Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour
Episode: Susie Soft-Launches Her New Man!
Date: February 18, 2026
Hosts: (Likely) Kathy, Susan
Guest: Susie Evans (Bachelor alum, Season 10 of Paradise)
Episode Overview
This lively episode of Bachelor Happy Hour’s “Golden Hour” welcomes Susie Evans for a candid, warm, and often hilarious conversation. The spotlight is on Susie’s bold new dating adventure (yes, it’s a “soft launch” of her new romance!), navigating influencer and media life, fertility decisions, friendship boundaries with Bachelor exes, plus empowering advice for women and Bachelor newbies alike.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Susie’s Current Life & Career Moves
Red Carpet & Hosting Ambitions
- Susie describes stepping into red carpet interviews and hosting as “testing her boundaries and limits,” admitting she’s not a natural pop culture guru but enjoys being “curious”.
- Memorable moment: She loved interviewing the Bachelor Happy Hour hosts at the “Golden Brunch.”
- Quote: “I think it’s more just about being curious. And so, yeah, it’s been really fun to kind of step into red carpet interviews.” (05:17)
Influencer Partnerships & Staying Authentic
- Susie is selective with brand partnerships, highlighting transparency as key:
- Quote: “I am not in the business of lying or making claims that aren’t accurate.” (06:33)
- Her favorite collabs? Zenny Optical (“it’s glasses!”), and Ipsy, both because they let her be as creative as she wants:
- Quote: “They don’t give me any kind of box to put me in... we trust you. Do something fun.” (08:23)
Navigating Criticism Online
- She notes the fickle nature of public opinion, scrolling through messages from people who have “loved then hated” her within months.
- Quote: “Humans are imperfect, and you can’t take it too personal.” (09:13)
2. Susie’s Relationship "Soft Launch"
How She Met “Cutie” [11:16–16:33]
- Susie is dating a new man—a “cute, thoughtful” attorney who’s a little older than her (but “close in age”).
- The adorable “origin story”: After being ditched mid-date by one guy, she DM’d her now-boyfriend via Hinge asking to grab a drink. The first fella reappeared, causing a double-booking scramble, but she ultimately FaceTimed “Cutie” (after three martinis!) to explain.
- Quote: “I was out on a date with another guy. He ditched me and I slid into this guy’s DMs... And then the first guy comes back... so now I have two guys coming to meet me.” (12:41–13:17)
Early Relationship Vibes
- They met at the end of November (before the holidays)—first date involved ugly Christmas sweaters and TopGolf.
- “He looks like just a cutie pie, you know?” (12:21)
- He lives in the South Bay area of LA, they’ve been “going out on dates and seeing each other. He’s great.” (16:36)
Did He Know Who She Was? [29:10–30:08]
- He had “an inkling," found out early, and has since watched her Bachelor hometown date and intro package with her.
3. Revisiting Life After Bachelor Nation
Boundaries With Exes
- On her current relationship with Bachelor ex Justin:
- Quote: “We know that we have love for each other, but we do not keep up... I think it was too hard, yeah.” (17:22)
Return to Reality TV? [10:32–10:50]
- “100% I would return to reality TV,” but “I hope I don’t have a need to go back on a dating show ever again.”
4. Fertility & Empowerment
Egg Freezing Journey [24:35–28:29]
- Susie planned to freeze her eggs in Sept. last year, faced logistical delays, but now is going through a Chicago clinic and is “excited.”
- “It takes a lot of pressure off... figuring out the time.” (25:54)
- She’s motivated by independence and wanting to avoid “settling down with the wrong person.”
- Quote: “I make my own money... I don’t want to be with somebody unless we’re both mutually adding to great stuff.” (28:16)
5. Career Growth & Creative Projects
Hosting & Media Aspirations [32:00–33:53]
- Susie wants to pursue more hosting—red carpets, interviews, maybe even hosting a TV show. She’s open to game shows, but feels drawn to being a host who “leads the progression of whatever the show is.”
- Quote: “Why am I not pursuing this anyways?... I would so go back on a fun game show, but I also would be so down just to host a show and be the person that’s bringing people in...” (32:55)
YouTube Life & Book Club [39:47–41:01]
- She’s been enjoying creating YouTube content, has started a book club (“The Future Saints” is up next).
6. Relationship & Dating Advice
For Single Women: [41:15–42:39]
- “Be proactive. I think a lot of people say, oh, you find it when you’re not looking... But honestly, I was really proactively dating... I was the first person to reach out.”
- “If you don’t ask me out in the first three or four exchanges, I’m probably gonna move on because somebody else will—or I will.”
- “Don’t be afraid to be proactive...Take all the things you apply to your work ethic...and apply it to dating.” (41:15)
For Bachelor Contestants: [44:04–45:16]
- “Be 100% yourself, because people are going to love you and they’re going to hate you regardless, so you may as well get loved and hated for being yourself rather than something else.”
- Susie recounts being true to herself, even packing three suitcases and leaving Paradise after one day, rather than “just staying” for perks.
Favorite “Cutie” Date So Far [45:52–48:03]
- TopGolf in ugly sweaters, walking neighborhoods to see Christmas lights with hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps, visiting LA’s Magic Castle on a double date (“some of the most incredible magic you will experience”), cooking together, meeting each other’s families and friends (“they are, like, literally the best people. They’re such, like, kind, welcoming, good humans”).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I was the first one to DM him on the app, the first to ask him out, and then I also FaceTimed him... I was excited to meet this guy. Go get her.” – Susie Evans (16:17)
- “I want to be with somebody unless we’re both bringing... Mutually adding to... great stuff... and we should both feel that way.” – Susie (28:16)
- “Relationships... it’s not work, you’re just enjoying. And that’s what it’s about.” – Host (49:07)
- “Be 100% yourself, because people are going to love you and they're going to hate you regardless, so... get loved and hated for being yourself rather than something else.” – Susie (44:10)
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Susie joins and life updates: 03:57–08:23
- Brand deals, social authenticity: 06:14–09:02
- Navigating criticism: 09:03–09:52
- Reality TV return & soft-launching "Cutie": 10:32–16:40
- Dating story extravaganza: 11:16–16:33
- Boundaries with exes: 17:12–17:49
- Egg freezing and fertility reflections: 24:35–28:29
- Empowering relationship and career philosophy: 27:40–28:29
- Hosting dreams & book club: 32:00–41:01
- Advice for women and Bachelor contestants: 41:15–45:16
- Favorite dates and meeting families: 45:52–48:03
Final Thoughts
This episode is a heartfelt blend of fun, vulnerability, and inspiring advice. Susie beautifully demonstrates the power of authenticity—whether navigating the influencer world, starting new relationships, or making empowered life choices. The “soft launch” of her new romance is as real as it gets, her professional ambitions continue to blossom, and her take-charge dating approach is a model of modern, empowered womanhood.
For more details or to join Susie’s book club, follow her on YouTube and Instagram!