The Challenge Historian

The Flagship Challenge series returns! Season 38 - Ride or Dies - is two weeks away from it's premiere and that means we've got a preview to do! We know the cast, we've seen a trailer, and we've done the IG deep dives on the newbies. Everything you need to get you ready for what looks to be an awesome season of The Challenge, including: 00:00 Intro and programming reminders 03:35 State of the Chal...

The Challenge Rewatch series continues on and this episode we are breaking down one of my all-time favorite seasons: Fresh Meat 2! With me to break down this classic is the great Mike Lewis of the Mike Lewis Podcast. During our (admittedly very long) breakdown we cover: 00:00 Introduction and why we've skipped ahead a few seasons 03:52 Welcoming Mike to the show, his Challenge fandom background, a...

The Challenge: Untold History debuted on Wednesday with two history-packed episodes and this Historian is here to break it all down. My feelings going into the documentary and hopes and fears for what it could be (03:29). Running through the many positive moments from episodes 1 and 2, the interesting, the heartwarming, the tear-jerking and more (11:25). Critiques I had including Cara not being th...

We are one week removed from The Challenge USA finale and that lighting rod of conversation that was TJ's final. Now that we've sat with our thoughts about both the finale and the entire season at large, it's time to put all the final thoughts out there and cover the whole season one last time. Biggest storylines, did this new branch of the franchise work, who do I want to see back in the future,...

The rewatch series is back! I am on to season 16, The Island. A memorable season to say the least, with lots of interesting angles to discuss as the show went a totally new direction while also going totally off the rails from a cast members acting horribly stand point. To break down this inflection point of a season I needed to bring on another expert, so I've got the Queen of Challenge TikTok an...

Today I'm talking with 2x Challenge Champ and OG Legend of the game, Dan Setzler! We cover it all, going over all the biggest moments from each of his three seasons (Challenge 2000, Battle of the Seasons, Battle of the Sexes 2), his life inside and outside of the show, thoughts on all the Challenge legends he crossed paths with, his current work in music, and so much more. It was an absolute pleas...

The champions of The Challenge USA have been crowned! Danny and Sarah got it done, staring down the worst TJ and Mother Nature could throw at them and coming out the other side victorious! But this final episode and final mission didn't come without it's questionable production decisions (ugh), and this Historian was all up in damn near every single different feeling possible about the many twists...

What up Challenge lovers! Short episode today with two objectives: First one is to give you an update on all the content that will be coming your way on this feed over the next few months. What we will be covering and when and where it'll be covered. Plus an announcement about a very special episode this Friday! (02:16) Second objective is to unveil the Challenge Historian Official Hall of Fame! W...

Angela is superwoman, Benzo is definitely over, Tyson may very well be Jesus in disguise, TJ is finally being honest with his assessments, and that was the penultimate episode and we didn't even know it?! It’s the Challenge USA Episode 10 recap, topics include: Cliffnotes recap of everything that went down (05:19). Breaking down the major storylines: Ben not taking his shot, Angela having all the...

Today's podcast marks the 100th episode of The Challenge Historian! For this milestone day I needed to do something big, bold and crazy! The topic had to be epic! So for the 100th episode I decided to put all my Challenge opinions out there in the world all at one time and in one place. I bring to you: 100 Challenge Takes for the 100th Podcast Episode. There are ten sets of ten takes, all with the...

THEY HAVE A BASKETBALL HOOP AND WE ARE JUST NOW SEEING IT? Plus: Kiki’s husband puts on a show, the fab five alliance is created just in time for it to lose and then lose again, Desi lets it be known that this is a three woman race, and Sarah talks and talks and talks and talks some more and then some more but then finally wins something! It’s the Challenge USA Episode 9 Recap, topics include: Cli...

King Leo-nitus of Argentina is de-throned! Plus: a great daily, the classic of classic eliminations, it’s an individual game now, Angela keeps winning while Sarah keeps losing, Survivor strong is a men’s only club, and Ben gets a big win on an emotional day. It’s the Challenge USA episode 8 recap, topics include: Cliffnotes recap of everything that happened on episode 8 (02:35). Breaking down the...

Professor Leo, Elimination King Leo, Cat Guy Leo, TJ complimenting Leo, all the Leos coming out to play today! Plus: enemies become partners, the power structure of the house flips, a blindfolded demolition derby, trivia used AGAIN, Cayla and Dom pull a power move, and TJ you do look fly as fuck today as you do everyday my man! It’s The Challenge USA Episode 7 recap, topics include: Cliffnotes Rec...

