The Viall Files - E72 Christmas with Ashley I, Jared, and Kyle

Episode Date: December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Nick wanted to celebrate with friends and fellow Bachelor alumns Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon and his best friend Kyle. Kyle has the craziest stories- he tells us how he ended up on The Tonight Show and all about his epic Christmas proposal. Then we all share our best and worst holiday memories.  “Merry Christmas, Ashley.” Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! MTV SIESTA KEY: http://www.mtv.com/shows/siesta-key/episode-guide WANTABLE: https://www.wantable.com/viall NOOM: https://www.noom.com/viall ATHLETIC GREENS: http://athleticgreens.com/viall See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merry Christmas Ho, ho, ho Ho, ho, ho Thanks for tuning in guys We don't take Christmas off Here at Vile Viles Yeah, we're filming this live We're filming this live, I have nothing to do.

I've been exiled by my family. No, I'm just kidding. I'm home for the holidays, but we wanted to spend Christmas with you now that the day is winding down. You've eaten your food. You've gotten your presents. You've got a little too much family time in.

Oh, yeah. You go in to the holidays being like, oh, I can't wait to catch up. And now it's like, all right, guys, I need a break. So now you've tuned in to us. We like oh i can't wait to catch up and now it's like all right guys i need a break so now you've tuned into us we happy you picked us thanks for spending christmas with us i've hidden in the bathroom before and my parents place just like i need a second i haven't done that specifically but i've done like a medical for meta i've kind of done that a metaphorical

hiding in the bathroom thank you yes anyways merry christmas to you all uh i love this episode uh because my my good friends actually and jared and my great friend kyle join me well did we just talk christmas kyle tells the greatest engagement story of all time which is his and uh i hope for you guys enjoy it i I know sometimes Christmas right around the afternoon and you're just like presents are opened. What do I do now? I've got my fill of family

between new Christmas Eve, Christmas morning. Thanks for joining us and unwinding and sharing the rest of your Christmas with us or maybe it's the day after Christmas.

I don't know. Thanks for tuning in guys. I hope you enjoy this episode. Up next, Ashley, Jared. Well, Merry Christmas everyone. the day after christmas i don't know thanks for tuning in guys i hope you enjoy this episode up next ashley jared well merry christmas everyone it's christmas we figured we'd still do an episode so i thought what a better way to do a christmas episode than have some of my closest friends ashley and jared and thank you for having us. My dear friend Kyle. Kyle is probably my best friend in LA. Thank you, Nick.

Arguably the reason I'm the Bachelor. Or was. Was, not am. Still a Bachelor, not the Bachelor. And I just wanted to have a fun, chill hangout and talk about Christmas with my friends. You have to explain why Kyle is maybe the reason that you were the bad kyle's the person uh i when i first

moved to la i lived with he had an extra bedroom in his house and i had my place in chicago and it was right after caitlin's season um and kyle and i had maybe met a month earlier when he fangirled me at Coachella. Got that pic, got that selfie. Asked for a selfie, of which I was like, oh, this guy's kind of weird. But hey, whatever. We were drinking. We were at a music festival. He came up to me.

And he was very friendly and outgoing. And then we kept bumping into each other at Coachella by the end of the weekend. Lollapalooza. Oh, I'm sorry, Lollapalooza. Sorry, I'm getting my festivals mixed up. Lollapalooza in Chicago. Oh. We were in Chicago.

And by the third day, we were like best friends hanging out at Lollapalooza. And we just kept bumping into each other. And Kyle kept coming up and just like, kept saying things like, we're doing it, man. We're really here. You I was like tonight's the night tonight's the night we're gonna really like we're I'm like I don't know this thing I don't know what we're doing but okay by by uh by the third day of Lollapalooza we were we were fast friends and then uh

I had uh signed with an agency and they were encouraging me to come out to L.A. And I was like, I don't really know if I'm really going to do, you know, I'm just going to go back to work. I had my place in Chicago and I was like, well, just come, man. Like I got my I got an extra bedroom at my place and like you can just live here. I'm like, yeah, sure. You know, you don't seem like you'll kill me. You know, like I didn't really we didn't really know each other that well. And then I moved in and we quickly became very, very close friends.

I got so many more selfies. We did, yeah. We took an improv together class at UCB. That's right, 101. We took 101. Kyle is maybe the best in the class. Nick was easily the second best. And, you know, but Kyle was always, especially that first, you know,

four or five months, there were a lot of like, I don't know, man, I'm fucking, I don't think I'm going to go back to Chicago. Like, I don't know. I don't know if I'm going to do this. And Kyle was always like, just stay here, man. Just stick it out. And was always very supportive. And honestly, if it weren't for kind of me being here, I probably would have been kind of like done with that whole thing. And so Kyle's a big reason why. And then Kyle got to meet Ashley and Jared through, I remember the first, that's when Jared and I started being friends and we all went out.

We went to, what's the name of the bar? No Vacancy. No Vacancy. Yeah, you were there. That's the only girl in the whole crew of guys. That's right. But you came later that night. We were hanging out beforehand because i remember three men because actually were you guys were you guys all of us jj jj jj was there then maybe i'm thinking of another night because i

remember going to no vacancy and this was right after i came off uh you know paradise and was still very naive i think and i remember talking to you and kyle was there too and nick was like i'm gonna tell you some stuff right now that you have no idea what was happening during your time on the bachelorette and then you just told me things i just told you basically the whole like caitlin yeah and how i came on and everything that went everything that went down and i remember thinking everything i've ever believed is just thrown the air of los angeles yeah i got to see your face it's like be drained of any joy that you had oh that's crazy after uh i was telling you now i just was like we were just talking we were just catching up i hadn't really hung out with you since

caitlin's or uh or since caitlin's season or and you went on paradise and it was just we were just kind of downloading our experiences and so i'm just telling you not trying to like just giving you the information i had oh yeah we were just shooting the shit when kyle i go to the bar kyle's like nick i don't i don't think jared really realized everything was going on man his face was just like i think you just really sucked the life out of him i aged a lot in those in those 15 minutes we talked it was i aged a couple years that first little tear that built up yeah corner of your eye i was like something's wrong nick i don't know if jared's ready i don't think he's ready to grow up yet. He still believes in Santa.

