E900 - Debating w/ Heather McDonald, LIB w/ Sara, Temptation Island w/ Mark Walberg, Bachelor WTA, & RHOBH

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Viall Files Episode E900

Introduction and Milestone Celebration (00:02:04 - 00:03:25) In this landmark 900th episode of The Viall Files, host Nick Viall, alongside co-hosts Natalie Joy and the rest of the Household, celebrates the milestone with excitement and surprise. Nick humorously admits, “[02:17] I didn’t know that it was our 900th episode when I woke up today,” highlighting the team’s dedication and unexpected achievement. The hosts express their enthusiasm for the episode’s rich content, setting the stage for a jam-packed discussion.

Reality TV Recaps and News (00:03:25 - 00:11:53) The episode delves deep into the latest happenings in the reality TV landscape. The hosts discuss the recent debut of Temptation Island on Netflix, previously airing on Fox, USA, and Peacock. Nick shares his excitement, saying, “[04:00] It’s been around for almost… I didn’t even realize it was on Peacock.” The conversation transitions to notable arrests in the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) and The Bachelor franchises. Caitlin details Victoria Goodwin’s arrest for solicitation to commit murder, including specifics of her alleged plot to hire a hitman, stating, “[09:15] Victoria was arrested in Nevada last Thursday and is being held on a $100,000 bond.”

Additionally, the hosts touch upon Diana Pappas, a former Bachelorette, who was arrested following an altercation with her ex-husband. Nick highlights the ongoing drama in the Bachelor universe, including celebrity relationships such as Zach Bryan’s new girlfriend, Hannah Duncan, revealing, “[11:16] Zach Bryan has a new girlfriend… He posted a picture on Tuesday with an Australian model on a beach.”

Interview with Mark Wahlberg on Temptation Island (00:25:30 - 00:59:32) Mark Wahlberg joins the show to discuss his role as the host of Temptation Island. He shares insights into the show’s evolution and its strategic move to Netflix, stating, “[25:30] Great. Thanks for having me. This is gonna be so fun.” Mark elaborates on his approach to hosting, emphasizing his genuine desire to offer guidance and support to participants, differentiating himself from other reality show hosts. He explains, “[67:53] Our show… really none of that, but my approach has always been… trying to help.”

Mark reminisces about his involvement in the entertainment industry, including writing for the movie White Chicks, and expresses excitement about the possibility of influencing the show's narrative with his authentic advice. He highlights the importance of casting and maintaining genuine interactions on reality TV, saying, “[73:48] Netflix knows what's up… They have the best casting team.”

Discussion on Relationship Dynamics and Social Media (00:59:32 - 01:51:00) The conversation shifts to the intricate relationship dynamics portrayed in reality TV shows. The hosts analyze the behaviors of participants in Temptation Island and Love is Blind, debating the authenticity versus the edited portrayal of relationships. They discuss the challenges of maintaining genuine connections under the scrutiny of cameras and editing, with Nick emphasizing, “[75:02] Like, I can never really tell, like, when it's airing… So binge over the weekend because we’ll be talking about it next week.”

Heather McDonald from Love is Blind shares her personal experiences, including her breakup with Ben and the difficulties of navigating relationships on camera. She reflects on the emotional toll of reality TV, stating, “[92:15] Ultimately, like on an emotional state, I felt like we just weren't progressing.” The discussion highlights the impact of social media on participants, with advice to stay offline and focus on real-world interactions to maintain mental well-being.

Notable Quotes and Insights

• Nick Viall on Temptation Island: “[04:00] It’s been around for almost… I didn’t even realize it was on Peacock.”
• Caitlin on Victoria Goodwin’s arrest: “[09:15] Victoria was arrested in Nevada last Thursday and is being held on a $100,000 bond.”
• Mark Wahlberg on hosting philosophy: “[67:53] Our show… really none of that, but my approach has always been… trying to help.”
• Heather McDonald on relationship clarity: “[92:15] Ultimately, like on an emotional state, I felt like we just weren't progressing.”

Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes (01:51:00 - End) As the episode wraps up, Nick Viall thanks guests Heather McDonald and Mark Wahlberg for their participation and insights. He encourages listeners to tune into upcoming episodes, including special “Going Deeper” segments with celebrities, and promotes future interviews and discussions on the latest in reality TV and relationships. The hosts reiterate their appreciation for the audience’s support, saying, “[93:12] We hope to be with you for 900 more.”

Listeners are left with a promise of more engaging content, heartfelt advice, and hot gossip in the episodes to come, ensuring that The Viall Files remains the go-to podcast for all things dating, relationships, and reality television.

Key Takeaways:

• Temptation Island has transitioned to Netflix, gaining renewed attention and relevance in the reality TV scene.
• Legal issues surrounding RHOBH and The Bachelor continue to create buzz and drama within the franchise.
• Authenticity and genuine support from hosts like Mark Wahlberg enhance participant experiences on reality shows.
• Navigating personal relationships on reality TV poses significant emotional challenges for participants, highlighting the importance of off-camera support.

Notable Recommendations:

• Temptation Island: Available now on Netflix; highly recommended for fans of dramatic reality competition shows.
• Going Deeper Episodes: Special interviews with celebrities offering candid conversations and unique insights into their lives.

Quotes with Timestamps:

• “[02:17] I didn’t know that it was our 900th episode when I woke up today.” – Nick Viall
• “[04:00] It’s been around for almost… I didn’t even realize it was on Peacock.” – Nick Viall
• “[09:15] Victoria was arrested in Nevada last Thursday and is being held on a $100,000 bond.” – Caitlin
• “[25:30] Great. Thanks for having me. This is gonna be so fun.” – Mark Wahlberg
• “[67:53] Our show… really none of that, but my approach has always been… trying to help.” – Mark Wahlberg
• “[92:15] Ultimately, like on an emotional state, I felt like we just weren't progressing.” – Heather McDonald

The Viall Files continues to deliver insightful and engaging discussions, making it essential listening for anyone interested in the dynamics of modern relationships and the ever-evolving world of reality television.

Transcript

[Nick Viall]

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[Dylan]

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[Caitlin]

You're crazy.

[Nick Viall]

What's going on everybody? Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Vile Files Reality recap edition Happy 900. Didn't know that it was our 900th episode when I woke up today.

[Dylan]

You didn't?

[Nick Viall]

Nope. No idea. I did. I did not. Well, yay for us. 900 episodes.

[Dylan]

That's crazy.

[Nick Viall]

Crazy when I say another exciting episode of the Vowels. And we do have a jam packed episode for you today. Super excited about it. Heather McDonald will be joining us briefly to get into all sorts of headlines. We'll talk a little Bev Hills Housewives with her. And then we have Mark Wahlberg, the more famous Mark Wahlberg from the hit show Temptation island that just debuted yesterday on Netflix. I gotta tell you guys, it's.

[Dylan]

It's such a good quality program. Oh, my God, it's crazy.

[Nick Viall]

Why have we been sleeping on the show? Is it just like, it hasn't had a proper home? It was. I didn't even realize it was on Peacock.

[E]

Oh, I didn't realize that either.

[Dylan]

No, I didn't either.

[Nick Viall]

No, it was.

[Dylan]

I think there's just too much.

[Nick Viall]

It was. I was on.

[E]

I think we had so many.

[Nick Viall]

It was on, like, usa.

[Dylan]

It was just too much on Peacock for us to, like, also.

[E]

Well, like, Netflix, you had, like, too hot to handle Perfect Match, like all these dating shows, Love island, that it's like, when did we have time? And like, lo and behold, the blueprint of where all of these shows came from. The original Temptation Island.

[Sarah]

It makes sense for Netflix more than Peacock to me.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. I don't know. I'm optimistic. I hope that it blows up. For some reason, I feel like with Peacock, things can get sometimes lost in the shuffle. Not that Netflix doesn't have what seems to be like an unlimited inventory of shows and TV shows, but they're the reality love Competition shows seem to always perform on some level.

[E]

It's Love island. But I think I'm. I love Peacock. It's one of my go to platforms. But it's like, because it has all of my Bravo stuff.

[Nick Viall]

Sure. Yeah.

[E]

You know, like, I'm not really going in there being like, what's the Peacock original like?

[Nick Viall]

But, like, it is. It is so good.

[E]

So good.

[Nick Viall]

It's been around for almost. I mean, as long as the Bachelor was around and most people, like, have just been like, my, like, myself have been sleeping on it.

[E]

I think I was too young when it originally came out too, so I didn't understand the concept because I thought it was like, married couples are, like, going to get tempted. I didn't realize, like, it was like the couple dynamic and even the way that they do things it's just like, I don't know.

[Nick Viall]

It's.

[E]

It's so good, I can't explain it.

[Nick Viall]

Anyways, it's out on Netflix. It came out Wednesday. Yesterday, I think all 10 episodes are out. So it's, they're not releasing it in batches or anything like that. So binge over the weekend because we'll be talking about it next week. It's pretty juicy. And we'll also be talking about it later this episode. We're interviewing its host, Mark Wahlberg, and by the way, like, very impressed with Mark. This man is actually listening. And, and, and he gives good advice. Good advice. You know, you should knows what he's talking about.

[Sarah]

Pay for sessions. Like, he's really therapizing.

[Nick Viall]

It's great. Like, you know, as someone who someday would love to host some sort of rally TV competition show, like, you taking notes. Well, sure. But also, it's just like, you know, I love giving advice. The ass Nick element. But like, the truth is like, for example, Bachelor, like, partly, it's just like, I don't know, you know, it's like a chicken before the egg question. Like, does the show not allow it because they don't want to make the host more of a part of the show? Or is it just like the hosts aren't capable so they don't ask the host to do it kind of question, you know, and Mark Wahlberg certainly seems capable. And, and they, I, I love to see how they utilize them. It's not even that. It's not like it's a whole part of the show. It's just like when he does talk to him, he's actually saying things. Was it like historically with Jesse and Chris, it was always like, you know, tell me about your feelings and be like, all right, well, good luck. You know, like, throw them to the wall. That was like, well, what? What the fuck, huh? Like, I thought you were going to help me out here. Like, I thought you were going to offer me some guidance. That never really happens on the Bachelor. But anyways, check out Temptation island. If you haven't already tell all was last night. Also coming up in this episode, Sarah from Love is Blind all the we have some burning question. Sarah. Like, did she. Did they really talk about whether they were going to say I do or I don't before they actually got to the altar? Is she dating Joey? Speculation online about a potential budding romance between her and Joey. Who, if you haven't seen, have you seen this?

[Dylan]

I was scared to click it this morning.

[Nick Viall]

Turns out Joey From Love is Blind, Minnesota, auditioned for the Bachelor, and it's.

[Dylan]

And that's, like, out there publicly.

[Nick Viall]

I don't know where this got found out. Yeah.

[Dylan]

Just, like, put it on YouTube and was like, I hope a Bachelor producer finds this.

[Nick Viall]

I guess. And then I don't you guys maybe have saw this, but I finally got to see Ben. His is YouTube business card. Oh. Why do people have business cards?

[Heather McDonald]

It's rough.

[Dylan]

It's.

[E]

Yeah, it.

[Dylan]

Well, that was. It was the years ago. It definitely isn't, like, currently, but it might have been, like, when business cards were popping.

[Nick Viall]

Where? When. When were business cards popping?

[Dylan]

There's a time in my life when I wanted a business card.

[Nick Viall]

Look at this business card.

[Sarah]

Wow.

[E]

When I was in real estate, I had to get business cards.

[Caitlin]

I think it's just.

[Nick Viall]

It looks like he's selling houses. Yeah.

[Caitlin]

It's a form of professionalism.

[Sarah]

I think. Since link tree happened, the need for a business card has kind of become irrelevant.

[Nick Viall]

QR codes, Link tree, linktree.

[Sarah]

You know, when you're on someone's Instagram profile, it's like, link and bio. You hit it, you get everything you need.

[Caitlin]

Well, people do that when they have an only fans, because you can't put the only fans link in your bio anymore.

[Nick Viall]

Oh.

[Caitlin]

So you have to put it in the link tree, but the link tree is in your bio.

[Nick Viall]

So, like, real estate agents and only fan models are using link tree. Yeah.

[Sarah]

It's the thing that. It's the thing that binds everyone together.

[Nick Viall]

If you were to kill me, how would you kill me?

[Dylan]

I would never kill you, but, like, for fun. I don't even have, like, a way off the top of my head. Probably poison.

[Nick Viall]

And would you reach out to an incarcerated inmate?

[Dylan]

I don't think I would do that. That feels, you know, good plan, right? Well, it feels like a. A lot of work, you know, like, you got to find the inmate, then you got to, like, communicate with the inmate.

[Nick Viall]

Poison.

[Dylan]

It's like, there's just. Come on, you know, the host.

[Nick Viall]

Who is this person? Justin.

[Dylan]

Ghost Adventures.

[Nick Viall]

Ghost.

[Dylan]

Remember that show?

[Sarah]

Yeah, but it's so.

[Mark Wahlberg]

It's.

[Sarah]

The Ghost Adventures wife was arrested for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill him instead of just getting a divorce.

[Dylan]

I don't know. I feel like we could probably take allegedly out of this. It's. The evidence is damaged.

[Nick Viall]

She wasn't allegedly arrested. She was arrested.

[Caitlin]

Let's go through the facts. So just people here, because she is denying some of this. So Victoria Goodwin was charged last week with solicitation to commit Murder and conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly planning to kill her husband for almost three years while he was filming the show. We had the court documents then. Victoria had been communicating with a prison inmate in Florida since October 2024 about wanting to get out of her marriage, according to a police report obtained by the outlet. This is what she said. Am I a bad person because I chose to end his existence, not divorce? She allegedly wrote in one message. Police also uncovered messages in which Victoria reportedly provided information about Aaron's location and ghost adventures filming while scheduling in California to send a hitman after him.

