Legacy and Future of the Show

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For the recent story about the US signing the memorandum of understanding with Iran, their vantage plan shows us that, Right Leaning Daily Express framed it as a historic peace deal, while left Leaning NPR notes it resulted in the president's approval hitting record lows pllus data like each publication source of funding and a factuality rating. The Nobel Peace Center even called Ground News an excellent way to stay informed. avoid echo chambers, and expand your world view. Get forty percent off by going to ground. news slash twenty twenty six. That's ground. news slash twenty twenty six Ground d. newews slash twenty twenty six. You guys, welcome to another episode in Nostalgia and now. Today I am joined by one of my favorite challenge comeback stories ever. Aviv, thank you so much for coming on this podcast. A, thank you for having me. What is it like being back in the challenge world Oh holy shit That's a loaded question. It's been really fun Let me start with that. It's been One of those things, I think the older that you get in life, it's like you're less ready for surprises or expecting surprises, right? Like I had in this pretty like consistent I've got the kids and I've got the corporate job and I've got the husband and the house and all these things that we you know, whatever that we when we're young, we're like, I'm going to have all these things today. So I felt like I kind of had all those things. and then all of a sudden, it came back at a time in my life where Some things were falling apart and I was ready to leave corporate And so the weirdest part about that was just that the timing was right Um which any time prior to that probably wouldn't have been right and I would not have says yes. So I think it was this really random, fun surprise at a time in my life where I needed it and it was available and it worked out. So ' been the coolest thing about coming back definitely thought I was going be on like two weeks. So I was like, they don't know me. I mean, the first surprise was like even getting requested to go back on. and I remember being like Wait, it's still going on, you know? Yeah. That was wild in itself. And then I got to reconnect with people from the show. so that was like really, really fun I think I realized too, like just how much in common all of us have and even though we might have different personas on TV and be branded a little bit differently as characters, we all have a lot of really baseline similarities, especially when you look at like from an era slash generation standpoint So I just went with the intention of having fun, thought I'd be back in a couple weeks. Definitely didn't think I would be there that long or be doing back to back season. That was a really long way. I don't even know if I answered the question, but yeah, it's awesome. It's been really fun but it's also not a career. So that will be the other side of it. Definitely, definitely. I have to say, watching you come back an absolutely crushing competition has been really, really fun for me to watch. Me and my fiancee are such huge fans of yours. And we've been rooting for you since you came back. Thank you. I mean, that's the best part honestly was the competing and then still being good and maybe even physically being better than I was then without having known the show, without having understood the show without having ed the politics, right or having the favoritism, also not having the hate R or the the sort of the rivalries, if you will. But I think for me, especially this last season with all the kids that were like in their twenties I If I get nothing else out of life, but I got to do that in my forties and compete against twenty year olds and feel like I still how I own that to me was super empowering. So That's been really fun and again, like another surprise. So it's cool when you get to a point later in life and you could still surprise yourself, I think Definitely, definitely. Well, I guess we should start with fresh meat. How did you get on that show? Did you apply for like real worldor or road rules and you got to pook or So this is like back in the day, I think where they cast people that were actually not interested in being on the show for the most part At least some of the stories that I hear, I think Darell has the same very similar story to mine Uh, I thought I'd like to say dragged a certain degree to an audition with my younger brother, his name is Alone and H and I had been doing some like acting and modeling just locally on the side I was in school. I didn't have I was premed student and I didn't have any I was gonna to say Internet, but that's not it was cable So like what was it called back in the day? So I actually I couldn't afford Ko. I had like multiple jobs and, you know, whatever I I hadn't even watched the show to begin with I wasn't familiar I was kind of familiar with the premise because I think realal worldorld back then had been popular. So I knew of it But I never watched it. and the Fation was actually at a bar locally. The Ohio State University, which is where I was born to school On campus, very convenient at a bar, also very convenient. and with my brother, also convenient But it was an audition for realal world. And so back then you know, I don't think they do auditions like this anymore, But you kind of just all came. It was like this big casting call and there would be different like they pass you on or at some point you would just part of it anymore So we started at the bottom level in this bar had two floors, and before we know it, my brother and I are all the way at the top And we kind of you know our best seies. And so we were like, let's