COLUMBUS, Ohio — Matthew Grinsted-Mayle says he loves the outdoors and being adventurous so naturally, the CBS hit series "Survivor" has been a goal.
“I love challenging myself,” Grinsted-Mayle said. “This was literally the perfect experience all wrapped up in one for me.”
Grinsted-Mayle was born in Pickerington but currently lives in Columbus with his husband and their 4-year-old son.
He is among 18 people chosen to participate in the reality-competition franchise.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t reveal whether he won the $1 million prize, but Grinsted-Mayle explained how he prepared ahead of time for the physical and mental challenges.
“You know, working out, making fire, not eating and choosing how I would act and maintain my self-composure,” he said.
But Grinsted-Mayle said not everyone on the show followed suit.
“You’re going to have to forage for food and have to make fire so you should have tried that before you got out there. That should be homework 101,” he said.
Grinsted-Mayle also says isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic taught him a skill that proved to be a good strategy on "Survivor."
“One of the big things that I found within myself is that I wasn't the best listener. So that was something that I really challenged myself to is just to become a better listener,” he said.
“I will say that it was my secret on the show was just to be myself,” Grinsted-Mayle added, describing how his fatherly instincts kicked in from time to time.
"Just to it bluntly, it's going to be you know, one of the best seasons ever.”