Clayton on His Engagement to Lana Del Rey and Aaron’s Biggest Note from Producers | Happy Hour

Summary

Bachelor Happy Hour – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Clayton on His Engagement to Lana Del Rey and Aaron’s Biggest Note from Producers | Happy Hour
Air Date: April 22, 2026
Hosts: Charity Lawson & Rachel Recchia
Guests: Clayton Johnson, Aaron Kong

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Episode Overview

On this episode, Charity and Rachel continue their behind-the-scenes tour of Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette with candid interviews from standout cast members. The focus is twofold: Clayton Johnson shares the real story behind his past relationship and engagement with superstar Lana Del Rey, his journey as a country musician, and his unique Bachelor path. Meanwhile, Aaron Kong opens up about his Bachelor nomination, navigating dating in Utah and beyond, his outlook on love and solitude, his strong ties to family and faith, and even addresses his infamous laugh (and resulting producer warnings). Both interviews are lighthearted, engaging, and filled with personal revelations, franchise lore, and a bit of “tea.”

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Featured Interview: Clayton Johnson on Love, Nashville, and Lana Del Rey

Segment Start: [02:59]

Meeting Lana Del Rey & Their Relationship

• Clayton discusses his initial meeting with Lana Del Rey at church, their reconnection during the pandemic, and the depth of their bond.
  • "We really became best friends over that time... when you're together in person, like, we are pretty inseparable..."
    — Clayton [03:34–04:15]
• He recounts the unique connection over country music and shared dreams, how their relationship evolved with time, and how they sometimes circled back to each other between other relationships.
• Clayton shares the professional high of writing his first #1 song for Lana and Quavo from Migos.
  • "As a songwriter, to have that kind of accomplishment and to do it with somebody that you cared about... it's been a dream."
    — Clayton [05:01]
• On the breakup: He’s happy for Lana, who is now married to someone else, and expresses nothing but gratitude and positivity.
  • "If you really love somebody in the purest form, how could you be upset at that?"
    — Clayton [07:03]

Addressing Bachelor Nation Rumors

• Clayton clarifies that joining the show was never about revenge or spiting Lana, and that it was entirely his own choice.
  • "This was for me. This was for my journey. Had nothing to do with that whatsoever."
    — Clayton [07:27–07:37]

Navigating Public Relationships

• The experience of dating in the public eye helped him relate to Bachelorette Taylor, who is also accustomed to media and attention.

Nashville Music Scene & Career Moves

• Details his rapid success in Nashville, including signing with Universal Music and RCA within two months of moving.
  • "For me, I just feel so lucky to be able to do what I do...and still do what I love as well."
    — Clayton [05:15]

Bonus Story! Accidentally Asking Out a Former Bachelorette

• Clayton unexpectedly meets Caitlyn Bristow at an NFL player’s party, asks her out (not knowing she was a former Bachelorette). She was taken, but he later finds out her breakup happened weeks after—timing!
  • "If you're watching, I remember you. You made quite an impression in the barn."
    — Clayton [09:00–10:34]
  • Crowd laughs at the story’s country-music-song vibes.

Faith & Family Foundations

• Faith is central for Clayton, inspired by his parents’ 40-year marriage and overcoming difficult upbringings.
  • "My parents...they found their faith...they could've gone down two roads, and they went down the right one."
    — Clayton [11:20–11:45]
• He seeks a partner who’s supportive and aspires to mutual encouragement and best-friend-level connection.

Bachelor House & Drama Teasers

• Describes being open and wearing his heart on his sleeve, sometimes rubbing other contestants the wrong way with bold moves.
  • "I make bold moves in my life...some of the guys might have rubbed them the wrong way..."
    — Clayton [13:59]
• Teases drama but affirms all cast members were "there for the right reasons" and respectful.

Life in Nashville, Bachelor Connections & Celebrity Encounters

• Shares experiences from touring as a musician (played with Sabrina Carpenter, LMFAO, met Jack Antonoff, Bruce Springsteen, Adam Lambert, and even Elton John FaceTimed Lana).
• Nashville tips, cowboy hat collection, and chance run-ins with other Bachelor-alumni like Casey.

The "Hot Seat" Game – Rapid Fire Fun

[16:44–21:20]

• Pickup Line: He’s not a pickup line guy, prefers authentic compliments or writing a song.
• Biggest Crowd Played For: Stadium and arena tours with acts like Sabrina Carpenter, LMFAO, Good Charlotte.
• Celebrity in Phone: Lana Del Rey, Adam Lambert, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen.
• Cowboy Gear: 9 pairs of cowboy boots, five hats.

A Surprise Guest

• Clayton introduces his beloved rescue dog, who’s met stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran.

Closing

• Clayton shares social handles, upcoming music plans ([23:25]) and invites Charity and Rachel to Nashville.

---

Featured Interview: Aaron Kong on Faith, Food, and Finding Joy

Segment Start: [28:26]

Bachelor Application Story

• Aaron was nominated for the show unknowingly by a friend-of-a-friend after a casual watch party; initially thought the recruiting call was a scam.
  • "I was like, I totally thought I was being scammed. Straight up, I thought I was being scammed."
    — Aaron [31:15]

Dating History & Motivations

• Admits he’s never been deeply in love but is a devoted uncle, eager for fatherhood, and open to the potential of finding "the one" through the show.
  • "I've never been in a relationship where I was like, I'm so in love with this person, I want to get married...what an awesome opportunity to take a huge chance on myself."
    — Aaron [32:51]

Faith, Family, and Upbringing

• Christian faith provides structure but is not a "prerequisite" in a partner.
• He values open-mindedness, objective self-examination, and respects Taylor’s independent pursuit of defining her truth.
  • "It's kind of scary...And I think she's very brave and willing to define how truth looks for her."
    — Aaron [35:21]

Life & Dating in Utah

• Talks about Mormon culture: strong emphasis on family, sometimes leading to marriage pressure.
  • "For cultures...where family is super emphasized, I think that can lead to an extreme of, like, a hyper fixation on marriage. And I think that causes a lot of anxiety or pressure..."
    — Aaron [38:01]
• Grew up on the West Coast (San Diego, Seattle), only later lived in Utah.
• Values non-conformity and taking things at his own pace.

Lessons from Solitude & Jay Shetty’s "Eight Rules of Love"

• Aaron has embraced solitude, taking pride in learning to love himself to be ready to love others.
  • "If you're able to love that really, really imperfect person (yourself), how much more capable will you be of loving everyone else?"
    — Aaron [40:10]

Night One, Bachelor Mansion Experience

• Hit it off with fellow contestants, including Rod and Michael Baba; describes genuine camaraderie and positive energy.
• Laughs at his own initial lack of franchise knowledge, and shares he clicked instantly with Taylor in his limo exit.
  • "She's so personable, super easy to talk to, really fun."
    — Aaron [48:55]
• Confirms that, unlike many previous seasons, the cast really got along, with little drama night one.
• Amused by learning why contestants can’t eat on one-on-one dates (thanks to Jesse Palmer’s infamous mess!).

Producer Notes: The Legendary Laugh

• Producers had to rein in Aaron’s infectiously loud laugh — it routinely sets off Apple Watch decibel warnings.
  • "There have been times where I've been laughing next to someone and their decibel warning goes off."
    — Aaron [54:07]
• After initial embarrassment, Aaron now "owns it" as an authentic expression of joy.

The "Hot Seat" Game – Getting to Know Aaron

[54:39–60:12]

• K-Pop Movie Fandom: Huge K-Pop Demon Hunters fan; favorite song is "Free" for its harmonies.
• Cooking in the Mansion: Steaks for the house; claims solid chef skills including chicken tikka masala.
• Utah Dirty Soda Order: Loves "Endless Summer" from Swig (Mountain Dew, pomegranate, grapefruit, lots of lime).
• Strong Foodie Energy: Loves potlucks, believes in food as a connector of people.