State of the Challenge at the time, basics of the season, and evolutions / history made during this season (04:33). Main storylines of the season including: Vets maybe the most dominant team ever, production absolutely fucking up this entire season, romance and hook ups everywhere you look, and new stars becoming faces of the show (16:41). Discussion of the dailys from this season and Award for Be...

Justine Justine Justine! 3 and 0 in elims putting up some numbers! Plus: Tyson and Sarah begin their cold war, Leo overcomes his childhood trauma, David steps into the spotlight, Desi proves her strategic smarts, Kyra is sick, Shannon is injured, a wild daily challenge is played and Enzo will not jump even if it means his life in the game! It’s the Challenge USA episode 6 recap, topics include: Cl...

State of the Challenge at the time, the basics of the season, and any evolutions that took place or history that was made (03:02). Breaking down major storylines of the season: CT punches Davis and gets sent home, Denver rookies hanging tough, new stars rising in profile, and Alton maybe losing his mojo (14:11). A discussion of the ugliness and negative culture that began to creep into the show an...

We’ve got ourselves a Survivor on Survivor blindside! Plus: Cashay gets some closure, Tyson reclaims his throne, Sarah is ready to compete, Azah keeps all her eyelashes, Cayla forges an alliance, and Leo proves he is a cat, or doesn’t, or maybe does? I’m not sure but he talks about it a lot as usual. It’s The Challenge USA Episode 5 recap! Topics include: Introduction and program notes (00:38). Cl...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 13, The Duel, an all-time great season with so, so much to discuss. We cover it all using the following topics: State of the Challenge franchise, basics of the season, evolutions that took place and history that was made (05:56). The Diem and CT love story for the ages (23:43)....

TRIVIA TIME!!! Plus: Leo’s cat obsession hits new levels, Cashay is a goddamn professional, Tyson and Angela hold more power than we even though, TJ is having a blast as always on trivia day, and Big Brother 23 is ready to relive the past and get that petty revenge baby! It’s the Challenge USA episode 4 recap, topics include: Cliffnotes recap of everything that happened plot wise on episode 4 (02:...

Complete coverage of The Challenge USA Episode 3, topics include: Cliffnotes style recap of everything that happened in episode 3 (02:47). Does it make sense that they alliances are purely off pride in your former show (05:44). Other storylines including: don't be willing to go into elimination, the daily challenge, the elimination round, and some quick hitters on TJ being nice and Danny talking a...

I'm earning my stripes as a true Challenge Historian by rewatching and recapping every single season! We are on to season 12, Fresh Meat, an all-time favorite of mine and one that by episode's end I will argue is in the running for best so far 12 seasons in! A lot to cover, we get to it all using the following topics: State of the Challenge, basics of the season, evolutions and history made (03:15...

Tyson, what a star! Plus: the algorithm releases its first pairings, Cinco and Cashay are reunited and forced to speak, TJ laughs at people falling into the water from dangerous heights for the first time this season, the politicking heats up in a big way, and Big Brother becomes the first show based alliance to fully turn on itself - who would have seen that coming! It’s the Challenge USA Episode...

All Stars 3 is officially in the books with Jonna (back to back) and Wes (now 3x) taking home the title. It was an awesome season, I really loved it, and there is a lot to discuss as we take one last long look back at the entire body of work. Topics include: Breaking down the main storylines, things that worked, and things that didn't in a segment I call The Good, The Great, The Bad, The Ugly (03:...

A brand new season (and franchise) of the Challenge is upon us with the premiere of The Challenge USA! New cast, new format, new place to watch, but same great TJ, same great Challenge games, and same great Challenge recap podcast (says the host of that podcast). A lot to cover with a premiere episode of a brand new version of the show, I get to it all using the following topics: Cliffnotes recap...

We’ve got ourselves another back to back champion!! Plus: TJ goes soft, Wes needs some dramamine, we’ve got callbacks to past seasons everywhere you look, moonlit conversations about life and redemption, pounds of rotting animal parts are eaten, and two champions are officially crowned! It’s the All Stars 3 Finale episode recap, topics include: Introduction and programming notes (00:41). Cliffnote...