RHAP: We Know Survivor

Unlocked Listener Treemail-Bag – December 2025 Dive into Survivor strategy, reality TV crossovers, and rapid-fire pop culture takes as Rob Cesternino welcomes Brandon Donlon for the December Listener Tree Mailbag. As 2025 comes to a close, Rob and Brandon answer burning Survivor questions, swap holiday stories, and break down what’s coming in season 50. Rob and Brandon kick things off by comparing themselves to Santa’s helpers as they sift through listener submissions. The conversation quickly moves into personal territory, including struggles with gift giving, Rob’s favorite holiday memories, and what it’s like raising kids in a digital age. They swap stories about New Year’s parties and the “sleep schedules” of parents versus teens. On the Survivor front, Rob unpacks the decision-making behind bringing back returning players for season 50 and debates whether legends from earlier seasons still have a chance to return. Brandon wonders if Survivor’s old guard “missed the boat,” while Rob analyzes the season 50 preview, including those much-discussed celebrity advantages. You’ll hear discussions on: Survivor’s 50th season casting patterns and returnee possibilities past season 40 How new “celebrity advantages” might show up and what impact they’ll really have The return of recent contestants (like Rizo and Savannah) and the odds for players doing seasons back-to-back Lighter moments, like finding the “hobnobbing with the glitterati” catchphrase origins, holiday food talk, and why Rob shifted from Costco to Sam’s Club Rob’s favorite interviews (including an epic Dr. Will Kirby negotiation) and what it’s like navigating podcasting while considering a Survivor return As Rob and Brandon trade insights, a big question looms: Will Survivor 50 live up to fan hype, and how will these twists shape the game? Join the mailbag for holiday laughs, reality TV deep-dives, and straight talk about Survivor’s past, present, and future. Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:55 The New Era of Survivor 9:16 Will Older Returnees Be Cast? 13:46 Celebrity Advantages Stir Debate 16:28 Survivor 50 Casting Challenges 19:41 Rob’s Iconic Jacket Story 20:00 Traitors Wardrobe Secrets Revealed 22:39 Origin of “Hobnobbing With Glitterati” 24:16 Best Live Show Recommendation 26:44 Costco vs. Sam’s Club Faceoff 28:44 Survivor Early Seasons Top Earners 34:01 Jeff Probst Competes in Challenge 37:04 Rob on Season 50 Hypothetical 40:19 Season 50: Rizo and Savannah’s Odds 42:49 Rob’s Podcast Listening Habits 44:36 Interviewing Heroes: Dr. Will Kirby 56:12 Survivor Game Length Debate 61:39 Rob Reflects on Personal Growth 66:38 Rapid Fire Questions Finale 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 WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Survivor New Era Winner Rankings Today, Rob Cesternino, Mike Bloom, and Shannon Guss rank the Survivor New Era winners! On this Survivor-packed episode of “Rob Has a Podcast,” Rob Cesternino welcomes Shannon Gus and Mike Bloom for the ultimate Survivor New Era winner rankings. The panel attempts the impossible: ranking the winners from Survivor seasons 41-49. With wit and deep Survivor knowledge, they navigate a daunting list where every name holds a million-dollar title, and every ranking is sure to spark discussion. Along the way, they open up about their own criteria and biases—what’s more important, the social game or physical dominance? Big moves or flawless consistency? The conversation is both meticulous and subjective, as the panel highlights the strengths, weaknesses, and surprising moments that defined each winner’s game. The panel discuss: – Individual winner analyses, from Gabler’s undercover triumph to D’s all-around dominance – Lively discussion about what truly makes a great Survivor winner – Audience insights, with over 5,000 fan votes counted for the final, “unimpeachable” ranking – Laughs, a touch of controversy, and an honest look at what it means to win Survivor in the New Era For superfans, casual viewers, and anyone who loves a good debate, this episode is Survivor coverage at its finest. 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 WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Survivor B&B: Survivor 49 Finale With a new Survivor season upon us, it’s time for Mike Bloom and Liana Boraas to re-open the RHAP B&B! On the B&B, Mike and Liana are inspired by the lighter side of Survivor, featuring a series of segments and games based on what’s happening on Survivor that week. This week, Mike and Liana give their thoughts on the Season 49 finale! This week’s charity shoutout is Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.. Click here to make a one-time or monthly donation.Thank you for your support for the B&B all season long! We’ll be back in the new year for coverage of the highly-anticipated Survivor 50. If you have any suggestions for games or feedback for the B&B, feel free to reach out to us on social media or email [email protected]. 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 WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Survivor Global: Survivor 49 Finale with Karin Gunatilake Survivor Global host Shannon Guss speaks to Australian Survivor Brain Karin Gunatilake about the Survivor 49 finale, including the tough jury questions, the decisions at 5 and 4 to get there and looking ahead to Survivor 50, including how it impacted this season as a whole. Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Why ___ Won and Others Lost: Survivor 49 Finale Survivor 49 has crowned its winner, Savannah! We often hear from some people that the jury just votes for whoever they like best at the end. Throughout this season, it was clear Savannah did not fit that description. But the majority still voted for her! How did she overcome that part of her game and what other aspects balanced it out to get her the win? Why couldn’t Sophi and Sage convince the jury they were more deserving? And what caused Rizo and Kristina to be knocked out before Final Tribal Council? David Bloomberg and Jessica Lewis wrap up the season by answering all of this and much more! At RHAP, we know Survivor, and we know Why Savannah Won, and Sophi, Sage, Rizo, and Kristina Lost. To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!