They've never had a brother' sister do one real world. So we kind of came up with this idea of like, let's pitch it as you get to for the price award And you know, on top of it This brother, one of my brothers, you know, he's gay. I was like, we're like brownh. We're Israeli. L I was like we could check like a lot of boxes between the two of us. So we just started kind of having fun with it and it really was more of like a joke between me and I. Anyway, we both make it basically to the end and then as we're walking away, I get a call back and he doesn't. And I'm like, shit, like he's the one who brought me over here. And now I got to go to do this other thing and like I'm excited, but I don't know what it is. So anyway, that's one thing led to another. And I ended up going to like being flown out to LA. blah, blah, blah And I get back and they're like, we have good news and bad news. We don't want you for real worldor, and it was going to be Key West Oh wow. So we change your mind. We don't want you for real world We actually want you for this thing called the Challenge and we're going to do this new season where we're bringing people in who haveve never been on real world or road rules. and it's like a physical competition and it's in Australia. And I remember having a little bit of a like sense of relief. because when I started to realize what I had potentially signed myself up for, living in a house for like six months with a bunch of people that were, you know, And meanwhile, I thought I was going go to med school. So I'm like, this is like sounds like the opposite of where I'm planing my life to go And so when it was physical, I was like, I'm so down for this. This is so fun. This is so much more me. And that's it one thing l to another. I end up there and obviously we had a killer season What was it like having to be on television? you know, because it sounds like you were a little hesitant to even do the real world. and I feel like challenge, you're so much more vulnerable, I'll say on the challenge because you have to do hard stuff all day. Yeah, you know, that's the stuff I don't mind. Oh It's actually like the social and the branding and all that, especially at twenty one So now I'm very much like An adult, I would say, I think most of the time, ninety percent of the time se back percent time by then because I didn't watch I didn't know. didn't have a great stigma to it. You know, reality TV in general is a lot of partarting was a lot of sex, it was a lot of U You know, it wass just a lot of things that didn't necessarily align with wanting to get into med school. So that was my biggest hesitation. Now I did think that going on and competing was going to be a little bit less of that, which I still think was probably the case for me. and don't get me wrong, I was actually a huge partier. It was like, I did not want that on TV and I didn't want to to potentially inhibit my chances of getting into med school And that was sort of how I went in. So the reason I wasn't very vocal, the reason I didn't party very hard at least on camera. back then we had our weekends free so we could party as much as we want on the weekends. Yeah, no cameras on the weekends. it was great. Anyway, yeah. so I think that for me was what caused me to maybe not fully be myself as people knew me, let's say, at home in college But other than that, I thought it was fine. I think the biggest thing, even now, what they actually put on TV is you have no idea how it's gonna be edited. You have no idea what they're gonna show. There's always shit that you know was probably on camera that could be used in a way would not benefit you right or could tell a story that may not have been the full story But it works with their story liine So to me, that notot really knowing and not having control. That's the difficult part Because especially now, it's worse now because there's social media. So like it lives on and everyone's got an opinion and this little thing turns into, you know, something massive quickly. But no, I think it was fun. It's just it's weird. I don't really like watching myself. It's like If you ever listen to yourself on table well, yeah, you're podcasting. yourself. So you're like, that's my voice. That's weird. you know, you' whatever. but But it was so fun. It was really fun and it's obviously more fun when you win. Definitely. I mean, your rookie fason was incredible. And what was it life like having someone like Darell as your first partner? Did he make it so much easier and Yeah. I he great thingsill this day T Then I have so much love for him I had so much love for him then I have even more love and respect for him now, twenty twenty one years later. He is just such a good person. He has always been such Good, good human being You know, we all make mistakes, we all go through tough shit in our life, but he will always do the thing that he thinks is right the moment even if it might not be best that, you know, it's he at least like leads with his heart And the way he is like with his family is incredible It's incredible to watch. and he's a competitor. So him and I lucked out that I think a lot of our values and a lot The way we maneuver through the game are very similar. We're both athletes, we're both competitive really care to be involved in the drama for the most part, obviously, you know, alcoholically d of roles. So you know, there were things that sort of avoided it while we were being filmed and stuff just for the reasons I gave you before. But for the most part, him and I were like strategic. We played a little bit under the radar. He had his relationships The fact I had my relationships with the rookies that mean R away, DM Lenette and I We work best friends. you