Today, Rob and Mike discuss the last two players on the Tuku tribe, Tiyana Hallums and TK Foster.[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Did you know that tens of thousands of German companies already use Shopify?
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[00:01:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Hey everybody, what's going on? Rob Cesternino back!
[00:01:04] [SPEAKER_02]: It's Day 9, the final day of our preseason two-a-days
[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_02]: as we are so close to the Survivor 47 premiere.
[00:01:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Back here with the man who has talked to them all.
[00:01:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Give it up for Mike Bloom!
[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Ah Rob, I am cuckoo for tuccoo
[00:01:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I am a fan of this entire cast in general.
[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_01]: I can't believe it, we've come to the end of the road and the good news Survivor fans is
[00:01:31] [SPEAKER_01]: by the end of this you'll have everything you need to know about these castaways
[00:01:34] [SPEAKER_01]: and you only have to wait what like five days to actually see their feet hit the sand?
[00:01:39] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know Mike, you haven't asked me for my Survivor hot take.
[00:01:43] [SPEAKER_01]: Well I feel like you've given plenty.
[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know, I would have clip words in your mouth and said the hot take from the summer
[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_01]: of they don't need to replace the tribal council set every season.
[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_02]: That was a great take.
[00:01:53] [SPEAKER_02]: But maybe this is a bit of a hot take.
[00:01:57] [SPEAKER_02]: This was a great preseason.
[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_02]: This was like a good length of time.
[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Honestly, I mean a week would be cutting it close
[00:02:04] [SPEAKER_02]: but I think that they could do it like on the you know drop the cast
[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_02]: you know 10 days before like the Monday before a premiere Wednesday.
[00:02:13] [SPEAKER_02]: So I don't think you need all that preseason.
[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_02]: I think you just hey it's out there home stretch like let's go.
[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I mean I think much like the new era game proper you want to find that middle ground right.
[00:02:25] [SPEAKER_01]: You don't want it to be a week where everyone ourselves included are rushing to find out about these contestants.
[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, admittedly sometimes the momentum to the momentum does run out a little bit.
[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_01]: The plane perhaps starts to you know peter out in terms of altitude as we get into more flight times.
[00:02:40] [SPEAKER_02]: I thought that was age altitude.
[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Age is just a number.
[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Altitude is just a number as is momentum and energy levels.
[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_01]: But happy to keep up the momentum this entire season.
[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_01]: We've got quite a close here Rob.
[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_01]: We've got Tiana.
[00:02:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Big finish Tiana and TK.
[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_01]: Two people that I would honestly say could be viable winner candidates for people out there who are jumping into their drafts.
[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah two really interesting people to hear from.
[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_02]: OK so first up Tiana we have been talking about her a little bit in these days leading up to it.
[00:03:12] [SPEAKER_02]: First native born Hawaiian to appear on the show.
[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_02]: More about Tiana.
[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes so Tiana is a 27 years old.
[00:03:22] [SPEAKER_01]: She's from Aia Hawaii.
[00:03:24] [SPEAKER_01]: She is a flight attendant.
[00:03:26] [SPEAKER_01]: The whole native born Hawaiian thing it's been clarified to me there's a little bit of an asterisk on that because I do believe Laura Morett I think was born in Hawaii.
[00:03:35] [SPEAKER_01]: I think also Brad from from I think Brad Culpepper.
[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_01]: No Brad Brad Verrata.
[00:03:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know if they were born in Hawaii or if they are.
[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_02]: But with these firsts where look there's a Hawaiian here.
[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_02]: We're excited very much.
[00:03:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah because Tiana definitely brings that island energy to a very different island but don't get it twisted.
[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_01]: She is someone that is also willing to play a game.
[00:04:01] [SPEAKER_01]: She will lay those flowers on to you as she slips that knife into your back.
[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_02]: All right so let's check out Mike's interview with Tiana and we'll come back and we will give our thoughts on Tiana.
[00:04:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Well let's start by having you give me your name your age where you're from and what you do.
[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_03]: So my name is Tiana I am born and raised on the island of Oahu.
[00:04:25] [SPEAKER_03]: I am a flight attendant right now and I am just stoked as hell to be here.
[00:04:30] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah yeah.
[00:04:32] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean I'm going to congratulate you because I believe you are the first native born Hawaiian to compete on Survivor.
[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_01]: How does that feel.
[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I absolutely am and that there's the amount of pride that comes from just that statement alone is just truly out of this world.
[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_03]: Like I am so excited to put on.
[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_03]: So obviously I'm doing it for my family for the island but there's just an entire population of people that have not been able to be represented in Survivor.
[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_03]: And I'm just so excited to just break that wall and just like go for it.
[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_03]: I can absolutely show that we're more than just the spirit.
[00:05:07] [SPEAKER_03]: We are absolutely like cutthroat tenacious all of those things all wrapped up into one.
[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm so excited.
[00:05:14] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's talk about what brought you out from one island to another.
[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_01]: Talk to me about your history watching Survivor and what is the journey that has led to you being in front of me today.
[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh absolutely.
[00:05:25] [SPEAKER_03]: I feel as if Survivor just encompasses all of my personalities that are locked into my own entire spirit like the cutthroatness.
[00:05:32] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh wow. All of a sudden we're nice the social game the adventure the pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone the the blind sides the shocking the shocking surprises everything about Survivor those aspects just truly resonate.
[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_03]: It's almost like I was looking at a mirror but it was a game.
[00:05:49] [SPEAKER_03]: It is just the craziest feeling and I felt like I honestly was I went through two months of very very intense flight attendant training.
[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_03]: It was by far the hardest thing that I've ever done in my life because really really briefly you had to pass every test and we were tested about every day with a 90 or above.
[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_03]: And if we went below a 90 we had to retake that test but you only got one redo for the entire two months.
[00:06:18] [SPEAKER_03]: So if you scored below a 90 again you were cut like you were out it was so.
[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_03]: Wow. And you would come the next morning and there would just be an empty seat and the name tag would be away of someone that you barely even got to know.
[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_03]: And then they were just gone like it was that cutthroat and right after I finished that and I succeeded in becoming a flight attendant.
[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_03]: I was like I can fucking do anything like what do I want to do what do I absolutely with my deepest heart and soul what do I want to do and I'm like I want to be on Survivor.
[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_03]: So I set up a tripod in my backyard with like basically this nature scene in the back and I just spoke and yelled at a camera for about three minutes and here we are.
[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh my God. Well looking back into Survivor history like we've talked about you are one of a kind but give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most.
[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_03]: Okay definitely I think that I definitely I feel like a lot of women are going to say this but I think I identify a lot with poverty because I want to use every single part of my book like every single part of the aspects that make me me.
[00:07:25] [SPEAKER_03]: She used her sensuality she was cutthroat she was smart intelligent she was a baller at challenges which I feel like I can do without being too out there where it's a threat.
[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_03]: But I could also hold my own when it comes to physical challenges and some puzzles and things like that.
[00:07:41] [SPEAKER_03]: And I would say oh a non-winner this is really really recent but I feel like she spoke to my heart I would say Tiff she just got voted out.
[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_03]: I came on to the island and so I don't even know who wins season 46 out here but I think that Tiff is probably one of the most bubbly and vivacious people and I felt that she was real like there's a lot of people who put on for a camera.
[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_03]: But I think that for me I know that I want my personality my real personality to shine through and I don't want to just be this out of the box character if that's not what I'm feeling in the moment but she was able to give us everything.
[00:08:17] [SPEAKER_03]: So I really resonate with her character as well.
[00:08:21] [SPEAKER_01]: What is your prep been like for this because I would imagine as a flight attendant you are quite literally all over the place.
