Two Ts In A Pod: By Order of the Faithfuls — The Fan Favorite w/ Stephen Fishbach

Podcast: Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge
Host (for this episode): Wells Adams and Dolores Catania
Guest: Stephen Fishbach
Release Date: March 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This lively episode of By Order of the Faithfuls brings Survivor legend Stephen Fishbach into the fold to unpack behind-the-scenes dirt and firsthand strategies from his time on the show. Wells Adams and Dolores Catania lead a candid, humorous, and insightful discussion on what really goes down on Survivor, from the physical and psychological challenges to the art of strategy—and even the, well, bathroom logistics. The group also explores the parallels and differences between Survivor and other reality competition series, discusses the culture of fandom, and highlights Stephen’s new novel, Escape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Survivor’s Physical and Psychological Demands

• Initial Reactions and Physical Toll

  • Dolores expresses awe over the cast’s endurance:

    “People poop their pants this time. I give them so much credit. You know, I'm just overwhelmed with everything that's going on. I could not do it.” (02:48)

  • She notes that despite extreme conditions, not everyone is an athlete, pointing out the diversity of Survivor contestants.

• Mental/Emotional Strain

  • Stephen highlights the complex emotional landscape, especially regarding forming and betraying alliances:

    “You are cuddled up close in the shelter, it's freezing out, it's raining, you're shivering together, and then the next day, you're lying to each other's faces and betraying them... the money is so transformational that you literally are destroying someone's dreams when you vote them out.” (21:15)

2. Bathroom Logistics on Survivor (Deep Dive!)

• Fans’ Burning Questions

  • Wells opens the door:

    “Can we go back to him shitting his pants? I have so many questions about like, logistics of like, how this all works.” (13:20)

  • Stephen answers with candor and detail, outlining how contestants mostly use the ocean, emphasizing its relatively antiseptic quality.
    • “Most people will go in the ocean and poop… There is Purell. Like in your med kit, there's Purell. So after you poop, you know, you go and Purell your hands. But you know, you also like wipe off in with the silt of the ocean.” (13:46)
    • Special ‘poop zones’ are established on the beach (“Deuce Iteria”), while in jungle locations, contestants dig holes and use leaves, which he surprisingly compliments:

      “The leaves were actually, like, lovely. If I think someone can make a fortune and, like, leaf toilet paper, it was like, there was soft.” (15:15)

• Illness and Hygiene

  • Sickness is less about viral infections (the game environment is isolated) and more often due to environmental stress, dehydration, or eating the wrong things—such as coconuts:

    “Coconuts are a laxative. And so if you're, like, only eating coconuts, you know, you lose some control.” (16:02)

3. Survivor’s Game Strategy and Social Dynamics

• Old School vs. New School Play

  • The panel discusses the evolution and depth of Survivor strategy, the emotional investments contestants make, and how connections outside the game shape in-game alliances.
  • Stephen remarks on the importance of forming real friendships to create strong alliances:

    “Alliances are like friendships first. You know, you have to have those deep emotional connections in order to build those alliances.” (22:52)

  • He admits to overstrategizing the second time he played:

    “I totally like, I was planning like too far out. And then you lose sight of what's happening right in front of you…” (22:52)

• Returning Legends vs. New Players

  • On why legends like Boston Rob, Sandra, Tony, and Parvati aren't in the current season:

    “…They’re such icons and you do sort of want to see new things and to see new players… it's fun to see new players get the chance to shine, which maybe it would be harder to do when they're so in the shadow of somebody else.” (17:33)

4. Fandoms and Internet Culture

• Survivor Audience vs. Real Housewives
  • Stephen finds the Survivor fanbase more positive than other reality show fandoms:

    “I actually feel, weirdly, the Survivor audience is, like, really lovely and kind for the most part, you know, and, like, they see the nuance and, like, the best of people… in terms of general Internet toxicity, I feel like they're actually sort of like the cream of the crop.” (08:08)

  • Dolores and Wells compare notes, with Dolores joking about the difficulty of voting people off and her own reluctance as a housewife.

5. Behind-the-Scenes: Production, Confessionals, and Manipulation

• On Producer Involvement
  • Dolores asks whether producers influence gameplay. Stephen says Survivor and Traders are “hands off”:

    “The format itself is so good. Like, the format drives the conflict. You don't need to, like, put your thumb on the scale.” (29:08)

  • He discusses the subtle influence of confessional interviews, saying questions can “shape your thinking.”
  • On being awkwardly posed for on-camera interviews:

    “So much of it is about the light… but they do sort of, like, pose you. So there were all these, like…you're like, yeah, like it's so uncomfortable sometimes.” (29:31)

6. Stephen Fishbach’s Book: Escape

• About the Novel
  • Stephen plugs his new novel, inspired by his Survivor experience:

    “It's about a 40 something has been reality contestant who goes back on his jungle themed survival show. It's fictional, it is not autobiographical.” (26:57)

  • The protagonist faces off against a manipulative producer (with its own twists).
  • Available in print and as a popular, well-narrated audiobook:

    “It's got a great audiobook, and it's actually won a bunch of audio prizes… Julia Whelan… is one of the key narrators… It's… there's multiple narrators, and it's got a great cast.” (28:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People poop their pants this time. I give them so much credit.” — Dolores Catania (02:48)
• “I think this is… very Traitors-like, the show… they're vicious. They're going through people’s bags.” — Dolores Catania (04:18)
• “Even as it is sort of what you have to do to be a part of this game… money that's gonna, like, pay off your father's debts, you know? Oh, sorry… you need this for medical treatment for your child. Well, I gotta vote you out.” — Stephen Fishbach (21:57)
• “Most people will go in the ocean and poop… You use leaves to, you know, wipe yourself. Yeah, and the leaves were actually, like, lovely.” — Stephen Fishbach (13:46, 15:15)
• “If you're thinking of going on Traitors, anybody — watch [Survivor] first!” — Dolores Catania (04:53)
• “I was not looking back, looking to go back to Survivor, but when it did turn out to be a fan vote, I just thought it would be a really neat thing to have that opportunity. It ended up being a totally disastrous season for me.” — Stephen Fishbach (07:33)
• “Do they producers step in every once in a while? ... I do think the Survivor producers… or really hands off because, like, the format itself is so good. Like, the format drives the conflict.” — Stephen Fishbach (28:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:35 – 05:00: Wells and Dolores banter about Survivor’s challenge and personal limitations
• 06:07 – 09:01: Stephen Fishbach’s Survivor career; fan vote, TV legacy, and audience culture
• 13:20 – 16:02: Behind-the-scenes on, literally, “pooping on Survivor,” hygiene, and illness
• 17:14 – 18:21: Missing Survivor legends this season — is that a good thing?
• 18:35 – 22:15: Game alliances, returning players, emotional realities of the competition
• 22:52 – 23:39: Strategy pitfalls, overthinking, and alliance-building advice
• 26:55 – 28:34: Stephen’s book, Escape: plot details and audiobook rec
• 28:35 – 30:14: Reality TV production: interview setup, producer influence, and confessional mechanics

Conclusion

This episode expertly blends humor, nostalgia, and rare behind-the-scenes insight into the world of Survivor and reality TV. Stephen Fishbach’s candidness both delights and informs, providing fans with a peek beneath the surface of game strategy, production secrets, and the psychological rollercoaster of reality competition—all with plenty of laughs and a memorable amount of leaf-based toilet paper talk.