Monica B. & Amy’s Final Thoughts | Happy Hour

Summary

Bachelor Happy Hour: Monica B. & Amy’s Final Thoughts | Happy Hour

Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Joe Amabile & Serena Pitt
Guests: Monica B. and Amy

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Episode Overview

This episode of Bachelor Happy Hour welcomes Monica B. and Amy—recent contestants from The Golden Bachelor, Season 2—to share their reflections on the experience, what they learned, their favorite moments, and thoughts on love, dating, and life after reality TV. Both bring charisma and candor, offering an engaging behind-the-scenes glimpse into the show and delivering wisdom for anyone navigating love in the “golden years.”

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Monica B. Interview

Beginnings: Background and Reason for Joining

• Monica’s Roots

  • From Mississippi, currently in Huntsville, Alabama to be closer to her granddaughter.
    • “I have a granddaughter here who was most important to me.” (03:07)

• Career: Flight attendant for over 30 years, mostly in Atlanta.

• Not a Football Fan: Despite Alabama living, she’s loyal to University of Tennessee where her son played football.

• Entry to Golden Bachelor

  • Nominated by her son—without her knowledge!
    • “He did not [tell me]...Later...maybe a month later, I get the call. So it was a total surprise.” (04:28)
  • Lightly acquainted with the Bachelor franchise before participating.

Show Experience: Highs & Realizations

• First-Night Nerves & Relationships

  • Felt unprepared for the reality TV dating scene.
    • “I wish I had done a more in depth study to know exactly what I was getting myself into.” (05:14)
  • Overwhelmed by the intensity compared to what’s seen on TV.

• Connections with Other Women

  • The best part was bonding with the other contestants, especially Tracy, Andra, Carla, and Jerry.
    • “The best part of this whole experience. The best part.” (06:33)

• First Impressions of Mel

  • Found Mel attractive, but his initial comments made her question her place.
  • Considered leaving, but Mel’s sincere apology allowed her to move forward.
    • “His apology seemed very sincere. So...we were comfortable going forward.” (08:02)

Love & Intentions

• Looking for Engagement

  • “At this big age I’m looking for love. I’m ready. I want it...definitely that was the purpose.” (08:30)

• Past Dating Life

  • Out of a two-year relationship a year before joining, casually dating since.

• Ideal Partner Qualities

  • Kindness, God-fearing, family-oriented, fun-loving, loyal. Prefers someone tall (“I’m 5'9”) and in decent shape.
    • “Just an overall good guy. Someone who's nice to me.” (10:05)

Memorable Moments

• The Roast Group Date

  • Jared Freed, the comedian host, told the podcast Monica "blew everyone away" at the roast. She agrees.
    • “‘Monica B, you killed it.’ So I’m thinking I won…” (11:44)
  • No standup or performance experience—just used to addressing airline passengers.
  • Found the cheerleading competition more intimidating than the roast.

• Adjusting After the Show

  • “After all the excitement...I felt like I was coming down from the highest high ever. It felt like nothing’s going on.” (06:07)

Behind the Scenes

• Flight Attendant Pet Peeves
  • Hates when passengers ask, “‘What do you have?’” instead of being more specific, slowing down the service. (18:26)

Reflections & Advice

• Looking Back:
  • No regrets, but could have “put myself out there a little bit more.”
• Future Plans:
  • “I am still looking for love...I’m back at work, being mom and grandmom and just enjoying life.” (21:48)
• Empowering Other Women
  • “Whether we got a rose or not...we all won…We get to inspire other golden women...you’re not too old, and you’re not too broken, and guess what? It’s not too late.” (22:21)

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Amy Interview

Introduction: How Amy Joined

• Tech Struggles and Location
  • Called in from her daughter’s house in Manhattan Beach, CA; originally from New York.
• Casting Story
  • Got noticed via her daughters’ TikTok after being “funny” on camera. Casting reached out; initially reluctant.
    • “[Casting] reached out to my girls and I was like, there is no way I am doing this. And then I thought about it and, well, so here I am.” (24:31)
  • Had almost been on Real Housewives in the past—her daughters initially stopped her.

Bachelor Experience: First Impressions and Connections

• First Thoughts on Mel
  • Not her usual “type” (never dated a jock, she's “a New York Jew”)
  • Didn’t feel the “zing” but was open and true to herself.
    • “I did not have that initial zing, but I said, you know what? I’m just gonna be me.” (26:31)
• Bond with Other Women
  • “It was like a sisterhood...so much fun for me.” (26:51)
  • Didn’t fake anything: “I could not fake a connection. That's just not who I am.” (27:08)

Highlights and Humor

• Favorite Group Date
  • The roast with Jared Fried; turns out she’d met his mom years ago—small world!
• Limo Entrance
  • Had trouble with a planned banner entrance, needed Mel’s help to break through it. Created a memorable, cute moment.
    • “It was supposed to be perforated...I wasn’t wearing my glasses. I couldn’t see anything...Mel, help me, help.” (33:54)
• Being Herself On TV
  • “I was just my quirky self...I’m a little bit quirky. I’m funny. I don’t even try to be funny. I’m just such a dork.” (28:18)

Hot Takes: Drama, Nicole, and Women Tell All

• Drama with Nicole
  • Not a fan—felt Nicole was on the show “for the wrong reasons” (fame/Instagram, not love).
    • “I have a very, very good BS detector and there was a lot of BS going on.” (36:16)
    • “If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, what is it, you guys?...It’s a duck. Quack, quack.” (37:52)
• On Competition
  • Didn’t see it as a contest: “To me, it was about am I finding that connection?... I won because I wasn’t with somebody that I didn’t have a connection with.” (42:10)

Love, Life, and Wisdom

• What She’s Seeking Now
  • Wants someone who “matches my energy,” can laugh, “has depth and character and soul and who’s warm and yummy but yet smart and driven.” (40:45)
• Openness
  • Is more open in dating now, not restricting herself to a “type.”
• Advice for Women and Future Contestants
  • “Just be yourself and...have a good time.”
  • For older women: “Feel good about yourself. Be confident. Be open to the unexpected. Think young. You are young.” (42:34)
• Her Mantra (for her daughters)
  • “Life is a party, shoot for the stars. You, anything you want to be as long as you’re a good person...life should be fun. And even when shit hits the fan...it’s your perspective on how you view things.” (44:09)

Lifestyle & Secrets to Staying Young

• Energy & Positivity
  • Gym two hours a day; loves laughing, music, good wine, and “I like sex when I’m in a relationship.” (43:45)
  • “It’s how do you handle the stuff. And if you handle it with positivity and, you know you’re gonna get through it, it’s all good.” (45:25)

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Notable Quotes

• On growing and seizing life at any age:

  • “You’re not too old, and you’re not too broken, and guess what? It’s not too late. So get out there. Put yourself out there.”—Monica B. (22:21)

• On authenticity:

  • “I could not fake a connection. That’s just not who I am.”—Amy (27:08)

• On Nicole’s motives:

  • “If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck...It’s a duck. Quack, quack.”—Amy (37:52)

• On advice for women in their golden years:

  • “Feel good about yourself. Be confident. Be open to the unexpected. Think young. You are young.”—Amy (42:34)

• On the power of positivity:

  • “Even when shit hits the fan...it’s your perspective on how you view things.”—Amy (44:09)

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Key Timestamps

• [03:03] Monica B. on moving to Huntsville, Alabama
• [04:28] Monica’s son nominates her for the show, without warning
• [05:18] Discovering the intensity and competition of reality dating
• [06:33] Best part: Bonding with the women, especially Tracy, Andra, Carla
• [08:30] Monica’s desire for love and engagement at this stage of life
• [11:29] Monica’s “mic drop” moment at the roast group date
• [18:26] Monica’s flight attendant pet peeve
• [19:48] Monica’s perspective on Nicole and drama in the house
• [22:21] Monica’s message to golden women: “It’s not too late”
• [24:31] Amy on being discovered via TikTok and joining the show
• [26:31] Amy reflects on not feeling a spark with Mel but staying true to herself
• [33:54] Amy’s limo entrance mishap
• [36:16] Amy’s views on Nicole: “a lot of BS going on”
• [42:10] Amy: “I won because I wasn’t with somebody I didn’t have a connection with.”
• [44:09] Amy’s mantra: “Life is a party, shoot for the stars…”

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Tone and Takeaways

Monica brings warmth, gratitude, and mentorship energy—encouraging women to embrace every chapter of life.
Amy delights with quick wit, unapologetic authenticity, and sharp instincts, advocating for self-worth, fun, and living with intention.

Both remind listeners it’s never too late for love, self-discovery, or starting something new—whether that means getting on reality TV, building friendships, or chasing after what truly matters in life.

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For Bachelor Nation, this episode provides a heartfelt, hilarious, and wise send-off from two women who epitomize courage, friendship, and optimism in the golden years.

Transcript

[Monica B]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Katie Couric]

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, I sat down with Bernie Sanders. We've talked many times over the years and today he even throws a few questions my way.

[Interviewer]

All right, are you ready for another question?

[Amy]

Go ahead, hit me, Bernie.

[Katie Couric]

We talk about the billionaire class, the cost of living and of course the government shutdown. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Maggie Freeling]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Joe]

From NBA champion Stephen Curry comes Shot Ready.

[Monica B]

A powerful, never before seen look at.

[Joe]

The mindset that changed the game.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work you do when no one else is around. Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you. Let's go.

[Joe]

Steph Curry redefined basketball. Now he's rewriting what it means to succeed.

[Monica B]

Order your copy of the New York.

[Joe]

Times bestseller Shot ready [e-mail] hey everyone. Welcome back to Bachelor Happy Hour. I'm Joe.

[Serena]

And I'm Serena.

[Joe]

And we are here today with Monica B. Monica, welcome to Bachelor Happy Hour.

[Monica B]

Hi. Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[Joe]

Where. Where are you in the world right now?

[Monica B]

I am in Huntsville, Alabama, my home.

[Serena]

Is that where you've always lived?

[Monica B]

No, it's not. I'm originally from. From Mississippi. That's where I grew up. And then I moved to Atlanta when I started my career as a flight attendant and I was there for 30 plus years.

[Serena]

Wow.

[Joe]

Why'd you leave Atlanta?

[Monica B]

Well, for family reasons. I have a granddaughter here who was most important to me at the time when I moved. And so she needed care and I wanted to give that care and help the my son out with the daughter. Yeah.

[Joe]

Are you an Alabama football fan?

[Monica B]

I am not.

[Amy]

Okay.

[Monica B]

Actually, my son played football for the University of Tennessee, so we are ball okay for life.

[Joe]

How are they this year? Are they. Are they any good?

[Monica B]

They're pretty good. Yeah, they're pretty good. When he was there, it was some heartbreaking football, but they're a lot better now. Not because of him being gone, but. Yeah. Yeah.

[Joe]

Okay. So, and how. Why, why did you want to go on the Golden Bachelor?

[Monica B]

Well, I was nominated by my son to go on the Golden Bachelor. It really wasn't on my radar.

[Joe]

Did he tell you before he nominated you?

[Monica B]

He did not. You know, of course I knew about the Bachelor franchise. I didn't really follow it and I did not watch the first of Golden Bachelor or Bachelorette. But he mentioned one evening he did say, mom, there's this new show for seniors, you know, dating show, and I think you'd be good on it. So that was it. And then later, I think maybe a month later, I get the call. So it was a total surprise.

[Serena]

Did you watch the show prior?

[Monica B]

I did. I watched some of it. I didn't watch all of it. So in preparation for the show, I thought maybe I better. I better see what's going on here. So I wish I had done a more in depth study to know exactly what I was getting myself into.

[Serena]

Oh, really? Like what do you wish you had known that you didn't?

[Monica B]

Yeah, just how, how thrilling, exciting everything was. The dates and all of the things that you had to do in competition with others. And. Yeah, just. I didn't know I had. I had absolutely, really no idea. You know, I saw the pickleball and all of that and maybe being in it too, you know, it's as much when you're actually in it, it seems more intense than it did on tv. And overwhelming. Exactly. Yeah. But it was good. It was. It was so much fun, actually. And after the show, after all the excitement and stuff, I felt like I was coming down from the highest high ever. It felt like nothing's going on around.

[Serena]

Yeah, it's very 100 to 0 once you get home.

[Monica B]

Exactly, exactly.

[Joe]

Well, because every day you're dealing with producers knocking on your door, talking to you, asking you about how you feel, then all of a sudden you get home and it's crickets.

[Serena]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

Yeah, crickets. Every day. And you never knew what to expect. So, yeah, it was crazy. It was fun. I enjoyed it.

[Serena]

How is your relationship with women? Did you. Do you get really close with any of them?

[Monica B]

Yeah. Oh, my gosh. Yes. That was the best part of this whole experience. The best part. So on night one, I think the first person that I bonded with, and I think she was the loveliest person in the room, inside and out, was Tracy. She was so, so beautiful, so sweet. And she was there when I got there, so. So welcoming and warm, and so it was nice running into her. Also Andra. I really bonded with her. Carla, Jerry, Cindy, Nicole. And this was over time, the rest of them. But that night, I think my favorite were Tracy, Andra, and Carla and Jerry.

[Joe]

And how was your connection with Mel that first night? Did you feel any. Were there any sparks?

[Monica B]

I was definitely attracted to him. When they announced him, I thought, okay, nice, nice. Then he made those comments, which caused me pause, of course, and I was like, what.

[Joe]

Was there a part of you that didn't. Was there a part of you that wanted to back out of the show after you heard that?

[Monica B]

Yeah, because I felt that, you know, in his description of who he wanted, it didn't include me. So what was the point?

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Joe]

But I feel like he made. Do you think he. He made that up to you guys?

[Monica B]

He did apologize, and his apology seemed very sincere. So I think most of us took it as that, and we were comfortable going forward after he did come to us. You know, he just wanted a chance to make it up to us, and so we. We were good with his apology. So after that, it was. It was better. Yeah.

[Serena]

Coming on the show, it does end in engagement. Was that something that you were hoping for?

[Monica B]

Of course, yes. I'm 60. Well, I'm 63 now. I was 62 at the time, and so. But at this big age, I'm looking for love. I'm ready. I want it. And I think this is, like, crunch time for me, so definitely that Was the purpose to find love. When I came on the show, that was my whole motivation.

[Serena]

Do you think that Mel is looking for engagement? Is he talking about engagement while you guys are on the show together?

[Monica B]

Was he talking about engagement? Well, not really. You know, it was just banter, getting to know each other. We didn't get to the point where we spoke of that, but we talked about some other things that, you know, what we both wanted out of a relationship and stuff like that. So I thought we had a connection early on. But also I felt like he had better connections with some of the other people.

[Joe]

So what was dating life like for you prior to going on the show?

[Monica B]

Yeah, I was out of a relationship probably a year before going on the show. So that was a long relationship. It lasted maybe two years. And so then I was out of that relationship for a year and I had just been casually dating. Nothing serious before the show.

[Serena]

What are you looking for when you look for a lifelong partner?

[Monica B]

Oh, okay. Yes. I want someone who's kind. That's such an appealing trait to me. I want someone who is God fearing, someone who is family orientated, someone who likes to have fun, loyal and just an overall good guy. Someone who's nice to me physically. I don't have a lot of physical traits. I am a tall girl. I'm five nine and so just if they can be a little bit taller than me, like I said, I don't have a lot of traits, but. And then somewhat in good shape. Not the epitome. They don't have to have an eight pack or all of that, but you know, can travel and get around and just.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

So pretty good.

[Joe]

Any of you nice tall men that are listening to this podcast, which there's probably not many. Monica B, thank you so much. So when we had, we had, we had. Last week, we actually had Jared Freed on this podcast and he was the comedian that was on. He told us, he told us that you by far blew everyone away. Is that true?

[Monica B]

Well, I thought that. I thought I won the roast. I had the crowd, I had Jared cracking up, Mel was cracking up. And I felt like that was going to be my drop the mic moment.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

And when Mel came out, the first thing he said was, Monica B. You killed it. So I'm thinking I won.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

Yes. And so I felt like Mel picked who he was most attracted to, not necessarily who won the roast.

[Serena]

Yes. Jared said, you know, he wanted to keep making out with Nicole in the pool. Maybe.

[Monica B]

That'S what I thought too.

[Joe]

So did you have any Standup experience prior to that date.

[Interviewer]

You ever.

[Monica B]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Serena]

Anything like performance, like acting? Anything?

[Monica B]

No.

[Serena]

Wow, that's impressive.

[Monica B]

No, I am a flight attendant, so, you know, I'm doing the. We don't really do that anymore, but I've done that for years, getting up in front of, you know, people pointing out, you know, the safety features and stuff of the aircraft. So I thought, well, I'm used to standing up in front of people. The hardest part for me was doing the cheerleading competition.

[Amy]

Oh, really?

[Monica B]

That was tough. Yeah. I was so out of. Out of my comfort zone then. But the actual roast, I felt really comfortable going in.

[Joe]

I.

[Monica B]

Everybody was sitting around just kind of working on their material and like, just. And I'm sitting there like I'm at the bar.

[Joe]

That's smart.

[Monica B]

Are you ready?

[Joe]

Smart.

[Monica B]

I guess so. Yeah.

[Amy]

I don't know.

[Monica B]

What are y' all doing? I didn't know what was taking so long. I was like, what are y' all doing? Anyway? I thought I was going to be the least prepared and maybe not as good as the rest of them because they were working so long and hard. I was just like, I had. I had three or four segments I wanted to cover. Boom, boom, boom, bam. And that. That was it. We had a minute. I'm like, what else are you going to say in a minute? And so, yeah, so I was feeling. Because of that, I was feeling, well, maybe I need to circle back and see. But that's. Well, oh, well. Can I have another margarita, please?

[Walmart Ad Narrator]

Tis the season of gifting and holes to deck. And the who's in who. Louisville were in love with new tech. Where can we find Sonos and Samsung and Nintendo? They shouted. Would they find it in one place? This they questioned and doubted when suddenly a who yelled, Walmart's the place to start. And each who added headphones, TVs and games to their carts. With Walmart, their shopping was done in a flurry. They cried out, who knew? And ordered their gifts in a hurry. Shop the latest tech gifts in the Walmart app.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

Time is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24. 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.

[Monica B]

Every now and then I rinse it out and I deep down.

[Katie Couric]

And.

[Monica B]

I need it more. My kid we so bad and the smell never leaves. I don't know what to do. I'm always in the dark. The sweat in that short smells like a dark. I'm downy rinsing tonight.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

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[Amy]

On.

[Katie Couric]

The latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Bernie Sanders, who is 84 years old, has spent 34 years in Congress and he can still pack a rally with people across the of his age.

[Interviewer]

Denver, 34,000 people come out. Salt Lake City, 20,000 people out. You know, huge turnouts. People are really dissatisfied about the status quo.

[Katie Couric]

His Fighting oligarchy tour with AOC and other young progressives has become a movement. But is his message too far to the left? Well, he certainly doesn't think so.

[Interviewer]

Does that sound like a radical idea, JD Is that too far left for you?

[Katie Couric]

Okay, okay, wait.

[Amy]

I get your point, Bernie.

[Katie Couric]

We talk about the billionaire, the cost of living and of course the government shutdown. Not to mention the current state of the Democratic Party.

[Interviewer]

To me, the failure of the Democratic Party has been an unwillingness to recognize the real issues.

[Katie Couric]

Open your free iHeartRadio app search next question with Katie Couric. And listen now.

[Monica B]

All I know is what I've been told and that to have truth is a whole lie.

[Maggie Freeling]

For almost a decade, the murder of an 18 year old girl from a small town in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved until a local homemaker, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Monica B]

I'm telling you, we know Quincy killed her.

[Maggie Freeling]

We know a story that law enforcement used to convict six people and that got the citizen investigator on national tv.

[Joe]

Through sheer persistence and nerve, this Kentucky housewife helped give justice to Jessica Curran.

[Maggie Freeling]

My name is Maggie Freeling. I'm a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist producer and I wouldn't be here if the truth were that easy to find.

[Amy]

I did not know her and I did not kill her or rape or burn or any of that other stuff.

[Joe]

That y' all said.

[Monica B]

They literally made me say that I took a match and struck and threw it on her. They made me say that I poured gas on her.

[Maggie Freeling]

From lava for good. This is Graves County, a show about just how far our legal system will go in order to find someone to blame.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people. And small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county in the Bone Valley feed on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free, subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Amy]

As a.

[Joe]

As a flight attendant, what's the most annoying thing someone can do? What was like. What was like your biggest pet peeve as a flight attendant?

[Serena]

Yeah, that's a good question. Because we travel so much.

[Joe]

Yeah. I'm curious if I fall into that.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Serena]

By pissing off the flight attendants.

[Monica B]

Oh, yeah. You know what my biggest pet peeve is? And it's small, but when you are on a cart and you want to serve 300 people and everybody says, you go, what would you like to drink? And they say, what do you have?

[Serena]

Really?

[Monica B]

You have like.

[Joe]

Oh, yeah, people definitely ask that.

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Serena]

Yes. Yeah.

[Monica B]

Category, Right? Give me a category. What type of soft drinks do you have? What type of which do you have? What, you know, what kind of juice do you have? But no, what do you have? And it's like, what do you want?

[Joe]

We literally have. We have it. We actually have it all.

[Serena]

Yeah, yeah, let's narrow it down. Do you want booze? Do you want soda?

[Monica B]

Exactly.

[Serena]

Let's pick a category to work with.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Serena]

That's so funny. I never would have thought about that.

[Joe]

Let's. Let's jump real quick to the women tell. All right.

[Monica B]

Okay.

[Joe]

How was that experience for you? And just like seeing all the women again.

[Monica B]

Oh, my God. It was great. Yeah, it was great. It was so much fun. We stayed up. I mean, we stayed up most of the night. The last night we were there, it's a group of us in the room. We were all lying, just chit chatting. It felt so good to reunite with these girls.

[Joe]

What were your thoughts on. We see a little bit of drama at the beginning, which was all about Nicole and some of her actions and some of the things she said. What is your take on all of that?

[Monica B]

Well, Nicole. I love Nicole in the house. I really did. She was a good cook, and so in the kitchen, and I sometimes I was her sous chef and we got to talk. And I remember one instance, she was trying to help me get closer to Mel, like, look in his eyes and keep that. But we just would give each other pointers, but loved her. And by the time all of the drama started, I was actually gone. I don't have any beef with Nicole. I love her. Yeah, still do. But, yeah, it was kind of tense there for a moment for. For Nicole.

[Joe]

No, I thought. I mean, listen, I think we. We've had her on the podcast, and she was great. Like, you know, she. She was a little bit polarizing for some people, but it made for good tv, you know, and that's all we can do.

[Monica B]

It did.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Monica B]

You know, I look at it like, you know, people are different, and they go about getting what they want in different ways. Of course, that wasn't me. I'm not that person. If you don't see me, you just don't see me. I'm not going to be like, here, here. I'm here, you know, throwing myself up. That's not my personality. But she did what she felt like she needed to do, I guess.

[Joe]

Is there anything that looking back that you wish you would have done differently?

[Monica B]

I don't have any regrets. I could have, I think, put myself out there a little bit more, but once I felt like other people had better connections, I didn't want to. I didn't feel like I wanted to, you know?

[Joe]

That's tough.

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Joe]

I mean, at the end of the day, there's only one guy, you know, there's one guy.

[Monica B]

That's right.

[Serena]

What is next for Monica B. Now that the show is almost completely over?

[Monica B]

Oh, I'm still looking for love. I am still looking for love. I'm gonna get back on the dating scene, and hopefully it'll happen for me soon because that's really what I want. I'm back at work, and I'm being mom and grandmom and. Yeah. Just enjoying life.

[Joe]

Nice.

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Well, I think you're gonna meet someone sooner than later. If not, if they do Bachelor in Paradise again, I could see you on there, so. Oh, never know. You never know.

[Monica B]

Think about that one. Yes, yes. But I feel like, you know, whether we got a rose or not, whether we won Mel's heart or not, we all won the ladies of season two. We're all champions. And the beauty in that is I think we get to inspire other golden women to go out there and be the champions of their own lives. You know, you're not too old and you're not too broken, and guess what? It's not too late. So get out there. Put yourself out there.

[Joe]

Well, Monica, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day. We really. It was great meeting you. It was great talking to you.

[Monica B]

Oh, nice meeting you guys, too. Thank you for having me.

[Joe]

All right, so that wraps with Monica, baby. Next up, we're going to bring in Amy. Amy, welcome to the podcast. How are you?

[Amy]

I'M great. How are you? Thank you so much for having me.

[Serena]

Of course. Thanks for coming on. Where are you calling in from?

[Joe]

It looks like it's sunny, which I'm jealous.

[Amy]

Well, I have to tell you, I'm really bad with technology. This is my daughter's computer. It's at her house. She had to set up the earbuds and everything.

[Serena]

Okay, well, she did a great job. You look and sound great. Where's her home located? Don't give us the exact address.

[Amy]

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not giving the address. Manhattan beach in California.

[Serena]

Very nice. We're in New York and it's a little gloomy here today where you are.

[Amy]

I love New York, though. I'm. I'm a New Yorker. Are you.

[Serena]

You're from New York?

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Amy]

My girls went to NYU and we lived in the city for a long time.

[Serena]

Oh, wow. Do you miss it?

[Amy]

It's a different vibe, but I'm used to it out here now. It's all good.

[Serena]

Yeah.

[Joe]

New York looks good in gray.

[Serena]

Yeah. You just like gloomy weather.

[Joe]

I do to an extent. But, like, I'm instantly. I'm jealous at looking at Amy's background and seeing the sun. I'm already like, God damn, I need to be. I need to get some sun.

[Serena]

I know, I know. It's getting cold out here.

[Amy]

I like the New York weather, though.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Amy]

I mean, I think I'm more dressed for New York in my long Claire vest than la.

[Monica B]

You are. You are.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Joe]

So how did you. How did you get on the show, Amy?

[Amy]

Okay, so my daughters have a big TikTok and they started putting me on it just for fun. And people were like, oh, my God, your mother is so funny. Put her on more. And one of the casting agents reached out to my girls and I was like, there is no way I am doing this. And then I thought about it and, well, so here I am.

[Serena]

Wow. Okay. Why did you have doubts? Why didn't you want to do it at first?

[Amy]

Well, I mean, I never did a reality dating show. And the funny thing is, years ago, I was going to do an episode of the Real Housewives of New York many, many years ago. I think it was with Ramona and it was Radu in the Hamptons and my girls.

[Joe]

Who are you friends with? Who are you friends with?

[Amy]

Well, I knew a bunch of those people from the city, so I. It was Ramona that had asked me. This was years ago. My girls are like, you're not going on a reality show show. It's. It's going to be an embarrassment because they were growing up in Short Hills in New Jersey at the time. So I, you know, I said, okay, fine. Then they yelled at me and they said, well, why didn't you do it? Why would you listen to 12 year olds? I'm like, well, you told me it would be embarrassing, so here they are. And I ended up on this show. Like this wasn't more embarrassing.

[Joe]

Do you. Did you watch. Did you watch the Bachelor franchise at all before going on?

[Amy]

I did watch it, and I thought it was a fabulous show. And I love all the Bachelor, you know, nation shows. They're great.

[Joe]

Okay. And then so you get. You get out there, first day. What do you. What are your thoughts on Mel when you see Mel?

