‘The Challenge: Cutthroat’ Episode 8 With Leo Dionicio

Death, Taxes, and Bananas with Johnny Bananas

Johnny Bananas sits down with Season 42 castmate Leo Dionicio to discuss his time on The Challenge: Cutthroat, including his complicated rel

Key takeaways

• Leo reflects on how his initial distrust of veterans like Johnny led to early missteps but evolved through shared experiences.
• He reveals that emotional detachment during challenges was a strategic choice, not personal indifference.

Main topics

• Anna Leigh's influence on Leo's decisions
• The triple DQ and its emotional impact

Notable quotes

"You thought the biggest threat to America was terrorism, inflation? Nope. It's L-E-O."

"I had no idea who you really were because I was so tunnel vision..."

Conclusion

Leo and Johnny's conversation reveals a deeper layer of vulnerability

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:24) Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, welcome back to the Death Taxes and Bananas podcast. You know, if you want to follow us and you haven't done so already and you don't know how to go to YouTube and see this little pillow behind me, the reason I have that there is for all you people that want to listen to the podcast but not subscribe. It's a very rude thing to do. All right. Because if you don't, there is a strong possibility that you could miss today's episode with one of my favorite human beings on planet earth. Uh, and you would not be able to, you would potentially miss the first airing the first time. Uh, you know, he just put it all out there, just laid all the cards on the table. When I'm talking about cards, I'm talking about spicy Uno cards. We've already gone too far. Speaker 1 (1:21) What are you laughing at? I'm laughing at what Cara was doing. I was like, Speaker 2 (1:27) oh, God. So hit the subscribe button on YouTube. All right? YouTube.com. Death, taxes, and bananas. We also have an Instagram. We have really fucking entered the age of, you know, social media. Instagram, guys. The IG handle, death, taxes, and bananas. And Spotify, of course. Death taxes and bananas with Johnny bananas. Now I feel like my guest already gave away who he was. I try to not be really funny in the intro just so they don't. Um, but what, what, what he just did is essentially, uh, what Cara did when she started laughing or fake crying on top of it away and got her eliminated. Um, He is one of the rare people who seems built in every way, shape, and form for reality television. He's athletic, charismatic, charming as hell, and somehow has the ability to navigate the challenge house the exact same way he navigated the villa on Love Island. Seamlessly moving from room to room, conversation to conversation, make out to make out, mesmerizing everyone in his wake. He makes friends effortlessly. People trust him. People want to talk to him. People want to be around him. But apparently, with great charm, also comes great destruction. He came onto the Challenge House like a fucking wrecking ball, leaving nothing but death and destruction in his wake, destroying his competition and relationships alike. You thought the biggest threat to America was terrorism, inflation? Or AI? Nope. It's L-E-O. Speaker 1 (3:13) And by America. What's up, everybody? Well, by America, I'm Speaker 2 (3:16) not talking about the country. How you doing, man? Leo, I Speaker 1 (3:21) just Speaker 2 (3:21) want to know, you're in a white room. Is this witness protection? Are you in the witness protection program? Because I hear Speaker 1 (3:26) you Speaker 2 (3:26) may or may not have a Marine sniper on your ass right now. Speaker 1 (3:30) They got me in protection, man. You know, my careless actions have got me in a bit of trouble. You know what I'm saying? But, you know, we're out here. We're still alive. We're doing good. Listen, man, I Speaker 2 (3:41) wouldn't have it. I wouldn't have it any other way, Leo. All right. Because as I said before, you are a rare combination of all, you know, like you grew up playing baseball as did I. You know, they call like certain players like the five tool players. Yeah. Like Mike Speaker 1 (3:54) Trout. Speaker 2 (3:55) Yes, exactly. Exactly. Mike Trout is my guy from the Angels. Hey, man. Jack of all trades, master of none. But that's what it is, right? You kind of, you check all the boxes. Speaker 1 (4:07) I mean, if you say so. I think I bring a lot to the game in the sense of, like you're saying, like, very talkative at good points and bad points. And then I can compete. I like to show people that I'm there to belong and stay in my own way. And I think it's working out pretty good. It's my second season back. I'm trying to get, like, you, come back more often. But as you know, I've just been having fun with it and just making the most of what I got. Um, you, yeah. And Speaker 2 (4:32) as I said, I mean, Leo, you, you definitely, I mean, you're athletic as all hell. All right. You definitely are. Uh, you got that like just natural kind of like charisma and, and, and swag and charm fucking funny. But I think your, Speaker 1 (4:47) your, your greatest characteristic of all Speaker 2 (4:50) is your, uh, your, the judge of