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Narrator
This is an Iheart podcast.
Joe
Okay, time to cut to the chase. Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruises are amazing. Honestly, you should book one. Right now we're talking about kid free cruises to Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Virgin's private beach club in Bimini. No kids, no chaos, just great food, DJs, live music, always something to do. And your cabin basically a sanctuary. Plus over a thousand in value included Wi Fi soda, 20 plus restaurants and zero hidden fees. I mean hello. Learn more@virgin voyages.com or contact your travel advisor.
Serena
My new obsession is this romance story I read about a cowboy who wants to start a family with a city girl. She's not ready for that yet, but that doesn't mean she's not ready to roll around in the hay. She has Nexplanon etonorgestrel implant 68 milligram radiopaque to prevent pregnancy Nexplanon is a non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm. It lasts for three years and can be removed by your doctor at any time. If your plans change, Nexplanon must be removed by the end of the third year. Don't use nexplanon if you're pregnant or maybe pregnant, have or had blood clots or certain cancers, have liver disease, liver tumor or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant or contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms, removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be. While uncommon ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period. Ovarian cysts may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs with less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use Nexplanon for one year. Nexplanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexplanon.com for more information. Ask your doctor about Nexplanon. I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list, checked it twice, probably three times.
Joe
She takes the holidays very seriously.
Serena
I can't help it, you know. I love finding the perfect gifts. And Walmart has all the top brands. Nespresso, Sonos, Nintendo, Nintendo at Walmart.
Joe
Who knew?
Serena
I know. And more.
Joe
Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts this season.
Serena
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Peg
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Serena
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Peg
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Serena
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Peg
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Serena
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Peg
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Serena
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Peg
Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Joe
Hey everyone. Welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hour. I'm Joe.
Serena
And I'm Serena.
Joe
And we are here today with the lovely happy couple, Meg. Mel. Mel.
Mel
Couple name.
Serena
We're hitting them with a couple name.
Joe
Your names are very similar. Melan. Peg. Welcome to the podcast.
Peg
Yay.
Serena
We're so happy to have you guys.
Mel
Melon. Peg.
Serena
Mel and Peg. Meg. Or what is it, the other way around, pal. Not as good.
Joe
Not as good as good. Okay, so before you hopped on, we were talking a little bit about back there.
Peg
Hi mom. Hi Gina.
Serena
She's back there sneaking around.
Joe
Before you guys got on, we were talking a little bit about who we picked and Peg, you. You were part. I picked you. I picked you at the beginning.
Peg
From the beginning.
Serena
You have. Joe has a really good read. I feel like on the show, like when you're watching, I feel like, and this is the first season in a really long time we didn't hear like any rumblings of spoilers, so we were really kind of on our own every week trying to figure out how this. This all ended.
Peg
But you, no, Joe, you picked it right out of the limo, though. Because I've been listening to you guys and you had picked it right out of the limo.
Mel
Did I?
Serena
So did you that hard?
Mel
Come on.
Joe
Yeah, we actually. I actually really want. We got to get into the limo. But before we do, how are we feeling? You guys are finally out in the open. How does it feel?
Peg
Feels great.
Serena
Oh yeah.
Mel
It feels, you know, timely.
Serena
Yeah. Has it been a long journey to get here? I mean, we've been where you have been, like the waiting to tell people and the secret keeping. You must be so ready.
Joe
Well, I haven't.
Mel
I haven't told a soul.
Serena
Really.
Mel
My friends are upset with me that I have.
Serena
Your sons know?
Mel
Well, my sons know because they were on the show at the end.
Serena
Yes.
Mel
Yeah, but they. But you know, they were a little loose with their lips at the beginning just by talking, but then I straightened them out and. But I haven't told a soul.
Serena
Wow, that's so exciting. Peg, did you tell anyone?
Peg
Okay. No.
Joe
No, you're not. They're not gonna sue you.
Serena
You can blame it on Mel sons. It's okay. Good.
Peg
That's right. Let's keep that question. Oh, and we got the commitment ring, which is absolutely beautiful.
Serena
It is gorgeous. Did you have a hard time picking it out, Mel?
Mel
No, they're all beautiful, but you know, that I think matched Peg's personality.
Serena
I love it. It's gorgeous. So tell me about the commitment ring, because you are wearing it and it obviously looks like an engagement ring. So are you gonna. If you eventually get engaged, Mel, will you repropose. Is this like, where are we at?
