Pod Meets Twirl'd: Married at First Sight 2001

Summary

Podcast Summary: Pod Meets Twirl'd – Married at First Sight 2001

Podcast: Pod Meets World (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Pod Meets Twirl’d: Married at First Sight 2001
Date: July 18, 2026
Hosts: Ryder Strong & Will Friedle

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Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a new series on “Pod Meets Twirl’d,” with hosts Ryder Strong and Will Friedle diving into the social experiment reality show “Married at First Sight,” Season 20. The hosts, blending their signature humor and personal reflections, rewatch and dissect the show’s concept—strangers marrying blind at the altar and exploring the intricacies of matchmaking, love, personality, and relationships. Both hosts approach the topic from their own romantic philosophies, drawing on personal experience and “Boy Meets World” nostalgia, with a sharp focus on the ethics and realities of reality TV love.

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Key Topics & Insights

1. Why “Married at First Sight”?

• Genesis of the Episode: The idea was sparked when Ryder made an offhand comment about arranged marriage not being “the worst idea,” prompting the producers to have them watch the show. Will is a fan; Ryder is a first-timer.
• Matchmaking vs. Modern Dating: The hosts compare arranged marriage to contemporary dating apps and the delusions people have about compatibility.

“I bet you there’s a ton of people that are like, I don’t want to deal with [apps]. I would love to have a tribunal of people go pick my [partner].” – Will (06:23)

2. Dating Instinct vs. Rational Compatibility

• Ryder’s Perspective: Romantic compatibility is more instinctual than people admit.

  “I think, you know within 30 seconds whether you will ever, ever be able to kiss a person, have a relationship with them…Humans are so delusional. We want to convince ourselves we’re in control when we’re really not.” (06:45)

• Will’s Take: There’s value in having outsiders provide perspective on what you really need, versus what you think you want.

3. The Show’s Experts—Skepticism & Credibility

• The hosts question the matchmaking experts’ credentials—life coaches, sex therapists—and joke about the vague qualifications.
• Success rates are discussed: Only about 18% of couples stay together, leading both hosts to question how effective the “expert” process really is.

“If you come out of the doctor with an 18% chance to live, you’re writing your will that day.” – Will (18:56)

4. Casting & The TV Element

• Almost all participants are young, fit, and attractive, regardless of their claimed dating woes.

“Aren’t the vast majority of people that look like this the people that get matched on these apps anyway, because they’re good looking, they’re successful?” – Will (20:17)

• Ryder and Will fantasize about a version featuring more “average” people (“Married at First Sight: Uggo Edition”).

5. Introducing the Cast: First Impressions (41:00–47:00)

• Adam: Tech guy, “rips jet skis,” very disciplined, controlling personality.
• Marissa: Loves love, wedding veteran, dog lover, complicated family history.
• Felipe: Brazilian, runs an Italian restaurant (brings dates there), charismatic, “moves and shakes.”
• Tori: Self-described “spray tanned little gremlin,” nervous, family drama, fears her match will run away.
• Bel Jolie: Artistic, multi-hyphenate (singer, dancer, makeup artist)—wants a “leading man.”
• Mecca: Clean toilets (family biz), model, charismatic, complex family story.

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Couple Deep Dives & Dynamics

Adam & Marissa (25:00–33:39, 62:55–65:51)

• Red Flags: Adam appears “very controlled”—likely “controlling.” Fixated on discipline, calorie-counting for others, and “training” partners.
• Adam’s family is absent at his wedding, which the hosts attribute to his personality and upbringing (“I think not only has he done well in business, but I think he grew up with money…and they’re like, we’re not gonna be able to…” Will, 30:15).
• Marissa loves dogs but is allergic to cats—and Adam has a huge cat; she’s also into social drinking, while Adam completely abstains.
• Gift Exchange: Adam gifts her pickleball equipment, jet ski goggles, and a kill switch (“Worst gift package for your first [meeting] ever.” – Will, 31:08). Marissa gifts a journal, which Adam shrugs at as “not his thing.”
• Host Prediction: Both call it—total mismatch. “It’s never going to work.” (68:32)

Notable Moment:

“Watching him reveal himself throughout the course of this episode was fascinating…” – Ryder (26:21)
“Adam needs a spouse because he’s so in love with himself.” – Will (13:33)

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Felipe & Tori (34:01–37:01, 56:13–58:33)

• Instant Connection: Both love family chaos, are extroverted, and value strong family ties.
• Hosts note Felipe’s restaurant host style—always making others feel at ease. Tori is anxious her spouse will “run away,” a recurring, literal worry.
• Wedding Scene: Great chemistry, warmth, laughter, mutual attraction recognized by both.
• Host Prediction: The strongest couple so far. “I think they got this one right.” (36:56)

Notable Moment:

"I will probably try to win [arguments], but I will get you the best table in the house and the dessert that you want.” – Felipe (57:08)

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Bel Jolie & Mecca (42:29–47:47, 58:40–62:19)

• Superficial Match?: Both have creative sides and broken home backgrounds, but significant lifestyle differences.
• Bel Jolie seeks ambition and artistry. Mecca’s family cleaning business doesn’t align with her desires for an “artistic” partner.
• Mecca is charismatic, asserts he’s model-material, but is “trying too hard” and performs for the cameras, per Will.
• Wedding Scene: She refuses a kiss on the lips, dad’s comments (“If she gives you the cheek, it’s weak. If she gives you the tongue, sprung.” – 59:32) create loaded expectations.

Host Prediction:

• Skepticism abounds; both like the individuals, but doubt the pairing will succeed. “Probably not going to work.” (68:41)

Notable Moment:

“One of the things we loved about each other from right away…neither of us had to change the person we are to be with the other person.” – Will (48:25)

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Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Modern Dating:

  “We all are so delusional…We rationalize whatever decision we kind of, like, make.” – Ryder (07:04)

• On “Expertise” in Matchmaking:

  “What does it take to be an expert? … He’s certified a life coach and trained under prominent matchmaking experts. What does that mean?” – Will (19:10)

• On Reality TV Casting:

  “If you’re still doing shots in your 30s, you need to look at yourself a little bit. That’s just my opinion.” – Will (14:56)

• Dad’s Kissing Advice:

  “If she gives you the cheek, it’s weak. If she gives you the tongue, sprung.” – Mecca’s Dad (59:32) “He’s really just set his son up for not a great situation.” – Ryder (59:33)

• On Self-Image:

  “Gentleman scholar. Six-five, by the way.” – Adam bragging (64:15)

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Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• Opening Thoughts/Background (01:39–08:15)
• The Mechanics & Odds of Arranged Marriage (15:04–19:37)
• Discussion of Contestants (41:00–47:00)
• Detailed Couple Analysis
  • Adam & Marissa: (25:00–33:39; 62:55–65:51)
  • Felipe & Tori: (34:01–37:01; 56:13–58:33)
  • Bel Jolie & Mecca: (42:29–47:47; 58:40–62:19)
• Weddings & First Meetings (56:00–68:32)
• What an Arrangement! – Historical Arranged Marriages (Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI) (69:11–70:31)
• Predictions for the Season (68:32–69:11)

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and insightful.
• Engaging banter, personal anecdotes, and genuine curiosity underlie critiques of the experiment and its participants.

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Final Thoughts & Predictions

• Adam & Marissa: “Never going to work.” (68:37)
• Mecca & Bel Jolie: Unlikely but “the couple you don’t think have a chance” sometimes last.
• Felipe & Tori: Most promising; possible season standouts.
• Matchmaking Skepticism: Both hosts are entertained but deeply suspicious of reality TV’s promise to generate lasting marriages. Expert credentials and TV casting choices are met with skepticism and wit.

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For listeners: This episode offers a satisfying blend of sharp observations, dating wisdom (and wariness), and plenty of laughs. Whether you're new to "Married at First Sight," a documentary-minded skeptic, or a fan of reality TV love stories, Ryder and Will’s breakdown has something for you.

Transcript

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

lights on, trust the techs with the training. That's us 270 hours with zero complaining. They train under the hood. They train down in the pit. 270 hours means there training's legit. It's the smart choice for smart folk who care for their steed. So trust the instant oil change that starts with Valvoline. Valvoline Instant Oil Change Change wisely. Welcome to Pod meets Twirled, a podcast that began with D dancing with the Stars, wandered through castles, survived beaches, and spent an entire season debating the social hierarchy of cocktail parties. And along the way, Will and I riffed on what I thought was an entirely hypothetical observation. Maybe arranged marriage isn't the worst idea. Well, apparently our producers were listening, so now we're watching Married at first sight, season 20, a show where complete strangers meet at the altar, say I do, and only then begin the awkward process of discovering whether they have anything whatsoever in common. We are Will Friedle, who loves love and believes marriage should be about the marriage, not the wedding, and Ryder Strong, who also loves love and made one observation about arranged marriage and is now being Forced to defend it for an entire television season. Join us as experts, therapists, family members, and complete strangers all attempt the oldest social experiment in human history with. With confessionals. This is pod meets Twirled. All or nothing. How's it going, Will?

[Will Friedle]

I'm good, Ryder. How are you doing?

[Ryder Strong]

You're excited to be moving out of the city, aren't you?

[Will Friedle]

Oh, my God. I have my bags packed, and I will jump right into an arranged marriage to get the hell out of the city.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. I had no idea that when we riffed on this and we said, like, whoosh, there should be a thing where there's a panel of people that pay. This exists, and this show exists. You have watched the show before. I had never even heard of this show. It makes sense that the show exists. I am so on board with it. But tell me your history. What's your history with Married at First Sight?

[Will Friedle]

I started sue, and I. I think, found it during the pandemic, maybe, or.

