1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:03,800
Speaker 1: This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast

2
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,960
Speaker 1: with her radio. Hey everyone, I'm welcome to the Almost

3
00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,080
Speaker 1: Famous Podcast. Ben is unable to be with us today,

4
00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,200
Speaker 1: so to interview Happy Couple number two Danielle and Michael.

5
00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,239
Speaker 1: I have the other half of my Happy couple, Jerry here.

6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,640
Speaker 1: I've always I've always felt like the poor man's Ben Higgins,

7
00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:25,200
Speaker 1: and every time he's not on this podcast, I replaced him,

8
00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,800
Speaker 1: and he's just like, but that's not a bad thing

9
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,760
Speaker 1: to be a poor man's Ben Higgins. Plus, if I'm

10
00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:33,760
Speaker 1: an A minus, that's fantastical here in a plus plus.

11
00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,199
Speaker 1: I really we Okay, okay, well we are going to

12
00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:41,080
Speaker 1: just let Danielle and Michael into the room and get

13
00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,560
Speaker 1: this cute gush fast going. I'm not sure if there

14
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,240
Speaker 1: is a couple out there that America is more happy

15
00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,479
Speaker 1: for than right here in front of us, Michael A

16
00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,400
Speaker 1: and Danielle Mulby. Congratulations you guys. I'm just so over

17
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,800
Speaker 1: the moon, like my heart is racing just looking at you.

18
00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,240
Speaker 1: Thank you, happy to be here. Sorry, did you guys

19
00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,240
Speaker 1: hide your relationship at all? Like or were you just

20
00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,520
Speaker 1: You're like, we're too old for this ship. We need

21
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,600
Speaker 1: to just we're just gonna go on dates. Well, I mean,

22
00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,200
Speaker 1: we really tried to and then um it took it

23
00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,720
Speaker 1: Wells asked if I wanted a plus one and I

24
00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,440
Speaker 1: was like, you know who I'm going to bring? Like

25
00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,280
Speaker 1: is that okay? Yeah? To the wedding. Yeah, well wedding

26
00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,080
Speaker 1: and uh which that wedding. By the way, if we

27
00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,600
Speaker 1: were going to get caught, I'd might rather get caught

28
00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,560
Speaker 1: in that. It was the most amazing wedding I've ever

29
00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,760
Speaker 1: seen in my life. So, yeah, we're going down. If

30
00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,280
Speaker 1: we're going down, it's gonna be a Wells wedding. I

31
00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,720
Speaker 1: feel like the production company honestly wouldn't even mind because

32
00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,920
Speaker 1: they're just so happy for you guys. There are so

33
00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,760
Speaker 1: many of them there. It's not like you went behind

34
00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,200
Speaker 1: the productions back. And I also feel like you guys

35
00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,320
Speaker 1: just reeked of obviously this is going to work out

36
00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,800
Speaker 1: in paradise, So it wasn't like we were like on

37
00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,600
Speaker 1: pins and needle seeing how it was going to end. Yeah. Well,

38
00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,120
Speaker 1: I mean, I think I think what wasn't really captured

39
00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,720
Speaker 1: too much during the airing of the season was Danielle

40
00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,280
Speaker 1: and I were just heavily guarded. Um, you know, I mean,

41
00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,280
Speaker 1: we we have a shared like history and tragedy, but

42
00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,800
Speaker 1: that doesn't define us, um, but the ability for us

43
00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,160
Speaker 1: to be able to break down our walls and actually

44
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,919
Speaker 1: welcome Lovin. That actually took a lot of time, that

45
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,800
Speaker 1: was not overnight, and that actually started happening once we

46
00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,120
Speaker 1: left the beach, um, you know, the final time that

47
00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,120
Speaker 1: we got to that point where you know, you get engaged,

48
00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,440
Speaker 1: you break up, you leave together. There was enough there

49
00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,360
Speaker 1: that we could feel confident, you know, dating in the

50
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,640
Speaker 1: real world and starting you know, to create memories and

51
00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,440
Speaker 1: doing all that. But it's really everything that happened off

52
00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,800
Speaker 1: camera that really got us to the point that we

53
00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,760
Speaker 1: are at today, which is, you know, we're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow.

