Stephen Colletti on Traitors Finale, Laguna Beach Runion, Love Triangles and More

Summary

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Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara

Episode: Stephen Colletti on Traitors Finale, Laguna Beach Reunion, Love Triangles and More
Date: February 26, 2026
Guests: Stephen Colletti
Hosts: Matt Leinart, Jerry Ferrara

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Episode Overview

This episode brings together Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara for a spirited conversation with Stephen Colletti, known for Laguna Beach, One Tree Hill, and his recent run on the reality hit The Traitors. The discussion covers Stephen’s Traitors experience, strategies, and behind-the-scenes drama, a long-overdue clearing of the air about the infamous Laguna Beach-Matt Leinart storyline, and a heartfelt look at fame, reunions, and fatherhood. Blending reality TV, sports, and personal growth, the episode is both nostalgic and revealing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Spark: Why Matt & Jerry Love The Traitors

• [02:11] Matt shares how binge-watching The Traitors was driven by Stephen’s appearance, highlighting the intrigue of its gameplay and cast diversity:

  “It is deceitful. It's everything you could imagine. You have all these big personalities from different industries coming together in a castle, just all conniving to be the last man standing.”

• [03:17] Jerry admits he’s usually skeptical of overhyped shows, but The Traitors exceeded expectations, making him want to be a contestant.

2. Why Colletti Joined The Traitors, and His Game Plan

• [20:02] Stephen explains his initial approach and hindsight:

  “Sitting here now, I really wish that I gunned to be a Traitor. They just seem to have so much fun… I was going into it, trying to play it a little bit safe. This was something that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone.”

• He wanted to be recruited as a Traitor later, believing being a Faithful would be “the easiest way in.”

3. Gameplay Strategy, Social Dynamics, and Regrets

• [26:49] Stephen reflects on missed clues and classic Traitors gameplay, particularly not catching Rob’s moves or Candace’s subtle warnings:

  “Now when you guys watch it, you see everything going on. It seems very obvious. But back then...she's just desperate, she's just trying to point the finger at somebody else, and she's not going to point the finger at a fellow traitor.”

• [29:47] On alliances: Stephen reveals that actually knowing someone in the game is a “massive advantage,” referencing Johnny and Tara’s pact.
• [32:44] Donna Kelce’s impact: She struggled in the Traitor role as “the sweet mother,” but her game intuition marked her as an unsung hero.

4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [13:48] Matt on USA Hockey’s Olympic run:

  “They are on the greatest bender and the greatest ride that I've ever seen in sport for multiple days. Much deserved... They represented our country so well.”

• [35:38] Matt recalls Colletti’s now-iconic Traitors quote:

  “You had the greatest line in the show: ‘I do have my California boater's license.’”

• [39:49] Matt finally brings up the infamous Laguna Beach mention:

  “I just want to say I had no idea what was going on, dude...when my name got brought up on the show, I was like, what the—what the happened?”

• [41:20] Stephen responds:

  “You did not do anything wrong. Those…we were two ships passing in the night… There wasn’t a hidden love triangle that involved you and I and her at that time.”

5. Laguna Beach Reunion: Throwback Reflections

• [42:21] Stephen describes the mix of nostalgia and weirdness at reuniting with the original cast after 20 years, after not all being in the same room since the show aired.
• [45:00] On fame's fast arrival:

  “It really was…this isn't actually something that people are watching. Maybe they watched an episode... Next week, everything's going to return to normal.”

6. Blending Sports and Reality TV—Who Makes a Good Traitor?

• [48:10] Stephen’s picks from his TV history:

  “James Lafferty...would make a great traitor because he is very unassuming, very smart... For Laguna [Beach]...Trey would make a very, very good traitor because he's also somebody who could be a man of the people.”

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps and Attribution)

• On playing Traitors as a Faithful:
  “I felt like being a faithful is the easiest way in…But in hindsight, sitting back and being a little more quiet and relaxed does work well as a traitor.”
  — Stephen Coletti [20:02]

• On missing clues:
  “There’s a frustration…You feel like an idiot watching that back.”
  — Stephen Coletti [26:49]

• On reality TV friendship strategies:
  “Having someone there that you know is a massive advantage, especially if you know that they're going to be in the game and you guys have a conversation beforehand.”
  — Stephen Coletti [30:45]

• Clearing the air on Laguna Beach ‘drama’:
  “I want it. I was waiting for [Kristin] to say something where I was like, yeah, screw that guy…She was like, ‘he was a gentleman. He opened the door for me.’ And I was like, okay...It's a good man, and you are a good guy.”
  — Stephen Coletti [41:20]

• Advice for new dads:
  “There is no—there’s no, like, love like a love that you have for your kid...cherish that moment.”
  — Matt Leinart [51:05]

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Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------| | 00:00–06:16 | Chopping it up: Olympics hockey, The Traitors, why they're hooked | | 06:16–16:13 | The Traitors breakdown—cast types, gameplay, and possible strategies for Matt & Jerry | | 18:42–26:49 | Stephen Coletti joins: Why he picked Faithful, hopes for recruitment, game philosophy | | 26:49–32:44 | Dissecting Traitor gameplay, missing clues, importance of alliances | | 32:44–39:27 | Donna Kelce’s game, roles of “real” friendships, who to trust | | 39:27–45:53 | Clearing the air: Matt and Stephen settle the Laguna Beach beef and laugh at the “love triangle” myth | | 45:00–47:27 | Fame after TV, handling instant attention, college experience | | 47:27–49:48 | Fresh Take of the Week: Who would be a good Traitor from Laguna/One Tree Hill? | | 50:05–52:34 | Stephen expecting first child, dad advice all around | | 52:59–57:54 | Jerry’s dad life: Dealing with his son’s Knicks heartbreak and playground trash-talk consequences |

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Other Highlights & Inside Jokes

• “Professional liar.” Jerry jokes about his acting background being perfect for The Traitors’ duplicity.
• Jerry’s son’s Knicks heartbreak—turning sports disappointment into a learning moment for his young son about humility.
• Matt’s nostalgia for collegiate and LA life colliding with pop culture on Laguna Beach and Entourage.
• Ongoing theme: The unique competitive heart required for both top-level sports and top-tier reality TV.

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Conclusion

This episode delivers an entertaining panorama of nostalgia, competitive spirit, and real-world wisdom—from reality TV betrayals to coping with the pressures of fatherhood and fame. Stephen Colletti stands out as a thoughtful, down-to-earth guest, offering behind-the-scenes honesty and humility about his time on The Traitors and Laguna Beach, while Matt and Jerry provide plenty of laughs, sports analysis, and perspective from their own journeys in the public eye.

Final Quote:

“If somebody calls you right now and says, will you be on Traitors, would you?”
— Stephen Coletti [49:44]

Matt & Jerry (in harmony):

“Absolutely.”

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Transcript

[Stephen Coletti]

You know, usually people asking me questions about how. How was my experience on the show. I want to know how was your experience being on Laguna beach, dude, because what a. What a legendary appearance there.

[Jerry]

Another episode of Throwbacks coming at you right now. Everybody do us the solid. Go follow the socials at Throwback show on YouTube. Throwback Show. Hit that subscribe button. Yeah, I'm. I'm. I'm fired up. First of all, you got the team you had. Look at that.

[Stephen Coletti]

Look at that.

[Jerry]

I'm back.

[Matt]

Yeah. Last week I got sick as a dog, man. So appreciate you holding down the fort, you and Shams. Yes. You know, one of these days I'm gonna get on here with Seams, but appreciate him coming on. Yeah, dude. I mean, it was all I gotta say. I don't give two what anyone says. I am proud to be an American, Jerry. I am proud. There's something about Olympic, the Olympics. And then even more specific, there's something about hockey. And it was the women's team, which I watched start to finish. It was the men's team, which I watched. I mean, it just. It just. It just makes me feel good. Makes me proud.

