Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Confessionals | “Workplace Romance” Pt. 1

Episode Date: May 16, 2024

#737. Tune in to the latest episode of Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe for a juicy installment of Confessionals, or as we fondly dub them, "Vinofessionals". In this episode, Kaitlyn opens the floor to three anonymous callers, each ready to spill the beans on their workplace romance escapades! From some rendezvous with the supervisor to unexpectedly becoming the star guest for the parents you tutor, these tales will leave you both amused and astonished at where love can blossom in the workplace! This is just part 1 of our workplace romance series, so be sure to stay tuned for part 2 next month. You won't want to miss a moment of the drama, laughs, and surprises that unfold when business mixes with pleasure on Off the Vine! If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS (00:57) The Real Resources in Human Resources… (11:46) Sneaking with the supervisor… (21:25) Yeah, I’m your boss bitch! Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these deals! Dime Beauty: Go to DIMEBeautyCO.com now and get 25% off sitewide with their Spring into Savings Sale!Shady Rays: Head to shadyrays.com and use code: VINE for $20 off polarized sunglasses.Better Help: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/VINE See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay, listen up if you love a good slow burn romance, and let's be real, who doesn't? You need to check out the new Audible Original of Pride and Prejudice. It's an intimate performance that literally makes you feel like you're right there swooning with Lizzie Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Marisa Abella as Elizabeth and Harris Dickinson as Darcy, I'm obsessed. So whether it is your first time with Jane Austen or your 50th, this version is such a fresh, fun listen. Go to audible.ca slash Jane Austen to dive in. I'm Caitlin Bristow.

Your session is now starting. And why it's healthy? Hey, everybody. Welcome to the... This week we are talking all things workplace romance and... It gets spicy. So I hope you enjoy. Okay, everybody, we're going to bring in Katie, who says the real resources in human resources, which I don't know what that means, but I'm about to find out.

Let's bring her in. Hi, Katie. I'm excited to meet you, and I'm excited to hear your little workplace romance, little spicy gal. Oh, man. Tell me everything. I'm like, I'm more anxious to tell the story than I am to talk to you. That means it's a good one. so this was almost 10 years ago I was working at a nonprofit and I long story short I hooked up with my HR

manager we vaguely dated for a little bit okay I was about 22 or 23 and he was about 35 36 maybe those numbers are a little bit off we just got along really well I made a lot of dad jokes and he made me laugh so there was like flirting but not flirting because I don't I don't know how to flirt. I don't know what flirting is. And I did it back then. So I just kind of went along with it. And then one day he just kissed me.

And that's kind of how that started. And that lasted for a couple of months. And then one day I get a text from his child's mom, who I come to find out is his child's mom. It's just this number that texts me and says, do you know so and so? And I was like, so I text him. And he's like, don't answer.

turned out to be the child's mom and they still lived together at the time but they weren't like married or together or anything and she filed for custody shortly after that oh no wait so they were okay so they were divorced but they were living together and that is that what it was yeah I don't think they were divorced I don't think they were ever actually married they were just living together um but they were separated they're separated they're separated but living together with children and right you two were dating for like two months and he never told you about this once he did I knew I knew about this like I knew about the situation and everything like they weren't they were never married they weren't together they weren't seeing each other

or anything they lived together they had a child so I knew about that again I'm 22 23 so I'm like no whole bar whatever why is she why is she filing for custody if he's single and can do whatever he wants? That's a good question. I don't know. What happened? Did you guys talk after that or that was it? So it got pretty ugly after that.

We pretty much did not talk. Like. Still had to work together? I was just about to say, meanwhile, we still had to work together. He's still my HR manager. And we didn't talk. No. Okay.

No, no. I left probably like a year. after all that happened, unrelated, but even towards the end, when I left, things were still murky and awkward and partly speaking to each other. There was, I think, two people that knew my bestie at where we worked, my work bestie knew, and then I think somebody else found out, and I was even kind of getting good friends with that somebody else, and then she found out, and then she turned cold on me. Oh, man.

Oh, I feel like the workplace always has drama. Like there's not going to be one workplace that doesn't have a little drama behind the scenes. You know what I mean? Right, right. And this is all a nonprofit organization in our community. Oh, this is going on. Yeah, that's pretty wild.

