Bachelor Happy Hour - Exclusive: Pieper Shares Her Side of the Story

Episode Date: October 13, 2021

In an exclusive interview with “Bachelor Happy Hour,” Pieper James discusses the heavily publicized drama stemming from her time on “Bachelor in Paradise.” Pieper explains everything, including what her relationship was with Brendan before arriving in “Paradise,” whether or not she and Brendan had a strategy going in to “Paradise,” and the hardships of watching the show back. She also gives an update on where her relationship with Brendan currently stands and how all the drama affected her developing friendship with Natasha.  Then, Becca gets excited for next week’s season premiere of “The Bachelorette,” featuring fellow Minnesota native Michelle Young! Make sure to watch along with her on Tuesday, October 19, on ABC and Hulu.  “Bachelor Happy Hour” has exclusive interviews every week. Watch “The Bachelorette” on ABC and listen to “Bachelor Happy Hour” the next morning.  Don’t forget to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode.  See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

What is up, Bachelor, happy hour listeners? It is your host, Becca. And unfortunately, I don't have a co-host with me this week. But rest assured, we will have one back next week in time for Michelle's season premiere. Don't forget to tune in because that is starting on Tuesday, October 19th. And I cannot wait to watch a fellow Minnesota girl, Grace, our big screen.

And it's going to be such a fun season. And I'm personally such a huge fan of Michelle. I absolutely adore her. So I cannot wait to see how her journey begins. And in the meantime, it's an interesting week because we're now in between seasons. It's a little bittersweet because last week we finished a bachelor in paradise. And this week, I figured we haven't heard from one of these folks yet. And obviously so much of the Paradise season took place with Brendan and Piper.

And so I figured we would finally have Ms. Piper on to join us to give her side of things to give her take. She was very much so part of a lot of the drama that went down in the love triangle between her, Brendan and Natasha. And so I'm excited to have her on. She's actually somebody that I roomed with for a week down in Mexico. So I got her side of things. She's a sweetheart, obviously, should hit the fan when she was there in her relationship.

And there's been so many rumors circulating now between what is she, is she in a relationship or not with Brendan? Where do they stand? And has she talked to Natasha? So we have so many burning questions from our listeners for her. So I think without further ado, we should just bring her on to Bachelor Happy Hour. So everyone, please welcome Piper to have Happy Hour. Welcome, Piper. It's been a while since we've had you on Bachelor Happy Hour. I think it was for Matt's season months ago. So welcome back. I mean, life has taken you through a roller coaster, I would say, all of the ups and down. So how are you doing right now? I'm doing pretty good right now. I think that, you know, I have a really good support system here in the city and all my

friends. So it's been, you know, as crazy as it's been, it's been really good. And I'm like really thankful for my friends in the city. Well, let's do a quick check-in because the last time we had you on, I think you were living out on the West Coast, correct? Yeah. Yeah, I was living in Oregon. Okay, yeah. So fill us in, I mean, since Mad Season and since Paradise, like, where has life taken you? All over the place. So I was living, yeah, at home with my parents, you know, the whole pandemic. It was not a choice. It was, you know, it was just the right thing to do. And then I was supposed to go to Chicago for school, but like literally right when we got back to film, that season. I found out that my school's going to be online for indefinitely, basically. So I was

like, oh, I'm not going to Chicago. I'm going to New York. That's the dream. So I got a job on advertising and I live in New York. All right. And do you, who's your roommate? Is it anyone from the show or just other friends? Serena C. Oh, you live with Serena C? Yeah, just the two of us. Okay. Oh my gosh. It's so funny now. I feel like back in the day post show, everyone would always say like all the batch of people move to L.A. That's just where they end up. And now, I feel like it's either New York or Nashville or the new, the new fun go-to places. So, well, I'm glad you ended up in a fun city

because it just gives me more of an excuse to travel now out to the East Coast. I will, I will. Yeah, we'll definitely be out there very soon. So, so much went down from your time on Paradise. So just since then, how have you been doing? Yeah, I mean, it's not, it's not been easy. It's, you know, I'm not, it was hard to watch it play back and it was hard to kind of like relive that um obviously I was like

thankful to go to paradise to you know see brand and see all my friends and all of that but obviously how it played out wasn't wasn't ideal in terms of like how it looked and you know everything like that so I've I've just been dealing with that kind of you know working through that but it's it's not it's not been easy and I'm not going to lie it's not been like the easiest thing did you watch each episode back because I know some people choose not to Um, so did you, did you decide to, you know, you're just going to bite the bullet? I probably shouldn't use that phrase at all. But, um, were you just like, I'm going to do it and just, you know, see how this all plays out? Like, did you choose to watch it? I watched, I didn't watch it.

