Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

By reality blurred's Andy Dehnart

Step behind reality TV's scenes with me, Andy Dehnart, a TV critic, creator of reality blurred, and "the pioneer of reality TV criticism," according to the very discerning YouTuber Barfbag.

I pull b... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV:

How many episodes does Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.

Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV episodes:

June 09, 2026Is Top Chef still top after Top Chef Carolinas?
On this week’s episode: Top Chef Carolinas is over, and no spoilers here as I look at the season and the franchise to ask: is Top Chef deserving of the title of top culinary reality show? Plus: two Kristen Kish related recommendations, and stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, also from Top Chef host Kristen Kish!
Curtain Pull
Top Chef doesn't want you to see this 'sensitive information'
Charlotte paid $1.2 million for Top Chef. Did they get their money's worth?
Review Review
Top Chef Carolinas finale recap: toast the winner
Dear Top Chef: an open letter to a show adrift
Top Chef spoiled/solved the Restaurant Wars/Last Chance Kitchen mystery
Kristen Kish is the best part of Top Chef Wisconsin
How America's Culinary Cup was cooked to be paired with Survivor
Recommendations
The Dish with Kish
Fast Foodies (stream free on truTV)
Memoir and other true queer stories for Pride Month
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish
Credits
Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
27min
June 03, 2026When I was voted out—on live TV
26 years ago, just one week after Survivor premiered, I was live on TV, competing for an audience’s vote, and it was broadcast thanks to C-SPAN. Here’s the story—and video!
Plus: hilarious recommendations and stick around to the end for life advice from Tiffany Pollard.
Curtain Pull
Reality TV contracts
Story Time:
Great American Think-Off
C-SPAN
C-SPAN broadcast: "Is Democracy Fair?" (watch below)
Andy Dehnart on C-SPAN
recent Think-Off debates on YouTube
Recommendations
Bad Lip Reading - The House of Representatives
Nancy Pelosi and George Santos
House of Villains (Peacock)
Credits
Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
29min
May 26, 2026How a reality TV show keeps the reality TV show hidden from its cast
In this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I dive into the production of Showtime’s Couples Therapy, from the set design to b-roll to editing choices, all of which create an authentic experience, not fake drama.
Curtain Pull: How Couples Therapy hides its cameras
From Vulture: Couples Therapy Built the World’s Most Convincing Reality-TV Set
Inside the Big Brother house
Behind the Scenes: How Couples Therapy is produced
How Couples Therapy’s directors work to create empathy, not villainy
My reviews: season one and season two
The Truman Show
Recommendations
The Chris Gethard Show season 2, episode 9
then read Liz Shannon Miller's behind-the-scenes interview
TOC: All-Star Christmas
Tickets from On Camera Audiences
Life Advice from Reality TV
Dr. Orna’s guide to active listening
Credits
Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
26min
May 19, 2026Survivor is my sports team
Coach Probst may be tanking Survivor, but in this episode of Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV, I share how my love of Survivor persists, because I am like a fan of a beleaguered sports games team thing. Plus: Survivor costumes!
Mentioned
Survivor clothing rules: How clothing players can bring is chosen for them
Variety's Untold Tales of ‘Survivor’
Jeff Probst's quote
Watching Survivor with friends: a reflection on a social game
Recommendations
Survivor Borneo (Paramount+)
Million Dollar Secret (Netflix)
Credits
Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
23min
May 13, 2026Creating a cooking competition from scratch
On this week's show: America’s Culinary Cup and Padma Lakshmi’s dream of shaking up the cooking competition genre. Did it work? And how did it come together? I have insight from Padma and its showrunner.
I also have reality TV recommendations for you, and stick around to the very end for life advice from reality TV, this time from Padma herself.
Plus: Why this show has a new name!
Mentioned
2026 New Voices AMPLIFY Creators
24 in 24's Ikea set location
My America's Culinary Cup review
