Lesley Murphy on Her Double Mastectomy and Life as a New Mom; Catherine Lowe Co-Hosts

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Speaker 1: Welcome back, happy our listeners. Thanks for tuning in again this week. And I know last week if you tuned in, you knew it was our exciting one hundredth episode, and it was also a bittersweek because it was Rachel Lindsay's last episode. I'm Bachelor happy Hour, But rest assured, don't worry. We have another great, badass, incredible woman stepping in and if you listened to a couple of weeks ago, you heard her voice. But we have Catherine Lowe joining us again. Hi, Hi, everybody. I'm so happy to be here. I'm also feeling like I have huge shoes to fill, so I am just like I've loved you and what Rachel will have built over these many, many episodes, and I can't wait to just kind of get into what you guys get to do and be super excited. I'm super excited to be here, and thanks for listening everybody. Well, thanks for joining us Katherine you guys, like I said, and we're not just going to have her on this week. She's actually going to be stepping in for a few weeks and I cannot wait because she just brings so much new, unique perspective to the podcast. And Katherine, you know I love you, so I can't wait to have you on. You're stuck with me, whether you want to be or not. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing for you, but we obviously had you on, like I said a couple of weeks ago. And for any of any of our viewers who are a little bit younger or haven't tuned in, you know in past past seasons, which I actually experienced for the first time, I met somebody and they're like, you look familiar, but I never watched your season. How long ago? Were you on? Five years ago? And I was like, oh, you know, like when you're in a school and the teachers like, wow, I just aged myself and I'm way older than I you. That's how I felt. And so for anyone who isn't quite aware of you or listened in a few weeks ago, Katherine, give us a quick intro about you. Obviously you met Sean and you are now happily married with an incredible family. But take away, give us a little intro about yourself and we'll go from there. Yeah. Sure, nine years ago I was filming the show, I met my now husband, Shawan Lowe on the Bachelor, and we got engaged on TV. We got married on TV. We did not have a birth on TV, but we have three kids. You never know, maybe there's a four. Maybe not. Nobody assume I'm pregnant, but um, yeah. We live in Dallas, Texas. I run a business called Loco, which is a luxury stationery. But I also because I run my own business and I set my own hours, I get to do fun things like co host with Becca Kufrin on the Happier podcast. So I just I have a great, like super stable. I wouldn't say boring life, but it's definitely a mature life. Um, I'm not going to have those fun party stories, but I feel like, yeah, like you said, different, a little bit different of a perspective, and it's cool to have conversations with somebody that you have a genuinely like and have a history with. Like we we met in New York and so far we've just been it's been an easy friendship. So I'm super excited to be here. I'm excited to see who we get to interview, and I just I couldn't be happier to be here with you. Oh thanks Catherine, Well I'm so glad that you that you a were available, because I know your life is crazy with three little ones. But before for all of our listeners, before you know, we started recording, Catherine and I had this conversation about this crazy world that is the Bachelor, like how everybody is somehow intertwined and connected. And so Catherine and I I think we actually like started talking. I mean well before I ever met you in New York, like so Sean, it's so surprise, was really good friends with Ari, which was like ancient like ancient ago when he started right and obviously like news flash, I was on our season and we all know how that turned out. But it's you know, like I wouldn't have changed anything for the world because it brought us together. And you were one of the first people that when I was still with him, you know, and it wasn't public and before the break, like when you still have to keep everything under wraps because the show is airing, you would reach out to me and you were just so kind and you're like, you ever need advice or somebody to talk to, And so that's really that was the start of our connection. And then fast forward to after that, we met a New York at any event, and you and Sean are probably like the couple that I was most excited to ever interact with, because you are a success story from the franchise and you not only you know, got engaged and got married after that, but you have built such a solid, beautiful family. And so I think when people think of the show truly and the success of it, they think of you and Sean, which is something really special that I was able to witness and meet. But that's why I'm just so excited to share you with all of our listeners, because you know, some people to this day, like are still skeptical about the show and don't think that it works and think they think that it's scripted and fake and it's just you know, all the drama. Sure, yeah, dramas a bit of it, but it's also real love stories like you and Sean, And so I can't wait to have you on your Like I said, You're going to give such a different perspective. And you know, you make jokes about that you have this boring life, but I look at you and that's what I aspire to be one days. You know, I do want a solid connection with a partner. I do want three well I don't know if I'll say three, but a few kids. I don't know how many at this point one day running around And so it's going to be so much fun to have you on. And what I'm very excited about today is you built some really solid, great friendships from your time on Shawn season, which, as you said, nine years ago, but they're still thriving. And that's why one of your best friends who was actually in your wedding was Leslie, who we're going to have on very shortly. So give us a little bit about your friendship, about how it started with Leslie, and then do you still keep in touch with other women from your season? Talk me through that, and then we'll bring her on very shortly. Well, I'm sure you and