Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) is here to chat to the cast of Survivor 50! Join us to hear from your favorite returning Survivor players!

Today, Mike Bloom sits down with legendary players Coach Wade and recent winner Dee Valladares in an engaging pre-season deep dive. This Survivor 50 preseason interview special puts the spotlight on returning icons, unexpected alliances, and the ever-evolving gameplay on the Kalo tribe. From Coach’s personal transformation to Dee’s fearless attitude about her winner’s target, Mike brings out candid thoughts and new dynamics set to shape the season.

The conversation starts with Coach Wade reflecting on his journey since South Pacific, sharing how becoming a dad, letting go of chasing “dragons,” and working as a music teacher changed his approach to the game. He opens up about valuing humility, playing from the bottom, and lessons learned from past seasons, especially on owning his moves and not shying away from tough truths at Tribal Council. Dee, meanwhile, channels confidence and excitement about facing a cast of all returnees. She talks about adapting to higher stakes, leveraging connections, and facing the winner’s threat head-on, arguing her social game and adaptability will keep her in the running for a second win.

Highlights from Coach’s “Friend or Foe” rapid-fire round, matched by Dee’s own take, set the stage for fireworks and surprising partnerships. Both wrestle with old-school versus new-school dynamics, size up threats like Ozzy and Emily, and weigh how to use big personalities as shields. The episode dives into alliance potential, social reads, and the importance of both vulnerability and strategy in paving a path to the end.

– Coach Wade explains his “Coach 4.0” strategy shift, focusing on humility and flexibility
– Dee Valladares reveals her plan to work around her winner reputation and build tight bonds
– Both offer honest reads on the major players—who’s a friend, who’s a threat, who’s a wildcard
– New school vs. old school friction and the impact of back-to-back returnees
– Inside stories from prior games, including Coach’s notorious deal with Ozzy and Dee’s friendship with Emily

As Survivor 50 gathers a cast full of major competitors and proven winners, will Coach’s transformation pay off, or will Dee’s unshakable social game clinch her another million? Who’ll come out on top in the battle between old alliances and fresh connections?

Chapters:
0:00 Survivor 50 Cast Revealed
6:01 Coach Reflects On Personal Growth
12:13 Coach’s Friend Or Foe Game
17:00 Coach Forgives Ozzy, Game Lessons
23:16 Coach’s Strategic Factions Explained
29:38 Coach Chooses Gandalf As Loved One
33:22 Dee Returns Confident As Winner
36:06 Dee Plans To Play From Bottom
39:43 Dee Starts Friend Or Foe Choices
47:08 Dee Talks Emily Relationship Tension
53:37 Dee Shares Thoughts On Kyle
56:11 Dee Critiques Unknown 49ers’ Advantage
57:33 Dee Wishes Julie Was Cast
58:37 Dee Picks Bad Bunny As Loved One

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Today, Rob Cesternino is joined by Chicago sports writer Sam Phalen for a Sports-Themed Survivor podcast, diving deep into player resumes as they debate which Survivor contestant is the greatest professional athlete to appear on the show. Super Bowl weekend sets the stage, with major league sports accomplishments and Survivor performance both in the spotlight. Right from the start, Rob and Sam highlight the crossover between real-world athletic achievements and Survivor gameplay, with Jeff Kent’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction sparking much of the conversation.

The podcast breaks down an impressive list of 18 Survivor alums, from NFL tackles and Olympic swimmers to race car drivers and MMA fighters. Sam and Rob explore each player’s athletic career—like Brad Culpepper’s nine-sack season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Elizabeth Beisel’s two Olympic medals—as well as their Survivor strategies, alliances, and challenge performances. Along the way, they debate if longevity in professional sports outweighs a season-defining idol play, and whether athletic skills always translate to success on the island.

