Pod Friends

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Comedy Interviews
Updated weekly

Pod Friends features confessional conversations going “behind the mic” with the voices of the RHAP network. Host Matt Scott sits down with a range of podcasters and people to learn about who they are and their whys, far beyond the shows that bring us together. The goal is to truly get to know each guest, and to go beyond just being “pod friends”.

2 days ago

Brandon Donlon Shows His Ass – Proverbially | Pod Friends

Brandon Donlon Shows His Ass – Proverbially | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with guest Brandon Donlon (@BrandonDonlon) for a funny, vulnerable conversation about Survivor 45, RHAP, failure, friendship, and finding meaning after disappointment.Skip ahead on YouTube: 1:38 - Dee Valladares3:47 - Scott, Laura J, and Demi Burnett9:46 - Interview with Brandon Donlon begins7:30 - Jen Gonzalez and Kellie Nalbandian21:46 - Betsy Borst, Michael Horn, and Mike Skall51:14 - Sarah Cupcakes, Gregory McBean, and LewLew2:05:24 - MJC, Joelle, and WhutUpTim Brandon reflects on the dream of playing Survivor, the guilt and self-judgment that followed, and how his journey as a fan became a creative career at Rob Has a Podcast. Along the way, Matt and Brandon talk anxiety, community, pinch-me moments, and what it means to be seen beyond your hardest chapter. If you’ve ever felt defined by a failure, this episode is a reminder that one moment is not the whole story. Special thanks to Dee Valladares, Kellie Nalbandian, Demi Burnett, Gregory McBean, WhutUpTim, Laura J, Sarah Cupcakes, MJC, Joelle, Mike Skall, Michael Horn, Tall Ass Scott, Jen, Betsy, and LewLew for being part of this episode. Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom  Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends  Email: podfriends@robhasawebsite.com Follow on social media:  Instagram: @MattScottGW  Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2h 15m
22 Feb

50+ Stories About How Survivor’s Changed Lives | Pod Friends

50+ Stories About How Survivor’s Changed Lives | Pod Friends In celebration of Survivor 50, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) set an audacious goal: collect 50 stories from Survivor community members answering one simple question: How has Survivor changed your life for the better? This special season finale features 50+ powerful, funny, and deeply human stories from across the Survivor universe, from superfans and RHAP patrons to journalists, podcasters, live reality game creators, and former reality TV players. This episode includes stories from: Nick Iadanza (Australian Survivor, Talking Tribal) Dwight Moore, Teeny Chirichillo, Brice Izyah, and Owen Knight (Survivor) Hannah Riggs (Beast Games) August Schroeder and Eric Eldridge (Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2) Dru Tevis (Food Network Holiday Baking Champion) Annabel Fidler (The Traitors Australia Season 2) Dalton Ross (Entertainment Weekly) Terry Terrones (The Hollywood Reporter) RHAP podcasters Gia Worthy and Chappell Across these stories, you’ll hear about grief, sobriety, weight loss, cancer, divorce, identity, chosen family, creative breakthroughs, career pivots, live reality games, and literal survival. You’ll hear about watch parties that turned into lifelong friendships and fandom that became purpose. Matt also reflects on discovering RHAP in 2017 during one of the hardest times of his life, joining the Class of 2020 to diversify Survivor coverage, and building Pod Friends into a space that shines a light on the humanity behind the fandom. This episode is about more than a television show. It’s about moving from parasocial to deeply social. It’s about why community matters, especially now. Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 20min
15 Feb

