1 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome back, Happy Hour listeners. As you all know, it 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: has been a crazy week and Tasia has been a very, 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: very busy woman. So she's in a little fac she's 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: taking a break, she's kicking her feet up hopefully relaxing. 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: But don't worry because we have my other favorite, miss 6 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: Katherine Lowe back, So Catherine, welcome, Thank you for joining 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: us once again. How are you old hat? Old hat? Now? 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: It was I'm so glad to be talking about this 9 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: episode with you and being able to speak to our 10 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,240 Speaker 1: guests today because I needed to talk to somebody about 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: this and talk to the man of the hour. Is 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: gonna be awesome. So thanks for having you today. Yes, well, 13 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: thank you. I'm so glad to have you back. And 14 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say an old hat. I would just say 15 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: you're a favorite hat. You know, you're the one that 16 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: you're our go to. But yes, as you mentioned, our 17 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: guest today is an incredible one. He is. I'm telling 18 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: you guys right now, if you didn't already fall in 19 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: love with him on last night's episode, you will do 20 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: so today because we have Michael A himself and you know, 21 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: I know every week we're supposed to be doing these 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: full blown recaps of the episodes, but quite honestly, there 23 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: was so much that went down last night. There was 24 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: obviously so much drama that we saw. But Michael's story 25 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: is one I think that hit everyone in our hearts, 26 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: and I really want to allow him the time to 27 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: have this platform to talk more about what he's experienced, 28 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 1: more about his time on the show and his past 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: relationships and his life beyond this. So I really want 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: to focus on that conversation. But that being said, if 31 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: you want to get Katie Thurston's side of everything and 32 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: more info on you know, what she's been experiencing this 33 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: entire journey, but also on last night's stage, she will 34 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: be on talking it out with Brian and Mike this week, 35 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: so please go check that out if you want to get, 36 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: you know, another side. But Katherine, I just think we 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: need to bring Michael on because he had such an 38 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: incredible story. I think we should just bring him on. 39 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: What do you think, Let's do it. Let's do it, okay, 40 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I think he's going 41 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: to be one of our favorites of all time. Please 42 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: welcome Michael A to Happy Hour. Michael A. Welcome to 43 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: Bachelor Happy Hour. We are so excited to have you 44 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: because you have been one of my personal favorites. I 45 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: think you have been one of America's personal favorite contestants. 46 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: And I want to preface this with you know, we 47 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: all know you go by Michael A. But for the 48 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: purpose of this podcast, will drop the A for this. 49 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: It'll pick back up once you're done, you know. But 50 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: but we don't need a right now since you're the 51 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: one and only man here. And I have to say, 52 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: you are looking great. You have this like post bachelorette 53 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: globe going on. Oh thank you and good morning, and 54 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 1: thank you so much for having me. It's it's a pleasure. 55 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: And uh yeah, what a what a crazy experience. Everything 56 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: was very you know, I'm just really excited to kind 57 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: of get everything going and you know, obviously crazy episode. 58 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: It's going to be really fun to watch all these 59 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: amazing memories that feels like so long ago, just once 60 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: again feel real. How has that been for you because 61 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: obviously you lived it. It was a few months ago, 62 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: so you know you've kind of now gone back to 63 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: your daily life. So how has it been knowing like 64 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: what you went through versus actually watching it back now. Yeah, 65 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: It's it's really funny how life changes. You know, you 66 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: can plan as much as possible, but sometimes, you know, 67 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: life kind of takes the wheel. And for me, it's 68 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: I never replied for this. It was never something I 69 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: had in my you know, plan whatsoever. And Producers reached 70 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: out to me. And originally, when you go through this process, 71 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: you've seen it unfold so many times over how many seasons, 72 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: And at first all I saw was really like downside risk. 73 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: You know, that's just kind of how I, you know, think, 74 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: And it was one of those things where it was, 75 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: you know, twenty nineteen was very difficult, twenty twenty was 76 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: really difficult, and it felt like a perfect time to 77 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: you know, bet on myself, take a risk, get outside 78 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: of my box and try to find some ways to 79 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: to grow and and and find love and find kind 80 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: of a missing that missing piece in my life. That's 81 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: you know, really so vital. Did someone sign you up? 82 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: I did someone put you up? How did how did 83 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: they find you? Yeah? So they reached out to me 84 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: via Instagram and um, you know, producers reached out and 85 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: at first, really just downside risk didn't seem like it 86 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: was um, it was really something I had really I 87 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: thought about whatsoever. And as I started to give it 88 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: a little bit more thought, it seemed like a perfect 89 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: time to you know, take some risk, bet on myself, 90 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: kind of get outside of the box. And crazy enough, 91 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: I actually said no to it ice Um, not because 92 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: I didn't you know, believe in it or one thing 93 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: or the other. It was just is this how I 94 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: want to go about finding that missing piece? And I 95 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: mean it's such an absurd idea, but it's a it's 96 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: a really kind of beautiful thing too. Um. And I'm 97 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: thirty seven, so definitely like the old dude on the show. Um, 98 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: you know there's but I will say, our guys, the cast, 99 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: they're amazing. Um. They're really some people with some good 100 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,239 Speaker 1: character that are out there. And it was I wasn't 101 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 1: the only one kind of leading them. They were leading 102 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: me throughout this this whole entire thing, because you need 103 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: to you need to be able to have that kind 104 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: of support. It to just a crazy experience. And you know, 105 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: I really can't wait to see how the whole season 106 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: goes well this as as it pertains to this past 107 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: week's UM episode, it was like watching like I'm a 108 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 1: load that you say that these you can see that 109 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: there was a lot of good guys, but you were 110 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: like a man amongst boys at some point you yeah, 111 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: oh yeah. It was clear that you were eloquent. It 112 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: was clear