Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - West Wilson | Bravo’s Summer House Star on New Dating Show, Reality TV, and Getting Banned from the NHL

Episode Date: September 24, 2024

#774. Kaitlyn sits down with Summer House star, West Wilson for a hilarious and revealing conversation. They chat about his roots in Missouri, growing up with a cattle rancher dad and OB-GYN mom, and how he ended up on Bravo’s hit show. West spills on his epic travels to all 50 states, his wildest dating stories from his new show West Date Ever, and even the time he got banned from the NHL. With plenty of laughs, confessions, and unexpected twists, this episode is full of fun and surprises you won’t want to miss! If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE! Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these deals! Chewy: That’s Chewy.com/vine to save $20 on your first order with free shipping. Minimum purchase required. Range Rover: Explore the Range Rover Evoque at LandRoverUSA.com Skims: Shop SKIMS Bras at SKIMS.com. Now available in 62 sizes (30A - 46H). Birdy Grey: Head over to birdygrey.com and use code VINE at checkout for 5 free bridesmaid dress swatches. 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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All right, everybody, welcome to Off the Vine. I'm your host, Caitlin Bristow, and today I've got West, who is on Summer House. I don't watch the show, and now I want to after talking to him. He is just, we just, we just ripped it. We just ripped it. There was no real structure to it, just a nice little conversation with West. Okay, well, thanks for coming on the pod. Thanks for having me.

I'm sad that I didn't bring my wine. I have a wine label and you're like this food blogger now. Do you do alcohol taste testing too? Do you like to like try cocktails? I just say thumbs up to all of it typically. But I mean, I think I've kind of leaned into like the Midwest like hungover bodega food beer guy. So it's like super not high in shit. It's like more relatable.

But like yeah, wine would be good. But like if I did cocktails, I think it would be off brand. How long have you lived in this? city? Since 2018, but I lived in Las Vegas for one year in between work, which is a weird place to live. Vegas. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm an optimist with almost everywhere, and that was a challenge for me. Because you grew up in Columbia, Missouri. Yes, ma'am. Which, L.O.L. I went there for a live podcast. Do you remember where you were, like the name of the venue? It was Funny Bone, maybe.

Was it like, were college kids there? Yes. How long ago? Recently. Really? Yeah, like probably five months ago. Oh, shit. Well, how was your time?

It was cute. I should have hit me up. I would have given you food and... I didn't realize you, that's where you were from until I did my research on you. And you live in Nashville now. Yes. So you are a Canadian living in like a southern city? Yes.

Legally, though. I've got a work visa. I love it. I love it. I will, so I lived in this area that was, I don't know how I lived there for so long. It was the only restaurants that were good around me was like hooters and Buffalo Wild Wings. Yeah. And I was out there. And I was like, I never like imagined my Canadian self be, this is where I live now. Wait, like a suburb of Nashville, you're saying? Yeah. It was, no, it was called Hermitage. Hermitage. I can't say I know hermitage. I called it the dirty Herm and but I did live on a golf course. It was nice. Yeah. It was just the area was a little weird. But like, Rosemary, my old neighbor probably listens to this podcast, but she, it was like my, my neighbors were named Rosemary. Everybody was very racist around me. I was just like, where am I? And then I moved.

And now I'm like, now I'm the like weird girl that lives on the corner where everybody around me has a family and I just have two dogs and they're like, you live there by yourself. I'm like, yeah. What kind of dogs do you have? Two golden retrievers. Classic, but they're the best. It's hard to like. They're the best. They are.

What is your favorite? dog. We're a German Shepherd dog. That's my second favorite dog. Can I show you? Yes, please. I want to rescue. There's a German that is getting trained right now because it needs to be rescued and I want it bad. I mean

they rock. They're the best and they're so smart and they're actually so sweet unless they don't want to be and they're gangsters. So okay, the oldest is Frankie and the youngest is Carl with a K. Look at him. Oh my gosh.

Is that not crazy? They're the best. Frankie was like super majestic, nice, like the best guy ever. And then as one does, and my parents were like, let's get another one because he's awesome. And Carl's a freak. Frackhead psycho. Really? But funny.

Like I kind of, I like admire him a lot because he does his own shit and like run. Yeah. Yeah. That's, I have two very different dogs too. My one dog, ramen is like so smart. Ramen and Pino. And they're both from, I rescued them from South Korea. One of my best friends rescued a dog from South Korea and it...

Really? Yeah, and it passed away. This year and you just got a tattoo. And he named the dog's soul. No. Like S-O-E? I think it's S-E-O-O-O-O-O-K-O. Oh, confusing.

Well, the Korean spelling of soul. Oh, oh, I see what you're saying. So I think it's S-E-O-U-L, but I could be wrong. But there's three vowels. It's E-O-N-U. Did they rescue it from South, from Buddy's Buddies, Buddies? Would you know? He would know.

I could ask him. Yeah, ask. Because I feel like I remember a dog named, did he name it or it came with that name? I would imagine he named it Seoul because that's like where he got. He was like visiting South Korea, got the dog, running back. I rescued both mine from bunnies, buddies. And yeah, they rescue a lot of Goldens from South Korea. Wow.

Yeah, it's so sad. Also I spelled Seoul, S-E-O-U-L and it didn't. There was no. Yeah, I feel like you're lying. No, no. But that's cool. That's, yeah, I'm here. No, I want to check.

Wait, so what took you to now? Nashville. Also, did you see the cat when you walked in? No, did you? There's just a cat sitting by the elevator. Awesome. I know. I was like, and I thought it was fake. And I was like, and I was like, I was like, oh, hey. What was the call to Nashville for you? Oh, well, reality television. I got engaged on The Bachelorette. I haven't seen your. Well, mine was quite some time ago. But that is what made me go to Nashville because I got engaged to a guy that lived in Nashville. And then I fell in the city. And I was like, what I'm not doing? Oh, so you've been there for a minute.

Yes. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Almost, yeah, about nine years. Did your lower third say Caitlin, Alberta, Canada, or did it say the town? It said Vancouver because I lived in Vancouver for 11 years, but it also said that I was a dance instructor and I wasn't. Interesting. Like I was watching. I'm like, what are they going to say my job is? Because they always come up with something either true or ridiculous. Like one guy on my season was a junkyard specialist.

I'm not sure what that means. But they said Caitlin Bristol, Vancouver, Canada dance instructor. And I was like, I taught like five-year-olds dance when I was like 20. When you meet someone just like, you know, in passing, where do you say you're from? Alberta. Alberta, right? Yeah. Yeah.

What about you? You say Columbia, Missouri, if I think the conversation's going to be longer than like 30 seconds. Yeah. I'll just say like Missouri. Yeah. But. Yeah. I always have to say, I feel like Americans don't know provinces.

Dude, Americans don't know states. I know all the states and I'm Canadian and I'm like, you don't know where Alberta is and they're like, I've never heard of it. I'm like, what? So I sometimes am just saying Nashville if I don't want to have the conversation. I can't believe that like I'm so like blown away by the lack of domestic knowledge that like people in New York have. I just think people from the coast couldn't tell you anything about any. of the middle states. And so the fact that you even give Americans

the benefit of the doubt that they would know provinces is like admirable. I don't. I'm saying they don't know them. I always have to explain because they know, they go, oh, you're from Canada, Toronto? I'm like, what? It's either Vancouver or Toronto.

And I'm like, no, I grew up in Alberta, moved to Vancouver. But I, yeah, I was on a plane one time and a guy literally thought like igloos were a thing. Dude. I could not believe it. The one thing that I find offensive is when I tell people I'm from Missouri and they're like, oh, how's New York? Or like, are you okay in New York adjusting?

And I'm like, what the fuck do you think? I've been, I don't know. Well, everyone thinks that, everyone thinks New York is like, like, like survival of the fittest. Like you've got to like, it's crazy. Do you know Amanda, not skinny, not fat? I know the podcast. She was like, yeah, I don't think you could survive in New York. And I'm like, what?

I was like, just because I have, like, cry on Instagram sometimes. Like, is that? Is that way you think that? And she's like, yes. Yeah. She's like, you just spiral a lot. I'm like, yeah, I can handle it. I think I can, how many provinces are there?

13. 13. I could probably rattle off. Go. From, we'll go west to east. Okay. British Columbia. Yeah.

Alberta. Yep. the middle ones get tough well it's and then now I'm going to go farthest east would be Quebec and then well farthest east would technically be P-EI Nova Scotia and Newfoundland I went to a musical about a plane that landed in novićer come from away yes yeah it's so good it was incredible yeah because Canadians are the east coast Canadians are I lived in Newfoundland as well for a little while and I loved every second of it that's so sick it was so

Are they French speaking in Newfoundland? I don't think so. That's just mostly a Quebec thing. Yeah. Like, I don't know. I can't speak French. I can speak more German than I can speak French. Is Bristow your main, like your main last name?

Yes. Where does that come from? British. It is British, yeah. I mean, I guess, yeah. What are you Irish? Wilson is just English, like British, but. Did you ever think, like, who you were growing up and just who you are?

Did you ever think you'd make it on a Bravo, really? reality TV show. I didn't think I'd be on a Bravo show ever. I'm not a Bravo girl. So for people watching and listening at home, my girlfriend was like, I feel like you and West would hit it off. Like you got to like get him on your podcast.

And she called you from. I was going to say, I think I remember I know who you're talking about. She freaking. You guys were like out. We were out. It was one of my best friend's birthdays. We had been drinking and she called you,

I think like four times in a row on Instagram from my DMs. And I was like, Rachel, I was like, he's going to think I'm such a loser. He's not going to want to come on the podcast. I woke up and I was like, I wish I was up for that. Well, we'll have to call you again. She's literally the best person I've ever met my life. She's so funny, but she's a huge Bravo fan.

And so I was like, you've got to tell me like what I need to ask him. And she sent me a whole voice note and all of these things. Oh, boy. Which I will get to. But I do find it funny because like you grew up. Your dad was a cattle rancher. Yeah. Your mom was an OBGYN, obsessed with that comment.

It's a, it's a sick combo. It's like people love to hear it. People love to hear it. Yeah. Was your mom like open about all this stuff and like talked about it or was she like... My parents aren't really on the show or anything at all, but like just... But like in general. Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, there's no way to really like... Not talk about it. Escape that when her profession is vaginas. Viginas, yeah. Do you have sisters? No. Oh. My poor mom was like a dancer, loved Barbies, whatever.

Yeah. Just married a cattle rancher and had two boys. like played football we had and there all a lot most of my cousins are boys and then we had my dad's brother had a son first and then had a daughter and I remember the first Christmas where she was old enough to like play and like interact or whatever my mom hung out with her and played with her for like two hours yeah I was like she deserved it oh that's my my dad I'm pretty sure wanted boys because he like played hockey his whole life yeah so Canadian and uh like is an athlete in golfs every day and then he got two girls but we're like kind of bros yeah like

do you play sports uh no i danced my whole life yeah um and my sister was a figure skater but both like you need athletic genes to you know be successful oh i consider dancing being an athlete no it i would right yeah absolutely when i was young i loved performing i loved entertaining i loved anything like I would try so hard to make my family laugh I would like sing at the dinner table like I was just like a performer I loved and I knew I was going to end up on TV one day like I was like I don't know what it's going to be but I'm somehow going to end up on TV you did not feel that Bravo no I guess maybe TV kind of because I almost from like a production angle I was like when I was super young I would take my mom's video camera and like I remember the first time I was

making videos or movies or whatever i didn't it was before anyone had like easy access to like editing on the computer whatever yeah so i would take an ipod choose a song and like wire the headphones through my fingers so i could hold it and play the music into the like audio receiver like while i filmed it wow um and so i just made movies with my friends all the time i mean i obviously like i think i liked being on camera yeah even when i was young um But then went to college and I did. What did you go to college for? Marketing?

Is that what it was? Yeah. But like that was just because I didn't know. Yeah. Yeah. Business is very. If you don't know what you want to do, business is a great degree because it doesn't really close any doors at all.

Yeah. But it also doesn't like lead you anywhere specific, which was great for me. Right. but I always like in Montana have you been to Montana I've yes because I drove from Nashville to Canada once oh wow and yeah that was a hall and I drove through Montana so I stopped at a few places would you remember the route like did you go 90 like all the way west and then up through the mountains or no that yeah yeah like it's long as shit yeah it was so long of nothing and then fine once you get to like Bozeman is from the mountain start yes yes yes yes yeah

So we had to be there in the summer for football workouts, obviously. So you'd work out at like 6 a.m. and then we had the whole day to like make Montana our playground. Yeah. And so we'd find bridges, cliffs, boats. Like we were, it was just the, it's the coolest, prettiest place ever. Like rope swings. Like, and Montana's so big, there's like all these beautiful lakes that have like two boats on them.

Like it's so sick. I actually want to live there. Bozeman is the coolest place of all times. Why did you move? For the show? Yeah. I think peak, at least at that time, the peak I was going to get in Bozeman, which was a college town, they, like, loved football. There, like, was being a, you know, football player on the football team.

Like, I had a lot of friends who kind of stayed and struggled to kind of, like, you know, let go and move on. And so it was time to, you know, try new stuff. Yeah, I get that. It's when, like, that's how I felt growing up in this really small town. It was like I saw a lot of my friends who wanted to say. My sister was like, die hard, we'll never leave. And I was like one of those kids that said, get me out of here. And it's always home.

It's not like I can go back. Like, I still have friends and all the... You friends with the Montana boys? I actually, they were visiting. Because they went to Montana State to Montana State for like a year. And they both transferred. But I was a senior when they visited. so I'd like had run-ins with them in like 20 fucking 17 or whatever that would have been

funny yeah they're well they moved to national yeah yeah I've actually hung out with them because one of them is dating one of my good friends Kristen and they're nice guys no they're they got they got in trouble though they well a lot of trouble yeah they were losing brand deals and I don't know like specifics but I saw that and I was like oh shit yeah are you ever worried about that um no I mean I guess you could be, but... I used to worry so about when cancel culture was like such a thing. I was like, my sister even said to me, she's like,

have you not gotten canceled? I'm like, I don't know. Yeah. Because I just feel like it could have been anything. Right. You know? I feel like I've kind of already had the... A low moment?

Worst of it, yeah. Was it from the show? Yeah. So I didn't watch. Okay, so I didn't watch... I haven't watched like Vanderpump. I haven't watched Summer House. I don't really know even how it works.

Like, is it a contest or is it just like... No, it is true. Bravo shows are meant to be like straight up reality. Oh, okay. Like, there's no stipulations, nothing to it. You just are hanging out in a house. Exist. Existing.

And is it all the alcohol you want? Like, do they just have it? Yeah. I mean, it's a sum, for us, it's like a summer house. And how long are you living there? It's the weekends. So you go. Oh.

So your life is not that like... But you're contractual. obligated to be there on the weekends for the show. Yeah. For how many weekends? Like eight or nine for the summer. It's not, you can, like, I have a full-time job now and I'm very busy, but if it was anything else, it would be much more challenging.

And we like film in the city Wednesday, Thursday sometimes, but it's pretty, it's manageable to like have a life side of it. We're like, Bachelor, I know you guys. Oh my gosh, it's just a bubble for however many weeks, but it's crazy. Am I can, okay, I've heard with The Bachelor, a part of the psychology is that you're so disconnected from the outside world that in a way you become more obsessive over the game itself. Yes. And the person and like, and does that work? Yeah.

Like it is real. I mean, it's real in a sense. Like when I got engaged, I really thought I was going to marry him. And we were together for three and a half years. And like, it felt very real. That seemed three and a half. A lot of people not on. TV don't last three and a half a year. So that's fine. Yeah. It felt real. The feelings were real. It's just, it's so manipulated and like edited. And it's, it just feels like, you know how you said? It's the same show every season. Like, it's always the same drama. It's always. But when you're in it, you, you truly like don't even watch TV. You don't have a phone. You don't talk to all the people that ground you. You don't talk to your family. Like, you are so in it. And you really do start to think that it's all that matters. Yeah. Because it's all you focus on. Yeah.

