Survivor: Memoirs of a Dragon Slayer with Coach Wade

Very few have made as lasting of an impression on the Survivor franchise as Coach Wade, and today he joins us to discuss how a Renaissance man became a Dragon Slayer, a Villain, and ultimately a finalist, as he walks us through his time on Survivor in the color and detail that we've all come to expect from him.

What was the motivation behind placing such focus on strength and honor in Tocantins? How did his goals and priorities shift as a returnee?  What did the players know about Russell at the beginning of Heroes vs. Villains?  After making it to the finals in South Pacific, how does he feel about Sophie emerging victorious?  And after nearly a hundred days in the game, did Coach get what he wanted out of his Survivor experience?

Find out when you listen below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.

Survivor 25: Moron -- Episode 13 Recap/Analysis

In our excitement for the finale we suspended our laziness and actually recorded a podcast, though waiting for it to show up on iTunes promises to be just as suspenseful as the finale itself. As this universally acclaimed season nears its end, what can we expect on Sunday? Could there be surprises in store, or is it a two-horse race? And, when we look back on this season, will this be the point at which certain people missed opportunities and threw away a million dollars? As always you can listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here.

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Survivor 25: Confused, Befuddled, and Foggy -- Episode 12 Recap/Analysis

[NOTE: This episode didn't register on iTunes for some reason so we're reposting it now, hence the episodes being out of order]

We're in the home stretch of Survivor: Philippines, and many questions demand answers. With only social butterfly and challenge dominatrix Abi left, will either power pair give into temptation and try to drag her to the end? If they do stick together, what might happen when we're down to four? And most importantly, how can we get Justice Whelchel on Survivor? As always, you can listen on the player below, here, or on iTunes here. 

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Survivor: 2012 Hall of Fame Discussion ft. Gary Wise

The campaigns have been launched, the ballots have been cast, and today we're to back to discuss the Survivor Hall of Fame, once again joined by Gary Wise of former ESPN fame. In today's extended episode we consider the candidacies of the year's most qualified hopefuls, as well as some of those less qualified but more likely to join Survivor's most prestigious club.

Beyond individual candidacies, we also address what kind of considerations one should make when voting, if such criteria are even valid, and how the meta-game of Survivor impacts the Hall of Fame process.  Should factors like gender play a role, and if so, is that fair?  How might we compensate for inevitable recency bias? And is it possible for someone to get a ballot "wrong"?

Plus, can one-time players be justifiably enshrined? If so, what kind of implications does that have for the Hall of Fame itself?  If not, does that signal that the consensus criteria may be flawed?  How much weight should be placed on off-island contributions to the franchise?  Conversely, do we deduct points from remarkable games played by people of questionable standing within the community?

After tackling these questions, we then look at something completely different: the idea of Survivor as a 'life game'. How should we think about the long-lasting impact of Survivor upon people who play it? What can we make of the 'success' (if it's appropriate to use that term) of people like Heidi Hamels or Boston Rob?

We go off on many tangents and cover a wide range of topics, so even if you're not interested in the Hall of Fame itself you can hopefully find something to enjoy in a podcast that's far too long for its own good. You can listen on the player below, here, or find us on iTunes here.

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Survivor 25: You're Tearing Me Apart, Lisa! -- Episode 11 Recap/Analysis

Another fedora gradually tattered, another Survivor auction trounced, and another season prematurely in the books for the great Jonathan Penner, though surely the true victims are the appreciators of good diction worldwide.  

Yet again Penner turned a rocky start into a potentially winning position, only to come to an abrupt though appropriately showy downfall. So how did it all fall apart? Are the next two boots set in stone? If so, how might things play out in a tricky final four situation?  And if not, who might want to consider turning the tables early?  

Plus, if you're a concerned parent of a teen who prefers music to sports and is thus a high risk candidate to turn gay, Lisa Whelchel has got some fantastic news for you (1, 2).  

Listen to this episode on the player below, find the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here.

Survivor 25: Cultural Differences -- Episode 10 Recap/Analysis

It's difficult to say in English exactly what Abi could possibly be thinking, as we prove in today's episode. As armchair psychologists viewing an edited TV show, what can we or anyone else say about her character? Should we have a measure of sympathy for her, or is she finally getting what she deserves? And, beneath all of the drama, things move on: one of the season's villains exits the game, and some of its heroes make plans to win it. Is the final four deal we were shown showmanship by the editors, or is it a realistic possibility? And, after struggling so hard to make it to this stage, did Penner potentially throw away a million dollars? All this, and more, on this week's show, available below, for download here, or on iTunes here.