That's amazing. I, well, I think that's a fun little 22. How old are you now? 30. I'll be 31. year. Amazing. Like, I feel like if I shared, like, that to me is very G-rated. Because if I shared stories from my 22-year-old self, I might get canceled. Yeah, I agree. It's scandalous. It's not like R-rated, dirty, naughty. It's just scandalous. It's scandalous. I like it because when I do these

episodes or like in general, when people do confessions even, it's like anywhere from A to Z. It's like on a spicy level, like it goes from 1 to 12. And this. I'm going to rate this one. He's six. It's scandalous. It's fun. And I hope he still gets to see his children sometimes. Yeah, I think she's, like, graduated from high school and an adult now and everything.

And we're totally chill now. We still send memes and, like, dad jokes to each other. Yeah. Wait, that's a big part in the story. I guess so. So, yeah, after I left, I don't remember how long it really took, but we eventually kind of got back to a place. where we were joking back and forth again you're still standing me last week wait am i rooting for this love story to come full circle no he's so i moved out of state um this was in california

i live in north carolina now so i wouldn't do well with the long distance i'm a very clingy needy like i need you in my life type of person um but i don't know i've always even after everything he still hold a special place in my heart for sure oh that's sweet wait i feel like you still like him i'm not gonna lie i do like he's pretty cool yeah wait now i'm rooting for you guys wait so he lives in california still could he move to north carolina probably i mean they need HR here okay this is where i need this is where i need the vinos to step in and make magic happen because i am a matchmaker and we are going to make this romance story I'm not going to sleep at night this is all I'm going to think about now oh my gosh you are making me blush because I never like thought of it like that

like when I think of him I'm just like oh yeah he's cool like if it ever got back to that that would be cool or whatever but I never like put any hope or anything into that so now I'm like no this is I don't think it would ever happen well you can't don't never say never and if you guys are still sending little flirty memes, maybe just take it like one step further with the flirty meme and like send a nude and see what happens. Oh boy. Okay, don't listen to me. This is why I don't give advice on my podcast. This is why we just tell funny stories because if people listen to my advice, it would not be good. I mean, if I was more body confident, I probably would. I'm not going to learn. But my self-confidence is like kicking me in the butt. Oh, I understand because I do

the same thing. I pick myself apart every single day and I have to try and turn the beat around every day and stop myself from doing that. So you are not alone in that. But I think, or not but, and you should start, like, taking little, like, cute photos and, like, get the confidence to, like, build up into a sexier photo. And maybe that'll, like, get you to learn to love yourself more. If you just, like, each day, take it a step further. And don't look at it and go, I don't like this. look at it and go oh i really love this part about me and you every day you'll build yourself up a little more that's a good idea see you too give good advice okay you know what i take it that was good that was really good i think you should try it i think we should all try that i think that's something

that instead of picking ourselves apart and maybe i'm going to try it let's do it we'll do it together i'll text you in 30 days and see where you're at we'll work up to the nude i'm here for you I'm just kidding, you don't have to do that. But I'm encouraging you to love yourself a little more every day, and we're going to get there. Thank you. Yeah. This definitely went from workplace romance to scandalous to some good advice. I really enjoyed this whole circle moment.

It was, yeah, this is good. I'm like, I'm leaving this conversation feeling like I'm proud of you, and we're going to make this work. And something's going to happen. I have a feeling just something even if it's just like a whirlwind again little romance like something's going to happen I could feel it I will keep that in mind can you also keep me posted please sure okay if anything happens I will let you know okay send me a message in the off the vine Instagram and then we'll go from there okay you got this thank you for sharing your story it was so nice to meet you nice to meet you thank you bye

all right up next we have robin sneaking with the supervisor let's bring her in i got hi hi robin how are you i'm good thank you for doing this oh yeah for sure i'm excited sneaking with the supervisor what does it mean it sounds so juicy well i mean it was really innocent in the beginning because we were kind of coming out of like our own relationships him being in like a really long marriage for a while and he had a kid with her and everything else and me i just was in a long-term relationship kind of over it um and you know one of those things it was like growing out of it so um we just kind of like came together on that and started to get to know each other and then you know for me i admittedly was like i kind of like you yes go on

So we, I found a way to like, I saw him have like a Heath bar one day and score bar. And I totally went and bought a ton of them and like would sit them on my desk so that he would see them when he's walking by. And he would stop and be like, take it. And he just sit in there and talk to me. And then that was like my way of like reeling him in. And then we would have like lunch together and stuff. And eventually we, I asked him out. And you could tell he was super nervous the whole time.