[00:08:26] [SPEAKER_01]: What was it like to get ready for the adventure of a lifetime on top of that.
[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh my gosh it was the absolute hardest thing to keep my mouth shut because I am constantly like there's just people all around me at all times.
[00:08:39] [SPEAKER_03]: Either my co-workers are constantly evolving and changing since I've only been in for about two years so I'm on reserve.
[00:08:44] [SPEAKER_03]: So my crew constantly changes it's just seeing all these people randomly they would talk about their favorite show and they were talking about Survivor and I had to just sit there and be like I love that show too.
[00:08:59] [SPEAKER_03]: Basically just squeeze all of my muscles and try my best not to scream in the galley.
[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_03]: But it was it was pretty hard to prep because obviously being all over the place there's different time zones your body is constantly getting adjusted to it.
[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_03]: I worked out as much as I possibly could on my grip strength and also my core and I would just do a whole bunch of holds like plank holds even right now.
[00:09:22] [SPEAKER_03]: No one knows this obviously because I'm not making a bunch of sounds in my tent but I'm holding plank holds just as far as I can go in my tent as just just to immensely prepare for that fatigue and that muscle exposure and all of those things for the challenges ahead.
[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_03]: So even right now I am training but no one knows that I'm training.
[00:09:42] [SPEAKER_01]: What would you say is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite that you're bringing into the game.
[00:09:49] [SPEAKER_03]: I honestly am going to answer that with saying that one it's going to be one in the same.
[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_03]: So my biggest superpower is my personality.
[00:09:58] [SPEAKER_03]: I've been told by a lot of people that my personality is very magnetic.
[00:10:02] [SPEAKER_03]: They have opened up to me really easily.
[00:10:05] [SPEAKER_03]: They are they kind of just offer up information about themselves even if we just met and I love that that is one of my favorite parts about what makes me me.
[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_03]: However I think that's also going to be my biggest kryptonite because let's say I make it to the merge which I'm winning this whole thing.
[00:10:19] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm just manifesting that right now but once we make it to the merge I think it's going to be really difficult to not be a Kelly like everyone wanted to work with Kelly and I'm not saying that I'm perfect and awesome like Kelly.
[00:10:31] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm just saying that I know that I don't sell yourself short you're going to win or a survivor.
[00:10:38] [SPEAKER_03]: You're so right. What am I doing?
[00:10:39] [SPEAKER_03]: What am I doing out here?
[00:10:40] [SPEAKER_03]: I feel like I am going to have a hard time being an asshole and being someone that has to cut ties because I know that I'll bond with them on such a deep emotional level.
[00:10:52] [SPEAKER_03]: And so I think that's also going to be my kryptonite is being able to separate emotion from the game and that's all what survivors about honestly.
[00:11:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Well let's talk about some of those people that you're going to have to do that too.
[00:11:04] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean I imagine you are vibing people out right now as you have nothing to do but do plank holds and anticipation for the game.
[00:11:11] [SPEAKER_01]: Who are some people that you're getting good vibes from that you think okay best case scenario we touched down on the beach day one this is my ride or die?
[00:11:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh that's a great question. We unfortunately I don't know any names.
[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_03]: That's okay describe them yeah.
[00:11:26] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah I can only describe them.
[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_03]: I'll do a little like a Picasso little moment for you guys but I think that someone that's going to be my greatest ally is going to have to be the biggest dude out there.
[00:11:40] [SPEAKER_03]: I kind of see myself becoming a good alliance with the big dogs because those are usually the ones that everyone wants as a target post merge.
[00:11:49] [SPEAKER_03]: And so I kind of want to use them as a shield in order to get farther in the game.
[00:11:54] [SPEAKER_03]: So if I'm still in a good alliance with them at least they'll always be like oh look this person's a target this person's a target and I kind of just want to be the one that's kind of the puppet master.
[00:12:03] [SPEAKER_03]: But I feel like the biggest dudes that I've been seeing are the black guy with the twists and the white guy that's like I would say he was about 6'2 and he has dark hair and he kind of looks like he's been in the military before honestly.
[00:12:18] [SPEAKER_03]: He's like ridiculously in shape.
[00:12:21] [SPEAKER_03]: So I kind of want to roll with the big dogs and that's my whole thing is that I want to show Hawaii can roll with big dogs and those are the biggest dogs I want to pick the biggest dogs on my team.
[00:12:30] [SPEAKER_01]: Well what about on the other side of things who do you not want to roll with here who's not part of your flight crew for this 26 day voyage.
[00:12:37] [SPEAKER_03]: Great question. Who will be getting immediately evacuated from the from the flight deck.
[00:12:44] [SPEAKER_03]: I think that's a good question.
[00:12:46] [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to have to be there's this one girl who I overheard that she needed a specific type of towel or something and it kind of seems like she's been a little bit high maintenance this whole time.
[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_03]: And so I think that my personality doesn't vibe with someone that's very high maintenance.
[00:13:07] [SPEAKER_03]: And so I think that she would have to be immediately we'd have to bust a slide and she'd have to slide down in an air in an aircraft if you will.
[00:13:15] [SPEAKER_03]: That would be my biggest explanation there evacuated immediately.
[00:13:19] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. To that point I mean I would imagine your experience in that service industry must go so far for you at least prospectively in survive or what are you planning to bring from your day to day into the game.
[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_03]: I think I'm definitely going to bring my chameleon this.
[00:13:35] [SPEAKER_03]: I almost want to be someone that everyone sees like oh she's just chill she's vibing and also you know what I'm just going to hold hold on break down my strategy because it does play into part what I do every day for a living.
[00:13:48] [SPEAKER_03]: My whole strategy in this game is that I want to be that person that everyone feels really comfortable with that feels oh warm hugs because I want to just tell them oh born and raised in Hawaii and I want their own conceptions and their own analysis of what that means.
[00:14:01] [SPEAKER_03]: To come into play because I know that a lot of people are not going to think oh she's from Hawaii Oh cutthroat fast paced environment.
[00:14:08] [SPEAKER_03]: No none of those things are true but I want them to almost say it in their own head without me saying oh I'm chill I'm vibing.
[00:14:16] [SPEAKER_03]: I want them to see me as a chill vibe person here for the adventure and then slowly but surely just drop little bombs like and use my relationships with them and be like hmm.
[00:14:26] [SPEAKER_03]: You know what Jeremy's kind of acting kind of weird today but I mean what do I know and I would just leave it like that and just be like but that's also not my place and I would just like leave the little trinkets in people's brains and watch them slowly explode.
[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_03]: So that I think plays a part of what I do day to day because I'm constantly constantly being exposed to strangers.
[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_03]: I have to pretend that I like people all the time in customer service.
[00:14:53] [SPEAKER_03]: That is not a secret.
[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_03]: I have to be incredibly nice to people who are mean and rude and people who seem to have dropped their brain outside of the aircraft.
[00:15:02] [SPEAKER_03]: I have to do all of those things and I have to make it believable that they are my bestie for the restie right.
[00:15:09] [SPEAKER_03]: I have it believable so that is something that I think I'm going to bring into this game is that I can convince anyone that I like them until like aloha lay.
[00:15:19] [SPEAKER_03]: Rip the layoff once it once we're done aloha lay rip the layoff.
[00:15:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah well speaking of trinkets how are you approaching idols and advantages or are you going to be hungry for those are you you know trying to walk tenderfoot around them.
[00:15:34] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh I'm absolutely going to be quenched for them.
[00:15:37] [SPEAKER_03]: I am going to be famished for them.
[00:15:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't see myself ever telling someone that I have an idol at all because as we can see in the past whenever you've done that it's just too juicy of a secret and I know that we're out there and sometimes we're just staring at the ocean.
