Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV

By reality blurred's Andy Dehnart

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

Andy pulls back th... more

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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 51 episodes available.

Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV episodes:

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
February 25, 2026A wonderfully ludicrous week of reality TV
This week, a quick look at this wild week of competition reality TV—and what to watch during it.
Mentioned
First time watching Survivor? 50th? Some behind-the-scenes things to know!
How four Survivor 50 players thought about their games 30 seasons ago
Two Survivor experts* pick Survivor 50 fantasy teams
How Survivor became a game of cheerful mercenaries, and why Rob Cesternino is responsible
Recommendations
Survivor 50 (CBS, Wednesdays at 8 ET)
The Traitors US season 4
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
11min
February 18, 2026What one thing would you change about Survivor?
Survivor has survived for 50 seasons in no small part because it's been willing to evolve and change over the years. So what would you change about it now, if you could change just one thing?
In this episode of my podcast, I share my answer. Also: recommendations and life advice from Kristen Kish!
Mentioned
Dear Jeff Probst: Thanks for Survivor. Please change these 3 things
RIP Survivor, murdered at 26 by Jeff Probst
Actors' deaths highlight growing risk of colorectal cancer for Americans under 50
Katie Couric Gets A Colonoscopy
Recommendations
Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (season 6, episode 7 and beyond starts at the Below Deck crossover)
Colon cancer screening
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
26min
February 11, 2026Secret reality TV documents: a bonkers reading
On this week's show, I read from reality TV-related legal documents—including one NBCUniversal tried to keep secret—in character voices that my husband called "totally fucking bonkers" when he heard it. Plus: recommendations and life advice from TV.
Mentioned
The Profit’s secret settlement, Marcus Lemonis’ $14 million penalty, and me
Is The Profit coming back? Marcus Lemonis’ answer—and The Profit’s contract
Jill Zarin fired from 'Real Housewives' revival show after controversial Bad Bunny comments
Recommendations
Survivor's 10 reruns
Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show
Behind the scenes of the halftime show
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
25min
February 05, 2026Produced, not scripted: How Below Deck works
This week: Below Deck Med and Below Deck Down Under, and why producing isn’t scripting. Also: my usual recommendations, plus reality TV stars band together to show us how community and working together is the way through all of this. And stick around to the end for life advice from an iconic reality TV cast member.
Mentioned
We Stand with Minnesota
Owen Knight's Instagram post
How Survivor’s Owen Knight united reality TV stars to raise $13K+ to help Minnesota immigrants
Below Deck Down Under season 4 episode 1 recap: ‘best of the best’—LOL!
Recommendations
Extracted season two
Extracted’s second extracted family on strategy, casting, prep, and more
Olympic Gold Zone
We need an Olympic Gold Zone—or NFL RedZone—for reality TV
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
20min

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 51 episodes available.