Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Conor McKenzie: What Does Pride Mean to You?

Episode Date: June 14, 2022

If you saw the recent Dew Pride Edit, then you’re already familiar with today’s guest… Conor McKenzie! Conor is an incredible dancer, content creator, and all around bright light who wears heels taller than KB will ever be able to rock. The two talk about their recent Dew photoshoot and Kaitlyn opens up about why sometimes photoshoots cause her anxiety… but not with Conor, who is always making sure everyone is staying positive and having fun. Conor reveals what he’s up to this Pride Month and why celebrating (this month AND year-round) is so important to him. Plus, he gets into his background with dance, his feelings on TikTok, and shares a hilarious (and slightly mortifying) confession. Stay tuned to hear the marketing genius that is KB & Conor because this idea will have you getting prepped and ready to get your stretch on. Visit https://encircletogether.org to learn about the amazing organization that Conor is working with and Dew is giving back to with each purchase of the Pride Edit!   ATHENA - Get 20% off your first order at AthenaClub.com with promo code vine. HELIX - Helix is offering up to $200 off all mattress orders AND two free pillows for my listeners at HelixSleep.com/vine.  PELOTON - Visit onepeloton.com to learn more . PROGRESSIVE - Quote at Progressive.com to join the ov er 27 million drivers who trust Progressive. HYUNDAI - Learn more at HyundaiUSA.com.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Conix Ontario at 1866-531-2600 to speak to a advisor free of charge but mGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with eye gaming ontario this week's off the vine is sponsored by athena get 20% off your first order at atthena club dot com with promo code vine helix helix is offering up to two hundred dollars off all mattress orders and two free pillows for my listeners at helix sleep dot com slash vine peloton visit one peloton dot com to learn more and progressive quote at progressive dot com to join the over 27 million drivers who trust progress This week's pod is brought to you by Hyundai and the 2022 Tucson and Santa Fe plug-in hybrid EVs.

Learn more about the widest range of electrified vehicles at HyundaiUSA.com. Welcome to Off the Vine with Caitlin Bristow. Get ready to laugh, connect, and feel empowered with Caitlin and her guests as they sip wine. Lots of wine. and get candid. They say vulnerability creates connection. So save the highlight reel for Instagram because when we're among Vino's,

there's no filter. It's time to unwind. Here's your host, Caitlin Bristow. Welcome to Off the Vine. I'm your host, Caitlin Bristow. Did you like that new intro or what? I feel like it's just vibey and that makes me want to party

or maybe just sit back and listen to a nice podcast. Whatever. I just, I'm hybrid. over it, maybe leave a review and tell me what you think, because I don't know, I'm really enjoying it. Anyways, it's Pride Month, and I cannot imagine celebrating with anyone else but Connor McKenzie, who I did a do-edit collab with because, well, one, he's a better dancer than me, which I don't like to admit, but he really is. But anyways, he did a do-edit collab with me where we did a Pride edit and 10% of the funds are going to the charity of his choice called En Circle, where it's a

nonprofit organization and they've created homes across Utah, welcome in youth from the LGBTQI plus community and their families. And the idea behind the project is to create a safe space and support for anybody who is struggling family members, anyone looking for extra support and counseling. So we loved collaborating with him and I loved talking to him today, just getting to know him a little bit better. And you know what? We came up with a great concept. It's going to change your life. So just listen for that. Hi, Connor. Hi, C. Hart.

My gosh, how are you doing? I'm doing great. How are you? I'm so good. I know we've been trying to plan this podcast for a couple weeks now, but thank you for being, quote, unquote, flexible with your time. That means two things. We did it. We made it work. We made it work. Oh, my gosh. I don't know if you've traveled in the last little while, but if you have or haven't, don't. I saw your stories on the Instagram about, like, your traveling saga, about them losing your luggage and stuff.

And I've happened to so many of my friends, especially, like, drag queen friends who are traveling for gigs and stuff. And I have been very fortunate to not have any issues, maybe because I'm going to, like, popular destinations. So I feel like I haven't had, like, any canceled flights, but nonetheless, that's, like, one of my biggest fear. So I'm like, please, no. It's so terrible. It's, I'm more concerned about people, like, what if they have to get home for a funeral? or like something like a really important thing and flights are just getting canceled last minute.

It's not ideal in either scenario. It's not ideal. But anyways, we're here. We're going to be fine because these are small world problems. But for my listeners who we call the Vino's, can you tell everybody who you are, what you do, maybe your favorite color? I don't know. You just, you have the floor for how you would like to be introduced.

Love that. So my name is Connor McKenzie. I'm like, oh my God, come on, let me give my little intro. I am a content creator, so I do a lot of, you know, like feel good content, lots of positivity, mixed with some queer magic, mixed with some dance, mixed with some stretching. So kind of wearing many hats. But yeah, and I think my favorite color, actually, I know my favorite color is blue. I'm like, I think I know my favorite color is blue.

Really? Is that your favorite color? I actually don't have a favorite color. Do you know that? Oh, interesting. would say, though, okay, so I feel like this is like a, there can be two questions of this. It's like my favorite color is blue because I love like the energy, the aura of blue, right? But I don't wear a lot of blue. So it's like, it looks good on me, but like I wear a lot of black. I wear a lot of neutral. So it's like if someone was like, what's your favorite color to wear, it'd be black.

So it's like, you know. That's, okay, that's me. A more realistic question. Ramen, Pino. Stop ruining my podcast. Not ramen and Pino. Good boy. Yeah, I'm the same way, like I don't have a favorite color. I have, I know my aura is pink, and so I like that. Yeah, there you go. But black is like my favorite color, which is a shade, and that's just all I wear, as you can see right now. But anyways, black's not considered a color, right? No, it's considered a shade, like black, white, and gray, I think, but those are like my three favorite colors. But we're getting, we're getting official here. It's a little, a very terminalistic. Back to you. You do wear a lot of hats. You do a lot of different things. And it's Pride Month. So I really wanted to celebrate this month. with, well, I mean, we celebrate you all the time, but... Especially this month.