I mean, that makes sense, though. It's not even surprising that things would. Do you feel like on Summer House, like, do people get bad edits like they do on Bachelor? I think, I mean, I've only done this a year, so it's hard for fully say. But I think for the most part, everything is told in the way that, like, you were behaving or like, like, I don't feel like anything from the year I was there was like, just surprised. Okay, that's good. What did you learn? What did you learn about yourself and the process of being on a reality TV show? I'm still learning. I think for me the biggest thing, though, is like in real life, whenever you have fallouts or breakups or drama or whatever, you can kind of in your own head compartmentalize it or maybe move on faster. And it's the impact of what it was objectively maybe doesn't settle with you in real life because you're moving on and like not.

paying attention to it. Right. As human beings, that's what we all do to stay sane. Right. But when you watch it back, have reunions, have to talk about it to, like, producers and stuff like that. Right. You're reliving it over and over. And it's a kind of therapy.

But at the same time, you have to fully digest, like, every ounce of, like, your actions, you know? Yeah. And I think it'll be good for me in the long run. Lindsay is pregnant, but her ex is in the house. That is one of the crazy, I thought no shot that they'd both do it again. So they had an engagement get called off as well. Right.

And now she's pregnant, and I just, I was like, no way that they can both exist. And they have and they've done kind of a great job of both being. very mature about it, but I mean, objectively, that's like a nutty situation. Well, when she was telling me, I was like, wait, what? Because I think I follow Lindsay on Instagram. Is she in Nashville? No, she has an Airbnb. Oh, that's what it is.

Yes. Okay. And is the guy that she got pregnant with on the show as well? No, we don't know him. We don't know him. He's like, is he like a mystery man? Uh-huh. Or like he's trying to maintain his identity.

Oh, wow. So nobody knows who this is. I think some of her close. Of course, yeah, but I... Like the world who follows doesn't know. Yeah, which she doesn't post about him on Instagram, right? No. Or I think they've, I think she posted a wedding picture and did like a blur his face out thing.

Wow. That's, I do respect that. I do too. I don't, the internet's, they're so insane on there. I don't know how. I mean, good for the internet for being respectful. Okay. Biggest regret of the season.

Um, yeah. I think I'm pretty casual with just like how I operate all the time. And I think sometimes it, It's cool if that's matched, but in this instance, it wasn't. I think I just didn't ever really take a moment to, like, realize that, you know, we were operating on, like, very different wavelengths. That's fair. But, I mean, like I said, we're learning things, so.

Alanus Morset said, you live, you learn. And that's what you're doing. She takes credit for that. You live, you live. I give her credit. That's because she's Canadian. I'm obsessed with her. So I give it to her.

Yes, she did. She gets credit for it. That's cool. She wanted to know what the vibe is with a pregnant lady in the house. I love pregnant Lindsay. You do? I do. I really do.

I think she's so fun. I love that. Just like at peace. Yeah. Lindsay's a very fiery woman and her and I've loved every second of her this summer. Amazing. Yeah, I think she's great. Oh, I love that.

She's like. It could be a mix. I don't know. I, she's always wanted to be a mom. I know that. Yeah. And I think she's just very content and like in a good place. Yeah.

So. Well, how is this season going to compare to the last? Like final pro. I never know. Because the crazy thing with this show is any show. Yeah. It's like a small, like a 5% of your whole existence is made into a show. Right.

You kind of don't really know what's going to play out. But I think good. I feel like we all. I always think everyone's getting along. And then you watch back and I'm like, what the thing? What? Yeah. That's how I felt.

I remember being, when I was on The Bachelor, I remember being like, our season's going to be so boring. Everyone's so kind and nice. And then I watch it back. I was like, holy shit. Yeah. Yeah. That's so fun.

Has the Bachelor been the same production company the whole time? I feel like, I'm pretty sure. Yeah. You kind of have to. Yeah. It's, I can't, that show is just a machine. Chews up and spits people out and it's just. Is it true that now they make to be on The Bachelor?

or you can't, you sign a deal where, like, you can't do endorsements, like a year after or something? Yeah, I think so. I was kind, I mean, I get that. I totally get that, unless they're going to take a percentage, but I get that because you don't want people doing it for that, yeah. Right. Like, I, I was in at the best time. There was no drink limits. I could do anything after 2015 and 16.

I think TV, reality TV, and like, what window is Jersey Shore? Is that like the 2000s? Yeah. Early, or the early tens? Yes. Before the influencer shit started. Yeah. And before people could like really be canceled for the shit they said.

And people were just like so unhinged and like no guard. Yeah. Is like reality TV can probably never be. No, it was the best. I mean, it was it was everything that you'd want reality TV to be in now. People are so. I just feel like people show up so inauthentically now on reality TV because of they know about edits, they know about, like, how you can get canceled.

Yeah, protecting yourself. Yeah. Yeah. But then I just feel like you're not being, like, do you find it easy to be yourself on TV? I did, but I before the show was very, um, I kind of put my foot down about like, I don't want to do this if I can't be myself. Yeah. And also our show is filmed for three straight days.

