The Zach Nichols Podcast - Celena Knight - Remembering Ryan Knight | ZNP EP. 58

Episode Date: August 9, 2024

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Welcome back to the Zach Nichols podcast. I'm here with my co-host, the big fetichini. What's up, y'all? And more importantly, are you playing music back there, Mike? Yeah, what was that, Mike? Well, anyways, more importantly, we're here with Selena Knight, Ryan Knight's big sister, older sister. Yes, yes. Thank you so much for making it out to Detroit.

Thanks for inviting me. Anytime. You're the guest that we've been talking about for a very long time. Absolutely. Because people have been asking us to talk about your brother. Yeah. And something that I want. want to tell you first and foremost was he was there's relationships you have that are TV

relationships but then there's the relationship that transcends the television and your brother was that for me probably one of only three people that I talked to outside of filming and stuff yeah I talk to him every day yeah and what was funny was your brother never slept I yes he literally never went to bed so when we would talk is because I wake up at quarter to three that's when I'm up because I like to have two or three hours to myself and he would literally be calling me a at that time and I'd be able to answer. Yeah. What are you doing?

And he'd say something like, oh, yeah, the Packers had a Monday night game. So I wanted to catch that game. And then I started to play, you know, some video games. So what's the what are you doing? I'm like, well, Ryan, I'm getting ready to go work out and go to work. He'd be like, oh, dude, you're such a loser. But yeah, no, he never slept. So I probably...

Kind of like our relationship now. It's the same thing. Sometimes, yeah, you're still up at that time. And he's like, I'm like, oh, it's the Celsius. Yeah, exactly. I literally, he probably called me every day. but what I found out was that Ryan talked to a lot of people. Like he was always reaching out to people, seeing how they're doing, asking how they're doing.

And he was just like that friend to everyone. So it wasn't just me. I'm not sitting here trying to be like, it was my best friend. But he was friends with almost every cast member like that. But he really loved you. Well, you know what? Your dad told me that too. And that made me feel really loved you.

He would always say, you know what was funny too about him is he would always, he would always call me and be like, hey, man, I'm so bored. He's like, can I move in with you? I'm like, yeah, whenever you want. He's like, all right, let me figure some stuff out, see if I can get a job out there, and then I'll call you with the details, like, every day. Yeah. And then the other funny thing was whenever we'd get to a show,

I'd be, like, sleeping. And only one time we didn't share a bunk. But other than that, he always wanted to sleep. Well, he never slept, so he would always want the bunk above mine. And I'd be like, I'm going to be like, hey, Zach is sleep? And people like, yeah, he's like, I'm going to go shopping. And he'd start going through my stuff. And then the next morning, like, he would,

have got done like my hat would be in the courtyard soaked in rain or like he'd walk around in one of my shirts and at first you like made me really mad because I'm like one of those like one of five kids so like what was yours when you were a kid was yours don't touch my shit but Ryan didn't care so like we had this t-shirt we had this t-shirt and uh one season I had it and I thought I lost it and then I show up on the next season with the rivals two and he was wearing it so then on rivals two i stole it back and then before i left i had packed it because i got eliminated before him on rivals too and uh i get home and the the t-shirt's gone so my bags were packed ready to go and while we're walking out to elimination he took it out of my bag put it back into his that sounds

so it was always a back and forth thing but my first question for you because what what i've Kenosha is where you're from yeah and i'm from bright in michigan they're very similar type towns and And I think that's why we got along so well was because the geographical areas and how we grew up was very similar. Our dads are a lot of like from the stories we told. But what like so what was your guys's first impression when he told you he was going on in the real world? Because my mom was like, you're not. She hated it. She hated MTV.

Yeah. Well, I was excited for him. I remember he was like, I didn't do this cease. He's like, my friends put me in and whatever. And I was like, which I believe. Yeah. Because they're a bunch of idiots too. Sorry, guys.

But yeah, I was excited. I was like, this is cool for you. You know what I mean? Like, go do it. Like, go kill it and have fun. And he did. He did. He's hysterical.

Did you know what the real world was at that time? Was it just something that came across to your guys? Because he's not someone who I would imagine watch the real world growing up. Right. I did because I'm old, but he did not really. I mean, he would sit down and watch like the old episode. with me, but nothing. He wasn't like, oh, we got to watch it.

A new one's on. You know what I mean? Yeah. I think he was just like, I'm just going to go do whatever I do and annoy people. That's what he did. He literally was, so he was the best at getting our people's skin. Oh, yeah. But the thing about him was Ryan was someone who could cross a line and no one got mad at him.

