Post by multiyapples on Sept 10, 2020 15:27:56 GMT -5
Tristan: What are you doing now and where are you living?
Ashley - I’m doing great! My husband I were married last year and just moved to a new home in Alexandria, right outside of DC with our dog Ollie.
Tristan: What was the Endurance audition process like?
Ashley - I remember first going in for a face to face audition. Then I had to make a video showing “a day in the life of Ashley” followed by a final phone interview. I remember it took a few weeks for sure!
Tristan: How did you find out about the show?
Ashley - my brother and sister and I use to do a lot of TV commercials and auditions. This came up and sounded super cool so my mom drove me down to Orlando and I auditioned
Tristan: Was being on a televised competition more difficult or different than you expected?
Ashley - It was definitely way different than I expected. I grew up watching survivor so it was strange to have a wardrobe department provide clothes and catered meals. The competitions were fun but also stressful because slot of them were based on pure luck - especially the temple of fate.
Tristan: Who did you keep in contact with after the show and who were you closest to on the show. Is there anyone you wish you still kept in contact with?
Ashley - it sounds strange but all of us became extremely close during and after the show. It was such a unique and strange experience for a teenager and having others who experienced it with you formed a tight bond. I was very close with Shane after the show as well as Jon, Jenna and Lana. I lived in Chicago for about two years after college and had a great time reconnecting with Jenna and Lana!
Tristan: Did seeing the show and what everyone was like affect any relationships you had with fellow contestants?
Ashley - it was definitely a bummer to watch back and see a close friend plot against me and my partner. I was pretty blindsided when that happened but in the end, it was a competition so I respect everyone had a different approach to playing the game.
Tristan: How was Endurance affected you and your life?
Ashley - being on the show definitely helped me learn more about people from different walks of life and places. I met so many great people I never would have had the chance to and for that I’m very grateful.
Tristan: How did you feel about how you were portrayed on the show?
Ashley - Aside from being shown rocking a bucket hat and pig tails every day (which I did to myself), I thought the portrayals were very accurate. Of course there are a few embarrassing clips but the team did a great job capturing what it was like on the beach.
Tristan: If you could do Endurance again would you?
Ashley - Absolutely!
Tristan: What would you change if you did it again?
Ashley - I would have taken more time getting to know some of the other contestants that left the show early. It was natural for those of us who were around for a while to get close, but you never knew when someone would be leaving and it would have been great to get to know some of the people who left on the first day!
Tristan: It’s been along time since the show aired but do you have any memories of the show that stand out?
Ashley - so many! I think my favorites though were hanging out in the bunks at night before bed when the cameras were gone. All of us would pile into one of them and everyone would hang out for hours just chatting. When the cameras were off, we weren’t competitors plotting the game, we were just teenagers having a blast at a strange summer camp of sorts. The absolute best though was when we’d grab our sleeping bags and sit on the beach watching the sunset. Being from the east coast, I had never experienced a California sunset and it was truly amazing.
Tristan: Did you watch any seasons of Endurance following yours?
Ashley - I didn’t. It made me sad that I wasn’t on it anymore so I was a brat and didn’t tune in. I would though if they had reruns one day!
Tristan: Have you ever been recognized by anyone for your time on Endurance?
Ashley - I did quite a bit in the first year which was fun. A lot of people reached out on social media and AIM (throwback to early 2000s!) and were totally awesome to chat with. I still get messages on Instagram every now and then and love hearing from folks who watched the show.
Tristan: Are their any non-invasive ways fans of the show can contact you?
Ashley - hit me up on Facebook! Ashley Gudzak Riser
Ashley - I’m doing great! My husband I were married last year and just moved to a new home in Alexandria, right outside of DC with our dog Ollie.
Tristan: What was the Endurance audition process like?
Ashley - I remember first going in for a face to face audition. Then I had to make a video showing “a day in the life of Ashley” followed by a final phone interview. I remember it took a few weeks for sure!
Tristan: How did you find out about the show?
Ashley - my brother and sister and I use to do a lot of TV commercials and auditions. This came up and sounded super cool so my mom drove me down to Orlando and I auditioned
Tristan: Was being on a televised competition more difficult or different than you expected?
Ashley - It was definitely way different than I expected. I grew up watching survivor so it was strange to have a wardrobe department provide clothes and catered meals. The competitions were fun but also stressful because slot of them were based on pure luck - especially the temple of fate.
Tristan: Who did you keep in contact with after the show and who were you closest to on the show. Is there anyone you wish you still kept in contact with?
Ashley - it sounds strange but all of us became extremely close during and after the show. It was such a unique and strange experience for a teenager and having others who experienced it with you formed a tight bond. I was very close with Shane after the show as well as Jon, Jenna and Lana. I lived in Chicago for about two years after college and had a great time reconnecting with Jenna and Lana!
Tristan: Did seeing the show and what everyone was like affect any relationships you had with fellow contestants?
Ashley - it was definitely a bummer to watch back and see a close friend plot against me and my partner. I was pretty blindsided when that happened but in the end, it was a competition so I respect everyone had a different approach to playing the game.
Tristan: How was Endurance affected you and your life?
Ashley - being on the show definitely helped me learn more about people from different walks of life and places. I met so many great people I never would have had the chance to and for that I’m very grateful.
Tristan: How did you feel about how you were portrayed on the show?
Ashley - Aside from being shown rocking a bucket hat and pig tails every day (which I did to myself), I thought the portrayals were very accurate. Of course there are a few embarrassing clips but the team did a great job capturing what it was like on the beach.
Tristan: If you could do Endurance again would you?
Ashley - Absolutely!
Tristan: What would you change if you did it again?
Ashley - I would have taken more time getting to know some of the other contestants that left the show early. It was natural for those of us who were around for a while to get close, but you never knew when someone would be leaving and it would have been great to get to know some of the people who left on the first day!
Tristan: It’s been along time since the show aired but do you have any memories of the show that stand out?
Ashley - so many! I think my favorites though were hanging out in the bunks at night before bed when the cameras were gone. All of us would pile into one of them and everyone would hang out for hours just chatting. When the cameras were off, we weren’t competitors plotting the game, we were just teenagers having a blast at a strange summer camp of sorts. The absolute best though was when we’d grab our sleeping bags and sit on the beach watching the sunset. Being from the east coast, I had never experienced a California sunset and it was truly amazing.
Tristan: Did you watch any seasons of Endurance following yours?
Ashley - I didn’t. It made me sad that I wasn’t on it anymore so I was a brat and didn’t tune in. I would though if they had reruns one day!
Tristan: Have you ever been recognized by anyone for your time on Endurance?
Ashley - I did quite a bit in the first year which was fun. A lot of people reached out on social media and AIM (throwback to early 2000s!) and were totally awesome to chat with. I still get messages on Instagram every now and then and love hearing from folks who watched the show.
Tristan: Are their any non-invasive ways fans of the show can contact you?
Ashley - hit me up on Facebook! Ashley Gudzak Riser
WE WANT THE GOSSIP!! I definitely got the vibe during the reunion show for E1 that she had some sort of falling out with Sabrina. 
