Podcasts about Rizzo

We close out the holiday season with one of the all time greats, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Joining us is friend of the show Jackie; a librarian, Muppet aficionado, and the wife who fuels the revolutionary love of one of our hosts (it's the host that name drops his wife more than he does Marx or Lenin). Widely recognized as one of the most faithful adaptations of the Dickens' classic, the film stars Michael Caine as Scrooge, Gonzo the Great as Charles Dickens, Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, and Rizzo the Rat as himself and was the first Muppet film directed by Jim Henson's son Brian Henson following the death of his father. We discuss the accuracy of the movie, the influences that led Dickens to write the story in the first place, what the story has to say about alienation, and how two Marleys is better than one amongst other things.Only two more sleeps 'til Christmas 2025, and here at Left of the Projector we wish for a world where all us meeces can have cheeses.**Cheeses in this case is a unified and liberated working class working towards fully automated luxury gay space communism. Obviously. Left of the Projector Linkshttps://boxd.it/5T9O1https://leftoftheprojectorpod.threadless.com/https://www.instagram.com/the_red_gobbo/https://www.instagram.com/millennialmarxist1/https://leftoftheprojector.com

VYS0055 | Merry ChristMups! - The Muppet Christmas Carol - Vayse to Face with Phil Ristaino: Saturnalia 2025 - Show Notes God help us, every one! 'Tis the season of good will to all creatures and, even better, that jolly old elf, Phil Ristaino, returns to Vayse after an absence of only 4 episodes for an urgent meeting about the Muppet Christmas Carol, a film which he had never seen before researching for the episode! With Phil's help and encouragement Hine and Buckley joyously delve into a film which has been a Vayse favourite for over 3 decades, discussing the sad and sudden demise of the genius that was Jim Henson, the connections between the muppets and spirituality, why the Muppet Christmas Carol is one of the best Christmas movies, if not one of the best movies ever made, how the spirit of Jim Henson visited his successor to the voice of Kermit... and how the Muppets got the best performance of his career out of Michael Caine (recorded 4 December 2025). Phil Ristaino online The Post Relevant Podcast website (https://www.postrelevant.com/) Phil's website (https://www.thesearedreams.com/) Agents of Venus - Bandcamp (https://agentsofvenus.bandcamp.com/album/boduvt) Phil on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/philristaino/) Jim Henson and the Muppets The Muppets - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppets_(2011_film)) The Muppets Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4YhbpuGdwQ) Man or Muppet - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRTjksM3YAs) The Muppet Christmas Carol - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Christmas_Carol) The Muppet Christmas Carol Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNo-Q0IDJi0) The Muppet Movie - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Movie) The Muppet Movie Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDfXXaqfc2k) Labyrinth - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(1986_film)) Labyrinth Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2yd4em1I6M) The Dark Crystal - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Crystal) The Dark Crystal Trailer - Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaH6cOR8NKc) Jim Henson - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henson) The Muppet Christmas Carol: A festive classic's dark backdrop - BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20221209-the-muppet-christmas-carol-festive-classics-dark-backdrop) Michael Caine - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Caine) Gonzo The Great - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzo_(Muppet)) Rizzo the Rat - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizzo_the_Rat) The Muppets - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppets) Christian Science - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science) The Muppets and Drug Use - Muppet Wiki (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Drug_use) Jane Henson - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Henson) Sam and Friends - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_and_Friends) Sam and Friends - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sa1WTfD6s4&t=194s) Kermit The Frog - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_the_Frog) Jim Henson and The Muppets Visit The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson - 03/18/1975 - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MiNN3VeVyg) Sesame Street - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Street) The Land of Gorch - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Land_of_Gorch) The Land of Gorch - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oc7YLI-hfE) The Muppet Show - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Show) The Muppet Show Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MsLOi7PXA) The Muppets Valentine Show - First Muppet Show Pilot - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sglin_5oClM) The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (Opening Scene) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycdhrEQohC4) Brass Eye - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_Eye) Brass Eye - Complete Series (All 7 Episodes) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQCrcAFuI-E) Prince on The Muppets Tonight - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cARhhf-ATT8) 10 Behind the Scenes Facts about The Muppet Christmas Carol - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRuX8uVsEwo) Star Wars - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_(film)) Star Wars Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHk5kCIiGoM) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_(1990_film)) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJPwRWaZBI) VYS0054 | You Can't Make An Omelette Without Breaking A Few Egregores - Vayse to Face with Joshua Cutchin (https://www.vayse.co.uk/vys0054) The Great Muppet Caper - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Muppet_Caper) The Great Muppet Caper Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niz03jeeqoQ) The Muppets Take Manhattan - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppets_Take_Manhattan) The Muppets Take Manhattan Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfyi7NDuUHU) Ghostbusters - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters) Ghostbusters Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hDkhw5Wkas) Fraggle Rock - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraggle_Rock) Fraggle Rock Opening Theme - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLQS6xo40kI) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSx8Jobx-Gs) Streptococcal Pharyngitis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis) Mastoiditis - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastoiditis) Scarlet Fever - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_fever) Meningitis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningitis) Toxic shock syndrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_shock_syndrome) Frank Oz - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Oz) The Muppet Christmas Carol Charles Dickens - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens) A Christmas Carol - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm) Brian Henson - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Henson) Christian Science Website (https://www.christianscience.com/) Mary Baker Eddy - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Baker_Eddy) Mitch Horowitz (https://www.mitchhorowitz.com/) Seth Material - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Material) Jane Roberts - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Roberts) Big Henson Energy: The Ridiculous Optimism of The Muppets by Aimee Knight - Kill Your Darlings (https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/article/big-henson-energy-the-ridiculous-optimism-of-the-muppets/) Steven Mackintosh - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Mackintosh) Robin Weaver - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Weaver) ‘God bless us, every one!' The five best film versions of Dickens' A Christmas Carol by Kevin E G Perry - The Independent (https://apple.news/AnCVOMNzmSmST2ho9PmLepw) Dr. Bunsen Honeydew - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Bunsen_Honeydew) Puppetry for the Modern Shaman by James Godwin - Howlround Theatre Commons (https://howlround.com/puppetry-modern-shaman) Masks in Magic by Gordon "the Toad" MacLellan - Whitedragon.org (https://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/masks.htm) The Mask - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mask_(1994_film)) The Mask Trailer - Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZl69yk5lEY) Dave Goelz -Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Goelz) How we made: The Muppet Christmas Carol - Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/dec/21/how-we-made-the-muppet-christmas-carol) Muppets From Space - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muppets_from_Space) Muppets From Space Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze_tsDEuYEg) Gonzo's attraction to chickens - Muppets Wiki (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Gonzo%27s_attraction_to_chickens) Sesame Street Theme - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfQSp92L88I) X-Men - Fandom.com (https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/X-Men_(Earth-616)) How Were the Ghosts in The Muppet Christmas Carol Created? by Via Laurene - Comic Book Resources (https://www.cbr.com/muppet-christmas-carol-ghost-creation/) Bob Marley - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley) Miss Piggy - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Piggy) Dionysus - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus) Banshee - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banshee) The Roman god Bacchus as a Christian icon by Riley Winters - Ancient Origins (https://www.ancient-origins.net/human-origins-religions/roman-god-bacchus-christian-icon-002237) The Immortality Key: Uncovering the Secret History of the Religion with No Name by Brian C. Muraresku - GoodReads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51174256-the-immortality-key) Ergot - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergot) Kykeon - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kykeon) Eleusinian Mysteries - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleusinian_Mysteries) Triple Deity - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_deity) Paul Williams - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Williams_(songwriter)) The Carpenters - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carpenters) Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters- Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainy_Days_and_Mondays) Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjFoQxjgbrs) When Love is Gone by Paul Williams - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbawsayImds) When Love is Gone - Muppet Wiki (https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/When_Love_Is_Gone) When Love is Found by Paul Williams - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIaJcjJReCU) Why It Matters That “When Love Is Gone” Is Found by Joe Hennes - ToughPigs (https://www.toughpigs.com/when-love-is-gone-faq/) Why ‘Love Is Gone' Is Vital To The Muppets Christmas Carol by Julia H Dixon - Writer in a Hat (https://writerinahat.com/2020/12/13/why-love-is-gone-is-vital-to-the-muppets-christmas-carol/) Steve Whitmire - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Whitmire) Muppet Religion by Jodi Eichler-Levine - The Revealer (https://therevealer.org/muppet-religion/) The Simpsons - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons) Read the apology letter Barbara Bush once wrote to Marge Simpson by Dan Snierson - Entertainment Weekly (https://ew.com/tv/2018/04/18/the-simpsons-barbara-bush-apology-letter-to-marge/) The Beatles - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles) Bob Ross - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross) Carl Sagan - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Sagan) Five fun facts about The Muppet Christmas Carol as it turns 25 - BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1Bt1WZgDXcbv5Fnr8XTz7Yl/five-fun-facts-about-the-muppet-christmas-carol-as-it-turns-25) Michael Caine Loves The Muppet Christmas Carol as Much as You Do by Lauren Larson - GQ (https://www.gq.com/story/michael-caine-muppet-christmas-carol-interview) Sam the Eagle - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Eagle) Sesame Street - Monsterpiece Theater "Twin Beaks" - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vftf8TTve4s) Muppet Songs: Muppet Christmas Carol - Scrooge - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULaNvmjZWxg) Muppet Christmas Carol - Spider Joe - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlK9LSDwVng) Lullaby by The Cure - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijxk-fgcg7c) Spirited Away - Boiler Room - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RT7fi_Hf42s) Scrooged - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooged) Scrooged Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OLRQfMOXOw) Mickey's Christmas Carol - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey%27s_Christmas_Carol) Mickey's Christmas Carol Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEy6MbkMxR0) Scrooge - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooge_(1970_film)) Scrooge Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDWxqmEBG_s) Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Magoo%27s_Christmas_Carol) Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVBOJU-ToGA) Muppet Christmas Carol, Heatwave (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwahCM3mC9A) Muppet Christmas Carol - 'Tis the Season - Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_OPIxB_CE4) Anunnaki - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anunnaki) Sasquatch - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot) The Fae - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy) Christmas Recommendations Groundhog Day - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)) Groundhog Day Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GncQtURdcE4) Eyes Wide Shut - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyes_Wide_Shut) Eyes Wide Shut Trailer - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVo96JaqeM) The 33 Degrees of Eyes Wide Shut (https://33degreesofeyeswideshut.wordpress.com/) Making of The Beatles - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@MakingoftheBeatles) Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Ye-3C1FC8) Part 8 (Twin Peaks) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part_8_(Twin_Peaks)) Cheech & Chong - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheech_%26_Chong) VYS0052 | Goddamn Shit-sucking Vampires - Halloween 2025: The Lost Boys - Vayse to Face with Sorcha Ní Fhlainn (https://www.vayse.co.uk/vys0052) PRP3: Twin Peaks: the Return: the DECODE episode 5 (https://www.postrelevant.com/home/episode/367aca19/31-prp3-twin-peaks-the-return-the-decode-episode-5) Buckley's Final Question ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/) Yoda - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoda) Salacious B. Crumb - Wookiepedia (https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Salacious_B._Crumb) Cookie Monster - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookie_Monster) Animal - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_(Muppet)) Vayse online Website (https://www.vayse.co.uk/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/vayseesyav) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/vayseesyav.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vayseesyav/) Bandcamp (Music From Vayse) (https://vayse.bandcamp.com/) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/vayse) Email: vayseinfo@gmail.com Special Guest: Phil Ristaino.

Frank and Shirley break down the Survivor Season 49 finale, starting with the big picture: why Savannah's win felt earned, and why the all-women final three (Sophie, Savannah, Sage) was such a standout moment. From there, they rewind through the endgame chaos, including the advantage hunt, Savannah's reward pick, Christina and Sage battling to stay alive at tribal, and Rizzo finally playing his idol after sitting on it for most of the season.They also get into Sophie's clutch final immunity, the pressure-packed fire-making decision, and the details of how Savannah pulled off the win when it mattered most. Plus: quick reunion talk, “On Fire” shoutouts, and some fun Survivor 50 hype before wrapping the season.00:00:00 Intro and first reactions to the winner and the all-women final three00:02:25 “Resume” talk: targets, votes, and what mattered at the end00:03:05 Post-tribal fallout and the advantage hunt setup00:09:15 Savannah wins immunity plus reward, then makes a surprising sanctuary pick00:13:40 Sophie weighs endgame threats and who she actually wants to face at final tribal00:15:25 Social media reaction to Savannah's blunt honesty00:16:25 Tribal pressure: Christina vs Sage, and who can really sell a case to the jury00:18:45 Rizzo plays the idol, the votes land, and the final four is set00:23:30 Sophie wins final immunity and the “who goes to fire” decision becomes everything00:28:40 Final four tribal: past mistakes, “make the right choice,” and the fire matchup is locked00:30:20 Fire-making breakdown and how Savannah actually pulls it off00:32:05 Final three vibes and the “three girls on the beach” moment00:33:05 Jury temperature check: who's locked in, who's not, and why Sophie's social game mattered00:45:10 Final vote results and why Savannah's win works as a throwback-style “villain you can root for” win00:56:10 Reunion chatter and Survivor 50 speculation01:01:20 Season wrap, feedback request, and where to find the showSavannah's win felt satisfying because it combined challenge dominance with owning her game instead of trying to soften it for the jury.Sophie's biggest strength was social access: people fed her information even when they probably should not have.Rizzo's idol story is a reminder that timing and threat-management can be as powerful as the actual play.Christina staying as long as she did became its own endgame fear, especially with fire-making looming.Final immunity is still the true “endgame boss fight” because it decides fire, and fire can swing the million.The all-women final three gave the finale a different energy, especially with Sage embracing the moment even as the longshot.The jury read felt pretty clear by the time votes were cast, but the episode still had real tension because of fire-making.“I don't have time to make friends out here, I'm trying to win $1 million.”“Fire can be everything.”“Three girls on the beach.”“When he walks in the room, everybody's cheering. When I walk in the room, crickets.”If you enjoyed this finale breakdown, make sure you subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share the episode with #OutlastPodcast so other Survivor fans can find us.GeekFreaksPodcast.com (source of all news discussed during our podcast)“On Fire” is referenced during the finale discussion for extra context and post-game reactionsOutlast Podcast on Twitter: @OutlastPodcast1Geek Freaks on Twitter: @geekfreakspodGeek Freaks on Instagram: @geekfreakspodcastGeek Freaks on Threads: @geekfreakspodcastGeek Freaks on Facebook: Geek Freaks PodcastPatreon: GeekFreakspodcastGot thoughts on the finale, fire-making, or who you want back for Survivor 50? Send your questions or topic requests to us on Twitter at @OutlastPodcast1 (or message Geek Freaks on socials), and we'll work them into a future episode.Timestamps And TopicsKey TakeawaysQuotesCall To ActionLinks And ResourcesFollow UsListener Questions

