Bachelor Happy Hour - Zack Wickham Part 1: Jasmine Goode, ‘The Valley,’ and More | Happy Hour

Episode Date: June 30, 2026

Today on “Happy Hour,” we’re joined by “The Valley” star Zack Wickham! Rachel and Zack are having a one-on-one tea sesh and there is so much to talk about. We kick things off with Zack’s L.A. origin story: how he moved out here, getting on reality TV, and more. Then, we spill all the tea on “The Valley” — what does it take to be on reality TV? If you’re applying, take notes! We also hear how he became friends with our very own Jasmine Goode and how their lives crossed long before they went on TV. Tune in now and be sure to stay tuned for part two dropping tomorrow!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Service headline. Oh, I love that. This is, well, before I got banned on Hinge, I saw Rachel Lindsay's husband before I knew they were getting a divorce. Okay, we'll do it proper intro. Well, I was like, we can do a little bit of, like, banter and then do the proper. This is my first headline. And I actually was so scared because my.

manager sent me the headline and he goes, what is this? And I was like, oh no. Do you remember, you were with me the day after or two days after this came out and you were like, it's over? No, but I thought I was like so scared because I was like, I was joking. But then everyone took it so literal. I'm like. So literal.

Listen, I have that same problem. And also like the definition of terrorism is evoking fear. And he evoked fear in me when I saw him. Saw him and I said, how dare you? How how dare you? It's kind of funny because

last season I tried to teach America and the world hyperbole, but I don't feel like they really understand that. But like millennials get it. Like I don't know, we're just talking hyperbole all the time. We're just very, I don't know, forward. Whereas like, I don't know, maybe Jin Z is just like too soft for that. I just feel like every single...

No offense, Gin Z, I love you, but... Every single thing I say is like, a bit, like most of the time. This is called drinking. Please start. No, now we're going to get canceled by Gen Z. That's fine. You know what?

Cheers to that. That's actually, I'll wear that as a badge of honor. Oh, I love how we're still fixing it. Oh, do I want to know something crazy too? I got, what was an email? Or an email or I got an email or a message weeks and weeks and weeks after this came out of them being like how wrong that was I did it. I'm like, okay, Brian. From him?

I don't know. Not him. Like an, obviously like an account that had no, um, for what it's worth, her producer offered her a raise because of it. I was so scared, though, when it happened. Listen, you know what? I've found throughout my, you know, short time in reality TV. Not even short. Actually, it's kind of long.

I was going to say it's, you're going on season four. Yeah. And then also, well, technically we haven't been picked up, but our ratings are good. So I feel like we're fine. But I always find that no matter what it is you do, you can always bounce back. It just depends on if you really didn't feel that way or you changed or whatever. Some people just never change. But yet they still get jobs.

So, I mean, here we are. But thank God some don't have jobs. Just to do it. Karma. Oh, my God. Okay, well, we have so much to talk about. But we're going to do a normal intro. Okay, hello, everyone, and welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hour.

I'm Rachel, and today is such an exciting episode for me because I have my friend Zach Wickham on, and we have been talking about doing this forever, like at least since last summer? Well, not only that, from the moment we met, do you remember where I was like... I remember where we were sitting when we said we need to do a podcast together. Right next on Britney's tool? Yes. And we literally, the moment we met, it felt like there was like, lightning bolts that connected our heads and we're like we are so similar so similar in all aspects of life um literally on all aspects of life i was like i don't know if we could do a podcast because

it'd be too powerful you know what i mean powerful that really was so bringing this dream to fruition is so incredible and we have so much to talk about today i'm so ready to get into it but before we get into it let's talk to our viewers you are obviously on the valley you came in because you know Brittany. So let's talk about your background a little. You're from Kentucky. You guys went to college together. It's so funny because I thought, I guess because, you know, I know how we met and everything

that I thought it was explained well enough on the show. But people still wonder how I'm connected with Brittany or, oh, wait, you guys knew each other from Kentucky because I don't have an accent and she has, let's just say, a much bigger accent. I've never actually thought about that. So I'm from Louisville, which is a very large city. It's the largest city in Louisville.

