Survivor 48 concluded on May 21 of 2025, and since that time, there really has not been a ton of discourse about the season, outside of the quick and immediate analysis following the finale. Part of this is thanks to the bombshell Survivor 50 cast announcement, which not only drowned out season 48 but also the yet-to-air season 49. The other reason, though, was the gameplay itself, which most fans found to be pretty predictable and boring.
For better or worse, Joe Hunter, the third-place finisher, was a large reason for this fan reaction. His loyalty and honesty moral code is incredibly noble, but in implementation on Survivor, it led to an alliance steamroll with minimal strategy or resistance. For fans, that just does not offer anything engaging or exciting to latch on to.
That said, where Joe's gameplay may have lacked in excitement for fans (although it was certainly successful in-game), he more than made up for it in his character and likability. Joe is a genuine, real person who bared his soul for us on the beach, and whose kindness led to one of the most emotional moments in series history. And his love and kindness were not just for show, as he has extended those same values to his real life as well.
Joe offers words of encouragement to fans
Joe will be returning for Survivor 50, which has made him a more prominent member of the Survivor 48 cast on social media. He recently used that platform for good, posting a video with his family on his Instagram.
The caption reads, in part, "Just wanted to send a video out to anyone struggling or just in need of some encouragement and motivation."
The beginning of the video was spent thanking fans for the love they have shown him and his family, and some of his future podcast appearances. Most of all, though, Joe wanted to offer words of encouragement for those who may need it, something that really matches the character we all saw on the island.
"I think that in life, we don't talk about a lot of things, like how difficult it is to have balance, you know, as a dad and as a husband and trying to just work, trying to come home, be present. Between my friends, my social life, my wife, the kids, it's also not easy. It's very difficult to get caught up in that." Joe said.
He continued, "I just wanted to send some love out to those of you that are trying to have balance, trying to be great parents. Trying to be great partners. And everybody that is just struggling. If you're struggling as a parent, if you're struggling as a partner, just keep your head up."
Check out his full post below.
It is a grounding reminder that we are all human and that everyone is going to struggle. It is hard to find balance, and we often blame ourselves for not juggling 100 things perfectly all the time. Joe is a great example of letting in the reality of the real world, outside of the reality of reality television. Hopefully, his words act as encouragement for many out there who may be having a hard time or a hard day.