Rob Has a Podcast | Survivor, Traitors & Reality TV - RHAP

Rob Cesternino, Jessica Liese, and Mike Bloom are back for another incredible journey around the world watching The Amazing Race! Our TAR experts will be back with a recap each and every week! Make sure to also tune into our weekly exit interview with the eliminated team.

Today, Mike Bloom and Jess Liese are joined by Chappell to discuss episode 11 of The Amazing Race 38.

Pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, at www.robhasabook.com

Race on over to Twitter to follow these hosts and share all of your thoughts with us on Twitter by tagging @RobHasAPodcast and using the hashtag #RHAP!

Rob Cesternino @robcesternino

Join our Facebook group at robhasawebsite.com/targroup 

Rob Cesternino welcomes Survivor 45 favorites, Austin Li Coon and Drew Basile, for an energetic recap of Survivor 49, Episode 11. They look in to the evolving game dynamics and recent developments in Survivor 49. The conversation is packed with big-picture analysis, personal reflections, and plenty of playful moments.

Rob leads Austin and Drew through a thoughtful conversation about the changing meta of Survivor, spotlighting trends like the disappearance of the floater archetype and the rise of tight alliance groups. They break down Survivor 49’s pivotal final seven vote, discuss the strategic implications (and comedy) of advantages like the vote block and knowledge is power, and reflect on their own gameplay and observations from the edge.

The panel discuss:

This episode is a blend of Survivor strategy talk, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Don’t miss all the insights and banter as Austin, Drew, and Rob dissect the latest in the Survivor episode, reminisce about their own journeys, and look ahead to what’s next.

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

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Manta Sleep. Summertime is officially here! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and while all that extra daylight can feel energizing, it can quietly sabotage your sleep. Later sunsets disrupt your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Manta Sleep is here to help. Whether you’re blocking out daylight or tuning out the sounds of summer nights, taking control of your sleep environment helps you get deep, restorative rest, no matter how long the sun stays up.

To take advantage of 10% off your first order, visit https://tinyurl.com/2nsptcy3 or go to www.mantasleep.com and use promo code RHAP49

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!

Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron.

Survivor 49’s final seven exit interview takes center stage as Rob Cesternino sits down with Sophie Segretti to unravel one of the most dramatic blindsides of the season. Rob explores Sophie’s perspective being off the radar early on to suddenly becoming the unifying target for two rival alliances.

Rob opens the interview by spotlighting Sophie’s unique journey through Survivor 49: after flying under the radar, she emerged as a key strategic player whose moves drew the attention of both warring factions at Tribal Council. Sophie describes her genuine shock at being unanimously voted out, connecting the blindside to her close bond and fallout with Sage. She explains the critical decision to vote out Jawan, believing her relationship with Sage was her biggest asset, yet recognizing, too late, that her choice may have sparked Sage’s determination for revenge.

Listen in for these standout moments and Survivor insights:

– Sophie’s reaction to becoming the rare player taken out by two opposing groups working together

– The emotional and strategic ripple effect from voting out Jawan instead of Sage

– Why Sophie chose to stick with Savannah and Rizzo, balancing the numbers in alliances

– How lack of information-sharing from one group contrasted with Savannah’s open gameplay

– Steven’s pivotal immunity win sealing Sophie’s fate as the only viable target

As Rob and Sophie break the episode down, they consider: Did trusting Sage cost Sophie her game? How much do alliances depend on sharing secrets and advantages at crunch time? And what does this vote signal for future blindsides as Survivor 49 hurtles toward the finale?

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

Chapters:

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!

Survivor Know-It-Alls is back as Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach dig into the latest drama from Survivor 49, week 11.  Rob and Stephen break down why flipping alliances can be risky, and how the struggle for control is more intense than ever.

This episode, the hosts examine each castaway’s critical decisions, focusing on Sage’s loyalty to Jawan and her mission for revenge. They track how Kristina’s gameplay and relationships affect her position, and why Yellow Sophie’s time running the middle finally catches up to her. Rizzo continues to shine with clever idol management, forming consensus votes and sidestepping danger, while Savannah’s strong alliance maintains its grip. Rob and Stephen discuss how new twists like journey-based advantages and “knowledge is power” shape strategy, and why overthinking can lead to missed opportunities.

Rob and Stephen discuss:

– Sage’s passionate campaign to avenge Jawan, leading to an alliance shakeup

– The dangers of being a swing vote and why Yellow Sophie becomes the consensus target

– Insight into Rizzo’s strategy of targeting players in the middle—and how his tight alliance with Savannah grows stronger

– Stephen and Rob’s takes on Kristina’s social moves and whether next week’s 3-3 split is possible

– Key questions about how journey advantages, vote blocks, and knowledge is power may explode in the coming rounds

As the game moves toward the end, new advantage plays and old grudges set up a tense battle for control. Can Rizzo keep dodging bullets, or will Sage’s drive for revenge change the power structure? Will Kristina and Steven find a path forward, or is Savannah’s alliance unstoppable?

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

To pre-order Stephen’s novel Escape!, visit stephenfishbach.com

To request a limited edition Escape! map, email proof of hardcover pre-order (within the US) to [email protected] with the subject line MAP. Previous hardcover pre-orders are also eligible!

