Bachelor Happy Hour - Dina Speaks Her Piece

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Today on “Happy Hour,” we’re sitting down with Dina from Grant’s season! Dina is here to give us the inside scoop on her entire journey on “The Bachelor.” We get into her road to the show, including how her family reacted to the decision. Then, we chat about her Hometown and what led to her shocking decision not to have her family there. We also get her perspective on the breakup, take a look back at “Women Tell All,” and hear some closing thoughts on her drama with Carolina. Where do you they stand today? Tune in now to hear all this and more and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!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 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jamel Hill, host of the Sports and Politics Podcasts, and on the latest episode of Spolitics, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins me for a candid conversation about the state of the Democratic Party. What do Republicans say to you privately that they won't say publicly? Many of them are in fear of their political lives. We continue to say to them, you were elected to defend your constituents. and there's life after Congress. Make sure to listen to this episode of Politics

on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD...

Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness. Psychobabble Yes, yes Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you Open your free IHeartRadio app Search Emergency Intercom And listen now

Why are TSA rules so confusing You gotta hood of you want to take it all I'm Mani I'm Noah This is Devin And we're best friends and journalists With a new podcast Called No Such Thing

Where we get to the bottom Of questions like that Why are you screaming I can't expect what to do Now if the rule was the same Go off on me I deserve it you know, lock him up.

Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No such thing. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin-Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety. What is not a norm is to allow it to prevent you from doing

the things that you want to do, the things that you were meant to do. Listen to therapy for black girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Betcher Happy Hour. I'm Joe. And I'm Serena. And we are here today with Dina from Grand Season. Hi, Dina.

Hi. It's so nice to meet you guys. I know, Serena, you and I got a chance to talk a little bit after Women's Hell All, but Joe wasn't there. So, Joe, nice to meet you. Nice to see you, Serena again. Nice to meet you, too. I'm also from Chicago.

Where are you from? Amazing. I'm from Chicago. I was born and raised in the southwest suburbs, Burridge, if you're familiar with it. Yeah. Okay. So I grew up in Melrose Park. Okay.

That's like more city, right? Close. Close. Do you know where, like, Johnny's beef is? I only know, like, Boona Beef. Really? Wow. Wow.

I wasn't expecting that. I think my cousin. Is that the drive-thru? Bona beef? Yeah, Bono beef is good. I went to high school with all of them. So, you know, that's really the only place that I would go to get beef if I was going to get beef in Chicago. I'm so sorry.

I got it. Got it. I think my cousin. You know, like a Chicago beef tour of the city at this point. I've had so many different beef sandwiches. Really? Yeah, he loves them. That's not like my go-to food if I'm hungry.

What's your go-to, like, Chicago staple? I just go find dining because it's just everywhere. I live right smack dab in the city. So it's just everywhere. Do you have a favorite restaurant? I'm sorry? Do you have a favorite restaurant? Um, I would say I took the girls there.

So I'm just going to say Maple and Ash. That's like the one place that I would take if someone was coming into town and they needed to go somewhere that was like fun and vibey. Um, but like really good food. Like I love Italian food. So I'd go to like Alinas, which is like a little spot in Westtown that doesn't get. I'm grand. Yeah.

And they've got like the candles. It kind of has the Bachelor vibe. been there. I love it. I used to live over there. I lived close to there. I think my cousin knows you. Trisa, do you know her? Yeah, she's one of my friends. Yeah, she's my cousin, so. Okay, well, that's amazing. Yeah, I did know

that. I just haven't had a chance to say that to you yet. Oh, nice. Yeah, that's a Trisa. Wow. Okay. She lived in your place, Joe. Didn't she live in your place? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's where I was there. Oh, really? Wow. Okay, so you've been to my phone. That's a nice spot. Okay. Let's get into it.

But let's start from the beginning. How did you wind up on The Bachelor? Oh, God. So how did I wind up on The Bachelor? I was going through a breakup, like a pretty long-term breakup. And I was heading to my sister's place for, I think it was a Christmas brunch or something. And I'm not joking. I had what, this is bad and I'm going to get in trouble for it.

But one hand had my phone in it. And then my other hand was on the wheel. And I was just like applying, like just for shits and gigs. Like I didn't think anything of it. I was watching a lot of reality TV. At that time, like, I think Love is Blind had just come out for the first time. I was watching Bachelor for the first time since, like, years ago. And I was like, let me just, like, apply.

I'm sure nothing will come of it. And then I went to my sister's a little brunch, and I told him, like, guys, guess what I just did? And I was like, I applied. Nothing's going to come of it, but, like, how funny. We all had a good laugh. Yeah. And sure enough, like, the ball just kept rolling and it turned into something. And then it was like, yeah, you're going to be on.

I was like, oh shit, I guess, I guess I'm going. Did you apply for love is blind as well? No, no. Yeah, that's intense. I don't think love is blind. So, like, I'm not even trying to, like, do that experience. I think people that are applying for The Bachelor are not trying to prove that love is blind. Yeah.

