June 26, 2024 • 32 mins
Ben and Ashley hang out with the ICU nurse that nearly captured Joey’s heart, Rachel Nance!
We get the real story on who she’s dating right now, if she would have gone to Paradise, and how close she was with our next Bachelorette Jenn Tran!
Plus, you’ll be SHOCKED when you hear what she has to say about the new season of The Bachelorette.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey everyone, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast. We are
so excited today we have Joey's third place finisher, Rachel
Nance on the show. Hey Rachel, Hi, guys.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
You and I have something in common. We're both third place.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Third place? Okay, though third place is really good?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Great, this is great. It's yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, I feel like the emotions like that last week
when you're like, am I gonna be getting like do
I have to say yes or no to this? Like now,
like we never have to consider it when we kind
of think about it, but like we don't actually ever
have to consider it. Third place. You're just like I'm
along for the ride and then you're home and you
know you're good.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean it was, it was. I mean it's
still a tough place to me because like you're like
you make it to the end.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Like you know, final destination, so.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Literally you get there and then it's like either I'm
out or it's me.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So yeah, Rachel, we're really pumped to have you here.
Tell me if I'm wrong. I feel like you haven't
done many interviews since the show, right.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I've done like, yeah, not really. I think maybe like
a handful of some But.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
That's why we love it.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Why are they hiding you.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Because they don't know where I'm from? Just hanging out?
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
All right, Well, we definitely got interest in having you
on because we saw that you were in Hawaii recently
and you're doing some gossip bait tiktoks with someone have
had on our show, John Henry, who's over in Hawaii working. Well,
(01:45):
it just cuts to the chase. Well, since I brought
it up, like, is there any real flirtation to those tiktoks?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
No, No, we just we hung out. He's just a
great company, he's a super sweet guy, and we both
thought like, oh, we should just make a TikTok because
we're both not propably the best in social media. And
then we made it and I posted it and I
woke up. I said, oh, I might have this, might
have done something.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But it was a good move. What do you I
mean that was? That was a perfect move because he's handsome, right, Yeah, No.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
He's handsome, he's sweet, he's a great person. But I
mean it was just I think from the both of us,
it was just dinner.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Oh, but it was a dinner, you know, like it
wasn't like a lunch, which can say so much, so
many different things.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
It was like the timing of it. He had work
and like close to my house. I was like, oh yeah,
he's like, let's just get dinner. I was like, sure,
we ate and yeah, it was fun. And then I
posted it and I was like, oh, the world is talking.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, definitely got the rumor mills started. I think, no
matter what, it was a great move, but it did
get us a little bit excited, Like we could see it,
but you're saying you can't see it.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
No. I mean I'm not saying that. I just think
we didn't think much of it and we're just like, oh,
this is fun and we did it. And then it
was actually one of my cousins sent me an article.
She's like, what is this and it was like a
picture of he and I. I said rumors. I said, no,
just went to dinner. She said, cousin, I don't think
it's rumors.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And well, did you get a little taste of what
Bachelor in Paradise would have been?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Like? Yeah, and so because I wouldn't do Bachelor in Paradise.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You wouldn't have done it.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Come on, I wouldn't have done it. So I joked
with my mom. I's like, this is kind of my
little VIP moment. I guess they're matching us up. So no,
I wouldn't do Paradise. It's not that's not for me.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But are you sure you're saying not just saying that
because like it wasn't happening. So in your head, you're like,
I don't have to really make this decision, so I'm
just gonna go with whatever. My initial thought is.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I just don't know if I would thrive in VIP.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I feel like he would for some reason. I definitely
feel like you would have been very much a main character.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
We think, thank you, but I told something.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Probably because you were a third place and you probably
would have been first Sand and all that.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
See, I don't even know how it works.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
These are these are words I don't even know. I mean,
I know what you're talking about, Ashley, but I like
how you have Like.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Maybe in the past two years, they've come up with
that lingo first Sand for the group that goes down first,
the coveted group.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Oh, so they show they show certain people first.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
The people that like are the original.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Cast, got it got it then you.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, the ones that are coming in the shake it up,
the ones that are coming in the causal of drama.
You're not a drama started starter.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Choose his first sand.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
That's why I think Paradise could have used you, because
Paradise is like this, and I say use you, like
they could have benefited from you being there because Paradise
has like two elements to it. One is like a
really cool love story, and then you kind of a
side story that's like the drama, the people, like the
love triangles, the fighting. I feel like you would have
(04:58):
probably gone in and said, hey, I'll make the most
out of this weird experience, but I'm not going to
dive into the troubles, which is kind of a like
that's a good ying ying when we watch the show.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Yeah, that would be me. You're correct, You're correct. I
did tell I said, you know, if VIP were to happen,
I was like, can I go for just one day?
