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The JTrain Podcast
Priyanka Grandhi - Why she went on Love Is Blind & Her History With Alex! - CHIT CHAT WEDNESDAY
00:45:33
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- [00:00]
A
Chit chat Wednesday for you to listen to. I have a guess who will be your new boo. You're gonna love them too. Chit chat Wednesday. I hope you're having a good day today. I hope it's gonna be a perfect week, too. I hope you have a nice poo. It's a ch chat Wednesday too. Hello and welcome to the J Train podcast. This is J Train Jared free coming alive from Delray Beach, Florida. That's right, every Wednesday is a chitchat Wednesday where I sit with a comedian, an expert, a friend. Today we have one of those things. We have an expert in the show Love is Blind. They are a recent, I guess, would you call it contestant? That's such a weird way to reference it. A recent cast member of season 10 of Love is Blind, Priyanka Grande. Thank you for coming on the show.
- [01:14]
B
Thanks for having me. Excited to be here.
- [01:16]
A
I'm excited to have you here. I, I, I, you know, we were doing a little chit chat before. We've never met, but you DMed and we're basically like. You were, you were very nice. You were like, you're hilarious. I love what you're doing. I see that you're coming to Austin. I'm coming to Austin. If you go to my calendar, jaredfree.com I'll be in Austin at, I think Cap City. I'm doing the club there, which is like in there, kind of like, it's like they're. What's the area called that Cap City's in?
- [01:44]
B
I actually don't know where Cap City is.
- [01:47]
A
Okay, well, good start for us. I. No, it's like that mall area. It's called the Coven or the. It looks. The Domain. Yes, the Domain.
- [02:00]
B
Yeah. Okay.
- [02:02]
A
The Domain. It looks like they took Austin and they made a Disney adult version of Austin. It's like all the stuff you know and love from Austin, a little bit safer and a little bit more like early. Like you can get a sitter. It's like for all the people that aged out of Austin that still want a little taste of Austin, that's where the club is. Am I right?
- [02:24]
B
Yeah, I would say so. A lot of work, like Amazon's out there. Like, bigger tech companies are out there. Lots of, like, shopping, right? Yeah, that's.
- [02:33]
A
So you reached out and I always. And we talked before this. I always appreciate when someone enjoys what I do because I'm making fun of the show, but I'm trying to do it in a fun. I'm not looking to make anyone feel bad. Like, listen I can't call out some of the people this season worse than they called out themselves on, on screen. And listen, I understand editing happens. I understand there's other factors at play. But when someone says, you know, nice things, especially about a show that I'm like, yelling at and reacting to, not knowing the particulars, and someone can kind of come to me on that, I really appreciate it. So when you reached out, it was very nice, but I also wanted to. We want the behind the scenes. You are a correspondent. How are you, how are you feeling now that it's out there and I know it's taped two years ago and talk to me, I'll shut up.
- [03:26]
B
Yeah, no, this is crazy. I'm gonna say no one can actually prepare you to be in front of millions of people. I mean, I know you do this for a living, so you kind of are in it all the time, but,
- [03:38]
A
yeah, millions of people tuning in to me all the time. No, it's all cameras and flashes and paparazzi in my life. You know how my life is. You know, you get, yeah, no, I, I, but I, but I like my, my pursuit is that is seeing my face on the front of Netflix when I open it up. You kind of do this show. I don't. Do you think about that, like, oh, I might be on the front page of Netflix?
- [04:03]
B
No, I mean, I thought that this was honestly, like, just a great opportunity. I thought, I mean, dating in general is, I've said it before.
- [04:10]
A
What's the opportunity? I'm sorry to interrupt. I know. Dating stuff. I know. I, I, listen, I, I gotta stop you there. What I, I, Everyone sees the opportunity differently. It's in the same way, dating's tough. Could be defined in a thousand different ways for people who think dating stuff, and we all just assume we're, we're talking about the same thing. What was the opportunity for you? Signing up for Love is Blind?
- [04:33]
B
Yeah, I think just sitting it with, just being in a situation where men are actually just focused on dating and getting to know each other. I think that in my life, I have dealt with being a brown woman and the image of me maybe being like, a deterrent of being able to date certain people. And I think this just took away the barrier of, like, looks and actually gave me an opportunity to speak to people, connect on an emotional level. Take away from, you know, this is what someone looks like and take away the opinions of others. I mean, all of us have friends who are gonna be like, eh, he was okay. He kind of did this weird. He like, his hands are small. I don't know, like, things that maybe you would have never really thought about. And then all of a sudden people say, bark that in your ear, and you're like, oh, wait, does. Does he have small hands? Wait, did I find that unattractive? Is it weird?
- [05:26]
A
Is it right?
- [05:26]
B
Perception just changes. So the pods was a way to be able to date without outside noise and without having to see someone and actually connect on, like, who they are. And maybe your. Your values, do they align?
- [05:39]
A
Is. Is the. A draw of the pods? And you mention looks and, you know, I can understand. I want to see what it's like to date, not dealing with, you know, the, the noise in my head. Oh, you know, the way we see ourselves. Like, you mentioned being a brown woman, where, you know, a lot of that is, you know, what are people perceiving me a certain way. You kind of get rid of that via the pods. But is the draw of it. You mentioned another thing in, in. In your description and especially when you talk about dating today and in the climate is. Is having a man who will. Is willing to say, I'm looking for something. I'm looking for marriage. Is that a big. Is that as big a draw as the. The looks thing?
- [06:34]
B
That's a good question. I, I think that it takes a bold man, a confident man, to say, like, I'm looking for marriage. I'm looking for one person. I'm looking. I'm not looking to dick around. I'm looking to, you know, focus on you and only you.
- [06:53]
A
Right. I mean, and. And it not be. And they're held to those words because it's going to be on tv. And if you, and if you divert from that, if you're here for other reasons, you're gonna get crushed.
- [07:06]
B
Yeah, absolutely. You. And like, we obviously saw some people did.
- [07:10]
A
Right. Well, I, I call it dating on Main street versus dating in alleys. And I think on the UF podcast we talk about dating in alleys is like meeting someone on a dating app is like dating in an alleyway. You don't, you know, you can date someone and you don't tell your friends because you're afraid of the noise, afraid of them. Talk about the hand size. And you don't want to get too far ahead because you don't want to get too far ahead. So you keep things in alleys so that you don't have to deal with.
- [07:38]
B
Yeah, the.
- [07:39]
A
The come down from, you know, being delusional maybe. But then this is really dating on Main street because the person, you know, you have cameras right in the face. That's why it was so surprising to see Chris, whatever his name is, the. The villain, like, speak to Jess that way. Because you're like, you know, there's cameras, dude. Like. Like, you can just say. You can say less, right?
- [08:07]
B
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that whole situation was like the most wild thing. I live in Austin. Everybody knows that. I was kind of removed from filming for a couple of weeks at that point before I was brought back for that episode in the Mixer.
- [08:21]
A
Right.
- [08:22]
B
So I wasn't really, like, in the know of exactly things that were said in those moments, especially because that happened probably like a day or two or whatever before seeing it live. I was like, holy. Like, wow. So, like this.
- [08:36]
A
Let's get a little bit more personal. So you're living in Ohio before the show, or you were living in Austin. Did you move after the show had taped or how. What's your situation going in?
- [08:48]
B
Yeah, I lived in. I was born and raised in Ohio, went to Miami of Ohio, and then after college, I left. I have lived in quite a few cities. I lived in San Francisco for five years. That's kind of how I got into tech. And then around the age of 27, I think, or 28, I moved to Chicago to be closer to home. And then. And I actually ended up buying an apartment there. And I was there for, like, three years. Covid happened. I got a job with Zoom. So my life went back to being.
- [09:16]
A
Good spot.
- [09:17]
B
Yeah, it was great.
- [09:20]
A
Invested at the right time. Holy shit.
- [09:23]
B
I can't say I was. I was upset about it. So when Covid hit San Francisco kind of went downhill. And a lot of my friends who were up there, they moved down south. And I was like, I could go back to California. I wouldn't mind that. So I moved to San Diego. My best friend lives in Encinitas was there.
- [09:40]
A
You went to, like, every great city in the country.
- [09:43]
B
Like, I am on my dream single. And until I have to settle down, which settling down in Ohio is absolutely on the table. My parents are there. My brother is there.
- [09:53]
A
Where are you from? Where in Ohio are you from? Columbus. Oh, you're from Cincinnati. So you're from the Natty. You're eating the pasta with the chili on it. I'm.
- [10:02]
B
If I'm not settling, annihilated, wasted.
- [10:06]
A
So I. I don't know of the Ohio cities. Cincinnati has a cool thing. Cincinnati feels very Buffalo to me. It's very insular. I'm sure, you know, everybody. Everyone hangs. It's similar Places. I like that the stadium is like downtown. That becomes part of the culture of like, what are we doing for the Bengals game? I, I kind of like Cincinnati as, as a thing, but the weather and the, you know, the pasta with chili on it. I don't know. It tastes like cinnamon. I don't know.
- [10:36]
B
Oh, you could, you can taste the cinnamon. What about the ketchup? What about the chocolate?
- [10:40]
A
I. Right. They said there's chocolate. I've had it. And then you put the, the oyster crackers on top of the pasta with the, with, with the chili. What's it called? What's the name of it?
- [10:51]
B
Skyline Chili.
- [10:53]
A
Skyline Chili. That's it. Yeah. Shout out to Kevin Uculus, who's also a Cincinnati guy, the Greek God of walk. So, so you go from Cincinnati that you would, you would go back to. You would, you would settle there. We are sponsored. Lisa mattress. Get a better night's sleep with Lisa mattress. Lisa mattresses are tailored to how you sleep, each designed with a specific sleep position and preference in mind. With Lisa, you get full body support. No matter how you sleep, you'll feel the difference the first night. I love my Leesa mattress, especially because it's designed for me. You're a certain type of sleeper. They're going to have a certain type of mattress that fits you and your individual style. Here's the thing about a mattress. It's a big purchase. I, I'm not expecting everyone who hears this to go buy a mattress. I am telling you that if your mattress is on your mind that you don't like it or you're, you're, maybe it's out of date and you've had it forever. Get rid of those, like those thoughts. Get rid of that insecurity. Know that you have a great mattress when you buy a Leesa mattress. Plus, we're going to give you a discount here. So let's get rid of. I listen, I don't need to tell you a good night's sleep is very important. But if you're thinking about the mattress that even is adding to the stress and probably getting in the way of your sleep, let's get this done. I love mine. You're going to love yours. Rest easy when you try Lisa with free shipping, simple returns, and a 120 night sleep trial so they're so confident they're going to let you try it out. Go to Lisa.com for 20% off all mattresses. Plus get an extra $50 off with promo code J Train, exclusive to J train fans. That's L.com promo code J train for 20% off mattresses, plus an extra $50 off support the show and let them know we sent you after checkout. Lisa.com promo code J train.
- [12:47]
B
Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I loved my life there. My parents have a beautiful home there. We've built up a beautiful life there. My brother, he's finishing his residency up in Cleveland Clinic. He hasn't left Ohio since either, and I don't foresee him leaving. He loves it. So.
- [13:02]
A
So where are you when you apply to Love is Blind? Where are you living? At the time
- [13:07]
B
I was here, I was in Austin. Yep.
- [13:11]
A
So you're in Austin, you're working in tech. You're working for Zoom? As a lot of Austin people do, they work in some version of tech, whether it's for Dell or something like that.
- [13:20]
B
Yeah, I moved to Austin, actually, for a different job. So done with my time at Zoom, and then I came here for a different job that I had gotten. I'm a recruiter. And so with, like, Covid and everything and hiring freezes, recruiters are, like, the first ones to go as far as, like, layoffs. So I went through a layoff. And so I was looking for a job, and it was pretty tough to find one in San Diego. There's not a lot of. A lot of companies are going back hybrid or, like, in office, and there's just not many positions in San Diego. So I. That's why I decided to move to Austin.
- [13:54]
A
And you find work there?
- [13:57]
B
Yep.
- [13:58]
A
And when does Love is Blind come up?
- [14:02]
B
My friend just wanted me to take a call with someone that she knew, so I just took a phone call, and it was, like, probably five months of interviewing and a solid two months where I thought it was over, like, because I hadn't heard anything for almost two months. So I was like, oh. Like, I kind of forgot about it, to be honest. Between, like, September and then, like, December when I all of a sudden heard back, and they're like, we want you for a final round with Netflix. And I was like, oh, I forgot about this. I honestly completely forgot that we were even doing this. And so, yeah, I did a final round, and then January 2025, that was still, like, final rounds again. And then you only find out, really, when you have a plane ticket that
- [14:46]
A
you're going, so how many weeks? So they say you. You've gotten on the show because you. As a recruiter, you must know more than anyone that the casting people are the Hollywood recruiters. Like, yeah, you know, they're kind of like trying to close a deal themselves in the way that you're trying to close someone on taking a job. Right. So are they like, hey, you got the part. They're trying to kind of sell you a little bit?
- [15:15]
B
Not really, to be honest.
- [15:17]
A
Really?
- [15:17]
B
So funny. People really think that, like, you know, but when we. There was a period of time in the beginning of February where we had to start packing and we had to get like, just clothing colors approved. That way they, you know, so it's with the lights, whatever. But just because you were packing doesn't mean that you were actually going. Like, there was still a window that you could be told. You could have packed and been told, like, okay, actually you're not coming. Um, so I only found out like a week and a half before that, okay, you packed and you're actually going. And then I had heard stories of a couple girls who packed and told. Were told last minute. They. They're not coming.
- [15:54]
A
Okay. So did you know the whole time going in that it was the Ohio season?
- [16:01]
B
Yeah.
- [16:02]
A
So you're applying for the Ohio season. When do you bring your parents into the mix? When do you bring your brother who's in residency? Like, you know, that's got to be what, you know, oh, your brother's in residency to become a doctor. And Priyanka is applying to be on a big experiment to see if she can fall in love. Like, is there. Oh, God, is there any parent stuff or your. What's that?
- [16:26]
B
You try to compare. You compare me to my whole family, including my cousins. I mean, I have a ton of doctors in my family. My dad's a doctor, My mom's a dietitian. My brother's a doctor. My cousins are doctors. My other cousins in Harvard right now. So, like this, you don't compare them to them.
- [16:44]
A
So your mom's like, I'm done talking to the aunties forever. Now that my daughter's going on. Love is blind.
- [16:52]
B
They were pretty panicked. They were. I mean, this was like, very unconventional. They honestly were. They. They were. The thing is they. They want me to be married like they are. So they would love for me to be in a relationship. They would love for me to be married. My dad is like waiting to be able to throw a massive Indian wedding. Like, that is just like, what something that you obviously dreamed of as a parent.
- [17:13]
A
I, I've. I've. I know Zarna Garg and her material well enough to know that an Indian parents dream is just a huge wedding. Let's get these kids married. Like, it. It feels like, it's very much a part of the culture from. From watching from over this. This angle.
- [17:30]
B
Yeah, exactly. I mean, my dad tries to do his part. He has, like, a. I think there's a website and it's of parents that are doctors and other doctors trying to find a match for their, like, kids. And he tries so hard.
- [17:44]
A
That's crazy.
- [17:45]
B
I know.
- [17:46]
A
That is.
- [17:46]
B
He's giving up on me. He's. He's moved on to my cousin. So I'm glad that.
- [17:53]
A
So you break the news them. You're like, this is happening. I'm going on. Love is blind. You head off and you get there and do you find. It seems like you became close with the women? It feels like, you know, when. When I. I kind of had this idea for a love is blind spin off of, like, the people who are, like, key members of the. Of the, like, hang space. Like, you know, like, the people who don't get married, like, they should have their own show called the Friend Zone that they're like, love the fun people that, like, have them in a house and put them in the house, like, real world style. Like, are you kind of that. Are you that person in the. In the pods? Are you the hang. Are you cool with everybody?
- [18:38]
B
You know what? No, I think that, I mean, cool.
- [18:40]
A
You're like, no, I hated these. Okay.
- [18:43]
B
No, I think that everybody, though, like, everyone has their own cup of tea and everyone has their own interests. Like, we're. It's just like in real life, you put yourself in a group of 30 people. Like, you're gonna gravitate to certain individuals. But none to say that, like, the whole time, the girls had each other's back. I feel like we did it all really well. Everybody was in the hangs in the lounge. It just so happened that they decided to show me in the same outfit hanging out, giving advice to the girls. But I promise. Why are you doing it?
- [19:11]
A
But why are you brought back? Did you become close with the producers? Why are you brought back as. Because I was talking to someone about the show, and I was like, they were basically saying they're like, Priyanka feels like she might be a producer undercover, the way she's kind of, like, stirring the. The pot a little bit. Because the scene where you're sitting with Alex and Ashley, I made fun of. I'm like, she should not feel good with that one. Right? Like, you. You very well. Like, the I. What you're doing there is fun as a viewer. But, like, if I was Alex, I'm like, get out of here, I'm talking to my fiance about whether we're gonna get married or not. We're having, like, a real issue here. And you're like, hey, everybody. You know, like, you're kind of stirring the pot. Like, what makes you the person that ends up at the hanging?
- [19:58]
B
Yeah, I mean, look, I still wonder why Tyler wasn't at the hang either. And Kia and Kevin were. So, like, that boggles my mind, too. And, yeah, Emily was my producer, and she was Ashley's producer, too. Ashley and I were talking throughout the entire thing, like, throughout her entire filming when I was in Austin. Her and I are the closest. Like, we're very, very close. And, like, we've gone and celebrated birthdays together, whatever. Like, so we're really close. And I will say, this Austin thing definitely made a bigger deal than it was.
- [20:37]
A
So to kind of clue people in to people who. Sorry, interrupt. Let's catch people up if they haven't watched the show. Basically, we find out Ashley gets engaged to Alex, who has this storyline of being a guy that we all think is lying. He's telling tall tales. And then Ashley seems to be on him. And then we find out that Alex actually had dated you in some way in Chicago, or did you guys meet in Chicago or met in Austin? What's your connection to Alex? Somehow knew he knew you in the pods and didn't reveal it. And then we find out you and Ashley are very close. We got engaged to. So there is this kind of like, this unsaid thing going on. So how did you know Alex before the show?
- [21:29]
B
Yeah, so. So we actually met in Chicago. Alex didn't live in Chicago, at least not to my knowledge. We had the same group of friends, like his guy friends and my friends. We all kind of just, like, ran in the same circle. So friends is like a very. Like. It's just an easy way to explain to people that we knew each other. It's not like we're actually friends. It's just, I think anyone.
- [21:52]
A
Anyone who's. Right. Anyone who moved to a big city after graduating college and is amongst a bigger group of people where everyone's single and everyone's going out to the same bars and. And can understand how you and Alex are two people who knew of each other via this bigger group that goes out in Chicago.
- [22:13]
B
Correct. And that's really the extent of it. There's no relationship. I don't know much about him. And then in Austin, I was at work up in the domain where your show is.
- [22:27]
A
There we go.
- [22:27]
B
I was at A coffee shop.
- [22:28]
A
Good plug, good work.
- [22:30]
B
Yeah, I was at a coffee shop right before work. I was just grabbing coffee and I just hear Priyanka. And it was Alex. And so that's. And that was like, literally the only reason we crossed paths in Austin. It wasn't like he knew. Yeah.
- [22:45]
A
Is it weird to you that he knew it was you in the pods or did you know it was him? Is it because you have a specific name that he's maybe not heard as much of?
- [22:59]
B
Yeah, no. Our friends obviously knew kind of what was going on as far as, like, you know, interviewing for our friends in Chicago kind of talk. And then things get back to us. I had an idea that he was also being interviewed. I just, like, you don't. Like I just said, you don't really know until you're. You have a plane ticket that you're chosen.
- [23:19]
A
Right.
- [23:20]
B
Nobody knows. And so the only people that knew that I got it were my parents and my two girlfriends, my two best friends. And so when we got there, you kind of go through a speed dating round of 16 people, 16 guys, 16 girls. And I just kind of went through it. And he literally was my 16th date. Like, I could not. Like, I. I at one point thought, oh, he probably doesn't even get it. Like, he. I wouldn't have known. Um, obviously I know his story. So I put it together. When I heard, I actually went to my producer right after Emily, and I was like, hey, I just need to let you know that, like, I know that person. Um, so I'll only rank 15 people. I won't rank 16 people.
- [24:02]
A
Okay. And. And so the. Is that. Is so the producer knew, but I. So, Alex, you know, do you feel you're doing that to preserve this experiment? Do you feel you're doing that because you're like, I don't really like this guy anyways. Like, what's the reason?
- [24:18]
B
I mean, I. I think it would just ruin the experience for myself. Like, I already know this person. Like, the whole idea is to get to know people authentically. It's like, I have an idea of this person already. I already know his friends. I know who he associates with. Like, that would just, like, taint my own experience. So I'm trying to.
- [24:35]
A
You think he did the same thing or did he just not tell anybody?
- [24:40]
B
I don't really know. I know I went to the producers and told them, so I have no idea what he did. I don't know if he told them or not.
- [24:48]
A
That's actually like a good. They should do, you know? How, like, in Survivor, they'd, like, like a few seasons in, they're like, we're going to hide an immunity idol. They should do that. Something like that. With love is blind to, like, test if they're liars or not. Because, like, this is one of those, like, you coming forth with the Willy Wonka, you know, everlasting gobstoppers, you know, like, hey, I know this guy. That's kind of what you're doing. Like, you passed the test, you know, like, you know, Willy Wonka looks at you and goes, priyanka, you did it.
- [25:20]
B
You won.
- [25:21]
A
You know, like, that's kind of what you did. You. You were. You have a full faith effort. And I think this goes back to why are women going on this show? Why are men going on this show? And it's like, yeah, I don't buy the male version of going on this show, to be honest. Like, I. The female version. I do understand. I've had enough. I want to know I'm dealing with the person. I think the looks thing is actually secondary to. I want to know I'm dating someone who is intentional.
- [25:49]
B
And.
- [25:50]
A
And, yes, this is as intentional as it gets. I think a lot of the men who say that they're repeating things, it is my opinion that they're repeating things they've heard women say so that they can sound good. And then that's the reason. A lot of these men, when they get out into the show, they react badly because the minute they know they don't want to get married, they're like, oh, my God, the lights are on me. The cameras are on. How do I get out of this without looking like a bad person? And as we saw with Chris, I think the way he decided to go out was like, you chose the wrong door, dude. Like, that's the craziest door you could ever choose. Of the options.
- [26:25]
B
Yeah, I think that, like, and that's. I mean, I. I did find. I did end up with one person in the pods and I could have gotten engaged. I mean, he was. I'm not gonna put words.
- [26:34]
A
Which one was that?
- [26:37]
B
I prefer not to say his name.
- [26:38]
A
Okay, okay.
- [26:40]
B
Just.
- [26:40]
A
But you got.
- [26:42]
B
Anyway, you're.
- [26:43]
A
What? I'm sorry.
- [26:45]
B
Sorry. My. My story was not shown anyway, so I'm just gonna leave names out of. And keep it to just about me, but to keep it about you.
- [26:54]
A
When you end. The show ends, you. You say, did they propose? Did they say, I want to get engaged to you?
- [27:01]
B
No, we actually have the. The. The day before proposal day. There's A very long date. And in that date, it's the last date before you get engaged. And that's where I was, like, really spiraling. And, you know, he was, like, trying to tell me that, you know, we can. There's still more to this for us to figure out. There's more to unpack, but we obviously have a connection here. I just wasn't feeling strong enough in any. Honestly, there was nobody in that whole experience for me that would have been strong enough to say, I can say yes to this and continue on and move forward.
- [27:40]
A
So how did you end it with them? Like, what. What's the. What's the agreement?
- [27:44]
B
I just said, you know, I have actual feelings for you, but I cannot do this. And I ended it, and I walked out. And most of the girls were in a date during that, which was really sad because I was bawling my eyes out. And actually, the girl who was there in the lounge wait list, she wasn't on a date at the time was Christine. And I just remember, like, she came up to me and hugged me, and I was crying because, I don't know, making a decision on relationships is, like, really difficult. I did actually have real feelings for him. I did go and see him immediately when I got to Ohio. I drove from Cincinnati to Cleveland, saw him, and I think it was after that that I was, like, in peace of. With my decision of, you know, this wasn't the best fit.
- [28:27]
A
Well, I guess I. You know, it's very interesting to me. Like, it's almost romantic to be like, no, I can't do this, and then never see them, you know, like, yeah, is. Is there, like, is. You know, it's like, almost that. That's, like, a fun, interesting plot for a movie, like, because you don't. Do you give each other information? How do you. How do you find each other? Like, how do you find him in Cleveland?
- [28:53]
B
Oh, no. He had my Instagram handle from, like, the pods, like, writing it. Like, we. We all wrote down people's, like, numbers and stuff, stuff in our books that we have. So he did friend me on Instagram. When we got to the airport, we were in separate airports. They make sure you don't travel together at all. But I asked to go home, one, because I really needed my mom at the time. And then two, I was like, this is. I do have genuine, real feelings. Like, I did connect with this person. Like, nothing was. It's not that I didn't. It just wasn't enough, and I had to go see for myself. So I rented A car. And I drove from Cincinnati to Cleveland. My brother's obviously there, so. He was there too. Yeah, we spent a whole weekend together.
- [29:34]
A
Was it, how did, how did that go? What was that like? Was it like a boyfriend, girlfriend thing, or was it like a weekend to, like, as, like, friends? How do you, how does that work?
- [29:44]
B
Yeah, I mean, it was like someone, it's not boyfriend, girl. I guess he did ask me to be his girlfriend in the pods, so I did get, become a girlfriend, which was the funniest.
- [29:52]
A
So this was a romantic hang ever?
- [29:55]
B
Yes, yes, it was. And I think it just confirmed to me that, like, this is just not. I, I made the right decision. Like, I was, you know, this is, wasn't fully aligned. But he, I definitely picked the person that was like, connection wise, emotionally wise, like, closest of a match to me. So it's not like I would go back and redo my rankings or something like that. Like, I, I did it earlier. Right.
- [30:21]
A
More or less difficult to leave them in the pods versus leaving them in Cleveland after spending the weekend together.
- [30:32]
B
I think like, it, I know.
- [30:34]
A
I think of the pods, that was more difficult.
- [30:37]
B
Way more. Yeah. Way more difficult.
- [30:39]
A
Is it because of the unknown? Is it like I'm throwing away a hand that could be a winner here? Is that what it is?
- [30:46]
B
Yeah, exactly. You're like, you're making the decision for both of you. Like, you're ending his experience too. You are basing it on your gut and only your gut instinct and. Yeah.
- [30:59]
A
Did he ask you to get engaged in the pods?
- [31:03]
B
No, he was just wanting to say the three words, and I wouldn't allow him to.
- [31:08]
A
Oh, he was wanting to, but you said, just don't do it.
- [31:12]
B
I would never make him say that. No. When I knew that I was, you
- [31:16]
A
know, on my way out, you know, it's interesting. Like, I, I, I know that from my dating life, like, the hardest thing to do is to end something with someone who's really great that I like and really just having a feeling like it's not it. And I think, like, sometimes I, you know, do you think taking away the physical stuff that may have, like, I don't know, your perspective on that? You don't know. My, you know, my perspective is like, I've been physical with people that, you know, I'm not, I'm not, you know, I've been physical with people that I wasn't sure I wasn't dating. I've been physical people I've been dating, and maybe I could get married to them. Do you Think pulling the physical out of that, like, was that. Did that make things clearer? Did that make things harder?
- [31:59]
B
It was. I. I don't. I don't know if it's clearer or harder. I think it was. For me, it was just very interesting. I think I've never seen men be so vulnerable, which is a very interesting space to be in. I think you're not. It's not every day you get to talk to men and realize that all of you have, like, all of us have the same insecurities. It's just that culturally speaking, like, men just don't talk about it, like, day to day. It's not something you see.
- [32:23]
A
And I think this is why everyone should buy my book. Walking Red flag. Thank you, Priyanka, for the easy plug. Men being vulnerable in pre order Lincoln bio. No. There we go. I started erupt. I. No, I. I think it's a hard thing. I think also when men give their opinion on dating publicly, it's either divisive or it's kind of shushed down if it's not said correctly. Like, I think I just did a thing. I just had a clip go out about me saying that, like, Timothy Chalamet, his body type annoys me because I'm like, it's this, like, skinny dude who, like, Gen Z women seem to be, like, into now. And I'm like, man, maybe you know, the guys that I thought were like, the studs are not the studs anymore. You know, like what? Like, I like the rock. And. And I was saying that and I was being vulnerable. I'm like, maybe time has passed me. I literally say in the clip, I'm like, maybe time has passed me by. And then some woman commented. She's like, well, maybe basically telling me that my opinion on my own vulnerability was wrong. And I'm like, listen, you're telling a man how to feel in the same way I'm told not to tell a woman how to feel. So it is interesting that you're getting that perspective. It's probably refreshing. It's. It's probably makes it less personal.
- [33:40]
B
Absolutely. I think that's also something that I'm grateful for in the real. In real life now. I mean, I haven't been too serious about dating since the show still. But I definitely say I feel more confident around men just because it's like, I don't need men to actually, like, outwardly say, like, this is my insecurity or whatever. But it's just nice to know after talking to so many that they are dealing with the same issues. And these are not things that I need to feel insecure about. When talking to a man, I don't need to sit here and be like, oh, what does he think? Like, is he looking at my face? Is he looking at my hair? Is. Is he looking at this? It's like, I'm sure he's feeling the same exact way. So in that it's gonna help me,
- [34:21]
A
I'm happy it can help you. Because I, I, I think a lot of men are. I've said this before, or I. When they're talking about by women who are dating them, it's like they're either master manipulators or they're the dumbest. No social awareness ever. And it's like, wait a minute. It's in the center, just like most of us. Listen, I am so happy you came on. This is such a fun conversation. I hope this gives people a look inside. What's love is blind is like, so you're not dating that much or what's going on in Austin? Are you. Are you trying? Are you out there? Are you trying? We're all trying. You know, we're living on earth.
- [34:55]
B
We're all trying. Yeah, I'll try. We're out there. Austin's a good dating town, I will say so. Maybe I'll be more intentional about it now. I think the show has now aired, and the anxiety of it has kind of gone away or the anticipation around it. It's also funny because if you date someone prior to the show airing, it's like this whole world that you can't talk to people about. And if you got serious with someone, how awkward. You're like, okay. And by the way, in 48 hours, my face will be plastered around the world, Right?
- [35:26]
A
You're about to find out everything about me and see me in a very intimate way. So you and the ladies, all the women on the show, we're taping this after the reunion has aired. I haven't watched it. You said that you and the women are, like, same page. Is it. Do you feel like the women kind of, like, talk after the show ends and they're like, give me what happened? And the men don't talk at all? Is that kind of how it feels?
- [35:50]
B
I. I definitely can't speak on the men. I have no idea what their communications is like. Um, the women, I think we all try to be as communicative as we can. I think we all try to give each other grace and understand that a lot of things happen under emotion. Um, you know things happen. But I think ultimately it's just about us, like, being able to surround each other with, like, love and make sure that we all know, like, look, we're all growing, we're all learning. And I, I, I, I'm sure all the women can speak to. This whole experience has taught us all something that we're gonna just grow from and become better at, you know, later.
- [36:30]
A
Do you think the whole Alex thing, did you feel that he had this, like, tall tale going on since you knew him? Did you always know him as this guy with a story that never really made sense?
- [36:45]
B
To a degree. I mean, it wasn't like I knew him enough to even care, though. Like, it wasn't ever a, like, yes, I didn't affect your life. Yeah, like, it was like, that doesn't make sense. But it wasn't something we were thinking about because we're not close to him. So it was just like a move on type of thing.
- [37:00]
A
What was his reputation in Chicago when in the big group, did he have a reputation or is he just, just a guy in the group?
- [37:06]
B
I mean, to me, he was just a guy that came around here and there. He wasn't there all the time. It wasn't like anything. He's pretty quiet or, I don't know, his friend group is pretty loud. So it's really hard to get a word in with any of those guys.
- [37:18]
A
Okay. And then you saw him and, and then you see him in Austin and it's just like a bump in and still, like, he just told me he
- [37:26]
B
moved here and because I was like, oh, wow, I just moved here. It was September of 2024. I was like, yeah, I just moved here. I was like, oh, yeah, I just moved here too. That's awesome. And that was.
- [37:37]
A
Are you and Ashley still cool?
- [37:39]
B
Yeah, she's my girl.
- [37:41]
A
So she's your girl? You guys are friends? Yeah, that, that someone is. So, Ashley, are there other people you'll keep up with or is it mainly just Ashley?
- [37:51]
B
No, I think I like all of us girls, try to keep in touch as much as possible. Ashley and I are definitely the closest and I love and adore her. She's an amazing friend. All the other women are also amazing. I'm glad we all have like our fun little group chats. Like, there's a couple of us who have a reality TV group chat because we love Bravo TV so that we all talk in that sense over there. And then I have, we have like other group chat. Everyone's just in little different group chats. And then we have our big group chat that we all talk into.
- [38:20]
A
And of course, the Jared Freed group chat to let people know my TikToks that are being.
- [38:26]
B
You know, my whole group knows about you. My group's from really? Chicago, Everyone. Oh, my God.
- [38:32]
A
That's cool.
- [38:34]
B
I'm telling you, at least 200 of my, like, friends. It says, like, follow. Like, when I go to your profile, it's like, oh, yeah, like friends. Yeah. So, like, you have a huge, huge following.
- [38:46]
A
Well, I.
- [38:47]
B
Thank you.
- [38:48]
A
Tell my parents. Well, before we go, I want to play a game. I love playing a game with the guests. I came up with this game. I think it's a genius game. Not to pat myself on the back, but I want to play a game because this is, like, I think this would be a great get to know you game on a date, so you can take this all your days. Okay, perfect. And do you want people to follow you? Do you want. What do you. What was your do you had a goal of social media stuff? Is that something important to you?
- [39:20]
B
If that was, I would have probably gotten engaged.
- [39:22]
A
It was just right, right, right. Go on the show and you.
- [39:27]
B
Okay, well, everyone, I still have a job. I work in capital markets. I.
- [39:32]
A
So if you're looking for a job in capital markets, talk to Priyanka. I'll put your Instagram in the bio this episode. Especially if you're. Are you looking a day you in Austin? If there's someone in Austin that's looking
- [39:46]
B
to meet you, let's do it. They should probably come to your show, where I'll be at.
- [39:49]
A
And there we go. Priyanka's good. I think everyone, this is. This is a great woman. Everybody go date. Yeah. I'll make it a segment on the show. I'll bring you on stage. We'll see if there's a guy there. Yeah, listen. I Listen. The people that like this show, specifically, I've met the men. They're usually nice guys, so. All right, Ready? We're gonna play a game called. We're gonna play a game called Love it Blind,
- [40:19]
B
okay?
- [40:20]
A
Okay. Where someone asks if you want something, and you have to say, I love it, or you, and you'll take it blind. Or if you will not. Okay.
- [40:33]
B
Oh, good. Okay.
- [40:34]
A
So I'm gonna offer you something, and you have to say, I love it blind, or give you a reason that you wouldn't. You'd refuse it. Okay. You're at dinner and the waiter offers you a soda. Would you like a soda? Do you love it blind?
- [40:57]
B
I love it blind.
- [40:59]
A
So you'll take any soda the waiter's just gonna bring over. Now you're sitting with a Dr. Pepper. You're okay with that?
- [41:09]
B
No, I'm not okay with that. I don't, Sorry.
- [41:13]
A
Okay, get the game now.
- [41:16]
B
You get the game now.
- [41:17]
A
Okay.
- [41:17]
B
Yes.
- [41:18]
A
I didn't do a good job explaining it, but okay. So. Love it blind. The waiter wants to offer you a soda. Will you love it blind?
- [41:26]
B
No, I would not.
- [41:28]
A
Okay.
- [41:29]
B
I would ask. Row of glass of wine.
- [41:31]
A
Okay. Your friend comes to you and says, I have someone to fix you up with. Will you go out with them next Tuesday at 8?
- [41:41]
B
I love it.
- [41:42]
A
Would you love it blind? You would go, no questions asked.
- [41:46]
B
I think after what we just went through, I can do it. Yeah, absolutely. And I, hopefully I can trust my friends.
- [41:52]
A
You can trust your friend. It doesn't matter. You don't want to see a picture, I'll go on the date.
- [41:58]
B
Yes.
- [41:59]
A
Okay. Someone offers you a ride to the airport with no details of when they'll show up or how they're going to take you. I'll give you a ride to the airport for your next flight. Will you love it blind?
- [42:16]
B
No, not love it blind.
- [42:18]
A
You're like, I need more information about this ride.
- [42:21]
B
I'm like, I'm calling an Uber and I'm getting in it and I'm going to be comfortable and I don't want to talk to anyone in the car.
- [42:27]
A
See, I respect that answer. I'm more likely to love the airport ride blind than I am the fix up blind. But I would take none of them blind. I, I'm with you. I, I, I'm with you on the ride. I, I want an Uber. I want to call it when I want to call it. Okay. Hey, I'm doing a dinner with my two friends from high school and you get invited.
- [42:52]
B
I feel like this happens all the time. Love it, love it blind.
- [42:55]
A
You're in. You don't care who the friends are. You don't care where you're going for dinner. You don't care where you're gonna sit. You don't care how you're gonna split it up.
- [43:05]
B
Yeah, I feel like it all just works out so, like it's, yeah, dinner.
- [43:09]
A
There is no way. I want, I want pictures of the friends.
- [43:13]
B
What friends do you have? If you're, if your friend is asking you to come to dinner, aren't you, like, okay, I know you pretty well, so I think it'll be, no, I
- [43:21]
A
don't, I don't need the, this Is your life Epis Road. I don't need to learn about their history. I don't need to be. Oh, really? Your moms knew each other, too? Yeah. I don't want to do that. I want to eat a dinner on my own. Okay. I got a free hotel room for you. Do you love it blind?
- [43:39]
B
No.
- [43:41]
A
You gotta see what you got to know where you're staying. I think for women, this is like, there's no woman on earth who's just taking any free hotel room.
- [43:49]
B
Yeah, no, not at all. Like, we.
- [43:51]
A
This is the major difference to me. This is the major difference in dating for men and women. This is the perspective. Like, if I asked a guy, hey, I got a free hotel room, the next time you go to Austin, he wouldn't ask where it is when it, you know. You know, what section of town. He'd be like, free room, but there. I think this is, like, a good metaphor for dating. Like, when you, you know. Oh, go on a first date. Well, I don't know. Who is he? You know, Like, I. I think this is, like, a major difference.
- [44:20]
B
Yeah. Yeah. We're not taking any free rooms. It's okay. We can. We can shell out some money for a nice place.
- [44:27]
A
I offer you a ticket for a flight of your choice. You can go anywhere, but I'm buying the ticket.
- [44:36]
B
Are you coming because. Or is it just me?
- [44:38]
A
Just you. Oh, you go.
- [44:42]
B
Fantastic. Love it. Blind take.
- [44:44]
A
You're like, if you're going, I'm not into it blind.
- [44:48]
B
If I'm not on my own and it's just my ticket, then, yeah, okay.
- [44:52]
A
No questions asked. You're like, I'm going to Cincinnati. I don't care that I'm sitting middle seat on Southwest. It doesn't matter.
- [45:00]
B
Yeah. If I'm going to Cincinnati, at least I'm getting to my home. And if I'm going to like London, I just know the middle seat will get me there. And then I'm gonna have the best
- [45:07]
A
time, and you're gonna have your. Your big London holiday. Priyanka Grande, thank you for coming on the show. This was fantastic. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm so happy you reached out because this was such a great inside look. I think the listeners are going to love this, especially if they're a Love is Blind fan. So thank you so much.
- [45:25]
B
Thanks for having me. This was so much fun.
- [45:27]
A
Of course. And we'll be back next week. Boom.