The only thing we love more than a three-stage challenge is a three-stage challenge with A TWIST! Jeff, Jay, and Rick discuss how production designs multi-tier challenges and how they’re upping the stakes with the potential to lose your vote and a trip to the Sanctuary. For the second week in a row, we’re left with the oldest players on the island, Bruce and Julie, duking it out for immunity. How come there aren't more older people on Survivor? Jeff responds to this frequently asked question,...

Let the bidding begin! The auction is back with new layers of dilemma and “dangerous fun.” Jeff discusses the new twists and unpredictable variables that went into reinventing it for the new era. The castaways indulge in the fruits of their bids, like ice-cold beer, a decadent chocolate cake, and...a pair of gigantic fisheyes. Jeff explains how the audio department captures sound to bring moments like Austin’s massive wet bite of the eyeball to the next level. Negotiations color the...

Endurance is the name of the game this week as the castaways take on the iconic Survivor challenge, “Get a Grip.” Jeff shares what inspired the creation of this challenge, how it was designed, and why it’s all about will (and in Dee’s case, long toes). Then, down to 12 castaways, a two-vote twist means one player voted out will make the jury, and the other, crucially, won't. Rick, Jeff and Jay dig into just what it means to miss out on the jury. Then, finally, Jeff shares the moment of the...

Everyone get flexible, because we’re in limbo! The castaways have just 10 minutes to gather all their belongings (and, in Bruce’s case, find an idol) before they board the boats to merge on one beach. Rick shares what it is like to experience the merge as a player and Jeff pulls back the curtain on producing this turning point in the game — it’s a HUGE lift, from timing the arrival of the boats to filming a dozen reactions all at once. And we can’t talk about the production of this episode...

Ten days in, the Survivor castaways all share one common feeling: hunger. Jeff dives into how a player’s mental clarity, physical energy, and emotions are impacted by no food and why that's a critical part of the game design. Speaking of hunger, would you pick an advantage over a sandwich? Austin, J, and Kellie are faced with this decision and their shared dilemma may inspire a new alliance - Rick, Jeff and Jay dive into the double-edged sword of any shared advantage. Later, they discuss fake...

Drop your Buffs®! We are switching tribes—Jeff discusses how they approached the first tribe swap of the new era from the producer's perspective. Some core alliances—Dee and Julie, Drew and Austin—made it through the swap while others, like Brando and Kellie, are now on opposing teams. Rick shares his personal experience of what runs through a castaway’s mind when the new buffs are drawn and talks about some lone wolves—like Emily—who have an opportunity to completely change their gameplay....

How do you know if someone is lying if you haven’t had an opportunity to test their loyalty? When a tribe like Lulu continually faces Tribal Council, trust gets tested with each vote. But for tribes like Reba and Belo who have yet to cast a vote, insecurities only grow as time goes on. Jeff, Jay and Rick dig into Survivor 45 episode 3 which was full of emotional highs and lows. The “Lulu losers” finally win a challenge, giving Kaleb the all-new “Goodwill Advantage” designed to forge future...

This week’s headline: “Over-Sharing.” Jeff, Jay and Rick discuss how making connections and building deeper relationships are critical to help savvy Survivor players move through the game. Sharing secrets is a great way to build trust, but how do you know WHEN to share them and WHO to share them with? For example, Drew shares his advantage with the Reba tribe as soon as he returns from his journey — was that the right approach? From Hidden Immunity Idols to lost votes, this week is full of...

Survivor 45 is on! Eighteen new castaways are marooned on the islands of Fiji and there’s already some surprising friction between the group. What drives Emily to confront Bruce the moment they get to the barge? Rick Devens and Jay Wolff dig into this moment and the other major turning points in the premiere episode — including a frightening medical incident, the strategy behind the new “Sweat vs. Savvy” and the very shocking twist at Tribal Council. But first, Devens details just how much...

Survivor 45 is here and with it comes the return of "On Fire: The Official Survivor Podcast"! Showrunner Jeff Probst is back to answer fan questions and share his perspective as host and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning reality series. However, this season, the podcast is introducing a twist and welcoming a new host who has experienced the grueling challenges, shocking tribal councils, and even torch snuffing all firsthand. Some hints? This former player found at least one idol,...

After a season of epic twists and turns, Survivor 44 has come to a close and with it this season of On Fire. Hear from the final 3 and winner of Season 44 as they each join Jeff, Brittany and Jay to unpack all of the unforgettable moments from this season.   Watch episodes of Survivor on CBS and streaming on demand on Paramount+. For details on how we manage your personal information, please consult our privacy policy at www.viacomcbsprivacy.com/en/policy. Learn more about your ad...

After a recap of episode 12, Jeff, Brittany and Jay take a moment to recognize the incredible journey each of the remaining castaways have endured and celebrate their best moments from this season. Jeff points out how Lauren, Heidi, Carson, Carolyn and Yam Yam all rose to the occasion throughout the season to become top Survivor competitors despite expectations and personal setbacks. Jeff underscores how all the castaways are real people, not actors or reality stars, who are determined to...

