Bachelor Happy Hour - Blake Moynes’ Adventure in ‘Paradise’

Episode Date: November 21, 2023

Today on “Bachelor Happy Hour,” Blake Moynes stops by to chat about his summer in “Paradise” and the reunion between him and Katie that still has all of Bachelor Nation talking.   In his discussion with Joe and Serena, Blake dives into his relationship with Jess and explains why at times he felt like they struggled to progress into something more emotionally serious. He also finally gives Joe and Serena the clarity they have so desperately been searching for: Did Blake know that Jess kissed Tyler?!   Plus, Blake recounts all the emotions he felt when his ex-fiancée appeared on the beach and shares why he was convinced she was there to actually date.   Listen now for all this and so much more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the Psychology Podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about how to be a better you. When you think about emotion regulation, you're not going to choose an adaptive strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denials is easier.

Complex problem solving. Takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So in the last month, the Midas Touch Network beat Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Candice Owens, Charlie Kirk, and Ben Shapiro all combined. What happens when three brothers take on right-wing media and start winning? I find out on the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. We just want people to live their lives and be happy and be able to enjoy it without some, you know, lunar. tick screaming in their face every three seconds listen to next question with me katie currick on the

iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts hey everyone welcome back to bachelor happy hour i'm serena and i'm joe and we are here with none of them that blake moines from bachelor in paradise so happy blake you could be here yeah it's been a while i think i think it's due when was last time you're on happy hour probably probably when I was engaged for your finale right it's been two years

wow welcome back we had we had Blake on clickbait yeah I remember that was a good episode we really got into the wildlife your whole I remember you asked me to go on one of those trips but I backed out

what about you could you do the whale one what did it in hill there wasn't really much it's just yeah i just have to put you in the ocean and i drag you over to the whales and just need to float there and just take it all what's your next one water right yeah like you're in there with you're fully submerged you're the boats fully submerged not yeah yeah like it's just you in the way what's your next one i go to i go to bolivia and the amazon for six weeks and jaguars ocelots spider monkeys and aconnas do you have anything that falls on under just like a little more mild.

Like I don't want to die. Like I don't want to die. I don't want to get bit by anything. I don't want poison ivy. I don't want to get bit by anything. So this is interesting, right? Like I was I was asked this, you know, because it's been,

it's been girls that have come with you for the last few of them. The thing is like I think it takes a specific project to like have a male come on. You're not going to come on and do sea turtles with me. It's just a little odd, you know? Yes, he would. Yeah. I would, that's more, that's more my speed. That's what I'm asking you.

You want to come out and have a cute little excursion with me doing C-Tros. That's exactly what he wants to do. I would do that. I would do that. I would do, like, I would do like a safari and like I'm all down to like sea Jaguars, but like how close are you getting to those? Well, this specific, well, so we're going out to try and find wild ones. We're doing a four-day little trip out into the actual Amazon,

but then I'm working with a, a wildlife sanctuary that rehabs them. So it's a jaguar that's taken out of the pet trade. And so it's a rewilding project. So we'll be very close to them. And it's essentially trying to make it as wild as possible from being habituated to humans and trying to make them basically wild again. So yeah, it can be, I've never done this before. So this is the first time I'm going to go do it.

So dangerous, but like more. I feel like jaguars are the scariest of animals. Like jaguars are strong. And I think they're the fastest, right? well cheetahs are the fastest but jaguars you see them taking out can't and they can take out essentially anything so yeah it's not one you're not coming on that trip with you he'll wait for the sea turtles no no no no those nowhere is near

sure yeah no yeah penguins actually penguins is in is in the I will do penguins okay I can make that I think I can make that okay I'll do penguins do a favorite one that you've been on when I went back and did the Kenya thing I think we're just so close to big tusker elephants in a wild setting. That was like the most wild and real

with being out of the rangers three weeks. But the whale comes close in a sense of like, I remember being in my snorkel and the calf and the mom are coming up real close. They don't normally have interactions like that. And I remember just feeling like, I'm very out of place and swearing, being like, holy fuck, holy fuck.

Because you're just, there's nothing you can do out in the ocean like that. It's up to them as to how they want to move around. You can't get out of the way, really. So remember just feeling like heart pounding, like there's nothing I can do here and just kind of take it in and thank God these are harmless animals for the most part because, yeah. So that was a close second. Wow, that's like extreme vulnerability. Yeah. Yes, yes, yes. I think that's what I chase, right? I like that. Like, there's not a lot really, you know, works me up, but animal encounters like that. And the bachelor. Yeah. And paradise. Yeah. Let's get in the show, but keep me. in mind for penguins because I like penguins okay so

Blake Blake Blake where should we start let's start with let's start for the beginning you coming down who are you interested in were you hesitant at all were you excited what's up I think this is the first time I wasn't like

overly excited wasn't nervous either I think doing this a couple times there's there was nerves but like I knew how it kind of worked for the most part I came in very open-minded, but like, you know, you're always asking, like, what this list, everyone talks about this list. From experience coming on, like, really headstrong for Claire and then really headstrong for Katie, like, I really wanted to come in with like just no expectations, loosen up a little bit

and just kind of see what happens. But I did say, you know, okay, like Jess is cute, Kat was cute. I thought like Ariel was coming. There were some people that I visually thought were attractive and was like Kirstine, but I really didn't dive. into much more than that. So that was kind of the look coming down. Okay.

I think that all, that's... I was more curious. I was more curious. I wasn't excited or anything. I was just curious about what would happen. Okay, so then it seems like you, really, it's just like kind of you and Jess are hanging out at the beginning and it seems like you're starting to, you like form a relationship. Let's talk about the beginning part of your relationship with Jess.

Yeah. What was that like? It was kind of surprising. I think it was she made it. What I was attracted to with her was this calm, like sweet. Like it was almost like endearing. You tell that she was nervous to be there. And I kind of attracted to that.

It, you know, we kissed the first time we spoke. And that kind of almost set me off in a sense like I felt like I needed like to be careful with that. You could tell that she was super sensitive. And I remember walking away and going to sit down with the rest of the people in that group and after that and feeling really excited about the start of that. But I also was like nervous in a sense as to how I would manage that relationship because I had like almost a protective feeling about it. You could tell that she was could be vulnerable or be upset. Like she is a sensitive person. You could feel out through that. So when I like kissed her, you know, it is a gesture. It is a gesture that you're

to somebody and I didn't and I wanted to be protective of that and I think that kind of I wouldn't say I shouldn't have that mindset but like I think I like gravitated to her because I felt some type of commitment. I don't know

like when I make a gesture like that you felt did you feel you felt the gesture meant something and because you felt like it meant a lot to her there was a level of commitment to her now. Exactly.

So that it wasn't just like, you know, a nothing kiss. It was like, you know, I'm excited about this. I feel like that probably meant something to her and I want to be respectful of her feelings. So now, you know, we're going to move forward here. Because she definitely doesn't come off as one that just like throws a kiss around like that. And you can see how she kind of handles that the rest of the season. She just not wanted to that. So when I'm making a gesture like that, first off, I meant it.

But I wanted to be protective of that and protective of her. She just like gives that off. You know what I mean? Did you? Not someone you want to hurt. Did you have that conversation with her? Like what you're saying to us? Yes.

So, I mean, she knew that I was very much intern. I told her pretty well right off the hopper. There was no one currently on the beach that was overly like a track to where I wanted to, you know, ruin what we had. I also understand there's time limit being experienced as I am. So I was like, unless somebody comes down that really blows me away, yes, I'm hoping to explore him. But there's nobody currently here. And so I wanted to protect that in that moment. Okay, so then when she, so I forget where I think it's like a bonfire or wherever it goes down,

one of the truth circles or whatever, you guys played so many games. And Jess kind of opens up about like you not necessarily being heard or you being heard number one right now, but like if somebody came in, were you shocked to hear that? Oh, yeah, that was truth or dare. Yeah. So there's the truth circle. where like it was so early that I feel like you're like both you alluded to like you know it's going good we'll see what happens and then once truth or dare hit we're a little later on and someone was like Jess is Blake your number one and she's like yeah he's my number one on this beach right now yeah so I think the issue was is that Jess was very open about who she was potentially interested in seeing which was Tyler and Tanner were like the ones that were the focal point and before they came down um i knew that that

was going to eventually be a thing i had a feeling that they were probably going to come and so i also could tell that she was like struggling and very unsure with me and like knowing that they were potentially coming so i was very uh aware of that and was like very just calm and understood that where it became tricky was um i could tell that like I how do I explain this when I sat down with her and told her remember the scene where she was crying and she walked away

there was a struggle there I knew that there's no one on that feature I wasn't waiting for anyone to come down so my focus was on her but knowing how open and she was like I still want to explore I still want to explore even though I you still want to play a little you still want to play a little hard to get

because but yes but at the same time I also, as much as I wasn't open, I kept telling her, yeah, like, I'm open. I'm open. I'm open because she was very uncomfortable with that whole topic. So I was almost trying to make her more comfortable saying, I'm also like, I'm good. Like, do your thing. I'm open too.

Because if I closed off right away in the beginning, it's like, I just want you. It would have more pressure on her to like. You don't want to scare her. I was calmer and more like, and do your thing. I'm going to be good. Sort of your shit, though. And so I was trying to help her. It just came a point where I'm like, I'd be locked in.

right now, you were telling me you weren't waiting for anybody. I had to eventually say that. So I was like trying to map. We can't both be open for forever. Like, that's not how this works. Eventually we have to either not be open anymore or go our separate ways. The issue was that I had no one I was waiting for. She did.

And so it was a hard thing to manage because I was like, I want to like give her that space. But go figured out though. Like the soft waste in time. So I think that's where this is kind of like, can freaking Tyler and Tanner just come down and take the scraw on a date already so we can like get over this. this kind of hurdle that seems inevitable? The other issues, her friends were, you know, ended up, or, you know, Mercedes and Tyler.

So, like, she didn't want to step on those toes or I completely get that. So it was prolonging it. I was like, listen, like, you need, but for us, like, I understand you have friends, but for us, you need to go and do that. You have to, or we're going to get nowhere. Yeah, that's a, that's a tough situation to be in because you're almost like, you want to pursue this girl 100%, but then you also, you can't because you'll potentially scare her and then you like her but then you're pushing her to like go date other people so then

that puts you in just a shitty spot really I really just thought she'd come around eventually like and I thought it was going to be earlier like that she was going to be like I know it like let's do it but it just kept like I think that's what kind of I sheld up essentially sheld up because when I was like what do I need to prove to her to like know this you know what I started shelling up not being as fun And I was like, Kay, didn't know how to maneuver with her because she wasn't fully into it. And if she wasn't fully into it, I just kind of like, I don't know, I shelled up. Well, yeah, you're like, I'm getting insecure.

Like, I like you. Yeah, I would get insecure too. I'd be like, I like you. What's it going to take? What do I got to do for you to be all into me? I've been into it for a while and you're not there. I'd be, you got a little bit like insecure. There was a really interesting point where, you know, it was clearly like I was almost

having more fun with like her friends and the other girls there just because I there was I wasn't trying to prove anything to them and I could be more loose and like I just never felt that for a while with Jess and I felt uptight because I was just like I didn't know how to maneuver and like because I wasn't feeling fully accepted so it was like it was I just wasn't able to lose enough to have fun until later in the season and then yeah okay so Genevieve comes down and you get a chance to explore someone else go on a date. The date goes really well.

But then what happens? Like, why go back to Jess? Because she's not all in. And did you know while you were on that date, Jess and Tyler kissed what happened there? Okay. So, yeah. So obviously, Jen comes down.

I'm sorry, not to cut you off. I've been trying to figure out this Jess Tyler thing. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we've asked like four weeks about this Jess Tyler thing. It's like no one even cares anymore. Shut the fuck. up to myself, but I keep I feel like

a few loose ends that were like really dying to close and you have answers. No, no, that makes full sense. So Jen came down. It was honestly perfect time in any sense because the night before I said Jess, you got to do your thing tomorrow. So go take your space and sort that out. And then when Jen came down and

asked me on the date, I was like, hey, well, this is going to be the best opportunity. I'm not going to be here. I don't have to watch your shit. I can bring in some adversity to this and see how you feel when I'm gone. I can see how I feel. when I'm out on that date, knowing that you're doing your thing back to beach, and that'll initiate some movement, good or bad, it'll initiate something. So I had a great time with Jen.

And honestly, during the date, like, I wasn't really, Jen was great, so I wasn't really thinking about Jess during the date, but as soon as things started wrapping, I started thinking about everything that was going on. And so when I came back, I was really nervous. I actually didn't get to speak to Jess that night. I saw her very briefly, but she was kind of just wrapped up and kind of upset and so I didn't get to see her until the next day. And so I remember panicking a little bit. Because I also didn't know what she got up to that day. So I was like,

went to bed like freaking out a little bit. When you came back that night, did you have a decision about like what you wanted to do with your little love triangle? I was veering one way, but I knew I needed to sleep on it. Okay. And that way was Bearing. I was like, it was like veering, like, if I had to make a moment, a decision at that moment, I was still going to pick Jess. But Jen really did make me think. This is how I try to explain people. Jen made sense in my head in terms of like she was coming in. She was super into it. Wanted to go forward with it. But like Jess, like my heart was making decision for Jess. But my brain would have made decision for Jen because Jess wasn't necessarily giving me the things that I needed. And my practical brain was saying Jen makes more. sense here, but my heart was saying Jess, though. Oh, Blake, you followed your heart, Blake. You followed your heart.

But you've also spent so much more time with Jess. Like, it would have had to have been like sparks flying, I feel like, for you to have left that to go towards Jen. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So the next day you wake up and you have the chance to talk to Jess. Well, I mean, yeah. So the next day is Roe Cemetery.

So I don't get to see her obviously through the day. So I knew that I knew that she was probably panicking a little. little bit too and not knowing where my head was at going into i you know i had the roses that that day and uh again knowing that like she's very much in her head she's an overthinker she's sensitive and things um i got to talk to tyler that day so i had an understanding but whereas tyler's head was at and so i didn't know that they had to kiss at that moment but i could i knew that they had chatted and i knew that he was still very much interested in mercedes and that's where his Rose was going to go.

Interesting. And so at least that gave me a little bit of like, well, whether she wants or not, she's not, he's interested in Mercedes. So it gave me a little bit of, a good feeling anyways. Were you happy to hear that they like chatted and there was like some exploration done on her?

And like would you have been disappointed to come back and find out that she just like sat on the couch with the girls? Yeah. I'm like, what are you doing? We did this for you to go and do that. Right. So yeah, I would have been.

And did you have any issue with Tyler personally for making a move? No, because I also knew that it was needed. Somebody needs to press her and, like, you know, put her in situations where she could feel and figure out if I was something she wanted or not. So no, so no. I understand that it was needed. But yeah, she was panicking probably that day, not knowing if the rose is coming or not. Because she also, unless she talked to Jen,

Jen probably honestly would have just said, I was super in a Blake. And it was, you know, it went well. And we had a great time because we really did. So it might have, you know, freaked out a little bit going to the roast and I'm much. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast.

So we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age.

And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the secretary. Podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about exploring human potential.

I was going to schools to try to teach kids these skills and I get eye rolling from teachers or I get students who would be like, it's easier to punch someone in the face. When you think about emotion regulation, like you're not going to choose an adapted strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome as a result of it if it's going to be beneficial to you. Because it's easy to say like go you go blank yourself, right? It's easy. It's easy to just drink the extra beer. It's easy to ignore, to suppress, seeing a colleague who's bothering you and just, like, walk the other way. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denials is easier. Drinking is easier. Yelling, screaming is easy. Complex problem solving, meditating,

you know, takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So in the last month, the Midas Touch Network beat Roe Logan, Tucker Carlson, Candice Owens, Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro, all combined. Conservative podcasts can have a major political impact, but the Myceles Brothers, three siblings with a serious media strategy, are building an alternative to that. On the latest episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, I sat down with the brothers behind the Midas Touch Network to talk about how they built a progressive media powerhouse from the ground up, why audience interaction is the key to political. influence and what it takes to fight disinformation at scale, one download at a time. We should be focusing on the issues that actually occupy a lot of the mental space in Americans' minds but are filled with conspiracies, and we should fill it with the truth and solutions. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay. So then you guys have a conversation that night and you both, like, you flirt with the idea, like, you both, like, still, like, want to pursue each other. Yeah. So we, so, a little side note. I gave her note earlier that day. I slipped it to another girl to give it to her, but she felt a little, like, calmer going into because I know she was panicking. So she probably had an idea that, you know, it was going to go her way that night. So when we sat down, I think she was more calm. And she would have been if I didn't try to, like, help her calm her nerves with that little note going into the night. So when we sat down. What did the notes say? You know what?

She, it was on a little like coffee, like cardboard coffee thing. I forget exactly what it said. But essentially it was like, I essentially told her I was like thinking about her all day. And like, I don't want you to worry about to something like we'll be worried about tonight or whatever was. Just to calm her. And then, yeah, we had that conversation. And I think she knew that it was going to be a good one just for my end. And I was curious, honestly, just to be where she was coming from her conversation

because she didn't know necessarily that I talked to Tyler that day and that Tyler wasn't going to necessarily give her the rose. So I was waiting to see how she approached that conversation. Were you wondering if she was going to tell you or not? Or were you, like, confident she was going to bring it up? We had a very honest, transparent relationship and all the way through, for the most part. So, yeah, she would have told me and she did. yeah and she told you that like they kissed and what what was kind of the story there um show

she she was very transparent both times when she did eventually talk to tanner a little bit and felt that out she didn't feel any connection was there from you know the original thought that she he was like her number one coming down it just wasn't that a click wasn't there that she thought and so she wasn't interested in that and then with tyler um she very much was like attracted to and liked it, but it wasn't like this what I call a-ha moment where you're like, oh my God, she wasn't like infatuated or felt like it was something strong enough to like make a switch

in comparison to what we felt. So nothing was topping your guys' relationship. Like your connection with Jen was great, her time with Tyler was great, but there was the realization like what we have is the strongest right now. Exactly. We both had like the connections with Tyler and Jen that were good. and like, but they just stayed good and there wasn't, we were going to

pursue those and breaking what we felt. You weren't going to like sacrifice your relationship to pursue that thing else. Not at that point, no. Okay, so now you guys, essentially so you choose each other, you decide to move forward with each other. And now it seems like you're,

you know, she explores, you explore, but it doesn't seem like your, your relationship is moving forward. Yeah, that was the, constant issue it just felt like we were in neutral all the time like we would have really great moments um but like i kept saying like let's put the fall down like what do we why are we just cruising and um i just felt like she was in control of that and um yeah i can't give like i'm still i still can't fully grasp this like why we couldn't i think it was she was very much in her head of that

time and like wavering like i don't know i don't know i don't know you'd have to interview her again at that moment. But were you guys having like any tough real life conversations like potentially how would we make this work in the real world like things like that distance was a thing for her she was worried about that and I mean sure it's you know something but I mean I'm travel all the time I go before like you know once a month essentially so like no I kept saying like that's not going to be an issue I just we are having our conversations and to get I I think the issue was is that I think in the beginning you could have fun, loose conversations

and then it's supposed to get more serious. And we did the opposite. Like we were having some like serious conversation at the beginning. And then as things were going, she was wanting to see more of a playful fun side. But because she wasn't accepting of me and I didn't feel accepted in a way, I was like shelled up and it was only just having serious stuff, like trying to figure out what it was. And as time when it was like we, this at the end is where you have the serious conversations. but she wanted to have the fun stuff.

I'm like, we can't do the fun stuff. We need to like figure this out. And I don't click stuff. So like I'm bottled up. I'm not really loose. So like it just. Yeah, you're like,

I don't want to like flirt with you right now. I want to know if you're committed to me. And she's like, I want you to flirt with me so that I can commit to you. Yeah. I was just very lost. Honestly. Okay.

So then. So then why not drop your ex-fiancee down on the beach? So Katie. Katie Thurston shows up. But it, I mean, so we don't, we, what we see is that you end up pulling Jess at the end of the row ceremony and the episode ends. But it did seem like you got a little more clarity when you did talk to Katie. So you want to just break down that conversation with her. So up until Katie Kate, we were having a good day, Jess and I.

And things were like looking up. It was like the fun and stuff that like I know that she was trying to look for and shout up a little bit. and then of course yeah katie walks out and you know what's what's so funny is like i totally it was so far into the season at that point that i you know immediately thought like the show bringing her in i was like maybe but like it was so far in that i thought that was not going to happen anymore

and so it was completely off my mind completely and so i remember sitting up in that in that what do you call where all the we all sit and i remember sitting there and i had had a a few drinks that day. And thinking that nothing was going to happen. And, uh, wait. A lot. What are you, there's so many places to sit on that.

No, it's a big one. You know, we're sitting where we all. Like where the people come up and like, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What do you call it? Yeah.

I guess there, there isn't a name for that area, I guess. The pool? Yeah, the pool. Yeah. The pool area. The pool area. Yeah. Yeah.

And, uh, I had a couple drinks that day. I remember, like, like, looking around, every camera was pointed out of me. I'm like, what the fuck is going on? That's a terrible. That's a bad sign. And then, you know, Katie has this very distinct, like, hello? And I heard it coming up the stairs.

And I was like, whoa. And then I looked to my right and she was there. And I was just like, what the fuck? And I just like, so many thoughts. I knew she was going to pull me right away, obviously. Everyone was staring at me. I just, and then it just happened. And that conversation I was not prepared for.

which I think was a good thing because it was very raw but I was like looking like a ghost I remember just staring at and so you were saying things and I was like what are you doing? You know? Do you, did you,

do you feel like after that conversation with Katie like you didn't feel anything romantic towards her, did you? No, I wouldn't say romantic but I remember feeling emotional. Like I remember feeling like last time I was just a lot

like soaking in a lot at the same time. I remember just like good memories, right? When you see them, it was like a good memories thing with her. Like I wasn't thinking about bad. And so it was like an emotional thing, especially hatching all that out, bring up all these things. It wasn't romantic, but it was like an emotional like, yeah, feeling for sure.

Yeah, it's like a heavy moment because you have so much history with this person and you obviously haven't talked to them in so long. And the last time I saw her in person, the last time I saw her in person was, you know, It wasn't great in San Diego, but last time I said, we were together that we broke up, you know, through FaceTime. And so, like, the last physical moment I had with her was good. And so, like, just interesting to see her again like that. Was there, was she at all giving like, hey, maybe we should try again or no? Not a tone that I took in that moment.

I felt like she was certainly happy to see me and happy to be there and happy to have that conversation. And maybe that could have sparked something, but I didn't feel like she was there to, like, necessarily pursue me or anything. I didn't feel like that in that moment, no. Okay. So you have the conversation with her, you guys, you know, you walk away. way where's your head now with Jess? So I think Katie's here to stay of course. They're great to make me feel that way.

Oh yeah, because she doesn't say that she's about to host like she's single as far as anyone knows at the point. I don't think so I'm just thinking she's actually here to do the thing and I'm like so first off the worst thing because I know it's going to mess up the Jess situation we're already having our issues and like I'm thinking about what Jess is potentially thinking but I'm hoping like Jess like just like just sort of your sort your this is where I need you to sort

out your shit because I got a lot going on now you know what I mean like this is where I need you come in be secure be calm and like not free oh we know what you mean we know exactly what you mean yeah so yeah true so yeah so yeah it was

yeah I was I was worried but I really like if she knew if just knew what she did know but Katie was not going to be an issue being on the beach in that way it would have like me things difficult, but it wasn't going to change how I thought about Jess, really, but it would have made me, it definitely did make me think about where I was at with Jess in comparison to like how I did them for Katie. And there was a comparison there in terms of like where we're at

what we were doing. That is it. That is. Right. Well, we do see you say. Yeah. We do see in an interview. Um, I'm not going to get this exactly right. But you basically say seeing Katie today and knowing how little time you spent together, but like how strong the feelings were really made sense to you and you you get it but with jess you've had so much time and the feelings still don't really make sense to you and that's where you're struggling now it wasn't as much like oh i'm seeing katie and i don't know how i feel about jess it was like the comparison of like time versus like progression of the relationship yeah i just feel like katie was um had less time essentially to really grasp who i was and was you know so in and like new and then

And Jess and I had just so much time, more time. And I just was, still wasn't sure. And that was, knowing, and then also knowing where we need to get to. I knew what was around the corner, what it takes to make that type of commitment. And with Jess, it was just like kind of thinking, it was like, we're nowhere near where we need to be right now. So it wasn't real. Yeah, it's like, how are we going to get there? But a realization as to, like, how you get to love, we were, we weren't near.

We just weren't. And how old, Katie helped me realize that by coming down and, like, the emotion of it. like a wake-up call a little bit. And you're in being in the room with Katie just at the same time now at the roast as that are you like realizing like do you have more of a connection with Katie? Is there anything happening with like being in the room with both of them or at this point Katie is now like hosting and it's different? I felt awkward.

It naturally felt awkward. Um, yeah, that's just, yeah, it was more awkward than anything. And yeah, I wasn't feeling anything necessarily towards Katie. Um, I didn't know because I knew I also was like thinking like how is Jess handling it? It was more like thinking about what is Jess thinking about. Like I knew that I was fine and I knew that I wasn't, you know, going to pursue Katie in any capacity. But what is just thinking? How is she managing it? So it was more like just thinking about the whole situation. Did you ever, did you ask did you, would you ask Jess? Like would you, would you, like, would you? you'd be like, hey, like, how are you handling this? Like, where's your head? I probably could have done a, I probably could have done a better job of that. I just was, like, so sure that she knew that there was not going to be a thing there that I should have maybe assumed and maybe checked in more on that end.

But to be honest, I was just very selfish in that moment. And I think some of it is, understandable i think but yeah like yeah yeah i mean you're in shot yeah just a lot taking it a lot but i think she knew that you know katie and i were not going to be a thing there so had you guys talked about katie and just like your history before that point yeah i would say probably week two it was essentially a full breakdown um there's a shower we're on a anyways on a bench and we're real cuddling essentially and i'm breaking everything down so what all happened and how So she understood where I was at in my feelings prior to Katie coming off.

Gotcha. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet.

So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the psychology podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about exploring human potential. I was going to schools to try to teach kids these skills, and I get eye rolling from teachers or I get students who would be like, it's easier to punch someone in the face. When you think about emotion regulation, like you're not going to choose an adapted strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome as a result of it,

if it's going to be beneficial to you. It's easy to say, like, go blank yourself, right? It's easy. It's easy to just drink the extra beer. It's easy to ignore, to suppress, seeing a colleague who's bothering you and just, like, walk the other way. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denial is easier.

Drinking is easier. Yelling, screaming is easy. Complex problem solving, meditating, you know, takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So in the last month, the Midas Touch Network beat Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Candice Owens, Charlie Kirk, and Ben Shapiro all combined. Conservative podcasts can have a major political impact, but the Myceles Brothers, three siblings with a serious media strategy, are building an alternative to that. On the latest episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, I sat down with the brothers behind the Midas Touch Network to talk about how they built a progressive media powerhouse from the ground. up, why audience interaction is the key to political influence and what it takes to fight

disinformation at scale, one download at a time. We should be focusing on the issues that actually occupy a lot of the mental space in Americans' minds but are filled with conspiracies, and we should fill it with the truth and solutions. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, without spoiling too much, where the episode leaves off is you pull Jess to what looks to be a serious conversation. We see her say, you're making me nervous. And like, obviously, you can't spoil it. But, like, I don't know, what could you tell us about your headspace in that moment?

And this was prior to the ceremony itself. It's the cocktail party. Yeah, the cocktail party. So we've seen the roast. And now we're at the cocktail party. And everyone's kind of like, oh, they're about to have a serious conversation. And everyone's having like meltdowns after this roast. So it's looking like you're about to have the breakup conversation with Jess, if there's going to be one. Or a very serious conversation about the state of your relationship.

Yeah. So I think that the best way. try to explain it is that the roast the roast was not a good thing for for jess and i we definitely had our difficulties with that and there were some jokes said that kind of rocked the boat um for jess so she was not um in the best headspace coming out of that roast it was not happy just in general about the day situation with katy in general and then some things that triggered her in the in the roast and so yeah because we see you ask her like are you sure you're okay and she's like i'm fine like basically leave me alone like she's obviously not okay but she's like

doesn't want to talk about it yeah so yeah exactly there's some things that she wasn't happy about both on my ends she wasn't happy about um and then she had jokes that also triggered her on top everything else so she definitely wasn't in a great place at the end of the night at the roast we were not in a good place i remember walking away being very frustrated and just like what i'm like what is happening yeah so yeah the next day waking up um i just knew that it was going to be a pivotal conversation we need to have the direction it was going to go in i had an idea did I think that it could potentially be turned around based on responses and, you know, her having a data fully grasp and think about everything it went on? Yeah, I, yeah,

that conversation is definitely a pivotal one. I'll leave it at that. Okay. Yeah. That's, that's what we assume. And then we have to ask before. We're going to do a little game with you. But we've seen a lot of like social media stirring the pod or I don't know what you want to call it with you and Katie. It looked like she was at like some event you had. There's been some photos posted. I literally had a friend texted me and be like are Blake and Katie

dating? Like I'm so confused what's happening. Do you want to comment on that role? So you'll I mean you'll see with well you saw with the episode

like it was a very cordial mutual mature conversation that allowed us to like essentially connect to get in the outside world but a very friendly manner to the point

where now it just feels truly just supportive. It's like she bounces off. I knew she's going on on that other show. We were able to connect the outside world in a way that you should have a healthy or can have a healthy relationship with an ex. That's good.

And so that's where that is. And so when that event was happening in San Diego, I was going to invite her, especially with some of the other Bachelor folks coming. And so, yeah, It was a lot of fun that night and glad she came, and it was a, yeah, it was a good support because I think prior to our relationship, a lot of my thing, maybe rocked the boat a little bit, and I think there's a little bit of spite there with me traveling a lot and not able to spend

as much time as we maybe liked. And so her coming around in another sense and really supporting that work now was a really nice and appreciative thing that. Yeah, it's great. Nice. That's great. So mature. Okay, Blake, let's play a game.

Okay. Rapid fire questions. You ready? Yeah. All right. Are you more of an introvert or extrovert? Introvert. I don't know if I buy that.

But dude, I'm a thousand percent. I mean, what am I to say? But just being out with you, I just feel like you're more of an extrovert. How many drinks have I had? How many drinks do I have had, though? Right? Introverts use alcohol to like help in those social settings because I'm not a social butterfly and that alcohol helps me.

And every time we see each other, I'm usually at least five tequila's in, right? Yeah, I guess that's true. Yeah, that's surprising. But you're very personal. Like, even right now, like you come on this podcast, you don't really have any hesitation. I would argue, Joe, that you're partially an introvert. Yeah. You're quite an introvert.