[00:15:53] [SPEAKER_03]: There's no way that someone is just going to be like hmm I think I'm going to keep Tiana secret.
[00:15:58] [SPEAKER_03]: Like I think her game means a little bit more than mine.
[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_03]: We're all trying to win this game for a million dollars.
[00:16:02] [SPEAKER_03]: So if I win that freaking if I get that idol I am shoving it directly into my pocket directly into my underwear wherever it needs to go whatever crevice can hide it and I'm not telling a single soul.
[00:16:13] [SPEAKER_03]: I am only going to tell the producers when I'm sitting on a rock and talking into the camera.
[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_03]: That is the only people that will ever know.
[00:16:19] [SPEAKER_01]: You mentioned Tiffany.
[00:16:21] [SPEAKER_01]: What would you say is the biggest thing you're taking from Survivor 45 and 46 that you plan on incorporating into your game in Survivor 47.
[00:16:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Oh my gosh that is such a good question.
[00:16:36] [SPEAKER_03]: I would say that I think the biggest thing that I'm taking is that I don't know anything and I think that's going to be my advantage.
[00:16:44] [SPEAKER_03]: I think when people start to feel like they know everything and they're like prepared and they're at the top they're the king or the queen whatever it may be.
[00:16:52] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't think that they're ready for any sort of twists and turns and all those types of things.
[00:16:57] [SPEAKER_03]: But I feel like after watching season 45 and a part of season 46 nothing this new era of Survivor is so fast it's so cutthroat it's so in your face.
[00:17:07] [SPEAKER_03]: And the moment that you take your gas off the pedal the gas off the pedal.
[00:17:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Can I even speak right now.
[00:17:14] [SPEAKER_03]: I mean for 26 days it's okay if you mix up the metaphor.
[00:17:17] [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah I don't need the background of that.
[00:17:20] [SPEAKER_03]: I feel like the moment that you take your foot off the gas is the moment where that's where you get blindsided and that's where you just when you feel too confident that's almost when you have to be the most paranoid.
[00:17:30] [SPEAKER_03]: So I feel like my ability to be open minded and to just let everything come into me like a funnel instead of closing off to certain people or closing off this way.
[00:17:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I think I just want to take in everything all at once and I can do that for about 26 days.
[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be overwhelming as hell but I'm going to do it.
[00:17:47] [SPEAKER_01]: What would you say is your most controversial survivor opinion your hottest take about a season a player the show in general.
[00:17:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh definitely.
[00:17:56] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm so sorry I keep coming back into my into my background of season 46.
[00:18:01] [SPEAKER_03]: I think it's so ingrained because I've also listened to the podcast.
[00:18:05] [SPEAKER_03]: So after every single episode I listen to the podcast so it's just deeply ingrained in my brain.
[00:18:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Season 46 when Liz absolutely pops off at Q because she didn't get to go to Applebee's a lot of the players were and I know that I wasn't on that beach so I get that I understand.
[00:18:22] [SPEAKER_03]: However in my opinion as an audience member she had no right.
[00:18:27] [SPEAKER_03]: It just screamed entitlement to me unfortunately I did not see it as oh you know she hasn't eaten in X amount of days she's allergic to a lot of things like I'm very much someone that like you know what you're getting into when you come on survivor.
[00:18:40] [SPEAKER_03]: Obviously you don't know what starvation is but if you're allergic to everything on that island you knew you weren't going to eat for like however many days until there was a reward and then to put it on Q after writing his name down.
[00:18:52] [SPEAKER_03]: I agreed with Q and this whole time I've been like kind of anti Q because he's been going off the rails.
[00:18:58] [SPEAKER_03]: However that one scene where everyone was like damn that's cold that's unfortunate like I wouldn't bring someone on a reward if they wrote my name down unless I was trying to reconcile something but it doesn't seem like they're trying to do that.
[00:19:10] [SPEAKER_03]: And so I felt like her screaming at him and being like you messed up everything like this was my move just because you went to Applebee's with your daughter every Wednesday or every week.
[00:19:22] [SPEAKER_03]: So that does not mean that and then everyone knew that does not mean that I should get rewarded like for example I love gomote at home I love ramen if there's a ramen challenge I'm going to work hard as hell to get it but if someone doesn't pick me that's the name of the game.
[00:19:35] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm not going to pop off at you because I didn't get my ramen you know.
[00:19:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Well last thing I want to ask speaking of rewards and maybe this will be as delicious as a bowl of ramen for you if you could pick a celebrity or a fictional character to bring out for a loved one's visit who are you taking and why.
[00:19:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh my gosh.
[00:19:56] [SPEAKER_03]: Okay.
[00:19:58] [SPEAKER_03]: I honestly feel like if I were to have a fictional character or celebrity.
[00:20:04] [SPEAKER_03]: I would personally want to take out I would want to take out Black Widow from Marvel.
[00:20:10] [SPEAKER_03]: I think that she would just be someone that I could pick the brain of strategically.
[00:20:15] [SPEAKER_03]: She's someone that I would also enjoy being around because she seems like she's a cool chick you know I feel like she seems like she knows what the frick is going on at all times and I think I could pick her brain.
[00:20:26] [SPEAKER_03]: I think she would read vibe very well.
[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_03]: I think that she would be ready for a joke or two from me and I think that she also is someone that would be a badass in challenges because of her mobility and her strength.
[00:20:37] [SPEAKER_03]: So if anything we could do a little obstacle course and she could train me on the side without anyone being able to see me and then we could do that you know what I mean.
[00:20:44] [SPEAKER_03]: So I feel like that would just be something that I would be stoked to share with Black Widow.
[00:20:50] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I mean she could kill that endurance challenge or you know she's able to hold that pose right like she would kill those endurance challenges.
[00:20:56] [SPEAKER_03]: Easily there has to be some sort of way to maneuver your fingernails or maneuver something and then she could she could crack the code for me easily.
[00:21:03] [SPEAKER_01]: There we go well I am excited for your game to take flight as it were.
[00:21:07] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean it seems like you have such a winning personality on top of though you know what needs to be done to get the job done.
[00:21:15] [SPEAKER_01]: So I am so excited to have you join you know the Survivor Winners Club by the end of it all and get and get your wings.
[00:21:23] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so excited to see what you're going to bring to this and this was such a great time getting to chat with you.
[00:21:27] [SPEAKER_03]: Oh my gosh thank you so much for your time and I am so thankful for this entire experience but guess what's the first ever Native Hawaiian born and raised in Hawaii.
[00:21:35] [SPEAKER_03]: Last statement is going to be season 47 Soul Survivor.
[00:21:38] [SPEAKER_03]: You can take that to the freaking bang first class actually take it to first class.
[00:21:42] [SPEAKER_01]: You got it. Well I'm so looking forward to seeing what you bring to the beach.
[00:21:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Best of luck with you know the remaining time you have.
[00:21:48] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure the anticipation is building but I can't wait to see what happens once your feet hit the sand.
[00:21:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much again. No thank you so much.
[00:21:55] [SPEAKER_01]: All right there you go Tiana and a lot to like here.
[00:21:59] [SPEAKER_01]: A lot to like about Tiana.
[00:22:01] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean she keeps talking about vibes particularly when it comes to her perception and you can really tell that.
[00:22:06] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think we talked about this with Rachel Rob I think there is this interesting benefit to the fact that Tiana is a great person.
[00:22:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Tiana has been through this specific process before.
[00:22:16] [SPEAKER_01]: Again that experience kind of goes away once she actually touches down and Jeff says welcome to Survivor.
[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_01]: But I think as she as Rachel has kind of expressed and she talks about this in her one minute video.
[00:22:26] [SPEAKER_01]: This does feel like her season and even just between the time that I talked to her back in 45 versus 47.
