There are numerous methods Survivor gamers sharpen their sport for a return journey to the island. Some might return and rewatch how they beforehand performed to determine what they’ll do higher the second (or third… or fourth… or fifth) time round. Others might examine sport tape on the competitors to arrange scouting reviews on their future tribe mates. However for Jonathan Younger, he studied on the ft of an authorized legend.

The fourth-finisher of Survivor 42 enlisted the assistance of his buddy Boston Rob Mariano, peppering the All-Stars finalist and Redemption Island winner with questions concerning the sport, so many questions, the truth is, that the truth TV icon was relieved when his pupil lastly left for Fiji for his return go to.

Learn on to seek out out what classes Boston Rob taught the 33-year-old Jonathan for Survivor 50 (which premieres Feb 25 on CBS).

(That is one among 24 deep-dive, on-location interviews with the Survivor 50 forged. Hyperlinks to the opposite interviews shall be posted on the backside of this text as they develop into accessible.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Begin off by giving all people an replace on what you've been as much as because you final performed Survivor.

JONATHAN YOUNG: After Survivor, I went house, and I used to be actually humbled being out right here, being stripped from all the pieces. It made me really feel very blessed to have what I’ve again house. I met Boston Rob when my present was airing, and the previous few years he has develop into a superb buddy of mine and he has helped me prepare for this upcoming season 50.

How so?

I've been speaking, I carry it up on a regular basis. He stated his ears can lastly cease bleeding. I speak to him about it on a regular basis. I wish to choose his mind, sit on the ft at one of many legends.

Why come again and do that once more? Inform me why you're right here.

It's not that I’ve unfinished enterprise. I feel I left the sport properly final time. I like the sport of Survivor. I feel it's one of many final strongholds of true actuality TV. You're actually ravenous. You actually come to Fiji. You actually reside on an island with nothing. You're stripped naked. I don't assume different actuality TV reveals are like that. I had a possibility to go and be a gladiator on American Gladiator, however I might a lot fairly do that.

It's been a number of years. Have you ever modified as an individual since then? And, if that’s the case, is that going to affect the way you play this sport?

Yeah, I've modified. All people's continually altering the older they get, however I've began a nonprofit and we go right down to Nicaragua. We're going to Honduras this yr to construct homes for the poor.

As for the sport, I feel that I'm going to play related however not the identical. Mr. Rob gave me a number of issues to recollect once I'm taking part in this sport, and it's a bit totally different than how I performed final time. Primary is to have a look at the sport and attempt to see the sport via your opponent's eyes. Quantity two is to smile. And quantity three is you’ll be able to solely management what you’ll be able to management. Don't fear about the remainder. Like if there's a tribe swap, there's nothing you are able to do about it. All you are able to do is what's in your energy to do your greatest, and I feel that's good recommendation. You may get overwhelmed on this sport.

Another recommendation he gave you?

It's been years of recommendation. I've been watching how he performs all these different actuality TV reveals and speaking to him about why he does what he does. However I've come to the conclusion that I can't be Mr. Rob. I’ve to play as Jonathan, and I wish to take stuff from all of the those who I do know. I wish to take a bit bit from my principal man, Mike [Turner], I wish to take one thing from Mr. Rob, take stuff from those who I've seen prior to now, like Ozzy — all these those who I’ve admiration for.

Something you remorse on a private stage from the final time you performed?

The one factor that I cherished about Survivor is that I didn't have any regrets. All different facets of my life, there's many regrets — many. However in Survivor, I felt like I performed the perfect that I may.

That's wonderful to haven’t any regrets popping out of this. Why do you assume that’s?

As a result of I did all the pieces I may do, and I imagine that, and it's one of many solely issues in my life. Even once I broke the world file [for most chin-ups], I stated, “Man, I may do extra.” That's in me. However there was one thing about Survivor the place I even advised Mr. Jeff, I fought the nice combat. I believed that.

'Survivor 50' cast members vote snubbed players onto the island (exclusive) On the beach for 'Survivor 50': An exclusive, all-access first look at the biggest season ever

You are feeling such as you left all of it on the island?

I know I left all of it on the island, and I plan on doing it much more now as a result of I'm extra ready.

In what approach?

Properly, having Mr. Rob for 3 years in my ear serving to me — his phrases of knowledge are going to be buzzing behind my head. And I'm extra ready bodily. I do know what to anticipate. I've obtained gamers which have performed and have executed so good that I can level fingers at them and maintain the eye off of me. Final time, I didn't have that privilege.

Now I’ve 23 legends. There are winners, and those who had been internet hosting On Fire with Jeff Probst, those who have performed 4 occasions. You’ve all these greats. You bought Ozzy, who's a bodily beast. He appears to be like good, by the way in which. Ozzy appears to be like good for being 40-whatever he’s. And I feel that's a very good factor for me to have on this sport. I feel I’ve many individuals to level at and say, don't take a look at me.

Who wins at a swim off: you or Ozzy?

Me, for sure.

Look, you’re a man who wants lots of gasoline and energy, and I do know you would really feel your physique struggling final time with out that protein you're used to. How do you propose to cope with that this time on the market?

I'm a bit extra ready for it. I didn't know what to anticipate. You may eat a bit otherwise going into the sport, and I simply shoveled all the pieces in. However you’ll be able to progressively type of wean off and I didn't try this. I simply went chilly turkey, didn't eat something. And after day 20, I used to be cooked.

So inform me how you probably did it this time.

So even now, what I'm doing is, I'm going to ease off a bit bit. Go off the meals a bit bit, then go off a bit extra. Ultimately your physique has to get used to it in sure phases. It's like whenever you minimize off caffeine, you don't have to simply utterly minimize it off. In the event you're having 4 cups a day, you are able to do, “Properly, let's strive two right now. Let's strive two yet another day, then we'll do one after which we'll do half a cup of espresso.” After which finally you're off of it. There's a technique to the insanity of Survivor.

7:23 The Forged of ‘Survivor 50’ Reveals Who They Need to Vote Out First

How do you assume the opposite contestants see you as a participant? In the event that they're sitting right here speaking to me and I say, “What's your tackle Jonathan?” What are they going to say?

In season 42, they didn't present my strategic sport, and that's nice for me. They're going to see me as a bodily menace, however hopefully that's all. I hope everybody simply sees that a part of me as a result of if we're simply going primarily based off that, final thing we noticed was Joe. That was every week in the past. We simply noticed Joe and we noticed Kyle win and we noticed Kamilla getting forth and so they all made it to the top. So I imagine they view me as a bodily menace and any individual that's dependable. I feel that's going to assist me.

What do you assume your largest weak point is, for those who're self-evaluating? What's the factor you might want to work on probably the most to win the sport this time round?

I feel my weak point final time was that I didn't look via the opponent's lens. I didn't see issues via their eyes. And this time I'm going to. It type of goes again to primal, as a result of I’m an enormous man. And once I converse, I’ve to pay attention to that and the way in which that I’ve a deep voice that all the pieces comes off a sure solution to sure individuals. I feel Miss Stephenie can deal with it greater than a few of the new-era gamers. I is usually a little extra simple with Miss Stephenie, however I can't with the brand new college. I’ve obtained to tip toe round [them].

How a lot pre-gaming did you do with the opposite gamers earlier than you got here out right here?

Truthfully, not an entire lot. I type of maintain to myself. I feel that it's going to assist me drastically in that I don't have anyone on my season.

Why do you assume that helps you?

Properly, most all people has any individual, proper? So that each one routinely makes me totally different in a great way. That signifies that I haven't labored with anybody else and I'm a free agent. All people else goes to have that individual. Let's take Q. Q had Tiffany and so they had been shut. That's routinely in individuals's heads, I promise.

And you’ve got 4 individuals from Heroes vs. Villains, and I'm fairly positive old-school gamers are going to wish to stick collectively. New college, I don't know a lot. I feel they're so up and down that I don't know in the event that they're going to work collectively. I feel the truth that there are winners and all of those several types of gamers which have executed so properly is absolutely going to maintain the goal off me.

Who do you wish to work with?

I'd wish to work with Miss Stephenie, as a result of she appears to be sincere and actual, and when she performed, she appeared reliable. Identical with Colby and Ozzy. Ozzy's fairly dependable. The very last thing I noticed at the very least. And I feel it'd be good to play with Joe on the new-era aspect of issues. After which Q for a short while, as a result of Q scares me.

Why does he scare you?

Q scares me with how he performed the sport. It was very up and down. It wasn't straight and slender and “These are my individuals. That is who I'm going to work with.” It continually fluctuated. However I feel for the primary short while I can work with them.

Who’re you most cautious of on this forged?

Properly, I'm not a Swiftie, and I feel that Charlie goes to be laborious to narrate to. I can't relate to Charlie as a lot as I can different gamers. We're very totally different.

Anybody else?

I'm scared to work with Cirie as a result of she's so good and for those who get too near her, she will be able to suck you in. It's like hypnotism, as a result of she's that good on the sport. It's Mama Cirie!

How do you deal with these two season 49 gamers that nothing about?

Good query. The satan is best than the satan you don't. I've heard that endlessly since I used to be a bit child, and once I noticed them, I knew precisely what it meant as a result of it's very eerie to be round two gamers that had been ok to come back again for season 50, and for us to know nothing about them, that's very eerie.

I feel everybody feels that vibe from them as a result of we don’t know. They may deceive us. They may say, “Oh, I used to be fifth out.” They may say something! However they had been ok to be right here, so we all know one thing's up. Truthfully, it could possibly be one other winner for all we all know.

Are you prepared to hold your whole tribe via the water once more?

Oh, born prepared. I hope they offer me a ladder this season and all people jumps on it.

Need to be saved up with all issues Survivor? Dig deep and join Leisure Weekly's free Survivor Weekly e-newsletter to have all the most recent information, interviews, and commentary despatched proper to your inbox.

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 forged
• Rick Devens explains why he’s a lunatic that wishes to play with different lunatics
• Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick desires to show that 'mother actually is a badass'
• Christian Hubicki needed to inform Survivor 50 pre-gamers to 'f— off'
• Genevieve Mushaluk on why watching Survivor 50 will be more terrifying than playing it
• Dee Valladares welcomes being one of Survivor 50's biggest threats: 'I want them to come for me'
• Q Burdette reveals ridiculous things he did to prep for Survivor 50
• Kamilla Karthigesu feared she would be cut from Survivor 50 for pregaming
• Emily Flippen says 'If I win Survivor, something crazy has happened'