Mike P. on His Choice to Remain a Virgin, Plus: Tayshia Discusses Blake’s Return

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Speaker 1: Welcome back batch our Happy Hour listeners, and I'm so excited for this week because I have my girl Tasia back once again. And Tasha, this episode was a doozy. I can't believe I just said doozy, but like, there was so much that I am glad that you're back with me to give me the lowdown because you were obviously there. Yeah, okay, Well, first of all, yes, I am back and I missed you and I wasn't here last week. But I am ready to get into this episode because it's loaded. It's a doozy, it's loaded. There's a lot to talk about, and I think one of those people start with the tea. Well before we get into that, I'm just we have an incredible guest joining us today. He's not on quite yet, so Tashia and I will give you a little rundown, we'll recap, we'll get into it um, but later we'll have Mike p and he has been such a pillar of strength and honesty and just take care amongst all of these men, and so I can't wait to hear more from him. But before that, we just have to get into this episode. And I was thinking about it, I'm like after watching last night's episode, is this Katie season or is this Thomas' season? Because a lot of screen time. He got so much screen time. I swear Thomas's name was mentioned more last night than Katie's was. And I'm just like, and we'll get into it towards the end, like I want to cover some of the more fun stuff because one of my antation I've talked about this, but one of my favorite dates are these truth or dared dates, like we saw with Tatia's season last year when Sidney and I came out and we put the guys through the ringer if you will. But I swear to god, they literally took the script that we had for your date last year and just handed it off to you and Caitlin. But that's because it was so good, Like it was just so good. Not do it again? I mean, like, who does it want to see the men wax random parts of their body? Who doesn't want to see the men cry and eat hobb and air peppers and try to professor love? Who doesn't want to see the guys eat a freaking carb when they haven't had a carb in the last seven years? Exactly? You know what I mean? Like, it was just such a good date that you and Sydney hosted for me. I just wanted to, you know, bring it back, pass on a little bit of the love and the laughs. Yeah. No, it is so entertaining. I love when like the guys kind of have to split up and do all these different things. It's just like there's so much to watch and it's fun, but it's also lighthearted, and there was just so much I think heaviness from the past week and with the drama going down with the men and Thomas right now, that I think that this was the perfect date at the perfect time that you and Caitlin bright out to her because I think Katie just needed a break. She just needed to let loose. She needed to have fun. You need to laugh, and he needed to funny parts of these guys and exactly it's been too heavy man. No, it was so funny though. I was just like, I think I think Tasia took my line, but I'm not. Obviously, we saw different parts of it, like the men had to eat some weird food, they had to tell a you know, like a little central secret. They had to wax each other, they had to eat hot peppers out of all of those little competitions, what was your favorite to personally watch or hear? Oh my gosh, the sweet Nothings when they had to whisper in that ear. It's so funny though, like you know how like Greg says, like can you hear this? We're like no, like jior thing. The speaker was literally at our feet feeding us like the audio, and it was hilarious, and we were just trying to like look at the sky, like look at the birds, like do something else aside from like staring at them because we were dying laughing, and we just wanted them to like whisper the weirdest things. They did not disappoint. And all I have to say is what the hectics Florida and New York and New Jersey have to do with anything? If anyone ever whispered that about here, I'd be like, is this a history? Like what are we doing here? Get oh? And like if he's gonna talk about geography, it's like talk about Australian going down under, So like miss the ball on that one. I'm telling you, please tell me what New Jersey has to do with all of this. And my favorite part was, like Greg was like yeah, no, and we were like, oh my god, le that was good. It was precious. I mean, it was very so funny, it was so cute. It was funny say things like that, like you just see a totally different side of the guys you would never normally see in another type of group date setting. Right now, right one of the best, I mean honestly, like, I hope they keep these coming because they're just so good. You get a mix of the dares and then you also give it to the truth later on, which we definitely signed to. The after party, I mean, we saw some great conversations between her and the men, I mean andrew S and his just like he's just funny, damn heart. Yes, you just like everything about him. I'm just like, I just love watching him on the screen because he's funny, he's articulate, he can open up, he makes Katie feel great. He's all the things. And then we also see Greg who you know, Florida, Texas, New Jersey aside he is falling for Katie and I think, you know, even though it's still early on, like he actually shows why and how this works and the like when he says he I don't feel like he's faking it. I feel like he's actually there for Katie, for the real deal, and I think it's something beautiful. We also saw a little bit of I don't I wouldn't even say drama, but just uncomfortable conversations between Katie and Trey. He obviously revealed some stuff about Thomas. We see Trey and andrew Es get into it. There was just a lot to unpack. Ultimately, Trey ended up getting that rose. But overall, I feel like it was just a pretty solid, straightforward day and night, like nothing too crazy, which I think she needed before. You know, I would call it like the column before the storm, right, Yeah, it wasn't too crazy. I mean, I feel like the conversation that happened between Trey and Andrews was like really interesting to me. And it was like because normally that's not a conversation we're privy to ever listening to as bachelorettes, And it was just really interesting hearing them and like their thought process behind do I go tell her or do I not go tell her? And I don't know like what you would have felt in that moment, but I think I'm with Katie on I'm like I would like to know because these are the things that I'm not saying clearly, and like obviously there's there's some type of tension because of it. So just like right, let it all out there, like let's move on in the meantime