So if you weren't, you would be so exhausted. Yeah. Um, so I think our show is actually an easy way to be. or like a good um show to be yourself because it's really hard not to that's true um but i was like very reassured throughout can you like bring people to the you bring people to parties some people have like jesse brought one girl home last summer and then they just have to like sign a thing but like during the day i don't think just for like the party i don't know if anyone's ever tried should i just do that one day i want to come on it yeah can i just show up and hang out and just see what's going on

Yeah. Yeah. There's a pool. You don't want to go. Yeah. Her Airbnb doesn't have a pool. She's coming to borrow. Yeah.

Give her some sunscreen and a couple towels. I'll sign an NDA. Yeah. You've probably signed a lot of those. I've signed a lot of those. Okay. Are you hosting a new show? Yeah.

Are you allowed to talk about it? Yeah. Okay. What? Napkins? No, no. What? Why does it say napkins?

Okay. That's funny. Napkins is a show I predict. Like before I got my job at Bleacher Report and I moved to New York. Yeah. I had a shitty sales job. Wait, what's your job right now? I work at Complex.

Do you know Complex? No. You used to be a print magazine now. It's more like a pop culture media outlet. Oh, amazing. Yeah, it's sick. It's very cool. Napkins was a food show that I, like, produced and hosted on my own in, like, in, like,

2019 before I got into, like, media jobs. No way. Mm-hmm. And-hmm. So you've always been a foodie? Yeah. Okay. I just, like, care about it and, like, enjoy it.

Yeah. I think because I, like, like, like, like, traveling and have traveled. a lot. That to me is like the most perfect way to like dive into like new shit and like ingrain yourself where you are. Yeah. Just so basic, but I do like. No, I love that. So did that. We found it our camera guy for napkins. We found on Craigslist took him to drinks before we like started it. And I was like, what's your main, what's your main form of income? Like, what's your day job? And he goes, I am a trans porn director and cinematography. Incredible.

And I was like, whoa. Whoa. You're hired. Yeah. And that was our dude. I think we did like nine or ten episodes, but that got me a job of Bleacher Report, which like, you know, gave me a lot of like very, very cool opportunities. Then got laid off. That's why the whole show happened.

I was laid off and like got a call and I was like, I guess. Really? Yeah. How did they find you? I met Lindsay at like a dinner like a year before. Ah. And she was like he'd be great TV. Yeah.

Amazing. Isn't that kind of crazy? Yeah. But so, yeah, it was laid off, super sad about it, got the phone call. Because Bleacher would have never let me do a TV show. Yeah. Because I was, like, doing on-camera stuff for them. And then that show happened, got hired at Complex last summer.

And so now the show is going to come out this week. We're doing it next week now. We're like pivoting pilot episodes. But it's called West Date Ever. So, yeah, it sounds like best. Some people think it sounds like worst. but I guess it's up to whoever wants to. Right.

And basically... Choose your own adventure. I will be interviewing women. We might sneak a couple dudes on the last few episodes, but basically interviewing people through the course of a date. Yeah. And it's basically just to kind of unpack what dating is like when you're simi in the spotlight

and like people care about whoever you're dating and dealing with a lot of outside noise. Yeah. through like a romantic um journey and so i i mean it's it is a date but i'm kind of like i'm still the interviewer right asking most of the questions but it's been like super fun that's amazing yeah i think i think it'll be really cool i am excited i so you it's like a where is it going to be on it'll be on complexes socials okay but like long form will be YouTube so like you know do you know hot ones yes so complex like started hot ones they have like a lot

amazing yeah yeah um so obviously oh that'll be great yeah it's a good like uh brand and it airs next week i think we're gonna try we it was gonna be yesterday yeah and we had like a last minute like we just wanted to do like we had a pilot episode ready and we're pivoting we just wanted to be a different guest but i've filmed three episodes and i think we're gonna do three more for season one. Do you like everyone that you've interviewed has it been easy or is it like? They're all honestly I think more challenging for me but I think we'll make the season more encompassing is that everyone is like super different. Yeah. So like different backgrounds, different ages, different stories like different reasons why they're like famous I guess you

would say. So yeah, it makes kind of like unpacking different every single time. Like how famous we're talking who can you say anyone that's going to be on it one of them is like very timely i'll tell you off camera but yeah i think i can't spoil i'm not allowed to but um but that's exciting no you shouldn't spoil that's exciting i want to now it makes me want to watch even more yeah well it would yeah season obviously you got to get a pilot off the ground and then like season one and then hopefully you know we can keep growing it but yeah um yeah it's fun also because that was my employer like i was producing for complex anyways yeah um So to have them kind of come to me and, like, want to lean into me personally as a host or whatever is super endearing, you know, and I'm, like, very thankful for that, so.

It's amazing. What's it, okay, what's death meal? What's your death meal? Death row meal. So boring. But I want, like, appetizer, main, drink, dessert. Okay. I always say you can fit it on one plate and then you get one drink.

Okay, okay, okay. I think, 12 hot wings with blue cheese and a cold beer. That's it It just is like that to me is my I'm gonna get it Wings are delicious Yeah and just it's like I want to feel alive before I go out

And hot wings make you feel alive Yeah that's a good hangover meal But I've been It's great hangover meal Beer especially cold beer with wings Yeah so good My mouth just did the thing Yeah

And when I think of that I think of fall and it starts getting cooler Yeah Are you football girl I recently have gotten into football So I was a cheerleader in the sea A lot of my friends played in CFLs. Really?

