Bachelor Happy Hour - Magi from Matt James’ Season Shares Her Incredible Story

Episode Date: April 6, 2021

She is perhaps one of the most incredible cast members ever to appear on “The Bachelor,” and now Magi Tareke is opening up to Rachel and Becca about her background and the amazing things she’s doing since filming the show. From growing up without running water to winning the visa lottery and moving from Ethiopia to the United States, Magi shares the challenges and triumphs she has faced in her life. Plus, Magi opens up about Matt James’ infamous TikTok dance and what was going through her mind when he whipped that out. Learn more about Magi’s organization, My Shoes Your Shoes. 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. It's important that we just reassure people that they're not alone, and there is help out there. The Good Stuff podcast, Season 2, takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of One Tribe's mission. One Tribe saved my life twice. Welcome to Season 2 of The Good Stuff.

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Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Welcome back, happy hour listeners. Another happy Tuesday. And we are thrilled to be here talking with you all today because we have one of our absolute favorite women that we have been wanting to have on since I think even before Matt James' season started.

She's a woman that we unfortunately did not get to know at all, which was such a huge bummer because I, I know. And I'm sure we're going to learn very quickly how incredible her story is. And she was one that we had our eye on since the bios were released. And Rachel, I actually think I said that she was way too good for the show. So we've been dying to talk to her. So today we are going to chat with the beautiful Maggie. And before we begin, Rachel, I know you are thrilled to be having Maggie on too. She's one that we've talked about wanting on for quite some time. Yeah. Let's without further do let's just bring her on like you said she's too good for bachelor nation and how often do we

we coin that term towards someone so yeah let's bring her on maggie welcome to the show welcome maggie we are thrilled to have you i am like i am a little bit overwhelmed okay i'm nervous to start with and i'm a little bit overwhelmed because you boys are like somebody that i really appreciate and i just never told i will see you guys i will talk to you and I'm like he oh my gosh we're rolling now Maggie don't listen

let's just this is your first podcast we have been made aware it's your first podcast but like we want this to be like you are talking to one of your girls we're sitting at the dinner table just having a conversation about our lived experiences

you are somebody that we have been so excited to talk to you know we were teased at the beginning of the season like we were told you it's such a great story to tell and then we didn't see it justice for maggie why did we see it so we're gonna see it today on the podcast we're so thrilled to have you so thank you so much for being here like take those nerves throw them away because this is just like like family just girlfriends cash in girl time thank you yes you are richel and you are becker okay and you are maggie and you are maggie you are maggie

Maggie, you are one, when the cast bio was released for Mad James this season, you were one girl who Rachel and I were so excited to see you on her TV screens. I think I made the comment. I was like, damn, she sounds way too good for the show even. Like, we can't wait to see her to get to know her. And as Rachel said, unfortunately, so much of the drama overtook everyone's storyline this season. So we can't wait to have you here to have our listeners actually get to know, Maggie, for who you are and not, you know, what was portrayed for two seconds on TV. So, as Rachel said, throw the nerves out the window. We're just going to have a good time.

So before we, like, really get into any of the questions, we want to check in with you. How have you been since you were obviously filming? And now that the season is wrapped and it's on airing, how have you been since all of that craziness? I've been good. I know, I've been trying to stay busy, of course, working, you know, at my pharmacy and I work in different pharmacy every day. I get to meet so many different people and it was very interesting because I love meeting

different people all the time. And yeah, and as you guys know, COVID vaccines are out. So I was giving so many of them. And the interesting thing is that people are so grateful to give them the vaccine and they think it's like a holy water. And fun fact, after I give them, they will come to me asking me, hey, do you want water? do you want food and they're just so happy and that you know that kept me a lot busy and also I was focusing more you know for what's going on in my hometown in tigrai and trying to create

more awareness and trying to find a way how to help the children and the mothers there by giving my time and money and find a way to create more awareness so people will know about it because thousands of children are out of family and a lot of months a lot of family are displaced and they have no food to eat and you know focusing more time on that is what keeps me busy after the show and yeah i think i'm still busy but it's interesting it's it's it's a good kind of busy and i'm grateful for that you know what i just heard there purpose kept me busy after the show real life meaningful things that you've been been working on even prior to the show that hold a special place in your heart have kept you busy and that's why that's one of the reasons many reasons that we were so excited to talk to you because there's so much depth there so I want to start from the beginning tell us everything that we missed I want you talk about like your childhood and growing up in Ethiopia and I have to tell you this now I don't know my heritage, but when I was in college, I used to say, like, I would, all these people from