Peih-Gee Law (Survivor): The Game of Life | Pod Friends

Peih-Gee Law (Survivor): The Game of Life | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) is joined by Peih-Gee Law, co-host of Reality Escape Pod and host of PG’s Playhouse, for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about reality TV, resilience, games, and building a life filled with curiosity and joy.Peih-Gee reflects on her experiences in the Survivor world, what reality television taught her about herself, and how those lessons have shaped the way she approaches life, creativity, and community today. From strategy and game theory to escape rooms and immersive experiences, Peih-Gee shares why play isn’t frivolous — it’s essential — especially during challenging moments in life.Matt and Peih-Gee also talk about pushing forward through setbacks, defining success on your own terms, cultivating happiness through curiosity and creativity, and the surprising ways games can teach us about resilience, connection, and purpose. Along the way, they explore Survivor fandom, puzzle-solving, wordplay, and even the possibility of Survivor 50.If you’ve ever wondered what games can teach us about life — or how to keep moving forward while staying playful — this episode is for you. Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends Be part of Pod Friends!Share the story of how Survivor and the Survivor community have changed your life for the better — and be part of the Pod Friends season finale. Submit your video or audio here:bit.ly/survivor50stories Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 49min
8 Feb

Andy Rueda: A Love Letter to RHAP | Pod Friends

Andy Rueda: A Love Letter to RHAP | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) is joined by Survivor 47’s Andy Rueda (@andydrueda) for a thoughtful and funny conversation about fandom, anxiety, identity, and what it means to go from RHAP listener to Survivor player.Andy reflects on growing up in Buffalo, building a life in Brooklyn, and spending years in the Survivor community before finally playing the game himself. He shares what the casting journey was like, how his Survivor experience changed him, and what it has meant to hear from fans who connected with his vulnerability on the show.Matt and Andy also talk about mental health, representation, friendships formed through Survivor, the “Baby Andy” origin story, Survivor 50, and Andy’s description of his life as a “rocket ship” — a journey that may be bumpy and nonlinear, but always finds its way upward.If you’ve ever dreamed of playing Survivor, struggled with anxiety, or found belonging in the RHAP community, this episode is for you.Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friendsBe part of Pod Friends!Share the story of how Survivor and the Survivor community have changed your life for the better — and be part of the Pod Friends season finale. Submit your video or audio here:bit.ly/survivor50stories Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 49min
1 Feb

Omar Zaheer (Survivor, Traitors Canada): Let It Suck | Pod Friends

Omar Zaheer (Survivor, Traitors Canada): Let It Suck | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Omar Zaheer (Survivor 42, The Traitors Canada) for an honest conversation about identity, belonging, grief, and the subtle ways we learn to make ourselves smaller just to feel safe.Omar reflects on growing up Muslim and Indian, becoming a chronic people-pleaser, and finding community through Survivor and RHAP long before stepping into the spotlight himself. He opens up about heartbreak, losing his father, professional burnout as a veterinarian, and what it took to stop waiting for something external to save him and begin healing on his own terms.Together, Matt and Omar unpack the reality-TV experience — the edit, backlash, panic attacks, and standing up for a friend even when it came at a cost — before closing with reflections on community, integrity, and choosing to take up space.If you’ve ever felt pressure to shrink or disappear to belong, this episode is a reminder that healing isn’t linear — and you don’t have to disappear to be worthy. Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2h 21m
25 Jan

Mark Levy: Stories Squid Game Should’ve Shown | Pod Friends

Mark Levy: Stories Squid Game Should’ve Shown | Pod Friends This week’s Pod Friends featured guest is Mark Levy (@MarkLevy85 on Instagram), best known as Player 100 from Squid Game: The Challenge season 2. Joining Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Mark opens up about resilience after bullying, growing up feeling different, and what it means to move through the world as someone who’s always been “weird” — and learning not just to survive, but to fully love who you are. Mark takes us through his journey of self-acceptance, passion, fandom, and community, including his decade-long love for the RHAP world and how reality TV became both an escape and a place of belonging. He reflects on how embracing his emotions, vulnerability, and enthusiasm helped shape his confidence, identity, and voice.The conversation also dives deep into Mark’s Squid Game: The Challenge experience — from the story of his relationship with his fiancée and their now-iconic Star Wars wedding dream, to how sharing that dream nearly got him eliminated without him ever knowing. Along the way, we unpack tears, vulnerability, the edit, and the surreal experience of watching deeply personal moments play out on a global stage. In a Pod Friends first, Mark also brings on LeAnn Plutnicki (@leannwplutnicki on Instagram) from Season 1 and Manfred Joa (aka Messy Manfred – @Manfred.Joa on Instagram) from Season 2 to pass the mic and spotlight voices he believes deserve to be heard. Together, they explore representation of older women, queer and Asian identity, moments that didn’t make the edit, and the complicated realities of telling your story through reality television. The group also reflects on the power of community, especially within RHAP, and what it means to define yourself rather than let an edit — or the internet — do it for you. If you’ve ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or reduced to a storyline, this episode is a powerful reminder that your story belongs to you — and that reclaiming it can be both healing and transformative. Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 53min
18 Jan