Reflections on Love, Vulnerability, and Community

• Expresses emotional readiness for fatherhood and deeper love.
• Final message: Encourages listeners to reach out if they feel alone; others are likely feeling the same and connection can happen if you take the first step.
  • "You may feel alone, but you’re not always alone. Easier said than done, but, yeah, there’s hope in the world."
    — Aaron [61:31]

Socials

• IG & TikTok: @aaronkahng

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Covid was a lot like dog years. You know, one month in Covid time is really like one year in the real world." — Clayton [06:14]
• "If you really love somebody in the purest form, how could you be upset at that?" — Clayton [07:03]
• "There have been times where I've been laughing next to someone and their decibel warning goes off." — Aaron [54:07]
• "If you’re able to love that really, really imperfect person, how much more capable will you be of loving everyone else?" — Aaron [40:10]
• "I was eating the food. I was just night one. No, but I'll be completely honest. If there was drama going on, I wasn't aware of it." — Aaron [52:12]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:59] Clayton Johnson Interview Start

• [03:34] Lana Del Rey Relationship Story

• [05:15] Songwriting Success, Faith & Nashville Career

• [08:26] Caitlyn Bristow Story

• [13:31] Bachelor Drama Tease

• [16:44] Hot Seat Game with Clayton

• [21:42] Surprise Dog Introduction

• [23:25] Clayton Signs Off, Plugs Socials

• [28:26] Aaron Kong Interview Start

• [31:15] Aaron on His Nomination and Bachelor Scam Fears

• [35:21] Faith, Open-Mindedness, and Personal Growth

• [40:10] Jay Shetty, Solitude, and Learning to Love Yourself

• [47:13] Night One at Bachelor Mansion

• [54:07] The Iconic Laugh and Producer Notes

• [54:39] Hot Seat Game with Aaron

• [61:31] Final Reflections and Advice

• [61:57] Aaron's Social Handles

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Episode Tone & Vibe

• Warm, funny, conversational, filled with honest self-reflection and Bachelor Nation inside jokes.
• Candid, occasionally heartfelt, but always upbeat and playful.

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Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

If you missed this one, you’ll come away with:

• Real insight into relationships post-fame and in the Bachelor world.
• Previews of potential season drama and franchise connections.
• Life and dating advice from two thoughtful and surprisingly down-to-earth contestants.
• A few good laughs—especially about steaks, loud laughs, and the art of letting decibel warnings fly.

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Where to find more:

• Clayton Johnson: Spotify, Instagram (@claywatch)
• Aaron Kong: Instagram/TikTok (@aaronkahng)

Transcript

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[Charity]

Okay, everyone, welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hour. We are here with more interviews with the men of Taylor season, and we are dying to hear all about Clayton and Lana Del Rey's relationship. We won't keep you any longer, Charity. Take it away.

[Rachel]

We obviously have now figured out this is. This is the difference of when we were doing the cast bios. We didn't know, but now we know that you have a history with Alana Del Rey. Please give us the lore, give us the backstory as much as you want and are willing to share.

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah, of course. I mean, above anything, I. I just respect her as a person. She's a pretty private person, so I really don't want to go into any crazy details, but at the same time, that was a huge chapter of my life, and it is part of my truth and my story and something that was really impactful in my journey and stuff, too. But, yeah, it's. It's been a few years now. We met in passing at church, and it kind of reconnected during COVID and I was traveling back and forth to Nashville at the time between LA and. And we just really connected over what we wanted our futures to look like. Old country music and. Yeah, what our futures looked like to us. So it's really easy to connect. And I felt like we have. We had a month of just FaceTiming, and I feel like we really became best friends over that time. So you have that together and then you're together in person. Like, we are pretty inseparable when that happens. Yeah. I have nothing but amazing things to say about her. We obviously had a working relationship for a while after. And after we broke up, we're still kind of maybe testing the waters. We kind of found ourselves coming back to each other in between people we were dating and things. But my first number one song I ever wrote, last year, I wrote for Lana in Quavo from Migos. So as a songwriter, to have that kind of accomplishment and to do it with somebody that you cared about and care about, it's. It's been a dream, so.

[Charity]

Oh, my goodness.

[Rachel]

I don't think I even realized that you wrote that song.

[Clayton Johnson]

I like.

[Rachel]

Amazing. Oh, my God. Have you heard it, Rachel?

[Charity]

Yes.

[Clayton Johnson]

You know, that sounds amazing.

[Charity]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel]

Yeah, Him. Quavo on there. That's. It's amazing. Oh, my God.

[Clayton Johnson]

The whole story. Maybe that's a story for another podcast, but it's been an amazing ride in the songwriting space. You know, there's a lot of ups and downs in music, and I really felt, God, the last time I was in Nashville, just be like, hey, you need to trust me and take the leap of faith and just do it. And I just did it. I moved to Nashville, and within two months, I had signed a publishing deal with Universal Music, and I had signed my record deal with RCA in a matter of months. So for me, I just feel so lucky to be able to do what I do, to be able to create and to make a living with obviously the ultimate goal, the ultimate dream of being able to be a father and a husband and still do what I love as well.

[Charity]

So I'm like, well, congratulations, because this is just such an incredible story, and I do hope we get to hear more. I heard you guys got engaged pretty quickly. Are you typically someone that falls pretty fast?

[Clayton Johnson]

I think it takes somebody very special for me to fall head over heels.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

Or somebody. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, like, I'm all in. Because it's very rare for me to find somebody like that. And I think Covid was a lot like dog years. You know, one month in Covid time is really like one year in the real world.

[Charity]

Completely agree. I still feel that same age. I will never age. Yes. Yes. Crazy. So it.

[Clayton Johnson]

I think it accelerate things a little bit, but at the same time, it just felt so right in all the ways. But she's obviously. She's married now, and I think that when you love somebody and it comes from a pure place, and she's somebody that I loved and I love for her to find her person and for her to be as happy as she is, like, she is glowing. Nothing could make me happier for her.

[Rachel]

I just love.

[Clayton Johnson]

It might stink a little bit, to be honest with you.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

But if you really love somebody in the purest form, how could you be upset at that? So I do want to clear the air real quick with you guys too, because I know Rachel, you had brought it up and some other news outlets too. And I totally understand why that maybe I went on the show to spite her because she's a fan of reality TV and of the Bachelorette. I truly don't have any place in my heart for any sort of revenge. Any hate.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

Not come from A place of wanting to get back at her by any means. This was for me. This was for. For my journey. So. Had nothing to do with that whatsoever.

[Charity]

Yeah, no, I appreciate you clearing that up because when we first heard. I mean, obviously being in such a public relationship, it was so crazy. So you kind of, in a way, are familiar with dating kind of in the spotlight. Were you able to translate that into dating Taylor on the show?

[Clayton Johnson]

That's. That's one of the things I told the producers that interest me with Taylor is she could totally relate and understand to things that I handle.

[Charity]

It's a lot.

[Clayton Johnson]

I'm a D list. I'm a very D list country artist. But I've been in the eye with. With Lana in the past, and I'm still a little bit, you know, out there doing my music thing too. So to have some. Somebody that I can relate to on that level and knows. Yeah, I've already navigated that with somebody before. Was another reason why I thought this would be a great opportunity for me. But I do have to tell you guys this. I was waiting. I haven't told anybody this yet.

[Charity]

Tell us.

[Clayton Johnson]

I actually asked out another former Bachelorette lead, not knowing who she was.

[Charity]

Wait, first of all, who is it and when?

[Rachel]

Wait, I think I know, but I actually don't know.

[Clayton Johnson]

Do you know?

[Rachel]

Do I know? Okay, Is it recent? Is it in the past, like five years?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yes.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Clayton Johnson]

There's no way she remembered me. That would make. That would actually make my day if she remembered me.

[Charity]

Is it?

[Clayton Johnson]

It's. Yeah.

[Dr. Jake Goodman]

Caitlyn.

[Charity]

Caitlyn.

[Rachel]

Caitlyn Bristow?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yes.

[Charity]

Okay. Wayne, you asked out Caitlyn Bristow, first of all.

[Clayton Johnson]

I did. So here's the team for you. Here's a story. And I did not know who she was, but I'm a huge NFL fan. I'm a huge football fan, particularly the Niners. Bang bang Niner Gang. And one of our star players lives outside of Nashville here. His name is George Kittle. He has this amazing compound here in Tennessee, and a friend of mine brought me to his house for, like, a preseason party he does every year, Kittle Fest. And he had this huge party. Jelly Roll played, a bunch of artists played. He had a DJ in his barn.

[Charity]

Can he invite us next year?

[Rachel]

I know.

[Clayton Johnson]

I'm hoping you get by next year.

[Rachel]

Maybe.

[Clayton Johnson]

George, if you're watching, let me come play next year. I would love to, but I met this girl in the barn. This sounds like the start of a country song, to be honest with you.

[Rachel]

No, truly, she was so sweet, and

[Clayton Johnson]

she just had this amazing energy about her. She was so kind, so fun, beautiful. I remember her eyes. And we just had these little, very innocent, flirty interactions throughout the night. And I'm not an aggressive guy, like, I told you guys. So I was like, you know what? I'm going to regret this if I don't talk to this girl and ask her out. And I did. And she was so kind about it, but she's like, I'm sorry. I'm in a relationship. And the next day, I saw some tagged photos, went to her profile, saw that she was on the show, and then I saw her and her boyfriend or fiance had broken up, like, two weeks after that. So I was like, darn it, timing was not on my side. But if you're watching, I remember you. You made quite an impression in the barn.

[Rachel]

Oh, my God. She's gonna love that.

[Charity]

Yes. This is so crazy. It feels like all your journeys and all your roads were leading straight to the Bachelor, but they're all like.

[Rachel]

Yeah, they're all interconnected, Intertwined, whatever the word is.

[Aaron Kong]

It really is crazy.

[Clayton Johnson]

Like, it's insane. But God knows what he's doing, and that's why I've just taken a leap of faith in every aspect of my life in love and career. And it's always led me this crazy path that might have been a roller coaster to get there, but it's always led me right where I'm supposed to be. So here I am talking to Rachel and Charity.

[Charity]

Here you are, so happy.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Charity]

So it's. I mean, it sounds like your faith is something that is so meaningful to you, and we know that's something really meaningful to Taylor. Is that something that's really important in your relationships?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

Like what you're looking for?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah, the foundation of. Of everything that I do. My parents have been married almost 40 years, and it help gave some from some pretty rough upbringings. My dad was in the foster care system and has some of the craziest stories I've ever heard that a child's had to deal with. And same with my mother. And they found their faith and they could have gone down two roads and they went down the right one. And they've had amazing, amazing relationship and have showed me what a true relationship in love looks like. It's not always easy. It's not always butterflies and rainbows. There's been a lot of tough times, but they have worked through everything together, made their faith the foundation of everything they've done, and they've Just been so inspiring to me and what I want in a relationship. So I know I'm only 28 years

[Charity]

old, but, you know, how old actually are you?

[Clayton Johnson]

I know, like, what is age really, Rachel?

[Charity]

You know, it's just a number, but that is so beautiful. Are there any other qualities that you need in a partner or that you're

[Rachel]

like looking for in this season of your life? Yeah, Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

I think with my career and stuff too, I want somebody who is supportive and understanding of what I do. I always want to be so important. I always, you know, I want to do it in the right way and be respectful of my person. Never cross any lines whatsoever with, with fans or anything else. But I want to be able to support them and their dreams and stuff too. Whether it to be the CEO of a company, whether it's to be a stay at home mom with her kids, I want to be able to support her at anything that she is doing and I want her to be able to support me in what I'm doing with my career and my goals and my dreams and stuff too. But I, I think having a best friend is like the foundation of everything, you know, all the intimacy, everything that comes in a marriage. You spend so much time together on a daily basis. Going to the grocery store, going to the dentist, running errands, cleaning the house. Like, to have somebody who's your best friend and do all that stuff is the absolute dream. So, yeah, that's, that's what I'm looking for. And Taylor definitely had a lot of those qualities. And yeah, hopefully the season comes out and you guys can see how it all plays out. There is definitely some drama and there's definitely some beef on the show.

[Charity]

Anything you can share?

[Clayton Johnson]

I mean, I will just say this. I, like I said, I wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm very honest and open with my emotions and how I'm feeling at all times. And sometimes I can rub people the wrong way, but that's how I am. I don't hold things in. I talk about it and yeah, there's, there's.

[Charity]

Did you have some beef with the guys in the season?

[Clayton Johnson]

Not, not beef, but I think without

[Rachel]

getting any emotions are running high.

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah, but I, I make bold moves in my life, like in my career and in things I do. So I think I made some bold moves that some of the guys might have rubbed them the wrong way, you know, so you'll see that it was never with the intention of, of hurting anybody or trying to tick anybody off. But at the same time, Like, I was there for Taylor, and she was my focus, and that's why I was there. So I think some of the guys, you know, but, you know, hopefully the show comes out and you guys will be able to see it.

[Charity]

Not here to make friends.

[Rachel]

I mean, so much tease. Yes.

[Charity]

Wait, now I need to see Tea

[Clayton Johnson]

is hot Charity, let me tell you. So hopefully it comes out because there's. There's some amazing moments and a lot of drama. But all that being said, I can genuinely say, like, any single one of these guys Taylor would have been lucky to end up with, like, everybody was so genuine. Everybody was there for the right reasons. There's not a single person that I screw that guy. I never want to see him again in my life. Like, everybody was. So don't get me wrong, there's a lot of differences. You got a lot of different worlds and stuff coming together, but at the end of the day, like, everybody was there for Taylor.

[Aaron Kong]

So. Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

Just hoping you guys get to see the season. It'd be.

[Charity]

I know.

[Clayton Johnson]

Get to see it.

[Rachel]

We are so hopeful.

[Charity]

Yes. Absolutely.

[Rachel]

Rooting for you guys.

[Clayton Johnson]

Where's home for you guys?

[Rachel]

I live in New York.

[Charity]

Yes. She's on One hour of sleep right now, so we are. We're loving the fact that she's here, guys.

[Clayton Johnson]

Yes. Well, if you guys ever make it to Nashville, I know you already interviewed Casey. Casey lives here, too. We'll go to Stephanie. We'll show you guys. Nashville is awesome. It's been a dream being here. And. Yeah, we got to get you guys out here soon.

[Charity]

Have you and Casey hung out?

[Clayton Johnson]

I've seen Casey out. I'll say that. I've seen him out. Nashville's a small town, so I have ran into him.

[Charity]

Okay.

[Aaron Kong]

And he's.

[Clayton Johnson]

He's a great guy. He's a sweetheart.

[Rachel]

Will you be at CMA Fest? There's a possibility that I might be there.

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah, I'll be. I'll be at CMA Fest. I'm playing.

[Rachel]

Amazing.

[Charity]

You're performing?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah, I took some. Took some months off to do the show and stuff, but I do tour a lot. I play a lot of shows. I'm actively songwriting. I still write for a lot of other artists, so. But, yes, I'll be here. So if you're here, we'd love to.

[Rachel]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

Take you to, step in, get together with a bunch of the other.

[Charity]

Oh, my gosh. Wait. I want to go. This sounds.

[Rachel]

I know. Like, you gotta come.

[Charity]

I know.

[Aaron Kong]

Come with me.