that you were vulnerable, that you were mature, 113 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: and that you knew what you wanted. I mean, I 114 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: think at one point you said, I wouldn't be you know, 115 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: like I would leave if it wasn't enough for me, 116 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: because you have so much at stake and you have 117 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 1: a lot waiting for you. But watching the episode and 118 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: seeing you and your demeanor, but at also times which 119 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: was really funny throughout the drama, what I witnessed was 120 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: your facial expressions were really cute because you were so 121 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: unaware of drama and they show you like look at 122 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: you around me like I don't know what's going on, 123 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: but very innocent. It was very cute. So anyways, but 124 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: you were a man amongst boys. Oh, thank you so much. Yeah. 125 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,799 Speaker 1: I really didn't understand the drama most of the time. 126 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: I'm I'm you know. Part of it was that I 127 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:07,239 Speaker 1: don't know, at this point in my life, you really 128 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: don't need to create problems for yourself. Um, there's life 129 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: will give them to you and you adjust to them naturally. 130 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: So not to say that there weren't significant issues that 131 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: you know, were brought up in things that need to 132 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: be addressed, But part of me is always like, why 133 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: don't you just say you're sorry and we can kind 134 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: of move on on to the next thing. And it's 135 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: really also very weird watching yourself on TV. I mean, 136 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: I every time I'm on, I want to kind of 137 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: forget that I'm watching, you know, something that really unfolded, 138 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: but I just want to hide. It's so strange. But yeah, 139 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: and and and you know those those guys that were 140 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: on there, Um, you know, I think it's easy to 141 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: get caught up and the emotions of the momentum. It's 142 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: you gotta seeing the larger picture, like remember the reason 143 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: why you're actually there. And I think part of it 144 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: too is trying to find ways of being sympathetic to 145 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: Katie and being at that post. There's a lot of 146 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: emotions that go into it, and any sort of added 147 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: level of emotion and negativity can have this rippling effect 148 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: across the entire house and the entire experience. So we're 149 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: not just reacting in responding to our own emotions and 150 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: our own experience, but also have to take into account 151 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: other people's too, including cast and also most importantly Katie. 152 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: It was interesting because the date, I mean really the 153 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: whole episode was very vulnerable. It was very powerful, and 154 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: it was very deep. And what's interesting is that I 155 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: saw the group date happen and they were breaking down 156 00:08:54,600 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: walls and Katie had mentioned, or she really divulged, that 157 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 1: she had a lack of consent and she was talking 158 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: about a previous experience for her, and we notice in 159 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: your date you actually asked her very respectfully, can I 160 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,839 Speaker 1: kiss you? And to know that men that that didn't 161 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: experience her vulnerability and what she was talking about, you 162 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: didn't even see that, and you respectfully asked her can 163 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,319 Speaker 1: I kiss you? So do you have any advice for 164 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: men out there on how to respect women and their 165 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: boundaries and what they're willing to do in that space? Yeah, well, 166 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: I mean one, watching it back entirely, I forgot that 167 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: I even said that. I think it was a little 168 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: bit of just habit and awkwardness, but I mean, most importantly, 169 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: consents everything. I didn't want to read a situation wrong. 170 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: I was the first time, so I really didn't know 171 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: where she was standing how she was feeling, you know, 172 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: with me. I mean from the time I got there 173 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: up until you know, the time we actually kissed for 174 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: the first time. We had spent some quality time together 175 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: where I felt there was a connection. But then again, 176 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: there's also all these other men who she has a 177 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 1: connection with, So I didn't want to step kind of 178 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: out of line. I wanted it to be mutual, not forced, 179 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: and yeah, I mean consents, that's what you want. Anyways, 180 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: you know it's not a one sided relationship, because well 181 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: that's where that's where I think, Adding on to what 182 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: Kavine said earlier, is like you were shown as like 183 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:50,719 Speaker 1: such this kind, respectful man amongst you know, boys, with 184 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,719 Speaker 1: all of this extra drama going down, and so that's 185 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: why I think everyone looked at you and your date 186 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: in your interaction with Katie with so much respect and admiration. 187 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: It's like, you know, we watch and me as a 188 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: single woman, I'm like, that's what I want, Like that's 189 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: the kind of person I want. Like you are just 190 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: a good person. I want to go back to the 191 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: connection with Katie because obviously, you know, this week we 192 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: did see you get that one on one, but when 193 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,559 Speaker 1: you stepped out of the limo, like obviously there's kind 194 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: of no expectations. You don't know who you're meeting. You 195 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: don't know like what the vibe is going to be 196 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: between you two, if there will be that connection. So 197 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: did you feel that, you know, fresh out of the 198 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: limo with Katie, and then did you going into your 199 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: one on one date like still feel that or were 200 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: you still kind of like m like, I'm not too sure, 201 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: Like how are you feeling, like on your side of things, 202 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: because we you know, we've heard Katie and her interviews 203 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: and itms, But how are you feeling? Yeah, I remember 204 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: telling myself that if I didn't feel that and like 205 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: necessary initial spark, that I really wouldn't waste time. I think. 