WEBVTT - Brad Womack Inspires Me 0:00:01.200 --> 0:00:03.960 This is that Ben and n Ashley I almost famous 0:00:03.960 --> 0:00:09.000 podcast Bachelor Countdown. This is the very first episode, as 0:00:09.039 --> 0:00:12.719 you heard, at the beginning of a really exciting time 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:14.680 for us, as we lead up to grand season of 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:18.400 The Bachelor. We're going to be speaking with each past Bachelor. 0:00:18.840 --> 0:00:20.040 I don't know if we're speaking with me. 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:23.599 I don't know of every single one, but a lot 0:00:23.640 --> 0:00:24.000 of them. 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:29.280 Yeah, leading up to this amazing season that is upon us. 0:00:29.320 --> 0:00:31.520 And today we do have our first episode, and it's 0:00:31.560 --> 0:00:36.960 with a Bachelor who I've heard so much about, who 0:00:37.000 --> 0:00:40.360 I've heard from everybody that worked on the show that 0:00:40.400 --> 0:00:42.680 they loved him so much. And I mean this and 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:45.559 I'll go into details here in a second. Brad Walmack. 0:00:46.680 --> 0:00:49.720 Brad Walmack, Oh my god, it's so cool to meet you. 0:00:49.720 --> 0:00:53.000 You are the first Bachelor I ever watched your second season, 0:00:53.120 --> 0:00:55.680 So in some way, if it weren't for you, maybe 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:57.960 I wouldn't have the life that I have because I 0:00:58.040 --> 0:01:00.760 was just so obsessed with your season and it got 0:01:00.800 --> 0:01:01.480 me on the train. 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:03.480 You are got her. 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:05.319 Too kind, I've got to say, and I have to 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:07.360 say I've been one to meet both of you. I 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:11.120 think you guys are Bachelor Nation Royalty. I mean that 0:01:11.200 --> 0:01:13.040 I've so thank you so much for having me. 0:01:13.319 --> 0:01:15.040 You know what, I'm king of the nerds. 0:01:15.080 --> 0:01:17.880 At times it feels like and you get that, Brad, 0:01:17.920 --> 0:01:19.160 because you're king of the nerds. 0:01:20.240 --> 0:01:20.479 Brad. 0:01:21.200 --> 0:01:22.720 We have so much talk to you about. But I 0:01:22.760 --> 0:01:25.520 do want to start, and I said this when I 0:01:25.680 --> 0:01:29.679 was on The Bachelor. It was very important to me, 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:33.960 mostly because I'm insecure and an only child, that I 0:01:34.120 --> 0:01:37.760 made a lot of friends with the crew because you're 0:01:37.800 --> 0:01:42.480 around the crew so much, and every crew member that 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:45.880 I would get familiar with and get into conversation with, 0:01:45.920 --> 0:01:48.840 I'd always ask like, what are some of your favorite seasons? 0:01:48.880 --> 0:01:50.880 Or who are you some of your favorite leads? And 0:01:50.920 --> 0:01:55.760 everybody from Chris Harrison to wardrobe to camera and audio 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:58.920 who'd been there for a long time always mentioned your name. 0:01:59.080 --> 0:02:01.600 And so there was something that you did right, not 0:02:02.440 --> 0:02:04.880 in a manipulative way, and not even because it was 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:08.280 being aired on television, but there was a thing that 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:12.160 you did during your time on filming that made people say, 0:02:12.200 --> 0:02:14.600 I appreciate, I respect and I like that guy. 0:02:15.320 --> 0:02:15.959 Thank you man. 0:02:16.240 --> 0:02:18.720 I First of all, that means a lot, of course, 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:21.520 but you know, as you said, we were around those 0:02:21.560 --> 0:02:24.560 guys twenty four to seven, you know, and they very 0:02:24.760 --> 0:02:29.240 very very quickly became family, especially Chris of course. But anyway, 0:02:30.280 --> 0:02:33.040 it was a genuine relationship with those guys, and so 0:02:33.560 --> 0:02:35.280 that means a lot. To hear it coming from you. 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:37.000 I want to say this, Stuf, I've heard nothing but 0:02:37.040 --> 0:02:39.000 good things about you too, and I promise I'm not 0:02:39.000 --> 0:02:41.600 trying to turn it around it in fact, both of 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:45.480 you guys. But anyway, Yeah, no, I appreciate the acknowledgment. Man, 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:48.840 I think the world of that entire crew still do 0:02:48.960 --> 0:02:49.440 to this day. 0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:53.040 Is that why you became the Bachelor twice? Because the 0:02:53.120 --> 0:02:56.680 crew loved you so much? Because America had mixed feelings? 0:02:56.680 --> 0:02:56.840 Oh? 0:02:56.919 --> 0:02:58.040 I know, Actually I. 0:02:57.960 --> 0:03:00.760 Think I became the Bachelor twice because of mental illness issues. 0:03:01.280 --> 0:03:04.919 I mean, I'm kidding, but you know, no, I America 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:08.240 did have mixed feelings about it. I was very quickly 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:10.839 reminded of that when I was announced the second time. 0:03:10.919 --> 0:03:15.880 And what a whirlwind though. You know, one thing I'll say, 0:03:15.919 --> 0:03:19.320 it's I do believe in the premise of the show, 0:03:19.880 --> 0:03:23.280 and so to be asked back a second time, heck yeah, 0:03:23.280 --> 0:03:26.359 I go head first in. I felt very very fortunate 0:03:26.400 --> 0:03:28.480 and wanted to give it a shot, and it kind 0:03:28.520 --> 0:03:31.840 of worked, kind of didn't depending on who's asking. 0:03:31.960 --> 0:03:34.000 So anyway, I had a great time. 0:03:34.480 --> 0:03:38.760 Well it's funny because back in the day they came 0:03:38.800 --> 0:03:40.920 to me. I don't know if it was a legitimate offer. 0:03:41.120 --> 0:03:42.960 I don't want to say that, but they came to 0:03:43.000 --> 0:03:45.560 me during Somebody's season right before it started and said, 0:03:45.600 --> 0:03:47.120 would you ever want to come back on? 0:03:47.560 --> 0:03:47.880 Yeah? 0:03:47.920 --> 0:03:49.520 And I thought of you, and I was like, I 0:03:49.600 --> 0:03:53.480 don't know if it goes better for me, Like I 0:03:53.560 --> 0:03:55.960 believe in the show, and I would be excited about 0:03:55.960 --> 0:03:57.560 the opportunity, and there's a side of me that wants 0:03:57.560 --> 0:04:01.360 to say yes because it is a gift to be 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:03.800 in this like isolated environment to try to find love. 0:04:04.160 --> 0:04:04.360 Yeah. 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:08.600 Man, but it can also like I'm not ready for that, 0:04:09.160 --> 0:04:11.720 the repercussions of what this could look like when everybody says, 0:04:11.720 --> 0:04:13.800 I'm I'm sick of this guy, because they're gonna get 0:04:13.840 --> 0:04:14.200 sick of you. 0:04:14.800 --> 0:04:16.240 So I want to dig into that a little. 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:16.599 Bit with you. 0:04:16.839 --> 0:04:21.240 What did did you Did you feel support at any 0:04:21.279 --> 0:04:24.280 point or was it the second time around? Kind of 0:04:24.400 --> 0:04:30.360 just this uh chaos and tornado of negativity, you know. 0:04:30.360 --> 0:04:32.480 That's a that's such a good question. I'll tell you 0:04:33.000 --> 0:04:36.479 from cast and crew, well, I say cast, from production 0:04:36.680 --> 0:04:40.920 and crew, I felt immpt support. I mean, I'm embraced 0:04:40.960 --> 0:04:43.400 with open arms. But I got to tell you, man, 0:04:43.520 --> 0:04:45.719 the first time. You know, obviously you guys have done 0:04:45.720 --> 0:04:48.000 it too, but when you do the publicity tour and 0:04:48.040 --> 0:04:51.400 everything before the season begins, I will never forget this. 0:04:51.440 --> 0:04:53.600 I went on Ellen and I just bombed. I mean 0:04:53.640 --> 0:04:56.800 I just bomb And even the publicists at the time 0:04:56.880 --> 0:04:58.880 kind of was gave me the puppy eyes. 0:04:58.720 --> 0:05:00.240 Like, oh, that didn't go so well, you know what 0:05:00.320 --> 0:05:01.760 I mean, and so and I knew. 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:03.520 I knew I was in trouble a little bit, and 0:05:03.560 --> 0:05:06.600 so and I had of course, journalists reminded me all 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:09.760 the time about how I was not a fan favorite 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:12.719 because I didn't choose anybody, and so, you know, but 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:14.960 it's just one of those things. So to answer your question, 0:05:15.360 --> 0:05:19.000 it was kind of a mixture of both. But like 0:05:19.040 --> 0:05:21.160 I said, when we first started this, I dove in 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:23.600 head first. I was going to say, hey, look man, 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:25.680 I'm going to give this thing my all. I have 0:05:25.960 --> 0:05:29.560 absolutely no regrets. And I ended up meeting Emily amongst 0:05:29.560 --> 0:05:33.640 the other women, and you know, no regrets for that either, 0:05:33.760 --> 0:05:34.000 you know. 0:05:34.080 --> 0:05:35.839 And so I had a really good time. 0:05:36.520 --> 0:05:39.760 You mentioned your appearance on Ellen. Didn't you call you 0:05:39.839 --> 0:05:42.200 a jerk? I mean that must have rattled you. That's 0:05:42.200 --> 0:05:43.599 what I led you to bomb. 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:45.520 Yeah, well, I'll tell you this. 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:48.000 So she called me a jerk the first season because 0:05:48.000 --> 0:05:51.960 I didn't pick anybody, and then thank god, she asked 0:05:52.000 --> 0:05:54.160 me back for a little bit of redemption. But it 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:56.360 was the third time I was on Ellen to announce 0:05:56.400 --> 0:05:59.320 the second season, and I don't know what it was, Ashley, 0:05:59.400 --> 0:06:03.760 I don't know. I'll admit I remember just being a 0:06:03.800 --> 0:06:08.039 ball of nerves going into that particular show, and only 0:06:08.040 --> 0:06:10.440 because I was I was realizing, Okay, I'm about to 0:06:10.480 --> 0:06:12.680 do this thing again, you know. And so it was 0:06:12.839 --> 0:06:16.520 really nerve wracking. And she didn't cut me any slack, 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:19.560 of course, and uh, the audience wasn't having it. I 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:21.160 mean it was it was a bad it was a 0:06:21.200 --> 0:06:23.960 bad appearance. But uh, but yeah, she did call me 0:06:24.000 --> 0:06:25.920 a jerk, but thank god she apologized. 0:06:27.040 --> 0:06:28.400 Why did she apologize. 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:30.120 I think I'll tell you what. 0:06:30.200 --> 0:06:31.920 I think she got the other side of the story, 0:06:32.440 --> 0:06:35.560 you know, not picking anybody the first season of course, 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:38.960 I became public any number one right away, and and 0:06:39.000 --> 0:06:41.279 that was not my intent. I wanted to stay true. 0:06:41.720 --> 0:06:44.039 And I've said this so many times. I really do 0:06:44.080 --> 0:06:46.320 believe in the premise of the show, and I just 0:06:46.320 --> 0:06:48.640 didn't want to sell out. And so I think she 0:06:48.800 --> 0:06:52.200 took her initial reaction and was thinking, who does this 0:06:52.240 --> 0:06:53.160 guy think he is? 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:53.760 And then. 0:06:55.440 --> 0:06:58.600 I guess through I don't know, some other channels, she 0:06:58.680 --> 0:07:01.240 got the true story and she invited me on. I 0:07:01.279 --> 0:07:03.000 was able to tell my side of the story, and 0:07:03.040 --> 0:07:06.760 so it went a little bit better. So yeah, I 0:07:06.760 --> 0:07:08.760 don't know, I got a little bit of redemption, but 0:07:08.839 --> 0:07:09.320 not much. 0:07:09.920 --> 0:07:10.000 So. 0:07:10.160 --> 0:07:13.240 I never watched your first season, Okay. 0:07:12.920 --> 0:07:15.200 But I but you know, of course I knew what 0:07:15.520 --> 0:07:18.160 happened because I watched your second season and all that, 0:07:18.520 --> 0:07:21.440 and I just maybe because I didn't watch it, but 0:07:21.600 --> 0:07:24.400 I always thought that perhaps it wasn't a jerky decision 0:07:24.480 --> 0:07:27.320 to not pick somebody that you weren't fully into. I 0:07:27.360 --> 0:07:29.920 think that was a respectable decision. 0:07:30.280 --> 0:07:33.440 I appreciate that. I you know, and I've been able 0:07:33.440 --> 0:07:37.920 to say this very publicly. I I told the producers 0:07:37.960 --> 0:07:40.640 when we first started interviewing for the show to begin 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:43.320 with that I might not be the best guy because 0:07:43.520 --> 0:07:45.920 I just I really want to stay true to my 0:07:46.000 --> 0:07:49.720 heart and I really do, and so and I did. 0:07:49.960 --> 0:07:53.800 And as amazing as the women were, there just wasn't 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:57.360 a love connection, I think on all sides, frankly, and 0:07:57.760 --> 0:07:59.480 I just didn't want to lead anybody on. So I 0:07:59.520 --> 0:08:03.040 appreciate that, and I'm pretty proud of the decision, even 0:08:03.040 --> 0:08:05.160 though I got beat up a little bit, actually a lot. 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:11.160 It's interesting too, when fans of the show watch the show, 0:08:12.480 --> 0:08:15.360 you know, for and I think there is a big 0:08:15.640 --> 0:08:18.280 group that would agree with you and say, yes, that 0:08:18.760 --> 0:08:20.520 he was staying true to his heart. He was doing 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:24.840 what felt right. That's honorable and that's something that we 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:27.000 should be proud of. There's also the group, obviously, that 0:08:27.040 --> 0:08:29.080 came after you for that, and they come after every 0:08:29.160 --> 0:08:32.360 lead for decisions made. I think, being a part of 0:08:32.360 --> 0:08:36.880 the show, as Ashley and myself have been, I hear 0:08:36.920 --> 0:08:40.360 this and I'm like, what a what a courageous decision, honestly, 0:08:41.320 --> 0:08:44.200 because you don't go on this show hoping to spend 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:47.360 three months of your life breaking up with people and 0:08:47.400 --> 0:08:50.520 shedding tears on national television and opening up your heart 0:08:50.800 --> 0:08:52.600 to try to find love to then at the end 0:08:52.720 --> 0:08:55.160 just say, yeah, this didn't work. That is a that 0:08:55.160 --> 0:08:57.640 would be a really hard decision. 0:08:57.280 --> 0:08:57.760 To come to. 0:08:58.360 --> 0:09:00.520 I don't know even how you would get to that decision, 0:09:00.559 --> 0:09:04.800 because it would take so much strength. But I hear this, 0:09:04.920 --> 0:09:08.840 and I'm like, this is maybe I'll say it the 0:09:08.880 --> 0:09:11.080 most honest season that we've ever had. 0:09:11.160 --> 0:09:14.840 Then well, well I appreciate that, man very much, and 0:09:15.240 --> 0:09:18.720 I'll say it. I will very publicly admit I wanted 0:09:18.760 --> 0:09:21.360 something to work out from that show. I wanted a 0:09:21.400 --> 0:09:26.160 relationship to work. And Ashley, you and Jared Jesus Man, 0:09:26.200 --> 0:09:29.319 you guys love stories just so amazing. 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:29.880 I love it. 0:09:29.920 --> 0:09:34.160 I love it and and I promise I'm not just 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:35.520 saying that to get on your good side. 0:09:35.559 --> 0:09:36.520 I really love it. 0:09:37.080 --> 0:09:40.040 And so, but when I went into that show, I 0:09:40.360 --> 0:09:43.080 genuinely wanted that. I remember talking to my twin brother 0:09:43.120 --> 0:09:45.800 whenever I was asked to do this show and saying, hey, man, 0:09:45.840 --> 0:09:48.440 I'm not dating anybody. This might be a really good 0:09:48.480 --> 0:09:50.920 way to find somebody. Get out of my box and 0:09:51.040 --> 0:09:53.360 I'm sorry, out of my bubble. And so when it 0:09:53.400 --> 0:09:55.600 didn't work out, trust me, I was just as disappointed 0:09:55.640 --> 0:10:01.040 as anybody or everybody else and so I was a 0:10:01.120 --> 0:10:05.719 little bit surprised about being expected to stay within parameters 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:08.320 of the show, meaning being told, no, you have to 0:10:08.400 --> 0:10:11.160 pick somebody. Yeah, I'm not talking about by the producers. 0:10:11.200 --> 0:10:14.600 I'm talking about by just for a public opinion, right, yeah, 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:17.719 And it just I just don't understand. I mean, where 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:20.440 are for me? At least I was talking about real life. 0:10:20.880 --> 0:10:24.280 I mean, sure it's it's it's televised and it's filmed, 0:10:24.400 --> 0:10:26.960 but it was very real for me, and and it 0:10:27.080 --> 0:10:28.559 just didn't work out unfortunately. 0:10:38.840 --> 0:10:43.880 Let's talk about Emily because it is like, like Emily 0:10:44.720 --> 0:10:49.760 is Wow, what a captivating figure and also extremely elusive 0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:53.160 in the bachelor community. No podcast can get her on, 0:10:53.520 --> 0:10:56.920 not even Trista like the rog Girl can get her on. 0:10:59.320 --> 0:11:03.120 How what is she? Have you had any interactions since 0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:05.320 you broke up? Like, what's she like? Why is she 0:11:05.440 --> 0:11:08.280 so elusive? She has six kids now, she's married, Like, 0:11:09.000 --> 0:11:10.400 just tell us a little bit about Emily. 0:11:10.679 --> 0:11:13.840 I'll tell you everything I know at least one. I 0:11:13.880 --> 0:11:16.160 think you said you hit the nail on the head. 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:20.800 She's extremely captivating, she is pure to her core, just 0:11:20.840 --> 0:11:24.480 an exceptional human being. And you know, you ask if 0:11:24.480 --> 0:11:27.960 we've had any interaction. You know, I'm a very very 0:11:28.000 --> 0:11:31.480 respectful guy when it comes to situations and if someone's 0:11:31.520 --> 0:11:35.280 in a relationship. Meaning I remember when I had heard 0:11:35.320 --> 0:11:37.440 she gotten married, and I reached out and said, hey, 0:11:37.840 --> 0:11:41.440 I'm genuinely happy for you. And that's exactly what she 0:11:41.480 --> 0:11:45.480 had been wanting. She had been wanting marriage, a beautiful family, 0:11:45.559 --> 0:11:47.480 and she has all of that in them some right 0:11:47.559 --> 0:11:51.720 and so but as far as being Emily, yeah, she 0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:54.240 is a little elusive. I don't think she needs much. 0:11:55.040 --> 0:11:57.400 And I mean that in such a complimentary way, you know, 0:11:57.559 --> 0:12:01.240 and and where I think i'mind of a sellout. 0:12:01.440 --> 0:12:06.360 I'll do anything, but I'm kidding. Actually no, it's yeah, 0:12:09.880 --> 0:12:12.040 I love it, but no, it's uh. 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:16.640 I say it with almost utmost admiration. Actually that how 0:12:16.679 --> 0:12:19.920 she carries herself and what you see is what you get. 0:12:20.120 --> 0:12:21.559 And you know, we did. 0:12:21.440 --> 0:12:23.960 Realize, I'll admit this, we realized really quickly we were 0:12:23.960 --> 0:12:26.680 two different people once we got back into the real world. 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:30.960 And I think I'm a little rough around the edges 0:12:31.080 --> 0:12:33.679 and she is extremely refined. Again, I'm saying that in 0:12:33.760 --> 0:12:37.280 a complimentary way. And when I look at her from 0:12:37.280 --> 0:12:41.560 the outside, looking in and seeing what she's the life 0:12:42.080 --> 0:12:44.480 that she's created and and built. 0:12:44.720 --> 0:12:46.200 I couldn't be happier. 0:12:46.240 --> 0:12:48.920 And so but yeah, I'll reach out to her one 0:12:49.040 --> 0:12:51.640 time and that's it. And it was a congratulator and 0:12:51.640 --> 0:12:53.280 it was a sincere congratulations. 0:12:53.920 --> 0:12:55.520 Well, you guys are like Barbie and Ken. 0:12:56.320 --> 0:12:59.640 Well, i'll tell you what it's uh, maybe for a 0:12:59.679 --> 0:13:01.720 brief you know what, do they call it the fifty 0:13:01.880 --> 0:13:05.080 seconds or something? But I really enjoyed my time with her. 0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:08.760 She has a pure soul, you know what I mean? 0:13:08.840 --> 0:13:12.839 And so I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. And 0:13:13.600 --> 0:13:16.800 you know, things don't work out unfortunately, and here we are. 0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:18.800 The rough edges Ken would be. 0:13:23.120 --> 0:13:28.760 He's a different version. He's like an Austin bar owner Katon. 0:13:29.520 --> 0:13:30.040 I love that. 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:31.439 There you go. I'll take it. 0:13:31.840 --> 0:13:35.280 Well, Brad, you actually might be a little bit and 0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:38.240 maybe more in Emily's shoes right now because you just 0:13:38.440 --> 0:13:43.160 hard launched a picture with a girlfriend and you really 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:46.160 haven't posted about women or been public with women since 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:47.360 being with Emily. 0:13:48.040 --> 0:13:49.360 What's going on there? 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:51.760 I like that you guys are well informed. I guess 0:13:51.800 --> 0:13:53.480 you can't hide from that. You know what's so funny? 0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:58.640 I spent forever kind of evading and shining away from 0:13:58.640 --> 0:14:01.520 Instagram and all social media. You but but I got 0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:05.720 to tell you, Yes, I am in a relationship and 0:14:06.120 --> 0:14:09.120 she's worthy of I didn't want to hide her. 0:14:09.160 --> 0:14:09.880 Does that make sense? 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:12.840 But there have been other women that you were willing 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:13.319 to hide. 0:14:13.640 --> 0:14:16.800 Well, but that sounded so much. So you're you're calling 0:14:16.840 --> 0:14:17.880 me out, and I get it. 0:14:17.960 --> 0:14:20.120 I get it, I get it, and I guess that's 0:14:20.120 --> 0:14:23.280 what I signed up for. But no, this is the 0:14:23.320 --> 0:14:25.920 first time we're we're we're hitting it off. I don't 0:14:25.960 --> 0:14:29.080 know what else to say, and and we're having a 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:33.000 lot of fun together. She's an inherently kind human being, 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:35.400 and I don't know what else to say. I'm I'm 0:14:35.800 --> 0:14:38.520 I'm really happy. We're really happy together right now. And 0:14:38.560 --> 0:14:42.120 so I appreciate you acknowledging that, and I'll pass that 0:14:42.240 --> 0:14:45.960 along to her. So I'm so embarrassed. I'm sure I'm 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:50.560 beat red, but I love it in I like it, 0:14:50.600 --> 0:14:54.360 you know, contrary to popular belief, I'm a really shy guy. 0:14:54.440 --> 0:14:58.000 And so I was proud to say, Hey, I don't 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:00.200 know what she sees in me, but I'm glad she 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:01.120 does see something. 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:03.400 Let's go, let's hard launch this thing. 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:08.080 Yeah, can you explain a little bit to the listeners 0:15:08.120 --> 0:15:11.520 and to Ashley myself, because you do say you called 0:15:11.520 --> 0:15:13.600 yourself a sellout, I would say you're one hundred percent 0:15:13.680 --> 0:15:17.440 not Uh, if you'd be everywhere all the time. Yeah, yeah, 0:15:17.520 --> 0:15:20.320 quite private is actually how I would describe you would 0:15:20.320 --> 0:15:24.760 have hit paradise. But you obviously at some point said 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:29.320 I want to share this with the public for whatever reason. 0:15:30.120 --> 0:15:31.920 Walk us through a little bit of the details to 0:15:31.960 --> 0:15:33.360 how it led up to the point where you said, 0:15:33.440 --> 0:15:34.920 let's let's let this thing go. 0:15:35.440 --> 0:15:37.640 Well, I'll tell you what, and I'll try to make 0:15:37.640 --> 0:15:40.000 this quick. I don't want to bore anybody, like I said. So, 0:15:40.080 --> 0:15:43.440 I just jumped on Instagram maybe four to five months ago, 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:46.440 and I'll tell you the only reason I did is, Guys, 0:15:46.480 --> 0:15:48.280 I'm over fifty years old, right, I. 0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:49.960 Can't believe it. I tried to do the math on this. 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:52.040 I was like, how old was he when he was 0:15:52.040 --> 0:15:52.800 the bachelor? 0:15:53.440 --> 0:15:54.920 Hey? What pretty old I was? 0:15:55.000 --> 0:15:56.560 You were an old bachelor. 0:15:56.720 --> 0:15:59.200 I was an old bachelor if I remember, right, was 0:15:59.200 --> 0:16:03.360 at thirty four, thirty seven, respectively. I think so and so, Yeah, 0:16:03.360 --> 0:16:04.480 I was one of the older ones. 0:16:04.520 --> 0:16:07.120 In fact, I think had a huge age gap. 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:09.440 Oh I'm sure that played a role with two. 0:16:10.200 --> 0:16:13.920 She didn't want to be changing my depends at at 0:16:13.960 --> 0:16:17.920 a later age, I don't know. But anyway, but the 0:16:17.960 --> 0:16:20.400 only reason I jumped on Instagram is this whole thing. 0:16:20.440 --> 0:16:23.560 And I won't bore you guys, but you know, just 0:16:23.640 --> 0:16:26.400 kind of this fitness over fifty type thing. I won't 0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:31.760 even get into because it's boring. But with being online, 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:36.720 I didn't want my partner. I didn't want her to 0:16:36.800 --> 0:16:39.200 see that and then just to feel like, you know, 0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:41.880 I'm kind of hiding her whatever. And that's that's why 0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:43.960 I said, hey, man, if this is what this is 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:46.000 all about, if people want to peek behind the curtain 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:48.760 a little bit, been great. I mean, she's a huge 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:51.640 part of my life, and that's exactly why I said, hey, 0:16:51.720 --> 0:16:53.920 let's just do this. But you're right, I have been 0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:56.880 private up to a certain point. Now I don't know 0:16:56.880 --> 0:16:59.360 what I'm doing, guys. Maybe a midlife crisis, who knows. 0:16:59.480 --> 0:17:01.120 That's all right, that's okay. 0:17:01.160 --> 0:17:02.640 I freed it. 0:17:02.640 --> 0:17:03.880 It brings me to a question. 0:17:04.000 --> 0:17:06.879 I don't know how to phrase it for you necessarily, 0:17:06.920 --> 0:17:09.199 but you were thirty four and thirty seven when you're 0:17:09.280 --> 0:17:16.359 The Bachelor. Right, You're now fifty years old and you 0:17:16.640 --> 0:17:22.040 just recently launched a relationship. Right. You went on this show, 0:17:22.320 --> 0:17:25.400 as you said at the beginning, believing the premise and 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:29.679 wanting to find a partner. Sure you haven't, right in 0:17:30.080 --> 0:17:30.919 sixteen years? 0:17:31.320 --> 0:17:31.520 Right? 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:35.240 What has this been like for you personally these sixteen 0:17:35.320 --> 0:17:39.800 years of still looking, obviously and still wanting. 0:17:40.240 --> 0:17:43.320 Sure, that's a great question too, man. You know I'm 0:17:43.320 --> 0:17:46.119 going to I'm going to give you the cliche answer, 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:49.719 but it's not cliche. I was very, very, very heavily 0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:54.919 involved in my career. And I have to give my 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:57.240 business partner's credit because they're happily married. They have been 0:17:57.240 --> 0:17:59.439 for years, and they did it right, and so I 0:17:59.520 --> 0:18:01.480 just couldn't find a way to do that, to find 0:18:01.480 --> 0:18:05.159 that balance. I'm very happy to tell you may have. 0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:08.000 Twenty twenty four, we sold our entire company. I've had 0:18:08.000 --> 0:18:11.760 a little downtime, and it brings perspective into life, you know, 0:18:11.920 --> 0:18:15.800 and and so what this woman has brought into my life, 0:18:15.800 --> 0:18:19.119 and I'm sure in your relationships too, it opens up 0:18:19.160 --> 0:18:24.880 this whole other door of of experience and and well 0:18:25.040 --> 0:18:28.479 just experiencing life. And I'm here for it. Man, and 0:18:28.560 --> 0:18:32.800 so you asked about the sixteen years. Sure I could 0:18:32.800 --> 0:18:35.280 blame it on Oh yeah, it was hard, you know, 0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:39.879 working away whatever. But maybe I had some things to 0:18:39.960 --> 0:18:44.040 work out. I don't know, you know. And but I 0:18:44.080 --> 0:18:46.000 got to tell you right when I met this girl. 0:18:46.520 --> 0:18:48.040 You know, they say when you know, you know, and 0:18:48.080 --> 0:18:50.439 I know that's a heavy statement. I know that, so 0:18:50.960 --> 0:18:53.840 let me preface this. But it feels like I'm kind 0:18:53.840 --> 0:18:56.040 of living out my when you know, you know, in 0:18:56.080 --> 0:18:59.560 a very blissful way. And so maybe it was just timing, Ben. 0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:04.960 I don't no, man, I've never subscribed to a specific timeline. 0:19:05.000 --> 0:19:06.640 So I'm feeling good about this right now. 0:19:07.800 --> 0:19:11.840 Speaking of timeline, are kids in option or a want? 0:19:12.359 --> 0:19:14.240 No, you know, that's a that's a good question. And 0:19:14.520 --> 0:19:17.199 we both have had and and you know, people have 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:21.680 their desires. But she didn't want children. I didn't want children. 0:19:21.720 --> 0:19:26.040 I love children, I love them, and but but personally 0:19:26.080 --> 0:19:28.359 I've never wanted them, and neither does she and so 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:31.280 and and you know, frankly, that's actually been kind of 0:19:31.280 --> 0:19:33.480 a deterrent in past relationship. 0:19:33.560 --> 0:19:35.159 Yeah, I could see that that that was something that 0:19:35.200 --> 0:19:36.879 you've always stood firm on. 0:19:37.520 --> 0:19:40.560 Well, yes, and and but and like, let's let's bring 0:19:40.640 --> 0:19:42.080 up the obvious. Emily had a. 0:19:42.119 --> 0:19:44.320 Child, yeah, six kids now too. 0:19:44.280 --> 0:19:44.960 Yeah yeah, yeah. 0:19:45.080 --> 0:19:47.520 And and when I met her, she had Ricky of yeah, 0:19:48.080 --> 0:19:51.640 beautiful child. And I had the immense pleasure of spending 0:19:51.680 --> 0:19:54.840