Give him a few more years. But yeah, I remember that was the first night I met Kyle. And then we went to, I think it was Morongo. We had an event there. That's right. And that's when I really got to hang out with you and get to know your personality and your sarcasm. Because Kyle will say things that you can't tell if they're true or not.

But you say it with such a dry sense of humor that's right like before we even started the podcast right here like i talk about that a lot when i'm on my grandma's podcast exactly he literally before the podcast goes he's like oh yeah i've never been on a grandma i mean i've never been on a podcast before but my grandma always asked me to come on her podcast i've just said no and then he put his headphones on was like ready to go. And I just was sitting here thinking, wait, does this grandma actually fucking have a podcast? Or is he messing with me? When I first met Kyle, I was a little unsure about him.

Because as you know, in LA, there's a lot of big talkers in LA. A lot of people have their stories. A lot of people like to name drop. There's a lot of people have their stories. A lot of people like to name drop. A lot of exaggerators, right? And so Kyle has a litany of amazing stories of people he's lived with, friends, just random ass adventures. And it's just like, I don't know, man. This is a very detailed story. And then later on, you'd'd run into that you meet the friend he was talking about or like there's verification i'm like wow no like he's totally not full of shit

he's just a it was always like after a while it's like no yeah these are these are real stories um of just kind of bizarre interactions kyle's life kyle's what a character. Kyle's life. I'm trying. You are a new father. That's right. My son, Isaac Kelly McCullough, is seven weeks old. Great name. I actually, while Kyle was the reason I was the bachelor, I repaid the favor. I am the reason he has a child. That is right. So did you Do his wife.

I indirectly introduced Kyle to his now wife. So when Nick was his, his season of the bachelor was airing. Lots of people knew, of course, that I knew Nick. And you have a little scene. Did you ever come on as Nick's roommate?

No, no, he was on. Kyle was on the tonight show very briefly that was i remember that vividly because in photo yes because kyle is very good friends with elijah wood elijah wood was on jimmy's tonight show there's the picture right there uh when nick was the bachelor and jimmy was asking Elijah Wood about Nick and was like, you know the Bachelor

and then showed a picture of the two of them and then there's Kyle giving the peace sign. They're all giving the peace sign. That's so funny. I mean, we saw Star Wars and it wound up being one of my proudest moments. It's amazing and you made it on Tonight Show. That's frigging awesome.

Anyway, continue. Okay, so Nick's season was airing. Lots of people I knew were having viewing parties. And one of these viewing parties, some friends asked if I would mind bringing Nick to the party. And I was like, let's do it. You know, I talked to Nick about it, and he was excited. A celebrity viewing party, right? Yeah, it was a celebrity viewing party.

And Kyle was like, hey, do you want to go? And I'm like, yeah, sure. So I show up. Kyle drops. The best part of this story is Kyle was very much enjoying me being the bachelor at this moment. His dating life was active. Oh. Getting that run off.

So he shows up and everyone's very nice to me. It was like, oh, Nick's here. The host didn't really tell anyone. Can you say who it was? It was Brie Larson. I mean, Brie actually talked about it on Kimmel. But Kyle left like 15 minutes in to go on a date. I just dropped Nick off. it was brie lars i mean brie actually talked about it on on yeah on kimmel uh but uh kyle left like 15 minutes in to go on a date i just dropped nick off he just dropped nick off

and then martha his now wife was there but because kyle showed up he then went to like a he was then invited to a party because he like showed up they had the following show was the finale and nick was going to be very busy because it was like the live live taping yeah and so i decided to go to the finale viewing party with the same crew and that's when so i had noticed martha at the previous party but for some reason i was positive she had a boyfriend so i just tried to block her out of my mind. But then at this finale viewing party, she showed up with a freshly baked cake. She was making the most hilarious live commentary to the episode. And I knew in that moment that if she didn't have a boyfriend, I was going to make her my wife.

They've been inseverable ever since. It's true. That night. They went camping like the next day. Our friends, Chris and Melinda, that night, both like separately pulled me aside.

They hadn't coordinated, but each of them, one was like, she's so great. She's like perfect. She's everything. And then, one was like, she's so great. She's like perfect. She's everything. And then Melinda was like, Kyle, there are no red flags with her. And that was all I needed to hear.

Such good friends. Such good hype men. Yeah, they totally, they cemented it. Like a week later, you went camping. And then that was kind of it for both of you. Yes. Because you both liked camping. Well, she'd never been camping.

Oh, she, what? Really? Yeah, never. And so I was at this point in my dating life where I didn't want to waste any time. So in order to see if things were really going to. So you took her in the middle of the forest and pitched a tent. It was the desert, actually. And we did get stranded twice.

How? The first time I left a bunch of my camera equipment charging in the car in the middle of the night. And we were in the middle of the desert and the battery died. In your car? In my car. And we had to hike like a mile. We saw like another like big RV like a mile out in the middle of the desert that had a dune buggy. And we just hiked to it.

She's like, let's just hike over to it. I was like, really? You're not super upset that we're might die in the desert and she was definitely into i i know that now they were they were very in several now before we get into our christmas discussions but you do have and so kyle and martha dated for what a year then kyle's like she's a famous actress she's so talented she's she's very talented she's incredibly talented she's uh acting is probably her primary talent and then baking her is her secondary talent what's her best bake oh boy there's a lemon blueberry cake that she does that that she does that.

Also her butter tarts. Cause she's Canadian. So that sounds like a dirty thing. I love my wife's butter tarts. Give a, give our audience a little, before we get into our Christmas chat, a little play by play of the, your proposal that no one will ever beat ever.

Okay. I'll try to, I'll do a quick Cliff's notes of it. Truly. No one's ever going to beat this ever. You guys. So I, for Martha's birthday,

I gave her a clue that said that I was taking her on a trip. And all I told her was that she was going to need a passport. And so she didn't, you know, she got excited, but she didn't know exactly what we were going to do. And the day before the trip, the day before we were leaving, which was a couple months later in December, I gave her another clue that essentially started to open up this whole amazing race style adventure where she had to figure out where we were going next and then we would either get on a plane or a train or rent a car and go to that location so quick timeout preference martha's a massive beatles fan She does love the Beatles. So. Yeah. So. All right. So we fly to London, but that was all a red herring because that is not the final destination. She gets a clue.