206 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: I mean, anybody who's been in a bunch of relationships, 207 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 1: you can't force this thing. It really is something where 208 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: you know that that real spark the first time you 209 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: see somebody, first time you interact with them, that aura, 210 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: that energy when words haven't even been spoken. That's a 211 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: piece that in my mind can't really be replicated and 212 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: it's special. Um, you can learn to love somebody without 213 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: that spark, but at the same time, when you do 214 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: have it um, it really changes everything. And I remember 215 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: telling myself, just because I have a four year old 216 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: at home, I've got multiple businesses, I operate employees that 217 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: kind of depend on me, that if it wasn't there, 218 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: then it's okay, Like I can I can leave. I 219 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: don't need to, you know, waste her time, take away 220 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,479 Speaker 1: from others. But when I was in the limo, I've 221 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,080 Speaker 1: got okay, I got a really funny story here at 222 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: I think it's funny, you know. So I'm sitting in 223 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: the limo and it's my turn to jump on out. 224 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: The whole entire time I'm in the limo, I'm so 225 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: not nervous. I'm like, why am I not like sweating 226 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: and nervous? Like am I just playing it cool here? 227 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: And then I get out of the limo and one 228 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: you realize that you've seen this play out so many 229 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 1: times and now you're a part of it. So then 230 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: the nerves started coming, and you know, me being the 231 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: oldest guy on the show, I was like, oh god, 232 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: um when I got out, tons of like bright lights, 233 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: I couldn't actually find her. I had no idea what 234 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: I hop out the limo and I'm like like, like 235 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: this I'm like, oh my god, I'm totally playing into 236 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: like this old dude's there stile and I'm like, where 237 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: are you like this? And then you know, it's really 238 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: kind of cute because Katie, you know, she's said it 239 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: like hello, like over here sea Clouder, sneak Clouder. And 240 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 1: then I locked it and she looked incredible that night, um, 241 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: and I felt a spark, which is what I was 242 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: looking for the whole entire time. And then you know, 243 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: you're in the limo, waiting and waiting and waiting. I 244 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:16,559 Speaker 1: start taking my first step to her, and my pant 245 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: leg had risen all the way so like my cap 246 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: and I looked down and I'm like, should I fix this? 247 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: Should I just roll with it? Like roll up with 248 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: her like full llo coool J style, you know, And 249 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: I don't know that's how it's gonna work. So I 250 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: just kind of like tried to shake it down. Then 251 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: I get up there, and you know, she just immediately 252 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: made you feel, you know, made me feel very welcome. 253 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: She was very warm and radiant and smiling. And it 254 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: was really really cold that day too, I did you 255 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 1: could kind of tell the girls were so that was 256 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: it was not la like what we're used to. No, 257 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: not at all you because people can't handle those midways. 258 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: I have a question because obviously you came in and 259 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, as we got to know this week, you 260 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: have such a history, you have such a story. It's 261 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: like you have a sound waiting for you at home, 262 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: and as you mentioned, you know, you have employees, you 263 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: have so much that, like, you know, if this wasn't 264 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: going to be right for you, if you didn't feel it, 265 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: you were like, then I'm okay with coming home. Do 266 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: you feel like then, knowing all of that in the 267 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: back of your mind, stepping out of the limit and 268 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: actually saying yes to this journey in general, was it 269 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: more pressure or less pressure? Because I feel like so 270 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: many people come in they're like, you know, I'm going 271 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: to find my person, and I want to get engaged 272 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: and I want all of these things that we see 273 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: play out season after season, and for you to do 274 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: feel like that was removed because you're like, I love 275 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: my life, I have so much going on, so much 276 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: waiting for me back home, that like, would you say 277 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: that it was less pressure in that regard? Yeah, it's 278 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: a really good point. I mean I really wasn't playing 279 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: for these you know, week by week roses. Um. Obviously 280 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: everything comes with its own stress after you get it. 281 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 1: So my first thing was like, I really hope that 282 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,479 Speaker 1: there's some sort of spark here because that's just exciting 283 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: for my life. But then once you feel like you're like, 284 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: oh god, now you feel invested and you feel like 285 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: now something can be taken away, and so you know, 286 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: each you know, each time Katie and I spoke, I 287 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: always asked her, you know, questions, maybe that maybe we're 288 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: too quick to ask just because I wanted to get 289 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: to know, you know, when her as a person, but 290 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 1: also what her what her goals were work like if 291 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: this was an end goal, how our lives is going 292 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: to actually like mesh together, the logistics of it, you 293 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: know everything. Um, Like, it's not it's not that easy 294 00:16:55,760 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: to just like have love to find it, but two 295 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: lives kind of have to intersect at the right moment 296 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: as well. And I feel like that's that's like such 297 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: a great thing that the Bachelor does because in only 298 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: like in this arena, can you say non negotiables really quickly, 299 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: because that's like what six months down the road, you 300 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: would say certain things like well, what would happen if 301 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: blah blah blah blah. But you could say that day 302 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: two and it's not that weird, and it's like, I 303 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: don't want to waste your time. Let's not waste time. 304 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: So I think that's such an interesting thing that the 305 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: Bachelor does really well, is creates this environment to really 306 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 1: have real talks. Because most of the time, when you 307 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: get off the show, you don't live in the same 308 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: city as that person. You will have no idea what 309 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: their day to day looks like. So that is really 310 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: good information to know on early so that you can 311 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: decide if this is our right for either of you. Yeah, 312 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 1: I mean, time is just it's so important, you know. 313 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: It's something I've just learned over you know, the last 314 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 1: thirty seven years and just with my own experience, is 315 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: you know, you don't want to waste it. You have 316 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: so many people that will come in and out of 317 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 1: your life that are trying to take your time and 318 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: your pieces, and you know, depending on who you are, 319 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: you know, you may want to give them out freely 320 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: and you may want to protect them. You know, I'm 321 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: somebody that happens to give back my time, but that 322 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: also gets to be in trouble a lot because there's like, well, 323 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 1: there's none left for me, and so this whole experience 324 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: was unbelievable because I was investing in myself. I blocked 325 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: everything off. And I do think the bachelorrette allows you 326 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: to focus on you for a little bit and how 327 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: you want to get better, and you discover stuff about yourself, 328 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: and you also go into interviews and you start looking 329 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: at maybe topics that normally would have gone unaddressed in 330 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: the real world because again, other people are demanding of 331 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,199 Speaker 1: your time. You've got other responsibilities, so they're depending on 332 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: how you use your time is always the most important. 