Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Grape Therapy: Recapping from the Classroom with Ms. Michelle Young

Episode Date: December 2, 2021

Will the person who nominated Michelle to go on The Bachelor please stand up? Because we still don’t know how this gem of a human ended up on our TV screens, but we’re so thankful that she did! Michelle and KB are reunited to talk about this week’s episode of The Bachelorette and how it feels for both of them to watch it back after experiencing the highs and lows IRL. Ms. Young is coming to us straight from the classroom to share what she learned about her final men during hometown week, to answer some questions from the vinos, and to see if she’s smarter than a fifth grader. We also find out how Michelle imposes boundaries now in her “normal” life, who from her season she believes will be the next top influencer, and what her goals are for her career post-Bachelorette. And of course, Michelle shares her confession and teases what we can expect to see next week during the Men Tell All. Her confidence is so contagious and if we had to give her a yearbook superlative, it might just be for the most-composed Bachelorette in history!  CHINET BRAND - Chinet Brand makes premium disposable tableware for all of life’s gatherings. Visit mychinet.com to find out more. GEICO - Go to Geico.com, get a quote, and see how much YOU could save. It’s GEICO-easy!  OXICLEAN - Work your magic with Oxiclean White Revive! Visit myoxiclean.com for cleaning tips and tricks. QUICKVUE - Pick up a QuickVue ® At-Home OTC COVID-nineteen test at your local retailer. RING - This holiday season, deck the halls, walls, doors and windows with the best deals of the year on the award winning Ring Alarm. Go to Ring.com/OTV to get a great deal on a Ring Alarm security kit today! 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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Caitlin Bristow's going to answer your question. Drink to your confessions and hear what you have to say about anything Bachelor. Let's shake it up some more. Here's Caitlin. Welcome to Great Great Therapy. I'm your host, Katie. in Bristol. Today I had the pleasure of chatting with none other than the Bachelorette, the lady of not just the hour, but the lady of like a lifetime because she's truly making such a positive impact in women's lives across the globe. I don't even think she knows it. Maybe she does a bit, but she's so stinking humble doing her podcast with me from her classroom, 60 seconds after getting them all on the bus. Bless. Michelle is here and we got to talk about her role as the

Bachelorette, how she's navigating real life and famous life, her final three men after a heartbreaking goodbye with Rodney, and just more about who Michelle is in her quote-unquote regular life of teaching, playing sports, and her upbringing, and also how her freaking cutest parents on the planet met, because I think we all love them. This lady is a gem and a half, like even better than how good she is on the show, and I'm just so proud of her. I hope you enjoy my chat with her and cannot wait for the men tell all next week. You in your little element over there, are you in the classroom? Your background is so much cuter than mine.

I have like, wait, my multiplication strategies. I am so impressed by you. Like, the fact that you're just like taking zooms from your classroom after a long day, like you, I just, I can't get open. you i legitimately just put the kids on the bus and now i'm like here i i had no choice i can't go home so you you have gotten truly like miss young today i love it i love it it's perfect backdrop for you i literally was thinking about like the difference i'm like you are just i'm trying to be professional over here with my little blazer outfit and but really it off

I'm just trying to hide Taco Bell noises that are going on in my tummy. And I was like, I got to look like I'm somewhat put together because there's a whole lot of not put togetherness going on in here. First of all, I knew that you were like a queen and confident and like smart and obviously I knew all these things because I had met you. But seeing you back like when I'm watching conversations that I've never obviously heard before watching them and being a viewer and watching you as the bachelorette i'm like you are the most composed like i think you're the most composed bachelorette we've ever had in the history of

all bachelorets and i'm being 100% serious oh that's a nice compliment i mean yeah i feel like i guess however you view it composed sometimes composed is like people think it's boring Would you rather, would you rather be called composed and boring or like entertaining, but like a huge mess? Composed and boring, you know? Because boring doesn't, I don't think it's boring at all. And I like to see that in a lead because you got to leave the messiness to the contestants, you know? But you just, you seem like a true, like, like I said this to Tatia actually when she was the bachelor. it's it's like you've done this before with how composed you are and like i saw you

week after week i'd be like you're good and you're like yeah i got this there were times i remember just walking up to you and tation they're like you look really good how you feel and i was like i'm good i'm like am i supposed to be am i not supposed to be good like am i doing this wrong no it's it's so impressive and i just i did like we said that to you all the time and that's It is. It's very impressive and it's cool because I feel like you really took advice that you were given about like surrendering to the process and allowing yourself to fall for more than one person and not getting in your own head about that. Like I feel like you took all the advice you could have taken and applied it and really like you're doing it the way you would do it. Yeah. I felt like well, one, you guys had the best advice and it was so helpful to just come through it because I mean, anyone can. give advice on just how to handle yourself, but also when you two had been through it,

and this is not normal. Like, this truly is not normal. There's just so many moments where you would say something and it would resonate with me. And then I'd be like, okay, like, I know how to put like my Michelle twist on this. But it was just so, yeah, it was just so incredibly helpful and just having like that guidance or just even knowing that, okay, I'm not, I'm not alone in this. And somebody understands how I'm feeling. to a certain extent, that's just having that understanding. That's actually a good point because I think that's, you know, we learn that about talking about mental health in general.

Like on social media, if you see someone talk about it, you feel less alone. When you're going through something that involves so many emotions, like what you're dealing with, it's so nice to just be like, well, I've got two women here who feel like friends who have gone through this exact thing and like they're okay. I'm going to be okay no matter what. Right. Exactly. It's like, yeah, it was just like this relief, you know, where you had that to fall back on whenever you needed it. I also feel like your confidence is contagious. Like I feel like people watch the episode and we're all like, yeah, we run the world.

Like I feel like it's contagious. I love it. I have received just so many positive messages from other women and about like being themselves and. that when they're watching, they feel like they kind of have the inspiration to do that. And I mean, I think that's what I'd want out of all of this is to have people understand that you can truly just like embrace who you are and be goofy, be crazy, you can cry. Remember when it was so hard for me to like allow myself to cry? I remember the first time I cried in front of you. I was like, it's okay. You can cry.

Like this. It's a lot. people don't you know obviously they don't realize because nobody's really put in that position but it's a lot and there's it's only a matter of time before you have to have a little breakdown what I like to call it a menti B because it sounds cute and it's like I just looked at you and I was like it's okay you can cry like this is the time to do it and I'm here to listen right I felt like it was because we were sitting on the couch yeah the couch and they've had the sleepover date Oh, that was a tough one. Yeah.

And then that's the time and the journey where you crack. Right. And it was like it was, I knew it was going to be this thing once I opened the floodgates. It was like they were open. Tears are now welcome all the time. But did you find it therapeutic at the same time? Yeah, actually. Yeah. I did.

Because it's like it was just that release that you get. You like unlocked another level of Michelle. Yeah. Yeah, yes. In a way. I'm comfortable with it, you know? I get it. That was me when I went on the bachelor, not the bachelorette.

I was like, I'm not going to cry. I'm not really a crier. And now I'm like, I cry over anything and everything. And I'm like, that's who I am. That's okay. You know, showing emotion. It's just people can connect with that. I mean, yeah, we saw a lot of that through, you know,

this whole, well, this episode specifically, but like through your whole season, I feel like the guys have been really good at showing their emotions and opening up. And I feel like it says a lot about you as well that you do give them the confidence and comfort to open up that way. And it's nice because you were able to be goofy and silly and you're really good at banter and like being quick, but you're also really good at listening and allowing these guys to open up and be vulnerable. but we're going to get into that. I first have to just ask how in the world you've been managing teaching.

To think that you went back on a Friday and went back to teaching on a Monday blows my mind. How has that been balancing everything? And what is it like? Do the teacher, the other teachers and the parents just like want selfies with you now? If they do, we make sure to keep it like,

you know, Miss Young, once I step to these doors, once I'm in my classroom, really miss young. And I think that's what's been so nice about this is that I've had this escape. And so when I'm at school, my coworkers completely respect and me being Miss Young. And we don't talk about the show. I don't have questions asked about the show. And it's not in a like non-supportive way. It's in a, you know, my boundaries.

My balance and boundaries is just the fact that, you know, I do. I want to focus on my students. I want to focus on them. And not that you don't get to know the personal side of your coworkers, but like it's something that, you know, Bachelor world can become everything and it's a lot. And it is nice to have that break and just or just have that piece of me still there. Yeah.

Because when you're outside of these walls, it's, you know, you are. You're Michelle the Bachelorette to most of the world. And as far as managing it. I'm so tired. Oh, yeah. So tired. It's a lot. It's like, you know, to say that I'm managing this perfectly, no.

Right. But are my students getting 100% Miss Young? Absolutely. You know, my friends are getting 100% Michelle. They're also very understanding in my text response time right now. It's not so hot as you know. Yeah, that's okay. I always tell people that that's, that's, your priorities have to be what your priorities are

that make you, you know, who you are and text messaging and getting back to us, don't worry about it. I'm like, I just don't take a personal note. I haven't talked to my friends. I'm like, I love you guys. You know I love you. If it's an emergency, text me again, like if you really need to whatever. But I mean, I really do. I try to put down my phone and focus on the people in front of me. And I love that, like, how did you set those boundaries? I know you said that to your friends. Like, I love you and this is how it is right now. But with being a teacher and having, you know, because that's a, it's a big deal to be on a national television show as the lead, especially as a teacher and, you know, exposing a dating life and having teachers, like, teachers probably usually go in the lunchroom and talk about this show. So how did you set those boundaries of saying, like, I still want to be Miss Young when I come through these doors?

honestly like my administrator my principal was the one who just we sat down and kind of had a conversation um even when i was on mat season and came back and we just kind of had a conversation of okay what do you need for me you know how he wanted to make sure that i was the most comfortable at school yeah and like what that looked like and you know it really is because people are excited and they want to talk about the show and it's so hard that you know you want to You want to answer those questions, but at the same time, it's like, I would do want that balance. And I think that balance is really healthy. And so it was like a conversation that we had and then just kind of touching base with everybody and everybody's been super respectful about it. And they get it. So it's like, I know they're rooting for me. We've had those conversations too. But, you know, it's not like just like getting hounded by questions or anything like that.

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Please play responsibly. If you have questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connix Ontario at 1866-531, 2,600, to speak to an advisor free of charge. But MGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming, Ontario. Now back to Off the Vine Grape Therapy. I mean, how did you even get on The Bachelor in the first? place like and how did you get that many days off from me like how did you get the time off that I had so many um listeners who are teachers be like ask her how she got all this time off and how did you even

end up to getting on the bachelor okay so I still don't know how I got on the bachelor still still have no idea I was nominate somebody sent my name in somebody I don't know what else they sent in I think they sent in my Instagram at that time. I don't know. And then I got a phone call. I got a message and then I got a phone call and it kind of like went from there. But I had people look into it because I'm like, who like who did this? My friends, nobody owned up to it. I feel like they're telling the truth. I still have no idea. Whoa. That's really crazy. It's weird. Yeah. And then it's like turned into this. So I literally want to be like, well, thank you. Like whoever you are, I have no

idea who it is, but. I mean, that feels like it's now my mission in life is to find out who nominated Michelle to go on the bachelor because it turned into a very large blessing for all of us viewers at home to watch you. Yeah. Wow. Okay. How'd you get all the time off? Okay. So it kind of happened super quickly and I wasn't sure if I was going to go on the show, you know, that first time around. And I was not a spotlight girl, reality TV spotlight girl. I don't know. It was just you watch it, right? But like I never pictured myself on the show.

And I'm so private. And like PDA is really hard for me. And talking about emotions really hard for me. And so I was very hesitant. But then I kind of like kept waking up. And I was like, okay, I got to go. Yeah. I'm supposed to opportunity for whatever reason.

And I talked to my administrator, and he was just incredibly supportive. I think part of it was that he just, he knew who I was. He knew what I stood for and still stand for and just kind of knew that composer piece. And so it wasn't really like this conflict of, okay, one of our teachers might not handle herself well. Like, he truly believed that I would stay true to who I was. Yeah. And as far as the time off, it was me. setting up the school year with having like a team teacher and so I had some who was like a long-term

sub who you know started in the classroom and then I came in and took over and you know the rest is history and the second and then I pushed it to the summer because I didn't want to leave those students again and so luckily with the pandemic you know I was teaching online longer whereas I would have had my classroom a lot sooner to film that first time and so that crazy how everything just works out like the way it's supposed to because somebody literally asked me would you have taken this opportunity if we weren't in a pandemic and i honestly the answer would have been no like i wouldn't have taken the opportunity just because i was allowed to teach like three weeksish longer than i would have been able to and like that that's huge yeah you can i mean

it just is all over your face and your heart that like this you are a teacher it means so much to you and the kids mean everything to you and teachers are just always the most my mom was a teacher my whole life and they're just always the most passionate compassionate and like just like hearts of gold and so I believe you when you say you probably wouldn't have done it otherwise but it worked out and it sounds like you have a really incredible administrator and school that you're a part of, what do you think is the most difficult part about being a teacher today in general, not just as the Bachelorette? There's just, like, the world is changing so fast. And I think for me with, you know, I'm in fifth grade and we see so many different things with like how

social media is playing a role in mental health and, you know, these things are being exposed to so much. And so you have students coming through the door and they have all of these other things that they're dealing with and then on top of that you have to try to teach them long division and and you know when they talk about how teaching has evolved it's what teachers and like the expectation of teachers of you know lack of salary and doing so much from your heart but like teacher burnout and the hours that you put in I mean the hours I put in and the hours my co-workers put in it's unreal and it's like you just you never stop working.

And you're constantly giving and giving and giving. So you are. And then, you know, there's a lot with like you take a mental health day or personal day. And it's like you feel like the worst terrible, like the most terrible person in the world. It's just like there's so much. Eat your guilt. There's so much on, you know, there truly is so much on your plate. And like even last year talking to like my family and my mom about it because they see, you know,

they see the inside scoop and things like that. but it's like you can't just take a day off. Like you, you know, you write subplans. You wake up in the middle of the night vomiting from the stomach flu and you are sitting in the bathroom writing your subplans for the next day. Oh, my gosh. You know, I've been there. You know, we've all been there.

And so it's just like there's so much that goes into it that is truly overlooked and just teachers get up, you know, every day willing to do it. Yeah, you know, you're waking up and you're doing this. and everyone's so different. All these kids are so, so unique. And it's like they all come in with all these different goals and at these different stages of learning. And it's like it's such a balancing act, you know?

Well, and not to mention, like you said, the social media aspect or mental health aspect. Like there's so many different things going on. And the pandemic, you know, like fear in the kids or like what a mask can do. Like learning with the math, like there's so much added stuff. onto that that would make it difficult but it's that's why teachers are so amazing because you know that they will do that you know they're like a parent you don't get a day off and you get up and you show up for those kids exactly okay i don't interrupt you but did you see they've got super

dark because my lights are motion sensor do you want me to turn on a light i mean does it why didn't you know it literally went off and i'm like okay they'll tell me if it's really bad okay i didn't I actually didn't even notice. I was like, no, maybe the sun's going down. If it was a little darker, they went out,

okay, turn on a light. I want to see your face. I love it. Just so, so authentically, Michelle. You know,

the world can see the lovely fluorescent lighting that we were here. Yeah, you don't have the Bachelorette lighting anymore. They look perfect. Okay, I have some questions from the listeners.

A lot, you know, actually a lot of people, but Hannah Kay says, how did you get into teaching? I grew up around a lot of teachers. And what that did is, like, these teachers would allow me to come into their classrooms when I was really young and be able to, like, work with their students. And that's when I just truly fell in love with all of it. And from there, once I got into high school, I just had some. really amazing teachers that kind of challenged me to get in the classroom and we're like, we think you'd be really good at this. And it's just been something that I've always loved and kind of knew that I wanted to do. But, and goal is to get into administration. And that's kind of

where I'm headed with everything. And, you know, that's so cool. I love that. I love that you're not like, well, I'm going to go for an influencer of the year award in my five year plan, which, no, that's amazing too. But I love that you still want to stay true to what, like, what you love to do yes and i i mean i guess maybe i could i can do both oh you can absolutely holbox wipes yeah you'll get so many you need to holla at me you know you'll get like really unique teacher brands to work with and she will that's you can 100% do both i mean in my mind i'm like you're michel young you can do anything and you can do everything that's so great yeah you can do both. Actually, that was another question that I had here from someone. People wanted to know

if they could help with anything that your school needs. Oh, wow. Help. Oh, God. I'm like, do you have what kind of help? What kind of help would be like? I mean, just, that's such a difficult question. Or it could be just helping teachers in general. It could be just helping teachers in general. And that's I would say is just really, truly showing appreciation to teachers. And I mean, schools constantly need supplies. I feel like schools are always in deficit. And I joke about like the chlorox wipes, but really like our life depends on if like when we're running out of Kleenex tissues, um, chlorox wipes, hand sanitizer and like if the copy or machine is broken or not, because that really throws in a wrench for the day. But my teachers will call it teachers will like that. But truly is just, you know, any school community, anything, like there's so many things that you can either donate, whether it's pencils, whether it's backpacks, whether it's, you know, just different things that every school community needs. I feel like it's so, so crazy different.

But just being appreciative and, you know, that's like the biggest teachers just want to feel appreciated, you know. worse because you're again giving so much and you're you're like just i would need my cup filled back up here too yeah yeah it's more of you know like we don't want necessarily gift cards and presents okay well people enjoy those things i feel like i'm gonna be like they're gonna be like why did you say that yes we do but you know but like truly a thank you yeah showing appreciation um on other days besides teacher appreciation day. Yeah, it goes a long way, doesn't it? Sue's Winter asks,

what are the most critical changes that need to occur in education to support teachers? Teacher pay? I mean, we're qualified. Go to school. We go get our master's. We study for this stuff

and to have, you know, the faith in the community to be trusted with, like, what we're doing it and to be appreciated and compensated for our actual time that we put in. And don't even get me started on the educational system. You know what I mean? Like there's just, you know, it's ever changing. And there's a lot of things that are still the same, you know, for our students.

And I think that's probably the hardest part is that you have all these different things that you try to like feel like you have to force you have this. pressure to force all these different things onto these students when reality like our world has changed so much their world has changed so much and teachers are the ones who see it and I think they're the ones that you know need to be listening to be nice for you now to have like a platform to speak about it yeah yeah I and I definitely need to be like better at a little busy right right now. You know, but like with sharing what's on my mind with that is just because it is something. It is, you know, I am routinely reflecting and thinking about the educational system, thinking about

my students, thinking about changes that need to be made and all of those things. And, you know, now that I have the platform to share it, to be able to do that. Let me get my thoughts organized. I mean, even on like your holiday break, you're probably prepping and catching up on other things. Always. It just doesn't stop. I'm so impressed by you. Selene Travnell wants to know, and so do I. How did your parents meet? How did my parents meet? They actually worked for the same company, and they were really, really good friends. And then my dad actually, like, developed feelings for my mom. And I think, I believe he tried. to make a move and my mom was like whoa whoa whoa what are you doing and then he was very persistent and then eventually she's like oh okay and you know they were like best friends before they were in love type of best friends and yeah clearly have never looked back since but it did take my mom a minute to come around that's funny I that's so I love that story that's well it's great I always talk

about like a tough foundation to start on can usually be the bachelor or the bachelorette it can be a tough foundation and dating all these other guys and falling for all these other men is it can be really hard on a relationship obviously to start last question waltzma waltzma asks advice for girls who are having trouble feeling seen or heard stay true to who you are i mean that's the biggest piece is that i think at times when people don't feel heard, they change themselves to try and feel more heard. And frankly, sticking true to who you are, speaking, continuing to speak loudly, continuing to show who you are all the time, that, like, authenticity, that word that's thrown

out so much, but it truly is. It's just being yourself and, you know, know it's hard in middle school and it's hard in high school and college and those things like that but it's like sometimes you're just not around your audience yet and that's okay and it's like that doesn't mean that you should be silenced that doesn't mean that you shouldn't feel heard but you know if you are speaking and if you have something to say and somebody is not listening and continually not listening speak louder and and and then they're they're not your audience they just aren't and you know learning that is i think a tough thing to learn for sure and especially like in the world of social media but for people to have a teacher like you like

you also become a mentor who you are is teaching them without you even realize you're teaching that part of life the confidence and the being true to yourself like you because you naturally do that and because you have this now incredible platform and people see that in you, you're probably rubbing off on these kids more than you even realize with that confidence. And we do have those conversations very frequently. And, you know, my student, one thing that all of them know, and if you walk to my room and ask them, is that they know that their voice matters and they feel that. And I make sure to, you know, explicitly state like, your voice matters. And, you know, there's been situations where I've had students who

haven't felt heard in different situations in school or in the community and just really helping them figure out a way to voice themselves and figure out a way, you know, to kind of pull through that and how to handle those situations. And we do affirmations in that class. That's awesome. We do, you know, all that I think a lot of it is for sure teaching it. But yeah, yeah, people have important stories to share. And, you know, I think it's really important that everybody speaks up. I love that. I love that you're teaching your kids that, too. Okay, Vino's, let's take a second to talk about ring, not the one on my finger, even though I'd like to talk about that, but the one on my door. Everyone knows about the ring video doorbell, but did you know that ring also makes an award-winning

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Kelsey Bradley really wanted to lighten things up here, but she said, did you ever fart in front of one of the guys? No, not that I know of. I'm sorry. Gosh, I'm so boring. I'm so boring. Do you want me to lie?

Oh, no, but I found out Clayton clearly did in front of me, which had never, you know, thanks to my students. We find that out. We find that out on men tell all, don't we, that Clayton was a tutor. That's so funny. And then Hannah K. 5 asks, one word to describe each of the guys that remain. Like, I'm trying not to be like, Nate, tall. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

obvious, right? Yeah. Brandon. Playful. Yeah. Joe. I would say quiet confidence. Yeah.

But that's two words. That's okay. Quiet confidence makes sense. Rodney. Air fryer. Air fryer. What? Explain?

How do I not know this? Shoot. I don't know. I feel, okay, I feel like I'm fine to talk about this. Rodney, Rodney. Talk about influencing Rodney is going to be the man to sell anybody in air fryer because, one, this man loves his air fryer so much. I learned about all about his recipes. He uses that every single day. All his friends, his family knows that he constantly talks about his air friar. I'm setting him up right now to like be able to do this in the future.

absolutely you're rooting for rodney on an air fryer like if you are not sold like if you turn the tv on what is it those those like late at night yeah but like later at night when like those infomercials come on right oh yeah it's going to be rodney selling an air fryer and boy will i tell you he does a good job with it because i have one in my amazon car right now i'm about to hit sent i'm about to hit complete he's gonna that's did you know that Jason always dreamt of doing that, being like a late-night salesman on infomercials? That is really, how did you come across that? Is it a passion?

Yeah, and he does the voice all the time and he's like, but wait, there's more. And he does like this whole thing. And he used to actually want to do that. It would be actually kind of fun. I'm sorry. I'm like, you're like, so Michelle, just stop. Okay. And Nate, okay, so in Nate, I would say,

intellectual. Okay. That's a good one. Very smart. And with all that being said, okay, obviously it was hometowns and we had to say goodbye to Rodney, which was obviously sad because everybody just loves Rodney, right? And that's the problem was obviously you guys, it wasn't like something went wrong. It was everything was right, just didn't, you know, wasn't catching up with the rest of them. But which hometown surprised you the most? I would say Joe, hometown probably surprised me the most or I guess it was the hometown that

walking into it I felt like I still had so much I wanted to learn about him because he was you know a little more on the quiet side and so I came in wanting to see like okay like does he let loose

does he joke around you know just because in this situation it's like those are not the feelings or those are not typically the actions that come out when there's cameras and all this different stuff so i didn't feel like he was lacking in that area it was more of like is there that side and i know i probably haven't seen it because of this really weird situation that we're in which is completely normal to you know be off or yeah so did it surprise you that he was a little more goofy or that his whole

family was a little more quiet. Wait, I don't even know at this point. That question got me. I feel like I straight up, you know, ask like, is he goofy? Like, yeah, he does. He like let loose. He can let loose. He laughs.

He has fun. It was, I just saw him a little more comfortable and the fact that when he was talking about his feelings around his family, his family was like, Joe was talking about his feelings. And I think that's kind of. what surprised me because that's how my family reacted the first time they came and visited me when I was on Matt's season is they're like, whoa, like she can't talk about her feelings. And I kind of felt like I saw that in them and kind of understood that. And I just, I connected with them really, really well. And I could, you know, picture seeing myself being a part of that family. Yeah, for sure. And then I, I mean, we'll get to see it because the next one is overnights, right? The next episode? Yes, it is. Well, it's mental all men.

But I feel like that was very telling to you as well to have the cameras go away. And that's when you really get to see, you know, the real side too. Not that they're not being real, but more real and like truly who they are, let all guards down when the cameras are gone. Yeah. And that part of overnights was just, I think it's so crucial because you get to see that. You get to see, you know, everyone just kind of take a deep. breath and you get to see not so much like if they change a little bit I guess right it's more

of like they don't change they just like get to show more yeah exactly just like they're just like they take a deep breath and they just like relax and are just more comfortable and that's yeah that's amazing um I keep just laughing because I have questions here about rodney now I just keep thinking about him selling an air fryer um brown sugar salmon I think it was ooh that sounds nice I have an I should hit him up for some recipes. 100%. Yeah, with Rodney, obviously, you could see yourself with him, but you just could see yourself with other people more,

which at the end of the day is what your goal is on this show. But did you, I mean, I know the answer to this, but did you know going into that rose ceremony that Rodney was going to be the one to go home? Honestly, yes and no, I guess. It was more like this thing where, and you tell, like, me if this is kind of how you felt too but the concept of just grasping the concept of how things change so quickly is what is difficult about this right because it's like you should be able

to you know in the real world like wake up and know exactly like it's this or you know this is the relationship and I'm and like I am a fairly decisive person but when you have conversations with these people, you can have a two-minute conversation that changes everything. So true. That's something that I had felt previously. That's something that I had a conversation with you and Tasha about with your experience as well. And so I really did make sure to keep myself open because I knew that you can, you can have

a change of heart. You can have these things where I'm like, you know, one minute, it's like, yes, this is a stronger relationship. And then as you're kind of navigating it through this experience, there's times where have a conversation you're like okay this changed things yeah that's kind of what i was especially with meeting families yeah yeah exactly and then obviously rodney had like the classiest exit ever because that was so hard because you just you don't i mean we cared about each other so much we still care about each other it's just it was one of those people where they truly change your life

with being a part of your life and you didn't want to lose them. Totally. That's a hard goodbye. It was and it was very much goodbye where I was like, I don't want, like, I want you in my life. Yeah. Regardless of how this turns out, I want you in my life. And I hope we can figure out, you know, to be able to have that friendship because we just truly do respect each other.

