Podcast Summary: “Star Crossed: The One Show Where Love Is Written By The Stars”
Podcast: What’s The Reality?
Host: Amber Desiree (AD) & Co-Hosts Blake & Gabe Liedman
Date: February 4, 2026
Episode Focus: Matchmaking reality stars Jordan Keltner (Love Is Blind S9) & Genevieve Parisi (Bachelor/Paradise) to see if love can blossom when the cameras are off and the real talk begins.
Episode Overview
This special “Star Crossed” edition takes a playful spin on matchmaking, with hosts Blake and Gabe pairing up two fan-favorite singles from different reality TV universes for an in-studio “blind” date. The goal: to see if stars of romance reality TV can find real connection—proving love can be written not just by scripts, but by the stars themselves.
Key Segments & Insights
1. Concept & Pairing Logic
[01:04–02:39]
- Hosts introduce their matchmaking experiment, where reality alums are paired for a blind in-studio experience: “Our two singles, Romeo and Juliet, carefully paired by Blake and I, will step into the studio sitting back to back, not knowing who’s behind each other.” – Gabe Liedman [01:24]
- Pairing rationale:
- Genevieve wants to settle down and start a family; she’s been a nanny and is family-centric.
- Jordan (single dad, Love is Blind S9) aligns with family values, is looking for true connection post-show.
- Blake: “She’s a down bitch, and Jordan’s a riot.” [02:52, colloquial/fun tone]
2. Getting to Know Genevieve (“Juliet”)
[03:30–07:18]
- Genevieve shares her background (Massachusetts native, seven years in LA), career as a nanny, and family orientation.
- Looking for: kindness, family connection, good to their mother, affection & banter.
- “Something very important to me is that they’re good to their mother. I feel like… that shows how they’re going to treat you one day.” – Genevieve [04:10]
- Non-negotiables: open, as long as the person is “a good person, a nice person”; open to dating someone with a child.
- Key lessons from past relationships: Communication is the #1 priority after learning from prior mismatches.
- “You can get through anything if you can just communicate.” [06:14]
- Ready for family: “I’m so ready. I’m ready to have babies. I’m ready for the family.” [05:49]
3. Getting to Know Jordan (“Romeo”)
[07:25–14:47]
- Jordan’s post-Love is Blind update: left job, is a full-time single dad/co-parent, writes kids’ books, creating content in Denver.
- Dating after reality TV is tough: “I’m very, very guarded right now… there’s just a lot of people coming out of the woodworks…” [08:54]
- Qualities sought: humor, patience, someone who matches his communication style, emotional maturity.
- Love languages: “Acts of service, like, physical touch... affirmation is very important.” [10:49]
- Lessons learned: He used to focus on “vanity” but he’s now seeking deeper compatibility.
- “I just was way too focused on maybe, like, what I wanted, and not what I needed.” [11:33]
- Type? Historically “sorority looking chicks, blonde hair, blue eyes,” but says he’s open-minded on attraction. [12:58]
- Non-negotiables: “You need to be okay tying for first [with my son].” [14:09]
4. The Blind Date—In-Studio Q&A
[15:28–24:44]
- Both sit back-to-back, Q&A commences.
- Attraction beyond looks:
- Jordan: “Emotional maturity, like how someone can process their emotions and speak through them.” [15:35]
- Genevieve: “A good heart.” [15:51]
- Misconceptions: Jordan worries tattoos make him look like a “troublemaker.” Genevieve loves tattoos. [18:13]
- Guilty pleasure: Genevieve “Ordering takeout and watching TV” (especially true crime); Jordan: “Oh, hell yeah.” [18:36]
- Family importance: Both cite family as #1. Jordan proudly discusses being a single dad; Genevieve is delighted: “I love kids.” [19:27]
- Kids & commitment: Jordan (vasectomy) is open to reversal or fostering/adoption for the right person—received positively.
- TV lessons: Jordan learned to be “less self-critical,” proud of his emotional openness on TV. [20:55]
- Banter: Jordan reveals sense of humor and “dad jokes”; both are warm and playful.
5. The Reveal
[24:09–25:27]
- On the count of three, Genevieve and Jordan turn to see each other, both pleasantly surprised—but Genevieve had a hunch!
- Both share their reality TV backgrounds and current cities (LA & Denver). They reflect on what brought them to TV and their openness for new experiences.
6. More About Each Other
[25:47–28:25]
- Discussion about caring for kids:
- Genevieve: “That I don’t have my own [kids]… Like, I literally just love kids so much. Like, I don’t have any negatives.” [27:57]
- Jordan jokes about the joys and challenges of parenting, and the “annoyingly cute” habits of his son.
