The Survivor Buff

Loma Tribe Preview 
Reviewing each contestant's survivor resume coming into Survivor 50Which legacies are on the line? Who are we excited to see? Predicting tribal dynamics and potential alliances

Reviewing Survivor 49 Finale
Where does this winner rank amongst New Era winners?Is RizGod really a deity? Kristina's scathing question to Savannah Looking forward toward season 50 

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 12 


Why did Kristina and Sage vote the way they did?Does the jury like Rizzo?How bad was Sophie's advantage misplay? Plotlines going into the finale
Check out other Survivor podcasts at https://podcast.feedspot.com/survivor_podcasts/

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 11
An impressive episode for Stephen
Was Sophie the best person to take out? 
When will Soph use her Knowledge is Power? 
Sage with the 'emotional play'

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 10 
What was the point of Rizzo's fake idol? 
Who gets the credit for the blindside? 
Why does it feel like Sophie can't win? 
The rice negotiation's gotta go!

After a brief hiatus, Zale and Eric are back to break down the mid season of Survivor 49. Who do they like, and who do like ... less? They talk about why this season feels a bit flat to them.  Who are they rooting for, who is playing well, and guess as to why the other contestants aren't flushing Rizzo's - sorry - 'Riz God's' idol?

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 6 
Do we like having a second swap? 
Shannon vs. Sage = Drama 
Looking towards the merge
Our winner picks

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 5 
Thoughts on the cast 
More 'sob stories'
Did we like the journey? 
General banter

Breaking Down Survivor 49 Episode 4
Why Zale loved this immunity challenge 
Sophie with some sass about those bananas 
Why Matt's plan was admirable 
Wellness meets Christianity ? 

In this episode of The Survivor Buff, hosts Zale Mednick and Eric Silverberg are joined by guest Josh Lewenberg to discuss various aspects of Survivor. They discuss this week's medical evacuation and debate whether there should be more leniency in certain medical situations. They analyze Sophi's choice to vote out Jeremiah and Alex's decision to play his idol and speak about the ways in which the three-tribe format affects game dynamics. Josh shares insights from Australian Survivor as a comparison to American Survivor and how the two shows have deviated in format. The three talk about the state of Survivor...

Reviewing Survivor 49 Episode 2 
Did Juwan make the right decision on the journey?Is loyalty an underrated 'Survivor value'? Which contestants are we most hopeful for? Did they make the right decision at tribal council? 

In this episode of Survivor Buff, hosts Zale and Eric dive into the premiere of Survivor 49. Is Jake's bromance the weirdest bromance of all time? Is it even a bromance? Was Rizzo's pathetic challenge outing worth of the sob story moment? Who do we like? Who do we not like? Tune in to get the dirt. 

Zale and Eric dive into the intricacies of the latest season of Australian Survivor. They discuss the standout performances of Parvati and Cirie, highlighting their strategic and social gameplay. The episode explores the dynamics of influence between the two players, how this season affects their legacies, and where this season stands in Survivor canon. Is Parvati the best to ever play? Is this a top five season ever of Survivor?  They also discuss some of the differences between American and Australian Survivor and how they view the future of American Survivor as it enters its 49th season.

In this episode, Zale and Eric discuss this instantly iconic episode of Australian Survivor. They discuss some of the most impressive moves and biggest blunders we have seen in the season thus far. This episode is so ginormous that we do not want to risk sharing spoilers in the episode notes.

In this episode, hosts Zale and Eric dive into the excitement of the latest season of Australian Survivor: Australia vs. The World. They explore the dynamics of legendary players like Parvati, Cirie, and Tony, and discuss the strategic moves that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. From the intense rivalries to the unexpected twists, Zale and Eric break down why this season is a must-watch for Survivor enthusiasts. Tune in for an engaging discussion filled with insights, predictions, and a touch of humor. 

Todd Herzog, the winner of Survivor's 15th season, is one of Survivor's most iconic winners. Todd joins the show to shed some light on what it's really like to play Survivor, and how his life changed when he came back to regular society. He also shares personal reflections on his battle with addiction and how that has been misrepresented in pop culture. 

Check out Todd's Pop Shop on instagram @toddspopshop

Get your copy of 'Preconceived' TODAY, available in Paperback and Kindle, at https://www.amazon.com/Preconceived-Challenging-preconceptions-our-lives/dp/B0B7QJPQDK .

Breaking down the newly revealed Survivor 50 Cast
Who are we excited to see? 
Who are we shocked to see? 
Who was left on the cutting room floor? 