I mean, in Louisville, in Kentucky, you know, it's a metro, like, it's very liberal, it's very, you know, 1.3 million people in the metro gut. So it's like, it's a big place. So we don't really have an accent there. But the second you go outside

that little county line, that that goes by the wayside. And so Brittany's about an hour and a half from me and we met in college because I didn't go to the same college. Her best friend where she was going to college met me at a club and then we started dating and then that's how I met her. And then we all were friends and then we broke up

and then her and I remained friends and then eventually phased that person out because they were not a great person. Oh, 100%. And thank God for it. And I think everyone in the Bravo world is thanking God for it. So you know, Brittany. Okay, so let's talk about how we know. And that's how we know each other.

But let's talk about how we got here. Because what brought you to L.A. and then I want to get into some of your fun jobs. I feel like, you know what's so funny? Because people are always like, what does he do? Like, what is his job? honestly I've had every job under the sun. I also, people, when they find out that not only do I have my bachelor's in communications,

but I also have my master's in business, they're like, but I just saw you dancing on that table last weekend. What do you mean you have your master's in business? And I'm like, I can do both. He has a master's and he's still on the table in Weho on Santa Monica Boulevard. I mean, you have to be multifaceted to survive in this job market. But yeah. And so I, when I was getting my master,

I was working a corporate job. They actually were like, hey, if you want to move, you can work full time from home. And I was like, this is, and this was pre-COVID, so this was not a thing that normally happened. I'm like, this is a great opportunity. So I was deciding between New York and L.A. And I was going to take a visit while I was getting my MBA. And then Brittany all of a sudden met Jacks. And then three months after they met, she was moving to L.A.

And so she tells me this and I'm like, great. Built in friend in L.A. I'll come visit. Visit or I visited had the best time. Met Sheena. Of course it was Sheena first. Met Sheena had a blast with her and just felt so welcome. And I was like, great.

By New York. I'm going to L.A. So that's kind of how. I love New York though, too. I love New York too. But I feel like your personality just fits right into where you live. I've always been told even in Louisville that like I have West Coast vibes But I feel like I'm an East Coast boy always

Like New York I feel like embodies me Like when you're a Silver Fox you and Benjee can get like a brownstone I will never be a silver fox I will die this till the day I die Really? I feel like you would look so good as a full like silver fox No It's funny that people say I have a wig Because I'm like if my hair ever started falling out

I would have a wig and you'd never know that it was falling out Wait because that was when that first started happening I wouldn't get into everything when this all first started happening because it is so crazy that I feel like I knew you before the Valley was even like a thought. No, it wasn't even a thought. It wasn't even a thought yet. So was the first time you were on reality TV Britney's wedding or were you on before in Vanner Pump? I don't. So I was on, I think I, I think because I didn't even know it's fans that have sent me like the little clips of like, oh, you're on this episode.

or whatever. I think I start being on Vanderpump season six, maybe a little bit of season five. I don't know, but definitely season six through eight. Those were the main seasons. You'll see me a lot in the background. But I had done a show called Dating No Filter. It's kind of like The Bachelor. They reached out to me via DM on Instagram. When have you done this? Because I don't like to talk about it. You have never told me that. You have never told me that. Yeah. So if nobody knows it was a show, I don't even, I think after COVID, it kind of like fizzled out because they couldn't. COVID kind of ruined it. But it was a huge show on E called Dating No Filter where you just go on a date with someone that is supposed to be your complete compatible person. And I think they took everything I liked and knew about me and did the exact opposite when I met this person. But yeah, I definitely, I did that because I was like, hey, why not? And then was so wasted the entire. I feel like it's like your bachelor, bachelor's, bachelor's experience. It's like,

let's just drink through this. It'll be fun. Well, you know, people don't know that. We have a drink limit for everyone listening. We actually do have a, we've always had a drink limit.

But you would not know that from me and Genevieve's stories. And we were actually just talking about the drinking limit at dinner the other day. And I was like, I actually kind of like it. Because on Netflix, there was no limit. And I was like, that's just like,

it was scary. Because it was like, I don't know. Like, I know when to stop, but it's like when you're drinking all day and you're not like eating that much, it can kind of like blur the lines. But you guys have drink tokens. We have drink tickets. Yeah. But, you know, there's ways around everything in life and I'm not going to, you know, tell my secrets on here. But, you know, we're supposed to keep to limits or whatever. But you know what?

I feel like you know your limit. Actually, I don't think that's true for most people. Truly, truly. I don't know what it is about being in front of the camera and just all goes out the window. But, okay, let's talk about the valley because I remember when that started happening. What made you say yes to doing it? Because you also don't live in the valley. And I really didn't want, okay, this is going to get me in trouble, but I don't care. I really didn't want it to be called the valley. Because the connotation, please, audience, let's do a, let's do a poll under one of these social posts. What is your connotation of the valley if you're a millennial and right now, like, and you don't live in, you know, in Los Angeles. The only thing

we have is what we heard in Clueless, which is, it's not the coolest play. It's, you know, far away. It's where, you know, you basically go to die. Every time I see that, like, circus clown gas station, I think about Clueless in the Valley. Exactly. And so that's the only reference I had. And then I was like, wait, you're going to, but it was like our placeholder name. I don't know. I don't know. on whatever, it doesn't matter. It's like our place, it's fine. It's our placeholder name. So they were always like technically going to change it. And I think the problem was it just sped up so fast. They didn't have time to, I don't know, have one brainstorming meeting over it. So then we end up with the name the Valley, which is number one, again, connotations people previously have. And then number two,

you're kind of limiting yourself to like being in the Valley. But I think as Jesse, me, Michelle have made very clear. We do not want to live in the Valley. We will live in West Hollywood. It's fine. I don't care if I have to live in my apartment and can't afford a house. Like, I'm still in civilization. An I heart radio experience.

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We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming. I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer. And that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety. Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice. but to be a gymnast.

There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Mainstream media is full of cruel depictions of The Un-House. Stories that shame and blame and paint the Un-House as a monolith. We The In-House is the Un-House. podcast that's changing that. I'm Theo Henderson, creator, and host, and for years I've created a

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So I thought once Jen went, you would go. You stole Genevieve from me in West Hall. Let's call it what it was. You stole her from me. One day out of the blue, she's like, oh, I'm moving to the Valley. Guess what? Since that day, getting her to hang out has been really hard. So Genevieve, if you're hearing this, which I know you will eventually, I'm mad at you for moving.

But I've told you this to your face, too. Okay, wait, I respect it. Okay. But I really feel like the Valley, you are just such a good addition to it because I think there is like a fun aspect to your life. And, you know, everyone else is kind of settled down in the Valley. What made you say yes to this concept? Like what was sold to you? Oh yeah, that was the question.

Sorry. What made me say yes is like who wouldn't say yes to getting to hang out with their friends? I'm already hanging out with these people off care or like. without a camera, why not get paid to hang out with them on camera? Also, I'm fighting with the people I don't like off camera. Why don't I just fight with them on camera too? You know what I mean? So let's get a paycheck for just living my life. Like, who wouldn't say yes to that? And also, I've always said, if you are not a people person, don't do reality TV. If you don't have a very hard exterior shell where you can understand the intricacies of like social media and know that

that is not real. Do not do reality TV. I'm a very unique person that I can separate it and not take things too personally. It still gets to me a little bit, but like I can pretty much separate it. So for me, I'm already living my life fully and authentically and I'm not trying to hide anything. If you're trying to hide something also, don't do reality TV. So true. Because it will come out. Yeah. Well, especially your version of reality TV, it's so different from the version I've lived, because it's your life that people are watching and commentating on. What was that like going from being a viewer, or I guess a close friend of Brittany to being like a star? Like, you're a reality TV star. You are. Thank you. I appreciate that. It's kind of funny, like thinking back on the days when I was,

we used to call ourselves Vanderpump adjacent. Friends of. Is it the Vanderpump Friend of? Well, no, because Friends of were actually on the show. Oh, do they so call it that? I was never featured. I was just like, like I maybe had a nameplate here and there. Or like I was in the wedding.

