The Squeeze - Kelly Rizzo: Learning to Dance Again

Episode Date: November 15, 2023

Food, travel, and lifestyle expert Kelly Rizzo joins the Lautners to chat about all of their favorite things, from oysters in New Orleans to running away to London! She shares where her passion for food and travel came from, and divulges her insider secrets as a complete aviation nerd. Kelly is the widow of the late Bob Saget, and dives into that unthinkable day, how the two met, and what it was like to be married to one of the most beloved men in America. Kelly and the Lautners discuss the never-ending and always-evolving reality of grief, and the guilt Kelly felt as she began to feel happy again. Lastly, Kelly talks about her journey testing herself mentally and physically on the latest season of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, and her upcoming podcast, Comfort Food with Kelly Rizzo.  Be sure to follow Kelly @eattravelrock and keep an eye out for her podcast.  Thanks to our awesome sponsors for supporting this episode:  SKIMS — The Fits Everybody collection and more are available now at SKIMS.com. Plus, get free shipping on orders over $75! After you place your order, be sure to select "podcast" in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu. And if you are looking for the perfect gifts for the whole family - SKIMS just launched their biggest Holiday Gift Shop ever - also available at SKIMS.com  Regain Couples Therapy — Give online therapy a try at regain.com/thesqueeze and get on your way to being your best self  Article — Go to ARTICLE.COM/THESQUEEZE for $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more  Lume — Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code THESQUEEZE at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod  To email us your questions or share your story, you can reach out to [e-mail]. Be sure to rate, review, and follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! Plus, follow us on Instagram, @thesqueeze and personally @taylautner and @taylorlautner + on TikTok @thesqueezepodcast  To learn more from The Lemons Foundation, follow @lemonsbytay on Instagram and visit lemonsbytay.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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without your reis-adviseur or sunnycars. combe. I finally got through to a manager and they're like, yeah, we're trying his room and he's not responding. like, that's weird.

And then it just kind of kept escalating. And at this point, I'm freaking out. I had a friend come over because I was panicking. I wasn't necessarily thinking the worst worst yet because I thought I was like, okay, maybe he got sick or like maybe it was like a heart attack, but like they can rush him to the hospital or something, you know? And then they're like, paramedics are here. And then they're like, law enforcement's here.

And then they said the paramedics left, but law enforcement's still here. And at this point, of course, we know something's. bads happening, but we still didn't think it was the worst. And then finally, a security guard got on the phone with me and was like, sorry. Like, unfortunately, he passed away. When I heard that news, I was like, I mean, I just completely just crumbled. Like, I mean, I collapsed on the floor and I was like, screaming like an animal was just so brutal. When life gives you lemons, what do you do with them? Over here at the squeeze, we talk about it. Hello, everybody. Happy Wednesday.

Happy Wednesday. I'm very excited about this episode. It was a true honor to have Kelly in studio with us. We met her a little over a year ago. Yeah, so for those of you who don't know who Kelly Rizzo is. She's an amazing chat. She is a food, travel, and lifestyle expert. She has an award-winning show called Eat Travel Rock.

So just big fan of her work. She also is Bob Sagitt's widow. And that is how we met Kelly was a little over a year ago. It was shortly after Bob passed. And we met Kelly during that very, very difficult time. Yeah. But her strength was truly unbelievable and still is. And her outlook is just incredible.

And she really is keeping Bob's legacy going. Yeah. Yeah. She's just, I mean, that first time we met her, I told her how inspiring of a human she is, but she truly is just, she's just like an infectious person. I feel like I loved our chat with her. We also know, but hopefully they cut some of it out because we talked about airplanes for a very long time. So bear with us.

But yeah, we just love her and we're honored to. have had her on and call her a friend. Yeah, absolutely. So hope you guys enjoy this. Get ready to laugh. Maybe grab a set of tissues. It's a wonderful conversation. We'll see you on the other side.

Kelly, welcome to the squeeze. I am so, so happy, thrilled, and honored to be here. This is so special. Thanks for having me. Likewise. Yeah, likewise. Very honored to have you. Yes, very excited to finally get to hang out

because I feel like we've been trying to hang. for a long time. I know. I know. Well, we've had some brief little run-ins lately, but not enough good quality times. Yeah. This was over-dating. This counts as good quality time. Yes. For sure. For sure. So we start each episode with a little game called Citrus got real. This little jar here. She's got a lot of little questions. Go ahead and pull one. Okay. This is so exciting. These new questions are making me nervous. If you could move to any country in the world, where would you move? Oh, wow.

This is good for you. So my first instinct would be Italy because that's where my family is from. My dad was born in Sicily. Okay. So I still have a lot of family there. So it feels cozy and comfortable and in a sense like home to me because that's where my family originated from. Okay. But I also feel that, yes, I speak Italian but not.

fluently, I'm conversational. So they're living there might be a little, uh, exhausting mentally because I'd always be like translating. So then part of me is like, I think London or England. Right. Yeah. Because I love London too. So yeah. And there's a language barrier. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that would. Yeah. What about you guys? I think London would be mine. Yeah. We are big London fans. I've spent a good amount of time there. I did a show there for three seasons. Um, so. Oh, you really got to experience it. Yeah, it was so much fun. I want him to do it again because we were, the last season was when we first started dating and I only got to see him for like a weekend because I just started nursing school and I'm like, go to that again so I can actually just go

move with you and live there because I'm just dying to stay there for an extended period of time. I know. We had like, we were two weeks into dating. Oh, I had to leave to go film the show and I was like, you want to come visit me? Like, feel free. And I didn't think she worked, but she did. Oh. Oh, nice. It's like my first time traveling by myself too. Yeah. Yeah, so we definitely, yeah, that would be high up on the list. London or Greece, but I think mine would be London. Yeah, I haven't been to Greece.

I have family in Greece. Oh, okay. Do you speak Greek? Not fluently. I can understand some things of it. It's my, my nana is very mad at my mom for not, like, teaching me. Yeah, same thing in my family, yeah. My mom is fully fluent in it.

And I was like, bro, you don't want to teach you that one? Yeah, same thing. exact same thing in my family. My dad, you know, speaks fluent Sicilian. Well, Italian and Sicilian. They're actually very different languages. And he started teaching me when I was really little, but then kind of gave up because my mom's not Italian. So we didn't speak it in our house, even though like with my grandparents and stuff, we spoke. But my dad gave up teaching me when I was little. And now to this day, I'm always so mad at him. Like, why? Like I could be totally fluent. Yeah. You know, because. You know, because. You know, Because those are the very formative years for language, you know, from, let's say, like, three to seven. Yeah. And if you miss that stage, like, you're never going to be as fluent as you could be. So, yeah. I know.

I know. I feel like I knew a lot as a kid. But I recently, like, I kind of stopped because I just got busy and I stopped doing it. I'm trying to think of the app that I was using. And it's like every, it's like, it's like. Duolingo. Oh, yeah. Was it?

I feel like you would remember. There's like Rosetta Stone. and duolingo. So I did Rosetta Stone as a kid. And then we couldn't figure out how to plug a microphone. And it was back when it was like actual desktops and like the actual like computer part of the computer. You're going to figure out how to plug the microphone into it. So then I kind of keep doing it because I had to speak to keep going on.

But I think it is duolingo where it's like it's fun. Like you like just click the things. Like like five or ten questions a day or something. Uh-huh. It was a quick thing. Yeah. And I was surprised at some of the words like, came back to me. I feel like once you just know a couple of the words then. Yeah. F caristo.