Mel
Well, that's to be seen. So we're not going to share anything right now. Moment, but you know, to be determined and to be seen.
Joe
So a commitment. A commitment ring is essentially we are committing to getting engaged and then an engagement ring is committing to getting married.
Mel
We're committed to each other right now. That's what it means.
Serena
So it almost be equivalent to like a promise ring. Like you're showing your commitment to Peg through this ring and you're saying like we Are locked in on each other, and we're going to see how this goes.
Mel
Correct.
Serena
If you do get engaged, you expect a new ring?
Peg
No, I love this ring. Are you kidding me? This is absolutely gorgeous.
Serena
Great. You love it.
Joe
I think Mel's got to get you a new ring. I think. I think you should get it. Maybe. You know what, Mel? Maybe you got to get her, like, a nice necklace or something. You got to get. You got. You got to get a little.
Mel
We're traveling down this road together, and we'll see what happens.
Joe
Okay. Okay. Peg, when did you realize that it was potentially going to be you at the end? What part of the season?
Peg
I honestly knew as soon as I got out of the mud bath.
Joe
Okay.
Mel
Okay.
Peg
I knew.
Serena
I felt it.
Peg
I felt it. I felt it at a very deep level, an intuitive level. I really did. I just. Right out of. And I even told one of the girls in the house, I said, oh, my God, it's going to be me. And I was kind of actually taken back by it because I wasn't expecting it, you guys. I did not come here expecting it. I came here with an open heart and an open mind, and, you know, I just had to just be myself. 100 be myself. You'll love me. You hate me. But I wasn't expecting it. But as soon as I got out of that mud bath, I went back to the mansion, and just my spirit just really talked to me, and actually, I wrote it in my journal. I just said, it's going to be me. And I was just. I was taken back by that. I really was. I was taken back because I didn't expect it at all. I did not expect this at all. You guys, what did you.
Joe
What did you actually expect? Because, like, when I went on the show, I went home right away, and I kind of expected that. But what did. What did you really expect?
Peg
You know, honestly, I expected to have a really good experience, and I expected to get to know him because that's. To me, that's how. That's how my love evolves. A lot of people, they jump in with both feet. My love does not evolve that way. I have to get to know somebody. I have to spend time with them. I have to like them before I love them. And so that's what I expected, honestly, just to see if he was dateable and see if he was, you know, if he was a person that would fit into my life.
Mel
Oh, cool guy.
Peg
Yeah.
Joe
I mean, you guys look. You guys. You guys really do look really great together, like, looking at you both, you know, you both have this.
Peg
I want to say that it's not.
Joe
A light blue, but it's kind of the same color blue. And yeah, it works.
Mel
It does work.
Peg
Yeah, it does. It does.
Serena
When you had that feeling of like, I feel in my gut that it's gonna be me after that point, did doubt ever creep in or worry that, you know, he has these other strong connections? You know, I might feel this way for him, but what if it doesn't end up being reciprocated?
Peg
There was one time in Antigua, and it was when he knocked on my door and I was really sick for about 36 hours. I got s in Antigua, and I went to sleep for about 36 hours, and he came knocking on the door, and he said, I need to talk to you. And at that moment, just for a split second, I was like, oh, here it is. Because I know him now, and he has enough respect and enough respect for me and enough honesty and enough integrity that he wouldn't have put me through that rose ceremony. And I know that about him now. So I thought that knock on the door was him coming to tell me, hey, look, I have a better connection with this other person, which I was willing to accept, because when we're all accept this journey, we. We all accept that it's like it might work and it might not work. You know, is that connection there or is that connection not there? So just for that split second, I was like, well, he's got a better connection with Cindy than he does me, and that's okay. We're grown ass adults. And it's not that somebody's better or worse or any of that than the other person. It's just truly about that connection, who has that best connection with each other. That's all it is.
Serena
Yeah, well, honestly, watching it when Mel was delivering you the news in your room that Cindy was no longer part of the journey, when he started, for a second, I was like, is he breaking up with Peg, too?
Mel
Like, that was the plan.
Serena
Was that the plan? You were kind of trying to pull one over on her a little bit.
Mel
Yeah, I wanted to make it seem like. Like, hey, I made a decision already. I got to let you, you know, let you in on it. So I wanted to make sure that it came across that way.
Serena
Okay, so you were messing with her.
Mel
I was messing with her, yeah. For sure.
