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Rod
This is an iHeart podcast.
Dr. Jake Goodman
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Rachel
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Rod
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Rachel
Hello, everyone and welcome back to Bachelor happy hour. Today is April 6th. I'm Rachel here with my girl Charity and we are back yet again with another group of guys. We are so excited to get into this. So without further ado, here they are. Today's guest is 36 year old chiropractic healer from San Diego, California, Dr. Michael Baba. Michael, welcome to Bachelor Happy Hour.
Dr. Michael Baba
Hello.
Charity
Thanks for having me. We are so, so excited to have you here on Bachelor Happy Hour. We're going to chat all the things today and get to learn a lot more about you and what you do. But before we get into all of that, we just want to check in. We've been asking honestly, all the guys this at the top of each episode, how are you feeling? We know the past few weeks have been very heavy, probably overwhelming, filled with so many different emotions. So just kind of walk us through how you've been doing and what you're doing to kind of keep yourself, you know, grounded and supported in all of this.
Dr. Michael Baba
Sure, yeah, I'm doing great. You know, it's. It was a really, a random opportunity that kind of popped up in my life and I rolled with it. And kind of as soon as it shifted, I just shifted with it. And I mean, honestly, I was with my family yesterday and they asked me about it and I was like, oh, yeah, I forgot that, you know, that was a thing. Like, it's just kind of like not in my awareness at this point. But if it happens to air, like, that'd be amazing, you know. But I just kind of put it to the side for now.
Rachel
I have to know, how did you find yourself in the mansion? What was your journey to getting on this show?
Dr. Michael Baba
So my, my best friend's a psychic and he gave me a reading back in last year about this time and he was like, there's going to be an opportunity that's happening in the fall. You're going to be seen by a lot of people and you have to Build up your Instagram for that. And so I started posting more Instagram. I really never posted much before. And then they reached out to me on Instagram and said, there's this opportunity and da, da. I'm at the mansion.
Rachel
Okay.
Charity
No way.
Rachel
Everyone, I literally need your friend's number. I have to know everything. Did he tell you anything about what your journey was going to be like on the show before you went?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, he's. He's pretty amazing. I've known him for a while now. He just. He sees. He's a. He's just a real seer. And he told me some things, like what to kind of look out for. He kind of helped me prepare for it. Helped me, like, get myself ready. And, I mean, he's helped me out in so many areas of my life. This is just one story of a thousand that he's seen. So pretty amazing.
Charity
Okay, wait, I'm, like, curious now because obviously Taylor was or is the Bachelorette. And so beforehand, did you know that it was going to be Taylor when you were going through the, like, the casting process or when you got presented with the opportunity, or did your friend kind of allude, like, oh, it might be, you know, did they give any descriptors? Like, I don't know how that really works.
Dr. Michael Baba
Oh, no. Yeah, he just.
Rachel
He's like, no. Okay.
Charity
That would be, like, insane.
Rachel
He knew it was Taylor.
Charity
Yeah. Like, it's gonna be a brown hair girl.
Rachel
What were your thoughts going in? Did you know anything about Taylor before?
Dr. Michael Baba
No, I had no idea. When I found out who it was, I, like, did a little Google search on her. I was like, okay, she's part of the show and da, da, da. And that's. I wanted to keep it. I want to look like meeting anyone for the first time. I didn't want to know about her, especially that she has this big following. I was like, you know, I'm just going to go in with. With Open Eyes, Open Heart and just meet her and see what's going on.
Rod
Wow.
Charity
Okay. So I'm really fascinated about your job, and I really want to dive into that. So you're a chiropractor? Healer. So, yeah. Tell us, like, kind of how you got into that line of work, what you essentially do for a living and what that, like, includes or consists of.
Dr. Michael Baba
Sure, yeah. The short answer is that it helped heal me. I was a little in a lot of mental, emotional, physical pain, and I found this purely energetic chiropractic. So no. No even crack or anything. And he helped transform my life. And through there I was like, hey, what do I want to do? Like, how do, how do I want to like, go about my life? And it was always this thing, chiropractic kept coming back. So I went to school for it. And I love it. And along that journey, I learned about a lot of other different healing modalities, about like energy and crystals and frequencies and things like that. And so I implement all that into like what I do. And without getting like too woo woo about what I do, it's like really is helping people reorganize and retrain their nervous system. So we have stimuluses that come in and we got trigger events, right? It's like, can we choose differently? Can our nervous system be reorganized around to a higher state or a state at least that we choose? And that shows up in a lot of different ways. A lot of like chiropractic technique comes in. Cranial sacral, working with the dura, the nervous system. It's really just helping that person with receive an authentic version of themselves and experience that. And through that, their life changes. And it's really amazing. I get to help people through this. And I'm really blessed and honored every day. I was like, like, wow, this is my job. Like, this is really cool. I love it.
Rachel
I have, I mean, so many questions. I'm like, I want to just ask everything. But you are a doctor, which first of all is so amazing. So what is it like when you're working with someone? Do you also do the chiropractic part of it now or is it just the healing?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, so I do chiropractic. Like I found that's really effective for helping remove especially physical blocks. You know, especially the stage we're on computer a lot. We have a lot of tension driving. There's a lot of physical tension in our system. So I found that you need that as long as well as the energetic modalities. Energetic modalities go along with like the nervous system, the emotional mental states, like shifting those and then the chiropractic and really get in there and shift the physical body. Because our physical body is just receivers, right? Their antennas for energy to come into. So if our receivers are all bent and it's hard for that, that frequency that we want to come in. So opening up the physical body can really allow openness and change for the physical, the mental, emotional, spiritual mind.
