

It’s time to take a trip back to the Old School! All season long, Rob Cesternino is bringing legendary Survivor alumni onto the podcast to break down Survivor 49 through the eyes of those who played in the game’s early days.
Survivor 49 episode 10 heats up as host Rob Cesternino welcomes Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X’s Bret Labelle for a special Old School Interview. This episode dives into the wild post-merge game, where fake idols, bold swings, and shifting alliances set the stage for a chaotic Tribal Council. Rob and Bret break down the strategic moves, the social chaos, and ask if the players can keep a lid on their secrets when so much is on the line.
Bret joins Rob to recap his recent European travels before focusing on the main action: the two major alliances prepping for a blindside, Sophie’s pivotal decision to flip sides, and Rizzo’s shocking play of a fake idol. The hosts highlight Sage and Jawan’s ambitious plot to get both Rizzo and Kristina to burn their idols, and debate whether making yourself the “RizGod” helps or hurts in a season filled with big personalities. Key camp moments, the Survivor Café meetups, and even this episode’s controversial food rewards get airtime as Rob and Bret break it all down.
Rob and Bret discuss:
– Rizzo’s fake idol stunt: was it a clever read of the room or just cocky showmanship?
– Sophie’s high-stakes flip: how did she become the episode’s decision-maker?
– Sage and Jawan’s idol flush plan: is aiming for a double-blindside too bold at this stage?
– Keeping secrets in the “new era”: Sophie’s knowledge is power advantage and why silence might be golden
– Survivor Café stories, pizza debates, and real talk about food rewards
With the alliances shaken and post-merge chaos in full effect, Rob and Bret explore whether Sophie’s maneuver has changed the power structure forever and if idol antics will keep paying off. Can Sage rebound from a failed big move, or will the RizGod continue to control the narrative?
Chapters:
0:00 Intros
6:00 Survivor 49 Post-Merge Heats Up
13:30 Sophie’s Critical Flip at Tribal
22:30 Rizzo’s Fake Idol Gambit
32:00 Tribe Dynamics and Trust Clusters
38:30 Savannah’s Confrontational Game Style
44:50 New Era Alliances’ Breaking Point
50:00 Survivor 50 Casting Snubs Discussed
57:00 Survivor Legends Versus New Faces
1:04:00 Yearning for Classic Survivor Twists
1:12:00 Pitching Survivor’s Future Theme Ideas
To pre-order Rob’s book, The Tribe and I Have Spoken, visit www.robhasabook.com
This episode of the podcast is brought to you by our friends at Manta Sleep. Summertime is officially here! The days are longer, the sun is brighter, and while all that extra daylight can feel energizing, it can quietly sabotage your sleep. Later sunsets disrupt your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.
.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.