Yeah. So it's different. Who stamps? No, I was the BC Lions. I was a feline with the white plastic boots and everything. BC lines are orange and black. Yes. But I was just so hockey.

Like I'm obsessed with hockey. But when I moved to America, I was like, oh, football is a thing. And then I started like probably five years ago, I would say like obsessed. Who do you lean into Titans, I guess? The bills It's fine It's only because I was with somebody Who was like a diehard bills fan

I get it And then I was an honorary bills fan And then I jumped through a table Yeah And so then I was a real Bill's fan Do you want to know a secret? What? So I've tailgated with the

With Bill's Mafia a couple times Yeah And the OG dudes have You know that like the red Pinto car And they do the wings Yes Okay They told me

This was a few years ago they were like these kids showed up and started jumping through tables and that was never our brand and it's all these like drunk dudes who started doing it and that caught media attention and people associate it with us and we like don't really yeah I kind of like that they don't because I was like this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of yeah but I'm gonna do it but I I mean I bubble wrapped myself and had a few cocktails and then it took me about eight times to get through this damn table, but... I would actually be super pro-bills

if they weren't like a kind of last, a running rival with the chiefs right now. Okay. That's your team. Yeah. Okay. But I have to, I've tailgated with them for work.

Actually for napkins was one of the episodes. There you go. And they were so nice to me and like I, Bill's mafia, like I love. Yeah. It felt like a team that I could get behind to because I was like, they feel very Canadian as well. well yes yeah that's so fair yeah what did we wish new um you know what wish nuca is no it was

wish nuca it was like a liquor that they poured in a bowling ball and we took shots out of it what in a hell no but it sounds kind i thought it was canadian it might not be new how do you freaking spell that i i i don't know you just give it a shots yeah uh look at your search did not match any documents wow nothing no way yeah are you sure you're sure you're saying it right yeah i i because i asked him a hundred times wish dude actually no shot well maybe you could put shots out of bowling ball premiere dude there's like wow there's no i think you i think you just sat here and lied to me no i'll find you it in our little episode when we're done yeah i can't find anything for me either damn my my death row meal is like so complicated and random like mine would

Oh, it's going to be, like, different cuisines? Yeah, like, I want, like, McDonald's fries. Okay. And then I want the highest grade of salmon sashimi. Love that. Yeah. And then I want, um... How big of it?

Like a chicken parm. Of sashimi? No. Oh. Like, like, how big of... Brond to a new... Okay. I want, like, six pieces.

Love. And then I want, um, yeah, like a chicken parm or some sort of bolognais. Here's the big question for you now. What? With that. plate you say death row is like you only get one condiment and i guess we can say there's at least like a tomato sauce on your farm okay but if there if it's the highest grade of sashimi i don't want any sauce okay um so i would go i love ketchup um i'd go ketchup are you a poutine gal yeah of course

i writ poutine twice when i was in toronto a few weeks ago delicious but everyone in toronto was like we don't give a fuck about putteen go to go to montreal it is the best in montreal but i lived when i lived in vancouver there was this um pickier poison putteen place and it was like there's the dirtiest kinds there like pulled pork and like all these different you mean good or bad good yeah yeah dirty good just like pulled pork cheesy yeah it was unbelievable that might be that would be in there too i just love fries how many nights out in calgary have you had lots yes have you been to cowboys I worked at Cowboys, but I worked at the one in Edmonton.

Oh, my God. But I would go to the one in Calgary all the time. I tried to last there for two years because they give you a boob job if you work there. I have like four bartender's numbers in my phone from Cowboys. And I was like, there's no way every bartender in this massive place all has the exact same tits. And they do. And they do. They do because they were bought for them.

They've probably been there for two years. No. I got fired because I passed out on my shooter tray because I got so hammered. So hammered. I was 18 years old. Oh, are they giving 18 year olds boob jobs at that place? Well, no, because you have to be 18 just to start working there. And then you have to last, I think, two years before they'll pay for your boobs.

Yeah. And I got fired. Right before the two year mark. And then my, yeah, and then my favorite full circle moment was they paid me to go there after Bachelorette. And I was like, I can't believe it. I just got to go party at Cowboys. for some cast. They DM'd me, actually, and I was like,

that would be so full circle as well. Yes. Because I went with, that was the, that might have been the same trip as of the story I was telling you. Yeah. But then one of my boys played for the stamps for a long time.

Yeah. And then he's actually in the NFL now. He went CFL. Amazing. Yeah, he crushed it. And then there's no shot. You'll know this place. But Singapore Sam's.

No. We just were like wandering around because none of us knew anything about Calgary the first time. And so we were like trying to find late night food. and, like, go to this place. And it's like a little Thai restaurant.

Or no, Singapore, so that would be. Oh, do they put alcohol in your teacups? Yeah, but Singapore. Yeah, so then it was Thai. No, it was Chinese. Singapore. Why am I blacking out? Singapore is in China.

I don't know. I think it is. Singapore. Or is it Taiwan? Google. I think it's Thai. Yeah, okay. Okay.

So we go in and, like, as we're approaching the door, there's like this base and we're like, no, fucking way. And it looked, if you, when you walk in, it looks like a mom and pop little Thai restaurant. Yeah. But there's a, and D.J. And everyone's standing on their tables. But like, fun. And I went from Cowboys till like 2 a.m. to this place, Singapore, San.

Yeah. And it was like one of the funest, most fun nights of all time. Wow. That sounds like something I could get down with. I love Calgary. I love Calgary too. I mean, I grew up going to Stampede since I was little. Yeah.

And I mean, obviously I'm not a fan of their sports teams because it's like the rivalry between Edmonton and Calgary. Where is your, what's your hometown, the name of it? La Duke. And is that closer to Edmonton than Calgary? Yeah, it's basically right where the Edmonton airport is. So it's like right before you get into Edmonton. So south of Edmonton?

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Do people in between Calgary and Edmonton, is that like a decision that everyone has to make? Yes. Yeah, right? It's a whole thing. Yeah.

My dad, like. And it's Flames Oilers is probably the main one. Yes. My dad literally gets like upset over it. And do you hate the other one whenever you're affiliated with the other one? Hate. Yeah. The Battle of Alberta.

Alberta, yeah. Yeah. It's. That might have been, I'm trying to remember where they played, but we went on Canada night, too. You went on what? Like, the theme of whatever night when we went to the Flames game was Canada night. And so the drive there, we were like practicing the nationally. It sounded like we were ready to go.

Did you know more than Oh, Canada? No. No, my. Is it my home? Our home. Our home. And native land. I just said it where you're like, it's our and I had to like feed it to you.

You're like, yeah, I knew it. Yeah. But I can get it in real time. I just keep an eye on someone next to me and just kind of like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just piggyback off of them. Yeah. It's so funny because Americans always think they know the Canadian national anthem

and then all they know is Oh, Canada. Every time. Oh, Canada. I'm like, go on. That's so funny. I do feel like you're an honorary Canadian, though, for how you grew up, where you grew up. Well, Missouri, no, but like Montana. Yeah.

I've been to four provinces, probably. Well, you're kind of a traveler. Yeah. All 50 states was like a big thing for me. That's crazy. Yeah, sick. I mean, I owe it almost all to my parents, but they've been all 50 together. Cute.

Which is sick. Your parents are still together? Yeah. Goals. They're in the same house. I would like. Oh, that. It's like, I would die.

My dad would prefer if my mom moved out. So like the land. No, not moved out. Sorry, I didn't know. Yeah. If my mom moved out, no, if my mom moved out to the farm. Yeah. With him.

Okay. But she would never. Oh. So my dad commutes every morning to like, it's like 30 minutes north of Columbia. Oh my gosh. But yeah, same house. I would be so sad if they left. But I think they're like redoing their bathroom right now.

So they're locking in. Oh, shit. You're not going anywhere. I love that. That was like, that was my dream for my parents. to stay together and to still live in the same house that I grew up in, like... How are we out of those two? Not good.

Oh, for two? Over two. My, but they're both remarried, happily, amazing. Like, my stepdad and my set mom are amazing. So you, okay, you... And they all get along. Yeah. That's good.

Do you all do, like, well, not anymore. One of my, like, little girlfriends in high school, they, her parents were divorced, but they would do, like, Christmas and stuff together. Yeah, we used to. Yeah. I used to make my parents so uncomfortable. I would be like, do you kind of still, like, do you kind of still, like, love each other yeah like we go to I remember going to a wedding with my parents were in the

front seat and I was in the back and I was like do you guys still like like each other a little more than a friend my mom would be like shop off Caitlin that's awesome I loved it yeah they were good sports too and they got along like when I did a my that was when you when the world knew you were going to host a podcast is when you asked your mom she said like your dad the interviewer of our generation the hard hitting questions it's just you in the back like just bugging your parents. I should do that. Yeah, that's awesome.

Did you prepare a confession? Yeah, I have a good one. Okay, tell me. Well, okay. It actually is funny because I was just talking to you about hockey. Yeah. It was banned from the NHL for a year. You were?

Why? So. The whole NHL franchise? Yeah, I mean, yeah. So, okay. Turner Sports, who Turner owned Bleacher Report. Yeah. I worked at Bleacher Report.

Got NHL rights. in 2021. Yeah. Or maybe it's no, am I done 22? So they were like, we're going to have a kickoff call and Gary Bettman's the host

who's the commissioner. Yeah, yeah. Everyone hates his guts. Yeah. Which I found out why. And I was like, I don't want to do this.

I think I was like hungover. I didn't have a shirt on. In my living room and I was like, this call's boring as fuck. So I like put a shirt on, like put a hat on. I was like, I'm going to ask this guy a question.

Yeah. Turn my camera on. I would like, you know, I was like, you know, like hi mr betman like my name's west and with bleach report i'm a producer whatever whatever and i was like i have a serious question so i asked him i go i know the nfl has been dealing with this a lot recently but like head safety is very very like forward and like media and just it's a talking point that you can't really escape and how do you maintain keeping the game safe and like following protocol

whatever but also keeping like the history and the origin of like hockey that would be i thought it was awesome but I guess I said the word violent or like violence in my question which is the number one trigger word turns out for hockey PR oh and Gary Bettman lost his mind on me and on a call with like all my co-workers and like all of NHL's employees and he was like I guess people at Bleacherport know anything about hockey hockey's not violent it's like it's a physical sport but it's not about which of course is not true Not true at all. So he's, like, just embarrassing me.

And, like, of course, it's still on my camera. I can't, like, like, sitting there taking it. You're like, got it. And I was like, okay, apologies, like, camera off. I was like, holy, what the fuck just happened? And he was like, you basically just saying, I don't know. I don't know hockey. I'm like a fucking idiot.

And so then I started getting all these, like, slacks from everyone I work with. And they're like, yo, you just, like, embarrassed Gary Bettman. Like, that was a great question. Like, he's a bitch, whatever. Yeah. I was like, oh, I kind of like, maybe I look cool. Yeah. That lasted an hour, and then I got a call from, like, my boss's boss is boss's boss.

Oh, God. Like, and he was like, we need to talk tomorrow, like, have you on a call. And it was like him, a bunch of higher ups and like HR. And they were like, the NHL doesn't want you around. Like, they think you're like, your name and your face are like not wanted by the NHL. So we're pulling you from every hockeyman for us. Oh, sad. Yeah, it was like, fuck guys.

That's so sad. Yeah. And so learning lesson there was not necessarily the question. question is bad, but, like, I guess know your audience better before you start, like, diving into, that didn't even feel taboo, but it was. It's just because you said the word violence. Spooked him and he lost his mind and, like, embarrass me for everyone. And I was like, oh, not a big deal.

Like, I can handle that. But then they were like, no one at the NHL once around. That would make me want to, like, not go to the NHL for a long time. So, full year goes by. And it's basically, like, Stanley Cup playoffs. It was Tampa and the Aves. Yeah. It was lightning in the Aves.

Yeah. And they had no one to cover game six. And they were like, we're going to, like, go, like, be on your best behavior. Like, say thank you to everyone. Like, wear a forwards hat. Just, like, be nice. Yeah. And so.

Where a forward's hat. Uh, of course, game six, I think the abs won in Tampa. So I was in Tampa. And, like, I had a press pass. I'd go on the ice after. I wasn't drunk or anything. I was working. So I was definitely sober.

And I had someone take a picture of me on the ice like this. Yeah. As they're all celebrating behind me. And I tagged Gary Betben above. of my head on him. And then that caused the thing. And they were like, fucking deleted. And I had like three HR meetings the next day.

But I was like, and then they, and then I got laid off like a few months after. And I think that was hard on it. They, yeah. But. That sucks. Also, like, we don't overreact everybody.

Yeah, it's like a funny bit to just be like, yeah, it's been in financial for a year. But I had a whole calendar laid out with like all these games and they had to wipe people to go. Who is your, who's your hockey team that you root for? So I'm Kansas City sports. Because that's where most of my family's from and lives.

We don't have a hockey team, but I am still pro-Missouri, so I'll root for the blues. Oh, that's fair. And, like, I have, like, blues merch and shit like that. But I usually don't watch, I don't watch a lot of, like, regular season hockey, though. Okay. When the playoffs start, I'll tap in. I really would actually like to interview Connor McDavid. I think that would be.

Manifest it. That'll happen. I, he did make my nephew a video, and I was like, I've never asked anyone to make a video for anyone I just feel like and he did and it was so nice and so now I'm like scared to ask him for another favor do you feel like a lot of hockey dudes are very I feel like you'd take a sec to get him to open up and then once you get them they're like totally yeah I feel like well they're so media trained in like the worst way possible like not in a good way and so they all have like the same answers for everything I feel like you'd have to I'd have to really pull out my like hockey bro

card and like shoot the shit with them I think you get him like set up two beers and just like Totally. Make it, just make it comfortable. Like Alberta jokes. Yeah. But where did he grow up? Is he Canadian? Yeah, he grew up.

Yeah. Is he? I think more East Coast. I'm not sure. I think like Ontario. You know what's crazy about the NHL is there's there. I saw a map of where everyone was from in the NHL. Yeah.

And it's like heavy, heavy, heavy Canada. Yeah. And then Minnesota a little bit, North Dakota a little bit. Yeah. And then Florida. Really? Yeah. How weird is that?

Very. But they have, yeah. God, that was a tough loss. I was at the Stanley Cup finale game. I know. Didn't you guys, weren't you down 3-0 and brought it back to 7? And then lost 7? That was a different game.

Oh, I don't remember. I don't remember I blackout, not from being drunk, from being angry. Who did you beat? No, it was, it was Florida because I think you guys were down 3-0 and then 1-3 and it went to 7 and then- Yes, yes, yes, you're right. I thought you were talking about the actual score of the last. last game. I was like, I don't remember. Oh, I was so pissed. Yeah, it sucks. I was so mad. Okay. I could talk to you all day. I just feel like I just you understand. But we'll have you

come back when your show is airing to talk about guests and that would be fun to have like a podcast ever someone's watched it. Yeah, exactly. That would be cool. I'll watch. Tell everybody where they can watch and follow you. Oh, follow me. You got, I think in my Instagram, is Westling. Conrad, which is my full name, actually. Oh, really? Westling is my mom's maiden name. Conrad is my dad's grandpa's middle name. Oh, that's cool. And then Wilson is just like the like seventh most popular last name. That's a good, that's a good, strong name though. Um, and then, yeah, complex, I think episodes will be on YouTube here soon, but. Amazing. I'm excited for it. Well, it's called West 8 ever. There's a cute little like key art and stuff. Cool. That's awesome. I'm stoked.

Wow. Thank you for having me. Yeah, of course. I can't wait to watch. It'll be sick. Yeah, we'll come back when I can talk about what I've been doing and you can talk about what you've been doing and then we can compare notes. Link up. Beautiful.

I'm Caitlin Bristow. I'll see you next Tuesday. See you next Tuesday.