The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Almost Famous OGs: Bring it On with Melissa Rycroft Strickland

Episode Date: June 23, 2023

Our Bachelor OG Trista Sutter is catching up with Melissa Rycroft Strickland who was (briefly) engaged to Jason Mesnick on The Bachelor. Melissa reveals that she nearly became Jason’s “wife” on a different reality show! And, we finally hear the true story of why Melissa was never The Bachelorette.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble.

Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your... free iHeartRadio app search emergency intercom and listen now i was diagnosed with cancer on friday and cancer free the next Friday no chemo no radiation none of that on a recent episode of culture raises us podcast i sat down with warren campbell grammy winning producer pastor and music executive to talk about the beats the business and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel rnb and hip-hop professionally i started at deathwell records from mary mary to jennifer hudson

We get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it. Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robey, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive. dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off.

Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TVR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit Apple.co. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hoon. You want to take it all?

I'm Mani. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me.

I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. No Such thing. This is the Almost Famous Podcast with IHartRadio. Hey, everybody. I'm really excited for today's interview.

I'm going to be talking today with Melissa Redcroft Strickland. She was on Jason Mezzanick's season. And if you didn't watch back then, maybe you should go watch because it's one of the most dramatic episodes ever. I know that's very overused. And it's all Chris Harrison's thing. And I'm not Chris Harrison. But it still is. It was an incredible season.

in. And, you know, since then, Molly and Jason have gone on to have a very happy family, as has Melissa. I'm very happy for her. And Ty, who they've been married. Actually, I don't know how long they've been married for. Maybe 15, at least 10 years. Actually, they have a 12-year-old. So probably like 13, 14, 15 years. I'm really excited to talk to her. It's been a very long time since we've seen each other, but I'm excited to chat. So let's bring her in. How are you? I don't know.

I mean, is summer as chaotic in your house as it is in mine. I'm like, I don't know what day it is. Schedules change daily, and I just, you know. I get it. I love it. I hate it. I get it. I know you.

I get it. But I'm so excited that you're here. I am so happy to welcome you to the almost famous OGs podcast. because that's, of course, what you are. And I know you know all about podcasting because you've been doing it for a while. So I'm just so excited to be able to chat. It's been a long time.

It has been a very long time. I think it was that old show Bachelor Pad. I'm pretty sure that was the last time. Actually, I think it was Dancing with the Stars. Well, let's see, which one was first or second or most recent. I so I know that we were both there for the hundredth episode right maybe oh I don't know what's in first that chicken or that egg no idea but you were at the hundredth episodes right yes you were at the hundredth episode yeah yeah so yeah where they had like a cake in the middle of the um ballroom

and a big we took a big picture yes yeah yeah yes okay okay so maybe that was the last time. Maybe either or, but yes, it's been regardless. It's been, it's been a while. It's been three kids later and for you. A lot of life changes. How is life? Life is good. Life is good. We are in summertime right now. I've got three of them, seven, nine, and twelve. Oh, my gosh. So it's just, it's chaos. But I got really emotional at the start of summer because I'm like, I only have like five or six more with my daughter. Stop. Because I have less. I know.

It's like it's a weird thing when it hits you. So I told my husband, I was like, I want to travel this summer. I want to start making memories. And, you know, because before long, she's going to invite a friend and then vacation changes.

And so it, but it did hit me. I went, how did we get here? Like, how do I? I know. I just went on it.

I just got back from a mother-daughter trip to a friend's habit or like big barn that they just built in telluride and it was you know the moms and the daughters and the daughters of course just mainly hung out with the daughters so i you know i was hoping for a little bit more time with her but i was also happy that she was happy and having fun you know so she's 14 and max is 15 so um we are we so and the chaos of like summer for me right now is we are currently trying to sell our house and move to Denver and they're going to be going to a new school. But in changing schools, it's really sinking in because we consistently are saying, well, we only have four more years with Blake'sley here so

we could live in a house that, you know, is close to school, blah, blah, blah, you know, all of those things. But so it really sinks in. Like it has, it has definitely sunk in for me lately. Yeah. Like every time I think about it, I just get the goosebumps of like, oh, I'm not ready. I'm not hot. I know. I know. And your boys, like, what is everyone into? I believe it's Ava, right? Your daughter? Yes. And she's a dancer. Just like mama. She's kind of following. I know, but it makes me nervous, too. I totally get that because mine is too. Yes. She is. I love it. I was very adamant of like, you find your own path, girlfriend.