333 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: And I did have this really nice like mental health 334 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: kind of break from it, like who who gets who 335 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: finds mental health on eventually? Yeah, well no, I've always 336 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,640 Speaker 1: said it's like going into the itms and the interviews 337 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: and even the chats with with other you know, contestants, 338 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 1: it's like it becomes some sort of therapy. It's like 339 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: a lot of it can be very therapeutic for people 340 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: because we're not always used to opening up and talking 341 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: about our emotions and our feelings and divulging like these 342 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: deep dark sides to us. And so you know the show. Obviously, 343 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: yes there's drama, but there's also some very beautiful breakthroughs 344 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: and conversations that take place, which is obviously what we 345 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: saw with you on your one on one with Katie. Yeah, 346 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: there's there's a quote I love and it's this. It's 347 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: kind of long, so stick with me here, but it's 348 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: it goes it's wrong to expect a reward for your struggle. 349 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: The reward is the act of struggle itself, not what 350 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 1: you win. And while we cannot expect to defeed the 351 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: absurdity in the world, you must make an attempt. That's religion, 352 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: that's art, that's life. Michael, you're giving me the chills. God, 353 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: he's proving the marriage materials, just continuing. Yes, he is fully, Yes, 354 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: you are what every woman would want. Thank you, and 355 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,720 Speaker 1: you know it. I love that quote because sometimes people 356 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 1: feel as though just because you've struggled or you've gone 357 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: through something hard, that you're entitled to something of reward, 358 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: ors or whatever. And you're looking at the end goal, 359 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:57,359 Speaker 1: that that final kind of exchange and transaction, and there's 360 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 1: a lot of reward in the process and in going 361 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: through that and the Bachelorette my time there with Katie 362 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: and everything like it was none of that was really 363 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: lost on me. I want to get into because there 364 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: was so much that you did share with us during 365 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: that night portion with Katie, and you shared some very personal, 366 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 1: very touching details about your life and with your wife Laura. 367 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: So I have a two part question because I want 368 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: to give you the grounds to, you know, share anything 369 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 1: that you want with us about Laura, because she seems 370 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: like an incredible person and like what you shared together, 371 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 1: I'm sure was something beautiful and it's a story that 372 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 1: we haven't necessarily seen play out on this before, and 373 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: so I'm glad that that your story and your history 374 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: is being shown here on this platform. So I want 375 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: to leave you the space to share anything that you 376 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: want about her. But first I want to get into 377 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: going into that evening. I mean, we saw you during 378 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: the day open up more about your son with Katie, 379 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: but going into that night, is it something that you 380 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: had planned to share or were you more in the 381 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: mindset of, you know, you know, if I'm if this 382 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: is feeling right in this moment to open up to 383 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:16,280 Speaker 1: Katie about this, or like, how did you go into 384 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:18,239 Speaker 1: that evening, Like what was your mindset how did you 385 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: get there? That's a great question because I struggled with 386 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: it so hard. Um, I mean, obviously we want to 387 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: share stuff about our past. It's who we are. I mean, 388 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: it's a big part of it for me. You know, 389 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 1: my kind of journey to get here is a little 390 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 1: bit more, maybe unorthodox than what others have experience. And 391 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: so I remember, like when I was, you know, speaking 392 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 1: with Katie and and everything, I wanted to bring it up. 393 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: It was like crawling out of me to get it 394 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 1: off my chest because it's just a major, major part. 395 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: But at the same time, you want to make sure 396 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: that you can do it justice. You want to make 397 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: sure that you have the right amount of time. And 398 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: at the same time, it's not just about me too. 399 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: You also have to take into account it's an emotional 400 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 1: night for Katie and everybody that she's meeting, and I 401 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: didn't want to put too much on her um where 402 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: you know, maybe she felt overwhelmed or things like that, 403 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,199 Speaker 1: but yeah, it was it was. It was on me 404 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,120 Speaker 1: the entire time, and I was just kind of being patient, 405 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 1: hoping that my time would come where I'd be afforded 406 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: the right amount of time with Katie to be able 407 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: to go through some of these deeper issues, and I 408 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:42,400 Speaker 1: wanted to see also how she responded, I'm not somebody 409 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: that just listens to words. I look at body language. 410 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,439 Speaker 1: I mean, the eyes just they don't lie. They just 411 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,479 Speaker 1: don't lie. You can you can see exactly what someone's 412 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: feeling when you look at them. So there's the you know, 413 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: the verbal and nonverbal that I just I wanted to 414 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: see in Katie was so accepting. It's It's not as 415 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,719 Speaker 1: though I ever questioned her capacity to be able to 416 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: handle this and a four year old and everything, but 417 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 1: I just had to say, I just had to see 418 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:15,680 Speaker 1: it for the first time. I'm sure you probably felt 419 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 1: like you couldn't get past, like get to the next 420 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: levels that you needed to in this without for sharing 421 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,879 Speaker 1: that with her. So thank I mean, thank you for 422 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: opening up. Like I said, it's it's not necessarily something 423 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,320 Speaker 1: that we've seen to this, you know, extent on the show, 424 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 1: and I like, I think your story is beautiful and 425 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,239 Speaker 1: it is what makes you you, and so I know 426 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: that that could not have been easy to share. But 427 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: thank you, because I mean, it's a beautiful thing and 428 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: you are an incredible man because of all of it. Oh, 429 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you so much. I mean we are 430 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,879 Speaker 1: we're all kind of who we are by the people 431 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 1: that you know, have really impacted us in our life. 432 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: You know, parents, and you know, yesterday's Father's Day, so 433 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 1: you know, Happy Father's Day. Did Happy Father's dayd you too? 434 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's I don't. I don't know, 435 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't feel entirely like I've owned, like 436 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,360 Speaker 1: I'm responsible for kind of the person I am. It's 437 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 1: all this stuff that's come along the way that's you know, 438 