Survivor 25: Monsters of the Mid-Game -- Episode 9 Recap/Analysis

This is going up hours before the next Survivor episode and the day before Thanksgiving, showing that we're not as good at pleasing an audience as Lisa was. Nevertheless, there was a lot to cover this week, and cover it we did. How did Penner go from being under the gun to over the moon in the space of three days, and were his allies right to let this happen? What can be made of the Penner-Lisa dynamic and his journey through the fourth wall and into her personality? Is this the end of the Axis of Evil, or can Pete and Abi save themselves? And just how credible is Malcolm's promise to help the world's children instead of tending bar? All this, and more, on a belated edition of the podcast, available here, below, or on iTunes here.

Bonus Episode: Talking Survivor with Daniel Negreanu

It's been one year since this pirate ship set sail, and to mark the occasion we're joined by poker superstar Daniel Negreanu for an interview exploring how an elite gamer processes Survivor.

In today's show we get Daniel's thoughts on shared traits among great Survivor players and, by contrast, common game mistakes weaker players make. Plus, he gives the full story about his being asked to be on Survivor himself, we get his take on the current season (through episode 7), and we find out more about his old friend Boston Rob.

Listen to this episode using the player below, via the direct link here, or find us on iTunes here. We apologize if the sound is muffled - we were calling Daniel's cellphone, which apparently alarmed Skype and the recording program.


For freshly inspired players, Daniel's poker training site can be found here, and you can find him on Twitter at @RealKidPoker.
Image via pokernews.com

Survivor 25: They're All Ready To Die -- Episode 8 Recap/Analysis

Every week, this Survivor season becomes more and more crazy, and our analysis becomes more and more incoherent. With the dismissal of fan podcast favourite Jeff Kent, how could and should the game play out from here? Are any and all returnees still marked, or are things looking up for Penner and Skupin? Now that Lisa is at the front of the stage, will she be left standing at the end of the drama? And finally, the burning question that has everyone talking: what does this mean for Artis?! All of this, in a reasonably punctual fashion, on this week's podcast, available below, here, or on iTunes here.

Link fixed for iTunes, hopefully.  Bonus episode with Daniel Negreanu coming soon!

Survivor 25: Unburying the Truth -- Episode 7 Recap/Analysis

(NOTE: Apologies for the delay in bringing you this week's episode; a perfect storm of elections, laziness, and IRL commitments meant that we weren't able to get it done until now. In all likelihood, tonight's episode will have invalidated much of what we said. However, if you do decide to listen anyway, we hope it provides interesting food for thought)

In case you weren't aware, Jeff Kent doesn't want a veteran to win, hurricanes are wet, and Obama carried Massachusetts. What was really behind Jeff's anti-veteran crusade, and does he deserve the criticism that the fan base has been delivering to him after his move last week?  With three idols and more voting blocs than fingers in Jeff's handshakes, what should have happened this week and what could happen in future ones? And is Carter finally developing the capacity for human emotion? We tackle all of these questions and more in this week's show, available on the player below, HERE, and on iTunes HERE.

BB14: The Inside Scoop with Ian Terry

Last July, Ian Terry entered the Big Brother house a reality superfan with fake glasses and non-negligible OCD.  Three months later, he left as a champion with very real bragging rights and a non-negligible bank account.  Today he joins us to explain how it all happened.

Beginning with the casting process and working round by round through Big Brother 14, Ian sheds light on previously unanswered questions and offers his own real-time thought process from within the house. Additionally, having listened to our Big Brother Winners/Notables megacast, Ian responds to the criticisms we made of his game and sets the record straight on several of the more mist-ifying events of the summer.

Plus, what has he done so far with the half million? What kinds of terms is he on with the rest of the cast?   Where does he rank himself compared to previous Big Brother winners?  And why so much enthusiasm for ducks?

Find out when you stream this episode below, find the direct link HERE, or find us on iTunes HERE. 

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Survivor 25: The Penner Punch -- Episode 6 Recap/Analysis

Another week, another blindside, another blog post recycling that parallelism. This week we took the bait once more as Penner appeared to be on his way out of the game, only for Katie to get the now painfully obvious boot.

How did the editors trick us yet again? (We're morons).  Did Jeff Kent and company make the right decision in keeping Penner around? (Maybe).  And was Carter's slip-up really a display of tactical brilliance? (...no).