It's very different themes and messaging coming out of those two shows. Totally different vibes. And I'm not even going to sit here online and pretend like I'm going to believe that love is blind, so. Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think that show to me is wild, but you mentioned that you're watching it. The stakes are also just so high. Like, getting engaged at the end of a show is one thing. I know people think that's crazy, but like, I just think that's way more doable than getting married. Yeah. Right. And before you ever even see them, you know, you're already engaged before you even get to see them. Right. So it's just, yeah, no, definitely did not apply. Never even crossed my mind.

And I don't know why The Bachelor was just at the forefront. I think I had such a good time watching Love is Blind. I was like, what else can I watch that's like in the same genre? And so I went and I watched, I think it was Clayton season. I think it was his season, yeah. Did you watch? Did you watch Jen season? I did.

Okay. Once I realized that I was going through the process and this might happen, I did watch her season. And then I watched Joey's as well. That's kind of how I figured. Were there any guys that stood out for you that you were like, ooh, I kind of hope that they might be The Bachelor while you were going through, because you're interviewing

as Jen Seasons airing, I'm assuming. Yes. Grant was actually at the top of my list. Okay. Wow. Yeah. That's good. That's always like, I mean,

I feel like you feel like that's a sign when you're like, I really want it to be this person. And then it is. Yeah. I agree. Did the concept of getting engaged at the end of, you know, two months intimidate you at all? No.

Not even a little. that's like the exciting for it for me so prior to being on the show was in like a four-year relationship and it just like wasn't going anywhere well it was going somewhere but it ultimately i don't think that was my person and so i always said after that relationship like once i heal and i'm like ready you know to go out there again i feel like i'm going to meet my person date very short get engaged and then a lobe so that's always have been like kind of my plan moving forward in relationship so to me i was like oh perfect i get to just go and do what i want to do in my real life anyway on a show. Let's just do it.

So you're, so you're someone who is ready to get engaged and get married. Totally. Yeah. Were there other women on the show that you felt were aligned with that and then other women that you were like this person, no way is this person ready? I think that's one of the most surprising things about the show, at least for my season and my experience, is I thought every girl that I met was on that same mindset as me. Like, everyone was super ready to get to no grant, get to an engagement, get married. It just seemed like maybe it was also because we, they cast it an older group.

Like, I'm 32 years old and a lot of the women were around my age, maybe a little bit younger. I think the youngest was like 27. Actually, Ella might be like 26. Either way, everyone had that mindset of like, we're just looking to find my person, get engaged, and just like, cut the bullshit. You know, everyone I felt that when I talked. to them had that same mentality as me. So I really didn't feel like anyone was there just like, whoop-do, let's see what happens. I'm not really looking to get engaged.

I had never got that vibe, no. I liked her. I thought she was one of the more, I thought she was entertaining and I thought she had a great personality, but I would have probably, what was her name? I think Bailey. Bailey wasn't really giving me, I'm ready to get engaged at the end of this. Well, I think that Bailey's defense, they showed. her in a very fun, silly, playful light. We didn't really get to see a more serious side of her.

Agreed. And she was my roommate, actually, in the house. So she's actually one of my close friends. And she's so funny. She's so lighthearted. She will like make anything goofy, which we love her for. But she has a very serious side too. And she's definitely someone who, if she met her person, like she'd be, she'd be done. You know, like, let's just do the damn thing. Like so I do, I do see where you're coming from. But she's someone that I would say, too, is ready for engagement too. I think she'll do. I don't know if she's going to go to Paradise, but I think she'll do pretty well in Paradise. She's given her personality is super suited. Yeah. Yeah. For that show. Okay. So going back to night one, you step out of the limo, you see Grant for the first time,

kind of take us back to that moment. What's going on in your head? Oh, God. Stepping out of the limo and seeing Grant for the first time. I just remember being so nervous. And I'm not really somebody that gets nervous. Which is what makes it, which makes it, which makes it worse, by the way. Way worse, because I wasn't expecting to be nervous, right? And I actually was in the limo, oh, God, was I before or after Juliana? I don't remember, but like she, God, why don't I remember this? It seems like a really important, I think I was right after her. I was right after her because, like, they kept talking. Everyone in my limo kept talking and I'm like, listen, like, I have to get in the right head space. Like, I have thinking you have to say.

I was first out of my limo and I was so relieved. I was like, yeah. me out of this thing as soon as possible. Yeah, and then you have to sit and you have to watch other people go and like listen. And people are just like chitter-chattering. So if you have this whole monologue, which I did, even though they cut it to a really short thing, like I had this whole thing and I was like, if I mess up, I'm screwed, like they're going to air it. Here's a thing about reality TV that I wish I knew going in. You think while you're in it that everything you say is going to be aired. So you're just like, I said that stupid thing. It's going to be aired. Oh, I messed up there. That's going to be aired. And you just like,

I just kind of got used to that idea in my head. And I just kind of thought that that's what it's like. So when you watch it back and you're like, oh, I could have butchered the whole thing and then like just done like four lines correctly and it would have been fine. And that sounds stupid. Sorry, I'm going off on a tangent. No, that's so true what you're saying. Yeah, it is.

