Latest Video Clips from Show:

• Mitch and Cedrek find a bond over their experience with stuttering and pledge to work together

• Host Jeff Probst asks Mitch what is the best way for a listener to respond when he stutters?

• Mitch discusses his stutter

Mitch Guerra, an elementary school physical education teacher from Waco, Texas, is one of 18 contestants on 48th season of CBS’ “Survivor,” filmed on location in Fiji. 

Mitch remembers his stutter emerged when he was in Kindergarten—and led to a challenging time throughout elementary school. He suffered lots of teasing which made him anxious every day. He recalls the fear that would come over him when he introduced himself or had to answer a question in class. 

He began speech therapy in first grade, continuing all throughout elementary school. He found his stuttering was minimal when he was calm, or in one-on-one situations—but eventually began to struggle a bit outside the classroom when he stopped therapy in middle school. By the time he got to high school, he restarted speech therapy, and continued with it through college, finding a great program at Baylor University, for which he is very grateful. 

“I truly am so thankful for everyone in that program, because without them, there is no way that I would have gone to college or become a teacher, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to go on ‘Survivor,’” he told us.

Mitch has always been interested in fitness, working out often, running, staying in shape and participating in CrossFit. That, coupled with his love of the “Survivor” TV show, led him to believe he would be a great contestant—someday. 

He recalls watching “Survivor” season 6 player Christy Smith, who is deaf, compete for the million-dollar prize, finishing 6th in 2003. That inspired him to prepare for and apply to participate. He began sending in applications in 2012—finally getting his shot in 2025. 

We asked Mitch what he was concerned about, as a person who stutters, entering the cast of “Survivor.” He told us: 

“Meeting people, hard moments that require communication and, of course, all the interviews!”

Mitch is very open about his stutter, using his time during a “getting to know you” interview for the show to openly discuss his stutter. 

“It's just easier to introduce myself as a person who stutters. It just makes me feel so much more comfortable. I know at some point I'm probably going to stutter, and I want other people to feel comfortable like, I'm all right. This is what it looks like. And if you do have any questions about it. You can ask me! I truly am an open book when it comes to what it means to be a person who stutters.”

Asked what he wanted the audience to learn about a contestant who stutters, he replied: 

“I want everyone who stutters to just be able to look at themselves and start feeling the fact that they have a speech impediment as something that makes them incredibly unique, it truly has given me these incredible opportunities. I remember growing up and hating it, but it gives me the opportunity to be real. Everyone has something that they struggle with. And for me, it's the fact that I stutter sometimes. But whenever you struggle, it just allows you to work through it. It does not mean you are not capable of chasing your wildest dreams and if you think you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher or you want to be the first person who stutters to play survivor, then do it. If I can go out there and play the most social game, then you are more than capable of doing the same thing.”

Fans of the show understand that while the season has not yet been broadcast, it has been filmed, and the results are carefully guarded. During our interview, we were careful not to divulge any specifics about the developments that will unfold over the subsequent weeks. But we will be posting updates about Mitch as the episodes are released—follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest!

And count us all-in for Team Mitch!

The 48th season of SURVIVOR airs on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

Posted Feb. 26, 2025