Rachel talked about it, but being in the franchise, it's such a unique experience and a lot of people can't relate because they just don't. It's kind of like a sorority or a fraternity. It's unless you know, like the verbiage or the people or just really what happens in it, it's a little hard to follow. So when I met Leslie was we had an immediate connection the first night at the mansion that rose ceremony, and since then we have been in our life, you know, all these different milestones in our lives. You know, I was she was at my wedding and people were like, are you sure you want her to be a bridesmaid? And I said absolutely. I loved her before I loved my husband. So and then now she has a baby and I was on her baby shower a little zoom and we just continue to be those friends where you don't have to talk every day, but when you see each other, it's just back and everybody knows that kind of friendship. So I love her. I can't wait to hear what she has going on and really to show everybody how beautiful she is as a person, how dynamic she is, and she'll be great to talk to. So I'm super about it. I can't wait. I mean, I'm extended to She's somebody that I have followed for quite some time now and I've been wanting to meet. And you know, granted, we can't do this some person unfortunately. Um, but ladies and gentlemen, I just want to introduce her because I selfishly want to meet her, So please Welcome to Happy Hour, Leslie Murphy. Leslie, It's so good to finally meet you. I feel like I've been such a fan for so long, since you were on sewn season, so it's crazy that we're like finally talking face to face. I know, I know, I followed you for years and here we are. You're so good. Thanks for well, thanks for joining us. Catherine and I were actually just talking about this weird incestuous family. We were looking at a chart of like how everyone's somehow intertwined of like someone day the same person and then made out with this person and then you know, like all the things that connect everyone, and here we are, and is this like weird family tree out there? Because it gets to me, I know, I will send it to you because somebody DMed it to me and screenshot at it, and you know, like when when it's like the little clip and you can only see like, you know, the middle of some some picture. I clicked on it and it zoomed out and it just like turned massive and it has to be to be incestuous and grows and beautiful and all the things. I probably didn't even include a quarter of people who have been on the show and like how everyone's intertwined. It had like the main people, like the main drama, the main hookups, all of that. But it's I will, I will send it to you because it's wild to look at. I want to see it, yes, but well, okay, Incestor's family aside, I don't know how we went off on that tangent. We want to check in because we're so excited to have you on Bachelor Happy Hour and you, I mean, your life has changed drastically since obviously Sean season, which is where you two met. But fill us in because you've had some big life changes, just like within the past couple of months. I know the past year has been insane, little insane for everybody, but I mean between the posal and then having a newborn who's twelve weeks today is insane. I mean the past nine years since yeah, I went on The Bachelor. It's just I am a completely different person, but in the best way, and so happy to still be good friends with Catherine. It's crazy to know that we met, you know, on this crazy TV show and here we are still talking nine years later. But yeah, if you hear my screaming baby in the background, I'm sorry. Bring her in at some point. She is so adorable. You have such a lovely family. Thank you, thank you. I mean, it's I don't even know what to say. I mean, Catherine could help me out here because you have three little ones. But having a newborns hard work. Like I feel like everybody is all they talk about is a good stuff with newborns, and you feel kind of like this pressure to be like, oh, it's this beautiful time. It's so lovely and blissful, and like, yeah, there are certain times where it is that, but it is so hard. Sleep deprivation is something like you've never experienced in your life, and so to get used to that is impossible. And then it still blows my mind that such a tiny human requires so much. And even when they sleep so much, they still require so much because then you have the laundry to do and the bottle service and all the things. So I think it's just about learning on the job. And I see, I feel like after three months now of doing that, we're finally coming out of this haze and really enjoying it. There's this there's this video that my sister took me when I had just had Samuel, probably a couple of weeks, and it is like the most unattractive but accurate description of what motherhood like. Newborn motherhood looks like, I have no brawl on. I'm in the bed, but I'm sitting up and half asleep, and I'm my arm is like moving because you're so you're a zombie, but then you're responsible to keep another person alive. It does not feel okay, No, it doesn't. And you're for the first time you're like, wait, I'm the mom now, like that's me? Yeah? Charge why why not qualified? For those? I want to go back to the beginning because obviously you both met and became friends on sean season. Just so take us back season seventeen of The Bachelor. Did you guys hit it off like night one in the mansion or how did your friendship start to form? Um you want to go Katherine, Sure, I mean sure, I'll start some and then you fill in, so we I can't remember if you were there before me or whatever, but I just remember the night going and I had served Shan Lowe some ice cream and then I think a couple of girls were like, I want to talk to him, and I was like, food, just give him food. And then we connected about food and the menu at the hotel that we were staying at for what's like four days beforehand. We're like, oh my gosh, have you tried the lemon pot of pancakes or whatever. And then also at the end of the night, we both had taken our braws off for some braw situation happened, and we're like, it's like six in the morning and we want to go, and not we're this like confined stuff. So we were very similar and had like we had jokes and we were silly together and we were honest about this and not we did have a facade on. I thought that was like very telling for the beginning of our friendship. Yeah, I agree. I think I don't know what it was. We were just drawn to each other and it went. The friendship went like this, and it all started with food, the common denometer of all of humanity, and it was literally like went down the menu and then, oh my gosh. I remember that first night because on sewn season it was it was really different because he started handing out the roses throughout the night, and which is very different because it's usually just at the rose ceremony at the end of the night, and so you had gotten a rose and I didn't. I didn't have a rose yet. And I also had talk to him yet. And I remember going up to you and I was like, I don't know what to do. I'm so anxious, like I'm definitely going home. It's night one. I'm gonna be that girl. And You're like, Okay, no, here's what you need to do. And I don't even know, like what food it was, but it was. I don't even know what food it was. All I remember is we talked about football, but you was true Simon's Island too, Yes, but like, who who does that? I mean, at the end of the day, this show is a competition, and so you just off the bat were like, let me help you. And I was like, oh, I love this girl. And then we took our bros off likes well, I will say there's something. I mean, it's such a weird experience to find yourself in and and everything is so heightened. I feel like, you know, the nerves are there night one. You. I think people half the time expect to step out of the limo and they don't think they're going to make any friends. They think people are going to be catty, because, like you said, it is that competition. And so when you find a girl that you click with, it's something really special and it bonds you in such a weird way, like yes, even though you were dating the same man. It really solidifies any sort of friendship in such a weird way, which is so funny because you know, even the question to this day, I get two questions like was it real? You know, did you really like fall through that the lead whoever it was, and did you really form friendships? And so much like you two, I still I'm super close with a couple of girls on my season. But it's like you go through this wild experience that no one else can even like really fathom, like unless you're there. And so it's special when you do find somebody that you know, take the braws off. Talk about food. Those are the things that bombed people like I. You know, Leslie obviously has a wreck. She held a record with my now husband for like the longest kiss on screen, and then she ends up being one of my bridesmaids and everyone's like, well, isn't that weird? I was like no, because I fell in love with Leslie before I fell in love with Sean, Like it's really because you spend so much time with the other roles in the house and you barely spend time with the lead, it makes sense that you would have these very long lasting friendships that other people cannot relate to in the other world. And I'm so glad the show decided to show that and edit that ind because I think it was the first time in a season that they really opened the door to friendships on the show, because usually it is I mean, at the end of the day, they're here to make a TV show. I drama. Drama brings the views, but I mean, our friendship was and is something special, So I think it was awesome that they allowed everyone to see that. Yeah, and like usually they would have like the couch and like, okay, you sit over here, and you sit over here. But we were always naturally next to each other, so we were in so many I don't want to say scenes, but we're in a lot of scenes together because we're naturally together. But also not you know, bachelor aside, Leslie, you have so much going on in your life. You have an incredible Instagram account, Like I'm obsessed with following you I followed you first three years now I think Shan season. But you also have started your own blog, The World Less Traveled, So tell us a little bit about that. You tell us about your love for travel, some of your favorite places that you've been, and how you started that. Yeah, for sure. So after we wrapped filming in twenty twelve, we the show aired in twenty thirteen, and I think it was like a few months later I left and moved to Argentina, and I think a lot of people thought that was crazy at the time, because I think the show was still airing or just finished airing, and people are like, oh, you could, you could do so much, like there's so many opportunities, and I'm like, no, Like there are so many opportunities in South America, though, And so I went down there, worked for a company that's a lot like Airbnb, and remember just not being fulfilled. Quit one day started a travel blog. My family was like what are you doing? And logged hour after hour trying to make this work, make this successful, reach out to any and every travel partner I could, and finally started getting traction. And then I just gave up that win a star's apartment and was a traveler and a nomad for the next three years and building this blog, building this website, and going on solo trips, and then finally I was like, I need to be a real person. I need to be a real adult. So then I went on Bachelor Win Our Games and it was right after that that's a normal transition. I was like, this transition is not adding up. But that's the way we went. So we wrapped filming, it aired, and I got my first apartment in I think four or five years in LA and I think two months later I met. I just want to say clarify, not Dean's apartment, that he gave you the key to correct your own. Thank you, Becca. Let's go back. Yeah, no, not that one. And we all can we all note that that proposal was complete and utter bullshit because he proposed with a key when he had a keyless injury house. He had a keyless inentry house. Of course he did just want to throw that out there. Um, So no, I got, I got my own apartment and met my fiance two months later. So I don't know, it's I think, you know, I get questions all the time about people breaking up with their partner and what can they do to feel better and find their true love? And I think it's all about working