June 3, 2025 • 48 mins
Our Bachelor Nation OGs Bob Guiney and Trista Sutter hang out with Graham Bunn from DeAnna Pappas’ season, Bachelor Pad and Bachelor in Paradise!
Graham clears up some rumors about the REAL reason he agreed to go on The Bachelorette and how "Selling Sunset's" Chrishell Stause is involved in this bachelor nation lore.
Plus, find out if Graham would ever return to the Bachelor franchise, or if we could see him show up in the “Traitors” castle!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Almost Famous podcast with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hi, Bob Trista, Hi, you look at dar. I thought
you said you were feeling sick. You look lovely.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
I've been sick the past two days and I'm so
sorry I was running late you guys to start this.
I love it when when I get a text and
I'm like, wait, why are they Why are they texting
about Almost Famous? Oh, it's because you're supposed to be
actually recording right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I was like, I came running in my house. I
come around the corner, I go straight upstairs. Canyon and
Blaker downstairs are like high.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I'm like, Hi, gotta go, gotta go run upstairs, get
myself all situated. I think I'm gonna be the late one.
And then all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, she's
not here. Thank god, you actually gave me. You gave
me a breath of relaxation in a hasty and very
busy day.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You're so welcome. You're so welcome, Bob.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I can actually hear a little scratchiness in your voice.
I like it.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, yeah, I always always wanted to be to me
more with like the sexy scratchy voice you know when
I was whenever I'm sick, I'm like, yes, lose your voice, your.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Voice, this is what we want, we want this. Well,
I'm glad.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I'm glad to be back with all of our almost
famous the Og friends. And it is great to see
your beautiful face. And I'm loving it that today is
going to be such a fun day because we got
one of my best buddies on and I love this guy,
and we have quite a history ourselves, you know, and
so I'll be happy to talk about that. Of course,
(01:35):
we have on the show today our dear friend Graham Bunn,
who much beloved member of the Og family from back
in the day. He was on Deanna Poppus's season, and
I believe, I mean he was. He was right down
there to the end, I'm pretty sure on that season.
And you know, he's got quite an interesting story himself.
(01:58):
Our our story of how he and I met is
really really funny. And we kept each other in the divorces.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
How's that going, I'll tease it that way.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
So Graham and I we became buddies and kept each
other in the in the splits. But yeah, he was
from Deanna season. He was on Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise.
I mean, this guy has been around, He's been around
the block in the Bachelor of Family.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So were you a fan of Grahams.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I was a huge fan and still am. I just
I love him, Adoram. He's always been so supportive and
so kind. He just is so kind, and yeah, I
was a huge fan when he was on the show.
Just found out something that we're going to get into today.
I won't spoil it, but I had no idea of
(02:46):
this piece of information. So I'm very excited to talk
to him about the show. I actually was a judge
on Bachelor Pad when he was on, so that was fun.
So I've seen him a couple times. And you know,
we used to do those, like those reunions with Jesse Sinsak.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Do you know that. I feel like he probably came
on one of those.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
I didn't make any of those, but I wanted to go,
but I was just at this different place and didn't
make those.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
But yeah, those were fun.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I mean I used to love all the readings, So
I did some of the earlier ones before Jesse was
doing them, and I always enjoyed those. And then and
then as they kind of came along after. I think, yeah,
was there a cruise? Was when was a cruise?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Wasn't it or something?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I didn't go on the cruise, but yeah, I think
there was a cruise. We did have something up in Colorado.
I feel like it was in Breckenridge or something. I
don't know, but I feel like he was probably at
at one of those. Anyway, We've stayed in touch too,
but I know you guys have a long history, and
I'm just excited to chat with you today and to
(03:53):
bring Graham on the show.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So let's welcome in Graham.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Bun, there's my guyon everybody, My man.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
What's up, buddy? What's going on?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
How does this guy get better looking with age every
time I see him? Finest of the fine ripples, the
fine ripples, Now, I will tell you, Trista. We had
to meet some pretty shrewd demands to get Graham on
this show. His people called our people, and my goodness,
(04:27):
I had to acquiesce to something that I wasn't happy about,
but it was the only way to get my guy
on the show. Graham and I have a very very
complex relationship. We love each other like brothers, best of friends.
I'd take a bullet for this guy. But what I
will not do is allow this man to cheat at
(04:50):
the game of Madden NFL Football. And I am I'm
a staunch defender of my reasoning here. My rationale is
a talented player. Okay, he's a talented, talented man when
it comes to the video game sports. But I was
one of the few people that I know of that
(05:12):
could beat Graham Bun occasionally, not often, until I found
out his trick. He was using a playbook that was
the same playbook no matter where he was, no matter
when he was playing. He'd pull up this playbook and
the dude knew every play and there were a couple
unstoppable plays in there, and he would just whoop it
every single time I let him have that playbook. So
(05:32):
I had to agree that the next time he and
I are together, that we're gonna sit down, we're gonna
play Madden again, and I'm gonna let him use his
go to playbook.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So there it is behind you, the lies and the
commands up by the screen. He's ready, he's already practicing
for this game.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Oh brother, Oh my goodness, and he's got the beer
for you.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
With the demands I went and bought this. Today, you
owe me twenty four dollars in eighty eight cents. I
saved the receipt The deal was a case of beer,
and I can use whatever playbook I want when we play.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
That was the right, that's right. I'm here, so I'm
going to collect. I am gonna Venmo.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You are the money on this, and I appreciate that
you kept on the receipts.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I should.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
I wish I would have kept the receipts when that won.
I'll never forget this. One game we were playing and
it was a it was a dog fight. It was
a dog fight, and man, at the very last play,
I just somehow, I think I think I had an
interception and I scampered into the end zone.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Bob has giving me a lot of credit.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Bob, Bob beat me a bunch of times, but he
would never let me use He would never let me
use my playbook.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
And that that really I hated that.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It's so good to see my brother grahamn my brother
from another mother.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Man, the list must be getting short, you guys pulling
me in on this thing.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Come on now, no, sir, the ogs only.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
This is the second time I've done the Ogs, but
I got I got the Cousins from uh Dukes of Hazzard.
You know when the Dukes of Hazards went to the
Cousins and it didn't work. You know, I got the Cousins.
The last time I did this show, I'm like, yeah,
what's going on man?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
The Cousins episode. That's right, I got the Cousins episode.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
He did the actual, the actual, the starting grounds, he
did the actual almost famous Yea, the almost famous Ogs comes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Along and we just we started.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
We start shining up some pennies, setting up all the
diamonds and the rough and we bring them out. What
a lot of people might not know about my buddy
Graham is that when I was still living in la
and Graham and I actually met because of our respective exes.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
We did Bob's if this is if this is a
podcast about heartbreak, Bob has lived through the two like
just heart wrench gut wrenching. I don't know if I'm
going to recover heartbreaks that in my lifetime. So I'm
hoping third times a charm. If that happens for me,
it will. It was for me, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Sometimes, you know, we got to take our gotta take
a lick and to keep on tickings sometimes, you know.
But but Graham and I were on a I actually
was kind of helped organize this cruise for the daytime
soap opera community, and we called it Rock the Soaps,
and and.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
We were out there, rocked the boat. We rocked the Soaps. Yeah,
and we did it.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
And Graham was there with his girlfriend at the time,
who was a star and all my children, and I
was there with my now ex wife who was a
star of all my children. And Graham and I thankfully
found each other on this boat. And at the end
of that trip, you know, we everyone that sailed off
in their own directions, and Graham and I we we
(08:42):
we flew into the same place. We're like, all right, this,
this is the best relationship I can find on that
damn boat.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Let's go, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
And this was us, and Graham and I lived together.
We we spent several years together out there in LA
and I was lucky to have them and as my
as my sounding board and my and my my buddy.
I did make demands on him at that time, so
I think it was only fair that he demanded I'd
be like Graham tonight we are going to this party
and then.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
We're going to eat Mexican food at this place. Yeah.
I was like, okay, yeah, He's like, all right, let's go. Sure.
It was Graham was there when I met Canyon.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
In fact, we often say that if it weren't for
Graham Bun, there would be no Bob and Canyon, because
Graham was so sweet to Canyon when I was trying
to figure out if I even wanted to be in
a relationship, and he was like, you know, the only
reason he he would say, hey, why.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Don't you grab your girlfriend and we'll go do this.
And I'd be like, I'll have a girlfriend. He's like, oh,
oh that's right, that's right.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Why don't you grab the only girl that you ever
spend time with that you really enjoy hanging out with
Canyon and bring her to this thing.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And I'd be like, damn it, he's right again. Yeah,
So Graham was the brains of the operation for sure.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah, it was, Yeah, it was. It was a great time.
Bob's definitely been a part of a lot of milestones
in my life. So this is the least I could
do again. I mean, hopefully I have some answers for
any kind of Cloe. I don't know what you guys
could ask me that people would be interested in.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Oh, we've got lots of lots of questions, lots of questions.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Yeah, what about I want to hear about the new
show before we get into anything, though. This is I
want to hear about this because this kind of came.
This was a surprise even to me when I when
I saw it on Instagram. I mean, You've been obviously
in the country music community for a long time, but
it was one of those moments where I was like,
wait a minute, back back to NC, hold on, back
(10:29):
to MC. I was so fired up, man, can you
tell us a little about it.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I'm back to living like I did with Bob.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
This is where I sleep, It is my sister's couts,
this is my sister's house. Luckily, my brother in law
treats me like I'm his brother and has accepted me.
And yeah, I heart offered me a job in Charlotte,
North Carolina to be the new morning show host, and
so I have accepted that opportunity. And there's some some
interesting things going on already that it had started off
(10:57):
really well. So it's been I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Very blessed very luck.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Bob was a part of my I was landscaping when
I got the call to do country music in LA
I was living on bob scouch and he bought me
my first pair of headphones.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So that's right.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
So Bob has done a multitude of things for me
in my life, one of which I don't even know
if he knows this the first breakup that I went
through that almost killed me and ended up how I
got on The Bachelor at I went to Bob's house
the next day and he paid five hundred dollars out
of his own pocket, never asked me for a dollar
of it back, to pay for me to go to
(11:34):
Marquy Costello's hosting class because he thought that I would
make a good host. He paid for that out of
his pocket and never once asked me for one die.
I didn't have a dime to my name, got me
into the class, paid for it himself, and this was
before we were friends, so he knew. He knew what
I was going through. He was familiar with my ex
girlfriend because she was a co star of his. I
(11:55):
think they were still together at the time, and I
don't know, you know, he said, hey, look I think
you would be great at this. I've already paid for it.
It's not a question. I want you to go do it.
And it was like the day after I was going
through a breakup. So it was a great distraction. And
so Bob has has definitely had a heavy hand at
whatever small amount of success that I've had in the
(12:17):
hosting world. Obviously we all know Bob's a very talented host.
So I'm gratefully appreciative of that support.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I love you, brother. Well still still owed me for
the beer bro the beer Imo today for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
But yeah, I actually I actually took that Mrquy Costello
class too.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, I remember you take that She's I'm sure you
guys crushed it. Me.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I was in there a shell, just like, oh man,
she's not.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
She's tough.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
She's she's tough for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
This story what oh no, I said? She do you know?
She was related?
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Like the reason why she is who she is was
her great great grandfather or whatever was Costello of Abbot
and Costello.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I knew that at some point, but it has lost
my brain.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Like family also, Trista, before before you ever met me,
you were very very kind, and my family.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Has always loved you. You were very kind to me
on my first season.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
I don't know if you remember, you said some very
nice things about me. You had never met me, and
hopefully over the years those things have proven to be true,
and I would like to think they are. But you
were fresh out of the gate. You were very complimentary
and very supportive of my time on the first show.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But I love that your family too.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I love that's actually something so sweet about this whole
like Bachelor Nation thing is just meeting people's families, like
Caitlin Bristow just posted her sister's birthdays today and I
wish your happy birthday, like I've met her a couple
of times.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Like It's just, you know, such.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
A small world and just love everyone's family. So tell
him hip.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Kind of the reason that you went on the Bachelorette.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I've never heard the story.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I just heard about this story, and we want to
confirm that what I heard is the truth. Yes, of course,
not the one who shared his couch. No, I'm sure
he knows this story, but we would love the rest
of us to hear the whole story. You can mention names,
by the way, but yes, we we hear.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
That is it long enough that everything is public knowledge?
Now is everything? Because for a.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Long time it is.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
For a long time, I was asked to keep this
under wraps.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
And again my side of this story is, you know,
most people were going to be like, there's no way
it's out that's too outland, there's no way that happened
for real.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
So okay, what did you hear? And I'll confirm it.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
I'll give you all the details so people don't think, oh, well,
this guy's just offering up whatever his weird version is.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, yeah, right.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Okay, So the girl that you mentioned maybe having your
heart broken by Krystles, Yes, Krishelle from selling Sunset and
Dancing with the Stars and all the other things. And
the rumor is that she was going to be the Bachelorette.
So you guys had broken up and you actually actually
(15:35):
signed up for the Bachelorette because you heard that she
was going to be on the Okay, that's not correct. Okay,
so then tell us what is the true story between you,
Krischelle and the Bachelorette.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Okay, Well, first of all, if Chrischelle ever sees this one,
you're the best And I am so happy for she's
happily married, and yes, Bob knows this as well as
anybody you know. Incredibly hard worker and when I say
a self made human being. We don't have the greatest
relationship right now and maybe one day, maybe never, but
(16:09):
I'm only proud of that in that sometimes when you
love really hard, the breakup's really hard. And so I
think we I don't think she would mind me saying
that we were young love and Bob got a chance
to spend time with us, and our relationship fully existed
outside the parameters of real life. Like we didn't think
(16:29):
about future, we didn't think about money, we didn't think
about All we thought about was, man, I can't wait
for my day to be over so I can get.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Back to spend time with this person.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Like I was addicted to her, and I think in
some spaces of her life she would. I don't know
if she could. She's married, but in this space of
her life before she was married, I think she was
also falling in that space where I just need this human.
I need time with this human every day. And so
when the breakup happened, it was very messy, and I
(17:01):
still have.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Struggles with it because I've never loved someone in that way.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I've only loved one other person, and I loved that
person completely different than the way I loved Rachelle. So
we were dating, and Krishelle had gone through something very hard.
She had gone through a broken engagement and those things
I can imagine, you know, that relationship probably took its
toll on her. So she didn't want anything serious. So
(17:25):
when we started dating, it was like in group settings.
She was actually set up to be with one of
my friends. Ended up taking a liking to me, and
we just started spending time together. And so on December seventh,
this is not going to paint a pretty picture of me,
but I'm going to give you the.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Accurate account of what happened.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
It was my birthday, and Bob knows my best friend
from home how and his nickname is Hurricane How and
when alcohol gets involved, like just anything, it was crazy
New York City. So we went out and they took me.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Out for my birthday. And I'm not a big drinker,
you know.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Bob and I would have the occasional cocktail and play
Madden at home home or something, but I played sports
and just alcohol was not really a big thing.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Of my life.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
I did abuse alcohol after the breakup of Croschelle because
I didn't know how to deal with how hard I
was taking it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
That was really challenging for me.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
But I got into a bar fight that night and
somebody was like aggressive with Koshelle did not know we
were together. I saw it from across the room. I
took extreme exception to it, and I'm not proud of it.
Anybody watching this, please, I don't condone violence. I mishandled it.
(18:45):
I was at a position where it was not the
right thing to do. But anyone that puts their hands
on someone that I'm with, I've never been afraid to
address that, and so it was bad.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
They drug me out of there.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I've also been drug out of it after party for
smacking somebody at Bachelor that.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
You can look that up on CMZ. So I Bob
Bob loves that one.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
We're going to tell that story after it.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They touched me first. That's why I didn't get in trouble.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
They touched me first, and I did tell them what
was going to happen if they put their hands on me,
and we fulfilled that agreement. So so anyway, long story short,
Chrishelle's like, hey, listen, I can't be with someone that
reacts that way. And I was like, you're You're totally correct,
like you know what, you know, it's heartbreaking, but I
(19:41):
totally understand. So we had a very mature conversation on
like December eleventh. It was like four days she didn't
talk to me after my birthday and then we talked. Well,
a little bit of time goes by and she kept
like checking in, Hey, just you know, want to see
how you're doing. And you know, I had it bad
for her, and so I was like, I'm doing I'm
(20:02):
doing good. You know, is the agreement off? Like are
we still hanging? And she told me she came to
me and said, hey, listen, I can't. I don't want
you to hear I was I misrepresented why I wanted
to break up or I wanted to stop spending time.
I said, Okay, what's going on? She said that I
(20:22):
have the opportunity to be the bachelorette because the Bachelor
had approached her. The franchise had approached her after hearing
you know, she was on an ABC show. He had
been through a broken engagement and they wanted to pursue
her to be the bachelorette, and she felt at the
time that it was the best opportunity for her, and
(20:46):
she was like, you know, I care about you, and
I don't want you to beat yourself up about what
happened on your birthday because you know that wasn't cool.
But I wouldn't you know, that wouldn't change the way
I feel about you, because you were trying to stick
up for me and I appreciated it, and I was.
I was hurt and heartbroken, but for myself, not for her.
Like we had a great talk. I wished her well
(21:07):
and I think I handled it as well as you could.
And then I went on to live and live my
life like I you know, was struggling, but you know,
I was in my late twenties and living in New
York City and I was I was a bartender in
Times Square, so I was meeting a lot of people.
I lived with my best friend from college, like I
had a great support system around me to like, all right,
(21:28):
well we're going to get through.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
This, like it's okay.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
And so fast forward to like into January, something happened
and they gave the show to Deanna, so Chrishelle reached
back out to me and said, you know, some things
are changing. I don't know if I'm going to la anymore,
and you know, if you're up for it, I'd love
(21:53):
to continue to spend time. And I was hesitant because,
like I, it was really hard on me the first time,
like stepping away, and so we did.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Then my grandfather passed.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Away unfortunately, and he died on February tenth, and I
flew home, and to Chrischelle's credit, this was my dad's
like my hero, and so it was the first time
I ever had to see my father in a compromise
position where he needed a little bit of support. My
dad usually handles everything. He's a dressed, lose winding marine
(22:29):
and like just the toughest dude I know. And so
I leaned on Forrschelle. I kind of did some adult
things when it comes to the funeral and the services
and the presentation of my grandfather and took some things
off my dad's plate. But the person that I leaned
on was Forschelle And so when I came back, I
flew back to surprise her on Valentine's Day because the
(22:53):
funeral was on the thirteenth, So I didn't tell her
I was going to come back and surprise her. Well,
she had plans, and that was that was really hard
on me because I had in my mind, I was
thinking we were somewhere else, and that's on me. She
never promised me anything. She was being a supportive person
in my life. But when you have plans on Valentine's Day,
(23:14):
you know, as a guy who just lost his grandfather,
who was the closest person to me that I'd ever lost,
I went right to the bar that I worked at
with my best friend from college and indulged myself. And
so I think by midnight, now it's Valentine's Day. By midnight,
I had no shirt on one. I'm super poor. So
(23:35):
I was shredded out of my mind. Like if anybody
remembers what I look like on that season, it wasn't
because I was a workout feed. It was like I
had no money and I was living on like salads
and like sandwich Deli sandwich me.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know, I was a poor kid right out of college.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
So someone came up to me and was like, Hey,
if you can pass a blood test.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
I put you on TV next week. I'm like what
And I thought it was a joke, Like I was like,
no way.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
And they told me what the show was, and I
first I was like, no way, that can't be real,
like someone setting me up, someone that I've told at
the bar, like all the girl that I.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Wanted, she's going off to do this show.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
So because I couldn't believe that that would actually happen,
Like what are the odds of that? You know, I
didn't apply. I didn't I didn't look for it. Someone
just came up to me in the bar that I
worked at and was like, this guy looks like a
complete he'd be great.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
You know this guy.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
This guy's walking around holding a bottle of Maker's Mark,
just talking to every girl in here with no shirt on.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Like we got to get him on the show. This
dude was built for this show.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Like we we are getting green lit for a decade
with this guy, Like here's the originator of the spin
off walking around the bar right now. So they called back,
and honestly it was my parents they reached out to me,
and I think maybe my friend from home that was
living with me. It kind of shared, Hey, I don't
(25:11):
know if Graham is handling everything.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So well, and so.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
They encouraged me to go. They're like, hey, listen, this
get you out of your bubble. Like you get away
from New York, maybe you meet a nice girl.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Now.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Granted they showed me that night, they showed me a
picture of Deanna, so I knew it wasn't Krishelle. They
had a little headshot of her, and they're like, hey,
if you think this girl's attractive and you'd like to
meet her, we'll put you on TV in a week.
