The Survivor Buff

By Zale Mednick

What's The Survivor Buff about?

A weekly Survivor recap show that breaks down tribal councils, analyzes strategy, and weighs in on contestants, twists, and the general state of the game. Hosted by Survivor superfans Zale Mednick and Eric Silverberg.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Survivor Buff episodes:

05.23.2024
42. Survivor 46 Episode 13 (Finale)
Does the social game reign supreme? Analyzing Kenzie vs. CharlieWas Maria's jury vote the most savage vote in Survivor history? Ranking this season and winner
05.17.2024
41. Survivor 46 Episode 12
Has the gameplay this season been amazing, terrible, or somewhere in between?Why did Maria believe they were voting for Charlie? Who is in the best shape as we head into the finale?
05.11.2024
40. Survivor 46 Episode 11
Did Charlie make the right decision? Why is Q considered a threat? How badly did Maria falter when choosing who to take for reward? Has Liz found a cure to autoimmune diseases?
05.04.2024
39. Survivor 46 Episode 10
Is Applebee's actually good?Liz reaches a breaking point (to put it mildly) Why didn't Tiff play her idol? Can anyone stand in Maria and Charlie's path to the end?
04.26.2024
38. Survivor 46 Episode 9
Should Kenzie have turned on Tiff? What was Hunter's biggest misstep? Did Hunter actually have the votes to stay?
04.20.2024
37. Survivor 46 Episode 8
What on earth is going on with Q?Has loyalty gone by the wayside this season? Should Liz have gone after Tevin?Should Hunter have saved Tevin with his idol? Why did Jeff let tribal go to a vote if Q wanted to quit?
04.14.2024
36. Survivor 46 Episode 7
Who benefited most from Tim's departure?Is Q becoming a Monday morning Quarterback? (pun intended) Why did Tevin target Soda (and then vote for Venus)? Why season looks to be on the upswing
04.06.2024
35. Survivor 46 Episode 6
Mergatory vs. Regular Merge Why did Mo go home? Who really should have been voted out? How do you throw out a name without becoming a target?
03.30.2024
34. Survivor 46 Episode 5
Why did Maria flip on the ladies? Did Gem overplay? Are there any legs to this new 'duos' alliance?
03.22.2024
33. Survivor 46 Episode 4
-You guessed it - more Bhanu! -Why actually voting is so critical at tribal council -Do we like this cast? -Hunter is a stud -Excitement for the post-Bhanu era
03.16.2024
32. Survivor 46 Episode 3
Bhanu, Bhanu, BhanuMore Bhanu What is the right kind of 'weirdo' for Survivor to cast? More Bhanu ?
03.10.2024
31. Survivor 46 Episode 2
Is Liz a villain, or just unaware?What on earth is going on with Bhanu? How does the 3-tribe format affect Survivor strategy? Too much crying :(
03.02.2024
30. Survivor 46 Episode 1
Breaking Down Survivor 46 Episode 1 Is Jelinsky a legend?Is Jelinsky a disaster? Why we liked the new twists in the premiere Thoughts on some of the standout players
01.11.2024
29. Casting Survivor Second Chance 2.0
Survivor 31 - Second Chance in Cambodia, was one of the franchise's most successful season. In this episode, Zale and Eric pontificate about a second iteration of a second chance season and each draft their own tribe of returnee contestants...
12.23.2023
28. Survivor 45 Episode 13 (Finale)
Breaking down the finale of Survivor 45 What on earth happened in that final five tribal council?Why did Dee beat Austin? How does Dee compare to past Survivor winners? Where does this season land in the Survivor Season Rankings? Looking...
12.14.2023
27. Survivor 45 Episode 12
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 12 The 'post-mortem' on DrewDee's savage blindsideIs Dee or Julie a bigger threat to win the game? Does Austin still have a chance of winning? Looking forward to the finale of Survivor 45
12.09.2023
26. Survivor 45 Episode 11
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 11 Should Julie have taken a shot at Austin? Austin's multiple blunders A post-mortem on Emily's game Why was there no split vote?
12.02.2023
25. Season 45 Episode 10
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 10 Did Emily miss a major opportunity?Who has the best shot of winning the game out of the Reba 4? Which of the Reba 4 should flip on the others? Did Bruce actually have a...
11.25.2023
24. Survivor 45 Episode 9
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 9 Should the Reba Four turn on each other?What is going to happen with Austin's second idol? Is Emily the key to turning this game around? Breaking down the 'lose your vote' twist this season...
11.18.2023
23. Survivor 45 Episode 8
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 8 The Auction is Back ... and it's awesome!Why could Belo not get on the same page? Did Kellie have a move here to save her game? Is it time for the Reba Four to...
11.10.2023
22. Survivor 45 Episode 7
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 7 A tribal split right after the merge?Dee vs. Kelly - A showdown in the making? Uncle Bruce 'Coming Clean' to Katura
11.04.2023
21. Survivor 45 Episode 6
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 6 That wild, wild tribal council !Is Kaleb really that great of a social player? Who is set up well for the post-merge game? Will the amulet be a curse?New trends in Survivor merge episodes
10.26.2023
20. Survivor 45 Episode 5