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: affected you. And Laura was one hundred percent a key 439 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: part of that. And you know anybody who's had love 440 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: or had a really good relationship when you for me, 441 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,239 Speaker 1: it was like when I was talking to Katie, I 442 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,959 Speaker 1: wanted to see if this is something she accept because 443 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 1: I mean, Laura's fifty percent of me, like just together 444 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: for such a long time, experience so much together that um, yeah, 445 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,480 Speaker 1: it was. It was really nice. I'm getting till I 446 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: remember they're here. First the first night, I mean, you 447 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: had said I have four old son, So like you 448 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: put that on the table for Katie to accept, to 449 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: understand that that is part of you and for as 450 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: a viewer. I was like, wait, like giving me more, 451 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: like I want to know more. And so when you 452 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: were talking to I think it was Mike and another 453 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: guy this week's episode, you started to let it out 454 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: and it was so compelling, and you had mentioned that 455 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: Laura was the only person that you had said I 456 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: love you too. I mean, these were things that America 457 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: is now like lifting you up there and saying like, 458 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 1: please tell us more. We want more stories like yours, 459 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: in terms of how vulnerable you were, how much you've learned, 460 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,840 Speaker 1: how much you still have her by your side, and 461 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:39,640 Speaker 1: watching Katie receive that information and say something I thought 462 00:26:39,760 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: was beautiful. I have a four year old son as well, 463 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 1: So if someone had said to me, hey, I know 464 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: how much weight this rose carries, it's also including your son. 465 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: Like I could see you you shift and say like 466 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 1: oh wow, like that she gets it. She understands what 467 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: I'm saying. And she also, you know, respected your wife. 468 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: So it was just a beautiful moment. I think you were. 469 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:06,960 Speaker 1: You spoke so eloquently about your experience about what you had, 470 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 1: you know, had held Laura's hand through, and to not 471 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:16,679 Speaker 1: just have like verbiage that was cliche. You think you 472 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 1: said things that we could really visualize, that we could 473 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: see and want to like hold your hand through too. 474 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 1: So the way that you spoke was so eloquent. It 475 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 1: made viewers like me just so proud to be listening 476 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 1: to your story and hearing you and being proud of you. 477 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,880 Speaker 1: And I'm just it was a beautiful, beautiful date. Yeah. 478 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 1: I mean, now that you're saying now what we're talking 479 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: about this, I'm getting like all these memories that are 480 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, flashing back. And I also remember how difficult 481 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: it was to keep my story from like other guys 482 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: in the house that I actually had a good relationship with. 483 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: I particularly didn't release all of that because one, it's 484 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,160 Speaker 1: like I'm an individual too. I wanted them to get 485 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 1: to know me. I didn't want you know this, you know, 486 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: this guy's just sad all the time or has that 487 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:18,119 Speaker 1: because the story is I mean, it's you know, you 488 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: can see when I talk about it, I'm smiling, and 489 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,119 Speaker 1: it's It's something I wanted to share with these guys, 490 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: but I didn't want that to impact their own experience. 491 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: It's such an important thing too that I wanted to 492 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: make sure that I could speak to Katie about it. First, 493 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 1: just so that she heard it from me, and that 494 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: individual's out of no mal intent per se. You bring 495 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: it up prior, but it just requires a different level 496 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: of care man, the way you handle things, the way 497 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: you handle yourself. I'm just like the world needs more 498 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: men like Michael. Oh my gosh. Well one thing too 499 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 1: that you had touched on is you know you mentioned it. 500 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: It's not just like your son and your family involved 501 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: in this. You know you still are. I mean, I 502 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: should say Laura's family is still part of your life. 503 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,479 Speaker 1: So that just plays an extra role, you know, extra 504 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: care and thought when she's handed out those roses to you. 505 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: So coming on, how did both of your families feel 506 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: about you leaving to come on the show? Yeah, great question. Yeah, 507 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: I don't even like to call them in laws. I 508 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: mean their family. You've just been with them for so 509 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 1: long and they're amazing and we've all really leaned on 510 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: each other and kind of grown over the past, you know, geez, 511 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: the last three years. But when producers reached out to 512 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: me to be on this you know show with Katie 513 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: and everything, I wanted to I wanted to ask them 514 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: first about their opinion. And so after kind of going 515 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: back and forth and you know, trying to figure out 516 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: the pros and cons and all that. I went to 517 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: my parents and I was, you know, this is you 518 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,160 Speaker 1: know the Bachelor, right, Yeah. I made me on it, 519 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: like is this something I should do? And you know, 520 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: we went back and forth bunch. And then my parents 521 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 1: They've always been one so incredibly supportive. They're really good people, 522 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: my mom and my sister. I believe they said, I 523 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 1: hear everything you're saying, but every time you're talking about this, 524 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: you're smiling. So it really didn't have anything to do 525 00:30:32,120 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: with the words per se. And that's kind of what 526 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: I was alluding to before, Like you can see it 527 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: in people's eyes, like what do they want to do? 528 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: Your answers are always kind of right there. So I 529 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: was like, you know, you're right, Like I do get 530 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: a little like pep in my step, a little energy, 531 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 1: which quite frankly I really needed at the time too, 532 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: because you know, sometimes, I mean I was just totally 533 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: in this rut, you know, where it's just like oh God, 534 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: and that that kind of helped lift me up. But 535 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: you know, did my decision to you know, begin this 536 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,440 Speaker 1: journey is not just mine? So there's a lot of 537 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 1: people who are affected with it in my world, people 538 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: that I really love and cherish. And so I did. 539 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:18,360 Speaker 1: I did say that before I decided to go on 540 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 1: the show, I wouldn't go on unless my in laws 541 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: had given me full approval. Um basically like, this is 542 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: my out to do something you know that may feel 543 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: make me feel uncomfortable. But they were supportive too. Um, 544 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: they understand that we've all been through some very crazy 545 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: moments together. They know how much you know, I you know, 546 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: supported them, love their daughter and everything. And they're amazing 547 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: because they wanted to see me, you know, find happiness again. 