Things he would say to people, I'd be like, oh, no. And they would laugh. Or he'd make someone so mad one night. and then the next day you'd wake up and he'd be their best friend. Yeah. And I'm like, well, what happened? I apologize. And we, you know, we stayed up and hung out and we had some great talks.

And, like, I love him now. And they'd be like, Ryan's the best. And that was what was funny was no one called him night. Everyone just called him Ryan. Yeah. Because he told everyone. He's like, no, he's like, you can't call me that. That's what my friends call me back home.

You're not the same. No, that's what he would say. He's like, you guys aren't close to me like that. Call me Ryan. And so we all called him Ryan, but because of the guy on his original season, they called him night, which is literally one of the coolest nicknames ever. Oh, yeah. Bad ass.

So he goes on the show. What is the reaction in your town? Because I'm assuming it's somewhat of a small town. Does everybody jazz that? Was it like, how was the pandemonium at the time? So it's not super small. I was in Seattle at the time. Oh, okay.

That's right. So I didn't fly back. But I know they had a big like viewing party at a bar. I say it was rivals. So like everyone showed up. You know what I mean? Because he's been around forever and everyone loves him. Um, so that was like a big thing.

It's not as small. It's like it's bright in size. So it's a, the idea is small, but it's a, it's a bigger town. And it keeps growing. So it's yeah.

Yeah. So talk to us about your family, you guys growing up. It was just you two, like just of you two siblings. And what was the age difference? 18 months. Okay.

I'm older by 18 months. Basically same age. Yeah, basically. I mean, he was high school together. Yeah. Well,

yeah, kind of. Like senior sophomore, right? Yeah. That's how me and my, older sister. Well, I have a sister on either side that are both that far apart. It was great. Yeah. Because I could pick on him and, you know, but he was friends with all my

friends. They all loved him. And he was friends with all the older hockey boys. So everyone protected him. Like he could do no wrong. He was the baby. Oh, so when he got on the real world, it was like big deal. Yeah. Yeah. Huge deal. Everyone was like he's perfect for it. He was. Yeah. Was he always a life of the party since he was a kid or? Yeah. Or was it, did you ever have any of that? Or was he just kind of, you know, take it. Where do you think he learned it? Okay. I mean, seriously.

So I taught him well. Yeah. So the other thing, too, was the funny thing about Ryan was, like you said, he never slept. So we're in Panama. There's a rainstorm. He starts, like, tap me on the forehead. And I'm like, what? He's like, dude, it's raining out.

You want to come watch? I'm like, okay. So we go out there and we would just talk. And but the funny thing was whenever a girl would piss him off, and he's like, oh, they're so lucky. My sister's not here. You know how tough she is? she would beat the shit out of him.

That was like what he would always say. He's like, what do you think she'd do to them? He's like, she would be great for this. She would be so good. She would beat the shit of all these girls. It was hilarious. But the first time I met him, actually, was at the airport in New York on the way to battle the seasons. And, you know, you go and you meet and everyone.

And he, like, puts his finger on my chest. And now, I remember, like, I'm taller than him. I'm, like, probably, like, 50 pounds heavier or two. And he goes, because he tweeted me during my real world while it was airing. And it was a nice. tweet. It was basically in support of me because I got yeah, you know, beat up on Twitter and all that. People did not like me. And he, and I just

liked it. Oh, well. And he was like, listen, he goes, I don't care how big you are. If I ever tweet you anything ever again and all you do is like it, he goes, I'm going to beat your ass. And that was when I was like, man, I was like, did we just become best friends? And he was like, I don't know yet. He goes, because you only liked my tweet. He wanted me to retweet obviously, you know what I'm saying? That's a perfect example because just knowing you like if anyone gives you an ultimatum and the second part of it is I'll beat your ass and then you become friends with him he must have been the most disarming person of all time he is the most

disarming person of all time but he literally yeah finger on my chest is like like hey I'm Zach he goes I know who you are he goes and if I ever tweet you again and all you do is like I'm like oh yeah I got phone calls all the time cease can you just repost what I post what I post like yeah you know I don't have any followers right like yeah sure I got at you, bud. Yeah, whatever, bro. Yeah. So, like, that's crazy.

So, um, for me, for me, like, I see where social media has gone and, like, what type of personality he could and would have been, was, was going on TV something he loved doing? Or is it just a means to an end for him, do you think? That concludes the free preview of the Zach Nichols podcast. So go to Patreon and subscribe to see the rest of the shit that we talk. Go do it now.