character you have for reality television challenge veterans. who you decide to hitch your wagon to. Not in the first season. Speaker 1 (5:04) Yeah, definitely not Speaker 2 (5:05) the first time around. It's funny, dude, because the first time, and I actually watched, you were on Zach's podcast, and you were kind of telling, or was it Zach's? Speaker 1 (5:17) No, I think it was Challenge Mania. Challenge Mania, yeah. Speaker 2 (5:20) And you were kind of telling the story about our history, and it's funny because I had the exact same experience. Similar experience, obviously, on 41, where you came in with all the rookies, and it became this rookie fucking revolution. Fuck the Vets. Speaker 1 (5:35) Yeah, like a coup d'etat. Speaker 2 (5:37) It was. And no matter what I did, it was like all the rookies were just kind of not fucking with me, and you were one of them. And I remember there was this impasse between the two of us. And I'm like, I don't know what I can do to get through to this kid, because certain people just automatically assume that if my lips are moving, I'm manipulating them or talking game. You know what I mean? And it wasn't until we, it wasn't until we ate banana bits and went to universal studios that it all changed. Speaker 1 (6:05) But that was the thing that was the greatness of it. Like the fact that I got the opportunity to do the movie, him with you in LA made me actually see you who, like who you actually are. And like we talked about, like on the show, I had no idea who you really were because I was so tunnel vision, closed minded on getting all the greatest, great vets out of the game early. Cause I was trying to tell the rookies, like I told you last time I was on the podcast, I was like, guys, look. If you want to see, like, if you want any chance of coming back on the show, you've got to get your head out of their asses. They're not going to put money and food on the table. Yeah. Who are you? Who are you? Letty, get your head out of my ass. That's like metaphorically and literally. Oh, God, man. I'm just perpetuating that rumor now, dude. Holy. Yo, but it's funny. It's funny as hell because last time I was on this podcast, we hadn't even gone to Universal yet. Universal was literally right after we finished filming it together. So like even then, like I still had a good idea of like who you were because we had to do stuff on set. But the fact that we got to do the podcast and the movie stuff together and then go be kids together for the whole day was actually one of the most fun days I've had in a long time. I Speaker 2 (7:20) don't fault people, honestly. I mean. I can point out to the people like this has happened with, I remember on season 40, Kylan. All right. Like Kylan's first season. And he's such a gamer. I remember the entire fucking season, dude, from beginning to end. If we'd have a conversation, it was like, he was looking at me, but like analyzing every word coming out of my mouth. Like. And it's never that deep. He just talked about a tree. Does that mean that like, he just said the word card. Does that mean like, does Speaker 1 (7:50) that mean that he's going to do it? We're playing spicy right now, but like, and Speaker 2 (8:00) I remember, and I just gave up after a while. I'm just like, all right, you know what? This is just how it's going to be. And so I almost have to wait. And it was the same again on 41, where I felt like there were certain people. Now, it didn't help that I had Olivia, day one, coming into the house, just controlling the entire bottom floor, all the UK people, all the- Dude, and we talked about Speaker 1 (8:21) that, where she started manipulating so much of the game, right? And I was like, you know what, Olivia, I respect it because you had me fooled to the point where I was like, yo, bananas is the threat. Mind you, I'm fresh meat. I'm 41. So I'm there. I'm like, damn, like, I don't know any of these people. So my best odds is to get all of them out because not only did I go for you, but I went for Olivia's ass too. I was like, man, Olivia, you're trying to throw me in Speaker 2 (8:44) the Speaker 1 (8:44) lines. Fuck out of here, bro. Like Speaker 2 (8:45) you better Speaker 1 (8:45) be next. Because she kept false promising Izzy and all these people. And I told Izzy, like right after I was like, bro, you see what I'm talking about? Like Olivia, she could be your friend. Right. But like, she just pawned you. And it's your first season and you thank God you added something to the show because now you're back, which is good. And like, you know, that's clearly one of my good friends. And when I'm watching 41, I'm like, damn, like she really just threw you to the dogs. Yeah. It's like for no benefit. Here's Speaker 2 (9:20) the thing. And again. You know, game recognized game, Speaker 1 (9:23) dude. Speaker 2 (9:23) And I got to hand it to Olivia for all the back and forth that we've had over the seasons and her questionable taste in men. That girl has the ability to literally fuck someone over right in front of them. Completely just douse them in gasoline, light them on fire. And then as she fucking is walking away after she threw the match and they're