1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: with iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 2: Hey everyone, welcome to the Almost Famous podcast. It's great 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: to be back. I'm here with my wonderful co host, 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: Benjamin Higgins. 6 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 3: We teased last week actually that you're on a special 7 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 3: project that I cannot wait to tell the world about. Uh, 8 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 3: very you know, within the next couple. 9 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 4: Of months, within soon, Yeah, within soon. 10 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 3: I'm glad you're back. 11 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 4: I am glad to be back too. 12 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: I didn't know that I would be back so soon, 13 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 2: but I'm glad to be back to my little docinator 14 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 2: and with her Mother's day, even though my mother's day 15 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: had Jared working, so we just had a nice dinner. 16 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 2: It's fine, you know, That's what what comes to it 17 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 2: when new own a restaurant. 18 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, let me tease this. I'm upset that you're back 19 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 3: this soon. 20 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 2: I know. 21 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 4: Guys, did you did you tell them last week? 22 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 3: No? No, I don't think we can. 23 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 4: Even tell them. I'll say this, okay, Well can say this. 24 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 4: Ben was. 25 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: Supposed to be involved in this pot. 26 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: Ben was asked to be involved with this project, and 27 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: he said it too much of a time dedication. And 28 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: then we realized that the time dedication. Part was flexible, 29 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 2: and that's all we can say. 30 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 3: A week later, you're back. Yeah, Hey, we have a 31 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 3: big episode today, Ashley. We're gonna bring Sarah Trout in 32 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 3: right now to the episode. If you remember right, she 33 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: was on Matt James this season. She left on her 34 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 3: own accord in week three. Sarah's involved in a lot 35 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 3: of things that have become very personal to me and 36 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 3: also also you, Ashley, because obviously we're friends. We sit 37 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 3: on this podcast, you've got to hear a lot about it. 38 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 3: And so today's a big episode talking to Sarah, and 39 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 3: then we have a lot of headlines this week as well, 40 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 3: a couple of marriages, a couple of babies, a couple 41 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 3: couple things about drama. So it's gonna be a great 42 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 3: off season episode. Welcome Sarah to Almost Famous. 43 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 5: Hey guys, thanks for having me. 44 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 4: Hello Sarah, thanks for joining us. It's so nice to 45 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 4: meet you. 46 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 5: It's nice to meet you too. 47 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: I feel like I know you, Ashley from Instagram or something. 48 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 5: I don't know. 49 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 4: That's so sweet. I honestly feel like i've met you 50 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 4: before too. 51 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 5: Maybe briefly actually on Matt season. 52 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 4: But you weren't on that date. 53 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 2: You were like watching Yes, yeah, okay you were so 54 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: you were still around at that point. 55 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 5: I was, yeah, that was like the beginning of the end. 56 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 4: I have met you in your life. 57 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 3: Well, Sarah, really excited to have you on today. I 58 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 3: have a lot to talk to you about. I know 59 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 3: you have a lot going on in your life. You're 60 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 3: involved in some very important things. Something's very personal to me. 61 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 3: I don't know if you know this, but my best friend, 62 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 3: who moved out here to Denver, Colorado with me, thirty 63 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 3: eight years old, was diagnosed with ALS two and a 64 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 3: half years ago in this weekend, just a few days ago, 65 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 3: we actually moved him and his wife out of their house. 66 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 3: They're moving back to Indiana, where we're from, to get 67 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: some more specific care and support around them. We started 68 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 3: an organization kind of to support families going through ALS. 69 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 3: There's a lot I want to educate and break down 70 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 3: here on this episode, because you're somebody that has lived 71 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 3: through it, became an expert in a lot of ways 72 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: and a massive advocate. So, Sarah, I want to start 73 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 3: with asking you the general question. Can you give us 74 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 3: a background just in case people are unfamiliar with your 75 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 3: relationship with ALS. 76 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 5: Yeah? 77 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: Well, first, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. 78 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: Thirty eight is so young, and ALS is just the 79 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: most cruel disease because it seems like it takes the 80 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: people that have the most going on, the most athletic, 81 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: you know, people that just are thriving in life, and 82 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: it really will just come out of nowhere. And unfortunately, 83 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: with ALS, there's not a lot of knowledge and there's 84 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: not a lot of cure about you know, how to 85 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: how to cure the disease. But for those who don't know, 86 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: you might have heard about it from the Ice Bucket 87 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,839 Speaker 1: Challenge back in twenty fourteen, that viral movement, the Ice 88 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: Bucket Challenge. ALS is amotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as 89 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: lou Grigg's disease. It's a neurological degenerative disease, so that 90 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: means your body and brain stop communicating with each other. 91 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: So over time you lose the ability to speak, to walk, 92 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: to talk, but cognitively, mentally you are still with it, 93 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: unlike something like dementia or Parkinson's where you may lose 94 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: your mental ability. ALS. It's just like your body is 95 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: completely failing you. And unfortunately, the life expectancy is two 96 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: to five years after diagnosis. There are ways to make 97 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: ALS a livable disease to prolong your life, but it's 98 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: extremely difficult for the person that's going through it, and 99 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: then also the caregivers and the support system around them. 100 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: So I really feel for your friend. I'm so sorry 101 00:04:58,960 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: to hear that. 102 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 3: Now. You do have a personal experience with ALS. Right, 103 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: your father was diagnosed. I don't know how many years ago. 104 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 3: Can you walk us and tell us that story? 105 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, thank you for asking. My dad had ALS 106 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: for six years. I was in college when he was diagnosed. 107 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: He passed away after an incredibly courageous battle in October 108 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, and that was just a really life 109 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 1: changing experience for our whole family. 110 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 5: And did the whole. 