The Orioles are making quick work of the offseason. The club signed former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, the richest free agent deal in franchise history. The O's patched up their bullpen, inking closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal.

Baltimore has also been very active in the trade market. Last month, the club dealt promising young pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward, in a rare, one-for-one trade. Then, the club turned around and acquired pitching, trading prospects Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn, and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Shane Baz.

Matt is here to break it all down with Jack, discussing how the Alonso deal came to fruition, and how the O's lineup stacks up with him and Taylor Ward in it. Full transparency, this episode was taped before the Orioles acquired Baz, so Jack and Matt discuss how they expect the O's to address their starting pitching needs this winter. Can Orioles fans expect their team to add another high-profile starting pitcher before Spring Training?

Later, Matt celebrates his James Madison Dukes' playoff berth. Matt is a 2019 graduate of JMU and never thought he'd see the day that his school would be participating in the College Football Playoff. Matt and Jack talk about the College Football Playoff system, and discuss how things shook out this year. All this, and so much more, only on the Jack Vita Show!

You can follow Matt on Twitter, @ByMattWeyrich!

Jonathan has worked at MLB.com since 1999, and is the author of the 2023 book Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: The Origin Stories of Baseball's Unexpected Stars.

The Arizona Fall League just wrapped up its 33rd season, with the Surprise Saguaros winning their third championship in four years. Jonathan spent two weeks this fall in Arizona and got a good look at this year's crop of talent. Which players were he and Jack most impressed by? Was Kevin McGonigle, MLB Pipeline's no. 2 overall prospect, truly the best player competing in AFL this year? Who were some of the other best prospects that played in Arizona this fall?

Who were some of this year's under-the-radar prospects? Who were some guys who were not in the Top 100 coming into the AFL season, that had a nice showing in the desert, and might move into the next Top 100 rankings (coming in January)?

Lastly, how do the Surprise Saguaros keep doing it? What sets them apart from the rest of the league? The Saguaros have appeared in six straight AFL Championship games, and have won the Championship three times over the last four years. Are they the team of the 2020s?

Pick up a copy of Jonathan's book, Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: The Origin Stories of Baseball's Unexpected Stars, and check out his new podcast, Something Worth Saving! You can follow him on Twitter (@JonathanMayo) and Instagram (@jonathanmayob3).

Dave visits the Jack Vita Show to chat about the Mariners' historic playoff run, their chances in the ALCS against a potent Toronto Blue Jays team, his first season in the Bronx, why the Yankees came up short this year, and much more, as he and Jack recap the Division Series round of the postseason and look ahead to the ALCS and NLCS.

What does this Mariners team have that past teams didn't? Dave gives his assessment of the squad, and voices his support for a city that has been extremely meaningful to him. He also discusses what went wrong for the Yankees this postseason, and what needs they will need to address this winter. Does he see the team re-signing Bellinger, who plans to opt out of the final year of his contract?

Dave also grew up in Philadelphia and has been a Phillies fan his entire life. Dave shares his thoughts on the Phillies' early postseason exit, and reveals what course of action he expects the club to take as it faces critical decisions regarding the futures of seasoned veterans Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto and Ranger Suarez, all of whom are set to hit free agency. Dave shares some insider info regarding the prospect of Schwarber returning.

Later, Jack and Dave touch on the Milwaukee Brewers' NLDS victory over the Chicago Cubs, and preview the Brewers' showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. It's an episode you will NOT want to miss!

Follow Dave on Twitter (@davesims_) and Instagram (@tdss), and subscribe to his podcast, Hey Now! The Dave Sims Show, available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever podcasts are found.

Jim has been covering prospects for over 35 years. In today's episode, he shares some stories from previous years at the Arizona Fall League. He gives a quick rundown of what fans can expect from AFL, and why they should follow along online, and make a trip to Arizona for the AFL experience.

This is Jack's third year on-scene at the Arizona Fall League. Last year, he provided coverage of Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. This year, he plans to pick up freelance work for other outlets, covering prospects participating in AFL. The Fall League has become a favorite for Jack, and he shares why it's one of the best hidden gems in sports.

Jim provides a look at what prospects fans should keep an eye on in the Arizona Fall League this year.

This year's AFL crop features eleven players from MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list: Kevin McGonigle (no. 2), Sebastian Walcott (no. 6), Josue De Paula (no. 13), Braden Montgomery (no. 35), Alfredo Duno (no. 48), Charlie Condon (no. 61), Blake Mitchell (no. 62), Jonny Farmelo (no. 75), Rhett Lowder, (no. 80), Hagen Smith (no. 88) and Cam Collier (no. 94).

Jim also discusses under-the-radar prospects that could break out this year in the AFL. Last year, Caleb Durbin won AFL Breakout Player of the Year. Now, he's a key cog in the Milwaukee Brewers' potent lineup, as the club pushes for its first World Series in franchise history.

Later, Jim shares stories of Tim Tebow and Kyle Schwarber participating in the Fall League. Both played in the AFL in 2016. It's a crash course in AFL that you certainly will NOT want to miss!

The Mariners were active at the trade deadline, acquiring corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The club reaped the benefits immediately, winning 10 of its next 11 games, before hitting a snag. The M's proceeded to lose seven of their ensuing eight games. It's been a summer of high highs and low lows for the Mariners, but with just over a month remaining in the regular season, Seattle finds itself just 1.5 games back of the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West.

Mario and Jack put the Mariners' season under the microscope, and attempt to predict how they see the club finishing the year. Hear why Jack believes the M's have the highest ceiling of any team in the American League. Later, they debate the merits of Cal Raleigh's season and his AL MVP candidacy. Mario's thoughts on the topic may surprise you!

Along the way, they also touch on an extremely close NL West race between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, as well as various news from around Major League Baseball.

Later, Mario and Jack chat about Survivor 50, the final season of Mario's Survivor Historians Podcast, The Funny 115, Saturday Night Live, and plenty more! It's an episode you will NOT want to miss!

The San Diego Padres once again made the most noise on deadline day, as president of baseball operations AJ Preller made a flurry of aggressive moves, most notably dealing the no. 3 prospect in baseball (and three pitching prospects) to the Athletics in exchange for closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears. The Padres also acquired catcher Freddy Fermin, outfielder Ramon Laureano, starting pitcher Nestore Cortes, and first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn. Michael and Jack share why they believe the Padres won the deadline, and Jack makes a bold proclamation that the Friars will win the National League West over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs were strangely quiet at this year's deadline. Will their passiveness come back to bite them? The Cubs missed an opportunity to upgrade their pitching staff, just days after the Milwaukee Brewers passed them for the NL Central division lead. Jack assesses the Cubs' approach at the deadline, as they enter into the final crunch of the regular season.

Elsewhere, the Houston Astros brought home Carlos Correa, while the Seattle Mariners added a pair of big bats from the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the form of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. The Philadelphia Phillies added star closer Jhoan Duran, as the Minnesota Twins blew up their team. Michael and Jack discuss and break down it all!

Michael is the play-by-play voice of the Aberdeen IronBirds, the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He also broadcasts Division I athletics. You can follow him @MikedUpSports on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Jack wants to repair and remake the Home Run Derby. Is there a way we could get more star power in the Derby in the future? He and Patrick discuss the All-Star Game's epic "Swing-Off".

Jack also asks why home run totals are up league-wide this season. Is it possible that the baseballs may have a little more bounce off the bat this season than last?

Patrick and Jack discuss happenings from the All-Star break, as well as the first half of the regular season. Jacob Misiorowski was named an All-Star replacement, despite having only made five career starts. His inclusion in the Midsummer Classic caused a stir, as a handful of Philadelphia Phillies players criticized the decision from Major League Baseball. Patrick and Jack share their thoughts on the decision.

The Milwaukee Brewers have been the best team in baseball for the past two months. The club is 33-12 over its last 55 games, dating back to May 26. And now, they're not only tied for the National League Central lead with the Chicago Cubs, but the two teams from the Midwest are tied for the best record in the National League. Patrick and Jack discuss why they each picked the Brewers to win the NL Central, what is clicking for the team, the Brewers' prowess as an organization, and what they expect to happen in this division race.

With the MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, Patrick and Jack attempt to identify this year's sellers. It's shaping up to be a seller's market, and there doesn't appear to be too many high-impact players available. Who do Jack and Patrick think will be available, and what will the market shape up to be? All this, and much more, in a very fun episode of the Jack Vita Show!

Check out Patrick's show, The Rockies Insider with Patrick Lyons, on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found!

This conversation was taped Friday, June 27, days after the MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix concluded, and 23 days before the MLB Draft.

This year's Draft does not have a clear-cut number one talent, leaving the Washington Nationals the opportunity to go in a number of different directions. They could tag college baseball's best pitcher, LSU's lefty Kade Anderson. They could go with the best high school position player (Ethan Holliday), or the best high school pitcher (Seth Hernandez). Jim helps break down the talent at the top of the Draft board, previewing Sunday's Draft. Jim also shares some thoughts from this year's MLB Draft Combine (0:00 - 40:30).

Later, Jim and Jack shift their attention to the big leagues, specifically, young players that have impressed this season. After a lackluster rookie campaign, Pete Crow-Armstrong was named the National League's starting center fielder in next week's All-Star Game. The 23 year-old has found success in his sophomore season in the bigs. Jim has been high on PCA for a while, but did he see this coming from him in his second year? Jim also been high on Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski for quite some time. Misiorowski recently made his big league debut, and through his first four starts, the 23 year-old has a 3-1 record and 3.20 ERA across 19.2 IP. Jack and Jim talk Misiorowski and other young players they have their eye on this season. They also share some thoughts on the Chicago Cubs' hot start that has them in first place, just days before the All-Star break (40:30 - 53:35).

Lastly, Jim and Jack discuss the cast for the upcoming season of Survivor, Survivor 50 (53:35 - END)! You can find more from us on Survivor 50 here.

Mike and Jack kick things off with the AL East, a division Mike is very familiar with. The division has seen three different champions over the last five seasons. Will the New York Yankees repeat as AL East champs, even after losing Juan Soto? Last year, the Orioles took a step back from their 101-win season in 2023. Could they return to the top of the division, even after Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander departed as free agents over the winter? The Boston Red Sox were very active in the offseason, trading for Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, and signing two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract. Will it be enough to return Boston to the postseason? Mike and Jack also share their thoughts on the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays.

On deck, Mike and Jack put the AL Central under the microscope. Four of the division's five teams have seen a quite a bit of preseason betting action... with the White Sox coming off a record-setting 121-loss season in 2024. The Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins all posted winning seasons last year. Who do Mike and Jack like to win the division and snag a Wild Card (or two)?

Then, the fellas turn their attention to the AL West. The Houston Astros have won the division seven of the last eight years. The only year in which the club has not won the West since 2017 came in 2020, in the COVID-shortened, 60-game season. In each of baseball's last seven full, 162-game seasons, the Astros have been AL West champions. However, the Astros bid farewell to Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander and Ryan Pressly over the winter. The club doesn't appear to have much coming up through its farm system in the near future. Are the Astros still the team to beat in the West, or is their run reaching its end? Will the Seattle Mariners finally win their first division title since 2001? How will the Texas Rangers bounce back from a lackluster 2024, one year after winning the World Series? What kind of steps forward might the Los Angeles Angels and The Athletics take in 2025?

Michael is a lifelong Philadelphia Phillies fan, so he is enthusiastic to weigh in on the Fightin' Phils' chances entering the coming season. How will the Atlanta Braves fare after losing ace Max Fried to free agency? Michael and Jack discuss the Mets' highly-priced addition of Juan Soto, and share which teams from the East they are projecting to make the playoffs.

The Chicago Cubs are the betting favorites in the NL Central, despite having made the postseason just once over the last six years. The Milwaukee Brewers have reached the playoffs seven of the last eight years. Why aren't the Brewers getting more love? Michael and Jack debate.

Jack believes that the three best teams in the National League all play in the NL West. Which of the three does he have winning the World Series? Jack explains why the greatest threat to the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series defense may come in the National League Division Series. Finally, Michael and Jack share their World Series picks. It's an episode of the Jack Vita Show that you will not want to miss!

AL East (0:00 - 17:30)

AL Central (17:30 - 29:00)

AL West (29:00 - 39:35)

NL East (39:35 - 46:50)

NL Central (46:50 - 53:15)

NL West (53:15 - END)

Vernon entered the NFL nearly 20 years ago, as the no. 6 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. A product of the University of Maryland, Vernon ran the fasted 40-yard dash time ever recorded for a tight end at the NFL Combine, clocking in at 4.38 seconds. In the weeks leading up to the Draft, Vernon starred in a famous Under Armour commercial alongside AJ Hawk which introduced the marketing tagline "click, clack." Jack asks Vernon about the iconic commercial. They also chat about Vernon's time in the NFL, his best Jim Harbaugh stories, how acting differs from playing, and his new show, titled "Match Point", which premieres February 11 on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Then, Jack is joined by Michael for a very lively discussion about the weekend's NFL Playoff games! Michael and Jack react to some horrendous officiating in the AFC title game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. Why do football fans hate the Chiefs? Michael and Jack discuss. Michael is a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, so he was pretty happy about the outcome to Sunday's NFC Championship game. Were the Eagles overlooked and disrespected in the NFC? Later, Michael and Jack look ahead to the big game, discussing early storylines for Super Bowl LIX. And finally, they discuss the Chicago Bears' new head coach hire, former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Should Jack be excited about the future in Chicago?

Michael is the play-by-play voice of the Aberdeen IronBirds, the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He also broadcasts Division I athletics. You can follow him @MikedUpSports on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Jack Sommers has the inside scoop on how the Burnes' signing — which seemingly no one saw coming — came to fruition. Burnes reportedly passed on more lucrative offers from the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays, preferring instead to play in Arizona, where he lives in the offseason with his family. The contract also includes deferrals; Jack Sommers explains how the deferrals work.

Earlier in the week, the Diamondbacks filled a gaping hole at first base, acquiring All-Star Josh Naylor in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Slade Cecconi and a Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick. Naylor will replace three-time Gold Glove Award winner Christian Walker, who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros. Former Diamondbacks great Paul Goldschmidt had been linked to the team as a possible replacement for Walker, but instead signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the New York Yankees. Jack and Jack share their thoughts on game of musical chairs being played among first baseman! What do they think of the Naylor trade, and the landing spots for Walker and Goldy?

