A Family of Nerds Podcasting About Their Passions
Join Jake and his co-hosts on a journey through nerdy topics including Marvel, Pokemon, LOST, and Survivor!
Meet The Tribe
Jake Borucki- Host/Creator/Producer
Jake began Tribe of Nerds in 2020 with a group of his 4 college friends after being inspired by Survivor podcaster Rob Cesternino. Since then, Jake has expanded the podcast and aims to make it his full time career. Jake graduated from Adrian College in 2019 with a BA in Communications/Journalism and now resides in Traverse City, Michigan. Jake loves movies, especially the MCU. Jake is also an avid Survivor fan who believes Survivor has always been there for him since he started watching in 2011. He played Survivor Vanquish in 2022 followed by playing in a returning player season in 2026, and it changed his life for the better. Not only did Jake fulfill his dream of winning a version of Survivor, but he met the best group of lifelong friends he has always wanted. Jake's advice to anyone struggling in their lives is to never give up, always pursue your passions, and surround yourself with an amazing group of people who will always support you.
Kevin Hanna
Kevin is an elementary school teacher living in Orlando. He has been a nerd ever since he was watching X-men and Power Rangers on Saturday mornings. Kevin has a crazy memory so he can tell you the boot order of Survivor seasons that aired 20 years ago without rewatching. Kevin likes to share his most controversial takes with a smile and a laugh.
Michael Harrop
Michael is our resident British Nerd from the North East of England. Michael is passionate about traveling and has visited 22 countries so far on his adventures. His biggest passion is undoubtedly Lost, and having seen the show countless times, he now enjoys discussing it on the podcast. Having discovered Survivor during the pandemic and binging every season, he joined the ORG community in order to find fellow fans to discuss the show with, he even almost made it onto Survivor UK in 2023. As well as Survivor and Lost Michael is a huge fan of Professional Wrestling having been hooked since he first watched it in 2000.
Austin Foate
Austin “FoatetheGoate” Foate is a sports enthusiast by nature, but a reality TV nerd at heart. Austin lives for strategy based reality shows such as: Survivor, Big Brother, Traitors, and other reality TV shows including real life, competitive or dating shows. He lives his nerd attributes within the gaming world also as he has been a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokemon and shooter games from a young age. Austin is also a huge bowler, being an all-conference named athlete back in college. You can find Austin talking about sports or gaming on all social media platforms @FoatetheGoate
Kristin Parsons
Kristin is a stay at home working mom living in FL. When not working or taking care of kids she loves hanging with friends. In 2021 she founded Vanquish Online Reality Games and enjoys hosting. Kristin started her love of reality TV with Survivor right from episode 1 and was absolutely in love with the idea behind it. She has since used that love to make Vanquish as close to the shows as can be for all fans that never get the call to play. In addition to the love of reality TV, she also has the passion to give back to Make A Wish through Vanquish to help other families experience a wish like her family did. Along with reality TV, Kristin loves LOST, Lord Of The Rings, 90s and 2000s TV shows and movies, and theatre especially musicals.
Shane Byrne
Shane is a scientist and biotech startup founder from Central Massachusetts. When not working in the lab to translate his scientific discoveries into technologies that deliver affordable and accessible solutions for improved health and nutrition, you can find him hosting Zoom-based social strategy games at Vanquish Online Reality Games. Shane started watching Survivor with his dad from episode 1 of season 1 in May 2000 when he was 7 years old and fell in love with the social strategy aspect of the game and now brings that passion to the online Survivor games that he hosts. Despite now being a chemist, he never owned a chemistry set as a kid, but he does still have his collection of over 200 Star Wars action figures and over 100 WWE action figures that he started collecting when he was 3 years old.
Gregg Smith
Gregg is an Afghanistan war veteran and a lifelong nerd at heart. From pro wrestling and Survivor to Lost, The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, and everything Marvel and DC, his fandom runs deep. When he’s not working (which is often), you’ll find him diving into DIY projects, gaming, collecting pop culture treasures, or experimenting with sublimation crafts. Passionate, relentless, and always geeking out. Gregg brings his unique blend of grit and geek to every episode.
Will Dyrval
One of the OG nerds, Chocolate milk connoisseur, and big time superhero lover.
Jonathon "JJ" Jones
JJ is a math teacher by day and musician by night. One of the OG Nerds, he's been on the show from the very beginning. You can listen to him on episodes about Marvel, Pokémon, and video games. You can also catch him fumbling his way through the occasional Survivor game, exclusively on the villains' side.
Josh Ray
Josh is knowledgeable in all things regarding Superheroes and Star Wars. He has been a connoisseur of superhero media since he first saw Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man when he was a kid, and he still has his Spider-Man costume that he wore as a kid from Spider-Man 2 in 2004! Josh’s overall knowledge culminates with his knowledge of Batman and DC Comics.
Meet The Tribe Continued
Gabe Witt
Gabe is an overall film and music enjoyer who is deeply interested in surreal, expressive art. Gabe is a huge fan of sci-fi and any well made story across nerdy media. Spider-Man is his favorite hero of all time. Gabe is interested in many things dreamy, fun, and progressive.
