Bachelor Happy Hour - Exclusive: Brayden & Christina Meant to Be — Part 1

Episode Date: January 18, 2024

Joe and Serena sit down for an exclusive interview with newly engaged Brayden and Christina! The two are spilling the tea on everything from their first meeting to keeping their love under the radar to their engagement. You won’t want to miss all the romantic, sweet details. Listen now and be sure to follow so you never miss an episode, especially part two of this Bachelor Nation love story! 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. 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, lunatic. tick screaming in their face every three seconds. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. I also want to address the Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking Game with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes. To hear this and more on disappointment and protecting your

peace. Listen to checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hour. I'm Joe. And I'm Serena. And we are here with Braden and Christina. Welcome to the podcast. Good to see you, Joe. Is this your third time on the podcast? I think. I think third or fourth. No, I think it's my second. Is this my, no, it's my second.

No, we've had you. We've had you, I think we might have had you twice during charity season. Yeah, because we did the vent hall. Yeah. We had you and then you did the vent hall. And then did we have you during Paradise? Yeah. No, I don't think you guys did ever.

Oh, maybe we didn't. I don't think we did. Okay, so this is your third. And then, Christina, this is your first. It's nice to meet you guys. It's so nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well. Nice to meet you as well.

You know, okay, so I actually did see you guys briefly in person. Did you, do you know this? No. No. Oh. Okay. Okay. So in my head, I'm like thinking that you saw me and beeline just for the door. So that's good to know. No. So I was at Tia's rehearsal and I didn't realize. So I guess you were training for, you had to fly back the next day, Joe, or you both did for your race or something. So I wouldn't be at the wedding. But I was there. I saw you at the karaoke place. Oh, my God. Oh, you were. In Nashville? Yeah. And I was like, cool. And so I was going to like make my way over, not just like run. And then before I knew it, you guys were. gone. And then I saw on your socials that you had to leave. So that was sad. But, you know, hi. Now we get to me. Hi. Oh my gosh. I'm actually upset that we didn't get to say hiding there. You're friends with your friends with Tia? Yeah, yeah, that whole group. And we all do the CrossFit stuff

together. And yeah. So she's, she's awesome. Did you know Tia before you went on the show? No. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. Wow, that's awesome. That was a really fun rehearsal dinner party. Oh, my gosh. The wedding was, I mean, I, so I have a wedding planning company, and I've done a lot of events, been to a lot of weddings, and that is by far my favorite. Oh, my gosh. Like, it was so personal, but yet boogey, but still like them.

And it was just incredible. So it's sad that you guys missed that. But the rehearsal was so much fun. It was karaoke, and I'm sad I didn't see you guys up there. But is that why you guys were not? Maybe that's why you'd beeline for the door. Did you do karaoke? Because I was like, I am not getting out there doing karaoke.

I didn't. I didn't there. I didn't have an amazing voice. I get you some Frank Sinatra going. What would you sing? Not to interview you, but what would you sing? What would I sing? Oh, gosh.

I would sing, what's the latest song? Do you guys have the karaoke together? No, never. I used to. I karaoke barred in university a decent amount because there was like a country bar that was a karaoke bars. We used to say. What would you sing?

I used to sing Stacey's mom a lot. I used to sing, don't. Don't Stop Believing. I used to sing What's the one that's like This here's a tough all the fellows Try to do what those Yeah, that's that what's that run?

DMC? It's like, you got it. Yeah, I used to sing that. Those were the karaoke go-toes. I don't know what I would say now. It's been so long. Because you guys doing that one together. That one takes two. Takes two to make things all right.

No, that's a different one. That's also a good one. Joe, what would you say? I'm not a singer. Maybe a little bit of Delle. You love Adele. I do love it. That's a hard one to take on, Joe.

Are you sure? Well, when I shoot, I shoot high, you know? But Tia's family, like, they have, like, great voices. There was one guy that went where I was like, that man is incredible. Yeah, it was so good. Here's the thing. Here's the thing. So since then, actually, we have a video.

We've been to that same place that we went to. And they're, like, I don't know if it's Nashville or what, but like their mics. and their system is, like, beautiful. A lot of karaoke joints will do you wrong. But there's, I mean, he was a lovely singer, yes, but it really did, did good that the system there. When I was there, I felt like, but they did creed. And I'm just like, he was, yes, felt like creed was there. Yeah, that was the one.

