Scout Cloud Lee knows something about toughness.
“I thinkSurvivorhas gone soft over the years,” says Scout.
“Right afterVanuatu, the producers started building huts, toilets, watering holes, etc.
Monty Brinton/CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images
Most of us old timers call the newer seasonsSurvivor Hilton.”
(Old timerBruce Kanegai certainly agrees.)
In 2017, we moved to Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma, and settled into our beautiful lake home.
Over the years sinceSurvivor,I’ve published several more books (available on Amazon, etc.)
What is your proudest moment ever from playingSurvivor?
Being on TV gives us “reputation.”
I’m happy to say that I am remembered for my integrity and hard work.
While I was handicapped by an artificial knee, I never complained.
Of course, if I had complained, I would have been toast!
I believe that my strategy was useful in the game.
I decided to play with integrity and I pretty much stuck to my guns.
What is your biggest regret from yourSurvivorexperience?
I don’t really recount any regrets.
We, of course, had to poop in the woods like a bear.
I found large leaves with fuzz on them.
We tested them for poison.
They were good to use, so I stockpiled them in the woods.
It rained all the time, so they were wet like baby wipes.
They were almost as good!
Also, we have to send our clothes to the casting directors prior to the show.
Shorts, a shirt, socks, tennis shoes, and a bathing suit.
Strangely, our clothes didn’t stink as bad as I thought they would.
Well, except for the guys who brought cotton to the island.
Cotton never dries in salt water.
It just stinks and stretches.
Sleeping while spooning those guys did stink, but they kept us warmer.
Cameras always followed us.
It was freeze-ass cold so much of the time, and it rained 30 of our 39 days.
We were forced to cuddle and spoon so that make it through the night.
How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?
The edit I got was what got on camera.
It was totally me.
Some people say that they got bad edits.
It was my experience that if it got on camera, it probably happened lots of times.
Personally, I was amazed at the edits.Survivoris a documentary!
The editing is actually a masterpiece.
What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there?
Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?
The transition back into normal life was hard.
It was loud, and fast-paced, and smelly.
I could barely stand to go to Walmart.
I could actually smell the “cheap” of the products.
It was also hard because people stopped me all the time.
They would even pull up to my car at a traffic light and snap pictures.
I’m not naturally a patient person.
I learned to be with all the people stopping me for pictures, etc.
That window, gratefully, was short-lived.
I could not tolerate the taste of sugar.
It made me sick to my stomach.
My sense of smell was acute and sometimes over-powering.
I just wanted to hang out with my horses and dogs.
As I said, no regrets.
The nature of my keynote speaking changed from topics about “Human Excellence” to all aboutSurvivor.
I learned to love doing Q&As about the show, lessons, etc.
I still mostly enjoy Q&As.
I know some people from the show that suffered emotionally.
Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?
I still stay in touch with Julie Berry, Ami Cusack, and Twila.
I’ve contacted others, but nothing repeated.
Twila has been to my ranch.
Ami and Jules are kindred spirits, so I contact them from time to time.
I’m on Twitter with Bob and Peggy Crowley.
Bob is my favorite all-time Survivor.
It’s surprising that he has not been back.
I also camped with the Queen on Catalina Island.
She is a very funny person.
I also am in touch with Ethan sometimes.
Sonja Christopher is a friend.
I met her at ourVanuatufinale and remained friends over the years.
Season 40,Winners at War.It was good to see all the old winners.
However, I thinkSurvivorhas gone soft over the years.
Right afterVanuatu, the producers started building huts, toilets, watering holes, etc.
Who’s one player from anotherSurvivorseason you wish you could have played with or against and why?
As I said earlier, I would like to have played with Bob Crowley.
I would have learned things from him about living in nature.
Also, Ethan, who is just an upstanding human being.
If you could make one change to any aspect ofSurvivor, what would it be and why?
Even though I thinkSurvivorhas gone soft, I wouldn’t change anything.
It is what it is, a documentary of people living on an island for 39 days.
Lately, the challenges have become a lot of puzzles.
I like the hard, physical challenges better.
The vertical maze onVanuatuwas one of the most difficult and interesting.
Jeff has learned to “stir the pot” more at Tribal.
It’s amazing that the show continues to evolve and hold our interest.
I miss it now.
John Kirhoffer is the mastermind of the Dream Team, who designs all the challenges.
He and his team deserve an academy award!!!
Finally, would you play again if asked?
I was asked if I would return.
I’m sporting 2 artificial knees and 2 artificial shoulders, and…
I’m much older.
I would love to go back as a coach.
That would be great.