Oh. That's my like one Greek word that I know. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. What was that? Thank you. It means thank you. Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you. Okay. We can get into the episode. We're excited to talk to you because a lot of things. But we love traveling and we also love food. And you also love food. I'm excited about this. We have, we do. We love to know all about that. But where did your passion for travel and food come from? Well, kind of, I guess, going back to the Sicilian roots, you know, my grandma was an incredible cook, and I spent so much time in the kitchen with her, and I just loved learning to cook. And I think from a very young age, especially when you have, you know, like an ethnic side to your family, you eat more interesting cuisines and you eat more.

interesting food items than you normally would as, let's say, a typical American kid. So from a young age, I was eating like snails and clams and like weird things that, you know, you don't normally eat as a kid. And so I was always a little bit more adventurous where my palate was concerned. And then travel, we didn't do a lot as a kid. We went to Florida every year. And then we started going to Vegas. It was like Florida and Vegas were the only places that my parents took us. And I remember I like really wanted to explore more. And it just was. wasn't really a big part of my upbringing. Yeah.

And so I just made it a point where I said, you know, I'm going to be more well-traveled than I was kind of raised to be. And I just got so obsessed with air travel and actual like airplanes and the airline industry and aviation, which is really strange. But I got really into like when I'm on a flight, I listened to air traffic control like the entire time. Like, which is like I have this crazy nerdy side that a lot of people think is super weird, but it's fascinating to me. And so I started getting into that a long time ago.

And then I was like, hey, I'm just going to start sharing about this. And, you know, some stuff on the nerdier side and then some stuff on the more mainstream side. And then it kind of became like the food and the travel. And then the music with Eat Travel Rock was, I'm like, I love talking about this stuff. Maybe people want to hear about it. Yeah. So something as you guys know that has a. been a huge part of my mental health journey, Taylor's mental health journey journeys as individuals,

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See, site for details. Get going on that therapy. Have you ever considered getting your pilot's license? Oh my gosh, Taylor. I get this question so much. Sorry, sorry. No, no. it's because every time I explain this to somebody, I get a different reaction. So I want to see what your reaction is. My answer to that is absolutely not because I don't trust myself when it comes to, you know, just the checklist that goes into like every time you fly. Yeah. Even if it's a private plane or, you know, just like a little, like a Cessna or something that you learn on. I know there's checklist. So the point of those is so you don't.

forget anything, but I'm like, what if I forget something? What if I forget? You know? And then there's a big problem. So I feel like I just don't trust myself that I would forget a very crucial step. Yeah. And have, you know, an accident. Yeah. So. So no. So right. But people are like, but usually, but that's what this is for. And that's what lessons are for. I'm like, no. No. So I don't, I'm happy being the passenger. Yeah. Same. Same. Yeah, I don't, I've never, I've never considered it, so I don't even know if I would. Yeah. I don't think I.

My dad was a commercial airline. And he, of course, says, he's tried to convince me to just spark that passion. And it's just not there. Like, he's like, we could like, you know, we could fly together. And I'm like, no, I am happy in the back of the plane. Like, love travel, totally fine with planes. do not want to be up there. I feel like the checklist thing I'd be fine with,

but like there's no like road. Like how do you know you're going straight? Like thinking about like, you know. There's waypoints. I know there's ways. Yes, I do. But like not. I don't know.

There's just there's a lot of space up there. That's just open. And I don't know if I like that. Well, there are actually, I mean, there, you can't see them, but there are roads in the sky. And there's waypoints. And there's like literally like highways pretty much that,

in different routes that you take. So if you're going from LA to Chicago, you'd have certain waypoints. They would be like, hit direct to this point and then now go direct to this point. And so they give you like little signposts that you need to hit. Yeah, no. I don't think I can.

No, not for you. But at least that means you've probably never really been afraid to fly if you grew up with it. Your dad was a pilot. Yeah. When I was younger, like I never was. but fear of flying actually has like crept up to me in my my older years like it's it's started kind of somewhat recently like I never was afraid of flying but I in the last few years I've

started just getting a little bit skeptical which is interesting and is that more of a like a enclosed spaces thing is it a aerodynamics thing is it a you just don't like the process like What's the reason? Because by the way, this is, I used to have a tremendous fear of flying. And then that's why I think I became so obsessed with all this because I did so much research and like learned so much about it. Because I knew I wanted to travel. And so I forced myself out of a fear of flying by just. Oh, wow. And that's a lot of what I do now is I, you know, try to help people and give, you know, I do Instagram videos and stuff for people who have fear of flying. Oh, wow. I up until recently have traveled a lot. But it's always been for work.

Okay. We've started in the last few years, a couple years, like traveling for fun, really for the first time in our life. Do you have, because I want to like put it on my notes in our to-do list, like, if you could choose anywhere, like, where have your favorite places been to visit? Well, let's combine two things in one here. Obviously, we were talking about you guys, love the food aspect as well. So my favorite food city in the U.S. besides Chicago, my hometown, which is, I mean, New York and Chicago are neck and neck, but Chicago, like, let's say per capita, probably has the best restaurants. But my favorite food city by far is New Orleans.

Have you been? Oh, yes. Yes, a lot. So it's just, it's such a romantic little antiquated, interesting town. It's so eclectic and so beautiful in so many ways and really fun. Yeah. Yeah. But the food, when you really do like a deep dive foodie tour there, there is no place in the country that has more incredible restaurants.

Wow. Like kind of jammed into one small space that are just out of this world. Do you know any off the top of your head? Because I filmed a movie there year before last. So I was there for like almost three months. And I got to know a little bit of there. One, it was called La Pesh. Uh-huh.

Oh. That was, yeah, I forget the chef now. I mean, I did this whole foodie exploration. I have a whole travel guide, so I'll give you guys a travel guide. It's on my Instagram of the restaurants that I went to. I think I went to 19 restaurants in three days or something. Wow. It was crazy.

Wow. And every single one was amazing. Yeah. But, yeah, La Pesh was one of the best ones. And then they just have so many cool little. Little, like you can go to the old absent house. I'm a big absent fan So, you know, actually going to a place that does, you know, they are experts in absent

Is really cool. And I mean, that place has been there since like 1790 or something ridiculous. 1810 or whatever. But, yeah, it's just such a authentic real place. I just love New Orleans. I love that you said that. Yeah. I can't think of any of the restaurants off the top of my head.

But we had some fun exploring. I know we found the ones that we love. I know. I just forget the names of them. Do you remember the cute little one? Isn't it your friends with that cute outdoor area? Am I incorrect? Cute.

Oh, oh. Where we went with, um, walking and Craig maybe? Yeah. Yeah. Or didn't go. Again, don't remember the name. Ambiance incredible. Yeah.

I'd say food, eight out of ten, ambiance 11. I can't remember what it was. And all the oysters. They get so many oysters. We need to go back now that I like oysters. Oh, yeah, because you didn't do oysters then. I was always just afraid of them because I'm like a texture person. Oh, man.

So I always say I'm not a picky eater, but when it comes to, like, textures of things, it kind of scares me. Like, I didn't like mushrooms until we started dating. I've converted her. He cooked to them, like, crispy, and now I can just eat them normal. But I never tried oysters just because they kind of freaked me out, but I love sushi. But anyways, we were doing our tasting for our wedding. So this is just a year ago. And they, like, brought out all of the food for us to try, obviously.

And they bring out oysters. And I was like, okay, these are going to be. At our wedding. I need to. I need to try this. Like I'm going to, and I shoot my little oyster. And I was like, this is the best thing I've actually ever had. And now since then I've, every time we're out, I'm like, oysters?

