For the... Full Interview where he talks about favorites and these tidbits...

TTVJ: Before we wrap, can you give us some of your standouts for the upcoming season that we should keep an eye on?

JP: In the white collar tribe, there is a woman Shirin Oskooi who was a Yahoo! executive, a big job. She’s 100 per cent a white collar in that she had people who worked for her, is used to establishing rules and she happens to be a massive Survivor super fan. She knows the game so well she actually ends up impacting the game because of her knowledge. It’s almost a meta moment, at a certain point where her knowledge changes destiny. I think it will be very fun for Survivor fans to see that play out.

Then there’s Max Dawson, a former college professor who taught a course on Survivor. Another guy who has studied the game for years, he can tell you which astrological sign is most likely to win. This guy goes DEEP. Both embody the white collar spirit, which is they like being in charge, have a plan and to have people follow them.

On the Blue Collar tribe there’s this guy Dan Foley who has worked for the U.S. post office for 30 years. He’s one of the biggest characters we’ve ever had. He’s boisterous, opinionated … people will not forget him, maybe ever. He is a blue collar in that he is not afraid of hard work and he’s also not afraid to argue. He knows that blue collars work hard and play hard but are still loyal to their brothers and sisters. That’s what really sets the blue collar apart.

Another blue collar is Mike Holloway, he works in the oil fields. He’s got a great work ethic and life ethic. He comes from Texas and he symbolizes Middle America in that he wants to play this game with integrity with one asterisk — If integrity doesn’t work then he will do what it takes to get him to the next level.

A counter to him is Rodney Lavoie, who is from the streets of Boston. He’s East Coast all the way. He loves his mom, tragically lost his sister a few years ago. He has a big tattoo on his arm to remind him. Rodney doesn’t take any grief from anybody ever for anything and if you spark him he explodes.

One more on the Blue Collar, Sierra Thomas, who is a pro Barrel Racer. Another great example of someone who pulls their own weight. She literally drives her own truck, unloads loads, takes care of her own horse. Everything involved in barrel racing, which is basically a man’s sport. And she does it all alone. There’s no chance anybody works harder than Sierra. And she will be loyal to you if you are loyal to her.

Then on the No Collar tribe there’s this guy Vince Sly who literally wears feathers in his hair and sells coconuts down on Venice Beach in California. He is a free spirit who loves people, wants to connect desperately and that can be a really amazing thing but can also be really annoying.

Will Sims is a guy who was a YouTube sensation. He was getting gas in his car when a hidden camera from The Tonight Show popped up and convinced him to karaoke. He became an overnight star. A really likeable guy, who takes one day at a time.

One of my favourites is Hali Ford, who is a great example that your occupation does not define you, it’s your approach to life. What I mean by that is Hali is a law student who wants to be a criminal defence attorney, not because she is interested in the laws as they are. But wants to get into law to change the laws to serve those who are currently underserved. So that is a no collar approach to life. A woman who wants to go into the establishment and break it up so she can create a new paradigm that will change the way the world works. Mark Zuckerberg is a no collar. Anybody who says, ‘There’s a better way, or another way, or why don’t you look at it from this point of view,’ they are no collars. They are not bound by the restrictions of normal society. As a result sometimes amazing things happen.