WEBVTT - Michael & Danielle Are in Love! 0:00:02.040 --> 0:00:05.080 Welcome back Happy Hour listeners. I'm one of your co hosts, 0:00:05.080 --> 0:00:08.520 Becky Koufern, and I am your guest co host for 0:00:08.560 --> 0:00:11.879 the day, Serena Pitt. Yeah, it's so good to see 0:00:11.920 --> 0:00:13.880 your face again. So good to have you back on 0:00:14.080 --> 0:00:17.159 Happy Hour. It's always a pleasure when you're around. But 0:00:17.280 --> 0:00:19.320 we are so excited to be back with you this 0:00:19.360 --> 0:00:22.560 week to talk all about how life has been after 0:00:22.680 --> 0:00:26.320 Paradise for the two cute love birds, Michael and Danielle. 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:30.400 I am so excited that they are guests today. We 0:00:30.480 --> 0:00:33.280 have so many questions for them after the reunion, and 0:00:33.400 --> 0:00:35.560 I just can't wait to hear how they're doing life 0:00:35.560 --> 0:00:38.480 beyond Paradise. You know, those trips to the grocery store, 0:00:39.240 --> 0:00:41.400 date night at the restaurant, all the little things that 0:00:41.479 --> 0:00:43.920 all the couples look forward to once the season ends. 0:00:44.520 --> 0:00:47.440 Just being able to walk down the street holding hands 0:00:47.479 --> 0:00:51.320 in public, and no one understands it better than you. Obviously, 0:00:51.360 --> 0:00:54.360 you and Joel lived this last year. You are now 0:00:54.400 --> 0:00:57.320 happily married, which I'm so I think this is the 0:00:57.360 --> 0:01:02.520 first time I've seen you since you've visually tied the knot. Yeah, 0:01:02.560 --> 0:01:05.280 I think it is. That's crazy. We had Joe on 0:01:05.319 --> 0:01:07.919 a couple of weeks ago to give his side of things. 0:01:08.120 --> 0:01:10.520 But how have you been, how's married life treating you 0:01:10.640 --> 0:01:14.360 anything new or different? I've been good. I feel like 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:17.639 everything in my life feels the same, you know everyone. 0:01:18.120 --> 0:01:19.640 Someone said to me, I think it was Chelsea the 0:01:19.640 --> 0:01:21.280 other day, was like, it's like on your birthday and 0:01:21.319 --> 0:01:23.360 everyone's like, do you feel different because you're a whole 0:01:23.440 --> 0:01:25.560 year older, and it's like, I feel the same. Our 0:01:25.600 --> 0:01:30.200 relationship feels the same. But it definitely was very spontaneous 0:01:30.319 --> 0:01:33.920 and exciting, and I'm definitely still getting used to calling 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:38.000 him my husband. That still feels and sounds so weird 0:01:38.080 --> 0:01:40.320 to me. But yeah, it's been It's been good, and 0:01:40.319 --> 0:01:43.520 we're still busy wedding planning, which backup, I'm sure you 0:01:43.560 --> 0:01:47.560 can relate to the stresses of that. Oh my god, 0:01:47.960 --> 0:01:50.080 do I ever? Well? You and I had a separate 0:01:50.440 --> 0:01:53.000 little tex threat happening a few weeks ago, and we 0:01:53.000 --> 0:01:56.760 were talking about wedding and planning. It is crazy, and 0:01:57.040 --> 0:02:00.560 I'm sure some women and men, I'm sure just some 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:05.520 couples in general love wedding planning. I for one, find 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:10.799 it just so stressful, so anxiety. You're written I mean 0:02:11.600 --> 0:02:14.000 like you and Joe did it right. Honestly, going to 0:02:14.080 --> 0:02:16.640 the courthouse and just having to be the two of 0:02:16.639 --> 0:02:20.560 you in this like very intimate, private ceremony, like very 0:02:20.680 --> 0:02:24.960 secret I think was so smart. Yeah, we have no 0:02:25.040 --> 0:02:28.000 regrets on the way we did it. I mean, we're 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:31.760 still obviously having the wedding, but it definitely takes some 0:02:31.919 --> 0:02:34.160 of I don't want to say the pressure off, because 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:36.200 it wasn't like the pressure of planning a wedding's like 0:02:36.280 --> 0:02:39.000 the actual marriage component, but it's just like, all right, check, 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:41.560 we're married, and now we can just deal with like 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:44.200 the fun of celebrating that with our family and friends. 