294: Grumpy 37

What is the role of loneliness on "Survivor?"

Things kick off unexpectedly. For Merlin, anyway. Honestly, that's what had happened.

And, then, an old friend from the before times has a Thing It Took Him Too Long to Realize. It involves music and butts. And, while your hosts can recall that the listener's wife was way more famous, they can neither remember her name nor pronounce his.

For a main topic, John and Merlin consider the role of loneliness on Survivor. Every dingaling has a plan until they get punched in the face. So, what do we think about all that isolation, privation, paranoia, and self-doubt? Even setting aside the sunburns and the Fijian food, this is not an environment in which Merlin would thrive.

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss self-quantization. What are we measuring, and what is that helping us manage?

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(Recorded on Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

• Audio Editor/Key Master: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

The ATP episode where John tried to explain Docker (starting at 1:51:26).