And he's like, I haven't been on a date in like 13 years. Like so right. I was like, okay, whatever. Like it hasn't been that long for me, but whatever. So we went and afterwards, like it was pouring down right and we were leaving. And I wasn't done talking. He wasn't done talking. We closed the place, by the way.

So we went and sat in his truck. And I just kept like inching up. You were putting the moves on. So yeah. So I end up kind of being like, I'm going to need you to lay one on me. And that's pretty much, that's where it started. And then. So wait, this was, so you were working at a place and this was your supervisor. He was one of the supervisors on the floor. Yeah. Okay. And then so you, I loved it because you, you kind of like put all the moves. You're like, I'm going to lure him in with some chocolate. And then I'm going to ask him out myself. And then I'm going to tell him to. to kiss me because he's been out of the game and clearly you've got game and so now now you two have to work together what's going on so we kind of kept it chill we didn't say nothing to anybody um we went out i like would go over to where he was staying every now and then like we'd go out um he's big into racing and stuff so we'd go to like the mid-ohio racetrack and stuff like that

and um just kept it quiet and so quiet his brother worked at the plant too just at the other location down the street and he never knew either okay so we just kept a quiet and then we they moved me to like more in the office out of the warehouse so i wasn't like in direct contact with him every day and then we just like came out and everybody was like we already knew and i was like oh oh jokes on me we're not sneaky so you weren't sneaking with the supervisor you're making it blatantly obvious and everybody knew apparently but i didn't think so but i guess our lunch lunch breaks in the truck out back didn't work oh come on lunch breaks in the back within his truck what do you think you're reading i was like 24 what do you want for me okay so then what happened

now is this your husband now tell me it's your husband now yes shut up 10 years i was kind of joking but like i was like that would be amazing if that was true shut up yep 10 years and uh we had obviously his daughter, she's 22, married and has a baby now. So I'm a silent young grandma. Oh my God. That is amazing. And then we have four children together. Robin, this is so cute. Thanks. Oh, my gosh. Wait. So, okay. So then, okay, so everybody knew. And were you like, did you know in that moment, like in the truck when you're like, plant one on me? Were you like, this is going to be my husband? Or were you like, this is going to be a fun fling? Oh, it was uber serious for me, like right away.

I was like, okay, I thought I was in love before with like all these other like tool bags I was with before. No, nothing touches him. Like, point blank, this is it for me. If I don't score him, I'm going to be like an old sad lady that's single for life. Like, wow, he's the one. He's your lobster. Yes.

Oh, yes. That's really cute. And you still feel that way about him. Yes. I mean, let's be serious. Marriage sucks. Sometimes. Yeah. I mean, it's like everything else having kids suck sometimes. Literally. But like, yeah, no, he's my person for sure. Oh, I, yeah, that's so real. The, you know, like, no relationship is perfect. Sometimes you want to absolutely strangle. Like, I always think how funny it is that people can love someone so much and then want to kill them one day and be like, I could, I could just. And then an hour later, you can be fine. Like, that's marriage. You know what I mean? Oh, yeah. Yep. And it's, yeah, you can hate them, but still look at them and be like, why do I love you? Like, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I act like I know. I actually, I'm like, I know marriage, right? No. But, but I love that story. I love that. That's your person. I love that. I was kind of joking when I was like, now tell me it's your husband. And you're like, yes, 10 years, four children. We're also grandparents. I love it. Yes. Oh, that's so cute. You'll have your story one day. I promise. Will I? I'm, I don't know if I have 10 more, like 10 years with somebody now. I'm going to be 50 by the time we have our 10 year anniversary. That's crazy.

Well, I mean, full disclosure, he's 12 years older than me, obviously, because he had an older kid. But it's sometimes the people that you're just walking by and you don't realize it. Yep. Sometimes they're right in front of you. You're right. And I'm not going out looking. I just know it's going to happen. That's pretty much like, I mean, for us, that's what happened.

I mean, I can't speak to everybody's situation, but. I love that. Wait, I'm so happy for you guys. I'll tell Luke I say hi. I will do that. He was making fun of me when. I was, like, super excited. I mean, come on.

I was like, he watched, he's, he never watched the Bachelor series before me. Yeah. And I was, like, stupid obsessed since I was like a kid when I shouldn't have been watching for the record. Um, and then, you know, you came on and I was like, why is she like my twin? And he was like, you guys should be best friends. And then you became the Bachelorette. And he was like, oh my God. He's like, my wife, Sonti.

And I'm like, oh, I love that. Wait, we're like, we're like soulmates in another lifetime too. Me and you and should have been best friends. I agree. We're on our fake 10 year anniversary. I was going to ask. I saw that. And I was like, wait, is she wearing an original do scrunchy? That was literally going to be my last thing I said to you. But I didn't want to also be like, if it wasn't, I was like, what if I asked and you're like, no, what's due? And then I would be embarrassed. I don't know. I'm just going to go ahead and throw it out there like slightly embarrassed that I'm like I still have an original but whatever I said this is literally an original in my hair right now oh see twinning love it besties for the resty oh my gosh wait I love this story and I just loved talking to you thank you

for sharing that and I'm just so happy for you thank you I appreciate it I hope that we get a chance to meet in person someday oh I love it well thank you so much and um I feel like we're just friendly I was like I forgot we're doing a podcast and I got to wrap it up but thank you for sharing Okay next up we've got I love the title of this one it says yeah I'm your boss bitch sounds like something I would say but not in the workplace just like in general okay let's bring her in hi how are you oh great it's so nice to be able to see you but I have to show you my angel babies first because I know you'll approve sweet baby I'm obsessed what are their names So the chocolate lab is Cody. He's 14. And then the husky behind me is Stephen. He's five. And I also share them. Stephen. No. How hard is it? You know what? I've been doing it since 2019. We do a week on, week off. And we're very amicable now. It took a little while, but we got there. So I feel you. I see you. Yeah. That's nice. Okay. So just hang in there is what you're saying. Okay. I'm like, so hang in there and don't just steal them and never let them. Okay. Okay.

Got it, got it. As much as I would like desperately want them, it is great when you're planning like work trips and you have to go places because you know they're loved and you know they're taken care of. That is honestly where my head is at for a lot of it is that I'm like, I know that he is such a good dog dad. I know those dogs love him. So there's nothing that I feel like worried about there. And I, you know, travel a lot and he travels. So it actually works out for us. So it's good. Sweet babies. And Cody looks young for 14. I know. It's having the younger dog it really like he lost 20 pounds like immediately as soon as we got him so yeah oh I love that yeah I feel like Pino keeps ramen young of course of course that's amazing well I love the title of your

little spicy workplace romance that yeah I'm your boss bitch that that that's like so something I would say and so tell me the story okay so the first one so it's actually like the first story is like a 20 year story. So I initially tutored the children of this, like, super sexy couple. Everybody that kind of knew them was like, yeah, this couple is like fire. And it was such a strong relationship that I actually ended up going to Hawaii with the family as like a little take-along nanny. And yeah. So then shortly after I was divorced, they reached out to me and were like, hey, we're so sorry to hear that you're divorced would you be interested in coming over for a glass of wine of course we're like yes yes we are and then that glass of wine progressed into me becoming a unicorn for them

so this has been a regular like regular occurrence over the past like five or six years of unicorn Shut up. Wait, shut up. This is still happening? Yep. Wait, am I getting this right? Like, you're like a thruple. Well, no.

I'm their special guest star. So I'm their only special guest star. And when we can coordinate our schedules, I make guest appearances for them. Do you, like, show up as the nanny still? No. So those children, when I started to work with them, They were like three, six, and seven.

And now the oldest one is 21. Oh, my gosh. Do the kids know what's going on? No. This is the juiciest thing I've ever heard. Okay, so you started out as the nanny. You went through a divorce. They felt a connection to you.

So they were like, do you want to come over for a glass of wine, AKA like, let's see what happens here? Something happened. And that's been a consistent. for six years. Yep. I'm obsessed with this story. It's pretty great.

How fun. And do, okay, I have questions, if you don't mind. Of course. Do you feel like I'm not good at sharing. Do you ever get like jealous that they're like, no? No, it is, Caitlin, it is glorious. So one time, I basically get to have all the fun and none of the like anything that comes with it and totally it'd be really great we've communicated our boundaries we've communicated like what

we want to do and there was one time where i just showed up and they like tied me up and i didn't have to do anything i just got to like lay there do nothing but it was great it was great this is the best case scenario for me love this for you you are living your truth that is like people would tend to feel like shame maybe or like they're doing something wrong you're not you're enjoying every second of it and you get to just live, do whatever life you want with your two dogs and you go on work, work trips? Are these work trips what I'm thinking? No, no, they're like legit work trips. They're legit. Oh my gosh. Wait. So how often, like once a week are we talking? No, it's like obviously having two women in two different cycles, like there's that coordination.

And I like had like a very monogamous. relationship kind of in the chunk of that. But it's like every few months. And then we also do some video exchanges when we can't see each other often. So we'll send some videos, awesome and handsome videos. Yeah. Wait, this is so, and what a cool couple. Like I could never, but that's like, like in another lifetime, I feel like I could, that would be something I'd be into, but I'm too like old school when it comes to it relationships. But like that's like a fantasy. That's so amazing for you. Yeah. It's fantastic. a great scenario. Wait, and do they live in the same city as you? They're very close to me. Yeah,

they're very close to me. Like a half hour drive. Have you ever like run into them? I have. And also, I was a reference for one of their children getting hired. Stop. Oh my gosh. Wow. I just, I wish, I'm going to get off this call and be like, I should have asked so many more questions. But what is like, So do people know this about you in your situation? My best friends know that this is like something that I do. And I'm pretty upfront with anybody that I'm dating just to be like, I do have this couple. Like, yeah, yeah.

And are you okay if I continue to see them or yeah? And I kind of just navigate that as it comes. But it's been a lot of years. I actually go to them when I need relationship advice. Wait, I want, I'm going to call them Jen and Mark. I want a Jen and Mark. They're fantastic. Jen and Mark are fantastic. Wow. And the fact that it's lasted that long means like it's actually something special. It's, it's very much built on like trust and respect and I respect their, their marriage and their relationship. I would never do anything to, like, jeopardize that.

And it's, it just feels like very good friends that spend a lot of time. together naked. Yes. Wow. I love when people live their truth. I love when people just do what they know feels good and feels right and there's no shame in your game. And I love that for you.

Yeah. My second story is a little bit more shameful than that one. But that's like, wait, what's the shameful one? So I was a high level supervisor in a previous job. And I had a beautiful. younger guy that was working under me, and we had to attend a meeting, a work meeting, and on the drive back, he was driving. On the drive back, there was some third base action on the drive back. Yeah. Yeah. That's more scandalous than this? I thought so, because that was on,

I was being paid for that. It worked. But yeah, that's, I mean, I feel like work. romances are like that i feel like that happens all the time like that i think your first story is much more scandalous i know they're they're they're so fantastic they're wonderful wonderful people i did tell them that i was going to be telling the story very anonymously and they they were like yeah yeah girls this the episode like oh my gosh wait they sound amazing that's like they sound like they're just like the coolest most chill like free birds like they just you guys all feel free smoking hot too they're both smoking hot so yeah hell yeah and i wouldn't say like i wouldn't identify myself as bye but she's like just she's a she's a pretty lady happy to delve into it for her

well i mean i never know how to define certain things like that and i don't think you have to i mean it's i i always say that i'm attracted to energy so that's there you go thousand percent a thousand percent it's the energy for them yeah that's so awesome wow thank you for sharing that with me and obviously keeping it anonymous and i made up their names but like also i'm like i want to do a full podcast with all of you oh god yeah anytime anytime i love it's worked it really well it's been great i also love that it's like yeah i'm your boss bitch that's amazing i love that that grabbed our attention so thank you and thank you for sharing that. If I have more questions, I'm going to go find you on Instagram and ask you.

100%. KB. 100%. Big fan over here. Oh, my God. You're amazing. Thank you so much. Bless. Bless. Bless. Bless. Live your best life. I love it. And tell your little babies. I say hi and give them a hug for me. Thanks, buddy. We'll talk to you soon. Okay. Bye. Tune in next month for even more workplace romance stories part two because these are just too good. I had to do a second episode. I'm Caitlin Bristow. I'll see you next. Tuesday. See your next Tuesday.