Carolyn Wiger Talks Survivor 47

Everybody, what's going on? Rob Sestrino back. And I'm so excited to have some bonus podcasts coming your way this week. And, you know, we had Gabe talk about the Mount Rushmore of the new era. And what a great time to talk with somebody who is a lock for the Mount Rushmore of the new era. Here she is. Carolyn, weaker. Carolyn, how are you?

Yeah, you think so because sometimes I what's that syndrome that is called where you

that I suffer from that 100% and I have a hard time. It wasn't until I'm not kidding. During the season when the season was airing, I didn't read anything because I had gotten the, I had scenes like some bad stuff before the season started and it made me cry for a week and I'm like, I promised myself I would never go online and search my name again. Anyway, but my dad would always send me the good stuff, the positive stuff. Other than that, it's like I wouldn't have known what people thought of me or

And I still now like, like it's just crazy. And so hearing that it's like, who are you? I thought you were going to like be talking about poverty or something. But poverty is not even from the new era. Or not or whatever. Like you know what I'm saying? Like somebody like more, I wouldn't think me. Yeah. Carolyn, I also I wrote a newsletter for our reality TV newsletter. And I said that you were on the Mount Rushmore of all time confessional givers.

And you know what's crazy about that? And it's kind of like, believe in yourself. Yeah. Because even then when you see embassies in the first confessional where I'm struggling, what I was, it's hard. And I didn't think that I would, I remember thinking,

I'm probably not going to get many confessionals. And I said that to production out there. I said, hopefully I don't get purple this season. I truly believe that I truly believed out there. I was like, I don't think I'm going to be narrating the season because why I don't speak like a lot of other people, I get nervous to come on your podcast. And I've told you that because I don't talk or sound like people who are so eloquent and so well spoken, you know? So thank you.

Yeah. Well, I'm so happy that you're here. I'm so glad that you made the time to do this. And we'll talk a little bit about survivor and everything that you have going on. You're a podcaster now.

I'm trying and to be honest I look at a lot of your stuff and you're doing such a good job and I mean that like there is no one who do like I don't even want to like be like hey hopefully I get to the level of Rob because it won't happen like and you you put some hard work into it but you do so well and not just with survivor it's

like you're recapping everything. And people are excited to do RHAP. It's the truth. When, before I did Survivor, what did I listen to? RHAP, what was the thing that Stephen Fishback, he posted, or he did the, but it was outdated. He did the blog. Nope, this was old. And then like, if you read through the whole thing, I think the last word was like fake fan or something.

Steven Fishback did something and the last word was fake fan. Fake fan and it was a test to see if you had had listened to all of it. Yes. Wow. It was what was it? It was like how basically like a bunch of secrets that if you like play the game, like basically like a how-to guide. Wow. And Steven wrote this? No one uses it anymore like I believe. And so I wrote to you before I did 44 and I was like,

Is this still relevant to survivor today? And of course you didn't see it because whatever you're you and I listened to all of it. I did all that stuff to prepare. I would go on your site. I would watch stuff. I would read stuff like all the Bloomberg crap. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah. So you just do a lot. Yeah. All right. Well, tell me about your podcast that you and Carson are talking about the season.

Well, recently, so I'm trying to, it's hard for me because I don't like to read a lot of the comments because I'm not that like, I don't want, I want to shelter myself from like, if there is hate, you know what I mean? I don't need to like, rude my day. But at the same time, it helps for constructive criticism and feedback. So recently somebody had said, Carson said this last night, he's like, yeah, someone was saying that we don't talk about the episodes enough. So.

Because we've been having guests on, so they're like, you need to, if you're gonna have an episode recap, you have to talk about the episode more. Yeah, but you know what though, that to me, and I don't really do a lot of episode recap of, I watched the episode, what do I need a recap for? I just watched it.

Yeah, but that's what you do though. And then this happened, and then this happened, and this happened. But I don't know, maybe because I do so many podcasts, but I don't think I've never done a survivor podcast where it's like, okay, now I'm gonna say every single thing that happened on the episode.

but you do a good job at it and staying structured and you keep like key points. You do where it's like, okay, I can tune in and kind of get a play-by-play of what happened. So people, but I'm listening to the audience and they want a little bit more recap. So we're gonna, we're, you know what I'm saying? I get a little excited with the guests sometimes. Yeah, you've had some great guests on the podcast too. And I would love to talk about that in your experience. What's been the biggest challenge podcasting about the season?

about this season in particular? Or, I mean, I guess, this is the one season, I mean, podcast about Survivor 40, what, five a little bit, and then? 46, I think. I don't even remember. Maybe it was 45, and then, yeah. Yeah, so this season, this season. First of all, the technical stuff, you have like a great setup. It's beautiful. It's like, you've got the lace. Yes, but I had four.

It's just not. This is like, I change my setups. I want a permanent setup like you. I also, my microphones haven't been working and my, like I've just been having a lot of technical difficulties, but I would say other than that, like the hardest part is like,

watching and it's so different once you've been on. Do you not? I mean, I know it's been a little bit for you, but it's like, I see the beach and I'm thinking all of this stuff of like my experience. I'm watching it through my and it's hard day to watch it. Like how are you still?

That's what's hard. And then I want to be kind to people, but also I have opinions. And so that's a balance too. It's like, I don't want to be a bully because I know how it feels to like, I don't want to like be mean to people, but it's like a balance of like having an opinion. Well, could you speak to that a little bit because I think it's so interesting because that you, you know, you talked about how, you know, your

sensitive to criticism. And so you don't want to read criticism that's out there about you. But also you want to be able to talk about the show and then also keep it real and be authentic about it. And not everything is going to be just 100% fine and dandy with everybody. So how do you find that middle ground? I don't. And I'm a hypocrite.

I'm serious, Rob. I really like, I do because we had Angelina on and I was like, she's like, yes, but like, you got to be kind and I'm like, sometimes I don't want to and we might make fun of you. It was hard. Can I say, Carolyn, that that should also be okay, you know, that somebody should be able to say that, you know, I didn't like that. That wasn't that wasn't good. And maybe you don't say it 100% perfect.

And then it should be a little bit like, okay, well, you know, I did go on national TV to go play a game. So it does come with the territory a little bit.

It's true and I don't wanna say there's such a difference between even making fun of a move versus the personal attacks. I had people say that they were literally saying I was on drugs, she's on crack, she's just about my personality and there's something wrong with her. I had so many personal things where it was like,

Okay, that's me as a person, not like I made a stupid move. So there's a huge difference too. And I would never ever like attack somebody's like personality, but I have been even like when it comes to this season where I feel like protective over certain people, like Andy, where I felt so bad for him that first episode. And so like as a former player,

I wanted to reach out and just be like, don't read, don't read what people say, don't because that was a bad first episode. It was all I would be, that was really bad. So I just feel like protective in that aspect of things, but also it's just like we put ourselves out there and I'm not saying that that should welcome hate, but have fun with it, make a joke of it, you know?

Now, it's been a couple seasons since you've played. How often do you find yourself reaching out to the current players to like give them advice or to say like, hey, you know, I'm rooting for you.

not often and it's not it's just I mean it's only recently that I finally like even turned my notifications back on for like messages. I didn't um there's so many people that I still haven't responded to because I was really really like during the season and then even afterwards and then stuff just kept getting like crazier and busier and I couldn't respond and it wasn't

I'm not okay with giving like responses like, hey, thanks or yep, okay. And so I would give these deep heartfelt responses to people, but that's not enough either. So once you do that, I couldn't keep it going. And I was spending so many hours responding to people that I just completely shut it down and I wouldn't respond to anyone. So I wouldn't get my reaching out to you.

I don't like to separate it, Rob. I don't. And so it makes me uncomfortable too. I don't want to sift through my messages and be. The players are fans also.

but even like people will be like, oh, so and so reach out to you or, oh, this person like, you know what I mean? Like where it becomes like, I never wanted to sift through, yeah, I'm a fan. I never wanted to sift through the messages to like be like, this one, this person's more important than this one. So I'll reach out to that one. I wanna go through all of the messages. And that like was too overwhelming. So when they come in,

I can't, does that make sense? And so I just don't, how people get a hold of me now and this sounds like really weird, but like people will usually like get a hold of Carson and they'll be like, hey, I really want to get a hold of Carolyn. Can you tell her that I'm trying to get a hold of them? And then I'll reach out to them or, or if it's somebody like Andy who is clearly was struggling and had that episode, I naturally am going to reach out to somebody like Andy because I feel for them.

How about when you played? Did the previous players reach out to you?

