Each weekday, EW will post the answers from a different player.
Nina Poersch’s proudest moment from herSurvivor: Worlds Apartrun didn’t even happen out on the island.
“I would love for more people to know about the cochlear implant!”
Monty Brinton/CBS
she wrote in her bio for the show.
Even though Nina only lasted eight days in the game, that was enough time to achieve her goal.
That started the slide that ended with Nina’s elimination seven days later.
But if you think Nina stopped competing once herSurvivorcareer was over, you would be dead wrong.
As she explains her Quarantine Questionnaire, Nina has not stopped running since.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to travel.
I was a runner beforeSurvivor,and decided to start competing in races.
I also just finished my first 100-mile run and started a second one that isSurvivor-themed!
In 2016, my father was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
He was cancer-free for six months, and then the cancer returned.
He fought hard, but passed in 2018.
Since that time, I’ve been my mother’s caretaker.
It’s a full-time job.
We really don’t know how much our parents need us later in life until we become their caretaker.
What is your proudest moment ever from playingSurvivor?
My proudest moment wasn’t on the show itself, but happened while it was airing.
So, she set out to get qualified and implanted with a cochlear implant.
She has since gotten both ears implanted.
The really awesome part was meeting her in person, not just once but twice.
The second time I got to meet her family also!
I love meeting fans, and this one was icing on the cake and has since become a friend.
What is your biggest regret from yourSurvivorexperience?
My biggest regret is probably the fact that I let my emotions control my thought process.
My mom asked me to not eat anything gross.
She wasn’t talking about gross food challenges, but just in general.
So when everyone wanted to eat the lizard, I just couldn’t.
In hindsight, I should have just eaten the lizard.
My mom even told me that I shouldn’t have listened to her.
It’s crazy how your mind festers out there.
No food, no sleep, no one who cares about you.
I spent a lot of time thinking about my family.
Unfortunately, before we hit the beach, my tribe knew something was up with my hearing.
So once we arrived on the beach, I felt compelled to explain my cochlear implant to everyone.
“Of course I can,” I told him.
“Why would you ask?”
I honestly had no idea, and didn’t think it had anything to do with my hearing.
He then answered with “Because you’re deaf and can’t hear.”
How do you feel about the edit you got on the show?
Honestly, I felt like it sucked.
Maybe I just sucked.
But when it aired, the people who knew me were shocked.
I’m a strong, inspiring woman, and my edit made me come off as a weak person.
I truly hated that.
That kind of got shut down, as each person told me to go gather wood.
What was it like coming back to regular society after being out there?
Was there culture shock or an adjustment coming back?
I journaled every day, minus my time playing, and am glad I did.
It helped to keep me grounded, and it’s great to go back and read my thoughts.
I really didn’t have any adjustment coming back.
I was just so excited to see my family!
I never regretted going on the show.
I was feeling a sense of doom.
It was the day after Vince was voted out.
I knew if we didn’t win the next immunity challenge that I’d be voted out.
Whom do you still talk, text, or email with the most from your season?
I still talk to Will.
We just hit it off.
No matter what anyone thinks of Will, he is truly a caring guy.
I love his wife and his daughter!!
I wish it had worked out there for the two of us to go to the end.
It just wasn’t meant to be.
I do still watch!
But my favorite season was and will always be the first season.
It was new and raw.
You had no idea what was going to happen, it just happened.
It’s the season that got me hooked.
Who’s one player from anotherSurvivorseason you wish you could have played with or against and why?
I would love to play with Trish Hegarty!
We hit it off at Gillian Larson’s charity event Reality Rally.
She is an absolute blast!
I feel like we are like-minded enough to form an alliance.
I love the way Trish thinks!
If you could make one change to any aspect ofSurvivor,what would it be and why?
No returning players, and less gimmicks!
I don’t know how they could do this, but I’d love to see old-schoolSurvivorcome back.
Finally, would you play again if asked?
If my life was at a point where I could play, then yes, I’d play again.