on yourself and finding like true interpeace within yourself before you can find another and be happy with another. And it was like the perfect moment that we both met. We're both filled within ourselves and then it just like went from there. And he's just as spontaneous as I am and loves to travel, and it's it's the best. And now look at you, two kids in love with a cute little kid living in your home. Now going on our first trip next week, which I am slightly nervous about. Where are you going? We're heading to Hawaii, so she's never been on a plane before. It'll be great, It'll be great. It'll be great. Oh yeah, goodbbe be great. What place if you have like a travel novice, what place in the world would you suggest for like stepping into Okay, I want to even if it's somebody that can't really do it as much as nobody really can do it as often as you did, but the first step into falling in love with travel and what activity would you do there? M oh, I think that's a great question. I would start, I wouldn't I wouldn't do something crazy out of the box. I would start close ish to home, and I would start in nature because seriously, nothing makes me hit the reset button better than being surrounded by nature, and a lot of times that's by myself. And I tell everyone, if you have never done a solo trip, do it like it's It's probably going to scare the shit out of you, and that's fine, but that's the whole point of it is to be thrown out of your comfort zone and it will make you grow in ways you never ever thought possible and make you learn way more than you ever have learned in a textbook. Have you have the two of you'll, have ever been on a solo like a proper solo trip. No. But this is why I want to talk to you about this because this year, finally, I think because of COVID and me going through such a major public breakup, I have been It's been something I've been wanting to do for about the past year, and now I feel like I'm at the point where at first I was kind of scared to do it. You know, I would like to have somebody just to feel safe and secure and you know, like have a good backup if I ever needed it. But then I'm like, no, like you like to be alone, you're independent, So I want to piggyback off onto that and ask for advice for solo trips as well. Okay, so I think you are more apt to meet more people by yourself then if you're traveling with friends or family, because you're by yourself, Like if you were with a friend, you're going to be talking amongst the two of you, guys. And so I think it's a great jumping off point to meet new people. And I don't I don't know what exactly. Let's just start with sticking close to home, somewhere domestic inside the US. Do you like do you like hiking? Do you like to be outdoors and surrounded by nature? I do, but I'm not really um that savvy, Like if I have to camp outside by myself, I'd be a little bit afraid of what might happen. No, this is that this is not slightly nervous to a camp by myself too. I don't know all the ends and the op about it, but I would definitely start um with the National Park by yourself. Um, Catherine and I sort of kind of went to Glacier National Park in Montana, but that wasn't either one of our one on one day it is. It's still it's like probably at the top of my list for the US based destination, and like Montana is so hot right now because it is so beautiful outdoors, and all the national parks are having a moment with COVID now, especially because Americans really can't go too far outside the borders. So I would say, some kind of national park, you don't have to I don't think you even have to. Like love hiking. I remember my first hike when I was living in Argentina. I went to Patagonia, tear streaming down my face. I had I hadn't even broken in my brand new hiking boots, had no clue what I was doing. But I look back on that experience and I'm like, that was so awesome because that propelled me forward to love the outdoors. And I think it's so healing, so healing, So that's incredible. That's where I'd start that or going and hanging out by the beach in the Caribbean where Yeah, I was gonna say, outside of the US, where is one of your favorite places internationally that you've traveled, or that you would recommend to people. Yeah, I think solo or with a partner, or even with family, because it it is so varied in landscape and budget. You can do it as sheep or as expensive as you want. I love Thailand. I love it. I love it. I love it because there's like it has the mountains in the north, in the beaches and the islands in the south, and it offers so much. And like I said, you can do it on a budget or you can just blow it out of the park. Um, whatever you want. I will, I will attest to that. We went on the show. We went to Thailand UM on my season, and it is incredible. And that's the one place that I'll always recommend to anyone wanting to travel internationally anywhere. It's just the culture and the food and the history and like you said, the landscape, it's so varied. It's studying and Catherine, that's where you got engaged. Yes, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah, I would just say Southeast Asia in general, UM is amazing. Like Vietnam is so good for food, It's like food Mecca. It is so beautiful, the people are so lovely. Bally is just an easy one because I feel like I feel like it's it seems overrun with tourism. But at the same time, there are so so many hidden gems that you could find too. And again, you can do it on a budget as or as expensive as you want. It has something for everyone. So moving forward, because you've traveled and you've done so much alone and you've done so much stuff with your fiance, do you think going forward you're gonna steal Pepper in those solo trips or are you excited to do things with Nora and your family so excited to see the world through Nora's eyes. I'm nervous as to what travel brings with a newborn, like I have no idea what to expect, none whatsoever. You could you tell me? I think it'll be great. I think if you acclimate them early, because my sister, she has a baby, and she lives in France and they do tons of outdoor trips and if they're used to it, then that's just their norm. And I think that everything that you do and you show them, they'll easily pick up on. So