Know-It-Alls: Survivor 49 Finale Recap Survivor Know-It-Alls is back as Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach dig into all the drama and gameplay twists from Survivor 49. Rob and Stephen break down the intense dynamics after the Survivor 49 finale, highlighting everything from Savannah's strategic dominance to Rizzo's risky idol antics. The hosts go deep on how pre-season spoilers about tribe assignments and possible winners shaped gameplay and perception all season long. In this episode, Rob and Stephen dissect Savannah's journey from being the social hub of her tribe to clutching immunity wins when she needed them most. They talk through Rizzo's creative use of the idol and how it played with both the jury and the audience. Stephen weighs in on Sage's difficult road as a middle player, comparing her final jury struggles to Dawn's classic Survivor heartbreak. The hosts also debate the importance of challenging the edit, jury management, and the “must-win” immunity stat, exploring how Survivor 49's players navigated new era twists and emotional voting blocks. – Savannah's climb to the top as a loyal alliance leader – The fallout from Rizzo's idol strategy and aftershow moments – Sage's tough final tribal and the perils of playing the middle – The debate over physical challenge wins and their timing – Survivor 49's most memorable “villain energy” moments As the dust settles on Survivor 49, Rob and Stephen explore whether the new era's gameplay is all about loyalty or if underdogs can still pull off a win. Chapters: 0:00 Survivor 49 Finale Breakdown Begins 6:30 Spoilers Impact Winner Perception 11:05 Importance of Must-Win Immunities 14:35 Social Game Influences Crucial Votes 17:37 Fire Making Contest Anxiety Discussed 22:01 Survivor After Show Criticisms Raised 29:01 New Era Winner Rankings Debated 32:26 Savannah's Multi-Stage Game Highlighted 34:52 Sage's Emotional Jury Response Explored 39:35 Final Tribal Council Tactics Examined 42:52 Comparing Savannah and Past Winners 44:46 Survivor 50 Twist Reactions Surface 52:26 Speculating on Celebrity Involvement Impact 58:27 Fifty-State Immunity Idol Launch 1:01:31 Potential Themes for Future Seasons 1:12:20 Jury Segment: Improving Survivor Storytelling 1:17:01 Which Players Will Return Next? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com To pre-order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com To request a limited edition Escape! map, email proof of hardcover pre-order (within the US) to escapefishbach@gmail.com with the subject line MAP. Previous hardcover pre-orders are also eligible! Buy tickets for Stephen's book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Sam Phalen Survivor 49 Finale Reactions Today, Rob Cesternino and Survivor 47’s Sam Phalen break down the Survivor 49 finale. The Survivor 49 finale was packed with drama, unexpected moves. Rob Cesternino and Sam Phelan discuss it all. Savannah emerged as a unique and dynamic winner, combining challenge wins with honest, straightforward gameplay. Unlike many winners before her, Savannah's approach was focused and unapologetic, leading the trio of herself, Rizzo, and Soph to dominate much of the late game. Rob and Sam discuss: How Savannah's clutch challenge wins and alliance management secured her victory. Sage's emotional journey and her reaction to the jury's reception. The final Tribal Council, including a throwback moment when Christina asked Savannah to name loved ones of jurors. Rizzo's creative idol bluffing and speculation about how his game might evolve in Survivor 50. The upcoming Survivor 50 was teased, featuring legendary returning players, celebrity cameos, and new twists from Billie Eilish, Zac Brown, Jimmy Fallon, and Mr. Beast. Stay tuned as Survivor enters its next chapter—with returning favorites, twists, and celebrity cameos. There's so much more Survivor coverage and community fun ahead, right here on RHAP! To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com This episode is sponsored by 20th Century Studios and their new film Send Help. Send Help is directed by Sam Raimi and stars Rachel McAdams and Bradly Preston in a thrilling, darkly twisted survival story that only Sam Raimi could bring to life. Experience the suspense on the big screen — Send Help is only in theaters and in 3D starting January 20th! Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Survivor 49 Finalist Exit Interviews Survivor 49's unforgettable finale gets the full exit interview deep dive with host Rob Cesternino, as he sits down with the finalists Savannah Louie, Sophi Balerdi, Rizo Velovic, and Kristina Mills. Savannah Louie walks through how she went from controlling alliances on Uli beach to being blindsided, battling from the bottom, and mastering the art of playing “small” and non-threatening. Her key immunities and repaired bonds with Sage and Juwan proved clutch. Rizo Velovic breaks down his revolutionary public idol strategy, targeting “soft” middle threats and advancing Tres Leches through vote splits and social maneuvering. Sophi Balerdi details her under-the-radar social moves, her critical knowledge is power advantage usage, and her approach at Final Tribal Council. Kristina Mills offers insights on physical challenges, jury management, and the emotional connections that resonated with fans and shaped vote decisions. Rob presses the finalists for real answers on fire-making, strategic reward choices, and the reality of pushing loyalty and betrayal to the limit. – Savannah Louie's shift from dominant alliance leader to resilient underdog – Rizo Velovic's bold idol strategy and soft target gameplay – Sophi Balerdi's final tribal council pitch and knowledge is power explanation – Kristina Mills' take on jury questions, fire-making, and emotional storytelling – The role of reward decisions and camp relationships in the endgame Rob Cesternino asks the big question: can playing from the bottom unlock a win, and will Survivor 49's adaptive gameplay reshape strategy for season 50? Whose move truly changed the endgame, and how did jury perception tilt the final vote? Chapters: 0:00 Survivor 49 Finale Interviews Begin 6:12 Savannah's Game Flips From Top 13:44 Savannah, Rizzo, Sophi Alliance 16:24 Immunity Record, Villain Role Reflected 17:17 Sophi Responds To Finale Outcome 20:17 Sophi's Knowledge Is Power Move 22:46 Sophi's Fire Making Dilemma 25:21 Final Five Vote Frustrations 29:08 Rizzo Reveals Idol Strategy 34:45 Trio's Impact On Jury Votes 39:06 Rizzo Teases Survivor 50 Return 41:11 Kristina Reflects Challenge Struggles 42:43 Kristina's Family Names Jury Question 44:39 Kristina Explains Vote For Sophi 46:52 Missed Opportunity With Sophi Segretti 48:03 Sharing Vulnerable Moments With Viewers 49:46 Unseen Nate Vote Strategic Move 51:18 Reward Decision Wasn't For Strategy 52:28 Uncle Jeff Catchphrase Speculation 53:56 Kristina's Social Game Reflections To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Survivor 49 Finalist Exit Interviews Survivor 49's unforgettable finale gets the full exit interview deep dive with host Rob Cesternino, as he sits down with the finalists Savannah Louie, Sophi Balerdi, Rizo Velovic, and Kristina Mills. Savannah Louie walks through how she went from controlling alliances on Uli beach to being blindsided, battling from the bottom, and mastering the art of playing “small” and non-threatening. Her key immunities and repaired bonds with Sage and Juwan proved clutch. Rizo Velovic breaks down his revolutionary public idol strategy, targeting “soft” middle threats and advancing Tres Leches through vote splits and social maneuvering. Sophi Balerdi details her under-the-radar social moves, her critical knowledge is power advantage usage, and her approach at Final Tribal Council. Kristina Mills offers insights on physical challenges, jury management, and the emotional connections that resonated with fans and shaped vote decisions. Rob presses the finalists for real answers on fire-making, strategic reward choices, and the reality of pushing loyalty and betrayal to the limit. – Savannah Louie's shift from dominant alliance leader to resilient underdog – Rizo Velovic's bold idol strategy and soft target gameplay – Sophi Balerdi's final tribal council pitch and knowledge is power explanation – Kristina Mills' take on jury questions, fire-making, and emotional storytelling – The role of reward decisions and camp relationships in the endgame Rob Cesternino asks the big question: can playing from the bottom unlock a win, and will Survivor 49's adaptive gameplay reshape strategy for season 50? Whose move truly changed the endgame, and how did jury perception tilt the final vote? Chapters: 0:00 Survivor 49 Finale Interviews Begin 6:12 Savannah's Game Flips From Top 13:44 Savannah, Rizzo, Sophi Alliance 16:24 Immunity Record, Villain Role Reflected 17:17 Sophi Responds To Finale Outcome 20:17 Sophi's Knowledge Is Power Move 22:46 Sophi's Fire Making Dilemma 25:21 Final Five Vote Frustrations 29:08 Rizzo Reveals Idol Strategy 34:45 Trio's Impact On Jury Votes 39:06 Rizzo Teases Survivor 50 Return 41:11 Kristina Reflects Challenge Struggles 42:43 Kristina's Family Names Jury Question 44:39 Kristina Explains Vote For Sophi 46:52 Missed Opportunity With Sophi Segretti 48:03 Sharing Vulnerable Moments With Viewers 49:46 Unseen Nate Vote Strategic Move 51:18 Reward Decision Wasn't For Strategy 52:28 Uncle Jeff Catchphrase Speculation 53:56 Kristina's Social Game Reflections To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Sam Phalen Survivor 49 Finale Reactions Today, Rob Cesternino and Survivor 47’s Sam Phalen break down the Survivor 49 finale. The Survivor 49 finale was packed with drama, unexpected moves. Rob Cesternino and Sam Phelan discuss it all. Savannah emerged as a unique and dynamic winner, combining challenge wins with honest, straightforward gameplay. Unlike many winners before her, Savannah's approach was focused and unapologetic, leading the trio of herself, Rizzo, and Soph to dominate much of the late game. Rob and Sam discuss: How Savannah's clutch challenge wins and alliance management secured her victory. Sage's emotional journey and her reaction to the jury's reception. The final Tribal Council, including a throwback moment when Christina asked Savannah to name loved ones of jurors. Rizzo's creative idol bluffing and speculation about how his game might evolve in Survivor 50. The upcoming Survivor 50 was teased, featuring legendary returning players, celebrity cameos, and new twists from Billie Eilish, Zac Brown, Jimmy Fallon, and Mr. Beast. Stay tuned as Survivor enters its next chapter—with returning favorites, twists, and celebrity cameos. There's so much more Survivor coverage and community fun ahead, right here on RHAP! To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com This episode is sponsored by 20th Century Studios and their new film Send Help. Send Help is directed by Sam Raimi and stars Rachel McAdams and Bradly Preston in a thrilling, darkly twisted survival story that only Sam Raimi could bring to life. Experience the suspense on the big screen — Send Help is only in theaters and in 3D starting January 20th! Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Know-It-Alls: Survivor 49 Finale Recap Survivor Know-It-Alls is back as Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach dig into all the drama and gameplay twists from Survivor 49. Rob and Stephen break down the intense dynamics after the Survivor 49 finale, highlighting everything from Savannah's strategic dominance to Rizzo's risky idol antics. The hosts go deep on how pre-season spoilers about tribe assignments and possible winners shaped gameplay and perception all season long. In this episode, Rob and Stephen dissect Savannah's journey from being the social hub of her tribe to clutching immunity wins when she needed them most. They talk through Rizzo's creative use of the idol and how it played with both the jury and the audience. Stephen weighs in on Sage's difficult road as a middle player, comparing her final jury struggles to Dawn's classic Survivor heartbreak. The hosts also debate the importance of challenging the edit, jury management, and the “must-win” immunity stat, exploring how Survivor 49's players navigated new era twists and emotional voting blocks. – Savannah's climb to the top as a loyal alliance leader – The fallout from Rizzo's idol strategy and aftershow moments – Sage's tough final tribal and the perils of playing the middle – The debate over physical challenge wins and their timing – Survivor 49's most memorable “villain energy” moments As the dust settles on Survivor 49, Rob and Stephen explore whether the new era's gameplay is all about loyalty or if underdogs can still pull off a win. Chapters: 0:00 Survivor 49 Finale Breakdown Begins 6:30 Spoilers Impact Winner Perception 11:05 Importance of Must-Win Immunities 14:35 Social Game Influences Crucial Votes 17:37 Fire Making Contest Anxiety Discussed 22:01 Survivor After Show Criticisms Raised 29:01 New Era Winner Rankings Debated 32:26 Savannah's Multi-Stage Game Highlighted 34:52 Sage's Emotional Jury Response Explored 39:35 Final Tribal Council Tactics Examined 42:52 Comparing Savannah and Past Winners 44:46 Survivor 50 Twist Reactions Surface 52:26 Speculating on Celebrity Involvement Impact 58:27 Fifty-State Immunity Idol Launch 1:01:31 Potential Themes for Future Seasons 1:12:20 Jury Segment: Improving Survivor Storytelling 1:17:01 Which Players Will Return Next? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com To pre-order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com To request a limited edition Escape! map, email proof of hardcover pre-order (within the US) to escapefishbach@gmail.com with the subject line MAP. Previous hardcover pre-orders are also eligible! Buy tickets for Stephen's book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

The Best Things About Survivor 49 Survivor 49 takes center stage as Rob Cesternino and Mike Bloom dig into the twists, cast shake-ups, and most memorable moments from a season that refused to play it safe. With a focus on what really worked in Survivor 49, Rob and Mike look back at the season's biggest format shifts, including the return of two-tribe swaps, the end of “mergatory,” and smarter journey twists that gave players more choices and fewer automatic penalties. This is the episode for fans interested in re-examining the wild moves and standout personalities that defined Survivor's 49th outing. Rob and Mike start by revisiting the game's structural changes, pointing out the excitement—and occasional frustration—surrounding the double tribe swaps, more fluid gameplay, and meaningful opportunities for castaways to interact. They take a closer look at the cast's breakout stars, especially Rizzo, Sage, Jawan, Savannah, Soph, and Kristina, discussing how their alliances, rivalries, and emotional moments shaped the season’s narrative. The hosts break down Rizzo's clever idol maneuvers, Sage's surprising strategic game, the legendary Sage-Shannon handshake standoff, and the snake bite incident, each giving Survivor 49 its unpredictable flavor. Along the way, Rob and Mike highlight confessional gold, wild challenge wins, and the messiest Tribal Councils—exploring the unique tone and gameplay choices that separated this season from the rest. – Two-tribe swaps and bold format changes set the tone for an unpredictable merge – Rizzo's idol play—fake and real—sparked chaos and kept everyone guessing – Sage's rivalry with Shannon produced one of the season's most talked-about confrontations – The emotional beats: Jawan's journey from outsider to power player and Kristina's heartfelt challenge moment – Uli tribe's strong edit and core alliance, shifting post-merge dynamics, and underdog breakthroughs Will the twists and cast chemistry of Survivor 49 inspire future format experiments, or do the highs and lows serve as a cautionary tale? Can Rizzo's inventive approach or Sage's emotional gameplay become the new Survivor blueprint? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Holiday Spirit and Survivor Reflections 6:09 Highlighting Survivor 49's Format Changes 14:34 Swaps Reshape Tribe Dynamics 18:48 Mergatory Finally Removed This Season 24:43 Journeys Mechanic: New Direction 34:03 Uli Tribe's Standout Cast Members 44:09 Sage and Jawan's Power Shift 54:06 Savannah's Tenacity and Confidence 1:05:13 Blue Sophi's Underrated Strategic Moves 1:13:54 Rizzo's Puzzle Comeback Victory 1:15:12 Real Danger: Jake's Snake Bite 1:21:05 Sage Versus Shannon Showdown 1:25:40 Blindside Chaos at Tribal Council 1:36:05 Survivor 49's Unusual Place in History 1:40:03 Finale Predictions and Jury Dynamics Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