Charity
Amazing. I'm sure you have so many moments where you obviously have transformed people's lives, but is there one in particular that might like stand out to you that you can share with us.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah. And it's. It's funny. The more I do this, the more I really rely on, like, for me, all I'm doing is creating a space for someone to heal. It's like, I use the analogy of, like, two bells next to each other. If this bell is resonating to a frequency, this bell is going to resonate to that frequency also. So it's really all I'm helping people do is I'm just resonating to a frequency, and they choose if they want to be healed or not through themselves. Right. Like, they. They allow themselves to resonate to that or not. So they're doing all the healing. I'm just kind of creating the space for it. So that part's really fun. But this one lady is, like, early in my practice, and she was, like, a week away from getting neck surgery, and I've been working with her for, like, two years now, and, like, within a few months, she was like, I don't have to get neck surgery anymore. And it's just her progress over these past couple years have just, like, gone off the charts. And she looks, like, way younger. She looks, like 20 years younger now. And it's just amazing watching her transform. But it started as, like, she's a week away from surgery and, like, just on the edge of, you know, like, losing her mind and got to just help her through that, and it's amazing. It's a blessing.
Rachel
Oh, my gosh. I'm like, okay, well, put me on your schedule. But I do want to know. I'm like, wait, walk me through a day in your life, because this is all so interesting to me.
Dr. Michael Baba
Thanks. Yeah, a lot of. So Tuesday, Thursday, Friday mornings, I adjust, and Wednesday afternoons, and so I'm usually adjusting for four or five hours in the morning, and. And then I'll go and kite board in the afternoon. And that. That's my reset. That's how I. That's how I get adjusted.
Rachel
I love that.
Charity
Okay, so how did you prepare yourself specifically for this journey? Like, was there anything that you were like, okay, I need to. I mean, I'm sure you were already probably in a. A balanced state, but, like, coming into an insane journey like the Bachelorette, was there anything that you, like, did specifically to prepare for spiritually?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, for sure. It was. It was like the. The aspect of being seen and, like, putting myself out there before. I didn't really post on Instagram much. I didn't. I didn't want to be seen. I'm a very private person. So putting my life on Instagram or just going out and talking or doing things like this, like, I wouldn't. I didn't want to do before, and I had resistance to it. I've had. I was challenged by friends and family, like, you know, start putting stuff online and start sharing, you know, your viewpoints and your vision. And I was resistant to it. So I started that process of building my Instagram was helping get myself ready to be seen and being in front of the camera and people. And that was a whole spiritual journey. Like, I hated it. I'm better with it now, but, I mean, even the whole process of being in the mansion was. Was very, very spiritual. Can share one kind of crazy thing that happened?
Rachel
Please.
Dr. Michael Baba
Okay. So I went up onto the. The, like, this mountainside by. Went on a little hike by myself, and I was just asking, like, if I should be here or not. Like, I didn't know if I should really be there or not. And one of my signs that's really special to me is when I see a crow and a hawk interacting together, and they, like, they still.
Rachel
Wow.
Dr. Michael Baba
Dance in the sky. So I went on this mountain. I was like, oh, man, I was. I was balling. Like, I was crying up there. Like, should I be doing this or not? And I see this crow and these two hawks or this hawk and these two crows start circling around me. And it was just like, really beautiful moment. I was like, okay, you know, I'm supposed to be here. And. And then later on in the mansion, because I usually get that sign, like, really big moments in my life. And it's later on in the mansion, we were wandering for one of the roads. We're like, oh, you know, should we drink tequila? Like, should we, you know, we gonna drink tonight kind of thing? Or sitting outside, and I kind of look over and through the archway by the pool, I see this crow and this hawk, like, come up and they, like, flash like this and then go down. Yeah.
Rachel
They told you to drink tequila? They said go to the bar.
Dr. Michael Baba
It sounds like, I guess we're drinking tequila tonight.
Rachel
I feel those signs, too. You and me both. Especially in the mansion.
Dr. Michael Baba
I guess we're drinking tequila tonight.
Rod
Let's go.
Rachel
I. I have to ask. I know I'm not even very in tune with other people's energies, but what was it like walking in night one and feeling the energy from the guys from Taylor, from the crew? How were you able to manage that?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, it's. It's fun. A lot of. A lot of what? I work with people on in my practice is energetic boundaries, because I didn't have energetic boundaries that are really bad. Walk outside and feel everyone and everything and, like, freak out my nervous system. But now it's. For me, it's like surfing waves. You know, there's some, like, nice waves you want to surf, some waves you don't want to surf. And so you kind of pick your waves you want to surf. And that's how I kind of look and view of everyone's energies. They're just waves and frequencies that you can kind of hop on and ride. So to me, it's just, you know, being out in the ocean, it's. It's fun. It's. It's just dancing with everyone.
Rachel
Beautiful.
Charity
Was there. Yeah. Was there any. I mean, I'm assuming, since you, like, kind of had to ask, like, yourself, am I supposed to be here, was there any other fears that you initially came in, like, the experience with that was, like, weighing really heavy on night one? That was, like, I guess, just an overwhelming presence for you.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah. I didn't. I didn't want to say something stupid and have it be on national television.
Charity
Yeah, that's fair. Like, yeah. Everybody else. Which we all. It inevitably happens. Yeah.
Rachel
Yes. Was there ever a time in the mansion that you were able to connect with Taylor or the guys and help them with their energy, or what was that like for you?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, you know, I think that was part of the reason that I was there. So I'm looking at, like, divine. Like, where's. Why am I there? Why am I doing anything right? I do my best to stay in the highest good. So where I'm at some. I'm somewhere. I'm. You know, there's there for a reason, whatever that reason might be. Yeah. Without giving too much away, I did work with Taylor a little bit. We did a little kind of grounding thing together. And especially one of the nights, she was, like, kind of a little rattled because a lot of energy going on, you know, so.
Charity
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dr. Michael Baba
And then the guys led some yoga with them. We led some breath work. We did workouts together. They were really interested, so we got to, like, some deep conversations with all this stuff. It was really fun talking to them all about it.