111 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: Thing of like googling what is ALS when we heard 112 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: about the diagnosis. He was having some symptoms where he 113 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,239 Speaker 1: was super athletic. He was on a men's baseball league 114 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: and felt like he had a knee injury that was 115 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: kind of resurfacing, and then he had difficulty speaking and 116 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: enunciating his words, and so they're like, hey, I think 117 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: we should check this out. So they did a whole 118 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 1: laundry list of tests to go through what could this be? 119 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: And they figured out it was ALS, and that was 120 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: just devastating. Our family was like, are you sure this 121 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: is ALS? I mean, this is so intense, are you 122 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: kidding me? Two to five years? There's no cure? 123 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 5: How could this be? 124 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 1: And so it was like our whole world was crashing 125 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: down that, you know, my dad, this awesome guy, full 126 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 1: of life, just got basically a death sentence. And so 127 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: during that time that was really hard to navigate. All 128 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: the ups and downs watching him decline and just fight 129 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: the disease and just experiencing that was extremely difficult, and 130 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: coming out of it, and then the silver lining of 131 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: it being able to talk about my experience caring for him, 132 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,679 Speaker 1: kind of rerouting life plans, embarking on my early twenties, 133 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: not knowing how this disease would affect him and our family, 134 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: pausing my career in broadcast television, coming home to help 135 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:04,839 Speaker 1: him and spend really quality time with him in his 136 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: last couple of years of his life were all. 137 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 5: Really important things. 138 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: And yeah, and then having the opportunity to talk about 139 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: it on the Bachelor, and hearing so many other women 140 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: message me and send me dms like, oh my gosh, 141 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: I can't believe you're talking about this my dad or 142 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: my mom is going through this, or I didn't know 143 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: I was a caregiver per se, because I'm just doing 144 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: what any daughter, you know, someone would do for their 145 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: parents that they love. But putting a name to it 146 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: and recognizing that the work that you're doing to care 147 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: for a loved one is real and it's valuable and 148 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: it matters, and building a community around that was the 149 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: silver lining through it all. 150 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 3: So my buddy Brandon had gone through divorce and he's 151 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 3: living in my basement at the time, and I was 152 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 3: on a work trip and I came back home and 153 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 3: we were sitting on the couch watching a basketball game, 154 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 3: and we cracked open a beer and we were talking 155 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 3: and he was slurring his words, not terribly, just enough 156 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 3: where I was like, man, if you're drinking because you're 157 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 3: sad alone, let me know, like I live here with you. 158 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 3: I can ride this wave with you. And he goes, no, man, 159 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 3: it's not that he's like, I don't know what it is. 160 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,679 Speaker 3: He's like, when I get tired, my tongue just doesn't 161 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 3: work right now, like it's been this way for two weeks. 162 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 3: And that was the start of the bulber on set, 163 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 3: and I say this to say, Brandon hiked fourteen ers. 164 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 3: I think he had almost twenty under his belt. He 165 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 3: was my golfing buddy, He did triathlons. It was unexpected, 166 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 3: it was shocking, and it still is to this day. 167 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 3: His wife Sam has been incredible through it all. More 168 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 3: and more people though, you know, this is something that 169 00:08:56,080 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: maybe people were unfamiliar with and it was relatable for 170 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: the people who have been through it when you're on 171 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 3: The Bachelor, because you were talking about it and putting 172 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 3: a name to it. But we were unfamiliar with it 173 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: for so long. But it's rapidly growing and rapidly increasing 174 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 3: with the amount of people that are being diagnosed with ALS, right, 175 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 3: I think. 176 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: There's a lot more awareness, a lot more people are 177 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: there's early detection, there's you know, new advancements in detection 178 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: and understanding that hey, this is ALS. And I just 179 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: think there's also been a really big social movement behind 180 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: it that you know, kickstarted with the ice Bucket Challenge. 181 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: But you know, there's still a lot more that needs 182 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: to be done to spread the word about ALS. It's 183 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: a rare disease. It's you know, the percent of Americans 184 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: it impacts is pretty low compared to dementia or Parkinson's 185 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: or other diseases. But there is a community, seems to 186 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: be a growing community of people that are impacted by it. 187 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: And once you meet someone or you have someone in 188 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: your life that is touched by ALS and you see 189 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: just how devastating and difficult it is, it seems like 190 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: then you meet another person who has ALS, and you're like, hey, 191 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: like this person's also going through this, and just sharing 192 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: resources and just being there and knowing how to be 193 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: a friend to someone who is going through ALS or 194 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: someone whose parent is going through because it really is 195 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 1: such a unique disease. It's not like something where you 196 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,599 Speaker 1: can say, oh, like hang in there, I hope you 197 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: get better, I hope you know you're there's going to 198 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: be a cure. There truly isn't a cure right now. 199 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: And I remember that just being the most frustrating frustrating thing, 200 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,839 Speaker 1: like how could there not be a cure? How could 201 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: there not be people who know about this? And it 202 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 1: feels like it's your whole world, And so that part 203 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: has felt really frustrating. But since the show, I feel 204 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: like I've kind of fallen into this accidental advocate role 205 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 1: where I never knew about ALS. I never meant to 206 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: be a spoke woman for this. I never wanted to be. 207 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: I never wanted my dad to. 208 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 5: Go through this. 209 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: But since then, just seeing how it has impacted people, 210 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: and just using the platform that I've had from the 211 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: show to talk about it, to raise awareness, to raise funds. 212 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: Last week there was a San Diego Greater San Diego 213 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: eighth annual gala and auction, and really dialed into that 214 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: community and we raised over one hundred and fifty thousand 215 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: dollars last week for hair services and support in San Diego. 