The Best Things About Survivor 49 Survivor 49 takes center stage as Rob Cesternino and Mike Bloom dig into the twists, cast shake-ups, and most memorable moments from a season that refused to play it safe. With a focus on what really worked in Survivor 49, Rob and Mike look back at the season's biggest format shifts, including the return of two-tribe swaps, the end of “mergatory,” and smarter journey twists that gave players more choices and fewer automatic penalties. This is the episode for fans interested in re-examining the wild moves and standout personalities that defined Survivor's 49th outing. Rob and Mike start by revisiting the game's structural changes, pointing out the excitement—and occasional frustration—surrounding the double tribe swaps, more fluid gameplay, and meaningful opportunities for castaways to interact. They take a closer look at the cast's breakout stars, especially Rizzo, Sage, Jawan, Savannah, Soph, and Kristina, discussing how their alliances, rivalries, and emotional moments shaped the season’s narrative. The hosts break down Rizzo's clever idol maneuvers, Sage's surprising strategic game, the legendary Sage-Shannon handshake standoff, and the snake bite incident, each giving Survivor 49 its unpredictable flavor. Along the way, Rob and Mike highlight confessional gold, wild challenge wins, and the messiest Tribal Councils—exploring the unique tone and gameplay choices that separated this season from the rest. – Two-tribe swaps and bold format changes set the tone for an unpredictable merge – Rizzo's idol play—fake and real—sparked chaos and kept everyone guessing – Sage's rivalry with Shannon produced one of the season's most talked-about confrontations – The emotional beats: Jawan's journey from outsider to power player and Kristina's heartfelt challenge moment – Uli tribe's strong edit and core alliance, shifting post-merge dynamics, and underdog breakthroughs Will the twists and cast chemistry of Survivor 49 inspire future format experiments, or do the highs and lows serve as a cautionary tale? Can Rizzo's inventive approach or Sage's emotional gameplay become the new Survivor blueprint? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Holiday Spirit and Survivor Reflections 6:09 Highlighting Survivor 49's Format Changes 14:34 Swaps Reshape Tribe Dynamics 18:48 Mergatory Finally Removed This Season 24:43 Journeys Mechanic: New Direction 34:03 Uli Tribe's Standout Cast Members 44:09 Sage and Jawan's Power Shift 54:06 Savannah's Tenacity and Confidence 1:05:13 Blue Sophi's Underrated Strategic Moves 1:13:54 Rizzo's Puzzle Comeback Victory 1:15:12 Real Danger: Jake's Snake Bite 1:21:05 Sage Versus Shannon Showdown 1:25:40 Blindside Chaos at Tribal Council 1:36:05 Survivor 49's Unusual Place in History 1:40:03 Finale Predictions and Jury Dynamics Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Welcome back to Escaping Reality! We are one episode away from the S49 finale, and honestly it can't get here soon enough (derogatory). Join us as we discuss Rizzo milking his idol for allll it's worth, the audience being blindsided, and what we are looking forward to in the finale (spoiler alert, not a ton). Plus we have our usual vibe checks for Jeff, Castaways of the Week, and Rapid Fires. Be sure to give us a follow on Instagram @EscapingRealityPod, and on Twitter @EscRealityPod. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave us a rating/review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify! Make sure to tell your friends about the pod so they can join you (and us) on our journey through reality competition shows. As always, thanks for listening & thanks for Escaping Reality with us.

PUNTO G con Guillermina Rizzo 16-12-2025

Purple Pants Podcast: Split The Vote | Survivor 49 Episode 12 | A Strong Margarita Knowledge is power… until it completely backfires. We break down Sophie's failed advantage play, Rizzo's shocking decision to keep his idol, and the Sanctuary reward that quietly locked in the endgame. Was Stephen too big of a threat to survive Final Six? Is a public idol losing its value? And is Savannah officially the challenge beast of the season? Plus: strong margaritas, emotional family letters, savage immunity moments, and our Torchy Award picks.  Tap in for strategy, chaos, and endgame predictions as we head into the finale. You can also watch along on Brice Izyah’s YouTube channel to watch us break it all down https://youtube.com/channel/UCFlglGPPamVHaNAb0tL_s7g LISTEN: Subscribe to the Purple Pants podcast feed  WATCH: Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT: Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Previously on the Purple Pants Podcast Feed: Purple Pants Podcast Archives

Purple Pants Podcast: Split The Vote | Survivor 49 Episode 12 | A Strong Margarita Knowledge is power… until it completely backfires. We break down Sophie's failed advantage play, Rizzo's shocking decision to keep his idol, and the Sanctuary reward that quietly locked in the endgame. Was Stephen too big of a threat to survive Final Six? Is a public idol losing its value? And is Savannah officially the challenge beast of the season? Plus: strong margaritas, emotional family letters, savage immunity moments, and our Torchy Award picks.  Tap in for strategy, chaos, and endgame predictions as we head into the finale. You can also watch along on Brice Izyah's YouTube channel to watch us break it all down https://youtube.com/channel/UCFlglGPPamVHaNAb0tL_s7g Previously on the Purple Pants Podcast Feed:Purple Pants Podcast Archives LISTEN: Subscribe to the Purple Pants podcast feed WATCH: Watch and 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

Michael Rizzo of ESPN West Palm joins me to preview Steelers-Dolphins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shauhin Davari Recaps Survivor 49 Ep 12 Survivor 49 is reaching its breaking point, and Rob Cesternino teams up with Survivor 48's Shauhin Davari for a recap of the penultimate episode. With the finale days away, Rob and Shauhin spotlight the rapidly-shifting alliances, dramatic advantage plays, and emotional reward moments that have shaped the hurricane of strategy at camp. Every move matters as players like Sophi, Savannah, and Rizzo jockey for position on their way to Tribal Council. Rob and Shauhin dissect Sophi's high-tension Knowledge Is Power play, debating whether her shot at flipping the game came just a bit too late. Rizzo's idol theatrics spark major debate, with Shauhin providing insight into the bluffing and social reads that let him slip through more than one dangerous vote. The duo weighs Savannah's clutch challenge wins, and how being a physical force keeps her in the spotlight (and on everyone's target list). Plus, the impact of the loved ones letter reward leads to an honest take on how family support shifts players' motivations and endgame plans. Key topics include: – Sophi's Knowledge Is Power moment: was it bold enough to change her fate? – Rizzo's inventive idol strategy and what it reveals about social perception – Savannah's immunity run and why it drives the final five's vote calculus – The evolving bonds between Sophi, Savannah, and Rizzo – Real parallels between Shauhin's Survivor journey and this season's emotional crossroads This episode leaves one big question: Can Savannah and Rizzo stay one step ahead, or will a last-minute flip topple the power balance right before day 26? Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:31 Sophi’s Crucial Idol Decision 13:36 Emotional Impact of Family Reward 20:49 Social Bonds Shape Jury Perceptions 27:41 Comparing Savannah and Joe’s Paths 34:01 Savannah's Direct Communication Examined 43:40 Powerful Family Stories Emerge 50:30 Savannah and Rizzo's Unbreakable Alliance 53:13 Sophi's Knowledge Is Power Downfall 59:14 Clutch Immunities Shift Endgame Odds 1:07:31 Sage's Authentic Moves Analyzed 1:14:10 Seasons for New Survivor Fans 1:18:44 Survivor Deepens Family Connections 1:29:16 Reading Nonverbal Cues on Survivor 1:32:29 Survivor 49's Unique Win Conditions 1:39:00 Who Shauhin Would Work With 1:57:52 Final Reflections on Survivor 49 To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Manta Sleep. Summertime is officially here! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and while all that extra daylight can feel energizing, it can quietly sabotage your sleep. Later sunsets disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. Manta Sleep is here to help. Whether you're blocking out daylight or tuning out the sounds of summer nights, taking control of your sleep environment helps you get deep, restorative rest, no matter how long the sun stays up. To take advantage of 10% off your first order, visit https://tinyurl.com/2nsptcy3 or go to www.mantasleep.com and use promo code RHAP49 Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Shauhin Davari Recaps Survivor 49 Ep 12 Survivor 49 is reaching its breaking point, and Rob Cesternino teams up with Survivor 48's Shauhin Davari for a recap of the penultimate episode. With the finale days away, Rob and Shauhin spotlight the rapidly-shifting alliances, dramatic advantage plays, and emotional reward moments that have shaped the hurricane of strategy at camp. Every move matters as players like Sophi, Savannah, and Rizzo jockey for position on their way to Tribal Council. Rob and Shauhin dissect Sophi's high-tension Knowledge Is Power play, debating whether her shot at flipping the game came just a bit too late. Rizzo's idol theatrics spark major debate, with Shauhin providing insight into the bluffing and social reads that let him slip through more than one dangerous vote. The duo weighs Savannah's clutch challenge wins, and how being a physical force keeps her in the spotlight (and on everyone's target list). Plus, the impact of the loved ones letter reward leads to an honest take on how family support shifts players' motivations and endgame plans. Key topics include: – Sophi's Knowledge Is Power moment: was it bold enough to change her fate? – Rizzo's inventive idol strategy and what it reveals about social perception – Savannah's immunity run and why it drives the final five's vote calculus – The evolving bonds between Sophi, Savannah, and Rizzo – Real parallels between Shauhin's Survivor journey and this season's emotional crossroads This episode leaves one big question: Can Savannah and Rizzo stay one step ahead, or will a last-minute flip topple the power balance right before day 26? Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:31 Sophi’s Crucial Idol Decision 13:36 Emotional Impact of Family Reward 20:49 Social Bonds Shape Jury Perceptions 27:41 Comparing Savannah and Joe’s Paths 34:01 Savannah's Direct Communication Examined 43:40 Powerful Family Stories Emerge 50:30 Savannah and Rizzo's Unbreakable Alliance 53:13 Sophi's Knowledge Is Power Downfall 59:14 Clutch Immunities Shift Endgame Odds 1:07:31 Sage's Authentic Moves Analyzed 1:14:10 Seasons for New Survivor Fans 1:18:44 Survivor Deepens Family Connections 1:29:16 Reading Nonverbal Cues on Survivor 1:32:29 Survivor 49's Unique Win Conditions 1:39:00 Who Shauhin Would Work With 1:57:52 Final Reflections on Survivor 49 To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Manta Sleep. Summertime is officially here! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and while all that extra daylight can feel energizing, it can quietly sabotage your sleep. Later sunsets disrupt your body's natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. Manta Sleep is here to help. Whether you're blocking out daylight or tuning out the sounds of summer nights, taking control of your sleep environment helps you get deep, restorative rest, no matter how long the sun stays up. To take advantage of 10% off your first order, visit https://tinyurl.com/2nsptcy3 or go to www.mantasleep.com and use promo code RHAP49 Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

We break down Survivor 49, Episode 12 (“The Die Is Cast”) and the chaos of a vote that should have been simple, but somehow turned into an all time head scratcher. We talk Rizzo's elite bluffing, Savannah's challenge run, and Sophie's decision to reveal Knowledge Is Power. Plus, we get into why this season feels like a throwback villain era, and why that has us even more hyped for Survivor 50.00:00 Intro and why this vote is making everyone mad01:20 The edit “knows it's crazy” and the foreshadowing chatter03:23 Sophie's Twitter explanation and why it makes it worse06:06 Why Rizzo and Savannah feel like classic Survivor villains07:16 Survivor 50 hype and why the cast will not see Season 49 first09:32 The episode setup, Sophie's options, and the trio's confidence12:14 Stephen's block a vote reveal and the fear of rocks12:53 Reward challenge breakdown and the Mexican feast details17:24 Savannah wins reward and picks Rizzo and Sophie18:07 Letters from home, “Trust the Trois,” and Sophie reveals Knowledge Is Power23:53 Immunity challenge recap and Savannah's third individual win27:25 The target becomes Sophie, while Rizzo sells the “must play idol” story31:03 Tribal Council lines drawn and advantage vs advantage tension32:22 Knowledge Is Power gets played, and Stephen calmly shuts it down34:14 The votes land and Stephen goes home37:05 Final thoughts heading into the finaleRizzo's “idol expires tonight” bluff is the kind of long con that controls an entire round.Savannah keeps stacking wins, and her endurance edge is becoming the story of the endgame.Sophie revealing Knowledge Is Power locks in the trio's endgame, for better or worse.Stephen's block a vote twist (played before tribal) changes how players can plan and bluff.Sage and Christina flipping burns a possible lifeline and hands the power right back to the majority.This season is landing because it finally feels like we have real villains again, not just strategic edits.“I'm happy my favorite player survived… I'm so mad at stupid players.”“How the hell have these two terrible players gotten this far?”“Hate him or love him, he is a Survivor player. Like the old days.”“The side that comes out on top of this vote might control the rest of the game.”“Suffering builds character.”If you enjoyed this recap, make sure you're subscribed so you do not miss our finale breakdown. Ratings and reviews help a ton, and sharing the episode with a fellow Survivor fan is the easiest way to support the show. Post your thoughts and tag us with #OutlastPodcast.We post and reference Survivor news and updates on the Geek Freaks Podcast website, and it is the source of all news discussed on our podcast.Follow the Outlast Podcast on Twitter (Outlast Podcast 1), and keep up with the Geek Freaks Network on Instagram, Threads, Facebook, Patreon, and Twitter for clips and episode drops.Got a finale prediction, a hot take, or a “how did they not see that” moment you need to rant about? Send it to us on social and we may read it on the next episode.Timestamps And TopicsKey TakeawaysQuotesCall To ActionLinks And ResourcesFollow UsListener Questions

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

Wir alle nutzen sechs Kommunikationskanäle, oft tun wir das unbewusst. Sabrina Rizzo beherrscht sie alle – kulturübergreifend. In der heutigen Episode beschreibt sie, wie wir diese Kanäle erkennen und einsetzen können, um Gespräche erfolgreicher zu gestalten. Sabrina Rizzo ist eine der bekanntesten Verhandlungs- und Verhaltensexpertinnen Deutschlands. Sie zeigt uns, wie wir Kommunikation durch echtes Verstehen bewusster steuern können. Ein Ansatz, der besonders in Gesprächen und Verhandlungen, bei Konflikten und in Change-Situationen eine enorme Wirkkraft ermöglicht. Wie herausfordernd es sein kann, sich im Gespräch mit Sabrina „ganz normal“ zu verhalten, hat Andrea im Gespräch direkt zu spüren bekommen. Ein Podcast, nach dem man sich ganz automatisch selbst beobachtet. Über Sabrina Rizzo: Sabrina Rizzo ist Polizeicoach, Kriminal-Profiling-Spezialistin, erfolgreiche Speakerin, Dozentin und Autorin. Ihr aktuelles Buch, das „Rizzo-Konzept“ verspricht, dass man „…durch die erlernten Beobachtungstechniken und die Rückschlüsse, die man aus dem Gesehenen ziehen kann, den Gesprächspartner entschlüsseln und so souverän, fokussiert und zielorientiert verhandeln kann.“

