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 68 episodes available.

Made from Humans: How Reality Becomes TV episodes:

August 19, 2026Bonus: From dinos to photos, our Emily Post wedding story
In this special episode: My husband Nick and I chat about our wedding, some highs and lows, with Emily Post's great-great grandchild, Lizzie Post, in this excerpt from the podcast Emily Post Wedding Stories.
Listen to the full episode here, and also check out Emily Post Wedding Stories and Awesome Etiquette—and our great photographers, Live Happy Studio.
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
14min
July 31, 2026Big Brother’s producers on its format, 12 years ago
After this week’s Big Brother 28 elimination, I’m revisiting an interview I did with Big Brother producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan about the show’s format. Has anything changed in 12 years? What still needs to change?
Plus: recommendations for two shows and one podcast episode, and stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, once again from Mister Rogers.
Great Tape: an interview with Big Brother’s producers
Is BB28’s Jason vs. Kamu just game? Or a shame?
BB28’s players unanimously vote for ‘a boring, boring season’
Will Big Brother ever get out of its rut?
Why this was Big Brother’s best cast in years
Recommendations
Restaurant Impossible: Last Call, Food Network
Nation's Dumbest, Fox
"The Mel Robbins Griftpocalypse (with Princess Weekes + Kat Tenbarge)" on A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein
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.
Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan portraits by Sonja Flemming/CBS
Life Advice from Reality TV
Everyone has lots of ways of feeling, Mister Rogers Neighborhood
...more
0min
July 23, 2026The two words that make or break a reality star
Two words in a reality TV star's contract can change their post-show life—but also may not be that big of a deal? A dive into exclusivity clauses.
Plus: news I broke about Love is Blind, recommendations, and life advice from Canada's Drag Race.
Unscripted Updates, where I discuss something from the news
The Love is Blind assault lawsuit was settled—days after a judge ordered these disclosures
Read the Love is Blind cast contract—and production's employee handbook
Industry Insight, where I look at the business behind reality TV
Love Islanders on DWTS? Maybe! Don’t believe the bad reporting
Recommendations
Drag Race Canada, WOW Presents Plus
Great British Bake-Off baker Henry Bird's video
The Wainwright Prize 2026 longlist: 68 books!
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
July 17, 2026Let’s drag Project Runway 22 episode 2
In this very special episode: A Project Runway 22 episode 2 recap and review, with a special guest star! Plus: news about The Challenge and a reality TV couple, plus recommendations for two shows that are polar opposites.
Unscripted Updates
The Challenge: Cutthroat is on Paramount+, not MTV, starting Aug. 5
Matt Rogers and ‘Below Deck’ Star Fraser Olender Break Up
A Couple of Recappers
My Project Runway season 22 episode 1 review
My Project Runway season 22 episode 2 recap
Recommendations
Sam Neill's The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook
Nation's Dumbest, Fox
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
25min
July 08, 2026The Real World Hawaii episode that started it all
This week: A dramatic reading of my very first reality TV recap—to celebrate reality blurred’s 26th birthday today!
Also: recommendations, and, at the very end, life advice from a Survivor 50 player who’s on Big Brother 28!
Intro:
Join me July 8 at 8 p.m. ET for a special AMA on Bluesky and/or Surf!
BB28’s cast: Salina EsTitties, Rick Devens, Dee Valladares
Big Brother Watchtower on Surf Social

Why and How I Wrote That: The Real World Hawaii
My Real World Hawaii premiere recap
All my Student.com recaps and writing

Recommendations
RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 episode 9
Guess the World

Tip Tips: real recommendations + affiliate links!
Open an Ally bank account
Hilton Honors
Marriott Bonvoy

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.
Oʻahu and Diamond Head photo by Cosmin Serban/Unsplash
...more
27min
July 01, 2026How Love Island and Big Brother find their casts
Love Island and Big Brother have a history of casting hot dummies who sometimes turn out to be people who behave badly and maybe shouldn’t be on TV. How do they find them? How does casting work? We'll dive into two parts of the process.
Also: recommendations, including for some podcasts, and stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, this time from The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.
Unscripted Updates
In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood by Collin Gosselin
Kate Gosselin speaks out on estranged son Collin after scathing post
Another Love Islander disappears for using racial slurs
Alannah's bad apology
Comcast spinning off NBCUniversal and Comcast
Versant cable networks
Behind the Scenes
Love Island USA application
Big Brother finals casting process: how it works, rules finalists must follow
Ian and Dan discuss Sucks, Jokers strategy, how Big Brother finals casting hasn’t changed in years
Big Brother contract: the legal agreement houseguests sign
Recommendations
Nick and I on Emily Post Wedding Stories with Lizzie Post. Listen here!
15 great podcasts from the other AIR New Voices AMPLIFY podcasters and creators
The Real Housewives of Rhode Island (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
38min
June 24, 2026Queering Love Island USA—or queerbaiting?
On this week’s episode: Before Casa Amor, Love Island USA’s hottest couple were two guys! Is this finally queering up a hetero show, or just queerbaiting? And how can we tell?
Plus: reality TV news you have missed and recommendations for some great social media videos you shouldn't. And stick around to the end for life advice from reality TV, this time from drag queen Delta Work.
Unscripted updates
Top Chef 24 is delayed; 3 Top Chef Carolinas scheduling mysteries, solved
Project Runway’s new judge: Tyra Banks 💀
The Traitors fired Fergus
James Wallington on The Floor's finale
Get my newsletter!
Analyzing the analysis
Why Bryce and Zach, and their girth check, are giving Love Island USA fans a semi
Peacock's "The bromance is real"
Gerald's comments
Recommendations
Boman Martinez-Reid’s Love Island parodies: one, two, three
The hidden mics of The Price Is Right
Widow's Bay (Parks & Recreation Opening Titles)
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.
Life advice from reality TV
$150 to appear on Network Television?! | GO OFF DELTA! #193
"Very Delta" Episode #193 (w/ Charles Galin King)
...more
28min
June 17, 2026Below Deck Med’s male-centered mayhem
On this week's show: We’ve rolled into a new season of Below Deck Med, one I was dreading, but it’s actually refreshing—for the franchise and reality TV.
Plus: What Love Island USA and Survivor have in common, recommendations, and life advice from reality TV, this time from Captain Sandy.
I Was Wrong: Below Deck Med season 11 edition
Guess what's back after Below Deck Down Under?
Below Deck Med season 10 ended with a threat
Below Deck Med recap: Joe and Kizzi’s cruelty, Nathan’s diatribe
Curtain Pull
Love Island USA’s kissing is even sloppier and slurpier than usual. Yuck!
Survivor used Love Island’s villa
Recommendations
Outlast (Netflix)
Why Netflix’s Outlast ends with a race, and other questions, answered
Stephen Fishbach's book: Escape!
My interview with Stephen
The 10 reality shows nominated for 2026 TCA Awards
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 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

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 68 episodes available.