RHAP: We Know Survivor - Survivor 49 Preseason Interview: Sage Ahrens-Nichols

Episode Date: August 24, 2025

Survivor 49 preseason coverage continues as Mike Bloom interviews Sage Ahrens-Nichols, a clinical social worker with a military background. This deep dive explores Sage's unique journey to Survivor, from her time as an alternate on season 47 to her full-fledged castaway status for season 49.

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Order now. Alcohol and select markets. Product availability may vary by Regency app for details. Hi, everybody. Mike Bloom here, back with day four of our Survivor 49 preseason interviews. We have officially moved into the back half of the Uli tribe. You have heard my interviews with the first three members, and now we are moving into the second three, the women of the Uli tribe, the three S's, if you will. And our perusal through the Survivor 49 Spice Cabinet has settled upon Sage.

We are talking about Sage, orange nickels today. Sage is 30 years old, originally from Roxborough, North Carolina, currently resides in Olympia, Washington, and she is a clinical social worker. But she has a varied background, to say the least, considering that right out of high school to earn money for college,

she went right into the Army. So I got together with Sage to talk about her very interesting background, not only when it comes to her occupational history, but her survivor history as well, considering that, you know, with the journey of the alternate being the low-key theme of this season, Sage is a big part of that. I actually spoke with Sage when she was. an alternate for Survivor 47. So this is actually her second trip out to Fiji

the second time she's deployed, if you will. But this time, she's entering the cast as a full-on cast away. And I was really excited to get her perspective on how much her mentality and prep process has shifted between her time on 47 and then coming up in 49. As always, make sure you don't miss any of the preseason coverage we have going on here on RHAP. go to we knowsurvivor.com to make sure you're subscribed to our Survivor-only podcast feed.

And if you want to watch video versions of these interviews, as well as our wrap-up podcast, go to watch RHAP.com or search Rob has a podcast in YouTube. With that all being said, here's my interview with Sage. I am Sage. I'm 30 and I am a clinical social worker. Okay. So what does that involve? Do you specialize in any particular area? Yeah, I do personally like individual mental health counseling type work. So I just meet with folks like one on one and we talk about the hard stuff. Is that something you've always wanted to get into? Interesting. Yeah, since fifth grade. Just fifth grade. Yeah. Is there just one moment where someone was like confiding in you about something that happened on the playground and you're like, this is my, this is my goal now?

I think like a little bit more complex than that. Just a lot of my loved ones like I saw them struggle with their mental health growing up, struggle with my own mental health. And so I always just had a fascination. with not only the struggle, but human behavior in general. So I've just always been really drawn to it. Well, so what's intriguing is that you had joined the army, right, to get the money to pay for college to go. So talk to me about what that decision was like. Yeah. So I grew up in a small, like, country town in North Carolina. I currently live in Washington State.

But I have a twin brother, and he's always been super ambitious and, like, knew he wanted to go to college, knew what he wanted to study. he got accepted to an out-of-state private college. So I already knew, like, without the family say anything, and my parents were divorced, but I knew without, like, anyone say anything, like, we don't have money for that, let alone to send two kids to college at once. So I was like, well, I'm just going to figure this one out on my own, and everyone said that the military paid for college. I was like, I guess I'll just go do that.

What was that experience like for you? Oh, a whirlwind. There's definitely, like, ups and downs. day one of basic training I found out that I had signed up into the only female combat job at the time they're open to all females now but did not

was not seeking to do that I was trying to go to college I just want to go to college what am I doing now? I know they dropped that on it's like day one sitting in they call it reception just like when you first get there it's kind of like free game

but for the military and so one of the drill sergeants casually yelled that at us and I was like looking around. It's like, anybody else know this? I only Googled like, where do I pee during basic training? Well, that's your first question, right? You're like, where's the bathroom?

Yeah, where's the, I'm telling you, my whole life. Where's the bathroom? Well, then let's talk about what gets you out for a very different type of battle here. Talk to me about your history with Survivor and what made you decide to, uh, you know, apply yourself in a very different way. Yeah. So, so many people in these interviews are like, oh, you know, when I was growing up, I was like, I'm going to go to Survivor.