That's like an important. Yeah. Like I felt the exact same way. Even though you logically know like not everything can be shown, I think it's hard to conceptualize how much you would. live and experience and then how little is shown until you like live it and then watch it back and you're like wow I only really needed to like have my shit together like 0.7% of the time like I wore like the same pair of orange sweatpants like every single day and like I don't

think you ever saw those orange sweatpants on TV. I'm like saving this one outfit for this particular and it gets like two seconds of airtime and I'm like yeah why was I stressing about the outfit and I remember going to Paradise and feeling so much more relaxed just because you can mentally be like, I know, like, so much of this is never going to even be shown. Well, that's, I mean, that's what I mean, that's what I thought. Then the second time around in Paradise, when I was just laying around doing nothing,

they showed all of it constantly. Well, you also were only in one episode the first time. I guess it was part of my personality. I guess it was part of my person. No, I'm saying the second time. Oh, on when we are seen. You guys were a lot more like main character energy, you know, in your season of Bachelor in Paradise.

I just started watching it actually. And I was like, okay, it's a lot of you guys because obviously you guys get engaged at the end. But you don't realize that that's what the editing does. Right. Well, and you also don't know while you're filming it, how your story's even going to end because it's so fast. So it's just you're experiencing it real time.

And then until, you know, you've made it to the end and you're getting engaged, you're like, maybe they will show us. Yeah. Oh, yeah. You guys are definitely getting shown. Well, I thought the same thing. So, yeah, I think regardless, you kind of get main character energy because, like, everyone thinks you only think of yourself. Like, we just can't help it, right?

We're human. And so when you get out of it and you're watching it back, you're like, oh, where am I? Yeah, where am I? It's like episode three. And I've seen, like, 0.2 seconds of myself, which is honestly a good thing because I was stressing before everything was airing. I was like, which ones can I watch with my family, which ones can't. Like, I just felt like all of the, you know, worse, like. cringy moments were going to come up and they just didn't so it's got to be a mix of like a bit

of a letdown because there's things that you wanted to see that you'll never get to see back and also a bit of relief because you're like okay only so much is going to be shown I don't actually have to stress as much as I've been stressing a thousand percent yes that's exactly how I felt so see going back to grant and that that first moment um did you feel like you had a connection with him I felt like it was an immediate connection I remember thinking and he is so tall, which is one of my only qualifications for a man these days. Why are you laughing? Why are you laughing? I don't know. I just thought that was funny.

She was just like, oh, he's so tall. Thank God. Connection. And me. Connecant. I love him. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm 5'4. And like everyone in my family is like pretty average height. So I'm like, I just need it for the jeans.

My God, that's what my dad says. My dad's always like we have to bring up the family average. Okay. We're all on the medium height side. did that. I know he was thrilled. Yeah. Very lucky. So that that was really it. I was just like, I remember and they got a photo of me doing this. I'm like looking up as if he's like this. It was I just remember feeling like I was dumbfounded because I didn't expect him to be so tall and then I'm just like this little thing like trying to remember like what I wanted to say.

And then I could have sworn there was like a halo around him. But it was just like the stage lights. Yeah. And I realized later. Because this is the first time that you're in front of like lights and the cameras and all of that and I was like is there a halo or right like going crazy and I feel like they really they really make the lead they really make the lead like angelic looking that first night you and you it's this like you're like whoa yeah they like have a presence to them yes he's like this like what's the word from like out of this world what's that word ethereal let's go that one yeah being you know in front of you and you're just like whoa that's how that's extraterrestrial

I don't know if that's a compliment. I was going to say that's an alien. It just, he just didn't seem from like this world, you know? He just seemed like so out of this. A figure, right. And you're just standing there. And you obviously, I've done a little bit, did a little bit of research.

I saw him on Jen C's and things like that. But once you're standing there and then the lights and then all the stress, it's just like this huge moment. So, yeah, it was a lot to take in. But I definitely felt that connection. I definitely felt like, okay, I think I'm meant to be here. And then, you know, what was your first conversation with him about?

My first conversation with Grant was about, oh, man, I think I told him that he looked like an angel up there. Like, I just, like, had to tell him that I saw a halo above his head, not to, like, inflate his ego too much. And then I think we talked a little bit about my family. I said something like, you know, if we make it to hometowns, L.O.L. Because this didn't happen. But, like, you know, I have a really big family. And he's like, oh, how big is your family? And I said, well, I'm like more of a visual person.

And so I had one of those, the best way I could describe it is like a, you know, like that opens up. Yes. And it's all the little stick figures in paper. Yes, exactly. I was like, well, this is my sister, this. And now my mom and dad, da, da, and like we just kept going and going until we were both standing up. And I was like, well, that's my family. And it was just like this huge line of people.

And that's just like my immediate family, right? Like my brother's and stuff. So we talked about that. I talked a little bit about his family. And honestly, that first conversation came out of my head because I was the one who got interrupted by his sister walking into the house. And so there was all this commotion about someone walking in. And then all of a sudden were interrupted. And I just like, look up at her.

I'm like, I don't remember her from when I walked into the house, you know, earlier that night. So I was like a little dumbfounded. And then it was the first time getting like interrupted too. So you're like, how am I supposed to act? Like, am I supposed to ask for more time? I supposed to just get up and leave. So I was like, okay. And I like laughed.

I don't know. It was. Are you Greek? Romanian. Oh, okay. Do I get Greek? Yeah. Yeah, I thought you were Greek.