Plus, what insights can be gleaned now that conclusive research has been done regarding social media hashtags?  What do we make of having three idols in play simultaneously?  And what might we expect to see go down if the tribes get shuffled or merged next week?  Find out when you stream this week's podcast below, find the direct link HERE, or find us on iTunes HERE.

Survivor 25: Don't Fight Like a Bitch -- Episode 5 Recap/Analysis

Another week, another blindside, and we're back yet again to discuss Survivor: Philippines in all its swaptastic glory.

After his less-than-stellar performance this season, what do we make of Russell Swan's melancholy post-game interviews?  What can we expect life to be like for Malcolm and Denise now that they're split apart, and how long might they actually stay split?

Plus, what's the latest addition to Artis's highlight reel?  Why won't anyone be friends with RC?  And with Colin's expert pre-season winner pick now out of the mix, which five remaining castaways make up our list of potential victors?  Find out when you stream this week's episode below, find the direct link HERE, or find it on iTunes HERE.

Big Brother: Winner/Gameplay Analysis ft. Kos part 2

A month after the dramatic conclusion to Big Brother 14, the fan community has had time to process the aftermath of Ian's win. How does his performance stack up against the game's all-time greats', including those from his own season? Which players deserve more attention, and who have received more than they ever earned? And, in the light of Dan's creative destruction of BB14, does he definitively wrest the title of #1 from Will?

We sat down to answer these questions and ended up talking for around four-and-a-half hours, so for ease of listening we've split this podcast into two parts. In the first part, available here, we go through the winners chronologically from Lisa to Ian, breaking down their individual games and trying to gain a good perspective for comparison. In the second part - which you can listen to below, download here, or find or iTunes here - we talk about some of the more interesting players who failed to close before delving into the Dan vs. Will debate.

Big Brother: Winner/Gameplay Analysis ft. Kos

A month after the dramatic conclusion to Big Brother 14, the fan community has had time to process the aftermath of Ian's win. How does his performance stack up against the game's all-time greats', including those from his own season? Which players deserve more attention, and who have received more than they ever earned? And, in the light of Dan's creative destruction of BB14, does he definitively wrest the title of #1 from Will?

We sat down to answer these questions and ended up talking for around four-and-a-half hours, so for ease of listening we've split this podcast into two parts. In the first part - available on the player below, for download here, and on iTunes here - we go through the winners chronologically from Lisa to Ian, breaking down their individual games and trying to gain a good perspective for comparison. In the second part, to be covered in a separate blog post, we talk about some of the more interesting players who failed to close before delving into the Dan vs. Will debate.

Survivor 25: Aaaaand It's Gone -- Episode 4 Recap/Analysis

Shockingly, Russell Swan's well-crafted plan to mount the biggest comeback in Survivor history came up just short after Matsing stunned the world by losing their fourth straight immunity challenge. If results are any indication, Swan's triumphant shot at redemption wasn't fully meant to be as Lord Probst and his snuffer came calling Wednesday night.

So what happened?  Where do Malcolm and Denise go from here, and might losing Swan actually have been a good thing for the suddenly buffoonless buffoon tribe?  Did Penner gain significant ground this week, or was Jeff Kent's handshake a few fingers short again?  Is Pete the next great mastermind or the next hilarious flop?  And what's the scoop on Skupin?

Find out when you stream this week's podcast below, find the direct link HERE, or find us on iTunes HERE.

Survivor 25: Miss Teen Bootah -- Episode 3 Recap/Analysis

In what's been an extremely strong season so far, Survivor: Philippines appears to be going full steam ahead, but before tonight's festivities we're back to break down episode three.

How will everything with the hidden immunity idol shake out at Tandang?  What, if anything, is happening at Kalabaw?  With the emergence of Malcolm and Denise as ours (and apparently the rest of the world's) sweethearts, where might they stack up compared to some of our other favorite historical Survivor pairs?

How might things play out going forward?  And did Matsing make the right move in booting Angie?  We debate one of the most controversial decisions in recent pre-merge memory in this week's episode, which can be streamed below, found via direct link HERE, or found on iTunes HERE.

Survivor 25: Week 2 Recap/Analysis ft. Jeff Pitman

Divine intervention delivered us another good episode this week, expelling Roxy from our screens. Does anyone care? Can Matsing recover or are Malcolm and Denise, two of the more savvy and interesting players this season, doomed to watching from the sidelines? Will Tandang's dominance continue, and who's in trouble if it doesn't? And is God still the only one who knows what's going on at Kalabaw? We break down these questions with truedorktimes.com founder Jeff Pitman, who also gives us a history of the spoiler community and his role in it along with some early thoughts on the S26 cast (NOTE: as always, the podcast is spoiler-free, but if you don't want to be exposed to any information about the identity of the cast members then tune out around the 73:00 mark). You can listen using the player below, via the direct link HERE or on iTunes HERE.

