RHAP: We Know Big Brother – Taran Armstrong Talks The Amazing Race Season 38 Premiere
Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Mike Bloom
Guest: Taran Armstrong
Episode Overview
This episode of RHAP: We Know Big Brother dives into the premiere of The Amazing Race 38, a unique season featuring a cast of former Big Brother houseguests and their loved ones. Host Mike Bloom joins BB expert Taran Armstrong for a lively discussion on the debut episode, the adaptation of familiar Big Brother faces to the global race format, strategic decisions, production choices, and the season’s overall vibe. The episode is less about a beat-by-beat recap and more focused on critical analysis, casting dynamics, and predictions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Excitement and Challenge of a BB-Focused Amazing Race
[03:42]
-
Taran: Shares his unique experience watching familiar faces—some personally known to him—tackle a new reality competition format.
"It's quite an experience to watch a bunch of players I know very well... some of them my friends."
-
The novelty lies in seeing Big Brother alumni, with different reality TV skillsets, adapt to Amazing Race’s physical and navigational demands.
2. Teams & Preseason Expectations
[05:00]
- Taran: Highlights curiosity about “outlier” BB cast members (Enzo, Kat, Natalie) who are less integrated with the recent returning group.
- Expected Kat to be entertaining and notes Angela’s more steady, less flashy performance.
3. Early Episode Standouts: The Meow Meow Bros
[06:19–09:18]
- Enzo’s social skills have translated well in Big Brother but are tested on The Amazing Race, where physical challenges and navigation are paramount.
- Mike and Taran discuss how Enzo and Jack’s similar personalities hindered team chemistry, leading to trouble on the first leg.
"The bike certainly didn't help in how hard it was to maneuver, but it was the navigation... that really sank the team." (Taran, [07:49])
4. Production Choices and Premiere Structure
[09:38–12:23]
-
New “pre–starting line” challenge (human bowling) draws parallels to recent BB opening comps—raises questions about narrative clarity for new viewers.
- Taran: Prefers team intros in a more natural, in-race context, not mid-challenge.
"I don't even know who I want to win it yet. So I'm just kind of watching people bowl on ice." (Taran, [10:27])
-
Observes that the episode heavily relies on prior Big Brother knowledge.
5. Strategic Moves: Express Pass Decisions
[13:21–16:42]
- Taylor and Kyland win a second Express Pass and give it to Jess and Jag.
- Taran critiqued this choice, advocating for rewarding close allies (like Chaddha's team) rather than extending olive branches to perceived threats.
"It doesn't exactly signal that you're a very useful person to be aligned with... you're trying to play the field too much." (Taran, [14:34])
6. Pre-Existing BB Drama & Team Dynamics
[18:34–21:23]
- Discussion on “axes to grind” — BB history could lead to grudges, but on The Amazing Race, actual opportunities to target other teams are limited.
"If anything, having somebody with an ax to grind is just not good, because if they do find an opportunity... they just might." (Taran, [20:20])
7. Early Power Team: Jess & Jag’s Dominance
[21:49–23:10]
- Mike and Taran dissect how Jess & Jag dominated the first leg, debating if Jag’s competitive prowess from BB was due to “weak” competition or his genuine talent.
"He will always hustle through and... approach it with a good strategy, good physical strength, endurance, speed..." (Taran, [22:10])
8. Vulnerable Teams: Kat, Turner, and Meltdowns
[26:20–33:44]
- Kat’s emotional breakdown during the leg is presented with empathy; reality TV returnees especially feel pressure to “make it count.”
- Turner’s struggles—surprising given his BB competition record—are debated.
"I really respect Kat. She has a lot of hustle... I can fully imagine how it might be really, like, in her head, like 'Oh my God, this might be it...'" (Taran, [27:04])
9. Big Brother Skills vs. Amazing Race Realities
[33:10–35:06]
- The group ponders which competition skills translate from Big Brother to Amazing Race.
- Taran highlights AR’s broader range of skill challenges (navigation, rhythm, memory, etc.), putting even strong BB competitors to the test.
10. Plus-Ones: Getting to Know the New Faces
[35:06–35:55]
- Observes limited introduction to the non-BB partners, especially among sibling teams.
"I don't feel like we know a lot about Eric, Tucker's brother, Simone, Hannah Chaddha's brother..." (Mike, [35:44])
11. Race Strategy: To Help or Not to Help?
[36:17–39:30]
-
Discussion on the pros and cons of teams helping each other:
- Taran sees little downside, particularly when in the lead.
"Helping people out makes a ton of sense... especially if you're in first place." (Taran, [36:47])
-
Mike raises past seasons' alliance controversies, leading to a debate on the role of producers vs. contestants in preventing less desirable forms of gameplay.
"If you want to have a show... either cast the show with a bunch of people who don't want to play it that way or allow them to do that, those things within the structure of your game, it's on you." (Taran, [40:00])
12. Production Changes: Europe-Only, More Public Transit
[45:29–48:53]
- Amazing Race 38 is a European adventure, using only continent-based travel; Taran draws positive comparisons to YouTube’s “Jet Lag The Game”.
"I think that's more fun... I like when the travel is part of it." (Taran, [48:29])
- Expresses a desire for better race-tracking visuals, like Jet Lag’s real-time maps.
13. Early Winner Picks & Relationship Dynamics
[49:19–50:09]
- Taran picks Taylor & Kyland as his winner pick, not just for personal connections but due to strong strategic and competitive balance.
"I can not... not stake my claim on Taylor and Kyland. They were my first draft pick. Taylor's a good friend of mine. I think they're both really strong..." (Taran, [49:19])
14. Closing Thoughts: Joy, Enthusiasm, and Future Hopes
[51:14–52:39]
- Taran and Mike agree that cast enthusiasm and the partner/loved ones twist make this season especially engaging.
- Hope expressed for deeper stories about the partners and relationships as the season develops.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Production Strategy:
"I feel like that would have been more meaningful later on once we've been introduced more."
– Taran Armstrong [11:48] -
On Game Design:
"I don't think it should be on the contestants to police themselves to be working in the spirit of the show necessarily. I think that's more so on the producers."
– Taran Armstrong [40:00] -
On Kat’s Meltdown:
"Of course, she expresses that in a way that reveals why she is back on television."
– Taran Armstrong [28:50] -
On AR Skills vs. BB Skills:
"Big Brother competitions are... very physical... Amazing Race has even more physical competitions sometimes, but more often has, like, other skills challenged... So, being well rounded physically will be even better on the Amazing Race."
– Taran Armstrong [33:50] -
On Watching Friends Race:
"It's just such a joy to watch all of these people be excited to play this game and to be interacting with each other. And there's... beef and there's drama, but... it just brought joy to my heart."
– Taran Armstrong [51:14]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:42] – Taran reflects on seeing BB friends on The Amazing Race
- [05:00] – Preseason hopes for outliers like Kat and Enzo
- [06:44] – Enzo and team chemistry concerns
- [09:38] – Human bowling: premiere production choices
- [13:53] – The Express Pass dilemma
- [18:34] – Bad blood and BB drama carrying over
- [21:49] – Jess & Jag’s dominant performance examined
- [26:20] – Kat’s emotional episode and what it reveals about returnees
- [30:11] – Turner’s early struggles and future prospects
- [36:17] – Race strategy: helping vs. not helping
- [45:29] – The “European Adventure” format and jetlag influences
- [49:19] – Winner picks: Taylor & Kyland
- [51:14] – Concluding positive thoughts on cast enthusiasm
Episode Tone
The conversation is warm, energetic, and affectionate, laced with in-depth reality TV insights, gentle ribbing, and playful debate. Mike and Taran maintain a balance of critical analysis and irreverent enthusiasm, staying true to RHAP’s signature tone.
Final Thoughts
This kick-off of the Sidecar Tour Amazing Race coverage embraces both the fun and strategy of mashing up two beloved reality competition universes. Whether you’re a Big Brother superfan, an Amazing Race purist, or a casual viewer dipping in, this episode has you covered with behind-the-scenes context, insightful analysis, and plenty of reasons to root for your BB faves (and their partners) as they race across Europe.