Joe, we were like, this man is creed. He is creed. We are all creed. All right. Let's, let's, like, we got to, we got to, we, let's get moving there. All right. The people are like, please move on. Everyone listening's like, please move on.

And we're going to do this interview the, the correct. way, the way that Serena wants to, in chronological order. So I just feel like there's so many parts to your story that need to be covered that I don't know about. I'm assuming a love our listeners don't know about. So we got to start from the very beginning. So let's start it from the beginning. Where, how, when did you guys meet?

Good questions. Yeah. So it was, it was still during the airing of The Bachelorette. So I'd been back from Paradise. I'd gone through the whole Bachelorette and like the Bachelorette was airing now. And I think we were on like the last two episodes that like, like The Bachelorette was airing. Okay, so Bachelorette was airing

and you already had filmed Bachelor in Paradise. So it's like July. When we started talking, yes. Had I already commented on a few of his post without reply, maybe. Okay. Braden, you left her hanging?

Well, no, it wasn't like, I don't know, I didn't want to just be like, you know, messaging on, like, I don't know. Like, I wanted to make sure that if, like, I was pursuing someone, that it wasn't just going to be like, I'm not the type to just flirt with everyone. I mean, like although I might give off that energy, contrary to popular belief.

Like, I'm really not the type to just go and like flirt and let DMs and slide in and DM everybody. Like that's... The man went on the most dates in paradise. Okay, so he'll, yeah. I mean, it's just not my, it's not my, like... You're not going to actually, like, take the initiative to message. Like, that's like

blunt. Well, I said this on the podcast, though. I was like, Braden's kind of hard to get a read on because he's so charismatic that he always gives up the energy that he's into the person he's with, even though I think it's just you're like an engaging personality. So it's hard like as a viewer to be like who's he into. Whereas I feel like because your personality just gives off these like positive vibes, whoever you're with. Do you know what I think? If he's out and about, he's going to have a good

time. Yes. So I feel like, but it sounds like what you're saying is you're not necessarily like just pursuing everyone. No. Yeah. That's not like I don't know. Like I always, I grew up with sisters too. So it's like, you know, they would always show me the DMs that guys would send him and stuff. that and I'm like it would just seem so creepy to me so like DMing people and stuff like that like I don't really that wasn't really what I did you know and so it was like when she reached out to me originally it was like I saw her like it and I and I hearted the post I just didn't respond but I hearted it and then and then like some time went by and then she ended up DMing me and or no I ended up finally DMing her like like not responding but

DMing her separately because she like had posted like a video of like Blakely cutting her Barbie's hair or something like that and I was like oh please tell me you didn't let her cut her her own hair because I didn't like strategically waited and I and also like strategic yeah like I wanted to wait because like you're playing games immediately okay well not playing games but like showing intention because like I felt like if I just like responded to like you know anything like I'm working out yeah like or sent the fire I mean you know fire emojis I don't know yeah we do love fire emojis but like I wanted to show that like I understood that she was more than just like you know you want to send a meaningful message to spark a conversation.

Yeah, knowing that. Yeah, knowing that she had a daughter, knowing like, hey, like, I'm aware you have a daughter. I think it's okay. I'm still, you know, like, I think it's cute, like, you know, and stuff like that. And I can relate on that too, you know. Sorry, getting off this cold. But, and so, yeah, so that was

like our first interaction. And then as we just started DMing after that and messaging back at her, and then eventually she unsolicitedly while I was at work, dropped her number to me in my DMs. I was like, you know what? I'm over this messaging.

Here's my number. And then I said, not me, like pointing up arrow emoji. Like, not me unsolicitively throwing my phone number at you. And then when he got off work, he called me. Yeah. And then it was crazy because, like, that night I got home. And I was literally, I got home around like 8, 9 o'clock at night that night. And wait, wait, not where?

You're living where at the times? San Diego. San Diego and Christina, you're in Nashville. Yes, always been. And so here I was. And like, I'm the type of person. too. Like, I don't, like, I'll go to bed when I'm, like, ready to go to bed because, like, I have work. I have to wake up at 6 a.m. Like, get there on time, like, all that stuff. And so here I am. Like,

we start FaceTiming and, like, literally, like, our first FaceTime call went. It was ridiculous. It went. And it was like, I didn't even work in the morning. No sleep. I didn't even, like, how long the phone call went. So I looked down on my phone and it was like, it was 5 a.m. And I'm like, I have to be up in an hour for work. Like, what the heck? Like, I, okay, I have to go in at this point. Like, it was crazy. It was just like so easy to talk to her about anything and everything. And it was like, I felt like I didn't have to like, I didn't have to like, you know, say stuff a certain way. I didn't have to like be primid proper. Like, I just got to be myself. And it was just like, it was so refreshing to have a face time call, the first

face time call, be something like that. And so that's kind of where it took off. And it was just like, you know, we ended up just FaceTiming every night. And like every night, it was the same thing. It was like, I would just FaceTime to like, and it would be like, okay, it's 3 a.m. Now I didn't even realize. Like, I blinked. And it was like, here we are. And so, and we ended up like, as we kept talking, I know we said it during the engagement, but I was like, I said something. I made a Tenacious D reference. And it's like, it's a pretty bomb band, but I made, I made the reference.

She's like, did you just reference to Nacius D? And it was so like out of pocket. It was probably because it was like 3 a.m. And I'm just like, I wouldn't have even normally like said anything because I would have thought like, no, like, because it was like a quote that we can't probably say right now that was like so deep like tenacious D like referenced that it was like I wouldn't even probably said it because I'm like thinking no way no way no way and so I said and he's like what you don't know nothing about that and so it was really cool and like to on top of all of these like

things that I felt like we had in common in this connection like as much of a connection that you can have over you know electronic devices like that on top of it was like really silly but also really meaningful and it opened up for like my like first reason to go out there too or it's like I mean we have been talking about me coming out there to come visit but it wasn't like you know there was no, there's no timeline, but she's like, well, I actually have tickets next week to go see Tenacious D. It's a five days. And she's like, so if you're really a fan, like, you should be out here next week. And so that night on FaceTime, I ended up buying like a plane ticket. And I literally, like, I called in sick to work, uh, sorry work. Um, and I flew out there that next week, uh, to come

see her. And it was just like, it was just unreal. It was like, I've never been treated so well by somebody like, like, like, I've gone on dates. And it's like, typically when I go on dates, it's like, I'll, like, be the one treating the person. You know what I mean? And it was like I've never been like treated like and it was just amazing like she picked me up from the airport and this like rose like she had like glasses with a big old nose and mustache so paradise hadn't started airing yet at all but it was going to and so there can't be any spoilers or anything so I'm telling them I'm like look we've got to be low key like Nashville like people are on the lookout for this like my season's done and gone but still like you know I get recognized if I go out

and like you like you have like anyone it's so funny if you're out about you can see people staring and they're like trying to look and they see the earrings like yeah he is him and so you know really recognizable in Nashville and so I'm telling him I'm like but also we're so open with communication I'm like but it's going to be awkward if I just pick you up and we're in the security lane and I'm like side hug and then we're getting yelled at my like a security officer being like go go go like in the what is it when the rivals so I'm like so I'm going to come in but we have to be low key and I'm like being serious about it but not really I was not he came with like a six foot tall rose and a mustache like mustache glasses I'm like oh like she was just

The most ridiculous thing. That's so So how long was the time between you guys first started talking to now? Oh. So it was August?

Yeah. August. End of August. It's like a month-ish. What? Like a monthish? Between now and the story because we're kind of launchable.

Yeah. I mean like between like the first DM and then like the concert. Oh, not long. Maybe like. That's why we, oh, it's a tenacious D

because like we had to get to that ticket like to the thing because I mean beyond that I would probably say you would have come out sooner than later but still at the same time it's like that's there's no time crunch 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 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 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 Jemail Hill, host to 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 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. How serious is youth vaping? Irreversible lung damage serious. One in 10 kids vape serious, which warrants a serious conversation from a serious parental figure, like yourself. Not the seriously know-at-all sports dad or the seriously smart podcaster.