[00:22:33] [SPEAKER_01]: She does seem a lot calmer a lot more composed and I think in a better headspace to take on the game.
[00:22:39] [SPEAKER_02]: So you've already you interviewed Tiana before.
[00:22:41] [SPEAKER_01]: I do. Yeah I talked to the alternates that are out there at the time.
[00:22:45] [SPEAKER_02]: How many alternates are you sitting on Mike?
[00:22:47] [SPEAKER_01]: There's a there's a male and there's a female one though for 45 Austin was already a part of the cast.
[00:22:52] [SPEAKER_02]: No I mean in total there's like there's like nine other potential survivors that you know about that the world doesn't know about.
[00:23:00] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm taking that to my deathbed.
[00:23:01] [SPEAKER_01]: You can't tell us the number how many there are.
[00:23:04] [SPEAKER_01]: No no. Is it double digits.
[00:23:07] [SPEAKER_01]: No it's not double digits.
[00:23:09] [SPEAKER_02]: OK. All right. So all right. Tiana seems very good seems like Tiana has everything that you would want magnetic personality.
[00:23:18] [SPEAKER_02]: She's practicing plank holds when nobody else is watching.
[00:23:24] [SPEAKER_01]: So the motto do plank holds like nobody's watching.
[00:23:28] [SPEAKER_02]: I think so. So I think everybody's going to want to work with her.
[00:23:31] [SPEAKER_02]: But the thing that I come back to especially so much in the new era and you know she's going to be good in the challenges.
[00:23:40] [SPEAKER_02]: How much people can say like OK well got to get rid of her.
[00:23:44] [SPEAKER_01]: That's the thing is that I do feel like unfortunately for Tiana she's going to be kind of living in the shadow of some of the players from the season that she would have been on in a different universe.
[00:23:54] [SPEAKER_01]: She mentions Kelly but I also think if I were a player out there I would see a lot of D in Tiana.
[00:24:00] [SPEAKER_01]: If you will.
[00:24:02] [SPEAKER_01]: We're again this is somebody who is athletic.
[00:24:04] [SPEAKER_01]: She was a D one volleyball player.
[00:24:06] [SPEAKER_01]: She is somebody who has a lot of interpersonal skills.
[00:24:09] [SPEAKER_01]: I say this time and time again Rob I think the number one skill set that is vital to a good survivor game is service experience as Tiana vocalizes so well as this ability to kind of put on a face and deal with all these types of people that are coming to you in their worst states with their own respective issues.
[00:24:26] [SPEAKER_01]: And so I think Tiana has such a fantastic still set and we can tell from talking with the other cast as well that a lot of people are really vibing with her too.
[00:24:36] [SPEAKER_01]: But it's going to come down to will there eventually be a point where people will look at her and say OK I was saying Aloha initially to welcome you into my alliance but now I might have to say Aloha the other way to say goodbye to you.
[00:24:48] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah she seems like too perfect.
[00:24:50] [SPEAKER_02]: That's the thing that sort of the concern we talked about this with a lot of players here in the new era.
[00:24:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Now look things could potentially break differently where there are game circumstances that for whatever reason people say OK well we don't have to worry about her.
[00:25:04] [SPEAKER_02]: She has no power. She's not viable to be a winner but you certainly also could see the world where much like Tiffany that she talked about Tiffany through much of the season looked like OK she was the person to beat.
[00:25:18] [SPEAKER_02]: And even in talking with these different players like in the post game interviews that I think that there was a sense from a lot of the players like OK we got to get rid of Tiffany.
[00:25:26] [SPEAKER_02]: We got to take out Tiffany and so like I definitely could see Tiana have that and I do wonder if that there'll be a point and this is something I think that's so fun about Survivor where I feel like that even in like the hot take questions.
[00:25:41] [SPEAKER_02]: A lot of the players seem to be having sort of these same meta conclusions that they're writing and so that eventually somebody that is too perfect is going to eventually win.
[00:25:56] [SPEAKER_01]: You know I do I do find that interesting because yeah John Lovett's hot take as a reminder was basically like I want to change the narrative that you don't need to make big moves for the resume.
[00:26:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's not make the resume to be all end all of a win. And we talked about at the time like that's great on paper but can you rebuild the house from within.
[00:26:14] [SPEAKER_01]: But if enough people in the season are kind of saying the same things as we get into a little bit with our next interview as well with TK of like stop turning on your number one allies stop making moves early.
[00:26:25] [SPEAKER_01]: We could actually see a bit of a reversion to a more conservative style of gameplay.
[00:26:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah but if everybody's doing that the person that zigs when everybody else zags is going to be the person who gets the most out of it.
[00:26:35] [SPEAKER_01]: So it's a really saddening point you bring up about Tiffany because also again to remind people about timing they went out to play right after Tiffany was voted out.
[00:26:44] [SPEAKER_01]: And so what's also fresh in their mind was that scene from like the Tevin boot episode right when everyone kind of gathers around even chew and is like wow Tiffany is a big threat we've got to get rid of her.
[00:26:54] [SPEAKER_01]: And again I imagine once these players immerse themselves within their own season I don't know how much they're going to remember upon past seasons but I think there's a non zero chance that they might be a similar conversation around Tiana.
[00:27:05] [SPEAKER_01]: But I guess the good news is and we'll even get into this with our next person that there is a fair shot that there will be so many of those types of people in the post merge game that she can almost nestle herself still considered one of those threats within the other threats so that like she's the last threat standing.
[00:27:20] [SPEAKER_02]: It's a very stacked cast. She talked about who she's vibing with the big guys specifically TK is somebody that she's vibing with in her tribe. We'll talk about him next.
[00:27:30] [SPEAKER_02]: She likes the in shape military guy. Who's that?
[00:27:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I'm not sure either. Is that Sam? I think Sam might be the other like big buff dude. I think Saul has a little bit of athleticism to him as well but I was trying to figure out heights especially now that we have the cap photo.
[00:27:47] [SPEAKER_01]: The military guy. Yeah I feel like it may be the same because Sam has a little bit of that crew cut right. Yeah.
[00:27:52] [SPEAKER_01]: So I would imagine that's something I think certainly that we can really piece together is like and this will be something we might talk about with TK is that it looks like TK and Sam and Saul to a certain extent are kind of being perceived as like
[00:28:04] [SPEAKER_01]: the big guys this season which works both for and against them. Okay doesn't like the high maintenance girl. This wasn't Asia right. I don't know.
[00:28:13] [SPEAKER_01]: We shall see. Asia were you asking for the special towels? I don't think it was. Honestly I understand it. You're not going to get any towels for the next month.
[00:28:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Give me all the fluffiest towels you could possibly get. Strike while the iron is hot as we see in that season 47 preview. We talked about this before. I find it hard to believe though Mike.
[00:28:31] [SPEAKER_01]: Somebody's at Ponderosa like no no no not those towels. Yeah but like bring me the good towels. People get cast on this show for a reason. I guess.
[00:28:40] [SPEAKER_01]: Those are the types of personalities you want in reality TV. We mentioned it before but it bears repeating again Tiana is a flight attendant call her Tiana Bird if you will much like a beloved former flight attendant but she wants to become a pilot.
[00:28:55] [SPEAKER_02]: And so you've got to imagine this might be one of the tightest duos to at least start off the season considering just the metaphors right themselves of like when this game started I was back giving out drinks talking to everybody helping people find their seat.
[00:29:12] [SPEAKER_01]: But now I'm flying the plane. Well that's the thing is that when it comes to her and Sue when will it become a pilots and passengers situation if you will where it's like one of them is leading the charge too much.
[00:29:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And so the other one is going to take the lead. I'm not entirely sure but yeah it's got to be such an interesting conversation and much like we had a moment where Sifu like opened for J Maya on one of her concerts look out for when Tiana pilot.
