Bachelor Happy Hour: “New Year, New YOU | Golden Hour”

Hosts: Kathy and Susan
Date: January 14, 2026
Podcast: Bachelor Happy Hour (iHeartPodcasts and Warner Bros)

Episode Overview

This “Golden Hour” episode of Bachelor Happy Hour kicks off 2026 with co-hosts Kathy and Susan answering listener questions about self-improvement, relationships, and tricky family dynamics. The conversation centers around goal-setting for the new year, boundaries in marriage and family relationships, wedding traditions, and candid confessions from listeners. The tone is lively, candid, and often humorous as the hosts share personal experiences alongside practical advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Year, New You: Fitness & Wellness in Midlife

[03:41–10:58]

• Listener Chris (56) asks for advice on building strength, stretching routines, and staying motivated, especially during menopause.
• Kathy’s core advice:
  • Don’t overdo it at first (“Don’t become a weekend warrior… start small. I would encourage you to start off walking 10 minutes.” – Kathy, 05:09)
  • Incorporate regular stretching, referencing gentle floor routines (lying on the floor, knee-to-chest, gentle twists).
  • Start basic strength training and consider a few sessions with a personal trainer.
  • Use journals to track progress.
  • Cheap or used weights are perfectly fine.
  • Consistency and commitment are key (“It's the commitment to getting out and doing something.” – Kathy, 09:54)
• Susan emphasizes slow, controlled weight movements (“She made me go so slow on the way down. And it took so much more time, but it was so much more for the muscle.” – Susan, 08:52), and highlights the importance of core exercises and balance (tai chi for balance).

Notable Quotes

• “Start small. Walk for 10 minutes. When you come back from the walk, stretch.” – Kathy (05:09)
• “Your core strength is everything. One of the things I did do … I just downloaded and joined this tai chi, and I'm going to start for balance.” – Susan (08:04)

2. Navigating Family Boundaries: Over-involved Adult Children

[11:03–18:21, 28:29–33:49]

• Anonymous listener feels overwhelmed by the frequency and intensity of her husband’s adult daughter’s communication (calls, photos, videos, even during vacations) and is uncomfortable with the controlling environment when visiting her home. She wonders if she’s being unreasonable and how to address the issue.
• Susan’s Advice:
  • Approach with calm, jot down main points before the conversation to avoid sounding like a complainer.
  • Don’t ignore the discomfort: “I have to bite my tongue sometimes until it bleeds.” (13:20)
• Kathy’s Advice:
  • Set boundaries (“I have one word for you. Anonymous. Boundaries.” – Kathy, 14:14).
  • Recommends therapy if direct conversation isn’t enough, urging Anonymous to communicate that she is a priority to her husband.
  • “You have every right, Anonymous, to expect that your husband will put you first in his life.” – Kathy (16:35)
  • Stresses you can't change people who don't want to change; sometimes therapy is needed to reveal this is an unhealthy dynamic.
  • Men aren't mind readers—tell them what’s on your mind.
• Discussion on controlling households, the impact on marriage, and whether “too close” is grounding or detrimental.

Timestamps & Quotes

• “First of all, you are not being unreasonable.” – Kathy (14:14)
• “If he's spending more time with his kids than he is with you, that's another issue.” – Kathy (15:15)
• “Men are a lot of things … but one thing they are not is mind readers. Tell them what's on your mind and then take it from there.” – Kathy (17:43)
• “If he said no, I think it's fine, we're probably not going to make it.” – Kathy, on unwillingness to change (30:16)

3. Should I Wear a Wedding Ring If I Don’t Like Jewelry?

[23:43–28:24]

• Elizabeth writes in, uncomfortable with wearing her engagement or wedding ring, despite her fiancé's support but facing pushback from family and friends.
• Susan: Slightly more traditional, suggests maybe wear the ring for the ceremony, but overall: “If you don't want to, you don't have to.” (24:48)
• Kathy: Strongly argues it's a personal choice and the ring is only a symbol. “It is a symbol. It is not the marriage.” (26:05) Emphasizes: "Last time I looked, you're marrying him, not your friends or your family." (24:51)
• Both agree that commitment, not rings, makes a marriage. The back-and-forth gets energetic but playful.

Quotes

• “If you don't like the symbol… Do what I did. Get your hair dyed black. That can be your symbol of marriage.” – Kathy (26:04)
• “Your marriage, your man. And don't let your friends and family tell you what to do.” – Susan (28:13)

4. Relationship Confessions: Rapid-Fire Golden Hour

[39:23–47:32]

Kathy and Susan read and react to a series of anonymous Instagram confessions, ranging from awkward dating mishaps to staying in relationships for all the wrong reasons. Tone is both candid and playful.

Sample Confessions & Discussion:

• Scheduling two dates at the same restaurant, same night – “That's like, that could be deadly, right?” – Kathy (39:58)
• Staying with someone for their dog – “So can I just say, a lot of men… their dogs come before me, which is like I'm out the door.” – Kathy (41:03)
• Finding out about cheating through Venmo – “She was in his phone.” – Kathy (42:14)
• Breaking up via text and running into the person 20 minutes later – “That's the dating God saying you should never break up over text.” – Kathy (46:41)
• Telling someone “I love you” in a panic – “I think that happens a lot, too.” – Susan (44:59)
• Googling someone so deeply, you accidentally reference their cousin’s wedding on a date.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You have every right, Anonymous, to expect that your husband will put you first in his life.” – Kathy (16:35)
• “I have one word for you. Anonymous. Boundaries.” – Kathy (14:14)
• “It's the commitment to getting out and doing something. … It's hard work.” – Kathy, on fitness (09:54)
• “I want to know what you think about the woman whose husband's daughter blows his phone up. Seriously, I need a people poll on this one.” – Susan (47:41)
• “Marriage is about partnership and commitment. And a ring is not that.” – Kathy (27:19)
• “Don't break up over text. Do it in person.” – Kathy (46:41)

Structure of Listener Letters

[03:56–47:32]

• Each listener email or confession is read and discussed in detail, typically including:
  • Warm, empathetic acknowledgment from both hosts.
  • One host offers initial advice, the other provides either affirmation or a contrarian (but good-natured) counterpoint.
  • Practical suggestions, references to their own experiences, and humorous asides.

Listener Engagement

• The hosts repeatedly urge listeners to write back with updates, especially regarding the daughter/step-family boundary issue, underscoring the show's interactive, community-driven spirit.
• Susan requests: “I need a people poll on this one.” (47:41)

Episode Tone

Conversational, supportive, and candid with frequent humor and self-deprecation. Kathy tends toward assertive, straightforward advice, while Susan is more diplomatic and nurturing, providing balance and dynamic debate.

Key Takeaways

• Start fitness routines small; consistency and self-compassion matter most as you age.
• Boundaries are crucial in marriage and family relationships; difficult conversations are necessary for long-term happiness.
• Traditional wedding symbols are only meaningful if you want them to be.
• Listeners relate through confessions—the struggles are real and often shared.
• Open communication and self-advocacy are needed in relationships of all types.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 03:41–10:58 – Fitness & wellness advice for midlife and menopause.
• 11:03–18:21; 28:29–33:49 – Family/step-parenting boundary issues and relationship prioritization.
• 23:43–28:24 – To wear or not wear a wedding ring: tradition vs. personal preference.
• 39:23–47:32 – Anonymous confessions and hosts’ reactions.

For fans of Bachelor Nation, self-improvement, and honest relationship talk, this episode delivers practical guidance, plenty of laughter, and the kind of advice you’d expect from two experienced friends: candid, heartfelt, and full of personality.