Cirie Fields Survivor 50 Preseason Interview

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

Survivor 50 is here, and Mike Bloom sits down with Cirie Fields for a blockbuster preseason interview that sets the stage for this monumental season. As she prepares to head back to the island, Cirie Fields shares her motivations, her growth as a player, and candid impressions of the all-star cast she’ll be facing. From imposter syndrome to graduation metaphors, Cirie gives us an inside look at what it means to approach Survivor’s biggest milestone season as both a legend and a student of the game.

The episode begins with Cirie explaining why she couldn’t say no to Survivor 50, describing this return as her “Survivor graduation,” a final chance to earn her master’s degree in a game that’s been her “first love.” She opens up about needing a true win to feel worthy of her legendary status, despite past successes and victories on other reality shows. Mike and Cirie dive into how previous experiences have transformed her approach: Cirie now values working with past adversaries, leveraging forgiveness and flexibility rather than holding grudges. A special segment sees Cirie play “Friend or Foe,” offering unfiltered takes on potential allies and rivals, from challenge beasts to fellow strategists and new blood.

– Cirie’s emotional reasoning for accepting the Survivor 50 invitation and her drive to “complete what she started”

– How playing recent seasons, and learning to work with former rivals,reshaped her social and strategic approach

– Gut-level reactions to castmates: who feels like a shield, who worries her, who she hopes can become a true ally

– The challenge of balancing legendary reputation with the need for genuine connections and trust among threats

– Moments of humor as Cirie assesses everyone from fellow “mom figures” to unpredictable wild cards

Will Cirie’s growth and hard-won perspective carry her to the win at last, or will old dynamics and new unknowns present fresh obstacles? Is she ready to embrace risk, or will her careful reads keep her safe until the end?

Chapters:
0:00 Intros
3:00 Cirie Returns for Season 50
4:28 Survivor Win Versus Other Victories
5:55 Embracing Enemies as Allies
7:12 Navigating Preconceived Reputations
8:27 Preparing for Survivor Once Again
9:07 Chasing the Ultimate Survivor Win
10:45 Qualities in a Number One Ally
11:12 Friend or Foe Game Begins
13:49 Unpacking Relationships With Old Rivals
16:26 Building New Alliances With Legends
21:52 Dee’s Shield Versus Threat Potential
25:19 Navigating Alliance With New Players
30:23 Valuing Known Versus Unknown Faces
31:45 Celebrity Chosen for Loved Ones

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Christian Hubicki Survivor 50 Preseason Interview

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

Survivor 50 is here, and Mike Bloom sits down with Christian Hubicki for an exclusive preseason interview. Christian, a fan favorite from David vs. Goliath, opens up about the anticipation and nerves of returning to the Survivor arena after seven years away.

Christian kicks things off by sharing how it feels to still be on Survivor “wish lists” after nearly 200 new castaways have played since his last appearance. He dives deep into the importance of perception and narrative, explaining why controlling the story at camp and Tribal might be the most powerful tool in his arsenal for Survivor 50. Mike prompts Christian to weigh in on his “friend or foe” assessments of the new cast, leading to hilarious and candid explanations (including an unforgettable story about farting in front of Colby). Christian reveals his thoughts on being viewed as a threat, what he’s learned from missing out on Survivor 40, and his formula for handling unpredictable twists and fast-paced votes.

– Christian’s philosophy: “Survivor is narrative warfare”—why being the architect of the story could be the key to winning
– His take on returning players versus new faces, plus why challenge beasts and favorites are dangerous pre-merge
– Funny moments: Christian’s accidental faux pas at Ponderosa and his approach to building alliances
– Strategic planning: playbooks for vote splits, managing loose cannons, and picking the right allies
– A personal reveal—Christian is competing for more than just himself this time, bringing fatherhood into the Survivor equation

Christian and Mike explore big questions—can Christian’s storytelling skills shift the target? Who from the cast will be an unexpected ally or rival? How will secrets and relationships shape the opening days?

Don’t miss this in-depth Survivor 50 preseason interview—get the scoop on strategy, cast dynamics, and all the unpredictable drama waiting to unfold!

