Sam McKinney & Alli Jo Go the Distance | Happy Hour

Summary

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Bachelor Happy Hour — “Sam McKinney & Alli Jo Go the Distance” (December 22, 2025)

Hosts: Joe Amabile & Serena Pitt
Guests: Sam McKinney & Alli Jo
Duration: ~43 minutes
Main Theme:
The episode explores the behind-the-scenes story of Sam McKinney and Alli Jo—a unique Bachelor Nation couple whose romantic timing on “Bachelor in Paradise” didn’t line up, but who still found their way to each other in real life. The conversation covers their journey from almost meeting on the beach, to navigating reality TV, starting a long-distance relationship, and what’s next for them outside of the show.

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Episode Overview

In this lively, authentic, and candid episode, hosts Joe and Serena welcome Sam McKinney and Alli Jo on together as a couple for the first time. The duo shares how they missed each other on “Bachelor in Paradise,” what it was like having expectations dashed, how they still found connection, and their honest advice for long-distance relationships. Additional highlights include Sam’s new home-renovation show, lots of playful banter, and genuine insight into relationships sparked—and forged—by reality TV.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Missed Connections on Paradise

[03:35 – 07:26]

• Last time Sam was on the podcast was right before “Bachelor in Paradise.”
• Both Sam and Alli Jo had chatted before the show, sharing DMs and friendly advice.
• Ali Jo: “Ladies, don’t be afraid to message somebody first.” (04:57)
• They were both hoping to see each other on the beach, but didn’t know for sure if the other was cast.

“All I wanted to do was kind of give her the heads up of, hey, what could happen. Hopefully it doesn’t happen. Thank gosh, it didn’t happen with her. But for me, whenever I went out to Paradise, she was the only name that I dropped.” — Sam (06:03)

• Sam was set on Alli Jo and was disappointed to learn she wasn’t there. He tried to pivot, talking to Jess instead, whose kindness helped “take some nerves away” (08:44).

2. The Reality of Bachelor in Paradise Experience

[09:20 – 10:17]

• Joe and Sam give practical advice: don’t set your expectations on meeting any one person at Paradise—production always throws curveballs.
• Sam found it difficult to have his “game plan shot to hell” when Alli Jo didn’t appear.

“You can never figure out what the Bachelor production is going to do because they’re already five steps ahead of you.” — Sam (09:53)

• Serena reflects on how you’re always fighting for control of your experience—but “simultaneously having no control at all.” (10:17)

3. Alli Jo’s Entrance and Disappointment

[16:20 – 18:48]

• Alli Jo recaps her jet-ski entrance (“finally, this is my moment”). She felt confident but was let down to discover Sam had just been sent home.
• Despite disappointment, she tried to make the most of Paradise (“everything happens for a reason”).
• Her stint lasted 36 hours, and she admits to being “so disappointed and frustrated,” though “the shrimp tacos were good.” (18:31, playful)

4. How the Relationship Really Started

[19:20 – 25:45]

• Post-Paradise, Alli Jo reached out to Sam: “Hey, heard you were here a couple hours ago.”
• They started texting, then FaceTiming, building a connection based not just on their shared Bachelor experience but other interests.
• Both were cautious about their first in-person meeting (in Florida), but it clicked.

“Something that, like, was always on my mind is that I don’t want a relationship… to be about the Bachelor. Like, there needs to be something else.” — Alli Jo (23:26)

• Sam reflects: “She’s just the easiest person, really, to talk to… whatever I saw is what I was going to get. And I liked everything that I saw and continue to see.” (24:14–25:45)

5. Long-Distance Romance & Family Integration

[25:45 – 37:10]

• Their first meeting turned into “the longest first date,” as Sam extended his flight, and, as Alli Jo recalls, “the rest was history.”
• Official “boyfriend / girlfriend” happened after their third hangout—by then, “that could have been like, the 15th date by then.” (33:34)
• Meeting each other’s families became an early test: “I need my family’s approval and he’s the same way.” (34:22)
• The couple shares their candid plans for the future, emphasizing intentional communication, regular visits “every other weekend,” and practical thoughts on cohabitation.

“It’s just being intentional with… all your conversations. …It’s one of those things, it’s really not as bad whenever the person means as much to you as what Alli Jo means to me.” — Sam (37:10)

6. What’s Next? Future Plans and Hometown Details

[34:41 – 36:46]

• Alli Jo is in Fort Lauderdale, Sam in South Carolina. They discuss ending Alli Jo’s lease, moving in together, and eventually establishing themselves in Florida.
• Both agree that the proximity (short flights) makes long-distance manageable.

7. Sam’s New Bachelor Home Renovation Show

[38:26 – 42:27]

• Sam is announced as cast on the Bachelor Home Reno spin-off, a welcome change from dating TV.
• He expresses relief and enthusiasm: “It was neat because that’s definitely, obviously more of my wheelhouse… definitely the most enjoyable time I’ve had being a part of a show.” (38:44 & 40:19)
• Sam says it was fun to see Noah Erb on set.
• Alli Jo shares her supportive take, encouraging Sam to join (“this is literally what you do for a living”).
• Sam describes his career as a residential contractor, expressing confidence his skills would serve him well in the competition.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Reaching Out First

• “Ladies, don’t be afraid to message somebody first.” — Alli Jo (04:57)

On Bachelor in Paradise Curveballs

• “You can never figure out what the Bachelor production is going to do because they’re already five steps ahead of you.” — Sam (09:53)

The Shrimp Tacos Silver Lining

• “The 36 hours I was there was cool. They had really good shrimp tacos.” — Alli Jo (18:31)

First Date Anxiety

• “It’s in the back of my brain…if she asks me where I’m staying, I am so fucked.” — Sam (21:03)

Wanting Real Connection

• “There needs to be something else, because…in previous relationships, [shared interests] become all they talk about. So right off the jump, we had so much to talk about.” — Alli Jo (23:26)

On Family Endorsement

• “If I’m dating somebody, I need my family’s approval and he’s the same way.” — Alli Jo (34:22)

The Long-Distance Mindset

• “It’s just being intentional with…all your conversations.” — Sam (37:10)

On Reality Show Surprises

• “Anytime I get a phone call from California, I’m like, oh, gosh…” — Sam (38:44)

Alli Jo’s Perspective on Opportunity

• “You need to do this. This is such a great opportunity. …You never know what opportunities are going to come from it.” — Alli Jo (40:35)

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Important Timestamps

• 03:40 – The couple’s pre-Paradise interactions
• 06:03 – Sam reflects on focusing on Alli Jo
• 07:26 – Sam’s experience when Alli Jo wasn’t on the beach
• 16:33 – Alli Jo’s jet ski entrance and letdown
• 19:20 – First text message after the show
• 21:03 – The first meeting and ‘where are you staying?’ dilemma
• 23:26 – Their relationship beyond Bachelor Nation
• 33:34 – Becoming official as a couple
• 34:22 – Meeting each other’s families as a test
• 35:20 – Future living arrangements discussed
• 37:10 – How they manage long-distance
• 38:44 – Sam’s Bachelor Home Reno show casting
• 40:35 – Alli Jo supports Sam’s new venture
• 41:22 – Sam describes his contracting background

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

The mood throughout is playful, honest, and undeniably “Bachelor-style” — full of good-natured teasing (especially from Serena and Joe), but also authentic about the difficulties of reality TV and cultivating a relationship in the real world.
Listeners come away with:

• A detailed, relatable look at how a reality TV romance can work out post-filming—even with bad onscreen luck.
• Insights into managing long-distance relationships intentionally
• A preview of the new Bachelor Home Reno spin-off
• Useful perspective for any future Paradise contestant (and relatable laughs for fans).

Final Thought:
Despite missing each other “on the beach,” Sam and Alli Jo’s story is about perseverance, adaptability, and finding something real—on and off camera.

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Transcript

[Sophie Cunningham]

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[Joe]

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[Serena]

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[Joe]

Checked it twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.

[Serena]

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[Joe]

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[Sam]

Who?

[Joe]

Who knew?

[Serena]

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[Joe]

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[Serena]

And I'm Serena.

[Joe]

And we are here today with Sam, Dan, Ellie, Joe. Welcome to the podcast as a couple for the first time on this podcast. Welcome.

[Ali Jo]

Thank you.

[Sam]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Joe]

Serena's kind of been jumping in, taking. Taking over.

[Serena]

Yeah, my coffee kicked in before. Joe's dead.

[Joe]

It's not even coffee. I think I'm just. I think I'm just stupid.

[Ali Jo]

I've already had two, so.

[Serena]

So last time, Sam, we had you on the podcast was Paradise.

[Sam]

Yeah. Right before.

[Serena]

Yep, Right before. We were rooting for you.

[Joe]

We were sad to see you go.

[Serena]

We were sad to see you go. We really were. And I would say, you know, would love to see you on next season, but I actually hope you're not on next season because you're here with your girlfriend, Ali Jo. And we're so excited to chat with you guys both. Kind of how this came to be. You guys were ships passing in the night on Bachelor in Paradise. What a miss.

[Joe]

What a miss, actually, because I really am not just saying this because you two are both here, but it would. You both together. Getting together on paradise would have been a great addition to the season because you're both fun to watch.

[Sam]

Some would say that. Some would say that.

[Joe]

Hey, listen, if they're talking, at least you're doing something.

[Sam]

So.

[Joe]

So it's reality tv, you know.

[Ali Jo]

Don't get us started on that experience.

[Serena]

Well, let's take it back before, you know, we get into the Bachelor in Paradise and all of this fun relationship stuff. You guys had spoken a little before paradise, right? You both knew you were going to be there. Kind of walk us through where your relationship was before you went to paradise and, you know, how you connected and what was going on.

[Sam]

Take it away, babe.

[Ali Jo]

Well, we didn't definitely know we were both going to be there. I was really hopeful. Like, I had a feeling because I just had a good feeling. But I had messaged him first, so. Ladies, don't be afraid to message somebody first because we, like, knew of a mutual person. I don't know. Long story short, somebody, like, compared me to him, and I just thought that was, like, comical. And we just started talking And Sam had given me, like, really, really good advice just moving forward. So it was just like a little bit of chit chat. It wasn't anything crazy. And then, yeah, we would just kind of like, swipe up on each other's stories, and that was really it. And then we just kind of started talking about paradise, asking if each other were going. We both really didn't know, and that was an honest answer. And, yeah, that was it.

[Serena]

Okay. So going into paradise, I think it's safe to say you were both on each other's radar. Like, you never know until you get there, but.

[Joe]

Well, I mean, I don't know if. I mean, that's. I don't know if that's safe to say. Were you?

[Serena]

Well, they were.

[Joe]

I mean, they dm. But it wasn't. It wasn't. It was more friendly from what. I'm.

[Serena]

Okay. Yeah. So tell us, were you, like, maybe there's something there romantically, or were you friend zoned?

[Sam]

No, I think there was. There was definitely something there romantically. I think it's. It's kind of easy to figure out in the way that two people communicate, you can figure out if somebody's trying to be friends or if they want something more than that. I think for us, we were trying not to spoil what could possibly be. You know, we're still communicating through a phone and through social media and stuff like that, so just kind of saving the. You know, the. The chit chat for in person, getting to know each other and whatnot. So. My experience on the Bachelorette was completely different than what hers was on the Bachelor. So whenever she got compared to me, I was figuring things out week by week because I didn't necessarily know what was going to be shown, what wasn't going to be shown. So all I wanted to do was kind of give her the heads up of, hey, what could happen? Hopefully it doesn't happen. Thank gosh, it didn't happen with her. But for me, whenever I went out to paradise, she was the only name that I dropped. I think I was first and foremost, because I talked to her. I knew that was somebody that I was going to be interested in. There was nobody else from really any other season that I was like, that I'd spoke to that I was really interested in. So I really just locked in on her. But ultimately, she was. She was really the only person that caught my eye. And now, long story short, I. I do understand why. So. So, yeah, that was. That's. That's my take for. For getting to paradise at Least.

[Serena]

Okay, so you get down there. Ali Jo isn't there. We see you kind of start talking with Jess. Walk us through that relationship a little bit.

[Sam]

Yeah, I was extremely disheartened that the Ali Joe wasn't there. I think I was the last person that came down for episode one. So everybody was already there on the beach outside of Cat and Dale. I think they were on a date whenever I went down there. So I was, you know, expecting to see Ali Jo there, and, you know, and then she wasn't there, and we kind of took a little bit of a break, and I'm like, hey, what. You know, what's going on here? Like, I really did. I put all my eggs into one basket. It wasn't there. So I had to completely diminish what I had thought I was going to walk into and just start from scratch. So I. Ultimately, I was extremely nervous walking down there. I was definitely uneasy just from the way that my, you know, the last time I was on tv, the way that it all went. So I went in there just with kind of just an open mind and wanted to see the way that some people treated me maybe was going to be different than what other other people did. And Jess was somebody that was just super warm. She also, I know, caught a little bit of hate on her season on the. On the Bachelor as well. So it was something that she was like, hey, you know, don't. Don't sweat any of this stuff right here. Everybody that's here right now does understand this process a little bit. So, you know, they're looking at you as Sam. They want to get to know you for, you know, what you claim to be, not what they, you know, the America thinks you are. So she was somebody that really just, I think, took some nerves away from me, and. And that was something that was really important to me. The timing from me getting to the beach to picking somebody to go on that date was very limited. So I got to talk to three people, and that was it. Ultimately, just went with the person that made me feel the most comfortable in that moment right there, and that was Jess.

[Joe]

Nice. I would say, for our listeners, whoever ends up getting cast at Bachelor in Paradise, if you're listening to this podcast, that is important, you should go into paradise, and whoever you expect to see there, tell yourself that they're not going to be there. And if they.

[Sam]

If.

[Joe]

And if they are, if they are, it's a pleasant surprise. But I think that happens so much on this show where people are like, okay, like, this is how I think it's going to go. Me and this person, like, hit it off on DMs, but I really. I think we're going to be something. And then.

[Sam]

It's a matter, man. It's a. It's a matter of, like, human nature is to try and figure things out. You want to put yourself on a path of success, and the problem is that you can never figure out what the Bachelor production is going to do because they're already five steps ahead of you. So you think that you're on the right path and you have this game plan and then you go down there and Ali Joe isn't there, and my game plan is shot to hell after that.

[Serena]

Yeah, it's this constant fight for trying to, like, control your experience and your journey while simultaneously having no control at all.

[Sam]

Exactly.

[Joe]

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[Serena]

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[Joe]

July? I mean, no, never. Like, I. I like to shop. Actually, I like to shop on Christmas Eve because. Because I find it to be a little more festive.

[Serena]

But you, like, start decorating right after Halloween?

[Joe]

No, after Thanksgiving. Okay, that's different.

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[Joe]

Halloween. No, not Halloween.

[Serena]

You know, I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list and I've checked.

[Joe]

It twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.

[Serena]

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[Joe]

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[Sam]

Who?

[Joe]

Who knew?

[Serena]

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[Joe]

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[Serena]

So Ali Jo, let's jump to you. Obviously Sam didn't work out with Jess. You get sent home. Ali Jo, you hit the beach. You have a sick entrance on that jet ski. You look great. Are you looking for Sam when you hit the beach?

[Ali Jo]

Yeah. So just like to rewind a little bit my experience on the Bachelor. Just like mentally I had like a lot of anxiety behind the scenes. That environment was just like not the best for me. So preparing for a Bachelor in Paradise. I went in with it. Like, such like a great head on my shoulders. I was like really confident in myself. Like before the Bachelor, I had like three weeks to prepare. Like I got asked extremely last minute. This at least I had months to prepare. Mentally, I kind of knew what I was getting into. So when I was told I was going in with the date card on a jet ski, I was like, finally, this is my moment. Like, I feel so good. Like, I really feel like Sam's going to be there. They're doing this on purpose. They know like I want to meet him. Hopefully he like said he wants to meet me, which is how I felt in the moment. So doing this like sick entrance With Parisa, who's my friend, I just felt so good and I was so hopeful. So when I got on the beach and I saw that he wasn't there and I had found out that he had just got sent home, I was really disappointed. But like Sam just said, I also did have an open mind because you guys know, too. You, like, you know, you give up a lot of stuff to prepare for this show. Like, I almost lost my job two times. So I was like, you know what? I'm here, I'm in the moment. I'm going to make the best of this situation. Everything happens for a reason. I would have loved to have met him. But, you know, I'm here and I'm going to make the most of my opportunity. I'm open. Like, that's what dating is about.

[Joe]

And you have to. You have to be when you go on these shows, like, there's a part of you that has to be selfish. Like, you have to be like, hey, like, I'm actually, like, this could go bad. I'm giving up. I'm giving up a lot. Like, I gotta make sure, like, I get what I want or try at least to get what I want.

[Ali Jo]

Absolutely. And like, that's. I feel like exactly what I did. But I just felt like I just was so disappointed. And I also was only there for like, 36 hours, so I really feel like I didn't get, you know, the experience. Like, yes. Do I have Sam? Absolutely. But besides him and like, separating the two, I just felt like, so disappointed and frustrated. But, you know, the 36 hours I was there was cool. They had really good shrimp tacos.

[Serena]

I forgot you guys were having rose ceremonies, like, non stop on this season.

[Ali Jo]

And also it rained every single day while we were. Well, I was only there for like two days, like that. Holding.

[Joe]

Yeah, but I heard it rained a lot.

[Serena]

Costa Rica was a gorgeous setting to film. But that rain.

[Ali Jo]

Never want to go back.

[Serena]

Problem.

[Ali Jo]

I'm never going back.

[Joe]

Sam, you should go back, though. Honestly. We went to Costa Rica.

[Delta SkyMiles Announcer]

We.

[Joe]

We were in Costa Rica last. Last, like New Year's Eve.

[Serena]

Yes.

[Joe]

For like 12 days. And it was.

[Serena]

But it did rain, like the first three days. And I was like, oh, no.

[Joe]

It did. It did.

[Sam]

I love that place.

[Serena]

Yeah, me too.

[Joe]

Okay, so. So you both go on paradise. It doesn't work out the way you want. You have average experiences at best, but you did it. And then how does this come to be?

[Ali Jo]

So I had messaged him again, but, like, how was he to know that, like, you know I had my phone. I was like, I gotta message this guy. And I like, hey, heard you were here a couple hours ago. And this is like, on my way to the airport. And he was like, hey, here's my number. Text me. We started texting. I got back to Florida. He got back to South Carolina from Florida. I went to Jersey because, like, when I tell you guys, I was so upset and I, like, was so distraught over this experience. I, like, literally had to come to Florida, drop my stuff off, pack a new bag, and go to Jersey and be with my family because I was just. I was so upset. So I was really upset. So Sam was there. And it's hard to talk to other people about this, which I'm sure you guys get, because they're not in the same position. They don't understand. So Sam did. And that's kind of when we really just started talking every day. I remember it was like Mother's Day weekend, and I was with my mom and Sam and I were texting.

[Joe]

Okay, so let's talk about the first time you guys met, actually in person. So you guys. So you both get back from paradise and when do you actually meet up and where.