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 5Is Drew making rookie mistakes?Emily sides with Drew and Austin J is willing to fall on the sword Why Jake's flashback was the best the show has ever had To Amulet or Not To Amulet?...
10.20.2023
19. Survivor 45 Episode 4
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 4Why did Sean really quit?Why are quits so detrimental to a season? Did the women make the right call going after Sifu? Who is on the outs after the tribe swap?
10.14.2023
18. Survivor 45 Episode 3
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 3 What was Sabiyah's fatal flaw?Did Emily make the right call in voting out Sabiyah? Do we like this new iteration of the immunity idol? Analyzing the new 'nullify a lost vote' advantage
10.07.2023
17. Survivor 45 Episode 2
Breaking Down Survivor 45 Episode 2 Why did this episode of Survivor feel so great?Should you always open up the 'Beware Advantage'? A second impression of Emily Is letting someone hold onto your Shot in the Dark good currency for...
09.30.2023
16. Survivor 45 Episode 1
Dissecting Survivor 45 Episode 1 Analyzing Hannah's quit and why it was so disappointingWhy does casting feel different this season?Is Emily the good type or bad type of villain?Standout contestantsCheck out this blog that ranked us as one of the...
07.19.2023
15. Survivor Season Rankings - Part Two
Survivor Season Rankings Part Two Which seasons crack the top ten?How important is a satisfying winner in determining a season's ranking?Which seasons will spark the most intense disagreement between Eric and Zale, and will this irreparably damage their friendship?Ultimately, what...
07.05.2023
14. Survivor Season Rankings - Part One
Survivor Season Rankings - Part 1 Considerations when ranking Survivor seasonsZale and Eric draft the bottom 22 seasons of SurvivorWhich seasons don't make the cut for the top half of Survivor seasons?Will either Zale or Eric use their veto power...
05.27.2023
13. Survivor 44 Episode 13 (Finale)
Breaking Down the Survivor 44 Finale Why Jam Jam was the perfect winnerWhy did Carolyn lose?Has 'volunteering to make fire' become too much of an expectation?How will this season age, and where does it rank in Zale's oh-so-famous season rankings?Does...
05.18.2023
12. Survivor 44 Episode 12
Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 12 The genius of the Tika ThreeThreat levels are shifting like crazy - who is actually the biggest threat to win?Should Jam Jam and Carson have taken out Carolyn?Do Heidi and Lauren have a shot...
05.12.2023
11. Survivor 44 Episode 11
Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 11Does Carolyn have a perception problem?Why did Jamie and Lauren stick with Tika?Should Carolyn have played her idol?How do Carolyn, Jam Jam, and Carson stack up against each other?
05.05.2023
10. Survivor 44 Episode 10
Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 10 Frannie the challenge beastShould Carson and Jam Jam betrayed Carolyn? Should Danny have voted out Heidi? The utter collapse of Soka Why does loyalty cease to exist on Survivor?
04.28.2023
9. Survivor 44 Episode 9
Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 9 Did Lauren waste her extra vote?Should Tika have voted out Danny? Who is playing the best game out of Jam Jam, Carson, and Carolyn? Do we like the 'Negotiate with Jeff for Rice' Twist?...
04.21.2023
8. Survivor 44 Episode 8
Breaking Down Season 44 Episode 8 Why was Ratu so overconfident?The Fart Why did Danny play his idol? Should Danny have played his idol? Who is in the strongest position moving forward?
04.14.2023
7. Survivor 44 Episode 7
Breaking down Season 44 Episode 7 Did we like the new twist? Should Frannie have thrown the challenge? Did playing the 'control the vote' actually hurt Heidi? What are the most iconic Survivor showmances of all time?
04.07.2023
6. Survivor 44 Episode 6
Breaking down Season 44 Episode 6 Why did this merge feel underwhelming?Why we're tired of the 'earn the merge' twistTwo tribes vs. Three tribesDid Carson make a mistake by informing to Kane? Carolyn's self-awareness
03.31.2023
5. Survivor 44 Episode 5
Breaking down Survivor 44 Episode 5 Is an episode without a tribal council a letdown?Will Matthew play again? What would Jam Jam have done if they'd gone to tribal? A budding romance and an awkward hugBrutal journey 'bro down'...
03.23.2023
4. Survivor 44 Episode 4
Breaking Down Survivor 44 Episode 4 Did Carolyn make the right move?Was Josh ever going to give Carolyn his idol?Did Sarah actually get voted out with a real immunity idol?Assessing the new 'Journey twist'Josh the surgical podiatristChecking through people's bags
03.17.2023
3. Survivor 44 Episode 3
Breaking down Season 44 Episode 3Why Claire was voted outCheating in Survivor challengesDid Survivor go too far by injecting a fake idol into the game?Are female contestants at an inherent disadvantage in a three-tribe format?Listener mailbagPlayers of the episode
03.10.2023
2. Survivor 44 Episode 2
Breaking down Season 44 Episode 2Carson's decisionHow whacky contestants make loyal alliesBirdcage maniaThe power of a hidden immunity idolYam Yam or Jam Jam?Matt is in love
03.05.2023
1. Survivor 44 Episode 1
Breaking down the Survivor premiere A promising premiereMedical Madness - Bruce Gets BruisedSome cool new twists - Birdcage, Inheritance Advantage, New 'Prisoner's Choie'Standout contestantsBrandon's birdcage dilemmaElectric (albeit mistake-heavy) tribal councilShots in the dark