[Nick Viall]

Wasn't the hitman in jail, though?

[Dylan]

No, no, no. She reached out to someone in jail to find a hitman.

[Caitlin]

It's conspiracy.

[Nick Viall]

So it sounds like the movie Terrible Bosses where they're like, who do you find to kill someone? So they went to where they thought criminals would be.

[Caitlin]

Well, so Victoria allegedly set $11,515 to pay the hitman with an upfront payment of 2,500 per authority.

[Dylan]

What a random number.

[Nick Viall]

Cheap to kill someone.

[Sarah]

I mean, obviously the hitman wasn't that good.

[Nick Viall]

No, I get it, I guess. What is the going rate, so to speak?

[Dylan]

Her plan.

[Caitlin]

Her plan was uncovered, however, when correctional officers confiscated the inmate's phone as contraband. In it, police found a message between the prisoner and the hitman that read, he's asleep right now in the hotel room. I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update? Was it done? It is unclear, though, what happened with the hitman or how the alleged plot was hindered. When questioned by police, Victoria admitted she and Aaron were having marital problems, but insisted she never wanted to kill him. She alleged she was merely fantasizing about not having a husband and did not remember sending the messages. As for the money, she claimed she thought it would be used for cell phones, whatever that means.

[Dylan]

She was just giving people money so that they could get the new iPhone. 16 plus Pro Max $2,000. 11.

[E]

It was a 2500 upfront payment.

[Caitlin]

Well, to cap it off. According to Clark county jail records, Victoria was arrested in Nevada last Thursday and is being held on a $100,000 bond. She's set to appear before a judge Tuesday morning, so next week.

[Nick Viall]

You know who also was arrested?

[Dylan]

Oh, my God.

[Nick Viall]

Former bachelorette. What's her name?

[Leia]

Diana Pappas.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

Who?

[Nick Viall]

Well, she's a. She was a bachelorette long time ago.

[Dylan]

And she. She's arrested too?

[Nick Viall]

Yes. What happened, Leo?

[Leia]

She was arrested after an altercation with her ex husband. So according to Papas the police told her that Stephen accused her of being drunk and was pressing charges against her for domestic violence. She was booked on a misdemeanor charge, and she was released the same day on a $20,000 bond. And her court date is set for March 20th.

[Sarah]

Wow. Well, Zach Bryan. Oh, has a girlfriend.

[Nick Viall]

Zach Bryan has a new girlfriend.

[Sarah]

Hannah Duncan. He posted a picture on Tuesday with an Australian model on a beach looking at the waves as the sun rose.

[Nick Viall]

Did he tag her?

[Sarah]

He did, because the caption said nothing. Like a 6:00am half marathon. A, E, H, H, question mark at Hannah dunk.

[Nick Viall]

Well, we know where they met. Definitely on riot. Yeah.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Not on the beach, maybe. You know, she's from Australia.

[Sarah]

Do you often just, like, walk on a beach and meet a beautiful young Australian model? That's never happened to me. But I also know Zach Ryan.

[Dylan]

You know, he was probably in Australia playing a show, was scouring Raya, had a little match session.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, he's, like, in town.

[Dylan]

Yeah, I'm in your city. I'm in your city.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, in your city. I mean, fast moving fast. Do you think she, like, what's her state of mind? Do you think going in.

[Sarah]

Maybe she doesn't know about it. Maybe. I don't know.

[Dylan]

Maybe she's like, I don't know. I met this guy. He's really nice. He's charming. He's this. And then you have Zach being like, here's my side of the story. And she's like, you know what? Like, I have you in front of me.

[Nick Viall]

I don't have. But what happens when he needs to be inspired?

[Dylan]

I mean, I wish nothing terrible on her. I hope that he's, like, learned from his mistakes with Brianna and, like, doesn't do that behavior anymore going forward. So maybe he opened up to her about, like, how he's learned and he's gotten help and he's better and he's.

[Nick Viall]

But don't you. I mean, for a rock, I mean, six months isn't. It's a decent amount of time, but for like, a rock star who just got out of a very public breakup, it. It really is giving. Moving on incredibly fast.

[Dylan]

I think that's pretty slow. Six months.

[Nick Viall]

But post him posting it, you know, like, he could be.

[Dylan]

He doesn't give a fuck. Like, he's not the one who's gonna be like, oh, I need to, like, hide this relationship for privacy reasons.

[Nick Viall]

There's a difference in hiding it and posting and tagging her. You know what I'm saying? There's a difference between like, making sure we never are seen together versus being like, in case you need to find my new girlfriend tag. You know, like, it's.

[Sarah]

It could be aggressive. He's like, you know, people are going to speculate anyway. It might as well just come from, like, one of the people within the relationship.

[Nick Viall]

I mean, as a rock star, he could be a rock star.

[Sarah]

Country.

[Nick Viall]

Well, I hear he takes offense to that. But as a good.

[Caitlin]

He was on the day of the breakup.

[Nick Viall]

So, yeah, he definitely doesn't give a fog. But it's like, it's. It's.

[Dylan]

And I think Brianna's been, like, seen with guys and she was like, making out with west in. Wherever the fuck that was.

[Sarah]

Maybe allegedly.

[Dylan]

Allegedly. Like, so I think they're both. Both moving on. And he's. He clearly doesn't give a. We've seen that all along, so why start now, you know?

[E]

Okay, well, I will say during the women tell all, I did feel a little vindicated.

[Nick Viall]

Why?

[E]

Because Carolina and Rose, they kind of touched on the whole topic. And it was kind of. What I said was that Carolina wanted to hear everything. Was asking her all about, like, so what's going on with you and Grant? What's going on in your relationship? They were laughing, having a good time about it. That Rose was actually completely blindsided that Carolina took the stance that, like, she was. That Rose was like, trying to rub something in her face when it was actually just like a fun little girl chat while we're getting ready.

[Nick Viall]

So according to Rose. Yeah. So Rose felt very interrogated.

[E]

Yeah, like, she didn't feel interrogated. She was just saying, like, we were just having, like a fun girl chat.

[Caitlin]

She handled it well with Grant because they did a whole little mirror, mirror on the wall. Did Grant actually tell Rose or did, like, tell Rose the situation? And Rose was like, look, I said it in the conversation. It was a misunderstanding. Grant was like, I told you something that implied that that's not what I meant. So they both were just like, that is what it is. So it wasn't like interrogation.

[Nick Viall]

Leia, why do you. Why are you team Carolina? I'm.

[Leia]

I'm team Carolina. I'm sorry. I think that the conversation between Rose and Grant was that Grant never said while I was dancing with Carolina. And I think whatever Rose said to Carolina in this conversation that none of us have seen clearly made Carolina feel a certain type of way that she needed to bring it to Grant. And we did see her tell Grant that she didn't to name. Name. She didn't name Rose. He just Extrapolated from what she said that it was Rose, and then he confronted her.

[Dylan]

Weren't you Team Rose, like, Die Hard when this was happening? Like, weren't you and Sierra, like, literally. Carolina, this is Roll the Flash.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, wasn't I arguing? And we were.

[E]

Yeah, roll the tapes.

[Dylan]

How have you switched so quickly?

[Leia]

I just. I don't like seeing everybody kind of, like, gang up. And I'm definitely in the minority here. I just think that Carolina, like, she wasn't trying to be the villain. Like, she really. She wasn't trying to upset the women. And it almost did feel to me as a viewer, like anything she did pissed everyone off. And she was highly emotional, and she was in her feelings, and she was just trying to navigate, like, it's a hard situation to be in to watch your. Somebody who you, like, dating a bunch of other people. And then she has Dina, like, telling her, well, you need to be, you know, timing the amount of time that you're with Grant and keep us in mind when you're having time with him while we're on a group date. And she's just like, God, I can't do anything right. And then, like, to me, the moments in the castle where Dina's kind of, like, following Carolina around, it was a little bit like, leave her alone.

[E]

I agreed to some. To some extent, where I'm like, Carolina explaining, like, how she felt throughout. I was like, yes, I understand why your actions come off the way that they do. I don't think anybody intentionally goes into anything where they're being filmed and being like, I want to be the villain. Unless you're, I guess, Spencer Pratt. So I'm like, in that I agree, but I was like, they definitely clarify that it was a friendly conversation going on between the two of them. And also that I'm like, the way that Carolina is making it out, as if, like, Dina was, like, following her around. The whole point that they were also trying to emphasize to Carolina was, you had a rose. You going and taking all of this extra time was the disrespect because you didn't need the time, but you still made every group date about yourself. So I'm like, I also understand Dina being like, it's kind of fucked up because you have the insurance that you need.

[Caitlin]

Also, Carolina loves to downplay stuff. The whole time, she's like, I'm going to take accountability. I said, sorry. I said, sorry. And then you have Rose. And I think it was maybe someone else that clocked it that was like, this whole time, you're saying, I'm sorry you felt that way, but, like, I'm not saying I'm sorry I did that to you.

[Dylan]

Exactly.

[Nick Viall]

I mean, I think they're both kind of true because I think Carolina is clearly messy. Yeah. I mean, she is. Like, everything about what she does seems to be messy and a little bit dramatic. And she seems to be easily, like, position herself as a victim. That being said, like, Leia is right, though. Regardless of how messy, Carolina is like, prioritizing your time with the lead while other people are prioritizing how much time someone else got. Like, I'll always side with the person prioritizing themselves.

[E]

I agree with that.

[Nick Viall]

And Dina, like, took when it like, for someone who went as far as Dina did, who didn't even as we now, you know, now Dina has admitted that it was her who didn't allow her family to come. Like, I don't know if Dina's protecting her family, falling on the sword, or maybe that's the truth. But, like, she's top four. She decided not to bring her family, and she's waste. She's spending most of her time talking about the actions of Carolina. You know, it's just like, yes, you could do that. That's one move. But it's. It's just kind of a loser mentality.

[E]

I mean, they both lost where.

[Leia]

Where she lost me was when she said, when she told Carolina, like, you need to, like, if Grant pulled you aside to have more time, like, you need to be thinking about us and, like, cut it short. That's where Dina lost me. And I'm just like, that's crazy.

[Nick Viall]

I see Leah's point. What are these bachelorette rumors? Are they still going floating around?

[Caitlin]

I see Leah's point too, and I.

[Dylan]

Don'T know where she is.

[Mark Wahlberg]

No, I love Leah. Who's Leah?

[Nick Viall]

Oh, my God.

[Sarah]

I just want to say Leah's point about Carolina.

[Caitlin]

I'm team Dina, just not her glasses.

[Dylan]

Dinah.

[Nick Viall]

Dinah.

[Caitlin]

Dinah.

[Leia]

The other thing that did come up that between Dina and Carolina was that I guess after filming went down, they had this whole, like, social media back and forth where Dina post did a video where she said, well, in the text, it said when you defend the one person nobody else would just to get played the next week. To which Carolina then posted on her social media seeing someone use this sound as if I don't have a screenshot of our conversation as evidence. To which Dina replied, I tease next week's preview and she responds with dot, dot, dot, a threat question mark. Interesting tactic. But on brand, I Guess so Dina is saying that she was just simply teasing the next episode. And then Carolina took it too far after that. Again, sorry. She definitely was teasing Team Carolina.

[Caitlin]

She's teasing. She could have been messy, but she was teasing that one.

[Nick Viall]

I both are true. But her intention, I don't think. I don't think her big priority was giving ABC a solid.

[E]

You know, I agree with that. It was like her explanation of it was very much like, I just innocently was just teasing the next episode. I had no idea that you would take it that far, let alone throw text messages.

[Nick Viall]

Listening the way you're describing that, if you would have without names being like, who said this? In this way, I would be like, oh, that's so Carolina.

[Heather McDonald]

Right?

[Nick Viall]

You know what I'm saying? Because that's giving messy to. To do one thing set so obvious. And then pretend that you have no idea what they're talking about.

[E]

Like, you knew. You know, you knew you were throwing.

[Nick Viall]

You were lawyer Dina. Come on. Dina, right?

[Sarah]

She looked like a lawyer in those classes.

[Leia]

Some of my point and the reason that I am taking Carolina side here is that I'm not saying that Carolina is not messy. I think that she is messy. I think that in the whole drama with Rose, she was being messy by bringing it to Grant. Absolutely. However, I think that to say that Dina's not also being messy is unfair. Like, you can't just say that Carolina's been the messy one this whole season. I also think Dina has to take some accountability in her messiness.

[Caitlin]

It was embarrassing for Carolina that every time someone, like, dissed her, the crowd went wild and, like, applauded. And I was like, oh, okay, we know who stands for Carolina and anybody else.

[Nick Viall]

No, but that's like, that's the. That's the thing. That's this producer, you know, that's the.

[Dylan]

Producers holding the signs being like, applause.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. There's also editing in that too. They do, like, fake applauses for those types of shows. And then they insert the ideas in the booze whenever they want. The facial expressions.

[Caitlin]

America's Got Talent, to be fair, I.

[E]

Was like, sometimes while I was watching it, I was like, I don't know which point you're applauding because it would be like, somebody makes a point. Somebody's already making a point in the beginning. And people started clapping. And I was like, are you clapping for Carolina? Are you clapping for Sarah?

[Caitlin]

Carolina started clapping too. Like, Carolina was being sassy. And she's like, you guys are all, like, clapping at me being the villain. I'm gonna clap with you. So it was like, okay, girl, get up.

[Nick Viall]

And are they. Are there people still speculating on who was supposed to be the Bach Charette, or is that old news?

[Caitlin]

I mean, I've seen clips resurface. Leia knows the players more, but I think it's Rachel Recchia who had said on the podcast, what was it Almost famous that like.