Exit Interview: Sixth Juror on Survivor 49 Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron. Survivor 49 is back with Rob Cesternino leading an in-depth Exit Interview after one of the wildest Tribal Councils of the season. Rob is joined by Steven Ramm, known as the rocket scientist, who shares his firsthand account of what went wrong when the votes suddenly flipped against him. This episode dives deep into trust, shifting alliances, and one big plan that unraveled just when Steven thought he was safe. Rob and Steven break down all the chaotic events after Immunity, including the confusion over the “Knowledge is Power” advantage and the shocking moment when Sage and Kristina chose to betray Steven. Listeners get an insider perspective on the signs of betrayal Steven noticed, why he stuck with his original plan, and how Survivor's unpredictable alliances can change the game in an instant. Steven recounts the uneasy feeling he got when Kristina and Sage had secret beach discussions without him—setting off alarm bells. Rob asks Steven to reflect on whether playing his advantage actually put a bigger target on his back, and if not having it could have kept him in the game. Steven reveals why he didn't trust Yellow Sophi after being lied to, and instead saw Savannah as a more reliable, if dangerous, ally. The duo explores how Rizzo's idol theatrics might have annoyed the jury and why Steven didn't see Rizzo as a big endgame threat from his vantage point on the island. Steven opens up about the complexity of working with allies who didn't always seem to “play basketball the same way,” and how missed connections led to his blindside. Heading into the finale, Rob and Steven weigh whether the tight alliances on the other side have made it impossible for underdogs to make a comeback. Will loyalty hold strong, or is another shocking blindside around the corner? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:32 Tribal Council Betrayal Revealed 12:28 Alliance Loyalty Questioned 15:08 Space Fact Missed Opportunity 17:24 TWISH Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Know-It-Alls: Survivor 49 Ep 12 Recap Survivor Know-It-Alls is back as Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach dive into Survivor 49's wild final six episode! The game takes a major turn with blindsides, emotional rewards, and strategic blunders, as the castaways fight for a shot at the million dollar prize. One reward pick changes everything, and no one sees the vote coming—even the hosts admit they were truly blindsided. This week's episode centers on the impact of the loved ones' letters reward, where Savannah chooses Sophi B. to join her at the sanctuary as they share tacos and heartfelt moments. That pick proves to be a pivotal decision, shutting down Sophi B.'s chance to pull off a game-defining move with her “Knowledge is Power” advantage. Meanwhile, Rizzo continues to fool his fellow players about the true power and timing of his idol, sneaking through yet another vote. Sage's transformation from emotional gameplay to hard-nosed strategy catches everyone by surprise, as she targets threats over allies. Tribal Council is chaotic, with misreads and a stunning outcome that leaves the jury shocked. – Sophi B.'s dilemma after the reward and her wavering between loyalty and making a big move – Rizzo's clever idol misinformation lets him skate into the final five – Sage's shift to strategic voting and how Rob and Stephen debate its impact – Savannah's reward choice forges strong bonds and shapes the voting outcome – Kristina's unfiltered reaction and “sloppy ally” status As the finale approaches, will Sophi B. bounce back, or has she lost her winner equity? Who can stop Savannah's immunity run, and will Rizzo's inventive gameplay finally catch up to him? Expect fire, strategy, and heartbreak as Survivor 49 barrels toward its endgame. To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com To pre-order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com To request a limited edition Escape! map, email proof of hardcover pre-order (within the US) to escapefishbach@gmail.com with the subject line MAP. Previous hardcover pre-orders are also eligible! Buy tickets for Stephen's book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:15 Emotional Impact of Loved Ones 13:00 Most Legitimate Viewer Blindside Ever 18:10 Savannah’s Reward Decision Shifts Outcome 25:00 Rizzo Tricks Tribe About Idol 33:01 Sophi Misses Game-Winning Idol Move 39:00 Fate of Savannah-Rizzo Duo Debated 46:40 Unanimous Vote Stuns Podcast Hosts 56:00 Sage's Risky Move Gets Fishy Award 1:01:10 Survivor Finale Preview And Farewell Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Know-It-Alls: Survivor 49 Ep 12 Recap Survivor Know-It-Alls is back as Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach dive into Survivor 49's wild final six episode! The game takes a major turn with blindsides, emotional rewards, and strategic blunders, as the castaways fight for a shot at the million dollar prize. One reward pick changes everything, and no one sees the vote coming—even the hosts admit they were truly blindsided. This week's episode centers on the impact of the loved ones' letters reward, where Savannah chooses Sophi B. to join her at the sanctuary as they share tacos and heartfelt moments. That pick proves to be a pivotal decision, shutting down Sophi B.'s chance to pull off a game-defining move with her “Knowledge is Power” advantage. Meanwhile, Rizzo continues to fool his fellow players about the true power and timing of his idol, sneaking through yet another vote. Sage's transformation from emotional gameplay to hard-nosed strategy catches everyone by surprise, as she targets threats over allies. Tribal Council is chaotic, with misreads and a stunning outcome that leaves the jury shocked. – Sophi B.'s dilemma after the reward and her wavering between loyalty and making a big move – Rizzo's clever idol misinformation lets him skate into the final five – Sage's shift to strategic voting and how Rob and Stephen debate its impact – Savannah's reward choice forges strong bonds and shapes the voting outcome – Kristina's unfiltered reaction and “sloppy ally” status As the finale approaches, will Sophi B. bounce back, or has she lost her winner equity? Who can stop Savannah's immunity run, and will Rizzo's inventive gameplay finally catch up to him? Expect fire, strategy, and heartbreak as Survivor 49 barrels toward its endgame. To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com To pre-order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com To request a limited edition Escape! map, email proof of hardcover pre-order (within the US) to escapefishbach@gmail.com with the subject line MAP. Previous hardcover pre-orders are also eligible! Buy tickets for Stephen's book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:15 Emotional Impact of Loved Ones 13:00 Most Legitimate Viewer Blindside Ever 18:10 Savannah’s Reward Decision Shifts Outcome 25:00 Rizzo Tricks Tribe About Idol 33:01 Sophi Misses Game-Winning Idol Move 39:00 Fate of Savannah-Rizzo Duo Debated 46:40 Unanimous Vote Stuns Podcast Hosts 56:00 Sage's Risky Move Gets Fishy Award 1:01:10 Survivor Finale Preview And Farewell Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Exit Interview: Sixth Juror on Survivor 49 Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron. Survivor 49 is back with Rob Cesternino leading an in-depth Exit Interview after one of the wildest Tribal Councils of the season. Rob is joined by Steven Ramm, known as the rocket scientist, who shares his firsthand account of what went wrong when the votes suddenly flipped against him. This episode dives deep into trust, shifting alliances, and one big plan that unraveled just when Steven thought he was safe. Rob and Steven break down all the chaotic events after Immunity, including the confusion over the “Knowledge is Power” advantage and the shocking moment when Sage and Kristina chose to betray Steven. Listeners get an insider perspective on the signs of betrayal Steven noticed, why he stuck with his original plan, and how Survivor's unpredictable alliances can change the game in an instant. Steven recounts the uneasy feeling he got when Kristina and Sage had secret beach discussions without him—setting off alarm bells. Rob asks Steven to reflect on whether playing his advantage actually put a bigger target on his back, and if not having it could have kept him in the game. Steven reveals why he didn't trust Yellow Sophi after being lied to, and instead saw Savannah as a more reliable, if dangerous, ally. The duo explores how Rizzo's idol theatrics might have annoyed the jury and why Steven didn't see Rizzo as a big endgame threat from his vantage point on the island. Steven opens up about the complexity of working with allies who didn't always seem to “play basketball the same way,” and how missed connections led to his blindside. Heading into the finale, Rob and Steven weigh whether the tight alliances on the other side have made it impossible for underdogs to make a comeback. Will loyalty hold strong, or is another shocking blindside around the corner? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Intros 6:32 Tribal Council Betrayal Revealed 12:28 Alliance Loyalty Questioned 15:08 Space Fact Missed Opportunity 17:24 TWISH Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

This week Natalie is home and joins the pod as we kick off the holiday season! We talk the definitive version of the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol. Find out why this movie musical tells the tale but with Muppet magic and bops to boot! @downstageleftpc downstageleftpc@gmail.com

“No Cheeses for us Meeces” The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992) Directed by Brian Henson and starring Michael Caine, The Great Gonzo, Kermit the Frog and Rizzo the Rat Next Time: The Best of 2025

As we close out another fantastic, record-breaking year filled with one accomplishment after another for us — which included new sponsorships, new underwriters and new listeners — we wanted to focus on what is most important to us other than searching out the truth.We wanted to take some special time to recognize you, our listeners for your “TSL” (time spent listening) to us throughout this past year.We thank you for another fantastic year of growth and achievements and express our appreciation for your wonderful engagement and your role in helping us grow to 147 countries globally as we close out Season 6.Most podcasts never make it this far.We never thought this kind of success would be something that we could attain, and we were never concerned about our growth at the inception of this project.Initially we set out to tell the truth about topics of importance in the U.S. criminal justice system — and look what it has become! We have been able to advocate for so many people.The corporate plan is to take the remainder of the year off to rest and recover and enjoy some quality time with our families (returning on either January 3rd or the 10th 2026).We then will begin the process for Season 7 of Light 'Em Up where we strive to achieve new goals and break even more records with the reach of our podcast.We are adding a new Listener Support Program whereby our most loyal and dedicated listeners can now take a financial interest in seeing that this program continues.We have labored tirelessly to dig deep, vast and wide to bring you a special insight that you really won't find anywhere else regarding the U.S. criminal justice system.We're loyal, consistent and dedicated to you, our listeners.  We are truly here for you and because of you!Our commitment to you here on Light 'Em Up is that we've endeavored to tackle real topics that touch your daily lives.We've worked tirelessly to try to be the "voice of the people".Please consider joining our Criminal Justice Foundation Justice Rolls Down and its page found on Facebook as well as our worldwide presence on YouTube at:  Rizzo's Protective Group.Here is our complete catalogue.  Here is our last full-length episode of the year regarding the concept and legality of governmental extra-judicial killings — summarily executing people. Extrajudicial killing is the deliberate killing of a person without legal authority from a judicial process.Thank you to Feedspot — online at Feedspot.com as we are featured in their top 50 poll of the 50 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link: 50 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts You Must Follow in 2025 (feedspot.com)And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.We look forward to you joining us in 2026!Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad & Happy Hanukkah and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to each and every one of our listeners.We want to hear from you!We want to hear from you!Support the show

Frank and Shirley break down Survivor 49, episode 11, “Cherry on Top,” where the game finally forces everyone to admit who can actually win at the end. They dig into Steven's brutal but brilliant journey, why the new spinning disc challenge felt too forgiving, and how the main alliance continues to keep control while everyone else gets stuck in emotional revenge mode instead of strategic play.00:00 – 03:30 | First Impressions And That “Too Easy” Challenge03:30 – 08:45 | Julian's Exit, Christina's Idol Regret, And Sage vs SophieThe tribe returns stunned after Julian's blindside. Christina wrestles with wasting her idol, Sophie tries to repair things with Christina, Steven, and Sage, and the hosts unpack why Sage's anger is aimed squarely at Sophie instead of Savannah.08:45 – 16:30 | Steven's Journey And A Smartly Upgraded AdvantageSteven takes on one of the most physically demanding journeys of the season, scrambling around the island before the tide cuts him off. Frank and Shirley break down the block a vote advantage, why telling a partial truth about it may have been genius, and how the chickens on the loose moment shows Jeff and production having more fun with the game.16:30 – 23:30 | Spaghetti Feast, Rizzo's Pitch, And The Real Power StructureSteven wins reward, chooses Christina and a starving Rizzo for pasta night, and the three talk strategy. Rizzo frames Sophie as the biggest threat, but Christina quietly prefers taking out Savannah while she is finally vulnerable. The hosts lay out why the “power three” of Savannah, Rizzo, and Sophie are still miles ahead of everyone else in terms of résumé.23:30 – 28:30 | Emotions vs Strategy And The Road To TribalBack at camp, the minority players talk about targeting Steven, Savannah, or Sophie, but personal feelings start to override logic. Frank and Shirley compare Sage's revenge driven focus on Sophie to earlier emotional decisions, argue that no one can currently beat Savannah or Rizzo at final tribal, and sketch the path the outliers should be taking if they want a shot.28:30 – 34:30 | Tribal Council Theater, A Clean Sophie Vote, And An Idol Still In A PocketAt tribal, Sage is still raw over Jason's exit, Sophie gives a cold but accurate “this is for a million dollars” answer, and Jeff pushes everyone on challenge threats, revenge votes, and jury perception. The votes land fully on Sophie while Rizzo once again keeps his idol in his pocket, which drives Frank and Shirley up the wall as they explain how easily the group could have flushed it.34:30 – 37:00 | Savannah's TikTok Reveal, Season 50 Talk, And Final ThoughtsFrank plays Savannah's TikTok where she reveals that her “strong dislike” moment with Christina at tribal was a planned performance to lull Sophie into a false sense of security. The hosts close with Facebook fan reactions, On Fire insights about returning players and Ponderosa rules, a little hype for Survivor 50, and a reminder to drop those five star reviews.“This challenge felt a little too easy. With the old wobbly table, you always had that chaos at the end.”“That journey might have been the best one they have done. There was real cost, not just a lost vote but being absolutely wiped out for the challenge.”“Sage is playing from a place of hurt, not strategy, and that is exactly what Savannah and Rizzo want.”“You cannot sit next to Savannah or Rizzo at the end and expect to win on gameplay alone.”“How is Rizzo's idol still in his pocket? At this point it is almost a running joke.”If you enjoyed this breakdown of Survivor 49's “Cherry on Top,” make sure you follow the show, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share the episode with a fellow Survivor fan. Use #OutlastPodcast when you post so Frank and Shirley can find your takes and maybe shout them out on a future episode.

Exit Interview: Fifth Juror on Survivor 49 Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron. Survivor 49's final seven exit interview takes center stage as Rob Cesternino sits down with Sophie Segretti to unravel one of the most dramatic blindsides of the season. Rob explores Sophie's perspective being off the radar early on to suddenly becoming the unifying target for two rival alliances. Rob opens the interview by spotlighting Sophie's unique journey through Survivor 49: after flying under the radar, she emerged as a key strategic player whose moves drew the attention of both warring factions at Tribal Council. Sophie describes her genuine shock at being unanimously voted out, connecting the blindside to her close bond and fallout with Sage. She explains the critical decision to vote out Jawan, believing her relationship with Sage was her biggest asset, yet recognizing, too late, that her choice may have sparked Sage's determination for revenge. Listen in for these standout moments and Survivor insights: – Sophie's reaction to becoming the rare player taken out by two opposing groups working together – The emotional and strategic ripple effect from voting out Jawan instead of Sage – Why Sophie chose to stick with Savannah and Rizzo, balancing the numbers in alliances – How lack of information-sharing from one group contrasted with Savannah's open gameplay – Steven's pivotal immunity win sealing Sophie's fate as the only viable target As Rob and Sophie break the episode down, they consider: Did trusting Sage cost Sophie her game? How much do alliances depend on sharing secrets and advantages at crunch time? And what does this vote signal for future blindsides as Survivor 49 hurtles toward the finale? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Sophie's Unanimous Blindside Explained 6:16 Sage Relationship Becomes Double-Edged Sword 9:43 Learning the Truth Post-Episode 12:33 Soph Navigates Shifting Alliances 14:22 Reflections on MC Vote Flip 18:12 TWISH Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Exit Interview: Fifth Juror on Survivor 49 Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron. Survivor 49's final seven exit interview takes center stage as Rob Cesternino sits down with Sophie Segretti to unravel one of the most dramatic blindsides of the season. Rob explores Sophie's perspective being off the radar early on to suddenly becoming the unifying target for two rival alliances. Rob opens the interview by spotlighting Sophie's unique journey through Survivor 49: after flying under the radar, she emerged as a key strategic player whose moves drew the attention of both warring factions at Tribal Council. Sophie describes her genuine shock at being unanimously voted out, connecting the blindside to her close bond and fallout with Sage. She explains the critical decision to vote out Jawan, believing her relationship with Sage was her biggest asset, yet recognizing, too late, that her choice may have sparked Sage's determination for revenge. Listen in for these standout moments and Survivor insights: – Sophie's reaction to becoming the rare player taken out by two opposing groups working together – The emotional and strategic ripple effect from voting out Jawan instead of Sage – Why Sophie chose to stick with Savannah and Rizzo, balancing the numbers in alliances – How lack of information-sharing from one group contrasted with Savannah's open gameplay – Steven's pivotal immunity win sealing Sophie's fate as the only viable target As Rob and Sophie break the episode down, they consider: Did trusting Sage cost Sophie her game? How much do alliances depend on sharing secrets and advantages at crunch time? And what does this vote signal for future blindsides as Survivor 49 hurtles toward the finale? To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com Chapters: 0:00 Sophie's Unanimous Blindside Explained 6:16 Sage Relationship Becomes Double-Edged Sword 9:43 Learning the Truth Post-Episode 12:33 Soph Navigates Shifting Alliances 14:22 Reflections on MC Vote Flip 18:12 TWISH Never miss a minute of RHAP's extensive Survivor coverage! LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed WATCH:  Watch and subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

The guys cover a slew of topics, closely to loosely baseball-related - from an oddly-named Stranger Things character, to that ridiculous White Sox prospect jersey we saw in 2019, to an epic story about Jeremy and a package. Plus a follow up on the Rizzo autograph story from last week.

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 the Vulgarian National Anthem, the Fat One presents additional entries into the “Win Bacon”s Money” contest, natters about the quiz programs and ends with a little sad news. Happy National French Toast Day.

On this Outlast Podcast, We break down Survivor 49, Episode 10, “Huge Dose of Bamboozle.” We dig into how the core trio continues to run the game like an old school alliance, why Rizzo's fake idol play might be the moment he tips into overconfidence, and how Savannah's extra vote turns tribal council into a brutal blindside.We also spend time on Christina's emotional journey, from opening up about her mom's passing with Jeff at the challenge to pushing through a brutal balance beam that tests her physically and mentally. From there, we talk about Sophie's immunity win, the shifting target on Savannah and Steven, and how everyone's “resume” is starting to define who feels safe and who should be terrified.To wrap up, we look ahead to what the preview sets up for Sophie and Sage, touch on the “On Fire” podcast reactions, and call out some wild fake news floating around Survivor Facebook about Mike White.00:00 – 02:00Thanksgiving talk, family Survivor chat, and why this season feels different from last season's Joe and Ava storyline.02:00 – 06:30The trio's dominance, Rizzo's fake idol performance at tribal, and whether he's slipping into dangerous overconfidence.06:30 – 11:30Christina's grief, Jeff asking her to talk about her mom, and how Survivor has shifted into a more compassionate, human-focused show.11:30 – 17:30Reward challenge at the Sanctuary: burgers, hot dogs, chocolate cake, wild new obstacles, and Christina's huge moment on the balance beam.17:30 – 21:30Hunger, exhaustion, and how gaunt everyone looks back at camp; Rizzo's guilt, Joanne trying to keep morale up, and the emotional wall the cast is hitting.21:30 – 26:00Immunity challenge breakdown, the rice offer, why nobody is taking food deals in the new era, and how the 26-day game can still feel harsher than the old 39-day format.26:00 – 30:30Idols and advantages everywhere: flushing Christina and Rizzo's power, Savannah's extra vote, and whether Sophie should flip to a new alliance while playing to the jury.30:30 – 35:30Tribal council fireworks: Rizzo's fake idol show, Christina playing her real idol for Steven, Savannah's extra vote, and Joanne's blindside exit.35:30 – 37:30Next-episode preview, favorite winner picks (Sophie and Christina), Facebook fake news about Mike White, “On Fire” takeaways, and closing thoughts.Christina's grief over her mom adds real emotional weight to the episode, especially during her conversation with Jeff and her grind through the reward challenge.Sophie goes from under-edited to essential, winning immunity and sliding into a key strategic position between the trio and the floaters.Savannah's extra vote is used perfectly to flip the script at tribal and send Joanne home in a clean blindside.The shortened 26-day era is still brutal, with players visibly starving and emotionally raw by the back half of the game.Trust is crumbling everywhere: idols are hidden, information is weaponized, and even close allies openly talk about blindsides as “expected.”Social media and “On Fire” with Jeff Probst are now part of the meta-game, shaping how fans and even players look at moves like Rizzo's fake idol and the rice offers.“You have to assume a lot of people are lying. Even in your alliance, you can't take anything at face value this deep in the game.”“Some of the best Survivor moments are when someone everyone doubts digs in and proves they belong in that challenge.”“If everything feels too good to be true at tribal, you should probably expect a blindside.”“Christina might not win, but getting to the end with that story would still be huge.”“The trio is so confident in their control that they're putting on a show for the jury while everyone else is just trying to survive.”Stay connected with Outlast and the Geek Freaks Network:Outlast on Twitter: @OutlastPodcast1

Looking for daily inspiration?  Get a quote from the top leaders in the industry in your inbox every morning.   Every year, millions of attraction visitors lose hours in line instead of making memories. Since its inception, accesso's virtual queuing has saved more than 4.5 billion minutes of wait time, freeing guests to pack their day with more rides, eats, and excitement. The result? Happier guests who spend more and a better bottom line for you. Ready to turn waits into wins? Visit accesso.com/ROIClinic. The queues are virtual. The results are real. Tyler Rizzo is the Vice President of Finance at COTALAND. Growing up in Central Florida, he got his start in attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa, then earned a hospitality management degree at UCF's Rosen College before moving from front-of-house operations into analytics at SeaWorld, revenue analytics at Cedar Fair, and leadership roles spanning analytics and food and beverage. He later consulted at Storyland Studios on pre-concept through opening projects. Today, he's helping launch COTALAND in Austin, a dense 30-acre park with about 30 rides built alongside Circuit of the Americas, home to the F1 United States Grand Prix. In this interview, Tyler talks about bridging finance and operations, not chasing expensive pennies, and avoiding the doom spiral. Bridging finance and operations “I've kind of always treated it like an improv group; you never say no.” Tyler explains that finance succeeds when it partners with operators rather than policing them. He emphasizes open lines of communication, involving department heads in decisions, and never blindsiding colleagues with a spreadsheet they've never seen. He also stresses getting into the field, noting how proximity to the park at SeaWorld helped finance teams “walk the walk,” hear guests on rides, and translate spreadsheet cells into real experiences. That frontline credibility matters. Having carried a radio and worked the fryer, he says operators trust guidance from someone who has lived their constraints. Seasonality, hours of operation, and the realities of running rides and restaurants don't always show up in a model. By pairing operational tacit knowledge with analytics, Tyler builds plans that are both tight on paper and resilient in practice. Not chasing expensive pennies “I've had multiple times throughout my career where we chased expensive pennies.” Tyler cautions against over-correcting for small losses without weighing the bigger picture. He uses examples like shrink in retail or food waste in fries: quantification is essential, but so is the cost-benefit analysis of fixes. If moving T-shirts indoors to cut theft chokes visibility and sales, or new security costs exceed the recovered margin, the “savings” are illusory. He extends this thinking to the industry's top- versus bottom-line focus. Cutting hours or labor can protect a quarter, but erode perceived value and long-term revenue. He contrasts firms that invest in people and guest experience with those making knee-jerk reductions, arguing that sustainable performance comes from meeting or exceeding value expectations, not just trimming expense lines. Avoiding the doom spiral “The easy button is to absolutely reduce hours, reduce labor, those start to become expensive pennies though when you're losing your core market.” When attendance dips, slashing staffing may seem prudent, but Tyler warns it can trigger a negative loop: thinner teams degrade service, which depresses visits further. His advice is to evaluate and realign the product's value proposition to what guests expect in that market, then execute consistently over time rather than relying on short-term cuts. He notes this discipline is hardest when micro results are choppy, yet it's precisely when conviction matters. Whether for a single FEC or a multi-park operator, recovery hinges on a clear multi-year plan rooted in core hospitality, supported by data, and adapted through continuous testing of operating models, pricing, and offerings without sacrificing the guest experience.   To learn more about COTALAND, visit cotaland.com. To reach Tyler directly, connect with him on LinkedIn. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our faaaaaantastic team:   Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas   To connect with AttractionPros: AttractionPros.com AttractionPros@gmail.com AttractionPros on Facebook AttractionPros on LinkedIn AttractionPros on Instagram AttractionPros on Twitter (X)

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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? 

It's a State Championship Friday on Murph & Andy! Legendary Iowa sports broadcaster Zippo Rizzo returns with an epic call of MMCRU clinching the title in Class A. It's senior days in Ames and Iowa City as both teams sit at 6-4. Plus, Scott School, What's Bugging You, and a fun MORE to send you into the weekend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank and Shirley break down Survivor Season 49 Episode 9, “If You're Loyal to All, You're Loyal to None.” They dig into Rizzo's sharpest strategic episode yet, how he pulls Sophie into his orbit, and why the tribe keeps letting his idol stay in play. Savannah's endurance run continues, making her feel more and more like a lock for the endgame. Along the way, they talk about Christina's reward sacrifice for Joanne, how that kindness plays in modern Survivor, and why Alex's middle-game finally catches up to him. The back half turns into fun Survivor meta: how edits and fan perception have changed over the years, career “secrecy” in the game, and early buzz for Season 50, including a huge premiere and special CBS lead-in programming.Timestamps and Topics00:00 Intro, Shirley joins the recap, early praise for Rizzo01:00 Standout moments and why reward negotiations are underused02:20 Christina's kindness and what her reward sacrifice says about her game03:00 Savannah vs Sophie endurance battles and Parvati era comparisons03:45 How Survivor edits and fan attitudes have evolved over time05:10 Post-merge fallout, Sophie alienated, and Rizzo's trio solidifies07:20 Bottoms Up Alliance talk, idol intel, and the push to target Sophie10:35 Reward challenge play by play and Christina gives Joanne her spot15:20 Camp strategy: Savannah vs Rizzo as the real threat, and vote-splitting logic18:45 Career secrets, Savannah as a news anchor, and casting wish list talk22:10 Immunity challenge, Stephen's “space facts,” and Savannah's clutch win26:15 Pre-tribal scramble, Rizzo makes Alex public enemy number one30:20 Tribal council themes, idol mind games, and the vote outcome34:30 Favorites, Facebook theories, Season 50 hype, and On Fire behind-the-scenes notes40:35 Final thoughts and sign-offKey TakeawaysRizzo graduates from “good at challenges” to full-on strategist, and this episode shows why he's headed to Season 50.Savannah keeps winning the exact kind of endurance immunities that matter late-game, giving her a strong path to the finale.Christina giving up the reward for Joanne is a heartfelt move, but it also highlights how generosity can be both social capital and a possible target.The tribe's refusal to flush Rizzo's idol is baffling and could cost them the game.Alex's attempt to play both sides works until it doesn't. Once his scrambling becomes visible, the group has an easy excuse to cut him.Sophie is in a tricky free-agent spot, weighing short-term safety with Rizzo and Savannah against the risk of being alienated again.Season 50 chatter is heating up, with a long premiere on the way and CBS planning a ramp-up of classic episodes tied to returning players.Quotes“There's a reason he's in 50.”“Every conversation counts. Every move.”“I'm not out here performing. I'm a good person.”“The 4D chess version is taking them out in a neutral way so they're your cheerleader, not your jury.”“This is what I get for playing both sides.”Call to ActionIf you enjoyed the recap, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss next week. A quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify helps a ton. And if you're sharing the episode, tag us with #OutlastPodcast so we can shout you out.Links and ResourcesGeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed on the show.Follow UsFacebook: Geek Freaks PodcastInstagram: @geekfreakspodcastThreads: @geekfreakspodcastTwitter: @geekfreakspodPatreon: Patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastOutlast Podcast on Twitter: @OutlastPodcast1Listener QuestionsGot a take on the episode, a theory for the endgame, or a topic you want us to hit next week? Send it our way on social, and we'll bring the best ones into a future episode.Apple Podcast TagsSurvivor, Survivor 49, reality TV recap, Outlast Podcast, Geek Freaks Podcast, CBS Survivor, Survivor strategy, TV discussion, pop culture podcast, competition reality shows

Show Open and one last check on the gameday weather with Gary RizzoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could analyze every metabolite, glycan variant, and unknown impurity in your bioprocess sample—not just the targets you're looking for, but everything that's actually there? Cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy combined (CIRIS) with AI-powered analysis transforms untargeted screening from aspiration to reality.This episode moves from fundamental principles to practical applications. While Part 1 established how CIRIS overcomes mass spectrometry's structural limitations, Part 2 reveals what becomes possible when you can definitively identify complex mixtures: better mAb characterization, earlier disease detection, and process decisions based on complete data rather than educated guesses.Professor Tom Rizzo returns to discuss Isospec Analytics' path from laboratory innovation to commercial service platform. His transition from academic leadership at EPFL to biotech entrepreneurship offers insights for any scientist considering whether breakthrough research deserves a startup—and what that journey actually requires.For bioprocess scientists drowning in unidentified peaks, struggling with glycan heterogeneity, or making critical manufacturing decisions with incomplete analytical data, this conversation demonstrates how next-generation analytics powered by quantum chemistry and machine learning can illuminate what's been hidden in your samples all along.Episode Highlights:Why targeted metabolomics creates a "streetlight effect"—and how untargeted CIRIS analysis reveals the complete molecular landscape (00:00)Isomer-specific glycan characterization for mAbs: distinguishing structural variants that impact efficacy and immunogenicity (03:17)Advanced disease detection and biomarker discovery: identifying diagnostic signatures in complex biological matrices (05:21)AI meets quantum chemistry: automated spectral library building and machine learning algorithms that accelerate molecule identification from hours to seconds (06:05)From data generation to decision-making: how comprehensive analytics and AI transform bioprocess development workflows (09:23)Isospec's commercial roadmap: service platform for comprehensive sample analysis and projected timeline for benchtop instrumentation (10:09)Academic to entrepreneur: Tom Rizzo's perspective on leaving tenure for a startup, with practical advice for scientists evaluating the leap (12:05)Personal motivation behind early diagnostics: cancer and leukemia experiences that drive Isospec's clinical applications (14:11)Technical deep dive: messenger tagging methodology and achieving single-ion infrared detection sensitivity (15:41)The transformative capability: adding a structural dimension to mass spec data that eliminates ambiguity in complex mixture analysis (17:55)Mass spectrometry tells you what masses are present. Cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy tells you what molecules they actually are. When coupled with AI-powered analysis, this combination enables truly comprehensive characterization—from process impurity identification to critical quality attribute assessment to early disease biomarker discovery.If you're making bioprocess decisions with incomplete analytical information, managing glycan complexity in biologics development, or exploring how emerging analytical technologies could solve your toughest characterization challenges, this episode provides both the technical foundation and the commercial pathway forward.

Jack and Jeremy are back this week to talk about the MLB award winners, new manager and coaching hires, Jeremy's Joey Cora and Lance Johnson signing, the HOF ballot, and the upcoming Chicago Sports Spectacular card show this weekend in Rosemont, IL! Jack hatches a plan to try to track down Rizzo and Ross, Jeremy talks about his mom meeting Mike Singletary, and the guys go on and on about all the players they want to get at the card show. Catch back up with the pod this week!

What if you could identify every structural variant in your biologics—without ambiguity, without massive sample requirements, and without the guesswork that plagues traditional mass spectrometry? Cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy (CIRIS) makes it possible, transforming molecular characterization from frustrating puzzle to precise science.Today's guest, Professor Tom Rizzo, bridges the gap between academic innovation and industrial application. As former Dean of the School of Basic Sciences at EPFL in Lausanne and now Chief Scientific Officer at Isospec Analytics, Tom has spent over two decades developing analytical techniques that solve problems conventional methods can't touch.His journey from a childhood fascination sparked by chemistry demonstrations at the 1964 New York World's Fair to pioneering a breakthrough technology reveals both the persistence required for true innovation and the pathway from laboratory curiosity to commercial reality. For bioprocess scientists struggling with glycan characterization, isomer identification, or any structural puzzle where mass spec alone falls short, this conversation offers both validation and solutions.Episode Highlights:The fundamental limitations of current biomolecular analysis methods and why innovation is critical (02:51)From World's Fair chemistry demos to laser spectroscopy: Tom Rizzo's path to analytical innovation (03:31)The two-decade quest to combine mass spectrometry sensitivity with laser spectroscopy precision—and the machine that finally made it work (04:26)Why Tom transitioned from academic leadership to Isospec Analytics: bringing lab techniques to production environments (09:17)CIRIS fundamentals: how cooling ions to 10 Kelvin unlocks molecular fingerprints that room-temperature methods miss (11:14)CIRIS advantages for biologics: single-ion sensitivity, isomer discrimination, and unique molecular "fingerprints" for definitive identification (14:25)Integrating CIRIS into existing bioprocess workflows: LC-MS compatibility and the path to commercial instrumentation (17:29)Hard-won lessons from translating academic breakthroughs into industrial tools (17:43)When mass spectrometry hits its limits—distinguishing isomers, characterizing glycans, identifying unknowns in complex mixtures—cryogenic infrared ion spectroscopy provides the structural resolution you need. This isn't incremental improvement; it's a fundamental expansion of what's analytically possible.If you're facing molecular identification challenges that conventional methods can't solve, or if you're curious how next-generation analytical techniques will transform bioprocess development, this episode delivers actionable insights from a scientist who's lived both the innovation and implementation journey.Connect with Tom Rizzo:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-rizzo-4a0a6314/Contact email: tom@isospec.chIsospec Analytics website: www.isospecanalytics.comNext step:Book a 20-minute call to help you get started on any questions you may have about bioprocessing analytics: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

In this Outlast Podcast episode, Frank and Shirley break down Survivor 49, episode 8, "Hot Grim Reaper." Coming off Nate's blindside, they look at how Rizzo and Savannah go from the bottom to calling the shots, all while holding idols and advantages that completely reshape the vote.They talk through John and Sage's surprising rise to power, Mickey's missteps, Christina's new idol, and why production twists are creating both great TV and brutally unfair outcomes. Frank and Shirley also react to Savannah's emotional backstory, the grueling endurance challenge, the chaotic tribal that sends Mick to the jury, and how early jury makeup and representation are being noticed by fans and players.00:00 Intro, Nate's exit, and setting up "Hot Grim Reaper"02:00 Rizzo and Savannah on the bottom, John cashing in his social game04:00 Missy's idol play fallout and the trust gap with Sage and Joanne05:30 Production twists, split tribals, and whether the game is being over-engineered07:10 Savannah's work story, emotional backstory, and how it changes how people see her12:40 Challenge teams, the brutal endurance setup, and who struggles first15:30 Christina's fall, Sophie's grind, Savannah's locked-in focus, and the big win18:45 Winners feast, Savannah's extra vote twist, and how everything shifts when she walks in20:15 Sophie's strategic mistake, Mick's social game, and Joanne caught in the middle23:00 Rizzo's pitch to flip the vote onto Mick and keep both advantages in play26:30 Tribal council live scrambling, pitches from Mick and Sophie, and last-minute whispering29:30 Mick joins the jury, what kind of juror she and Nate will be, and representation concerns32:30 How everyone's favorites are doing, Facebook fan reactions, and social vs strategic play35:00 On Fire with Jeff notes, behind the scenes challenge talk, and next week's previewRizzo and Savannah go from clear targets on the bottom to holding power with an idol and an extra vote, without burning either one.John's long term social game finally pays off, as he starts using all of those relationships he quietly built earlier in the season.Missy's "unnecessary" idol play becomes a major sticking point for Sage and Joanne, even though it was a defensible move from a fan's perspective.Production twists and split tribals make for tense TV, but Frank and Shirley question how often they unfairly wreck otherwise solid positions.Christina finds a clean immunity idol, but promising to play it for others becomes its own strategic risk.Savannah's vulnerable story about a harsh work environment adds emotional depth and changes how players and viewers see her.The endurance challenge highlights different coping strategies, from prayer and ritual to quiet mental toughness, with Savannah outlasting Sophie at the end.Sophie over-sharing her plan with Mick blows up her own spot and reshapes the vote, proving again that sometimes silence is the best strategy.Rizzo's read that Mick has a bigger social "web" than Sophie shows why he is such a dangerous late-game player.Mick's move to the jury, alongside Nate, sets up a smart, analytical jury rather than an emotional one, which could be huge for the eventual finalists.If you enjoy our Survivor 49 recaps, make sure to subscribe to the Outlast Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Leave us a five star review so more Survivor fans can find the show, and share this episode with your tribe using the hashtag #OutlastPodcast.All news and coverage mentioned across the Geek Freaks Network can be found at GeekFreaksPodcast.com, the home base for our geek and reality TV content.Stay connected with Outlast and the Geek Freaks Network:Outlast on Twitter: @OutlastPodcast1Follow, like, and share to help the community grow between episodes.Apple Podcasts TagsSurvivor 49, Survivor Season 49, Survivor 49 Hot Grim Reaper, Survivor recap podcast, Outlast Podcast, Geek Freaks Network, reality TV recap, Survivor

Original Episode Transcript Follows:Stephanie Hansen:Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, a lot of cookbook authors, manufacturers, and people who are doing cool things with food. And Ashley Russell came across my desk, and she has a cookbook that's called “What's Cooking Good Looking”. And I was first of all, captured by the illustrations in the book you are working on or have. They were very. How do I describe them? They were like tattoos. They were adorable, and they are original art by @sadpuppytattoo. When Ashley describes the banana bread of her grandmas, she was generous enough to share the recipe here.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Tell me about the book and how you decided to illustrate it the way you did. And then I wanted to talk to you specifically about self publishing a book, because I think a lot of people think about it, but they're not sure how to do it. So I just wanted to get your feedback.Ashley Russell:Totally. So I started this book inspired by my grandma. She passed away in 2024, summer of 2024. And it was almost immediate, was like, we have to have all the family has to have our recipes. And so she had a really cute little vintage recipe card box, and the whole process just sort of unfolded over the past year and a half. It is definitely a lot of Southern cooking. She's from Texas, but lived the past 30 years up in northern Washington. And her and my mom and her siblings lived all over the country.So there's just a little bit of everything in there from, like, recipes she got from neighbors or things that she learned from different parts of the country. So it's a really fun, like, eclectic mix of American cooking. And it's just so much her. Like, there's sugar and everything, and it's just. I'm so happy to have all of the family favorites in one place. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Did you work with members of the family, or was it primarily. Did it fall on you to compile everything?Ashley Russell:I definitely compiled everything, but my family was there every step of the way. Like, my grandma wrote in cursive, and I couldn't always read it.Stephanie Hansen:A lot of our grandmas wrote in cursive, and it is hard to read.Ashley Russell:It's so hard to read. And so we started this text group, and I would be like, does anyone know what this says? And then also things like vegetable oil or sweet milk or, you know, polio olio. Exactly. What is that?Stephanie Hansen:It's shortening. But, I mean, nobody knew.Ashley Russell:Nobody knew. And so it was a lot of just, like, you know, there were puzzles to it, and it was funny, and it brought us together and it kept us talking about her. And then, in addition to the community that I reached out to here in Portland, all My family members helped recipe test because it's like they remembered how it was supposed to taste. So it was almost like, you know, I think that this is missing this because she didn't write everything down. Like, a lot of things lived in her head.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Did you ever done this before or anything like this? Do you. What's your background?Ashley Russell:No. So I worked for a decade in costume design. I worked on a lot of small budget indie film and tv. And so I think I'm used to like, okay, we have this big hurdle of a project ahead. But I've never, I've never written a book. I've never written a cookbook. And the whole process was such a journey, but it, it was all so much fun, I think, because I was like learning and uncovering things about my family along the way. Yeah.Ashley Russell:So.Stephanie Hansen:Well, the creative process too, I think, is. Know you talk about being a costume designer. I didn't really think about writing a cookbook or recipes or being a recipe developer as a creative endeavor until I kind of started doing it more. And then I was like, oh, yeah, this does require creativity. And this is where that, where I scratch that itch.Ashley Russell:Yes, totally. I agree with that. It is super creative. And I never realized that either. I have a few cookbooks, but in this process, it made me realize, like, what little magical creative books they are and how much, you know, there's people's dreams and they nourish us and they're little windows into different parts of history and people's lives and they're just pretty cool. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:And people talk about like, I'm, I'm in the process of. I just released a book in September, so I'm out at bookstores and grocery stores and selling the book everywhere. And a lot of people are like, oh, you know, nobody really needs cookbooks anymore. And I was like, well, actually, you can always look up a recipe on the Internet that's there, but the narrative, the piece of how that fits into their life, the memory that that recipe brings or that combination of spices that transports you to a place that is what is unique about a cookbook. It's. It's so much more than just the recipe. And if you're not jazzed by any of that, then, yeah, it's probably not for you.Ashley Russell:Totally. Yes. Like, you have to be inspired by it. Right. And like, I don't know, I get pretty annoyed with recipes online. There's a ton of pop ups and your phone, you know, has the auto timer and it has to face ID every two minutes. I. It's just when you have it in a cookbook, it's almost like the record version of like a Spotify song.I don't know, like, you sure? Yeah, yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Like, and you can get a song but you don't have it in the context of all the songs in the record and that the artist had. Yeah, it's very similar, actually.Ashley Russell:Totally. And like, people love listening to records and collecting records and I really just think it's, it's, it's a similar. Comes from a similar place.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Okay. So your book, what's Cooking Good Looking? It is a spiral bound, which I thought was an interesting choice that I want to ask you about. And it's also got these illustrations. Did you illustrate it or did someone else? They're real cute. They're like tattooed inspired and they're kind of jazzy and it kind of. It had like a hipster core vibe to it.Ashley Russell:Yes. So my boyfriend's brother's sister, so more or less my sister in law. I've known her for six years now. She's a tattoo artist and she does a lot of florals and she did like a food flash at one point. And I've always loved her art. And when I was first starting the book, I was in Canva and I was like, oh, clip art's cute. And I was like, you know, I don't know if I would ever release a book with clip art in it, you know, And I wasn't sold on doing photography. I knew how specific and it had to be.Ashley Russell:Like, people have nailed food photography. If I was going to do it, I wanted to make sure it rocked. And so I asked her one day, I was like, would you want to illustrate this book? And she was like, oh my God, yes. And her tattoos are in black and white already. So it kind of, it transferred pretty easily into print form. And so I was able to use all of her tattoo library, like things she had already drawn. And then she drew things specifically for the book as well. And I just think it looks awesome.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it really does. It's real sweet. And what about the choice of spiral bound? And can you talk, can you make that be the introduction of talking about like how you decided to self publish and did you go out and try to find agents or did you go right to self publishing?Ashley Russell:Sure. So I in the past couple years have been really inspired by Rizzo prints and graphic novels and a lot of small press publishing and super inspired by vintage cookbooks. And a lot of them are spiral bound or they're notebook bound. And it's. It's kind of like, it gives it this retro feel, and it's kind of an homage to all of, like, the women's groups and church groups that did cookbooks over the decades. But I also think it's super functional in the kitchen. And I had a graphic design friend mention to me that she loves when a spiral bound is a color that totally offsets the book. So my book is, like, very black and white and yellow, and then it has this bright red spiral binding.And I just think it makes it pop. Like, it's. It's fun and practical. So as far as self publishing. So when I started this, it was really just a project for my family. It was really just, you know, I wanted them to have all the recipes. I. I wasn't even sure if I was going to print it.And as the process unfolded more, I realized more and more that I wanted to make this a book. And I wanted to put my heart in this book. And I wanted to share who Wanda and our family is with the world. And it really was just like a flower slowly blooming. Like, every week would be like, oh, I have to put the ingredients in the order of the method. Oh, you have to do this. Oh, people like, you know, like, you want everything in a recipe on one page. You don't want to have to, like, go back and forth.And it became this really fun project puzzle for me to be like, maybe I can create a cookbook. And so I didn't reach out to agents or anything, because I think the main important part was for this book to be about my grandma and come from me. And I was worried that having an agent or a publisher might dilute that a little bit.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, they'd have feedback or input or change things. Sure.Ashley Russell:Yeah. So I was able to work with a lot of friends, family, and get a lot of feedback throughout the entire process. I hired an editor, and so there was that constructive criticism, but I didn't feel like the voice or the vision was changing for profit, per se. And so self publishing is what I stuck with. And I think that in order for me to print this book the way I wanted to and for it to look the way it does, I don't know if I could have convinced a publisher to get on board with that.Stephanie Hansen:So then you make that decision and you've got your book assembled or your PDF pages, essentially. Did you tell me about, like, did you go out and just Google, like, how to self publish? Did you figure out, like, how to print on Demand was there color considerations. Kind of walk me through that process a little bit.Ashley Russell:Sure. So I did start looking up print on demand and I started Googling, you know, how to write a cookbook. I listened to Maggie Green's podcast Cookbook Love, like, religiously. I got books on the subject, and I really just created, like, it was my own research project. And I was learning as I went. What turned me away from doing, like, on demand printing or online publishing was that I really wanted it to be spiral bound. I knew that from the beginning almost. And I really wanted to do a mixture of Rizzo printing.Ashley Russell:And I wanted the paper. I just wanted everything to be really high quality and feel like her note cards, feel like her recipe cards. And I didn't think I would get that with online printing. So I went and talked with a few print shops here in Portland, Oregon, and Brown Printing, like, got the project right away. And I've been working with them for the past several months to get it printed.Stephanie Hansen:Have you. Have you printed, like, X amount and you're kind of selling stock as you go?Ashley Russell:Yeah, So I, you know, budget has been a concern throughout this whole process. Like, anyone who's made a cookbook knows it gets very expensive between recipe testing. And I did end up doing photography. I did it myself. All of those things really add up. And so I did an initial print run of 300, which is almost gone at this point. I just picked it up in the beginning of the month. And Brown's doing another run of.Ashley Russell:Of, 300 for the 1st of December so I can have more for the holidays.Stephanie Hansen:And then do you package them up and ship them when people make an order? Can you talk a little bit about that? Because people don't think about that. But you have to buy, like, special envelopes. You have to go to the post office. There is a category for media mail that makes it a little cheaper, but it's still. It's a process.Ashley Russell:It is a process. Like, every bit of this has been such a process. And so, yeah, my. My limit, I had about 180 orders to ship out when I got all the books from recipe testers. Order, pre-orders, family, you know, you name it. And our whole. Our whole living room and kitchen was just, like, stacked with boxes and you.Stephanie Hansen:And they're bigger than you think.Ashley Russell:Like, they're bigger than you think and they're heavy.Stephanie Hansen:Yes. And a box of like, 15 books is, like, a big box. And they're everywhere.Ashley Russell:They're everywhere. Yeah. So, you know, it's kind of like if you're an Etsy shop owner, you know, kind of our pain, I guess. But, you know, you're doing. You're the manual labor and you're the author and you're the publisher, you know, so you're doing everything. And I lugged them all down to the UPS and USPS and shipped them off. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Where do you go from here with it? Like, you gotta sell through your next 300, obviously. Did this, like, create a pathway for you, or is this where you'll end this journey and just one and done. And it was great.Ashley Russell:Yeah. So when I first started, I had over 300 recipes from the family. And I reached out to my first editor contact and they were like, whoa, that's a lot of recipes. They're like, books are usually like 75 to 150. And I was like, oh. And like now seeing this printed and it's 260 pages, like, I get it. But at the time, I was like, I just wanted to have everything. And so I have at least one other book of Wanda's on the horizon.But for now, I'm really just trying to put myself in. What if I had a publisher? What if I had an agent? What would they be doing? So it's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot of reaching out to retail stores, seeing if I can get an interview on a podcast, trying to put my book out there in ways that I know of and seeing where it lands. I have. There's about seven stores in Portland that are carrying the book right now, and they're all stores I really love. And that's super exciting.Stephanie Hansen:They carry it on consignment or do you sell them to them outright?Ashley Russell:It depends. So a couple are wholesale and a couple are consignment. Wholesale obviously works better for us, but I'm just happy to have the book out there. I think it's a good time of year. You know, she made all these dishes for Thanksgiving and. And Christmas, so it's the. It's the time to have it in your kitchen.Stephanie Hansen:Do you. Can you talk about, like, how much you make per book?Ashley Russell:Sure. So if I'm talking just printing costs to do the 300 with the brown printing and the riso printing I did by hand at outlet PDX, we're looking at about $20 a book. And I have the book priced at 38. So because I'm not splitting this with any publisher or agent, that means technically $20 profit goes back into my pocket. But at this point, we're still paying off all the production costs, and it also doesn't include that dollar amount. Doesn't include, like, my labor. So when you really figure it out, it's probably. Or food.When you really figure out the numbers. This first round probably cost me about $50 a book to make, you know, and then the hope is, over the years, if continuing to sell copies here and there, you break even, or maybe you make a few dollars.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it's. It is kind of like that. As you get, like, past Wanda's story, do you see this being a journey you'll stay on, or is it really just. I'm curious if it ignited something in you because you seem like a creative person.Ashley Russell:Yeah. Like, I've always wanted to be a writer, and it's been pretty daunting. My grandma always encouraged me to be a writer. This feels like that first step. I also like the idea. I've heard a cookbook is, like, the best business card, you know, And I think that's, like, a great way to look at it, too. It's something that I've made that I can say, you know, I wrote this, I've made this. I'd like to do this project.Stephanie Hansen:And fascinating, because that is for. For me personally, I wanted to have agency in the cooking space, and I wasn't. And I wasn't a writer, so I was like, how am I going to get that? I wanted to have a television show. I wanted to do more podcasting, specifically about food. I had a radio show about food, but I needed to have more autonomy, and that's how I started.Ashley Russell:Totally. That makes sense. Did you. Do you feel like that helped achieve some of the dreams you had?Stephanie Hansen:Oh, for sure. I have a TV show now, and I wouldn't have had the TV show if I hadn't have written the cookbook, I don't think.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Because even though I'm a home chef or a home cook and not a chef at all, actually having the book gives you some credibility of why this person's gonna invest in you and put you on television station. 88 markets. I don't think they would have done that if I wouldn't have had the book.Ashley Russell:Totally. And honestly, like, I think being a home chef, you almost write a better cookbook because you can anticipate what other home chefs are going to be confused by or what they need written down.Stephanie Hansen:Well. And a lot of the best chefs, who I have much admiration and respect for, their books are really challenging or technical and. And that's great. Like, maybe that's who they're writing them for. But some of my favorite chefs, I get their books and I keep them because I love the photography and I just admire so much of the skills and what they bring to the party. But very few of them I actually ever cooked out of.Ashley Russell:Yeah, they're like these beautiful aspirations.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, they're aspirational books, for sure.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Can you talk a little bit about Wanda? Just your grandma? Like, you just have a real spirit about you that must come from her. And I'm just curious why she was so meaningful to you outside of just being your grandma.Ashley Russell:Yeah, totally. So I was raised by my mom. It was just me and my mom and I would spend a lot of time with my grandparents. I think when you're set up in that sort of one parent system, I was either going with my mom everywhere or I was spending summers at my grandparents, and those summers at my grandparents. I, I feel like as an adult, I'm sort of chasing that feeling, you know, of, of being, you know.Stephanie Hansen:Really? Yeah. Oh, that's so touching.Ashley Russell:Yeah. I mean, it's true. Whether it's cooking in the kitchen or laughing with my grandpa. You know, my grandma taught me how to sew, and later on in life, I worked in costumes and I used to bake with her, and now I'm making this cookbook. She meant a lot to me. And I know, I know both of them meant so much to our whole family that I don't want, I don't want us to lose that, and I don't want anyone that comes next in our family to not know about it.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Yeah. What a beautiful sentiment. I, I just the I, the what you said, just, I've been chasing that feeling is really. I wrote my book for very similar reasons. You know, my mom had died early of breast cancer, and I wanted to document family recipes. Yeah, just the way you said that was really beautiful, so. Oh, that's so nice.Ashley Russell:I, I, whether or not we're aware of it, that we're, we're kind of doing that right. You know, where's your happy place? What makes you, what brings you happiness? And those memories really do as, as I'm sure other memories for other people do for them.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. All right. Well, I have loved hearing your story. I knew right away when the book came across my desk and you reached out to me directly, I was like, oh, yeah, I do want to talk to her. I want to figure out, like, what inspired her to take this on. Because it is a labor of love, you. Even if, I mean, I don't I've not read a statistic, but like most cookbooks and most cookbook authors are not getting rich by writing cookbooks. They're using it to parlayed into other things.So it's usually not actually a money making endeavor. It's more a creative process and something that you do as a labor of love. And I think a lot of people that love cookbooks may be listening, you know, have wanted to do this. So I wanted to like, really document, like, how did you do it and what did you think about and how did you decide to put it together? When you put your list of recipes together, was it obvious what was going to make it?Ashley Russell:Yeah, you know, it started with what are the family favorites? What, what do we have to have? And then it was with, you know, what turned out really well in recipe testing. And from there, like, you know, the, the, the baking section's over half the book. Yeah. And then it was sort of trying to round out the other sections of the book. Yeah. And they were recipes that could stand the test of time and that people would still want to make and also that my, my grandma would enjoy another favorites. Oh, yeah. So I mean, her banana bread is like, I knew I wanted to start the book with her banana bread and end it with sweet tea.That's my grandma to the core. And then in between, you know, there's so many great home cooked meals, home cooked desserts. She had a famous chocolate pie, famous pecan pie. Her Italian cream cake is to die for. It's like a coconut cake. Um, my aunt Angie, her oldest daughter, said that people used to request that she make that. So that was fun to learn and to put in the book.Stephanie Hansen:And now you know how to make all the things too, or a lot of the things.Ashley Russell:Yes. My family's like, well, I guess you're cooking for Thanksgiving now because you know all of her recipes.Stephanie Hansen:Oh, that's so great. I really enjoyed talking to you. It is Ashley Russell. The book is I wrote the what's Cooking Good Looking? Sorry. It is a really beautiful, fun, different way to approach this topic of cookbooks. And I was really. I'm impressed by what you did and I know your grandma would be, she would love it. She'd be real proud of you.And it's really nice to talk with you and share your story. I'll put a link to the book in the podcast notes and put that all together and hopefully we'll help you sell through your next 300. Ashley.Ashley Russell:Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate it.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it was great. To hear your story and to just spend time with you. Good luck.Ashley Russell:Thanks. Have a good day.Stephanie Hansen:All right. Bye.Ashley Russell:Bye.Stephanie's Dish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe

Original Episode Transcript Follows:Stephanie Hansen:Hello, everybody, and welcome to Dishing with Stephanie's Dish, the podcast where we talk to people in the food space, a lot of cookbook authors, manufacturers, and people who are doing cool things with food. And Ashley Russell came across my desk, and she has a cookbook that's called “What's Cooking Good Looking”. And I was first of all, captured by the illustrations in the book you are working on or have. They were very. How do I describe them? They were like tattoos. They were adorable, and they are original art by @sadpuppytattoo. When Ashley describes the banana bread of her grandmas, she was generous enough to share the recipe here.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Tell me about the book and how you decided to illustrate it the way you did. And then I wanted to talk to you specifically about self publishing a book, because I think a lot of people think about it, but they're not sure how to do it. So I just wanted to get your feedback.Ashley Russell:Totally. So I started this book inspired by my grandma. She passed away in 2024, summer of 2024. And it was almost immediate, was like, we have to have all the family has to have our recipes. And so she had a really cute little vintage recipe card box, and the whole process just sort of unfolded over the past year and a half. It is definitely a lot of Southern cooking. She's from Texas, but lived the past 30 years up in northern Washington. And her and my mom and her siblings lived all over the country.So there's just a little bit of everything in there from, like, recipes she got from neighbors or things that she learned from different parts of the country. So it's a really fun, like, eclectic mix of American cooking. And it's just so much her. Like, there's sugar and everything, and it's just. I'm so happy to have all of the family favorites in one place. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Did you work with members of the family, or was it primarily. Did it fall on you to compile everything?Ashley Russell:I definitely compiled everything, but my family was there every step of the way. Like, my grandma wrote in cursive, and I couldn't always read it.Stephanie Hansen:A lot of our grandmas wrote in cursive, and it is hard to read.Ashley Russell:It's so hard to read. And so we started this text group, and I would be like, does anyone know what this says? And then also things like vegetable oil or sweet milk or, you know, polio olio. Exactly. What is that?Stephanie Hansen:It's shortening. But, I mean, nobody knew.Ashley Russell:Nobody knew. And so it was a lot of just, like, you know, there were puzzles to it, and it was funny, and it brought us together and it kept us talking about her. And then, in addition to the community that I reached out to here in Portland, all My family members helped recipe test because it's like they remembered how it was supposed to taste. So it was almost like, you know, I think that this is missing this because she didn't write everything down. Like, a lot of things lived in her head.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Did you ever done this before or anything like this? Do you. What's your background?Ashley Russell:No. So I worked for a decade in costume design. I worked on a lot of small budget indie film and tv. And so I think I'm used to like, okay, we have this big hurdle of a project ahead. But I've never, I've never written a book. I've never written a cookbook. And the whole process was such a journey, but it, it was all so much fun, I think, because I was like learning and uncovering things about my family along the way. Yeah.Ashley Russell:So.Stephanie Hansen:Well, the creative process too, I think, is. Know you talk about being a costume designer. I didn't really think about writing a cookbook or recipes or being a recipe developer as a creative endeavor until I kind of started doing it more. And then I was like, oh, yeah, this does require creativity. And this is where that, where I scratch that itch.Ashley Russell:Yes, totally. I agree with that. It is super creative. And I never realized that either. I have a few cookbooks, but in this process, it made me realize, like, what little magical creative books they are and how much, you know, there's people's dreams and they nourish us and they're little windows into different parts of history and people's lives and they're just pretty cool. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:And people talk about like, I'm, I'm in the process of. I just released a book in September, so I'm out at bookstores and grocery stores and selling the book everywhere. And a lot of people are like, oh, you know, nobody really needs cookbooks anymore. And I was like, well, actually, you can always look up a recipe on the Internet that's there, but the narrative, the piece of how that fits into their life, the memory that that recipe brings or that combination of spices that transports you to a place that is what is unique about a cookbook. It's. It's so much more than just the recipe. And if you're not jazzed by any of that, then, yeah, it's probably not for you.Ashley Russell:Totally. Yes. Like, you have to be inspired by it. Right. And like, I don't know, I get pretty annoyed with recipes online. There's a ton of pop ups and your phone, you know, has the auto timer and it has to face ID every two minutes. I. It's just when you have it in a cookbook, it's almost like the record version of like a Spotify song.I don't know, like, you sure? Yeah, yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Like, and you can get a song but you don't have it in the context of all the songs in the record and that the artist had. Yeah, it's very similar, actually.Ashley Russell:Totally. And like, people love listening to records and collecting records and I really just think it's, it's, it's a similar. Comes from a similar place.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Okay. So your book, what's Cooking Good Looking? It is a spiral bound, which I thought was an interesting choice that I want to ask you about. And it's also got these illustrations. Did you illustrate it or did someone else? They're real cute. They're like tattooed inspired and they're kind of jazzy and it kind of. It had like a hipster core vibe to it.Ashley Russell:Yes. So my boyfriend's brother's sister, so more or less my sister in law. I've known her for six years now. She's a tattoo artist and she does a lot of florals and she did like a food flash at one point. And I've always loved her art. And when I was first starting the book, I was in Canva and I was like, oh, clip art's cute. And I was like, you know, I don't know if I would ever release a book with clip art in it, you know, And I wasn't sold on doing photography. I knew how specific and it had to be.Ashley Russell:Like, people have nailed food photography. If I was going to do it, I wanted to make sure it rocked. And so I asked her one day, I was like, would you want to illustrate this book? And she was like, oh my God, yes. And her tattoos are in black and white already. So it kind of, it transferred pretty easily into print form. And so I was able to use all of her tattoo library, like things she had already drawn. And then she drew things specifically for the book as well. And I just think it looks awesome.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it really does. It's real sweet. And what about the choice of spiral bound? And can you talk, can you make that be the introduction of talking about like how you decided to self publish and did you go out and try to find agents or did you go right to self publishing?Ashley Russell:Sure. So I in the past couple years have been really inspired by Rizzo prints and graphic novels and a lot of small press publishing and super inspired by vintage cookbooks. And a lot of them are spiral bound or they're notebook bound. And it's. It's kind of like, it gives it this retro feel, and it's kind of an homage to all of, like, the women's groups and church groups that did cookbooks over the decades. But I also think it's super functional in the kitchen. And I had a graphic design friend mention to me that she loves when a spiral bound is a color that totally offsets the book. So my book is, like, very black and white and yellow, and then it has this bright red spiral binding.And I just think it makes it pop. Like, it's. It's fun and practical. So as far as self publishing. So when I started this, it was really just a project for my family. It was really just, you know, I wanted them to have all the recipes. I. I wasn't even sure if I was going to print it.And as the process unfolded more, I realized more and more that I wanted to make this a book. And I wanted to put my heart in this book. And I wanted to share who Wanda and our family is with the world. And it really was just like a flower slowly blooming. Like, every week would be like, oh, I have to put the ingredients in the order of the method. Oh, you have to do this. Oh, people like, you know, like, you want everything in a recipe on one page. You don't want to have to, like, go back and forth.And it became this really fun project puzzle for me to be like, maybe I can create a cookbook. And so I didn't reach out to agents or anything, because I think the main important part was for this book to be about my grandma and come from me. And I was worried that having an agent or a publisher might dilute that a little bit.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, they'd have feedback or input or change things. Sure.Ashley Russell:Yeah. So I was able to work with a lot of friends, family, and get a lot of feedback throughout the entire process. I hired an editor, and so there was that constructive criticism, but I didn't feel like the voice or the vision was changing for profit, per se. And so self publishing is what I stuck with. And I think that in order for me to print this book the way I wanted to and for it to look the way it does, I don't know if I could have convinced a publisher to get on board with that.Stephanie Hansen:So then you make that decision and you've got your book assembled or your PDF pages, essentially. Did you tell me about, like, did you go out and just Google, like, how to self publish? Did you figure out, like, how to print on Demand was there color considerations. Kind of walk me through that process a little bit.Ashley Russell:Sure. So I did start looking up print on demand and I started Googling, you know, how to write a cookbook. I listened to Maggie Green's podcast Cookbook Love, like, religiously. I got books on the subject, and I really just created, like, it was my own research project. And I was learning as I went. What turned me away from doing, like, on demand printing or online publishing was that I really wanted it to be spiral bound. I knew that from the beginning almost. And I really wanted to do a mixture of Rizzo printing.Ashley Russell:And I wanted the paper. I just wanted everything to be really high quality and feel like her note cards, feel like her recipe cards. And I didn't think I would get that with online printing. So I went and talked with a few print shops here in Portland, Oregon, and Brown Printing, like, got the project right away. And I've been working with them for the past several months to get it printed.Stephanie Hansen:Have you. Have you printed, like, X amount and you're kind of selling stock as you go?Ashley Russell:Yeah, So I, you know, budget has been a concern throughout this whole process. Like, anyone who's made a cookbook knows it gets very expensive between recipe testing. And I did end up doing photography. I did it myself. All of those things really add up. And so I did an initial print run of 300, which is almost gone at this point. I just picked it up in the beginning of the month. And Brown's doing another run of.Ashley Russell:Of, 300 for the 1st of December so I can have more for the holidays.Stephanie Hansen:And then do you package them up and ship them when people make an order? Can you talk a little bit about that? Because people don't think about that. But you have to buy, like, special envelopes. You have to go to the post office. There is a category for media mail that makes it a little cheaper, but it's still. It's a process.Ashley Russell:It is a process. Like, every bit of this has been such a process. And so, yeah, my. My limit, I had about 180 orders to ship out when I got all the books from recipe testers. Order, pre-orders, family, you know, you name it. And our whole. Our whole living room and kitchen was just, like, stacked with boxes and you.Stephanie Hansen:And they're bigger than you think.Ashley Russell:Like, they're bigger than you think and they're heavy.Stephanie Hansen:Yes. And a box of like, 15 books is, like, a big box. And they're everywhere.Ashley Russell:They're everywhere. Yeah. So, you know, it's kind of like if you're an Etsy shop owner, you know, kind of our pain, I guess. But, you know, you're doing. You're the manual labor and you're the author and you're the publisher, you know, so you're doing everything. And I lugged them all down to the UPS and USPS and shipped them off. Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Where do you go from here with it? Like, you gotta sell through your next 300, obviously. Did this, like, create a pathway for you, or is this where you'll end this journey and just one and done. And it was great.Ashley Russell:Yeah. So when I first started, I had over 300 recipes from the family. And I reached out to my first editor contact and they were like, whoa, that's a lot of recipes. They're like, books are usually like 75 to 150. And I was like, oh. And like now seeing this printed and it's 260 pages, like, I get it. But at the time, I was like, I just wanted to have everything. And so I have at least one other book of Wanda's on the horizon.But for now, I'm really just trying to put myself in. What if I had a publisher? What if I had an agent? What would they be doing? So it's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot of reaching out to retail stores, seeing if I can get an interview on a podcast, trying to put my book out there in ways that I know of and seeing where it lands. I have. There's about seven stores in Portland that are carrying the book right now, and they're all stores I really love. And that's super exciting.Stephanie Hansen:They carry it on consignment or do you sell them to them outright?Ashley Russell:It depends. So a couple are wholesale and a couple are consignment. Wholesale obviously works better for us, but I'm just happy to have the book out there. I think it's a good time of year. You know, she made all these dishes for Thanksgiving and. And Christmas, so it's the. It's the time to have it in your kitchen.Stephanie Hansen:Do you. Can you talk about, like, how much you make per book?Ashley Russell:Sure. So if I'm talking just printing costs to do the 300 with the brown printing and the riso printing I did by hand at outlet PDX, we're looking at about $20 a book. And I have the book priced at 38. So because I'm not splitting this with any publisher or agent, that means technically $20 profit goes back into my pocket. But at this point, we're still paying off all the production costs, and it also doesn't include that dollar amount. Doesn't include, like, my labor. So when you really figure it out, it's probably. Or food.When you really figure out the numbers. This first round probably cost me about $50 a book to make, you know, and then the hope is, over the years, if continuing to sell copies here and there, you break even, or maybe you make a few dollars.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it's. It is kind of like that. As you get, like, past Wanda's story, do you see this being a journey you'll stay on, or is it really just. I'm curious if it ignited something in you because you seem like a creative person.Ashley Russell:Yeah. Like, I've always wanted to be a writer, and it's been pretty daunting. My grandma always encouraged me to be a writer. This feels like that first step. I also like the idea. I've heard a cookbook is, like, the best business card, you know, And I think that's, like, a great way to look at it, too. It's something that I've made that I can say, you know, I wrote this, I've made this. I'd like to do this project.Stephanie Hansen:And fascinating, because that is for. For me personally, I wanted to have agency in the cooking space, and I wasn't. And I wasn't a writer, so I was like, how am I going to get that? I wanted to have a television show. I wanted to do more podcasting, specifically about food. I had a radio show about food, but I needed to have more autonomy, and that's how I started.Ashley Russell:Totally. That makes sense. Did you. Do you feel like that helped achieve some of the dreams you had?Stephanie Hansen:Oh, for sure. I have a TV show now, and I wouldn't have had the TV show if I hadn't have written the cookbook, I don't think.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Because even though I'm a home chef or a home cook and not a chef at all, actually having the book gives you some credibility of why this person's gonna invest in you and put you on television station. 88 markets. I don't think they would have done that if I wouldn't have had the book.Ashley Russell:Totally. And honestly, like, I think being a home chef, you almost write a better cookbook because you can anticipate what other home chefs are going to be confused by or what they need written down.Stephanie Hansen:Well. And a lot of the best chefs, who I have much admiration and respect for, their books are really challenging or technical and. And that's great. Like, maybe that's who they're writing them for. But some of my favorite chefs, I get their books and I keep them because I love the photography and I just admire so much of the skills and what they bring to the party. But very few of them I actually ever cooked out of.Ashley Russell:Yeah, they're like these beautiful aspirations.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, they're aspirational books, for sure.Ashley Russell:Yeah.Stephanie Hansen:Can you talk a little bit about Wanda? Just your grandma? Like, you just have a real spirit about you that must come from her. And I'm just curious why she was so meaningful to you outside of just being your grandma.Ashley Russell:Yeah, totally. So I was raised by my mom. It was just me and my mom and I would spend a lot of time with my grandparents. I think when you're set up in that sort of one parent system, I was either going with my mom everywhere or I was spending summers at my grandparents, and those summers at my grandparents. I, I feel like as an adult, I'm sort of chasing that feeling, you know, of, of being, you know.Stephanie Hansen:Really? Yeah. Oh, that's so touching.Ashley Russell:Yeah. I mean, it's true. Whether it's cooking in the kitchen or laughing with my grandpa. You know, my grandma taught me how to sew, and later on in life, I worked in costumes and I used to bake with her, and now I'm making this cookbook. She meant a lot to me. And I know, I know both of them meant so much to our whole family that I don't want, I don't want us to lose that, and I don't want anyone that comes next in our family to not know about it.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. Yeah. What a beautiful sentiment. I, I just the I, the what you said, just, I've been chasing that feeling is really. I wrote my book for very similar reasons. You know, my mom had died early of breast cancer, and I wanted to document family recipes. Yeah, just the way you said that was really beautiful, so. Oh, that's so nice.Ashley Russell:I, I, whether or not we're aware of it, that we're, we're kind of doing that right. You know, where's your happy place? What makes you, what brings you happiness? And those memories really do as, as I'm sure other memories for other people do for them.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah. All right. Well, I have loved hearing your story. I knew right away when the book came across my desk and you reached out to me directly, I was like, oh, yeah, I do want to talk to her. I want to figure out, like, what inspired her to take this on. Because it is a labor of love, you. Even if, I mean, I don't I've not read a statistic, but like most cookbooks and most cookbook authors are not getting rich by writing cookbooks. They're using it to parlayed into other things.So it's usually not actually a money making endeavor. It's more a creative process and something that you do as a labor of love. And I think a lot of people that love cookbooks may be listening, you know, have wanted to do this. So I wanted to like, really document, like, how did you do it and what did you think about and how did you decide to put it together? When you put your list of recipes together, was it obvious what was going to make it?Ashley Russell:Yeah, you know, it started with what are the family favorites? What, what do we have to have? And then it was with, you know, what turned out really well in recipe testing. And from there, like, you know, the, the, the baking section's over half the book. Yeah. And then it was sort of trying to round out the other sections of the book. Yeah. And they were recipes that could stand the test of time and that people would still want to make and also that my, my grandma would enjoy another favorites. Oh, yeah. So I mean, her banana bread is like, I knew I wanted to start the book with her banana bread and end it with sweet tea.That's my grandma to the core. And then in between, you know, there's so many great home cooked meals, home cooked desserts. She had a famous chocolate pie, famous pecan pie. Her Italian cream cake is to die for. It's like a coconut cake. Um, my aunt Angie, her oldest daughter, said that people used to request that she make that. So that was fun to learn and to put in the book.Stephanie Hansen:And now you know how to make all the things too, or a lot of the things.Ashley Russell:Yes. My family's like, well, I guess you're cooking for Thanksgiving now because you know all of her recipes.Stephanie Hansen:Oh, that's so great. I really enjoyed talking to you. It is Ashley Russell. The book is I wrote the what's Cooking Good Looking? Sorry. It is a really beautiful, fun, different way to approach this topic of cookbooks. And I was really. I'm impressed by what you did and I know your grandma would be, she would love it. She'd be real proud of you.And it's really nice to talk with you and share your story. I'll put a link to the book in the podcast notes and put that all together and hopefully we'll help you sell through your next 300. Ashley.Ashley Russell:Thank you, Stephanie. I really appreciate it.Stephanie Hansen:Yeah, it was great. To hear your story and to just spend time with you. Good luck.Ashley Russell:Thanks. Have a good day.Stephanie Hansen:All right. Bye.Ashley Russell:Bye.Stephanie's Dish Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stephaniehansen.substack.com/subscribe