It wasn't until like, and this is where again, I would say like midway through the season, I stopped checking. I stopped looking, but it was like one of those things where like, again, I have like the imposter syndrome, but also it was like, I really thought that I was gonna go on TV and just be the freaky weirdo who people made fun of. And I was okay with that, but I don't know. It's like, it's like the more like the positive response I got then from people. It's like,

I didn't know who was like genuine or who just, you know what I'm saying? And I just don't, I already like have trust issues. And so I didn't know, you know what I'm saying? I don't know who is actually. I'm not sure what you're saying that you didn't know if people were like trying to pre-game with you for a comeback or they were clown chasing. Or just be fake with me. Be fake with me or like, do you get like, you don't know me. And so it's like, what's your motives here?

Is that not, am I still playing the game then? I don't, maybe I have trust issues, but I just didn't know how sincere people were. And so I just,

You know what I'm saying? So typically I'll need somebody like Todd Herzog to be like, hey, Carolyn, you can trust this person. Look out, it's true. And I trust Todd Herzog. So it's like that I kind of need like a reference. Otherwise, like, you know what I'm saying? Does that make sense? Yes. Was that something that you had to deal with from before you played survivor or was it going through survivor that made that a big issue to trust people?

Oh, that's just been an issue of like personally just being burned by people, you know, absolutely. And that's why, and I'll carry this into like even that's something I'll continuously work on. And I'm really open about like when I struggle, I don't stay stuck. I do self help groups. I'll do therapy all, but that is a continuous struggle of mine. And then obviously like I know the cast has been announced for the traders like put me on another show with trust and

So yes, this is a game, but it's so emotional too with these games and you see it with teeny and I won't, I know we'll talk about that, but it's like, when you're in the game, it parallels your real life and whatever struggles you have in real life, they are gonna come out a hundred times more out there.

Yeah. So Carolyn, that I'm glad you brought that up because this was something I was thinking about as I was watching the episode. And you know, we have that moment with teeny where everything is going on with Genevieve. And she felt like that Genevieve, Hey, did you vote out salt to humiliate me? And she said, no, no, why would I do that? I didn't do that. And teeny is in this really tight spot in the game.

But Tina tells us then in confessional, like, hey, this bad spot that I'm going through in the game reminds me of something that I'm dealing with so much in my real life. And I thought that that was so interesting because I think to myself of like, okay, now I didn't play survivor in the new era.

But the whole thing about the new era is that it's fast. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You don't have time to think about things. And so I thought that that was just very interesting that Tini was feeling that way. And with everything that was going on in the game swirling around, got Tini thinking about life outside of the game.

of course. And I related so much. Oh my gosh. And I thought of like, I was crying right along with Tini because like, it's like you're out there and you're stripped away from everything. And so you do start to like self reflect their stuff that was

creeping up from like the stuff that I thought that I had dealt with stuff that okay I'm still struggling with that it completely like triggers all of like whatever issues that you might be having in your regular life because why this is a game about emotion in relationships and people as much as they want to try to separate it like

You even see Genevieve like kind of like this is hard. It's hard. It's a game about emotions. So I just completely related to where Tini was at and just feeling like, where do I fit in? And now here I am out here. I keep getting blindsided. Where do I fit in? And then you go to tribal and it's all about like community and we're fitting into the community. And it's like Tini's probably thinking like nowhere.

I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out. But you have those moments because there is, yes, it's go, go, go. But you have those moments of reflection. And so even when I got blindsided by Carson and from Jam Jam, I loved that. And so for me, it brought me back to every single time.

that people that in my life, that people that I loved and trusted betrayed me, it did, it brought back. So it's not even necessarily like, I'm crying about a game move or, oh, it put me in a bad position or like, it hurt because I'm a human being. I can't separate like the, it's too hard for me. I can get over it, but it takes me a little bit longer because I truly care about the people that I'm playing with. It's hard.

Genevieve and Teeny had that conversation in the beginning of the episode and that it was so interesting that they were coming at this from two very different perspectives of Teeny who didn't want to play a very emotional game, like has been like unable to avoid playing an emotional game and making emotional connections. And Genevieve has almost come into the game and said, you know what, I'm not going to have emotional connections to people.

I'm going to be all business and I'm not going to let my emotions be part of the game. And so for either of them, is that possible to be able to be just all of one thing and not both?

And I just still don't understand, I think that regardless people make emotional, there's going to be decisions that are made that are emotionally driven by some people. And I think it's more obvious than with certain people when they're more outward with their emotions.

You can't deny that this is an emotional game and where you have to literally make bonds with people. But yes, I think that there are certain people that are just able to do it and certain people who aren't. I am one of them. I can't.

I can't. And I think that it's even getting to Genevieve. Like, yeah, she's out there and she's, I'm going to do this and I'm going to, but you see it kind of get to her a little bit, right? Or were she faking those tears? I don't know. She's very expressive and very fun to watch on the show. Do you think that now having gone through this whole experience, do you think that Genevieve is going to be different? Or do you think that we're going to see Genevieve as she called herself, 007 last week or 007.

Can I, first of all, I think it's gonna catch up to her. Yeah. Absolutely. I think that you can, like, eventually it catches up to you. Do you, I mean, what do you think? I don't think that that can, people find out, people, she's already, like, like, teeny, she was so close with teeny, it's like, and then the soul thing, like, I just, I don't get it. I don't, I don't understand. I think it is gonna catch up with her, I do.

People are already on tour. People are already on tour. And I didn't think it was going to be as big of a thing, but then it felt like it kind of blew up to be a bigger thing. And everybody was like, who's whose idea was this? And then it ends up being Genevieve. So that's where Rachel is in the better position, in my opinion, because no one really is suspecting. No one knows. Oh, you know what I'm saying? But it's like, yes, everyone knows now Genevieve and teeny, like,

Well, now in Genevieve is kind of at the bottom and then, you know, she is such an intimidating player, I think, in the minds of the others. And so I don't know how she's going to necessarily be able to come back from that.

Now, I know, I don't know. That's the thing too. It's like, you wanna like, that's what's so annoying about, I haven't heard the word big moves in a while or people even saying that anymore. See, I think that one of the things about the new era is that we started the new era where it's like, hey, gotta make a big move, gotta take out whoever's the biggest threat. And then what happens is you make the big move, you take out the big threat, guess what?

Now you're the big threat. Now you're the person. That was exactly. But it's so boring. But for Genevieve, I thought that she had kind of stumbled onto a good idea of like, hey, Saul's not the biggest threat. He's the medium threat. I'm going to take out a medium threat, and then I won't be considered to be the big threat because I just took out a medium threat. It was something new.

Yeah, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't, sorry about dogs. It doesn't matter because it's like, well, whoever just did something is, you just did something. You just did it. So you're done. It's true. Like you're done. So it just, in my opinion too, and I've said this like,

I know it's not smart, but it's a lot more fun to watch. I think that's like a lot of the reason why people were like even with the show or when you're on Survivor to be a little bit more inactive. No, be active. That's why I loved watching Rome. Was he smart?

Yeah, out there. No. But was he fun to watch? Yes, I'm talking as a viewer. It's like, and as a fan, I don't want to, like, I'm sorry. I feel like that's why a lot of people, like, even with the, well, no, there's a lot of reasons with, like, the Gayler win, but it's like,

So many people too in the new era where it's like I gotta be under the radar, I gotta like people can't know that and it's so boring to watch. So I appreciate like when stuff actually happens. I like chaos, I like like, I like people, you know, I do like eventually turning on their alliances. But with this season where I'm having a hard time connecting.

I'll be real because I'm an emotional person and I watch for different reasons and it's the truth. I don't. I like watching crazy and I like watching chaos. So when Rome left, again, I know he was not like the people were saying how ridiculous he was and just like.

He wasn't great at a lot of things, but he was so fun and he to he how I looked at him as somebody who went out to play survivor into really play and not in the most smart way, but in a way where it's like, I'm going to check everything off this bucket list. I'm going to make sure I do this and look for an idol. And as like as someone who's been out there and a fan, that's

fun i want to see someone who's doing something not i don't need necessarily like the smart moves i don't but what i'm missing is like the the connections with people i think i don't know who it was who just said we're just like a random mix

of people who it's all like chaotic as far as like who's close with who it's like a bunch of people with like broken relationships people who've turned on each other you have like Annie Rachel Sam like there's no loyalty there yeah I need some loyalty other than suit and gave it was like

You know what I mean? Sue gave Caroline that was like kind of something. And now Caroline screwed over Sue. And so it's just like I like to actually see like people working together in emotions and alliances, not just a bunch of people screwing each other. So I have enjoyed the season and I've been having a lot of fun, but it seems like what you're saying. And I think I agree with this is that as far as the, if you're going to retell the story of the season to somebody,

What has the story of survivor 47 been? It's kind other than like, well, there was this guy Andy and he kind of had an emotional moment and then he came back from it. But other than that, it's just been a little bit of like a mishmash. There's not really like your season.