[Nick Viall]

Well, that was a while ago, wasn't it?

[I]

Or.

[Nick Viall]

No, it was.

[Caitlin]

I saw a clip this morning basically saying that the plan it's resurfacing for this upcoming season of Bachelorette was that there was four people they were thinking of, two from Grant season, two from old seasons, and that allegedly someone who's big in the Bachelor franchise producing it was like, if it's not Maria, then we're not gonna do it at all. We need ratings. So they couldn't get Maria. Allegedly.

[Nick Viall]

And I don't think that's. I'm fairly confident that last part's not true. I know one of the people they were seriously looking at and it would have been way. It would've been awesome.

[Dylan]

Yeah, it would have been crazy.

[Caitlin]

It was me.

[Dylan]

It was Justin.

[Caitlin]

Cool. Solved it.

[Leia]

Give me three guesses. Let me guess.

[Nick Viall]

We're not gonna tell you.

[Leia]

Let me guess.

[Nick Viall]

You can guess, but like, it would have been awesome. It would have been amazing. It was from an older season and when I found out, I was really disappointed. They decided not to move forward with it.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

You wanna guess?

[Leia]

If I guess one time and I get it right, will you confirm or deny?

[Nick Viall]

No.

[Leia]

Well, then what's the fun in that?

[Nick Viall]

We can still guess.

[Leia]

Okay, let me think on it. I really want to think on it.

[Dylan]

Okay, like you need time. Like you want us to. Like, not like I need time.

[Nick Viall]

Well, while T thinks about it, he McDonald is here. And up next, let's face it, grocery shopping for your kids these days often feels like you're swimming through a sea of not so great options. And we certainly know the feeling now that we have our beautiful baby river at home. Well, you can shop with peace of mind with the good people from Thrive Market. Thrive Market makes it simple to find trusted, family friendly brands without spending hours in the grocery store. From snacks and school lunches to pantry staples, everything they can offer is 100% non GMO. We absolutely love the convenience of not having to go to the grocery grocery store with the peace of mind that what we are ordering is low sugar, gluten free, organic or high protein options is unbeatable.

[Dylan]

Plus, Thrive Market smart cart feature takes the Guesswork out of healthy shopping. When you create an account, they ask about your family's needs and automatically builds a cart full of cleaner versions of your favorite brands. You can tweak it before checking out, but it's a great way to get started, especially if you're trying to phase out some junk food. Ready for a junk free start to 2025, head to thrivemarket.com v I a l l and get 30 off your first order plus a free sixty dollar gift. That's T-H-R-I-V-E market.com a l l thrivemarket.com.

[Nick Viall]

V I a L L your feet are important people. You need to keep them warm and comfortable and if you're going to do that, you should probably still look good if you can. And that's where the good people at Bombas socks come in. And you know spring is around a quarter and maybe you're going to spring clean that sock drawer. I have to do that sometime. And it's always a great time to upgrade your socks with Bomba socks. Looking for a nice pair to wear to a wedding? Bombas dress socks are made for loafers, heels and all your other fancy shoes because you got to stay comfortable on the dance floor.

[Dylan]

And for all of your other spring cleaning chores, Bombas has the cushioned arch hugging pairs that will keep you comfy while you spruce up the house and walk the dog or do whatever else you do on a normal day. They're head to toe comfort and the best part is they give back. For every comfy pair you purchase, Bombas donates another comfy pair to someone facing homelessness.

[Nick Viall]

And right now Bombas is going international. Enjoy worldwide shipping to over 200 countries. Head over to bombas.com v I a l l and use code v I a l l for 20 off your first purchase. That's b o m b a s.com v I a l l code v I a l l for twenty percent off your first purchase bombas.com v I a L l and use code v I a L l. Hi. Welcome back. How are you?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Great. Thanks for having me. This is gonna be so fun.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. I had so much fun chatting with you.

[Dylan]

Did you see that? Ali Luber, Sheena and Katie have unfollowed James Kennedy after his posts with the Tate brothers.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh no.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Can I ask you a question? Do you think people do this dramatic unfollowing to get a headline? Because I know, I was just thinking about Katie. Now. I know Katie is at this network and I Like her very much.

[Nick Viall]

I think you forget about it.

[Mark Wahlberg]

But I do feel like I was just thinking, I was like, what is up with Katie? And then, you know, my phone reads my thoughts. And then I saw that she looked gorgeous and there was a photo of the guy that she's dating posted with the two of them. And I was like, oh, that's so great. You know, that she's doing so well and looking so good. And I personally, maybe there's some people I unfollow. I don't know why people don't use muting more unless you're looking for a headline. If you, if someone in your life isn't really in your life right now and you don't want to see them having a great time or going to parties without you, all you have to do is mute it.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, but I think.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And nobody knows that you aren't like, on the brink of the.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, but in this case, for example, James Kennedy. I'll use the perfect example. Like after, you know, when, when, when we saw each other at Kathy Hilton's party, we saw, we saw James, we both talked to him, then we found out that he got arrested at night. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I was very critical of James. Like, I didn't think to myself, oh, I still follow James Kennedy.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah, I still follow James Kennedy.

[Nick Viall]

It was brought to my attention, though, and I was like, why do I follow James Kennedy? And then I unfollowed him because, like, I don't want to follow this piece of. And I don't want anyone.

[Mark Wahlberg]

That's fine. I think the whole.

[Nick Viall]

I don't want people to think that I want to associate myself with him. I don't think just because you follow someone, it doesn't necessarily that. But for me personally, I was more like, you know what? I don't want to follow him. It was brought to my attention, so I'm just going to unfollow the guy. I don't think they're doing it for a headline per se, but I think.

[Mark Wahlberg]

The following unfollowing thing is really lame because it's like, you could just be following people because you're looking for material to talk about and they're an interesting person. You're allowed to unfollow the same thing. When you, when people go, oh, they followed this person, that means they're this way politically. Yeah, no, I've, I've always followed both candidates. I've always followed people on both sides because I want to know what the arguments are and what they're saying that does not. You, you know, like, you don't know. And I. That's what I kind of. I. I hate that dumb side of, like, just because you follow someone means that you think that you agree with everything they say and that you guys are buddies and you are going to go on a trip together with the Tate brothers and fly off on a private jet, like, it's fine. Unfollow them. Unfollow him. I thought it was interesting that the Tate brothers then came forward and were like, no, I hung out for 30 minutes.

[Dylan]

Yeah, they're like, you were kissing our ass, like you were obsessed with us.

[Nick Viall]

I'm not.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I don't know that that part was bad.

[Dylan]

Just believe them.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I mean, just taking a photo after an event when everybody basically looks the.

[Nick Viall]

Same also, like, every. Around that area, every, like, everybody hanging.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Out for 30 minutes, everyone's talking about them.

[Nick Viall]

You know, for him to change, to act like he didn't know who they were. So then why'd you want a picture with them? Everyone around them, I'm sure, was pointing. Oh, my God. That's a tricky thing.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I mean, if those two guys came up to me at a restaurant and said, oh, my God, my girlfriend's a big fan. Can I get a photo? I would be like, I. I know who the Tate brothers are. I wouldn't go, you two are the Tate brothers. I wouldn't know that. But if we sat for 30 minutes, I would have known that they were the Tate brothers by then, motherfucker. So that's the difference.

[Nick Viall]

Let's get it up.

[E]

It was selfie style, and there was also a photo of them from a distance where they're all just, like, chatting and having a time, not just taking a photo. So it was very intentional.

[Dylan]

Brittany Carrie also does come out and say that she did drug tests on Jax Taylor every week for the safety of their son. Yes, I do drug testing on Jax every Monday. It scares me. I'm drug testing him myself for the safety of my son, and I'm going to continue doing that for a while. I just feel like it's so hard because even if he is sober, his actions have not.

[Nick Viall]

Why. Why is. Why does Jack still have access to their son?

[Dylan]

Well, I'm sure she doesn't want to, like, take his father away from him, so she's.

[Nick Viall]

Well, why is she administering? I mean. I mean, if he has an admitted cocaine problem, I think that would. What. That would justify a removal or. Or if nothing else to have, like.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Like, let me tell you something. About California.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Dads have a lot of rights. This is the best, probably one of the best states for dad's rights. So every. The judge. Judges always want family court. They want it to be 50, 50. And it's very hard to prove. I need to have soul custody. I know this because I've been through it. So it's like, it's very, very difficult to do. So if he is, you know, showing that he is, whatever he said on the other thing, 100 days sober. And part of it is, okay, you drug test or you. Or you have a supervised visit with a nanny, whatever. They will always encourage that the relationship with a mother or father is not so severed because there is no time. And the olden days of just being like, I'll see the kids every other weekend and on Wednesday nights actually works out really well. But the man's ego, rarely, in 20, 25, will agree to that, because they were like, I'm a good dad. I don't want to see you as a good dad. When actually, that pattern is. Once the kids are in school is a lot easier to handle than having week on week off. Half. Half. It's very hard for the kid. And talk to any kid that had to live in two homes that are now 30, and they'll say, yeah, that fucking sucked. And it was hard. So I think she's doing her best to, like, placate and, like, make sure it's okay. And he's very much defending, you know, the fact that he is. He keeps saying, I'm a father, a husband, but I'm a great father. So we will see it.

[Dylan]

But then you have the trailer.

[Mark Wahlberg]

The trailer looks like it's gonna tell everyone.

[Nick Viall]

Here's my question. And. And, like, love the Valley as a fan, but, man, it's like, these reports of Jax always seem to pop up right around the time that the Valley is about to premiere. And it's just like. Like, man, are these people using their just terribly toxic lives and where a child's involved in this really grotesque story. And it's really unfortunate and sad to.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Promote the Valley, I think, in the last season. First season. Did you guys watch first?

[Nick Viall]

Oh, yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So, you know, he constantly was, like, kind of shaming her, like, she was the boozer. And he was like, what are you doing? She's like, I don't feel good. My tummy hurts. And he's like, get out of the room. We're at this, like. And I thought it's him freaking. What? We weren't able to see. Cause it would have been breaking the fourth wall is he was trying to get this spin off for, like, four years, and it finally happened. And he was. And they obviously had marital problems, but he was pissed that she was physically ill and not participating in scenes. And he was like, this is not gonna be a hit, and if we don't have this hit, no, we can't have another baby, and the bar will be a bomb. And so. And she was. And she physically was not doing well, probably because of the stress of the fact that she was like, do I have another kid with this guy? Like, you know, knowing it's not good, but also not having the strength to go, because now they finally have this show and, you know, and what could happen of it? So I think all the stuff that we see was absolutely happening, but they also wanted to keep it quiet so that people watch the show. They want it to be a success. You know, some people were like, why doesn't you just go back to Kentucky? I'm like, like, because she makes a lot of money here being an influencer.

[Nick Viall]

I mean, does get a little kid.

[Dylan]

She is.

[Mark Wahlberg]

There's a lot of opportunities for her.

[Nick Viall]

It's a little licky.

[Mark Wahlberg]

But then this is all, you know, this is all, you know. I mean, look, you. You know, you already had a career, then you became famous on the Bachelor stuff. You made this podcast really work. But I was thinking now that, like, nobody talks about the Bachelor. Remember when there were, like, 30 podcasts that were just, like, recapping the Bachelor on I. And they were like, all on Iheart. Like, who's even left?

[Nick Viall]

We talk about a little bit.

[Dylan]

Yeah. Who is left? I don't think. I mean, Ashley and Ben are probably the only. Because Jared and Dean squashed theirs.

[Nick Viall]

There wasn't really.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I mean, there were literally like 20 at one time, like, five years ago.

[Nick Viall]

I guess Joe and Serena, it was more Bachelor alumni.

[Mark Wahlberg]

That's what I'm saying. Just. But talking about the Bachelor.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, I mean, like, any Bachelor person who had a podcast on some level, you know, you kind of. You play your hits, so to speak. Right. You know, you. You play, you talk about, you know, what works, and then it's very hard to, like, grow up. Now let's talk about wellness, you know, no.

[Mark Wahlberg]

No one wants to hear about your. You know.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, but. But I guess to that point is those people did move on, whoever they are or they live in their lives. They. They.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Is the Bachelor currently on right now.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

Yes.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And it's the guy.

[Nick Viall]

It's the kid.

[Dylan]

Grant yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah. I used to be so into it, and I used to, like, love to, like. But then it also became a part of it. I think the problem with it is, like, we all realized, like, oh, maybe we shouldn't be talking about this girl's speech impediment. You know what I mean? Like. Like, you, like, picking apart each person and they're like, you know, twitching stiff in TV shows.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

But I feel like they're so young now.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[I]

That.

[Mark Wahlberg]

It feels strange.

[Nick Viall]

They're the same age. I think we just got older, Heather.

[Mark Wahlberg]

That's what I'm saying. I feel too old. I feel like these kids are like, my kids age, and I just am like, ew. But it was so fun when it started. Oh, my God. When it was like, Alex.

[Nick Viall]

Alex.

[Mark Wahlberg]

The first one. Yeah, I mean, the first one, like, it was. It was crazy because nobody knew what that. What. What this was going to be.

[Nick Viall]

You watched the first season?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh, yeah. I remember, like, calling my sister, and we were just like, what is that? Like, we just thought it was, like, the craziest, funniest thing. Anyway. Okay, what else?

[Nick Viall]

You. Team Dorit. Team Kyle. Are you.

[I]

Oh.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So I watched it last night.

[Nick Viall]

Watched it. Can. Can you explain to me why we're still talking about Kyle and Mo's divorce? Because honestly, I don't give a. Anymore.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh, well, he was just seen last night making out with a new brunette. I mean, and. And Lisa Rinna and Eric, like, real time. Like last night in LA at Chateau Marmont. Yes. Like, as in March 11th.