Chapters:
0:00 Intros
06:20 Christian Returns, Fulfills Wish List
12:20 Narrative Warfare Drives Survivor Strategy
18:00 Friend Or Foe: Cast Rundown Begins
24:00 Categorizing Castaways By Archetype
30:00 New Secret Weapon: Christian’s Motivation
36:00 Playing For Family, New Perspective
40:00 Example Setting For Next Generation

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!
LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed
WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
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Reacting to the Survivor 50 Tribes w/ Mike Bloom

Survivor 50 is here, and the kickoff of the preseason brings Rob Cesternino and Mike Bloom together to break down the brand new cast and tribe divisions. In this in-depth preseason preview, Rob and Mike go tribe by tribe through Survivor 50’s three big groups, discuss returning legends and new era standouts, and tease how former alliances, rivalries, and hidden dynamics might spark fireworks on day one.

The conversation starts with the hosts sharing their first reactions to seeing the finalized tribes of eight, revealing how the old school vs new school split has evolved into a more nuanced blend. Throughout the episode, Rob and Mike preview the cast—Sole Survivor winners like Savannah and Kyle, returning icon Cirie Fields, the unpredictable Q, and fan-favorite strategists like Christian, Jenna Lewis, and Genevieve. The hosts explore the possible impact of pre-existing relationships, speculate about alliance possibilities, and highlight players’ motivations as they return to the game—some after decades away, others barely weeks off their last adventure.

– Christian’s approach to “narrative warfare” and playing as a new parent
– Cirie’s hunger for a win despite playing almost every reality format
– The strategic puzzle of mixing old school, new school, and new era players within each tribe
– Pre-game relationships: Who’s got history, who might find themselves on the outs, and which duos or trios are split across tribes
– Funny and revealing moments, like Rob’s Survivor 50 “FOMO,” Kamilla’s notorious bluffing, and Q’s larger-than-life return

As Rob and Mike walk through each tribe’s roster—from classic Survivor legends like Colby, Ozzy, and Coach to new challenges posed by 49er wildcards Rizo and Savannah—they ponder: Will pre-merge chaos help or hurt the game’s icons? Can savvy social and strategic play outweigh challenge strength on these super-sized tribes?

Chapters:
0:00 Survivor 50 Preseason Kickoff
6:14 Breaking Down Survivor 50 Format
12:21 Tribe Lineups and Cast Strategies
17:28 Christian and Cirie Return Insights
22:24 Old Schoolers Versus New Era
28:31 Navigating Preseason Relationships
36:00 Kamilla, Joe, and Challenge Threats
43:40 Mike White’s Survivor Return
51:00 Tiffany’s Underrated Second Chance
1:00:46 Q’s Wildcard Energy Emerges
1:08:55 Genevieve and Rizo’s Social Game
1:17:16 Colby and Stephenie’s Comebacks
1:24:45 Survivor 50 Preseason Interviews Launch

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!
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Sydney Sweeney Legal Trouble is News AF – January 27, 2026

Rob Cesternino, Tyson Apostol, and Danny Bryson are back with another entertaining episode of News AF, where they dive into the week’s most peculiar and amusing stories.

Today, Rob, Tyson and Danny talk through the week’s most newsworthy stories.

To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com

Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel!

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Spoiler-free Review of Escape! w/ Stephen Fishbach

Today, Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach celebrate the launch of Stephen’s debut novel, Escape!

To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com

To order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com

Buy tickets for Stephen’s book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!
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Rob Watched the Extracted Season 2 Premiere

Rob Cesternino, Mary Kwiatkowski, and Chappell have teamed up to bring you coverage of Extracted Season 2! Extracted takes contestants into a high-pressure environment where they must solve intricate puzzles and uncover hidden secrets. With each episode, the tension builds as players battle to extract key information before their time runs out, but only one team can win.

Today, Rob, Mary, and Chappell discuss the season 2 premiere of Extracted.

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive coverage!
LISTEN: Subscribe to the podcast feed
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Rob and Tiffany Chat Traitors w/ Hannah, Big D, and Pooya

Welcome to RHAP’s coverage of ALL the Traitors iterations from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Traitors US is a high-stakes reality competition set in a secluded castle, where contestants must work together to complete challenges and earn a prize pot—while rooting out the secret traitors hidden among them.

Today, Rob Cesternino and Pooya collaborate with the hosts of Heavy Crown Network, Tiffany Mitchell, Big D, and Hannah Chaddha to discuss The Traitors US Season 4!