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:46.440 But like, I feel like it's one of those things 0:02:46.440 --> 0:02:49.720 like you just don't know until you get into wedding planning, 0:02:49.760 --> 0:02:53.680 like how many components there are. It's just a lot. 0:02:53.760 --> 0:02:57.200 It's it's both fun but also very overwhelming and stressful 0:02:57.240 --> 0:03:06.760 at the same time. So overwhelming you're probably gonna do 0:03:06.800 --> 0:03:09.320 it once, so we're trying to enjoy it. I know. 0:03:09.760 --> 0:03:11.840 That's like you're telling myself. It's like it's gonna be 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:15.120 one in John. Yeah, one more thing, I know. We 0:03:15.160 --> 0:03:17.160 had to bring Michael and Danielle on very soon. One 0:03:17.160 --> 0:03:18.720 more thing. I wanted to ask you, though, have you 0:03:18.760 --> 0:03:24.360 started wedding tresh shopping? Actually I got my wedding dress. 0:03:24.880 --> 0:03:29.919 You did, Oh gosh? I from a shop in New York. No. 0:03:30.120 --> 0:03:33.240 So I went home for a few days to Toronto 0:03:34.639 --> 0:03:39.160 after we spent us Thanksgiving with Josilm in Chicago, and 0:03:39.320 --> 0:03:41.520 I knew that I wanted to do shopping with like 0:03:41.560 --> 0:03:44.000 my mom, my sister, my dad. Wanted to come by 0:03:44.080 --> 0:03:46.880 and see a few like some friends. When I was home, 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:51.000 and the first store I went into because our wedding 0:03:51.120 --> 0:03:53.880 is early September, they were like, you need to get 0:03:53.880 --> 0:03:56.080 your dress, Like, you need to get your dress. I'm sorry, 0:03:56.080 --> 0:03:57.800 but like it takes six to eight months to order 0:03:57.800 --> 0:04:00.000 a dress, plus like two months for alterations is like 0:04:00.000 --> 0:04:02.280 the realcy timeline. So it kind of worked out because 0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:06.120 I already in two appointments booked. I'm pretty like decisive 0:04:06.400 --> 0:04:08.120 and was like I went to one, I went to 0:04:08.160 --> 0:04:09.840 the next, and I got my dress at the second one, 0:04:09.840 --> 0:04:12.480 and I'm obsessed with it and I'm very relieved that 0:04:12.480 --> 0:04:15.840 that decision's done. So yeah, look at you. Okay, Well, 0:04:15.880 --> 0:04:17.840 I definitely want to get more details. I don't want 0:04:17.839 --> 0:04:19.800 to share everything and like, get it on, blasts, we'll 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:23.960 jump in our wedding fighting chatling. Yes, okay, definitely sounds good. Um, well, 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:26.120 I love just chatting with you. But of course we 0:04:26.160 --> 0:04:28.560 do have our guests of the hour, Michael end and Yell. 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:31.440 So I think it's just time to bring them on. Everyone, 0:04:31.480 --> 0:04:36.719 please welcome them to Bachelor Happy Hour. Well, welcome to 0:04:36.880 --> 0:04:39.400 Happy Hour you too, It's so good to see you 0:04:39.600 --> 0:04:45.960 side by side. Finally, Michael, it was a short time 0:04:45.960 --> 0:04:48.599 ago that we had just you Unhappy Hour, and I 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:51.919 knew I had a feeling. I didn't know any spoilers, 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:53.599 but I was like, I think we're going to see 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:56.839 him back very soon. And so Danielle welcome. I think 0:04:56.920 --> 0:04:59.320 this is your first time Unhappy Hour. Correct, yeah, my 0:04:59.360 --> 0:05:02.080 first time on Happy Hour. He's our first chance to 0:05:02.080 --> 0:05:10.799 actually get to talk. I need Serena well FaceTime. And 0:05:11.279 --> 0:05:13.840 Joe's at Wells is wedding with both of you. He's 0:05:13.880 --> 0:05:16.240 in that photo where you tour next to each other. 0:05:16.640 --> 0:05:19.279 I like zoom in on Joe and it's like Dan, 0:05:19.440 --> 0:05:23.920 yeall Michael, and like Joe's head in between them. Oh 0:05:23.960 --> 0:05:26.520 my god, that's so that's so funny. Serena real quick. 