There's a real story of like, okay, well, there's Carolyn and there's Jam Jam and there's Carson and there's sort of like nobody was thinking about them and they stuck together and they were able to sort of like weave through. And there's a real story in that season. To this point, we have not really gotten like, you know, a story of survivor 47.

They're on, I don't, like, cause I'm enjoying it, but I just want to see, like it's, it is, I enjoy watching when like, even when the vote outs where it's like, oh my gosh, this person betrayed that person. And I guess you could argue, okay, Caroline and Sue, Caroline did it last night to Sue. I like seeing Sue's emotion and Sue being like, I can't stand Kyle and Kyle, that whole montage of work.

But it's like, that's real. That's how Sue is feeling. But again, I liked the connection of like, OK, these two are going to stick together. Gabe and Gabe Sue in Caroline. And now that's even out the window. So it's like, and then with Tini, and with Tini, there, with Tini, and Janet, I mean, it's just like, Carolyn.

I don't want him that he's probably gonna spit up his bone, so I didn't want him to do that. Okay. How's he doing? Just ate a bone. He's good. He's way hyper. Everyone who meets him, they literally say like, I can tell that that's your dog. Like, because I think people say that like, you are like your pet. Yeah. And so he's just really like, he's great though. I love him. He's my best friend.

Yeah. I know when we had talked, Lester, you said that he has to have a certain diet or he's going to. Oh, he died, Rob. Oh, that's it. Oh, I'm so sorry. Oh, my God. No, it's fine. I've grieved it. He was ready to go, but this one's hairless too. He died.

I had to put him, I had to put him to sleep. So he, he was older than crap. So like there don't feel like he was, he was ready. He was ready. And so I found this one like, I felt like I'm not ready to get another dog and it's so hard. It's so hard like losing a pet because it's like, you don't want to replace them and nothing will replace them. But I knew I needed another hairless. I just did and I'm like, I found Jerry.

Yes, okay, well, I'm happy for you. You're probably like, what, can't believe this monster brought up this new dog? It's old, trust me, it's okay. And I like these dogs because for me, when I adapted the first one, and you might wonder what kind of people, yeah, make fun of like dogs or make fun of even still, when I go to the dog park with the hairless dog, people are like,

What's wrong with him? What's wrong with him? And that's what I love about these dogs because they're different. And it's literally like a teachable moment. Every time I go to the dog park and a little kid tries to pet them, pet them. And I get to say, you know what? He was born that way. And it's okay to be a little bit different. That's what I have in my dog. Beautiful.

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This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Okay. November. This is a month. It's all about gratitude. And one of the things that I'm especially grateful for is the audience of this podcast who have listened to me, not just talk about reality TV, but often I occasionally can vent about different things that are going on in my own life. And I appreciate you being there for me.

But another person that we don't always get to thank enough are ourselves. And sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we're trying our best to make sense out of everything in this crazy world. And it's not easy. So here's a reminder to send some thanks to all the people in your life, including yourself.

Now, maybe you don't have a podcast where you can talk about different things that might be on your mind. Better help is a great place to be able to talk about anything that might be on your mind. If you ever thought about giving therapy a try, give better help a shot. It's entirely online and it's designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you get matched up with a licensed therapist and you could switch therapists at any time

for no additional charge. So let the gratitude flow with better help. Visit betterhelp.com slash RHAP today to get 10% off your first month. That's better help. H-E-L-P dot com slash R-H-A-P. Carolyn, how do you feel about there being a Caroline on the season? Is that annoying? You can't stand it. I don't like it. Yeah. Is that bad to say? I don't like it. Like that's too close to my name. Yeah.

It is, I wouldn't like, you know, I was lucky that I played in a time when I was, you know, there was Boston Rob, and then there was another, then there was two robs on his first season. That's why they had to call him Boston Rob. And then there was a Rob with two bees that had skateboard.

And then I came on and then people said, like, how many Rob, well, they'd have Rob every single season on that show, but then they never had another Rob since then. And it would be so annoying, I think, if they had another Rob on Survivor. And I know that like, and that's why I think a lot of people do try to like do like the whole nickname thing. You never thought about that, like to differentiate yourself, you never thought like. Well, I would try with Boston Rob and then they called me Rob C.

But I mean like to do some, call me Little Rob. I didn't like that. Exactly. Like you don't, they shouldn't even cast people like two on one season. They shouldn't. It's too much. But I think that's why there are people who try like the Jilinsky's or Voché was like, I want to like you don't, you don't want to be a David. You don't want a common name because you're not going to stand out. It's true. It kind of takes away like

Yeah. But not everyone can do that either. But I think like there's only two Rob's and there's the Boston and you like where the other ones. Yeah. Well, thank God they call him Boston Rob. Even when I'm not around, they still call him Boston Rob. It's hard not to. Like what is it? Like, you know what I'm saying? But you're Rob and that's Boston Rob. Rob and all other ones. Yeah. It's true. So tell me about Gabe. What did you think about Gabe?

Do you want to come back to somebody else? No, because I want to be like, OK, I think he was playing great. He's just not someone that I'm rooting for. And so I have a hard time then talking about Gabe in like a.

You know what I'm saying? I need to be able to talk about people, even people that I'm not rooting for, but yes, I just wasn't. But I think that's okay. You could not root for Gabe. What was it about him? Was it that he was overconfident?

overconfident that dance. Like, I know. And then even just like underestimating Sue, like Sue is coming back. And I do believe that. And I think people are completely underestimating Sue. They are. And it's like, you know what? Sue is coming back in this season. Yeah. I think Sue is kind of like people. I was like making a call about Sue is going to be that.

No, like I just think Sue is kind of like, you know, it's not. Yeah. She's kind of not been in the background at all. But I think that people have kind of looked at her viewing wise as someone who's just on the outskirts of gay. Can we talk a little bit about Sue? Because I thought coming into this season, okay, here's Sue. And I was like, and you know how it is when the new cast comes out. They say, okay, this is the new this person. This is the new this person. And so, okay, here's Sue. This is the new, this is the next car, Carolyn.

Now, nobody there could never be another Carolyn, but I kind of feel like, okay, well, I was the Sue. Well, I thought that Sue was like then a, a Carolyn type that that was going to be, it was going to be like a big character. But I have to say that, that Sue to this point. I heard that. Okay. Well, this was maybe a Rob original, but, but, but Sue has not been like you very much at all. I don't think. Rob, are you kidding?

I'm not like there's not and I don't want to say I that's what I love about like everyone is unique and everyone is like different in their own way. And I think like even when we make assumptions about like people like that's going to be the next Aussie or that's going to there is not going to be a next Aussie. There's not and I'm not like comparing myself. What about Kyle? Look at these one four.

No, no, even with the wins. But what I'm saying, so I just feel like I don't want to see like replications of other people. I think Sue is like a different, I'm just surprised you said that. Did I offend you, Carolyn?

No, but like girl, I just, I've never heard that, I'm shocked. And I didn't get that from, I think Sue's like sassy, and I love like what she's doing with like the makeup out there, like with the mud and like contour and stuff. What is she doing mud as makeup?

Absolutely, 100%. Can I confirm that? No, but I can't confirm that. I haven't talked to Sue, but yes, I think Sue is doing her makeup out there and I love it. So can you take that through for me? Because I have heard people say like, okay, well, maybe she's like doing like a facial. Maybe she's like using the mugs. No, she's contouring, Rob. Have you ever contoured? No. So she is doing... Carolyn, I don't even know what contouring is.

Oh gosh, neither did Carson. So like it's literally like that's a work of art. So the fact that she's able to do that without a mirror, she's doing it perfectly on her cheekbone. So when the lights and the cameras, they hit her face, you are

seeing like her cheekbones so defined, you are seeing her lips and her up like right here. The way that the lights and the cameras are hitting her face, it is accentuating all of the light. She did. She will more people start using the dirt as makeup. Absolutely. I use the charcoal as I like eyeliner and I am at there like and.

and uh... eyeshadow to do a smoky eye so i absolutely like why not you get so bored out there sometimes i don't care that was what i want i would take i would i would take the the the charcoal i would try to make it look like i had abs

I think that nobody's ever tried that before, but wouldn't that be, but you know what, it would be bad because then people was like, oh, he's a threat. Look, it was like very defined and muscular. We have to get rid of him. So I think that maybe I would do the opposite of I would try to like maybe like make it look like I was like in in in bad shit. I don't know how I would do that with the dirt.