[00:29:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah it was across the country to go to Sue's flight school at some point following the season. Okay all right there's Tiana Mike we still have one last person talking about we've talked about 17 several teen players we've got one person.
[00:29:53] [SPEAKER_02]: To talk about we're going to talk about TK when we come back right after this. Okay Mike here's TK aka Taron.
[00:30:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Taron finally shows up on Survivor.
[00:30:05] [SPEAKER_01]: Wow we have a Taron end in Asia on this cast.
[00:30:08] [SPEAKER_01]: Do you think well listen we might talk about the fact that there could be a TK Asia connection it could make even a stronger bond if he says his name is Taron.
[00:30:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes okay all right tell us a little bit about TK before we hear from him himself.
[00:30:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah Taron Foster but you can call him TK he is 31 years old from Upper Marlboro Maryland and he is an athlete marketing manager.
[00:30:31] [SPEAKER_01]: He helps serve as the middleman between various NFL athletes and brand sponsorships etc.
[00:30:37] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay all right should be a good one let's listen to TK and come back and talk about how he's going to do after this.
[00:30:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Why don't you start with something nice and easy give me your name, age and occupation.
[00:30:50] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah so my actual name is Taron I go by TK I'm going to go by TK on the show I'm 31 and I'm a marketing manager with the NFL Players Association.
[00:31:00] [SPEAKER_04]: So I do all the deals you see NFL players doing off the field I'm the one broker in those deals.
[00:31:07] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean I would imagine negotiating and making deals with some pretty ego driven personalities makes you pretty damn good for the game of Survivor no?
[00:31:16] [SPEAKER_04]: Absolutely very transitional skills for sure I deal with it on a day to day basis and you know I think it will make it a little bit easier because you do with so many different types of personalities and people from different backgrounds every day.
[00:31:28] [SPEAKER_04]: So just being able to have those conversations candid conversations and also be able to handhold sometimes if you need to I think all that would just be a really good asset for me you know as far as bringing it to the game.
[00:31:38] [SPEAKER_01]: Well yeah let's talk about what brings you from you know doing shoe negotiations to rice negotiations on Survivor.
[00:31:45] [SPEAKER_01]: What's your history with watching the show and what made you decide to go from negotiating with players to becoming a player yourself?
[00:31:52] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah for sure I'd say it's actually funny I didn't know much about the show until COVID hit a couple years ago about three or four years ago now.
[00:32:00] [SPEAKER_04]: One of my colleagues told me about it and he was the old boss of mine's and he's like hey you should watch Survivor and I was like that just doesn't sound like something I would watch you know what I mean.
[00:32:09] [SPEAKER_04]: I didn't know anything about it at the time and I just remember I ended up moving to LA because we weren't fully remote at my job and I moved to LA from Prince George's County Maryland and once I got to LA I just said I'm going to put this on everything shut down like let me just see what's going on.
[00:32:22] [SPEAKER_04]: I started binge watching the show and I fell in love with it from the very first episode I started watching on Netflix which I believe was like season 32 or something like that.
[00:32:31] [SPEAKER_04]: And I just told myself one day I was just sitting there and said hey I think I can do this like I really want to do it and I don't know I like challenges in life my entire life has been filled with all types of adversity so anything that just gives me a chance to feel alive and feel like I'm doing something that's challenging myself mentally physically I want to do it.
[00:32:49] [SPEAKER_01]: Talk to me more at that. What's one life experience that you feel like has prepared you the most for what you're about to undergo.
[00:32:56] [SPEAKER_04]: I can tell you a few. I feel like in general just kind of it's very linear on how it built me to this point. So even from the age of two I just feel like I've been beating the odds my whole life so from the age of two like my dad actually went to prison so he wasn't in my life so it was just me and my mom.
[00:33:14] [SPEAKER_04]: And obviously we all are aware of statistics that are associated with kids who don't have fathers in the home so being in different backgrounds certain situations I was able to build myself out of that go to college.
[00:33:26] [SPEAKER_04]: But prior to that I was a huge like football is my only passion in life I played football majority of my life.
[00:33:32] [SPEAKER_04]: But once I got to about I'd say 14 years old 15 years old in high school I was in two days of camp and I started feeling like really lethargic and not myself at one point.
[00:33:43] [SPEAKER_04]: And long story short I end up going to the hospital to get checked on it had 50 percent kidney failure. I had a kidney disease I was not aware of and battled it for years.
[00:33:53] [SPEAKER_04]: I was told I wasn't going to make it by multiple different doctors. Oh my god yeah I was on steroids and 15 pills a day and had to go to the hospital five times a week.
[00:34:03] [SPEAKER_04]: I even lived in the intensive care unit for almost two months so couldn't leave the floor like I mean one floor for so being here for a couple of days is easy because I was on one floor for basically two months being told that I wasn't going to make it.
[00:34:17] [SPEAKER_04]: So you know I just I took what they said and said that's not my plans and I fought that and after a couple of years of battling that I was able to go full remission there and told myself since I can't play football anymore which is what the doctors told me I couldn't play anymore.
[00:34:32] [SPEAKER_04]: I said in some way shape or form I'm going to be a part of the professional football league if I can't play and I went to college as a sports management major.
[00:34:41] [SPEAKER_04]: All my professors basically told me 70 percent of the kids who study sports management in Towson end up in life insurance and don't end up in professional sports at all.
[00:34:51] [SPEAKER_04]: Maybe about three percent end up in professional sports and I'm looking at it as the one African-American kid in a predominantly white institution so I'm in classes full of 35 kids and I may be the one black kid in the class.
[00:35:03] [SPEAKER_04]: There's no way I'm thinking like that's going to be me who ends up in professional sports but that's just how my mind works and I said I'm going to show them that I can and my first job out of school internship.
[00:35:13] [SPEAKER_04]: I'm a football player at the National Football Association.
[00:35:14] [SPEAKER_04]: I'm the biggest football union in the world and I've been working there ever since so my whole life is just defined the odds.
[00:35:20] [SPEAKER_04]: I feel like this is another opportunity to do it.
[00:35:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Hell yeah. Well I know that you're a recent convert to Survivor but if I were to ask you to give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most from any previous Survivor season who would it be and why?
[00:35:36] [SPEAKER_04]: Okay so I really love I'll say my all-time favorite players Tony.
[00:35:40] [SPEAKER_04]: I just think that he is just he just didn't care what anybody thought.
[00:35:45] [SPEAKER_04]: He went out there to like live in the moment do his thing.
[00:35:48] [SPEAKER_04]: He didn't really care people didn't like what he's making spy shacks and stuff like who who does that like you know me so honestly I don't know if I'll necessarily play all the way like that but I feel like he just enjoyed the moment and I'm big on enjoying the moment.
[00:36:03] [SPEAKER_04]: I'd say recently I want to say his name was Caleb.
[00:36:08] [SPEAKER_04]: Caleb was a very like social player but he was also a pretty physical player as well.
[00:36:13] [SPEAKER_04]: I liked his game but I just feel like obviously he got he didn't make it he didn't win it but I think at the end of the day you just got to be a little bit more assertive and at some points he wasn't necessarily as assertive as he should have been.
[00:36:24] [SPEAKER_04]: He played passive towards the end and I don't I don't want that to be a part of my game so I want to control everything that's going to happen.
[00:36:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Well it's still a little bit of a survivor combine right now as it were.
[00:36:36] [SPEAKER_01]: What would you say is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite that you are bringing into this game.
[00:36:42] [SPEAKER_04]: That's a good one. I think my social game is honestly going to be my biggest superpower.