Rachel
I feel like they need to bring you on every season. We could all use a little bit of grounding because it's crazy.
Dr. Michael Baba
It's a crazy experience. Yeah. I remember one time, Johnny some. Something happened, and everyone got riled up, and he's like, dude, why am I shaking right now? And I was like, man, it's the testosterone. Like, just breathe. It's like, coursing through you.
Rachel
Oh, my gosh. So crazy.
Charity
Okay, take us back to your dating history. I'm curious to know, like, were you in any other relationships before coming on to the Bachelorette? Were they serious? And then essentially, what were you looking for when you came into the Bachelorette?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, I'm looking for a life partner. You know, I'm looking for someone beautiful to share life experiences with and help each other grow and evolve and love and all the whole thing. So that's what I was looking for. You know, if that was going to happen, it's going to happen. I don't think we control who or when or how we love or how we love me, but, like, who or when. It doesn't really show up. So I'm jumbling, but it's like, it doesn't. We can't control when it shows up. Right?
Charity
Yeah.
Dr. Michael Baba
See, I was in a serious relationship about a year before going on there, and that ended. So I really was taking that last year to just kind of heal and get back to myself. But, yeah, I'm looking for. Looking for the good thing, you know?
Rachel
Absolutely. What are some qualities that are non negotiables for you in a life partner?
Dr. Michael Baba
Kindness. And they care about other people, and they have, like, a bigger vision for the world that they. They kind of want to help humanity grow and evolve their consciousness and everyone's consciousness. And knowing that we all affect each other so deeply, no matter what we're doing and how we're doing it, we're. You know, we're sending out these little waves of energy and we're affecting the world. So someone has that spiritual awareness and someone that's open to love and to feeling love and to sharing that and. And also fun, adventurous, you know, I gotta have a good time. You gotta laugh.
Charity
Yeah.
Dr. Michael Baba
Life's too serious sometimes.
Charity
For sure. Okay, so I'm gonna throw a crazy question at you. You casually said you used to ride a motorcycle barefoot on the freeway. Tell us crazy, because that is actually insane, but I love it.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, that was. I was young. I was like, early 20s when I was doing stuff, stuff like that. And, yeah, I was always, like, looking for the edge of life and looking for something extreme to do. And so that was just one thing that I would do that would kind of curb that. That adrenaline rush. But now I have it in much more contained ways and better ways, like kite boarding. So I love kiteboarding because I can get that. But, you know, I'm Falling in the water. And it's not. It's not that bad. But, yeah, I would just do stupid stuff like that just to feel the edge of life. And I'm always looking kind of for the edge. Like, where is the edge is the newness is where life is being created. So I'm always looking for the edge.
Rachel
Was there at least a helmet? Okay.
Dr. Michael Baba
All right.
Rachel
No shirt. As long as we have the helmet on. Okay. So there is a bit of a stigma, first of all, for me and Charity, but in Bachelor Nation about San Diego and what it's like dating there and what the people are like from San Diego because normally they don't really want to settle down. Do you feel like that's you, or are you ready right now to be married, to have a life partner?
Dr. Michael Baba
That's. I have this conversation with a lot of people down here all the time
Rachel
because it's so San Diego to just be free.
Dr. Michael Baba
Totally. I grew up in Orange county, which is now we're north of San Diego. So I've kind of been around it my whole life, and I was definitely affected by it. But I'm. I've always wanted a partner. I've always been looking since I was younger, and so I'm. I'm definitely ready to settle down.
Charity
Do you feel like that's the. I mean. Yeah. Sorry. I was gonna ask. Do you feel like that's the. The vibe you get from other people there too, that everyone else is probably not as ready to settle down, so it makes. Naturally. Makes dating harder?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, it depends. Like, a lot of my friends hang out with, like, it's, like, who you surround yourself with, you know, so we have, like, a. We have a good group, but I hear that from a lot of people, you know, going around, and me and
Rachel
Charity are trying to confirm our bias to San Diego.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, I would confirm it, but there's also some good apples here.
Rachel
You know, Bachelor Nation, there are a lot of people in San Diego. Have you ever ran into someone from Bachelor Nation?
Dr. Michael Baba
No. Honestly, I've never really watched the show, so I wouldn't know.
Rachel
Even if I did, you wouldn't know.
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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
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Rachel
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And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.
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Rod
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Rachel
Okay, just from your season of guys, I mean there are some San Diego men.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah.
Rachel
Do you think those men or I guess your cast in general was ready to settle down?
Dr. Michael Baba
I think they did a great job on casting because that was a great group of guys. So going in I was like, oh, it's gonna be the reality guys. You know, like everyone's just out there chasing clout and there's like a really good group of guys, like connected with all of them and they're all like very heartfelt and everyone had really deep relations, relationship goals and connection and everyone was like just real. And it Was just phenomenal.
Rachel
I know. I'm like, this season needs to air.
Charity
I know. I'm like, we get good men for once.
Rachel
Love, love, love. Never see them.
Dr. Michael Baba
The bromance is revealed.
Rachel
Do you have any really close friendships with the guys in the house?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, we have a little group chat going and we're always chatting a little bit on the side.
Rachel
Do you have a best friend from the house?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah. I can't say though, because it's gonna. It's gonna ruin.
Rachel
Okay, okay, okay.
Charity
Before we transition, what's the best word to sum up the season? Like, tease us. What to hopefully expect.
Dr. Michael Baba
It was very deep and very playful at the same time.
Charity
Deep and playful.
Rachel
That's beautiful. Deep and playful.
Charity
Rachel's like, that's beautiful. I'm like, yeah, okay.
Rachel
Oh, my gosh. We'll take it. Yes.
Dr. Michael Baba
Lovely group of guys. It's great.