Do you know where I went? I will not push you. And she, you know, I worked with the Cowboys cheerleaders this past weekend and I came home. And she goes, Mom, do you think I could make the team if I keep doing what I'm doing? And I'm like, oh, that breaks me. Yes, you can. But, oh, it's such. Yeah.

I feel like, I feel like because she's chosen the past, she has, there's a high bar that, like, she wants to be on dancing with the stars. I'm like, baby, they ask you to be on. You know what I mean? You can't audition and get on dancing with the stars. Right. And, you know, 12 is a hard age when they're coming into their own. But yes, she's a dancer. She loves it.

This is what she wants to do when she grows up. And so I was like, we'll put all our eggs in that basket, girl, and I'll do whatever I can. help you fulfill that dream, whatever the dream may be. Yeah. No, that's totally Blake'sley, too. She is all in. And it's been, it's, it's hard and it is so amazing to see, like, I don't know about, about you, how you, how your experiences. But for me, I always say, like, she is so much more talented than I ever was. Like, she is technically traditionally trained. Like, you know, I was not. I was just like I did the school thing, you know, like in high school and then in college and then for my me heat. That was my path and her path is competitive, like technically trained,

which just fills me with so much joy. But at the same time, it makes me so nervous because I'm like, it's a hard career to choose because, you know, they're not very kind all the time, you know, at auditions. They're not necessarily going to do. just, you know, tell you all the nice things. They're going to, you know, kind of beat you down. So, yeah, it is hard. But I love that our girls both found dance. I love it.

That's amazing. You know, I will say, I love that it's becoming, dance is becoming more of a, quote-unquote, thing, if you will. We just had a girl that we grew up dancing with who got dance scholarships to Michigan State University. And I'm like, dance scholarships didn't even exist back one. Not that I ever got one, but that was people laughed at that. Like, what is a dance scholarship going to do? Right. So I do like that it's evolved a little bit.

And, you know, I mean, there is some incentive to keep up with it that there's, there's more than what we had growing up as an end game for them. And there's so many incredible schools with dance programs now that I'm finding out. Like, I had no idea because it wasn't something that I necessarily wanted to study as a career. But, yeah. So you, so you spoke about the Dallas County. Cowboy cheerleader thing. Tell me about that. Do they do? I know I've caught it a couple times on TV. Tell me the channel. Tell me all the things about what's going on with that.

And how long have you been doing it? I think I've been on the judging side of it for seven years now. Amazing. I get a little mixed up with my timing. I'm very bad about it. Same. I think it's been about seven years. Everything is always two years ago for me. I'm way off. But, you know, it's awesome being on the other side of a professional sports team. As you know, like being in one and you kind of always want to know what's going on behind the scenes. And now, you know, I'm able to be a part of the tryout process. And the Cowboys cheerleaders have a three-month tryout process. It's a pretty intensive.

Three months? Whoa. I know. And they follow it with cameras. So we just, is there a show? They did. They did. There was a show on CMT.

It went away two seasons ago. So now we're just doing it. Just doing tryouts. Yeah, just doing tryouts. But yeah, I mean, it's, I love staying involved in the organization. I mean, I think that was a big reason why I was able to launch kind of into the quasi career that I had, you know? And so you always go back and do what you can to keep it going well.

Yeah, of course. It's so much fun. We just had a Miami Heat reunion, alumni reunion. And they had a reunion. Yes, they had a reunion. And there were, I think there were 70, 75 of us on the court at the same time dancing. We, and mind you, I'm 50. So I was scrolling your Instagram, just kind of checking out what you're doing lately. And I saw you post on your 40th birthday of the picture. Like, what was the old t-shirt? Love that. What is it? I hate it. I don't remember. I know what you're talking about. about like I'm I'm now one of the old people essentially and I was like but she's only 40 oh but still every time it hits you where you're like oh man you're old oh but we went to high school together my bad never right totally yes so anyway I I definitely feel old and um and when they

sent us oh well right back at you right back at you thank you um I just, they sent us like choreography in like, you know, videos so that we could do it from home. So we did, if we didn't live in Miami, which a lot of us don't. And I had to go to my, I called the dance director of my daughter's dance studio. And I was like, can I please use the studio? So she has like a TV up and I put it on the TV like learning this at my daughter's dance studio. Mind you, of course, she's totally making fun of me. But I was like, oh my gosh, It's been a long, long time. And it was so hard, but so much fun.

