Room Escape Artist

“ Just trying to coexist in this crazy ecosystem.”

You’re starving, sweaty, exhausted, and your best friend on the island just stabbed you in the back. Ahead, a giant obstacle course awaits, with a complex puzzle afterwards. And you’ve got to juggle all this while outmaneuvering a bunch of other contestants all hungry for the win.

With over 49 seasons, Survivor is one of reality television’s longest running shows. Steven Fishbach, runner-up on Survivor Tocantins and all-star returnee on Survivor Second Chance joins us to talk about his experiences on Survivor, co-hosting the Survivor Know-It-Alls podcast, and his upcoming book, Escape! We share insights into the evolution of Survivor, emphasizing how strategy, player dynamics, and game mechanics have transformed over the years. We also discuss some common misconceptions about Survivor.

Today’s game is called “The Tribe Has Spoken,” where the group collaborates to vote out the word that doesn’t belong. Make sure to check out Stephen’s new novel, Escape!, coming out this January.

Time Stamps

• 00:33 Special Guest: Stephen Fishbach
• 02:17 Game: The Tribe Has Spoken
• 16:32 Topic: Survivor 101
• 20:21 Topic: Misunderstandings About Survivor
• 22:48 Topic: What Do You Wish Fans Would Stop Asking You?
• 24:59 About Stephen Fishbach & Escape!

Guest: Stephen Fishbach

Stephen Fishbach is a Pushcart Prize–winning writer and former television executive. A two-time Survivor contestant (voted onto the show the second time by more than ten million fans), he’s worked on the network side as a vice president at MTV and freelanced for a reality producers’ trade group.

He cohosts a weekly Survivor podcast as well as the literary podcast Paraphrase. Stephen graduated with honors from Yale and received an MFA in fiction at NYU. In 2009 he was named one of People magazine’s hottest bachelors. His short story “To Sharks”—an excerpt from Escape!—was published by One Story and garnered Stephen the Pushcart Prize. He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife and two daughters.

Stephenfishback.com

Survivor Know It Alls YouTube

More Podcasts from Peih-Gee & David

If you enjoy PG’s Playhouse, check out Reality Escape Pod (REPOD), where your hosts David Spira & Peih-Gee Law explore immersive gaming from all angles, alongside guests with incredible experience in this realm.

And by supporting Room Escape Artist on Patreon, you’ll get access to the REPOD Bonus After Show ($5 per month and up) and the Spoilers Club ($15 per month and up) where we chat in depth with creators about iconic escape rooms… spoilers and all!

Production Credits

• Hosted by Peih-Gee Law & David Spira
• Puzzles by Peih-Gee Law
• Produced by Theresa Piazza
• Supported by Lisa Spira
• Edited by Peih-Gee Law
• Music by Matt Farthing
• Logo by Theresa Wagner