Image via Jeff's site, truedorktimes.com

Survivor 25: Premiere Recap/Analysis ft. Gary Wise

Survivor is back, and so are we! ESPN's (well, kinda) Gary Wise returns to the show to give Colin his thoughts on the premiere of what already looks to be a fantastic season. Skupin and Penner both spoke thoughtfully on the show about what it means - both to them personally and in general - to be a returning player; what do we make of how they, and their less esteemed colleague, have fared so far, and what do we see for them in the future? Who stands out in one of the more diverse and interesting casts of newbies in quite a while? And you may have heard people rage about Zane's antics, but not with such force and eloquence or with such a strong Canadian accent as Gary does in today's episode. All that and more comes to you in this week's podcast, available on the player below, for download HERE or on iTunes HERE.

BB14: Finale preview

Big Brother 14 wraps today, and it promises to be one of the most interesting and unpredictable endings to a reality TV season in a long time. In this eleventh-hour episode we talk about the cascade of drama since Frank's eviction and look ahead to tonight's action. What is each of the HGs thinking about at this point? How should the endgame play out from here, and what can be said about how it's progressed so far? And, having misted his competitors, production, and seemingly all of America, has Dan finally gone too far and misted himself into throwing the game? Hear us discuss how all of these questions might be resolved by using the direct link HERE, the player below, or subscribing on iTunes HERE (we're still having technical difficulties with iTunes, but those should be temporary; in the meantime, Facebook and Twitter are the best ways to stay abreast of any updates).

Survivor 25: Season preview ft. Gordon Holmes

The long wait is almost over, as Survivor returns to our screens in only a few days. To take a look at what we can expect over the next three months we are joined by xfinity.tv writer Gordon Holmes, who was on location in the Philippines for the first three days of filming and brings us the inside scoop. He gives us his impressions of the cast having interviewed them, his thoughts on the twists, and insight about the season as a whole. Will this be another season dominated by returning players? How will the three-tribe format affect things? And just what is wrong with New England? We answer all the tough questions in our Survivor: Philippines preview show, available for listening below, for download HERE, and on iTunes HERE.

A quick word about scheduling: inevitably, internet problems have struck at the worst possible time, meaning that the BB recap/finale preview will be delayed; hopefully we'll be able to get that up some time early on Tuesday. After the BB finale and Survivor premiere on Wednesday we'll be podcasting about each of them, going solo for BB and talking to Gary Wise about Survivor. A BB gameplay analysis podcast similar to the one we did about Survivor should be in the works in a few weeks, and we'll be resuming weekly Survivor coverage starting with a discussion with Jeff Pitman of truedorktimes. Until then, enjoy!

Breaking Bad: Season 5 Discussion with Stephen Fishbach

With the first half of season five now complete, we're back to talk more Breaking Bad. Returning to the podcast to discuss it with us, free from the leash of the 140 character limit, is Stephen Fishbach.

Today we examine some of the major themes we've seen developing over the first four seasons, look at how they've progressed over the course of the last eight episodes, and speculate about how we might see the series play out in the grossly-far-away-sounding conclusion next summer.

When will we see the transition to Walt's 52nd birthday and beyond?  Why does Stephen think Walt will have to die?  Where does Breaking Bad rank so far on our lists of all-time dramas?  And why can't British people appreciate The Wire?

Find out when you listen below, find the direct link HERE, or find us on iTunes HERE.

BB14: Risen from the Dead -- Week 7 Recap/Analysis

Dan may not be good at Draw Something, the revolutionary viral game by industry pioneers Zynga, but he's crushing the other game going on inside the Big Brother house right now. In this week's show we retrace the genesis and execution of Dan's masterful coup and discuss the consequences, both for Dan's future in BB14 and for his reputation as a Big Brother player. Will this only buy him another week or two, or could this be the move that secures his second win? Does this place him above Dr. Will in the GOAT debate? And, as the game moves into the home stretch, who's his main competition for the cash and the crown? We tackle these questions in this week's episode, which you can listen to on the player below, via the direct link HERE, or on iTunes HERE.