Rachel
Well, I could keep asking you questions forever, but we are going to transition into a little game if you are okay with it. It's called Hot Seat. We're going to ask you some rapid fire questions and just give it back to us and I'll start. So what are your top three fantasy books that you would recommend?
Dr. Michael Baba
Oh, love that Brandon Sanderson series. His whole cosmere. He's got a bunch and they all kind of intertwine with each other and each book plays in the next, like, different series. So anything from Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn or Stormlight Archive. Great series.
Rachel
And then add it to reread.
Dr. Michael Baba
Oh, yeah. He who Fights with Monsters also. It's like a fun, really fun kind of like it's kind of written like you're playing a video game, which is really fun. He like, levels up and gets new skills and it's. It's like very Dungeons and Dragons esque, which I like to play sometimes. So it's really fun.
Rachel
I love that. We need one more.
Dr. Michael Baba
One more Name in the Wind comes in, but it's not finished. That's the only thing it's got. The third book is waiting to come out. But those books were phenomenal. Or. Or the Warden Man. I like the Warded Man. That one's a really good one. And that one's finished.
Charity
Okay. I'm like, rachel, write all these down
Rachel
because I know
Charity
in their reading books.
Dr. Michael Baba
More.
Charity
Okay. Talk to us about fire. Spinning.
Dr. Michael Baba
Love it.
Charity
Love it. That's it. Two words. Love it.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, I just thought I started, I don't know, 10, 15 years ago and just something kind of how I get into a lot of things like, oh, that Looks fun. I want to do it. And I just bought stuff and started doing it. I just got a new toy recently. It's like a levitation wand. So it's just something else that lights on fire and you can play with. It's really fun.
Rachel
You are one of the most interesting people that has come on this podcast, so thank you. You are so refreshing. Okay, last question. What is one piece of advice that you would have given to yourself now that the season is over?
Dr. Michael Baba
Looking back, yeah, I feel like I've played all in. I feel like I played very authentically, and I don't. I was giving myself advice the whole time, so I don't think I would give myself any other advice. I feel like I was very authentic and true to myself. And that's all we really do at the end of the day.
Rachel
I love that. And hopefully we. We get to see it. But before we go, is there anything you want to leave Bachelor Nation with?
Dr. Michael Baba
Yeah, just. Just to love each other, you know, just to show up the best you can and just to share a little hope, especially in this time where it's kind of a weird world right now, so if we can just kind of help each other a little bit more, then the world makes a better place.
Charity
I love that. That's beautiful. And where can we find you on socials? Because I need to. I need to keep up with all the activities that you're at
Dr. Michael Baba
Instagram. I'm Dr. Michael Baba and then my website is centeredsoulchiro.com. yeah, you can find me there.
Rachel
Love it. Thank you so much.
Dr. Michael Baba
Thank you.
Rachel
We had a great time and thank you for being on.
Rod
Thank you.
Rachel
We have a 35 year old entrepreneur from Austin, Rod, welcome.
Rod
Thank you so much. Happy to be here. This is awesome.
Rachel
We just had Aaron come into our zoom for a second because during our interview with him, he told us the first person he saw was you in the hotel before he walked into the limo. And he's like, this is a beautiful man and we are so excited to meet you. He said you guys were having a cook off and we are gonna get all into that today.
Charity
Before then, we just kind of want to check in and assess, like, how you're feeling. I know the past few weeks have been a lot for all of you guys to kind of just manage and deal with so you can be as truthful and honest as what's going on with you and how you're feeling about things.
Rod
Honestly, I am. I'm one of those people. I make the best of every situation. Like, I've learned this a long time ago, you know, 17 years in the army, where you might find yourself in situations that unfortunately you just cannot control. And that is just how it is. That's how life plays out. So was I saddened by the turn of events? Yes, of course. But once you sit with that and understand, hey, I have no say in this outcome, like, I don't. I don't have any control over this whatsoever, then you just continue to live your life. You move on. You realize that this is still the start of something beautiful, and it's not the end. This is. This is the beginning. So I'm going to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other, and keep living my life.
Rachel
Yeah, no, that's. It's such a beautiful outlook. This is such an unprecedented time. We just don't know what's going to happen. I feel like there is a little bit of disappointment in the air, but it sounds like your outlook and your background has made you so positive. So you did 17 years in the Army.
Rod
Yes. Yeah.
Rachel
Yes.
Rod
Thank you so much. I appreciate you guys so much. It's. It's wild because I actually, I just. I just got the army, like, last year, which is wild. Yeah. So I joined when I was 17, and parents had a sign off on it. You know, they already knew that I was gonna follow after my grandfather's footsteps who served in World War II, who meant a lot to me. And I went in the military and I served, what, military police. For probably about nine years. I was in a intelligence unit, field artillery. And I finished out the last about five or six years in special operations. So I've been probably on five or more deployments in more than 10 countries around the world. Deployed too. And it's just been such an amazing experience to understand and experience cultures and people and also learn more about yourself. Right. Because throughout this entire experience, you build up resilience, you build trust within yourself, you build communication skills. And it's just been such a large part of my life where, you know, stepping away from that was one of the biggest things that I've ever done. And just to. Just to get away from it and still have that be such a big part of me is, you know, I think about every single day and I love for what it did for me and. And how much it means to me while also realizing that, hey, this is the next phase of my life, and that just doesn't fit it.
Charity
Yeah. Did. Did. Being in the military have anything to do with, I guess, your current job as an entrepreneur. Sorry, entrepreneur now. And did that influence your. Your work?
Rod
Now, let's go with. Let's go to yes and no. Right?
Rachel
Okay.
Dr. Michael Baba
Yes.
Rod
In a way where I always want it to be of service. I'm like, to my core, I'm a coach. To my core, I want to serve my community. So my company that I own is a social services company that focuses on reunifying children, children in the foster care system back with their parents. So being able to still be a part of the community and help families and help children, that is something that I was also able to do in the military as far as the service aspect of it. So that's why it's a yes and a no. But figuring out where I could give back, I think that was most important. That's what was, like, most important to me. And I just happened to be able to be of service in this way.
Rachel
It's so beautiful to hear you talk about this. And I remember going through your cast bio, and me and Charity were like, underline, underline, circle, heart. How are you single? I mean, you're like, the perfect man. What's your dating history like?
Rod
So if we want to go way
Rachel
back, we're going way back.
Rod
Let's go. Let's.
Rachel
Let me start middle school. Let's go back to the circle. Yes.
Rod
Oh, my God. Underneath the stairs. What's happening? Let's go. Let's go all the way back. And, you know, I grew up where I grew up in a loving household. You know, my parents were together for a long time, and eventually, you know, they. They parted, and that did something to me at an early age, and I realized that. And once again, not the best mindset that I have now, but I realized that if I didn't want that to happen to me, then I wouldn't get close to anyone. I just wouldn't let anyone in. I wouldn't accept love into my life. So I went into college kind of with that mindset. In high school, I was. I was a straight nerd. You know what I mean? Like, I was like, glasses, acne, braces, you know, just like. So, you know, I. Once I hit college, I went into college with this mindset of, hey, I'm gonna. I'm gonna protect myself, as I. As I called it, right? I'm gonna close my heart off. And it took a lot of, you know, self learning, a lot of therapy, a lot of understanding who I was and understanding that just because something has happened in the past that didn't even happen to me doesn't mean that it is meant for me or that it will happen to me. And after sitting with that right after, you know, actually growing into a man and understanding that life has endless possibilities and we write our own ticket, we create our own lives. And after realizing that, I opened my heart back up. And so my most recent, or I should say my first long term relationship was probably. It lasted four years and I think that was probably around 2000 and let's say 2015. Right. So I had a four year relationship where I learned even more about what it meant to be in that dynamic. What it, what it meant to be. What, what it meant is me to be a man and be able to show up for her. And like that relationship that would, that taught me a lot. It taught me. It taught me so. It taught me so much, you know, just like the struggle and, yeah, like, oh, my God, the conversations that don't really go anywhere and you're just, you're just spinning in circles and you're like, what is it? Is this what love is? You know? After that relationship ended, I took about a year off. I think I dated maybe one person. And then I got into another four year relationship after that. And that one was, you know, it was, it was beautiful. It was something that I believe, like, I always, I always wanted. And unfortunately, it just didn't, it just didn't work out because we were, you know, both military and she was stationed in one state and I was stationed in the other state. We're spending all of our time and money and energy just to see each other. And at some point, it's one of those things where it's like, okay, is this working for us? Right? How do we feel? Let's check in with each other. Let's see what's going on, you know? And we decided to step away from that. And since then, I got out of the military. I moved from North Carolina, from Fort Bragg, which was my last duty station. And I put everything in the back of my truck. I hooked up a U Haul. I was like, I'm out, I'm leaving. And I drove through the nights, in the day, all the way to Austin Tejas, where I am now. Oh, my gosh, it's been wild. And then it's not done yet.
Charity
No, we still, we got more.
Rod
You're still going? You said you wanted the full story.
Rachel
And I do.
Rod
Here we go. I do. I hope to, I hope to say that one day. I do. Ooh, you see, you see, you see? You see that? Okay. Thank you. Thank you appreciate you. So I ended up actually flying here before I drove here to sign my lease. And of course, once again, on. On the apps, you know, and I set my location to here and ended up just finding another beautiful human. Right. Who I connected with. And we dated for probably about three months. And since then I've had probably. I've had three short term relationships in the last year. Just being here where it's just some things are misalignment, some things are, hey, you're a great person, I'm a great person, but we're just not right for each other. Yeah. And that's perfectly okay. And not even that you're bad for each other. You're just like this. This isn't it.
Rachel
Just isn't it?
Rod
So I'm still. I'm still out here. My heart's still open. I'm still believing that, you know, my person is out there and I'm still working on calling her into my life. And yeah. So here. Here we are. Here we are.
Charity
Yeah. Okay. So going into the Bachelorette first. How did you. Did you apply?
Rachel
I'm sure someone found him. You seem like the perfect. Yeah, I'm sure producers were knocking on your door.
Charity
How did you end up on the Bachelorette?
Rod
So what had happened was.
Charity
Here we go.
Rod
Someone. Someone slid my DMs. And I was like, I was like, number one, is this real? Like, what's, what's going on here? Right? And then it was followed up by an email. And I was like, okay, I think there might be something to this. And then I was like, let me hop on a call. Let me see actually what's going on? And hopped on the call and it was, it was real. And I was like, let's do it. Why not? Because I've tried everything else. Yeah, so why not try it in a new container?
Charity
Exactly.
Rod
Just. Just kind of go all in. So I'm like, hey, I'm here. I'm here for the opportunities. I'm here for whatever that looks like.
Rachel
And we're happy you're here. When you got casted, did you know Taylor was going to be the Bachelorette?
Rod
No. No, I didn't. I did not know that Taylor was going to be the bachelorette whatsoever. And then they were like, hey, by the way, Taylor, Frankie, Paul. And I said, she's attractive. And I left it at that. I just said yes. I didn't do any research. I didn't look her up. I never heard of her. I don't think I've ever seen her. I was just hey, let's do it.
Charity
Wow.
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Charity
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Rod
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Rachel
moderate to severe eczema after an initial
Rod
four month or longer dosing phase. About four in ten people taking Epglis achieved itch relief and clear or almost
Rachel
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Rod
of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.
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Rod
Ask your doctor about eglis and visit eglis.lilly.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-597-a9
Charity
okay, I'm like, I'm just.
Rachel
No, yeah, like blown away. Your cast, I have to say, is
Charity
all like top tier.