I mean I showed up with like a like a
carry on in a book bag, like I didn't have anything.
But yeah, so Chrishelle originally was supposed to do the show,
(25:47):
and then I ended up on it, and it probably
wasn't fair to Deanna because I was a mess I had,
you know, I was still heartbroken and I felt like
our relationship ended for reasons that weren't that wasn't me,
you know. And then my one of my best friends dies,
is someone I had never dealt with that, and now
(26:09):
I find myself drinking and I've never done that before.
So it just it was it was a wild like
I couldn't I couldn't understand what was happening, and like
the first week I was there. I don't know if
anybody knows this. I don't think I've ever told Bob
of this. One of the pas on set for the
show walks up to me and goes, hey, I know
who you are. I'm like, great, I've been here a week.
(26:32):
You're not very good at your job.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
There's only ten of us.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I know, I'm not crazy memorable, but I'm still here.
Like fifteen of those dudes went whole night one. So
he was like, no, I guess he was a PA
on Dancing with the Stars when Cameron Matheson was on,
and he was like, so, Chrishelle, her his co star,
would come to the showings and talk about you all
(27:00):
the time. So that was on set and he was like, so,
what's the deal there? And I was like, there is
no deal. I don't I mean, I don't know, like
I don't know what you're talking about. So like and again,
I didn't know anything about TV shows. I didn't know
about anything. I was just there like am I a
fraud or am I doing the wrong thing? Or should
(27:23):
I leave? Like every day it was like should I leave?
You know, like am I hurting someone? So everyone looks
at that show, and like, man, you didn't talk much
or you didn't do much, And I was trying to
be as authentic of a person, Like I didn't want
to act for the show.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I didn't want.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
To act for Deanna and act like I was madly
in love. I was trying to figure out myself. I
was trying to respect her as a person because I
love Deanna. I'm still close with Deanna. I wish the
best for her, and I think that she's she respects
me and that I never lied to her. I did
my best in the hand that I was dealt. I mean,
(27:59):
that was a while scenario to think of, because that
I hear all these crazy stories that people want to
get on this show so bad, and it's such a
wonderful opportunity, and like it was just surrounding my life.
You know, yeah, it was meant to I had to
lie for years. I was you know, I taught to
my parents after they met her, and you know, my
(28:19):
parents didn't want me to go to the fantasy suites
if I wasn't gonna pursue her or be in love
or ask her to marry me. So I asked to
leave the show, and then I had to pretend like
I got kicked off the show, and it was just
really confusing and then live for years about it, and
nobody knew about Herschelle's part, and it was just a weird,
yeah thing, you know, for someone who's like average Joe regular,
(28:42):
you know, like like.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
This whole I thought a lot of credit to you, though,
because you and Deanna created a really nice friendship too.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
After the show. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I went to her wedding,
you know.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I I know that it's it's a challenging time for
her right now from from what I've heard, but I
will always support her, always love her. She's always been
crazy con Even when she found out some of the
backstory of this, she reached out and she couldn't have
been more supportive, and like, hey, I value who you
are as a person. You've continued to be a steadfast,
(29:14):
you know, constant in my life, you know, and I
appreciate that. And I think some people go on the
show and it's okay with motives to continue certain roads
and paths, And for me, I've always just tried to
make sure that whatever I do, whether it's being filmed
or not filmed, that I'm the same person, and I
stay true to who I am as a person and
never kind of used that. Like when I left the show,
(29:36):
I didn't. I know, I did some spinoff years later,
but I didn't blog about it. I didn't, you know,
I didn't ever try to use the franchise for anything
other than it was a wonderful opportunity experience to meet
like really cool people.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Yeah yeah, okay, So wait, you mentioned that you had
to lie for years? What were what what were you
lying about? Just I got a little confused there.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
We set up that she sent me home.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Oh okay, so the produce I wanted to.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
Make sure I protected her. I was like, hey, look,
I'm going home whether you you know, no matter what happens,
I'm not coming back tomorrow. So tonight at the Rose ceremony,
you know, let her know, because it was it was
presented to me that she that they really wanted her
to get a proposal. You know, she had been through
a lot with the season before and I can't remember
(30:35):
her handler's name, and I was say, well, I'm not
going to propose, and I've talked to my parents about it,
and I don't want to get in the way of something.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
That is really important to her.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
So just let her know I won't be coming back,
and if she wants me to excuse myself, I will,
But if she wants to send me, so maybe it's
a little bit easier on her, you know, just let
her know, just don't pick me, and I'll go home
quietly and I won't I won't talk about it, which
and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
For years, which I think is cool too, because I
often thought, you know, we've we've seen it when they
do the season and they'll be like, you know, the
line up for the rose ceremony up before you get started,
I'm out of here, you know, and it's such a
grand stand moment.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
And I always the fact that you.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Didn't, you didn't, you made it the complete opposite of
a grand stand bowed out gracefully, and I think that's
that's a very gentlemanly way to handle that.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
And I think that that was says a lot about
your character too, you know, which I love. I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
I mean, I have a small ego. Hopefully I keep
it in check. But like so for years I was like, yeah, yeah,
and then people you know, you know, for years to
come out you got dope, don't television.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
You're like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
I did.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
I did by myself.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did it.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
That was And then like honestly, I'm talking a bomb
about this. Uh.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
ABC found out like the whole backstory because Chrishelle and
I uh picked it back up when I got home
a couple of months later, and you know, communicated and
and again, I was living in New York in the
in the soap world. We had mutual friends, so we
would run into each other a lot, and we started
kind of hanging out and communicating. And ABC flew to
(32:09):
New York to our apartment we had moved in together
six months seven months later, and filmed a special with
us about it. Yeah, and I've never seen it. I'm like,
never seen a last day of that. Yeah, like what
happened to that?
Speaker 1 (32:22):
It was a special just about you and Chrischelle or
was going to it was going to be.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Part of Oh I don't know that you would have
to talk to now, but they're like they spent a
whole day filming with us, and like the streets in
New York and our story, interviewing her, interviewing interviewing us
to get you know what I bet it was.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Remember that.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
It was like it was like a follow up they
would do like a follow.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Us one twenty twenty special or the six evenus. I
can't remember. I think it was a twenty twenty special
they did a few years later.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
And I'll bet you that's it was going to be
part of that somehow, some way, I'll bet you because
I remember that, and I remember that that segment, and
that was definitely ABC. That wasn't the Bachelor producers that
were doing it. It was ABC, not you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
So I bet you that's what it was. No, I was,
it was Elon Gale, so he worked.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Okay to say they actually did on the show.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
They would do like just catch up, you know, catch
up with people.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I remember that. But anyway, they also were like, yo,
that's wild, Like how in the world did that happen? So, yeah,
it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I would love to know all the things that have
ended up on cutting room floors that like that. So
none of us even know about, Like we had no
idea that you and Krishelle were living together and you
know they were doing It's so crazy how much lage
is on the cutting room floor. Okay, so you're still single.
(33:45):
I assume, would you ever go on the show again?
You've been on Bachelor in Paradise once, would you do
it again?
Speaker 5 (33:52):
What's the what's the paycheck? Looked like I would hope.
I'm in Bob's world now I'm in the hosting world.
Come on, buddy, you got a gig now if they
let me be the main person like you two, like
you got you know, I never got to choose. I
never got hey, I've never gotten to choose.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Like I'm recommending it, I'm gonna I'm gonna create a
ground swell for this and make sure we get you
back on that show.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
I think that would be awesome.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
Hey, at this point, at this point, I'm not against it.
I'll be honest with you. I just got out of
a relationship that was long distance, which I was bragging
to Bob. I wanted I wanted to uh stoping in Michigan.
She she lived in Canada and that was challenging. So
like I've I've definitely nothing like the two relationships that that.
(34:45):
I mean, I have a hard time letting people in
once I do, like, it's it's full go. And Chrishelle
was the young love and the next young Lady Bob
also knows very very well.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
We have a.
Speaker 5 (34:58):
Wonderful relationship as far as uh supportive and kind, and
she'll be someone that would reach out and say, hey,
I saw you got a new job, and I'm just
so proud of you, like just Falter the earth amazing
human being.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
But that one also almost killed me.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
So hey, I don't know how it's gonna happen or
if it's gonna happen, but I'm not turning away any
any any help.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
So if you guys know some people, let your boy know.
I said with Canyon, it's either three strikes you're out
or third times a charm, you know. So it's uh,
thankfully we got we got it right on the third
time around. There you go. I think we're waiting for it, buddy,
it's coming right. It sounds good. If you guys think
there's a hope for me, then I'll believe you.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
There's always help for there's always that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
And there are other shows, you know, like I don't know,
Special Forces, like Got to Get Out.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
I think the Traders, which Chris was on.
Speaker 5 (35:53):
I've actually been approached by Traders, I have. Yeah, yeah,
they were very kind. It was like a month before
I got this job, so I don't know how that affect.
I mean, the people that do Traders also, they were
part of the executive team that launched the show that
I hosted that was on NBC. So some of that
(36:14):
team over at NBC Universal works on that show as well,
and they also in the meeting were made aware of
my relationship with Chrischelle and.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
They're like, wait a minute. I was like, I want
to do something that's not predicated on Chrschelle.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
She's obviously incredibly successful and in her own right, and
part of me also hopes that I can do some
things with my life in a way where she was.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Like, all right, well he's doing it. He's doing good.
He's doing good. Man. I think this new show is
so great. First of all, you know what a lot
of people might not know.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
I mean, you were you were so ingrained in the
country music community after obviously a big country one of five,
and then you went off into your show.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I mean with gosh, who was on that show with you?
Speaker 5 (37:00):
Had?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Uh the guy that I played the gig with that
I love. I can't I was gonna say Conway Twitty,
but I know that's not his name, Travis Tripp. Travis Tripp,
thank you. And I met him at the Derby a
few times and we would sit there and.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
Talk about you, and he just loves you, absolutely loves you,
you know, and then you you obviously for all these years,
I mean, you've been getting really close with a lot
of the community doing your Amazon show and everything else.
So I mean, you've been doing so much, and it's like,
this is great that first of all, you get to
go back home, which I love because I know you
love North Carolina and you get to you get to
(37:32):
be I think it seems like you and your co
host have a great chemistry with one another.
Speaker 5 (37:37):
And yeah, she's awesome. She's an incredible human and so
much fun and one of the hardest workers I know.