I thought you were Greek. Okay, wow. 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 okay story time 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 Jamil Hill, host of the Sports and Politics Podcasts Politics. And on the latest episode of Politics, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins me for a candid conversation about the state of the Democratic Party. What do Republicans say to you privately that they won't say publicly?

Many of them are in fear of their political lives. And that's been part of the challenge. But we continue to say to them, you were elected to. to defend your constituents, to stand up for your constituents. And there's life after Congress. And you should be willing to actually want to be able to look back on your time in the House of Representatives knowing that you can keep your head held high because you did the right thing. Donald Trump is gone in three and a half years.

But their legacy or their failure to stand up to the extremism and the unprecedented assault on America, as we know it, will be with them forever. Make sure to listen to Spolitics on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD...

Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Let's do this, pull that, turn this. It's just... I can do it in my eyes closed.

I'm Mani. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, No Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what?

Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no such. thing on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Janica Lopez, and in the new season of the Overcomfit podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life?

Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard. as she did. Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard.

And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter

and listen to the new season of the Overcomper podcast as part of the MyCultura podcast network on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What was your family's response initially when you said you were going on the show? I know this was kind of a big topic throughout your journey, especially during hometowns. But what was the initial reaction?

How many siblings do you have again? 12? I'm one of 11. One of 11. Okay. So I have 10. Yeah. There is four brothers, six sisters.

And then my parents. Okay. Yeah, we're Romanian. And so my parents were here for, we're here first generation. First generation, I would be. first generation right yeah and so um you know typically the i guess i say timeline of like a romanian woman especially first generation is you um get married like in your early 20s and then you start having kids and typically like the guy that you get married is like someone that like your mom or dad

knows or like someone from the church or someone in the roman community or like someone set you up you know like they'd like to keep it like very similar to indian culture my mom's indian is kind of a vibe. It's a very like Eastern European thing too, you know, from other cultures as what, like from other European cultures too. But I've never been that way. And my parents accepted that a long time ago. I'm like, I'm not, I'm not marrying a Romanian guy. Like, you know, no offense to the remaining guys. I'm sure you guys are great. But like, that's just not, it's just not me. It's not my path. I just didn't want that for myself. And I also wanted to continue education, which if I got married early, it probably wouldn't

have gone through college and law school and, you know, started my career. And so, my family knew that and so when I told them about the show they were like you know that sounds like something you would do like you know if that's what you want to do go ahead we support it my sisters were super supportive of it and my mom because they had watched it they'd watched the show growing up and we had watched it with them my dad was like they were in romania at the time too mind you so like I called them I FaceTimed them and they were okay with it but my dad didn't like really know what the show was about when I asked my mom she was like ask your dad And when I asked my dad, my dad, my dad just ask your mom.

And so I was like, oh, well, both of them said, fine. You know, it's okay. So let's just do it. And by the way, I have to leave in a week. And they were just like, oh. So, you know, a lot of that is on me because my dad didn't understand, like, the full format of the show. He certainly didn't get that there was an engagement at the end, even though I know I told him. But to him, it was just like a lot of information all at once.

So you kind of as a child have always led somewhat of an untraditional. path compared to like what your parents would have expected you to live so this isn't like the first time you're doing something unconventional to them that's exactly right and so it was not surprising to them and then let's let's jump I mean we'll we'll continue with like your path on the show but speaking of your parents so they don't come to your hometown and meet grant you know as a viewer we're kind of under the impression that they're just like not okay with the show but you're saying they wore over Okay, so then like, why weren't they there? So mind you that when I found out that like there was a little bit of discourse between my family about the show, I didn't get to talk to my family.

I only spoke to producers, right? The information that was said to me was, hey, like a lot of your family is really supportive and they want to come to hometowns. But then you've got a few of them kind of fighting and saying this is too fast. And also we had a shorter season. Like when I spoke to my family about hometowns, I said, if I go to hometowns, we're going to be at like week eight or week seven. I forget what I said, but it was like way later weeks because then you pretty much only have two weeks left until you're engaged, right? My family got notified. I think it was week three or four because they start to kind of notice the families that they think might be in hometowns for the women that might be going to hometowns pretty early on.

And so they were like, she just left. Yeah. Yeah. Like, what do you mean? And so that started that stirred up a lot of issues in the family group chat. They were like, you guys, she just left a few weeks ago. Like, this is crazy. Like, has anyone like actually know what's going on? And so they'd been looking on Reddit. They were looking online. There was like this storyline that like I might be a villain. And I like started a ruckus at the R&B day. I don't know if you guys ever heard about that. But there was that going on in the background. And my family was like, is this show actually about finding love? Is this show? or are they just trying to paint her as someone who she's not? So that was an added element with my family. And so if you can think of a normal family and how much you guys might have differing opinions, a family of 10, 11, 12, my parents included, having all of these, not speaking to me, seeing different stuff online, then thinking about the timeline, they were just fighting about it and like whether it was for me, whether they should go.

