Survivor 48 Pre-Game Day 1: Bianca Roses & Eva Erickson

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[00:00:25] Hi, everybody, and welcome to RHAP's Survivor 48 Pre-Season Interviews Day 1. My name is Mike Bloom, and it's official. The Survivor 48 cast is out there. We have 18 new castaways eagerly awaiting to hit the sand, ready to play a 26-day game full of twists and turns and hopefully emerge at the end of it a million dollars richer.

[00:00:52] And I had the express pleasure of getting the chance to talk with them mere days before that game began. I got the chance to fly out to Fiji to the set of Survivor and talk to all of these castaways in the pre-season. Today, we're going to hear from two of them. We're going to start off our interview series with the Laghi tribe. They are the purple tribe, but they are far from purple right now as I'm bringing them into the forefront.

[00:01:18] You're going to be listening to my interview with Bianca and Eva. Of course, if you missed it, Rob and I got together to give some overall thoughts and some base facts about each one of these 18 cast members. But right now, we're going to get into more of these specifics, these semantics of each of these people brought to you uninterrupted without commentary in podcast form.

[00:01:47] Of course, if you missed our pre-season plan, basically what's going to happen is every weekday, we are going to bring you a podcast with two of the Survivor 48 pre-season interviews. And then once we complete a tribe, Rob and I will then get together the next day and record a podcast giving our thoughts about all six people. So, for example, we're going to have interview podcasts today, Friday and Monday.

[00:02:14] And then on Tuesday, Rob and I will release our full Laghi tribe preview. And then it begins again on Wednesday with the next tribe. So, we have plenty of stuff coming for you so you get everything you need to know about these people before Survivor 48 begins on February 26th. So, make sure you don't miss a second of it. WeKnowsurvivor.com is where you can subscribe to not miss out on all the podcasts we have going on in both the pre-season and regular season proper.

[00:02:44] And also, the video versions of these interviews will be up at RobHasAWebsite.com slash YouTube. Without further ado, let's get into my first interview here in the Survivor 48 pre-season. Let's talk about Bianca Rosas. Bianca is 33 years old. She's originally from West Orange, New Jersey. She currently lives in Arlington, Virginia. And she is a PR consultant.

[00:03:13] Take a listen to everything Bianca has to say as to where she came from, what brought her to Survivor, why she thinks she has what it takes to win, and let us know your thoughts about how she is going to do before Rob and I get together in a few days' time to talk about her and her other Loggy tribe mates. But for now, here's my interview with Bianca. How are you doing right now? I'm good. Good. This is, like, literally one of the best days of my life. Oh, my God. Well, there's 26 more to come. I know.

[00:03:43] I love it. My name is Bianca. I'm 32 years old, and I'm a PR consultant. Okay. Interesting. Yeah. Is that something that you've always done? Yes. The business of people management? A thousand percent. Since I was born out of the womb, I was managing my two younger brothers. But I've been in PR for over a decade. And, yeah, it's a lot of the skills that I'm going to take with me on the island. It's relationships, strategy, blindsiding sometimes. Blindsiding?

[00:04:13] No, I'm joking. But, like, you know, spinning a story and doing what you have to do in order to make a headline and get some good news. I mean, that's the thing is that there's, you know, the positive side of things, which to your point is making a headline. There's also maybe the other side, which is, oh, no, something happened. I'm going to have to curry a bit of favor, build a bit of bridges. So, yeah, it feels like a little bit of a PR to S-U-R-V-I-V-O-R bridge. I love that. Yeah, that's good. So then what brought you onto Survivor then? I've been watching the show since I was eight.

[00:04:43] So all 24 years of it. My first screen name, no joke, was Survivor Freak 815 because my birthday is August 15th. Okay. Well, I'm sure that attracted a lot of interesting times. When I tell people that was my screen name at eight years old, it's like I look back on it and I'm like, that is, like, not okay. That was very inappropriate. Yeah, it feels like there's levels of fandom where it's like fan, super fan, super duper fan. Now there's like Survivor Freak. The Freak fan. Survivor Freak.

[00:05:11] Yeah, at eight, at the ripe age of eight. So I've just been watching the show my whole life. And I have always thought in the back of my head, like, I can do it. I want to be on it. And then I finally applied. And I am so grateful. Like, I cannot believe I'm here still. Yeah. So was this your first time applying? Had you been seeking it multiple times? Yeah, no, it was my first time applying. So then what, for a lifetime of fandom, what made you decide this was the time? So I was kind of, okay, so I had been watching it forever.

[00:05:39] But you know, it's like you grow up, you're no longer the eight year old, you are becoming that adult with like the walls and the tough skin. And hello, PR person, very tough skin, have to be able to get told no a thousand times a day. I lived in New York for 10 years, people in New York, you know, you just walk down the street, don't talk to me, don't breathe on me, don't look at me. Don't even, don't even, you know. So I just had those walls up and I was very in my head about how everyone on Survivor was

[00:06:09] different than me and like deserved it more or like, I don't know, just something that imposter syndrome that kind of peeks out. And I was just like, I never really thought like, oh, like I could be on it. And like, oh, these are just all like regular awesome people. And I could be one of those regular awesome people. Um, so it just took me a while. And then I was going through this kind of like change in my life. I quit my agency job after almost eight years. I started my own company.

[00:06:37] I moved to Virginia with my boyfriend from New Jersey, which is like the motherland. Uh, and I was just like, the land of your mother, probably. Yes. The land of my mother, the land of my entire, like huge Italian Catholic tribe. And I was like, you know what? Like, I'm not going to let myself quit my job and start, I had already been like, you know, I had a lot of questions in place to start my business. But I was like, I'm really not going to let myself do that, which is a way bigger risk than just applying for survivor and just seeing where it goes.

