Cindy’s Truth About Mel & Peg | Golden Hour

00:00:07
Speaker 1: Welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hours, Golden Hour. Thanks so much for joining us today. We're gonna have fun today, aren't we. Goad?

00:00:14
Speaker 2: We are going to have so much fun. First of all, we've I'm still I'm frozen. I have a sweatshirt on because I'm so cold. Is it cold where you are, Susan Kabby?

00:00:24
Speaker 3: It has to be sixty or seventy where you are?

00:00:26
Speaker 4: She gets cold in the sixties. Here. We just hit thirty.

00:00:30
Speaker 2: Congratulations, that's that's that's reverse hell is what that is.

00:00:35
Speaker 4: We've been in the teens.

00:00:37
Speaker 2: All right. Well, today we have a very special guest. She is actually my neighbor in Austin, Texas. Please welcome from mel season of The Golden Bachelor. Cindy. Hi, Cindy, We welcome.

00:00:53
Speaker 5: Thank you so much for donning on.

00:00:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, is that harro Wig nice?

00:01:00
Speaker 5: It's all you, but getting it done. We're looking at the final days of it. She's she's going to get a little shorter anyway.

00:01:07
Speaker 4: It's beautiful.

00:01:08
Speaker 2: You look gorgeous, are you? How are you house life? Because we're about to get into some big stuff here. We're going to get to town.

00:01:16
Speaker 5: I'm doing I'm doing great. Listen, has moved on, and I'm I'm as you guys know, I'm living my life and I'm grateful that you invited me on. The timing is ironic. I don't think either any of us would have predicted this, but it might be perfect time.

00:01:31
Speaker 2: It might okay.

00:01:32
Speaker 5: I just.

00:01:34
Speaker 2: I just want to say, for anyone who doesn't know Cindy, I've gone out with Cindy a few times in Austin. We've gone to dinner, We've Cindy is amazing. First of all, she knows everyone in Austin. She can get you a dinner reservation at any restaurant you want in Austin. But I have to tell the story Cindy before we get into it. Cindy and I went out with a couple of her girlfriends I don't know a few weeks ago and Cindy we went to dinner, went a show, and then we went to this hot spot bar which I won't mention my name, and yeah, Cindy says, girls, and she looked, you know, hot, as she always does. And Cindy goes, We're all gonna have a drink and there's gonna be guys in there that will want to buy us all drinks, and I'm like, no way.

00:02:17
Speaker 5: No, that was you.

00:02:19
Speaker 3: That was you. I'm gonnatthing great right now, you said, Cindy, go to the bar.

00:02:23
Speaker 5: Those two guys are checking us out. You need to go to the bar. Now you can pick the rest of the story up, because okay.

00:02:28
Speaker 2: Okay, I said they're checking you out, Cindy, I did not say anything about me. I was dressed in a kilt and loafers.

00:02:34
Speaker 4: Oh.

00:02:35
Speaker 2: So Cindy goes over to the bar. The very good looking guy starts chatting her up, and the rest of us are sitting and going, yep, just watch Cindy do her magic work. And what happens. Literally two minutes later, drinks are delivered to our table from the guy. So do not mess with Cindy because what she says is gonna happen is gonna happen.

00:02:56
Speaker 5: Now you learn how to manifest. Gotta learn how to manifest now.

00:03:02
Speaker 2: With that ward you have, and that is an intro, we are going to get into it today, all right, Cindy. I don't even know where to begin.

00:03:14
Speaker 4: But I can't believe it's a few months ago that.

00:03:16
Speaker 2: I know the finale. It was just a few months ago. How has life been for you? Start? Just start at the beginning since the final.

00:03:23
Speaker 5: I mean, I tell you going through it. You guys know like once you're on the show, you tape it, you film it, you get off the show whenever you get off, and you can't say anything about it until really you're off the episodes. And for me that was till the very drop dead end and I spent you know, I feel like I've I've dedicated a good portion of last twenty twenty five to the show because I left my life behind and I just didn't catch up to it again until November. So I had November and part of December just I did a ton of podcasts in that time and relived it all. And then from December I kind of asked to take a pause when my family was here, and you guys invited me to come on here today. So I've just been this last month, started to put my real life back to your.

00:04:11
Speaker 1: Life right, right, because what has changed for you since coming off the show?