Yeah, I would say. I would say, but you're still social. Yeah, I'd say we're probably similar. Okay. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I apologize. What would be your go-to paradise cocktail? Oh, tequila, soda, online, and shock.

Nice. What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? Ooh. Land for like a sanctuary, like an exotic sanctuary. What is your go-to pump-up song? Oh, man. Oh, it's something with the train in it. I'm terrible with music, dude.

Trina, Vane. Is that was the Vane and Train? I don't know. Sorry, terrible with music. It's the one thing I suck at. That's fine. All right. this question I think this question I'm actually curious to hear what you say what is one item on your bucket list who I want to go up to north north canada like eat like seal blubber and see how the it's like how they live up there and like igloos and actually do the candidate that you think is what every canadian is so seal blubber yeah like you know how they they literally live out up in the middle of nowhere and they really live off the land and it's like

Like, yeah, I want to do that. I want to do an extreme thing like that. I would maybe do that with you. No, I don't think you should do that. You'd do it day. He'd be like, is there four seasons up here? I'm good in the court. Okay, do you have any, uh, do you have any dating deal breakers?

Dating deal breakers? Not, not really, man. I'm pretty, I mean, there's red flags for sure, but like a deal breaker dating, like, I don't want to date me? like I wouldn't date someone if they like weren't willing to move to Canada or if they were like rude to wait staff or burps in your face I don't know what's an example not really man pretty accepting what if they like hated animals and they weren't yeah yeah yeah if they hate animals they tested on animals they have like no if if I educated them on the things that I'm passionate with that make a lot of sense and they were ignorant to those after the fact and didn't then yeah that would that would really throw me off okay what is your favorite place in the whole world I don't want to stay in my college but like my cottage probably or or Kenya probably my grandparents are from Kenya oh yeah actually yeah you haven't

you haven't been I'm really glad we I'm really glad we added this question on here wait where's your cottage lake it's like um nor hour north of Belva hour of Kingston what lake is it on you wouldn't know at missusaga on it's in uh lando lakes region near bonnetgo provincial park wow i really know that area um if you could go on any other reality show what easy there's a couple um uh naked and afraid is a challenge self challenge and and jo literally just joked about going for that show today oh really uh or like alone like something where i'm it's a self challenge like out of the woods probably

or like special forces would be cool too because i think i i don't to do it on that, but like something like that. What is your love language? Physical touch, probably a quality time. Favorite dessert? I look like a, I look like a simple carrot cake, Joe. I like something simple like that. Simple care.

I thought you were going to say chalk. Just like a 20 ingredient cake. Is it? I never make it. But like, yeah. Oh, interesting. I didn't know that. Yeah, no.

Carr cake. Well, you got to, like, shave the carrots. That takes some time. I mean, I'm also a fan of a simple. Yeah. I like a simple chocolate cake, too. Most important item to pack for Paradise. For me, it's my, like, my, this is important to me.

I need to keep this so, like, a trimmer. Like, I need to, I need to give certain life all the time. So, okay. If you can live as an animal, what animal is. animal would it be a loon a loon a loon a loon yeah do you know what that is i don't think you would know what that is i don't know what it is well just play this play their noise that they make right and it might trigger it might trigger what it's a loonie is a loony yeah i like a loony tune so a loony is canada's one dollar coin okay and on it is a loon which is like it's like um

It's a bird. Okay. It would be similar-esque to like a goose or a geese, but it's pretty. Yeah. It's an aquatic. It's like aquatic. It's like waterfowl. They swim.

They're elegant. They're iconic. We'll send you a link after. You'll know exactly. You guys don't have to. All right. Thank you, Blake. Thank you so much for coming on.

Thanks for having me. And thank you to everyone for tuning in. And remember no new episodes of Golden Bachelor. or Bachelor in Paradise this week, but make sure to tune in November 30th for the live finale of Golden Bachelor, followed by a new episode of Bachelor in Paradise. And even though there's no new TV episodes this week,

we'll still have new episodes of Bachelor Happy Hour. So make sure to tune in because we have something very special plan for you all. Thanks again, everyone, and see you next time. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously, Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the psychology podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about how to be a better you. When you think about emotion regulation,

we're not going to choose an adaptive strategy, which is more effortful to use, unless you think there's a good outcome. Avoidance is easier, ignoring is easier, denial is easier, complex problem solving, takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So in the last month, the Midas Touch Network beat Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Candice Owens, Charlie Kirk, and Ben Shapiro all combined. What happens when three brothers take on right-wing media and start winning?

I find out on the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. We just want people to live their lives and be happy and be able to enjoy it without some lunatic screaming in their face every three seconds. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Currick on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.