548 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: And I think everybody needs somebody to help them navigate life. Yeah, 549 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 1: well yes, ever, I mean, you know, companionship and partnership 550 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 1: to go through all of the ups and downs is 551 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: so important. You know, we as humans gravitate towards that. 552 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: You had mentioned at one point that obviously you're ready 553 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: to open your heart again. So what kind of got 554 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: you to that place where you knew you were ready 555 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:24,280 Speaker 1: for that? You know, we talked to like, you know, 556 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: a lot went down in your past two years, and 557 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: so how did you know like, Okay, I'm here, like 558 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 1: I'm at a good place because I think sometimes it's 559 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: easy to do, especially when you're going through so many 560 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: hardships and dealing with a quarantine and this pandemic too, 561 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: to need some sort of distraction. So what was it 562 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 1: that got you to the place where you're like, my 563 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 1: head and my heart are ready to, you know, fully 564 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: give this a shot. That is a really really good question. 565 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: And you know, for anybody that's ever lost somebody, their 566 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 1: process is all very, very different. For me, I am 567 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: very proact in trying to, you know, get better, and 568 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 1: a lot of that has to do with putting yourself 569 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:11,920 Speaker 1: in awkward situations and kind of forcing you to grow 570 00:33:13,280 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: and probably you know, jeez, maybe you know. Five months 571 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 1: after Laura passed, I actually went on my first date. 572 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: Not because I wanted to find somebody, but I wanted 573 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: to feel that experience. You know, when you've been with 574 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: the same person for sixteen years, you know, I'm everything's different, 575 00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: you don't have the same inside jokes, when someone touches 576 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:42,440 Speaker 1: you on the shoulder, they smell different, like all of 577 00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:46,080 Speaker 1: these different experiences. When you go through it for the 578 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: first time, it's really shocking and it's scary. So I 579 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 1: spent a lot of twenty nineteen, putting myself in those 580 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: scenarios where I was like, Okay, I went through that 581 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: not as bad as I thought or horrifying, you know, 582 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 1: depending on the situation. But you know, you're you're putting 583 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: yourself in that just so just so you can document it. 584 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: And I one thing I hear all the time is 585 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: you know, it has there been enough time? Is this 586 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 1: too soon? Which totally valid, very much valid. It's not 587 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:26,080 Speaker 1: as though I have the answers to this either, so 588 00:34:26,160 --> 00:34:30,800 Speaker 1: it's just what I'm leaning on. But time itself doesn't 589 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: heel um. I mean, sometimes you just have to acknowledge 590 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: the fact that you're not whole. But it doesn't mean 591 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 1: you can't be happy or you can't grow. And I would, 592 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:52,359 Speaker 1: I would really say that I'm thankful that I spent 593 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 1: that time to find a way to progress, and I 594 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 1: put that kind of work in when it was most uncomfortable, 595 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:03,319 Speaker 1: most awkward. I put that work in, you know, early on, 596 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:07,479 Speaker 1: so that it would make me ready to go through 597 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,960 Speaker 1: this journey this, you know. And yeah, well, I mean 598 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: once I got there, I felt like I was I 599 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:18,400 Speaker 1: was ready, I was prepared, um, and I wasn't wasting 600 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 1: anybody's time. Yeah, Oh man, I saw a graphic a 601 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: graphic on Instagram the other day where it was like 602 00:35:29,520 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 1: talking about grief um and talking about losing somebody, and 603 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: it was like it was all these jars stacked up 604 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: with like this black ball and it's and it's um 605 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,880 Speaker 1: showing like how like I could be watching this so 606 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:44,800 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, and they might cut this part out totally, 607 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 1: but it's like this black ball and like saying like, 608 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 1: like your grief is going to be the same throughout 609 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: all the stages of life. It's I was gonna be 610 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,760 Speaker 1: one size, but it's like it grows. And some days, 611 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,000 Speaker 1: like the grief is harder than other. Some days it's easier, 612 00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,920 Speaker 1: and so you just have to adjust the size of 613 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,239 Speaker 1: the jar around you instead of trying to force it 614 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:06,399 Speaker 1: all in the same size every time. Yeah, and that's plain. 615 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:09,520 Speaker 1: You know, some days like I haven't lost a partner 616 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,399 Speaker 1: in life, but I have lost a lot of people. 617 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 1: I've lost my father, and so I get it. It's 618 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:15,760 Speaker 1: like you have these days where you feel like, Okay, 619 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 1: I'm good, i'm solid, I'm on the right path, and 620 00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:19,160 Speaker 1: then you have some days that are crushing, and so 621 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: you just have to learn to adjust. And I'm sure 622 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,399 Speaker 1: that's tenfold for you, you know, because you do have 623 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: a son and a part of her with you that 624 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: lives on and so um and I'm glad that you 625 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,680 Speaker 1: recognize that and can acknowledge it. And no, you know, 626 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: I thought I was gonna be easy. It thought I 627 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,879 Speaker 1: was the same. But that's why I'm glad that you're 628 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:39,400 Speaker 1: along on this season and this journey. I think to 629 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:41,440 Speaker 1: kind of like portray that and show that to the 630 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:44,399 Speaker 1: world and to show you know, you're doing the best 631 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:45,879 Speaker 1: you can in your own way. And I think that's 632 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:49,359 Speaker 1: a beautiful thing. Yeah, I think you said it. You 633 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: said it great, and Happy Father's Day to him too. 634 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 1: It was a rough one, but you know, we go 635 00:36:57,360 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: on and we adjust. You feel all the things. So 636 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:04,480 Speaker 1: those calendar days, man, you're just like, oh God, here 637 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:08,279 Speaker 1: we go. And they're always still very much real, and 638 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:12,000 Speaker 1: part of me hopes that they never It always feels 639 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 1: that way because the worst thing to feel is numb 640 00:37:17,280 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 1: or like you know, apathetic. It's like sometimes even pain 641 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:27,480 Speaker 1: of loss is still connection, you know, it's still links 642 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 1: you with them, forces you to stop and think and 643 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,759 Speaker 1: there you know, there's there's this awesome quote that I 644 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: heard too. I'm not like the quote guy, so you 645 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,239 Speaker 1: good ones, though you seem to have good ones. It's 646 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 1: early in the morning growing out quotes. Oh my god, 647 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,479 Speaker 1: m but it was this, It was this idea that 648 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,640 Speaker 1: you know, you you walk along with somebody that you 649 00:37:51,719 --> 00:37:55,560 Speaker 1: love for so long that when