For those who converse with Benjamin “Coach” Wade, he’d be fast to regale you together with his outrageous number of life experiences. And people experiences solely grew within the practically 15 years since he is final performed Survivor. The 53-year-old has taken extra of a monastic strategy prior to now decade-and-a-half, caring much less about slaying dragons and extra about slaying as a husband, father and musicteacher. And so he is bringing a special tune to his fourth trip, having “shed his pores and skin” and displaying a mushy underbelly that is desperate to comply with relatively than lead. With connections throughout all eras of the present, Coach is keen to do what he received so near conducting in South Pacific, in order that, on Day 26, have the ability to lastly knight himself with the nickname of “The Winner.”
Learn on for my interview with Coach, and verify in with Parade day by day for interviews with this season’s contestants and different tidbits. Survivor 50 premieres on Feb. 25 with a three-hour episode on CBS.
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Survivor 50 interview with Benjamin “Coach” Wade
Hey Coach! How are you doing proper now?
Freaking nice! Zenned out, man. I’m so in an important spot in my life.
Let’s discuss that good spot. As a result of we final noticed you on our screens a decade in the past, and quite a bit has modified since then. Appropriate me if I am flawed, however I imagine you are a coach in title solely now.
Effectively, I am nonetheless teaching my children. I am not gonna hand over teaching, however I am teaching all my children’ groups.
Discuss to me extra about changing into a father. What’s that journey been like for you?
It has been a good looking journey because the final Survivor. I lastly realized that life was not about myself. As a result of I actually thought, as a lot as I can slay life, as many adventures, as many near-death experiences that I can regale individuals with. As many soccer championships, as many symphonies I can begin, and books I can write, and little cameos and films that is gonna make me completely happy.
And none of that stuff’s gonna be remembered 50 years from now. Perhaps some individuals might be watching some previous seasons of Survivor. However they certain as hell ain’t gonna be listening to “The Dragonz” or watching the film 180. However it actually was an “aha” second for me to simply say, “I am backing the flawed horse.”
And it was really the final Survivor that I went on, and I had met this stunning girl. And I might at all times mentioned, “I do not wish to get married, I do not wish to have children.” I used to be adamant about that. They requested me many occasions. Particularly the primary time on Survivor. CBS was like, “Do you ever wish to have children?” “No.” “Do you ever wish to be married?” “No.” And met this stunning girl. We did a ballet collectively. I wrote a ballet for actually lengthy actions. It was a pleasant, massive splash within the artwork world when it premiered. She choreographed all of the dancers as a result of she owns a dance studio within the city that we dwell in, in Susanville. And so I met her nine-month-old boy proper earlier than popping out. And I let you know, once I was on the market on the seashore, I really instructed this to Cowboy Rick. I mentioned, “I am gonna go dwelling. I am gonna be a dad to that boy, and I am gonna be husband to that girl.”
And have a look at you now!
And so in December, I eloped, and life has been a good looking transformation since then, that I feel you are gonna see in my gameplay. However I retired from soccer, from faculty soccer, teaching, formally, eight years in the past. Too arduous on the household, assembly six hours a day, as much as Lake Tahoe. And my spouse was like, “I do not wish to transfer to Lake Tahoe”, so I used to be commuting. Lastly, I stepped over one among my daughter’s toys within the morning at 4 o’clock to stand up there for the President’s Cupboard assembly. And I mentioned, “I did not see her play with it yesterday, nor am I gonna see her play with it in the present day.” She was solely like a yr previous. I mentioned, “That is it. I am achieved with teaching.” And so I retired after that season, after which targeted on the household. We have had two youngsters, so we now have a household of 5.
And the highschool known as me up. They mentioned, “Hey, do you wish to begin the music program? It is gone into the doldrums, as a result of all of the theatre faculties have been minimize.” By no means had trainer. Don’t have any want to be a trainer. My spouse was like, “Don’t take that job.” I used to be like, “I am praying about it. I really feel like I must take this job.” She was like, “Do not do it.” I mentioned, “Only for one yr.”