[00:07:06] So I kind of just applied on a whim in my parents' Jersey Shore house kitchen. It was raining. And I was like, Bianca, today is the day. Get it done. Yeah. You're going to experience a lot more rain. Hopefully. Yeah. I hope not, actually. Well, that being said, through your near lifetime of survivor experience, give me a non-winner and a winner who you identify with the most. Love that. I think Dee. I know she's very recent, but she's super top of mind for me.

[00:07:34] Just like a hustler, an entrepreneur, someone that is very, very deeply committed to her family. Had them at the forefront the entire game. That's absolutely what I'm going to be doing, what I've even been doing so far. So Dee for sure. Non-winner. I have to go Steph. Like, OG. I just. Another Jersey Italian. Another Jersey Italian. Like, growing up, I just. She's like the greatest of all time. I think she played great games.

[00:08:04] Like, she was just so badass. Like, at a. Not that women weren't badass. Then I feel like she just made, like, a huge impression in such a different way. And I just. I'm obsessed with her. Yeah. What's your favorite moment in survivor history? Was it a Stephanie moment? Ooh. Favorite moment ever. No. You know what? My favorite moment. Michelle. Another amazing Jersey girl winner. When she. I think it was winners at war. Yes.

[00:08:32] She was talking to Boston Rob about, like, her controversial win. Yeah. And Rob was like, you won. He was like, if you win, you win. He was like, there isn't controversy. Like, you won, you won. And that's it. And he kind of just, like, squashed it in the butt. And I was just like, I love that realness of survivor. Like, him lifting her up and her sharing her vulnerability about her win. Which is like, you won. Yeah. And like, you're still being vulnerable while being, like, insecure about that. I mean, there's a million amazing moments.

[00:09:01] I love when Jeff, like, I love the banter between Jeff and the tribes. And like, there's just so many good things. But I love that moment. And that, like, really stuck out in me where it was like survivor. Not that my whole life I didn't know it was more than a game. But I was just like, wow. Like, there's some life lessons here. For sure. From Boston Rob. I mean, he wrote a whole book about it. I mean, he's the best. I love him. He's like, if I wasn't... If... Yeah.

[00:09:32] I had an implication. It seems like I was correct. Let's just say I've had a few sex dreams about Boston Rob. Like, it may or may not have happened. What? Age of age. When you survived for K-15. Watches and they're rewatching. What is one life experience you feel has prepared you the most for this? Is it career-based, like you said, or something else? No, it's 100% career-based. And definitely last year starting my own business. Yeah.

[00:10:02] I, you know, I persuade people for a living. I persuade the founders of multi-million dollar companies to let me do their PR and be my clients. I persuade journalists all day long to write about my clients. Like, I love them all and they're great. But, you know, some of them aren't super sexy. And I get them in Forbes, Fast Company, Time Magazine, New York Times, Wall Street Journal. So, my entire livelihood is based on relationships, people skills, persuasion, communication.

[00:10:33] And I'm bringing all that here. Are you going to tell people that you work in PR? Okay. Absolutely not. What's your cover? I work in events. I work in corporate events. Okay. I work with tons of different companies, helping them with anniversary parties, launches, you name it. What is, even from a preparation perspective, again, your job seems to be something that's part and parcel. But, once you found out you were coming out here, what was the prep process like, physically, mentally? Yeah. Yeah. So, my boyfriend is amazing.

[00:11:02] He became my trainer immediately, my survivor coach. Like, literally, he had my ass outside making fire every single night for a month before I came out here. Wow. Yes. He immediately ordered me, like, the pull-up bars, the little grippy things. Here's the number one thing. Yeah. Thanks to Charlie. A ton of puzzles, flint, kindling. I started going to the pool more and swimming. I grew up on the Jersey Shore. I'm a super strong swimmer, but I never, like, swam as a sport. Yeah. Working out more for sure.

[00:11:31] I actually did a lot more, like, yoga to work on balance and core strength. I stopped eating as much as I do. I'm Italian. I'm basically a human trash can. Like, I'll eat everything, everything. You're a child from the Clean Plate Club. A thousand percent. So, about two weeks out, I definitely, like, cut all of my meals in half. Uh-huh. What else did I do? Mentally, just, like, really, I journal every day, but, like, really locked it in.

[00:12:00] Like, up here, like, checked in with, like, my positive mindset, my intentions, affirmations every single day. My family came the weekend before. We did, like, a whole party for me. My boyfriend did the sweetest thing ever. He got everyone in my family and my two best friends to write me pregame letters from home. Oh. Oh, my God. I'm going to cry just thinking about it. He read it to me before I left, and I was, like, a mess, bawling like a baby.

[00:12:29] And these were intended to be plane letters for me. And we were, like, nope, absolutely not. I'm not reading these on the plane. I'm going to be a hot mess. So, I read them all, you know, just before we came out here, but not on the plane. And it was just amazing. Like, so moving. And that, like, really gave me, if I didn't already have all the motivation, just, like, let's go. Let's do it. Well, I think it's also a great reminder for you.

[00:12:54] I mean, that's why the loved ones letter works so well on the island is, like, it's a great reminder to take your head out of the situation your day-to-day to be like, oh, yeah, there are people back at home. Yeah. You got that experience before even coming out of the experience. I can't even imagine what love letters is like when you are starving, tired, haven't eaten, haven't slept, like, all these things. And then you're getting them. Like, I was happy and full when I was reading those letters. And I was still a mess.

[00:13:20] What would you say is your greatest superpower and your greatest piece of kryptonite that you think you're going to bring into the game? Okay. Superpower is my positivity. I am a happy-go-lucky person. I'm a very level-headed person, but I really try to bring brightness to every situation, especially, like, dark and annoying and, like, uncomfortable situations.

[00:13:48] So I really do think that's my superpower. I think, like, the way that I can make people laugh and make people feel comfortable, and it goes back to my social skills as well. But being positive above all else, I really think that that's something that I'm proud of and I hope to bring to the tribe. Kryptonite. So, like, you're saying, like, what would just, like, absolutely destroy me?

