Interview: Jordan Pious Chases His Dream — and a Million Dollars — on "The Amazing Race"

When thirteen-year-old Jordan Pious watched the very first season of CBS’ The Amazing Race, he knew he wanted to one day compete on the show. He also knew that he wanted his younger brother Daniel to race with him. Ironically, it turned out the more difficult challenge wasn’t actually getting on the race, but getting Daniel to compete. 

But Jordan, now twenty two and a strategic consultant in Atlanta, GA, prevailed, and two weeks ago viewers watched as the brothers set out to beat nine other teams in the 16th edition of The Amazing Race. The out Jordan recently talked with AfterElton.com about his relationship with his brother, how they differ from last season’s gay brother team Sam and Dan McMillen and much more.

AfterElton.com: Your bio says one of your goals is to meet Tom Brady. Has that happened yet?
Jordan Pious: It has not happened yet, and it is still very much a goal of mine. Someday.

AE: When I was doing research for our interview, I couldn't find anything else with you, so this is probably going to be the first time most folks get the chance to learn about you, so what are the five most surprising things about you?
JP: Oh wow. So you've got interesting questions here. This is exciting. The five most surprising things? I'm gay. That's not really surprising, but maybe a little interesting depending on who's learning about me. I'm Jewish, which is interesting but probably not surprising either. This goes back to the first question, but even though I am gay, I am very much into sports, and a big, big, big Boston sports follower. Sometimes people are like, "Wait, you're gay but you like sports? How does that work?" I invent my own languages with my brother sometimes. That's kind of weird. [laughs]

AE: Now that's interesting.
JP: I know, right? We're starting to get there! My brother and I kind of live in our own world sometimes. This is totally weird, but we use the letter "I" in all of our words. It's just weird. I don't even know how to explain it. We have a language. We understand each other when we speak but nobody else can really understand what we're saying.

AE: Maybe that came in handy on the race.
JP: It's come in handy many a time in life when you're trying to say something but you don't want everyone around you to hear. He'll always understand what I'm saying and vice versa.

AE: It's funny that you mentioned the sports thing, about people being surprised that you're gay and like sports, because I've always been interested in sports, and I have to tell you, it's been the best ice breaker with straight guys who are meeting you for the first time. You can always sort of see their surprise. It's like, "Oh wow. I can talk to this guy. I can relate to him." I've always been glad I was interested in sports.
JP: Absolutely. It's come in handy so many times. I feel like things have gotten so much better and continue to get better every day as far as people being accepting gays and whatnot, but I definitely feel like that was a leg up for me being able to have these conversations with straight guys. They're not so quick to pass judgment.

AE: When did you decide that being on The Amazing Race was something you really wanted to pursue? JP: I can remember like yesterday watching the very first episode of the very first season of The Amazing Race when I was 13-years-old, and just thinking, "God, this is the coolest thing!" I mean, here's a program that's giving you the chance to travel the world and a chance to win a million dollars? Sign me up.

When I was 21, and of age to apply, I did. It's been a dream of mine since the show started. Of all the reality programs out there, this is the one I can't imagine anybody not wanting to be a part of. It's just a matter of people really going after it. I chase after my dreams hardcore, so I wasn't going to give up on this one.