. Did you do anything in particular to prep for Survivor? I did not.

Wow. I know. Well I think you got the fire aspect covered for you. Well yes, well my job prepares me for this. Exactly. I crawl in buildings with 65 pounds of my tank and everything. Everything's at 65 pounds. So crawling under a net in mud without 65 pounds, I think should be a piece of cake,

I'm hoping. I don't know. That's true. And it's also a pretty good track record for firefighters on Survivor as well. And maybe to your point, it is that work ethic, physicality perspective. Yes, for sure, for sure. What would you say is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite

that you think will play into this game? Well, I think my biggest superpower is my way to connect with people. I think I can go in the washroom and wash my hands and come out and be like, bye, Jill, nice talking to you. I'm just one of those people that I could talk to anybody and just have this demeanor where I can connect with people. So I think I can, I'm hoping I can connect

with some of these people. But yeah, stab them in the back in the end. Of course. Which is the best part of it. And they're gonna stab me in the back, which that's what I like about this. We could be friends, but we know only one person comes out this winter.

So you can't go out. Like last year they were saying with, terrible with names, the girl and the guy she didn't vote for her friend. Well, you know, yeah, Maria and Charlie. Yeah. Well, it's sorry. It's a game, you know, like it's just the way it is. And then the, my, your kryptonite, what's your, what do you think is your weakest part

of yourself when it comes to maybe playing this game? Well, it might also be the same thing. I might talk too much. You know, I might, I might, uh, uh, like Caroline, um, unapologetically myself, you know, and, and, and they, somebody asked me, am I going to hide anything? No, I'm not going to hide anything. You know, I'm an open book and, and sometimes that's not a good thing to be an open book.

So, but I got to remember I'm here playing a game and they don't need to know everything. So I don't know, it all depends on who I'm sitting around and who I'm talking to, you gotta read the room. What do you think you're gonna be perceived as from that perspective? Well, I already know I'm the older person, which when they, they're like, you know, you're the older.

And I'm like, I never felt like the older person, but I guess I am the older person. Looking at these young kids kids I've been delivering babies longer than they've been born literally 33 years so so dealing with the younger generation but then being a lieutenant on the fire department all my kids are there all the kids I'm training are this age too so so I know how to look at weaknesses and strong strong points of people and try to play on that. Is that something you're gonna try to steer into though

when it comes to like, oh, you're gonna be in the leadership role because you're a lieutenant. No, no, no, no. Yeah, because that sometimes gets you in trouble trying to be a leader. So more or less maybe an auntie Chrissy, I wouldn't mind an auntie Chrissy, somebody like the cool aunt maybe.

Yeah, there we go, everyone loves their aunt. Yes, exactly. What would you say is one life experience that has most prepared you for this? Is it as simple as your day to day, or can you think of like one specific experience you had that you feel has prepared you for survival as much as you can?

I would definitely say my, I mean, it's a no brainer, my job, you know? I, we, sometimes we, we traveled to different fire houses and I work with different firemen. And so I walk in not knowing these people and within 24 hours, five minutes into it, we might have a fire together and now we're,

we're saving lives together that I just met you five minutes ago. So you need to know, can this person have my back? And this person not going to have my back. That's the same thing here. Is this person going to have my back? Are they not going to have my back? You know, so it's back. It's the same thing here. Is this person gonna have my back? Are they not gonna have my back? So it's not life or death though, thank God.

Well, let's talk about maybe some of those people that you might be running in or away from because I'm sure you've been sussing out some people as you've been sitting around not being able to talk. So let's start. I have little nicknames for them all already in my head. Well, I would love to hear some. So let's go to the positive side of things.

Okay. First, describe to me some of these people and maybe their nicknames that you're vibing with, that best case scenario, you hit the beach day one, this is someone I could ride to the end of the game with. Right, right. Well, I like bearded guy. Mm-hmm.

He's got a big old fluffy beard. And I can't wait to see what his beard looks like two weeks from now. I know. So I like him. And then there's an African American guy with glasses. He's got a friendly smile. There's something about him that just draws me to him. Are you seeking out any particular qualities

in a number one ally in general? Well, once I get my tribe and I see who's there, I mean, this is all just by looking at people. Once they open their mouth, I might be like, oh, I was way off. So it all depends on how they are in challenge, how I am in challenge. I've had the biggest fear,

and I crawl through buildings with, like I said, 65 pounds on my back, and I do it, and I'm like, oh my God, that first challenge, I just need to get that first challenge off and done, and then I think I'll feel a lot better. So then, on the other side of things, is there anybody that you're not picking up some great vibes

from or anyone you can't read from this group? And I hate that this is gonna be because they're gonna see it and they're gonna be like, but that's the fun of it. It could be your best friend. Well, there's a girl, a blonde girl here and she just seems a little snooty to me. That's also interesting.