I think we could build something pretty special. There's things
floating around about what could happen with the show. So
I'm I'm very blessed and very lucky. And yeah, I mean,
outside of outside of my love life, I'm crushing it.
(37:59):
You boys was fire.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
Yeah, maybe we need to bring Trista in on this sooner,
you because Trista is very connected.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Yeah, you know, a lot of ladies love trista man.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
They her about their woes and their whimsical thoughts, and
now she's got a guy to plug into this stuff.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Oh yeah, they do, they do, they do. And then
on the show, I've heard it, I've heard. Well.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
I'm so proud of you, man. I love I love
seeing you so, I love seeing you happy, I love
seeing you so busy. I love seeing you back. I'm
sure I happen to know that Karen Bunn is very happy.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I am sure was very happy. She watches everything and
she loves Bob.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
So, Mom, I'm just so happy that you get to
be home because I know, I know what it meant
to me to move back home to Michigan and be
closer to my mom and dad and and and be
there for you know.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Some stuff and.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
Not have to regret have regret, you know, And so
that as our as our families get older, it's nice
to kind of be a little more of a proximity.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
And I think knowing you the way I do, and
knowing where your heart is, I knew that that was
when I saw that. I'm like, oh man, this is
this is the way it should be, you know, and
it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (39:21):
So I'm so happy for you, and I'm happy that
you're my O G guy on the show and that
we can talk about all this great stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Man, Yeah, I appreciate it. I mean it was a
long ago. I was painting your buddy's fence in his
backyard for three hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
Oh my gosh, man, I'll never forget that as long
as I live. Oh, Graham does a nice so with
great like he said, if he if he's in, he's
all in. And he did such an amazing job on
this buddy, a mutual friend of ours, fence and he
was doing it, as you know, out of kindness.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
But the guy said, I'm going to hire this job
out unless you want to do it. Graham's like, I'll
do it. Graham sands it down.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Graham buys all these tools, all this special stuff, does
an amazing job.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I mean, this is a big ass fence. This fence
was this yard had a giant pull in the back.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
I mean it was seven it was seventy yards because
it wrapped around it was seventy yards.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
I hand sanded it. I sanded it with my hands.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
And you only got paid three hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
And I spent four hundred on the on the supplies.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
No, no, that is bad business. Grandbund.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
You can tell me what he's gonna pay me. He
was like, he was like, i'll pay you, and I
was like, okay. So I went out and bought the supplies.
And the funny thing was, so here's the kicker, and
then I'll stop talking and you.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Guys can hang up on me.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
We Bob and I have a friend that runs a
construction company and this guy hauls him and goes, hey, man,
I got this fence out back, and I'm gonna have
one of my buddies do it. I don't really know
what to pay him. What would you pay one of
your guys? And our buddy looks at him and says,
because he tells us this story later, he goes, yeah,
(41:03):
I told him I paid about six hundred and fifty
seven hundred dollars, but I you know, I wouldn't even
make him send it. And then goes, what do you
pay you? I said, I sanded it, and he paid
me three hundred four hundred less than he was told
to without sanding it.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yeah, I didn't pay for the supplies or anything.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
No, I lost some money on the gig those guys
when I'm partying in l A. I stayed home thinking
like I'm supposed to be working, like I shouldn't be partying.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
I'm standing in this fence and I ended up it
was it was one hundred dollars lesson that, Like, you
know what, I gotta get a I gotta get a
radio job. Oh my god, this is it's funny because
it's so true. So what do you pay you? So
what do you pay? You pay you a thousand? I
maybe three hundred bucks. Yeah, grahams just like.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
But you know, Graham's the type of guy too. Though
he didn't even he didn't like count it all for him.
He handed it to him like he man, thank you
so much for your hard work. And Graham, yeah, Graham.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Puts it in his pocket. You know it looks at
it later. Yea God of telling me, well.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
We're very happy for this next phase for you and
the new show and being with your family.
Speaker 4 (42:19):
The new show is Graham Bycessarily in the Mornings, ninety
six point ninety the Cat.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
It's on iHeart Country.
Speaker 4 (42:25):
Obviously, it's already a huge hit and it's just going
to be exploding into your ears much.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
I can't wait, I mean with all the people, you know.
I mean, man, you've become.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
Such good friends with so many of the country stars
over the years, and you know, I do want to
end with this really quickly. So Graham Canyon and I
had moved to Seattle and it was our wedding anniversary weekend,
and she surprised me unannounced with a trip and we
fly into la and she's got a car rented and
(42:55):
I get in the car and she drives me and
we go to Laguna Beach to this beautiful hotel and
I'm like, oh my god, this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
You know, I didn't she surprised me with all of it.
Speaker 4 (43:05):
And I hear when I feel like, sounds like live
music out there somewhere, and I look down over the
edge of this hotel and I look on the beach
and there's this huge country well I didn't.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
Know this country at the time. There's a huge concert
going on. I'm like, oh my god, this is amazing.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
So I text Graham and I'm like, you know, hey, man,
what you up too. He's like, oh, you know, I'm
working or whatever. So I get down and he doesn't
tell me where he's working. So I get down to
this concert. We decided to go inside the concert and
I see I see with you know, Mornings with Graham,
his radio show at the time, all over this place.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I'm like, what is going on?
Speaker 4 (43:40):
And so I'm texting him like hey, look at this,
and he's like, where are you. I'm like, I'm outside, man,
I'm at this show. He's like, I'm backstage. So he
comes out, he gets me go backstage. It was it
was one of those moments. It was like so serendipitous, right,
like you don't even plan it. I didn't even know
I was going to California. I end up running with
best buddies there hosting the whole thing, and I'm just like,
(44:03):
oh my god.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
You know, it's like just and you were so kind
to us, buddy, and it was such a great trip.
And Canyon loves you so much.
Speaker 4 (44:09):
And like I said, we give we give Graham all
the credit for for us being where we are today
and and and it was one of those things that
was like to get to spend time with them unexpectedly
and and to see you there.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
But that's that's the kind of the warmth and and
the kind.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Of love that you radiate everywhere you go, and I'm
sure the folks in North Carolina, you know who, who
maybe didn't know you when you were there before and
know you now are going to just fall in love
with you, brother. And I'm excited for the show and
excited to see all the successes come in your way.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
I appreciate it. And if things don't work out with Canyon,
holler at me. Yeah, welcome down my hands.
Speaker 5 (44:48):
I haven't had someone say such nice things in a
long time, man, at least sweet nothings.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Brother, I'm not even whispered. I'm yelling them my microphone.
I'm just thank you for, you know, just putting up
with us. I appreciate it. I love you, brother, we love.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
Having you on, We love having you, and we're so
excited for your new show and all the good things
that are going to be coming up in your future.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, HARVESD season, you guys, throw some prayers out there.
Nice young lady, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
There you go, lady, I'm manifesting. I'm manifesting. Yeah, put
it on your vision boards.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Let's get this. He handled vision board.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
No, it's all up here. I forget everything up here.
Speaker 2 (45:30):
So yeah, I'll put it right now. Awesome. Well, thank
you for having me, guys. I appreciate it. Hopefully it
wasn't too boring.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
It was great, man, stop it a thanks for coming.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
We'll lockhorns on that game and we'll get the lines
and Commanders tipping off.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
We'll get it done. I'll give us last time in
real world. Look, get you next time. I did not
text you. I did not text you after that. No,
you do not thank you.
Speaker 4 (45:56):
I literally sat there like I think I told you
the story when I texted you the next day.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
But my son, so Graham, obviously, he has always.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
Been a big you know, he was a big Redskins
Commanders fan, and he knows of my love for the Lions.
And this year in the playoffs, the Lions beat I'm sorry,
the Commanders beat the Lions, and uh and the next
and I was I may have shed a couple of
tears that night. And I didn't get any text. I
didn't get anybody, you know. The next day, I have
to go to my six year old son's flag football game.
(46:23):
He plays for the Washington Commanders, that was his team name,
and he ends up running a touchdown all the way
to length of field, and I text Graham I'm like,
this is the second time I've cried over the commanders
in two days.
Speaker 2 (46:36):
I was finally ready to talk about it. It's great,
it's great. Cut I love you, buddy, take care of me.
Thanks for joining GM. Graham bun Man, Salt of the Earth.
That's my guy, right there is any something?
Speaker 1 (46:52):
He is one of the good ones. Yeah, yeah, he is.
And it's always so shocking to me that he is
still single.
Speaker 3 (46:59):
You know, like obviously he's had some serious relationships but
that didn't work out. But ladies, if you are in
North Carolina, you better go DM this guy because he.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
Is one of the good ones.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
He really is. Man, he absolutely is, and I will
tell you.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
I mean I live with him. We lived together for
a couple of years. And very courteous, very kind, very respectful,
you know. I mean, his parents raise him right. They
are wonderful people. And it's just you know, you see
somebody like that and you're like, man, okay, sooner or
later they're going to find that right person, you know,
and I know he will. He'll be a great dad
(47:38):
if he ever decides to do that. I mean, he's
I mean, you just see him with people's kids. He's
like such a sweet and kind person. He's a man
of faith. I mean, he's just a lot of good
stuff with that guy. So I wish him the very
best in the Mornings with Sarah or with Graham B
and Sarah Lee. I can't wait to have people. I
have a feeling that show is going to be a
(47:59):
lot bigger than and just North Carolina soon.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Yeah, that's my hope anyway, that's my hope for him.
Speaker 1 (48:05):
Yeah, yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
Yes, so much fun.
Speaker 1 (48:08):
I love it all right, Who are we going to
have on next? People? You guys have many ideas.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
Just dm us and let us know if you want
to have anyone in particular on the show, and we'd
be happy to accommodate and get to chat with you again.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
I would love it as always, great talking to you, Trista,
great talking with everybody out there in the OG community.
Speaker 2 (48:27):
We love you guys, Thanks for listening, and I'm sure
we'll be back soon.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
He's out.
This is the Almost Famous podcast with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Hi, Bob Trista, Hi, you look at dar. I thought
you said you were feeling sick. You look lovely.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
I've been sick the past two days and I'm so
sorry I was running late you guys to start this.
I love it when when I get a text and
I'm like, wait, why are they Why are they texting
about Almost Famous? Oh, it's because you're supposed to be
actually recording right now.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I was like, I came running in my house. I
come around the corner, I go straight upstairs. Canyon and
Blaker downstairs are like high.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
I'm like, Hi, gotta go, gotta go run upstairs, get
myself all situated. I think I'm gonna be the late one.
