Death, Taxes, and Bananas with Johnny Bananas

The Ringer

Nothing can be said to be certain in this life, except death and taxes … and Johnny Bananas. Join the ‘Challenge’ GOAT as he recaps every season of ‘The Challenge’ and provides all the behind-the-scenes drama with cast members. Johnny covers your favorite reality television shows, like ‘The Traitors,’ ‘House of Villains,’ and ‘Love Island,’ and interviews stars from every corner of the reality landscape.

Subscribe Listen in podnodRSS feed Show website

21 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes21

Newest first

Yesterday · 1 hr 35 min
'The Challenge: Cutthroat’ Premiere With Chris Underwood
It’s finally here! Johnny catches up with Chris Underwood, winner of ‘Survivor’ Season 38 and ‘The Challenge: USA’ Season 2. They talk about his performance on ‘The Challenge: USA,’ discuss the difference between playing on ‘Survivor’ and ‘The Challenge,’ and recap all the drama from the premiere episode of ‘The Challenge: Cutthroat.’ 0:00 Welcoming Chris Underwood to the podcast 13:22 ‘The Challenge: USA’ Season 2 26:22 Strategy on ‘Survivor’ vs. ‘The Challenge’ 31:58 ‘The Challenge: Cutthroat’ Premiere Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Chris Underwood Producers: Sasha Ashall, Chelsea Stark-Jones, and Allie O’Donoghue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 30 · 1 hr 32 min
'The Challenge' 42 and 'La Casa de los Famosos' With Josh Martinez
Friend of the show Josh Martinez stops by to talk about his time on the massive Telemundo show 'La casa de los famosos' (Spanish-language 'Big Brother'). Then he and Johnny preview the cast, format, and production style of Season 42 of 'The Challenge.' 00:00 Catching up with Josh 15:22 'La casa de los famosos' 32:44 'The Challenge' 42 preview Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Josh Martinez Producers: Sasha Ashall and Chelsea Stark-Jones Engineer: Ben Castro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 22 · 1 hr 33 min
‘The Challenge: Cutthroat’ Preview With Wes Bergmann
Johnny is joined by his most prolific guest and ‘The Challenge’ icon Wes Bergmann to discuss life after ‘The Challenge,’ and what they would change after the first season of ‘Cutthroat.’ They make their predictions for the newcomers this upcoming season, and Wes shares whether he’d like to see Johnny and CT work together this year. Finally, he gives his opinion on his friend Ciara after this year’s ‘Summer House’ scandal. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Wes Bergmann Producers: Olivia Crerie and Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 19 · 52 min
'Traitors' Season 4 With Yam Yam Arocho
Johnny Bananas is joined by 'Survivor' 44 champion and 'Traitors' Season 4 contestant Yam Yam Arocho to parse through his game, recount his untimely demise at the fabled banquet, analyze how well each traitor has played, tell the truth about Lisa spanking Rob, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Yam Yam Arocho Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Guest Booking: Allie O'Donoghue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 28 · 1 hr 19 min
‘Traitors’ Season 4, Episode 6 With Kate Chastain
Johnny is joined this week by ‘Traitors’ royalty and iconic ‘Below Deck’ chief stew Kate Chastain to talk about the delights of Episode 6, including Colton confronting Lisa, Rob and Ron bonding over chess, and an explosive round table. They also discuss their thoughts about Season 4 as a whole, Colton’s gameplay, Rob’s dominance, the offscreen drama playing out on social media, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Kate Chastain Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 20 · 1 hr 3 min
'Traitors' Season 4, Episodes 4 and 5 With Janelle Pierzina
Johnny is joined by his fellow former Faithful Janelle Pierzina to break down Episodes 4 and 5 of 'The Traitors,' including that iconic back-and-forth between Michael Rapaport and Colton Underwood, how the Traitors are really sticking together this season, the hold Rob Rausch has on the house, and so much more! Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Janelle Pierzina Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 13 · 1 hr 27 min
'Traitors' Season 4 Premiere With Carolyn Wiger
Johnny is joined by a former Traitor herself, Carolyn Wiger, to talk about the three-episode premiere of 'The Traitors' Season 4, going over their favorite cast members, the Secret Traitor twist, production de-emphasizing "gamers," how the Traitors are playing the game, and so much more! Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Carolyn Wiger Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 18, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Reunion With Wes
Johnny is joined by his longtime friend and OG Challenge competitor Weston Bergmann to talk through his thoughts about Season 41 and the new threats and the drama that went down in the reunion episodes. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Weston Bergmann Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2025 · 1 hr 42 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Season Wrap-Up With Yeremi
Johnny is joined by Season 41 champion Yeremi Hykel to talk about his 'Challenge' journey, from the Janes-and-Tarzan alliance, to his seismic stake on Olivia, to the brutal high-altitude final. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Yeremi Hykel Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
The ‘Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Season Finale With Sydney Segal
Johnny is joined this week by outspoken new threat Sydney Segal to recap the literally breathtaking finale to a drama-filled Season 41. They dive deep into her challenging partnership with Turbo, where she got her sass, the differences between ‘Survivor’ and ‘The Challenge,’ and the details of a brutal final challenge. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Sydney Segal Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 27, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 18 With Cedric Hodges
Johnny sits down with Season 41 finalist Cedric Hodges for a conversation about one of the most intense seasons yet. They unpack the biggest twists and turns of the game, Cedric’s transition from the Marine Corps to the 'Big Brother' house, his strategic approach, and the pressure-packed final challenge. The two also break down the key partnerships, secret alliances, and backstabbing that shaped the season. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Cedric Hodges Producer: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Editor: Jon Roemer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 17 With Michaela Bradshaw
Johnny is joined by Season 41 finalist Michaela Bradshaw to talk about how she approached this season strategically, how the game is different from ‘Survivor,’ the house vote for Aviv and Yeremi, Will staking a claim, Nany’s reaction to Will’s departure, the house turning on Michaela and Cedric, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Michaela Bradshaw Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 13, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 16 With Will and Aviv
Johnny is back in the chair with breakout new threat Will Gagnon to talk about his showmances with Dee and Nany, how his alliances formed and unformed, and the breakdown of his relationship with Nany in Episode 16. Then, Aviv joins them to talk through all the strategy and backstabbing that happened over the last couple of episodes. Host: Johnny Bananas Guests: Will Gagnon and Aviv Melmed Producers: Sasha Ashall, Devon Baroldi, Donald Lobianco, and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 24, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 13 With Leroy Garrett
Today, Johnny is joined by long-time friend and alliance member Leroy Jones to talk everything from their first season together to Leroy’s brief appearance on Season 41! They talk about Leroy’s physical health entering the season and whether he would go on again, then break down the alliances on the season between the vets—including Olivia and Nany’s relationship! Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Leroy Garrett Producers: Sasha Ashall, Belle Roman, and Olivia Crerie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 17, 2025 · 1 hr 47 min
'The Challenge: Vets & New Threats' Episode 12 With Dee Valladares
Johnny is joined this week by his Season 41 showmance partner and the winner of 'Survivor' Season 45, Dee Valladares, to talk about the complications surrounding their romance on the show, her approach to 'The Challenge' after winning 'Survivor,' behind-the-scenes information about the explosive fights from this season, her alliances and rivals, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Dee Valladares Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 12, 2025 · 1 hr 55 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 11 With Nany Gonzalez
Johnny is coming at you from a mysterious Airbnb in Amsterdam after filming the Season 41 reunion with his bestie for life, Nany Gonzalez. They pop some bubbly and talk about coming into a season single after years of being on screen with her partner, her clash with Aneesa and some post-filming tea, Theo’s diabolical plan to get Gabe to stake a claim, and so so much more. Plus, a very special guest pops in later in the show to shed even MORE light on all the drama and corroborate some boiling HOT tea. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Nany Gonzalez Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 2, 2025 · 1 hr 45 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 10 With CT
Johnny is joined by consummate vet, ‘Challenge’ OG, and friend CT Tamburello to talk about almost everything under the sun, including why they weren’t aligned at the beginning of Season 41, the house turning on CT, Derrick Kosinski’s gameplay, the Justice for Leka movement, war stories from seasons past, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: CT Tamburello Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 25, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 9 With Justin Hinsley
Johnny is joined by cheerleading champion and spicy new threat Justin Hinsley to talk about how he got recruited to compete in Season 41, his alliances in the house, beating Rogan in the very first elimination of the season, what CT did to piss off the new threats, Episode 9’s cheating scandal, Ashley and Aneesa’s explosive fight, picking permanent partners, and so much more. Watch on Spotify. Watch on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Justin Hinsley Producers: Sasha Ashall, Belle Roman, Jonathan Ratliff, and Hannah Leikin Engineer: CT Thomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 18, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 8 With Derek Chavez
Johnny is joined this week by the rainbow-socks-wearing diva, Derek Chavez, to shed some light on his friendship with Olivia, his underrated game, what it was like for the house to turn on his alliance, his brutal eliminations with Gabe and CT, and his biggest social blunder ever on the show with a very special guest. Host: Johnny Bananas Guests: Derek Chavez and Justin Hinsley Producers: Sasha Ashall, Belle Roman, Jonathan Ratliff, and Hannah Leikin Engineer: CT Thomas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 11, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
‘The Challenge: Vets & New Threats’ Episode 7 With Leo Deonicio
Johnny is joined by former 'Love Island’ runner-up and current ‘Challenge’ rookie Leo Deonicio to talk about how he got onto reality television in the first place, where his outspokenness comes from, how he approached ‘The Challenge’ strategically, Episode 7’s crazy twists and turns, and so much more. Host: Johnny Bananas Guest: Leonardo Deonicio Producers: Sasha Ashall and Belle Roman Engineers: Jon Jones and T Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices