Pod Friends

Celebrating the Women of RHAP — Live from RHAPCon | Pod Friends

Also available on YouTube.

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) is joined by special co-host Mari Forth (@MariTalks2Much) and an incredible lineup of women from across the RHAP community for a special episode recorded live at RHAPCon!Across three panels, Jessica Liese, Mary Kwiatkowski (Frail Mary), Jenny Autumn, Chantele Francis, Beth Dixon, Grace Leeder, Aysha Welch, Kirsten MacInnis, Sarah Carradine, and Maggie Morgan share their journeys into podcasting, what it means to be a woman on RHAP, and their hopes for the future of the network. The episode also features special messages from Ali Lasher, Annabel Fidler, and Shannon Guss.Together, they get candid about representation, online scrutiny, imposter syndrome, friendship, and the community that has grown around RHAP, while imagining how the network can continue making space for more voices, collaboration, and fun.It’s a celebration of the women who help make RHAP what it is, the journeys that brought them here, and all the voices still to come.

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

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The Tribe & Nicole Cesternino Have Spoken | Pod Friends

This week on the season finale of Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Nicole Cesternino (@nicolecesternino) for a heartfelt conversation about family, grief, parenthood, identity, and the remarkable journey behind one of reality TV’s most beloved communities.
Nicole reflects on growing up on Long Island, her years as a NICU nurse, raising a family, and the experiences that have shaped who she is today. Along the way, she opens up about ADHD, supporting others through life’s biggest moments, navigating the loss of her mom, and embracing the next chapter of her own story.
Together, Matt and Nicole also talk about Rob Has A Podcast, Rob’s New York Times bestseller book The Tribe & I Have Spoken, live shows, friendships, motherhood, and what it’s been like helping build a community that has become home for so many people over the past 15 years.
If you’ve ever wondered about the woman behind RHAP, the power of showing up for others, or how to build a meaningful life through love, resilience, and community, this episode is for you.

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

Annabel Fidler Doesn't Hold Back | Pod Friends

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Annabel Fidler, one of the breakout stars of The Traitors Australia, for a funny, vulnerable, and deeply moving conversation about survival, healing, identity, and finding your voice.
Annabel reflects on her unconventional childhood growing up in caravan parks across Australia, the trauma and abusive relationships that shaped her early adulthood, and the years of therapy that helped her rebuild trust in herself and others. She also opens up about her experience on The Traitors, becoming an unexpected fan favorite, and what it was like to be right when almost no one believed her.
Together, Matt and Annabel discuss queer identity, reality TV, the psychology of strategy games, surviving trauma, EMDR therapy, being labeled “annoying,” the friendships that changed her life, and why choosing yourself can be the bravest move of all.
If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, underestimated, or like you had to become someone else just to survive, this episode is for you.
Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: podfriends [at] robhasawebsite [dot] com
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social 

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

Star Toomey Refuses to Be Invisible | Pod Friends

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Star Toomey (@StarToomey) for a raw and inspiring conversation about Survivor 50, grief, identity, resilience, and learning to bet on yourself.
Star reflects on her journey from Liberia to the Survivor beach, the emotional highs and lows of playing the game, and the moments that shaped her long before the cameras arrived. She opens up about losing her father, navigating loneliness in the spotlight, and finding purpose in the pain through advocacy and storytelling.
Together, Matt and Star discuss what it means to be misunderstood, the importance of checking in on the people who always seem okay, the origins of Star’s “Not A Hoe” movement, and the power of using your platform to uplift people whose voices too often go unheard.
If you’ve ever struggled to feel seen, questioned your own worth, or wondered how to turn hardship into purpose, this episode is for you.

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

Aysha Welch & Sarah Menzel Share Killer Stories | Pod Friends

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Aysha Welch (@ayshalikeasia) and Sarah Menzel (@shearedbysarah) for a heartfelt conversation about Survivor, queer identity, grief, relationships, podcasting, and the surprising stories people carry with them.
Aysha reflects on her Survivor 47 experience, the emotional aftermath of leaving the game, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, community, and moving forward. Sarah shares her journey from scientist to barber, the unexpected connections she's built behind the chair, and one unforgettable story involving a client she later learned was a murderer.
Together, Aysha and Sarah open up about building a life together, launching their podcast Life Bi Us, finding joy through travel, sports, fitness, and queer community, and the ways they've supported each other through life's biggest challenges and transitions.
If you've ever wondered how to find joy after disappointment, build meaningful community, or navigate life's twists and turns with humor and heart, this episode is for you.
Check out Matt’s episode of Life Bi Us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0dT4ZrPoyk
Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

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Josh Wilder & Alex Phillips Leave No Crumbs! (Survivor, 100 Cooks) | Pod Friends
This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with Josh Wilder (@lets_get_wilder) and Alex Phillips (@aphill44) for a heartfelt conversation about love, resilience, reality TV, and building a joyful life together.
Josh reflects on his experiences as a Survivor 44 castaway, physician, kidney transplant recipient, and cancer survivor, while Alex shares his journey from the operating room to Food Network's newest competition series, 100 Cooks. Together, they open up about meeting at work, navigating life's challenges as a couple, finding community, embracing queer joy, and supporting one another through every twist and turn.
Along the way, Matt, Josh, and Alex talk food, fitness, medicine, Pride, reality TV, and what it means to choose joy even when life doesn't go according to plan.
If you've ever wondered how to build a beautiful life through adversity, love deeply, and keep moving forward, this episode is for you.
Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