All the episodes that I want, I was on. I didn't watch while they were airing. I watched them kind of asked the facts because it was like, it was a lot to like watch it and then also be getting the feedback online. And so I, I watched the episode live when Brendan and I went home, but then everything else I kind of watched in clips and not all at once, because there was a lot to get it from all, all angles. Yeah. So we'll get into the details, obviously, of the show and prior to that, like what kind of led up to everything that we saw go down on our TV screens, but the number one burning question out there, I think that all of our viewers and the listeners want to know is, where do you and Brendan stand right now? Because we've seen,

articles and we've, we've heard rumors that you may have split. So where are you two currently? Yeah, I mean, that's just all they are is rumors. I don't, I mean, I can understand, you know, Brendan, I'm following me and that kind of thing. Why people maybe came to the conclusion that we split, but we're still together. Um, the reason we didn't choose to go public, like everybody else in the show, um, was just because like, obviously our experience was a little bit different. Um, we tainted our own experience in that way. So we are kind of working on ourselves and each other. we're focusing on being a couple before taking that public because obviously this is an easy thing to go through. And there's a lot of, you know, flaws in seeing what played out. And, you know,

obviously I wasn't there the whole time. I didn't see it all. So like seeing it all play out. But we're together. It was a rumor that we broke up. But yeah, that's where we stand right now. Okay. Do you feel like in a weird way going through all of that and leaving in the way that you both did make your relationship stronger in any capacity? I mean, I can imagine it's been very difficult just dealing with the public backlash and the scrutiny and the opinions and comments. But do you think in any sort of way made you both stronger as a couple? I think it did.

I think that there's, you know, when you're first in a relationship with somebody, there's like this, this really happy period where you don't really have to deal with a lot of conflict and anything like that. And obviously because we were dealing with conflict, both, you know, kind of between each other, but also, like, from, from outside perspectives, um, it did make us stronger in the way that, like, right away we knew how we communicated in arguments. Right away, we knew how we dealt with, like, exterior bad things. Um, I'm not saying it was like, you know, peaches and rainbows the whole time, but it was good to kind of have that feedback and know, you know, down the line if something

comes up, how we both kind of deal with those things. I want to take it back to not even the beginning of paradise, but pre-paradise, because there's been so much said out there of, of, what you and Brendan were before stepping foot on that beach. You know, some people, and even you and Brendan had said, like, yeah, we had talked, we hung out, but it wasn't anything serious. So give us more behind the scenes, actual intel of what, from your side of things, what you and Brendan were pre-Paradise. Yeah.

Before Paradise, Brendan and I, like, we were not in a relationship. We were not boyfriend, girlfriend. We had hung out. We had talked, but it wasn't something that was. so serious or anything like that. I hadn't even made the decision to go to Paradise, like, fully by the time that he left for Paradise.

And I think that that's kind of like, you know, I was like trying to follow my heart to go see him in Paradise. And like, obviously I came in with a very honest attention. Like, I want to be with Brendan. But I also knew that me going to that beach could mean that he was in a relationship with someone else. It could mean that he was ready to get engaged

at the end of it to somebody else. And, you know, all of those things in my mind, I still was like, I still want to go here and I want to see if this is an opportunity. But we weren't in a relationship. It was just a guy that I liked and I fully knew that what the situation was going there. I fully knew that I could be walking into, you know, a number of things in terms of him being in a relationship. But it was kind of like a hope and a prayer when I walked in there that he would still, you know, be open to exploring our relationship.

But no, we were not in any type of relationship beforehand other than just talking to one another and hanging out a few times. before he left because he obviously got there about a week before you did like in having those conversations of okay like we're going to go and do this and see how it goes did and you say you know like you didn't know what you were walking into it could have been a number of situations he could have been already with somebody was he very explicit to you of like I'm going to go down here and keep my options open and if I do date someone and you come down like did he ever did you either talk through like what that could look like

what that could mean for you if you did go down there and he was already like all in with somebody else? We didn't talk about it. I think that there's like this misconception that we had this whole plan of like A, B and C scenarios and that wasn't the case. There was conversation about like, oh, if you're there and you're in a relationship,

then like I'm going to respect that because I think that at the end of the day, I would never want to have to like convince somebody to be with me to like tell them that you want to be with me. Like I wanted to be a choice and I wanted to like, I guess present myself as an option when I got down to the beach, but there wasn't, you know, this grand conversation about, like, if you're talking to somebody, then I'm just going to do this.

Like, it was more of me just going down there and being like, obviously very intentional and I came down with a date card, like asking him. But, you know, saying, like, if you were still available, I would like that option. But, you know, that's kind of, that's kind of all it was. It wasn't any deeper than that. Mm-hmm. So one thing that we saw, I mean, we sat several different times. first, I think it was between Brendan and Natasha and some other people asking him how many times you two had hung up before Paradise. And then it was also a conversation between you and Natasha

when you got down there and she asked you, you know, what did your relationship with Brendan look like before stepping foot on the beach? The answers were vastly different. I mean, I think he had downplayed the amount of times you hung out and how you spent your time together versus what you said. And so what was it? Because he said you guys hung out maybe a couple times. You said around 10 times. He made it seem like it was much more casual. What exactly was it? Like I'm such a details person. I'm like, I need numbers. I need like the good details. So like help us all out with that. Yeah. No, definitely. I mean, we we hung out. I think I told her eight to 10 times. I think that was the case. I mean,