you can do whatever. Newborns are the easiest to travel. What's to be honest and I think that's the first piece of advice you gave me. I think on that baby shower zoom call, you were like, travel now do it. It's the easiest right now. And it's also so sweet you have them in the carrier and you get to still watch your shows and then they'll eventually know how to travel with you without having them be so dependent on you. But it's really they follow your lead. Yeah, And I think I think she's really gonna like being out and about. If she's not stimulated, she is pissed. She is so mad. She has like this kind of aurburn want to be red hair. And I'm just like, you're gonna be a firecracker if you are going to be like, you're gonna like being on the go. So I think it's gonna be good. It's just a little intimidating, especially this first trip. I need to get it out of the way so I feel like I know what I'm doing and know that I don't need to bring the whole house with me. Yes, Hawaii will be a good trial run, a good tester to see. At least it's still part of the US and it's you know, still always out there. But hopefully you can still relax and just easer in. But I think it's so important and so special to instill that love of travel in different cultures in any child, especially at such a young age, and so that's that's going to be incredible. I can't wait to see your photos as I'm so excited. But I will always shaish those solo trips. So Becca, I'm holding you to this. I need you, please do I need you to take a solo trip for you first, but also for me, and then report back. I will, I will, Okay, So my goal, by I mean, you know, depending on how things roll out and open. After everything that's happened this past year, my goal is to do one. And at first I was just gonna be like, go bigger, go home. I was going to go to Europe and do like a backpackage trip around Europe. But I might take your lead, do something a little bit more loco loco, too local, just to see how it goes. But I will be I will be blowing up your phone and be like what do I do it in this situation? Or how do I handle this? Or you know, so I'll get all the pointers from you. But yes, I will for sure do it this year. It's it's my goal on my bucket. Lit Okay, knowing how good you're doing it this slowly, would you ever consider being like a unique travel agent or planner like a cost year, Yeah, I definitely. I've definitely thought about it, especially as you know, I have a family and hopefully a growing family and maybe can't always be all over the place all the time, or maybe I can, like who knows how it's going to really evolve, and something like that would would keep me home more. But at the end of the day, kudos to the travel agents the concierge of the world because it is hard work because you got to be on it all hours. Think about it. If you plan a trip for somebody in New Zealand and they're over there, you know, the time zone so different, something goes wrong, your phone has to be on it all hours of the day. It's unless you have a team that's getting you'd be the boss. But you got to start somewhere. So yeah, I'll never forget I went on I went to New Zealand last year for an engagement trip right after we got engaged, and my parents met us over there and they had travel agents plan their trip. Not great travel agents, by the way, It's so many little things were going wrong and they were just never available for them because the time zones were so different, and so I'm like, first of all, you need to fire these people. Secondly, like this is hard work. And I knew that because I mean travel planning. I knew my own travel planning, and it is a time suck. I mean, you are looking at lodging options, activities, restaurants. But I also am so type I'm not Type AI, and so I'm never like super organized with an itinerary. I kind of like just go with the flow more, which can also want to bite me in the butt. I wanted to ask both of you because you know, I've traveled with so many different people, especially being on the show and then just a family. Are you the type of people that leslie you kind of just answer this, but that needs a full packed itinerary. Always something to do? I always an activity? Or are you more see where the day takes me. Maybe I'll stop into this restaurant, maybe I'll day drink, maybe I'll go Harris ailing or whatever. What are you like, Catherine Well, I actually going back to the soul trup. I am lived in Kenya by myself for I mean, obviously I went for my trump my study abroad, but I traveled there by myself. And after Kenya, I went to London, and it's I'm the kind of person where I have to look it up and see what are the spots I don't want to miss. So like, let's say there's just a couple that you're like, Okay, I have to go to these places, but then everything else is like, okay, well I'm going to see something. I want to stop there. I want to check it out to really understand instead of like because kind of like when you're traveling with somebody else, you guys are both like in your own space, you're not really looking around. But when you're by yourself and you're trying to explore and really engage with the city or the town or the whatever you're doing, I think you're way more open to see exactly what that city offers you, exactly what that's about the type of people you're you're much more engaged. I feel like when you don't have the specific itinerary. Yeah, I would agree that you're much more present. Yeah, with your surroundings. You're more apt to meet new people because you're not just so engrossed in another person next to you. Yeah. Well, so you're looking at a sheet and you're like, oh, I have to do this, and you're not like, oh, I kind of want to. Oh this looks good, I'm gonna do look at the tailing Yep. I've found just through traveling that some of the best moments and even like best restaurants or coffee shops, little local hole in the wall places you always it's just talking to somebody, like whether it's at a bus stop or just getting a gelata, like whatever might be. I love picking people's brains who live there and know the good spots, not the touristy spots or like the instagram able spots. And so that's what I mean. Again, I haven't traveled lately because it's been COVID, but when I was, I would. I would tell people That's one thing I would recommend is to just get to know people around you that live in the area that can recommend good spots um that you would probably never find in a book or on Instagram or Google. You gotta take the road less traveled sometimes, you know, I love Okay or when are you guys gonna go see Alex's family. It's so it's so sad. I mean I have cried, he has cried. It's so sad. We have no idea Ustralia. Right, they're in Australia. We don't know when the borders really are going to open. His dad says maybe maybe by the end of the year, although nobody really knows. Yeah, you know, it's up to the government. I think, Um, you can't. You can possibly find a flight, there aren't many, but I think, but when you land there, you have to quarantine at a government hotel three thousand dollars minimum. Like it's we could never do that with a baby, I mean never ever ever. Um, and we really wanted to get we still want to get married over there. But I feel so lucky that we we were just I remember last at the end of last February, we were about to put a deposit down for a wedding planner, and I'm so glad we didn't because I feel so lucky that we haven't had to go through the red tape of canceling anything because nothing was booked. I remember the first week of ch I tried on wedding dresses for the first and only time, so glad I didn't actually end up choosing one because well, I've had a baby and like that's changed everything. Um So I would love to start planning a wedding over there, but but I would hate to plan it and the borders still not be opened by the end of the year. Oh, it's gotta be tough. We're we're in Australian's is family based there in Sydney. Um, his brother is in the up in Queensland's too, so um by Noosa. It's just it's all stunning, like so different from where I grew up in the middle of the country in Arkansas. And I still don't know how I got an Australian here back here. Those Australians I used to date a guy well before the show from Melbourne, melb Melbourne and those Australians, they're good guys. I have a couple Australian friends and they're just incredible. But yeah, Australia is stunning. Like I went to Sydney for a few days before I traveled to ball a couple of years ago, and their food seen there, I didn't expect, you know, Like when I went to Sydney. I didn't expect to like be so blown away by the restaurants and the food, and it is incredible. It's incredible. They do breakfast really well. They do with their flat whites really well. Um, what is the breakfast like? And what is a flat white? So Alex is obsessed with avocado toast and I see where why and where he gets it. It's from all these beautiful restaurants in Sydney. They do it so well. Um with like smashed avo to a tea perfect with the seasoning and post hugs on top if you want, um, some bacon on the side. Sorry crispy bacon. It'd be so mad at me if I didn't say that. Um. And then a flat white. I'm still confused at what it is. I think it's kind of like a cappuccino with less foam. Okay, this is not it's okay. It's a drink. Yes, it's a drink. It's a coffee drink. It's a coffee snob because they do coffee really well over there. So our coffee machine in there is like this big. He actually packs it in a drone case when we travel. It's so obnoxious. Oh, my gosh, but I let it like you gotta take your battles. So yeah, as long as he's making you a good flat white, that's all that matters every day, every day. I'm so lucky beget that would be another great when the boarders open. Australia would meet such a great for you to go back to another solar trip. I have been wanting to. Oh, I've been itching to get back there. Obviously you know now it's almost impossible. But yeah, that's all my bucket list again. I would love to even like my mom, I would love to go with her and just experience everything. But trip. That's a really good mother daughter trip Byron Bay. Put it on your list Byron Bay. Yeah, I just everyone everywhere in Australia. I was supposed to study abroad in Adelaide, you know, almost a decade over a decade ago, I guess now, and it didn't work out. So I want to get back. You could have drink your way through it because it's wine country down there. I know it looks so stunning. Yeah, I feel like I could talk to you both about travel and food and flat whites all day. But Leslie, there's so much more to you and one thing that I personally loved and I'm sure your followers have loved too. It's just how open and personal you are about all of your life experiences, and recently you went through you were very open about your the journey and the procedure with your double mestectomy, and so can you talk a little bit about that and what made you undergo that and why you decided to share it with all of your followers as well? Yeah, for sure. So my mom, it all started when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in twenty fourteen, and I was living in Buenos Aires then, so it's it's like something you'll ever forget when you get that kind of call, You remember exactly where you were, and and my dad was on the phone. They both they both were on the phone, and he was like, your mom has breast cancer. Immediate tears. She had surgery like the very next week, and they cut it early. So she's really great today. But that led my two sisters and I to get tested for the bracke gean, the same gene that gave her cancer, and it's just kind of crazy how the dice fell. So my older sister tested positive, my younger sister tested negative, and I got tested last because I was all over the place all the time, and so finally I was home and I was like, Okay, I need to go get this test done. And I remember my mom was like, you'll be fine, it'll be negative. And I think that just came from a mother's guilt, like and I know she still feels that today, and it's and I like to flip it on its head because I think she, you know, knowing that she was positive for the she and it led us to get tested and like that kind of knowledge is powerful. And I tested positive obviously, and forty days later was on i know, our table getting my breast removed at twenty nine years old. But I think I was so okay with that decision because I remember once I got the news that I was positive, it was weirdly on my way to my guide in college disappointment. And so I had somebody to sit down with at that moment and talk to about it, and she was like, you know, if it was me, I wouldn't want to sit on something potentially cancerous and that just like that got the ball rolling. And so by the time I left her office, I already knew I was going to move forward with the preventive surgery and felt really good about it from that moment forward. And I was never somebody super attached to my breasts like I know some women are. It's just a body part they love, they're proud of they you know, it looks great on them, whatever it may be. But I've had like big hips from day one, so like that's where the intentions always gone up. I remember my mom always saying she had to do elastic wasteban jeans on me since the very beginning, and so I've never really focused on my boobs until then. And so, you know, I know a lot of people grieve it like a missbody part, but I think fortunately fortunately for me, I didn't really you know, miss them so much. So I had a slightly easier time in terms of the emotional and mental wearing on me. The physical pain was a lot, but I kind of looked at it as like this cool like Gray's Anatomy episode, where I would literally go into the doctor's office every Tuesday and watch them put a needle in my breast getting me ready for a reconstructive surgery. This was after the double misstect me and they would fill my breast was sailing to like slightly grow a little larger each time. And it was just something that you have to you have to look at it with a positive attitude. It's everything, or it's just going to wear you down and wear you down and wear you down. And I would say that and a support system is key. Strange on the Internet literally got me through it. And I think that's when I learned the power of social media is when I put this out on social media because I wasn't going to be traveling for three four months and so I was like, well, if I'm not going to do that, and might as well put this out there. And if I could help just one person like boom, I've done my job and had no idea the effect it would have. And literally, like strangers on the Internet helped me healing ways I can never describe. I have to commend you for sharing that story because it is something so personal and most people probably would choose to keep that private. You know you're going through something internally that you know you don't always want to be so I think in our society, note people don't want to be so upfront about their personal issues and their bodies, and especially when you're a public figure and having people just talk about your bodies and kind of objectify you in general. So I think that's incredible, And I will say, like, I love that you speak out about the preventative measures because I truly believe I think knowledge is power, and you know, similarly to you, this isn't the same exact situation, but I've dealt with a lot of illness in my life. A lot of my family members have had different kinds of cancer, and so I went through a small procedure earlier last well a couple months ago, I guess, And before we even started it, my doctor was like, I want you just to do genetic testing to see what kind of genes you might carry, what kind of potential genetic cancers your dad could have given you or your mom could have given you. So we did also to check for that Brocket gene as well. And so it's so I think, just such a way that you know internally potentially what you're up against, what you're not up against, what you could pass down to your children. And so I think that's so important that you're speaking out about it and to get tested, and to just know what you're potentially up against and the different options that you have to move forward with, like what you did with the double mestectomy or not. You know, it's all about your options. And so I think it's so important that you share, especially with your women followers, because I guarantee you've probably changed so many people's lives and and they some of your followers probably had no idea what that even was until you brought it up to them, and it's so important. I didn't. I didn't tell my mom was diagnosed with cancer. And so I think science is so cool. Science is so cool. And I think bottom line, like I've learned that sharing will help at least one other person, if not, yes, hundreds or thousands more. So I always if they're not comfortable with it completely fine, but if they have even the little bit the tiniest inkling to share, I always urge them too, because it's always so helpful I think for them and other people as well. Like like I said, I think it's just like this weird symbiotic relationship that happens because it's so helpful for you to like release your story in a way, get it off your chest. So you feel lighter in the end, and then on the other receiving end is this helps, and you've uncovered like a community of women that have either experienced something similar to or are now again exploring what this means and understanding how to help other people that might be in their community that are that are suffering something similar. So that's awesome. No thanks, Catherine, Yeah, yeah, that's good. Um, I think I get Dam's emails about it multiple times a week, so it continues to blow my mind. And I think it's just the sad part about that is you realize that breast cancer is going nowhere because I constantly get hey, I've I've been been diagnosed with breast cancer, or my mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer or eye positive for the bracagene. And on one hand, it's it's a little sad because it's still running rampant. But on the other hand, I think that preventative knowledge is so helpful. So yeah, science, yes, I agree, and even too, like you know, for people wanting to potentially start families, you can get tested for so many other genetic things that if you're a carrier and your partner's not or vice versa. It's just important to know. And again, you know, you have the options to choose what you want to do in any case, and if you don't want to, you know, that's that's your decision. But yep, knowledge is power. Science is incredible. Um it is. But and now this is something that you can take and share with Nora, with your baby now, which is incredible. And you