So it was like Britney's long term friend or whatever they wanted to put under it. But other than that, like I was not a friend of on the show where I had like a like a role or a lane to be in. I was just always at all the parties because these are our friends. And so there was like a group of friends of everybody that was at all the parties but weren't on the show. But you'll see in like most episodes. So we were like the adjacent. So being a part of that and experiencing it through that lens vastly different than being the focal point and having to have like tough conversations on camera or. you know, just all the things that go with being the focus of the camera,

instead of just like, oh, I get a drink in the background and like, have fun. And be the tallest person at every event. Always. And the best looking. But what was going in the thing you were most nervous about? Because I think people, especially maybe some of the bachelor listeners, don't understand that this was your real life. Like you had real life drama and friendships going into the show.

So what were you nervous about? I think the thing that I was nervous about was that you never know what's going to happen. Like, having, sometimes I maybe put off, in real life, you can put off tough conversations with your friends. You can maybe, like, confront them in a certain way. But when you're on reality TV, you just kind of have to speed up that process. And you have to do it on camera where it looks like you're maybe throwing that person under the butt. or confronting that person for no reason. But really, you would do this in real life,

and you have to adhere to that on the camera as well. The one thing that I will say, the difference, like, again, doing a bachelor or a bachelorette, like a one-time thing versus this is your real friend group, put me in a, I need to be on a competition show because I will do anything, like I will fight with anybody, does not matter. I'll still do it with my friends, but it is a lot harder. Oh, it's, yes. It is different.

And when you are with your friends, sometimes you don't want to have those conversations. So I could, what you do, like we always talk about, there's a picture of me and Genevieve on The Bachelor where she's like standing up pointing and arguing with someone and I'm literally hiding. And I have my hand over my head because I'm so scared to like be in that confrontation, but you have to face that head on with people that you love and that you know. Yeah. And I think it's like I also would hope that like I'd always seen Brit.

and Kristen, and I always knew they were the same. But all the other people, all of other friends had never done it. So it's like, oh, are they going to be different on camera? Are they going to, like, are they going to let it go to their head? For me, I feel like I've never changed. Anybody that wants to say I've changed, I'm sorry, I have not. You are the same on and off camera. Every single one of my friends back home is like, I know, I don't know what, especially

season one, they were like, I don't know why people think you're being extra or you're faking or whatever. That's literally you from womb to now. Truly. What has it been like for everyone listening, we have a Bachelor Nation alum on the Valley, Jasmine. You have gotten so close with her. What was that like getting to know Jasmine? What's crazy is when Jasmine and I met, she had just done Bachelor in Paradise and was had just gotten off of that. And I think that's when she moved to L.A. And she moved to L.A. the craziest part was she moved in with a girl that I that was brothers with someone in my class from high school. You guys were meant to be friends.

Meant to be friends. And that was, that was best friends with Lala. Okay. So very connected to the group. Very connected from day one. And this was nine years ago that she moved here. I moved to L.A. 10 years ago. And then from that, like we had met at like some social events throughout the first, I would say like, year and a half.

half two years. Then she needed a roommate and we just happened to be talking at this party. It was actually at Stasi's party. And I was like, oh my God, like my roommate's moving out. I don't know why we. She's like, oh my God, I need an apartment. And I was like, wait, do you want to come see it and live together? And then next month she lived with me and then we, we lived two years together and through part of COVID. That is so crazy. And you've had a crazy kind of roommate history. We just saw on the Valley, your crazy roommate moving out, I don't know if I can say that, but I feel like knowing what happened in real life, it was beyond what the viewers even got to see. Because it was just like kind of a funny clip.

And we're talking about the monster fridge, rest in peace, monster fridge. But you were going through it last season. I was. And, you know, I think what I don't like to say is what you didn't see. I love to hear what you don't see. But you do see every day. thing, but like you just maybe get a distilled version. But the longer version was I was finally living and can afford the apartment on my own and my roommates moving out. And I had given him

plenty of time. I had, this had been long time coming. He was already not really, he wasn't even living there basically, but was paying rent, kind of like a storage, honestly. And he knew it was coming and then just made the ending so difficult. And like I had given him back his previous month's rent just as a nicety to be like, here, I paid this, I need you out by this date. Like, we've already talked about it, but whatever, I don't care. And then there was like several things he did on the way out where it was just like, you don't get to see it on the show because it's not really a part of what we're, you know, what we're filming and he's not on the show.

