The Viall Files - E1156 - Love Island USA Finale w/ Lele Pons

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

Welcome back to The Viall Files: Reality Recap!  Lele Pons joins us to recap the Love Island finale, Brinity's win, and the ongoing Melanie and Sincere debate. We get into Family Night, Kayda and Zach's label drama, Kenzie's final run, and which villa couples might survive the real world. Plus, Nick reacts to the latest Bachelor producer book drama, and Lele opens up about motherhood, raising kids online, and growing up with the internet. You won't want to miss it :)   "I want to give Melanie a chance!" Suite 305 with Lele Pons is a new weekly interview show from iHeartMedia's My Cultura and TikTok Podcast Networks, and is available on the iHeartRadio app, Netflix, and everywhere podcasts are heard. Nick is on Substack! Subscribe here: https://nickviall.substack.com/subscribe  HEY! YOU! DO YOU NEED DATING AND RELATIONSHIP ADVICE?  Email [e-mail] and be a part of future Ask Nick episodes! Want ad free episodes and incredible bonus content?  Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Viall Files + here: https://viallfiles.supportingcast.fm/   Subscribe to The ENVY Media Newsletter Today: https://www.viallfiles.com/newsletter   To Order Nick's Book and/or learn more about the show, go to: https://viallfiles.com  THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: Nature's Sunshine: Go to https://naturessunshine.com today and use the code VIALL for 20% off your first order, plus free shipping. Neuro: For a limited time, you can get 20% off your first order at https://neurogum.com by using code: VIALL. FIGS Scrubs: Use code FIGSRX for 15% off your first order at https://wearfigs.com   Better Help: Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/viall   Quince: Go to https://quince.com/viall  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. To advertise on this podcast please email: [e-mail] or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/theviallfiles    Timestamps: 00:13 - Intro 23:26 - Lele Joins 1:35:38 - Outro

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helixleep.com for 20% off sitewide, 25% off luxmatch mattresses and 30% off elite mattresses. That's helixleep.com slash V-I-A-L for 20% off site-wide, 25% off lux mattresses, and 30% off elite mattresses. Helixleep.com slash V-I-A-L-L-L. What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Valfa's reality recap edition. I'm your host, Nick.

The Love Island finale is final. It's done. We get, I'm going to miss it. Yeah. Brinity forever. I will be also, I'm glad that I have a little more free time. Yeah. But congratulations to Bryce and Trinity

are winners of Love Island USA Season 8. True love persist. And they said that they loved each other. The producers knew what they were doing when they played a thousand years by Christina Perry over the date to Trinity and Bryce, which do you know why that's so significant?

Tell me. Is that Breaking Dawn Part 2, the end of the Twilight era. They looked like I said, didn't I say that was like Twilight era? Well, they've been popping off online of being Photoshopped. into Twilight. But the song specifically was

the montage that ended that, like, film series. You think I gave them the idea. Can I take credit? No, I don't think you can take credit because I think what you did was just you were one of the girls in that moment. One of many. One of many. I think everybody was like vampire hot. You know, I think they just had that aura.

Okay. And I knew exactly. I think you just read the, read the room correctly. The specific song to end a finale that also ended Twilight. I really enjoyed this season. It really is love. It was. was about the love this season. It ended with love. It ended with love.

Yeah. I have a scorching hot Melanie and sincere take that I will share it with you later this episode. Exciting. And I'm going to save it because we have none

other than Lele Ponds our guest this episode. If you don't know who Leila is, well, you've been living under a rock. It's like the one degree of separation. Either you know who Leila is or you know someone who does. She's one of the most followed people

on the internet. Close to 100 million followers total. I don't know. She was one of the one of the one of the first Vine stars. She's one of the few people that when Vine was taken down or, you know, dismantled that she continued on to her illustrious career. She's on, you know, she's all over the place, a very talented musician. Also, big Love Island fan. So she is going to be with us to talk about the Love Island finale. Also, she has a lot to say, you know, she's a young mother and Nallie and

Nellie and I are obviously young parents. So I'm excited to talk to Lely about her experience as a young mother. She also apparently has a mom who is a pediatrician. So maybe we can get some tips and tricks. Tips and tricks from Lele. But exciting episode to get into, I feel, I want to say, I do feel a little bit better coming out of this weekend. The Bachelor book that we have talked at a great length about. Yes, yes, yes. I feel relief because obviously I felt like when I brought this up, I was torn between, you know, calling out this gross. behavior, this, this, this, this, this egregious, like violation of the kind of relationship that is, that exists between reality TV producer and cast. It's very nuanced. It's, you know, very gray.

It's, it's, it's one that's quite honestly hard to explain to people who haven't really lived that experience. And I felt torn. And then, you know, a lot, you know, the, the, the criticism I did receive, which was why you're promoting this book. But now that the book is out, I feel like, we should just keep promoting the book. because it is exactly what I thought it would be, which is a confession of her egregiousness. It's a pamphlet that says stay away. I've seen a couple of reviews,

most of them all suggesting that Peter Weber and even Hannah Brown. Miss Hannah Brown. Well, Julie was Hannah Brown's lead producer. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was her first. Got it. My understanding is their first interaction with Peter.

It was the first interaction with Peter, but it was the first opportunity to be a lead producer. And she confirmed that they were intimate in the book, which again, when I first started talking about, it didn't fully know. She referred to it as like the fantasy suite. Like this is a person who clearly wanted to be on the show and took a job as a producer instead.

And basically Trojan horse, her getting access to these cast members. The thing that I'm shocked with the most, my friend Tyler Cameron posted a TikTok or a reel or something, pop off Tyler Cameron. Because he's one of the few people of my peers that has actually spoken out as well to say, like this is fucking gross

and even kind of called out some other basher people like if you're supporting this like you're lame I think he said have you talked to any of your peers that have participated kind of I've reached out to a couple

only because like I've had so many conversations a lot of conversation with producers the thing that shocks me the most is why I don't know well first of all Tyler Tyler's real I thought well it was funny it was just like is there like a trend going around

there is there is The violence? When Netflix contacts me to talk about X, Y, and Z documentary. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so Tyler was jumping on that trend. Yeah. And he was like, oh, so if you're going to, if a batch of producer is going to write a book about us, we're going to write a book about them kind of thing.

And obviously he was funny and lighthearted, but he makes a great point in which I'm just still, I am shocked that Warner Brothers, because this is a Warner Brothers. This is an ABC. Warner Brothers is the people who, the production company. They hired these producers. they produce the show. So the NDAs that these producers have to uphold,

it's enforced by Warner Brothers. And I just do not get why. Warner Brothers hasn't, like, stopped this from happening because it all, because Tyler makes a great point. Like, it could snowball into a bunch of, a bunch of cast members being,

you know what, fuck, you guys are going to talk, you're going to talk, tell our secrets or are you going to tell our story? Well, I guess we're not, I guess we're not enforcing NDAs. And we got Barr, Peter's mom and Peter, kind of joining in the chat.

Peters is like drop my NDA, which I mean, I don't really know. My guess, I mean, listen, I think the Bachelor of franchises is trying to survive and maybe they just have too many other things like the existence of their show, but I don't think this is helping them. And it's just one, like, I was talking to a,

it's like a producer, you know, every once in a while I will pop off on a topic like I feel passionate about. But usually when I pop up, off. The response is like 50-50. You know? It's like some people might agree with me, but there's a lot of people who don't. But this is like when everyone agrees with Nick, you know, like you know, this is a fucking layup for my peers. And I'm just wondering why they haven't like spoken out about this. My only, my assumption is, is they're friends with her or they're friendly with her.

I also think that for the most of them, most of them who have either commented or in any way they've been involved, I don't think they've taken the time to read her book and quite honestly when this came out, I just think they were just like, yeah, sure, whatever, yay for you, like maybe they didn't have a close relationship with Peter

and they knew her. I met her a couple times. Like she comes, like when you first meet her, first impressions, like she's an affable, like sweet, seems like just like a gentle, demure type of person. When you read her book, you realize it's all bundled up into a bowl of crazy. And my guess is like they just didn't think about it. And they're like, sure, I'll help a friend.

But I am just, now that this discourse is happening and everyone's agreeing with Nick, you would think that they would say something. Yeah. Well, that's what I've always wondered is, even Chris Harrison, like, did they know what they were participating in? Well, Chris is a whole different. I know he is. I think he is slimy and he has proven himself to be someone who's more than will. willing to exploit or continue to exploit the cast members that he exploited for so long on the show.

Like now he's not even the host of the show. He's been far removed and to still exploit people who are on the show, I think is icky and gross. Again, I have like a lot of empathy for my peers because I think it's always a very complicated relationship between producer and cast member. But like I just want to know for the person who is like trying to like say it's not that bad, like what's not that bad about it? Like, what's their argument to defend it? It's the romanticization of like her perspective. Yeah.

I don't know who signed this book or whatever. Again, I'd be curious to how early Chris Harrison's involvement was because it still pulls a lot of weight. The publisher that publishes book was a small independent publisher out of Dallas, Texas, which of course where Chris Harrison I think resides. I don't know if that's a big coincidence. Could be unrelated. Could be unrelated. I don't know. She is living out her.

dream, which her dream was to be on the show. And she is stopping at nothing to, like, fulfill this dream. And, and, like, she's clearly clout chasing. She is, like, she is trying to have the experience that so many reality TV stars have, which is some kind of life in the public eye and an audience and a fan base. And I think she's in, she's like, I don't know, self-identified, like, spiritual life coach or some bullshit or whatever. I just, what I don't get is, like, this would be so easy for Warner Brother

to stop. And I don't know why they haven't gone about it. Because it's interesting, you know, like, my understanding is the end, like the, the contracts, producers and cast are obviously very different. I think the producers ones are even more like ironclad because, again, the things that they don't want people, like the thing that production companies don't want cast or, you know, producers really talking about is how the show is produced, right? Like some of the things that are done in the spirit of making great television and the maybe deceits and the lies and the manipulation in that gray area and things like that. That's not quite reality. Yeah. And over the years,

very rarely have you ever, have you ever seen Warner Brothers after one after one of its cast members? The only one they went after, I think is my understanding over the recent years, was Hannah Brown's villain. Oh, what was his name? Luke. Luke Parker. And the reason they are able to do that is because he was so

unanimously hated. Yeah. They could get away with it. Because that's why you'll never see Warner Brothers. It would have to be so bad for Warner Brothers to sue one of their leads because the PR, I think, would just be really bad, right? Because they would, you know, they would probably, most likely would, they would come up with a story of how the show screwed them over or the position they put them in. And for them to then go and, you know, go after one of their leads, I think would be a

really bad look. And not only, again, thinking about the future of the show, like, if you're going to be a lead and you have to worry about like standing up for yourself at the risk of the very production company suing you, it's a tricky thing. But this isn't true. tricky. I just don't get why they are allowing this to happen. And if by not, by not putting a stop to it, what are they, what are they saying is okay? Yeah, I had, the reason I brought up NDAs earlier is because I'm curious of like, your NDA, I'm assuming is in favor of like you not spoiling your season and not talking about it. I don't even, I honestly don't even know. Like, I don't know. I don't know if I'm still under the NDA. Well, so my question was, is like, do we think Peter has a stronger NDA that's not

letting him speak out against it. No. He just signs the same thing. Right. But like, you know, every, how many bachelor people have told some story that probably like they're not supposed to

tell? Yeah. You know, every, for example, every time someone writes like their tell-all, it's read by someone at Warner Brothers. Yeah. The process is to be like, to let them know you have a book coming out,

especially if you're talking about any time, your experience on The Bachelor. And they will read it and give notes. Did they read, don't text your ex happy birthday? And it wasn't about The Bachelor. Okay. Yeah.