Rachel
Outstanding. So you went into this didn't look up Taylor. What are some of the qualities that you were looking for presenting a wife?
Rod
Ooh, I love that question. My. What. What I. What I've learned is, for me, effort above anything. Effort. Right. No relationship will ever be 50 50. It's never 50, 50, but it's two people that choose each other day in and day out, despite whatever's going on in their lives, in the world, whatever that looks like, and can look each other in their eyes and say, hey, I understand this is hard. I understand this is difficult. I understand that, hey, this is beautiful. I understand that we're on top right now, and I still choose you, and I'm still here to work things out or, hey, how can we do? We just need to sit here in silence? So going into this, just like I go into any other relationship that I look for now in a partner, I'm looking for effort. I'm looking for how you show up not only for yourself, but how you show up for me, how you show up for us. What does that dynamic look like? It's not just about the butterflies. Like, I could. I could live without the butterflies, right? But it's like, how do you connect on a deeper level? I can worry about what your favorite color is later. You know what I mean? Like, I could really care less. You know? Exactly. I don't care. But it's like, hey, who are you as a human being? You know, like, how do you show up? And then let's also talk about how our future looks like. What does that look like? Do we align on the big things? You know, do we align on, like, are you trying to move to Costa Rica? Or can we say you're in Texas? Am I open to that? Are you open to that? What does that look like? Children, you know, these. These big things that are really important. Marriage, you know, and just values just to your core. So those are. Those are the things that are most important to me. Everything else, we can figure it out. I can live in a log cabin. I live in a, you know, a ranch barn. That doesn't matter. It's. It's the core. That's what matters.
Charity
The substance, though.
Rod
The substance. What's. What's the. What's the substance going on here?
Charity
Yes. Okay. You said acts of service is your love language, which does not take me by surprise.
Rachel
I'm like, I love that.
Charity
I sense that just how you're talking and what you're sharing. So what is your favorite thing to do for a partner or that you have maybe already done?
Rod
Oh, ooh Ah. Cooking.
Charity
Ah.
Rachel
You're gonna get into that.
Charity
I was like, we opened it.
Rachel
We're getting a perfect segue.
Rod
Perfect. We're just going to coast on in there.
Rachel
Correct.
Rod
Yo, that is because I already. I already have a full experience of cooking for myself, so being able to show up for my partner in that way, it's just. It's a different level. It's like, hey, we're just gonna, you know, it's. It's. It's a different layer of depth that is just, like, involved. It's almost like a dance, you know,
Charity
like in the kitchen.
Rod
So. Which. Which I do anyway. So it's just now I have a partner joining me, you know?
Charity
Right. Yeah, I'm. I'm. I'm.
Rachel
Yeah, Sorry.
Charity
I was gonna say, I'm no chef either, but, like, I. I take cooking, like, whenever I'm cooking for, like, me and my fiance, I'm like, it's. It is such an act of love. Like, I don't know, from, like, cooking it, the dish, to actually plating it. I'm like, I. I give him the better play. I'm like, if it's not, you know, played it correctly, I'm like, I'll take the one that looks a little wonky, and I'm like, I give him the pretty one. So I get that so much on just a love language aspect. But we need to dive into the
Rachel
cooking because, yeah, we heard great in the man.
Charity
Give us all, like, the lore behind it. What got you into cooking? Like, how did it become a hobby? Like, I'm so curious.
Rod
So I love. I also love how you. You're like, hey, I'll give you the better plate. This is. This one's better than.
Rachel
So sweet.
Rod
I got you.
Dr. Michael Baba
That is.
Rod
That is. That is so sweet because, like, that's what I would do too. Yeah. You're like, hey, this is like mine.
Charity
Like, steaks. Looks a little funky. I was like, I'll give you the prettier one.
Rod
That is so kind. I love that. Yes. I would do the exact same thing.
Charity
Yeah.
Rod
So the. The lore. The lore behind cooking. So I think. I think every good lore starts with, you know, at least for cooking, it's eating right. So having a taste for, you know, something just delicious. And it wasn't until my. Obviously. So I grew up. My mom is a fantastic cook. So I always grew up with my mom and my aunt just, you know, chefing it up in the kitchen. And when I got into college, it wasn't until my sophomore year where we moved into an apartment where I actually had a kitchen that could cook for myself. And that's when I really, like, started buying groceries for myself and actually being like, okay, what are you? Like, what are spices? You know, what are seasonings? And all these different things? And I just started putting stuff together. I started like, oh, that tastes pretty good. I didn't know be anti vegetable for, like, 15 years.
Charity
Yes.
Rod
Right.
Dr. Michael Baba
I'm like, yeah.
Rod
I didn't know that asparagus tasted a little bit of. What is Himalayan sea salt. Okay.
Charity
And that'll do it.
Rod
I see you.
Rachel
Yeah. Just.
Rod
Just. Just a sprinkle. Just a sprinkle. Just a little. Just a little. Just a little. Just let me just lead this right here, you know?
Rachel
Yeah.
Rod
Yes. And then I'm next. You know, I have eight different salts in my kitchen.
Charity
That's how it always.
Rod
I'm like, correct.
Charity
We need to have a master class with the guys.
Rachel
What can't you do?
Charity
Because I'm like, excel at specific things. I'm like, you need to host the master class for cooking. Like, who else needs to hold a masterclass for being just a sweetheart? I don't know. Everyone's great.
Rachel
You guys are awesome. Going back into The Mansion Night 1, what was it like meeting all the guys? What was the energy like when you first got there?
Rod
Oh, the energy on night one was crazy.
Rachel
And I have FOMO so bad from these stories. I'm like, I wish I was a contestant.
Rod
Are you, like, living? Are you, like, reliving it?