burning, they're like, thank you for that. Yeah, it wasn't your fault. It was somebody else's. No, it's only Speaker 1 (9:58) because of the game that we had to get to this parameter. So I understand the hard decision you had to make with my life on the line. See, that makes no fucking Speaker 2 (10:07) sense. It's okay. I get it. I totally get it. You know, your game before mine. You know what? Actually, remind me. The dumbest Speaker 1 (10:15) things you could ever hear. Speaker 2 (10:16) reminds me a lot of somebody else's game, a little Cuban empanada we both know very well, Dee. Dee, yeah. Playing the same game right now. It's impressive. I think, you know, I think maybe Dee and Olivia might have went to the same school of master manipulation because they have Speaker 1 (10:32) - Speaker 2 (10:32) Wait, she's Speaker 1 (10:32) playing the same game on Big Brother right now? Speaker 2 (10:34) Yes. Oh, she's absolutely, bro, she's completely got the entire fucking house, like, in- eating out of the palm of her hand. It's one of the wildest things I've ever seen. You got to go back and watch. But how? Is she playing dumb or something? No. Because Speaker 1 (10:49) I Speaker 2 (10:49) haven't had time to go Speaker 1 (10:50) watch it. Speaker 2 (10:51) You got to watch. Leo, if you haven't been watching, and obviously, like, I've always been a casual Big Brother fan. I'll watch here and there, mostly just to, like, you know, talk shit on the fan base and get them all riled up because they... Yeah, yeah, yeah. To get them heated. Love trolling them. But, you know, obviously, this season, you know, seeing one of our own and one of my, you know, own... Um, Speaker 1 (11:11) baby mamas. Speaker 2 (11:14) I wanted to just see like how that, you know, how that was going to translate over. Um, and dude, she went in, has executed one of the most flawless. Speaker 2 (11:25) most strategic and manipulative games you have ever seen in your entire fucking life bro like she literally but Speaker 1 (11:32) what's crazy is like her her family her friends are posting for on instagram yep and they have gotten so good at posting as her that i thought she was out already right so i'm like then i see a couple posts on like my dude because the big brother stuff will pop up on my for you page all the time yeah and i'm seeing she's still in the house and she doesn't know how to open up like a cereal box the right way and i'm like wait like This happened yesterday? Yeah. Like, I'm like, wait, I didn't know she was still there because I know Big Brother. It's like, based on what I've seen from Keanu's ass in the house, it's, you got to speak a lot of game. You got to do a lot of sneaky shit. And Speaker 2 (12:06) this is what I'm saying. This is why I think. Speaker 1 (12:08) It's Speaker 2 (12:08) too much. This is what I'm saying. Her and Olivia play such, they play such similar games because Olivia's the same way. Never. Bro. You know how they say the devil works hard? They work harder. Yeah. Speaker 1 (12:20) I'd say the same thing about Dita's season, dude. Dude, but it's crazy because you would have thought they went to the school manipulation at Hogwarts or some shit. That stuff cannot be manipulated easily. It Speaker 2 (12:32) can't. Leo, do me a favor and do yourself a favor. Just go back and just watch some of the highlights of Dita's season. I got you. Bro, there's this one scene where she's got two of the dudes in the house. Sitting on their hands and knees like dogs barking and rolling over and she's on the bed feeding them dog treats Speaker 1 (12:52) What? Yeah, dude. This is some cuck shit on Big Brother? It's crazy. It is absolutely crazy. Nah, bro, that's got to be some form of like a kink talking about some get on your knees and bark. I mean, but like, again, Speaker 2 (13:05) and that was Olivia's, it was like she, I can't do that. Like, I guess I can try. Dude, it's not, it's not in me to do that. Listen, here's the game, all right? I need you to do everything to benefit me, all right? Now, as long as you're doing benefits my game, it's fine. But if you don't do something that benefits my game, you're an asshole and I actually want you gone. Speaker 1 (13:26) But that was the thing. So I don't know if you remember in 41, there's a scene where Olivia comes to our room and she's like. She's like sitting in our room and it's just me and her, but some of the rookies like around in the corner. It's like, Leo, please, like if you make it so I don't go up against Anissa, like I will scratch your back. I'll do anything. And trust me, like Leo, you're going to have to go against the rookies at some point. I'm like, yeah, but I don't want that day to come up because of your punk ass. Like I'm going to keep doing what I want to do and being stubborn. And you're going to do whatever you want, because I said right there before Izzy even went home, I said, you promised Izzy some top spot, right? And you may not say that you said that, but based on what we're all seeing in this house, it definitely looks like that. So when Izzy's ass goes home and I'm watching from the top, I'm going to look right at you and be like, that's your fault. Yeah. See what I'm