Like I just want to show up just for one
day and then just go home just second.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
See, that wouldn't have been an option for you.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I know, I know that hard works. I was like,
I just want to hang out with the girl, you.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Would you have had a list of guys that you
would have been interested in other seasons?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, no, because I'm I'm finally starting to learn who
everyone is, slowly but surely, Like the girls are educating
me on the past cast because they'll talk about it
and I'll have no idea what they're talking about, So
I don't really know who's out there in ratchroination that's
even single Except you.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Never watched No, So how'd you get on?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
My best friend would watch the show every Monday, and
I would dog on her and I was like, oh,
my goodness, you're watching that show again. She's like, is
she so good? And then they announced Joey and then
I think a week later, she's like, I'm just gonna
nominate you and they'll probably pick you. And I was like,
I don't think they will, and then they did.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And then your third place, I know, well.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I told her. I was like, I was like, if
they picked me, I think I would leave night one
because we didn't talk night one. So I went on
there and I gave him the lane and that was it.
I was like, Oh, I'm for sure going home. And
then every week I said, why am I I'm still
here fucking alone.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You probably didn't care so much on night one too,
because you're like, oh, I don't even watch the show.
I'm not really even a fan. I don't care if
I get a lot at night one.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Yeah, oh, kind of like, okay, this is wild. Like
there's cameras everywhere. I was like, where's the food. They're like,
all the food's in the back.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's like, ok haha, my kind of girl.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
All he had the drinks in the food.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Not to not to like fast forward to too much though,
but you kind of went into it with probably the
best attitude of anybody, like, hey, this is cool, let
me see it. When did it start becoming real to
you though? Like when did the feelings start to increase
where you're like, no, I actually I want to be here.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, I think I want to say the first couple
of weeks I was filling it out for sure, because
it's a whole new road. I went from nursing to
cameras in my face and like dulled up. So it
was really wild. And I think right before we started traveling,
he and I had a conversation. I think it was
maybe like the pool party or something like that, where
(07:21):
it kind of clicked with me that we did have
a lot in common, and I was like, oh, he's
you know, he is very genuine, he's very sweet, Like
he's not here just for like the glamor and the
glory of it, and neither am I. So from then on,
I think I started to open up a bit more
and then allow myself to see where it would go.
And that's how that feelings started developing, which in the
two of us.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Now, you guys had a moment at the wedding date.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Oh, yes, that was That was fun too. That was
fun too.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I was so memorable that I'm thinking about it four
months later. You guys had chemistry.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Yeah, that was a good date. But I'm also like,
in my head, I didn't think we did. Then I
watched it back and I was like, oh, shoot, yeah
we did.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
We did it good. The actually I'm thinking about this.
We get a lot of some people that we talked
to who has not have not watched a show previously.
A lot of those end up watching, you know, past
seasons kind of leading up to their time on the show,
so they get educated and then I do think they
become kind of not fans, but they do add in
(08:20):
this nerve these nerves, and there the stress, and then
it becomes this competition almost like I don't want to
go home when I want. I don't want to home
one week two Like I'm kind of you know, it's
trying to stick around. I feel like talking to you,
your feelings might be not that anybody was not genuine
this last season, but your feelings were very genuine because
you didn't really care if you were there or not.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Yeah. Yeah, And I think one thing is so I
told my parents I got on the show the day
before I left. Bobershul have told them earlier, but.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I don't wild move.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Hey, mom and Dad, I'm not gonna have my phone
for the next whoever knows how long because I'm going
on the best.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Yeah. I called him. I said, hey, so you know,
I may not have my phone for a couple of months.
