Room Escape Artist

Update 4/6/21: If you enjoy this episode of the No Proscenium Podcast, we hope you’ll check out S1E6 of The Reality Escape Pod, where David and Peih-Gee host Anthony.

I haven’t made a huge deal about it over the years, but I’m a pretty big fan of Survivor. The mix of interpersonal social dynamics, gameplay, physical challenges, and – of course – puzzles has provided me with a ton of entertainment over the years.

To celebrate the premier of the 39th season of Survivor: Island of the Idols, I guest hosted an episode of the No Proscenium Podcast to interview ex contestants/ escape room fans, Peih-Gee Law and Anthony Robinson, about the ultimate immersive game.

Background

Back when I first met Anthony Robinson of No Proscenium at the Immersive Design Summit, we geeked out about his time as a castaway on Survivor: Fiji.

He also mentioned that there was a contingent of former Survivors who loved escape rooms, notably his friend and two-time castaway Peih-Gee Law (Survivor: China and Survivor: Cambodia — Second Chance).

The Episode

You can find the full episode here:

No Proscenium – Everything Else: Survivor

Timestamps

We covered a mix of escape rooms and Survivor. I have timestamped the entire show for your convenience.

• 4:05 – Introductions.
• 5:05 – How did Anthony & Peih-Gee get cast?
• 8:26 – What’s it like being on Survivor?
• 10:45 – How Survivor has changed and become more aggressive in recent years
• 12:40 – Why Survivor has become more aggressive
• 14:36 – Anthony & Peih-Gee’s run-ins with some of the strongest personalities in the history of the show… and carrying goats
• 20:50 – Playing the tabletop game Diplomacy and other bluffing games
• 24:45 – Survivors playing Stash House in LA with a special twist
• 29:35 – Peih-Gee’s favorite escape rooms
• 32:45 – Anthony’s favorite escape rooms
• 34:00 – David’s favorite escape rooms
• 36:50 – Escape games with cocktails
• 41:05 – What is it like solving puzzles in the heat, on television, and with Jeff Probst narrating your failures?
• 46:15 – Survivor puzzles showing up in escape rooms
• 47:05 – Why no Survivor Escape Room Experience?
• 49:15 – Talking Season 39 Survivor: Island of the Idols
• 51:45 – Season 40’s “all winners cast” & other season concepts
• 53:25 – More on Season 39
• 55:35 – “The shut up button” and “having a talent for getting people to fight”
• 58:00 – Season 39 predictions
• 1:04:20 – The Season 39 twist
• 1:07:10 – Playing with a Survivor super-fan
• 1:11:00 – Lisa and I got recruited for the reality show Hunted
• 1:16:22 – What escape rooms are you excited to play? (Hex Room & Zoe) Games that foster emotion.