know, granted she's only twelve weeks telling you're gonna been talking to her about this right now, but one day, just leave that door open and have her become more aware and you know, know what she's potentially up against one day once she grows up. So true, I think about that a lot, and if she'll be positive for that gene or not. Um and just knowing what I know now from you know, my mom's guilt. UM, I'm trying. I'm gonna try and not carry that with me because you know, at LEAs we know, you know, if my mom hadn't been diagnosed, we would never have been tested, you know. So I think, Um, whatever happens with Nora, it'll be it'll be okay, m yeah, yeah, And I'm just speaking, Oh yeah, I just wanted to say, like everything that I've known about you, Leslie has been like, I'm so excited for you to have a daughter. First of all, because you've always been about empowering women. You've been about body positivity, and like to see someone on the outside like not knowing you at the beginning, but seeing these things come out. I'm so excited for you to raise up someone that is similar to you, where you're okay, you're a strong woman, you could be independent, Your body is beautiful. It's something that you should, you know, be revering, and I just love that about you. So I'm excited to see what Nora gets from that, and obviously to see Alex's traits, but as as a woman who's so strong and just a wonderful example of a strong woman, but also have you know, you have the soft qualities too, But I'm excited to see what Nora becomes. Thanks guya. Yeah. Somebody asked me the other day. They were like, what are you most excited about? Like what makes you most excited about motherhood? What are you most excited about? And I sat back and I was like, yeah, I'm I'm excited to travel with her, but I think more looking at the bigger picture, I'm more excited to just raise like a really kind but fierce female. Yeah, it's so important. Um, I can't wait to see where life takes you and Nora and Alex. I can't wait to follow along once you're in Hawaii, once you continue to travel and raise this badass female that you guys created. Um, So before we let you go, what is next besides Hawaii? Like any other future plans that you guys have in store? And then also let all of our followers know where we can follow you and how to find you and your blog and all the things. Yeah, good question. I feel like this whole past year and pandemic has thrown everybody off their track for good and bad. Right. Like, it's definitely like pivot was the word of twenty twenty and it's set us on this path for twenty twenty one with a brand new daughter and slowly getting back into travel. But if I'm being honest, I feel like it's it's almost weird to start traveling again because I haven't for so long. It almost feeled off brand when it was my brand for seven years. So I think just slowly getting back into travel with a baby and planning a wedding is what we're going to do in the near future for twenty twenty one, whenever those borders open in Australia, we will be on a plane going to spend time with Alex's family so that they can hold their grand daughter. Um and that's kind of what we're focused on now. Um. And you can find me on my Instagram at Leslie and Murphy L s l e y everybody, my dad. I remember trying to find a name for Nora and I was like, I just want to name like a simple name, So Nora it was. But yeah, Leslie and Murphy and the road Less travel dot com less with one s l e es. Yes, well, Leslie, it has been such an apsolute pleasure to have you on Batch a happy Hour, but for me personally, just to finally meet you and have this conversation and I feel like you're you're stuck with me now. I'm gonna be blowing up your phone when I do start these solo trips. But I so appreciate you sharing all of your knowledge and your passions, and UM, I can't wait to fall on and see what's next in store for you. Guys. So excited to finally meet you, Becca. I know it's been way too long, and I've just followed you, you know, through this tiny screen on my phone for years. So this is a pleasure guy. It's always good to sell, all right, Leslie, take care, Thank you so much, give cute little Norris and kisses from us. You will do. Thanks guys, Bye bye, Catherine. I see why she became one of your best friends from the show. Like you know, when you just talk to somebody and they just feel like good people, That's how Leslie feels to me. Yeah, she's real, she's authentic. I love that she's so dynamic as a woman and she has this hometown feel. But she's a very worldly person. It's just she's such a cool, layered person. And I'm glad that we got to talk to her about a couple of the big things that she identifies with, but there's just so much more about her. I'm super excited for other people to learn a little bit more about her too. Yeah, she is somebody that I would say I would definitely want back on the podcast at some point. I feel like she just has this bank of knowledge and experiences, like I could talk to her about travel and fun memories, and like you know, as you said, she could be our travel concierge once the world. Yeah put in her life. I'll be the nanny. I'll take care of Nora when she's kicking ass. But I know that you guys had such a strong friendship, so I'm really glad that you were able to connect with her and bring her on today. It was so much fun, and Catherine, thank you for hanging out and being my co host for these next couple of weeks. I can't wait to see who we have on for all of our listeners to tune into in coming weeks. It's going to be fun and I absolutely adore you and I'm so honored that you filled this role and stepped in to join me for these next few weeks. So thank you and to all of our incredible listeners. As always, you guys, please keep writing to us and letting us know your thoughts maybe who you want to hear from as guests on our podcasts as well. If you don't know where to find us, you can look at Bachelor Happy Hour on Instagram and apt Batch happy Hour on both Facebook and Twitter. And if you guys never want to miss an episode, please don't so You can subscribe to us on all of our podcasts. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the Wandering App, or wherever you're listening to us right now. Thanks guys, Thanks Becca,