Joe
It worked. It worked because it does.
Mel
Like, if we.
Joe
If as a viewer, if we don't.
Mel
Know, being background into it, everything I go, you know, I'm gonna Make this act like, you know, it's over between us. Right. Of course. I go. She left. Right. And then she got the whole face changed.
Peg
When he was talking to me. Right. I just. I was very stoic, and I was like.
Serena
Because I just feel like you were digesting, trying to be like, okay, where is this going? Let me brace myself. Like, what's he about to say? And, Mel, you're dragging it out. You're taking as long as possible, you know.
Mel
You know. You know how much I like you. You know, how much, you know, you mean to me and how much fun we've had. And, you know, I just want to be transparent with you. And I had the overnight last night, and it's, like, building up to, like. But.
Peg
I was shocked. Shocked.
Serena
Yeah.
Joe
That's good. We see. We see sometimes on this show, the final. The final two. A person will send themselves home and always leaves the final person somewhat questioning. Am I just. Am I. Am I the second choice? Which I don't think is the case in this scenario. But do you wish, Peg, do you wish Cindy didn't send herself home?
Peg
No, because my truth is, I think she knew that there was a better connection between Mel and myself. I think she intuitively knew that, and she did not want to put herself through that, because I. I do. I saw that. I saw that face, and I felt it in her heart. And I knew our connection was so strong. And not a lot of people saw it in the house. The women in the house did not see it because it developed, it grew. I didn't come into the mansion going, oh, I want to get married. No, I didn't do that. Because for me, that love, it grows. It's. It's about. Like I said, you guys, it's the fireplace, not the fireworks, because the fireplace, you can continually refuel it. And actually, Mel feels the same way about it. It's like the reality is it takes time to fall in love, you guys, and it takes time to get to know somebody. And, you know, and we both. We both have that same belief system, basically.
Mel
That might have been the connection as well, where, you know, it wasn't like, oh, by the way, I'm in love with you after, you know, two weeks. Because on the last week's episode, I say, oh, here is Cindy. She's in love with me. Oh, and here's Peg. She's not right start difference. You know, it's a bright line. And, you know, because Cindy was saying, oh, I love you, I love you. And Peg was saying, you know, we're working on this. And that was my mindset all along, too. I. I'm not going to fall in love with somebody even if I thought I was. I got to check myself and say, you know, am I really? I still got to give it time to see. See if my. If my. My brain and my heart can catch up with my. My hormones. Right. So you might be in love. Like, you know, wait a little bit here and check it out.
Joe
Oh, yeah. You. You also don't know if it's. It's just situational like you are. We are in this. You know, it's somewhat of a. An experiment, and you want to make sure that, like, it's for. For sure, and it's just not like, yeah, the situation.
Peg
But, you know, what you guys love is, like, it's different for everybody. Everybody has their own idea of love. Everybody has their own preconceived idea of what that is and what that looks like, you know, and everybody has a right to that. It just so happens that him and I are on the exact same page when it comes to building a relationship. I mean, we're realists. We. We don't live in fantasy land. And we both realize it takes time. It really does, but we do have that real connection. And I knew it. I knew it. I knew it early on. It was so weird. I can't even explain it, but I just. I felt it and it scared me because I wasn't expecting it. I was like, holy, what is this? This is crazy. Especially when we went to O.C. the O.C. fair, and at the Casey in the Sunshine Band. I just realized I'm like, oh, oh, I'm in trouble, because I was not expecting it. I did not go into this thing with, I'm going to be married and I want to ring, and I'm going to live happily ever after. And I'm. This is it. No, I just came here. It's like, you know, let me check this out. Let me see what kind of a person he is. And I had to suspend judgment because we all know that podcast, you know, wasn't the greatest podcast out there, but.
Mel
If you understood it, it was okay.
Peg
But, you know, but here's the thing. I suspended judgment because I knew that I had to get to know who he was. Not who what the podcast says, not what social media says, not what any of that. I needed to get to know who he was as a human being.
Mel
Foreign.
Joe
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Narrator
Lorian's voice gently wakes you from your dreams of him.
Joe
I can't face one more sunset without you by my side. Come with me and I vow your desires will be my North Star forevermore.