It requires a serious conversation that is best had by you. No, seriously. The best person to talk to your child about vaping is you. To start the conversation, visit Talk Aboutvaping.org, brought to you by the American Lung Association and the Ad Council. Christina, when you, because you're technically, you made the first move, and when you threw that out there, did you think he was going to bite? Did you think he was going to actually come? I think that I didn't, I didn't have time to, like, think he would or not. I think maybe because of past traumas and being an adult, you know, I would think.

So yes, but then it's like, okay, well, let's see, let's call, I'm going to call him out. Just no time, no BS and, uh, uh, uh, I bought the ticket before the other face. He did and I was just like, and I think that, so in that sense, I was very surprised. Yes, but not because I thought he was lying about it. Um, it was like, whoa, you're actually coming. Okay. We're doing this. And to back up, sorry about chronological order. I will say, so I did like reach out first. And so it's like, how did I even know who he was? But once it started airing, it was, um, it was really cool to watch. You know, of course, I, I wanted to support charity and watch the season.

So I did that. And he just really very much stood out to me. So, you know, sorry when you went home. But also I was like, yes, you know, they're not together. There was just a few different moments that I just really felt like connected through this television show that I've watched, you know, for over a decade that I was like, I really saw you. What? And you were on. I was on, but I've loved this show.

And I'm just like, wait, I can do this. And I can actually maybe slide in the DMs and then took a bottle of just on. but you know whatever we're here now okay so brayden shows up to nashville um how does how does that first first day go like the first meeting person um it was pretty it was pretty awesome it was like so like she bought me so i guess she she she had reached out to erin and like she had like called him to find out my shoe size and stuff yeah she had like called him to find out my shoe size and he had called me like a couple days prior and he's like hey man he's like you know my buddy needs a pair of surf booties like what size what's like surf booty are you

I'm like bro 13 in the back of your truck what are you talking about he's like okay just double check man no problem no sweat he had a pair of your shoes and he still wanted to call up him I love Aaron yeah I'm like dude they're literally like and he also checks your sisters yeah and my sisters were asking what some of my shoe size was I was just tripping I was like why does everyone want to know my shoe size in the same day and I remember like I had talked to her about it I was like yeah like everyone's asking me my shoe size it's really weird wait I don't know if you know that. So I'm, I like never messaged him on Instagram or anything. So it was like me going to message him to get that. I like message like, you know, lots of people do where you go to the separate

messages. I'm like, hey, what are you doing? Blah, blah, blah. Like, dang, dang, dang. And so I go, hey, and then it doesn't let me send another message because we don't follow each other. And it's like, or whatever. And it's like, that's it. And it's like, that's it. And it's like, oh, let me try to your best friend. Hey. And I'm like, luckily he had a story on there. So I was replying. I got to reply to a story. I'm like, I just sit this message and I'm going to do this. I'm like panicking. I'm like, oh my gosh, I look, oh my gosh, this is awful. I would also, that would have stressed me out, too.

It's like, oh, my God, it looks like I'm sliding into this guy's DMs right now. It really did. I looked awful. But it was actually cool because when we ended up getting in the car, the reason why she was asked her for my shoe size is because she had a pair of, like, boots for me. Like, if you had said, if you ever come in, actually, you need to get some boots. I did say that, but I didn't expect her to buy me a pair of boots. And so I'm, that's cool.

Boots now to walk around, new boot goofing. around Tennessee and it was just like it was amazing it was like everything we went to go get coffee and we were just like made you some earrings from my first day yeah she made me earrings from our first date like we went skeet shooting and uh I don't know like there's something about seeing a woman have a better shot than you and I'm like a decent shot when it comes to skeet shooting but like she could shoot like these discs like no problem I was like it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen I was like I'm so impressed right now and then she ended up collecting like the remains of like the skeets and like ended up putting in a resin with the beads and like made earrings

out of them and so it's so thoughtful it's just like she had like there's so much consideration so much thoughtfulness and so much just like you know like care that she took towards me that like I haven't experienced in a relationship before and so it's just like to be honest it was like from the first moment I met her like I mean we had phone calls and like we had talked in the phone I knew that I felt a connection but it was like once I met her person and saw that it wasn't just over phone it was in person too. It was like, I know, like, wow, like, I actually love, I love how she makes me feel and I love her. Like, this is amazing. I've never felt this before. Did you at all, did you talk to him coming here too for me. It was like, like you said, like, was I surprised, but like actually

making it happen and coming here and calling in sick to work, sorry, work, and being here and then hugging you and touching you, um, you know, it was really cool. It was all like really surreal. And how long, how long were you in town for on that first hang out? I was only there for four days. Was that not even? No, it's four days. It's four days. Okay.

It's like one. Okay. So you, so, so, so then when you leave, where do you guys stand at that point? So, um, and then his paradise hasn't aired yet? Paradise still hasn't. No, it's on the horizon. But so for me, like at this point, it was like, after knowing how, knowing that I felt this way internally, it was like, you know, I still understood it was like, okay, like, like, I can't just go rushing and like, oh, you know, let's do this, you know. like stuff like that it was like I want to do with long distance like I wanted her to know like

I'm not going to be talking to oh we went we went exclusive on the first trap and so okay yeah like the first day like the sun hadn't even gone down yet and we were like so we were talking he's like oh and I was like just because I'm a little bit older than him not much at all but it's an ongoing joke that I have of my insecurity well I know but you said something I'm like well what do you kids mean by that nowadays does that mean like exclusive and he's like well I would like I was like Okay, me too. It was initiated by me. That one was initiated by me.

You got to let me have a whole. And where, wait, did you stay? Did you stay? Do you guys stay together when you first went? Yeah. Yeah. And did he meet, did he meet Blakely on this trip? No.

I didn't get to meet Blakely yet on this trip. But we had like, like, she had her mom watching her while she was here. So it was like, nice. But we got to focus on getting to me. each other first which was cool and then um yeah but then so we left that trip being exclusive and then um we had i'd gone back home and i was planning on coming back out to nashville again um and then uh we had like uh what had happened oh it was the boat thing that happened so before i had time to go out there the both thing where you guys almost died right yeah that huge a bit

that i don't know i think i had aaron on the podcast it was like it might have been our longest podcast ever. I was glad the questions you were asking because yeah. Yeah, I was sick that episode and Joe came into like I was in bed and he came after he was like, you have to hear this story. Listen to what these guys went through. I was like, oh my God, I had goosebumps. I can't even imagine Christina how you felt like. Well, and it's hard for me too because, you know, not that it matters publicly, you know, if we're together or not, but it's like even more than that. It's like we've heard we're having to hide that we're together. And so it's just like all of these emotions and all of that. And I'm like, well, am I even allowed to be upset? And it's like,

I don't know. It was just really crazy. But tell them why. I mean, yeah. And that whole day was kind of messed up too. So like, so she had a parent teacher conference that same day we went on the boat trip. Which I was stressed about. So I had sent her like an edible arrangement. And so like on the way out on the boat, I had like, I got a text message and I was like, I called. I was like, hey, like there's a package in your front door. Did you see it? And she's like, what is it? And like, she saw it. And it was like an edible arrangement for her and Blakely like wishing them good luck for their parenting conference that day. And I was like, all right, I got to go. I'm fishing. Bye. And so I hung up and like, you know,

went about my day. And so we had been fishing and like, I mean, you got to hear the whole story. So we won't go into that too much. But it was. But did you, did you think, did you think, did you think you were going to die? Wait, just quick pause. For anyone that's listening that has no idea what we're talking about, you can go and listen to the Air and S interview. And he breaks down the entire story of what happened to them on this fishing trip, just because we won't get into it totally now. But absolutely, except one part that no one's really talked on. that is like replaying in my head like crazy was the fishing line part which is like so when the boat not to make you really of it so there's two parts so when it first happened I thought I was

going to die right away and that was only because so the boat went down and like originally when the boat went down we had tried to go and it was like sinking and we were trying I don't know if we were trying to pull it up I don't know what we were thinking but we were like yeah onto it and like trying to see like what we could do to like see if we could get back on top of it and I think that makes I think that makes sense for like an instant reaction like you think like oh let's stop it from going on there. But what happened was when we had wrapped around the boat, I ended up getting caught in the fishing line.

It was like all the fishing line that was on the boat. And so it was on the real setting. So it was like it was like spooling out the line. But the line had all wrapped around me. And so it was like I was actually like, so as we were trying to get our life fest on and stuff like that, I started getting like pulled down under like pulled down under water. And my dad actually had bought a pocket knife like the night before from Home Depot

before you had like come on the fish. fishing trip. And he actually was able to cut me free from the fishing line. This isn't like 400 pound tuna. This isn't like you can bite it. Yeah. Like this line is not lying. You could rip with your hand. It's like wire, isn't it? Yeah. And so it's like it's like it's wrapped around my body like pulling me down. And I was like I was literally having a panic attack thinking I was going to die in that moment. And it was like that would have been a instantaneous death, which would I think would have been. If it was. Yeah. If it was. Yeah. If you if you're going to go in that in that scenario, I guess that would have been the way. Like in that moment, I thought I was going to die. I was going to. Yeah. It's still. Like in that moment, I thought I was going to die. But it. It's still. Like in that moment. I thought I thought I was going to. It's going to. But it. It and then like following that after my dad cut me free of that then it was just like being out there yeah I do have a scar from where he cut it off but was there any if he didn't have that pocket knife was there any way you could get out of it no no wow I dream about that one quite a bit where I'm like I had like I mean I've been through like counseling and stuff like that since because like I mean it's definitely come with some PTSD from it like it definitely like stills and you know it's in your head it messes with your normalcy bias you know but yeah no it was

And also, like, the fact that you had stopped there to fish because there was all this activity on the fish radar, it's like, then he's bleeding because of the cuts. And I'm just like, a lot, a lot of stuff. But, I mean, by the grace of God, we made it out of that one, man. So it was, but I mean, the thing that was crazy about that situation, too, is it was like, so, I mean, I was out there. And it was like, you know, I'd send her this ethical arrangement. And then, like, I'd also gotten her something else in the mail. Yeah. I can tell you that story.

Because this was, this was kind of funny. but I had bought her like this. She had like been in traffic and she had like had to pee in a cut. And I bought her a female urinal and I like Amazoned it to her. And it hadn't been delivered yet, but it was supposed to be delivered later. It was supposed to be delivered like in a couple days because we had a phone call. Say things ended up differently. Thank God they didn't.

That would be the last thing you got from him was on your own urinal. So then it's like, okay, I have the edible arrangements in the call and it's like, wow. And it's like, you know, I can't tell people we're together. But it doesn't matter about that. But it's still like I want to, you know, speak about how great. of a man he is but like and like as your last memory like if things had gone another way but then he sends there a urinal then there's a female urinal and he's like you know equality and like you should be able to pee up you know standing up to you which is so nice but I'm like you just look really

creepy if anyone else wouldn't get it you know I would tell like if if something happened to Joe and his last thing was like a phone call an edible arrangement then I got a female urinal a few weeks I would not tell anyone with the year at all. No, no, I'd be like, oh, this was not included. Process that, I don't know, would I ever peeed normal again? Probably not. Maybe no. Yeah, you might have been traumatized forever.

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 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, hosted 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 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. In sitcoms, when someone has a problem, they just blurt it out and move on. Well, I lost my job and my parakeet is missing. How is your day?

But the real world is different. Managing life's challenges can be overwhelming. So, what do we do? We get support. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council have mental health resources available for you at loveyourmindtay.org. That's love your mind today.org. See how much further you can go

when you take care of your mental health. But no, besides all that, though, I mean, when I was paddling back, though, that was probably the biggest mom where I was like, I was really kicking myself because it was like, I was trying to follow, you try to follow this like dating protocol where it's like, okay, like now I think everyone's like,

oh, take your time, like, you know, wait, but it's like, if you really know you like someone, if you really know you care about someone, why do and the other person feels the same way and it's reciprocated it's like why do we feel like we have to follow these like these timelines that they're put into place if we have already made the decision you know what I mean and it's like I mean I understand like you know you want all that stuff breathing and let it grow and I think that that's all important too but it's like I mean if you know then you know it's like then you're just like wasting time and you're you know things can get

messy in the in the meantime too yeah and so it's like I don't know I feel like when you make those commitment and since like in that moment I was just kicking myself because I was like here I was like I hadn't told her how I felt I felt this way and I was like I was keeping up quiet because I wanted to you know follow that protocol and now I was regretting it and I was about to die and I was never going to get to tell her and so when I ended up getting saved like and I got back it was like the first phone call I ended up making like I my phone was at the bottom of the ocean so I had I had my dad yeah still is but I ended up uh I had my dad get her because I couldn't get on my Instagram or anything because it's all like triple verified or whatever for like it's actually

and stuff, but I, like, message him off, I messaged her off my dad's account. I was like, hey, this is Braden, please see this. And, like, she ended up saying that message. I did, which was rare. And then, like, called the number because I hadn't remembered her number yet. And so, yeah, rude. But, and so she ended up calling. Hey, Joe still doesn't know my number.

Yeah, I don't know. I know his. I'm not his first call if something happens because he doesn't have my number. Yeah. I'm telling you, I believe, I think I see John. I think Joe would find a way. I mean, I would, yeah, I would figure it out. But it's just, you know, when I was growing up,

You had to, you kind of remembered numbers, but now you just don't have to. Yeah, but I have yours memorized. I like intentionally memorized her as in case something would happen. She didn't have to do that. Thank you, Christina. Thank you. I mean, do you really want me to memorize your number? A little bit after hearing stories like this.

Memorize the number. Here's the thing. I know enough people that know you. Okay. Like my mom, I know my parents, their home number. So I would just call them to get a hold of you. And then be like, call Serena. Yeah.

All right. Well, I'm the second call then, I guess. That's fair. Okay. Anyways, about you guys. No, no. You guys are good. I love that.

But, yeah, so I ended up calling her. And then it was just like, it was just diarrhea in the mouth at that point. I was just like, hey, listen. Yeah, because I'm hearing. I don't know any of that's going on. I was like, I was at sea for three and a half hours. I have tan lines. I'm still in my underwear.

I'm dripping wet still. I just like, I literally like. It's a crazy call. And I've been thinking about, like, when I was out there in the water, I've had no regrets. Like, I know all my whole family knows I love them. I know my friends know I love them and care about them. I was like, but the one person then, like, I love in a way that I haven't loved ever is you. And I have not told you that.

And so I just want to let you know that I love you. And I, you know, I know it might be rushing it. And she just cut me off. And she's like, I love you too. Yeah. And it was like, and it was just like a really special moment like that I got to have with her. And I was like, are you serious? Like, I was like, for real?

like, wait, you didn't have to say that. Really? And she's like, no, I really mean it. And it was just like, it was this cool bonding moment. And then we just were like enjoying that. And I was like, well, I'm like, is this when I asked you like, don't want to be my girlfriend? Like, it was just like, I was like, it felt so like, like, I felt like I was a kid again. I was like, I didn't know what to say.

Like, I was, I mean, granted, I was still in shock. So it's like all the smoothness of like what people might have seen on TV was like out the door. Yeah. You got a lot of adrenaline probably pumping through you. I mean, I had been like, I mean, yeah. as soon as the boat came to it's like the adrenaline starts pumping off like wearing off and so you start just crying after that moment so it's like you're just like you're crying you're

like holy crap like I almost died and then didn't help that the coast guard's like wait are you yeah yeah like literally like we were out there for three and a half hours no one knew we were missing and like the first thing the coast guards say when they see us isn't like hey you guys are okay they're like wait you guys are the guys are the bachelor right I'm like I hate you guys You're like, yes, I am, but maybe ask this in about 10 to 15 minutes. Okay. Yeah, that's crazy story. Okay, so you guys are both, now you're, you're in love.

That's like my boyfriend that day. Yeah, so Braden almost dies, but he makes it out, and you guys are in a full-blown relationship, and you both love each other. And we are going to get way more into your story, part two. So everyone, please stay tuned because we have part two of Bray. and Christina coming out next. And make sure to subscribe to Bachelor Happy Hour. We will have more exclusive interviews, just like this one, coming your way.

Thanks. 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. 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 when? 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, lunatic screaming in their face every three seconds.

Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I also want to address The Tonys. On a recent episode of Checking Game with Michelle Williams, I open up about feeling snubbed by the Tony Awards. Do I? I was never mad. I was disappointed because I had high hopes.

To hear this and more on disappointment and protecting your peace, listen to checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.