Eritrea would ask me if I was Eritrean. Now, not Ethiopian next door, but I would say, no, but then it kept coming. People would say, oh, are you Habshah? So I started saying, well, yeah, I am. I am. So I have, honestly, I have no idea. I haven't. no idea. Hi, my father-shal sister. Hello, my house. Thank you. Yes. Can we be be half-ishal sisters, please? But yes, can you tell us your childhood and growing up and everything? Oh, okay. First of all, my own name is Maareg. Do you know that? My real name is Ma'arag. From social media, yes. It means grace. It means grace. I was born in a small village in Adwa, it's the intergrinous part of Ethiopia.

And Funfack, growing up, we didn't have running water. So I was fetching water every day from the river. And believing or not, I still have my scars on my feet from falling, carrying the water to the house. And that was interesting, but I get to be a pharmacist in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, there wasn't that much job opportunity. So I applied for a lottery. I played a lottery to come to America, to immigrate America.

And thankfully, I got it. I got the lottery. That's why, you know, I'm here with you guys, giving you the chance to come to this country and to meet you, to be a bachelor. And when I get here, I didn't want to be just a pharmacist, and I want to pursue my, you know, my modeling carrier because when I was back home, I used to think, you know, what the life of America,

the life of a strong, beautiful woman, fashion, educated. I just have, I want to do it because I came away by myself this country. And I get to pursue my modeling career and I get to work, you know, as a model. And as a pharmacist, I get to travel to different countries to even America, different parts of the U.S. And also, outside of, you know, my Maori and my pharmacist, I get spent most of my time on my non-profit. If you guys know, it's called my shoes, your shoes. Pump up above that. When I go up, I didn't have shoes when I, you know, when I was going to school.

And my dream was one day, if I make it out of that village, I will give shoes the little girls in, you know, developing country, starting from Ethiopia, Adwa, where I'm from. and that you know my goal is now I focus more to give shoes those little girls so they can't be able to go to school and to be who they want to be someday and that's it and that's a little bit about me currently I am a pharmacist I do my link and you know I work on my non-profit especially now with the things going on back home I'm trying to feed people as much as I can you know just to be able to give back. And that's me.

Oh, Maggie, you, I mean, just your heart and your soul and your dedication, it's incredible. Like, we really don't truly see women like you come through the franchise all that often. I mean, it is a rare find indeed to have somebody as incredible as you. Yeah, Maggie, when we saw the bit of you at the end of the episode, when you and Matt finally have some alone time after a long night. I think you had been lost in the pumpkin floating in the pond. You finally could sit down with your man to get to know him a little bit more. And what does Matt James do?

He dances for you. But not just any dance. He does a silent TikTok dance. Now, we all know how Rachel felt about that when we watched it. But what was going through your mind when that is what Matt James whipped out for you in that moment? First, I was hoping, you know, like break it down kind of dance, you know, the slow dance. Yes. Like when he started, I was like, okay, Marjimes, I really appreciate you and thank you for, you know, making me smile, but I have to say this.

I was hoping, you know, the slow dance, but when he started TikTok, I was like, oh wow, this is really happening. I was like, if you can't see my face, I was like, okay, I'm like, what do I need to do? I like, just smile, maggie, smile, that's all. How do I make him stop? Yeah. How do I get over to this room faster? I was like, do you like it? I do like, I like the carriage, you know, I like, and I asked him to dance outside.

It was a rough day for me and I was exhausted and it was long night. and I just asked him to make me smile to dance for me. He tried. I need to give him courage for that. But that tick-to-dance, I was expecting more a little bit. Yeah, I think we all work. So well, yes. Yeah.

