“I'd probably trust the Gnome over anyone on Kamiya”
An Interview with Danielle Wheelis






Christopher: Hi y’all…I’m back with another intimate conversation…for your eyes only. My interviews are actually done live…not simply in a cut & paste question and answer format, so all of the answers are spontaneous!

Let’s welcome Danielle Wheelis!

Danielle was a member of the Kamiya Tribe, all of whom were cast to be the “baddies” of Survivor: Okinawa. Danielle was slated to end up as Okinawa’s very own Kathy Vavrick-O’Brien, with her spunky underdog attitude. During Episode Two, she was in the enviable position of swing vote. Unfortunately, a series of intense strategy sessions and battles culminated in the one of the ugliest Tribal Councils in the history of Survivor, and Danielle has the distinction of being the second person voted out of the game.

Hi Danielle!



Danielle: Hey there (smiles).


Christopher: Settle in and get comfy…we have A LOT to chat about! So, I’m just going to dive right in…this first question will be big for you… Was your experience in Okinawa what you expected it to be?


Danielle: Yes, it was about what I expected, but not what I was hoping... Before the game and in my pre-game interviews, one of my biggest worries was that I wouldn't fit in. Well, I *obviously* didn't fit in at Kamiya!


Christopher: Yeah - when the website went live, it was one of the first things I remarked on to Mario... how sad & prophetic your interview was...


Danielle: It was the first thing I noticed too. If I play again, I'll have to be a bit more upbeat. I don't wanna become a Cassandra.


Christopher: In a general sense (separate from the whole Danigate issue) was it hard to be the first Kamiya voted off?


Danielle: Being voted off first wasn't too hard. A blow to my ego, that's for sure. The way I was voted off was what was difficult. I almost expected to get voted off really...


Christopher: Really?


Danielle: Although I read a lot of the online Survivor strategies, I've never been involved in a game like this before and I knew everyone else would be hardcore…


Christopher: Me either. It was a shock to the system... This was your first game of Survivor?


Danielle: Yes, it was…Didn't leave a great taste in my mouth. (smiles). I really hadn't realized how hardcore they'd be though. I think in games like this, people often forget that these are human beings, not just things to be beaten…


Christopher: I think you're right...without getting into too much of my own personal story out there - I don't think I really took in the "these are REAL people" issue until around Episode 5, when I was contemplating voting Murtz out...I definitely realized…yeah – that we were disappointing real people and hurting their feelings. All of a sudden it wasn’t so easy anymore…
How did you feel about the “good vs. evil” aspect of the original teams? Did anyone on your tribe not deserve their “good” or “evil” moniker?


Danielle: Judging from what I experienced, it seems like Mario did a pretty good job assigning the teams, although I never got the chance to meet any of the Satos in game… Joni was misplaced, as Mario admitted. Other than that, I think the Good vs. Evil idea was interesting even if I did get burned by it. Makes for a fun story, and gives the viewers someone to root for…


Christopher: I agree. Sometimes I wish we were mixed...I think that the some of the evil would have dissipated a bit. But - we'll never know!


Danielle: Well, he did mix it up in the third episode, right?


Christopher: He sure did! I think it was a little too late, unfortunately. The Kamiyans had been “born and raised” in an unhealthy environment. (smirks) Did anything play out exactly as you predicted?


Danielle: My not fitting in seemed to work as I predicted (grins). Other than that, no, I don't think a single one of my 'strategies' worked in the least…


Christopher: Tell us about a few of the more unexpected events that occurred.


Danielle: Unexpected events... Michelle's infamous conversation, Ryan being the villain, realizing (after I was voted out) that you and Mitch *weren't* lying to me…the whole Tribal Council was unexpected, as well as Mario telling me the depth to which Kamiya taunted me...


Christopher: Let's talk about Ryan for a moment.


Danielle: Okay, Ryan. Heh.


Christopher: Have you guys been in touch post game?


Danielle: No.


Christopher: Ok. (pause) You guys were pretty buddy-buddy pre-boot, right?


Danielle: Well, I thought I was friends with him. That's why Michelle's story rang odd to me, and that's why I went to him to corroborate…And he did a pretty good job of answering the questions I asked, so I told him the whole story. He was one of the few people who talked to me in the game...


Christopher: I understand. While I didn't exactly trust Ryan in the game - he was a very easy guy to get along with...very amiable. I liked his personality a lot. How long was it until you found out Michelle & I had been telling you the truth?


Danielle: Mario told me the night I was voted out.


Christopher: What was your response?


Danielle: Well, I felt really stupid about believing Ryan over you two, but I was still pissed at the tribe because of the TC. And as I recall, I wanted you and Mitch to get voted out... Wasn't sure if I wanted to yell at you both or apologize. Probably a bit from Column A, a bit from Column B. Anyway… I'm glad Ryan made the merge… There probably would've been a nasty cat fight if we were both in the Loser's Lodge...


Christopher: Yikes! Your Tribal Council and the events leading up to it, are a huge part of the first 2 episodes in Okinawa, so we'll definitely come back to it… Next question -- What three people would you have picked from Sato had you been an Outcast? Who would you have taken back to Kamiya? And who would you have offloaded onto Henry?


Danielle: Hrmm... Well, the Danigate fiasco wouldn't have exploded so I would've thought Ryan, Emma, and Mike were still on my side…


Christopher: Right. And you would have brought back?


Danielle: I probably would've brought back people from Sato who I would've thought were a threat, that way, we could Pagong them. But not knowing the politics of the tribe...I'd probably have ended up choosing David, Amy, and Hogan, since I know they were their physical powerhouses from the challenges.


Christopher: We're getting to see a little more of your strategic side...I like it! New Kamiya could have been David, Amy, Hogan, Emma, Ryan, Mike & Dani… On a semi-related note, if you could create an 8 person tribe from any of the Okinawan players…who would be in it?


Danielle: Mike, Joni, Beth, and Elisabeth for sure...Beth and Elisabeth have been great people to talk to post-game, and they've even made me an 'Honorary Sato'. Mike was *kinda* nice to me on Kamiya, and Joni at least didn't insult me…


Christopher: Gotcha. 3 more?


Danielle: I suppose Isabella. You need one person to vote out first. (winks)


Christopher: (laughs) 2 left…


Danielle: After this, it'd really be just guesswork. I haven't gotten to know the other players much except by what I've read in the story...Murtz is too paranoid. I suppose Amy, she seems nice, and you... Better the devil you know, right?


Christopher: (laughs) Well...I love seeing the tribes people would have chosen. Joni, Beth, Elisabeth, Isabella, Amy, Mike, Christopher & Danielle...Kamiya. Very intriguing!


Danielle: I suppose I pick people I like, rather than strategy or strength. Worked for Jan's tribe, right?


Christopher: I think we would've had a lot of fun.


Danielle: I notice that the guys are distinctly outnumbered!!!


Christopher: I noticed as well...and the only guys you picked are gay! (winks) So…this might be a particularly intense question for you… Reading the episodes, who was your best ally? Who did you think it was at the time?


Danielle: In hindsight, you were working on my side for a time... But I couldn't really call you an ally. Mike was probably the person who 'helped' me the most, by allowing me to participate in the Immunity Challenge At the time, I thought it was Ryan.


Christopher: This one will be a little more obvious for you. Reading the episodes, who was your biggest “nemesis”? Who did you think it was at the time?


Danielle: At the time, I thought you, Chris were my biggest nemesis. I thought you'd lied to me, and lied well, and I thought you were playing all the members of the tribe against each other. I believe I called you a puppet-master quite a few times.


Christopher: I’ll take that as a compliment. (smiles)


Danielle: Had things worked out differently though, Murtz would've been my nemesis. Maybe Ryan...


Christopher: Ah. And what was your favorite challenge?


Danielle: Well, I still say I would've done well at the binary challenge. I'm studying to be a programmer for cryin' out loud! The first challenge, the obstacle course, was fun. I enjoyed doing well for the tribe.


Christopher: Yeah - you gave us a lead early on. I think that Kamiya underestimated you at that point. It was a good reminder that you could contribute just as well as anyone else… Any challenges that you loathed?


Danielle: The last one, the bug eating challenge... That one wasn't fun at all, because I knew that when we lost, the whole fiasco was going to come to a head.


Christopher: Yeah...I wonder what would have happened had we not lost that challenge…all 8 of us would have been around for the switch and VERY divided.


Danielle: Would be interesting to know . I imagine I would've betrayed Kamiya in an instant though... (smiles)


Christopher: Watching the episodes, is there anybody you would not have cast on the show?


Danielle: Isabella. I don't think the decision to cast her was right.


Christopher: I know that you are not alone in that assessment. Watching the episodes, has anybody surprised you in a positive way with their strategy and/or confessionals?


Danielle: Murtz surprised me once, when he had a confessional talking to me. He thanked me for revealing you as a traitor...
And then promptly changed his mind and disbelieved me. (grins)


Christopher: That was a whole new side to Murtz.


Danielle: Hard to believe he had more than one side... All I saw was paranoia.


Christopher: Watching the episodes, has anybody surprised you in a negative way with their strategy and/or confessionals?


Danielle: Well, Ryan did. But I was kinda expecting it, since Mario warned me. I liked his puppy on the train tracks analogy though. It was very apt.


Christopher: Was that hard to read?


Danielle: The entire episode was difficult to read. The whole Survivor experience was very bad for me, and rereading it brought some bad memories back from the TC.


Christopher: I'm sorry.


Danielle: You've already apologized enough Chris. (winks)


Christopher: Thanks. (a hug is exchanged) But I'm about to open the wounds! I remember early on you missed 2 days…What happened when you missed them? Just real life?


Danielle: Yes, just real life. The first day, I thought I had 36 hours, not 24. And the second time I missed it, it was just bad timing. I got there about an hour too late to post. (smiles and shrugs) Fortunately, Mario was a bit lenient and let the second one count, but it still reflected badly on me to the tribe.


Christopher: Let's get to the ugly stuff and talk about your Tribal Council some more...I know that the fans were greatly affected by the intensity of it all. Leading up to the our discussion, and the subsequent Tribal Council -- you were unaware that you had been spoken of poorly around camp?


Danielle: You were the first person to tell me that, and I believed you... Then Mitch had that convo, so I went to Ryan...Ryan told me it was true, but said that it was mostly you and Michelle doing it. He said the guys only joined in because you expected it from them


Christopher: Wow. Interesting that everybody had the same tagline. So after I approach you...Michelle ends up approaching you…


Danielle: Right.


Christopher: What was your initial response upon opening an email the size of the holy bible?


Danielle: I looked at the scroll bar on the right hand side of the screen, and was wondering if she was sending me the draft for her first novel. (Dani’s eyes widen and Christopher laughs) And when I started reading... I just couldn't believe a word of it. By the time I got about halfway through, I dismissed the whole thing as a lie. I didn't even read the rest until I had to talk to Ryan about it.


Christopher: Today was the first time I had seen it. It was pretty overwhelming. Have you & Michelle spoken post-game?


Danielle: I think we spoke once, for the obligatory apology that everyone seems to have offered me. I'm not sure though: it was a while ago.


Christopher: And then we get to the infamous TC…


Danielle: Yes, that…


Christopher: Did you walk in expecting anybody to be angry with you?


Danielle: Well, the original plan I had with my 'alliance partners' was that you and Michelle wouldn't know about the vote.
So I had no reason to expect anyone to be angry with me, although I expected *someone* to tell you. So I wasn't surprised that you both knew.


Christopher: Right. The game tends to work that way. Prior to TC, did you think that I was going to be leaving on night 6?


Danielle: Yes, I did. Ryan had told me that all was well, and that we'd have the votes that night, just before the TC.


Christopher: Wow. You must have been in shock


Danielle: The whole TC shocked me. By about halfway through it, I was just kinda shaking... I knew it was over though, when Ryan said "The only splinter we had is being pulled out of our skin tonight.” That's when I knew Ryan had betrayed me, or had never been on my side at all…


Christopher: That must have been very hard…I was fortunate enough not to have ever been on the receiving end of a blindside vote...so I can only imagine how terrible it felt.


Danielle: Well, don't feel too bad for me... I was trying to blindside you as well! I'm just not as good at it. (smiles)


Christopher: So...let's lighten up here for a moment…Did you find yourself having a crush on another castaway?


Danielle: Well, if you're implying Ryan, no... I'd only known him for four or so days! Never even got a chance to see a picture of him. Barely knew Mike, Murtz scared me... You... Well... I'd kinda guessed... Heh. (Dani laughs and Christopher smiles)


Christopher: Gotcha. So, now I am going to give you some adjectives, and I'd like you to go ahead and match each one up with a castaway for me.


Danielle: Alrighty, the adjective game...


Christopher: Smartest?


Danielle: In hindsight, Isabella.


Christopher: Out of Touch with Reality?


Danielle: Me!


Christopher: (laughs) Annoying?


Danielle: Murtz.


Christopher: Fun?


Danielle: Hrmm... Can't think of anyone (smiles); Fun wasn't part of the equation for me in Okinawa.


Christopher: Understood. Trustworthy?


Danielle: Okay, there's *gotta* be something witty I can say about this one... I'd probably trust the Gnome over anyone on Kamiya. (sticks her tongue out)


Christopher: (laughs) That gnome you HATED! Yikes! That says a lot.


Danielle: Yes, *that* gnome


Christopher: Cutest?


Danielle: Cutest, Joni


Christopher: Kindest?


Danielle: Mike


Christopher: Toughest?


Danielle: Hrmm... Michelle


Christopher: I have an important question for you...would you like to set the record straight about anything?


Danielle: Well, I'm wracking my brain, but I just can't think of anything. Mario, as usual, did a great job of writing the story…


Christopher: What was your favorite moment in Okinawa? Your high point?


Danielle: High point was definitely being awarded MVP in the first challenge. It was all downhill from there (winks)


Christopher: Worst moment in Okinawa?


Danielle: The Tribal Council, where I was voted out. Especially Ryan's "thorn in the side" comment. That hurt.


Christopher: In some ways, that comment was much less denigrating than others...why was that one the worst?


Danielle: Because I trusted Ryan, and I thought he was a friend. I mean, you and Michelle were the 'enemies.' Insults from a person you think is a friend hurt far more…


Christopher: Alright. Another tough question: Biggest regret?


Danielle: Hrmm... Saying I was a schemer in my application. That came back to bite me! Otherwise, I might never have been put on Kamiya


Christopher: Right. I know Mario has mentioned several times that he completely misunderstood who you were on a basic level because of the "schemer" mention in your app!


Danielle: Yeah, I've heard that. I just couldn't compete with those hardcore Kamiyans! Oh, yeah. And the not-trusting Michelle thing was a mistake


Christopher: Well...that sure would have changed the game. Murtz would have been out second...and then who knows where we'd all be...


Christopher: What, if anything, did you learn about yourself?


Danielle: That I'm too trusting, for one, and that I'm not nearly as good at strategy as I thought. And I learned that my schedule is *really* busy most of the time!


Christopher: And, finally - would you do it again?


Danielle: At first, and for a long time afterwards, I said definitely not... Lately though, I've thought it would be great to have a chance to prove I really don't suck, and to get rid of the whole naive teenager image. So, if someone offered... I'd consider it.


Christopher: Well…thanks a lot for chatting with me Dani! I know the fans were rooting for you…


Danielle: Yep, glad to do it.


Christopher: And...I know we've been over it before…but I wish things had turned out differently for us. (smiles)


Danielle: Well, if we ever go back out there, at least it couldn't get any worse (smiles)


Christopher: Yeah… (hugs are exchanged)


And that’s the end of the Danielle Wheelis interview. I hope y’all had a good time reading just a little bit more about Okinawa, and what it was like to live in Mario’s World.

Next week, I’ll be back with another Castaway. Keep reading Okinawa! Episode Eight reveals the BIGGEST twist in the entire game. Stay tuned!




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