The Squeeze - Joey Graziadei: Finding Balance

Episode Date: January 8, 2025

Welcome to Season 3!! This week, the Lautners are joined by former Bachelor and DWTS Mirrorball champion Joey Graziadei! Joey kicks things off by sharing stories from his childhood, his time living in Nashville, and his love for playing and teaching tennis. He reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of being The Bachelor, from the challenges of sending women home to the pressure of carrying the show, and the nerves of being in the spotlight. Joey also opens up about his Dancing With the Stars experience, including his first reaction to being asked to join, his request to be paired with someone in a healthy relationship, and how the show affected his life and relationship with Kelsey Anderson. Plus, he reveals memorable moments dancing with Jenna Johnson and gives us a sneak peek into his time on the DWTS tour!Be sure to follow Joey https://instagram.com/joeygraziadei/!Get tickets for the Dancing With The Stars tour here: https://dwtstour.com/To email us your questions or share your story, you can reach out to [e-mail] sure to rate, review, and follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on Instagram:The Squeeze:  https://instagram.com/thesqueeze/Tay Lautner: https://instagram.com/taylautner/Taylor Lautner: https://instagram.com/taylorlautner/& TikTok:  https://tiktok.com/@thesqueezepodcastTo learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow  https://instagram.com/lemonsbytay/ and visit lemonsbytay.comEpisode Sponsors: Right now, Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase with promo code SQUEEZE at Tonal.comLet’s do wellness on your terms, whatever that looks and feels like for you. Find OLLY at a Walmart or Target near you or at OLLY.comPut your water to work with Gatorade Hydration Booster.Head to JLoBeauty.com/SQUEEZE to receive 20% off plus THREE FREE LIMITED TIME OFFER GIFTS.Go to Cymbiotika.com/SQUEEZE for 20% off your order + free shipping todayGet ahead of the New Year with a routine that helps you now by going to Seed.com/THESQUEEZE and use code 25THESQUEEZE to get 25% off your first month.Produced by Dear MediaSee 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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or sunnycars. combe. The following podcast is a dear media production. Lemon Drops. Welcome to 2025. Season three, baby. Started a little tradition here. We like to kick off our first episode.

Oh, yes. With the winner of Dancing with Stars. Joey? Welcome to the Squeeze, champ. Thanks for having me, guys. This is an honor. Yeah, we're like Joey's super fans in this house. From The Bachelor to Dancing with the Stars. Joey's a very busy man. We've had some schedule changes. You've been so good with communicating with me.

That's why I think I communicate so much, because if I don't, it gets stuck upstairs. and then I just get really, really lost what I call being in a rut. Can we talk a little Bachelor? A fan of the franchise, were you worried about hurting so many people? There is no way to do everything right because you just put in uncomfortable situation.

Women were the people that were the stars of that show. I was just trying to be a mirror. Dancing with the stars. Yes. I have to tell you this because I just think it's hilarious. Brancho. How was it on your and Kelsey's relationship? I would love to have been able to put so much more time into it

than I physically could have. I was still doing a two-step in my head. Like, I didn't even know where I was at the time. We've battle tested, things that you can't even explain or really connect with other people. Right before we would go live, I would like, look at Jenna. Was it the left foot or the right foot? And she started being like, shut up. She's like, please, you know.

You are going to make mistakes. When life gives you lemons, what do you do with them? Over here at the squeeze, we talk about it. Lemon drops. Welcome to 2025. Yeah. Wow. Season three, baby.

Season three of the squeeze. Yeah. We've kind of started a little tradition here that every new season, we like to- wondering where you're going here. We like to kick off our first episode with the winner of Dancing with SARS. That's true. Joey? Welcome to the squeeze, champ. Thanks for having me, guys. This is an honor to keep the tradition going. I know. Yeah, Sochi was our first episode last year. That's amazing. Wow. I know. We should have brought the thing in here. What? The mirror ball. It is downstairs. We do have it on property. I can bring it as on property. If you want me to grab it, I will go and get it. We'll get it. We'll get it. I told Taylor earlier, I was like, I honestly hate bringing it outside of my house. Like, I don't,

I don't like the feeling of it. I'd feel like a tool when I bring it around. She's like, if you want to bring the mirror ball, you can, I'm like, I can. I'll do it for you guys. It hurts my soul to bring that thing everywhere I go. Just for selfish reasons. I just want to like sniff it or something. You guys got to feel it. Got to see what it's like. Yeah, I got to manifest it for myself one day.

Here it is. Okay, so we start each episode off this jar, a game called Citrus got real. If you would like to pull one of the little pieces of paper out of there and read the question

to our lemon drops. Well, I got two. I mean, my hand. All right, the question is what candy bar best describes your personality? That's a tough.

That's a tough. Tough. Question. Yeah. Like your brain goes right to your favorite candy bar, but then you ask yourself, does that actually explain you? Hmm. I'm like. My favorite's Twix, but.

Yeah, maybe that's start with that. What's your favorite? A weird one. You ever had a Reese's Fast Break? Fast Break. It's a Reese's bar, but it's got Nugut in it. And it's obviously in a candy bar for it. It's my favorite thing ever.

Recy's Fast Break Bar. Oh, wow. It's delicious. Wow. I don't think I've ever had that. It's great. It's a Reese's cup, but then you have the, the Nuget in it, and it's unbelievable. Oh, man. So maybe... Maybe we just go with favorite. I think, well, let me get metaphorical here.

That could be, that could be you because when people hear of a Rhesus Bar, they think they know what they're getting. But then the Nuget on the bottom is a different layer to you that people get to know. You answered this for me. I appreciate it. I know where I was going to go. Thank you for letting my favorite candy bar explain me. That makes me feel really good. They think they know you. They forget about the nougat. You got some nougat in there. We forget about the nougat. We got some nougat to uncover today. Oh, man. That's funny. Yeah, I'm not going to be able to top that. I'll go a payday because I'm nutty. Hey, there it is. I actually don't like paydays. Is that a white wrapper? Yeah. White and like blue. It's just a bunch of nuts and chocolate. What's your favorite?

A Twix. Twix. What's my favorite? I usually say four musketeers. Interesting. Yeah. I'm not a huge four musketeers guy. I know.

I know. There's like not a lot going on. It's kind of just. Why do I not remember any of these candies? The silver wrapper. Uh-huh. But isn't, no, Snickers are. Is the center of that Nugget?

Is that what Nuget is? I think so. It's like that film. Is it four or three musketeers, too? Oh, my God. Three. Three musketeers. Four musketeers was a movie.

Okay, now I'm caught up. I think the four was throwing me off. It's okay. What's four musketeers? A movie? That's something. I thought the three musketeers was the movie. Isn't that the book?

Four musketeers is a 1974 adventure action film. There you go. I've definitely never seen that. They probably couldn't call the four musketeers the same as the candy bar. So you're just thinking of the movie. Oh, yeah. A big fan of that 1978 movie. It's the first episode back. You're a little rusty.

