On Fire with Jeff Probst: The Official Survivor Podcast

Survivor 46 is here and “On Fire with Jeff Probst: The Official Survivor Podcast” is covering all the big moments from three different POVs! Showrunner Jeff Probst is back to share his perspective and analysis of this season. Plus, the podcast welcomes a new co-host. HINT: this player was cutthroat in their gameplay, true to their heart, and a fan-favorite from the Survivor 45 Reba tribe. They outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted everyone to claim the title of winner of Survivor 45... it's Dee Valladares! “On Fire” continues to be the ultimate companion to Survivor — revealing HOW the show is made and WHY they do the things they do. You’ll get it all, from the host, fan, AND the player's POV. Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survivor 46 is off to a rockin’ start and the tribes are already “survibing!” Jeff shares behind-the-scenes insights about production of the show open and why they chose Tevin's monologue to set the tone for the season. Dee explains her initial impressions of the castaways and how she can already pinpoint potential allies and who to avoid — Jelinsky is at the top of that list based on his disheartening decision to quit the Sweat vs Savvy Challenge. Jeff also shares a piece of advice for the new castaways: blind optimism and your unique POV are your best tools in the game. Plus, Jeff, Jay, and Dee discuss producer interactions with the castaways, from trailing them on Idol hunts to acting as their confidants. The 26-day road to crown our next sole Survivor has only just begun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New era, same emotions. The players are already feeling the emotional impact of no food, sleepless nights, and physical exhaustion. From small tribes to minimal supplies, Jeff shares how the game design is all about earning your keep and digging into your reserves to prove just how badly you want it. Jeff and Dee talk about the importance of being vulnerable and finding ways to bond with tribemates, whether it’s through a Metallica-Taylor Swift song-off at camp or poking fun at Jeff. Jeff also breaks down how they created the new and bigger version of the archway puzzle featured in this week's challenge. Dee talks about how you must push your limits during every challenge, even when there's nothing left in the tank because your tribemates are depending on you. Then, Jeff answers some fan questions about why they phased out schoolyard picks, how castaways handle their jobs if they're selected for Survivor, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Send me home” are three words you never expect a player to utter, but the New Era is intentionally designed to push the castaways further than ever before. If players can endure this new reality, their truth will be revealed, bringing them one step closer to the million-dollar prize. Jeff, Jay, and Dee talk about the editorial decisions made behind the scenes to help the audience experience what the players are feeling, like the whimsical music that simulates Bhanu’s paranoia and the sound effects that transport you to Q’s devastating football fumble. There’s a unique story behind each player and another critical part of Survivor storytelling that Jeff reveals is telling the audience only what they need to know when they need to know. He talks about how and when they decide to weave the castaway’s backstories into episodes, like revealing Hunter’s impressive puzzle-building background right before the challenge. Jeff, Jay, and Dee also discuss Randen’s unexpected exit and what happens if a player is pulled from the game and has an idol or advantage they want to hand off. Plus, Jeff and Dee answer a popular listener question about the origin of the iconic Survivor Buff®.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you go from being complete strangers to sitting on a beach singing to each other? Hunger! While food deprivation inspired Soda (“Queen Morale”) and Tevin to create an original song, Dee warns that it can also dangerously cloud your judgment and ruin your perception of another player if you let it get the best of you. She advises future players to practice their emotions before they go on Survivor to know how and when to show them. Jeff, Jay, and Dee continue the conversation about managing emotions as Tevin unlocks a memory, Maria deals with defeat, and Bhanu accepts his fate in the game. Jeff also shares how he may test the castaways and present obstacles, but he will never lie. The castaways must trust the game and know it is fair, but that doesn’t mean they can’t introduce a few twists…Assume nothing! Then, Jeff breaks down the logistical struggles of building and filming challenges in the water. Plus, he answers listener questions about how long players get to strategize before a challenge starts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything in Survivor is strategic, even salsa dancing! Jeff explains why it is important to show camp life and Dee shares why it is important to play along with something, like dancing or tai chi, even if it's the last thing you want to do! After 11 days without flint, Yanu broke the record for the longest stretch without fire. Jeff addresses the importance of these penalties in the New Era and whether or not he'd ever reconsider the flint rule.  