saying? Because it's like, it's just manipulation. It's just like you said. Yeah, I want you to come help me get to the final. But when it comes to you getting to the final, we'll think about it. It might be in the cards. You know, we'll have to. That's a really considerate option. But it's crazy that you have people that actually agree to go along with this. All right. Dude, that's like some Charles Manson followership. Like the blind following the blind, bro. Yeah, let's go slaughter this family in the hills. Like, all right. Life in prison. Yep. There you go. I'm not going Speaker 2 (14:44) to be there. All right. I'm not going to be there. You probably don't even want to do this. You probably don't even know why you're doing this. Speaker 1 (14:50) But I need you to go in the hills and murder this entire family. Dude. Sharing tape, fuck it, bro. But do it for me, for the love of the game. Like, oh, wow. Like, it's not obviously that severe, but that's how I was perceiving it when I saw these people moving like pawns. Yeah. For someone that's not even been there as long as you guys. I'm like, bro, what does this girl have in her mouth? Like, crap? That you guys are following all her demands? Yeah. It made no sense. Speaker 2 (15:14) I mean, dude, there's nothing better than having a little crack in your mouth. All right. Make Speaker 1 (15:20) me do some wild things, Leo. Apparently Speaker 2 (15:22) it makes Letty do some wild things as well. Speaker 1 (15:30) Oh, God. If people know what you're talking about, bro, they don't understand how funny that shit is. Oh, Speaker 2 (15:35) TJ, man. TJ started the whole rumor. All right, everyone. Suck my Speaker 1 (15:39) ass, TJ. Speaker 2 (15:40) I guess that's what it was. I guess TJ did not want to have everyone thinking that he was sucking my ass anymore. Speaker 1 (15:49) Yeah. So then he Speaker 2 (15:50) starts this wild, unfounded rumor about somebody else. Speaker 1 (15:58) Parzan Jr., the girl version. Unbelievable. All Speaker 2 (16:01) right, so when you... There's an elephant in the room, something that everybody wants to talk about, you know, and we're going to get to it, people. But before we put Leo completely on the hot seat and make him feel uncomfortable, let's talk about a much lighter subject and a much lighter topic. So, Leo, how many... If you had to count on one hand, how many marriages is this that you've ruined? Oh, God. Speaker 1 (16:26) See, I knew you were going to say that. I had to say, let's go something like that. See, this is the funny part, right? Speaker 1 (16:34) when I watched, but when I watched this shit back, it was actually crazy. Cause I was like, yo, I was moving so loose off the juice to the point that I forgot like most of the things that I said. And I'm talking about some, yeah. Like mind you this out this, let me break down how this conversation goes. Cause it's me and Annalie. Hold Speaker 2 (16:51) on before we even get to the conversation before we even get to the conversation. Um, because that's obviously like what everyone needs clarification on, but, um, let's go back. Like, Obviously, like what happens in the challenge house and you're aware of this now and I am too. It's like you get to know people in like, it's like Love Island, right? Different because Love Island is like, we're going to force you to be in Speaker 1 (17:16) a Speaker 2 (17:16) relationship. Which Speaker 1 (17:18) it really is. The challenge, Speaker 2 (17:19) it is. But what I'm saying is the challenge is like, instead of it, instead of being, even if you're not romantically involved with somebody, the bond and the friendship and the connection that you build with somebody, even if it's not physical, happens so quickly because you spend so much time around these people so fast. There's people that I know on the challenge. You, for example, Leo, I've known you for what, two seasons? Yeah. Maybe spent, hung out a couple of times off the show. I know you better. I've spent more time with you and I feel like I am closer to you than people. I have some friends I've had for five, six, 10 years because of the amount of time we spent together so quickly. So kind of explain that about like, you know, with you guys and then, you know, other people, there's certain people you just gravitate towards and you click with. And I felt like with Annalie, that was one of those situations. You, me, like her, like some of the girls that we just immediately just kind of clicked and bonded. Speaker 1 (18:13) Yeah, so I was going to add on, like, most of the season two for 42, it was you, me, Letty, and Annalie in the back of the bus. And Will and CT. Like, we all formed like this. In depth, because she was always on the inside of Will. But we all formed like this really tight bond naturally because we were spending so much time together. There's no phone. There's no outside people we ever see except, like, when we go to, like, an excursion or some shit. But kind of, like, off the original point, like... When I met you on outside of the show, I'm 41 and then carrying to 42. I feel like I have a much closer bond with you. The majority of the people I've ever met on any show so far, you