Bachelor Happy Hour – "Juliana Says to Be Nice!"
Podcast: Bachelor Happy Hour
Hosts: Joe Amabile & Serena Pitt
Guest: Juliana (current Bachelor contestant)
Date: February 27, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode dives into Juliana’s journey so far on Grant’s season of The Bachelor. Juliana reflects on family roots, Italian heritage, the dynamics of the house, highs and lows of Bachelor drama, her late one-on-one with Grant, and her signature philosophy: be nice, always.
Table of Contents
- Juliana’s Background & Family
- Life Before The Bachelor
- First Night Impressions & The Bachelor Experience
- House Friendships & Bonds
- Watching Herself on TV
- Drama Recap: Zoe, Carolina, Rose, & House Conflict
- Juliana’s Relationship Journey with Grant
- Hometown Hopes & Family Fears
- Philosophy: “Be Nice!” & Notable Quotes
- Rapid Fire - Getting to Know Juliana
1. Juliana’s Background & Family
[04:34] Juliana grew up in Newton, MA, in the same house as her mother. The sentimental attachment runs deep, as her family has roots tied to the home and even a signature purple couch that belonged to her grandmother.
“They just got a house in Florida, so I’m like—can you just keep this house for a few more years till I can buy it?” – Juliana [04:52]
[05:33] She comes from a big Italian family, but Italian language skills are limited, despite frequent trips to a small town in Italy.
Favorite Italian dishes: cacio e pepe and chicken parm [05:42].
Joe and Serena joke about their own “fake” Italian language (with Joe comically referencing his honeymoon attempts) [06:13].
2. Life Before The Bachelor
[06:46] Juliana’s sister signed her up for The Bachelor without her knowledge after they began hosting “Monday wine nights” while watching the show.
“Somewhere along the way, she signed me up and never told me. So I got a call this past, like, April, and, you know, it took me off guard... I was kind of like 50/50 at first.” – Juliana [06:52]
[07:26] Juliana didn’t have much dating activity prior to the show: she dislikes first and second dates, but occasionally browsed dating apps “like online shopping.”
“I don’t really love first dates, and I don’t love second dates, so I was kind of just doing my thing.” – Juliana [07:31]
3. First Night Impressions & The Bachelor Experience
Night One Prep and Introduction
[09:04]
Juliana’s sister planned all her outfits, even labeling them with sticky notes. Her entrance theme—combining her Italian background and her “sweet treat” reputation—was a cannoli for Grant.
“We just tried to combine the two, and we came up with a cannoli and wanted to give him a little taste of me. Right. Right from the jump.” – Juliana [09:04]
Meeting Grant
[09:46]
Juliana was nervous but found Grant even more attractive in person. Most notable was his attentiveness—“really, like, listening” with eye contact and body language.
“I could just tell he was really, like, listening to me... that I was like, okay. I was a little reassured that I thought he was. I had an inkling that he was a good guy.” – Juliana [10:00]
Rose Ceremony Anxiety Juliana felt the pressure on that first night:
“When you’re standing in the rose ceremony that first night, it’s…so many emotions that you grapple with...your ego and your heart and the desire to…want more opportunities… If I go home, I think I’ll feel, like, embarrassed and sad are the first things that I…would feel.” – Juliana [10:41]
Night One Activities (Piano, Chess Fails & Goofiness)
[11:46]
Juliana recounts her attempt to win Grant over with her rudimentary piano skills—relatable to Joe’s “fake” Italian and Serena’s flashback about her own failed chess demonstration on her night one.
“I’m like a fake piano player. And then all of a sudden, I was trying to win a man over with my lack of skills.” – Juliana [12:08]
4. House Friendships & Bonds
[13:01–14:33]
Juliana connected instantly with Ali Jo, who served as her “safety net” until Ali Jo’s departure. Later, her closest friends became Vicki, Parisa, Seraphina, and Latia.
“As you get deeper and deeper into the process and there’s fewer and fewer of you, you kind of start to lean on people… I hope that they’ll be lifelong friends.” – Juliana [13:14]
On support from fellow contestants:
“In the aftermath… having people that… can understand what you went through. Because I can talk to my friends and my family about this all day… but… they don’t really understand where I’m coming from.” – Juliana [14:15]
5. Watching Herself on TV
[15:54 & 16:03]
Juliana admits it’s “weird, for sure,” and critiques herself harshly while trying to maintain humor and use the experience as self-reflection. Emphasizes growth:
“You’re your own worst critic… but at the same time, just trying to take everything with a grain of salt and laugh because I have a mindset that, you know, life is just too serious to take seriously.” – Juliana [16:03]
Watching her family react to her kissing on TV is “cringy”—it’s only the second time she’s brought a man home.
6. Drama Recap – Zoe, Carolina, Rose, and House Dynamics
Zoe’s Early Moves
[19:19–24:17]
Zoe’s decision to monopolize time on the group date ruffled feathers, but Juliana clarifies the real issue was Zoe’s lack of consideration for the rest of the group—and especially her dismissive re-entry into the room after.