What's The Survivor Buff about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Survivor Buff episodes:

42. Survivor 46 Episode 13 (Finale)

41. Survivor 46 Episode 12

40. Survivor 46 Episode 11

39. Survivor 46 Episode 10

38. Survivor 46 Episode 9

37. Survivor 46 Episode 8

36. Survivor 46 Episode 7

35. Survivor 46 Episode 6

34. Survivor 46 Episode 5

33. Survivor 46 Episode 4

32. Survivor 46 Episode 3

31. Survivor 46 Episode 2

30. Survivor 46 Episode 1

29. Casting Survivor Second Chance 2.0

28. Survivor 45 Episode 13 (Finale)

27. Survivor 45 Episode 12

26. Survivor 45 Episode 11

25. Season 45 Episode 10

24. Survivor 45 Episode 9

23. Survivor 45 Episode 8

22. Survivor 45 Episode 7

21. Survivor 45 Episode 6

20. Survivor 45 Episode 5

19. Survivor 45 Episode 4

18. Survivor 45 Episode 3

17. Survivor 45 Episode 2

16. Survivor 45 Episode 1

15. Survivor Season Rankings - Part Two

14. Survivor Season Rankings - Part One

13. Survivor 44 Episode 13 (Finale)

12. Survivor 44 Episode 12

11. Survivor 44 Episode 11

10. Survivor 44 Episode 10

9. Survivor 44 Episode 9

8. Survivor 44 Episode 8

7. Survivor 44 Episode 7

6. Survivor 44 Episode 6

5. Survivor 44 Episode 5

4. Survivor 44 Episode 4

3. Survivor 44 Episode 3

2. Survivor 44 Episode 2

1. Survivor 44 Episode 1

Other shows like The Survivor Buff: