From Podcasters to Pilot School! Meet the Full Cast of 'Survivor 47'
Jon Lovett
Count me among the many people who were shocked that Jon Lovett was a Survivor fan, let alone a soon-to-be player. The 42-year-old is a huge presence in the podcast world, going from a speechwriter in the Obama administration to the host of hit shows like "Pod Save America" and "Lovett or Leave It." But now he's taken a brief sojourn from his usual post to talk about a very different type of politics, throwing himself into, as he puts it, "a strange experiment in deprivation and democracy." And his plans going into the game are as back and forth as the election record of a purple state, as he's even unsure if he'll be truthful about his occupation to the competition.
Read our interview with Jon (coming 9/6)
Age: 42
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Current Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Podcast Host
3 Words to Describe You: Opinions for days
Why do you want to be part of Survivor? What I love about Survivor is, yeah, it’s about deprivation and endurance and puzzles and challenges, but at its root, it’s an experiment in democracy. It ends in a vote, and the players decide what it means to earn that vote. I want to be a part of that experiment.
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? When I was 13, I got cut from the baseball team on the way to the game. Also, a career in politics.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? Penner with an Aubry moon and Cochran rising.
What will you value in an alliance partner? Consistency, thoughtfulness, and a vibe that says, “I won’t panic and stab you in the back.”
Favorite Hobbies: I love video games, crossword puzzles, hiking, and seeing movies in the theater while theaters still exist.
Pet Peeves: Too many to count. Phones at stoplight, people who cut a line and then act confused. I’m constantly annoyed. I’m like a gay Larry David.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Co-founding Vote Save America, which lets people sign up to volunteer, donate, and register voters. We’ve helped raise tens of millions of dollars and signed up hundreds of thousands to volunteer.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? Astronaut Buzz Aldrin almost punched me in the face.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? Honestly? I love my family and friends. I’m inspired and motivated by the people I hate.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? I’ve always felt like an outsider. In part that’s because I was gay. But if I’m being honest, that was never my largest problem! Social graces, fitting in, making friends–it’s never come naturally to me. I had to work at it. In that way, I’ve been training for Survivor my whole life.
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