Like, that was not my experience. And it's like, I watched Survivor and I always, like, was like, that'd be really cool. You must have to be really cool to, like, go do that. And I was like, not cool enough. So I didn't think it was an option for me. And I think a lot of that comes from going up in that small country town, like, the gender roles, very traditional. And like, on the one hand, it's nice because, like, people are very explicit and what

they expect of you of, like, you're a woman. So you do this. Sorry about that. No. Um, and so, but for me, I've always kind of been like an out of the box type of person and, um, I can't even remember what your question was. No, so then when, when did you decide you wanted to apply for the show? Oh, a couple of years, about five years ago. So actually, originally, when I, I'm going to throw a whole lot at you in the sentence.

Please, yes. So I joined the military right at high school. Shortly after that, I deployed Afghanistan. And while I was in Afghanistan, Big Brother was playing on the TV. And growing up, I never watched Big Brother. We watched Survivor. Like, every Thursday night, we were at my dad's house. It was Sloppy Joe's TV trays and Jeff Brooks.

Yes, match me in heaven. That was like, that was the money. But then joined the military, lost cable. Afghanistan had cable, who to funk. And Big Brother was playing. And I was like, you know what? That looks really cool. And so I started watching it.

And then a couple of years and I was like, I'm going to go do this. And so started applying for Big Brother in like 2019. Applied, applied nothing. Every year, I was like, all right, just adapt. Like, what do I need to do differently? Eventually got a call back. Made it all the way to like the, what do you call? Like the finalist, like where they're making.

and there are a few, the final cuts. And got cut, but that ended up working out really well. Because I don't think that Big Brother is where my heart is. No offense to the show. Do you remember what year it was, let that happen? It was, I want to say, two years ago. So not last year. 25.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. So you could have been in there with Jag and Bowie Jane. I'm a little petty. I stopped watching it after they didn't like choose me. So, and then I just, and then casting was like, You know, we also cast for Survivor. And I was like, first thought was, I'm not, I already did the military.

I'm not doing the rough of the heaven. And the second thought was like, damn it. Now I have to do it. Because anytime I doubt myself, instantly, we're doing the thing. Interesting. So it's just, that, that's wild. Talk about, like, listening to your inner voice, but then also acknowledging that voice and being like, yeah, but we're still going to do it.

The fact that you have that hesitation gives you even more initiative to push through it. Yes. I think that really comes from, like, growing up in that town. Like, you know, it's, I have this weird thing where, I really like stuff that is like hard and challenging and like I didn't I had a lot of resistance for it like most of my life and then once I started just like kind of embracing I was like oh turns out this is kind of really fun and I love surprising people so even when I joined the military I didn't tell anybody and like I walked across the stage for our high school

graduation and they announced every what everyone's going to do after high school because there's only like I think like 30 of us yeah our school was like an old like redone cotton mill like very small. The town has a couch, or not a couch. That would be nice. A church or a cowfield on every corner, like super small. They're Starbucks. Yeah, no Starbucks. I don't think. I haven't been back there in a while. But anyways, oh my God. Walking and graduation. Yeah, walking and grad, thank you so much. Walking in graduation, they're like, say you're just going to go on to be a cosmetologist. There's a backstory there. However, no one asked me. They never ask me what I'm going to do. And so I'm sitting there on the stage.

like I'm like shipping off the boot camp in like six months like I don't know who told you that but it wasn't me well let's look back on survivor history here give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most either personally or strategically yeah I'd say non-winner I definitely like tie comes to mind because very like he's very you know he's quirky he's warm he's very like emotional and sensitive in the most beautiful way yeah but he's also super sneaky and no one ever expects them because they're like, oh, Ty is such a lover.

And I love, love, like, obsessed with love. And when I'm playing a game, I'm assuming we're all playing a game. So, like, I'm locked in. Like, I'm having a good time. I love when we stab each other in the back. Like, I just think it's hilarious and it's fun. So, like, back home, everyone,

all my loved ones get really annoyed when we play games because new people always underestimate me. And even my loved ones underestimate me sometimes because, like, I just know how to, like, I know how to, like, trick. them. I'm like, damn it, she did it again. And so, it's a tie for sure.