Oysters? Thank God you got a good one on your first time. Because every once in a while, you get a funky one. Yeah, a bad experience for your first time. Yeah. You know, it was, it was like honestly one of the best things I've ever eaten. Say like the ritual of it. I like the process.

Yeah. You know, it's the same thing. Like with absent. They're like caviar or something like that. There's a whole little ritual that goes along with it. We saw you about a year and a half ago. Yeah, it was January of 2022 when I met you guys. Okay.

Oh, wow. I was here. Was it not, was it like a week after Bob passed? I remember exactly. It was 10 days after. So Bob passed away on January 9th. And this was 10. 10 days later, and it was like my first time really, like, going out, like, leaving the house.

And you guys were so, so kind along with your dear friend Jason Kennedy to put together. And I mean, I don't know if it was necessarily just for my benefit, but it was, you know, definitely. Yeah, it was part of the program, I guess, was to have, you know, a little prayer get together, you know, virtual church service. with Pastor Judah to just kind of be there for me and Jason was like I want to do this for you

and put together a little you know kind of group of love at my house to kind of help you and I brought Candice

Cameron Bray and my sister Kristen and that's where I met you guys and you guys were just so kind and so thoughtful

and just so sweet to you know we've never met and I didn't it's not like I knew Jason very well. But to, and then Judah, of course, to do that for me.

And it was just so meaningful to me. And to this day, like, I'll never forget it as long as I live because that was really the first time that not only did I really leave the house and kind of venture out, but in a group of people that I kind of took a little out of my comfort zone, especially at the time. And, you know, met some new people. And I just felt so, you know, held in. and cared for even by people that I had just met. So it really meant a lot. So thank you again, guys, for being so supportive at that really, really sad, sad time. Yeah.

So it's been about a year and a half. I'm sure there's good days and bad days. But I just wanted to say it just seems like you are, you're doing the things you love. and doing the things that, you know, Bob would want you doing. So that just makes me so happy. Thank you. Before we, I just wanted to start because I actually don't know this. Can we go back to the beginning?

How did you guys meet? Like, what is your guys' story? How did that happen? So I just started recently telling the truth a little bit because he used to say he found me on Instagram, but really he saw me on a dating app. Okay. So he saw me on Ryan, that dating app. and saw me on there, but we didn't connect there.

And then he went to my Instagram and saw me there and then reached out to a mutual friend because I was living in Chicago at the time. And, you know, I was in media in Chicago. He knew another friend in media in Chicago and assumed we know each other because it's kind of a small world there. And we did. And he reached out to him and was like, hey, do you know this Kelly Rizzo girl? And he's like, yeah. Sorry, but Bob goes, is she a bitch?

And he's like, no, she's really nice, I hear. or, you know, I don't know her well, but she seems really nice. And he goes, well, can you get a message to her that I'm going to reach out to her on Instagram? Oh. So he DMed me and he's like, hey, I'd love to invite you to a show someday and take you out for a bunch of, I see you love food. I'd love you to invite you to a show and take you out for a bunch of burgers and lobsters or something. I was like, okay. But I was like, oh, it's a little too old for me, not really my type.

Like, I was not interested. But I was also kind of intrigued because, you know, it's on one hand, you're like, oh, it's Bob Saggett. Like how do I not at least entertain this, at least on a friend level? Right. Yeah. You know, he's somebody that everyone's known forever. Yeah. But on the other hand, I'm like, I don't like on a romantic level, I'm like, I don't think so.

So we were just friends for a little bit. And then as I got to know him or I'm like, well, there is nobody else on this planet like Bob. He is one of a kind. How do I pass this up? I was like, damn it, he's charming. No, I can't like Bob's second. That's weird. I know, but I'm like, he, he just, he grew on me into where I'm like, all right, all right, I'm going to see what this is all about. And then, yeah, and then we got married. Oh, man. Yeah. So when you were getting to know, what was, what would you say, what was one of the things who were most attracted to? I imagine his humor is pretty high up there. Yeah, but what's interesting is a lot of comedians, they're not always funny.

and they have a really big dark side as well because the reason they got to be so funny is because a lot of them went through some really hard stuff. So Bob, like most comedians, had a very hard life and a lot of really sad stuff happened to him. I mean, he lost both his sisters at a young age and both his parents and just went through a lot.

And also, you know, you have to have a very neurotic neurotic, intense, frenetic brain in order to even do that type of work. And you have to be a little quirky and a little crazy and a little out there. So, you know, he was an intense guy and he was not always funny. And there was a dark side as well. And so people are always like, oh my God, is it just so all funning games to be married to a comedian? I was like, no, there's a lot of work.

It was a lot of work. but at the same time, yes, of course, he was brilliantly funny. Nobody was quicker and more witty than Bob. So that was initially, of course, a major source of attraction in a sense because I was like, he was brilliantly hilarious. But at the same time, he was also so thoughtful and so considerate and so just aware of like other people's needs and just doing everything he can to try to help. and like, what can I do for you? What can I do? And he was just always so on top of everything. He was, like, wanted to help everybody he can in any way he could. And with how busy he was, he was also that person that if you asked him for a favor or he was doing something for you, it's like, it got done in five minutes.

Like, he made it happen. Like, there was never anything that he dropped the ball on. Like, he was just so. And I mean, I know it's not the most, like, romantic thing to be like, he was so reliable and responsible. But, I mean, it's true because a lot of things. people aren't and I really like I felt so safe and secure with him because he was always just such an incredible caretaker yeah no that makes perfect sense yeah I have to ask because I feel like I can't really ask this question a lot of people but I was a fan of twilight before I was a big twilight girl before dating Taylor did you watch full house yeah well it's interesting like it's you know a similar dynamic then um yeah I mean everyone watched full house

I wasn't, you know, like my sisters were maybe bigger fans in terms of making sure they watched it every week. Like maybe I had watched 70% of the episodes or something like that. So, you know, in the 90s, I was definitely a fan. Like I liked the show, but I wasn't. More like a diehard. Right. I didn't have like Stamos posters on my wall. You know what I mean?

Or, sorry, definitely. Or Danny Tanner posters on my wall. Sorry, Bob. You know, like usually the heartthrobby one was John. You know, so like I didn't have, you know, I wasn't into it like that. But I definitely liked the show. And then same thing with like America's Funniest Home Videos. Oh my gosh.

You know, like that came out in 1989. I was 10 years old. And I remember every single Sunday watching it at my grandma's house when we would go to her house for dinner since I was 10 years old. And like now looking back, I'm like, how weird is that that I was 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, you know, because I think that went three. through 95 or 96. Really? So, you know, I was 16, 17 or whatever. And being like, let's say as a 12-year-old kid to be like, one day I'm going to be married to that guy.

Like that's so weird to me. Yeah. But like when I met him, like I, there was such a disconnect. And see, for you, this may be a little different because like it's not like Taylor looks like a totally different person than he did. I mean, it's like you can kind of tell it's Taylor. Like you sound the same. You kind of look the same. Like Bob

You know His voice was different You know Because you know 30 years had passed Like his voice was deeper So he kind of sounded different And he looked so different

Yeah That to me like the Bob that I was with Like there was a major Like I didn't see Danny Tanner from Full House I didn't see The Bob of America's Funniest film videos So

I always felt like I would like have to like Look at a picture side by side To be like Is that even the same guy Like, I really truly felt like it was a different person. So for me, I, like, clearly I know that truly that was he, like, doing that. But, like, my, the Bob that I knew, it was, like, a separate guy from that.