Narrator
You're ready. You have Nexsplanon etnogestrel implant 68mg radio pack to prevent pregnancy. Nexplanon is a non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm and may take a few minutes to insert by your doctor. Don't use nexplanon if you're pregnant or may be pregnant, have or had blood clots or certain cancers, have liver disease, liver tumor or unexplained explained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant, contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms. Removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be while in common Ectopic pregnancy Pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur, which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period. Ovarian cysts may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs. With less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use NexsPlanon for one year, NexPlanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy, talk to your doctor. Call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexsplanon.com for more information.
Joe
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Serena
You one of those people that starts your holiday shopping in like, July?
Joe
July? I mean, no, never. Like, I. I like to shop. Actually, I like to shop on Christmas Eve because I find it to be a little more festive.
Serena
But you like to start decorating right after Halloween?
Joe
No, after Thanksgiving. Okay, that's different. That's different. Halloween? No, not Halloween.
Serena
You know, I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list and I've checked.
Joe
It twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.
Serena
I can't help it. You know, I love finding the perfect gifts for everyone. And Walmart has all the top brands. Nespresso, Sonos, Nintendo.
Joe
Nintendo at Walmart. Who knew?
Serena
I know. And more. All of your shopping in one place.
Joe
How much more shopping? Oh, boy.
Serena
Just saying. Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts. This, this season.
Joe
Was there. Both of you are saying, you know, we're real, this, and it takes time to know if we're in love. Was there a point post show, after the show for both of you that you were like, oh, this, we made the right decision. This actually is love.
Mel
Well, I knew it earlier on, right? That's why when it came down to it, I, I, I chose Peg. It wasn't, I had a crush on her from the first time I saw her, right? And it wasn't, I didn't really see her in the bomb suit is when they, it's like a little diversion because they're trying to make the, the bomb go off. And that, you know, they, they separated her and they got her changed and I saw her. I didn't realize it was the same person that was in the bomb suit. And from that point on, I had a crush on her. So, yeah, you know, right then I knew.
Joe
How about for you, Peg?
Peg
I think the first time that I really knew is when we right out of the limo when we sat down for a couple of minutes that first night at the mansion, I just felt it. When we sat down, we looked at each other's eyes. It was just that connection right then and there. And it just took me back. But I knew that I needed to get to know him. I need to like, okay, great. The connection's there. I feel it. I know he feels it because it was just, it's like electric. It really was. And now, now just to build on that foundation, getting to know who he was and for him to get to know who I am. Do we fit in each other's lives? Because there's, you know, the word love is great, but, you know, it takes more to. It takes more than love to have A successful, sustainable relationship. And especially in our 60s, we both know that we've been through divorce, we've been through, you know, the ups and downs of life. And realistically, we know that, you know, it's great to be in love, you guys, but you've got to have that.
Mel
Firm foundation everybody wants heard love attached to everything they do, especially on the show. But you can have a, a great relationship without saying it. It's actually how you, how you act towards each other. Right. And I knew that the way she was treating me on the show, I go, I know she likes me a lot, you know, without saying, like, oh, by the way, I love you, I love you, I love you. Right? It starts with like, because you can let, you can love somebody and not like them. You can have your crazy. Right, Your crazy uncle. You go, I love the guy, but I really don't like the guy. Right, right. I love him, but I don't want to be around him.
Serena
Yeah, yeah.
Joe
Well, hopefully that doesn't happen with you and Peg.
Mel
Okay, I'm giving you example of like and love. Right?
Joe
Yeah, no, I, I, I agree.
Mel
I see in the show that I go, it's not a word I used lightly. I don't, it has a lot of different meanings and connotations and, and expectations. So it's not something that I just start saying like, oh, I've known you for two weeks, and like, you know, I love you. It's like, come on, it's unrealistic. In my world, it is anyway.
Peg
Right, right.
Joe
But when you, when you accepted the lead as the Bachelor, knowing the show a little bit, were you worried that you may fall into that trap?
Mel
No, because I followed the show a lot earlier on, like from 2002 or 3. I followed maybe for 5, 6 years, and then I had my kids, and then I just fell off, and then I actually didn't pick it up again at all. I just, you know, bits and pieces because you see it. But I didn't know any of the characters, any of the leads, any of the Bachelor, none of that. And I only saw the Golden Bachelor when the girls got out of the limo with Gary. It's the only part I ever saw on that one. So I didn't know about the show, really. I didn't. And that's, you know, I learned about it after I was really casted for it. You know, I got more in depth. I started looking at the clips and things, things of that sort, to get more familiar with it. So, no, I didn't know.