Anything that she's like doing that comes across that way or is it just a general air about her? No, I think we were, I said, like you're not supposed to talk and I think, oh she jumped and I go, ooh, don't hurt yourself. And she goes, shh, and she shushed me. And I was like, yeah. And I'm like, you should just shush me, you know?

So that just right away, and that's the funny thing about Survivor. It takes one shush and now I'm going to vote your ass off. It's that stupid and simple. So obviously the new era is all about like idols, advantages, journeys. It's part of the DNA. How much do you want to incorporate that into your own game? Well as I'm walking through here, I'm like where would an idol be? It's so exciting to just look at little nooks and crannies.

I can't wait to look for idols. But then again, it's not just an idol anymore. It's beware. You have to do this, this and this and then you lose your foe. And it's like, so you really got to be careful. It's really a mind. Can I? Mind. You can say it. It's a mindfuck. So then that being said, if you find one, is it an immediate pick up and unwrap it for you? For sure, for sure. Yes, yes, you've been idiot to throw it away I think.

What about a boat showing up for a journey? Are you someone to volunteer? No, I think I'll play the crowd on that one too. Like see who, you know, see who, I like the tribes that go rock, paper, scissors, stuff like that, so make it even. The past two seasons of Survivor, 45 and 46, in this sense, have felt like such a big step forward

and so much stuff has happened. As you're watching through these seasons, is there anything in particular taking away from those types of seasons that you're gonna incorporate into your own game? Well, just from what I notice, I think alliances. I think alliances are the way to go. You know, and they might not last and you make different alliances, but I think always

trying to make that connection with somebody, even if it only lasts one vote, and then you make it a connection with somebody else. You know, I think that seems to be the way to go. But then as you watch some of the outsiders, when they're outsiders, they get the deciding vote. So it really, it really, it's a crazy, crazy game. So that's the thing we saw in 46 was that there was this group that was kind of like discarded and they then became the ones that got to determine which way to go.

So it really speaks to not disregarding anybody in the game. Yes, for sure. So when it comes to survivor opinions, hot takes, if you will, you're one who can handle heat certainly, what would you say is your hottest survivor take? Your most controversial opinion about a season, a player, the show itself? Well, I think, I don't know if it was last season or the season before, the two people that quit, I was disgusted. I was like, knowing the process that we have to do to get here

You never watched a show you didn't think you were gonna be uncomfortable, you know, like to be like I miss my bed I want to go home You know it to me just was you know terrible throw a weird scenario by you if you could bring a Celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one for a loved one's visit? Who would it be and why? A celebrity or a fictional character. Yeah. Oh shit.

I never. That's a good question. Yeah. It's just cannot be a member of your family. I was gonna say, I couldn't bring my son because that would be awesome. Um, let me think of a, uh, well, I would say like Chris Hemworth or, Now would it be him as Thor or just Chris Hemsworth? Either way I would take either one.

Oh absolutely. I mean he could be someone that fits in with all the other heartthrobs. Yes, exactly. Any particular reason why? Just because he's big and strong and good to, nice to look at. I don't know, I couldn't think of anybody. That's so fun. Last thing I want to ask is that obviously Survivor 50 is right around

the corner. We know it's returnees. How are you going to make your mark on this season so that we're going to be talking a year from now for Survivor 50? I don't know if I am. We'll see what happens. I don't know. I'm hoping that I stand out. I'm hoping that I play a great game. I would be highly disappointed in myself. I work with 5,000 firefighters at home. There's no way I can walk through that door at any firehouse coming back a loser. So I have a lot of pressure on my back

to represent the city of Chicago. That's true as well. You don't just have the firefighters. You have the entire city of Chicago on your back as well. Well, they're gonna tie the river green, not just for St. Patrick's Day, but for all the money you're gonna win from the show. Yeah, there you go, there you go.

And there you have it, my interview with Chrissy. And I personally hope that checking out all these interviews is not the equivalent of lugging around 65 pounds of equipment. Hopefully this has been nice and light and breezy, but also full of substance as well that these great castaways are able to bring. And of course, these great castaways continue to be introduced to us tomorrow as we continue on with our interviews with the SIVA tribe. As tomorrow we talk about two very different castaways in David and Camilla.

Make sure you don't miss a second of everything we have going on. Again, we know survivor.com for the audio versions of these interviews and Rob has a website.com slash YouTube for the video versions. Let us know your thoughts of course in the comments on social media about these players, especially as we're getting towards the pointy end of this and you know some supposition some predictions Perhaps some winner picks might be made What do you think about these castways including the two I talked to today in charity and Chrissy and I'll have plenty more to talk about tomorrow with David and Camilla until then everybody take care

Bye-bye