And then all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, she's
not here. Thank god, you actually gave me. You gave
me a breath of relaxation in a hasty and very
busy day.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You're so welcome. You're so welcome, Bob.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
I can actually hear a little scratchiness in your voice.
I like it.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, yeah, I always always wanted to be to me
more with like the sexy scratchy voice you know when
I was whenever I'm sick, I'm like, yes, lose your voice, your.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Voice, this is what we want, we want this. Well,
I'm glad.
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I'm glad to be back with all of our almost
famous the Og friends. And it is great to see
your beautiful face. And I'm loving it that today is
going to be such a fun day because we got
one of my best buddies on and I love this guy,
and we have quite a history ourselves, you know, and
so I'll be happy to talk about that. Of course,
(01:35):
we have on the show today our dear friend Graham Bunn,
who much beloved member of the Og family from back
in the day. He was on Deanna Poppus's season, and
I believe, I mean he was. He was right down
there to the end, I'm pretty sure on that season.
And you know, he's got quite an interesting story himself.
(01:58):
Our our story of how he and I met is
really really funny. And we kept each other in the divorces.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
How's that going, I'll tease it that way.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
So Graham and I we became buddies and kept each
other in the in the splits. But yeah, he was
from Deanna season. He was on Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise.
I mean, this guy has been around, He's been around
the block in the Bachelor of Family.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
So were you a fan of Grahams.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I was a huge fan and still am. I just
I love him, Adoram. He's always been so supportive and
so kind. He just is so kind, and yeah, I
was a huge fan when he was on the show.
Just found out something that we're going to get into today.
I won't spoil it, but I had no idea of
(02:46):
this piece of information. So I'm very excited to talk
to him about the show. I actually was a judge
on Bachelor Pad when he was on, so that was fun.
So I've seen him a couple times. And you know,
we used to do those, like those reunions with Jesse Sinsak.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Do you know that. I feel like he probably came
on one of those.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
I didn't make any of those, but I wanted to go,
but I was just at this different place and didn't
make those.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
But yeah, those were fun.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I mean I used to love all the readings, So
I did some of the earlier ones before Jesse was
doing them, and I always enjoyed those. And then and
then as they kind of came along after. I think, yeah,
was there a cruise? Was when was a cruise?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Wasn't it or something?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I didn't go on the cruise, but yeah, I think
there was a cruise. We did have something up in Colorado.
I feel like it was in Breckenridge or something. I
don't know, but I feel like he was probably at
at one of those. Anyway, We've stayed in touch too,
but I know you guys have a long history, and
I'm just excited to chat with you today and to
(03:53):
bring Graham on the show.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
So let's welcome in Graham.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Bun, there's my guyon everybody, My man.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
What's up, buddy? What's going on?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
How does this guy get better looking with age every
time I see him? Finest of the fine ripples, the
fine ripples, Now, I will tell you, Trista. We had
to meet some pretty shrewd demands to get Graham on
this show. His people called our people, and my goodness,
(04:27):
I had to acquiesce to something that I wasn't happy about,
but it was the only way to get my guy
on the show. Graham and I have a very very
complex relationship. We love each other like brothers, best of friends.
I'd take a bullet for this guy. But what I
will not do is allow this man to cheat at
(04:50):
the game of Madden NFL Football. And I am I'm
a staunch defender of my reasoning here. My rationale is
a talented player. Okay, he's a talented, talented man when
it comes to the video game sports. But I was
one of the few people that I know of that
(05:12):
could beat Graham Bun occasionally, not often, until I found
out his trick. He was using a playbook that was
the same playbook no matter where he was, no matter
when he was playing. He'd pull up this playbook and
the dude knew every play and there were a couple
unstoppable plays in there, and he would just whoop it
every single time I let him have that playbook. So
(05:32):
I had to agree that the next time he and
I are together, that we're gonna sit down, we're gonna
play Madden again, and I'm gonna let him use his
go to playbook.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
So there it is behind you, the lies and the
commands up by the screen. He's ready, he's already practicing
for this game.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
Oh brother, Oh my goodness, and he's got the beer
for you.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
With the demands I went and bought this. Today, you
owe me twenty four dollars in eighty eight cents. I
saved the receipt The deal was a case of beer,
and I can use whatever playbook I want when we play.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
That was the right, that's right. I'm here, so I'm
going to collect. I am gonna Venmo.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
You are the money on this, and I appreciate that
you kept on the receipts.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
I should.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
I wish I would have kept the receipts when that won.
I'll never forget this. One game we were playing and
it was a it was a dog fight. It was
a dog fight, and man, at the very last play,
I just somehow, I think I think I had an
interception and I scampered into the end zone.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Bob has giving me a lot of credit.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
Bob, Bob beat me a bunch of times, but he
would never let me use He would never let me
use my playbook.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
And that that really I hated that.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It's so good to see my brother grahamn my brother
from another mother.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Man, the list must be getting short, you guys pulling
me in on this thing.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Come on now, no, sir, the ogs only.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
This is the second time I've done the Ogs, but
I got I got the Cousins from uh Dukes of Hazzard.
You know when the Dukes of Hazards went to the
Cousins and it didn't work. You know, I got the Cousins.
The last time I did this show, I'm like, yeah,
what's going on man?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
The Cousins episode. That's right, I got the Cousins episode.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
He did the actual, the actual, the starting grounds, he
did the actual almost famous Yea, the almost famous Ogs comes.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Along and we just we started.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
We start shining up some pennies, setting up all the
diamonds and the rough and we bring them out. What
a lot of people might not know about my buddy
Graham is that when I was still living in la
and Graham and I actually met because of our respective exes.
Speaker 5 (07:44):
We did Bob's if this is if this is a
podcast about heartbreak, Bob has lived through the two like
just heart wrench gut wrenching. I don't know if I'm
going to recover heartbreaks that in my lifetime. So I'm
hoping third times a charm. If that happens for me,
it will. It was for me, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Sometimes, you know, we got to take our gotta take
a lick and to keep on tickings sometimes, you know.
But but Graham and I were on a I actually
was kind of helped organize this cruise for the daytime
soap opera community, and we called it Rock the Soaps,
and and.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
We were out there, rocked the boat. We rocked the Soaps. Yeah,
and we did it.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
And Graham was there with his girlfriend at the time,
who was a star and all my children, and I
was there with my now ex wife who was a
star of all my children. And Graham and I thankfully
found each other on this boat. And at the end
of that trip, you know, we everyone that sailed off
in their own directions, and Graham and I we we
(08:42):
we flew into the same place. We're like, all right, this,
this is the best relationship I can find on that
damn boat.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Let's go, buddy.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
And this was us, and Graham and I lived together.
We we spent several years together out there in LA
and I was lucky to have them and as my
as my sounding board and my and my my buddy.
I did make demands on him at that time, so
I think it was only fair that he demanded I'd
be like Graham tonight we are going to this party
and then.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
We're going to eat Mexican food at this place. Yeah.
I was like, okay, yeah, He's like, all right, let's go. Sure.
It was Graham was there when I met Canyon.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
In fact, we often say that if it weren't for
Graham Bun, there would be no Bob and Canyon, because
Graham was so sweet to Canyon when I was trying
to figure out if I even wanted to be in
a relationship, and he was like, you know, the only
reason he he would say, hey, why.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Don't you grab your girlfriend and we'll go do this.
And I'd be like, I'll have a girlfriend. He's like, oh,
oh that's right, that's right.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
Why don't you grab the only girl that you ever
spend time with that you really enjoy hanging out with
Canyon and bring her to this thing.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And I'd be like, damn it, he's right again. Yeah,
So Graham was the brains of the operation for sure.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Yeah, it was, Yeah, it was. It was a great time.
Bob's definitely been a part of a lot of milestones
in my life. So this is the least I could
do again. I mean, hopefully I have some answers for
any kind of Cloe. I don't know what you guys
could ask me that people would be interested in.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Oh, we've got lots of lots of questions, lots of questions.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Yeah, what about I want to hear about the new
show before we get into anything, though. This is I
want to hear about this because this kind of came.
This was a surprise even to me when I when
I saw it on Instagram. I mean, You've been obviously
in the country music community for a long time, but
it was one of those moments where I was like,
wait a minute, back back to NC, hold on, back
(10:29):
to MC. I was so fired up, man, can you
tell us a little about it.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
I'm back to living like I did with Bob.
Speaker 5 (10:34):
This is where I sleep, It is my sister's couts,
this is my sister's house. Luckily, my brother in law
treats me like I'm his brother and has accepted me.
And yeah, I heart offered me a job in Charlotte,
North Carolina to be the new morning show host, and
so I have accepted that opportunity. And there's some some
interesting things going on already that it had started off
(10:57):
really well. So it's been I'm.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Very blessed very luck.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Bob was a part of my I was landscaping when
I got the call to do country music in LA
I was living on bob scouch and he bought me
my first pair of headphones.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
So that's right.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
So Bob has done a multitude of things for me
in my life, one of which I don't even know
if he knows this the first breakup that I went
through that almost killed me and ended up how I
got on The Bachelor at I went to Bob's house
the next day and he paid five hundred dollars out
of his own pocket, never asked me for a dollar
of it back, to pay for me to go to
(11:34):
Marquy Costello's hosting class because he thought that I would
make a good host. He paid for that out of
his pocket and never once asked me for one die.
I didn't have a dime to my name, got me
into the class, paid for it himself, and this was
before we were friends, so he knew. He knew what
I was going through. He was familiar with my ex
girlfriend because she was a co star of his. I
(11:55):
think they were still together at the time, and I
don't know, you know, he said, hey, look I think
you would be great at this. I've already paid for it.
It's not a question. I want you to go do it.
And it was like the day after I was going
through a breakup. So it was a great distraction. And
so Bob has has definitely had a heavy hand at
whatever small amount of success that I've had in the
(12:17):
hosting world. Obviously we all know Bob's a very talented host.
So I'm gratefully appreciative of that support.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I love you, brother. Well still still owed me for
the beer bro the beer Imo today for sure.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
But yeah, I actually I actually took that Mrquy Costello
class too.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Yeah, I remember you take that She's I'm sure you
guys crushed it. Me.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I was in there a shell, just like, oh man,
she's not.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
She's tough.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
She's she's tough for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
This story what oh no, I said? She do you know?