Especially this month. And, yeah, just people in your community that, they, you inspire me in your own way and you just have such good energy. And I loved meeting you for our freaking fun photo shoot for the due edit launch that we did. Like, that was so fun. And you actually really helped me without knowing it because I don't know if you know this or if I brought it up. Maybe I did.

I hate getting glammed and I hate photo shoots. And I don't know what... I shouldn't say I don't know what it is. I know exactly what it is. I don't mind getting glad. It's more of photo shoots. I think I just see so many pictures of myself so often that I find myself being hypercritical of how I look and I don't want to be that person because I try really hard to work on,

you know, like being kind to myself and not nitpicking and I've worked so hard for so many years that doing photo shoots all the time, I have to like really be conscious of not picking myself apart. So you made me so comfortable and we had so much fun. So thank you for that. well I'm so glad yeah I feel like I understand that I feel like I had so much fun because A like the energy in the room was good because you know I've done so many shoots where the energy in the room was not it and it's like it's like you really have to like push through and like channel like your inner model for those moments but when it's like a good natural feel and stuff it feels

great it also helps the fact that Chris absolutely beat my mug the house that's still my favorite makeup I have ever had like glams on me and I'm like I'm hiring him for my birthday event now because because it was so good. Oh, are you really? Yes. Yes. I'm going to fly him up and stuff because I'm like, this makeup was so good. So it also had me feeling my oath because there's nothing like worse than feeling like out of place or out of body in a photo.

Yeah. Where you're like, like, oh, look, these are what these look like and you're like, hmm, great. Yeah. I've been there. Oh, I'm so glad that it was a good process for you, though. Well, it all started for me when I was like probably. I was probably my like lowest self, which it sounds crazy, but right when I came off from being the bachelor where you would think you're on this high, all these men just fell for you and you're

like feeling yourself eligible bachelorette on national television. And I was like so worn down and so emotional. And I was so stressed and I had just like gained like 15 pounds from less like not working out eating like crap and like just I just felt shitty. And then I went to this photo shoot. And it was one of my first, like, real photo shoot experiences where I was like, oh, shit, this is for People magazine. And it was, like, possibly a cover and all this stuff. And whoever did my makeup, I hope she's fired because it was the worst makeup I've ever had in my whole career. I don't know if it was a seven years ago type of thing, but, like, she didn't get the glam world. And definitely not for, like, a magazine.

and I just hated the way I looked. And then she looked, the photographer looked at me and said, yeah, I heard you're funny. So, like, be funny for the phone. And that was my first photo shoot. And I was like, I hate this so much. And then I hated the photos. So I was like, awkwardly like pretend laughing.

Like, I was silly. I'm goofy. Wait, so what wasn't about the makeup you didn't like if you don't mind me asking? Because, like, bad makeup, like, absolutely cannot do. So I'm so curious. Okay. So I don't have, like, the greatest lashes of all time. and so, you know, for photo shoots,

you always do a false lash. There was no false lashes. She was just, like, barely putting any chunky mascara on. I feel like she put... Bald, bald eyes. Bald eagle eyeballs. And she, like, did, like, a lip color, but didn't, like, do the outside of my lips.

Like, it felt like she tried to make my lips look smaller. She overdid the blush. She didn't, like, conceal under my eyes. It was... I'll find the picture, and you're going to be, like, Caitlin, you're ridiculous. You look fine. But it really was just, like...

truly how I felt in that moment, too. And I was just like, I hate this. And so then every other photo shoot. But yeah, it was a bad start. Tough go. I, every time I complain about anything, I'm like, Caitlin, do you hear yourself, you loser? I'm like, yeah, I have terrible makeup for People magazine.

But it's your life. Like, I get it. Like, I feel like I'll find myself complaining, like, my boyfriend about stuff. And then I'll just kind of like have an eye, like, I'll zoom out and have an out-of-body experience, like, listen to myself. And I'm like, okay, there's really isn't that big of a deal. But, like, right now it feels like it. So let me just fence about it and I'll feel better.

Yeah, yeah, exactly. That's all I need. That's what I just did now, and I feel better. Okay, then quick pause for the vinos to celebrate summer. So one thing that is a must for me during the summer months, but really all year round, is my Athena razor. This is a pretty new discovery for me, actually, because before these razors, I would sometimes have, to be honest, some pretty ugly shaving experiences, especially while on tour. But Athena makes it so much easier and honestly just more enjoyable to get your shave on. Now, the magic starts, with the Athena Club razor blades. They are surrounded by water-activated serum with shay butter and hyluronic acid.

So you get a silky smooth shave that actually leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated, not like strict and dry. And the blades are spaced out to let hair shave cream pass through easily, so you don't have to take like a ton of passes to remove the hair. I always remember struggling with that. But if you don't have to do that, that sounds pretty great. And one of the best parts to me, too, is their razor kit. it's only nine bucks with free shipping comes with two blade cartridges magnetic hook for the shower

storage and your choice of handle color all their color choices by the way are so pretty to you i have like this um it's like a limey green one i'm really into neon right now they also send refills right to you depending on how often you want them so you'll always have fresh blades so why deal with razor burn and wasteful disposable razors when you could be getting the best shave of your life with the athena club razor kit get 20% off your first off your first order at Athena club.com with promo code Vine. That's A-T-H-E-N-A-Club.com with promo code Vine for 20% off. All right, Vanos, let's talk about Hyundai for a second. Everything is better electrified, and Hyundai has the widest range of electrified vehicles on market, including

their first ever Tucson and Santa Fe plug-in hybrid EVs. Their turbocharged engines have quiet, rapid acceleration, and you can use electric when you want or gas when you need. So it's your journey, evolve it beyond the pump in the 2022, Tucson or Santa Fe plug-in hybrid EVs, visit your nearest Hyundai dealer or learn more at HyundaiUSA.com. Call 562-314-4603 for complete details. What are you doing for Pride Month? Are you doing like, is there festivals, is there parades, is there, do you have plans for the whole month?