And if they're like, well, if we don't go, then maybe she'll just come home and we'll have to deal with this, you know? but then if so it was a lot of that and all I heard was the family was fighting they feel a certain way about it and I was like you know what I don't feel like my connection is super strong right now where I can get engaged in two weeks I had been in L.A. for like eight days since Scotland like waiting for my hometown and I was like I feel like I should be missing him more I feel like I should be worried about how his hometowns are going with the other women and I just wasn't so that was worrying me. And so when I got that call for the producers, as I'm on my way, literally at the

gate, going to Chicago, we were one of the last people on the plane, hey, your family's fighting about hometowns. Like, what do you want to do? Do you want some of them to come? Do you want some of them not come? I said, you know what? I'm not going to be able to convince my family that I'm ready to get engaged in two weeks based on where I am right now. So let's just do a friend's day. Because if it's going to be me sitting down with like the half that's supportive, then I just shafted the other half that's like not that supportive. And I want everyone to be like in a kumbaya, you know, we all support you and we all want to see like where this is going with Grant.

And it just didn't look like that was going to happen. And so I made the decision at the end of the day to not happen. Well, you're probably also thinking like, okay, let's say just bring the family that is supportive of it, then you've got like a divide situation or you bring all of them and you're spending a lot of your hometown convincing some of your family of this process, how it works. And you're probably doubting yourself. But you're also doubting the relationship. You're probably like, I don't want to spend like all this time convincing them

and selling them on this situation to then see them like two days later when I head out. Yeah. And also when I wasn't convinced myself, when Grant and I first saw each other for the first time in Chicago, like I told him, I was like, I feel off. I feel weird. Like it's been eight, not. He's like, it's been a few days. I was like, no, it's been like nine.

It's been like nine days. Continuing traveling, including all of that. I'm not seeing each other. and I just felt like if you want to know whether your relationship will what's the phrase like take the test of time or like survive the test of time whatever the phrases like you have to spend time apart from that person right and then when you see each other again like see how you feel and I was very aware of how I felt I was like I feel distant I feel like our connection is not that strong and like as strong as I thought it was because I had just been out in the real world I was out in Beverly Hills like we were like doing fun stuff we were just like out in the world for the first time not in this like little bachelor bubble and so i think it was the first time where i realized you know i don't think it's me yeah yeah and and i was so delusional i was like there's no way anyone has said i love you right now right at this point there's no way because i don't feel that at all and i don't think i could get there in two weeks maybe i could that's why i

stayed maybe i could but at this point i was so delusional i thought everyone was around the same playing field as i was because it was just not it was such a quick process i was like how could anyone possibly fall in love in week four week five but did you guys talk about did you talk about that with the other women when you got down to it like the last the last four women did you guys have that conversation of like you're like i'm not really ready yeah um that happened so right after my hometown, I was the last hometown, we went back to LA and we had the producer set up this whole, you know, girl chat before the rose ceremony. And that was the first thing that I said. I said, so my family wasn't there. My hometown was just a friend's thing. And we were all

kind of talking about our fears moving forward. And that was the first thing I said. Guys, I don't know if I can be engaged in two weeks. Like, does that not sound crazy to anyone else? And like, you could hear a pin drop. They were all like, we're ready. We're ready. for a rindana we're also a little crazy like no no no don't you wrong i'm i would be ready to be engaged i just didn't feel that no totally yeah yeah like if i like felt it and like everything was like on the up and up up and up and up the entire time i would have been 100% there but i didn't feel that with grant they're just quite frankly was there just wasn't enough time and because of the limited amount of time that i felt that i was able to spend grant i thought the girls were feeling the same way

Do you think looking back, if it had been your person, that was the lead, it might have been different? Like, do you think your feelings of like, this isn't enough time? I don't know if I'm ready. Had to do with both, like, the short time frame. Obviously, you guys had a short season also. And then in tandem with the fact that maybe Grant just, like, wasn't the guy for you. That's absolutely what it was.

It's just Grant wasn't my person. And it just took, you know, the process to figure that out. And that's what the show is all about, right? like to figure out if you are each other's person and you know do I think that a longer season would have made me figure that out or would have made him my person probably not you know I just think it took me up until hometowns to realize oh he's definitely not my person yeah and that was okay you know ultimately he found his person and that's all that mattered and that's what it was all about so did you think he was going to end up with like from that girl chat were you like

I think maybe it could be so and so. I mean, Latia, it was Latia for me. It was Latia since we were in the house. I mean, when we were in the house, I just remember we were all talking so freely. Like, I never felt, I know there's just, like, idea that the girls get so jealous and we're so jealous of each other's connections and things like that. We're really not because we don't know. We don't know what the connection is.

like we talk like how girls chat but we're not like oh you know he told me that you know I'm his number one or he you know we don't we're not comparing notes in that way we're just kind of like talking about grant generally oh isn't he so nice oh he's so sweet did you see when he said this like we've talked that way right and so unless I'm there watching them interact or hearing about a conversation that they had we really don't know where the other relationships for the connection stand, right? And so the only person that I felt in the house had such a strong connection and like really was withholding a lot was Latia. Like she always kept her piece and her cards really close to her chest and was never really like in those conversations. And you

could tell it was because she felt strong feelings pretty early on. And so I always thought that. And even I remember in Scotland like before she got her one on one, she, we had talked about it briefly in our hotel room. like she was like I'm like I'm screwed like I'm really in deep and I was like oh okay yeah I thought so because this is the first time you had voiced it to me but you just by her mannerisms by the way that she would um it's just like a look you know people just have like a look about them and um obviously I was there at the puppy day too with Latia and Grant and Serafina and I could just tell them too that their connection was pretty strong so I always saw Latia I really did My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious.