[Ryder Strong]

How long has it been? So 20 seasons.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Like, Jesus.

[Will Friedle]

I think so. But, you know, they do two or three a year kind of thing. It's only been around for four or five years, I think.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, okay.

[Will Friedle]

Okay is my guess.

[Ryder Strong]

So this came out around.

[Will Friedle]

I started watching at the beginning.

[Ryder Strong]

So this came out around the same time as Love is Blind on Netflix.

[Will Friedle]

This was first.

[Ryder Strong]

This was first. This was first. Because I have seen Love is Blind for whatever reason. My son got really into it last year, and right around the time that one guy quoted Topanga without giving. I mean, quoted Cory and Topanga without giving them credit. Yeah, whatever. That. That we were watching it around that. Indy got really into it, and I didn't really like that show that much. This seems like a better version.

[Will Friedle]

Way better than Love is Blind. This is way, way better to me than Love.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, so you and your wife started watching.

[Will Friedle]

It's been on television in the US for 12 years. Married at First Sight has been on. Okay, so, yeah. But I believe we didn't start right at the beginning. Maybe we did again. I haven't seen them all. We weren't one of those people where it's like, ooh, married at first sight. But we've definitely done probably five or six seasons of this show.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And there's some of them where I think, like, legit. The people are still together and have kids and every other thing.

[Ryder Strong]

So it's fascinating, man. I'm so curious. I'm so excited to see it because it's like, you know, coming from the Bravo verse, coming from in the city, which was, you know, the sense, like, the judgment.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Right.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, the process of judging, which we talked about, is, like, part of the fun. Right. You're getting into the gossip, you're kind of judging. You're comparing yourself to the people on screen. It was all sort of, you know, intentionally superficial. Like, the point is, like, it's not really that big of a deal. The drama, the stakes are low. In this case, it's fascinating. Like, I am so curious how. Because, you know, not only are the people themselves weighing in on, like, what they're looking for in a partner, what they think about love, and we're getting to see that play out, whether what they're saying matches their actions and their behavior. We also have this, like, these experts weighing in and making the matchmaking decisions.

[Will Friedle]

And, like, I'm.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm really curious about some of their choices. Like, I'm. I don't know if I agree with them. Is it always the same two people or.

[Will Friedle]

Well, no, these. So they might have been on for a few seasons. These were not the ones I knew. The ones that I knew. There was literally a woman. Her name was Dr. Pepper. So that's not even a joke. Dr. Pepper was on for a long time, and then there was a. A pastor who was the other one. So there's, like, a spiritual side to it as well. And I actually sat next to him on a plane once.

[Ryder Strong]

No way.

[Will Friedle]

I did. I didn't want to. I was like, I don't want to bother him on the plane, but I literally sat next to him on a flight once. The guy. The guy from. But no, there. It's. It's super interesting. I'd love to know all the criteria. They go over it a little bit, but I'm sure they go very much in depth. But I have to imagine from everything I've heard about the dating culture nowadays, of everything, everybody meeting online, they're all dating apps. People are lying. It's terrible. I bet you there's a ton of people that are like, I don't want. I don't want to deal with it. I would love to have a tribunal of people go pick my. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I imagine that's. That, to me, is no weirder than all the dating. That. With the apps and everything.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, Well, I think the problem with the apps is that, like, if they operate on this assumption that you can, like, explicate your likes and dislikes and. And that those that aligning with another person, like, oh, we listen to the same music, we watch the same TV shows, we do the same activities that, that is like what makes a good relationship or makes love. And I think it can, it helps. I definitely do not think it's. That's true. Like, I actually have. I'm on the line now. I'm like the speed dating model, which again is opposite of this show. I think, you know within 30 seconds whether you will ever, ever be able to kiss a person, have a relationship with them. And I think it's way more instinctual than we want to believe. Like, you know, I would love to intellectualize and say, like, I love my wife for xyz and I do, but I don't think that's like the real reason. Like the real reason, for whatever reason, my wife and I, at some point we just connected and we rationalize the parts that don't work. Do you know what I mean? Like, I feel like we all are so delusional. I think humans are so delusional, like, fundamentally, and we want to convince ourselves we're in control when we're really not. Like, I think we're just animals and I think it's so instinctual. And I think we rationalize whatever decision we kind of like make.

[Will Friedle]

Well, we also lie to ourselves all the time.

[Ryder Strong]

So much so it's.

[Will Friedle]

The problem is you're on a dating site or whatever and you might think you're being honest with what you want, or you might think you know yourself well enough, but at the end of the day, a bunch of other people looking at you going like, okay, it's interesting you said that to me, but I don't believe that for a second.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Is probably going to be more beneficial than you trying to self actualize what you're looking for in a partner.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

And so there is something to. I mean, I always. It's a weird correlation, but my voiceover auditions, I. If I am left to my own devices and I do a voiceover audition in my booth by myself, I do two takes and I'm like, I'm the man. And I walk out.

[Ryder Strong]

So good.

[Will Friedle]

I'm great at this. Whereas when I have a booth director and somebody knows what they're doing, they'll be like, what the hell was that take? And they're right. And so it is. It's one of those things where occasionally you need somebody just going, you're not as awesome as you think. You're also maybe not as crappy as you think.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

And so you need somebody there kind of going, no, this is. Maybe we need to look at this or Maybe you do, or maybe it seems like what you said was this, but it sounds like you're really looking for this and we're going to try this because Obviously you're now 35, you've never had a steady relationship, so what you're doing isn't working. So let me give it a shot and see what happens. And part of me is like, brilliant, brilliant.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

I know, man.

[Will Friedle]

Take it out of my hands.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I mean, I would totally love that advice too, I think, but I don't know if it's good. I just don't know if it works. I don't know if it matters. Even after this one episode, we've only done seen three couples, and I think it's a complete roll of the dice, honestly.

[Will Friedle]

Well, there's some of them where I think. I don't think it's a roll of the dice at all. I think it's doomed. I think it's doomed from the start.

[Ryder Strong]

God, I'm so curious.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, well, okay, so the show begins with a preview of the entire season. I skipped this. I did not want to watch this.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't want spoilers, man. I also don't want to be teased with like, Mr. X. I hate trailers. I hate. I used to love trailers when I was a kid. Now I ref. If I hear about a movie that is good, I. I don't watch the trailer. I do not want to know the trailer. I. It's like. Or if I'm. And I know that that means I might not like. But I. I basically get my movie taste from people's recommendations, you know, Like, I do not want to see. Because if I see a trailer, I remember every minute. And. And then when I'm watching the movie, I'm like, oh, we're. Now we got to the part where this happens. So I didn't watch.

[Will Friedle]

Even worse, when they show something in the trailer that's not in the movie, and then you're like, oh, wait a minute, man.

[Ryder Strong]

That's punishable by death.

[Will Friedle]

That's the thing.

[Ryder Strong]

They used to do that all the time in the 90s, you remember? Cuz they would just be like, well, that joke worked, but we're not. And I'd be so pissed off. Oh, my God, I hate that.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it's extra footage that they just decided to put in. It's like, come on. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, so our show opens. We meet Marissa. She loves love, been to six weddings.

[Will Friedle]

Then she says eight later. So she's already alive.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm sorry. Don't trust her.

[Will Friedle]

I don't trust her.

[Ryder Strong]

We meet Felipe, who says he's been uggo most of his life. I never heard this phrase. Have you heard this? Ugo.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, sure.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Uggo, sure.

[Will Friedle]

Maybe it's just us uggos who have heard of it.

[Amy Ehrett]

Yikes.

[Ryder Strong]

You're so uggo.

[Will Friedle]

Certainly possible.

[Ryder Strong]

This guy's funny, man. He talks about how he's attractive now because he's worked out, and he's getting hit on nonstop because women are just as superficial as men. I'm like, I don't know if. I don't know. Yeah. It's also just. It's not about your looks. This guy's funny. He's got a great personality.

[Will Friedle]

But do you also notice that he cannot stay still?

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, he's, like, moving the whole time and shaking around. I mean, I don't know if he's ADHD or whatever, but this guy cannot sit still. No, no.

[Ryder Strong]

He's like.

[Bethenny Frankel]

He's.

[Ryder Strong]

He's a mover and a shaker.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. And he's definitely, like, found his call in with a restaurant. I think it's so funny. Like, he's so.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, seems to be. Right, Right.

[Ryder Strong]

And then we meet Adam, who we will find out later is a tech guy. There's Mecca, who cleans porta potties right out of the gate. I'm like, what is going on there?

[Will Friedle]

What's up, Mecca?

[Ryder Strong]

Devin. We only meet for a second. He's a professional rugby player. I guess we'll get back to him.

[Will Friedle]

Rugby's a sport, by the way. Right.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, that's just.

[Bethenny Frankel]

That's a.

[Ryder Strong]

Is there rugby in America?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, sure. It's. We're not hugely involved in it, but, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Watching it.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. I mean, there's technically probably cricket in America, but we don't ever.

[Ryder Strong]

We don't know. We find out Felipe runs an Italian restaurant that he brings dates to his own restaurant, and they have this conversation where Felipe talks about forgetting that he cheated. Weirdest thing. I was like, so you just drank too much? And then.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, like, I didn't even know about it till years later. How do you not know you cheated on somebody?

[Ryder Strong]

I guess maybe he's like, he just lied to himself and, like, got believed his own lie after a while, maybe.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Okay.

[Amy Ehrett]

Weird.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, we meet Bella Jolie, who wants to be a leading lady. Courtney, who used to be a bodybuilder. I guess we'll find out more about her in another episode. And we get Adam's backstory about being a tech Bro lives in a cabin. Jet skis. This guy has a lot of money, apparently.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. No, he doesn't. Jet ski rider. He rips the Jet skis. We just ripped. We just ripped the jet skis, man. We just ripped.