Have you gotten to do anything like that? They do alumni games every year. And it's always about when our anniversary is and we're in Vegas. So I have missed like every alumni performance. But last year, I saw the routine. I was like, they're doing double pirouettes and split jumps in the alumni. Oh, my God. I was like, are you kidding me?

Thank goodness. They didn't ask me to do that. Oh, my goodness. It was unbelievable. And they were doing it. These 50, 60, 7-year-old women. I was like, all right, girls, get it. I can't.

Overachievers. Right? No, not me. I know, right? Just meet me at the bar after me. Exactly. Whatever. You totally could still do all that stuff.

I definitely, oh, no, no, no. I mean, my flexibility is foop. And, yeah, I have definitely not kept up with it. So you said, Vegas, do you go to Vegas every year for your anniversary? We go like four times a year. You do? We're really weird and that Vegas is our happy relaxation place. People always here we go to Vegas.

Are y'all like crazy gamblers? Are you going to the clubs? I'm like, I'm in bed by 8.30 in Vegas, okay? I make six o'clock dinner reservations. We walk the strip home. it's it's like a one-stop shop you have pool massages shopping it's the best people watching you will ever find in your entire life that's so true true true story we do we go we go a lot that is amazing I have never heard anyone explain to describe Vegas as a like I know retreat I mean do it right

that's what I'm saying everybody else while we're walking home and I see the lines for the nightclub And I'm going, there is, you could pay me money. No. To go into that nightclub right. Right. No, thank you. It can actually be a very relaxing place. I mean, I guess if you like go to the right hotels.

They do have incredible restaurants, great shopping, great pools, great spas. So you're right. I just never thought about it like that. Ryan took the kids one one year. I had a work trip around. spring break. And so he was like, well, then I'm going to go somewhere. And he's like, where can I go? They went to Vegas and did like Blue Man Group and, you know, did the roller coaster rides and, you know. Right. There's a whole other part of Vegas that is not blackjack tables

and nightclones. And it's so true. Hi, my name is Enya Humanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you.

Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and internet. into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robeye, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts,

where we dive into the stories that shape us, on the page and off. Each week I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TVR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club.

Visit apple.c.O. forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it?

It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, until this. It's just, pull that, turn this. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. and then as we try the whole thing out for real wait what oh that's the run right i'm looking at this thing listen to no such thing on the i heart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your

podcasts welcome to pretty private with ebonye the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free i'm ebeney and every tuesday i'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. On Pretty Private, we'll explore the untold experiences of women of color who faced it all. Childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health struggles, and more, and found the shrimp to make it to the other side. My dad was shot and killed in his house. Yes, he was a drug dealer.

Yes, he was a confidential informant, but he wasn't shot on a street corner. He wasn't shot in the middle of a drug deal. He was shot in his house, unarmed. Pretty Private isn't just a podcast. It's your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Okay, so Bachelor, do you still watch?

I don't. Yeah, that is not shocking. That's not shocking. I don't think a lot of people watch of OGs, of like the OGs, you know. I do feel like it warrants destination because it sounds like you're bitter when you're like, no, I don't watch. And I don't watch for any other reason other than I just don't relate to anybody anymore. You know, they're hot, you know, hot, 20-year-olds that can't settle down at 20. I just am like, I just can't relate anymore.

I've aged out of, you know, having this. Ooh, that was me. And we try. I always try. And I fall out and I know. Yes. I haven't watched a long time, to be honest. That's kind of like I am starting to feel that way.