54
00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,400
Speaker 1: It's super cool. We're really excited. Um. You know, her

55
00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,000
Speaker 1: and James have a really cool relationship. Everything just seems

56
00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,680
Speaker 1: to be falling into place. I really loved that there

57
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,800
Speaker 1: that you guys didn't hit milestones. They're in paradise, You

58
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:17,600
Speaker 1: didn't say love you. There was no talk of engagement,

59
00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:24,280
Speaker 1: but behind the scenes, was there? No? Not really? I

60
00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,240
Speaker 1: mean like we both are like we're I mean, like

61
00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,480
Speaker 1: I know you're not ready. I know I'm not ready

62
00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,679
Speaker 1: and like, hey, I was like, you're not going to

63
00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,800
Speaker 1: do that to James, Like, yeah, I think where we

64
00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,720
Speaker 1: are at this point in our life, Like we understand

65
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,560
Speaker 1: that the show has a timeline, We understand that the

66
00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,920
Speaker 1: fans have a timeline, But for us, we are trying

67
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,480
Speaker 1: to c yeah, ignored all of that noise and we're

68
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,040
Speaker 1: just kind of marching to our own drum. And I

69
00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,880
Speaker 1: think for us just being kind of the intentional people

70
00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,200
Speaker 1: that we are, Um, it's in line with how we

71
00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,080
Speaker 1: would normally conduct a relationship. I think for us, if

72
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,800
Speaker 1: we were to rush into anything um early on or

73
00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,360
Speaker 1: feel that pressure, um, we wouldn't be where we are today.

74
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,760
Speaker 1: So we're thankful to kind of have that patience and

75
00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:18,240
Speaker 1: and do it our way. They trusted ourselves in that

76
00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,840
Speaker 1: and like knowing that it's okay, like we're not to

77
00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,920
Speaker 1: go at our own pace. Yeah, yeah, without it, I

78
00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,719
Speaker 1: think we found like I found a person that is

79
00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,600
Speaker 1: okay with that, and that's not always the case when

80
00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,880
Speaker 1: you're going through this journey on TV. Well, I think

81
00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,480
Speaker 1: you guys are different in the fact that you've been

82
00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,160
Speaker 1: through so much in your personal lives that going on

83
00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,680
Speaker 1: TV and developing this relationship you kind of you have

84
00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,280
Speaker 1: a perspective that other people, including Ashley and I when

85
00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,720
Speaker 1: we were first on the show, just don't have where

86
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,359
Speaker 1: it's like, oh, we have to do this and we

87
00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:51,640
Speaker 1: have to get married and we have to go on

88
00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,200
Speaker 1: this timeline and you guys are like, no, no, no,

89
00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:54,800
Speaker 1: that's not how life works. You know, We're going to

90
00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,320
Speaker 1: go on our own speed. Um was there My my

91
00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,360
Speaker 1: question though to bounce off that was there and anybody

92
00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,320
Speaker 1: who asked you if you wanted to potentially propose on

93
00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:07,560
Speaker 1: the reunion, I flat out told him. I was like,

94
00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,400
Speaker 1: I'm just going to throw this out there. I do

95
00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:15,120
Speaker 1: not propose to me. Okay, don't do that to me.

96
00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,800
Speaker 1: Yeah they did. They didn't ask me at all. They

97
00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,800
Speaker 1: know that really wasn't really respect and know you. Wow, Well,

98
00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:31,039
Speaker 1: I think I think there is an understanding that um

99
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:35,400
Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm guarded and they were very you know,

100
00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,800
Speaker 1: um understanding of where we were at our life. Um.

101
00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,840
Speaker 1: You know, there there was discussion about whether or not

102
00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,119
Speaker 1: James would be involved at the reunion and there would

103
00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:51,120
Speaker 1: be you know, some sort of meeting on stage and

104
00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,720
Speaker 1: at the end of the day, Yeah, like I I

105
00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:59,200
Speaker 1: signed up for this James didn't. Um, and that's that's

106
00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,400
Speaker 1: a member Marie in a moment that we want to

107
00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,039
Speaker 1: keep private. So what Well, never mind that, because I

108
00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,680
Speaker 1: was going to ask what your first moment, Danielle meeting

109
00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,120
Speaker 1: James was, Like, I mean you guys talked about that, Okay,

110
00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:18,599
Speaker 1: what was the first moment? Like, yeah, um, honestly, it

111
00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,480
Speaker 1: was really cute. I was really anxious to meet him

112
00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,320
Speaker 1: cause I was like, oh my god, this kid doesn't

113
00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,880
Speaker 1: like me, like Michael's gonna dull me. Yeah, James tell

114
00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,040
Speaker 1: me everything. But no, I feel like we just really

115
00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,760
Speaker 1: hit it off really quick. He I like had pulled

116
00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:36,159
Speaker 1: up to the house and texted you that I was

117
00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,599
Speaker 1: there because we met at this like airbnb in the

118
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,160
Speaker 1: middle of nowhere. It was a happy couple of weekend. No,

119
00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,040
Speaker 1: they didn't give us any happy couple of weekends. We

120
00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:50,559
Speaker 1: had an Airbnb in Bellevue, Kentucky. Yeah. Yeah, why Yeah,

121
00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:56,120
Speaker 1: we're trying to hide up, trying to be wedding. Was it?

122
00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,880
Speaker 1: That was one slip up? So you guys had the airbnb.

123
00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,240
Speaker 1: So yeah, We're at the Airbnb and I literally like

124
00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,840
Speaker 1: I hear this like thud on the window and I

125
00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:11,280
Speaker 1: look over and he's like, Hi, it was so sweet.

126
00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,720
Speaker 1: Um No, we just had so much fun that weekend.

127
00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:20,040
Speaker 1: He made like chimmy churry for the steaks that Michael, Michael,

128
00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:22,080
Speaker 1: what did you have to bribe Jans with in order

129
00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,880
Speaker 1: to do that? Be Like, listen, bro, I like this

130
00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,520
Speaker 1: girl a lot. I need you to go right up

131
00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,880
Speaker 1: to the window and make her feel right at home.

132
00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,400
Speaker 1: You know, it's surprisingly he has a lot of emotional intelligence.

133
00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,680
Speaker 1: He can eat such an embath He's such a sweet,

134
00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:41,720
Speaker 1: warm kid. I mean like look like I mean like yeah,

135
00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,440
Speaker 1: I mean he's he's he's really sweet. And you know,

136
00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,560
Speaker 1: just as a parent, I'm really protective over him. And

137
00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:53,400
Speaker 1: I introduced Danielle really is just a friend because one

138
00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,440
Speaker 1: of my concerns was always you know, James already had

139
00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,960
Speaker 1: his mom taken away. Like I've always been trying to

140
00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,000
Speaker 1: like cognizant of the fact that if I do bring

141
00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,200
Speaker 1: another woman into our life and he gets attached and

142
00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:09,560
Speaker 1: it doesn't work, you know, what are the consequences of

143
00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,120
Speaker 1: that in his life and how he perceives relationships and

144
00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:17,960
Speaker 1: how he views things. Um So, really, just introducing Danielle

145
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,360
Speaker 1: as a friend, allowing that relationship to develop organically and

146
00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:26,040
Speaker 1: again at our own pace without putting, you know, titles

147
00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,960
Speaker 1: on it. I mean, clearly we know we're together. Um,

148
00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,640
Speaker 1: But you know, for him, he's just happy to see

149
00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:37,160
Speaker 1: me happy. And I always came into this believing happy

150
00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:52,839
Speaker 1: parents make happy kids, and Dad's happy. Is Daniel the

151
00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:59,520
Speaker 1: first girl you've introduced him too? Even as a friend? Yes, Oh,

152
00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:07,600
Speaker 1: of course I believe. I'm teesing. Okay, it's all right.

153
00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,079
Speaker 1: How did you go into Paradise this time? Because it

154
00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:16,480
Speaker 1: was such a huge thing with you leaving James for

155
00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:20,480
Speaker 1: Bachelor at and you know you ended up leaving because

156
00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:22,840
Speaker 1: he was so upset about you being gone so long.

157
00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,880
Speaker 1: So why did you choose a you paradise? How did

158
00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:31,480
Speaker 1: you make the situation different? Um? I mean for me

159
00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:36,160
Speaker 1: it was it was a lot less strenuous from a

160
00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,240
Speaker 1: filming perspective. I mean, since we did the Bachelor at Um,

161
00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,079
Speaker 1: he understood that I was going to be away for

162
00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,720
Speaker 1: you know, a couple of weeks. It actually came at

163
00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,200
Speaker 1: a really good time because it was during the summer

164
00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,520
Speaker 1: and he went on multiple vacations with his grandparents and

165
00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,320
Speaker 1: by the time I got back, I mean, he'd been

166
00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:59,360
Speaker 1: on three vacations and time kind of flew. And you know,

167
00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:00,800
Speaker 1: one of the reasons why I wanted to go on

168
00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:03,959
Speaker 1: Paradise was it just seems like the success rate is

169
00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:07,400
Speaker 1: significantly better. You get to spend more time with people

170
00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,959
Speaker 1: you know, you get to know um uh, just a

171
00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,439
Speaker 1: lot more about them on and off camera. And it

172
00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,640
Speaker 1: was at a time in my life where I felt like,

173
00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,079
Speaker 1: if I didn't take it, I'd always have that what

174
00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,480
Speaker 1: if lingering in the back of my head, like maybe

175
00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,160
Speaker 1: that was somebody I was supposed to be with, And

176
00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:30,560
Speaker 1: I didn't want to watch that on TV without thinking

177
00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:36,000
Speaker 1: that that could have been mine. So, Danielle, when did

178
00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,959
Speaker 1: you get the phone call for Paradise and then when

179
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,599
Speaker 1: you came down were you open to dating people or

180
00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:48,920
Speaker 1: was it Michael or bust? So, man, I feel like

181
00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:54,640
Speaker 1: production called me like maybe like two or three weeks

182
00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,240
Speaker 1: before filming was supposed to start, and I was like, oh,

183
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:03,319
Speaker 1: y'all are cutting it pretty close. I was seriously like, like, well,

184
00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,280
Speaker 1: you know, I think we have someone down there that, like,

185
00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,480
Speaker 1: you know, really wants to meet you. And and I'm

186
00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:10,920
Speaker 1: I'm not stupid. I know how this thing works. Like

187
00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:14,520
Speaker 1: someone's got to request you. Everyone's got like lists and stuff.

188
00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:21,559
Speaker 1: But um no, I mean like I hoped like you

189
00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,400
Speaker 1: had requested me. But I mean like I was definitely

190
00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,559
Speaker 1: open to seeing who was down there. I had no

191
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,199
Speaker 1: I had no idea, but I was like, but who

192
00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,360
Speaker 1: is going to be who remembers Danielle m And she's

193
00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:43,679
Speaker 1: like thirty six years old. So but um, but yeah,

194
00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,280
Speaker 1: I mean like I was open to it. I was

195
00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:50,520
Speaker 1: obviously hopeful that you had to me. I mean everybody

196
00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,120
Speaker 1: when you as you guys know, when you go on

197
00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:56,280
Speaker 1: the show, it's a matchmaking show, so they want people

198
00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,760
Speaker 1: to try to find somebody that they're compatible with. They

199
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,200
Speaker 1: ask every contestant, who would you like to see from

200
00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,240
Speaker 1: past seasons? And I did request uh, Danielle. It was

201
00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:11,040
Speaker 1: interesting because Danielle and I, uh, you know, we had spoken,

202
00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,200
Speaker 1: you know last year when I had gotten off Katie season.

203
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,559
Speaker 1: We she reached out after I did an anniversary post

204
00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,160
Speaker 1: for Laura, and you know the fact that we had

205
00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:25,160
Speaker 1: both lost significant others and we're both in the being

206
00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:28,280
Speaker 1: in the franchise. It's it's a very small group of

207
00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,319
Speaker 1: people that can actually relate to everything, and so we

208
00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,160
Speaker 1: formed kind of a friendship even though we had never

209
00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:38,720
Speaker 1: met in person. So while it may look as though,

210
00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,080
Speaker 1: you know, things jumped off to a hot start, there

211
00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,839
Speaker 1: was kind of a lot of pressure on us because

212
00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,000
Speaker 1: we had been friends and as we know, if relationships

213
00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:50,640
Speaker 1: don't work, you run the risk of losing a really

214
00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:54,080
Speaker 1: good friend as well. And you don't know that chemistry

215
00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,839
Speaker 1: is there until you're right next to them and you know,

216
00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,800
Speaker 1: going through this with them, it's it's it's a really

217
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:06,640
Speaker 1: scary thing. Um. And so it wasn't overnight. I mean

218
00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:10,720
Speaker 1: it's it took some time to develop that romantic chemistry

219
00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:13,839
Speaker 1: that we needed. We knew the friendship was there, which

220
00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,240
Speaker 1: is great to build a relationship off of what was

221
00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:20,960
Speaker 1: the romantic part there? And um, it is we can relate,

222
00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,079
Speaker 1: totally relate. What was the extent of the d M s?

223
00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,719
Speaker 1: Were you only talking via d M? Was it a

224
00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,200
Speaker 1: total Instagram friendship? Did you talk on the phone voice

225
00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,880
Speaker 1: to voice anything like that. It's just us talking guys,

226
00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,520
Speaker 1: nobody else. And plus we think that villainizing people for

227
00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,400
Speaker 1: talking beforehand is overwritted. I mean, everybody talks, everybody's and

228
00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,200
Speaker 1: everyone's d M um. You know, it's just like an

229
00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,520
Speaker 1: Instagram like friendship. Yeah, that was it. We didn't. We

230
00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,800
Speaker 1: didn't talk often. We liked each other's posts. Um, you know,

231
00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,600
Speaker 1: there was it was it was brand it was brand

232
00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,440
Speaker 1: new we had, like I knew about Danielle from other

233
00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,839
Speaker 1: people in the Bachelor franchise to that just spoke so

234
00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,719
Speaker 1: highly of her. And I think when you when you

235
00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:10,120
Speaker 1: hear so many people give consistent reviews, positive reviews of somebody,

236
00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,880
Speaker 1: you you know it's a it's a I don't know,

237
00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,480
Speaker 1: it's so telling. And so I didn't know if she

238
00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,000
Speaker 1: was going to come down. I was very surprised when

239
00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,920
Speaker 1: she actually came down. Um, And I'm just happy with

240
00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,720
Speaker 1: how everything kind of worked out. It hasn't been easy,

241
00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,160
Speaker 1: but it's been also worth it. I do. I strive.

242
00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,400
Speaker 1: I strive to do the same thing as Audrey's. That's

243
00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:37,680
Speaker 1: what I'll say positive reviews. Are you gonna say? I

244
00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,440
Speaker 1: want to I want to piggyback off that just a

245
00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:44,040
Speaker 1: little bit, because, um, it's like for two people that

246
00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:49,520
Speaker 1: were so guarded going into this, um like even that

247
00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:51,960
Speaker 1: is like a friendship. Like I was like, oh no,

248
00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,400
Speaker 1: like you hear the rumors, like I knew you were

249
00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,520
Speaker 1: being considered for like Bachelor's stuff, and I was like, no,

250
00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,840
Speaker 1: guard no, this is just I've got crush on you, man,

251
00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:09,120
Speaker 1: but like, no, this is strictly I'm platonic, super just

252
00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,400
Speaker 1: like nice, having like a friend that that got it,

253
00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:18,080
Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, and that's that's one of the benefits

254
00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:22,280
Speaker 1: to is um. You know, we found each other because

255
00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:27,320
Speaker 1: we have a similar past UM. One that's important to

256
00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:32,000
Speaker 1: note that we will not allow it to define us. UM.

257
00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,720
Speaker 1: It's something that we understand. I mean, there's so much

258
00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:38,400
Speaker 1: more to a person than just the tragedies of their

259
00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:43,720
Speaker 1: past or their experiences. And you know, for us, it's

260
00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:49,320
Speaker 1: it's been very refreshing to not have to explain how

261
00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:53,960
Speaker 1: confusing grief can be. She she has gone through this.

262
00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:57,120
Speaker 1: I mean I think it's what twelve years for since

263
00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,720
Speaker 1: Nick passed, and for Laura it was too. I was nineteen,

264
00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:05,400
Speaker 1: so you know, I'm on three plus years, and you

265
00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,440
Speaker 1: know it's I've been able to learn and be inspired

266
00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:13,080
Speaker 1: by her own journey UM so much that it's given

267
00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,240
Speaker 1: me hope and it's created this like amazing safe place

268
00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:22,640
Speaker 1: where we're hugging me, where we can be ourselves without

269
00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,520
Speaker 1: judgment UM and and again work at our own pace.

270
00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,920
Speaker 1: Danielle on the finale, You Touched on the fact that

271
00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:48,400
Speaker 1: you're you're your past relationships were different. You know, yours

272
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,560
Speaker 1: wasn't necessarily the healthiest relationship and then Michael's with Laura

273
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,680
Speaker 1: was pretty much perfect. So how does that player role?

274
00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:01,440
Speaker 1: And and just understanding the grief and the loss of

275
00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,760
Speaker 1: the relationship. So I think you kind of just touched

276
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:11,399
Speaker 1: on it, just understanding that we both have different relationships,

277
00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:19,520
Speaker 1: um with our past partners that like grief will I mean,

278
00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,000
Speaker 1: grief doesn't really care, so like there's like that one

279
00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:27,960
Speaker 1: common ground in there. But I know that mine looks

280
00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,879
Speaker 1: different compared to compared to its Like I can't, I

281
00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:37,440
Speaker 1: can't look back on mine and like you know, like

282
00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,040
Speaker 1: now it's been twelve years, like lots of therapy, I

283
00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:44,600
Speaker 1: can see like the manipulation and things like that, and

284
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:50,320
Speaker 1: and caring like guilt around that um and knowing that

285
00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:55,280
Speaker 1: that's not something. It's just the knowledge of knowing that

286
00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,680
Speaker 1: things are different, but we also carry they're different but

287
00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:04,960
Speaker 1: they're the same, right, Yeah. I think like for me,

288
00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:11,520
Speaker 1: it's there's this when you look back, you you think

289
00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,440
Speaker 1: that you have an idea of where your life is going,

290
00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,280
Speaker 1: and you you have these trajectories, you know, you get

291
00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,639
Speaker 1: the job, you buy the house, you get married, you

292
00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,359
Speaker 1: have the kid, You do all of these things in

293
00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:27,080
Speaker 1: this timeline, and life doesn't care like real things end

294
00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,720
Speaker 1: up getting in the way, and so it's grief sometimes

295
00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,320
Speaker 1: is mourning the loss of the life you thought you

296
00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:37,520
Speaker 1: were going to have, And in so many ways that's

297
00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,639
Speaker 1: it's really tragic. But you know, if you were in

298
00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,320
Speaker 1: a bad relationship, once you get into a healthy one,

299
00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,320
Speaker 1: you know, you start to feel a little bit more grateful,

300
00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,000
Speaker 1: and so you're you're mourning a lot than just the

301
00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:51,480
Speaker 1: loss of a person. It's all of these ideas that

302
00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,680
Speaker 1: you had in your head and that you fell in

303
00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,560
Speaker 1: love with and bought into a long the way. Yeah,

304
00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:04,280
Speaker 1: so have you guys, Um, well one has James watched

305
00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:09,480
Speaker 1: the show? No? Okay, too many too many black boxes,

306
00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,960
Speaker 1: way too many blacks already, Like why is your belly

307
00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:22,720
Speaker 1: hanging out? Dawson's gonna say the same thing fastally, Yeah,

308
00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,000
Speaker 1: she's well, Dawson's gonna be like, what's that sparkly thing

309
00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,760
Speaker 1: in your belly? And it's like, it's a belly ring. Okay,

310
00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,040
Speaker 1: But you're gonna put it back in, he said, She's

311
00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,639
Speaker 1: going to put it back in. But um, So is

312
00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:41,280
Speaker 1: he aware that like, you guys are Yeah, so like

313
00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:43,560
Speaker 1: is I guess my question is is he still think

314
00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,000
Speaker 1: you guys are friends? Like? How I guess I'm a question.

315
00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,359
Speaker 1: How do you handle that? Yeah? I mean I have

316
00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:54,840
Speaker 1: kept it. James and I we speak openly and honestly

317
00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,960
Speaker 1: about everything. UM. I always wanted to be that kind

318
00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,360
Speaker 1: of parent that you could have that say place with UM,

319
00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,760
Speaker 1: not just for like the grief and the lost stuff,

320
00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,399
Speaker 1: but things that happen at school, things that are going around.

321
00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,080
Speaker 1: And I don't want to keep him in the dark. UM.

322
00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:13,520
Speaker 1: We haven't had that conversation yet about you know, Danielle

323
00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,600
Speaker 1: and I dating. UM. This may be a great weekend

324
00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:19,159
Speaker 1: to have it. Um. He's off school for like the

325
00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,280
Speaker 1: next five days, and Danielle is going to be up

326
00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,320
Speaker 1: here for a little bit. UM. And so I'm not

327
00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:25,760
Speaker 1: scared to have it. I mean, at the end of

328
00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:29,440
Speaker 1: the day, he wants happiness, he loves having people here,

329
00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,800
Speaker 1: he loves when she comes in. UM. It's not something

330
00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,280
Speaker 1: I am really fearful of. UM. And it's something that's

331
00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,879
Speaker 1: you know, imminent, and and we're just really excited to

332
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,800
Speaker 1: have the holidays and be able to have someone next

333
00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,040
Speaker 1: to you. It's been forever for both of us. Um,

334
00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,760
Speaker 1: it's just a really exciting time and I think the

335
00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:53,359
Speaker 1: focus has really just been at least for me with James.

336
00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,359
Speaker 1: I just want to be someone that he feels safe around.

337
00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:00,520
Speaker 1: That like he wants to color with, he wants to

338
00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,200
Speaker 1: play tag with, he wants to sing weird songs with,

339
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:07,000
Speaker 1: you know, like I just want to be like someone

340
00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:12,560
Speaker 1: he feels comfortable around. Their relationship is so adorable. I mean,

341
00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,440
Speaker 1: like it's so cute. We were last time she was here.

342
00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,240
Speaker 1: We were driving up to like the airport and right

343
00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:26,720
Speaker 1: before we dropped Danielle off. He's in the back seat

344
00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:29,320
Speaker 1: and he's like, Danielle, do you want us to give

345
00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,080
Speaker 1: you a call when you get in there so you

346
00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,399
Speaker 1: have someone to talk to and you can hear our voice?

347
00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:39,240
Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, how sweet? Really talk like that? I

348
00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:44,080
Speaker 1: was like, yeah, yes, yeah, she's confucious. It's a lot

349
00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,040
Speaker 1: functions on He's like Rodney. He functions on that like

350
00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:52,280
Speaker 1: higher empathetic, like find level. Yeah, yeah, he really, he

351
00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:54,600
Speaker 1: really does. And I don't know, things that come out

352
00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:58,000
Speaker 1: of Kid's mouth sometimes are the most profound, the sweetest

353
00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,240
Speaker 1: I know. It makes when you're Danielle and your saying

354
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,080
Speaker 1: you want James to feel safe and comfortable. I was

355
00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,440
Speaker 1: thinking about, you know, obviously, Michael, you're a parent, and

356
00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,159
Speaker 1: now Danielle you're coming into that, and we're just becoming

357
00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,119
Speaker 1: parents as well. And we flew to Virginia yesterday and

358
00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,600
Speaker 1: I had this like many emotional moment to myself that

359
00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:18,919
Speaker 1: I'd even tell you to this moment because we were flying.

360
00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:21,639
Speaker 1: We were taking off, and I hate flying because I

361
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,719
Speaker 1: immediately think that the planets news it's going to take

362
00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,000
Speaker 1: off is just gonna go crashing down right after the runway.

363
00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,240
Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I have a weird But it's so weird

364
00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,200
Speaker 1: because in the a because I remember Dawson was sitting

365
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,639
Speaker 1: on me and he's fine, and it actually helped, Like

366
00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:37,960
Speaker 1: having him I usually have an emotional support animal, and

367
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,920
Speaker 1: having Dawson on the flight actually helps me because my

368
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,119
Speaker 1: focus is so much on him, ensuring that he feels okay.

369
00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,199
Speaker 1: And I remember thinking that, like, he has no idea

370
00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,680
Speaker 1: of the dangers of this world that surround him, and

371
00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:54,600
Speaker 1: as a parent, you know, he's just the embodiment of innocence,

372
00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,840
Speaker 1: and it makes me concerned because it's you know, as

373
00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,679
Speaker 1: a parent, you just want. You want to make your

374
00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,440
Speaker 1: kid feel as safe as possible. Now I'm talking about

375
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,480
Speaker 1: the physical safeteness of my child, but of course the

376
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,000
Speaker 1: emotional safetess as well is something that will you know,

377
00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,119
Speaker 1: down the line have to really tackle. And you know,

378
00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:15,120
Speaker 1: you guys love that. I love that your your your

379
00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:20,760
Speaker 1: beautiful child has become your emotional supporting. It's like I

380
00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,480
Speaker 1: have to keep it together and marrying them and through

381
00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,760
Speaker 1: the airport and put them on your lab a leash.