before that after party little cocktail evening, and then before like the Rows ceremony, before like Drava really really goes down. We obviously see my girl go in. You went in and talked to Katie about somebody being here from your past. He seemed very sweet when he sat down with Katie the first time, and then I found it like I was. I thought I was adorable. When Katy knocked on his door at the end and he showed up naked, He's like, I need a breathman, give me a hot second, and then he got locked out of the door. It just I though it was very cute. So, I mean, I don't know much about him, obviously you know much more, but I'm excited to see kind of where this goes, how the men will receive him next week when he actually you know, moves in into the resort with them. Okay, you guys, let's get into it though, because there's a big elephant in the room that we have to address and the boy. Obviously, a huge chunk of last night's episode dealt with not only Katie but Thomas and the fact that many men you know, went to Katie with their concerns about him admitting that, yes, he came here for a platform and has considered being the Bachelor. I guess I'm confused because plaining to your point earlier, I, as a as a lead, would want and that definitely. But I've been thinking about this over and over, and it's like, what actually constitutes as a villain quote unquote a villain on the show, because last season we saw somebody who was labeled as a villain who actually said some terrible things, you know, like the word horror and sluts and hoes were being thrown around, and that was all obviously caught and portrayed to the group of women, and that was offensive. And I'm not condoning what Thomas went Therefore, I'm not saying, oh, it's okay that he said he wanted to be the Bachelor. That is not what I'm getting at. But he was directly asked, have you considered being the Bachelor after all of this? And he did answer honestly, which, as we see, got him into a load of trouble. But I'm thinking, like, there are things that come off of this show that everyone's aware about. Obviously, after each season, somebody is going to become the next Bachelor and bachelorette. People are going to become influencers. People are going to be promoting brands and traveling and doing all these things. And I just it's interesting to me to see how extreme and heightened this was for saying that. And I'm not saying it shouldn't have been a topic of conversation. It definitely should have been. It definitely should have been brought to Katie's attention. But my issue is because I take notes every time I, you know, watch each episode and listen back. I have an issue with like not only the amount of times that like manipulative, the term manipulative was thrown around, but like Thomas was called a psycho and cancer and for me, as if you were you are you are now calling this man, You're basically putting this man on a Ted Bundy level and calling him cancer for something that like actually is when people say that exactly like I'm sorry, everyone, cancer took my dad away. From me, like cancer took people I loved a way for me, And so I have such a problem with men and women on this show spewing out certain words and terms and phrases that perpetuate the cycle of hate and drama to an extent that doesn't need to be as extreme as I think it is. And that's what I have an issue with, is like, should Thomas have maybe gone home? Yes? Did Katie handle things properly, yes, But the conversation around it to me feel so disconnected for what actually took place, and that's where I'm struggling with. So like, that's why I'm happy I have you to talk through this and maybe give me more insight if you know anything, because well, I think it's very I'm actually so happy you brought this up because I don't think like in the setting, I don't people say that the magnitude that those words hold and how is actually going to affect long terms because people actually yes, because people actually take these words like whoever watched the episode and like, oh my god, that guy is cancer and that is what they associate that person being in their mind for years to come. And it's just because that word was just said I hate it when people just say words about people without thinking and without just being selfish. Right, they could just say like he's not here for the right reasons. He's being I don't know, like manipulative. Okay, well, the thing is he is. He was being a little bit manipulative with like the guys and how he was talking. But like something like cancer or a psychopath or what was it, sorry, a serial a psycho? Right, those are just words that are just like m learn some more. Learn, we need some new vocap like learn a little bit more. Well, And that's my problem again, Like I'm not condoning his behavior. I don't want people to be like, oh my gosh, Becca, like whatever it might be. But I'm just saying, like when we perpetuate things like at the end of the day, what he did was shitty, he said wasn't great, And if I was the lead, I would one hundred percent question his motives and probably let him go as well. But when people use certain phrases and continue this narrative for something that now seems so extreme that really isn't Like it's not it's not in the grand scheme of things. It is not. But I agree, I won't say I wish I could give more insight, but I Julie was there for Katie and like was only brought in when she needed it or like posting a date and whatnot. So I wasn't there like in the group chats of like really listening to the guy's twenty four seven yeah, which I kind of wish I was. But all at the same time, again, it is Katie's journey. I never wanted to be like, so this guy said this and this is this, you know what I mean, It just takes away from her. Yeah, But what I did see was, I mean the guys had very strong feelings about him and what I mean, like even at like the big buckle brawl, like Katie even noticed it then like all of the guys were on one side and then there was Thomas, like nobody was actually associating or talking to him. There were just like little things that I picked up on that clearly I don't know, just the way that he was handling in the house, like he was really rubbing people the wrong way and personally for me, I didn't hear any of those words or see any other actions, but that except for what Katie told me and what the guys were saying. So yeah, I wish I could trained more light on that, but no, and you, yeah, I think you were the best, Like Katie needed you that moment, your focus was heard. I think you have done a great job about that. I just I guess my main takeaway from all of this is like, at the end of the day, this is a show and people people can say and do anything good or bad, and the viewers