[Charity]

Rachel, I have so many questions. Should we do the game because I have some fun questions on here. Okay, Clayton, we are going to play a fun game. It's all about you, and it's just going to help us get to know your personality a little bit more. So it's called Hot Seat, and we'll just be. Have some fun with it. Just.

[Rachel]

They're like rapid fire prom, so pretty easy.

[Aaron Kong]

All right, great.

[Rachel]

Okay, first one for fun. Give us your best pickup line, dude.

[Clayton Johnson]

Oh, my God. I'm not good at pick wines, guys. Like, there was even a moment on the show where guys were talking about their pickup lines. And I'm not good at. I'm not good at picking up girls.

[Aaron Kong]

Do you.

[Charity]

You don't.

[Rachel]

Do you use them a lot? Probably not.

[Clayton Johnson]

I don't.

[Rachel]

You would have.

[Clayton Johnson]

Like, I'll try to find something to compliment them on charity.

[Charity]

I.

[Clayton Johnson]

Or I wouldn't even know your name, but I love your dress. You look beautiful in it. And then hopefully that starts the conversation.

[Charity]

I feel like if you just said, I'll write you a song, I'd fall for it. I'd be like, wait, I know.

[Rachel]

Rachel's like, yeah, send me the file.

[Clayton Johnson]

I didn't want to be that guy even on the show. Like, of course. That's a huge part of my life. But I didn't want to be like, oh, I'm the guitar guy. I'm the music. I'm sure it's a big part of me, but I'm Clayton Johnson, the artist and songwriter. I'm not the songwriter Clayton Johnson, if that makes any sense. If we dated. I will write to you any song you want.

[Charity]

Perfect. I love that. I know. Okay. What is the biggest crowd you've played for?

[Clayton Johnson]

Oh, man. So I've been really lucky to. I played a few football stadiums. I played guitar at one point for Sabrina Carpenter, so I gotta do the.

[Rachel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Aaron Kong]

Wait. Love.

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah. She's amazing. She was a little bit younger at the time, but we did the Disney Music Awards together, and I gotta play guitar for her somewhere in la at one of the big arenas out there. It might have been the Forum or something like that, but I played some. I toured with LMFAO for a bit. I was in when I was younger, and we did an arena tour with them. It was a random lineup, guys. It was Third Eye Blind, lmfao, Hands In, Good Charlotte, and My.

[Charity]

That's the best lineup ever.

[Aaron Kong]

It was cool.

[Charity]

So that's like my middle school.

[Clayton Johnson]

But the LMFAO dudes would bring me up to Sing every night. So that was cool to come sing like party rock Anthem or Shots or something like that.

[Charity]

That's a dream.

[Clayton Johnson]

Pretty amazing. But once crowds get to a certain size, you kind of feel a little bit disconnected. Like it's all just.

[Rachel]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

So there is something to be said about the intimate venues where you can really connect with people and look them in the eyes.

[Rachel]

Right.

[Clayton Johnson]

Opposed to just seeing a sea of bodies out there. But, yeah, football stadiums and arenas have been. I mean, a dream come true.

[Charity]

Wow.

[Rachel]

Amazing.

[Charity]

You are so impressive. Yes.

[Clayton Johnson]

I hope you guys like me more than my first impression because you guys were not.

[Rachel]

No, you have. You have won us over.

[Charity]

Yes.

[Rachel]

Won me over. I can't speak for Rachel. Absolutely.

[Charity]

Listen, we were off to a off star, but you. You fully are recovering the name for me.

[Rachel]

Yeah. You're on your way. Okay. As a musician in Nashville, you've probably worked or come across with some very exciting people. Who is the most famous person in your context if you're allowed to say,

[Clayton Johnson]

like, names that people. Because I. Even when, you know, I was engaged to Lana, like, I just don't think of her as a.

[Rachel]

Right. It's like, you know, like.

[Clayton Johnson]

But there was moments where, like, ELTON John would FaceTime her and she's like, oh, then. Or like. There's one time I was working with Jack Antonoff in. In Lana and Bruce Springsteen called and I didn't recognize him at first, and we're talking to him for like 25 minutes. It was crazy. But in my phone, I'm trying to think. Adam Lambert, Sabrina Carter, Lana. I'd have to go through, but there's some cool musicians.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

In there.

[Clayton Johnson]

Over the years that. Yeah. I've been thankful enough to. To come across and.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

But I've never thought about it. There's probably some cool names in there.

[Charity]

Yeah. We're like.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Charity]

Everyone read us all your text messages. Okay. This question. Very stereotypical Nashville. How many cowboy hats and cowboy boots do you own?

[Clayton Johnson]

This is a great question. Currently I've got four by the door right now, but I probably nine different pairs of cowboy boots.

[Charity]

Okay.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Clayton Johnson]

Like five different types of hats.

[Rachel]

Okay.

[Clayton Johnson]

For the summer. And you get some wool or rabbit fur or something for the winter. And you have to have some different color options too, depending on what you're wearing. Wow. Yeah. Got a lot of hats and a lot of boots. We'll get you guys decked out. Maybe we should do a video where we take you guys shopping.

[Rachel]

Me, I have too many. I. I'm like. I think I Have, like, six cow cowboy hats, and I'm like, charity, I didn't know. I know. Like, yeehaw is right. Like four cow cowboy boots. I was like, I think I'm on my.

[Clayton Johnson]

There's so many spots out here. I would end up spending all my money if I bought everything I wanted.

[Rachel]

No, truly.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, it's true.

[Clayton Johnson]

Before you guys go, I would love to introduce you to somebody, if you don't mind.

[Rachel]

Oh, yeah.

[Clayton Johnson]

Two seconds.

[Rachel]

It's gonna be a fur animal. It has to be.

[Clayton Johnson]

It has to be. This is.

[Rachel]

Oh, wait.

[Charity]

Oh, my God. Oh, my gosh.

[Clayton Johnson]

I rescued him at 6 months old, and I've had him for about 10 years now, maybe.

[Charity]

Oh, my goodness.

[Clayton Johnson]

He's more famous than I am. He has met and spent time with Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, all kinds of random people in the scene.

[Charity]

Can I have his autograph? Welcome to Happy Hour.

[Rachel]

Can I have his paw print?

[Clayton Johnson]

He's got the Grinch hands going right now. And I'll let you know. But he works for treats only, so he's tired.

[Rachel]

Listen, I got plenty of cutest guests

[Charity]

we've ever had on Bachelor Happy Hour.

[Clayton Johnson]

What about all of us?

[Rachel]

See, Liz, that was a good. That was a good one. Rachel still didn't catch it.

[Charity]

What

[Rachel]

he said. What about Oliver after you said, that was the cutest guest we've had? Yeah.

[Charity]

So funny.

[Rachel]

Oh, my goodness. Well, Clayton, it has been such a joy chatting with you. Honestly, I'm. I'm glad that our. Our initial cast bio impression of you is. Is far gone. This was so much fun you were speaking, filled with so much light and hopeful that we get to see, you know, your story play out. But in the meantime, is there anything that you want to share with Bachelor Nation and where can we find you on socials?

[Clayton Johnson]

Yeah, you know, I've been putting out music the last six years. I've got new music coming out as well. I'm on Spotify and all the platforms. Clayton Johnson. That's my real name. A lot of people ask if it's a stage name. It's my real name, and my Instagram is at Claywatch. Kind of like Baywatch, but very cute. Appreciate. You guys are so sweet. You guys are awesome. I'm very excited to go to this kickball game right now. Hopefully, I'll see you guys in Nashville soon.

[Charity]

Yes.

[Rachel]

Thank you for stopping by. Yeah. This is so fun. Thank you so much.

[Clayton Johnson]

Bye.

[Dietz and Watson Advertiser]

I just received my order from Dietz and Watson. I am so excited. I got chicken sausages and flavored cheddar cheeses. You know I'm from New England and I know a genuine New York State cheddar when I see it. They are infused with real ingredients, iconic flavors and a smooth, creamy finish. I think my favorite one was the Champagne cheddar. It just is delicious. And the chicken sausage. They never have antibiotics, no nitrates are added, they're gluten free and they have bold, authentic recipes. Dietz and Watson has been handcrafting premium meats and artisan cheeses for over 85 years. They're family owned and operated and they've never cut corners. Ever. They're transparent about what goes into their food and what doesn't and they know good taste doesn't need a long list of ingredients. Dietz and Watson is simply made. It's as simple as that. Visit dietzandwatson.com the right way to learn more about the Dietz difference Ever been

[Dr. Jake Goodman]

at a pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccines you should consider before a big trip, and even those questions you are too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode bust myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Rachel]

This episode is brought to you by Reeve and if comfort had a personality, yeah, it'd be them. You probably think sandals and fair, but the women's Neptune is proof that they absolutely nailed everyday shoes too. This one slips right into your life, no planning required. The crushback heel lets you wear it your way. Just kick it on when you're rushing out the door, flip it up when the day calls for a little bit more stability. It's lightweight, breathable and quietly doing the most, which I love. And the soft quilted insole, that part your feet will thank you for later. For me, it feels like stepping onto a plush pillow every single time I wore these on a full, chaotic day in the city. From subways to hailing taxis, running endless errands, meetings. And the best part of it all, not once did I notice the shoes that I was wearing because they felt that good. My feet were more than good. They were great. Great enough that it'll make you want to keep going and making sure that you're getting those steps in easy, comfortable and handled. If you want a shoe that keeps up with you without asking questions, check out the Woman's Neptune on reef.com and treat yourself to 15% off your first purchase.

[Discover Credit Card Advertiser]

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[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

but you can flare less with epglis, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema after an initial four month or longer dosing phase. About 4 in 10 people taking EBGLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks. And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.

[Epglis Medication Advertiser]

MGLIS Lebrekizumab LBKZ, a 250mg per 2ml injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or or who cannot use topical therapies. EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with ebglis. Before starting ebglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

Ask your doctor about ebglis and visit ebglis.lilly.com or call 1-800-LilyRx or 1-800-545-5979.

[Rachel]

All right, today with us we have 32 year old project manager from Vineyard, Utah. Everybody welcome Erin to Bachelor Happy Hour. Hi Erin.

[Charity]

Erin, we are so excited to have you here. Your smile is infectious. Everyone has been talking about your laughter and your humor so we're excited to get this started. But at the top of the episode, we've been asking everyone, how are you feeling? How are you getting through this time? It's so. So unprecedented. What are your thoughts with all that?

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, hi. Thank you so much for asking that question, Rachel. I. Personally, I feel like I put in a lot of effort to have, like, a really stable system for managing, like, emotional and mental health. So, I mean, obviously, I'm bombed, but I. It's not, like, devastating. You know what I mean? Like, the way that I thought about it was this. So, like, my life before I got the news that it was on pause in my life compared to my life after I got the news was exactly the same. And my life was great before. So is it a bummer? Yeah, for sure. But, like, I still have so much to be grateful for. Life's amazing. I have wonderful relationships, wonderful life. So it's a bummer. But I'm. I'm still doing okay. Yeah. Thanks for asking.

[Rachel]

That's beautiful. Okay, well, talk us through how you even got into where you are now. The Bachelorette. Did you apply? Did someone nominate you? How did that work for you?

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, thanks, Charity. Also, I. I watched, like, a previous few episodes of Some of the Guys, and I was just so floored by how wonderful your skin looks like. I. So I'm Korean, right? And, like, Korean skincare is supposed to be, like, world class. I don't know much about it, if I'm being honest, but, oh, my goodness, whatever you're doing is working. Keep crushing it.

[Rachel]

And I am using Korean skincare.

[Charity]

She has great skin.

[Rachel]

I have not went back. I'm telling you. Changed my life. So I. That's the best compliment. I'm, like, a skin girly. So thank you.

[Aaron Kong]

You're doing a great job. Thank you. So, yeah, great question, Odyssey. I think I've maybe watched, like, five episodes of the Bachelor or the Bachelor before I came on the show, and, like, two of them I watched, like, the night before I flew out. So I hadn't watched a lot, but my roommates at the time, they're like, hey, what if we did, like, a Bachelor watch party sort of thing to, like, you know, invite some girls over? They were into it, and we're like, okay, sure, let's do it. So it was for Grant's season. We were watching. I think we were like, like two episodes deep. And then one of the girls there, I maybe talked to her, like, one time, but she was like, I'm going to start throwing in applications for some of the dudes. And this was without My knowledge. So.

[Rachel]

Oh, my.

[Aaron Kong]

You know, like, I know. It's so crazy, right? A few weeks later, I get this phone call. And, you know, like, you can. If you push the power button when a phone's coming in, you can mute it and. But you can still see, like, the live transcript of someone leaving a voicemail.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

So I muted it. I was at work. So, like, I wonder who it is, though. So I, like, had the screen up on the side. I was looking and it was like, hi, this is blah, blah, I'm a casting producers for the Bachelor. I was like, this is such a coincidence. We were just watching this and look at this. The scam somehow knows. I was like, I totally thought I was being scammed. Straight up, I thought I was being scammed. So. Yeah. And then I honestly was like, you know, I don't think I have too much to lose if I just run with this. If they ask me anything that they can't find on the Internet, then I won't say. But I was like, I. I don't think I have a lot to lose by run with it. So, yeah, long story short, it ended up being super legit. And I was like, ah, you know, this is kind of. Kind of wild. And, you know, went all the way through with it and very grateful that I had that experience.

[Charity]

And here we are. And we're so thankful that you're here. So you're having this watch party. Did you see Secret Lives of Mormon Wives before? Were you familiar with Taylor?

[Aaron Kong]

I. I wasn't super familiar. I haven't seen the show, but I hear it's. It's a hell of a time, so maybe I do watch it.

[Rachel]

That's valid. Okay, so were you in any previous, like, relationships before? Like, how is your dating history? And then I guess, how has that. Like, going into the Bachelorette, what were you looking for?

[Aaron Kong]

That's such a good question, Charity. Yeah, I mean, I have dated. Being completely honest, I don't think I've ever been in a relationship where I was like, I'm so in love with this person, I want to get married. And obviously went both ways. You know, I've been broken up with plenty of times. I ended things plenty of times. But I've. With the whole idea of being on the show. It was like, what an awesome opportunity to take a huge chance on myself. And I obviously wouldn't have done it if I didn't intend to find a partner with whom I'd like to be married someday. And I am a very happy uncle. My nieces and nephews are my favorites and just like, you know, it gives you like a taste, a precursor of the kind of relationship that I'd like to have with my own kids. And I, I was like, who knows if this would be a wild way to meet the love of my life, but if it is, like why wouldn't I try? So that's kind of how I went into it.

[Charity]

I love that you mentioned that you have nieces and nephews so kids are something that you want. Have you ever dated anyone who had kids like Taylor?

[Aaron Kong]

I never have, but I'm super open to it. Like I don't think that should be a reason why you shouldn't date someone. So yeah, super open.

[Rachel]

Yeah. So obviously you and Taylor have in common that you guys both are from Utah and she is also a part of the Mormon church and that is really big. Your faith is, I'm assuming, very big for you. So can you tell us like how that is and then also like, I guess commonalities that you guys shared with you and Taylor on the season without giving too much away, if you guys talked a lot about that.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, for sure. So yeah, my Christian upbringing is super important to me without a doubt. I wouldn't say it's again like a prerequisite that I look forward to someone in a dating or marriage partner. But the Christian values that I grew up with were super provided a lot of structure that I have adhered to throughout my life and it's done me so much good. So you know, knowing that Taylor also had a similar upbringing to me, I don't say the same because you know, everyone's experience is different for sure. But yeah, having that common ground I think is fun. And I don't, I again like doesn't have to be the exact same but you know, having extra common ground I think is always a, it's nice. I think it can be one way to measure like less potential friction maybe. But yeah, we were able to talk about a little bit and I think her and I, our views on and our approach to religion is pretty similar. I, I try to be as open minded of a person as it can be and I think that means willing to look at things from a very objective lens. And I, that's something that I've tried to do with religion too. And I don't know, I, I, I, I think sometimes when you grow up in a very structured, organized religion, it can feel almost sacrilegious to be like, what if this isn't completely right? Or what if I've been looking at this in a way that doesn't really resonate with my personal internal beliefs. It's kind of scary to do that. And I think she's very brave and willing to define how truth looks for her. And I think that's pursuit that I try to undertake myself.

[Charity]

Yeah, no, it is so important, I think, to have similar outlooks, especially when faith is something that is so important to you. So, like, growing up in Utah, did you date there, or what's the dating scene like there?

[Aaron Kong]

No, that's a great question, Rachel. Also, is your last name Italian?

[Charity]

Yes, it is.

[Aaron Kong]

It's Rekiaki. I was gonna say anytime I see, like that ch. I was like, yeah, Italy, two Aprils ago with my mom and my brother. And I remember the first time we ordered gelato, we're like, could I have some pistachio gelato? And they're like, oh, pistachio. And you're like, oh, yeah, this is

[Charity]

a K. For some reason. I have no idea.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, no. So honestly, ever since I had that experience, I was like, anytime I see, like, that C or the cch, whatever, I'm like, okay, I wonder if it's Italian. But yeah, beautiful last name.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

Thank you.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, great question, Rachel. So, and here's another thing. This is very revealing of, like, my lack of bachelor franchise knowledge. When they said hometown and they asked for my hometown, I was like, I thought it was asking where I lived, but my actual hometown. I know, it's so stupid. My actual hometown. I grew up on the west coast, so.

[Charity]

Really?

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah. So a little bit of California. Like, I grew up in, like, San Diego, Temecula a little bit, but mainly Seattle area.

[Charity]

Okay.

[Aaron Kong]

So, yeah, that's kind of tangential, but, yeah, stupid, stupid story. But for my time in Utah, I've been in Utah for a while. Dating is fine. I mean, you know, it is. A lot of the circles that I run with obviously tend to have been people that either grew up in the church or are currently active, like in the Mormon Church. And there's a strong emphasis on family, which I think can be really great. I think balance is important in anything. And I'm not saying this is unique to the Mormon church, but for cultures maybe where family is super emphasized, I think that can lead to an extreme of, like, a hyper fixation on marriage. And I think that causes a lot of anxiety or pressure to find someone to get married. I honestly, I think I have been subject to some of that anxiety, but honestly, not a ton. I've always been super happy to go at my own pace, I have a very, like, untraditional life. I value non conformity. I think a healthy taste of non conformity is always great. So dating's been fun. But to answer specifically the aspect of your question, Rachel, about, like dating in Utah, like, I think there, there is like a, sometimes an over obsession on becoming married, finding someone even pressured to be in a relationship. And that is something that I had to learn was. I don't know if you guys listen to Jay Shetty at all, but I

[Rachel]

do like him a lot.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, he's such a wise guy. But, yeah.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

He wrote this book called Eight Rules of Love. I don't know if you've heard of it, but I have.

[Rachel]

I haven't read it, though. Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

Oh, okay. No, I was the same way. I need to read this book. I have like 80 books on my. On my reading list. It's so bad. But some of the basic tenets that he talks about in that book is how to prepare to be in love, how to love better and more when you're in love, and learning how to love again when you've fallen out of love. And one of the things that he talks about that really resonated with me was the preparing for love part. And he said, there's a lot of value in solitude. And the reason why is if you are able to be comfortable with being with yourself, you are spending time with the person, the most imperfect person that you know, you know intimately, all of your shortcomings, the worst things about you. But if you're able to love that really, really imperfect person, how much more capable will you be of loving everyone else? So I. Yeah, super cool, right? So I've been over the past several years learning how to enjoy solitude and learning how to love this very, very imperfect person that I am. And I think in a lot of ways it has helped me to, at least I hope, you know, prefer to be a better marriage partner one day.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Dietz and Watson Advertiser]

I just received my order from Dietz and Watson. I am so excited. I got chicken sausages and flavored cheddar cheeses. You know, I'm from New England and I know a genuine New York State cheddar when I see it. They are infused with real ingredients, iconic flavors, and a smooth, creamy finish. I think my favorite one was the champagne cheddar. It just is delicious. And the chicken sausage, they never have antibiotics, no nitrates are added, they're gluten free, and they have bold, authentic recipes. Dietz and Watson has been handcrafting premium meats and artisan cheeses for over 85 years. They're family owned and operated and they've never cut corners. Ever. They're transparent about what goes into their food and what doesn't. And they know good taste. Good doesn't need a long list of ingredients. Dietz and Watson is simply made. It's as simple as that. Visit dietzandwatson.com therightway to learn more about the Dietz difference.

[Dr. Jake Goodman]

Ever been at a pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccines you should consider before a big trip, and even those questions you are too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charity]

If you are looking for a cute new pair of sandals for summer, you have to check out Reef. I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of flip flops for the summer and I absolutely found them. It is so hard to find a pair that's comfortable and cute, but Reef truly has it all. They've been doing this forever. It's kind of their thing and not just one style or look. They really cover every moment in every outfit. Classic flip flops, comfy styles, chunkier platforms, easy slides. Whatever your vibe is, they have your wardrobe set for everything on the agenda. I've worn them to the beach, to brunch, running errands, even on days when I don't feel like trying but still want to look cute. That is the sweet spot. They're super comfortable, they look great and you'll feel effortlessly put together. No overthinking, just the perfect pairs that do it all. You don't have your go to sandals for summer yet Reef has so many styles to choose from. Explore the full collection on reef.com and get 15% off your first purchase.

[Discover Credit Card Advertiser]

It's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. I mean, after all, you listen to this show. See [e-mail] CreditCard Eczema is unpredictable, but

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

you can flare less with EBGLIS, a once monthly treatment for moderate to severe eczema. After an initial four month or longer dosing phase. About four in ten people taking Emplis achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks. And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.

[Epglis Medication Advertiser]

Emplis Lebricizumab LBKZ a 250mg per 2ml injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription. Prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. EBGLIS can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to Ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Ebglis. Before starting ebglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection.

[Pharmaceutical Ad Voice]

Ask your doctor about eglis and visit ebgliss.lilly.com or call 1-800-LilyRx or 1-800-545-59. 79

[Rachel]

do you want personally want kids for yourself? Like, is that something you envision for your life?

[Aaron Kong]

100%. Yeah. Yeah. They just, it's. It just seems so fulfilling, you know? Like, I look at my nieces and nephews growing up and like developing personalities. I keep, okay, I'm a pretty emotional guy. So my oldest niece, she's turning 10 this year. But, you know, when she was first born, I cried when I met her for the first time. I was like, so beautiful. Like, how could you have like so much love for someone that you literally have never met before?

[Clayton Johnson]

And I was like, I can't even

[Aaron Kong]

imagine what it would be for me when I have my own kids, right? So it's like, okay, speaking of Italy, Rachel, it's like when you go to Italy, you hear people go, like, you don't know what pasta tastes like until you go there. Like, it's A different pasta, different everything. That's how I felt with, with loving my nieces and nephews. Like you don't know what that love feels like until you actually experience it. So, you know, I don't. I've never been a dad. Looking forward to being a dad for sure, but I can't wait for that. The. How much my heart can grow, right?

[Rachel]

And.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, looking forward to being amazing.

[Charity]

Hearing you talk about that, it just warms my heart. You just seem like you were definitely there for all the right reasons. So going into that, we need to talk about night one. Walk me through how that was for you. Pulling up to the mansion, seeing Taylor. What was it like?

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, great question, Rachel. So night one. I remember walking out of my room and walking over to the limo and I remember being so excited because I was like, dude, I can finally see some of these guys. And I remember I walked out of my room the same time that like two doors down and across the hall someone walked out of their room and he was with his handler. So that, okay, this is just, just some random dude. And I remember looking at the back of his head, I was like, dude, this is a really good looking dude. And he's dressed super sharp. I was like, bro, I'm so excited to meet these guys. Come to find out, you know, it was Rod and we. He's one of my favorite guys. Oh my gosh. Have you guys had the chance to talk to Rod yet?

[Rachel]

Not yet.

[Aaron Kong]

You guys are gonna love Rod. So I remember it was, I was in the car with. It was me, Rod, and then I met Michael Baba. And then Josh was there and Matt was there. And I remember feeling so excited. I was like, these guys are so dope. Already on cloud nine, I get to meet Taylor finally. So we pull up and I remember getting mic'd up, feeling the nurse slowly starting to build. And I was like, David, like, this is kind of getting real. And I didn't know like exactly what I was gonna say. I know probably good to plan it out, but I just kind of love, you know, just like going to flow, shooting the, you know, I think there's some having that kind of levity. It's kind of fun just kind of running with it. So when it really, really hit me that the experience was so real was when we were in the limo and then we were told to be quiet.

[Rachel]

Oh yeah,

[Aaron Kong]

this isn't fun anymore. This is actually like the real stuff. So I remember when it was my turn to get out of the limo, I I stood there and I. And I see Taylor, and first impression, I was like, oh, my goodness, she's so beautiful. And I'd only ever seen, like, random, like, headshots on Instagram, so I was like, oh, my gosh, that is. She's a real person, super exciting, and obviously a super brief moment talking with her. But I was. I was like, she's so personable, super easy to talk to, really fun. But, yeah, it was high energy. And then you go inside, you meet all the guys. You know, we're just all chatting. I love meeting people. I get a lot of my energy by being around others, so it's just, like, so much fun. I had a blast.

[Rachel]

How was the dynamic? Like, I'm assuming, because a lot of the guys have just said, you guys are all so close. And, like, it's just. It was like fireworks when you guys all, like, were in the house after the limo exit. So I'm assuming that's continued and only gotten better.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah. Yeah. And it's so funny, too, I'll say this. So I remember, like, you know, like, I. I told my family, obviously, like, when. When I found out it was official, it's been cast, and then, like, maybe a couple close friends, and they were like, yo, what happens? What are you gonna do if a lot of those guys are super douchey? And I was like, dude, I'll fit right in, dude. But I honestly, I was like, that's a valid concern. Like, what if there's some people that are just, like, super dramatic, Whatever. But honestly, I had such a wonderful experience. I was pleasantly surprised to see how kind and authentic and genuine everyone is. And I think that's easy to say. And I don't know if it sounds like I'm, like, scripted to say that, but I was honestly, like, so pleasantly surprised to see how cool everyone was.

[Charity]

Great time we've been hearing.

[Rachel]

Yeah. And I was like. I've been telling other guys. I'm like, it's not always. That's not always the case. Like, I think people are very honest. Like, no, I did not have a good time. No, I did not. Like, so and so, like, it's. It's a rarity in this franchise sometimes to really, like, get along with the cast. So that's a good thing for you guys. Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

Also, this is going to be such a stupid question that I should have done my homework before, but I'm pretty sure most of the people that have, like, are involved in the Bachelor franchise are people that have been, like, on the show before. Right. So, yeah. It's so stupid. I remember I saw a post that came up that were like, Jesse Palmer was, like, talking. He's like, yeah, like, back when I was on the Bachelor and that was the first time I learned that he was actually on the Bachelor. I didn't know that. Yeah, he was just, like, a really good emcee, and he just kept getting hired over and over.

[Rachel]

He is a good mc, but, yes, also a Bachelor.

[Charity]

And the reason we can't eat on one on one dates, it's Jesse. Jesse was eating on a one on one date, and he was shoving food into his mouth instead of talking. So now no one is allowed to eat on one on one dates. So classically, Jesse did take that away from us. Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

No way. That is so funny.

[Charity]

It is so funny that you guys also have been describing this. Night one is this immediate camaraderie. So much energy. Of course, we hope that we'll be able to see it. Was there any drama or anything that was happening night one?

[Aaron Kong]

Honestly, I feel like night was.

[Charity]

It's like, I didn't see it.

[Rachel]

Yeah, he was like, I was having a good time.

[Aaron Kong]

I was eating the food. I was just night one. No, but I'll be completely honest. If there was drama going on, I wasn't aware of it. I felt like everyone was just there and really just kind of soaking in the experience. That's how I looked at it. Everyone was getting to know people. Everyone kind of had their own nerves going on as well. So people just kind of, like, process. Right? I. I think it was way too exciting, and there's, like, a lot of novelty to the experience for people to really be, like, already dramatic. You know what I mean?

[Charity]

You'd be so surprised. I think my night when we had, like, multiple fires going.

[Aaron Kong]

You're kidding me.

[Charity]

Oh, yes. You guys have a very rare season. It sounds.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

Okay. Well, Rachel, what season were you on so I can look it up?

[Charity]

Oh, we don't talk about my season.

[Rachel]

Oh, no. I'm like, no, you need to actually. I'm like, I'm full support.

[Charity]

We don't talk about either of my seasons. How I got on this podcast. We don't go watch.

[Rachel]

Go. Her season's actually on Hulu, so go watch it after. She's like, no, please. It's good, Rachel, like, you are. This is where she. Why she's here. She's an icon. She's a living legend.

[Charity]

So we have been told that you have the loudest laugh and that producers had to yell at you. Multiple times because of the decibels. Is there truth to this?

[Aaron Kong]

The producers are super nice. I did laugh a lot and my laugh is known for being pretty loud. They were so nice about it, though. Anytime they told me be quiet, I was like, oh, I'm so sorry. They're really kind. So fun fact about my laugh, maybe not fun for other people that are listening, but so for people that use an apple watch sometimes, I don't know if you've taken them to concerts or something, but it'll give you like a decibel warning. If it's over 100 decibels, it goes like, hey, look out. Your atmosphere is kind of loud. There have been times where I've been laughing next to someone and their decibel warning goes off.

[Charity]

That's insane.

[Aaron Kong]

And I'm sure it annoys people so bad. But I, I honestly, that's just like, how I laugh. And I actually used to be kind of embarrassed about it, but there's a time where I was like, you know what? To just own it, you know, that's literally, if I'm feeling that much joy and it's how it's expressed, I'm sorry if it's really loud, but that's genuinely how it is. But yeah, that is. That is very true.

[Charity]

Oh, my gosh. The decibel warning is absolutely crazy. But I'm here for it and hopefully we get to hear all the laughter. Our fingers are crossed for your laughter.

[Rachel]

Okay, we are going to transition to a fun little game, if that's okay with you.

[Aaron Kong]

Love games.

[Charity]

Yes.

[Rachel]

It's very, like, straightforward. It's kind of like rapid fire prompts. It's just gonna allow us to get to know your personality a little. A little bit. Yeah, yeah. Okay, perfect. It'll be no pressure. It's like, yeah, they'll be good.

[Charity]

This first question, I've been waiting to ask this one. You are a big K Pop Demon Hunters fan. What is the best song on the soundtrack?

[Rachel]

I already know what he's gonna say.

[Aaron Kong]

I, I, you guys did your homework. Well, I did. I'm a huge fan.

[Charity]

He's like, this is new. I really am.

[Aaron Kong]

Well, here's the thing. Like, I, I thought it was so cool to see, like, my culture being represented like that. And, like, sure. I mean, you don't see it a lot. I don't think I need it necessarily, but it's cool to see and I thought it was so well done.

[Charity]

So they won the Oscar.

[Rachel]

I was like, you guys, they crushed it at the Oscars. It's crazy.

[Aaron Kong]

I know. So huge props to them. Super happy for their success. Oh, my gosh. I don't know if this is just gonna fall on deaf ears. I don't know if you guys know anything about keeping up even hundreds, but I'll be honest. My actual favorite one, and I think this gets slept on so hard. Is free. I think the harmonies in there are so beautiful. My goodness.

[Charity]

I'm gonna have to listen after this. I thought you're familiar with golden.

[Rachel]

Yeah, I was like. I thought you were gonna say that one.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah, no, it's classic. You know, I get it. Of course, you guys know what it is too. It's really good. But oh, my gosh. The harmonies in free are so beautiful. So good.

[Rachel]

Amazing. We are. I need to go back and watch this movie. I actually do. Because I'm like. After it won so many awards, I was like, yeah, it's. It must be top tier. I only watch part of it, so I need to get all the way through. Okay. The next one is, if you had to cook for all the guys at the mansion, what is the dish you make?

[Aaron Kong]

Oh, my God.

[Rachel]

I'm. I'm listening very closely because I love food and I love to eat, so say the right thing.

[Aaron Kong]

No, I got it. I'm glad I'm in good company. So I. We did steaks one night, and it was so fun.

[Charity]

Like, they gave you guys steaks?

[Aaron Kong]

Well, we asked for it, and they were there in the fridge.

[Rachel]

They had budget.

[Aaron Kong]

Apparently they gave.

[Charity]

They said, Taylor season unlimited. Whatever you guys like for letting you out every night.

[Aaron Kong]

Was that not how it was? I feel like we could just write what we wanted on the grocery list.

[Charity]

I. Granola.

[Rachel]

But sometimes we did not get all of those things delivered, so.

[Aaron Kong]

I'm so sorry.

[Rachel]

A lot of vegan butter. I'm like, I can't do this.

[Aaron Kong]

The disrespect that blows my mind. I'm sorry. I mean, I guess great for the cut.

[Charity]

No, honestly, the protein was. Was still there. You guys needed it.

[Aaron Kong]

Oh, man. Okay, So I. Okay. I guess we got really lucky. But so Rod also, I don't know if you guys know this. He's a. He talks a lot about his cooking, and for good reason. He's a wonderful chef. And hey, yeah, we're cooking up one night. We broke out the steaks, and we're like, dude, like, some people were egging this.

[Clayton Johnson]

I was like, yeah, do a cook off. Cook off.

[Aaron Kong]

I was like, I'm happy to do it, and I'm pretty confident in My cooking ability. So, you know, we brought these steaks out. We're doing everything. We're doing, like, butter basing and, like, all the good stuff. The garlic, everything, and they turn out really good. So that was fun. Obviously, like, you know, protein's a really easy way to, you know, win people over, but, yeah, I actually. So I'm with you, Charity. I'm a huge food person, too, and I'm sure you are as well, Rachel, but I do a lot of potlucks and stuff with friends. I think it's such a fun way to bring people together. So. Yeah, one thing that I've done many times that actually I get a lot of positive feedback on, I randomly make a pretty good chicken tikka masala.

[Charity]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

Oh, I love. I'm actually probably gonna make that for dinner. That or, like, I mean, butter chicken. They're kind of the same, but, like.

[Charity]

Yeah.

[Rachel]

So good.

[Aaron Kong]

Oh, my gosh. Yes.

[Charity]

Oh, God.

[Aaron Kong]

You know, ball.

[Charity]

I can't believe you guys were just cooking steaks in the mansion. You guys are having, like, the best time ever. I'm like, I hope that there was cameras on this.

[Rachel]

Yeah.

[Charity]

The camaraderie.

[Rachel]

Happened to see.

[Charity]

Sounds so fun.

[Rachel]

They did that, right? Yep, yep, yep. It looks good.

[Charity]

I know. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I'm jealous of this experience. Okay, last one. We've been asking all the Utah men, what is your go to swig slash dirty soda order?

[Aaron Kong]

Well, I'm a very recent, like, convert, I guess we can say to the swig life. I. Oh, my gosh. Okay. So I. I'll just keep it brief. So there's one called the Endless Summer, and I am such a citrus hoe. Anything that has citrus, I'll get extra. Whatever. I don't. So, like, have you guys ever had spa? You know what I'm talking about?

[Charity]

Yes.

[Rachel]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Aaron Kong]

So, you know, it comes with, like, the lines on the side. I get extra every single time you.

[Rachel]

Oh, my God.

[Aaron Kong]

The order, If I'm remembering correctly, it's a Mountain Dew base. It comes with pomegranate syrup, grapefruit syrup, and then fresh lime, and I always ask for extra lime. It is so refreshing. My goodness.

[Charity]

We need to have swig in New York and la because we've been so jealous of all these orders that Charity's going to start her own swig in New York.

[Rachel]

Yeah, I. I have to.

[Charity]

At this point, we've been talking about

[Rachel]

so much on a big market.

[Charity]

Clearly, we'll have to try. That sounds so good.

[Rachel]

And Rachel is There not. There's not one in la, is there not? No women. That's your job. So you do one in LA and I do mine in New York.

[Charity]

Open them up. Bicoastal. It's perfect. Aaron, my cheeks are literally hurting from laughing this whole episode. You are such a joy. Is there anything you want to leave Bachelor Nation with before you go?

[Aaron Kong]

Oh, my gosh. And thank you so much. I feel the same way. My spirits were already high because it was a Friday, and I didn't think I could be any happier. But after talking with you two, it is just like I could have amazing, amazing weekend because I got to talk to you both. Thank you so much for your time. Great questions. You guys are so nice, seriously. So, yeah, if I could leave one message for. For the. For the people. So I listened to Trenton's and he shared something that I thought was so beautiful, and it's something that I try to live by as well. I think people over inflate how bad they think they are, and I think it causes people to feel very isolated and alone. But, you know, every single person that feels like they're alone or struggling with something, there are other people that are that way too. So, you know, if you're able to take the first step and be brave and have that transparency, remarkably, you'll attract the people that are like you and are going through the same thing as you, and you can find a lot of strength that way. So, yeah, you may feel alone, but you're not always alone. Easier said than done, but, yeah, there's hope. There's hope in the world.

[Rachel]

So beautiful. Okay, and where can we find you on socials because, yeah, we have to get follow you now.

[Aaron Kong]

Yeah. Super. Easy. Aaron Kong A A R O N K A H N G Just like that. First and last name.

[Rachel]

And do you have a tik tok?

[Aaron Kong]

I do. It's the exact same one. Yeah.

[Rachel]

Amazing. That's perfect. Easy. Oh, thanks. Well, thank you again. This was such a joy, and we are gonna now have the best weekend too, because I'm like, I'm. I'm leaving so happy and so full of joy like you. So hopefully this will not be the last time that we have you in Bachelor happy hour. We are keeping our fingers crossed and hopeful, but always reading for all of you guys. And so thank you again. Aaron was such a joy.

[Aaron Kong]

Thank you. Treasure is all mine. You guys are so sweet. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful weekend.

[Rachel]

Well, that episode was filled with so much tea, and we have some more coming your way. Very soon. Thank you guys again for joining us on Bachelor Happy Hour. To our listeners, make sure you are subscribed wherever you're listening to podcasts and keeping up with us on Bachelor Happy Hour and Bachelor Nation. See you guys very soon.

[Charity]

Soon.

[Aaron Kong]

Bye.

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