When the new season of the long-running hit television series "The Amazing Race" debuts on March 5, UAlbany's Nick Fio '14 and his brother, Mike, will be one of 14 two-person teams that embark on a spectacular sprint across the globe to compete in mental and physical challenges to capture the $1 million prize.

"We've watched [the show] ever since we were kids," says Nick via a Zoom interview from the brothers' Brooklyn offices. "It was a way to see the world from your couch and it was pretty amazing to do that with your family."

The Fio brothers (who use their family name of Fiorito on the show) were profiled by UAlbany Magazine in December 2023 about their nonprofit organization "Blankets of Hope" which provides blankets to people experiencing homelessness and conducts kindness and empathy workshops.  

Nick's younger brother and business partner, Mike, says the show's premise perfectly suited their personalities: "We love to travel and we love a good challenge and this was the perfect combination of both."

In fact, it was a challenge just to get on the show. The Fios applied for seven years straight, even reaching the casting finals twice, only to be rejected each time — until now. They joke that they probably wore down the show's producers.

"They're like 'Alright, just stop bothering us,'" laughs Nick, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in accounting and business management from UAlbany.

One of those producers is also the show's longtime host, Phil Keoghan, who gave a shout-out to the Fios as one of his "all-time favorite teams."  

The Fios say Keoghan is authentic, big-hearted and a creative genius. Mike Fio says the 57-year-old host blew them away with his energy and inventiveness during a photo shoot: "He just put on a master class of free-flowing creativity!"

Season 35 of "The Amazing Race" features the largest cast in the show's history, with 28 contestants who hail from all corners of the country.

"Honestly, that's one of the coolest parts ... of the process. And it really brings together so many different walks [with] this common goal of trying to get to the finish line" says Nick while emphasizing the teams are also formidable competitors. "In terms of competition, man, you realize that's it not all about just having big muscles to do well in this race! These people are smart. They're strategic."

First as fans and now as contestants, the Fios know that the real reward of the show, beyond the considerable prize money, is what the experience teaches you about the world and, ultimately, yourselves.

"When you travel and you just step into someone else's world for a little bit, you realize ... how unlimited the possibilities of your life are," Nick says. "Never stop chasing your dreams. Never, ever give up on it."

Because as the Fios know, it only takes one 'Yes.'

‍