Interview with Monroe Gierl
Aug 14, 2013 11:59:24 GMT -5
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Post by Cruise meerkat Youssy on Aug 14, 2013 11:59:24 GMT -5
(*) Note: Miscellaneous and off-topic comments were edited out.
Bryan: Who do you still keep in contact with from Endurance? Is there anyone you wish you still kept in touch with?
Monroe: Bryanah is really the only person I'll text with. I saw her in Boston last year, we got together and had some drinks, lot's of fun! Outside of that, I stay in touch with quite a few on facebook (Alex, Demian, Nicole, Chris, Lindi, Vanetta, Sarah, Reece, Rachel, Kareem, etc.) Vanetta just liked one of my posts last night, LOL!
Bryan: What are you doing and where are you living now?
Monroe: Finished a Masters program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison last year- now I'm a CPA and work for a Big Four Firm in their Federal Tax practice. I live in Minneapolis, have an incredible significant other, and two English bulldogs.
Bryan: How has Endurance affected you and/or your life? What is the most important lesson you learned from Endurance?
Monroe: Endurance taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to, and in my current life- whenever I feel self-doubt, I think back to that first day on the island when we did our Right to Stay challenge! Looking forward, I want to go on CBS's Big Brother and retry my hand at televised competition. I couldn't do it these past few years, as I was getting my life in order with school and work. Now that I've settled into a consistent place in my young adulthood- I'd like to mix it up again, and Big Brother is the venue for me. So be on the lookout for me there, next season!
Bryan: If you could do Endurance again, would you? Is there anything you would change if you did it again?
Monroe: I WOULD do Endurance again in a heartbeat. It was very stressful and lonely experience the first time around, but a tremendous and fun one nonetheless, and going back to play again would be an awesome opportunity. If I could replay the exact game I was in on season 3, I would have sent Orange and Grey to the Temple of Fate week 1, (rather than Orange and Blue). If you remember, there was a conversation between Bryanah and I prior to the ceremony where we sent two teams up, and I suggested Grey and Orange. Ultimately, we concluded on Blue and Orange (and as events played out- we got third place behind Grey and Orange). Hence, I had wished we would have sent them then. But hindsight is 20/20, if that was the course we chose, who knows- maybe we'd have lost against Green at the Temple the very next night. So, at the end of the day, I'm happy with how things shook out and thankful I got to play as long as we did.
Bryan: How did you feel about the way you were portrayed on the show? Was it accurate or not?
Monroe: Haha! Although I am not proud of everything I said and did on the show- I was a child. And I do believe the show accurately captured a side of the person I was at that time. Is that how I acted in every day life at the time? No. But that environment was quite unlike my every day life at that time. I wasn't used to feeling like a black sheep, I wasn't used to being "voted out" (week after week after week). I wasn't used to be subjected to a popularity contest with dramatic consequences. I was vulnerable and responded to the unique atmosphere I was in. With that said, I think the show captured each of us pretty accurately, and I can't say anyone should have felt any stark injustices after viewing it.
Bryan: Were you ever recognized by random people?
Monroe: Rarely. I'd say, maybe 10 times maximum.
Bryan: How do you feel about the cancellation of Endurance?
Monroe: Endurance was such an awesome show- I only auditioned because I was a fan. I'm not sure it was formally ever cancelled, but I know the company that produced Endurance is still doing well with shows the "The Biggest Loser" and "Extreme Makeover - Weight Loss Edition", so I'm not sure they're planning on revamping Endurance.
Bryan: Is there any non-invasive way for fans of the show to contact you?
Monroe: Facebook is an awesome way for fans to get in touch with me, and I encourage all fans to reach out! Endurance is one of my fondest memories, and I enjoy chatting about it!
Finally, a message to all gay teens out there- Middle School/High School is by FAR the hardest stretch of early adulthood. On the whole, society is moving in the right direction, but at the adolescent and young adult level, it's a more hostile and insensitive area. For anyone having trouble finding their path/toying with the idea of inappropriate solutions, PLEASE reach out. Because, although it's become a bit of a cliche, "it gets better"!