Oh, yeah. Breaking it in. Breaking it in. Okay. So we're obviously super excited to have you because we've been trying to get a double date going for some time. We got both of you on our podcast before the double date. We'll make it happen. But I was laughing because when I was talking with Kelsey, we were talking about you guys and she was talking about how good of a communicator you are.

And I was telling Taylor that I was cracking up because throughout this whole process of like scheduling and getting you on. We've been texting and, um, you've been so good with communicating with me about like, you know, Joey's a very busy man. So, you know, we've had some schedule changes and stuff and he's like so apologetic and he's just been like so on top of it and like so apologetic. Over communicating. It's truly fun. It could be annoying to some people, but I just want to make sure you knew I was trying to get here. No, no, it was so good. That's awesome. Yeah, further proved. Kelsey's point to be true. There we go. Yeah. Which I loved. But yeah, I think we're just excited to like get to know more about you because obviously, you know, we watch your season. We watch Dancing with the Stars. We know a little bit about you. But maybe. Yeah, we're like Joey super fans in this house. I love that. I appreciate it. From Bachelor to Dancing with the Stars. This was my first full season of Dancing with the Stars I've watched. Nice. What did you think? I get it. I get why people are obsessed. Yeah. I'm not as crazy as you thought I was. I know. I have like I've questioned.

it before. I've been like, why do people love this show so much? Like, I don't know. I just didn't get it. And then when we watched the very end of last season, I was like, okay. So I was like, let's give this one a shot. And then I was obsessed. Yeah, especially when you get into the full, like the process of it and how the show builds and you kind of fall in love with people. But we had a great group this year, which I think made it made it really, really fun. Yeah. Yeah. It was fun. We'll get into dancing with the stars. But we thought it would be fun and just kind of like talk about what, kind of what makes you you and like where you came from, what growing up was like and kind of learned like a little bit of backstory on Joey. Yeah. Get the lore. Yeah. You're from Pennsylvania. Yeah. So I was actually born in Florida. I was born right outside of Fort Lauderdale. I only lived there until about second grade. When my parents separated my mom and my stepdad.

had a job that brought them up to Philadelphia area. And that's where I lived from, yeah, outside of Philly. We always say Philly, but I wasn't technically Philly. It's like Collegeville, Royceford area. But I was there from about second grade through college. So that was my home for the longest period of time. And then tennis and job-wise brought me out to Hawaii, which a lot of people knew me from from the show. That's what brought you to Hawaii. Yeah. Yeah. It was a teaching opportunity out there. There's a lot of more complex ways of how it all happened. My uncle was a teacher. teaching tennis professional, and I learned a lot from him. And he had a huge part in my whole makeup of growing up. But he had connections in Hawaii, and that turned into an opportunity out there. But yeah, it was teaching tennis that brought me out to Hawaii in the first place. Wow. So you never got converted to an Eagles fan? No, because my mom is just such a huge Packers fan. She's from the Green Bay area. That's where she grew up with her family. And that's all they have. I always make a joke. They have cheese and football, and that's it. But she just

She was a big sports fan, especially for the Packers. And I'm a Philly sports fan for everything else. Oh, okay. But the only one I hold on to is the Packers because it's the only team I think I just remember as a kid getting jerseys. And my mom just knew I was a huge sports fan. So I had like Kobe Bryant jerseys, Michael Jordan jerseys, loved basketball, loved everything. But going from Florida to Philly, when I grew up, I really love all the Philly sports teams. But the Packers is just a special place in my heart.

Yeah. That's been something that's been fun, like being. like a Lions fan now marrying Taylor because I grew up a Cowboys fan just because my dad decided he wanted to be a Cowboys fan when he was like five that's most Cowboys fans

just so you're aware he's like why was he a Cowboys fan? He liked the star? That's no that's not really like when he was a kid he was like I like this helmet like I want to like for this team

and so that was like my football team I mean I was like a Lakers fan I'm an only child and my dad like raised me like a son so lots of sports going on but when we started and like football became the more prevalent sport and getting to like go out to Detroit for Lions games.

It's just like the atmosphere of sports on the East Coast is just like I guess anywhere. I mean, we get it with the Lakers, but it's just a whole other. It's not here. It's at least our football teams. It just doesn't compare to like going to Lambeau or Ford Field. Like there's people that have been season ticket holders

for like 70 years like so long. Like their entire life. The Packers season ticket holder, it's crazy. It's like a thing if you're from Green Bay. They put you in when you get born because that's how you get you get put into the lottery to be able to get it. And one of the guys I'm connected with there, he's in his 40s now. And he found out he was still like something like 20,000 on the list from getting a chance. They just hold on to it forever.

Oh my gosh. In our family on my mom's side, we have season tickets. It was my grandfather on that side has them and pass them down. So now my uncle has them. So next year I'll be able to go with him to. He got them recently, which is great. So, yeah, the season tickets are a big deal at places. That's nuts.

That can be hard to get. Yeah. Jeez. I know. The passion is just, it's so good. The West and East Coast, they love their football. Yeah. Yeah.

So at what point did you, at what point, did you go to college? I did. I went to college at Westchester University. I was indifferent where I wanted to go to school, but ultimately chose to go to school where my sister went. So my older sister went there too. So I got to visit it. I felt really comfortable that she was there.

Went with the idea of just trying something new. I didn't try to go for tennis, but walked on for tennis later on in college and loved that side of it. But yeah, just outside of Philly area and Westchester. Got it. So before you went to Hawaii. Yep. And then Hawaii came out of I started spending my last two summers when I was in college, going out to Hawaii and training for my tennis season with my uncle because he was living out there and he was my coach. And then when I was living there, I wasn't just training at the.

the court that I was at, I started to get involved with the GM, got a part-time job there, helped out the local pro, and it just worked out that when he was transitioning and retiring, they threw my name in the mix to be the person that run the courts. And at 22, I got a head teaching pro job out in Hawaii, and I had to say yes to it. Wow. Yeah. Dang. That's awesome.

It was a cool job. Yeah. It was a great start. How long were you there? In total, almost five years. I spent three years there, and then I left for a little bit of time and went to Nashville. because I had, I guess, your mid-20s crisis of what am I doing? How am I living in Hawaii? Never had a corporate job. Wasn't with any of my friends or anyone that was really my age.

And then went to Nashville for two years. A lot happened there before I decided to go back to Hawaii again for two years. Got it. Yeah. What, yeah, Tay mentioned to me the Nashville move. So was prompting that just like career change or? What was the main reason for going to Nash? I think there were a lot of things at that time. I think I was trying to figure out a lot about myself. Like I said, I moved to Hawaii and really grew up very fast. I was always, I felt like a little more mature for my age. But I was working 60 hours a week on a tennis court, building a business at 22.