But the big question is, did they read her book? And that's why to me, I would assume that, like, she has bigger secrets to spill, so I would assume that, like, she had the stronger NDA. That's what I assume. Well, the producers definitely do. Yeah. They have, and I think their, I've been told that their NDA, like, has a long life. Like, in perpetuity.

You know, like, where I don't think, I mean, clearly, how many bachelor people have come out and told some story about how a producer fucked them. over or whatever. They're not getting, they can't sue everybody. Yeah. Well, and also to me, I'm like, then I'm thinking,

and maybe this is a question for a lawyer, that I guess maybe the lines are blurred on this NDA because it's her personal life. And like, that's where she's spinning it as like the romance of like, I was one of the contestants single. You know what I mean?

Say that again. Like, she's, her perspective is like, this is her love life. Like, she experienced this. So that's where I'm like, I guess that's where she can kind of break. Her whole pitch has been like,

you know, like Peter didn't read the book. You should read the book and judge for yourself. And people like, yeah, no, it's weird. It's gross. Regardless. And then, like, now I think part, like people, some people trying to defend it or her at least has been like, well, this all happened after filming rap, which is not true. Again, the show does not wrap until after AFR. Right. So there's the final ceremony. It happens usually like sometime around end of November before Thanksgiving. And then after the final roses in March. The show is still going on. If for no other example, then Peter's season itself,

because everything happens between the final ceremony and AFR is fair game for the show. And it was fair game for the show when it came to Peter's season because, again, things were still happening. He was under this threat from Julie that America was going to hate him for picking Hannah Ann. And when you finish filming, like imagine, like, he's decompressing already, right? He's getting back to his family, probably, and he has this thought of, like, is America really going to hate me? and reliving moments from the season, wondering if maybe she's right, did that play a role?

You know, and Peter's switching up and pursuing a relationship with Maddie Pruitt or Kelly Flanagan. Who is he with AFR? No one, everyone? Because that's like the messiest part too, is it like there was already...

He broke up with Hannah Ann, and then he was kind of pursuing a relationship, I guess Maddie Pruitt at the time, but then like that quickly didn't happen and then like a week later he was with Kelly. Yeah, and imagine how unstable, like, he felt. No, I met she was also a hidden person, like, manipulating the situation before AFR.

It's crazy. And so much can happen, too, by the time AFR happens. It's also a very interesting choice for them to make with Taylor Frankie Paul's season TBD, you know? Yeah. It's like, what are we going in? Because now it's like, at least in my mind, right, as someone who I've been, you know, following The Bachelor since I've been working here. I'm not like a super old bachelor head. But I just now in my mind,

with all of the stuff that happened with Taylor going into the season and now having the thoughts of like produce and manipulation, whatever, then that's gonna change the way I'm watching this season of The Bachelor. You know what I mean? But all the guys who like really haven't had a chance to have their story told, like it's just opening up the door

for a big mess. Yeah. By them just being like, yeah, whatever. just got through their last mess. We're also assuming that she has their blessing, right? Like, there's a world where she doesn't. Almost certainly she doesn't have their blessing. Right.

I just don't think they've done anything about that. To prevent it from releasing. Or do something about it that it has? I mean, I assume they still could. I don't know. I mean, I know she talked to other producers and other executives who no longer work there. Part of the problem is, is that everyone that she worked with no longer works there. Yeah.

And it's a bunch of like new people running the show who again, I'm sure have bigger problems to deal with or seemingly bigger problems to deal with. But the problem with like the thing that has ruined the Batchel franchise is the fact that these new the new producers I think don't really understand the social media aspect and how big this show is in like in the conversations in the zeitgeist of the internet. It's more than just like some show that airs on a. and Hulu. Yeah. Like they didn't do a good job of protecting Taylor Frankie Paul and setting her up for success and and giving her the guidance and the tools of what to say and not to say and what to do and what not to do.

And I talked to a lot of former producers going into that season who kind of predicted the Taylor Frankie Paul. Not they didn't predict exactly what would happen. Yeah. But they predicted some kind of mess because the people currently in charge of that show didn't really understand just how big of the. show is and even though it's no longer as popular as it was just that the fan base and just like the reddits and just the you know the the intensity of the conversation just how how engaged these

fans are and how how important it is to get ahead of things and to talk to your cast and set them up for success and and not have someone like Julie yeah in there kind of poisoning the well and ruining everything but we'll we'll see I don't know yeah again like Like this is the biggest layup. Why I say layup, too, is this like when it comes to how reality TV stars engage and we're seeing it and we'll get into it with like the Love Island conversation is not, because now you're seeing some people go on lives and they're starting to talk their shit and you realize that not all these people and that makes sense.

They're not like they're not going to stay friends forever. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. And there's this competition. They're all competing for brand deals. They're competing for the affection of America. And usually when a producer is involved, right, by, and they, and they produce.

Usually what has happening is one cast member is benefiting from that while someone else is like taking the hit, right? And then sides are formed, right? And then if you're the person benefiting from it, you generally will like try to convince yourself of why you deserve that and it's why it's okay. And then the person who's taking the short end of the stick

is the one, you know, and then you have their friends and things like that taking sides. And that's why in this kind of ecosystem of reality TV star, there's never really a clear answer of who's right or who's wrong. it's very nuanced, but this is an opportunity

for the people in reality TV to actually come together. And maybe you're not like friends with everyone, but like at least in this kind of space, like what should be clear is how fucked up it is for a producer who only got access to these people through a job that they were paid to do

and then took advantage of that job and then exploited one of its cast members without any repercussions. I think it's just, it's crazy and I am shocked that more people haven't come forward to actually speak up about this because it's such a layup it's like how many times can you go online and say something with a strong stance and know that like everyone's going to agree with you you know and I just I I would think that they would want to take up seize that opportunity and not kind of play dumb and that's

also from what I'm always fathomed by with her is that like if I were in her position like what is she getting from this? Like I feel like to me this is ending her relationship. I think she has suspended herself from reality. From producing. Oh, I think she's been long done with that. Okay. But that's on like, but she's a life coach now.

Yeah. Got it. I don't think she has any intention of reentering reality TV production. No, she can't. But I don't think she wants to or is. And I think she's moved on for that. And was it worth it? It sounds like she never really wanted to be a producer.

She wanted to be on the show by her own admission. She referred to sex with Peter at Peter's parents' house as her own. on fantasy suite. It's gross. So weird. That's just so... It's so... Sometimes it's just like... I think that is my biggest thing with this book is just like, why write the book? Because, listen, girls... I know girls have the tendency to be Delulu, kind of. And I think there's a world in which when you like, like, obviously the romance and stuff can go to your head, right? And you, everyone is so capable of creating a story in your head. That is not

reality. And I think, like, in my experience, like, I have the tendency to do that occasionally, right, in any sort of situation, you know what is, like, delulu land in your head and what is reality. And that delulu land in your head, that shit stays in your head or, like, with your goddamn therapist. I'm not writing a book about all of my delusions. You know what I mean? No, I know. And that's why that's why I'm so crazy about this book. I'm so, I'm, I'm just like, why would you, why would you do that to yourself. You know what I mean? It's like she wrote her own movie night and put it out to the world for everyone to be like yuck. Yeah. You know, it's her it's like you know the thing your friend's like, hey, can I tell you something crazy? And they're like, you're like, oh, you should have definitely

kept it to yourself. You should not have told me that. Yeah. You're like, oh no, you are the problem. She's also breaking HIPAA, no? Like if she's going to be a life coach, like that's her. I'm like, I don't think life coach are. I know. But I'm just saying like as a, they did not take a do no harm. As a producer, she probably did. As a client of her. As a client of her. I'm looking at her. I'm like, oh, well, she just broke like one of the biggest NDAs. I listen, there's enough of crazy out there that I'm sure she'll find people to... For sure.

And I'm sure she has a product she's selling, but... But, yeah, I mean, such a layup for my peers. You would think that they would, I don't know, take advantage. Do you think more people are going to speak out against it as it sits? No, I think they're all hoping it just goes away. Yeah. I think it's super weird. Are you going to read the book?

No, I don't need to read the book. Yeah. I was just asking. I have enough of people telling me about... the book and like everything I thought that might be in the book it's been confirmed as in the book and it is honestly more delusional than from what I the passages that I've seen and you know the stuff that's relevant to what we're talking about which is anything Peter related yeah is is bonkers baffling bunker you know um question I know you're not reading the book are you going to listen to confessions

to by Madonna really quick because I know you love Madonna I didn't know she had a new album there's a new album continuation of the album with your favorite Madonna song hung up on it. So there was confessions on the dance for. I'll definitely check it out. Yeah, I'll definitely check it out. Confessions too. Do you like it? It's so good. It's kind of like, if you listen to Renaissance by Beyonce and like the way it all goes through is like one long like club night, that's what it is.

