Survivor’s Jonathan Young Shares Insight Into Training With Boston Rob

Jonathan Young was ready to outwit, outplay and outlast thanks to a close friend.

As a huge Survivor fan, I was so excited to hear that one of the Season 42 players got some amazing advice from Boston Rob Mariano before heading back to Fiji for Season 50! Apparently, Rob really helped him prepare, which is awesome considering the premiere is on February 25th. I can’t wait to see how that preparation plays out!

Jonathan admitted it’s always tough seeing himself on TV, but watching his recent Survivor season and realizing his mistakes was even more difficult. He said the first thing he did after watching was to analyze his gameplay and identify where he could have done better.

I was SO thrilled he had that amazing guy from Traitors there with him to reminisce about his very first time on the show! It was just… perfect. Seeing them chat about it made my whole week, honestly.

Jonathan explained that Mr. Rob reviewed his work and offered suggestions for improvement. The main thing, Jonathan realized, was that he needed to be more strategic in his approach.

Jonathan lasted until day 25 in 2022, but was eliminated when Mike Turner won the fire-making challenge. Ultimately, Mike Turner and Romeo Escobar finished as runners-up, and Maryanne Oketch was crowned the Sole Survivor.

In addition to sharing his thoughts on Survivor 42, five-time competitor and Survivor season 22 winner Boston Rob wrote Jonathan a letter filled with helpful advice for his journey, which Jonathan read on the plane.

She said there were three key things, and the first was simply to smile. “People don’t want to be around someone who doesn’t seem happy,” she explained.

It’s natural to want to pet a dog that’s smiling, right? It’s the same idea on Survivor. You’re drawn to people who seem friendly and approachable, so I’m making an effort to appear that way.

The next was a reminder for him to keep his own best interests in mind.

He pointed out that you’re the only one truly invested in your success. He advised approaching collaborations knowing that others are ultimately focused on their own wins, not yours. Be cautious with trust, but don’t become completely distrustful.

I’ve always loved what he said about just giving it your all – truly focusing on what you can control. He’s so right, though. When things happen outside of your control, like a tribe swap, you just have to let it go. There’s absolutely nothing you can do to change those situations, and stressing about them just makes things worse.

So, what was Jonathan’s strategy this time?

We had players who were featured on ‘On Fire with Jeff Probst,’ along with returning winners and people who’ve played the game multiple times, even five times! I’m just a regular guy from Gulf Shores, Alabama, and I used that to my benefit – it was a key part of how I played the game.

He said, “I’m going to act like I’m fishing, then I’ll start opening your coconuts and doing everything else. If I can convince you I’m still the same person, I’ll succeed.”

As Jonathan was about to return to the beach, he remembered a key idea from Sun Tzu’s book, The Art of War.

He explained the importance of self-awareness and understanding your opponents. He’d won countless battles because he always entered them knowing his own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of his enemies.

With the $1 million prize on the line in Survivor 50, get to know all the contestants hoping to win this season.

Season 37 (DAVID VS. GOLIATH)

Okay, so listen, these seasons? They’re EVERYTHING. Season 12, with Panama and Exile Island, was just… iconic. The locations, the drama! Then Season 16, Micronesia – pitting the fans against the favorites? Genius! It was a masterclass in strategy. And don’t even get me STARTED on Season 20, Heroes vs. Villains. That cast? Legendary. The conflicts? Unforgettable. But honestly, Season 34, Game Changers… that one just gets me. Seeing all those incredible players back, trying to rewrite their stories? It was pure Survivor perfection. I’ve rewatched them all countless times, and they STILL give me chills.

Seasons 13 (Cook Islands), 16 (Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites), 23 (South Pacific), and 34 (Game Changers) are all notable installments of the Survivor television series.