An Important Update From Michelle, Plus: Nayte & Rodney on Their Bromance

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Speaker 1: Welcome back, Happy our listeners. I'm so excited to be here with you all again for another episode of Bachelor Happy Hour. I am sad to say that I'm here solo today. Becca will not be with us. She will rejoin us next week. But I am excited because we are going to be having Nate and Rodney on today. So we're gonna be third wheeling a little bit. And I'm not really sure if I'm the third wheel or Rodney's the third wheel, but I cannot wait to have two of my favorite guys on and to get all of that good energy that they always bring. But before we jump into that, I want to do a little life update and a little recap. You know, it has been an incredibly heavy week as a teacher, and this year has been completely wild. It's been something that I couldn't even imagine, you know, starting the school year as Miss Young and Miss Young the bachelorette. It has been a complete whirlwind hanging out with my students, teaching in the classroom and then living that double life as a bachelor at walking red carpets and going to premieres. And wow, have things changed. It has really got me in this reflective mindset, and I, you know, a few weeks ago, was talking with one of my coworkers who truly just did a mental health check in with me. And I'm a big advocate for mental health and being able to talk, being able to share those things, being able to be vulnerable and open up. And I will be very honest with you, this is not easy for me to talk about because as important as I know vulnerability is, it's not an easy thing for me, even though I was on the show in this very vulnerable situation. So I'm kind of just giving you little inside scoop today. But I was sitting down with my coworker and we were just kind of talking about this school year and how long we've been in survival mode. And my coworker kind of just asked me, well, Michelle, how long have you been in survival mode? And you know, as she asked that, it kind of caught me off guard to actually stop and think how long I've been in this position? And my response was two years. I've been in this survival mode two years where I have just been flying by the seat of my pants but really not necessarily living or just surviving, and with the pandemic, with going through these crazy but awesome changes. As the show with getting a fiance, There's just so much going on. And as I kind of sat and thought about that and thought about the position that I'm in, and it really just highlighted the fact that there's so much going on with our education system and I really feel that, you know, as I move into this next year, I have decided to step out of the classroom. Pair with me here. This can be emotional. So um, I've decided to step out of the classroom because I need to make sure that one I'm taking care of myself. But two, those teachers and those who are in the profession know that teaching is a profession that is completely built on passion. Our foundation is passion. It's not money, has some materials, it's not benefits. We are in it for the passion. And the amazing thing about that is a lot of wonderful things can come from that. The difficult part of that, and the realistic side of that, is that when it's built on passion, if those people who are in those foundations aren't valued, if they're not supported, if they're not taking care of, if they're not listened to, that foundation starts to crack. And I think you can talk to pretty much any teacher and they will tell you that these last two years have been really difficult with the pandemic, and even before the pandemic, the foundation was already starting to crack. And these things keep piling and piling and piling, and honestly, we kind of call it this like big game of Jenga, right, where you just keep stacking things on and you keep pulling out from underneath, and it gets more wobbly and it gets less supportive, and eventually it's gonna, you know, tumble down unless you figure out ways to repair those cracks and repair those holes. And honestly, when I really think about education, and when I talk to my family about education, I really compare it to like an architect, right, architect engineer. When you're about to build a building, you look at the area, you look at the environment that you're building in, and you take all of those environmental factors in to consideration. When you're figuring out what materials to use, how to build a structure that is sturdy, a structure that's going to be successful. You're not going to you know, if you're going to build a skyscrape or you're going to have to figure out how to use different materials and structures and pillars that are going to make that successful even in high winds, even in hurricanes, so that everybody is safe. And with education, and what we're seeing is the fact that you have these pillars of passion that are cracking and that are the exact same, even though the environment has changed, and these last two years have really amplified those cracks and the result of that in a big part of that is teacher mental health and not valuing our teachers. And I would say that education is something incredibly close to my heart. Being in the classroom and working with students is incredibly close to my heart, and it's something that I am passionate about. But with this cracked foundation, I see myself moving forward outside the classroom, giving back, raising awareness for teachers, and truly really moving and putting my energy and efforts with my platform towards being able to push for these types of changes because being in the classroom right now isn't the way to do that for me mental health and you know, I think what's really difficult for me is that I came from, you know, a reality TV show. I'm known as the Bachelorette Miss Young, which is a great thing, but it's also this pressure that I always have to be a teacher, and I love teaching, and I'm also burnt out on teaching, and I'm also more than just a teacher. And I really admire and respect the teachers who are returning to the classroom next year, and I also really respect the teachers who and educators who are not returning and are able to make that choice, because it's not an easy one at that. And this doesn't mean that I'm never going to step back in the classroom. This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm not going to tenue, you know, working towards a master's an