Rob Cesternino (@robcesternino) and Akiva Wienerkur (@keev26) need a podcast and every week, Rob and Akiva spin a wheel of listener-submitted podcast ideas, and whatever the wheel lands on is what they podcast about next. This week, Brandon Donlon and Akiva banter!

For the link to the spreadsheet that Rob and Akiva use to compile ideas, check it all out here: Rob and Akiva Need a Spreadsheet (compiled by the great Will from America).

To submit an idea for a future episode of “Rob and Akiva Need a Podcast” to be discussed on the mailbag, submit it on this form: Rob and Akiva’s Mailbag Form.

Past Episodes of Rob & Akiva Need a Podcast

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Survivor’s Open Era is heating up as Rob Cesternino sits down in person with standout Survivor 50 finalist Tiffany Nicole Ervin to break down all the chaos and surprises of the brand new season. Rob and Tiffany dig into the premiere episode’s most unpredictable moments from live Tribal Council whispers to risky Exile Island moves, the season’s new format sets the stage for a wild ride.

This episode kicks off with Tiffany sharing her thoughts on the shift from the “new era” to the “open era,” and how the latest cast’s unpredictability mirrors her own “chaotic” Survivor journey. Tiffany offers the inside scoop on hosting a West Coast watch party, what it’s like engaging with fans, and which twists are changing the game. The conversation dives into the wild dynamics of the season’s first Tribal Council—where votes and alliances flip in real time—and why bold personalities like Dev and Brady quickly take the spotlight. Tiffany also unpacks the strategy (and risk) of volunteering for early exile, plus weighs in on the return of the coin flip twist and the drama it could unleash in future episodes.

– Tiffany compares live tribals and why radical honesty may work—until it doesn’t

As the open era takes shape, Rob and Tiffany debate if big personalities and bigger risks will dominate the new two-tribe format. Will the more unpredictable twists reward risk-takers, or will alliances have the final say? With shifting advantages and permanent uncertainty, the season is off to an electric start.

Tune in as Rob and Tiffany break down shifting alliances, wild tribal energy, and what bold moves might be next for Survivor’s open era!

Chapters:

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Big Brother 28 inches closer to its finale as the house faces a tense Final 4 eviction. Rob Cesternino, Taran Armstrong, Aysha Welch, and Mary Kwiatkowski break down all the moves, emotions, and strategy in this special recap episode. With big decisions on the line and bold personalities making their cases, everyone is watching to see which alliances will hold and who will land on top.

This episode covers the dramatic fallout of the Final 4 eviction, where Drew surprises many by keeping Devens over Dee, shaking up everyone’s predictions. The group digs into Drew’s reasoning and whether it could help or hurt his game, especially since Devens is now favored as a competition threat. There’s a close look at both the HoH and Veto competitions, with Taylor’s crucial HOH win discussed as a turning point. The hosts debate the jury’s likely reactions, how social ties and past promises might weigh on votes, and the emotional toll on players, especially when longtime allies face off.

Alliances and trust are on shaky ground as the houseguests, and the jury, prepare for the last round of gameplay. Will Drew’s risky move pay off, or did he just give Devens a clear shot at the win? Listen in for all the strategy, analysis, and house drama as Big Brother 28 heads into its final showdown.

00:00 Big Brother 28 Final 4 Recap

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Tonight, Rob Cesternino and Pooya discuss episodes 3 and 4 of Traitors: New Blood.

Never miss all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!

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Live Tribal fireworks and a Shot in the Dark roll kick off Survivor 51—and Rob Cesternino is here with the very first exit interview of the season. Rob sits down with Aaliyah, the first person voted out, to unpack the tension, twists, and chaos of an opening episode that wasted no time. From tribal council scrambling to camp life confusion, Survivor 51 launches with everything on the line.

Exit Interviews are back as Rob and Aaliyah dive into her journey from the chaotic first Tribal Council to finding her footing at Ponderosa. Aaliyah shares what really happened during that live vote, how alliances like the Helicopter alliance put targets on backs, and why she isn’t holding any grudges—even after being out-maneuvered by fellow tribe members. She opens up about her mindset leaving the game, finding strength after public failure, and how she set the tone for herself and future jurors at Ponderosa. Plus, learn what meal she’d (graciously) cook for Brady, the player who worked hardest to get her out.

– The tribal council scramble: Did the vote switch at the last second, or was Aaliyah always the target?

– How the perception of the Helicopter alliance shaped the vote

– Aaliyah’s perspective on challenge performance and whether one slip doomed her game

– No hard feelings for Jenna or Brady: why Aaliyah believes vengeance isn’t her style

– Life at camp: the shelter scramble, silent nights, and a tribe that never quite vibed

Aaliyah’s approach to being first out flips the narrative—was this a setback, or just the start of a different Survivor journey? What can early exits teach us about resilience and shifting focus in the game?

Tune in for insight on Survivor 51’s wild first vote, the real impact of early-game alliances, and what happens when strategy meets chaos at Tribal.