216 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: And that's just a drop in the bucket. There's still 217 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: so much more that needs to happen across the country. 218 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: But that's where I'm at right now. We're just talking 219 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,599 Speaker 1: about ALS and caregiving and doing whatever I can to 220 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: help people out. 221 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: Like you said, I just think it's like the scariest 222 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 2: disease just because it basically is a death sentence. 223 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 4: There's just no way you could be like, oh, you're 224 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 4: going to get better. 225 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 2: How did you and your family, your dad and your 226 00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 2: mom and the. 227 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 4: Kids, how did you deal with it? 228 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 2: Like emotionally and mentally for the initial diagnosis and the years, 229 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 2: the years going forward. 230 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: Honestly, at first, not well, it was Yeah, it was 231 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: just shocking. It was like, I think I was in 232 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: college and I was watching wedding crashers with my friends, 233 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: just like my roommates on the couch, and there's you know, 234 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: the wedding scene and the dad is walking the daughter 235 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: down the aisle, and I just like completely lost it. 236 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: I was like, I felt like my whole world was 237 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,679 Speaker 1: shattering of all of these ideas that I had that, 238 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: you know, my dad would be around to walk me 239 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: down the aisle to meet my kids one day, to 240 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: see his grandkids. And just when you're so young and 241 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: you have this idea of what your life is going 242 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: to look like and something like als comes in and 243 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: it's just, hey, I'm here to just f up all 244 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: these plans. It's just like so frustrating and heartbreaking and awful, honestly, 245 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: And I think at the time I didn't reach out 246 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: to people, you know, I felt really isolated. I didn't 247 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: really take the initiative to see what resources were out there, 248 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:10,959 Speaker 1: and just kind of was like, I'm going to deal 249 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: with this. This is something my family is dealing with 250 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: And it wasn't until later in the disease where we 251 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: got over the shock and the first kind of hurdles 252 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: of my dad and his decline where we felt like, 253 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: all right, this is our new reality. What are we 254 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: going to do about it? And really leaned on my 255 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: dad's strength and resilience just being super positive and optimistic 256 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: even in the face of this, Like he could have 257 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: gone two ways. He could have been bitter and angry 258 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: and awful and you know, been in misery, which is 259 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: what I feel like the default would be when you 260 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: have something like this, But he was really optimistic and 261 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: encouraging and just truly believed his purpose in life was 262 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: to be an inspiration to others and to show you know, 263 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: this is something that's really difficult. 264 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 5: Als is so difficult. So whatever you're. 265 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: Going through in your day to day, you know, it's 266 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: not that bad, Like you can get through it. And 267 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: so that's when I started talking more about my experience 268 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,679 Speaker 1: and opening up and being really vulnerable on social media. 269 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 5: Which is hard. 270 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: And then the opportunity to come on the show happened 271 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty, and had a lot of conversations with 272 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: my family of like, should I do this. 273 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 5: You know, we have a lot going on at home. 274 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: But my dad was always my biggest cheerleader and supporter, 275 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: and he was like, this is an awesome thing, like 276 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: you know, I want go do this, like you know, 277 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: support you one hundred percent. And then obviously it was 278 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: really difficult and at the time wasn't the right decision 279 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: for me. But the good thing about it was that 280 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: in my brief time being on the show, I was 281 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: able to talk about ALS, and now that's just spun 282 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: into something even bigger than I could have ever imagined 283 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: that I'm now being able to advocate for it and 284 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: bring other caregivers together and stuff like that. 285 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: One of the frustrating things has been, you know, there 286 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 3: isn't a cure. People don't know a lot about ALS 287 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 3: from the medical side. Drugs and test trials take forever 288 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 3: to get pushed through and to have any research behind them. 289 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 3: It's happening faster than maybe it even was three years 290 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 3: ago when I first kind of dove into this world. 291 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 3: You know, people now I just read a study yesterday 292 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 3: where it says lime disease seems to be a common 293 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 3: thread for people that are diagnosed with ALS. So if 294 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: you're somebody, and I know a lot of Bachelor Nation 295 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 3: has been diagnosed with lime disease. Make sure you take 296 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 3: care of yourself and make sure you get the help 297 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: because it isn't just a come and go disease. It 298 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 3: can cause great issues. And that's actually what they believe 299 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 3: happened to my buddy. He got bit by a tick. 300 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 3: The tick was infected in it, and it turned his 301 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 3: body against himself. One of the things I want to 302 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 3: highlight here is we then move on to what you're 303 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 3: up to today, and is how expensive ALS is. And 304 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 3: I think that's one of the reasons why people who 305 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 3: have been affected by it really become great advocates for 306 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 3: it too. Is not only does the disease suck, and 307 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 3: it does. There's no there's nothing good about ALS there. 308 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 3: You know, sometimes people get sick and they talk about 309 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 3: all the great things about ALS. Sucks, nothing good about it. 310 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 3: It's awful, but it's also really expensive. I think recent 311 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 3: numbers have reported that for somebody at later stage ALS, 312 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 3: it can cost up to one hundred and fifty thousand 313 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 3: dollars a year to care for that person. Is that 314 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 3: something that you can that you know in your experience 315 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 3: as well kind of the cost later on down the 316 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 3: road for people. 