And then winner, oh, I love Marianne. Like, she is the epitome of leading with your spirit. And, like, I love that, I love that phrase. Yes. Well, so many, I mean, right off the bat, everyone assumed, like, oh, she's young. She's naive. She's all smiles. Like, she's not really, like, she doesn't, life's never been hard to her, you know.

And, like, she saw that. No one knew that she saw that, but she never felt the need to correct them because that's ego. If ego is in the room with us, which mine left a long time ago, then you're going to like, it's going to be fear-based. Like, you're going to want to impress everyone. Like, someone's like, oh, you're so naive. No, I'm not. Let me prove to you how I'm naive. And I did that for so much of my life because people see me in that same way. And now I'm just like, all right, let them, like, let them think that. Because ultimately, like, what I know my truth, if you don't want to get to know me, I'm not going to waste my time, like, trying to tell you who I am. What is your

favorite moment in survivor history? Is it anything from the two people you just mentioned? Actually, yeah, Marianne, because even she played the game throughout, but, and I'm going to, I'm not going to remember names, but there's that one tribal council where she looked around and she saw all the people voted out were people of color. And she, in that moment was like, I have to, I have to put game aside. I have to be a person. And like, she stayed true to her values. She stayed true to like what's important to her. Yeah. Even at the experience. her own game like that could it easily cost her but she trusted her gut and she said you know what like my insides are saying like I need to stand up right now and I need to be a voice and that takes

such courage and bravery every time I think about it like I just want to sob because it's just like that's so real that's so human so I'd say that's definitely definitely like top three well talk to me about that because again you admire the fact that she was able to let the person shine through instead of the player in that moment but then you also mentioned a little bit ago like oh I'm ready to hit the beach, I'm ready to do everything. So how much are you all anticipating, sort of finding that balance? Because your career is all about connecting

with people on a very human level. Now you have to throw in the idea of, oh, these are people that I'm also going to crush their dreams in the process in pursuit of my own. Yeah, I say it like it's easy. I know it's not gonna be easy. Like, I'm not naive to that. Like, I know probably the first tribal council I go to,

like whoever's voted out, I'm probably gonna cry. And I'm okay with that. Like, it's fluid from your eyeballs. Like, I don't know why everyone's so up in arms about tears. associating it with weakness. I'm like, that's weak. Um, but so I think balance, yes, is the key. And stabbing people in the back, it doesn't have to be at the expense of like, I don't even know how to put it into words. Like, don't want to like trash talk anyone too much, but I didn't

respect Rome's game in that sense of like, it became very personable at the advantage of his like trying to save himself it felt very ego based and like I have a lot of empathy for Rome because I could I could see a lot of parts of myself like past self in him but I don't I feel like there's a line and like making up straight up lies about someone's character is like that line for me versus like Genevieve it was very like quiet chaos it was very like subtle chaos it's very like I'm going to get you questioning but I don't have to do it at the expense of somebody else. That's not to say that I might not like throw suspicion on people, but there is a line and I feel like my gut like knows when that line is reached. What was your prep process like

coming out here? Because again, this is sort of your second opportunity to do it. Did that prep change at all between, you know, when we talked to 2024 and now in 2025? Yeah, totally. Everyone on these are always like, I was working out like six, seven days a week. I didn't do any of that. I went to physical therapy. I don't know. Can I say I ate some shrooms like that. That, helped enormously. I mean, you talk about trying to get into good mind, body, and spirit. Yeah. Big focus on that last one. Well, I mean, the thing is, is like, if you look at the game, it doesn't matter if you're the most physically fit. Like, it matters, like, can you persist to the end? And so even in the military, I never did sports growing up. When I got to the military, I could only

do one push up. Very problematic, because you have to do way more than one push up. And so you're like trying to do it. And they're like, one, one. And so I would stay up after everyone was asleep and I'd be next to my bunk, like, working on push-ups and asking people, like, how do you do a push-up? And so my process prepping for this go-around was very, like, exactly what you said, mind-body. Like, how do I connect to self? Because for most of my life, I'm not going to lie, like, not connected to self because growing up in that small town, like, everyone's, like, pushing you in this lane. Even there was one time I was at the gym and I was asking this guy for, we had been kind of

working out together and I was like, hey, I wanted to get stronger. And I was like, how do I do this thing? he's like, well, you're a woman, so you really want to be doing like high reps and, you know, like low weight so you can get those curves. And in my head, I'm like, you didn't ask me what I want. Like, I'm trying to get ripped. Like, I'm trying to kick your ass, you know? And now I want to do it even more after what you just said.

