Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova The Game Theory of Reality TV (with Survivor’s Boston Rob)
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Aug 28, 2025 
Maria Konnikova chats with Robert Mariano, known as Boston Rob, a reality TV legend with six stints on Survivor. They dive into the art of building trust in competition and the psychology behind strategic decision-making. Rob shares insights on reading opponents’ motivations and the delicate balance between cooperation and self-interest. The conversation also highlights parallels between reality TV tactics and poker, emphasizing resilience and calculated risk-taking in high-stakes environments.
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From BU Psych Major To Survivor Application
- Rob applied to Survivor on a dare after watching early seasons and thinking he could play better.
- He called his psychology degree useful in understanding people, not in a traditional job.
Team Facade, Individual Objective
- Rob realized Survivor is an individual game disguised as a team game and targeted influential players early.
- He viewed players as chess pieces to control the vote rather than merely strong contributors.
Adapt To What Motivates People
- Identify what motivates each person and adapt your approach to give them what they need to build trust.
- Be self-aware and change your role with each person so they don't realize you're manipulating them.