Reviewing the season in full - yay or nay? 
Is there a casting issue? 
How does Kyle stack up as a winner? 
Survivor 50 rumours

Who has the best shot of becoming the 48th sole Survivor? 
How is Joe perceived by the jury? 
Is the Kyle/Kamila game too under the radar for the jury to appreciate? 
Post Mortem on Shauheen

David 'The Stander' 
Why is everyone playing so stagnantly? 
Post-Mortem on Mary 
OMG Kyle's a lawyer?!?!?!

What's going on with Kamila and Kyle? 
A bizarre Star edit 
Who is in the strongest postiion to win/

David - great reads, poor execution
Did Joe just dilute his 'honesty' brand? 
Trouble in paradise with David's gem of a girlfriend
The 'relevant' prison stint ...

Controversy about a 'strong person' alliance
David - right reads, poor gameplay? 
How should Kyle have navigated the suspicion on him and Kamila? 
Survivor 50 - A massive name now in the mix?

Mid-season thoughts
Do we like the New Era 'double tribal twist'? 
Some fun challenge banter
Does Sai deserve an ask back?

A conversation about milk 
Star the Great 
The changes to Merge-a-tory 
Challenge change-up?

That incredible moment with Joe and Eva 
What happened at that wild tribal council? 
Why did Bianca tell Cedrek about her 'lose a vote'? 
Starr's bizarre idol decision 
Survivor 50 cast speculation

Why was this move so awesome?
Should Kamilla have voted for Kyle?
Should Thomas have been truthful about his 'steal a vote'? 
Sai and Ced - oof ... tough look

Breaking Down Survivor 48 Episode 3 
That wild tribal council 
Why did Cedrek change his mind? 
Trailer Park Dreamin'
Was the journey 'unfair'?

Breaking down Survivor 48 Episode 2 
The issue with three tribes
Why did Sai play her idol? 
Should Kevin have been sent packing? 

Breaking Down Survivor 48 Episode 1 
Initial thoughts on the castHas the three tribe format changed the nature of the game? Sai - genius or disaster? A heartwarming moment between Joe and Eva - is their bond unbreakable? 

Breaking Down Survivor 48 Episode 1 
Initial thoughts on the castHas the three tribe format changed the nature of the game? Sai - genius or disaster? A heartwarming moment between Joe and Eva - is their bond unbreakable? 

Survivor 50 is not far away.  Who should be cast on this monumental season?  Zale and Eric draft tribes, composed equally of old school, middle school, and new school Survivor constants.  It's awesome (in the words of Tyson Apostol)

Breaking down the final tribal council
Sue's revelation to the jury 
Where does our newest Survivor winner rank? 
How does this season stack up in our Survivor season rankings? 
Who should return from this season? 

Should Andy have lied to Rachel? 
The Andy Legacy 
Why was Genevieve such a beloved character? 
Why is Rachel considered such a strong favorite? 
Does Sam have a chance to win? 
Will Sue continue to age backwards?

One of the best episode's in Survivor history 
Operation Italy - Who's swimming with the fishes? 
Why was this such an instantly iconic episode? 
Has Andy changed others' perception of him? 
Sam's choice at the reward challenge
Teeny gets salty

Sol's vest ... 
That epic journey challenge
Did Kyle need to go? 
The brilliance of Rachel's game 
Can Genevieve recover?

"I'll be back" - will he? 
Hindsight on the Genevieve 'big move'
Unpacking the rice negotiation 
Is Kyle underrated? 
Rachel is The Ocean ! 

Why did Genevieve make a big move? 
Who does Sol's leaving actually help?  
Is Andy having a resurgence? 
What could Sol have done differently? 
What age is Sue today?

Why can't Andy find auction money? 
A big betrayal - who does it benefit? 
Rachel's brilliant 'shot in the dark' play 
Who is best positioned moving forward?

A new twist ... 
Would voting out Rachel have been the right move? 
Did Kyle and Caroline make the right decision? 
Will Andy and Genevieive make waves?

The 'new' Merge-Atory 
The Rome Show - The best show on Turf? 
Looking forward to the post-merge strategy

Did Sierra and Sam make the right move?
Should they have filled Rachel in on the plan?
The 'big twist'
Merge Predictions and Winner Picks 

Rome ... omg ... 
A new strategist emerges
Sue is how old? No, really ... how old? 
Where did Kishan go wrong? 
The new amulet

When in Rome 
Did Teeny and Kishan make the right decision? 
Should Aysha have turned on Sol? 
Poor Andy ... 
Kyle V Sue

Sloppy game play all around! 
The 'right' kind of nutjob 
Idol decisions and plays 
Did Tiyana and Gabe make the right decision?

Thoughts on the new cast
Andy's breakdown 
New idol twist - do we like it? 
How did Andy keep his torch fired up?

46 seasons of Survivor and 44 winners later, there are a lot of winning performances to analyze.  Who are the worst winners, who are the mediocre winners, and who are the transcendent winners?  In this episode, Zale and Eric have an epic draft of the Survivor Winners.

Does the social game reign supreme? 
Analyzing Kenzie vs. Charlie
Was Maria's jury vote the most savage vote in Survivor history? 
Ranking this season and winner

Has the gameplay this season been amazing, terrible, or somewhere in between?
Why did Maria believe they were voting for Charlie? 
Who is in the best shape as we head into the finale?

Did Charlie make the right decision? 
Why is Q considered a threat? 
How badly did Maria falter when choosing who to take for reward? 
Has Liz found a cure to autoimmune diseases?

Is Applebee's actually good?
Liz reaches a breaking point (to put it mildly) 
Why didn't Tiff play her idol? 
Can anyone stand in Maria and Charlie's path to the end?

Should Kenzie have turned on Tiff? 
What was Hunter's biggest misstep? 
Did Hunter actually have the votes to stay?

What on earth is going on with Q?
Has loyalty gone by the wayside this season? 
Should Liz have gone after Tevin?
Should Hunter have saved Tevin with his idol? 
Why did Jeff let tribal go to a vote if Q wanted to quit?

Who benefited most from Tim's departure?Is Q becoming a Monday morning Quarterback? (pun intended) Why did Tevin target Soda (and then vote for Venus)? Why season looks to be on the upswing

Mergatory vs. Regular Merge 
Why did Mo go home? 
Who really should have been voted out? 
How do you throw out a name without becoming a target?

Why did Maria flip on the ladies? 
Did Gem overplay? 
Are there any legs to this new 'duos' alliance?

-You guessed it - more Bhanu! 
-Why actually voting is so critical at tribal council 
-Do we like this cast? 
-Hunter is a stud 
-Excitement for the post-Bhanu era

Bhanu, Bhanu, Bhanu
More Bhanu 
What is the right kind of 'weirdo' for Survivor to cast? 
More Bhanu ?

Is Liz a villain, or just unaware?
What on earth is going on with Bhanu? 
How does the 3-tribe format affect Survivor strategy? 
Too much crying :(

Breaking Down Survivor 46 Episode 1
Is Jelinsky a legend?Is Jelinsky a disaster? Why we liked the new twists in the premiere Thoughts on some of the standout players

Survivor 31 - Second Chance in Cambodia, was one of the franchise's most successful season. In this episode, Zale and Eric pontificate about a second iteration of a second chance season and each draft their own tribe of returnee contestants to return to compete on the show.

Breaking down the finale of Survivor 45
What on earth happened in that final five tribal council?Why did Dee beat Austin? How does Dee compare to past Survivor winners? Where does this season land in the Survivor Season Rankings? Looking forward to Survivor's future

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 12
The 'post-mortem' on DrewDee's savage blindsideIs Dee or Julie a bigger threat to win the game? Does Austin still have a chance of winning? Looking forward to the finale of Survivor 45

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 11
Should Julie have taken a shot at Austin? Austin's multiple blunders A post-mortem on Emily's game Why was there no split vote?

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 10
Did Emily miss a major opportunity?Who has the best shot of winning the game out of the Reba 4? Which of the Reba 4 should flip on the others? Did Bruce actually have a decent idea going with his idol lie?

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 9
Should the Reba Four turn on each other?What is going to happen with Austin's second idol? Is Emily the key to turning this game around? Breaking down the 'lose your vote' twist this season

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 8
The Auction is Back ... and it's awesome!Why could Belo not get on the same page? Did Kellie have a move here to save her game? Is it time for the Reba Four to go after each other?

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 7
A tribal split right after the merge?Dee vs. Kelly - A showdown in the making? Uncle Bruce 'Coming Clean' to Katura

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 6
That wild, wild tribal council !Is Kaleb really that great of a social player? Who is set up well for the post-merge game? Will the amulet be a curse?New trends in Survivor merge episodes

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 5
Is Drew making rookie mistakes?Emily sides with Drew and Austin J is willing to fall on the sword Why Jake's flashback was the best the show has ever had To Amulet or Not To Amulet? Looking toward the merge

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 4
Why did Sean really quit?Why are quits so detrimental to a season? Did the women make the right call going after Sifu? Who is on the outs after the tribe swap?