As like the first one, I have always said that I feel very maternal towards everyone on the show. just because, like, I've watched everyone kind of go through the same thing. And so I feel like I have an obligation in a way. And now that I'm, you know, have been doing this podcast, I feel like a little bit, even though we just mainly talk to OGs. So I definitely feel that way. But recently, I have been like, oh gosh, like I feel the same way. these people are so young like i could i could be their mother like it's crazy yeah and as their mother

i like year 12 t 21 you do not need to take this route right right so i definitely feel you i have um i do watch bachelor in paradise like i do love bachelor in paradise um and i love the shows i mean i am going to watch i'm going to try to watch charity season which is the new bachelorette that's going to be coming out. Actually, I think it's on Monday. I think it's coming up next week. Was it done already? I think it is. It's either next week or the week after. I want to say it's next Monday. So I didn't finish Zach's season completely. So I didn't see like her final episode, but I think that she's pretty strong in terms of like all things that I personally feel like you need in terms of being a bachelorette. But

But who knows, how long I'll watch. We'll see. I know. Right? Do you still get recognized? I do. And you know what's funny is I feel like as much stuff as I've done in my career, it's always Bachelor.

Really? Yes, it's always Bachelor that I get recognized for. And Ty still gets the, oh, you're so much better than that other guy. I'm like, y'all, it's been nearly 20 years. Like, we've all, we are all so where we're supposed to be and we're fine. it was like a lifetime ago um but our i don't even know if you was it again my timeline's all up like three years ago my season of the bachelor came out on netflix do you remember that well they did yes during covid they did like a um a best uh best in show kind of thing so chris did like episodes

actually they showed the entire series i feel like of some of them um mine was on same thing like I think that's when it was because I know it was during COVID it was it was weird and now my daughter's friends were watching it was like ooh I had kept that a nice little secret for a while right it did that um but do they say I mean I do they think it's cool or do they think it's oh because it's on TV they don't even really care about the story or what happened it's you're on my TV right let's turn that off I've got other things you can watch. Let's not watch that. Please. Yes. Totally.

Yeah. It's, yeah. Yeah. It's just weird. Do you regret doing the show? Because I'm interested to hear like your take because I'll share my opinion in a second. I mean, I can't say I regret it because I look at everything that happened in my life after, including the fact that I got back with my ex-boyfriend who became my husband. You know what I mean? Like everything in my life. life changed because of that show. Yeah. And I really went on it. I had a friend, she was a cheerleader with me. Her friend, her name was Natalie. She's the one that nominated me.

I don't even know how they do the process anymore. But she submitted my name and photo online. And I got this huge packet in the mail. And I went, well, why not? You know what? I'm not happy right now. I hate my job. I'm not cheering anymore.

And I just went, let's just see what I, let's just see. and so I really went into it with a who knows what's going to happen I mean you know when we did this there's no social media there was really no ulterior motive for going on this show other than one with it finding love or two like what I was doing of like I just need something else I'm not happy where I am and I just need a change of scenery and to see if this could be it and so because of that I don't regret it now I hate what happened for sure yeah but if it hadn't happened I don't know what would have happened after and so I can't you know I can't hate that totally that is that is my mentality 100% for the people like obviously for me I found my husband and we we are still married and

you know so yes for me it's different but I feel like for the people who didn't have like the happy ending that they wanted or maybe we're looking for that it led you to where you are today you know in some way, shape, or form, hopefully you're happy now, and it led you to where you were today. So you said that you hated what happened. What do you, for the people who need a little refresher, what do you hate about what happened? You really? I mean, I know. Everyone knows. I know everyone knows.

Everyone knows. And it's funny to me that people are like, when they count like successful relationships, they're like, not Molly and Jason. Which is interesting to me because they met on the show, you know? So even though things went down like they did, that's just, that's always interesting to me, you know? I mean, here's, like, I've had so much time to sit and reflect. And it really only took a couple weeks of me sitting at home stirring before I realized what happened. I legit think he got played as much as I did. You know what I mean?