And they're like, what's going on? And I said, I
think I'm gonna go on this show, and my dad
goes which one? So when I told them which show
was going on, they were kind of the ones that
my dad specifically, he said, I'm obviously going to support
you if you go on the show. But he's like
if it's not you, You're going to be totally fine. So
(09:22):
he's like, just go in there and just you know,
be yourself and have a good time. So I think
having that mindset and not expecting anything is it helped
me keep calm And to me, like, if there's multiple women,
I don't think it's a competition because at the end
of the day, he's going to pick who he wants
and you're supposed to pick him as well. So to me,
I feel like I was hanging out with my friends
who kind of kissed him after me. But you know,
(09:42):
it's totally fine. You know, that was a part of
the whole thing. But yeah, I agree with you. I
think I was very genuine and it worked out the
best way possible I think for a final three in
my opinion, So I was happy.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Right after the finale or your departure. You were really
honest about the fact that, like when you were in
the top three and at that Rose ceremony, you were like,
I don't think it's I don't fit here anymore. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
can you explain a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, I think go after hometowns. I think it's very
emotionally right, Like you don't see your family for so
long and you finally see them, I think it clicks
for you, and I think a lot of I felt
guilt for some reason when I saw my family. I
was like, you know, I haven't seen them, the notes
going on with my life, And even though Joey was
very supportive and we meshed and we met my family,
(10:44):
I could just feel that I don't think it was
going to continue. After fantasy suites. I think we both
knew that the connection between the other two were stronger
than he and I, and I think I became more
of the platonic type of love than a romantic type
of love and nothing. I think us both understanding that
was the end of our relationship. It was so hard
(11:05):
to not hear my name being called, but at the
same time, I knew it wasn't going to meet me,
so I had some peace going to the ceremony, but
I still cried. So you can't even it's so sad
regardless of yeah, even if you know it's the end,
it's like all of the time you spent together and
everything leading up to it, that it's finally done.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, it's and it's such an incredible experience. Especially when
you do it like you did it that you look
back on you This was wild, emotional. I have a
lot of memories. These are things that people want to
talk to me about for the next you know, twenty
years of my life. And it's sad to then say
this is done. Something interesting about your seat about your
(11:45):
season of The Bachelor, because it did feel like a
lot of the women got along a lot better than
previous seasons, especially when it came down, you know, to
the final three. Are you still close with Kelsey and Daisy?
I mean, obviously, you know they have moved on. They're
both doing their thing. But have you guys stayed in contact?
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Oh? Yeah, I think everyone that I was friends with
while filming, I'm still friends with now. So you know,
Leiah has always been my girl since day one, the
whole way connection. Daisy and I have been close since
day one. I was her first hug in the mansion,
and actually we have the Can I tell the story
how days and I met?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Yes, please.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
She loved telling the story if you ask her this.
So I didn't know that she had her cochlear I
didn't know that she had issues. So we're sitting in
the kitchen. It's super loud, and like I was over
stimulated and she was over stimulated, and we had no idea.
So she was stating next to me and I was like,
I was like, hey, I'm Rachel. She's like, I'm Daisy
and I was like cool, and that was it. We
were just sitting and I said and then I guess
(12:44):
she couldn't hear me, so she has got up and
like walked to mid conversation and I was like this,
she's kind of rude. I was like, I really like
her and came back and where'd you go? And she
was like huh. I said, I like you, you're kind
of just in your own world. And I didn't know
it's because she couldn't. Yeah, the next day she told
me and we're laughing. We were just dying laughing about it.
So we just always joked about how we didn't hear
(13:05):
each other.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
The first night, but we just I love that.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But yeah, so I'm close with them. Kelsey and I talk,
you know when we can. They're so busy, like all
of us are doing our own thing, but we still
have time to kind of reconnect and touch base. So
I love them.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, and I know that you are really a support
system for my friend Sydney. So thank you for that. Sydney.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
She was going through it, Yes, she was going for it,
but she handled it. She handled it so well. She's
looking at her, she's doing great, she's thriving, so.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Okay, I don't know how many people could get through it.
She is definitely, she definitely proved that she's very strong.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Really resilient. Yeah. She she's such a sweet person. I
think we're like when I go on in public and
some people have still come up to me and they're like,
are your friends with that one girl like Sydney she
has a name, and they're like, yeah, she's so mean.
I'm like, no, dude, she's she's so nice. Like I
don't know, people forget that. It's you're not there for
everything that's going on in the show.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
But also Maria, where is she? Like I haven't seen
her anywhere on social media or anything like that. I mean,
I don't follow her, but like I feel like she's
been quiet.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think she's just I think she's enjoying the piece
and then she's making a lot of connections with other
people from other seasons. I think from last time I've
seen what she's doing, just traveling the world. We're all
kind of just in our own world right now, just
doing her own thing, which I love. But yeah, I
haven't talked to her in a minute either.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
There's always this like element and you'd know more than
we do right now of people you know, meeting up
from past seasons, and the singles especially kind of find
their ways to the same events, the same parties, the
same things. And then you see all these you know,
all this stuff come out on social media where they're
they're together. Have you won for you? Have you you know,
(14:49):
kind of connected with anybody from past seasons? And then
two you mentioned earlier in the show that you're getting
educated on some of the past contestants. What names get
hopped up in that conversation?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Okay, so I was like the basic ones, like I
know who I know who you guys are because I
have to educate myself, but.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Nobody's telling you about us. You're googling us, right, I
had no id?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Okay, I had to. And then there was one time
I was I was at a party and someone came
up to me, Oh.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I think it, I think it's she's like it was
Tyler Cameron, Oh Tyler.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Oh okay, so Toddle Cameron. That's a good one. You know.