She says the same thing. That's exactly what I say. I mean, like, and it's funny because I was probably, like, 12 or 13. I, like, went to all the movie premieres and, like, everything. I loved it. I also just loved the book, so I loved the movies. But, yeah, I always say, like, looking like. watching these movies.

I'm like, that's weird that like this guy that I'm watching, like, it's going to be my husband one day, like, trying to like tell my 12-year-old self that to process it. But I always say even when I watch stuff of Taylor's, like, today, watch it back. It's like, well, I guess like your most recent movie. I feel like that is you. But like watching, like rewatching Twilight back or even just like thinking about it or like, you know, seeing photos. And like, it's just like, it doesn't like.

everyone's like, you're, you're married to, like, Jacob from Twilight. I'm like, no, I'm married to Taylor. Right, right. They're just like, it's two different things for me. Yeah. It's just, you know. I know it's interesting that both of you filled up. Exactly same way.

Well, so, but when you, you were a fan of the movies where you were a fan of his, where you're like, ooh, like, I have a crush on him type of thing or other. I'll just answer for you. No. Okay. I had to get that. I was the other. I was too young for the abs.

I was the other. I was too young for abs then. I wasn't into. 12 year olds weren't into abs. Yeah. The 12, the 12, the 12 year old in me

was not into the abs yet. If I was a little older than I probably would have been. I'm your team now. Sure, sure. Yeah. Now it's all. That's all that matter.

Team Taylor now. Well, I mean, I will say like Bob was, you know, people are like, oh my God, Danny Tanner. He really,

there were, there was a lot of that character that was very true to life. Like, he was very clean and a neat freak. Yeah. And also love to hug people. And so it was like,

very, that was very accurate. He did embody a lot of that character. And then he also embodied a lot of like his entourage character. Like he was somewhere in the middle. Yeah. You know, I love that. How old was he? I'm just curious here. How old was he when he started full house? Like 31. Okay. Wow. Well, yeah, he's born in 56 and he started in 87. So, holy crap. It's my age. Oh, like right now. Right now. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. So he was, he's, and it was, uh, God, he seasons. And so he did that through he was 31 to 39 or something was his full house years. Wow.

He was in his 30s the whole time. So young. Yeah. Yeah. And I don't know how. I totally forgot about America's funny of some videos. I used to watch that with my family. I know until you said that.

I forgot. I know. I just totally blanked on that. Were you old enough to watch even the like when Bob was still doing it? I don't know. You were old enough for. Bob. I don't think I was unless it was like he stopped that in 97 I think were they still doing reruns because I definitely like I only watched Bob's yeah when they replaced Bob at it. He was actually a big writer on the show and he did all those voices like all those little like you know like the animal voices and the silly voice like he did all those voices. We're now when it's you know it's um who took up um well Alfonso is doing it now and I don't believe like. you know, he's more of just, he's the host versus a writer in doing all the voices and stuff.

So Bob was always very proud of the fact that he, you know, was the original and he was very involved with making that show what it was at the time. Yeah. Wow. That's so cool. Okay. So we, and if we don't need to go here, but I, we know your story. And, you know, we saw you 10 days after. But for the listeners that don't, would you mind going back to the day that you got the call? Like I know he was gone, right? He was on tour.

Yeah. So he was in Florida. And I mean, this is not something that, you know, I talk about all the time. So it's good to, you know, it's one of those things that I get emotional. But that's okay. You know, people always like, is it okay to talk about Bob? I'm like, no, I love talking about Bob. Yeah.

But he was on tour. And, well, this was just like a short, this was just two shows in Florida. Okay. So he did Orlando and then he did Jacksonville. Okay. And so it was Saturday night he had his Jacksonville show and then drove back to his hotel in Orlando. So it was like a two-hour drive. And we were on the phone for maybe like an hour of it.

Like we talked for a while on his way home. And, you know, keep in mind, it's three hours later there. And it's very late, you know, by the time he's done, it was, he didn't get home to like two in the morning. And it was 11 for me. And I had had had COVID. So he had it like the week before. But then he was fine and, you know, fine to go away to Florida. But I was still not feeling great.

And I had like a horrible sore throat. And so like all night I was like, oh, I feel like crap. And my throat hurts. And so he got back to the hotel and he started texting me picture. of these like throat lozenges that his friend had given him. And he's like, look, honey, I'm bringing these home for you. Like, just go to sleep. Can I please, can I pay you to go to sleep? Will you just go to sleep? Because I like wouldn't. He's like, you need rest. He's like, take this med and take these meds and like just go to sleep. And he's like, I will see you in the morning. I will be home tomorrow.

He's like, you know, and then it was all like, thank God. It was all like love. Like, I love you so much. Can't wait to see you tomorrow. I miss you. Love you, love you, love you, love you. And then it was, you know, I woke up the next morning and I feel so bad now like looking at my text to him because I woke up and my throat was still like on fire and so I was texting him like, my throat still hurts. I called the doctor and he didn't respond to me yet. Like what do I do? Like this is not normal. Like I've never had a throw like this and or my, you know, like it feels like strap like this is. And I was just like unloading on him about my sort of throat and he like wasn't responding. And as I said, Bob was

very, very reliable and responsible. And like, if he didn't return a text in 10 minutes, I was always like, either he's filming something or on stage or like something's wrong. Yeah. But because I have a major tendency towards worry, and this has been a problem my whole life. Like if ever I can't get a hold of somebody in my family, I always think the worst happened. Yeah. And Bob was always telling me, he's like, you've got to stop the worrying.

Like, you're going to give yourself a disease. Like, you're going to give yourself a disease. cancer. You're going to give yourself like something. You have to stop this. It's so bad for you. He's like, when have you ever worried about anything where it's ever actually comes true? Like you worry about all this stuff and it never happens. So just stop it. And so that morning, and I'm texting and is not responding. And of course, like your mind doesn't go to like the worst place like immediately. But it was, you know, like a couple hours later. I'm like, this is weird. And I knew he was flying home that day.

And I remember being like doing the math and I'm like, okay, it's 11 here. It's like two there. He should be his flight. I thought was at three. Like he should be at the airport right now. And like his phone was still at the hotel. And I was like, that's kind of weird. But I was like, nope, I'm not going to let my mind go there because he always said, what are the odds anything?

So it was like the one time that I was actually testing myself to like not get worried. Right. Wow. And I was like, nope, I'm just not going to go there this time. Wow. And finally after, you know, got to the point where I was like, this is really weird that I called the hotel. And I was like, can I speak with, you know, can you put me through to? And I knew his alias.

And I was like, can you put me through to this room? And they're like, well, we don't do that. I'm like, yes, you do. I gave me the alias. Like, clearly I'm not like a fan calling. And I was like, fine. Can you just call his room? And then, like, call me back.

or tell him to call me. Yeah. And then they called and then I finally got through to a manager and they're like, yeah, we're trying his room and he's not responding. And I was like, that's weird. And then it just kind of kept escalating. And then they're like, we're doing a wellness check. And then it was like, I was like, okay, now this is where this is when I started calling

like his daughters and his ex-wife and my family. And I'm like, this is, at this point I'm freaking out. I had a friend come over because I was panicking. And then it just at that point we're like, all right, something's weird. You know, I wasn't necessarily thinking the worst worst yet because I thought I was like, okay, maybe, you know, he got sick or like maybe it was like a heart attack, but like they can rush into the hospital or something, you know. And then they're like, paramedics are here.

