1
00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,480
Speaker 1: This is Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous in Depth.

2
00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:08,200
Speaker 1: We promised it and it's out.

3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,239
Speaker 2: Yes, we have Rodney Matthews with us today for an

4
00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,360
Speaker 2: in depth episode. He has a lot going on in

5
00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,000
Speaker 2: his life, a lot of really cool things, a lot

6
00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,160
Speaker 2: of exciting things. I feel like this is a celibratory

7
00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,800
Speaker 2: episode and I'm pumped to talk to him.

8
00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:23,200
Speaker 1: Ashley, I know you are as well.

9
00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,000
Speaker 2: We're all here, we're all getting started.

10
00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 1: Rodney. Welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast.

11
00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,160
Speaker 3: Thank you so much Ben and Ashley for having me.

12
00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:32,480
Speaker 3: I'm so excited to be here.

13
00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,640
Speaker 4: Before we get into your love life, you know what

14
00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,120
Speaker 4: I want to get into. What's that You're good buddy

15
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,000
Speaker 4: justin Okay? Because I know that sounds weird.

16
00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:49,800
Speaker 1: I want to get into your good buddy justin Okay.

17
00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,680
Speaker 4: So he is always doing just social media stuff with

18
00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,279
Speaker 4: Susie and they're always creating a buzz and people are

19
00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,400
Speaker 4: always asking why they don't just date because Zusie is

20
00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,679
Speaker 4: very open about her dating struggles in l A and

21
00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,120
Speaker 4: I figure that you know the inside scoop here.

22
00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,160
Speaker 3: Let's see. I do know these two people very well,

23
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,639
Speaker 3: love them to death, and especially with them both moving

24
00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:18,960
Speaker 3: to LA I could see why that buzz was created,

25
00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:23,000
Speaker 3: and especially with the content that they post, because we

26
00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,720
Speaker 3: all love it. Right, it's all funny, it's entertaining, and

27
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:31,600
Speaker 3: it's that's why it's just so compelling, Like are they

28
00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,240
Speaker 3: going to make it happen or not. It's one of

29
00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,160
Speaker 3: those things where from from my knowledge, I know that

30
00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,479
Speaker 3: they're both really good friends, and I don't know if

31
00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,840
Speaker 3: it'll ever cross that threshold. I'm not too sure that

32
00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,280
Speaker 3: at the end of the day, I know we're both

33
00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,040
Speaker 3: rooting for both them and their happiness, whether it's together apart.

34
00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,000
Speaker 3: So I just I love those two so much, and

35
00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:53,920
Speaker 3: I just tell them, I'm like, hey, keep creaking it

36
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,000
Speaker 3: out because we we love the content.

37
00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,440
Speaker 2: So there, you know, makes his laughs and makes a smile.

38
00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,520
Speaker 2: I love this too, Rodney. Tell me if I'm wrong,

39
00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:04,560
Speaker 2: or you don't have to say anything. Actually it's your buddy.

40
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,280
Speaker 2: I would be shocked if Justin doesn't lay in his

41
00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,720
Speaker 2: bed at night all alone, looking up the ceiling being

42
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,799
Speaker 2: like goodness, gracious, Like I just want to kiss her,

43
00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:16,760
Speaker 2: like I just I just want to Like I don't know,

44
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,760
Speaker 2: there's been these moments where I feel like there's something

45
00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,720
Speaker 2: and she's a friend, and I like her, and she's beautiful,

46
00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,200
Speaker 2: and like, I just want to kiss her.

47
00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,600
Speaker 5: I feel like they've kissed. Oh, I feel like they've

48
00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:25,919
Speaker 5: kissed a few times.

49
00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,680
Speaker 3: I don't know anything about that, but I know that.

50
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,000
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, yeah, no, imagine the tension is there. The

51
00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,800
Speaker 3: tension has to be there. They're just they're too funny,

52
00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,400
Speaker 3: they're too close on the content. I'm just like, God,

53
00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,400
Speaker 3: these two just they would look good together. But yeah, yeah,

54
00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:42,720
Speaker 3: it's probably there. They have.

55
00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,720
Speaker 4: They're just very creative and they're very good at executing

56
00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,120
Speaker 4: all these social media videos. Their ads are one of

57
00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:50,920
Speaker 4: those ads that you stop and you make sure that

58
00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:53,560
Speaker 4: you watch because they do it so well. And then

59
00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,120
Speaker 4: another buddy of yours you must have had an awkward

60
00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:59,800
Speaker 4: situation with. Nate has been a roommate of yours for

61
00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,960
Speaker 4: a but your new girlfriend, which we're going to dive

62
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,400
Speaker 4: into in a minute, she's taking his place as your roommate.

63
00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,120
Speaker 3: When I posted our hard launch, the funniest part was

64
00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,840
Speaker 3: adding a picture at the end of like me and

65
00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,320
Speaker 3: her in the mirror at our place and mats in

66
00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,799
Speaker 3: the background, and all that people would catch is just

67
00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,200
Speaker 3: Nate's face in the background, and all the comments of

68
00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,639
Speaker 3: looks like he knows that he's getting kicked out as

69
00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:27,840
Speaker 3: a roommate or we rob's getting a new roommate, all

70
00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,160
Speaker 3: this stuff, and I'm like, oh my gosh. So we

71
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,200
Speaker 3: laugh and joked about it all the time, and I

72
00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,880
Speaker 3: just remember first telling him. He's like, you sure, Ron,

73
00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,880
Speaker 3: You're sure, Okay, okay, And it was like one of

74
00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,040
Speaker 3: those things where he kind of just realizes. It's like, hey,

75
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,040
Speaker 3: it's like it's our brotherhood, we're best friends, and it's

76
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,840
Speaker 3: not that it's coming to an end. It's just it's

77
00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,160
Speaker 3: a new chapter. You know, it's time for you know,

78
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:52,520
Speaker 3: me to move on. And he definitely accept that and

79
00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,920
Speaker 3: he knows we'll still stay close no matter what. So yeah,

80
00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:56,880
Speaker 3: it was kind of a funny time, but yeah, it

81
00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:58,240
Speaker 3: was the time to move on.