[Amy]

My thoughts on Mel was he's a very different type than what I'm used to. I never dated a jock. I'm a New York Jew. So it was a very, very, very big, like, difference. But, you know, like, I'm fun, I'm outgoing, warm, I'm lively, I'm bubbly. I'm like, oh, I'm gonna go do this.

[Serena]

I love that. So your. Your first interaction with Mel, how did you feel? Was there a spark? Were you feeling like there maybe was a connection?

[Amy]

You know, usually I feel like that zing. And that's what I was looking for. I did not have that initial zing, but I said, you know what? I'm just gonna be me. I'm gonna see if, you know, a connection develops. And, you know, I was just gonna go out there and be who I am.

[Joe]

What were your thoughts on. Were you connecting with the other women at all that first night?

[Amy]

Yes, I was connecting with the other women. We had a great time. It was like a sisterhood. The whole experience was so much fun for me. It was really. It was. I had a really good time, and I just let myself be who I, you know, I was. So, you know, I wish I would have stayed a little longer, but I just could not fake a connection. That's just not who I am. You know, I have.

[Serena]

I was gonna say, do you have a favorite group date?

[Amy]

Did I have a favorite group date? They were all fun. From what I remember, the roast was a lot of fun. You know, everything seems so. What were the other group dates? I can't even remember. It seems like ages ago.

[Serena]

That's okay. The roast was one of our favorites too.

[Amy]

Yeah, it was fun.

[Joe]

What did you think of? We actually had Jared Fried on this podcast. What did you think of him? Because he. He Had a lot of fun with you. You could tell.

[Monica B]

Yeah.

[Amy]

Well, I guess I reminded him of his Jewish mother. Yeah, he was having kids, he was having ptsd. And it turns out I had met his mom a long time ago.

[Joe]

Oh, really?

[Amy]

Yes. She DM'd me. Hilarious, right?

[Serena]

Oh, my God, what a small world.

[Joe]

Does he know that?

[Amy]

I don't know. Maybe his mama told him.

[Serena]

I feel like he said his mom's been.

[Joe]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he did.

[Serena]

I didn't realize that it's because you guys had met in the past.

[Amy]

Isn't that hilarious?

[Serena]

Such a small world. What do your girls think about all of this? How has it been? Have you watched it back with them? They've been watching.

[Amy]

You know, it was so much fun. And initially I was like, like, how am I going to be on tv? I'm a little bit quirky. I'm funny. I don't even try to be funny. I'm just such a dork. I'm an accounting nerd. Could you imagine this? Has an accounting and finance background. Isn't that hilarious?

[Joe]

I think it makes sense, actually.

[Amy]

But no, it was so much fun. I had a really good time. My girls, you know, they thought I was precious.

[Serena]

Yeah, they watched it back.

[Amy]

Yeah.

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[Monica B]

Gain Super Flings.

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Gain Super Flings for next level laundry.

[Katie Couric]

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Bernie Sanders, who is 84 years old, has spent 34 years in Congress and he can still pack a rally with people a quarter of his age.

[Interviewer]

Denver, 34,000 people come out. Salt Lake City, 20,000 people. You know, huge turnouts. People are really dissatisfied about the status quo.

[Katie Couric]

His fighting oligarchy tour with AOC and other young progressives has become a movement. But is his message too far to the left? Well, he certainly doesn't think so.

[Interviewer]

Does that sound like a radical idea? Is that too far left for you?

[Katie Couric]

Okay, okay, I get your point, Bernie. We talk about the billionaire class, the cost of living, and of course the government shutdown. Not to mention the current state of the Democratic Party.

[Interviewer]

To me, the failure of the Democratic Party has been an unwillingness to recognize the real issues.

[Katie Couric]

Open your free iHeartRadio app search next question with Katie Couric and listen. Now.

[Monica B]

All I know is what I've been told. And that's a half truth is a whole lie.

[Maggie Freeling]

For almost a decade, the murder of an 18 year old girl from a small town in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved until a local homemaker, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Monica B]

I'm telling you, we know Quincy killed her.

[Maggie Freeling]

We know a story that law enforcement used to convict six people and that got the citizen investigator on national tv.

[Joe]

Through sheer persistence and nerve, this Kentucky housewife helped give justice to Jessica Curran.

[Maggie Freeling]

My name is Maggie Freeling. I'm a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist producer. And I wouldn't be here if the truth were that easy to find.

[Amy]

I did not know her and I did not kill her or rape or burn or any of that other stuff.

[Joe]

That y' all said.

[Monica B]

They literally made me say that I took a match and struck and threw it on her. They made me say that I poured gas on her.

[Maggie Freeling]

From Lava. For good. This is Graves County, a show about just how far our legal system will go in order to find someone to blame.

[Dutch Vet Care Ad Narrator]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people and small towns.

[Maggie Freeling]

Listen to Graves county in the Bone Valley feed on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Hey there. I'm Kyle McLaughlin. You might know me as that guy from Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, or just the Internet's dad. I have a new podcast called what Are We Even Doing? Where I embark on a noble quest to understand the brilliant chaos of youth culture.

[Joe]

Daddy's looking good.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Each week I invite someone fascinating to join me. Actors, musicians, creatives, highly evolved digital life forms. And we talk about what they love. Sometimes I'll drizzle a little honey in.

[Monica B]

There too if I'm feeling sexy in the morning.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

What keeps them going?

[Amy]

And you're maybe my biggest competition on social media.

[Joe]

Like when a kid says bruh to.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Me and how they're navigating this high speed roller coaster we call reality.

[Monica B]

In Australia, you're looking out for snakes, spiders and Right.

[Joe]

Hey, he's no Trey McDougal.

[Amy]

Chill.

[Maggie Freeling]

This is like the comments section of my Instagram.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Join me and my delightful guests every Thursday and let's get weird together in a good way. Listen to what are we even doing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Joe]

What did you do? Remind me, what did you do out of the limo? You did some. Something. What did you do?

[Amy]

Yes. So out of the limo and I knew something was going to go awry. I just had this vibe. So my girls had a big banner up and I was coming out of the limo and you know, I'm in my hot sexy heels and I step out and I'm. I'm like pounding on the banner. It was supposed to be perforated. I wasn't wearing my glasses. I couldn't see anything. I'm like, okay, where is the perforation? So my initial, initial instinct was, mel, help me, help. So he had to walk towards it and tear it open. I couldn't reach the banner. I'm like all of like 5, 2, 5, 6 with heels.

[Serena]

Oh my gosh. I do remember that actually. That was very funny. But I feel like it ended up being a cute moment that he came over and he helped you and it all worked out, right?

[Amy]

It all worked out and it was a fun moment. So I was very spontaneous.

[Serena]

Was it fun to have your daughters there for night one? Did it help ease your nerves at all?

[Amy]

I wasn't really nervous. I was just like myself and having a good time.

[Joe]

That's. That's honestly. And you could tell. And that's what makes for, in my opinion, what makes for the best tv when someone's just their self.

[Amy]

Yeah, I was just my quirky self. I mean, do I wish I had that zing and that connection right away? Yeah. But, you know, we, we didn't connect and it's okay. It doesn't mean he's not a great guy. I don't know him well enough, so I can't say, but I know, I.

[Joe]

What do you think you could have got there with him if you had a little more time or you think it was just like there just wasn't anything.

[Serena]

I don't see it between you two now.

[Amy]

I am full of life. I'm a little bit of an intellect. I am quirky, I'm lively. I like having a good time. I am full of sparkle and personality. I don't think he got me and I did not get him. And I wasn't going to fake it, you know?

[Serena]

Yeah, I think that's a good thing. How did you feel about the Woman Tell All? How was filming? I was seeing all the women again.

[Amy]

Ah, the women Tell All. I opened my mouth a little bit.

[Joe]

Yeah. Okay, so we see at the beginning of the Women Tell all, there's some drama with Nicole and some of the other women and Nicole and Debbie mainly. What were your thoughts on that whole situation?

[Amy]

I don't do well with drama. I'm, you know, I was raised to be very classy. I'm very proud of who I am and my family. But I have a very, very good BS detector and there was a lot of BS going on.

[Serena]

Really.

[Amy]

So.

[Joe]

Hell yeah. Let's give it to us.

[Amy]

I had to open my mouth just a little bit.

[Serena]

Share. Share with us. Who?

[Amy]

I think I said something to the effect that, you know, Nicole was saying how she had feelings for Mel. Give me a break, okay? I can smell BS from a mile away. All she wanted to do was to be on that show to, you know, grow her Instagram, you know, and the thing is, if she would have even been honest on the Tell all, it was all bs. She was in for all the wrong reasons. And you know what? Everyone knew in the house that I didn't connect with him. And I told everybody I didn't care about leaving because I wanted to give somebody else who had a real connection with him a chance. It's okay. My guy will find me. That's not even a problem. And it's the woman who ultimately picks the guy anyway. But so getting back to this whole Nicole thing without being caddy or anything, she was in there for the wrong reasons. She made it very obvious she lied about a lot of things. And you know what? My. My BS detector in that seat was going off and I said, amy, do you say anything or do you just keep your mouth quiet? And you know what? I just. It just had to come out. And I think I said, if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, what is it, you guys?

[Serena]

It's a dog.

[Amy]

It's a duck. Quack, quack.

[Joe]

But you don't think so. I. I agree. I think, like, Nicole was there for other reasons as well, but I do think she liked Mel. You don't think she was into Mel at All you think that was bullshit?

[Amy]

I think it was bullshit. She. I can't fake it with a guy. I just can't. I feel that zing and I'm into him or I'm not, you know.

[Serena]

Mm. What are you looking for in a guy now?

[Amy]

What am I looking for?

[Serena]

Yeah.

[Amy]

Well, I. I need somebody that matches my energy, that can laugh. We can laugh together. Like, doing the glamorous things are really fun, but the day to day things, like going to the market together, cooking, working out together, snuggling up like the real stuff, because that's what's important on a day to day thing. And especially as you get older, you grow old together. Well, I'm never going to grow old, but you grow older, you take care of each other and you really enjoy each other and you get each other. You can be like your quirky, adorable self.

[Joe]

Are you. Are you a good cook?

[Amy]

Am I a good cook? I think I'm a great cook. Girls, do you think I'm a good cook? Although the one year I had some friends over for brisket this Rosh Hashanah, that brisket was so bad, we were having, like, lockjaw. Nobody could chew the brisket. And everyone was looking at me like, Amy, what happened? I said, I jinxed myself. I said, what a good cook. I was on the roast.

[Joe]

That's how, That's. That's how it happens. That's how it happens. Were you part of. Were you. Did you have anything to do with the lemon. Lemon bar situation?

[Amy]

No, thank God. I was off there.

[Kyle McLaughlin]

Were you off?

[Amy]

That was. Yeah, I was off at that point. But the whole thing was like, like dulu. Hello. They should have been called Delulu bars. That's a good mark. That is a good marketing thing. You want to buy some Delulu bars?

[Serena]

What do you think was so Delulu about the bars that she made them?

[Amy]

Clearly, everyone else was helping.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Serena]

I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah, you got her there, that's for sure.

[Amy]

I got her on some other things, too. But, like, like Kathy would say, zip it. I'm not saying a word. There's a fine line between, you know, being too bitchy. I'm not too.

[Joe]

How. How are you going to.

[Walmart Ad Narrator]

Is.

[Joe]

Has this impacted the way you're going to date now in the future after this show?

[Amy]

You know, the interesting thing is I think I'm a little bit more open than what I was. So in other words, like, maybe somebody didn't fit the criteria in my head. I'm going to be open to certain things that's good.

[Serena]

That's great. Are you on the apps? Are you at bars? What's your strategy?

[Amy]

I do. I do it all. But here's the thing. At the end of the day, it's about a true connection and feeling like you can be yourself and connecting physically and emotionally and spiritually and intellectually, then finding somebody who has depth and character and soul and who's warm and yummy, but yet smart and driven. Hello. Is this like a long list? You want me to keep going?

[Serena]

No, I love it.

[Joe]

I mean, you lost be at yummy.

[Amy]

But I lost you at yummy.

[Joe]

Okay, so what, what would you. What would be your advice for a woman going on the next season of the Golden Bachelor who doesn't have a connection with elite?

[Amy]

Like, my advice is just for her to be herself. Just be yourself and, you know, it's okay. Just have a good time. That's what it's about. You know, the whole thing about kind of chasing after a guy is a little ass backwards for me. It was definitely weird. I'm like, I don't go chasing after men. I'm like, I don't know guys.

[Joe]

And you compete. You're competing with 25 other women.

[Amy]

Yeah. I didn't even view it. You know what the weird thing was about the show for me? I didn't even view it as a competition. I know it was a competition and I was a contestant, but to me, it was about am I finding that connection?

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Amy]

You know, so it's like I didn't care about winning because I won because I wasn't with somebody that I didn't have a connection with.

[Joe]

Yeah.

[Serena]

Yeah.

[Amy]

So I was actually the winner. Why would I do that to myself? I'd be in a divorce even before I got engaged.

[Serena]

Truly. What would be your advice to women in their golden years of life that are looking for love?

[Amy]

It's like, feel good about yourself. Be confident. Be open to the unexpected. Think young. You are young. It's like you're never. My grandmother was in her 90s. You know the story she used to tell me? It's like you're as old as you feel or as old as you think. I mean, I am at the gym two hours a day. I have more energy than my daughters. It was my daughter's wedding at the end of May, and I'm like dancing till 2, 3 o' clock in the morning with all the 30 and 40 year olds.

[Joe]

Wow, that's. That's impressive.

[Serena]

That is impressive.

[Joe]

What's your secret?

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Serena]

What's your work?

[Joe]

Do you drink?

[Amy]

Do I drink? I drink. I drink good wine. I'm a wine brat. Not every night, but I do like. I do like having good wine.

[Joe]

Okay, yeah, but what's your secret in just staying?

[Amy]

Wait, Lexi from the peanut gallery just walked in the room. What'd you say, Lex? See, I'm being told. You know what? I swear, the whole tables have turned.

[Joe]

They're telling you what to do. What, what are some of your secrets, though, to feeling and staying young and being energetic? I mean, being at the gym two hours a day is great.

[Amy]

That having wine, laughing, music. You know, I like sex when I'm in a relationship. Sorry.

[Monica B]

That's fair.

[Joe]

No, I think most people do. No, I think that's all.

[Amy]

Yeah, I'm gonna keep this nice and, you know, PG rated.

[Joe]

No, I think, I mean, honestly, like. Yeah, I love everything you're saying because you have a.

[Amy]

Thank you.

[Joe]

I think you have a great perspective on life and I think you're just like. You just live to enjoy life as.

[Amy]

Long as you're a good person. I used to have this mantra with the girls. It's kind of nerdy. So here goes my nerdy thing. Don't laugh at me. I used to say, before the girls would go to bed every night, it was like an entire routine. It was like a 45 minute routine because they didn't like to go to sleep. You know, it was like, you know, like not separation, but, you know, little, little kids. So we would read, we would do a whole thing. And I used to say to them after we did the whole good night tattoo, Fluffy and Jewel, it was like their little Swarovski. Sworsky. Sworsky mice. So anyway, we would do that and then at the end I would say, life is a party, shoot for the stars. You, anything you want to be as long as you're a good person. And I. That's really ingrained in their head that life should be fun. And even when shit hits the fan, and believe me, it does, I think it's your perspective on how you view things. Like, we're all going to go through stuff and anyone who tells you they have a perfect life is full of it, you know, so when you, when there's, you know, problems, it's. How do you handle the stuff? And if you handle it with positivity and, you know you're gonna get through it, it's all good.

[Serena]

I love that. I'm so inspired by you.

[Joe]

Very wise, very wise. Honestly, you've changed my day.

[Amy]

Yeah, I changed your day.

[Monica B]

Off.

[Amy]

Yeah.

[Joe]

I went into this podcast. It was great. It was dark, it was gloomy, and now I just feel a whole new light.

[Serena]

Yeah.

[Amy]

I see a lot of white. I see a lot of white and sunshine in there.

[Joe]

No, if you look outside the window, it's great. Amy, thank you. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Great. It was really lovely meeting you and talking to you.

[Amy]

Thank you. I had so much fun. Thank you so much.

[Serena]

I'm glad.

[Monica B]

Of course.

[Joe]

And to all our listeners, make sure you tune in the better happy hour, download and subscribe to the podcast.

[Serena]

We'll have new and exclusive interviews for you every single week. Thanks for listening. Bye.

[Monica B]

This is an I Heart podcast.