[Jerry]

As I've gotten to know you now for about two years. Just about. Yeah.

[Stephen Coletti]

Two years.

[Jerry]

I like when you push all your chips in on something. Right. I've seen you do it.

[Matt]

You don't do it.

[Jerry]

I think you don't. You don't throw that out there on just anything. You don't. Liner is not a guy who, like, gets caught up in everything. It's pretty chill. It needs to really captivate you. And that's why this show is so good today, because we're obviously going to talk a little hockey. But also the other thing you've pushed all in on, dude, is the show the Traders.

[Matt]

I. I am. I have binged. I have binged the Traders and I've heard about it. And I'm like, yeah. And because, you know, you and I, we don't watch a ton of tv. It's hard. We got a lot of kids and find time and all that stuff. And I binge watched the Traders because of our guest today, which is awesome. This show is awesome, dude. It is.

[Stephen Coletti]

It is. It is.

[Matt]

It is deceitful. It's everything you could imagine. And you have a bunch of characters and you have big personalities from all different, you know, kind of these industries coming together in this castle and just all just conniving to be the last man standing. And I've literally watched 10 episodes, nine or 10 episodes in the last four days.

[Jerry]

Yeah. For those of you who have seen traitors, this is probably not going to be any spoilers for you. And you're kind of going to be saying to us, well, wake up. It's season four. Happy for you to catch on. But for those of you who haven't watched, like me, because I am someone who's a little afraid of hype, when something's over hyped, I just go to this place of, it cannot be as good as you're. To everyone saying it's just not possible. Nothing ever is. And I heard all the Traders hype. I got it from all angles. People in the business, out of the business, all that. And I finally dove in with, like, season two a few weeks back. And I will say it is worth all the hype to the point where I kind of want to get on the show. Like, dude, this might be called action.

[Matt]

I'm pretty sure we can make that happen. So when all the Traders producers and people affiliated with the show listen to this pod because of our guest, I mean, I think we could be a package deal. Because if you watch this season, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir are essentially a package deal deal, even though they hit it the whole freaking time.

[Jerry]

So this is something I want to talk to Coletti about. And for those of you who don't know the show, few spoilers here or there, but, you know, there's people from the show, the Challenge, there's people from Big Brother, there's people from Real Housewives, there's all these big reality shows, and then they kind of go in rooting for each other. Some are really good friends in real life. Some don't know each other, but they were on the same brand of show, so they feel this loyalty. But, Matt, if you and I feel like, hey, we want two podcasters and a. And a Heisman winner and an actor on.

[Matt]

Did you just describe us as podcasters?

[Jerry]

If they call you and I up and say you guys are in?

[Matt]

Yeah, I would. We're going.

[Jerry]

I would be so disappointed in you if you would not be willing to lie to my face. And if you would get upset that I looked you dead in the eyes with tears and just lied to your face, if that upset you, I would be brokenhearted at your competitiveness, and I don't think you would be that kind of guy. Some of these people on the show, they get mad like, oh, you lied to me. That's what the show is.

[Matt]

Well, when you watch the show, it's like, people. People are always Like, I mean, and then it's like, you know, all of this happens every. It's like every day. So it's pretty fast, right? The game is played, like, consecutive days, I believe. Right. So it's like, I think it may last 10 days if you make it all the way to the end, or maybe less, maybe more. So, like, every day, you're still like. And you're not really. I mean, I guess you're developing alliances. You're not really. The friendships, I don't know, happen that quickly. But, yeah, there's so many people, when you watch a show, when they do their confessionals, they're like, you have to remember this is a game. We are not. Like, we are trying to win a game. So you're going to do whatever it takes to win a game. I would say this, though. Like, you're giving away your hand. Because if we do do this show, which you never know, we could manifest this and we could be in the show now. I know. And you would be a great trader dude.

[Jerry]

I think I would be.

[Matt]

Yeah. Because you're like, you're.

[Jerry]

You're.

[Matt]

You're cool. You're a good guy, but you got a big personality, and you were an actor, so.

[Jerry]

Professional liar.

[Matt]

Yeah, you're. Yeah, you're a professional liar. People would love you because they're like, oh, that's. That's turtle man. That's Proctor. Like, yeah, he's like everyone's best friend. I would be a terrible trader. I think I would be. Well, I would be a lot like our guest today. And we should. We're having Stephen Coletti on.

[Stephen Coletti]

Who?

[Jerry]

Have we not even said who we're having on. Oh, my God.

[Matt]

You said Coletti. Listen, we have Stephen Coletti on. Stephen Coletti. You will know him from the show Laguna beach back in the day, about 20 years ago. It is the 20th anniversary of the final season of Laguna beach, so they did a reunion. We're going to talk to him about that.

[Jerry]

Let's talk about a throwback. My goodness.

[Matt]

Like Kristen Cavallari, Lauren Conrad, that whole crew. What a great show. Was on One Tree Hill for years, and then, you know, is doing a lot of other stuff, but then goes on this season of Traders, and he makes it really far. Spoiler alert. But he kind of played the role that I think I would play as far as, like, just be a good dude. Like, be cool to everybody, kind of fly under the radar. Not a huge personality, but kind of works in your favor. Like, I think I would just go in and be like, I'm the athlete, but like, I'll be good on missions. I'll help. I'll try to form alliances and see how far that gets you until you have to turn. Because at some point you have to learn.

[Jerry]

So for those of you who haven't watched and still want to listen to the interview, you know, there's 20 some odd of these reality show mashup people and they pick four traders unbeknownst to the faithful. Right. And then it's the trader's job to kill off faithful. It's the faithful's job to vote off traitors, even though they don't know their identity. But mixed in all this, and this is where I think you would be an awesome contestant, but you might get into a little bit of trouble. They have these challenges where you win money, which is ultimately the goal. And then also you could get some protections from being voted off the show or killed off the show. You would be so competitive in those challenges. And you're a physical dude, you're a big guy, you're an athlete, you're a damn Heisman winner. You would be that. I wonder if some people be like, man, we need liner for these challenges. But like, he's so. I think he'd be real intense with challenges.

[Matt]

What I've for sure and what I've learned about this show is the more you talk, the more you risk getting yourself in trouble. And the more you talk and point the finger at. I think it's this person and I, I. Because you just. Because if it's not, then you start and then that person's voted off and they're not.

[Jerry]

Greater guilt.

[Matt]

Now you're looked at as like, well, what was their. Why. What was. You know, why did they do that? You know, so like, that's why a couple people in this show have played it really well. Because, like, honestly, I think Stephen played it great. Like he just who he is, what he was. He was really good in the missions. He was a good leader. He was likable. Everybody liked him. He didn't really talk about anybody. He kind of just kind of, kind of just go with the flow. You have an opinion here and there to kind of, you know, but.

[Jerry]

But at some point, if you don't speak enough in this show, somebody else becomes a strike against you.

[Matt]

Yes. So there's. There's a balance. And if you play, if you don't speak at all, you're going to be targeted just like Muhammad be awesome, Matt,

[Jerry]

you know, it will be awesome. Before we Bring Steven Coletti on and then we'll. We'll talk a little hockey first, too. If me and you went on and we were both traders, bro, that would be elect. I mean, for me, for us personally, maybe not for the audience, but for

[Matt]

you and I. I had anxiety for these traders every episode.

[Jerry]

I love. See, I love it. I love.

[Matt]

Yeah, you would love. Yeah. I want to be my wife. Josie would thrive in that. They're like, oh, I can. I just have to pretend like I'm friend. Like, yeah, dude, I. I want to

[Jerry]

be in that turret plotting. I also. I'll reveal strategies. I never think I'm getting on the show. I might go right at a fellow trader on day one, if I was a trader and throw it and earn myself, like, immunity. Almost like, look how good I am. I got this per. That might. And it's a hell of a play. But I might do that early and often. That just gets. That's.

