For nearly 20 years, Sharon Tharp has been breaking news, landing exclusive interviews, and covering reality television’s biggest stories. On The Exclusive, she takes fans behind the headlines with insider analysis, exclusive conversations, and behind-the-scenes access they won’t find anywhere else.
192: Survivor 49 Exit Interview: Kristina Mills
Dec 18, 2025
Show notes
Survivor 49’s Kristina Mills joins Sharon Tharp for an exit interview, breaking down her exit, her jury vote at Final Tribal Council, and the reasoning behind the pointed question she asked Savannah that sparked major debate among fans. Kristina opens up about what she was looking for from each finalist, how close her vote truly was, and why that moment ultimately solidified her decision. She also reflects on being voted out just short of the endgame, the emotional journey of watching the season back with her family, the criticism surrounding her “Uncle Jeff” nickname, and how Survivor changed the way she views loyalty, selfishness, and her own gameplay. Plus, Kristina weighs in on Savannah and Rizo returning for Survivor 50 and whether she’d say yes if Survivor ever called again.
191: Survivor 49 Exit Interview: Rizo Velovic
Dec 18, 2025
Show notes
Survivor 49’s Rizo Velovic joins Sharon Tharp for an exit interview, breaking down his fire-making loss, why he believes whoever won that showdown would have won the season, and how he weighed the “what if” of reaching Final Tribal Council. Rizo also opens up about his vote for Savannah, his reaction to Kristina’s pointed jury question, and the strategy behind holding an idol for nine straight tribals — including why the theatrics were more calculated than viewers realized. Plus, he reflects on representing Albania on CBS reality TV, what it meant for his family to watch his journey back, and the surreal moment he was asked to return for Survivor 50 immediately after the game ended.
190: Survivor 49 Exit Interview: Sophi Balerdi
Dec 18, 2025
Show notes
Survivor 49 runner-up Sophi Balerdi joins Sharon Tharp for an exit interview, breaking down her mindset heading into Final Tribal Council, why she was shocked to receive votes, and how close the endgame really was. Sophi also opens up about her subtle social strategy, working within the Savannah–Rizo trio, her fire-making decision, the fallout from the Knowledge Is Power twist, and why she believes her Final Tribal performance was stronger than viewers saw. Plus, Sophi reflects on the edit, the moves that didn’t make air, how Survivor 50 may have impacted storytelling, and why she’d jump at the chance to play again.
189: Survivor 49 Exit Interview: Savannah Louie
Dec 18, 2025
Show notes
Survivor 49 winner Savannah Louie joins Sharon Tharp for a post-finale interview, breaking down her Final Tribal Council performance, how she interpreted the jury’s tough questions, and why she wasn’t fully sure she had the win locked up heading into the vote. Savannah also opens up about her aggressive gameplay, the jury votes that surprised her most, her tight bond with Sophi and Rizo, what viewers didn’t see in the edit, and the surreal moment Jeff Probst asked her to return to Fiji just days after winning the million-dollar prize.
188: Amazing Race 38: Izzy & Paige Break Down the Finale, the Edit, Cast Relationships and Representation
Dec 16, 2025
Show notes
Izzy Gleicher and Paige Seber join Sharon Tharp to break down their unforgettable run on The Amazing Race 38, unpacking the finale, how the edit portrayed their journey, and where they stand with their fellow castmates today. They open up about representation, identity, and the challenges viewers didn’t fully see — including the Moulin Rouge task — plus how they approached running a “clean” race, what they learned about each other under pressure, and whether they’d pick up the phone if Amazing Race came calling again.
187: Amazing Race 38: Joseph & Adam Abdin Reflect on the Finale, Representation and Their Wild Race
Dec 12, 2025
Show notes
Joseph and Adam Abdin join Sharon Tharp to reflect on their whirlwind run on The Amazing Race 38, breaking down the chaotic finale, the taxi moments that changed everything, and what it meant to race the world together as brothers. They also open up about representation, family, and the messages they’ve received from viewers who felt seen by their journey — plus what they learned from competing alongside a stacked cast of reality TV veterans and whether they’d ever race again.
186: Southern Charm’s Molly O’Connell Gets Real About Sally Drama, Shep, and Her New Boyfriend
Dec 12, 2025
Show notes
Southern Charm star Molly O’Connell joins Sharon Tharp to get real about her sophomore season on Bravo, including where things stand with Sally after their on-screen tension, her past kiss with Shep and why they’re better as friends, and what dating looks like now with a new boyfriend outside the Bravo world. Molly also opens up about sharing her struggles with body image and health, and why being an open book has resonated so strongly with viewers.
185: Survivor 49 Exit Interview: 12 Player Voted Out Speaks!
Dec 11, 2025
Show notes
Survivor 49’s Steven Ramm joins Sharon Tharp for an exit interview, breaking down his shocking blindside, why he still can’t fully make sense of Sage and Kristina’s decision, and how it felt to watch back the chaotic tribal council filled with Knowledge Is Power, the block-a-vote twist, and Rizo’s idol theatrics. Steven also opens up about minimizing his threat level, the moves viewers didn’t realize he was involved in, how his relationships on the jury shaped his endgame chances, and why he believed he had a clear path to win.
184: Taran Armstrong on Writing 'Behind the Mirror' and the Reality of Big Brother
Dec 09, 2025
Show notes
For this episode of The Exclusive, Sharon is joined by Taran Armstrong — well-known Big Brother live feed analyst, RHAP podcaster, and author of the new USA Today bestselling book Behind the Mirror. We dive deep into the evolution of Big Brother, from the early social-experiment roots to the modern gameplay showcased in Big Brother 27, and how the show’s edited version compares to the reality fans see on the live feeds. Taran breaks down his writing process, what surprised him most while researching the global origins of Big Brother, and why the show has had such a profound impact on his life and career.
183: The Traitors Canada: Kevin Jacobs Jokes He’s the ‘Worst Traitor’ and Breaks Down His Strategy
Dec 07, 2025
Show notes
Big Brother Canada winner Kevin Jacobs joins Sharon Tharp to break down his experience on The Traitors Canada, including the moves he planned, the ones he didn’t see coming, and why he jokingly refers to himself as the “worst Traitor.” Kevin also opens up about his pre-game strategy, cast dynamics, whether he would ever play again, and lots more.
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