We wind up going all over Europe, Switzerland, Austria, getting clues, going to Christmas markets. Oh, my gosh. How cool is this? She has no idea where we're going, how we're going to get there, what's happening next. And ultimately, we wind up, the final clue, we're in Salzburg celebrating sort of sound of music culture, which is one of her favorite movies. And she gets a clue that we're going to go to Vienna. So we get on a train and we go to Vienna. When we get to Vienna, she gets a clue that we're going to go to her favorite restaurant,

which this was actually a joke, but she had to figure out the clue. And it wound up being the Hard Rock Cafe. Great establishment. Great establishment. You go to the Hard rock cafe in vienna yes so we you know the cultural mecca of vienna one of the most original it's one of the seven wonders of the world that's right yeah that's correct it's the pyramids in the hard rock cafe in vienna and so we get to the hard rock cafe and uh unbeknownst to mar, I'd had one of my best friends from growing up.

His name's Connor fly to Vienna as well. So he was impersonating an employee at the hard rock cafe. So he walks out of the employee elevators and like brushes past Martha and it's like, Oh, excuse me, Martha. And just runs out the front door.

And she's like, what's going on? Like that was Connor. And I was like, no, Connor. Why would Connor be here? And she's like, no, I swear. Like, he's very recognizable. He's incredibly tall. It's like, OK, well, where did he go? She's like, he went out the front door. So I'm like, well, let's go look for him. We got the front. Don't see him. Bam. He pops up out of of nowhere hands are a clue and uh she's totally freaking out at this point does she think that she's gonna get engaged so throughout the trip like she didn't know what was going on so like we would check into like a hotel and they'd be like

well how long are you staying and she's like i actually don't know the answer you know and so and so people started saying things like, I bet he's going to propose, you know? And you're like, shut up, bro. And it,

it finally got to the point where I was like, if one more person says this, I'm going to have to go to the jewelry store and, and buy you a ring, you know? Nice deflection. That's right. How did you hide the ring?

In my bag, in a ring case that I was like always checking to make sure it was still there. Yes, in the carry-on. And so Connor pops out, gives her a clue. This clue says that she needs to go to the Christmas market in Vienna. And so she's like, okay, well, do we have time? Can I take a shower? Like we'd been, this whole thing was like a quick rush blur of a trip. Like we had, you know,

barely had time to stop. We were always on the move. And, uh, I was like, no, I'm so sorry. Like, you know, you can't. And she's like, well, why, what is so important? I'm like, okay, I'm just going to tell you like the puzzle that we wanted to buy for your mom like they have it in stock at this christmas market and like i called ahead and they're holding it for us but the guy's only gonna be there for a little bit and uh so we get to the the christmas market uh hustle across town and at the christmas market in the booth is her best friend and her best friend's boyfriend are working the booth at the Christmas. Like literally behind the booth, like hustling the wares of the Christmas market. This is like a Christmas movie.

I know. I'm like just listening. Like, why not? And so and so then she totally freaks out. Like now that like her best friend is there, she's like losing her mind. And they, of course, give her another clue. And then now, like this whole group of us has to like hustle across town to the main cathedral in the middle of Vienna. And we go into the cathedral and it's like super quiet.

Like, you know, it's very respectful. And I'm like, well, let's go over to like this prayer chapel. And we can, and so we go over to the,

the prayer chapel and like, we're standing by the little, uh, beam there at the front row. And just to the left, she looks over and our two friends, Chris and Melinda, who you'll remember from,

uh, the party, the party who were like, no red flags like she's great. Are there like praying at the cathedral? This is the coolest thing ever. You guys just letting you know that, like, I seemed at the beginning of the story that I knew exactly how this proposal went down. I only knew the climax. Yeah, there's a climax. And that itself is like the most incredible thing in the entire world, which is why I can't believe that there was this much more to it.

Yes, this was the buildup. And so then Chris and Melinda give her a clue, and they give her a music box. And she turns the music box, and it plays Let It Be. And she immediately knows what's happening because Chris is the opening DJ for Paul McCartney. So like Paul McCartney, instead of having an opening band, he has a DJ play like Beatles songs and Chris does custom remixes. And so Martha's playing this thing they're in europe she knows immediately like oh my goodness we're gonna go see paul mccartney which was in fact the truth had she seen him with the friend before like had you met him with a friend

she had she saw him at pappy and harriet's perform, which is like this small little venue up near Joshua Tree in Pioneertown. So I think she'd got a chance maybe to meet him there briefly. That's actually how I met Kyle was at a Paul McCartney concert at Lollapalooza. That's right, Lollapalooza. So it's coming full. It comes full circle like 50 to 100 times. And so then like our group is complete. We go back to the Airbnb.

We're drinking some champagne, getting ready to go to the Paul McCartney concert. And this is all under the auspices that it's to celebrate Martha's birthday. So we get to the show. Chris had made a sign. Martha got to hold a sign that's like, you say it's your birthday, it's my birthday too, which is a lyric from a birthday. And I was holding a sign that said, we're going to have a good time. And we went out into the audience time and uh we went out into the audience and we get we got to see the sound check and now we're the show has started and what martha doesn't know is that i'm going to propose to her during the concert and so chris comes up to me and he's like listen like um you know i don't know how the proposal is going to work.

It's a live show. Paul's got to do what he's got to do. So we'll see. Maybe it'll be on stage. So you didn't know at this point that you were going to propose on stage? I knew it was a possibility. Did you know that Paul was going to be part of the proposal? I knew that that was also a possibility, but I had to also be prepared that...

What was your plan B? Plan B was I was just going to drop to one knee in the audience and propose during the concert. Which is also great. Fantastic. Also great. So a few songs in, Chris comes out and he's like, it's a go. It's a go. It's a go.

Chris comes out and he's like, it's a go. It's on. And so my sign that Chris had made was actually two signs taped together. So the back sign said, Martha, my dear, I want to hold your hand. And so essentially he's like, right after the encore, Paul's going to play birthday, and you guys are going to go up on stage. And so I'm incredibly nervous, and we go up on stage, and Martha still thinks that this is just for her birthday. We told her, like, we're going up, and Paul's going to sign your poster, Happy Birthday, Martha, and you're going up and paul's gonna sign your poster happy birthday martha and you're gonna get to keep that forever so so we go up and i uh i'm holding up my sign that says we're gonna have a good time and paul's like hey you know martha it's your birthday okay you know and i

flip my sign and paul's like oh i see I see what's happening here. Are you going to propose? And I was like, well, I guess so. Yeah, Paul, you just really blew up my spot, bro. And he's like, get on your knees. And then got on my knees, proposed. She said no. And then I'm alone on Christmas. She said yes.

