Bachelor Happy Hour - Neil Lane Talks ‘Bachelor’ Rings and Bling

Episode Date: November 13, 2019

The one and only Neil Lane sits down with Rachel and her guest co-host, Becca Kufrin. Neil opens up about creating jewelry for Hollywood royalty, how his journey with “The Bachelor” franchise began, and so much more. This is one interview you won’t want to miss. Be sure to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's showtime, everybody. Welcome to Bachelor Happy Hour. Another wonderful episode. We have so much in store for you today. I'll start out with my lovely co-host. Once again, I've got Becca Kufrin joining me in the Bachelor Happy Hour studio today. Becca, how are you? I'm great.

I feel like I can't even talk right now because I'm smiling so hard. because our wonderful guest today is just on point, keeping me laughing. Yeah, well, go ahead. Tell him who our wonderful guest is that has a smile on our face already. Well, let me tell you, this is actually my first time ever meeting him,

and I think I'm fan-grilling a little bit. But we have, I'm fan-girling over you. Aw. We have. That's a beautiful. Can anyone tell by his voice, who this is? Jack, the Ripper. We have the man, the myth, the legend,

Mr. Neil Lane, I feel like we have, we need a full audience applause for this one. Well, thank you. No, this is, this is going to be great if you haven't, if you haven't learned already. Now, I know you've seen him standing there with the rings, meeting the men, but what you don't really get to know is the bachelorettes never really get to meet Neil Lane. Never. And neither do you guys, so you're going to meet him today. You're going to learn all about the beautiful rings that you see gracing our hands, but also

learn about the man who makes these rings. The beautiful personality. Yes, we're excited to learn more about you and your story and how you became one of the most celebrated and respected jewelers, I might add, in the world. Nill Lane, you guys. Neil Lane. I don't know what to say.

It's Friday. I'm on my drug of choice, which is Claritin and Flonase. And spunkin' water. I'm giggling. I haven't seen back here, I think, probably ever. I'm looking at our amazing, beautiful ring. He's blinded by the sparkle. It's Rachel.

You know, you're not going to believe it, Rachel. I was in the bathroom. The reason I took a long time. The bathroom had to call Courtney my assistant. Like, they have some question. Who's my favorite? Who's the people that got married? They have two babies now.

Who are they? Becca, isn't that Gary? She said, no, it's, it's, it's, the Ari. I said, no, no, it's not the Ari. It's, yes, it's Garrett. Yes, it's Garrett. So, like, when you put a... Well, Garrett and I don't have babies, so I don't know where that came from. Well, that was the

Lauren thing, so that was... Now, look at your talking points. Oh, okay. So, so thank you for having me. We are... Thank you for being here. Is this supposed to be funny? Yes. You are giving us... Just be yourself. It's great.

You're giving us all the Friday feels right now. I know how beautiful she is, but I haven't seen you. And she's stunning? You're making me blush, Neil. No, you're really, really stunning. You know, I don't know what voice to you is the Neil voice. I don't know what's coming out. I'm breathing.

It's like not easy to breathe. Well, we'll start out asking you pointed questions first. I think what a lot of people want to know, a lot of people want to know, how did you get involved with the show? Because from since we've been watching it, we've only seen you. So how did you get involved and start this relationship on? with the Bachelor franchise? You know, everything's a saga with me, like the Bible. It's like five books of Moses, five books of Neil, five books of, you know, whatever

her name is called. How many books of Neil Lane are there? Okay, gazillions, gazillions. Let's start with chapter one. Chapter one. Chapter one. So here I am in Hollywood. I'm doing my thing, doing rings and blings.

And I get this call from, um, um. I wasn't ready for rings and bling. How did they get started on the show? So it's really interesting because I didn't want to do this show because why didn't I? Because I didn't know what this show was. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I didn't know what they wanted. I didn't know why I would do this.

I just didn't know. And so they called a few times and say, hey, you want to be involved in this show called The Bachelor and what after the way. You go travel, ring, bling, and thing. And, oh, well, I don't know. Nah. I appreciate it, but, you know. And, like, the third time is the charm.

And so they called, and they said, you know, and bum, bum, bum. And one of my assistants, they did Michael or Sally. She said, you know, that's a really popular show. You would have fun. So I said, okay, let's do it. You were just playing hard to get, weren't you? What?

You were playing hard to get. I wasn't playing hard to do it because, hard to get because I didn't know what I was, what they wanted or what I was giving or what I was getting. I had no idea. And so in fact, I had no idea is that they said, well, we'd like you to, this is the first one, I think I had 10, 12 years ago, I'm not sure, maybe 10, 11. And they said, okay, we'd like you to go to New Zealand. New Zealand, I said.

Oh, no, no, no, I'm opening up a store. I'm going to be jet-legged. I can't. I can't. I can't go to New Zealand, you know, the real prima don't. And it wasn't that. I was, I don't know, Zealand's like a zillion miles away.

Flying, I'd be, and the one that wanted me to come back was the day I was having my store opening. And I said, no, I can't, I'll be all jet lagged. Oh, no, I can't go. And a friend of mine, Paul, heard me saying that. And this girlfriend, Emily, always wanted to go to New Zealand. And she said, can we go instead?

Well, there I would call up the phone. Can someone else go instead of me? They said, yeah, but they won't have first-class tickets, but two coach tickets. They said, great. Okay, what do I do? Well, I gave him a ring. I gave him a little ring.

Just one? Yes. That time was just one. Okay. So this career, this Neil Lane, this developed. It wasn't like that, you know, in the beginning, it was like I wasn't that suave, you know, or sophisticated. And I didn't know who it was going to be. But anyway, they went to New Zealand.

I was opening in my store. I had an opening and it was kind of glamorous and it was all nerve-wracking. And Emily and Paul came back and I remember saying to Emily, what happened? And she said, well, I got a little black dress. I put the ring on a black pad. They had black curtains. They opened up these drapes and I walked out and I presented the ring and I left. And I said, oh, that would all happen?

Yeah. That's all she had to do for a free trip to New Zealand. Well, are you dying? Are you still, right? Can we come behind? Do you remember what season that was? Or who it was? Jason Mesnick?

Jason Mesnick, was it? Well, that's a hell of a season to start off with. Do you remember what happened in that one? No. Because I... Well, you know, just really go back. The reason I didn't do it at first is I don't watch TV. That's fair.

I don't watch TV. I, I, I'm like, okay, you're going to get the first to know who I am today because I don't really show it or share it. I work a lot, not just in jewels, in my artwork, in my studio. I'm just, I've been a little creative guy, since little guy, and I don't know how to stop. And sometimes I do watch Wheel of Fortune, and I watch Jeopardy or Jeopardy first, and it's mostly in the summer because it's kind of fun to come home and eat something, and opened the doors and windows and put my feet up on a whatever they'll put them up on. I'm joining next summer. And so I do watch, well, I didn't then.

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm rambling. You know, I'm a rambler. The Claritin and the Flonais, they make you nuts. We love it. Don't worry. We'll bring you back. I don't know if I can share that, but what the girls are. Oh, yeah, it's Bachelor Happy Hour. Oh, I didn't know what was happy up.

Yeah. Anyway, I ramble a lot. You can cut and slice and dice like I do it because my five hours of filming with the guys goes out to one second, so I'm used to that. But I do work my... Wait, you're with the guys for five hours? Well, I'm also from Brooklyn, so I exaggerate. Okay, so okay, okay. But it's hours, you know, it's hours.

They're stopping and going. There's emotions that you want to get from the guy. I mean, I remember Brian, you know, when we were in Spain together. Oh, my God, I have to keep on pulling, I'm pulling. No, he was really great. No, he was enthusiastic. He was very... I remember, you know, medium in the room, and it was...

He had a white shirt on as well. It was like we're white. But everybody else wears shorts and white, you know. They make me, well, they don't make me. This is who I am with this suit. Oh my God, I'm rambling. Well, listen. Is it funny?

Well, I want to, okay, so you talk a little about Brian. I, this is my first time meeting you, but you've met Garrett and Garrett raves about you. He, I think that was the most exciting point when we were in the Maldives was him meeting you. I think he invited you out to his tomato farm. He did. In California to go, he's still waiting for you to come. You know, the Aquarist thing, I don't want to use an excuse. I don't know how to use my phone.

I don't have contacts. I would. I would text him every day if I knew him, his number. I lose it. I'm struggling in the bath and someone just texted me from the Alabama Museum or something I'm loaning. What number was you on? I'm going to get your number after this.

Here and I will call you. If you call me, it's so much better. And once you're on my chain, like the food chain, I know who you are. We're going to get you on into the tomato fields. I'd give anything to see you out. Instead of picking rings, you're picking tomatoes. I would give anything to see you out there and your hat and your sack and his boots out there picking the tomatoes. I had tomatoes for breakfast.

They were probably from Garrett Stans Farm. They were yellow ones. So the first time you were with this show, you didn't come to the proposal. But we have thereafter seen you at numerous proposals. What has been your favorite place to go? Well, can I just... Can I say that, babe? Yeah.

I had no idea of the show. And so it aired in Hollywood time and real time, which is fake time and all the other time that we put together. So I think it was like three months later or two months later, I didn't realize the show was airing. And then it aired.

And it was incredible. It was incredible, the exposure, how many people called, emailed, wanting to ring stories, you know, were overwhelmed, totally overwhelmed, like, wow, what's this all about? So I said to them, hmm, you can do this again? You're going to go. So the next time I went, I went to Hawaii.

But again, I wasn't fully immersed in the energetic system what the Bachelor was about. So I flew there one night. Someone met me, I walked on the beach, I got in the morning and did my thing, and left. I didn't really stay. I'm sorry, the question was. what's been your favorite place because we've seen you at a number of proposals what's been your favorite location that you've been to because you've been all over you're not going to believe this you're going to think that i'm i'm taking you and you

beck uh rachel rachel that's twice now we're going to keep a count we're going to keep a count he's going to forget your names with the number of bands that you got i'm nervous i know you know who I am. I think this is hilarious. I think this is hilarious. The next time you ask me, I'm saying a different name, though. The next time you forget her name, she's getting another band.

Okay, fair enough. I already know which one I want, too. It's like, you know, the one that in your family, like you'd say everything to them, but, you know, so the strange, you know, but, so my favorite place. What I was going to say, Rachel and Becca, and it's not, it's true. the two locations that I did your proposals were my favorite locations. Oh, hell yeah. High five.

No, I wanted, the Maldives was my dream location. So the fact that you went there after, amazing. See, I, obviously, we have no idea where we're going. So it was a complete surprise. I thought I was going to freak out because you're stuck on this little island, but it's very romantic. It was, I think, the perfect place. How long did you stay there?

17 years because they know I'd be jet lagged so they're traveling that was 49 hours or 49 days in the desert or something like that I landed with Moses and then I don't know how many flights They part at the Red Sea

I was definitely in the Middle East we flew to I don't know Dubai and I slept there in the airport and they got a 9 o'clock flight and flew someplace else and had a layover for 37,000 years It's like five different flights to get there But

do you travel by yourself because I'm concerned. So this is the funniest part about everything. People ask you to have yourself. Yes, I could bring an assistant, but it's very funny. I need so much time alone to figure it all out to get my act together. I don't want to have to worry about if Courtney or Michael or Sally. Did you go to the bathroom?

Did you eat? Are you good? I don't want to worry about them. I just want to worry about me. Is that a bad thing to say? When you travel, no, no. When you travel, are you bringing the rings by yourself or are they already made? Don't you need a security team?

I can't say. I can't do. You've got to watch the show to find it's true. People are not going to be scouting for him in the airport to be like, where's the goods? You got insurance, though. Yeah, but the facts is the rings get there. Okay, okay. What they care about is how I get there.

They know the rings are going to get there. Well, I'm concerned now as to how you get it. Yeah, you better call me now and then. How you doing, friend? You're good? Did you make it okay, Neil? You know that I'm Rachel. Remember Rachel?

Do we need a security come after you? Remember Spain? Remember Brian tall, good looking thin guy? Remember him? White teeth? Remember him? You know, me? Remember, you got two rings, things, bling?

Yeah, it's Rachel. I remember Rachel. But anyway, Spain was my favorite. You know why? Why? Because I'm going to reveal today. no one knows that I'm a serious artist. Oh.

So I've been painting and drawing for my whole life. And actually I did my first exhibition in 30 years this weekend at a gallery, Sarah Gavleck, Gallery downtown L.A. in a group show. And so when I went there,

I went to see the, you see, I can't remember the museum. The Guggenheim Museum at Bilbao. Oh, yeah, yeah. And so to be able to combine working and seeing this all of the amazing art was fantastic. Now, Becca, that's your name.

Don't wear it out. One doesn't really know how much I love the mystery of bats. The mystery of bats. I know it's kind of scary. They're massive there. But they had the most giant, beautiful bats in the world. That sounds like an oxymour. They get close to you, too.

But they were flapping. When I was on my bicycle, I could see them like, oh my God, they're like giant. Like, I think they were three. Rachel's face right now. They were three or five, a hundred feet wide. So it was bad, you saw Batman. I saw Batman and I filmed them. And I have it on my video to film it.

And it was one of the most relaxing trips, fabulous, because the people were amazing. It was remote. I had my own little room. I jumped in the water naked. The sharks were coming around. Looking at who, no, not for you, babe. Oh, my God.

Is this supposed to be revealed me? We're getting the exclusive today. No one is going to look at you the same. When you come out there, give them your bachelor voice. Hey Brian, nice to meet you. Are you ready? It's a big day, isn't it? Yep.

I've got six rings here for you. We're going to decide. I'll help you along the way. We're going to do it. Nobody's going to look at you to say anywhere. They're going to hear this back and be like, these are two totally different people. With the holiday seasons coming up, you're probably thinking, man, I need to go to the grocery store and pick out all the ingredients I need to make that great holiday meal.

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Probably my favorite thing is Wings, though, when I'm watching sports. It's Saturday, college football day, maybe Sunday professional football. I don't even have to leave the couch except to go to the door to pick up the DoorDash that I order. DoorDash is available in all 50 states and even Canada. So there are more than 340,000 restaurants in 3,000, 3,000. 300 cities available on DoorDash. So you really have no excuse. You can get every single thing that you want,

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that's promo code Bachelor for $5 off your first order from DoorDash. you're such a key piece in all these bachelor love stories right because when we walk away we walk away with a piece of nail lane jewelry so you're a part of our love story whether it's an engagement and it moves on to marriage you're there so what's your favorite part of these love stories so that's sweet of you to say because in the beginning i didn't feel that i didn't understand it you know here i was a guy alone going and meeting people that didn't really know i didn't really know the energy of the show I didn't understand real fake, you know, people say, oh, you do that show that, you know, like, oh, they don't really love each other, you know. And I didn't understand what I was doing. And so in the beginning, I just went and I didn't really intermingle so much, so to my room. Not because it was antisocial, I just, I didn't know how to interact with the crew because everyone was very chummy. And then I started to really relax and meet the people. and I felt a lot of love.

I felt part of it. When I saw the producers, the men and the women producers, cheering the people that they took care of, there were the women, the guy with a guy, girl. You know, they cared them, and they really felt about it, wow, I was impressed. And then how a lot of crew people got together,

and they had their romance. It was a family, a real family. And I don't think the world knew that, or I didn't know it. And when I got part of it, I felt part of a family, and I loved it. And I began to really care about the people, like family. Like, wow, I'm part of someone's happiness.

And that became important to me. Yeah. Well, I will say... It was beautiful. That was beautiful. Tears over here. I will say when people think of The Bachelor, of course, Chris Harrison comes to mind. But also, I think now it's also Neil Lane.

Like, you are just such a face and a man and a presence of this. the show, and I don't think that will ever go away. So I want to say thank you, because you not only made me the most beautiful engagement ring that I could have ever expected or imagined, but just thank you for being with us and helping all of us find our perfect ring with the perfect person. It really means a lot. It does. I thank you, Becca.

I thank you, Rachel. You've been a great deal with my life. I mean, I have a very, very full rich life in terms of creativity and people in my lives. I do. I mean, I just do. And I'm fortunate and blessed that way. But seeing the warm welcome that you're giving me, Rachel, hugs and you, Becca, really makes me feel that I don't fully understand or understand my role.

You know what I mean? Sometimes I feel a little left out. You know what I mean? Because I don't know myself. I don't know to be immersed in this beautiful energy. And I want to be, but I'm so, sometimes so private. So you're getting to know me, but I get nervous on the set. I do put the Neil Lane, you know, so I like Showtime, you know.

And ABC, I think, likes that. They like the suit. They like the briefcase. They like... I like this side. I like getting to know you. Yeah. The real Neil Lane.

Well, thank you. Yeah. I mean, truly, please don't ever feel less. out because you are such, you are, I mean, Becca said it best, there's Chris Harrison and there's you. You don't understand. It's almost like what, you are what makes it official for us. Totally, 1,000 percent. Yeah, if there wasn't a Neal Lane aspect to the show, I don't think it would be the same bachelor that I grew up watching. Oh, that's very sweet of you. Again, I embrace it. I feel part of this bachelor nation, which I didn't even know the word

a year ago. Yeah. You know that someone sent me a giffy? A giff? They have me in a giffy on a bus with all the batch. I have no clue. They sent it to me last night. What did you get that?

I thought he made me. He said, no, you're on a giffy. I'm telling you. I want to look this up now. I'm going to see what I can find. No, it was funny. Oh, right. Yeah, yeah.

It was so funny to see it. And I was thinking, what did he start? Like, you know, I don't know. How did he do it? that. How did they manipulate that? Well, I gotta think so. Look at you high-fiving people in a crowd. Look.

Did you, which side, which Neal Lane did they get to see? Oh. The between one. The between one. The between one. The between one. The one not on Claritin. That right there lets you know how much you're a

part of the Bachelor experience. So you were a part of the 15-year reunion special where a group of fans got to experience not just the Bachelorettes, but also got to be a part of the part of the mansion, meet Chris Harrison and you, because that is how... The whole package.

Can I ask you a personal question? Well, not a personal question, but how do I get more involved in a dialogue? How do I get more screen time? I don't know. You know what you should do is because I love you. Is that a question? I'm struggling. He's coming for Chris Harrison's job.

No, I don't know what. Chris Harrison's job. I have a serious question. How do I get more TV time? No, it's not more TV time. How do I have, I, I, I, I don't know how to do that. I will say, I've, okay, so when I got engaged with Garrett, and I think, uh, Neil Lane, your Instagram page had posted a picture of my ring,

and I just went through and scrolled through the comments to see what people were saying, and same with some of the other ones. And I think a lot of guys, for the most part, I don't want to say only, but watch the show because their girlfriends and their future fiancés watch the show. And now I think it's like their go-to of like, oh, I can get my girlfriend this ring in. So I'm reading the comments, not only from girls, but from the guys too, like, oh, it looks like I got to like up my game and get a Neil Lane. And so I think I would love to have you be part of the dialogue a little bit more. No, I was like I'm sort of stepping out without the suit.

Like, I'm starting my own Instagram, not the brand Instagram, called Nieland Couture. And I'm thinking maybe that's not even the right thing. Maybe it should be a Nieland artist. I'm, you know, I don't know. I'm like, I'm opening up. I want all my worlds, I want to come together. Well, let's talk about that because there is so much more that you do. I mean, you are known for Nill Lane jewelry, which we do follow on Instagram.

But there's, you said it earlier as we were talking, you're an artist. first. So you have so many different things going on. So, like, let the people know what all... I don't know how to do it. I mean, people want to help me, but then they put the thing in front of me, say, you know, you have to tell them that, you know, how you design this ring. You have to tell them, like, you know, back is ring, or your ring. I mean, it was handmade. I designed it. I sat in the workshop. I see the metal work being done. I see the diamonds. And sometimes it's horrible. It doesn't come out the same way, and I have to scrap it. And then I have to leave in three three days. And as we photographed, I, I angst about these rings. This is my personal, personal

energetic system in these rings. I angst about them. I think, what does it mean for you to have a three stone ring? You know, I knew that you loved ovals. You know, sometimes I talked to public and they say, well, do you meet the girls before? And I said, I don't, but sometimes I have their energies. Sometimes they came to the store because they did a date night. So I get a glimpse of a girl. I think I met you once before. I'm not sure. Maybe not. I'm talking to Rachel. Or at a party. I try to get as much as I can from the producers about you, about you, you know, to understand. So that when I'm sitting with the guys, I feel prepared that I can talk about you. And I knew you liked the oval and what happened with, if I can talk about Ari and

it all worked out well. You're happy, you know, and it was painful. But, I wanted to still give you the Oval because you loved Oval's. Well, and I think you bring up a good point, and I will say, so being a contestant on The Bachelor, we don't really have a say in the ring we're going to get. Of course, like during the alone time, you can kind of make hints at what you would potentially want if you were to be the one at the end.

But when Rachel and I were Bachelorette, we have much more say. So at least when I was the lead, I was like, okay, I love his rings, of course, they're all gorgeous, but I do like Oval. I also, one thing that I really wanted, because I wear my mom's wedding band, and it's gold, and, you know, it's 30-plus years old, and so I wanted something to match that.

So that was my one request on the show, was if he's going to create my dream ring, could it be gold? And so we actually have more of a say, and of course, I had no idea what it looked like until Garrett opened up the box, so it could have gone any which way. I had no idea, and I will say when I opened,

or when I didn't physically open it, But when Garrett got down and Winnie and opened it, I was blown away. And so you do take the time and you did listen to what I was requesting. But it's like your baby. It is your pride and joy that goes into it. It's an energy thing that I want to, I don't want to do what I want to do. I'm going to do because I have to design it. So that's part of what I do.

I really want to make you happy and the guy. I sort of lose myself there. It's not about me. anymore. I get a lot of credit after, which is amazing. But for that particular moment, it's really about is she going to love the ring? Is he going to love the ring? Is he going to love the ring enough to propose

with it? It's a very romantic synergy when Brian got the pear shape. I mean, he was, he just couldn't take his eyes off it the pair of shape. And I think what I experience, which you may not, I'm experiencing these two guys

envisioning their love for you getting on their knees taking this ring which is magical to them you're their princess and they're choosing this this ring which represents this physical little thing this jewel thing is representing all their love and their heart

and I'm experiencing that and that's amazing for me that's amazing for me it's like I said I think they only show three minutes five minutes, five minutes. But, no, but that's fine.

But the process of with Garrett, he was really full of life. I all talk about Brian. Oh, I know. No, but he was really full of life. He was so genuine, so genuine. And there was just a sparkle. I can see him grinning, the way he grins. He's like a country guy.

It takes up his whole face. It takes of his whole face. He's the sweetest dude. He's just a sweet, sweet man. And I can see the love. his heart and I wanted to make sure that he got the ring so I wanted you to like the ring and it was like wow and Brian he was very cool very cool you know it was it was the room was dark because we did it inside a room and it's not dark so with garrity was out in the sun um Brian's energy

was very special he had a lot of love there and and he he he I think he was envisioning you know proposing with this ring and you may have said something about a pear shape so I did okay you may have so I have all the energetic systems I feel it I can feel it because you know when I show in the ring they don't really know what a pear shape is you know until I say that's the pear shape you know you can think the oval can be a pair so it's a magical moment it's divine it's in a magical moment for me I think for the gents and then your moment when they propose

is they're magical things. Now your mom had a pear-shaped ring, right? Did you remember that? Well, I remember Brian telling me afterwards the story that you had shared with him about your mom having that same ring. So when I grew up in the 60s, not 1860s,

I remember my mom, you know, she was cooking and making the chop meat or chicken soup. and I can just see that ring and it was a pear shape and interesting enough which I never really shared before it wasn't a full pair shape my dad couldn't afford a full pair shape

so it was a round diamond which was a round diamond and a smaller diamond below it and the shape of the bezel was a pair so I wanted to do a pair shape in homage to my mom and my dad and when I started designing for K, jewelers,

I wanted to share that with the world. Now I had a bigger platform to take all this aesthetic that I had, all the Hollywood glamour and glitter and, you know, it's not how to say it, but, you know, I've designed rings for some of the most amazing, sweetest, kindest, glamorous people, movie stars, people. and you've got to understand I'm from Brooklyn

and not that I'm lower anything like that but I worked my way up I was picking garbage when I was 12, 15 years old to make some money because my household wouldn't have that much money and money was always an issue

and I understood antiques a little bit because my father collected some and you say don't touch that that was like a couple hundred bucks and so it gave me an idea that something could have a value and in my neighborhood in the 70s people were dying, they'd been there like 50 years, and they chucked everything out in the

street. And I'd find it. I didn't mean to diverge. And I'd start selling it to make a living. And so as soon as I made the first 50 bucks, I was free. The point I was saying that I worked myself up until I had some money. I went to Paris. I know it's one of the part of the script. But we should talk about that. But I was studying art my whole life. And so when I started collecting these things, I probably couldn't drive yet. I was 16. So I had a driver's permit. I used to take my dog around the neighborhood. She was exhausted. I'd walk all over, all over.

And then I go back at night with a flashlight to collect what I saw. And that was in the winter, but I'd have to put it in the garage. And then when the springtime came in New York, I would do the flea markets. And I started selling these things. I had no idea what I was selling. I was singing and dancing. I was saying 20 bucks, 50 bucks. And when I saved enough money, I went to Paris because I dreamt of it.

Because I had studied art my whole life, Western art, not like Asian art. So I didn't go to Japan. I wanted to go see the Mona Lisa. And so my life changed. I broadened my whole scope. The point I was making, the last 40 years, the 34, 40 years, I've been filled with amazing things. I've been to castles to queens and queens. I was invited to royal households.

I did royal weddings, Middle Eastern weddings. I saw every museum and every art that I could from, from the, Louvre to up in Howarth in England, Scotland, everywhere. And I came back with this knowledge. I was living in Brooklyn. And then when I was doing my artwork. So I exhibited. I was the youngest printmaker in a Brooklyn museum.

And then when I came to Hollywood, I met these amazing young movie stars. They weren't yet famous. And I was friendly with them, like friends. And I started designing jewelry. And then when they became famous where Angel L. Jolie came in and got a Brad Pitt You can get it banned. I mean... I mean, Becca, who are we?

No, but you have to understand. When you say, who are we, you are, you are we, we. You are those. No, but you are. Because I've dealt with so... I've so many amazing experiences working with Ellen or Ring with Portia. I wanted to share that. I had a lot of stuff to give, and I couldn't just give it from my little store.

First, I didn't have that store that you saw it. I had a little counter. When I first came together, I had a little jewelry account with 10 feet wide, so I wasn't who I am today then. But all this energy and all this knowledge, I wanted to share it. And so I was able to, when I did the collection for K, it was more mass level. I couldn't hand-make-it, but it's my aesthetic. And I wanted to share, I mean, how many people, like Rachel or Becca, how many people get to be in your position? No, but really, it's got to be a dream.

No, but it's got to be a dream that you've risen and people look at you and follow you and emulate you and think about you and you bring good energy and you're trying to. I see the things that you do and I hear you. I know what's happening. And you do positive things. And here I have all this amazing stuff to share. And I had this opportunity to share with America, not just the people in Devil Hills or Hollywood. I had the opportunity to go to the whole America. and then more to the world.

And wow. And I would say this whole thing, I want to cry now to be with you, it's just a journey which is freaking amazing. Yeah. I mean, I feel blessed. And I know people use the word blessings all the time. And it's a good word, but you have to be careful with that word. You have to understand what it meant, and you have to really believe it.

And I do believe it. I'm sitting here. You're interviewing me like I'm important. and what's important is the sharing of this love. That's what's really important, and you're giving me the opportunity. I'm like... I'm getting to chill.

Right? I can't even speak. Yeah. I mean, I feel like we need to take a break for a second because I, first of all, give this man more dialogue, like he said in the beginning. Because what you were saying... You just give me more claritans.

But, isn't it? But, Becca, like, you feel it, and I hope you guys that are listening right now can feel everything that Nill is saying, because it's so special and it goes so much deeper than just the piece of jewelry that you guys see on camera. I mean, you can hear it in his voice. I'm watching you so I see it. But I can just hear it, the passion and the love that you have for what you do, not only for what you do, but to share, like you said, to share it with others.

That's something truly special. That takes a very special person. Very hard to share your love. So how did you get into this? You describe you being an artist, and I want to get more into that. But we see you as a jeweler. So how did you find your power? passion for jewelry.

So I was always an artist as a little boy, a very creative. I remember my mom, we had a little house in Brooklyn, just a little house in Marine Park, just a little house. And we had a basement, it wasn't finished. We had a, we actually had a, in those days, they had an oil tank. I think it was, no, it was coal. It was coal. And I had a coal shoot in the side of the house.

The house was built in 1920s. And the coal man would come and put coal down to shoot. and that would be the heating and it was just in the basement so it wasn't finished so it was a little local lady that used to come and she used to teach me and my sister

arts and crafts like plaster of Paris putting it in a dish and then sticking like maybe she brought costume jewelry with her little things little things and those little things started to sparkle

so our mom tells me when I was a little kid like six or seven I've said this before she would walk me as you'd walk a little kid in the park where a park not too far away

and when I came back from these walks, she'd have to empty out my pockets. They were filled all this colored glass. And I don't remember that, but she didn't. And I think at early age, I was interested in sparkle. I didn't understand it, but it's just sparkle. And I was drawing and painting, and that was six years old.

But then in high school, I started painting and drawing and studied art at the Art Students League in Paris. But I found antique jewelry. It was something, I was in a small shop on Paris, not the fancy place where all the big shops are like the Plas Vendom but the side streets small little streets

that had little antique jewelry shops little vignettes stores that weren't as big as this room little tiny room but elegant and they had jewels

in the window and I'd stick my face in the window and I'd never seen stuff like that and I was just wow enthralled it was amazing

and then I couldn't afford anything I mean I had like $4,000 to last me a month I was staying in a Garrett

for third Garrett, that's funny. Is that your mind? 30 bucks, 20 bucks a night, you know, seven floors up. You hit your head in the dormer windows. It goes to a short window. It's in the attic, you know. I don't have times I hit my head.

But I was in heaven. Here I was in Paris learning and soaking up these things. I'm getting off track. So I started buying antique jewelry and looking at it. And I learned about it and learned about it. And I loved it as well. I really loved it. So I was combining my art, my antiquing, my flea marketing.

And then I didn't know. my art wasn't, I was so passionate about all the other stuff that I moved to L.A. to open up a little stand, a little stand, a little antique center. And I had no idea where L.A. was, really. I'd only been there, like, once, like, maybe two months before that and happy to get out of it. I'd seen all the tourist stuff, you know, Beverly Hills, all the movie stores, I took the bus things, just like everyone else comes to Beverly Hills. I took that bus tour, you know, Starr's House. I went to Palm Springs. I went to Vague, I did everything that people do. as a tourist. And I said, okay, had enough, but I don't need to come back.

And just a few months later or someone that knew me, said, you know, they're building an antique center in Los Angeles, you would do well. And I didn't know what to do. So I flew out, flew out, at the time I smoked cigarettes,

and I smoked about 50,000 packs walking around the street. What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? I don't know. What should I do?

The building was being built on Beverly Boulevard and Rock. Robinson Boulevard. I don't know where it was. It was going to be an antique center. I called my mother's saying, Mom, I'm moving to L.A. Oh, no, don't go, son. Don't go. I'm going, Mom. And in two months, I had a steam of trunk, a little bag of jewelry, and open up a place called Antiquarius in the 80s. Antiquarius. What a great name.

That's perfect for you. It was called antiquaries, yeah. Do you remember the first piece of jewelry that you ever made? it did i think i did it for a movie star i think i did no big deal well there weren't movie stars yet because i had this aesthetic about old and i've been looking at every museum and all the jewelry collection books books were my best teacher

because even as a kid there were 35 bucks and people said oh 35 dollars for a book but to me that was like everything i learned and soaked everything up so people so yeah there was this young movie star I don't want to say the name for some reason. A male or a female? Well, it's kind of both. They were both because the girl came and she had an ancestral diamond from her grandma. She had a, you know, like from her grandma.

But I think the guy came first. I don't remember it. It's a very famous couple, but they're not together anymore. Oh, that you can tell. But anyway, they didn't have that much money. They were very famous. They were young, buddy. So they had this ancestral diamond, and they saw my stuff, and they said, you have such beautiful, I mean.

And their ring, the diamond was set in the ring, was really wasn't attractive. Because grandma's ring, or great-grandmas, would have been a 1920s ring in platinum, beautiful little diamonds. Because the diamond they had was really pretty. It was a special, like, cushion-cut diamond. Very special, very pretty. And, but it was, I guess it was past, they lost the setting. The grandma, I don't know, inherited it, the mother, the mother. And she had put it into a big gold.

setting. But a giant one, like so big high where you can like pick your nose. One of those rings where people used to in the 70s put it up so hard, just look at my diamond. You know, so they said, could you change it? Could you make a beautiful ring out of it?

And I did. And that was one of the first, but it was very crude because I didn't have the right workshops. I didn't have is this going right? Yeah, this is wonderful. I'm still just waiting for you to tell us who it is. Give us a hint. I'm dry mouth. I might. I'm going to start guessing.

She was, he was much more famous than she was, and now she's much more famous than he is. I love a game. I love a guessing game. What a God, time frame are we talking about? Melody Griffin and Antonio Banderas. But anyway, that was my first review. So I designed a ring, and it was a beautiful ring.

It was an amazing ring. And that was my first, and it was crude. It wasn't where I am today, and that's how I started making rings. I had no idea I was going to be a designer. I had no idea. but I had all these young people. One doesn't realize in the late 80s, only 90s, Hollywood wasn't what it is today.

It wasn't the glamorous place. They didn't have Netflix. They didn't have E. They didn't have Google. They didn't have Internet. So they didn't have all these red carpets. There's all these merging young starlets, or Renee Zell, they're all emerging.

Or Marissa Tomey. And she was nominated for my boy. Oh, she won an Oscar for my boyfriend. My cousin, Vinnie. She did. I was doing Julie for these people. it's like they came to my counter they liked that stuff I had

it was interesting it wasn't typical so I started making things based on antique aesthetics with amethysts citrin's funny earrings long not heavy diamonds I was making diamond chains

so long swaying things that were youthful and that's how I started is that is that perfect listen there was only one thing that was lacking when we've already discussed it

who it was who it was I'll give us some other names as I can So I want to go back You said that Hollywood has changed Obviously it's very Extravagant and glamorous now

But do you remember when you had your first big Red Carpet moment When that was what it felt like I had a lot of them man I want to hear about them all My first one my God I got so many things My first one

Oh he's got a book here people Well I put a press because I can't remember everything You know I don't know Oh I could just sit and look through it You have no idea of the book I had so many relationships with everyone from Jennifer Hudson before she's famous, René Zelligan, before she won her Oscar. Madonna, when she got married, it did her ring. I mean, I was the guy to go to.

I was this guy in the 90s that if someone wanted something, go see Neil. Like, go see Cal. There used to be a commercial in California, he sold cars. Go see Cal. Go see Neil. And I had this little tiny, tiny tent booth, and the most amazing people came through. and I don't know who the first was. I mean, even Lena Horn came

and she bought jewelry from me. And then she sang, and she was wearing this ring. I mean, I met the most remarkable people. Okay, I know I'm mumbling and grumbling, but I've been involved in so many Hollywood moments from the jewels for the historical jewels for the movie Chicago. Oh, good one.

I loaned her for the movie. Jules that belonged to the great iconic May West? Have you had May West? Yeah. Come up and see me sometime, big boy. No, we never see anything. You got a pistol in your pocket or just happened to see me?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. She's the grand name of, you don't know she. But anyway, I lent Julia that belonged to these great stars to these stars that were doing filming Chicago. Historical jewelry. Renee thanked me on camera. I mean, I think she thanked me on camera. I mean, I did so many amazing things.

She's so sweet. I just saw her portrait of Judy Gombie. Yeah, she's in the new movie. When she was nominated for an Oscar, I was very friendly at the time. She was wearing a red dress. And she doesn't like a lot of jewelry, but she likes rings. And she said, I just want one red ring to wear with this red dress. And I made her a red ring as a present to celebrate her being nominated.

She didn't win that year. She won the following year for another movie. But she sent me a sweet little note In a little, a tiny little envelope Blue envelope with a little police thing Dear Neil, I stared at it the whole night Oh my gosh I have had so many many experiences in Hollywood

From notes from I mean when I was asked to do Elizabeth Taylor's 70th birthday presents For everyone that sat around her table I was one of her good friends commissioned me To make these giant hip-hop 70 jewels The chains in a neelaine box So that was their play setting And it's just such cool things

Barbara Streisand was my first client Oh my gosh, stop Don't even get my mom in here Goldie horn You know, was another client But she brought Kate Her daughter Kate Little girl

And they would try on jewelry In my store Like play jewelry And when Kate got older You know I don't mean to single these people out Because there's so many more But I can't remember them all I remember this was significant

When she got married She got engaged to this guy from the Black Crows They came about a beautiful ring for me I mean she's had many lovers and children after that But it's multiple relationships I remember Jennifer Hudson before she was famous I went everywhere with her The stylist Jessica Pastor came to me

And introduced me to Jen and she's a Libra So I get along really well with Libras You know and I went with it everywhere With jewelry and towing and to the screen actors guild And to Emmys and Shemmy and then to the Oscars when she won our Oscar for Dreamgirls and I've had an amazing relationship with her.

Oh, when I launched my... Oh, I got an award. I got an award called the Gem Award for jewelry design. I don't know how many years ago, but... So it's a national award, and she came and presented it to me.

Oh, wow. In New York, the Gem Awards. Do you know what I keep thinking? What? We don't deserve you. We don't. I mean, how in the world did we land?

And Neil Lane. How are we in this interview with you right now? I just want to reach out and touch you for a second. Touch me, baby. I think I've had chills for the past 45 minutes. I have a question. So you speak of... Am I giving you a good stuff?

What? I could listen to you for hours, Neil. This is amazing. You just became my new best friend. I need a friend. I need friends. I do. I can honestly say, I don't think I've ever met somebody so passionate and charismatic

about what they do. Like, I feel, I feel like I've had chills for 45 minutes. And so humble, right? With all the stars you've met, I mean, why are you sitting with us schmucks? Because I don't think you're... He's like, I don't know right now. I don't think you're schmucks. Oh.

No, I think, uh, your schmucklets. No, you understand or people don't understand when someone famous sits with me in a ring. They, they're just like getting. Garrett or Brian or you. That's their princess. They might be Leonardo. There might be someone, you know, at the high echelon of Hollywood. You know, maybe broad.

I mean, they could be anyone. I mean, all the movie stars. But they're just like Garrett or Brian when he was choosing. They want to get the ring for their princess is love. I don't think they come in with that, well, I'm so-and-so, and I got two Oscars, you know. Yeah. I think it's about love. and I think I deal with real people

they may have different careers that are making them so famous and amazing and wealthy and all this stuff that people do but I think I see people at a very real moment so I think it kind of keeps me real I don't know how to be the other person I tried by the way

I don't know how to do it I don't know how to do it we heard the bachelor's voice But that's why in The Bachelor, I'm able to, hey, I'm Neil Lane. Hey, I'm Neil Lane. Nice to meet you. I love this. I love this real Neil Lane, I will say.

I do have one question. So you talked about when you first started in the jewelry business more so from the antique side of things, which I was actually tearing up when you were talking about that because. So my father has passed away, but he, one thing that we used to do when I was little was we would go antique shopping. Now, granted, it wasn't for jewelry. He loved his ducks and his decoys and shotguns. But he had such a passion for it. And so now, even being with Garrett when we travel, that's my number one thing that I love to do is wherever we are. If there's an antique shop, I have to stop in.

I just find such joy. And you never know what you're going to come across. And you weren't there, but I did come to your store last year to get my ring cleaned. And I missed you. But I remember sitting there for probably, I mean, I could have sat there for hours. Garrett had to drag me out. I was there for probably 30 minutes. and I tried on a lot of the beautiful, gorgeous vintage rings that you had there.

Do you go and still scout for those and go to the antique shops? Everything in the store has my energy of it. Okay. Nothing goes into the store that I haven't chosen. I mean, just to be honest with you, my Michael, Liz, Sally, and Courtney, they're all helpful. I was asking, but nothing goes in the shop without my curating it. Okay. I buy it all.

Well, it's amazing. It's blinding. If anyone can go into the store, I highly recommend it because the pieces that you have there are, like, jaw-dropping, gorgeous. Becca, why do you think I have two wedding bands? I couldn't decide. I might have to follow in your footsteps. I couldn't decide. It was, it is amazing. I, like, I piggyback on every single thing that Becca is saying. And it's, first of all, are you exhausted? One. Now? Just because you just do so much. I love it. Well, listen, I say an ego thing.

I love talking about myself. Well, but you should. It's the best. You have such a story to tell. I'm calmer now. When I first came in, I was very nervous. When you say, people don't realize another thing about me. I could talk.

I'm happy. But as soon as you put a camera on me, I freeze up. It is nerve-wrack. I change. And so sometimes my suit, the hair, the look, the voice, protects me so I can deal my thing but I'm good with that

because I like that guy I like that guy too well we ask you if you're exhausted because you're just doing so many things I mean like I said we know you for jewelry

you've mentioned that you're an artist but you have so many things that are expanding the Nill Lane brand that's more than beyond jewelry and I want to give you a chance to talk about that

I mean you have the tabletop line I do which I have which I have too wait what color do you have I have it's the like the gray stone

That's what I have. It's called stone, I think. It matches perfectly. Yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, no, it's tableware. Yeah. And it's absolutely perfect for my apartment. Maybe we have the same aesthetic in our apartment back up because it matches perfectly.

You get along like Ike and Mike, by the way. You get along with really well. Thank you, Neil. That's a big compliment. Thank you. But no, I had no idea that you even did that. And so I want to give you a chance to talk about all the things that you're doing to expand your brand and your artistry. Well, I mean, I mean,

I mean, yeah, I don't know what to say. He's a jack-of-all-trades. Careful and cautious. I've been collecting tabletops. I've been collecting silver. I've been looking my whole life since I was 16. I've been in castles. I've been in every museum in the world.

I've seen it. I've eaten from it. You know, when I was living in Paris, I was invited different houses. They had silver flatware. They had silver trays. And I was impressed by their forks that they had heft to them. And when you went and you cut into the food, wow, it felt like something.

You know, I think we had a little crappy, you know, falcon knives when I was growing up, which I didn't know they were crappy. Excuse me, mom and dad. Rest in peace. R-I-P. But I learned so much from my world travels. And again, like my aesthetic, I wanted to bring that. So I feel I had a lot to offer, not from an egotistical sense, but I really understood it.

I created a house. I built the house in the last number. We should all come and have a party. Oh, yes, please. I designed it everything. The door handles, the bronze door handles, the floors. I threw the design on the floor. It's called Tarazzo.

I threw the glass, the metallic, to make the pattern. I created mosaics in the niches in the bathroom. I did wallpaper for the house. It sounds like a masterpiece. Thank you. So I felt I wanted to do it first for myself to see if I could then bring it to a bigger picture. Because I'm always testing myself that I... I don't want to make the wrong step.

And then I work with amazing people on this line. And it was totally a joint thing, aesthetic-wise, because I didn't know. You know, I was able to bring the colors, the mugs. I love color. I want to talk about mid-century. I love the little dots in it. There was something like the trillion touch

and the mill grain of your ring. Your ring has the same dots on the plate. Well, no wonder you love it, the tableware. What we'll just let y'all know is that I am the inspiration behind the table line. Let me now give you all this love. And I do want to say that if you want to see where you can get this from, it is Nill Lane by Fortessa. That's where it's just became recently available.

I have it. Becca has it. My ring has it. At Bed Bath and Beyond. At Bedbath and Beyond, yes. I had no idea you're going to plug me here. I got up in the morning and I were Russian and I swam and I came here. I got lost because I talk and I text and I drive.

I don't tell anyone. And I missed a street. Everyone listening. Well, I don't text like Oprah said, don't text. I don't do that. But I do sometimes. We're so glad you got here safely today. Do we need to follow you out, Neal Lane?

Well, this is really nice of you. No, and I'll tell you what's great. We're getting like a sneak peek into who you are, but there's obviously so, so much more depth to you. And for those of you who want to know how you can learn more about Nilene, because I am so intrigued. I know Becca is too. I'm not leaving the studio.

You have a new book, and I, well, this is about weddings, right? But I imagine that the way that you're telling us about weddings and rings and the stories behind them, that there's some stories that come along with this, right? And your book is called Style Your Wedding with Nill Lane. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? Yeah. So when the idea came to do a book, I think Wedding Book would be the thing I've been involved with so many weddings from Cape Beckenzell's wedding. when the swans were going amok at the Bel Air Hotel

to Shaq O'Neill's wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel. What I was pointing was making, I've been part of this, weddings. So I thought I have a lot of knowledge. I'm not a wedding planner. You know, I didn't want to take anything. I can't do all those. I can't even bring an aesthetic like I do with my line of jewelry. The aesthetic of what I have.

I mean, the funny thing is, I went with Jessica Paster, the stylist, to Marsha Cross's wedding, when Desperate House was really popular. I went with Julia to do for her wedding, and Jessica, we had to dye her shoes. We had to dye her shoes that was the wrong color. So Jessica put them in tea bags and said, Neil, help me do this, help me do that.

I was steaming dresses. I've seen so many things. Hollywood weddings, I've been to glamorous weddings in Europe. I've just seen so much. So I thought, what could I do? How could I add to this narrative? There's so many great books. But it wasn't a book like I thought I wanted to do.

I wanted to give you a narrative that you do it, inspire you. You know, I wasn't going to tell you, do that, that, that. I was going to say, open up your creativity. You can do it. And then I, because I designed so many rings, I thought I would use six rings as the vehicle, as the chappas, an elegant ring or the glamorous ring or the hollies. And just to take you as a circle

And one of my things in the book I really wanted to share what The humanity of a wedding That not to worry about Not, it's your day obviously And it's your great day With you and your beloved But you know

Guests are coming to see you So I thought like When they come You know we all come to a place And you get the little placard Oh Neil you said table 67 You know I thought well

So you got to table 67 When you sit down Maybe there's another note Dear Neil You're one of 127 people here. You're here because we love you and we want to share it with you. So I tried to bring things to the book

that it's your day, obviously, and you're the glamorous, the bride, it's like a genetic thing that just blooms. It's amazing. You're amazing. But the people that come to support you, they're important as well. So, like, you know, they're hungry.

So, you know, the food sometimes at weddings come out really cold. And it's okay because it's family. but just throw another eye on the people that have come to support you. That was part of the thing that I wanted to bring the humanity to it. I wanted to bring back nostalgia. You know, not everything is throwaway. So like with your ring, the shape of the pear ship,

you can start doing for your wedding. Your ring can tell you a story, how to do the designs. Or the three stone ring that you have, be gold. It could be spark. It's just a story. to inspire you and I give you a lot of details and a lot of facts but then I say you'll do it on your own

grow you can do it back up this is for you I've already been married but damn it I wish I would have asked it so I do have your book and I got it a couple weeks ago it's been sitting on my coffee table and I've pieced through it so Garrett and I aren't quite at the wedding planning yet

but I'm hanging on to it because it well first of all it's put together beautifully but just to get the different vibes and piecing through the vibes that you can bring in. And like you said, the nostalgia part, like looking on how you can bring in, you know,

potentially family members that have passed and make it very special and make it your own. So I know once I start planning my wedding, that is going to come in key. And so I know listeners are out there that are definitely in that wedding planning process. So you need to get this book,

style your wedding with Neil Lane. It's beautiful. What kind of style are you? Oh, Rach, that's a good question. So I think for a, wedding. First of all, I'm pretty unconventional, or I would say not unconventional, untraditional. So I, when I envision a wedding, the one thing that comes to mind is food. And I don't want the traditional plated sit-down meal. I want a ton of food trucks. Garrett is very outdoorsy.

So I know we have to have, I feel like it's going to be a rustic theme, like a rustic, elegant theme. Yeah. But still cozy. Gosh, Neil, we could keep talking to you forever. And ever. There is so much to you. I like that. I mean, we can, you've already invited this to your home, so we're coming. I'll bring your wine. That's a done deal. I would love to that. I like people coming over.

You know, I do. I like sharing. What do you think about people staying? I might come over and stay. I like that. I don't actually live in that house where you're going to stay. So we can. Well, see, I'm trying to move to L.A. So what you're telling me is you have a free place. I'm actually looking to buy a hub, so

maybe. So one of the things what we want to get to on the podcast because while we have the expert here, the expert in all things when it comes to wedding, because you're right, you're more than just a jeweler. And if you've been listening at any point of this podcast, you're getting that too. We want to play a game with you about whether you approve or disapprove. Okay. And this is coming straight from the man, no lame. Right. So we're going to read to you a question or a statement and you're going to tell us whether you approve it or disapprove it. And what he says goes, people. Basically. All right. So first one up, proposing. without getting the parents' blessing. Do you approve or disapprove? Absolutely. Approve. So you should get the...

No, you don't need it. You don't need the blessing. No, no. I think if you love each other, like really love each other and your mother don't like him or he don't like her or blah, blah, blah. You've got to live with this person.

Your love is about each other. and parents don't always approve but if you believe in it and you believe in that love I would take that road Don't have Brian's mom listen to that one Well I actually agree with you really quickly Just because my dad did not give his blessing on the show

To the three guys that came home to meet them To meet him Did they all three ask? Peter didn't But he like explained his reasoning behind it But he did not give it to Brian And I still and I knew that Brian was up front with me about that.

But I knew my dad wasn't going to say yes. I still said yes because I knew what Brian and I had. And then later, it was very important for me to still have that approval. So once we all got to know each other before we actually got married, he asked again. And that was really important. And you said yes? Yes, my answer. And that's what I wanted to say.

I didn't want to take your parents out of the equation. Like, oh, you don't make a difference. They make a world of difference. But they don't know your significant other. You've been intimate in every way, it's hanging with them. You see something that your mom may not see. She may see a superficial guy. You see underneath that he's the most sweetest guy in the world.

And he acts sometimes he comes across that because he's so insecure. And you may see that. But your mom doesn't. And what are you going to spend? You know, he's really sweet, but he's insecure. Well, I don't see that, Becca. You know what I mean. You're right.

But I do like what you said, Rachel, afterwards. Yeah. afterwards you go back Dad what do you think now Look what a stand-up guy he is Look how wonderful he is I was right That's really what I said

All right next question Approve or disapprove Proposing without a ring This is controversial Lane It's hard He's gonna watch you by the ring I called you Lane

Did you hear me? That's payback from you earlier That's actually a very cute Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, Rachel, Nanathena for Fatio, feet by my matechial. This has really been my master plan the entire time. This is really what I've been waiting for. Because you don't understand?

I can't remember anything. It just goes out of my head. I get so nervous. Do you remember the question Becca just asked you? Yes. Yes. Wait, no. I do, but I have to grab it.

I don't remember it after that. No, no. It just quickly. Proposing without a ring. Yes. complicated. You would say, well, of course, Neil would say no, because he wants to sell a ring, but that's not the truth at all. Why is the reason he's not proposing with the ring? Does he not have the financials? Is he just drunk? You know, and he fell on his deal. Oh, you're going to

marry, babe. You don't get married, no. What's the reason? I think if you're going to propose, you need to propose with something. Not true. The promissory proposals are different. I have a great story. She's an an Olympiad, and he proposed with a twig. Oh,

on a hike and they're in Colorado. Again, you see, I can't forget her name. Lindsay Vaughn?

No, she was a snowboarder, but she doesn't have legs. She lost her legs in a disease, and she won Amy, Amy.

Oh, I know her. Amy, yeah. I know exactly who you're talking about. I think I just want She's so amazing. And he proposed, again, I can't remember his name, sweet guy, and they were walking on a hike and he got a twig. That's sweet. I like that.

You can't just propose with nothing. You can't. Proposal means something more. It means you need to take a physical action other than just the words. That's what I feel. It doesn't have to be a diamond. It could be anything, a string, you know, honey, I don't have the money, but I made the string for you. And this little twisty tie?

Sorry? A twist tie? Yeah. Oh, I did my first film. I forgot about that. What? You're a movie star? I did my first film with a...

Oh, my gosh. We are in the presence of greatness. Because I thought you said 50 shades of gray. What's the name? Was that your first film? No, what's the girl? Dakota Johnson. Yeah, he filmed with her.

I did my first film with a... Wait, why have you been holding out this information? When at first he said 50, I was like, oh, 50 cent? You were talking with 50. I would do one with him too. Why not? No. Out of Compton, out of Brooklyn, you know.

But, no, I'm sorry. I don't know why I brought that up. Okay, I'll ask you another question. We'll reel it in here. Asking for a new ring if you don't like the design that your partner picked out, do you approve or disapprove of that? Complicated. That's not an option.

Because when I first came to Hollywood, I'm going to answer you. Oh, wait. Okay. Okay. In what do they say, the old days? What do they call them? I used to talk about the past. Back in the day. Back in the day. When I first come to Hollywood, people used to come with me, the women. Oh, Neil, I hate my ring. I love John. I hate my ring. You think we could redesign it? I don't know. Oh, I couldn't do that. John would be so hurt. So back in the day, women got rings that they didn't like. Because John didn't know anything. John said to his dad, I love Mary. I love Mary. I love her.

I love Becker. I love Rachel. What do you do? Well, go to Uncle Tom and get a ring or diamond. No, get a diamond. Okay, I went to Uncle Tom and got a diamond. And now go to Uncle Mo. He'll get a setting for you. Go to Uncle Mo. Uncle Tom sold him a diamond. He couldn't get rid of, you know, whatever shape. He didn't know about Becker or Rachel, what she liked. And the guy makes a ring. There's no input from the girl. And that was what those days. Those were, back in those days, what do you call? Back in the day. Back in the day. But today it's different. And so I think a guy really needs to respect and understand the girl he's proposing to, whoever he's proposing to, their style, their level of, you know, this not macho thing, but this male, and I wouldn't say it's a male thing, but this thing where you're just going to give someone something because you love it.

She has to wear it. Today, things are about style and fashion. Look, to how glamorous you girls look. You have a style. No, you have a style. And people have style. Style is very, in Instagram, it's on pinstripped and, I don't know. Pinterest, you know, I'm like, I can't even follow that one.

Versus 50 shades of gray, no, it's pinstrip. But that's why I did the book. Because everyone would come into the store with all these pinstress, tap thing, and yellow stickums and schmikums and pages falling out. Post it. Here's a book. But anyway, I don't think you should. Okay.

I think the guy should be more careful. There's lots of opportunities today. There's so much, you should ask the girl. You ask her, what's her style? So, which leads me into the next question, proposing with a ring that was bought for an X. Oh, man. That's tough because of the energy. Unless the girl you're proposing to really likes the X and likes the ring.

But, man, that would be, that's kind of boo-boo-boo-ju-ju-and-gy. I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't think, like, can you imagine a situation where you propose to someone and it's your grandmother's ring and then it doesn't work out, but that's the ring you've always wanted to give them? That's tough. That makes sense. I think if it's a ring that you got designed, I would say, if you can keep the diamond,

keep the diamond, I would put it in a whole new setting. If that's all. If you're grandma's ring, I think it's okay to do it twice. You know, sweets? It didn't work out. But I always want to get, I took back the ring because it means so much of his family, and now I want to give it to you because you really are the sweetheart. But a ring designed for, you know, Rachel or anyone else,

and now you're proposing to someone else. It's like, no, no way. You're lazy. It's a deal breaker for me. I know exactly who you are by the fact that you did that to me. Well, and I don't, I can't imagine any girl being wanting that ring and being okay with, oh, yeah, you just gave it to Abby two years ago, but. I don't think it's considerate.

No, not at all. And, you know, and I think today there's, there's someone. There's so many ways a girl tells you what they want that you shouldn't do that. Right. Through Pintstrip. This is what I'm curious. I don't know. Pornow, shmorno, I don't know.

I can't say it all. I don't know. Neil, I can't either. Don't worry. I need to ask you this question. What? Very curious on this one. Six for two, eyes are blue.

Pitch-fitchie-cook. What do you think about proposing in a crowded place? Do you approve it or do you disapprove it? Oh, man. It's like a sporting event. I was like at a sporting event or I was it I was coming out of a Broadway play Hamilton and someone got down on the sidewalk and proposed right then and there right then and there I like it I like it I like it I like it I like it because I've had clients and friends that have done it in the middle of Broadway so that's a politically correct answer no no I like no it's not politically great I like it I like it I like that there is sometimes I think that I wouldn't like it um Can I tell you when I don't think you like it? Yeah, please do.

I don't think you should do it in front of a family at the holidays. Oh, I agree. My dad actually proposed to my mom. I think it was Christmas, and she said no. She's like, you have to do it when we're alone in the future. Yeah, I don't think you should do that at the holidays. Because Christmas is coming up, big time for a proposal. Do not propose in front of Grandma, Betty, Aunt Miltilda, Schmilde,

Cousin Biddle, Willie Little, Little. They're all going to have their opinions. Yeah. They're going to blow the moment. Take her upstairs. Take it to the room. Excuse us, folks. We're going away for a second.

Take Becca in the room, the kitchen, whatever is. Honey, I love you. Will you marry me? You know what I mean? Here's the ring. Come out as an engaged couple and let them applaud you because otherwise they're going to give you all their stupid opinions. Neil. Was that good?

The fact that this is, it's been great. There is not an adjective that I could use that could truly define the experience that Becca and I and our listeners have had today. I do have one last question. I don't even know if I can ask this, but I know viewers want to know, and I kind of do too. Okay. What happens to the rings

for the bachelor couples that don't work out? Oh, I've asked this many times. It does go to Bachelor Heaven. It really does. People think I make it up. But I have an arrangement with NASA, with NASA,

with Apollo 7. The rings go into the space, and they stay there for the eternal, eternal, nocturnal love, energy, and it's coming back in the next century in the millennium of 72-7. Wait, can I make a suggestion? Because truly, if they go to Bachelor Heaven,

I think that it would be great if you could decorate the store and then you could have the rings of those who didn't work out with a little tombstones, a little graveyard. Little RIP tombstones. I think that you should do, honestly, though, you should do something with these rings because honestly so many people, it's a question I get asked and I still have my ring. Becca, you still have yours. But people truly want to know what happens with the rings when they don't work out.

I don't know. I really don't know. When I do my thing, which is amazing with these guys, I say bye-bye. They never say hello again to me. unless they're on your finger. Oh, wait, can't ask another question real quick. Sorry, I know we're up against the clock, but... You're not up against my clock.

I'm enjoying today. This is the approved, disapprove. When somebody, when a couple doesn't work out, and they're left with this ring, do you think that the fiancé, the girl, do you think the woman should give the ring back, or do you think that she's allowed to keep it? It depends how much work she's had to do to get that ring. You know, it was easy, breezy give back the ring. You don't want that energy.

But you had to work your, you know, you get that ring, girl, you deserve it. Yeah, that's right. Like, I think the Caitlin and Sean's, that situation, she should keep the ring. She put it in three years. I only had mine for two months, maybe. I didn't want it. It was beautiful. I did not want to keep that one.

No, yours was different. No, no, no, no. I totally get it. Can I ask you a question? Please do. Yes, yes. I'm not only personal. you look amazingly happy

and Garrett looked happy we never know the future but are you getting an invite to the wedding is that what you want to know you were there with Ari and Lauren I can only imagine it was really painful

but it seemed from my perspective I don't know you I didn't know you you have an incredible personality or a deep heart or a passion that you were able to turn around something which was, you know, people could say, oh, look how terrible that was for her, to turn around something to a glorious, beautiful girl sitting in front of me with a ring and big smile on your face.

And I applaud you on that. How did you do that? I will say, well, so when I saw him at the finale, I said this, and I'll say it again, I never wanted anyone to feel trapped in a relationship. And if that was his out, that's what he had to do. I can't fault him for that. and he had to follow his heart. And it just led me to accept the fact that everyone goes through breakups.

Everyone deals with it differently. And I still didn't want to be scared of finding somebody after that. And so, I mean, obviously it all worked out now because we're, I mean, I haven't talked to them. So I'm assuming from what I've seen, they're very, very happy. I love Garrett with all my heart. And I think it happened in a way that should have for me to meet him. And so I just have to place it in the hands of God and say he has my back and he'll set me. on the right path and so

just hope that all I could have asked for is that everyone came out happy in the end because then it would have been a real shitstorm but it did. As a person who has talked to them very recently I might add and this is no shade I'm telling you everything truly happens for a reason

they are good for each other yes you know what I mean yes like that they are good and you are so much better off in your situation and you are good for, you and Garrett are good for each other. Like 100%. A thousand percent. I hate, like Nill said, hate you went through that pain, but my God, you are, this is the way it should be.

But it was worth it. I wouldn't, I wouldn't normally ask that someone because I wouldn't want to embarrass someone. But I see a ravishing girl in front of me happy with a ring. Another ravishing to my left as well. Her name is Rachel. In case you don't know, she thinks I don't know her name, but I do. I'm just a little wacky I'm proud of you girls

I'm proud of the girls what you've done I hear about you and how you do good and all the stuff you do with the fashion and promotion stuff I think it's amazing I'm thrilled to be part of it I do get a little goose pimples to think that I am part of something

like that you are yeah you are definitely I had the best time here you can ask me more questions but we can go on and on if we had unlimited time And believe me, we would. But that just means that you have to come back.

I would. You have to come back to Bachelor Happy Hour and C.S. I would. I think we need to take Bachelor Happy Hour to Neal's house. Maybe we'll do that. Done. And after hours. We'll put it up on pinstrip. Okay, you guys.

Is that what I said? Thank you. I'm sorry, Pinstrip. I'm a Malabrope. I can't get anything right. I can't remember Rachel's name. My own name is Neil. N.

What? Yes. So go ahead. Thank you, Neil. Let them know who you are. Thank you very much. He's got so many wonderful things coming up. If you don't have his book already, you've got to get that.

If you don't have his tabletop line, you have to get that as well. My exhibition. My artwork is being shown downtown. Tell them. Let them know. You know, so I'm showing two works, artworks. I haven't exhibited in a long time at a gallery downtown, a brand new gallery, downtown L.A. in the Arts District, the Sarah Gavlack Gallery on, I think it's 1700 Santa Fe Avenue. I would love for you to come and share

and see my work and I don't know let me know that you saw my work I might do an Instagram about my art I've never done it before I'm coming out he's coming out he wants a work to know

Oh my God I got singers and swingers Thank you so much Thank you for being here and being an amazing co-hosts I may say you bring out the better half in me I don't know All right imagination thank you so much for listening. We really hope you enjoyed this episode. And next week, you guys, we don't let you down. We keep it going every single week. We've got Friendsgiving, which will be hosted by the Abbasolos, me and Brian.

And we're so excited to have Brian here in L.A. And we're also happy to welcome some of our friends from Bachelor Nation, some of our favorite members, to come in and celebrate this very first Friendsgiving with us. Well, Rage, I am so bummed. I will not be able to make it to Friendsgiving next week. I will actually be back in Minnesota. like a blast. Since I'll miss it, everyone tune in next week for all the right reasons. In the meantime, you can get all the latest Bachelor Nation news on bachelornation.com right now. Got something you want to share? You can email us at happy hour at bachelornation.com or visit bachelornation.com and click podcasts. Thank you guys so much for listening. We are absolutely nothing without you. 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. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect.

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