As the pioneering CBS reality show “Survivor” starts its 50th season, former players Leslie Nease and Todd Herzog from “Survivor: China,” are launching the  “Beyond the Torch” podcast to take fans behind the scenes. 

The new show, the outgrowth of a friendship that began in the remote Mount Lu West Sea, Jiujiang region, will interview former players and crew members that will discuss the stories behind the faces. Although Herzog won the fifteenth season and received his million-dollar check, Nease was voted out early and didn’t get as much time to move beyond what she called a “one-dimensional” character. She hopes the new podcast will allow other players to flesh out their own stories. 

“The thing that’s really limiting about reality TV is that, especially for someone like me, who was out early, I was a very one-dimensional character,” she said. “People only saw one part of who I am. Todd, you got to see a lot more of him, because he was in the entire season. What’s exciting for me is some of these people who didn’t last until the end, getting to hear their story and seeing them as more multi-dimensional, because that’s who we really are. So, I’m excited about where this is going. I mean, fans are blowing me away.” 

Part of Nease’s story is deconstructing her own Christianity after meeting Herzog on the show. After discovering he was gay, she struggled with what she had been taught and how she should treat him based on those beliefs. Herzog was initially reluctant to accept the friendship based on his previous encounters with Christians. 

“I put a label on you, just like I had assumed you put a label on me,” he said. 

Upcoming episodes will include other players from “Survivor: China” and other seasons who have been contacting Nease and Herzog about the chance to tell their story. Episode three includes an interview with a casting director about what the show has been looking for and the characters they have encountered along the way. 

“We’ve already interviewed Sandra, the Queen of “Survivor,” and people from our season,” she said. “We’ve got some really great ones coming up. It’s just so fun. I love this. I can’t believe I get to do this.” 

Todd added, “Creating this podcast reminds me of how much Survivor has always meant to me. It’s been fun catching up with other castaways, reliving moments, seeing how the show shaped our lives and learning new things.” 

Now entering its 50th season, the Emmy-award winning series “Survivor” was inspired by the Swedish television series “Expedition Robinson,” created by Charlie Parsons. Mark Burnett (“The Voice,” “Shark Tank”) serves as producer for the American version, along with host Jeff Probst. In 2007, “Time” magazine named it as on the 100 Best Television Shows of All Time and Probst won four consecutive Emmys as Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. 

“Beyond the Torch,” hosted by Leslie Nease and Todd Herzog, premiered Tuesday, August 26. Listen and subscribe at this link.