will have their opinions, but also pleased to everyone listening. Remember, we are all humans, we all make sense, no one is perfect, and you're only seen a very very small sampling of what actually took place twenty four to seven in the house with everyone. Yeah, sometimes people do things really shady, like I think that people should be held accountable for that, but I don't think people should be like labeled as certain things. So we just need to be much more mindful and cognizant of like, well, we're actually saying how we're delivering whatever we do want to say, and so that's really what you want to say, Yes, exactly. But at the end of the day, I think overall, like Katie has shown once again how strong of a woman she is. She stands her ground. I think the men appreciated how she handled everything and it is what it is. And after everything was undone she had you know, she let one man go, but another came in with Blake, and so we'll see how that all goes down. I can't wait. But you have listened to the two of us talk for quite some time, so I think we just need to bring out the man of the hour, ladies and gentlemen. He is somebody that I think he's slowly grown on us week by week and has just been not those outspoken, but like when he does speak, it holds a lot of weight in just such a positive way. And so yes, please help me. Welcome Mike Pete a Bachelor Happy Hour. Welcome to Bachelor Happy Hour. Mike. Have you been I'm doing good. I'm excited to be here. Just U currently in Costa Rica, so it's kind of a breakaway from vacation, but I'm super excited to chat with you guys today. Well, we are excited to have you. I know you're a busy man and you probably don't want to be chatting with us when you are in this beautiful area, but thank you. Is this the first podcast that you've ever done. Yeah, yeah, I think it actually is. Well well yeah, okay, well easy and slow here, we'll go easy on you. Um. Well, like I said, it's so great to have you here because we love chatting with all of the cast members aout the season. Obviously, there's so much more that you guys can give us behind the scenes, the actual tea, the real info that us taste what I love as well as our listeners. So how has it been? You know, you obviously went through all of filming, but now how is it for you personally watching it all unfold, watching yourself back, watching you speak on TV? What is that like? You know, it's kind of funny. I think the main thing I've noticed so far is I'm usually a super smiley guy. Like I'm always laughing, I'm joking, and every time I see my face, I'm like, I'm like a deer on the headlight. It's like, I have no idea what's going on. I My family actually has been giving me such a hard time because they're like, what are you doing in those moments? It's kind of funny. But at the end of the day, I mean, I think when I look at it and I watch it back. I think it's weird to see yourself on TV. That's the weirdest part is you're like, Okay, is that really what I look like? Is that how I talk? You know? But but no, it's been fun. I mean I think it's been something that when you're able to take a step back and actually see what was happening, um, because sometimes you are caught the moment you're like, Okay, I have no idea what's going on and you don't even know what camera's on you. So um. Besides that seeing myself, I think that the cool part is like how my family and friends have reacted to it and how they kind of roast me and have a good time with it. So it's honestly, it's been it's been a lot of fun. M good. Is your family a fan of the show or is did they also not watch it? It's all new to us. It was kind of similar. I think everyone had kind of known the concept, And that's the funny part. I had three sisters and we're all your part, so like you would think a lot of them had seen it. Yeah, maybe they'd maybe seen an episode here and there, but um no, we we all kind of were like, we know a little bit about it, but we didn't know kind of how it would know how it fully goes. That's cool though, I like that one thing that you know we know about you is that you came in and expressed that you were a virgin, which you know, it's been part of your story on the show, which is, you know, a big contrast to Katie, who is you know, she showed up night one on Matt Susan with her vibrator and has been very sex positive and open about that. So coming into this, were you worried about that? You know that you guys were kind of on different pages. How did you want to go in and make sure that you guys were aligned if this was going to work out? Yeah, you know, I think it's funny. That's probably the biggest question I've got since I've been back. A lot of people are like, you know, how is it? How was it? But I it's hard to explain because I'm not somebody like my waitings for it's a very specific reason, right like it's for my faith and for me, I have always I've always been confused with why let's say, let's let's just say as a church, right as as Christians, why it hasn't always been a topic like why sex hasn't been such an extreme topic that we talk about and talk a lot of people. I feel like you've kind of like, oh, it's a bad thing. No, it's an incredible thing. Right. So my family is actually I grew up in kind of an atmosphere where this is gross to say or think about. But like my parents expressed, you know, sex, Like we knew that my parents were happily married, that they were that they had sex, not just four times for us kids, but they actually did And where do you think you guys came from four and four years, so we knew they were doing it. So I think I think it was something where I was always confused sometimes when people would talk about waiting and they were very shy about it, you know, and teach their own But for me, that's not how I grew up. So when I heard Katie was sex positive, I was like I didn't even hesitate because I was like, oh, that's hi him, Like I love to speak about this stuff. I love to talk about it. And you know, my dad is you know, he's like my best friend, and my mom obviously as well, but my dad one thing he did because I was the only boys I remember when I I was younger, he kind of he kind of took me aside and was like, listen, if you are ever going to do something, you need to know the why. And he explained the why to me. And once I understood like the why to all of it, you know, then I think it was easy for me to like make those decisions for myself and choose to to kind of take that the road from myself, you know, way no marriage. But but like when I thought of Katie and you'll see like as her and I, you know, speak on the show, Like, I think we're much more similar than people think. And when I think of the term sex positive, I think of people who just express exactly whether they're at when it comes to the topic of sex. I don't think it's something that means we need to be so overly experienced, because I think experience comes in a lot of different ways. Yeah, I agree. I think that it doesn't necessarily mean you have to just be solely physical when your sex positive. It could be having conversations like consent, being at the right page, like on the same page as about everything, and so yeah, that's one thing because we've talked to a lot about Katibe and so sex positive on our podcast, and I've just had people dm me, you know, on the more extreme side, like so physical, Like why do you guys keep talking about this? I'm like, but it shouldn't be a taboo And that's just what she's been expressing this entire time on the show, and I think it's a beautiful thing. Well, she said something I think really profound in the beginning, and she said, if you cannot talk about sex, then you're not ready to get married. I completely agree with that. If you cannot sit down and communicate through things, then what are you doing. I think at that point, you're wasting your time. So I'm on that same page with her. I want to and for me, when I think of sex, like I think of I think of being able to communicate fully with my future wife, right like I I you know, it's funny. I get this a lot. I get a lot of a lot of guys when I was growing up are like, aren't you worried? Aren't you worried You're gonna be terrible at this and that? And I'm like, no, because I want to be able to fully understand that woman and her exactly how I view her and how honored I feel like she can you know, how honored I feel like she should feel, how safe she should feel. I mean, I think last episode was a great example of Katie's story, right, I mean, she is the strength of that woman. First of all, is incredible. She's she's unbelie. But it makes more sense why she is so open about it. And I think sometimes patience has to come when you're when you don't know these things about those people. And sometimes I feel like it should be, you know, let's get to know that person first, Let's get to understand how their mind works. Let's get to understand what they even like. We're all different, right, so it could be one thing with with with um, you know another partner, could be another thing with another partner. So I think it's that's one thing that Katie and I as time goes goes on, you'll see it's like we communicate to those things and we understand that, like, hey, I want to know what you like. I can care less what everyone else likes. I'm here to get to know you. Yeah, I think walking parents, I know every girl wants to hear that, But I think it's amazing of your parents to also like not make sex seem like such a scary subject and like, have you guys all be comfortable with it? Just because you're a vision doesn't mean that you're not knowledgeable and that it doesn't interest you and that you don't talk about it freely with your family, like it shouldn't be like this scary topic, you know, And that's that's exciting. Well, And the funny funny part is a lot of people that know my family, Um, I think I don't want to say it work. I think it would have been a shock factor if people saw my you know, uh you know, and we'll interactions, if they saw my family's interactions in public, you know, like if they were to see us at like a dinner table at a restaurant, they would be like, I would have never guessed, you know that, Mike, don't get your family in trouble. Are they going to listen to what are you saying about our family? Sure, because they'll be the first ones to say it, you know, they'll be like, you know, it's just funny because one of my friends, he actually says that perfect Key's like you guys are the raunchiest cleaned his family I've ever seen. He's like, you guys talk about everything. You know. You went on the greatest lever of all time time date with Heather McDonald. That's when we kind of saw you at first. We could tell you were very hesitant, very nervous. You were like, how do I go about this date? You know, how do I express where I'm at in my sexuality and what I want in my future, you know, without making anyone feel uncomfortable? And it also has to be so coutasu to share that with the world, not only with a partner that you're dating, but with all of us has to be incredibly daunting. So thank you for sharing that that letter that you wrote to Katie because I found it absolutely beautiful. But yeah, Patient, I talked about it a couple of weeks ago, and I was just like, man, this guy like to be able to do that and to be able to just like make it so intimate and to Katie especially, was something truly truly special. Um, something I don't think I've ever seen on the show before. But going into that, how are you feeling? Yeah, you know, Um, I had a feeling at some point, you know the topic. It was going to be brought up, of course, as it should. Um, I don't think I thought it was going to be that quick and and and I want to make this perfectly clear. I think the dilemma that I was probably where it looked like I was stressed, and um, I think it was something where I wanted Katie from the bottom of my heart. I wanted her to understand the why. And I think I wanted her to feel so seen and so honored and not you know, because I had a dilemma. It was like, Okay, if I handled this in a way that that if I expressed myself because like everyone that knows me, like all my family and friends, like I have no I'm going up there and doing a magic Mike dance. I have no problem doing that because like that's my personality, right. But I wanted I didn't know yet, I didn't know Katie yet. I didn't know if that's even something that she wanted. And I wanted I wanted to honor that that space for her of like, okay, well, how how can I speak to her because I don't know these things? How can I speak to her to where she feels completely seen um and and I think and I'll share I'm intimate with you here too, I think was it was tough for me because I I I wanted like what I pictured her as is I pictured her as my future wife. I was like, Okay, if I see her up here, how would I how would I want her to feel honored? Right? Like? How would I want her if if I'm say her future husband, how would she want me to approach this? Would she want me to share certain things that maybe will be you know, for us in the future in front of everybody, which you want me to speak to your heart? I didn't know these things, and I think I just wanted her to feel safe in that spot. And that's why I was like, what a lot of people don't know is you'll laugh. But I actually write my wife every day, so like what I'll do is I was like I was thinking about I'm like, okay, well how can I how can I show her, you know, something that is intimate? And I was like, well, you speak to her every day, you might as well just write to her and and you might as well just show her exactly what you talk to her about every day. And I think when and that was the tough part is it to do or die moment? You don't know. I didn't fully know Katie yet, I didn't know how she would respond, And I think it was that moment where she responded the way that she did, where I was like, Okay, you're somebody I'm interested in. And because I'm a big believer like how you how you treat people and how you love people, I'm a big believer in actions, like words are great, but I want action, And the way she responded, you could just tell her heart. I was like, oh, my heart melted. I was like, oh, I was like this girl right now. And I just think that's an inssessment to her, Like she created a safe space for me and I was able to then be myself because I can only be myself. I'm too stubborn, right, So I was like, Okay, I gotta be me. So I went in there and I was like, you know, this is how it has to go. Yeah, And I think that was the moment again where she was just like, Okay, you're not afraid to do that. And the funny part about it, we spoke later that night and she was like, yeah, it's pretty baldy of you to say that in front the world, and I was like, to be honest, Katie, And this sounds cheesy, but I was like, I only saw you in that moment. I was like, I was not thinking about the guys. I wasn't thinking about the world hearing this, Like I wanted you to understand my why, because if you don't understand my why, I'm just gonna look like a guy that's very different from you that you're not gonna be to connect with. And that's the harthest thing, you know from the truth. Well, it obviously worked in your favor because you won that group date. You won, I think, Katie over, you won't basically all of America watching over, and so it worked for you. But I definitely think like it seems like you're very intentional with your words and your thoughts, and that came across like I didn't didn't leave anyone wondering of like, Okay, we're missing something here, you know, like these two aren't adding up. Like it was very aligned, which would I say? It was an incredible beautiful thing to see on this show. It truly was going back to how just great and articulate you are with your words. We saw you at the last Row ceremony kind of speak out for the group when you accepted that Rose and I don't think that's something we've ever really seen before either. What compelled you to do that, like what compelled you to be the voice of the group. Was it something that you just chose to do or that you spoke with the men beforehand on? Yeah, well, first and foremost, there are a lot of those guys are great guys that want Katie to feel you know, this is what we talked about. We said we it's our job. You know, she's a strong enough woman. She can make the decisions for herself, like she she did not need our help. She's smart, she knows exactly what she's doing. But I still think that doesn't mean that you shouldn't always try to create an atmosphere that's conducing to her finding love. This is her journey, and you know, I can only imagine how stressful it is for her to have to choose from all of us, because I know how tough it is when it's just me, right, So I think for us is I again, I have three sisters, while your part I always in my mind would be like, okay, how how can I create an atmosphere for them to you know, feel heard, for them to if do they need humor do they need a safe spot? I don't know how do I figure this out? Right? And Katie was stressed and rightfully so, I mean, she was going through some stuff that she didn't she didn't have to go through. And I think that was the moment where like, again I'm about action, I was like, okay, well, and again I didn't know how anything works. So I was like, well, if there's bis going on in the house, like I'm not gonna put up with it, so I might as well just say it. And I felt like that was the moment where you know, all those guys were like, hey, this isn't okay. So I was like, well, I guess I'm going to say something because if it's not okay, you know, then she needs to know. And what I wanted Katie understand too, is I wasn't there just to receive a rose. I wanted her to understand that, like, listen, I will risk everything for you if that means that you're gonna get your person, whether that's me or not. And I think that was something where you'll see that you know, and maybe in that moment. Again, I had no idea that a moment like that. Maybe it never happened, But it wasn't just me that felt that way. You know, all the guys were like, Hey, this is something where it's it's taking away from the love that she's searching for, and it's our job to make sure that all those distractions are gone so that she can have the space to find that for herself, because she she is a strong woman where she's like not gonna put up with anything, but there's certain things she shouldn't have to deal with that we could take care of in house. And I think that was a moment that kind of showed where we were like, we're going to do that. Yeah. Did How did the guys receive it afterwards? Were they appreciative? Where because they have that back? Yeah? You know, um, you know it's funny because some of us were like, I think the consensus was like, Okay, whoever, whoever feels comfortable right, um, you know that's that's can go up there and say it. And I think it just a line where I was the one where I was like, listen, hasn't been said yet. I this is what's going on. And I think, you know, it's something that we should do. And then after the guys were like, you know, hey, man, like good on you, you know, but I know there's a there was some great men and that would have done the same thing. Um, I just think it just a line where that was I guess my time to do it, but I didn't. I wanted it to come across where it wasn't taking away from our trust and her as well. And that was a tough Again, that was a tough situation where it was like, Okay, Katie, you're smart, you don't need our help, but I think you should have all the information so that you can make the decision for yourself. And that's all us guys wanted. And that's what we talked about. Like there was a It's funny when when I was watching it back, I saw a moment with Michael and actually Justin was behind me and Michael goes, now, how do you feel about it? And you know, I'm like, listen, I just want the best for her. And they felt the same way, justin same thing. And I think that was the the overall reaction from the guys. Okay, I see this is the difference of how the guys act when they haven't watched a show. I don't think a guy that would have like watched a show in the past would have stepped in and said, like, Katie, I need you to know this right here, right now. But I think it was the right thing to do. But I don't think that they would have done that. I think they would have played yeah I had at the Rose ceremony or you know what I mean. I just would have been very different, but yeah, I will play when people know more, they're kind of more buttoned up and they're like, Okay, this doesn't happen now, so I'm not going to do it. So I mean, you guys, like I really feel like this season, you guys are kind of really paving the way and making your own in a weird way, Like we've seen certain things that don't always happen when they're supposed to or were like when viewers think they will. So I appreciate it. I mean, it keeps me on my toes as a viewer, So it's great. Um, Okay, I want to get into last night's State because it was one of my favorites. It looked so fun. Obviously you were on that truth or dare date with some of the men and you had to eat what eleven or twelve twinkies? Yeah, sooth eat the whole plate, but twelve works. The funniest part is, you know tis they were sitting a little further away from us, and the laughs you guys were it was like laughing at our pain, and it made it so funny for us because I was like, should I keep going? Like should I keep eating away? Keep going? And the funny part and this is disgusting, but anyway, I'll say it. Anyways, So Connor and I we were we were partners, and I couldn't get the twinkies down because like they're thick, and I'm like, okay, I can only eat so fast. So Connor's like, hey, let's get the twinkie and water. So I was like, okay, let's try it. He did it. I almost threw up. It tastes like a bugger. I was like, it was just like swiny. I was like this with no and I literally started. I was like, dud, don't do that, Like I will puke on the spot if you if we do that. But the hardest part about it, though, is we followed it up with the peppers, and that was where I was like, I had never had a pepper before. I'm like, which is wild? How have you never had a pepper? That's what I'm saying. I'm such a basic eater. I don't like you don't like spicy food. Well that's the funny part. Like I do because I'm from Arizona and I grew up on spice. But I just never am just eating a raw pepper just it's just good, right. I don't think that's normal. But well, one thing that I loved too is you said when you were eating the twinkies, you were like, I haven't had a carbon? What seven years? I want to get that show. The self controlled that this man has in his life right now is unbelievable. Are you lying when you say you've really you haven't had a carbon seven years? You've had a pasta or bread or something. No, I was actually saying a movie quote and it was like it was it was something. It was something where I was like, I just I was joking around. But but I think for me, in all kidding aside, like I probably had not had a Twinkie since I was probably eight years old, and yeah, i'd forgotten it, and then it was like, okay, crush them right, But no, it was it was something where I when I look at the rest of the things that were picked, I think I kind of got like, I kind of got that I would have loved I would I would have ate the whole plate. I would have kept going. But the mashed potatoes cake, I guess. Okay, so that's that's the thing, that the mashed potatoes. Like I'm a big texture guy, so like I would have puked if I ate that much. I hate mashed potatoes. What I can't I love my shrug, my face and apple of potatoes. Okay, So Mike, obviously there's a lot that went down in this episode. Um, and had a pretty explosive roast ceremony. What can we expect next? Without giving too much away, give us like a little tease, Yeah, that rose ceremony. Um, how do we explain that? Um? Yeah? I The best way I could say is like, it's just not what I expected. I honestly, because things happen where you're like, oh, okay, all right, I guess that's it. And then it was like, Okay, that's not it, and like my like our reactions went from like we trust her and then it was like oh whoa, okay, all right, like let like, okay, we do trust her, like and I think it, you know, I think it said a press it for the rest of the season, to be honest, where it was like, hey, I'm not here to play games, and if you are going to play games, then I'm gonna handle it, and um and as you should. You know, that's the tough the tough spaces. You know, it's hard because you always want the best for everybody, right, but then there's certain things where I don't know what conversations are being had, you know, between two other people. I don't know what conversations are being had with you know, someone else and some of the other guys. And that's the point where you really do have to put your trust in Katie and be like, Okay, you've discerned enough in this to where you feel comfortable making this decision. And that's one of those moments where it's like, Okay, you know, she made her decision. And I think sometimes there has to be moments like that where you put your foot down and you're like, hey, you know this is this is this is who I am and I'm not going to let you guys walk all over me, and she made that very clear. Now going through both sides of you feeling and watching it air like how we're seeing it go down, is that actually how it was? Or did it seem a bit more team and not as extreme and now it's just being blown up because you know, maybe it was a slow news week. I don't know. Yeah, that's a great question. I think it's it's hard for me because there's a lot of things that I didn't see, and when you when you're seeing it for the first time, um, it can come across as shocking. But then but then you also know guys in the house too, so I think, you know, Michael Michael A said this perfect. At the end of the day, we all are people, like all of us are people, and we all have certain, uh you know, moments in life where you know, whether we're not proud of or maybe we just didn't know how to react. And I think, um, the one thing that I watched and it was maybe in a moment where I was like, oh, it looks he looks a little stressed right now, right where it's like, uh, like I'll use Thomas as an example last week where it was like you could tell he was like, oh, I'm stressed, and um, that's a hard position to be in, you know, it's a it's a I want the best, right, but I want everybody to have a fair shake, because no one I could one thing I will say about this season. No one's a bad bad guy, no one was. I just think sometimes we make decisions where it's like, oh, that was a little bit questionable, and and the other person is entitled to how they received that and how they feel. What I would encourage people to do is is I always like to try to put myself in somebody else's shoes. Right, It's like, how would I feel in that situation? Would I would I be overwhelmed with a little bit of stress? Would I be you know somebody that maybe said something I didn't mean, or or maybe I maybe I did say something and it came across wrong, right. And I think that's the really hard thing to watch is because I have a lot of love for these guys, like these are like my brothers, and it's hard to watch sometimes because you're like, oh, man, I know that's probably not what you meant. Or sometimes you're like Ooh, I actually didn't know that's what you actually thought. So it is tough to watch and I think but I will say, just like Michael said, is like I think we should show a little bit of grace and patience because sometimes these situations can be a little overwhelming. But I do think that it is important to also watch, like there a lot of moments that I do where I'm kind of like, oh, that's not maybe your best reaction, where I like to kind of take a step back and be like, how could you have handled that better? And I think these are things like as men in our group, like I think we'll we'll be honest with each other and have open conversations to where like maybe like could you see maybe how that was or or what were you thinking in that moment? And I think that's a space that we should create to where you know, us as men can one learn from our mistakes or actually understand where we were actually trying to come from. You know, I do want to say, like before we let you go, you spoke so eloquently about like your why, and I know I admire you being able to seek about your truth. I know probably Becca does too, but it's so different seeing a man feels so confident and strong and talking about being a virgin and like not being ashamed of it. And I think that that's something that can help a lot of people. I'm sure you've received a lot of dms of people feeling very you know, empowered by what by what you said and how confident you are. What advice would you have to I want to see people but also like especially males that are virgins, and yeah, you know, it's funny you reach or you talked about, you know, people reaching out. That has been the overall message that people have been coming across with me is I'm a big believer that like God puts you in positions for certain reasons, right, And I think I was somebody that needed to meet an incredible woman to show me a lot about myself, right And for me maybe maybe just my story was something where people could understand, like, you know, why am I doing this? And I think the why is a huge thing. For anything to be sustainable, you have to understand your why. If you don't understand the why to it, then you will you'll fall off on it. But but if you're convicted by the why and you and you have an understanding and the why I think it makes it so much easier to then be able to to sustain that right. And I think I'll speak to two different parts of this. I think with the message I've heard from women is I didn't know guys like you exist. And in my mind, I'm like, I am so flawed that I'm like no, no, no, like, do not put me on a pedestal like I am somebody that is extremely flawed. I just I'm convicted and what I want this gift to be to my wife and there's and I am not just the virgin, like I am somebody that, like I have so much more to offer, and I don't want it to be put in a box right like I want it. I want it to like I want to be a listener. I want to be somebody that you know, UM can do so many things for her right. And I want women to understand that there are a lot of men who do feel this way. And there are a lot of men that want to make you know, their their women feel safe and secure and they want them to feel honored, right, And and that comes in so many different forms. It's not just sex. Sometimes that's even just in conversation or just being able to communicate how you feel that can make a woman feel honored, you know. But I will say this is like it breaks my heart hearing that sometimes too, because as men we need to step up and be better. We're obviously falling short in areas myself included as well, is we're falling short in areas where women aren't feeling love, they're not feeling secured, they're not feeling honored. And I think we have to in turning to look into ourselves and be like, why are they feeling that way? And we have to be unable and be able to communicate that to them so that we can receive the feedback and then make a change. Now, to men, I think, I think this is something that if you want to be because their leadership comes in so many different ways. Like my sisters are leaders, my mom's a leader. Like it just because you're a man doesn't mean you're the only leader. That's not how it works. But I do believe that like everyone should always try to be the leader, the best leader they can be. So for men, I can only speak to men because I'm a guy. Is like if you truly are convicted in something like this, and for me, it's like I'm convicted because I told Katie this and she started laughing. Is I am a I believe wholeheartedly. God grabs the most rotten ones the earliest. I was one of the most rotten ones when I was born. Where he was like, you do not get to experience a lot of these things because you're going to get in trouble. And I think that was something where knowing that about myself, it was almost like a layer of protection where it was like, no, you you don't get to do this. You have to actually you have to honor her, and you have to show her that there's so much more that you see in her right and there's so much more that that you want for her. You want to elevate her. This is not about. One of the things I hear from women all the time is how selfish men are. We are, so we need to make a change with that, and what's a way to do that. For me, that's a way to you know, one of the biggest desires of my heart is obviously to have sex, you know, with my wife. It's like, okay, well then you need to put in work before you're granted that gift, right, So it's like that's how I view it. And if you're a man and that's something that you're struggling with or you're feeling insecure about, own it, like you're doing it for a reason, like you are somebody that is, you're somebody that is. You're convicted by it for a reason. So find out what that reason is, understand it, and then you know, verbalize it, you know, to your your spouse or your or your girlfriend or whatever of like, this is why I'm convicted by this. This is something that I want you to feel so safe and so secure that you then what is more secure than you looking a woman in the eyes and saying I want nobody else for the rest of my life. You are all I want. And I mean, at that point, if my wife says that to me, my