And it was my main focus. And it took me a while to kind of find a friend group there. But I loved living in Hawaii. I loved the lifestyle. I felt like I was so happy and so present and loving what I was doing. But then you have this outside world that you're always looking back on. And I had friends that were still living on the East Coast. They were working these sales jobs that seemed like they got the plug and play,

like be in their job, but then leave it and go have so much fun. And from the outside looking in, it seemed like the best thing ever. While I was, you know, loving my life, I felt like I was really engulfed in my whole entire career. And I just didn't have, I wanted to see what it was like. and I wanted to see if it was something I would love. So Nashville felt like it made sense to me. I had a friend that lived out there. I had a sales job lined up.

So I left to actually laugh at this, leave and move to Nashville in January of 2020. Wow. So I didn't know the world was about to change, but I left because the busiest time of the year for my job is the winter holiday. So I had to finish out and train someone else to take my job in Hawaii. I got them set up to be a smooth transition because I really cared about the place that was working for and thought it was great. So I set them up and then yeah, I left and decided to leave and had everything set up. And I got there and had a month of normal Nashville before the world shut down.

Oh my gosh. Lost the sales job, had to change up everything. Kind of for the first time my life was like so unsure of what I was going to do. I had a really good job that was lined up. But then I started, I worked in the most ridiculous job ever. They were a great company, but I was pretty much stocking shelves at a grocery store because it was a sales. I was a sales. job opportunity, a friend of mine that was amazing set me up to be able to work for, it was called Swan's company, and it was an ability to start getting sales experience, but my job was really going to these different grocery stores and helping putting their product on the shelves. And I was a merchandiser initially in trying to work my up for a sales job. And that was an idea.

And then I finally got a job in the financial tech world and started doing other sales and trying it out. But Nashville was a lot of trying a lot of different things for sure. Holy crap. How long were you, did you end up being there? for? Nashville for two years. Oh, wow. Yeah, I went and when I moved there, I went on Facebook Marketplace, got three random roommates I never met before. Oh, wow. I was lucky that I had a friend group through someone I knew already there, so I was really good in the social world, but like finding a place, I just did everything random. And yeah, yeah, it was the first time I was really

on my own too, which I loved, but it was also scary. Yeah, that first year, I was trying to figure out everything. I tried a couple different sales jobs. I guess what I found out pretty quickly is I wasn't built for sales because I loved communicating with people, but I felt like in sales, there was always a butt at the end. I would connect, but I needed to like sell them on something and drive something home. And I didn't realize the reason why I loved teaching tennis and why I loved hospitality was there was never a selling point. My job was just to be the best part of your day. And I loved connecting with people and trying to make their experience better. And I thought I could find that version in sales. And I bet you I could have if I found something I was really passionate about selling.

But it didn't happen in the time in Nashville. So yeah, within a year, I got back to coaching tennis again. I got a great job at a local private high school in Nashville and started really teaching more younger kids. And I got to be the high school tennis coach for the boys varsity team, which was awesome. And yeah, I found a really fun part of my time in Nashville. But that was a huge transition for me and a big part of figuring out a lot about me was going from that uncertainty and sales and then getting back to what I loved in teaching tennis again. Okay. Let's be honest here. we all have a million things we worry about every day. And getting in a good workout shouldn't be one of them.

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Walmart or a target near you or at ollie.com. That's OLL. L.L. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Okay, lemon drops. It is 2025. We have officially entered the new year. And I know many of you have goals, resolutions, dreams for this year. And a resolution goal of mind was just kind of focus on how I can improve my internal

self better. And one of those resolutions was to increase daily hydration. And something that is helping me do that is Gatorade hydration boosters. And they're going to help me maintain this resolution. This product is for anyone with a lot on their to do list, which is definitely me and probably you listening right now. It's great for those busy days when you forget to drink water or you've been neglecting your hydration. Helps put your water to work and get you the electrolytes and vitamins you need to be your best. It's formulated specifically for all day, always on hydration. It's an advanced blend of electrolytes from watermelon, sea salt, and other sodium potassium salts. It's also packed with essential vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, and vitamin B6. There is no

artificial flavors, no artificial sweeteners, and no added color, which honestly just makes this product that much better. I have just been loving it. It's super easy to incorporate into my routine. And that's what we're looking for, simple things to help us hit our resolution. To go ahead and put your water to work with Gatorade hydration booster. Meet your new go-to for all day, always on hydration. Where did COVID come into play there? Because I'm sure you were like on lockdown there and just like stuck. I was lucky I had some great roommates there. They were. awesome guys. I really enjoyed living with them. So even though we were stuck, it was a really like a trial by fire process of being random roommates and meeting someone. Then you're

stuck in a house with them at all times. But they were awesome. We became really close. Wow. You got lucky. I think everyone felt in that COVID time how much you were just questioning everything. And it was really hard that I was in the middle of a career change and trying to figure out what exactly I was doing during that time too. So that was hard. Yeah, I was the most loss I ever fell in my life during COVID. I would definitely say that. I just didn't know. I was starting over again and I put so much time into tennis and being great at that craft that I was trying to get good at something else. And I was good at sales, but it just never felt right. It was like, I did really well the company I was at. I got like rookie salesman of the year, but I hated it.

I was like, I don't like this though. So what, how can I figure out a way to be good at something, but also like enjoy doing it? And that was a really hard process at that time. Yeah. How did like, you know, questioning everything, how did you, did getting out of that rut just kind of be like getting back into teaching tennis? Or was there like a conversation you had with yourself to be like, I need to leave like the sales job. Something doesn't feel right. I did what I always do. And I'm the most lost in my life. I leaned on people that I really trusted and loved, which was my older sister, my uncle, my dad. There were people I think that understood where I was at and knew I wanted to make a change and I was trying to figure it out. And my uncle was probably the most

important because he knew about my tennis background and said, you know, as much as you had this back and forth in tennis, it was a place that let you be yourself. Like you enjoyed what you were doing. And because of that, you were able to feel like you were not only being productive and building towards goals in your career, but you were actually like enjoying the process of it. And when I explained what I was struggling with in sales and struggling with at that time, he's like, I think you need something to excite you again. So while you're making this transition, why don't you just go reach out to some of these local schools? They'll probably see your background, your resume, be like, oh, this could be a no-brainer to push this guy into it. And I just got really lucky. I worked my

butt off to figure out where I could go. I tried to go to every single place I could. And I think leaning on them helped me kind of find what I wanted to do again. And yeah, it was a weird time. but I was really happy to get myself out of it by leaning on people and being honest about I'm not happy right now. I need to make a change. Yeah. You're able to be like, you're kind of like an open book with that kind of stuff? I just feel like if I, it takes me some time, I would say, but if I let it sit in my head, it doesn't go anywhere. It just overtakes me. So the best way I've found to understand it and organize it is by talking to people. You made the joke really about being communicator, but that's why I think.