What a story. Yes. So we got proposed in Vienna in front of our 40,000 closest friend. Did you have to pay for, did you offer to pay for your friends to fly out to like her brother and sister? Or did they do it on their own? They did it on their own. That's a good family you're in now. Because that's pretty awesome.

And then you guys eloped. And then you got married like a week later. We got married two days later. God, I love that. All that build up. Wait, not really. Yes. Yeah, really.

Wait, you really got married two days later? That was not a part of the plan, but we got married two days later. Why was that? So we still had more of the trip. We were going to go to London. Martha's best friend and Chris are both ordained. So we were like, well, we have two masters. We're ready to go.

We've got, you know, our best friends are here. Like, let's just knock this out. Like, the idea of planning a wedding and all this was just too, I didn't have the energy for that neither did you put so much planning into the engagement i'll just wrap it up into one complete story and then that's what we did and then a month later she got pregnant and now we have a son that's amazing it would have been great though if you did all this build up for the engagement had her friends and went to the church and all these clues.

And then you got up on stage with Paul McCartney and he's like, what are you up here for? And you're like, Martha, baby, I got a promotion. You also recently got a promotion. Congratulations. Thank you. Killing life, Kyle. Yeah. Thanks for sharing that story, Kyle.

I couldn't have done it without you. I'll never forget seeing it on Instagram. Nick texted us and he said, look at Kyle's Instagram. And we were just like, no way. Oh, there's the picture.

It was like, oh, he's on stage with Paul McCartney. Oh, he got engaged on stage with Paul McCartney. Yeah. Oh, he got engaged on stage with Paul McCartney? I mean, Martha volunteers at a soup kitchen every week, and she only plays the Beatles. That's right, and they love it. So, yeah. Is Paul her favorite?

The Hollywood Food Coalition is her soup kitchen that she participates in. So if you're in LA and you want to volunteer, come on by. Or donate on their website, hofoco.org. Is your mom here right now for Ellen's giveaways? They left. Oh, did they win anything from Ellen? Yeah, I mean, nothing crazy. Nothing exciting?

Away luggage. Really? You're like, I get that for free. Away luggage is very exciting. That's very nice. Friend of show. Guaranteed to fit in the overhead bin, which is, you gotta be careful

with that. Yeah, unless you're in one of those small jets. They just make you check your carry-on. When they're like the American Eagle flights. Right. Commuter jet. It's not fitting in that overhead bin space, to tell you that much. That's why you gotta fly private. Yeah.

We're working on it, Kyle. We're working on it, okay? Kyle doesn't fly private. Jared wouldn't want to fly private. Why wouldn't you want to fly private? I get a lot of flight anxiety. I don't like flying. I've chosen the wrong profession. What is your profession, Jared?

Well, not a profession, but just a lifestyle, I should say. I've chosen the wrong lifestyle. Because every time we go on a plane i just i it's actually i need to like beforehand too like i have to just like check the day beforehand as a bad mood day it's all right what are you gonna do so it's christmas merry merry christmas everybody merry christmas do you guys like christmas yes what are you talking about? Jared is the Christmas elf. I don't think there's any Grinches in here. I think it's fine.

Okay, there is a Grinch. What don't you like about Christmas? No, there's nothing I don't like about Christmas. It's totally fine. Then why is it just fine? For me, maybe it's because I don't have anyone to share christmas with at this point uh when i was a young family sure it's fine it's different i feel like if you don't

have a loved one at like when you as an adult it's i don't think so i think so because i when i was single in my my 20s and people started taking people home for Christmas and stuff, I started not liking Christmas either. It was just like... It's not that I don't like Christmas. It's just like as a kid, I would be the kid, like a week before Christmas,

I'd be so anxious for Christmas. I would just walk in circles just around the Christmas, just literally pace in circles. And I'd be like, all right, well, four minutes has gone by and it would be like there's still seven days left till christmas it was just and then how was christmas in a house full of so many yeah right i had a great childhood in that sense is that you

know my with all the kids we we were we i had we weren't well off by any means we were very middle class my parents you, always got by, but we did great. And like, I didn't know, in the sense that my parents always struggled, you know, week to week, making ends meet, so to speak. But my mom would start Christmas shopping in January

throughout the year and, you know, like, deal share. Yeah, I mean, she's always, like, throughout the year, was kind of always looking out. And like, as a kid, we didn't, my parents wouldn't just give us random gifts or buy us things we want like that for birthdays and christmas but they always gave the best presents and you know like it was always like on a deal or whatever but you know um yeah we had great christmas i mean waking up just

you know just yeah it was always the best i had some great christmases and it was always like waiting for what my mom and parents would get me and you know and as an adult you know you make money you start buying the things you want you know when you want it you don't wait till christmas to treat yourself and so like christmas is every day for me so like wow so it's all about the gifts is what you're saying. Yeah. Well, I mean, to that point, like, you know, I, I'm not, I, you know, yeah. And then as an adult, your girlfriends, you know, you maybe make a romantic, sentimental gift of write a poem or do something nice or, or, or whatever. Now it's just kind of like, especially living in LA.

It's like, my parents call me, are you coming for Christmas? Like, oh shit, tomorrow's Christmas. Yeah, I guess I'll book a flight, oh shit, tomorrow's Christmas. Yeah, I guess I'll book a flight. You know, it's warm. I forget. I get very excited about going home for Christmas.

Yeah. I get to see my family. Yes. And my mom always, uh, Christmas Eve makes shrimp Creole, very special, spicy family recipe.

And then Christmas morning makes a breakfast casserole. And those to me are the, is that the highlights. Is that the thing your mom was making with the eggs? Yes. My mom makes that too. It looks great. It's so good.

I want it now that I'm discussing it. Well, you'll get it soon if you're going home for the holidays. Could you imagine? We all don't know how it is to be from la yeah and then like just to celebrate christmas in a warm environment kyle's from atlanta well it's different it gets christmas either i think i've seen one white christmas okay and i guess it does get noticeably cold that sounds right i was stranded there with my grandparents in 1986, and it was very cozy. But yes, I mean, us three are very much used to seasons, and that was very much a part of what Christmas would feel like.