Exactly. But when that's like your conditioning growing up, that becomes a part of your like understanding of self. And so myself was always second. It was never like in my face. I didn't know what that self relationship was like. So this past year, that's been my soul focus. So shrooms, I took some singing lessons. because breathing, diaphragm, connecting to body.

I can't do it in like... Plus, you know, if people are bored, you could, you know, do a nice little repertoire of music. Oh, I didn't say I could sing well. I solely did it to like under... Because I, you know, like, when they're like, all those like goose fraba videos where it's like, ah, breathe in and let the thoughts flow without judgment.

I'm like, explain to me what that means literally because I can't do it with this ambiguous, like, Usa. Yeah. So I had to do it in a very like hands-on sort of way of like, how do I know when I'm breathing through my diaphragm? Like, what does that feel like? How do I practice it? And singing is like a great way of doing that. So singing lessons, shrooms, physical therapy. I'm hyper-mobile. So that's problematic. My joints can do weird stuff and that's prone for injury out here. And then, yeah, therapy. So there we go. Yeah. Well, on that note, you know, you just named perhaps a super power of your own. But give me your biggest super power. and piece of kryptonite that you're bringing into this game. Yeah, I'd say, God, I thought about this one too. I knew it was going to be like as soon as he asked me this. And I was like, um, superpower wise, I would say like my emotions and I love that that's my superpower now because growing up, I was taught to like be so ashamed.

Right. Yeah. Like, oh, she's crying, typical woman. But then in the military, it's like, man up. Like, oh, you know. So very confusing messages and it made me just like want nothing to do with emotions all together. So lots of disassociation, lots of just, like, shame if I did feel an emotion and God forbid I express it. So I'd say, like, now that I've embraced my emotions, it's so cool

because, like, when you have a real emotional experience, like, the connection that, like, if you and I were sitting here and, like, you told me something that was important, you were vice versa, like, and one of us cried, like, I would be smart. When I'm in the, like, sessions with clients when they're crying like usually they don't look at me but I'm in my chair like you're fucking doing so excuse my French I'm like you're doing it like you're feeling and so for me I really embrace emotions to include the hard ones so I think out here where there's going to be a lot of hurt emotions not only with myself with others I think that's a huge advantage because I feel very comfortable with those emotions as well as sitting with other people who have

those big emotions who need like that sense of safety and groundedness in that moment yeah and they fear no sense of judgment you know because I think it's tough in a game when it's like Like, I don't know if I want to open up about this because it could be used against me. I think you're presenting this idea of like, no, we're all, we all theoretically should be doing this. And in a way, are you fully embracing these survivor experience if you're not crying a little bit on the beach? Yes, and that's the line. That is the line. Judgment versus curiosity.

If someone's having a human moment with me, I'm going to be a human with you. Like, that can be separate from game. Like, I'm still probably going to vote you out, but like in that moment. Don't get it. Twisted. Yeah. I'm with you. And some people, I think, I think that's where people are going to really.

really clock me wrong is because I can be so like in the moment with people I think they're going to think that like gives me a sense of like obligation to them of like oh sage is going like maybe feel bad for me or she's going to feel really like too like she's going to feel too guilty to vote me out because we had that moment it's like no that moment I will always cherish and love it I'm going to vote you out and we can talk about it after if that brings up feelings for you but like that's your responsibility to manage those feelings like not my Yeah. Would that be your kryptonite then? Or do you have something else then? No. I think a lot of people would think that's my kryptonite. My kryptonite would be an impulsivity. Like, I can get so, like, bubble up with excitement. But I've really been working on that this past year. Just learning how to play the long game. And I've learned it's super fun. Like to have this information of like, even when I got back from 47, I was getting my haircut. And my hairdresser was like making small talk. And she's like, and she's not really my hairdresser. I met her like twice. But like, she's like, oh, so you watch any shows? And I'm like, yeah.