BB14: Get to Steppin' -- Weeks 5/6 Recap/Analysis

Three people have left the Big Brother house since our last coverage and today we're back to give our final thoughts on Wil and get into everything that happened during Thursday's live double eviction episode.  After that, we look ahead to the implications now that a new HoH has been crowned, as well as how the Arcade Room twist has played out so far and how we might see it progress.

Plus, have Dan's whorish attempts to get back into America's good graces worked?  Find out when you listen below, find the direct link HERE, or find this episode on iTunes HERE.

Breaking Bad: Season 5 Analysis Part II

Picking up where we left off in Part I, here we discuss everything that went down in episodes 3 through 5 and look ahead to the remainder of this 8-week stretch and of the series in general. If you want to learn how to play the piano like Skinny Pete, how to run a startup meth empire, and why breakfast is mankind's greatest tradition, listen to Part I and then come back and listen to this installment below, via the direct link HERE, or on iTunes HERE.

We've delayed our coverage of this week's events in the Big Brother house, mainly due to laziness but also because the fish and trivia questions proved to be more riveting than anything that actually happened. Thankfully Shane's HOH reign has already provided more drama than anything in the weeks since Willie's eviction, so we'll bring you the scoop on all of that and more soon. Until then, enjoy the show!

Breaking Bad: Season 5 Analysis Part I

The fifth season of "Breaking Bad" is upon us and today we sit down to add, divide, and measure everything we've been shown by Vince Gilligan and company so far.

"Breaking Bad," as it turns out, is far more interesting than, for instance, astronomy, so instead of quickly becoming tired and sick, we ended up talking for four hours.  As a result, this podcast will be split into two parts, the first of which will cover "Live Free or Die" and "Madrigal," with the second covering "Hazard Pay," "Fifty-One," and "Dead Freight."

We'll break down all of the pertinent details of each episode and hypothesize about the implications of potential themes we may see developing this season.  Join us as we interpret the charts and diagrams so that down the line we may more fully appreciate the perfect silence of the stars.

Listen HERE or on iTunes HERE

BB14: Always the Bridesmaid -- Week 4 Recap/Analysis

As the South Park Ski Instructor might say, if you're Janelle and you don't have HoH or veto, you're gonna have a bad time.  Today we take a look back at Jedi Janie's demise, debate the merits of backdooring her in the first place, and get into the latest Week 5 action from inside the Big Brother house.

Plus, which of the first-time players is already a lock to come back for another season? Who's playing the better game this year: Dan or Boogie?  And with Frank now in power, should the rest of the Silent Six be concerned?

Find the direct link for this episode HERE or find us on iTunes HERE

Survivor: One World Examined with Kim Spradlin

Recently coming off one of the most impressive performances in 'Survivor' history, reigning champ Kim Spradlin joins us for an in-depth look at her One World game.  She explains her thought process on the island during her most critical decisions, evaluates those she played against, and goes into detail about some of her now-famous "options" that may have been mentioned once or twice on the CBS show.

Plus, what really happens if Colton isn't removed from the game?  What was the right answer to Troyzan's jury question?  And might we ever see Kim play again?

Advocates for options that we are, you can listen HERE or on iTunes HERE.     

BB14: The 'Dan' Button -- Week 3 Recap/Analysis

"That was your dream.  A big fucking red 'Dan' button." --Mike Boogie

In what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting seasons to date, another week of Big Brother was put into the books -- only to be removed from them right away.  Nonetheless, we're back to go over yet another round of plotting, scheming, conniving, and blindsiding.  After that, we discuss the results of the recent HoH competition and break down how we think each remaining player stands as we enter the comparatively fair portion of the game.

Plus, where does Thursday night's twist rank in the pantheon of other historically great riggage? What should our vicarious player of the season, Ian, be thinking about at this point in the game? And is anyone going to stop Dan from waltzing to yet another effortless victory?

Listen via the direct link HERE or find us on iTunes HERE.

With another season of Survivor right around the corner, announcements about upcoming podcast guests could start coming at any time (hint), so to keep updated with all of that, definitely Like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter.

BB14: Suffering From Realness -- Week 2 Recap/Analysis

The second round of carnage is complete inside the Big Brother house.  Another pair of players has left the game -- this week's twosome decidedly more gruesome than the first -- and we're here to go over all of it.

Plus, how do we see Shane's reign as HoH playing out? And, more importantly, how might Willie's expulsion from the game and subsequent mix-up with the law affect the Hantz empire?

Find out when you stream this episode HERE.

HOLD UP.