know, So I sort of had that and it was great because for the most part their partner relationships, especially Derek and Dererelle al line So that was like easy, you know until it wasn't to later compete against each other. But you know, that happens, that's expected He was the best partner I could have chosen, and I would work with him anyt time again And your season of fresh meat was absolutely stacked. You know, when you were there with all those competitors, was there a party of you that was like, how am I going to win this? or did you just have so much kind of faith in yourself that you were like, I'm going win? Fny. I think I just take D by day. And I even then I knew that I didn't know what the hell I was doing. Like I'm like, I haven't watched this I'm waking up. I mean, you already don't know when you go the show what's going to happen. You know, and whatever is going to happen, you better like expect it to change So On top of that, not having any idea what like the premise was or I mean, that's what I just think about sometimes is like you just like walked in had no idea what was going on, but you figured it out. So Yeahah, I think it's just ability to do that And I don't think I really thought about how stacked it was until afterwards. And I'll say the same thing for season forty. I went in not knowing anything. I didn't realize like holy shit until I saw people compete. I'm like, holy shit And then I didn't even know who they were until afterwards. you know, I'm like, oh, this person's been on for this many seasons and they've won this many times and blah, blah, blah, Which I think is to my advantage because I really come into these games without a ton of biases. And it allows me to navigate and pivot the situation, which I think is really what you have to be able to do in these games Yeah, absolutely. And one thing you kind of mentioned earlier was the social media aspect of everything When you came back, were you like shocked at how rapid the challenge fans could be? or were you kind of warned ahead of time I think I was just shocked M the level of engagement in general in social media And then like followings that people got over that time frrame of the twenty years, you know, because for me When I graduated college, I think book had just come out. I had a MySpace account which was like basically like shopping on Craigslist. for the little of that You know, like you get to a point like, oh I'm supposed to be using Craigless. Oh Myace Ttally So That was like right at that break where they're like, this is happening on Craigslist. This is happening on Mypace. And then it was like, oh, Facebook's here. Yeah. Yeah. so I think for me, I had done very minimal social media and I was really using it more to like because I was like, now I don't have to send a b pictures of my family. This is great. I can really just you know, A me on Facebook or Instagram and I'm like, you get all the pictures you want, family. So that was how I was using it. So I definitely wasn't using it for anything else. I still don't do really enough of what I should be doing. I think that part is is the most was the most surprising coming in is just like, oh, wow, they're like They have followings and engagement and they're doing affiliates and all that, you know, influencer stuff. So But yeah, some of these fans are Wild They They're very invested. They're very invested and shit that isn't true half the time. and For me, I've just accepted that like It's entertainment for them So if you can look at it that way, you know, this person, I don't even know them. And whether it's positive or negative or whatever, it's all assumptit Because the reality is When you watch the show 's edited and you realize that they have so many hours of content and they've got to narrow down to these stories. and depending on what stage of the game it is, like It's boring. They're going to try to create stuff. out of minimal because I don't have any real authentic drama or conflict. And so there's like, you know, these checkboxes, they got to L we got have a little bit of this, we got to have a little bit of this. We got otherwise people aren't going to be engaged. So for me, like coming back, I think I'm able to get it more as a business, which I didn't the first time. I understand it. and I guess my expectations have changed a little bit But yeah and cential's crazy. You just have to be able to, I mean, I don't do there's a lot of stuff I don't do Twitter or whatever you want to call it that. Honestly takes a lot of time too And I just don't I feel like It's also one of those things if you don't have a lot to post. Like and you're just posting, it's like, I don't know. what's the point? But Well, do you think that's an advantage that you have is that you aren't on social media like so heavily and you're able to just go in without maybe so much chatter from? Yeah. I also think that has happened from just being in real life for twenty years and not looking at this like this is not who I am This is something I did and then did again. So maybe it's something that I do occasionally, but it doesn't define me. And it's definitely not who I am and it's not and for those people that know me that really know me Those are the people that mattered to me Like if you don't know me and you have an opinion, that's fine I understand that. And believe me, I do stupid shit all the time that I regret. Like I'm totally accepting and accountable a lot of stupid shit that I do that either insinuates something or causes some kind of, you know consequence. But that's all of us. And I think like when you start looking to what people say, you're never going to be happy with yourself. L It's just to me, that's part of like maturing and being an adult and being comfortable in your own skin And understanding that like no matter you do, obviously, if you have more exposure, you're going to get more negative. I mean, it's a numbers game at that point. So and then if you're a piece of shit, you're gonna get even more negative. So Sometimes, I guess on this show maybe I know you might get more airtime. You never knowactly you're definitely going to get more airtime. That's true. You're definitely going to get rewarded for big an asshole So during your long break, were you getting calls to come back to No You didn't get any calls? No Basically, I got one call and I think it was probably like following season or one after it or something But I don't even remember getting a second call like we're not going like there was like availability call or something and then that was it grranted, everyone knows how boring I was my first season, I know Thanks for the money though. in life twenty twenty one or something like that And I didn't find it til like twenty three, right two years later. This is how engaged I am in my social media. everyone. please take it personally if I don't respond. They had reached out like a couple of the casting directors And It would have been horrible timing and I didn't see it. It was via Facebook Messenger, which to this day, I feel like is a horrible mode to communate. There are eight thousand better modes than Facebook Messenger to communicate And I didn't even find it until someone said something and I was looking for their message and I started scrolling back. You know, and then I was like, Oh shit. Oh my God, I guess I should write them back And at that point, I'd already like re You know, I'd done a couple challenge manias, I'd been kind of reintroduced into to you know, the cast through that and people But anyway, it was like Yeah, no. And even then it was seventeen years, you know, it was like So no, and that's why I never thought about it again. I mean, the first few years, I was definitely Sorry I was offended. I was like, I went on the show. I won. like, isn't that the point of this game Like I played really not only did I win, but I was like I did really well in the puzzle. Like I was a differentiator from a competitor. I felt like from a competitive standpoint, But I just started dating my husband at the time. You know, I was in the Honeywood stage. I wasn't interested in the sex. I wasn't interested. and the drinking and the partying. I didn't want that brand time, like Those were checkbxes you wanted to check you know, I think nowadays, it's a little bit there's at least one box for maybe like athleticism or half a box Mbe Aphle box for Aletis sens of quarter box for puzzles. So on three fourths of the block That's fun. But Yeah, I just was like, thats sucks. like that's not fair just because I'm I didn't like do anything. No I mean, not many people win their rookie year either. I just want to say not many people win that year and it is crazy. they didn't call you back. And I guess when you they did reach out were you kind of like, why are they bringing me back? Y. Absolutely. But I also was like, obviously I have to do this. L what is going on in my life right now? So Yeah, I was just I was literally in a place in life we were going through issues with our house and a lawsuit with issues with our house. So like We were like reov renovating not my choice hundreds of thousands. So it's like very stressful And I had a really well paying job but it was not aligned and I had to defefinitely keep going with it like for the sake of my team and then for the sake of finances So that didn't feel great and eventually that blew up, which it was bound to And then, you know, it was kind of all like life felt like it was like all around falling apart after being ood. So then I'm like, well, if I already have all this toxicity in my life Why not add one more level of toxicity Right. and go back on the show. So it was just weird, but it was one of those things where like for me, if something like that comes back in my life, that's like I never thought would happen again. I didn't even know It's like, you gott to go through that door You gota check it out at least you know, for fun, just to say like, I'm not going to sit there and be like what if? rightight. You know? So And then, you know, even then it was like not guaranteed and I found out like two weeks before that I was going on. So I wasn't part of the original cast, even. It was like someone had bailed, I think maybe Melinda or something and then I found out like two weeks before that I was leaving the country, had to pack all the shit, figure out, oh my God, I have children I didn't have that when I was twenty one So It was wild. It was a wild adventure. I definitely didn't think I'd be there that long either so I was gonna say, was it an easy yes though Well I knew right away I was like, I have to do it, but then I'm like I talk to Ryan to my husband This is crazy A I seriously gonna do this So now the cool thing was because I think because him and I were dating when I was in my Virkey season and I want that actually helped me because he was familiar with it. He also knew like what I was going through with everything else And I hate just like lost my job. so it was like, okay, well I don't, I was just about to start doing other work, you know, like working with recruiters And really the timing was like within a couple of months. So I'm like, okay Like, you know, I had a severance to get me through. So it was like this if any time is the right time, it's right now. And then when I come back Then I'll go back into work, you know all of that And he also didn't think I'd be gone for as long as I was So we hadn't even planned. I