[00:36:47] [SPEAKER_04]: Again like we talked about just me naturally like I'm just so I can I can get along with anybody in the world.
[00:36:51] [SPEAKER_04]: I don't care where you put me. I mean even in college I used to intentionally change my roommates every semester just to meet new people new types of people and I never knew those people were going to be coming in and I was like I'm going to be the best player in the world.
[00:37:01] [SPEAKER_04]: I would just meet new people all the time. So I'm really comfortable with that.
[00:37:05] [SPEAKER_04]: I think the biggest kryptonite for me is probably going to be the aspect of I think the puzzles are going to kill me at the end of day.
[00:37:12] [SPEAKER_04]: I'm not a big puzzle guy at all. Also I think just living in general not the biggest outdoorsy person in the world.
[00:37:20] [SPEAKER_04]: So I think just having to adjust to having all these different critters and creatures and things like that running around may mess with me a little bit mentally but I'll have to get by that and just make sure I keep my head in the game.
[00:37:31] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah I've already seen a couple things out here that's like okay wait a minute what's that crawling out of the ground right.
[00:37:37] [SPEAKER_04]: You know so definitely something I'm ready.
[00:37:40] [SPEAKER_01]: How are you hoping to be perceived in this game? I mean you talk about sort of having this like natural athleticism which might scream challenge beasts. Is that something you're trying to like steer into or against?
[00:37:50] [SPEAKER_04]: That's a good question. I've been trying to figure that out. I really think that I want to be genuine to myself. I don't see myself as one of the players.
[00:37:58] [SPEAKER_04]: I've seen a couple players in years past who like almost dial down how effective they are in challenges just so they don't think like they're the biggest. I just I'm too competitive to do that.
[00:38:06] [SPEAKER_04]: So I think at the end of the day like if I'm doing something I want to win so I don't care if people think I'm a challenge beast or not.
[00:38:12] [SPEAKER_04]: I think at that point I land on my superpower and I just use my social game to save me in those situations where people might see me as a physical threat.
[00:38:21] [SPEAKER_04]: But I think my social game will be able to compensate for that being you know one of my challenges there.
[00:38:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Well let's turn the perception from yourself on to the other players because look you've been sitting with your own thoughts for a few days time.
[00:38:34] [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure you have plenty of them about the people around you. Let's start with the positive side of things. Are there people that you're you're getting good vibes from that you think like best case scenario I hit the beach with you day one.
[00:38:44] [SPEAKER_04]: This is a ride or die for me. Yeah it's actually funny. I was just talking about this kind of in my head and to some of the producers here but I feel like everybody has great vibes this season like there's not really anybody here who's just throwing me off the hook.
[00:38:57] [SPEAKER_04]: I feel like there's not really anybody here who's just throwing me off where it's like that's going to be a person we need to stay away from. Everybody seems really chill.
[00:39:02] [SPEAKER_04]: Everybody's smiling everybody's in good nature. I know the game hasn't started yet and people gonna stab you in the back in a couple of days but right now it seems like it's pretty chill but I do have a couple I would say if I get tried up with I think that will connect immediately.
[00:39:16] [SPEAKER_01]: So I have a few people in mind describe them to me if you can.
[00:39:19] [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah well there's a couple I'd say there's one guy here who is pretty athletic too. We obviously we can't talk but there's a couple situations where we just laughed at a few things together and just kind of we're looking at certain situations that you can tell we were on the same page about what was going on and what we're laughing about.
[00:39:35] [SPEAKER_04]: There's another girl here as well who also now this might be very very very minor but I already told myself I was going to do this if there was anybody else here who had locks like I did I was immediately going to make that one of the things to turn us in.
[00:39:49] [SPEAKER_01]: So you're young hair do you care do you want to work with you?
[00:39:52] [SPEAKER_04]: Exactly exactly and I already got our tribe name we're going to be locked in so it's gonna be like we're good to go.
[00:39:58] [SPEAKER_04]: So I'm just ready to like work with her if I can but there's just a lot of amazing people there's another woman here who just has a very infectious smile like she just it just seems like she's genuinely happy just at everything.
[00:40:11] [SPEAKER_04]: I mean when I tell you she smiles at everything it doesn't matter her water can fly across the table she's just smiling chasing it down the block like she's smiling at everything and I just feel like that type of energy you'll like in this situation because you're out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing like you need something to be happy about and keep your mind in a nothing people with that infectious type of you know I said I think it was on you.
[00:40:34] [SPEAKER_01]: So you mentioned Tony beforehand are you gonna have a similar approach maybe not to spy shacks but to like idols and Vantages maybe even journeys they're big in the new era are they going to be big in your game.
[00:40:45] [SPEAKER_04]: Oh yeah absolutely I'm not shutting down anything I mean I don't care if it's beware Vantages I'm looking for every and anything that could give me an advantage in the game I feel like I need it to your point I think that I am going to be a bit of a threat as soon as the green light goes I think everybody's going to be looking at me like hey watch out for this guy so any single opportunity I have to get myself a leg up.
[00:41:04] [SPEAKER_04]: I'm taking it so if there's a journey I want to go on it if there's a beware Vantage I'm doing it if I need to look for idols all day if I got to look at night I'm looking I'll figure it out I know he was sneaking out of camp sometimes and doing a bunch of things so that might be a part of my game as well so I'm open to everything I want to win so I'm not going to leave any stone unturned.
[00:41:23] [SPEAKER_01]: What is the biggest thing you're taking away from Survivor 45 and 46 that you incorporate into your game in Survivor 47.
[00:41:32] [SPEAKER_04]: I'd say something that seemed that was almost like a common theme is people almost made moves too fast. I feel like a lot of people were so quick to turn on their allies are so quick to flop to a different tide for the numbers and different things like that and I told myself just from watching it.
[00:41:48] [SPEAKER_04]: One, not to do that like play a safe game when you need to you get aggressive when it's time to get aggressive you don't need to get aggressive when there's 11 people left in the game and you're out here shooting your own people out of there so I feel like that's one thing that I really was just like
[00:42:01] [SPEAKER_04]: what are we doing here like people are playing the game almost too fast so I want to be intentional about the moves that I make. I don't want to just come out here and just make a move for the sake of saying it's a big move let me make it.
[00:42:12] [SPEAKER_04]: I want to make sure that it actually benefits me in the long run and then lastly I want to make sure I don't get voted out with an idol in my pocket. 46 was almost ridiculous.
[00:42:21] [SPEAKER_04]: I mean there's so many people who got voted out with idols in their pocket it almost seemed like it was on purpose at this point like nobody wanted to use their idols so I don't want to be that guy at all.
[00:42:31] [SPEAKER_01]: What would you say is your most controversial survivor opinion? What's your hottest take about a player, a season or the show itself?
[00:42:39] [SPEAKER_04]: Oh that's a good one. I think almost to the point I just made about things happening too fast my controversial take is I like the old survivor better than the new age survivor.
[00:42:47] [SPEAKER_04]: I honestly like the 40 day survivor better. I feel like you almost had to be more skillful in that game because people really were loyal to each other at that time because you spent so much more time together and you really actually genuinely was like I'm not leaving if these are my three these are my three the whole time.
[00:43:03] [SPEAKER_04]: So it really took some negotiating and some convincing to get somebody to flop like you really had to have a skill set to get someone to do that. Now it's all about the numbers right? It's all about the numbers so if you have the numbers on your side it's like hey we got five you got four and they're like okay alright I'm going with you guys.
[00:43:19] [SPEAKER_04]: So it's not as I feel like skillful in a way it's a little more strategic in the way that you're counting the numbers but it's not so much skillful in the way that you have to interact with the players and use the emotional aspect of the game to your advantage or disadvantage.