So I utilized for the job, received the job. After which I simply restarted all the things within the music program. Began a drumline, began a recording class. Working with particular ed children at the highschool, which is so superior. Now, I get up within the morning, and I am not that man that is like, “What number of dragons can I slay?” No, I am like, “Let me slay breakfast first. As we speak we’re gonna have French Toast, as a result of tomorrow I do know we’re gonna have waffles. And the following day, we’re gonna have cereal, however not cereal day-after-day.” And I get up, and I am simply so stuffed with pleasure that I am sacrificing.
And I feel if I had been youthful, it could have been it could have been resentful. It will have been resentment that I felt I am the one cooking the meals. I am the one packing lunch for varsity. My spouse works her butt off. However you recognize what? It is so nice to be on the underside, and I am able to be like that on this sport. I do not thoughts enjoying from the underside. I haven’t got to steer. I haven’t got to come back out right here and say, “I’ll be the alpha. I’ll lead from the beginning.” I do not want that anymore. I do not want Survivor; I’ve turned them down a variety of occasions. However eager about this message of transformation ticked a field. After which eager about “I’d remorse it if I did not say sure.” I used to be gonna say no the week they known as. I talked to Matt Van Wagenen, whom I actually belief. Exile. Iron sharpens iron.
Yeah, I do know he was there for the monastic strategy.
He was a section producer! So I actually belief him. He simply mentioned, “I feel you may remorse it for the remainder of your life.” Tick. Final one, good friend of mine mentioned, “Your children must undergo just a little little bit of adversity. You are such an important dad. You are there for them on a regular basis. They should powerful it out.” [Laughs.] So it was like, “tick, tick, tick,” all inside per week. And so I mentioned sure.
However it’s right here with an entire new bag of tips. You are still gonna get the slayer of previous with the quotes and stuff like that. However, I imply, I am actually a softer man. I do not have to be the person. I can let different individuals be that particular person, and I can carry them up. I try this day-after-day with my household, with my job.
Discuss to me about that strategy. As a result of I feel lots of people, each on and off the island, expect the Coach we noticed again in 2009. What’s the new Coach like from each a private and strategic perspective?
So the non-public perspective is Survivor has been an important — here is me within the mirror. [Mimes a mirror.] If you should use it, it’s going to assist with that transformation. “What an smug ass! I am probably not like that. Am I? Effectively, if I’m, okay, let’s work on that. Take your self quite a bit much less significantly.” Second time round, I actually was distraught at individuals speaking about me. In order that taught me an important lesson. It is like, who cares what persons are saying about you? Who cares what individuals take into consideration you? And even individuals round me, they’re like, “I want that I had that.” I do not give a rip what anyone’s saying about me. And so I can take that and say, “I’ll be taught from this.” After which the final time round. Pigeonholing myself into guarantees that I could not preserve, and never proudly owning as much as these guarantees on the remaining Tribal, was disastrous for the endgame.
And I feel that each one these issues, do the other of that. I am not going to take myself so significantly. Perhaps inform some tales. May do some nicknames, however solely by well-liked demand. After which it is like, “Okay, who cares what persons are saying? They’re eager about me.” After which do not make guarantees you may’t preserve. And whenever you do make guarantees that you need to change, then simply be a person and admit it. I received a few monsters coming into this sport.
Some historic Chinese language philosophy that I will throw at you. Certainly one of them is, if a snake can’t shed its personal pores and skin, it should die. The previous Coach should be shed of pores and skin. And the opposite one is, I wish to make warfare with a clear coronary heart. Prior to now, I’ve made warfare, and I’ve had a clear coronary heart, however I’ve by no means admitted to creating warfare. We’re out right here to wage warfare on our opponents. I used to field a very long time in the past, and I’d by no means go in there and never throw a punch. The final three Survivors, I’ve walked in with my arms behind my again, saying, “I am unable to throw any punches as a result of I will not admit to mendacity to you.” Or” I am gonna lie after which lie about it later.”