382
00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:29,040
Speaker 1: You don't have to all the paperwork with Lois was

383
00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,160
Speaker 1: so annoying, but he used to hold Lowest like he'd

384
00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:32,840
Speaker 1: have to take care of her on takeoff. It was

385
00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:35,080
Speaker 1: really a dark we get through and like everywhere we

386
00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:37,400
Speaker 1: go with Dawston now it's like everybody's just like trying

387
00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,040
Speaker 1: to take care of us because it's like we have

388
00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:44,040
Speaker 1: a baby, we take priority. They're like you do scrollers

389
00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,080
Speaker 1: through security or were the first ones to board. It's

390
00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,800
Speaker 1: like we're group seven, but we're like, we have a kid,

391
00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:57,960
Speaker 1: and they're like, oh, it's so great. Veterans, Danielle, have

392
00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:02,960
Speaker 1: you thought about that that a sticky situation where it's

393
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,840
Speaker 1: not I'm not replacing your mom or keeping your mom's

394
00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,440
Speaker 1: legacy around, like how you'll deal with that when you

395
00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,399
Speaker 1: talk about Laura when James gets older. I'm assuming you

396
00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,000
Speaker 1: guys will be together for a very a long time.

397
00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:22,320
Speaker 1: I'm I'm assuming that as well. Yeah, again, like I

398
00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,160
Speaker 1: just want to feel some I want him to feel

399
00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:28,440
Speaker 1: like I'm somewhere safe that he can talk to about

400
00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:35,080
Speaker 1: his mom um and just know that. Like again, like

401
00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,080
Speaker 1: I'm not trying. I'm not trying to step in and

402
00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,760
Speaker 1: like replace. I just want to be somewhere safe for him.

403
00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:46,240
Speaker 1: And yeah, and it's I think it's easy for people

404
00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,159
Speaker 1: to want to do that. It's difficult to do and

405
00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,720
Speaker 1: she handles it with so much grace. Um, and she's

406
00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:57,680
Speaker 1: actually able to do it. Which makes this whole thing

407
00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,920
Speaker 1: so much better. Is that I know that I found

408
00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,960
Speaker 1: the right person. That's awesome. Well, we do have to

409
00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,200
Speaker 1: wrap with you guys, Unfortunately before you go, last rapid

410
00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:12,640
Speaker 1: fire question. Any thoughts on the Johnny Greg Victoria, dramatic

411
00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:19,680
Speaker 1: this going on? Oh man, hope that everyone's taking care

412
00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:24,840
Speaker 1: of their mental health. Good answer, good answer, good answer, Yeah, yeah,

413
00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:29,760
Speaker 1: I second bet. All right, guys, Seriously, I could go

414
00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:31,919
Speaker 1: on for another hour with you, so hopefully you can

415
00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,600
Speaker 1: come back for an in depth soon. We really appreciate

416
00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:39,639
Speaker 1: you coming. Have a great happy Thanksgiving to every Thanksgiving

417
00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,000
Speaker 1: and for everybody listening rate to Audrey's with five stars

418
00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:49,000
Speaker 1: on Ye Yeah, Breaking World, Got the best coffee in

419
00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,480
Speaker 1: Rhode Island. Hey, whenever you guys want a little romantic

420
00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:56,920
Speaker 1: Christmas or whatever holiday get away to New car Oh

421
00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,320
Speaker 1: my god, that would be amazing. And Jared, I'm still

422
00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,480
Speaker 1: mad at you for eating me in Fantasy football. Goddamn right, baby,

423
00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:10,800
Speaker 1: what's your teen name is? Sad? Dad? Sad Dad? Well

424
00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,320
Speaker 1: that was Now he's happy dad. You know I'm if

425
00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:19,000
Speaker 1: I make the playoffs? All right? Guy? By by Yeah,

426
00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:26,800
Speaker 1: Oh my god? What kay? So so sweet by guys,

427
00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:35,439
Speaker 1: said Dad. Follow the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous

428
00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:38,680
Speaker 1: podcast on iHeart Radio, or subscribe wherever you listen to

429
00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:39,359
Speaker 1: podcasts