What is it? I think a better question is what am I not doing for Pride Month? It is. I love Pride Months because I'm booked and blessed. I mean, I'm probably the same and blessed all year, but pride is like especially very intense, obviously because, you know, it's the corporations coming out being like, which gays can we grab to, like, seem diverse, right? Which is, like, some of them, great. Like, they actually, like, you can tell. And then you can also tell, like, the major conglomerance that you're like, you don't care and you donated to, you know, bad senators all year, you know, like who don't reach for us. So it's like, you kind of

have to like now I think a lot of like queer creators have to like make attention to that because totally unfortunately it's like you know it's like it's for our benefit but mostly for theirs right for like just the PR but um but no there's lots of events of course and I'm so glad because you know the past few years there have not been any events because COVID and stuff. Right. I mean there's still obviously like you know some parameters in places if we're not totally out of the COVID you know wait yet but lots of fun events which I'm so excited to be because like that's my favorite part about pride is like celebrating community right like actually getting to gather together and you know in new york it's um like it's perfect timing like the weather and

everything's new york pop off for pride and like that's my favorite thing so i'm just excited to do all the events and just like be with everyone and just like have fun and get drunk yeah so pretty much that as you should as you freaking should and your birthday's coming up this month too right it's um in august actually so she's a leo if you can see by my necklace but i knew that actually because we were talking about this Why did I think you have your event in June? No, it's in August as well. But it's okay.

But it's celebrating a queer organization, so I could see why you would think it was also Pride Month. I actually did. I actually did. Now that we're talking about it, I do remember that you were Leo, so I should have known because I knew it was your birthday celebration with something meaningful to you.

So I for some reason thought that was June. That's totally okay. We're going to get there because I have that. We have plenty of other parties, yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm excited. I actually, I'll be coming to New York in July. So we can just extend the Pride Month a little bit and continue the celebrations. We've got to do some gay shit while you're here. Yes, please. Tell me about some of the fun clubs and stuff. I would love to. I went to my first drag show in Nashville and I was like, why have I not been doing this my whole life? It is just like my happy place. Yeah, I love. I'm friends with so many. drag queens like drag queens that have been on ruPaul's drag race but also like local queens and

the thing about new york drag though and like not to shade drag anywhere like local drag everywhere loves it but new york drag it's just the best of the best like it truly is just like because they're all you know they all can you know make their own clothes right so they're seems just they can do hair they do makeup they can perform they sing they act they dance so and there's just like all these like fun mixes and then plus on top of that you've got new york white night life on top of their shows. It's just a blast. So when you come here, I'm taking you to a couple shows and we're going to do it up. It's so fun. That sounds absolutely magical. I'm so excited. And like we were saying earlier, we did our You Better Work Edit for Dues, last edit for Pride Month. It was so fun just because

we're sitting here talking. I'm like, I like black, gray and white, but that it's like the most colorful edit. But that's, you know, of course, what it should be. So I loved that you were part of it. I love that we got to do a whole fun dance and photo shoot. and do all of these bright colors and just, like, live our best life out there on that little white dance floor that we had, even though I don't know how you do it. You wear heels that are, like,

what is the highest pair of high heels you have? My friend has them right now, actually. I'll let them borrow them for a shoot, but they are, like, two feet tall. They're like the platform. I have a video on social media, I'll show you, but they're like this tall. Like they are.

They're just wild. I did a video of me walking on the street. How? And it's wild. It's just luck. Luck and strong ankles. I will tell you, like, all those years of ballet, strengthen my ankles.

So, thank goodness. Because otherwise, it would be a mess. But I really do love heels, though. Like, I wear heels every day. Like, I kid you not. Like, I like to pride myself, like, on strutting down the streets of New York every day in a pair of heels. Like, even, like, when I'm, like, grocery shopping,

like, I literally put on a chunky heels with more comfortable. But, like, there's something about being elevated that just, A, makes me feel more, like, sickening, right? but also just like I'm fashionable. It's like what I do. I love it. I love a pair ofield. You really do like the way you walk in heels is something I aspire to be like.

Like I'm like I can't even do that in like a platform like like a small little like chunky heel. I can't walk the way to do. Because you were eating it up the day of our shoe and you were in those tall. Yeah, but I almost twisted my ankle like eight times. I really did. I mean there was Rose involved. thriving. That's so true. Oh my gosh. I just, I love watching your videos if you just strutting down the street. I had a question. And I'm, I don't know if you, I'm sure you've been asked this

before, but I always like to hear, like, what does pride mean to you? A lot of things for sure. But I think for me, it's community, right? It's, I would say it's two things. It's community and representation. Because like I was saying earlier, like being able to be with just like my queer family, my chosen family, right? Which is for a lot of queer people all they have, right? So this month is to gather, and we do it all year round, obviously, but this month is our time to really, you know, like honestly, honor into people who came in the past, right? You know, like the AIDS epidemic and all that stuff. And there's people who didn't get, you know, queer people who didn't get to live their life to the fullest. So it's just kind of,

you know, being the next generation to really uplift that. But it's also representation, right? for the queer children, you know, who are growing up without, you know, who grew up without, you know, having that representation, like, you know, we kind of did, right? It's so fun to see, like, you know, there's that new Netflix show Hart Software that came out. And I love it because it's like one of the first queer pieces of, you know, television that we've seen where it's not centered around trauma, right? Would not be thrown out of their house, not being, you know, like, hey, crimes, like,

you know, because it's a lot of, like, trauma porn and not, not with representation in television. so I finally feel like we're getting to the point and even like the new movie Fire Island that just came on Hulu. I went to that premiere and it's just like, it's just a gay rom-com and I'm like thank you for bringing about like rom-com genre. Like I love that so much and it's just I feel good and it's like I think for me

pride is that, right? It's just that positive representation of all parts of the community no matter what it looks like so it's just uplifting those voices and uplifting queer community right. I love it so much. I can talk about pride forever. It's so important. I know. I love it. I can just see your

face light up talking about it too, which I love. And you talked about like that kind of representation that maybe you didn't have when you were younger. And that's why I wanted to ask you about in Circle and tell us more about that organization that you're so passionate about where if you buy dues right now, 10% is going to go to that. And then SmartSweets is matching all the donations, which I love. Which I can't think you guys enough for. So yeah, In Circle, I got involved with back in, I think it was like 2019. And they are just an organization. They are just in the field doing what I think is so important, which is like saving queer youth, right? Because queer youth is most specifically, you know, trans youth are so susceptible to suicide just because, you know, of dismissal from their parents or their peers.

And it's just, I mean, and coming out is already such a tumultuous thing to go through. And I feel like I was so lucky as a kid that I was just always very confident in who I was and just had a strong sense of self. And I had a supportive family. So I was able to kind of like come into my queerness to really experiment and be who I am today, right? And so Encircle, what they do is they provide housing in very conservative areas throughout the United States. So they started out of Utah, which is like the big Mormon community, right? Their being gay is not a thing at all, right? It's not allowed at all.

So these, you know, Mormon children who come out as queer and their families don't know what to do, right? They have these encircle houses that they can go to if they're kicked out or if they need mental health services or just the place. to go to feel safe and seen, right? Which I think is so important. And I love that they do in a conservative, you know, areas because that's where it's needed those, right? So it's like, if they open one here in New York, it wouldn't make sense, right? Because there are so many resources here.

They do it in, you know, so many different, you know, like southern and Midwestern cities to, you know, small towns that don't have these resources. So I just think it's so important. And I've gotten involved with them and I've gotten to see these queer children and how, like, be, you know, even just being myself or having, you know, other queer creators and uplifters, like seeing how it really like allows them to feel like I can be that. I can be myself. I can live authentically myself. So I just, you know, like I love working with kids. I was a dance teacher for a long time as well. So like kids have a soft spot for me. And I just like,

I think it's so important to uplift them. Because they really, it's like, you know, that cheesy saying like the children are, you know, our future. But it's so true. Like it really is. Like that acceptance and that normalcy of like I can be as queer as non-binary as odd as it may seem to normal society as I want. And I deserve to take up space. I deserve to be that without shame. And I think in the world is such a great job of providing those resources to help achieve that. But also, I think something that like all people don't speak about either is they provide the resources to these parents who, you know, might come in with their queer kid and be like, hey, this freaks me out. I don't know what this means, but I don't like I love my child.

help me through this, which I think is so amazing. Like that is something that a triple does that I think is incredible because a lot of the times the parents, it's just always out of fear, right? It's always out of fear. And so I think at being able to assist those parents of being like, hey, like, this isn't the end of the world. Like, this is just a natural normal thing. It's so helpful.

So I love and circle and I think what they do is incredible. That really is. I didn't know that part of it. And that's huge. I mean, that's a really huge piece of it too, because as long as, the parents want to learn and understand and are, you know, going along with their kids to understand and to help them grow into who they can thrive to be. I think that's amazing. That's like, not only will they learn and look up to people like you to see that they can be

who they want to be, but they can be who they want to be and be, do what, like, be successful at it. And they can have community and all of those things that come along with, with, you know, all the fears that people have of not being accepted. Exactly. It's just the willingness to learn, right? And I think we've seen such a shift with Gen Z, right? Where they, you know, like everyone's queer in some capacity. And it's like that is so, because I believe that wholeheartedly that everyone is queer.

I think it is a spectrum, right? It's like there's a spectrum with so many other things, but we look at sexuality as black and white, right? And it's like, like, I consider myself, like, if this is gay and this is straight, I'm very on this part, right? But it's like, that doesn't mean that like this doesn't exist for me, right? So it's like, I think it's a spectrum and I think like Jim Z is really. really owning up to that and really just being like, yeah, like, who has to have a label?

And I'm like, yeah. Like, I think that's like where we should go. We're just like, everyone is just who they are and everyone's just accepted for who they are, right? But we obviously still have so much work to get there because while social acceptance, I think, is getting better. Obviously, our government is not up to far there yet. So it's like, we still got some battles ahead of us.

But nonetheless, I think we're making strides, which is good. Well, the fact that you're making strides like in that it seems to be generated. that that's like slowly, you know, being weaned out into the more accepting and understanding and like, why would you not want to live your authentic life kind of crowd, which is amazing, because I think that's just kind of an old school way of thinking and, again, not being educated or understanding or wanting to understand. So I do feel like it's going in the right direction. But I mean, in everything like- Keeps going, you know? Yeah, yeah. It will. It will. Absolutely. And how can people make donations, even if they're not buying scrunchies? They can still, go to, I'm assuming, the website. Yeah, you can, yes, you can always go to Encircle and they have a donation. And, like, I don't think people realize, too. It's so cliche to say, but it's like no little donation goes unseen, right?

Because some of it is for mental health services, right? Some of it goes towards the housing, right, of them building houses, you know? Like, because they are, because they went national out of 2020. And so they are, like, building houses in all kinds of different cities right now, which I think is so incredible. So it's like, this momentum, like, any donation will help just keep that momentum rolling and just, like, truly help kids. Even if you take the queer equation out of it, it's like, you're helping children.

You're helping literal kids. Like, there is no wrong way to help, right? So I think that's the best thing to think about. Okay, let's take a little break to tuck sleep. Oh, sleep. One of my favorite hobbies of all time. I've talked about how much I love the Helix mattress so many times, but I'll continue to do so because it really is the dang truth.

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Okay, Vynos, I know we are all busy these days, and that can make it really hard to find motivation sometimes, but when it comes to finding the motivation to fit a workout in your already busy schedule, sometimes, I just really don't want to leave my house, to be honest. Plus, it takes so much extra time to head to a workout class, park, drive, and you have some potentially awkward changing room experiences. No, just me? I don't know. That's just one of the reasons I love staying home and using my Peloton bike and the Peloton app.

I just love basically everything Peloton has to offer and how easily it fits into my schedule no matter what I have going on. Because as I've been learning over the years, it's not about working out to like lose weight and spend an hour. It's like you can pick a five minute class, a 10 minute class, a 15 minute class, and just like change your day mentally. So Peloton has a team of world class instructors who are ready to. to motivate you 24-7, 365. I really don't think I've met an instructor on Peloton that I didn't like,

but I definitely have my faves. So whatever your fitness level is, these instructors will motivate you with the workouts that you will actually enjoy. It's so much fun, such fun music, huge variety of classes, too, from cycling, strength, to yoga, running, even just meditations. Right now is the perfect time to try out Peloton, the Peloton Bike Plus, is now $500 less, so it's the best price yet, including free delivery and setup. And there are more game-changing prices available on the original Peloton bike and Peloton Tread. Visit OnePelaton.com to learn more. And switching gears just a little bit, you're super active on social media with your amazing dancing and strutting and gorgeous pictures.

Like, do you ever, I feel like you would travel with good lighting, or is that just your face? Like, you just, everywhere you go, you just, like, light up a room. I've got this good, just natural. I'm sitting in front of a lovely window. I have a big old window with a lovely New York view, and it is just, you know, I love a natural glow. But I actually do have a little ring light that can attach to my phone. Do I use as much as I should?

Probably not. But I typically just find a good window. I'm like, natural light will do you wonder, sweetie. See, I have my, because of this, my natural lighting is behind me. So I have to, like, close my curtains and blast a ring light on my face. Otherwise, it would be not so good over here. But so I obviously love that you're a dancer because I am too a dancer. How long have you been dancing for?

So I started dancing when I was 14. So I was kind of late to the game because I, such a weird story. I, in eighth grade, tried out for football. If you can believe it, yes, that was me, sitting up that little field running for my life thinking, I'm going to be a bro. I'm going to do football. I also was looking at to uptee's my father.

So maybe that had a lot to do with that. Of course. We love therapy. We love trauma. Right. Anyway, so I was like, football,

this is that, right? And did it make the team, obviously, because they were like, what are you doing here? And my friend was like, you should try this musical.

And it was music man junior. And I was like, okay, why not? Like, I get the staff for school, hang out with my friends, what's not to love.

So I joined it. And there was like, you know, we're doing jazz square. We're doing ball changes. We're doing pivot turns. I was like, this is my moment. Like, this is it.

And they just like, this is my football. I was like, honey, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, okay, this makes sense. So I had a friend that went to an head studio, and she was like, take my classes with me. There was a jazz class and a lyrical class. And we were doing stretch out and like across the floor and learning combinations. And it was good music because I make huge music buff. Like, I'm never not listening to music. So I was like, this is truly the best of.

world. So I just decided to get good at it really quick and the rest of history. So 14 is when I officially started. Wow. Because I mean, like I think it was already in you before you were 14. Like you were supposed to be a dancer from when you were like out of the room, but it happened at 14 because I feel like it's like in your blood to dance and move the way that you do. Were you so pumped when TikTok became like sort of a dancing app? Were you like, I'm all about this TikTok life? Or we, like, I don't know if I can get into it. So it was a, okay, so I, I don't want to say I didn't like it because what's not to love? Like the people who, like, especially professional dancers who dog on TikTok dancing, I'm like,

listen, it is dancing at any capacity. Like, we should not be shitting on any sort of dancing, right? Because I think dancing is universal and dancing can look like many types of things. And dancing just makes people happier periods. And the more people are doing it, the better, right? But with that said, it was a little. little weird to kind of watch people doing like a bunch of arms movements and just like and I was like oh when this has 16 million likes like I'm so confused and so like and meanwhile you know people are posting like other dancing you know like what other people would call real dancing which I don't think is fair but and it's not doing as well right so that was there was kind of like a

it's like a feud between like trained classical dancers and then like TikToker dancers like what is real and what's not but nonetheless I think what TikTok has done for dance has just magnified it. I mean, and I have, like, absolutely reaped the benefits of that through different campaigns and just by being a dancer myself, right? So I think it's a really good thing. I do hope it continues to evolve past standing with a quarter frame, moving within, I keep doing this because this is all I know is the low and there's, you know, like the flow-mo thing they do. I'm so bad at TikTok if I'm being totally honest. But nonetheless, I think, I think it's cool. I do like the, like the lizard dance, like the full body one, I love.

Like, Wask was a full body one. It's the ones where you're cropped like this and you're only here. And so you only feel of this, you know, like that. I'm going to get so dragged for this, but I like what's just a full dance. That was impressive. Yeah, but I mean, yeah, I think you could. Art view. Like, I feel like, you know what you should do is do like, do like, stretching TikToks to be like get you flexible in three weeks tops period yeah I actually do

how I've done a few and they've done really well so you know what maybe I should capitalize on that a little bit more huh yes you should because you're stretching my marketing team I feel like I used to be so flexible from dancing and then like I stopped dancing for a long period of time and now my hips have just like like they just don't move anymore yeah like is a practice skill for sure. I feel like once you stretch to a certain part, like you're still flexible by, you know, normal society standards, right? But it's like a dancer standard. Absolutely, it is a practice skill. Like, I stretch literally every day to maintain. But don't you think stretching like has so many other benefits? Like just for like, fine, you get flexible. But like stretching

your body is one of the best feelings in the world. Do not even get me started. Like it's like a meditation. Yeah, it's one of my favorite things to talk about. And it's how I think I converted so many, like, normal humans. And I say normal humans in the sense of, like, nine to fiver and, like, bankers and just, like, that kind of people, right? People who you wouldn't find stretching. Yeah, exactly. Like, I have, like, I feel like I've really converted a lot of those people into, like, daily stretchers because, like, my boyfriend included, he does my own routines every morning. I think it's so great. But, like, truly and honestly, it is, it has so many benefits. Obviously, it's like you get more flexible, which helps

daily tasks, right? But also increases blood flow, right? It helps your blood pressure, right? It helps with like a meditation. It's like a mental thing as much as it is physical. It just like forces you to really be intimate with your body, right? Because there's nothing more intimate than having to do a hamstring stretch and your leg is shaking and you're like having to really like look inward and be like, oh, I'm not good at this. Right. It's very humbling in a lot of ways too. Humbling is so gringing. Yeah. Like, um, like my boyfriend started to say he was like, I can't, I'm like, I don't feel claustrophobic in my body anymore. And I was like, that is the most like, like, uh, like prosthetic thing you've ever said. I'm like, it's literally

you that, though, it's claustrophobia within your body, like, when you can't reach to get something you need or, like, shit, for me, you'd be claustrophic not to be able to do a split. Like, I, like, it's just like a certain range of motion that feels good, right? Yeah. So it's like, anyways, I think stretching is incredible. Everyone should do it. How do we start? Where would you encourage someone to go who wanted to start stretching? Well, do I have a program for you. So I actually have a Patreon page that I host all of my stretching tutorials through. and how I do mine is I make mine for like everyone right so like I've got some really advanced routines that like I have contortionists that use and then I have like very beginner routines that like my banker friends use right so it's like but I have like different circumstantial ones so there's some that are 15 minutes on a beach right there's some that you can do before you go to bed for better sleep there's something that you can do when you wake up in the morning they're all very circumstantial which in my opinion is to stretch rather than just putting on like this is 20 minutes of stretching right it's like do this one when you wake up or do this this one when, you know, you finish out the gym, right?

So it's like there's different stretches for different points in the day, different times to your life, whatever, you know, ability level you're at. Wait, I got a good one. Different stretches for different betches. I'm going to get that as a tramp stamp on my little lower back now. Different stretches for different betches. Period. Wait, that's okay.

Like I said, marketing team. Run her, her chat. Like, that is so good. I feel really good about that one. Like, I was like, I need a moment for everybody to sit down and pay attention to me. Deferrette's for Jeffer and Batchez. I felt really good. Yeah.

You have to say it that way. Otherwise, it doesn't have the same. It doesn't. Blah, boom, if you will. Yeah. But anyway, you can subscribe to my Patreon. It's $10 a month. And you get access to, like, over 60 routines.

Like, it's just great. That's amazing. I love stretching. Like, I really do. It's something that when I do it, I'm like, why don't I do this every day? Why am I not doing this? Yeah. But I will say, and this will lead me into confessions, and it's not my confession.

I could lie and say it was, but I really, I'm not going to take this one on. But my girlfriend went to yoga not that long ago, and they were having, like, the breathing and they were stretching, and she fully quiffed in the middle of class, like, full-blown and was, like, mortified. That full-body release, honey. She was like, I was just really there. She was just really in the moment And her body was doing what it needed to do

And everyone kind of like You know what? There's some people that were probably like You know the yogis that bless them Like they're probably like, yes You let it all out And then other people were like giggling And she was just mortified

You better quefe queen like absolutely Yeah exactly But do you have a confession for us today? I do I love to tell this one because it's just so embarrassing and like, like, it's just, like, totally not my fault, but just embarrassing in the sense of just how it happened. So I was, you know, in celebration of pride months,

I was being up with a guy one time, and it was, I was still like, I was like 19-ish, so I was still kind of young. And, like, we had been together all night, like, hang, out the club, like making out and stuff. And so we finally get back to this plate. I'm like, okay, so excited. We're kissing. Well, so it's also in the wintertime when this happened, which I have like a very sensitive nose when it comes to the winter. I don't know what it is, but I get nosebleeds in the winter. I know other people that have it to. So I'm like, I used to think for a long time that like I had a condition, but then I found other people

that happened to them. I'm like, okay, never mind. So I was making out with this guy. Things were getting hot and heavy. I'm like living my truth, right? And we're also very drunk. So that certainly does not help. But I, all of a sudden, I'm like, we're kissing, right? And I'm on top of him. And I have this moment of like, why does it smell like pennies? Like, why does it smell like metal? And so I come up and there is just blood literally all down his face.

And when I tell you, it looks like a literal horror movie. I screamed because blood is just like boring out of my face at this point. Because, you know, you're also mushing noshing noses. So that's just like making it go. and so I immediately like grab a call. I'm like, don't close your mouth. I'm like screaming. I'm like crying at this point because I'm also just so

embarrassed and drunk. Anyways, he was totally fine. He was like, it's okay. I was like, I was going to say, what was his reaction? Because I was like, he could go on one of two ways. Well, we were also very drunk still, so I think that kind of like helped it. I immediately put him in the shower.

We were in his room, like, get in the shower. Like, let's go. Got him all off. And I was just, I think also because I was so mortified and, like, literally crying. He was like, it's okay. Like, you definitely was definitely probably freaked out by it. There's no way you couldn't be. But, like, being really drunk on tequila also helped.

So the next morning, I was like, hey, it's so much fun, see you later. And just, like, never saw him again because I was mortified. I, like, always, I always wait. Like, I'm like, if I ever get, like, extremely famous, like, he's definitely going to sell that story to someone. So I feel like I'm beating him to the punch by admitting it first, right? Because it was just bad. But anyways, I'm like, it wasn't.

my fault. It was my nose. The bloody nose bandit strikes again. It was wild. Like literally just blood all down his face. I'll never forget. Like coming up. And his eyes were closed. Like he was so like into it and just blood. I'll never forget it. It was like geared in my brain. But I can sadly one up you on that story. And some people are going to. You make me feel better. Some people are going to remember this story from my podcast I did with Brett Kessel years ago, like probably four years ago. And some people might be new to the podcast and be like, wow, I've not heard that one before. But same thing except worse. So my first boyfriend, first time I did anything with anyone, like, you know, I didn't have

sex with him, but we did everything else. And so we were at his house and his sister was much older and was home with her baby. And she didn't like me. And she didn't like when we went into his room. and we were in his room one time and she had put a baby monitor under the bed to find out when we started hooking up

so that she could come and ruin it and so he had gone down on me got a bloody nose she broke into the room and he came up and we pretended like nothing was happening but she knew because she had a baby monitor under there

and she just looked at him and he had blood all over it. face and he was like what what and she was like fucking sick but and she was like so mad about it and I looked at him and I was like oh oh my god but he always got bloody noses and I was like you have blood all over your face and he was like oh my god it was just so terrifying okay so wait his mother put the baby monitor under there no his sister who had the baby she had a bigger even weirder like Like, I'm sorry, I'm still stuck on that part of the story. I'm like, obviously you guys are probably doing something, but the fact of, like, listening to it.

Like, how long did she listen before coming in? No, no, she was, she listened so that she could stop anything before it happened. So when it started, she ran up. Is she getting a little freaky-diki or what? No, she didn't want it to happen. She did not want it to happen. That's why she put the baby monitor so that she could stop it before it started. And then that's why she ran in and hit.

it was just, I will never forget. What a moment. What a moment. Yeah. Yeah. Very humbling. Those kind of experiences are very, very humanizing, I would say, as well. And also traumatizing and, yeah, all of those things mixed in. I'm still working through my, and it's like, I feel for that guy. It's like, he didn't mean bleed in your vagina. It just happened. You know, it's like, unfortunately, the nose said, sorry. Now, right now. Yeah. It had other plans. It had other plans. Oh, gosh, I feel your pain. Okay, I've got a game for you. And it's called You Better Work, and it's just true or false about celebs and their first jobs. Okay, so what they did for work. You better work. Okay.

So true or false, Nikki Minaj's first job was a server at Red Lobster. True. Oh, yeah. Did you know that? Am I Nikki fan? Oh, shit. Yeah, am I in Mickey fan? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Pull up in Sri Lanka. Yes, yes. No, but I love Nikki, yes. I absolutely know that's true.

Okay, that's amazing. Taylor Swift's first job was stomping grapes for a winery. False. Yeah, that would be a sick first job. I'm like, no way. Her family had money and she didn't need to do that. I know that. She worked at a Christmas tree job in the winter. She probably like only one. worked for one week. It was like,

she was a seasonal employee. She was a, okay. Brittany Spears, first job was selling movie theater tickets. My queen, Brittany,

I believe that. True. False. Her first, yeah, her first gig ever was at the age 11 as Mickey Mouse Club.

She didn't have to work after that. You're so right. I'm like, damn. Oh, my true sandness is not coming out. I forgot she was a Mickey Mouse Kid Club. I was only thinking for Christina for that.

So, okay, yeah. I know. Yeah. Okay. Ryan Seekrest, first job was working as a busser at a golf course?

I'm going to say true because it's probably a country club. That's why we said it to throw you off, but it's actually false. He worked at a hometown radio station. Oh, so he's been in the radio for forever. Look at me just absolutely judging these people. I'm like, they were red, they had coins already throwing up. So yes, I believe that. No, I like that you have a theory behind everything.

Okay, Megan Markle's first job was at a stationary shop. how wholesome is that um true because i want it to be true it is true yay oh cute that's a very like wholesome like i can't wait for her to write a book i wish i think i'm sure you probably has but been like yeah my first job was in a stationary in a papyrus my local papyrus i know and she's that's like jason's celebrity crush is megamarkle okay chloe cardassion's first job was Nicole Ritchie's assistant. False. It was Paris Hilton's assistant.

No, that was Kim. Oh, wait, who did you say? Chloe. Oh, shit. False. No, it's true. It is? What?

How? I've never known that both Kardashians were both of their assistants. Also, this is all allegedly, but I'm pretty sure it's true. Oh, okay. We definitely know Kim was. Kim definitely was,

but I'm pretty sure we have some facts to back this up if we need. to. Okay. Megan Fox's first job was a nanny. I feel like false. You're right. False. Yeah, I'm like, who would trust her kids with her? Like, love her. I'm a Megan's fan, but she's not one to be her own children. Even though she has three. Does she? Yes. She has three. I love you, Megan. Sorry, girl.

Oprah Winfrey's first job as a teenager was working at a local grocery store. She's a really traumatic cough. Um, true? Yeah. Okay. I was like, does that align with her trauma? Oh, God, awful. Okay, but anyways.

Again, you have a thought process and I love that you speak it out loud. You don't just say true or false. You say it and then you've got reasoning and I appreciate that. Okay, last one, Melissa McCarthy's first job was a Starbucks barista. I'm going to say false. It's true. Could you imagine her as a Starbucks barista? I feel like she would, like, have so many little one-liners handing out your coffee.

Yeah. That's what an icon. Love her, too. I love her. She's one of my favorite. What I said, list of celebs you had, too, as well. Was it a good? Yeah.

It's a good lineup. Well, then we did some serious digging into celebrities, and we got into this, which celebrity is worth more. Oh, God. No, this is going to blow your mind. This is, again, just based on alleged Googling. So, Shania Twain is worth 400 million. which is insane, and Miley Cyrus is $160 million.

So Shania Twain is worth way more than Miley Cyrus. I believe that, though, because you have to think, Shania is getting all the royalties for the boss that she created forever ago, right? So those are just backing up. And she's also been around longer. She's probably done more tours to rack up that coin as well. I believe it. Janaya, she's smart.

She is smart. And she's a Canadian queen, which I love. Yes. Yes. I also believe that she tapes from money. really well, too. Oh, you think she's like a little frugal, a little frugal, a little frugal. I bet she's, I wouldn't even say frugal.

I would just say smart. Like, I feel like she's like, you know, Miley, she's falling out, honey. She's living her dreams up, so. That's true, Shana. I feel like Shania probably has, like, a lot of, like, stocks and. Yes. Yeah. Like, she's invested in places, yeah.

Okay. This one blows my mind. Harry Stiles, 80 million versus Justin Bieber, 285 million. I thought Justin would be worth more. I'm surprised. Same. Same. And I thought Harry would be, too, but I thought Justin would be way more than that.

Harry's definitely got to be worth more than that now. No way. Well, and how did we come up with this? I was like, yeah, I'm curious because I'm also curious. Okay, I've also Googled my network before because I'm like, hmm, because like I've seen some things from like, this can't be true. And it was like, Connor is most certainly a millionaire. He has amassed his wealth from content creation.

And I'm like, where are my millions at? I had never seen myself with any millions. I was like, it said my network was like $1.5 million. And I was like, who? Where have I gotten these millions from? Because I don't see them. I don't know where these numbers are coming from.

I think it might be people guessing. So again, like it said Kanye West was worth $2 billion versus Jay-Z is $1.3 billion. Like, I feel like J-Z would be worth more than Kanye. Yeah. Well, I guess it also depends on what they're invested in and what, I mean, because, like, Yeezy's, like, super successful, so... Jay-Z owns a freaking basketball team. Tee, but isn't Kanye, like, a co-owner of one,

or am I making that up? I think I'm making that up. I'm probably making all of this shit up and just saying it on my podcast. We're like, I know their lines. I know what they do. Oh, my gosh. That is so funny. Okay, I have homework for you.

You have to start stretching TikTok so that people like... Yeah. Do ones like where you come up with like an intention for your stretch. Like what, you know, like you said with your program, but like go viral on TikTok with them because. Okay. But so you think I'm kidding when I said I'm going to use different stretches for different batches?

Like I'm absolutely going to like start it with that. And that's going to be going to be walking to that and being like, is your glute super, super tight? And then I'm going to do a stretch and be like, do that stretch. And that's going to be it. You love that? Yes. Like you think I'm kidding.

I'm going to, I'll shout you out of it. like, thank you, Caitlin, for this lovely idea. Kendra, my manager is going to be thrilled. She's like, yes, new content ideas. Let's go. You can take it as your own, but they will hear it first on,

off the vine. That's great. That's great. I don't let them know that it's coming. They can, the anticipation can build. Yes, exactly. Oh, my gosh, I freaking love it. And then tell everybody where they can find you

so they can follow you for all of your incredible, well, first of all, that you, the fact that you give back, amazing, that you crave community and make sure that people feel that and all of your incredible dance moves and strutting and everything like it's just impressive following along with you thank you so much it's um at coner c o r which is the normal phone for connor in my opinion underscore m c-n-d-i-e so just under or connor underscore mckenzie on all platform i think it's on everything yeah one end okay oh perfect you made it nice and easy

Well, thank you so much. Thank you for being a part of the DoE Edit and for... Thank you for having me. It meant so much. It was such a blast. I had so much fun. And I can't wait to come do gay shit with you in New York. I can't forget it.

Yes. July, honey. July, I'm there. I'll keep you posted. We're going, I'm bringing my niece, my nephew, my sister, and my mom. We're all going to New York to watch. My niece is really big into cheer. And like, she's really good.

And so we're taking her to the cheer live tour. Oh, how fun. Yeah. Where's it at? Where are they hosting it? Radio City. They're doing, they're stopping there and I'm so excited. Yeah.

That's perfect. How, darling, and your whole family's going to be like that. That's so cute. Well, I just freaking love you. Thank you for being on the pod today. And, I mean, I'll talk to you soon. Yeah, talk to you soon. Thank you so much for having me.

Mwa. Sending lots of love. I'm Caitlin Bristow. I'll see you next Tuesday. Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Off the Vine. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast platform. And we'll see you next Tuesday. This week's pod is brought to you by Hyundai and the 2022 Tucson and Santa Fe plug-in hybrid EVs.

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