Many thanks to Monroe for such an awesome interview! He was very candid with his responses and cooperative throughout the whole process. You can contact Monroe at his Facebook page (click here). Remember to be polite and understanding that he has a life outside of Endurance!
Bryan: Who do you still keep in contact with from Endurance? Is there anyone you wish you still kept in touch with?
Monroe: Bryanah is really the only person I'll text with. I saw her in Boston last year, we got together and had some drinks, lot's of fun! Outside of that, I stay in touch with quite a few on facebook (Alex, Demian, Nicole, Chris, Lindi, Vanetta, Sarah, Reece, Rachel, Kareem, etc.) Vanetta just liked one of my posts last night, LOL!
Bryan: What are you doing and where are you living now?
Monroe: Finished a Masters program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison last year- now I'm a CPA and work for a Big Four Firm in their Federal Tax practice. I live in Minneapolis, have an incredible significant other, and two English bulldogs.
Bryan: How has Endurance affected you and/or your life? What is the most important lesson you learned from Endurance?
Monroe: Endurance taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to, and in my current life- whenever I feel self-doubt, I think back to that first day on the island when we did our Right to Stay challenge! Looking forward, I want to go on CBS's Big Brother and retry my hand at televised competition. I couldn't do it these past few years, as I was getting my life in order with school and work. Now that I've settled into a consistent place in my young adulthood- I'd like to mix it up again, and Big Brother is the venue for me. So be on the lookout for me there, next season!
Bryan: If you could do Endurance again, would you? Is there anything you would change if you did it again?
Monroe: I WOULD do Endurance again in a heartbeat. It was very stressful and lonely experience the first time around, but a tremendous and fun one nonetheless, and going back to play again would be an awesome opportunity. If I could replay the exact game I was in on season 3, I would have sent Orange and Grey to the Temple of Fate week 1, (rather than Orange and Blue). If you remember, there was a conversation between Bryanah and I prior to the ceremony where we sent two teams up, and I suggested Grey and Orange. Ultimately, we concluded on Blue and Orange (and as events played out- we got third place behind Grey and Orange). Hence, I had wished we would have sent them then. But hindsight is 20/20, if that was the course we chose, who knows- maybe we'd have lost against Green at the Temple the very next night. So, at the end of the day, I'm happy with how things shook out and thankful I got to play as long as we did.
Bryan: How did you feel about the way you were portrayed on the show? Was it accurate or not?
Monroe: Haha! Although I am not proud of everything I said and did on the show- I was a child. And I do believe the show accurately captured a side of the person I was at that time. Is that how I acted in every day life at the time? No. But that environment was quite unlike my every day life at that time. I wasn't used to feeling like a black sheep, I wasn't used to being "voted out" (week after week after week). I wasn't used to be subjected to a popularity contest with dramatic consequences. I was vulnerable and responded to the unique atmosphere I was in. With that said, I think the show captured each of us pretty accurately, and I can't say anyone should have felt any stark injustices after viewing it.
Bryan: Were you ever recognized by random people?
Monroe: Rarely. I'd say, maybe 10 times maximum.
Bryan: How do you feel about the cancellation of Endurance?
Monroe: Endurance was such an awesome show- I only auditioned because I was a fan. I'm not sure it was formally ever cancelled, but I know the company that produced Endurance is still doing well with shows the "The Biggest Loser" and "Extreme Makeover - Weight Loss Edition", so I'm not sure they're planning on revamping Endurance.
Bryan: Is there any non-invasive way for fans of the show to contact you?
Monroe: Facebook is an awesome way for fans to get in touch with me, and I encourage all fans to reach out! Endurance is one of my fondest memories, and I enjoy chatting about it!
Finally, a message to all gay teens out there- Middle School/High School is by FAR the hardest stretch of early adulthood. On the whole, society is moving in the right direction, but at the adolescent and young adult level, it's a more hostile and insensitive area. For anyone having trouble finding their path/toying with the idea of inappropriate solutions, PLEASE reach out. Because, although it's become a bit of a cliche, "it gets better"!
Many thanks to Monroe for such an awesome interview! He was very candid with his responses and cooperative throughout the whole process. You can contact Monroe at his Facebook page (click here). Remember to be polite and understanding that he has a life outside of Endurance!