[00:14:14] Or, like, a quality of yours that you know you have that may be something to hamper your game. Got it. Yeah. I'm really impatient. Like, super impatient. I worked at a PR agency for seven and a half years. Shit has to get done very quickly. Well, good news. It's a 26-day game. Yeah. Works perfectly for you. I, even growing up, like, eldest of the fam, I have two younger brothers. Just, like, everything was on Bianca time.

[00:14:42] Like, very much, like, in order of what I wanted to be doing. So I know that I can be super impatient. But, listen, I'm not going to let, you know, me not having, like, a chicken parm every single night ruffle my feathers. Like, I'll be okay. Yeah. So then when it comes to impatience, is it, why are you not getting this done sooner? Or is it, like, why didn't, I need to tell someone about this idol? Honestly, I think the first, like, okay, like, why isn't the shelter done yet? Like, what are we doing here?

[00:15:12] Like, or just getting on someone. Like, if I feel like I'm a natural born leader. Like, I know how to direct the crowd. But, like, I don't want to be Bruce. So, like, I got to, like, you know, temper that a little bit. I don't think, I don't run my mouth. Like, I work in PR. There's a lot of things that I'm a vault. Like, I can't talk about it. I've probably, I've signed so many NDAs in my lifetime. Like, I know how to keep a secret. So, I don't think I would get impatient of, like, oh, I have to, like, run and tell this person something.

[00:15:41] I actually talked to my family about not telling anyone ever if I, when. When. I do find an, exactly. I do find an idol. So, I don't think it would be that. So, obviously, you're in the business of image management. Yeah. How do you think you're going to be perceived? I know. This is crazy. It's a big role reversal now. Like, I worry about myself and my image because now I'm the founder of a company and, like, I'm running a business.

[00:16:10] So, I do want people to see me being, you know, on top of my game, an expert, knowing what I'm doing. But what's really fun for me is, like, I left the corporate-ish world and, like, I curse a lot. I curse on Zoom calls with my clients. Like, that's just me. And I liked letting myself shine through in that way. Uh-huh. And I found, like, at the end of the day, you can't just monitor yourself all day long or you're not going to be yourself. So, I'm going to come out here. I'm going to be myself.

[00:16:40] I do worry. I guess, like, one of my biggest fears is, like, oh, no. Is Mary going to hate me for some crazy reason? But then you have to think back to Michelle and that Boston Rob conversation, right? Right. It doesn't really matter as long as and when I win. Exactly. I don't give a fuck anyway. So, you wrote in your bio that you are the catch-up queen. Oh, yeah. It feels like everyone is coming to you. What is it, in your opinion, that makes that role happen? Yeah. I think it—I'm definitely the catch-up queen.

[00:17:07] Like, I talk to my brother every single night when we both end work. I talk to my mom, my aunt, my goddaughter. My whole family just calls me all the time. I don't even know how I have time to talk to all of them. But I put them first. And I think it's just my ability to just connect with anyone, honestly. Like, I am—I credit my grandmother, who has always been so inclusive and so all-loving

[00:17:34] and just, like, always set an amazing example and my grandfather of just, like, connecting with people because people are good and serving them. So, I think I just, like, provide a friendly atmosphere and an outlet for people to come to me. And listen, like, I—even at work, like, I have a lot of two people coming to me talking shit about the other. Like, even my aunt and my mom, who are sisters, and they know this.

[00:17:59] So, like, I have to manage a lot of that, you know, those conversations that happen, too. So, let's talk about, hopefully, some of these people that will make you the island catch-up queen. Let's talk about your competition a little bit. Because I'm sure you've been sitting around for a little while. A little while. And I'm sure you've been reading some people. Yeah. So, let's start with the positive side of things. Describe to me some people that if you hit the beach with them day one, it's the best-case scenario. This is a ride or die that you could invest in. Oh, okay.

[00:18:27] I have been observing, but I think the one thing we haven't found out about each other is our personality. Like, that's how I vibe with someone. So, this is a very hard question. Yeah. I think it's really hard for me to answer that right now. Like, I need to see a little bit more of, like, does this person have really good work ethic? Does this person have a communication style that fits with mine? Yeah. Is this person someone that I can laugh with?

[00:18:57] Like, forget trust. I'm throwing trust out the window. But, like, can I have fun with this person? At the end of the day, I'm here to win, but I'm also here to have a good time. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Um, so, yeah. I feel like there are some people, like, I've shared a look with or a smile and a laugh. And it's like, oh, like, I want to get to work with you. But I don't know at this point. Is there anyone on the other side of things, though? Has there been anything where you're like, oh, that's a red flag? No. Really? There hasn't. There really hasn't.

[00:19:23] And I'm even looking at, like, is anyone, like, having three plates at lunch? Like, they really haven't prepared. Or, like, is anyone just, like, super bossy? Or, like, you know, sitting at the front? Or, like, raising their hand first for every single thing? Like, everyone's doing a great job. Okay. Everyone is playing it neutral. Well, talk to me about what you value in an alliance. Because you talk about that sense of humor. But what would you say is, like, the core quality you want in that number one ally? I think it's vibes.

[00:19:52] Like, it just is. I think it's, again, like, work ethic, communication, ability to have fun together. Yeah. And I think it's just vibes. Like, I vibe with you. I'd go out for a coffee or a drink with you. Let's do it. I'm a Jersey boy as well, so we'll do it. So I really just think that's what it is. And, listen, that's me saying this now ahead of the game. Like, who knows what could happen day one where it's like, oh, no, I need to. I'm a short girl. I'm 5'2".

[00:20:20] Like, maybe I need to ban myself with someone, like, really physically fucking strong. Like, there's so many things and so many scenarios I've run in my head where it's like, right now, it's a blank slate. I really don't know anything. I would say vibes first, but things can change. Well, let's talk about something that might help you in that scenario. The DNA of the new era is all about idols, advantages, journeys. Yeah. How avid are you in looking for those and finding those? Oh, a thousand. I didn't come out here to sit on my ass. Let me tell you.