you lose somebody, um, 650 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: it's almost like you know, a part of your leg 651 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: is cut off. But what you do is you learn 652 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:06,320 Speaker 1: how to dance with the lamp. H You keep giving 653 00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: me the shells that but that's really it is. You're 654 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: trying to make the best out of a situation, and 655 00:38:16,239 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 1: you stay. You know, you stay. You understand the value 656 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,960 Speaker 1: of life like that life is short. That you know, 657 00:38:23,239 --> 00:38:26,600 Speaker 1: it's you can't be wasted. And I think in my situation, 658 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: I saw my wife such a like a courageous fighter, 659 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:36,959 Speaker 1: like maintain so much optimism and humor during times when 660 00:38:37,120 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: things really bleak and dismal, and you could easily focus 661 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:47,520 Speaker 1: on that. UM. So anytime I get overly, you know, stressed, 662 00:38:47,600 --> 00:38:50,800 Speaker 1: or overwhelmed or down, I do try to not always 663 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,879 Speaker 1: successfully by the way, um, but always try to look 664 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:58,280 Speaker 1: back on our shared experience together as a family. Everything 665 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 1: that we have been through to get us to where 666 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:05,000 Speaker 1: we are, and I find it very therapeutic and healing 667 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: and it helps give me that that kind of boost 668 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:11,360 Speaker 1: and push that I need to get through very difficult 669 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:14,960 Speaker 1: times when they come up. Well, it just means that 670 00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:17,000 Speaker 1: it was real. If you're not feeling it, and if 671 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:19,759 Speaker 1: it's not, you know, if you're not feeling all of that, 672 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: it just diminishes what you had. And it seems like 673 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:26,360 Speaker 1: there was so much love and just such an incredible 674 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,320 Speaker 1: solid relationship between the two of you, and so it's 675 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 1: it's good to feel that and recognize it because you know, 676 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 1: if you didn't hurt, what are we doing in this world? 677 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:37,440 Speaker 1: Then one thing I want to ask you, and I 678 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,040 Speaker 1: want you know, like I said earlier, if there's anything 679 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:43,080 Speaker 1: else that you would love to share about Laura with us, 680 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,399 Speaker 1: whatever you feel comfortable with, please do so. But then 681 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 1: also I want to give you the floor to talk 682 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,520 Speaker 1: about any breast cancer resources or support that you might 683 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: want to share, because I know many of our listeners 684 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 1: you know, have gone through something similar or know of 685 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,960 Speaker 1: somebody that you know has gone through something. Unfortunately, cancer 686 00:40:00,160 --> 00:40:04,760 Speaker 1: such a beast in this world, and it happen sucks, 687 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:07,960 Speaker 1: you know, but um, but it's such a reality that 688 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:09,600 Speaker 1: most people have to deal with. So if you do 689 00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:12,760 Speaker 1: have any resources or support, like, please share here because 690 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,720 Speaker 1: I'm sure our listeners would would welcome that with open arms. Yeah, 691 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:19,760 Speaker 1: thank you too for allowing me to, you know, bring 692 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:24,400 Speaker 1: this up. About three months after Laura had passed away, 693 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:30,400 Speaker 1: I was thinking about, you know, I just wanted to 694 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:35,880 Speaker 1: create something that you know, really talked about who she was, 695 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: had something for my son James to connect with. You never, 696 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 1: time is so strange. You don't know how it's going 697 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,920 Speaker 1: to change over time, and I really didn't want to 698 00:40:47,960 --> 00:40:51,239 Speaker 1: lose that connection in that relationship and everything. So I 699 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,680 Speaker 1: did create something called the L four Project about three 700 00:40:54,760 --> 00:40:58,200 Speaker 1: months later, and the L four Project. L four stands 701 00:40:58,239 --> 00:41:01,960 Speaker 1: for Live Life Like Laura, and the L four Project 702 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: is an apparel company. We donate one hundred percent of 703 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:11,839 Speaker 1: the proceeds two charities that do support cancer research and 704 00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: all of the different elements that are sometimes overlooked during 705 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 1: this process. You know, caregivers, transportation to chemotherapy, you know 706 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,600 Speaker 1: a lot of these pre services, and there's tons of 707 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:31,040 Speaker 1: amazing organizations that you know, five O, one C three 708 00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 1: organizations that are doing this, so we like to create, uh, 709 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:40,080 Speaker 1: you know, clothing that does kind of illustrate the journey 710 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:43,200 Speaker 1: that people go through. And if you go online at 711 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:45,960 Speaker 1: L four projects dot com, you can kind of get 712 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:49,840 Speaker 1: a better vibe for it. The short I'm actually wearing today. 713 00:41:50,320 --> 00:41:54,200 Speaker 1: This started a year ago during covid um. There's an 714 00:41:54,239 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 1: amazing pediatric cancer center in Ohio, Showers Center Pediatric Cancer 715 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:05,120 Speaker 1: at apt In General Hospital. And you know when when 716 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:10,160 Speaker 1: two thousand and twenty hit, you know, COVID and everything, 717 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,319 Speaker 1: you I mean, just think about COVID for example, on 718 00:42:13,440 --> 00:42:16,200 Speaker 1: how many times, how many different ways it has affected 719 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:19,840 Speaker 1: people's lives, whether it's you know, funerals or whatever. You know, 720 00:42:19,880 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 1: we weren't allowed to go to see live music, right, 721 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:27,319 Speaker 1: totally sucked, but it really has impacted other people in 722 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:31,879 Speaker 1: ways we really can't imagine. And in probably mid two 723 00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:36,600 Speaker 1: thousand and nineteen, we went to the pediatric cancer center 724 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 1: and we turned all these kids into a fashion designers. 725 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:45,399 Speaker 1: So we wanted to like give them a distraction, kind 726 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:49,880 Speaker 1: of offset them, and we got all this amazing artwork 727 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 1: back and then we take that artwork, we give it 728 00:42:51,760 --> 00:42:54,680 Speaker 1: to a graphic designer and they try to capture the 729 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 1: idea of what it looks like or feels like to 730 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 1: go through cancer as a as a child. And this 731 00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:07,719 Speaker 1: design here I absolutely love because it's not you don't 732 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:10,680 Speaker 1: want to downplay the severity, but at the same time, 733 00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:14,480 Speaker 1: you don't want to make it all sad as well, um, 734 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:18,400 Speaker 1: because that's that's not right either. So this design, obviously 735 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:23,040 Speaker 1: it's a heart, but the information that we got back 736 00:43:23,040 --> 00:43:26,000 Speaker 1: from the kids, there were so many commonalities. You know, 737 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:29,879 Speaker 1: there was love, there was support, there was hope, um, 738 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:33,319 Speaker 1: but also there was grief. And so this can be 739 00:43:33,360 --> 00:43:38,440 Speaker 1: interpreted as either sunrise or a sunset, but you know, 740 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:43,160 Speaker 1: the heart and everything is um. It's really essential for 741 00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:47,560 Speaker 1: all of those different components as well. Oh that's beautiful. 