Pod Friends

5.0 (13)
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”.

5d ago

Star Toomey Refuses to Be Invisible | Pod Friends

Star Toomey Refuses to Be Invisible | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Star Toomey (@StarToomey) for a raw and inspiring conversation about Survivor 50, grief, identity, resilience, and learning to bet on yourself.Star reflects on her journey from Liberia to the Survivor beach, the emotional highs and lows of playing the game, and the moments that shaped her long before the cameras arrived. She opens up about losing her father, navigating loneliness in the spotlight, and finding purpose in the pain through advocacy and storytelling.Together, Matt and Star discuss what it means to be misunderstood, the importance of checking in on the people who always seem okay, the origins of Star’s “Not A Hoe” movement, and the power of using your platform to uplift people whose voices too often go unheard.If you’ve ever struggled to feel seen, questioned your own worth, or wondered how to turn hardship into purpose, this episode is for you. 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 26m
Jun 14

Aysha Welch & Sarah Menzel Share Killer Stories | Pod Friends

Aysha Welch & Sarah Menzel Share Killer Stories | Pod Friends This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Aysha Welch (@ayshalikeasia) and Sarah Menzel (@shearedbysarah) for a heartfelt conversation about Survivor, queer identity, grief, relationships, podcasting, and the surprising stories people carry with them.Aysha reflects on her Survivor 47 experience, the emotional aftermath of leaving the game, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, community, and moving forward. Sarah shares her journey from scientist to barber, the unexpected connections she's built behind the chair, and one unforgettable story involving a client she later learned was a murderer.Together, Aysha and Sarah open up about building a life together, launching their podcast Life Bi Us, finding joy through travel, sports, fitness, and queer community, and the ways they've supported each other through life's biggest challenges and transitions.If you've ever wondered how to find joy after disappointment, build meaningful community, or navigate life's twists and turns with humor and heart, this episode is for you.Check out Matt’s episode of Life Bi Us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dT4ZrPoykSuggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnomLeave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriendsEmail: podfriends@robhasawebsite.comFollow on social media:Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGWInstagram: @MattScottGWBluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 55m
Jun 7

Josh Wilder & Alex Phillips Leave No Crumbs! (Survivor, 100 Cooks) | Pod Friends

Josh Wilder & Alex Phillips Leave No Crumbs! (Survivor, 100 Cooks) | Pod FriendsThis week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Josh Wilder (@lets_get_wilder) and Alex Phillips (@aphill44) for a heartfelt conversation about love, resilience, reality TV, and building a joyful life together.Josh reflects on his experiences as a Survivor 44 castaway, physician, kidney transplant recipient, and cancer survivor, while Alex shares his journey from the operating room to Food Network's newest competition series, 100 Cooks. Together, they open up about meeting at work, navigating life's challenges as a couple, finding community, embracing queer joy, and supporting one another through every twist and turn.Along the way, Matt, Josh, and Alex talk food, fitness, medicine, Pride, reality TV, and what it means to choose joy even when life doesn't go according to plan.If you've ever wondered how to build a beautiful life through adversity, love deeply, and keep moving forward, this episode is for you.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 52m
May 31

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
Feb 22

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

1h 20m
Feb 15

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

1h 49m
Feb 8

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

1h 49m
Feb 1

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

See All (46)

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

4.9 (929)

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5

out of 5

13 Ratings

Perfect blend of positivity and engaging conversations

2022-07-17

javahahaha

Love this show. I felt a bit down and lonely over the weekend and binged several episodes of Pod Friends. It was just the perfect thing. It made me feel less lonely and more positive in general due to Matt Scott’s perfect mix of positivity and engaging conversation.
Amazing!

2022-02-07

evereverafter

As a long time RHAP listener, I’m loving all of the deep dives and getting to know the amazing voices behind RHAP (and the best OOC account on Twitter) with Matt’s fantastic interviewing. I’ve loved every episode so far and can’t wait to hear what’s next!

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”.