you know I watched like like Survivor things like that she's like I love Survivor I was like oh really are you watching 47 like what do you think and like she's just telling me everything she feels about 47 I even got a haircut from her right before I left and I was like so like if you were on Survivor what would you do your hair as and then she tells me I'm like what about me she's like I'd keep it as this I'm like thank God I can just keep it at so I'm just that's the long game it's like I know how to like be very intentional about the words I use with people language is so important and I love it for that like fact like I love just looking up definitions sometimes even last year you used a really nice word I think you said I was

genial or something like that thank you yeah wrote that down as soon as I got home I googled that and I was like wow thanks um but my kryptonite would be if that impulsivity because like at the end the day we're out here we're going to be struggling if something's exciting like you want to connect with somebody if you have information and maybe in that moment's like oh do I share this? Right. I think my job helps me with that a lot because there's so many times I'm meeting with a person and they're telling me something.

And I start to see a pattern, love behavioral patterns, like obsessed with it. Like they, uh, I love the people I work with because we just nerd out. Like I'll go through my notes. I'm like, on this day you said this and on this day you said that. Yeah. Does this, I feel like that's connected to you? But there's sometimes where I'll start to know to something and I'm like, it's not time. It's not time to bring it up.

And then the time when the time comes, my gut's like, bingo. and I do, and it's just beautiful, magical moment. And I want that for myself. So yes, impulsivity could be a kryptonite, however, I've been working on it. There we go. Well, I'm sure you've been noticing a lot of behavioral patterns around you. And again, this is not your first rodeo. So now this is the second time that you're starting to take people in.

And you also get this experience where you, like, made assessments of people and saw how they played out or didn't on the island proper. So let's run this exercise again, shall we? Let's look to the positive side of things first. Who are some people right now? you can use the initials, you can describe them. Yeah. Who you're feeling right now, like, best case scenario, we hit the beach on table. I'm like, this could be a possible ride or die for me.

Oh, instantly, NMA. Like, from the moment we lock dies, and I just can only hope the vibe is mutual. But, like, it's not unrequited. I feel like it has been, but also, like, I think they're, like, personable and, like, I think they're easily likable. So I, they gave me, like, a little rock on, you know, so I'm like, I love that. So I, that's, like, the person. and I would love to, like, go far with.

And then in terms of, like, people I probably wouldn't go far with, there's one of them, I feel like she might be the alternate. SS. I think they look like a total badass. I feel like I could really get along. I fear they might be on my tribe, and I can tell they're very curious people, too. Like, they're locked in.

So you talk about this impulsivity, is it going to translate to, like, if I find a beware advantage, I'm ripping it open? What's your approach in general to idols, advantages, journeys in this game? Yeah, I think it's really going to depend on context. Like, if I, depending on what clothes I wear, and I think about this so much, because I'm like, God, things are going to bulge. And like, even the, oh, my God, the advantage that they had, the beware advantage for 48 were so bulky. I'm like, where are you going to hide that? Well, I mean, you can think of a certain place, but, I mean, like, I don't have enough stuff for that. But, you know, like, so I think it really depends on context.

It really depends on like my positionality in the game. I'm like, is it going to be advantageous for me to share this? Is it going to be advantageous for me to keep it to myself? I love to keep as much to myself as possible, like, full of Sue to the end, have that hidden immunity idol. And like, it just depends on where the dice roll. Hopefully not literally on that journey. Oh, I know.

Well, let's put yourself speaking of that a bit in the props shoes here. If you could either bring a twist from a previous season, new era otherwise, into this season, or if you want to create your own twist as well, what would you want to do? Is there a twist in the past that you're like, oh, this is something I want to play with? Oh, God. You know what? I'm saying this mainly because it's the only one that comes to mind, but it is a good one. The idle nullifier is crazy. That is like edge of your seat, like right when you think you're safe. And so, like, that's, brutal. So that would be cool to see only in the event that I obtained it. I was going to say you don't want it to be used against you because then that opinion can flip really quick. Exactly. Well, on that note, what is your hottest survivor take? What's your most controversial opinion about the show or a season or a player? Yeah, it's funny because you always ask this and I'm like, I don't know if I have any. And then it came to me the other night in my tent. I was thinking, I was thinking about it totally unrelated to like this. And I was like, wait, that might be a hot take. I don't know if it is. You'll have to tell me. But you know how people are like, oh, I'm going to play an honest game and a game with integrity? I don't think that's possible. I think that's literally, if your strategy going into it is to play an honest game, that is inherently manipulative. Because you think that playing an honest game with integrity is going to win you a million dollars. So like, it's strategic in itself.

It's a bit dishonest. Like not saying that it's fully dishonest. Right. Again, nuanced people. Like there's so much gray. but I would say that would maybe be my hat-tech. And a common one, Thomas said it, like, I don't know why people are so up in arms about 26 days.

Like, I'm like, it's not the only change. Like, it's like to completely forget about the other changes that sort of balance it out. Right, exactly. Let's say, because again, I'm sure you've done a lot of prognosticating, projecting your head, especially watching 47. We always know, or it's not always the case, but sometimes there is a disaster tribe.

There's that tribe that goes time and time against tribal council. Have you been thinking about that scenario? Do you find that your approach is going to change going in if that scenario ends up unfolding? Or have you already kind of prepared for that? I think that my approach is to follow my intuition. And so, like, I don't fear. There's even like this reflection letter that they have us right. And there's, like, some different prompts.

Like, what's your biggest fear going into this? And I just wrote nothing that I can't overcome. Like, I don't really, I'm okay with fear again. I'm okay with our. It's your motivator, essentially. Yeah, it truly is. Like, anytime somebody, like, says no to me or like, well, depending on context of but like um anytime someone like rejects me or tries to make me scared it just like it's fuel

so i kind of love it so if i were to be in that situation it would suck like don't even wrong like i'm going to feel all the things but also like i trust myself and i trust that i can get through it so i don't have like a hard strategy for you and that it's really going to be dependent on the variables but i trust that i'll figure it out well i want to talk about one big variable here when it comes to a jury i mean what's so interesting about this format for 25 years is the fact that you can vote for somebody based on unlimited criteria, right? Likeability, relationships, resume, story, the list goes on. At this point, I'm sure you're projecting yourself, like, I'm going to win.

I don't even think about the jury, but if you were to sit on the jury, at this moment, is there like a core tenant that you would use primarily in voting for somebody coming into this? If I were a juror, I would vote based on blank. Yeah, I would be based, I would vote based on, like, someone's ability to own it. Like, I don't, I hate when, like, there's fluff answers of just, like, what does this person want me to say? Like, you, of course can, like, cater your answer a bit to, like, maybe your tone

or the way you convey something, but, like, the core of the answer, if it's not honest, if it's not authentic, like, you've lost my vote. Like, if you stabbed somebody in the back, own it. Like, of course I stabbed you in the back. It's a game. Like, I love that. So I love people who can just, like, say exactly, like, what they did, why they did it without shame.

And also, you know, you can acknowledge the person's emotions that's asking, but, like, that doesn't mean that you have. to, like, people please in that moment. Well, you know how I finish things off here. If you could bring a celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one, who would you pick? Do you remember who you picked last year? Oh, absolutely.

And your response to my answer just further solidified it. So absolutely, Nick from New Girl, as you pointed out, like, he used that towel, this share the towel with Schmidt for God knows how long so he can rough it, he can tough it, he's creative, he's innovative, he's fun. I'm looking for people who can have fun. He's adaptable. so, like, it's a no-brainer. Yeah, I think it would be incredible.

I think especially if you brought him onto, like, the sanctuary, he would just luxuriate and like, oh, my God, look at all these fruits. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. He'd be obliged. Yeah, so, I mean, how are you feeling right now in terms of, I know that's obviously how we started, but in terms of finishing this session in a manner of speaking,

like the fact that you are now looking upon this opportunity kind of coming to fruition, you've put in the work, you know, you've already kind of still living in that headspace from last year. what's sort of the emotional cocktail that you're drinking down at the moment in preparation for a second trip to Fiji? Yeah, it's going to sound weird, but I feel incredibly calm. And I mean that very genuinely. I couldn't tell you exactly why. I could tell you why I think, but I feel calm.

Yeah, I mean, listen, it's been a good streak of, you know, alternates coming onto the show between Rachel, Shaqeen, Austin was an alternate for 45. So you're just going to keep the trend going. gonna keep it going until all the future alternates like art goes out to you like you got this just keep going don't give up whoever you are just like your jeff apply to be on survivor apply now to be on survivor