Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe - Whitney Fransway | Bachelor to Bravo: Behind Her First Season of ‘In The City’
Episode Date: August 25, 2026#974. Whitney Fransway is back on reality TV... and this time, Bachelor Nation was just the warm-up. Whitney joins Kaitlyn to talk about going from The Bachelor to Bravo’s In The City�...��and why putting her real relationship on TV was a whole different experience. She opens up about moving across the country for Kenny, going from long-distance to living together, having their relationship picked apart by the cast and viewers, and the unexpected tension that could impact whether they return for Season 2.Plus, Whitney gets into making friends in your 30s, where she stands with the cast today, and the moments with Kenny—and the rest of the cast—that cameras caught but viewers never got to see.Was reality TV round two worth it? And would she do it all over again? Tune in to find out!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 AMAZING deals!Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/vine20 with code vine20 Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com promo code VINE.Paka: To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to WWW.PAKAAPPAREL.COM.Zenni Optical: Go to ZENNI.COM/PODCAST and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over $65.Progressive: Visit Progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back on your car insurance.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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You're listening to Off the Vine with Caitlin Bristow.
Hey, everybody.
Welcome to Off The Vine.
I'm your host.
Caitlin Bristow and today's guest is Whitney Franzway. And if you've been watching in the city,
you know that she's had one hell of the first season. It's a lot from having a relationship
put under a microscope to the friendship drama and now the reunion. I just feel like there's a lot to talk
about. But you probably remember Whitney also from Nick Vile's season of The Bachelor and Bachelor in
Paradise. But today we're diving into what it's really like to go from long distance to living
together, moving across the country for love, making new friends in your 30s, where things stand with
the cast now and whether she would be a part of season two of In the City. She also shares a
couple behind the scenes stories that never made it on air. So here's my conversation with Whitney
Franze. Obviously, we're going to start where you started from, which was the Bachelor franchise.
We're just saying we're talking about filming the reunion and how that's different from the women
tell all, which was more stressful. I mean, I feel like definitely the in the city reunion.
Yeah, because I feel like you're such a main focus when they're.
There's so many other girls on women tell all.
Totally.
Yeah.
Oh, gosh, that's crazy.
Okay.
Reality TV, I feel like, has basically followed you through your 20s and now into your 30s,
which some people are just born for it, you know?
I didn't know.
I thought I would never do TV again.
Really?
No.
After Paradise?
Yeah.
And I don't really count my Paradise experience because I, like, wasn't really there.
Sure.
So, but yeah, I think reality TV is, takes a special person, especially Bravo when you're, like,
opening up, like, your whole life.
Yeah.
I feel like Bachelor was a little bit more of a piece of it.
Yeah, it's niche.
It's just dating.
Like, it's not your whole life and what you're doing day to day and your, you're just
relationship.
It's like a fun little dating show.
Totally.
It's crazy.
Looking back, how does Bachelor Whitney compare to who you are today?
My gosh.
Well, that was 10, 10, maybe over 10 years ago now.
I know.
And so I feel like I was such a different version of myself.
Yeah.
Like being like 25 to now 35.
you just know yourself more.
I'm more confident.
And I feel like then I was still trying to like figure out even who I was.
Yeah, for sure.
You're next season.
Yes.
What was your story?
Did you have like a schick?
I didn't really.
I just was like, you know, the girl that was trying to like make it in L.A.
modeling and just like a sweet girl from Minnesota.
I didn't really have like a crazy, crazy backstory.
Kind of had a regular dating history.
And but I made like such good friends from doing the show.
Oh, is another.
the best part the best part i know what was nick like as the bachelor i didn't watch because it was like
if i'm being honest he was from my season like um did not think he would because they made ben
ben was on my season they made him the bachelor they never pick two guys from one person's season
but it's nick and so they made him the bachelor but i couldn't watch because
it was still so tumultuous with my engagement that i was in he was such a touchy subject so i didn't
watch what was he like as the bachelor
I feel like, you know, Nick's a little, like, corky and a little awkward.
And he definitely, like, reads a little bit like that in person, but always was, like, super nice.
Yeah.
Just you don't really get to spend that much time.
I know.
With the person.
How far did you go?
I was eight out of 30.
Eight out of 30.
Okay.
So, like, a third of the way.
You go.
I was like there a month.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So you, did you have any one-on-ones?
Um, I had a two-on-one.
You had the two-on-one?
And a two-on-one.
That was my biggest fear.
I remember Lane, because Becca Tilly and I were, like, best friends.
on the show. And her and I were always roommates together. And we, when we would be miced up,
we'd be like, you guys, if you put us on the two on one, like, we're both going home together.
We don't care. We're not doing it. Like, I was so scared on the two on one. No, of course.
Was it as dramatic and crazy as everyone thinks it is? I mean, yeah, kind of. It's just this,
like, pressured situation. And I didn't have, like, drama per se, like, with the person I had
the two on one with. It was just more so, like, I think we read a little bit similar. And, like,
Sure.
It's probably just Danielle Lombard.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Okay.
And so I feel like he just like wasn't, he ended up letting us both go that night.
But I was let go first and, you know, that's just a high pressure situation.