She was related?
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Like the reason why she is who she is was
her great great grandfather or whatever was Costello of Abbot
and Costello.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I knew that at some point, but it has lost
my brain.
Speaker 5 (13:09):
Like family also, Trista, before before you ever met me,
you were very very kind, and my family.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Has always loved you. You were very kind to me
on my first season.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
I don't know if you remember, you said some very
nice things about me. You had never met me, and
hopefully over the years those things have proven to be true,
and I would like to think they are. But you
were fresh out of the gate. You were very complimentary
and very supportive of my time on the first show.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
But I love that your family too.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
I love that's actually something so sweet about this whole
like Bachelor Nation thing is just meeting people's families, like
Caitlin Bristow just posted her sister's birthdays today and I
wish your happy birthday, like I've met her a couple
of times.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Like It's just, you know, such.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
A small world and just love everyone's family. So tell
him hip.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So you mentioned.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Kind of the reason that you went on the Bachelorette.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I've never heard the story.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
I just heard about this story, and we want to
confirm that what I heard is the truth. Yes, of course,
not the one who shared his couch. No, I'm sure
he knows this story, but we would love the rest
of us to hear the whole story. You can mention names,
by the way, but yes, we we hear.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
That is it long enough that everything is public knowledge?
Now is everything? Because for a.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Long time it is.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
For a long time, I was asked to keep this
under wraps.
Speaker 5 (14:56):
And again my side of this story is, you know,
most people were going to be like, there's no way
it's out that's too outland, there's no way that happened
for real.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
So okay, what did you hear? And I'll confirm it.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
I'll give you all the details so people don't think, oh, well,
this guy's just offering up whatever his weird version is.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, yeah, right.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Okay, So the girl that you mentioned maybe having your
heart broken by Krystles, Yes, Krishelle from selling Sunset and
Dancing with the Stars and all the other things. And
the rumor is that she was going to be the Bachelorette.
So you guys had broken up and you actually actually
(15:35):
signed up for the Bachelorette because you heard that she
was going to be on the Okay, that's not correct. Okay,
so then tell us what is the true story between you,
Krischelle and the Bachelorette.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Okay, Well, first of all, if Chrischelle ever sees this one,
you're the best And I am so happy for she's
happily married, and yes, Bob knows this as well as
anybody you know. Incredibly hard worker and when I say
a self made human being. We don't have the greatest
relationship right now and maybe one day, maybe never, but
(16:09):
I'm only proud of that in that sometimes when you
love really hard, the breakup's really hard. And so I
think we I don't think she would mind me saying
that we were young love and Bob got a chance
to spend time with us, and our relationship fully existed
outside the parameters of real life. Like we didn't think
(16:29):
about future, we didn't think about money, we didn't think
about All we thought about was, man, I can't wait
for my day to be over so I can get.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Back to spend time with this person.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Like I was addicted to her, and I think in
some spaces of her life she would. I don't know
if she could. She's married, but in this space of
her life before she was married, I think she was
also falling in that space where I just need this human.
I need time with this human every day. And so
when the breakup happened, it was very messy, and I
(17:01):
still have.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Struggles with it because I've never loved someone in that way.
Speaker 5 (17:05):
I've only loved one other person, and I loved that
person completely different than the way I loved Rachelle. So
we were dating, and Krishelle had gone through something very hard.
She had gone through a broken engagement and those things
I can imagine, you know, that relationship probably took its
toll on her. So she didn't want anything serious. So
(17:25):
when we started dating, it was like in group settings.
She was actually set up to be with one of
my friends. Ended up taking a liking to me, and
we just started spending time together. And so on December seventh,
this is not going to paint a pretty picture of me,
but I'm going to give you the.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Accurate account of what happened.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
It was my birthday, and Bob knows my best friend
from home how and his nickname is Hurricane How and
when alcohol gets involved, like just anything, it was crazy
New York City. So we went out and they took me.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Out for my birthday. And I'm not a big drinker,
you know.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Bob and I would have the occasional cocktail and play
Madden at home home or something, but I played sports
and just alcohol was not really a big thing.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Of my life.
Speaker 5 (18:17):
I did abuse alcohol after the breakup of Croschelle because
I didn't know how to deal with how hard I
was taking it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
That was really challenging for me.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
But I got into a bar fight that night and
somebody was like aggressive with Koshelle did not know we
were together. I saw it from across the room. I
took extreme exception to it, and I'm not proud of it.
Anybody watching this, please, I don't condone violence. I mishandled it.
(18:45):
I was at a position where it was not the
right thing to do. But anyone that puts their hands
on someone that I'm with, I've never been afraid to
address that, and so it was bad.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
They drug me out of there.
Speaker 5 (19:02):
I've also been drug out of it after party for
smacking somebody at Bachelor that.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
You can look that up on CMZ. So I Bob
Bob loves that one.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
We're going to tell that story after it.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They touched me first. That's why I didn't get in trouble.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
They touched me first, and I did tell them what
was going to happen if they put their hands on me,
and we fulfilled that agreement. So so anyway, long story short,
Chrishelle's like, hey, listen, I can't be with someone that
reacts that way. And I was like, you're You're totally correct,
like you know what, you know, it's heartbreaking, but I
(19:41):
totally understand. So we had a very mature conversation on
like December eleventh. It was like four days she didn't
talk to me after my birthday and then we talked. Well,
a little bit of time goes by and she kept
like checking in, Hey, just you know, want to see
how you're doing. And you know, I had it bad
for her, and so I was like, I'm doing I'm
(20:02):
doing good. You know, is the agreement off? Like are
we still hanging? And she told me she came to
me and said, hey, listen, I can't. I don't want
you to hear I was I misrepresented why I wanted
to break up or I wanted to stop spending time.
I said, Okay, what's going on? She said that I
(20:22):
have the opportunity to be the bachelorette because the Bachelor
had approached her. The franchise had approached her after hearing
you know, she was on an ABC show. He had
been through a broken engagement and they wanted to pursue
her to be the bachelorette, and she felt at the
time that it was the best opportunity for her, and
(20:46):
she was like, you know, I care about you, and
I don't want you to beat yourself up about what
happened on your birthday because you know that wasn't cool.
But I wouldn't you know, that wouldn't change the way
I feel about you, because you were trying to stick
up for me and I appreciated it, and I was.
I was hurt and heartbroken, but for myself, not for her.
Like we had a great talk. I wished her well
(21:07):
and I think I handled it as well as you could.
And then I went on to live and live my
life like I you know, was struggling, but you know,
I was in my late twenties and living in New
York City and I was I was a bartender in
Times Square, so I was meeting a lot of people.
I lived with my best friend from college, like I
had a great support system around me to like, all right,
(21:28):
well we're going to get through.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
This, like it's okay.
Speaker 5 (21:31):
And so fast forward to like into January, something happened
and they gave the show to Deanna, so Chrishelle reached
back out to me and said, you know, some things
are changing. I don't know if I'm going to la anymore,
and you know, if you're up for it, I'd love
(21:53):
to continue to spend time. And I was hesitant because,
like I, it was really hard on me the first time,
like stepping away, and so we did.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Then my grandfather passed.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Away unfortunately, and he died on February tenth, and I
flew home, and to Chrischelle's credit, this was my dad's
like my hero, and so it was the first time
I ever had to see my father in a compromise
position where he needed a little bit of support. My
dad usually handles everything. He's a dressed, lose winding marine
(22:29):
and like just the toughest dude I know. And so
I leaned on Forrschelle. I kind of did some adult
things when it comes to the funeral and the services
and the presentation of my grandfather and took some things
off my dad's plate. But the person that I leaned
on was Forschelle And so when I came back, I
flew back to surprise her on Valentine's Day because the
(22:53):
funeral was on the thirteenth, So I didn't tell her
I was going to come back and surprise her. Well,
she had plans, and that was that was really hard
on me because I had in my mind, I was
thinking we were somewhere else, and that's on me. She
never promised me anything. She was being a supportive person
in my life. But when you have plans on Valentine's Day,
(23:14):
you know, as a guy who just lost his grandfather,
who was the closest person to me that I'd ever lost,
I went right to the bar that I worked at
with my best friend from college and indulged myself. And
so I think by midnight, now it's Valentine's Day. By midnight,
I had no shirt on one. I'm super poor. So
(23:35):
I was shredded out of my mind. Like if anybody
remembers what I look like on that season, it wasn't
because I was a workout feed. It was like I
had no money and I was living on like salads
and like sandwich Deli sandwich me.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
You know, I was a poor kid right out of college.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
So someone came up to me and was like, Hey,
if you can pass a blood test.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
I put you on TV next week. I'm like what
And I thought it was a joke, Like I was like,
no way.
Speaker 5 (24:05):
And they told me what the show was, and I
first I was like, no way, that can't be real,
like someone setting me up, someone that I've told at
the bar, like all the girl that I.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
Wanted, she's going off to do this show.
Speaker 5 (24:17):
So because I couldn't believe that that would actually happen,
Like what are the odds of that? You know, I
didn't apply. I didn't I didn't look for it. Someone
just came up to me in the bar that I
worked at and was like, this guy looks like a
complete he'd be great.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
You know this guy.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
This guy's walking around holding a bottle of Maker's Mark,
just talking to every girl in here with no shirt on.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Like we got to get him on the show. This
dude was built for this show.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
Like we we are getting green lit for a decade
with this guy, Like here's the originator of the spin
off walking around the bar right now. So they called back,
and honestly it was my parents they reached out to me,
and I think maybe my friend from home that was
living with me. It kind of shared, Hey, I don't
(25:11):
know if Graham is handling everything.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
So well, and so.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
They encouraged me to go. They're like, hey, listen, this
get you out of your bubble. Like you get away
from New York, maybe you meet a nice girl.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
Now.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
Granted they showed me that night, they showed me a
picture of Deanna, so I knew it wasn't Krishelle. They
had a little headshot of her, and they're like, hey,
if you think this girl's attractive and you'd like to
meet her, we'll put you on TV in a week.
I mean I showed up with like a like a
carry on in a book bag, like I didn't have anything.
But yeah, so Chrishelle originally was supposed to do the show,
(25:47):
and then I ended up on it, and it probably
wasn't fair to Deanna because I was a mess I had,
you know, I was still heartbroken and I felt like
our relationship ended for reasons that weren't that wasn't me,
you know. And then my one of my best friends dies,
is someone I had never dealt with that, and now
(26:09):
I find myself drinking and I've never done that before.