[Matt]

I wonder if anyone has done that in the season.

[Jerry]

Season two. But it backfired. It was almost like out of desperation. Someone was like, you got to.

[Matt]

You got to play.

[Jerry]

I would do it, like, early. Early on.

[Matt]

Yeah. I mean, listen, we. We. Let's. Let's talk some hockey, bro.

[Stephen Coletti]

Okay.

[Matt]

We could. We're going to talk to Stephen.

[Jerry]

Stephen Coletti coming up next. Yeah. So first of all, have you been following now, like, the celebratory stuff for Team USA and you know, Jack Hughes telling his brother he had a dream about scoring the goal. Like, I don't think you could. Miracle was then a movie after the fact. And I think my prediction is one day this might be a movie. I learned that they might make a movie based off of this gold medal.

[Matt]

This has been the. I. I tweeted this out. I. I believe this has been the greatest. They. They are in the greatest bender of all time. Like the greatest three or four day bender because they won Sunday morning here, which was evening there. They went out in Italy Sunday night, right? And video surfacing. Boom. They fly to Miami the next day.

[Jerry]

What was that flight like? All sleep?

[Matt]

Or did they all sleep? Because they just rocked. They went to eleven nightclub in Miami on Monday night. They. They. Which.

[Jerry]

Drinks on McAfee, right?

[Matt]

Drinks on McAfee. Shout out to Pat McAfee. That was awesome. They're. They're the videos of that night, which I don't know if you've seen. I don't know if you've been to 11, but it is a crazy club. They are on a stage singing the national anthem. With everybody. Like, they. And it just. No given. They are on the greatest bender and the greatest ride that I've ever seen in sport for multiple days. Much deserve these. These kids and men. They. They. I mean, Jack Hughes is a kid to me.

[Stephen Coletti]

Me.

[Matt]

I mean, gosh, I'm old enough to be his dad. Like, they represented our country so well. They are on this absolute. Just terror much deserved. And again, like, people. Like, I'm shouting out the women too. I watched the. I mean, the. The. The goal and like, the women were freaking awesome, dude. Like, and I'm sure they've had their fun as well, but there. There's nothing like, like, this happened with the Four nations last year. And we talked about it. It's like, yeah, I like hockey. I. I'm a casual fan. I used to have King season tickets for years when they won the Stanley cup. Like, I was 1994 kings. I could literally name everyone on that roster still to this day. But there's something about USA Hockey and the pride that it gives to just someone who just wants to turn it on and, like, see what this. This. This sport can bring a country together. And it. It did, in my opinion. And man, I'll tell you what, dude, it was. I'm still on cloud. You. I'm all in, man. I like the videos. I've watched them 100 times. I mean, my wife is like, what are you doing?

[Jerry]

But I do think the Four Nations. That's a great point because obviously we all would have.

[Matt]

I think that sparked a lot of

[Jerry]

this, but that was kind of the appetizer to. If it did line up, that it was USA versus Canada. That was kind of the appetizer for what this main course was. And, you know, we talk all the time about, like, how does the NBA fix this and how does baseball fix that? And I just think quietly, like, obviously hockey is Canada's sport, but I tried to think what the equivalent is of this upset. Because I tell you who's not on an impeccable run partying with $150,000 bar tab at 11 is the Canadians.

[Matt]

So losers to.

[Jerry]

To Dave Portnoy. Whatever. Like, he's. He's there for all of it. And I want to talk about sore losing a little later in the show. I have a. An issue I'm dealing with in my own personal life with Soar losing. But Portnoy is there for all of it. He's there for all the Canadian team.

[Matt]

Like, they've. They've. And rightfully so. Like, they're that team is ridiculous. They have owned us since. I mean we haven't won gold since 1980. Right. That was like the miracle and all that stuff. But Canada, hockey is. I mean they had the best players in the world, like. And they've owned the US for however many decades. And it's close. I look, I mean you look at these teams and we have some of the best players in the NHL on USA. They have. I mean they have Connor McD. I mean they have argued they the best players in the world on their, on their team. So like I don't think that the gap is that big. It's just they have owned us for whatever reason. And I think that's what also made this so incredible was the fact that we just. We, you know, we beat them at their own sport. You know, in, in the. In the greatest. In the grandest stage of world hockey in the, in the Olympics. We beat them at their own sport. The most watched sporting event in the morning I think was in the history of sports.

[Jerry]

And I'm sorry, you, you don't get to do the thing where you're like, well, we are still the better team

[Matt]

and by the way, fourth or fifth most popular sport in the US well

[Jerry]

three on three is not real hockey and anything could happen. It makes listen multiple opportunities to win that game. And also similarly, Team USA Basketball, our American team goes into FIBA Olympic rules, which is a very different game than what's played in the game they play every day in the NBA and they go up against these teams that have been playing together for years waiting for the Olympics to happen under those rules. And, and we, we. We haven't won the gold medal every single year. And it's embarrassing and it hurts. But like you gotta just tip your cap. I'm sorry Canada, you gotta tip your cap. And sets us up for. I mean I think that hockey is now becoming similar to what bass to the Olympics, what basketball is to the Summer Olympics. Yeah.

[Matt]

Yeah. Well, yeah. Must watch summer basketball now because you. Europe has caught up to us. Like I know we want. But they're like. And multiple teams.

[Jerry]

Canada. Canada's basketball team is really good.

[Matt]

France. I mean obviously like, yeah, this is

[Jerry]

going to be a problem.

[Matt]

France is going to be a problem.

[Jerry]

Wendy is going to be a problem.

[Matt]

But it was, it was great, man. It capped it really. I, I was, we talked. I was, I was super invested. I, I found myself at night like watching like men and women's half pipe skiing, like sl. All this stuff. I just found myself really watching a lot of Olympics, which is more than I thought and it was awesome.

[Jerry]

Well, we are going to talk later after clay about a sore losing thing. I need a little help with from you, Matt, and maybe even the audience. But without further ado, let's bring on the 1 million questions we have for Stephen Coletti. Coming off the traitors,

[Matt]

Wendy's really outdid themselves with these new biggie deals. At $4, $6 and $8, the new Biggie deals are bigger and bigger than ever. I know what you're thinking. How could the Biggie get even bigger and better?

[Jerry]

These new Biggie deals are perfect because you get to choose between the $4 Biggie Bites, the $6 Biggie Bag, or the $8 Biggie Bundle. If you're feeling something snacky, you can get the $4 Biggie Bites with the JBC and a four piece nugget.

[Matt]

Feeling something medium, get yourself a $6 Biggie Bag with JBC, four piece nuggets, a small soft drink and a junior fry. If you want to go full Biggie, you can get the $8 Biggie bundle with your choice of two sandwiches, a small soft drink and a junior fry.

[Jerry]

The choice is yours for a pretty Biggie deal. Gotta be Wendy's. U.S. price and participation may vary. Single items at regular price, prices may be higher in Alaska, California and Hawaii. Guys, it's officially playoff season and we know what that means. Our weekends are booked and played around kickoffs. What spot on the couch is the lucky one and hoping your neighbors ignore the yelling.

[Matt]

When you're yelling at the tv, everybody can get it. Refs, the coach, even the quarterback. But while you're losing it and pacing during the first drive, you need something to keep you going. And twisted tea is the answer.

[Jerry]

And twisted tea is a refreshing, hard iced tea made with real brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Which means it tastes like iced tea because it is iced tea. Just with a little kick, no carbonation,

[Stephen Coletti]

super smooth, full of flavor.