That's crazy.
So if you thought your reality TV days were over after Paradise, what made you say yes to this show?
Well, when this opportunity came about, it was through Kenny because Kenny is the ones that is friends with some of the cast.
Right.
And so he kind of linked everyone together.
Like he's an investor in lover boy, obviously best friends with Gavin.
So he's known a lot of the cast like socially through New York.
And I just was like, I don't know.
It's a little like you're putting so much trust in like who's making the show and like production and network.
And you know, I saw like some of that on Bachelor and, you know, really putting my whole personality and life out there and relationship.
like having a relationship in reality TV is just like scary.
Because you know you have to hit certain points.
You know it's it's cast not that the people aren't real.
It's not like, oh, we cast her and she's going to act this way.
It's you have to have taste the rainbow of personalities.
Totally.
And you never know where you're going to fall.
You're like, what personality am I?
Totally.
You don't know that.
And then you just don't know like are things going to be like just rumors.
Are they going to tear you apart and like how is that going to be for your relationship?
So I was just a little bit nervous.
And it wasn't until like I had more conversations with like the production team to
understand like what the show was going to be.
And a little bit more about that.
Hopefully if we do a season two, we'll see like more dimensions of everyone too.
It was a new cast.
So it takes a while to get to know people.
But yeah, it was like, I'm nervous.
Yeah.
That's the kind of beautiful thing of a season two.
Because season one of anything, you're working at the Kings.
You're trying to figure out, you know, like who you are.
what your role is.
And then season two, you can kind of be a little more free to just be you.
Yeah.
And you get a little more comfortable with everybody.
But wait, Gavin is the restaurant guy, right?
Yes.
Kate, so this is all small world stuff because Gavin is one of my really good friends X.
No way.
Yes.
And I met him.
They're still on good terms.
Also, Kenny, is he Canadian?
No, he's in Michigan.
Kay, did he, somebody wrote me and said, oh, you got to ask her, he's a cactus.
Club alumni. So Cactus Club is a restaurant in Canada that I will die on the hill that it's
My best friend, Alyssa worked there. Really? Yeah, Alyssa Lynch. She worked there growing up,
I'm pretty sure. Which one? Which city? Uh, Vancouver. Yeah, same. Weird. That was my,
I worked at the Cactus Club English Bay in Vancouver. But somebody said Kenny was a Cactus Club guy.
No. Oh, random. Why would they say that? Okay, I was like, is he Canadian or something? Oh, but your
friend worked there. Yeah. Anyways, that's small world.
Weird. That's so crazy. You said that you were actually more nervous doing Bravo than Bachelor. Is it kind of why what we said it's a little, it cracks you open a little bit more on this one? I think so. I mean, I going into that, I think what I didn't fully do on Bachelor, which I tried to do is like, obviously it's a unique environment, but it was hard for me to like let all my guards down and fully be myself. Yeah. Because I think I was just like a little bit guarded and like held my like cards close to my chest. And so I know.
knew like saying yes to to Bravo meant you can't do that. Like you need to really let people in.
Yeah, you're bad at your job if you don't let people in. Yeah. And I and I wanted to be able to do
that with myself and like own who I am more. But it would be beneficial for me, but also like the show.
And if I wasn't going to do that, it was it wasn't going to read well. Yeah. And did you find that
to be a challenge while you were in it or did it surprise you while like the cameras around?
You're like, oh, what was it? I mean, as you watch the season, I think you see.
me be a little bit more like comfortable speaking up and and owning my like thoughts and opinions
even like when they might be a little controversial and um I definitely am proud of myself like for
getting to that point I was like walking into doing a new show but also walking into a new friend
group which oh my gosh you know I just a little bit quieter like in that sense too because I didn't
really understand the dynamics yet yeah but I think that's better than going in guns blazing all
loud and like claiming your territory.
I feel like that's, I mean, that wouldn't be you.
Yeah, no, it wouldn't be.
And I'm like, I'm glad that I have no regrets, like, the way that I, um, I like spoke
up.
I mean, I think, you know, we all put our foot in our mouth.
So like, it may be a little bit in that sense.
But I am like proud of myself for showing most sides of me that was shown.
I feel like the Bravo universe is a little bit, um, more intense and, um, more intense.
and opinionated than Bachelor Nation. Bachelor Nation is a little bit more like positive in rose
colored glasses and, you know, cheering people on a little bit more. Yeah. I feel like now that you've
filmed the season, sat through the reunion, all the things, how are you feeling about your whole
experience going back into reality TV? I'm glad that I did it. It honestly brought Kenny and I closer.
And I think it made me see all this work that I've done on myself too with just like stepping into like,
you know, owning who I am in my thoughts and opinions. So I think there's like a few different layers
to it. But like I'm really glad that we did it. And I think it showed too like people like poking at
your relationship like there wasn't any holes. It brought us closer. You know. And I think it brings up
so many more conversations a little quicker too because people are like asking all these questions.
No, truly. I was I was talking to Stasi Schroeder about this on reality TV where it forces you to have
tough conversations and not just have them and then they go away, you have to resolve them,
which is a beautiful thing about doing reality TV.