Well, Maggie, you did live up to your name and you gave him grace. You seemed very patient. But you, and I think every woman watching in America, was just like, he should have grabbed your hand. He should have pulled you up, spun you around. maybe dipped you maybe leaned in for like a little kiss or a hug at least nice embrace something other than what we saw transpire i agree i agree with you oh maggie i was i'm so sorry for you in that moment going back to because i want to i still want to learn so much more about you because i feel like

there's so much that you could give to our listeners as a whole um so you mentioned that you won the diversity the diversity lotto coming to America. But how long ago was that? How many years have you now been here? And then also what was it like? Because I'm assuming all of your family is still back in Ethiopia, correct? Yes. So what was that like knowing that, you know, you were coming and hopefully going to be able to really invest in all of these new opportunities over here, but still having to leave your family and like not knowing maybe how often you'd be able to see them? What was everything like when you finally came here. Yeah.

When I went there, as soon as I got the lottery, I was a mix of emotions. First of all, I would be the first person making it out of Ethiopia. And second, I was so excited I would be able to help my mom because we are so many children and I know what struggle she had. You know, I was invoked. When I came here, things weren't as I expect them to be. You know, as foreigner, you know, especially Africa, you will think when you come to America, I would be reached the first year. I would have a car. I will have a house. I will, you know, buy my mom a car, a house, all that.

But when I came here, I struggle. I, you know, I couldn't find a job because the pharmacist from back home was an equal pharmacist here. So I had to take the exam. I have to work as a technician. And I was walking to my work, not to specifically. spent a dollar 25 cents to buy to get you know to use the bus to go to work and I was struggling with paying my house rent because I didn't have anybody to help me and you know was buying food it was the first year it was so hard and I had this all emotions missing home and not being able to send the money you know for them and it was hard the first year but the second year I started going school at night while I was working the whole day And that helped me, you know, just to, you know, to be able to work and to be able to get financial aid to school.

And a little bit, you know, there is a hope for me. The second year was okay, the third year, I, you know, I start pharmacy school. Then, you know, life starts to make sense. Okay, America is not that easy, you know, there is a lot of expectation, but if you work hard, you can't make it. And that's what I, you know, that's what I keep saying and I keep praying, God, please. Like, you brought me all the way here and what am I doing? Like, it was so hard that, you know, after a third year I've been here, it was okay. Just get, I get, I get to learn a little bit of the American life, you know, work hard, work hard, that's okay, work hard, you will make it one day.

And that helped me to push myself and to be able to finish school. And, like, when I'm standing, when I'm sitting right now with you, and, you know, looking back the first year, It was, I couldn't breathe even thinking about the struggle that I had. Like, I always cry and I just bend my knee. God, thank you for making me survive those years because it was something, you know, hurt in every way, like not having nobody, no money. I don't have anybody to ask. It was just so hard, Oliver.

And I'm here. And I am, I owe it all to God. I am grateful that's my little bit life story I had a little bit live story I'm telling you what you just said in that statement is so not statement just like telling your story it's so powerful because like as I'm listening to you it just reminds me of things that we take for granted you know whether it's because we were born here or maybe like how we grew up just like little things that you were having to do and maybe what you thought America was versus getting here, but then not letting that discourage you and to keep going and knowing if I keep working hard,

if I keep moving forward, I'll eventually get to where I'm going to go. So thank you for sharing that story. I'm curious, though, in listening to Utah, what city did you come into when you first got here? Baltimore. Oh, God. Shout out to all our Baltimore listeners, but I'm just saying, I'm just saying the first city to come here, I can understand even more so how it's different. Can you hear the Baltimore accent? First, I didn't knew. So they told me like there is a Baltimore accent. There is like English is English for me because I was also struggling to speak English, ABCD.

So I was like, okay, for me it looks the same. But the more I live there, the more I start traveling, oh, the Baltimore, you know, like. There is an accent. Yeah, say Avenue. Say Avenue. Avenue. Okay, so I was trying to see if you had picked up the Baltimore accent or not. But you haven't.

Baltimore. I still have my African accent. But I didn't, but I understand the first, like of all the cities, Baltimore. Like I can, I can, I can, I get it. Guess what? Guess what? I got robbed when I was waiting the bus to good school. And it was a day time.

I remember I got my first paycheck. I was so excited. I cashed it because I didn't have a bank. I didn't open a bank then. And I caught in the bus to go to school because I can't afford bus. And this guy came behind me and he took my bag and he dragged me. I was like, I hold my buck from my life because there was money then. If I don't have that money, I'm not going to survive the whole way.