And it's also really vulnerable and stuff, but I'm not going to get into it. Listen. Well, it's time to get into all things Love Island. But before we do, don't forget that Valfa Plus is ad-free and available to you all. In addition to ad-free episodes, you get your reality recap deep dives, your pop extra episodes, and your update specials where we get into the weeds of all your favorite topics, your favorite updates from your favorite callers, and so much more. So just go to Valafas.com to sign up. Also tomorrow, I think our queen Natalie will be returning to the show. And, you know, I'm a subject to change to talk a little bit in more detail about our birth store, really more Natalie's birth experience, which I know many of you are

excited to hear about. So cross our fingers. Hopefully, Natalie, we will be able to join us. We do have episodes today, tomorrow, and Thursday, very Love Island focus. So big week ahead. And it starts with Lely Ponds to talk about Love Island and everything she is up to and more. Don't go anywhere. If you've ever worked in health care like my wife, Natalie, you know how important a great pair of scrubs is. Take it from her. Once you wear figs, you'll never go back. Figs, scrubs are soft, breathable, stretchy, and made with technology that helps prevent sweat and odor. When Nell and I first met, she was still working as a surgical tech, and I'd always get

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We're so excited to have you. First of all, we're just excited to talk about Love Island with you. But obviously, like, you are, I mean, you were one of the OG internet people of the internet in a way that, like, I don't think, like, either everyone knows who you are or they know someone who knows you. Like, you've really had, you had an incredible career and it's really just iconic what you've been able to accomplish. So we're just honored to have you. I'm honored to be here. Thank you so much for having me. Oh, well.

It's exciting. It goes both ways. Should we just start? Should we get right into Love Island? That's why I'm excited. Okay, all right. She'd land on and talk about me. I always like to start these off.

Are you new to Love Island? How long you've been watching it? Did you start with the UK? Where did your affinity for Love Island begin? The middle of last year, because I saw on TikToks. Well, actually, Ariana Maddox, I was with her and dancing with the stars. And she said, I'm going to be doing Love Island. I'm going to be hosting, which was the year of Leah, the season six.

Yeah. And I was like, oh, okay, cool, cool, cool. So I saw a little bit of that one. I thought it was so beautiful, the friendship. And then the next year, I saw half of it because I saw there was so much drama. So for the past like the last two years, I was like, okay, I want to get in it like the moment it starts. So I started this year fully for this year. Wasn't it shockingly easy to keep up with even?

I love that. I know people are like, you know, like this person's too toxic. But isn't that what makes it like? The point of it? Yeah. We'll talk about it next day and like comment on that. Yeah. I also thought like this season, why I would like,

this season so much. I think it was such like a great representation for like modern dating and culture in a way that like last season was more like it was a representation for you know big personalities and yeah people just kind of like taking over but like that's why Melanie and Sincere are my favorite

couple. I voted for I know people are going to be. You voted for them? Yes of course I voted for them first of all the speech that the mom did was amazing. Family night was my favorite episode by far. I I As someone who knows what it's like to be in that kind of environment, not Love Island, but Bachelor, very, like,

it's same in terms of, like, just controlled environment. Like, it was hard, like, it was weird. Like, I was kind of choked up watching it because when you are that isolated away from your entire support system and just that feeling of seeing your people come in is such a, like, an emotionally triggered moment, it was just, like, it was a lot. But I loved the families.

Yes. It's so great to, like, especially when you watch these shows, shows and like you said, like we'll be nitpick, we make fun and people are messy. But like it's what I love about it is it humanizes these cast members in such a great way. And you see that like they have great families. They got great support systems. And they really know these people in a way that like we don't know them or even the other islanders know them. And you always see them from a totally different lens and a way more human lens.

And I just love that. No. And I have a question for you guys that you guys have seen it before. was there ever a family day that was like this intense? I don't know if there was a family day. I'm not the historian. I don't remember it being that intense. Yeah, it's never been that intense.

I feel like it gave us everything we wanted to from each couple. Yeah. I think especially in like Sincere's case, we've never, I've never seen. The dad. Cinser's dad definitely humanized it. Stolled the show. Yeah. Like what a great conversation between like a man moving incorrectly and then a strong

male presence in his life to like check him in a way that like he is you know you would think he would listen that was very powerful and then on the other side Melanie in her family like a great a great just they obviously love her they said what they had to say whether Melanie decides to listen or not but like she clearly has great people around her and like I think that it was really beautiful I thought I really I saw some comments being like family days coming all that so I don't know from past you know seasons but that was like the most calm episodes, right? So, but this was my favorite episode. The family one was amazing. Yeah. Which led me to what is my, my Melanie and Sincere Hot Take. I feel like you might agree with me

because you voted for them. I did. I did. But my, my Melanie and sincere hot take is that if Melanie, if you're a Melanie fan and if Melanie decides to give sincere in a relationship with Sincere a chance post-villa, you owe it to Melanie to support her. Yeah. And the reason I say that is, I have a few reasons. One, I mean, who amongst us has not, you know, given someone or a relationship a chance? And the whole family is like, no, no, no, no. Exactly. Yeah. And then they were probably right. But, you know, what she said, what if? What if I given him a chance? Yeah. She didn't. You will always have that. You know, it's crazy. Because like my aunt will always say, my aunt, Marie, right before something being in her life happened with this with this person, she said, listen, I know that everybody's against it, but I will always. for the rest of my life be thinking, what if I give this person a chance? Even if you get married, even if you have a kid,

that will always be behind. Yeah, she has to see it through. And then we also, a couple things we have to consider. We do have to consider the environment in which they met. They did not meet in the real world. And you've heard Melanie say multiple times,

I just want to see what it's like in the real world. And it is not the world in which they met is not real. And it's hyper-influenced. It's not, it's just not normal. Like Love Island is set up where, like, the boundaries are deliberately gray. You know, it's just like, are you closed off? You're not closed off.

What is their relationship? But also, a bombshell. Like, are you supposed to explore? For sure. But unlike in real life where... You don't get challenges. Yeah, that's true. In real life, you know, we're, you know, yeah, our friends will gas us up and be like,

yo, girl, like, or, you know, yeah, you can do that. But like, literally, we have people behind the scenes that we don't get to see. again part of their moving is a desire to stay on the show on some level sincere may have been moving with the threat of well if i don't give these relationships to a shot i might not stick around long enough to you know to be with melany like that is definitely a possibility now that's not an excuse for how sincere moves oh yeah yeah yeah i think if sincere was somebody else i wouldn't even look at it i think it was just Melanie how you see that she didn't give i don't know like Like I was like, I'm going to give her a chance. It's really, yeah, I think so much of like, the only reason they made it into the finals is because everyone loves Melanie. And let's be clear. We all love Melanie.

Yeah. Yes, her and sincere, they're like, you know, it was a bumpy road. And obviously, you know, Trinity and Bryce, I love them. For me, they're always going to win because, my God, that was beautiful how they, you know, the love story I really liked. And then Kada and Zach. And I think everybody that was there deserved it. It's just there's something.

about Melanie and sincerely that made me come back to the show and be like, what's going to happen now? I think it's because they, in eight, how many weeks was this? Six weeks. Six weeks. In six weeks, they, they showed us like what modern dating is today. They, like, they represented the most realistic version, whether you like it or not. Yeah. Modern dating. We've all known a friend. Yeah. Or been that person that was with a, with a relationship was toxic. We've all been. It was never perfect. Yeah. Not only toxic. but like we're nowadays you again you it's like you know look at the Zach and Keda like you know boundaries are gray labels are like weirdly like you know you boyfriend

and girlfriend is like the new like I guess we're like engagement you know and so and within those like very gray boundaries people are kind of you know you have all these dating apps and you have all these options and so like you you know how so many people are out there dating someone but also has a roster and things like that and I think Melanie and and Sears showed us just how messy that can be that can be and I also don't think because there is a movie night and I think

all of us should be so lucky to have the opportunity to have a movie night about us I mean you I'm sure have a little bit of a glimpse as a public figure and to like record yourself but I'm sure every once in a while like you just are like oh so that's how I came across right you know but that's listen like as you said it's different over there because aren't you like supposed to like that's what they said always I'm new to the show

explore explore and then you know what you want I think what how he did it was a little bit like stop lying stop saying the same thing but I did at the end think that like he you know had all his like he explored enough for him like Melanie is the one and she I don't know she probably did yeah did she I don't know there was Corbin a little she had like a little bit just she had a she literally had a cup of coffee with Corey Corrie And then Corbyn kept trying to kiss her and she kept saying no. Yeah. But she was pretty, she was pretty locked in.

But she can't say, what if I did? This one with this one. No, he's, and Kenzie. Kenzie was, I loved her. She was so funny to me. What was your, what was your favorite Kenzie moment of the season? The splits. The splits.

Which one? Oh, which one? The one when they were talking to Casa. Oh. You know which one I'm talking about? The fuck Casa, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. My, I've been sending every single reaction to a text, my friend will send me. I've been sending a Kenzie. Zee Gip of her is splitting and it says splits in defiance. And it really makes me laugh. I'm going to go back to the Melian sincere real quick. Why I think we should definitely just support her. By the way, Tethi probably agrees with you.

Tuffy agrees, yeah. Family Knight showed me that they both have great support system. So if you're sincere, his dad seems to be a great representation of like, you know, how someone should move. And he's going to hold him accountable. And I think like that held weight with sincere. So it made me believe that sincere actually, you know, is ashamed of how he moved.

And more importantly, Melanie and her mom and her sister, like if she gives sincere a shot, they clearly love her so much that, like, while they may not agree with the choice, they're going to be by her side. And if it doesn't work out, right? If all the critics and fans are right, and, you know, and sincere plays her.

I like to be proven wrong sometimes. I'll be, like, if it doesn't work, I'll be proved. But Melanie has the support system where they're going to, like, they're going to just be by her side. They're not going to say, I told you so. And if you're a fan of Melanie, and she gives sincere a shot and it doesn't work out.

You're not a fan if you say, I told you so. All you should say is you were brave enough to try. Now you know, now it's time to move forward. But to your point, Lele, like the what if would eat her up so much. She just, she has,

if she wants to, she doesn't have to. But if that's where her heart is, we owe it to Melanie to support her. You can't be, don't be getting in her comments or sending her messages. Let her do it.

We have all been that person. Let her live her life. And as someone who multiple times has given a relationship far too much time and oxygen, one thing I don't have is any regrets. I've never had a what if. And I have dated people where I felt like there were some regrets on the other side that I never had because I stayed in a little too long. But I never left wondering like what if I would have done? I can tell you right now that I have definitely made so many mistakes with men, but I don't go back ever and regret.

anything. Yeah. Because I really did put out everything in every relationship that I have. And that made me closer to the one that I have today, which is now I'm married. I have a baby. But my God, how old is she? 25. 25.

Yeah. She's young. Okay. I'm 25, right? And I think like, and to your point, the modern dating thing, like, sincere and Melanie are such a good example of modern dating of just like, I think we get into our heads of speaking as like a 25 year old woman. I'm 30.

Right? Like. You're like a little baby. Yeah. Your baby. It's just like, no, you have to. It's like how many times your friend's going to be like, don't do that, it's not worth it? And then it's like, okay, yeah, it's not. I know that it's not a lot of the times, but it's like, one, I have to figure that out for myself.