It really forces, it exposes a lot of things good or bad, but it also helps you resolve
things and either grow stronger together or realize you're not meant for each other.
It's one of the two.
Right.
But that's, I mean, it's scary enough to just move to a new city and to be going into a
new relationship and going from living separately to then just moving in together.
what was like the biggest shock from moving in with Kenny?
I mean, because we were doing long distance for so long, it felt like we had already kind of
been living together because we were spending like chunks of time together at a time.
But I mean, I think we definitely have like little things.
Like he used to sing this song when we would like leave.
It was like that he was leaving on a jet plane and we were in, are we ever going to see each other again?
It would make me so sad.
So like that stopped once we moved.
in together. So I was happy about that. I thought you were saying he did that if he was like going to
the grocery store. I was like, cute. No, like, can you imagine? I mean, he's so sad. I was like,
why are you rubbing it in that we're like, you know, parting ways? Yeah. So that stopped.
But I think, you know, we both work from home. So that can be like a little bit of adjustment
too of like, okay, like I need to like the boundaries of, okay, letting you, you know, be in your
work mode and same. So we finally like found that balance. Oh, that's good. Yeah, that's tough.
living together in New York, even if you have a nice big place in New York, it's still small.
And to be working from home and spending all that time together, that'll test your relationship real quick.
Yeah. And honestly, we love it. I feel like some people are like, oh my gosh, like I need to get out or get away from my partner.
And we're just, we're not really like that.
Well, that's romantic as shit.
Gosh. And Paige DeSorbo reached out to you to offer some support. Have there been others who've reached out that surprised you?
Well, I had a conversation with Ashley I, too, because we're in, like, a similar situation.
So it was nice to just kind of talk to her, too.
She's such an angel.
She is.
And I love Paige, too.
Page is such a real one.
Yeah.
Oh, that's amazing.
Who from, well, besides Ashley I, who from Bachelor Nation do you keep in touch with?
Well, Rachel, Lindsay, she's my girl.
She will keep it real, that's for sure.
And I will call her up anytime, even when we're filming, it'd be like, you know, I just need some Rachel Lindsay confidence.
like give me that big rage energy.
Totally.
And she can kind of like help me like step into that if I'm like overthinking.
She's truly one of the coolest girls I've ever met my life.
She is.
I was like, come to Bravo, Rachel.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Would she love that.
Well, she's, she like touches on Bravo stuff on her podcast.
Yeah.
And she's, I just always love her perspective because she does not sugarcoat anything.
And she's so smart that the way she articulates things, I'm like, why couldn't I say it like that?
Exactly.
She's such a straight shooter.
Oh my gosh.
Would she ever.
go to Bravo? I don't know. I think she loves Bravo, but, you know, she has a lot going on
herself, so I don't know. It would take a lot for her, I think, to come to the problem. It'd have to be a
nice little paycheck for her. One of the biggest conversations, obviously this season was the
relationship with Kenny. And like I was saying, people have opinions about everything, timeline,
moving across the country, blah, blah, now, I know it made you stronger, but did those opinions
ever get in your head? Well, we had had a lot of those conversations, like leading
up to doing the show, but also even during the show. So, like, these were conversations we were
having in private, too. But, I mean, you see, um, me get in my head at a certain point of like,
oh my gosh, like, this has happened to me in the past. Am I, like, missing something? Um, but I quickly
was able to, like, get myself out of my head by just, like, having a conversation with Kenny.
But it is, it is interesting that, you know, people all have a different perspective on timelines
and moving in together before engagement and all these other, like, topics.
But I just feel like as you get older and like now we're in 2026.
Like who doesn't live, who doesn't want to like try to live with their partner before they're
engaged?
Literally lived with like every boyfriend I've ever had.
And it made me realize really quick who like, oh.
You kind of have to try that before you like did.
Yeah.
I'm not a traditional girl.
We all know that.
I've been engaged twice.
I've lived with all of my partners.
It's like I just, I don't see anything wrong.
Like when people were questioning it, I was like, what?
I was so confused.
Yeah, I don't know.
It just, it didn't like read well from our perspective.
Yeah.
Just with the like, okay, this is what most people do.
So I'm a little confused.
I know that like obviously it's a big move.
So like you want to be dating with intention.
Right.
We were doing that.
But it was still questions.
I mean, it's so silly.
But I also think like you know yourself.
more when you're older.
So you, you know, do things.
And sometimes it happens a little bit quicker because you just, like, I'm more aware.
Yes.
You have more adult-like conversations and ask the harder questions and figure things out quicker.
And there's no time for games and bullshit.
No.
When you're younger, you're like, sometimes I was like blinders on.
Like, nothing.
You're like, be hot.
Don't matter.
Like, yeah, we have the best vibe.
Yeah.
No.
You know, it's just not like that when you're in your theory.
Our brains are not developed yet.
And that is facts.
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Did you guys watch the show back together?
We did.
Did it expose anything that you're like, yikes, or was it pleasant just the whole way through to watch?
I mean, I guess it's like probably annoying to keep hearing the same thing, but like we had talked about all these things, even when we filmed, like, separately.
