Survivor's Coach Ben Wade talks coaching, life, Heroes vs. Villains

Survivor legend, reality television icon, decorated soccer coach, musician, orchestra conductor and renaissance man Coach Benjamin Wade visits the Jack Vita Show.

Coach discusses his time and experiences on Survivor: Tocantins, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and Survivor: South Pacific, his life outside of Survivor, how young people can improve their lives and find meaning, coaching soccer and leadership, his faith, his upcoming projects, and more. Coach shares some juicy information from Heroes vs. Villains and South Pacific that didn't make the air, and enlightens us with plenty of philosophy and wisdom along the way! Coach has retired from podcasts, so this is a rare interview!

Coach has been coaching soccer for over 20 years. He competed on three seasons of Survivor (Survivor: Tocantins, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, and Survivor: South Pacific). On his third attempt, he placed second, lasting all 39 days, but losing a jury vote at the final tribal council to Sophie Clarke, who would later appear on Survivor: Winners at War. Even as a young child, Coach was a musical prodigy, as one of the south's best trumpet players. An extremely gifted musician, Coach plays several instruments, is a conductor and has written ballets. He currently teaches music at a local high school in Susanville, California, while coaching his son's soccer team. A true renaissance man, he has already lived a rich life full of experiences.

We talk with Coach about life, coaching, philosophy, Survivor, sports, and much more! Find out what happened at the end of Survivor: South Pacific and why he and his fellow tribemate Albert Destrade came up short of the million dollar prize. Hear about his time on the Villains tribe alongside larger-than-life characters Boston Rob Mariano, Sandra Diaz-Twine, Russell Hantz and Parvati Shallow. Find out how Coach passing on a returning player season opened the door for his close friend Tyson Apostol to eventually win Survivor. And just WHAT happened the night Tyson voted himself out of the game, and how would Heroes vs. Villains have shook out had their alliance made it through the Tyson vote? It's an episode you will NOT want to miss!

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

Check out other Survivor contestants on the Jack Vita Show:

1) Survivor: China contestant Leslie Nease on her Christian faith and reality TV (October 28, 2019)

2) Jonny Fairplay talks "dead grandma" lie, faith, and life after 'Survivor' (February 18, 2020)

3) 'Survivor' Contestant Reem Daly on the 'Edge of Extinction', 'Winners at War', and social distancing (April 6, 2020)

4) Former 'Survivor' contestant Albert Destrade previews ALCS, NLCS (October 12, 2020)

5) 'Survivor's Jay Starrett on 'The Challenge' 36, 'Survivor' 33 (February 13, 2021)

6) What if 18 MLB players competed on 'Survivor'? (Feat. Albert Destrade, 'Survivor: South Pacific') (February 20, 2021)

7) 2021 MLB preview: Survivor's Albert Destrade previews the NL East (March 25, 2021)

8) Survivor: South Pacific's Albert Destrade talks Braves, Cubs, MLB trade deadline, injuries (August 4, 2021)

9) Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick talks 'Survivor', life and Philly sports (September 21, 2021)

10) Orestes Destrade, Albert Destrade recap ALDS, NLDS; preview ALCS, NLCS (October 15, 2021)

11) Survivor: Africa's Teresa "T-Bird" Cooper on Braves, World Series (October 26, 2021)

12) Garrett Powell, Teresa "T-Bird" Cooper and Albert Destrade celebrate first Georgia sports' title since 1995 (November 4, 2021)

13) Jodi Wincheski talks Amazing Race, Survivor, reality TV casting (December 10, 2021)

14) Brad Culpepper talks Urban Meyer, Florida, NFL career, 'Survivor' (December 20, 2021)

15) Clarence Black talks Detroit sports, faith and Survivor: Africa (February 25, 2022)

16) Scot Pollard talks 2002 Kings-Lakers Game 6, Kansas, Survivor (May 4, 2022)

Follow Jack on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

For more sports and entertainment analysis, follow me on Twitter @JackVitaShow, and subscribe to the Jack Vita Show on iTunes or wherever podcasts are found.