742 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:50,239 Speaker 1: I feel like I don't know, I'm just emotional right 743 00:43:50,239 --> 00:43:55,080 Speaker 1: now and this isn't like this is incredible, And again 744 00:43:55,120 --> 00:43:58,120 Speaker 1: thank you for Sharon. Everyone please go check it out. 745 00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:03,680 Speaker 1: What is the website Michael's L four project dot com. Okay, 746 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:06,960 Speaker 1: L four project dot com. Everyone listening, please go check 747 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:12,080 Speaker 1: it out and support like that. Man, I don't even 748 00:44:12,160 --> 00:44:14,640 Speaker 1: have words to say right now. And I'm not like 749 00:44:14,719 --> 00:44:17,040 Speaker 1: I've never rendered speechless, but I don't even have words 750 00:44:17,120 --> 00:44:20,040 Speaker 1: right now, because you were just an incredible Humanum, and 751 00:44:20,080 --> 00:44:22,319 Speaker 1: the way that you still have this outlookum life, I 752 00:44:22,320 --> 00:44:25,879 Speaker 1: think is such a beautiful thing. Um. We could sit 753 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:27,719 Speaker 1: here and talk to you for hours. I know that 754 00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:29,960 Speaker 1: you're a busy man and you you have a little 755 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:32,319 Speaker 1: one to take care of. So before we let you go, 756 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:35,800 Speaker 1: this is one question that we always asks or ask 757 00:44:35,880 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: our guests each week overall, without giving any spoilers away 758 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:44,000 Speaker 1: from this season, what was your rose and what was 759 00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:49,080 Speaker 1: your thorn? Okay, and you can start with either whatever, 760 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:56,680 Speaker 1: whatever's easiest. Yeah, geez, So I'm interpreting that is what 761 00:44:56,920 --> 00:45:03,719 Speaker 1: was the best part and what was the most painful part? Exactly? Okay, okay, Um, 762 00:45:03,760 --> 00:45:09,839 Speaker 1: I would say the most painful part is you know, 763 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:14,760 Speaker 1: I mean for me, it was always being away from 764 00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:18,520 Speaker 1: from my son. That was really really difficult. I think 765 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:25,360 Speaker 1: there's a part where in my life sometimes it feels 766 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:29,759 Speaker 1: like anything that I want to do to progress me 767 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:33,640 Speaker 1: personally is also taking away from something else that I love. 768 00:45:34,120 --> 00:45:36,960 Speaker 1: So there there's always this balance at play, and that 769 00:45:37,040 --> 00:45:41,000 Speaker 1: was that was very difficult being away from him. Luckily 770 00:45:41,040 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 1: I was able to face time and keep that connection. Um. 771 00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:48,840 Speaker 1: The rose part I mean I could go on forever 772 00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:55,840 Speaker 1: about that. Um, you know, just Katie just being very warm. 773 00:45:56,040 --> 00:45:58,759 Speaker 1: She is one one thing I'll say, she is an 774 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:03,800 Speaker 1: amazing human being. Um. I think I think the world 775 00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:06,759 Speaker 1: is going to be very impressed with the type of 776 00:46:06,880 --> 00:46:10,040 Speaker 1: person she is. They may think they know, but she 777 00:46:10,120 --> 00:46:14,000 Speaker 1: has incredible depth to her. Um. She's very very smart, 778 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:21,719 Speaker 1: and she she handles very stressful situations with grace. I 779 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:26,680 Speaker 1: mean she's very cognizant, very empathetic, and she was a 780 00:46:26,719 --> 00:46:30,880 Speaker 1: perfect choice for this In my book, I was so 781 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:34,359 Speaker 1: lucky to have her on the on this journey with 782 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:38,239 Speaker 1: me and everything that we shared the entire time. I 783 00:46:38,280 --> 00:46:40,640 Speaker 1: mean it was it was a rose for me. I 784 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:43,960 Speaker 1: mean that was that all felt very very good. Okay, 785 00:46:44,520 --> 00:46:48,800 Speaker 1: casting did really good. Can you please do more of these? Yes, guys, please, 786 00:46:49,239 --> 00:46:51,440 Speaker 1: if you saw him out, you can do it again. 787 00:46:51,680 --> 00:46:54,359 Speaker 1: Try and exactly like, try and seek this type of 788 00:46:54,400 --> 00:47:00,160 Speaker 1: man all the time. Michael, Michael yours. I mean the 789 00:47:00,160 --> 00:47:06,560 Speaker 1: bar extremely extremely high high. I mean it's kind of 790 00:47:06,560 --> 00:47:09,279 Speaker 1: strange because I really didn't watch this show too much. 791 00:47:09,320 --> 00:47:12,839 Speaker 1: My wife loved it, and so when production reached out 792 00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:16,319 Speaker 1: to me, it was really right around my wife's two 793 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:20,040 Speaker 1: year anniversary. So it's like you're always looking for signs, right, 794 00:47:20,520 --> 00:47:23,319 Speaker 1: and this one just was so obvious. This is funny too. 795 00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:26,840 Speaker 1: I I know everybody's gotta go, but yeah, this is 796 00:47:26,880 --> 00:47:29,040 Speaker 1: a funny one too. So this is a true story. 797 00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:31,719 Speaker 1: So even before cancer had our life, like when we 798 00:47:31,760 --> 00:47:34,759 Speaker 1: got married, Laura would watch this show and she would 799 00:47:34,760 --> 00:47:38,160 Speaker 1: basically say, you know, we should get like a like 800 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,239 Speaker 1: a fake divorce. You go on there like you and 801 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:44,640 Speaker 1: then then you come back to me, you know. So 802 00:47:44,760 --> 00:47:47,080 Speaker 1: it was something she had like in her head. And 803 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:51,080 Speaker 1: when this opportunity to pursue this came up, I couldn't 804 00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:54,880 Speaker 1: help but hear her kind of telling me to do it, 805 00:47:56,600 --> 00:48:00,359 Speaker 1: and yeah, it's it's it's really really amazing. I feel 806 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:02,359 Speaker 1: like I've been able to grow and take a lot 807 00:48:02,480 --> 00:48:08,400 Speaker 1: from it, and um, whatever happens happens. Okay, Michael, you 808 00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:13,520 Speaker 1: have been one of the most interesting, profound, just like 809 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:16,439 Speaker 1: incredible people that we have had on this podcast. And 810 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:20,040 Speaker 1: it's early to take compliments here. It has been so 811 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:22,839 Speaker 1: great chatting with you. Thank you so much. I hope 812 00:48:22,840 --> 00:48:24,480 Speaker 1: that this isn't the last time that we will have 813 00:48:24,520 --> 00:48:26,560 Speaker 1: you on or be able to have a conversation with you, 814 00:48:26,840 --> 00:48:29,960 Speaker 1: but you have been such a joy this morning. So 815 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:33,040 Speaker 1: thank you. Oh, thank you guys, thank you for having me. 816 00:48:33,080 --> 00:48:35,399 Speaker 1: And keep your head out, keep smiling, and I'll talk 817 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:37,080 Speaker 1: to you, sir, you too. I want to check out 818 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:39,960 Speaker 1: your website once we leave here. All right, thank you? 819 00:48:40,080 --> 00:48:45,520 Speaker 1: All right? Taking Michael, Hi, Michael, Oh, Catherine, Michael's incredible. 820 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:50,680 Speaker 1: He's that's that's really hard to follow, that that type 821 00:48:50,719 --> 00:48:54,480 Speaker 1: of man. If she didn't choose him, there's gonna be 822 00:48:54,520 --> 00:48:56,960 Speaker 1: a line up the door for bye. Oh my god, 823 00:48:57,040 --> 00:48:59,680 Speaker 1: I might I might join that line. I'm not gonna lie. 824 00:48:59,719 --> 00:49:01,759 Speaker 1: I'm I'm going to be first of the line. Can 825 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,520 Speaker 1: we start a roster? Can I be number one on 826 00:49:03,560 --> 00:49:05,479 Speaker 1: that list? Like I think I just fell in love. 827 00:49:06,320 --> 00:49:10,560 Speaker 1: I mean, he is a grown man. That is a man. 828 00:49:11,120 --> 00:49:14,919 Speaker 1: He is a man, but just what life is about. Yes, 829 00:49:15,160 --> 00:49:18,240 Speaker 1: and that's the thing, Like he's been through so much. 830 00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:20,919 Speaker 1: But to still have that positive outlook and to still 831 00:49:20,960 --> 00:49:24,879 Speaker 1: be open and just embrace everything that can come your way, 832 00:49:24,960 --> 00:49:27,319 Speaker 1: I think is such a beautiful thing that you don't 833 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:30,680 Speaker 1: see that often. I'm just so happy we had him 834 00:49:30,680 --> 00:49:32,920 Speaker 1: on and we were able to you know, I would 835 00:49:32,920 --> 00:49:34,880 Speaker 1: love to chat with him more. I feel like we 836 00:49:34,920 --> 00:49:37,560 Speaker 1: could have kept going. Obviously, he has a son and 837 00:49:37,600 --> 00:49:40,680 Speaker 1: he's a busy, busy guy. So thank you to Michael. 838 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:45,120 Speaker 1: That guy seriously coach with all the good quote sprinkled 839 00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:48,359 Speaker 1: people like what do you say? Yeah, tell me more 840 00:49:48,400 --> 00:49:51,839 Speaker 1: about overcome thing. But I'm so glad we were able 841 00:49:51,840 --> 00:49:54,440 Speaker 1: to have him. So Michael, thank you so much for 842 00:49:54,560 --> 00:49:57,160 Speaker 1: joining us, And to all of our Bachelor Happy Hour listeners, 843 00:49:57,160 --> 00:49:59,399 Speaker 1: thank you once again for hanging out with us this week. 844 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,120 Speaker 1: I hope that you guys enjoyed this episode because there 845 00:50:02,200 --> 00:50:04,520 Speaker 1: was a lot to take from that um, a lot 846 00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:07,480 Speaker 1: on all angles, and so please go check out his 847 00:50:07,800 --> 00:50:14,640 Speaker 1: UM website, his his UH project dot com, L four 848 00:50:14,719 --> 00:50:17,479 Speaker 1: project dot com. I'm gonna I'm gonna google this after 849 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:21,160 Speaker 1: that and probably make some purchases to support so UM. 850 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:23,960 Speaker 1: If you guys want to keep checking in with us 851 00:50:23,960 --> 00:50:27,719 Speaker 1: and sending us your comments, questions, concerns, potential guests that 852 00:50:27,719 --> 00:50:29,960 Speaker 1: you would like us to chat with, please do so. 853 00:50:30,000 --> 00:50:32,799 Speaker 1: You can find us on social at Bachelor Happy Hour 854 00:50:32,920 --> 00:50:36,800 Speaker 1: on Instagram and at Batch Nation pods on both Facebook 855 00:50:36,800 --> 00:50:38,880 Speaker 1: and Twitter. It's a new one, so it's at Batch 856 00:50:39,040 --> 00:50:42,160 Speaker 1: Nation pods on Facebook and Twitter, and as always, please 857 00:50:42,200 --> 00:50:46,080 Speaker 1: don't forget to subscribe to our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, 858 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:48,839 Speaker 1: The Wondering App, or wherever you are listening to us 859 00:50:48,920 --> 00:50:51,600 Speaker 1: right now. Thanks everyone, Thanks