Because then, yeah, you're always going to think about it. And it's just like, it's not healthy to think about it because then it's like, if you give a relationship you're all, regardless of what happens and it doesn't work out, then it's like you can just cleanly move on. from that because you know you gave it you're all. If you don't, then, like, you're going to think about that and not be able to be a good partner for the next person you're with it. Also, it's important. Be a good friend and tell them. For example, if Melanie was here, I would tell it, listen, this and this, but I respect

your decision. Yeah. And I'll support it. You can't be the friend who's like, always talking. Like, you've got to You can't make your friend feel bad about having a hard. I don't think sincere deserves another opportunity with Melanie, but I do think, I do think it's fair to give him a little grace, no that this all went down inside the Love Island Villa.

And I still think the Love Island Villa exposed how sincere moves and how he is able to kind of like, you know, be vague with the truth. But so many of us are. We just don't have the benefit of being called out in seeing just how, you know, in the spirit of pleasing everyone, how sometimes we please no one and often hurt the people we say we care about the most. Yeah. And I think this could honestly be a great learning opportunity for a sincere.

Can I be honest? I, in my life, I have seen so many different type of couples. And I think also with you guys, when you saw everybody coming out of Love Island, there's always that perfect couple. And sometimes that's the one that doesn't last. I've seen so many of my friends and people that I know have the perfect couple. And then the other couple that it has the most problems, but they can manage around that.

those are the ones that have lasted. Yeah. So I don't know in Love Island, if there was like always the winners, you know, the winner ones, the ones that were the cutest ones, do they, are they still together today? Do they last the longest? Some of them, yeah. Cordell and Serena. Yeah, like last year it was Amaya and Brian.

And really the thing was like everyone loved Amaya, right? And Brian was a guy she met in Kasa and, like, kind of stood up there. He was nice. He was nice. I mean, we were voted for Amaya and a tree. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Exactly. So it's like, they didn't make it.

Right? But they also like, it was. it was, Amaya winning was less about her love story and more about like, everyone just loved Amaya and wanted her to win. But to Layla's point, like obviously with Bryson Trinna being the winner, we have had no glimpse into how they deal with like conflict, how they resolve. I do wish that they all will be forever together. Oh yeah. Bryce and Trini are in game for me. I do love them. Yeah. But it's true, but we don't know. But so much to your point of so much of a relationship lasting the test of time is to like wake up every day and pick each other to get to have to have. have issues to get through it and be closer on the other side.

Also, like, sometimes you just have to, like, fight for the thing you love the most. I mean, like, literally the world told me not to date Natalie. I told myself not to date Natalie and my wife. She's 18 years younger than me. So, like, I had some of reservations. Even my closest friends who love Natalie at the time where it's like, I don't know, like, I just don't know if it's going to work out.

And sometimes you just have to say, fuck it. Knowing full well what, like, you know the risks. Like, I knew the risks going in. I knew all the reasons why I couldn't work out. but I couldn't just like, I don't want to like. Always think about it. Think about what if. And I just like, sometimes you just have to say fuck it and go for it and figure it out.

So if Melanie wants to, I support you, Melanie. Yeah. And you're big enough to know that if you messed up and it wasn't the right choice, that's on you. Yeah. Now she knows. It's like, yeah. Also, to you guys' point, like when Bryce did what he did in Casa and was just like so honest and vulnerable in Casa about how we felt for Trinity, he had no idea. Oh, I love that.

You know what I mean? Like, it's not like, like, they both did that not knowing 100%. Yeah. And that's why, like, for example, like, how sincere moved in the villa is an excuse for how he moved because he could have chosen to move like Bryce. He couldn't. But like, but I do think there's a lot of sincere in this world who just maybe don't realize how their actions affect other people. And he had the benefit of actually being exposed and then having a support system around him of friends and family literally being like, yo, we think you're better than this

and you should like do something about it and let's see if he does also I think that many people women and men don't value you know that because remember she was the first one there so I just feel like sometimes you don't it takes like everybody to tell you

hey this girl this girl's it like this is the this is a you know when like men like lost something that like how do you say it like the one who got away yeah exactly Like some people don't know that the person that is right in front of it Yeah Is the whole package but because there are you know it's love island

And maybe he just didn't in the beginning was like Melanie's just you know Well that's how the modern dating is like And then she realized and then after he did realize Well this is the this is the most amazing person in the world Yeah And that's why everyone is like not committing in modern dating Because it's just like you're dating someone

It feels good You had a couple good dates and then you like get done with the date You open up the app and you have five new connections You're like I don't know Like she's kind of pretty. Maybe I should, you know, and so I think that's, that is why, you know, it is difficult out there because, like, we have this kind of abundance of choice. And that's kind of like, sincere was just like, oh, I like Melanie, but like, oh, more bombshells are coming in.

I owe it. Like, the I owe it to myself line that sincere gave so many times, I guarantee you that was an idea suggested to him. Interesting. Like, you know. Taking out, like, obviously, like, we think about the kind of producer. aspect of blah, blah, and then sincere having that said to him, but it's like, in real life, how many, how many times is a guy going to be out with his boys? And his boys are going to tell him that same thing.

You owe it to yourself. She's doing the same thing, man. She's doing the same thing. I'm pretty sure they told him stuff. Yeah. But I think that's like my, like my big critique with, I think, like, modern dating and stuff is that idea of like your friends around you a lot of the time are not going to want you to commit.

You know what I mean? Because they want to protect you. And they want to like, they also want, they don't want to lose their single friends of going out. Yeah. Yeah. And then it's like, I don't know. It's an interesting thing with the way like people look at Melanie and Sincere versus like Trinity embrace. Because obviously sincere has done a lot of things that like if, you know, if a lot of us were Melanie, we would hope that we would handle differently and we

probably wouldn't. I just feel like I saw a lot of Melanie in me and in my friends, you know, in high school. My God. Yeah. I've made the worst choices in men and like men. kids. But no, it's just that what if is for me very important. But I have to say the second story that I loved the most was Trinity and Bryce because they were really friends.

They were actually, they were, they were they were not even, remember they were like, we don't want, we don't, they didn't choose each other. Like he went with Keda and she went with, who was a court? Yeah, it was someone else. Yeah, they kind of like, they kind of got. Gabriel. So yeah. So Trinity went with

Gabriel and Bryce went with Keda. So they didn't even choose, like, They, it was like, I don't know, it was like a slow. They got like almost like accidentally got paired up. Yeah, but they actually fell for each other. That's what I think. Yeah. And that's kind of, I think that also is such like, okay.

So that to me is kind of the difference between like Melanie and Seseer and Bryce and Trinity, right? Is that they have like, Bryce and Trinity have this ability to kind of like move slowly throughout Love Island. And then Sincere, I think just like really had this in his mind that yeah, he has to explore. He has to do the thing. So he didn't just give Melanie to time to like just sit. and figure it out.

What would also be interesting, though, too, is, like, how will the outside pressure and the fans influence these relationships? Well, I think here's the thing with Melanie and Sincere. Sincere cannot, like, you were saying this earlier, Nick, he cannot lean close to a woman in public without someone snapping a picture and something like that's in that way. Cincere has to implement COVID rules. Literally. Like six feet apart.

You know, because I'm sure you know what it's like to have been, like, popped in, like, a photo taken of you and maybe you're leaning into someone. Oh, my God. No, there was a picture in. in Paris Hilton's party and I was pregnant and I didn't say yet that I was pregnant. And on Twitter somebody was like, is Lillip pregnant? So you never know.

You have to be super careful. But yeah, like he has the world watching. This is also a post-Kennie and Jene world. Oh, yeah. Sure. Oh, I love Jeney. We love Jene. But even like Bryson Trinity, there's pressure for them too

because like everyone is like expecting them to be like endgame. You know? And that is that is also pressure. Like the pressure of, you know, let's assume that Renidine tries like any couple, a couple months in, I don't know, something comes up. There's some kind of disconnect, you know. And maybe they're just wondering if like, hey, is this right for us? There's going to be pressure on, you know, like. The Brinity stands.

Yeah. And making it work. Like, it's very difficult for these couples to navigate in the outside world. Interesting about that is like what Teffi was saying on Opperson was that like all of the brands that are speaking out and saying like Melanie dump him will give you free stuff. like Bryce and Trinity are experiencing the opposite. I don't break up. Like we'll put all of our effort into this relationship. Yeah.

Like we should just let them do what they want. They are in love. And you should support the people you love. And yes, this is not like a bribery for making choices we weren't strong enough to make in our own personal life. So we're projecting that onto like Love Island people in a way that's like not fair to them. What did you think of Keda and Zach? Oh my God. First of all, she's the most beautiful.

Gorgeous. person I've ever met. Her blue eyes. Oh my God. Yeah. I've been like talking like her sometimes. I'm just like, no, like actually. No, like actually.

And then my friends are like, why are you talking like that? I was like, because I want to be Kada. She's the best. She was amazing. And I like Zach. I just in his relationship with Bryce made me laugh. I really do love her. I just, I don't know.

Like I'm like a diehard fan of Keda. But listen. Like I love Zach. I love Kada. But I will always be with Kada. seems like a nice guy. I don't think he's evil. No.

At all. I just, I like them. I liked them together. I did not. There's nothing that I was like, in the finale where he's like, I see myself calling you my girlfriend.

Eventually. It's just like, it's a woman that is as beautiful and gorgeous as Kada is sitting right in front of you. Girlfriend at the start. And like is clearly into you. You got to just count your lucky stars that she is giving you the time of that. But it's not just Zach. I mean,

in fairness to Zach, Kada also 22. young is still like she she's not pushing i know we're all like acting like if zach would say do you want to be in relationship but she seems to like that conversation she had with trinity she seems to be standing 10 toes down that she this is the pace that she wants to move and that's okay yeah yeah i mean i it's okay i mean i think i'm it's a question for you guys because you're the ones are like more gen z i i wonder if like the gen z of the world is watching love island and acknowledging why do we need all these extra steps it literally is it's a

exhausting. I personally, like, don't give a shit. We're dating, but not boyfriend and girlfriend. He said I love you to her, too. It's like, I don't know. I think like we have so many, Gen Z people have so many words for things so you can talk around a feeling instead of just having a feeling. And that's how that's my thought on it. The title situation should like, girlie pop. It's just like, if you're on a dating show, you'd better be getting engaged. It's like by creating the title situation ship. It's just like you're basically like, you're acknowledging. You're acknowledging that this is something. So it's just,

stupid. It's like say you're seeing each other. I think with Zach too, it's like he's, Zach's one of the people that like spends more time dating his boyfriends instead of the actual girl he's with. You know what I mean? Like all of that energy wasn't he's a boy's necessarily going to Keda. I think is what I see. Even going on Love Island, I think after Charlie, he probably felt like a certain type of lead. And so like developing like meaningful male friendships like in his early 20s like that that does those are meaningful relationships. Yeah. Also I think Bryce is a good influence on him. He definitely is. What it seems like on the show at least. Yeah. He seems very emotionally grounded.

Also, like, did it? Didn't he... He just thought about something as a mom. Go ahead. No, honestly, we're talking about everybody. But I really do hope that my daughter finds someone like a Carl. Carl. Yeah.

Carl's my guy. Carl's mom. I love Carl's family. It's beautiful. Both of his parents, I'm like, it makes so much sense. You both are gorgeous. Like, just, like, refined. Yeah.

Is she the CEO of like a major Fortune 500 company or something? Literally. What a beautiful family. Which is family? Anaya's bandbure. Oh, gorgeous, yeah. I just say, I liked Carl, because he was, I don't know, such a... I mean, what do you guys think?

Oh, I love Carl. They were my winners. I was saying that from the start. Just loved Carl. I mean, Anaya, too, but Carl, I was like, Yo Mia, like, what a gentleman. I wish that... I think they're playing with house money, because I think we all, like, love them,

but I feel like they're the couple with the least amount of pressure on them. Yeah, because they came in late in the game. We started late, and people are kind of like... It's wholesome. Hey, we're rooting for Anaya, and Carl, you seem also great, but our hearts are really with Anaya. and you seem great for her, but Naya, whatever you want to do, we support type of things. It's exactly that, yeah.

Well, also, I think it's like, because they've been pretty clear about he's in school, right? So it's like there's a, I think people understand the real world implications of them and like, just like reality logistics versus feelings, too. I'd say long distance relationships, as long as you have the access to visit them on some regular basis. I think you have about a year. I'm going to be honest with you. My first five relationships have always been long distance. I was like 15. My first boyfriend was from Albania.

Oh, wow. That's long distance. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Very long distance. I was like 15. Like, we would like WhatsApp, you know? Not WhatsApp, um, blueberry. Blackberry.

Blackberry. Blackberry. I do miss the. I do miss the BlackBerry. Oh my God. Do you guys remember the little like game, the like Pong game on it? Oh, yeah, yeah. That was the height of like technology.

And what was it that the Blackberry that there was like a group chat in the Blackberry was it like it was I don't I don't know I think it was what's that probably what's up but yeah no I feel like it is hard it's like it took every single one that I've had and I've tried my best has been like yeah like like a like a year like you said but but but but it's sad because like if it wasn't like long distance it might have possible it really would have worked out I mean my only like actual quote unquote relationship ended up being long distance because of like college it was like when I was graduating from college and like I hated that shit but also we weren't like a exactly dating before and then we decided we were dating when we became long distance.

Because you have to determine the boundaries going in. Exactly. And I was also like 20 and didn't know how to communicate. And an adult relationship, give or take, whatever you, what you ever considered adult relationship. I think in some cases, I think long distance there's a huge benefits. Like you are forced, you're forced to talk. You look forward to the face times. You miss each other. You know, like you're, you're, anticipation. Sometimes when you're like obsessed with them with someone early on, it's just purely physical for a long period time and you're six months in you're like it is absolutely it's a it's a truth it's you're like what's so what's your favorite color i haven't even asked you yet you know

but long distance you're like you're playing you know silly games like you know this or that and you really get to know someone and you miss them but like after a year then they like i need you here it's like are we gonna do this or not like yeah but there i like what you said because there is a balance like i'm married to someone that he tours a lot he he has to travel a lot i have to travel too so we do miss each other. We live together. We have a baby. When we're together, we are 100% no phones together, but I like to miss them. You have separate. It's like you get to be independent and like that he has his life and I support it and he loves that I have my life and we come together to have our life. Yeah. That's beautiful. We just support each other. But I like the fact that I get to pick

him up from the airport. We hug, you know? Yeah. You get to just consistently choose each other. Yeah. Which is like beautiful. And I and Carl are going to last. There's a story, princess story book written about them. So that has to be a good ending. It's like, what do you do with that if you don't get married? That date was gorgeous. Zach said show it to your kids. I've also heard a lot of people talking about their attachment styles are super compatible because Ania is a bit more of an anxious attachment style. Carl's very secure attachment style. So I think long distance will bring that out in each other because they give each other what the other needs. The attachment style experts are speaking about. I've seen a lot of talk about it. There's also jokes saying they're going to be a

vacation couple in Santrape. Love. We never know. Everybody might surprise us, the ones that we think that are not going to last. They don't even know. No. Yeah. I don't know.

I kind of feel bad for everyone who gets out of Love Island in these relationships because it's like you've found this thing in such a specific environment. And now it's like even when you find something special in real life, you don't know what's going to happen. And I think, and then to your guys' point, it's like, yeah, everyone is commenting on it. Their brand deals attached to it. It's like now you have like Bryce and Trinidad are going to be doing photo shoots together.

It's like their stuff is going to be like collabs, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So that's like a lot to put on a new relationship. Plus the fans having paris social relationships with them. Are they the only ones dating technically? And KC and TTT. Corbin and Parmina. Okay. I love Corbyn and Parmina.

Parmina Post Villa has been crazy. Messy. Really? And a good way. It's funny. Did you see that? Did you see the, not deleted footage, but like, they showed a clip of Corbyn and Permita. On Afterson.

On Afterson, like, leaving, like, in the car. No. Oh, where she says the thing that she's been with this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think Corbin's a straight shooter. Yeah. Where, like, to me, like... I stood on, like, the way he talked of Kenzie when he's not around.

Everyone makes mistakes. And he talks about a woman when she's not around. He apologized right away. Exactly. You know, apologized multiple times. He's not... But let me tell you, I don't know about you guys, but when I am with my... friends, my girls, and like, I'm talking about a guy that, oh, like, they're talking about a guy that

they don't like. Oh, yeah. We go, you know. I will say, I have sent some of the meanest, most awful things, but not, not mic'd up. Not micd up. That's a thing. But you can say it everything. I know you forget, but I don't know. He had a bunch of naked women on top of him when he was saying this shit. He was like, yeah, yeah. It is Love Island. Yeah, it is Love Island. Do we want to talk more about Parmiyan after? Or do we want to talk about after soul? Yeah. Soul. Yeah. I feel like bring her back. She should come back next season. She had her moment, but I feel like.

I felt bad because one of her friends said that she was always at, I don't know if you guys saw that on the internet that one of her best friends said that she was a very like good person and I don't know. I read that it was like she was never like picked and stuff. I don't know. I think she would be great next season as like an OG girl. I don't. Listen, I absolutely stunning.

You know, in terms of like. But also her. From what I could tell, her personality would be the type of personality I would fuck with because she seemed like really confident herself. But I think from a reality TV standpoint, I think the reason why she didn't stick around. I think she locked in sincere too soon. And I think she was a little too closed off not only like from the rest of the cast, but even the women. And I think you just, you have to be. Well, she went in in like a weird position with sincere.

She also, she went in with like other, you know, other bombshells. She said she was grateful to leave because it was couple island. That's what she said. Right? When she left. Like she didn't get a chance. Yeah, I don't know. I think they're, listen, I'm a fan of soul, but I think other, other bombshells, if you're a reality TV producer, you want people who are going to make their opportunities, not just like.

Be a real person. Not just, yeah, I think maybe soul is too normal for reality TV or Love Island. And if you're, if you're a Love Island producer, like, if they really wanted it to stick around, they could have figured out a way to make that happen. but I think she just wasn't like you know I don't know I don't think she had that necessarily a personality for it I think she was a little bit like it probably just too sure of herself and you know like if you like a lot of times when people show up to these environments if you're kind of like I don't know I don't I don't want to fuck with like this is I don't know this is too messy for me

like respectful but like also like you're not you know you will you probably will be you will probably be sent home yeah yeah I've been seeing a lot of me I don't I don't but I've been seeing a lot of T.T. and KC. Yeah. What is that, like, what's going on there? On after son, they seemed great. Okay, okay. I didn't see that afterson. Yeah, only thing people are talking about is when they went around the room,

are you going to stay friends with everyone? Titi said, no. And they said, do you want to name names? She's so real. I mean, if she said the truth? She's the only honest one. They're clear, like, they all have a bond. They will all be a closeness, but, like, they are not all friends.

And a lot of them got sick of each other. and that's totally fine and she was the only one honest enough to say it. Yeah. Well, Kenzie also kind of did with Parmita. When Parmita was like,

you said, oh my God, I saw that clip on TikTok. I saw that clip on TikTok. Yeah. What was it? That Parmita was like, you don't love me? Parmita, well, Parmina was mad at Kenzie

because she's, Parmina was like, Kenzi, you said like, oh, I love you so much. And like, you don't love me. And Kenzie's like, yeah, you're right. I don't.

I know, I don't know, I don't know if Parmita, but I don't know if I bet, but I think that Pramita wanted like a like a fight and then and then Kenzie didn't give it right now you're right she was like I care about you love was the wrong

word but I am sorry I heard your feelings like okay no I don't like Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie Kenzie I'm apologetic She is herself Yeah and that's why you know that's the difference being her

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and take a quiz to find out your perfect ladder plan. Use my link and get a free seven day trial with no credit card and get $10 off your first month if you join. What did we think of the final one they showed clips of everyone and then the random celebrities that were

shouting everyone out? Oh yeah! I thought it was iconic. Somber. Keshah? Alex Warren. I got excited when I saw, oh my God. Lizzo was kind of giving what is it? Have you guys seen that Michelle Obama video where she's like,

like, congrats, girl. Oh, you've done it again. Constantly raising the bar for everybody. And that made me laugh. When was your, I got excited for, like, I mean, obviously you've been doing this for a long time. But, you know, I lost my shit when Jennifer Aniston was on Jimmy Kimmel, like, talking about, like, my, the season I was on. And you're just, you have this like, they know I exist.

You know, it's such like a moment? Yeah. Did you have, like, what was a moment for you where you, like, you started like getting some attention? And all of a sudden, like, some celebrity was. Like you became aware that they were aware of your existence that felt surreal. Two times. Can I say that two times? There was one time that Will Smith.

Oh, yeah. I was doing some, like promoting his movie, Bad Boys. Oh, Bad Boys, yeah. And he came up to me. And as I'm putting the camera and everything, he came up to me. He was like, you were the first person that I watched and you're the one that inspired me to do my videos on social media. Wow. I'm like, I'm sitting here and I'm like,

Will Smith? Me, Will Smith? Amigo. Amigo, you're a legend. I thought that was amazing. That's awesome. I'm like, thank you so much. Like, what I say?

Like, for me, that was such a beautiful moment in my, and I still remember it in my whole life. And then I think the second one, which is today we have a great relationship is Shakira. Some good ones. I've always been a fan of Shakira. She knows it. The world knows it. it. The Viner's know it. Like, everybody knows it. And I, I mean, I think she heard that I was such a big fan, like, an actual fan. So she, like, wanted to meet me one time to, you know, to do like a little podcast for her to promote her album that was coming out. And then we hit it off. Why? She hit it off because I was a fan. So she invited me to help her with her song Solterra to actually, like, help be the marketer, the market, be in the marketing team. And then we became really close. that we called me, like, we would call each other every day to help, you know, for business,

but I'm in the, you know, I'm like freaking out, you know. And I got really close to her. She, she got close to me and we, we have this beautiful friendship that is just like crazy. Was it weird? It's weird. It will always be weird. It will never be normal for me. I don't call her friend.

I call her my idol, my iconic everything. I've gotten to know a couple like cool personalities and celebrities. and I've always like just be normal Nick like it's hard you know like do you ever at first where you're just like how do it's just stop why you being so fucking weird I'm every time I call her

like or like she calls me I'm just like how are you how are I like when we stop talking I'm like sweating yeah like like oh my god because she's she's the nicest guys she is really the nicest I mean she never misses my birthday for the past few years she sends me stuff

like she sends me baby stuff stuff as well, like, you know, too, for my baby. She's like, hey, thinking of you, like, would you like a, like a postpartum therapist or something? Like, I was like, this is who she is. And I'm here like, what do you say to that? No, that's crazy.

Like, my text messages to her are like, happy birthday to the mother of Latin America. I love you so much. Sorry for bothering you. Sorry for bothering you, but it's your birthday. I know because, you know, I know. And she even told me once she was like, oh, like, we were talking about signs. Right? You know, like, I'm can't

Cancer. Yeah, I'm a cancer. And then we were talking to everybody, but she didn't know what she was. And then I was just like, don't worry. You're an Aquarius. Anyway. And she was like, how do you know? Is she actually?

Yeah. He's February 4th? Yeah. February 4th or 2nd. I was mixed up because my dog is the. The other one? Yeah. Do dogs also have?

I believe it. Does it work for them as well? What? Astrology. My cat's a Scorpio and he do be acting like that sometimes. It's crazy because Aquarius, Aquarius, right? Is an air sign? Yeah, Justin's an Aquarius.

But it's Aqua. I've always been confused my life too. Scorpio is a water sign. You would think it would be switched. Any other Love Island topics we haven't discussed? Yeah, I mean, what do we think is going to happen at the reunion? What are our hopes and dreams for that? Usually it's the...

There's no drama left, right? Well, I mean, they'll be on lives, who knows, The bombs tells will say something. It's usually like the, like, I don't know, maybe Kenzie and Dylan will still be together, but probably not. Who knows? Who knows? Who knows? Maybe.

It'll be like the Dylans and the Galls popping off and like starting some shit. Yeah. Who has been, you guys probably know because you have a lot of like the Love Island TikToks. Who has been talking the most outside? I mean, Jen's been popping off recently. Since Sir's family, but in a good way. Yeah. Jen has been awesome so I mean I actually kind of feel because I feel bad because like they're like well they're no they're like they're going on live when did this happen they just won like that didn't wait but they just well they're live like watching the finale and and talking shit and well you know because they're doing what like families do yeah and and their phone down but I don't think they realize they're live and that the world is watching and what happened you just like talking it was just like it was just like it was just like it was like it was just like it was like it was like it.

It was a, it was sincere's family watching the finale and like, I don't remember who exactly was there. Someone's recording. Someone was recording. They were talking shit on castmates of just like. In the background. In the background. Oh my God. It's being a little messy.

Yeah. And then it's like, man, like, I can't believe I have to defend sincere right now. Yeah. I'm like, he didn't say that. If my uncle got caught on alive giving his opinion about like. I'd be mad. Anything I did publicly, I would be like, okay, I don't feel that way. Yeah.

Sorry. I got a weird ass family members. Like, you know, they are. Yeah. I didn't know that. I didn't know that. I think who I hope for the finale. It's just people.

No, I don't actually because I want a good, not finale, a good reunion. I hope people don't keep their mouth shut. I think I really want to understand what happened there with, what is it, Jen and. Gall? Gall. Yeah. What happened there? Well, Jen and Gall have been post-villa.

They're like, they're chummy. They're promoting everything. Jen has been bodying her. post-Villavrun because people were calling her a nothing burger and then she became in the fan community and everything bagel. Gall has a coffee shop. So they're doing like specials and stuff, this incredible photo shoot they did of her just like dogging on him. Jen is so hot. So they're so good. They're good. They're good. They seem friends. Yeah. And Gall's like just taking it. Like he's, it's being perfect. Which is the right way to do it. Yeah. Of Jen just being like like they're both playing

into it and they look great together. And it's he knows it's great for his coffee shop. They're having a bit of fun. They're having a lot of fun with it. And they're also like staying out of other people's business. They're just clowning themselves, which is great. Oh my God. Gall posted a screenshot on TikTok of Jen sending him her favorite hate comments about him. And then it was so funny because he didn't respond to any of them.

He just posted it. And then all the comments were like, gallbladder, respond to her. Like everyone's just, they're kind of like poking. They're joining in on the fun, which is how I think you defund. eat kind of like some of the toxicity that can come from it. I think that all the beef was squash, no? Like, yeah. Right?

Like, I don't know. I saw it on Love Island that everybody was okay at the end. Maybe everybody who would left have some stuff that they want to talk about, right? Well, I mean, I don't think there were Love Island reunions ever been like that. You know, first of all, there's so many cast members. There's only, you know, they don't have like a three-part series. It's, yeah, I think it's more like, it's, I think it's like a reunion in the truest sense where it's like you're getting everyone together.

Yeah. You know, I don't think it's, it's not like the same as like a housewife reunion where there's like a lot of like, we need answers to a lot of topics. Like it'll be a lot of like catching up, you know. Where are you now? Where are you now? Are you still together? What's it been like to date? You know, if Melanie and sincere are still in the real world, what has that been like? You know, how a fan's been? What's the pressure like? I think it's going to be more like that rather than. Do you remember two seasons ago it was like the backseat driver comment where they like pulled the unseen photo. to clarify a situation with Leah. No, I don't remember that. Like, maybe they'll just do that for this season and clarify, like, I mean, the pie situation with Seoul or, like, some other moment where, like, we didn't see the whole picture.

Well, I know there was a rumor going around online that they were considering making the finale three hours because of a bunch of unaired footage, but also that could have just been a fan speculation thing. That doesn't seem. Judging by the fact it was two hours and could have been 45 minutes, the finale. Yeah.

The last two episodes for me were... Hero shots. I mean, it helped me because I was a celebration of the finale. It's a great. I was hung over on Sunday and watched all of it. And I was like, cool, I don't have to get that. I thought it was gorgeous.

Well, I was confused why they didn't do the baby challenge. Instead, they did the gross food challenge. I'm like, what the heck? Oh, my gosh. It was a baby challenge. Oh, we have to tell you about this. So typically, towards the end with the final couples, they'll bring out like a...

A baby simulator. Like a baby. Like a baby that poops and peas if it's like a toy doll. Oh, wow. have to take care of it and they kind of get graded on how attentive they are to this baby. And they've always done it. It's a common competition.

They did not do it this time. It was really cute. It was my favorite thing they did last season because it was like the Nicanandria baby. But they did movie night instead. No, no, they did the food challenge instead. What was I'm saying? Oh, that one. Which is gross. You guys, I was I was like, come over

fighting for my life. No, I skipped. Justin thinks I had a cute alcohol poison. But I was watching that challenge and I was like, I just don't know how like they could talk to each other. Like, guys, I think Love Island producers need to understand that sometimes people are watching their shows hungover and you need to be respectful of that community. Right. Like you're eating into a big Chipotle burrito and then I'm like a food challenge. And then they're a fucking sardine or they're kissing each other. Yeah, I have to watch hot 25 year

old spit sardines into each other's now. I came here for love, not an upchuck. Well, switching off of Love Island, Lele, you are a relatively new mom. We have Nally and I Just gave birth to two twins So I'm very much in my dad Parenting era And if you're done I'd love to just talk with you

A bit of what it's like to be a new mom Okay guys I'll tell you I'm ready to be a mom So I'm ready to be a father No it's it's honestly It's amazing

I did not have a really good pregnancy I have a like When you're pregnant You have to stop your medication Whether whatever medication you're on You know It could be anything. You have to stop.

When I got pregnant, it was just out of the bloom. It wasn't like we were trying. It just happened, you know? Of course, you know, you know how it happens. Love. Love. It happened. And I was in Vegas, and I found out.

And it was like, and then I realized I have to stop drinking my pills. And I was like, so therapy, a good support system. But, you know, things happen when you're pregnant. A lot of women love being pregnant. I personally, I would do it again because I loved the growth, like, feeling the growth, but it was very hard mentally for me. Very hard. A lot of things happened while I was pregnant to like just like family stuff and personal.

But I can tell you something. I was so scared of birth. So scared. Because you hear all that stuff about like, oh my God, it hurts so much. You like pass out and all this stuff. I was hearing so many things from everybody and I really was just like freaking out. But I could give birth every day. Like for me, birth was really amazing.

and I'm not going to give birth every day. Like, it was a really good experience. Epidoral, you know, like the contractions were so hard and painful. You don't feel that. I didn't feel the epidural. I don't know about you. Yeah, Nallie had a very similar experience to yours where she very much enjoyed the delivery process. She also did get an epidural, which we've talked about before, wasn't as horrifying as so many people out there who used you to believe it.

Maybe. Those are the stories you still hear Yeah It depends on everybody And also it could have been done Your doctor in the hospital and yada yada yada But Nali had that same experience It's funny that she has a close person in her life

That is soon to be Expecting her first So she's like reaching out to Nallie for advice But she's going a different route She's a little bit more natural She's not doing the epidural She's not Oh no no

I thought natural like with like like uh oh yeah yeah yeah down the shoot yeah yeah uh but no she's she's doing like uh there's like a pool or thing and so now he's like i don't i got i got no help for i don't know i don't know i had a very different birth plan i wanted i wanted my doctor right next to me yeah yeah but good for her it's just different but like to that to that to that you know like lele and natalie like having a similar experience and in saying that you know it's everyone's different they have a different plan you know a different, different experience.

And maybe hers will also be great. But now I was like, yeah, I don't think I can be any help to you. I went out about things very differently. But let me know how it goes. But yeah, so what is it like just now that you have,

you have a daughter? Yeah. What has being a mom done for you personally? And how has it impacted your relationship with your partner? So for me, how it's impacted me, um, well,

it's, she's the main character of my story. Like, it's not me anymore. I love that. She, I love that she's alive. Like, I don't know how to, it's weird because it's just like, do you love your daughter? Like, how does it feel like?

It feels like you, I don't remember my life without her. It's weird. It's like she is my everything. You get, you kind of get to be so grateful every day for like every step she makes. Oh, she learned how to walk. She hasn't yet, but she knows to crawl. She notices you. She is doing the way.

She's waving right now to you. And it's every single thing. I'm like, oh, my God, I made it this far. I made it this far because it's a human being, you know. It's, and I feel so, first of all, the responsibility is insane. I do, I do sleep with her a lot, like at night, which I shouldn't. I should leave her alone, but I'm just like, always scared. I don't know.

I'm very overprotective when it comes to her. And my mom is the one that helps me a lot. My mom's a pediatrician. So she's having a blast right now. So it's been me, my mom, and Guina, my husband. so we're just, she's very full of love. I just, I don't know, everything has been great. Everything has been great.

How old does she know? She's 11 months. She's about to be in two weeks, one year. Tell me how that one year is. It's great. I mean, you know, now that we have the twins, like little babies are great. And then they smell fantastic.

You know, that's great. And, you know, they're cute. But honestly, like, at least for the dads, I mean, I think moms bond with their babies every step of the way. I mean, Natalie was bonding with River from the moment she found out River existed. And I'm kind of like, well, you know, I guess I'm excited. But like, let me know when it gets good.

And I also like that's the truth. That happened to my husband too. River and Dove. I mean, Iris and Dove, again, love them, adorable, great. And we've been very lucky with all three so far that they're like, they're pretty easy babies. Like, you know, there's a lot of every story is different. Every child's experience is different. and some are crankers,

some don't get a lot of sleep or don't sleep, we've been very lucky. So lucky, in fact, that every once in a while when Iris, who is a little fussier is, like, crying, I'm, like, annoyed.

You know, I'm like, what the fuck? You know, like, but, like, river's two and a half. That's what my mom says. It just gets better and better. That it gets better. I'm not saying I won't miss, like, these year,

like, this period of, like, newborn. It's special. It's great. But I want to chit-chat. I'm really going to miss like this stage of life that Rivers in, you know, where it's just like she is connecting with us in so many ways, like just, you know, especially your husband. It's just going to get better and better for him, you know, and she's just like, yeah, she calls for me now and she's just like, you know, she just picks things up, you know. She's like, dad, be careful, you know, like she'll say things.

It's just, it's so, it's so charming and so wonderful that like, you know, the newborn, they're just little potatoes, you know, you just swaddle them. Really? Oh, I want to cry. No, no, no. It's the time of the month. But it gets better and better. Like, they get cuter and cuter.

And like, they're just every, you know, it's just like, to your point, like, every day is they do something new. Feel happy. You feel proud. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, my God. Like, just like, you're like, yeah.

You feel like. Yeah, I did this. I did it. Real meaningful. But, um, but yeah, they just get cute. cuter and cuter and cuter and like they do things where you're just like is my kid a genius or

you know but you're just super proud of them it's crazy my mom my mom said that the best best years best best years is from two to like five six that's what she says that makes sense and I'm like but I love this age

that's why I was like I'm curious to know because you have a two year right two she says that two one and a half two three four is they're such they're still like that just pure innocence about them and they're like

they're still young, they're still learning so much. And everything's just cute and adorable. And yeah, it's a lot of, I'm, I will miss these years like two to, yeah. And I don't know when it's going to change because I'm sure at some point they get old enough where they're just annoying. She said that the teenage years, those 12, 11, I, but I don't know. Yeah, I was horrible. I was, yeah, middle school.

It was funny. I was, yeah, middle school is like, as I'm getting a little bit older and stuff, whatever. and I'll look back. I'm like, what was the worst part of my life? And I was like, yeah, it was the ages of like 12 to 14. No, so far it really has been the ages 12 to 14. Terrible, awful. But, and I remember it's like that's when I got really close to my mom in another.

Like, we were always really close. But then it's like, I had a hard time in middle school with her and we would like fight, blah, blah, blah, whatever. But then it was just like, once I got into high school, like, it just kind of like, switched back and then my mom just became my best friend. Oh, I love that. And that was really nice. Also, your body's changing. You know, like the body's changing.

You're becoming a woman. And for you guys, what is puberty? Yep, puberty. Puberty. I don't know what happened to me in puberty. I actually was so beautiful when I was like a child like in five, four, three. Yeah, I was six, seven, eight. And then then something happened.

And it was just like my nose grew. I'm not kidding. You look at pictures when I was a baby. And then you look at them when I was a teenager and then more of a teenager. And they're different. they're completely different so I like went back to how it should have been

so I was like no no no no wait a minute but I swear it's like in my some cases like my cousin she was she when she was born she was not like

so beautiful but she like grew up beautiful my cousin was like he was always beautiful and grew up beautiful I was so cute beautiful when I was like a child like a baby

and then it just and then I went I don't know what I don't know what I'm on puberty I feel like you're doing all right. Oh, we're doing great now. Yeah, I think.

I'm curious just talking about, you know, like I said, we opened this conversation with you having such a, like, incredible career. You got, obviously, your star in Vine. Vine no longer exists. But I think what I find so cool about your career and what I respect so much, like, just in entertainment general, like, I think the most successful people are the resilient people, the people who adapt to the different times and changes.

And obviously, with Vine going away, you've done, you've continued to grow and grow and have your success become just, you know, kind of like a force multiplier. I'm curious, like now we're living in the space in entertainment where there's so much unknowns, right? Like legacy entertainment is constantly changing. They're following, quite frankly, like people like you and creators like us in terms of like how to be more innovative. You have AI really taking over, you know, all aspects of our life. But specifically in entertainment, and I'm just curious as you who seems to have, you, who seems to have, you know, like really to be on top of how things move.

How do you see AI working with not only like in entertainment, but just like in society at large and have you given that much thought about it? I'm going to be honest. Everything is scary. You know, known is always scary. When I was in Vine, Vine was going to die. I was like, oh my God, what are we going to do? Then Instagram, we went to Instagram.

Then YouTube. Then when TikTok came, it's like, oh, my God, what is this? So you have, then streaming and then podcast, you have, listen. No matter what, whether you like it or not, it's going to happen. So you got to adapt. I can say, I don't like it so much. Guess what? You're going to be out because my child is going to be all AI.

And you'll never know what we were living right now. So we're going to have to adapt with what the future is coming. I mean, educate yourself. If you don't want to educate yourself because I don't understand anything about AI. I do want to because it seems to me good. but also not that good if it's not in a good use. If it's not used correctly. But that will come later with the laws,

we'll come with it. You know, like how everything has come with everything, there's going to be more of like a balance and like a control. But right now I think AI is going everywhere. Yeah. It's too much.

Have you started using it in your business yet at all? Not yet. No, not me. And how like have you given it much? Because I think a lot of for people like you, like the creator, right? Creator thinking about creativity, innovation. I think for a lot of people,

there's this idea of if you use this AI technology it will like steal from the kind of human creativity of you know that we celebrate so much yeah I don't necessarily feel that way I feel like AI can it will be just used as a tool and like the most creative people will be will creatively figure out how to use it the best that's what I'm saying you have it's coming you seem like you're at least open to that's my whole career has been open I even did music in one point. So, like, it's, it's like open to whatever you want.

I don't know. It's just you never know where we're going to be led to. You know, and I was talking to my dad. And my God, when I was in high school, I remember I was 14. And he was like, what do you want to do when you grow up? And I wanted to be something completely different. Who knew I was going to be a social media influencer? What did you want to be?

I wanted to be a dentist. It didn't happen. It was never going to happen. Not that freaking. bright, you know. But like, you know, back in the day, nobody could, when I was a baby, nobody can be like, I want to be an influencer. It didn't exist. Yeah. You kind of created that. All the kids are like, when I grow up, I want to be an influencer. And I'm like, wow, that was not a thing in my school when I did vines. There's a class for influencers. That's crazy.

Yeah. So for me, it's like maybe my daughter will be an AI agent. I don't know. Yeah. She is AI. I don't know. Maybe we all are just AI. How do you, I am curious because I, you know, we, we struggle with his. how do you and your partner decide how you choose or not choose to share your daughter on social media? Oh, that's a very, I freaking wish he was here. So I think there's a balance. What we actually did was just like, try to only show her face in important events. Mom day, her birthday, and when we revealed her.

Those are very important. For the rest, don't show her face. But you, I mean, post with her, but don't really show her face. for example, there has been moments where I have, like, we've had like fake baby, you know, like, there was one that, like, this baby, like, slapped this girl, I mean, him. So I think it's like there's a balance. I know there's a balance. And it really does depend on everybody.

I wanted to show my baby and we did because before anybody else did, we were like, here you go. We're doing it first because we did find out that other people, we did a baptism. And people were taking pictures. And we were like, right after the baptism, we were like, we're posting. a picture of her. That's how we're going to do it. We did. Then the second time was like, I want to put it as my mom day.

Like mom, a picture of me and her as a mother's day, my first. And then coming up right now, her birthday will show her face. But if you see my pictures, we don't show her face that much. Not really. And if it's a skit, you barely see it. It's not just like, that's my decision. I don't know. Maybe it will change.

I don't know how you are. Kind of the same. I mean, different. Yeah. I mean, that's the thing. Not too much. We don't know what the right. answer is, so far we've been like, in the first year, we've been pretty fast and loose, like,

with the twins, we're posting their faces. They're small. With River, when she got to be around a year, we stopped showing her face. And now, like, we'll show the back of our face and stuff like that. And we honestly, when we made that decision, we didn't really even know, like, why, per se, we just wanted to pull back. But lately, I realized, like, the kind of why it makes sense to me is because, is I'm sure you, you know, you have a relationship with your audience, kind of this parasycial thing that we all are talking more. I have a relationship with my audience. You know, I have a relationship with people I don't even know type of thing. I just don't want my audience to have a relationship with my child. So that's why we're very, you know, and if there is a relationship, I want it to be very surface

level and not know too much detail. So that's kind of the method of our madness. Which I love that because we only show her when it's important. Oh, her first steps. That's it. five months go by. Oh, her first word. Five months. You know, so it's not like, get ready with me

every day with her. Which is okay. I have so many friends who show their baby every single day. And I love it. I like it. I love it.

But sometimes that it worries me with AI what they, they could do. Yeah. Because I've seen it. Like when I gave birth, somebody on Facebook made, I hadn't even showed her face,

made an AI of her. And like, and people thought that was my child. And I was just like, wow. And then it got to a point that I was like, okay, people are like sending pictures of someone that's not my child and blah blah. And I was like, I'm going to show her at least that's it. Nobody can make something up anymore of like how she looks like this, how she looks like then. Remember, she will change.

So if she's like this now in two years, she's not going to be the same person. Yeah. And that was like at first we just stopped showing her picture because there was that fear of like, oh, people can know what she looks like. And it was AI. But then it was like, it's 2026. Like, I mean, like, we can't stop. No. That people from figuring out what our kids look like.

And also, we're not going to live like in a bubble or, you know, and we've had, we have posted pictures already. So it really isn't about that. It was more about like. How much? How much? And this, the relationship, my, our audience feels like they had with them. And we wanted to be a lot more boundaries. I think the relationship happens when the, when the kid, when you do like a face to face.

Because if it's a picture, for example, how are you guys? going to have a relationship. It's a picture. I'm holding it. But if it's more of like, like, those podcasts that a kid has with their, yeah, with their parent, that's a little different. Because you feel like the kid, you know her. You're trying to, like, you know the baby more or the, the kid. Yeah, you hear their thoughts and like you feel, yeah. I follow one of my friends who is also, like, Jay Wheeler, he has a daughter and they're amazing together, you know, and I, like, she's like a celebrity, you know, and I love that. I mean, in my case, I can't do that so much because, like, I just, first of all, I don't, I don't, I don't know how.

But that is up to the parents. I think that's up to the parents. I'm the same as you. I feel like, yeah, either way I was going to show her, because somebody else was going to. But I do it in that way, like you do it. I just do it in special moments whenever I want to. But it's about me. Like my career is about me.

Yeah. And it's okay because now I'm a mom. So many moms also follow me for other things. But you will see that if I do a brand deal, the brand deal will never be with my child. If it's about pamper's, I talk about pamper's and my child is nowhere to be found. because I don't want it to be like, you know, I'm using, no, no, no. I'm using motherhood. It makes a lot of sense.

What's the best parenting advice you've received from anyone? The best parenting advice, I mean, I guess let them make their own mistakes. Sure, yeah. Because I know for a fact that, you know, I'm going to try my best for them not to make mistake and they're going to, like, you know. Is having a mom as a pediatrician, like, I'm assuming it's great, but does, Do you ever wear out your welcome with your mom, like calling her up and asking her about like... Oh my God.

My relationship with my mom has gotten so much better. Like now I'm like, Mama, please don't leave the house. Please. I don't know what I'm doing. And she's a doctor. So she knows everything. Everything. She has the answers for everything.

And she's like, this is why right now her neurological, like, like she goes in there. So my mom lives with me. Like, she didn't live with me. And now she lives with me. Because I'm, I'm a new mom. So I'm like, I want to do everything right. I don't know about you. Yeah.

Well, I mean, Natalie's mom, my parents are here now. Natalie's mom was here. And she's, I mean, even with River, she's, if you're lucky enough to have good in-laws or good parents who are helpful, it's, it's helpful to have help. And if you have good help, I take advantage. Yeah, I am taking advantage to it. Yeah. It's been very helpful for us. Yeah.

And we enjoy all aspects of parenting, but like it does make it a lot easier when you have good help. I have a question. How have you, you guys have been how long in the internet? Well, I went on The Bachelor in 2014. So I guess. Wow. I started 13 years. Okay.

How have you seen the comments, the people's sensitivity to stuff? I remember back in the day, white chicks and all those movies. Scary movie. Scary movie. Like, it was like. The humor. The humor was different, no? Right now.

Yeah, no. Everything's gotten more. toxic and more just unfun and like kind of to your point i mean i think words like we're we've we have words for everything we have diagnoses for everything um you know um and i think we explain away every action it also like you know now like to your point you know just like you influence he used to be kind of niche and now it is literally the number one goal of young children and you know anyone can pick up a phone and do a talking head and give an opinion. And like you want, you know, it's a void of, you know, ideas get lost. And unfortunately, the things that get pushed the top are usually more

negative than positive. Even like in our ecosystem, we've talked about it, like to people who are fans, a lot of these shows that we watch. You know, it's like, I think it's great that more and more creators are having a seat at the table. Unfortunately, you see people like, you know, when they're incentivized to have more and more virality in their clips and then they get rewarded for the negative stuff whether they realize it or not they are part of the problem because like they will you know they clip things you know like you know they do it to our show they do it to reality tv stars and i think there's just no it's it's it's hard to police yourself and it's very easy you know and anything in life to kind of you know convince yourself what what you're doing is okay and why it's different than

why someone else what they're doing isn't okay and things like that. And I think, yeah, it's become less and less fun. I don't know how it is for you. I like to talk about it because I don't really talk about this with anybody because look, you've been here for 13 years. It's hard to find the, well, Rudy Mancuso. Yeah, there are a couple, but I like to actually talk about this because it's something I'm seeing from my house with my daughter. Like, I don't really sit down and talk about this. I do feel though, like talking about Love Island though, I feel like for the first time ever, more and more people are kind of acknowledging this.

Like, I felt like Love Island last, like, following Love Island in season six and Phoenix and seven, like, wasn't fun. This season seems to be a lot less toxic. And for the first time ever, I saw some conversations online about just, like, we've gotten too good at dehumanizing each other online and especially the people we talk about online.

And I think there has been an acknowledgement of that a little bit where it's just like, can we just like have some fun watching this show and like have our takes without it being i see it also with soccer with a football the world cup happened at the world cup it was never like this before years ago it would like i see a lot of a lot of controversy this year with well because it you know the internet is given us unlimited access to everyone it's just like you know you can be like oh you know everything is controversial everything is polarizing obviously politics is polarizing we don't talk about politics on this show, but even in reality TV, there's a thing where people will go and

be like, they'll look up the voting registration of, like, people's families. I have 10 brothers and sisters. They have nothing in common. You know, there's a spectrum of political beliefs in my family. And if, like, back in the day, if I, when I was on the show, if it came out that I had one sibling, you know, registered to vote, you know, and then somehow that was projected onto, like, my personal, like, world choices and things like that, like, that's, that's not fair. You can couldn't be like, oh, I love Melanie, but like, you know, episode three, like, you know, where you have a conversation about maybe about critiquing a choice that she made, not because you're critiquing her, but you're just like, you know, and then for some people, like, that's just a

non-starter. Yeah. It's just like, you know. It's also like, yeah, I bet if there were clips of me communicating with people all the time, I would look back and be like, shit and said that, you know? So it's like, I don't know. It sucks, though, because it got to the point where people like, that's, I don't know, the world has not been better for it because, like, that's, the world used to move, you know, where you discussed ideas. Oh, yeah. And you changed your mind. I don't know when it changed. Do you think the internet was more friendly back during Vine Days? It wasn't friendly. It was just more open. It was just like more, like, a little more chill. It was chill. I mean, look at the movies that were that were back then. Look at the movies back then. Yeah. I mean, white chicks is, there's so many

things right now from white chicks or from like scary movie or from yeah for many i think we're getting back to that though hopefully do you feel that way with like some of the comedies coming out right now yes but those comedy always on ticto there was there will be there will be contra like controversy yeah because there's always been like criticism about like comedy movies right and or like even i i just think um cultural criticism is is different now listen when it was just like the nightly news that you know that you've heard the phrase when it bleeds it leads like we've always as human beings have been drawn to, you know, drama and negativity and that is true. That is true. The videos that I see the

most that pop in my feed are the ones that are negative or saying something that. It's like you wish all like these social media platforms would be like more responsible. Oh, they're not. Yeah, they're not. It's a freedom of speech. But there's also like the human element like we're if they did would we be happy about it or we would we go you know like we are we are flawed. We are. We are flawed. We're a flawed species, you know. Sometimes I want to be a doctor. There's nothing.

It's just science right there. Going back to like thinking about when you first started doing TikTok, my brain, Vine, like, do you, if you could make that choice now, would you still make the same choice? I definitely will because it's let me to where I am today, which I'm so happy. And I think about my daughter, you know? Yeah. It's the truth because it, Vine helped me go to L.A. and help me do other videos. And then with that, I found this manager. This manager was able to get me in this song, for example.

In this song, that's where I met my husband. So everything, I mean, I can't regret anything. I mean, everything that has happened has led me to where I am today. Now, obviously, like, it's important to know, like, if you made mistakes, yeah, regret those. You know, but like, it's just like everything in your life that has happened, has taught you something, has let you to who you are today. and I'm so happy that I am this person today, the 30-year-old person that I am today, than the one that I was a long time ago.

But I'm also grateful for that one because, you know, it made me change. Yeah. Yeah, that's beautiful. I think a lot about these days, my memories. I was talking to you guys about this. Like, I don't remember, I was just thinking about parenthood. I don't like, do you remember good nights of sleep?

No. No. But you remember, like, those nights with your child, I'm sure, early on when you and your husband were, you know, I don't know, waking up early and it sucked and it was like hard and it was scary but like those are good memories. Yeah, they are good memories.

And I think about like what are, you know, the moments we remember are often like the moments we don't appreciate when they're happening in real time. It's the truth. Lela, this has been so fun. Thank you so much for having. I'm so happy we talked about Love Island.

You have no idea. So fun. Well, we are happy too. And listen, come back next season. If there's other shows that you find yourself watching, let us know. That would be. Please come back.

Usually this is the time when I ask my guest, where can people find you? I feel like that's a silly question for you. But nevertheless, if someone isn't already following you and enjoying all the great things that you're doing, where can they enjoy Lillipons? Everywhere and also have a podcast on Netflix called Sweet 305 with Lillipons.

I just started. Great. Well, congratulations on that. Welcome to the Netflix family. Thank you so much. Well, we'll be back tomorrow. We didn't get into Real Housewives, OC, we got their

debut. Season 20. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. It's my favorite housewives. It's my favorite housewives' friendship. Well, it's not always but OC's up there. That's good. I really like it. I just like the cast. They're all down to play. It's certainly better than Beverly Hills.

O.C. has been like the the dorky. It's considered like the dorky friend of the cool group or what. I don't know. I don't know. I mean. O.C. to me is like, O.C. is O. You know what I mean? Like, those are the girls. They are the blueprint. They are the blueprint. They're the best.

We'll get into that and so much more tomorrow. And then we'll back on Thursday with more Love Island takes. And hopefully some Love Islander filing us, we will see. Layla, thanks again for coming. Thank you. We'll see you back tomorrow. Bye-bye.