The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - The King of I Do Part 2, Meghan King

Episode Date: February 26, 2025

Fan favorite, outspoken and notorious housewife, I Do Part 2 repeat offender, Meghan King joins Cheryl Burke, and Cheryl is comin in hot! Meghan is talking about dating post-divorces, and the relationship blunder she considers her biggest mistake. Plus, Cheryl confronts Meghan about that engagement ring photo and if she’s going back to Housewives! Email us at: [e-mail] or call us at 844-4-I Do Pod (844-443-6763)Follow I Do, Part 2 on Instagram and TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. 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. Hi, I'm Jenna Lopez and in the new season of the Over Comfort Podcast, I'm even more honest, more vulnerable and more real than ever. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life?

Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? Join me for conversations about healing and growth, all from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Listen to the new season of the Overcombered podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land?

Jeopardy-truthers believe in... I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. to give you the answers, and you still blew it. The Puzzler. Listen on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell, and the DNA holds the truth.

He never thought he was going to get caught, and I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology is already solving so many cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to I-Due Part 2. I'm Cheryl Burke, one of your celebrity mentors here on the podcast. This podcast has been fun for me because I'm an open book, as you guys know, when it comes to my love journey. And on this show, I get to meet other people and talk about their own experience with love and heartbreak and second acts and how their experiences have shaped them.

Today on the podcast, I'm going to be joined by someone who's had her fair share of heartbreak. You know her from the Real Housewives of Orange County. Please welcome Megan King to the pod. Well, first of all, welcome to I-Due Part 2. would you say that you're in your I do phase part two Megan not really I don't know like I feel like I did that a while ago right so part three I mean part nothing like who's counting no no I already did that we're talking about the past I do part two like a while ago right okay so how is it currently then I mean I'm dating and but like mainly I'm focusing on myself my kids and and and

money. Right. Like your career and all of that, like hustling. Porting myself and my kids. Yeah. Yeah. I saw your post that it was so, you know, heartwarming and reading your caption just felt I don't have kids and I can't relate, obviously, but it was super just transparent and honest and I really appreciated that. And how was that whole experience with your daughter? Oh, to be like on a trip with her. Yeah. you're right like that was really moving for me um i knew that i like time with my children individually is really special and but i don't often get afforded that privilege because i'm a single mother and i do have help because i have to because i'm a working mother but like when i do have help

i take advantage of that by not being home by working right and so when i'm home i'm home I have my three children with me at once. And it's really, in my head, it's always like a really special gift to be able to spend one-on-one time with them. And I did, but like I never put it like a whole lot of effort into that. And so when I was able to do this with my daughter, I was really looking forward to it.

I took her skiing in Idaho. And it was so amazing. first of all it was really easy one kid oh piece of cake it was like nothing it was it was like hanging out with a friend and he realized how good of a mom i am you are i am i am always like trying to chase my tail as a single mom of three kids and when i just had this one on experience i realized it's okay you can celebrate like what you're doing because you're doing good job. Absolutely. And I think that was just, like, I'm sure you just related to so many moms out there, but I do have to ask. I know you don't want to talk about the past, but we need to know

a little bit about your love journey. And, you know, you saying you're being a single mom and just remind our listeners what that, in a short few sentences, what that is for you. I was married to my ex-husband. We had our first daughter together via IVF. We recorded that journey on the Real Housewives of Orange County. And shortly after 18 months, to be exact, I had twin boys. And shortly after that, I went through a very public scandal slash divorce with my ex-husband. And things have gotten progressively worse since. And it's been five years now.

I've been five years a single mother minus like a little blip on the radar there of a big mistake called an annulment. But that was literally like three months of my life total. And here I am like still navigating the waters of single motherhood. Yeah. And do you want to ever maybe play around with getting married again? or is that just not on your radar? Yeah, I think, like, having a life partner for me is very important. And I want to be pulled with someone.

But what I've learned through my relationships is that there's no one who's going to fill a void for me. There are voids. Don't get me wrong in my life. But those voids need to be filled by myself. and then I can accept someone who's going to enhance my life after that, not someone who's going to fill a void. Because when I allow that void to be filled by another individual, that invites me to accept a lot of faults and turn a blind eye to red flags.