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:30.039 They had a photo booth that Wells's wedding, and since 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:32.800 you were sick and you didn't actually go, Joe took 0:05:32.800 --> 0:05:35.440 a bunch of like photos in the photo booth by 0:05:35.520 --> 0:05:39.039 himself and I actually I actually picked one up and 0:05:39.080 --> 0:05:41.960 I have one in my bedroom, not like on my nightstand, 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:45.719 like with a bunch of other polar fights. I raved 0:05:45.920 --> 0:05:50.720 next to the bed. That is like, God, just like, 0:05:51.880 --> 0:05:57.400 who's the real person in your life? It's true? Yeah, Joe, 0:05:57.800 --> 0:06:00.560 Oh my gosh, I saw it. I mean I saw 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:03.800 the pictures from Wells and Sarah's wedding, and so you 0:06:03.960 --> 0:06:07.800 both had obviously at that point already filmed Paradise. You 0:06:07.839 --> 0:06:11.080 were together, you weren't technically supposed to be seen, but 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:14.080 like you're not going to say no to your friend's wedding, right, So, 0:06:14.120 --> 0:06:16.920 but you weren't each other's plus months correct, like you 0:06:16.960 --> 0:06:22.120 know he was Wells. Wells texted me and he goes, so, Danny, 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:24.920 do you want to plus one? And I'm like, dude, 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:29.080 you know who I'm gonna bring? Huh. He's like yeah, 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:32.760 And I was like is that okay? Like are you 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:34.800 gonna have a ton of press there? What's the deal? 0:06:34.880 --> 0:06:37.640 He's like no, no, no, no, no, no press, no 0:06:37.680 --> 0:06:40.520 cell phones. You just have to like we're just bringing 0:06:40.600 --> 0:06:42.680 the photos to like Vogue and like they're the only 0:06:42.680 --> 0:06:47.880 ones that are gonna post it. You got no big deal. 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:52.000 And I'm like, okay, well, yeah, I want to bring 0:06:52.040 --> 0:06:55.440 Michael do you away? And then if anyone's calling you 0:06:55.480 --> 0:06:56.840 being like what are you guys doing, it's like talk 0:06:56.880 --> 0:06:58.919 to Wells. He told us we could do this. He 0:06:58.960 --> 0:07:03.120 told me it was okay. He's the breaker. Yeah. I mean, 0:07:03.160 --> 0:07:07.080 we obviously were so excited to finally be in public 0:07:07.160 --> 0:07:10.200 and everything, especially at that venue. It was the most 0:07:10.520 --> 0:07:15.679 beautiful wedding I've ever seen, and it just felt really 0:07:15.720 --> 0:07:18.680 really warm, and to see Danny and her element. I 0:07:18.720 --> 0:07:21.160 got to meet tons of her friends that weekend. She 0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:24.080 hangs out with just this extraordinary group of people. I 0:07:24.080 --> 0:07:27.360 always talk about this, and it was just the great weekend. 0:07:27.400 --> 0:07:30.320 And I guess, if your relationships going to be spoiled, 0:07:30.360 --> 0:07:36.160 it's glad it's in Vogue. Yeah, definitely. No. I was 0:07:36.200 --> 0:07:38.640 actually just as like, oh damn, Like I wish Thomas 0:07:38.680 --> 0:07:39.880 and I would have been able to go to some 0:07:39.960 --> 0:07:42.400 of his friend's weddings last summer. So you guys definitely 0:07:42.440 --> 0:07:45.200 looked out. It looked like the wedding to be at. 0:07:45.280 --> 0:07:47.280 Like when you say it was beautiful, I know that 0:07:47.280 --> 0:07:52.840 that winery, it's absolutely stunning. Okay, well, so god, we 0:07:52.920 --> 0:07:54.840 have so many questions. I don't know where to get 0:07:55.080 --> 0:07:57.840 Let's just take it back to last week because that 0:07:58.000 --> 0:08:00.640 was obviously Thanksgiving. It was the first holiday that you 0:08:00.640 --> 0:08:05.240 could really spend. Did you spend it together? We did. Yeah. 0:08:05.240 --> 0:08:07.960 I went up to Ohio and spent it with Michael 0:08:07.960 --> 0:08:11.120 and James and his family and got to meet his 0:08:11.160 --> 0:08:13.680 sister for the first time. I'm obsessed with her. We 0:08:13.760 --> 0:08:16.239 already or laughing about Michael behind his back. It's great. 