As it turns out, the "embed" button has been right next to the "share" button THIS WHOLE TIME. Perennial givers that we are, we're now saving you a mouse click by letting you listen to the episode right on this post.

Find the direct link HERE.

BB14: Week 1 Recap

It's been an electric two weeks so far in the Big Brother house and we're breaking it all down, Cajun style.  In this episode, we go over the effect the coaches have had on the game, analyze the player draft, evaluate all of the strategic happenings within the house, and forecast how we think the upcoming week might play out.

Plus, how long will it take for Ian to seal the deal with Ashley?  And do blondes still hate other blondes?

(They do).

WILL IT UP with us by streaming the episode HERE or find it on iTunes HERE.

SPOILER ALERT: Contained in this episode are all of the major events that have taken place in the house all the way through the Week 2 PoV competition results.  Hopefully you're cool with that.


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BB14: Season Preview

As post-racial America prepares for the post-Rachel era, we bring you an in-depth look at this summer's cast.   Plus, what impact will the mentors have on the game?  When will Willie to go public about his Hantzashian status?  And who will be left at the end of this inevitable wreckage to collect the grossly cheap sounding half-million dollar prize? 


Find out when you stream this episode HERE or find it on iTunes HERE.


SPOILER ALERT: As we are people who watch Big Brother correctly (i.e. follow along with the progress on the live feeds), our episodes will always contain the most up to the minute information from within the house at the time of recording.  In this instance, that means that contained in this episode are the identities of the four returning players as well as the rumored winner of the first HoH competition.  Hopefully you're cool with that.

BB12: A Diabolical Look Back with Matt Hoffman

If you're a Big Brother fan who also thinks "The Sopranos" was a bit conservative with the cursing, we've got the interview you've been waiting for.

For our first ever BB retrospective, joining us live from The Gremlin Cave is none other than Matt Hoffman. In this episode, we'll discuss how The Bragade Brigade really came together, his controversial use of the Diamond Power of Veto, and how a bag of pretzels may have cost him the game. Plus, what are Brendon and Rachel really like off-camera?  And which BB12 contestant did Matt think was handicapped prior to entering the house? All this and more when you stream the episode HERE or find it on iTunes HERE.

Survivor: Tocantins Revisited with Stephen Fishbach

Spoiler alert.

In our final "Survivor" retrospective of the season, we're joined by confirmed actual wizard Stephen Fishbach to go over his 39 days spent wheeling and dealing in Brazil.  We also discuss the post-Tocantins evolution of JT, Coach, and Tyson as characters, how one might best evaluate individual games, and the impact of returning players in seasons with rookies.  


Plus, what was Stephen's biggest piece of advice for JT before Heroes vs. Villains?  And how accurately-rated is Sophie Clarke?  All of this and more when you listen HERE or on iTunes HERE.



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Summer Schedule

So as not to bury the lead, it would be wise on our part to announce that we'll be recording our final Survivor retrospective of the season with Stephen Fishbach tomorrow afternoon.

And with Survivor: Philippines waiting in the wings for September, we'll be turning our attention this summer to another one of our favorites: Big Brother.  Tune in each week as we'll be bringing you coverage of all of the goings-on within the BB14 house along with the most in-depth strategy analysis in Podcastland.

To get you all in the mood, we're happy to announce that we've lined up our first Big Brother retrospective.  Joining us for this landmark occasion is none other than America's favorite diabolical super-genius, BB12's Matt Hoffman.  That episode will be available sometime during the week leading up to the BB14 premiere.

We're also planning on covering our first scripted series, Breaking Bad, when its fifth season premieres in July.  To catch up on this show, you can stream episodes instantly if you're fortunate enough to know your mom's Netflix log-in information.

Speaking of scripted shows, we'll be completing our coverage of the first season of the latest Russell Hantz vehicle, Flipped Off, once again joined by friend of the show Matt Rodrigues sometime as Big Brother is airing.

We also still hope to have a conversation about old school Survivor spoiling with True Dork Times godfather Jeff Pitman and we'll let you know more about that as we figure it out ourselves.

Lastly, you'd already know all of these things if you had liked our Facebook page.

Survivor: We have a RobCast

After a month-long hiatus, we are back with a show that we hope is worth the wait: we are grateful to be joined by Survivor icon and podcaster extraordinaire Rob Cesternino. The original consensus 'best player to never win' takes us through the game he played to earn that title, responding in detail to a number of popular but previously unanswered questions about the decisions he made in the Amazon, as well as giving us his perspective on the events leading up to and during All-Stars. You can listen here or on iTunes here; we're looking at embedding the audio streams within the blog page for greater convenience.