Jeff, Brittany, and Jay unpack the latest episode including Yam Yam's epic individual immunity win and Carolyn getting mad at everyone at tribal - including Jeff! Then, the crew dives into all of your unanswered questions from: how long can players go without food during the show to the ground rules all players must follow while on the island. They also answer your questions about the live finale, the famous gross food eating challenge, and more! Watch all new episodes of Survivor, Wednesdays...

It’s a Herculean effort to capture every single moment of Survivor as it unfolds in real time, but it’s all possible thanks to the camera and audio crews who bring their instinct, trust and remarkable skill to shooting the show. Jeff breaks down how the crew captures the reality, the challenges and Tribal Councils. He describes how each piece comes together despite the many environmental and technical challenges that come with shooting on a remote island. Jeff and Brittany also share behind...

The Fire-Making Showdown, The Medallion of Power, Final Two vs Final Three and Change History are just some of the twists and turns that have stirred controversy among Survivor fans and contestants over the past 44 seasons. Find out which of the most polarizing twists Jeff stands by and which ones he regrets. Jeff also answers your questions shedding light on some less controversial topics like would he ever place an advantage at Tribal Council, how do they film idols before and after...

The role of an editor on Survivor is to authentically and accurately represent each player's journey during their time in the game. Jeff pulls back the curtain on how a team of 20 editors tells the story of 18 Survivor castaways from moment to moment in each episode as well as across an entire season. We’re joined by editor Dave Armstrong to talk through the anatomy of a scene using three different versions of the same sequence, where Carolyn finds the idol without her team knowing. Plus,...

Curious how Survivor's big themes were born? This episode gets to the heart of how, why, and exactly what it takes to build some of Survivor's most iconic themes. Join us as Jeff discusses some of the most memorable, like Redemption Island, Edge of Extinction and Winners At War. Hear how each theme creates intense, new challenges while revealing the determination and spirit of your favorite castaways. Go inside the creative process for developing the show’s format with a dramatic reading from...

The art department is responsible for creating every single thing you see on the show from torches and idols to challenges and tribal council. Jeff unpacks how this massive team of artisans and designers from around the world is an integral part of bringing the show to life. Jeff also takes your questions about jurors in Ponderosa, the power of the idol vs. shot in the dark, and we hear from casting producer, Jesse Tannenbaum, on whether he would actually cast Jeff as a contestant.  Watch all...

We’re throwing it back to Survivor Season 1! Jeff takes a deep dive into the fundamentals of the premiere season that still hold true today — from his wardrobe to the iconic phrase that closes out every tribal council, “The Tribe Has Spoken.” Brittany also goes behind the scenes of how she produced season 44 episode 5, demonstrating how the show has remained committed to its core format and philosophical approach over the past 23 years.  Watch all new episodes of Survivor, Wednesdays on CBS...

Challenges come down to two things: highlighting strengths and exposing weaknesses. We’re taking a deep dive into Survivor Challenges — how we design them, the ways we test them, and everything in between! Plus, you’ll hear an all new reason “Why Jeff Sucks!” Watch all new episodes of Survivor, Wednesdays on CBS and streaming and on demand on Paramount+ and then catch all-new episodes of “On Fire with Jeff Probst” right after the show. For details on how we manage your personal information,...

Over 600 people have played Survivor and all of them were handpicked through our casting process. This week we’re taking a deep dive into what we’re looking for when we cast a season and how we evaluate the applicants. Jeff shares his first impressions of a few competitors on Survivor 44 and what stood out about them during casting. Plus, you’ll hear the story of how Jeff was selected to host Survivor. Watch all new episodes of Survivor, Wednesdays on CBS and streaming and on demand on...

From the iconic Hidden Immunity Idol to the new Beware Advantage, this week we take a deep dive into Survivor's Idols and Advantages. We examine why we have them, how we come up with them, and what's new about them in Season 44. Then, Jeff tells a few never-before-heard stories of advantages that were on your TV screens... but were never seen or found by players. Later, Jeff answers fan questions and we cover yet another reason "Why Jeff Sucks!" Watch all new episodes of Survivor, Wednesdays...

Survivor 44 is off to a blistering start with new twists and turns! In this episode, we take a deep dive into “GETTING TO DAY ONE!” What does it take to get a new season of Survivor ready to turn over to 18 new castaways as they begin the adventure of a lifetime! And Jeff talks with evacuated player Bruce Perreault. Plus, meet Jeff's co-hosts, Brittany Crapper (Survivor supervising producer) and Jay Wolff (podcast producer) who help him take you behind the scenes each week. Watch the latest...

Join Jeff Probst, the Emmy Award-winning host and showrunner of Survivor, to go behind the scenes of the reality competition like never before. Using episodes from Survivor 44 as a jumping off point, each episode of the podcast takes you inside from the producers point of view. Explore the parts of the show you have always had questions about, from how they build challenges to how they select the castaways, the inner workings of their art department, all of those idols and advantages, and...