[00:20:49] Oh, I'm going to be looking. I'm going to be looking discreetly, not anything crazy. But, yeah, also like an alliance partner, someone that's creative, like someone that, listen, it's the new era. You have to earn everything. Like, we're not being, we are not being, and nothing's getting handed to us. So, I actually said earlier, like creativity is huge in this game because every single second could be something else.

[00:21:17] And like, sure, maybe we've all watched all 46 seasons at this point. But like, you got to be creative because Jeff is going to be throwing curveballs every which way. And you have to think on your feet. You have to be able to improvise. And you have to be able to, like, understand that what happened 10 minutes ago is just maybe not the case for the next day, three days, whatever it is. And spin on it. So, I feel like the past, you know, 45, 46, these seasons feel, it took the new era even a brand new step. Yeah.

[00:21:47] As you've been prepping for this, I'm sure you've been, you know, looking back on those couple seasons with one eye. What are the main takeaways from 45 and 46 that you plan to bring into your game? Yeah, yeah. Oh, they were so good. Like, such epic seasons. So much fun. Like, to follow that. Main takeaways. Social. For sure, social game. I mean, you look at even earlier than 45 and 46. But, like, you look at Dee, you look at Kenzie, you look at Marianne, you look at Jam Jam. Like, these are just, like, social beings to their core.

[00:22:17] Effervescent. People that own themselves are themselves fully. So, I am glad to see that what I thought might be my greatest, you know, weakness at certain times. Just, like, being overly friendly or overly jovial is really working these people's favor in these recent seasons. And I think, you know, not that strategy goes out the window by any means. But I think maybe it's a lot harder now. Like, sure, it's shorter. It's 26 days. But, like, we aren't being given rice.

[00:22:47] We aren't being given beans. Like, we're being given nothing. So, you need people around you that are going to lift you up, keep you going, make you laugh, keep you positive. And I do think that that social game, personality, vibes, connection really is becoming more and more important in order to win and last long. What is your hottest survivor take? What is your most controversial opinion about a season, a player of the show? Oh. My hottest survivor take.

[00:23:16] I did not think about this. Um, what is my hottest take? Such a lame answer. I mean, I was going to say, why can't they eat fish raw? Like, I just don't understand. I've never heard that before. I thought if you said lame, it was going to be like, oh, here's something about Final Four Fire making. I mean, that's, like, all I can think about. Why can't they eat fish raw?

[00:23:41] There are so many times where a tribe doesn't have their flint yet and they earn the reward and it's fish and it's raw, but they can't eat it. And I'm like, it's sushi. Like, I would be just shoving that fish down my throat, scales and all. I don't care. Just, like, gnawing into it. Like, I mean, it's fresh fish out of the Fijian Sea. Going full Gollum style. Yeah, like, why not? So that's just a question I've had at the forefront of my mind. I don't know if that counts as a hot take. I think that counts as a hot take. I would like to eat the fish raw.

[00:24:09] That is maybe one of the hottest takes I've ever heard in my life, let alone not as a survivor related. So I'm going to throw a scenario out for you. Okay. If you could bring a celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one. I know family is important for you, but I'm going to give you the chance to bring someone else into the family. Who are you picking and why? Okay. See, immediately my mind just goes to, like, celebrities that I think are hot. But, like, if we're talking... Cross and Rob.

[00:24:39] Jeremy Ellen White. Yeah. If we're talking, like... Hey, he could cook that fish. I was going to say, like, chef, get out here. Okay, a celebrity. Like, a family. Like, someone that would comfort me. Okay, Jenny Slate. A thousand percent. Because, like, I feel like she's my soul sister. So, like, if she came out here, she would just, like, run with it and we would be sisters. There you go. I don't even have a sister. So she'd be the sister I never had. You could grab a shell, do Marcel the shell that she was on for three.

[00:25:09] Yeah, absolutely. And she's just, like, the best human ever. She's so funny. She'd be great to have out here. Or even if it was, like, we won, you know, the day of she comes back to the camp and it's not, like, the fancy spa reward or whatever. Like, would love to have her at my camp. Last thing I want to ask. Obviously, we know 50 is right around the corner. How are you going to make your mark on 48 so we're going to be having a conversation a year later? Ooh, I like that. Jeff told us not to focus on 50. Okay. He was like, focus on now.

[00:25:39] I think I'm just going to play hard. Like, I came out here to play. And listen, if that means I go down swinging, like, then I go down swinging. And I know in order to get ass back, like, it doesn't matter how long you lasted. It's what you did in the time that you lasted. So listen, I told you once, I'll say it again. I didn't come out here to sit on my ass. Like, I want to play this game. I want to find idols. I want to make alliances. I want to blindside. I want to backstab. Like, I want to do all the things.

[00:26:09] I want to eat the fish raw. So I'm just going to play my little jersey hard out. And hopefully, you know, then I'll be back at 50. Well, I'm glad you sat on your ass right now to talk to me, at least. This was such a fantastic time. It was fun. It was a very good time. And I'm so excited to see what you're going to bring to this. Like you said, you're going to put your full self into it from day one to hopefully day 26. And that's going to be such a great time. I'm excited. No matter what. Bring it on. All right. There you have it.

[00:26:37] Bianca Roses, my first Survivor 48 preseason interview. And it was a wild one. Very excitedly. So has me chomping at the bit to talk to these people like a raw fish. But we're actually going to take a short break right now. But when we come back, I'm going to be talking with the next Survivor 48 contestant, Eva Erickson. We're Teresa and Nemo. And that's why we switched to Shopify.

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[00:27:33] Next up on our Loggie interviews is one of the youngest contestants of the season, Eva Erickson. Eva comes originally from Eagan, Minnesota, but currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is attending Brown. She is a Ph.D. candidate going for her Ph.D. in fluid engineering. And she is 24 years old.