Finally, Jack and Jack share some thoughts on miraculous 2024 Arizona State Sun Devils football season, which resulted in a thrilling, double-overtime loss in the Peach Bowl on New Years Day. This episode was taped a day before the Bowl Game; Jack and Jack reflect on a monumental season for the program that nobody saw coming. Was this the most stunning season for an Arizona sports team in the state's history?

Unfortunately, we encountered some technical difficulties when recording this episode, thus, our audio isn't up to the high standards set for the Jack Vita Show. We apologize, and expect to do MUCH better next time!

You can follow Jack on Twitter, @shoewizard59, and check out his work at Diamondbacks on SI!

Major League Baseball is seeing a far more active offseason than it did a year ago, up to this point. On the Sunday night of the MLB Winter Meetings, Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. In response to Soto's record-setting deal, the Yankees made a flurry of moves, signing Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt, and trading for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams.

Days before shipping Bellinger away to the Yankees, the Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, in exchange for pitcher Hayden Wesneski, third baseman Isaac Paredes, and third base prospect Cam Smith. Tucker has just one year remaining on his contract, entering 2025. Will the Cubs be able to extend or re-sign him? Or will he just be a one-year rental for the club? Do the Cubs have the pieces to contend in 2025? How does Tucker transform their lineup?

On the other side of the city, the White Sox dealt Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox for a haul of four prospects, which included 2023 and 2024 first round draft picks Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery. Rhett and Jack assess the trade package, and discuss what they think the White Sox will do next.

Rhett and Jack touch on other offseason news from around the league, and Rhett analyzes the offseason that the Los Angeles Angels have had. Jack likes the Angels' addition of World Series champion and longtime Cub Kyle Hendricks. Later, Rhett and Jack share some thoughts heading into the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

Rhett is about to enter his seventh season as MLB.com's Los Angeles Angels beat reporter. Prior to starting on the Angels beat, he covered the Minnesota Twins for the same publication for eight seasons. You can follow him on Twitter, @RhettBollinger.

First, Jim and Jack chat about their Pittsburgh Steelers. Just days ago, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made a bold decision to bench quarterback Justin Fields in favor of veteran Russell Wilson, despite his team opening the season with a 4-2 record with Fields behind center. The move was met with much criticism, as Wilson was booed Sunday by Pittsburgh fans at Acrisure Stadium. Wilson, however, turned in a successful outing, passing for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, taking just one sack, as the Steelers hung a season-high 37 points in a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. What do Jack and Jim make of all of this, and what was their reaction to Tomlin's decision? (0:00 - 14:00).

Then, Jim and Jack pivot to baseball. The World Series stage is set, with Aaron Judge's New York Yankees taking on Shohei Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers. The matchup should make for one of the most star-studded Fall Classics in recent memory. Jack and Jim recap the ALCS and NLCS, and preview a World Series, featuring two historic franchises, that should certainly deliver in the ratings department (14:00 - 23:50).

Later, Jack and Jim get you caught up on the later from the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is a developmental league for some of baseball's best minor league prospects, which runs for six weeks each fall (23:50 - END).

The biggest headline from this year's AFL season thus far is without a doubt the return of top Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter. Painter tore his UCL in early 2023, needing Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing righty hadn't pitched in a game since 2022, prior to his start ten days ago in Scottsdale. Painter made his second start last Friday, mixing in more pitches from his pitch arsenal. Jim and Jack discuss Painter's return, his recovery, his timeline and how he's looked thus far. They also highlight other prospects that have impressed through the first third of the AFL season, and discuss why they love the Fall League so much!

Mario is one the most knowledgeable Seattle sports fans on the planet. Each year, Mario leaves us a voice message, providing a detailed outlook for the coming Mariners' season, in our AL West Preview show. And each year, Mario has a generally positive outlook entering the season. He's remained quite patient and rational, even while the M's have just barely missed the postseason two of the last three seasons. It appears Mario's patience has run out, however. Find out why this is one of Mario's least favorite Mariners teams of his lifetime.

Sunday, the Mariners held a four-run lead over the Texas Rangers entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The M's blew a 4-0 lead, falling to the Rangers 6-5, and squandering an opportunity to move up in the American League Wild Card standings. Both teams in front of the M's in the AL Wild Card standings — the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins — lost on Sunday. With six games left, Seattle is two games back of the Royals for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Mariners are still very much alive, but they have their work cut out for them this week.

Three teams from the AL Central sit in front of the Mariners in the Wild Card standings, and all three of them can thank the Chicago White Sox for part of their success this season. Both the Royals and Twins are 12-1 versus the lowly South Siders in 2024, and the Tigers are 9-1, with one series remaining before season's end. Meanwhile, the White Sox (36-120) are on the cusp of putting together the worst regular season record in MLB history. Mario and Jack talk about the 2024 White Sox. Have either of them scene a worse Major League team before?

Later, Mario and Jack discuss how dominant pitching has become in Major League Baseball and the remarkable seasons Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are enjoying. Mario and Jack discuss the state of baseball in 2024, thoughts on the 2024 season, baseball fights, and so much more along the way!

You can follow Mario on Twitter, @MarioJLanza. He hosts two podcasts: Survivor Historians and Staff Picks. He wrote a book on the first three seasons of CBS' hit reality competition show Survivor called "When it was Worth Playing For". You can find all his work at Funny115.com.

The Cubs selected Herz out of Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Herz wasted no time, finding immediate success while pitching in the Cubs' farm system. In his first full professional season, Herz posted a 3.31 ERA across 20 starts between High-A South Bend and Low-A Myrtle Beach. He was named the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Herz spent the 2023 season pitching at Double-A Tennessee. In the late summer, he was anticipating a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. When his phone rang on the day of the trade deadline, he had just awoken from a nap, and he thought his time had come. He was blindsided when he was informed that he had been traded along with shortstop prospect Kevin Made to the Washington Nationals, in exchange for third baseman Jeimer Candelario.

Herz pitched the remainder of the season for the Nationals' Double-A affiliate, Harrisburg, where he logged a 2.55 ERA over eight starts. Upon the conclusion of the minor league season, Herz received the opportunity to pitch in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Herz made five starts in the AFL, posting a 3.71 ERA while competing amongst some of baseball's best prospects. He was named a Fall Star, appearing in the Arizona Fall Stars Game.

Herz just turned 23 and is set to report to spring training in a matter of weeks. He hopes that 2024 is the year that he makes his big league debut. He is the no. 16 prospect in the Nationals' farm system, per MLB Pipeline.

Herz chats with Jack about his time pitching in the Fall League and living in Arizona. How did he enjoy the AFL and playing with and against prospects from other teams? Who did he become close with?

Herz reflects on his time in the Cubs organization. He discusses which prospects in the Cubs' farm system he was most impressed by, and which ones he has the highest hopes for, when they enter the big leagues.

Herz is a close friend of Jackson Ferris. Ferris was also a top pitching prospect in the Cubs' farm system, who recently was surprisingly traded. Herz discusses what wisdom and advice he shared with Ferris, after Ferris was dealt two weeks ago along with Zyhir Hope to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte. Herz tells the story of when he got traded and how he reacted. Does he have a chip on his shoulder?

Herz talks about the minor league life, and what it's like competing with teammates for promotions, as each player tries to reach the next level.

Herz discusses life off-the-field, his love for fishing and golf, his puppies, CBS' Survivor and MTV's The Challenge. He also talks about his Christian faith and what role God plays in his life. Herz talks some NFL playoff football, and looks ahead to the coming year, which he hopes is the first of a long Major League career.

You can follow Dj on Twitter (@DavidjohnHerz) and Instagram (@dj_herz).

Jordan played a masterful, under-the-radar game that had her reach the Final Four without ever having to face the banker, with her name hardly ever coming up by her competitors as a potential target. While two clear factions formed (the "Rob Mob" and the "Night Owls"), Jordan played the middle, maintaining strong relationships with both parties and never finding herself in the crosshairs of either group. Jordan explains how she looked to Survivor great and The Traitors winner Cirie Fields for inspiration.

Jordan completed the Final Four excursion first, securing her spot in the Final Two. Jordan defeated Amy McCoy in the final excursion, making her the first winner in the history of Deal or No Deal Island. Jordan became the banker's final opponent, allowing her to play the banker at the final temple. Jordan accepted a deal for $1.23 million, a cash prize that will certainly change her life. Jordan and her husband had struggled to conceive and start their family. Through IVF treatment, Jordan is now pregnant, excited to start the next chapter of her life as a mother.

Jordan takes us through her time on Deal or No Deal Island. Despite being the show's winner, she received very little screentime, particularly in the first half of the season. Jordan explains what she was doing and saying in the early days of DONDI, providing a detailed look to what did not make the air. Was Jordan surprised at how the show kept her win hidden for as long as it did? How did Jordan feel about playing against Survivor legend Boston Rob Mariano? Who would Jordan have taken out, had she played and beaten the banker early in the season? How much reality competition television had Jordan watched before appearing on DONDI? And who from the cast did Jordan enter the show having mutual friends with? All this, and so much more, in an exciting episode with the first ever winner of Deal or No Deal Island!

You can follow Jordan on Twitter (@itsmejofo) and Instagram (@itsmejofo).

Amy took a commanding lead in the Final Four excursion, becoming the first contestant to complete the puzzle. Amy got a head start in the maze, which prompted Boston Rob Mariano to sneak a peak at her puzzle, resulting in a time penalty for the Survivor icon. Amy relives the moment that paused the game. How long was the stoppage, and did it disadvantage her as she was already in the maze? Amy shares her thoughts on Rob's time penalty.

Despite getting lost in the maze, Amy was able to emerge from the maze before Rob, putting an end to Rob's time on the Banker's Island. Stephanie's case contained the lowest amount, placing her in third, advancing Amy and Jordan to the final two. Jordan bested Amy in a final excursion that last just a few minutes, eliminating Amy from contention. Amy shares her thoughts on the final excursion. Was she expecting something a bit more epic, that may have tested other skills?

Amy reflects on the season. She discusses her edit, the Night Owls alliance, why she picked Rob to face the banker earlier in the season, how the game would have played out differently had Rob lost, and so much more! Amy also discusses which women from reality television she has drawn inspiration from, and what she takes away from this once-in-a-lifetime experience!

You can follow Amy on Twitter (@OKCAmy_McCoy) and Instagram (@okcamy_mccoy).

Stephanie last visited the Jack Vita Show on Deal or No Deal Island Insiders, upon the conclusion of the show's seventh episode. Now, she joins Jack for a full hour, for a special, longform exit interview! Stephanie holds little back, now that she is able to speak freely about her time on DONDI, without fear of spoiling any future events.

Stephanie played hard all season long, reaching the final 3. She was the second contestant to emerge from the maze in the Final Four excursion, but was eliminated when she opened her case and discovered that it held the lowest total among the the three remaining competitors, ending her time on the Banker's Island. How did Stephanie feel about having her entire game left to chance? What did Stephanie think of the finale, and the final challenge that followed the Final Four excursion? And how did Stephanie feel about Rob's time penalty in the excursion? Stephanie shares her take on everything from the finale.

Stephanie gives an inside look to her experience on the Banker's Island, diving deep into her gameplay over the course of the season. She shares a story about how she and the Night Owls were able to fool Rob and use his "buddy system" strategy against him. Stephanie discusses her love for reality competition shows, how she was nearly cast for Big Brother 24, her thoughts on her DONDI edit, and so much more!

You can follow Stephanie on Twitter (@doctor_midwife), Instagram (@doctor_midwife) and TikTok (@doctor_midwife).

Season 1 of Deal or No Deal Island has reached its conclusion, and Jordan Fowler is the show's first winner! Jordan defeated the banker and took home a $1.23 million check.

Boston Rob was eliminated from contention after he was the last one to emerge from the maze. Stephanie Mitchell was eliminated moments later when it was revealed that her case had the lowest total, placing her in third place. This left Jordan and Amy McCoy as the show's final 2! In a matter of minutes, Jordan defeated Amy in the final excursion, making her the banker's ultimate opponent. It is soon after revealed that Howie Mandel is the banker! Howie plays the role of antagonist at the temple, but in the end, Jordan wins a life-changing sum of money that she hopes will help her start her family and the next chapter of her life with her husband. Jordan is also met by the other 13 members of the cast who were eliminated, who watch and cheer her on as she plays Deal or No Deal. In the end, the cast celebrates Jordan's win.

Brooke and Jack share their thoughts on the finale, Rob's exit, Stephanie's gameplay, the final challenge, Amy, Jordan and so much more! You will NOT want to miss our finale coverage!

This conversation is twice as long as a regular exit interview. Unlike other exit interviews, and Jack is joined by seven other reporters as Rob faces the press, fielding questions from the media in a rare press conference.

Along the way, Rob discusses his time on DONDI, why he decided to accept the invitation to compete on the show's first season, how it compared to Survivor, whether or not he would compete on Peacock's The Traitors in the near future, and much more!

Rob also discusses a creative idea he had to help himself after receiving a time penalty for looking at Amy's answer. Rob wanted to shout the answer to Stephanie and Jordan as they were attempting to solve the puzzle, allowing them to move forward, and lessen the penalty time he would receive. He asked production if he was allowed to do it, and was told no. He wishes that he hadn't asked and just done it.

Rob shares how large of a gap there was between him and Amy. Was he really that close to passing her in the maze? And did his case have a total high enough to keep him in the game, had he not emerged from the maze last? Rob shares his thoughts on the finale, and so much more! It's an episode you will NOT want to miss!

Over the years, Claudia has appeared in dozens of shows and movies, including Deal or No Deal, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, The Celebrity Apprentice and most recently, Deal or No Deal Island. Claudia got to face the banker and play Deal or No Deal for the first time, in episode 3. Unfortunately for Claudia, she secured a bad deal, and was eliminated much earlier than expected. We get Claudia's thoughts on the season and how everything has played out since she was eliminated.

Claudia discusses differences she's noticed between the original Deal or No Deal show, and the franchise's new installment, Deal or No Deal Island. Is there anything that surprised Claudia about the experience or the way that contestants have played? She also spills the tea on her elimination. What led to her decision to volunteer her case, for Stephanie to steal? Claudia shares a secret about that day. Claudia and Miranda reflect on stories from their time on DONDI together.