Serena
Okay, how Familiar were you with the show before you went on?
Peg
I love Tristan's season. I think the only season I ever watched was Tristan's and Ryan and I loved that season. And it's so funny because we all thought she was going to choose the other person, and she chose the firefighter. So shout out to Tristan and Ryan, man. You know, it's the same thing. You know, here's the thing. It's like we both were looking for that connection. Now what we do with that connection moving forward is up to us, how we want to, you know, how we want to go about it, what we want to call it. But we were both looking for that connection. And then what we decide moving forward to do with it, it's what we get to decide together. You know, it's really cool, you guys, being in your 60s is really cool because you get to do what you want to do when you want to do it, and you get to write your own story. We get to write our own love story, and that's fun. It's not going to be like anybody else's love story. It's going to be our love story, and we get to write it. Yeah, long can be a lot of fun.
Mel
That is.
Joe
Okay, so let's. Let's take it back to the final episode. Peg, what was it like to finally meet Mel's family?
Peg
Oh, my gosh. I like, adore his boys. They are hilarious. They're. They're great. I adore his boys are. They're handsome and they're smart and they're charismatic. And I just. It was really fun to meet them because I was really. I'm really comfortable with the guys, you know, working in the fire department, you guys, for 25 years, with all the guys, it's just like, yes, you know, I'm with my people, you know.
Joe
Yeah.
Peg
You know, little smart asses. And I just. I love them. They're so cool. And then Diane, of course, his best. One of his very good friends. I just loved her to death, you know, so it was great.
Serena
We saw you did the word association game with his boys. Tell us how that went.
Peg
It was good.
Serena
Because you know what?
Peg
I knew, you guys, I knew by doing that little word association game with them, I was going to learn more about him because they have to think on their feet, you know, and then. Right. Whatever came to their mind right away was telling me a little bit more about how they view their father, you know, what's their perception of their dad.
Serena
And.
Peg
And I got a lot of good information out of Them sneaky, smart. Sneaky, sneaky.
Serena
Yeah, it was smart. I've never seen anyone do something of that sort at a family visit or a hometown.
Mel
I didn't see it. So my boys told me about it, but they couldn't articulate exactly what it was. So I'm curious to see it as well.
Joe
They were great. My brother and I would have been. We would have went out, we would have went after our dad.
Peg
It just came to me, you know, and, you know, it's just. It was really good because I knew I needed to get some information out of them. But, you know, they're kids, kids. They're 18 and 20 years old. So I just like, okay, how can we make this fun? And how can I get the information I need out of them without knowing that that's what I'm doing?
Serena
What did you learn from the game?
Peg
Oh, my God. That he's a great guy. Because how I learned, it's their relationship with their dad. And that's what I needed to see. How is your relationship with your dad? And they gave. It. Gave me the answers that I was looking for. You know, they. They love their dad, they respect their dad, they look up to their dad, and he's been a great father to the boys. I mean, just a really good father. No, you really have. You know, I mean that.
Serena
Yeah. And you can see that just in that interaction, the way they were speaking about Mel through the game event and the. The words they were using to describe him. It was a really sweet moment.
Joe
Mel, what was it like seeing Peg with your family?
Mel
Great, because I know how Peg is and she's cool with kids. Right. And she's the only person on the show that asked me about my boys. Like, really only one? Like, hey, that's crazy. Actually, she said that, you know, that's another reason why. Just more validation of how much that, you know, I was making the right decision. But she was asking me, how are your. How are your boys? You know, what are their names or how old are they? What do they do? You know, I want to meet them. I, you know, I want to do stuff with them. So. And that was. It was honest because you know what, she kept on asking me more and more questions about it. So I knew that when she met them and vice versa, they're going to have a good time. And she still asked me about it, even this morning. Hey, how are boys doing? What are they doing? How's school? How's the girlfriends? That kind of stuff. So that meant a lot to me, especially not so much in my decision, but it just validated my decision even more.
Joe
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Narrator
Chapter 18 Prince Lorian's voice gently wakes you from your dreams of him.
Joe
I can't face one more sunset without you by my side. Come with me and I vow your desires will be my North Star forevermore.