And I realized that through some failed relationships, including that annulment that I spoke up, And that's not what we're doing anymore. We're in it and we got this five years. I've done this for five years. I don't know how, but here I am surviving. I mean, like an alcoholic, like I am an addict, honestly, it's one day at a time. I haven't dated in three years and I don't, I'm good.

I am fine. And since my divorce, I'm like, I just have no interest. Really? Why not? Because I owe it to myself to date myself after being a serial dater from 13 till 37. You're master dating. What? You're master dating. You're dating yourself.

Absolutely. But I owe that to myself. Like I'm enjoying this drama free zone in this home that I live in and I have zero interest. But back to you. Okay. what has like co-parenting been like for you and your ex? It's been not co-parenting. It's been parallel parenting.

And parallel parenting is a term that people use when there's very little communication or teamwork with the other parents. And it's more like one party is parenting and the other party is parenting separately. And that's what I've been doing. And that is not ideal for the children at all, unfortunately. But sometimes that's, you know, what the cards have been dealt. And it's horrible. Do you see that how it affects?

Because I come from a divorced family and my dad was just like nowhere to be found. I mean, he was, he left the country. So like there was really no co-parenting, right, at all. So until my mom met my stepfather. Total single mom situation. yeah no for a good solid i would say four or five years like at the prime you know of when i needed a father figure um most likely have you seen it effect like are your kids in therapy or oh yeah they're in therapy yeah for sure that's good yeah it's cute like they love it and i think

like a special gift i've given them because i started them in therapy before they understood that therapy was a trigger one that's so good for them therapy is just a word that we use like go play outside it's just natural to them and they speak about it with their friends like it just rolls off their tongue and I love that that they have that and they're like so good tour of normalcy I love that they're talking to their friends about it because there's there was back when I was that age probably a lot of shame behind therapy you know like you only go there if you're I knew without crazy I don't know what was when I was their age totally it's so good Well, my mom, I mean, I went, I started at four, but like my mom, for her generation, there was no way in hell.

But where are you from? I'm from the Bay Area. So you're from California. Like, that's progressive. I'm from Missouri. Well, I went to therapy because I got, I got molested when I was a little girl. So that was a necessity. That's a different.

Yes. You know. You're in therapy. Yes. So my mom did what, like, you know, she was, she was a nurse as well. So she knew exactly what to do. Now, if you're talking her generation coming from the Philippines, like that is a big no-no, you know, therapy in general. Yeah, yeah, there's a taboo associated with that.

Yeah. Have you found a tribe of women to, like, support you during this time, or are you more of a person who likes to be alone? No, I found, I have a tribe of people. and combined men, men, women, but for me, like, I think, like, I found a ton of support in women, and especially my best friend who's also a single mom, who's been through and going through a very similar situation to me. And it's just nice to be able to relate to somebody in the way that I can talk to her and say, X, Y, Z is happening.

And basically what I'm saying is Armageddon is happening. And she doesn't react like with, you know, her jaw to the floor. She reacts like, okay, we can handle this because she understands that. Totally. There's something to be said for someone who understands or can, can, like, absorb and, and react to my. trauma in a way that is normal. Instead of like thinking that the world is falling apart.

Judging or people are like. Yeah. I hear. No, I totally hear you. And there's not a lot of people out there like that. You know, without, first of all, we're all human judgment happens,

but also like you just want to be able to speak about freely, about whatever is going on without thinking twice about it, especially within your inner circle. And not only that. It takes a ton of energy to speak about what I'm going through. And I don't love to relive that. I don't really like to talk about it. But do you feel like it heals a little part of you every time you do?

I feel like there's a sort of release when it's the right audience. Otherwise, I feel like it's a job. I hear you. And are you in therapy? No. I feel like I have a weird. take on therapy. Say more.

Therapy is very therapeutic as it's supposed to be, as the word says. I mean, it depends on who you're going to. There has to be a relationship and all that. But I think therapy is meant to be there until you've learned your lesson. And I feel as if, like, for the most part, with my situation with my ex-husband, I've learned my lessons. And I know what the advice that would be given to me. and therefore, like, I know how to apply it.

It's whether or not I do it. Also, I don't know. Like, I'm analytical and I'm emotionally aware. Sometimes I think that therapy is just a waste of time for me because I've already done it. And I either apply it or I don't. I mean, it's different for everybody, right? Like, for real. Like, I think that, I mean, there's no, like, check.

