Reality Steve Podcast

(SPOILERS) Andy joins me to talk about teaching media classes to college students, because media has changed so much has his message also changed (6:20), how the landscape of jobs in media after college has changed (7:59), how people consume news now and long form writing (12:27), his site RealityBlurred.com and how it came to be (15:20), how ads on websites are the bane of both our existences (20:09), are pay sites the new way to go (24:05), American Idol’s new look (33:04), DWTS going to a shorter season & ABC’s program shuffling (43:25), and we end with Survivor talk and the criticism we both receive when we are critical about shows we write on (54:36). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Izzy joins me to talk about how she got cast on the show, her onesie gimmick the first night (6:00), lasting one episode and did she ever think it'd happen to her (9:30), who stuck out to her the first night on Ben's season (18:20), going on BIP 3 and how nervous she was that she'd get eliminated the first night again (23:14), how the relationship with Vinny was shown vs the doubts she was having (25:25), the arrival of Brett and how it changed things (30:20), her decision to leave the show (33:49), post show "relationship" with Vinny (36:22), her work life now and her current boyfriend (42:15), and we end with the Final 10 (51:53). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS)  Stephen joins me to talk about how he originally got cast on this show, his first season of Survivor: Tocantins (11:09), the final Tribal Council in Tocantins (13:17), being on Survivor: Second Chances (21:18), the final Tribal Council on Second Chances (28:17), we play a Trivia game to test Stephen’s knowledge (36:17), the debate of taking someone to the finals who you can beat vs someone who is more deserving (51:17), the current season of Ghost Island where we debate my problem with it (57:52), Ben’s win last season and the “controversy” surrounding it (1:02:22), edits & spoilers on Survivor (1:09:53), the amount of Idols in the game nowadays (1:18:53), and we end with a Final 10 (1:29:54).  Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS)  Michael joins to talk about his lack of screen time on Winter Games, how he got on Des’ season of the Bachelorette (6:51), his beef that season with Ben Scott (10:32), the group date with Soulja Boy (13:14), Des & Chris’ relationship (19:30), he gives us the two raps he did in New Jersey on the group date that never aired (21:12), the 2-on-1 with Ben in Germany and how he acted (24:56), making the final 5 and did he think he was getting a hometown (33:52), Bachelor in Paradise 2 (38:11), how he liked Winter Games (45:01), the difficulties of being a diabetic (53:23), his dating life in Bachelor Nation and in NY (58:54), the past dating shows he was on before Bachelorette (1:07:25), and we end with the Final 10 (1:11:40) before heading off on a few tangents on sports and Des’ wrong spoiler that season.  Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) I discuss Becca's final four guys, then Michael joins me to talk about how he got started in the business, what his role was when he worked on the "Bachelor" and "Bachelorette" and what that entailed (8:45), producers on site vs the people who edit the show (12:23), the first "Bachelorette" season and did he ever imagine the show would be on this long (20:42), producing a network reality show vs cable show (27:08), favorite seasons he worked on (31:10), reality TV producers getting bad raps - should contestants know what they're getting into (35:35), how he produces a contestant (40:09), is it his job to manipulate contestants and is there a line he won't cross (49:33), getting emotional responses out of contestants and how it's not as hard as you'd think (1:01:39), and we end it with talking about something which came up on last week's podcast and that's should there be more help given to contestants post-show (1:06:15). Music by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Susie joins me to talk about how she first got involved with the franchise on “Road Rules,” her podcast last year that “broke” the Brad & Tori divorce (14:22), we discuss the Bananas/Sarah ending on Rivals 3 & she reveals new information that maybe not everyone knows about (16:40), her overall thoughts on Bananas (23:21), the Champs vs Stars franchise (30:18), meeting her husband through the show (38:15), the article she wrote two weeks ago about the reality TV world and how she feels production is doing contestants a disservice (43:01), male vs female villains on reality TV (1:06:20), and we end with the Final 10 (1:08:47). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Mikey joins me to talk about how he first applied for the show, who he thought was a front runner early on (6:54), butting heads with Ben (8:31), best group date (9:55), Desiree’s connection with Chris (15:16), the season of girlfriends (17:45), his bromance with James Case (21:37), Juan Pablo (24:49), how he was supposed to be on the first season of Bachelor in Paradise (28:43), being on season of BIP (31:32), his thoughts on the shutdown last season on Paradise and the weather conditions (36:57), post show life (41:01), having a girlfriend (44:59), and we end with the Final 10 (49:29). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Laurel joins me to talk about her upbringing and how she eventually got cast on the "Challenge," appearing on her first season "Fresh Meat II" (13:24), having three 2nd place finishes in a row before winning "Free Agents" (21:45), her competitive nature & how she views eliminations (27:06), "Invasion of the Champions" & how the relationship with Nicole came to be (31:24), openly speaking about a very traumatic event in her life (37:37), the breakup with Nicole (45:02), any chance for a future with Nicole (55:35), her up and down friendship with Cara Maria (59:50), will she do another season in the future (1:13:43), and we end with the Final 10 (1:19:08). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Kristen joins me to talk about how long she's been covering the show, Chris Harrison's role in the franchise (3:58), the show's thoughts on me and this site (13:14), Jason Mesnick's season vs Arie's season (26:44), what her favorite seasons and favorite contestants are (32:46), how ratings have changed over the years for this show and TV in general (38:21), tabloid coverage and crediting sources (41:31), more Chris Harrison talk and if they'd ever not recycle a lead again (51:49), her favorite TV shows, current and past (1:03:21), and Kristen critiques my top 3 shows of all time (1:08:33). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(SPOILERS) Amy joins me to talk about her inspiration on writing the book, we get interrupted with news of Ashley & Kevin’s break up (5:10), producers with monetary incentives (10:16), the relationship in the early going of Mike Fleiss & Lisa Levenson which eerily resembles Chet & Quinn on “UnReal” (13:20), the contract, STD’s, and producer manipulation playing such a huge role in the show (21:26), how she role played with a former producer during a lunch date & thoughts on Elan Gale and his role with the franchise (28:08), Amy asks me about my treatment towards the men in this franchise (40:15), what led to her (probably) getting her coverage of the franchise revoked (48:50), and finally we wrap up talking about her coverage of the #MeToo movement for the LA Times (54:50). Music written by Jimmer Podrasky (B'Jingo Songs/Machia Music/Bug Music BMI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices