Minnesota Nice with Love is Blind Season 8's Lauren, Taylor & Daniel

Summary

Podcast Summary: "What's the Reality?"
Episode: "Minnesota Nice with Love is Blind Season 8's Lauren, Taylor & Daniel"
Release Date: March 12, 2025

Hosted by And Love Media, "What's the Reality?" delves deep into the intricacies of love, relationships, and reality TV culture. In this compelling episode, the host engages with Lauren from Season 8 of "Love is Blind," followed by an insightful conversation with Taylor and Daniel, another couple from the same season who have successfully navigated the challenges of reality TV romance.

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with the host welcoming Lauren, a former contestant from Season 8 of "Love is Blind." Lauren shares her experiences over the past year, reflecting on her life post-show and the emotional journey she has undergone.

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2. Lauren’s Reflections on Season 8 and Her Relationship with Dave

a. Life Since The Show

Lauren begins by discussing the tumultuous year following her participation in "Love is Blind." She expresses the difficulty of returning to normalcy after such an intense experience.

Lauren [01:25]: "Life is good. It's been a crazy year to look back because obviously, like, all of this happened a year ago and then you kind of have to go back and live your normal life."

Despite the challenges, Lauren highlights the emotional distance she now feels from her on-screen experiences, allowing her to view them through a more detached lens.

b. Relationship Conflicts and Breakup

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Lauren's relationship with Dave, her former engagement that ultimately ended in breakup. Lauren delves into the complexities of their interaction, particularly focusing on a love triangle involving Dave and another contestant, Molly.

Lauren [04:14]: "I was making these decisions based on the information that I had in front of me and, like, what I was hearing from Dave."

She acknowledges that while she regrets some of her actions, her primary goal was seeking clarity and understanding in a high-pressure environment.

Lauren [05:40]: "I just want this, and I will fight for this."

c. Minnesota Culture's Impact

The concept of "Minnesota Nice"—a stereotype depicting the polite and reserved nature of Minnesotans—plays a crucial role in Lauren's narrative. She explains how this cultural backdrop influenced communication and conflict resolution in her relationship.

Lauren [28:09]: "It's a very Minnesotan thing, too, to see you scroll on Hinge and you see, like, people with their fish pictures, people at their cabin people. It's very similar."

This cultural trait often leads to indirect communication, making it challenging to address underlying issues directly.

d. Reality TV Editing Misrepresentations

Lauren expresses frustration with how reality TV editing can distort real-life events, leading to misinterpretations among the audience.

Lauren [07:35]: "Watching the scene back where I'm telling Dave how I feel, it was hard to watch because it makes it seem like I'm comparing myself to Molly."

She clarifies moments that were edited to appear more dramatic or negative than intended, aiming to set the record straight for her viewers.

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3. Reunion Insights

a. Renewed Conversations with Dave

During the reunion, Lauren recounts an unexpected encounter with Dave, where unresolved tensions resurfaced. She emphasizes Dave's lack of accountability in their past conflicts.

Lauren [03:39]: "You ruined the relationship. Let's be clear. This is on you."

Despite Dave's attempts to seek reconciliation, Lauren remains steadfast in her stance, highlighting the emotional toll of their interactions.

b. Dave’s Behavior and Social Media's Influence

Dave's interactions post-show reveal his struggle with accountability and the overwhelming influence of external opinions, exacerbated by his social circle and family dynamics.

Dave [57:30]: "I had so many conversations with Sarah off camera that she was telling me things about the relationship and things he was saying."

Lauren criticizes Dave's tendency to shift blame, pointing out his reliance on others rather than addressing issues head-on.

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4. Introducing Taylor and Daniel – Season 8’s Married Couple

The latter part of the episode transitions to an uplifting discussion with Taylor and Daniel, the final standing couple from Season 8 who have maintained their relationship successfully for nearly a year.

a. Their Relationship Journey

Taylor and Daniel share their experiences from meeting in the pods to marriage, emphasizing their strong communication and mutual support.

Dave [43:29]: "I just love to see the love."

They attribute their success to intentionality and commitment to the process, navigating challenges with grace and understanding.

b. Handling Post-Show Life and Social Media

The couple discusses the pressures of maintaining privacy in a small community like Minnesota and the pervasive impact of social media on their relationship.

Taylor [48:04]: "A lot of people wanted more pod time, and then now they're like, ah, wait, no, we don't want any more pot."

They employ strategies like blocking negative comments and focusing on their bond to withstand external pressures.

c. Lessons Learned and Advice

Taylor and Daniel offer valuable insights for listeners, advocating for trust, patience, and staying true to oneself amidst the complexities of modern dating and reality TV scrutiny.

Taylor [44:31]: "It's so easy just to say, like, okay, well, if you're over 30, I'm. You know, I'll just focus on this because there are a lot of girls on the dating apps that are what my preference would be in that area."

Their narrative serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating that genuine connections can thrive despite external challenges.

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5. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with heartfelt congratulations to Taylor and Daniel, celebrating their enduring love and encouraging Lauren to remain hopeful in her romantic pursuits. The host reinforces the podcast's mission to blend authentic relationship discussions with the fascinating world of reality TV, offering listeners both entertainment and meaningful insights.

Host [40:20]: "It gets better, girl."

Overall, this episode of "What's the Reality?" provides a nuanced look into the aftermath of reality TV romance, showcasing both the pitfalls and the possibilities of finding true love under the spotlight.

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Notable Quotes:

• Lauren [04:19]: "I fought for him so hard."
• Dave [43:29]: "I just love to see the love."
• Taylor [44:31]: "It's so easy just to say, like, okay, well, if you're over 30, I'm..."
• Host [40:20]: "It gets better, girl."

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Key Takeaways:

• Authentic Connections Matter: Genuine communication and understanding are vital for sustaining relationships, especially under the intense scrutiny of reality TV.

• Cultural Influences: Regional stereotypes like "Minnesota Nice" can significantly impact relationship dynamics and conflict resolution.

• Reality TV Editing: Misrepresentations through editing can skew public perception, highlighting the importance of context and personal narratives.

• Navigating Post-Show Life: Building a life after reality TV requires resilience, support systems, and a clear vision for the future.

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Whether you're a hopeless romantic, a reality TV enthusiast, or someone navigating the complexities of love, this episode offers valuable perspectives and heartfelt stories that resonate with all listeners.

Transcript

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[Focus Features]

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[Host]

I can feel when you're watching me.

[Lauren]

I like it.

[Focus Features]

It's the perfect marriage of love and deception.

[Host]

I watch her. I assume she watches me. There's a traitor in the house.

[Dave]

Find the leak.

[Focus Features]

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[Host]

Who's the suspect?

[Lauren]

Your wife?

[Dave]

Would you kill for me?

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[Host]

What's the Reality? What's the reality, you guys? What's up? What's up? Welcome to what's the Reality? Today we are joined by our girl Lauren from season eight of Love is Blind. Welcome.

[Lauren]

Thank you.

[Host]

We're gonna dive into all things lib, but first, catch me up. How's life? What? What? What are we up to?

[Lauren]

Yeah, life is good. It's been a crazy year to look back because obviously, like, all of this happened a year ago and then you kind of have to go back and live your normal life. Yeah. Like, attempt to live a normal life and then experience it all over again. And I was definitely anxious coming into this thinking about, like, how it would feel watching it all back. And for the most part, it feels like a similar roller coaster than it felt at the time. But I also feel so much more emotionally removed from it than I did when I was going through it, obviously. So that helps to have, like, a different lens.

[Host]

Yeah. So how's your life changed since the show came out?

[Lauren]

I mean, I think the biggest thing is the friendships that I've made from it. Like, I've gotten so close with, like, Taylor and Sarah. We live, like, so close to each other and so we just see each other a lot. And it's nice to have friendships from it, but also, like, friendships who experienced this and can speak to what we.

[Host]

Went through, like, and relate to you.

[Lauren]

Yeah. I mean, no one, unless you've gone through this, you truly don't understand the emotional roller coaster that it puts you on. So having girls from it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Is huge.

[Host]

So. Okay, I guess we'll get right into the tea. Are you dating? Are you single?

[Lauren]

I'm. I'm not dating anyone. I am single. I feel like I need to be after the last year that I had. I just need to, like, take a beat.

[Host]

Yeah. Yeah. So you saw Dave at the reunion. Was that the first time seeing him? Have you guys spoken before?

[Lauren]

So throughout the last year, we. I mean, again, you'll see it. We talk about it a million times. Like, Minneapolis is so small. We were joking yesterday at the reunion that how many times was it mentioned, like, I ran into you at a bar.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lauren]

It seems like there's one bar in Minneapolis. There's probably three, but so I would say, like, we've ran into each other throughout the last year, but we've never really, like, had a conversation about anything.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

So when I ran into him a week ago, he was. I could tell he was, like, excited to talk to me about it, because I don't think that he's seen it this way in the last year. And I think he was excited to be like, look at this revelation that I've come to. And so we were sitting, talking, or we were, like, standing, talking when we ran into each other a week ago, and he was like, I just see it so differently now. Like, this guy ruined our relationship.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

And, like, my gut reaction is like.

[Host]

You didn't ruin the relationship.

[Lauren]

I didn't ruin the relationship.

[Dave]

You ruined.

[Lauren]

You ruined the relationship. Let's be clear. This is on you. And so as much as it, again, was, like, helpful, I think for him to have clarity, I don't know how much he sees his role in that from a year ago. Still?

[Host]

Still?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Are we shocked?

[Lauren]

No.

[Host]

Okay.

[Lauren]

No, we're not.

[Host]

Girl, I have such a big sigh with that, man.

[Lauren]

I know, I know.

[Host]

Head scratch. I'm just like, okay, let's talk about it. So you were in a love triangle.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

You, Dave, and Molly. How do you.

[Dave]

1.

[Host]

How did it feel to be in a love triangle? And is there anything that you would have done differently?

[Lauren]

I mean, honestly, at the time, I was making these, like, decisions based on the information that I had in front of me and, like, what I was hearing from Dave. I remember there were a couple of days where so, like, to back up, too. I remember there's a scene where Molly tells me that her number one is Dave, and she's, like, only here for Dave. That was on, like, day, like, four. I remember being like, I have four other dates today. So as much as I liked Dave at the time, I didn't really put too much emphasis on that. Or, like, knowing that. And then as the days went on and other people started to kind of fizzle out and, like, Dave was. Became stronger for me, it set in a little bit more. And so it kind of became a little bit more real. Like, okay, I know Molly really likes this person. I'm really starting to develop strong feelings for him. And I was really torn on if I wanted to say anything to her and if I wanted to, like, approach it with her. But I remember thinking, like, that conversation would really stress me out. And I'm already really stressed. And at the time, I was hearing all of these different things, and I was like, I'm in a relationship with Dave. There was a part of me that felt like I owed him the conversation before I owed it to Molly. Not like Molly. I would have ignored her, but I just felt like I wanted to go to him first. Looking back, I do feel like it makes me look like I was trying to sneak behind Molly and throw her under the bus to Dave. But I just wanted clarity for me.

[Host]

Like, what you deserve.

[Lauren]

Yeah. And watching the scene back where I'm telling Dave how I feel, it was hard to watch because it makes it seem like I'm comparing myself to Molly. And I was only like, I have so much shit going on and, like, things to think about. I don't even know what he and Molly's connection looked like. I was thinking about me and Dave, and I was like, don't fuck this up for us. Not because of anything that they had. So I guess the only thing is I would have. I don't know, maybe I would have talked to Molly. But I don't know how that, like, conversation would have led to anything too different. It's so hard to look back. No.

[Host]

And I think a lot of people have to remember, like, we're all dating the same people. So it's like, am I gonna now be. Am I gonna choose my bestie that's not really my bestie that I've known all of four minutes, or the man that I'm falling for that I could potentially marry? And I think we're in such a sticky situation where it's like, I love you, girl, but get off of my man. Yeah.

[Lauren]

Like, I want this, and I will fight for this.

[Host]

Yeah. And we don't come on the show for best friends. Like, you can stumble into that one bar you all go to and find a new friend. Exactly. That's not why we're here. So I think a lot of people kind of miss the mark on that. Like, we're not here for best friends. Yeah. We want to come off as girls. Girls. And. Oh, you like him. I like him. But I don't think you have to defend yourself for going in there and being like, hey, this is what I want.

[Lauren]

I want you totally. And, like, looking back, I feel like it's not super clear that I was not. I was well aware of the situation that we signed up for. I knew that we were dating multiple people. My issue wasn't with that. My issue was Dave telling Molly, you're my number one person here. Which I'm like, okay, if there's two of us here, then why do I need to be here anymore? That was my only frustration. It wasn't that, like, he had this connection with Molly.

[Host]

Obviously, that was part of it. Did his jokes land? Like, was that funny that whole year? 30 so. Cause I don't see a world where that's funny. Did that land for you?

[Lauren]

Super valid question. Very valid. I feel like that's, like, the most. A lot of people are wondering that.

[Host]

Because I'm like, oh, is she gonna walk out? Cause I would've been like, you know what? Actually, you're right. I'm ugly it.

[Lauren]

Honestly. Okay. I totally see where you're coming from. And, like, watching it as a viewer, I would have thought the same thing. It felt so much more lighthearted in the moment. And you even see, like, there's a moment if you watch it back. He laughs immediately. But it's not on, like, the main laugh track. It's on, like, the background laugh track. Like, they kind of purposely, like, didn't include his. Like, again, there's, like, jokes that I'm seeing that I'm like, oh, my God, people are gonna hate that. But I. It felt so much more light hearted in the moment. And I remember, like, I don't know, I like banter.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

I needed someone to shoot the shit with. So it really, at the time, did not feel like an immediate red flag the way that I think it's being seen as now.

[Host]

Yeah. Speaking of a lot of red flags. Lot of red flags. Do you feel like you ignored them because we wanted to marry him? You really loved him. Like, do you feel. Do you see the red flags now?

[Lauren]

I mean, I think the biggest red flag that I see looking back now is just the shift when we got back to Minneapolis and the way he was like, team us, and then immediately team anyone but us. And, like, that became so obvious. And I wish I'd address that sooner than I did address what him not believing me and not picking me and not, like, being on my team.

[Host]

Yeah. Because it seemed to be the whole plot of your relationship.

[Lauren]

Yes.

[Host]

It was actually frustrating to watch. Like, I'm getting hot thinking about it.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

And then the relationship with his sister.

[Lauren]

Yeah, I know. I have, like, this is where I have such a soft spot for family. And I think, like, we're forgetting he lost his mom at, like.

[Host]

No, we were very impressed.

[Lauren]

Very impressionable age. I think his sister really stepped into that role, and I think he really wanted to find some outs, and that was a good one. Okay.

[Host]

Because, girl. Okay.

[Lauren]

You're like, I need to hold your hand.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

When I tell you this, first of all, what did you think about their relationship, regardless of him losing his mom, which is extremely sad and unfortunate, and we're not gonna make that a thing. But the relationship with a sister, do you even see yourself being even married into a family where he can't make a decision?

[Lauren]

Well, now, no. Like, definitely not. I would never be able to marry into a family.

[Host]

It's sitting there and that you're kind of like, I need her approval. We need.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

How do you feel?

[Lauren]

And it was frustrating because, like, even he himself says, I'm not worried about you getting along with her or, like, her liking. Like, he says that.

[Host]

Oh, I'm very worried.

[Lauren]

So it's like, then what? Then. Then I think I knew if we were to ever meet.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

Like, I. I don't think that I. I've never been in, like, toxic relationships before in terms of romantic partners or friendships or family. Like, that's just never. But I've always been able to communicate through something. And so that's why this was so frustrating, too, because I was like, you're not even giving me a chance to communicate with your.

[Host]

Did you ever meet her?

[Lauren]

No.

[Host]

Did you meet anyone from his side? No. Never?

[Lauren]

Nope.

[Host]

Not even a FaceTime off camera?

[Lauren]

Nope. And that was, like. The other frustrating part, too, is, like, he. My older brother. I have three brothers, and my older brother is, like, very invested and was very protective, and he was like, I love you. I support you, but, like, I don't know if I want to be on camera. But within 24 hours of us getting back, he called me and was like, hey, can you put me on speaker? And, like, I'd love to talk to Dave. And they had multiple phone call conversations with me there, and he didn't obviously even give me that with anyone in his family or friends.

[Host]

Do you think he was kind of, like, looking for. Do you Think he was already out of it when he got back?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

I think when he got his phone back, he was out of it.

[Host]

Mm.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you were just fighting for your little life.

[Lauren]

I was fighting for my life, girl.

[Host]

I wanted to jump through that TV screen.

[Lauren]

Same, same. I had probably the same emotions as the world watching.

[Host]

Yeah. So he gets his phone back. You guys get your phone back. He's now dumped with all this information that you were not a virgin before he met you. Shocking. And he's devastated, huh?

[Lauren]

Really crushed him.

[Host]

What the fuck? Yeah, no, honestly. Okay, walk me through it. So now. Yeah, just walk me through. Gets his phone back. What?

[Lauren]

So again, like, you see us have this conversation in Honduras about this connection that we made, and you see me say to him, like, he wasn't someone I dated. He wasn't someone I wanted to date. Like, I'm here now, but you guys have this weird, random connection. And he was like, fine with that. I mean, obviously we had the conversation, but it's not like it was ever brought up again in the getaways. And then we get his phone back, and I think he starts to think, oh, I have such a different story of this. Like, his phone is blowing up with his friends saying, you just got engaged to a girl with a boyfriend. And, like, again, I understand that that would have been very frustrating. But instead of turning to me and saying, like, can you speak more to this? He just, like, sat there and kind of immediately put his walls back up. And so, like, you see me say this halfway through our time in Minneapolis, where I'm like, I feel like I lost you this week, but, like, I think I lost him that day.

[Host]

Yeah. I hate to keep laughing at this man, but it's just kind of so silly. He goes on this kind of, like, spree when the cast was all meeting, asking everyone that was all headset and, like, for. For someone that didn't want you to have sex ever. He went around asking, who's all doing what?

[Lauren]

Yeah, yeah, what?

[Host]

Do you have any insight to what he was up to prior to the show? Cause was he really just sitting there?

[Lauren]

That from, like, rumors that I've heard, I don't think that he was sitting in his apartment being celibate for the last 32 years.

[Host]

For the last 32.

[Lauren]

So. But, like, again, I don't have, like, concrete details of that. I think he really thought he had, like, all of the facts with me, and I didn't. And also, the other thing is, like, I was hearing stuff, but I didn't Care enough. I don't know why I would have been like, I need to know every bit of your sexual history. That did not matter to me.

[Host]

Right.

[Lauren]

But it really mattered to him.

[Host]

Right. Do you feel like. Like, why do you feel like it was so important for you to, like, keep having that conversation with him over and over and over? Like, did you ever get to the point where you're just like, believe me or not, or do whatever the fuck you want to do with this information?

[Lauren]

Yeah. So there. And I did say that when we were at the cycling studio and, like, we had brought it up with my friends. I remember as we were closing things out, I said to him, like, I need you to figure out if you're gonna trust me or not, because I can't keep feeling like this. And I say, I'm. I'm so helpless. Like, I can't do much more beyond tell you my. Like, my story.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

And it was frustrating because he. I mean, obviously we're living together, and so we're filming, but we're also not filming. We both work remote, so we kind of see each other throughout the day. And we would have, like, we were just living life together. And we would have conversations, like, light conversations, heavy conversations. We would talk about meeting our families and friends over the weekend. And then when the cameras would come up, it would be like, the only thing he would come back to is this guy, right? And I remember thinking, like, this is so minuscule.

[Host]

Can we talk about something?

[Lauren]

Can we talk about if we're gonna get married in two weeks? Like, I was sitting there being so confused about how I, like, felt about this person and if I wanted to, I was seriously considering marrying him, obviously. Like, I feel like that is obvious when you watch it back. And so it just felt like, when are we gonna get to the stuff that actually matters in a relationship and with, like, a potential future husband? So that was the most frustrating part, is having him continue to bring up the same thing in, like, a very specific environment. He wasn't talking about that to me off camera.

[Host]

I can't remember. I can't recall, like, a different conversation between you two.

[Lauren]

Yeah, I mean, like, we're filming for so many hours, as, you know, there's, like, so much else that comes up. But, yeah, I would say a lot of our on camera conversations were always revolved around that.

[Host]

Well, what kept you fighting for it?

[Lauren]

I honestly think that, like, as you know, this experience in the pods and, like, the getaways, it. You develop this insanely emotional connection with someone that Again, I remember leaving, being like, I'm so connected to this person, like emotionally, physically. Like I had felt so close to him in a way that I'd never felt with someone. And in previous relationships, Dave and I have talked about this before where I've like never really made it past the six to nine mark with people I kinda like give up a little bit more quickly if I find something that I don't like. So I remember thinking like, okay, I have this really strong connection with someone and I should probably do things a little bit differently. And again, you see me fighting for my life in a way that I just haven't done before. Like that really was navigating very new terrain for me.

[Host]

Yeah. Do you think that you guys handle conflict different?

[Lauren]

We do, yeah.

[Host]

Because there's no way in hell I would have had that conversation one time and I'd have been like, do with that information what you want.

[Lauren]

Right.

[Host]

I'm not doing this. I'm not doing this.

[Lauren]

Uh huh. Well, and even like you see his lack of problem solving when we're having this argument in the kitchen and he goes out with his friends after I say, I'd rather you not. Like. Cause I remember thinking every time you go to your friends you feel like you have a different detail to come back and tell me that's incorrect.

[Host]

It felt like he just kept coming back, like stronger and bigger, like actually.

[Lauren]

With the same thing that I'm like, I didn't understand. But so he's like saying he goes out with his friends and then he doesn't come back to the apartment that night. And I remember like laying in bed with the hallway light on, waiting to like wake up and see it off and have him be there. And like, I mean I was up every hour that night. And to wake up at three in the morning to a text that was like, I'm gonna stay back at my apartment. I remember like, I've never felt like that in a relationship. And I remember waking up being like, I will never feel like that again. Like that fucking sucked.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

And he came back and I remember he had like a little bit of a different perspective on things. He was a little bit more open to hearing me out. At least it seemed like that in the, in the moment. So I remember thinking like, okay, my problem solving or conflict resolution is communication and I think yours is his is avoidant.

[Host]

Easily influenced.

[Lauren]

Correct.

[Host]

That's scary.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because I feel like he will never be on your side. Right. Or anyone's side.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Besides the people that matter, you know? That and I think what is so crazy about this is we're told throughout the experiment that, like, will the outside matter. And this is not one of those things that I'm thinking would affect an engagement, you know, but like, you never think, like, how is my past gonna show up so heavily in my day to day? And that was one. I feel like this relationship from all seasons, that back home, that downside factor really destroyed, in essence, your engagement.

[Lauren]

I mean, I think the noise destroyed it. I also think his, like, inability to work through that in a relationship destroyed it. Like, I think. I mean, I remember thinking at the time too, every other couple that we were with was dealing with shit. As you see, there was noise from other sisters or from TikTok or from family. Yes, a lot of sisters this season. And everyone else, like, it honestly seemed like some of the couples got stronger for it. The way that they communicated through it, the way they kind of had each other's backs. Like, you see Sarah too, talking about how she's like, I'm not gonna dismiss her, but I do. Like, I'm engaged to you. I wanna believe you. And I trust that. And I remember thinking, like, how come every other couple is going through this conflict with this noise and is coming out stronger because of it? And Dave and I weren't.

[Host]

Do you feel like he tried to kind of like villainize you for your past?

[Lauren]

I think he wanted it to be my fault or this guy's fault or my dad's fault. It was everybody else's fault.

[Host]

So you guys met up. You, Dave and your dad did a whole off camera thing that he got really emotional about. Do you want to talk about that and tell us what happened?

[Lauren]

Yeah, so that was actually. It was over two times that he had met my dad. So he met. We met my parents for drinks the first night. And my dad just had a lot of questions. Like, I remember he came in and he had like a Napkin of like 15 handwritten questions for this person. Like, I cried when he pulled it out and saw it. And it was like, I mean, the basic stuff of like, how do you feel about Lauren? Like, how do you feel about marriage? Are you ready for this? All these things. And he also knew that Dave didn't come home the night before because I went to go see my parents. So he was like, what happened last night? And honestly, it was a really good conversation. I remember, like, Dave answered the questions really well. He was very engaged in it. He was trying to under. Like, they were. It was a really good conversation between everyone and then I think. And then. So we go back and we meet up for coffee the next morning. And I think my dad had sat there and just, like, thought about it and was just like, oh, my gosh, you're going to get married in two weeks. And he didn't come home the night before. And you guys are still tackling stuff that maybe you should not be tackling at this stage of a relationship. And so he was just much more direct with Dave and was like, if this isn't 100%, don't get married. Like, this is the biggest decision you'll ever make.

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[Host]

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[Focus Features]

Focus Features presents Black Bag Starring Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

[Host]

I can feel when you're watching me.

[Lauren]

I like it.

[Focus Features]

It's the perf marriage of love and deception.

[Host]

I watch her. I assume she watches me. There's a traitor in the house.

[Dave]

Find the leak.

[Focus Features]

Black Bag is the most anticipated espionage thriller of the year.

[Host]

Who's the suspect?

[Dave]

Your wife? Would you kill for me?

[Focus Features]

Black Bag we did r under 17 out of without Parent, only in theaters this Friday with special engagements in Dolby.

[Lauren]

And I remember feeling an energy shift with Dave. Like, he kind of, like, sat back and, like, crossed his arms, too. Whereas, like, in the past, he was.

[Host]

During the conversation.

[Lauren]

Yeah, yeah. Like, he, like, was kind of physically pulling himself away. And I could see that shift. But I think my dad was just worried for me. He just wanted me to make the right choice.

[Host]

And at this point, your dad knows what you guys are kind of going through.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Do you think Dave felt, like, attacked or.

[Lauren]

I think so.

[Host]

He looked very hurt.

[Lauren]

Yes, I think he felt attacked. And it was. That was like, frustrating to watch back because I'm like, how do you think I've felt for the last, like, two weeks? And so I don't think my dad said anything groundbreaking to him. I think he just addressed what was happening in a way that wasn't very kind. Not. That's. I don't want to say that wasn't very, like, soft the way that I was kind of, like, talking to Dave about it. I think my dad was saying exactly what I was saying, but in a tone that was a little Bit more like, what the fuck are you doing?

[Host]

I feel like you have a lot of people. Like, I feel like the world wanted to stick up for you. And, like, having your dad stick a few probably felt amazing. So how'd it feel when you watched the conversation between Dave and Molly and how she had your back?

[Lauren]

She killed that conversation. And I knew. Like, Molly and I are friends, and we talked a lot throughout the last year. And I knew based on conversations we've had, that she supported me, but I had no idea that she rode that hard for me. And I was watching it being like, this is, I believe, what the world is probably saying at their TVs right now. And she knew none of that. Like, Dave and I broke up 24 hours before she went into that day thinking Dave and I were still engaged. And so when she sat down, she was like, I don't know if I want to tell you this. And, like, we had this conversation about how we broke up and the way she was able to take that and, like, internalize it and then communicate that to Dave in such a clear way. I just. I'm, like, amazed by her. She did such a good job, and I felt very supported by her.

[Host]

Sweet and so cute. And so then after what we see is Dave stumbling over to you and his. Is he drunk?

[Lauren]

He's drunk.

[Host]

Okay.

[Lauren]

It was a long night.

[Host]

And you're okay. Walk me through that. Were you sober? Was anybody sober?

[Lauren]

Okay. I was like, what's the one bar.

[Host]

That you guys all go to, by the way? The ski hill.

[Lauren]

It really looks. It's very Minnesotan, I will say. Like, I feel like people ask me all the time, like, we did not drink that much on set or just, like, in general. But, like, for some reason that night, I think they were like, let's. Let's let it flow. I was definitely not sober, but I was more sober than him. And I could pick up on that. I went into that day, 24 hours after we broke up being like, I don't need clarity from him. I don't need closure from him. Like, I've been hearing the same fucking things for two weeks, and I don't need to hear it again tonight. Like, I just didn't feel the need to even engage in a conversation. So when he came up and we talked, it was interesting to see, like, this full 180 of the tiniest bit of accountability. And it was, like, a reminder of how easily influenced he is by his surroundings because it's his friends in his ear. And now here it's Molly in his ear. And he has, like, pivoted since then. And so he's, like, telling me some of these things. And I remember thinking, like, okay, I've waited a couple weeks for you to take the tiniest bit of accountability or acknowledgement that maybe you could have done things differently. And you see me say, I'd love to believe this, but I remember thinking, like, I just don't. I don't buy that this is where.

[Host]

You'Re headed by it.

[Lauren]

Exactly. Yeah.

[Host]

Like, the whole time I'm watching, I'm like, yawn. Eye roll, like. And I'm begging. I'm, like, literally pleading. I'm like, lauren, if you piss me off, I'm turning this tv.

[Lauren]

What if we went home together?

[Host]

No, I would've protested. Yeah. Cause. No, you deserve way better than some drunken I'm sorry and I want you back bullshit at the bar.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

You didn't deserve that.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

And, like, the fact that he can come back less than 24 hours with all this remorse. Drunk remorse, whatever we're calling it. I just. I didn't buy it. And I'm glad you saw through it.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because what the hell?

[Lauren]

Well, and I also saw through it. Like, I remember thinking, like, we'll see if this lines up. And then he obviously never reached out, so it was very obvious that that was.

[Host]

He didn't. So after that talk, what happened? Did you reach out the next? Like, what?

[Lauren]

No, he had reached out here and there, but it was not with the intention of, like, an emotional connection.

[Host]

Yeah. Oh.

[Lauren]

If that makes sense.

[Host]

Well, what kind of connection?

[Lauren]

When we talking, you just wanted to say, hi.

[Host]

Girl. Did you guys say hi?

[Lauren]

No.

[Host]

Okay.

[Lauren]

No.

[Host]

Okay. Okay.

[Lauren]

My heart is pounding.

[Host]

I bet it is. So you're obviously watching kind of like, all the chatter on social media about your season. Have you watched prior seasons, first of all?

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

All of them.

[Lauren]

Big fan.

[Host]

Okay.

[Lauren]

Loved you.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Oh, thank you. But people are saying love is bland.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host]

How. How was it for you watching it? Like, if you were to take yourself and your story and your drama out of it, how is the season for you?

[Lauren]

I don't fully disagree with the feedback. Obviously, it's fun to watch my people and, like, I've again become so close with Taylor and Daniel and seeing their relationship throughout the last year, I was so excited to watch them watch it play out. And so, like, that part is really fun for me, and I'm enjoying that piece of it. The pods were kind of a tough watch again, but that's like. Was it Because I knew the outcome. That I'm, like, skipping through some stuff that I'm like. I don't know if I need to.

[Host]

See all of this.

[Lauren]

I think it's very Minnesotan. Like, I do think that this is.

[Host]

What does that mean? Are there black people in Minnesota there.

[Lauren]

Not a lot of them.

[Dave]

Sorry.

[Lauren]

That bird's tough. Yeah. I think it's just very, like, Midwest nice in a lot of ways. There's not a lot of direct communication. I mean, you see us. How many times did we say at the reunion the word miscommunication? But it's, I think, just indirect. No one's really saying how they're feeling.

[Host]

Yeah. Why?

[Lauren]

I think it's such a Midwest nice thing. Like, that's just how we're raised. To not ruffle feathers and to not.

[Host]

If I hear ruffle feathers one more fucking time, I'm bringing feathers so we can all ruffle them.

[Lauren]

Don't come to the Midwest, then. You would hate it.

[Host]

Oh, my goodness.

[Lauren]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Host]

Interesting, because I feel like when you're on this kind of experiment or experience, and the point is to get below surface level conversations. So it's like, if you guys are on TV acting that way in real life, are we having conversations?

[Lauren]

Right.

[Host]

Like, in real life, are the Minnesotans talking, or are you guys just getting surface level married?

[Lauren]

That's really.

[Host]

Prior to the show, were you having conversations?

[Lauren]

Yeah, Very good question. I do. I actually would be curious. I honestly don't know a good answer to that. But it would be interesting to see what it would look like to date in the Midwest and date somewhere else. I've only ever lived in girl.

[Host]

Come to Charlotte or go to Boston or New York or something.

[Lauren]

Try something else out.

[Host]

Yeah. Come to the East Coast.

[Lauren]

I would be very curious. I mean, I feel like it's a very Minnesotan thing, too, to see you scroll on Hinge and you see, like, people with their fish pictures, people at their cabin people. It's. It's very similar.

[Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Lauren]

But I don't even know what it would look like elsewhere, so I don't even have anything to compare it to.

[Host]

Do you feel like moving forward your dating style will change in any way?

[Lauren]

It has to. It quite literally has to.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

I need to make some different dating decisions moving forward.

[Host]

Maybe get out of that bubble.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. Where everyone knows each other.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

That's scary.

[Lauren]

It is scary. And I even. Okay. I even mentioned this on my promo video, that I'm like, I need them to roll the tapes on this because they Were like, what's the hardest part about dating in Minneapolis? And I was like, in the world, they said that there's seven degrees of separation, and in Minneapolis there's one. Like, you can find a connection to every single person that lives in that area.

[Host]

That's not healthy.

[Lauren]

It's not.

[Host]

It's not fun. Especially with people like Dave running around expecting you to not know anybody when you all know that you all know the same people. That's scary.

[Lauren]

Yeah, girl, it's tough.

[Host]

We got an apartment search in the East Coast. We're gonna get you out of there. Because in the other real world, no one gives a fuck.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Where I'm from.

[Lauren]

Cause you shouldn't.

[Host]

No one cares.

[Lauren]

Cause that shouldn't matter.

[Host]

It shouldn't matter. It's a simple conversation. Yeah, I know him. Yeah, we did. Whatever. Yeah. I lived a life before you. Now what?

[Lauren]

Right.

[Host]

Like, let's get to it. Right, right. And I think he kind of dropped the ball on that one.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Sorry, girl. Okay, so we kind of mentioned that we don't think that Dave was just sitting in his apartment for the last 30 something years before he met you. And it was kind of this expectation that you needed to be some Virgin Mary whenever he met you.

[Lauren]

Correct.

[Host]

But I do feel like there's, like, this double standard just in general when it comes to how women should present and how men are allowed to kind of frolic y. Did you feel that kind of between you two?

[Lauren]

Yeah. Like, there's almost this expectation that, like, men can sleep around and not get emotionally attached and. And it doesn't affect their future relationships. But, like, here I am telling him I had this physical connection, but, like, not an emotional connection. And it doesn't matter in terms of this relationship. And that was, like, mind blowing. He, like, couldn't wrap his mind around that. And I also. I mean, again, you see him in Honduras, be very vocal about sex and, like, ask questions. And I. Like, we were having those conversations. It's not like that wasn't happening between us either. Like, we were very much talking about this, and so I just didn't. Again, it just didn't add up that this. Again, this was the thing. This was our downfall.

[Host]

So did your ex apply to be on Love is Blind?

[Lauren]

Can I first clarify? He is not an ex. He's not an ex boyfriend.

[Host]

Your fake ex. Your fake fake ex.

[Lauren]

I found out about this, like, three days ago that he full on applied to be on the show. And I don't know if he did that before or after because he knew that I was talking to casting from, like, the minute we started talking. And I don't know if he applied before or after I gave him that information. I just found out about this. He never fucking told me that. Why would he. It would have, like, totally contradicted his whole narrative that he's spinning right now.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah. Minnesota's too small.

[Lauren]

It's too small, and it's. Oh, my God.

[Host]

I. Yeah, there's that. Imagine if he would have been in the pod.

[Lauren]

Thank God.

[Host]

He would have ran around the lounge like, oh, my God.

[Lauren]

That was totally a fear of mine going into it. I remember talking to casting and being like, I've been single in Minneapolis for five years. You're telling me you're gonna find 16 men that I've never talked to or dated or interacted with before? And so I was actually impressed that they found that, but they had to do a lot of digging, I'm sure.

[Host]

Goodness, this man is. He's after something, huh?

[Lauren]

He's after something.

[Host]

Don't like that very much.

[Lauren]

No. Like I said, I need to get a better picker with this bag.

[Host]

We need to get you out of Minnesota.

[Lauren]

I know.

[Host]

That's what we need to do.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Good thing this is gonna be, like, aired everywhere, because.

[Lauren]

Great.

[Host]

We need to get.

[Lauren]

Where should I go?

[Dave]

Out of here.

[Lauren]

Out of here.

[Host]

Okay, so you posted something about your wax situation.

[Lauren]

Oh, my God. Thank you. Can I clarify that?

[Host]

Please? Please do.

[Dave]

Cause what?

[Lauren]

I watched that back, and I was. My jaw was on the floor. I was like, they did me so dirty with that edit. Okay, so between the pods and the getaways, we had, like, a few days to regroup, get our shit together, go to random appointments, and so obviously, I'm like, I need to get a bikini wax before this. And then they were like, anything else you want to do? And I'm like, yeah, if I could go to a spin class, that would be amazing. So they signed me up for both of those things. So I'm in the middle of my wax, and my lady is like, okay, no sex for 24 hours. No working out for 24 hours. Kind of give me the lay of the land. And so I'm like, shit, I have to cancel that spin class. So I was really bummed about that. I hadn't done, like, a full workout in two weeks, and I was craving it. And so we get to the getaways, and, like, Dave and I are sitting there talking about what we've been doing the last couple of days, and I'm Like, I got this bikini wax, and then I really wanted to go to this spin class, but I'm bummed that I had. Or how did I say it? I said I couldn't have sex or go to or work out for 24 hours, and I'm bummed because I really wanted to go to this spin class, and they edited it to make it look like I was bummed that we couldn't have sex.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

And number one, the timing of that would have been off because it would have been after 24 hours. But I'm like, I don't talk like that.

[Host]

Yeah, that's not a good look. Now I can't.

[Lauren]

Yes. And then the way they show him responding, it looks like he's like, great. Don't worry about it.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Lauren]

That was so not.

[Host]

It did give that. He couldn't care either way.

[Lauren]

Exactly.

[Host]

Well, I'm glad you got a chance to clear that up. Is there anything else you want to clear up?

[Lauren]

Honestly? No. That was. Well, I guess we'll see what else comes out, but for now. Yeah, it's good.

[Host]

Okay. So you guys just filmed the reunion. Give me your hot take. Your thoughts.

[Lauren]

Yeah, I mean, I think you'll see more Minnesota Nice or. We saw some more Minnesota Nice.

[Host]

I don't want to see no more Minnesota Nice.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

I want the Minnesota mean. What is. Go ahead, girl. Yeah, yeah, go ahead, Go ahead.

[Lauren]

I mean, I. Honestly, based on the conversation that Dave and I had had, like, a week ago, I had a feeling he was gonna come in and attempt to take some, like, accountability. I feel like I knew he wasn't gonna double down and be like, no, you did have a boyfriend. Because, honestly, that wouldn't have looked. I feel like he would have been even more destroyed if that would have been his approach. So I knew that that would happen. But I still had things that I wanted to share, and I think, for the most part, I shared some reflections that I had had throughout the last year. I was kind of surprised at how much. I don't know. There was. There was a moment where I'm sitting there being like, did they give Dave an engagement ring? And is he about to get up and get on one knee? Because the way they were like, really prompting him to talk about me and how he feels about me, I was like, that ship has sailed. 11 months ago. Oh, gosh. So, yeah.

[Host]

Do you think he wants you back?

[Lauren]

I honestly don't think so. I think he's like. I do think that he's been reflective of things and wants to take accountability, but I don't think that that translates to wanting me back.

[Host]

Do you think that he took full accountability for everything, or do you feel like maybe.

[Lauren]

I don't think, like, I think he's taking accountability for the fact that he didn't believe me and wasn't on my team, But I don't think he's taken accountability for the fact that, like, let's say in another world, this was true. Let's say 48 hours before I went on this experiment, I was, like, hooking up with this guy. I still don't think that that is an engagement ending situation.

[Host]

I agree.

[Lauren]

So I think he took accountability for the fact that, like, that was too much noise for him, but not for the fact that he. If he was emotionally ready to be married and really wanted to be with me, yeah, we would have been together.

[Host]

Do you feel like you said everything you need to say on that couch?

[Lauren]

I mean, for the most part, I feel like it's one of those things that, like, there was a moment that I'm like, am I just beating the dead horse? Like, I'm kind of saying the same things over again and watching it back, I definitely am. Like, okay, was he not ready for marriage or did he not want to be with me? And I. Yesterday I was like, I don't care enough to know which one it is. Like, I don't even want clarity in that sense.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Lauren]

So, yeah, I feel like I said everything I, like, needed to. Like, I don't need anything else from him.

[Host]

Yeah. In that way, you've moved on.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. Is he dating Duina?

[Lauren]

No, I don't think he's dating.

[Host]

If he calls you to say hi, are you gonna go say hi?

[Lauren]

I'm not gonna say hi. You can say hi elsewhere. In Minneap. At the bar.

[Host]

Right at that one bar. So the show is done, reunion's done. We're almost a year out. What would you say is, like, your biggest thing that you learned from the show?

[Lauren]

I honestly, going into it, like, I was saying before, I had really only had short term relationships, and I've been single for a while, like, pretty on and off, consistently single. And there were definitely moments throughout the last few years where I. Okay, am I too set in my ways at this point? Am I at this point that I've just become very independent in my own life, that I don't have space for someone else? And as hard as it was to watch how Dave and I ended things, I really was so invested in him, and I, like, fought for him so hard. And it was very. In a lot of ways, like, we kind of talk about this. It was easy to blend our lives when we were in Honduras and kind of imagine what that would look like. And I was so genuinely excited about the possibility of that. So it does give me a little bit of hope to be like, okay, this will make sense when it is the right person. And it won't be hard, and it won't be, like, I will be able to get there with someone else, and I don't need to be afraid of that piece of things.

[Host]

I feel like you're kind of similar to me, like, very much a hopeless romantic.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

And I hope you keep that. Yeah, I hope you keep that light about you. Because honestly, being on this side of things and thinking this is never gonna happen for me and that I'll never get my man, and there's always gonna be somebody talking mean, making jokes that are not fucking funny, or judging me from my past or, like. But then you find your person.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

And I just want you to just keep that light about you, keep this glow and know that that is not a reflection of you or what you should be accepting in the future. So just. It gets better, girl.

[Lauren]

Thank you.

[Host]

It gets better.

[Lauren]

I needed to hear that.

[Host]

It really, truly does. This is the most awkward part. And you're going to find that person that's going to walk in and be like, oh, I know. That's my girl.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

So keep that about you.

[Lauren]

Thank you.

[Amica Insurance]

Every day, our world gets a little more connected, but a little further apart. But then there are moments that remind us to be more human.

[Host]

Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.

[Lauren]

Hey, I was just in an accident.

[Dave]

Don't worry.

[Lauren]

We'll get you taken care care of.

[Amica Insurance]

At Amica, we understand that looking out for each other isn't new or groundbreaking.

[Dave]

It's human.

[Amica Insurance]

Amica. Empathy is our best policy.

[Focus Features]

Focus Features presents Black Bag Starring Cate Blanchet, Michael Fassbender, and directed by Steven Soderberg.

[Host]

I can feel when you're watching me.

[Lauren]

I like it.

[Focus Features]

It's the perfect marriage of love and deception.

[Host]

I watch her and I assume she watches me. There's a traitor in the house.

[Dave]

Find the leak.

[Focus Features]

Do I. Black Bag is the most anticipated espionage thriller of the year.

[Host]

Who's the suspect?

[Dave]

Your wife? Would you kill for me?

[Focus Features]

Black bag. Rated R. Under 1700 meter without parent. Only in theaters this Friday with special engagements in Dolby.

[Host]

Yay.

[Dave]

Yay. Hey, y'all.

[Taylor]

Hey.

[Dave]

Hi.

[Host]

We are here. We are here with the last Standing couple. We did it. Of Love is Blind season eight. We are with Taylor. Taylor and Daniel. Hello. Welcome.

[Dave]

Thank you.

[Host]

You guys are all smiles.

[Taylor]

Yeah, well, yeah.

[Host]

What is there not to smile about?

[Dave]

Exactly.

[Host]

How are you guys doing?

[Dave]

Good. Yeah, we're doing really well. It's been a crazy first year. Of course, challenges, I mean, but very joyous occasions as well. Like, life's just come at us full force. But the important thing is that we are stronger than ever.

[Host]

So are you guys, like, officially one year married? What is the timeline?

[Dave]

March 19th will be a year.

[Host]

March 19th.

[Dave]

Ye coming up.

[Taylor]

We're 11 and a half months. Ish.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Okay, Very close. What have you guys been up to in these 11 and a half ish months?

[Taylor]

Gosh, we've done a lot. We've traveled quite a bit, doing some trips. Yeah, I travel a little bit for work. So Taylor was able to tag along with some of that, which was fun.

[Host]

Come on. Tag along?

[Dave]

Why not? We went on a honeymoon to the Bahamas, which was amazing. Yeah.

[Taylor]

Very fun.

[Dave]

And then we just bought a house.

[Host]

Yes. So thank you.

[Taylor]

We figured this year wasn't busy enough for us, so we'll buy a house.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

That's exciting. Very exciting.

[Dave]

So, yeah, we have things to look forward to, which is great.

[Host]

Yeah. So you guys have just been inseparable, I'm assuming.

[Taylor]

Yeah, yeah, pretty much.

[Dave]

Yeah. He's my best friend, so. Yeah. Yeah.

[Taylor]

It's so crazy. Like, I didn't even know you a year. I know, I know.

[Dave]

I can't imagine what life was like before, but.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Anyway.

[Host]

So how's married life? Tell me. Like, let's get into it. We've been married for 11 and a half. Ish months. Isn't it easy? Is it hard? Is it what you thought? What are we thinking?

[Dave]

I think the majority of me feels like it's been really easy. Again, we're just best friends and we communicate really well. And it's been so surprising. I always. I always had in my head when I was younger that once you get married, your entire life changes. Everything's going to be different. And now it's like my life has only gained this immense peace, you know, and like, how much easier life is when you're married to a good human.

[Lauren]

I love that.

[Dave]

So I think it scared me for a long time. I think everyone's kind of in their head about the marriage, commitment part of it, but it's just been. It's just added such a. Yeah. Such a level of peace to me. Yeah.

[Host]

You know what's crazy? Like, watching you guys, like, Journey, it just looked peaceful.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Like, and when you're kind of watching reality TV shows, you're kind of like, where's the drama? Where's the.

[Dave]

We need it.

[Host]

Yeah, we need the drama. We need it or it's not gonna work. Relationships need to be tested, and you guys just are comfortable and you love each other and you're happy. How's marriage life for you?

[Taylor]

Yeah, it's great. But, like, echoing what you said, it's. A lot of it is very easy, you know, for me, I was a little bit nervous because I had been single for a long time before going on the show, and so it was a big jump, you know, and I knew I was ready for it. I wouldn't have gone on if I knew if I was, like, not ready for it. But there are little things that you can't really plan for day to day. Just different, you know, things that are different from when you were single to now you're married in such a quick time.

[Host]

Like what?

[Dave]

Like putting the toilet seat down.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I learned that real quick. I don't know. It's even little things, like, just, you know, my schedule of, like, scheduling what my day or week is gonna look like where before it was like, this is what I want to do, so I'm gonna go do it, and I don't have to ask anybody or, like, talk to anybody about it.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Taylor]

And now it's like, your schedule is more important than what I'm doing, and I want to make sure that I'm working around you and we do it together. And so it's not just me, like, hey, I'm gonna go golfing with the guys every day. It's like, hey, I'm gonna maybe go golfing once a week, and then maybe. No, it's just stuff like that, though. But it's things that when you're married, you put your partner ahead of you, and, like, it's just waking up every day and doing that because it's worth it.

[Host]

You guys already are making me emotional. No, because it's like, I'm seeing my future.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

You're so close. I know.

[Dave]

So I just love to see the love.

[Host]

Yeah. So is there anything that you guys wish you knew about each other before you got married or wish you talked about before you got married?

[Dave]

Interesting question.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I mean, it's interesting going through, like, the love is blind experiment, because I feel like typically. And you'd bring. It'd be like, a physical appearance type answer, but it doesn't matter. Like that's not why we were there. I feel like we, we really were intentional in the pods about talking about the important things.

[Host]

Absolutely. Like Christmas.

[Taylor]

Exactly like Christmas. And then I knew we were good.

[Host]

I just looked at your Instagram, I was like, oh, you were really committed to the bit.

[Dave]

It's a thing.

[Host]

Wow.

[Dave]

The one with the flower everywhere?

[Taylor]

Yeah, that. So that was at my parents house in their kitchen the day before they hosted like 30 people for Christmas. So my dad was, you're like, let.

[Host]

Me make a mess right now.

[Taylor]

My dad was not happy about that, to say the least. But sorry dad, it was worth it, had to be done.

[Dave]

We did take the dating portion like so seriously. And every day we were prompted with questions. If you want to talk about it, obviously, as you know. And so there was a lot that wasn't shown in the show that we talked at length about. I had said in the show too that I've never laid this foundation for a relationship before and that speaks volumes because I've had some pretty big relationships before. So.

[Host]

Yeah, I know. In those like kind of questions, did you guys have any like favorite topics in those prompts that you were kind of like, I can't wait to talk to Daniel about this or I can't wait to talk to Taylor about this. Like what was your like favorite topics?

[Taylor]

You know, I enjoy talking about the family stuff, just family dynamic, like right now, but also what you want out of a family for the future. Because that's a big thing for me. And I knew it was a big thing for you too. And so it was. I was looking forward to having that conversation with you, whereas I wasn't necessarily looking forward to having that conversation with the other girls. But it's because I could just see us together and like that future. And so it was exciting to be able to like, oh, like if we want to have kids, like when we have kids, how's that going to look like? You know, that was exciting to me.

[Dave]

I, I mean there were tons of fun questions, right? And like lighthearted and we could laugh all day. But what was important to me was all to also to find a partner that I could be vulnerable with. And so asking those really deep, like uncomfortable questions, borderline, like one of them was, what's your biggest regret in life? So I was looking forward to opening that door with Daniel because obviously it's like fun and go lucky in the beginning. Everyone's excited to be there, but knowing that you can have like a multidimensional relationship with someone Was huge. So that's good. Yeah, I love that.

[Host]

So you guys come from a pretty small, tiny. Was it hard to keep a secret?

[Dave]

Like, what.

[Host]

What was that like last year?

[Dave]

For the last year?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Yes.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

I mean, I wish we could have. It seems like everybody in Minneapolis knows someone who knows someone. Everybody.

[Host]

Yeah, that was clear from your.

[Dave]

Well. And our cast list was leaked while we were still filming. Even so. Even when we were out, like, there were people coming to the filming locations trying to ask questions. And so it's just so tiny, and not a lot of really exciting things happen there. So it was a huge Super Bowl.

[Taylor]

A few years ago, and then this pretty much it.

[Dave]

So everyone was really invested in it. So, again, I felt like a lot of people knew, but social media has just been the biggest thing of not being able to post each other. Like, how cool that is, that that can be a thing now.

[Host]

I know.

[Dave]

I talk about that in the pods. Like, social media has been an insecurity of mine in past relationships. So the fact that, like, Daniel can post me and I can post him and we can be so proud of each other is something that I've really looked forward to.

[Host]

I can't wait till the day I can post my man.

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Dave]

So close.

[Host]

I feel you. Did you have to go, like, ringless? For the last year, they allowed us.

[Dave]

To wear rings, but since the cast photos were dropped, we have not been wearing them. Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

We just had to be careful if we were out in public. Just. No pda. Dumb. Yeah, no, I mean, we wore our rings. You know, we obviously, like, we moved in together, but we were careful.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

So you guys hit it off, like, almost immediately.

[Dave]

Day one.

[Host]

Yeah. Day one. Did you guys head off?

[Dave]

Yeah. Minute one.

[Lauren]

Seriously?

[Host]

Didn't you propose in, like, seven seconds?

[Dave]

Yes, I did. Yeah. And they didn't show it. But before I went into that date, I said to Meg next to me in the hallway, I have a weird feeling about this next date.

[Host]

Shut up.

[Dave]

And it was Daniel. And then he proposed within, like, a minute. And here we are, you know.

[Host]

Yeah, we need your secret prayer. You had him on his knee.

[Taylor]

Whatever you manifested it was.

[Host]

Did you guys have connections with anyone else?

[Dave]

We did. We were each other's number one since day one, though, which was, like, obviously very apparent to us both. But we talked about it, that we wanted to also honor the system and experiment and really take wholeheartedly, like, what Chris is telling us every morning. Keep your options open. Just because they're number ones now doesn't mean they'll be number ones for forever. So we did keep other doors open and entertain those conversations, but it was always clear to us that we were each other's person.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I think it was important just to go through the whole experiment and do it, you know, with, like, keeping the integrity of what it is and trying to date other people and see if, you know, there's something there so that at the end of the day, you know, I pick you, and, you know, you pick me, and you know that I tried it with other girls and it just wasn't there.

[Host]

Yeah, I know. That's right.

[Dave]

Say it again. Wait.

[Host]

So tell me about your reveal. How was it seeing each other for the first time? Were we nervous?

[Dave]

Oh, so nervous.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I was pretty nervous. I think I was standing in front of the doors waiting for him to open. Was just like, what the heck am I doing?

[Host]

No, but does it not feel like those doors are closed for 99 hours and you're standing there like, how much lip gloss can you put on? I remember just pacing, being like, can I get lip gloss? My breath is gonna stink by the time I get to this. Man. I was so. Like, that was.

[Dave]

You can see a really tiny sliver through that door, and I was looking through it, and the lights shine from behind you. And so I was like. I was in my head. I'm like, oh, my gosh, he's six. He's like, six five. And then I look up, and I'm like, I'm six five. Like, wait a second.

[Taylor]

Well, so. Yeah, and I'm not six'five So I looked through the door, and I could see your shadow. And I'm like, oh, no. Like, here we go. Like, this is what it's all about.

[Host]

It's left blind.

[Taylor]

Is it blind?

[Dave]

Picked him up, spun him around, Just.

[Taylor]

Threw arm at your shoulder.

[Host]

So did you know heights and stuff before?

[Dave]

We didn't. We didn't talk anything.

[Taylor]

Yeah, we didn't talk about any physical things. Yeah, we really tried to. Not the only thing. I thought. I thought you had really blonde hair.

[Host]

Okay, okay. I don't. Is that a blonde joke?

[Taylor]

No, no, we didn't. We didn't talk anything.

[Dave]

Even if conversations, like, started to go that way, that could lead to a physical descriptor of some sort, we were like, nope, don't answer that question. Like, we don't want to know.

[Host]

Do you guys have, like, types? And if so, are you each other's type?

[Taylor]

I don't know if I've had a specific type. It's just If I'm attracted to them, you're beautiful. So it's like, yeah, you're for sure my type. When the doors open, I couldn't. I probably would look like an idiot.

[Dave]

Because I'm just like, you were cheesing so cute.

[Focus Features]

I couldn't stop.

[Host]

So we did mention that you didn't really have a type, but do you feel like your preference would have blocked you from.

[Dave]

Absolutely, yeah. Yeah. I feel like the entire dating world now is superficial. It is. Like, that's just the way it is. And, you know, people have talked about Daniel talking about his height so much, but that is a very big issue in the dating world today. A lot of women are saying that they don't want someone that's a short king. Five, eight. Yeah, they don't want a short king season. So that is a very real concern of any single guy, I would think, right now.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

I mean, every dating app has the age range and the height range, which is like. I mean, I get it.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

And I talked about, like, you know, if. If there's a girl out there who needs someone or prefers someone who's six feet, then that's not my person anyways. So.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

But, yeah, it's a very real thing. And, you know, preferences for me, you know, whether it's age or whatever, with the superficial part of the dating these days, it's so easy just to say, like, okay, well, if you're over 30, I'm. You know, I'll just focus on this because there are a lot of girls on the dating apps that are what my preference would be in that area. And so, yeah, it. It would have for sure kept me from meeting Taylor for, you know, which is crazy.

[Dave]

You can miss out on the most incredible humans just because of these superficial little preferences that don't matter.

[Host]

Hair color do not matter.

[Dave]

Give the short king a chance. I don't know who needs to hear that, but give them a chance.

[Taylor]

Give them a chance.

[Dave]

Translates might be worth it.

[Host]

Do you think that he's someone that you would have walked up to or, like, entertained at, like, a bar or a club or something?

[Dave]

I've always dated taller than me, so I'm also guilty of thinking that height was important. It's not. I married him, and it's incredible. So, honestly, in past Taylor. Yeah, but I'm a completely different human than I was even at the beginning of the experiment a year ago.

[Taylor]

Yeah. If I saw you out, I would have been like, wow, she's beautiful. But then I would have been like, she probably isn't into me because girls care about height, so I don't know if I would have gone up to you even.

[Dave]

Have you seen those memes? That's like, I don't know why no one approaches me at a bar, and then it's like, me at a bar, and you're, like, swinging your purse around your neck. That is me. So I don't think you would have come up to me. I was doing the worm in the.

[Host]

Middle of the bar.

[Dave]

I don't get it. What's interesting, though, is we talked about. I never dated someone younger than me, and Daniel never dated someone older than him, and I am, in fact, older than him. So on dating apps, I don't know if we ever, like, really would have meshed because we had our, like, ranges set at different time or different ages, and we just never would have.

[Host]

That's actually.

[Dave]

I don't think. Yeah.

[Host]

How old are y'all?

[Dave]

I'm 32.

[Taylor]

I'm 30.

[Host]

Okay. Not that insane.

[Dave]

I'll be 33 in a couple weeks. Yeah, it's two years.

[Taylor]

Age is just.

[Dave]

Regardless, though, anyone younger than me, anytime I did try and date someone younger, I was like, this is why I don't do it, because I was just proved right every time.

[Taylor]

So it's crazy, though, because that is something where even if I just was on a dating app and saw, you know, a girl and it was like, oh, she's older than me. It was just like an immediate, like, ah, I'll just, you know, look for someone my age.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

And, like, so you wouldn't. Yeah. Nah. You just wouldn't even give it a chance. And so how cool is this? You know, this type of experiment where it's like, that is not the most important thing.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you don't. I mean, you don't act. No. Your age.

[Taylor]

Yes. Thanks.

[Host]

That's amazing. Speaking of acting your age, what is this Instagram thing?

[Dave]

Oh, my gosh.

[Host]

I have to talk about it. No, I do, because it was. I'm like, if they break up, I don't even. I'm not gonna watch the rest of the fucking show. Yeah, it's very. Excuse me, but, yeah, I'm not gonna watch it. So what. How did that transpire? What did you think was going on? Yeah, clear that up.

[Dave]

So at the reveal, I was, like, obviously taking in Daniel's voice and, you know, to his body and all the things, But I'm also racking my brain during that reveal of, like, this man looks so familiar to me. And I get Back to the hotel afterwards, and I'm alone. We don't have our devices. Kind of spiraling. At that time, it wasn't uncommon that I got single guys that would follow me on Instagram and I would. It was almost like a form of dating app, like social media was. It was huge for me at that time. So I had convinced myself that, like, because he looked familiar and I could kind of recall things from a profile that he maybe was one of these guys that had followed me. So anyway, I went to productions office and chatted with them. I got slight confirmation from someone with a device. So I came to this conclusion very confidently that I was right. So I went into this conversation with Daniel pretty much thinking I knew the answer. And Daniel, sweet as pie comes in.

[Host]

Just.

[Dave]

I know, I know. Watching it back, I know it's not me, and that's not something that I've ever experienced, like, patience. And typically in the past, I would have been gaslit, like, you're crazy. What do you. Yeah. So anyway, looking back now just makes me love him more. But he came in and we chatted about it. Obviously, I looked at the followers list, did not see his name, did not follow me. Still, though, I do believe I have seen his profile. I'm sure it came up on my Explore page because I can still remember this specific mutual follower that we had, and that's still a person that we both know. So I know that that's a fact, but.

[Taylor]

But other than that, just classic Minnesota social media of, like, you have mutual friends so tiny.

[Dave]

You probably come across, everybody knows everybody. And again, it wasn't that he followed me. At some point. My only concern and why I needed to talk to him about it was that he may have known what I looked like, which just defeats the whole purpose of why we were there. That was my only issue. Of course, the Internet's come up with a million other reasons for me having that conversation. And obviously, we knew how it ended, but it was really tough to, like, sit and take all of those opinions and harsh reactions to it when we knew what was coming in the next batch of episodes.

[Host]

But, yeah, how'd you feel about that whole.

[Taylor]

I understood, like, why you felt the way that you did. And I'm just. I'm thankful that you were okay having a conversation about it instead of just being like, nope, done. I'm going home. And so, you know, I. Understanding why we were both there. Like, it makes sense if some. If you thought. If I thought someone knew what I looked like the whole time, someone that I fell in love with, that I got engaged to. It'd be devastating. So it's, you know, it was just me in the moment trying to put myself in your shoes a bit and just kind of understand where you were coming from.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

You know, we were there to decide if we were getting married in a very short period of time. So I feel like any concern, any question that you have about anything in your relationship should be talked about. Like, that's okay before you get married to ask questions to each other, and it's important to want that lingering. No, ours happened to be on camera, so.

[Host]

Yeah. Anyway, I feel like a lot of people on social media are like, oh, you were, like, looking for an out. You didn't like the way he looked.

[Dave]

Whatever.

[Host]

Whatever. Do you want to clear that up for the people?

[Dave]

Yeah. I mean, hey, okay, we're married, so.

[Host]

She loves her man.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Not too much.

[Dave]

It's been a very frustrating week listening to all those opinions because it just couldn't be further from the truth. And there's so much of the story and so much context that I wasn't able to, like, really explain. And I talk about on the show that social media has been an insecurity for me in past relationships. And again, you bring those insecurities with you. No matter what kind of relationship you get into, you just work through them with the right person. So Danielle did just that. So I'm very, very fortunate that he's so patient and understanding.

[Taylor]

Well, it just gave us a glimpse kind of into how we work through things together.

[Dave]

Conflict. Yeah.

[Taylor]

And like you said earlier, we didn't really have much drama. So going into a marriage, it might have been a little bit tough to be, like, we don't know how we deal with conflict together. Like, there will be conflict in a marriage. How are we gonna do it? And so, in a weird way, it was almost nice being able to look back and being like, okay, we had this come up, we worked through it, and we grew stronger because of it. Now we know if something comes up in the future, you know, we're gonna be just fine.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

I hope you guys level of drama stays that minimal. Like, I hope it's like, did you. Like, I hope it's that small. Like, I really do hope that for you guys. How are you dealing with, like, the Instagram and the social media? Cause if that's already an insecurity, and then now you have millions of people with opinions, like, how are you guys handling that?

[Dave]

Yeah, Daniel's much better at laughing it off.

[Taylor]

I Just don't care.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Like, people are so dumb. Like, people are so. Like, they really are. Like, people say whatever they want and it's like, you're probably so miserable in your own life and you're jealous. They are insecure and all the things. So I cry a lot. We balance each other out.

[Dave]

Yeah. I just have a very tender heart. And I knew, like, our pure intentions and the wholesomeness behind it all, and it really was just displayed for the world and they just took it so different than what it was at the time. So it has been difficult for me. But I've used the hidden words feature immensely in the last Block, delete. Block, delete. Yes. And then I had people commenting like, she's deleting stuff.

[Host]

It's like, yes, I am.

[Dave]

Yeah, I agree. I had always heard people like yourself say, don't get lost in the comment section. I naively thought that meant going on Reddit looking for the comments, not that they would be sent directly or posted directly onto my personal page. I don't have a lot of control in my life, but what I do have control over is my personal social media account part.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

I will delete and block if you're posting those disgusting things, as you should.

[Host]

Because you will go insane. And they won't stop. I know they won't stop.

[Dave]

I know. There's always going to be something.

[Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Dave]

You're making me so excited.

[Lauren]

Don't worry, it's not going to stop.

[Host]

But are you guys surprised that you're the only couple to say yes? Is there anybody that you thought would make it all the way or. We just.

[Dave]

Now it's, like, sitting here today, I'm not surprised that we are the only couple, but at the time, we were very. We were very surprised that Virginia and Devin didn't get married. But now, like, we clearly see that everyone was not supposed to be with each other for a reason and they're not each other's people. So my answer has definitely changed on that in the last year.

[Taylor]

Yeah. I think while we were filming, it was. We were like, well, it's gonna be us. And probably Devin and Virginia.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

And that was probably.

[Host]

Why weren't you guys hopeful for the other couples?

[Dave]

We just felt, well, so Lauren and Dave ended before we were done filming.

[Taylor]

I think we were hopeful for the other couples. We just. I think we could just see. It was just. We could just see it, like, whether we were comparing our relationship to the other ones and being like.

[Host]

I just felt like it wasn't as.

[Taylor]

Strong for whatever reason, you know, we love everybody. And, like, we were all very close, and so we were hoping that, you know, everyone found their person, but it's just not realistic. And so whatever. I don't know if there were anything specific with the couple.

[Dave]

I'm close with the girls. Daniel's close with the guys. Like, just based on conversations that we were all having while filming, like, we just kind of got a pulse on who was really gonna make it there or not. Yeah.

[Host]

So no shade, but don't make me cry anymore.

[Dave]

No.

[Host]

The Internet's going crazy saying that. You guys, season is so boring. Love is bland.

[Dave]

Honestly, that second drop, I was like. I had to fast forward through some.

[Host]

Of it, so it's not just us.

[Dave]

But here's the thing, though. You can't win, right? Cause people say, give us the love stories. We don't care about the drama. And then when it is love stories and they're like, this is too boring. We don't like this. So it's like, either way, people are upset.

[Taylor]

A lot of people wanted more pod time, and then now they're like, ah, wait, no, we don't want any more pot. Like, there's too much. So it's just. There's. There's a. You know, it's a lose, lose almost. But, yeah, it was. There were times where it felt it was dragging on a bit.

[Host]

Yeah, a little bit.

[Dave]

I do think it gets more interesting.

[Host]

The playlist helped, though.

[Dave]

Oh, yeah. JoJo went crazy.

[Host]

I know.

[Taylor]

We're like, that's crazy.

[Dave]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Host]

No, I would, like, be fast forwarding, then I would stop and be like, oh, wait, Yeah, I like this song.

[Dave]

You're probably like, where was this during my season? Yeah, okay.

[Host]

Budget. I could have used that.

[Dave]

You paved the way ad for us to have those songs.

[Host]

You know, you're welcome. But no, that was. I don't know. I feel bad because the memes are going crazy, and then they're saying all the guys are clones that we can't figure out who's who.

[Dave]

I don't know if no one's ever been to Minnesota, but that is what everyone looks like in Minnesota, so we can tell. We are all the same. We can tell.

[Host]

I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know, because you want. But after watching season seven and the amount of drama.

[Dave]

Right, right.

[Host]

And then fast forwarding to y'all and the lack of drama, it's weird because in reality tv, kind of like you were saying, people like, where's the drama? Where's the drama. Where's the love? Where's the love?

[Dave]

I do see a lot of the Midwest in our season though, as well. Like, we are very passive in the Midwest. And watching it back, I'm like, oh, I could tell that people were just trying to, like, fill the gaps to keep things kosher. Yeah, yeah.

[Host]

There was a lot of talking stations that were not happening.

[Dave]

Talking without talking.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, A lot of that.

[Taylor]

That's kind of classic Midwest. Just like, say what you need to say to get by without ruffling too many.

[Host]

You guys are talking like it's a different country. Like, literally, like, basically in the Midwest, we don't really. I think we're just very.

[Dave]

This is all so foreign. Like, reality TV isn't really a part of a normal lifestyle in the Midwest. So I think we're all very cautious of the camera part of it, just because it is so out of left field for us.

[Host]

I feel like our season, because we're all from like, the Bible bell in the cell.

[Dave]

Sure.

[Host]

And so we were dramatic, but we were also like. And Jesus, please, God, please be with us.

[Dave]

Like, every second we.

[Host]

To stop to pray. We're just like, every minute of the day we were praying. Like, keep praying with me.

[Dave]

Keep praying for me. God, just please help me.

[Host]

Whereas you guys are kind of like politics. Maybe it'll be interesting if they do.

[Taylor]

Like an east coast, you know, then it might be a little bit more.

[Host]

Yeah, No, I saw that they were casting in Boston, so good luck.

[Taylor]

Yeah.

[Host]

They're not gonna hold back.

[Taylor]

No. That'll be fun to watch.

[Host]

Imagine that.

[Dave]

Yeah. But then when that comes out, people are gonna be like, we want the love stories.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

No, they don't.

[Host]

They don't want happiness. They don't want happiness. So. Because you guys were kind of like, hush, hush. Is there any secrets, any BTs behind the scenes that you can share that maybe between us two, anything that would shock the Midwest, wake us up a little bit?

[Dave]

Secrets. I feel like it all got aired at the reunion too. Like, everyone really came with what they needed to address. So honestly, any secret that I would have had to shock anyone was what was discussed at the reunion. And I kind of knew that all that was coming. Cause again, I'm friends with the girls and Daniel's friends with the guys. So. Yeah, we knew it was gonna be heated. Oh, we were chillin'yeah.

[Taylor]

It was nice.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

We said our piece and then just kinda. I mean, it was tough at times to listen to it all. Cause we know these people, but we didn't really have to chime in very much.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

How was that, like, watching your friends? Like you're saying you're closer with the girls and you are closer with the guys. How was that like, watching it? Kind of. Yeah.

[Dave]

It was heavy. I had to hold my tongue a lot. I wanted to put in my two cents because.

[Host]

What?

[Dave]

Well, I mean, I spoke up about Sarah and Ben. I spoke up. I'm close with all the girls that got engaged, but I'm really close with Lauren and Sarah, and I will defend them to the death. So I had. Obviously, there's two sides to every story, but I definitely know Sarah's side, and it was hard for me to sit and listen to their back and forth. I had so many conversations with Sarah off camera that she was telling me things about the relationship and things he was saying. And so I spoke up. He was shift. Blaming the shift. He was shifting. Shifting the blame. Thank you. To Sarah about kind of like leaving him high and dry after their wedding day, saying her priority was never him, but. But he asked her if they could schedule their last date around the Iowa women's basketball game, like her final date before she moved to Nashville. And it's like, okay, if we don't talk about priorities. That's not.

[Host]

It is very interesting.

[Dave]

So I spoke up about that. Yeah, I was nervous, though. My voice was shaking the Midwest.

[Host]

Something to say.

[Dave]

Please don't be mad at me.

[Taylor]

But no, it was. It was definitely tough. I mean, I think people said what they needed to say. I will say that I'm probably closer with Joey. Out of the guys that were there, probably I'm closest with Joey, but I've spent time with all of them. I'm really proud of how Dave handled Arena. I think he took accountability for a lot, which he needed to do. I think he has a lot of growing to do, and I think he's grown a lot this year just watching him. So I just wanted, like, I just talked to him after and was like, dude, I thought you'd just. I commend you for how you handled it, and I hope that he can take some of that stuff into, you know, his future.

[Host]

But, yeah, I do wonder how, like. Because. Did you talk to Lauren during the whole.

[Dave]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

And did you talk to Dave during all that? Did you give him any advice on, like, maybe you should relax.

[Taylor]

It was tough for Dave because he got. When we were in Honduras and we got our phones back and, you know, you're expecting to go back into the real world and kind of like, ease into it. And, like, we knew it's not gonna be easy. We know it's not gonna be easy. But word had already gotten out, because it's Minnesota. Word had already gotten out about all of this stuff about Dave and Lauren and, like, his friends and his sister and his family. This guy, like, everybody knew everything before Dave even knew anything. So, one, we were coming back into the real world, which is tough in itself. And then also he was getting all of that piled on top of him, which isn't an excuse to necessarily act the way that he did. But I try to just understand a little bit. And I know it was a lot for him. And so, I mean, I tried to give advice, but he has long term friends and family that he would take advice over advice from me. He only known me for a couple weeks. But I also tried to understand where he was coming from. But there were definitely some things I think that he knows that he did that he wishes he could do differently.

[Host]

Did you have any advice?

[Dave]

Well, Lauren came to Sarah and I off the jump. When we got back to Minneapolis, she pulled us aside and was like, this is what's going on. She explained the whole situation to us. And at the time, I was like, it's not gonna be a big deal. Boy, was I wrong. It really turned into a big deal.

[Taylor]

It was the biggest deal.

[Host]

The biggest.

[Dave]

Literally the biggest. Obviously, I was disappointed that Dave was taking the opinions of others over his fiance and wasn't listening to her. Watching it back, I'm gonna cry. It felt like Lauren was screaming at the top of her lungs and no one was listening to her. And as her best friend, that's, like, really sad to see. So I felt like I could see that in her eyes the entire time we were filming back in Minneapolis. But, man, the confidence she has now and that it's come full circle that this was all, like, fabricated to chase clout for this guy. Like, I just feel so, like, redeemed for. For her. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Happy for her.

[Host]

She deserves.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Happiness for sure. Yeah. And I hope Dave learns like you said.

[Taylor]

I think he's learned a lot.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, that was tough. But you guys are a great example of how to get through things and talk about things that might come up. And I think think we can learn a lot from that. Do you guys feel like there's anything else that you want to clear up? Tell the people, Ruffle a feather or two? It's okay.

[Dave]

They will let you back in.

[Taylor]

Joey sucks. Just kidding. I love Joey. I don't Feel personally that I need to clear anything up about us.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

I mean, unless you feel like you need to.

[Dave]

No, I just. I mentioned to him this morning that at the reunion last night, I was going to say some other things, but I never got the. The opportunity to. But I've had a lot of heartbreak in my life, and I think a lot of girls out there can identify with that as well. And I just. I want to tell people that that love that you're wondering if it's out there, if it exists. It does, and it's real, and you're gonna find it. And you just have to be patient and not settle until you do, because everyone deserves a Daniel.

[Host]

You give me chills.

[Dave]

Yeah, yeah. Keep going.

[Host]

Yeah. What is the biggest thing you guys would say you learned from the show?

[Taylor]

I had always. I think for me, I had always hoped that, you know, certain values were instilled in me from my parents and just my upbringing. I think this show gave me the opportunity to test that and prove to myself that, you know, I am a patient person, I can be a loving person, because I wasn't always necessarily that way. You know, I didn't have a lot of relationships. I. You know, I never really had the chance to give the love that I have to someone that I truly care about. And so I. You know, I'm just so thankful for the opportunity.

[Host]

And.

[Taylor]

Yeah, I just. I can't believe that it ended this way for us and maybe started this way. Like, we have so much to look forward to.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

I just. I'm really glad that, you know, I had the chance to just give my all.

[Dave]

Yeah. I learned to trust myself. We don't have our devices when we're going through the pods and Honduras. Like, you are relying solely not on the opinions of your best girlfriends. Like, look at this photo of him. Is he cute? Should I date him? Should I not? You know, like, you don't have those outside influences. You trust yourself and your gut wholly, and that is not something that I have always done in the past. So to prove to myself that not only could I trust my gut, but then I got my husband out of it, too. Like, I'm good. Like, I don't need anyone else to approve of it. I got here today because of my choices and my decisions, and I have the best human next to me, so that's so powerful.

[Host]

Look at his face.

[Dave]

He's so happy.

[Taylor]

I love when you talk nice about me. I don't know.

[Dave]

Like, I'm just. I always talk nice.

[Taylor]

Yeah, you do. Yeah. I just love you so much. I don't know. I just. I just. I'm the luckiest guy. I just. I've said it a billion times. I just can't believe it. Luckiest guy in the world.

[Host]

I love when the experiment, experience, whatever we're calling it these days. I love when it works. Yeah.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because it's like, should there be future seasons? Like, I had proof prior that it worked, and now people can look back and be like, it still works. It still works. And that was a lot of my reason for going on the show and being, like, seeing, like, Lauren and Cameron and seeing, like, Amber and, like, seeing people actually married.

[Dave]

Like, this works and happy.

[Host]

And happy, you know? And so I think you guys are proof that if you put in the work and you ask the tough questions and you really dive deep and, like, open up fully, that it can work.

[Dave]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Taylor]

I think that's almost the only way that it works is if you. If you go there and commit to the process. You have to do it full hearted. Like, don't hold back. Just be open and just go for it.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

This Taco Bell thing.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Host]

We've got a tattoo.

[Dave]

We do.

[Host]

Do you see it? I do actually.

[Dave]

Want to see.

[Taylor]

Says Taco B.

[Dave]

Well, interlift tattoos fade really quickly, but I've had it for four years now.

[Host]

Are you gonna get it refreshed?

[Dave]

I would love to.

[Host]

Can I see?

[Dave]

Not a lot of places are willing to do it, so shout out if you want to do it.

[Host]

Oh, my God. No. You committed to the bit.

[Dave]

Yeah. It was my one and only tattoo at the time. I've gotten Daniel's handwriting on me now since we've gotten married. But wait, you have what, Daniel's handwriting on. Tattooed on me? Yeah.

[Host]

What?

[Dave]

I don't think we've told anyone that.

[Taylor]

I don't think we have.

[Dave]

What is it?

[Host]

What is it? Deep.

[Taylor]

So the girls wanted to get a tattoo for season eight.

[Dave]

A bunch of girls from our cast, we all got tattoos together.

[Host]

Where is it?

[Dave]

It's on my side and it says eight and Daniel sand rating.

[Host]

Why does it say eight?

[Dave]

Season eight.

[Taylor]

But I was like, oh, that's cool. I'll be involved in it. The girls are doing it, but I'll.

[Dave]

And then they're like, can we all use Daniel's handwriting? Because they all love them.

[Host]

Do you have any tattoos?

[Taylor]

I do. I don't have the lip tattoo yet. And I can't believe that that was such a big deal. I kind of forgot about it. And then they included it. I Did get a tattoo. I have one here of coordinates of. Of, like, my family's cabin. But I wanted to get something for Taylor. And my favorite part of Taylor, physically, is her eyes. And it's the first thing I noticed when the doors opened. And so I got a tattoo of her eyes on my chest.

[Host]

You have that right now?

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Taylor]

Do you wanna see?

[Host]

I mean, can I? Is that weird? Shut up.

[Taylor]

Does it look like her eyes?

[Lauren]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Dave]

Oh, my God.

[Host]

You guys are committed.

[Taylor]

I know.

[Host]

We're doing. I love that. Yeah.

[Taylor]

No, there's definitely plans at some point. I feel like I have to get the lip tattoo at some point. I just don't know exactly what it's. I don't know if it's gonna be Taco Bell or if it's gonna be Chipotle. Maybe Chipotle. I do love Chipotle. Something that I like. So stay tuned.

[Host]

Yeah. Come back when you get there. What? Okay, now I need to call Ollie.

[Dave]

Cause, sorry, Ollie, I need.

[Taylor]

Shoot.

[Dave]

You just threw him out of the box.

[Host]

Something tatted. Sorry.

[Dave]

Sorry, brother.

[Taylor]

Sorry, brother.

[Host]

I know. I'm gonna be like. Get me plastered on your back.

[Dave]

Yes.

[Host]

Daniel did it.

[Taylor]

Daniel did it. You gotta do it.

[Host]

You do it.

[Taylor]

Do you even like me? Do you love me?

[Host]

That's what married people do. I love that. You guys, it was such a pleasure having here. I'm so happy for you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Beautiful bride, by the way.

[Dave]

Oh, thank you.

[Host]

Loved your dress. And you guys just, you know, I want nothing but the best for you guys. I hope that you guys come back with any life updates.

[Dave]

Yeah, we'll bring that to you.

[Host]

Yeah. Ruffle feather. It's okay. I promise.

[Taylor]

Okay. Doing that.

[Dave]

Yeah, I'm gonna need to sleep on.

[Host]

It, but I loved having you guys here.

[Taylor]

Thank you for having us. This is so fun.

[Host]

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