[00:43:32] [SPEAKER_04]: So I feel like that was a big part of Survivor that brought me in was the fact that you really had to build those relationships to get people to maybe do something they otherwise wouldn't have done.
[00:43:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Now that's interesting because you had talked about your superhero power being this ability to connect with people socially and that your social game would be the strongest part of your game so does that worry you a little bit that if you feel like the new era is more numbers oriented that that might put you at a disadvantage.
[00:43:57] [SPEAKER_04]: Absolutely, I think about it every day I'm just hoping that my power is strong enough that they can it can hold off of that I think there is still an emotional aspect of this game.
[00:44:06] [SPEAKER_04]: I think some people maybe not don't take advantage of the opportunities where it's almost downtime where you're not just talking strategy all the time.
[00:44:13] [SPEAKER_04]: They're not really taking advantage of those opportunities to really just talk about life and I think I'm really big on that because I'm going to be big and just living in the moment here I'm happy to just be here obviously I want to win but you know with me not even supposed to be alive right now my whole mindset on everything is just different.
[00:44:27] [SPEAKER_04]: So I just want to look I want to hear people's stories I want to know who people are in real life because I feel like that is going to be what stops someone from writing your name down as opposed to you saying hey we have five and you have four so I think that's a big part of it.
[00:44:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Lastly, if you could pick a fictional character or a celebrity to bring out as a loved one who are you picking and why are you mixing work and pleasure you're bringing out an NFL legend.
[00:44:53] [SPEAKER_04]: That that might be that's a good one. That's a good one and now that you say that you know what I think I might have to go with my guy Tyree kill I have to go with Tyree kill I would bring him out just because he is he is one of the funniest people I've had the opportunity to be around.
[00:45:07] [SPEAKER_04]: He's really energetic he has good energy all the time. He's a supreme athlete and I think like all of those aspects I see in him in real life.
[00:45:15] [SPEAKER_04]: I think that I can kind of bring that over to the game. So I think somebody like him coming in and just saying you know give me a pep talk on how to handle this and just go and be dominant and be me.
[00:45:24] [SPEAKER_04]: I think that would be amazing to have on my side for sure.
[00:45:27] [SPEAKER_01]: He'd have his own interesting loved ones.
[00:45:28] [SPEAKER_01]: Well I'm excited for you to race like a cheetah through this game man. It seems like again your story is awesome and like you said the fact that like in another world you wouldn't even be here right now in general let alone on Survivor shows how much you're just willing to like take every opportunity that comes your way and that's what this game is all about man so I'm ready for you to land a TKO TK under competition and this was the best game I've ever played.
[00:45:58] [SPEAKER_01]: This was such a great time to get to chat and get to meet with you.
[00:46:01] [SPEAKER_04]: Amazing yeah it was amazing time great conversation you actually gave me some great thinking points here so I'm going to be mauling over those things when I'm sitting here looking at the beach.
[00:46:09] [SPEAKER_01]: When you win I want to be in your acceptance speech just putting it out there.
[00:46:14] [SPEAKER_04]: Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely you will be I promise that.
[00:46:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Well it was so great getting to chat with you man I know I know you're probably on pins and needles right now waiting for the big day to happen but I wish you nothing but the best not only in the days leading up to it but obviously the days that are to come and yeah I hope everything's going well with you man so nice great to chat with you.
[00:46:32] [SPEAKER_04]: Appreciate it you as well we'll see you soon.
[00:46:35] [SPEAKER_02]: All right Mike there you go there's a TK and should be an exciting player.
[00:46:40] [SPEAKER_01]: I loved getting the chance to talk with him and it's not just because at the end he's like I'm going to incorporate some of your stuff into my game play.
[00:46:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
[00:46:48] [SPEAKER_01]: Flattery will get you everywhere TK this instance is no different.
[00:46:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Loved ones visit Tyree kill you said it'll be an interesting family visit he's like yeah definitely yeah.
[00:47:00] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah listen it put winners at war family visits a shame I'll just say that much Fiji Airways to book out an entire plane.
[00:47:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Noted great guy Tyree kill so Mike yeah I think that TK is going to be interesting to watch he wants to play like Tony.
[00:47:16] [SPEAKER_02]: He again when we're talking about like how do people like you know ignore this person how could they.
[00:47:26] [SPEAKER_02]: This great personality you know radiating positivity and a bigger guy felt Caleb played too passively he's going to be play be a more aggressive playing than Caleb.
[00:47:41] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah which is maybe not one of the lessons to take considering that the reason why he gets in so much judo at the merges because Bruce said oh he's way too aggressive right now with.
[00:47:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah I mean it's so interesting and look and maybe that sort of like the zigging when everybody's eggs of like where I think that a lot of us came away from watching Caleb in season 45 like Caleb needed to do more to like hide.
[00:48:03] [SPEAKER_02]: He's like no Caleb should have been more out in front calling the shots.
[00:48:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I mean listen TK obviously takes a look around and knows that a lot of eyes are going to be on him especially as he said when the light turns green I'm not sure if the merge buff is green but once they hit the individual game.
[00:48:19] [SPEAKER_01]: He is going to immediately get looked at as a big physical presence and so that's when he's kind of hoping maybe that's where he's talking about kind of the aggressive charm offensive is like well then I'm going to be super smooth and super social really lean in on that aspect so they ignore the fact that I am physically stacked.
[00:48:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Compared to the rest of this cast.
[00:48:38] [SPEAKER_01]: The problem is that would arguably make him an even bigger target because it's like OK now it's not like a Jonathan where his social game is not great.
[00:48:45] [SPEAKER_02]: Now he has both you know in fairness to Q I think that Q had a lot of things working for him last season where he did have like a more aggressive gameplay style and for a while it was working and it wasn't until the point where he said hey vote me out where people are like all right all right.
[00:49:05] [SPEAKER_02]: You know enough of this we're not doing we're not doing this again and so that you know could be something where if everybody is like I'm not going to make big moves I'm going to I'm going to let other people go out in front.
[00:49:16] [SPEAKER_02]: I do think that there is a lane for somebody to come in and sort of like be the person who is dictating what's going to go on a little bit more.
[00:49:23] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I mean the fact of the matter is speaking with TK God he just radiates such good energy like you mentioned he is so positive.
[00:49:32] [SPEAKER_01]: He has a so you know laughing all the time.
[00:49:35] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean I think that his headspace is really great as well.
[00:49:38] [SPEAKER_01]: He has this super wild story about obviously being able to survive three doctors told him that he wouldn't live past the age of 15 and so he really is approaching this opportunity with kind of a YOLO perspective.
[00:49:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Like listen I'm not even supposed to be here let alone playing a survivor and I think the way he just comes across in talking with him is really going to endear him to a lot of people early on.
[00:50:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Plus as per usual especially in the new era the idea of tribe strength is going to keep him in a very good position.
[00:50:08] [SPEAKER_01]: I think to your point it's going to come down to can he find people that again despite all of these big warning signs as to why TK could be a big threat in the end for various reasons.
[00:50:21] [SPEAKER_01]: He's got to find those people that do want to work with him that would take him to the end.
[00:50:25] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean to be candid I think Asia would be somebody that might do that.
[00:50:31] [SPEAKER_01]: That would probably take a TK a little bit farther than what we saw of Hunter for instance who ends up finishing in 10th.
[00:50:37] [SPEAKER_01]: And I could see this as a really interesting link up as well if they both make the merch together.
[00:50:41] [SPEAKER_02]: She said that she's looking for somebody to be like a younger brother to her out there.
[00:50:46] [SPEAKER_02]: I mean I think they're pretty close in age but I think that maybe TK could fit in that role.
[00:50:51] [SPEAKER_02]: He talked about the woman who's also locked in with him so feels good about Asia there.