Narrator
You're ready. You have Nexplanon etnogestrel implant 68mg Radiopeg to prevent pregnancy. Nexsplanon is a non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm and may take a few minutes to insert by your doctor. Don't use Nexplanon if you're pregnant or may be pregnant, have or had blood clots or certain cancers, have liver disease, liver tumor or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant, contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms. Removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be while in common. Ectopic pregnancy. Pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period. Ovarian cysts may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexsplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs. With less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use NexsPlanon for one year, NexPlanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy, talk to your doctor, call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexplanon.com for more information. Ask your doctor about Nexplanon.
Serena
Okay, so question Are you one of those people that starts your holiday shopping in like, July?
Joe
July? I mean, no, never. Like, I, I, I like to shop. Actually, I like to shop on Christmas Eve because I find it to be a little more festive.
Serena
But you, like, start decorating right after Halloween?
Joe
No, after Thanksgiving. Okay, that's different. That's different. Halloween? No, not Halloween.
Serena
You know, I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list and I've checked.
Joe
It twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.
Serena
I can't help it. You know, I love finding the perfect gifts for everyone. And Walmart has all the top brands. Nespresso, Sonos, Nintendo.
Joe
Nintendo at Walmart? Who knew?
Serena
I know. And more. All of your shopping in one place.
Joe
How much more shopping? Oh boy.
Serena
Just saying. Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts. This season.
Joe
No one's journey is the same. That's why Delta Sky Miles lets you do it your way. From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs, shopping and things you do every day to connecting you to new places and experiences. A SkyMiles membership fits into your lifestyle, letting you do more of what makes you you. It's more than travel. It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides, and arrives with you. Every great journey deserves a great story. And when you have a membership that's as unique as you are, there's no telling how your story will unfold or where that journey will take you next. SkyMiles is the membership that will be here for all your big and small moments. The membership that's there for every solo adventure or family trip. The membership that comes with the power of partnership from brands you love. The membership that moves with you. Learn more@delta.com SkyMiles I've got Dan Morgan here on the pod. Say hi Dan. Hey, how's it going today? It's going good, man. Tell us who you are and what you do. I'm Dan Morgan.
Mel
I'm an attorney.
Joe
Attorney and a managing partner at Morgan and Morgan, which is America's largest injury law firm. That's pretty awesome. Why do you guys think you win so many cases? The insurance companies and other companies that we go against know that we're going to take it to the end that we believe in the case. So we fight for every dollar and we're not afraid to go that extra mile for our clients. Are insurance companies like actually afraid of you guys?
Mel
We don't bluff.
Joe
We take it to trial. And we are not strangers of getting.
Mel
Very, very, very large verdicts.
Joe
Awesome. So how does someone get in contact with Morgan and Morgan? What would I do if I got into an accident? Probably the easiest way is dialing pound law. That's £529 from your cell phone. Our call center is always waiting to take your call. 247 365. Wow. Dan Morgan from Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. Thanks for coming by the show.
Mel
Thanks for having me.
Joe
Visit forthepeople.com for an office near.
Serena
Peg. This is a little off topic of the hometown day, but I'm just so interested in this because you mentioned, you know, you worked in the fire department, you worked on the bombs while you worked in a very male dominated field for most of your life. What was it like kind of being one of the few women in your career for so long and then going into a house with all women kind of like the complete opposite experience?
Peg
It was hard.
Serena
Yeah, I bet.
Peg
So hard, you guys. And I love these women. They're smart, they're intelligent, they're beautiful, they're articulate, they're. I really, I really love them. But it was hard for me. It was really, really hard because just, I mean, can you guys imagine I, and you guys saw in hometowns 25 guys or to 30 guys at a firehouse for 25 years working with them and then I'm thrusted into a house of all these women.
Mel
Just the opposite.
Peg
Just the opposite. And you know, women can be catty. Women can be jealous. Women can be, you know, they can be a lot of different things and I wasn't used to that. I'm not. And I'm very protective. And when, you know, I really love somebody or I let somebody into my life, I become very, very protective. And I became very protective of the women in the house and they don't even know it. I was advocating for them as a whole and they didn't even know it. And that's okay. But I became Very. I was, like, very protective over them because, you know, I love them all dearly. You know, we're all there. And. And so it was different. It was really, really different. And I had. I learned a lot. I really did. I learned a lot.
Serena
So, yeah, that must be wild. Like, for however many years you're adapting to this world and then thrown into the complete opposite of what you're used to and having to adapt to that.
Peg
It was crazy for me. It was really. It was a difficult situation. It really was, because I'm like, all right, I don't even know how. I honestly, I don't. I didn't even know how to navigate through it, you know, And I got a little, you know, tiffs with some of the girls. It's just because I don't have a lot of experience, you know, dealing with that, you know? Cindy at one time told me I needed to have more feathers. And I looked at her, and I'm like, what does that mean? I don't even know what that means. Cindy, please help me here, because I'm very direct and I'm very honest, and people either, you know, they'll celebrate that or they'll stay away from that, you know? And Terry, we connected right away, and she's more like me. We have that kind of, like, tough exterior, and we say what mean. And we mean what we say, you know, and some people like it and some people don't.
Joe
So what does that mean, though, the feathers?
Peg
I don't know.
Joe
You don't know yet?
Serena
I don't know either.
Mel
Softer.
Peg
Softer.
Joe
Softer.
Serena
Oh, okay. I see. I see.
Peg
And you know what? Into. Into her. You know, into her statement. She raised girls, right?
Serena
Yes.
Peg
She's. Cindy's very soft. She really is. I'm a prickly little porn or not porn.
Mel
Porcupine.
Peg
Fine. And I raised my daughter that way. As you guys could tell at hometowns, we're very direct. We're very honest. You know, it was my daughter and myself. I raised her by myself. After my divorce, you know, he stepped out on the marriage. You know, he found somebody else, and it was just her and I, and we. I became very protective over her. So it was her and I just together, you know, navigating through life. And, you guys know, life's difficult. Life is not easy, man. So I always had to have my armor up, not only to protect myself, but to protect her as well.
Joe
Yeah, she's also very protective of you. That conversation that she did have with you, Mel, what. What was your take on it?
Mel
Like, you Know, talking to my friend, an attorney, he goes, now you've been an attorney more longer than you've been a football player. Right. So I've done a million depositions, I've been deposed, I've ask questions, I've been, you know, I had clients. So I'm used to the adversarial role. Right. The main thing you got to do is listen and answer the question posed. Don't add anything. Right. So if they're coming on to you, tough, okay, I'm, I'm okay with it. But you just answer the question that's posed, you don't add anything else. So it might have been, looked difficult, but it really wasn't that difficult because I've been in those situations all the time. But, you know, she was direct and I appreciated it. She, she was protective of her mom and she wanted no questions and have them answered. And somebody just, you know, I was just being truthful with her. I go, I, you know, I, I, I'm not in love with your mother. Right. We're like a month into it.
Joe
Yeah.
Mel
So, I mean, it might have looked tough and coming off tough, but those are the honest answers and all I could do, be as honest with everybody on the, on the show and not mislead them or give them head fakes and misdirect them and give them false hopes. I just never did that. So I was honest with myself and honest with them.
Serena
Yeah, I liked that conversation because I thought it really showcased the love and protectiveness that your daughter feels for you. Peg and I respected that. She wasn't afraid to make the most of the time she had with Mal and asking direct questions and continue asking kind of every question she felt like she needed to get her answers. What did you learn about Peg or Peg's daughter during that conversation, Mel?
Mel
Well, Peg already told me that, you know, she was direct and, you know, full of life, just like her mom. Right. So I was thinking, I was talking to her mom, like they said with the word association game, you get a lot out of the kids of the mom. So I'm looking, I go, this, nothing was rehearsed.
Joe
Right.
Mel
We didn't have, we didn't have any time to go in there and go, by the way, you're going to meet him. And this is what he's like. And here's the questions. He was like, take him, sit him down, take them, sit him down, talk. So it was, it was basically all extemporaneous, oh, you know, ad lib questions. So whatever you came to your Mind you asked. So my thing was to be direct and be honest. And so in exactly way way, her mom was honest and direct. That's what I got from it. I go, they're. They're the same. Like they're twins, right? And we're going, no.
Peg
Do one thing about Dakota that I, and I, I admire this about my daughter. She's fearless and I'm. I'm proud to be that mom that raised her that way because she. Nobody intimidates her, nobody on this planet. She just, you know, and she's fearless and she's. I know one thing as a mom, because as, you know, as mothers and fathers, we just want to know that our children are always going to be okay, especially when we leave this planet. And I know one thing about her, she's always going to be.
Mel
And I like the direct questions, but I answer them honestly. So when you, when you walk away and you look at it, go. Because that guy's honest, you know? Are you in love with your mom? No. No, I'm not. I'm not there yet. Right. That's an honest answer. Because I wasn't. You know, some people goes, well, yeah, I am. Yeah, it's like, no, I wasn't. I wasn't going to, you know, bullshit her. Right. I was going to tell her the, the truth and what. How I felt and, and she, and she deserved that answer and I gave it to her and so I, Yeah, it's like her mom, just straightforward and direct.
Joe
Okay, so I think this is a perfect place to end the first part. Make sure you guys tune in for part two with Peg and Mel.
Serena
We will have new and exclusive interviews every single week. We are so excited to share part two of our interview with you guys. Thank you so much for listening. Bye. My new obsession is this romance story I read about a cowboy who wants to start a family with a city girl. She's not ready for that yet, but that doesn't mean she's not ready to roll around in the hay. She has Nexplanon etonorgestrel implant, 68mg radiopaque to prevent pregnancy. Nexplanon is a non daily prescription birth control for women that goes in your arm. It lasts for three years and can be removed by your doctor at any time if your plans change. Nexplanon must be removed by the end of the third year. Don't use nexplanon if you're pregnant or maybe pregnant, have, or had blood clots or certain cancers, have liver disease. Liver tumor or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Once the implant is placed, you and your doctor should feel for it. If at any time you can't feel the implant, contact your doctor right away and use a non hormonal birth control method such as condoms. Removal of the implant may be difficult or impossible if it isn't where it should be. While uncommon ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy that occurs outside the womb can occur, which can cause serious internal bleeding, infertility and even death. You are likely to experience changes to your period, ovarian cysts and may occur and usually disappear. Nexplanon may raise the chance of serious blood clots, which can cause heart attack, stroke or death, especially if you smoke or have other risk factors. Nexplanon doesn't protect against HIV or STDs. With less than one pregnancy per 100 women who use Nexplanon for one year, Nexplanon is over 99% effective. No matter the fantasy, talk to your doctor. Call 1-877-467-5266 or visit nexplanon.com for more information. Ask your doctor about nexplanon I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list.
Joe
Checked it twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.
Serena
I can't help it, you know. I love finding the perfect gifts. And Walmart has all the top brands. Nespresso, Sonos, Nintendo, Nintendo at Walmart, who knew? I know. And more.
Joe
Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts this season. When you say Lego Star wars, the first thing you think of is imagination. Or action. Or both. Definitely both. Like with Jango Fett's Starship. I mean, with Stud Blasters, seismic charges and three minifigures. Your kid is going to be creating stories until the banthas come home. And for your yourself, there's the Jango Fett's Firespray Class Starship Lego set from the Ultimate Collector series. Enjoy some Jedi Master level mindfulness during your building time. Shop now for Star wars lego sets on lego.com or in lego retail stores. The day begins at the Chase Sapphire Lounge by the club at Boston Logan Airport. You get the clam chowder in San Diego, it's Tostadas New York Espresso Martini. It's 10:00am why not? It's the quiet before your next flight. The shower that resets your day. The menu that lets you know where you are. This is access to over 1300 airport lounges and every Sapphire lounge by the club. And one card that gets you in Chase Sapphire Reserve, the most rewarding card. Learn more@chase.com SapphireReserve cards issued by JP.
Mel
Morgan, Chase bank and a member FDIC.
Joe
Subject to credit approval.
Serena
Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost almost at the finish line. But first, there the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes.
Narrator
This is an I Heart podcast.
Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Joe Amabile & Serena Pitt
Guests: Mel & Peg (from “The Bachelor”)
This episode of Bachelor Happy Hour welcomes the franchise’s latest couple, Mel and Peg, for an open and spirited discussion fresh off their televised finale. Hosted by Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt, the conversation dives into the couple’s journey – from their first limo introductions to keeping their romance a secret, defining their commitment, reflections on love in their 60s, and intimacy with each other's families. The episode is rich with candid insights, emotional recounting of pivotal moments, and some humorous self-awareness about aging, realism, and the nature of love.
This episode offers a genuine, thoughtful exploration of love after 60, the realities of joining a dating show later in life, and the value of honesty and measured devotion. Mel and Peg’s approach—slow-burning, rooted in realism and self-knowledge—contrasts markedly with traditional Bachelor narratives, offering listeners both sage advice and uplifting moments. Family dynamics, the challenge of female camaraderie for “one of the guys,” and the hilarity and heart that come with aging make this a worthwhile listen for Bachelor Nation and beyond.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where the story continues!