clothes are coming off and I'm like because because it's like that's a there's such a beauty to that, there's such a beauty to commit in your life to somebody for the rest of your life and saying to them, I don't see anything else you or what I want. And that's something that if you are convicted in that way, then it's gonna be tough. It is the hardest thing I've ever had to do ever. I mean, every day I wake up the first time in my mind is sex. I'm like, dude, come down. But but but it's it's something that if I know it's that tough, then it's gonna be so worth it when I have it, and you know, and it's something that like I hate the stigma of, like, aren't you worried? You should know this thing? No, because I'm going to communicate. If my wife looks at me and says I don't like that, I'm gonna go, Okay, Well, then what do you like? Because there's no ego in this, you know what I mean, Like, I have showed you that I will. I will do the hardest thing possible to honor you. So tell me what you want. And I think it's something where the biggest mistake we make within I feel like sex or intimacy or whatever is we want to self satisfy. I feel like it should be it's sacrifice. Sex is sacrifice. You should be honoring that person, You should be serving that person. You do that. My tip to guys, you serve a woman that way and not think about yourself. You'll be just five. We've just been having such great guys on our podcast, like Katie. I mean, Katie was a lucky woman. But seriously, every guy right here, we'll set it up to the masses. But before we let you go, we ask all of our guests this, without giving too much away, right now, up until this point, what has been your rose and what has been your thorn? Of Katie's season? Probably my thorn is that's a great question. Well, I mean, I think it's obvious. The thorn is you know, when you're interesting, the girl you don't want, you know your buddy's taking her on dates and do it. But I also know what I signed up for, so so yeah, I would say that probably because I had. I mean, my experience at this point has been nuting short of incredible. But I will say the rose. And I know I keep harping on this, but Katie and I and again I told her this, I don't know how you women do it. You guys are incredible at the way you can allow us to process things. The way Katie allowed me to just really look in to my own heart and be like, what is it that you truly want? What is it you want from a woman? What is it? Like? What? And she and I think again real quick, going back to like the second date, A lot of people are like, oh, that's such a bad situation. No, that was the best thing that could have happened to me because it allowed me. It allowed me to be extremely uncomfortable in a situation, to have to navigate it, to have to discern through what I was going through where it's like and Katie created that space. And Katie is somebody that she's the beauty and her to be able to then create an uncomfortable situation but then be the calming force in it is It was such a She's a woman. That's the only way to explain it. Like that is what a woman does. A woman brings calm to chaos, and like that is something that I gosh, it was so attractive, you know, I mean, like, it's such a that's my rose because like how she was able to do that. It made my journey one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life. Thank you so much for joining Bachelor Happy Hour. Now go enjoy your vacation. Yes, yeah, I got some adventure. I'm kind of an adrenaline jockey, so it'll be nice to kind of get out and do some crazy things, so she'ld be fun. All right, thank you for being here. Thanks Mike, we'll talk to you later. He is just seems like not even self confident, but he is just aware and like just knows what he wants, but can vocalize that in such a beautiful way. I think a lot of times, you know, myself included, I do this quite a bit, Like I obviously have so many thoughts stumbled in my mind, but I'm sometimes hesitant or it's difficult for me to fully express everything. And he does such an incredible job about at that. So I'm so glad we had him on because I say, she you were just saying maybe you didn't get to see this full side of him on Katie season. Yeah. I mean, I just think that we have said this multiple times. So but like the show is about finding love absolutely, but when you really do put your heart on the line, it can transform you as a human. And I just love that he kept hitting on that that even though he knew he was confident in who he is and what his why is, it's still I don't know, made him think about himself a little bit more and like really be confident. And that's why when he talks to us about it, we're like, we didn't think about it like that, But that makes so much sense. And I really hope that other people feel compelled to stay in their truth a little bit more, you know. Yeah, it's I don't think anyone has walked away from the show without learning something, without having some major takeaway about who they are, how they could change to be better what they want. I mean, I've said this spending times good and bad, good and bad exactly, But it becomes when you're in the environment with all of these people and with producers, and you know, you're constantly talking through your thoughts and emotions and feelings and situations. It becomes sort of like a group therapy session, which sometimes sometimes you know, as we've seen in Lessons episode, it can go terribly wrong for some people, but sometimes it can be such an enlightening thing. And so I mean, he's a great example of somebody who's walked away and I think can now take what he's learned and what he's gone through in this and apply it to all of his future relationships, relationships with his friends, his family, a partner all the things. And I think that's a great point that I'm so glad he spoke on. I mean, these guys have just been incredible so far. Last week we had Michael A. This week Mike p like just really good dudes, like Katie had a good group of men. So I mean, you know much better than I do how this ends. But like I'm just like, Damn, she's got her work cut out for her. I mean, yeah, I'm just still leave it at that. Just keep watching it gets intense. Okay, well we will. To all of our Bachelor Happy Hour listeners, thank you all for hanging out with us once again, and huge thank you to Mike Pee for joining us even while he is on vacation. And it's always please make sure to hit us up on social We're at Bachelor Happy Hour on Instagram and at Badge Nation pods on both Facebook and Twitter, and it's always please don't forget to subscribe to our podcast. You can do so on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the under app, or wherever you are listening to us right now.