00:04:18
Speaker 5: I think I have a newfound perspective of how strong I am, how much I really do know what I want, and that I'm still saying yes to the opportunities in front of me, and the life is still delivering a lot of fun. My kids have been amazing. I've learned, you know, I've learned to really listen to my kids too, Like they've been leaning on me for advice for all these years, and now I really feel like I can lean on them for advice.

00:04:47
Speaker 2: So that's what did your kids say? What if your kids said, since you've come off the show, what are their thoughts on what's been going on?

00:04:54
Speaker 5: Okay, so I've mentioned this before, maybe one or two podcasts, but you know they did not like him.

00:05:00
Speaker 2: Wait, could we just who is him? Just so you know?

00:05:03
Speaker 3: In case mister mel Owens Bachelor Season two?

00:05:07
Speaker 5: So it came down he had a chance to meet he meeting mel Owens, it's a chance to meet my three kids and my two son in laws. And after the taping and you know, we saw what we saw on TV, but there's a lot that goes on behind there, and I didn't get to see them after they left. I really they just like we had our own thing here actually up here in my condo. And so my kids went and debriefed. That was a lot for them, right, They're not on a TV show. This was all new to them. It happened fast. They're all, Mike, they're meeting this person who's dating their mom, and they know it must be final three or so. They know it's getting serious that, I mean, this is their mom. And so they go to eat it this great Mexican place. Kathy, you would know it. And afterwards it was after one mark for sure, maybe to Margarita.

00:06:03
Speaker 2: You're dead. I know exactly what you're talking about. After two, you're dead.

00:06:06
Speaker 5: But keep on, after two you're dead. They were out on the patio drinking Margarita's and they had the they had the vision to make a video, and they just started the video and said, Okay, Sarah, what do you think about mel?

00:06:18
Speaker 3: Emily, what do you think about mel? Caroline asked all five of them.

00:06:22
Speaker 5: So it is a it is a documented right after they met, what do they think about him? And they just were like, dear Lord, please don't let my mom be in a relationship with him.

00:06:33
Speaker 2: Wow.

00:06:34
Speaker 5: So they are clicking their heels right about now, so grateful that he's not a part of our lives.

00:06:40
Speaker 4: Wow.

00:06:41
Speaker 1: Wow, I know when you came home you were just I'm sure in a certain way, not even feeling like yourself. What everything that you just witnessed and decided to do. What did the girls say to you at that point?

00:06:56
Speaker 5: Thank God you didn't that's exactly And.

00:06:59
Speaker 4: Did you feel that way?

00:07:00
Speaker 5: Then? Excuse I'm so glad you're actually talking about this because this has been one of those mind shifts that I've had to deal with. I can't help None of my friends know what happened. My kids know what happened, and they hated him, So there was really nobody in my life that was able to talk about and help me process. I mean they did, but in a different way that it really was a heartbreak for me. Like I had hoped that this man that I had met and I watched The Bachelor shore up and create these dates and this you know who I thought he was, and now I decided to leave. It's still a heartbreak. Even though that was my decision to walk away.

00:07:40
Speaker 3: I was really invested. I really hope that that was going to be him.

00:07:45
Speaker 2: Yeah, Okay, so I I know you've answered this on other shows, but just once and for all, because our podcast is the definitive answer to all things. Send me a Now do you regret? And you know I asked you this privately, but let's do it on the podcast. Do you regret not going to the fantasy suite with him? Do you think things would have been different had you gone?

00:08:12
Speaker 5: I learned what I needed to know before going to the Fantasy suite, and could he have filled in some of the details, some of the intricacies. Of course, like we have. Like I said before, we have a lifetime of learning ahead of us. I knew enough at that time, but he was not, like we are not aligned.

00:08:31
Speaker 2: Okay, So I'm just going to say now for everyone listening that I don't really know what's going on in the world of mel and Peg because they have blocked me. And I don't know why. I just putting it out there. But I have a question about when I heard mel On, Ben and Ashley's podcast, he said that all you wanted was marriage. I didn't hear that. I want you to clarify that too, did Is that what you said? You just wanted marriage?

00:09:04
Speaker 5: No? No, that's not No, it's not what I wanted. And I didn't even necessarily need an engagement by the end of the week. But this man hadn't thought about his life with anybody in it. He was admitted to admittedly to kind of figure out what he wants. I don't. Okay, he and peg have found each other and water finds its own level, and so I think that they are well They are well matched. They want exactly nothing, the same, They want no responsibility, no, and they may move forward, they may change their minds, more power to them. I've spent a lot of time and a lot of energy focusing on knowing what I want, and I already learned that's that's that's not what I wanted, and so I too have been blocked by Pegan Mouth. You have a long time. It's been a blessing for me. I do hear what's going on, because Bachelor Nation is a real thing, and I have people who are watching my back from Afar, people who don't know me, who will kind of message me and say, hey, this is what they're saying, and this is a rumor that they're spreading and just let me know. And I appreciate that, but I'm really grateful not to have to witness this firsthand, because if they were so happy, they just need to move on and leave me out of it. I've given my perspective, I've been asked to give more perspective. I've told the truth, and you may have a different perspective, and you're allowed to have a different perspective, but you can't argue with truth.

00:10:37
Speaker 1: I have a question for you on the show. Did you and Peg have a relationship? Was she one of the ones that you were closer to or had fun with or shared stories with or no.

00:10:50
Speaker 3: She is the only one in the house that I stayed away from.

00:10:55
Speaker 5: And I don't know how much I want to go into it, but it was interesting to see the edits come out this sho season about Nicole, because in my opinion, Nicole was not the problem of the house. And but I have great friends.

00:11:09
Speaker 3: Up and down.

00:11:09
Speaker 5: It's not like I was isolated. I've got some very good friends, and I wish Peg nothing but the best. She didn't do anything to me, but she certainly was was, you know, kind of had some ill intent and try to lay evil in the lives of some other women that I didn't appreciate and I didn't trust her.

00:11:28
Speaker 2: Now, you know, you can't say that without I mean, you've got to explain what that means, because if I Peg listened to this, I would say whoa, whoa. So you can't get defensive yeah, yeah, I mean, I listen, I don't know why she blocked me. All I've ever done is wished them both. Well, I think I'm guilty by association with you, Cindy, so you know it's your fault, But seriously, what is the thing that can you Can you expand on that a little.

00:11:58
Speaker 1: Bit o board, Did any of the other women feel the same way?

00:12:04
Speaker 5: Well, yes, and I think one other woman in particular has already spoken out on social media that Peg bullied her in the house, and so I'll let her speak to her moment. But you know, here, Okay, this is what I want to say for all of you youngers out there who believe that this doesn't happen, that bullying and mean girl behavior doesn't happen when you're golden, You're wrong. The only thing that changes is we have enough wisdom and we have enough history to maybe respond differently to it. So I don't want to get into it. I think that Peg has some very amazing redeeming qualities to her, and we all do, and we all have those sides of us that, you know, we may need to still work on. And as a golden, as somebody who knows better, I choose better, and some people are still stuck in their patterns of bullying and try to manipulate. And honestly, that's how I feel that she's behaving with me. She's trying to play this with me too. And I've told my kids, you know, you can let a bully bullyeve for so long, but at some point, how long do you allow it to continue? And a my podcast today to say this is I'm putting a stop to it today. She's going to have to put a stop to it. She's going to have to stop talking about it. I have done nothing but be flattering and positive about Mel and Peg and you missed them.

00:13:28
Speaker 4: Well, yes, yes.

00:13:30
Speaker 2: So here's my question, Cindy, why, because it's actually is my question, why do you think when I've listened to Mel, particularly Mel on other podcasts, he really does just to show and keep up with younger people, he casts a lot of shade on you, And I'm trying to figure out why. What's your take on that? Why do you think he does that? Because theoretically he's very happy with Peg.

00:13:59
Speaker 4: Why bother?

00:14:00
Speaker 2: Why bother? Like that's me if I met the guy of my dreams and I'm still hoping he's around the corner. I wouldn't be wasting time talking about the runner up of anything. I would just be moved on. So what's your take on that?

00:14:14
Speaker 5: Well, I mean, let me let me go one step further. If you're in love with Peg, it's always been Peg. Why do you give a flip if I walked out on you?

00:14:23
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's my question.

00:14:24
Speaker 5: What it is?

00:14:25
Speaker 2: That's my question. Why do you think that?

00:14:27
Speaker 5: I think both cannot be true and he's going to have to figure out, you know, which one it is. But you can't make both of them true. And I think that there's enough in there. Let's just go back and watch the show. Watch the show, listen to the podcast. I think that it's pretty evident that, you know, he now has a very strong relationship with Peg. More power to them. But it was not always that way. It was not from the get go. It was it was not from the cheer, it was not from the just whatever he wants to try to say like that, it just wasn't. So I don't know, sometimes you just can't.

00:15:04
Speaker 4: I don't know.

00:15:05
Speaker 5: You could talk to me about your perspective, but this, the truth is still the truth.

00:15:09
Speaker 1: And what makes me happy is you've moved on, that is finished, that chapter is closed, and now it's about you.

00:15:18
Speaker 5: It's about it is, But let mean, come on, it's just a little hard. It's not like I haven't lost sleep over.

00:15:24
Speaker 2: You know.

00:15:25
Speaker 5: Peg posted something on She's All Batch that she wanted to go on the podcast. She asked to go on the podcast, which, by the way, you know, as a ring winner, you should be invited. I wonder why she wasn't invited to start with, but you know she was. She posted that I was lying and that the truth will come out, and then there was a what were lying about? What we.

00:15:49
Speaker 2: Swear to God we say the same thing? What were you about?

00:15:51
Speaker 5: I encourage you to go watch She's All Batch again and in my episode with them and her episode, and there's nothing that she can point to.

00:16:00
Speaker 2: She didn't say what you were lying about?

00:16:03
Speaker 5: I didn't.

00:16:04
Speaker 3: I know, I have no clarity about it, and I listened with intent.

00:16:07
Speaker 4: Do you guys know you guys?

00:16:08
Speaker 5: Have you guys have listened? What would you know?

00:16:10
Speaker 4: I know I didn't get it listen.

00:16:13
Speaker 2: I'm trying to still figure out why I got blocked by both of you are blocked. I find trouble all By myself. I don't need you know, I have no idea. I'm blocked.

00:16:23
Speaker 1: This is what I don't understand. Because you wish them well. I've seen you, I've heard you. It's been printed. Yes, you wish them no ill whatsoever. They found each other, good for them, and we're all genuinely happy for them. Yes, why you people were blocked You've never made any kind of ill statement or I don't understand.

00:16:44
Speaker 5: I think it's for the best. And I'm glad she's not looking at my stuff, I mean the last her stuff either, So it's it's a win win in my opinion.

00:16:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I don't think it serves any purpose for you. I don't know. Last when I met Melan and Peg, we had great conversations. My son went to Michigan. He went to Michigan.

00:17:06
Speaker 4: He was asking you something about your son's dorm.

00:17:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, like a ten minute conversation about what dorm my son was in a Missig. I was like, hell, I don't remember, but anyway, I you.

00:17:17
Speaker 5: Know, there's that part is also that I don't want it to cause a division in the cast. You guys know, coming off the show, people are just trying to get back to their lives. This is surreal, you know. I've had some great conversations with the women in the house. Because I was separated from them until my last episode, I couldn't tell them really what was going on. And I'm enjoying the reconnection and I would hate for any of them to feel that they can't be friends with PEG if they're friends with me and can't.

00:17:44
Speaker 2: Are you good friends with a lot of the women from your season?

00:17:47
Speaker 5: I would say.

00:17:48
Speaker 4: So, I would who do you talk to like regularly? Or that's a lot more.

00:17:53
Speaker 5: I just got back from an extended trip. I went to see Carol, Amy, Jerry, and Robin.

00:17:59
Speaker 2: I wish I was I know too too.

00:18:03
Speaker 5: It was so much fun. We just laughed and giggled and it was truly just a gift to be in their presence. Then I went to back to La to see my daughter and see some other friends, and then I went to Vegas and saw Carla and Mylene and we had a heck of a time. And of course, like Kathy, because of the weather, her flight got changed and she ended up flying through Vegas and we ironically were on the same flight coming home.

00:18:32
Speaker 2: And I got blocked right after that, so again Syndy, it's your fault, that's well.

00:18:36
Speaker 5: And then I'm friends with Diane. We FaceTime with Diane while we were there. I see, of course Roxanne lives in town. I'm going to Denver and I'll see Debbie and Cheryl. I'm planning on going to Miami and see Nicole and and Alexandra. I talked to both Monica's very frequently.

00:18:57
Speaker 1: So who isn't it nice that you made friends at this stage in life?

00:19:03
Speaker 5: I mean, and you know, it's so cool, Susan. Everyone is so different, so different, but they are so present in their lives. It's just been a treat to get to know these women, and I truly, I truly cherish it. It is the love story for me of the the whole season for sure, is getting to know these.

00:19:22
Speaker 2: Women before we move on from all this. Cindy, I want to give you one more chance, because we know that Peg was on Ben's and Ashley's podcast and then Mel they both asked to come on, and it didn't play really well. Peg sort of said that, you know, they hadn't lived long enough to really know life, and and that didn't sit well, and it wouldn't have sat well with me.

00:19:50
Speaker 4: Either Wait, they haven't lived long enough.

00:19:54
Speaker 2: To peg sort of insinuated that h in Ben particularly bad. You know, they've then been through divorce. They hadn't been through enough life to really have right, which which in my mind is just ridiculous because we've all had suffered loss and it may look different. We've had these conversations and there's no particular age that you read right. But Cindya, just before we move on, is there is there anything else that you want to say that you feel like we'll put this to rest once and for all, Because they have been very vocal on a lot of podcasts and very critical of you, and I personally know you very well and think you're a fantastic human being.

00:20:40
Speaker 4: But I want to know the answer to Kathy.

00:20:44
Speaker 1: How could anybody be critical of her because of her decision? I mean, she has nothing to do with their relationship. I don't understand. I don't need where that comes from.

00:20:55
Speaker 2: I don't either, But that goes back to what I said Susan. If they're so happy, why are they throwing shade on Cindy? Why? I don't understand? And you know, maybe I'll get an answer if I ever get unblocked. But in the meantime, Cindy, is there something that you know, you feel like you want to say that could maybe put this to rest and walk off into the sunset.

00:21:18
Speaker 3: Well, I made my choice to leave. I learned enough.

00:21:21
Speaker 5: I wanted something different. I am glad that I left Mel in her capable hands and that they found their happiness. And I'm glad I left. I'm glad I left before fantasy sweets. I meant for something, I'm meant for something else. I'm not meant for the relationship that I was seeing with Mel. And he has found happiness, and I just wish that they would just have their happiness and leave me out of it. I've not brought them into it. I've not talked shade about them. I do wish Mel the very best. I said it from the get go, I still say it, and it's just time to It's just time to move on.

00:22:04
Speaker 4: Move on, move on.

00:22:05
Speaker 1: Now that all that is done, tell me about you're dating today?

00:22:09
Speaker 4: Done?

00:22:11
Speaker 2: She needs a black book and try to fill there.

00:22:15
Speaker 5: You know, life is complicated, and I am I feel that I will find my partner one day. And do I feel as close? I'm not sure. I'm not confident about that. So I'm just kind of going through the different stages that you go through as you try people.

00:22:33
Speaker 3: And I'm you know.

00:22:34
Speaker 5: I'm dating, I'm dating. I'm dating. I'm dating some local people and some people from out of town, some people that I met from the show, and some people I have met through friends.

00:22:43
Speaker 3: And yeah, I'm dating nice.

00:22:47
Speaker 4: Nice. So you never had to go on a dating site.

00:22:49
Speaker 1: They're just reaching out to you, of course I did.

00:22:51
Speaker 5: I Actually, Amy and I had a joke. She dates a lot too, and she's been I hope she's okay sharing it me sharing this, but she and I were talking about going on Hinge and letting Jared.

00:23:05
Speaker 3: Freed kind of scream our profiles.

00:23:09
Speaker 4: Let him to do one for you. Yeah, right, so you can take a look at it.

00:23:15
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I think it'd be funny.

00:23:16
Speaker 5: And and so I'm not opposed to the dating apps. I think the dating apps can be train some bad behaviors sometimes, so I have to be extra careful of how I screamed the guys. But I've found some of my favorite people on the dating apps, and so and some of my favorite people my friends are on the dating apps, so I.

00:23:34
Speaker 3: Can't I can't bash them. I don't know that that's for me, but you know.