[Nick Viall]

Because I can never really tell, like, when it's airing. And it's like, was this six months.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Ago, Was this today that he was making out with some girl? And, like, it was a near miss. Like, either he was just leaving, or Erica Jane and Lisa Rinna had just left, and then he arrived and was making out some girl in Chateau Marmont. And the comments were like, just get divorced. They just said, young brunette, you know, but they just were like, oh, just. What is this?

[Nick Viall]

So do you think he is not as wealthy as they portray? And do you think it's a money thing? Remember when Kathy Hilton a couple weeks ago was like, mo can't afford to get divorced to you? And I was like, wait a second. I thought, this guy's, like, close to being a billionaire. He's the CEO of the agency.

[Mark Wahlberg]

CEO is different than owning them all.

[Nick Viall]

I understand, but, like, the agency, like, I don't know, they do billions of dollars of sales worldwide. You would see it. You would think the CEO of that company is doing pretty, pretty good for himself. But maybe that's not CEO.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Or is he like the president or face of I I really Real estate. You know, real estate, when everyone's like, when people would be like, oh, she just got hired by the agency. No, anybody will take any new real estate agent. My mom used to say, if they put a mirror in front of your face and there's steam, then they'll take you.

[Nick Viall]

Sure.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Because they're like, okay, can you sell your grandmother's house? And then once you've gone through all your context now, can you still bring in money to have us let you even use this desk?

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, but he's the CEO of this, right?

[Mark Wahlberg]

So I'm just saying it's just like a churn.

[Nick Viall]

He's the founder and CEO, and I mean, he might be over leveraged.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes. I think they. That he has a lot of money. But like I said, it's, it's a franchise. So, like, I could open an agent, an agency tomorrow.

[Nick Viall]

So maybe they're not getting divorced because there's no prenup. And like, it's just more like, hey, please don't divorce me, because then we'd have to split a bunch of assets and it would just be too complicated and maybe they're disagreeing to stay together and then keeping the storyline going.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I just, like, I just don't think they're gonna get divorced until one of them is with someone that insists on it.

[Nick Viall]

That's fine, I guess.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I don't think they're just kind of like, do you care?

[Heather McDonald]

Get along?

[Nick Viall]

Because I don't.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Do you think Morgan and her are lesbians?

[Dylan]

No.

[Nick Viall]

No, I don't care.

[Mark Wahlberg]

What do you think? I think if the right answer was going to bring you a hundred million dollars. What do you think? Are they a couple or are they not?

[Dylan]

I don't think they are.

[Nick Viall]

I think they're more than friends.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I. I think that.

[Nick Viall]

I don't know what that means.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I think Morgan Wade found this pretty lady in her DMs and was like, who is this? Saw that it was fun and liked the friendship.

[Nick Viall]

And Morgan stalker child stalked her.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And that pretty lady came in my dms. I'm doing her voice.

[Nick Viall]

I'm sorry.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And I'm gonna make you love my. And she. I think then the reason she doesn't want to be featured in the show now is because she's like, kind of like when Matt Rife was like, I don't want cute girls to be my fans. I'm a really Funny comedian and guys like, me too. Like, I think she was like, I don't want a bunch of middle aged housewives coming to my shows. I'm like a real country tattooed lesbian singer and I'm a real musician, and that is not my fan base. And Kyle was like, so now we can't talk about her. And now, you know, I got what I needed out of it last season. I think they're true friends. I think gay couples are able to be romantic and break up and then remain friends. So I think maybe they did have something going on and now they're just friends. I just think she doesn't want to be a divorced woman. Like, I just think she just doesn't want to be divorced.

[Nick Viall]

That's fair.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And she's just like, well, you know, it's fine because I'll go to Aspen when he's not in Aspen and I'll go to La Quinta when he's not in La Quinta and we have the Encino House. And. And so they're just kind of like, doing that. But I mean, it's not the audience. Not the audience to be like, you have to get divorced. So, I mean, the storyline is just her life. And I mean, at least her life. I mean, she's kept it going for, you know, whatever, 17 years. I mean, I can't imagine if I was a real housewife and every. And you know, Alex Baskin comes to me and is like, okay, Heather, it's your 10th year. What do you got going? Well, we're thinking about buying a new air fryer. And I don't know. Cause, like, I think this one looks better than that. I mean, at a certain point, like, it's. And then it was like, oh, she's so boring. Well, she's creating a storyline that she had, you know, needs to get plastic surgery or something. Like, they come up with like. Like what? You know, I've had the same podcast for 10 years. Like, what would I do every year to make that seem special? Have a fashion show of podcasters? I don't know. Like, so I just kind of feel like I think her situation is real. And I think their marriage was never as good as what they portrayed. And that's the juicy part. I think they were just a attractive couple that was romantic. And when the cameras were there, he was on. There's other men that would be uncomfortable and kind of dickish. And then they'd be. And then everyone would be like, your husband's mean. And then they get weird and then they'd get divorced. Like, I think he always came off so, like, fun and gregarious and so any little rumors people heard about him getting something on the side, there was never any evidence to it. And they always were, like, kissing each other and very affectionate. That's what I think. I don't think their marriage was ever that great. And I think Kathy being that they helped him get in the Hilton and Highland, and then he got this opportunity and took a bunch of the top agents and stuff. She was still a little bitter, and she was, you know, is, like, not so sad to see.

[Dylan]

I mean, she's, to this day, cannot pronounce his name correctly.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So Mauricio.

[Dylan]

She's like, what does she call him?

[Mark Wahlberg]

I also think it's weird that nobody called him Mo like the first seven seasons of the show.

[Dylan]

Now they all do.

[Nick Viall]

We found out last night's episode that he's Mexican.

[Mark Wahlberg]

You just found that out?

[Nick Viall]

I just.

[Mark Wahlberg]

He's a Mexican Jew.

[Nick Viall]

Did not know that. I guess. I guess the last name.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Kind of threw me off. I thought.

[Mark Wahlberg]

What did you think the accent was?

[Nick Viall]

I don't. I don't know. Yeah, I just. I guess there was the last name. I thought it was more. I felt like Russian or something.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

You know?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Are we. Are we team Dorit? Oh, Team Sutton, or how do we feel about that?

[Mark Wahlberg]

I mean, I think the. The scenes with PK and Dorit are fascinating. Like, I could watch that.

[Nick Viall]

He's, like, the opposite of Mo.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes. And he. And she is, like, kind of shocked, but you can see that they've had a really bad marriage for a long time and the resentment. And he's like, no, you're not going to tell me what kind of apartment I can get. He's like, see, you're controlling me again. While you're in our Encino, fabulous home with your glam every day and your $4,000, you know, Louis Vuitton skirt. Like, you know, so I think it's. I think it's so much. And she's kind of like, well, I was planning on just being in a miserable marriage forever. I mean, why are you telling me that? We're getting divorced. PK didn't.

[Dylan]

Didn't. Their 10 year. Isn't it. Wasn't it this month, March? And that's. And we were all like, oh, maybe he's trying to divorce her before the 10 years. Because then it's like, yeah, but I.

[Nick Viall]

Don'T think he has the money. Why? I mean, he's living in an apartment. You know, it's not like he's. He's Boy George's manager. I, for the love of God, don't know where he's getting all this money.

[Mark Wahlberg]

You know, like, yeah, he did this English show about realtors in England.

[Nick Viall]

Sure.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And I don't know, that could have been a hit and made money.

[Nick Viall]

It maybe could have.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So who knows?

[Caitlin]

Wandery did do Watch what Happens live, and she was asked if her status with PK is going well. And she said, not good. And then she was asked about divorce and she said, it's not part of the conversation, but we're not really communicating. So to Natalie's point, that's where we're at. Nothing.

[Nick Viall]

Well, then I. Well, at least the theory about him wanting to divorce her for this 10 year benchmark.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I think she has got to go get a hot.

[Nick Viall]

I want to see her date.

[Mark Wahlberg]

She's got to get a rich boyfriend, like a real rich boyfriend, who then just goes to pk. I got this.

[Dylan]

Who's like, tall.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Sign the papers. I love her. She's a hoot. Like, you know, whatever. But I don't think a lot of billionaires want to be the boyfriend of a real housewife. I mean, that's what Ramona told me. Ramona said she could never get a boyfriend of any quality after her divorce until she left the show.

[Dylan]

Wow.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And then when the last ultimate girls trip, they wanted her to, like, behave badly and all that stuff. And she was like, no. Like, I have a completely nice, normal boyfriend and you're only paying me 100 grand for one week. So, no, I'm not going to throw fits.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And be like, I normally am. You know, because she was like, you know what, Heather? It was really, really difficult. Okay. All these girls are like, oh, why don't you do this? Why don't you do that? You know, I finally made a really nice got guy. And so she's a nice guy. She's like, happy. But it's. What guy who's like 60 and has real money wants to have a million blogs? Todd.

[I]

Who?

[Nick Viall]

Bronwyn, Brian's husband.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh.

[Nick Viall]

He literally just described him.

[Mark Wahlberg]

He hates it.

[Nick Viall]

He's doing it.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

He's up there. He's performing. That man loves.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I listened to that interview you had with her and I thought it was good. And what do you think of the fact that. That she sat here and you said a $5 million necklace and she didn't correct you that a it was four or that she never had it anyway?

[Dylan]

I don't know. I think it was like the jeweler talking about that transaction with Lisa, I think is a huge red flag. I mean, my mom was a jeweler for 20 years and was like, that is rule number one. Like, you never talk about, like, hippo laws. Yeah, yeah, Hippo.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

Literally. And so I think maybe there was a little bit of like, conspiracy between the two of them. I think that jeweler, like, definitely liked Lisa maybe a little bit more than Bronwyn and was like, oh, I'll help you bring some ammo to the reunion or.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Or, you know, she had to drive all the way down to Laquita and then there it didn't result in any sale. And maybe she, looking back, they didn't feel like the jeweler got the pr. I mean, how many times have you had that where someone thinks like, like that you're going to give them more PR or tag them more or whatever, and then they like, all of a sudden you wake up at three in the morning, there's like a nasting text of like, you know, I don't think I got enough out of that. And you're like, oh, God. I remember Ross Matthews said, I would rather he goes. One time we were talking about that, he goes, if Picasso himself was going to offer me a painting for free, so long as I promoted it, you know, and tagged it to his liking. I would rather cut off my own ear than accept that. Like, sometimes those things you just cannot.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Be right. Sometimes people are like so happy and you like doing.

[Nick Viall]

Usually their expectations of what they think they're giving you versus what right they think you're giving them are so.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I think she was kind of bitter that a. They didn't buy it. So she didn't get a sale. And I don't remember the jeweler.

[Dylan]

No.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I remember what she looked like, but I don't. It wasn't like, oh, it was, you know, Jenny's Jewels on Rodeo. Like, I didn't know what it was. Like 14. Whatever. People always talk about that 14 karat or even the Vanderpump Guy jeweler. Like, I feel like those people get what they need out of like being the jeweler to the Bravo Star, you know, and then. Or like restaurants and stuff. Like last night they had Drake on. Yeah, Drake's Restaurant. And my son is named Drake and I've been to Drake's and I was like, oh, you know what? Like, we need to like, go there after he graduates from college and like, have a nice dinner. Like those kind of things. Put in your head to like, go there. And so then. And if you feel like you did all this effort. Effort. And the cut. It was cut or wasn't that great? She was just like, no, she never bought it. I remember Slade. Remember Slade and Joe from Real House. Let's both see. Do you. Do I remember when I met him, I was like on Chelsea lately and I saw him in the audience with his new girlfriend and I was like, oh, my God. So nobody was watching the show back then. And so I asked him and I was like, oh, my God, Joe was such a bitch after you got all those jewels for her. He goes, that wasn't real. That was a jeweler friend of mine that brought over these. And that was like 17 years ago. And that's when I was like, oh, this stuff isn't real. But at least he was honest. He wasn't like, yeah, can you believe I spent $30,000? He was just like, no, that was, you know, just a bit for the show.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

I still think Bronwyn's one of the more real ones.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh, I love Bronwyn. Yeah, well, Todd and I are working on it. No, she can never. I don't want anyone to leave that show.

[Nick Viall]

She's one of the few housewives in the entire franchise that can just even acknowledge that maybe she was wrong.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

Which is refreshing.

[Mark Wahlberg]

She's an. They're a very fun, interesting couple to watch.

[Dylan]

Have you been watching Denise in her Wild Things?

[Mark Wahlberg]

I have. I've watched the first two episodes.

[Dylan]

What do you think?

[Mark Wahlberg]

I think it's kind of fun. You know, even the COVID of the poster, it's very reminiscent of what the first season of Kardashians was on E. Where they. And then the curtain falls and it's their house behind. And so it's like they're holding a frame and they all look pretty, but they're wearing pajama pants. And I think that there is a want of that type of like mid 2000s or the aughts or whatever they call it. Reality show. And I think we see that and I think it's interesting to see the sister dynamic. I really do.

[Dylan]

And they're all so different.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah. And I like her. And yeah, so it's. I was. When. When the One girl started OnlyFans, I was kind of sad because I was like. Like, you have all this opportunity. You would rather just take sexy photos and not leave your home than like go be on a soap or something. Like you, like, you could be. Get a show right away, but. Huh.

[Nick Viall]

Soaps don't Pay anymore, you know?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Well, yeah, and you have to memorize lines. So I was kind of like, did.

[Dylan]

Watching it, like, change your opinion on why she decided, or were you just like, well, okay, got it. You didn't want to work at the.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I. I do think. I do think people are inherently lazy, and I think think she was like, well, I worked at a yogurt shop, or I could take these sexy photos of me and make money, which I.