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 3
What was Sabiyah's fatal flaw?Did Emily make the right call in voting out Sabiyah? Do we like this new iteration of the immunity idol? Analyzing the new 'nullify a lost vote' advantage

Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 2
Why did this episode of Survivor feel so great?Should you always open up the 'Beware Advantage'? A second impression of Emily Is letting someone hold onto your Shot in the Dark good currency for building trust or poor gameplay? Our thoughts on the new 'advantage challenge'

Dissecting Survivor 45 Episode 1
Analyzing Hannah's quit and why it was so disappointingWhy does casting feel different this season?Is Emily the good type or bad type of villain?Standout contestants
Check out this blog that ranked us as one of the top 25 Survivor Podcasts!
https://blog.feedspot.com/survivor_podcasts/

Survivor Season Rankings Part Two
Which seasons crack the top ten?How important is a satisfying winner in determining a season's ranking?Which seasons will spark the most intense disagreement between Eric and Zale, and will this irreparably damage their friendship?Ultimately, what is THE BEST season of Survivor all time?

Survivor Season Rankings - Part 1
Considerations when ranking Survivor seasonsZale and Eric draft the bottom 22 seasons of SurvivorWhich seasons don't make the cut for the top half of Survivor seasons?Will either Zale or Eric use their veto power to nullify the other's draft choice?

Breaking Down the Survivor 44 Finale
Why Jam Jam was the perfect winnerWhy did Carolyn lose?Has 'volunteering to make fire' become too much of an expectation?How will this season age, and where does it rank in Zale's oh-so-famous season rankings?Does the final tribal format need a revamp?

Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 12
The genius of the Tika ThreeThreat levels are shifting like crazy - who is actually the biggest threat to win?Should Jam Jam and Carson have taken out Carolyn?Do Heidi and Lauren have a shot at winning?'The Sanctuary'

Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 11
Does Carolyn have a perception problem?Why did Jamie and Lauren stick with Tika?Should Carolyn have played her idol?How do Carolyn, Jam Jam, and Carson stack up against each other?

Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 10
Frannie the challenge beastShould Carson and Jam Jam betrayed Carolyn? Should Danny have voted out Heidi? The utter collapse of Soka Why does loyalty cease to exist on Survivor?

Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 9
Did Lauren waste her extra vote?Should Tika have voted out Danny? Who is playing the best game out of Jam Jam, Carson, and Carolyn? Do we like the 'Negotiate with Jeff for Rice' Twist?

Breaking Down Season 44 Episode 8
Why was Ratu so overconfident?The Fart Why did Danny play his idol? Should Danny have played his idol? Who is in the strongest position moving forward?

Breaking down Season 44 Episode 7
Did we like the new twist? Should Frannie have thrown the challenge? Did playing the 'control the vote' actually hurt Heidi? What are the most iconic Survivor showmances of all time?

Breaking down Season 44 Episode 6
Why did this merge feel underwhelming?Why we're tired of the 'earn the merge' twistTwo tribes vs. Three tribesDid Carson make a mistake by informing to Kane? Carolyn's self-awareness

Breaking down Survivor 44 Episode 5
Is an episode without a tribal council a letdown?Will Matthew play again? What would Jam Jam have done if they'd gone to tribal? A budding romance and an awkward hugBrutal journey 'bro down' Looking toward the merge

Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 4
Did Carolyn make the right move?Was Josh ever going to give Carolyn his idol?Did Sarah actually get voted out with a real immunity idol?Assessing the new 'Journey twist'Josh the surgical podiatristChecking through people's bags

Breaking down Season 44 Episode 3
Why Claire was voted outCheating in Survivor challengesDid Survivor go too far by injecting a fake idol into the game?Are female contestants at an inherent disadvantage in a three-tribe format?Listener mailbagPlayers of the episode

Breaking down Season 44 Episode 2
Carson's decisionHow whacky contestants make loyal alliesBirdcage maniaThe power of a hidden immunity idolYam Yam or Jam Jam?Matt is in love

Breaking down the Survivor premiere
A promising premiereMedical Madness - Bruce Gets BruisedSome cool new twists - Birdcage, Inheritance Advantage, New 'Prisoner's Choie'Standout contestantsBrandon's birdcage dilemmaElectric (albeit mistake-heavy) tribal councilShots in the dark