So it doesn't really matter. But it was like, I was definitely going through a lot getting that situation taken care of. And he basically, he didn't steal the monster fridge because I, He did pay me the half that he had paid into it during COVID. But the fact he kind of forced my hand with it was it was dirty. Because he knew how much I loved that fridge. No, that was your thing. It's my thing.

But I will say, not spoiler alert. I was to say, did Monster reach out? Not Monster because they didn't. Kristen reached out to them, never responded to her. I have had, also I had like fans reach out to me and be like, here's a listing on eBay. I will buy this for you. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no.

Like, I love the gesture. Thank you so much. But please do not spend your money to buy me a fridge. Like, I don't know. This has been the best marketing that monsters had in years. And they don't even know it. I feel like they don't even realize that it's happening. Maybe they don't have like social media.

Well, at least not. They don't have someone that's like good with socials because another company. Are you going to get a Red Bull fridge? Should I? Well, I should just say it because. Celsius reached out to me. And that's like, that's pinnacle. Well, so, like, if we did, if we did the hierarchy of things, it's Celsius, then Alani.

Couldn't agree more. Then Rockstar, then everything else is, like, lower. But the thing is, like, I had done a confessional, like, joking around about the fridge. And then I was like, hey, Celsius, call me. But it got cut. And then they, out of all the brands that could have reached out. You manifested. I believe that you are a good manifester. Thank you.

Okay, so let's talk about what has your relationship been like with Brittany or with Kristen now filming the show as it was before? How has it changed? I think, you know, well, the thing is we started, was it three years ago, I guess, or four? Four. Four. Because it was a year. Yeah.

So four years ago when we started doing everything, in four years, a lot has changed. Like in the beginning, of the show, like before it was even fully pitched or whatever, I was, Kristen was in a space where she wanted to have a baby but didn't want to do the la la thing, whereas like she's like, I'm going to do it without a man or whatever. And I was like, well, do you want my sperm? And then I'll just be like kind of like as involved as you want me like a little on the side. Because I mean, that's like ideal situation. Ideal. Truly. The only thing I was like in the contract, you'll have to allow the baby to see

my parents. Like my parents have to be technically the grandparents because they're probably going to Like, not love it more than me, but like want to be involved more than me. But that was like our like originally and then Luke came in. So there's been so many, there's so much time in four years. Every friendship. Divorce. You've gotten into a relationship. There's been so much happening on and off screen.

But I think the thing that matters the most is we are still family. And nothing like at first, you know, season one, Kristen and I got into it. And I've never been in a fight with Kristen in my life. And then all of a sudden I was like, what is going on? And I didn't know if it was the show. I didn't know if it was like, you know, her. I didn't know what was going on. And then, but then we all like kind of settled down and we're like, okay, we figured it out.

But, you know, through it all, even with like fights and with whatever, it's like we're family at the end of the day and at the beginning of the day. And in between we might fight a couple times. Is everyone family, though? Pride is like love. You feel it in your heart. IR. Radio. Canada's number one streaming app for radio and podcasts, including IHart Pride Canada,

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iHeartRadio.ca. Hey, I'm Hoda Kotby, host of the podcast, Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby. Okay, if you know me, you know this. I'm always searching for inspiration, for support, and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people, like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw it coming.

I've gone through breast cancer and then helped my mother through breast cancer and that was more difficult. There's a lot of people who understand postpartner depression. I was not prepared for postpartum anxiety. Olympic champ Sean Johnson revealed why she had no choice but to be a gymnast.

There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it. Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mainstream media is full of cruel depictions of the unhoused, stories that shame and blame and paint the unhoused as a monolith. We The InHouse is the podcast that's changing that. I'm Theo Henderson, creator and host. And for years, I've created a space where the unhoused and their advocates can tell their own stories. In the last few months alone, I've interviewed Unhoused parents. immigrants, mutual aid organizers, veterans, the LGBTQTIA plus community, and the policymakers who make the laws that impact the unhoused existence.

William Howes is a two-time Webby and Signal Award-winning show with many exciting guests on the horizon. Tune in this week for my interview with Dr. Jill Witcher, a street doctor turned influencer whose work with the unhoused community has made a huge impact online and in her community. Listen to Wey and Howls on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Chams podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Sway Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are? I appreciate that. I'd be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got, like, so much more to do. Like, Prince, he dropped like 30 albums.

We dropped like five right now. That's the rate we got to be going. Yeah, that's a good attitude. You also hear stories from industry legends and hip-hop. pop pioneers like Fab Five Freddy. I directed when the Nas' early videos. Which one? One love. Wow.

I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms were still up in that apartment. Nas was just beginning to take off. His pops used to live near me in Harlem. His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff, and he made a young prodigy. No matter the era, Drink Chams brings you the biggest names

and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Chams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt.

that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever, because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Is this a drinker answer? Because I'll just drink. How is that? Wait, where's the bottle? No, literally. I feel like... This is going to be happy two hours.

Just take your time, guys. We are in no rush. This has been a two-part episode. You guys didn't know this. This has been a crazy season because I feel like you have been kind of the center of the drama in previous seasons, but you're kind of like taking the backseat a little bit on this one. Is that actually how it was? Or do you feel like this was like an easier season for you? Like relationships-wise with the people you might not get along with? Right.

Because it was more like in the forefront. And like, well, and technically like I had done something. bad. But when you do bad things, it's like to, well, I'm trying to think the right way to say this. Like with Jack Taylor, you were defeating evil. So like, were you the drama? That was defeating evil. Thank you. I wasn't the drama. You were the drama. You were the superhero in that situation. Give me my, where's my cape? Is there a cape here? The mask? Yeah. Super like truly. I mean, we can't put. Actually, no. Actually, if I have a black one, these eyes. Facts. It's so true. Facts. So get me a mask. I'm ready. Um, yeah. I mean, I do.

feel like for myself, maybe there was, it was in a different capacity because it was more of like me with Kristen and Luke specifically, they were going through something where like Luke could not see what was going on. Which is hard to watch. It's so hard to watch. But Kristen couldn't understand what was going on. And as someone who was trying to be neutral because like you can't, you're trying not to take sides because that never helps.

And to watch it back also was really hard because I see myself just trying to figure out how to get them on the same page. And I think sometimes it's just time and whatever. But yeah, my positioning this season kind of was I became the person that's not in between, but like helping them. Which is crazy to watch you in that position in a way because I feel like you always like have such a, you're on one side or the other. But watching this season, it feels like some of your castmates are more like it's one side or the other and there is no line in between. Did you feel like that's how it was filming?

What's crazy is I didn't. Really? Like even on that train? Like I was like, Zach being the peacekeeper in this situation right now is crazy. You know what? It is crazy. I will give you that. It is crazy.

I think the problem with me is that I am a Libra and I hate bringing up horsemen. Not like Tom Schwartz, too. Not the two Libras on the season. Me, Tom, Jason, and Danny are all Libra. This makes so much. And we're born within five days of each other. No, because that's too much like emotional flip-flopping for one show. Like, we need to even this out with some fire signs.

Well, the thing, so I'm the last day of Libra, so I'm a Scorpio. So that, so I have those tendencies where I can, like, get fired me. I don't see you as a Scorpio at all. I know, but. In bed. I was going to say, maybe in bed. You're like, but I've never. I was like, wait.

You're like, but I've never been there. I haven't been there, but we've heard the stories. You're like, but I don't want to, you're like, do I say this? Now you're like, do I say this? No, but that's a lot. So, okay. Don't make me cry. You and Tom Schwartz in a way being the peacekeepers this season.

Well, see, you know what's crazy also? He's always been the middleman though. Well, and I told him, this has been my relationship with Tom since day one. I'm like, I swear to God, if you don't take a son. Like, you were, I was like, do you feel? do you feel that way? No. So say it. Like I will be the person that will literally have like a, well, gun violence is bad. Don't have guns. So like a knife to his back being like, come on, have an opinion. He's getting a little bit better. I think he finally has found his voice more. But he's just such like a mellow guy. I don't feel like I'm mellow. I'm not mellow. So I do have opinions. But sometimes my opinions lie with there isn't like with like Luke and Chris. And at the beginning, not in the end. But at the beginning, I'm like, I'm trying to figure it out.

So I'm trying to not take both sides, but just be neutral. And sometimes I feel like that's the right way forward. With the train and Janet situation, also what maybe people don't realize is that, because I guess you don't see our order when we sit down. I sat down first, had put my stuff down, had pulled things out on my tray, Benji's next to me, things pulled out. Then she sat directly next to me. I did not see that coming.

Janet's one, she'll throw you, you know what? I will give Janet this. She will throw you for a loop and you'll be like, hmm. My favorite thing about Janet is that she causes chaos and then she just comes, let's just all get along. You sat down there. Like she knows in a way what she's doing.

Right. So it's like, it's like, I mean, I'll give it to her. I'm like, okay, you knew what you're doing. But also, here's my thing. She also then started saying like, here's my uterus. What can I do for you? Because I need to ask, are you, well, for those who don't know, well, we'll talk about Benji in a second. But you guys have talked about wanting children.

Is that something that you would consider in the future using Janet's services to bring a child into this world? I am petty enough where I would call her out and be like, I want that uterus. But you know what? She's petty enough. She'd say yes. So I don't want to end up in that petty situation, that petty cycle. So I'm going to break the petty cycle before that happens and say I will be using an alternative uterus that I will find anywhere else. Oh, no.

Maybe not like on the streets. Maybe, you know, whatever. But like, well, no, on the streets anywhere. Can we do like a uterus party like Lala did, like picking the person and all their qualities? Oh my God. I'm totally down for that. I would love to see what qualities you and Benji would pick for a future mother. It's kind of crazy because you have

So he's, for those of you who don't, Bingy is 5-6. I'm like, should we get into Binky a little? Bingey's 5-6. So I'm like jumping around. Okay, so Benji. Well, no, we can. No, we don't have to go in order, but before we talk about your baby with Benji.

So Zach is in a relationship with Benji who we love. How did you guys meet? We met on Grindr. I love, that's a love story coming out of Grindr is so rare. It happens to me all the time, actually. Well, okay, maybe for you. Maybe not in L.A. though. L.A. It has never been the case,

but he's not from L.A. So, like, you know what I mean? But yeah, we met on Grindr, which is funny because on the show, they had us say dating app instead of Grindr. I don't know why, but like... Because we can't promote. I don't know. I was very confused by that. They were like, just say just in case. So I said dating app. And then the internet

kept saying like, bitch, just tell us it's Grindr. We know it's Grindr. And I was like, I want you to Like, I have no problem with people knowing it's grinder. Grindr should sponsor your wedding. I would, I'm not going to lie, I would love a Grindr wedding. I think that would be so fun. It would be so fun.

And also, like, Grindr's been doing some stuff with Madonna right now. So it's so funny. So Madonna has a new album coming out, and her two main things are absolute vodka and Grindr. And so she changed. Now, this is my favorite new fact about Grindr. So one day, without telling Grindr users that they were going to do. change the, you know the grinder noise, right? Yes.

You know, anytime anyone hears that, they know, like, that's Grindr, you're on Grindr, you got on. So all of a sudden, people that had had the tone turned off, when they logged in, it was Madonna's voice and it said, hello, grinder. And so all these people that had previously had it turned off, they didn't think about, like, when they were changing it. So then it was like, hello,

in Madonna's voice, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it was hysterical. So then all these people were like, what was that? Oh my God, they should have just had Madonna

be like, hi gay. Right. Like, you know what I mean? Instead of high grinder. That is amazing. It was so good.

It's the best marketing that could have done. So Grindr needs to obviously support and monetarily support this wedding. But you guys have been in a relationship for how long now? We ended, like, we were all tested for COVID before season one finale, but someone, not every guest was, someone had it. It was like 22, 2020, so like it's not like you had to test before every event.

This wasn't a mass era time. But someone at the season one finale had COVID gave it to half of the people there. So I got COVID and I was out of the, I was like down for the count. but we had met like the week before and then we just started he stayed with me for like two days. You guys quarantined together. And then, well no, he had gone back

and then he wasn't starting his new job yet. So we basically just FaceTimed for like a week and a half straight and would like fall asleep on FaceTime together and like just watch shows and be like, okay, one, two, three, and sync shows and then watch shows together. And that's kind of how we started.

But it wasn't like we started, he was just a hookup. I was like, bye. And now you guys are in love. And now we're in love. He'll say that we've only been dating for like a year. I'll say two and a half. Well, okay, so Benji lives in Canada. What is that like dating long distance? Don't fall in love long distance. It's not fun. It's hard. It's like try to fall in love locally. if you can, if this is like a local at, like, buy locally, okay? Buy locally. It's very hard, but also when the person is worth it, it doesn't matter.

You just figure it out and you take it day by day. And I think that's the thing that is so great with Benji. I don't have to worry because we talk it out and we know what we want. So we're moving forward together and just taking it day by day to get to that next step. Whatever the next step is. What is it about Benji that you were like, he's the one? That he could handle my humor. It's my humor and like that he could also like he could give it back to me and kind of had some of the same references that I had.

Okay. That's very important because I get bored very easily. So if you can't. Intertain you. Yeah. If you can't entertain me or at least like, you know, be at my level of like understanding when I say high. hyperbolic things that like you're not going to take it seriously and then you know call lawyers or whatever oh my gosh okay but benjy i feel like also is so opposite to you in the perfect way

in the perfect way in the perfect way you guys balance each other but see that's the thing is he's similar in the ways that you need that similarity but opposite in the ways that you really need someone to be opposite of you in certain ways and i think that's what brings balance to our relationship and is actually a godsend because having two, like, I was one of triplets. Well, I mean, they died in utero.

Long story, it doesn't matter. My mom's fine. Don't send her flowers. But we talked about, like, how I ate my twins or whatever. My parents did not know what they were going to do if they had triplets. They were not prepared or whatever. I can only imagine,

seeing the way I grew up and how my parents had to deal with me, I could not imagine them having any, more of me, let alone if I was dating someone that was like me. Mm-hmm. It would be absolute chaos. It would be chaos. And you guys, like, compliment each other so well. And I feel like you agree on, like, the values of things you want out of life because you

guys want to get married and you want to have children. When did that conversation? Wait, we're still having that conversation. Okay. So let's talk about that. Okay. Where is the conversation at now? The conversation is at we're having the conversation.

Okay. And that's huge. That's huge. Especially for you. Yeah. And I think that's, you know, But I wish more people, I hope that we inspire people to have the conversations and not think that, you know, if you don't want kids, you shouldn't have to have them. And that's okay.

But I think having those conversations is hard for especially, I would say especially straight couples, but even gay couples. Like, there's not, there's not a blueprint for it. And most of your upbringing, society will tell you you want kids. And so for the few people that don't feel that way or are conflicted, you know, take the time. Get on the right page. Get on the right path. Or decide if that isn't the way. And then you have to figure it out from there.

Okay, you guys, that's all for part one. And make sure you stay tuned for part two dropping tomorrow. Bye. Joy is essential and it's also elusive. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats.

Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Joy 101 and listen now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby is presented by C.B. Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff You Should Know, and we're submitting our most sciencey episodes for your peer review with our new stuff you should know doing science playlist. Out now. You want to know about Occam's Razor? Simplest explanation is usually the right one? We got you covered.

Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park? Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know doing science play. playlist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Latino USA. I'm Maria Innojosa. I sit down with New York City Mayor Zora Mandani to talk about sports, immigration, politics, and the serious question of what makes a great New York City taco. But Mr. Mayor, as a Mexican, what have I done? What makes the best taco in New York City?

Oh, my God. Listen to Latino USA on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Munges Chitigler, and I'm back with a new season of my podcast, Skyline Drive. This time I talked to scientists, biopunks, curmudgins, blues owners, super seniors, and Goa's top cryotherapy lab to try to understand this obsession with living forever and what it means for all of us. And I get into a bit of trouble along the way. I'd say probably start bone smashing.

That doesn't work. To make it look more defined. They say it works. I don't know. Listen to Skyline Drive, How to Live Forever on the Eyeheartedly. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is Michael Rappaport, and my podcast, the I Am Rapaport Stereo podcast, is unlike anyone you've ever heard.

If you're looking for strong opinions about sports, entertainment, politics, pop culture, and whatever else catches my attention, then subscribe now. This kid Jafar Jackson should absolutely positively get nominated for his portrayal as Michael Jackson. Listen to I Am Rapaport on the I Heart Radio. Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.