317 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: With als completely, the cost for caregiving, specifically with als, 318 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: which has its own very unique needs and demands, is 319 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: just astronomical. And you know, my family, you know, we 320 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 1: luckily were able to pull it together somehow and get by, 321 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,479 Speaker 1: but it's extremely costly to be caring for someone, and 322 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: the cost of health care. If you're bringing in a 323 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: professional caregiver, somebody who is credentialed, and you know it's 324 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: from a home care agency, sometimes it's sixty to eighty 325 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: dollars an hour. And if you think about how many 326 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: hours of care your loved one might need, especially if 327 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: it's overnight care or specialized care where you need to 328 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: have certain credentials in order to do a whiyre lift, 329 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: a transfer in and out of bed, or into like 330 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: a bathing situation. All of those more intense needs of 331 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: care are extremely costly, so family members end up just 332 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: quitting their own jobs and jumping into help to save 333 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: money because you can't afford to do that. And sometimes 334 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: the best person who can provide the best care is 335 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: a spouse or a son or a daughter who just 336 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: know that person so well. So you know, a caregiver 337 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: isn't someone that just like sits next to that person 338 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: and turns on the TV remote. It's somebody who is 339 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: really putting in hands on work and nursing level care. 340 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: And so there are just tons of stats out there 341 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: about the value of unpaid family caregivers. That there are 342 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: fifty three million unpaid family caregivers in the US, people 343 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 1: who aren't credentialed and doing this as a career, people 344 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: that are just stepping aside from maybe their own careers 345 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: to help a loved one. And that specifically it's disproportionately 346 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: affects women and women of color, and that if a 347 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: woman chooses to step away from the workforce, the average 348 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: lost wages and social Security benefits are more than three 349 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars over her lifetime. 350 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 5: So making. 351 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: Basically a really big decision to step back away from 352 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: a career, away from other things, it's it's a difficult 353 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: choice a lot of families have to make, and then 354 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: also incurring all of the financial shocks and going into 355 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: debt just because your loved one has a chronic or 356 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: terminal illness. It's a lot of things. It's a thing 357 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: that people don't really expect or plan or say, for 358 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: no one is anticipating, oh I might get ALS at 359 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,679 Speaker 1: you know, thirty eight or something like that. It's just 360 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: never really in anyone's plan. 361 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 3: So well, I want to take a second and just 362 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 3: recognize all the people too that are out there doing 363 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: this for their loved ones or for somebody they care about. Yeah, 364 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 3: if anything, you know, this time with Sarah is a 365 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 3: moment and a tribute to you and say, hey, you're 366 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 3: not alone. People recognize how hard it is and how 367 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 3: much you've given up and how much you've lost to 368 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 3: do this, and your work does not go unnoticed and 369 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 3: it is incredible work for the people and for yourself. 370 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 3: So just take a second recognize all those people, Sarah. 371 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 2: Can we talk about how with als, how the person's 372 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 2: brain is all there right and then it's just their 373 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 2: body that is falling apart. How was that with communicating 374 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 2: with your dad and how like just I don't even 375 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 2: know what the word is. It's like not sad, It's 376 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 2: just like it's almost like debilitating pain on your part 377 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 2: to know that like he just knows everything that's going on, 378 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: but he just can't. 379 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 4: Live his life. 380 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 2: How is how is that like how is the communication 381 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 2: and and. 382 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,440 Speaker 4: Just feeling like your dad is present. 383 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 1: It was the most gut wrenching feeling ever because for 384 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: a long time he was trying to still speak, and 385 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: it got to a point. 386 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 5: Where his vocal cords. 387 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 1: You know, he's losing that muscle, which is a muscle 388 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:55,959 Speaker 1: in order to speak, you know, your tongue and your 389 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: vocal cords. You don't even think about it. It's an 390 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: involuntary muscle. And all of those involuntary muscles begin to die. 391 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 1: He was slurring his words, and so I would just 392 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: remember looking at him, and you know, for a long time, 393 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: I know him so well. I know what he needs, 394 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 1: if he needs to be adjusted, or like the sleeve 395 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: on his sweater needs to be pulled down, or what 396 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:19,719 Speaker 1: he wants or something like that. Just innately know what 397 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: he wants. But then it would get to a time 398 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: where he's just looking at me and he can't speak anymore, 399 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: and I'm just like, I wish I could just read 400 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: your mind. I wish I could help you. Because he 401 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: can't move himself to adjust himself in bed or adjust 402 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 1: himself in his wheelchair. He was frozen. And so luckily, 403 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 1: though there are adaptive technologies, and a lot of the 404 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: ALS funding goes toward making ALS a livable disease. So 405 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: there's one avenue of finding a cure, which through gene 406 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,719 Speaker 1: therapy or other ways, hopefully will happen in our lifetimes. 407 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 1: But what's the more immediate fix is making ALS livable 408 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: with adaptive technology geez, like an I gaze device. So 409 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: that was a life saving device for us because he 410 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: would he was able to calibrate his eyes his pupils 411 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: to this iPad essentially in front of him, and he 412 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: could stare at these letters and phrases and be able 413 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 1: to write words, sentences, have his saved phrases, Like he would. 414 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 5: Have some jokes. 415 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: People would come to our house and it would be 416 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: like you know, ten am, and he would just love 417 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: to make people laugh. He would say the bar is open, 418 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: please help yourself, and it would be like ten am, 419 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: or he would he would just be cracking jokes until 420 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: like until he really couldn't anymore. And so he was 421 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,919 Speaker 1: able to keep a sense of his personality and his 422 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: like I guess positivity until for many many more years 423 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: because of adaptive technologies like that. 424 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 4: That's an amazing technology and. 425 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 5: Communicate with us what he needed. Yeah, yeah, well. 426 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,439 Speaker 3: You have became a great advocate for this, and you know, 427 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 3: there's many people myself that are very appreciative for you 428 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 3: using your voice and using your time on the show 429 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 3: and your time after the show. So before we jump 430 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:12,720 Speaker 3: into you know, kind of your life today, and I 431 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,520 Speaker 3: know still that has a lot to do with ALS 432 00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 3: advocacy for anybody listening that's saying, hey, I've always wanted 433 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 3: to know how to help. I've just never known how. 434 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 3: What are some recommendations that you have? And I will 435 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 3: say this in the same breath. I just posted on 436 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 3: Instagram yesterday or two days ago about the move of 437 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 3: my buddy, kind of highlighting their story and their desire 438 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 3: to help families who maybe don't have the financial means 439 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,479 Speaker 3: they have to care for themselves. And so that's one 440 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 3: avenue that I would like to highlight. Please go look 441 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 3: at that post, you can follow along. But also for you, 442 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 3: Sarah and your experience, what are some great ways for 443 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 3: people to support? 444 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, it's there's so many different ways in 445 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: ALS is unique as well, as we talked about, and 446 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 1: it's not always donating, you know, that's not always in 447 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 1: the cards for everyone. It's maybe doing some research and 448 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: understanding the nuances of ALS. If you have someone a 449 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:14,719 Speaker 1: loved one in your life that is dealing with it, 450 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: or a good friend or a friend of a friend, 451 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: just knowing a little bit more about the disease and 452 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: educating yourself so when you are talking with them, you 453 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 1: know you're coming in with a little bit more knowledge 454 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: about it. And then you know, if a friend or 455 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: someone that you love is going through this as a 456 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,719 Speaker 1: caregiver or with ALS, you know, ask them how you 457 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 1: can help. And a lot of times somebody that's in 458 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,919 Speaker 1: the thick of it isn't going to exactly say what 459 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: they need, or they might not even know what they need. 460 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: But something like inviting them to go for a walk, 461 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: or to call them and check in on them regularly, 462 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: or just to drop off food or flowers on their 463 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: doorstep is just a way that you can show support 464 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: without having to like come in the home and make 465 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: it a big ordeal of like checking in and just 466 00:24:58,640 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: small gestures like. 467 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 5: That go a really long way. 468 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, just recognizing too that you know, May is 469 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: ALS Awareness month, so you know, sharing your own ALS 470 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 1: story if you feel inclined, if you're going through it, 471 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: or you know, making sure that you know you have 472 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: the permission of friends or whatever to talk about it, 473 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: but to just open up and be vulnerable. You never 474 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: know who else might be going through something similar. But yeah, 475 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: those are just some ideas, and yeah, and don't be 476 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 1: afraid to ask for help as well. You know, May 477 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 1: is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and so people that 478 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,359 Speaker 1: are going through ALS themselves and then also the family 479 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: members and the support system around them really probably struggle 480 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: with mental health. 481 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:43,440 Speaker 5: It's it's really intense. 482 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,880 Speaker 1: So just checking in on your friends and not being 483 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: afraid to ask for help or get help is really 484 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: important too. 485 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 3: One of the things that I also because you mentioned it, 486 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 3: that I've seen that's so helpful. So many people have 487 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 3: done this and this is i mean, ALS is our 488 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,199 Speaker 3: specific topic of today and we really want to highlight that, 489 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 3: but this is for anybody who you know has a 490 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:08,679 Speaker 3: friend that they know is going through it. One of 491 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 3: the best things anybody's done for Sam Brandon's wife, she's 492 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 3: been his primary caregiver and been taking care of him 493 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 3: and the house and dogs, is to call her and say, Sam, 494 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 3: I'm going to come over or I'm going to be there, 495 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 3: and you just get away for a day, like you 496 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 3: go sleep somewhere, or you go to a spa or 497 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 3: go for a walk on your own. Because you've been 498 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 3: so in it, I want to relieve you of having 499 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:40,479 Speaker 3: any responsibility today. I'm just here to do everything that 500 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 3: you would typically do for you if you let me. 501 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 3: That's been an incredible way to help because it's helped 502 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,640 Speaker 3: keep Sam you know, out into the world and being 503 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 3: able to see friends and being able to be on 504 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 3: our own. So that's for it. That's just good advice 505 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 3: for anybody. Yeah, for anybody that knows somebody that's hurting, 506 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 3: it's like, hey, you know, lay down a little bit 507 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 3: and give up a day for them. I think it 508 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 3: would be important. I think it's very valuable. 509 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 5: That's amazing. 510 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, all right, let's take a quick break and then 511 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 2: we'll get into your bachelor journey and where you are 512 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:25,479 Speaker 2: today a little bit. So, Sarah, your dad was a 513 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 2: proponent of you going on the show. 514 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 4: He thought it was cool, which is nice and supportive. 515 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 2: How difficult was the decision to say, okay, let's do it, 516 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: and knowing that you'd be away from your dad from 517 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 2: anywhere for well, you guys had that quarantine COVID that 518 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 2: the COVID quarantine for the show was like way more 519 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 2: intensive than the normal bachelor quarantine in there just like 520 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:51,720 Speaker 2: four or five days. So how was that decision knowing 521 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,439 Speaker 2: that you'd be gone anywhere from like I don't know, 522 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 2: ten days to two months. 