Brendan is correct. We didn't, we went to dinner one-on-one, hung out one-on-one, three or four times, but obviously we all, you know, him coming to the city, we all hang out the same people. So, yeah, we hung out in group settings or otherwise eight to ten times, went on a date, if you could

even call it that three to four times, but, you know, that's what it was. It wasn't, I mean, I don't think he was necessarily lying in that sense where he was saying, like, that time I think that I do think there was a bit of downplaying, Yeah. Well, as he said once, he just withheld information as you two were leaving. So because obviously, you know, the stories didn't match up. It was a little bit different. So you then finally, when you were able to watch it all back, because it's one thing when you're living there and like having conversations and of course, like, tensions are high, people are heated. There's so much going on on that actual beach. So when you actually watched some of it back and, you know, kind of of saw what he was saying to Natasha, oh, we only hung out a couple times. What did that feel like for you? Because I feel like if that was my partner, I would be pissed. I would definitely have

words with them outside of this on my own and be like, what the hell? Like, you totally downplayed what we had or like how much we hung out? What did what did that conversation between you two look like? Yeah. I mean, I think you got kind of like clips of it at the, at our first date at the, at our dinner when I was like, I don't like, I was like, I thought we were one place. You you were saying another thing. I'm hearing other things. Um, but, you know, off camera, you know, when we get back home, it kind of made me start to question like a lot of the things that I thought, you know, beforehand. Like, and it wasn't so much accusatory. I just really wanted to know, like, okay, I thought this, but where were you at this point in time?

Because, you know, I was going there for Brendan. I was like trying to be like, okay, I really like this guy. Let me see what happened. Like, what's going to happen. But yeah, I mean, it did, it did make me question sanity is not the right. word but it did make me question like beforehand like was i was i reading into a situation where he didn't actually like me this much was it was it was i perceiving it one way um so we did have a lot of those conversations like walking through you know before and during like what what did that mean to you or did i misconstrued it whatever well and there was one thing too and i had talked about this on the podcast you know weeks ago it was something that i had said and i never want to i would

never want to say anything behind your back without being able to say it to your face, too. But there was one point where I had brought up the situation where Brendan had been talking to Natasha and he said something along the lines of, you know, the connection that I have with you, Natasha is so much stronger than the connection I had with Piper, which now, I mean, now knowing, in hindsight, you two went through all of that, then together on the beach left, now you're still together what was it like hearing that um and and now seeing how he had the turn and came back i wouldn't say back to you if you guys didn't have a plan or a relationship in place but you know then left her to be with you and now you guys were still together what was that like

yeah i mean that was that was hurtful obviously for me it was like okay but then it's also it's hurtful to see that lie like me let's just call it a lie like it's hurtful to see that lie like it's hurtful to see that lie if, you know, he really had these strong feelings for me to say to somebody else to gain any type of anything. Like, that's, that's not fair to Natasha. I've reiterated so many times, like, while on the beach, like, I have nothing but the utmost respect for her. So it's not fair that that was her experience. It's not fair that he said those things. And I don't condemn those actions, but it also was hurtful to me to be like, makes me then think, like, oh my gosh, am I just like this crazy girl, you know, with the biggest air quotes who I'm like,

I like him, but he's telling this other girl that, like, it just, it kind of sets you through through a bit of a tailspin. Um, but obviously in that situation, I sympathize the most with Natasha because nobody deserves to be treated like that. Nobody deserves to like think they're building a strong connection just how that, you know, flip the next day, the next week, whatever it may be. Well, how, like, how has he explained that? Um, I, not, I mean, not great. It's kind of like, I haven't really got a straight answer on that and I would, I would love to know. I think that that's kind of part of the reason we're keeping our relationship pretty like on the download, because I do still have questions about the experience. I do still have

questions about those things that happened before I got there. And like those episodes I watched clips of, but it's hard to see the person that you like date somebody else and like say these things when you have this perception of what it was beforehand. Like, I knew that we weren't in a relationship. I knew that, you know, I liked him. I was hoping he liked me back. But then saying things like that connection stronger and then flip this script. It really makes you question a lot of stuff. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I would just, I think as a woman and as a friend, I would just warn you to err on the side of caution in regards if you're not getting straight, direct answers and in big situations like this that you need to just tread lightly because it was, you know,

and I was never privy to their conversations between him and Natasha on the beach. That was something private between them. I obviously am friends with her, so I would get her side of things. And then it's one thing to watch it back as a viewer. And I just had questions of like, you know, if I was in Piper's shoes, how would that make me feel? Like I would, that wouldn't sit well with me. So obviously you mentioned Natasha and there's been a lot said between, you know, you knowing her pre-paradise, you guys having some sort of friendship or not. Obviously, I would love to ask you directly what you and Natasha were in terms of friends before you walked down onto the beach just to give all because you know there's rumors there's articles there's forums

everyone's going to say certain things and make up certain storylines in their head so where were you and Natasha at before coming to Pat John Paradise yeah I mean Natasha and I have similar friends in the city we I guess run in the same circles if you if you want to say that but I would say that Natasha and I were like developing a friendship. We had hung out, you know, I was a part of groups that she was a part of. So, I mean, while I don't think we were obviously best friends or anything like that, like I would, I would consider her friend. I would consider our friendship developing people that have the same friends in the city as people that, you know, go to the same events, that kind of thing. And I thought that we, we got along. So that's where I stood with her.

So, okay, because I know, you know, there's the pictures out there of you all getting your nails done together. Was that one of the only times you had hung out before that or had you spent more time together? No, that was the only time we hung out in person. Okay. Um, and this is tricky because now knowing that you and Brendan are still together, I can imagine it puts everyone in a very compromised spot. Um, if you are with Brandon, I'm sure that's where your loyalties lie. But since everything went down and you mentioned, you know, you feel like a lot of what Brendan had done or said was at her expense. Have you spoken to her at all? Have you tried to reach you out since coming back from the beach? No, I haven't reached out to her since coming back.

I know, like obviously it's a personal experience. We all know that people that have been on the show, like living it and then having to relive it through watching it. That's a lot. And I kind of wanted to give for that space before reaching out. and kind of like, I didn't want to dredge up any feelings that she was already having very experience watching on the screen. That's obviously hard. And having it cut down into two hours and just having to watch it, that's not easy. I mean, I've reached out to her now to say, like, I want to speak to you in person one-on-one.

I don't want to give her an apology that's over text where I can hide behind a screen, type something out and say, I'm sorry. Like, that is not how I've been taught to apologize. That's not how I was raised. So, you know, the opportunity to actually talk to her, you know, face to face, whether it's FaceTime or in person or over the phone, I think that would be the best way for me to convey a sincere apology because I don't want at the end of this for her to think that

my apology was insincere or anything like that. But I also do want to get for the space because I understand that as well. Yeah. And just knowing her, I think that would go a long way with her is the fact of trying to do it either in person or over the phone, not hiding behind the screen. I think that would speak volumes for her. Um, yeah, I guess I was interested because if you, you know, if you say that you're friends with somebody, I mean, I would assume that you would want to reach out and have that reconciliation.

Again, I know you're in a compromised spot because of your relationship with Brendan. And quite honestly, I don't think she wants to hear from Brendan whatsoever. Um, but I think just for two women, especially in this franchise who already have to deal with so much, it can be a lot that I think it would go a long way. Um, I want to get back. into um back to paradise back to when you first entered because we did see you come down a bit late and because you came in i want to say the day after me so we were our like they were already a weekend filming um what were you hoping you would have come in earlier i know that like when you and i had talked actually when we were down there it was a lot of it had to do with your work and schedule and you weren't sure if you could get time off but um what made you come insulate?

Was it just waiting on them or was it was it figuring out if you truly wanted to do Paradise or not? I mean, it was a little bit of both. It was, you know, my work schedule and just all of that. But then it was me genuinely being like, I was very wishy Washington for that was very annoying to everyone trying to figure out who's going to be there

because I was like, no, I'm not going. And then Brennan's like, okay, I'm going to go. And I was like, okay, I'm not going to go. And then it was kind of just this like, as I sat, I left later, than everyone. So as I sat, you know, alone in New York, all my friends in the city are already in paradise. The guy that I was like interested in could be dating someone else that kind of like I, not even loneliness, because I don't want it to sound like, you know, it was a fallback.

But like, kind of that like, shoot, he could be talking to somebody else. He could be with somebody else. That kind of was the straw that broke the canvas back. And I was like, I should go. I need to go. How apprehensive were you walking and not knowing what was already happening? oh my gosh um it was probably one of the most nerve-wracking things um i mean even when i asked brennan on the date and he was like okay can i talk to somebody really quick i didn't know who he holds um because you know i was taken elsewhere so it was even just like that like oh my god is he going to tell me like no i don't want to go on the state with you i have this other relationship like all of the unknowns and for someone like me who i'm such a planner i like to know everything

like that was hard because i was i was really out of my element and i was walking down like anybody else who walks down and has no idea who's in what relationships and what's going on. Does any part of you now wish that you would have maybe been open to exploring other relationships or even pulling guys at first day? Because right away, I remember you came in and right away, you were like, Brendan, you want to do this. You want to go on this date. It was like no hesitation whatsoever. You knew what you wanted, which I will say, like, I commend you for that of just going in and being like, hey, you, I like you. Let's go talk. Um, but is there any part of you that wished you would have pulled other guys that day or that

maybe you would have been open to meeting and exploring any other relationship down there? Yeah. I mean, I think that, I think that that is, you know, I think that Natasha said it to me. A lot of people said it to me, like, that's what Paradise is about is exploring all those other relationships. And like, you know, I don't think that I gave myself a genuine Paradise experience, but I did go in knowing what I wanted. And I took that. But, you know, know, I think there was amazing guys on that beach and I think that that's, you know, maybe something that I missed out on, but at the end of the day, like, I'm happy with my decision. I'm happy with Brendan, um, you know, as controversial as that might be to say.