0:08:17.960 --> 0:08:21.280 Let it again. So how does that because I know 0:08:21.440 --> 0:08:23.960 with Joe and I we don't have family in the 0:08:24.000 --> 0:08:26.360 same place similar to you guys. I'm from Toronto, he's 0:08:26.400 --> 0:08:29.200 from Chicago. So how are you guys kind of navigating 0:08:29.280 --> 0:08:32.680 that like long distance families in different cities things for 0:08:32.840 --> 0:08:37.000 both Thanksgiving and then we have Christmas coming up. Yeah, 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:39.760 it's I mean, it's a it's a work in progress 0:08:39.880 --> 0:08:43.200 that we just we were talking about how are you 0:08:43.200 --> 0:08:46.720 going to handle Christmas? And the first thing was, let's 0:08:46.720 --> 0:08:53.560 get through Thanksgiving. I love, you know, getting to be 0:08:53.640 --> 0:08:58.280 around family around those times, and it's difficult traveling with 0:08:59.120 --> 0:09:04.199 you know, James and everything. And Danny's parents have a 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:07.959 beautiful home in the north Woods of Wisconsin and it's 0:09:08.000 --> 0:09:15.880 an eleven hour drive. So essentially, what's happening for Christmas? Yeah, 0:09:15.920 --> 0:09:19.120 do you guys want to do that? Good? I never 0:09:19.240 --> 0:09:25.280 want at home with James, you, um, And so you know, 0:09:25.440 --> 0:09:30.840 I'll we're gonna have Christmas at my place with my 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:34.960 parents and family, and then I think, what two days later, 0:09:35.000 --> 0:09:39.000 we're gonna drive up to Wisconsin. Yeah, so like the 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:41.520 like twenty eighth, twenty nights something like that, we're gonna 0:09:41.559 --> 0:09:44.240 do that, um with my family. We're gonna go to 0:09:44.320 --> 0:09:48.480 Chicago for New Year's Eve and oh we will see 0:09:48.480 --> 0:09:51.440 you guys there. We might be there too. Oh yeah, 0:09:51.559 --> 0:09:55.040 we're going to be in Chicago for um, for Christmas 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:59.160 and potentially through Thanksgiving. So so definitely message us through 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:08.400 you're going back where its time machines. Yeah. I was 0:10:08.440 --> 0:10:14.719 like I thought, Canada, Yeah, and I will I will 0:10:14.760 --> 0:10:18.880 say this too. Um. This was like a really emotional 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:22.800 holiday for both Danny and I. It's been forever since 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:26.199 we've actually had someone this next too, and we have 0:10:26.480 --> 0:10:31.040 you know, after everything that's happened to us. Um, you 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:33.280 know you constantly kind of feel like a not a 0:10:33.360 --> 0:10:36.480 third wheel, but you have a piece that's actually missing. 0:10:37.120 --> 0:10:42.160 And it was really fulfilling and felt extremely warm for 0:10:42.240 --> 0:10:45.319 Thanksgiving this year to be able to celebrate it with 0:10:45.320 --> 0:10:48.480 her and just everything that we have been through, um, 0:10:48.520 --> 0:10:50.840 not just in our past, but on the show and 0:10:51.280 --> 0:10:54.320 kind of growing as a couple outside of you know, 0:10:54.400 --> 0:10:58.400 the limelight and all of that. My family adores her, 0:10:59.240 --> 0:11:01.880 which I knew I knew they would, um, and that's 0:11:01.880 --> 0:11:04.920 one of the reasons why it's working out. You know, 0:11:06.840 --> 0:11:11.800 that's always a bonus too. Okay, Okay, we need to 0:11:11.800 --> 0:11:14.600 talk about this. So it's been a few weeks now 0:11:14.720 --> 0:11:19.560 since the Paradise finale has aired. UM, I want to know, 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:22.600 first of all, has the dust like kind of finally 0:11:22.679 --> 0:11:27.560 settled for you both? Uh? Yeah, it's been really nice. 0:11:27.640 --> 0:11:30.240 Now we're just kind of like, okay, let's focus on 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:33.760 