Why Padma Lakshmi didn’t want blind judging on America’s Culinary Cup
Iron Chef America is fake, in case you didn't know
Recommendations
Couples Therapy (Showtime and Paramount+)
The Comeback (HBO Max)
Extra Hot Great episode 613: Iron Chef S03.E23: Squid Battle (from Dan Cassino)
Credits
Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
24min
April 01, 2026More looks behind the reality TV curtain, please!
On this week's show: More reality TV shows are showing us their scaffolding, literally and figuratively. Some examples, and a plea for more. Plus: a bunch of recommendations; an update on the next month of this podcast; and life advice from TV, once again from Mister Rogers.
Mentioned
Is Flavortown's town square inside Guy's Grocery Games? An investigation
RuPaul's Drag Race and Guy's Grocery Games: how their sets were designed
Justin Warner's TOC video
Eric Adjepong on Wildcard Kitchen, hosting, and how
Recommendations
House of Villains season 3 (Peacock)
Wildcard Kitchen (Food Network/HBO Max)
Another Day Closer
Vivaldi
FreeTaxUSA
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
31min
March 25, 2026Blame Taylor, but not for The Bachelorette
On this week's show: Once again, fans and media are piling on a person instead of the corporations and systems. Can we hold Taylor Frankie Paul accountable for her behavior but not lay the blame for the franchise's implosion at her feet? Plus: a non-Bachelorette recommendation, and life advice from reality TV from Iman.
Mentioned
ABC is trashing The Bachelorette season 22
The Bachelorette’s PR nightmare is exactly what ABC ordered
After using racial tension to promote The Bachelorette, ABC cancels Roseanne over a racist tweet
What The Bachelor franchise should do to change its own systemic racism
Recommendations
Dating Around (Netflix)
...and these four dating shows
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
21min
March 18, 2026Why Survivor 50 is so great (so far!)
On today's show: Why Survivor 50 is working for me, especially compared to the past nine seasons! Plus: three recommendations for fictional films, and life advice from the Oscar-winning director of a nonfiction film.
Mentioned
My Survivor 50 recaps
Did Boston Rob just out himself as MAGA Rob?
What choices were in the hands of the fans?
How Survivor became a game of cheerful mercenaries, and why Rob Cesternino is responsible
11 revealing Survivor and Jeff Probst tidbits from his profile
David Borenstein's Oscar acceptance speech
Recommendations
The Oscar-winning movie Sinners (HBO Max)
Weapons, starring Oscar winner Amy Madigan (HBO Max)
Fight or Flight, not Oscar-winning (Paramount+)
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
22min
March 11, 20267 behind-the-scenes stories from Amazing Race’s first season
On today’s show: The Amazing Race took off 25 years ago this week, and I have some amazing behind-the-scenes stories for you! Also, two recommendations, and reality TV life advice from an icon.
Mentioned
Amazing Race behind the scenes: an oral history of CBS’s first race around the world
20th Anniversary Retrospective w/ Team Guido - "The Game Show"
Recommendations
Age of Attraction (Netflix)
Rosebush Stories
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
19min
March 04, 2026Love is blind judging
On today's episode: A journey through blind judging. I love blind judging but not Love is Blind, and I'm glad some viewers are no longer blind to unconscious biases on The Traitors and I wish I had a different word here than "blind."
Mentioned
Why Padma Lakshmi didn’t want blind judging on America’s Culinary Cup
Blind judging, Tournament of Champions’ best idea, should become reality TV’s norm
Traitors season 4 finale recap: ‘In Rob we trust’
Recommendations
Tournament of Champions 7 (Food Network)
Vanderpump Rules season 12 (Bravo/Peacock)
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix)
Curb Your Enthusiasm - "Survivor" fight
Credits
Andy Dehnart’s Reality Blurred is copyright 2026 by Reality Blurred LLC.
Find me at realityblurred.com or andydehnart.com
Our theme song is “Cheery Monday” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under the Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 License.
...more
24min

FAQs about Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV:

How many episodes does Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.