So I feel proudly owning as much as that understanding that I must manipulate and lie to a couple individuals alongside the best way, maintaining the core of honor and integrity, working with strategic gamers that I have never actually needed to work with prior to now, working with individuals which might be on the outs, being fluid. In order that when one Tribal Council would not go my method, as a substitute of placing honor and integrity blinders on. “Oh, I will simply belief JT to the tip. Definitely, he is telling me the reality! That is old fashioned. That is previous Coach.” This can be a Coach 4.0.
I am not out right here to not have a good looking evolution for Coach 4.0. I am gonna deliver it. I am right here to win. And I’ve really by no means stood right here on the precipice of the sport and mentioned, “I am right here to win.” It is at all times been, “I wish to be an enormous character.” First time round, verify. “I need individuals to see I am an actual particular person. I am hurting. I need them to see I am delicate.” Test, “I wish to present people who I can play this sport.” I by no means got down to South Pacific to win. I did not assume I might. I did not assume I used to be a ok participant. Test. This time round, I am gonna win!
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Effectively, let’s run down a number of the individuals you are going to take down in your path. We’re gonna play a sport known as “Pal or Foe.” I’ll provide you with a reputation of somebody on the forged, and you need to inform me in the event that they’re somebody you wish to work with, or somebody you see as an enemy or menace.Beginning with Jenna.
Jenna Lewis is a Foe. Old fashioned, however I really feel like she’s making eye connections with everyone on the seashore proper now. So I feel possibly she’s in mattress with the brand new faculty gamers.
Colby.
Colby is a Pal. I grabbed his balls. [Laughs.] I really like you, Colby! Colby and I are gonna be associates. There isn’t any two methods about it. How might I not be associates with a person that can also be keen to fall on their sword to let any person else win the sport? I imply, by golly, that is just like the dream made in heaven. So undoubtedly a good friend.
Stephenie.
Pal. Identical factor, old fashioned. She’s right here, I feel, to be a loyal soldier within the military. And never essentially Coach’s military.
Cirie.
Cirie, massive, massive, big-time Pal. She would not even understand it but. That is the participant that I’d by no means play with! Nice in challenges? Not a lot. Strategist? Yeah! All-women’s alliance at one time? Ahhh! Cirie, let me lay on the ft of the grasp. Train me this sport. Present me methods to be strategist. You mark my phrases. I by no means mentioned two phrases to her in Heroes vs. Villains. I do not know any of these individuals. Everyone assumes, “Oh, you performed Heroes vs. Villains collectively.” They had been all out earlier than I hit the jury. You mark my phrases. I am gonna take Cirie first day and maintain her hand, look into her eyes, and I am gonna profess my timeless Survivor like to her and say, “Cirie, let’s run this sport collectively.”
Let’s get into Ozzy. The 2 of you clearly had a historical past in South Pacific, with you voting him out on the Closing 4 and him not voting so that you can win. What are your ideas on him now?
I want that I could possibly be just a little fly on that palm tree again there and hear to listen to what Ozzy’s saying about me. What’s he eager about me? I do not know. We ended on horrible phrases.
I imply, look, what they did not present on digicam is I received a maintain of Ozzy, and I mentioned, “Ozzy, I’ll play this sport with you as a Christian man. However you can’t inform anyone that we speak. And in the event you inform anyone that we speak, then the deal is off.” Truly, the sense of honor that I felt of getting me, Albert and Sophie go to the Closing Three, which I promised them on Day 2, I’d override that. As a result of the honour of bringing again a noble warrior who was nice at this sport. He is the quintessential Survivor participant. However do not break your promise to me. He did.
After all, they by no means confirmed that. All they confirmed was, “As a Christian man,” which I ought to have by no means mentioned. I by no means will say that. It is like swearing in your children’ lives. You are actually placing your self in a shedding scenario. In order that was unhealthy on me and nice for manufacturing to not present that a part of it.
However he price me one million {dollars}. I requested Cochran point-blank, what if I had come into this Tribal Council and mentioned, “Guys, I lied to you. I duped you. I am not even a soccer coach. I simply made all that up. I’ve made up all my tales. I am a chunk of s—t.” Cochran mentioned, “There isn’t any method.” He had poisoned the jury. My associates had been calling me. Even Boston Rob mentioned, “Coach, congratulations, you gained.” Individuals are sitting at Ponderosa saying, “Coach is gonna win this sport as we get to the tip, arms down.” Jim Rice, Daybreak, all these people who voted in opposition to me, they had been all sitting there saying, “Coach has gained the sport.” Ozzy received off, poisoned all of them.
I known as him a “whiny” bitch to each outlet that I talked to. Headline’s “Ozzy is a Whiny Bitch, Poor Loser.” However actually, who was a poor loser? It was really me. I get it. Ozzy’s ego. What’s the one factor you could have left whenever you’re on the jury? Your pound of flesh on the finish of the day. I wasn’t man sufficient to say, “Shut the f—ok up. I owned you this complete sport. You do not vote for me, you are an ass clown.” That is what I ought to have mentioned. If I made it to the tip and any person pulls some form of shit on me like that, I will put them of their place!
I by no means watched the historical past of Survivor. By no means. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Watched Followers vs. Favorites, watched Gabon ‘trigger I used to be occurring [the show]. I by no means watched the historical past of Survivor. I lastly did. These individuals aren’t shutting me down at Closing Tribal. Anyway, so I used to be the poor loser really popping out of it. That is all Ozzy has left, is to have that pound of flesh.
Robert Voets/CBS
What about Aubry?
Foe. Simply kidding. She’s a Pal! Former Foe, proper? The Dragon Slayer would not wish to work with any person like that. She’s one other one. I’ll go as much as on the primary day, if I am on her tribe, and say, “Let’s play collectively!” I feel she’s genuine. I feel she’s actually cool, really. I feel her vibe is cool. I feel the sweater that she’s carrying is on level. She’s a person. I like that. She’s completely different than different individuals. In order that’s undoubtedly somebody that I wish to work with.
Chrissy.
Chrissy, she’s cool, man. She’s candy. I feel she’s going to come back in to be just a little bit much less candy. I feel she’s going to be just a little bit just like the wolf in sheep’s clothes. I feel she’s achieved fairly a little bit of pregaming, regardless that she hasn’t admitted to it. However I let you know what, I might wish to work along with her.
Angelina.
Angelina is a bifurcated Pleasant Foe. I do not find out about her. I feel she’s solely received one swap. I have been watching her. She’s solely received a technique, and that is to the hilt. She could possibly be good friend, however I feel she is also a foe. And I feel she’s in mattress with, hypothetically talking, Christian. [Laughs.] I at all times put my foot in my mouth in these interviews. I do know she’s in mattress with Christian and Mike White. How can she not be? These three are gonna get one other three, after which friggin be careful. And that is six. So I might say she’s proper within the center, however I’ve a sense she’s gonna flip right into a Foe.
So I think about, from that perspective, Christian and Mike are Foes too.
Yeah, however I will go as much as ’em. I wish to see what vibe I get from ’em. That is one factor I have never achieved. “I decide, you, you, you. Christine, all these individuals, I am not working with them.” However I will go as much as them. They’re going to have a good probability, and in the event that they win some votes, and I gotta go together with them, I will go together with him
However I undoubtedly say Mike White goes to be a Pal. You realize why? As a result of he is the one particular person out right here — apart from possibly Rick Devens, however Rick Devens performed on the underside the entire time, so we do not actually know. However he is joyous. He needs to play this sport like a child, needs to have enjoyable. One of many few people who’s out right here just because he would not want it. He simply needs to have enjoyable. He needs to be an enormous child within the massive sport, and so I like that. I am gonna attempt to be his good friend.
From an identical perspective, would Rick then be a Pal? As a result of he is received that “child in a sweet retailer” power?
However he is additionally a storyteller. On the finish of the day, who’s gonna be the storyteller on this season? At first, I feel it will be actually cool to have two storytellers. However you inform me what number of storytellers are out right here. There’s not many. Cochran was a storyteller. Rob Cesternino was a storyteller. The unique Bushmaster, I used to be telling myself! [Laughs.] You bought Jonathan Penner. So who’s on this season that is a storyteller? Me and Rick. This island would possibly solely be large enough for one among us sooner or later.
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Let’s get into the brand new period. What are your ideas on Jonathan?
Jonathan, Pal. He is man. You possibly can inform he is an previous soul. He is an old-fashioned soul. You possibly can simply inform by him. And he can tow that boat with me in it like I am kayaking down the Amazon.
How about Dee?
Dee’s cool. I like her. I received vibe from her thus far. I might say she’s a Pal. I do not care if she’s a winner. I performed with winners earlier than. They do not scare me.
Emily.
[Pause.] Foe, however I am gonna attempt to make her a Pal. She was out of the sport, she was achieved. She was one of many few seasons I watched early on to get a style of her. And she or he was undoubtedly simply out of her aspect. And Kaleb, what an important character he was. I might wish to see him again within the present someday. However he took her below his wing, after which she received him within the again. She helped manipulate his downfall. So do I feel that she’s any person that may you belief? Most likely not. Ought to I have the ability to work along with her? I am gonna must. In order that’s why I say that. I imply, undoubtedly a Foe. Let’s have a look at if I could make her a Pal.
Charlie.
Pal of a good friend.
Yeah, good friend of Ben Katzman!
You realize all the things! You realize what? I might like to run this sport with Charlie. I imply actually, who is aware of what is going on to occur on the finish? I don’t assume that the old-fashioned gamers are going to have quite a lot of an opportunity. As a result of there’s so many new faculty gamers, and can they decide us off one after the other? I hope not. However I imply, I feel on the finish of the sport, there should not be all old fashioned and there should not be new faculty. It must be a mix of previous and new. And I might find it irresistible for me and Charlie to be sitting there.
How about Q?
Man, Q. Q’s operating round doing Q issues. I imply, I do know he’s. I’ve checked out him. He’s the one You realize, I received nicknames for everyone.
Is his “The One”?
[Laughs.] That is one. I do not know. I feel he is gonna be just like the “Ember Born.” They’re simply on hearth. Would not thoughts that his title’s being thrown round all over. Actually would not trouble him. Performs with hearth. You realize what these acolytes do? They explode in an enormous fireball. And I feel that he’ll implode shortly.
Tiffany.
I am watching her, how she seems at Q at Ponderosa. If I had been Tiffany, I might be so mad at Q for blowing up her sport. They might have gone. That they had one thing that was tight, and he was simply operating round placing grenades below everyone. I do not get vibe from Tiffany in any respect. You form of get vibes and power from individuals. She both hates me or actually needs to work with me and simply will not make eye contact. So I do not know what to consider her. I might say she’s a Foe for now.
Genevieve.
I imply, come on. This one is the quintessential new faculty participant. “I don’t care about you. I’ll step on you. You don’t matter to me in any respect. I am out right here to play this sport, play it arduous, win. There isn’t any such factor as alliances.”
What about Joe?
Let’s go, man! Look, I imagine in destiny. I imagine in future. And there’s a cause why, from my mountainous hermitage, of which I don’t go to occasions, that Ben Katzman known as me and mentioned, “I need you to play on this album.” I flew to Miami. And I mentioned, I” do not wish to meet anyone. I do not go to actuality occasions.” And I am sitting on this home with Dee and Wendell. And I fly to Brooklyn, enjoying in Brooklyn. And any person walks as much as me and says, “Signal this Buffalo Payments jersey, Coach. You’re my freaking hero!” I used to be like, “Okay, this man was tremendous cool.” Did not assume something of it. Ben’s like, “He was on this season.”
That does not occur accidentally within the universe. For those who’re in the precise place for the precise causes, doing the precise factor. Which I really feel like I’m, in my life, with my household and my job. I am not right here, for the glory of Coach. Perhaps just a little bit; previous habits die arduous. However I am right here for that. I am right here for enjoying on the underside and valuing individuals; I’ve already established that. However that does not occur accidentally.
After which you could have any person that comes on Season 48. I used to be actually saying throughout Season 48, “Thanks guys for placing Joe on the season,” the final watched season earlier than 50. And Joe was sitting there speaking about two phrases that everyone’s made enjoyable of my complete Survivor expertise, and that is honor and integrity. That does not occur accidentally. However he isn’t a large enough character to be on this season, so he will not be on this season as a result of his arc is already peaked with the episode with Eva. So he isn’t going to be on right here. Oh, he is on right here. What’s going on? I imply, come on! That is loopy. Joe, he is the stone bell. Ring him, sound will at all times come again the identical method. So let’s go, Joe! We’ll run this complete sport collectively. I am excited.
You talked about Kyle earlier than. What about Kamilla?
Effectively, Kamilla, bless her coronary heart. I’ll go as much as her the primary day and simply say, “Bless you for mentioning my title in each interview. [For saying] the one participant you wish to see again is me. I admire that. It will be attention-grabbing to see how thick these three are, or if Joe’s not with these three. As a result of he did not win. So I ponder if there’s some unhealthy blood there with Joe. They in all probability wish to run the sport collectively.
Initially, it is like Tyson and I. Tyson needed to play the sport with me on Heroes vs. Villains. However I used to be below no assumption, regardless that he mentioned he would take me to the finals, that as quickly as my sport jeopardized his, he was going to do away with me. No query about that. So possibly that is the case with Joe, Kamilla and Kyle. I like Kamilla, undoubtedly a Pal. I like Joe, undoubtedly a Pal. I like Kyle, undoubtedly a Pal.
You have a look at these factions and, once more, nothing occurs accidentally. You have a look at these factions, and it is like, what are the massive factions within the sport? 46: Q, Tiffany and Charlie. I received an in with Charlie. “Charlie, for Ben’s sake, let’s be besties out right here.” We’ve not been pregaming, however that is what I am gonna say. So I received an in with these three. Angelina, Mike and Christian. I received an in with Angelina, loosely by Nick Wilson, who’s a good friend of mine. So I really feel like I’ve an in with these three. The ultimate ones, Kyle, Joe and Kamilla, I received it in with all three of them. After which the Heroes vs. Villains faction. Which actually is not a faction, however everyone’s gonna assume it’s, which is making it harmful at first. I received it in with these.
So, how in regards to the two you do not have an in with: The 49 gamers. What are your ideas on them?
I do know you need to embody 1 to 49. I am disenchanted that there is 12 individuals from 41 to 49. I do not assume that this period warrants 12 gamers. Perhaps from season one to 30. There must be 12 gamers, in my humble opinion, Rob being one among them. However I feel that they are harmful. I am having flashbacks of what it was wish to be at Heroes vs. Villains in Ponderosa with Russell, and we did not know his sport. And after we met Russell, I mentioned, “Why are you on the Villains tribe?” And he was like, “I used to be honorable to my alliance. After I received voted off, I jumped out of my faculty and tried to hit any person. That is why they put me on the Villains tribe.”
That is what he mentioned?!
Nice lie! So I’ve a sense that one among them has gained. I do not know who, however I feel one among them has gained. They’re each harmful. They know all about us. We do not know a factor about them. That in itself, I do not understand how aggressive I must be with that, as a result of I do not wish to be aggressive at first of the sport. However they’re right here, and so they’re right here to play arduous. And their heads aren’t even in the precise area, as a result of they simply received by enjoying, doing back-to-back seasons. You will speak to anyone who’s performed back-to-back seasons, Stephenie, Russell, it places you in a bizarre headspace the place you are “win in any respect prices.” So I feel that they are each Foes.
I am gonna finish with an odd situation for you. What movie star or fictional character would you deliver out for a Liked Ones go to?
Pause.] Wow, that may be a neat query. Actually, that would be the solely time I’ve requested this query in my life. I gotta soak this up. [Pause.] Gandalf the Gray. Gandalf rolling in right here, giving me some knowledge on methods to get to the endgame. Perhaps getting a magic spell over me to heal my again. That may be the one.
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