getting moved and like the next step and just really 0:11:33.840 --> 0:11:36.240 enjoying each other being able to share that joy with 0:11:36.280 --> 0:11:38.800 like patients that come in and see me and they're like, God, 0:11:38.880 --> 0:11:40.719 you look so happy, and like I've been happy, but 0:11:40.760 --> 0:11:45.160 now we can finally talk about it, you know, right yeah, 0:11:45.720 --> 0:11:47.679 say his name to your friends and be like, hey, 0:11:47.679 --> 0:11:52.680 this is my boyfriend, right, yeah, exactly. And it feels 0:11:52.679 --> 0:11:56.360 it feels like it's been a while since I've had 0:11:56.960 --> 0:11:59.679 I don't I don't know, like this optimistic view of 0:12:00.080 --> 0:12:03.439 the future, like things are settling in, like I know 0:12:03.600 --> 0:12:07.680 who I'm want to spend you know, my life with 0:12:08.040 --> 0:12:13.920 and begin building again versus versus. It was always, you know, 0:12:14.040 --> 0:12:17.520 something looming or hanging in the future, whether or not 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:20.920 it was you know, Paradise or you know, being on 0:12:21.040 --> 0:12:24.880 katiecas And I think a lot of people don't recognize, uh, 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:27.319 you know, how much being on this show puts your 0:12:27.360 --> 0:12:31.079 life on hold. And when I was you know, I'm 0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:36.600 thirty eight, you know, times ticking, and that was that 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:40.079 was really difficult, especially when you're so focused on progress 0:12:40.200 --> 0:12:44.480 and trying to figure everything out. But I'm so glad 0:12:44.520 --> 0:12:47.760 I went down this path. It's just like this roadless traveled, 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:51.480 and it led to something just so beautiful. Oh that 0:12:55.040 --> 0:12:59.040 I mean, I mean it's been no easy road for 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.920 for anybody. There so much that goes into it. And 0:13:01.960 --> 0:13:04.600 by no means are we victims like, we're very lucky 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:08.040 to be a part of this experience, but it does 0:13:08.120 --> 0:13:11.239 take its toll, and it's it feels good that it 0:13:11.280 --> 0:13:15.559 wasn't all for nothing. Yeah. I remember watching our Paradise 0:13:15.600 --> 0:13:18.720 finale because we didn't have a reunion, so it ended 0:13:18.760 --> 0:13:22.559 with like the engagements and whatnotum and just feeling like 0:13:22.600 --> 0:13:24.880 a weight lift off my shoulders. Like it was a 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:28.640 sense of relief that I've never experienced before. Um. But 0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:31.120 I know for for Joe and I and you guys 0:13:31.120 --> 0:13:33.439 are in a similar situation. Joe had been on the 0:13:33.480 --> 0:13:36.040 show a few years back. He'd done you know, Becky 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:42.000 season of The Bachelor. I n if I looked up 0:13:42.000 --> 0:13:44.000 and seeing who he was season he was on the 0:13:44.080 --> 0:13:51.160 other day, Like yeah, yeah, but he did he did 0:13:51.640 --> 0:13:55.040 Bachelorette Ish and then Paradise and then came back to Paradise, 0:13:55.040 --> 0:13:57.520 So when we left, he was kind of familiar with 0:13:57.640 --> 0:14:02.439 navigating what that was. Like. Has that kind of helped 0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:04.200 you guys, Like Michael, have you kind of leaned on 0:14:04.280 --> 0:14:06.880 Danny in that way of like how does this work? 0:14:06.920 --> 0:14:09.480 Like how should we handle this? Or has it just 0:14:09.600 --> 0:14:11.880 kind of felt like new territory for both of you together? 