[00:50:59] [SPEAKER_02]: He said there's a guy that he feels good about.
[00:51:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I wasn't entirely sure about that because it's all about oh they'd sit next to me during all of these orientation meetings.
[00:51:09] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't really have the seating chart at Ponderosa.
[00:51:12] [SPEAKER_01]: They should give that to you.
[00:51:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah I think that should be some extra curricular material.
[00:51:16] [SPEAKER_01]: But I do think that he's talking about what like a gentleman that is a little bit bigger as well.
[00:51:24] [SPEAKER_01]: So that might be a Sam, that might be a Saul.
[00:51:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Unfortunately they're sort of split off between tribes at this point.
[00:51:31] [SPEAKER_01]: But as we mentioned before also Sue, Tiana both flagged him very positively as well.
[00:51:37] [SPEAKER_01]: So as we sort of segue into talking about Tuku in general you can't spell Tuku without TK.
[00:51:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And I think TK will be as safe in the tribe as those two letters.
[00:51:46] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay Mike, his hot take.
[00:51:50] [SPEAKER_02]: The older seasons of Survivor might be better than the newer ones.
[00:51:55] [SPEAKER_02]: Whoa! Get my oven mitt out for that one.
[00:51:59] [SPEAKER_01]: Eliza Orleans has her favorite of the season pegged right now.
[00:52:02] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean I think it's less about that and it's really interesting the way he couches even less so the number of days and what old school Survivor is.
[00:52:08] [SPEAKER_01]: Back in the day it was harder and arguably more skillful to flip people than it is now.
[00:52:16] [SPEAKER_02]: That's what I hear. So I think that an interesting takeaway for sure.
[00:52:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah so I mean what's interesting though is that he does then follow up that question by talking about how he does kind of want to lock in with a group, a loyal group for a while.
[00:52:31] [SPEAKER_01]: And then maybe make some moves down the line.
[00:52:34] [SPEAKER_01]: Which again makes sense from his perspective is that I think he's probably looking to come across as a meat shield and get in with some people early on and ride that as far as he can.
[00:52:42] [SPEAKER_01]: Because otherwise he'll be first looked at once the game really turns individual.
[00:52:47] [SPEAKER_01]: So it is interesting to see him carry forward those ideas from old school Survivor.
[00:52:52] [SPEAKER_01]: I don't necessarily agree that like the new era is all about the numbers that we have five and you have four.
[00:52:58] [SPEAKER_01]: I think the Reba four is like one of the rare exceptions where that was the case.
[00:53:03] [SPEAKER_01]: If anything I feel like the new era is much more about like chaos and grabbing as many numbers as you can any round you can.
[00:53:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Right. So yeah I think it is about numbers in terms of like let's put together a number of people as opposed to like sticking to our numbers.
[00:53:19] [SPEAKER_02]: All right. So Mike now that we've talked about everybody here from Tuco that could we sort of start to put together a little bit of how we think this tribe has been to jail.
[00:53:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. So I do think that this to me is probably the most Seagalike of the three tribes it's giving see it because again it feels very vibey to me in particular.
[00:53:39] [SPEAKER_01]: I see a group of four forming of Sue, Kyle, Tiana and TK.
[00:53:46] [SPEAKER_01]: I think all of them have this very...
[00:53:50] [SPEAKER_02]: Sue, Kyle. Sorry I have everybody on my index cards here. Sue, Kyle, Tiana, TK.
[00:53:56] [SPEAKER_02]: So you feel that so do you feel like that Caroline and Gabe could be the people that are on the outs?
[00:54:03] [SPEAKER_01]: The way I'm thinking about it is first off I'm going off of preseason perceptions.
[00:54:07] [SPEAKER_01]: Sue has flagged TK. Tiana has flagged TK. Tiana has been flagged by Kyle we think.
[00:54:14] [SPEAKER_01]: So I think that these four are going to naturally gravitate towards each other and I think they're all personable enough where it doesn't feel like we're going to have an immediate two battering Rams instance at least from the jump.
[00:54:27] [SPEAKER_01]: And I feel like again if the general ruling motto of this tribe is like hey we're all just going to hang out together work on the shelter etc.
[00:54:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's game when the opportunity comes then someone like Caroline who admittedly might be a little blunt and someone like Gabe who was already coming in looking to make his mark on the new era which assumingly comes with a lot of gaming would kind of stick out like a sore thumb in that regard.
[00:54:51] [SPEAKER_01]: Now all that being said if there is enough of a win streak then I think those two might be able to you know get some some key one-on-one relationships to maybe break that up but that's how at least I'm initially seeing things shaking out.
[00:55:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah I think that that's as good as anything. I do feel like that maybe Caroline could be the person in the most danger coming out.
[00:55:09] [SPEAKER_02]: All right Mike we are so close to the Survivor 47 premiere. We've still got a lot to do including the of course much Ballyhooed, Rob is a podcast podcaster draft.
[00:55:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Want to make sure that you don't miss it. You got to subscribe to the podcast robiswebsite.com slash subscribe only Survivor super fans only okay.
[00:55:36] [SPEAKER_02]: It will not work if you do not love Survivor in your heart so the only way to find out if you're a true Survivor fan is by clicking the subscribe button.
[00:55:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Wow it doesn't take it doesn't take if you do if you do not truly love Survivor in your heart it won't work.
[00:55:52] [SPEAKER_01]: I got to take with Keeshawn about that that doesn't take phrase. You think I'm joking. I'm not. Rob knows his stuff again 18th season. Try it try it it won't work.
[00:56:04] [SPEAKER_01]: It won't work if you don't have love for Survivor in your heart okay. True all right 28th season I should say wow I cannot believe 28th season Rob.
[00:56:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Yep and then Wednesday night of course the big premiere of Survivor 47 Mike what's coming up for you.
[00:56:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Well first off I want to give a massive thanks sort of bookend the way we started all these things off with a thanks to of course CBS for granting me the opportunity and setting everything up technology wise to have me talk lead these contestants albeit you know through the connection of a computer to everyone that has responded shared all of the interviews both in written audio and video for me.
[00:56:40] [SPEAKER_01]: And of course to these contestants for opening up and letting me get the chance to talk with you as you were sitting on pins and needles days before you were entering this adventure of a lifetime with a million dollars at stake.
[00:56:51] [SPEAKER_01]: I had so much fun getting to talk up to this cast and about this cast with you Rob.
[00:56:56] [SPEAKER_01]: I always relish this time and we just do this mad dash where we get to give just our random takes that will almost always be wrong about how these people.
[00:57:04] [SPEAKER_01]: Not always.
[00:57:06] [SPEAKER_01]: Not always exactly listen broken clocks etc but but you're a beautifully decorated clock at that Rob and I'm so happy that I got to check in with you as we get to do every season and I cannot wait to see what happens so as the season starts I'll be doing my usual beat I'll be interviewing the contestants
[00:57:23] [SPEAKER_01]: every week over at parade.com I'll be doing the BNB with Leona Boris on the weekends and I believe also at this point either has just released or soon to be released I did an interview with Jeff prior to this season where he talks about some of the things that they was in their mind in preparation for 47 I mentioned some of it on our kickoff special as well as looking ahead to the casting process for season 50 as well if you want a tease of that so you can follow everything I'm doing at a Mike Blum
[00:57:53] [SPEAKER_02]: type and thank you Rob as always bring in the lovely takes thank you Mike incredible job talking with all these contestants with so much fun every preseason and so on until we get together for survivor 48 that's going to wrap up our survivor preseason interviews series and so of course we love to hear from you too in the comments.
[00:58:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Thanks so much for everybody who checked out all of these interviews here over these last nine days enjoy the premiere take care everybody have a good one bye.