523 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, it definitely wasn't something I took lightly. It was 524 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: a lot of conversations back and forth with my family, 525 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: my mom, my sister, my dad, and just kind of 526 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: weighing all of the options and having really candidate conversations 527 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 1: with them, and you know, even talking to the producers like, hey, 528 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: my situation is pretty unique. You know, my dad has 529 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: a terminal illness. He's stable right now, so you know, 530 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: being away for a few weeks isn't It's going to 531 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 1: be difficult, But you know, I feel like we could 532 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,160 Speaker 1: handle this. Would it be possible to make an exception 533 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: where I could FaceTime or maybe you know, with a 534 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: producer in the room of course, like during the journey, 535 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: if it's were to be longer than I don't know, 536 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: night one, would I have that ability? And so the 537 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: producers that I spoke with assured me I would be 538 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: able to talk with them and stay in touch with them, 539 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: and when I got there though, that really wasn't the case, 540 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: which really the bummer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, no. 541 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: I because normally when people have kids, they're really good 542 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 2: with the FaceTime at least every other day. 543 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: But you felt like, no, no, not once. So that 544 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:19,479 Speaker 1: was really frustrating, and I just felt like being there 545 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: wasn't exactly what I had thought it would be. And 546 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: so just weighing the options, I'm like, nothing compares to 547 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: my family and being with family time, and especially during 548 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: this situation. So it was a difficult process to leave 549 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: and leave the show, especially because I had just come 550 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: off of a great one on one with Mat, But 551 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: just weighing the options and my own mental health, it 552 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: just wasn't worth it for me to stick it out. 553 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, do you have any idea why they didn't allow 554 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 3: you to speak as much as you thought you were 555 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 3: or at all? 556 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: Was? 557 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm sure you asked. What was the typical response. 558 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,400 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, they you know, just kind of like pushing 559 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 1: it off or being like, oh maybe like let me 560 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: ask someone else who who has the authority let me 561 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: just like kind of like diffusing who the decision maker 562 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: was on that. And you know, I had a one 563 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: on producer who was with me pretty frequently, and it 564 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: was weird to see how like even my trust with 565 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: that person shifted when these basic needs like communicating with 566 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: my family were kind of shuffled around, and so my 567 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 1: perception of reality felt like it was flipped upside down. 568 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, who can I trust here? Like I felt 569 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: like I was trapped. I felt like it was just 570 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:44,480 Speaker 1: a really intense time of course, like with the filming 571 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: and being in a new situation like that plus the 572 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: family stuff. I felt like it was fight or flight. 573 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: I need to get out of here. I need to 574 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: be with my family. 575 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 5: It was really hard. 576 00:30:57,480 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 2: I would think that they'd want you around, and because 577 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 2: you you just seemed like a great You're great on TV, 578 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 2: you seem to have a good rapport with Matt. Did 579 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 2: you just felt like someoney who stood out to us 580 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,880 Speaker 2: really early on? I thought, like, I think we probably 581 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 2: put you in our top four when we do our 582 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 2: guesses at the top of the season. So I would 583 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 2: think that they'd want you to FaceTime so you could 584 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 2: stick around. But I wonder if their initial thought, which 585 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 2: is not good, was that not letting you FaceTime would 586 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 2: make you more emotional, or that I. 587 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: Would my parents would be worried about me, and they'd 588 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: see me stressed contemplating everything and be like, yeah, just 589 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: come home and kind. 590 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,040 Speaker 5: Of oh, but it could be that what I was 591 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 5: already feeling. 592 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: So yeah, yeah, I remember there was like a point 593 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 1: when I was in the room and I was looking 594 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 1: at there's like no radios, no TV, no clocks, you know, 595 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: and I just felt so trapped. I couldn't talk to 596 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,600 Speaker 1: my family. And we were in Nema Colan and there 597 00:31:56,640 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: was this little farmhouse like across the way, and I 598 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: literally was like maybe I had this thought, like maybe 599 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: I could run to that farmhouse and like then I 600 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: could find like a phone and call my family. 601 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 5: Like I was losing my mind. 602 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 4: You guys, that's the sign you got to go home. 603 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 2: So how much pushback was there when you made the 604 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:12,840 Speaker 2: decision to go home? 605 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,880 Speaker 5: It was it was like a five day process. You know. 606 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: It wasn't just like Okay, pack your bags, you can 607 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: walk out. You know. It was a really lengthy process. 608 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 1: And just having to wrap up some conversations of course 609 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: with Matt and like telling him that was really hard 610 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:31,720 Speaker 1: with Katie and then found out Katie had also gone 611 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 1: through a similar situation losing her dad, and so, you know, 612 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: I'm glad that, you know, I had that conversation with Katie, 613 00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: and since after the show we have become friends, and 614 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: you know, I just looked back and it was just 615 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: such a difficult time and for that place I was 616 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,840 Speaker 1: in life, not the right time or place at that moment. 617 00:32:57,520 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 2: So I guess that gives us our reason as to 618 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 2: why you haven't done Paradise and probably won't. 619 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: They It's funny they asked if I would be interested 620 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: in Bachelorette after, you know, and I just thought it 621 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: was kind of funny because I'm like, you know, I 622 00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: have all this family stuff going on, and as amazing 623 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: as that would be, as much as I'm a hopeless 624 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: romantic and I want to find my person, it just 625 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: wasn't the right time. Even when they asked after that, 626 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: when they were kind of chatting with like Katie and Michelle. 627 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 2: Oh, your your dad was still around, So I would 628 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 2: imagine that at that point you were definitely like, I'm 629 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 2: not going to leave my dad again. Now that your 630 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 2: dad has passed, would you contemplate doing the show again? 631 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 5: I don't know, I don't know, honestly. 632 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 2: Oh, so there's hope for us to see you on 633 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 2: TV again. 634 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 5: There is hope. There is hope. 635 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: You know, there are some great people in Bachelor Nation, 636 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: you know. 637 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 5: So I don't know. I definitely want. 638 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,760 Speaker 1: To keep an open mind because I am in such 639 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: a different place in life. 640 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 4: You're totally about to leave for Paradise, aren't you. 641 00:33:58,200 --> 00:33:59,959 Speaker 5: I don't know. I can't say anything. 642 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, we got about two weeks before you'd go fly 643 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 2: out there, so I can't wait. 644 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: It's not too late. Honestly, I don't know if I 645 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,320 Speaker 1: can say this or not. But I'm not going to 646 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: be on it. But should I just call them up 647 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: and be like, hey, guys, actually changed my mind. 648 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, let's let's make the push right now. Some of 649 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 3: them listen to this. Hey, if you're out there and 650 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 3: you're a producer for Bachelor in Paradise, Sarah is open 651 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,800 Speaker 3: to a conversation about going to the beach. 652 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 4: I'll let you know, like, you won't regret it. 653 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,040 Speaker 2: You won't regret it because even the kids, and I 654 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:37,880 Speaker 2: call them kids because they're like a decade younger than 655 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:41,320 Speaker 2: me at this point, they think it's miserable while they're there, 656 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:43,839 Speaker 2: and then a couple months later, they look back on it, 657 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 2: and there's like this golden glow of those memories that 658 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:48,439 Speaker 2: they have from there. 659 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 4: So I think that you'll. 660 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:52,520 Speaker 2: Get a lot from out You'll get a lot from it, 661 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 2: even if it's just like growing involving the. 662 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: Thing is, though I haven't kept up with it, Honestly, 663 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,480 Speaker 1: I haven't watched an episode since the one I left. 664 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: I didn't even finish watching that season. So I think 665 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,400 Speaker 1: I would go in there and I would be just 666 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 1: a fish out of water. 667 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 5: I'd be like, who are you? What season were you onon? 668 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:13,720 Speaker 1: Like, I wouldn't know all the drama behind the scenes, 669 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:15,560 Speaker 1: which might help me or it might hurt me. 670 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:19,120 Speaker 4: So I think you could just find that tuition. Well, 671 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 4: let us know if we should push for you. 672 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 5: I don't know. 673 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: People find success through that, they find their person. 674 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 5: But I don't know. 675 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: Maybe I should just stick with I don't know, I 676 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 1: don't know other ways. I'm not sure. I haven't had 677 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 1: much luck, so maybe I gotta go back. 678 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 2: I never had luck and then and then I had 679 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:43,720 Speaker 2: a great luck there after quite some time. Yeah, all right, Well, 680 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 2: I guess that means that you're single now and you're 681 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 2: still did you have you had anything significant of a 682 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,399 Speaker 2: relationship since we've last saw you on TV. 683 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 1: So when I was on the Help I Suck At 684 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:00,759 Speaker 1: Dating podcast with Jared and we were talking about my 685 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 1: current relationship at the time, and so I think that 686 00:36:04,280 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: would be the most serious relationship I had since the show. 687 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: And we're no longer together, but wish him well And yeah, 688 00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:16,360 Speaker 1: so I'm single. It's but I think I feel like 689 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 1: everyone my age are in the dating pool who was 690 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,320 Speaker 1: single can agree that dating these days is very different. 691 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: It's really hard, and I don't know. I don't want 692 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 1: to like give out. 693 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 5: I don't want to lose hope. 694 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:31,880 Speaker 1: But I'm feeling a little bit jaded about dating life 695 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: in general at the moment. 696 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,440 Speaker 3: That's exactly when I found Jessica. I got so frustrated. 697 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:39,840 Speaker 3: I told my family, I don't think I'm going to 698 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:41,320 Speaker 3: get married. I think I'm good. 699 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 2: Oh my god, Ben, you were like twenty eight or 700 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:44,920 Speaker 2: twenty nine? 701 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 4: Were you twenty nine when you met him her? 702 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:49,439 Speaker 3: Oh? Yes, twenty nine. I was like, I'm done, I'm 703 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:51,319 Speaker 3: just giving up. And then all of a sudden she 704 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 3: popped into my life. Well, obviously we're talking about dating. 705 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:59,279 Speaker 3: We've talked about your last few years of life. We 706 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 3: talked about your time on the show, so obviously today 707 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 3: you are a different person than you were on Matt 708 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:11,439 Speaker 3: James's season of The Bachelor. You've been through it, You've 709 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:15,920 Speaker 3: learned a lot. If you could look back and maybe 710 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 3: compare and contrast who you were then and who you 711 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:20,399 Speaker 3: are now, and what you're looking for and what you're 712 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,759 Speaker 3: excited about in life and what you're dreaming towards, what 713 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:24,520 Speaker 3: would those things be. 714 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 5: That's a good question. Wow, thank you. 715 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 1: I look back and I would say now I'm a 716 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:38,080 Speaker 1: lot more confident and self assured, and I feel like 717 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: I've found my voice in my late twenties. I think 718 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: this is kind of a common thread with women. You know, 719 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 1: you don't tolerate as much bs with guys and dating. 720 00:37:47,719 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: You know, you hopefully are a little bit more financially stable, 721 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: more secure in yourself and just who you are and 722 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:56,760 Speaker 1: what you like and don't like. And I think early 723 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: twenties it's a lot of people pleasing, it's a lot. 724 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 5: Of I don't know sure I do this or that. 725 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,600 Speaker 1: And I feel like in the past couple years, I've 726 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:09,319 Speaker 1: really found myself of just knowing myself better, which is 727 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,080 Speaker 1: awesome and exciting and really empowering. But I think the 728 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 1: same things that I were looking for, or things I 729 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,720 Speaker 1: was looking for on the show with Matt still are true. 730 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:22,640 Speaker 1: I want to be married, I want to have kids. 731 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: I want to find my person that I want I 732 00:38:26,200 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: can do life with. I can travel with them, we 733 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 1: can literally have fun at the grocery store or just 734 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 1: sitting on the couch on a Friday night. Doesn't have 735 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 1: to be like amazing trips and travels and romantic all 736 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:42,279 Speaker 1: the time, but just somebody who you can do life 737 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:45,799 Speaker 1: with in the ups and downs. And maybe what's hard 738 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,759 Speaker 1: for me is that I feel like I've been through 739 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 1: some traumatic and really painful life experiences and so to 740 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:56,680 Speaker 1: find somebody who maybe has been through something hard themselves, 741 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,680 Speaker 1: or at least can empathize and understand just what I've 742 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:05,799 Speaker 1: been through is really important for me. So, yeah, that's 743 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 1: kind of where I'm at. 744 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:08,120 Speaker 4: Those are good goals. 