mean, I did a lot of stuff like put a lot of things on autopay, did everything, you know, got everything preped But neither one of us thought I'd be gone for life You know, almost three months. It awwesome you were though I know. And if he had known that, he probably would it wouldn't have been as easy as say yes. The second timeag was a lot harder. Yeah, I was gonna ask, what was it like? Because the challenge used to be more about like fun. and the challenges you would do were definite difficult, but I feel like it was more frustrating. like, why can't you carry all these balls at once and things like that? And now it's like jumping from car to car with explosions did have you kept up with the challenge at all? or did you show up and you were like, what do you mean we have to do this? I stress watch like O season. Okay. And honestly mostly I was like, shit, I'm not gonna know any trivia I not gonna know it. When Trivian came up and I was like, drop me first hundred percent drumic first for the good. I will I will be the martyr. this is the I had not kept up with it It sounds awful, but I really didn't even know was still going on because I never watched it afterward And it was it was a significant amount of time, to be fair. twenty years, decades is significant. A lot of shit can happen in twenty years. I didn't keep up with it. When I found out I would potentially be going on, I watched Well, I only had time to watch One season, what was it? It was like maybe thirty nine or so It was the previous season I think thirty eight or thirty nine, one of them. Maybe thirty eight I think thirty nine wasn't available. I was like, how do you even watch this thing? They don't make it feel No, they don't. Yeah, in Seasons are so long them I't really I was like trying to get through it, but it took a while So yeah, I didn't really know what to expect I did, I was happy to see there was a little bit more athleticism. However, I do think I did this a little bit of like the font It's definitely more produced than it used to be, right? Like if things are missed, we gott to like repeat and start over, which makes Makes sense, but feels weird, right? And It's different from what it used to be, which was like whatever we get we get you know, and it's more authentic U And I did miss like the fun playfulness like You know, the whole, we're going to prank each other and we're going to do like there's a lot less of that and it feels a lot more serious when you're there like almost to the point of like, maybe we need like a therapist in the house, you know? who could use one of them It's just it's very much. It was it felt a lot more stressful coming now You don't have weekends off anymore That's a big part of it too. So you don't really get to reset. You know, I remember we used to be able to go on runs too, which was a big thing. like to me That's my big, I'm a big like moving meditator Not as much as ss so meditor, but Keep your wellness routine going strong all summer. Koachava's new travel packs help you stick to your daily ritual even when you're on the go. Just one packet of Kachava's all in one nutrition shake provides complete nutrition wherever you are. with twenty five grams of protein, six grams of fiber, greens, adaptogens, and more. Simplify your daily ritual Go to kachava. com and use code News for fifteen percent off. That's KaC haVa d. com code News. Do you keep hearing podcast ads like this one, for example But always wonder how you actually get involved with them for your own brand or organization? Well, it's easier than you think. We're ACast, and we give you the platform to do it all yourself. Browse thousands of popular podcasts, choose the shows that match your perfect audience, set your budget and launch. And if you want a hand, our podcast specialists are there to help you launch with confidence This is podcast advertising without barriers. Get started at aast dot com slash advertise. rememember, Darelle and I would go sometimes I go with Dorell, sometimes I go by myself, but we were our house was you know, in Australia in sort of this fararnland area And so they were a bunch in hills and we would just go. We'd say, him, B and run Go on a run three, four, five, six miles, whatever you want it outside and come back when we were done and just like check out, check in basically, very Tasswalk You can't do that now. So like you are trapped in a house. you know, you're going around in circles and downstairs. I mean, it's just at the point where you're like, I can't E mentally It's like you're in prison So you know, I sort of joke. I'm like, I've spent forty years. ing you know, to not be in this situ. Like I spent forty years working to not be in this situation. right T not be showering in a port of potty which sh everywhere So yeah, like how far I've got And obviously that must play into like people breaking nearly the end. And it does for sure. How do you keep yourself grounded? think For me, I can't speak to others because a lot of people don't They very And you see that and you see the longer they're there you know, the less stable they are it happens to all of us. I mean, it definitely happens to me too However, I have 've been through a lot of Set. is my life? And I amm very good at dissociating myself from the situation I'm in and being able to just focus on what needs to happen. and not on the bullshit. So even though I may find myself sort of scatatter for a bit, you know, it's like I'll go on the run or I'll do something or and really quickly I know. okay, got it. You could be upset for a minute Or you could do this, but like that's not productive. And what you can control is your attitude. So Now leave, you need to shift into What are the options? What's the