The Reality TV Show We’d Actually Win

Summary

Pop Culture Happy Hour – "The Reality TV Show We’d Actually Win"

Date: March 24, 2026
Host: Stephen Thompson
Panelists: Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Aisha Harris
Theme: Which reality TV show would each host actually win—and why?

---

Episode Overview

In this lively "encore" episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, the core hosts—Stephen Thompson, Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, and Aisha Harris—enthusiastically debate the reality TV shows they believe they would dominate. Through fun banter and self-aware reflection, each panelist reveals their pick (and strategy), sharing personal quirks and pop culture observations about the wild world of reality television.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Linda Holmes: "Podcaster Chopped"

Timestamp: 02:48–05:40

• Linda nixes options: Admits she’s bad at logistics and sunburn-prone, so "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor" are out.
• Her pick: "Chopped"—but specifically a podcaster edition, against competitors like Sam Sanders or Sarah Koenig.
• Self-awareness as a strength: "I'm a pretty decent cook, right? ... I've watched a lot of Chopped."
• Understanding the game:
  • Emphasizes balance: "That whole salt, fat, acid heat, samin nosrat thing is that's how you win Chopped."
  • Offers strategy tips: "Don't know what to do with something? Put it in a vinaigrette, make a brittle. Don't make a bread pudding. That's a trap."
  • Finds joy in off-brand packaging: "My favorite thing is when you open it up and it's Pringles. But the can says like saddle shaped potato crisps."
• Memorable Quote:

  “I am gonna kill it at Podcaster Chopped.” – Linda Holmes [05:34]

---

2. Aisha Harris: "Dating Around"

Timestamp: 05:44–09:22

• Initial hesitation: Considered "The Real World," but concluded she’d be the housemate who "just decides immediately I hate everyone."
• Eventual choice: Netflix’s "Dating Around," where one single goes on five dates per episode.
• Why she'd win:
  • Comfortable with first dates: "Like, they usually lead to a second. It's not hard for me. ... Do I have an ego about this? Sure."
  • Perfect poker face: "I don't do a good job of hiding my facial expressions and reactions to things ... I'd be entertaining if someone was turning me off. It would be very obvious."
  • Likes the show for its low-stakes authenticity, “...there’s no expectation of, like, we’re gonna get married.”
• Clip Highlight:
  • Scene from Season 2, where a date unashamedly signals his own turnoff behavior:

    "Can I smoke a cigarette?"
    "I know, I’m sorry. That's like one of my... yeah, it's one of my turn offs. But that's you, right?" [08:51]

• Supporting banter:
  • Glenn: "I do see this for you because ... I know that you don't necessarily have a poker face when it comes to stupid ideas..."

---

3. Glen Weldon: "The Mole"

Timestamp: 10:03–14:11

• Process of elimination:
  • Nixes skill- and coordination-heavy shows (e.g., "Top Chef," "Ninja Warrior") and alliance-driven strategics ("Survivor," "Big Brother").
• His pick: "The Mole," a competition where a secret saboteur undermines group challenges.
• Why he’d thrive:
  • Life experience as "the cynic, the pessimist, the curmudgeon... but not paranoid!"
  • Revels in the validation of his worldview: "It would just confirm my essential worldview."
  • Strategic depth: “You just have to be vigilant. You have to know where everybody is, what they did or did not do on a challenge.”
  • Has the perfect background for deception: "First few weeks, you fly under the radar ... I would point on my CV to the four years of high school I spent doing exactly that."
• Memorable Quote:

  “Let the record show, I am making jazz hands. This is my time to shine.” – Glen Weldon [13:07]
  “I would subvert, I would undermine, I would chip away at the pillars of capitalist greed that fuels reality television. ... They’d never see me coming. I would crush it on The Mole.” [13:59]

---

4. Stephen Thompson: "Wipeout" or Any Physical Comedy Show

Timestamp: 14:26–16:52

• Similar elimination process: Considered "Nailed It," but was discouraged after being told, “I think the people who are on that show ... can sort of cook.”
• His actual pick: Any reality show whose goal is not to succeed but to become a viral meme for spectacular failure (e.g., "Wipeout," "Hole in the Wall").
• Deliberately leans into hubris:

  "Step one in this process, I’m going to be at the starting line and I’m going to be like, I’m going to win ... super animated ... Then ... spectacularly topple face first in the mud. Just curse, splat." [15:43]

• Dream: To become "an avatar for hubris"—a recurring viral meme for overconfidence leading to defeat.
• Panel’s responses:
  • Glenn pushes back: "To be the guy, the hubris guy, you would have to fundamentally alter your personality. ... You are temperamentally suited for 'Nailed It.'"
  • Aisha, supportively: "Let Steven have his dream. Like let him aspire to meme dumb. ... I mean, you’re wrong, but I still support you." [17:32]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Linda on the logic of Chopped:

  "Don't make a bread pudding. That's a trap. It doesn't cook all the way through. Instead, make it a liquid and put it in the ice cream maker and get in the ice cream maker early." [04:47]

• Aisha on first dates:

  "I think it’s fun to meet new people and have those conversations, especially if I’m not gonna see them again. It’s just like, this is just fun, you know, let’s just chill." [09:44]

• Glenn summarizing his “The Mole” strategy:

  "Did Glen fail that very simple math challenge because he’s the mole or because he still has problems subtracting from any number that has a string of zeros in it? You wouldn’t know." [13:47]

• Stephen’s viral meme ambitions:

  "At that point, I intend to be ideally positioned to serve as an avatar for hubris to be trotted out every election night, every sports championship, everything where somebody professes confidence." [16:22]

---

Additional Highlights

• The panel expresses warm but shameless self-awareness about their limitations—Linda’s cooking confidence, Aisha’s forthright facial expressions, Glenn’s cynicism, Stephen’s meme-worthiness.
• Banter about forgotten or obscure reality shows ("Hole in the Wall," "Holy Moly") stirs nostalgia and amusement.
• Running joke: “I’m not here to make friends today.” “Too late. None of us.” [02:29]

---

Recommended Listening Timestamps

• Linda Holmes’ Pick & Chopped Strategy: [02:48–05:40]
• Aisha Harris on "Dating Around" and Authentic Reactions: [05:44–09:22]
• Glen Weldon’s Case for "The Mole”: [10:03–14:11]
• Stephen Thompson’s Meme-Worthy Wipeout/Hubris Discussion: [14:26–16:52]

---

Closing Thought

The episode closes with the hosts joking about meeting on “Dancing with the Stars” and encouraging listeners to consider which reality show they would win, bringing the conversation full circle, and highlighting the podcast’s signature blend of wit, pop culture savvy, and camaraderie.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Alexa. Say hello to Alexa and see how Alexa can do more for you craving your favorite restaurant. Alexa's on it free with prime on your Amazon devices. Learn [e-mail] AlexaPlus.

[B]

Part of the fun of reality TV is putting yourself in the shoes of the people you're watching. Maybe you'd make a great Real Housewife. Maybe you could win the Amazing Race. I'm Stephen Thompson, and on this encore episode of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. We're not here to make friends, but we are here to pick the reality shows on which we think we could thrive.

[A]

This message comes from Apple Card. Apple Card members can earn unlimited daily cash back on everyday purchases wherever they shop. This means you could be earning daily cash on just about anything, like a slice of pizza or a latte from the corner coffee shop. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app to see your credit limit offer in minutes. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and

[C]

[e-mail] this message comes from Great Wolf Lodge, where there's adventure for the whole family. You and your pack can splash away in the indoor water park where it's always 84 degrees with massive water slides, a lazy river and so much more. Plus action packed attractions outside the water park, delicious dining options and comfortable suites. With 22 lodges across the country, you're always only a short drive away. It's a world of adventure all under one roof. So bring your pack together at a lodge near you. Learn [e-mail] support for this podcast and the following message come from Alexa. Say hello to Alexa and see how the experience is tailored to you. Planning a vacation? Ask Alexa to recommend a trip. Use Alexa to find the name of that song you love, discover new favorite shows or recipes, and so much more. Ask Alexa anything and now Alexa is free with prime on your Amazon devices like echo and Fire TV. Get started at Amazon.com Alexaplus joining me

[B]

today are my fellow Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts, our Core four, Linda Holmes. Hey Linda.

[D]

Hey Stephen. I was born for this.

[B]

Aisha. Aisha Harris. Hey Aisha.

[D]

Hey.

[E]

I am not here to make any friends today.

[D]

Too late.

[E]

Nope, nope, nope, nope.

[F]

None of us.

[B]

We're all here to win. Glenn Weldon is also here. Hi Glenn.

[F]

Hey Stephen. I'm feeling very attacked.

[B]

Well, let's get right into it. Linda Holmes, I want your pick. Give me the reality TV show that you think you, Linda Holmes, could dominate.

[D]

Okay, well, you know that I am bad at logistics and travel arrangements. So I had to knock out the Amazing Race. In spite of my sentimental attachment to it, I don't think I could do Survivor because I would get such a sunburn. Ultimately, I went with. And I need you to give me a moment to explain my thinking, but I went ultimately with Chopped.

[F]

Four new contenders are ready to roll.

[E]

Who will be victorious?

[D]

Go.

[A]

Faster, faster, faster.

[F]

And who will be Chopped?

[D]

Oh, now you gotta understand, sometimes on Chopped, in fact, I would venture to say most of the time it's chefs. If it's Chopped and it's chefs, I don't have a chance. But sometimes there's like civilian chopped and it's like grandmas or like firefighters. I'm thinking if there's like podcaster chopped.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And my opponents are like Sam Sanders and Sarah Koenig, I'm in that. I'm in the game.

[F]

You're describing the college Jeopardy of Chopped.

[E]

Yeah, exactly.

[D]

Exactly. It's the college Jeopardy of Chopped. That's my milieu. That's where I'm placing myself for this. I am a pretty decent cook, right? And I have watched, but the point is, I've watched a lot of Chopped. And the way that you do well at Chopped, first of all, you have to understand balance. I think I understand balance. That whole salt, fat, acid heat, samin nusrat thing is that's how you win Chopped. That peppermint candy, that's your sweet. That popsicle, that dollar store Capri sun lemonade, that's sweet and tart. It's got some acid in it. That dried smoked meat that comes from some part of an animal that you don't personally eat regularly, that's salty. And that's what you have to understand about Chopped. Then you have to know the basics. Don't know what to do with something. Put it in a vinaigrette, make a brittle. Don't make a bread pudding. That's a trap. It's a cliche. It doesn't cook all the way through. Instead, make it a liquid and put it in the ice cream maker and get in the ice cream maker early. And if somebody's in the ice cream maker before, clean out the ice cream maker. Cause otherwise they're like asparagus. Ice cream will get into your ice cream. And I also feel that this is right for me because I have such a fondness for blank unbrand named packaging. So my favorite thing is when you open it up and it's Pringles. But the can says like saddle shaped potato crisps. Cause they can't have the label on there or you open it up and it'll be clearly be Twinkies, but it'll say like golden snack cakes with holes in the bottom. I feel like that would be a delight for me as a pop culture person. I'm a decent cook. I am gonna kill it at Podcaster Chopped.

[F]

I see that for you.

[B]

I believe it. You've convinced me. All right, Ayesha Harris.

[F]

Top that.

[E]

Oh, goodness. So this is actually a challenge for me to try to figure out. The first thing that came to mind for me was the real world, you know, 10 years ago when I was not in my 30s. But the problem with that, I would probably have been the one roommate who you never really see. Because I just decide immediately I hate everyone. And I'm like, I'm just gonna make friends outside of the house.

[D]

You didn't wanna be dramatic. You don't wanna get into the.

[F]

There's one every season.

[E]

Yeah, I'm like, I don't wanna be the angry black girl. So I'm just gonna make friends and start dating some random guy outside the house. So that would probably be me. So that's not my. My top choice. So after thinking about it, I was like, oh, wait a minute. Like, I would be really good on a certain kind of reality dating show. I'm very good at first. Like, they usually lead to a second. It's not hard for me. Lex, do I have an ego about this? Sure. So my choice is Netflix's quote unquote first original dating reality show. And you might not remember this because can we remember a time before Love is Blind? I don't know, but there was a time, and that time was around 2019 when Netflix premiered Dating Around. Do you all remember this show?

[D]

Oh, I do remember Dating around, yes.

[E]

Let me refresh your memory. So basically every episode is a different single person and the goes on five dates. And what is different about this show is that it really tries to go for that cinema verite. And there is no narration, there's no interviews. You get like a little bit at the beginning of each episode. You hear like this brief waterfall of various disembodied voices of people who apparently know the main dater. I've known Brandon for a few years now. I think he's so focused on looking

[B]

for the right guy that he misses

[E]

the great guys that are right in front of him and they're describing their personality and dating habits. But then after that, you don't hear from them again and you just see this person go out on A date. And each of the dates is interwoven into each other. And it's not a competition. I mean, it is, but it's really

[D]

about, like, dating around.

[E]

Yeah, Dating around and seeing the same person interact with five different people. And I really kind of loved this show because of that. It didn't have all the pretensions and there's no expectation of, like, we're gonna get married at the end of this. This episode, at the end of this journey. It's like they choose one person at the end to go on a second date with, but that's it. You don't, like, learn anything else. I also have been told that I don't do a good job of hiding my facial expressions and reactions to things because again, there's no narration, so they're not, like, commenting on the dates as it's happening. You're just watching the dates happen, so you don't actually know how they're feeling. And I feel like I'd be perfect because I'd be entertaining if someone was turning me off. It would be very obvious. Even if I'm like la and smiling, my face would actually be like, oh, my God, this is terrifying. I actually brought a clip. And this moment's from season two where Brandon is going out with five guys. This one guy, you can tell this date is not really jiving, but there's a moment, clear moment, where it's like, oh, he's not gonna get that nightcap at the end. Like, he might be sent off.

[D]

Can I smoke a cigarette?

[B]

I know, I'm sorry.

[E]

That's like one of my. Yeah, it's one of my turn offs. But that's you, right?

[B]

Mm.

[F]

You gotta make yourself happy.

[E]

That would totally be me.

[D]

It's one of my turn offs. But that's you, huh?

[E]

I would absolutely be like that. I'd be that person who maybe you're not necessarily rooting for to, like, find the right person, but you'd at least be engaged with how I interact with my five different dates. So dating around, I'd be really good on that show.

[F]

I think so too. I do see this for you because even though I've only gotten to know you through zoom, I do know that you don't necessarily have a poker face when it comes to stupid ideas that get thrown out into the world. I also think you are self selecting because you are. This show is only for people who want to go on first dates a lot, and that is a narrow subset of the population.

[D]

That is very true. Yeah.

[E]

I don't know, I think they're fun. I think it's fun to meet new people and have those conversations, especially if I'm not gonna see them again. It's just like, this is just fun, you know, let's just chill.

[B]

All right, so that's dating around. Excellent. Excellent pick, Aisha. Thank you, Glen Weldon, what's your pick?

[D]

I can't wait.

[F]

Well, I did process of elimination, like a lot of us are doing. You take skill based off the table. That's your baking show. Top Chef, Drag Race Runway. You take physical coordination off the table. That's floor is lava. Ninja warrior, wipeout. I am blessed with a certain amount of upper body strength. I work very hard, hard on it. But to use it effectively in those situations, it must be combined with hand eye coordination, which I do not possess, like Linda. Anything that requires just being organized and letting things that you can't control just kind of roll off your back, that's not me. So I can't do Amazing Race. I would be the guy complaining about just how broken my ox is at every situation. Anything that requires making alliances or just having the emotional intelligence to read the room and understand group dynamics and manipulate them, that takes Survivor Big Brother off the table. I think the only show at least leaves is the show that is made for the cynic, the pessimist, the distrustful. I'll say it, the curmudgeon. The word I'm not using here, though, is paranoid, because the show in question is not about paranoia. It's about expecting the worst of other people, expecting that they are actively working against you and being rewarded when you inevitably turn out to be right. Not only would I be great at this show, I would find this show incredibly soothing, very therapeutic, because it would just confirm my essential worldview. I am speaking, of course, about the mole.

[B]

Someone is trying to sabotage you at every stage. Hello, mole, whoever you are.

[E]

Oh, yes. I knew it.

[F]

Yep. And here is the NPR disclosure, a how the sausage gets made explanatory, comma, about the mole. If you don't know it, we actually recorded this episode a few years ago, long before NPR's own Ari Shapiro was contracted to host the most recent season on Netflix. And he does a great job. He's out there in Malaysia dressed to the nines, arching that one eyebrow like he does. He's peeing, cocking. He's eyebrow cocking. He's the host with the most. But when we recorded this, we had no idea any of that was going to happen. But on the show, you get a group of people. And each week they get divided into smaller groups who tackle challenges. Challenges are very basic. You read the clue, you do the challenge, you get money that is added to a central pot that the winner takes home. Now, among them is one person whose job it is to secretly sabotage the missions in such a way as everyone gets less money. So the challenge, if you are just a regular contestant and not the mole, is to constantly judge others. Let the record show, I am making jazz hands. This is my time to shine. There's a little sergeant in my head going, this is what you train for. You just have to be vigilant. You have to know where everybody is, what they did or did not do on a challenge. Because each week, at the end of each episode, you're given a quiz about who you think the mole is. And the person with the most wrong answers is eliminated. Now, I would require the crucible of this show to succeed because when it comes to being interested in other people, that's not my vibe. On the mole, there's cash. So I think I would have to work on it, but I'd be fine as a regular contestant, but I would kill it as the mole. As the mole, I would kill it. That's perfect because there's a very clear strategy, guys. First few weeks you fly under the radar, you're trying not to get noticed. I would point on my CV to the four years of high school I spent doing exactly that. Then sudden, about the middle of the of the run of the show, you have to step up and be seen increasing the pot of money, you know, succeeding in challenges and unlikely that I would ever succeed in a challenge, but it's possible. But then as the crowd thins, you have to go out of your way to have people think you're the mole in ways that the real mole would never want people to think. So you have people just sitting around going, did Glenn fail that very simple math challenge because he's the mole or because he still has problems subtracting from any number that has a string of zeros in it? You wouldn't know. Did Glen really forget the name of the contestant he spent the last seven weeks with? Possible. I would subvert, I would undermine, I would chip away at the pillars of capitalist greed that fuels reality television. They would weep, they would gnash their teeth, There would be a rending of garments. They'd never see me coming. I would crush it on the mole.