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Brandon Donlon Shows His Ass – Proverbially | Pod Friends

 This week on Pod Friends, host Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) sits down with guest Brandon Donlon (@BrandonDonlon) for a funny, vulnerable conversation about Survivor 45, RHAP, failure, friendship, and finding meaning after disappointment.
Skip ahead on YouTube:

1:38 - Dee Valladares
3:47 - Scott, Laura J, and Demi Burnett
9:46 - Interview with Brandon Donlon begins
7:30 - Jen Gonzalez and Kellie Nalbandian
21:46 - Betsy Borst, Michael Horn, and Mike Skall
51:14 - Sarah Cupcakes, Gregory McBean, and LewLew
2:05:24 - MJC, Joelle, and WhutUpTim

Brandon reflects on the dream of playing Survivor, the guilt and self-judgment that followed, and how his journey as a fan became a creative career at Rob Has a Podcast. Along the way, Matt and Brandon talk anxiety, community, pinch-me moments, and what it means to be seen beyond your hardest chapter.

If you’ve ever felt defined by a failure, this episode is a reminder that one moment is not the whole story. Special thanks to Dee Valladares, Kellie Nalbandian, Demi Burnett, Gregory McBean, WhutUpTim, Laura J, Sarah Cupcakes, MJC, Joelle, Mike Skall, Michael Horn, Tall Ass Scott, Jen, Betsy, and LewLew for being part of this episode.

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom


Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends


Email: [email protected]

Follow on social media:


Instagram: @MattScottGW


Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social 

Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!
Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

50+ Stories About How Survivor’s Changed Lives | Pod Friends

In celebration of Survivor 50, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) set an audacious goal: collect 50 stories from Survivor community members answering one simple question: How has Survivor changed your life for the better?

This special season finale features 50+ powerful, funny, and deeply human stories from across the Survivor universe, from superfans and RHAP patrons to journalists, podcasters, live reality game creators, and former reality TV players.

This episode includes stories from:

Across these stories, you’ll hear about grief, sobriety, weight loss, cancer, divorce, identity, chosen family, creative breakthroughs, career pivots, live reality games, and literal survival. You’ll hear about watch parties that turned into lifelong friendships and fandom that became purpose.

Matt also reflects on discovering RHAP in 2017 during one of the hardest times of his life, joining the Class of 2020 to diversify Survivor coverage, and building Pod Friends into a space that shines a light on the humanity behind the fandom.

This episode is about more than a television show. It’s about moving from parasocial to deeply social. It’s about why community matters, especially now.

Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

Peih-Gee Law (Survivor): The Game of Life | Pod Friends

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) is joined by Peih-Gee Law, co-host of Reality Escape Pod and host of PG’s Playhouse, for a thoughtful and energizing conversation about reality TV, resilience, games, and building a life filled with curiosity and joy.
Peih-Gee reflects on her experiences in the Survivor world, what reality television taught her about herself, and how those lessons have shaped the way she approaches life, creativity, and community today. From strategy and game theory to escape rooms and immersive experiences, Peih-Gee shares why play isn’t frivolous — it’s essential — especially during challenging moments in life.
Matt and Peih-Gee also talk about pushing forward through setbacks, defining success on your own terms, cultivating happiness through curiosity and creativity, and the surprising ways games can teach us about resilience, connection, and purpose. Along the way, they explore Survivor fandom, puzzle-solving, wordplay, and even the possibility of Survivor 50.
If you’ve ever wondered what games can teach us about life — or how to keep moving forward while staying playful — this episode is for you.

Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!
Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends

Be part of Pod Friends!
Share the story of how Survivor and the Survivor community have changed your life for the better — and be part of the Pod Friends season finale. Submit your video or audio here:
bit.ly/survivor50stories

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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

Andy Rueda: A Love Letter to RHAP | Pod Friends

This week on Pod Friends, Matt Scott (@MattScottGW) is joined by Survivor 47’s Andy Rueda (@andydrueda) for a thoughtful and funny conversation about fandom, anxiety, identity, and what it means to go from RHAP listener to Survivor player.
Andy reflects on growing up in Buffalo, building a life in Brooklyn, and spending years in the Survivor community before finally playing the game himself. He shares what the casting journey was like, how his Survivor experience changed him, and what it has meant to hear from fans who connected with his vulnerability on the show.
Matt and Andy also talk about mental health, representation, friendships formed through Survivor, the “Baby Andy” origin story, Survivor 50, and Andy’s description of his life as a “rocket ship” — a journey that may be bumpy and nonlinear, but always finds its way upward.
If you’ve ever dreamed of playing Survivor, struggled with anxiety, or found belonging in the RHAP community, this episode is for you.
Big news! Pod Friends now has t-shirts!
Get your Pod Friends shirt now on the Rob Has A Podcast store: https://rhap-shop.fourthwall.com/en-aud/products/pod-friends
Be part of Pod Friends!
Share the story of how Survivor and the Survivor community have changed your life for the better — and be part of the Pod Friends season finale. Submit your video or audio here:
bit.ly/survivor50stories

Suggest a future guest: bit.ly/podfriendsnom
Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/podfriends
Email: [email protected]
Follow on social media:
Twitter: @HeyPodFriends & @MattScottGW
Instagram: @MattScottGW
Bluesky: MattScottGW.bsky.social

Never miss an episode of Pod Friends:
LISTEN:  Subscribe to the Pod Friends podcast feed
WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube
SUPPORT:  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