“We Could Have Been More Clever With That Immunity Idol”: An Interview with Survivor: Exile Island’s Austin

Austin was somewhat playing the role of puppetmaster before the merge, but came into the stretch portion of the game outgunned by Casaya. What does he think he and his La Mina tribemates could have done differently? Why does he think Danielle didn’t jump to his side? What was his opinion of the Casayans? Austin discusses all of this and more right here!

RealityNewsOnline: Hello, Austin, and thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for RealityNewsOnline's readers! How did you prepare for the game and what kind of strategy did you plan to use?

Austin: I worked out much more rigidly than typical. I did a lot of swimming and mentally bought into the concept that there wasn't really too much to do to prepare. Going in I believe that you couldn't really strategize until you met the other 15 cast members. Change one personality out of that group and it changes the whole dynamic and you have to be able to adjust to whatever personality you meet. My overall plan was to find somebody very adept in the survival aspect of the game to shoulder the role as leader while hiding behind that person and still hoping to pull strings, which worked out well for me.

RNO: Before the merge, I suggested in an article that while Terry was the king of La Mina, you were the power behind the throne. From what we saw, you convinced Terry to go against Ruth-Marie. You later convinced him to vote against Dan. Was this a role you were seeking, or did it just turn out that you were able to change Terry's mind?

Austin: Going in I hoped I be able to have that type of situation. While I was able to exert some influence, overall every decision was a group decision and I truly hated to see Ruth-Marie, Dan, and Misty leave the game.

RNO: In your final words, you talked about it being difficult to walk the line between integrity and playing the game. Could you expand on that?

Austin: My faith is something very important to me and a direct by-product of said faith is honesty and integrity. Going into the game, I think that these two virtues are contrary to the overall game of Survivor. My ploy to feign weakness in the "hanging challenge" convicted me because it was the first time I had made an outright lie. When I then created an "Orwellian" lie to Danielle about what Jeff Probst said the immunity idol looked like, for me personally I felt I had gone too far and that's when I recognized that line that I said I was trying to negotiate.

RNO: Did you know before Tribal Council that Bruce and Danielle had decided not to take you up on your offer?

Austin: Yes. They had told us.

RNO: Why do you think Danielle didn't go for it?

Austin: In the end I think it would have been silly especially for Danielle to come to our side. She had no reason to trust us though we were trustworthy. She had only known us for five days. Also our tribe was probably much more threatening in an immunity challenge aspect.

RNO: Do you think there was anything you could have done, coming into the merge outgunned, to save yourself?

Austin: I think we could have been more clever with that immunity idol. I wish I had known for longer than an 1 ½ hours that Terry had it because that truly could have altered the game.

RNO: What was your overall opinion of the members of the Casaya tribe?

Austin: I honestly liked all of them. Even though they never truly considered flipping to our side, they were always very nice to my face. Obviously I am privy to things they've said about all of us now that I watched the show, but [those] things [were] said out there in the heat of the moment and each of those people had redeeming qualities.

RNO: Why didn't Terry give you the immunity idol to use at Tribal Council in case the vote went against you?

Austin: Great question. I guess he felt for his own game it was smarter to hold onto it and he would be able to go on an immunity challenge winning streak. Strategically I think he could have made a better decision by giving it to me but there are no bitter feelings.

RNO: Looking back, is there anything you would do differently if you had it to do over again?

Austin: Yes, I would have not allowed Terry to say no in giving me the idol. Moreover I think there are some clever things that we could have done with that idol had we known all along that Terry had it.

RNO: Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers about your time on Survivor?

Austin: It was the greatest experience of my life. Under extreme circumstances such as those, an experience such as that lends you perspectives on your life and your faith, whatever it is that you believe, and if you are smart you'll apply those lessons to the rest of your life and never take for granted how blessed we are for getting to live in such a necessity-rich society.

RNO: Thanks again, Austin!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other Survivor: Exile Island Episode 8 articles:

David Bloomberg is the Editor of RealityNewsOnline and can be reached at RNO@pobox.com.

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