[Ryder Strong]

So he starts talking about how he used to want to. He was always serious and got tired of girls who partied and that. He's really into discipline. This comes up a lot. And then he sits down to play piano. First he's got to warm his fingers up at the fire. And then he breaks into the Moonlight Sonata. And then we get this guy Nick,

[Will Friedle]

who's like, nick's already my best friend. Nick's already my best friend.

[Ryder Strong]

I get it that you're really good at piano, but that's a long son song. And then he's like, all right, I'll just play one more.

[Will Friedle]

Just do one more. I don't think Adam. I don't think Adam needs a spouse because he's so in love with himself.

[Ryder Strong]

So in love with himself.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, this guy is one giant, literal six foot five, giant walking red flag. I mean, there was so easy to see some of the comments this dude makes. You're just like, are you kidding me with some of the shit you're saying. Yeah, Yeah, I know.

[Ryder Strong]

It's so. It's so funny because the way the episode starts and they start presenting, you're like, why hasn't this guy been able to find somebody? He's a catch.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And then you're like, ding, ding.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, ding. It's like, dude, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

It's pretty. It's not.

[Will Friedle]

He was the biggest one for me. Yeah. Where I was like, dude, you've gotta be. I know. It's a little.

[Ryder Strong]

It's a bummer. Cause it was a downfall. I was like, oh, this guy's interesting. Like, he's really figured out a lot of his life. And I was like, oh, no, you don't want to be around anybody else. Like, you don't want anybody else.

[Will Friedle]

No, not especially if they're not gonna rip jet skis, man.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, we get the ladies doing shots. Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots. And I love that. Who is it? Is it Marissa? That's like, everyone hates them.

[Will Friedle]

Everyone hates them.

[Ryder Strong]

But if you can do it to give a shit.

[Will Friedle]

It's like, I haven't done a shot yet. Shots anymore.

[Ryder Strong]

It's disgusting, dude. I used to fake doing shots. I would just like, yeah. And then you throw it over your shoulder or dump it on the bottom.

[Will Friedle]

I'd do shots when I was 22.

[Ryder Strong]

No I didn't back then. I would fake it. Dude, it's the dumbest thing in the world.

[Will Friedle]

You're still doing shots in your 30s. You need at yourself a little bit. That's just my opinion.

[Amy Ehrett]

I agree, man.

[Ryder Strong]

It's not a. Not a great lifestyle choice.

[Bethenny Frankel]

No.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, then we get our first matchmaking session with Paul and Dr. Lisa. I would like to know a little bit more about these people than the show is giving me. I mean, they just agreed, but I guess maybe they've been hosting for a while, so. But yeah, I don't know. Like, I wanted to know a little bit more about, like, where they come from, what they're. I said the same thing, cuz he

[Will Friedle]

said I was a matchmaker on the UK version.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

And it's like, all right, but are you a professional matchmaker? Do you have any. Do you just talk to a couple's coach too?

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

Right?

[Ryder Strong]

I was like, is that a. Like, how is that different than a couple's therapist? Do you know what I mean?

[Will Friedle]

Like, are you just a license?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, but she's a doctor. A doctor of what? Like, her first name could be doctor, right? I mean, seriously, I changed my name legally to doctor, period.

[Will Friedle]

Exactly.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, I'm sure we could have done research and been professional podcasters about

[Will Friedle]

this, but that's no fun. We like to jump in naked.

[Ryder Strong]

That's telling Maddie to do it. She could tell us about it later.

[Will Friedle]

I'll say. So Paul Carrick Brunson from Merit at First Sight is certified. He's a certified life coach. Okay. And trained under prominent matchmaking experts.

[Ryder Strong]

Certifying life coaches. Certifying life coaches. Is there a life coach organization out there? Exactly. I'm gonna make my own life coach organization and give out certificates.

[Will Friedle]

You don't need to. Ryder, you're now certified.

[Ryder Strong]

Congratulations.

[Will Friedle]

I just certified you a life coach. You're good to go. I just started the llc willslifecoach certification dot com. Yeah. Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, so he's a life coach. And what else.

[Will Friedle]

What is she do we know what she does.

[Ryder Strong]

Dr. Lisa Paz is a relationship expert, board certified sex therapist and licensed marriage

[Will Friedle]

and family therapist based in Miami. So she has some creds.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, so she's a sex therapist and a co. Okay, that's a. Yeah. Yeah. I'm really curious about this whole process. I'm curious. Like, I don't know. I'm dubious about.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, I. I know we'll have to see. I mean.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I know we have to see

[Will Friedle]

because personal sex therapist is hopefully they don't start with the same question that Freud always did, which is, tell me about your mother. Because I think that would be an entirely different thing, talking to the sex therapist. But, yeah, no, we. Again, all I can tell you from the previous episode or previous seasons that I've watched is some of these couples are still together and have kids and have been together for years.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, yes. Some of these couples have worked out. But is it better than chance? That's my question.

[Will Friedle]

It's a great question, because I don't know if you pick 15 couples for a show or whatever, and two of them stay together. Isn't that just odds?

[Ryder Strong]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

Doesn't that actually mean you suck at what you do?

[Ryder Strong]

That's kind of what I wonder. Like, I wonder if somebody's done this and we don't have to do it now because I don't want to ruin the show, but I do think at some point we should see if somebody has written an article or done the stats and, like, said how much this show has actually resulted.

[Will Friedle]

I believe Susan and I looked it up once. I don't remember what it was, but we had that same question because there was things where it's like, all right, you had 10 couples on. One of them is still together. Do you need experts for that?

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Right.

[Ryder Strong]

Or can you just throw darts? Right. You know, you don't remember.

[Will Friedle]

I don't. I don't. I honestly don't. I don't remember what I was.

[Ryder Strong]

I.

[Will Friedle]

If memory serves, they had. It was. It was. They had a much bigger ratio of not working out than they did working out, but I don't remember.

[Ryder Strong]

My instinct is it's chance. Like, that's so, too. My sense of the world is that you could just, you know, pick somebody in the same sort of category. You know, assuming that's, like, that you're of the same age, in the same sort of. In the same, like, worldview. Ish.

[Will Friedle]

Did you see that?

[Ryder Strong]

Just what?

[Will Friedle]

They have an 18% success rate.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, so what is. How does that compare to, like, other dating apps or just the world?

[Amy Ehrett]

Just the world.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, 18% doesn't seem good, like, at all.

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, my God, if you're. If you come out of the doctor with an 18% chance to live, you're right in your will that day. So the fact that it's like. I mean, again, you're right. Are these. What does it take to be an expert?

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

You know, he's certified a life coach and trained under prominent matchmaking experts. What does that Mean, I don't know, man.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know. Yeah, but I kind of like for the first. All right, here we go. More stats. 79 couples have been matches. 13 couples are still together.

[Will Friedle]

That seems kind of like a terrible ratio. But that's a great question. What, I mean, what's the control?

[Ryder Strong]

You have to have a control. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And how many, how many, you know, dates do people normally go on before they find a.

[Ryder Strong]

But it's interesting because when they were doing their matchmaking sessions and discussing these couples, I agreed with their insights. I thought that they were picking up on kind of the right things about these people. So it's gonna be interesting. Cause I think that's the fun of the show. Right? It's like seeing how that plays out or not. All right, I have a bit of

[Will Friedle]

a problem, and it's not a problem, but it's a weird way to look at it.

[Amy Ehrett]

Where.

[Will Friedle]

And I get why. Cuz it's tv, but nobody's on a track.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

You know, it's like, it seems like you should just go pick a bunch of people, I mean, that are average people and just go marry, you know, try to marry them off, connect actual people.

[Ryder Strong]

I think that would just be an immediate, like people just wouldn't do the show.

[Will Friedle]

Right. But aren't these. Aren't people that look like this? Aren't the vast majority of people that look like this the people that get matched on these, these apps anyway because they're good looking, they're successful? I mean, isn't the point like the people that the apps are like, they never match me with anybody. I can never find anybody. Nobody swipes left or right, whatever the hell the way is on me.

[Ryder Strong]

It does seem to be that a conceit of this show, like a tenet of the show is that these aren't people who are having a hard time finding dates. These are people who are having a hard time finding a life partner. Right, right, right. Yeah, that makes sense. Some version of that. They all said some version of like, basically I could get laid if I want to. I'm not looking for that. I'm looking for a marriage. I'm looking for, you know, and that's. I think that is the class of people for this show, you know, in other words, it's not a show that's just finding love or finding. It's finding a life partner. It's marriage.

[Will Friedle]

Right, right.

[Ryder Strong]

It's about like I'm gonna. We're gonna find you the person who's gonna be your monogamous lifelong partner who's beautiful.

[Will Friedle]

Isn't that a difference?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, and I think it's. Yeah, but that's what I mean.

[Will Friedle]

Like, part of me, I'd love to see the people that don't get swiped on. I can't get dates. Nobody wants to. I don't have this. I have an average job. I'm an average guy, and nobody wants to date me. I want to see that show Married

[Ryder Strong]

at First Sight Uggo edition,

[Will Friedle]

sponsored by

[Ryder Strong]

Uggs Uggo, brought to you by Uggs. They get married wearing Uggs Uggo. Married at First Sight Uggo.

[Will Friedle]

Because all these are, again, they're all beautiful people. And I get it. It's teeny.

[Ryder Strong]

You have to do it.

[Will Friedle]

It's teeny. I totally understand.