0:14:12.960 --> 0:14:16.000 I mean for me, I guess if I'm comparing it 0:14:16.000 --> 0:14:18.840 to when I got off Katie's season, you know, you 0:14:18.960 --> 0:14:23.400 go from nobody ever having an opinion about you outside 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:27.880 of your immediate friends and family, to this tidal wave 0:14:28.040 --> 0:14:31.840 of public opinion and you're not really sure how to 0:14:31.920 --> 0:14:34.640 handle it, Like you become glued to your phone, You're 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:38.560 checking things, what do people think about me? This time around, 0:14:39.200 --> 0:14:43.160 I didn't focus on any of that. I think it 0:14:43.360 --> 0:14:48.800 maybe because I was happy, you know, like I knew 0:14:48.840 --> 0:14:52.800 I had somebody at the end of this, and I 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:55.760 was kind of more focused in the moment than really 0:14:56.480 --> 0:15:00.920 trying to figure out what's what's strangers pain of me 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:03.760 or us were and it's it's great to have somebody 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:07.280 that you can lean on. Mhm. For sure. The social 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:09.800 media escape has changed a lot since I was on 0:15:09.800 --> 0:15:15.720 the show, so it's got a little meaner, a little wilder. Yeah, yeah, 0:15:15.720 --> 0:15:23.200 it's yeah. Yeah. What has been your favorite thing, big 0:15:23.320 --> 0:15:26.040 or small that you've been able to do together since 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:28.640 everything is aired and now that you were finally public, 0:15:28.720 --> 0:15:31.000 Like Serena and I have talked about this, but like 0:15:31.000 --> 0:15:33.400 one of my favorite things was just going grocery shopping 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:36.600 to talk. Yes, That's what I was gonna say. So little, 0:15:36.680 --> 0:15:42.160 but so special, so special and also so necessary too. 0:15:43.600 --> 0:15:47.440 You need to gil grocery shopping. Yes, we we we 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:51.760 love we love cooking, and we forget something and we 0:15:51.800 --> 0:15:53.960 would be like, Okay, who's putting the wig on or 0:15:53.960 --> 0:15:57.760 who's staying in the car, and it's like we just 0:15:57.800 --> 0:16:00.880 need to grab something real quick. Yeah, just one thing. Yeah. 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:02.800 I remember the first time we actually did that, Like 0:16:03.200 --> 0:16:07.560 I'd forgotten something for pumpkin pie or whatever, and we've 0:16:07.600 --> 0:16:10.560 got like James wanted to be in that like um, 0:16:10.720 --> 0:16:14.040 one of those like car grocery car car, and We're 0:16:14.080 --> 0:16:16.280 like yeah, and we're going through and I'm just like, 0:16:17.240 --> 0:16:19.920 oh my god, we're in public, Like we're doing this 0:16:20.000 --> 0:16:24.600 together right now. This is this is amazing. You guys, 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:26.520 like do it together? Were you like on one side 0:16:26.560 --> 0:16:28.360 of the grocery store, like if you'd pass you give 0:16:28.360 --> 0:16:31.600 a little wave? Did you split up at all? I 0:16:31.640 --> 0:16:35.920 mean it's pretty much altogether. Yeah, yeah, did it together. 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:40.480 So it's been real exciting. Let me tell you, grocery 0:16:44.240 --> 0:16:47.960 I went to movies and dinner, and I mean, Wells's 0:16:47.960 --> 0:16:53.840 wedding was obviously a highlight. What's amazing too is um. 0:16:54.440 --> 0:16:57.600 You know, I went down to Nashville. We did sneak 0:16:57.600 --> 0:17:02.560 out to a concert one time, and you know, it 0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:05.680 was just a really I don't know, it's really cool. 0:17:05.720 --> 0:17:09.520 But at the same time, it's been really fun not 0:17:09.600 --> 0:17:14.800 being like focused on events or doing things. Like we're 0:17:14.840 --> 0:17:17.880 both kind of homebodies at heart, and it's been cool 0:17:18.080 --> 0:17:21.480 just staying in and not be tempted to go out 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:25.600 so we can kind of focus on ourself too. Right. Yeah, 0:17:25.640 --> 0:17:27.440 I was talking I can't run about this a little bit. 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:30.240 She's like, You're gonna miss this like little bubble that 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:32.439 you're in, And I texted her after the Union. I 0:17:32.440 --> 0:17:34.760 was like, yeah, I missed the bubble. Yeah, you're right. 