Like, I'll be in therapy for the rest of me. my life. I just know that. But that's my situation, right? And do you feel like you're missing an unbiased opinion? No, because I get my therapy from other sources. So it's not like a therapist per se, which I do. I do see a therapist like intermittently. Yeah. It takes a long time. It's a lot. It's heavy. You have to explain everything again. Like it's a whole thing, right? And it's expensive if you see if you're not going through. Yeah. It has to be the right match. Yes. that's very important. I mean, there's a lot of, a lot of people that say, you know, I just tried it and didn't work out for me. And I always say, try again, you know, because like there's just, I've been through 10. And now I've been with my last therapy or my current one for like almost 20 years. So it's like when you find the right one, you stick to it unless she retires or he retires. So I have a life coach I work with. Oh, okay. That's great. Yeah. And that's similar to a therapist. They're not like, they're not certified.

but yes, correct. But they're still unbiased, right? Yeah. That's great. That's awesome. Okay, let's transition into dating here. Tell me about your dating life. Okay, so I've been in an on and off relationship for several years,

and that's safe and, um, than like comfortable and then but like outside of that i date casually and it's fun i was actually about this a couple days ago i love falling in love it's like addiction it's that you bring something up right one million and yeah and i love it's the most one thing ever to fall in love but what like that's not that's not sustainable and that's not it's real in the moment but it's not real in the moment, but it's not real in the long term. No. And so there's something really special about this relationship that I've had on and off for

five years that I think that, okay, I'm going to get a little deep here. And we love deep. When I was in my relationship with my ex, he has a lot, like looking back, he has some traits of what some might think of narcissistic, like me. And a typical trait of a narcissist is. to like love bomb and like you fall in love quickly and that's and I did that that was amazing and then it ended poorly for me but for me as like a late 20 year old that was how I thought love was supposed to be and so I think that's what I still seek in a lot of ways and that's not

like we said sustainable and so I'm like trying to get out of that cycle but to get out of that cycle means to like get out of that like huge release of serotonin and to like keep you know consistent with like this a stable individual or a stable relationship you have to retrain the brain and that is really difficult if like you have to do things that are not comfortable right that are that you have to be aware which I think you are obviously you're saying that you're aware of what you were or still attracting, right, as far as personality traits go. And I feel like I can relate because I am just a bad picker because my sense of home

was abuse, right? So my abuse is what I was attracting and people who were unavailable, men that were unavailable. And I still can gravitate towards that. My lazy brain, I like to say, like my subconscious is very used to that. That is my home. I was disgusted by nice people, right? So there was that because I never experienced that.

So I was like, well, with all of this, obviously I didn't like myself, let alone love myself. And then I was like, I was attracting that type of just people around me, both romantic and not romantic. Do you, are you active in untraining the brain to then train it? Absolutely. And I completely relate to what you're talking of, like speaking of with the attraction quotient. I think that that's like a very revealing part of who we are that sometimes we don't want to look at. You know, like you are who you were raised by. And that too.

And it's to break those generational cycles and to break even not generational. like just to break, like, your own life cycles is really difficult to stop. And it takes, it takes, like, a ton of inner work. And not only that, like a ton of being comfortable with myself. And that is the fucking hardest part. And I mean to love the body I'm in from head to toe and to love everything about me, including my anxiety, including the bad things that I've done, and not to love them and not to be proud of the bad things, but to say to those things, I see you. I understand what you do this.

I understand how you feel. And this is okay. We're going to get through this and then to move on from there because I think that once I recognize the feelings and the person that I am, that allows me to love myself more and then to be able to heal. Totally. It's just like you have to mother your inner child, you know, because that's exactly what it is. And it's so amazing that you're very aware of this. And you should be proud of yourself because that's a lot to swallow. It is.

Yes. Thank you. I am. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, wait a minute, Sam, maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her.

Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him?

Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. 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. Hi, I'm Jenna Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomfit podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection.

Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids? and to really just devote myself and my time. I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did.

Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard. And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter,

and listen to the new season of the Overcumper podcast as part of the MyCultura podcast network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you. And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the hosts of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief.

Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me, new episodes every Wednesday on exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement. Terrible love advice.

Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh, well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. Get in here! Today we have a very special guest with us. Our new super secret bestie is The Deva of the People.

The Deva of the People. I'm just like Text Your Ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. That's us. That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya.

In each episode, we'll talk about love. friendship, heartbrates, men, and of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Mycultura podcast network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Now I have to ask you about this ring post on October 6th, to be exact, or 9th. Okay. Say more. What ring?

They showed like an engagement. It was an engagement ring? Did that you post it on Instagram? Let me look it up. Or maybe it was an Instagram. It was a different social platform, but I'm pretty sure. It was in October. It was on Instagram.

And it was a ring? Yes. Oh, come on. You cannot forget about your post unless you have people posting for you. No, I post my own stuff. October 6. Unless you erased it. I don't think it was October 6.

It was in October. Okay. come on it was a string it was in a string it was like in a carousel was it about was it a big ring was it a little bit of pictures well it had to be my big ring October 20th per my producer okay October 1st October 28th it was in a carousel I believe I mean you could have just been a right I got it I'm looking oh that one oh yeah that one so pretty it is pretty that's why were talking about it. Say more. I wish that was mine. What? I forgot about that. Were you ring shopping? What was, what was all of that about? Hell yeah. I'm always ring shopping.

For an engagement ring? Come on. Who is that? I wonder who's that. That is. Is that your hand? My friends have really beautiful big ass rings. And I just thought I was gorgeous. And by the way, I think you're, you know what? I have a really good lie detector. I think you're lying. But that's okay. You do? Yeah. I. I'm like almost psychic. I swear to God. My grandma was. It's this whole thing. It's like I am, I can smell you from a mile away. Do you think somebody's going to buy that for me? I mean, yeah. I mean, I have a poshmark account. I can just sell it for you if you want. It's not mine. I would, no. I wish it was mine. Okay. So you're playing coy. Obviously, you don't want to say more than

that, right? I'm not. I'm not. Like, it, that's just a random picture. No, I think it was my friends. like my friends have like really big diamonds and I love to try them on and I think I will be if I hear that you're engaged in one week from today I'm going to murder you who's who's going to be who's going to be the husband Cheryl I don't know I mean who knows how so how many people are you dating at the same time right now I mean you're going to have to give me some tips here so in my head I love to date multiples of the same time really I don't know how you do that in my head I said. Oh, that's fine. I still don't do that in my head. How do you do that? I don't know. I'm like, oh, I'm a modern woman. I'm going to date like so guys. And like, you know, I'm going to like just be

free. I cannot. I wish I could. I get, I am so not like that. I'm monogamous. Big time. Like, when I have sex with you, you're screwed. You might as well marry me. There's a lot to be said for that and same and like I try not to be that way but like that's how my brain works that's how my body works and I can't help it so okay how are you on a dating app like how do I do this if you were me if we were besties and you were here with me and I was just like it was a Friday it was a weekend see I'm a hermit I'm like I am so too comfortable alone with my Frenchie and it's just the two of us bitches and we're hanging out you know so like what would you you say what are the first steps when I'm interested in dating because I'm just not right now

but anyway no I'm like you're not interested like there's no for you okay cool there's nothing you do you stay in with your Frenchie and you watch love is blind obviously thank you I'm halfway through season eight like I get it I get it thoughts but yeah I know no it's not for you Cheryl it's not for you you our audience so our listeners are very interested in this so say more what the what the audience, what the listeners do is they they go on a nap if they want. Okay.

Which I think they should because it's like good to look at. Okay. I'm on Hinge and Raya and they both are horrible. Are there? Okay. Well, why would you say then do it when it's horrible? Because it's good to know what the

what like the pickings are. Okay, got it. So you're just judging a book by its cover as you're swiping through. Correct. Okay, got it. Good books by its cover. Yes, what we do. Gain some confidence, like, go. And then go out to the, like, IRL and beeps and put yourself out there and say, like, hey,

I notice you're not wearing a ring on your finger. That's a bold statement. But it's true. Like, that starts a convo. And then they're never like, thanks for pointing out the obvious. Like, okay, is that how we're starting this conversation? No, they usually try to like play it cool. But you're right. I would totally say that if I was a guy. Yeah. I mean, if they say it to you, you can totally steal it. They must, you know what? That is a

terrible pickup line. I've never gotten that response. They must just never get pickup lines. I mean, they just must like you. There's no pickup line needed. Oh, maybe, maybe they. Maybe it's just like a high. Short and sweet My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly And now I'm seriously suspicious Oh wait a minute Sam Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit

Well Dakota it's back to school week on the okay story time podcast So we'll find out soon This person writes My boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot He doesn't think it's a problem But I don't trust her Now he's insisting we get to know each other but I just want her gone.

Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet.

So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, psycho babble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom. And listen now. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in.

That means more juicy chisement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it.

Get in here. Today we have a very special guest with us. Our new Super Secret Bestie is The Deep of the People. The Deep of the People. I'm just like text your ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself.

Okay. That's us. That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heart breaks, men, and of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Michael Tura podcast network

available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, I'm Janica Lopez, and in the new season of the Overcover podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did.

Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard. And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter and listen to the new season of the Overcumper podcast as part of the MyCultura podcast network on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hello, it's Honey German. And my podcast, Grasas Come Again, is back. This season, we're going even deeper into the world of music and entertainment with raw and honest conversations with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition?

No, I didn't audition. I haven't audition in, like, over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators, and culture shifters sharing their real stories

of failure and success. success. You were destined to be a start. We talk all about what's viral and trending with a little bit of chisement, a lot of laughs, and those amazing Vibras you've come to expect. And, of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity, struggles, and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewash because you have to do the code switching? I won't say whitewash because at the end of the day, you know, I'm me.

Yeah? But the whole pretending and code, you know, it takes a toll on you. to the new season of Grasasas Come Again as part of my Cultura podcast network on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Has dating with kids been tricky for you? Yeah, like the dating part, no, but the relationship part, yes. Have they met anybody other, that you've dated before or? Yeah.

So I've been single since my kids have been one and three. One, one, and three. And initially, I was like, oh, I'll just, like, introduce them to everybody. And I did. Like, anybody who came to the house to, like, pick me up, like, oh, hi, this is my friend, Bob or Joe, Bill, or whatever. Yes. But then once they started having a memory, I'm like, I stopped. And so my kids.

What do you mean once they started having a memory? They're going to, what do you mean? Well, they were three and one in one. You know what? My first memory, I was two, my very first. memory. Listen, I'm not saying that like certain things haven't stuck with them, but I don't think like Bill and Bob and Joe are necessarily going to like lay like deep seated memories in their brain. Totally. They're in therapy. We're good. They're in therapy. But like so like after a

couple years, I'm like, okay, this is done. I thought I'd be married at that point. I thought it'd be like done like they would never have a memory without me being and so it was like a new thing for me to have to take that like to make my dating life separate from my and which I did and my kids don't have any conscious memory of me having a boyfriend I'm just messing with you it's well I don't care you can come at me like it's true and i'm never coming at you i'm just messing around i don't have kids so i have no idea what i mean my first memory was when i was three i was like going down my bicycle but down a hill and i was scared i remember that when i was three years old but like i don't remember my mom's friend from college yeah no i hear you my my first memory was with my real

father naked having sex with another woman in his uh apartment yeah that sounds like traumatic that would make a mark it was another Filipino woman clearly he had a type rest in peace dad um yeah so that i'll never forget that was interesting okay so when do you wait so you have three kids right yeah your daughter is the oldest yeah she's eight so are you going to ever talk to them about your dating life yes and i do okay like very fluid with them yeah um in the sense where like they'll but it's different like my kids it's it's not like they ask about dating it's like in their minds there's friends and there's husbands there's nothing between and so i'm like okay i'm um do they'll be like we're mommy will you look for a daddy will you get a dad

house and i'm like no we're good without a daddy and then they're like Can we get a mommy then? That's funny. Honestly, that would be better. So do you guys split custody? Like, how does, is, do they see their father? They, yes, they see. Got it.

You know, I have this debate going on in my head, but also in one of the episodes I did here with Heather, our producer. And I said that, you know, coming from a divorce family, like, I was basically just raised by my mom and a couple of nannies, right? but I believe because I'm thinking like for me obviously I'm not going to ever have a kid that I'm 40 and almost 41 and I'm I don't want to have a kid like naturally right like that but like I wouldn't mind possibly maybe having one down the road right like and I'm not ready right now whatever anyways the point is that I'm not opposed to raising a kid as a single parent I think it's almost healthier than doing so with a partner. I could see that. I think that if I was entering into a relationship where I was starting to have children, I wouldn't look at the person as a romantic partner. I would look at them as a life partner and a business partner, more or less. And I raise this child, do our values align and, you know, the ways to raise a child because yes, like maybe our values aligned in the ways of having sex, but, you know, or financially or whatever. But children, that's a whole different ballgame.

