Kriti Mehrotra
If there’s one thing absolutely nobody can deny, it’s that CBS’ ‘The Amazing Race’ tests the teams’ interpersonal chemistry, compatibility, and overall connection more than anything else. That’s because in each leg of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, the complex twists and turns propel them to work together in a way they likely never did before, which either breaks or makes them. Undeniably falling into the latter category in season 37 were married nurse anesthetists Alyssa Kirk and Josiah Borden, whose strategies as well as teamwork took them all the way to the finals.
Alyssa and Josiah Borden’s Amazing Race Stint Was One for the Books
From the moment Alyssa and Josiah Borden stepped into the show, the mutual affection, care, and kindness between them were evident in the way they worked together at every step. That’s how they managed to secure first place at the end of not just leg 1 but also leg 7, all the while mostly landing in the top three — only twice did they veer before quickly getting back on track. Legs 3 and 4 in Japan and Indonesia, respectively, weren’t particularly great for them as they struggled to keep up. Yet, they survived by staying in the middle and keeping one another motivated.
The pressure of this entire experience arguably almost got to Alyssa and Josiah just once — in leg 10, when they couldn’t agree on how to use their Express Pass — but things still worked out for them. Honestly, his unwavering positivity and praise for his partner, combined with her quiet strength and encouragement toward him, made them one of the best in the competition. Hence, they managed to secure their place in the finale. The fact that this couple had been dreaming of partaking in this show for years as fans and already had familial plans for how they would spend the $1 million prize pot also helped them along the way. In the end, though, they concluded their stint on this show in 4th place.
Alyssa and Josiah’s Backgrounds Equipped Them With Important Life Skills
While Alyssa is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native through and through, her loving husband Josiah proudly claims to be an adopted Philadelphian because he is technically a native of nearby Lancaster. He graduated from Conestoga Valley High School, where he undertook several extracurricular activities while also focusing on studies to make the most of any opportunity that might come his way in life. From what we can tell, he did quite well at school and was even rather well-known amongst his peers, thanks to all his hard work as a part of the drama club, Model United Nations, and the wrestling team. Josiah openly credits these extracurriculars and his familial situation – he was raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs just to make ends meet – with teaching him how to face adversity.
He learned early on from loved ones that what matters is diligence, integrity, and perseverance because the universe wouldn’t accept any excuses or sob stories. However, they also taught him by example that it’s good to push others by raising the bar as long as it is done positively and with the intention of helping them reach it too. Josiah recently told Lancaster Online that while wrestling taught him “hard work outweighs all else,” the other activities he participated in opened his eyes to the vast world. Coming to Alyssa, like her life partner, she grew up happily juggling studies and extracurriculars; the one she really focused on as a youngster was soccer. The competitiveness, discipline, and team spirit of this sport, along with the quick decisions she had to make while actively playing on the field, are just some aspects she loved about it, and it all really shaped who she grew up to be.
Alyssa and Josiah’s Professions are a Small Representation of Who They Are
Upon graduating from their respective high schools, while Alyssa decided to attend Temple University (2011-2015), Josiah enrolled at the University of Texas-Pan American (2010-2014). They both majored in nursing while continuing to gladly engage in their passion for sports, that is, until it eventually came time for them to focus on one or the other. Wanting to help others more than anything else, they both chose the former, resulting in them later registering at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. They had no idea this decision would lead them to one another.
Alyssa reportedly worked at the Temple University Hospital of Boyer Pavilion for a few years after graduation, whereas Josiah returned to his hometown to serve at Lancaster General Hospital. It was only later that he relocated to Philadelphia for good, shortly following which he began the Anesthesia program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. It was reportedly during this 3-year degree that he first came across his now-wife, unaware they would soon fall head over heels in love and find their true forever in one another.
Moreover, Alyssa and Josiah found their professional calling during this period, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic striking the world in the worst of ways starting in early 2020. They knew they wanted to help make others feel better and be a part of positive change, so they devoted themselves to not only each other but also their work as Registered Nurses. The latter, in particular, split his time working in the intensive care units of both Philadelphia and Lancaster General Hospital, often working back-to-back shifts while also maintaining his grades at Penn.
Josiah even contracted COVID-19 twice but returned to work as soon as he recovered each time, for which he was recognized by the Mazda Motor Corporation as a “Mazda Hero” in 2021. He received a brand new car through this program, yet what really seemed to matter to him was that he and the majority of his loved ones were doing as okay as they could be. Furthermore, both he and Alyssa ultimately earned their certification as nurse anesthetists, resulting in them now seemingly working full-time as professionals in this chosen field of theirs in Philadelphia.
Alyssa and Josiah Continue to Embrace the Adventures of Life Together
It was in December 2021 when Josiah got down on one knee for Alyssa, knowing they are the love of each other’s lives in every sense, to which she obviously said an enthusiastic yes. This was right after they had moved back to Philadelphia from Los Angeles, California, where they had lived for 10 months for a work opportunity, and it was perfect timing. The couple subsequently tied the knot in a beautiful, cozy, intimate ceremony surrounded by their loved ones in Malibu, California, on July 30, 2022, after which they truly settled down and began living their lives together.
From running their first triathlon together less than two months after getting married to supporting one another’s individual achievements to traveling the world, Alyssa and Josiah have done it all. While the latter became an Ironman after swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running 26.2 miles in October 2022, the former ran her first marathon in March 2023, between which the couple visited the Zion National Park in Utah, the Palisades Tahoe ski resort in Lake Tahoe, Sedona in Arizona, Australia, New Zealand, and many more destinations. Camping, diving, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and watching live sports, especially football, are just a few hobbies of this adventurous couple.
Over time, Alyssa and Josiah have even been to his homeland of Honduras, as well as explored various places across England, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Bahamas, and many other states in the US. Honestly, they truly are a match made in heaven with the way they are so different in terms of their personalities yet so alike in terms of their likes, dislikes, passions, and professions. After all, although Josiah is admittedly overtly optimistic, his wife tends to worry over the littlest things, so he actually enables her to have a wild side and keep dreaming, whereas she keeps his feet on the ground. As for what’s next for them, the relatively new dog parents who welcomed a pup named Parker into their family in December 2024 do want to have children, so that appears to be the next step for them.
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