Rachel LaMont, winner of Survivor 47, has been an influential part of the community throughout season 48. Her charismatic personality and her personal experience have been an incredibly valuable voice that adds deep insight to the Survivor podcast, On Fire with Jeff Probst. Hearing her perspective as a winner helps fans conceptualize what players go through on Survivor.
One of the greatest assets of the On Fire podcast is that it gives fans and listeners never-before-heard behind-the-scenes details on exactly what happens in the game. One question fans often have is exactly what the physical toll is on players. We know it is grueling, and players are exposed to limited food and resources, and challenging weather.
But besides that, what else are the players contending with? How is sleeping on the shelters or sand? What is it like to complete a challenge? How does it feel to sit at tribal or around the fire each day and night? When it comes to the last one, Rachel gave us insight, and it is a lot less pleasant than people may realize.
On episode 10 of the On Fire podcast, the show ended with taking questions from listeners about what they would like to know about the Survivor experience. One fan wrote in and asked, "What is it like to sit on Survivor? What is the trick to getting comfortable in camp? Do you miss your couch at home? Do players relish sitting out challenges because they'll have an opportunity to sit on a normal bench? Are the stumps at tribal a luxury?"
Rachel gave a detailed answer, and, as it turns out, no sitting in the game is comfortable.
"I can't overstate how uncomfortable your butt in on Survivor," she says. "Your options at camp are bamboo, dirt, and logs. None of those things are comfortable, and the trick is just kind of getting used to it and maybe using your bag or a shirt for a little padding."
As far as other places? They are not much better, Rachel shared.
"I never sat out on the sit out bench so I can't speak to that, but it makes me laugh to think about if the stumps at tribal are a luxury because my seat at tribal on my season was like made of stone or something, and it was the worst thing I had to sit on out there."
There is some reprieve on occasion, though, if you are lucky.
"I did go on a reward where there were some cushions, and that was glorious. I think one of the cool things about Survivor is that you get to truly appreciate the little things, like a thin cushioned mat to sit on. After weeks of hard ground, it is an immense blessing, and you really, really can't have that kind of perspective unless you've experienced being without it for a while."
It is especially interesting to hear Rachel's comments about tribal. On watching the show, one would think that at least having something that is designed to sit on at tribal council would offer some minor comfort compared to other options at camp. It is kind of like sitting on a log bench around a campfire instead of the ground or a rock.
Apparently, though, that is not accurate. The way Jeff Probst laughed at the response makes me wonder if it is intentional. My psychological mind and scientific experiment thinking is based on absolutely nothing at all, but perhaps the idea is that giving players even less comfort might push them to talk because they cannot focus on what is happening? Maybe it makes them spit out info to get out of there? Maybe being distracted forces them to answer in a way they cannot plan out?
Or maybe I am entirely crazy and conspiracy-minded. Whether intentional or not, the effects could still be there. Maybe one season, they can set up La-Z-Boy recliners and see how it changes tribal. Until then, just know, players are not living a life of comfort on the island, that is for sure!
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