And there's so many, as we both know, factors that go into a relationship. But when it comes to the children, that is the one thing that, like, if it's not perfectly aligned and you got, and you and you and the other person are, you know, the proverbial you and the other person split up and the children part isn't aligned, that's going to cause tension for the rest of those children's lives, which I'm through. And I did that to my children because I was so focused on loving my partner for me and having children for me. I didn't think about the long-term repercussions of if we split because in my head we just stay together. That's not how life works necessarily. Can you imagine, I think about this too often, if my parents stayed together,

I would have been way messed up more than I am today. Of course. Of course. And like, there's so much to be said for that. I think, like, you have your ideal situation, you know, in every, you know, potential situation, like, ooh, a nuclear family with a mom and a dad who love each other for a hundred a million years and blah blah blah but like the we can only do the best with what we are given and if that's not aligned then that shouldn't that then like we should go elsewhere to like give ourselves first of all the best that we can give ourselves because that's the only way we can give the best to our children when you say that you want to find somebody like a life partner have you has there any has there been anybody that's even like come close to

that checklist of whatever it is that's a good question true i i love to romanticize so i would love to say absolutely but like i don't honestly i don't at this point i don't know if that really exists because perfect doesn't no and people are people like are they going to are they going to be good people and consistent and stable and solid and there and that's scary yeah it's scary to expect that because you're bound to then break it right like the expectations of somebody is not is something that you're that's a thing it's like we're not yogis either we can't just go into relationships not having expectations because especially when you're dealing with other humans, right?

Like, I can't even imagine. So do you feel like in a way you're going to wait till your kids are adults until you settle? No, I wanted to be with someone well before now. And I'm not. But that's okay. It's okay. And I'm happy. Is it okay?

Yes. It's okay. Absolutely. Are you kidding? I have this beautiful home. I've decorated it for myself. It's like... I thought you were in a museum.

Thank you. I'm so happy, like in the space that I've created for myself and my children. Good for you. I just didn't imagine it being this way. Like, there's a big difference in, like, being happy and then having expectations. Like, they don't necessarily have to align. No, and it doesn't have to be black and white like that either. Are you content?

Beyond. Beyond. That's amazing. But I still have goals. Being content doesn't mean that you're not, that doesn't relate. I mean, you can still have goals and just not and live a drama free freaking life. And that's what I'm so happy. And I'm not like, okay, so happy is not sustainable, but contentment is.

And this is the thing. It's like I've, I'm not fighting with anybody. I'm not freaking out about something. I'm not being jealous. I'm not worrying. I'm not this. And it's like the list goes on. And I think that my, my nervous system has.

finally regulated to the point where there's fear. I mean, I'm not going to say that I'm not scared, but of course it's all fear related as to why I'm not dating, not all, but a little bit of it. But it's okay. And by the way, it's okay. Like, give yourself grace, you know? Every day I pull a card and I pull it usually in front of me. Like actually? Yes.

That's amazing. Physically. What type of cards? So I use a deck of cards from Gabrielle Bernstein. Yes. Uh-huh. She is like this awesome spiritual, yeah. Spiritual like manifesting.

Yeah. Of kind of like taroish cards, but they're not. And so every day I show. Like affirmations, right? Correct. They're affirmations. That's exactly what they are. And every day I shuffle them and I pull one.

And sometimes my kids want to pull one. and I let each with them, pull one, and I leave them out in the kitchen for the whole day. And I talk to my kids about what it means, and I really try to live it. And I start the morning out with it with my coffee every morning. And it's just like a good reminder that we're okay in the space that we're in. Do you meditate? I do. I'm not very good at it.

What does that mean? You're not good at it, though? It's hard for me to center my brain, so I do it more through breathwork. I hear you. I hear you. Yeah, I feel the same. Do you? I mean, I studied Transcendental Meditation.

I mean, I went full on for that period as soon as I got separated. But it's hard because I am a competitor, obviously, you know, my whole life, I compete with myself. And it's, like, hard to not shame myself when I don't do it twice a day every day for, you know, God knows how long. 20 minutes, right? Yeah, 20 minutes twice a day. It's like, then there's like, oh, then the shame. Like, I'm like, okay, so we're working on that, though, I mean, it's better doing it once a week than nothing at all, right? So we're just taking it one day at a time, like my addiction.

So I want to pick your brain a little bit before I let you go. Do you watch reality TV or is that just not of interest? Do you watch Love is Blind? Oh, I love the trashiest ones only. Which ones? So like the trashier, the better. Like 90-day fiancé. Oh, I haven't seen that yet.

I don't think I like trashy though. See, I can't even watch the really long-seasoned one. What's that one called? It doesn't matter. You just pop in. I kiss a lot of my dog gets anxiety when she hears people like yelling. Yeah. Oh, shit. Worth it. So 90-day fiancé is amazing. Love is blind. I love traitors. Yeah. That's all I can think of right now. Do you watch Housewives? No. That's okay. saying that. I feel bad. Why? I don't know. You know, I, like, I'm a part of this fraternity of sisterhood. And I feel like I'm not being supportive. I hear you. I mean, look, if I wasn't my job to watch Dancing with the Stars, I don't think I would either. So it's just, it's a little bit, like, and that's okay, because I think when you know the ends and outs of something, it just doesn't

hit the same as if, like, if I were on Love is Blind, I probably wouldn't watch it either, because it's kind of like, great. They barely use anything that we talked about, you know? I could see that. Also, like, in a weird human way, I feel like I'm, I'm like the one who's who can't sit at the table. I'm the one who's left out and wasn't invited to the party. Aw. Is that true?

Well, yeah. I mean, I'm not on the show. But it's, I mean, I've been off for, gosh, almost a decade now. Would you go back? I don't I mean maybe yeah I think like life's really different um so it's it's hard to say and I like I would want to be more private with my children now that they're older and they let their individual before they were just like extensions of me and babies and like just gaga guga and now they're real people with their own lives and problems personalities and opinions um what do you

think of Gretchen coming back? I'm excited. I think it's great. I like, I like them bringing back people. And I think, like, I don't know about other franchises, but OC has a really good camaraderie of people. Like, I still talk to a lot of people, most of them I was on the show with. That's good. Feels good. Yeah. I think you would be perfect. They should definitely bring you back. The last time I watched Housewives was the you on it, I think. oh thanks i mean i don't i barely watch television and if i do it's like in the background just background noise and it's less blind yeah um i've always i pitched the president of netflix recently i'm like they should do a celebrity version and he's like well that just won't work and i'm like but we can't

we can't we can make it work if we change our voices yes we can we can make it work change our voices yeah like so that the voice wouldn't necessarily like when you're talking to them with the wall Like a robot voice? No, it doesn't have to. I mean, listen, there's AI nowadays. It could be a porn, porno voice. Like, porn star voice. I don't know.

Whatever you want, you get to choose. You just change your name. Change your name. Or just don't talk about your career. There's like certain rules. Wait, that would be so good, Cheryl. I know. Thank you.

Would you go on it? Yes. That's why I pitched it. But you don't even want to date. Well, it's different when you're dating a wall. I love dating walls. I've been dating four walls. four walls here in this home, huh?

Until you marry them and love is blind. I mean, yeah, it's all temporary, isn't it? Just like our lives. Okay, would you go on traitors? One million. You would be great. Which one? Which one? We should do it together.

A traitor or a faithful? No, I don't think you can be a traitor. I know. You would be someone that someone would say, you're a traitor. Like, you know what I mean? I think I would really be good at it. You would be good. Yeah, thanks.

You would be. They're going to have like 10,000 seasons. So don't worry. Exactly. We'll be on the 10,000th one. Well, hopefully not that far. But thank you so much. Thanks for having me. Thanks for being vulnerable. And for everything that you just speak of. It's not easy. Thank you. I love that conversation with Megan. And I just love how real she is. And, you know, she's just honestly living day by day. Are you guys navigating what your I do part two could look like? need some dating advice, call us or email us, follow us on socials. All the information will be in the show notes. Make sure to rate and review the podcast. I do part two, an IHeartRadio podcast where falling in love is the main objective. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriends. My boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Emanzor.

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. join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you. And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc and I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts

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