[Ryder Strong]

But I mean, also. Cause I had the same question about Love is Blind. I was like, wait a minute. No. And it was like. But because no one would do the show otherwise.

[Will Friedle]

Right?

[Ryder Strong]

Like if you literally were doing Love is Blind. And. And that is even more like the point of the show should be that there are some ugly ducklings thrown in because it's about their personality or people that are overweight. But they're never are. They never are. They're always beautiful. And it's like.

[Will Friedle]

But that's the point of that show. Fall in love with them without looking at them. And then when you actually fall in love with them, it doesn't matter who runs out.

[Ryder Strong]

But that show makes no sense to me. I don't. That's a whole other conversation.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, we'll talk about that later.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, but this one, we're going to trust the experts at least a little while and see how it plays out

[Amy Ehrett]

foreign.

[Bethenny Frankel]

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[Kyle MacLachlan]

Hi, it's Kyle McLaughlin, host of the what are we even Doing podcast. You know, my favorite part of the morning is that first cup of coffee. A small, quiet ritual that sets the rhythm for my day. That's why I appreciate DE'. Longhi. For over 50 years, they've combined Italian craftsmanship and thoughtful design. And as the number one espresso machine brand in the world, they make it effortless. Just a damn fine cup of coffee in your own kitchen. Right now you can save 10% off your purchase at DeLonghi.com with code Kyle at checkout. After all, if it's not Italian, is it even espresso?

[Amy Ehrett]

Hello, beautiful. I'm Amy Ehrett, founder of Madison Reed, a hair color company I named after my daughter. Our prestige salon quality hair color delivers gorgeous multi dimensional color and 100% great coverage color at home. Or visit one of our 95 plus hair color bars nationwide and let our licensed pros do it for you. It's our birthday. Celebrate with 20% off your first order or service. Visit madison-reid.com and use code BIRTHDAY20. Confident, bold, unstoppable. That's the power of Madison Reed.

[Ryder Strong]

They've chosen Adam and Marissa for each other. We learn. You know, they say that Adam wants someone fit. He's disciplined, he's rich. Paul asks Adam that goes out to Adam's cabin and asks him the obvious, like, why are you here? And Adam says, basically what we're saying is that it's not hard to meet people, it's just hard to find the right person. And Paul says the sentence, you're very controlled, which I didn't know how he meant it, like whether that means a compliment or what. But that is to me the biggest red flag that this guy. I agree.

[Will Friedle]

And to me, controlling. That's what I was gonna say. To me, it's saying he's controlled is one thing. I think it's controlling is the thing. That's more. If he said one more time either the word train or where he's like, oh, I've taught a number of people how to be great athletes. What does that even mean, dude? Like, it's. There's so many red flags.

[Ryder Strong]

This is the guy who, like, gets obsessed with, like, teaching his German shepherd, like, all the commands in German so it can do all that. It's just like, okay, bro. Like, you. You. You've got power.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, you got it. You were.

[Will Friedle]

This is the guy to me that checks your phone and tells you to give me your phone, and I want to see who your dad. Like this. There are so many red flags.

[Ryder Strong]

Counting the calories of what she eats.

[Will Friedle]

Yes. Like, that

[Ryder Strong]

says that by the end of episode. I know. Watching him get. Watching him reveal himself throughout the course of this episode was fascinating.

[Will Friedle]

I agree with you.

[Ryder Strong]

Fascinating.

[Will Friedle]

Because you're like, yeah, you are.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, it's so. It's. And it's an interesting study, like, y. In how, you know, you're like, oh, man, the. Like you said, the red flags just keep popping up.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

So. So Paul does this thing where he makes him call this girl that he's been saying he's been on, like, five dates with her, and he's like, oh, I could just send her a text, but he makes him make the call. And I thought this was interesting because she was upset. You know, she's like, you should be sorry.

[Will Friedle]

I have a theory about this.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Because this is the only person we saw where this. They specifically went out of their way to say, you need to call, you need to do this, you need to do that. And I don't want to give the theory away right now, but I'll give it away at the end of the. Because it comes back at the end. And I'm going to let you know what I think, my theory.

[Amy Ehrett]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

Because I thought the point of this was just that what he thought of as a casual situation with this woman. This woman clearly thought a little bit more of it. And that Paul sort of wanted to prove that to him by being like, you have to have this conversation. You have to break up with this girl. And the fact that he was surprised by, you know, that she wouldn't have been cool with just a text that she was upset indicates, I think, that he's a little delusional. We all are. You know, like, at this point, I was just like, yeah, dude, that's like. I think a lot of people have found themselves in a situation where they think it's casual and the other person thinks it a little more. Seriously.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And I think Especially with men and women, you know, on the male side, they're like, we sing out. You sleep together every once in a while. And the woman's like, hoping that maybe it'll be a thing, you know, I agree. This was like a classic situation where I'm like, dude, you're delusional about what was going on there. So I thought that was a kind of an interesting moment. So then Paul describes Adam as a knight in shining armor. And he has to take the armor off and that he is.

[Will Friedle]

And it'll be easier to rip a jet ski about the armor. That's the cool part.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Then Paul, in his meeting with Lisa says they talk about how he has this giant cat.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, dude. Like the Maine coon cat wants a

[Ryder Strong]

woman who can handle cats. Marissa loves dogs but is allergic to cats. We find out we've learned that her parents had a messy divorce. She no longer talks to her dad. And Lisa and Paul call Adam the tin man without a heart. So now we have this metal. He's a knight in shining armor. He's a tin man without a heart. He's got the hard exterior. I don't know, man.

[Will Friedle]

A lot of, A lot of ways of saying this guy might be an issue. Yeah. It's like you're. You're like robocop. Like, wait, what?

[Ryder Strong]

You shoot first and arrest later with

[Will Friedle]

a metal outside, you know, you. It's like, what the hell? And Marissa, by the way, we figured it out. Sue and I were watching it. We're like, God, who does she remind us of? Who does she remind us of? Totally reminds us of a more grown up Millie Bobby Brown.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And so, yeah, we were like, that's who she reminds us of.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Totally look like a Millie Bobby Brown. Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

So I guess the idea is that she's going to open Adam up. She's going to make him more emotional, more vulnerable and reveal his.

[Bethenny Frankel]

His.

[Ryder Strong]

His heart or his.

[Will Friedle]

It's exactly what you want in a relationship is a partner that's going to come in to try to change you.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. It's interesting that the matchmakers are sort of relying on that, but maybe that. I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

I don't know either.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, then Adam talks about how his parents are hiking in Iceland. They're not. They're not going to come. His sister thinks he's crazy. His grandmother is refusing to fly.

[Will Friedle]

I don't think anybody wanted to be involved. Anyone from his family wanted to be involved. I think, I think not only does he done well and this is My totally. Just complete speculation. I think not only has he done well in business, but I think he grew up with money. And I think probably his parents are like, dude, we're not gonna. We're not gonna be able to.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Oh.

[Ryder Strong]

Considering that they're on, like, a three Country. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And he's like, that's always the way they are. You know, like, that kind of thing. So my guess is he grew up with money, and they're like, dude, what? We're not going on to watch you get married on a reality show. Like, it's not gonna happen.

[Ryder Strong]

Right, Right. So.

[Will Friedle]

Because for nobody to show up. I mean, come on. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But it's interesting, because then we cut to her, and she's got. Not a dissimilar situation, you know, she no longer talks to her dad. Well, first of all, we get Kiss, Kiss Me by Sixpence on the richer, while she walks down the steps. A little on the nose, you think? I'd say a little bit of a. I would say, come on, guys, we can do it better. We can do better than actually recreating. She's all that.

[Will Friedle]

Never got that band.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Really?

[Will Friedle]

No.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, this is a sweet song.

[Will Friedle]

Never got it.

[Ryder Strong]

I. I saw them live. When? Back in the day, and they used to do the song. They do a cover of There She Goes.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

From that was the.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Their next biggest show. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, okay,

[Will Friedle]

okay.

[Ryder Strong]

All right. She gets. Marissa walks down the stairs, and then she gets a package from Adam, which is a pickleball, ski goggles, and a kill switch.

[Will Friedle]

Worst gift package for your first. I was like, ever.

[Ryder Strong]

Is this a dog leash? That's what I thought it was at first.

[Will Friedle]

Put this on.

[Ryder Strong]

Which also kind of works.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I thought it was a ball gag.

[Ryder Strong]

I was like, did he just give her a dog leash? And I thought at first maybe because it was like, oh, he wanted a dog. Cause they both talked about wanting animals, and she wants somebody who likes animals. But then I was like, yeah, maybe that's really a bad. And then. No, it's a kill switch, which also just sounds weird, but it's his Jet Ski kill switch.

[Will Friedle]

Because that's Rip the Jet Skis, man.

[Ryder Strong]

This is. This is classic like that. You think that these activities are going to excite somebody.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

No.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, again.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, I'm sorry.

[Will Friedle]

There's nothing even close to sentimentality.

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Will Friedle]

Like something, something, a flower, anything that reeks of some sentimentalism.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Doesn't care.

[Ryder Strong]

I care about what you think.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, she's literally saying, these are my activities. I'm gonna teach you how to do them. You better like them.

[Will Friedle]

You're gonna get them. I'm talking.

[Ryder Strong]

Here's what I'm into.

[Amy Ehrett]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Who cares what you're all about? Dude, ask her about herself. And I get it. Maybe the point of this exercise, but it's interesting that the other. Other couples didn't do this. So is this something they've done before, do you know?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah, there's. They always do, like the early gift. But I mean, it's also supposed to

[Ryder Strong]

be like a little bit for us, a little bit for you.

[Will Friedle]

Like the diary.

[Ryder Strong]

She gives him a journal.

[Amy Ehrett]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Lovely. It's lovely. Like, we're gonna start our.

[Will Friedle]

We're gonna start our story together. And I wrote the first page.

[Ryder Strong]

Perfect.

[Will Friedle]

And yeah, he's like, these are goggles. My name's Adam. I'll let you know what's up.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm gonna teach you pickleball. I'm gonna take you to the back of my jet ski. You don't get to drive. No, get in the back.

[Will Friedle]

I'm gonna train you to be an athlete. Like, what the hell, dude?

[Ryder Strong]

Over at his camp, he opens it up and she's giving him a bottle. He doesn't drink.

[Will Friedle]

He's like, that's a red flag. How's she supposed to know you don't drink, dude?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I know.

[Will Friedle]

How's that a red flag?

[Ryder Strong]

Just be like, yeah, it's cool. And also, like, you. It's not like you. You just stopped drinking a couple years ago. You said like, you. Yeah, it's fine. Like, other people can drink.

[Will Friedle]

You also did it because you didn't like what it was doing to your body. It wasn't like, oh, I was an alcoholic or I was dealing with an issue. It wasn't that. He was like inflammation. And it's like, I know.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Come on.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, she gives him this journal and her first entry and references microwavable Mac and cheese and afternoon naps, which he immediately turns into freaking awesome cancer causing chemicals and microwaving plastic. But we can educate her on that, dude. It was so. Dude, Adam, I'm out, bro. Like, yes, exactly where I was.

[Will Friedle]

Like, Mac and cheese and naps.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm in love already. I know. I have trained multiple people to be athletes. Oh, it's gonna suck, dude.

[Will Friedle]

For poor Marissa. That's all I have to say is poor Marissa.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, we cut to Tori and Felipe. As we've learned before, he runs a restaurant. He goes out a lot. Seems like kind of a partier.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But he does shower a bunch. Apparently in Brazil, they shower a lot.

[Will Friedle]

Four times a day, I guess. Wants to be ready to be a

[Ryder Strong]

pretty lady, but it makes sense.

[Will Friedle]

And it's so funny. Cause sue all of a sudden was an expert on that. I don't know how, but he's like, I shower four times a day. And she's like, oh, it's cause of the humidity in Brazil. And the guy's like, it's cause of the humidity. And I'm like, what the. Where did that come from? That nugget of knowledge did that come from?

[Ryder Strong]

It was so strange. She's Googled showers in Brazil. It was so weird.

[Will Friedle]

It's like, okay, you have that information at your fingertips, which is odd. But all right.

[Ryder Strong]

In Tori, they ask her what she would want to say to somebody, potential partner. She says that I'm not crazy. I'm not crazy. Which is the first indication. I was like, these people might be good for each other. I know, because he seems, like, a little wild, you know? And I was like, who is going to be the person for this? We find out that she likes boxing. Then he says that he likes girly girls. We cut to her saying she likes traditional men. All right. She likes good food, hosting, having things be a little chaotic. She has this thing where she says a family tradition is the cops getting called. So I was like, wow, this could work.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

These two are actually, on paper, saying the right things. She talks about how she grew up poor and that it's, like, mandatory that. That the family. That the family's important. He says she has to get along with his mom. So these people are lining up pretty well.

[Will Friedle]

They are.

[Ryder Strong]

And, you know, compared to Adam and Marissa, like, the whole family being important, which to me seems like a kind of a generic thing. But obviously with Adam and Marissa, it's not like, you know. And that's so interesting. You know, I go back and I go back and forth about this because, I mean, I obviously, like, I have a great relationship with my family. My family's actually very small, but I don't have a big family.

[Will Friedle]

Same.

[Ryder Strong]

And I've always wanted a big family. I've ended up only having one kid. But I like the idea of big family, you know, like, my wife's family is bigger. I love it. Like, I. But that said, I've never had one, so I don't know how, you know, I'm sure maybe it would drive me crazy if I had, like, a million cousins and tons of siblings. And, you know, because family can be tough you know, like, people just.

[Will Friedle]

My cousins were just here from Germany. It's so great to have, I mean, again, very close to my family. So seeing that is great. But we also don't have 25 cousins and, you know, 13 aunts and uncles. I mean, we were just never like that. So. But yeah, family is important. I mean, it's that little Chris Rock bit where he talks about where he's like, you can't, you know, if you need to have the same interests, you need to. If you go to church, they need to go to church. It can't be like, one can't be a churchgoer, the other can't be a crackhead. He's like, it doesn't work if it doesn't work. And they're right. I mean, these two. When I started, when I really started, and then we'll get to it. When they actually got married, I was like, okay, this could be the kind of couple of the show so far where it's like, maybe they got this one right. It seemed like they really met, you know, meshed.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, they were working on paper. It was just, for me, a question of like, how they were going to respond to each other in person.

[Will Friedle]

Right. Yep.

[Bethenny Frankel]

This is Bethany Frankel from Just Be with Bethany Frankel. Most dog food is marketing, not nutrition. That is why Biggie Smalls eat just food for dogs. Real 100% human grade food with ingredients I actually recognize. And yes, I do see the difference. Better digestion, healthier skin, more energy. Dogs that feel better. My babies, if you've been on the fence about switching, stop overthinking it. What's more important than your furry babies and their health? Go to justfoodfordogs.com right now and get 50% off your first box. No code needed. Just try it.

[Will Friedle]

He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat, trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots no unlimited data for $25 a month.

[Ryder Strong]

Forever.

[Will Friedle]

Visit your local Boost Mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes.

[Ryder Strong]

Boost mobile after 30gb customers, customers may experience lower speeds.

[Will Friedle]

Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost $25 Unlimited plan.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Hi, it's Kyle McLaughlin, host of the what are we even Doing podcast. You know my favorite part of the morning is that first cup of coffee. A small, quiet ritual that sets the rhythm for my day. That's why I appreciate DE'. Longhi. For over 50 years, they've combined Italian craftsmanship and thoughtful design. And as the number one espresso machine brand in the world, they make it effortless. Just a damn fine cup of coffee in your own kitchen. Right now, you can save 10% off your purchase at DeLonghi.com with code Kyle at checkout. After all, if it's not Italian, is it even espresso?

[Amy Ehrett]

Hello, beautiful. I'm Amy Ehrett, founder of Madison Reed, a hair color company I named after my daughter. I started Madison Reed because I believed women deserve better. Better ingredients, better results, and the freedom to color on your terms. Color at home with our permanent hair color kit in less time and for less than a typical salon. It's a salon in a box for rich dimensional color and 100% great coverage. Try our 10 minute root touch up kit for a permanent root refresh or our hair and brow mascara to cover stray grays on the go. Or visit one of our 95 hair color bars nationwide to let our licensed pros color your hair for you. Join the more than 5 million women who have switched to our award winning color. Visit madison-reid.com and use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your first order or service. Confident. Bold. Unstoppable. That's the power of Madison Reed.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. So Paul meets with Felipe and points out that he was late to both of their meetings and that he missed a zoom. He parties. And what I like about this is that it sounded almost like, you know, Paul was chastising him or pointing out something that might need to change about him. But actually, I think he was sort of highlighting Felipe's personality and style, like, lifestyle, which I think actually does match in this case with Tori. Cause she says, like, a family tradition is the cops get called. Right. So, like, it actually, like, it was an interesting thing to be like. And he didn't really apologize. He didn't say like, you know, he just said, like, I show up when it's important, but this is my lifestyle. Like, I run a restaurant, you know, and I thought it was interesting. Like, it wasn't like a job interview where you have to adjust who you are. It was more like, Felipe, you seem to be this type of person. And it's like, yeah, he is. And I think that might actually work for Tori, which is super interesting not to see.

[Will Friedle]

I'm rooting. I'm rooting for Him.

[Ryder Strong]

And so Lisa, Dr. Lisa talking to Paul. She says he has a certain je ne sais quoi, love of life, his family, friends. And she has this great line. She says Tori will be the lead guitarist and he will be the lead singer. Which I was like, I like that. That'll work.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, you got a little Paige plant thing going on. That'll work.

[Ryder Strong]

We see Tori getting ready, talking about how she's a spray tanned little gremlin.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, that was really funny.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, she's funny. And this is where she first expresses that she's nervous that he will run away. This comes back a lot.

[Will Friedle]

She says this several times.

[Ryder Strong]

Super interesting. I was like, yeah, she means it literally.

[Amy Ehrett]

Means it.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes, she means it literally. She has, like, a fear of him literally looking at her and turning and running in the opposite, which is so fascinating. Of all the things she says. Like, she repeats it.

[Will Friedle]

She does. What if he runs away? What if he runs away? What if he runs away?

[Ryder Strong]

There's like a trauma. She had a nightmare at some point. Well, I love the people started going, like, even family members started going.

[Will Friedle]

She's like, what if he runs away? And they're like, that could happen.

[Ryder Strong]

It was like, wait, wait, what?

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

You're.

[Amy Ehrett]

You're. It's.

[Will Friedle]

No, it's not gonna happen. Where she's gonna turn and run on camera. That could happen.

[Ryder Strong]

That could happen.

[Will Friedle]

Like, no, no.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, God. All right. With Felipe, his sister, dad, and mom come to visit him. They're very emotional. The exact opposite of Adam.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, he.

[Ryder Strong]

This guy needs to move his family. He needs her to fit in with his family. We see the same thing with her family. Again, she asks if he's gonna run. And we cut to Bel Jolie, who's a singer, songwriter, amazing voice. Oh, my God. Cut to her singing.

[Will Friedle]

I was like, yeah, she sounded good.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, wow. She's got great talent. Definitely an artist. She teaches dance. She does. She's a makeup artist. She has all these different jobs. And then they cut to Mecca saying that he would love to have someone who serenades him. So we're like, getting onto the same page. And she talks about how she needs somebody with ambition. And then we cut back and are reminded that Mecca cleans toilets.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. But we learn later, he cleans toilets for his family's business.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

So it's, you know, that's. First of all, as a sanitation worker, you make very good money. But now if it's also you're doing that for your family business, it also means you could own the business someday.

[Ryder Strong]

See, this is, this is, I think, super interesting because I. I think that's exactly what she's not looking for.

[Will Friedle]

You think like a blue collar worker.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Or just a steady. Like, she does not. She actually wants an artistic sort of.

[Will Friedle]

Right, right, right, right.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, and this is one of those things, like, because Alex and I talk about this a lot because we're both artists, we're both like job to job freelancers. We both are multi hyphenate and there are a lot of people around us who wouldn't want to. One of one wouldn't want to be in a relationship like that. Like.

[Will Friedle]

Sure.

[Ryder Strong]

They think of that and they think of that as chaos. And I see a lot of people who are like, one person's an artist, the other one's a more stable job, like lawyer and an actor or. Yeah, and I totally get that. Like, I could see that and I could see myself in this situation. I actually could probably be with somebody who wanted to be more stable.

[Will Friedle]

Sure.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm not sure if Alex is the same way. I think she probably would only want an artist or somebody who has. I don't. She's only pretty much dated people like me, you know, like people who are.

[Will Friedle]

But maybe she's only dated people like you because as actors, it's kind of what we're used to. You're her two year around and what you're used to where it's like she broke her.

[Ryder Strong]

I will say that her first boyfriend, which is a long term relationship, she moved in with him like during college and stuff, was more of a steady sort of.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

He was like military then, like super like regular. I forget what he does, but it's something, you know, lawyer, something very like, good job, stable. And she left him partly because of that, you know, because she was like at 23 or whatever, staring down the barrel of like, oh, no, I couldn't. I don't want this in my life. So. But I think I could be. I think I could be with somebody who is like a lawyer or. Or maybe even doesn't have a job. Do you know what I mean? Like, I'm not, but I'm. And so I look at Bel Jolie and I was like, she's gonna hate this about this.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, you think? Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

Which is interesting because I think personality wise, he is her type. He's flashy, he's interesting, he's funny, he's got tons of personality. So he's like, he's like artistic in his personality.

[Will Friedle]

But he was getting a little much towards the end Yeah, I know, but.

[Ryder Strong]

But I can see why they were like, she'll overlook the fact that he cleans toilets because he's a steady paycheck. But. But I disagree. I don't think she cares about that. I think she's going to want somebody. Okay, that's my hot take on this.

[Will Friedle]

We're going to have to. We're going to.

[Ryder Strong]

Immediately when I was reminded that he cleans toilets, I was like, shit, he's good for her in every other way. But I think she's not going to like. I don't.

[Will Friedle]

Artistic people tend to gravitate towards other artistic people.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know. Like I said, I think it can go.

[Will Friedle]

I think it's normal.

[Ryder Strong]

I know because I would, you know, like a regular paycheck would be nice for a lot of our. To know that somebody's stable and that that's like going to be there for you is like the other side of the coin magical.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Anyway, he, he does say at this point he references that he's a model, which they don't get into too much. So maybe he is kind of artistic. I don't know. He talks about how he's a good looking guy and he wants a female version of him.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Which I was like, a little weird. But then cut to her and she says she wants matching outfits. So I was like, oh, these guys are kind of aligning.

[Will Friedle]

Can I also tell you a new trend that seems to be happening in the last year or so that I can't stand is the things on the teeth. I know.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, it's been happening for a while, dude.

[Will Friedle]

Has it been longer than that? I just, it's like the, the distracting. It's distract. It's. All I'm staring at is these like fake diamonds on teeth. And I've seen them in a bunch of reality shows. Now it's on Love Island. People are doing where they're putting these things and it's just like, dude, knock it off.

[Ryder Strong]

I can't handle face tattoos either.

[Will Friedle]

I don't like face tattoos either. No.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, it's.

[Will Friedle]

But I'm also you and I disagree. I also don't like nose rings.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I can handle piercings. I like piercings.

[Will Friedle]

I don't like nose rings.

[Ryder Strong]

I like. Yeah, I like. All face piercings are fine for me.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

See, to me a piercing stuff draws your attention. Yeah, that's. That's my problem with the face tattoos. Yeah, but you want to carry your

[Will Friedle]

nose the whole time. It's terrible.

[Ryder Strong]

Why would I do This. I don't do it with piercings, but, yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, I do.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like, why?

[Will Friedle]

Why are you doing that?

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

All right.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, we find out that Mecca grew up in a broken home. His stepmom then left his dad and took his brother and sister with her, which sounds awful and was tragic for him.

[Will Friedle]

And there's a story there because it's like, why split up the kids?

[Ryder Strong]

Something's gone. I know Belja Lee, her mom is her best friend, but she also just did not have a relationship with her dad. So, you know, these guys are kind of in this. In similar ways. Like, they seem like they have similar broken home backgrounds. Ish things. They both kind of want to rewrite their families, which is that they want to stay together for their kids. So, yeah, on paper, you know, Paul and Lisa, they're like, putting. You know, putting these things, these people together. Then they say this line. I think it's. Lisa says it that Mecca, at his most actualized, might be perfect for Bel Jolie. And that was interesting. I was like, that's a weird way to put it.

[Will Friedle]

I thought so too. I thought. But I love how the other. How. How Paul was.

[Ryder Strong]

He's like, that's a way. Yep, yep.

[Will Friedle]

He's, like, pointing at her like, yep, that's. That's a great way to say it. That's a great way to say it.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, it's similar to, like, what you said about the Adam thing. They're expecting somebody to change somebody else or. Or in this case, for somebody to change. Like, he will have to actualize himself in order to be in this relationship. That's a risk, man. I don't know about.

[Will Friedle]

I agree.

[Ryder Strong]

Match.

[Will Friedle]

One of the. One of the things that Susan and I always talk about is the fact that one of the things we loved about each other from. Right. From right away and then grew is that other than little things, which is totally normal, neither of us had to change the person we are to be with the other person.

[Ryder Strong]

Right, Right.

[Will Friedle]

Like, we didn't have to change napping during the day. All that stuff worked. It wasn't like, okay, I want to be with you, and I love you, but you've got to change. Blah, blah, blah, blah. It's like, none of that. And again, little things happen, but that's it.

[Ryder Strong]

A lot of that is being older, too, when you meet. Do you know what I mean? Because you guys, you were already in your 30s, right?

[Will Friedle]

Well, no, when we first met.

[Ryder Strong]

You met in your late 20s.

[Will Friedle]

I was 23, 24 when I first met.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, okay.

[Will Friedle]

But. But again, then it was. You know, we've been together now 15 years. So, yeah, the second time we were together and started really dating, it was. That's when we really got into it. And it was one of those things where it was. It was just like, I don't need her to change anything about herself, and she doesn't need me to change anything about myself. And that was one of the. The best parts about it. So, yeah, the idea of, like, she's going to be good for you because she's going to make you better at the blah, blah, blah. It's like, I don't think it works, man. I agree. I agree. It's a bad thing. Yes. It's a bad omen. I agree.

[Ryder Strong]

I think it's. I think. Well, here's what. Here's what I'll say to that. I think, actually, you and Susan probably did change a lot. It was just not conscious. Does that make sense? I think the problem is conscious change.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

If you're consciously, like, I need to change who I am to be with this person, or I need that person needs to change to be with me, that's where you have problems. But I do think we make adjustments. We just don't do it consciously. Yeah. You know, I think maybe you're right. I don't know, because I was thinking about. I was like, I think I probably did change a lot, you know, from the outside, people might say, like, oh, that. But if you have to. If it's a conscious thing, that's where I think you run into problems, because maybe you start having resentment. But I think if you just adjust to each other's speed. Do you know what I mean? Because, like, I just, like. Like, I find it funny. Like, I walk so much faster than my wife, and it, like, it's such a thing. Do you know what I mean? Like, you just, like, people have different. Different paces. I walk with, like, I go. Because we, like, we go hiking, right? We go backpacking. We go hiking. I'm always, like, half a mile ahead of her. And then I go backpacking with, like, my guy friends.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

You're like, I am the slowest hiker. And it's like you just realize, like, yeah, we all have kind of a pace. Do you know what I mean? And we either, like, meet each other, we, like, match up, or we don't. But if we're left to our own devices, we really do just, like, get miles apart from each other. And so I think if you, like, I can See that if you're expected to make conscious effort and you're like, really have to like run to keep up and it might be too much, you know, but if you can just fall into a pace together and be like, oh, you know, and I mean this metaphorically, like in the relationship in all the different ways you just like, I don't know. That's my take. But I get it. I think you changed a lot. Probably. I probably.

[Will Friedle]

And maybe just didn't know it.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Which is the best way. Right? It just happens.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like a little. Yeah. So I worry about these sort of conscious, like we're going to bring these two people together.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Because this bring out the best or the worst. Anyway, Beljo Lee's getting ready. She says if you wore white, that'll mean he's an artist and he is wearing white. He's also not wearing socks.

[Will Friedle]

Socks.

[Ryder Strong]

He's got spiky shoes on. But I do like his confidence with his friends and he's like, ask me again. No, I'm not wearing socks. Like, yeah. You know, it's funny because he's confident in all these like out talking ways, but then it seems like he has some central insecurities, you know, like he's really worried about not being accepted.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. There's a lot going on there. And I think by the end the personality was starting to push a little bit.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

Just a little bit.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, I think he was nervous. I think it was.

[Will Friedle]

I'm sure, I'm sure.

[Ryder Strong]

Back to Tori and Felipe, wedding time. He walks out immediately, just says, hi, everyone. And he keeps, he keeps putting everybody at ease, which I just think is totally his personality.

[Will Friedle]

And I wonder if they asked the cast here to change up something that has been in the show a lot because some of the couples, not all, but some of the guys would walk down the aisle and instantly turn and introduce themselves to either the dad or the mom of their future partner. Hi, I'm so and so none of them did that. They stood up there and they're like, hi. But none of, none of them walked over and were like, hey, I just wanted to do so. And that's happened several times in the past. And I don't understand why you wouldn't do that. So I'm wondering, since none of them did it, if it was a producer note of like, we're going to stop doing the introducing yourself to parents.

[Ryder Strong]

We just want you to have parents. Or like, maybe, who knows, you know, but.

[Will Friedle]

But again, it's one of those things where there were several couples in the past a lot. Where the, the, you know, the guy especially would walk out because he's out there first and instantly go over to the dad or the mom, introduce himself, shake their hand like it was very respectful. None of them did that this time. So I'm curious if that was a producer note or if they just didn't do it.

[Ryder Strong]

That's interesting. Yeah, I'm curious too because I mean, if it's a producer node, they did it in order to protect the people who show up without their fam. Without families.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Because and which is in two of the three couples here.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Have complicated family situations where it would be maybe awkward if they did that. So interesting.

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[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

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[Kyle MacLachlan]

Hi, it's Kyle MacLachlan, host of what Are We Even Doing? You know, I've always believed the way you start your morning sets the tone for everything that follows. That first cup of coffee isn't just a routine, it's a ritual. That quiet moment before the day really begins. That's why I appreciate De'. Longhi. For over 50 years, they've combined Italian craftsmanship, thoughtful design and innovation for homes around the world. As the number one espresso machine brand in the world, they bring that same expertise to an espresso experience that feels effortless and makes mornings a little more delicious. The machine looks beautiful in my kitchen, but it's also incredibly simple to use a quick espresso before heading out the door or a cappuccino on a slower morning. It turns an everyday moment into something worth savoring, dare I say, a damn fine cup of coffee right now. You can save 10% off your purchase at DeLonghi.com with code Kyle at checkout. After all, if it's not Italian, is it even espresso? To learn more, visit DeLonghi.com

[Amy Ehrett]

hello, beautiful. I'm Amy Ehrett, founder of Madison Reed, a hair color company I named after my daughter. Our prestige salon quality hair color delivers gorgeous multi dimensional color and 100% gray coverage color at home. Or visit one of our 95 plus hair color bars nationwide and let our licensed pros do it for you. It's our birthday. Celebrate with 20% off your first order or service. Visit madison-reid.com and use code BIRTHDAY20. Confident, bold, unstoppable. That's the power of Madison Reed.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, anyway, I thought it was interesting the way that Philippe was. Felipe was just immediately, like, trying to make everybody else feel good. Just immediately put himself in hosting mode.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And I was like, this guy's great. This guy's funny.

[Will Friedle]

And then, well, that's what he does. He's probably at the front of the house at the restaurant. That's what he does.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Yep.

[Ryder Strong]

And then she's backstage. I wanted to say, by the way, I guess it's backstage.

[Will Friedle]

In a way.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

She's good.

[Ryder Strong]

She brings up that he might run away again. Just like, oh, my God, she has

[Will Friedle]

got this on the brain. I'm dying to know how many people have literally turned and run from her.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, he turns around as she walks down the aisle and says, you're stunning. Because she is.

[Will Friedle]

You laugh.

[Ryder Strong]

They immediately are, he's open. He's funny. She makes this comment about being happy that so many friends and family showed up for Felipe.

[Will Friedle]

Is he the one? He's the one who said, wow. Yeah, yeah. He's just like, wow. And everyone's starting to laugh. It's great. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

He makes a little speech about, you know, when we argue. I will probably try to win, but I will get you the best table in the house and the dessert that you want, which I thought was great, you know, very sweet. And then they had this B moment where there's a bee in her veil

[Will Friedle]

and he calls her babes. He's like, hey, babes are babes.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

Hey, babes. I love that.

[Ryder Strong]

That's funny. That could be either one of those things that's gonna Drive her crazy. Or, like, that's what he's gonna call her. And I love that somebody says, like, oh, he's already rescuing.

[Will Friedle]

It was the. The officiant. Oh, he's already. He's already rescuing you.

[Ryder Strong]

Yep. Yeah. So they're pronounced, and he says, let's hug. They hug, but then they kiss, too. And I think they have chemistry, man. I think that's pretty great, you know? And as they're walking away, she says, you're so hot in private. Which was nice, you know, that she sort of saved it for when it

[Will Friedle]

was just them, because I was worried about that. I was like, ooh, is she not as attracted to him as he is to her?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Because I did. I know you didn't listen to the preview, and I don't want to ruin anything, and frankly, I don't know who it is. You hear a voiceover in the preview of a woman telling a man. And I have no idea who it is, but a woman telling a man, I'm not. I'm not physically attracted to.

[Ryder Strong]

To you. Oh, no.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. So it's like, I don't know who. What couple that is, but when I first saw it, I was like, yeah. But then she's like, you're so hot. And I think she was genuine when she said that. So I think they're. I think they're attracted to her. They're right now my favorite couple.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, well, they seem like. They seem, like, well paired on. On paper, and they. They felt. You feel chemistry.

[Will Friedle]

Yes, agreed.

[Ryder Strong]

Which I was like, okay, cool. Like, so. Yeah, I'm optimistic about this, these two.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I know. Me too.

[Ryder Strong]

All right.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Then we.

[Ryder Strong]

We see Mecca getting ready. He's got, like, you know, kind of a rowdy group of guys. Lots of laughter. Then he's alone with his dad and his grandma. And this, you know, they. They seem sweet. His dad got to be a little much by the end of the episode,

[Will Friedle]

but at this point, I was way too much. Like, he was, like, trying to make it about himself, the wedding, and stuff like that. And I was like, dude, sit down. I was like, seriously? It's like, sit down. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

A little weird. It's a little weird that he, like, got up and gave a speech.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But, you know, when they cut to Beljo Li and she's got, like, her flashy jewelry on her necklace, I was like, these two do seem right for each other. They have, like, a lot of the. But she does not want to kiss on the lips. She's insisting on a cheek kiss. Fair I guess, then. Yeah. But then Mecca's dad says, if she gives you the cheek, it's weak. If she gives you the tongue. Sprung.

[Will Friedle]

Sprung.

[Ryder Strong]

He's really just set his son up for not a great situation.

[Will Friedle]

It's. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

He gives you the. She says in the car. She's like, she's not gonna do it. I hope that it doesn't tarnish his ego. She's already made the decision, and Mecca's trying to play it by ear with his pressure from his dad. So this ends up being kind of a loaded situation, which is.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is.

[Ryder Strong]

Feel like if nobody had talked about this.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

Just let it be. That probably would have worked itself out. You just would have not kissed and not thought about it or kissed and not overthought it.

[Will Friedle]

But now the dad literally says, oh, if he gives you the. She gives you the cheek, it's over. Like, Jesus, you're already. There's already. You're saying it's bad if you don't. She doesn't want to kiss me right there at the wedding.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. So he's. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Did the first couple kiss? Yeah, they did. Okay. That's what I.

[Bethenny Frankel]

They, he.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

They.

[Ryder Strong]

So Felipe said, let's go for a hug. They hugged, and then he pulled out, kissed her on the cheek while he went in for the hug. And then they actually. He's like, let's kiss. So they kind of checked with each other. So they did, like, a hug, cheek. Then they actually kiss. So. Yeah. But Mecca is super nervous and bouncy. She comes in, she says, jesus, help me. Everybody laughs. They seem to be, you know, into one another. They're both beautiful people.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

You know what I mean? Like, clothing, in terms of their types. It's like, these guys seem right, but I feel like. I don't know, it felt.

[Bethenny Frankel]

You think.

[Will Friedle]

You think it's still gonna be. It's gonna be his job?

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know. I think it's just like. I don't know. I. I think the job is a big thing, but. But it's gonna become. I don't know. I feel like he's trying too hard in this moment, and I'm hoping that he can calm it down because, like.

[Will Friedle]

Right.

[Ryder Strong]

She talks about being a foodie, and he immediately, like, says, like, I'll eat tentacles or whatever. And it's like. Yeah. I don't know if that's the right. Like, he goes too far, you know, And I think it's nerves, but. Yeah, I think ultimately, like, there might be something about him that just rubs her the wrong way. Well, I think to say it's cleaning toilets, but in part it might be cleaning toilets.

[Will Friedle]

I get kind of the same vibe a little bit with Mecca as I do with Adam. And I don't mean anything red flaggy about Mecca, but what I mean by that is how they look on camera is also in their mind. Whereas Felipe, to me, seemed like he was kind of all in. Like, he was just kind of there where these guys are, like, pushing it for the camera as well. Like, Adam needs to be the cool, in control guy, and Mecca kind of needs to be the fun, like, I'm cool kind of guy. But it's like, matters how they come off on camera. And that's a whole different vibe than if you're just there to get married. And it seemed like Felipe was just kind of about getting married and not about being on the show. And they're also thinking about being on the show, and I think that taints

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it a little bit.

[Will Friedle]

Frank.

[Ryder Strong]

It's a good way to put it, actually. Yeah. I would say just try hard. Right?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Yes, exactly. Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, they have their kiss moment, and she really kind of sticks to her cheek thing, like pointing cheeky. So he respects that. And then she has this moment of like, hey, I just met you. And they sing together. This is crazy. Which is cute. That song comes on the soundtrack. And they walk out. And then he immediately starts expressing insecurities, saying that the family seems like they hate me.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And then he brings back the cheek week, tongue sprung thing from his dad, which is haunted him. And I really, really blame his dad for coming.

[Will Friedle]

Yes, yes.

[Ryder Strong]

Bringing this up also, like you said, kind of overtaking the ceremony itself, making

[Will Friedle]

it about him standing up and making a speech. It's like you make your speeches after. It's not about you right now, dad.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We cut to Marissa and Adam. Mom with Marissa. She gives her a diamond bracelet. She didn't. Marissa did not invite her dad to the wedding. We don't know the exact history, but she says we don't talk anymore. So I was thinking like, yeah, you know, this kind of works with Adam's situation.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But then she's bringing out all these little alcohol bottles, doing shots with her friends, and I was like, oh, this is not gonna go over well.

[Will Friedle]

No, here's the other thing. If you're 30, you should never take a fireball shot in your life. Fireball is for when you're 19 and you raided somebody's liquor cab.

[Ryder Strong]

If she was. I know. If she was doing champagne, I would say. Exactly, exactly. Because it's like, you're just a classy drinker who happens to be with a guy who might not drink, but when you're doing fireball shots with your friends, and this is. It might be more of a. Like, you're a. You're like a party drinker.

[Amy Ehrett]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

What you do for fun. And this is, like, important.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

Like you.

[Will Friedle]

Gas station.

[Ryder Strong]

And this is. Yeah, that's not gonna fly with. With, you know, the guy who's worried about chemicals in the microwavable plastics.

[Will Friedle]

Like, no. And it's just. Again, it's just the whole thing was just kind of like, this is all not.

[Ryder Strong]

Not going.

[Will Friedle]

This is going to be bad. This is going to be bad.

[Ryder Strong]

And then to Adam, and they're like, how do you feel about the gifts? And he goes, well, she got me a journal, but I read a lot. I'm a gentleman and a scholar. Six five, by the way. What? Yeah, you give off your height when you're trying to describe yourself as a reader. Gentleman, scholar, he says, six five, by the way. I was like, those things don't counteract when. What are you talking about?

[Will Friedle]

Everything this guy says is horrifying.

[Ryder Strong]

So much. Dude, what are you doing?

[Bethenny Frankel]

Dude.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, what are you doing? Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

He.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, it's funny because he talked about how he doesn't, you know, he's always been so serious about her wife, so he doesn't go to, like, frat parties and he didn't want to go to, like. But I actually think that's probably where he would meet the type of woman he actually wants, which is probably someone, like, kind of younger who wants somebody who will mold them into a better.

[Will Friedle]

Super submissive.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes, exactly.

[Will Friedle]

You're not a better person. Into his version.

[Ryder Strong]

That's what that they will let him.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, somebody who's just like, I need. I need a sort of father figure person.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, that's where you meet those women, dude. Like, you actually meet them at the parties and, like, you know what I mean? Like, the sorority, he's like, is going the wrong way, like, by trying to find a matchmaker who's going to find, like, somebody good on. He doesn't want somebody good on paper. He wants somebody who's like a blank slate, who's probably on the younger side, not physically, but mentally. Do you know what I mean?

[Will Friedle]

And probably not the smartest person in the world. Right? Exactly. Somebody loves when he explains everything to me.

[Ryder Strong]

You're so smart. You're like a genius. Yes.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. 100%.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. I don't think somebody who wants to contribute her own pages to a journal with him is what he's looking for.

[Will Friedle]

And he's given her goggles because he wants to rip it on the Jet Skis. It's like.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

He wants somebody with her arms wrapped around him while he drives the Jet Ski.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

You know that she's just along for the ride. That is his life. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And he even wrote, bonus points if you can tell me what the red thing is. And you're like, really? Come on, dude.

[Ryder Strong]

Pop quiz.

[Will Friedle]

I'm gonna quiz you.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

Here you go.

[Boost Mobile Announcer]

It's like.

[Bethenny Frankel]

Oh, God.

[Will Friedle]

Six, five.

[Ryder Strong]

Can you tell me the calorie content of microwavable popcorn? Yeah, if you can answer that question, that. I'll have some with you.

[Amy Ehrett]

But only.

[Ryder Strong]

Only a quarter of a serving, because I'm counting.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, no, this is. Yeah, you're exact. This is a guy who is like, you're not having dessert tonight, and would pull the dessert away from her. Like, that's the scarf. It's like, yikes.

[Ryder Strong]

And I wonder how much of his family just finds him insufferable. And that's why they're not coming.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Or they're all like this.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, he ends up walking down the aisle with his friend's girlfriend, which is just weird. I was kind of like, just walk down the aisle by herself?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

She's worried that her friends might be drunk. Again, not a great sign.

[Will Friedle]

Not a good sign.

[Ryder Strong]

And then she pulls up, walks out, and they know each other.

[Will Friedle]

That's the big turn around. And she says, I know him. Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

And it doesn't seem like they're happy about that.

[Will Friedle]

Okay, here's my theory. I think the girl that he called earlier is going to be one of her friends. Friends, even tangentially. Obviously not a good enough friend to be invited to the wedding, but somebody where she's gonna be like, oh, he, like, date. He was kind of like, on and off with a friend. Like somebody I knew, which is why they put it in the show.

[Ryder Strong]

Interesting.

[Will Friedle]

That's my. It's a total shot in the dark. But that was what I said to Susan. She's like, oh, my God. I wonder if that's it.

[Ryder Strong]

That's a good call. I mean, I just think they're so, like. I don't know. I don't know how the show works, but I'm like, could they just call it off right now if they know each other?

[Will Friedle]

Wait, Sue. And I said, the same thing. It's like, can they say, hey, we dated years ago. We don't like each other.

[Ryder Strong]

Would have dated if we done.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 100%. We thought the same thing.

[Ryder Strong]

What you're saying is more interesting because there would have been a reason for them to have not even considered dating each other. Do you know what I mean? Like, yeah, because otherwise I would say, like, the way that they've reacted, if they know each other, that they're. They're not into each. Like, they. They would have pursued it if they could have. So it seems like it might just be over.

[Will Friedle]

It was such a good ending to the episode, though.

[Ryder Strong]

Such a. I was so pissed as it was counting down. I was like, oh, they're just going to have to turn around and that's it. And then I was like, no, they're going to turn around and set us up for.

[Will Friedle]

All right, we're in line and sinker, my friend.

[Ryder Strong]

All right, well, this is going to be a good season, man. I'm really.

[Will Friedle]

I think so, too. I'm excited.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm very curious. So I think we. We. We're in agreement then. Adam and Marissa. It's never going to work.

[Will Friedle]

Never going to work.

[Ryder Strong]

Mecca, Belgioli. Probably not going to work.

[Will Friedle]

Probably not. But I. For Felipe and Tory.

[Ryder Strong]

Here's the thing. I really like both Bel Jolie, and I actually like them both as people.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And I think. I think that I understand why the matchmakers made the choices they did, but I think they messed it up. I don't think they're going to work.

[Will Friedle]

Here's one thing I will say about the shows that I've watched before. It's usually the couple you don't. Don't think have a chance that are still together.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

It's the weirdest thing, but yeah. I'd also like to start a new little segment, if that's okay.

[Ryder Strong]

Sure.

[Will Friedle]

Called what an arrangement and what it is.

[Ryder Strong]

Do you have to say it like Tony, Daniel?

[Will Friedle]

I do like Tony.

[Ryder Strong]

What an arrangement. What an arrangement.

[Will Friedle]

It is some of the most famous arranged marriages throughout history.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, great.

[Will Friedle]

So we're gonna start today with Marie Antoinette and Louis xvi. Yes. Both partners in the arrangement had parents before them looking to wield power. And for Marie Antoinette and the Austro Hungarian kingdom, marriage with Louis XVI of France was intended to push back efforts by Prussia and Great Britain during the 18th century. The two were married by proxy. Their union was one that was built on the unity of two kingdoms, but later devolved into scandal. And then both were eventually executed during

[Ryder Strong]

the French Revolution by proxy. Does that mean they got married without even seeing each other? Correct.

[Will Friedle]

So you would get married and what, you would literally stand with somebody else and they'd give your vows and somewhere else in another kingdom, they'd do the same thing and then you'd find each other in the middle. So that's how it happened. But they. The rumors were that they grew to be very much in love even when all the scandals and the French Revolution, that apparently it worked. And then they lost their heads.

[Ryder Strong]

That was it.

[Will Friedle]

What an arrangement.

[Ryder Strong]

What an arrangement. Hold me closer. Tone it.

[Will Friedle]

Dance, Tony, dance.

[Bethenny Frankel]

All right.

[Ryder Strong]

You've been listening to POD meets Twirl. The vows have been spoken, the experts have weighed in, and our completely offhand conversation has now become a season long commitment. We'll see you next time. Trap your smoking.

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[Ryder Strong]

Wasn't that delicious?

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[Ryder Strong]

Your bill, ladies.

[Bethenny Frankel]

I got it.

[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

No, I got it. Seriously, I insist.

[Ryder Strong]

I insist first.

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

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[Ryder Strong]

Rock, paper, scissors, Shoot.

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[Ryder Strong]

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[Will Friedle]

Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms apply.

[Kyle MacLachlan]

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[Podcast Host (Ad Reader)]

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