Speed Dial with The Amazing Race’s Laura Pierson

Laura Pierson is a friend and former colleague. She’s also a contestant on season 26 of The Amazing Race, which premieres tonight on CBS. The show has been a dream of hers for years. And, so, as she’s ought to do, she made that dream a reality. It’s the same way she approaches her career and life in general: confidently, passionately, positively, with an unparalleled drive, dedication and work ethic. She goes after what she wants- and usually gets it. But it’s always done in a polite and professional way. She’s an excellent example that you can get ahead in life by being nice. My prediction? This girl’s gonna go far. And I’m not just talking about the race.

Nat: Ever since I’ve known you, I’ve known you wanted to be on this show.

Laura: It was a dream of mine. I’d always wanted to be part of the show but I was scared. I’ve never been someone who deals well with failure so if I did it, I wanted to do it right.

Nat: What was it about this show in particular that made you want to be on it so badly?

Laura: It’s like no other show out there. First of all, it’s brilliantly done. The casting’s so good, you really feel a connection to the contestants, you want them to win. And it’s an opportunity to travel around the world! You go to small towns, see how people live and become part of the culture, it opens up your eyes to things you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.

Nat: So you made a video?

Laura: My roommate and I made a video 5 years ago, sent it in and got called to come in and meet with the casting director. But they decided they were going to take on two professional athletes instead. So I kind of gave up on it for a little bit.

Nat: Then what happened?

Laura: In July I was at a restaurant in Santa Monica and one of the casting directors was there and she came over.

Nat: Did she recognize you or was it total coincidence?

Laura: I recognized her and told my friend, “I need to look fun!”

Nat: What does fun look like?

Laura: I had a drink in my hand, started laughing, was all smiley. I just looked like I was having a good time!

Nat: And it worked!

Laura: It worked! She came over and said, “Would you ever want to be on The Amazing Race”?

Nat: Did you tell her about your history?

Laura: Yeah, I said, “I met you 5 years ago!” She said, “Why didn’t I pick you?”. I said, “I have no idea!”

Nat: So that was it?

Laura: I went in for castings and got on the show!

Nat: Did you go in with your roommate again?

Laura: I went in by myself because they told me it was going to be singles. Five couples were going to be set up on the most extreme blind date and six couples would be pre-existing relationships. So I went in knowing it was just me, which is scary.

Nat: What was that moment like when you heard you were finally going to be on the show?

Laura: I was in shock! I was nervous. The casting director was like, “Aren’t you excited?” I was like, “Yes, I am! But I also don’t know my partner! What if we argue? What if we don’t like each other?” I started getting really negative and my personality is to always find the positive. So then I started thinking, “Well just as much as I can think negatively, I can think positively.”

Nat: How was it telling your roommate since you had first gone into this experience together?

Laura: It wasn’t really her dream. She wasn’t a die hard fan like I am. She wanted to do the show because I wanted to do it. When I told her, she was nothing but supportive. I don’t know if I would have done it or been so positive about it if it wasn’t for her.

Nat: So that was off your list but you have a day job to deal with. How did that conversation go?

Laura: Our EP [of Hallmark Channel talk show Home & Family], Woody Fraser, is great. I couldn’t tell him what show I was going to do but I said, “Listen, I have an AMAZING opportunity to go travel around the world on a show.” And he said, “You’ve got the green light. I completely support you. I had just been promoted before I left and I thought, “Great, he’s probably gonna give my job to someone else!” But he didn’t. He kept my job. Work has been phenomenal through everything.

Nat: What did you do to prepare?

Laura: I wasn’t that nervous. I was like, “Is there something wrong with me?” But I was so at peace because I prepared so much. I watched so many episodes and not as a viewer. I watched as if I was playing the game. What detour would I do? What roadblock would I do? What if I got a bad taxi driver? I took stick shift driving classes. I did a lot of meditating, yoga and positive affirmations cause I knew my head had to be in the right place. There’s so much stress and you see it, the girls break down. I got a trainer. I did a lot of hikes with the backpack on.

Nat: You really went at it with an athlete mentality.

Laura: Yeah! If I’m gonna do this and take the time out of my life, I’m gonna do it right!

Nat: I know you like your fashion. How challenging was it to pack?

Laura: I had to cut down on fashion! I did not know what to do! I watched other episodes and saw what people brought. There was no checklist [from the show].

Nat: Describe the morning of.

Laura: You’re taken to a place and you know that it’s going to start in the next few days but you don’t know exactly what day or time. That was the first time I felt nervous. There was no turning back.

Nat: And you’re shut off from the outside world. No calling, emailing or texting anyone.

Laura: I have to say, that was kind of amazing especially as a producer, I’m constantly tied to my phone. I felt so free!

Nat: So the race starts…

Laura: I was so nervous I’d run in the wrong direction. And then I did! I ran in the wrong direction!

Nat: That’s so something I’d do! And then you have to find your partner. What a blind date! Forget a bar or restaurant…

Laura: I had never been on a blind date before. So go big or go home! Why not do it on national television? All they told me is, “His name is Tyler and he’s wearing green.” So I’m running and I’m like, “Okay, not green, not green… green! Are you Tyler?” And it wasn’t him! I finally saw Tyler.

Nat: What did you think?

Laura: I was nervous up until I saw him. Once I saw Tyler, I felt calm. There was something about him. He has a really good energy that I picked up on. He was tall, strong, smiling a lot, positive…

Nat: Mmm hmm. I sense romance.

Laura: [Laughs]

Nat: Were you going into it hoping for a relationship?

Laura: I’m never really looking for love. I’m not that kind of person who’s like, “I need to get married.” That’s not why I did the show. I was such a fan of the race and that was my first priority. It seems like a great added bonus but whether or not something turned into love, I was hoping to have a lasting friendship because I’m going to experience something that I won’t ever be able to experience with anyone else.

Nat: The first challenge is a Tough Mudder [an obstacle course through the mud].

Laura: Usually on the race, the first challenge is like, “Oh, go find a key to a car”. It was crazy that we were on a first date and we had to go through mud! It starts and everyone just stood there. Jiwani jumped in first, Tyler cannonballed and I just went for it. All the other girls just stood there. They looked crippled. I was like, “I gotta go!”

Nat: How was it?

Laura: It was challenging! I kept thinking, “Why did I not do this to train for the race?” I’d just met my partner, there’s mud, cameras in our faces- a lot of stimulation all at once! But it was a lot more fun than I thought it’d be.

Nat: If I were going on the race, I would have lied my way through pre-interviews with producers. I’m terrified of snakes but I’d never tell them that! Cause you know, in some challenge, there would be snakes!

Laura: Oh, of course. When they asked me what I was scared of, I said cupcakes and puppies!

Nat: That’s my girl! Was there anything you wish you had on the race that you didn’t?

Laura: I forgot my watch! I ran the whole race with no watch!

Nat: Did you bring anything for good luck? To remind you of home?

Laura: My mom gave me a coin that said, “Potential” on it. She gave it to me ten years ago and I always carry it with me. So I showed it to Tyler and he thought it was really cool that we would live up to our potential.

Nat: What’s Laura’s next adventure?

Laura: I’m not an adrenaline junkie but a big thing for me is getting over my fears so my next adventure is to go skydiving, see what the world looks like from high up in the sky. I’m scared but you only live once!

Watch Laura compete in her dream race around the world Fridays on CBS.