This week’s Pod Friends guest is Dash Katz (@dashkatz)—actor, model, host, and reality TV superfan. Best known from Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge, Dash steps beyond the game to share their journey of resilience, identity, and community. In this heartfelt and fiery conversation with Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Dash opens up about navigating grief, the reality TV experience beyond the edit, and the power of queer representation. They share their passion for uplifting LGBTQ+ voices and what it means to rise like a phoenix from life’s toughest moments.

But this season finale is also about YOU! Featuring listener voicemails, this episode is a celebration of connection, appreciation, and the incredible Pod Friends community.

4:20 – Rob Cesternino

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is the legendary Josh Wigler (@roundhoward)—journalist, podcaster, and RHAP’s executive editor. In this heartfelt and hilarious conversation with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Josh gets real about his journey through the highs and lows of life, podcasting, and personal growth.

Listen as Josh opens up about vulnerability, boundaries, and where he is in life now. He reflects on his Survivor coverage, his sobriety journey, and what it means to face the hard things—twice. With musical theater memories, stories of mistaken fame, and a surprise song from Wanda Shirk, this episode is a rollercoaster of laughter, heart, and authenticity.

Whether you know Josh from Post Show Recaps, the Evolution of Strategy, or his iconic Survivor coverage, this conversation is a masterclass in self-reflection, grace, and embracing every part of your story—even the cringey moments.

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is the one and only James Jones (@J2daJones), the ‘Godfather’ of Survivor 43, but there’s so much more to his story than the game. In this conversation with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), James reveals sides of himself you might not expect—his work in maternal health, his journey through ADHD and anxiety, and how personal loss shaped his passion for building community and creating impact.

Listen as James shares how working in maternity care opened his eyes to racial disparities in healthcare, how hosting events became his way of bringing people together after his mother’s cancer diagnosis, and what really happened the day he pretended he had never heard of Survivor in a group of Survivor superfans… despite just filming the show a few weeks prior. James doesn’t hold back. Whether you’re a Survivor fan, a strategist at heart, or just love hearing inspiring and unexpected life stories, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is the talented Sharon Tharp (@SharonTharp), a leading entertainment journalist and host of The Exclusive podcast. In this insightful conversation with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Sharon shares her journey covering reality TV for nearly 20 years, from writing for top magazines to navigating the ever-changing digital media landscape.

Listen as Sharon dives into the behind-the-scenes world of entertainment reporting, including the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity, handling exit interviews, and balancing personal connections with objective storytelling. She opens up about the evolution of media, the impact of social media on celebrity coverage, and how she brings empathy into her interviews. Whether you’re a media enthusiast or a reality TV superfan, this episode offers a fascinating look at the art of entertainment journalism and the power of adaptability in an ever-changing industry.

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is the iconic Carolyn Wiger (@car0lynr0se), fan-favorite from Survivor 44, The Traitors 3, and co-host of the Let’s Get Tribal podcast. In this deeply heartfelt conversation with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Carolyn opens up about her incredible journey as a single mother, drug counselor, and life coach, and how she’s navigating her “freedom era.” Known for her raw authenticity and emotional depth, Carolyn reflects on her experiences with sobriety, motherhood, and the importance of embracing imperfections.

Listen as Carolyn shares touching stories about raising her son, building open communication, and finding beauty in struggle. Learn how she transformed personal challenges—addiction, ADHD, and abusive relationships—into opportunities for growth and connection. Whether you’re a Survivor fan or inspired by her resilience and honesty, this episode is a masterclass in self-compassion, empathy, and the power of staying true to yourself.

Don’t forget to visit RHAP on Patreon to listen to Fifteen Minutes with Friends, where we get a little bit more into Carolyn’s mind, including encouragement if you’re going through the Survivor casting process.

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is the incomparable Pooya (@Pooyaism), a cornerstone of the RHAP community and a beloved podcaster known for his insightful takes on shows like 90 Day Fiancé, The Masked Singer, The Traitors, and more. In this candid conversation with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Pooya opens up about his journey to becoming one of RHAP’s most recognizable voices, sharing how he’s transformed his insecurities into strengths and built a thriving career in content creation.

Hear Pooya’s reflections on his growth as a podcaster and streamer, his path to “securing insecurity,” and how he channels his experiences into creating communities that resonate. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering him for the first time, this episode is packed with heartfelt insights, advice for aspiring creators, and a celebration of community. Don’t miss it!

Check out Pooya’s previous Taran Show interview here: https://robhasawebsite.com/taran-show-33-pooya/

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This week’s Pod Friends guest is part of the glue that holds RHAP together! You may not often hear his voice on podcasts, but you’ve undoubtedly seen his impact across RHAP’s live events, community initiatives, and behind-the-scenes operations. In this interview with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), Sam More (@SamMoreRHAP) gives a rare glimpse into his journey to RHAP, his love of live TV production, and the work it takes to make RHAP a vibrant and growing community.

Hear Sam reflect on his time working in talent management, how joining the RHAP community changed his path, and what it’s like collaborating with Rob Cesternino to shape the RHAP experience. From anecdotes about the early days of RHAP live shows to managing a global community during the pandemic to RHAP’s Class of 2020, Sam shares how he balances creativity, logistics, and fun to make it all work. Plus, don’t miss a surprise call to Rob himself!

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This week on Pod Friends, Kellyn Bechtold (@thekellynb) shares her journey of resilience, transformation, and connection. You may know Kellyn from Survivor: Ghost Island, but in this heartfelt interview with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW), you’ll discover so much more about her path to self-discovery and career reinvention.

Hear Kellyn open up about her experiences on Survivor, growing up on a chicken farm in Indiana, and taking courageous leaps—from moving 38 times to launching her Road to Reality podcast. Learn about her philosophy of “doing it scared” and how she’s creating spaces for connection, storytelling, and career transformation through the Career Coven.

Kellyn’s insights on returning to yourself, embracing curiosity, and reimagining success will inspire anyone seeking a more authentic and fulfilling life. And, there’s even a very special guest cameo from Survivor: Ghost Island winner and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host Wendell Holland in this episode. Don’t miss this empowering conversation!

Here is the short story referenced by Kellyn, from Sight Hound by Pam Houston: https://www.bslshoofly.com/archives/deep-creek-finding-hope-in-the-high-country

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This week’s Pod Friends season finale guest has interviewed President Jimmy Carter, Cory Booker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Usher, Soledad O’Brien and so many others – and most of that was before the age of 13! You know Dwight Moore Jr. (@DwightMoore_Jr) from the mark he left on Survivor 43, but in this interview with host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) you’ll get to know Dwight as an interviewer and as a person. Hear how Dwight has become so “fearless” in his life and career. Hear him reflect on starting his interviewing career at 5 years old with someone many would dream of meeting. Hear about his family history and all of the thing Matt and Dwight unexpectedly have in common. Enjoy this week’s episode of Pod Friends!

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Frannie Marin (@HailTheVail) and Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sat down for a conversation to, in Frannie’s words, untangle the threads of her life. You probably know Frannie from Survivor 44 and her role as a challenge beast and fan favorite, but did you know Frannie is also a queer person in STEM and in a hetero-presenting relationship, a mindfulness researcher, a former nail salon employee, a cook, a lover of travel and the outdoors, and a person on a journey to find her path. Leave a voicemail reacting to this podcast episode, to a past Pod Friends episode, or to Pod Friends overall at speakpipe.com/podfriends.

Watch on YouTube at robhasawebsite.com/youtube

Subscribe to the podcast: robhasawebsite.com/podfriendsfeed