Oh, 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 first. 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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I never envision being with a woman. I'll just be honest. I'm Jamel Hill, host of the Sports and Politics Podcasts, Spolitics. On this week's episode, I'm joined by basketball legend, Candice Parker, who stops by to discuss her candid new book, The Can Do Mindset, in which she shares why she waited two years into marriage to come out. Like, when I close my eyes at night, every night, I was like, I need to find my prince charming.

Like, it was never a princess. Like, that never entered into my mind. But, you know, as I learned, sometimes life gives you things wrapped in the package that you didn't. expect it. And that was just, you know, and honestly, it took me a long time to be okay with myself. Make sure to listen to this week's episode of Spolitics on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to

think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Do this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my eyes close. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise, lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what?

Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. Listen to no such thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD

And want to hear people with mental illness Psychobabble Yes, yes Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you Open your free IHeartRadio app Search Emergency Intercom and listen now Hey sis, what if I could promise you You never had to listen to a condescending finance bro

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starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt and it weighs on you.

It's really easy to just like stick your head in the sand. It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it. And in fact, it may get even worse. For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Okay, so pre-women-tell-all, before you go to Women-Tel-all, where, do you stand with carolina like what what is your relationship like now you guys like kind of you you beefed on the show then you you kind of make up and that's what we see going into

women tell all before women tell all I think man it's this is so difficult because I think we are all navigating like the internet space and like the public attention for the first time right and so i thought we were just fine like we weren't friends i wouldn't say but we also weren't enemies or weren't against one another at any sense of the word i had even sent her a text at some point and say you know regardless of what the internet wants to you know say and like create this carolina versus dina divide like i don't feel that against you at all just so you know and then we kind of exchanged some niceties and that was it so you two are on the same page we were on the same page yeah and then you know i think i went into women's how all like super

defensive because there had been a lot of online stuff and i think the public feeding into it can sometimes feed into you and that's like the first mistake that i made is i let it really get to me and so i went in there like kind of in lawyer mode like i'm just going to go there and any argument you have i'm going to attack it and i'm going to make sure that i prove my point which was stupid because we're not in a courtroom and we're also not here to like win the case, right? Like we're just people having an argument, right? Or having like a disagreement on something.

And I think with the TikTok that I started to remember that, I'd posted a TikTok of previewing the upcoming episode. Yes, yes, yes. Yeah. And just that day, I think it was like earlier in the day, I posted a TikTok of like me, Carolina and Alex, it's like goofing around in Madrid. It was just like a funny TikTok that we did.

We were not able to post because once the Madrid episode came out, we were able to post like Madrid content, right? And so I posted that. And then later on in the day, I was getting like inundated with like just so much bachelor content, you know? And I'm like, oh, this will be like a funny way to or like a way to preview the next episode. And it was a trending sound at the time. as well. I didn't have like a following or anything like that. So like never in a million years

that I think it would get the attention or traction that it did and then have her respond to it in that way. And then of course that made me respond because now I'm defensive. But it was never my intention to like slight her or to make her upset. Now looking back, I can totally understand why he did. I really, I truly understand why it did. And I wish that I would have text her and said like, hey, I'm seeing like this video is obviously blown up and people think that, you know, you threw me on the bus or whatever. I'm sorry that, you know, it's become that. That's not what I wanted it to be.

And I should have thought it through. I should have text you, but I didn't. And I really should have. I wish I would have went into women till all then not defensive. Like how would you have approached it now? Looking back at it, how would you approach it now? I wish I didn't come in so defensive. I really do.

And I think I should have laid down on my sword about a lot of that stuff and realized that Carolina was probably getting attacked left and right throughout the entire season. And when you're not in that, it's like your algorithm will feed you what is, you know, is relevant to you. You know, I wasn't seeing Carolina hate. I wasn't seeing Carolina comments. I wasn't seeing any of that. And so then when Women's Hellel all came out and people were like, you guys are mean and you're

this and you're, I was seeing a lot of that. I was like, oh, this is probably what she was experiencing, you know, just a few episodes ago. And I had no idea. Like, you just don't know what you don't know. And so going into Women's Hellall, she came in kind of hot, you know, with the words on her, her little, we don't even know what to call it. Like her neon green. Yeah, the Blazer with like her sayings or her one-liners, her zingers. And so I was thinking like, okay, I guess we're up for battle, you know, I guess this is what we're doing.

And so instead of hearing her and like, taking it in and being like, okay, I can understand where you're coming from, taking myself out of it and responding that way. Like I was just coming defensive, defensive, defensive. Yeah, but I also think when you go to Tell All, there's so much time, not so much time, actually, but there's time between filming the show and then filming Tell All, right? You kind of have that space. Whereas I feel like the stuff between you and Carolina on social media was still kind of fresh. So you were both coming in with a lot of emotions. And now probably talking about it, you feel a little bit more removed and you know hindsight's always 20 totally there was a lot of

emotion and I think had we both realized like at the end of the day like we're both people and we both obviously had a friendship at some point during the show like we have to just remove ourselves from the drama of it all yeah it's funny because like when you're when you're in it um especially someone like you who goes really far and you you also have like this person that you're going up against which is carolina everything feels so important so big it seems like it's basically it's like it's all of your world it's just like everywhere very emotionally intense and then when you when you you know two months later you're like this was that was so silly like what is wrong with me like why could i not just like chill out and be like yeah but it's so much easier something done no i get it

like we all kind of go through that people think they go back on and they're like oh i won't do it this time, but it's just a very easy thing. But you should have talked to my cousin because I would have given you advice. I would have given you the right advice. No, you didn't need it. You know, I should have, but something that I really wanted for my, for my experience is to go in and have no, like, I didn't want anything. I didn't want outside noise. I didn't want advice.

I didn't want, which is stupid, right? Because I just wanted to like take it wrong. Just like whatever happens, like I just see how I'll handle it. And just go in with no expectations whatsoever. ever. Now, I'm like, I'll take all the advice I can get. Like, tell me everything. Give me all the teeth. Like, I want to receive once you have that like baseline experience of having been on the show. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like now if you were to get advice, you would receive it so much differently and process it differently than if you had gotten it prior to ever stepping at a limo.

You're right. It's so different when you're living in. Where do you and Carolina stand now? Just friends, not friends, whatever. I mean, we're definitely not friends, but I would, I go out of my way to not engage with any like Carolina hate or dislike or anything that could perpetuate any type of narrative towards her or me. Like, I'll even respond like something nice just to get people to chill. But what I found with the internet is you just have to ignore it. Yeah. Right. Like if I try to write something nice to diffuse, it, it's like, well, now you're saying that because.

Or if I say some, if I would say something mean or like kind of. you know, rude or whatever, it's the same thing. So I personally don't have anything against Carolina at all. I think she's a sweet, bubbly person. I think that the process, it wasn't the best environment for her, for sure. It wasn't the best environment for any of us. Like, none of us are made for this environment, right? I think it's all about, like, how you take it and grow from it. Like, now moving forward, like, I would never, I always think to myself, like, is what I'm about to say in response like emotional yeah or is it you know where is it coming from like that is it actually something that's going to further this this discussion it's something that I've worked

on myself like since to show because I've noticed like I will allow myself to get emotional about stuff that just doesn't need it you know it doesn't require an emotional response and I'll just like snap you can't you cannot win against the internet like you just can't win against them and like you look at like even look at somebody like Joey who was probably the most beloved bachelor in a very long time like i would say joey like the amount of love to hate he's like reaching like top five like joey's at like probably like 98% love and there's probably like 2% hate but if he went down that rabbit hole like it would feel like everyone's against them and he could find those comments argue with them and then it just gets worse and worse and worse yeah when

in reality like fucking none of that shit matters yeah but it doesn't uh and i think that's That's what I struggle with too, right? Because I don't want to perpetuate any of that negativity towards Carolina or, you know, our feud online. But then I wonder, like, should I just reach out to her and try to have a nice conversation with her? Or is that then going to be, well, you know, now you want to be friends with her, even though women tell all you. You know, so it's, I just, I don't know. I don't know what the right avenue is or what the solution is. But I have no hate or disdain or anything towards Carolina at all.

I want to ask you about your time in Chicago with Latia, you, and Parisa. So now we're at, we're post-show. Post-show. And Saraphena. And Saraphena. Oh, okay, yes. All four of you were there. How was that?

How did that come to be? Tell us about it. So much fun. It was actually very random. I was supposed to be on trial, actually, at the end of March into April. and it settled. Parisa and Serafina were coming regardless. And so then my trial settled.

And I was like, wait, guys, I'm going to be in Chicago now. Let's have Latia come too because she was just finishing up with AFR. And so it came to be like very randomly. And I say that because I know that if I would have seen, you know, a bunch of girls hanging out in a city without me and I haven't spoken to me about her and invited me, I would have felt a certain type of way. So this is just like to all the girls in my season, it was. It just happened to work out and the girls came to Chicago. I don't want to exclude anybody. Like, we're so close to everyone on our cast, like, truly.

And I wish everyone could come to Chicago. But I mean, we're going to be going on trips together, you know, probably all summer long. Are you friends with, what's your friendship like with Juliana? Again, it's like the Internet stuff. Like, I thought we were, everything was all good and we were friends. And we were definitely friends while we were filming post. filming we had exchanged a good amount of texts checking in on each other like we'll send each other some nice stuff but then the internet you know takes me hanging out with Latia being good friends

with Latia as we're against Juliana and it's like causing this discourse that doesn't exist it just doesn't it doesn't exist and I think the large part of it was you know Julianna had like a post AFR event and then Latia had one as well and I thought understandably like I had to be there for Latia because aside from the show like outside of the show Latia and I are friends like we talk about everyday life stuff that has nothing to do with the show. Juliana and I are more so like show friends. You know, we've kept in touch, talked about the show. How were you doing after tonight's episode? How are you doing? You know, how do you feel things like that just like niceties? But we'd never really had like a friendship outside of like the elements of the show. And so I sent her a very

nice message saying, you know, I'm going to be there to support Latia and you, of course, I wrote, you know, but I just wanted to kind of let her know. Like, thank you for inviting me to your event, but I'm going to be with Latia that night and I assume she's on invited, you know, kind of like that. And at the time, Latia didn't have any post AFR plans. We were just like going to get in pajamas and like quarter takeout and just like watch TV. Um, but then she ended up doing like a little something that she put together. So I mean, all is that to say is I addressed it with Juliana and I gave her, you know, my congratulations and all of that and told her I'd be with Latia. She didn't respond to me after that. So I did think, okay, maybe she is feeling a

certain type of way about it. Um, and then post-AFR again, I texted her, I congratulated her. I said, I'm sorry, I'm not going to be there tonight, and get a response. And then the internet made this like, oh, she must be teen Latia, right? In my head, there is like a narrative that's going around of like who's team Julia and his team Latina from your season? Yes. Yes. And it's truly, for me, it's, if Juliana would have had that party a different, like a different night,

like let's say they just had family and friends, like close like Boston and his friends that night and then had another one for like the cast and stuff i would have been there i would have been there to support it just happened to be the same night that letia i knew was going to have a really rough night and it was really heavy on her it sounds like you were objectively just closer with letia yeah also like it's okay that like you know like some people just don't become friends after the show like you know we all have our own we're all adults that have our own separate life so it's kind of like hey if it doesn't work out like i'm not going to kill myself over this friendship. What do you think I was going to say? Just not something less dramatic. But yeah,

you know. So I think we're friends. I think Julianna are friends, at least from my end. Again, I had seen, I saw what the internet was saying about team Juliana, team Latia. So again, I sent her a really long message saying if you were offended by the fact that I wasn't at your event, I'm so sorry. like I would have like I would have explained to you a little bit more about why I'm going to be with Latia it wasn't the public doesn't get to see like really who you're friends with after the show right because we have to keep that private until the finale and so no one really knew including Juliana that I was really close with Latia and so I explained that to her I said you know I still want to support you and Grant like I'm really happy for you too I like posted out of my story for them did like whatever I could to show like I'm here supporting you guys and I'm so happy for you it has nothing to do with like, I'm team Latitia and therefore like I don't want to be a part of like your love story or like your congratulations, you know? So yeah, I thought that was really unfortunate that she's feeling that way about some of us. But, you know, I thought I covered my bases with her and I think we're fine.

Before we let you go, if you end up going to paradise, we don't know if you're going or not. I would assume you're somebody that they would at least ask. Are there any guys that you would be interested from. this franchise meeting down there. Do you guys ever get an actual answer to this question? Yeah, yeah, we do. Yeah. We do.

Like a Keem on and dropped in the name. I think the guys are a little more. The guys will definitely, well, there's been, I think, yeah, there's, yeah, we do. What we started to do is ask, like, if you were on here with someone else, we'd be, like, who do you think Dina should match up with? Because people get uncomfortable saying direct names, which I totally understand. It's so uncomfortable for me. But do you have your eyes on people?

Like, are there people, if you don't want to share names, do you have anyone in mind? No, I don't. I don't have my eyes on people. Because I think for me, like, what's my data point? Like, what do I know about you? Like, the very little that I can see from your social media, that's just not enough. Like, in terms of, if you're tall, I'm probably interested in you. Okay.

So they just got to be tall. Well, luckily, they basically cast 95% tall guys on this show. Yeah, yeah. You're in a good dating pool. I would say that. If you're tall, you're automatically, like, in. Guys, if you're listening to this, you're into Dina and you're not tall, just back off. I know, and I'm so sorry to do that to you guys.

You're going to have. I don't mean to be like my jeans. Like, I just, I'm thinking about my children, you know? You're going to have, you're going to have the one short Romanian guy come for you in paradise. You're going to fall in love with them. You're like everything I said I don't want. And I love this guy. Well, I think I'm the first Romanian on the show.

Yeah, Romanian. What did I say, Romanian? No, you did. I said right? Your accent just came in a little. Okay, Dina, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day. It was really great meeting you and talking to you. And I don't think this is going to be the last time we see you, but you never know.

Hopefully not. Thanks, guys. And to our listeners, thank you guys so much for tuning in the Bachelor Happy Hour. Make sure you download and subscribe to the podcast. We have more exclusive interviews coming your way. Thanks for listening. Bye. 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 Jamel Hill, hosted the Sports and Politics Podcasts, Politics. On this week's episode, I'm joined by all-time great Hooper and basketball analyst Candice Parker, who gives insight into her candid new book, including why she waited two years into marriage to come out. I never envisioned being with a woman. I'll just be honest. Like, when I close my eyes at night, every night, I was like, I need to find my prince charming.

Like, it was never a princess. Make sure you listen to this episode of Spolet on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Humanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD...

Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. open your free IHeartRadio app, search emergency intercom, and listen now. Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hood of you. I'll take it all!

I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. No such thing. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin-Bradford, host of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I know how overwhelming it can feel if flying makes you anxious. In session 418 of the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett and I discuss flight anxiety. What is not a norm is to allow it to prevent you from doing the things that you want to do, the things that you were meant to do.

Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.