Oh my God, it's fault. No, like you got to do crap like that out there. I think that what isn't talked about enough and maybe I'm just not hearing it, but like how much there again, it is go go go. Yeah, but there's so much downtime. There is so much time.

Yeah, okay, now it's only a hypocrite because it is go go go and there definitely is like it's too fast and At times where you feel like oh my gosh give me a down day But there is a lot of down like there's downtime where you're just sitting around like

There's just time in between even after the challenge before where it's just like I can remember my memory is literally sitting in the dirt Looking up at the tree and we're playing I spy. Yeah, that's not fun And so it's like doing things like like doing bowling or Q did the hide-and-seek Yeah, those are the things that it's like it makes it fun out there But that's horrible like it was awful. Yeah, it's very boring

So it's like there's those moments where it's, I know we're playing a game, I get it, but you'll go crazy out there. So it's like doing makeup, like having jam, jam do my makeup or seems to like take a little bit of time and do her makeup. Like you gotta do fun stuff like that out there. It's a lot of boring time too in between.

Carolyn, we saw in the episode this week that there was the rice negotiation. And yes, you know, you wanted to sit out for rice, right? I should have like Carson was sick and then they got the rice for the tribe.

I didn't want to rob because of the challenge. And I was like, you know what? I got a tattoo on my armpit specifically for you. You got a cartoon tattoo for this challenge. Yes. Yes, I did.

because I had this dream and this goal of doing an endurance type challenge and having my arms up and here, it hit me, here we are. So that's what my driving force was with this challenge. I was like, I can't sit out. I have this armpit tattoo that's gonna like keep me. This sounds so crazy, but it's the truth.

So I was like, I need to do this challenge because my thought was, is I'm gonna look at my armpit and see that I have a smiley face. So I'm gonna look at that armpit, I'm gonna see the smile and it's gonna carry me through the challenge. It did not. So all right, so you ended up doing the challenge or you sat out?

I did it and I was the first one out and then Jeff I remember was like you Carolyn first one out didn't even and I'm like did you get the armpit you had the armpit tattoo you didn't get it

Yes. You got it for the survivor. For survivor, for an endurance challenge because I thought if anything, I'm going to do great at an endurance challenge and I'm going to have that to carry me through. I was out first. I should have known better that, hey, looking at my challenge history, I don't think that I should be one even trying to compete. So I was not one of the people who sat out. I should have been. Yeah.

Was that a painful tattoo to get in an armpit? No. No. No, I can handle pain and like it was, it's just more tickly. Yeah. So that. Carolyn, I don't have any tattoos. And I think about getting the tattoo on. Don't? No, like, I'm not saying now at your age, it's just kind of like... Because my arm is too flabby now and... No. If you haven't now.

if you haven't at this point. No, actually screw it, Rob. Get a tattoo. I take that back and don't think too much about it. I waited too long. If I would have had 12 tattoos, I wouldn't think anything of it. But now it's so precious of like, oh, what's going to be the tattoo? I should just get a smiley face in my armpit.

Everybody does that though. That's the problem with a lot of things in life. We overthink things. So whether it be a tattoo, like I'm not gonna think, yeah, you could say it's on your body, the rest of your life. I don't have a tattoo, like there's no tattoos, I regret. And there's been a few, but I cover it up with something else and make a new memory. So don't think too much, but if you already know. What's the most painful tattoo to get?

I got my eyebrows tattooed before I went out on Survivor because I was afraid they'd fall off in the water and I did it like right before so I looked just crazy and it looked like Sharpie brows but my friend does an amazing job but it hurts like really really bad it hurt that's the only tattoo that I've ever which it's tattoo like she tattoos

That's the only one that I've ever been like, this hurts. All the other ones like, and I can handle physical pain. Like I just can. It's like, no, it's like the mental pain, that type of torture that's bad. I can handle physical like tattoo me off. But to go back to the smiley face that you got cast on Survivor and then you went to go to the tattoo part line tonight. Okay, I need to get that smiley face in my armpits. Did the tattoo artist ask you why you were doing that?

No, no, it was just like the norm. You know what I'm saying? Like that's just what we do is we get tattooed. It wasn't weird. And I think because I have them on so many random parts of like everywhere that like, you know what I mean? And who are you to question where I'm getting a tattoo? It's a little strange. I'm saying it's an artist might it's because that may be an unusual place to get a smiley face because people think it is a armpit. That's that's weird.

It's not exactly. For some people. And what's been cool is I've had quite a few people send me pictures like after, because you could see it on the season, like they did a shot of it. And I had quite a few people send me pictures like we've gotten that smiley face tattoo after you. Wow. Yeah, it's cute. It's just little, it's just cool. Yeah. So do you feel like that Jeff made a good trade? It's a trade seven shots in the dark for the bag of rice.

I just, here's the deal with those shot in the darks. I just think they're worthless, like get rid of them. And I just, I truly believe that when we were out there did it, did it, did it kind of like stir up the vote sometimes? Yes.

But they were so, like when you think of like the probability of like, okay, and we know how many times it's worked in the new era, like we know, you know what I'm saying? It just wasn't like, I feel safe with my shot in the dark. No, it doesn't, it didn't never had that like effect with me nine times out of 10. I didn't know where mine was. Do you know how many times I would wake up and it would be in the sand or other people would wake up and be like,

Hey, I think you lost your shot in the dark. That happened so many times. Well, even Kyle was like, I can't believe that you actually went for this. You took my idea. I can't believe it. That was cool. And I, as a fan and being out there, I would be like, wow, this made history. And I would feel like this is really cool. But other than that, like I don't, was it like a great

I just can't stand the shot in the darks anyway. And so like they're not that valuable. And if you have to rely on that thing, that's how I feel. Did you like it when Rachel played the shot in the dark instead of playing her idol? That was smart. Yes. So yes, there's there's there's moves like that where it's like, okay, then that makes sense. And that I get that. But other when it actually comes to like, I just don't feel like they have that much power.

Yeah. I think that they're very good at like really making everybody panicky about the vote as somebody's going to be like, oh, they might play their shot in the dark. Okay. What do we do? We need a back. Yeah. Like if anything, it made things more straightforward for everybody. So yes, and I like what Gabe said, like that makes sense. It like takes away that like, no, we're not like it's more like straightforward. This is what it's going to be. But

I just, I don't feel like giving those away. Like, I don't, what did you think? Were you like, wow, am I the only one? I was surprised that Jeff went for this because I didn't think it was that big of a deal for people. Cause I'm like, I don't even know how much longer they could use the shot in the dark. Exactly. And I don't think people actually look at that. Maybe I'm the only one, but on my season that those things were falling out of people's pockets left and right and nobody seemed to care. Yeah.

It doesn't seem like, especially at this point in the game, like I kind of feel like in the pre-merge, it's kind of a bigger deal. Yes, like you see like with Maddie getting voted out, no one's voting at tribal council, that was like crazy. Well, Jamie actually hit the shot in the dark. What? Jamie, she was safe. Oh, I killed my God, how do I not ring?

I was just thinking in terms of just people losing their vote. And she did a good job of saying, hey, I'm playing my shot in the dark and then people didn't vote for her. So I really feel like that at this point in the game, I feel like the shot in the dark is not very useful.

That's one that I just, I really, it just doesn't need to be there in my opinion. It's just, no, but it was cool. It made history. It was cool for Kyle. Like I did. I was like, oh my gosh, they didn't just him recognizing that. Like that's fun as a fan, but like, I don't think that the shots, the shot in the dark, is that powerful? And. Carolyn, if you were out on Survivor 47, who do you feel like that you would be most likely to be working with in this game?