Sai Hughley: "Villain", Vision, & Staying Ready | Pod Friends

Sai Hughley: "Villain", Vision, & Staying Ready | Pod Friends This week’s Pod Friends guest is Sai Hughley (@BeyonSai_ on Instagram), one of the most dynamic and debated personalities from Survivor 48. Joining Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Sai opens up about navigating life in the public eye, being labeled a “villain,” and what it really means to own your story when the internet has already decided who you are. Sai takes us through her journey from journalism and digital content creation to entertainment marketing with NBC, sharing how her career behind the scenes prepared her for the spotlight in front of the camera. She talks about the power of vision boarding and scrapbooking, manifesting big dreams, staying ready for opportunities, and learning to play big even when others try to shrink you. The conversation also dives deep into representation and inspiration, as Sai reflects on the Black women who have shaped her perspective, the importance of tenacity, and the mindset it takes to go after the life you want. Plus, Matt and Sai have some fun breaking down dream picks for the Survivor 50 cast and debating which reality TV players would be perfect for The Traitors. If you’ve ever been misunderstood, underestimated, or turned into a character instead of a person, Sai’s story is a powerful reminder that perception doesn’t define you — your confidence does. Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 35min
11 Jan

Derek Stusynski: From Weird Kid to Community Builder | Pod Friends

Derek Stusynski: From Weird Kid to Community Builder | Pod Friends This week’s Pod Friends guest is Derek Stusynski @DerekStusynski), a force behind the Rob Has a Podcast Patreon community and one of the quietly impactful people making RHAP possible. Joining Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Derek shares how growing up feeling weird and out of place became the very thing that taught him how to build belonging for others. Derek takes us from a farm in rural Minnesota to chasing his creative dreams through improv, web series, and independent films, even winning an episode of Wipeout, before landing behind the scenes at RHAP, where he now helps thousands of fans feel seen, welcomed, and connected. He also opens up about his work as a writer, actor, and filmmaker, including his upcoming film Snatched, starring drag icons like RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Nina West. This special episode also features messages from members of the RHAP community — Grace, Alyssa, Laura, Kelly, Michael, Tommy Guam, Kim and Tim, Lisa, Mike, and Chantele — who share what Derek and the Patreon experience have meant to them, celebrating the power of chosen family and the magic that happens when people truly show up for one another. If you have ever felt different, awkward, or alone, Derek’s story is a reminder that those very things can become your greatest strength. Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:LISTEN: Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feedWATCH: Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1hr 49min

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Rob Cesternino is a two-time Survivor player, Survivor Hall of Famer, and cast member on The Traitors Season 4. Rob Has a Podcast is the most comprehensive reality TV recap podcast on the internet. Since 2010, Rob Has a Podcast has delivered weekly recaps, exit interviews, player analysis, and strategy breakdowns for Survivor 50, The Traitors, Big Brother, The Amazing Race and every major reality competition. Join us for Survivor Know-It-Alls with Stephen Fishbach after every episode of Survivor. Plus we have weekly exit interviews with eliminated players. Currently covering Survivor 50 and The Traitors Season 4. New episodes daily during the season. Subscribe at http://getrhap.com Support RHAP on Patreon: http://patreon.com/RHAP

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