Later, Claudia reflects on her reality television and entertainment career. She talks about what it was like competing on The Celebrity Apprentice and how she used to have a good friendship with former US President Donald Trump. Claudia tells stories from before Trump's presidency and what led to their falling out.

You can follow Claudia on Twitter (@claudiajordan) and Instagram (@claudiajordan). You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison).

Episode 11 ended on a dramatic cliffhanger. The four remaining competitors were tasked with a challenge that required them to complete a puzzle and run through a maze and collect a briefcase. The last contestant out of the maze would be immediately eliminated and the contestant holding the lowest-total briefcase among the the three remaining competitors would also be eliminated. Boston Rob Mariano got caught cheating off of Amy McCoy's puzzle. As a result, he was assessed a three-minute time penalty. He had to wait until the other three contestants had all completed their puzzle, and then he had to wait three extra minutes, before he could take off for his case. Jordan Fowler and Stephanie Mitchell are shown exiting the maze and locking in their case totals. It appears that Rob is closing the gap on Amy, but the episode concludes. We ask the question, "What happens next? Will Boston Rob live to see another day, or is his goose cooked?".

Stephenie is one of the biggest fan favorites in the history of Survivor. After debuting on Survivor: Palau, she placed second on Survivor: Guatemala and appeared on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. She recently came out of retirement, competing on USA's Snake in the Grass and season 1 of NBC's hit show The Traitors. Stephenie was a huge fan of Rob before she ever appeared on Survivor, and his inspiration is one of the reasons she applied in the first place! She has known Rob for nearly 20 years, and has very much enjoyed watching him play on Deal or No Deal Island.

Stephenie shares her thoughts on Rob's breach of the rules. Was it deliberate? Was the penalty fair? And will Rob survive to see another day? Brooke and Jack also weigh in, as the three of them share their thoughts on the episode as a whole. Brooke and Steph also share some memories from Survivor: Guatemala, including an unbelievable Jamie Newton story!

You can follow Stephenie on Instagram (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) and Twitter (@StephLaGrossa38).

Despite accepting a record-setting offer a week ago, Nick took a bad deal from the banker, spelling the end of his time on the Banker's Island in Deal or No Deal Island's ninth episode, "Are You Ruthless?"

Last week, Nick joined Jack for his exit interview, in which he detailed how a strange dream that he had on the Banker's Island put an end to his time on the show. Now, he opens up in an hour-long conversation with Jack and Miranda.

Nick recaps and relives his time on the Banker's Island. In the early days of the game, he was in a tight alliance with Boston Rob Mariano, but midway through the game, his attitude toward the Robfather shifted. Nick was a founding member of the Night Owls alliance, and soon, Rob went from an ally to enemy. Why did Nick decide to turn on Rob and target the five-time Survivor veteran? Nick takes us inside of his gameplay, strategy and thought-process.

Miranda and Nick discuss life on the Banker's Island. The two shared a tent with Amy McCoy. How did they end up in the only co-ed tent on the show? Who ended up in the other two tents? And how did things go in Tent 3? Nick and Miranda relive some of their favorite memories from their time on the island, and provide an inside look to what goes on on DONDI. They also talk about the food situation on the show. What do the contestants eat, and what if the contestants have a food allergy?

Along the way, Nick, Miranda and Jack break down the latest episode, "Are You Powerful?" and discuss whether or not they think Aron Barbell was really going to turn on Rob, had he defeated the banker. They also preview the Final 4, with the show's penultimate episode coming up next Monday.

You can follow Nick on Twitter (@ngrasso217) and Instagram (@nickyy__g), and check out the Official Nick Grasso Shop! You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison).

Bergie appeared on Love Island Season 5 last summer and instantly became a fan favorite. Before he had even left Fiji, he was offered a spot on the next season of Peacock's new hit competition show, The Traitors. Perceived as a threat to the traitors' games, Bergie was murdered in episode 8. Now, Bergie is hooked on Deal or No Deal Island!

Each week, Survivor: Guatemala contestant Brooke Struck and Jack Vita recap the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. This week, Bergie joins them to break down everything from Episode 10!

With just five contestants left, Aron is approached by the last remaining members of the Night Owl alliance, Stephanie and Amy, who offer an interesting proposition. Amy and Stephanie suggest that Aron cuts ties with Boston Rob, if given the chance. Rob is a reality television veteran, a Survivor winner and the greatest threat to win the game, among the players remaining. Aron appears to be giving the idea consideration.

At the excursion, Rob has a plan to try to get him and Aron in the bottom two, but Aron does not follow his instructions. This leads to a confrontation upon their completion of the challenge. In this week's exit interview, Aron told Jack that he got caught "playing the middle", when he didn't go along with Rob's plan. Meanwhile, Amy forms a final two alliance with both Rob and Aron, gets her hand caught in the cookie jar when she is forced to choose which of the two that will face the banker at temple. Amy picks Aron. Entering temple, it remains unclear as to who Aron has his sights set on eliminating. Unfortunately for the 26 year-old, his time on the Banker's Island came to an end when he accepted a bad deal.

Now, only four contestants remain: Stephanie Mitchell, Amy McCoy, Jordan Fowler and THE Boston Rob Mariano. Bergie shares his thoughts on the first season of Deal or No Deal Island, the show's formats and his prediction for the final two episodes. He also compares and contrasts The Traitors to DONDI. All this and so much more, as Bergie, Brooke and Jack break down the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island!

Joining Brooke and Jack on next week's recap will be three-time Survivor fan favorite Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick!

You can follow Bergie on Instagram (@bergielicious35) and Twitter (@CarstenBergie) and subscribe to his YouTube channel!

Aron was the first contestant to face the banker in episode 1. He emerged victorious nine weeks ago, and successfully eliminated Brantzen Wong from the show. This week, Aron was not as fortunate, as his case held a higher total ($3.5 million) than the offer he accepted ($1.199 million), making a bad deal and spelling the end of his time on the show.

Aron started off strong. At the end of episode 4, he was voted the most trustworthy competitor on the show. He had hoped that Miranda would defeat the banker and send Stephanie home for him. Miranda was not onboard though, and blew up his game to the entire cast. Five episodes later, Aron's time on DONDI came to an end.

Amy McCoy selected Aron to face the banker in this week's episode. It was unclear who Aron would have eliminated had be defeated the banker and stayed alive. It appeared as though Boston Rob's time on the Banker's Island may have been reaching its end, as the Night Owls plead to Aron to take a shot at the Robfather. Rob hoped that Aron would finally take out Stephanie, something they had discussed since the very first episode.

In this exclusive exit interview, Aron reveals who he would have sent packing had he defeated the banker, if he feels Boston Rob underestimated him as a player, where he thinks things started to go south for him on the Banker's Island, what he would do differently if he played again, and much, much more!

You can follow Aron on Instagram (@dontcallmeayayron) and Twitter (@AronBarbell).

Amy, a native of Oklahoma City, is only two episodes away from reaching the finale. As one of the five remaining contestants, Amy has a legitimate shot at winning Deal or No Deal Island. However, her game has taken a hit over the last two weeks, as she has had to bid farewell to two members of her Night Owls alliance. Now, only she and Stephanie Mitchell remain as they attempt to eliminate Aron Barbell and Survivor: Redemption Island winner Boston Rob Mariano, with Jordan Fowler playing the middle.

We get Amy's thoughts on the latest episode, E9 "Are You Ruthless?", where Nick Grasso accepted a bad deal and was eliminated from the show. Amy shares some thoughts on her edit and how she is being portrayed by the show, and also how the fans are reacting to her presence on Deal or No Deal Island. Amy and Stephanie have received quite a bit of hate mail. Amy and Miranda discuss. Amy also adds context to her conversation with Aron from last week, which has been highly scrutinized by fans.

Amy and Miranda give an inside look to the Deal or No Deal Island living conditions and production. They also discuss memories from sharing a tent together, and an important from an early excursion that didn't make the air. All this, and so much more, as they discuss Amy's gameplay and strategy! Tune in for an inside look at the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island!

You can follow Amy on Twitter (@OKCAmy_McCoy) and Instagram (@okcamy_mccoy). You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison).

Nick had his number called upon Monday night, as he was selected by Jordan and Amy to face the banker. He was the only remaining member of the Night Owl alliance that had not yet played Deal or No Deal. Nick and the Night Owls had a plan. They would keep Rob and Aron in the middle, ensuring that their alliance would have complete control of who would go home. With Rob as a clear target, Nick got a chance to take his shot at the Robfather.

Nick made quick work of the board, and with only two cases remaining, received the largest offer in Deal or No Deal history: $4.417 million. He had the $4.25 million and $4.5 million cases remaining. Nick accepted the deal, and unfortunately for him, his case held $4.5 million, meaning that he made a bad deal. Nick's time on the island came to an end.

Jack speaks with Nick about his decision to accept the banker's offer, how a strange dream the night before influenced his decision, Rob and Stephanie's confrontation at the temple, Stephanie's lie to Nick, who Nick would have sent home, and much more!

You can follow Nick on Instagram (@nickyy__g) and Twitter (@ngrasso217).

Each week, Brooke and Jack will recap the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Jack will also sit down for a 15-minute exit interview with the most recent contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island. And later this week, S1 contestant Miranda Rose Harrison will return to the podcast for Deal or No Deal Insiders, featuring special guest and fellow S1 contestant Amy McCoy.

The Night Owls are down a number, after Dawson Addis chose to self-eliminate in the previous episode, accepting a $100,000 personal offer from the banker. Upon losing Dawson, the Night Owls invite Jordan to join their alliance, replacing his spot. Jordan has positioned herself nicely between both alliances, and does not appear to be anyone's target.

At the excursion, the Night Owls concoct a plan to keep Boston Rob and Aron from winning immunity and from finishing in the bottom two. This plan takes any power out of Rob and Aron's hands. The plan works to perfection as Aron struggles to work the walkie talkie, and directs Rob to the wrong case. Amy and Jordan win immunity and Nick gets his turn to face the banker.

Nick enters elimination with his eyes set on eliminating Rob. Moments before he begins his game of Deal or No Deal, Rob and Stephanie engage in a big argument. When Nick is down to two cases remaining, Nick is made the largest offer in Deal or No Deal history: $4.417 million. The two cases he has remaining contain $4.25 million and $4.5 million. Nick chose no. 9 as a meaningful number in his life, and surprisingly abandoned the number, accepting a deal. Unfortunately for Nick, his case contains $4.5 million, meaning that he took a bad deal, and he is eliminated from the game.

In the final moments of the episode, Rob warns Stephanie that she made a "big mistake". Stephanie tells Rob to "shut up". Rob gives a confessional stating that if it's the last thing he does, he will make sure Stephanie does not win. It seems that the show is laying the groundwork for an epic battle in Episode 10!

Brooke and Jack break it all down, sharing their thoughts on the episode!

Earlier in the week, Dawson visited the Jack Vita Show for his exit interview. Dawson had just 15 minutes to answer a handful of questions about his time on the show. Today, he opens up in a longform conversation with Jack and Miranda, providing a peak behind the curtain and sharing information about some things that weren't shown on television.

Dawson became the second player of the season to accept a personal offer from the banker, joining Miranda! Miranda and Dawson reflect on their decisions to take the money. Dawson provides context to the confrontation between Amy and Aron that made the air. He also shares about a conversation he had with Jordan, which surprised him when it didn't make the air. Dawson spills the tea about a secret alliance he had in the game, and gives his thoughts on this week's excursion, and the episode as a whole! Tune in for an inside look at the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island!

You can follow Dawson on Twitter (@DawsonAddis1) and Instagram (@dawsonaddis). You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison).

Each week, Brooke and Jack will recap the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Jack will also sit down for a 15-minute exit interview with the most recent contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island. And later this week, S1 contestant Miranda Rose Harrison will return to the podcast for Deal or No Deal Insiders, featuring special guest and fellow S1 contestant Dawson Addis.

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Jack spoke with Dawson on Tuesday, in his exit interview. Dawson discussed his time on the show, why he accepted the personal offer from the banker and chose to self-eliminate, and much more! Later in the week, he will have more to say when he joins Jack and Miranda on Deal or No Deal Island Insiders!

Episode 8 opens with the group returning to camp and Aron still upset over the elimination of Alyssa. Aron joins the Night Owls at a table, and Amy makes a comment about how she did not appreciate Aron telling her to shut up at the temple. Aron snaps and walks away, before Jordan and Boston Rob come to calm him down. Even after a pep talk from Rob, Aron does not appear to be himself throughout the episode. At the excursion, he doesn't seem to be competing with the same fire he had shown through the show's first seven episodes. He does not complete the excursion and is unable to earn safety. With Rob immune, Aron is next on the Night Owls' hitlist. Rob encourages Aron to volunteer to go into the elimination. Aron's initial reaction is to say that he doesn't want to speak to the Night Owls. However, he does eventually pitch himself to Nick. Nick decides to go in a different direction, though, selecting Dawson, with Aron as their clear target.

Earlier, Nick won his second straight excursion, giving him the power to pick which contestant will face the banker at the temple. Boston Rob, Jordan and Stephanie all win safety too, leaving Aron, Amy and Dawson on the chopping block.

Dawson is chosen by Nick to face the banker. With only three cases remaining, he is offered a $1,399,000 offer and a $100,000 personal offer, but it comes with a catch: by accepting the offer, he will be eliminated from the show. With less than three minutes to make a potential, life-altering decision, Dawson opts to accept the offer, becoming the seventh contestant eliminated from contention.

Brooke and Jack break it all down, sharing their thoughts on the episode!

Dawson formed a close alliance with Nick, Stephanie and Amy. They called themselves the Night Owls. The Night Owls positioned themselves to pick off another number from the other side in this week's episode. Nick won the excursion, security immunity and also earning the ability to pick which contestant would face the banker that night. Nick selected Dawson. Both Amy and Stephanie had faced the banker, and now it was Dawson's turn. Dawson made quick work of the board, knocking out nearly all of the lower-valued briefcases almost immediately. Later on, with a $3.25 million case, a $2.75 million case and a $300 case as the last three remaining cases in play, the banker called and made Dawson an offer that he couldn't refuse.

Dawson was offered $1,399,000 for the prize pot. He also was offered $100,000 if he eliminated himself from contention. Only given a few minutes to arrive a decision, Dawson chose to take the deal, and he became the seventh contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island.

Dawson chats with Jack about his time on Deal or No Deal Island, his decision to self-eliminate, what his plan would have been had he defeated the banker, how he plans to spend his prize money, and so much more! This is only the first time you will be hearing from Dawson on the Jack Vita Show this week. Later in the week, he will join Miranda Rose Harrison and Jack for Deal or No Deal Island Insiders, as they dive deep into the episode, as well as Dawson's time on the show!

You can follow Dawson on Instagram (@dawsonaddis) and Twitter (@DawsonAddis1).

Earlier in the week, Jack spoke with the latest contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island, 2019 Miss Kansas USA titleholder Alyssa Klinzing, in her exit interview. Then, Jack and Brooke Struck released a detailed recap of Deal or No Deal Island episode 7, "Are You Decisive?". Now, Jack and Miranda introduce a new weekly segment called Deal or No Deal Island Insiders! Each week, Miranda and Jack hope to feature different members of the cast, who will provide an inside look at the week's episode, that can only be found on the Jack Vita Show!

Stephanie joins Miranda and Jack to discuss an epic seventh episode of Deal or No Deal Island!

For weeks, a rivalry between Stephanie and Alyssa has been brewing, with both women targeting one another. It was only a matter of time until it met its head, which it did, in this week's episode. Alyssa avoided elimination in the previous two weeks, when Miranda accepted a personal offer from the banker and Amy opened up the "banker's bonus", cancelling last week's elimination. This week, Stephanie got her wish to face the banker, then defeated the banker and sent Alyssa packing. There was no shortage of drama, as there was a bit of a blow-up and confrontation upon Alyssa's elimination, that left one contestant walking off set, having a panic attack.

Stephanie shares her thoughts on the episode as a viewer and adds context, providing some information that was not shown in this week's episode or the episodes leading up. She provides more context to her beef with Alyssa and gives an inside look into her strategy and gameplay through the first seven episodes of the show. Stephanie takes us through the excursion and her decision to go for the $5,000 case. She explains why she wanted to face the banker and why she was chosen by Nick and Rob to do so. She also reflects on the moment when she won the steal in the E3 excursion and was forced into making a difficult decision that would upset many. Miranda also weighs in and shares some thoughts of her own. It's an episode you will not want to miss!

You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison). You can follow Stephanie on Twitter (@doctor_midwife), Instagram (@doctor_midwife) and TikTok (@doctor_midwife).

Each week, Brooke and Jack will recap the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Jack will also sit down for a 15-minute exit interview with the most recent contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island. And later this week, S1 contestant Miranda Rose Harrison will return to the podcast for Deal or No Deal Insiders, featuring special guest and fellow S1 contestant Stephanie Mitchell.

Jack spoke with Alyssa Kinzing on Tuesday in her exit interview. Alyssa discussed her time on the show and detailed her beef with Stephanie. Later this week, Stephanie will tell her side of the story.

The friction between Stephanie and Alyssa is a focal point of episode 7. Thanks to the banker's bonus twist at the end of episode 6, Alyssa avoided elimination last week. In episode 5, Miranda had planned to eliminate Alyssa had she defeated the banker. However, Miranda accepted a personal offer, receiving $40,000 from the banker. She took a bad deal, and was eliminated. In episode 7, Alyssa ran out of lives.

Stephanie and Amy finished in the bottom two at the excursion, while Boston Rob and Nick won immunity. Amy and Stephanie both wanted to play Deal or No Deal and select the next person to go home. Stephanie is chosen, and she secures a good deal. She promptly sends Alyssa packing, but not without any drama.

Stephanie is fired up, and even after Alyssa leaves, continues to rant, with other members of the cast chiming in. Aron has a panic attack and walks off the set, with the episode ending on a cliffhanger.

Earlier in the episode, Alyssa threw Aron under the bus to Rob, claiming that Aron was targeting him. It was a lie, and Rob was able to determine that Alyssa was lying.

Brooke and Jack break it all down, sharing their thoughts on a very dramatic episode!

In the first pair of episodes of Deal or No Deal Island, Alyssa was shown bonding with Kim. In the third episode, Alyssa turned on Kim, forming a plan to target her. At the excursion, Stephanie Mitchell received the option to steal any case she wanted. She refused to follow the orders of Boston Rob's alliance, and from that moment on, Stephanie became a target.

Alyssa formed a close alliance with Aron and Boston Rob Mariano. In episode 5, Aron showed that Alyssa, not Rob, was his number one ally. With Nick, Amy, Stephanie and Dawson forming the "Night Owls" alliance, it appears that Rob's group is now in the minority.

Stephanie herself has been targeting Alyssa for weeks. Alyssa was also the target in the last two eliminations. Had Miranda Rose Harrison defeated the banker in episode 5, she would have sent Alyssa home. Last week, Amy had her sights set on taking out Alyssa. However, the banker's bonus spelled no elimination in the episode, protecting Alyssa, as Amy secured a good deal and would have sent her home.

Rob has been the Night Owls' clear number one target for weeks, but the Survivor winner continues to win immunity, preserving himself from elimination. After Rob wins yet another immunity, the Night Owls go after Alyssa. As Stephanie and Amy finish in the bottom two, it becomes a sure thing that one of them will face the banker. If either one were to win, Alyssa would go home. Rob and Nick choose Stephanie, and Stephanie secures a good deal, ending Alyssa's time on the island.

Alyssa chats with Jack about her time on Deal or No Deal Island, her beef with Stephanie, her alliance with Boston Rob, her friendship with Aron, and much more!

You can follow Alyssa on Instagram (@alyssaklinzing) and TikTok (@alyssaklinzing).

Originally taped on Wednesday, March 20, before Opening Day, Jim and Jack put the NL Central under the microscope, leading off with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs impressed in 2023, compiling 83 wins and missing the playoffs by only a game. Over the winter, the club parted ways with manager and 2016 World Series hero David Ross, replacing him with Craig Counsell. Counsell signed the richest contract for a manager in baseball history. The Cubs also re-signed Cody Bellinger, added Japanese star pitcher Shota Imanaga, and traded for Los Angeles Dodgers top corner infield prospect Michael Busch. The Cubs have the second-best farm system entering the 2024 season, according to MLB Pipeline. The club hopes that its young players can continue to take steps forward and under a new manager, it will return to the postseason for the first time in a full, 162-game season since 2018. What is the outlook for the Cubs in 2024, and why is Jim so bullish on them?

Despite finishing in last place a season ago, the St. Louis Cardinals enter 2024 as favorites to win the NL Central. The club boasts of the highest over/under win total in most sportsbooks. Will the Cardinals jump from worst to first in 2024 and return to the top of the division?

The Milwaukee Brewers enter the season with the fourth-highest odds to win the division. Despite losing manager Craig Counsell and starting pitchers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, Milwaukee could have its best lineup of position players that it has had in years. The Brewers have reached the postseason in five of their last six seasons, winning the division three times during that stretch. Are they being slept on?

The Cincinnati Reds are the trendy pick in the NL Central. Will their young team exceed expectations?

Through the first month of the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates had the best record in the National League. The club ended up winning 76 games. Can the Pirates win the division in 2024?

Jim and Jack discuss how difficult the Central division is to forecast. There isn't a clear runaway favorite, but one could make a case for any of the five teams to finish atop the division. Jim also highlights the best prospects in the division, detailing which players fans should keep an eye that could potentially make a big impact at the Major League level in 2024.

Jim and Jack provide detailed outlooks and over/under win total projections for each team!

Chicago Cubs (0:00 - 14:25)

St. Louis Cardinals (14:25 - 20:40)

Milwaukee Brewers (20:40 - 29:30)

Cincinnati Reds (29:30 - 39:20)

Pittsburgh Pirates (39:20 - END)

You can follow Jim on Twitter (@jimcallisMLB) and catch all of his prospect analysis at MLB Pipeline!

Miranda and Kim were the last two contestants to be eliminated from the show. With no elimination or exit interview this week, Miranda and Kim join Jack for a special edition of the Jack Vita Show covering the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Miranda and Kim provide an inside look into the events leading up to episode 6, including Miranda's elimination and the bombshell that she dropped on her way out the door.

Episode 6 picks up in the immediate aftermath of Miranda's elimination. Aron is beginning to stress as he and Alyssa are catching more heat after Miranda exposed Aron's game to everybody. Nick is unhappy with Boston Rob and Aron, who he had considered to be close allies of his. They had not informed him that Stephanie was the target in episode 5. Nick is tired of being left out of the loop, and forms a new alliance with Amy, Stephanie and Dawson. The alliance calls itself "the Night Owls". Stephanie is the barn owl, Nick is the hunting owl, Dawson is the long-eared owl and Amy is the gray-horned owl.

Stephanie confronts Aron and Rob after their intentions to have her eliminated were revealed to her. At the excursion, Stephanie and Rob are forced to team up, as they are randomly paired together for the challenge, and they win immunity. Aron and Amy collect the "Banker's Bonus" briefcase, but finish in the bottom two, meaning that one of them will face the banker. Amy volunteers to be chosen for elimination, wanting to have her fate in her own hands.

Amy has her sights set on eliminating Alyssa, if she beats the banker. Amy holds on to her case, earning $850,000 for the prize pot and defeating the banker. However, Aron opens up the Banker's Bonus, which reveals that there will be no elimination this week. Everybody is safe, and nobody goes home.

Kim and Miranda discuss the episode in great detail with Jack, providing some juicy behind-the-scenes information. They also share stories from their time in the show and provide context to what we are seeing on television. It's a very special episode that you will NOT want to miss!

You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison). You can follow Kim on Twitter (@KimMattina) and Instagram (@kimmattina).

Trishelle played a calculated and aggressive game throughout her time on The Traitors, never shying away from calling out the contestants that she perceived as traitors at the roundtable. She correctly voted to banish Dan and Phaedra from the game. She figured out that Parvati was a traitor, but convinced her alliance to attempt to work with Parvati, in hopes of taking control of the numbers. Her plan was unsuccessful, but Peter, John and Kevin were all targeted by the Bravo alliance before she was.

Trishelle teamed up with longtime frenemy Chris "CT" Tamburello. The pair first met in the year 2002, on MTV's The Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet. The Real World and Challenge alumni have a bit of a rocky past, so it came as a bit of a surprise to both of them that they ended up working so closely together on The Traitors and ultimately winning, splitting the $208,000 prize!

Stephenie and Jack ask Trishelle about her strategy, her gameplay and her time in Scotland! Trishelle shows off the notes she took in her journal during her time in the castle and provides great detail and insights to her strategy. She also gives us a peak behind the curtain and discusses some things that weren't shown on camera. Trishelle provides clarity to her decision to banish again and why she voted CT and pivoted to MJ. Trishelle has been catching some heat from the fans. Why is that, and what are her thoughts on the matter? Join us as we take a deep dive into Trishelle's path to victory on The Traitors!

Trishelle made her reality television debut in the year 2002, appearing as a cast member on the 12th season of MTV's The Real World, The Real World: Las Vegas. Trishelle competed on four seasons of MTV's The Challenge. After competing on The Challenge: Rivals II in 2013, Trishelle took an eight-year break from reality television, until coming out of retirement to appear on the first season of The Challenge: All-Stars. 23 years into her reality television career, she is finally a champion.

You can follow Trishelle on Twitter (@TrishelleC) and Instagram (@TrishelleC).

You can follow Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram, and join her and Trishelle on the Cruise of Deception!

Miranda is an exterminator in Fort Myers, Florida. Despite sitting comfortably in the game through the first four episodes, she was blindsided by Aron, when Aron set her up to finish in the bottom two of the excursion, then picked her to face the banker. Aron believed that Miranda would do his bidding for him and get rid of Stephanie, if she beat the banker. What Aron was not prepared for, was Miranda was planning a blindside of her own. Had Miranda survived, she was going to send home Aron's closest ally, Alyssa.

Aron may have made a major blunder this week, telling Boston Rob that if he and Alyssa were in the bottom two, he would protect Alyssa and not Rob. Alyssa is Aron's number one, not Rob. Now, Rob is suspicious of Aron and could be looking for a new top ally. Both Aron and Alyssa could be in danger, entering episode 6.

Alyssa nearly was eliminated in episode 5. Miranda had a $100 case, a $1,500,000 case, a $1,750,000 case and a $3,000,000 case remaining, when she received a $937,000 offer. The banker sweetened the pot by making a one-time personal offer. If Miranda agreed to the $937,000 deal, she would receive $40,000 in prize money. Miranda chose to accept the $40,000 offer, taking a leap of faith and hoping that her case had $100 in it. Unfortunately for Miranda, her case held $1,500,000 and her time on the banker's island met its end.

Before departing, Joe asks Miranda who she would have eliminated, had she survived elimination herself. Miranda reveals that she had her sights set on sending Alyssa packing, exposing both her and Aron's games in front of everyone. Miranda may have been eliminated, but she went out with a bang!

Instead of our regularly scheduled 15-minute exit interviews, Miranda joins us for a full hour on this week's Deal or No Deal Island episode recap! Miranda is filling in for Brooke Struck, who is on vacation in Puerto Rico with her family this week. Brooke will be out again next week, and return to the program in time for our Episode 7 recap!

You can follow Miranda on Twitter (@ItsMirandaRose) and Instagram (@mirandaroseharrison).

Lindsay and Jack get things started with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves, powered by a historic offense, won 104 games last season en route to their sixth-straight NL East division title. Over the winter, the club added reclamation projects Chris Sale and Jarred Kelenic. Will the Braves win the division for the seventh-straight year in 2024? And will the Braves return to the World Series after a pair of disappointing NLDS losses to the Philadelphia Phillies?

Next, Lindsay and Jack tackle the Phillies. The Phillies have impressed in the past two postseasons, logging a 19-11 record in 30 playoff games. However, the club squandered a 3-2 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS last October, dashing their World Series hopes. How will the Fightin' Phils respond in 2024?

The New York Mets greatly disappointed in 2023. Will the coming season be a reflection of last year, or will the Mets get back in the win column?

Could a young Washington Nationals team exceed expectations? Or will it be another long summer in D.C.?

Finally, the Miami Marlins impressed last year, reaching the playoffs for the first time in a full, 162-game season since 2003. But with a -57 run-differential and injuries to their pitching staff, might Skip Schumacher's regress in 2024?

Lindsay and Jack have you covered, providing detailed outlooks and over/under win total projections for each team!

Atlanta Braves (0:00 - 14:35)

Philadelphia Phillies (14:35 - 21:25)

New York Mets (21:25 - 29:00)

Washington Nationals (29:00 - 44:40)

Miami Marlins (44:40 - END)

You can follow Lindsay on Twitter (@CrosbyBaseball) and check out his work over at Braves Today and Inside the Marlins!

The crew kicks things off by putting the Colorado Rockies under the microscope. Patrick has covered the Rockies for many years. Colorado posted its first 100-loss season in franchise history last year, dropping 103 games and finishing in the basement of the NL West. What should fans be watching for this year?

On deck, the conversation shifts to the team Jesse covers: the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last fall, the D-Backs won their first National League Pennant since 2001, losing to the Texas Rangers in the World Series in five games. How will Arizona follow up its impressive 2023, after a rather active offseason? Does the club have a shot at contending for a division title in 2024?

Then, the guys discuss the San Diego Padres. The Padres severely disappointed in 2023, failing to reach the postseason despite being picked by many to win the NL West. The club shed payroll over the winter, bidding farewell to Juan Soto, Michael Wacha, Josh Hader, Blake Snell, Seth Lugo and Matt Carpenter. The club also moved on from manager Bob Melvin, replacing him with former St. Louis Cardinals skipper Mike Shildt. Is there hope for the Padres in 2024?

The San Francisco Giants added a lot over the winter. Will it be enough to return the club to the playoffs? Note that this preview was recorded BEFORE the Giants signed Blake Snell and the Padres traded for Dylan Cease.

Finally, the Los Angeles Dodgers enter the season as the betting favorites to win the World Series, after acquiring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Teoscar Hernandez, and more. Will this "super team" live up to expectations? Jesse, Patrick and Jack provide over/under win total projections for each team!

Colorado Rockies (0:00 - 25:55)

Arizona Diamondbacks (25:55 - 42:50)

San Diego Padres (42:50 - 56:40)

San Francisco Giants (56:50 - 1:06:10)

Los Angeles Dodgers (1:06:10 - END)

You can follow Patrick (@PatrickDLyons) and Jesse (@JesseNFriedman) on Twitter. Be on the lookout for their content all season long!

Kim is a 62 year-old woman, originally from Peoria, Illinois (now living in Phoenix, Arizona) who fulfilled a dream by competing on Deal or No Deal Island. She is an OG reality competition show fan, watching long-running, hit shows such as Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race and MTV's The Challenge since the genesis of network reality television.

Kim came out of the gate, playing hard. She earned the steal case in the first challenge. She immediately recognized Boston Rob Mariano from his time on Survivor, and quickly let everybody know how big of a threat he is. Rob immediately felt threatened by Kim, so he worked hard on trying to get her out of the game. In the second episode, Rob won immunity and picked Kim to face the banker in a game of Deal or No Deal. Kim won, and got to choose who she wanted to send packing. She gave Rob's ally Jamil the boot.

In the third episode, Kim's target continued to grow, especially after she called Rob and Claudia a bad word to Alyssa. Alyssa turned around and told Rob. Rob's alliance concocts a plan to boot Kim, which goes south when Stephanie steals Claudia's case, leaving Aron and Claudia in the bottom two, with Rob in control. Rob selects Claudia to face the banker, and Claudia becomes the first contestant to lose a game of Deal or No Deal, as she is eliminated.

In episode four, Amy picks Rob to face the banker. Rob wins, and he finally sends Kim home.

Kim chats with Jack about her time on the show, her love for reality television, why she targeted Rob, what her gameplan was, what went wrong for her, and much more!

You can follow Kim on Instagram, @kimmattina.

Each week, Brooke and Jack will be recapping the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island. Later in the week, Jack will provide an exit interview with the most recent contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island.

Episode 4, "Are You Intuitive?" picks up where episode 3 left off, with the elimination of Claudia. Kim continues to target Boston Rob, and now Amy is going after the Robfather.

The contestants split into two separate teams for the challenge. A heroic effort from Alyssa and Aron earns their tribe immunity, protecting Miranda, Jordan and Amy from elimination. As the team's captain, Amy has the power to select which contestant from the losing team will go into elimination. Sensing that he could very easily be picked off by someone else if they were to win a Deal or No Deal game, Rob volunteers to go into elimination. With Amy's sights set on giving Rob the boot, she accepts Rob's proposition. Rob takes a gamble, and it pays off. He then sends Kim packing.

Before sending the contestants back to camp, Joe asks the group which player they believe to be the most trustworthy. Aron is collectively agreed upon as the recipient of the title, and he is told to stay back while the rest of the contestants retreat to camp. Aron is nervous about this sudden twist of fate, as the episode reaches its end.

Rhett, Anthony and Jack get the party started, discussing the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers. The Rangers led the AL West for much of the season, until they hit a snag in the late summer, opening the door for a tight, three-team race for the division title. While the Rangers ended up tying for the best record in the West and losing the tiebreaker to the Houston Astros, Texas had the last laugh, defeating Houston in seven games in the ALCS, en route to their first World Series title in franchise history. How will the Rangers follow-up a historic season, in 2024?

Then, the conversation shifts to the team Rhett covers on a daily basis: the Los Angeles Angels. Over the winter, the Angels bid farewell to two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, who signed a historic, 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Angels had a relatively quiet offseason, but the club did beef up its bullpen. Coming off a disastrous end to a 73-win season and the departure of Ohtani, how will the Angels fare in 2024?

Later, the crew puts the Oakland Athletics under the microscope. The A's lost a franchise-record 112 games in 2023, and have lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons. Why have the A's performed so poorly over the last two years, and what can fans expect in 2024? Did the team steal the plot from the classic film Major League, in an attempt to relocate the team in Las Vegas?

After that, it's the Houston Astros. The club has won the AL West six of the last seven seasons. Under new manager Joe Espada, are they the favorites once again?

Finally, Rhett, Anthony and Jack analyze the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners came within two games of tying for the AL West division title, collecting 88 wins in 2023 and missing the playoffs. The club had won 90 games the previous two seasons. Seattle shed payroll over the winter, while giving up on former top prospect Jarred Kelenic. Will the M's return to the postseason in 2024?

As an added bonus, Survivor writer and podcaster, and our Seattle sports guy Mario Lanza calls in, leaving a 16-minute voice message with his outlook on the Mariners' season.

You can follow Rhett (@RhettBollinger), Anthony (@AnthonyFranzeWX) and Mario (@MarioJLanza) on Twitter.

In the midst of an explosive confrontation at episode's challenge, Claudia offered to sacrifice her safety in the game for her alliance. She encouraged Stephanie to steal her case instead of taking Boston Rob's. Stephanie reluctantly accepted Claudia's offer, placing Claudia in the bottom two with Aron. Rob won immunity for the second straight week, and he selected Claudia to play Deal or No Deal, with her life in the game on the line. Unfortunately for Claudia, her briefcase contained a higher dollar value than the deal she accepted, making her the third contestant eliminated from Deal or No Deal Island.

Claudia visits the Jack Vita Show for this week's Deal or No Deal Island exit interview. Claudia explains why she offered herself up as a sacrifice, what name Kim called her and Rob that set them off, what it was like being on the other side of production this time around, what wasn't shown from the episode, and much more! Claudia spills the tea in an exclusive interview on the Jack Vita Show!

Claudia is no stranger to reality television. She has competed on two seasons of The Celebrity Apprentice and was a main member of the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She has appeared in dozens of other films and shows. You can follow her on Instagram @claudiajordan.

Jack will be recapping Deal or No Deal Island each week with his cohost, Brooke Struck! They will also be providing exit interviews with the eliminated contestants each week, all season long.

Brooke competed on Survivor: Guatemala in the fall of 2005. Brooke started the game in the majority alliance on the Nakum tribe and was set up to be a prominent figure on the season. In the fourth episode, she fell victim to a tribe swap, and was outnumbered on her newly remade Nakum tribe. Our Traitors recap cohost Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick voted Brooke out, making her the fourth boot on Day 11 of Survivor: Guatemala! Brooke now works as an attorney, specializing in family law.

Brooke and Jack record their first recap, dissecting the third episode of Deal or No Deal Island, "Are You Fearless?". The episode opens with the cast sitting around after Kim has won the most recent Deal or No Deal game and eliminated Jamil. Kim made a comment during the game directed at Boston Rob and his alliance, saying that she was going to "kick [their] ass". Rob calls Kim out in front of the group, saying that it wasn't necessary for her to make things personal like that. The rest of the cast reacts, piling onto Kim. Rob reveals in a confessional that he did not actually take Kim's comment personally, but he was using it against her to paint a greater target on her.

Kim confides in Alissa, who she believes in an ally of hers. Kim calls Rob and Claudia a bad word (or words), and Alissa uses this against Kim to further throw her under the bus, informing Rob. Word spreads, and it appears that the group has collectively agreed to take out Kim the next chance that they get. Stephanie catches wind of the plan, and she isn't on-board with it.

At the challenge, Stephanie gains the ability to steal a case from anybody. Initially she indicates that she plans to take Rob's million-dollar, first-place case. This would take immunity from Rob and drop the Survivor icon into the bottom two, leaving him up for elimination. Soon, a gigantic argument breaks out. Rob reveals to the group that he is unhappy about the remarks that Kim made earlier to Alissa. Claudia is upset. In the middle of this argument, Claudia volunteers for Stephanie to take her case instead of Rob's, risking her own future in the game. Stephanie reluctantly accepts Claudia's offer, leaving Rob immune and putting Stephanie in-danger of going home. Claudia and Aron finish in the bottom two, and Rob selects Claudia to face the banker.

Claudia gets down to three cases. One case contains $0.01, another contains $175,000 and the final case contains $500,000. She is offered $180,000 by the banker, giving her a 2/3 shot of beating the banker and living to see another day. Claudia accepts the deal, and unfortunately for her, her case contains $500,000. She is eliminated from the game, becoming the season's first player to lose to the banker.

Brooke and Jack break it all down, sharing their thoughts on the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Island, as well as the show's concept as a whole!

Claudia will visit the Jack Vita Show later this week for her exit interview, as we will be providing exit interviews with the cast all season long. Make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel, so that you don't miss it.

The episode picks up where episode 10 left off. In the aftermath of Phaedra Parks' banishment, Kate is the final traitor remaining. Kate chooses to murder Sheree, hoping to pin the murder on a non-Bravo cast member. Kate takes aim at Sandra, making the two-time Survivor champion her next target. Meanwhile, Sandra is on to Kate. Sandra believes Kate slipped up at the latest roundtable, when she cast her vote towards Phaedra.

The group completes the final mission, raising the prize pot to $208,100. In the moments before the roundtable, the cast scrambles as Sandra and Kate fight for their lives in the game. Trishelle and CT had planned to banish Kate, but CT changes his tune at the last second, something that shocks Trishelle. An emotional Trishelle casts a vote for Sandra, wanting to vote with the group, even though she appears to have no desire to vote out Sandra. Sandra is banished, and reveals that she is indeed a faithful.

Moments later, the final four enters the fire of truth. The contestants have the choice between ending the game or banishing again. Kate chooses to end the game, while MJ, Trishelle and CT all opt to banish again. Considering that there was a murder at the start of the episode and Sandra was not a traitor, the group knows that there has to be at least one more traitor remaining in the game. Kate is banished, leaving MJ, Trishelle and CT.

CT gives a wink to Trishelle, and both former Challengers vote to banish again, leaving MJ in shock. What comes as an even greater shock to the audience however, is when Trishelle votes for CT. CT votes for MJ and MJ votes for Trishelle, making the vote a deadlock tie. CT's sudden pivot from voting Kate to banishing Sandra at the previous roundtable causes suspicion from Trishelle. Before revoting, CT assures Trishelle that he is not a traitor, and MJ is banished from the game, leaving the two Real World alumni as the champions of The Traitors Season 2, splitting the prize pot equally.

The reunion show does not lack drama, either. Dan receives blowback for his decision to target Phaedra before his banishment. MJ is disgusted with CT and Trishelle. Meanwhile, Peter breaks out a spot-on Alan Cumming impression and the cast relives the biggest moments and discusses the greatest talking points from the second season of The Traitors.

Michael and Jack are here to break it all down, providing thoughtful commentary and analysis. It's a Traitors finale recap that you will NOT want to miss!

You can follow Michael on Instagram, @michaeldavidson_.

The season's penultimate episode picks up where Episode 9 left off, as MJ reveals who she voted for in the most recent roundtable. By a vote of 5-4, Peter has been banished from the castle. In the turret, Phaedra and Kate detect that Phaedra's days may be numbered. They choose to murder John, eliminating another one of the Peter pals' numbers. Now, only Trishelle remains.

At breakfast, suspicions around Phaedra continue to rise. Kate tries to protect Phaedra, by taking aim at Sandra. CT and Trishelle try to scramble and find a way to keep themselves from being picked off one-by-one.

The majority of the group struggles at the mission, with CT and Trishelle carrying the group to the mission's completion, adding more money to the prize pot. Later, Kate continues to target Sandra, which Sandra picks up on. Kate's attempts to save Phaedra fall flat, and Phaedra appears to lose her desire to fight. Phaedra is banished in a clean sweep, with Phaedra casting a stray vote for CT. At the roundtable, Kate makes what may have been a critical error, calling Phaedra "more selfish than skillful" when casting her vote for the traitor. Sandra suspects that Kate let it slip to the group that she too is a traitor. The episode ends with Sandra correctly suspecting Kate, and Kate wanting to use Sandra as a target for banishment.

You can follow Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram, and join her and Sandra on the Cruise of Deception!

Jack is traveling and recorded this episode from an Airbnb in Nashville. Unfortunately, his audio quality was not up to par in this episode. Our sincere apologies; we will do better next time.

Episode 9 opens with Kate entering the dungeon and being presented an ultimatum: join the traitors, or be murdered. Kate accepts, and is floored when Phaedra asks her, "What's our strategy going forward?" Moments later, Kevin becomes the sixth faithful murdered, eliminating the Bling Empire alum from contention.