Can I ask you who you think first? Who do I think you would be working with? So I'm trying to think of the players that you worked with in your season. So I'm gonna say, I think that maybe, could it be teeny be the person that you would be working with?

teeny absolutely i think so like even here's what my season i think like yeah how do i don't know how you connect with people around but how i connect with people is by sharing and opening up and that's the thing on survivor especially like

on my season and it happened like there was moments with me and Franny where we actually like shared with with one another about like past experiences whatever but for the most part there wasn't a lot of that on my season me and jam jam did it me and Carson did it but a lot of people and I

I shouldn't have been shocked because it's like we're playing Survivor and not everyone wants to put that out there, but it's like that's how I connect with people I can't have and that's why I struggled even like early merge I can't go I'm not like one of those people who can go into a room and be like

So and make normal conversation with people. I don't know how to do that. I want to immediately talk about your trauma, your pain, your back story, what got you here. I want to get deep. Not everyone wants to do that. So there's so many surface level conversations, especially

entering the tribe that merge like, I am not going to be that person. Anyone wants to like come to and talk to you and be like, they'll be like, I'm not sharing that with you. And for the most part, even after a few days, people just didn't want to share.

if teeny were to open up like teeny did in the confessional then i think that we would be good but i need to feel that yeah me and jam day one if you were telling each other our life stories because there's certain people like that you just connect with and you feel that with and other than that like i didn't get a lot of that i need that with like someone i can trust and obviously we were like all over the place yeah but

Well, something from your season that I actually really related to was that there was a point when the merge started and we felt like that, hey, all these people in the merge and it's like this big group of people and I don't really fit in with that. And that's something that I really do experience of that. I feel like that a group of people coming together, I really struggle to fit in with the group.

absolutely and it's like where and I truly am I've said this recently I am blessed with the ability to not give a shit I don't care if I let's say I walk into a room and

Everyone is, but you can't really do that on Survivor, but let's, like, I won't, I'm not gonna get embarrassed because I'm alone, like, on TV, or I'm not gonna get embarrassed because I look like a freak, or I burn my shorts and there's a big hole, or I have a big poop stain on my ass. I don't- Can any of those things happen? A few. I burn, Rob, don't look at me like- Okay.

I'm gonna avert my gaze. Whatever, I'm not normal and I get that. And so it's like, but I also know that like it's gonna be hard for me to go into a group and like say normal things that everyone else is talking about. So yeah, you hear me like, I like sweating and I don't remember it going down like that. And I asked Frannie and Matt at the fair, I was like, were you guys seriously staring at me like that? I didn't remember it like that, but again. What did they say?

She's like, yes, Carolyn, we were literally like, because I was like, did they edit it like that? She's like, no, we were literally like, what the hell? I'm like, well, that's the story of my life. I'm so used to that. I'm not going to fit in everywhere, but that is like, that's OK. And that's what I try to even tell the people that I meet with when I do my sessions. It's like, for teeny, everything different about you or all those areas where you feel like you don't

fit in. That is the most beautiful and as you try to like find that, everything different about people is beautiful in my opinion. Like I love it. I don't want to like be with the, so I really take pride in like if I'm not fitting in with anyone, I'll sit over here alone and I'll talk to my dog or all. That's okay. It is so exhausting Rob and you know this.

Can you imagine going into a group or going into a conversation and feeling like you have to put on a front of like somebody who you really aren't? I don't have the ability to do that. I just can't. And it was no different on Survivor. I can't fake and go out with these people and be like, so Danny, tell me about the cannolis. I don't fit in with Danny.

And it's the same reason I struggled on the journey. Those were people who they didn't want to hear from me. They didn't really respect me. And it's like, that's OK. They're not going to get deep and emotional with me. Come on, read the room. Did you feel like Rachel this week when Rachel was sitting there with Sam and Kyle and they were really going back and forth about their plans for Gabe? And then Rachel was like, OK, well,

Sam and not that it didn't seem like that those, you know, Sam and Kyle were just ignoring Rachel. But it was a little bit of like the guys talking and Rachel was more sitting back and not as much as she was being ignored. Exactly. I didn't look at it as her being ignored. Like it was very clear that I was and I think that speaks to like even how Rachel presents herself versus how I present myself. Rachel's not like I'm like the squeaky.

You know, where Rachel is like, while I perceived it more as like Rachel's just kind of sitting back and like being the strategic one, kind of listening, kind of, that's how I saw it versus not like them ignoring her or disrespecting her or they still have like valued her opinion. I did not feel that at all for a lot of the game.

Not at all. You said that you burnt your shorts when you were on Survivor. We saw Tini. And so did Tini. Yeah, Tini, the bag went on fire for Tini. What do you do?

That's symbolism. And I was like, that is your, that's your new start. I agreed. I was like, yeah, what do you do? That's the thing. So many people too, like freak out. I had so many people saying like, you burn your shorts, you and I'm like, whatever, let it happen. There's worse things that could happen. I have a full one.

I was drying them and everyone told me you're going to burn them. They're too close to the fire. And I'm like, if they burn, they burn and they burn. And they were fine. It's like everyone else around me was stressing out about my hole in my shorts, except for me. I loved it. And I'm like, it's fine. Same with her bag.

It's functional. There's nothing wrong with it. So it's like, this is a new start. The bag still works. Did she lose any clothes, do you think? Or was it just the bag? I think just the bag. But at that point, so many people are gone. I'm sure they're like, I know seriously. Because I would imagine that what happened was that Tina was sleeping by the fire. Is that what happened? And then her head is on that.

That's the thing, like, too. It's like, that's your pillow, that's your blanket, that's your everything. And like, you're literally sleeping in the dirt. Did you sleep in the shelter when, like, your season where you're sleeping in the shelter? So that we slept in the shelter, but our shelter burned down.

that we had a whole fire that there was one guy butch. And he collected. He was like, we need more firewood. We need more firewood. And then he got so much firewood. And then we went to the, we went to the reward challenge. And when we came back, not only did the whole shelter burn down, all of our bags were in the shelter. Was this on TV? Yes.

Yes. And can I tell you what, the worst part was that all of our other clothes were in there. So then I basically, the last like eight days of survivor had just like a tank top and just the shorts I was wearing. And that's it. Why didn't they move that? Why didn't people move like the production will move?

Oh, that's that's a question for, you know, the survivor at the Amazon production. But I think he's crazy. They used to say then that like they would be fired if they interfered with what was going on. But yeah, no, it was it was not good, Carolyn. And I we were freezing.

I can't imagine like cuz you you're freezing at night. That's the thing I just basically had like a like a little tank top and the short side was oh That's when it's hell. That's it That was the worst and then it also and then it rained like every night after I was like the rainy starting starting up the rain season in the Amazon and it was horrible

That's the hell of the game. Well, they talked about this on the on fire podcast about what it's like when it rains. And that's really the worst where like I get like, you know, uh, be, you know, whatever the survivor version of PTSD is like sometimes I'm outside and it's raining as like, Oh my God.

There's no, that would be horrible. And then you're freezing and you, no way. And everything's wet and you don't have any clothes. Like that is truly hell, I'm sorry. Like the worst thing about survivor is, you know, if it doesn't rain, you know, and I didn't play in the new era, but I'd say all the time that you could do a hundred days of survivor if it doesn't rain.

If it doesn't rain, the rain is the absolute worst and we didn't have a ton of it, but yes, it completely, you're just shivering and you're all wet and everything's wet, you're a bit, you. So now like. And I think that what people don't get, because it like on the show, it's like, oh, it's raining at nighttime and it's the next day and everybody's like groggy. It's like, no, these people didn't even go to sleep because they were soaking wet in the rain all night.

And there's a hierarchy when it comes to the tarp. And I remember when we came, it was, it really was, it was Lauren. All of them, like all of Rottu was, they were in the shelter. We were like sleeping in the dirt, like just when it came down to the tarp even, it was like me, Carson and Jam. We were like on the outskirts. I'm like, can I get a little bit, nope, we were pushed out.

We weren't even under the tarp. And I'm like, Oh my gosh, can I like, can somebody just let me in? It's awful. Yeah. That's how it was. We were on the outskirts completely, even when it came to like sleeping arrangements. And you can tell where you are in the game, right? Bye. Oh, yeah. Bye. It's true.

It's true. The kings are in the shelter and all of us freaks. It would be me, Carson, Jim, I'm not kidding you. We were literally on the outskirts. Like, I'm like, can I get a little bit under the tarp? Nope. Anyway, like, I'm, yeah, I know I'm like thinking about it and I'm like, no, thank you.

Carolyn, I would love to hear a little bit about your podcasting experience because you've had some interesting people on your podcast. And I saw, I saw most recently you talked with Russell Hance on your podcast. Russell is,

Russell's one of those and I don't want to say characters. And I've talked with Russell many times over the years on the podcast. And Russell, I feel like that there's like two sides to Russell. Absolutely.

Absolutely. And for me, during my season, he had started some stuff. And I've heard about Russell and even read some of his stuff where I'm like, what is he doing? But he was starting some stuff with me on Twitter during the season. And I'm like, what? What is he doing? Do you agree about that? Yes, you were feuding on Twitter.

Yes, which I'm just like, come on, it's Russell. And then, but at the same time, I was like, what is going on in this person's life and how I looked at it is this person just wants to stay relevant and wants attention. He likes to smoke.

It's pretty simple. But at the end of the day, I was like, what is going on in this part? And that's where I think a lot of people would be like, who cares? Why are you even digging into it? Let that blah, blah, blah, blah. Well, I was curious. And I'm like, what is going on in this person's life where they are going to call me these names and for what? Are you OK? So I talked to them once or twice since then. And then like everyone else, I was like, oh my gosh, when we started the podcast, I'm like,

oh he's so controversial he's so I'm like we shouldn't have him on and then I'm like you know what I've talked to him a few times and like I'm seeing a different person than the person online and so I really wanted to just dive into that like who are you as a person because we know who you are on Twitter and we know who you are on TV but

But is that really who you are? And he was so vulnerable and so open and like, am I excusing his past behavior? I don't know. I've done a lot of terrible things in my life too. A lot of things that I'm ashamed of and embarrassed of in my past. I mean, it's not anything recent, but...

when I wasn't sober. So it's like, OK, I'll give him a chance. I'll talk to him. And it's like, he gets deep. He gets real. He opened up. And yes, he is 100% this Twitter villain in this villain on TV. And I believe that he just never knew how to shut it off. And that's for everyone. We all have the shit that we struggle with. And we all come off in certain ways to mask that or to

He's very sensitive. I enjoyed having a conversation with him. And he was, he was, I did. And I liked his perspective because whether you love him or you hate him, just like Richard Hatch, you can't deny the impact they've had on the game and how they've shaped it. Well, certainly. And that really is a great tie back to Gabe, who said, I want to keep the spirit of Russell Hanson alive.

in the game. And it really is kind of a shame in that Russell is somebody who's survivor really, you know, celebrated for quite some time, that really, that when you look back at that era in which he played, you know, I've called Russell survivor Viagra.

And he came along at a time when Survivor was not so much longing for characters. They had just come off of a season where they had Tyson, and Coach, and JT, and Steven, and Gabon had characters. But in terms of the gameplay and what he did in terms of bringing together the hidden immunity idol,

as something that could be used as a weapon. You know, it really was not thought of in that way before Russell and the fact that he could go and just go out and create paranoia by looking for it. And then also what gave I think tried to bring back of like he had his people and he was going to stay loyal to his people.

and really create panic around while they're not moving. So we better, we got to do something and they might play the idol and what are we going to do? And it really create a lot of chaos and interesting gameplay. And he really brought that to the show and they got addicted to Russell and really that he plays in survivor 19 and survivor 20 and then they take a season off from and they bring him back in survivor 22.

And then it's not even Russell himself, but then they bring back, they bring his nephew into the show and maybe that's not a decision that should have been made because his nephew is a very young guy at the time that they bring him back.

again after he's been through the, you know, the ringer of like playing. Um, and maybe it also rustles a little too hard on his nephew. And then the family, uh, like is like, Oh, you screwed up. Uh, and then he comes back and is, uh, not in the right headspace to play the second time. And then also they blame him. Rob, I have so much empathy for Brandon because you know what? And, and here's the problem too. Right? When he played.

I thought he was 19 or 20, but he's the deal he got so much hate from his like the family was at the time Oh my gosh who comes out there and is like what are you doing? And then Russell coming at him at the reunion so it's like but here's the problem is like Russell feeling like he had

to play this character and then Brandon then coming back and feeling like he had to play this character and it all just explodes. And I truly believe that Russell has not really known how to turn it off since leaving. And then his brother plays on Big Brother and then gets evicted from Big Brother because, and then I think that CBS is a little bit like, all right, you know, too much. We did too much with the hands is let's go away from it.

Isn't that what they wanted at that time like he was in no offense like even rewatching like he has like the dumb girls Alliance and yeah, that's kind of but at that time You know it you were on the Amazon with the frickin peanut butter shit It's like that's what was at around like even back then with like people in their bikinis and they're getting naked on that was that time So with Russell and his dumb girls Alliance. Yeah, that's what was going on at the time so

Why is he like some like bad person for him? I don't know. He did. I think it's all the stuff like he did outside of the game. It's not for anything that Russell does on the show, but I think that because he ends up and then I think then he's like, you know, like on

But on social media and saying crazy stuff on social media, because I think that the show says, there's the clip of Jeff where he's like, I think Russell's a bad guy and we don't want him to play again. But I think that Russell probably would have played again on a game changers.

That's what I told him, except for his ego, you need to just shut up outside of this and you don't know how to turn it on. And we're living in 2024. But he did say, he looks at Twitter, TikTok, all of it as TV. He doesn't look at it as any different. And I'm like, you can't do that. You can't, because it's offensive. So I think that he would have been so much more successful in future things. I'm like, why aren't you on the traders? Do you know what I mean? Or how should I need these other things? How's the village needs Russell?

Like, you know what I'm saying? And so I said, you're not getting called because, or unless he is, I don't know, but you know what? It's like because you're so offensive online, turn that down about 20 notches. He just goes one step too far. Exactly. But he's a good person underneath.

And I think that maybe that ability to go one step too far is what made him into the great television character. Exactly. If he didn't have that gear, would he have had all of the greatness that he had at that time? But I think that the thing about Russell, and I hope I'm not getting myself in trouble with Russell talking about this.

But I think that where Russell was best was when there was an editor giving you a version of Russell. And then with social media, when Russell was his own editor, that was where there were problems. The guardrail was off on social media.

Exactly. Because he was like, are we going to go live? I'm like, are you crazy? I will never go live with you, Russell. Like, no way. Yeah, Eddie did Russell was always the best version of Russell.

Yes, but that's a person like again and we want to play and I think that we live in this society too or it's like people get written off and then it becomes like the trendy cool thing to like write those people off and it's just like You know what I'm saying like we all have opinions and it doesn't mean You know a chance for redemption and Russell went through redemption island

Yeah, exactly. I'm sorry, I just like, I really like people who, I don't know, we all have difference of opinions and he clearly is somebody who has like struggled and I don't care. I've got so many people who do, who would message me and they're like,

Don't you give him a chance and don't you and he's just lying to you and he's okay. So what if he is, then I'll get burned. I don't know, but I like to give people a chance. Yeah, Carolyn, I feel like, tell me if I'm off base with this. You're kind of like your shorts and people like Carolyn, those shorts are getting a little too close to the fire. Like, no, I like it. That's fine with me. If it gets a little burn, if it gets a little burned, who cares? So what?

I'm gonna get, I'm gonna get a little close to the fire. Let me, let me in every conversation. My shorts, let me get, let me get them a little close to the fire. Who cares if they get a little bit?

But before that, I'll be fine. I can handle myself. But also, I feel like I have this ability, too, to just when I talk to people, for them to open up and share. I've enjoyed my conversations with Russell, and there's just so much more to him as a person.

than all of the bullshit, but I feel like people like Russell feel like they have to go into rooms or go into conversations and be this person and you don't. I'm like, Russell, I like talking to you when you aren't being this freaking freak of a character. You don't need to be, but that's what happens in real life too. And Tini talks about this in the episode where I feel like I have to be this way or be this way. And it's like,

Yes, fight it for anyone listening, fight it because it is so exhausting. Feeling like you have to be anything. Can you imagine going into one room, going into, I'm like a chameleon? Oh my God, it's too exhausting. So it's like be okay, being alone sometimes. Be okay.

just staying in with your dog, like that is, it's way less stressful than like going, or if you do go out places, like I am, even for the watch parties and stuff that Carson and I would go to, we would be like eating macaroni at the bar with our juice boxes, you know? We don't need to be a part of like, what is that like the cool thing to do? No, we'll be eating our kids' meal.

It's just, if you don't fit in, you don't need to. No, is that enough? You don't need to. Or literally you, that's you like pasta and a juice box. No, that happened, that happened. And I prefer like to just like, I don't need to be in with everyone, you know? And it's okay, it's way more stressful when you put yourself in these environments. And then, huh, everybody, no, like sometimes I don't fit in. A lot of the times I don't fit in. And I, that's okay.

That's okay. How was talking with Richard Hatch?

He's so smart that like, but he's the, he's the definition of what you just said about like players who can like separate it. And like he doesn't even know if he's a Genevieve, but Genevieve, I'm sorry, he has emotions a little bit. I see him. No, Richard, Richard very much. And I spent a fair amount of time with Richard when we were on the All-Stars and then we were out of the game at Ponderosa.