And then they're like, law enforcement's here. And then they said the paramedics left, but law enforcement's still here. And at that point, I'm like, what? Like, it just, and at this point, of course, we know something's bad happening, but we still didn't think it was the worst. And then finally, and this was a two-hour process of me being absolutely hysterical on the phone. I will say, my sore throat went away immediately because you know your body can only handle like the worst pain at any given moment. Yeah.

So it was weird. My body was like, I'm going to give you a little break on this. aspect because you have bigger shit to deal with right now. And I finally, my friend was like demanding. Like we need answers. This is crazy. And then finally a security guard got on the phone with me and was like, you know, sorry. Like, unfortunately, he passed away. Like, when I heard that news, I was like, I mean, I just completely just crumbled. Like, I mean, I collapsed on the floor and I was like screaming like an animal was just so brutal. It was so horrible. And then it was kind of a blur. But then it was just like phone call after phone call after phone call. Like I had to,

you know, the first call I made was to his ex-wife, Sherry, because I knew like I'd been talking to his girls all morning, but I'm like, I knew that I couldn't tell them. So I told Sherry and then Sherry told them. And then immediately the, you know, it hit TMZ like 20 minutes later. Are you serious? Oh, gosh. And then thank God, people started coming over. I think Candice was the first person. And then like Jody and Lory Stamos and then Jody and Lori. And it was literally like the full house people were like actual family, you know, and they were there right away. And because, you know, my family's all in Chicago, so I was alone. And his girls are in New York.

And so I had to have, like, his friends were the only people there for me physically. And it was, it was just like this crazy whirlwind because you think of, you know, going through that in and of itself is insane. But then when you have to do it when it's, like, in the media and publicly. And it was just, I mean. Sometimes it's actually cathartic to, like, go through that process again because I don't do that all the time. But every single time I do it, it, like, hits me because it takes me back there, you know, like it was yesterday. So anyway, that's the very long answer to your question. No.

I just can't, like, the media side of it all. Because I know we talk to a lot of people, like, about, you know, talk a lot about this, like, grief and just, like, this whole process. but just like that's just like that's killing me hearing that on top of how difficult the situation is like you gotta deal with this too

it's like it's not it's not just something that you know it's not you're not meant to deal with loss in that yeah amplified like that yeah and having to be giving statements and like you shouldn't have to you shouldn't have to worry about that at all

yeah you should be able to grieve in complete privacy. Yeah. And, well, it is a double-edged sword in a sense because it was also something that even though it's so weird to have to deal with that, the outpouring of love,

I'm sure you guys noticed. It was like nothing anyone had ever seen. I mean, it was next level. I mean, it was like Bob and like Queen Elizabeth. Yeah. You're like got more love than anybody. And on one hand, it was, there was pressure and a lot of response.

responsibility to be in the public eye dealing with this. But at the same time, it made me and his family and his friends, you know, just so happy to see just how, I mean, we knew how loved he was, but like not to that extent. And I feel like Bob would have been like, part of him would have been like, yeah, of course people love me this much. Like everyone loves me. But then part of, but then we're also like, no, he would have been shocked with, you know, he had his insecurities to. Like he would. would be super confident on one hand and then sometimes he'd be like you know I hope I hope I hope people like me enough you know so just like any artist or comedian or anybody like you have that both sides to your personality so I know he would have been so honored with how much he found out that people really really loved him so and then on the other hand like you know I'm talking to you guys today I've you know all the whether it's about you know when it was right after it happened happened or more recently, like, I'm always here to talk about Bob because I want to keep his memory and his legacy alive. Not that I need to do that because people love him anyway and he's not

going anywhere regardless, but anything I can do to help keep his memory alive is what, you know, part of my mission always going forward because, you know, he deserves that. Absolutely. Yeah, I love that. I kind of mentioned the grief thing earlier, but I just think grief is such an interesting process because it is a lifelong process, but it also just looks so different for everyone. How have you seen that process change maybe like from, you know, the beginning couple months to where you are now? In the very beginning, you truly are so consumed and overwhelmed by it that you're like, I can't see how I'll ever be normal again. How will I ever be happy? How will I ever laugh. How will I ever smile? How will I ever, you know, just have a normal day? And because in the

beginning, it's, you get hit by a wave. I mean, once again, this is different for everybody. You know, I cannot speak to somebody who's, let's say, like, lost a child. That's a completely different ballgame. You know, I lost my husband who was 65 years old and lived an incredible amazing life and got a chance and an opportunity to change the world and make it a better place. So that's very different than somebody who, let's say, loses a child at a very young age where you're like, that child never got to do this or that or, you know, it's. So my experience and being okay 21 months later, like, you know, you could maybe lose a sibling or lose a parent or a child. And 21 months later, you're still not okay. So I understand that my situation is unique to me.

But in the beginning, it was like every five minutes. Like I don't think I could go five minutes, maybe 10, without getting hit by this wave that just feels like it just punched you in the stomach and you just get, you just start bawling and you're crying. And it's like you can't breathe and you can't do anything except deal with that like wave of grief. Yeah. And then maybe after like a week or so, it's every half. hour and then maybe after a month it's like every hour yeah and then six months later it's like okay maybe I'm only crying a few times a day yeah and then after a year it's like okay now I'm only you know I think it was I cried every single day for like six months and then I remember I had one day where I didn't cry and I felt so horrible about it I was wow yeah I felt so guilty

yeah how could I not have cried today yeah like what's wrong with like wrong with me. Yeah. Like, I guess I'm a horrible person and maybe I didn't love Bob as much as I was supposed to. And like, your brain starts going to these places where you're like, oh my God, are people going to think I'm horrible? Yeah. And then I remember I had a day maybe, yeah, six months or so after. I mean, you know, this wasn't like six days. Those six months after where I was like listening to a song in my house and like, like, you know, the speakers were playing some song. And I remember just, like, singing along and I almost, like, danced a little for a second. And I remember I was like, oh, I was like, I can't believe I just danced. Wow. I was like, oh my God, like, did anyone see that? I have to call.

And I called my sister. I was like, Kristen, like, I just danced a little. And I sang a song and I feel so guilty about me. And she's like, Kelly, like, if you feel happy, like, go with it. Yeah. You know? And then I learned. and like now what I'll tell people is

when you have those moments like you're gonna get hit by another wave of grief soon so just like enjoy it while it lasts. Yeah. Like we don't know if we're here for another hour on this planet. Like Bob didn't surely didn't think

he had a couple hours left when he talked to me that last time. You know? Yeah. And we never know how much time we have so it's like if you're feeling happy and if you want to dance dance around your freaking house.

Yeah. You know? Because life is going to get hard again and you're going to cry again. And if you're grieving, like you're going to get hit by another wave of grief or you're just living life, like, just go with it. So I was really hard on myself for, you know, starting to kind of feel happy again. Yeah. Would that be, I'm guessing this is what your answer would be. But I was going to ask, what do you wish that you knew in those early moments of grief that you see, you know, a bit clear now?

Would it be bad? Yeah, I think it would be that Survivor's guilt situation, which fortunately, and I've been pretty vocal about the fact that I'm very blessed and lucky that I didn't have any guilt or like regret about Bob. Because, as I said, our last conversation was, I love you so much. know, it's not like we were in a fight. And, you know, he was a wonderful husband and I was a wonderful wife and we had a great relationship and we treated each other with respect. And, you know, there was nothing like, it wasn't like, I was supposed to be there and I wasn't there. And like, what if I was there? It wouldn't have happened. You know, there was nothing like that. Like, I wasn't supposed to be there. There was nothing I could have done. It was a freak accident.

Like what? And by the way, when I saw you guys that 10 days after, we still didn't even know what had happened to him. What? Oh, well. Yeah, we didn't find out until like two or three weeks later. Really? Yeah, so we just kind of assumed it was, you know, like a heart attack or a strover. I mean, like, what else would you assume, you know? So you were waiting to find out. Yeah, we didn't know that the detail.

He had hit his head until it was like maybe two to three weeks after. So in that time, like we still didn't know what it was. So it was like really weird to live in this limbo of like not knowing what had happened. And fortunately, like a lot of times those things. things take weeks and weeks in like six to ten weeks. And we fortunately found out like much faster. But wow. But still, point is it was a freak accident. And, you know, it was just one of those things where there, you know, as I said, there was nothing I could have done or anyone could have done differently. Yeah. And so I didn't have guilt or regret, which are like really the

things that can kick your ass when you're grieving. Yeah. So I was lucky. not to have that. But then the guilt crept in when, you know, I started to feel not so horrible all the time. Yeah. Like, what's wrong with me? Like, can Bob see me smile? Like, is he mad at me? You know, like, and of course, I'd be like, no, he'd want you to be happy. But then I'm like, but so soon? You know, and there's no, like, I mean, the time is different for everybody. Some people can smile and laugh six days later. And, you know, some people, six years. You know, you don't know. But yeah, I wish I would have known then that, like, this people start to feel guilty for feeling happy. And that's normal.

Yeah. Yeah. I've never thought about that before, but it makes so much sense. Yeah. Yeah. It's just so cool that we've never talked about this before. And I'm so thankful for you talking about that because that is, like, such a real thing. And you just being honest with that is going to, you know.

Yeah. help a lot of people because, yeah, I know. Well, you know, and now I'm in this place where it's like anything, I am certainly no expert. I've only lost one person very, very, I mean, except for grandparents. Yeah. You know, thankfully, thank God. But it's only been Bob. So I've gone through this one time.

So it's not like I'm an expert. Bob was the expert. And that's why it was that was what made this even harder is because he would always tell me like, don't worry like I'll be there for you whenever you lose somebody because like I'm the guy I'm the grief guy like I know how to handle is I've been through this so much like don't worry like when it comes time and you lose you know your parents or this or that like I'll be there for you yeah and so to go through this like without him but I was like wait but you're my you're my guy like how do this with that right like you're my grief guy like where are you so I do feel like in some way that he did keep

his promise with that because I think you going through this. I think I think he's going to be with you in the sense of what you've learned about yourself and how to handle it. I think I think that's still, you know, obviously he's not here in the physical, but I definitely think he's still, you know, going to be with you and what you've learned through this through him. Absolutely. And yeah, thank you for saying that and reiterating that. But yeah, it's true. And just in other ways, too, like his humor. Like I can hear so many times I can hear like jokes that he, he would be saying, like, in a certain moment, I was like, oh, Bob would be saying this or Bob would be? And then, like, he'll give me moments of like levity that I'm feeling like, okay, this is, you know, there's a conduit here where he's still able to be there in a sense. So. Yeah. You've talked about the importance of selling the house that both of you lived in and that, you know, being crucial to your healing journey. Was there, like, a moment or a day? Like, how did, when did you? you come to that decision? Well, actually, so the process was a little, because I remember there was

something I said in an interview one time that almost got taken a little out of context saying that I had sold the house because it was triggering, but that's not actually what happened. You know, this was a house Bob had been in for 20 years. He loved the house, but it was just way too big of a responsibility for, and technically, like, his house, you know, his estate. So, like, his girls were a part of that. And they live in New York and they're like, well, like, we can't have the house and you can't. Like, I mean, it was too big of an undertaking for us to keep. And, uh, it just didn't make sense. And so we and the girls and I, you know, like we needed to sell the house. And, uh, it just, it was just what needed to be done. It wasn't like an emotional thing. Got it. Yeah. So that was, uh, not part of,

you know like we had to have big talks about like oh that's how we feel about it um you know sad because bob loved that house but um that was just more of like a logistical decision that uh but then what had happened was i had we were in the house for like three months after he passed um and or i moved out three months later and during that time i would realize that certain things in the house because, you know, keep in mind, like, he left the house one day and then just never came back. And so there was so much stuff that was, you know, left as he left it. And there was so much stuff that, I mean, everything was his stuff. And also, I had such kind of traumatic memories of being, like, in the kitchen, like, that's where I was when I found out what it happened. And I remember, like,

looking at the part of the kitchen that I was in where, like, I literally fell to the ground and, like, you know, who's crying hysterically. Every time I was like in that part of the kitchen, I was like, ugh, like that's where I was what that happened.

And then being in the living room, like this is where we were all gathered right when everyone started coming to the house that day. And so like walk through parts of the house and just had these memories of attaching the memories. Attaching, yeah, like kind of traumatic memories.

Even though there were so many happy memories in that house, the first few months, it was very triggering to be there because everything was Bob. And it wasn't, I didn't have enough separation of like time and space to like be in a place like where now when I see a picture of Bob or a video of Bob like I smile and I can laugh and I'm happy. Of course things, you know, I'll still see some and like cry and get sad.

But like for the most part I can look at something and be happy now. We're in the beginning, you know, everything was I would start bawling every time. And like there at the house, you know, I would see, oh, that's the lawn chair he would sit on every day and smoke his cigars and his robe and, you know, and, you know, have his laptop and write his emails. And like, so I couldn't even like look out at the pool because I would picture him, you know, sorry, like I'd picture him out there doing those things. And it was just so sad. And even though it's like I loved the house and I loved being there.

And, you know, as I said, we didn't sell it because of that reason. But it got to a point where I was like, okay, this is coming at the right time because it was really hard to still be there. And so like when I moved and I moved to my to my new house, it was like a fresh start. But also I still brought so much of his stuff. But it was like in a way that was like curated. And in a happy way where it wasn't it didn't have like the heavy attachment to it. Even though I brought so like his stuff was everywhere, it was stuff like I wanted to look at and stuff that I wanted the memories from. You know, versus it being forced upon me.

It was stuff that like I, you know. As I said curated. Yeah. Yeah. That's so special. Yeah. That you, yeah, you get that. Yeah.

Okay. On a lighter note. Okay. We love special forces. We, we. Lighter note. Jeez, that was like the hardest week of my life. I mean, but we.

Let's talk about a different type of misery. Oh, man. Let's talk about you being tortured. Yeah. Okay. That's my point is. So we, we watched the first season. Oh, you did.

Yeah, yeah, I loved it. I don't know. Did you see the first season? No. Okay. I did before I went, but not before I decided to do it. Yes. Before you decided?

No. Okay. Because I don't know. There's no way after seeing the first season. I would say yes to doing this. It's, I love watching it, but I don't think I would survive. I mean, it's crazy. So now what part?

makes use. Is it like the living conditions type of thing? Like you're like, no, I like being comfy in my house. Or is it the, you know, the physical challenges or the scary, like the scary stuff? So the challenges. So the living conditions and everything? Absolutely. Couldn't do it.

He's on a sleepover type of guy. He is a give me my own space. See, that's how I am. Yeah. In my own. Yeah. No, that sounds like a nightmare. The challenges.

Like, there's some that I would be totally fine with and, like, think would be fun. Like, the running down the thing. Like, I think I would, I think I would like that. The anything that has to do with, like, being claustrophobic and, like, the dropping, like, into water and, like, circumstances like that, I just don't think I could do it. Like, I wouldn't even be able to, I wouldn't agree to do it. I would say, peace out, Girl Scout. Yeah.

But I just like, kudos to you for going on it because, man, it's just like, yeah, how was the experience without giving anything away? I wanted to do this because on the physical side of things, like, I always knew that I was pretty strong, pretty athletic and pretty competitive. And when I saw a lot of these challenges, and I also not scared of heights and not scared of water and like all those very adventurous things. Like they look really cool to me. Okay. Like in the first season, they did the back dive off the helicopter into the ocean, you know, where the backwards where you. Yeah. It's not.

There's no hands. It's like a hands free. Like you just cross your arms over your chest and fall backwards and dive off the helicopter. Uh-huh. To me, I'm like, that looks awesome. I'm like, I want to do that. So in one of the episodes. I did a back dive off a, like a 30-foot platform off a boat into freezing pitch black water like in the middle of the night.

So you do, you fall backwards into, you know, 40 degree water. That's another thing I don't do is cold water. And nor do I, Taylor. However, when you're there and you don't have a choice, you just suck it up and you do it. Like, I hate being cold. And so when my agent first told me, she's like, okay, so we want you to do this. And it's happening. And it's in Australia.

And I was like, oh, Australia. Like, great. I've never been. I'm so excited. And then like the day later, she was like, oh, wait, I'm sorry. It's actually New Zealand. And I was like, oh, okay, cool. But it was June and, you know, here.

Well, it was June everywhere. So it was June, but we're in L.A. Yeah. And, you know, June and New Zealand is winter. Yeah. But I didn't realize how cold it was there. I still was like thinking like, oh, Australia, you know, New Zealand. You know, it's like, oh, still always kind of nice.

And this was the south of New Zealand. So we were in Queensland, which was very, very cold. But I mean, not as I said, I'm from Chicago. So I'm used to the cold. So this was, you know, let's say high 30s, low 40s every day. So not brutal. But still, that's cold. We're outside all day.

and in getting wet and in the rain and in the snow. And but mentally, because people have been telling me this last year and a half, like, you're so strong, you're so strong, you're so strong. Like, you know, you're the strongest person I know. I'm like, no, I'm not. Like, you don't think you're strong. Like, when you're going through this, you feel like a pile of mush, you know. You don't feel. You're just trying to get through it.

Right. But everyone kept telling me this. So I was like, all right, maybe they're right. Let's see how strong I really am. Wow. So I was like, all right, this looks like a cool opportunity to A, challenge myself physically, B, challenge myself mentally, and C, challenge myself, like, just comfort level. I need to sleep with a sound machine and my eye mask and my earplugs and my comfy bed and 70 pillows.

And, you know, my temperatech mattress. And in a completely pitch black, quiet. room. Absolutely. And now I'm in a room with 13 other people on Army Cots. Yeah. That have no padding, no mattress. You get a little travel pillow that's made of paper that's like this big.

Like, it's what it looks like. Oh, and it's not like they film. It's not like they film you guys getting your cots and they're like, all right, cut. And then you go to the hotel. Oh, no, no, no. It is what it looks. It is a thousand percent real. There is no.

I mean, the bathrooms were outside. It was four plywood. stalls that had buckets in the ground. So there was no plumbing. And I remember it was funny. So Jojo, Siwa was like my bathroom buddy because you have to go to the bathroom with, you can't go anywhere by yourself. You always have to have a buddy. Because it's like military rules like you can never be by yourself.

So even if you need to go to the bathroom, which was, you know, across the camp from our barracks, like from our bedroom, it was maybe, you know, maybe like 50 yards away. So like not super far, but like you, and you had to run everywhere. So you have to go with somebody. Even when you're going to go to the bathroom. Even when you're going, you have to jog everywhere or run. So. And even in the middle of the night, like, you know, I'm in my 40s now.

Got to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night sometimes. So I would have to wake up Jojo because she was like, she was like, wake me up. Like, I don't care because she could, she's 20. She could go back to sleep in two seconds. Right. So for me, it was so hard to go back to sleep. So I'd wake up Jojo or like Tom Sandibald and be like, can you guys go to the mat?

Can someone go pee with me? And so we'd have to like put on our clothes. You know, you have to get fully dressed because it's cold out. Yeah. Run to the bathroom. And, you know, you go to the bathroom and then go back. And then the funny thing is Jojo. I'm sorry if this is TMI.

But like there was one, there was like a bucket of like orange sawdust like outside with like a shovel outside. of the stalls. And for like the first couple days, Jojo and I were like, what's that bucket for? Like, what is that stuff? And then finally we realized we're like, oh, that's if somebody goes number two. They have to shovel the sawdust into the buckets. So that way it's like more hygienic. Yeah. You know, and but like we didn't realize what that was for. And then finally we saw some people like shoveling. We're like, oh, we get it. We get what you find to go in there for. Yeah. So, like, it was no joke. We had to chop our own firewood to keep the woodburning stove in the, or heater in the bedroom going.

It's legit. It's very, very real. No joke. What was the worst part? Well, the comfort level aspect was, for me, the sleeping. I was getting maybe like three hours a night. And then you're doing the most physically challenging stuff you've ever done in your life on very little sleep. So that was really hard.

But then for me, this boat carry challenge that I will say I'm very proud of myself and the fact that I said that I will not quit or give up. Like, I'm not going to just be scared and quit or I'm not going to just not want to do something and quit or be uncomfortable and quit. Yeah. I tried. You know, you get to a point where I'm like, my knees were shot. I could barely walk, let alone run. And I was like, I want to give up. people would like not let me. And then I said the only way I'll ever leave here is if I'm either

injured or if my body just cannot physically go anymore, if like my body just breaks down. Yeah. And I'm happy to say that that is what happened. I went until my body just gave out and I could not go anymore. Wow. And it was we had to carry like a, I mean, I think it was a thousand pounds, but it was probably like 400 pounds. Like one of those zodiac boats, like those Navy SEAL zodiac boats, like over a mile through hilly terrain out in like the fields in New Zealand and push it up a frozen icy river that's like running downstream that's way steep and it's like ice cold. Wow.

You know, I'm slipping on the rocks and falling backwards and the water's rushing over my head and I'm like hysterically just melting down and crying and. and convulsing, and the Navy SEALs guys are chirping in my ear, like, your husband's looking down on you, like, don't give up. And I was like, oh, like, really? You're going to pull that on me? Yeah. Yeah. Jeez. So, but that certainly does motivate you. So it got to the point where I, you know, worked so, so, so hard and tried so hard. But I just, at some point, you also are like, it's better for me to quit for the team. Because if you're on a team in a team, in a team, situation, you're like, I'm just holding the team back. Right. You know, when you're on a team with like Tyler Cameron, who's a beast and Tom Sandoval, who's incredibly fit, and then an Olympic gold medal speed skater whose legs are like tree trunks. Yeah. Who are like, she's the strongest person ever. And then, and then me. I'm like, all right, I'm dead weight, guys. I'm dead weight. You don't want me here. I see, okay. So give the squeeze

listeners, an exclusive here. I wasn't going to talk about this. But I didn't, I was approached to be on this season. I was asked to be on it. And it was an immediate now. I think you should reconsider for a future season. Maybe it'll be in the jungle. I appreciate you saying that.

