What happens after you achieve your childhood dream? In this episode, host Fede Vargas welcomes Erika Casupanan, best known as the first Canadian winner of Survivor, for an open and heartfelt conversation about resilience, vulnerability, and inspiring underdogs.
Erika shares what it was like to win one of reality TV’s most demanding competitions, the unexpected challenges of being thrust into the public eye, and how she turned adversity into a mission to empower others. Through reflections on her upbringing as a Filipino immigrant and her corporate communications career, Erika explains how she developed her storytelling skills and a strong sense of resilience.
Listeners will hear Erika’s candid thoughts on letting go of perfectionism, embracing vulnerability as a strength, and using empathy to build connections. This episode is filled with practical advice for balancing ambition with self-care, navigating identity, and finding purpose in authentic growth.
What You’ll Learn:
- How Erika became Survivor’s first Canadian winner and dealt with public scrutiny.
- The importance of resilience and vulnerability in overcoming adversity.
- Strategies for balancing ambition, self-care, and authenticity.
- How Erika’s immigrant upbringing shaped her perspective and values.
- Practical advice for inspiring others and making meaningful change.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00] — Fede reflects on thriving in the “during” phase of life.
[02:10] — Erika’s surreal Survivor win and the immediate challenges she faced.
[06:30] — Growing up as a Filipino immigrant in Canada and the drive to achieve.
[10:57] — Letting go of perfectionism and leaning into empathy and connection.
[12:23] — Erika’s mental health journey and the transformative power of therapy.
[19:01] — Turning challenges into a mission to inspire underdogs.
[24:24] — Redefining success through positivity and authenticity.
[28:44] — Erika’s advice for balancing ambition with self-compassion.
About the Guest:
Erika Casupanan is a communications expert, motivational speaker, and the first Canadian to win Survivor. After her decade-long corporate career in storytelling, Erika used her Survivor platform to inspire others by sharing her journey of resilience and authenticity.
Now a media personality and host of the Happy to See Me podcast, Erika creates candid conversations that amplify overlooked voices and inspire underdogs to pursue their dreams. Her work has been featured on Entertainment Tonight Canada, The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Toronto Star, Global, and CBC. With her natural wit—honed through years of comedy training—Erika continues to connect with audiences worldwide.
Follow Erika Casupanan:
Website: https://www.erikacasupanan.com/
Instagram: @erika_cas
Twitter: @erika_cas
Podcast: Happy to See Me
My Most Authentic Life Distributed by: Genuina Media
Follow Fede Around the Web:
- Instagram: @mymostauthenticlife and @itsfedevargas
- YouTube: My Most Authentic Life Channel
- Website: www.mymostauthenticlife.com
- LinkedIn: Fede Vargas and My Most Authentic Life
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