“The way she came back into, like, read us afterwards…wasn’t the best from my perspective.” – Juliana [19:54]
Despite initial tension, the house did not let the drama fester past episode 2 [21:02–21:25].
Carolina and Rose Controversy
[30:27–36:31]
The group was surprised by Carolina sharing details with Grant about things Rose said, which escalated quickly. Juliana shares insight on the negativity in the house, the pitfalls of misplaced trust, and the difficulty of coming back from such a “game of telephone” scenario.
“My initial reaction was the same. It’s like, Rose, why would you say that?... I think that she thought she was being provided with a safe space…compartmentalized her friendship over the relationship. And ultimately…she got burned because of it.” – Juliana [34:47]
“You just don’t have enough time on this show to dig yourself out of a hole.” – Serena [36:31]
7. Juliana’s Relationship Journey with Grant
The Late One-on-One Date Anxiety
[36:31-39:53]
Juliana had asked Grant not to give her a one-on-one too early, fearing she wouldn’t open up—but by the time the last one-on-one approached, she panicked she may have missed her chance.
“I definitely like, screwed this one up. I probably should have kept my mouth shut and just let him do what he thought was best.” – Juliana [37:24]
Serena and Joe discuss the pros/cons of late versus early one-on-one dates—and for Juliana, the timing worked: “If you have such a good time and you are able to kind of, like, get deeper, then moving forward...there’s less and less girls. So, you know, you get more time…” [38:54]
Disneyland Princess Date & Serious Nighttime Conversation
[40:05–44:52]
The “Disney princess” date allowed them to focus on fun and natural interaction during the day. That evening, Juliana opened up about her family’s experience with substance abuse, which Grant could deeply relate to based on his own family history.
“There’s no rulebook for handling substance abuse…But to see him…see love be at the forefront…that to me meant everything.” – Juliana [42:53]
This made their connection stronger, checking an important box for Juliana.
Comparing Connections
Juliana’s slow-burn style meant she wasn’t jealous or competitive. She was pragmatic about comparing connections:
“We’re all dating him…what did you like and what did you dislike?…I was never really intimidated or nervous by anybody’s relationship…” – Juliana [45:50]
Surprises at Hometowns
She was surprised by Natalie and Parisa going home, and especially by Zoe making it to hometowns with less one-on-one time.
8. Hometown Hopes & Family Fears
[59:07]
Juliana’s main concern for hometowns was whether her loud, loving, extroverted Italian family might be overwhelming for Grant, especially knowing he would be meeting three other families.
“When I tell you my family’s, like, loud and crazy…if they don’t know you, they will have you come sit, pour you a drink, and ask you your life story. I didn’t know if that was going to be overwhelming.” – Juliana [59:07]
9. Philosophy: “Be Nice!” & Notable Quotes
The “Be Nice” Mantra
[58:10–58:50]
Juliana wore a T-shirt saying “Be Nice” (which inspired the episode title). She explained the phrase is tattooed on her—her grandmother’s mantra:
“Life is just way too hard, and it’s too serious to spread anything but kindness. And, you know, the people that deserve to be loved the least need to be loved the most. So be nice, bitches.” – Juliana [58:22]
On House Drama & Carolina
Juliana recounted trying to resolve issues with Carolina directly and respectfully, but said she will always “speak truthfully and stand on my own business.”
“I would never intentionally try to paint somebody in a negative light…there’s just a lot more to the story, but… I was able to provide him some clarity in that [with Grant].” – Juliana [56:53]
“I respect her as a person and a human. I just don’t have to like her, and that’s fine. And that’s fair.” – Juliana [57:29]
10. Rapid Fire – Getting to Know Juliana
[59:56–62:11]
Joe and Serena finish with a lighthearted Q&A. Highlights:
- Dream vacation: Sicily
- Comfort movie: Step Up
- Unwinding: Glass of cab sav
- Love language: Love letters
- Go-to drink: Extra dirty gin martini with Hendrick's
- Inspirational figure: Her grandmother, Olympia
- Sisters she’d bring to a deserted island: Ali Jo and Parisa (“Parisa would take care of all the bugs”)
- Unforgettable advice: “When life gives you hell, just keep going. Because why would you ever want to stay in hell?”
Notable Quotes – Quick Reference
- “You’re your own worst critic…life is just too serious to take seriously.” [16:03]
- “The people that deserve to be loved the least need to be loved the most. So be nice, bitches.” [58:22]
- “There’s no rulebook for handling substance abuse…But to see him…see love be at the forefront…that to me meant everything.” [42:53]
- “I just don’t have to like her, and that’s fine. And that’s fair.” [57:29]
- “When life gives you hell, just keep going. Because why would you ever want to stay in hell?” [61:41]
For Bachelor fans craving insight into Juliana’s authenticity, how drama really goes down, and the underlying philosophy that shapes her approach to love, friendship, and TV fame, this episode is unmissable.