The Viall Files – Special Forces Reunion

Episode 1037 (November 21, 2025)
Host: Nick Viall
Guests: Sean Johnson East, Andrew East, Cody Brown, Brianna LaPaglia, Gia Giudice

Episode Overview

In this lively and revealing reunion episode, Nick Viall sits down with the finalists of Fox's Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test to unpack the raw realities behind filming, the psychological and emotional journey of competing, and the bonds formed through shared adversity. Finalists Brianna LaPaglia, Gia Giudice, Sean Johnson East, Andrew East, and Cody Brown reflect on the challenges, untold stories, powerful personal growth, and the nuances of relationships—both on and off the screen.

Main Discussion Points, Insights, & Memorable Quotes

1. Initial Reactions and Mindset Going Into Special Forces

• Kicking Off with Finalists: The group shares disbelief and admiration about making the finale, referencing survival mentality and camaraderie.
  • Quote:
    “Did you ever think you would be here?” – Sean [02:35]
  • Quote:
    “Every day, just to get back on camp and make it to the morning. Once we get back on our cots and the lights go out, we can survive another day.” – Brianna LaPaglia [02:49]
• Motivations: Nick spotlights the mental toughness required since all participants could quit at any time.
  • Quote:
    "I have a lot of respect for all of you because it takes a certain type of mentality and resilience." – Nick [05:44]

2. Why Did You Keep Going?

• The ‘Why’ for Each Finalist:
  • Gia: Found the challenges thrilling and leaned on group motivation.
    • Quote:
      “We all told each other, we’re not leaving… we really motivated each other.” [06:38]
  • Brianna: Proud of getting through daily torture; felt quitting meant giving up on herself.
    • Quote:
      “After each day, you truly felt so proud of yourself. I don’t know if you can feel that anywhere else.” [06:39]
  • Sean: Wanted to prove to herself she could still commit after Olympic success and motherhood.
    • Quote:
      “I wanted to prove to myself that I could… I’ll see my babies in 10 days.” [08:11]
  • Andrew: Humbled after expecting to excel physically, but realized the show risks real injury.
    • Quote:
      “So quickly humbled… you can get legitimately injured. I cracked a rib, my nose got busted up.” [09:34]
  • Cody: Driven by curiosity and “sheer elation” — loved each new challenge despite the aftermath.
    • Quote:
      “I was geeking out on the mere experience of having done it and survived.” [11:31]

3. Toughest Unseen Moments from the Show

• Grueling, Un-aired Events:
  • ‘Suicide’ Workout: A mountain run and repeated suicides caused physical and emotional breakdowns.
    • Quote:
      “We all almost died… It was my fault.” – Gia [14:28]
    • *“There were multiple times where me and Bri would look at each other and just be like, are we quitting right now?” – Gia [16:32]
  • Canyon Hike: A six-hour trek with dangerous cliffs and little safety oversight.
    • Quote:
      “We're not hooked up to anything on the side of a cliff… If someone in the back fell, we’d have died.” – Brianna [19:00]
• Physical Preparation:
  • Brianna: “I went on a half mile run the week before. I have to quit vaping. So I did on the day that we started the show.” [17:22]
  • Gia: Struggled most with endurance, not strength.

4. The Importance of DS (Directing Staff) and Their Psychological Approach

• Bonding & Seeking DS Approval:
  • Gia bonded most with Q; Brianna credited Billy for support during panic-inducing challenges.
  • Andrew admired Foxy; Cody found Rudy’s charisma most compelling.
    • Quote:
      “Billy was like—he was my God in that show. He really helped me a lot.” – Brianna [22:01]
• DS Psychological Tactics:
  • The DS’s ability to read, push, and support them was universally praised.
    • Quote:
      “They really knew how to, like, push and pull back.” – Nick [82:49]
  • The DS provided feedback that stuck; e.g., criticizing Andrew for being too protective of Sean, and Sean for being ‘robotic’—a trait learned from gymnastics:
    • Quote:
      “Verbally, we were taught emotion is weakness… But is it really?” – Sean recounting Foxy’s advice [81:12]

5. Interrogation Room and Lying Challenges

• Andrew’s Infamous ‘Glitch’:
  • Couldn’t maintain the fabricated alibi, revealing his honest nature.
    • Quote:
      “I can’t live in this web of lies. I was just not made for that environment.” – Andrew [26:46]
    • Sean: “The psychiatrist was literally giggling. He said, ‘I have never seen someone so bad at lying. Like, you’re just a good guy.’” [28:03]
  • Cody’s Silent Strategy:
    • Quote:
      “I just went silent. I didn’t know what else to do.” [29:48]

6. Personal Growth & Resilience

• Brianna’s In-Show Transformation:
  • Nick lauded her decision-making and refusal to let others control her path.
    • Quote:
      “I’ve always bet on myself, and I have created such an amazing life for myself all on my own.” – Brianna [33:09]
    • Sean to Brianna: “I hope that our daughters have the resiliency you do, because, like, you doubted yourself through the whole show, but you kept getting back up.” [35:07]
• Gia’s Solo Triumph:
  • Proud to finish without her mom; visibility for her family.
    • Quote:
      “I was happy to do it alone… You felt so proud after.” – Gia [40:00]

7. Relationship and Family Dynamics

• Cody Brown: Reflections on Divorce and Polygamy

  • Became more humble post-show and tries to heal familial rifts, recognizing he’s the “common denominator.”
    • Quote:
      “Special Forces was so humiliating… I came home feeling very, very humble.” [49:59]
  • Explains impact of TV, emotional cost of multiple divorces, and ongoing attempts at connection.
    • Quote:
      “There’s a lot of personalities, and everyone played a role in the breakup of the family, but as kind of the patriarch… it’s my responsibility.” – Nick [50:48], Cody: “The common denominator was me. I’ve had to do a lot of soul reflection.” [51:27]
  • Discussed gender criticisms received from DS; transparency about struggling post-divorces.
    • Quote:
      “You can’t come out of three divorces and not struggle a bit with some kind of mental illness.” [57:30]

• Sean & Andrew (Marriage/Couple Support):

  • Treat marriage like a high-performance athletic partnership.
    • Quote:
      “We would approach our marriage like we did athletics, with as much intentionality in protecting it and taking care of it as we can.” – Sean [78:34]
    • Nick: “I love the way you guys talk about it has to be intentional. You have to wake up and decide to prioritize your partner.” [80:19]

• Brianna on Her Father:

  • Emotional reflection on her father’s support shaping her self-worth and confidence.
    • Quote:
      “Your first love in your life is your dad, your first best friend… He created a relationship which was an open door.” [43:15]
  • Andrew emphasized the importance of “quantity time” in relationships, inspired by Bri’s donut story.
    • Quote:
      “The quantity time matters too… her just hanging with her dad… was so powerful.” [88:30]

8. Bizarre and Unexpected Behind-the-Scenes Moments

• Bathroom Logistics, Bizarre Meals, and Realities:
  • Cody's nightly mouth taping, supplement haul, and bathroom improvisations.
    • Quote:
      “I found a hole in the tent… In a water bottle – or there was vent holes… in five minutes it’d be dry.” – Cody [68:28]
  • Hardest meal: bland chicken sausages, carrot “soup”, hard bread—everyone survived on jam.
    • Quote:
      "We would just eat bread… the jam was the best part.” – Brianna [71:13]
• Cheating/Snack Box Debacle:
  • Unwittingly ate DS’s snack box, resulting in group punishment.
    • Quote:
      “We all, like, start celebrating and none of us—Chanel only to my—none of us questioned that it said DS Room on it.” – Cody [73:02]
• Tunnels and Claustrophobia: Several contestants had breakdowns during the tunnel challenge.
  • Quote:
    “You don’t know you’re claustrophobic until you’re in that situation.” – Host 2 [75:01]
  • Quote:
    “I was, like, panic mode… I guess there was a moment where I was like, I can’t do it if this goddamn helmet is on my head.” – Brianna [74:13]

9. Impact & Next Steps for the Cast

• Post-show Reflections and Growth:
  • Most finalists report stronger self-image, emotional growth, and lifelong bonds.
    • Quote:
      “It’s all about getting back up. There are a lot of quitters in this world, but you are all people who clearly don’t quit easily.” – Nick [34:20]
  • Brianna’s BFFs podcast ending, and new book in the works.
    • Quote:
      “We're done talking about people… I'm excited to close it on a good note.” – Brianna [91:16]
  • Gia filming Next Gen; invites Brianna to join the cast.
  • Thanksgiving plans and family traditions humorously discussed.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Motivation:
  "After each day, you truly felt so proud of yourself… if you quit, you were giving up on yourself." – Brianna [06:39]
• On Marriage:
  "We would approach our marriage like we did athletics… protecting it and taking care of it as we can." – Sean [78:34]
• On Resilience:
  “I hope our daughters have the resiliency you do, because you doubted yourself through the whole show, but you kept getting back up.” – Sean to Brianna [35:07]
• On Family Fallout:
  “Special Forces was so humiliating that I came home, felt humble, very, very humble.” – Cody [49:59]
• On Quantity Time:
  “Everyone talks about quality time, but the quantity time matters too.” – Andrew, on Bri’s story about eating donuts with her dad [88:30]
• On DS Impact:
  “They really knew how to, like, push and pull back.” – Nick [82:49]

Key Timestamps for Topic Segments

• [02:30] – Introductions / Why did you keep going?
• [06:03] – Contestant roundtable: Mentality and Motivation
• [14:23] – Unseen challenges & mountain workout
• [17:16] – Physical and mental preparation
• [20:30] – Most influential DS & producing human moments
• [26:32] – Interrogation fiascos: Andrew and Cody
• [33:09] – Brianna’s lesson in self-worth and resilience
• [36:14] – Personal growth and evolving strength
• [49:59] – Cody’s family, humility, and healing post-show
• [61:11] – Finale breakdown: The rules, silent stand-offs, and confusion
• [68:28] – Bizarre essentials: Supplements, peeing logistics, mouth taping
• [74:01] – Tunnels, panic, and mutual support in darkest moments
• [78:34] – Sean & Andrew on marriage as teamwork
• [88:30] – Andrew on ‘quantity time’ and relationship lessons from Brianna
• [91:05] – Cast’s careers post-show: podcasts, books, reality TV

Summary & Final Thoughts

This reunion provided a heartfelt, authentic glimpse into what it takes to withstand one of reality television’s most grueling environments. Beyond the show’s suspense and spectacle, the episode centered on real relationships—how they’re tested, fortified, and sometimes broken—under extreme adversity. Through laughter, vulnerability, and some savage teasings about carrot soup and bad hair, the cast conveyed the core message: resilience is forged through discomfort and camaraderie, and life’s impact stems less from grand gestures than from consistent, authentic presence.

For more, catch Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Hulu, and look out for new projects from the cast, including Brianna’s forthcoming book and Gia’s Next Gen Bravo filming!