[Jerry]

Perfect for that stressful moment when your kicker's lining up for a 44 yarder with the season on the line. Too soon? Yeah, sorry Baltimore, it happens to all of us.

[Matt]

Twisted tea keeps the good times going all post season long. So crack one open, settle in and remember, your team might stress you out, but your drink shouldn't.

[Jerry]

So grab a twisted tea today and

[Stephen Coletti]

keep the playoffs twisted.

[Matt]

You saw the game winning play once,

[Jerry]

but have to replay it three times on the way back to the hotel. Because some moments don't end at the buzzer. Life's a chance trip make the most of it at Best Western. Book direct and [e-mail]. Okay, our guest, he's here. We're fired up. And you may know him from Laguna beach, but I think he wisely chose One Tree Hill for his credit on the Traders. I know he's probably answered that about 40 times since he's been back. Stephen Coletti. Stephen, thank you for joining us. And I'm glad you went One Tree Hill. I think that was the smart move.

[Stephen Coletti]

You know what? We were trying to cast a little bit of a wider net. We weren't given too many options here. You know, if they'll just let me do actor. Something simple. I think Rapaport just got actor. That was fine. I originally put down everyone is doing great, and I'm sure you guys both are gonna be like, wait, what's that? That's a show I worked on recently, and they came back to me. They're like, how about you pick one between Laguna beach and One Tree Hill? And I was like, okay. I was like, well, let's just go with the most recent. Did more episodes. Didn't even think anything of it, man. We got a little bit of blowback on that one.

[Matt]

There's been. I just told Jerry this this week. There's been three shows off the top of my head that I have binged. One of them was Game of Thrones. One of them was One Tree Hill. Shocker is like one of my favorite shows. And the last one was the Traitors dude that you're on. Knowing that we would have you on, I was like, what is all the hoopla around this show? Like, I like game nights. I like murder mystery kind of stuff. But you absolutely got me hooked. And it's a fascinating show. I. I want to ask you, just off the, off the bat, did you want. Did you hope going in that you were going to be a traitor because you were a faithful. And we've already spoiler alerts all this stuff, but you were faithful. Did you hope that you would be a traitor? Does that kind of change the way you play the game, obviously, or what?

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah. You know, sitting here now, I really wish that I. I gunned to be a traitor. They just seem to have so much fun. And I knew that watching the show beforehand, but especially in this season, you got Candace up there, you got Lisa. Rob's obviously killing it. They're. They're having a blast. So once I saw the show, I was like, oh, man. That was like, that was one of my big mistakes. Like, I should have been a trader, but I was going into it, trying to play it a little bit safe. This was something that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone. And I was like, man, I haven't done reality since Laguna, you know, and that kind of left a mark on me where I was like, just like, it just couldn't consider anything all these years, you know, get different offers. I'm like, no, no, no, no. But traders. Traders are just too good to pass up. I was a fan of the show. It's just so well done. And it's that challenge of, like, all right, how can I stack up in this game? You take all that into consideration. I was like, I feel like being a faithful is the easiest way in as far as just if I were to jump in the deep end with this reality show and be a traitor, Put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, and I'm like, man, what if you blow it? What if they just, like, suss you out right away? And it's like, come on, dude. Like, if you blow it that hard, that would be pretty devastating. So I was like, I feel like I can kind of come in as a faithful. Let the game come to me a little bit. Sit back and, yeah, hopefully someone will recruit us along the way. And that was kind of the big thing that I put out there was like, I really hope somebody recruits me later in the game because I figured I'd have the game down by then, have a good idea who the people are, and then I can kind of make my moves in that sense. But in hindsight, sitting back and being a little more quiet and relaxed does work well as a trader. I mean, Rob, you're seeing all the moves Rob is making behind the scenes. But there in the castle, he was just like me. We were quiet, hanging back, like, just having casual conversations, like, we chip in when we would need to. But we weren't going to be the ones that were, you know, the loudest voice in the room that were just gunning for people right away and trying to rally the troops so it could work well.

[Matt]

Yeah, I thought you played it perfectly. I was like, I think I would be like a Steven or a Rob. Just like. Because you were like, you're a good dude. You were great on the missions. You didn't speak up. You weren't like Rapoport and even, like, Colton. Colton was going after everybody. I'm like, oh, dude, this is going to get this. This guy in trou.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah.

[Matt]

If it just. If it weren't for, like, the golden rocks, bro, you would have. You would have. You might have won, dude. I was like, that's. That's what they try to pin on you. And I'm just like, oh, that sucks, dude.

[Stephen Coletti]

I. I learned some lessons there. Like, I was just starting to get comfortable with the fact that I was going to make at least the semifinal and I can kind of see a path. And as soon as that happened, that, that last roundtable where, yeah, all of a sudden I was blindsided. Nobody had my back in that moment. They're all just like, self preservation. Better him than me. Yeah, of course we'll vote for somebody else. And I'm like, oh, all of a sudden I'm out. Yeah. It's funny looking back, like, there was a lot made of. It was so random that Lisa, you know, brought the gold to me and I actually went to her. Like Colton had something with. With Dorindo where there was an alliance made there of getting the gold. And everyone knew that Lisa was vulnerable in that moment. So I was just like, trying to secure my spot at the dagger table. Went to Lisa and figured, you know, she would. She would probably hook it up. And then, yeah, that one came back to bite me in the ass. That's for sure.

[Jerry]

You know, something else the. The show does so well. Well, first off, I get a little scared of things that are like, hyped up. Right. Because I don't want to be disappointed. And you hype something up to me and I'm gonna watch it and I'm gonna say it's good. But my gosh, you guys talked about this like it was so traders was hyped up and I'm like, I. I resisted it for a while and I went fully in. And you want to know here's how I. My metric of why I would enc watch. I was like, you know what? I'm just not paying for Peacock. I stopped with Paramount plus, that's it. The kids watch some cartoons. I have every other app. I'm not doing it. So I did it for the traders. And then I said, but you know what? I'll watch the ads. I'm not paying the extra 18 bucks because I'm just not. But the show was so good. I'm like, you know what, man? I gotta go ad free on this. It's just hauled me in. So it's an ad free buyer on Peter. The next thing, I got a hot take for you. Okay, so I haven't watched season three. I watched seasons one, two and your season, and everybody makes the big deal about the, the gamers, right. These are the guys from Ro the Challenge or from Big Brother. And I get it, they, that those games are crazy. But I, I'm going to go on the record and say I haven't been overly impressed with all the gamers. I feel like the housewives have been.

[Matt]

That's because they got out the first couple of weeks, dude.

[Stephen Coletti]

I don't know.

[Jerry]

I feel like they've made some big errors if you look at all the seasons. And even I feel like there's some big errors that have been made by the gamers.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, I will say this. I think that there's, there's a bit of hype on the gamers because they were on maybe a season of, of Survivor, you know, one season. Right. And you know, I don't know how much gaming they're doing outside of that, but that's just one show, one occurrence. And yeah, they get targeted for that. So it's easy for people early on to say, you know what, these guys are strategists. Let's get them out of here. So you feel bad for them in that sense. It's like, hey, we're all grasping at straws. You're trying to find something to, you know, pin on somebody. And the traders were like, you know what? We're going to take out the game. It's just because they could be better than everyone else. They're trying to figure it out. But ultimately, to me, yeah, I felt like they all just kind of stacked up the same. They were missing just as much as we were on a lot of like, you know, there's trader suspects. You did have, I think Rob Cestorino early on who called out the conga line.

[Jerry]

That was, I didn't know that happened.

[Matt]

That was, kept that quiet.

[Jerry]

He should have kept that quiet.

[Stephen Coletti]

Right. And he, to me, was the true gamer. I mean, he, he hosts a show about Survivor. He's been in games for a while. So I, I, I get the respect on that man's name. And even Ian, poor Ian, who was knocked out early on, he's actually, he's like, he's like highly ranked in backgammon across the world now. I don't know how much the, the crossover between backgammon and traders really plays in, but he, he's a super smart dude, so. But yeah, I think from there, you know, Jam, Jam and Natalie, they were both making a lot of calls that were very off. And I was, you know, of course, the victim of one of Natalie's very bad calls.

[Jerry]

Yeah,

[Matt]

go looking Back because it was Lisa, Candace, and Rob. And then obviously Donna was the secret trader who got voted off really early on. Poor thing. But as you look at the show and you look back, was there a moment where you're like, oh, I should have picked that up, or did they just. I mean. Cause as you said, Rob is. Has played this like a chess match. Like, he has been unbelievable. Was there a moment, looking back, that you're like, oh, how did I miss that?

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, you know, there is. First of all, there's a frustration of, like, even the conga line that we just spoke on, like, the fact that Rob was on my shoulders, and then he quickly bowed out to go grab something from a picture frame. But I was like, oh, that's Rob. Of course, he wasn't going to last in the conga line very long. And then you see, man, he just. He left my shoulders after being there for a second, stepped to another room and grabbed something. And, you know, that's just happening right around the corner. So that's frustrating to see. You feel like an idiot watching that back. But I think as it relates to me, and you know, there were certain moments where the breadcrumb from Candace about Rob leaving that vote out first, she. She votes for him, and then she comes back again and votes for him. And we really did not figure that out for a couple rounds. It was actually after I was out of the game, then Tara starts to bring it up and she's like, maybe there was something to. To Candace's vote there, but she really. Now she's getting the pressure. Of course, she can't just out a fellow trader, so she's gotta be very underhanded in it. And I think that the way that she delivered that was almost too underhanded where we were like, man, she's getting desperate. She's getting some heat on her. And she even said it they didn't use in the show, but she said, I just looked across the table and I saw you, Rob, and that was the first time she voted for him. So we're like, oh, yeah, that was so random. She's definitely a traitor. So there's all that heat on her, and we have no idea that there's this tension going on on the turret. So now when you guys watch it, you see everything going on. It seems very obvious. But back then, it was like. It was like, man, she's just desperate, and she's just trying to point the finger at somebody else, and she's not going to point the finger at a fellow traitor. Because they're trying to stay in the game. So that's a frustrating one, especially because I was also attached to having a conversation with Candace about Rob. And then Rob comes in. Now, I had a little heat on me at that point because of the banquet. And so I was just paranoid, sitting there going like, I gotta get out of this room. Like, Candace is trying to have a one on one. People are talking about me. They're gonna go like, dude, this guy, he's in there talking to Candace. He has to be a traitor. So I got out of there as soon as I could and Rob coming in, I figured he wanted to talk to her. Like, hey, don't just throw away votes my way. Like, you know, pick somebody else. You know, I don't want to go voting for you. So we'd even follow up on it. But in hindsight, we should have looked at that a little earlier. And I think if Johnny and I had spoken together instead of just like pointing the finger at one another and being comfortable with that, and that's one big thing I'll say in a second that I learned from this game. But just to close that loop, Johnny and I had come together and said, hey, if. Tell me why it's not you, and we would believe each other. And then we started talking about what Candace did. We would have gotten there sooner, one extra vote. Even with the dagger from Rob, I felt like we could have. We could have had an edge there and we would have figured it out. But at this point, you know, I think, yeah, I was getting a little comfortable. I thought that I was, I was in a good position and I knew it was Johnny and so I wasn't going to be swayed any other way. And I just let that run. And I think for that is also a big reason of why I got out.

[Jerry]

So I was telling Matt before we had you on when we were talking about the show previewing that you come on, I'm like, I also, we were joking around, like, what would happen if, like me and you, meaning me and Matt, were on the show together. And I find it entertaining and almost comical sometimes that people who are either friends beforehand or know each other from different shows get so offended when they're lied to. I told Matt straight up, if we went on Traitors together, I would 1000% look you dead in your fucking eyes and lie. Right. And I would be insulted if you didn't do the same.

[Matt]

Right.

[Jerry]

So my question for you is, do you think it could have helped if you had someone you previously knew? I Won't even say best friend, but just well enough? Or do you think that could make it kind of hard? Like, God, you want to trust your friend, but it could make for a complicated situation, which is what I think makes the game so trippy and unique when people do actually know each other.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, I actually think that that's an easy question. I think having someone there that you know is a massive advantage, especially if you know that they're going to be in the game and you guys have a conversation beforehand. We're not allowed to know anybody. They're very, you know, tight lipped about it. My. My wife had, you know, all sorts of research going on for me on online, the rumors of.

[Jerry]

Oh, really? So she was in before you committed?

[Stephen Coletti]

Oh, she went just as far as like, all right, who. The housewives who's rumored to be on it. Let's study all of them. Who could maybe be a traitor. She was actually right.

[Matt]

That's awesome.

[Stephen Coletti]

She called Lisa being on the show one and being a traitor. And so she nailed and Candace. She even had some. She's like, Candace, I could see it either way. Just, you know, keep an eye on her in that sense. So when I started to get that suspicion of those two as traders and I was thinking about my wife and I was like, you know what? And go for it. We got. We got enough there. But, you know, my first instinct when I left the game was like, man, Johnny and Tara, like, such a massive advantage for them to have each other in the game.

[Matt]

Did you not know? Did you not know that going in?

[Stephen Coletti]

I knew. I, you know, I. I knew. And the fact that there are folks that did not know that these two were friends was. Was shocking to me. But I knew from the jump I got out of the car, they were some of the first people that I spoke to. And I walked right up to him and I said, did you guys both know that you're going to be here? Because I would have loved to know somebody that was going to be there and have a conversation with them. They're like, yeah, we figured, you know, maybe, you know, Olympic year. They were very underhanded about it. But as I've learned later, they did know. And, you know, they had a pact going in that they're going to be faithful. So I think if you look your friend in the eye before going in the game and say, hey, let's be faithfuls, let's stick together. If you have that, just having one person that you can trust 100% or as close to it as Possible. That's massive. And you could see where it paid dividends there at the end, which is what. When Johnny was. Was up for it. And Tara came and made that case, and there was nobody who's going to make that case for me because they were like, I just met this dude. Screw him. Get him out of here. You got screwed, dude.

[Matt]

You got. I mean, you got basically just kind of killed by default. You know, you played. I thought you played the game great. What was it. I mean, what was it like? Just having Donna Kelce there. And I felt so bad for her.

[Stephen Coletti]

She.

[Matt]

Poor thing, she couldn't play the traitor too well. She was too quiet stuff. But what was it like being around her and what was, like, the overall feeling towards her?

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, she was super sweet. I think people were. They were impressed by her in the first conversations, like, you know, Donna super cool. And, you know, people were chatting her up, and she was comfortable with that. But you could tell once she was selected as a trader, there was a little bit of a shift, and people were thinking that it was probably with the cards in the beginning there. You could feel that little weight, the weight that I talked about early on that I would have felt, too, for her to take that role on having not a lot of reality experience. Even though she's around different celebrities and athletes and all that because of her sons, still, it's her. She's not the one that's been performing on the field for all these years.

[Jerry]

She's like a spotlight.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, she. She, she, you know, and she's a sweet mother. And. And. And so I think, you know, I had a conversation with her beforehand, just getting to know her when we were hanging out at the beginning, when we got out of the cars, and. And then there was a time when we were sitting in the kitchen. They never showed this conversation, but I was trying to be like, all right, let me talk to her a little bit and see what I'm getting. And her eyes were kind of darting around and she's a little nervous, and I'm like, oh, no, this isn't helping the case. So, yeah, it was while she was, you know, gone too soon. She. She was, you know, a sweet presence in the castle there for a little while.

[Jerry]

Yeah. And I think she did have an impact on the game because, you know, the game has changed so much from season one to season four, and her being this, you know, secret trader, she. She was kind of making the short list, and her short lists were impressive. Like, she had a very clear, clear, definitive picture of, you Know, she's pretty much the gamer. Putting Rob on that list that kind of got the whole thing going. I mean, that was. You would say she's an unsung hero. If. Should the traitors go on to win this thing, she could be an unsung hero because she got some very important people out early on. You could tell we love this show, right?

[Stephen Coletti]

I love it. I love the passion for it.

[Matt]

I have so many questions.

[Stephen Coletti]

I just want to say you guys would both be great on the show. And let me be the first to say, please do it at some point. If you do get the opportunity, do not pass it up. I think that you guys get it too. I think the. That one of the strongest strategy is being a. You know, you're both like men of the people. Like, you can, you know, pop into a crowd and get to know people pretty easily and you don't put off any sort of a shady vibe. And I think when you have that, you go in and you just kind of be a man of the people and get to know folks. You can make it, you know, you can at least get halfway. And then it's like, all right, just don't, you know, serve anybody, roast or take any gold rocks from anybody, and you'll make it to the end.

[Matt]

Did you have the greatest line in the show is? I do have my California boaters license.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt]

That was great because I have mine too. I started dying.

[Jerry]

That might be a T shirt or a hat.

[Matt]

Oh, yeah.

[Stephen Coletti]

You know what? I was so pleased when they used that. I was like, because you were going into it. Because I played it pretty quiet. I was like, oh, man, I hope I'm just not like super so boring in this show and it's just painful. And then that, that as I guess that was the first episode, it's like got my California card. I was like, all right, that's a wrap on the season. We're good. They got that line.

[Matt]

Yeah, dude. Crushed it, man.

[Jerry]

Yeah, it's. It's a. It's a fantastic show. And the. The finale's coming up. So. Will you be watching?

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, I'll be watching. I actually do know what happens and this, it's.

[Jerry]

Oh, you do? Oh, okay.

[Stephen Coletti]

Jaw dropping. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jerry]

No, it's too much on that.

[Stephen Coletti]

We did. We did the reunion just over a week ago and so. Okay, so you're still very tight lipped over there at Peacock and Studio Lambert. They had us in our hotel rooms with our tablets watching, watching the last couple episodes before we did the reunion.

[Matt]

So I imagine the reunion, because we're going to talk about your Laguna beach reunion you guys shot. But, like, the reunion for this show has got to be like. It's got to be some fireworks, right?

[Stephen Coletti]

Oh, 100%. You know, I think that there's.

[Matt]

I can't wait to see it.

[Stephen Coletti]

There's some people that have, you know, they've mend fences over text message. You know, you reach out, you know, once you get your phone back and once you're out of the game and, you know everyone's out and you kind of like, you know, you're retracing your steps a little bit, you're apologizing to people. But, yeah, I think that those traders, especially what Rob was doing there, you

[Matt]

know, he was just stabbing backstory.

[Stephen Coletti]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Ruthless. You got. You got to love the ruthless gameplay. And I know and. And I can confirm it for you guys. You know, those housewives are coming for him. They need to. They want to have a conversation with him. And that's just. That's just the traitors. I mean, you throw in. Colton was playing an aggressive game. Michael Rapaport, obviously was just trying to stir the pot whenever he could. Got to get that camera time. And you got to respect it because he was very entertaining. Um, yeah, there's. There's some fireworks there. We even had, you know, Andy was just like, guys, can we. Can we please move on? So I'm sitting back like, this is hilarious.

[Jerry]

There. There is something to. Well, I guess we could call it the Rapaport philosophy now, which I. I agree. Like, camera time, all that. And that's kind of who he is. He wasn't being sure. He's not, however, being great cover for a traitor. If you're a faithful and you kind of play the crazy and everyone just either wants you gone or thinks you're guilty and you could last a long time because the traders will probably keep you around. So we almost might have to call it, like, oh, this player is playing the Rapaport strategy, where he's just being out there saying things. Because you could skip by for a while under that philosophy, but then eventually that will probably wear thin.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yep. I think the only way that strategy works is if in that kind of loudest voice in the room, very accusatory, you actually nail a traitor. And early on, because then they would always have that in your back pocket. Like, guys, like, why would I out one of my traders from the jump? Like, I may be a loudmouth. So on.

[Jerry]

So and so philosophy.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, there you go. There you go. You're gunning. You're gunning for the traders. So I think Michael Rapport, he wasn't, you know, he wasn't hitting, so I think that's what ultimately did him in. And there. Yeah, frankly, there were some people that were just really tired of having him in the castle. Felt like he was just. He was mudding the waters, making it. Making those roundtables much longer than they needed to be sometimes. But I. Yeah, I thought he was, you know, very entertaining at times, and I think sometimes I would thank him. I'm like, dude, you're earning the Emmy for them. You know, you're working hard over there. I appreciate you drawing all the attention over there, but better him than me.

[Matt]

Steve, let's talk about Laguna beach, dude, because it was a great show. And I just want to say this first, because you and I have never talked about this, and I don't know if you know where I'm with this, but I'm glad you came on, because I felt like maybe there was a beef between us 20 years ago, and. Dude, go ahead, dude.

[Stephen Coletti]

The floor is yours.

[Matt]

I just want to say I had. I had no idea what was going on, dude.

[Jerry]

I. I don't think Stephen did either.

[Stephen Coletti]

I want to. You know, usually people are asking me questions about how. How was my experience on the show, on being on the. Good. I want to know, how was your experience being on Laguna beach, dude? Because what it would. A legendary appearance there, and can we swap roles here? I would much rather take the career as an athlete, Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, than little old Steven from Laguna beach going to San Francisco State University, trying to email the athletic director about a golf. Golf team.

[Matt]

Well, listen, dude, it's funny you say that. I had no idea. Like, when my name got brought up on the show, I was like. I was like, what the. Like, what the happened? Like, what's going on? Like, because I. Because you guys filmed before, like, the timing, right? Like, I didn't know the time, right. And I remember I got all sorts of. From that. From, like, my teammates and all this kind of stuff, and then it just ended. Right? And then, like, I think we met at some point over the years. I don't remember where it was, but I feel like we crossed paths somewhere, and we haven't. I was like, steve's a good dude. And I've. I've. I've maintained friends with Kristen and stuff and all that, and I actually hit her up this week because I was like, hey, I got Steven Come on. The pod. Like, I want to bring this up because this has never been talked about. And she goes, oh, my God, you have to. He will die laughing. So I just want to say I apologize, dude, if I. If I did anything wrong. Man to man, right here, face to face, no worries.

[Stephen Coletti]

You did not. You did not do anything wrong. Those. We were. It's two ships kind of passing in the night there. Thankfully, there was not any overlap. There wasn't a hidden love triangle that involved you and I and her at that time. We. Yeah, we. We were moving on. But I do remember this. I remember, you know, because obviously, you know, you're like, yeah, she's dating Matt. You know, he's the quarterback. USC. And I remember talking. I was like, how is Ms. Matt guy? You know? And I want it. I was waiting for her to say something where I was like, yeah, screw that guy. Right? You're just like, there's something to be like. You get competitive, right? You're like, yeah, what's. You know, what's so great about this guy? And she was like, you know what? We went on a date, and he was a gentleman. He opened the door for me, and I was like, okay, all right. It's a good man, and you are a good guy. Anyway, we met years later. I was like, matt's an awesome dude.

[Matt]

Yeah, I appreciate it, man. Well, I just wanted to get. I want to get that out the way.

[Stephen Coletti]

I appreciate that.

[Matt]

20th anniversary of the final season. What was it like? Was that the first time you guys all got back together as a cast when you shot the reunion?

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, it was the first time we'd all been in the same room. There was a few of us that did mini reunion over Covid, where we, you know, got the zoom together and we weren't all in the same place, but that was kind of the thing where it was like, this was a positive experience. We never really talked about it, you know, back then that the version of our lives that was kind of created for the show and what it ultimately became, you know, we were all kind of like, all right, you know, onto the next thing and didn't really want to sit in it. I think some of us were. You know, you're embarrassed by certain things, and you're like, it wasn't, like, totally the truth, and it was just kind of like. It was an odd thing to experience because we never thought we would get the attention from it as. As we did, you know, you did not think the show would be successful ultimately. So to have everyone come Back together. That felt like that zoom went well. And then Chris and I doing the podcast together. That was a lot of fun. Just talking shop on the show and actually watching it for the first time. Because I watched it, you know, when they gave us those VHS tapes the night before back in 2004, it was like, all right, I'm never seeing that ever again. But now, you know, 20 years later, you've matured a little bit. You feel like you can. You can, you know, go down that road. And it was a positive experience to do so. So we felt like the one thing remaining was to get everyone together in the same room and talk some shop and have that fun dynamic playback. So, yeah, it was, you know, great to get everyone together. We had a lot of fun with it. But also you were like, this is fun. It's funny, but it's also very weird. You know, you're like, man, it's one social experiment to document these kids back in 2004 who are just plucked from obscurity, right? But now let's bring them back after they all haven't been together, and let's watch the show that's kind of about their lives, even though they've all moved on and they've got kids and spouses and so on and so forth. But, yeah, you kind of slip right back into that ease of the friendships from back in the day.

[Jerry]

Well, that's why I was excited to talk to you, too. Obviously, the Traders was something Matt and I are fired up about. But, you know, I moved to LA when I was 20 years old from New York, and then I Get entourage in 0304. Maddie over here is winning Heisman's in the same time period. And then, you know, you guys come out and. Because I remember that MTV generation very well. I was a kid myself. Even though I'm a few. I'm older than you guys, and I know what it was like for me running around in LA during those times. But, you know, I could only imagine what it must have been like because you guys blew up so fat. That show blew up so fast. Talk about, like, overnight. It must have been like, you walked out of your house one day and it's like, whoa, everything's kind of different now.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, I would imagine. It really was. I. I was kind of in denial about it for a while. Really. It was like, this isn't actually something that people are really watching. Maybe they watched an episode. Next week, everything's going to return to normal. I went to San Francisco State, trying to have, like, A fresh start. Not knowing really anybody now I knew, you know, I actually thought I was going to go into sports broadcasting. I knew I wanted to work in entertainment. You know, I grew up, of course, watching Sports center, the likes of, like, Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, being like, that's what I want to do. I want to write for highlights. And they just look like they had so much fun, like, you guys lived it as well. So that's what I was doing. And, you know, it was right when I got to campus, the show came out and it totally changed the dynamic there. And I was like, all right, I gotta find a group of friends to help protect me, because there's just no,

[Matt]

you're probably like the Beatles on campus.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, there was a. Yeah. So thankfully I had a good group of friends, actually, they're from Southern California, who would save me from a lot of the NorCal guys that would want to kick my ass. But it was a trip, man, and it really took me a long time to truly understand it. And I wish, even though I could use the show to my advantage to get in some doors. And that was really what I was thinking about early on was like, all right, no one's going to watch the show, but I'm going to meet people that are in the industry. Carson Daly was also somebody I was a fan of growing up, and that hosting route, I thought I was going to go down, so I wanted to work in the business. And I was like, I did. I just thought it was going to be a little bit of a longer process, but it felt like, all right, there's a lot happening from the show right now. Let's move to la. Let's like, kind of, you know, try to figure out what kind of work we want to get into and take it from there. And, you know, being in LA at 19 years old, I mean, you guys know a little bit about this. It's a trip. The fact that all of a sudden you can go to some party on a Monday and a Tuesday night, you don't have to wait for the weekend anymore. People are inviting you to this, that and the other, and you're, you're drinking for free. It's a dangerous, dangerous little path there. A slippery slope. But thankfully, I still, you know, wow. I definitely partaked at that time because I felt like I, I, I had to. And, and, and I'm still just a kid, you know, I was trying to buckle down and, and, and find something on, on the work front that we can focus on, that we could be proud of because I was not going to be known as, you know, just the kid from Laguna beach for the rest of my life. I did not want to do that.

[Jerry]

No, you, you, you always seem like a guy who has a good head on his shoulders and I think that's why you're still going strong. So last thing and we're letting you go because we do this little game with Wendy's where we have our fresh take of the week. So I'm gonna kind of mix a bunch of genres for you to get your, your fresh take of the week here. Okay. So if you could pick a cast member from Laguna beach or you can. I'll even let you loop in One Tree Hill here. You did like 55 episodes of that show, which is awesome. If you could pick a cast member from either of those two shows who you think would be an exceptional trader,

[Stephen Coletti]

who would you pick? Exceptional trader.

[Jerry]

Exceptional trader.

[Stephen Coletti]

I do think James Lafferty, who's one of the leads of one show would make a great trader because he is various, unassuming, he's very smart and he could have a little bit more of a laid back. People will trust him easily. So I think there's not somebody that you would suspect right away and to me that what, that's what makes a great trader. That's my one trail answer. I'm also for the Laguna fans out there, let's, let's also provide one from Laguna. I do think that Trey would make a very, very good trader because he's also somebody who could be a man of the people. People will trust him. Feel like, you know what, he just doesn't seem like he's the kind of guy that be a trader and he would, he would kill it in that position. So yeah, those, those are the picks.

[Jerry]

All right. That was our fresh take of the week presented by Wendy's. Get yourself a $4 Biggie Bites, $6 Biggie Bag or $8 Biggie Bundle. Now at Wendy's, you giving me some really great insight. If for some reason either Matt or I get tapped on the shoulder for some traders, I guess I'll say, if it does happen, will you be my buddy to come golf in Scotland with me? So this way I don't have to do it as a single. Which from your Instagram, I feel like you might have been golfing a lot in Scotland.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah. Well, here's the thing. There is a benefit. The benefit of being a single out there. It was easy for me to get on with no, you know, no tee time At St. Andrews. Car. New Ste. Royal Dornick, like, which is like, the third oldest course in the world. I had a buddy who bailed last minute, and I'm actually thanking him to this day because I wouldn't have had that opportunity. So you want to go as a single? Do not invite me. But would you guys do it? If somebody calls you right now and says, will you be on Traders, would you?

[Matt]

Absolutely. Absolutely.

[Jerry]

I think I've become too obsessed with it to ever think. No. And I just think the game is incredible.

[Stephen Coletti]

So, so quick.

[Matt]

Yes.

[Jerry]

For me, I just have a third baby, but hopefully I'd be like you, by the way. Do this for the family before we let you go.

[Matt]

You. You guys. You and your wife are expecting, right?

[Stephen Coletti]

Your first? Yes, we are. We are.

[Matt]

Congratulations, dude.

[Stephen Coletti]

We.

[Matt]

I wanted to get that in there. We. I have four kids. Jerry just had a baby, his third, three weeks ago. It's the best thing in the world, man. Congratulations, dude.

[Stephen Coletti]

I'm sure you appreciate it. Yeah, it's my first. And we're super excited. It's been a long time coming here. I'm ready for it, so.

[Matt]

Hell, yeah.

[Stephen Coletti]

You guys got any. Any last minute advice there?

[Matt]

Quick hits.

[Jerry]

I got a quick hit.

[Matt]

Go ahead. I was about to say, you are about to be just a punching bag for the first four or five months, dude. Just anything your wife wants, you just let her. Just let her have it.

[Stephen Coletti]

It.

[Matt]

Let her have it. Yeah, fair enough, man. It's. I. I always say this like, it's the. It. It does change, Especially your first. It does. Your life changes, and it changes for the better, and it's different. But there is no. There's no, like, love. Like a love that you have for your kid when you do it, like, with your wife in that moment and all that, man. And just cherish that moment. Like when. When your baby is born. And those first couple months are a lot. They're tiring. But, um, it is truly, like, the best gift in the world is. Is being a dad and. And all that, man. So I'm pumped up for you.

[Jerry]

Here's my quick hit. I'll keep it quick. You're gonna have to lay a lot of boundaries, and you're gonna find yourself saying no a lot. Or here's what. Try to really say yes where you can. Like, I. Make a conscious effort, like, is this really gonna hurt anybody if I let this kid throw paint all, like, try to say yes where you can, because they're going to hear no a lot as you teach them the Boundaries of life and right from wrong. Try to say yes every chance you get. As long as you're not hurting anybody or themselves, try to say yes whenever you can.

[Stephen Coletti]

I like it. Like, I had a fairly strict father, and, and it was. I always, I enjoyed, of course, the years when I was, you know, actual man and an adult, where he would hang out with me a bit more. And there's years where he was, like, just the enforcer and he was intimidating, you know, So I, I.

[Jerry]

And that stuff's important, too. You gotta be able to, like, they don't need you to be their friend. Even though it's co pool later, you know, you're just gonna say no a lot. You're gonna say, hey, this. You're gonna be teaching and holding that line, which is very hard to do. So the moments where it's like, hey, this is a 50 50. I really don't want to clean this up with you after you do, but you know what? Just do it. Go. Yes. Go ahead. So that's the quick hit. Stephen, can't thank you enough, man. We're all gonna be watching the family. Maybe, maybe the three of us. Fine. Maybe they tap you again. Maybe the three of us find ourselves.

[Matt]

I think we, the three of us

[Jerry]

should find Trust none of you.

[Matt]

We should find ourselves on a golf course soon. I think that's.

[Stephen Coletti]

Yeah, let's do that. For sure. Let's do that. I appreciate you guys having me on. It's great. Great chatting with you.

[Matt]

Thanks, man. Appreciate you, buddy.

[Jerry]

All right, Maddie, we're wrapping up here. I do think we should get on the horn with our agents and maybe just put the feeler out there for you and I on Trader Season 5 or 6. We'll put the feelers out.

[Matt]

Yeah, let's do it, dude.

[Jerry]

Well, before we wrap, though, I did want to air something out. It's a little bit of a personal story, but it's nothing crazy. I would love of some feedback on how I handled it. I'm also on pins and needles about the outcome right now. So last night it was Knicks cavs. Okay. And we are big Knicks fans. And I've spoken about my oldest, Jacob is like, he is crazy about the Knicks. Like, he wakes up in the morning, it's box scores, and he asks about, like, Yabaselli and Landry Shamit and Jose Alvarado. Like, he's on another level. I am not pushing this, though, on him. Like, we watch the games. He sees I'm a fan, but I'm not, like, trying to be Todd Marinovich's dad with basketball.

[Stephen Coletti]

Just forcing it.

[Jerry]

So last night I got tickets to the game from the Cavs. They, they gave us some tickets. They know we're Knicks fans, but it didn't matter. I tried talking to the kid like, hey, let's just go neutral. College is like, no, I'm wearing the Knicks jersey. He went to school in the Knicks jersey, came home, we went right to the game. Okay. We were right by the Knicks tunnel. So the Knicks players came out. He was cheering for the Knicks, screaming, going nuts. So Cavs blow the Knicks out, right?

[Stephen Coletti]

Game's over.

[Jerry]

We left like before, like early fourth quarter. I was with my four year old too. He was like falling asleep. We're in the car and we're talking about the game and he's hoping they could come back. We get home, right when we pull him in the garage, the kid just starts saying, I'm so nervous, dad. And I'm like, what are you nervous about? And he just starts hysterical crying. I'm like, what is, what is going on? Do you owe someone money already? You're seven years old. And he's hysterical telling me, dad, I'm scared to go to school because we live in Cleveland. He's like, I, I think that they're all gonna like make fun of me because the Cavs beat the Knicks. So what I think happened is, I think he went to school that more that afternoon and he talking a lot of shit.

[Matt]

Yeah.

[Jerry]

And I think he was kind of saying, we're gonna crush you. And now he's dealing with that, that fear of showing up and taking the music and. But when I tell you that it was not here, he was having a full on meltdown. This one's gonna tell Theodore, and then Theodore is going to tell this one and they're going to make fun of me. And I don't want to go, dad. And he just hugs me. And I, I didn't know how to handle it at first. And I was trying to, like, talk him through. So the outcome was, all right, you're going to school. And then here's what you do. The minute you start getting heat, you just turn into the nice guy. You go like, yeah, hey, you know, I do a good game. Those calves are, with Harden, are really playing tremendous basketball, peaking at the right time. And it kind of settled him down. But I'm not gonna lie. When I dropped him off this morning and he walked in and I saw locked eyes and he took a breath, I'm like, I feel like I'm Sending this kid in to face humiliation.

[Matt]

And because, because he. Because you don't know how. You don't know if three or four kids come out. If you know how he's going to respond.

[Stephen Coletti]

You.

[Matt]

I don't know.

[Jerry]

And he's like the youngest and, like, honestly, we don't really do a whole lot of talking. Like, it's out of his nature. Like, you know, we're trying to, like, we don't really. I don't know if he's built for that. And he's only 6 years old.

[Matt]

Well, I can't wait. I can't wait to see what he says when he comes home, because, you know, it's going to be the first thing he talks about.

[Jerry]

I'm so nervous.

[Matt]

Well, first of all, I think the biggest thing, dude, is. Listen, kids learn hard lessons early. You learn hard lessons early. If you shit talk, you got to be able to back it up. And when you shit talk and you don't back it up, then you got to face the consequences and you got to be like, hey, listen, man. Like, you guys are right. Great job. I think you handled it perfectly. And I know you well enough to know now that in those situations, you might be a little frantic and little panic because it's also your six year old going into school and you're trying to equip him with the right things to say. And, you know, I mean, they're going to say whatever they want to say. So I think it's a great learning experience. I am curious to see when he comes home, because that's going to tell if he comes home crying. You're. If he comes home and he's fine and, and he's smart, dude. So, like, I think he's going to handle himself well because he's articulate, he's smart, and he's. He's like a thinker. Like, he's not.

[Jerry]

Well, he wanted to double down, Matt. He wanted to go, well, you know what? The playoff. Let's see what happens in the playoffs. And we didn't have Deuce McBride. Like, he wanted to double down on his take on my. Hey, Stephen A. Take it easy. Calm down, buddy.

[Matt]

Well, you gotta, you gotta. You gotta let me know what he does, man.

[Jerry]

I will. I'm scared. I'm going to pick him up literally right as we hang up now. And I'm. I'm just hoping that it's a smile I see walking out the door and not like a pouty lip, because that's my biggest flaw as a dad is trying to protect them from any form of pain or lessons and. I know, but, man, that was tough. He must have talked a lot of trash in class that day for his Anthony Towns jersey on.

[Matt]

Which, by the way, just makes me even more proud of him. I fucking love it.

[Jerry]

Well, I'll let you know.

[Stephen Coletti]

Do.

[Jerry]

Hey, let's. Let's. Later on, me and you are going to call our agents and shout outs again to Coletti. And then, yeah, Trainers finale coming up. And if you haven't watched it, get on board. It's. It's the Wave, so.

[Stephen Coletti]

Peace.

[Jerry]

Peace.