Today, Todd and Leslie go Beyond the Torch with Survivor Africa Winner, All-Star and Winners at War player, Ethan Zohn! Prepare to laugh a lot, cry a little and find out all sorts of behind the scenes fun facts with Ethan today! He is so transparent and open about his life journey, which includes some pretty harrowing battles with cancer. He's a Survivor in more ways than one, friends! Don't miss our conversation with Ethan, and if you love it, share it with a friend who also loves Survivor! Ethan Zohn reflects on his time as a Survivor winner and the impact of Survivor Africa, which aired during 9/11 and spanned two years due to the delayed premiere.Leslie, Todd & Ethan share their personal connections to Survivor, including starting a Survivor club in high school and meeting Survivor legends.Discussion of how the fan base and casting have evolved, becoming more diverse and inclusive over the years.Ethan describes the differences between playing in the early seasons and returning for Season 40, highlighting the faster pace, new game mechanics, and the impact of social media.Ethan shares his audition story, from being unemployed and making a video with a friend, to the multi-stage interview process.Insights into Ethan’s gameplay: he focused on building loyal, personal relationships and a strong social game, which he credits for his win.Reflections on how Survivor changed Todd, Leslie and Ethan personally, teaching self-awareness, empathy, and the value of stepping outside comfort zones.Ethan opens up about his cancer diagnosis, the challenges of being a public figure during treatment, and how the Survivor community supported him.The story of how Survivor Stand Up to Cancer was created, and how funds raised helped develop the drug that saved Ethan’s life.Ethan discusses preparing for his return in Season 40, setting both game and life goals, and the realization that his story would impact his chances in the game.The founding and growth of Grassroot Soccer, a charity Ethan started with his Survivor winnings, now operating in 65 countries and helping millions of kids.Ethan’s invention of the Crunch Bowl, a cereal bowl designed to keep cereal crunchy, and the journey from idea to product launch.The rise of in-person Survivor games and events, and the sense of community among former contestants and fans.Reflections on the evolution of Survivor, the appeal of international versions like Australian Survivor, and the enduring impact of the show on participants’ lives.The episode closes with gratitude for the Survivor community, encouragement to support Ethan’s causes, and an invitation for fans to connect. Beyond the Torch is hosted by Todd Herzog & Leslie Nease from Survivor China. Produced and edited by Leslie Nease. Artwork by Leslie Nease. To contact them, email BeyondtheTorch@gmail.com! This podcast is a love letter to Survivor and the people who played it — but just to be clear, we're not connected to CBS or the official Survivor franchise. Just superfans and former castaways telling our stories beyond the torch. Leave a voicemail for us if you're a Super Fan who wants to share how Survivor changed your life or if you have a question or idea for our show! We love to include the fans!! Special THANK YOU to our sponsor, Quoircast! They make this podcast possible, along with lots of other interesting podcasts they help bring to life! Check out their platform HERE! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