The next morning at breakfast, MJ thinks Kate is acting shady, and calls her out in front of a group of people. Suspicion begins to surround Peter, after he proactively fought to keep Parvati in the game the night before. As Peter is targeted by the Bravo clique, he, Trishelle and John see the writing on the wall and believe that they will be the next three contestants eliminated, unless they are able to flip the script. The Peter pals try to form a plan. Peter pulls CT into a room, and CT tells Peter that he he's convinced that the former Bachelor star is a traitor.

At the mission, Phaedra makes a major blunder. Sandra suggests to Phaedra that they change the order in which they are shooting at the targets, taking aim at Trishelle. Trishelle and CT make immediate notice of this, and CT realizes that Phaedra is a traitor. Later, CT approaches Trishelle and informs her that his opinion has shifted and that he will vote for Phaedra at the night's roundtable.

Peter pulls Phaedra into a room, in an attempt to freeze Phaedra out from other conversations. Trishelle appeals to the Bravos, laying out a compelling case that Phaedra is a traitor.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with four votes being cast for Peter and four for Phaedra, with MJ's vote to be revealed at the start of Episode 10.

Jack and Stephenie recap the episode and share their initial thoughts (0:00 - 23:45). Then, Sandra joins the conversation (23:45 - 1:21:05). Sandra answers questions about Episode 9 and everything that has happened up to this point! Is Sandra committed to the Bravos, or is she playing both sides? Why did she vote for Peter instead of Phaedra in this week's roundtable? Where did she and Parvati stand entering the season, and how are things between the two of them now? Stephenie and Sandra discuss and compare their experiences from their respective time in the castle. Sandra gives us a peak behind the curtain and shares some of the juiciest info that wasn't shown on The Traitors. All this, and so much more!

Later, Steph and Jack share their predictions for Episode 10 (1:21:05 - END).

You can follow Sandra on Twitter (@SandraDTwine) and Instagram (@sassysdt).

You can follow Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram, and join her and Sandra on the Cruise of Deception!

Bergie made his reality television debut last summer, appearing on the fifth season of the American version of Love Island. Bergie finished in third place and instantaneously became a fan favorite. Shortly after his run on Love Island met its end, he was approached by Peacock about appearing on The Traitors. Just weeks after he left the beaches of Fiji, the 24 year-old found himself amongst a group of some of reality television's greatest figures, in a castle in Scotland.

Bergie quickly formed a close bond with Peter Weber (The Bachelor), Janelle Pierzina (Big Brother) and Trishelle Cannatella (The Real World: Las Vegas). After Janelle was eliminated, their group was able to pick up enough numbers to banish traitor Dan Gheesling (Big Brother) from the castle. Dan had attempted to murder Bergie that same morning, but Bergie was protected by a shield that he collected during the previous mission. Bergie's group was close to banishing another traitor in episode 7, but a twist cancelled the night's banishment and offered protection to a majority of the cast, leaving Bergie as one of only four contestants up for murder. This time around, Bergie was in fact murdered, ending his time on The Traitors.

Bergie chats with Jack about his strategy going into the show. For the first time ever, Bergie reveals notes from the journal that he kept in Scotland, as he attempted to pinpoint the identities of the traitors. Bergie tells all, taking us through his thought process and revealing which contestants were on his radar, and when he started becoming suspicious of certain individuals.

Bergie gives us a peak behind the curtain and shares what plot points he was most surprised have not been shown on The Traitors thus far. Find out how he figured out that Parvati and Dan were traitors, and why Phaedra was on his radar early on. He discusses what led to his murder and what he might have done differently, if he were to receive a do-over, and shares favorite memories of his from his time in the castle. Later on, he shares some thoughts on his Minnesota Vikings and the induction of Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It's a jam-packed episode you will NOT want to miss!

You can follow Bergie on Instagram (@bergielicious35), Twitter (@CarstenBergie) and TikTok (@carstenb), and be on the lookout for his new YouTube channel, coming soon!

This week on The Traitors, Bergie (Love Island USA 5) was the victim of the traitors' fifth murder. The loss of Bergie is a huge hit to the Peter pals alliance, which is now a group of four: Trishelle, John, Kevin and Peter. Sensing that a pivotal roundtable is on the horizon, the group turns its attention to Phaedra. They sense that both Phaedra and Parvati are traitors. The group views Parvati as a dead woman walking, and fears that if they don't take out Phaedra as soon as possible, the Bravo clique will pick them off one-by-one. Trishelle crafts a plan for the group to try to pull Parvati into the fold, protect her, and attempt to use her vote in the upcoming banishment. Peter meets with Parvati and it appears the two have squashed their beef and agreed to team up.

Meanwhile, the Bravo clique also knows that a big time vote is coming. Its core of Phaedra, Sheree, Kate and MJ has its sights set on banishing Parvati. CT and Sandra have positioned themselves in the middle, as the swing votes.

The contestants visit a cabin in the woods that functions as an escape room. They are met with gross bugs and a number of other obstacles. The contestants from Bravo drop out of the challenge, while the reality competitors add $11,000 to the prize pot. Trishelle wins a shield, protecting her from the night's murder. Big Brother winner Dr. Will makes a cameo at the challenge.

After the mission, the contestants strategize as the bravo clique goes for Parvati and the Peter pals try for Phaedra. In the end, Parvati is banished at the roundtable by a vote of 7-4. Even John votes with the Bravos, leaving Peter, Trishelle and Kevin hung out to dry.

With Phaedra as the last remaining faithful in the turret, she is instructed by Alan that she must pick a faithful to recruit as a traitor. If that faithful rejects the offer, they will be murdered. Phaedra chooses Kate, and the episode ends as Kate enters the dungeon.

Stephenie and Jack break it all down!

You can follow Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram, and join her on the Cruise of Deception!

The Phillies selected Rincones out of Florida Atlantic University in the third round of the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft. Rincones was unable to play in a professional game that season, upon being drafted, as he rehabbed a preexisting shoulder injury.

Rincones made his pro debut in 2023, appearing in 120 games between High-A Jersey Shore and Single-A Clearwater, slashing a cumulative .248/.351/.778 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI on the year. Rincones also played in the Arizona Fall League, where he broke out, slashing .293/.426/.889 with two home runs and 14 RBI across 22 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Rincones was named a Fall Star, earning a start in the 2023 Fall Stars Game. He also participated in the Home Run Derby.

Rincones has lived a very unique life. His father, Gabriel Rincones Sr., was a minor league pitcher who played in the Seattle Mariners' farm system. Rincones Jr. spent parts of childhood in Venezuela, Scotland and Florida. Rincones lived in Scotland for six years.

Rincones currently ranks as the no. 9 prospect in the Phillies' farm system, according to MLB Pipeline.

Rincones visits the Jack Vita Show to discuss his time playing in the Fall League. What was he working on, and what did he learn? How did he enjoy the experience? Rincones also opens up and discusses his Christian faith. At what point in Gabriel's life did he become a Christian and put Christ at the center of his life? How has Jesus changed his life, since Gabe made a commitment to follow him? Gabe shares about what it was like growing up in Scotland. He also discusses personal hobbies such as FIFA, pickleball and Spikeball. All this, and much more!

You can follow Gabriel on Instagram, @gabriel_rinconesjr.

Bam and Stephenie were cast members on the first season of The Traitors. Both Bam and Stephenie were faithfuls that were onto the traitors. Because of their suspicions, both Bam and Stephenie were murdered. Unfortunately for Bam, he was perceived as a threat by the traitors, and was whacked at the start of the third episode. Stephenie was able to survive five murders and seven banishments, until she was murdered in the penultimate episode of season 1.

This week on The Traitors, the dominoes continued to fall. After Dan was banished in episode 6, Peter is offered an invitation to join the traitors. For the second straight season, The Bachelor is recruited to join the traitors. However, this time around, The Bachelor declines. Peter remains committed to the faithfuls, and wants to continue on his path to eliminate the remaining traitors. Peter is fully convinced that Parvati is a traitor, and it appears that at least most of the rest of the cast is as well.

Trishelle thinks that Dan outed Phaedra as a traitor to the rest of the group at the previous roundtable. Trishelle argues that due to the numbers that Phaedra has and the protection that the Bravo clique offers her, she is far a greater threat to win than Parvati is, whereas Parvati appears to be a dead woman walking. If Parvati is banished, Phaedra would have an opportunity to recruit one or two of her fellow Bravo girls to join the traitors. Trishelle argues that even if Phaedra is not a traitor, the show is a numbers game, and maintaining a numbers advantage over the other alliance is critical to the success of their group, moving forward. Thus, Trishelle pushes for the group to target Phaedra at the roundtable.

As Peter and Trishelle debate over who their next target should be, the rival alliance talks about targeting Peter, hoping to secure their own numbers and a path to the end of the game. It appears that Peter's alliance is putting itself in danger by excluding others from conversations and alienating the rest of the castle.

Sandra and Kevin successfully complete the mission and win shields, protecting them from murder. The contestants continue to strategize and prepare for the roundtable, until Alan drops a bomb on the cast and reveals that there will be no banishment that night. Instead, the cast would give out shields to each other, protecting a majority of the faithfuls from murder that night.

Sheree, Phaedra, CT, Kevin, John and Peter join Sandra and Kevin, gaining shields. This leaves Trishelle, Bergie, MJ and Kate up for murder. Trishelle is hurt that CT chooses to protect John from murder instead of her, when they have known each other for 20 years.

Phaedra and Parvati plot their next murder in the turret. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, as the audience will find out who is murdered next week.

Stephenie, Bam and Jack break the episode down. Did they like the format of this episode? Was the cancelled banishment a fun twist, or a bit of a letdown? Did it kill some of the show's momentum? What are Bam's thoughts on the new season of The Traitors? What would he have done differently from S1, if he was playing on S2? Later, Stephenie answers questions from the listeners, who have left questions for her in the YouTube comment section. If you would like to have Steph and Jack take your questions next week, comment away!

Jack and Stephenie share their initial thoughts from E7 (0:00 - 34:25)

Bam joins the conversation (34:25 - 1:12:10)

Stephenie answers your listener questions (1:12:10 - END)

You can follow Bam (@robert_bam_nieves) and Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram.

Elissa's sister Rachel Reilly competed on Big Brother 12, where she met her husband, Brendon Villegas. The following summer, Rachel played again, and won Big Brother 13. Two years after Rachel won Big Brother, the show recruited Elissa to play on the franchise's 15th season.

Within the first week, Elissa was recognized by her fellow houseguests as Rachel's sister. Despite having a large target on her back from the very beginning, Elissa reached the Final 6 and was voted America's Favorite Houseguest.

Six years after she competed on Big Brother, Elissa appeared on The Amazing Race 31, running the race with Rachel. The Reilly sisters finished in seventh place, as they traveled the world, visiting Japan, Laos, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Uganda and Switzerland.

But perhaps Elissa is best known for her viral spit take gif!

A clip of Elissa doing a spit take, during her time in the Big Brother house has since become one of the most-used gifs on the internet. Elissa has unintentionally become a staple of meme culture.

Just two days after Rachel guested on the Jack Vita Show, recapping episode 6 of The Traitors, Jack welcomes Elissa to the program for the first time!

Elissa discusses her time in the Big Brother house. What was it like being trapped in a fake house with 15 strangers for 77 days? Elissa participated in one of the show's wildest seasons; does she ever have nightmares from the Big Brother house? What was it like exiting the house and returning to the real world, having been disconnected from friends, family and the news for nearly three months? How did Elissa's season, Big Brother 15, forever change the franchise?

Later, Elissa talks about her Christian faith. How did she rely on God in the Big Brother house? How much time did she spend reading her Bible and praying to pass the time? Were there others in the house that joined her in prayer or that she had spiritual conversations with? Elissa shares her testimony and discusses what role Jesus Christ plays in her life today. She also catches us up on her family and life after the show, shares about her time on The Amazing Race, discusses her career, and talks about what it has been like working with athletes! And would Elissa compete on The Traitors, given the opportunity? It's an episode you will not want to miss!

You can follow Elissa (@elissercise) on Instagram.

Rachel and Stephenie were cast members on the first season of The Traitors. The two CBS reality television icons first met when they were pitted against each other on USA Network's Snake in the Grass, which aired in August 2022. Less than six months after butting heads with each other in the jungles of Costa Rica, the two met again in a castle in the Highlands of Scotland.

As trailblazers on the first season of The Traitors, Stephenie and Rachel formed a bond early in the game that would not be broken. The two ladies squashed their beef from Snake in the Grass, and joined forces to create an impenetrable alliance on day one. Within the game's first few hours, Stephenie and Rachel correctly identified Big Brother 22 winner Cody Calafiore as a traitor, and eventually the two were able to gather the votes to banish him from the castle. Stephenie and Rachel led a powerful alliance of faithfuls. As the traitors caught on to their suspicion, Rachel was banished and Stephenie was murdered in the final episodes of Season 1. The eliminations of Rachel and Stephenie effectively clinched a win for the traitors, and Cirie Fields was able to capitalize, becoming the sole winner of the first season of The Traitors.

This week, Rachel helps Stephenie and Jack recap The Traitors S2 E6 "Backstab and Betrayal". It's the perfect time to check in with Rachel, as this season's two Big Brother alumni have been banished in back-to-back weeks.

Last week, four-time Big Brother player and fan favorite Janelle Pierzina led the charge to banish Dan Gheesling from the castle. Janelle's bid came up short, as she herself became the fourth contestant banished and the ninth contestant eliminated. Janelle's push to eliminate Dan did however further expose him to the faithfuls, which carries over into Episode 6.

In Episode 5, Bachelor star Peter Weber concocted a brilliant scheme, in an attempt to trap and expose the traitors. Six contestants — Trishelle Cannatella (The Real World: Las Vegas, The Challenge), Carsten "Bergie" Bergersen (Love Island USA), Sheree Whitfield (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Kevin Kreider (Bling Empire), Janelle and Peter —went for a shield during the mission. Bergie and Trishelle claimed the shields. Peter came up with a plan to use a tactic that the cast of Season 1 implemented, and his fellow faithfuls agreed: the six of them would not tell the rest of the cast who had acquired the shields. Suspecting that CT, Dan and Parvati are the traitors, Peter chooses to lie to each of them, fibbing that he and Janelle won the shields. He hoped to provide cover for himself, while seeing if the traitors would take the bait and attempt to murder Bergie, Kevin, Sheree or Trishelle.