I think he was telling producers what he was doing and how he was feeling behind the scenes. they told him not to say anything so he didn't say anything and they said wait for it on camera because I heard the phrase the audience deserves to hear it and so I know he was hearing that and it ended up making him look like a horrible villain and embarrassing me completely you know what I mean like all around I think we were all victims in the production of the show do I blame production no we know they're making a show i get that now like when i was 22 and 23 i was mad you know when they approached a bachelor at i was like absolutely not you guys are psychos i want nothing to do with you or your show i don't want to be a part of it um and now being 40 and seeing it i'm like

they didn't owe me anything they didn't know jason anything they got exactly what they wanted when they put us on that stage together so so right. You're so right. And I think that's so wise, such a wise way to look at it, a mature way. You know, when you're 22, 23, 25, 30, whatever going through it, it's hard, especially when you're in the middle of it, I'm sure. But I have always felt like, you know, I have always told people I'm friends with the exec producers because I'm able to separate it. I know that they're creating a show. Right. And then we also have this relationship. So as long, is I get that, then

it's fine. Like for Ryan, it's different. Like, he just always reflects back to when we were trying to plan the wedding and, you know, people are not being super kind. So, like, from production. And, and he, so he reflects back to that

and kind of holds a grudge in a way. And I'm, I'm just kind of like, they're producing a show. Yeah. That's their job. You know? I'll ever go back and be there for it again, but they're going to be my friends in there. Yeah. No, you're right. There's definitely a line. Hi, my name is Enya Humanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips.

And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app.

Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Just like great shoes, great books take you places. Through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget. I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies. I'm Danielle Robeye, and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from Hello Sunshine and IHeart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories.

that shape us on the page and off. Each week, I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TVR pile. Listen to bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Books is the official audio book and ebook home for Reese's Book Club. Visit apple.co-forward slash Reese Apple Books to find out more. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane.

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, do this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my eyes close. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devon. And on our new show, No Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these.

Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free.

I'm Ebeney and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. On Pretty Private, we'll explore the untold experiences of women of color who faced it all. Childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health, struggles and more, and found the shrimp to make it to the other side. My dad was shot and killed in his house. Yes, he was a drug dealer. Yes, he was a confidential informant, but he wasn't shot on a street corner. He wasn't shot in the middle of a drug deal. He was shot in his house, unarmed. Pretty Private isn't just a podcast. It's your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty

private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Have you talked to Jason? No. You know what's really funny? Seven or eight years ago, we were in talks. Hi and I were for a wife swap. Do you remember that show on ABC?

Yes, of course. They asked us to do that too. That would have been fun if we would have. just watched? No. Well, the worst you're going to the whole process and Ty and I like, listen, whatever, it's fun. It'll be fun. Well, some sweet producer at the very end of the whole casting process goes, I just need to tell you. And this didn't even cross my mind. How it didn't cross my mind, I don't know, but they're like, they're going to switch you with Jason and Molly. And I went. Yeah. Nope. Yeah. And it was a very quick no for so many reasons that where I'm like,

that's disrespectful to Molly. She doesn't need me in her household, first of all. And your kids. just ever like all of everyone and right she told me the this again sweet producer who wasn't supposed to tell me and like I'm sorry you just lost probably your job for telling me but she had said they want y'all to have like this whole conversation of like closure and I went there's no need for nobody's mad there's no need for that conversation like yes I was hurt at the time and I was mad he didn't beforehand. But it only took a very small amount of time for me to feel bad for him with all the backlash. He thought that he, again, was just as much of a victim. I'm not mad at him. I'm not mad at Molly. Molly and I were really good friends. People tend to think that there's like this huge,

oh, you against Jason and Molly. I'm like, it really, there's nothing there. I would, I'd say hi. I don't know if we need to like have double dates and stuff, probably. Right. Go to Vegas for your anniversaries. You don't think the wife swap. I cannot even imagine if that had happened. Oh, my gosh. If you had gone through with it and no one had warned you and you got that, what would you have done? I don't know because you know how TV works.

When you've signed the contract, you're in. It's not like you can turn around and say, no, I'm not. I don't, I really don't know. It would have been so awkward and uncomfortable and like, and again, it would have been out of producers of like what are you doing like stop doing it so but no to answer i have not talked to him since i walked off the stage that day like there has not been oh my gosh yeah it's it's shocking to me that you haven't like run into each other at an event or something do you know what i mean like um you know i have not gotten invited to any bachelor event

not me neither lately i'm like ah yeah i get down bachelorette pretty hardcore and i think that made them angry. I don't get people. I was like, why weren't you at so-and-so's wedding? I'm like, well, one, I don't know them. And two, I didn't know. Well, one, I don't know them. That's hysterical that you even have to say that. I mean, it's so true. I remember going to Jane and Tanner's wedding and seeing them like at the like pre-reception like beforehand that like, you know, we're like hanging out before the wedding. Like, it's the, like, day before or something. And I walked up to her and I'm like, hi, thanks so much for inviting us. Like, this is so weird that I'm just meeting you. But thank you. We're so excited to

celebrate you. I mean, only in Bachelorverse. You know, Bachelor Nation. Yeah. It is very strange. You all know each other. Yeah, I got asked why I didn't get a Jason and Molly's wedding. I was like, are you kidding me? Is that really a kidding? Who asked you that? That is the stupidest question. We're so interested in going or not going. Yes. Come on. Like, I'm sorry, but what? Yeah. Although, I say that. And then I go back to, so I just did an episode about my wedding. Yeah. And I don't know if you watched it, but on, and you don't, it's okay if you didn't watch it. But Charlie, who was the runner up, like the second guy that I did. choose he was the like commentator do you remember did you watch oh i don't remember that i know i watched it i don't remember it though no me too i mean pretty much so um i feel like bachelor relationships don't count if they don't last past that engagement day like i look at do all those guys you dated really count as exes i don't think so i don't think so either but

like so many people, you know, joke about that. Whatever, it is what it is. But that's so, it, that's embarrassing, like that I had my ex-boyfriend commentating at my wedding. Like, literally he is on a microphone. Commentating at a wedding, too. Commentating at a wedding. And there's a whole reason behind it.

Like, people can tune into the episode where I talked about the wedding. But, so it wasn't like this decision was made lightly. I knew full well that it was going to be really weird, but there were reasons behind it. It was just funny. Like, he's in the room with Ryan and his dad as like, oh, let's tune in. Bob's about to give Ryan some the last minute advice. Oh, my God. It was so bad.

It's so bad. I just can't. Like, that was my wedding. Weird. Okay, so tell me about the podcast. um so your podcast sorry yeah it's called i figured you can we talk about yours yeah um no logically irrational tie and i do it i think this is your number five that we have been doing it um and amazing the idea just came one night we were watching tv and we talk while we're we're big reality

tv fans like just kind of love mindless television and how different our takes everything you know i was like, how can you even, how are we watching the same show? And you think this and I think that. Podcasts were still kind of new at the time. I had babies at home. And so this could just be a fun way to still connect with the audience without me having to travel and, you know, working out, stuff like that. And it's, it's been successful.

It's been, you know, I mean, like I said, we're going into year five. It's exhausting. I don't know how you feel about a podcast, but like when you do it from top to bottom, it's a lot of work. But I do it. Do you do everything? I do. Do you do all of that? You do everything. So yes, it is exhausting. I do get it. So I'm a control freak. So like from making our topics, making the outline, I do the editing. I do it all because I'm like, I kind of don't trust when it's your voice. You know what I mean? I'm like, I don't want anybody to leave in a part I don't want or take out something that I like. So yeah. It definitely is a lot. But I love it. And it kind of is a time that Ty and I, we lock ourselves up in our room. up there for a couple hours and just kind of go at it. So it's therapeutic in a way, I guess,

for us. Yeah, for sure. I had a podcast called Better, et cetera. And I had a company that I was working with, but basically, I was, because I'm a control freak too, I was doing all of the editing, like they would have done it. But I was like, I'll just edit it. I'll send it to you. I was the one who was booking guests. I was the one who was, you know, researching. I was the one who was writing an outline and doing the interview all by myself. And so I get that. I took a break for a little while and I was like, well, maybe I'll go back to it. And then this opportunity came up with almost famous. Ashley, I and Ben do it. And I actually, I think we reached out to Sugarman. I'm sure you know Sugarman. Well, maybe you don't. But she's like, you know,

PR person that a lot of us have crosspassed with in Bachelor Nation. And I was talking to her and trying to work something out with her. And Bob and I did an interview together. And we were like, this is actually really fun. Like we need to do something together. We talk to her. And that's when it happened. And because it's like there's a production team, you know, that basically does everything. For this, I, you know, I do a little bit of research on my own just to me, be sure that I know who I'm talking to and what's going on in their life prior because I feel like if you don't, that's a little disrespectful. But I've been in interviews where they have no idea who I am. So you can't hear my name. Yeah. Who are you again? So anyway, I do that just because I feel like

it's important. But it's a whole different ballgame when someone else is doing, you know, all the other stuff. And I feel like I can fit it in. And it's so. fun. I feel like for you too, like we kind of did similar things. Like I did, you know, a lot of hosting gigs afterwards. So did you. I just feel like after the show, I was so drawn to like media and like kind of like behind the scenes or like on air talent kind of thing. But just because the energy and like the people like I just felt like it was fun. You know, it was a fun job and getting to talk. Like, I'm, obviously, both of us are fine talking. Especially for you, like, talking to your husband all the time.

Like, that's got to be such a fun way to just connect. Yeah. And, you know, I do feel like, like, I hate to keep saying, but like back in our era of reality TV, like the audience got to know us as people. You know what I mean? Like, that was genuinely were everything that we did after. That was us, you know? Whereas now when you see people on social media, you're like, that's a pretty picture.

I have no idea who you are. So I do think that there is that club of us that are about our age, that we're in reality TV at the time that we were, that those people that still follow us, follow us genuinely for our life. They follow our kids. They follow our relationship. And to me, I think that's very special because I don't think that's there anymore. I look at my 12-year-old daughter on social media, and I'm like, you are so disconnected

from everything, even though what you're doing is like scrolling on TikTok, but you have no real connection. And I really feel a genuine connection to these people that have followed me for nearly 20 years. And I'm like, I kind of owe it to you to let's just keep the journey up. And I do enjoy it, you know. And so that's a big reason why I like to, I like to continue it. I feel like all of our audience from our era is just very special. I agree. I don't, I'm sure you hear the same kind of things, but we hear constantly about how our time on the show was something that allowed them to connect with like a significant other or their mother or like they were having a baby while they were watching our wedding in the hospital or whatever. So I definitely feel that.

And there are multiple people that I have DMed through Instagram over the years that I have never met before they were fans and we just have connected and every time they write I'm writing them back you know like it's a little it's a friendship you know even though we've never met yeah I love it I love that I agree I agree connection is the most important thing to me in life and it just makes life happy whether it's with Ryan or my kids or my friends or bachelor nation and so yeah I I love it I'm so thankful for it and thankful that you are part of it and that we got to connect again i it's been a long time and i feel like our life is so so similar um yeah we definitely have done so many of the same

things and even like scrolling so i was with a girlfriend yesterday who um lived in texas she lived in austin and i was like i have to prepare for this um for this interview tomorrow. I just want to see what Melissa's up to these days. And so she was like scrolling with me. Like as I'm scrolling, she's like watching. And I just felt like, you know, her and I are friends. I'm like, I feel like your friends could be friends with my friends. And it was very cute. Like, because Texas loves Colorado. I did see that you came to some, well, actually, what you went skiing. My brother lives in Denver, actually. So we go to Denver quite a bit. In Denver? Stop. up. Yes, I know. So we're there all the time. Yes, Parker. Oh, no way. Yeah, is like very close to where

my kids are going to be going to school. So it's one of the areas that we're looking. That's hysterical. Oh, my gosh. I'll have to, I'll have to like, like actually see how he likes Parker. Like, if you'd be okay with it, like connect and see where they go to school. Does he have kids? Yes, he does. He's got two boys and they just had an, other little baby boy. And they're young, but they're younger. You're younger. Yeah, they're nine and seven. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, they're definitely younger. Anyway, yeah, I just love that we got to connect again. So thank you. Yeah, thank you for having me. This was fun to kind of hash it out with you. Yeah. I love it. I love, I love, I'm just reconnecting with people. Like I said, I feel very

maternal towards everyone because I feel like I'm the, I'm the dinosaur. I'm the, I'm the The matriard, not the diogen. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Very different. So I just have like a, you know, a special place in my heart for everybody, including you. So thank you for coming. Thank you.

I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Yeah. Of course. Tell Ty hi. I will. Still Ryan hi. Good luck with everything.

Thank you. I'll meet you in Denver. Yeah. Yay. Okay. Awesome. Thanks, Melissa. Thank you.

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