What did you think of him? Have you talked to him once last time you've talked to him? I have not spoken to him recently. He's like, again, he's one of those people. He is an incredibly interesting person. And I think he has very interesting things to say about many, many different subjects.

Thank you. He does. And I like, I can't really keep up. He's so, he'll text me things and I'm like, honestly, you need to put this into a phone call because I don't even know what you just said. He's really smart and he's deep and he's a thinker. And he does do well at these games. I mean, he didn't do so well in House of Villains, but like come on, that show is crazy. But he's again, another person who like changed to this game. And it's like, I just feel like,

I will say that I think that Richard is a very smart guy. And I think that he's a very interesting guy. I don't think that he has a lot of empathy.

Oh, none, none. He doesn't get it. That makes him not such a great player. I think he was an innovative player, but I think he is, as Russell might say, a flawed player, because I think you have to have empathy to be good at survivor and to be great at survivor. You have to, in the way he talks, I was like, oh my gosh, but he recognizes it, but he was saying like, even on House of Villains, this is where you went wrong and this is, and it's like, and you can't even fake

No, no, and that's where like this isn't football. This isn't like you have to at least like you have to. This is emotional whether you want to like accept it or not. Like you have to build bonds. You have to.

He's just like, nope, poop. And yeah, he's a different level. But again, so he's got to adapt a little more. And that's what he said with his house of villains. He's like, I, like, it's a whole different ballgame now. And I did not adapt to the situation. I didn't know. Like, I did not realize like this. Who else have you interviewed this season?

Sandra, so who was it? So it was Reed Kelly, Sandra. Reed, I'm watching. How was Reed? Because we're watching Survivor San Juan Del Sur. It's been 10 years since Survivor San Juan Del Sur. And so as you're watching it? Yeah, we're watching it week by week because it's been 10 years anniversary. Oh, I can't. Here's the deal with Reed too, is one of those people who's so talented and so great at everything. But that speech, I'm sorry.

that I go, did you plan that? And yes, he did. I think he was like writing and journaling and stuff before.

That was like, oh my gosh, I would never be able to even talk like that, but it was so beautifully written. And so, oh my gosh, I love rewatching it because it just shows his personality, but he's great. He's a great friend of mine. And I just really respect him. And he's just does really well with like, he's so talented with every, he's one of those people who just is great at everything. And what I love about Sandra is,

And you know that Sandra is the most realist person around where she just draw like nothing. I could ask her the day before, will you do the podcast? Sure. What time you need me? I just really like her. She helped me so much before traders. She was like my like just a great person to rely on to call. And she was just so helpful. But she gives a shit. She cares. And she's so real. I love Sandra. I would like I don't know if she like.

She, it is, but she's so real about it where there's certain people where it's like, I don't know if I'd click with you, like, Sandra don't give a shit. She, every, she'll click with everyone. I would love, I didn't realize she was so amazing, like, cause she was someone I would have been scared to like reach out to. It's true. And then the traders happened and that's when I was like, hi, she is so, I mean, I can't say enough good stuff about her, but she's just so,

real and so natural and just so, okay, I can see why she would do well out there. She just, as it, and she makes you comfortable, I really like her. Sandra, do you have her on here? Oh, many times. When's the last time? I just feel like she's so... Yeah, we talked to her after the traders. After the traders, yeah. She's amazing. So, yeah. Yeah, I just saw her at UNC a couple of weeks ago.

Oh yeah and she's at all of this stuff but even the way she's able to do it kind of like how you you're very like and you get people like you're able to stay on track and like that's where I struggle with the podcast is like me and Richard's the same way where we went all of a sudden it was dark out we were talking for hours because Carson's stuff wasn't working

And all of a sudden it's like hours later and I'm like oh crap and I can't I'm going on tangents and Richard's going on tangents. That's where you're good at like do do do let's move like you're a good that's a good podcaster. That's where I struggle. I'll just go on into oblivion.

Yeah, but you know what? I think that you are a good tandem of, this is what I say about podcasts and that a great podcast, and I'll say this this way, needs one organized person and one person who's a big personality. That's what a podcast needs to be.

And if it's too slow, is this live right now? No. Oh, I saw the live up there. I got distracted. I was like, oh, sorry, Rob. You're good. That's my, okay. Yeah. And I agree with you. Is that what like? If you have two people, there needs to be a polarity there of that. If you have two organized people, but neither of them are personalities, then that's not going to work. And if you have two personalities, might be fun for a little bit, but it's not going to get anywhere.

No, you're right. You're right. It's still, it's, it's, and that's where I feel like Carson like keeps me on track. But I've been, honestly, I've been on him recently about he's not smiling enough. I felt like, but I get that like, I told him he needs to smile more. Don't we can fake it? I, I told him like, start smiling or you're out. You'll replace him. You'll get out your, your number one ally. That's very new era, Carolyn.

I have to if he's not gonna smile and don't you know how this is? Remember when I even told you, Rob, I was like, you were losing, you weren't smiling for a while, which I understand because these are long. But then I started to see that glimmer in your eye again. In this podcast, I wasn't smiling.

Yeah, I feel like I told you that at the end of, yes, you were, you were, you were, you were exhausted, which I don't blame you. You were doing 12 hour long podcast. That's a mistake. Oh, this is not today. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk. No one needs to talk.

But your glimmer came back. The sparkle came back after there was like a few, maybe it was during season 43 and that could have just been because it was season 43. I don't know. But it was your glimmer, but it came back.

During 44? Yeah. I feel like that the start of the new era for me, I think, was rough. I think that the show got back. There was a lot of stuff that people were like, I don't even know what this is. There was a lot of serious stuff. The show was very serious, and I like to have fun. I think Survivor is both things. I think Survivor, the best Survivor, there's serious and there's game, but it's also fun.

And there's funny moments and funny characters. And that's the peak survivor to me. But I think that the start of the new era was very serious. And the gameplay was very jam-packed. And the fans were also like, this is too much. This is too much. And so... What are you supposed to talk about then? You're like, huh?

Right. And a lot of times that I don't know if survivor sees it that way, I'm kind of like the customer service department of survivor, you know? I'm out here. Yes. And, you know, if they send out a product that's defective, you know, they can't get a hold of, you know, the people that made it, they're calling customer service. And I'm like, hey, hello, survivor customer service. How can I help you? Like, yeah, you know what? Yes. That I really didn't like, they took all the votes away.

It's like, oh, okay, let me see. Is there anything that we could do about that? Do you, don't you feel like they look like, because I know you can't say all this, but like, you are very like, hello, oh, people listen to you. Do you feel like they? It listens to me.

or even like CBS survivor like you have like the majority of there's like a they listen to a lot of things I but I don't have like a direct like line to production of like hey change this I don't like I'm sure that there's like they get feedback and I really do think that in the last couple seasons

that I think- You're a big presence though with the fans. That can't be ignored, Rob. Well, I think that what I do is a lot of ways I give a voice to a lot of the fans to be able to share some of their ideas or even their frustrations. And I think that that's a helpful part of this community that ends up happening. But I do think that they found a good balance in the last couple of years, I think, from where we started in the new era.

I agree though. I don't think it was too serious. At the end of the day, yes, this is a game and it should be fun. I think your season started to be the beginning of that curve.

you know like what are we doing I know this is a game for a million dollars and I know but like it should be well I guess that's what 50s all about is fun so you know we'll see or joy yeah so we'll see which I do like a little bit of not joy though too but you know well yeah you know with I'm enjoyed this is sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't

Because that's why no one ate some. Which could be found very much on Survivor. Nobody eats either one. Heck no. Don't you tell me that's your favorite candy bar or something or I will judge you. Yeah, it's a big favorite at my house, the almond joy. No, it's not. Yeah. And yeah, Carolyn, can I tell you my son, when he was little, that we would get them,

And I would say like, oh, I'm in joy. And then my son, he was very little that he reached into the candy bowl and took out the other can like like, oh, I'm enjoy this Snickers. I'm enjoy this. I'm shocked. Are you not? I'm not saying I'll enjoy.

No. Oh. So he thought you were saying something out. Yes. Yes. So you don't actually like I do. I do. I do. What's that? It's coconut almond chocolate. No one. If you asked a hundred people, what's your favorite candy bar? It's not my favorite. It's not my favorite, but I do. I think it's like it. I like it. I'm judging you. Same with people who like milky ways, like no, I don't even compare milky way or three musketeers to am enjoy.

