The Viall Files – E994: Going Deeper with Kat and Dale: BIP Unpacked

Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Nick Viall (with Natalie Joy and co-hosts)
Guests: Kat & Dale (Bachelor in Paradise alumni)

Overview

In this “Going Deeper” episode, Nick Viall sits down with Kat and Dale, fresh from the latest season of Bachelor in Paradise (BIP), to unpack the unique twists of the season, address off-camera rumors, and dive deep into their relationship journey—both on and off the show. The conversation covers show mechanics, public perception, accusations, relationships within Bachelor Nation, and how Kat and Dale are navigating their post-show reality as a couple.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Show Format & Money Twist

• New Season Structure: The format shifted away from forced engagements and towards building authentic relationships.
  • Kat: “...they were more focused on like truly like building relationships...engagements were the forefront of previous seasons, they haven't really worked out that well.” [01:46]
• Prize Money Confusion:
  • Prize initially touted as “up to $500k”, but was split between two couples; after taxes, each only received about $60k.
  • Kat jokes about asking “what are the taxes?” [03:03]
  • Dale: “...if it was winning, it was the biggest thing. The money wasn’t incentive, but you just wanted to win for your partner.” [03:20]

Dale’s Injury & Competition Dynamics

• Dale explains he was competing with a torn lat and tricep.
  • “...before filming, I tore my lat and my tricep...we had no strength competitions the whole time.” [03:57]
  • “I was definitely the weakest link. No question.” [04:42]
• Kat highlights the emotional challenge: “...later in the evening, when I couldn’t handle emotionally things...he...carried the weight and...stood for both of us.” [05:10]

Post-Show Relationship Building

• Living Bi-coastal (San Diego & NYC), navigating secrecy and public attention.
  • Kat talks phases: Phase 1 filming, Phase 2 real-world secret dating. [07:25]
  • Dale: “...I’ve taken 52 flights this year, so I can kind of be where I need to be...home is where I build a relationship.” [09:11]
• Communication & Intent:
  • Both stress honest conversations and intentionality post-show.
  • Dale: “I told Kat this, like, I never wanted to put someone in a box that they didn’t deserve to be in...” [08:21]

Past Bachelor Nation Relationships

• Kat on lessons from her past BIP engagement:
  • “...I kind of didn’t know my needs or wants...I wasn’t seeing those...signs. Watching it back...it’s better to actually take things slow...” [10:48]
  • She journaled daily and spoke with the show therapist to stay grounded. [10:48]
• Dale reflects on Claire:
  • “Claire's in a great relationship. You know, she's got her child, which I'm very, very happy for...it wasn’t about two bad people. It’s just...we were just different.” [21:24]
  • “I did have this want and this need to...heal someone’s pain...” [21:30]

Current Relationship Status

• Both have said “I love you” but prefer privacy about intimate details.
  • Dale: “...there’s certain things that you share with people. Cause you’re proud of. But there’s also things that you kind of keep tight.” [13:38]
• On future plans:
  • Both desire children—Dale: “One of the greatest gifts in the world will be to be a father...seeing my partner in my child’s eyes...” [14:39]
  • Not rushing engagement or weddings; enjoying exploration phase.

Navigating Challenges & Compatibility

• Discussed learning each other’s conflict styles and responsibilities.
  • Kat: Dale’s drive to be a “good provider and partner” creates self-pressure. [16:10]
  • Dale is primary support for his family; Kat had to learn not to misinterpret his busy-ness as lack of interest. [17:55]
• No “icks” but learning mutual understanding.
  • “It’s not that deep. It’s all good.” – Dale [18:42]
  • Kat’s long phone rants, Dale’s strategy: “I turned the volume down and put it on speak and start cooking.” [18:53]

Public Perception & Editing

• Kat feels she was more accurately portrayed this season. “I was a different person two years ago...this year...was definitely closer to true to form.” [19:44]
• Dale only caught up on Paradise seasons last minute and preferred not to know contestants’ pasts. [20:34]

Addressing Controversies & Accusations

Accusation: Kat Entered with a Boyfriend & iPad Rumor

• Kat denies having a boyfriend on arrival: “I did not come in with a boyfriend. I definitely did leave with one. So that’s point blank period there.” [31:50]
• Clarifies she was seeing an ex before the show, but no exclusive relationship.
• Kat denies the iPad/extraphone rumor: “I did not have an iPad...I did not have a laptop. No.” [35:57]
• Dale’s take: “...if there’s any truth to this...we’ll figure it out after the fact...the reality was we could be going home and those things we could figure out.” [37:34]

Friendship with Sean

• Kat explains “best friends” was overstated: “We were friends, but I wasn’t considering us a close friend...he met my ex twice.” [44:57]
• Host Nick affirms “friend” is used loosely in Bachelor Nation. [47:00]

Kat Being Called a Bully

• Nick reads a DM from Parisa calling Kat "a bully...everyone was scared of her." [51:04]
• Kat is visibly upset, notes lack of direct communication from accusers: “Nobody that has said any of the things...has had a conversation with me or gotten to know me...” [56:21]
• Dale: “You can do everything right and people are still going to have opinions.” [54:05]
• Kat: “I am Italian. I speak very intensely, and I care very deeply...if I make you feel that way, I would love to have a conversation about it.” [53:28], [57:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kat on Bachelorette Engagements:
  “If you see, even though engagements were the forefront of previous seasons, they haven’t really worked out that well. So...whatever they’re doing this time...worked a little bit better because we’re together.” [01:46]
• On Emotional Support:
  “...the whole concept was, like, your partner carries, like, the weight of the world. And...that was, like, a physical challenge. But later...he technically...carried the weight and, like, stood for both of us.” – Kat [05:10]
• Dale on Love:
  “Love is not enough. It is the most important thing. But to make a relationship work, there’s a lot of other things that go into it.” [28:21]
• Kat, self-aware:
  “...I am never, like, afraid to be my full self, and I’ll always own anything...” [48:08]
• On Being Called a Bully:
  “Being called a bully...my intentions are always like, to help people...sometimes I don’t see how I make people feel.” – Kat [53:28, 56:21]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Show Format & Prize Discussion: 01:06–03:43
• Dale’s Injury/Competition: 03:46–05:30
• Post-Show Logistics (Long Distance etc.): 06:01–09:53
• Processing Past Relationships (including Claire): 08:21–10:48 & 21:24–22:32
• Defining the Relationship Now (kids, love): 13:23–15:40
• Compatibility, Challenges, ‘Icks’: 16:10–18:42
• Editing & Bachelor Nation Dynamics: 19:44–21:12
• Addressing Rumors (Boyfriend/iPad): 31:03–36:47
• Handling Sean Friendship Rumors: 43:43–47:09
• Being Called a Bully & Emotional Response: 51:04–57:42
• Relationship Plans/Proposal Preferences: 60:44–62:29
• Final Reflections: 62:29–64:39

Tone and Dynamics

• Relaxed and candid, often humorous (playful banter about the show’s format and rumored drama).
• Supportive and introspective—Kat and Dale repeatedly express gratitude for one another and quick to clarify misunderstandings.
• Sensitive; Kat is moved almost to tears on being labeled “a bully,” revealing real effects of reality TV drama.
• Open about past experiences, both positive and painful; mature approach to current relationship.

Conclusion

This “Going Deeper” episode offers Bachelor Nation fans an unfiltered, thoughtful look at post-show realities for Kat and Dale—beyond the TV drama. They tackle widespread rumors, recount their journey through physical and emotional challenges, and reflect earnestly on what it takes to build a public relationship that’s also a real one. Despite Bachelor Nation’s characteristic chaos, Kat and Dale’s shared outlook on communication, growth, and authenticity shines—leaving the door open for their love story to continue and deepen off-screen.

For listeners seeking drama, insight, and inspiration on making love work—in public and private—this episode delivers an honest, engaging recap, emphasizing empathy and maturity over manufactured reality TV narratives.