00:23:39
Speaker 4: I think people get on and get off.

00:23:41
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, and so it's the same people back on again. It's frightening. Uh, Sindy, what's next for you? What? What do you have planned for this year? What's going on?

00:23:51
Speaker 5: Can I say? Real quick? Back to dating? So, I feel that I have spent a lot of my life chasing relationships, and I have more confidence than ever just being okay being single. And if I find somebody whose short term, if I find somebody long term, both would be great options. And if I never find someone, it's a pretty good option.

00:24:14
Speaker 3: I was around.

00:24:16
Speaker 5: I had an experience at church where there's this guy who was pretty annoying that I was around a friend with her husband, and I'm going, yea, does every day you have to deal with that every day?

00:24:28
Speaker 4: Be careful what we wish for you.

00:24:29
Speaker 5: Yeah. So I'm going to walk into it with my eyes wide open, and I'll be honest with you. I look at my season with mel and realize how close I got to partnering myself with a man who now no chance, he's not meant for me. So it gives me extra pause, and it's gonna take me maybe a little extra time to have a look.

00:24:55
Speaker 2: And wait, are you saying that you don't. I'm a little confused, are you?

00:25:00
Speaker 5: I think that I part of me is evaluating whether I still trust my instincts, right, I try. That's why I left with Mel. I trust with my instincts with Mel. But I may have a couple of Margarita's with my kids and ask them how they feel.

00:25:14
Speaker 3: Before I make it to another fantasy.

00:25:18
Speaker 1: But coming off the show, I think all of us, you fall in love with who you really are. You are proud of who you are, and we are good on our own. Of course, you want somebody to share your good times in life with, but if you don't, you're good just who you are, and we.

00:25:37
Speaker 5: Should recognize that we still have people to share.

00:25:39
Speaker 4: Our lives with.

00:25:41
Speaker 5: You know, I have friends, children, I have Emily now my son in law is. I have friends, I have my family, I have.

00:25:48
Speaker 2: You have me, Cindy.

00:25:49
Speaker 5: As I was saying, I have my extended bachelor family, and I don't discount that anymore. I'm not thinking that what would be better is to have a partner. All of this sufficient and the sufficiency of my relationships currently will you guys should cheer super loud if I ever connect my life to someone else, because it means that he was extra special to supersede my relationships with all of you guys, or to at least come into parody.

00:26:18
Speaker 2: Well, and I don't think it has to be. I don't think it has to be in either or, Cindy. I think the relationships, again, unless you've walked this journey of bachelor, you don't really understand the friendships and the relationships that we all have. But I also think, at least I'm speaking for myself, there's room in my life, there's room in Susan's life, and I think there's room in your life too, Cindy, for that special person. It's just it has to meet he has to meet expectations.

00:26:52
Speaker 5: Absolutely. That is so concisely and well said.

00:26:55
Speaker 1: And what I admire about you, Cindy is you knew what you wanted, you know what you need, and it wasn't there, and you made that decision.

00:27:04
Speaker 2: I'm going to ask you, Susan, would you have walked off? I don't think I admire you, Cindy. I don't think I could have done it. I've thought about that. I don't think I could have done it, Cidy, and that tells me that you did do it. How clearly you knew he wasn't for you.

00:27:24
Speaker 6: I'm not sure I want to tell how clearly we all saw because her questions he couldn't, he couldn't commit, he couldn't he the one word answers it was just.

00:27:37
Speaker 5: Yeah, thank you for saying that. You know it's It was one of the harder things I've found myself doing. And as you guys know, taping the show like there's no they don't give you a script, No, you're really this is really my relationship that is playing out, and somebody else is watching me because there's some there's a cameraman and a lighting crew and my person who an audio career who were recording it. But it was every bit my life. And I remember sitting on the dock having this conversation going, what can I do. I've got to get I'm not staying like I'm not and I'm not gonna let him pull that fantasy card out and ask me to call the fantasy suite.

00:28:14
Speaker 2: With him, okay, And I turned him down then, and turn him down I can't.

00:28:18
Speaker 1: Yeah, we have so much more to get into with Cindy. Make sure you stay tuned for a Part two and keep listening to Bachelor Happy Hour, Golden Hour, and make sure to subscribe as you'll never miss another episode.