Oh, but you don't like the coconut when you were on Survivor? No, I mean, I ate it because I had to, but like, no, that wasn't like, yeah, I would eat. Coconut's OK, but again, like, I'm not going to eat. You like Kiwi? Oh, yeah, I love Kiwi, but I wouldn't eat like that wouldn't be like. Yeah, I love all that. OK.

I'm just saying like that wouldn't be like almond. It wouldn't pick it out. All right, Carol, what else is going on for you? Are you still cameoing?

Yeah, I had to take, well, there was like two days that I had to not take a break, but like just turn it off for two days. And what they're doing right now. So now I'm like, have you heard all this? So I was posting all the time. Because I'm like, I want to be Boston Rob. I'm never going to be Boston Rob. And I've kind of accepted that.

No, you were not. But they did this like two months ago or three months ago, you know, three months ago. They had this ranking system. I was always number two or three, two or three. I gave up trying to beat Boston Rob. Well, then I turned my account offer or I had to take a break for two days. Now I'm like number 10 or something. And I'm not going to lie, it was getting to my like, I was like, what?

actually got what we're gonna, but you know what, Rob, it's like, it's okay. It's, I don't need to like, I'm not gonna be Boston Rob and that's okay. I'll work my way back. We all have to come to terms with this, Carolyn. I don't want to though. Are these charts? I talked to Q on the podcast the other day and he said he turned his off for a little bit.

Yeah, I did for two days and now I'm number and now I'm not this was like a week ago I just had it off for two days like where it wasn't doing requests and I'm like cameos

I love it. I spent, so we got our year review thing recently. I have spent over 66 hours filming cameos this year. So I love them. I go really deep. I go really personal. I love sharing. I go longer than a few minutes and I truly enjoy doing cameos. I love it. It's fun. See, I thought I was maybe I was charging too much money. I'm looking at everybody else. Maybe I'm not charging enough. Maybe people are like, oh, it's not worth it.

Well, I do sales too once in a while, where I'll do like that. That's the young bucket up and then have a sale. But also, it's like, I kind of just have kept it at this, like, when I couldn't keep up with them, I was way higher or like, you know what I mean? But like, I consistently get them. I enjoy doing them. I love cameo. Maybe I'm shadow banned on cameo. I'm not even on the charts.

You got to, Rob, you got like, but you're so busy with others, like. Like I can't, some of these people are getting more cameos than me. Brad is getting more cameos than me. Well, what's crazy is we were always told, or I don't want to like bring attention, but like we were always told like you can't do until after the season and now like after all. Yeah, I don't think they care anymore with them. They don't care anymore, which is great. Less season people are in the middle of the season.

Yes, because Q, I was like, oh my gosh, how are you able to do that? But- You know what it's like, it's sometimes, and, you know, being around the block for a little bit, maybe this isn't, oh, maybe the view top survivors, okay. I don't think I was looking at the top rankings. But anyway, you know, they care about things a lot, and then they sort of stopped caring so much, and then somebody like gets in a lot of trouble, and then they start caring about things a lot again. Boston Rob's always number one though. Yeah.

Okay. And so I'm just saying, I post a lot about them though. I post a ton of, like Boston Rob's just one of those people that will always just be in everyone's face. It's true. But I post a lot about them and I share mine a lot and I enjoy doing them. I think that shows. Yeah. So book me on Cameo. I love doing pep talks, birthdays, anything. Yeah. I'm looking at how far I am down the list. Now I'm getting competitive.

Maybe it's like, if my camel turned off, what is it? What, how is this? No, no, no, Rob, don't let this mess with you. I'm not in the top 53. Rob, don't, okay, what am I right now? You're 10. Yeah, that's, I'm usually two or three, so do you think that wasn't my same with myself as Dean? A little bit? Yeah. I mean, like people that are like, people that like quit the show are like doing better than me on camera.

What are you? Are you like all the Australian survivor people are just like killing me? Rob, like, I mean, get that. What are you like? I don't know. Maybe I'm too accessible. That's true. Are you doing them for free? Like, are you on the list at all? I don't think I'm on the list. So you can see the whole list of people. I'm looking at the top 53. I need your top survivor. Do I need to opt into being on the list?

No. It's horrible. No, don't. You're Rob. You don't need to worry about it. But like, here, like, because people were saying that to me, like, because I kept posting. And I'm like, I'm trying to be Boston Rob. And I couldn't, but whatever. Frickin Joey is destroying me. I thought he, I thought people weren't even allowed to get cameos from him. Who is that? I don't even know who that is. Joe Anglum?

Oh, okay, I didn't know who that was. Yeah, Bruce is killing me. Trust me, I know how you're feeling right now. And that just, again, I can't just always be two or three, but I was feeling really insecure. I must be shadow band.

No, here's the deal, put this on your Instagram story. Book a cameo with me and I guarantee you'll be back on that list. Okay, I'll try it. It's true. Here's what my pitch is gonna be. I got him.

Christmas is coming, okay? Unless Q cancels Christmas. Yes! My kids, do you know what they, in their free time, they just put stuff in the cart on Amazon. And then my wife is like, well, they deserve it. No, they don't. They get in trouble every day. They should get one thing.

My wife like, it's Christmas. You're such a granny. It's Christmas. It's Christmas. It's Christmas. Like, well, how am I going? You call me a Grinch, and then I get no cameos. Book me. Book me today. Yeah, you'll do great. All right. Book, put that out there. Well, Carolyn, I had so much fun. Thank you. I can't wait to come back. Please come back.

Yeah, and good, Rob, I know we don't, I'm not talking about the traders, but it's already released, but I'm excited to come, I get to come back on here. Yes, okay, the traders, what was it, first week of January, was it January 9th? January 9th. Oh, January 9th. Are you excited? I'm very excited, I'm very excited. I try not to think about it too much because I don't wanna get spoiled, I don't wanna think about how it's gonna go, but that,

They've got an incredible lineup. And this time around, it's you and Boston Rob and Jeremy and Tony. I mean, this is like a fever dream. Can I ask you a question before we go? I like to ask people this. So answer honestly, were you surprised to see my name on the list?

I was because they have traditionally gone with people that were not recent players. And from Stephanie, from Sandra, from Parvity, from Suri, they had not been dipping into that pool. So I very much was surprised.

I asked Richard this too. He said he wasn't surprised. And I, cause I was like, I was surprised. I didn't think it was real. And anyone who ever told me like, Carolyn, you'd be great. Like I was watching the show live with my son. I was loving it. And so like getting that call, I never thought that, especially with it being poverty, all the old school players, you think like I never thought in a million years. So yeah, I was shocked too.

All right. In the meantime, Carolyn is talking about server 47 with cars and where could people listen to you to.

Oh, thank you, I was supposed to do this. Good, see, that's why you're good at this, Rob, and you know how to, gosh, that's what I gotta get better at. Okay, so you can find us at Let's Get Tribal Pod, and it's on Spotify, on Apple, it's everywhere that you get your podcasts, is that what you say, Rob? And on YouTube, Let's Get Tribal Pod. Okay, check it out. And then, yeah. And then you can get some Carolyn Cameos, help Carolyn on the list. Yes.

I mean, look, help Carol. Actually, book you. That's fine. I'm joking about the cameo. People are very generous with Patreon and everything, but I just felt like a little bit like I'd like to be in the top 53. I'm not here to beg people to buy me cameos from me, but it's just like a little bit of like, oh, I'm like, hey, things are going great. And then I look at cameo and it's like, oh my God.

I know it stings a little. But they didn't have to make a chart. I know. And they only did it one month. And so we were grinding like, whoo. And now they've been doing it every single month. I'm like, I can't even attempt to try to beat Boston Rob every month. It's not happening. Yeah. Well, I'm not even trying to beat Boston Rob. I am. You know, I'd like to just get in the top 50.

You know, top one, I hope I'm in the top 100. They, they cut off after 53. They don't care about the hundred. It's just 50. And if you're not there, you're not, I get it. Okay. Well, thank you. All right. Well, Carolyn, what about Instagram?

Um, Carolyn rose with the zeros. Yes. All right. Carolyn, thank you so much. Thanks everybody so much for listening, looking forward to seeing your comments. Uh, and please be nice. I want Carolyn's dad to be able to share positive comments with her. Oh, but Rob, honestly, like, well, like come as you are, you know, that is, but that's correct. Like, yeah, be nice, but like, and if you're not, that's like, I get it. I'm not.

for everybody. All right. Take care everybody. Bye.

So we say, don't go process to need no You are the best that we know Just grab no bike and we go on We live by a simple credo And promise a podcast we ever hear No, process to need no time to fight