see what I'm saying? And like at the start, it was Jake at the start. It was Gabe and them. But I feel like with you, it's just something that like, we just understand it. I guess we'll have a, it's real. This is real. We're like, we're, we're, we're getting married tonight. You're my stink. Whether you like it or not, you're my stink stink. Dude, I wish they showed that when you were about to nominate me. It wouldn't have made any sense. Speaker 2 (19:16) We're going to get into it because I have a segment called Leo's Lexicon, so we're going to get into it. Okay, say Speaker 1 (19:20) less. Just Speaker 2 (19:21) for everyone that knows out Speaker 1 (19:22) there, Speaker 2 (19:23) a stink stink is what? Speaker 1 (19:25) A stink stink, that's like your boo. That's like your little bae. Your fine shit. But yeah, to your point though, it's like... I think we just gravitated to each other so fast because we spent so much time together in that small environment. And you had brought in your guitar, so I was just practicing songs I already taught myself and practicing things I was working on. And in doing so, we were just having normal conversations. Undies immediately Speaker 2 (19:50) hit the ground as soon as you busted out the guitar, Leo. Huh? I said undies on the floor the second time. Listen, it's actually kind of unfair for a guy like you that is as charismatic, funny, and good-looking as you are. to also know how to sing and play the guitar. That's actually, it should be. Hey man. Speaker 1 (20:07) But that's, but that's why I literally thought about like, like no conceited shit. I was thinking about what you just said. And I was like, dude, I can sing and play piano, but I can't bring a fucking grand piano everywhere I go. But the guitar, bro? I'm not Bruno Mars tugging that shit in the street in that one music video. Imagine Leo pulling up to a party with a fucking... Let me bust Speaker 2 (20:29) out my keyboard. Guys, no music? I got this. I got my Steinway. I got my Steinway in the back. I'm Speaker 1 (20:37) just going to roll it out real fast. No big deal. It doesn't come 20 grand on my shoulder. But that's why I picked it up. I was like, man, this would be so cool. I was always impressed watching you play. And I was like, as someone who loves music so much, I'm like, there's something wrong in my head with like me not being able to accept that I can't do what he's doing and play the guitar because it's, it's my favorite instrument I hear in songs. I'm like, if it's my favorite instrument, why the hell haven't I learned it yet? No, it's Speaker 2 (21:07) like learning anything else. Leo, I'm to the point now and it's going to trust me. And the older you get, the less you're going to want to learn shit. Just learning a fucking app at this point. I'm like, God damn it. You know what? Here's what I say. And this is like, it's such a hard thing to explain to people who aren't on the challenge, right? Because they will never know, or reality TV, what it's like, what we go through, what it's like on a daily basis, and just how starved we become after a while of like just that human like connection, right? Yes. And it's like this. Speaker 1 (21:41) If Speaker 2 (21:42) you were to look at your significant others or your stink stinks cell phone, right? You're like, let me look at your messages. I don't give a shit how faithful this person is. You scroll through a few days of messages, you're going to see something from someone that you're like, what the fuck is this? And it's going to be something that makes you super uncomfortable. Why did this guy say, I love you, or why did this guy say, like, you know, whatever. But what they don't realize is you have that context. Sometimes you have that relationship with that person that could be totally harmless and totally platonic. And it just looks bad if you don't know the context. And no matter how many ways I explain it to you. it's just never going to sit right. And I feel like Speaker 1 (22:24) with Speaker 2 (22:24) the Annalie and you situation, and this is me coming from, and cause you and I were thicker than thieves the entire season talking shop. Yeah. All the chuzz that was fucking running around on that spot. The way I see it was this, it's almost like one of those things where it's like, look but don't touch or it's like you know you go to a strip club and it's like alright I'll put my hands behind my back and I'll look but it's like alright I know that I can or I'm Speaker 1 (22:51) gonna Speaker 2 (22:51) get my ass beat Dude us Speaker 1 (22:52) in 11 Yes Speaker 2 (22:54) and I feel like that was kind of the situation where from my vantage point it was like obviously you know Annalise beautiful funny as fuck I mean just got like such a great personality we're spending time in the back of the you know fucking playing word games all this dumb shit And you kind of Speaker 1 (23:12) like Speaker 2 (23:12) develop like that kind of like flirty, friendly relationship, which you know isn't necessarily inappropriate, but to the onlooker and to the outside world and to the editor and the other people in the house that are trying to turn into something else, it looks worse than