administration and potentially get back into that direct line of education. But it's me stepping away for a year too truly capitalize and push forward and put all my energy and efforts into my passion in a different way and really truly try to push for that change, because staying in the classroom and seeing and feeling that weight just shows me that something has to be done. And I will also say this doesn't mean that I'm not going to live outside my teacher world, right like, you're going to see me promoting different products. You're going to see me, you know, doing something with skin or fashion, and you're also going to see me do things with nonprofit organizations and you know, potentially starting up my own organization. And so it's definitely going to be a balance. But that balance means that I'm one not in survival mode. And that balance is also me continuing to utilize the passion that I still have for education. So it's been hard to hold back on this decision. I know. I've talked to Nate a lot about this. I've talked to my friends and my family, and June eighth is not going to be an easy day for Miss young as I'm sure there will be many tears, But I appreciate my supporters and those who understand. And I think the biggest thing that I've learned is that it's okay if everyone doesn't see the big picture, in my big picture of where I'm headed. And you know, there's going to be a lot of people who have judgments of me stepping outside of the classroom. There's going to be some of my own teacher guilt that we always just naturally feel when we want to make sure that we're doing the best for our students. But at the end of the day, I know that I'm making the right decision. At the end of the day, I know that I'm really moving closer to changing the world and I'm not moving away from that or making the world a better place or inspiring and I know the big picture. So it's a heavy conversation, and I didn't really want it to be this heavy of a conversation, and I do want to take time to make sure that everyone knows it. You know, it was a decision that was made a few weeks ago, and it was a decision that was not influenced by all that was happening in Texas, because that is also just an incredible weight. And really I cannot even imagine the heaviness that that community is going through, that those families, the staff are going through, because we feel the heaviness all the way here in Minnesota and just thinking about them and knowing and that that is a possibility. And I know that I've been asked several times this past week of what can people do with this? How can we support? And I will point you in the direction of every town dot Org. It is it's an organization that really focuses on gun reform, focuses on supporting people who have been affected by gun violence, and really does focus in putting funds and energy towards making those changes, because, as we know, everyone has to be on board for something to truly change, and so Everytown dot Org. I really highly suggest that you guys check it out. It's an amazing organization and it would be a really good place for you to put your energy and efforts as well. So I know it's been a heavy episode. We are going to bring Nate and rodneyon. It's going to be a total switch of gears for the most part, So we are going to bring the boys and get this third wheel started. Welcome to Bachelor, Happy our guys. I am so excited to have both you, Nate and Rodney here today. Um, it has been a quite heavy episode, just with announcing that I'm not going to be returning to the classroom next year, as well as giving condolences to everything that has been happening in Texas. So it is I apologize, but it has been an emotional one. Well you're good, that you're good. It's been a lot, it's been a lot, but hey, you're like one of the strongest people I know, So I know Nate has been you guys. Nate has been probably one of my biggest comfort humans aside from teach, to just kind of help bounce ideas off of just kind of really think through it as you know, like teaching. Teaching is definitely something that I incredibly passionate about. You know, when you go to college, you know, for something that you absolutely love and then it kind of like I think I explained it to you, like a breakup where like you're in a relationship and you love it, love or whatever you're in love, and then you like start to fall out of love or you just know that it's going a different direction. Like it's hard. It's not just like this exciting thing that you're going the new direction, right, Like you have to go through that pain and the breakup. And so I feel like I'm I'm not breaking up with teaching, but just even like putting it down for a year, it's for you teach in so many different ways, right, Like That's that's why it's like like you're not going to be the traditional teacher anymore, but from what you're going to be doing moving forward, Like, I mean, you already do so much that you're still a teacher in its own sense of the word, just not in a classroom, right, So you're breaking up with the classroom, You're not breaking up with teaching, if you ask me, That's kind of how I look at it. Does do a really good point. And obviously Michelle is definitely your passion, and you know you showed that in day out. But I mean, more importantly, it's going to be so exciting to see whatever your next chapter is. And I know obviously we've had a lot of discussions about more importantly, like I'll definitely be praying for you and your next chapter. And yes, you touch so many lives through teaching, but just like Nate said, you're going to continue teaching. It's just going to be in different ways. And no matter what, like you've always been a major blessing to any single life that you touch, talk to just being next to you, it's just a blessing. So you're continue to do that whatever you choose to do. Dude, this is why I keep these two around because they just so hey, always good vibes, always good vibe Well, like as as you guys know, though it's I mean, the positions that we're in. It's so it's so difficult because you come on the show so like Ronnie, you come on the show just in an apple correct and that sticks with you, right like, that sticks with you wherever you go. And then you know, Nate, you come in as the red flag and I feel like you, like, you know what I mean, maybe you've gotten rid of that a little bit, right, I'm not saying what I think I'm saying, just you know, like when you when you're on this show, it's like viewers see you in one light and then sometimes they get stuck on that. So I think, like one of the biggest things that I've been worried worried about to some extent is like coming out with this decision knowing it's the best decision for myself, knowing what I'm going to do with it, knowing that I'm still going to make an impact. Right But viewers in people in Bachelor Nation y be like, oh, she's turning into an influencer. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but right like there's just this this pressure that, oh, you have this like teacher who she cannot do anything else. She shouldn't do anything else, you know what I mean. It's just it's such a weird pressure to get used to. Yeah, I think, like I mean, I kind of look at it, and you know how my mind works. I'm gonna be all over the place here. But it's kind of like when we all miss start Steve Harvey for families, like you only know this guy as somebody who's on just like TV screen, right, and it's almost like we all kind of say the same thing. It was like you don't even look at him, like he's like he's like a fictional character. Like it's so easy for for people forget that, like you're a human being, right, Like like you're a human being. Yes you're a teacher, but you're a human being, and you go through life, you go through ups and downs and the spirals and emotions and all these different things, and life change is just like life changes for every single human being on this planet. And it's so easy for for people who they see you on this TV box and say, oh, that's Michelle Young, the bachette who's also a teacher, and that's it. Nothing more like that is it, and they forget that you're actually human being with family, friends, emotions, ups, downs, all that fun stuff. Right, um, So to whoever is listening, do not forget that Michelle Young is a human being. Friendly reminder, a friendly reminder, you know what, I feel like. That's a good point of transition, Like I could I have anything to like add after that? That was just that was beautifully said. You know, I've been super emotional today, so I feel like my my words and thoughts are jumbled. But normally that's you, Nate, but you hit. But anyways, enough about me, We're gonna switch gears to you guys. How have you guys been? I feel Rodney, you have seen Nate more than I have this month. Last month was your month, This month was mine one. Now I'm playing. Oh no, I see the third wheel. That's why third wheel. There you go. I told you Michelle, like Michelle already knew she couldn't get rid of me. I'm I'm the third wheel this month. I think you and Becca talked about me being in the backhouse something like that, So I was like, either way, granny pod, yes, the granny pod. Sorry, Rodney, there's no Rodney Pod at our future home. And made you understand that you cannot pass this guy a key without my pregnant permission. Like, this man's not gonna have a key to our house, Rodney, I really do. Look, we have that extra room just forgot for I don't care. Wait morning, guys, but talk to us, like, tell our listeners, you guys have been all over the place. First, you were in LA for golf tournament. How was that? Yeah, so that was a lot of fun. We were down. We were down in San Diego for a golf tournament. Um I met I met this amazing woman through Claire, who partners with the Andre Reid Foundation, and so this was all through Andre Reids Foundation and the Read with Reid Um initiative. And so what he does specifically is he'll create these reading rooms for kids all throughout the nation at the boys and girls clubs where he grew up. And he wants to make sure, hey, that kids are more focused on books instead of you know, any type of any type of violence or anything that's bad going on in these streets out here. We want to make sure that kids are more focused on learning and growing their knowledge and having fun with that instead of all these outside distractions. So we were so excited to partner up with them and for them to kind of ask us to be a part of that was so exciting. And then through that we've met just amazing people, a lot of a lot of Hall of Famers from the NFL and then also some other reality TV people. So it was really nice to kind of see that and to see us like figure out ways how we could try to make a difference in these communities, and even Nate and I talked about how we could partner up in these other cities to see how we can kind of spread that mission. And so yeah, it was very exciting for us to do that. And then obviously, yeah, we were out there golfing mats a lot better than our thought. I'm still trash. I need some lessons. I got to go back the top golf or something. But it was a lot of fun. There's a lot of fun that is that's truly amazing. There was a lot of Bachelor faces I feel like that I saw on Instagram, right, Yeah, so we had a I know in our group it was us too, and then we also had Chasen and Spencer who were great guys from Clarentation season. And then Claire was there at the mixer, and we also had I think there's there's someone else I'm missing Nate. That was about it, right, I think that's about I forge if I'm missing anyone. It was just that to that night, So just honestly networking and connecting. Just it was really it was really a fun circle to be around because these people are all in the same collective to to really make a change in these communities. So it's really exciting to see. Yeah, I think the thing that I love about you both, or just like your friendship in general, is the fact that like you can go on, you can have fun, and you can do all these different things. But it's also really awesome to see both of you go to this event. You know, you get there and then you see all of this, these people coming together to make these amazing things happen, and then you want to jump right into that. So it seems like you both had a lot of fun. It was for a really good cause. I do remember seeing a TikTok Rodney. You might not be the best at golf, but you definitely beat Nate's TikTok abilities. Yeah, we both know, Michelle, Nate needs to work on his hits a little bit. So that's okay. You know, we're not we're not preparing him for Dancing with the Stars or anything, Michelle, So we'll get him right. He definitely likes to do a lot of shoulder work, so yeah, his shimmy goes crazy. But yeah, we're gonna keep work first of all, my hips and nights. Bro. I don't know if she's talking about. You know, there are moments, there are moments where he actually like dances, right when you kick, when you cook, when you cook, you're dancing there when you're feeling yourself and you dance like so you are you actually can dance, You actually have rhythm, you know. I feel he gets little camera shot. I get camera shot because of my height, you know, because when you dance you kind of just want to live with you. You just let loose. Now he's looking at you because you blend in right, like Ron, you like five five seven? Did you say five seven five seven? Ron, You've something? All the eyes are on You're like it sucks, right, I'm gonna dance. I just get camera shot. Didn't matter about that. You're out there gigging, live in your best life. That's okay, that's what people want. To see right right, Rodney, you might be five something, but she has six five energy. Don't let him. Yes, yes, okay, okay, I love that. So Rodney, you've been everywhere. You've been in LA, you've been in Austin, in and you traveled around for a Bachelor live on stage. I don't think I've talked to you about how everything went, So you're gonna have to felsen. I loved it. Yeah, So I don't know how much Becca said. Obviously you know Becca, she's the hostess with the mostess. So it was just so such an honor to be on stage with her. Um. I loved it. For me, it was like a life changing experience. I didn't really know wow, I was gonna respond how I was going to react, because I was just like on stage, like what are you? What are we talking about? Like I don't do theater or anything like that. And so I was really excited for the opportunity that chanced to be on stage and to really engage with the fan base kind of like face to face, you know, r and um with Beca. Obviously, Becca is so good at what she does. She kind of just makes you feel comfortable. Like the first show, my first show was Pittsburgh, and I'm just over here shaking, I'm all excited, and I'm just like, oh my god, beck I don't know how this is gonna go. She's like, Rodney, just be you. You'll be fine, You're gonna be great. And it was. It was a phenomenal night, one that I'll never forget for my first show, and just hitting up all these cities on the East Coast that I never would have thought I would hit up ever, So you know, I hit up like a really cool coffee shop in Morristown, New Jersey. I hit up some really good barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina. And being at Atlanta, Georgia. I always wanted to go to Atlanta, and so that was really cool for me. So the experience as a whole, being on stage, meeting these amazing women who shared the stage with me and just kind of gave it there all too and just like their night at the Mansion. So it was really it was really exciting for me. I loved it. I heard you were a fan favorite. I wouldn't I wouldn't say that. It was just it was a lot of fun. Like I wanted to make sure that I was really engaging with the crowd and that they felt my energy as I felt there, So I was kind of feeding off that and I just had a great time. Nate and I were super sad that week because we were going to try to come to the Atlanta show and pop in and see you and support you because you know that we all I mean Nay and I love watching you do your thing. This is kind of weird for me to ask, but I feel like it's something that's commented on all the time. Is it weird or like, how how the two of you this is going to go to both of you? How have the two of you've been able to maintain your relationship or friendship through the show in this weird situation. Let's just let's just let's just talk about it, because I feel like anytime Rodney's, anytime Rodney's on my Instagram story, everything's like, that's weird. Why do you hang out? Really hurts? It really hurts um. I think for me in a sense, it's I look at our experience as a whole, obviously, like we all met the same night, right, and clearly, I truly think everything happens for a reason, And so even watching back with your guys's connection, Like let's shout. I knew you you and I were gonna be cool instantly. I just felt that. But seeing the spark that you guys had, I was like, okay, this is different, and so I knew obviously living with Nate, like living with Nate throughout the process. I come back from a date and I was like, oh, I'm so excited Nate would come back from a date. And Nate's like, bro, you don't understand, Like we are the best time ever, so happy, like me and Michelle. It's a rat. It's like all this stuff. And I was just like, okay, okay, I'm not on that level yet, but you know, I'm out there having fun with the schell too. Like we had a great time, like like you know, apple jokes. But at the end of the day, like I knew, no matter what, like I wanted you happy, right and living with Nate obviously twenty four to seven, we're together, you know, going to sleep, like waking up early for these shoots, all that good stuff. Right, Being so close close with Nate, I got to learn so much about him. I got to learn so much about you, and the more I look at it, I was just like, Okay, well, at the end of the day, Michelle has made the best decision for her. I'm going to respect your decision because I rescue and I want you happy, I want him happy. And it's like, yeah, it's the craziest thing. I never would have thought. I went on the show and just I meet Michelle searching for you, searching for love. We become great friends, and then I meet brand new best friend brother all that stuff. So it's just a crazy world that we live in. But when people ask us this question, it's always funny because we know our dynamic and that's okay. Like I think at the end of the day, maturity and respect is why I'm able to be so close with you. Why we can all you give me advice? Why talk to this man every single day check on me and make sure he's good. We're laughing at joy just like we still live together back at the hotel. So it's just a while world we live in. But this is our life. No, it's our life. Funny. Okay, Wait, so Nate, you're kind of like on the other end of it, because right, like, yeah, you're in the same position a little bit different at the same time though, and it's like, I mean really Nate went in, He's like, that's my future what and that's my new best friend? Like me just exactly No, I mean I knew. I knew like early on, Like I remember, like when he was still in his Apple suit. We were like, you know, by the bar, just just talk. I remember looking down at him like, yo, like I really messed you. He looked up at me, He's like I really like you too, you know. That's really all that's really. We were just joking about how nervous we were to meet you. Man. I first I was intimidated by him though, because the dude, Yeah, because like who pulls up to the show on Apple so that you got to be kind of a crazy dude, Like you're kind of nuts, right, yea. So he ws out, he walks down the stairs in this Apple suit, arms big as hell, and I'm just like he got clean shape, didn't put a little bit of stubble, you know. It kind of like he looks like a fighter, you know, like no neck, just looks like a fighter, like he's just ready to you know, that's six five energy, Rodney, that's six five energy. You don't know what kind of Apple. You don't. When I first when I first saw when I first saw um, when I first saw Rodney, I was like, Yo, this guy's gonna cause a lot of trouble. And then like five seconds into the conversation my first time talking, I was like, Yo, I like this guy. This guy's energy is crazy. Yeah yeah, and then it said that yeah, next you know, we're like, yeah, roommates and just it was funny because um when they asked like because they asked you, like, hey, like like who did you buy with the most? Who would you want to be roommates with? And I was like, I really like, um, the pizza guy, and I really like the Apple guy. And I'm really happy to food. I'm really happy. I'm really happy that they got me with the with them with the Apple guy. So yeah, that's my Oh my god, Ronnie, Ronnie, do you remember this is this is gonna be funny to talk about. But like the hometown date where we had to do where we did, I think it was like a blooper um. How about them? How about them? Apples could be sho Nate? How would you feel nit? How would you feel about hosting or clicking show? So we can stop, be there, be there right there. I don't know if people would be I don't know, I don't know if I feel like I would watch it, But honestly, I feel like Ronnie, all you would do is everything would be in the air fryer. Like that's it. We talked about an air fryer for for Lily still does not shut up about the air fire. Every time we're together, somehow it gets brought up and f friar again. Some air friar company out there needs to talk to Ronnie. You know, you know how you have? Okay, so like on the show, you have maybe ten minutes right to like talk to people, like it's like ten minute increments or whatever. How many times he brought up an air of friar as a part of his ten minute time was actually very very impressive. Yeah, but um, everybody jokes about being the third wheel and all of these things, Nate, this question is specifically for you. Okay, So you found your fiance, you found your best friend. My question to you is with Rodney, what kind of partner do you want to see him with or what kind of partner do you think I think would be the best Oay, Okay, Okay, best from my form, my best tie, bestie in the chest. All right, let's see. I know Ronnie. I know Ronnie. I mean at the end of the day, like somebody Ronnie. I hope that Ronnie finds a woman that genuinely appreciates the type of guy he is, because there's there's not a lot of people in the world who are like Rodney in the sense that you can get you can get thrown into any group of people at any time, and this guy, this guy is just on it. Like I've seen. I've sat back because like, because you know me, sometimes I'm really quiet. I just stayed to myself, and as people don't know how to read that rod I sit back sometimes i just see how Ronnie is with people. I'm just like, holy, Like this guy is like like immediately like hitting these people and then like making them like I love Rodney, Like because I've introduced Ronnie to some of my best friends from Canada, from Seattle, from Austin, and just immediately I'm getting text when Rodney leaving, when Ronnie goes back to LA, I'm going to text like, yo, man, like Ronnie's cool as hell, Like you gotta bring around more often like like this is this guy is cool. It's like, it's just amazing. We'll be we'll be um. For example, the people that we were on the golf course with make those tiktoks. We had just met them. We had no idea who those people are. Ronnie. They fell in love with Ronney in fifteen seconds, you know what I mean. So um, I think I think like somebody who can just appreciate, like and like and like, just let Rodney be rod you know what I mean, and never try and hold hold him back or try and change the type of person he is or or or whatever it is, Like like Ronnie's the type of person that you just need to you need like especially as as as his partner, you gotta you gotta just let my man be him and love him for him and never even consider trying to change this guy, you know what I mean? Because I mean, shit, I like, I I look, I look. Sometimes I'm like, man, I gotta be more like Rodney, you know what I mean, Like this is this is a great motherfucker. Oh my bad, this is a great dude. You know. I'm sorry about that. No, but I'm just saying, like I don't know, I think I think, I think like I think, in relationships, it's so easy to kind of like try and changing the person. But I hope that that for Rodney, like just just whoever the girl is, like, don't ever try to change this guy, because this guy is. This guy's a one already, you know what I mean. So just just respecting and and uh and and allowing him to be the guy who he is, because this dude is, he's on top of it, this man team. He makes sure that everybody's taking care of He makes sure that everybody's like knows that they're seeing. Like his birthday party was huge, huge, Like he had everybody has a birthday party. He made sure that everybody got Rod time, so that nobody was kind of just like, hey, like, why why is Rod not talking to me? Or whatever it is? Because he's got like fifty people as his birthday party that he's invited. Make sure everybody gets their individual Rod time. You know, nobody felt left out from Rod, you know what I mean, because everybody's there for Rod, you know what I mean. So, um, he's just a special individual. And you know, I just hope that whoever whoever you end up with, I mean, they respect that because if they don't come on, hello, yeah she's not approved. I don't want her. I just can't. I can't. Okay, Okay, I mean that's your one man right there. Clearly you're a hype man, Okay, Ronnie. So hypothetically, hypothetically you already know what's coming. Hypothetically, if you were going to paradise, what would you be looking in a partner, what would you be looking for? What does that give me your top two traits? I definitely want and need someone who is strong and independent, just like just like Nate said, I don't I want someone to come into my life to enhance it. You know, I don't really need someone to kind of change who I am. So, you know, I just hit thirty, so all the growth throughout my life, I'm realizing, Hey, I don't want to come into someone's life and change that person, Like, I don't want to change that person to become someone who I want to need, Like, I just want to love and accept that person for who they are, and I just need the same right Because just like Nate said, and obviously Michelle you know this too, but like you know, when I walk into the room, I do want to make sure everyone feels seen, and I want to make sure everyone is happy and excited and having a good time, Like that is what truly makes me happy. Like I've I've always been the host way and before the show existed for me, like I've always been hosting game nights, hosting Sunday football game game Day. It's like I always want to make sure that people have a good environment to be themselves, open up, be vulnerable, stuff like that that we did on the show as well. So I'm really truly looking for a woman not necessarily who has to match my energy, but can make sure that since I'm going to go in and give my all, she has to give her all too, and just really truly be strong and independent and confident in who she is, knowing that, Okay, I'm talking to Rodney with intention. He can enhance my life and I can enhance his, and this is how And I do want a woman who can challenge me and really truly make me a better man as well. But yeah, I think that's really really really well said. And I know I know that you've said that you need two days approval, but let me tell you you need my approval too. Why because she's going to be spending more time with me than with you because of how y'all are. Okay, so understand that I have veto power and in fact, I have more Vito power than Nate. Okay, I just want to lay it clear. I understand to be my best friend. I was like, no, but that's facts though, that that really is facts. That is facts. But I would like to flip the script real quick because I know that you already gave me some loving praise. WHI y'all didn't have to do that, so I really appreciate that y'all see me getting read. Okay, um, but you know looking at you two, Um, y'all know how much I love y'all obviously. I mean it goes without saying. We've had talks on our own where we've already had this, but just to kind of say it on on screen real quick with us, UM, I'm so grateful for the impact that you guys have not only made in my life, but just kind of like baschelination as a whole, I think really just more so just kind of like hope, but just two amazing people coming together and that's like that's what we live for, right, It's just we want to see good people together and that just really made me happy. And so I just hope y'all know how deeply I care about both of you. And yes, like you know, Michelle, we grew so close from the show, and anytime we have a call or a conversation, I'm always excited and grateful, and you've always offered me great advice, like even post show. It's just every time we talk. That's what I'm saying. I'm like, you're never going to stop teaching, Michelle, because you still teach me. You teach everybody you talk to. Like all we can do is learn so much from you and all the knowledge that you've gained. And like I said, I'm not even talking about Bachelnation anymore, I'm just talking about in life in general. So I'm so grateful for you in that and Tony you already you know now I feel, man, I go on and on forever. But I'm just grateful for your brotherhood, your guidance, your wisdom, you know, even us having a call this morning. Man, I'm just I'm grateful for everything that you guys bring into my life as a collective. So obviously I know YouTube just truly phenomenal human beings, and I just I really truly love you know, so I'm really grateful for you guys much rod appreciate. It is hard though, because it's like having it's like one thing to be in this world, but then it's also one thing to be in a relationship in this world. And so like you see, I think Rodney gets a very close up perspective of just you know, any movements we make is are constantly judged, like on the relationship, right, And you know, Nate and I haven't seen each other for a little bit, so you know, all these different people pop off, like they broke up. There's articles like we're not together, Why hasn't Nate and moved of Dan, like all this different stuff, and it's just it's really crazy to think that people care to that extent, right, And it's hard being under that type of pressure, but also like having really close friends from this world who understand this world and like don't react to that stuff because I mean, Roddie, you see it. I mean you must see it, right, Like yeah, I just I think it's That's the last thing I'll touch on too, Michelle, And I'm glad you brought it up is like, no one understands the pressure you two are under and being out in public with you guys seeing phones out like, I'll just I'll just be chilling. I gotta hat a mask whatever I'm able to fall into. This guy's you two can't like hat mask hood. You know, it doesn't matter. You guys will always be noticed. You two are two beautiful distinct faces, right, and so everybody knows you guys, and the pressure that comes with that. I can't even imagine the level that it's for you too. And you guys handle it so well, and so that's always the first thing that comes to mind when people are just like nay, Michelle, what can you tell me? I'm like, you'll never understand the pressure that they're under because they won't show it. But it's a lot of pressure. They can be overwhelmed. But I love how you two handle it. You know, it's always with maturity, respect, love. It's Oh, you guys just phenomenal. I can write about that all day, but you guys deal that deal with that very well. No, what do you how do you feel about the pressure, because there's a lot it's different, right, I mean, I've been through this twice now, Yeah, yeah, this is your first time going through this. Yeah. Talking about the pressure, I mean I don't know. I mean the pressure sucks, you know, like the pressure sucks. But I mean like, hey, you know, what are you gonna do? How do you? How do you how did you say we'll lean on each other with that pressure? Um? For me and you? Like for like, how do you? How do you and I lean on each other? Yeah? I mean for me and you, I mean we just we talk it through, you know. It's it's like, yeah, we just we just talk it through. But I mean at the same time, like this is your second time around, you're like a veteran by by this time. I think like at the beginning, Um, that's when like the pressure that was like how I was dealing with things six months ago compared to now is night and day. Right, Like the pressures of like six months ago that was nuts. Um, But now it's kind of just like, oh, i' went paddleboarding and there's a picture of you with a girl that's one of my best friends on Reddit and people are saying I'm cheating on you. It's like, yeah, it doesn't doesn't even bother, you know, And I was like like, okay, okay, guys, like I've known this girl. Actually, just the other day there was one of my college roommate who was my best friend, my best friend and my old roommate, his girlfriend of fourteen years. There's a picture of her and I and people were saying that, you know, obviously I'm cheating on Michelle because there's a picture of us. It's like that's my roommate. That's my college roommate, and like my best friend's girl in the fourteen years. Like so like the pressures of like what kind of Rodney was saying of. Um, just like you know, every movie you make, whatever, there's things people are talking about, Oh they're broken up, or oh Nates at partying or um, Nate's spending too much time with the boys, whatever it is. Um. Now it's kind of just like, oh, that's funny. Whatever. I don't I don't really read too deep into it. Um. But now if we had this conversation six months ago, I'd be like, oh, this is nuts, Like you know, talking to you about it, like all the time, calling Rodney twelve times a day to been to him, um, calling my mom to been to her. Whatever. It is just because like it's like, you know, it's just all new, but um, you know, it's it's nice because this is your second time around, right, So um, if it was both of our first times, I think we kind of deal with this a lot differently. But since you've already kind of you've been through the ringer um with this this whole reality TV um thing, right, so um, it's nice too to be engaged with somebody who kind of already knew how to navigate the world and could kind of like let me know, like hey, like, yeah, people are talking a lot, but it's also like the two percent of people who are the loudest the other forty one let me do math really quick, so really quick math. Forty nine percent of people care, people do care, but two percent of the people they're just the loudest, and that's the only ones that you see. Yeah, I think the biggest part is the fact that it really doesn't matter what everybody else is like thinking or responding to, you know, because it's like I if I see that picture, I'm like, like, it doesn't you know what I mean? The other person. So it's like all these different things can pop up or this or that. It's just and it's all perception. But it's like, you're not phase on one end, I'm not phase on the other end. And then you know, it's just it's just not something that we necessarily um put energy towards. So Rodney, hey, if you once you find your person, we got you, you know. But all right, one more question before we move into our rose and thorn for the day. We've talked a lot about the Bachelorette and just relationships being in the spotlight everything with that. How surprised are you guys that you were able to come out of this situation with like such meaningful friendships. I'm I mean for me, I'm I was definitely very surprised. Like I, coming into this process, you have no idea what's going to happen. And so obviously the goal is we all go on there searching for love, and then we know the chances are tough. Like thirty guys, one woman, it's going to be a tough situation, and so the rest of us it's like, Okay, well what are we gonna do? But I didn't understand the process behind so much bonding. There's so much downtime, you know. Twenty four seven it's like, hey, if you're not on that one on one, you're not on a group date. You're with the guys. And so when people are like, how are you guys so close? I'm like, well, you know, you take away all distractions, you know, phone, no music, no TV, no, none of that all day every day. It's just human to human interaction. And I know it sounds crazy in today's world because we're also connected to our phones, iPads, tablets, stuff like that, But would you take all those distractions away and it's just you and another human being in a room and you're all you got. It's like, okay, well, I guess we got to talk and learn about each other because I don't have a phone to distract me anything like that. So I never would have guessed how close we would all become after this process. It's crazy now are used to right, NA, Are you surprised by like how much you've learned? Because I mean it's a it's a crazy experience to go through and you come into it. I mean it's reality TV. It's like this different life, and I feel like viewers don't necessarily understand like how much you actually can learn about yourself during this process. Are you surprised? That's a good question. Yeah, I think I think I'm surprised. Yeah, No, I think I think I was surprised when it comes to that, Um you're asking more so just like on what I like, Am I surprised on what I learned? Like? Yeah, like what have you learned? Like, what have you learned? If you feel like you've learned something, Yeah, I mean like for me, like the biggest thing I learned is you know, it's not on the whole romantic side of things. Um, it's more so that I went my entire life thinking that, um, since my parents got divorced that four years old, that it just didn't affect me. I was too young, Like how could it? How could it affect me? I was four years old? Right, Um? And then next thing, you know, like during that whole process, just how much family was brought up, whether it's between me and you or um, you know, me and Rodney, or or me and some of the producers, whatever, it is just talking about family. Um. You know I remember having like when I when I first got back from film, it was like one of the first conversations I had with my mom was just like like I had no idea, you know, And so it was it was nice for me to kind of learn that about myself that um, my parents divorced actually did kind of mess me up, um, and then be able to kind to do what needs to be done to kind of, you know, fix that. So but yeah, that's like, if we're talking about what I learned the most, that's what I understand where I learned the most of And I know that that's not the romantic answer that I think a lot of viewers want for me, but it's my honest answer. But you know, I had no idea how much that my parents divorce really didn't mess me up. So, like Michelle, you and the show so much helped us as men open up, be vulnerable, talk about our feelings. And that's something we never do, like as men being brought up, especially as black men, that's something we are never ever taught, you know, And that for us to for you to open up that space for us, and then us to continue in the rooms when hey, Michelle's done for the day, like hey, we got to go to our rooms and stuff like that. Like we just kept talking and kept learning, kept opening up. I was like, hey, so, what do you miss most about being back home or what's something that you're looking for in a future wife, like all this different stuff that we get to learn from, and it's so cool for us to open up and be vulnerable and I actually talk stuff out because that's something that we were never talked before, so right, right, and even like even like towards what you said of like viewers wanting a romantic answer, honestly I would I would have responded very similar to both of you where I think walking away from this experience and even my experience before being the Bachelorette as a contestant, it's like the things that I learned the most was I wasn't good at vulnerable, being vulnerable, but I learned how to and I pushed myself to be vulnerable and then also seeing the effects and the positive effects on my relationships and friendships that that has. And so that once you step off the show, right, that is still intact, especially when you're friends with people who went through that with you, right, Like, that's just what's normal because that's how your friendship started, is talking about your feelings, right, So it's so much easier when you're going through a different difficult peace in life to be able to you know, reach out to Nate or for Nate, you to reach out to Rodney and talk about those feelings and be vulnerable because when you met that was almost like what was set right? That's normal for you guys, definitely. But um, we are about to wrap it up here. It's been a lot of fun. We've I feel like we've covered a lot. We've covered a lot today. This is like a true therapy session. But um, before we let you go, it's our time to share our rose and thorns of the week. And so you boys are gonna let us know what your best moment of the week is and what was the messiest moment of the week. Um, I I will I only can imagine what you might have. I will start us off not surprised that that Rodney and Nate are cracking up right now, all the inside jokes. I will start us off. I'm going to start with my thorn first. I would say my thorn first is just the school. The heaviness of everything going on and having those conversations have been fairly difficult and just you know, thinking about teachers this week, and then moving forward to my rose would be the fact that this weekend it is going to be Minnesota Lake weekend because the weather is finally nice. Everyone has their boats out on the dock, so it'll be nice to be able to put your devices down and just like spend time with friends. Are we ready? Yes, yeah, yeah, already, right, go ahead and take it away. Um yeah, So my thorn obviously would would have to be the same thing, you know, for me, I just posted about all my story too, I think like all this did. But first and foremost, you know, quick shout outs and prayers to to Texas and Buffalo as well. Um. You know, it's something that's just been weighing heavy on my mind and on my heart. Um. So yeah, I think we've all had a really tough week just as a nation, as a people, um, just struggling with kind of the world that we live in, and just praying for hope and change and actual change for once. So um, and then my my roles would be, uh, you know, hanging out with my family on this long weekend you know last week, and obviously spending more time with Tune day on the boat. You know, that's always good time. But this man in his city, it's always funny, but this this upcoming weekend, I will be able to spend some time with my family and meet my brand new and nephew. So I'm excited about that's exciting. Yeah, a little nephew, Kyro. I'm excited. That's awesome. Yeah, that's nice. That's nice. Um yeah, no, I mean same same as pretty much anybody else in the nation. We're talking about the Thorne of the week every and that happened in Texas. It's just, um, it's so hard to process. I don't know about you. I talked about this with Michelle yesterday. I actually I haven't talked to you about yeah, Rodney, but like I don't have to process stuff like that. So um, I'm I actually got into conversation with my mom the the other day yesterday. I don't know, just trying to like we just got into the conversation about like like like our humans wired in a way to even be able to process kind of like you know, mass shootings, especially when it's involved second, third and fourth graders and just what it says. It's like twenty two people are dead now, right, It's just like you know, like or even wired in a way to be able to process that. So yeah, long story short, that's definitely definitely my thorn of the week. Um rows of this week, um rows of this week. Um I get to see Michelle next week, so it's not for this week, but it is for next week. So that's always exciting. So you know, actually in a week from today, so that's actually it's quite exciting. A week from today from today, it is a week. It is a week. Yeah, no, it'll be nice. Sorry, Rodney, I have him for a month of June and July and August, so okay, good bye. All right, Well, it's been awesome having you guys on here. Thank you Bachelor Happy our listeners, and thank you Nate and Rodney for sharing your positivity, bringing your good energy and vibes like you always do. Make sure to hit us up on social. You can follow us at Bachelor Happy Hour on Instagram and then from there you will find everything you need to know to follow us on Twitter and TikTok. Bachelor Happy Hour is also available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen. You can listen add free by subscribing to Wondering plus an Apple Podcasts or the Wondering app. Thank you again, Nate and Rodney and thank you everyone to see you next week.