solution and I'm just really good at that But I think that's because of a lot of experiences that I've had in my life veryer difficult that I had to navigate my way through and then tack on to that fifteen years in corporate America. you know, in leadership positions where you're constantly navigating and every time you think something's right, something's not. So you realize quickly that like There's no point in wasting energy on the things you can't control And in that house Seventy five percent of the things around you, you cannot control So if you were going to spend your energy on that, It's going to take from what, right? You can give to the game basically. So. I guess that's one mentality. And I' can do that I wouldn't be able to. I'd be a mess if I was in that challenge house. I already know it We're in like the fun I call it the fun years of the challenge and now it's like competitive. It's very competitive. Do you think newer players are missing out on something now? Because. And I don't think the newer players like it the way that we here's what I realized quickly, the older challengers, the original challengers, like those really the challengers And I don't have like a time frrame of when that starts and ends at all But I will say like social media didn't exist then So Even though there was some notoriety and maybe some fame, and maybe I think the thing we were most excited about was like the gigs afterwards because we would make money. And it was like a lot of money back then. You know, now it's like not so much with money sucks now with inflation. And I think it was really fun I don't remember, I know there were rivalries of course, but I don't remember them getting as serious. I also don't remember or digging into each other's personal lives the way they do today, which I think is Bllshit too me, like that's one thing. I don't care what you do, but like do not dig into each other's personally. Be able to separate. this is a job. Right This is not who you are This is a job you're getting paid to do, at least respect other people's personal lives. That stuff really bothers me. but Wh was S I forgot the original? I asked what they areissing out on. No, no worriry. Oh yeah, I think just the fun like the actual fun of the game. like And by the way, like not having all the stuff, like not knowing part of the funont of the game because you're all going in all feeling that some level of anxiety, whether you know it or not. But I think there was still this camaraderie of we are all in this together. And I think that got lost a little bit And you know, there was always situations where people were mean or dramatic or whatever. But I feel like too, when you see that loop and I'll go back to like the era one beginning of era two because that was my sort of era I still have great relationships with those people. and I really lost fifteen to twenty years of keeping in touch with them, some of them But I still feel very connected to them. It's like you went to this summer camp. If you went to summer camp and you guys were like besties and you had these crazy experiences and you can't even go home and tell anyone about them because they could never understand, you know That's how it is Yeah That's what it is. Like I come home and I try to explain it and I'm like, you know what This is like too difficult. You're not gonna to get it anyway. So just call my challenge friend So I think there's like that bond and I don't know that that exists at the same level today Yeah. I would agree as a viewer. As a viewer, it definitely seems that way. I think that's what they're missing.. I think that's the part that authenticity is what's missing, that fun, that playfulness, that like We could still compete, but like, let's be silly. Right. You know, let's have fun while we're doing it. like Let me this person or let's go all attack this person, you know, but in a fun childish way in that Ply missing for sure. Yeah. Well, I have to ask you about, I believe it was season forty when you ran off the trail. You got lost during some type of elimination. Did you get stopped? Did they tell you you were going the wrong way at one point? How like we're gonna die. That's understand how is in a cave? Like what's going on? First of all, and I'm standing to this like till I die Okay I found a shortcut and I should have been rewarded because I skipped one entire puzzle I was in trash. I was probably syringes like her glass rolling around Like the cys were not clean. It was pure dark and I was like talking of the bike. I have no idea where you I don't know. I just keep going it was one of those like I gone so far that I'm like Do I turn back? Or do I keep going? like, I don't know what's supposed to happen? How do I know And I remembered finding like I did start to breathe heavily, like, which I' not. pretty good in those situations that I had to like Okay, Be for case, you just turn around and you go back like don't Stress yourself out And then I find so light And I got out And then there were arrows like, well, first of all, actually before the arrows, there were lights and camera guys that were like facing in other directions. And then they were like, what is You know, which like is not part of the like well, sometimes it is, but typically like you don know too some degree where you're going. Right. And the camera guys are facing where you're coming from, where you're coming out of. Sounds like something's not right, but I always like, I think that. So I like went up and then I was basically the finish line with the final puzzle. So I'm like Okay. and then someone was like No, you have to go back So like the people at the puzzle, you know? So I might going on? So now I'm running The arrows are