Chapters:

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Big Brother 28 is deep into endgame mode, and the Pharaoh’s curse episode brings strategy and silliness together as the house’s core showmance is finally split. With Rob in LA, Taran Armstrong recaps the dramatic Egyptian-themed eviction night alongside Kirsten MacInnis and Sasha Joseph, breaking down how power moves and production shenanigans collide just as the house shifts towards its final days.

The episode kicks off with the fallout from the latest nominations and a lively discussion of the Egyptian-themed veto comp, complete with sarcophagi made of crumpled construction paper and safety goggles thinly disguised as “Osiris irises.” Drew’s physical advantage becomes a talking point as he wins the veto, saving himself and ensuring his showmance partner Melody is the clear target for eviction. The trio explores the lack of viable campaigning from Melody, Dee’s missed opportunities, and the emotional impact of Drew and Melody’s separation, including the much-memed hug and phone call scene that’s taking over TikTok. They also debate how production’s editing sets Drew up as a potential America’s Favorite Player pick, while questioning if the audience will overlook past aggressive behavior and weight the showmance edit over strategy.

Heading into the final days, the house is split and allegiances shift as everyone weighs comp wins against jury management. Will Drew make the right move at final four, or will emotional ties cloud his judgment?

Tune in for the full recap and find out how this late-game BB28 chaos could set up one last blindside.

00:00 Silly Pharaoh Curse Night Begins

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Survivor 51 launches into the Open Era with a wild twist, literally! The Know-It-Alls, Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach, are together live in Los Angeles to recap the jam-packed two-hour season premiere. Right from the first moments off the boat, Survivor 51 shakes up tradition with 21 castaways, a One World scramble, and an unpredictable tribe formation. Forget mud, forget forced narratives, this season sets players loose, giving them more agency and bigger tribes, leading to an early Tribal Council that leaves everyone talking.

Rob and Stephen break down the premiere’s biggest moments, like the show’s return to 10-person tribes and how that changed both strategy and social dynamics. The duo call out the pivotal first Tribal Council, where the vote could have gone anywhere and the Shot in the Dark raises the stakes with double plays. They examine the challenge-based reasoning behind the first boot, the impact of fresh gameplay with agency over “beware” advantages, and the new twist of the prize pot potentially growing season after season. Game-changing moves, like the water cooler info drop that saved Jenna, and bold personalities, from Pantsless Patt to Rhode Island Rob, set the tone for what might be Survivor’s most open field yet.

Highlights from the episode include:

– The live, unpredictable first Tribal Council and double Shot in the Dark play

With twists both classic and new, and players adapting on the fly, Survivor 51’s Open Era is off to a raucous start. Will the bigger tribes and agency survive the coming weeks or will chaos reign? Catch every strategic pivot, hilarious camp scene, and high-stakes vote by listening to this must-hear Know-It-Alls recap of Survivor 51’s electric premiere!

0:00 Smartest Guys Break Down Survivor

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Rob Cesternino, Tyson Apostol, and Danny Bryson are back with another entertaining episode of News AF, where they dive into the week’s most peculiar and amusing stories.

Today, Brandon Donlon, Tyson, and Danny talk through the week’s most newsworthy stories.

To order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com

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The Traitors Canada is back for Season 4, and Pooya (“The Duke of Deception”) and Brian Scally are here to break down the premiere! Pooya and Scally share their first impressions of the cast, dig into the premiere’s mission, and start making their early reads on who might be hiding something.

Never all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!

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Survivor enters its electrifying 51st season, and host Rob Cesternino sits down with legendary host Jeff Probst to reveal everything that makes this new “Open Era” so unpredictable and exciting. From casting secrets to the wild twists inspired by Survivor’s own history, Rob and Jeff leave no stone unturned as they break down why Season 51 is unlike any Survivor you’ve seen before. Find out how the aftermath of Survivor 50’s chaos set the stage for an era where anything can happen—especially with a cast shaped for bold moves and wild gameplay.

Rob welcomes Jeff Probst for an in-depth premiere chat as they dig into the show’s biggest evolution yet. Jeff shares how the production team drew inspiration from Survivor’s “treasure chest” of legendary moments, opening the floodgates for fan-favorite (and brand-new) twists. They discuss the casting process, moving away from stereotype archetypes to focus on truly compelling personalities and critical thinkers, and how players are now all but pushed to “play to win, not just not to lose.” The stakes are higher than ever, with an odd-numbered starting tribe and a raft twist at marooning keeping everyone guessing. Plus, Jeff dishes on past mistakes (hello, “Change History”) and why taking risks is part of what makes Survivor endure.

– Jeff Probst explains how the Open Era lets each new season draw from 50 seasons of gameplay and twists

With Survivor 51’s Open Era in full swing, the question looms: Who will seize this chance to play big and play their own way, and what surprises are still hidden in the treasure chest of Survivor history? Tune in as Rob and Jeff debate whether fun or fearlessness will shape the next Sole Survivor.

Don’t miss this special look behind the curtain—hit play for all the secrets behind Survivor’s boldest era yet!

Chapters:

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