Chalked Cast and chill with Rizzo and the Chalked Squad - Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chalked-cast/supportTimestamps:0:00 - Intro0:43 - Rizzo revives OG G2 with JKnaps and Chicago3:42 - What's Rizzo been up to, how far Rizzo will make it in RLCS?14:31 - Fairy Peak, Kaydop and Chausette running it back, RLCS Beginning, Copenhagen LAN Breakdown23:51 - The bot and DDOS problem in Rocket League30:17 - Rizzo's thoughts on NRG becoming World Champions35:47 - Top 25 GOAT list discussion, Who is Rizzo's GOAT?1:14:07 - Patreon Questions

Frank and Shirley break down Survivor Season 49, Episode 7 as the tribes merge and the game resets. A frantic key scramble sets the tone, Sage cashes in a big advantage, Sophie wins a tough endurance immunity, and social dynamics flip as power players collide. We talk production tidbits from Jeff's podcast, the ethics of camp life moments, and how this vote sets up the sprint to Season 50.00:00 — Welcome, merge setup, why strong players suddenly look exposed00:42 — Who's actually playing: Sophie's edit, Sage vs Savannah confusion, early reads01:33 — Challenge format love: two-phase competitions and rare endurance twists02:10 — Nate's arc and classy exit, what his jury seat means02:26 — Shannon reactions, production realities, camp logistics from “On Fire”03:49 — “Bottoms Up” alliance forms: Steven, Joanne, Sage04:25 — Why the blue camp, sustainability notes, challenge field turfing05:50 — Idol information warfare: blaming Shannon for Rizzo's idol leak06:13 — Why Savannah is the next big target06:38 — Chest advantage drops, mass key scramble, behind-the-scenes camera chaos09:51 — Sage unlocks the chest and a huge challenge advantage10:04 — Merge sunrise, shifting pairs, and soft alliances11:49 — The chicken moment and how the audience reacts every season13:29 — Sage recruits Sophie and Joanne, locks on Savannah14:52 — Earn the merge meal: team lineups and the boulder course16:16 — Puzzle phrase trick, Alex's athletic leap, yellow team wins merge meal17:33 — Individual immunity on the beam: elimination order and Sophie's win for her mom18:52 — Jeff teases two Season 50 spots, who looks ready to seize it21:25 — Feast fallout, who's calm, who's plotting, and why timing matters22:03 — Mick's idol hunt, Savannah vs Mick footrace for the key, vote restored23:29 — Rizzo briefs Savannah, Sophie aims to break the trio, Stephen floated26:16 — Tribal talk, Rizzo flashes idol, votes land, Nate becomes first jurorSage's chest advantage was massive. Skipping phase one secured food and energy for the endurance round.Sophie's immunity win came on a genuinely nasty balance setup. It also gave quieter players room to change gears.The edit is spotlighting a few likely Season 50 figures, which compresses screen time for subtle operators.Idol intel is currency. Pinning the leak on Shannon keeps suspicion off Sage and keeps options open.Mick is a gamer. The head-to-head key lunge with Savannah and reclaiming her vote were pivotal for the merge math.Rizzo showing the idol without playing it protected Savannah enough for the plan to hold.Nate on the jury is big for Rizzo and Savannah. He clocked who flipped in seconds, which will shape Ponderosa talk.“You can't hide behind good players anymore.”“She's incredibly forgettable. It's not her fault. The editors did her wrong.”“Target the leader. Savannah runs the show.”“That's how you do it on Survivor.”“If you're getting to the end now, it won't be because you got carried.”Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcastWhat do you think was the smartest move after the merge feast: flashing an idol, hunting one, or locking votes early? Send questions or hot takes for next week's mailbag and we'll feature a few on the show.Source: Episode transcript 7. Blood Will Be Drawn Apple Podcast tags: Survivor 49, Blood Will Be Drawn, Survivor recap, merge episode, reality TV analysis, Sophie immunity, Sage advantage, Rizzo idol, Savannah strategy, Outlast Podcast, Geek Freaks, Jeff ProbstTimestamps and TopicsKey TakeawaysMemorable QuotesCall to ActionLinks and ResourcesFollow UsListener Questions