Simon Mee Exit Interview | Australian Survivor: Redemption | Ep 18 | Beyond Tribal

In this episode of Beyond Reality: Beyond Tribal, long-time Australian Survivor producer Hayley Ferguson sits down with the latest player to be eliminated from Australian Survivor: Redemption and the fourth member of the jury - Simon Mee.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:16

I'm getting together and it's beyond the double. I've got the past technique that's produced to On Australian Survival. And now I'm taking beyond travel. I'm telling the players on Australian Survivor Redemption. As I leave the game, I'm talking about strategy, a downfall, and the story beyond the bottle. Hi, Simon.

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Hi, hi, Els, how are you?

SPEAKER_01 0:39

I'm good. Nice to see you again. It's been a while.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Would you like to um inform the uh inform the audience over like what our relationship has been in Survivor? Because I feel like it's a pretty important setup.

SPEAKER_01 0:50

Well, obviously, I was on location for both of your previous seasons. I was with you for your day one interview in Klon Curry, where it all started.

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Yeah, and I think you did my exit from that season as well, didn't you?

SPEAKER_01 1:03

I did your exit. I also did your I did your day one interview in Heroes versus Villains.

SPEAKER_00 1:08

So funny. So you've bookended a couple of like, you know, pretty important moments for me. And um, do I also have you to thank for my little montage in the other like the last episode of like my throwback 100 days? Was that you?

SPEAKER_01 1:20

That was that was uh an episode I worked on. Oh great. The amazing editor Cameron Kirby is responsible for that montage.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Oh great. Well, thank you, because that was um that was very special. But um yeah, Hales, you like you've been a really kind of yeah, pivotal part of like my experience out there, and I've really enjoyed taking a peek behind like the TV curtain um and you know see what goes on to making like what goes into behind the scenes and making this an amazing show. It's been it's been really cool and like you know, uh kind of feel like uh bit of a Hollywood star and a bit of a prisoner of war at the same time, kind of going through it. But it's um yeah, it's been been pretty cool and I've I've loved making great TV.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

I mean, you definitely have had some amazing moments. You've you've come a long way since Klon Curry, and I want to congratulate you on a great game this time round.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Thank you. Yeah, it's pretty, pretty special to have a couple of things go my way. Um and like I I I learned from my m my mistakes, I worked my ass off this time through, and um, yeah, had the run that I wished I could have. And I, you know, I showed that I am a, you know, there's more to me than just a you know, a meathead challenge beast that I, you know, I can pull off some strategic moves, that I have some, you know, some good social capacity, and you know, as opposed to some of the moments that you know where the audience had seen that you don't want to talk about menopause back on the in Konkari to um to Kara and I'll ask her how um uh you know how old she was when she went through menopause. Like, you know, it's it's funny kind of seeing that kind of develop with the audience as well. Like I obviously know the the back end of you know what those conversations were at the time and when there's a little bit more context there, but I'm just really glad that I've been able to show like so much of myself throughout the say this season, more so, and it's been like you know, just showing the kind of well-rounded um and resilient player that I am.

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Yeah, I mean, what was last night like for you? Where did you watch? What sort of emotions were you feeling watching it play out?

SPEAKER_00 3:18

Yeah, so I was at home in the backyard, had a projector up on the screen, and um uh had friends and family around and had Mark, Keely, um, Zara and Baden from my uh Survivor Brisbane crew come along. So it was it was quite special with some of my nearest and dearest here, and everyone had their um their trademark flannels, like the purple flannels on, and everyone's wearing their snuffed caps as well. So it was pretty cool. Um, you know, to see my you know, have a like my boot episode also, you know, make have my daughter make her TV debut was pretty special, and you know, seeing Mum like cry her eyes out, like when uh when you know that was kind of going down, it was pretty, pretty cool. She was uh quite upset that every time that the family visits have been shown that her bit has been cut, but um come on mum, it's not about you. She's uh and she's relieved it's over because she's been on an absolute journey with me being so supportive on the ups and downs uh of it all so she can finally um finally breathe a little bit easier as I you know formally announce my retirement from uh from Survivor.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

It was a great moment seeing your family in the Survivor cinema. It was really I I guess if you're gonna go out, it was a really nice kind of you know episode to see that all play out and um they get to be part of it as well because I know obviously it takes a toll on the families back at home to have you gone for that time.

