"You determine your own fate": The Challenge star Johnny Bananas recalls TJ Lavin's advice

The Challenge Season 41 released its episode 2 on August 6, 2025. Along with the episode, the show's Instagram shared a clip featuring participants sharing the best advice they had received from TJ Lavin.

Fans must know that TJ Lavin hosts The Challenge and is often seen encouraging competitors during challenges. Cast members, including Johnny Bananas, Leroy, Olivia, Ashley, Derek, Rogan, Nanny, Aviv, and more, shared the advice from TJ.

One of the returning contestants, Johnny Bananas, recalled his first time participating in the show. He mentioned that TJ Lavin told him not to allow his fate to be determined by someone else.

"On my first season of the Duel, when I was the first one eliminated, I left my fate in that elimination in the hands of Tyler, who was my roommate, and TJ said, Don't ever allow your fate to be determined by somebody else, you determine your own fate," recalled Johnny Bananas.

The Challenge participants share the best advice they have received from show host TJ Lavin

In a recent video clip shared by The Challenge on Instagram, some of the participants shared the advice they had received from the show's host.

Johnny Bananas recalled that TJ had told him that he should "determine" his own fate, and no one else. In an old clip, Johnny could be seen from the show's first season, where he confessed to the cameras about what TJ told him:

"You need to determine your own fate, you can't let someone else determine it for you."

For the current season, Johnny mentioned that since getting that advice from TJ, that's what he has been doing it ever since.

The Challenge star Leroy said that even after any participant had lost, TJ would believe in their potential.

"It's easy to be gracious when you win, but it's real hard to be gracious when you lose, and you're gracious in both," said TJ in an old clip.

Leroy mentioned how TJ's advice resonated with him in real life, sometimes even when he was not on the show. Fellow cast member Olivia recalled that she learned to give "120%" and not to be hard on herself.

Another contestant, Derek, said his favorite thing that TJ had told him was to "dip deep." Ashley talked about how TJ

Rogan recalled TJ's words:

"Do not quit."

Fellow participants Nanny and Aviv also recalled the same advice from TJ. The clip ended with Cara Maria sharing how TJ hated "quitters" and the last thing she wanted to do was to disappoint him.

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MTV now streams The Challenge Season 41 Episode 2.

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