So it just it was it was a wild like
I couldn't I couldn't understand what was happening, and like
the first week I was there. I don't know if
anybody knows this. I don't think I've ever told Bob
of this. One of the pas on set for the
show walks up to me and goes, hey, I know
who you are. I'm like, great, I've been here a week.
(26:32):
You're not very good at your job.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
There's only ten of us.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I know, I'm not crazy memorable, but I'm still here.
Like fifteen of those dudes went whole night one. So
he was like, no, I guess he was a PA
on Dancing with the Stars when Cameron Matheson was on,
and he was like, so, Chrishelle, her his co star,
would come to the showings and talk about you all
(27:00):
the time. So that was on set and he was like, so,
what's the deal there? And I was like, there is
no deal. I don't I mean, I don't know, like
I don't know what you're talking about. So like and again,
I didn't know anything about TV shows. I didn't know
about anything. I was just there like am I a
fraud or am I doing the wrong thing? Or should
(27:23):
I leave? Like every day it was like should I leave?
You know, like am I hurting someone? So everyone looks
at that show, and like, man, you didn't talk much
or you didn't do much, And I was trying to
be as authentic of a person, Like I didn't want
to act for the show.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
I didn't want.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
To act for Deanna and act like I was madly
in love. I was trying to figure out myself. I
was trying to respect her as a person because I
love Deanna. I'm still close with Deanna. I wish the
best for her, and I think that she's she respects
me and that I never lied to her. I did
my best in the hand that I was dealt. I mean,
(27:59):
that was a while scenario to think of, because that
I hear all these crazy stories that people want to
get on this show so bad, and it's such a
wonderful opportunity, and like it was just surrounding my life.
You know, yeah, it was meant to I had to
lie for years. I was you know, I taught to
my parents after they met her, and you know, my
(28:19):
parents didn't want me to go to the fantasy suites
if I wasn't gonna pursue her or be in love
or ask her to marry me. So I asked to
leave the show, and then I had to pretend like
I got kicked off the show, and it was just
really confusing and then live for years about it, and
nobody knew about Herschelle's part, and it was just a weird,
yeah thing, you know, for someone who's like average Joe regular,
(28:42):
you know, like like.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
This whole I thought a lot of credit to you, though,
because you and Deanna created a really nice friendship too.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
After the show. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I went to her wedding,
you know.
Speaker 5 (28:53):
I I know that it's it's a challenging time for
her right now from from what I've heard, but I
will always support her, always love her. She's always been
crazy con Even when she found out some of the
backstory of this, she reached out and she couldn't have
been more supportive, and like, hey, I value who you
are as a person. You've continued to be a steadfast,
(29:14):
you know, constant in my life, you know, and I
appreciate that. And I think some people go on the
show and it's okay with motives to continue certain roads
and paths, And for me, I've always just tried to
make sure that whatever I do, whether it's being filmed
or not filmed, that I'm the same person, and I
stay true to who I am as a person and
never kind of used that. Like when I left the show,
(29:36):
I didn't. I know, I did some spinoff years later,
but I didn't blog about it. I didn't, you know,
I didn't ever try to use the franchise for anything
other than it was a wonderful opportunity experience to meet
like really cool people.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Yeah yeah, okay, So wait, you mentioned that you had
to lie for years? What were what what were you
lying about? Just I got a little confused there.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
We set up that she sent me home.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
Oh okay, so the produce I wanted to.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
Make sure I protected her. I was like, hey, look,
I'm going home whether you you know, no matter what happens,
I'm not coming back tomorrow. So tonight at the Rose ceremony,
you know, let her know, because it was it was
presented to me that she that they really wanted her
to get a proposal. You know, she had been through
a lot with the season before and I can't remember
(30:35):
her handler's name, and I was say, well, I'm not
going to propose, and I've talked to my parents about it,
and I don't want to get in the way of something.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
That is really important to her.
Speaker 5 (30:44):
So just let her know I won't be coming back,
and if she wants me to excuse myself, I will,
But if she wants to send me, so maybe it's
a little bit easier on her, you know, just let
her know, just don't pick me, and I'll go home
quietly and I won't I won't talk about it, which
and I didn't.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
For years, which I think is cool too, because I
often thought, you know, we've we've seen it when they
do the season and they'll be like, you know, the
line up for the rose ceremony up before you get started,
I'm out of here, you know, and it's such a
grand stand moment.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
And I always the fact that you.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
Didn't, you didn't, you made it the complete opposite of
a grand stand bowed out gracefully, and I think that's
that's a very gentlemanly way to handle that.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
And I think that that was says a lot about
your character too, you know, which I love. I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (31:27):
I mean, I have a small ego. Hopefully I keep
it in check. But like so for years I was like, yeah, yeah,
and then people you know, you know, for years to
come out you got dope, don't television.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
You're like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
I did.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
I did by myself.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did it.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
That was And then like honestly, I'm talking a bomb
about this. Uh.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
ABC found out like the whole backstory because Chrishelle and
I uh picked it back up when I got home
a couple of months later, and you know, communicated and
and again, I was living in New York in the
in the soap world. We had mutual friends, so we
would run into each other a lot, and we started
kind of hanging out and communicating. And ABC flew to
(32:09):
New York to our apartment we had moved in together
six months seven months later, and filmed a special with
us about it. Yeah, and I've never seen it. I'm like,
never seen a last day of that. Yeah, like what
happened to that?
Speaker 1 (32:22):
It was a special just about you and Chrischelle or
was going to it was going to be.
Speaker 5 (32:26):
Part of Oh I don't know that you would have
to talk to now, but they're like they spent a
whole day filming with us, and like the streets in
New York and our story, interviewing her, interviewing interviewing us
to get you know what I bet it was.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Remember that.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
It was like it was like a follow up they
would do like a follow.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
Us one twenty twenty special or the six evenus. I
can't remember. I think it was a twenty twenty special
they did a few years later.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
And I'll bet you that's it was going to be
part of that somehow, some way, I'll bet you because
I remember that, and I remember that that segment, and
that was definitely ABC. That wasn't the Bachelor producers that
were doing it. It was ABC, not you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
So I bet you that's what it was. No, I was,
it was Elon Gale, so he worked.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Okay to say they actually did on the show.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
They would do like just catch up, you know, catch
up with people.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I remember that. But anyway, they also were like, yo,
that's wild, Like how in the world did that happen? So, yeah,
it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
I would love to know all the things that have
ended up on cutting room floors that like that. So
none of us even know about, Like we had no
idea that you and Krishelle were living together and you
know they were doing It's so crazy how much lage
is on the cutting room floor. Okay, so you're still single.
(33:45):
I assume, would you ever go on the show again?
You've been on Bachelor in Paradise once, would you do
it again?
Speaker 5 (33:52):
What's the what's the paycheck? Looked like I would hope.
I'm in Bob's world now I'm in the hosting world.
Come on, buddy, you got a gig now if they
let me be the main person like you two, like
you got you know, I never got to choose. I
never got hey, I've never gotten to choose.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
Like I'm recommending it, I'm gonna I'm gonna create a
ground swell for this and make sure we get you
back on that show.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
I think that would be awesome.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
Hey, at this point, at this point, I'm not against it.
I'll be honest with you. I just got out of
a relationship that was long distance, which I was bragging
to Bob. I wanted I wanted to uh stoping in Michigan.
She she lived in Canada and that was challenging. So
like I've I've definitely nothing like the two relationships that that.
(34:45):
I mean, I have a hard time letting people in
once I do, like, it's it's full go. And Chrishelle
was the young love and the next young Lady Bob
also knows very very well.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
We have a.
Speaker 5 (34:58):
Wonderful relationship as far as uh supportive and kind, and
she'll be someone that would reach out and say, hey,
I saw you got a new job, and I'm just
so proud of you, like just Falter the earth amazing
human being.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
But that one also almost killed me.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
So hey, I don't know how it's gonna happen or
if it's gonna happen, but I'm not turning away any
any any help.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
So if you guys know some people, let your boy know.
I said with Canyon, it's either three strikes you're out
or third times a charm, you know. So it's uh,
thankfully we got we got it right on the third
time around. There you go. I think we're waiting for it, buddy,
it's coming right. It sounds good. If you guys think
there's a hope for me, then I'll believe you.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
There's always help for there's always that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
And there are other shows, you know, like I don't know,
Special Forces, like Got to Get Out.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
I think the Traders, which Chris was on.
Speaker 5 (35:53):
I've actually been approached by Traders, I have. Yeah, yeah,
they were very kind. It was like a month before
I got this job, so I don't know how that affect.
I mean, the people that do Traders also, they were
part of the executive team that launched the show that
I hosted that was on NBC. So some of that
(36:14):
team over at NBC Universal works on that show as well,
and they also in the meeting were made aware of
my relationship with Chrischelle and.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
They're like, wait a minute. I was like, I want
to do something that's not predicated on Chrschelle.
Speaker 5 (36:30):
She's obviously incredibly successful and in her own right, and
part of me also hopes that I can do some
things with my life in a way where she was.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
Like, all right, well he's doing it. He's doing good.
He's doing good. Man. I think this new show is
so great. First of all, you know what a lot
of people might not know.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
I mean, you were you were so ingrained in the
country music community after obviously a big country one of five,
and then you went off into your show.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I mean with gosh, who was on that show with you?
Speaker 5 (37:00):
Had?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Uh the guy that I played the gig with that
I love. I can't I was gonna say Conway Twitty,
but I know that's not his name, Travis Tripp. Travis Tripp,
thank you. And I met him at the Derby a
few times and we would sit there and.
Speaker 4 (37:10):
Talk about you, and he just loves you, absolutely loves you,
you know, and then you you obviously for all these years,
I mean, you've been getting really close with a lot
of the community doing your Amazon show and everything else.
So I mean, you've been doing so much, and it's like,
this is great that first of all, you get to
go back home, which I love because I know you
love North Carolina and you get to you get to
(37:32):
be I think it seems like you and your co
host have a great chemistry with one another.
Speaker 5 (37:37):
And yeah, she's awesome. She's an incredible human and so
much fun and one of the hardest workers I know.
I think we could build something pretty special. There's things
floating around about what could happen with the show. So
I'm I'm very blessed and very lucky. And yeah, I mean,
outside of outside of my love life, I'm crushing it.