Yeah, the spirit of Christmas. What's your favorite Christmas you've ever had? Well, I feel like I have to say last year's. You do have to say last year's. Why? What was so special about last year well i had somebody in my life that wasn't well you were part of my life but not in the same way you were engaged then yeah i was we were engaged yeah uh my favorite christmas i don't know i think as you get older they start all blurring together yeah and it's hard to differentiate

between christmases i just like the idea of going home for the holidays, spending it with your family. And I also like the idea of, I guess, of giving not just gifts, but your time as well. And I think that kind of symbolizes Christmas. Okay, you're great. It's true, though. That's not great. But that's why I like Christmas so much is because it's the time of year where everybody's a little bit happier and everybody's a little bit more excited to get to the day. Because like you were talking about, and I love the tangible things at Christmas. I love getting the tree and decorating and getting into the spirit and drinking eggnog and watching Christmas movies. I get all into that shit.

He decorates the house. I don't touch it. I mean, Jared's a comfort guy, so Christmas is all about comfort. Exactly. And it's the most comfortable time of the year. And I enjoy that very much. I get sad that we have a week now

just to enjoy our place the way it is because it's so cute and cozy. And it just won't feel like that when we get back. Do you think, what's your worst Christmas? Because I think as an adult, some people don't look forward to the holiday season. I know my worst Christmas. I know my worst Christmas.

It was probably the Christmas before I went on The Bachelor. Why? I just felt like so single and alone and desperate. My worst Christmas was two years ago and I'm not saying it to be facetious, but it was when you were dating someone else and we weren't talking. What's his name? You can say his name.

I forget. Who cares? It escapes me now. Timmy? No, when you were dating Kevin and, uh, cause winter games was filmed in early December and you got back like a week before Christmas.

I do remember that. I didn't hear from you. And I was living with you at the time, but I was home. I went home. Like the 15th. But like right before that, it was kind of similar like for different situations. But when I was with Kyle, living with Kyle, I was like, I don't really know this whole LA thing. And there was one point, I think we were like playing Mad mad in video games we were just like stressing each other out you're just like i

don't know man i think i'm just fucking moving home you're just super fucking grumpy forever i was like what is your deal man like i told you to give it some time i know no nick was a great friend nick was the one who originally had me come out to move out to la because you were just like just try it you've lived in rhode island your entire life because this was at the time where you were living in a two-bedroom you had an extra room and you were like just come move in with me see if you like it and i moved in in november then went on bachelor australia for 10 days you're just gone 10 days. You were just gone 10 days. I was gone for 10 days. And then came back. And then you were in Winter Games. And then.

We had one day rollover. We went to see Justice League. I was living with you. And then I went home for Christmas. And then got home. And that's when I started hearing. I heard a rumor that you left the show engaged. Jared, that's horrifying

it was super it was very terrifying well because then i knew it was over you know if you left the show really you told me it was over you told me it was over many times over what like your friendship or your friendship oh there is no way as an engaged woman do you think she was going to be as close of a friend to me as she was prior to us being in a relationship? She wanted to be your wife, but you, for some reason, weren't.

But what I'm saying is what we had before we got together, there was no way that was lasting. I guarantee, I, I, we already know, like, for good reason,

that he didn't want you to be friends with me at the time. Sure, I love it when Jared talks about how he still gets worked up. It does, yeah. So anyway. I like it when Jared talks when he still gets worked up. It does, yeah. So anyway. I like it when he has to remember those times. Yeah, it was a lot of good times. Where I wasn't a guarantee for you.

And I think it was just in the crossroads of my life, you know, being in Rhode Island at the time, but at the time living with Nick in LA and not sure what the hell was going to happen with me there and you possibly being in a relationship with somebody else and not knowing how serious it was, especially everybody knows leaving that bachelor world, everything's so intense.

It's like, is it really the out of the realm of possibility that Ashley, I can Eddie is in a very serious, loving relationship with someone. Winter games. The whole thing was like 11 days. It's possible. She's engaged.

It wasn't possible. She was in a serious, loving relationship. I'm just kidding. you think but uh so anyway so that was definitely the worst christmas because i didn't know what the hell was going on or what i was going to do or where my life was i remember you texted me just simply merry christmas ashley i was so merry christmas ashley no honestly i sent it i said her name I'll never forget sending this text message because I said her name because I wanted it

wow you read it wrong I wanted it to be sentimental no I know I wanted it to sound like not just like Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Ashley no Jared

I interpreted it as that Nick interpreted it as sass but I interpreted it as like oh wow that was very personal what if you sent a picture of you and Kevin

and just said could have been you? He's boiling right now. He still gets mad. I'm not mad. I'm leaving. Kyle, before you met your loving, caring wife wife you had some heartfelt breakups in fact we met because you were trying to make your then

ex-girlfriend jealous by getting a photo that's why I wanted the selfie wait really? I sent her the picture like immediately and I was like look who's my new best friend before I even had said anything to Nick

so you were still talking have you ever have you had any tough holiday uh christ holidays or christmases as a result of uh relationships not working out no nothing that really sticks out you were always able to like have perspective that's right that's right yeah and yes and you know living i i had my i haven't lived in atlanta since i was young i think i was probably 17 when i last lived there so christmas always means going back and being with my family and so that always kind of seems to be the overwhelming uh. I also think for me, like even that was like,

quote unquote, the worst Christmas. I still had a great Christmas because during those years, one of the things that I do like about this time of year is you are forced to be reminded of the things that you have in your life that you love and you're grateful for. And so I think even being home with my friends and family, because I kept thinking, like, even if Ashley moves on

and, like, we'll never speak again, you know, I have my parents and my sister and my friends and everybody. So I think it's a constant reminder of that. Well, you're just better, all better people than me. Because I feel like... You just sit in your self-loathing state. It felt like in my 20s, every time i broke up with a girlfriend it was always in december it was like october or november and so like i was still feeling very well when i broke up with a girlfriend it

wasn't but what i when i when i was broken up with it was like no event early november and so like the wounds were still soft and i was a big baby and self-indulgent during Christmas. And no, I wasn't like, you know, I'm still grateful for my large family and the Christmas cookies. And I know, no, nothing about that really helped. There was a study about apparently December is the month where the most breakups occur. Don't have to get that gift. And apparently, December 11th from this study said that December 11th is the biggest day of the year for breakups to occur.

We all made it through. Did it say why? We're good. Did it say why? Like people, is that they're reassessing their lives? It said that they believe because you are forced. Most of the time people go home for the holidays. And if you are in a relationship,

you bring your significant other. So a lot of times they'd break up before going home for the holidays and having to go through that. And that stressful, weird time where you're like, Oh, it's my girlfriend, but I'm not sure if we're going to have a future,

but she's coming home for the holidays or, you know, so they said that a lot of people will try to get out of the situation before having to deal with it it's also like do i picture this person in my family time right yeah well yeah i don't know rochelle how about you or you love christmas have you ever had a salty christmas well i lucked out because i i'm from arizona and my parents moved to austin and so now my whole family gets to hang out in austin texas it's the best city in the entire world. And we have a great time.

I just eat barbecue from the second I land until I leave. Breakfast tacos? Yes, breakfast tacos. You've never had a Christmas breakup? Oh, yeah. I've been very sad on, yeah. And then, yeah, you get the text from them and you're like, what does this mean?

Are they thinking about me? Oh, yeah, that's the worst, right? That's the worst. Because you're broken up with, you're a little salty. they're like well i'm just gonna be nice i should just reach out and let them know i'm you know just in case you're not over me i'm still here and i'm probably having a better day than you i love that oh i sent that text to plant a fucking seed yeah of course i thought a lot about the text too right you're like yeah i was like it sounds like he may love me and this was before he said that yeah they do yeah the the exes will reach out yeah well they're lonely too because like maybe not or or they just want you to not get over them yet well that's what

i mean by lonely because even if someone breaks up with you on December 11th and they go home for the holidays and they see their sister married or their cousin married with kids and then they start thinking, maybe I did break up with them too early. You start getting those nostalgic feels. So you just send out that text. Hey, Merry Christmas.

Hey, what's up? You up? You still love me. It's self-indulgent and quite selfish. Here's the Christmas present I would have gotten you. No. I did that once. Have you ever broken up with someone and still gave them the gift?

That's what I did. Yeah, I've done that. Looking back, why? So pathetic. So pathetic. So pathetic. Do you want to know something pathetic that you guys will appreciate? Yeah. Don't get mad.

Uh-oh. Take your headphones off. No, no, no. It's about Bachelorette. You bought a gift for Caitlin? No. Well, what happened was we were in the San Antonio airport and we were going to New York, I think it was. Ireland.

Or we were going from... Yeah, you're right. So we were going to Ireland. We were going to New York, I think it was. Ireland. Or we were going from... Yeah, you're right. So we were going to Ireland. And so... We were going to New York to go to Ireland, but... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway, we were in the San Antonio airport. We were going to a different destination. We're walking around.

And obviously, you walk around with producers because you have to make sure that you don't run away. So there was like this cute shot glass that had a San Antonio thing. And I remember talking to a producer and I was like, I think I want to buy it for caitlin just give it to her and like a little token because we had a nice moment in san antonio and so he's like yeah cool so i bought the shot glass go to ireland never had a chance to give it to her she always breaks up with me what do you mean you could have given it to her in the car i forgot like i just yeah you know because you go on like a very special gift well it's just you know it's a shot glass right it's nothing it's kind of insignificant i don't know i feel like a shot glass is basically love so so anyway it was a thoughtful gift but i

especially on the show as you guys know like you're always rushed you know you're like you gotta go now you don't have any time you gotta go so then anyway fast forward to the uh reunion show men tell all and a producer comes in and he's like, hey, how's it going, blah, blah, blah. I was like, oh, good.

He's like, do you sell that shot glass? Or this might have been before I left. I was like, yeah, I sell the shot glass. He's like, I think you should give it to her

at the Mentello. And I was like, I'm not fucking giving that to her anymore. Are you out of your mind? He's like, I just think, I think it would be a nice gesture. That's all. That's all I'm saying. giving that to her anymore. Are you out of your mind? He's like, I just think it would be a nice gesture.

That's all. That's all I'm saying. It's up to you. Which basically means I think it'll be cringeworthy. I was like, I'm not giving it to her. Was this Todd? I'm not saying who it was. Definitely Todd. But I was like, I'm not giving it to her.

I can't do that. Because that's just too creepy. And he's like, okay. And I'll always think back upon that. I was like, man, if I gave her that glass uh i i think i gave it to someone else but you never gave it to her no no no i thought this was gonna end it like you mailed her her mailed it to her that would have been weird you know just more like i'll give it to my second cousin you know have enjoy the san antonio shot glass like a cowboy on the side shooting from his saddle, you know?

Favorite Christmas movie? Elf. Elf and I guess Home Alone. A Christmas Cruise. Yes. Oh, it's the best. Look, there it is. What was your character's name?

Bob, the hotel cruise manager. Bob. You look like a Bob. Hands down the best. I love how I'm the movie poster and I'm in it for 30 seconds. You steal the show in those 30 seconds. That's right. I've seen that scene.

I haven't seen the movie. You didn't see your scene? No. No, it's great. Nick never watches any of this. I haven't seen it either. You open up one of the doors and, you know. You're stressed out because you're running a cruise?

That's Vanessa Williams, right? Are you the cruise director or Mark? He's the. Vivica Fox. The cruise man. Vivica Fox. you're stressed out because you're running a cruise that's vanessa williams right cruise director or vivica fox and the cruise manager vivica fox he's a hotel cruise director yeah i guess i'm just like the uh yeah you open the door and vivica fox is there holding towels i'm holding you're holding towels yeah and then you say like you you don't want to deal with the situation and you're like i forget the other guy's name but you're like bob somebody wants something my nick was Bob, actually. There were two Bobs.

I remember there was a Bob. How do I turn these lights off? Did you get to work? Was it fun working with Vivica Fox? No, she was very lovely, very nice. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, it was very nice. So other than the Christmas cruise.

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. That's my favorite. That's it. Now you guys can have your moment where you bond over it. Again, you talk about comfort. There's not another movie that's more comfortable than National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The holiday is quite comforting.

Oh, that's a good one. I will say, as far as chick flicks go, I do like the holiday. The holiday may be one of the most well-done chick flicks. The first hour's great. And then the end's fine like the middle i don't know i think it's pretty non-stop i mean there are some slow moments with kate winslet and the old guy even though it is very endearing and sweet i that's it's the it's the

it's the cameron diaz jude oh i could i soak up every moment of that they're they're they're meet cute in the beginning when they first hook up. Love that scene. When she comes into the bar after she was going to leave and they play that music and she sees Jude at the bar and he looks over and he's looking all hot and sexy. Love that stuff. Did you say you think it was the most well done romantic comedy of all time? One of them. No, not.

Okay, fine. You're right. Do you think it's a top five romantic comedy? What about Love Actually? No, okay, so Jared and I have a yearly argument over Love Actually versus The Holiday. I think it's hands down The Holiday. No ifs, ands, or buts.

He's all Love Actually, so you guys, let us know. No love for Die Hard as a Christmas movie? Die Hard, it's so hard because Die Hard, yes, it is a Christmas movie, but when I think of Christmas movies, I don't think of Die Hard. Right. Like Jingle All the Way.

Oh, Jingle All the Way! Yeah, that's more of a Christmas movie. Yeah, it is. What's Jingle All the Way? It's in the title. Are you kidding me? Come on, Arnold. Sinbad?

Arnold Schwarzenegger? And they need to go find the... What's it called? Turboman. Turboman. It's Turbo Time. It's Turbo Time. You know, now that you say it,

I think I kind of... I don't think I've seen the whole movie, but I do know what you're talking about. It's the classic Christmas toy has sold out. You've got to get it for your kid. Classic. How are you going to do it? Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad are like... Fighting for the toy.

And then they realize the meaning of Christmas at the end, maybe, or something like that. Of course they do. Just barely. You guys, do you think Gremlins is a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? I think it's a Christmas movie. It takes place on Christmas Eve. It's a Die Hard type Christmas movie.

Yeah, I would say it's a Christmas movie. It's more Christmas than Die Hard, I'd say. Yeah. Yeah. There's a little bit. Yeah, there's more Christmas. Die Hard's pretty Christmas. Die Hard's pretty Christmas, too.

It's a holiday Christmas party. The whole movie takes place during a Christmas party. That's why they're on the Nakatomi Tower. My parents made us watch It's a Wonderful Life every year. That's a Christmas movie. That's a Christmas movie. And then two years ago, they made us go to a one-man show of it. When they say made you, did you truly hate it?

The one-man show? No. Well, just like you make it sound like, well, we have to go to church, guys. Well, I mean, after five times, I didn't really want to, you know, George Bailey. I'm like, just jump in the lake and be done with it. You never really quite loved it as much as your parents. I guess not. I have to watch it as an adult because my mom had me watch it when I was younger, like a kid kid, like elementary, middle school.

And I haven't seen it since middle school, I would say. And now I think I'd have a totally different appreciation for it. A movie that gets hate that I hate that gets hate is How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. Not great. I mean, I enjoy it. Yeah, it's fine. But a lot of people feel the way you are, where they think it's overrated, where I feel bad because I think Jim Carrey gives such an incredible performance as the Grinch. And nobody just gives it the love it deserves.

Okay, so Jared had me watch that last year for the first time since it came out in theaters and I saw it as a kid. And I will agree his performance is really incredible. But it doesn't give me like warm and fuzzy Christmas feelings. No. I know. I'll watch it with you again still this year. is really incredible. But it doesn't give me like warm and fuzzy Christmas feelings. Oh. I know. I'll watch it with you again still this year. But his heart grows three sizes. Do you know what movie is very underrated?

And I know nobody here has seen it. It's Best Man Holiday. There you go. Silence. Okay. Who's in it? Taye Diggs. Taye Diggs is hot.

That sounds good. Taye Diggs Taye Diggs is hot that sounds good Taye Diggs follows me on Twitter he probably follows everybody he does follow everyone on Twitter but he follows also I think about

70,000 people so we're not that special Taraji P. Henson okay alright Best Man Holiday gotta check it out

you have to check it this is what all I ask of you that's my Christmas gift I'll watch it who's the lead actress and why do I know her? Well, they're all equals.

There's no lead. Okay, never mind. It's an ensemble cast. Yeah, ensemble cast. Favorite holiday food, whether it's a dessert or, you know, what food do you look most forward to that's seasonal? Does liquid count? Yeah.

Eggnog? Yeah. Really? You like eggnog? I fucking love eggnog. Really? Have you ever Yeah. Eggnog? Yeah. Really? You like eggnog? I fucking love eggnog. Really? Have you ever done homemade eggnog?

No. You should give it a shot. How do you make... What's in an eggnog? Eggs. Eggs and nog. Eggs. Lots of nog. Lots of eggs.

It's just scrambled eggs and raw scrambled eggs and nutmeg? It's so thick. When you really probably think of the consistency of it, it's disgusting. Is it milk, eggs, and sugar? That sounds right. Yeah. And some... Cinnamon?

Cinnamon. Nutmeg. Nutmeg. That was the missing. Not me. I've never really had it. I've had a sip of Jared's, but I don't get how you drink a glass of it. Dude, I love in Christmas Vacation when he has the whole bowl.

It's like a fruit punch bowl, but instead it's eggnog, and he's got his mousse mug. It's fantastic we bought a uh a special edition uh national impudent christmas vacation like five or six years ago that came with the moose mug so because his antlers are what you hold it by genius anyway uh yeah i would say i i like i like again the tradition of food like i love turkey and mashed potatoes and broccoli casserole we never did this our tradition on christmas was just to go out to a fancy restaurant we did thanksgiving at home but we just always went out on christmas so jared's um family last year was the first like it's a down at home meal i had

i always thought christmas cookies were overrated. Oh, so I like Christmas cookies. Are Christmas cookies gingerbread, or are you talking about the standard sugar cookies? My mom is a brilliant cook, baker, whatever, and so she makes just a buffet of all these different Christmas cookies. And they're all not as good as chocolate chip.

That's true. Absolutely. Absolutely. First you came for Thanksgiving food, and now Christmas cookies? I know. I agree. First you came for Thanksgiving food and now Christmas cookies. I know. I know. Everybody who's listening, I kind of suck. I mean, you've got a point, though. Because if they were so good or if Thanksgiving, if any of these things were so good, we wouldn't

eat them just once a year. Once a year. We're weird that everybody's obsessed with stuffing and yet we don't do it all the time. Why can't you go to a restaurant and regularly see stuffing? Just get canned cranberry sauce because it's not that good. Because it's not great. Stuffing is that great. Stuffing's awesome.

Great thing like pizza, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies. You'll eat these things every other day of the year. You'll have to help. You have to try not to eat them. You have to help you have to try not to eat them. You have to, you know, you have to say no and I'm giving him up for at least three days and then you cheat on day two. I love

chocolate chip cookies. They're the best. I love the food at Christmas and Thanksgiving. Yeah, you're right. Why don't we eat that more? Because they're not that good. I agree. I enjoy every time. You love them because you are such a nostalgic person. Probably that good. I enjoy it every time. You love them because you are such a nostalgic person.

Probably, yeah. I have a hard time letting, you know, go things. So I can understand that. Like her parents always want to go out to eat on Thanksgiving.

Well, I don't approve of this. They're wacky. It's my dad. He doesn't like the work. I'm obviously not going to say anything, but then I'll tell Ashley to be like,

if you can ask your parents if we can not go out we have not great we have i know they've been so great we had to sit down dinner was amazing do you do you call mr i can any dad no i call him jay you call him jay sometimes when i'm joking you know if i first see him dad no you never say i said that to him once. Once. Someday, I don't know when, and your dad is lovely, but it's just human nature. Someday, you're going to want to snap at her dad. I don't think it's going to be my dad.

I think it's going to be my mom. And I just want to be there to watch because Jared will have to go through just a litany of moments where he would want to push back but won't. He'll be like, oh, that's fine. You know, I'm a dad. And I want to be there the day. you'll be like oh that's fine you know i'm gonna you know and i want to be the day they're the day you're like you know i agree it's my mom you're gonna want to snap that probably but not in a bad way i love your parents of course i mean because it's human nature and every but i've noticed it happened with every family dynamic

you get frustrated totally because i but i've noticed as i've gotten older, and I'm curious if you notice this too, I do push back more than I used to. And I find myself more willing to say my opinion now, even in times when your mom and I are sitting down and we might disagree, I kind of say like, oh yeah, I don't know. But you're the best at arguing because you never come at it defensively. You really do come out of it out of it like this is.

How about this point of view? Like, have you ever entertained that idea? I think I could. I think I do a good job of removing myself from the situation and looking at it from the outside and understanding different viewpoints and be like, well, I disagree and think that's not right. I can understand why you believe that. So I'm not going to really like firmly stand in my position. Be like, no, I'm right. You're wrong. I'm smart. You're that. So I'm not going to really like firmly stand in my position. Be like, no,

I'm right. You're wrong. I'm smart. You're dumb. Like the Matilda. No Matilda. Anybody. When Danny DeVito starts berating her,

you guys don't realize that's not a Christmas. You're small. I'm smart. You're dumb. Is Danny DeVito call himself big? I think so. But I think that's kind of the joke. And I guess he's over Matilda.

Anyway. So, yeah. I think so. But I think that's kind of the joke in it, too, because he's over Matilda. Anyway, so yeah. Any final thoughts about Christmas to our audience that we want to share before we all go drink eggnog? What are your thoughts about New Year's? That's another episode. He's like, that's another episode. That is another episode. We will be here on New Year's Day. Wells Adams is our guest.

I do think New Year's Eve's eve we talk about a little bit with wells is obviously a very expensive overrated night yeah i don't like going out you overpay for less fun oh totally and it's always just crazy and chaotic and then most of the time especially you live in a town you have to find a way to drive home, which is really dumb because every time. It's cold. But I like staying in on New Year's. I'm a big New Year's Rockin' Eve guy. There we go.

Jared loves New Year's. Oh, you like watching it? He watches it. Yeah, I know. He likes. Two years or three years ago when that whole Mariah Carey thing went on, I was in front of my TV watching that thing live, having the time of my life. That was great.

Oh, it was great. but anyway uh last minute christmas thoughts i don't know well i want to know i think i would like to reiterate the fact that it can be a very depressing and like melancholy time yeah right you really have to be at the best place in your life to fully enjoy it people listen this episode are probably like oh you know i just want to do something else other than fucking deal with Christmas. So yeah, let's just remind people that it's okay if you are hating on Christmas. It is okay. Sure, of course you can hate Christmas.

But it's also okay to enjoy it. It's okay to enjoy it too. I got baby's first Christmas coming up. Yeah. I'm already enjoying it. Kyle's on a high. You guys are going to Atlanta? We're going to Atlanta. We're going to celebrate Christmas with my family in Atlanta. Then for New Year's, we're going to Prince Edward Island

to celebrate New Year's with Martha's family and her sisters getting married on New Year's Day. Many great oysters up in Prince Edward Island. Oh, yeah. Oysters, mussels, lobsters. The seafood scene there is lit. I'm going to get full. Are you nervous about flying with your baby?

He's so chill. Like, it's not at all, really. Famous last words. Well, yeah, maybe. Is there wood? There we go. Knocked on it. All right, guys.

Well, thanks for coming. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas to you all. Kyle, thanks for coming. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas to you all. Kyle, thanks for sharing the greatest engagement story of all time. Thank you. I'm available to help plan proposals if anyone needs a little help. We were saying after you did it, you probably should just start an engagement proposal company

of giving ideas and planning because it was truly epic. So if anybody wants to get engaged on stage with Paul McCartney, just DM Kyle. Maybe not specifically Paul, was truly epic so if anybody wants to get engaged on stage with paul mccartney's just dm kyle maybe not specifically paul but if you're looking for a very detailed thoughtful uh engagement kyle's probably your guy to to ask i can at least help guide you you can follow him at la confident on instagram i was more impressed with the friends and family being there than i was you getting engaged in paul mccarty. Because that like, that's kind of half luck,

right? Where you're like, I just hope it happens, but getting their friends and family to be there, her specifically to be there when they're supposed to be giving the clues in a different country that takes so much effort and precise work. That's really impressive. Thank you.

Thank you. You should be proud. I actually am. i know you are i don't want to gloat but i'll gloat just a little and there there it is all right well merry christmas everybody thanks thanks for listening happy hanukkah happy hanukkah happy kwanzaa happy holidays whatever whatever it is you are celebrating That's right We wish you a happy wonderful day We will see you on New Year's Day With Wells Adams