745 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 2: And as far as career, you know, you were in 746 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:16,480 Speaker 2: the starts of a broadcasting career and it just seems 747 00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:18,680 Speaker 2: like you would really excel at that. Just getting to 748 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:20,960 Speaker 2: know you over the past forty five minutes and seeing 749 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:24,120 Speaker 2: you on TV or just a natural Where are you 750 00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:24,480 Speaker 2: and that. 751 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't know. I'm kind of I'm doing a 752 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:31,799 Speaker 1: lot of stuff on social media. The advocacy work, the 753 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:37,120 Speaker 1: ALS nonprofit work really brings me so much joy and happiness. Yeah, 754 00:39:37,120 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 1: but that's something I want to explore of kind of 755 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: what is my next move. I feel like I finally 756 00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,879 Speaker 1: have come up for air after this crazy past couple 757 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:48,640 Speaker 1: of years with the show and with family stuff, losing 758 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:52,200 Speaker 1: my dad, you know. So I just feel like now 759 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:55,279 Speaker 1: I'm ready to kind of explore other career options and 760 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: what that would be. And so, I don't know, I'm 761 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:03,000 Speaker 1: maybe restarting my pot podcast or doing something back on camera, 762 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:04,880 Speaker 1: going on paradise. 763 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 5: Who knows? You know, the world is my oyster. 764 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 2: We don't know, all right, Well, Sarah, it's been a 765 00:40:11,640 --> 00:40:14,480 Speaker 2: pleasure having you on. Thank you for telling us so 766 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:17,839 Speaker 2: much about you know, ALS and where your life is now, 767 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:22,160 Speaker 2: and you are your great advocate. Like I think a 768 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:24,640 Speaker 2: lot of people are going to leave this podcast knowing 769 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:28,680 Speaker 2: a lot more about ALS and being in reaching out 770 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:30,280 Speaker 2: to anybody who's affected. 771 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:33,360 Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you. I really appreciate that. 772 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:37,319 Speaker 1: I appreciate having the real conversation because it's it's not 773 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:39,839 Speaker 1: always easy, but a lot of people are going through it, 774 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,799 Speaker 1: and you know, of course, if anyone's listening to this, 775 00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 1: please reach out to me. 776 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:46,040 Speaker 5: Join my caregiver community. 777 00:40:46,080 --> 00:40:48,920 Speaker 1: I have a Facebook group of now more than a thousand, 778 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:53,520 Speaker 1: mostly young women who are caregivers, mostly for people with als, 779 00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: but other terminal illnesses. We went on a retreat last 780 00:40:57,080 --> 00:40:59,799 Speaker 1: year to Charleston. We all got in Airbnb and hung 781 00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 1: out well. So you need like a grief circle, a 782 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:07,000 Speaker 1: caregiving circle, you know, just reach out to me. I 783 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:09,080 Speaker 1: want to plug people in and support them. 784 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 4: What's the name of the Facebook group. 785 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:14,760 Speaker 1: It's called Sarah's Caregiver Community. Or you could just DM 786 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:16,760 Speaker 1: me and we can add you to our WhatsApp channel. 787 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:20,319 Speaker 1: My phone is always blowing up with like, you know, 788 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,440 Speaker 1: friends talking on this WhatsApp channel, all caregivers. 789 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:24,279 Speaker 5: So it's pretty cool. 790 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:25,479 Speaker 4: You're doing amazing work. 791 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:29,560 Speaker 3: I hope somebody's I hope you're feeling supported and cared 792 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:32,040 Speaker 3: for as well. I hope that as much as you're 793 00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,480 Speaker 3: doing for so many other people, I hope you recognize 794 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 3: that your impact and that your sacrifice to them is 795 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:42,640 Speaker 3: also coming back on you in some way, and that 796 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:45,560 Speaker 3: you're feeling hey, like not only are doing great work, 797 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,239 Speaker 3: and you're you're making people's lives better, but that you 798 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:53,359 Speaker 3: are somebody that needs to know how valued you are 799 00:41:53,360 --> 00:41:58,000 Speaker 3: as well. And so Sarah, again, to mirror what Ashley said, 800 00:41:58,040 --> 00:41:59,759 Speaker 3: thank you, thanks for coming on, Thanks for the worth 801 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 3: that you're doing, Thanks for the work that you will 802 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:05,000 Speaker 3: continue to do. And if there is a producer of 803 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 3: Bachelor in Paradise, you are crazy. If you don't give 804 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:10,400 Speaker 3: Sarah a call. You have her number, you should do it. 805 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:11,879 Speaker 4: Give her the last minute call. 806 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:14,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, Sarah, thanks for coming on. 807 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:16,440 Speaker 5: Thank you guys, thanks for having me. 808 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:17,000 Speaker 4: Bye. 809 00:42:18,239 --> 00:42:20,480 Speaker 3: Thanks to Sarah for coming on. You know, it's one 810 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:27,360 Speaker 3: of the beautiful difficulties of life when your new passions 811 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 3: and your new purpose comes from your past pain. And 812 00:42:33,320 --> 00:42:36,319 Speaker 3: when when you talk to somebody like Sarah who has 813 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:41,760 Speaker 3: been through something unimaginable, something that, as we said, sucks, 814 00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:47,120 Speaker 3: there's no good to als, and then decides to use 815 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:50,640 Speaker 3: her voice and her life and her presence here in 816 00:42:50,680 --> 00:42:54,080 Speaker 3: this world to care for others who are going through 817 00:42:54,120 --> 00:43:00,719 Speaker 3: difficult things. It's not only inspiring tumbling, and it's also beautiful. 818 00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:04,200 Speaker 3: And so Sarah, thanks for coming on here, thanks for 819 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:08,520 Speaker 3: sharing your story, thanks for being an advocate for people 820 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 3: like my buddy Brandon, and people out there who I 821 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 3: don't know the name of, but people that it will 822 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:20,200 Speaker 3: be listening and have been affected by this terrible disease. Now, 823 00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:22,839 Speaker 3: this was an interview with Sarah to talk about her 824 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 3: experiences and also advocate for ALS. Because this is ALS 825 00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:30,440 Speaker 3: Awareness Month, we will still be doing headlines. That episode 826 00:43:30,520 --> 00:43:33,200 Speaker 3: is out now, so make sure you close out of 827 00:43:33,239 --> 00:43:36,080 Speaker 3: this episode, take some time to process all the things 828 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:38,560 Speaker 3: you've learned about ALS and maybe ways that you can 829 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 3: care that doesn't have to be financial, but as Sarah 830 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:42,960 Speaker 3: is saying, just with your time and your effort for 831 00:43:43,040 --> 00:43:47,560 Speaker 3: other people who are hurting, and then tune in because 832 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:50,719 Speaker 3: we got some crazy headlines this week. Someone's to celebrate. 833 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:55,040 Speaker 3: So we'll be back. It's posted now with the Almost 834 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:58,919 Speaker 3: Famous podcast. Until then, I've Been Ben, I've Been Ashley Bay. 835 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:02,960 Speaker 1: Followed the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on 836 00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:06,200 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.