Rachel
You're like, what is the way you guys can describe. Night one? Sounds like Disney World. Like, you guys are just having the best time. Didn't even notice Taylor was there.
Rod
It's just the guys vibing. We're like, why are we. Why are we here?
Charity
No, like, friends.
Rod
Like, it's crazy, right? Because after you do the whole limo thing, you do the limo dance. You know, like, after that, most of the. For at least for me, the jitters are kind of. Look, they're kind of gone because it's like, that's just literally your first step. You know what I mean? You're like, you stepping out. And once we stepped into the house, the energy in that house was wild. Every man that stepped in that house, people were cheering, people were clapping. Hadn't even met him.
Dr. Michael Baba
Wow.
Rachel
This is what we heard.
Rod
This is.
Rachel
No one was standing for us. We walked through the door.
Charity
Literally, not a single person.
Rachel
No one even noticed. When I walked in, I, like, was, where's the bar? Like, that was my first quest.
Rod
That Is that is wild. Yeah, it was. It was. It was insane. So, like, you step in and everybody's yelling and everybody's cheering. Everybody's so happy to see you. And then you start just kind of just connecting organically, and you're just like, oh, my God, like, you know, I love your. Whatever you were wearing, right? There's all these different outfits, and you're like, oh, my God, I love your boots, love your hat, you know, and you just start connecting with everyone. And everybody just seemed like such a genuine soul. And I was not necessarily concerned because once again, I've never seen any of the episodes of the Bachelor, the Bachelorette, like, ever in my life. Right. I haven't seen anything, but I've heard through the grapevine horror stories about being in a house with, you know, just kind of like bad people or like bad men. And when I walked in, I was like, man, I feel like I'm like everybody in here, you know, like, what's. It's like, I just. I didn't expect it. I was like, can I hate one of you? Like, should I? Are you one of you guys lying? Is someone lying?
Rachel
Like, who's the villain?
Rod
Like, you guys? Yeah, I'm like, I'm looking. I'm looking for the villain, but at the same time, I'm like, hey, maybe I'm the villain. I don't know. But it was. It was. It was amazing, you know? And then I remember. I remember meeting Christopher and I was like, me and him just connected. And I didn't even know that he was ex military at the time, so he sex Air Force. And I was like, you know, something about him, we're just like, hey, we just kind of connected and we bonded. But I felt like I really connected with so many of those men and had, you know, sit downs, had, you know, hour long conversations with a lot of them throughout the time of being in the house.
Rachel
Beautiful.
Charity
Beautiful. If you can describe Yalls season maybe in one word, how would you describe it?
Dr. Michael Baba
God, that seems.
Rod
That's. That's a question. If I could describe our season in one word. Yeah, I would say. I would say at this point, it's edging.
Rachel
Whoa.
Charity
I like it.
Rod
You know, like, yeah, it's. There's. There's so. There's so many layers to it. And I'm like, it just seems so edgy. It's just like the tension is there. Yeah, there's so much tension with just kind of thing how things are going and some things that happen in the house. But it's yeah. Yeah. Almost like a little like roller coaster and not even like, in a bad way, you know? And like, you just. You just don't know. You almost like. I'm not truly. Just a little bit, you know, just waiting to see what's going to happen.
Rachel
I'm here for it. That's the most creative word we've heard. It makes sense. It's like, is the roller coaster gonna go down the big hill? We don't know.
Rod
You said at the top you're just waiting. Might be like, what am I doing up here?
Charity
Yeah.
Rod
100 technical difficulties.
Rachel
Yes. I don't know what it is at this point. Oh, my gosh. Okay, so we are gonna play a game if you are down. It is called hot seat. We are going to be asking you questions, putting you in the hot seat, and it's rapid fire. Tell us whatever comes first. But I. I want to ask the first one charity because I'm so interested. You have jumped out of a plane 30 times. And why? Because I fly planes. I don't jump out of them.
Rod
The. The being it. Being in special operations, it is mandatory that you be airborne. So they call it airborne operations. You are required to jump out of a plane. And so I've jumped out of planes. I've jumped out of helicopters, multiple different types of planes. I've jumped into bodies of water. And the ground sometimes is very unforgiving. Oh, but it is. It is a. It is. It's an amazing experience to be up there and be just kind of just floating in midair and getting ready to brace through the ground.
Rachel
Oh, my gosh. You ever get scared even after doing it so many times?
Rod
Oh, definitely. Yeah. So on one of. On one of my. My night jumps. So you jump at night too and.
Charity
Oh, my God, it was dark.
Rod
Like it was. There was no moon illumination whatsoever. And you just can't see where the ground is. And I hit. That's so horrible. It hit so hard. And I just remember just feeling like a. Like a pop in my knee. And fast forward. Turns out, ended up I tore my meniscus. But me trying to be. It's like, oh, I have to walk it off, you know. It'll be fine. I tried home. Trying to go home and going to sleep and I had to get up and drive myself to the emergency room. But so there's. Yeah. So being scared. Right. And then once again getting back into a plane after that injury, that definitely. Yeah. And that's a little bit of a little bit of a little. Little bit of the Scaries, you know, to it.
Rachel
Absolutely.
Charity
Oh, wow. Gosh. Okay. The next one, I'm like, how do we come from that? I know the next one.
Rod
We're only going up from here. Oh, up.
Rachel
It does go up. You're gonna love this one.
Rod
I'm here for it.
Charity
What's the all time greatest Christmas movie? You better say the right one.
Rod
Oh. Why you guys put me in these situations? Okay, it is going to be. And I can't. I can't do a tie. Can I do a tie or do I do one?
Charity
I want to know. All time greatest, but then you can all time your second one.
Rod
All time is home alone in general.
Dr. Michael Baba
Home alone, period.
Charity
Good job.
Rod
The third. The third one does not count. The third one is absolutely.
Charity
It does not count. Kevin's not there. Bye. Sorry.
Rod
Thank you. Exactly. Yes. The second. The second one would have been the Grinch, but that's it.
Charity
Oh, you have to pick one or two.
Rod
Oh, no. One or two. Okay. We're gonna do one because it's number one. It's the og. Like, the New York version of two is cool, but, like, one is the og. Come on.
Charity
Yeah.
Rachel
Very much dislike two, unpopular opinion.
Rod
That's okay.
Charity
I like it.
Rachel
But I don't know, I just. I love the homie, like, Chicago vibes.
Rod
Yeah. See, and that's, like, where I grew up. So it also, like, felt like home. Like, I grew up in Illinois.
Rachel
I grew up in Illinois, too.
Charity
Ooh.
Rod
Where in.
Rachel
Well, Schaumburg and Elgon.
Rod
No, I know where that is. Yeah. I grew up in Aurora. Born in Naperville, and I grew up in Aurora.
Rachel
So you're closer. You win. You win. I guess whenever someone pulls out Naperville, I think.
Rod
I don't know if that's a win or. I don't know. I don't know who wins at this point. You know what I mean? Yeah.
Rachel
Okay. What is your average text response time? I'm guessing it's going to be a long time.
Rod
Oh, my God. It's atrocious. I would. I would. I would say. I would say right Now I have 20 text messages that I have not answered, and I probably have 50 dms that I have not answered, and I really need to answer these.
Charity
And why is that?
Rod
So sometimes I just really. I'll look at it. So number one, once they start building, sometimes I look at it and I was like, oh, this is a lot. And it was like, yeah, this is. You know, because what I'll do is I'll. I'll start responding. Reply Back to everyone, and then I'll have, like, I'll reply back to, like, 10 people, and then, like, nine people will instantly reply back to me.
Rachel
I hate when they reply back instantly.
Rod
It's so instant. And I'm like, number one, I'm blessed to have friends that reply back so quickly. Like, I. Hey, I'm. I'm here for it. And. And I might get, like, three people that text me in an hour, and then I start texting back, and I'm having three conversations ongoing. So then I have to take a break, and then next thing you know, five people text you, and then now we're at 20. So, like, today I'm gonna. I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna start replying back, and I might have to take another break.
Rachel
You have to carve out a part of your day just to respond.
Rod
Yeah. And then, like, some of them. Those are. Those are for individuals. We're not even talking group text messages. So then groups.
Rachel
And I'm saying your group chat is probably crazy right now.
Rod
It's which one? I'm in 10 on, like, three different applications.
Rachel
You are in every group chat, whatever subcategory. You're in all the break off groups.
Rod
Yeah. So I would. I would say, to answer your question, anywhere from 15 minutes to two days.
Charity
All right, you know what? Not bad. Honestly, I'll give you grace. You explained it well, so I'll give you grace.
Rod
I appreciate you.
Dr. Michael Baba
Thank you. Thank you.
Charity
Oh, my God.
Rod
If your mom. You're number one. Like, you're my mom, honestly.
Rachel
Yeah.
Charity
There's people. I feel like it's like prioritization. Absolutely. Yeah.
Rod
And also like, context. Like, if you look at. If you look at a message, you're like, hey, this can wait for sure. You know, then so it's like you also. You filter. You feel.
Charity
Okay, so you're smart. You're smart. Okay, we got it. Rod, it was so great talking to you. I feel like we could talk for hours, and I hate that we even have to, like, wrap this up. But, hey, I said first time for Bachelor happy hour, and it won't be your last. So we hope to have you back on very, very soon. Is there anything that you want to leave Bachelor Nation with before we go?
Rod
Ooh. There's been something about once again this season, there's been something about the producers. There's been something about the men where this season has been everything that I hoped it to be and more. And I don't know what is to come. I don't know what that looks like. I don't know what that feels like, but I know that it's only going to be something great. So for everyone out there that is watching, just continue to support all of us, continue to support Taylor, continue to support the network. And we're here and this is if this moves forward, however it moves forward, hey, we're always going to end up on top. So stay on top of you guys. And I appreciate each and every one of you. I appreciate you, charity. I appreciate you, Rachel.
Rachel
Thank you. And where can we find you on socials? Because I'm sure everyone's going to want to give you a follow after this
Rod
amazing episode on on socials across the board for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube X threads. You can find me at stroh S T R o underscore D o s. Okay.
Rachel
All right, everyone go give them a follow.
Charity
Thank you. Thank you so much again, such a joy. And yeah, we'll talk to you very, very soon. Well guys, that is all the men. We made it through. We are so excited and aren't they awesome to our listeners. Thank you guys for being here on Bachelor Happy Hour. Make sure that you are reviewing subscribing wherever you listen to podcasts and keeping up with us and the guys. Bachelor Happy Hour and at Bachelor Nation. Stay tuned for what's next to come. See you guys soon.
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Rod
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Rachel
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Release Date: May 12, 2026
Hosts: Charity Lawson & Rachel Recchia
Guests: Dr. Michael Baba (Chiropractic Healer, San Diego) & Rod (Entrepreneur, Austin, ex-Army)
This episode dives deep into the backgrounds, spiritual journeys, and in-mansion experiences of two standout contestants from the latest Bachelorette season: Dr. Michael Baba and Rod. Hosts Charity and Rachel guide revealing conversations about self-growth, spirituality, military service, cooking, and authentic connections in the Bachelor mansion.
This episode of Bachelor Happy Hour gives listeners a warm, in-depth look at two unique contestants. It explores the intersection of spiritual growth, vulnerability, and authentic connection—on national TV and beyond. Both Michael and Rod share how their life journeys prepared them for love, how they navigated mansion dynamics, and what they seek in partnership and purpose.
Listeners can follow along with Michael (@Dr.MichaelBaba) and Rod (@stroh_dos) as their journeys continue both on- and off-screen.