‘The hardest part was the cold.’ Columbus ‘Survivor’ contestant talks island life, more

A Buckeye has landed on the islands of Fiji.

Columbus' resident Matthew Grinstead-Mayle will make his "Survivor" debut on the show's 44th season premiere at 8 p.m. Wednesday on CBS.

The Dispatch recently caught up with the 43-year-old husband, father and owner of Goodfellow’s Tonsorial Parlor, a barbershop in the Brewery District.

Learn more about his audition, strategy and plans for the money — if he wins — in our Q&A below. And if you'd like to meet him in person, Grinstead-Mayle will be at the Merion Village bar Rumours for a meet and greet at 7 p.m. March 8.

What has the reception been like in Columbus for you?

It has been so overwhelmingly positive. Everybody that I've talked to is just so excited for me. Anybody that knows me knows that I love "Survivor," and so they're ecstatic that I finally got my chance. The support from the community has really touched my heart.

More:Meet the Columbus resident competing on 'Survivor' this season

Do you have any watch parties planned?

I do have a watch party planned with my friends and family. And then I do plan on going to watch parties at a couple of bars in town. I know Rumours on Parsons Avenue and Short North Tavern are going to do them, and The Pearl is going to have it on the TV, too. So, I plan on jumping around a little bit and saying hi to everybody in Columbus as much as I can.

Did you audition multiple times?

I was cast on a previous season, but then COVID happened, and I was recast. So, I had to go through the application process again. I couldn't be happier because the cast is fantastic. It was just like the perfect fit of all of these people together. So, I'm so happy that that's where I ended up.

What do you think resonated with the producers to get you cast?

I think that they saw how much I was trying for this. They were interested in me, but they wanted to have the right fit. And I really applaud them because I think they've done such a great job with casting, especially into this new era, because you just see so much great representation. The cast is so diverse (with) people of all walks of life and all skill sets.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself.

I'm currently in school for massage therapy. I'm almost finished with my licensing. I'm also getting my personal trainer's license. … We're currently opening up a second barbershop in White Salmon, Washington, and we're expanding our services. We are starting to offer massage therapy services on (Wednesday), actually.

Does your 4-year-old son know where you were or what’s going on now?

He thought I was at school or at work, so he didn't really understand. It was over the summer that we filmed, so he was definitely super busy with his cousins and grandma. But he'll be able to watch the show. I’m sure he'll be super excited to see the challenges. It'll be great for him to see daddy playing in these giant jungle gyms out in the jungle. I think it'll be very inspiring for him.

You’ve mentioned you’re a social butterfly. Did you intend to use that to your advantage on the show?

I've spent almost 30 years in the service industry working in restaurants, hotels, bars. And so, I've made my life taking care of people. That's something that's ingrained in who I am. So, that was my approach going in: "I’m just going to be myself … (and) I’m going to try and take care of people around me." I felt like that would help me gain trust quicker.

What was the hardest part about living on the island — not eating, battling the weather or dealing with bug bites?

The hardest part was the cold. It got pretty cold at night, and you have what you have and (not) anything else. And so, you have to be either OK with being cold and sit there, or you have to use your ingenuity and say, "How can I protect myself from these elements? What can I do? Can I put up a wind barrier?" You’ve got to look at every obstacle and say, "Can I get around this, or am I just going to have to suffer through it?"

The TV edit condenses daily life on the island; do you have more downtime than viewers realize?

The game is constantly going. We jumped off the boat right into the scene. We walk right up to a challenge with (host) Jeff Probst. So, from the moment it started, it was fast, so there really wasn't a lot of downtime. And even if you're just resting, you're still watching who's talking to who. (For example) 'Should I act like I'm sleeping right now so I can listen to their conversation?' So, you're never restful. I've seen previous seasons where people were out laying on the beach getting sun. That is not the experience. It’s running through the jungle, it's the craziness, it's looking for food, looking for firewood. Just trying to survive is a huge part of your day-to-day.

As viewers, some of us are so frustrated with past cast members telling others about their secret advantages gained through immunity idols. What’s your philosophy on that?

You don't talk about your idol. It’s 101. The only idol you talk about is somebody else's idol.

What advice do you have for people who want to audition for "Survivor"?

They're looking for great storytellers. They're not looking for someone that can have a crazy edited video or can do a backflip, necessarily. That’s great that you can do that, but can you tell a story? You have to be able to convey a great message. Show them that you're a great storyteller and how you define yourself.

How will the money help you and your family?

We are trying to grow our business. That’s a big thing for us because it’s something that we started from the ground up. We recently bought the building that we operate in, and now we're expanding to a second shop with plans for a third. So, those finances would make it a heck of a lot easier on us because we would just have the freedom to move a little bit quicker. It would definitely change our lives. We didn't come up with money, my husband nor myself. So, we want to change things for my son, (give him) a little more opportunities in life.

ethompson@dispatch.com

@miss_ethompson

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Q and A Columbus Survivor Contestant Matthew Grinstead-Mayle