Yeah, absolutely. Well, I've, you guys are probably friends still. Then that's great. Yes, 100%. I love that. I love that. Okay, Brandon's skateboarding. I was dying laughing because he I mean he was very rusty and I was like did he think he was going to get on that skateboard and like be a Tony Hawk or did he know like it's been a while I'm going to suck?

I was expecting a Tony Hawk. Well, when he shows you his hometown date and its ramps and like skateboards and everything, I was like, oh, here we go. Yeah, it's terrifying getting on a skateboard. I know. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, it's terrifying. But yes, I felt like I was like this, this dude is just going to get on the board and be, shoot. I can't even say the correct terminology.

What is it? Ollie. Ollies? Yes, is that right? But I think I said, I think you don't pop an Olly. I don't know. You pop an Olly? Pop and Olly?

I think so. I said, well, kick flip. I said something wrong while we were doing the film. and everybody's just laughing at me because it's just like it was not the correct terminology. Okay, maybe you are wrong, but my very first boyfriend was a skateboarder and he was like got paid to skateboard and I shouldn't know that terminology, but I forget that was a long time ago. The skateboard head flip, you know, or like the hair flip, did he have that?

He had long blonde hair and he used a shoelace as his belt and thought that was so cool and he had webtoes. Do webtobs help you with balance? I think so. I swear that's why he was good. One of the listeners, research that and get back to me. I bet you my podcast producer is Googling it right now. 100%.

Yes, I'm very curious. Yeah, let us know, Minnie. And he was like, with, she's in the room. My legs don't work. I'm like, that's not going to help you on fantasy suites. Just kidding. I can't say that to you. Your teacher in your classroom.

Caitlin, that's enough. Okay, Joe, your prom date with Joe was the sweetest date I've ever seen. And just this like cinematography, is that what the word is? Like the bubbles going and the room spinning and the music playing and the like symphony background. It was magical. That date surprised me. Like that home date surprised me because I 100% thought I was walking back into a gym to play basketball. again. Yeah. And I wasn't disappointed, but I was like, we've already played basketball.

Like, this is going to be a fourth time playing basketball. Like, oh, man, like, let's do something and it was prom. It was really cute. It really was very cute. It was like this fairy tale straight after the movies prom moment. It really was. It was like a very unexpected romantic move on his. And the fact that it was. was from your poem that he like heard you and did that like I just have I just got goosebumps right now again because I thought that was just so magical it was it's definitely a moment that was very special I think it will always be special and and you'll always have those prom pictures which you two are the most photogenic couple and yes yes everything everything was perfect

I honestly don't think he missed thinking of one thing. Yeah, no, it was, it was, and it was, and it was, I really liked watching it back because, you know, that, I don't know, we saw the prom stuff on Bachelor in Paradise and I was like, what is this going to be like? And it was just truly like, I don't know, it was really romantic and sweet and I just loved. I really loved that date. And then Nate, aka Nathaniel, did we know that was his name? Yes.

Okay. I will, going into it, I knew that. His mom referred to him as Nathaniel. Okay. For me, I was like, okay, so we're like, do you go by Nate? Do I call Daniel? Like, if you're in trouble, if I'm mad at you, am I supposed to use Nathaniel? He just seems like a Nate to me, like, because it's, oh, it's Nate being Nate.

And then I'm like, Nathaniel. What? Nathaniel. He's Nathaniel. But I really, that hometown got me. I sobbed watching it because. I know it's like, and you kind of said this where it was kind of a scary moment for you because you're like, is he ready to do this? Is he going to like break my heart? But you also

did it all, which I always say this word with you, but with grace because you realize how big of a moment that was for him and his family to express their feelings and show emotions and say, I love you, that you were able to not make it about your fears. And, And even though you had them, you were still able to make him feel good in that moment about what he got out of that day. Yeah, I think that in every relationship I've been in, my focus has been on the other person. And I think that's how it should be. But like for an order for relationship to work, you know, I think with even like thinking about my parents, like the reason why it works is because my mom's constantly thinking about my dad and my dad. dad's constantly thinking about my mom.

And it goes both of the days. Like at the end of the day, both people are taken care of. And in that moment, it just definitely was so much bigger than, you know, my worries and my fears. It was all about truly, like, embracing this moment with his family and just how pivotal it was to have the conversations that were had. Wow. Well, gosh.

whoever you end up with or if you do they're lucky okay because that's something i need to work on in a relationship i'm like but what about me i'm not perfect with it i'll tell you that i'm really not but the fact that that's like on you that's that's that's really beautiful and we saw that in that in that hometown i thought that was i hope everyone noticed that too because i was like wow that says a lot about your um character in a relationship and next week obviously we have men tell all and we got to tease it so what do you think people can expect to see at mental all oh uh i feel like they can see what can't they see it's everything i mean we're there yeah um they are going to be able to see so much i feel like they're going to get answers

they're going to get resolutions um they're going to get powerful moments yes all of the above. I think, you know, there's just, there, there were so many just different conversations that we had that night that I think we needed to have that night. Oh my gosh. Yes. I'm, I wanted to, I mean, everything happened so fast and then I was like on a plane the next morning and, but you, I mean, I said it on stage, but you just handled yourself perfectly in every moment. And I think the guys saw that. and we saw that and everyone at home is going to see that as well. And you're definitely going to see a lot of the guys freaking arguing nonstop about the same freaking pizza and jackets and like, you know, the usual suspects just being, you know,

the drama that the TV likes, but a lot of powerful moments as well. And a little, a couple tears as well. Yeah. You really, really had it all. Okay. Before I, I've got two more quick things. for you. One, you have to give me a good confession because I feel like this is something that people are going to be like, not expecting.

I mean, I have embarrassing stories. Like, I have funny, embarrassing stories. Do you want me to give an embarrassing story? Then do you want to give, do you want me to give you a confession? Yes. Okay. All right. My embarrassing story. Okay. So this was two years ago. It was, I was in a master's program, and I was taking this weekend class. And this weekend class was like Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Like, it was insane, intense. I had to take off of work to go to this class. I was coming down with strep throat, which I didn't know at the time.

And I was sitting in this class like deathly sick. By the time I hit like, what, it was like Saturday. I was like insanely sick. I was so run down, but I didn't want to stop the class because I'd have to start over. Yeah. So I powered through it that night. I literally got home at like 9 o'clock. I'm like breaking out in a sweat.

I'm so uncomfortable. I feel so sick. I'm like, I'm just going to run to Target and like get some snacks, get some things, whatever. So before then I relaxed. I like tried to like get my composure back because I was like not doing well. Yeah. And I, like, put on a facial mask. I put on music.

I took a bath. Everything started to feel a little bit better. Eventually, like, got in the car, went to Target and was walking around Target. And earlier that day, in my master's class, we talked about, you know, when you're, like, are walking around and people are, like, staring at you. And in your head, you're like, they're judging me or, like, did I do something wrong? Yeah. I'm wearing something, whatever. And it's called, we called it like a brain tornado, how you, human nature, you take that and you typically jump to the negative.

thing and not the positive thing and how that spins and it circles and everything. And so I was walking around Target and I was like, oh my gosh, like that is so true. Like brain tornado like this person's looking at me. This person's looking at me. And when I go to Target, I don't go like, I'm not efficient. I go like to this side of the store all the way over here to the makeup. Oh, I forgot. Go to the produce.

Yeah. And walk around for like 30 minutes. And I finally go to like the hair conditioning shampoo aisle where there are mirrors and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. And I had left my bright green clay facial mask. No. Face clastered. Like, you know, like, those ads that have everything except for your eyes and your lips.

On my face. My face was stuck. My face was tight. How did I not? Oh, the poor thing. You were probably so delusional. I literally had this moment where I was like, shit. Like, what do I do?

Like, I have this face mask on. Everybody's been staring at me. Do I, like, do I continue shopping? Do I run to the bathroom and wash it off and then buy my groceries? Do I, like, just set up down? So I literally, like, lowered my, like, basket down that had, like, cheese, everything in it from, like, feminine products to whatever it was. I literally set it down, put my hood up, and just, like, booked it out of the store. And so if you're a target and you have the security footage, like, I would really love that.

Oh, my God. I would really love that, too. That would be really great content for Off the Vine's Instagram page. Yeah. That's so funny. And also, like, that breaks my heart for you because you were just so sick and run down. I was, but my face was like, you know, when you get a face mask on it, so tight. How did I not know?

You were just so sick and out of your mind. That's sad. Thank you for sharing. The people staring should have, yeah. You're like, I'm not going to do the tornado thing and go negative. I probably look really good right now. That's why people are staring. You go in the mirror.

Literally. That's amazing. Okay, now something illegal. Just kidding. Oh, my God, confession. No, if you don't have one, that's fine. That's embarrassing story is good. I feel like my biggest confession.

No, yeah. Maybe we'll stop there. I feel like, honestly, like my biggest, I was a good kid. I was, I don't know. My biggest confession probably was that growing up, I snuck out a few times. My mom and dad still don't know to this point. Goodbye America's sweetheart parents. I feel like they might still be livid. Maybe they could just not listen to this podcast. or twice two or three times but i didn't do anything like me and my friend like we snuck out and then we got out and then you're like now what there's nothing to do and in minnesota it's cold so it's like you did it just to like know what it felt like to sneak out your parents probably knew and they were like oh let her have this moment oh are you kidding me i feel like my heart is beating fast right now because for some reason i still feel like my parents can ground me, which they can't, and they very much believe in me and let me do whatever I want from like the moment I went to college, but like, yeah, I'm sweating over here

because, oh my gosh, that is so funny. Okay, well, hopefully they forgive you. My mom and dad, I turned out fine and it was. Everything's okay. And yeah, you didn't do anything. I did, like, when you, like, would sleep over at your friend's house. Yeah. friends that it was significantly easier to sneak out of their house but there was one time where we snuck out and met up with some other friends and then we were dumb and left like the lights in the car and so our car died like her car battery died yeah that's and then you have to call for help no we push that thing home we got you we took it took like an hour we were sweating so much but we pushed it all the way home and then in the morning we were like we went you

we went upstairs like hey we're going to go around and get coffee and oh the car won't start weird oh my gosh this can never happen anymore everyone has like a ringlight camera and like yeah there's just security footage everywhere that's so funny i can't believe you pushed the car all the way home that alone is it it wasn't that we really weren't we're like down the street like but i hope so but still even if you that's crazy okay i will almost let you go i know i'm taking up so much of your time but I have one fun game called Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grater? I just made it up that. No, I feel like this is going to expose me.

Okay. We could have left the confessions. We could have just played this game. So since you've had some of your students and they've been very involved in this season and have helped, actually the kids might show up on mental all. And because you were one of the smartest people, I know I thought we'd play, are you smarter than a fifth grader? But we don't have any fifth graders here. the test is all you. I hit up Google for some questions. So let's see how many of these you can get right. Oh, no. I feel like, okay, I'm not going to lose my job because of questionable choices

on a reality TV show. This would be like she's supposed to know that and she doesn't. I'm here to help you look good. Don't worry. What is what is the only, temperature, which is the same in Fahrenheit as well as Celsius. I'm sorry. We don't learn about that. Are you saying you mean in fifth grade? 30, zero. Negative 40.

Negative 40. Who knows that? Who knows that? Google knows that. What is a baby kangaroo called? A Joey. Okay. What is the plural noun of deer?

Dear. It's dear. You're right. Yes. A great question. Yes. You got it. I got it. What word can be the shortest sentence in the English language? I have no idea. What is that even asked? Honestly, that was a really confusing question. It's go. Go. Yeah. That was a hard one. That was a really hard one.

That was also a riddle. Well, now you have a little riddle for your class. Yeah. You should know that. You go. Martin, go. Oh, gosh. What is the dot over the lowercase letter I in the English alphabet called? I don't know what's funnier. The fact that I feel like we have a significant discrepancy between what is a riddle and what is, are you smarter than a fifth grader? because who if I'm I'm teaching the wrong stuff I'm sorry so you're teaching the right stuff wrong stuff because if I I don't know a dot a period what do you mean it's called a tittle a tittle okay I have a question for you I'm throwing a back okay what is the name of the little plastic piece on your shoelace do you know what I'm talking about yeah it's called now the word I want to say is tiddle for everything

It's called a Dewey Hopper It's called an aglet An aglet Oh See you got me I already knew I wasn't smarter than a fifth grader though Okay two more Okay

What is a person who studies dinosaurs called Oh no Ross from Friends is a Archaeologist Just kidding. Nope, that's, that's not right. It's close, that's close. Archaeologist.

No, it's not a geologist. That's rocks. Paleontologists is fossils. Yes. Okay. Dinosaurs and fossil? I guess they're the same thing. I threw you off with dinosaurs.

I should have said fossils. Okay. Okay. Last one. Which planet is the hottest planet? Hmm. Not Mars. No.

not Pluto because there's that whole thing. Venus. Yeah. Perfect. Okay. I would have guessed Saturn. Oh, with the little ring. Yeah.

I don't know why. That just seems to me like it would be the hottest planet. Okay, I'm going to end it with, end it with this question. But it's the most important question. Okay. Are you happy? Oh, I knew it was coming. I knew it was coming.

I knew it was coming. I mean, yes, I am happy. I am happy. I mean, this whole thing, it's been such an experience. It's been fun. It's been really difficult. It's been life-changing. There's just so much, so much going on.

But, I mean, I feel like I have such a wonderful group in Minnesota supporting me, just everywhere, supporting me, friends, everywhere, family, everywhere. Fans have been incredibly overwhelming, overwhelming. supportive so it's that's so nice well you deserve it and i'm really proud of you and i'm proud of how you've handled everything and who you are as a person and i'm just happy to call you my friend oh thank you i'll text you back now you what i'll text you back now yeah and text me back the love of god just text you back just yell at me every once in a while no you take your time you respond whenever you and you have you've been actually really great to me so don't worry about that

No, you're good. We're good. We're excited. Excited to see mental, excited to see how this all plays out, and just excited to follow you for the rest of time and see what you're doing. I appreciate that. Okay, thanks, Michelle.

I'll talk to you soon. I'll talk to you soon. Love you. Bye. Bye. I'm Caitlin Bristow. Your session is now ending. Thanks for listening to Off the Vine, Grape Therapy.

Tune in to hear new minisobie. every Thursday, and check out new full-length episodes every Tuesday, exclusively on podcast.1.com, the Podcast One app, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Who's that with OTV? Hi, listeners, it's Melissa Gorga from the Real Housewives of New Jersey, and I'm so excited to announce that I'm getting into the podcast game. My new podcast, Melissa Gorga, on display, premieres December 2nd, and I want to you to be the first to hear it. Catch up with me and my celebrity friends each week as we discuss

fashion, entrepreneurship, being the cool mom, and the importance of treating yourself. Plus, I'll give you behind the lens look into my crazy life. You think you know it all from what you see on TV, but believe it or not, there are things the cameras just don't catch. That's right, I'm taking my life in front of the cameras and going behind the mic. So grab a glass of red wine and a sprinkle cookie, and join me as we celebrate life and style. It's my life unfiltered. It's Melissa Gorga on display, available December 2nd, on Podcast 1, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.