We will hopefully record a podcast with Stephen Fishbach very soon; and we'll be talking about shows from Big Brother to Breaking Bad throughout the summer. In the meantime, you can stay updated by following us on Twitter or subscribing on iTunes using the link above; and now, by clicking 'Like' on our new Facebook page. Enjoy!

Coming soon...

Survivor: Winner/gameplay analysis ft. Kos

A week after the finale of Survivor: One World, debate continues on the topic of Kim's game: is she one of the most dominant players of all time, earning a place in the pantheon of all-time greats, or is the fan community blinded by her recency and other bias, ignoring the role played by luck and the weakness of her competition? Is her game representative of her skillset as a player? And just how does she compare to previous winners? To answer these questions we are joined once again by Kos Kosdrosky for a marathon-length, in-depth podcast about Survivor strategy. We go back through all previous winners, analyzing their games on their own merits and showing how they stack up against Kim's, before discussing some of our favourite non-winners and touching on some more abstract points about general Survivor strategy. If this sounds like your sort of thing, you can listen here or on iTunes here.

We have tentative commitments from a few more former Survivors for retrospective podcasts over the next month or two; as that becomes concrete we'll give you more info. Until then, you can stay updated by subscribing on iTunes using the link above. Enjoy!

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Blog/iTunes technical problems

Some listeners reported having issues with the links on the blog posts not working. The problem seems to be to do with the file-hosting site we use, so we've emailed them to see if they can fix it; if not, we'll find an alternative as soon as possible. As far as we're aware, if you're subscribed to us in iTunes you should still get accessible versions of the episodes there.  UPDATE: FIXED!

We just finished recording a podcast with friend of the show Kos, so if the above problems are resolved then we should be able to get that to you later this week. We have no definite plan for the next few weeks yet, but we'll let you know when that changes. Until then, sorry once again for the technical problems, and we'll see you again soon!

Survivor 24: season review with Gary Wise

Another year of Survivor ended on Sunday night when, to the surprise of nobody, Kim Spradlin was crowned the winner of Survivor: One World. ESPN's Gary Wise joins us to break down the season, revisiting the judgements he made when he was on the podcast after the premiere and giving his thoughts on everything that happened since then. He tells us how he rates both Kim and this season against their respective predecessors and gives his first impressions of the S25 format based on the reunion announcements (WARNING: don't listen to the end if you don't want to know who the returnees are!).

This isn't the end of our Survivor content this season; later this week Kos returns to the show as we put Kim's win in a historical perspective, going over her game in detail and using it as a platform for in-depth discussion of both general gameplay and specific players we admire. Until then, this podcast with Gary can be found here or on iTunes here, and you can stay updated by subscribing on iTunes using that link or following us on Twitter using the icons on the blog page. Follow @colinstone Follow @MC_Usher

Survivor 24: Finale preview ft. Albert Destrade

In less than 72 hours, the winner of Survivor: One World will be crowned, and today Albert Destrade returns to the podcast to preview the finale. He gives us his thoughts on the season so far, from the dynamics on the original gender-split tribes through the fall of Colton and the merge to the rapidly approaching endgame. He contrasts this season to his own, notably assessing how Sophie compares to Kim, and makes his predictions for Sunday. This week's show, featuring all this and more, can be found here or on iTunes here.

Survivor 24: Cruel Beans

It's finale week, and in our excitement we can't think of a well-structured blurb for the blog, so here you go. Certain 'technical difficulties' meant that we couldn't record a recap last week, so today's podcast covers the last two Survivor episodes and looks ahead to the finale. Be sure to look out for the finale preview show on Thursday, in which we will be rejoined by Survivor: South Pacific's Albert Destrade. As for this week's recap, you can find it here or on iTunes here. Enjoy!

TAR, Celebrity Apprentice, & Flipped Off with Matt Rodrigues

In our first episode of non-Survivor content in far too long, we're joined by Matt Rodrigues to forecast the finale of The Amazing Race, discuss how we see the endgame playing out on The Celebrity Apprentice, and break down the pilot of Russell Hantz's new show, Flipped Off.  (Spoiler alert regarding that last bit: it's going to be the greatest house-flipping show of all tiiiiiime.)

You can stream the episode here or on iTunes here.

For those of you who don't watch all of these shows, here's a guide of where our discussion about each particular series begins within the episode (note: very thoughtful of us).