In the closing moments of Episode 5, Bergie makes a comment to a group which includes Dan, that he will continue to write Dan's name down at the banishments, as he is convinced that Dan is a traitor. Dan takes control in the turret, and pushes for the murder of Bergie. Dan seems to trust Peter and believes that the information Peter had leaked to him is true. Peter previously appeared on The Bachelor and has no experience competing in strategic competition shows. Dan doesn't think Peter has it in him to pull a fast one on him, and decides to roll the dice and go for a murder of Bergie.

In the opening minutes of Episode 6, host Alan Cumming informs the viewers that unbeknownst to the traitors, their attempt to murder Bergie has been blocked, and not one faithful will be murdered this round.

A braggadocios Peter is elated to see that his plan has worked, while the traitors are left speechless. Peter reveals to the group that he set a trap for CT, Parvati and Dan at breakfast, calling out the three of them. Based upon their reactions to Peter's accusations and Bergie's safety, suspicions continue to escalate surrounding Dan and Parvati. It appears that the two CBS reality TV alumni will be the next contestants banished.

The contestants successfully complete the mission and add money to the prize pot, while Sheree wins a shield, protecting her from murder. Peter fears that he may be next on the chopping block, given that he is on to the traitors and has been so vocal.

Dan pleads with the faithfuls, requesting that they hear him out at the roundtable. With one last desperation ploy, Dan calls out Phaedra at the roundtable, accusing her of being a traitor, but to no alas, as he is voted out in a 11-1-1 vote, with his fellow traitors Parvati and Phaedra each voting for him. Peter cast a vote for Parvati, indicating that she is next in the pecking order. Dan reveals to the group that he is in fact a traitor, and the faithfuls celebrate.

Phaedra is furious that Dan has taken a shot at him, and Trishelle makes a comment in a confessional that she believes Dan was outing a fellow traitor. With the traitors losing a number, Parvati and Phaedra are presented with the choice between murdering a faithful or recruiting a faithful to join the traitors. Parvati sets her sights on Peter, as she is fearful of Peter booting her from the game at the next banishment, given the numbers and power he has. She decides to offer him even more power. The episode closes with Peter receiving a letter and an offer to join the traitors, leaving the audience on a cliffhanger: will Peter accept the offer?

Rachel, Stephenie and Jack break it all down on the Jack Vita Show! They discuss what led to Dan's banishment, where Dan went wrong and what he might have been able to do differently to better preserve himself. Rachel weighs in on Dan and Janelle's games, and shares some valuable insight, given that she has known both of them for nearly 15 years. Stephenie and Rachel reflect on their time on The Traitors and provide an inside look at how the game is played and how the show is made, while comparing and contrasting S1 to S2.

Will Peter accept the offer and become a traitor? Should he or shouldn't he? How would Peter becoming a traitor change the game? Was Peter the right person for Parvati and Phaedra to attempt to recruit? Who will be banished next from the castle? And who was the MVP of Episode 6? Comment below and let us hear your thoughts, while Rachel, Stephenie and Jack tackle all of these questions!

Prior to competing on The Traitors, Rachel appeared on Big Brother 12 and won Big Brother 13. Stephenie previously competed on Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and USA Network's Snake in the Grass.

Rachel joins the show at the 49:20 mark.

You can follow Rachel (@RachelReillyVillegas) and Stephenie (@steph_lagrossa_kendrick) on Instagram.

Dunn entered the AFL as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Dunn was a late addition to the Scottsdale Scorpions roster, not expecting to receive a great deal of playing time. Dunn slashed .343/.455/1.071 over 19 games, racking up six doubles, four triples, two home runs, 11 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Dunn quickly became a regular fixture in the Scorpions' lineup, and was named a Fall Star, starting for the National League team in the Fall Stars Game.

Days after the conclusion of the of the Fall League, Dunn was informed that the Phillies had traded him to the Brewers in exchange for Hendry Mendez and Robert Moore. Dunn tells the story of when he found out he was traded, while he was on his honeymoon, and shares his excitement to join the Brewers organization. He was added to the 40-man roster and will be heading out to Arizona for spring training in a matter of days.

Dunn, 26, was selected by the New York Yankees in the 11th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Utah. Dunn spent four years in the Yankees farm system, however, the club chose not to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft upon the conclusion of the 2022 season. Dunn was selected by the Phillies with the final pick of the Rule 5 Draft.

In 2023, Dunn played 119 games at Double-A Reading, where he slashed .271/.396/.902 with 21 home runs and 78 RBI. Now, as a member of the Brewers active roster entering spring training, Dunn has a chance to crack the club's big league roster.

Dunn had a relatively low profile prior to last season and his showing at the AFL, but he recently MLB Pipeline's top 30 prospects rankings (no. 24) within the Brewers' system.

Dunn speaks with Jack about his time in the Fall League, the Fall League pitchers and hitters that impressed him the most, what it was like being traded, what the baseball scene is like in Utah (could Salt Lake City ever get an MLB franchise?), his love for UFC, the NFL playoffs, NCAA conference realignment and the death of the Pac-12, college baseball, his excitement to play in Milwaukee, and much, much more!

You can follow Oliver on Instagram, @oliver_dunnn3.

Episode 5 picked up right where Episode 4 left off. Parvati and Phaedra are in the heat of a confrontation in the turret, after Parvati suggests at the round table that a housewife is a traitor. The traitors debate murdering Sandra and Tamra, ultimately deciding to whack Tamra, a move that appears to make Phaedra even less-suspecting of being a traitor.

At breakfast the next morning, CT presses Dan in front of the group, asking Dan to give him the name of who Dan thinks a traitor might be. Up to this point, Dan has been strangely quiet, which seems to be making the faithfuls suspicious of him. Dan has not been throwing out any names or targeting anybody. By this point, Janelle is convinced that Dan is a traitor. The two competed with each other on Big Brother 14, back in the summer of 2012. They entered The Traitors as allies, but now Janelle is going to take her shot at the two-time Big Brother finalist. Dan is on the defensive.

Peter is suspecting that Dan, Parvati and CT are the traitors. It is in the fifth episode that the former Bachelor lead starts to really shine. Peter not only correctly targets Dan, but he also concocts a scheme to provide cover for the six faithfuls that went for a shield, and tries to trap his suspects into attempting to murder a player that has a shield. It remains unclear whether the traitors will fall for it or not, with the episode ending on a suspenseful cliffhanger with the traitors plotting their next murder in the turret.

Dan puts forward a compelling argument at the roundtable, and is able to turn the vote in the direction of Janelle, banishing her from the castle. Dan appears to be backed into a corner, and it seems his "Dan Gheesling funeral" moment on The Traitors may be coming soon. Dan has a history of playing very aggressively with his back up against the wall. He will certainly have some tricks up his sleeve in Episode 6.

Oh, and Kate Chastain is back. The S1 contestant made her grand appearance at the Episode 5 roundtable.

What will Dan's next move be, and who will he target? Will he target Phaedra or Parvati? What will happen in Episode 6? Stephenie and Jack break it all down on the Jack Vita Show, providing thoughtful analysis and color commentary on Episode 5, and looking ahead and predicting what will happen in Episode 6. Stephenie also shares stories and insights from her time on The Traitors Season 1. Stephenie previously competed on Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and USA Network's Snake in the Grass.

You can follow Stephenie on Instagram @steph_lagrossa_kendrick.

This week, The traitors were presented with a daunting task. Dan, Parvati and Phaedra were ordered to 'murder in plain sight.' The traitors were tasked with the mission of retrieving a chalice from the castle's library and giving it to an unsuspecting faithful. If the faithful were to touch the chalice before midnight, that faithful would be murdered and eliminated from contention.

Parvati took on the challenge, pouring wine into the chalice and going undercover as the castle's unofficial bartender. With time ticking away, she finally was able to get Ekin-Su to drink from the chalice, sealing the Love Island (UK) star's fate in the game. The next day, the cast was shocked when every contestant arrived at breakfast and nobody had been murdered. Host Alan Cumming arrived and informed the cast that someone had been poisoned, and the victim of the murder in plain sight would be revealed at the day's mission.

At the challenge, Ekin-Su was revealed as the victim of the murder and the cast was shocked. It appeared that Ekin-Su did not relay any information to the rest of the cast about drinking out of a glass that Parvati had given to her, the night before.

With paranoia running high, the castle appears to have split into two factions: the Housewives and the "Gamers", consisting of contestants that have competed on reality competition shows. Sandra was playing both sides, and after hearing of the Housewives' plan to target either Dan or CT, she flipped the vote and Larsa Pippen was banished from the castle. Larsa was a faithful. Through four episodes, the faithfuls have yet to oust a traitor. However, there seems to be trouble in paradise, as the episode closes with Phaedra confronting Parvati, after Parvati said that she believes that one of the Traitors is a Housewife.

Will Parvati and Dan throw Phaedra under the bus, in an attempt to cover their own rear ends? Are the faithfuls starting to catch on to any of the traitors? What will happen in episode 5? Stephenie and Jack break it all down on the Jack Vita Show, providing thoughtful analysis and color commentary on episode 4, and looking ahead and predicting what will happen in episode 5. Stephenie also shares stories and insights from her time on The Traitors Season 1. Stephenie previously competed on Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and USA Network's Snake in the Grass.

The Traitors also announced via social media that Season 1 star Kate Chastain will soon be entering. Stephenie and Jack react! Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show, and don't miss our E5 recap, dropping Friday, January 26!

You can follow Stephenie on Instagram @steph_lagrossa_kendrick.

Last Friday, the series dropped the first three episodes of season two, streaming exclusively on Peacock.

For the entirety of Season 2, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick will join us weekly on the Jack Vita Show, providing coverage and analysis as she and Jack recap every episode! Stephenie placed seventh on season one of The Traitors, reaching the penultimate episode, when she became the final faithful murdered. Prior to The Traitors, Stephenie competed three times on Survivor.

Stephenie first appeared on reality television in the year 2005, when she competed on Survivor's tenth season, Survivor: Palau. After outlasting her entire Ulong tribe, she quickly became a fan favorite, and was immediately invited back to play again on the show's eleventh season, Survivor: Guatemala. Five years later, she returned for Survivor's 20th season, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Stephenie's husband Kyle Kendrick enjoyed a ten-year Major League Baseball career and pitched for the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.

In our first recap, Stephenie and Jack break down the first three episodes of The Traitors. There have been some changes made to the show's format. The contestants have the option to abandon missions and earn shields, protecting themselves from banishment. Janelle Pierzina made a bold decision to go for a shield in the first episode, earning safety, much to the dismay of some of her fellow faithfuls. Would Stephenie have made the same decision?

In the first episode, two of the show's three traitors are named. The two traitors selected by host Alan Cumming must select a third traitor to round out their team. Why did Dan and Phaedra choose Parvati to be the third traitor? Stephenie and Jack provide analysis.

Stephenie compares differences between season two and her own season of The Traitors. Jack shares why he thinks season two is already significantly better than season one. Stephenie also discusses her cameo appearance in Episode 3. Stephenie provides an insider look, as well as expert analysis, and never-before-heard stories from season one! All this, and much more, in our recap of Episodes 1-3! Our Episode 4 recap will be out in a few days.

You can follow Stephenie on Instagram @steph_lagrossa_kendrick.

Rendon sits down with Jack for a rich discussion about baseball, life off the field, and his Christian faith.

After leading the National League in RBI, finishing third in NL MVP voting and helping the Washington Nationals win their first World Series in franchise history in 2019, Rendon signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. We check in with Rendon after rounding out his fourth season with the team.

Marred by injuries, Rendon has played just 148 total games over the last three seasons, combined. Rendon provides an update on his health and medical status, one month out from the start of spring training.

Rendon talks offseason and life off the field. What is a day in the life like for Anthony Rendon in the offseason? How is he enjoying fatherhood, and how difficult is it for him to be away from his family when he's traveling during the season? Rendon discusses his love for hunting and playing golf.

Rendon reflects on his time with the Nationals. Prior to 2019, the Nats had never won a playoff series. That fall, the club won the World Series, despite getting off to a dismal 19-31 start to open the regular season. Rendon shares the secrets to the 2019 Nationals' success, detailing what made that team different from previous Nationals teams that may have had more talent, but ultimately came up short in October.

The Angels have had an eventful offseason. The club bid farewell to two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani, who signed a ten-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month. In November, the Angels hired Ron Washington to be their next manager, replacing Phil Nevin. Did Rendon think Ohtani was coming back, and has he spoken with Wash yet? Rendon also discusses what it has been like to play with Ohtani and Mike Trout.

Later, Rendon opens up about his Christian faith and shares how Jesus Christ has changed his life. Rendon shares his incredible testimony. When he was a young player on the Nationals, a group of Nats veterans helped disciple him and encouraged him to grow in his relationship with Christ. Now, he has taken on a similar role as a veteran in the Angels clubhouse. Rendon talks about what role faith plays in the Angels' locker room. All this, and much more!

Yamamoto, age-25, posted a sub-1.70 ERA in Japan in each of the last three seasons. He is a three-time MVP and three-time pitching Triple Crown winner.

The Dodgers are pairing Yamamoto with newly-acquired, two-time American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. Nine months ago, the duo won the World Baseball Classic as members of the Japanese National Team. Now, they will try to make a run at a World Series title, as teammates once again. In less than two weeks, the Dodgers committed over $1 billion to just two players. Barry and Jack discuss the Dodgers' aggressive offseason and assess the potential risks and rewards attached to both free agent signings, in addition to the acquisition and corresponding extension of Tyler Glasnow.

Will the Dodgers run away with the National League in 2024, and win their first championship in a full, 162-game season since 1989? Will the Dodgers win a handful of titles in the coming years? How much pressure will the club be under in the upcoming season, coming off their big offseason moves?

The San Francisco Giants continue to struggle to land big-time free agents, striking out on Ohtani and Yamamoto. The club did however agree to a six-year, $118 million deal with Korean star Jung Hoo Lee. Elsewhere in the National League West, the San Diego Padres are slashing payroll, dealing Juan Soto, and bidding farewell to free agents Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Blake Snell and Josh Hader. Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks are building on to their young core which reached the World Series in 2023, re-signing Lourdes Gurriel Jr., trading for Eugenio Suarez and agreeing to a four-year, $80 million deal with Eduardo Rodriguez. The club has also been linked to free agents JD Martinez and Justin Turner. Barry and Jack cover all things NL West (except for the Colorado Rockies)!

Barry analyzes the Soto trade from both the Padres' and the New York Yankees' perspectives. He discusses where Soto, Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo will fit into the Yankees' lineup in 2024. Barry and Jack comment on other free agent signings from around the league, including the moves that the Kansas City Royals have made.

Later, Barry shares about his career and his Hall of Fame ballot. Barry used all ten of his votes this year, voting for Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton, Joe Mauer, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Billy Wagner. Barry makes a compelling argument for both Wagner and Pettitte. Wagner is in his ninth year on the ballot and is gaining momentum. Last year, he received 68.1% of the vote. Pettitte, in his sixth year, has been entirely overlooked. He received just 17.0% last year.

Now 72 years-old, Barry is entering his 49th season as a Major League Baseball writer. He was the San Diego Padres beat writer for the San Diego Tribune from 1982 to 1998, and has since written for Bloomberg News, MLB.com, Forbes and SportBusiness. He currently is a senior writer at Sportico.

You can follow Barry on Twitter (@Boomskie) and check out his work at Sportico!

Rhett Bollinger has covered the Los Angeles Angels for MLB.com for the past five seasons. He had a front row seat for the ascension of Shohei Ohtani. Rhett returns to the Jack Vita Show to break down Ohtani's free agency, his decision to join the Dodgers, and how his contract will play out.

Ohtani's ten-year, $700 million deal is unprecedented both in its monetary value, and also in its structure. Ohtani will receive $2 million annually from 2024 through 2033. Between 2034 and 2043, Ohtani will collect $68 million annually from the Dodgers. This structure will allow the Dodgers to spend more money on surrounding Ohtani with talent over the next decade, while staying under the luxury tax threshold. Ohtani will make around $40 or $50 million per year in endorsement deals alone. If Ohtani is no longer living in California when he begins receiving his $68 million annual salary, he could potentially save a lot of money, by not having to pay California's 12.3% state income tax rate.

Rhett and Jack explain how Ohtani's contract works and how it benefits the Dodgers. They also discuss the impact of Ohtani's move. Was Rhett surprised that Ohtani broke the news himself? Will the $700 million be money well-spent for Los Angeles? What happens next for the Angels? How big of a loss is this for the Halos, and how do they replace him? Will the Angels be active this offseason?

Later, Rhett and Jack discuss the Dodgers' latest move: acquiring Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfield prospect Jonny Deluca. Glasnow was entering the final year of his contract. Upon being traded, he signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension to stay put in LA for the foreseeable future. Rhett and Jack break down the trade, and the latest happenings from the MLB offseason. Find out why Jack likes what the Kansas City Royals are doing.

You can follow Rhett on Twitter (@RhettBollinger) and follow his work at MLB.com and Angels.com.

Thursday evening, Major League Baseball announced the 18 starting position players for this year's All-Star Game in Seattle, scheduled to be played July 11 at T-Mobile Park. Voted on by the fans, Jesse and Jack run through this year's All-Star starters and share their thoughts on the fans did with the voting. Which selections did Jack and Jesse agree with, and who would they have had start instead? Who got snubbed? Jack and Jesse take you through their selections for each American League and National League position. They also take a look at the National League through the season's first half, discussing the most pleasant and disappointing surprises from teams in the season's first three months.

Last time, Danni answered questions about her time on Survivor: Guatemala and Survivor: Winners at War, discussing her time on reality television and her sports media and hosting career. This time around, Danni and Jack talk sports!

First things first, Danni has some stories from the weekend, as does Jack. Danni had an eventful weekend at her son's youth baseball tournament, including a confrontation with an opposing coach. Jack enjoyed watching friend of the show and Houston Astros starting pitcher JP France pick up his first career victory in his second Major League start, Friday night in Chicago. Danni and Jack exchange stories from the weekend (0:00 - 25:50).

Then, Danni and Jack talk Ben Zobrist, position players pitching, an uptick in injuries to pitchers this season, the NFL Draft, the Draft combine, favorite baseball players, best baseball movies, the Kansas Jayhawks' latest get from the transfer portal, and much more (25:50 - END)!

Rachel won Big Brother 13 in the year 2011. She has also won Fear Factor and Snake in the Grass, and competed on The Amazing Race three times, placing third on two separate seasons.

Stephenie became the last remaining member of her Ulong tribe on Survivor's 10th season, Survivor: Palau. She quickly became one of the biggest fan favorites in the show's history, and was brought back to compete on the very next season, Survivor: Guatemala, where she placed second. She later appeared on Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and Snake in the Grass.

Hear about how Stephenie and Rachel became friends after competing against each other on Snake in the Grass. Will they team up and work together this time? Rachel has a strong track record of winning on reality competition shows. Stephenie doesn't. Will Rachel win her fourth different show? Can Stephenie finally pick up the W this time around? Tune in for a very fun conversation with a pair of reality television icons!

Ryan pitched for the A's from 2015 to 2019. He set a Major League Baseball record for stranding the most consecutive inherited runners. His jersey is in Cooperstown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. In 2016, Ryan did not allow a single one of the 36 straight runners he inherited to score. Ryan discusses his time with the A's, and what it was like playing with Barry Zito and Stephen Vogt, and others. Ryan also shares about his Christian faith and what role religion plays in an MLB clubhouse. He talks about having fellowship and community with other Christians on his team.

Ryan pitched for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League in 2022. Ryan shares about his time in independent league as he tries to get back to the show.

Ryan's wife, Brittany Baldi Dull, was a contestant on multiple MTV reality competition shows, including The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II and Are You the One? Brittany currently hosts a popular sports lifestyle podcast, called "The BosBabes", available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever podcasts are found.

Ryan is also a huge fan of the Survivor. He has watched every season since he began watching during the show's second season, Survivor: The Australian Outback. Ryan and Jack talk Survivor. What are some of Ryan's favorite seasons, and who are some of his favorite characters? All this, and much more in a very fun conversation!

The action begins Friday!

#6 Tampa Bay Rays at #3 Cleveland Guardians

#5 Seattle Mariners at #4 Toronto Blue Jays

#6 Philadelphia Phillies at #3 St. Louis Cardinals

#5 San Diego Padres at #4 New York Mets

Who does Bob like for the American League MVP and National League MVP awards? What does the future hold for Chicago White Sox acting manager Miguel Cairo and current manager Tony La Russa? Could Cairo move in and replace La Russa after the season, or could he receive a managerial gig elsewhere this winter? Should we be making a bigger deal about Aaron Judge's historic home run chase and Albert Pujols' quest for 700 home runs? Who will win the National League East, the Mets, or the Atlanta Braves? Bob and Jack assess the playoff field, with three weeks remaining in the regular season. All this, and much, MUCH more!

Brittany made her reality television debut on MTV's Are You the One? in 2014, then appeared on the 26th season of MTV's The Challenge, The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II. Her soon-to-be husband Ryan Dull is a professional baseball player who currently pitches for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League, where Brittany currently works as the team's emcee and host. Ryan has pitched five years in MLB with the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. In addition to serving as the High Point Rockers emcee, Brittany hosts 'The BosBabes' podcast, a lifestyle sports podcast where she interviews a large collection of fascinating guests from the world of sports and entertainment.

Brittany talks about life as a baseball WAG and tells the story of how she and Ryan met. She and Jack exchange thoughts on how the media landscape is changing and how doors are opening up for independent content creators. They discuss the benefits of creating independent content and share stories from their own experiences in content creation. Then they discuss Brittany's time on The Challenge and how they have seen reality television change over the last decade. Later, they dive deep into independent league baseball, discussing what makes the Atlantic League experience special, while taking note of what rule changes could be coming to Major League Baseball from the Atlantic League.

The Atlantic League is not affiliated with MLB, but the two leagues have a partnership in which MLB has been able to test potential rule changes in the Atlantic League. The Atlantic League has been at the forefront of change in the sport. MLB announced Friday, September 9, that it will be adding a pitch clock, putting restrictions on defensive shifts, and increasing the size of its bases from 15-inch bases to 18". All three of these modifications have been tested in the Atlantic League since 2019. The Atlantic League also tested the extra inning tie-breaker that MLB has used since 2020. It's currently testing a rule that would allow baserunners to "steal first", allowing a batter to take off to first base in the middle of an at bat on any passed ball. Find out from Brittany how some of these rules have functioned in the Atlantic League and what could be coming to MLB in the future.

You can follow Brittany on Instagram (@brittanybaldi) and Twitter (@brittany_baldi). Subscribe to her podcast, 'The BosBabes' on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found.

Rachel and Janelle look back on their time on Big Brother and discuss how the franchise has changed over the years. Janelle first played in 2005 and most recently played in 2020. What was it like being disconnected from the world in the chaotic year that was 2020? What would Rachel and Janelle change about Big Brother, and why does Janelle think Big Brother should entirely get rid of its live feeds? Why did Rachel and Janelle say "no" to CBS' The Challenge: USA, and what are their thoughts on the new show thus far? What do these ladies feel is changing reality television for the worse, as a whole?

Later, they preview and discuss their new show, Snake in the Grass, with their episode airing on Monday, August 29 at 11pm ET. They will be teamed up with 'Survivor' stars Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick and Cirie Fields! Find out what we can expect from their upcoming episode! Get ready to laugh, because it's another hilarious edition of the Jack Vita Show you will not want to miss!

You can follow Janelle (@janellepierzina) and Rachel (@rachelreillyvillegas) on Instagram.

Check out Coach's YouTube channel, Twitter (@the_real_coach), Instagram (@dragonslayercoach) and coaching lessons coming to mintted!

Our apologies as Jack experienced some microphone problems in this episode, so the audio quality isn't up to this show's standards. We'll do better in the future.

Jessica's husband, J.P. France, is a AAA pitcher in the Houston Astros' farm system. J.P. was recently named the Sugar Land Space Cowboys' player of the month for the month of June. Jessica tells the story of how she and J.P. met, and shares about their journey together through the minor league system. She gives a peak behind the curtain of the life of a minor league baseball player and his family, and answers age-long the question, "Is Bull Durham an accurate depiction of minor league life?"

She also reflects on her experience on The Real World and The Challenge (The Challenge: Rivals II, The Challenge: Free Agents, The Challenge: Battle of the Exes II, and The Challenge: Rivals III), answering a number of behind-the-scenes questions about both shows. Since competing on her final season, Jessica has met her husband, gotten married, moved several times and is now pregnant with her first child. Jessica catches us up on her life and tells the powerful story of her miraculous pregnancy, and how God showed up in her time of need. Jessica and Jack have a very real conversation about life and faith, that you will not want to miss!

Jack was without his usual microphone for this episode, so our apologies in advance for the audio quality. We'll do better next time.

Want to play in the official Jack Vita Show bracket pool, and win money, as well as an appearance on this podcast? Go to jackvita.com to sign up. Hurry, pool closes Thursday morning! Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage!

Brad played nine years in the NFL (1992-1993 with the Minnesota Vikings, 1994-1999 with the Tampa Buccaneers and 2000 with the Chicago Bears). He was the captain of the Florida Gators' first SEC championship team in 1991. In 2013 he competed on Survivor: Blood vs. Water alongside his wife, Monica, and he finished second on Survivor's 34th season, Survivor: Game Changers, airing in 2017.

Join Jack's Bowl Mania pool and compete for the $50 prize and a spot on the Jack Vita Show! Hurry, pool closes Friday, December 17.

Follow Jack (@JackVitaShow) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and play in our College Football + NFL Pick'em Pool at jackvita.com and win prizes! Hurry! Pool closes Thursday, September 9! More info at jackvita.com.

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show, and don't miss part two of our two-part College Football Preview, where we dive deep into the Big Ten and the SEC, as well as reveal our College Football Playoff picks! Vote for the Greatest Sports Movie of All-Time at jackvita.com, and on Jack's Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@jackvitashow) and Instagram (@jackvitashow).

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show (visit jackvita.com) wherever podcasts are found, and don't miss our upcoming episode with Garrett Powell, golf pro and former Bachelorette contestant, next week, talking US Open and MLB!

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show (visit jackvita.com) wherever podcasts are found, and don't miss our upcoming episode with Gary Sheffield Jr.!

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show (visit jackvita.com) wherever podcasts are found, and don't miss our upcoming National Championship episode coming next Tuesday!

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage! Including recaps of every round of the Tournament.

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage! Including recaps of every round of the Tournament. Next recap will be Tuesday morning at 10am Central Time with Paul Oren.

If you missed the livestream and want to catch the video version of this episode, log on to jackvita.com. Follow Jack's Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita) accounts, so you won't miss our next livestream!

Want to play in the official Jack Vita Show bracket pool, and win money, as well as an appearance on this podcast? Go to jackvita.com to sign up. Hurry, pool closes Friday morning!

Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage! Including recaps of every round of the Tournament and a special livestream on Selection Sunday, March 14th! 

Who will outwit, outplay and outlast to claim the million dollar prize? Tune in to Survivor: King of the Diamond! 

Featuring: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Alex Bregman (Houston Astros), Chris Archer (Tampa Bay Rays), J.D. Martinez (Boston Red Sox), Josh Donaldson (Minnesota Twins), Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals), Tim Anderson (Chicago White Sox), Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies), Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds), Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs), Manny Machado (San Diego Padres), Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), Trevor Bauer (Los Angeles Dodgers), Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals) and Yoenis Cespedes (free agent).

If you missed the livestream and want to catch the video version of this episode, log on to jackvita.com. Follow Jack's Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita) accounts, so you won't miss our next livestream!

If you missed the livestream and want to catch the video version of this episode, log on to jackvita.com. Follow Jack's Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita) accounts, so you won't miss our next livestream!

If you missed the livestream and want to catch the video version of this episode, log on to jackvita.com. Follow Jack's Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita) accounts, so you won't miss next week's livestream!

You can sign up to watch ALL of the Champions League games at the following link: jackvita.com/cbs. Get one week free, and then it's $5.99/month.

Then, Jake and Jack catch up on the latest in the world of baseball over the last week, and share some thoughts on the prospect of college football this fall.