[Ali Jo]

I gave him a shot of whiskey. Yeah.

[Sam]

How long was that? Was that like a month?

[Ali Jo]

Yeah, about a month went by where we were kind of just like talking back and forth. And then he finally booked a trip to Florida and the rest was history. Versus his first trip was early June, mid June.

[Serena]

Were you guys face timing or was this mostly like DMs?

[Sam]

We would FaceTime.

[Serena]

Yeah, we would.

[Sam]

We would FaceTime. I'd like, talked with her and her mom and stuff like that. Obviously, if I'm gonna fly to Florida, then. Then I need to make sure that I'm walking into a situation where I'm not gonna make. I'm not gonna feel uncomfortable. She's not gonna feel uncomfortable. And. And ultimately just seeing if we were compatible, you know, through the. Through FaceTime and just talking and seeing how all that went, seeing if we could keep that connection for a. Seeing each other or meeting each other, if that was possible and if it proved that it was, then, you know, she was definitely worth a trip down there. I was. I wasn't really nervous leading up until the trip until my dad goes. He said, where are you staying down there? And I was like, oh. I'm like. I just assumed that I was gonna stay with her. And I'm like, oh, man. So I'm like sweating bullets. So she picks me up from the airport and we Go back to her house. And, like, in the. It's in the back of my brain, like, if she asked me where I'm staying, I am so fucked. I'm so fucked. And I think I moved a little timidly around her for, like, the entire day. I think also, too, she only knows me from Bachelor. You know what? Bachelor has shown not really me as a person outside of the month that we had spoke. So I don't want to give off any impression that she might have or anything like that. So I moved definitely cautiously around her. And I think she was the one that finally was like, yeah, are we doing this? Are we not doing this? I was like, all right, here we go. Here we go. You know, I can get behind this.

[Joe]

Ali. Joe, were you. When he flew to Florida, were you automatic? Was it, like, automatically, like, he's staying with me?

[Ali Jo]

Like, I, like, didn't know, and, like, I don't have.

[Joe]

You guys should have had you guys. But I don't know how you guys didn't have that Cabo, but.

[Serena]

No, I get it. You're like, I don't want to. You're probably thinking, like, I don't want to be like, so are you staying with me? And, like, give him any assumptions? Or if he's like, no, no, then you're, like, putting yourself out there for ejection. Sam, you're probably feeling the same way.

[Sam]

Like, I didn't even think of it. I'm blaming my dad on this.

[Ali Jo]

This is such a unique experience, too, because, like, I don't like having people here, like, in my apartment, to be honest. But, like, it was just such a unique experience that it was kind of like, okay, but, like, I was like, I can also drop him off at a motel or something down the street if I don't like them.

[Serena]

But truly, like, I think if I was in your shoes, I. Picking him up and we hadn't had the conversation, I'd probably be like, well, let's just see how the first few hours go. And if it's Weir, I'll be like, so, where are you staying? And if it's good, then, you know, we can see where that takes us.

[Joe]

Could you imagine that, though? Could you imagine being Sam and then. And then. And then she hits you after, like, two and a half hours of hanging out. Where are you staying? Yeah, but that's gotta be so deflating.

[Serena]

If it's going bad, right?

[Ali Jo]

Live in a place that people vacation. But my. I wasn't nervous about this because I kind of had a good feeling about, like, the flow of our conversations before we met in person. But something that, like, was always on my mind is that I don't want a relationship in our conversations just because we have this in common to be about the Bachelor, like, there needs to be something else, because in previous, like, relationships or dating things, like dating guys before, like the gym, for instance, they'll talk to me about the gym and, like, their diet, and I'm like, that's great. Like, I don't care. Like, there's got to be more. So right off the jump, like, we had so much to talk about. We had so many things that we had in common and so many things that we definitely didn't have in common. So it was really nice to know that, like, our relationship didn't just start because of this, you know, thing that we got kicked off of A Paradise. Like, it was more than that.

[Serena]

Yes, totally.

[Joe]

Do you think. Do you think you guys. If you. If neither of you were on the show and you met, you would have hit it off the same way?

[Ali Jo]

Yeah, I think so.

[Delta SkyMiles Announcer]

Yeah.

[Sam]

I mean, I would have walked up. I would have walked up to you, that's for sure. So, yeah, I think so. I think it was just something. It was such a good, like, icebreaker is really, I think, the best way that I could put it. It's something that no matter, you know, if you haven't walked through the process of this show, then you will never understand it. I've tried to explain it to my parents, and it. And it's so difficult to see anything past that. Hey, this is just a reality dating show. The emotion that we all experience on this show is left only there, not, you know, the. The eyes of America can't really fathom it. So for me, it was just a. It was a really easy icebreaker with her. Her experience, obviously, coming from paradise, she definitely had a lot to say, and there was a lot to talk about, so there's always something there to fall back on. But also too, like, she's just the easiest person, really, to talk to. She's straightforward, pretty blunt. I would consider myself the same way. Just kind of, you know, it mentality. And that's just how we move. And if you don't like it, it's totally okay. And if you do, then great. So knowing that she moves, you know, she walks through life in a very similar fashion, just made it very easy to see that, hey, whatever I saw is what I was going to get. And. And I liked everything that. That I saw and continue to see.