pointing light way. So now I have to follow the backwards arrows. Okay. So now I'm looking for backwards arrows. There's people and I'm like somebody help me like where do I go? they're like One They're not really supposed to help you, but two, it was clear no one knew what the thoughtop was going on Might Then I passed the cast that hasn't gone yet and they're all waiting because I'm like, What's going on guys? I don't know where It was so they were cracking up afterwards. and like, Oh now whereere I'm going. So I finally get they lead me back to like the original where I should have gotten to in the tunnel, which I think was like this far away from me in relation to where I went, which was like this way, right? So like it should have been way easier. is my point. So then I go in and they're like gonna to let me do the puzzle. and then all of a sudden they're like Justin B comes out And he's like Hold on a second, not a check. And he's like, no, you're de cute. So I'm like, you've got to be hating me You've gotta be kidding me, this sucks Like I'm like, let me start over, giveive me a penalty, something, but like we're a week before the final. I wasn't even supposed to be here. You didn't call me for twenty years now is You guys. I ran through a dangerous cave. I made a great. I almost died. This is a liability guy Made great television because I was like, whereere's a Vief going? She wouldn't be able to tell you I just remember being on the mic too at one point, I'm like, do these things on GPS? Am I And then later, later someone said like there was like seventy five miles or something of tunnels and that like they didn't know where I was and that some of them had like booby drops like built in from like the day. Oh my God. So again, it was a shortcut. I should have been rewarded. That's my take You be very high accountability, but this one pisss me off. Right. You should be rewarded so least do it over, like don't deQue me. it should be a bear. Oh, then that was a part because they so when they show it st So it was full It's completely dark, full dark horal sentence. completely dark in theces. And they might have had like twigs, I guess. So they just tell you it's a barricade and if you feel a barricade or see a barricade, don't go. Well you can't see anything because it's completely dark. And of course when they have the cameras with the night vision, you can see so it makes it look like I'm dumb the ass, but this is the editing I'm talking about. but also So I'm thinking it's like a barricade you can't get through. So I'm feeling around, feeling around because you can't see. and my hands are going through. So if your hands are going through, that was like a tunnel. That's how it was an indicator, right So My hands go through but I feel on the ground like a stick or something. But again, I didn't know the barricades were made of six. So I wouldn't have thought. Now the only thing that I should have really listened to is as I started to go through, I was like Oh, there's like glass bottles rolling around and le. But you have to realize like everyone else had to fold into thirds to get through this tunnel and I was like squatted It's like all having m It's like spinting through Yeah. I'm like hearing everything, but I'm like, I just got keep going, justust go So that was that And you didn't get lost in seventy five miles of tunnels, so MTV should just be happy for that. Yeah, exactly I think that's the way it works That's sweet, but As we're wrapping this up, what is a challenge memory, whether it's from fresh meat or more recently that wasn't on TV, but you remember really clearly, as long as you can share it on a podcast Why does the same news story sound completely different depending on where you read it That confusion is exactly what Ground News was built to solve. It's an app and website that compares news coverage, allowing you to see how each story is framed across the political spectrum and the world. For the recent story about the US signing the memorandum of understanding with Iran, their vantage plan shows us that, Right Leaning Daily Express framed it as a historic peace deal, while left Leaning NPR notes it resulted in the president's approval hitting record lows pllus data like each publication source of funding and a factuality rating. The Nobel Peace Center even called Ground News an excellent way to stay informed. avoid echo chambers, and expand your world view. Get forty percent off by going to ground. news slash twenty twenty six. That's ground. news slash twenty twenty six Ground d. newews slash twenty twenty six. While every other channel is fighting for your customers' attention, podcasts are where they've already given it No one accidentally listens to a podcast for forty five minutes. They choose to be here. They trust the voice in their ears, and when that voice talks about your brand, it doesn't sound like advertising. It sounds like a recommendation from a friend. ACast gives you that trust at scale. Digital precision, host read authenticity, and performance data that proves it worked Don't fight for attention. buuy it with ACast. Learn more by visiting Acast dot com slash advertise U I think I'll go back to Fresh meat I might give you one or two. Okay, so fresh meat, I think one of my favorite memories was because of how close DM Lennette and I were and obviously D just no longer being with us which is just so sad One of my favorite memories was like it was on a Saturday and we went out to a bar. we were just all dancing and having such a good time and Deed love to dance. I loveved to dance So I just have that very vivid memory of us like on tables dancing and drinking and like it was like all the game was aside when we would do that.