Mitch Guerra, the "Survivor" Contestant Who Stutters

Meet Mitch.

“Survivor,” 48 seasons and counting, debuted the first episode of its 48th season on February 26th, 2025. The intense reality show is set in Fiji and follows challenges and competitions amongst three tribes competing to make it to “The Merge,” where it's every man for himself. Every episode one contestant is voted off of the tribe that lost the previous challenge. Over the span of 25 years of airing, “Survivor” has become more current, progressive, and spread awareness about countless amounts of backgrounds and characteristics specific to its contestants. 

However, over that quarter of a century, not one contestant has disclosed they have a speech difference. Until now. 

Mitch Guerra, a physical education teacher from Waco, Texas, is 1 of the 18 contestants on CBS’ 48th season of “Survivor,” and he is a person who stutters. Inspired by season 6 player Christy Smith who is deaf, Guerra prepared applications to join the show starting in 2012 till now. 

According to the University of Texas at Austin, home to the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education, stuttering is a “neurophysiological communication difference that involuntarily interrupts the forward flow of speech.” This includes “unpredictable starts and stops.” 

Guerra describes “Survivor” as “the most social game” and encourages those that despite their differences, anyone can go and follow their dreams. Stuttering is a widely misunderstood speech difference, and misinformation circulates on the daily about what stuttering truly is. 

For example, not everyone stutters. When someone who does not have a diagnosed stutter says a word “wrong,” says “um,” or unintentionally drags out a sound, those are typical disfluencies that everyone can experience. Someone who stutters experiences prolongations, blocks, stops, and repetitions in their speech that they cannot necessarily control.

Guerra openly disclosed in the first episode that he is a person who stutters. Stuttering education and advocacy is extremely important, and confidently disclosing that you are someone who stutters makes others who stutter feel comfortable disclosing as well. 

The host of “Survivor,” Jeff Probst, has shown a great example with his interaction with Guerra, demonstrating patience and a desire to understand what it means to be a person who stutters. Oftentimes, people who interact with someone who stutters finishes their sentences, looks away, and/or doesn’t respect the person’s right to speak at their own pace. Probst, however, asked Guerra if he wanted help, allowing Guerra the opportunity to explain his speech difference and what his communication needs are. Guerra says he does not need help, he knows what he wants to say, and just needs more time to say it. 

Guerra is one of many who stutter, and is helping to pave the way for those to confidently disclose that they are a person who stutters who can and will accomplish their dreams, like competing on “Survivor.”