Kyle Ostwald is a homebody, in every sense of the word. The 31-year-old has quite literally built a life as a construction worker, residential contractor, and small business owner. But his trip to Survivor is also his first time away from his fiancee and daughter in his life. But family is the exact reason why he's fighting past homesickness to do battle on the beach, hoping his charm, honesty, and integrity could bring him and his loved ones life-changing money. And, though Kyle aims to take home the prize for himself and his growing clan, he does hope it happens in an epically close jury vote.
Read on for my interview with Kyle, and check in with Parade.com daily for interviews with this season's contestants and other tidbits. Survivor 47 premieres on September 18 with a two-hour premiere on CBS.
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Interview with Kyle from Survivor 47
To start, give me your name, age, and occupation.
I'm Kyle. I'm 31 years old, and I'm a Residential Contractor.
So what does that involve? Is it close to what we usually think in terms of contracting?
It's pretty typical. I get myself involved in a lot. I'm a small business owner, and I like to fool around with things. So I get a bunch of random calls from pouring concrete to standing studs to building roofs over houses. You name it, I'll get into it. Nothing really scares me.
So then what led you from building houses to constructing shelters on the beach? What made you decide Survivor is your next project?
Well, not only was the show attractive, but I think that I've got what it takes to be a physical competitor in the game. But ultimately, the ability to go after something called financial stability for my family is my biggest highlight for this. I'm a huge family person. I will sacrifice anything under the sun for my family. And when you talk about the ability to win such a prize on this show, it could open up the door for not only financial stability for my family now. But if done correctly, I truly believe that it could create generational wealth for my family's family and just continue down the line. So why not?
Talk to me more about your family. Because, to your point, your "why" seems largely focused on them.
So when I grew up, I was born into a seriously broke family. I mean, from addiction and alcoholism to suicidal deaths. I mean, you name it, my family's probably been through it. So growing up, I was challenged a lot, and I ended up meeting my forever fiance, Shania, 11 years ago. We've been together every single day since, and I've created with her something that I never had. Just over a year ago, we gave birth to our daughter, Ellie. And in August, we actually have a little boy due. So we'll be adding one more to the pack.
Huge congrats to your family! Is that something you plan on telling your competition, considering what Jeremy Collins was able to do in Cambodia ?
Yeah, man, I'll tell anybody! I'm so proud of it. I'll share that with anybody I can. I mean, to go from not having that to being able to hold that every single day, day in and day out, I mean, it's remarkable. And when I say I love my family, I mean, I love them. Shania and I, we've been, we've traveled in a van for over six years together. We've lived in campers. We've done some pretty wild shit. And the first time that I actually came to LA for an interview was the first time that I ever spent a night away from her. So, for 11 years in the van, out of the van, whatever it may be, we always came home to each other, and we always woke up together. Because that's just how a good family is for me.
So how are you doing right now? Because, if that was the first night away, you've obviously had several since, and you'll have several more in your future.
I'm doing good. It does get a little heavy on the heart at times. I'm not a gambling man, but if I was going to gamble, this is a spot where I'd do it. And this amount of time away from them could ultimately unlock the box to allow so much more time with them. So when it does get heavy, I just remember where my head's at and why I'm here and who I'm here for, and it's full steam ahead.
Looking back on Survivor history, give me one winner and one non-winner who you identify with the most.
JT, he's old school, man. But he's just kind of a good old boy. He wasn't really in it to just make people's life hell. He was just there to have a good time. And because he believed in himself, and he believed in what he was after, and he played a game that didn't really make people feel uncomfortable, they didn't break trust with him or anything like that. And that's kind of the gameplay I would like to have, something that's pretty truthful, something that has a little integrity and honesty behind it. I understand it's not always possible in a game of deceit, but those are the lines I want to try to follow.
And as far as a non-winner, I hate to say it, but my man Jesse from Season 43. He was my Survivor [winner] pick. And he made it really far. And he was there for his family. And right when that fire challenge came about, and it didn't quite pull through for him, it's like when you see somebody go underwater, and you start holding your breath for them. And then when he didn't make it, and you've seen him take that big breath, you could just feel that emotion get chalked in his throat. He felt that sense there that he wasn't crossing the finish line like he intended. But he was there for his family, and he gave it everything he had, and he did a really good job.
So you have a history in construction, you're a business owner, and you've talked about the physical aspects of the game. Are you going to come into the tribal phase and present yourself as the big camp life and challenges guy?
I mean, as long as it doesn't step on people's toes. Everybody's here because they're chasing a dream or they're on the adventure of a lifetime. And if there's somebody that just really wants to do something, I'm not going to try to shun them to the side and say, "Listen, I do this for a living. You don't. Just let me take it." I'm going to let them do what they want. And if I see failure in the future, I'm going to fail with them, because I want them to have a good time. I want them to enjoy themselves, and I want to enjoy myself. And if I can see it coming, I know it's coming. I'm not really worried about it. And if all else fails, at the end of that, I will put my two cents in, and I will try to do what I can to make things happen in a constructive manner.
Pun intended on "constructive" there. What is your biggest superpower and biggest piece of kryptonite?
My biggest kryptonite would be I always want to see people happy. I don't like causing pain. I don't like causing distress, having to jump through all the hoops and the different challenges I've had to do growing up and all the sadness along the way, the last thing I want to do is hurt people or make people feel like they're not going to achieve their dreams. I'm always there to help you. That's part of why I got into construction, is because you need help. And when you need help, I'm the guy that's willing to chomp at the bit. Even if I don't know what's going on, I'll learn it. I'll figure it out. So that way you have that peace of mind in the end. So that's going to probably be my biggest kryptonite, having to do things I don't want to do that could cause people emotional distress.
My biggest superpower, I think, is going to be my kindness. I have a way with my social game. My personality has a way that, without even trying, a lot of the times, it will just manipulate itself into your life. You'll just want more. You'll feel like you need to have more. I've done everything from diving in dumpsters and eating dinner that we've pulled from the dumpsters to riding out in California on million-dollar yachts just off a conversation and conversation alone. And I'm not afraid to eat garbage out of the dumpster with a hippie, and I'm not afraid to go out on the ocean with a businessman in a suit. I mean, from the bottom to the top, I can find a way to mingle.
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Perhaps testing that kindness, as you've been hanging around in the preseason with your competition, who are you picking up good vibes from?
Oh, man, that's tough. Because you don't know anybody's names at all. The most you get is a little smirk here or there or something like that. The amount of traveling that I've done in the different social classes and things that I've intertwined myself with, I really got a good idea for different personalities that exist in the world. So I've been able to pick up a little bit of that, whether it's true or not.
There's one girl and one guy that I found so far that I just have really good vibes about I really hope that they're on a tribe with me. So the one girl, she's got a nose piercing. I think she's got green pants on today, maybe a brown top, kind of frizzy big hair that she wears. The guy, I don't know, how do you explain it? He seems like he's in touch with himself. He's physically fit, but not muscular, beefy kind of physically fit. He just looks like somebody that would take care of themselves and is open to people as they are, not necessarily classifying people. He just looks like a very open person. So it's pretty attractive as a personality trait, especially in this game.
Anyone you're not getting great vibes from?
There's a few people here that just don't show emotion, man. I don't know if [it's] gameplay or what it is. But I like to smile, and when I look at you, I like to smile. Smiles are contagious. And some of these people don't smile at all. And so the lack of emotion, it just makes me wonder. What is your personality type? I have no idea at this point. I'm so excited to see what it is, and I hope that something becomes of it, because I'd like to work with some of them. But as far as that lack of emotion, I'm just like, "I don't know where you stand, and I don't know if that can be trusted." Good energy bonds with good energy. And if I'm throwing energy at you, and you're not picking up any of it, what do I do with that?
What’s your biggest takeaway from the past two seasons of Survivor that you plan to bring into your game?
The biggest thing I've picked up on is probably that I'm not so certain that making big moves right away is a position you want to be in. I'm not so sure that you want to be ahead of the pack on the front line. As attractive as that may sound for a resume for the jury or something like that, further down the line. So I think at this point, with this new era, it's kind of important to just kind of like be a part of something big, not necessarily lead something big. So understand where you need to be, to be with a group that's moving and doing something. But always having kind of that meat shield, per se, that's going to take the hit, going to take the fall if somebody or a group starts looking your way.
Speaking of the new era, how do you plan on incorporating idols, advantages, and journeys into your game?
My eyes are going to be open. I'm going to take any advantage that I can as soon as I get it. But I want it to be under the radar completely. I'm a firm believer that, if you're going to have something of that ability in your pocket, you are the only one that needs to know about it. As soon as you start telling people that you have it, or you start one person, as soon as you leak it to one person, that thing's gotta be gone. Either play it that night or ditch it. I mean, it's created such a big target on people right away. And I mean Hunter in this, in [Season 46], he found an idol. He did a wonderful job. It was under the radar 100%. And as soon as he told one person, two people found out, three people found out, a slew of people found out. And then what happened? The day that he told them is the day he went home. Find it, keep it, hide it.
What's your hottest Survivor take?
I want to see some strong players make it to the end. I want that the era of "bring a goat with you, so that way it's a unanimous decision at the end, and you got it locked in," I want that to kind of be gone. I don't know how I'll feel when put in the position. But at this point, I want to see some players make it to the end where there are some split votes. I'm kind of tired of seeing all the votes run one way, and like, "This person gets everybody's vote. This person doesn't get a single vote." I want a real nail-biter. I want the people that are sitting there to be chewing on their fingers, like, "What the hell is about to happen?" And then, when it comes out, I want whoever sitting in the in the final seats to feel like they've done something. I want them to have a couple of votes. I want them to feel a bit accomplished, even though there's only going to be one winner in the end.
Finally, what celebrity or fictional character would you want to come out for a loved ones visit?
I'd probably pick Ryan Reynolds. [ Laughs .] Ryan Reynolds, he's one of my favorite actors out there. The dude is just hilarious. I have a hard time listening to him speak without smiling or preparing for a good laugh. I think that he'd be a riot. And I just think that his personality would be a rip on this show.
Next, check out our interview with Survivor 47 contestant Gabe Ortis .
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