SPEAKER_00 4:38

Yeah, massively. And um, yeah, it's a huge sacrifice, and you know, obviously changed a lot for me being a dad this time and oh god, you know, having a having a toddler at home and not being there for that to support. Like I'm it was such a difficult time for for my wife for Beck to go through, so I can't thank her enough for the sacrifice that she made for me so I can run around on the beach with my budgie smugglers and you know have the time of my life. So I yeah, I that's and that was kind of the motivation to like to do everything and to leave no stone unturned, and to you know, when I'm on the bottom, to try anything that I could and come up with any kind of crazy ideas with you know taking extra rocks and you know giving over necklaces and you know coming out with that outlandish pictures to you know get people thinking or moving so I can just get another day in the game.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

I want to talk about that rock draw because we almost had one. Oh my god! How confident were you that your alliance would stay strong in that moment?

SPEAKER_00 5:33

I just like on paper, I don't think it makes sense. Um, and I don't think that's just me being biased, even from a you know if I was watching an audience point of view, like Brooke Keighley and I worked so bloody hard to survive for so long and then get off the bottom to a point where we were at even. Like and we all also had the immunity necklace on our side, so even if we go to rocks, it's like a 40-60 chance that you know we're safe. So on paper, I don't think it was the right move, and so devastating that we didn't get there, but I felt I felt pretty comfortable.

SPEAKER_01 6:03

In terms of it wasn't the right move for Brooke to take me out.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

I think it was it wasn't the right move for Brooke to take me out, and from here I hope Brooke either goes on to win and this stepping stone was the right thing for her, or I hope she goes out next and like you know, it's a I told you so, like you should have you should have gone through with it. Um, but you know, I I I I I I felt like we were going to go. I felt like we were gonna go to Rocks and Um there was every chance that we're going to be there. Now the thing about it, I know the rules, very clear on what the rules are, but I also know that there is an overarching rule that like there anything is at the producer's discretion. So there is an element of me that I was going to play dumb if we get to get to Rocks, but I had no idea that like there could be every moment where like David comes around with a bag and we we get to that point, we make it through the unanimous decision, or we don't we don't come to an agreement in the unanimous decision, we go to rocks, that I then go to pull a rock or something, and David lets me. And and I have to take one for Jackson as well. I could find myself with my pants around my ankles and uh and have to actually draw two rocks, and I would have done it. Like uh I would have had to to do it at that point. So I actually feel even though I was lying and fibbing, and if I had taken the votes and then been safe, I didn't think I was actually out of the woods yet and that it could have happened for me.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Well, that's the thing, because I was, you know, watching that episode in my mind, I mean, I haven't studied the rules in a very long time. Does it actually specify that you cannot take two rocks? Because I feel like that is so specific that I'm not sure if that would actually be a rule. Like to me, I thought it should be possible for you to take two rocks, technically.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

So there's there's three different parts of the rules. The first one is like it produces discretion over everything and things can change. The second one is that when it comes to a rock draw, you can only take one rock, and then the third part, you know, separate section talks about what happens at a tie vote, and it goes like tie vote A B C D E, um, but it doesn't reference like like the rock, like taking like you know, multi multiple rocks at that point. So like there is there could be a little bit of you know how is it like you know, how is it interpreted at that point? Um and I was very aware of that, and so a little bit nervous at the same time that like you know for that moment that it could kind of you know blow up in my face. But I feel like there should be a either an addition to the rule there, like it could go to F and say, like, you know, you must take your own rock, but I feel like I would love to see a change in the rules where like that is something that we could play out that because that is now a a bargaining chip that people could use when it comes to that point. Like if someone's willing to put their game or you know, in the in the hands of of rocks, but to save other people, like I'd love to see that play out as you know part of my legacy. But um, I'm just really proud that you know, after 12 seasons I've had you know, of Australian Survivor, there's an opportunity here for me to like come up with some blue sky thinking and like have some new ideas and new thoughts about how these mechanisms work in the game and how well how you can pull these different levers to make them work for you as a player. So like even the idea of it, like I'm so proud of that legacy that I that I leave there to get people thinking and to like break the game in a new way is pretty special, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Yeah, we always love when someone can be creative out there, and it definitely was that. I mean, watching that tribal council, if you became safe and Brooke has the necklace, the odds are in your favor. So I thought, you know, that rocks would happen. The only thing that I thought is potentially once you would become safe because you had votes on you, that Jackson would flip because he no longer had the safety of you being able to pull a rock. So when I'm watching it and thinking, oh, this could turn, I wasn't thinking Brooke, I was thinking Jackson.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Yeah, and like I knew he was motive, like would have been motivated at that point, but like I felt like he was still like I like in his position, like where he'd kind of come to and he'd taken a huge risk to join us on the bottom. Like I felt like it was our best chance of holding a majority. And I felt like part of the flipping there was like that he was safe there, and he like Jackson did know that that was against the rules, but I feel like he was just willing to let it like to let it ride and to ride the lightning there, which was which was cool um, you know, for that kind of moment and to not throw it back in my face and you know to have that there. So like I would have played dumb, but um I and yeah, I think Jackson would have would have been there, but like if you truly want to seize power and like and move into that into that position of seven and have something go your way, then like you know what, yeah, go for it. So I think it'll be interesting to see how the you know my Michael Port Alliance now like navigate into into you know seven into six. Um yeah, and I hope they can wiggle their way through.

SPEAKER_01 11:06

Take me back to casting because I want to know what made you say yes to a third time.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Oh yeah, I didn't this time around. Like when Phoebes called me, my my heart actually sank when that phone rang for the first time. And like the phone rings in early April and you're like, ugh, like you know exactly what it is before you even answer it. And I just went, I'm not sure if I'm ready. Like, can I really put my family through this again? Um, this is a huge sacrifice. And you know, when Phoebe told me about the season and stuff, I'm like, okay, redemption, like it makes sense. Like I'm a I'm I'm I'd be the pinup boy for the season in terms of my story, right? So like it it was it it felt right for me in terms of like the season and stuff, and then I had to work out a few logistics, and I think like Phoebe and Suarez were very good, like they they held my spot from 12 weeks out to three weeks out when I finally accepted the spot. Um, and yeah, I I had to yeah, I I probably regret going uh in terms of like like not for the experience, like that was amazing, but like it you know came with its own challenges at at home and stuff, like it was it was not an easy time. And you know, I put my wife through this three three times in five years, and when she also met me, like I was uh I was in marketing, I was in advertising, and then I had a career change to being a chippy. I've now been on national TV three times. Like it's a it's a lot, so that just makes it so much easier for me now to be like I'm retired, I'm done, and I can still you know enjoy being part of this community, but I don't need to deal with all the bullshit of um pre-gaming and stuff like that, so I can easily hang up my bath and have it done and you know happily watch everyone else go and fluff around for the uh you know when All Stars 2 comes uh comes up and you know they can fight it out and I can happily watch from the couch and just know that like you know I can just enjoy it. So I'm excited.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Putting the family side of things to one side for a minute, I guess you had a reputation as you know, being the hapless survivor player. You made some uh mistakes along the way. You've been known for some. I guess were you worried that playing again could cement that legacy as the hapless survivor player?

SPEAKER_00 13:25

100%. Like I was very like, you know, if I go out early or whatever, I'd be like, man, this is like my legacy will just live there, and that would be a hard one to swallow. So I think that's just why I was so motivated to like to work my ass off and ensure that that wasn't going to be the case. Um yeah, a huge risk kind of coming in, but I don't know, the benefits and the fun that I've had off the back of the seasons have have they've been worth it. Like they I have had some really tough times, but like it's it's pretty cool to you know to be a three-time player and to play that game and to like I'd play that game even if it wasn't like televised, you know, like and it's just it's just an amazing like tap on the shoulder and get pulled through a into a parallel universe and you know play this amazing game. And at the end of the day, like, do I really think that I was like the worst player ever? Like, no. Like even making it through 67 days and you know being proficient in challenges, like yeah, I had a couple of things like not go my way, but like, you know, I still made great TV. Like I see the I I would call a bad player someone who like who doesn't understand, like, can't pick up on the narrative of what's going on, but even like I was able to be like an entertaining character, understand where the game was at, where what the storyline was, not have you back to camera, not swear like a truck driver, like and just it gets gauge those kind of um the sentiment of what was happening. So like I was an aware player and had been the whole time, but yeah, things hadn't gone my way and I'd end up on the bottom, but like you know, lean into it for great TV and stuff, but like, and lean into it for the for the sake of um uh of the season and redemption because like I mean it can't get any worse, you know what I mean? Like if I just if I'm leaning into being the worst, then like that's just where I I finish up or whatever, and it's just a bit of fun. But if I can turn it around, like the mountain is so much greater to climb, and I feel like what I was able to achieve by just having a a better run is um, you know, it it really was one of true redemption. And when they're trying to build those storylines in a season like redemption, like it's a it's a good news story. So like yeah, to see it there and to be able to have redemption across like you know a social challenge and strategic point of view, like it's a it was a just a really well-rounded season for me. So I'm really glad that you know I was able to like change that narrative and like you know show people the root like the Simon that I always was and always kind of played, but like you know, just had an opportunity to to drive home what I was really capable of. And you know, I think I had one of like the best challenge runs of all time. Like it's it was pretty incredible. So like yeah, it was nice to show that there is more than just one side of me.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

Yeah, definitely. I don't think your challenge ability has ever been in question. I think one of the first things you said to me in interview uh was I'm I'm just I'm just really good at everything. Um and I was like, okay, Simon. Okay, Simon. And then you actually were pretty good at challenges, so I have to give you that.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

Thank you. And then, like, yeah, there's and it's like it's across the board, you know, it's like whether it be the I don't know, I proved myself as endurance challenge beast as well. Like, you know, and it's there were puzzles, there were word puzzles, and then you know you lean into the you know the the spelling moments and stuff like that was always pretty fun, but like yeah, it was a bit of everything, and it was like you know, never good enough to make it as a pro athlete doing anything, but like you know, found my found my feet doing you know these things in Survivor and like you know, locking in on those challenges for like an hour, hour plus of concentration. Like, I think the toughest one I ever did was holding the holding the rope when you had to spell heroes versus villains, um, or something about immunity or something like that, and it was like you know, you're over and like an hour of like you know cat walking like back and forth, like taking the blocks and like just one wrong move will spoil everything. Like just being able to lock in like that, I think that's a that was a pretty pretty kind of special moment to be able to like you know showcase because that shit is not easy. Um, and you know, I managed to find a a good spot for me to prove what I can do.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Yeah, definitely. Simon, I'm gonna have to hurry you up a little bit because we're running out of time. So we're gonna need to move through these questions a little bit quicker.

SPEAKER_00 17:29

Sounds like well, the conversation fell out in the island.

unknown 17:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

I want to know how did you prepare for this season and were there any survivor players that you reached out to for advice?

SPEAKER_00 17:39

No, I didn't. I didn't, I did very little prep this time around. Um, it was more about family, getting everything good on the on the home front. Um, my big one was speaking to Ryan Brink. Um I did a podcast with him, just kind of getting my head in the game a week before I left, um, just getting my thoughts down, talking about what my strategy was going to be. But I didn't want to tell any players or leak my name like I had done in Heroes vs. Villains. So I was very much so keep it on the down low.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

How do you think you have changed uh as a person since you first played back in 2021 in Clon Curry?

SPEAKER_00 18:11

Um I think just leaning into the self-deprecating um you know, uh tool, you know, taking the piss out of yourself like as you know, a good way of managing like tool poppy syndrome.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Before Survivor, I don't think you would be used to people taking the piss out of you, right?

SPEAKER_00 18:26

We just like it just didn't need like didn't really need to kind of thing. Like I always like, yeah. Um always like loved to joke and stuff, but yeah, it was a very like unique experience and stuff kind of getting you know uh chopped down to size. But I think you know it's done a lot for my like I always think it was a very self-aware player, regardless of what it kind of looked like and stuff, because like I feel like with earlier seasons they cut a lot of that self-deprecating stuff out, so um, yeah, I just think it's uh I don't know, kind of maybe maturity and just you know playing through it once like you just learn from that experience. So um yeah, I don't I don't think I've changed too much as a player, maybe just played it a little bit more smart without a couple of failures, right?

SPEAKER_01 19:08

You have been given a lot of credit for your social game this time round. Why do you think you were so much better socially?

SPEAKER_00 19:16

I just worked harder. I just I I worked harder um and I just I knew what I had to do, you know, uh blowing smoke up people's asses and just working so hard to ensure that their experience was comfortable. And I made sure that everyone that I had a relationship with or everyone in the tribe, I was adding value to them more so than just keeping me around as a challenge, you know, a challenge um uh beast and you know, helping us win there. Like I wanted to make sure that anytime my name came up, that the person that got floated to was like, I want to keep Simon because Simon's of value to me. And I just worked so hard there with everyone to you know have my kind of Boston Rob moment where people were coming back to me with that information. So I I nailed that, especially in the first couple of weeks, and I'm so proud of how that played out for me.

SPEAKER_01 20:01

You have had sort of both ends of the scale, obviously. You've had seasons where you've played from the bottom, uh, you have had very little control in the game, and then you've played this season where you have been making decisions and you've had a lot more power. Is the grass greener? Like, is it more fun to play from the bottom or play from the top?

SPEAKER_00 20:22

In my 100 plus days, I think you've played more time from the bottom, and playing from the bottom is heaps better. Like, it's where the creativity blooms, it's where you know you can people do their best work, and you know, it's always unfortunate where you just see like people on the bottom just roll over or just run out of room. Um, but just you know, to be resilient and to play so much there, it's just fun, right? Like you can, because you're giving everyone a go, and like, you know, there's the audience get behind you when you you when you win challenges and when you you do something to save yourself, it's fun. So like it's a good spot to be. Um, and I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as a uh God with my severe bottomness.

SPEAKER_01 21:00

What did each time you played teach you, or what did you learn and and which players that you've played with have taught you the most?

SPEAKER_00 21:09

Every time, I think the biggest thing I've learned is that like every time there's a tribe, um, and I'll be on eight different tribes now, that there is a different um there's a different vibe between each tribe, and you don't need much to there could be a couple of big personalities that deliver like either some toxicity or positivity or negativity, or you know, is everyone like what are the conversations like off-camera when you know everyone's bonding as a crew? Like, are they big conversations? Are they you know little conversations? What's the the tone of that? And you know, it feels like a school camp when everyone's sitting around without alcohol talking, but like being able to like negotiate my way through that and understand the vibes of those different tribes, be able to compare them and then use that kind of information there was really helpful. Um, I think the people like learning a lot from are the ones that the ones that do it in a way that I don't, and they're probably the characters that I like seeing because it's a way of playing the game that I can't seeing like Faith play, you know. I didn't see her out there, but when you watch her from the couch, like she played in a very unique way, Mark played in it such a huge way that I could never do, joy. George played a game that I could never play. You know, it's just it's incredible seeing that, but you know, how do I I don't need to replicate it, but how do I work around the players like that? So it's probably people that you know, how do you fit together as a puzzle piece or you know, work with those giant players?

SPEAKER_01 22:33

And I guess finally, you know, you're obviously a very competitive person, and you've said that you know, this is the last time you'll play, you're hanging up your bath. How does three losses sit with you going out and never having one?

SPEAKER_00 22:50

Yeah, look, it's uh a little bit tough, but like I will sit here happily with the legacy that I have left and be very content with that. Um, I you know, I I always said if I don't win, if I can't win, and it always felt impossible to win. Like you've got to have that mindset that you can win, but like, you know, it was it was my it was it was never about the money, it was always about the title for me. Um but the money would have changed my life. But uh just the yeah, if I could never win this game, that I can leave a legacy. And the legacy that I left isn't the one that I expected to leave, but like to be entrenched in the history of Australian Survivor and to you know be such a huge player in this post-all-stars era has been incredible. So like I can't, I can't be disappointed with the with what I've kind of come away with and the impact that it has had on my life with not the community, the fans, the friends that I've made, how it's changed my life and it gave me a leg up to being a tradey influencer as well. Like it's been a pretty cool, you know, impact that it's had. So like I'm I'm very grateful for what it's kind of given me and it's it's fulfilled my life in ways that I I never expected. So it's not a loss in my book.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Yeah, I love that. I love how much you love this game and how much it's given you over this time, and that you can walk away happy with with what you've been able to achieve.

SPEAKER_00 24:13

Yeah, thank you. It's been very special.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

I want to get to some quickfire questions.

SPEAKER_00 24:16

I'll make these quick. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Who was your favourite person in the game?

SPEAKER_00 24:20

Harry, first of all, first and foremost, but I would have loved to spend more time with him than Lottie.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

You voted him out.

SPEAKER_00 24:25

I know, but I couldn't save him and me. So but Lottie. Lottie's freaking awesome, like she's such a legend.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Who had the most annoying habit and what was it?

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Cameron, most annoying, but also most endearing. Like he just he's like talking the whole time was like so funny, but so annoying at the same time, but loved him for it.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

What was your proudest moment of the game?

SPEAKER_00 24:44

I I love sharing moments with other people. So that win I had with Rich, like and then that had him have a really special moment. I love bringing someone along that journey with me. So that was really cool. And then having a probably the Jackson move, having that social moment there, like, yeah, very proud of that.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

The Jackson flip was really impressive.

SPEAKER_00 25:03

Oh thank you.

SPEAKER_01 25:05

Most embarrassing moment of your game.

SPEAKER_00 25:08

Oh my god, of my career game. Um oh, there's too many. Um geez. I did the one that probably will go back to me the most like embarrassing, probably like the menopause one from the start, like just how that got stitched up, and followed by the um, followed by the edit when I stumbled across the Batman quote. Like in terms of my career overall, I feel like they were the they were the two.

SPEAKER_01 25:34

What was your favourite starting tribe? Brawn, villains, or bounty?

SPEAKER_00 25:38

Bounty was really special. Um, and that's just not recency bias, but they valued me for who I was and the advice and the journey that and the helping them enjoy their experience. I really felt like a valued tribe mate, and that was really special to me.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

What song sums up your Survivor game?

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Oh, I've thought about this one. I think it has to be stumbling by a powder finger, stumbling all the way.

SPEAKER_01 25:58

I mean, you've said you won't play again, but now that you've had time to think of it, would you ever play Survivor again?

SPEAKER_00 26:03

No, I don't think I would. Like, I feel like I'm done. It's been a pretty good way to like tie a bow on it all.

SPEAKER_01 26:07

If you could be on any reality show, what would you be on?

SPEAKER_00 26:10

I think it would be uh traders. I I would love to play this game without the physicality side where you can actually just lean on, not not be targeted at the end game for winning challenges. So traders would be fun.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

What celebrity would you want to see play Australian Survivor?

SPEAKER_00 26:24

I'd definitely get on the uh Robert Irwin train, support that one. But I would also love to see Dylan Orcott, like in a way, like he's such a trailblazer for any advocate for disabilities. I feel like there is some kind of way that he could make this make this game work for him. And um uh yeah, it would be it would be incredible. And I know he's a uh he's a big fan, so shout out to Dill.

SPEAKER_01 26:47

And finally, describe your survivor legacy in three words.

SPEAKER_00 26:51

Still hapless, um grateful, and then resilient. I think uh has to be resilient.

SPEAKER_01 26:58

Amazing! Thank you so much, Simon. It's so nice to catch up.

SPEAKER_00 27:02

Thank you for bookending this experience for me, Hale. Uh it's been very special.

SPEAKER_01 27:06

All right, Simon, thanks so much.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

Dear mate, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 27:09

I this is beyond reality.