I think I communicate so much because if I don't, it gets stuck upstairs and then I just get really, really lost. And I get that feeling of what I call being in a rut or feeling uncomfortable. And it's because I'm not letting go or organizing those feelings. And then I get stuck. And then I'm just going to keep doing the same thing and not feel what I want to feel is these senses of happiness and these senses of purpose, these moments you want to feel to really think that at least what you're doing has some value to it. Yeah. Do you, have you always been good at communicating or was it like something that, like, have you just always been like that? Or was that something you kind of had to learn?

I think I was lucky that I grew up in a family that was so open and loving that it wasn't weird to talk about your feelings. That was a big part, I'm sure. I do credit tennis a lot in terms of teaching tennis because I had to learn how to communicate something I was trying to teach someone. I had to get an ability to understand metaphors to connect with people to try to find maybe tend to. different ways to explain something that could be so simple or something that could be explained in one way, how do you then do it in other ways too? And I think I really tried to, yeah, learn that craft, learn that skill. And it has, I think, trickled into my everyday life of being a decent communicator when it comes to not being afraid to talk about your emotions, but also understanding maybe

how to communicate things and articulate them in a way that people can digest easily. Yeah. Can we talk a little bachelor? Let's do it as a, A fan of the franchise. I'm curious about a couple things. You seem like somebody, and don't seem like I know this about you, but you seem like somebody who cares about people's feelings. When you were, you know, offered to be the lead, were you worried about the idea of hurting so many people? Because I would imagine for you that would have been a tough thing to think about. It was the first thing I thought of when I thought about being in the position.

I knew from going through it on the Bachelorette. I didn't have any worries that it worked. I was like, this is actually a process that if you fully put yourself into it, it can work. They find great people. They give you the opportunity to find out a lot about yourself. Like, I never questioned the idea of if it would work. I questioned a lot of things about being the lead. One was definitely, if I was even,

even going to be entertaining enough for the show. But one of the biggest things is I thought I wasn't going to be able to create relationships, actually be invested in care, and then leave them just by saying no to someone by not giving them a rose and then having to be in that position of hurting someone's feelings. I think anyone that was on the show that was on that season with me probably felt that too, that that was really, really hard for me. But I always, it was a time of my life where I do appreciate being maybe a little bit more selfish and realizing that it was an opportunity for me to find someone. And if that was the process that was going to need to take place, I'm going to trust that I'm going to be the person I am, do the best job I can to be respectful

to never lead someone on, to hopefully leave them with some understanding and knowing that this is just the sacrifice it takes to get to the point of finding someone that could be my forever person. So that was a moment where I just overtook the idea of as, as much, much it was going to suck and I was going to hate that process of it, there was something at the finish line that was going to be worthwhile that was willing to put in the time for all of that. What about, were you worried at all about how you were going to be perceived? Because, you know, what you're literally known for is the only person to come out of that franchise that just, like, has no, like, dings or scratches on it. But most people, like, as amazing as these humans are,

like it's like an impossible position to be in. It's create, you're making TV when you're on the show too. It's the format of the show is set up to put you in really uncomfortable situations. I was petrified of that idea because I also was really lucky coming off of the Bachelorette. I was in that same position where a lot of times someone that goes through that whole season, they leave with, as you said, dings and things that people have things to say. And I left pretty unscathed. I was, you know, someone that they were hoping would be the next guy.

but I said I could leave it there. And a lead usually is the one that gets the most scrutiny because they are in a position that's impossible a lot of times to handle. I was extremely worried, but I just, I left that Bachelorette season with a lot of my friends and family telling me that they felt like it was me. They're like, regardless of what you're feeling and what you hear online, I saw actually Joey on that screen,

and that was really refreshing to see. So I just hope that even though the role is going to be different, even though I was going to have a lot more pressure and things I had to handle. I was still going to come off as Joey. And if I did that, then I could live with myself after. But I'm not going to sit here and act like I wasn't petrified. I think anyone that goes in that role, I try to be open to any other leads that want to talk about it to explain that because it's nearly impossible to do everything right. And I didn't do everything right. I did the best job I could, but there is no way to do everything right because you're just put in uncomfortable situations

and you're asked to handle some of the most important feelings and emotions that people have, and you just have to take that seriously and not forget that when you're in that position. I'm sure there's some form of a pressure too of like you are the lead in like you're carrying the show. And like, you know, it's normal people that are going on, you know, this huge franchise and like being like, am, am I enough? Am I going to be able to like actually take the show and like carry it the way. it needs to be carried out. It's not a fun feeling at all. Yeah, I mean, we can talk about imposter syndrome all you want,

but the imposter syndrome with that show comes in a lot because you feel like you're asked or you want to be this person. Even though no one asks you to be, they just want you to be yourself. You feel like you need to be almost. And that was hard because I'm not the most polarizing personality. I feel like I give chill guy vibes. I can hang out in any room. I think I can connect with people really.

well. So what I try to use on that show, and I think people felt too, is I was just trying to be a mirror. I feel like the women were the people that were the stars of that show because they all had these amazing stories and things to share. And I just tried to be someone that could be very comfortable around them, someone that let them feel like they could really speak on things that they wanted to. And that was helpful for me to take a little bit of the pressure off. And I think people forget that's why The Bachelor does so well is because the women tend to have a lot more amazing stories, people are more involved than wanting to hear about them. And then I sprinkled a little bit of Joey corkiness and fun in there where I could. But I really thought my job was just to give all of the

women justice that they could do what they wanted to do, share what they wanted to do in that process of me trying to figure out what made the most sense for who I wanted to end up with. Yeah. I feel like the casting just did such a good job with your season, like between you and like the women. Like it truly was. Well, that's what I was going to ask. I was going to ask, Do you have any, like, not say, but beforehand, do they ask you for, like, what you're looking for? You make, you know, you tell them, like, some things that are important to you because, like, the group of women that you had, like, it's probably the best ever. Yeah, I agree. I thought we had a great cast for that season. And they do. They ask you, they do ask, like, what is your usual type? What are you interested? What are you looking for in a partner as they should? Because they want to have the ability.

to craft a cast that makes sense with the person that's going to be the lead. And sometimes they, you know, they make that decision who the lead is pretty late. But I was lucky that in my situation, I think they had an idea of who it was going to be as they were casting. So I'm sure they had a lot of these, me and mine as they're casting a lot of these women. But I just asked for someone that was a really kind person. I didn't have a lot of a to-do list of anything. I just said I wanted to make sure the person that was going to be coming on, the women that they would be choosing was kind, cared about others. But I didn't actually also have to say much about that because they got to know me really well in the Bachelorette. And I think they knew that was something that was

going to have to be there as well. But I didn't really have like a certain type I was looking for. I just said, please bring me great people that I have the ability to meet and hopefully there'll be something there in the long run. I think it says a lot about you too because you just, you brought the best out of everybody too, you know, which is awesome. I appreciate you saying. It was cool to watch. You brought up imposter syndrome and I'm curious how that has evolved for you. And I mean, even for you and Kelsey because even like just talking with her, like you both are so normal and like so chill. And I'm curious of that if you've kind of like settled into what life looks like now or, you know, has it re-come back to you doing dancing.

with the stars now. Yeah, I think we still struggle with that every day. And I can only speak on myself. I think Kelsey has her own version of it too. But I know that I still struggle with it immensely. And it's in the weirdest situations. It's when you walk into a room sometimes and you feel like you shouldn't even be in that room, but you know you should at the same time.

And it's just all those different things. But I felt at first coming off The Bachelor the most in my life. I remember it was the social media presence of, I was just back at my, sister's house where I lived and I lived there before everything started. But now there was this buzz of everything online and I'm watching this season come about and I'm literally sitting and waiting for all this to come out. But I just was like, why is this so big? Why is all this going on right now? When I was just really on the show trying to find my person and all of that, I tried to explain it. I tried to talk a lot with my brother-in-law and my sister. And they were great. And it was my brother-in-law

that literally pulled it up on his phone and said, dude, you have this. And then you just explain what imposter syndrome was. And it just fit. I was like, you know what? It is exactly feeling like you're in a place you shouldn't be and accepting it, but finding a way to deal with it. I felt it on dancing with the stars when there was actual stars in the room. And I'm like, why is this dude from the bachelor on the show right now? And why are people actually excited to see him dance? Like, it didn't make sense. And I'm finding my own version of accepting it and trying to gain confidence. And I still, like I said, it's a work in progress. I have not figured it out. But I've tried to give myself a little more grace and trying to understand how to navigate it is part of the process, too.

Yeah. I selfishly, whenever I hear that someone, like, struggles with it, I almost, like, want to be their friend because I know, like, there is just a sense of, like, you guys are so down to earth and, like, just nice. And, like, there isn't, like, this level of arrogance. Like, you just, you guys are yourselves. And I think it's, I think it's really cool. And I think that's why you resonated so well.

with everyone and why you basically like revived the franchise is because like you were just like yourself. I try. I mean, I didn't know how else to do it any other way. And I think it is this I, I'm almost more the opposite side of arrogance. I tend to be sometimes more self-deprecating than anything else.

I think I need to work on still giving myself kudos where I should. But I struggle with that. And from that, no one ever feels that air, that sense coming from me. And I've always explained this with Kelsey. also too. Like, I'm still trying to find that balance because I never want to go on the other side. But I also feel like sometimes I need to do better at giving myself, you know, my own respect, my own understanding

that I did deserve a lot of the good things that have come my way. But I just never want to lose track of always trying to let it be what it is and keep striving to be better and do the best you can yourself and not, yeah, getting lost in all of it. But it's a balance and it's hard to find it. Yeah. Where are you at with tennis? Because you obviously can't give lessons anymore. I'm trying to find my way to do it. I would love to still coach a little bit. Tennis has always been a really interesting love-hate relationship. I think anyone you meet that's played tennis at a high level has a love-hate relationship with it.

And it's because of how the sport is, you really are on an island when you're playing it. And you could be, you know, I got to the point of being able to play high-level collegiate tennis. But the mental warfare that happens in that sport, you just fall out of it very quickly. So I've quit tennis, I think, like three times in my life. Like, it just happens. Yeah. But one thing that I have gained in love of tennis is the love of coaching it. So I would, in the perfect world, would love to still be playing tennis multiple times in a week for just myself and find someone I can hit with and enjoy playing it.

But I would also love to get people to play. Like, I would do it in no sense of wanting a monetary value out of it right now. I just would love to get that feeling of, I want Kelsey to start to play more and enjoy playing it because then we could do it together. And she really gets excited about it. My best friend Tanner at lives here just went. I pulled him to a clinic the other day to come play with Kelsey and I. And he got the tennis buggy. He's like, dude, I want to play tennis.

So now I'm invested. I want to teach him how to play. And that gives me more excitement than anything else in the sport right now. Yeah. Because I really would go play tennis just to stay sharp and get a workout. I wouldn't go because I'm interested in competing and wanting to go, like, be the best at tennis. That ship has sailed. I am good.

It's just I hit a good enough ball that I can go get a workout in. And that's fun. and I enjoy the feeling of hitting a tennis ball. But what I love about tennis, what I'd love to do more is teach. But you nailed it. I had to kind of wait for a bit. And I'm trying to figure out where I can dive back into that world and do it correctly.

I bet you could do some really cool, like charitable clinics. 100%. Like if you, if Joey. It's about to be your manager. I'm sorry, got all the ideas. I'm ready. I need to do it.

If there was, you know, a clinic that Joey's going to be teaching for the day, you would have everybody and their sister signing up for that. I would love to do that because that would bring so much happiness to me because I would actually enjoy teaching it and then know that the money that would come along with it would go to something more important because I have no interest in pocketing that myself. I just want to find a way to start teaching again.

And it was always, I knew dancing was coming, so I've kind of put it on the backburners. But that was something for this New Year's. I'm trying to do a lot of new things and trying to figure out what's going to give me more purpose. but that would be something I would just love to do. You should take him out. You've played tennis a couple times with you. You're an athlete, so I'm sure you've got it. He's a pickleball.

I'm better at pickleball than tennis. That's great. Do you pickle? I've played. So when I was in Hawaii the second time when I was teaching out there, I was teaching tennis as much as I was teaching pickle. But teaching pickleball was because it was just so big. And it was more my teaching of pickleball.

I got to the point where I can play like a 5-0 pickleball level if I play a lot. But my teaching of pickleball was more. bringing four random people I've never played before and getting them to learn how to play the sport. And I love that because that's the best part of tennis too. Tennis is so much more technique and difficulty that comes along with it. And it just has to do with the equipment. The equipment is less forgiving than a pickle ball paddle on a wiffle ball. And the court is smaller compared to a bigger tennis court. That's the only reason why pickle is picked up so much more than tennis. But the idea is the same. I had a tennis coach always said we're literally

just hitting the ball over the net with a stick. So pickle ball is the new way for people to be able to do that and it works. And everybody can play. I'm not a hater on it. They always call it the tennis killer, but like I think that there's a way that you can bring both and have it be fun. But I've loved playing both. It's pickleball is I get why people love it.

I really do. Who's like your favorite player on it? Because I love watching it. Oh, it's the best. My favorite when I was growing up, you could pick between Nadal and Federer. But Nadal was my favorite because he was kind of a young new guy. And I just thought it was so cool. And he's a lefty and I'm a lefty.

So that was hard not to be his biggest. man. But Federer, especially later on life, I appreciate so much of what he did for the game. And he did it in such a classy way. Both him and Nadal did, which I don't think people realize how rare it is to have two of the best that I've ever done it to also do it with so much respect was amazing. Their career's ending now. It's sad. New game, I mean, Alcrez is impossible not to love to watch. He's just unreal. But I'm excited about some of the younger Americans too. I feel like this tennis is growing again. The U.S. Open has been big the last few years. And it's been big in the U.S., which is all. Awesome. I just don't want to see it fall off. And I would love that to be part of my purpose, too, moving forward, is finding ways to get people excited about it again. And that's just picking up a racket and trying to play it because most people just don't get it in their hands at a young age, unless you really were a member at a country club, you don't really play tennis. And that's not the majority of the world out there. And I wish it was more popular like it is overseas, but it just isn't over here right now. Yeah. I feel like it's like, I don't want to say coming back. It is. I mean, yeah, it's definitely getting it.

And I still think Pickle helps because I think there's a way that they can do both. But pickleball has been, I mean, that's its own plague right now. Everyone loves Pickleball. That's crazy. Yeah. That's been fun because I feel like I've, I feel like you're going to like start playing tennis and then like I'm going to have to learn how to play tennis because he's going to play pickle. I'll get you both out there. I would love to. I think it would be a fun thing for you guys to do. I need to lift some weights. I feel like when I like hit.

like hit a tennis racket. I'm like, ugh. It's the thing is your wrist. You hit it and you're like, you like injure your wrist every time. I did hurt. Well, yeah, I hurt my wrist and then I picked up a racket and then I was like actually little things. And it's, trust me, it's getting the right rack in your hand that's not going to be too heavy. It's learning how you hit it to make sure your wrist is strong, gripping it too tight, it's going to mess with your body. There's just a lot of little things. And that's, again, getting someone that can actually help with it would make a difference. I'm down. All right. Let's get you guys out there. I just have to learn. Okay, lemon drops.

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at seed.com slash the squeeze code 25 the squeeze. Okay, dancing with the stars. Yes. I have to tell you this because I just think it's hilarious. I, um, so I used to watch American Idol like from the get-go. Yeah. You're like, where's he? going with this. But like, season one, you know, I obsessed with Kelly Clarkson. I was the person that would pick up the phone in vote as many times for Kelly Clarkson as I could. Then I stopped watching American Idol. I don't know, long time ago. I haven't voted on a competition show, maybe in 15 years. And I just want you to know, finale night. Finale night.

I voted 10 times for you. I appreciate it. That's the first time in a while. That's an honor. He did. It really is. She was at the show and I texted her the screenshot of my text saying, voted for Joey.

Voted for Joey. I love it. I appreciate it. You could have been the difference maker. We'll never know. That could have been a big, that could have been one got it done for us there. Yeah. Gut says that wasn't it.

Got says it was, there is a little bit of a difference going on. Honey, what are you doing? Okay, bye. we have the dogs in here for people who are listening. Remy just woke up from her nap. Okay. So when you got the call, were you like, I'm down, were you like maybe not?

What was like an initial gut reaction? I was indifferent. And I've said that a lot. And it wasn't without thought before. I searched for it, though. Like, I talked to people about it. There was jokes about it when I was The Bachelor because Charity's announcement was during our final.

Rose, the same as when I had my announcement of being The Bachelor. And one of the people on the sign of ABC said, are you ready for that next? I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought just the girls do it. Guys can go beyond dancing with the starters, too. She's like, well, maybe if your season goes well and people want to see it. I can't dance. So I got like very scared.

And that was the first time the idea even got playing in my head. Yeah. Season ended. And there was, I at least was like, you know what? Maybe I should ask and see if it's a possibility. And I talked to some people. And then, yeah, the call came, but I was already putting in my head that was a possibility. So I talked with Charity in Dottin. I talked with Joe Amablai for grocery store, Joe,

we did it too. And I just, I talked some people that were in it just to understand what it could be like without knowing anything because you can't until you do it. But yeah, I was indifferent, but Kelsey was kind of the pushing person. She said she thought I would be great at. She thought it would be fun. And she thought it would be a really cool experience. So she was her being so about it and me being like, are you sure? People have said it's not great for a relationship, like all those things. I was pushing the opposite, almost being like devil's advocate to her. And she's like, we'll figure it out. I think you should do it. So she was kind of, I think, the selling point or the biggest reason why I was so open when I got the call. Yeah. When you talk to those people that had been

on it and picked their brain, did they tell you how intense it was going to be? They did. But again, it's like one of those things that I can explain to you how intense it was going to be. And you don't know until you do it. I think I asked more Charity and Dotten on the relationship side, how it was for them, especially Dotten because I wanted to know what his position was so I could at least try to understand what it would be like for Kelsey. So that was more of that conversation. And then Joe was just like tell me about how fun it was for you as a guy doing it. Like, what did you enjoy this and that?

And he just kind of, you know, he said it was still one of his favorite things he's ever done. And for him, he's done a lot of other things too. For him to still say that, I said, well, I got to at least see what it's like. But yeah, I try to get different perspectives. At the end of the day, you make that decision for yourself and you have to be open to it. Because when I do something, I have to do it full force. So I wanted to make sure I was open before I dove into it fully. Best decision I ever made.

It was hands down the coolest experience I've ever had. Like, I can't think of anything that has fulfilled so much for me in such a short period of time like that. It was unreal. How was it on your and Kelsey's relationship? Like, I know the schedule is insane. It was difficult at times. And I think she probably was open about that with you guys, too. It was never a walk in the park and it's literally just because of timing.

I would have loved, especially in this important beginning time in a relationship, I would love to have been able to put so much more time into it than I physically could have. And the way I always described it for her and tried to explain it for myself too is it felt like when I was teaching tennis as much as I possibly could, when you're on court for 40 hours a week and you're on the entire time. Like you're talking to people, you're giving every single version of yourself. When you go home, the last thing you want to do, is be on again. And it's not like I had to be on in our relationship, but I have to be giving

her attention. I have to be making sure that I'm there fully. And I found my little version of when I got back home being like, Kelsey, I need five or ten minutes to forget what was in my head with dancing to like a reset zone. And then I want to hear all about your day. But if I came in the door and I wasn't like fully excited, I need to explain why. Like I was still doing a two step in my head. Like I didn't even know where I was at the time. But that was the hardest part initially. And, you know, that everyone outside opinion in the beginning. There's a lot of stuff that you can't control. But she was so amazing and so understanding during it.

I tried my best to be the best communicator I could. And I think it made our relationship stronger at the end of the day, which is one of the things I'm most grateful for from the experience. Yeah. I was just going to say, like, if anything, like, you know, show and everything aside, that was probably such a huge, like, win for your guys' relationship. When we started dating, we like speed dated for like two weeks and then Taylor went to London to film for two and a half months. And I was just starting nursing school.