[Nick Viall]

Totally get 15 bucks an hour versus $50,000 a month.

[Mark Wahlberg]

But I also feel like maybe this will be a good thing if she ever does want to act now. It could go that way, but I would have. I would have been like, look, I know this is, like, an easy money grab, but, you know, you have these. You come from, like, grandparents that were actors. Like, you should see if. If acting is something you want to do, but maybe it's not. She got a nose job.

[Nick Viall]

I don't think that's good for her.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Now she looks like Denise.

[Nick Viall]

Whatever you think about OnlyFans, I don't think that's gonna stop her from having the opportunity if she wants to pursue.

[Mark Wahlberg]

You know what? I don't anymore. I actually think this is. The reality show is a really good idea to, like, see her personality and stuff. So I actually think this was a smart move for the family to do this. I don't think OnlyFans is anything to be, you know, embarrassed about. Do you know.

[Nick Viall]

Do you know Denise? That was show.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I've had her on my show, and I really like her. And, you know, she. When she came on my show a couple years ago, was like, her first season of it, and, you know, she told me the story of, like, how Charlie. They had Thanksgiving, and Charlie came and there was a sex worker, girlfriend, whatever. And she was just like, he's like, she's fine. She's just in the car in the driveway. And Denise was like. Like, no, like, bring her in. Or she brought her out a plate. I don't know. Just the story of, like, I called her saint. I called her Saint Denise because also after they got divorced and when she left him while the little one was in her tummy, the younger daughter, she. Then when he married the other girl who's been, you know, struggling with. With rehabs, I think she's been 21 times or something. They had these twin boys, and she took the twin boys because they were both sold so up.

[Dylan]

Oh, wow.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So she took her ex's kids.

[Nick Viall]

No, Denise is a good.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And so I was like, you know, I do Believe she really is a great mom and has a big heart.

[Dylan]

For someone who was like, I mean, such a star at a young age. She really is like super down to earth.

[Mark Wahlberg]

So down.

[Nick Viall]

She could be so out of touch and so like, and then, and there are so many housewives. Beverly Hills are probably maybe the most where like, they act very out of touch. They've act very Hollywood elite. And you have Denise Richards, who is one of the most famous housewives with a pedigree that most don't have. Most of the housewives are just famous as housewives. And the fact that Denise is so down to earth and so cool and her ex husband's Charlie Sheen, and I just, I have so much respect for her because she can be crazy Denise and say her like, don't call your sister a dude. Dude. You know, perfect.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Call your sister a dude.

[Nick Viall]

And then she has such a big heart and she's so down to earth. And I think it says so much about who she is and I love her so much.

[Mark Wahlberg]

See, I disagree because after interviewing, I'll tell you, after interviewing so many housewives from all different branches, actually the real housewives of Beverly Hills, who were real actresses before, in my opinion, are the most down to earth. Like Lisa Renick came to my show by herself on time, planned it between she and me years ago.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. Lisa Rinna was felt like Sputny.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes, Kyle. The most down to earth because she grew up in the business. Like the people that grew up in the business actually having to work and be on set and respect that this could be taken from them, and they're not the star. Those housewives are so much more down to earth than the ones that never were even in a high school play and are now the star of a peacock show. Like those girls. Those ones are the more difficult that, that I believe have a more inflated opinion of themselves. And I just kind of like, play along. But like, Denise total, you know, showed up with the, with the bun and never late. Never once have any of those actual actresses ever been late or flaked on a podcast. The, the people that have are the ones that had nothing to do with the business and somehow lived in the area and got on the show and I'm like, oh, you know, why were you a half hour? Did something happen? Happen? No, I was just on the phone in the parking lot.

[Dylan]

Okay, yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Like, all right. Yeah.

[Dylan]

Like, did. Is there gonna be white chicks too?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes, I think there is.

[Nick Viall]

You're in it.

[Mark Wahlberg]

I, I, I don't know if I'll be In it. But I DM'd Keenan. And I'm like, is this true? And he said, yes. And I said, I have so many ideas for. I've been. I have so many ideas of what the storyline could be and what. What funny characters I could help develop, so I would absolutely drop everything to work on it. And he said, like, absolutely. We'll be in touch as it gets closer. So I will let the world know once these DMs stop being returned. And then I will release the juicy scoopers on the Waynes Brothers. Because I had such a good time going to his house every day 21 years ago to write. To write that movie they had written. They had the movie sold. And I was like a contributing writer. So I helped with the girl line scenes, whatever that was. And then the part that I played was the. With a sales girl. And the way that came about is his sister Kim, who was on In Living Color, had come over and she was wearing these pants that, like, everybody wanted. These pants were so amazing. You go to this boutique on 3rd Street. And I was like, oh, I call those the magic pants. And I go, but that girl that works her, so annoying. She's always like, hi, can I help you with something? And Keenan starts laughing. He goes, oh, we need a shopping scene. And he goes, go write a shopping scene. So then I wrote the scene, and I wasn't even writing that part for myself. And then they called me from Canada and they're like, we were able to. Because they had to hire so many Canadian actors for, like, small parts. And he's like, we were able to, you know, if you can get here tomorrow, you can be the salesgirl. And I never, like, expected that when I wrote it. And so it's so fun. And I love.

[Dylan]

You wrote that shopping scene?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes. Then it was contributed. You know, everyone contributed jokes. And I mean, there's so many funny things that I remember of, like how the jokes came about. Like, one of the nephews, like, people would come in and just give in jokes. And one of the nephews came up with like. Or I think it was one of them. Remember when they're like. You know what they say when you go black, you end up in a wheelchair. And he goes. And then someone just comes by. Then a white hose comes by in a wheelchair. Hi. Like, all those, like. And we. I remember, like, dying, laughing at his house about that. I remember when the girls did the dance. They showed him the dance and been practicing for three days with the choreographer. And Keenan goes, no, now it's Too good. You guys can't be that good. So then they had to, like, do the funk, and they had to, like, redo it to be, like, less good.

[Nick Viall]

That's so funny.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And so there's just. It was just such a fun thing. And I'm so happy that it's, like, with stained.

[Nick Viall]

Like, oh, it's an culture.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah. All of that. Because it was never. People would always be like, oh, what if this. What if that? I'm like, there is no what if. It's. It's white chicks. And we love that guys were making fun of our anorexia bulimia weirdness about our bodies and, you know, the things that we would say and do. It was all. Yeah. So I really. I really hope. Because I think it could be so good. And I would drop everything to go and just, like, be in that writer's room again.

[Dylan]

I mean, the whole scene was. And I'm. I forget her name, but. Deb from Dexter.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Dylan]

The whole. Her, like, Tina, the talking that was based on.

[Mark Wahlberg]

That was based on my sorority sister Stacy, who I just was texting with last night. She used to do that. We'd get dressed and she'd be like, oh, hello. I'm like. And, like, take her fat and talk like that. And so, you know. And, you know, we'd be like, what's this? You know, and we'd, like, talk like, oh, baby's got back. Like, what the fuck is my ass doing in this thing? And we would, like, talk about our bodies like that. And so. So, yeah, those were all things that, like, just came from my life of being a whitechuck. And then I remember when we were writing the. Sean goes, I want to go out to a nightclub with you and your girlfriends and, like, observe. So we go to this nightclub in la. It might have been the Gate where Mauricio and Kyle met. It was on La Cienega. And, you know, girl, we go to Mr. Chow's first, and the guys are all fun. And, like, I bring a couple girlfriends with me. And that song Crazy in Love by Beyonce comes out. And it was like every white girl was like, dancing that song. And Sean just sat back and was like, I don't care how much money this costs, we gotta get this song to be the dance song, you know? Like, so it was just so. It was just so fun. I'm just. I love that. It was. And it was like, Wayne's brothers are the most classy, like, loving gentlemen family. I love them.

[Nick Viall]

They're just normal people.

[Mark Wahlberg]

They're just normal hard workers that, like, you know, know how to be funny and work on it.

[Nick Viall]

Heather?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yes. Thank you so much for having me. Oh, juicy scoop, which will be going on their 10th, our 10th year will start, I think, July 1st, and it's every Tuesday and Thursday. And then my Patreon, which I've had for eight and a half years, is all the really juicy, more intimate stuff. And that's every Friday. And you get that@heather mcdowell.net yet. Thank you.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, check it out. Thank you, Heather. Well, thank you to Heather McDonald. Up next, we have the host of Temptation Island, a show that now is available for all on Netflix. It's, it's had quite a run, like we talked about earlier in the episode, from Fox to USA to Peacock and now Netflix. And I really hope it's found its home because this show, if you like reality tv, love competition shows. This is as dramatic as anyone you'll ever have seen. So join us. But right now, it's Mark Wahlberg.

[Dylan]

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[Nick Viall]

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[Dylan]

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[Nick Viall]

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[Dylan]

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[Nick Viall]

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[I]

What's up everybody?

[Nick Viall]

Mark, how's it going man?

[I]

It's going great. I'm so sorry I can't be there man. You have the swaggiest studio on all podcasting so kind of bums me out.

[Nick Viall]

That I well next time under the weather. But you're out. So Mark. Mark was supposed to be in studio. He's a little under the weather. He spared us his germs. We appreciate that though. No one wants to get sick. It's thoughtful of you.

[I]

I love you. My wife was a little sick sick. Then I got a little sick. I think that's what marriage is mostly good times. And every now and then you make each other sick.

[Dylan]

You gotta share it.

[Nick Viall]

How long you Been married, Mark, a hundred years. Good for you. It's awesome.

[I]

That's. It. That's in show business years. I've been married 37. We've been married 30.

[Nick Viall]

That's amazing. Congratulations. And I hope that you, as the, you know, later, maybe. Maybe in a couple weeks you can come back maybe as the. People are watching. I gotta say, Mark, I started watching. I've seen the first two episodes of this. This season.

[I]

You've seen more than me.

[Nick Viall]

Okay, well, I have not watched Temptation island since my sophomore year of college. And that was season one, when it was day. Like, what year Fox, like, 2001. Was that not.

[I]

No kidding.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, when it was, like, on Fox.

[I]

That's the original.

[Nick Viall]

No, no. Yeah, the original. I was like, all in. Yeah.

[I]

That's like, before there was reality, it was like, Big Brother Survivor, and they're like, what if we did, like, a dating Survivor thing? And then I'm in Belize and we're trying to figure this out and make the whole thing up.

[Leia]

Yeah.

[Nick Viall]

I mean, I think it's. What's. I'm so fascinated about, like, Temptation island is that, you know, how many years have you. You guys have been running. How many seasons have you done? Like. I don't.

[I]

Well, you know, it's a crazy thing. So we did Fox, and it was like the highest rated show in the history of Fox. And kind of because of that, the Bachelor started over at abc, started this whole thing. I'm not taking credit, but, hey, you know, what is what it is. I'm only kidding. And then. Then, you know, we did like two or three seasons. We did two on Fox and then one on Fox, reality cable channel that, like, four people watched. And then it went away. And I went. Did my thing, you know, jump from show to show. I did Antiques Roadshow for a bunch of years, game shows, Moment of Truth, which was a crazy show. And then out of the blue, I read in the, like, in the trades, they're rebooting Temptation Island. Island. I'm like, well, yeah, I mean, that's cool, but they're never calling me. And then I got a meeting, and I walk into the meeting, I'm like, It's kind of like I felt like I was in that meeting, like when Morgan Freeman's in Shawshank and he's having his parole meeting.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[I]

I'm like, look, I know what you guys think you need, but, you know, I don't need your stamp of approval. And I kind of walk out of there like, yeah, whatever. And then, you know, two Weeks later, my wife and I are off on a plane to Hawaii. So.

[Dylan]

Wow.

[I]

You know, you just can't. Can't figure it out.

[Nick Viall]

It's a really good show, man. I'm, I'm, I'm. I was really excited to see that Netflix picked it up. It's obviously bounced around. I didn't even realize it was on Peacock at the time.

[I]

Well, it was on usa.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, usa.

[I]

Five seasons on usa. And then what's interesting is it did well on USA the first season. I, I really don't know. Nobody knows the numbers anymore. Anymore. But when it started re. You know, airing right away on Peacock, it did pretty well on Peacock, but it's just, you know, we have five seasons there, and then Netflix picked it up and it's just a big difference. Yeah, like, Netflix knows what's up.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, yeah, they're, they're a behemoth. And I'm very, I'm very optimistic and very hopeful, Mark, that this, that, that people stop sleeping on this show because I myself have been sleeping on it. If you like Love Island, I mean, it really honestly seems like Temptation island to your point. When you watch this show, it's just like, oh, so this is where Perfect Match got this idea. This is where Love island got movie night idea. I mean, you guys really are an OG show. You've been around for a long time. You've been on and off the air. But like, it really is the same blueprint with you, the, the original host. And I, I'm really hoping that Temptation island has finally found its home in Netflix and that people, it has this like, viral revolution because, damn, it's. It's excellent television. I mean, it's, it's so good. And may I say, Mark, since I'm, I'm kissing your ass.

[I]

Kiss away.

[Nick Viall]

What a breath of fresh air you are as a host.

[I]

Oh, man.

[Nick Viall]

And like, you're, you're, you're listening to what they're saying. You're giving earnest advice. Like on the Bachelor, it's like they have these fake sit downs with the host, and it's just like they're opening up about all their problems and they get like a pat on the back and like, well, good luck. I hope you don't fuck up your life. And you are, you know, like, have you always been that way? Like, first of all, like, the advice that you give is sound and good and thoughtful. How did that become a part of the show? Is that something you've always enjoyed doing and make? I'm myself, you know, I love to give advice and things like that, and it's part of the show. But sometimes with these types of shows, you know, it's like the host isn't the focal point type of thing. You kind of have to balance that out. So how did that all come to be where you're sitting down and really being like a voice of wisdom? You know, you. You. You care about these people. And it's. It's evident in why watching it was.

[I]

Never my plan, but my way of hosting everything kind of grew out of a different way than natural talent. I mean, like a normal talent route. I started in production. I kind of look at the show as a star, and I'm just trying to be of service. But first of all, just to give props to the Bachelor and other shows like that, those, you know, more than me, Nick. But, you know, the behind the scenes on those shows, it gets a little scripted. And so the hosts are doing exactly what they're asked to do.

[Nick Viall]

For sure.

[I]

Our show, there's not any. I can't say there's not any of that, but there's. From my seat in my part, there's really none of that. And so my approach has always been, you know, I. It was never my intention to be like, advice, dude. You know, I felt like that was kind of shitty and I didn't really want to be that guy. But what was natural to me and never something I was asked to do is that when we started these interviews and bonfires, I really cared. And I'm like, you're either buying what you're selling or you or you're not. And so I would ask questions and kind of go there. And then, you know, my wife and I have grown each other up emotionally, intelligence wise and, you know, spiritually and stuff like that. And so I was constantly, like, listening not just what they were saying, but to why they were saying it. And, you know, just trying to help.

[Nick Viall]

Help.

[I]

And my originally, like, back in the day was like, maybe if I say these things, then you'll get the sound bite, you know, you need from them. And then my intention is, you know, cut me out of the show. But then they'll give you juicy stuff.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[I]

But then as the show went on, it got a little bit more like the producers are asking me to do it. And, you know, so my stance has always been like, let it rip. We don't need a script here. I don't watch the clips beforehand. I have no idea what's going to happen in the bonfire. And I mean, it sounds kind of Corny, but I kind of just want to help. It's really painful. And, you know, maybe I can say something that either eases the pain or redirects their anger or opens them up to something they could discover and, you know, that's what's up.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, well, how you much you care is evident. And, you know, I'm curious watching, and I'm excited to see the rest of the episodes, but obviously the premise of the show has a very kind of scandalous, kind of taboo element to it where people are, you know, coming in relationships or dating other people. But at the same time, do you believe, like, almost seems like, you know, outside of the scandalous element of the show, that you really believe a lot of these people get the clarity that they need. Whether that's clarity about this relationship or staying in the relationship they came in isn't serving them as well as maybe discovering the grass is, you know, maybe greener on the other side. But, yeah, you. You seem to. Despite, you know, the juicy, scandalous sex sexual element of the show, you bring that heartfelt element to the show where it almost balances out the kind of salaciousness of the premise of the show.

[I]

Well, here's the deal with this show, the show I did years ago called Moment of Truth and stuff like that, that if I'm the guy going, let's see if we can make them cheat, and look how up you guys are. Right. I think that makes the audience, you know, stomach turn. And to speak to, like, what do I believe is the power of the show? And stuff like that. Look, here's the. I'm gonna just be straight. I always try to be straight with everything. It's a crazy idea if you're in a relationship. Yeah. Not don't do it, but once people are like, there, I kind of say to them, I'm like, look, here's the deal. This is some crazy. But you're here. Let's see what we can learn. And I'm going to let you know, even though you probably don't believe me, that I'm not a TV dude. And I'm committed to you getting something out of this. And my hope and my intention is that you all leave the island in a better place than when you came here. Something that might open up things you didn't know about yourself. Because the reason we're in these relationships a lot, Nick, is because we're recreating these preconceived notions about what love is. And so when they get there, I'm like, look, you're here and we're pointing fingers at him and you're pointing fingers at her and all that's legit. But what I know is you're not going to change him, you're not going to change her. And without putting guilt on you, you've got a little responsibility in what you think you deserve in a love relationship. So let's see if we can't crack that open. Give yourself a little self worth and kind of arrest the toxic stuff and try to rediscover and redefine what healthy looks like.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. How quickly have you seen people break their rules or maybe they don't have rules and act out physically with, with someone, with a, with a tempter or temptress. What do you call the, the people not in relationships?

[I]

I think they're calling them tempters and temptresses or whatever.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. So. Yeah. How, how quickly have you seen it or, or can we expect this season? How much switching teams can we expect?

[I]

I don't think you have to wait too long.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[I]

You know, at the first episode I asked them all the question, what rules have you set? And almost all of them are like, no touching.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[I]

And I mean, I, I really work hard not to have judgment. Judgment. But it was all I could do not to just laugh out loud and go, you guys, have you seen this? Have you seen the show? And are you being real? And so I, I say as lovingly as I can, I respect your rules. I hope the best for you. But I kind of chuckle because this experience, which I still think you think is a TV show, and it is, it gets real fucking real.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[I]

And you can I also say this, and the longer you manage yourself trying to be what you think that TV thing is, this, the longer it's going to take for this to hit you like a ton of bricks. And the sooner you just lean in, the, the more if there's something that actually is legit that's going to change your life in the future, that's your access.

[Nick Viall]

That's awesome. What can people expect differently, if anything at all, now that it's on Netflix versus when it was maybe airing in previous places?

[I]

Well, first of all, none of these shows were work without great casting and the Netflix casting department is like gold standard. So the people on the show are interesting and articulate and dangerous and beautiful and all that. Right. What I love about the show is that the format really doesn't have to change very much because there isn't a lot, which means it'll go wherever it Goes. And that is a surprise every. Every year, man. I'm like, people used to ask me, do you know who's going to stay together and who isn't? I'm like, I used to think I did. I was wrong every time. So, you know, I just buckle up. And when I see him at the bonfire, I'm like, let's just meet you where you are. We'll watch these clips together. I don't watch them ahead of time. And we'll chop it up.

[Dylan]

It is crazy to see the difference in villas, you know, with. With all the women and their whipped cream and their lingerie. And then the guys are like, so do you want to make a drink or do you want to chat?

[Mark Wahlberg]

You know, by the way, that whipped.

[I]

Cream and chocolate stuff, like, I can't. It's like, yeah, it's not sexy to.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Me, but yeah, that dynamic is you.

[Dylan]

Don'T want chocolate licked off your abs.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, but like, yeah, at the, the guy's villa, it's like it's a party with all the temptresses. And at the women's villa, yeah, it's like a therapy session. Session for all the girls to basically just talk about their. Their shitty boyfriends.

[I]

I don't like to generalize, but there's this vibe that, like, the boys come in resolved to be the men they say they are, and then all the things are there, and then they become like, what can I get away with?

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[I]

And then the girls often, or the women often kind of come in hoping to wait it out, you know, let me keep them at arm's distance and let me wait it out.

[Dylan]

What do you think is the most insane thing you've seen on the set?

[I]

Insane?

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[I]

On. Well, I don't see a lot on set because I don't watch what's going on in the villas.

[Dylan]

Right.

[I]

I. I kind of try not. I try to stay away from that because I think it makes me sit in a place of judgment and projecting on them and stuff. But I'll tell you, man, just like the viewers we'll have, I'll have a conversation with a guy, feel like we're on this page age, you know, they're kind of like, you know, resolved to be whatever. And then I'll show up to the girls bonfire and I'll see a clip of like 17 naked asses, and I'm.

[Dylan]

Just like, oh, my gosh.

[I]

You know what I mean?

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[I]

I'm constantly going. And then I have to kind of say, without judgment, there may be a gap between what you're saying and what you're doing. Doing. Maybe we should explore that a little.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. What I was kind of like, surprised by when I was watching episode two, where you, you know, you start getting into the relationship dynamics and things like that, and the men and women separate. So much of the show talks about the physicality of these relationships and will they, won't they get physical with, with someone else? But another element is how much shit talking these people in these relationships seem to do about each other. And not to downplay a physical, like, violation, but to me, like, it's just, it's more. I, I, I, I don't know. Honestly, I think there's a world where I would rather have my partner do something physically and us work through that rather than, you know, here, here's someone just talk some mad about my character or what I do to some stranger or someone also trying to date my girlfriend or whatever. You know what I'm saying? It's like, and it, to me, that's such a violation.

[I]

I think that's a really great point, Nick. And you're right. And I always talk about the violation. Is the physical violation worse than the emotional violation? So the best I can say with that is that, like, when you're in a toxic situation, it's really easy to spend all your focus on what the other person is doing or not giving you or the victim that you are of them. And it's not to say that's not true. True. But there are two things that happen. It allows you to address any responsibility on the other person and then gives you permission. Well, if they did it, then I can do it. So first of all, as far as the physical stuff, the sex stuff, look, if you want to not cheat, it's three weeks. You can just run the gauntlet.

[Nick Viall]

Right? Yeah. It's not that bad.

[I]

I mean, come on.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, right, Exactly.

[I]

So what I'm constantly saying is like, look, yeah, we got to look way beyond that. So if your thing is like, I really love her, but I, I just gotta have threesomes. I'm like, I gotta have a conversation with you. And I know this is gonna sound crazy, but there's such a thing called being in love with somebody. So much so that while those things are cool, you don't. It's not just you have willpower. You make a choice and not do it because you love her. There's like a level of real love which is like, you don't wanna.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[I]

You know what I mean? And, and that seems so basic to Us. It's like when we watch anything, like Love is blind or anything, we see what's going on with the couples. I was like, dude, don't you see this? Don't you see it? But when you're in it, you see everything but your blind spot. And so it's really easy to shit talk each other. Give yourself an excuse to make you feel better. You're looking for agreement from somebody else to support your point of view, and it's not your fault.

[Dylan]

Do you feel like a lot of them use the excuse of, like, well, I just watched her, like, say that, like, she doesn't want this man, or I'm embarrassing to her, so, like, it. I'll just go and, like, do this with this girl.

[I]

I think you'll see that this season.

[Dylan]

Yeah, Yeah, I think.

[I]

And. And it's. It's crazy to me is like, one of the guys will act out, right? Maybe first and then come to the bonfire, and then there'll be a bonfire where that's probably viewed. And then the next bonfire, he sees his girl making out with somebody, and he's furious. This and how disrespectful of their relationship that is and all that stuff. So now hear me. I'm not judging it. It's growth that has to happen there. You know what I'm saying? It's not lying and as much as being completely unaware and the gap, like I said, between what you're doing and what you're saying. And so I. It's. It's an old adage, but I say it, like, in every interview and every season, I'm like, look, look, there's a, you know, a famous philosopher who says in relationship, and I'm paraphrasing, the only thing I can do for you is work on me. And the only thing you can do for me is work on you. But when you start pointing fingers and blame and then not talking about it, that's a bad. That's a road to Temptation Island.

[Nick Viall]

It is. Mark, this has been so much fun chatting with you about the show. I hope you get an opportunity to feel better and come in and chat with us in studio, but excited to see how this show performs on Netflix because I'm really excited about its potential, really enjoying the first two episodes and excited to see what's to come.

[I]

Well, first of all, thank you for making me a hero with my. My daughter, who's a fan, and I'd love to be in studio. I live around the corner and can I just, like. Like, plug something in Hopes that ever. It ever becomes something.

[Nick Viall]

Please plug.

[I]

So I started a podcast that, like, four people listen to, but the idea is to kind of continue the kind of conversations you see on Temptation island with guests and friends and all the stuff, and it's called Bonfire Talks with Markel Wahlberg. You can find it@bonfire talkspodcast. And this is me shamelessly kissing all of your asses. So thanks for letting me shout it out.

[Nick Viall]

Of course. We appreciate you, man. You're. You're a legend and love what you do, man. And it's just. It's refreshing to see a host, and I understand that not every host gets the opportunity, but, like, you can tell you give a. And I think it makes it so much better, and you connect with the. The audience.

[I]

Compliment.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. So I. I appreciate you and what you do, man. It's been fun talking to you.

[I]

That. That's the highest compliment you can give me. It's really important to me. And the thought of people thinking that I'm full of. I got plenty of that. My own life. So for you to say that means a lot. I love what you guys are doing. I'm really, really honored to be a guest. This is a big day, you know, launching. And thanks for making time.

[Nick Viall]

Right back at you, man. Appreciate you as well. And we'll talk soon.

[I]

All right. Right on, you guys.

[Nick Viall]

I love this show. Like, I'm really. I really hope it's a huge.

[Dylan]

Could you imagine? Because, you know, like, obviously they all, like, sit in the swings, and the temptresses and the tempters kind of, like, put their bracelets on, like, who they're interested in. And, like, could you imagine if you're sitting beside your boyfriend of three years and no one's, like, coming to put their bracelet on him? Could you imagine the ex that that would give you?

[Caitlin]

I actually thought about this. I'm like, they have to rehearse before, like, okay, who's giving their bracelet. Bracelets A little bit. What if nobody gets a bracelet?

[Dylan]

The one girl got, like, six.

[E]

I was gonna say, I think there's, like, 12 people per, like, 12 tempters and temptresses. So it's like, the chances someone is going to at least get one. Is there? Yeah, but it's just.

[Sarah]

But if you get a pity bracelet, that sucks.

[E]

But you wouldn't know. Like, that's the thing. I'm like. But I'm like, I don't know which one's worse if my person didn't get a single bracelet or if my person got.

[Dylan]

No, you're like, oh, my God, is he ugly? Like, am I with an ugly guy? Like, why does no one want to like.

[E]

But we're about to separate. So I'm like, oh, so you got.

[Dylan]

Six of them chasing.

[Sarah]

I think if my. I think if my. If I went on Temptation island and my partner only got, like, one or no bracelets, I would be like, good sitting up.

[Caitlin]

I mean, someone basically told Brion, do you ever think, like, your girlfriend might be below you or, like, you date on your level? Do you remember that?

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Caitlin]

So it's like implying that you think he's hotter than her.

[Dylan]

The way that he talked about their, like, bedroom, like, their sex physicality.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. Do you imagine talking him being like.

[Dylan]

She'S not as freaky as me?

[Nick Viall]

Yeah. Yeah. Like, first of all, this temptress is someone who, like, everyone knows is potentially interested in dating him, let alone, like, just, could you imagine Connor? No going to work and just critiquing your performance.

[E]

No crazy.

[Nick Viall]

Or your appetite for sex.

[E]

Do you know how mad I would be if I ended up leaving with him and then watching it back and being like, you said no.

[Mark Wahlberg]

What? Literally?

[Dylan]

That's why I think it's nice to show them in the moment.

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

And it's not like, oh, let's get home. We're fine, Everything's fine. Let's watch it back and be like, what?

[Sarah]

Yeah, you know exactly what's going. I think it's a great concept because you know exactly what's happening while you're there. It's not like you. You're gonna wait or do you.

[Dylan]

I mean, I guess, you know, what.

[Sarah]

They show, but they're showing the crazy stuff, right?

[Nick Viall]

Well, how. I mean, how much are they showing too? You know, like, the producing side it, you know, granted, they know enough, you know, like, with. With, like, with Heather. We were joking about. Oh, yeah, I heard you're talking shit about Nick. And it's like, did you listen to the podcast? And, like, it's always like, some fan, you know, like in the producers, when they're showing at the bonfires, the clips, it could definitely be like, you know, six seconds of an 18 second, you know, sound bite. And those six seconds really are very triggering. And maybe the other few seconds would have softened that, but they don't show that type of thing. It ends, like, they definitely are able.

[E]

To amplify to Mark's point where he was kind of saying that the women try to hold off as long as possible. In my head, all I was thinking was, like, I bet until that first bonfire. Because if I saw a video of, like, two seconds of a girl licking something off of Connor's neck, it's like, all right, so we're playing.

[Caitlin]

Yeah.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Okay, so we're in the games. Let's fucking go.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah.

[Caitlin]

I mean, that's Tyler and Taylor's relationship. They should have broken up before even getting there.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Caitlin]

The second he said dear, she was like, bet I'm a flirt with everybody.

[Dylan]

Dear.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[E]

I didn't know that that could be such, like, a triggering where she's like, no, no, no, that's my.

[Nick Viall]

No, before that, he was like, she's unreal.

[Dylan]

Like, no, she's insane.

[Nick Viall]

She's insane.

[Dylan]

Girl in the picnic bikini's insane.

[Nick Viall]

Insane.

[Sarah]

That was.

[Dylan]

It's a crazy show.

[Nick Viall]

He might. Taylor is a. Taylor is the guy.

[Sarah]

No, Taylor's the girl. T. Tyler's the guy.

[Nick Viall]

Tyler's the guy. Yeah. He seems just. He's giving Tom Sandoval in the sense that we're like. He's just. He's a little too dense to realize that saying, oh, she's insane looking and calling her deer. Like, it doesn't register with his brain that that would be something that his girlfriend would not want to hear. Like, he's like, he's too dense to you. He's like, oh, I'm sorry.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Caitlin]

Also, dear is so, like, 17th century. No. I'm like, are we still calling people dear in today's society?

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

It was interesting that, like, it wasn't like, thank you, baby. You know?

[Caitlin]

Like, do you think the drama with Logan is, like, fabricated?

[Sarah]

Which one's.

[Dylan]

Which one is Logan the guy?

[Caitlin]

Ashley and Grant's relationship.

[Nick Viall]

Oh, they sound actually more toxic than any couple where, like, she's almost kind of implying that he's just, like, a really shitty boyfriend and treats her really bad. And when somebody.

[E]

Like, when he calls somebody arrogant and then she's defending someone, she doesn't even.

[Dylan]

Know what she's at.

[Mark Wahlberg]

You're arrogant.

[E]

And it's like, okay, shots fired. Tell me how you really feel.

[Caitlin]

And then all the guys. Like, when Logan was coming after her, man, all the guys were like, yeah, like, stand up. Like, of course. Exactly. And it's like, not y'all standing together.

[E]

I was like, that was kind of weird, too, like, listening to, like, the women and men every single, like, talk shit about the, like, temptresses.

[Heather McDonald]

You don't.

[E]

You typically don't hear that, like, the cattiness.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[E]

It was so catty.

[Dylan]

I wonder of them. I don't remember who. Oh, I think it was. I don't know if it was Ashley or Taylor, but she was talking about K and she's like, yeah, I can. Her hair is fake as. Yeah, like those extensions are awful.

[E]

They like not holding.

[Dylan]

My God.

[Sarah]

I. I don't know how you guys feel, but I personally hope that everyone is like nice to the tempters and temptresses. I'm like, they're just there. They are.

[Dylan]

I do. Like Nick said last night, he was like, I appreciate them like giving the tempters and temptresses like air time point.

[Nick Viall]

Of view and like their feelings. And I really like that. Yeah. Because it. It human them and. And doesn't like because. Because at first they come out in abs and bikinis and they just look, they just, you know, and they're everyone sexy and so the, you know, every, you know, you assume that like they're just kind of douchey and. And they're just, you know, throw. You know, leading with their bodies and whatever.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Sexual one liners.

[Nick Viall]

Sexual onliners.

[Dylan]

But my guilty pleasure is sucking dick.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, that was a line.

[E]

That was no innuendo. She got straight to the point.

[Nick Viall]

Like, girl, don't feel guilty. Don't feel guilty.

[E]

I just couldn't agree more.

[Sarah]

I do have one. Have a question that I wish we would have asked Mark, which is why are all the guys wearing those necklaces? What are they for? Oh, but why don't the girls have them?

[Dylan]

Because they like attach their.

[Caitlin]

It's like Love island style.

[Sarah]

Never mind.

[Dylan]

It's okay.

[Sarah]

Sorry. I don't understand TV production. Obviously I'm dumb. Let's continue.

[Nick Viall]

Well, the, the. All the episodes are out. We've only watched the first two. I don't know what you guys have planned this weekend, but we highly recommend you guys checking out Temptation island on Netflix. We will be watching it and talking a little bit about it next week because yeah, we're hoping you guys watch it because we love it and hopefully you guys join along.

[Dylan]

It's also, I will say it's also hard to watch the like women are just so hot and naturally like sexy. And then to watch the men like try to flex and be hot is so icky. And it's like, I'm glad that you.

[E]

Said that because I kind of had the same thought where I was just like, love island. When they do the casa more cool. It's like the women come out. It's like the guys come out and.

[Nick Viall]

Like, like even the Love island intros, like all the girls are like. I'm like, okay, Girl, get your dance on. And the guys come out and they're like jiggling and I'm like, no, stop, please stop.

[Sarah]

You're not allowed to have fun.

[Nick Viall]

Immediately stand there and look bored and grumpy. Yeah, you know, that's all you can do is a guy. But like, also, yeah, the. And I do feel like at first the women are at a disadvantage because like men are simple and stupid and like, you know, hot, good looking men. Then all they have to do is like move the wrong way or open their mouth and say something and it's like an immediate ick. And like, guys, it's like you can annoy the out of us beyond belief, but if them titties are out, like, we. Whatever you say. Yeah, it's like, ah, sure, yeah. You're like, love. Love your personality. Like, oh my God. I'm just saying, like, you know, you're.

[Dylan]

Looking at someone's cities.

[Nick Viall]

No, but if the titties are looking.

[Dylan]

At you, the cities are looking at you.

[Nick Viall]

No, none. But I'm saying on. On temptation.

[Dylan]

I think Sarah from Love.

[Nick Viall]

Sarah from Love is Blind is here. And we have some questions. The Valhouse is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing a budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Prices and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all. Hey, prime members.

[Caitlin]

Are you tired of ads interfering with your favorite podcasts? Good news.

[Nick Viall]

With Amazon Music you have access to.

[Caitlin]

The largest catalog of ad free top.

[Nick Viall]

Podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon music app for free or go to Amazon.com ADFreePodcasts that's Amazon.com ADFreeP Podcasts to catch up on the latest episodes without the app.

[Heather McDonald]

Hi, Sarah.

[Nick Viall]

How's it going?

[Heather McDonald]

How are you?

[Nick Viall]

We're good. How are you? How's your heart?

[Heather McDonald]

My heart's good, but today I woke up like so mentally off. So I'm so sorry I had to delay for an hour. I really appreciate you working with me through that.

[Nick Viall]

We're here to serve, Sarah. Yeah, yeah.

[Heather McDonald]

No, you know how like you just wake up one day, think like feeling fine and then the next is like not the best. So that's. That was today for me.

[Nick Viall]

Anything you want to talk about or just in general? Is it show related or.

[Heather McDonald]

Oh yeah. I mean y. Just this whole entire month, you know, I've never. I'm just A Minnesota gal. I'm a nurse. You know, I've never had to do any of this stuff. It's so out of my element. And, you know, it's exciting. There's so many pros, so many cons, but, like, just trying to soak it all in. And then, you know, sometimes you just like read one mean comment and then it kind of just throws your day off. But other days are great, so just hanging in there.

[Nick Viall]

What's been the most difficult part about this experience? Experience?

[Heather McDonald]

I was just talking to Leah about this earlier. Like, it's just something like you can't really anticipate or prepare for because it's some. I mean, for me personally, I've never gone through anything like this. And so it's just like having to manage it each day the best you can and just like, yeah, kind of going through the waves of everything. So it's just interesting.

[Nick Viall]

You know, there's obviously been a lot of talk about your relationship with Ben, you know, why you guys broke up and things like that. I thought it was a very interesting storyline just because, you know, obviously the times that we live in and things like that and a lot of strong opinions on both sides of things. But like, ultimately, you and Ben met in the pods, got to know each other. What was it about, like, time outside of the pods that really made you feel like he couldn't get to a place that you needed him to go? Because it, you know, it did seem like he was open minded. He may not be where you're at, but he seemed open minded. And I guess what was the big disconnect for you that ultimately caused you to. To say, this isn't my guy?

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah, no. Having those discussions alone was just like the important part for me. It wasn't necessarily like getting a specific answer, but throughout the time, like the two months that we were filming, I just felt like we were never progressing. And with these conversations, I like having those conversations. But also we did have chemistry and a connection besides having these heavy conversations. So, like, there was truly love there. But ultimately, like on an emotional state, I felt like we just weren't progressing. And that's why I feel like, you know, I was asking these questions and like having these hard conversations, I wasn't really getting an actual response. Like he was receptive and he wasn't, you know, guarded or anything by having these conversations. But I just really like to, you know, explore people's minds and like, where we grew up or like how we grew up, how we became the person that we are and, like, how we just have the perception of, like, the world around us today. And I just felt like it wasn't as vulnerable as I was hoping to and just, like, digging deeper. You know, he never said anything particularly wrong, but, like, I just. I don't think he said enough to make me feel, like, confident in understanding really who Ben was.

[Nick Viall]

Did you guys try to date afterwards at all, or. It. It looked like watching the show that you pretty much kind of knew how you felt and. And weren't all that interested, but there.

[Dylan]

Was the whole of it all that was a little confusing.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah. So on wedding day, like, we. We both went into wedding day basically on the same page, knowing, like, where we stood with things and what we were going to say. And so. But with my heart and my mind involved, you know, I was thinking one way, and then my heart was telling me, like, oh, but this seriously could be your person. So I was just, like, completely, like, torn in so many directions. But I knew with the hesitations and. And, like, not the full confidence that this wasn't going to be a yes. But after, like, filming and, like, filming was over, the production team left. I was able to, like, decompress just a little bit and process everything. And, you know, with the emotions involved, I was still hopeful that, you know, despite the hesitations, I was still, like, curious of what our relationship could grow into with no cameras. You know, getting out of this little bubble that we were in for the two. Two months. I was eager to see, like, what our connection could be and also how we could progress outside of that bubble. And so I was just hopeful. I was just hoping that we would progress again in a way, just us, too. And also, like, in this, like, situation, you're on camera, and you don't really know how people handle being on camera. Like, I didn't know if maybe Ben wasn't being as vulnerable because of the camera cameras. And so I wanted to give him, like, the benefit of the doubt and be like, I still. I know that there's something in there. I just want to be able to get to it. And so I. I really wanted to, like, exhaust all options before really fully letting go. And, you know, just with emotions involved, like, it kind of clouds your mindset. So we did decide, like, a week after the wedding that he was going to come with me to Nashville. We talked about that in the podcast pods. And so, you know, we were both excited. We talked about the details. And then the day that I left to Nashville is when it just. He. I just felt Kind of dropped. And so I was confused because, like, we had such detailed agreements of him coming and when. When he was coming and everything. But ultimately, I think when he, like, removed me from Find My Friends and everything like, that, that's when I, like, had the most clarity of, like, okay, this is actually. Actually who Ben is and the situation I was in. Like, I felt pretty duped.

[Nick Viall]

What do you. And why do you. When you say who he is, who do you think he is? Like, what do you mean by that?

[Heather McDonald]

Well, the whole entire time in the two months, like, yeah, we had these heavy conversations, but he also was, like, always reassuring me, constantly with, you know, positivity, telling me he loved me so much that he would marry me that day. And, you know, I. It feels good to hear that. And so I was really thinking, like, oh, my gosh. Gosh, this guy loves me so much. Like, I. This is, like, my person. And, you know, he was still saying that even after the wedding. And so I was like, okay, like, I will try. Like, give this a try again. Like, let's. Let's try this out together. And so then it was like, that's why when I left Nashville, it was just like, a complete 180 of what. Of what I saw.

[Nick Viall]

Interesting. What did you make of his YouTube business card?

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah. Um, so I saw that five days before the wedding, and my friend from Nashville actually sent it to me. And with everything else that was happening and, like, coming to my attention during filming, like, I was protecting then, and I was protecting our relationship and also, like, protecting myself, too, because it's a very vulnerable, open public situation that we're in. That YouTube card, I was. I got the backstory behind Find it because my friend received it from a girl that received it from him. And so, like, I was just like, okay, what is going on? Like, I. Like, I just knew, like, there is so much I need to learn more about Ben and, like, his past. And so I looked up his YouTube. There was only, like, one video of him doing, like, a cuts advertisement or something. And so I was like, okay, at least there is. There's a video here, and it's real. But, like, clearly videos were deleted, but I didn't tell anyone. I. I literally had no mental capacity to bring that up to anyone, especially production.

[Nick Viall]

Did you confront Ben about it, at least?

[Heather McDonald]

No, I did not. I. I just. I literally was like, I can't. I can't bring it down.

[Nick Viall]

Interesting.

[Heather McDonald]

I don't think I did anyways, but.

[Nick Viall]

Bring it up to him after. After the wedding and Before Nashville.

[Heather McDonald]

I honestly, no, I don't think they did because that's. I think when things were coming out about the. About the business card or something like that.

[Nick Viall]

Has he spoken? I mean, is. Do you know any more than we know as it relates to, like, Ben's version of. Of this business card? Because it's a really weird look to. To be a guy who's not really that much on YouTube to be handing out this business card with people he, like, has a. A night of passion with.

[Heather McDonald]

I honestly, like, yeah, I just feel like there was so much that was going on. I can't remember exactly if it was, like, me directly talking to. Or me hearing his response to friends, like, some of the other cast members talking about it, but his response from my. From, like, my memory is that he was like, well, I just wanted to, like, boost my. My account. I wanted to get as many subscribers.

[Nick Viall]

One lady at a time.

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah, that was like a. A response that I was not surprised coming.

[Dylan]

Pennies make a dollar.

[Heather McDonald]

It's like, so. So, yeah, I just. I did not bring it up to him. I just couldn't. I literally had no capacity or room to have that discussion.

[Nick Viall]

What. What is your opinion on Madison? She seems fairly toxic from just a viewer's point of view and. And seems to be pretty dead set on. On trying to make anyone that she was involved with on this show look bad. Like, is that a fair criticism, or do you think she's being unfairly represented by the edit?

[Heather McDonald]

You know, we all have our own different relationships and experiences with one another. I personally, you know, I respect and I feel pretty, like, protective of everyone in this experience because we all go through it the same, but, like, cope differently and handle things differently. Overall, I think Madison is who she is.

[Dylan]

She.

[Heather McDonald]

She's. She's truthfully the person she is. And what does that mean? I. I mean, that's. I. I don't know. I don't think that the edit actually editing has, like, a lot to do with people's perception, obviously, but I don't know what actually happened with, like, her in the pods or, like, with her relationships that happened. So I can't speak for that.

[Nick Viall]

In the battle between Madison and the other two men, whose character would you. You trust a little bit more? I guess I'm curious.

[Heather McDonald]

That's a really good question. I honestly don't really want to answer that. I'm sorry.

[Nick Viall]

No, you know, I think you. You've said enough, and you don't have to answer this either, but there's some speculation that you. You might be hanging out with Joey.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Heather McDonald]

This has been a. I've seen this a few times on online the past 24 hours.

[Nick Viall]

Okay. Yeah. And is there any truth to it or.

[Heather McDonald]

Well, to be clear, me and are not dating. Okay.

[Nick Viall]

Just friends.

[Heather McDonald]

But to get context, you know, I'll give some background if you want.

[Nick Viall]

Sure. Yeah.

[Heather McDonald]

The behind the scenes. So there was like a love square between me, Monica, Ben and Joey. And we were all talking to each other until the second to last day in the pods. So of course, like, naturally in that situation, in that circumstance, you do connect with people. And I feel like me and Joey did establish a really great friendship. But honestly, I didn't really talk to him until probably like five months after filming was over and him and five other people visited me in Nashville. And like, we called ourselves like the Yeehaw Crew. Like, it's such a good time. Like, it's all from cast. And we, we grew really, really close with each other just because, you know, the support for each other knowing what we've all been through and being able to just like, be there for one another has been super important to me. Yeah, I just overall, like this whole situation. I feel close with Joey. I do. I am fond of our relationship, but I feel like, very well supported by everyone involved. I'm just very grateful that I've met him. But, yeah, we definitely have a friendship.

[Nick Viall]

But you're also definitely not dating.

[Heather McDonald]

We're definitely not dating.

[Nick Viall]

Can we say we definitely won't be dating in the future?

[Heather McDonald]

I don't know what the future will hold, but I know for right now I definitely, definitely have no. I. I just have no capacity to even think about a relationship.

[Nick Viall]

Have you seen his bachelor audition tape?

[Heather McDonald]

I did see some clips of that. Yes, I did.

[Nick Viall]

Wild stuff. Yeah. Yeah. It seems like maybe Joey and Ben had a. A bit of an interest of being in the limelight prior to to Love is Blind. I mean, in Bachelor World, we might say they were there for the wrong reasons given some of this previous content. But or, or may, you know, maybe they're just goofy, goofy gals, you know?

[Heather McDonald]

Well, and like, I also give credit to, I mean, like, anyone going on to this, you have to understand, like, you know, the outcome of, like, possibly you may be on TV or like on Netflix or like, you don't know, like, how you're going to be edited. So, you know, and everyone has different interests and hobbies of like, what maybe they would want to do. But, you know, it is what it is.

[Dylan]

I kind of took the stance of when, at the reunion, when we talked about Ben, you know, reaching out to you and wanting to get on the same page before reunion, you kind of took that as it felt scripted. It felt like he was you. It made you question a lot of his previous acts. I kind of was under the impression of, like, if you leave a relationship kind of mutually, like, no one really fucks anyone over that bad. It's like, hey, we all, all have, like you said, been through this experience. We know, like, what the Internet can be like, let's kind of try to protect each other as much as possible. And, like, if there's something we need to, like, hash out, maybe we do that privately between the two of us and not on national television. So, like, do we want to get on the same page before reunion? That's kind of where I thought he was coming from. Do you see you, do you see that?

[Heather McDonald]

That way or no, when he, like, reached out to me and he's like, let's be on good terms. Yeah, no, I, I'm totally for that, too. I, I wanted that. I, I, I feel like we're still cordial with one another, but it was just that in the context of how it happened, like, all in chronological order. After wedding day, we still had those plans to go to Nashville together. And then, you know, I felt like I was dropped that day, which, in hindsight, I probably should have known better. Um, but then that happens, and then the next time I hear from him is because he got, like, past cast member advice to be on good terms with me, and he, he did use the language to practice reunion questions together. And so that's what turned me off, too. It's not like he was intentionally and being, like, sincere with wanting to connect and to check in with one another.

[Nick Viall]

Could both things be true? You know, I mean, and, like, couldn't he be nervous about, you know, a reunion not having done something like that before, knowing it's going to be recorded on national television, knowing it's going to be picked apart, knowing that majority of the audience are women, you know, like, couldn't it be fair for him to want to get advice or take the advice from previous people without making his desire to be on the same page with you insincere? Like, can't they both be true?

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah, no, I agree with you with that. I do. It's just also everything that I knew about Ben at the time, like, it only just made more sense that the reason why he was reaching out to me was because he was advised to.

[Nick Viall]

Knowing that you did not confront Ben about the business card. I actually understand your point of view better now because it's like, all you had was this, like, business card and this, like, accusation, and you, you know, almost felt silly, didn't want to bring it up then. You didn't bring it up then, Almost felt unfair to bring it up now, but still knew about in the back of your mind. And that. That kind of gave a very insincere, I'm assuming, impression of Ben. So it makes me understand your point of view better. But I guess, you know, tonally's question in mind, like, now that the dust has settled, so to speak, like, do you slightly regret coming for him? Or based on what you know now, putting everything together, does your gut tell you that. That your instincts were more right? Or was it maybe just, like, you know, you guys were all just kind of caught up in this Machine is blind in the reunion. Like, which. Which one do you think is more accurate now that the dust has settled?

[Heather McDonald]

I mean, of course, during the reunion, like, okay, so this past year, I've processed everything, accepted everything that happened, and I'm. I've moved forward, but when you're rewatching everything, you, like, get back into what you were feeling at the time. And so I did not want to go into the reunion feeling like I was trying to just bash Ben. I wanted to go in just telling my story of what happened. And again, I respect Ben. I. We all went through this together. I truly did love him and our experience together. But in the end, yeah, I was hurt. I felt duped, and I don't regret with what I said. I did apologize to him how feisty I was. I told him I came off a little more feisty than what I ever was intending to, but in the setting of talking about things that happened and then getting pushed back, that it didn't happen or that he can't remember it. It just brought me back to the time of how much I heard that, and I. I don't regret bringing up what I said.

[Nick Viall]

Okay.

[Dylan]

That's valid.

[Nick Viall]

That's fair. Okay. Any other questions for our girl?

[Dylan]

Cannot stress enough. Do not read comments. Yeah, ignorance is bliss.

[Nick Viall]

Get outside. Stay out of the comments.

[Heather McDonald]

Any advice? Tell me.

[Nick Viall]

Yeah, yeah. Get offline and get outside. That's. That's my advice. People are very. I'm sure it feels heavy right now. When I. My first time on the Bachelor, I was. I don't know if you know anything about it, but I was very much the villain. And online, oh, I was public Enemy number one. And. And there wasn't anyone else to shit on. It was just me. And when I went outside, I was treated like a rock star and everyone loved me and everyone wanted to take pictures and everyone was super nice outside. And online, they were very, very different. But I'll. The real world is what matters. And online is just people who don't have the guts to say something to your face. And they go away and they come back. It's. It's not real. Get outside. That's. That's our advice.

[Caitlin]

All right.

[Heather McDonald]

Thank you. I'm gonna go on a walk.

[Nick Viall]

Do it.

[Dylan]

Do it.

[Nick Viall]

And I'm sure if anyone recognizes you, I promise you they'll be very nice.

[Dylan]

Sometimes you have to, like, I. The amount of times I delete TikTok off my phone, I delete Instagram off my phone, I limit comments. I only allow certain, you know, friends and family to con. Like, you just can't allow people to have access to you. And I think blocking that off is very, very self serving. And I think you.

[Heather McDonald]

It.

[Dylan]

It helps a lot.

[Nick Viall]

If you are looking for validation online, you will only find pain. I. I promise you.

[Heather McDonald]

Yeah, right.

[Mark Wahlberg]

Yeah.

[Heather McDonald]

No, I've been surrounding myself with family and friends.

[Dylan]

Good.

[Heather McDonald]

This whole time, it's felt really good. And then after the reunion, I was like, okay, now it's time to get back into the TikToks, you know, swipe a little, little bit. No, no, Take some more time. Like all yesterday.

[Nick Viall]

So I would. Yeah, I would. I would. I would stay off. Offline for the most part, for the next month or so. Enjoy the real world. It's pretty great out there. Yeah. And it's warming up in Minnesota, so, you know, or Nashville, wherever you are. Is it.

[Heather McDonald]

I don't know.

[Nick Viall]

It's gonna be soon. All right, Sarah, I appreciate you taking the time. Best of luck in the future. And, and thanks for answering, answering our questions.

[Heather McDonald]

Thank you. Thank you for understanding about the delay. I really appreciate it. All good.

[Nick Viall]

No worries. All right, take care.

[Dylan]

Bye.

[Nick Viall]

Have a good one. All right.

[Leia]

Bye.

[Nick Viall]

Bye. All right. You know, I. That I do understand where she came from. Knowing that she didn't confront Ben about the business card, it's probably just eating her alive. And she just, like, wanted to ask him about it, but she wanted it. She wanted to be nice and look out for him. I get it, I get it. She. There's something fishy about Madison. They're all afraid of her. They don't want to answer the question. They all clearly think she's toxic. And they don't want to say something.

[Sarah]

I don't know. But I've been a, I've been a Sarah girl since the beginning. She was always my favorite. I'm glad she's getting offline and doing her thing.

[Nick Viall]

Well, it doesn't sound like she's very offline right now, but I hope she starts getting offline. Well, that'll wrap it up for this episode. Just want to give a special thank you to all of our audience members. You guys are also part of the Hug household. It's been 900 episodes. I always, every time we have one of these kind of, I don't know what you call it, but monumental episodes, it certainly reminds me of our, our first couple ones. We've come a long way and I know a lot of you have been with us from the beginning and whenever you guys joined us, we're happy to have you part of the family and part of the household. And we hope to be with you for 900 more. Thank you to our guests Heather McDonald, Mark Wahlberg and Sarah from Love is Blind. Also, be sure to check out our going deeper episode with Emmy and Will from Southern Hospital Brutality. It's definitely a doozy. If you're not watching the show, you should check it out. It's like a new vanderpump. And if you aren't watching the show, it's, it's still a very juicy reality TV episode of a lot of behind the scenes and a lot of real talk about what it's like to be on an ensemble cast and trying to live your life as well. So be sure to check that out. We'll see you next week. Bye. The BHOUS is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing a budgeting game? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can find options that fit your budget and potentially lower your bills. Try that. Progressive.com progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates. Prices and coverage match limited by state law. Not available in all states. States. You are no dummy, but you're kind of acting like one.

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[Mark Wahlberg]

If you love chilling mysteries, unsolved cases, and a touch of mom style, humor.

[Dylan]

Moms and Mysteries is the podcast you've been searching for. Hey guys, I'm Mandy.

[Mark Wahlberg]

And I'm Melissa.

[E]

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[Dylan]

Mysteries, your gateway to gripping, well researched true crime stories.

[Mark Wahlberg]

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[Dylan]

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[E]

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[Dylan]

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