As Yanu dwindles, Jeff reveals how and when they decide to do a tribe swap, and Dee shares how you plan for the moment as a player. Jeff, Jay, and Dee also break down the decision to include Survivor trivia in Hunter’s Journey and Jem’s machete strategy. Plus, Jeff answers listener questions including one about exit interviews, which inspires Dee to share her exit interview - something she never had to do!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everybody, drop your Buffs®! Jeff explains how they used Tree Mail to capitalize on the moment of limbo between learning about the Merge and the Earn the Merge Challenge. Jeff, Dee, and Jay break down the Merge Challenge from the rock draw that determines your fate to the strategically placed safety sawdust. The winners get to feast on the Merge meal, but proceed with caution — Dee spills about what happened off-camera the time she overindulged in a reward… Meanwhile, the losers head to the largest Tribal Council of the season. Jeff breaks down how they approach production and Dee shares how nerve-wracking it is from the player's POV. Then, during listener questions, Dee talks about how players can’t forget they’re in the game, even when they’re sleeping! Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/SURVIVOR Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stakes on Survivor are high, but at the end of the day, humanity outlasts the competition. From Kenzie comforting Ben during his panic attack to Venus struggling to form bonds, we’re reminded that the castaways are people, not just players. Jeff, Jay, and Dee discuss how the game balances pushing players to their mental and physical limits while prioritizing their safety. The castaways are reeling from their first individual Tribal Council and Dee reminisces on the thick tension in the air on the way back to camp after a torch is snuffed. With so many moving parts all season, a listener question sheds light on how the show is pieced together so viewers can “play” along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Q’s world and we’re all just living in it. Jeff, Jay, and Dee unpack his command of the game, from engineering a strategic (or not so strategic) round of hide and seek to dropping a bomb that led to a heated live Tribal Council. With Q running the show this week, Jeff shares how the editors balance the castaways’ airtime. Dee gives her hot take on Maria and Charlie, the dynamic duo playing a tight game, and whether the Six Alliance can make it. As the winner of Season 46’s Get a Grip challenge (remember those toes?), she reveals what’s running through the players’ heads as they hold on for dear life.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a messy Tribal Council, the bottom might be the perfect place to be on “Survivor” right now. Jeff, Jay, and Dee discuss the opportunity the castaways have to start over. The three-stage challenge leads to a debate between Jeff and Dee on the merits (or lack thereof) of throwing a challenge. Jeff explains how production and the Dream Team test the pain threshold of endurance challenges. Meanwhile, Dee speaks to the mental toughness the Survivors need to focus on anything but how much they’re hurting in these moments. Then, Jeff answers questions about how players, like Liz, deal with food restrictions on the island and if he knows if and when a castaway will play an idol. Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/SURVIVOR Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you take your number one to the end or try to blindside them before they come for you? Dee advises on how to properly execute a blindside but organizing one might not always be a winning strategy. Jeff, Jay and Dee revisit Liz’s emotional reaction to not being chosen to join in the reward. Jeff shares how they got a chef all the way to Fiji while reminiscing on his favorite brand sponsorships over the years. The physical challenges on "Survivor" stay demanding and Dee reveals the intense endurance training she underwent to prepare. Then, Jeff and Dee answer a listener's question about what traits make a player a threat.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Forget a friendly game of hide and seek, now the castaways are all about idol hunting. Jeff explains how production re-evaluated how they show the idol hunt, while Dee shares the reality of a days-long search in the dense jungle. “Survivor” is all about taking calculated risks — from picking reward companions to betraying allies — any decision can change the course of the game. Then, Jeff breaks down why the final week is crucial and tackles a listener's question on the not-so-beloved Rites of Passage ritual. Jeff might need more snacks as tribal council chaos continues!