- Shared value: Both deeply family-oriented and kid-friendly.
7. Game Segment: Fix or Flee
[29:38–40:23]
-
A lighthearted test of compatibility: “Fix” (work with it) or “Flee” (dealbreaker) on common relationship flaws.
- Constant phone use at dinner: Both dislike it but think it’s fixable if someone listens.
- Genevieve: “I do not like when people are on their phone.” [31:28]
- Always late: Both dislike; Genevieve admits she hates being late, Jordan says he’s late because of his son—gets a pass.
- Don’t like your friends: Both say this is a dealbreaker; friends/family are non-negotiable.
- Only showers once a week: Both instantly “flee.”
- Holidays only with their family: Both say they’d “fix”—want to split time and work out compromises.
- Only work out once a month: Both say “fix”; don’t want to force activity but value self-care.
- Refuse new experiences/foods: Both say “fix”; compromise is key, willing to try new things for partner, but have personal likes/dislikes.
- Constant phone use at dinner: Both dislike it but think it’s fixable if someone listens.
-
Memorable (and funny) moment: Jordan’s “chicken smoothie” meal-prep hack!
- Jordan: “Literally, it’s just like baked chicken... just to make my life more convenient... I just don’t think there’s, like, substance compared to protein powder, you know?” [38:50]
- Genevieve is intrigued yet mortified: “I like chicken, but it kind of freaks me out it’s in a smoothie!” [39:40]
8. Final Questions Before the Verdict
[40:24–41:19]
- Jordan: “Would you ever move to Denver?”
- Genevieve: “I would be open to moving to Denver, yes.” [40:51]
- Genevieve: “Would you be open to splitting holidays...?”
- Jordan: “Totally.” [41:11]
9. THE DECISION
[41:34–43:45]
- Both turn their chairs! Match unlocked!
- Jordan: “I just like your morals and values and obviously the fact that you work with kids, that’s really cool. We have the connection with the unique situation we both went through, so it’s kind of cool to have the relatability there.” [42:21]
- Genevieve: “The fact you have a son… you’re just so close with your family, that is… that’s so big to me. I like that you’re goofy… You seem like a good guy, and you seem like you have a good heart.” [42:48]
- Hosts: “You guys have the same aura… I really do feel like… you’re just ready to live your life with someone that gets it.” – Blake [43:25]
10. Aftermath & Post-Date Check-In
[44:44–44:59]
- Short, tipsy “second date” snippet proves the chemistry continued off-mic:
- “We just ate our pasta on our second date.” —Jordan [44:44]
- “She got me drunk.” —Genevieve [44:56]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Genevieve on partners: “Someone that’s good to their mother… that shows how they’re going to treat you one day.” [04:10]
- Jordan on parenthood: “You need to be okay tying for first right? …I don’t want to prioritize my son or my spouse over each other.” [14:09]
- On new connections:
- Jordan: “I was just overly perplexed that, like… there’s no way I would ever put myself out there like that…” [24:28]
- On compatibility:
- “You guys have the same aura, you know, the same energy… just ready to live your life with someone that gets it.” —Blake [43:25]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---------|-------------|-----------| | Intro & Pairing Logic | Show format, reasoning for match | [01:04–02:39] | | Meet Juliet (Genevieve) | Background, values | [03:30–07:18] | | Meet Romeo (Jordan) | Background, values | [07:25–14:47] | | Blind Q&A | Comedic, vulnerable, real talk | [15:28–24:44] | | Blindfold Reveal | First face-to-face, reactions | [24:09–25:27] | | Compatibility Games | “Fix or Flee”, banter | [29:38–40:23] | | Final Questions & Verdict | Moving/holidays/kids | [40:24–41:19] | | Final Decision | Both turn chairs, match! | [41:34–43:45] | | Post-Date Update | Off-mic chemistry | [44:44–44:59] |
Summary
This “Star Crossed” crossover of What’s The Reality? is a spirited ode to the hopeful, sometimes hilarious, always honest search for love in the reality TV world. The episode delivers a charming, real-feeling blind date—complete with deep values talk, goofy jokes (and dad jokes), real-world logistics (cities, kids, careers), and plenty of chemistry. Both Genevieve and Jordan are realistically open about their lives, past mistakes, and what they still want from love, rather than pretending it all comes easy.
Bottom line:
This episode is both fun and sincere, for fans of matchmaking shows and relationship podcasts alike. Listeners leave rooting for the pair—and maybe a little freaked out but curious about that infamous “chicken smoothie.”