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:37.000 I feel like though, the window that you missed the 0:17:37.000 --> 0:17:40.720 bubble is just when all this like spotlight essentially is 0:17:40.760 --> 0:17:44.320 on you and it's very overwhelming and then as that fizzles, 0:17:44.359 --> 0:17:47.919 Like I've never missed the bubble, but I used to. 0:17:48.359 --> 0:17:50.479 I used to lay on Joe's couch and be like, 0:17:50.520 --> 0:17:53.199 I'm in my own personal quarantine. This is the worst 0:17:53.240 --> 0:17:56.480 thing ever, Like I just I would be like stuck 0:17:56.480 --> 0:17:59.399 in Chicago in his apartment for like ten days. But 0:17:59.600 --> 0:18:03.080 there is something special about having just like that privacy 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:08.000 that you'll never have again essentially. Yeah, Yeah, it's it's 0:18:08.040 --> 0:18:12.160 such a unique experience. And what I've enjoyed the most 0:18:12.200 --> 0:18:15.359 out of all of it is just the relationship that 0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:20.160 James and Danielle have been able to, you know, have 0:18:20.480 --> 0:18:24.560 by staying in you know, doing crafts and like you know, 0:18:24.600 --> 0:18:29.320 watching movies and decorated cookies. Like It's it's really the 0:18:29.440 --> 0:18:33.639 mundane activities that work really kind of enjoying the most. 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:36.520 It's the simple times that I don't know that are 0:18:36.560 --> 0:18:40.440 the most valuable to us, and like the memories that 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:53.320 I just cherish. How was the first interaction, Danielle that 0:18:53.359 --> 0:18:57.080 you had when you met James, Like, and Michael, did 0:18:57.080 --> 0:18:59.000 you have to kind of like ease him into this 0:18:59.119 --> 0:19:01.960 and like prep him like, Okay, I have a new 0:19:02.000 --> 0:19:03.960 girl in my life. You're gonna meet her soon? Like 0:19:04.000 --> 0:19:09.400 how was that full transition and then that initial meeting? Yeah? 0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:12.560 So do you remember the date, Danielle. Yeah, it was 0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:15.600 like the fifteenth or like the seventeenth or something like 0:19:15.640 --> 0:19:18.440 that of July. We had only been home for like 0:19:18.520 --> 0:19:20.760 two weeks or something like that, and He's like, Nope, 0:19:20.840 --> 0:19:23.359 we're gonna We're gonna meet somewhere like I miss you, 0:19:23.400 --> 0:19:26.280 like my brick James. So like we found this airbnb 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:30.520 in the middle of like nowhere, Kentucky and because it 0:19:30.560 --> 0:19:33.159 was like halfway between us for like driving, and like 0:19:33.160 --> 0:19:35.040 I pull up and I texted her, I'm like I'm here, 0:19:35.160 --> 0:19:37.360 and like two seconds later I look over and there's 0:19:37.400 --> 0:19:41.000 like this like face like pushed up against my car 0:19:41.119 --> 0:19:46.560 and I was like, oh, hi, right, well, you know 0:19:47.119 --> 0:19:51.879 it's it's it's it's interesting because you know, normally I 0:19:51.920 --> 0:19:56.960 would never introduced my son to somebody that early. Um, 0:19:57.280 --> 0:20:01.280 you know, I described you know, Danielle time as you know, 0:20:01.320 --> 0:20:04.760 a friend, and I mean I think he's used to 0:20:05.280 --> 0:20:07.959 being around adults. He's an only filed you know, I 0:20:08.000 --> 0:20:11.439 have friends over. He doesn't, you know, draw those lines 0:20:11.960 --> 0:20:14.840 a lot of times. You know, My worries are things 0:20:14.880 --> 0:20:18.000 that I'm kind of projecting onto him. They're not things 0:20:18.040 --> 0:20:21.320 that I don't think he really feels and experiences himself, 0:20:22.520 --> 0:20:26.040 which is like if he were to get so connected 0:20:26.119 --> 0:20:29.040 with Dan Yale so early, especially after being off the 0:20:29.080 --> 0:20:31.560 beach in two weeks, like what if it doesn't work, 0:20:31.760 --> 0:20:34.880 Like will that have lasting effects? You know? I don't 0:20:34.960 --> 0:20:39.480 I want to mitigate that. But I think, you know, 0:20:39.560 --> 0:20:42.400 looking back, obviously it was a it was a great decision. 