[Serena]

So after that first meeting, I don't know how many days it was. You guys go your separate ways.

[Joe]

I would call it a date meeting. Sounds.

[Ali Jo]

It was a weekend.

[Serena]

Oh, yeah. Longer than a day.

[Sam]

I was like, wait, what meeting?

[Ali Jo]

It's the longest first date ever. He ended up extending his flight, too. He was supposed to come from like, a Friday to Sunday. And on Sunday, he's like, I think I'm gonna stay. And I was like, okay, okay, get out of here.

[Sam]

Don't. Don't freaking nonchalant me saying that right there. That's ridiculous. No, I've never. I've never extended a flight. But we were having so much fun. And also too, like, whenever I was booking my flight, the same thing. I didn't want to be in a place for too long and her feel uncomfortable or me feel uncomfortable. So I didn't want to push my, you know, push the limits at all. And then Sunday came around, and we were having a blast doing Sunday Funday. And I thought, shit, I don't want to go home right now. Let's. Let's see if we can move this flight. And we did.

[Ali Jo]

And yeah, it was good.

[Sam]

Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

[Serena]

Okay, so question. Are you one of those people that starts your holiday shopping in like, July?

[Joe]

July? I mean, no, never. Like, I like to shop, actually. I like to shop on Christmas Eve because I find it to be a little more festive.

[Serena]

But you like to start decorating right after Halloween?

[Joe]

No, after Thanksgiving. Okay, that's different. That's different. Halloween. No, not Halloween.

[Serena]

You know, I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list, and I've checked.

[Joe]

It twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.

[Serena]

I can't help it, you know, I love finding the perfect gifts for everyone. And Walmart has all the top brands. Nespresso, Sonos, Nintendo.

[Joe]

Nintendo at Walmart. Who knew?

[Serena]

I know. And more. All of your shopping in one place.

[Joe]

How much more shopping? Oh, boy.

[Serena]

Just saying. Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts.

[Delta SkyMiles Announcer]

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[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Life, timing is everything. You can have the right talent, the right mindset, even the right team. But if you don't act at the right moment, the opportunity slips away. That's true on the field, and it's true when it comes to your health. If you or someone you care about is facing metastatic prostate cancer, there's a treatment called plavicto lutetium Lu177 vapivotide tetraxitan it's not chemotherapy. It works differently by targeting PSMA positive cells, including prostate cancer cells. Pluvicto is a prescription treatment used to treat adults with prostate specific membrane antigen positive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer or PSMA positive MCRPC who have already been treated with hormone therapy and are considered appropriate to delay chemotherapy. Pluvicto involves contact with radioactivity, which may increase the risk for cancer and cause fetal harm. Patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids, urinate often, use contraception and talk to their doctor about how to reduce the risk of exposing others to radiation during and after treatment. It can also cause low levels of blood cell counts, kidney problems and infertility. If you experience weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, bleeding or bruising more easily, an infection or changes in urination, talk to your doctor. Side effects include decreased blood cell counts, tiredness, dry mouth, nausea, appetite loss, joint or back pain and constipation. Here's the bottom line. This isn't just about treatment. It's about making the most of the time. You have time to be with the people who matter. Time to keep showing up for the moments that count. So if you or someone you love is in this fight, ask your doctor about Plu Victo. Because in sports and in life, the best players don't just react. They anticipate. They prepare. They act. Visit pluvicto.com to learn more. That's P L-U V-I C T O.com.

[Joe]

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[Serena]

So when you leave, are you guys officially boyfriend and girlfriend? No.

[Joe]

Yeah. When did that happen?

[Ali Jo]

That happened the third time actually, that we hung out. But here's the thing too, like, and I'm sure you guys can relate and other people can relate. Like being with somebody consecutive days in a row is like going on like five dates. So like by the time we hung out the third time, that could have been like, like the 15th date by then. But yeah, the second time we hung out, I flew to South Carolina and I met like his entire family. And there was a lot of people in his family, friends, everybody. Like, we weren't even really alone. Like, I was in the weeds with his family. But it was great and I feel like it was. He even said he's like, it's like a test. And I, I fully respect that because if I'm dating somebody, I need my family's approval and he's the same way. So I think once he saw me kind of like fit in or how do I fit in with his family, then it was my turn to see how he could fit in with my family. And then we would go from there and, you know, you, you. I feel like in these types of relationships, long distance especially, like, you do these things sooner rather than later. And plus, I don't even live in the same state as my family. So the timing, the timing was just crazy how it worked out for us all to basically meet.

[Joe]

And what's, what is the, how does this look moving forward now? You, you're Ellie. Joe, you're still in Florida. Sam, you're in Charleston, right? Or South Carolina.

[Sam]

South Carolina.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Okay.

[Ali Jo]

Charleston.

[Joe]

What is, is there, is there a plan yet?

[Ali Jo]

We talk about it really often. I still have my lease.

[Joe]

What part of Florida? What part of Florida are you?

[Ali Jo]

I'm in Fort Lauderdale.

[Joe]

Okay.

[Ali Jo]

See, this is why I needed the show Bachelor in Paradise to win the money. And I could have just broke my lease together since. But no, I think by, you know, 2026, we'll have a lot in store for, for us.

[Sam]

Yeah. I think whenever her lease ends, I own my house here in South Carolina. I think the long goal is to live in Florida. I was just there this past weekend and I'm not going to lie, it was really tough to be in the, you know, 80 degree weather. And then by the time I landed in South Carolina at 10 o' clock at night, it was 25 degrees. I forgot to drip my faucet and my water froze. So I'm like, dude, I do not want to be here anymore. So long goal is to be in Florida. But I think the short term goal is to. She'll probably make her way to South Carolina for a little bit. We'll live together, save some money, and then go buy a home that we can kind of both see ourselves living in, raising a family. And down in. Down in Florida.

[Joe]

What. How far of a drive is it?

[Sam]

Like 10 hours.

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

Oh, really?

[Joe]

It's that I. For some reason, I thought it was a lot closer.

[Ali Jo]

Yeah. My sister said the same thing the other day.

[Joe]

Yeah, I was like, South Carolina to Florida, like, you're right there.

[Sam]

It's only five hours to Jacksonville. But when you get into, like, the southern part of Florida. Yeah. Is down there.

[Joe]

Yeah. Florida's a big.

[Ali Jo]

That's another thing we also said too, like, if he was to live probably in any other state, this wouldn't work. Like, the flight's an hour and a half. Same. You know, we're on the East Coast. Even if he was at. Let's say he. I was in Florida and he was in Jersey, to me, that's even too far. Like, we're right. I feel like where we need to be at least to make long distance work.

[Serena]

Yeah. How have you guys been doing that? What's. What are the hacks? What are the tips to make this work long distance?

[Ali Jo]

We see each other basically every other weekend past time we have it. And that felt really long. But just like, planning things that, like, we're excited to, like, do together. Like, we always have something to look forward to. It's definitely off, I'm not going to lie. But, you know, it's really worth it to us. So.

[Sam]

Yeah, it's just being intentional. It's being intentional with, I think, all of your conversations and stuff. And obviously there's days where, you know, the depth of some. It. The depth of some certain conversations from an outsider's perspective can be shallow or deep. But to her and I, whenever the, you know, you can feel the emotion behind the words that you put out, whether it's, how was your day? Or if it's something that's, you know, a little bit more deep. As long as the intention is there with the, you know, just, hey, this person means everything to me, then. Then, yeah, it's kind of. It's kind of easy to maneuver through. The. Not seeing each other is definitely difficult. The. But the communication aspect of it. She's a good communicator. I'm working on it. But yeah, I mean, it's. It's one of those things. It's really not as bad whenever the person means as much to you as what Ali Joad means to me.

[Serena]

What are your horoscope signs?

[Ali Jo]

I'm a Scorpio.

[Sam]

Yeah. I'm a Capricorn, I think.

[Joe]

What month were you born?

[Liberty Mutual Announcer]

January.

[Sam]

January 14th.

[Joe]

What's January?

[Serena]

January is Capricorn, and I think you're bordering on Aquarius.

[Sam]

Yeah.

[Joe]

I don't know what any.

[Sam]

I don't.

[Joe]

I don't. I don't.

[Ali Jo]

I just.

[Joe]

Yeah. Okay.

[Delta SkyMiles Announcer]

Before.

[Joe]

Before we let you guys go. Sam, it's been announced that you were casted on the Home Improvement Bachelor Home Reno show. Were you surprised by that? How did it go? What can you tell us without spoiling it?

[Sam]

Yeah. Yeah. I was definitely shocked. I think anytime I get a phone call from California, I'm like, oh, gosh, what if I.

[Joe]

You keep getting calls.

[Delta SkyMiles Announcer]

I mean.

[Joe]

I mean, listen, like, hey, this is. This is your third time, so in, like, a year. Yeah.

[Sam]

Seriously? Yeah. And it's still the same shock. Every time I get off the phone, I'm like, these people, they can't stand me, and then they keep calling me. So I was shocked. But I was also relieved to hear that it wasn't a reality dating show. It was just more of a, you know, a renovation show. So it was. It was neat because that's definitely, obviously more of my wheelhouse. So it was a lot of fun. Honestly. It was cool to get there, and I'm probably allowed to talk about other people that are on the show. Noah Erb was on the show, so it was cool because I had met Noah previously.

[Joe]

Oh, his brother. Yeah.

[Sam]

Well, Aaron was on the show, so. Aaron was my roommate. He was my first roommate in Australia, so I got to know him. He's a twin. They live in Oklahoma. My dad is from Oklahoma. So actually, the last time I went there, right after the show, before the Bachelorette had aired, I was in Oklahoma, and I stopped and I saw Noah and Abby and whatnot. So it was cool to catch up with them. And then to walk into the house and. And see Noah there, I was like, oh, well, this is awesome right here. You know, I'm already friends with this guy, so it was definitely a sense of relief. And then, yeah, the whole process of it was not what I was expecting, I think, in a really good way. I had so much fun, and definitely the. The most enjoyable time I've had being a part of being a part of a show, to say the least.

[Serena]

That's awesome.

[Ali Jo]

When they called him. Oh, sorry.

[Lily Medicine Company Representative]

Yeah.

[Joe]

Were you. Were you worried? Were you worried at all? Because it is still Bachelor, right? And you guys are dating. And now he's. He's going on a bachelor show that's supposedly about home improvement. You never fucking know.

[Ali Jo]

You never know. He. I remember he called me and he was like, I don't know if I should do it. And I was like, you need to do this. This is such a great opportunity. Like, this is literally what you do for a living. Like, put yourself out there. You, first of all, never know what opportunities are going to come from it. Like, this is literally what you do for a living. So I just thought from, like, a business standpoint, regardless, that he should just go and. Yeah, it was, like, early on when we first started dating, and we didn't know how long we would be apart from each other, but I was so excited for him. I was like, you gotta go. You gotta go. I was like, I wanna. How come no one's asking me what am I gonna do there?

[Serena]

Can you tell us a little bit, Sam, just, like, your experience, what you do for people that maybe don't know and, like, how it. You felt like it was gonna help you in this competition?

[Sam]

Yeah. So I am a residential contractor back home. So one thing. It's the only job I've ever had my entire life. So being. I think having the knowledge to be able to build a home from the ground up is a big plus. Also, just the. The vision that you have to have in. In my field is you have to be able to see the finished product before you ever start, and that can be challenging. So I felt pretty confident going into a show like that where we had to really put our skill set out on the table. Not just. Not just building things, but being able to actually design things, having to see. See an image and then bring it to life. So I think me doing that for as long as I have and then going out there, I knew that I would be. Or I assumed that I would be in pretty good shape. I didn't know who all was going to be out there. And. And, yeah, everybody brought a different skill set to the table. I think I've just been very fortunate to have a pretty good teacher back here that has taught me so many different aspects to this field. And. And then just being able to go onto that show, all of them just. It put my mind at ease a little bit.

[Serena]

Well, we're really excited to watch. Maybe you and Noah will be the next property brothers. Who knows if there's a physical bachelor competition, Ali Jo, we got to get you on it.

[Ali Jo]

I'll be like, I'll be the new Jesse Palmer.

[Joe]

There you go. Thank you both so much for coming on and talking to us and hope you guys both enjoy your holidays.

[Sam]

Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah. You guys have a Merry Christmas and a good new Year.

[Joe]

Thank you. Thank you. And to our listeners, thank you guys so much for tuning in the Bachelor Happy Hour. Make sure you download and subscribe to the podcast.

[Serena]

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

[Joe]

Ever been at a pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks any questions? That's why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia starting January 14th. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, each episode features real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most, breaking down the questions you wish you'd asked from which meds may not mix well to what vaccines you need before a big trip. They'll bust myths, decode trends, and share practical advice you can actually use. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sophie Cunningham]

We know no one's journey is the same. That's why Delta SkyMiles moves with you. From earning miles on reloads for coffee runs, shopping and things you do every day to connecting you to new experiences. A SkyMiles membership fits into your lifestyle, letting you do more of what makes you you. It's more than travel. It's the membership that flies, dines, streams, rides and arrives with you. Because when you have a membership that's as unique as you are, there's no telling where your journey will take you next. Learn [e-mail] SkyMiles this is Sophie Cunningham.

[Lily Medicine Company Representative]

From Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or osa, in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep on OSA.com this information is provided by Lily, a medicine company.

[Serena]

I consider myself to be a pretty good gift giver. I've got my list.

[Joe]

Checked it twice, probably three times. She takes the holidays very seriously.

[Serena]

I can't help it, you know. I love finding the perfect gifts and Walmart has all the top brands Nespresso.

[Joe]

Sonos, Nintendo, Nintendo at Walmart, who knew?

[Serena]

I know. And more.

[Joe]

Get all the brands everyone loves at Walmart. Head to Walmart.com or download the Walmart app to get all your gifts this season.

[Sam]

Honestly, Honestly, Honestly.

[HIV Prevention Announcer]

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[Sophie Cunningham]

Sponsored by Gilead, this is an I Heart podcast.

[Sam]

Guaranteed human.