Highlights:

– Jeff Kent’s resume as MLB’s top offensive second baseman and recent Hall of Fame nod

– Brad Culpepper’s dual-threat status: a decade-long NFL tackle and physical Survivor challenge beast

– Uncle Cliffy (Cliff Robinson)’s legendary 18-year NBA career and swap-screwed Survivor fate

– Elizabeth Beisel’s story as a two-time Olympic medalist and impact on Survivor 39’s early power dynamics

– Funny moments like John Rocker cosplaying as another MLB closer and the myth of Julia Landauer’s “vanilla” edit

From big tackles to hidden idols, this episode asks whether physical and social skills really work together on Survivor. Who will take the crown for best professional athlete—does longevity, challenge wins, or a Survivor first matter most?

Chapters:
0:00 Intros
06:41 NFL Players Battle for Top Spot
13:13 Julia Landauer’s Racing Career Examined
20:12 Gary Hogeboom—Quarterback vs Safety
29:28 Steve Wright’s Long NFL Career
36:36 Jimmy Johnson’s Survivor Removal Decision
47:23 Crystal Cox’s Olympic Doping Scandal
55:04 Brad Culpepper Dominates NFL Survivor Rankings
1:02:02 Tyler Frederickson’s Kicking And NFL Trials
1:12:01 Multiple NFL Survivors Compared
1:17:12 John Rocker’s Baseball Controversies Discussed
1:29:32 Uncle Cliffy’s NBA Survivor Legacy
1:43:32 Tom Laidlaw’s NHL Survivor Placement
2:01:52 Elizabeth Beisel’s Olympic Medals Ranked
2:11:48 Jeff Kent’s Hall of Fame nod

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LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed
WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Mike Bloom (@AMikeBloomType) is here to chat to the cast of Survivor 50! Join us to hear from your favorite returning Survivor players!

Today, Mike Bloom sits down with returning stars Charlie Davis and Chrissy Hofbeck to unpack their headspaces before heading back to Fiji. Mike chats candidly with this pair of notable runner-ups about their approach to reputations, trust, and unfinished business in one of the most anticipated seasons ever. Survivor 50 is set to have its most strategically dense cast yet, how will big targets like Charlie and Chrissy navigate alliances, old wounds, and shifting game dynamics?

The episode dives deep into the minds of Charlie, fresh off a heated Final Tribal in Survivor 46, and Chrissy, reflecting on her original run from Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers and her journey since. Both guests discuss how life changes and Survivor experience affect their gameplay, and they reveal which players on the cast list feel like allies or threats going into the new season. Mike leads the “Friend or Foe” game, sparking open commentary on who these returnees most want to work with, who’s raising their threat level, and which old-schoolers or winners carry the biggest targets.

– Charlie weighs whether to lean into or downplay his “robbed finalist” reputation

– Chrissy shares how surviving a major health challenge gives her new perspective and resolve for this return game

– Both players open up about struggling with trust, pregame alliances, and being seen as physical threats

– The importance of cross-generational Survivor strategy, and where middle-era players like Chrissy might find social capital

– Candid takes on castmates: from the enigma of “Rizgod” to the danger of connecting with old allies or winners

With reputations on the line and eyes on the prize, Survivor 50 sets the stage for old rivalries and new partnerships alike. Will Charlie’s vote math finally work in his favor, or can Chrissy rewrite her story in a more connected, less lonely season? Who will outwit, outplay, and outlast in this stacked game with shifting alliances and unpredictable twists?

Chapters:
0:00 Survivor 50 Kalo Tribe Preview
6:43 Charlie’s Jury Management Lessons Learned
14:12 Forming Connections With Returnees
21:00 Navigating Old School Versus New Era
32:30 Chrissy’s Survivor Comeback Journey
36:02 Overcoming Health Challenges Before Survivor
41:00 Positioning Within Survivor’s Evolving Eras
45:21 Friend or Foe: Cast Reactions
52:19 Winners and Unknowns: Threat Perceptions
54:57 Chrissy Reflects on Missed Castaways
57:01 Preview of Upcoming Kalo Interviews

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!
LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed
WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!