(37:59):
You boys was fire.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
Yeah, maybe we need to bring Trista in on this sooner,
you because Trista is very connected.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Yeah, you know, a lot of ladies love trista man.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
They her about their woes and their whimsical thoughts, and
now she's got a guy to plug into this stuff.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
Oh yeah, they do, they do, they do. And then
on the show, I've heard it, I've heard. Well.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
I'm so proud of you, man. I love I love
seeing you so, I love seeing you happy, I love
seeing you so busy. I love seeing you back. I'm
sure I happen to know that Karen Bunn is very happy.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I am sure was very happy. She watches everything and
she loves Bob.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
So, Mom, I'm just so happy that you get to
be home because I know, I know what it meant
to me to move back home to Michigan and be
closer to my mom and dad and and and be
there for you know.
Speaker 2 (39:00):
Some stuff and.
Speaker 4 (39:03):
Not have to regret have regret, you know, And so
that as our as our families get older, it's nice
to kind of be a little more of a proximity.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
And I think knowing you the way I do, and
knowing where your heart is, I knew that that was
when I saw that. I'm like, oh man, this is
this is the way it should be, you know, and
it's it's great.
Speaker 4 (39:21):
So I'm so happy for you, and I'm happy that
you're my O G guy on the show and that
we can talk about all this great stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Man, Yeah, I appreciate it. I mean it was a
long ago. I was painting your buddy's fence in his
backyard for three hundred bucks.
Speaker 4 (39:35):
Oh my gosh, man, I'll never forget that as long
as I live. Oh, Graham does a nice so with
great like he said, if he if he's in, he's
all in. And he did such an amazing job on
this buddy, a mutual friend of ours, fence and he
was doing it, as you know, out of kindness.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
But the guy said, I'm going to hire this job
out unless you want to do it. Graham's like, I'll
do it. Graham sands it down.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
Graham buys all these tools, all this special stuff, does
an amazing job.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
I mean, this is a big ass fence. This fence
was this yard had a giant pull in the back.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
I mean it was seven it was seventy yards because
it wrapped around it was seventy yards.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
I hand sanded it. I sanded it with my hands.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
And you only got paid three hundred dollars.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
And I spent four hundred on the on the supplies.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
No, no, that is bad business. Grandbund.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
You can tell me what he's gonna pay me. He
was like, he was like, i'll pay you, and I
was like, okay. So I went out and bought the supplies.
And the funny thing was, so here's the kicker, and
then I'll stop talking and you.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Guys can hang up on me.
Speaker 5 (40:41):
We Bob and I have a friend that runs a
construction company and this guy hauls him and goes, hey, man,
I got this fence out back, and I'm gonna have
one of my buddies do it. I don't really know
what to pay him. What would you pay one of
your guys? And our buddy looks at him and says,
because he tells us this story later, he goes, yeah,
(41:03):
I told him I paid about six hundred and fifty
seven hundred dollars, but I you know, I wouldn't even
make him send it. And then goes, what do you
pay you? I said, I sanded it, and he paid
me three hundred four hundred less than he was told
to without sanding it.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
Yeah, I didn't pay for the supplies or anything.
Speaker 5 (41:23):
No, I lost some money on the gig those guys
when I'm partying in l A. I stayed home thinking
like I'm supposed to be working, like I shouldn't be partying.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
I'm standing in this fence and I ended up it
was it was one hundred dollars lesson that, Like, you
know what, I gotta get a I gotta get a
radio job. Oh my god, this is it's funny because
it's so true. So what do you pay you? So
what do you pay? You pay you a thousand? I
maybe three hundred bucks. Yeah, grahams just like.
Speaker 4 (41:54):
But you know, Graham's the type of guy too. Though
he didn't even he didn't like count it all for him.
He handed it to him like he man, thank you
so much for your hard work. And Graham, yeah, Graham.
Speaker 2 (42:03):
Puts it in his pocket. You know it looks at
it later. Yea God of telling me, well.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
We're very happy for this next phase for you and
the new show and being with your family.
Speaker 4 (42:19):
The new show is Graham Bycessarily in the Mornings, ninety
six point ninety the Cat.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
It's on iHeart Country.
Speaker 4 (42:25):
Obviously, it's already a huge hit and it's just going
to be exploding into your ears much.
Speaker 2 (42:31):
I can't wait, I mean with all the people, you know.
I mean, man, you've become.
Speaker 4 (42:35):
Such good friends with so many of the country stars
over the years, and you know, I do want to
end with this really quickly. So Graham Canyon and I
had moved to Seattle and it was our wedding anniversary weekend,
and she surprised me unannounced with a trip and we
fly into la and she's got a car rented and
(42:55):
I get in the car and she drives me and
we go to Laguna Beach to this beautiful hotel and
I'm like, oh my god, this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
You know, I didn't she surprised me with all of it.
Speaker 4 (43:05):
And I hear when I feel like, sounds like live
music out there somewhere, and I look down over the
edge of this hotel and I look on the beach
and there's this huge country well I didn't.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
Know this country at the time. There's a huge concert
going on. I'm like, oh my god, this is amazing.
Speaker 4 (43:20):
So I text Graham and I'm like, you know, hey, man,
what you up too. He's like, oh, you know, I'm
working or whatever. So I get down and he doesn't
tell me where he's working. So I get down to
this concert. We decided to go inside the concert and
I see I see with you know, Mornings with Graham,
his radio show at the time, all over this place.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I'm like, what is going on?
Speaker 4 (43:40):
And so I'm texting him like hey, look at this,
and he's like, where are you. I'm like, I'm outside, man,
I'm at this show. He's like, I'm backstage. So he
comes out, he gets me go backstage. It was it
was one of those moments. It was like so serendipitous, right,
like you don't even plan it. I didn't even know
I was going to California. I end up running with
best buddies there hosting the whole thing, and I'm just like,
(44:03):
oh my god.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
You know, it's like just and you were so kind
to us, buddy, and it was such a great trip.
And Canyon loves you so much.
Speaker 4 (44:09):
And like I said, we give we give Graham all
the credit for for us being where we are today
and and and it was one of those things that
was like to get to spend time with them unexpectedly
and and to see you there.
Speaker 2 (44:20):
But that's that's the kind of the warmth and and
the kind.
Speaker 4 (44:24):
Of love that you radiate everywhere you go, and I'm
sure the folks in North Carolina, you know who, who
maybe didn't know you when you were there before and
know you now are going to just fall in love
with you, brother. And I'm excited for the show and
excited to see all the successes come in your way.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
I appreciate it. And if things don't work out with Canyon,
holler at me. Yeah, welcome down my hands.
Speaker 5 (44:48):
I haven't had someone say such nice things in a
long time, man, at least sweet nothings.
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Brother, I'm not even whispered. I'm yelling them my microphone.
I'm just thank you for, you know, just putting up
with us. I appreciate it. I love you, brother, we love.
Speaker 3 (45:04):
Having you on, We love having you, and we're so
excited for your new show and all the good things
that are going to be coming up in your future.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, HARVESD season, you guys, throw some prayers out there.
Nice young lady, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
There you go, lady, I'm manifesting. I'm manifesting. Yeah, put
it on your vision boards.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Let's get this. He handled vision board.
Speaker 1 (45:26):
No, it's all up here. I forget everything up here.
Speaker 2 (45:30):
So yeah, I'll put it right now. Awesome. Well, thank
you for having me, guys. I appreciate it. Hopefully it
wasn't too boring.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
It was great, man, stop it a thanks for coming.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
We'll lockhorns on that game and we'll get the lines
and Commanders tipping off.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
We'll get it done. I'll give us last time in
real world. Look, get you next time. I did not
text you. I did not text you after that. No,
you do not thank you.
Speaker 4 (45:56):
I literally sat there like I think I told you
the story when I texted you the next day.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
But my son, so Graham, obviously, he has always.
Speaker 4 (46:02):
Been a big you know, he was a big Redskins
Commanders fan, and he knows of my love for the Lions.
And this year in the playoffs, the Lions beat I'm sorry,
the Commanders beat the Lions, and uh and the next
and I was I may have shed a couple of
tears that night. And I didn't get any text. I
didn't get anybody, you know. The next day, I have
to go to my six year old son's flag football game.
(46:23):
He plays for the Washington Commanders, that was his team name,
and he ends up running a touchdown all the way
to length of field, and I text Graham I'm like,
this is the second time I've cried over the commanders
in two days.
Speaker 2 (46:36):
I was finally ready to talk about it. It's great,
it's great. Cut I love you, buddy, take care of me.
Thanks for joining GM. Graham bun Man, Salt of the Earth.
That's my guy, right there is any something?
Speaker 1 (46:52):
He is one of the good ones. Yeah, yeah, he is.
And it's always so shocking to me that he is
still single.
Speaker 3 (46:59):
You know, like obviously he's had some serious relationships but
that didn't work out. But ladies, if you are in
North Carolina, you better go DM this guy because he.
Speaker 1 (47:12):
Is one of the good ones.
Speaker 2 (47:13):
He really is. Man, he absolutely is, and I will
tell you.
Speaker 4 (47:16):
I mean I live with him. We lived together for
a couple of years. And very courteous, very kind, very respectful,
you know. I mean, his parents raise him right. They
are wonderful people. And it's just you know, you see
somebody like that and you're like, man, okay, sooner or
later they're going to find that right person, you know,
and I know he will. He'll be a great dad
(47:38):
if he ever decides to do that. I mean, he's
I mean, you just see him with people's kids. He's
like such a sweet and kind person. He's a man
of faith. I mean, he's just a lot of good
stuff with that guy. So I wish him the very
best in the Mornings with Sarah or with Graham B
and Sarah Lee. I can't wait to have people. I
have a feeling that show is going to be a
(47:59):
lot bigger than and just North Carolina soon.
Speaker 2 (48:02):
Yeah, that's my hope anyway, that's my hope for him.
Speaker 1 (48:05):
Yeah, yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (48:07):
Yes, so much fun.
Speaker 1 (48:08):
I love it all right, Who are we going to
have on next? People? You guys have many ideas.
Speaker 3 (48:14):
Just dm us and let us know if you want
to have anyone in particular on the show, and we'd
be happy to accommodate and get to chat with you again.
Speaker 4 (48:22):
I would love it as always, great talking to you, Trista,
great talking with everybody out there in the OG community.
Speaker 2 (48:27):
We love you guys, Thanks for listening, and I'm sure
we'll be back soon.
Speaker 1 (48:30):
He's out.
Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti