Party Girl to Passenger Princess w/ Bryan Danielson

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Nikki & Brie Show – "Party Girl to Passenger Princess w/ Bryan Danielson"

Episode Information:

• Title: Party Girl to Passenger Princess w/ Bryan Danielson
• Host: Brie Bella (Nikki was absent)
• Guest: Bryan Danielson
• Release Date: April 10, 2025

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1. Celebrating Marriage and Family

The episode opens with Brie Bella warmly welcoming Bryan Danielson back to the show, highlighting his distinct personality and shorter torso. The primary focus quickly shifts to Bryan and Brie celebrating their 11th wedding anniversary after 14 years together (02:00). They reflect on how time has seemingly flown by, discussing the dynamics of their long-term relationship.

Notable Quote:

• Brie Bella (02:15): "It's weird to think that we have been together in our adult lives longer than we were together at this point."
• Bryan Danielson (02:32): "I don't look like Brie that started dating Brian. I feel like there's been miles put on me, but it still feels like it's gone fast."

2. Navigating Parenthood

Brie shares heartfelt moments about their daughter, Birdie, who is turning eight soon (03:00). They discuss the fleeting nature of time in parenting and the emotional journey of watching their child grow. Bryan recounts challenges such as Birdie's feelings of not belonging at school and the emotional toll it takes on the family (09:00).

Notable Quote:

• Brie Bella (03:07): "It doesn't seem like it's been eight years since Birdie was born at all. Where did the time go?"
• Bryan Danielson (09:19): "When we saw the first thing, like psychology and PTSD, I was thinking, what?"

3. Evolution of Their Relationship and Challenges

Bryan and Brie delve into how their relationship has naturally evolved over the years. They discuss shifting from a more carefree "party girl" lifestyle to a family-centric life, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and mutual respect (10:00). They also touch upon personal challenges, including Brie's struggle with depression and how it impacts their marriage (13:34).

Notable Quotes:

• Brie Bella (10:02): "Our definitions of simple have changed."
• Bryan Danielson (13:34): "My depression would be something that I think negatively impacts our relationship."

4. Importance of Empathy and Appreciation in Marriage

A significant portion of the conversation centers on maintaining a strong marriage through empathy and appreciation. Brie highlights the need to regularly acknowledge and celebrate each other's efforts, especially in daily acts of kindness (20:12).

Notable Quotes:

• Brie Bella (20:12): "Empathy and appreciation are crucial. Regularly reminding yourself of your partner's strengths keeps the relationship vibrant."
• Bryan Danielson (23:25): "We do a really beautiful job at telling each other how much it means when we've done acts of kindness for each other."

5. Reading Habits and Book Discussions

Brie shares her extensive reading journey, transitioning from fiction to non-fiction and recently to poetry due to concussions (25:00). She discusses her interest in Haruki Murakami and Henry Kissinger's books on artificial intelligence, emphasizing their impact on her thoughts about technology and society (32:39).

Notable Quotes:

• Brie Bella (33:09): "Henry Kissinger spent the last 10 years of his life researching artificial intelligence because he saw it as something we need to contend with."
• Brie Bella (38:02): "I would love to interview Haruki Murakami to delve into his magical realism."

6. Midlife Reflections and Community Building

As Brie approaches her 44th birthday, she reflects on midlife, focusing on building a local community and fostering deeper, more meaningful connections (50:00). Bryan echoes this sentiment, discussing the importance of community in longevity and happiness, referencing the Blue Zones documentary (53:20).

Notable Quotes:

• Brie Bella (51:10): "Building local community is now a significant focus for me, ensuring that I connect regularly with those around me."
• Bryan Danielson (53:20): "Local community is the biggest thing, as highlighted in the Blue Zones documentary."

7. Fun Stories: Chicken Ownership and Animal Care

The couple shares amusing and challenging stories about their chickens, particularly Tinkerbell's broodiness (40:00). They discuss the logistics of managing egg-laying and the emotional aspects of animal care, highlighting their roles as responsible "parents" to their pets (42:00).

Notable Quotes:

• Bryan Danielson (42:26): "Tinkerbell wants to have a chick, which kills me because... she just sits on the eggs, hoping they'll hatch."
• Brie Bella (43:17): "Pushing her off the eggs is heartbreaking every day."

8. Closing: Social Media Plugs and Light Banter

The episode concludes with Bryan and Brie promoting their social media platforms, emphasizing the availability of podcast videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (59:00). They engage in playful banter about popular dances like the Macarena, showcasing their lighthearted dynamic.

Notable Quote:

• Brie Bella (59:10): "I forgot the Macarena."
• Bryan Danielson (60:13): "Look at... I'm married to this man. How lucky am I?"

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Key Takeaways:

• Marriage and Teamwork: Bryan and Brie emphasize the importance of evolving together and supporting each other's growth over a long-term relationship.

• Parenting Challenges: They candidly discuss the joys and struggles of raising a child, highlighting the emotional complexities involved.

• Mental Health Awareness: Brie's openness about her depression underscores the importance of mental health in maintaining healthy relationships.

• Lifelong Learning: Their passion for reading and continuous learning reflects their commitment to personal and intellectual growth.

• Community Building: Focusing on local communities as a source of support and connection is presented as vital for personal fulfillment.

• Animal Care: Sharing their experiences with pet chickens adds a relatable and humorous element to the conversation.

This episode offers an intimate glimpse into Bryan Danielson and Brie Bella's personal lives, blending heartfelt discussions with light-hearted anecdotes, providing listeners with both inspiration and relatability.

Transcript

[Brie Bella]

Foreign.

[Brian Danielson]

Hey, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Nikki and Brie Show. And we don't have Nikki today, but I feel like we're very lucky because.

[Brie Bella]

We got Brian somebody with a much shorter torso.

[Brian Danielson]

Yes, that is very true. And I feel like you haven't been on the podcast for a minute, Brian.

[Brie Bella]

It doesn't seem like that to me.

[Brian Danielson]

No. When was the last time?

[Brie Bella]

I don't know.

[Brian Danielson]

See, that means it's been a long time.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

You know, and granted you have a bad memory, but still.

[Brie Bella]

I do not have a bad memory. I was just at the doctors and they were. They were very impressed with my memory.

[Brian Danielson]

Okay, I'm gonna hold you to that. When you're like, oh, I don't remember.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, well, okay, if we were to gauge who has a better memory for dates between you or me?

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, well, you.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

Because you're really good with numbers and you're able to, I feel like, remember everything because instead of being like November 21st or something, you can be like 1121. And if it was 2017 or something, like, you're good with all that type.

[Brie Bella]

No. What? Yeah, what I. What I'm good at is sequential order of things.

[Brian Danielson]

There you go. You know, your brain is very impressive. And also for all of you. If you guys want to see videos of today's podcast, you can find them on all our social platforms. Brian's favorite, Instagram.

[Brie Bella]

Tout.

[Brian Danielson]

No, Instagram. Tik Tok. And Brian, guess what?

[Brie Bella]

What?

[Brian Danielson]

We're on YouTube. So you can see Brian back on our YouTube channel.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, boy.

[Brian Danielson]

How lucky are you? And also you can call our hotline, 833 Garcia, too. We love hearing from all of you. And after today's episode, there's any questions you want to call in and ask Brian. That means we can bring him back on the podcast.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. Or go to Nikki and [e-mail].

[Brian Danielson]

You know, Tout owes you a lot.

[Brie Bella]

They do.

[Brian Danielson]

A lot. Okay, everyone. So I was like, we have to start today's episode with marriage, because Brian and I are celebrating our 11 year wedding anniversary tomorrow. 11 years? Brian, does it feel like you've been married to me for 11 years?

[Brie Bella]

So it's weird to think that we have been together in our adult lives longer than we weren't together at this point.

[Brian Danielson]

Wow. Like from 18?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, you talk about from 18 until now.

[Brian Danielson]

That's crazy.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, because we've been together now 14 years.

[Brian Danielson]

That's wild.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And I have to say, it hasn't felt that long. Like it ha like, when I look in the mirror, I'm like, well, clearly I don't look like Brie that started dating Brian. I mean, I feel like I kind of do, but it's clearly. There's been miles put on me. But it's. It's still. I don't know, it feels like it's gone fast.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. It doesn't seem like it's 14 years.

[Brian Danielson]

No.

[Brie Bella]

And it doesn't seem like our marriage has been 11 years. But also, Birdie does not seem like. It doesn't seem like it's been eight years since Birdie was born at all. Like, she'll turn 8 in May.

[Brian Danielson]

Is that not crazy?

[Brie Bella]

And it's just crazy. And when I see her sometimes, I'm like, where did the time go?

[Brian Danielson]

I know.

[Brie Bella]

And they say that all the time. Parents say that all the time. But it's like, now it's happening to me, to us.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

I mean, if you think about it, she's going to be eight, and then in 10 years, like, you look a decade after that, she'll be 18. And I just think of our last 11 years, how fast it went.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. So it was funny because me and Bertie were riding bikes, and then we stopped at her friend without. Because they're remodeling their house. Right. And I was talking with the parents while Birdie was playing with her friend in their. In their kind of vineyard area. And the. And the mother had said, because they're remodeling their house. And they said, well. And, you know, I mean, because their daughter is. Is going to be 10 soon, you know, and they're only going to be in the house another eight years. And I was like, so they're building their house or they're remodeling their house. They're thinking like, well, yeah, and then the kids are only going to be here another eight years. And I've never thought of it like that. Like. Like, Birdie might only be here another 10 years.

[Brian Danielson]

No.

[Brie Bella]

With us.

[Brian Danielson]

You know what messed me up? Is someone on. I know. I always. When I go on Instagram. I know, I know. But if you think about that's 10 more Christmases, that doesn't feel like a lot. Like where they. If they're leaving the house now, I kind of feel like Birdie might stay with us longer. I don't know. I just have that feeling like, she's not gonna leave. Right. At 18. Like, I turned 18, I was like, back. I. Yeah, but I don't think Birdie will.

[Brie Bella]

I left the night I Graduated high school the night I started driving from Aberdeen, Washington to San Antonio, Texas.

[Brian Danielson]

To go to wrestling school.

[Brie Bella]

Go to wrestling school.

[Brian Danielson]

Shawn Michaels.

[Brie Bella]

To be a wrestler. To be a wrestler.

[Brian Danielson]

I love it. Well, I thought, you know, it's only wifey of me to ask you some questions about our marriage.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, boy.

[Brian Danielson]

I know.

[Brie Bella]

That's what, that's what husbands love.

[Brian Danielson]

I know they do, right? Especially when they're the trick questions. Like, we're really testing you.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, good, good.

[Brian Danielson]

Or we should just tell you like the answer we want to hear, but we're praying and hoping you're just going to say it.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

You know.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

Just like when we feel like we can. Like I always say this wrong telepathy, like your brain. Like I'm telling them right now to do the dishes even though you're always so great at it. But you know something? I'm thinking household instead of us just saying it. But anyways, these are going to be nicer questions.

[Brie Bella]

I started to get worried, like, what did I walk into? I was just at the doctors and now.

[Brian Danielson]

All right, so what is your favorite memory of us together? I know that's hard and like 11 years, you're like to be put on the spot. But is there anything that just like, boom, stands out so. Gosh, besides our honeymoon, I mean, do.

[Brie Bella]

You know what the. You know, I remember Mo. I don't want to say most about our honeymoon because I mean the thing that really sticks out.

[Brian Danielson]

Okay. When you lost the keys.

[Brie Bella]

The keys. I think we've already notion story. Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And I was getting so. I was so mad.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. But it was, but it was after we had been intimate and we're staring up and we could see, remember out at the, at the moon and the stars.

[Brian Danielson]

Because it was just a lunar eclipse.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, it was just. It was.

[Brian Danielson]

We're in that glass bamboo hut.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. That was so, so great.

[Brian Danielson]

That isn't. Yeah, that was a good memory.

[Brie Bella]

So I think, gosh, the things that I've very. That I've really cherished are just the everyday things. Right. Like, I love the double hugs when the kids get super excited and we give them like a big double hug.

[Brian Danielson]

Double hugs are always.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, I remember. You know, I mean, the thing that I think of, like the first thing when you said that as soon as it came into my mind is when we both picked up Bud and we. He. He wanted you to carry him, but he also wanted me to like hug you as we're walking. And so here we are leaving school and the kids are not supposed to be carried.

[Brian Danielson]

Right.

[Brie Bella]

They're not supposed to be carried. But not was Buddy being carried. He was being carried by both of us. And he was just so happy.

[Brian Danielson]

And we're walking like crabs to the car. People must think we're bonkers. But it's like we're pro wrestlers, so we get away with it. But you know, I have to tell you, cuz the kids, when we do that, their smiles are like the biggest I've ever seen.

[Brie Bella]

Because it's hard to talk about peak moments. Right. To me, like this thing of like, oh, what's your. People would ask me this about wrestling, right? What, what's your favorite wrestling match that you've ever. That you ever did? And it's like, I don't have a singular favorite. Like, I enjoyed wrestling. I loved wrestling. Right. And so it's like, okay, what this singular moment that you've had with your wife that you just like epitomizes your love for. For her. And I don't think, I don't think that there's that singular moment because it wouldn't, it wouldn't measure up to what people's expectations are of that. What my brain immediately went to when you said that was when we were both double cuddling Buddy in his super tiny bed the other night.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

And it's like those are the moments as to why here we are 14 years in and I still love you so much. Right.

[Brian Danielson]

Of you too.

[Brie Bella]

So.

[Brian Danielson]

And you know what it is, is it's those moments that we rejoice so much that I feel like makes our marriage really great because we cherish those parts. And parenting is easy with you.

[Brie Bella]

Parenting is not easy for anybody ever.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, no, you make it. You make it easy is what I should have said. Yeah, definitely is.

[Brie Bella]

So, you know, but this is, this is what I see. Because I see, I see it in other couples where it doesn't work. Like, this is that you and I act as a team. And I think that that's maybe, that's.

[Brian Danielson]

Maybe where the falls in a lot of relationships.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And I was, you know, in the last episode, I was telling everyone that some of one of our biggest challenges in the last couple months has been with Birdie and her feeling of not belonging and what she's been going through at school. And then when we got her brain scans back and you and I were just like gutted and I was telling everyone, like, you know, just when you feel like you make your environment so loved and safe for them, and then something like that happens And I'm. I mean, when we saw the first thing, like, psychology, tsd, and I'm thinking, like, what? And then, you know, they look at you like, has something happened? And I'm like, I have worked overtime to make everything just like. It's filled with love and joy.

[Brie Bella]

You wrestlers, you know, and we always get judged. What are you wrestlers doing to your kids?

[Brian Danielson]

But, you know, and I was telling everyone how, you know, it was so great how you and I both had a couple different opinions, but we sit down and we work on it, and we came up with such a beautiful plan for Bird, you know, and so. Okay, so second question. How do you feel like our relationship has evolved? I kind of feel like you touched on a little bit.

[Brie Bella]

But, yeah, I mean, there's just the natural processes of life as far as how things evolve and how, okay, when we're young, we have more energy, and it's about just the two of us, right? And there's also. When we're young, we can be together and also be selfish, right? So we have times to be. We have times to be selfish and times to, like, go do our own thing or go do whatever it is that we want and. Or just being able to go do whatever we want together. Whereas now our lives aren't like that. And that's not. I don't even view that as an. You know, I don't view that as a negative. It's just a change in just the nature of how our lives are. And now. And here's the other thing. We could do that, right? We could pay our nanny to come and work more, right? We could have her for 30 hours a week, you know, or whatever it is. But we don't, because we like being with our kids. And I think that's, you know, I think that's how it's. That's how it's really changed. We've just gotten older. It's a. It's a natural way that just humans evolve, right?

[Brian Danielson]

And, you know, for me, it's interesting because, like, I'll say this in the beginning because we all know Brian doesn't drink, as in a sip of alcohol in his whole life. And I was like, I wonder how this will work, right? Because I was a little bit of a party girl in the beginning.

[Brie Bella]

A little bit.

[Brian Danielson]

Okay, I was a party girl. But. And in the. Classy party girl. But I. I will say this for anyone out there who's dating someone, they're like, I don't know. I mean, he doesn't like to drink And I enjoy. You definitely evolve in your relationship of like, I mean, once I started having kids, so much of that went away. Then I got to my 40s, more of that. I mean, you see me, Brian, like, I don't even drink at home. It might be rare if you see me open up and pour a glass of wine at home. Other than that, it's more social. And then I think two. It's like I tried to force Brian so much in the beginning of our relationship, like, come with me here, there. Because I always wanted to be with me. But then it's like I got to a point where I realized his social anxieties or he just doesn't enjoy going to parties. And it was like I finally let go and I'm like, why am I going to force him to do that? Like, he wants to. He'd rather be home.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And we both just started to understand that and evolve more. And I just feel like we've been great about that.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. And you know, like, I think the learning more about your significant other as you're both evolving and you're always going to change, right. Like, like, if I am the same, like, you know how people would say, oh, you've changed, Right? Yeah, of course.

[Brian Danielson]

For the best.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. Well, and some.

[Brian Danielson]

You're right. Me for the best for Brian, of course.

[Brie Bella]

And so, so. But it's like, but it's, you know, as you are changing, as I am changing, our relationship is changing, is like, okay, how do I need to evolve with our evolving relationship with you evolving as a person? Because you're a different person than you were 14 years ago. I'm a different person than I was 14 years ago. And so we can't hold ourselves to the same expectations that we had from 14 years ago, you know, so agree.

[Brian Danielson]

It's so true. What do you think has been our biggest challenge in our marriage?

[Brie Bella]

Ooh, that's.

[Brian Danielson]

I know that's tough.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, I would. I would say I would. The, the biggest, the biggest challenge that we've had as a couple is differing opinions on where we would like to live.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, that's for sure been that.

[Brie Bella]

But then I think from a, like a relational point of view, as far as, like, I would actually put it on myself as far as, like, my depression would be something that I think negatively impacts our relationship or it feels like it does sometimes. As far as, like the, the es and flows of a day, of a week, of a month or whatever. You know what I mean?

[Brian Danielson]

I mean, I definitely very hard in the beginning when I didn't because I wanted to be the clown and make you happy and, like. And then finally, when a doctor was like, you know, like, you're never going to make him happy when he's in it, because it's not about that. Like, when that doctor at the brain center. What was that place called, the hospital we were doing all that brain testing. Arizona. Why can't I think of that? Oh, big facility there.

[Brie Bella]

Barrows.

[Brian Danielson]

Barrows. When we were there, it was the doctor who. You were out getting scans and, like, was talking to me. And it's. What you need to work on is how do you cope and go on with your life when he's there? And I just was like, oh, you know, I was working overtime just trying to make him happy. And I just wanted to see a smile or something. But it was, like, interesting. It's like when you're in this, you know, I've done the work on it, and Carrie has helped me. And now it's like, when I see you're in it, it's, like, easy for me. Like, it doesn't feel hard. And like, granted, like, is it still hard? Yes, but I have such a great understanding and know how to do it. And so it's like you just got to do the work.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

Gotta do the work.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. It's hard. It's hard, though. Like. And you can see it's hard for the significant other of somebody who. Who's experiencing depression. Right. And then I think it's also hard, as you know, in that idea of we. We are both evolving, but we're not necessarily. We evolve together, hopefully. But then you and I are each very different. Like, you know, when we were. When we were young, before we were even married, there was this idea that we wanted to live this simple life. Right. And then.

[Brian Danielson]

And then now I still think it's simple. Not as simple as living in a yurt in the middle of the W. Kids. You're right.

[Brie Bella]

But. But, so, But. But our. But our definitions of simple have changed.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, this is what happened before kids. I thought, yeah, like, the certain life you have kids, a lot changes. And I think, too, it's like you have no experience with kids. So I never once thought about, like, stability for them, for school. Right. I never once thought about, like, what's important for them and what their needs. Because I didn't know kids, needs. I mean, yeah, I kind of babysat. Would, you know, see my friends, kids here, there. But I. We were living in such a different world. Traveling the world, wrestling. And then I don't even know. Like, just so much going on that the hippie life felt. It just felt different. And then when kids came into play, it changes you. I still think we live simple, just not Brian's definition. Okay, next question. What do you feel like our next 11 years looks like?

[Brie Bella]

Gosh, I don't know. And I'm grateful that I don't know. And what. What I hope is that it will still be so. It will be. Continue to be filled with love and empathy for each other and. And yeah, that will just be there. Like, we are going to experience ups and downs for sure. Right. There's always going to be something that's hard, but there's also going to be things that are incredible. And to I. What I hope is that we don't. I see. I think this with the kids all the time. That we don't miss out. Right. Like, I don't want to. I want to be present in all of these amazing things for this one life that we have, even as they change and evolve and as we're experiencing them. You like some, because I sometimes I have this. I think you have less of this, but I have this of where it's like, this isn't what I expected. This isn't what I expected.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah. And I go with the ride.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. But that doesn't mean it's. It's not also good. Right. And so it's like. So a lot of times for me, the struggle is the acceptance of this was not what I was expecting. And. But yeah, this is still rad. You know?

[Brian Danielson]

I agree. I so agree. And I'm the same. It's like, I feel like we. When I look at our last 11 years and how we've evolved together and.

[Brie Bella]

What if you would have told me 14 years ago that I'd be living.

[Brian Danielson]

In Napa in wine country.

[Brie Bella]

In wine country. I would have said no.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

Effing way.

[Brian Danielson]

And who knows where we'll live in the next 11, right? Oh, my gosh.

[Brie Bella]

But I feel like we might be going to Greenland.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, that's been a hot topic in the Daniel cinema household. Fml. But I will say this, that I do see our last 11 years and how much we've evolved and the effort we have put into our marriage. So it makes me excited for the next 11, especially because I feel like it's weird. It's. You know, when I look at our last 11, I mean, I had just turned 30 and like just where we were at in life at that point. And then you see where we're at. In life now, so it'll be interesting to see.

[Brie Bella]

Like, you know what's also interesting is you define it as 11, and I define it as 14.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, because I was talking marriage.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, Right.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah. Together.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

Well, I think. Because I think we differentiate between, like, the. The actual.

[Brian Danielson]

No, when people ask me how long I've been with you, I actually go to the 14, and then I'll say, married. 11.

[Brie Bella]

No, she actually goes to. This is where. How long have we been together, Brian? How long have we been together?

[Brian Danielson]

Because I'm so awful with time, I have to, like, literally sometimes, like, count, like, go, okay, I'm 41. I was 20, so it's so bad. Okay, last question I have. What do you think is important to keep a marriage going?

[Brie Bella]

I think empathy. That's what I think. It's like being able to look at a situation from the other person's point of view and trying to step in when your partner needs something and try to appre. So empathy for them and then appreciation for them. For them. Right. Like, try to get your mind. And this is the same thing, I think, with the gratitude, practice with Birdie and, you know. And gratitude, practice with yourself. Start noticing the amazing things about your partner. Right. Like, on a regular, daily basis in your mind, be like, that's amazing. And if, you know, so. Because so commonplace would it be with us being together for 14 years if I had met somebody, If I had met. If I was single and I had met a woman who was just like you, and I had just met her and be like, oh, my gosh, I just met this amazing woman. Right, Right. But then how often after being together for 14 years, do we tell our relatives, our friends or whatever, oh, my gosh, my wife is this amazing person.

[Brian Danielson]

Right?

[Brie Bella]

Right. And. And because you get so used to how amazing you are that it becomes commonplace. And then, so it's regularly reminding. Like, regularly reminding yourself or noticing or just appreciating the moments when it's like, oh, my gosh, like, my wife's a rock star. Right? Like, just like. And I'm not talking about rock star. Like, oh, she has a podcast. And, you know, like, you know, you could stop doing all this tomorrow. Tomorrow. And the rock star part of you is not that. The rock star part of you is the way you are with the kids, the way you are with people, the way I greatly appreciate and don't know what it would be like for. To be with somebody else when I'm experiencing depression. Right. Just going back to that concept, you know, all of those types of things, so.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, well, thank you, sweet face. And I. I think we do a really beautiful job at telling each other just how much it means when we've done acts of kindness for each other. Like, Brian lets me sleep in in the morning, like, if he knows, especially because I've been going through, you know, because buddy will come in a lot, and it's. It's never happened to me before, but now I can't get back to sleep. It, like, takes hours. And so Brian is so sweet. He'll, like, make everyone be quiet out in the kitchen. He gets them on and, like, shut my door, and he lets me sleep in. And I feel like I do a really good job, like, recognizing and telling you how much that means to me. Like, all those things are when he. He does the dishes or does the laundry or all the stuff. And I feel like we both do a great job at telling each other how much those acts of kindness mean. And I think that's important to tell people in marriage.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. And you know what else is really great about our relationship is how humble we are about our relationship. And, oh, my God, you know, not, you know, I. I. People have told us that we're the most humble couple, and I believe it. I think we are the most humble couple. So.

[Brian Danielson]

Are you joking right now, or, like, I feel like, yeah, we are. But then I'm like, should we go celebrating the tacos after this? We're badass.

[Brie Bella]

I actually do so. But, you know, as, you know, as we're talking about this thing, you know, that thing inside of me, it's like, I can't. We can't. We can't. We can't.

[Brian Danielson]

Like, I'm like, yes, we've worked hard for this. We deserve. My gosh. Well, Brian, thank you for incredible 11. And I can't wait for. I'm not even 14. But I'm talking about marriage. But. And I just. I do. I love living life with you. And I tell people all the time how blessed I am that you're my husband. I'm like, I've honestly been blessed with the greatest husband. He lets me live my dreams. He gets to hear all my crazy ideas. I probably. Like, he's heard me pitch, like, a hundred things I think I should be doing.

[Brie Bella]

Okay. To be fair, we both have crazy ideas.

[Brian Danielson]

We do. They're different.

[Brie Bella]

Crazy.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, they're different. Yours are more ants, beat us to the moon. Mine's like a different, you know, business I can start, but, you know, I I honestly couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And so I love you.

[Brie Bella]

I love you, too.

[Brian Danielson]

But now we're going to go to something else that is, you know, also owns your heart.

[Brie Bella]

Okay.

[Brian Danielson]

And that's books. Oh, it's time for Brian's books. You ready, Brian?

[Brie Bella]

I am ready.

[Brian Danielson]

So, everyone, anytime you're on the podcast, everyone's always like, what's Brian reading? We need to put it to our book club list. And it's always really insightful. We always know you're reading at least three books at a time. Two or three. So I really would love for you to talk about what your books are. But before you do, there was a couple questions I wrote down, because I'm like, wait, I've never asked Brian these. And I'm actually very curious. So before we get into the books that you're reading.

[Brie Bella]

So can. Can we just pause.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

To recognize how ludicrous that is. You had these ideas. We were in bed, and she told me this last night. She said, yeah, I've never asked you these things, so I'm going to ask you on the podcast. And in my head, I'm like, well, why don't you ask me now? Like, not in front of people, but.

[Brian Danielson]

You know, this woman is a brand and a business, and she likes to do her biddy in front of people. I thrive that way. Okay. So, Brian, was there a certain book that you read when you were younger that made you get into reading, or was it something that your parents distilled in you? Like, how is it that you became this fantastic reader and got you literally indulge in books and love it?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, no, my parents. Neither of my parents were big readers. I think how it developed. And I'm. And I don't know exactly that this is true, but this is how I. How I think it developed is I was sick a lot as a kid. And so. And I was just. And I learned to read at a relatively young age and was just interested. Right. Whenever you're interested in stuff, like, oh, okay, I couldn't get enough information about stuff. And then it was. And reading was super fun. Right. And so it was like, that's how I was. Most people are introduced to wrestling through seeing it on tv. I was introduced to wrestling through wrestling magazines that a friend gave me. And so it was like, I was sick. I was sick at home, and he had lent me, like, four or five wrestling magazines, and I would just, like, read these stories and look at these pictures, and I was just like, oh, my Gosh, I wonder what this actually looks like, right? And then, and then you see wrestling and as a 7, 8 year old kid, you see it in your especially you're talking about like 1980s wrestling. It was just like these monsters of men with face paint and, you know, all sorts of different things. And so, so, yeah, I mean, like, I don't know where it came from, but it just gradually developed. But I mean, like, even in high school, I mean, this is. You would recognize this as being such a me thing, right? I had this crush on this girl in high school, right? And she said, oh, yeah, I really like Ayn Rand. And I was like, oh, okay. And then. So my thing is not to talk to her. It's to, okay, I'm gonna read his books. It's a woman. I'm gonna go read all of Ayn Rand's books. And these are monster books, right? The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged. But I also read her nonfiction book books, which. And then by the end of me. So this is, this is my plan to get this girl, right? My plan to get this girl is I'm going to read all of Ayn Rand's books and then I can go talk to her about it, right? But by the time I'd finished reading all of Ayn Rand's books, I was no longer attracted to the girl because I was like, who, like, reads these type of books? No, no, no. Who believes in this type, who believes in this type of ideology? And also the, the idea. The idea. And I thought this later, you know, because high schoolers say things that may or may not be true. You just have to acknowledge that. So she may have read a full, a full Lane Rand book. Maybe she read both the Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. They're both long books. Or maybe she just read one of them. Or maybe she read parts of them. Or maybe she thought that that was. And she didn't actually read them at all. Read them at all.

[Brian Danielson]

Just throughout an author.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. And then so, but there was this one that really, by the time I finished reading this book, and I'll never forget it, by the time I finished reading this book, I was like, this is disgusting. And it was called Selfishness, the Unknown Ideal. Now, Ayn Rand, the Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged are both like well known, well received books. You know, one of them is Donald Trump said was his favorite book of all time. I think it was Atlas Shrugged, but I don't know. So it's like, but a lot of like, luminaries, world leaders or whatever will. Will talk Will talk very highly of these books, but she's not a very well regarded nonfiction writer. But I didn't realize that at the time. I just went to the used bookstore and found Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand. And I got everything right and I read it all and I was like.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, like, it's a good way to figure out if you like someone.

[Brie Bella]

Well, so this is kind of what I think right now, that I wish more of our world leaders would say, like, hey, if you want to. Really? Because, for example, if you were to, you hear an interview and you say this politician thinks this way, or they're saying like, I want this, or I think we should do this or that or whatever. Okay, where, where do, are you getting these ideas? What, what books have influenced you to become the person you are today? Right. That's one of the things I like about my good friend Barack Obama is that he recommends me.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, you said good friend. Everyone's gonna think like, you're connected.

[Brie Bella]

Well, he recommends me books every year.

[Brian Danielson]

You're on his book club list.

[Brie Bella]

It's not even a list. You can just look up Barack Obama's.

[Brian Danielson]

That's cool. He does that.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, it's super cool. Like, I would love for these people who have these, you know, and you, you can love or hate these people, whatever it is, but if they at least let you help you or give you books or articles or whatever it is to help you understand where their perspective is coming from.

[Brian Danielson]

Right.

[Brie Bella]

You know, that I think that would be tremendously valuable, you know, and like, oh. Or how they see the world or like, there's got to be a lot of books that are put out by MIT Press or whatever it is for sure that aren't on the bestseller list that are very influential among world leaders, but are not necessarily read by you or I. But like, hey, if you guys read this, you might have a better understanding of how the world works.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, I actually love that.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

You know, it's actually because I think of when I come in contact with people and books, they recommend me. You know, someone might recommend you all these different self help books, but it's actually interesting probably what's going on in their life. And then, you know, like, different someone might give you, which I like the raunchy little novels, you know, like I, I need a good chapter on a sex scene and different stuff. But like, it's like very telling of people, you know. So before we get into your books, last one. How has your reading journey evolved?

[Brie Bella]

So at first I read A lot of fiction and then I transfer and then it went into a lot of non fiction. And then when I started having issues with my concussions, I switched to some poetry. And then this year has actually been a really interesting year. I haven't kept up with the, with reading, finishing a book a week. But that's because I've been.

[Brian Danielson]

You've been reading some monster.

[Brie Bella]

Monster. Some monsters. But this year is the first year in a long time where I think I've actually read more fiction books than I have non fiction books.

[Brian Danielson]

Wow.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. And So I read 11 books so far this year. I think five of them are nonfiction. I think six of them are fiction.

[Brian Danielson]

Wow. Well, let's hear what's, what's like the, the latest three that you've been reading or your top three that you've been reading out of the 11 you tell us.

[Brie Bella]

So, so my, the one that, that I just finished, it's called Genesis by Henry Kissinger and two other people. One of the things Genesis is about artificial intelligence. And one of the things that's fascinating to me about this and I hope I'm like this, I hope I'm like Henry Kissinger because he passed away in 2023 at 100 years old.

[Brian Danielson]

Wow.

[Brie Bella]

So he spent, so he spent a majority of his life doing public service in government in like in thinking about international relations and thinking about all these high highly complex things. Right. You'd think, okay, I'm 90 years old, I've served my entire adult life to the public sphere. I can just relax, I can go to Tahiti, whatever, you know, wherever you think of as like a vacation spot or whatever. I've served my time. It's time for the next generation to move on. No, he spent the last 10 years of his life researching artificial intelligence because he saw that as something that we are going to have to contend with. This is a very powerful tool. This is something that we could use to benefit us or it could really harm us. And it's going to change the, it's going to change the dynamics of international relations. So he spent the last 10 years of his life, you know, his last two books, the, the one before this was the Age of AI and then this one is Genesis. And he has two other co writers. One of them is a biographer who kind of. And then the other one is the one he wrote his previous book with who also deals with a lot of AI stuff. And so but anyways, I one the way that they think because it's written together, it doesn't say like this is Henry Kissinger's part. This is the other two, two men's parts. It's sad that I can't remember their names, but we'll get them.

[Brian Danielson]

We'll get them.

[Brie Bella]

But, but, you know, but these complex ideas about artificial intelligence, it's just really inspiring and got me thinking to a lot of possibilities as far as uses and, and dangers and that sort of thing. And also things that like, you know me, I hate my cell phone, right? But things that we have to be very careful of with our phones and that sort of thing. And so anyways, do you think it's fine?

[Brian Danielson]

I did my DNA test and people were like, well, they're gonna sell your DNA. And I'm like, what do you mean?

[Brie Bella]

So? I mean, yeah, I mean, we live in an attention economy, which right now, you know, this is what this podcast is. This is an attention economy. We are getting people's attention. And your advertisers are paying you to get their attention so that they can hear their ads, right? So when you talk about data and that sort of thing, this is my understanding. So you, you get people's data so that you can better sell them things, right?

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, but like, I mean, I was like, it's not like they can commit a crime and use my DNA.

[Brie Bella]

Well, we don't know. And it all depends on, it all depends on how we use our AI, right? So, you know, and, and these are all. We are at the beginning stages, like how advanced AI is right now. Like, I just started fooling around with it because I've read a couple books on AI at this point and thought, okay, I need to kind of understand and fool around with this a little bit more. And there will be people on other podcasts who know way more about it than me, but it's, it's crazy how unbelievably powerful it is already. And we're at artificial intelligence's like infancy, right? It's going to get, you know, substantially more impressive as, as time goes on in theory. You know, that's what they say. But anyways, Genesis by Henry Kissinger. It was just fantastic and relatively short. I mean, under 300 pages. So. And for. So that's my non fiction for my fiction this year. What I've loved reading and Bree has seen this. I have just re. Fallen in love with Haruki Murakami and he's a Japanese author whose works are translated. I'm in the middle of reading. So earlier this year I read this City and its Uncertain Walls and then the other one That I read was Kafka on the Shore. And I love them. They're very just like dreamlike. They. They really. I love his writing. And they get me ready to go to sleep. And right now, Bri, I'm reading this book that's almost 1200 pages, you guys.

[Brian Danielson]

It's crazy.

[Brie Bella]

I'm.

[Brian Danielson]

It's the most intimidating book I've ever seen.

[Brie Bella]

I'm 770 pages in and still have a little. A little less than 400 pages to go. And. But I'm just loving. And I. And I read it before I go to sleep every night. And yeah, I just. Yeah, I'm just really enjoying it. And I mean, him, the guy who wrote Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I think 100 years of solitude, like, he's the. He's the. It's that kind of writing. If you've read 100 Years of Solitude, if you have not. You don't know what I'm talking about.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, I have to say, Brian, if we could bring an author onto this podcast and you and I could interview them, who would be your top three?

[Brie Bella]

You've all know Harari would be first. 101st. I just, I love all of his books. Sapiens, Homo Deus, 21 problems for the 21st century. And then the book I read, I finished reading this year, or maybe I read it for the second time this year, is Nexus, which is the history of information. I may have talked about that on your podcast before, but, yeah, he's just. The way he thinks about the world. I'm just very intrigued by. I would like the biographer, if I could remember his name for Henry Kissinger. Because if he's writing a biography on Henry Kissinger, I've. Through these books on AI, I become more interested in Henry Kissinger's role in government and society throughout his life. So I can't wait if he's writing a biography on it, which is what it sounds like. They keep calling him his biographer. Yeah. So it makes me think he's writing a biography.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

So. So I would like to have him on to just talk about that and what he's learned about public service from Henry Kissinger. So that. And I mean, I guess I would love to talk to Haruki Murakami, but he's Japanese. I'm sure his English is good. But. Yeah, but he's. But about his magical realism.

[Brian Danielson]

There you go.

[Brie Bella]

And. But he also wrote. I read this book by him in. Before you and I ever got together, he wrote a nonfiction book about running.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, wow.

[Brie Bella]

Because he loves to Run. So, yeah, he wrote a book called On Running or something like that.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, wow.

[Brie Bella]

And so, yeah, so he would. He would be very interesting. You know, there's also like Brene Brown. I think she's.

[Brian Danielson]

She would quote from her in my last episode.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, did you really?

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, I've actually read one of her books because she's spiritual too, right? She has a couple. Yeah, spiritual inspirational books.

[Brie Bella]

I mean, inspirational for sure.

[Brian Danielson]

I definitely have a book somewhere. I mean, maybe you got it for me. I don't know. But I remember reading and loving. Yeah, I remember loving her writing. And I feel like you've told me before you should bring her that. You're like Bree, you should really have her on the podcast.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. I mean, there's Robin Wall Kimmerer and she. Robin Wall kimmerer, she wrote. She's most known for braiding sweetgrass. But this year I read she has a smaller book if you want like a small book to. That's easy to read. It's like a hundred and something pages that will help you appreciate like plants or where you can get wisdom from, natural cycles and that sort of thing. The Service Barrier by Robin Wall Kimmerer is. It's just excellent. And I think she'd be a fascinating person to. To interview just about her life, you know?

[Brian Danielson]

Right.

[Brie Bella]

I mean, there's so many. So many, so many cool people.

[Brian Danielson]

As a wedding gift, I will work on bringing these authors to the podcast so you can interview them.

[Brie Bella]

So I can interview them? Why would I interview them?

[Brian Danielson]

Because you sound. You're more intellectual than me. Like, you sound better.

[Brie Bella]

What do you mean?

[Brian Danielson]

And you read all the books. I can't read all those books.

[Brie Bella]

You can.

[Brian Danielson]

I'll be your side piece. Like you do the main thing. I'll be the sidekick.

[Brie Bella]

I don't think side piece or, you know, the right word.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, yeah, Sidekick. Side piece is like. Oh, yeah. That's like an affair or a mistress or something.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like. Like you're my wife and she's my side piece.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, no, I meant sidekick. Sidekick. But we will do that. Well, before we get into inspiration affirmation, I thought it would be fun to just ask you a couple little things, you know, just about the chickens. Everyone needs to get a good chicken story, especially from you. And just something on bud I thought would be fun and, you know, so. And I thought maybe I throw a little environmental question in there too. But. So, Brian, you have to tell everyone what we have been dealing with, with our sweet. Well, I got to Cross out sweet. Now with our Tinkerbell, she's been broody. Yep. Very broody.

[Brie Bella]

Broody.

[Brian Danielson]

Didn't know what that was, how to Google it.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, well, that's because you didn't read a book on chickens.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, but you. He got me a book on chickens. Haven't picked it up yet. I guess I need to.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, it's called what a Chicken Knows by Simon Montgomery. Yeah, I think.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, I need to read that. And it looks like an easy read, too.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, super easy read. Yeah, I thought she would enjoy it. Turns out she didn't pick it up, so. So. But, yeah, but she. Tinkerbell has been wanting. It seems like her innate desire is.

[Brian Danielson]

To have a chick, which kills me because, like, her.

[Brie Bella]

And so she lays her eggs and she just sits on them and hoping.

[Brian Danielson]

That it will hatch, won't eat, won't drink, fights us, like, gets really mad if we try to take them. So I did this thing where I was like, oh, well, you know what? We already have so many eggs, I'll let her sit on it for a couple days. Well, I triggered it to be worse, in a way. And so Brian and I had to research what to do. And poor thing, we had to, like, push her off.

[Brie Bella]

We have to push her off the eggs. Eggs we use, like, this broom.

[Brian Danielson]

It's a broom to get spiders. So it's, like, soft.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. But it's like. Like pushes her off. And she resists it hard. She resists.

[Brian Danielson]

You know, because I thought, oh, I could do with my hand. I started packing my hand. I'm like, I don't know, dangerous.

[Brie Bella]

And then she gets out, and she tries to attack the other chickens, and then the one chicken tries to attack her.

[Brian Danielson]

And then it's like chaos. And I always look at Brian, I'm like, everything's okay. Right? Because, like, you get nervous that. Are you doing it. Right? Like, I get that anxiety. And of course, Tinkerbell's mine. I'm like, why does mine have to be the bitchy one?

[Brie Bella]

Okay. So.

[Brian Danielson]

And she's the smallest one.

[Brie Bella]

I wouldn't define any of them as any of ours.

[Brian Danielson]

No, but, like, I. That one's the one I, like, pointed at and was like, that one's mine. And I named her. You know, the kids and I, one day, we, like, pointed. Which one's ours? And we named them.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

So that was mine.

[Brie Bella]

Okay.

[Brian Danielson]

And Fiddler is yours.

[Brie Bella]

Really? I can't even identify which one is Fiddler.

[Brian Danielson]

I. I know which one's Fiddler. And so. But, yeah, that's what we've been doing with the chickens, and they're doing great on laying eggs and their coops. Incredible. Like, I feel like we've given him so much, and then it's like, you deal with this, and it's just like, man, it's hard then.

[Brie Bella]

Well, it's not. So it's not as hard as she's making it out to be. We just push her off the eggs every day, but it's sad every day.

[Brian Danielson]

It literally breaks. And then she, like, runs around so angry.

[Brie Bella]

So angry. Yeah. So do you want to tell them what your solution was?

[Brian Danielson]

What was my solution?

[Brie Bella]

To put a fertilized egg under her.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, yeah.

[Brie Bella]

So she could actually hatch a chicken.

[Brian Danielson]

And then I do that.

[Brie Bella]

And then I brought up to Brie.

[Brian Danielson]

What if it's a rooster?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. We won't know if it's a hen.

[Brian Danielson]

Or a rooster, which then made me rethink things. But at the same time, I'm like, I don't know. See, this is what's hard when you own animals, especially, like, Brian and I, who are crazy animal lovers. It's like, it's just another thing to pull at your heartstrings and give you anxiety. But whatever.

[Brie Bella]

Can I tell you what. What I've had a hard time with recently? What is the idea of us owning animals? Animals. And do you know where I got this idea from?

[Brian Danielson]

What?

[Brie Bella]

Buddy calling us owners.

[Brian Danielson]

I know, but he calls us owners. He's like, you're my owners. And we're like, no, we're your parents.

[Brie Bella]

But then I start thinking of like, oh, do we really own these animals? Or are we just parents to these.

[Brian Danielson]

Animals or parents to them?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, we're guides to them.

[Brian Danielson]

We are. I also was devastated when I found out chickens live up to two years.

[Brie Bella]

No, they live longer than two years.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, good.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

Because I'm like, that's gonna break my heart every two years.

[Brie Bella]

No, some live seven to 10 years. They stop laying eggs relatively young, I think, you know, and then they're just part of.

[Brian Danielson]

Part of having animals. You got to deal with, like, the happy part and then the heartbreak. So hard. Okay, so something. I. I was like, okay, I have a couple things for you I thought would be fun for everyone. What. What are your feelings when you see Buddy, who is just so in love with wrestling? I mean, he loves to watch it. He loves to wrestle, and he's a little natural at his movements and his moves, but how does that make you feel?

[Brie Bella]

So sometimes it makes, like. It's so much fun and Then other times, it's really hard because he jumps on my neck.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

And no matter how many times on mine, I'm like, And no matter how many times we tell him, hey, Daddy's got a bad neck. Please don't jump on my neck. He just jumps on her neck or on my neck. And so. But it really brings me joy to see, like, what he's drawn to just in life. Right. And not just in wrestling, but. But because we're talking about wrestling. Like, his favorite wrestler in AEW is Brian Keith, the Bad Apple.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

And when the Bad apple. When the Bad Apple comes on screen, he's like, ooh, Daddy, the Bad Apple. And so it's like. It's actually. Actually one of my. One of my favorite things right now is watching wrestling with Bud and him saying to me, daddy, who's gonna win? And, you know, and then I tell him who I think's gonna win or whatever it is. And then to see his reactions to certain people and, like, how much he loves different things. And. Yeah, he loves when the. When. When the bad apple comes on. Oh, does Buddy get excited?

[Brian Danielson]

And he loves watching the women, too. Yeah, he loves women wrestling.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. Yeah, he does.

[Brian Danielson]

It's really amazing to you. What is it if Buddy. Let's say Buddy gets into wrestling? Because I kind of look at him and I'm like, I feel like it's his calling, but, you know, that might just be a wild four and a half year old, but what is it when he gets into that you hope that your legacy has left for him?

[Brie Bella]

I don't know. I mean, you know, it's hard for me to say because, you know, the. The first answer that would come to your head, what would be the benefit of having Bryan Danielson as your dad? When. If you're trying to get into wrestling, it's like, oh, it opens doors, right? It would, like, you know, you would. But then that also creates expectation, you know, So I would think, you know, I don't necessarily. If he wants to wrestle, I want it to be because he wants to wrestle. Right. And one of the things that made me the wrestler that I was is that I had some people obviously helped me open doors, but there were a lot of doors that weren't open to me, and I had to go and learn all these other things and explore these different paths to get. To get to where I kind of finally ended up. And that journey was what made it incredible, you know, and so I almost wouldn't want to. To deny him that, you know, William Regal who's, who's my mentor? Like his son. People didn't even know, like people fans didn't even know his son was his son until relatively recently. And his, yeah, his son went and trained in the New Japan dojo and then he went and worked shows for Brian Dixon in England and all that kind of stuff. So it was like, so it wasn't like this because I feel that that's a lot of, like, when you look at some of my friends who are second generation wrestlers there, there's a lot of pressure right off the bat.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

If you're, you know, if you're ex. Somebody's son, you know, for sure. So, yeah, so if he, if he really wanted to do it, one, I'd want to make sure he wanted to do it because he wanted to do it, not because, oh, hey, I can make some cash being. Because of who my parents are. And then, and then two, I would just, I just want to protect him, you know, in those first stages of wrestling where you're. Protect him from the expectations of other people.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, I love that. This is my last question before we go into some inspiration, affirmation. But you turn 44 next month, which is crazy because, you know, you look at that and that's considered in a way, midlife. Right. So what is it that you, like, what's your perspective on midlife? And is there any lessons that you feel like you've learned in life that have helped you get to where you're at today and. Or is there any, like, reflections?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, I mean, I don't know. Like the.

[Brian Danielson]

And that's pretty deep for like, hey, what's your answer now?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, the idea of getting to where you are today, I don't even even know what that means. Right.

[Brian Danielson]

Like, but do you feel like, you know, in life like we're on this journey but sometimes the hardest parts of life is what molded us in becoming the strong people we are? Or do you feel like maybe it's the parts that falling in love, having children and feeling the unconditional love, the highs of life is what molded you to this midlife? Like, what is it you feel? Or, I mean, obviously it's a little bit of both. But is there anything that stands out to you?

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, I mean, I think it, there's, you know, I think there's a lot of different thought on this. And my thought kind of aligns with this about nature versus nurture, or nature and nurture. I think it's a combination of nature and nurture, of good things happen to you, bad things happen to you, your friends, your influences, all of these things, how you were born, your genetic predisposition, all of those types of things. As, you know, one of the things. As somebody who is now in midlife, what I really am focusing on now is things that are. Are more local, like building community. You know, it's. For most of my adult life, my entire adult life, all of my friends have. Have been, okay, I'll see you. I'll see you sometime soon, right? We don't live. We don't live where my friends are, right? Both my friends that are like high school friends or then my friends in wrestling. But it was always like, okay, but that doesn't matter. I'll see you. I'm sure I'll see you soon. And so it's like, okay, I'm going to see. I'll use Claudio for an example. Yeah, I'll see Claudio even if I don't see him, if I get hurt, if I get a concussion when I left wwe to come to a wife, okay. I haven't seen Claudio for a bit, but I'm gonna see him soon, right? That kind of idea. Like now I still go like, I may see Claudio, but I don't necessarily have the time with him that I would have normally. So it's sure. So it's like, okay, building. Building local community to where people that I will see on a regular basis, you know.

[Brian Danielson]

You know, it's interesting because Paul, who does my hair, he brought up, he's like, humans weren't supposed to live like this. Where our families states away, our friends are states away, everyone's a distance and who's like local. And it's so true. And that's why I started to join like the mom workout groups and different because after especially watching that documentary Blue Zones and the people who lived 100, well, they got. Their community is the biggest thing.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

And the people they work out with, the people they. Whatever style of worship they want to do, who they eat and laugh and dance like it's their community. And I. I think you and I both. Well, I've always been better at it. It's been easier for me. But yeah, it's so true. Local.

[Brie Bella]

Like it would also. I would also say this. I think it's all. Oftentimes it's easier for women. They're for sure.

[Brian Danielson]

Women are play dates and kids.

[Brie Bella]

It's. Yeah. Even like, you know, so like when you look at who the drop off at school, right? It's like there's more moms there than dads. Right. And if you and the moms will go work out together, whereas after drop off, the dads aren't going to work out together. They're all going to do something else. Right. You know, we. I took Birdie to a daddy daughter dance, and it's. You could tell the people who grew up in this area and the people who didn't, because it's like, for sure for how they're like, oh, they have, like, close friends who are here. And then, oh, here's the group of guys that are kind of new here, and they're just like, hey, man, what's going on?

[Brian Danielson]

Well, and you know what was funny is one of my friends was saying, you know, moms, a couple moms should really chaperone a daddy daughter dance. Because, like, the moms would be like, all right, everyone, let's get together. Like, they're good at organizing and pushing and a little direction where I could picture, like, all the dads, like, on the outside being like, dude, yeah.

[Brie Bella]

Well, and to give. To give you an example, you and. And your friend. And I'm not going to say her name right, but you want to set. They want to set their husbands, me and this other man up to go start doing things together. So Bri's friend is, like, telling her husband, okay, you need to text Brian and invite him to come work out with you.

[Brian Danielson]

And then I told Brian, I'm like, you better answer his text right back.

[Brie Bella]

This guy that I don't recall meeting, although I'm sure I have met him. Right.

[Brian Danielson]

But I'm not sure. Yeah, maybe. But it would have been very quick.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. So you're gonna cold text me and say, hey, man, want to go work out?

[Brian Danielson]

And he hasn't even text you yet. But you guys have the same temperaments and you're into the same things. So as wives, we feel like this is a perfect match.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah, it's like, you know, and I've seen you do this before with, like, setting up your friends with. With men, and it never works out. So I don't know if. So I don't know if you are.

[Brian Danielson]

Well, that's different.

[Brie Bella]

Is it?

[Brian Danielson]

Yes. More friendships compared to, like, that serious dating. Whatever.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah.

[Brian Danielson]

All right, sweet face. Hit us with a little inspiration, affirmation.

[Brie Bella]

Okay, so this is not a quote. It's a concept. And I don't even. But. But when I was reading Yuval Noah Harari's Nexus, he was talking about the Internet, how it's originally thought of as a web. Right. It was Called the world wide Web. But what it's kind of transformed into is a cocoon. So as opposed to a web that connects you to all these different things, it's a cocoon that keeps you encapsulated in this one space where you don't leave, like, kind of your ideology or whatever that is. And just in thinking about that, how much do I do that for myself? And this is when it. Where it comes to, like, reaching out to. To men and be like, hey, brother, you want to go hang out?

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah, perfect.

[Brie Bella]

But it's. But it's like. But you know, with the idea of when is it time? And I like the. I like the comparison because it. Both. They both involve kind of insects. Right? The I. And I love insects. Brain. Brain knows that I have a really hard time killing insects.

[Brian Danielson]

I know.

[Brie Bella]

I hate it. But. But because of their relationship to the insect community, I really like this idea of, like, okay, when do I need to make a web? And when do I need to make a cocoon? And when do my children need cocoons and when do they need webs? And so when do. When am I in an information silo? When am I in an information cocoon? Because I, you know, we all tend to. If you're a reader or if you tend to grab it, you know, however you get your news or whatever it is, you tend to get it from the same place all the time. Right? So expanding my. Where I get my. Where I get my information from. So it's like, okay, I'll get my weekly news for this week. I'm going to get it from the Economist, which is not a magazine that I would normally read. It's a weekly news magazine. Next week I might get it from Newsweek, and then monthly, I'll get it from the Atlantic, or then the next week, I'll get it. I tend to do, like, things are actually published that are, like, physical things. I don't. Because I don't trust things on the Internet. You know, Bree tells me things about, you know, things on.

[Brian Danielson]

Very sus. About the Internet.

[Brie Bella]

Well, I just. When people When. And especially when. When Brie tells me things. But then when other people, too, they say, like, oh, yeah, well, I heard this. I'm like, well, okay, where did you hear that from?

[Brian Danielson]

I don't.

[Brie Bella]

Because.

[Brian Danielson]

So many different things.

[Brie Bella]

Yeah. And so. But.

[Brian Danielson]

So.

[Brie Bella]

But keeping those things in mind, as far as, like, okay, I don't. I don't. Sometimes it's good to be in a cocoon, and I need to know when it's time to Be in my cocoon. And when it's time to be in a web and open my mind to other options. And so that's just been something I've been thinking a lot about lately. As far as what. What are those? What are the places in my life that require those things?

[Brian Danielson]

I love that sweet face. Gosh, look at. I'm married to this man. How lucky am I? All right, and then.

[Brie Bella]

And then on the flip flop side, we'll be out in the garden and I'll be saying, like, hey, we should get rid of all these roses and we should plant nothing but native plants. And she'll be like, why am I married to this guy?

[Brian Danielson]

Never. I just give this simple answer. No, no, maybe over here, but don't f. With my rose bushes. You know, they bloom beautifully, perfectly. All right, everyone, we gotta go pick up our sweet bud and get some tacos, you know what I mean? And you enjoy your weekend and happy anniversary, sweet face. And make sure to catch us in all our social platforms so you can see videos from today's episode on Instagram, Facebook.

[Brie Bella]

Tout.

[Brian Danielson]

No. Tick Tock. Tick tock.

[Brie Bella]

Are you guys on Tick Tock?

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

What do you do?

[Brian Danielson]

I mean, our podcast is. Am I? No.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, you don't dance?

[Brian Danielson]

No. Like, we should. Oh, we get higher views, that's for sure. Does anyone do the Mac Rain anymore?

[Brie Bella]

That's a daddy daughter dance. They did the Macarena.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, my gosh.

[Brie Bella]

And do you know what I realized?

[Brian Danielson]

What?

[Brie Bella]

I forgot the Macarena.

[Brian Danielson]

How?

[Brie Bella]

I don't know, but when you talk about my memory being bad.

[Brian Danielson]

Yeah.

[Brie Bella]

You know, and it was funny because there were some of the older dads are the ones who were like, ed, he remembered it perfectly.

[Brian Danielson]

Like, how do you forget the Macarena?

[Brie Bella]

I don't know. I wasn't a big Macarena guy.

[Brian Danielson]

Oh, I love the Macarena. I need to bring that back on. Tik Tok. The young kids don't even know Macarena.

[Brie Bella]

Do they not know the Macarena?

[Brian Danielson]

I doubt it. I'm sure, like, at weddings, kids, I think the kids.

[Brie Bella]

Do you think the kids. Not that kids are listening to this. I don't know if they are or not, but do they understand that it used to be called the World Wide Web?

[Brian Danielson]

Probably not.

[Brie Bella]

Oh, interesting.

[Brian Danielson]

Actually, that'd be like, good to ask people and see their answer. I don't know. All right, everyone, we will see you Monday, and Nikki will be back, and you have a beautiful weekend. All right, bye.