So we like just, you know, talked for like maybe an hour a day. But we got to like really know each other like on like such a deeper level. Yeah. And by the time he came home, I was like, oh, I like, not that I know everything about you, but like it actually feels like we've been together for like six months to a year just because there was like that hardship. Yeah. It's weird how it works like that. You'd think that's not a great recipe, but for us, it made us that much closer. For sure.

Yeah. You can find a way, like, if that, like, through that, if you can find a way to, like, communicate and, like, learn about how the other person, like, handles things. We always say, because we've been together for seven years, married for two. And everyone, like, after we got married was like, how's the first year? The first year's the hardest. And we were like, we're still waiting for it to be hard. But I mean, then again, we went through, you know, me nursing school, both of us, like mental health stuff, COVID.

Like, we, like, me working through COVID. Like, we just, we went through so much life in the beginning of our relationship. I feel like it's like, it's made it. We feel the same way about a lot of what this past year has been like for us as we've, we've battle tested, as you want to say, a lot of times. And things that you shouldn't have to deal with in relationship, things that you can't even explain or really connect with other people. Because even people that went through the same situations as you, they're not. the same person. It's not the exact experience. So you can try to take some of that, but what we're feeling might be completely different than someone else. And yeah, just very unique and rare things

that really put a lot of strain. But what we've always said and what I really give a lot of credit to us is we just always continue to choose one another. It's because we know this is what we want. And we're, you know, by trial by fire really quickly learning a lot about each other because of it too. And I'm so grateful for that because I feel like I know her so. well in such a short amount of time. And I'm so excited to learn more. And we always joke, like, we're still learning a lot of the little things. And that comes from communicating more. But I just have no doubt after this last year that this is going to work. It's just, it takes effort. And it takes a lot of effort when you put yourself in weird situations,

like being on two reality shows. So we're still figuring that out every single day. On the note of partner, but instead a life partner, dance partner, Did you know of any of the pros on the show prior to? I didn't. My sisters and one of my friends, too, they were big fans of the show. So they were telling me, like, you need to be with this person. You need to be with this person. All I knew was that, and I've talked about this before,

as I said, I wanted to be with someone that was in a relationship because I didn't want the whole idea of a showman to even be a possibility. I was like, please just please let me. be with someone that's in a healthy relationship, that's with someone that's been with someone so that I can just focus on what I'm supposed to be doing. But just try and freaking figure out to dance on TV, which is its own battle on its own right. But yeah, and then when I said that, and that's what I asked for and was hoping for, they explained some of the women that have been on the show for the while that were married and great dancers. And Jenna was one of the ones

that came up from everyone. They said she was amazing. I hope you're with Jenna. So when that was announced, everyone said, oh, you got a good chance. She's going to, she's going to get the best out of you. I was like, all right, let's see. And she, I couldn't have done it without her. Like, she's the whole reason why this experience was as great as it was. She's just a very special person that I'm so grateful to have gotten to know and been able to do something crazy like this with her. Yeah. She's a beast. I love her. I mean, I love the both of them, but yeah, she's just freaking awesome. But when I went to week four of the show and I was like talking to her saying hi after and I was, oh, she's literally,

Oh, honey. So sweet. We have a dog here who's very much in love with Joey. I was talking to her after the taping and I was like, because this was like, I feel like you had really, like, the first show we could see that you, like, you had some, you were pretty good at this, like, at this. But it really felt like you just like took off and it was like, oh my gosh, like this is that.

This can like really go somewhere. And I was talking with her. I was like, how did, how, how is he so good? And she was like, I have no clue. I'm not asking questions. He just like can somehow hear the music and like, no, like he knows things. Was that? Were you there?

Was it tango? Was it the hair metal night was the one you were there for? I can't remember. No, I think, no, I was dedication night. Oh, dedication. Okay, great. That was, yeah, that was the first time where I like put out two good scores in a row. It was, yeah, week three to week five, we said it was a very, like, I think that was a time where Jenna realized it too.

She's so funny. I think it was after week three or show three on Soul Train Night. She came up to me like in the beginning of our week where we always talk through stuff. She's like, okay, just so you're aware, I'm pushing you now. Because that was the first time where we went out and we like smash a performance. As you saw me really performed. She's like, yeah, I'm going to start making these routines a lot harder because I think we might have a chance. She was probably like waiting to get her hopes out.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. She was like, oh, we can actually go somewhere. And then that and then Daryl Sargent. tango happened for a hair metal night and that was all hard week because she made that routine so amazing but like it took a while to get it and then dedication night was yeah that was one of my favorite dances was that veney's waltz we did but yeah she just started really really pushing me um trying to get the most out of me for sure but she was such a great coach she was so understanding and we really enjoyed spending time together too which makes it such a better experience

because none of it is easy in a walk in the park for the first three to four days of the week So if you don't enjoy being around the person too, I have no idea how you can do it. Because we're button heads regardless. Like not in any bad way. She's teaching me stuff. And I don't have an ego. I'm like, I'm learning. But sometimes I'm like, Jenna, I can't get this right now.

Like we, you got to remember, I am not a dancer. She's like, I know. But I'm going to have to keep pushing you. And it just, yeah, that process is not easy at all. I can't imagine like being partnered with somebody that you just don't vibe with. And who was it that we had on? And I asked. Chandler talked about that, didn't she?

Yeah. That was. She said that it definitely happens. It does. I can't. I can't. Because you have to also think that that's the production side is they're picking people that they want to match you up with. And they're hoping that there's a vibe and that they make sense together. And they did such a good job with that this season. I feel like all the partnerships, you could just feel it was not produced in any way. They just enjoyed being with each other.

And that makes such a difference for people watching at home. Makes such a difference for the atmosphere and for people that are in it that you, that you feel like you're actually in a family and at home because you have your own little partnerships and groups that are coming to do the best job they could. And we just show up every week and we do our best. But if we didn't all get along the way we did, I don't know if that experience would have been the same. I think it would have been a lot different for sure.

Yeah. The season was like so unproblematic and like just like it was so good. Even just all over social media too. I feel like it was. Curious to see who Ezra gets next. Oh yeah. See if we can keep them around a little bit. I know.

I love that. For maybe one week longer. He's going to be like, how dare you say one week, multiple weeks? He wants to be there for the whole shebang. I know. He's such a good addition to the pros. I'm curious if the live aspect was scary for you at all. We talked about it from the beginning.

Jenna did. She said we could go through this entire dance because you have two weeks of training before this first dance that make you feel as comfortable as possible. She's like, I have no idea what's going to happen on that night. You could show up and you could forget everything. You might get stage fright. I found out that was my favorite part of it, but it's so scary. You hear those clicks right before the song starts, that minute video before you get out there.

Like, every thought's going through your head. And I found out that I was at my best when that happened because I didn't think I could think about anything else. And I really enjoyed performing. I didn't. That was the first time I performed in my life. But I really liked the idea of just like being in character and feeding to a character. and feeding to a camera or like feeding to a crowd and just having fun. But it was always so funny right before we would go live,

I would like look at Jenna before we go out, like, was it the left foot or the right foot? And she started being like, shut up. She's like, please, you know. Please stop. If you start getting like this, you are going to make mistakes. But it is that crazy right before where your brain just starts forgetting. Like, again, the Vini's waltier at, like, I have to start with my left to right foot.

And I asked her, I was like, is it the left of the right? She's like, if you do this right now, I swear, because we literally were about to go be live. And you have this whole week and you've done it a million times. But that feeling of the live show, it brings out a different thought process. And you just have to hope that you've trained enough and it's in your body. The only thing I can compare it to is tennis that you just stop thinking about it. So you can be in the zone and perform and enjoy it. Because if you're having fun of your dance, everyone at home feels that too.

Yeah. I can't. I hate live things. Hate. It's a weird rush. Yeah. Yeah. It's just like there's no other way. It's like this is what it's going to be. I've always made jokes. I said this is Chandler a lot too when we were talking like, I have this weird sense of so much control that I sometimes get like bad thoughts in my head.

Like I could say whatever I want right now. I could go and just stop doing this dance. Like I have that free will and that feeling. It's like I don't like that I'm thinking about this. Like let me just do what I'm supposed to do. Let me be a good boy. But I always get that feeling when we go do like a live TV show. or any time I've been doing dancing. I was like, there's way too much power and control of my hands that I don't think someone should have gave to me right now. I think you're doing just fine.

I'm trying. I think they put it in the right hands. That's funny. Do you miss the show at all? I miss striving towards something. I miss how much I enjoyed spending time with Jenna and the whole cast that was there. I think that we just had a really good thing going. But it also was one of those things that felt like it ended at the right time.

I gave everything I could. I'm excited to have some more free time. I'm excited to be able to do more stuff with Kelsey. Like, I miss the feelings that come with it. And I knew it was something that was never going to be like that ever again. But yeah, I'm excited about all the things that are coming next to. I try to leave that chapter as much as I can. But I'd be lying if I said, I don't miss aspects of it because it was so much fun.

And there were so many great people that I connected with during it. And I miss pushing myself like that. Because I don't know when I'm going to get another chance to do something in that regard. and challenge myself as much as I did. For sure. I'm really curious to see if the mic picks up for snoring at all. I don't think it is. But if you're listening, there's a little snore in the background.

That's Rami. It's just because I'm petting Rami and she's in a nice slumber right now. So it's pretty loud. It might be picking up. This is new. This is a new. And the eyes are open and she's still snoring. What an angel.

So you're going on tour? Yeah, I'm excited for that. We're kind of getting everything figured. out now. I've learned almost all of the dances I need to learn. But it'll just be a fun way to go and connect with the people that voted for you. They try to prep you for that, but they said that it's just such a different feeling than when you're on the show because you actually feel the presence of the crowd. When you're on the show and you're on a live show for Dance with the Stars, you kind of block out the crowd. You're paying more attention to the cameras. You're paying attention to your partner,

but you don't feel the presence of it. And I heard that it's just so different on tour. So I'm excited. how you feel about the whole live aspect because I get what you're saying like they're getting to watch it I mean it is live but like you're performing for like the people in the camera like you know the audience is there but like it's more so for the people at home

but on tour you're like and you're not like on stage like you're on the dance floor but it's the same level as everyone else like on you're on stage on tour and there's so many different elements too which I love but it's so new is you're working in group numbers like you are dancing around these other professionals.

And my job is like, I just can't get in their way. I was like, these guys are so good. I shouldn't be up here with them. What am I doing? But that is so fun and new in its own right. And yeah, we had practice. I had rehearsal today. And I got back to that feeling of, God, I suck at dancing.

Like, I felt it again. I was like, I should not be in this. Why am I here? But then it's so fun to be like, no, you are supposed to be here. Now you have to put the work in to feel comfortable. But yeah, I still got to learn a lot of dancing to be comfortable for tour. But yeah, anyone out there that sees me make mistakes on tour, I'm sorry. I'm trying. But I know, no long I have to worry about judges' scores. So if I make some mistakes, I have to worry about Jenna being upset with me because I'm making her look bad. Which almost might be worse than a low score. It's probably more terrible. Yeah. So New Year, January, Fresh Start. Any thing you're most looking forward to, any goals you're setting for yourself this year? Yeah, I always try to break it into personal and professional goals whenever you can. Personal goals for me is focusing on

Kelsey and my relationship. I feel like it has always been at the forefront of my mind, but now with dancing behind me and the show being as far behind me as it is with The Bachelor, I'm so excited for us to start planning ahead. So we've got our place together. We're building a home together in Los Angeles, which I'm so excited for. We want to start figuring out some things planning for the wedding, getting all that kind of cleaned up and getting excited about what's going to be there for us. But I'm excited about the dumbest little things too. Like we're finally cooking in our own kitchen together. We're finally being able to set up a couch in the TV to have our own movie nights and we can have, you know, parties with people coming over and host people. Like, we have not been able to do that

yet. So those are some of the many things I'm so excited for. And my goal is just to be open and available to put as much time as I can into that. And then professional side, I'm, I am so open but so excited. I feel like dancing was an opportunity that let me challenge myself, as I said, but also realize how much I do feel comfortable and enjoy being. on TV and I have no interest doing more reality shows right now. But I'm like, okay, well, how can I blend these worlds together and maybe have some other

opportunities? So I'm not sure what that is yet, but I'm open. I'm trying to talk to different people and just trying to find ways for me to be able to connect with people more and do it in a way where I can also enjoy it too. And I don't know what that is yet, but I think that's a goal for this year is to honestly just to find

out maybe what that is. Because I also think when I say like this imposter syndrome of walking in the rooms, it's because I hate hated saying, like, oh, I was The Bachelor, because I'm not anymore. And I don't want to be the guy, and I want dancing with the stars. Like, those are not, those are not things that people want to hear from you. So it's not like I need a title to give myself self-worth, but I'm excited to figure out something I'm striving towards to give me some purpose to be able to like, yeah, have something I'm excited about for this next year. And that is a TBD, but I'm excited for it. Yeah. ABC hearing that

he's done with reality shows. I was like, no, for now. For now. Again, two in a row was a lot. And I'm just excited to, yeah, see what comes next. But who knows? I never say no to anything. I mean, all of these opportunities come from me being kind of a yes man and being open to stuff. So, yeah, we'll see. But, yeah, I can't think of a reality show right now that makes sense for me to do it. So good.

Well, we're pumped for you. I mean, we're just such huge fans of you and Kelsey as individuals. And as a couple, your relationship is so beautiful. And you guys are just two of the kindest people in the world. So we're so thankful. to have you here today and we better start planning on that double date. Yeah, it's time. No, I appreciate you guys having me on. This was awesome. Of course. Of course. Yeah. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show

may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.