So there was like no surprising on our ends, but it was more like surprises from the other cast and maybe they felt the same way.
and that's what like shifted things like watching it back that was a little scary i so if so you don't know
if there's a season two yet we're not sure yet okay but if there was you two would be all in
we're we're debating okay yeah we're debating what are the conversations like if you want to do
that again or i think if we want to do it again if we want to um it would maybe depend if like there's
new people brought in to, obviously it feels, feels, I don't know, I feel like after watching the
season back, there's definitely like some tension versus how it was filming. Tell me more. Who's
the tension between? I mean, I just, I guess, you know, you have different opinions and points
of view from certain people and you're just not always going to, you know, do you want to
continue budding heads with certain personalities or not. And are you okay with with with with being
around that dynamic and what that would look like or you know, is it something we can move past?
Like I think there's a lot of question marks still. Yeah. Because it's interesting in real life,
if you are budding heads with someone, you would usually just go a different direction.
Yeah, I'm like where you're on a TV show, you're like forced to keep banging your head against a wall.
Totally. So like I think that that's the little unique to. I'm not.
not I am not used to, I'm used to like certain standard in friendship.
Yeah.
I think it's fine to have like different boxes for different friends.
And so we'll see.
I think we have to see like what the conversations are like and like who comes back if
there is a season too.
Yeah.
Are we talking about Lindsay, Lindsay Hubbard when we talk about tension?
Or is it more than that?
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Uh-huh.
And I don't, I don't want to have beef or or fight with anyone.
And so I just, it's a little, not upsetting.
I guess I could say upsetting that like, you know, you just can't have a conversation to like to move past something.
I'm like so hopeful that maybe we could do that.
But it's just like in a rocky place.
Yeah.
No, that's, I mean, we can't all get along and vibe with each other.
This happens on shows when I was just talking to Lance Bass and Joey Fatone about NSYNC.
And they're like, you can't choose your family.
And that was family.
And sometimes it's dysfunctional and sometimes it's ups and downs and you can get through it.
Maybe sometimes you don't.
So I think this is one of the most relatable parts of your story because making new friends as an adult, I feel like it's so much harder than people either admit or even think about.
Now, I obviously, you just moved here.
How long did you move here?
I moved here like eight months ago, nine months ago.
Yes.
Probably almost a year.
Okay.
So, and I just moved here almost four months ago.
And it's hard.
It's hard to move to a new city, especially when you move for somebody.
They've kind of established their group of friends, and you're trying to either find your own or mesh with his friends.
Has New York, has it started to feel like home yet?
Or where are you at being in?
Because you're from Minnesota.
You lived in L.A. for a long time.
Now you're in New York.
Yeah.
All my roots and like Bessies are in L.A.
I was there for 14 years.
A long time.
Yeah, that's home.
Yeah.
So it's been an adjustment.
But luckily, Kenny has.
amazing friends and we like do a ton with them. I am like now meeting like girlfriends outside of that
because I think it is important like for like you to have your own like girlfriends. Girl time is so,
so different than hanging out like with couples or guys or whatever. Yeah. And so I'm like starting to like
build those friendships. But it's taken a while. And I think part of it was a me thing. Like I'm like,
oh, I have amazing friends in LA. Like I don't need like best friends here. And so I think it took me like a little bit
a time to like be more open to and it is uncomfortable you're like hey you want to go to coffee like
hey i'm i for me it's always been like do you want to go work out and then like it eventually turns
into like grabbing coffee after and then it kind of naturally evolves but it's it's it's kind of weird
it is meeting friends and i i feel like it's just as hard as dating in like i mean i'm 41 now but
in your 30s like i feel like finding friends with and i'll tell you into your 40s it's hard to
find people that you're just on the same page because people are having
kids now and like people everyone's in just different phases of life and I feel like we don't talk enough
about how hard it is to just build that strong female friendship that is so important like yeah it really
changes my whole aura my mood my everything when I spend time with my good girlfriends yeah because
guys don't want to hear us to blab about everything going on to her head you know these poor guys if you
don't have girlfriends they have to listen to everything but also yeah it's like navigating now like in
this 30, 40 age range of people having kids now. And that's a different dynamic. And like,
I think my friends that are starting to do that, they're like gravitating towards each other more
because it's just such a unique experience that like we can't relate on right yet. I mean,
I can try to understand, but I can't relate on it yet. Um, so yeah, it's. Do you and Kenny talk about
having a family? Yeah. We do. Yeah. Could you see yourself raising a family in New York? We talk about
this. I don't know. Like, I,
you know, I grew up with like yard house, you know, neighborhood, called a sack. Like I would envision
that for my kids. And that's how he grew up too. But it is hard once you have access and live in a big
city. We talk about like, would we be happy living in the suburbs? Not only for our kids, but would we,
like, we be happy in our day to day. And I think it's something we're still figuring it out. And I think
it's fine to kind of like figure that out as we go as long as we keep having those conversations
are on the same page.
Like you're,
you're obviously,
you have roots in Nashville,
but the conversation
keeps coming up a lot
even like with people
that I know of like,
but where?
Yeah.
But where would we want to be?
You know,
it's either like somewhere
close to family
or I don't know.
My friends are basically like,
pick a location,
let's all go there.
Where is your family still in Minnesota?
They split their time
between Minnesota and Florida.
Oh, okay.
And so what do they think
about you living in New York?
And be on TV again.
They like it.
They like it.
They like it.
They're super supportive and they've had fun watching.
And I think they would love for us to be close eventually.
But they know that, you know, we're always going to kind of do our own thing.
Yeah, fair.
Now that the reunion has aired, obviously, everyone has opinions again.
But what was the mood backstage before everyone walked out for the reunion?
I mean, it was definitely tense.
Yeah.
It was definitely tense.
It was kind of like you're saying hi to people and it felt a little.
little different. Yeah. And I definitely was, was nervous. Yeah. Oh my gosh. What were you the most nervous for?
I just knew I was going to have to have hard conversations. And obviously, I think when you have a situation where, you know, it isn't, it doesn't land properly and in life even. Like you, you need to admit to it and acknowledge it and like apologize for it. And I think like if you do that, that's like the only way forward like for yourself. And if someone decides like,
not to accept that apology. It's, it's, it's a, you know, on them. Um, but I really went in with that
mindset of like owning like certain things. Maybe I felt like I should have, you know, walked back on
and not said. And it wasn't like my intention. And, um, I definitely was very aware of that. So I knew
I was going to have to like talk about that. Yeah. That's, that's what the reunions are for.
Mm-hmm. Did anyone surprise you at the reunion? I mean, yeah, I think it was, it was a lot.
It was a lot. It was, there was no listening. So that was a unique experience to live through.
Oh, man. Was there anything that you expected Andy to ask that never came up?
Not really. I feel like Andy is such a good host. He will always ask the hard questions and go there and make sure every topic is untouched.
Yeah. He's so good. And he's so direct. He is, which is good. It's so fun.
Because, and obviously you know this from living both sides.
California people are a little more like chill and they'll say like, you know, they'll ask questions, but it'll be a little sugarcoated where New Yorkers just say it.
And this I always compare.
I'm like Chris Harrison in real life is more like Andy.
But Chris Harrison, the professional, is very like, he's good at his job, but he's so, so kind.
Andy's like, come on.
Yeah, totally.
It's like kind of scary, but it's awesome.
like been on TV and done it for so long because he is a straight shooter.
He really is.
Now, did filming the reunion bring you closure or more unresolved feelings?
Both. Both. I think like more so like closure for me on my end and like my stance
and like owning owning kind of what happened.
But a lot of like question marks with, okay, there's still.
like some mending or there's still some people that don't see eye to eye. And so, you know,
there's still some question marks. For sure. And I feel like any time I am in a situation where
I have to resolve things, I always go back home and I go, God, I wish I would have said this.
Was there a moment that you left the reunion thinking, I wish I said this or I wish I said something
differently? I mean, yeah, I'm just am one of those people that it's like always going to be
hard on myself and get in my head. And I think.
think there's always, I'm, I'm proud of everything that I said, but you always feel like you could
explain more to have, like, gotten through to someone or to have, you know, but I just, I don't think
there was, that was going to happen at the reunion. That's fair. Have you and Yvonne gotten closer
since filming wrapped? Yes. I still see Yvonne and Lexi, since filming, there are, like, two of the
girls that I, like, still, like, have a relationship and talk to. Yeah. Yvonne's definitely,
like, a peacemaker and, um, just super, super kind and, and so is Lexi. So it's been fun,
like, spending time with them, like, solo, like, girl time, but also, like, in the couples.
Totally. And now that you've obviously lived through a full Bravo season, you survived,
from filming to confessional, confessional to social media, to the reunion, what advice would
you give someone joining the cast for the first time? I think you really have to walk in with your
guard down.
And also, like, it is, it's so unnatural sometimes when people are, you know, having a tense
conversation to, like, speak up.
And so you even see, like, at the red wedding or whatever at the, at the, at the, at Yvonne
and Nick's wedding celebration.
Like, I didn't say a word because it's just, it is really overwhelming.
And especially if you're not the loudest person in the room and don't have the loudest personality,
you definitely need to like push yourself to
to speak up in situations.
And like your opinions like your opinion matters.
And I think I learned that kind of like more towards the end of the season where I just was a little bit intimidated.
But I like, I told Ashley I'm like, I'm pulling Ashley.
I was left and right crying in every scene because I'm just like so overwhelmed.
Well, it is overwhelming.
I, you know, I had the same kind of experience as you where I was on the Bachelor.
Then I did The Bachelorette.
And that was a little more like, oh, like intense.
Yeah.
Dancing with the stars was so fun.
But I just filmed a new show.
And it has some people from Bravo, Real Housewives, other people who totally understand the concept of like being the loudest one in the room.
And having their opinions because they know how TV works.
And they're like, if I don't say it out loud now.
And I was, I always think I'm the loudest one in the room.
And when I was around all of them, I was like.
And I just, I shut down.
I shut down.
I would cry. Same thing. I would just cry. I got so overwhelmed. My nervous system was just wrecked because I was like everybody's yelling. Like, why are we behaving this way? And then towards the middle and the end, I was like, I haven't used my voice. Why am I not using my own voice? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I kind of relate to that. Totally. It's a very interesting.
Because it is a little unnatural. Yeah. You know, when yeah, you feel like you're the loudest person usually and you don't have a problem speaking up. But then like, you know, you put you're putting a room with.
other people that have been on TV for a while are big personalities and you're like, whoa,
I have to do this all the time.
It's rude to talk over someone.
You know, it's like manners go out the window.
No, my parents taught me, like, forget it.
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Now, obviously, we only get to see about 45 minutes of an entire weekend of so much filming.
So I know there's so many moments that never make it on air, but I'm going to throw out a few prompts and you have to tell us the story that happened off camera that viewers never get to see.
Okay.
Okay.
So tell me about the biggest laugh that never made it to an episode.
Honestly, we filmed a Halloween haunted house that you didn't get to see.
And I hate scary things.
And so, you know, we're all like taking shots and whatever.
So like us going through that haunted house.
And then Kyle and Georgina were actually, and I think Owen were dressed up.
And we didn't know like in the haunted house of scary people.
And it was just like really funny looking back on it.
but it was like scary.
But it was a fun moment as a cast and we were all laughing and it was like a lighthearted
moment in the end that I wish people would have seen.
Don't you wish they had like a whole social media page for those kinds of moments to just be
shown so that people could see a little more behind the same.
Almost like what is it the what's that the Love Island one?
Oh, unseen bits.
Oh, that's what they do.
They have a whole episode that's like unseen bits and I think it's so funny.
I wish I could find this somewhere.
They did that on my season of The Bachelorette where it was sponsored by Clorox.
and it was like bleachable moments.
And it was like the funniest little moments that nobody got to see.
And you could watch it on YouTube.
And it was so funny.
Yeah, because you need that lightheartedness.
I agree.
I totally agree.
Sweetest Kenny moment that viewers never got to see.
Honestly, our very first scene filming together, we were walking through the city,
talking about my move and how excited we were.
And, you know, me leading my friends and just like the weight of the move for both of us,
like for him and me and we have this really huge like heart to heart on the the pier and you know
he talks about his his like year with his mom and we just like have a really really good deep conversation
that I wish would have been shown yeah um that was like a really nice heart to heart that explains
a lot of contacts around the spark for the future yeah that's that's the hard part
is when you know the context and viewers don't and you're like, duh.
Yeah.
And also my sister and her husband came to film with us.
And you never got to see them kind of like give a little bit more backstory on me
and like how I am with Kenny.
And like, this is the family POV is always nice.
What is their POV?
I want to hear it.
Well, it's, I feel like I was getting pushback of like,
Kenny doesn't let like Whitney speak up for a certain thing.
things and whatever. And Mr.'s like, no. Like she is like spoke speaks up more than I've ever seen
her. And, um, she just saw like how great of a relationship we had. So it was like nice to have
that perspective of just a family perspective of like seeing how much I've gone through and like
also shitty relationships and just who I was, who I am in that relationship. Yeah. I feel like
that's the most validating person to have, you know, like everyone can have their opinions. But
when your family and true friends see what it is.
Yeah.
And are happy and excited for you.
That's all that matters.
That's why it's so hard on Bachelor because they take away your phone and everything.
And you can't have your family's opinion and until it's hometowns.
And then you're like giving eyes everything.
Yeah.
You're like, do you see it?
Are you just being good for the camera?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Totally.
So I'm going to read a couple questions from listeners for you.
If there is a season two, what is your game plan?
If there is a season two and.
and we decide to do it.
Yes.
My game plan is to just continue to be unapologetically myself.
Because I want to be confident in myself enough to be able to like own my opinions.
Yeah.
And not just like be agreeable.
Yeah.
Somebody wants to know what was the Friends Giving Trip really like?
I mean, it was it was intense.
Yeah.
I think there was a lot of different dynamics and friendships in the group that needed repairing.
And then Kyle and Amanda were going through.
It was just like a lot of people.
We all kind of went in and it was a little rocky.
And by the end of it, like, we really came together and like put everything past us and like had the best time.
That's awesome.
We stayed up so late like drinking and celebrating.
And of course, you know, Kyle was DJing, DJing too late.
Classic.
Yeah.
Classic Kyle behavior.
Wait, this is so cool.
Kenny just did Hoffman.
Yes.
I did Hoffman.
Oh, you did.
I feel like it's like the most beautiful little cult that I always try and make everybody be a part of.
And I scream it from the rooftops that everybody should do it.
That's so cool.
When did he go?
He went in January and the end of January.
It was like a year since his mom had passed.
So he went over that.
Yeah, that's a healing, powerful experience.
It totally changed him.
Yep.
And I feel like everyone, it sounds like you had a similar experience.
Yes, I did.
It really, I mean, it changed everything for me.
It's hard and it's scary and it's so it's the most vulnerable I've ever been in my whole life.
Yeah.
But that's, I mean, you have to.
Did you notice a difference in him?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, yeah, I think he noticed a difference in himself.
And I definitely noticed a difference in him with even like his POV for like future stuff with us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Would you ever do Hoffman?
Yeah.
I mean, I don't feel like, oh, I have this one thing that I really need to like focus on.
I think there's like some little things.
Yeah.
obviously that I've worked on like through my last 10 years.
Yeah.
But I think it'd be really helpful like before you come become a parent even to understand and not like, you know, push things onto your kids that you don't even know that you're like unaware of.
No, that was like one of my biggest reasons for doing it because obviously our parents, even if they do the best job ever or some in some people's cases, they don't they don't go a good job.
But they're all just doing what they know or their best.
And it's, it really did teach me so many things about what I'd like to do differently and not to blame my parents.
And I think I did have a blame mentality for a while and like, I can't believe they did this.
And then it gave me a whole other perspective and just softened my opinion on what being a parent is and how I would like to do things differently.
And yeah, it was a big part of why I did Hoffman.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's really cool.
Because it really unravels like those like patterns and what you learned.
And yeah, we're all like a product of our environment.
Yes. Even if you're like the best parent in the world, there's always there's always things. So exactly. I agree with that. Yeah. It's it's really really something. Somebody wanted to know what is your favorite past bachelor season. Ooh. I feel like it was besides mine, probably Ben's season. I feel like, you know, there was just you guys had like the best girls that came out of it and like such strong friendships. And it was a fun season to watch. It really was. What somebody wants to know. What is Amanda?
Batula like in person. Honestly, like she's super sweet and outgoing and funny and not as like quiet as I was
expecting. Yeah. Her being, you know, a little introverted. She doesn't really read that in person.
Interesting. Yeah. Any big differences in filming reality TV after 10 years. I mean, I think it's just
more so like who I am as a person. Yeah. You know, just being able to be more confident. Yeah.
than I was in my 20s.
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And if you don't do a season two, what is you, what is your plan moving forward with yourself,
personally, professionally, with Kenny?
What does the future look like?
Yeah.
I mean, Kenny and I will continue to like evolve our relationship and like take steps forward,
which will be very exciting.
And end goal is like, obviously we want to have family and stuff.
But I've been working on a brand for a year that's launching in the next month.
And it's like a healthy snack brand, an allergen friendly one.
I have a ton of food allergies.
So it's been like a passion of mine for a while.
And I finally found something that I was really excited about.
That's awesome.
So yeah, I'm really excited for that.
I think it's scary to step into like an entrepreneur role.
But I'm learning as they go.
Yeah, it's you'll learn a lot.
Sure.
Yeah, I've done it.
It's scary, to be honest.
But it's so fun because, I mean, my favorite thing in the world is doing things that
make me scared and just like showing myself. Even if you fall on your face and it is a complete
failure, it won't be. But it's, it will, you'll learn so much. And it's, it's, it's like empowering.
Yeah. To do something for yourself, something that you believe in, something that aligns with,
you know, your lifestyle and everything. That's why it will be a success is because you obviously
are, you believe in it. And yeah, so passionate about it. Yeah. And yeah, I think like along with that and like
starting a brand in like taking these leaps of faith like being on the show moving to a new
city like all of those things like really built confidence because you're like taking these risks
that are so unknown and you don't really have you don't know the outcome to and like like you said
I think that that builds a lot of confidence because you like trust yourself that you're going to
get through it whether it like makes it and it's the best thing in the world or that you like overcome it
Yeah, no, it's really,
being an entrepreneur will do that to you.
Yeah.
But all the things that you've done in life
have gotten you to this place
to have the confidence and the knowledge
to know what you want to do with your brand.
And I think that's so cool.
Where can everybody find you
to keep themselves updated on the snack brand?
I'm so excited.
Instagram and TikTok,
just Whitney Franzwey,
just my first and last name.
And then I'm not saying the brand name yet,
but I will share it on there for sure.
When did you say in the next month or something?
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
So exciting.
The only other thing is like I'm just curious as this doesn't even have to be an online
conversation, but like just curious about what you think of like if you've frozen your
eggs and like if you are because like it's such a topic now.
And I feel like a little this like fear mongering online of like, oh my God, I need to freeze
my eggs and like I'm 35 and I just am curious if you've done it because I'm at this point
where like, should I do it?
And I don't mean to contribute to the fear mongering,
but you better do it right now.
Book your go home and book it.
Yeah, no one thinking about it.
Well, let me just, I mean, I will sell you on it because I do think it's one of the.
If you, which sounds like you do want to build a family.
Truly, think about this.
I was 32 when I froze my eggs and I'm 41 thinking to myself, thank God I did that.
Because I've always known I wanted to have a family.
I mean, God willing, I'll have one naturally, but it's one, not to bring up empowering again,
but it is one of the most empowering things I've ever done for myself because I did it with a girlfriend.
First of all, my girlfriend is a fertility nurse and I have like the most, she is the perfect person to do it for anybody.
She cares so much about the female body, about what you go through physically, mentally, spiritually while you do it.
She is there by your side.
It's really, it made me feel so proud of my body.
And I come from like a lot of body dysmorphia.
And again, just knowing that I have that as like a backup plan in case.
And your eggs actually are like, I think, I mean, if you go back into like cave men days,
I think we're supposed to have babies at 16.
So all of your eggs are like the best from like 15 to 20.
And then every year like really 35 to 40.
I'm sorry for- No, it declines. Yeah, no, I know. I mean, it declines. For example, my girlfriend was 29 who did it with me. She got like 42 eggs. Oh, wow. I was 32 and I got 11. Uh-huh. And so just what is your biggest fear around doing or what makes you think, oh, I'm thinking about it. Well, for me, it's more so like not like the first kid that I'm worried about. It's like the second or like maybe third. Yeah. It's like how many kids do we want and and also like that they're healthy. Yeah. You know,
think that's another aspect of it too. Yeah. Um, but it's like everyone's doing it.
There's a reason everyone's doing it. And I, I shouldn't just say everyone should do it. It's so
expensive. It's really expensive. And you want to find the right person. And, you know, I know,
for me, I'm just like, I don't want to put my body through that too. But why? Why?
It's not. It's not. It's. No, I get it. I should be more sensitive. Yeah. Well, it's like a few
weeks that you're like not going to feel like yourself and you're going to, you know, and it is just a few
weeks. So it's like I think I need to change my mindset with it and just do it. I think of how fast a few weeks
goes. And like you just get the right people around you that are just understanding and they can go
along the journey with you and be informed and educated on like why you might be going through this.
It's it's it really like I don't look back on it and go like, whoa, that was the worst time.
That was the worst three weeks. I'm like, oh, it was so, again, empowering. And yes, there was hard
things. But also it was I remember going that was so much easier than I thought it was going to be,
please let that be clear that I'm not saying the journey is easy the IVF is easy any of that no of course not
but for me personally the whole journey and I think it's because so Whitney Bischoff who's now Whitney
Angel she was on my season of the bachelor she has her own company called Lily and she came from
she's one of the most knowledgeable fertility nurses I've ever seen she worked for a really big company
and then went off on her own and she's crushing it where she based um Chicago okay I did it in Chicago
And I didn't live there.
Yeah.
Because she just, all I had to do is go there twice.
The actual surgery to retrieve the eggs, I felt so comfortable.
And the recovery was fine.
Like, I really think, I'll just put you in touch with her if you want.
Yeah.
Just for her to even have a phone call with you because she made me feel so comfortable.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No, I would love that.
It's like kind of like where do you start and how do you know who to go to and all these?
There's so many questions.
She will have the answer to literally every question that you have.
And that's, I think that's something that you should do is just ask the questions.
And then just like get a recheck.
I think it's been like a couple years since I've like even had, you know, my fertility check.
So I think like definitely knowledge is power.
But, you know, I literally help you grow up.
Everyone who has, who has done it as said, like it's really empowering.
And and also it just lets you relax a little bit about it.
Because I think even subconsciously you're kind of your your, your body's thinking about it.
Yeah.
all companies like if you're a woman and you're in the working space like every company should pay for this because it is more and more like women are being more educated and wanting to do it more and I just I really believe in it I really think it's a powerful thing to do yeah and I honestly I'll help you through all of it if you want okay I have questions yeah I honestly let me put you in touch with Whitney because she she knows everything literally everything about egg freeze freezing and like
she'll just make you feel so comfortable.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
I need to just do it.
Just have the phone call at least.
It's literally three weeks and it's not as crazy as you.
It's just the thought.
It's like when you're about to do something scary and it's very overwhelming and you put it off and you put it off and then you do it and you go, why didn't I do this?
Yeah.
Like that's how I feel.
It will be one of those things.
Like at 32, I was like, why didn't I do this earlier?
So that's my pitch.
Okay.
I'm like just adding to all of your fears, but I'm like, do it now.
No, I feel that.
And I'm like, I think why it's been like weighing on me and why I was curious even ask you because, you know, it's going to be fall soon than winter. And I'm like, it's a good time to do it. It's a really good time to do it. It's a really good time to do it. It's a really. And honestly, I was kind of like, like, you're like, you're like, you get so fertile that your blood work says you're pregnant. That's crazy. But I was like, I have a photo. And I'm like, it was kind of fun. I was like, it was like, it was just like you ate a lot of food. Like, it's not like you're, it's real. I mean, I get it.
Yeah.
But really it's, it's so worth.
It's not as big of a deal.
It's not.
It's not.
I mean, it's a big deal.
You know what I mean.
Anyways, I'll talk to you more about this if you want.
But I do appreciate you.
I know it's hard to like go back and relive certain things or talk about things that happen on TV.
But if people are listening, make sure you catch up on in the city, the reunion.
Be sure to follow Whitney.
Keep up with everything she's got going on next.
And if there is a season two, I'm sure we'll have more to talk about if you choose to do it.
But I love that you guys are having.
having open, honest conversations and doing what's best for you guys.
Yeah, and we're like, as long as it stays fun, we've had so much fun doing it the first season while we were filming and we wanted to stay that way.
Yeah, absolutely.
Thank you so much.
Thanks for having me.
I'm Caitlin Bristow.
I'll see you next Thursday.
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