Check out everything that Heavy Crown Network has going on here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heavy-crown-network/id1670942159

Never miss all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!
LISTEN: Subscribe to The Traitors Around the World podcast feed
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Traitors US S4 Week 3 Interviews

Welcome to RHAP’s coverage of ALL the Traitors iterations from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Traitors US is a high-stakes reality competition set in a secluded castle, where contestants must work together to complete challenges and earn a prize pot—while rooting out the secret traitors hidden among them.

Today, Rob Cesternino and Pooya chat with comedian and former contestant Ron Funches about his castle experiences The episode dives into big social moves, the challenges of feeling isolated, and what it’s like navigating both suspicion and strategy surrounded by Faithfuls and Traitors.

Ron opens up about adjusting to life after banishment, sharing how he copes with the whirlwind of reaction from fans and social media. He reveals why he preferred being a Faithful, how his social style impacted his connections, and how unexpected bonds, like his friendship with Rob Roush, made the game both harder and more meaningful.

Highlights from the discussion include:

• Ron Funches explains his “faithful” approach and candid interactions during his exit
• The behind-the-scenes story of Ron’s roundtable goodbye and how perceptions differ from reality
• Insights into social dynamics—Ron’s unique bonding style and how it affected his game standing
• Honest reflections on friendship, gameplay regrets, and who treated Ron with the most respect
• How do players manage real emotions and strategy under pressure—with alliances, trust, and suspicion at every turn? Find out who stepped up, who was misunderstood, and which moments surprised even the contestants themselves.

Chapters:
0:00 Ron Funches’ Emotional Exit
2:34 Traitor or Faithful Aspirations
5:01 Farewell Speech Changes Game Tone
7:04 Unexpected Bonds With the Traitors
8:34 Failing to Spot the Traitors
9:45 Would Ron Return to Reality TV

Never miss all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!
LISTEN: Subscribe to The Traitors Around the World podcast feed
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Listener Treemail-Bag – January 2026

Dive into Survivor strategy, reality TV crossovers, and rapid-fire pop culture takes as Rob Cesternino welcomes Brandon Donlon for the January Listener Tree Mailbag.

To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!
LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed
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RAANAP 314: Rob and Akiva are Ballers

Rob Cesternino (@robcesternino) and Akiva Wienerkur (@keev26) need a podcast and every week, Rob and Akiva spin a wheel of listener-submitted podcast ideas, and whatever the wheel lands on is what they podcast about next. This week, Rob and Akiva watch and discuss season 3 episode 7 of Ballers.

For the link to the spreadsheet that Rob and Akiva use to compile ideas, check it all out here: Rob and Akiva Need a Spreadsheet (compiled by the great Will from America).

To submit an idea for a future episode of “Rob and Akiva Need a Podcast” to be discussed on the mailbag, submit it on this form: Rob and Akiva’s Mailbag Form.

Past Episodes of Rob & Akiva Need a Podcast

Traitors US S4 Ep 6 Recap

Welcome to RHAP’s coverage of ALL the Traitors iterations from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Traitors US is a high-stakes reality competition set in a secluded castle, where contestants must work together to complete challenges and earn a prize pot—while rooting out the secret traitors hidden among them.

Today, Rob Cesternino and Pooya discuss episode 6 of Traitors US Season 4.

Rob Cesternino and Pooya break down Episode 6 of The Traitors with a focused look at the strategy, shifting alliances, and fallout from one of the season’s most dramatic round tables. They analyze the near three-way tie vote, the growing tension between Lisa and Colton, and how Ron Funches’ emotional defense reshaped the night’s outcome.

Rob and Pooya discuss Rob Rausch’s controversial decision to vote against Lisa, questioning whether it was a calculated move or an emotional misstep. They explore how that vote affected the balance within the turret and why the traitors appeared more divided than ever. The conversation also examines Johnny Weir’s attempt to form a voting block, why it failed to hold, and what that means for future banishments.

The hosts take a close look at Colton’s aggressive gameplay, including his public accusations, attempted “hostage” strategy, and escalating feud with Lisa. They debate whether his approach is helping expose a traitor or simply painting a target on his own back.

Rob and Pooya also preview the upcoming “murder in plain sight” twist, discussing the cursed amulet, possible targets, and how much information the faithful may actually receive. They consider which players are most vulnerable and how this twist could reshape the game.

With detailed analysis of voting patterns, relationships, and emerging power dynamics, this episode focuses on where the game stands at the halfway point—and who is best positioned to survive what comes next.

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