Buy tickets for Stephen’s book events here! stephenfishbach.com/events

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!

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.

This week Rob, Tyson and Danny talk through the week’s most newsworthy stories.

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

Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel!

Need to catch up on more Actual Factual news?

Rob Cesternino, Jessica Liese, and Mike Bloom are back for another incredible journey around the world watching The Amazing Race! Our TAR experts will be back with a recap each and every week! Make sure to also tune into our weekly exit interview with the eliminated team.

Today, Rob Cesternino talks to the ninth team eliminated from Amazing Race 38, Jack and Chelsie.

Pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, at www.robhasabook.com

Race on over to Twitter to follow these hosts and share all of your thoughts with us on Twitter by tagging @RobHasAPodcast and using the hashtag #RHAP!

Rob Cesternino @robcesternino

Join our Facebook group at robhasawebsite.com/targroup 

Rob Cesternino (@RobCesternino) interviews the latest castaway voted off the Survivor 49 island, followed by This Week In Survivor History with Jordan Kalish (@JordanKalish) where Rob plays against an RHAP patron.

Survivor 49’s drama heats up as Rob Cesternino returns with a jam-packed exit interview with Jawan Pitts. This Exit Interview episode dives right into Jawan’s shocking blindside—the big Tribal Council move that left viewers and players buzzing. Rob guides the discussion through Jawan’s journey from the bottom to a powerful mid-game position, and what ultimately sent him packing.

The conversation opens with Jawan reflecting on his entire Survivor 49 experience, comparing his arc to a “baby Andy” story—starting out shaky, finding his stride, then getting caught up in big strategic swings. Jawan shares how his post-merge game revolved around navigating shifting alliances and tough votes, especially working tightly with Sage and debating whether to take a bigger shot at Rizzo. He opens up about the pressures of playing for his family and weighing loyalty versus self-preservation when the numbers started slipping away. There’s also insight into the dynamic with Sophie—how her out-of-game bond with Sage played a silent but pivotal role—and the paranoia that set in as Jawan detected shifting loyalties before his vote-out.

– Jawan describes the critical Tribal Councils, including the failed Rizzo blindside and messy split vote scramble

– Rob presses for behind-the-scenes takes on alliances, vote math, fake idols, and how Sophie stealthily flipped the game

– Jawan’s thoughts on why Savannah’s camp moves spooked him and the subtle signals that tipped him off to trouble

– The impact of emotional and financial motivation on Jawan’s gameplay decisions, as he tried balancing heart and head

– Fun moments, like the fake idol antics and how the edit hid just how much hammock time Jawan enjoyed

Chapters:

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

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!

When Jawan was saying goodbye to everyone, he told Sage, “We tried and we made the wrong decision.” It’s true that they made the wrong decision, but was it the one he was talking about here? What decisions should they have made, and when? And which key player ensured his demise in the game? David Bloomberg and Jessica Lewis answer all these questions and many more. Because at RHAP, we know Survivor, and we know why Jawan Alex Lost.

Check out our new merch at https://www.robhasawebsite.com/merch

LISTEN: Subscribe to the Survivor podcast feed

It’s time to take a trip back to the Old School! All season long, Rob Cesternino is bringing legendary Survivor alumni onto the podcast to break down Survivor 49 through the eyes of those who played in the game’s early days.

Survivor 49 episode 10 heats up as host Rob Cesternino welcomes Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X’s Bret Labelle for a special Old School Interview. This episode dives into the wild post-merge game, where fake idols, bold swings, and shifting alliances set the stage for a chaotic Tribal Council. Rob and Bret break down the strategic moves, the social chaos, and ask if the players can keep a lid on their secrets when so much is on the line.

Bret joins Rob to recap his recent European travels before focusing on the main action: the two major alliances prepping for a blindside, Sophie’s pivotal decision to flip sides, and Rizzo’s shocking play of a fake idol. The hosts highlight Sage and Jawan’s ambitious plot to get both Rizzo and Kristina to burn their idols, and debate whether making yourself the “RizGod” helps or hurts in a season filled with big personalities. Key camp moments, the Survivor Café meetups, and even this episode’s controversial food rewards get airtime as Rob and Bret break it all down.

Rob and Bret discuss:

With the alliances shaken and post-merge chaos in full effect, Rob and Bret explore whether Sophie’s maneuver has changed the power structure forever and if idol antics will keep paying off. Can Sage rebound from a failed big move, or will the RizGod continue to control the narrative?

Chapters:

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

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Manta Sleep. Summertime is officially here! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and while all that extra daylight can feel energizing, it can quietly sabotage your sleep. Later sunsets disrupt your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.

Manta Sleep is here to help. Whether you’re blocking out daylight or tuning out the sounds of summer nights, taking control of your sleep environment helps you get deep, restorative rest, no matter how long the sun stays up.

To take advantage of 10% off your first order, visit ?https://tinyurl.com/2nsptcy3 ?or go to www.mantasleep.com and use promo code RHAP49

Never miss a minute of RHAP’s extensive Survivor coverage!

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, Rob and Akiva guess listeners’ ages!

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.

Check out our new merch at https://www.robhasawebsite.com/merch

Past Episodes of Rob & Akiva Need a Podcast