82
00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,880
Speaker 2: So, I mean that's where we got to start. Then,

83
00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,680
Speaker 2: from the beginning, you are in a relationship. You publicly

84
00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,960
Speaker 2: spoke about this relationship in June. I believe, is that

85
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,720
Speaker 2: when you started dating or was it right then you

86
00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,800
Speaker 2: kind of like, how did this play out? And then

87
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,640
Speaker 2: when did you decide to tell the world.

88
00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:21,320
Speaker 3: Yeah, we started we started dating back in June, and

89
00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,720
Speaker 3: it was very it was very exciting. I think the

90
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,200
Speaker 3: last podcast was on, which is Dave Neil's podcast, was

91
00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,279
Speaker 3: the first time that I actually spoke about her public

92
00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,720
Speaker 3: publicly on a podcast, which was really nice. But it's

93
00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,680
Speaker 3: one of those things where I was just I was

94
00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,719
Speaker 3: so excited and and I know that the way we

95
00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,279
Speaker 3: met we met at a bar out here at Venice,

96
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,359
Speaker 3: and it was one of those things. Man, I sound

97
00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,000
Speaker 3: so dramatic, and I am, but you know, when I

98
00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,720
Speaker 3: saw a feeling just hit me, I'm like, wait a minute,

99
00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,320
Speaker 3: I have to figure out. I have to find out

100
00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,520
Speaker 3: who this girl is. And Justin was with me that night,

101
00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,919
Speaker 3: and that was always kind of the funny thing is

102
00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:58,919
Speaker 3: I just immediately saw her and I'm like, okay, I

103
00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,040
Speaker 3: have to get her name in number before we leave

104
00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,039
Speaker 3: and figure out who she is. And the more and

105
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,960
Speaker 3: more I found out, the more excited I got, knowing

106
00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,159
Speaker 3: that this could potentially be the one for me. And uh,

107
00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:12,760
Speaker 3: it's one of those things, like I said, when you know,

108
00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,760
Speaker 3: you know, and a lot of friends and family they'll

109
00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:17,680
Speaker 3: be like, okay, Rod, like do you think you're moving

110
00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,000
Speaker 3: too fast? And you're excited? I said, absolutely not. You know,

111
00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:22,919
Speaker 3: for the first time in my life, I've waited so

112
00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,279
Speaker 3: long for this, and I knew that I've never been

113
00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,960
Speaker 3: this confident in this shore in my life about any

114
00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,760
Speaker 3: woman that I've talked to before. So I knew like

115
00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,480
Speaker 3: that this was a special moment and I wanted to

116
00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,960
Speaker 3: to seize that immediately. So yeah, I'm really glad. We

117
00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,360
Speaker 3: just moved in together a week ago, you know, so

118
00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,560
Speaker 3: it's very exciting for us, and we're ready for this

119
00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:44,120
Speaker 3: new chapter.

120
00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,600
Speaker 4: Ah, it's so obvious how happy you are. Give us,

121
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,920
Speaker 4: give us her bio, like, tell us about her.

122
00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:58,359
Speaker 3: She's the best. Yeah, she's the best. Stop. I'm just

123
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,919
Speaker 3: very very happy. Her name was Ariel Sabrina. Obviously, we

124
00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,160
Speaker 3: met at a bar, and she is from New Jersey,

125
00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:07,960
Speaker 3: so she's from the East Coast, where we just went

126
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,400
Speaker 3: back to for us, for me to finally visit the

127
00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,919
Speaker 3: friends and family. She works for Netflix. She's a social

128
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,560
Speaker 3: media manager over there, and everything that we've kind of

129
00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,919
Speaker 3: been through together so far, it's already been it's already

130
00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:23,800
Speaker 3: been a lot in such a short period of time.

131
00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,160
Speaker 3: But we're just so happy to have met each other

132
00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,280
Speaker 3: during this stage of our lives. You know, I'm thirty one,

133
00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,320
Speaker 3: she's thirty, and that was the first thing she checked

134
00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,359
Speaker 3: me on. You know, when I approached her, was like,

135
00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,680
Speaker 3: hold up, how old are you? And I was like,

136
00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,920
Speaker 3: I'm thirty one. And she's like, okay, I'm tired of

137
00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,640
Speaker 3: get hit on by like twenty two year olds. Like

138
00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,560
Speaker 3: now we can talk, we can continue this conversation. I said, hey,

139
00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,600
Speaker 3: I respect it. Yeah, it's nice, you know, so I

140
00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,560
Speaker 3: completely understand, and I tell people all the time. I

141
00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,960
Speaker 3: think one of the best parts is that, you know,

142
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,360
Speaker 3: when we met, she never watched the show, so it's

143
00:06:58,400 --> 00:06:59,960
Speaker 3: one of those things where she just got to know

144
00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,880
Speaker 3: me for me and I remember her. One of her

145
00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:06,560
Speaker 3: best friends was there that night. It was kind of

146
00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,760
Speaker 3: like recording us because everything was so special. We had

147
00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,120
Speaker 3: random people coming up to us saying I'm sorry, you

148
00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:12,760
Speaker 3: guys are the cutest couple I've ever seen, or like

149
00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,800
Speaker 3: we just met an hour ago. So it's one of

150
00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,680
Speaker 3: those things where I was like, this must be something

151
00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,560
Speaker 3: special if people keep commenting on it. And I remember

152
00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:22,640
Speaker 3: that best friend and her they you know, they watched

153
00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,520
Speaker 3: the video. They were dying laughing. They sent it back

154
00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:26,960
Speaker 3: to the girl's back east and they're just like, oh, yeah,

155
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,160
Speaker 3: Aery met this guy last night. We'll see what happens

156
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,600
Speaker 3: with it, like she seemed happy, but we'll just see

157
00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,560
Speaker 3: if anything comes of it. And I immediately was you know,

158
00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,760
Speaker 3: I got her number. I asked her out on a

159
00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,920
Speaker 3: date for that next Wednesday, like I was. I said, hey, like,

160
00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,640
Speaker 3: I don't play games, and she's like, what are you

161
00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,160
Speaker 3: in this for? I said, I'm trying to find my

162
00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,480
Speaker 3: future wife. Like I'm I'm in this for love, and

163
00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,240
Speaker 3: so you know, if this could be something serious, I

164
00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,440
Speaker 3: would love to pursue that. And I remember, you know,

165
00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,000
Speaker 3: we had our first date, which was very nice, and

166
00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,680
Speaker 3: then our second date is when she's like, all right,

167
00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,720
Speaker 3: so my friend's back East watched the video of us

168
00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,280
Speaker 3: from night one and they said that they all know

169
00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,440
Speaker 3: you and they love you. They know you very well

170
00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,080
Speaker 3: and they love you. And she's like, I don't know

171
00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,000
Speaker 3: how that's possible, and so you might have to talk

172
00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,360
Speaker 3: to me about this if you feel comfortable, And I said, yeah,

173
00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,760
Speaker 3: I let you not until the friends finally told her,

174
00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,240
Speaker 3: so yeah, she's just like, oh, they're like, do you

175
00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,520
Speaker 3: know they talk to you? That's roddy blah blah, and

176
00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,080
Speaker 3: so they were just so excited and she was like

177
00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,640
Speaker 3: what she had no idea, and once we finally talked

178
00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,400
Speaker 3: about it and broke down, she's like, I'm here for

179
00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,640
Speaker 3: you to tell me whatever you feel comfortable with. If

180
00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,520
Speaker 3: that's nothing at all, I understand. If that's everything, I understand.

181
00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,080
Speaker 3: She's like, I just want you to know the you

182
00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,200
Speaker 3: that I know is the one that I met at

183
00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,080
Speaker 3: the bar. And so I said, perfect, let's talk about it.

184
00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:48,400
Speaker 3: And so I kind of just shared what I was

185
00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,240
Speaker 3: comfortable with and I told her, Yeah, I've been on

186
00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,480
Speaker 3: a couple of seasons of the show, and I'm very

187
00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,839
Speaker 3: blessed and grateful, but i have been through some stuff

188
00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,160
Speaker 3: on the show, and I know that I'm here to

189
00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:01,920
Speaker 3: meet my future wife, and so yeah, it was very

190
00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,320
Speaker 3: exciting for us moving forward.

191
00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,560
Speaker 2: I will say this, it is nice to h to

192
00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:12,959
Speaker 2: date somebody who doesn't have like they have an interest

193
00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:14,800
Speaker 2: in your experience in the show, but they've never seen it.

194
00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,560
Speaker 2: You kind of get like there's so much kind of

195
00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,360
Speaker 2: weirdness that is eliminated, Like they haven't seen you kiss

196
00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,040
Speaker 2: somebody else. They haven't seen you like say something romantic

197
00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,280
Speaker 2: to somebody else. It really does, I think build a

198
00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,960
Speaker 2: healthy relationship. My we've talked about on the podcast before

199
00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,720
Speaker 2: you know my dad Rodney. He's a great dude, but

200
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,480
Speaker 2: he is not one to to give advice.

201
00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:40,680
Speaker 1: Uh.

202
00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:42,520
Speaker 2: And so one day I said, hey, Dad, how do

203
00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,959
Speaker 2: you know when you've like met you know, how what

204
00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:46,320
Speaker 2: do you feel like when you met mom?

205
00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:47,640
Speaker 1: What do you feel like?

206
00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,920
Speaker 2: He goes ben when you know you know? And I

207
00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,720
Speaker 2: was like, that's stupid advice. I don't know what that

208
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,200
Speaker 2: feels like. I think that's there has to be a

209
00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,640
Speaker 2: better way and he and he didn't really say anything

210
00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,000
Speaker 2: after that. And then when I met my wife, now

211
00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,040
Speaker 2: I was like that first date. I was like, no,

212
00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,360
Speaker 2: this is either going to be the best thing ever

213
00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:06,560
Speaker 2: or the hardest thing that I've ever had to go through,

214
00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,800
Speaker 2: because this is really really good or could be really

215
00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,800
Speaker 2: bad if it doesn't work out. Well, it worked out,

216
00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:13,280
Speaker 2: but you're right though.

217
00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,120
Speaker 3: It's a certain feeling and you're just like, wait a minute,

218
00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,240
Speaker 3: this feels different. This feels more confident and secure and

219
00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,760
Speaker 3: warm and welcoming, and something's different about this date. So yeah,

220
00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:32,520
Speaker 3: it was very nice.

221
00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,440
Speaker 4: So Ronnie, this is a little bit awkward, but your

222
00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,080
Speaker 4: ex Eliza is back on The Bachelor in Paradise Beach

223
00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,240
Speaker 4: right now, and you felt really strongly for her last year,

224
00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,240
Speaker 4: Like you really, I feel like you thought at the

225
00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,480
Speaker 4: time that she was the one. Can you like compare

226
00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,600
Speaker 4: and contrast the different feelings now that you look back

227
00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,439
Speaker 4: on it in hindsight, Yeah, I mean back.

228
00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,720
Speaker 3: Then, Wow, it was about a year and a half ago.

229
00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,640
Speaker 3: So back then, yes, I definitely had strong feelings and

230
00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,400
Speaker 3: thought that it would give us something special with a

231
00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,320
Speaker 3: lot of potential. And once I heard that she was back,

232
00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:11,160
Speaker 3: I was like, oh wow, I hope that she finds

233
00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,400
Speaker 3: what she's looking for, and that's that's really all that

234
00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,520
Speaker 3: I felt at the time. I was like, oh okay.

235
00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:19,360
Speaker 3: It was one of those things where I think us

236
00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,600
Speaker 3: as a general brotherhood and friendship or are our own

237
00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,120
Speaker 3: personal group you know that we hang out with. It

238
00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,560
Speaker 3: was just like, oh wow, this is this is crazy,

239
00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,560
Speaker 3: this is big news. But I hope that I hope

240
00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,600
Speaker 3: she finds what she's looking for and she finds love.

241
00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,560
Speaker 3: And knowing a lot of people that win on this season,

242
00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:38,880
Speaker 3: I'm just I'm rooting for all of them, you know,

243
00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,640
Speaker 3: because I think we all know how crazy that environment

244
00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,240
Speaker 3: can be and how how wild it can be. So

245
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,240
Speaker 3: it's one of those things where I'm just I'm rooting

246
00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,000
Speaker 3: for everybody, even even though yeah, I was very hurt

247
00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,800
Speaker 3: last year. I'm rooting for everybody to win, you know,

248
00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,480
Speaker 3: and and find love because it's it's a special feeling.

249
00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:00,319
Speaker 2: Have you have you at any point been watching this

250
00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,400
Speaker 2: season because I had this. I was talking to Ashley

251
00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,719
Speaker 2: about this, I think last year. You know, obviously I'm

252
00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,480
Speaker 2: in a relationship. I have no interest and not being

253
00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,880
Speaker 2: in this relationship, But there's moments I watch Paradise and

254
00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,040
Speaker 2: I'm like, I wish I was there, Like I want

255
00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,360
Speaker 2: to be there, like hanging out the bar, like I

256
00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,040
Speaker 2: want to be watching the people like fight and like

257
00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,959
Speaker 2: you know, love triangles, Like I never went to Paradise,

258
00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,679
Speaker 2: so I don't know what it's like, but I find

259
00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,720
Speaker 2: myself like if I could just not date, could I

260
00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,480
Speaker 2: just go hang out? Like I could I just be

261
00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,360
Speaker 2: in like the cabanas. Have you felt like that at

262
00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,040
Speaker 2: all as you've you know, seen Paradise come through this season, like, Hey,

263
00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,400
Speaker 2: I know I'm in love, but can like I go

264
00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:42,040
Speaker 2: back for a bit?

265
00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:47,120
Speaker 3: So to be honest, no, not at all after my experience.

266
00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,680
Speaker 3: But the best part of Paradise by far is is

267
00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,319
Speaker 3: kicking it with Wells because That's that's the man right there.

268
00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:56,000
Speaker 3: You know, we all love Wells, We're all big fans,

269
00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,160
Speaker 3: and once I finally got to meet him in person,

270
00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,560
Speaker 3: I was like, oh man, the hype is so the

271
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:03,080
Speaker 3: best part is is kicking it with Wells. But you

272
00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,800
Speaker 3: know something's coming up. If if Jesse walks in and

273
00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,400
Speaker 3: he's got a serious tone and I'm like, oh, what's up, Jesse,

274
00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,040
Speaker 3: and I'm like, oh no, this isn't going to be

275
00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,280
Speaker 3: a happy talk. Like something's going on. So it's just

276
00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,520
Speaker 3: a lot of a lot of stress in that place.

277
00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,920
Speaker 3: I remember, you know, a lot of late nights. But no,

278
00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,520
Speaker 3: I'm I'm I'm happy for those who get to experience it,

279
00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,240
Speaker 3: and I just wish them the best.

280
00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,680
Speaker 2: You don't want to go back, No, there's no plans.

281
00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,640
Speaker 2: There's no plans. I gotta go back to bath.

282
00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,280
Speaker 3: I'm good on seeing that beat.

283
00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,240
Speaker 5: All right, go ahead, Rodney.

284
00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,800
Speaker 4: You do you feel like you are on the fast

285
00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:44,000
Speaker 4: track with your girlfriend, maybe a Bachelor in Paradise style

286
00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:48,359
Speaker 4: where it's like, yeah, it's maybe not four weeks to engagement,

287
00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,240
Speaker 4: but maybe you can see yourself doing it in a

288
00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:50,880
Speaker 4: few months.

289
00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,200
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I mean, I'm definitely.

290
00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:58,640
Speaker 5: He's opposed to get Christmas?

291
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,760
Speaker 2: How did you How did you get that from his

292
00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,280
Speaker 2: like first like word of yeah, I'm on it, and

293
00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:07,120
Speaker 2: you're like, keep bothering.

294
00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,880
Speaker 1: It's face.

295
00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,400
Speaker 3: No, I'm just I'm definitely on the fast track and

296
00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,840
Speaker 3: I won't lie. I remember. It does feel like the

297
00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:22,000
Speaker 3: show has affected me in that sense of thinking like, hey,

298
00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,080
Speaker 3: we don't have time to waste. And you know, I remember,

299
00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,320
Speaker 3: you know, being younger, way before the show, I would

300
00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,080
Speaker 3: just I would take my time, and there's nothing wrong

301
00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,360
Speaker 3: with that, you know. I feel like I have taken

302
00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:36,120
Speaker 3: my time being single this entire time and waiting for

303
00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,640
Speaker 3: the right one to come. But the show did introduce

304
00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,160
Speaker 3: me to hey, like if it's if it's the one,

305
00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,840
Speaker 3: there's no time to waste, and so kind of taking

306
00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,960
Speaker 3: that into my real life. It has felt like, hey,

307
00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,440
Speaker 3: ever since I met Aria, I know that what I'm

308
00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,600
Speaker 3: doing feels right for both of us, and you know,

309
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,840
Speaker 3: we are on the fast track, but to us it

310
00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,880
Speaker 3: doesn't seem too fast. And we ask each other all

311
00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:00,840
Speaker 3: the time. We're like, we you know what the world thinks,

312
00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,720
Speaker 3: but what do we think? You know? And I'm like, well,

313
00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,960
Speaker 3: we're both very happy, We're both very confident, and we've

314
00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,920
Speaker 3: both waited, you know, for a long time for a

315
00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,600
Speaker 3: love like this. So yeah, we're we're definitely on the

316
00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,560
Speaker 3: fast track and I wouldn't change it for anything, and

317
00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,000
Speaker 3: I'm very happy for how our pace is going.

318
00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:24,040
Speaker 2: Isn't a weird feeling when you like, are confident and

319
00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:25,960
Speaker 2: at peace with the idea that you're going to be

320
00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,200
Speaker 2: with somebody potentially for the.

321
00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:30,000
Speaker 1: Rest of your life.

322
00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,760
Speaker 2: Like, isn't this just a weird switch up from even

323
00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:34,840
Speaker 2: being on the show where you're like, I think I

324
00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,680
Speaker 2: like this person, I don't really know them that well

325
00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,360
Speaker 2: yet I'm hoping this works out for us, and then

326
00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,040
Speaker 2: you like and it has happened from the show, right,

327
00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:44,880
Speaker 2: Like people have found love on the show and it

328
00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,640
Speaker 2: has worked out from they have found that feeling. But

329
00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,840
Speaker 2: it isn't like just odd and awesome to be so

330
00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,360
Speaker 2: at peace with this massive decision that you're making.

331
00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,560
Speaker 3: It's it's one of the craziest feelings that I know

332
00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:01,200
Speaker 3: talking with you too, I know you guys can relate,

333
00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,480
Speaker 3: And it's so shocking to me to go from this world,

334
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:09,000
Speaker 3: especially like just being a single bachelor and being on

335
00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,480
Speaker 3: the show and then coming out and finally finding my

336
00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,080
Speaker 3: person and I'm like, oh wow, this is a crazy

337
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,240
Speaker 3: switch up in life in such a short period of time,

338
00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,520
Speaker 3: In just a few months, my life changed just like that,

339
00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:21,880
Speaker 3: and I wouldn't change it for the world, Like, this

340
00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,600
Speaker 3: is all I've ever wanted, this is all I've waited for.

341
00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,320
Speaker 3: So it's funny. I remember people asking, like, you know,

342
00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,120
Speaker 3: you know you enjoyed this lifestyle and being a single

343
00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:31,800
Speaker 3: bachelor and being from the show and this and that,

344
00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,440
Speaker 3: and I'm like, it's been great and I'm very blessed

345
00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,320
Speaker 3: with that. However, at the end of the day, the

346
00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:37,760
Speaker 3: reason I went on the show is to find love.

347
00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,600
Speaker 3: So that deep down of what I've always wanted is love.

348
00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,520
Speaker 3: So that's the whole purpose of it, you know. And

349
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,240
Speaker 3: so as soon as I found it, I'm like, I

350
00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,840
Speaker 3: recognize it, I feel it, I know it, and I'm

351
00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,480
Speaker 3: ready to move on. I'm ready to move forward. And

352
00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,080
Speaker 3: the only one that truly knew that are some of

353
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,640
Speaker 3: my best friends back home who weren't on the show,

354
00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,600
Speaker 3: you know, before the show existed, and moms and moms

355
00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,320
Speaker 3: knew on me. When people are like Rodney found her,

356
00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,360
Speaker 3: is this the real thing? And it's like, yeah, he's

357
00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,560
Speaker 3: been waiting for the right one. As soon as she

358
00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,000
Speaker 3: met him, She's like, Roddy, this this is the one.

359
00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:14,160
Speaker 5: It's her, Rodney, You're the sweetest. We're so happy for you.

360
00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,040
Speaker 4: You're like, oh, you're a dream. You're a little dream.

361
00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,440
Speaker 4: How was her family? Did you feel like You're like, oh,

362
00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,440
Speaker 4: this is an extended family to mend.

363
00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:30,120
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think our world's merged so easily, so smooth.

364
00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,760
Speaker 3: And you know, when she met mine, it was amazing.

365
00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:38,080
Speaker 3: And then when I met her, obviously about half of

366
00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:40,479
Speaker 3: them knew me from the show, so I think they

367
00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,600
Speaker 3: were excited to see me from that, but more importantly,

368
00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,720
Speaker 3: they saw how happy I made Airy, and so that

369
00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,560
Speaker 3: is what made it more special. Is so once I

370
00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,320
Speaker 3: met them, I'm like, oh my god, this is this

371
00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,320
Speaker 3: is my family on the East Coast. You know, It's

372
00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:56,320
Speaker 3: just it was so quick and I loved every second

373
00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:58,520
Speaker 3: of that. You know, her her best friends, you know

374
00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,600
Speaker 3: who we stay with and they have a cup kids

375
00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,480
Speaker 3: and uh, you know her best friend Taylor, her husband Chris,

376
00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,120
Speaker 3: who we just stayed with the New Jersey Kate May.

377
00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,159
Speaker 3: I love them to death. They're two kids. Uh, they

378
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:13,280
Speaker 3: already called me her niece Slay can't pronounce the D.

379
00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:15,879
Speaker 3: So she calls me Uncle Ross and so I'm like,

380
00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,199
Speaker 3: all right, I'm Uncle Ross. I'll just unc ross like

381
00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:20,840
Speaker 3: I want, you.

382
00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:25,560
Speaker 5: Know, you know, I'm like, not Ronnie, Ronnie Ross.

383
00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:26,760
Speaker 6: I like it.

384
00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,960
Speaker 3: I'm like, okay, you know, classic mix up. I'll take it.

385
00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,520
Speaker 3: And uh yeah, she's got She's got nieces and nephews

386
00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,919
Speaker 3: out there that I I love, you know, being with

387
00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:37,720
Speaker 3: and spending time with and just meeting all them. And

388
00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,240
Speaker 3: I finally got to meet her mom as well, which

389
00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,840
Speaker 3: was a which was a beautiful moment, and I could

390
00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,479
Speaker 3: feel that they were happy that I just made her

391
00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,840
Speaker 3: happy because that's all they've been waiting for too, So

392
00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,400
Speaker 3: it was it was very uh, it was very nice.

393
00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,360
Speaker 2: Sounds like Growdney's had his last first drink with somebody.

394
00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,000
Speaker 2: Pretty cool, you know, last first drink.

395
00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,199
Speaker 5: That expression, but definitely his last first kiss.

396
00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,919
Speaker 2: I mean, last first drink would work to right. That

397
00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:08,280
Speaker 2: fits both all all above.

398
00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,280
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I.

399
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,440
Speaker 1: Want to revisit something, Rinne.

400
00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:12,720
Speaker 2: I want to dig into this a little bit and

401
00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,560
Speaker 2: then I want to get to some of the fun

402
00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,760
Speaker 2: stuff you're doing outside of this amazing relationship. So Nate

403
00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:19,320
Speaker 2: is still living with the two of you like, you

404
00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,000
Speaker 2: guys have moved in together, but also Nate is still

405
00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:22,600
Speaker 2: there or not?

406
00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:23,520
Speaker 1: Has he moved out?

407
00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:28,120
Speaker 3: So no, so we so we both found new places. Yeah,

408
00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,080
Speaker 3: so and I Aaron and I found a brand new

409
00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,840
Speaker 3: place in Studio City, which we love out here, and

410
00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,000
Speaker 3: Nate moved a couple of blocks away from from whereere

411
00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:42,080
Speaker 3: we were at. So yeah, he's now in a in

412
00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,960
Speaker 3: a studio and uh he's found a beautiful place. Uh

413
00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,800
Speaker 3: you know, he's got his own little skyscraper spot and

414
00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,080
Speaker 3: uh yeah, we we have a two bed, two bath

415
00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,720
Speaker 3: out here in the valley. And so we're really really

416
00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:56,120
Speaker 3: is he.

417
00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,119
Speaker 2: Is he the type of guy? I mean we uh

418
00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,120
Speaker 2: we've had on and uh, but is he the type

419
00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:05,760
Speaker 2: of guy? Is is excited to live alone? Or is

420
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,360
Speaker 2: this like is this a really sad time for him?

421
00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,080
Speaker 3: No? No, I don't even think it was like a

422
00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,760
Speaker 3: It's for maybe about five seconds, it was bittersweet of

423
00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:18,760
Speaker 3: like my life's changing too, you know. But no, he's uh,

424
00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,200
Speaker 3: he's lived alone before. When we met, he was living

425
00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,119
Speaker 3: alone out in Austin, Texas. And I went to go

426
00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,520
Speaker 3: visit him out there a few times, and I think

427
00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,960
Speaker 3: now he was he was ready to live alone again.

428
00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,320
Speaker 3: It's you know, it's him and his dog, Percy, who

429
00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,199
Speaker 3: everyone knows in Bachelination.

430
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,560
Speaker 5: By now that his relationship with the dog is awesome.

431
00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:41,320
Speaker 3: Yeah, you've heard us talking about it, but it's he's, uh,

432
00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:43,720
Speaker 3: he's happy. I think he's happy. It was kind of

433
00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:45,760
Speaker 3: like an exciting new chapter for him to to kind

434
00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:49,240
Speaker 3: of just be all by himself out here in LA

435
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,200
Speaker 3: because before it's you know, he did move out here

436
00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:53,960
Speaker 3: for me and and we knew that we were going

437
00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:57,000
Speaker 3: to be closer after I went through everything on my season,

438
00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,360
Speaker 3: he was going through his breakup and he's like, man,

439
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,800
Speaker 3: we both need a fresh start. And I'm like, either

440
00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,880
Speaker 3: I'm going to Austin or you're coming to LA. So

441
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,560
Speaker 3: we got to figure it out and and that's how

442
00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,439
Speaker 3: that's how it happened. So yeah, I know that he

443
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,680
Speaker 3: is happy finally being in the city on his own

444
00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,000
Speaker 3: to kind of explore it. And obviously, like we said,

445
00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,080
Speaker 3: Justin and Susie are out here, so it's like we

446
00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,040
Speaker 3: got more friends to hang out with.

447
00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:20,919
Speaker 2: I like that you group the two of them together.

448
00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,560
Speaker 2: I just feel like, one day this is gonna happen.

449
00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,159
Speaker 4: They're gonna be Jared and I I mean, you know,

450
00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:30,320
Speaker 4: really good friends first, but it's.

451
00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,880
Speaker 3: He's he's doing well. I can I can confirm he's

452
00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:34,760
Speaker 3: doing well. We're all going to go to the Chargers

453
00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,320
Speaker 3: game this weekend. So yeah, it's nothing, nothing's changed.

454
00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:49,840
Speaker 6: We love them.

455
00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:54,879
Speaker 2: Speaking of football, you coach this year. I don't know

456
00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:56,600
Speaker 2: if this is your first year of coaching or not.

457
00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:57,160
Speaker 1: Was it?

458
00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,919
Speaker 3: So? No, this is about my fifth or sixth season

459
00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:02,359
Speaker 3: coaching high school football.

460
00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:02,600
Speaker 6: Yeah.

461
00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:03,800
Speaker 1: Are you the head coach?

462
00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:07,679
Speaker 3: No? So, I am the defensive coordinator. I was the

463
00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,919
Speaker 3: defense coordinator. Yeah, Pasadena High School. It's like North LA

464
00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:13,560
Speaker 3: out here.

465
00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:14,320
Speaker 6: Yeah.

466
00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,720
Speaker 1: So you played college football?

467
00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:17,400
Speaker 3: Yes?

468
00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,320
Speaker 1: I did, and you're running back right or were you?

469
00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:20,439
Speaker 6: So?

470
00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,200
Speaker 3: I played safety? I played up at Fresno State.

471
00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,239
Speaker 2: You played at Fresno State. You were a safety, So

472
00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:29,119
Speaker 2: being a defensive coordinator fits perfectly. Talk to us. I mean,

473
00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,600
Speaker 2: you know, I'm more interested, maybe than than most. But

474
00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,680
Speaker 2: give us a quick rundown of how the season went

475
00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,240
Speaker 2: and how it is to be a coach of high

476
00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,719
Speaker 2: schoolers because it is something that I've always wanted to

477
00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,560
Speaker 2: do and dreamed of doing, just never put my foot

478
00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,320
Speaker 2: in the door to do it, but yeah, to.

479
00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,560
Speaker 5: Do it eventually, Ben, You'd be amazing when you have kids.

480
00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:54,240
Speaker 2: Like you have to be the coach high flying high

481
00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:55,080
Speaker 2: school offense.

482
00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,040
Speaker 1: Just air raid down the field.

483
00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,280
Speaker 3: I can see it now and then I can away

484
00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,160
Speaker 3: because I'm keeping up with every stat I know you're

485
00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:03,240
Speaker 3: just gonna throw that thing out.

486
00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:04,800
Speaker 1: Just let's go.

487
00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,800
Speaker 3: So yeah, it's it's definitely pros and cons. This was

488
00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,840
Speaker 3: the toughest season I ever had coaching. It was my

489
00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:19,840
Speaker 3: first season coaching after the Show, which was a different

490
00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,879
Speaker 3: challenge I wasn't expecting. And it was my first season

491
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:27,280
Speaker 3: ever being a defensive coordinator because I started off as

492
00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:32,720
Speaker 3: just the dB coach and unfortunately, some events happened where

493
00:23:33,359 --> 00:23:35,520
Speaker 3: the school had to let go of the defensive coordinator,

494
00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,119
Speaker 3: so I a week before the season immediately got the

495
00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:42,600
Speaker 3: promotion of the bump that I wasn't ready for, and

496
00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:44,520
Speaker 3: so there were a whole lot of challenges to go

497
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:49,119
Speaker 3: with this, and so it was it was. It was

498
00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:49,760
Speaker 3: a tough year.

499
00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,320
Speaker 5: So our season, we didn't play very well. Our records sucked.

500
00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:59,440
Speaker 3: We were awful, and I think that's that's what made

501
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,800
Speaker 3: it so tough for because I'm a massive competitor, especially

502
00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,280
Speaker 3: when it comes to football. It was my first love

503
00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:07,760
Speaker 3: my first passion. And you know, I started playing at

504
00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,200
Speaker 3: nine years old and ever since, the game has always

505
00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,840
Speaker 3: just changed my life, you know, whether it's high school, college,

506
00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,760
Speaker 3: you know, being a captain and a leader. I loved

507
00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:19,480
Speaker 3: the game and I love coaching and giving back. And

508
00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:25,040
Speaker 3: before the show, I was coaching consistently and it felt good.

509
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,840
Speaker 3: I got to see myself personally changing kids' lives and

510
00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,560
Speaker 3: changing their love and their knowledge and their passion of

511
00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,800
Speaker 3: the game, and that's what I cared about. You know.

512
00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,480
Speaker 3: It's like, Hey, I'm going to make you a great

513
00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:38,200
Speaker 3: football player, and I'm going to make you more knowledgeable

514
00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:39,840
Speaker 3: of the game, but more importantly, I'm going to make

515
00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:41,320
Speaker 3: you a better man off the field. And that's what

516
00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,280
Speaker 3: I was excited to kind of see that contract.

517
00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,199
Speaker 4: Yeah, I want I wanted to ask you about that.

518
00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,199
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what is at the end of the day.

519
00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,840
Speaker 3: That's what's more important of being a coach. It's like, hey,

520
00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,040
Speaker 3: I'm going to teach the x's and o's and that's great,

521
00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:57,359
Speaker 3: But am I helping him build your care you know,

522
00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,600
Speaker 3: Like how am I helping you off the field as well?

523
00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:01,879
Speaker 3: Because a lot of these kids come in with you know,

524
00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,199
Speaker 3: they're all coming in from different backgrounds. And that's what

525
00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,520
Speaker 3: I've loved with football, is like you got every culture,

526
00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,520
Speaker 3: every background, ethnicity, upbringing. You got all that mixture in

527
00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,399
Speaker 3: this locker room, and how do they gel together to

528
00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,920
Speaker 3: be a winning team. And that's really exciting to see,

529
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,200
Speaker 3: is you know, we took my last high school that

530
00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:24,240
Speaker 3: I coached at. We took a team that was known

531
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,960
Speaker 3: to be a losing program and turned them into winners

532
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,919
Speaker 3: on and off the field. So these kids were building confidence,

533
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,520
Speaker 3: they were getting better grades, they're out playing college football now.

534
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,119
Speaker 3: And you know, they went from being those kids who

535
00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:37,560
Speaker 3: were in trouble all the time and always having to

536
00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:42,040
Speaker 3: go to Saturday school to you know, now being good

537
00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:46,359
Speaker 3: members of society and getting scholarships and being better men.

538
00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,600
Speaker 3: And it was just so exciting. That's what I care

539
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,200
Speaker 3: about when it comes to coaching high school football. And

540
00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,400
Speaker 3: you know, sadly, once I started this program, I didn't

541
00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,760
Speaker 3: realize the effect of the show because obviously every kid

542
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,760
Speaker 3: wants to look up their coach, and so you know,

543
00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,240
Speaker 3: they immediately looked me up and it's just like, coach Rod,

544
00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,760
Speaker 3: you were in an Apple suit, you were and then

545
00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:11,080
Speaker 3: they did like what are you doing Oh my god,

546
00:26:11,160 --> 00:26:13,560
Speaker 3: and I'm trying to go off on them saying, hey,

547
00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,640
Speaker 3: I'm coach Rod, like just folks on me being you.

548
00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:26,040
Speaker 5: Know, remember that's how he came in on a cell season.

549
00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:30,240
Speaker 3: These kids and you know, kids research everything. So I'm like,

550
00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,440
Speaker 3: oh my god. So just trying to trying to discipline

551
00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:37,480
Speaker 3: them or teach them, and they're just like, okay, Coach Rod,

552
00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,560
Speaker 3: you know, like you know, you're getting on the bashret

553
00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:41,800
Speaker 3: and this, and now I'm like, no, that's not what

554
00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,840
Speaker 3: it's about. You need to focus on football. And so

555
00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,480
Speaker 3: there were just so many not even from Mayen that

556
00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:49,119
Speaker 3: was just a piece of it. There's so many like

557
00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,960
Speaker 3: outside distractions with this team. And you know, the end

558
00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:54,560
Speaker 3: of the season and we play in the Rose Bowl,

559
00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,040
Speaker 3: so that's their big rivalry is which is one of

560
00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,600
Speaker 3: the coolest experiences for high school for anybody, is playing

561
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:02,760
Speaker 3: in the Rosebolt, the granddaddy of them all, and it's

562
00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,720
Speaker 3: against the rival high school, me or high school so

563
00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,639
Speaker 3: it's Mere versus Pasadena. And the first half I'm just

564
00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,880
Speaker 3: so excited because I'm just like, wow, this is everything

565
00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,399
Speaker 3: anyone could dream of being a kid or a player.

566
00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,440
Speaker 3: At coach and that first half I held the other

567
00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:19,439
Speaker 3: team to thirteen points. So we're going at halftime it's

568
00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,159
Speaker 3: thirteen zero and our offense hasn't scored yet. But I

569
00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,119
Speaker 3: still have hope, and I'm like, all right, boys, like

570
00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,840
Speaker 3: it's some of the best football we're playing. We got

571
00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:27,919
Speaker 3: the most people here, thousands of people. I'm like, we

572
00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,200
Speaker 3: got this, we got this, you know. And at the

573
00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,919
Speaker 3: end of the game, we get blown out, and so

574
00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,480
Speaker 3: I'm hurt and I'm bad. And at the end of

575
00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,240
Speaker 3: the day, obviously I've listed all the cons I think,

576
00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,560
Speaker 3: but the pros I have to look back and just say,

577
00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,359
Speaker 3: what impact did I make on the kids? And there's

578
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,960
Speaker 3: a good handful of those kids that could look back

579
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,879
Speaker 3: and still know that they can call me for anything

580
00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,919
Speaker 3: and just say, Coach Rod, I'm going through something, and

581
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,040
Speaker 3: they know that they could call me. So at the

582
00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:54,440
Speaker 3: end of the day, I still want to make sure

583
00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:56,720
Speaker 3: that I'm making a positive impact on the kids on

584
00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,399
Speaker 3: and off the field, and if they could remember me

585
00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,919
Speaker 3: for someone who wanted to really truly support them and

586
00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:05,720
Speaker 3: uplift them, whether they're out there get getting an interception

587
00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:07,959
Speaker 3: or making a big tackle, or if they get scored

588
00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,840
Speaker 3: on or anything like that, Like win or lose, I'm

589
00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:12,520
Speaker 3: going to have their back. So that was that was

590
00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:13,359
Speaker 3: really important for me.

591
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,600
Speaker 1: Your passion for coaching is clear. Is this something you

592
00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:17,480
Speaker 1: want to continue doing?

593
00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,440
Speaker 3: Yeah, I think I will. You know, I definitely. I've

594
00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:22,679
Speaker 3: loved it. Like I said, I've been doing it for

595
00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,159
Speaker 3: five or six years before and after the show, and

596
00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,400
Speaker 3: so I love coaching and I know I definitely want

597
00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,520
Speaker 3: to do it again. I don't know if this last

598
00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,560
Speaker 3: year took a toll on me and you know, come in,

599
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,360
Speaker 3: you know, after practice and you know, Arie would meet

600
00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,440
Speaker 3: me after practicing, after every single game and she's like,

601
00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,120
Speaker 3: you just seem stressed. I'm like, I got a lot

602
00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:45,400
Speaker 3: on my mind, Like this is stressful. She's going to games,

603
00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,120
Speaker 3: she's seen us get blown out, and I'm like, I've

604
00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,480
Speaker 3: never been through anything like this in my life before.

605
00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,880
Speaker 3: You know, I'm a strong competitor and at least I

606
00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:54,520
Speaker 3: know I'm going to be in the game, you know.

607
00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:58,800
Speaker 3: And for me to deal with a culture that was

608
00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:00,800
Speaker 3: so used to losing and they were okay with that,

609
00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,800
Speaker 3: and it was tough for me, and with the distractions

610
00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,600
Speaker 3: of you know, post life after the show and stuff

611
00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,840
Speaker 3: like that. With the kids, it was a lot, and

612
00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,120
Speaker 3: so I think I want to coach when the time

613
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,640
Speaker 3: is right. But I told Ery, you know, moving forward,

614
00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:16,440
Speaker 3: I want to focus on my new career. I just

615
00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,000
Speaker 3: as of a week ago, I just passed my real

616
00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:20,760
Speaker 3: estate exams, so I'm about to get my real estate

617
00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:21,360
Speaker 3: license stuff.

618
00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:21,720
Speaker 6: Let's go.

619
00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,080
Speaker 5: Yeah, congrats.

620
00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:24,560
Speaker 3: I'm really excited about that.

621
00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,200
Speaker 4: No pressure, Rodney, But you're a great role model and

622
00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:28,480
Speaker 4: I want you there with the kids.

623
00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:34,160
Speaker 3: I know, so I'm I promise I'm definitely going to

624
00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,320
Speaker 3: coach again, but it's going to take some time.

625
00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:38,160
Speaker 1: Yeah, makes sense.

626
00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:39,440
Speaker 3: Yeah.

627
00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:41,280
Speaker 1: Well to close up here, Rodney, we do have to

628
00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:41,760
Speaker 1: ask you.

629
00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,320
Speaker 2: The bachelorette on your season has recently announced that she

630
00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:49,479
Speaker 2: is in a relationship. What are your thoughts feelings about

631
00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,520
Speaker 2: this new found I mean, I don't know if they're

632
00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:55,360
Speaker 2: calling each other love life yet, but romantic life for Michelle.

633
00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:59,000
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I just I just heard through the grapevine

634
00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,760
Speaker 3: that that that that happened. But more importantly I am

635
00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,720
Speaker 3: I'm happy for her. You know, that's that's very exciting.

636
00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,840
Speaker 3: Like I said, I've just recently found it, so I'm

637
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,120
Speaker 3: really rooting for anyone to find it. And we all

638
00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:12,760
Speaker 3: know that we went on this show to find it.

639
00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:16,080
Speaker 3: So it's one of those things for Michelle, and I'm

640
00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:19,320
Speaker 3: super happy for her. You know. I hope that everything

641
00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:21,440
Speaker 3: works out, and I hope that she's she's found her

642
00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:23,680
Speaker 3: person because being on her season, I know how passionate

643
00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,120
Speaker 3: she was in that pursuit, and so yeah, I'm happy

644
00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:27,320
Speaker 3: for her.

645
00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,720
Speaker 4: Ronnie, thank you so much for joining us. It was

646
00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:31,760
Speaker 4: so great to have you. I could listen to you

647
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,160
Speaker 4: talk forever because you're just like such a soulful, warm

648
00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:34,800
Speaker 4: human being.

649
00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,960
Speaker 3: I appreciate you guys. Thanks for having me. Ben and Ashley,

650
00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:38,680
Speaker 3: you guys are the best.

651
00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:40,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, I get to feeling better.

652
00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,440
Speaker 2: Thanks for coming on with this this flu it's a

653
00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:43,880
Speaker 2: big deal.

654
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,280
Speaker 1: So until next time, Rodnie, don't make it too long.

655
00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:48,280
Speaker 2: We'll probably be giving the headline. I don't know, probably

656
00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:50,120
Speaker 2: during Christmas, Ashley.

657
00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:51,959
Speaker 1: Thanks. Rodney.

658
00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,120
Speaker 2: Matthews is engaged, but we'll see, but we'll always hold

659
00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:55,800
Speaker 2: out hope for you man.

660
00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:57,480
Speaker 1: Thanks for coming on the podcast. Until next time. I

661
00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,200
Speaker 1: haven't been, I've been, Ashley, I've been, Ronnie say here

662
00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:01,560
Speaker 1: you guys.

663
00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,720
Speaker 4: Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on

664
00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:09,000
Speaker 4: iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts,