Bachelor Happy Hour - Welcome Home, Joe!

Episode Date: November 17, 2021

This week we’re joined by Mr. Basketball himself, Minnesota’s own Joe! He might be quiet, but he’s definitely left an impression, and today he’s talking to Tayshia about everything that went down in this week’s episode of “The Bachelorette” and his journey so far. Joe explains how much it meant to have the first one-on-one date with Michelle in their home state of Minnesota, and how being home helped him open up to her about his life-changing injury. Then, Joe shares exactly what he was thinking when he stepped out of the limo on the first night and reveals exactly how he would have reacted if Chris S. had tried to crash his one-on-one date.    Plus, Joe shares his thoughts on some of the other men while playing Bachelorette Superlatives, and Tayshia answers some juicy fan questions!  “Bachelor Happy Hour” has exclusive interviews every week. Watch “The Bachelorette” on ABC and listen to “Bachelor Happy Hour” the next morning.  Don’t forget to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode.  See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Complex problem solving. takes effort. Listen to the psychology podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jamel Hill, hosted the Sports and Politics and Politics. And on the latest episode of Spolitics, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins me for a candid conversation about the state of the Democratic Party. What do Republicans say to you privately that they won't say publicly? Many of them are in fear of their political lives. We continue to say to them, you were elected to defend your constituents. And there's life. after Congress.

Make sure to listen to this episode of Politics on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back, happy hour listeners. Guess what? It's just your girl, Tasha, this week. Becca is out, okay? But don't you worry?

Because I'm here to talk about everything from last night's episode and even answer some of you guys's juicy questions that you guys have submitted. But also, we have Mr. Basketball himself joining me to talk about his one-on-one that just so happened to take place in his hometown of Minnesota and so much more. There were some things that happened this week in the episode that I don't know if I necessarily just, I got secondhand embarrassment. You know, I just felt so bad for Chris S.

Chris S, that man, I feel like he was starting to spiral out of control and like we kind of all saw it coming. I wonder if he saw it coming or if he saw it coming or if. he felt it, his demeanor was off, his energy was just off. And sure enough, in true bachelor fashion, when people start to spiral out of control, well, that means the end is near, unfortunately. And Chris decided to take it into his own hands to quote unquote show up like Michelle has asked. I don't know if she necessarily meant it in this way, especially on a one-on-one when he clearly has no business attending. But he showed up on. all right. And she said, adios. I think at this point, I just really love that Michelle was like,

look, I need somebody to have my back, but lets me speak. I don't need to be spoken for. In fact, I feel extremely empowered when I'm speaking. And I just need somebody that actually supports that and can just have my back with whatever I say and allows me to make my own judgments and decisions on my own. And with that said, my judgment is your judgment day, sir, and you're going to go home. So I don't know if he necessarily saw that one coming or I don't know what he was thinking was going to happen, what he was going to save the day, she was going to stop her date with Nate and go back home with him. Just, you know, a rule of advice for everybody out there if you ever decide to make your little sweet way onto The Bachelor or Bachelorette, don't do this, okay?

I know it sounds like a really good idea at the time. Just don't do it. There's another way to go about it and it ain't it like that. So that was, I think it was time for Chris S to say goodbye, unfortunately. I feel like he really didn't have fun on the Viking date, which the Viking date, can we talk about that for a second? I may have sent myself home on that date, Because truthfully, the things that they were eating, a raw fish. I mean, Brandon bit into that fish. I swear I saw juice guts spitting out. And literally, Rodney is so funny.

He was like, is that crunchy? It was, I could not stop laughing. Rodney kills me. Anyway, so this week's episode was really good. I feel like I really loved Nate's one-on-one-one day. Michelle was in her element and she fell at home. But also, she felt at home and, like, really, really comfortable. And I feel like she really grew in a relationship with Joe, which I cannot wait to have him here on the episode today.

He's coming any minute now. And we'll just deep dive with that with him. But until then, we have some fan questions to answer. Let's see what y'all have submitted, shall we? What is the best part of co-hosting The Bachelor? Well, number one, the pressure is not on me. So I just go to kind of like sit back and kind of giggle and laugh and really admire like the love and how much you watch all of these individuals grow from afar. Like I feel like you really see these people like step out of their comfort zones and put themselves out there and try to do these romantic gestures.

And there's just something so I don't know, sweet and endearing about it that it's fun to watch. afar but also like watching you know the lead kind of fall in love and really seeing that from night one to like the finish it's just like the waves of emotions and and and um just like the people that you filter through it's funny like how your gut instinct is always correct and um that's just been really fun also i mean come on kately and i have a freaking ball of a time we cannot stop laughing. In fact, I feel like we need a TV show ourselves and just like to just show you guys how crazy we are behind the scenes. But yeah, I really enjoy my co-host and I really have fun doing what I do. Next question. What is the biggest difference between your hosting role now versus

actually being the bachelor? So I get asked this a lot, but for a lot of the obvious reasons and I kind of touched on that with the last question. It's like I'm not in the vulnerable position. I'm not in the vulnerable position. Which, you know, I've done. It's an amazing experience, but also at the same time, it's extremely draining. And it can be really tough, but also could be extremely rewarding. So right now as hosting, it's kind of just kind of being on the sidelines, just kind of like watching over what's kind of happening, you don't really get to intervene too much and get to be a part of like what's going on, which I kind of find special because we look forward to those conversations with Michelle. She kind of like fills us in. I don't know everything at times. So it's nice to kind

of hear her experience from, you know, how she's experienced it. And yeah, I have to say the late night in the long hours. I was watching Michelle do it. Like I would like look out my window and they were still out there at like 3 a.m. I'm like there's no way. Y'all can get me to do that again. Like I was exhausted just thinking about it. I don't know how I did it. But then again, it's like a crazy high when you're doing it. So yeah. So the biggest difference, well, it's just not me in the hot seat. And being able to kind of like help somebody on their journey has been really fun and rewarding. What did you do to do? train for the NY Marathon? Well, it was kind of difficult because I had made the commitment

to do the marathon back at the end of May. And yeah, I had decided that I wanted to do the marathon at the end of May and I signed up in June. And truthfully, like two weeks later, three weeks later, I was leaving to go film Michelle's season. So actually two weeks later, yeah. So it was really tough and not ideal my training regimen just because I didn't get back into the city until mid-September, which is actually crazy to me. Like I was on the road for that long. And truthfully, training on a treadmill.

I'm sure some of you guys know if you guys are runners, but training on a treadmill is not nearly the same as running outside and trying to pace yourself and figuring out the distance you can go and whatnot. So I did it as much as I possibly could. You know, it's tough being stuck in a hotel and having that be your only outlet. And sometimes you just don't want to be like in an inside hotel gym. You just kind of want to be outside and kind of roam. I think that's kind of the beauty of running, is exploring and kind of having that, I don't know, a free spirit, if you will. So it was a little difficult until I got here back to New York City and I was able to run around the city. I saw it in a completely different light than I normally had, which I think

is like the most exciting thing for me. Like it was, I would be on runs and I would completely stop and just be in awe of like the skyline and be like, I actually live here. Like I made this happen. It's been a dream for me for a while. It's been a dream of mine for a while. And it was just very surreal and to do that with Zach and some of our friends have just, I don't know, it's just been really magical. So it was really just doing at least like two short runs during the week and then doing a long run on the weekend when I could fit it in. Ideally, I would have loved to train a little bit more just so you know if I would have

trained a little bit more. I would have gotten a better time. I would have smoked y'all. Just kidding. Humble, humble, stay humble. Anyway, next year, it's freaking on. That's all I have to say. Next year it's on.

I have like sub four goal and I will hit that. So I'm really excited. Next question of all the men who've gone home so far, who are you most excited to talk to at the mental all and why? I mean, I'd have to say this is pretty easy. It's going to probably be Chris S because I want to hear his final thoughts. I don't really think that he thought his journey was going to end the way it did. again, I would love to know what he thought was going to happen. Yeah.

And he's kind of erratic. Like, I just feel like there's just so much to unpack there. So he's a little spitfire. Let's talk to Chris S, honey. And lastly, can you and Caitlin please do more TikTok dances? They are so fun. Yes, yes, more yes. It's funny because like when we're in the moment and we're like all dressed up and we're doing our thing,

it's probably one of the last things on our mind. And then we look back and we're like, why don't we do a TikTok or like, why don't we do this or that? But when you're the moment, you kind of forget. But TikTok dances, her and I just love them. And I feel like it's something that we both like bond on and we kind of pick up pretty easily. So yes, to answer your question, yes, we will work on some more. In fact, I think she'll be here in New York in a few weeks. So maybe we'll do one then.

all right guys well that was fun thank you for submitting some questions go ahead and continue to do that i would love to do this with becca um pretty soon here so that we can both kind of like play around but other than that thank you and that was fun but without further ado it is time to bring on our guest joe mr basketball himself welcome to bachelor happy hour hi joe Hey, station, how's it going? Good. How are you? I'm doing well. I'm doing well. A little cold in Minnesota, but it's cool. Is it cold? How cold is it? Let's have a competition. Let's see who's colder. It's 26. Oh. I'm not even going to get my phone out because it's way colder over there than it is.

We have a lot to talk about, okay? For sure. But first off, Mr. Basketball, Minnesota, how are you? How are you doing? I'm doing good. It's been really good. Yeah. This has been a really cool experience. And, you know, just watching things back has been really fun for me.

So it's been a good experience from myself and also my family. Wow. It's been fun. Has it been fun watching yourself back? Oh, well, I mean, I've never really liked listening to my own voice. I'm like, it's fun watching. It's fun watching the things that we weren't able to see while on the show. So that's been very cool.

Absolutely. I have to say, watching my. self back when I was on The Bachelor. I don't know if I would necessarily call it fun. I was like running from one side of the room to the other like the second I'm to come on. I was like so uncomfortable watching with my family. The fact that you do that, kudos to you. It is uncomfortable. But yeah, it's the other part. It's the stuff that I didn't see or hear about before. That's really interesting for me. Yeah, it's all good. I need to know, how did you end up on The Bachelorette? Yeah, so I was nominated.

I had some people from Minnesota that thought, you know, me and Michelle would be a good couple. And so they were like, you should really just, they asked me if I would want to apply. And I told them like, no, there's no way I'm ever doing that. L-O-L, sent them some emojis. And then like an hour later or something, I got a screenshot and it was like your submission or like your application has been submitted. And I was like, wow, you really did it. You really did it. And I just sent prime emojis not thinking anything really come.

of it. And I think I reached out to, like, that night. You were reached out to you that night? That night, yeah. Oh, my God. That's so quick. It was so quick. Jesus. I was like, no way. So at least you weren't trying to, like, get onto the show for years now. It was really just because, like, you thought, or your friend thought that you would have a connection with Michelle. Well, that's kind of cool. I mean, it's, A, when it's supposed to happen, it's supposed to happen. But we have a lot to unpack with your journey because a lot has happened. But let's take it back to night one. Obviously, this is not something you were kind of expecting. But how nervous were you coming out of that limo, seeing Michelle on that podium?

I need to know everything. You know how it is. Yeah, it's a lot of lead up going into that moment. Just how long the process is, just making sure that you're ready before you get in the limo. Then once you're there, you're kind of sitting, waiting for some of the other guys to go. And it's just like, oh, I wish I would have went first. And I ended up being the last set of the limo. also.

So it's just like a lot of nerves going into that. I'm like I could easily say that I was like the most nervous I've been in my life. Like been in a lot of games where, you know, games are on the line. I'm at the free to line and nothing compares to like that opening night. I mean, I can, well, I've never been, you know, Mr. Basketball or like even a basketball player or know what that feeling feels like. But yeah, the anxiety and kind of like the stress of coming out of that limo is wild. but for you, yours was even a little bit more different

or a little bit more special, if you will, because you actually knew Michelle. Did you think that she would recognize you? No, I didn't. You didn't? I didn't. Okay, so I don't understand. You knew that she saw your Instagram.

Okay, so you just thought it was so long ago. She's not going to know. I've never met her in person. Because clearly you guys, I mean, you didn't clarify for everybody. You guys had just DMed a couple of times. It was nothing more than that. So you guys have never met in person before. So you just thought you kind of get away with it.

Yeah. Well, not necessarily get away with it. But I thought, you know, it would be a topic of conversation later on. Not necessarily right thin and there in that moment. Did your heart drop. Because I remember this. I remember because we were watching you guys. And you left the podium.

And she's like, hold on a second. Did I DM you? Like, and you turned around. I think you said what? You said something like, we'll talk about it or something? I said, uh, we'll see. I think maybe something like that. And she was like, wait, you ghosted me and then just called me out.

So were you freaking out at that point? I was already freaking out. So that was just like more more on top of it. But I'm glad we had that conversation. It was, you know, we just nipped it in the butt right there. So yeah, that's good. well okay so you had an interesting night one one that not a lot of people can relate to because that was you ghosted our lead by the way not you know probably not the best foot to start on but

like it's all good um no probably not but i think one of the dates that you know we kind of saw you step into your element was when we were in palm springs on the basketball group date first off i wanted to say i'm so sorry for your loss of your coach um i know that was really tough for you um but i almost feel like i'm happy you saw michel that day because i feel like that's something that you could help probably lift your spirits you know yeah i appreciate that um it was uh it was crazy timing because you know you're not able to really talk to the outside world and the fact that was you know that day um and then got a call about um my coach passing you know on the day that we're having a group basketball date was it was like kind of special you know

just to like have that happen and then you know be able to not necessarily like put it beside me but then you know go to a place where I usually would go to uh you know have fun and like kind of of forget about I think in my head exactly so yeah just being able to have that was great yeah was it fun to be on that court with all the other guys and like kind of being your element yeah yeah it was super fun a lot of the other guys guys had, you know, kind of talked about them being hovers and that they're decent and things like that. So I was like, okay, cool. Like, go have fun. Yeah, I'll go.

At this point, I don't think anybody knew that you, like, you know, had done pretty well in your basketball career back at home. So you kind of were just, like, remaining humble at this point, right? Yeah, I just was remaining humble, just staying quiet. I mean, some of the other guys are talking about how they had balance for a big dog and all this and that. And I was just, that kind of stayed in my lane. I just love my, yeah, just love my place. I talked for itself. And yes, and you did pretty good that day, if I remember. At first, I think it was a little shaky for everyone,

but then I think you kind of, you took it home. Yeah. But it's no secret that Michelle also can ball, and she definitely gave you a run for your money. Is that your first time that you ever got, you know, your ass-loat by a girl? Yeah, I would say that is the first time. she killed me. We had a good game of pig. She got me for sure. Yeah, she did. Is that a turn

on for you with watching her play basketball and kind of be able to kind of school you and kind of match your skill? It was a big turn on watching her. Yeah. Yeah, for sure, for sure. I had never seen her play before. So just being able to see her in person and seeing her stroke was pretty nice. It was good to see. Yeah. Well, look, you did amazing that day. And I think, yeah, also kind of got the group date award, if you will, and got to continue on with that. And so your guys' connection there continued to grow. But what also continued to grow was the drama with Jamie.

And we're just going to touch on this for a quick little second because really it was you that he was talking about. What went through your mind when you found out that some of the guys, aka Just Jamie, had been quick. whether or not you and Michelle had any sort of relationship before going on the show? Well, I've had some guys that kind of asked just like, you know, night one or even this days after, just knowing that I was from Minnesota, they were like, do you know where I'd be better? So they were, like, asking. But they asked me. They didn't like necessarily like gossip

to other guys and say like, not include me in the conversation at least. So they were asking me. I just kept a real with them. But the funny thing is, yeah, Jamie never, never spoke to me. So I'm watching his bat. Yeah, you never took the time to have a conversation with me. So, yeah, that was interesting that, you know, it ended up just being him. So guys asked you, and it just kind of like, you just put it to bed right then and there, and they didn't really kind of question that and dive any deeper. Oh, yeah, they asked, yeah, they asked if I knew her, if I knew her, and if I met her.

And I never met her. But, I mean, I guess I could have elaborated a little more, but I just felt like that would have just been not good for the situation. if I would have said something about messages. So it was just, just kept it at that. Like, we never met before and that's pretty much where it was.

Oh, God. Well, you know, that's what happens, when someone kind of, like, makes up this, like, story and just kind of, I don't know, alludes to something. Well, it ends up biting in the ass

and that kind of what happened to Jamie. So at least the truth came out and you were truthful. Michelle was truthful. And that's all. You know? Um, how excited were you?

when you found out that you guys were to go to Minnesota. I know Palm Springs was fun. Obviously, the heat was great. You're like, yeah, no, it was not that great. It was so hot. Did the heat get to you? It got to me for sure. Okay, would you rather have that kind of heat or, what is it, 26 there?

See, you can always put layers on, but you can't take layers off like that. I guess that's true. It was so hot. I mean, like, even during the day, I didn't want to be outside. Yeah. And at night, it was super hot, too. it was super hot yeah but see like I love that

I don't know I guess I like me too but like I feel like that was just a little aggressive yeah just a little bit hey look at least you guys got to leave and go to Minnesota on my season we stayed in that 120 degree heat the entire time

the entire time I'm melted yeah yeah it was I mean the men they really put up a fight so but then you gotta go to Minnesota so you got to go home. How did, how did you feel when she was like, so we're not staying here, we're going to Minnesota, but all the places in the world, how did you feel?

I was geek. I was neat. Minneapolis, Minnesota, like, it's been my home for 26 plus years. So just being able to come back home, I thought it would be really cool, especially with me and Michelle both being from there, from here. I thought it would just be a really good experience for us both. So I was really excited. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, I mean, I feel like number one, that kind of has to feel good because you're on this crazy experience that like we talked about earlier. You don't really get to being cocked and like touch with anybody from the outside world. And like at least you're going to go home to where you kind of feel like some sense of like normalcy and like it's also your stomping ground. So like did you think that that was going to kind of allow you to well, I don't know. Do you feel like you were being yourself and like able to open up and or. Were you kind of having some walls up still when you're Tom Springs? No, I think it helps bring some walls down for sure. Felt a lot more comfortable when I was there. You know, especially just with some of the guys, too, like, I'm pretty quiet if I don't really know you. So just having the whole group be in Minneapolis, I was able to kind of just talk to them about cool areas. Or like, what's historically, like, famous about this spot and, like, just little things like that. And once they got there, they're really impressed with the city and kind of just helped me build more of a connect.

with some of the guys and, you know, had them see the place that I call home. So I was glad to come back for sure. Yeah, that's really rare, you know, for like the lead and a contestant to be from the same hometown. And I feel like that's really an advantage for you. Like you know everything around Minneapolis. And so I feel like you kind of have the one up on everyone.

And the fact that, well, you got a one-on-one with Michelle. as soon as you got to Minneapolis. So you were like having the time of your life, actually. You got to go home. Then you got to have a one-on-one. First of all, how did it feel for her to call your name in front of all the guys the second you saw her? Yeah, that was pretty interesting

because we were just kind of walking around the city to Stone Arch and stuff. But they didn't warn us about seeing Michelle or anything like that. So like, I'm in sweatpants, a white tea, like super casual. And then like we walk up and Michelle's there. not really knowing what's going to happen and then yeah she surprises me

the one-on-one day so that was really cool yeah okay so let's see have you ever been on the field of the Twins game before no no I've never been on the field of the Twins game

or thrown out with the first pitch so that was a really cool surprise as well so like the one-on-one day just kept getting better and better really I mean did you expect to get a one-on-one when you were there I had a feeling

you know we're back in Minnesota I figured I'd probably get a one-on-one date at some point, especially since I hadn't gotten one yet. But I didn't think it was going to be right then there in that moment. Yeah, I mean, let me ask you. At this point, what? We're like a couple weeks in. You obviously have a connection with Michelle

and you guys have been having, like, decent conversations and you've gotten like a group date rows and things like that. Did you feel like you needed that one-on-one time soon in order to really make a breakthrough in your relationship? ship. Yeah, I felt like I would want to get it soon, sooner than maybe. That's for sure. You know, like on group dates, there's only so much you can really build on in that setting with so many other guys with you. So just being able to have that one-on-one day is something that I was really looking forward to. Yeah. You know, the fact that we got, I got that, you know, the first day

and then, you know, it having been something that's like kind of a really cool thing to do. Like, people go to Twins games. They like going to sporting events. So being able to do that with her was really dope. Yeah. Have you ever been on a kiss cam before? No, I've never been on the kiss can before. That was the first time. Yeah, that was pretty epic.

I'm not going to lie. That was. On the field, Michelle just threw a pitch, and you're on the kiss camp. I mean, I don't really know how else you can top a situation like that at a Twins game, but I think you made a statement. Okay, kid, you made a statement. I feel like what was really cool was that you guys went to dinner at a restaurant that you had already been to.

Is that right? The Ferrisville. And she had never ate at that restaurant before. What did it feel like to be in your hometown with Michelle? Did it kind of feel like this is what like life could be? Like was it pretty surreal for you? Yeah, it's definitely surreal. You know, having this friend's game,

something that, you know, people love to do for dates or just like weekend things. But like going on a date to Betty Danger's pretty close to where I live even. So just doing that just felt like real realistic. I mean, this whole experience is pretty crazy. So it's not necessarily always something that you could envision continuing, but like being in Minneapolis, going to restaurants that we've both been to before. It's crazy. Just made it feel so much more real.

So crazy to me. I honestly wish, like, I had more hometown dates, like, in my hometown. That would have been... In your hometown, yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know. There's just, like, another level of it. Like, you just feel so comfortable.

and did you want to show her around? Do you kind of wish that you were able to show her, like, let me show you more like eyes stomped around? For sure, for sure. There's a lot of spots that I wanted to show her and then some of the guys too. I mean, all of them were a lot of people talked down in Minneapolis in Minnesota,

so they didn't really think much what's going on over here. So I was like, it's a lot to do than what you guys think. So I wanted to show them too. Why do you think people talk down about it? Because I think, I don't know, maybe it was Rodney or something. And he was like, man, I really just thought Minnesota just farmland and stuff like that.

I was like so much more. So I just think like people in the West Coast just don't really have a sense of what's going on in the Midwest. On a more serious note, though, I want to talk about, you know, your guys is 101 and the conversation you guys had that evening, which I feel like was so special. And I don't know, it just meant a lot to watch you walk through that experience and share it with everybody. have you I mean I know you said that you really don't tell many people about your injuries with basketball

and like how it affected your life did you kind of feel apprehensive to sharing that story and how do you feel now that you did it? Yeah I mean anything that I don't do like on a consistent basis kind of makes me a little nervous

or it's not something I usually do not always comfortable doing that but you know given Michelle like we already kind of builds a connection around basketball and I wanted to make sure that she just kind of knew more about me and where I you know kind of kind of been through and you know how it's affected my life and how I kind of fought through those injuries and how you know it's tough mentally on somebody who's worked so long and so hard on a specific

goal and then you know it's not necessarily something that they reached especially after you know something that was out of their control and just part of you know the process of sport. So that was tough, but I definitely wanted her to know that what I was going through and that so she could paint a better picture of who I am as a person too. So I'm happy that I was able to open up to her and the kid, it was good. Yeah. It must have felt really good and really safe to be able to talk to someone that can possibly understand what that actually feels like when basketball is your life and, you know, you put in so much hard work. and effort day in and day out.

And Michelle obviously has done that too. So did that make it easier for you to feel like you can open up to her and talk to her about it? Yeah, for sure. I mean, if you just speak to like a regular person, I never really wanted anybody to like feel sorry for me. So just like explaining that to somebody who hasn't been through that process and that grind, I don't think would really fully understand. And so having someone to talk to about that who has been through that process.

has gone through those hard days and those hard nights of practice and conditioning and just the whole process of it all made it really good just to build that deeper connection that we had together. Yeah. Can you talk a little bit more about, you know, because I know you talked about like how it was kind of like a really dark like place in your life and how hard that was mentally. Like how how was that journey? How was that journey? for you like getting from how you felt then to like now i i feel like that's not something that happens overnight obviously um and you were like how you said you have high standards for yourself and when you're doing essentially the same exact thing that you were doing a couple of weeks ago and

it's just not the same um i'm sure that was really really really hard on you um yeah yeah it was it was um it was you know being so i was at the university minnesota and i transferred all the way to St. Mary. So I had never been away from home before. So that in itself was pretty difficult for me, being such a homebody and being so close to my friends and family. So that was hard on its own. But then kind of having basketball taken away from me at that same time is what really made it hard for me. You know, didn't have anyone to really support me in those moments in person. You know, I think Skype was still kind of picking up and like, you know, we had a little bit of FaceTime, but it's nothing like it is now. So,

I didn't really have that many people to reach out to or speak with. And I really just felt alone. And so that was difficult. And so I knew I was going through a dark situation. And I wanted to put myself in a better position after that. So that's why I ended up transferring and just coming back home. So we could have that support system back around me. Which is so important, especially when you feel like you're alone.

and you even said that you questioned, like, who am I? If I don't have this and like, what is my identity? And I feel like that is a thing that obviously in different forms, but that we all can probably relate to and have felt at some point in life when something, you know, as big as an injury or, you know, someone or a family passes away, something that kind of just like really makes you question, that question who am i is really scary place to be and i'm really happy that you were able to go back home and kind of be surrounded by your family um but injuries are so common in like

high level athletes what advice do you have for men and women out there who have experienced a life-changing injury um i would say just you know trust the process um you know it can be really dark tough time um you know injuries can be eight 12 16 16 weeks. But doing what you have to do every single day, knowing that if you would do trust that and keep going to that process, you know, things will work out. But it's tough. It's tough. You know, you climb up that hill to get back in shape or to get your injured, a leg foot or whatever may be back and then to get injured again and fall back down there. It's tough mentally. So I would say just try to trust the process, but also make sure your mental is as good as it can be.

Yeah. It's tough. Do you feel as though being surrounded by, like, your friends from back home, that kind of sped up that process of, like, kind of feeling, like, alone and getting out of that dark hole? Yeah, for sure, for sure. Yeah, my friends and family are a big part of my life. I keep a small circle still, but those people that are around me are the ones that, you know, got me to where I am today. And so without them, I wouldn't be the person that I am.

And so just having those, like, good support systems around you is what, you know, really helped me. And, you know, I'm really grateful for it. I mean, like, my injury doesn't necessarily compare because running wasn't something that, like, I was, like, striving to be an Olympian or anything like that. But I ran in high school and I was planning on running in college. And as a freshman in college, I actually was in my first week as a freshman in college, I was actually ran over by a truck. And it completely fractured my pelvis and like it was the craziest feeling. So like I know what you kind of mean. And when you're saying like something just gets taken away kind of in an instant and

trying to rebuild that, especially for me, like I don't even walk. So I had to like read and learn how to walk. So it's like something like that it's tough to I don't know, just not have everybody feel like sorry for me like I'm already going through enough right now and like trying to like you know find your new groove with everything like it's a very it's a very tough place to be and I remember like I had to like stay home I couldn't I had months of schooling that was like taken away and then I was like behind everybody it was just like it was a mess but um I know exactly what you mean by um just need to be surrounded by your your loved ones and um I don't know

I'm sorry to hear that that sucks were you in like a body cast like what is how How is the recovery? Truthfully, there's no surgery for a fractured pelvis. So, like, it's, I had, very attractive. I actually had a walker. And I, that's it. I just kind of had to, like, do physical therapy every single day. I had to relearn how to walk.

Like I, like I said, back in the hospital. Yeah. And I had to move dorm rooms and all this stuff because I couldn't walk upstairs anymore. Like, I couldn't walk. bars. I couldn't walk to classrooms and things like that. It was just, it was tough. But yeah, it was kind of just having, um, what's it called crutches and a walker and just kind of like limping around and being at a school for about three and a half, four months. Dang, that's tough. Yeah. Sorry to hear that. Yeah, that sucks. Yeah. So I get what that kind of like

pain can do to your mental state. Um, but again, not to the level of, of like, you know, I don't know, having that be like your full identity, you know, that's tough. um let's see um i don't know i don't even know where to go from that because it's so heavy but i just want to say like thank you for being able to like open up because i feel like a lot of people have gone through injuries like this like in college it's very very common and um i think your story on you know the bachelor is something that a lot of people can resonate with and now seeing you now being able to still be like playing basketball and um being as how as you are like it's it's really it's really sweet i'm happy you did it so thank you um if you could

have planned the perfect one-on-one date in minneapolis what would have been the perfect one-on-one date let's see um for sure i guess i probably would do like probably wouldn't be tv acceptable would be like a movie, dinner and a movie. I mean, it's like, it wouldn't be cool on TV for us to go see a movie. A movie. Dinner, but like, um, like maybe a dinner on like St. Anthony Maine or on the Stone Arch during like a sunset or something like that. Okay, here.

Let me romanticize it for you. How about we like do like a projector? Yeah? How about a projector? A projector outside. Come on now. And then you got popcorn and feed each other popcorn. a popcorn with some plush little like couches, lanterns everywhere underneath the stars.

Overlooking city. Exactly. You could probably do at Boom Island. I know the perfect spot. See? There you go. Yeah, you have, I can help you with this stuff. You know what I mean?

Okay, well, that would have been really, really cool. Okay, so movies. So you're a simple guy. I like that. I like that. At least it's something like crazy. You know, crazy is kind of like something that Chris S would do. like showing up at a one-on-one day.

Yeah, that's pretty crazy. I'd love to know your thoughts about the drama with Chris has. Where do we start? You literally just picked up your water bottle and taken a swig because you, okay, gather yourself, gather your thoughts. Tell me about your thoughts. I just want to know. I think with Chris S, he,

what he was trying to do was coming from a good place but I think how he did it and what he said was not the right thing to say are you talking about the outburst at the cocktail party

like kind of about the whole Nate thing yeah yeah and like saying that guys had it in the bag because no one has ever said that in the house but I think just the way he said it and how I came across was definitely not the way he should have And I told him I'd been in there in that moment

I got up and I was like, what are you doing? What are you doing? Why would you say that? I was like, no one's ever said that. But I mean, he must have heard some things that I didn't hear. But as far as that, yeah, I told him that wasn't a good look. What are your thoughts about him crashing Nate's one-on-one? Yeah, that's why I was pretty crazy.

That was a really bad idea. I don't know. You can't really twist that any other way. that should not have been done. I would have been really excited if it was my while. Look, I was saying this at the earlier, like earlier on the episode, there's just a way to go about making your voice be heard and kind of like, you know, warning, if you are, quote, unquote,

warning the lead about people. But it's definitely not crashing a one-on-one date. And I'm not quite sure. I mean, like, really, though. Okay, let me ask you, because you're a guy. Maybe you can try to, like, enlighten me what was going through his head. What did Chris S really think was going to happen?

Like, did he really think that, like, Michelle would have been like, Chris, you are right. I'm going to leave Nate and, like, leave the one-on-one. And then, like, go back with him back to the hotel? There's no situation where I think that, like, would go smoothly for Chris doing that. I don't know. I don't know what he's saying.

I mean, come on. I'm just really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt here. but I just don't know what he was thinking. And then instead, he got himself sent home. Yeah. I mean, I feel like he had, I feel like he might have been like, all right, this is just the last straw. He might have been in a different mental space where he was like,

if I could send home, like I said home. Did you have any idea that he was going to do that? Because you guys were all back at the hub at this, you know? Yeah, we didn't have an idea. No, I mean, we had talked like a group chat setting where like he had mentioned or some of the guys that said that like she called him out

about not practicing what he preaches or something like that. I think he like got a little frustrated about that. I think that's what been led into crashing the days. Oh my God. I don't know. It was a shock. I mean, I guess it was a shock to me that Michelle sent him

home as soon as she did just because, well, I guess the whole thing was a shock to me. But did you think he was going to go home that night? well I just knew he wasn't around so I didn't like see whether it was happening but I figured like something wasn't nothing good was going to happen so I had a feeling like this that might be the last time I saw Chris S oh god oh my God well look that's as much as you know that might be the end of the road for Chris S I feel like there's still lots to come um here in the next few episodes um could you be able to to give us a one-sentence teaser of what's to come in the season? One-sentence teaser? Something that's never happened before.

You think, oh, that's a teaser. Okay. Something that's never happened before is going to happen soon. I think that's pretty good okay well I don't know if I don't know if that's you with you or if that's if that's with somebody else but I'm very intrigued

Was this supposed to just me? No no you're leaving me on my seat I mean I was there and I'm still I'm interested I'm excited okay well the other thing that we usually ask our guests that are on the episode is

what is your rose and your thorn. So what was your rose and thorn of your journey thus far? Rose. Yeah. Finally meeting Michelle. Oh, okay. And the thorn

probably the late nights, the very long late nights that I was not ready for. Especially with like the time difference. So, like, when we're in Palm Springs, it's really, like, two hours later for me because what I was used to in the central time. Right, right, right. You know, Joe, I have to say, you realize you may not have ever had to do all of this, had you have DM'd the girl back.

Just putting it out there. Sure. Just because you guys' little one date was really, really cute. And I feel like there was, you know, a lot of chemistry there. and I don't know. I saw like something special there. So just saying maybe y'all should, you know, DM people back when they reach out.

True. Or maybe this is just how it was an end to be. Oh, that's true too. That's true too. Okay. So I want to play a little game with you. It's just going to be like a rapid fire game. We're going to give you a most likely two.

And you'll finish the sentence with the name of someone from Michelle's group of guys. Okay. Are you ready? I'm ready. Okay. Most likely to get the party started. Nate.

Oh, okay. Most likely to start the drama. Peter and James. Most likely to be there when you needed them. Rodney. Oh. Most likely to forget their wallet at home. Oh, that's me.

We ain't going on. on the date, okay? You're not allowed to take anybody out. Most likely to get the guys laughing. Oh, Rodney, for sure. Yeah. Most likely to be last picked for a game of basketball.

Pardon? Oh. So bad. Wow. Wow. Come on. That was so savage. I'm sorry. Sorry, Paddy. He made an incredible shot,

you have to admit. He did. He did. He did. And it was his first shot, too. His one and only, but it was a glory shot. Okay. No, that was savage. Okay.

Most likely to cheat to win a group date. See, so during the teddy bear fight, we had rules that were set. No pushing. No, like, no hitting. And Clayton caught me with a fist of the face. And so I'm just going to say that I feel like

Counts is cheating for that game So I'm going to go with Clayton Wow All right Let's see Most likely to be a groomsman in your wedding I'm See

Oh See me and Leroy Got a really good connection When we were here in Minneapolis Yeah And he's super fresh So I was like Levi

You're in he's made it in okay most likely to steal Michelle first at a cocktail party

um Martin oh okay that's good most likely to skinny dip in a pool hmm

dang well really everyone's been saying you for this one It's a skinny dip in a pool? Yeah. I'm kidding.

I was going to say, like, yeah, okay. It's probably the last thing I do. That's so funny. Most likely to go to bed first. You can say it. That'd probably be mean. Yeah, I think everyone's been saying you for this one. I was sleeping a lot, for sure.

You okay? I mean, it's the late nights. I just wasn't built for this yet. Got it. Got it. Okay. Most likely to actually beat you in a game of one-on-one. To beat me? Yeah. You? No one. Okay. Except for Michelle. Except for Michelle. Michelle. Okay. Yeah. There you.

All right. Well, Joe, it was so fun to talk to you. Thank you so much for stopping by. And I'm sure this will not be the last time we speak. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. Absolutely. All right, guys. Well, that was fun. having Joe on. And thank you so much for submitting some fan questions earlier today. That is all we have for you. So thank you so much to our Happy Hour listeners, as well as thank you, Joe, for being here. We are casting for the upcoming seasons of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. So head to bachelornation.com forward slash apply to nominate yourself or someone else. Make sure to hit us up

on social at Bachelor Happy Hour on Instagram at Batch Nation on TikTok and Twitter. And then Bachelor Nation on Facebook. And as always, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the Wondry app, or wherever you are listening to right now. Ossiloago, talk to you guys next week. Bye. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam.

Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up.

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

Listen to the psychology podcast on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jamel Hill, host of the Sports and Politics. And on the latest episode of Spolitics, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins me for a candid conversation about the state of the Democratic Party. What do Republicans say to you privately that they won't say publicly? Many of them are in fear of their political lives. We continue to say to them, you were elected to defend your constituents and there's life after Congress. Make sure to listen to this episode of Politics on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.