“Just because no one has played Survivor who stutters doesn’t mean it’s not possible. It just might mean you have to be the very first one.” – Mitch Guerra
This quote perfectly summarizes Mitch’s take on stuttering and playing Survivor. Being the first open person who stutters (PWS) on one of the big 3 CBS shows (Survivor, Big Brother, and The Amazing Race), Mitch was making history. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview him about how that fact impacted his gameplay and so much more!
Mitch has been hooked on Survivor since Tina Wesson and Colby Donaldson were battling it out in the finale of Survivor: The Australian Outback (season 2) in the spring of 2001. Yet it wasn’t until Survivor: The Amazon (season 6 spring 2003), when he first thought of playing this game. “There was a contestant who was hard of hearing. Her name is Christy (Smith). And it was at this moment where I saw someone who kind of struggled with something similar to me. I was like if she can go out and play Survivor then maybe one day I can too.”
Getting on Survivor isn’t for the faint of heart. A decade after Christy’s season, Mitch began applying to be a contestant. It took another ten years, several applications, and many interviews for Mitch’s feet to hit the Fijian sand. To get on Survivor, you need to have many things that set you apart from the rest of the applicants. Being a person who stutters is something that sets us apart from the rest of the population. However, that fun fact had little impact on him making this cast. “I had been applying for 10 years so most of the casting team had heard of me at some point. Honestly, I was just at a different place than I was the last few years I’ve applied. Stuttering is something I’m super open about, but there are so many other interesting facts about me other than being a PWS. When you get cast to play Survivor, you have to have as many interesting things about you.”
Being the first open person who stutters to appear on one of the big 3 CBS shows, Mitch didn’t feel any pressure to represent the stuttering community while on the island. “Honestly, when I was applying and interviewing, it truthfully wasn’t something I was ever really focused on. I am just a really a competitive person and I love the TV show Survivor. I just wanted to make myself as a proud as possible and the fact that I got out there is a huge accomplishment.” But he does acknowledge the significance of the moment, “obviously going out there and being the very first person to represent a group of people is kind of intimidating. I just hope I did everyone proud.”
One of the biggest obstacles Mitch had to overcome while on the island wasn’t the lack of sleep or lack of food. It was the stereotypes that a stuttering moment is equal to lying. In a social strategic game that is based on lying and being deceitful, this could be a hinderance. Factor in talking to your tribe mates during challenges and answering questions in the pressure situation that is tribal council, and that stereotype could come back to bite you. To get ahead of that, Mitch did what he always does when he meets new people: disclose. He told his tribe members on day 1, “I guarantee you guys at some point I’m going to stutter. That doesn’t mean I’m not telling the truth or I’m nervous. It’s just how I’m able to communicate.” As far as if his stutter would impact his communication in challenges, Mitch was, “fully prepared for any obstacle that was going to come in my direction.” Tribal council is a pressure filled situation; however, the pressure didn’t impact Mitch too much; “whenever you’re out there playing, it just becomes comfortable.”
While stuttering could be perceived as an obstacle in this game, Mitch viewed it as plus. “One good thing about stuttering is that everyone is going to see me struggle and it’s going to be in front of you. I think because of how open I am with the fact that I stutter and that you see me struggle, it allows me to be genuine with other people. I think because other people see me being authentic, they can be authentic with me. I wanted to use this to my advantage and do the things I normally do. Which is being extremely social and authentic.”
As someone who has listened to countless hours of Survivor related podcasts, a reoccurring theme is the experience on the island vs the experience of watching the show. There’s excitement to see how it all plays out but also nerves and anxiety because the players do not know what will or will not be shown. Mitch is no different. “I get to sit on the couch and I’m going to be the one who got to play. I am excited to share this incredible moment with my family and close friends. Obviously, I’m slightly anxious because I don’t know what’s going to be shown.”
In addition to the anxiety of wondering what will and won’t be shown, Mitch faces something no other contestant in the twenty-five-year history has faced: having their stutter broadcasted for all to see and hear. “I do not enjoy hearing myself speak. But I think it’s just going to be a cool opportunity for me to just say ‘Hey. This is how I speak. And sometimes it’s uncomfortable in some moments, if you’ve never interacted with someone who stutters. I hope that people are willing to listen to what I’m saying and not be focused on how I’m able to say it. I just hope it brings some encouragement to people who also speak like me.’”
When all is said and done, Mitch still doesn’t know how this experience shaped his relationship with his stutter because “I haven’t seen how it all plays out.” He ultimately hopes that “whether people stutter, don’t stutter, or know someone who does, that they see me as a whole human and not just someone who has a speech difference.” Ultimately, I think that’s what every person who stutters wants. For the world to see us as our full selves and not just for our stutter. Whether Mitch is the first boot, the winner, or somewhere in between,
I think he’s accomplishing that goal. Not just for himself, but for all people who stutter.
Season 48 of Survivor, Fiji premiers on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 8:00 PM EST on CBS.
About the Author
James is a brother, son, friend, and person who stutters from the New Orleans area. He is the author of Dear World, I Stutter: A Series of Open Letters from a Person Who Stutters. His work has been published by numerous outlets and organizations. He’s also presented at numerous universities and conferences. Outside of stuttering advocacy, he enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with loved ones, and consuming way too much Survivor-related content.
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