Joe King
Joe King is a comedian/writer/actor/podcast host/stud based in California. While some may call him a chaos gremlin he’s actually not chaotic nor is he a gremlin. In 2019 he formed The Day After Podcast with Ryan “Neo” Wayne. In 2024 he began a partnership with The Tribe of Nerds and continues to make fun and engaging content for both channels.
Ryan "Neo" Wayne
Ryan “Neo” Wayne lives in Los Angeles, CA and pursues acting. He has been an avid Survivor fan since Samoa and has co-hosted a Survivor Podcast for over 5 years. His other fandoms include Pokemon, Marvel, and Bleach. He lives to entertain and makes it a goal to make his conversations and videos memorable.
Jonathan Morrell
Jonathan is currently a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he’s finishing up getting his degree in cinema studies. Growing up he wanted to do two things, become a Marine, and one day work in entertainment. With the Marine story arc complete, he’s currently searching for his next creative outlet, whether it be sports, TV, video games, movies, music, he’s always trying to find the current pulse of pop culture.
Shana Landry
Shana is a Texas farm kid turned world traveler whose life has spanned rodeos, college tennis, comic book fandom, zombie obsessions, and a brewing career that began in New Zealand. After years in brewery production, she now works in HR management, blending people skills with her love of stories and connection.
Bryan Wagg
Bryan. Waggs. Doesn’t matter what you call him, because he’s probably heard worse. Bryan is a born-and-raised Mainer and former Division III lacrosse goalie. There aren’t many things he loves more than sports—especially supporting Boston’s professional teams and Baylor in college sports. When he’s not watching a game, Bryan’s nerdy side comes out through video games, Survivor, Star Wars, Marvel, and The Walking Dead. He’s competitive, sarcastic, and always ready for a good time—whether that means arguing about sports, talking strategy, or getting way too invested in whatever game or show he’s currently into.
Coach Drew Denson
College Rugby Coach currently residing in Boston, Mass. Loves to nerd out to Survivor, Lost, sports, movies, and creating very long lists of my favorite things. I am also a GOD at Trivia.
Brandon Grumet
Brandon is an actor residing in the magical land of New Jersey, he has vast experience in the realms of medical simulations, directing youth theater, running bar trivia, and hosting social strategy aftershows. You may have seen him appear as “man inflicted with poison ivory” in a season 9 episode of “Impractical jokers”. He is half nerd on his uncle’s side, loving all things DC/Marvel/BigBrother/Survivor/DoctorWho/thebesttelivisionseriesofalltime#LOST. An ORG veteran, Brandon has won Two Big Brother games and took home a sole survivor title (not in Vanquish, shout out Firestarters, much love to the Vanquish Fam), he is board certified to rap about strategy. Brandon has appeared as a guest on many Tribe of Nerds podcasts including: Lost, Survivor 1-50 Rewatch, Marvel, Star Wars, as a weekly panelist for Total Drama, and is always happy to heed the call when the tribe sends a smoke signal. Lastly, this message is for Kevin tiny hands, if you’re not Kevin, you can scroll on. “John Locke is a hero, an icon, a leader, the moment, easily a top 3 Lost Character who I love with all my heart, and anyone who disagrees can @ me” -Brandon 2026 Socials: @ TheGrumster on Instagram @ Don_Grum on Twitter
Devin Willis
Hey guys, #ItsDevin. I love all things Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race, & The Devil’s Plan. Total Drama Super-Fan. Living PokeDex. I wear my heart on my sleeve. As the old song goes “I am a little bit of everything all rolled into one.” And I am here with The Tribe of Nerds to spill the tea and drink it too.
Zack Mixa
Zack is an IT Analyst, living in Lancaster, PA. He’s been a video game and reality tv nerd for as long as he can remember, and fell deep into the world of superheroes in high school. If there’s a social strategy aspect to a reality show, Zack watches it, but at his core, he is a Big Brother historian.
Current Series
Survivor 51 Coverage
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
Survivor 51 Coverage
Jake, Shane, Bryan, and Shana cover all of Survivor 51 together to kick off Survivor's Open Era!
LOST Review
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
Survivor 51 Coverage
Jake, Michael, Kristin, Kevin, and Gregg review Lost from the perspectives of both superfans and Jake being a first time viewer!
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
Jake and Josh are joined by a rotating 3rd Panelist to discuss every movie in the MCU and its implications for Avengers Doomsday!
Total Drama World Tour Rewatch
Total Drama World Tour Rewatch
Road To Avengers Doomsday MCU Rewatch
TOTAL DRAMA WORLD TOUR HAS BEGUN! The Tribe of Nerds Total Drama Rewatch is going GLOBAL! Join Jake, Joe, Ryan, Devin, and Brandon as they travel around the world to revisit one of the most chaotic, hilarious, dramatic, and MUSICAL seasons of Total Drama ever: TOTAL DRAMA WORLD TOUR!
Survivor What If?
Total Drama World Tour Rewatch
Survivor What If?
Jake and Shane will explore the Survivor multiverse if one thing were to be changed in Survivor history! Join us in pondering the question "What If?" with each other and former Survivor contestants!
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Tribe of Nerds Podcast