I hold that buck and he dragged me away. and he was, you know, strong enough. He took the bag and I run behind him to say, I had no idea. And the woman says, no, no, no, no, don't, don't run behind them. She said to stop me. The only thing I had in my mind was saving the bag, getting my mind. Yeah.

So, yeah, I got robbed in Baltimore. Oh, my gosh. It's like you have, you say it with a smile on your face. Oh, yeah. Because I survived a lot. And it's just like, for me, it's, it's pointless to, like, if I come in, I feel like, I'm not, I'm not being grateful. I'm just like, you know, I know I struggle a lot, but I just, it's like me showing smile. I'm just grateful, you know.

Yeah. Yeah. Let me ask you this then, because, I mean, it's so interesting that you ever even went on the TV show, you know, because I, I look at it and you've lived so many lives and you have so many different experiences that that especially women who grew up in America will never ever have so when you were on Matt's season and especially in the beginning when there was so much drama taking place between these you know 20 30 women what was going through your mind because if I was you I'd be thinking like look I lived through some really hard shit and there's somebody crying because they're not getting a date or somebody crying because whatever it might be they don't have

a crown or a tiara or a scepter anything like how how was that living like in the bubble per se and knowing like what you've lived through what you know you know like the actual hardships that go on in this world yeah um i i wasn't like i didn't know how i was handling it but on the first week the girls were like when every time they asked me i answered the question and i remember richel one day, Margie, I'm so jealous of you. You answered, like, you're just so graceful and you just don't get bothered.

Like, yeah, because, you know, like, why do you to get bothered? You know, I just, like, I was in shop because, yeah, going there, I was supposed to meet Mark every day, talking to him, you know, getting more time, you know,

being created at special woman. It's every girl's dream, of course. I want to be treated special, but that didn't happen, but that I still didn't lose who I am. I still like being with myself and seeing the girls, you know, fight over things, I was like, oh my God, what did I put myself into? That was the first thing that came to my mind. But it took me time to see now, like, they are not me, I'm not them, and I cannot, you know, we cannot relate to what was my background, what's their background. That's why I just, you know, I didn't

judge or anything i was like oh my god okay okay just be be me and be you and it's good so that's how i survived i mean how did you oh go ahead sorry make it on the show in the first place did somebody apply for you did you apply how did that all work out you know a casting director from the show emailed me and yeah i had like in a million years i never told i would be in a reality tv or and not at all. So I got an email and I didn't say yes. I waited and when they announced Matt with a bachelor, it was past due way due, I emailed them back.

I changed my mind, sorry I'm late, I can do it because I kind of had a crush on Matt. So I was excited to meet him in person. So, yeah, I said yes, and I did it. I just confess I had a class. I did actually. Mass-attractive guy. You know, you're not alone. There were 30-something other women that were there.

The most applicants, the most people wanting to be in his season ever. Yeah. I heard. Yeah. Matt, that's an attractive guy. Like, we get it. We totally understand it. I'm giggling.

That's funny. He still makes you blush. Oh, my gosh. I can only imagine having the life that you've had or still having and the story that you have, walking into the room with those women and thinking, my gosh, all these silly rabbits that are arguing over the most insipid things ever. I mean, just, wow, it's tough for all of us to go through the show and, like, you have your highs and lows. and it's a lot harder than people realize because you expect one thing to happen

and then something else completely different happens and you know what your experience is on the show but the audience doesn't get to see it. So for you, what do you wish the Bachelor audience would have learned about you when watching the show?

I wish they'll learn about me. There are millions of women like me, immigrants. They, you know, they made it adhere to America and they didn't get the chance to express their love for a guy because they get to learn even from their generation a guy has to choose you and you don't get the chance to choose a guy but you know this woman she got you know she got the courage to be at the show and to be able to represent all these millions of women and to fight for love to you know just I am a woman

if I want to choose a guy I can make it and I am not obligated to have an arid marriage and also for a lot of you know women that they think being chosen by a guy not to choose a guy is okay it's not okay and also like if you want if you have a plan

as a woman we are expected you know At a certain age, at a certain time, you have to get married, you have to have a key. That's why you are born here. No, no, no, no. You are a woman. You have full life. You are like, you have a full, God-given full life. You can do whatever you play, whatever you want.

That, you know, that makes you happy. I get, like, I came here. I was almost to get married when I was eight years old back home. I arranged marriage, a rich guy. Really? And, yeah, but thankfully, my mom didn't fall for it. she let me go to school. She fought for me to go to school to be, you know,

to trust me to be who I am. And I get to come here. The age didn't, you know, didn't bother me. Not, you know, not knowing the culture of America didn't bother me. Not speaking the language, you know, people shouting on me for not speaking like them. Didn't bother me. But I always wanted to be like a doctor or a pharmacy and be a model and, you know, have a nonprofit.

people and I get to do it so I wanted them to learn you know if you wish if you want to do it work hard for it you can absolutely do it and make your own priority not the priority that the you know the culture make you to be like be a mom or something like if you have priority just do it and you can and that's what I wish the people learn about the busheler people oh my goodness Maggie, I feel like we should have you on every week. You are like, you hopped on here and you said that you were nervous to speak with Rach and I. And I feel like I'm so inspired and in awe of you. And what your sentiment is right now is what I would want any woman to hear.

You know, you make your own life and you make your own priorities and you don't have to be on anyone's time schedule or expectations. And I think that's an incredible thing. like you are just really like this shining beacon. And one other thing that you had mentioned a little bit earlier that I think is truly incredible that I want to learn more about is the nonprofit work, not I cannot talk, is the nonprofit work that you do with my shoes, your shoes. And so I know you mentioned a little bit why you started it

and just your upbringing. But tell us more about that because you do provide shoes to girls in Ethiopia. And I'm assuming is it more. underdeveloped countries than just Ethiopia as well? I start from the place that I know. But my goal is to, you know, the future is to move to all developing countries. I'm trying to have teams from different countries. If they show me there is this deal like they need help, I am 100% help, you know, willing to help.

But I just, you know, you always have to start from the place that you know. That's what I did. So I start from Adwa. Because haves of women, they work. I was walking one hour to school, but a lot of my classmen, they were like two hour, like, more than that. And their feet were sometimes bleeding, and they cover it because they were shy. The other rich women, they don't have to make fun of them. And, you know, that's the main reason.

But like, you know what, I don't care about anything. I don't care about any anything. Just want to give them shoes. And that was the goal. Even though I start from Adwa, I will, you know, it would be all over the world. and I start with the shoes, they will be able to work to the school. God willing, I want to provide, you know, school supplies.

That's what I have been doing. And so far, we, you know, we've been distributing thousands of shoes and school supplies in Adwa and surrounding school. And for the future, I'm trying to get, you know, a delivery hospital because there isn't like women, like they are not, it's it's it's it's a luxury to have shoes in the opia or in the developing country it's a luxury to deliver in a hospital and you know so i want i want to be in i want to open a delivery clinic or hospital so the woman can't have the chance to go to the hospital and deliver so that's the

goal that i have so god willing i hope it will happen well where can we have our listeners go to either learn more or to help assist and maybe potentially donate shoes or money or time. Where can we direct all of our listeners? Yes, they can go to MSY Shoes.com. It's my shoes, lshoes.com. Okay. And all the information is there. If they have any question, they can DM me, I am on IG, Maggie Tarika.

Any question you have, I will be there to answer. Okay. Let me tell you something, Maggie. All right. The more you talk, the more you talk, the more mad I get. And I'm not mad of you. I am mad that this is the first time that we're learning about you. I mean, to think where you've come from to now being on national television and they kept you hidden from us.

I don't even care about, like, instead of learning about the fact that you are doing all the things that you said you were going to do, and then you're not forgetting where you come from and you're giving back to your community. You're not thinking about yourself. You're thinking about your people and where you come from and how you can help, not just them, but in the surrounding areas and beyond. And we're over here learning about a woman who thinks she's a queen simply because she shares the same namesake as the queen of England. I am livid. The fact that they talked about you and said how great you are, which you are phenomenal,

by the way and told us that we were going to learn about you and we didn't and it was overshadowed by the silliest things it i i'm enraged that i you can't say this you know what i me you're still in the contract so i'm to say it for you i am enraged that you that we just didn't get to experience that and i am i and that i know i speak for bebecca as well i am so grateful to still a word from you that we are able to have this opportunity to shine a light on you, what you're doing, and other women like you said. You are representing a woman, a type of woman that I have yet to see. And I'm not well versed in Bachelor prior to my season that I have yet to see on this show. And you have so much to offer. And you are so dynamic. And let this be a lesson that we need to

see more stories like you. You know, like don't use you as a prompt. to tease the season over what great women we have if you're not going to give us these great women and their stories and what it is that they're trying to build and better themselves and other people. I can keep going, but I'm not. But I am so grateful for this. Please tell us what it is that you're doing next. You already told Becca how we can help with what you're trying to do but like what's next for you other than greatness that's coming from you maggie next for me um personal like with my personal um i'm trying you know i'm trying to find my person someday and have a family um but before that while i'm doing that you know with the current situation what's

going on in my country to be honest i'm just i've been having her time trying to do my personal thing. And so far, and I was able to hear about my family, they are okay. And that's a great thing. But I still have so much to do, you know, to help to feed the people, you know, as much as I can. And I'm trying to create more awareness on that and try to get more donations so that people can have food to eat.

And if, you know, when everything goes to normal in my back home, I would be more actively part-fitting on finding my person because I know my person is out there and I am so excited to meet him. What a lucky man. Well, I'll be a lucky woman.

I'm going to say nothing but the best for our Maggie because you truly, when I say you shine, you shine and you just need somebody to match you. And, you know, like, I don't want to say it was a blessing in disguise that it didn't work out with, Matt, but, like, you're just so many big, better, more incredible, God willing things to come your way. And again, like, for our listeners, I want to urge anyone who can help out or can even just learn more and donate. Please go to, I know Maggie said it, but it's MSY Shoes.org because, I mean, we can all do our part to help this. world like there's just so much nastiness going on in every country every fast every corner of the world and so if we have incredible people like maggie who is fighting hard to make it a little bit better um please do so everyone please go check it out and maggie like we ask all of our guests this and i hate to even do it because we always ask like what's next would you potentially do a paradise

would you be on the show again um and if that is something you wanted would you say yes or are you kind of done with the franchise and would you rather find your mr right on your own terms i'm thinking about it i'm thinking about it i'm still fighting you know with my culture you know that's one of the main thing that kept me like i don't get used to like i never told not how i feel about him i never get to make out of anything with him because in my culture it's not that easy you know i'm still fighting with that still in me like Like, how am I going to talk a guy who I know talking to another woman? I'm still struggling, but I am thinking about it because, you know, I really wouldn't make my person.

They better freaking tell your, I see, because bad is so classy, I'm not going to curse. But they better, they better tell your story. They better let you, because you, oh, gosh, you're just, you're, I think you're amazing. What did? And this just made me just think of this when you just said, you know, from your culture, like it's not, you don't come from a place of like being the one to like talk about your feelings and, you know, being that. And I understand that as well. But what did your family say when you said, I'm going to go on this show? I know you, I know I came here to go to school and to become a pharmacist. But now I'm going to go on this show. They call The Bachelor where I'm going to be one of 30. something women dating one man? What did your family say? Well, I didn't talk my, you know, I didn't talk to my family when I went there. No, none of them knew about it. I only told them, hey, I would be away for a couple months. I'm okay. I'm just taking a break. Don't worry about me. You know, if you need money, I already send you, just don't worry. I will call you and I'm back.

That was it. Then when I went back, and I came back, and I call my mom, hey mom, yeah, I'm back, everything is good. I'm going to tell you, you know, have something to tell you. And before I talk to her, you know, the war happened and everything was shut down until, until January. So when I get to talk to her, I told her, hey, remember that time I told you, I would be away for, you know, over a month or so? Yeah, it's called The Bachelor. It's, you know, you're there to meet a guy. I didn't tell her how many women. She will still kill me, I think. I told him, yeah, it's, you know, find a guy, you know, to meet a man.

Oh, was he nice? Yeah, he's very nice. You know, he has, you know, this organization, her kid, he's tall, he's handsome. Is he Christian said, yeah, he's Christian. Yeah, so how was it? No, you know, I get to know him, so we both have different interests. So, but yeah, it was really good. That's all she knows.

She didn't watch the show yet. hopefully one day I will sit with her and explain to her watch the show with her so that's that's the goal that's funny no I listen I get it but my people weren't too keen on me going on the show either I should have done what you did yeah I can't even oh my gosh I mean how many siblings do you have oh okay we are a lot I have I have one girl and five brothers. Okay.

Big family. And you're the very oldest? No, I am the middle. Oh, me too. Yeah. But, you know, being a girl, being the middle, you're always the one who's taking care of the family. You're the connector.

Yeah, you're in the middle. Like, you connect both sides, yeah. Yeah. So do you, I know it's a hard question to ask right now because we are still in the middle of this pandemic, but once the world opens up again, do you have any plans to go back to Ethiopia right away? Absolutely.

I was going to go there for, you know, on September. We celebrate New Year in Ethiopia on September 11th. So my plan was to go there and COVID happened and I didn't give a chance. So I scheduled my vacation for January. In January, the war happened. I was like, it was crazy two years. And I'm hoping, you know, when everything goes back to normal, I don't care. how much about the vaccine because, you know, like, I'm trying, you know, I would be careful using

my knowledge and all that, but I'm worried more about the, you know, the current situation happening in my country when that thing goes normal. I cannot wait to go home because I honestly miss my mom. And the last time I've been there was tell the 17th. And that's a lot. And sometimes I feel like I can't agree with even like thinking, like, how much I miss her. Yeah. So, yeah, I will go someday.

Well, Maggie, I hope you make it back soon. Look, coming from a girl, I haven't seen my mom since September, and I cannot even complain. I can't even imagine having it be several years. So we hope that everything within your country alleviate soon that you can make it back and just hug and kiss and just soaking all the time with your family. Before we let you go, we ask all of the contestants who have ever been on the show the same question. the same question but overall from the season and the time that you were on what was your rose and what was your thorn so your highlight and low light of the season um can we say with the low light was me being stuck in the pumpkin first of all i don't know how to swim

and you cannot put an african woman on the lake i don't know how to do kayuki It was my first time. I thought I was great, honestly. Oh, that was bright. I would have said, if I couldn't, I would be like, nope, not going to happen. I'm walking around this like instead. I was in the middle. I was in the middle of the lake.

And I didn't know. I can't go back. I can't go back. I can't go back. Are they coming? Nobody was coming to say. How did you end up getting out? That's a lot of people asking me.

I actually met it to the front. When I made it to, you know, to the front, all the game was done. I made it. Bachelor nation, I made it to the front. It took me time to work my way, but I'm a fast learner, so I made it. Thank you. Good for you. See, once again,

did it quit? Did it give up? There you go. And you want to know what? You probably had the right idea. Good thing that you were stuck, because you bypassed all of the extra drama going on. So you were just enjoying this nice little like stroll paddle session by yourself. Yeah, and my highs were being able, you know, to meet this amazing woman. Like, we were sitting there talking to them, different bagblown. I was happy Giggly with all of them.

Like, I was like, I don't have anybody that I don't like. I was, like, I was friends with all of them, even though I was so close with a couple of them, because I connect so much. But I was friends with all of them. I get to meet those amazing women, you know, hear their story, like all the time. wow like it's just something I never told I would be and you know I get to meet an amazing people and I have that friendship you know with me and I'm very very grateful and I get to meet you both right now she's amazing so I'm happy oh those are those are the two well we are so

happy that you're here I mean it it truly is our pleasure to have you on this podcast to get the opportunity to talk to you um Maggie, thank you so much for being here and for being a part of Basternation. We hope that you are paving away and more people like you come on the show. Yeah, we can't wait to see what you do, admire you from a distance. Keep posting those fabulous modeling pictures. My goodness. A work of art.

Yes. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you so much for being here. Yes, Maggie. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to learn your story and more about who you are. And please, like, you have a friend and Rachel and I now. Like, please feel free to reach out to us if you ever need help. Like, we are here. Like, we are here to support you. You have friends in us. And I'm just so incredibly grateful that we've had this, you know, 45 minutes to finally sit down with you. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure. And I really thank you a lot. we'll stay in touch okay yeah I will I love you both we love you too I want to hug you I'm like when things open up come out here look at me yeah I'm saying it now for the first time

I come out here I never tell people to come out she doesn't usually it's me inviting people and Rachel's like gosh dang it back I stop saying that but when Rachel says it she means it thank you thank you so much good to see you take care I keep training you too all right Bye, bye, bye, good night. Bye, Maggie. Bye, good night. Bye, Rachel. Oh.

Again, I'm enraged. I don't even want to talk about it because it's a damn shame. Now I can curse because Maggie's gone. Something about me didn't want a curse in front of her. I just, no. It's like her name means grace. We have to keep it together. Oh my gosh.

I just like all I want to like all that is going through my mind right now is just be still my heart. Like, the world was robbed of learning her story and getting to know her. And it's so unfortunate. But I actually feel very grateful that you and I had the opportunity to be her first podcast and really sit down and now share with Bachelors Nation. This incredible, amazing woman. And I feel like those words don't even do her justice. Yeah. You know what it is? It's like we're living in a time. We're living in a world right now where things are so divided. Things are so toxic. And if we're just, and if I'm narrowing that down just to Basternation, you know, there's so much division. We don't know how the show is moving forward. There's so many people who are confused by the things that happen. They don't get it. They don't want to get it. And just to sit and have a conversation with Maggie who talks about things in such a way

where it's like, you're right, none of this matters except for the things that she's talking about. to hear her story, to hear how she came here, to hear the struggles that she had when she got here. But none of that defeated her. She allowed none of that to defeat her. And she just continued to keep going, to keep moving, because she was grateful for the little things that she could appreciate that we take for granted every single day. And I hope that for all our Baster Happy Hour listeners that if you got nothing else from this podcast, from this season, from Baster Nation, just in general in a really long time. I hope that you were able to at least take those nuggets and so many more away from this conversation that we had with Maggie. Yes. I mean, she is the epitome of just

again, living up to her name, Grace and elegance and such a fighter. And if, you know, like, it's so easy for us to get in our heads and to get down and to get frustrated over the tiniest, most minute stupid BS things in our life and like her country is going through a war like she has not seen her family in almost four years four three four years like and all of the other toxicity and and just hate that's going on especially within our country like the fact that she can smile and that she is still so grateful and can look at at little things and make that doesn't matter like what I'm doing, what I'm working for, like my purpose in life is what matters and doesn't let anything derail her is incredible. And I'm going to say one more time for all of our listeners.

If you missed the first couple times we said this, please go check out her nonprofit. It is at msyshoes.org. And again, if you can donate money or shoes or whatever Maggie on the website is asking for, please go do so. I'm going to, the second I hop off of this podcast, because I think it is so important to help her and this incredible cause. um so i mean i feel like how do we top that how do we top like this incredible outstanding woman i don't know like i don't know who our guest is next you don't you don't try to nope you just let it sit there and let people soak it in yeah no you don't exactly you all go donate yeah beck and i are donating i'm literally on the website right now so um yeah yeah i i mean i think with that

just to let it sit and soak in and stop listening to me ramble on so you can go check out Maggie's Instagram and her nonprofit. But you guys, thank you again for another week hanging out with us. We're happy to be back together and in the swing of things as a duo. As always, you guys, please keep writing to us and letting us know your thoughts, comments, concerns, any guests you want to have on in the future. We're here. We'll listen and we will go from there. And I can't wait to be back again next week. And in the meantime, if you don't know where to find us social media it is at bachelor happy hour on instagram and at batch happy hour on both facebook and twitter and if you never want to miss another episode an incredible episode like this one please

subscribe to our podcast and you can do that through apple podcast Spotify the wandering app or wherever you are listening to us right now thank you guys for listening in on this tuesday and thank you so much maggie for joining us yes bye bye guys It's important that we just reassure people that they're not alone, and there is help out there. The Good Stuff podcast, Season 2, takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of One Tribe's mission. One Tribe saved my life twice. Welcome to Season 2 of the Good Stuff.

Listen to the Good Stuff podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, host of the psychology podcast. Here's a clip from an upcoming conversation about 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 podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect.

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