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The million-dollar prize may be the lure, but it's the "Survivor" experience that's the real prize! Jeff, Jay and Dee consider how the island brings people (who likely wouldn’t have met otherwise) together, even while they’re betraying one another. As we head into the final days, Dee shares how letters from loved ones give players an emotional push to make it to the end. Jeff explains how the art and challenge departments handle creating new puzzles and retiring old ones, and how they prepare for the very real possibility that “Survivor” hopefuls have practiced with replica puzzles. After another castaway gets sent packing with an idol in their pocket, Jeff answers a listener’s question about how long the players get to strategize when the tides turn last minute at Tribal Council.  Sponsor - RocketMoney.com/SURVIVOR Stop wasting money on things you don’t use. Choose RocketMoney to cancel your unwanted subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survivor 46 Finale night is here and with it a very close vote that leaves the audience — and jury — on the edge of their seat. Before the drama of Final Tribal, Jeff, Jay and Dee unpack the all-new challenge twist that caused two castaways to team up to send another one packing. They also talk about the Final 4 challenge design, and the choice to send someone to fire — and whether, hypothetically, it's worth sacrificing your seat in the Final 3 for a shot at beating them. Later, they're joined for the very first interview with each member of the Final 3, as they share their best moves, how they attempted to sway the jury, and the moments they'll never forget from their time in Fiji. Plus, Jeff shares his thoughts on what's to come in Survivor 50 and what to expect in On Fire: Season 4. That’s a wrap of this season of On Fire! Survivor 47 premieres in the fall on CBS and Paramount+. Until then you can stream past seasons of Survivor on Paramount+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survivor 45 is here and with it comes the return of "On Fire: The Official Survivor Podcast"! Showrunner Jeff Probst is back to answer fan questions and share his perspective as host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning reality series. However, this season, the podcast is introducing a twist and welcoming a new host who has experienced the grueling challenges, shocking tribal councils, and even torch snuffing all firsthand. Some hints? This former player found at least one idol, they endured a remarkable 30-pound weight loss on the island, and they know a little something about coming back from Extinction... Whether you’re a superfan or new to the show, “On Fire: The Official Survivor Podcast” is the ultimate companion to Survivor — revealing HOW the show is made and WHY they do the things they do. You’ll get it all, from the fan, producer, AND now the player's POV. Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survivor 45 is on! Eighteen new castaways are marooned on the islands of Fiji and there’s already some surprising friction between the group. What drives Emily to confront Bruce the moment they get to the barge? Rick Devens and Jay Wolff dig into this moment and the other major turning points in the premiere episode — including a frightening medical incident, the strategy behind the new “Sweat vs. Savvy” and the very shocking twist at Tribal Council. But first, Devens details just how much preparation and sacrifice each castaway makes leading up to their time on the island. Jeff Probst then shares a behind-the-scenes look at the approach to designing the game for the new, longer 90-minute TV episodes, how the castaways are organized into their tribes, and just how he felt during the tribal council that nobody expected.  Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. You can watch Survivor and more on Paramount+. Subscribe at paramountplus.com and use the code SURVIVOR45 by 12/20/23 and get your 1st month of Paramount+ on us. Must be age of majority to subscribe, US only. Payment method required. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s headline: “Over-Sharing.” Jeff, Jay and Rick discuss how making connections and building deeper relationships are critical to help savvy Survivor players move through the game. Sharing secrets is a great way to build trust, but how do you know WHEN to share them and WHO to share them with? For example, Drew shares his advantage with the Reba tribe as soon as he returns from his journey — was that the right approach? From Hidden Immunity Idols to lost votes, this week is full of risky situations that test their loyalty and force players to trust each other. Jeff also shares an Easter egg in the show’s main title, discusses Survivor’s footprint in Fiji, and takes you behind the scenes of how camera operators capture secret castaway activities (often with hidden idols under their noses).  Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. You can watch Survivor and more on Paramount+. Subscribe at paramountplus.com and use the code SURVIVOR45 by 12/20/23 and get your 1st month of Paramount+ on us. Must be age of majority to subscribe, US only. Payment method required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit pplus.legal/subscription for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you know if someone is lying if you haven’t had an opportunity to test their loyalty? When a tribe like Lulu continually faces Tribal Council, trust gets tested with each vote. But for tribes like Reba and Belo who have yet to cast a vote, insecurities only grow as time goes on. Jeff, Jay and Rick dig into Survivor 45 episode 3 which was full of emotional highs and lows. The “Lulu losers” finally win a challenge, giving Kaleb the all-new “Goodwill Advantage” designed to forge future alliances. Speaking of goodwill, Drew’s strategy of sharing his wins is paying off when Kaleb gives him the reward — will Drew come for Rick’s record for advantages won? After all, it’s not about how many advantages you win, but what you do with them...like Sabiyah barbecuing an idol at Tribal... Jeff also shares how they created the elaborate hunt for the Idol — despite the plans, he has no sense of how it will all play out. It’s a true testament to the show’s production teams, whose next-level cinematography skills bring the emotion of the Survivor experience to the screen. Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. You can watch Survivor and more on Paramount+. Subscribe at paramountplus.com and use the code SURVIVOR45 by 12/20/23 and get your 1st month of Paramount+ on us. Must be age of majority to subscribe, US only. Payment method required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit pplus.legal/subscription for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drop your Buffs®! We are switching tribes—Jeff discusses how they approached the first tribe swap of the new era from the producer's perspective. Some core alliances—Dee and Julie, Drew and Austin—made it through the swap while others, like Brando and Kellie, are now on opposing teams. Rick shares his personal experience of what runs through a castaway’s mind when the new buffs are drawn and talks about some lone wolves—like Emily—who have an opportunity to completely change their gameplay. With a new chance to make moves and test their social games, how will players’ loyalties shake out? Jeff also speaks to how influential Survivor’s editors can be in telling stories from the player’s point-of-view—like unpacking the friction between Katurah and Bruce through Katurah’s eyes rather than Bruce’s. With so many twists and turns in one episode, how could we ignore the shocking departure at Tribal Council? Jeff, Jay, and Rick have different thoughts about who would leave but no one expected another castaway to ask to be voted out in yet another emotional tribal speech. Jeff also answers listeners' questions about previous Survivor traditions he’d like to bring back and the chances of a Tribal Council where everyone loses their vote. And get ready—Jeff braces for the return of "This Is Why You Suck". Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. You can watch Survivor and more on Paramount+. Subscribe at paramountplus.com and use the code SURVIVOR45 by 12/20/23 and get your 1st month of Paramount+ on us. Must be age of majority to subscribe, US only. Payment method required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit pplus.legal/subscription for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten days in, the Survivor castaways all share one common feeling: hunger. Jeff dives into how a player’s mental clarity, physical energy, and emotions are impacted by no food and why that's a critical part of the game design. Speaking of hunger, would you pick an advantage over a sandwich? Austin, J, and Kellie are faced with this decision and their shared dilemma may inspire a new alliance - Rick, Jeff and Jay dive into the double-edged sword of any shared advantage. Later, they discuss fake idols, including Sifu's, and Rick, an idol master in his own right, shares what it takes to put together multiple fake idols out on the island. And, they discuss voting for a future merge, when nothing on Survivor is guaranteed.  Watch the latest episode of Survivor every Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire” right after the show. You can watch Survivor and more on Paramount+. Subscribe at paramountplus.com and use the code SURVIVOR45 by 12/20/23 and get your 1st month of Paramount+ on us. Must be age of majority to subscribe, US only. Payment method required. Terms and conditions apply. Visit pplus.legal/subscription for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices