Christian Hubicki has a principle. I imply, after all he does. The person is a professor for crying out loud. However he has a principle in relation to Survivor. It’s a lesson he discovered from the person who bested him on David vs. Goliath, Mike White, and it’s a principle that profitable Survivor doesn’t come from technique, or idols and benefits, or problem wins. Slightly, it comes from one thing fairly easy: tales.

The 40-year-old fan favourite enlightened us to the brand new technique he is able to make use of on Survivor 50 (premiering Feb. 25 on CBS) once we sat down in Fiji for an in-depth chat simply days earlier than the sport started. And that’s not all he supplied. The seminar additionally included a lecture on why “regular” persons are truly the largest threats within the recreation, a revelation of a secret child, and a proof as to why he desires to inform pre-gamers to “f— off.”

Pencils out, class is now in session.

(That is one in all 24 deep-dive, on-location interviews with the Survivor 50 solid. Hyperlinks to the opposite interviews might be posted on the backside of this text as they turn into out there.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Okay, professor — give everybody the replace of what you've been as much as since individuals noticed you on David vs. Goliath.

CHRISTIAN HUBICKI: After I obtained off Survivor, I grew to become a robotics professor. I used to be instructing my very first-class whereas my season was airing, which was a enjoyable factor to have me working round in my underwear throughout the season. I obtained tenure, began my very own analysis lab, and I’ve staff, I’ve analysis budgets, I’ve grants, and we're profitable awards. It's been great.

And my girlfriend from the present, Emily, we obtained married and I'm thrilled to have her in my life. And I feel that Survivor got here with sufficient time in between that I feel my life is in a steady sufficient place that it is sensible to come back again.

Why come again and do that once more?

First, it was essentially the most intellectually fascinating factor I've ever accomplished.

That’s saying one thing, Christian.

Nicely, that's form of you to say. I really like my analysis tasks. I do what I do as a result of it's fascinating. Within the engineering enterprise, somebody informed me that the precept for the profession is simply do cool s— till you die, and it was simply so fascinating. Sure, I obtained to play an actual huge recreation and I obtained to do a variety of issues I wished to do on the present, and folks preferred me, and that's one thing that I actually truthfully care about rather a lot.

However there are different avenues of this recreation to discover, and it’s unsatisfying that I’ve not cracked that puzzle, which is: How does somebody like me win? One of many issues that bothered me is when individuals would inform me after, “Oh, Christian, you probably did nice, however on the finish you didn't stand at an opportunity.” And I took that as nearly a problem. There are extra issues I might have accomplished. There's extra I might have labored out. I might have discovered that Mike White was an even bigger risk to my recreation earlier. I might have realized that Davie was a much better ally than Mike White ever would have been earlier. I might have accomplished this, I might have accomplished that.

Do I lay awake at evening eager about these items? I don't. I simply acknowledge that there have been issues I might have accomplished higher. And whereas there's no method I might come again and play an ideal recreation, I do know that won’t be the case. However I do need one other crack at that apple. I do wish to take what I've discovered and present that I've grown and might apply these concepts that I provide you with in a method that wins and that actually proves that I obtained one thing right here that I've cracked one thing new on this.

Inform me why you're going to win Survivor 50.

I’ve the precise proper view of the sport that nobody has truly had earlier than. I discovered sufficient from my first time enjoying that I can excellent my underlying understanding of the way it works, and it's what I name narrative warfare. That Survivor is principally a struggle about tales. I discovered this from good outdated Mike White.

I watched and discovered from him, and sadly, I'm going to must steal his energy this season. The explanation that I used to be a giant outdated risk that first time — you could possibly say it's puzzle fixing or individuals like me an excessive amount of. Nay! Nay, I say! I imply these are elements of it, after all. However it was the truth that Mike White stated to everybody — and it's a quite simple thought, like Inception, buried deep sufficient and it grows. It was that Christian is the final word David. He’ll slay Goliath for those who let him get anyplace near the top. And that took maintain for your complete season. And as long as he was there pushing that story, I didn't stand an opportunity.

And now it's a brand new season, no theme aside from “Within the Fingers of the Followers.” So there's much more malleability in the direction of what tales ought to drive the season. And it might be totally different from individual to individual. If I can work out why somebody is right here in their very own thoughts and I can solid different individuals as villains aside from me, or inform them a narrative that perhaps they haven't considered themselves and inform it effectively sufficient, it can drive their considering.

That’s my overarching technique. And doing it as warfare has very clear targets. You wish to achieve territory. For those who hear different tales being repeated by different individuals, it’s important to head it off on the go. You wish to discover out who’s spreading these tales and people are the rival storytellers and people are the people who whoever they find yourself being would be the largest threats and the individuals I would like gone.

You took individuals unexpectedly final time. Mike picked you for that first problem as a result of he thought you’d be straightforward to beat. How will that be totally different for you this time coming in as a risk versus perhaps an afterthought in some gamers’ minds?

Completely totally different now. However right here's the factor that retains me going that I’ve a shot right here. One is I feel my principle of the sport is right. It's extra right than it has ever been in my thoughts about narrative warfare. Quantity two, everyone seems to be scared. Everyone seems to be scared on some stage. Like Coach. He's scared. He carries himself in a method that tasks as if nothing can hassle him. He's Zen, he's above all this. However there are moments that come out within the tent the place he simply panics a bit of bit and it reveals.

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What sort of moments?

I keep in mind this actually scared me a bit of bit. I used to be within the tent and I wished to get out of the tent, however Coach had his ft up proper in entrance of the entry. I’m going as much as get out, and he doesn't budge a millimeter. I'm like, Oh my God! So to the purpose the place I’ve to form of inch round him, and I opened the flap of the tent and gingerly shut it so it doesn't ricochet and flap into his physique.

I'm being so well mannered, didn't transfer a millimeter for me. I'm like, This man hates me. Has this man already had a pregame alliance that claims he desires me gone and that is his sign to that? However then 5 minutes later, he began to go, “I can't take it anymore. If I had anxiousness, I might run out of this tent proper now! I'd run off into the forest proper now!” And I’m like, Oh, this man is scared and he wants validation.

And nothing made him extra animated than once we had been on our photograph shoot and the producer got here in and was like, “Coach, we want one final shot for you.” He's like, “One final shot. Sure, completely!” And he rushes off as he wants that validation. And that's only one instance.

I imply, you inform me Cirie just isn’t scared? Possibly she's obtained nothing to lose, however on some stage these persons are fearful. Inform me Kyle's not scared. He was simply on tv profitable what many individuals thought was a hilariously dominant recreation. Kamilla simply bragged about how a lot she likes to lie on digicam to everyone. She's not scared?

These persons are scared. Dee's not scared? Charlie? They're scared and so they're going to attempt to huddle collectively of their teams with the people who they know. And it’s important to harness their fears in a method that you simply inform them a narrative that's extra comforting to them, as long as they're doing what you say.

And different individuals being scared provides you consolation?

Sure, I'm a goal. Completely. And I'm a goal additionally as a result of I'm from one of many three seasons which are trios. I’ve to be clear-eyed about that, that individuals might simply be coming for me. However once we hit that seaside, there are methods to find out if you’re the goal. I imply these individuals, they don’t seem to be gods. They're all mortal. Even Cirie. Typically I doubt that, however she is.

Let's say the outdated schoolers had an alliance moving into. I don't know, perhaps they do. There's an artwork that I discovered the primary time of “interrogation with out interrogation.” For those who ask anybody a query in regards to the faux plan, will probably be inherently extra shallow than the actual plan. And other people overlook this. Folks get complacent. Folks don't assume by means of the faux plan as a lot as they need to. My level is there are strategies. It does scare me. Sure, I’m scared. However so is everybody else.

You talked about outdated schoolers presumably having an alliance already collectively. I've been protecting these returning participant seasons lengthy sufficient so I know how these work. Inform me about your pregame course of with different gamers.

So, look, I don't make calls. Right here's the factor I would like individuals to consider. If somebody calls me and says they're going to be on season 50, I’ve to say, “That's great. I feel that's a terrific factor. I'll see you on the market.” Okay, that’s what I do. And is {that a} scary strategy to pregame? Sure, as a result of I’m afraid that individuals have a goal listing and that I'm on that focus on listing, however I don't know who talks to who.

I don't know that if I decide up the cellphone and speak to Charlie, who’s he going to speak to? I might in all probability nonetheless be framed by saying, “Sure, it sounds nice. We'll work collectively.” I'm certain that might be screenshotted and despatched to somebody. However I attempt to deal with that as optimally as I can.

Look, I want I might simply inform 'em to f— off, to be sincere. I hate it. I hate it greater than something. And I hate it that I even decide up the cellphone when these individuals name. However, on the similar time, I perceive that these persons are reaching out to me for a cause. And identical to you may't say no to an alliance, you may't say no to a cellphone name.

You talked about the three of you from David vs. Goliath right here. Do you assume that finally helps you or hurts you?

It hurts me on the entire, and it hurts me particularly due to the 2 individuals they resolve to deliver again with me, it's exhausting to consider two who had been extra adversarial to me in the entire season. The perfect factor that I’ve going for me is Angelina … as a result of she's making goo-goo eyes at each particular person she passes by round right here.

Nothing was extra telling than once we had been on the airplane and Angelina was seated throughout from Coach, and Angelina wanted assist together with her bag, and this was her entry level to present Coach the goo-goo eyes. Coach form of helped her out and he or she's like, “Thanks.” [Makes aggressively flirty eye contact] And he simply stared at her and stated “No speaking,” after which went again to his seat. So I don't assume the appeal is engaged on individuals.

So do I want for Angelina to go early? No, however I feel that the way in which that she is acquitting herself round Ponderosa, it might put her in that place and he or she'd be a simple pickoff. However on the entire, it does draw consideration to ourselves. Thank God for 46 and 48. Thank God for that.

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What about Mike? You talked about Mike earlier and him undoing your recreation final time. You're again collectively. How a lot do you wish to work with or belief him?

I feel he's honest and he doesn't wish to goal me this time for now. I imply, the man put me on The White Lotus in a cameo. It was very good. That was an entire coincidence, by the way in which. We occurred to be touring round Thailand. Carl and Natalie, they obtained the total actor therapy. They obtained the whole lot, which is nice for them. They obtained featured, and I beloved how Emily and I had been form of within the background. It was excellent. It's precisely what I wished. My household missed that I used to be on the present. Unbelievable.

However Mike White is an extremely succesful participant. I voted for the rattling man to win 1,000,000 {dollars}. He simply has a method of claiming a few phrases and fully altering your considering on a matter. I had one dinner with him again in Might earlier than any of us obtained any requires season 50, and he had this manner of redirecting any subject that he wished with a flip of a sentence. Possibly it's the facility imbalance, or perhaps he's simply that assured in how he delivers a line. He's so good at that.

I feel he likes me in as far as he likes lots of people. Is he going to put down his recreation for me? No. It’s one in all his biggest regrets that he didn't stand at that closing Tribal Council and inform everybody, “You'll remorse not voting for me for the sport I performed.” I'm not imagined to take that severely? In fact he's right here to win! I feel he would commerce no less than one or two of his Emmys for a Survivor win. The dude has the whole lot and he'd slightly come right here and don’t have anything and eat bonefish with Jonathan Younger. That is what he really loves.

Who’re another individuals that you simply particularly wish to work with or are cautious of?

I've by no means met Rick Devens, however I feel that he’s truly extremely appropriate with me as a Survivor participant. He’s the Captain Kirk to my Mr. Spock. He's the person of motion who will go on the away mission, get up at Tribal Council, do some huge play, and I might hopefully be a part of the brains behind the operation.

I don't know if we'd ever be on a tribe collectively based mostly upon the way in which I hypothesize the season has been solid and the tribes might be damaged down. I’ve my very own speculation for that, however he's an individual on paper that we should always by no means must activate one another.

Why?

We each had been big threats on our seasons. We each have had that have of not with the ability to work with anybody down the stretch. Why not one another? And I feel he's nice.

Who’re the individuals you’re fearful about?

It's the conventional individuals. The individuals who you simply, “Wow, you're very proficient, however you might be so goddamn regular!” And albeit, that's Charlie. That's Kyle. And albeit, Dee, too. They mix in. And one thing I spotted, particularly at Ponderosa right here, I can't mix in. I simply can't. I'm attempting. We spend rather a lot much less time round one another [at this Ponderosa as opposed to last time]. Thank God. We're in our personal rooms this time, which is sweet. I'm in adjoining rooms with Angelina, which is hilarious. She requested the resort employees to homicide all of the hornets in her room.

However I'll go like, Oh, Colby's at this desk. I’m going to take a seat at a close-by desk. And I seize a juice, attempt to go to tug the cap off the juice ever so coolly and gingerly, and I managed to interrupt the bottle prime so I can't pull it off. And I simply form of slowly slide it off to the aspect and be like, I hope Colby didn't see that. I spotted this could be so humorous on digicam. And I'm not attempting!

So I can't be Charlie. I can't mix in like he can. And he's so clearly located on the middle of so many of those new-school [players]. I feel lots of people like him. So Charlie and Kyle, they'd be on the prime of my listing. And Dee. Genevieve is one other particular person.

Give me your hypothesized tribe breakdown. Who's in what tribe?

All the solid is solid in trios. There are three sturdy alpha males. There are three sturdy problem females. I don't know who's going to be on actually every tribe, however there might be man, girl, a powerful problem particular person. That's your Jonathan, Ozzy and Joe. These are the three males. Chrissy, Tiffany, and Stephenie for the ladies.

Then there are the charismatic storytellers. They wish to simply do good confessionals. That's me, that's Rick Devens, that’s Mike, that’s Kamilla, that’s Emily Flippen, and that’s Aubry. That's their roles. Then you’ve gotten people who find themselves drama who’re there for the drama. Clearly, Coach, clearly Q, I feel I’m going up to now to say the RizGod in all probability falls into this class. I don’t know what sort of God he’s, however we’ll discover out what the Pantheon is.

And clearly you're going to have Angelina. Jenna Lewis — I listened to podcasts from her from 2005, and he or she's a spitfire. And presently I’ve Savannah in that class, however I'm not fairly certain about that. After which lastly you’ve gotten the people who find themselves frankly regular. These are the favorites. They’re relatable, but additionally they simply don't have these loopy traits the remainder of us have. And so they're additionally good on the recreation. And that's your Charlie, that's your Kyle, put Colby in that class, the all-American hero, proper? That's your Genevieve, your Dee, and people are your favorites. And for those who let all these individuals go to the merge, one in all them's poking by means of on the finish.

That's eight totally different classes, three tribes of 24. You evenly divide them up in a method that is sensible. Then you’ve gotten a kind of character sorts on each tribe and your tribe is balanced.

How do you deal with the unknown issue of the [season] 49 gamers?

I did some analysis on the RizGod, I opened up my theology textbook and I discovered that he's an enormous tremendous fan. I discovered that he does all these reside actuality video games of The Mole and the Big Brother. He’s a tall, athletic Ryan Ulrich. That's what he’s, proper? Savannah — she's a difficult one. She might both be Abi-Maria or she might be Parvati. These are the 2 issues that make sense to me.

However I did stumble upon her truly by chance on the shuttle from the airport to the resort. I had no thought who she was, and I get onto the bus and I get to the again and he or she's like, “Oh sir, do you wish to have a seat subsequent to me?” I'm like, “Oh, it's okay.” I simply go stand within the again on my own and I spotted that later: That's fricking Savannah! My spouse truly referred to as me whereas I used to be on that bus, one final cellphone name earlier than the resort. I'm glad I stored it in hushed tones as a result of I by chance nearly blurted out my largest secret for the season.

Which is what?

That six weeks in the past, we had a child.

Congratulations! Boy or woman?

Boy. His identify's Michael. He's six weeks outdated.

How are you doing being out right here with out him? I do know that's powerful.

It's powerful. I get by means of it. I'm in a position to focus. I feel that once I'm in recreation mode, I'm not eager about him, however I did the whole lot I might to ensure Emily's in good palms with him. I prerecorded me studying some child books for him. I made a blanket scent like me that he can have so he has a reminder of my scent. I purchased a robotic child mattress, so it'll assist rock him to sleep a bit of so Emily will get a bit of extra sleep. However it's not a alternative for being there and it actually recontextualizes why I'm right here.

I don't need my son to just accept limitations on what he can do. And sometime he’ll watch this. And I feel that me exhibiting that I'll do what it takes to win and I cannot settle for limitations on how effectively I'll do, that may be an inspiration to him to not settle for limitations in his life. He's my secret weapon. These individuals don't know I’ve a toddler. Everybody is aware of that Angelina has these two stunning kids she loves dearly and can do something for. Folks assume I'm a goofy robotics professor who can't open up bottles in entrance of Colby.

So that you're sitting at closing Tribal Council. What occurs so far as that? Do you drop that intel?

I don't know. The explanation you wouldn’t do it’s if it felt like it could one way or the other be pressured. However, after all, it's crossed my thoughts. I noticed Cambodia, however on the similar time, there needs to be a method you’ll delicately deal with that. I’m very fortunate that we obtained to have this child. Not everybody desires to have a child. Not everybody can. And the concept of utilizing it like I deserve it extra due to my youngster — that's not what I wish to say as a result of that's mistaken. I don't deserve it extra. I’ve a toddler. It must be a proof of why I used to be enjoying. That's what it needs to be about.

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Different Survivor 50 deep dive participant interviews:
• Survivor 50 star Ozzy Lusth opens up about hitting 'all-time low of my life'
• Survivor 50 star Aubry Bracco opens up about the 'freedom when you fall from grace'
• Colby Donaldson reacts to playing Survivor for the first time without Jerri
• Angelina Keeley refused to do Survivor 50 unless they gave her a jacket
• Survivor 50's Coach goes deep on evolving from an 'arrogant ass' into the… Tide Walker?
• Survivor 50 star Jenna Leiws-Dougherty is 'here to f— you over in every way, shape, or form'
• Cirie Fields says winning The Traitors does not take sting out of Survivor loses
• Mike White on how he is handling Survivor 50 castmastes angling for White Lotus cameos
• Chrissy Hofbeck opens up about controversial season 35 end and being bashed by earlier solid
• Rick Devens explains why he’s a lunatic that desires to play with different lunatics
• Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick desires to show that 'mother actually is a badass'