But I'm going to pass. But they told me it was going to be in Jordan. That was last season. The first season was in the desert in Jordan. Oh, well, then they may be. at some point, like they were saying the second season was going to be. So this New Zealand one. Oh, maybe.

Yeah, because they went from like summer in the desert to winter war. The whole point is the season was winter warfare. So I'm, my guess is that if they went from desert to, you know, snowy New Zealand, I'm guessing that maybe next season will be like jungle. Yeah. Kind of like rainforest. Right. Which to me. Really humid.

Yeah. Yeah. Like that. Yeah. To me, it sounds like all I think of is like bugs. And I was like, no way. Fortunately, there were no bugs in New Zealand. We didn't have to deal with any of it.

Because of the cold. Oh, my gosh. She's. Okay. Well, thanks for that scoop because I'm very excited for tonight's episode. Me too. Yeah, I think this, yeah, this is the, um, we do a backdive off a boat into pitch black water, freezing water.

And then there's a tied up. No, you're, oh, you just, you're just free falling. Okay. Head first, backwards. And I was crazy. I did really well on that one. And then we, there's a tactical driving challenge with like explosives and stuff where you're. I saw that preview.

Yeah. Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I love that show. I'm excited. It's so fun. Speaking of recent projects, I'd love to talk about a little podcast that you.

Yeah. That you're doing. You wouldn't tell her listeners about it. I've already solicited. you guys to be one of my first guests. Yeah, I'd love to talk about it. I'm obsessed with the idea. Oh, thank you. It's so clever. Yeah. Yeah, well, like, please have us on. Yeah. So it's called comfort food with Kelly Rizzo. And it's, you know, I'm just talking to really great guests who are friends or, you know, notable people who, you know, at some point have, you know, gone through something in

their life or have something that they want to share about that maybe, you know, like what you guys do here. you know you talk to people who have gone through something and uh but where so we're talking about you know life love laughter the whole thing but while eating my guest's favorite comfort food so it's kind of a little bit in the vein of like the hot ones where the food isn't the main part of the story but it's kind of there to help you along the way you know and the food's something you come back to yeah um so you know we'll be eating your favorite comfort food you guys can pick two different dishes or 10 different, whatever you guys want. And, you know, so it's, you know, we're talking about life in a way that, you know, maybe where we, we're sharing things that have been difficult,

but since we're doing it while we're eating your favorite comfort food, it makes it a little bit more lighthearted, adds a little levity to it and a little comfort to it. So yeah, it's hopefully something where people can learn, but also be entertained. And, you know, there might be some cooking that happens at some point, you know, might be some cooking segments. Definitely, I'm sure, some cocktail segments for people whose comfort food is an old fashion. Yeah. Sign me up. Yeah. So that's happening real soon. I'm starting to record this week. When, so by the time this episode comes out, when is, do you know when you're first, when you'll release? I would say it's probably going to be very, very soon after. So yeah, by the time this comes out,

I would say definitely look for comfort food because it's going to be coming out soon or at least very soon after. Okay. It's honestly such a good idea. Such a great concept. Like, I just thought about what I'm bringing. I don't know what you're bringing, but. You know what you're. I think just because I'm hungry and this sounds good because I was just talking about it,

but it is kind of like comfort. It is comforting. What? Chick-fil-a. See, and then that's why we can like get actual chick-fil-a. Right. We can just order chick-fil-a. Right.

Like, I'm just, oh. Wow. Chick-fil-a sauce. Oh, my gosh. Yeah, I don't. Yeah, what would yours be? I know, I know. See, this is going to be-

I'll start, I'll start prepping it now. I'll do the chick-fil-a. You do the cocktail. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll go with the old-fashioned. We could do that. Yeah.

I like old-fashioned too, so great. And you like old-fashioned too. So we got a cocktail. We got chick-fil-it. What more did you want? That's a heck of a night right there. Booze and Chick-fil-A. I love it.

Sign me up. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Shot. Oh, actually, it's, we're doing shots of a wild turkey or a fireball. Oh, no, you know what I do? Chick-fil-Han fireball. I want you to introduce me more to absent.

Like, why, why I feel, I think I've only, like, had it once or twice. Okay, so how about this? I've been dying to have an absent party at my, so I just moved into a new house. I want to have an absent party. Yeah. So if I invite you guys, will you come to my absinfully? Absolutely. Absinfully. You're done.

Why did I feel like that? It just felt so good in that moment to say that. But yeah, I love the traditional preparation of it. Like I'm going to have, well, I've had this before, but I lost it in the move, but I'm getting another one where it's the beautiful old, like antique looking, like a water cooler almost, but it's pretty little glass. contraption and it has four spouts on it and you can turn it so it just gently drips water slowly out of each spout and you put the absent glasses which are also a special kind of glass that you put under each spout and you fill up like about an ounce of the absinth and then on top you put this special slotted spoon on top of the glass with a sugar cube on it and so you drip the water slowly

onto the sugar cube, which then dilutes the sugar, and it falls through the slotted spoon into the absinth. And then it's called it lures the absinthe, the water and the sugar together, mix with the absent and like the warm wood ingredient that's in the absence to like activate it. Wow. And then it turns into a cocktail because then you add enough cold water to it. And then with the sugar, so it's like sugar water. It's almost like its own old fashioned in a sense. And then you drink the cocktail, but it gives you. you know, everyone's like, oh, it makes you hallucinate. Like, no, it does not.

However, it does give you, like, an interesting kind of buzz. Like, it's like a different, you know how like tequila gives you, like, it's a little slightly different. It's like that where it gives you a slightly different kind of buzz, but it's just so fun the traditional preparation of it. Yeah. I love that. Yeah, so I want to do an absent party at my house.

Please do that. We need to bring her to Walkane and Craig's house. I know, I know. I was thinking as she was saying it. Go ahead. Our friends converted their, like, dining room into their own speakeasy, like, in their house. And they like live in an old house, like, you know, small, older house. In the valley.

In the valley. So unassuming you never know. But you walk through the front doors and you're like, oh, this is a charming, you know, very cute older house in the valley. But then you take a right and go through this frosted glass door, which used to just be their dining room. And you are transported into the coolest cocktail bar. God, it's so cool. I was going to say the husband, but they're both husbands. One of the husbands built it.

himself like he did everything but you would never know it's so beautiful they have like every kind of liquor or alcohol whatever you want to call it yeah and he makes it he's like just as a hobby he's a mixologist so he makes incredible drinks they have like little nuts out like that's like how like jazz music playing and it's just it is a vibe it is so cool well count me in yeah to twist my arm oh my gosh that's so fun all right we get all right well thank you so much for coming on. That was awesome. Thank you. We're, you know, just always thinking about you. Thank you. Well, you guys were some of the first angels I encountered on this journey. You know, it was not long after that you guys came into my life and I'm so grateful. So thank you for having me.

It means a lot. Of course. Thank you so much for squeezing us into your day. Please be sure to rate, review, and follow our pod and check out full episodes on YouTube. You can follow me at Taylor Lautner, my lovely wife. wife at Tay Lautner, check out The Squeeze on Instagram at The Squeeze. And also give a little glance and a follow to Lemons by Tay. That's at Lemonsby Tay on Instagram and lemonsbytea.com. And also be sure to email us,laughtner.org, the squeeze podcast at gmail.com.

If you guys have any questions, any guests you'd like to see you. But most importantly, please continue to talk about your journey with those around you and sent our show to a friend that you think could use a little extra squeeze in their life. Absolutely. Tootles McGoodles, everyone. Mygoodles.

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