Like, so I just kind of did what I always do and followed like my gut and my heart and that. And I think that's, you know, that's the experience I got. Yeah. Which I think, I mean, it speaks volumes. You went down there knowing you wanted to see him explore that. Um, and I think a lot of what people, even people within the franchise, will say, or viewers, they'll be like, oh, well, you know, the producer stopped her or whatever. It's like, I think it's important to say, like, if you wanted to explore that solely with him and pull him, like, that was your decision. We're all grown adults. And I know people like to think that sometimes the producers are like puppets on the string or have us on the string of like,

you can and can't do certain things, which at times just because of scheduling, that's the case. But like, you know, if you really wanted to talk to anyone else, you could have. And they, they would have definitely allowed it for sure okay so we see then you pull brandon right away you both go on that date um which i have some questions about that date and that conversation but i think the bigger thing too is after that date obviously you came back and i mean you two were like from that moment on you two were pretty much inseparable you were like very much a couple like and maybe chalk it up to you knowing each other beforehand but you you guys like were seemed to just like vibe and like it seemed like you had been on the beach

longer than you were you know um but how long coming back from that date did you like did you expect that you would get heat and like how soon did you think that would start happening or did you come back from that date and just think it was going to be smooth sailing um I mean I honestly didn't know because in our conversation you know on our date when we were talking about Brandon's experience, you know, before I got there, um, he said that he was getting a lot of heat, but it was hard to like gauge the timeline in terms of like, if he was still getting heat up to the day that I got there, all of that kind of stuff. So I mean, I, I didn't know what to expect the next day when everyone, you know, when I had that conversation with Natasha and,

you know, there was, there was murmurings about whatever. I was kind of expecting to have those conversations, but I didn't know what the backlash, if there was a new backlash. I didn't know the severity of the situation. Yeah. I mean, and it's interesting because again, like I feel like I was so, everyone's kind of in their own world when you're living on the beach. And for me, like, I'm just not a drama person to begin with. And so when people start talking and saying stuff, I feel like I just go the opposite way. And so like when this was all happening and these rumblings were going on, I was just like, Thomas, let's go and make out because I don't

want to be part of any of this. But yeah, I don't think, I mean, I mean, obviously, no one expected things to blow up as extreme as they did. But going back to your conversation on that date, like on your one-on-on-one with Brendan, you made a comment of like, at one point, thanks for playing the game. And then you also talked about, I believe, utilizing your time in paradise and taking advantage of what it had to offer and what you could promote together. So what exactly did you mean by that? I mean I think that by that I was purely making a joke you know obviously coming down excited to see him I was saying like oh thanks for holding down the fort like I'm happy to see you here um it wasn't indicative of a plan or anything like that it was it was just a joke um in terms of like I don't I don't even I don't know the promote I don't know what the context of that conversation was I think that there's this whole um conspiracy that we were just there for followers that's not the case that's you know

know that that's just not the case like um in the context in which i told brend about the article and told him about like his follower again and whatever it was i was only telling him because somebody who's never been in a public relationship who's never had external people care about who i'm dating that was like really shocking to me and so that was kind of the context in which i was telling him you know about the followers and whatnot it wasn't to be like look we can use this opportunity for x y z that was i was just being like we're both like normal people, you know, that are now in this, this environment, which we're both so thankful for, but it wasn't anything that was like, you know, we're going to use this for that. It was just

like, this is crazy that people care about our relationship. This is new. Well, and I will attest to that, which it's, it's even hard to explain, but like, it's an interesting mindset to go from, you know, just being, I would say, like a normal everyday person living in the world, to then have people actually be so invested and care about you and like to the point where there's like some sort of lack of privacy. So I will attest to that like for the fact that like you're like, oh, people actually care about us and like how our relationship is going. It's a weird thing that kind of happens overnight, I would say in this franchise that you can't really expect and no one can really prep you for. But I want to say this because again, this is something I said on the podcast and I, I

would never want you to think that, like, I'm talking about anyone behind their back. But when you did make the comment on your one-on-one date about, like, thanks for playing the game, it did. It was kind of offensive in a way because it downplayed, I think, real genuine connections and feelings and relationships that we've seen through the show. And, like, just me speaking from my own experience firsthand, like, it really does work. And people really do fall in love. And I think you're realizing that now because you are indeed still in a relationship with

Brendan but I think for a lot of people who were on that beach like in in solid relationships and starting something as a couple like we were like this isn't a game though like these are people's real thoughts and feelings and emotions on the line um so that was one tough part to see and I and I can imagine you know being Natasha hearing that too it would hurt even more because I would be like this is now at my expense like was I the game that Brendan was playing, you know, just to get roses week by week and to hand out roses and a stick around longer until you came. So that was one part watching back in one of the episodes where I was like, that kind of hurts. And I can imagine what Natasha's feeling for sure. Um, so going back to,

it wasn't even on your first one-on-one. I think it was after you'd been there maybe for a couple of days. You and Brendan were talking and you had made the comment. I think maybe, maybe it was the night that you two decided to go home or like right before that uh you basically said something to brennan of like i told you we shouldn't have come here like i didn't want to come here basically like now look what happened what what did you mean by that like did you at any point feel like you were kind of forced to because you were into him and he made the decision to go and then you were just like oh well if he's going i'm going to go um what did you mean by that by i wish we I told you we shouldn't have come.

