The Zach Nichols Podcast - Vets and New Threats Episode 14 Review with Aviv Melmed Bruno! | ZNP EP. 134

Episode Date: October 31, 2025

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Hey, it's Aviv. I'm back on the Zach Nichols podcast. Going to talk a little bit about episode 14 and all the shit that went down last night. Welcome back to the Zach Nichols podcast. I'm here with the largest sea turtle ever. I'll take the crown. It's where they all went. Yeah.

They're in danger now because he ate all the other ones. More importantly, the star of season 41, Aviv. I'm not going to try to say the last name of him. Butchering them all season. Now it's Bruno. So it's Bruno. Yeah. So we're Bruno.

A view Bruno in the building. Legally speaking. Yep, yep, yep. Shout out to the challenge. Champion back for her second consecutive season. Back to back. Back to back. How does that feel?

Back to back. Was it enough off time between 40 to 41? Were you able to mentally recover? It was so funny. We were just talking about this. No, I'm so mentally recovering from both, I think. It wasn't. Tom, but listen, I was actually an alternate for both of them.

So I really didn't know I was going on 40. I really didn't know it was going on 41, though I had more notice because originally I don't think I was an alternate and they made me an alternate. But I found out, same thing, like 10 days before. It's not like I have a family and kids and shit. That's a hard note for me. Your husband was probably ecstatic. You know, I just hadn't started working yet like back because I was like, I don't want

to go back to corporate. So timing wise ever, I just got my real estate license. Round of applause for the real estate professional. So now I'm going to take over the world if anyone wants to invest. Ooh, Florida? Florida, yeah. It sounds like something we might be interested in. I mean, I need a little bit of time to learn the areas, but like obviously I've been in sales life.

So. Done. Done. First cost, though. Stop this. Let's stop business. Yeah, let's do that. So you think back to back is tough?

I think back to back is tough. And I think, I mean, I went into this season with a little bit of experience, which I think people forget that I didn't do it for 20 years. I don't know fucking anyone. I didn't watch the seasons. I didn't know how to train or what to train and don't really believe in training, to be honest, like to a certain degree, obviously. Like you stay fit, but you're not like I'm specifically doing chair.

No, no. I was like, do I even brush up on math? Like, it's just math. Like, do I, you know, I know people do a ton of puzzles. I'm not saying it's not worth it, but you, there are so many variables in the game that like, it makes sense to have endurance. It makes sense to be strong. It makes sense to know how to multiply, you know, more than two numbers.

Right. Things that you probably should be doing in your real life anyways, guys. But the rest of it is. is like there's chance, there's, you know, just shit. You're going to study eight million things, but you don't know that it's the right thing. So you can get in your own head and spend a lot of time, wasted time on things.

And at the end of the day, it's so much more about like adapting to whatever's thrown in front of you. And people build relationships outside to make promises. Like all that shit for me, I think, like, I have confidence in the fact that I'm a figure-it-outer. So throw me in. and I will navigate based on what happens. So that being said,

like being an alternate, it's like it just happened to work out again. And it, you just have to, I had more confidence this time because I kind of knew the game. So I went in with less anxiety. I still didn't really know people except Johnny, which like that usually hurts more than it helps in this game.

Definitely. No, I mean, to be honest. Right. It does. That was what I was most. I was kind of excited this season and I saw you're on it because I'm like, I think 40, you were protected in your era. Yes.

And then you made really strong bonds, but almost every bond you made besides Derek wasn't there. So you had to basically start fresh all over again. So I was like, is this going to be like first elimination round type thing or what? Like, here's seen kindergarten cop. Yeah. We're like, yeah, we're like, she beats the crap out of the lady. She's like, not so tough without your car. I was like, she can be as tough without the angels type of thing.

but you're right. You are an adapt. You adapt very well to the game, especially like not doing it for 20 years. Yeah. And then two in a row. I mean, honestly, it's like, it's just, it really is very similar to what I've had to do in corporate, too,

for that long, right? So it's like those kind of skills are transferable for me. But also my mentality is very different than a lot of these people. Like, I went in, I've won. I know. I never wanted to be famous. I never felt like this is not like this box up here that I feel like I have to check. You're not an influencer.

Yeah, I'm not. You don't want to be. I'm definitely not an influencer. Not yet. Sometimes I'm like, should I post this? This doesn't look like I'm trying too hard. I think that all the time too.

I'm like, I know that I posted of like immediate regret. I would unfollow myself. No, no, you guys got you got to wear your post with pride. I would unfollow myself. Yeah. It's just,

it's so, I mean, if I ever get into, I didn't think I'm like hire someone. But yeah, so like my motives for going in, I think, are different than a lot of people, which makes it a little bit more fun for me. So your life doesn't revolve around the game. You can play the game.