The Amazing Race-- starts 00:00

The Celebrity Apprentice-- starts 56:45

Flipped Off-- starts 141:30

The weekly Survivor recap will be up later today, and Albert Destrade joins us again next week for our Survivor finale preview show. After that, we'll have the season review episode, and we'll bring you podcasts about a range of subjects with a variety of guests over the summer. Until then, stay updated by subscribing on iTunes using the link above or following us on Twitter.

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Podcast update

Due to scheduling problems in England and internet problems in Maine, we won't be able to get this week's Survivor recap up before the new episode tonight; our apologies for that. We'll talk about that episode in shorter length in next week's recap.

If this week has been slow, next week will be just as busy, so stay tuned for lots of content as we approach the Survivor finale as well as the end of TAR and Celebrity Apprentice.

Survivor 24: I Love Leif

The two men left in the game have a combined age of 114 and want to be named after the same fictional character. Is there any hope for them, in life or in Survivor? Where did Leif go? And will Kim be counting a million dollars in a towel on May 13? Find out in this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.

As stated in the episode, we will be doing a joint pre-finale TAR/Celebrity Apprentice podcast with a guest in a few weeks. If you have any other shows you want us to cover, or any feedback in general, let us know here or on Twitter (links available below on the blog). Until then, thanks for listening! Follow @colinstone Follow @MC_Usher

Survivor 24: Jayburned

It was a typical episode of Survivor: Kim manipulating, the men capitulating, and Tarzan being Tarzan. Still, there was a lot to talk about, and talk about it we did: what should Kim's plan be, and how did Jay and Troyzan fit into that puzzle? Can Troyzan really run the table from here, and should people want him to? And when is Tarzan going to put on his or Monica's big girl panties? All this, and more, on this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Storytime with Sophie Clarke

We've interviewed three players from Survivor: South Pacific already and now Sophie Clarke, the one who outlasted them all, joins us to reveal how she did it. She takes us through her Survivor experience, from watching the first season to winning the twenty-third, responding to criticisms of her game and unmasking important truths hidden by the editing. Listen here or on iTunes here.

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Survivor 24: Spradlinsanity

The end is nigh, and a Kim win is imminent... or is it? Today we look ahead to the endgame asking how Kim can get there, how good her chances are of doing it, and who's best placed to stop her. We also explain why this episode might have sounded the death knell for Jay and Troyzan, and debate whether the Mike boot was correct. Lastly, the most difficult question of all: who's more skilled, Chelsea's plastic surgeon or the creators of 7UP (the clean, crisp, and refreshing soda drink)? All this, and more, on this week's show, available here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor 24: Drop your buffs

It may be almost as late to the party as Tarzan is, but this week's recap is finally here. We dish all the dirt (yes, dirt) on last Wednesday's episode, assess our predictions from last week, and speculate about what the various power players will and should do in the episodes to come. Listen to it here or on iTunes here.

Image via the brilliant Bitchy Survivor Blog

Survivor: Brian Corridan speaks

Brian Corridan joins us today to reminisce about Survivor: Guatemala. He gives us his take on the strange editing of the season and reveals what was really going on beneath it. He airs his views on Danni, Rafe, Stephenie, and others, and explains why he thinks his season and its cast have been so widely ignored. He also offers a spirited defence of 'old-school' Survivor, in his usual compelling manner. If you want to know the truth about the 'forgotten' Survivor season, go ahead and listen! You can find it here or on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Cochran takes the stand

John Cochran joins us in a feature-length podcast to discuss all things Survivor, from watching the show as a fan in the early 2000s and experiencing its evolution to becoming part of its history himself. In his typical articulate manner he takes us through his 31-day rollercoaster ride in the South Pacific, giving us the lowdown on everything that happened from his perspective. You can listen here and on iTunes here.


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Survivor: Cochran takes the stand

NOTE: The audio on this version ended up coming out mono instead of stereo.  Sorry about that.  The updated version can be found HERE.  

John Cochran joins us in a feature-length podcast to discuss all things Survivor, from watching the show as a fan in the early 2000s and experiencing its evolution to becoming part of its history himself. In his typical articulate manner he takes us through his 31-day rollercoaster ride in the South Pacific, giving us the lowdown on everything that happened from his perspective. You can listen here and on iTunes here.

Look out for the weekly Survivor recap over the weekend as well as a podcast with Survivor: Guatemala's Brian Corridan early next week. In the meantime, keep updated by subscribing to us on iTunes using the link above and following us on Twitter!

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