0:20:42.440 --> 0:20:46.680 It was awesome, awesome weekend and you could tell him 0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:50.320 about a dinner that he made for you. Oh my god, no, 0:20:50.359 --> 0:20:54.480 it was so sweet. Like I came like I got 0:20:54.480 --> 0:20:57.480 it up there like much later, and Michael of this 0:20:57.600 --> 0:21:00.360 like whole meal prepared. He's got like steaks on to grow. 0:21:00.400 --> 0:21:02.840 And we sit down and and James sits down right 0:21:02.880 --> 0:21:04.880 next to me. He was looking at me. I'm like, hi, hi, 0:21:05.440 --> 0:21:10.720 and he's like, how's the chermy churry? Oh? And I'm 0:21:10.720 --> 0:21:14.320 like it's delicious. He's like I helped and he like 0:21:14.359 --> 0:21:16.520 you tore off all the leaves and everything like that. 0:21:17.040 --> 0:21:22.760 God what a what a five years ago? Like the 0:21:22.800 --> 0:21:27.240 fact the fact that he knows that, yeah, yeah, yeah, 0:21:27.800 --> 0:21:31.800 that's really special relationship. I've been like really thinking about 0:21:31.800 --> 0:21:35.320 a lot lately, and it's like I had to let down. 0:21:35.359 --> 0:21:36.840 Michael and I talked about all the guards that we 0:21:36.880 --> 0:21:40.440 really had to let down with regards to each other 0:21:40.480 --> 0:21:44.240 and letting um like someone new into our lives. I'd 0:21:44.320 --> 0:21:48.840 let two people into my life and thinking back on that, 0:21:48.960 --> 0:21:54.359 like I didn't realize how guarded I was in meeting 0:21:54.440 --> 0:21:58.600 James and like letting myself love like a child like 0:21:58.680 --> 0:22:02.960 in this situation too. And it's just it's been a 0:22:03.160 --> 0:22:07.560 really unique situation and kind of emotional thinking about it, um, 0:22:08.400 --> 0:22:10.280 which is kind of opening up, you know, my heart 0:22:10.320 --> 0:22:14.280 in that aspect too. And I love that kid. He's amazing. 0:22:14.800 --> 0:22:20.679 Oh how old is he? No? Six six? Okay? Do 0:22:20.840 --> 0:22:25.400 you feel like because you were in that bubble after 0:22:25.440 --> 0:22:28.639 a paradise and you couldn't be in public, especially with 0:22:28.760 --> 0:22:32.480 James for months, do you think that that helped strengthen 0:22:32.560 --> 0:22:34.520 all of your relationships? I know, Michael, you said like 0:22:35.119 --> 0:22:38.760 when you guys were in hiding, like you just you 0:22:38.920 --> 0:22:41.080 just had to be home like your homebodies. You had 0:22:41.119 --> 0:22:43.720 to like create things to do together in that space. 0:22:43.760 --> 0:22:46.840 But do you think that privacy really helped build your 0:22:46.880 --> 0:22:51.200 relationship faster, strong, and stronger. It's a make or break 0:22:51.240 --> 0:22:56.360 it for sure, right I think I think I think 0:22:56.359 --> 0:22:58.560 it would have been strong either way because it's a 0:22:58.560 --> 0:23:02.720 priority for us. I don't think necessarily us having to 0:23:02.760 --> 0:23:08.680 stay home, you know, was the reason why things got strong. Um. 0:23:08.760 --> 0:23:12.000 I think it's because who Danielle is, you know, who 0:23:12.040 --> 0:23:15.560 I am. The fact we put each other first, you know, 0:23:15.600 --> 0:23:18.840 and also you know, James is the center of my life, 0:23:20.200 --> 0:23:22.040 and so I think I think it would have happened 0:23:22.080 --> 0:23:26.080 either way. I also think that we made the best 0:23:26.200 --> 0:23:29.159 use of our time. It's like with all situations, you 0:23:29.200 --> 0:23:31.680 can sit there and complain about what you don't have, 0:23:32.920 --> 0:23:34.760 but then you miss what's right in front of you 0:23:34.840 --> 0:23:39.119 and the opportunity that we made to be able to 0:23:39.400 --> 0:23:43.560 make our relationship even stronger. Was there any part of 0:23:43.560 --> 0:23:45.119 you that was worried that James would go back to 0:23:45.200 --> 0:23:47.920 school or to his friends and be like, Oh, my 0:23:48.000 --> 0:23:52.760 dad has a girlfriend. Her name's Danielle. Like I asked 0:23:52.760 --> 0:23:56.159 them this at the ABC event. I was like, did 0:23:56.320 --> 0:23:59.240