Would you say your motive is to win and not to, like a lot of people, they're like, I think there's a lot of people that are like, I'm not going to win this. I'm never going to win this. So let me go in and make a splash. Let me go in and just get the big moment. Whereas, like, people who will just go there to win, I would have put myself in that category. Or to get called for next season, right?

Yeah. So it's like... Because you don't get called, you're like, I have so much why at home that, like, it doesn't bother me and that I'm not there. I have more at home than I have. Well, for sure. Yeah, I guess that was a bad way to worry.

No, no, no, 100%. But I'm saying, like, for most people, but for me, too, yes, I have more at home. Do you think that makes you dangerous? Because you're like, if I get eliminated, I'm going home to my amazing life, whereas a lot of people are going home to an apartment. I think it...

For lack of a better phrase. Cheerios in the cupboard. I think it makes me vulnerable. I think it makes people not understand me because, and that's what, especially with this episode that I just watched, like, I think for me, one of the tough things is people are like, is that really her? Like, is that her personality? Because I'm very social.

And because I don't put so much on the game and on, do I want to win? Of course I want to win. Like, I'm competitive. Keeps you out of corporate for a little bit. Exactly, right? You got to find other ways. Could you believe that I'm in it, I have a corporate job? No.

I can't believe anyone that would be on this show has a court. I guess they're, yeah, there's a red flag by my name. You know what I mean? He's been disciplined. We're all very entrepreneurial. Right. I've really, that's why most of the people, I'm like,

I would actually be friends with these people in real life. I kind of love them. My husband's like, you do always like fucked up. It's like, like, I was. I'm like, I know. Why are all these people my friends? Is he over there like, hey. Why is Ashley my favorite person in the world?

I'll definitely ask you about that. So, but it just before. Speaking of adaptations, he did Jordan's champ camp. Oh, here we go. How was it? Yeah. It was amazing. It was an obstacle course.

And they had to go on, like, think of a balanced beam. And you had to go under one over and under. So three. And they needed to do this like little jump course. and there was a lot of impressive performances, none more impressive than Pierre's. Oh, did you wear that? I mean, I might as well have. I was on the mic, and to this day might be the greatest prank I've ever played.

If you know Pierre, you know that he gets pretty, like he's like a dog in heat when there's a crowd. And I was on the microphone. I was like, who wants to see Pierre do the obstacle chorus? And he looks and he's like, no, no, no. But then people start cheering instantly. he snaps into like WWE mode starts hyping up the crowd He goes under the first one

With incredible athletic ability Like he's done a million times The definition of agility Yeah the second one is about I'll give him it's about five feet Okay it's my height He like he takes his like choppy steps He jumps he gets out on the top of it

And he just rolls back Lands on like Like doesn't brace the fall at all There's a category There's a category seven earthquake in Minneapolis at this point and everyone's like, you hear just everyone go, oh, and this guy gets up, goes at it again. I love that.

Same thing. He gets on top of this thing. He's about to roll over and just, boom, falls back. And everyone's like, oh, and then we're like, all right, he's got to stop at this point. No, no, no. Strike three. Does it again. That's viral shit.

I got to get the footage. He is covered in grass and mud. And then people from the crowd were like, dude, just stop. I had to hand the mic over. I still have a cram from laughing, but it gets better. Next morning, we're all going to the airport. And I'm, you know, like the hotel, it's a big glass door. And Anthony, my son and I are already in the Uber.

And, like, you know, Pierre's not really on time ever in the mornings, especially in the mornings. But we can see him get off, get off the elevator. And he's like, could barely, like, literally, like, Michael's carrying his bags. He's like, he's like, that he tries to play a cool. He's like, yeah, you know, I'm just getting old in my back. And we're just like, bro, that has nothing to do it. But when I tell you, I told my mom about it. And my mom loves Pierre.

And she was laughing so hard. She had tears in her eyes. And then she's like, we got to get that footage for you. However funny it sounds, it was more missing and funny. Look, I gave it my best. Third time was not a charm. And, hey, I stand by my, I stand by my, I stand by my, I. I did my best.

I did my best. But I wasn't equipped. I wasn't equipped. I'll be ready for the next one. The alarms were going off in the app. because they thought it was our earthquake. Champ camp. If you missed it,

make sure you stream the next one or come to the next one. Very, very fun. And yeah, you might see me. You might go against me. Who knows? Let's get to this episode. So we come back from the Theo and Adrian

versus Leroy in America. When it comes down to elimination, it's been two since we spoke to you that you've been in. Season 40, the ball's in in the cage essentially with Jenny. Yeah, what a good one to go in. Yeah. If I remember correctly, you had a little injury and then he went against Johnny and Gabe.

So talk about the way that season ended. And then, you know, like, what was your game mindset coming into 41 after 40 ended? So that concludes the free preview of the Zach Nichols podcast. So go to Patreon and subscribe to see the rest of the shit that we talk. Go do it now.