Yeah, yeah. I didn't want to go. I think that that was kind of the summation of what I was saying there was I didn't want to, I didn't want to go to Paradise. I wanted to, you know, explore a relationship with this one person that I was interested in, you know,

in the real world, which obviously is not the right terminology. And like, to your point about the game thing, like that was something I just said and I completely and wholeheartedly apologize because it's not a game. Obviously, I went on The Bachelor and I was like,

I could fall in love with this guy. I went on this show and I was like, I want to be with Brendan. I want this uninterrupted time. Like I see all my friends so happy in their relationships. I see you and Thomas so happy. Like my deepest and sincerest apologies if that was construed as like a game and I actually meant that.

And I also so apologize to Natasha and making that like devalue her feelings, her role in that, her relationship with Brendan, that's, that's not fair. That's not a game. All of that. But yeah, I think that that's what it was is I didn't want to come to paradise because I wanted to be, you know, exploring this out and seeing how it would work for us, you know, me living in

New York, running in living in Boston. Why I went, because I couldn't stand the thought of him being with somebody else. And I wanted to present myself as one of those options on that beach for him, because I knew that if I stayed here and he came home, however long later, and had a, had a fiancé, had a girlfriend, and I didn't give myself a shot in that, that was going to be really heartbreaking for me. But at the end of the day, I didn't want to go to Paradise. That's not how I wanted to explore our relationship. And that's kind of what that statement was.

Do you feel like now because of that mentality of not fully wanting to go, but being into him enough to explore it? Like, do you feel like in any way your relationship was or maybe still is tainted a bit by that? I think that there's it's something that I'm trying to get over I guess I don't want to hold resentment over him because ultimately at the end of the day

it was my decision to go I'm the one that go on the plane I'm the one that showed up in Mexico all of that so I think it's something that like me personally I'm working through not to hold over his head because yeah I didn't want to go and yeah I went and that was my decision but it was something that he was like

you know it'd be great to see you in paradise but i would like explore those options and so it's it's nothing on him and it's fully on me to go for going so it's something we're working through but mostly i'm i'm working through do you have you asked him i have a two-part question have you asked him now looking back and knowing how everything transpired like does he wish he would have just stayed home and explored it with you instead of going on to that beach um i've asked him but I mean I don't think that he's going to give me like a no I'm happy that I got you know I don't think about so he's like I mean he says like yeah I wish I would have just stayed home but obviously hindsight's 2020 and I don't think that if he would have asked him before paradise obviously he

wouldn't have said yes right right and then do you ever ask him and this is maybe just me and how I would work through a relationship especially after adversity like this and you know something that was so extreme and publicized like if the roles were reversed and you had gotten to the beach sooner and had kind of explored some sort of relationship with another man and he came down and basically you were in your position but just opposite, how would he be feeling right now in this moment? Um, I don't know. I think that he would be hurt. I think that he would be, you know, if the roles were reversed, I think he would be feeling exactly what I was feeling watching it all

back and realizing, you know, the downplaying and all of that kind of stuff or in one person's eyes, what could have been perceived as one thing. Yeah, I mean, I think that's, that's a great question. I'm definitely going to ask him because that's, you know, I was following my heart in the way that I wanted to be with him, but like seeing how he like navigated and manipulated the situation, that's, you know, it's something to work through. It's something to talk about because it's hurtful to see. And I would say this to any woman. any friend, make sure you are getting direct answers that you can live with and potentially move on in a relationship together. He owes you that, at least. Not that I should be giving

any advice in a relationship, let's be honest, but just as a friend and as a woman, I would want that for anyone, to be honest. So I think it was the week you arrived at the beach. You and Brandon, and obviously at this point, take it back now. You guys couldn't really publicize your relationship. And so we've all done it. We've all been a little sneaky on the Instagram where we've posted certain things kind of hinting and teasing. But you had both posted the pictures in the pool with what I think at the time is,

and I can assume, and correct me if I'm wrong, you thought they were witty captions because I don't think you knew how much everything on the show was going to blow up. Um, so, uh, yeah, what, what was your thought process that day when you both posted those, the pool picks with the IG captions that, you know, since then have been removed. Yeah. I think that it was all, you know, it was not meant to hurt anybody, obviously not knowing what transpired, what transpired, what was going to be shown, all of that.

We posted before the episode, um, it was all, you know, in good fun, which is seems like a really cool thing to say because it was at the expense of Natasha's feelings, which is not fair is, you know, I apologize for that. Like, that's, that's not fair. That was not the right way to go about it. It was purely supposed to be lighthearted. And obviously, looking back, it's, you know, it's not fair to do that at the expense of someone's feelings. It's not fair to do that, you know, not considering how that's going to make Natasha feel. And that's, you know, I'm so sorry for that. I'm sure Brennan is so sorry for that because that was not our intention was to hurt anybody's feelings or further this, you know, this mean, mean

storyline at all. It purely was to be witty and to be to be all of that. And nothing more. That's basic. That's it. Oh, this is something I wanted to ask because when it was airing, I was like, there's no way that they thought that cameras were on them. But obviously, there was so much that I think audio picked up that you and Brennan had talked about that I'm sure you never thought would air. Did you, did you both just genuinely not know that there was cameras everywhere, like in every corner? I mean, I did. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I did. I don't know if I was always thinking about it or whatever, but obviously you're on a show. You sign up for that. You're Mike. Like, you know that you are going to be filmed if you're anywhere on that beach.

Mm-hmm. Is there anything that you regret now saying or doing or not doing that you wish you could either take back or redo, just knowing everything that transpired? Yeah, I mean, I think that I definitely regret that any of my actions for anybody else. Obviously, Natasha being that primary person, like, I am so sorry that like me coming down to the beach had any negative impact on her time in paradise. I'm sorry that like my actions beforehand, you know, had any weight in Brendan's actions. Like, that was never my intention. Obviously, then people watching that back on the exterior, seeing these, you know, these traits come up on TV shows that people maybe have experienced their actual lives. Like,

I apologize to those people as well, but my primary apology goes out to Natasha because that's, that's not fair. That's not what Paradise is about. You shouldn't have your, your experience tainted by one singular person. And the fact that I had any role in that, I regret. Um, I, I, you know, I think that if you would have asked me a few weeks ago, I would have said, like, I regret going on Paradise, but I think that, you know, at the end of the day, I did. And it's, that's not really fair to regret that. And I try not to live with regret. So instead of regretting the experience, um, I'm taking it as a learning opportunity. And I think that's kind of all anyone can do when, you know, they mess up. So what does the future for both Piper as an

individual and for you and Brendan look like? And you don't have to get into the details. I'm not asking for the nitty gritty here because again like whatever you feel comfortable sharing I would never want to pride in everyone's relationship but what does that the future hold for you and you both yeah I mean I think right now for me personally like I'm just you know focusing on the things I enjoy I mean I made that post about you know being a really anxious person and that I think people took that out of context to be in reference to paradise it had nothing to do with that it was simply about why I haven't been on Instagram but I think that in that I mentioned finding joy in things and you know i really enjoy my job so focusing on that i really enjoy my

genuine friendships like focusing on those and kind of just like focusing on those things rather than being caught up in this in like anxious thoughts feelings things that stress me out which we obviously all have um you know for brend and i i think we're going to continue working through this you know we have strong feelings for each other but i think that slowly for us slowly but surely will win the race hopefully um and you know hopefully like our we're able to get in a groove and be and be good and work work passes because you know that's all you can help for so if you had to give any advice to anyone coming to paradise in the future of what to do or not to do anything in general what would that be um watch paradise beforehand i think that that was one of my fatal flaws as i'd never

seen Paradise. So, um, you know, the unspoken rule book, which, you know, obviously grocery store Joe likes to refer to. And I think that that's, that's a legitimate thing. Like, I wasn't aware of it because I had never seen a show. So watch Paradise before going on. Um, and then- research, yes. I would have to do your research. Um, and then, you know, if there's somebody that you're interested in and you, and you think that they're going to be in paradise, wait for that relationship to go in paradise. Maybe inquire slightly to know if there can be there or not, but other than that, just if you want to explore that relationship, take the time of what paradise is to

have an uninterrupted time and beautiful place together because otherwise you'll end up like me. Well, if you two are still working things out and you have a loyal, respectful relationship that you can grow from and learn from this, I mean, I think that's all anyone can ask for I think in any relationship, in anyone in general. All right. So Piper, obviously, your life has changed for good. I think some tough moments.

Like I said, it was a roller coaster these past, I would say this past year for you, just being on Matt's season and now Paradise. But I want to leave the floor up to you. Is there any last words or advice or anything that you want to share with our listeners about you as a person, what you've gone through, anything at all?

Yeah. I mean, I think first and foremost, I just want to reiterate every apology that I gave. Obviously, those apologies are mostly towards Natasha because my actions affected her directly. And I am so genuinely sorry for that. And I do hope to get the opportunity to speak to her face to face or give her a verbal apology for that. And then I want to apologize to anybody who saw those actions and it reflected something in their life. And that was triggering for them because obviously that's not easy either. So an apology to those people as well. But I think that overall, like, when we look at our lives, we all make mistakes. And obviously, that's a very cliche thing to say. And this isn't my mistake. And I fully wholeheartedly own that. You know, I did not, you know, go into paradise as everybody else does. And that's not fair. But I do make mistakes.

We all make mistakes. And I think that having a little, you know, kindness and understanding in that would, you know, not even for my own benefit, but just for everybody, just be kind to one another. and just because you see something doesn't mean you necessarily need to send them a message on Instagram or anything because there is a lot of a lot of rumors and everything out there. So just understanding that before you're quick to send a death threat on Instagram. I mean, well said. I've said this time and time again and I'm going to say it, I think, till the day that I die.

You know, at the end of the day, everyone coming on the show, like, yes, we open ourselves up to this public forum to watch our journeys unfold for a short amount of time. but we're human we have feelings and emotions and we're we all have our struggles behind closed doors that no one will ever see and know about and so um i would just reiterate to all of our viewers and listeners that like we're humans and this is a reality show um real feelings do get involved people make mistakes we fuck up we say stupid shit we do great shit sometimes um but like we are real And so I know that people get so invested in everything that transpires on the beach or in the show in general. But to remove themselves a bit and yes, sending death threats, the trolls, like the haters, it's like, you don't have to like us, you don't have to agree with us, but you also don't have to be terrible monsters to us as well.

And vice versa. We shouldn't be that way either. So yes, we're all humans. We really have hearts. We really have. have brains. I mean, some of us don't, but, you know, it's a lot to take in. So I'm just glad that we were able to have you on, but I want to get into the fun stuff because I know that you were friends with Michelle. You obviously met during Matt's season of The Bachelor, and I've met her several times now, and I'm absolutely obsessed with Michelle. I mean, maybe it's the Midwest. We're both Minnesota girl she feels like my kind of people but um I know that you two are friends so any advice any support any well wishes please share that with this platform now I'm sure she would love to hear that um yes Michelle is one of those people that's just like a ray of light I think

that everyone felt that on that season she's just like she's so positive but so realistic and so like just down to earth she's just like a great person so um my advice plus like what I want to say is I hope no of those guys try to mess with her because she is bad. She's a bad bitch if I can guess on this. And I think just at the end of the day, I hope everyone's watching because I think that she's really happy and it's just, it's good to see her happy and it's good to see, you know, someone's so, so good, get to go through this experience and get to, get to find their person.

I think she out of anyone. I know, like, every time my season starts and maybe it's just because I now know what, what it takes to, you know, like go through dating so many people, it's not easy. But every time a new season starts,

I always get a little apprehensive. And I get kind of like this mama bear vibe of like, you know, no one messes with my baby and you want them to find love. But out of anyone, I'm so not nervous for Michelle. She has such a great head on her shoulder. She has the biggest heart.

She has such a fun, loving, open, welcoming personality. She's, I will say, like, I want to manifest this because I want to put this out for her,

but I feel like she's going to have one of the best, most entertaining seasons to watch. But I truly think, and I don't know anything of what happened. I know that she's happy, but that's all I know. I truly think the show hopefully is going to be going back to the basics where we find that wholesome love story again.

So I can't wait to watch, text me anytime if you need a vent to me about any of the guys or anything. yeah it'll be it'll be an exciting one so everyone please make sure to watch next tuesday october 19th for our girl michel let's start her journey at live piper it has been so much fun having you again i'm glad that you were able to kind of come on here share more of your side of things i hope that you felt like it was a safe space because i know how nerve-wracking these can go especially with everything that transpired it got very extreme very heated um so hopefully now you can put the paradise chapter to bed and just move on and be happy and find what fuels

your soul in life. Thank you. Thank you for having me. It was good to be able to speak and talk about it and work for it for hopefully the final time. Yes. No more TV shows. Yes. I'm with you on that one. All right, Piper. Take care. Good to see you. Thank you. You too. All right, everyone. Well, that is it for today. And next week, I can't wait because as we're back at it, we have another season of The Bachelorette. Hopefully it's going to be an exciting, juicy episode since it will be the premiere of Michelle's season because from one Minnesota girl to the other, I am so looking forward to this and I can't wait to see Michelle Grace is on the big screen.

Don't forget to watch it. It's on Tuesday, October 19th. She looks stunning. I have seen some of the promos. The guys look handsome. I think it's going to be a mix of fun, romance, drama, all the good things that you get with any of our beloved Bachelor shows. But a huge thank you to Piper for joining us today.

I know that that probably wasn't the most easy of interviews to be doing, but I'm glad that she was able to share her side of things and give us a little bit more insight to her and Brandon and everything that transpired on the beach. So thank you to Piper. But an even bigger thanks to all of our Bachelor happy hour listeners. We appreciate you all so much each and every week. So thank you for tuning in and listening to us

and just being the best fans and listeners. ever. So please make sure to follow us on social. If you don't already do so, you can do that at Bachelor Happy Hour on Instagram and at Batch Nation on both Twitter and Facebook. And as always, please don't forget to subscribe to our podcasts. You can do that on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the Wondry app, or wherever you were listening to us right now. Thanks, everyone. Can't wait until we talk again next week. 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 Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the psychology podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about how to be a better you. When you think about emotion regulation, you're not going to choose an adaptive strategy which is more effortful to use unless you think there's a good outcome. Avoidance is easier. Ignoring is easier. Denials easier. Complex problem solving takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jamel Hill hosted the Sports and Politics podcast, Spolitics.

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 Spolitics on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

This is an IHeart podcast.