[00:27:53] Safe to say that Eva is both a brain and a brawn as she is balancing an education, vying for a degree in engineering with a passion for hockey. One that has her breaking the ice and gender norms along the way. Here's my interview with Eva. Give me your name, your age and your occupation. I'm Eva Erickson. I'm 23 years old and I'm a Ph.D. student in engineering and fluid and thermal science.

[00:28:24] That's a mouthful. So talk to me about what exactly that involves. So my research for my thesis is on how SEALs use their wisters to locate objects in water and how that can be implemented in sensory tech for the Navy. I feel like I was like, OK, here's an explaining sentence. I got an even more confusing sentence from it. That is incredible. What does that involve for you? Is it all research? Is it hands on experience with the SEALs?

[00:28:50] Unfortunately, I don't work with live SEALs, but I do a lot of experiments. Here's the metaphoric SEALs. I have a big scaled up SEAL whisker model that I put in a very large water flume. It's like 2000 gallons. And I do different experiments to see its vibrational profile in response to disturbances. So I'm basically creating a fake fish flapping and then have my SEAL whisker respond to it by vibrating in different ways. So we can ultimately create a sensor that's very sensitive to different types of disturbances.

[00:29:19] How on earth did you find your way into this? Is this obviously science, I imagine, is your passion, but is this a part of science you've always wanted to work in? Not specifically SEAL whiskers. You never know. Every pot for a lake. Yeah, exactly. Well, my previous research was also in centipede locomotion. So I mean, I feel like I'm a step up from bugs now, but I overall, I wanted to study physics when I was an undergrad because I loved nature, which sounds really contradictory.

[00:29:46] But growing up, I loved animals so much and I was really good at math. So I was like, how can I combine those two things? And so I wanted to go into physics of living systems. And so that's what I studied at Georgia Tech. And then from there, I was able to get involved in really cool research that allowed me to do bio-inspired robotics. Wow. So then what's the end goal here, if any? Or is it just kind of like keep your head down, get through the SEALs and then see what happens next? I mean, there's a lot of different pathways I can take. I'm getting a really elite degree from a great school.

[00:30:15] Brown is an Ivy League school. So I feel very lucky to have this opportunity. So there's a lot of opportunities for me to do things in aerodynamics or fluid dynamics, going in those pathways, maybe continuing in military research. But something that I've thought going forward that I might be interested in transitioning to is instead of doing animal research, doing more about humans and specifically sports equipment. I love hockey so much. That's a huge passion of mine. So if I could combine that. You have that as like a side job, right? You're an official for games.

[00:30:45] Well, I've played hockey my whole life. I'm still playing hockey. And then I also am an official. I'm an NCAA Division I hockey official. So I'm a linesman. And I also do a ton of USA hockey national tournaments. They bring me around the country. So that's like my side gig as well as my PhD. How much did it kill you to be out here for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup? Oh, my God. I was like, I was dying. I couldn't believe that it made it to a Game 7.

[00:31:12] And like after the first three games were all to Florida, I was like, oh, I'm going to see the end of this. No, of course. Then the Oilers come back, bring it to a Game 7. And I'm like, I'm going to miss it. I cannot believe I'm missing it. So my dad said he would tell me the. I was going to say, like, do you want to know or do you want to win? I do know. I was told. I did. I mean, I was talking to all the crew that's been around and asking people. I've been wearing. I wore an Oilers shirt the first day. So a few of the guys were asking me. The curse remains. Yes. Oh, my gosh.

[00:31:41] I was so sad. Here, Florida of all places. I did not want Matthew Kachuk to get a cup. But here we are. Let's talk about what's bringing you from the ice to the heat of Fiji. Why Survivor? I mean, so many reasons. First off, it's a crazy adventure. I mean, we're out in the most beautiful place I've ever been. And just getting to be in nature. That's crazy. That's so cool. I love the outdoors. So that's a big experience. And then I'm so competitive.

[00:32:12] I've been an athlete my whole life. I've always been so driven. And this is the biggest competition I'll ever be a part of. It's such a unique experience where I'm competing and living, again, with people I don't know. And I'm battling the elements as well as these people. And it just brings together to this huge sporting event to me that I'm like, I want to win. Yeah. How long have you been watching Survivor? What's been your history with it? I'm pretty new to Survivor, actually.

[00:32:37] I only started watching it in college because my teammates at Georgia Tech created a Survivor drinking game where we played Survivor but with drinking game challenges. So like Flip Cup and Pong, Defend the Castle, all these classic drinking games. But we had tribes. We're playing against each other. And then if your tribe lost, you voted someone out. Same as Survivor. We hid an idol around the house. We hid an idol? Yep. We had tribal council where we're having someone be Jeff asking questions. And so it was a big thing.

[00:33:07] We did this several times. And the first time that I played it with my teammates, I won. And I was like, you know what? Maybe I could do it in the real game, too. How long did this last for? Was this a one-night thing? We would make a whole night of it. Like, it was like a big thing where we'd start at like 5 p.m. And then we had like all the challenges mapped out and the like breakdown of tribes and everything. It was very, very fun. That's interesting because I'm not sure if you know, but there are these sort of like live reality games where people will go play Survivor for a day.

[00:33:34] Yours is the most unique version I have ever heard in my life. I mean, like you won't win a million dollars, but maybe you're like BAC level might be like a million. Well, the last challenge for our building fire to be part of the final three was everyone had to take a breathalyzer and whoever was most sober was out. Oh! It was great. It was so much fun. And those guys were the best. We all watched Survivor together then as well.

[00:34:04] We kind of binge watched it during finals. Gotcha. And watching this, we would all be like throwing out our commentary and the guys knew way more than I did. And we'd be seeing all these challenges where the female characters were so weak. These were really old seasons. And I didn't like these female characters they had casted and the guys were all like, oh my gosh, they're so dumb. They're so weak. Eva, you're so much better than them. You could like kill everybody in this game. And I was like, yeah, I should do that. And so they're really the ones that like encouraged me to go try and do this.

[00:34:31] Well, speaking of looking back across Survivor history, if you could give me a winner and a non-winner who you identify with the most personally, strategically, who would that be? So the two characters that I think I really identify with were Denise. She won. She was from Minnesota like I am. And she was a challenge beast. That woman, she was small, but she was so strong and fierce. And so I really liked her. I thought she was super cool. And I was like, you know what? I want to be like that woman. And then someone more recent is Lindsay.

[00:35:00] And she also was a very strong competitor. And she had a good alliance with Jonathan, I remember, throughout. And who were two very strong players. And I thought she was really cool. And she also played football. And I'm a woman on an all-men's hockey team. She was a woman on a men's football team. And so I also identified that with her as well. Yeah, talk to me about that. Because groundbreaking is probably putting it mildly. But what was that experience like for you, kind of breaking into that environment?

[00:35:27] It was, I mean, it was crazy at first. Because I was really nervous. And I was like, I'd been playing girls hockey all growing up. I'm from Minnesota. So there's just as much girls hockey as boys. And it's very high level. Best hockey for women in the country. And then I went down to Georgia Tech for college, going there because I want to go to a great school. Not for hockey. But I found out they had a men's hockey team. I was like, well, I don't want to give up on my passion of hockey. I'm going to try out. We'll see where I land. And I did. I made the team.

[00:35:57] And they do cut people. So it wasn't that they're just, oh, we have to let her on. I made the team. And at first, the guys were kind of on eggshells a little bit. They didn't really know how to handle having a girl playing with them. They're like, can we hit her? Can we joke around the same? This feels like the plot of a Disney Channel movie from 1996. Oh, for sure. And so, but I really showed them that I'm like, I'm here to play. I'm an aggressive player. And I can shoot the shit with them just like they can with anyone else. Yeah.

[00:36:25] And so quickly, I like earned their respect and become one of the boys. And it was funny because one of the guys on the team, he was talking to me about how he can't talk to girls. And I'm like, well, I'm a girl. You're talking to me. And he's like, you don't count. He's like, no, you're one of us. You don't count at all. And so I know that I'm just one of them. And they were the best support. They're great guys. And any time that other teams often would target me because they'd never played against a girl, they see me. They're like, you don't belong. They would try to blow me up. They'd say terrible things to me.

[00:36:54] My teammates would always have my back and they'd go fight them for me if I wasn't already fighting them myself. Oh, my God. Yeah. Penalty box is just stuck with people. They're there for the right reasons. So then if I were to ask you what's one life experience you feel that has prepared you most for this, would it be that or would it be something else? Honestly, I feel like that is a big thing that has prepared me. Because that also has grown my confidence in myself a lot. Yeah. And I've always been, everyone says I'm a very confident person. And I know I'm very like authentically myself all the time.

[00:37:23] And that comes from a lot of my autism. That is something that's very important to me. And it's because I don't change who I am for other people. Right? Because I don't recognize the social cues to do that. So I'm just always me. And I think I've grown even more into that as I've gotten older because I just accept that, you know? Yeah. And go about, do what I want to do. And so joining men's hockey team, I was like, I like hockey. I'm going to go do that. And everyone became my friends. And then when I did the same thing, when I started my PhD, going to a new school, have to start all over with new guys.

[00:37:53] I was even more ready for it this time because I'd done it before. And I was like, I know I can show up to this situation and I can thrive. And I thrive so much that they've selected me as their captain for next season. Congratulations. Oh my God. Being a girl captain of a men's team when everyone on the team was like, yes, 100%, you're who we want. There was no doubt that it was going to be anyone but me. And that felt amazing to know that they all respect me and all see me as one of them. So then when you find out you're coming out here, what was your prep process like?

[00:38:23] Because I imagine you're keeping things busy with the SEALs. But how much were you able to get ready for whatever this was as much as you could in whatever way? Yeah. I mean, it was a big balancing because I had a lot of lab work to do. I mean, I'm taking time off for my PhD, which is a very rare thing. It's a year-round thing. It's fully funded. I'm a fellow with the National Science Foundation. Wow. And so I have a lot of work to be doing. And luckily, my advisor allowed me to take this time.

[00:38:50] But I did have to submit a manuscript to him before I left. So that was a lot of work to get this put together. But then in addition to that, I was training. I was building fires in my backyard all the time. In my little apartment in Providence, I'm building a fire. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy. I was training every morning. I always train every morning. I'm huge into lifting. That's for hockey. And so I just kept up that workout plan, changing it to adapt to different things that I started fasting.

[00:39:17] I started limiting my food intake a little bit to prepare myself to have less. Still having enough to maintain my muscles and be strong. But knowing that I was going from having four meals a day as an athlete where I eat lots of protein, lots of food, knowing this is to fuel me to then shrinking that down a little bit, smaller time frame. Now I was down to having only two meals and one of those just being a smoothie before I came here to prepare myself to know, okay, your body's going to have to function on nothing. So let's dwindle it down a little bit.

[00:39:46] How do you think you're going to be perceived in this game? Because it's clear like athleticism runs in your blood. You were just voted into this leadership position. How do you think people are going to look at you in the terms of how you fit into a tribe? I definitely want to be seen in my tribe as an athlete. I do not want them to know that I'm also very intelligent. That's something that I'm going to keep hidden because otherwise I'm going to be too much of a threat. So are you just like doing the generic answer? Oh, I'm a student. No, I'm going to say I'm an NCAA hockey official. So you're fully steering into the hockey of it all.

[00:40:16] Oh, for sure. Because you take one look at me, you can tell that I am very fit. I've got huge muscles, especially for a woman. And that's just my personality really shows that. Yeah. And so I can really lean into that. And nobody's going to look at that side of my life and be like, oh, she plays men's hockey. She's an official. She also is probably really smart and goes to an Ivy League school. Nobody's going to think that. So if I really lean into this one aspect about myself, I think I can hide the other part and keep that to my advantage.

[00:40:45] So I am being strategic. I am working on different things. But hopefully they just see me as a physical competitor. What would you say is your biggest superpower and your biggest piece of kryptonite that you're bringing from your life into the game? Definitely my autism for both of those. Interesting. Double like a sword. Yes, exactly. And that's the thing with autism is that a lot of people think autism is being something bad and that it's a big roadblock to success. But I believe that I would not have been as successful in my life without having my autism.

[00:41:12] Because I know it's provided me with so much drive because I get these fixations on things, which can be very bad. But I've learned in my life to channel that towards my goals and using my fixated mindset to achieve what I want. And sure, there's also a lot of downsides. So that's where the bad part comes in. That, yes, there are times when I get super overwhelmed and overstimulated and that can have a very large physical effect on me.

[00:41:39] As well as there's other things with autism, like my inability to recognize social cues. I'm a very social person, have a ton of energy, love talking to people. But I don't pick up on the small social cues that everyone else does. And so this game where everyone's lying to me, a lot of that's going to go over my head. So that's where I have to really make sure I'm building strong alliances with people who I can trust to tell me the truth. Well, on that note, let's talk about some people that hopefully you can trust in. Because I'm sure you've been sitting around, you've been making eyes, you've been picking up vibes.

[00:42:08] Let's start on the positive side. Who are some people that you feel great about? That best case scenario, you're hitting the beach on day one. This is someone I could ride to the end of the game with. Yeah. I mean, knowing myself and that I'm an athlete and I look at everyone else in the view of an athlete. This is a competitive physical game as well as a mental game. I see people who look athletic and I'm like, that's someone that I think I could work with. Because oftentimes people who are very strong and are built, they're hard workers.

[00:42:34] You put in a lot of time and effort to get those muscles and to have that strength. And sports gives you lots of different morals that people who don't play sports don't have about hard work and teamwork and many things in general. So I saw two guys over the last couple of days that I think I'd really like to work with. One of them, he's a black guy who looks very strong, great smile. Guy was wearing a lacrosse shirt at one point. I was like, lacrosse is pretty close to hockey. That's someone that I think I could get along with. That would be a great ally to have.

[00:43:03] As well as there's an Asian man who looks about my age as well. Also looks muscular. Another guy who's smiley. I like the happy people, you know. And so seeing him too, I think he looks like someone who I could get along with. He just seems like a fun, nice guy. And so those are two people that I'm hoping I could get one of them on my tribe. What's the biggest thing you value in an alliance partner? Somebody that I can trust. Like I said, I'm not going to recognize lying. And so I want to have someone that I'm solid with that I feel like I can trust.

[00:43:32] And can look to, like I look to my teammates. Because my teammates are like brothers to me. And I want to find someone who I can have that connection with. Because especially at the beginning of this game, you are a team. Yeah. And sure, it's a very complex relationship. But at the ground root of it, you want to get further in the game. And that's their goal too. So how can we do that together? Yeah. I mean, how much do you anticipate, you know, conflict with that? This idea that you are coming from this team sport background where everyone is working together towards literally a common goal.

[00:44:00] Is that going to butt up against this idea that only one person is going to make that power play at the end of the day? I mean, ultimately in sports too, there's a lot of competition that happens outside of just your team playing for, to win a game. There's also the competition to make the team. There's, we're all at tryouts together and not all of us are going to make it. So I've gone through that with the people that were teammates. We've been teammates, but also we're all competing for limited spots on a team or for, for to be on the first line.

[00:44:28] There's different little aspects of competition within all of it that you're not always working towards that one goal together. You all have your individual wants as well, but it's just being able to balance that because you can't be the asshole who's just being a dick to the rest of your teammates and because you want to be on the power play. Yeah. Like you still have to be a team so you can all work together. So let's look on the other side of things. Let's talk about maybe these assholes or dicks or whatever your other body parts you're perceiving. Is there anybody that you've, you're picking up some either not good vibes from or you can't

[00:44:58] read in particular, any red flags you're getting from people? I mean, there's people that I just think are annoying. Please describe them to me. Um, there's this black woman who she just has been, we're supposed to be quiet. Right. And she's just often been like making little comments or doing little extra things that I'm just like, dude, chill. Like, and it's just been kind of getting on my nerves. So I'm like, that's someone that I'm kind of like, I don't think I'd want to work with her. There's also been a few people that I've still seen them wearing makeup and ear like big hoop earrings.

[00:45:26] And we're, we're out already sleeping in tents every night. We're in the wilderness a little bit already. And I'm like, why are you still getting ready to look nice? Like what? Like, it just seems very contradictory to my thoughts on this game. So these are people that I know that I'm very different from. So I don't think I would be working with. When it comes to your thesis on survivor, I mean, the new era is a lot of to reference in terms of idols, advantages, journeys. How much are you incorporating that into your, your own sort of manifesto? Yeah. I'm not good at finding things.

[00:45:56] I'm definitely not going to find an advantage. Like I am the worst at looking for stuff. I like, I always, whenever it's like, oh, like, where did I put this thing? And I spend forever looking for it. And then it's like the first place that I looked that I just didn't see. And I'm like, so I really doubt that I'll be able to pick out a tiny little idol hidden somewhere in the forest. So I'm kind of discounted that for my thoughts on what I'm going to be able to do. So I feel like I have to rely more on the rest of my gameplay instead of all these little additional things that you could find.

[00:46:24] Would you ever like volunteer to go on a journey, which is less about seeking, but more about decision-making? I mean, the hard thing about volunteering for something is that it does put a target on you. Like then you see that time and time again. So I'm like, I would not volunteer for a journey. However, I think if we lost the first challenge and it's doing sweater savvy, I would volunteer for the sweat task because of two things. One, then I get to show that, look, I'm a physical player. I'm showing that I'm physical by going to do this big physical thing.

[00:46:53] And two, the other person who would go with me on that is also probably another strong player. That's true. So that gets me an opportunity to talk to someone who is going to be a potential ally because they have those characteristics that I look for. Well, Q and Jelinski said that as well. Oh no! Well, on that note though, I do feel like season 45 and 46 definitely felt like a definitive step from the first four seasons of the new era. I'm sure as you were finding out you were coming out here, you probably had one eye on those seasons. Trying to find some takeaways to incorporate into your own game.

[00:47:22] What would some of those takeaways be? Play your idol. Definitely play your idol. So you won't be finding them, but you'll be telling people to play him. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I can't believe so many people went home with idols in their pockets. That is ridiculous. I mean, that's for sure a thing that I'd want to do because it's all just about like the little steps to get to the next thing. Because to me, I kind of think here's going to be a big hockey analogy, but for the beginning of the game, when we're in our tribes, that is like regular season.

[00:47:51] The regular season, you're playing games, you want to win and stuff, but it's not, if you lose, it's not super bad yet. Yeah. But once you hit the jury, once we merge, there's the jury there. Now, all of a sudden you're in playoffs and you're playing for the Stanley Cup. So here's where you really kick it into gear. And in hockey, when it hits playoffs, all of a sudden everything's way more physical. It's way more intense. Everyone wants it that much more. And so the regular season is just, we got to get ourselves in a good position to make it to the playoffs. And then you really kick it into gear.

[00:48:21] So to me, that's kind of what I'm thinking about that. I'm like, I have to make it through the regular season. Got to like stay with my tribe. Hopefully I can make it through there. And then once we hit the merge, then it's really game is on. I'm playing for the Stanley Cup. What is your favorite moment in Survivor history? Ooh. Lots of children. Yeah. I mean, I think my favorite moment is kind of like a heartwarming one. Okay.

[00:48:46] And when Noel, who she had one leg and she had to go across a little balance beam. Oh my God. And she could not do it over and over, just kept falling off it. And she got so frustrated and you could just see it. And I just felt so bad. I really liked her. And I was like, oh my gosh. Like she has to do it. Everyone else is way past that part of the challenge. They're all throwing their bags by now. And finally she gets across that beam. She goes up, she throws her bags like one after another, lands all of them. And she won the challenge. Oh my God. And it was just like the biggest comeback story.

[00:49:15] And it just showed like so much heart and grit and dedication that she didn't give up. And that's how I want to play is I want to be that person who doesn't give up. And like you're going to get knocked down. And I see that. And I'm like, she got up and she had one leg to get up on and she still did it. Like, I think she's so cool. And I want to be like her. What is your hottest Survivor take? What do you think is your most controversial opinion about a player, a season, the show in general? I think that you should not be allowed to ask what someone's going to do with the money in the final Tribal Council. Okay.

[00:49:44] I think that that should have no, that's no indication of how someone played. The rules are to outwit, outplay and outlast. And that's what the jury should be making their decision based on, not on who needs the money the most or who do you think is going to use it the best. Like, no, it should be based on your gameplay, not outside factors. Yeah. I mean, it's always tough because you obviously get to know people out there and everyone has a reason to vote the way that they do. But it sounds like you're going to be more gameplay. Are you going to be checking the resumes, that type of juror? Yeah, definitely.

[00:50:13] Like looking at like, what did you actually do for this game? Not like who's the most likable. I think it should be like, how did you play? I'm checking the boxes. Did you win challenges? Did you make big moves? Just like, not like, oh, you were really nice to everybody. I think that that's, that's just like a plus that keeps people from voting you off. But I don't think that that should be a reason someone should win. I'm going to throw an odd scenario in front of you. If you could bring a celebrity or a fictional character out as a loved one for a loved one's visit, who would it be and why?

[00:50:41] Oh, I get to meet like any celebrity. Any celebrity you want to. Yeah. While you happen to be on Survivor. Yeah. While I happen to be on Survivor. Are they competing with me in a challenge or that I just get to meet them? I mean, listen, blank canvas. You can do whatever you want with them. Oh, I think I would, I would love to meet Wayne Gretzky. I mean, he's the greatest hockey player of all time. I mean, at least for his era. And there's been, now the hockey players have definitely changed, but he is amazing. And I would love to get the opportunity to meet him.

[00:51:10] I think that he's just like a very cool guy to get to meet. So that would be someone I'd want. I'd want to bring out here for sure. But if someone was going to be competing in a challenge with me, I think I would bring Connor McDavid. I feel like he's a crazy athlete. I mean, he just won the Conn Smythe without even winning the cup. Yeah. So I'd love to have him alongside me as my loved one to help win a challenge as I used to do. I mean, the question is like, you know, how deadly are they without skates on though? Oh, they're powerful people. Yeah.

[00:51:37] I mean, Wayne Gretzky's old now, but Connor McDavid, that man trains like a water buffalo. I don't know. He goes crazy. Last thing I want to ask is that obviously 50 is in the back of everyone's head. We know it's returnees. How are you going to make your mark this season so that we're going to be having a conversation a year from now for Survivor 50? I'm going to win. That's very simple. Yeah. That's the game plan. I win and you want me back. And there you have it.

[00:52:05] Survivor 48 preseason interviews. Day one in the books. But there is plenty where that came from. As I'll be back tomorrow talking with two more members of Loggie. I will be speaking with Joe Hunter and the elusive bearded alternate from Survivor 46, Shaheen Daivari. So make sure you do not miss a beat of all the stuff we have going on. We know Survivor dot com to make sure you're subscribed to all the podcasts we have come

[00:52:34] down the pipeline as well as Rob has a website dot com slash YouTube for the video version of not only these interviews, but every podcast we have going on in the Survivor 48 preseason. Thank you all so much. Hope this was a fun way to kick off our cast interviews. And we've got plenty more coming your way, including tomorrow when I talk with Joe and Shaheen. Until then, everybody take care. Bye bye.