[D]

Glenn, I'll just tell you, if I needed a saboteur in my day to day, I wouldn't come to you.

[F]

Yeah, I appreciate that. I appreciate that I'm better at sabotaging

[E]

myself, but, you know, get the skills transfer.

[F]

I got the skills transfer.

[B]

Well, I feel like these arguments are more compelling than mine.

[D]

Is about to be America's Next Top Model.

[F]

We believe in you. We were counting on you.

[B]

Cause look, I did the exact same process of elimination that y' all did.

[F]

Yep.

[B]

I was convinced for a couple days that I was gonna pick nailed it. And like, if it gives you, like a disproportionately generous prize for baking a really ugly cake. And I said to my partner, Katie, I said, I think it's gonna be nailed it. And she said, you know, I think the people who are on that show are at least like, sort of can cook. And I was like, damn, Katie. It sent me back to the drawing board. What I finally decided that I am good at and that I can pull off is unearned confidence.

[E]

Sure.

[F]

Okay.

[B]

And so my reality TV goal is to become a durable by going on any show that has a name like don't fall in the mud. So your wipeout, your floor is lava.

[D]

Holy moly. You could play Holy moly.

[B]

Yeah, I was gonna say hole in the wall.

[E]

That's a show.

[F]

Yeah, totally is.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

For a while there was this thing where people would have to line their body up to slide through a body shaped hole, like in a cartoon. It was a real thing.

[E]

I completely missed this.

[B]

Oh, absolutely. That's the kind of show we're talk say wipeout. Right. So step one in this process, I'm going to be at the starting line and I'm going to be like, I'm going to win. I'm going to be the I'm going to win guy, and I'm going to be super, super, super animated about it. Then you can just imagine you're not going to see it on the screen, but just imagine the spongebob text five minutes later. And then I will immediately, spectacularly topple face first in the mud. Just curse, splat. At that point, I intend to be ideally positioned to serve as an avatar for hubris to be trotted out every election night, every sports championship, everything where somebody professes confidence.

[D]

Right.

[B]

And then the meme will be me saying I'm gonna win.

[D]

And then that is your dream. That does make sense.

[B]

Thus, I will belong to the ages.

[D]

Yeah, that does make sense.

[B]

That is what everybody who goes on reality TV is really looking for. Right. Is to just like, be part of the conversation forever and ever.

[F]

It's interesting Steven. But I'm gonna push back on it. To be the guy, the hubris guy, I'm gonna win. You would have to fundamentally alter your personality. You're not temperamentally suited to be that hubris guy. You are temperamentally suited for. Nailed it. You have to be agreeable, affable, self deprecating. That's what makes a really good contestant on that show. Someone who's having fun with it, someone who's game. And I that in striving to become a meme, I think we'd see the sweat. I think people would smell it on you and it wouldn't succeed.

[E]

Let Steven have his dream. Like let him aspire to meme dumb.

[B]

Thank you.

[E]

I mean, you're wrong, but I still support you.

[B]

All right, well, we want to know what reality show you would thrive on. Find [e-mail] PCHH that brings us to the end of our show. Linda Holmes, Glenn Weldon, Aisha Harris, thanks to all of you for being here.

[C]

Thank you.

[E]

Thank you.

[D]

I'll see you on Dancing with the Stars.

[B]

And of course, thank you for listening to Pop Culture Happy hour from npr. This episode was produced by Candace Lim and Rommel Wood and edited by Jessica Reed.

[F]

Hello.

[B]

Come in. Provides our theme music. I'm Stephen Thompson and we will see you all next time.

[C]

This message comes from Great Wolf Lodge, where there's family fun all under one roof, including an indoor water park, attractions, dining and more. With 22 lodges across the country, you're only a short drive away from adventure. Learn [e-mail] this message comes from Alexa.

[A]

Say hello to Alexa and see how Alexa can do more for you. Craving your favorite restaurant. Alexa's on it free with prime on your Amazon devices. Learn [e-mail] Alexaplus this message comes from Capella University. That spark you feel, that's your drive for more. Capella University's flexpath learning format lets you earn your degree at your pace without putting life on pause. Learn more at Capella Eduardo.