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Season:  4 | 5 | 6 

    Mychale & Kaden
5.17.04 (431)
Jennifer Gagliano
5.10.04 (433)
Carmen Taglia
5.03.04 (432)
Louise Yorath
4.26.04 (428)
Heather Horwitz & Matt Groth
4.19.04 (434)
Stacy Teems
3.22.04 (430)
Kasey Clark
3.15.04 (426)
Jennifer Tiersma
3.01.04 (426)
Scott Turner
2.22.04 (423)
Luis Ordonez
2.17.04 (422)
Slade/Trask Bradbury
1.05.04 (421)
Daren Ferden
12.08.03 (419)
David Spicer
12.01.03 (420)
Tess and Morgan
11.24.03 (410)
Kristina Justiniano
11.17.03 (406)
Dwayne Thompson
11.10.03 (404)
Ryan Rettke
11.04.03 (Four-stunt )
Keirsten Wingo
11.03.03 (All-female Edition )
Eleicea Brandolini
10.27.03 (410)
John Lucas
10.20.03 (403)
Dominic Grubb
10.13.03 (402)
Josh Schwadron
10.06.03 (Fear Factor Las Vegas, Part Two)
Jamison Gilkey
10.06.03 (Mazda RX-8)
Durant Fowler
9.22.03(Season Premiere)

Mychale and her son Kaden outperformed other families to win this year’s Family Fear Factor competition - and claim the $50,000 grand prize. Here’s what they both had to say about the experience.

How would you describe your relationship and how do you think it helped you guys become Family Fear Factor Champions?

Kaden: We know each other really well....plus, I knew I was gonna have to carry our team anyway! LOL!
Mychale: Kaden and I are extremely similar in personality. We're both very strong-willed, stubborn, competitive and we both have VERY big mouths! HeeHee! I think these traits combined, along with the fact that we think the same way and are very supportive of each other was a great advantage in doing well in the competition.

Which team did you initially think would be your biggest competition? Why?

Kaden: None of them. I knew from the beginning we would win. :)
Mychale: Well, I have to agree with Kaden. I felt confident as well. But as an adult, I was more skeptical. I would have to say I was more worried about Christian and his dad. They seemed to be the most outgoing (besides Kaden and myself, that is....) and people who are outrageously outgoing tend to be unafraid and willing to try anything. With them being a team of two males, I was concerned they would be stronger in any physical stunts. I'm so glad my concerns were unfounded!! Really, I shouldn't have worried....when Kaden sets his mind on something....he usually gets it!!

Do you guys think you were at a disadvantage by going first in the first stunt (balance beam/flags)?

Kaden: Yes....the wind was blowing like crazy and gave everyone else the chance to see how it was done!
Mychale: Definitely....it was cold, windy and we had NO idea where the "bar" needed to be set. I was more concerned about time than anything else. It was nerve-wracking not having seen someone else go first. BUT....that being said....it sure was nice to have it over with! Whew!

Mychale, why did you skip your final two flags in that first stunt?

Mychale: The truth is....I was shaking so bad I just KNEW I was gonna fall....I wanted to just get across quickly and then let my little man take over! He did great! I knew he would. Once I got out there and realized how difficult it was, I felt more confident that the time would be more of a deciding factor than the number of flags.

Were you guys surprised at how long Madison stayed up on the beam?

Kaden: Not really....she just seemed so determined and she was little so I figured she wouldn't have any trouble with the balance thing.
Mychale: WOW! Was she magnificent, or what?!? We were thrilled when David fell so early. (Not trying to be mean, just excited about staying another day). We knew that even if she got all her flags, they would only put us out if they beat out time. I never would have guessed that a girl in such a small package could have so much will and gumption! Even when she must have known the "bar" time had passed, she was absolutely NOT quitting until she got her flags. It was the most amazing display of heart I've ever seen. I was so proud of her, I cried. I just kept saying, "BLESS HER HEART!" Well, "Hat's off to you Maddy! Your heart truly IS blessed. You are my hero!"

Kaden, did you get bit by all of those hissing cockroaches?

Kaden: No....Joe told me they didn't bite....but they just have really sharp, prickly legs and shells. They cut into my legs and we found out later I was allergic to shellfish....I broke out all over my arms and legs. It was painful and itchy!

Which do you guys think was worse; being in the box with all of the roaches or transferring the roaches with your mouth?

Kaden: No question....puttin'g those nasty things into your mouth had to be worse. I was having a blast sitting in those things. It was later....after the stunt, that it wasn't so much fun. (With the break out and all...)
Mychale: Yup...putting them in your mouth definitely had to be worse. I had cuts all over my mouth for a week and a half after that. It was awful! And the smell! Jeez-O-Pete! I think I would rather have them blended and have to swallow them than have them alive and crawling around (and trying to crawl out!) in my mouth. Yikes!! You have to give Fear Factor credit though.

Mychale, what happened in the final stunt when you mistimed jumping from the ultra-boat?

Mychale: That's a good question! I've asked myself the same thing a few thousand times. I just didn't realize we had passed the buoy. When I did realize it, I thought it was too late....but I wasn't about to give up. I had already told Kaden that swimming wasn't my strong suit. (He swims like a fish!) But Joe told me to just swim as if I had a shark right on my tail and not to quit until I got to the boat. So, after BELLY-FLOPPING into that big, cold blue ocean, that's exactly what I did....I knew I was going to have to swim further, so I just gave it everything I had. I was devastated. I truly thought that I had ruined it for Kaden. He was so precious telling me that it wasn't my fault. But it was...and then...it wasn't!!! Winning was the most amazing moment (with the exception of the birth of my 4 children) in my whole life. And I got to share it with my son. How awesome is that?!

Did winning the 2004 Mazda 6 and the mountain bikes take some of the pressure off, or did it make you more determined to win the $50,000?

Kaden: Winning the car was nice.....but I went to win $50,000.....I wasn't gonna be satisfied until we did!
Mychale: Ditto. Winning that car was great! I've never won anything in my life. And for me, it might have taken a LITTLE of the pressure off in the sense that at least we wouldn't be going home completely empty-handed no matter what. But I wanted it all. And so did Kaden. We wanted the money. Plain and simple. We wanted to win for our family!

So, how will your family spend the prize money? And what's Kaden's cut?

Kaden: I get the Mountain Bikes and the money for a NEW dirt bike for racing Motocross!

Mychale: That's true. Kaden is getting the mountain bikes, a brand new motorcycle, an enclosed trailer to haul the motorcycles, and a small, pre-owned motor home to pull them to the races. All in all, a good chunk of it for Kaden. Kaden wants to use some of the money to buy cell phones for Sadie and Maddy also. (That's what they wanted most if they won). The rest will be spent on the family. My oldest daughter is about to start college in the fall, so this should help get her started. I also want to fix up the house some (Plasma TV to watch Fear Factor in style!!!) and take all the kids on a really nice vacation. That should pretty much do it! We are so thrilled to have been given such an amazing opportunity. We are even closer now and we'd like to thank NBC for helping to change our lives!

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