I got the invite to go.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
To his Oh that's right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Show right, yeah, And I had to educate myself and
I went up to him. I said, I'm so sorry,
are you Why are you important? Again? Like I just
know your name, I just need to know what it is.
And he's like, oh, it's okay. I was just talking
on Hannah Brown season. I said, oh, I know who
she is. I know who she is. I did you
make it far? And he was like yeah. I said, okay,
(15:56):
I'm so Leah always tells me Leah from the show.
She's like Tita, I mean sisters like Tita. You're gonna
start embarrassing yourself. You just start knowing whose people are
because you go to the events and you have no
id to whose people are, and then you might humble
them too much. I said, sorry, they could use it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I know.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
I have to bring like a folder with me to
have like pictures like.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Yeah, product like oppressed, like a press.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Like this is yeah. I think I'm starting to learn,
Like I learned who John Henry rudzs who my best
friend I learned who Tanner was from Leah. I learned
other people through charity. She's kind of told me who
people are. I'm just I'm a slotle learner.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
No, you're fine, You're good. You don't even have to learn.
You're good. Just need people. Yeah, let's talk about like
your life. You are still nursing, yes, And the show
complicated your whereabouts a little bit. They said that you
were based in Maine, but you're based in California. And
if you're not in California, you're with your family in Hawaii.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yes. So born and raised in Hawaii, left, came to
California for some years of school, moved to Maine for
nursing school, became a nurse in Washington State, Okay, now
working as a nurse in California. And then when I'm
not working, because I'm a travel nurse, I go home
and then I come back and forth. Just the best
of both worlds.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Honestly, why be a travel nurse if you could just
live in Hawaii?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
I like, I love home. I just like to have
my own space and do my own thing and then
go home into my family, you know, like get Island Fever.
I lived in my whole life I like to Yeah,
the bigger mainland. I guess.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It's a it's an interesting world where Hawaii is a
place you're choosing not to live full time. Nobody, it
doesn't make sense to many.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, here in California. California can have a lot of
elements of Hawaii with its like perma summer and all that.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
I think a lot of my coworkers they always ask me,
They're like, why don't you live in Hawaii? And I
mean home will always be there, Like it's it's also
just so expected to live in Hawaii on your own
and here I live with my best friend and we travel,
we can like drive to different states. You can do
all those things here. You can't do it in Hawaii.
Like if you're in Hawaii, you're on that rock.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
So but Maine is so like Maine is not a
home for you, Like even though that's like a like
a place that people continue to speak of, Maine is
Maine is a stop on the way to in your life.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Yeah, Maine was just two years of my life and
I had I had a really like I think Maine
was my two of my hardest years. So I don't
ever plan it going back there, to be honest, But yeah,
I have like really bad memories in Maine.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Well was that a relationship memory?
Speaker 4 (18:41):
It was? Yeah, it was one of my worst relationships
was in Maine, and where I lived was not the
most progressive place to live safe, right, just weird experiences
with people.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
But but what people don't know you were in Maine
and you were an athlete. I mean you got a
volleyball scholarship.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Yeah, I've played volleyball while doing nursery school, which was
a wild time. I think when I tell people that,
they always they're like surprised. I'm like, why is that surprising?
Like my bilt weird just told me that they would
I just say that, But yeah, people get surprised. And
I did nursing school and volleyball, so it was a
good experience. But I just definitely would not go back
to me.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Okay, okay, Well you say that in your bachelor bio
that there's nothing better than a Hawaiian Christmas, to which
we're like, really, that's to me personally, as somebody who
could go summer all year long. I think the month
of December is the only time that I do want
(19:43):
that christmasy winter feel, so why is a Hawaiian summer great?
I mean Christmas, y'all.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Get me wrong. I've experienced my first white Christmas and
it was beautiful. But I think it's just the whole
idea of how my family goes about Christmas back home,
and we just have like really fun tray dish, Like
you can go to the beach on a Christmas morning
if you wanted to, you go for a morning swim.
It just I think the energy in Hawaii is just
always Christmas is such a loving day. So when it's
(20:11):
nice and sunny and you're with your family, it just
feels very warm and loving altogether. And with like my
Filipino culture and how we do things, I always just
think Christmas in Hawaii tops a white Christmas. That's just
my opinion. Come come find out and come to my
family if you want, you can experience a Christmas in Hawaiian.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Speaking of your family, I do want to dig in
a little bit because you were very brave during the
woman tell a hall speaking about some of the hateful
comments that you received following kind of the airing. I
believe it was during hometowns, Like following hometowns was when
you felt like the hateful comments started coming in. I
(21:01):
guess my question for you is, uh, what, like where
did you feel like that was coming from? I mean,
I guess if you could try to speak into the
the criticism, like where was that coming from? And then
like how have you tried to respond? Yeah to those?
Speaker 4 (21:17):
And I think I mean I again, because I don't
really know how the other seasons were. Maybe my family's
hometown was very different than other hometowns, so I think
to many viewers it was just a whole new world
they were kind of forced to watch, I guess, but
I think it's there's just a lot of people who
(21:38):
just maybe just judged my family based of how we look,
and I think that's kind of where it stemmed from.
And obviously I didn't expect any of the hate to
come or I come after hometowns. I thought it was
such a great day. But you know, when I asked
my dad and they saw some of the comments, They're like,
you know, it's just people are just going to have
an opinion about literally anything. If it's not their norm,
they're going to probably be against it. And that's kind
(22:00):
of what happened. And as a result, like I got
the heat for my family got the heat for it,
so it was hard at first. I definitely had to
like delete some of the messages and kind of forget
some of it. But to be honest, I think many
viewers of the show are like Midwest type of I
think the popula should watch the show's like Midwest or
(22:23):
like East Coast, so they don't see a lot of
Filipino stuff, like cultural things at hometowns maybe, which is
very different for them. But yeah, it's still hurt because
why you don't come in my family like that, like
just let us have a gun.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
You wrote an essay for the Today Show about it?
Did that feel cathartic?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
I guess I had a hard one. I guess when
I wrote that it was actually hard because I don't
mind speaking up about it, But then it still takes
me back to things that happened to me in Maine
and then things that happened to me on the show.
Being so public and national, it kind of always had
me choked up when I was writing it, and I
was getting angry anxious when they were going to publish
because I was like, oh, this ether is going to
(23:04):
give me more hate because I'm talking about it again.
But it was also very empowering because then I could
just speak about it and whether people want to hear
it or not, it's out there for them to read
it or to hear. And it's still I still get
comments here and there, like you know, the TikTok with
John Henry. I deleted some comments because some people would
make would say stuff like she doesn't like brown people,
(23:24):
he doesn't like brown women, like take this down, and
I'm like, dude, let the man lived, let him come
at dinner. It's it's wild. And so I still get
some things here and owt. But the end of the day,
it's just people who are miserable and they wouldn't say
to my life.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
So well, yeah, those you know, the like the trolls
or whatever you call them, you know, don't interest me
as much as the general like, hey, you felt like
your hometown was not appreciated respected that there wasn't this
level of curiosity too, Hey what's happening here? But I
(24:02):
want to ask a question because I think it happens
so often on the show, or people assume it happens.
When we saw your hometown, which was really entertaining and
really fun and really like there's a lot of like
good things happening there. How much of a say did
your family get? I guess maybe the question trying to
(24:23):
ask is how accurate of a portrayal of what your
family would do at a gathering? Was existing at that
hometown date or was it requested and kind of forced
upon everybody?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Yeah? So, I because I think it was hometown. You
can't talk to your families, you don't really know what's
actually going on. But all I did tell you know,
the show was my hometown's. I would like it to
be as authentic to my Filipino culture as close as possible,
and it did portray I'm not saying I could go
(24:55):
to my Auntie's house and we do Tinni kling every time,
but Tinni kling is something that we have done as
a family. We had like family footage of us doing that,
the pig, the lech on, we do that special occasion.
So that's very true and authentic to who we are.
And the lay, the leo that I wore and the
lay that they gave Joey. I get that when I
come home. So it's pretty accurate of how my family is.
(25:18):
And I think some people thought maybe we were overdoing it.
But I loved it and the food was great, so
and the show loved the food.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The producers they're eating they did.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah, I was like, eat it up.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
It's did they tell your family, like you guys can
come up with the ideas the traditions, So I did ask.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
My mom did tell me. They did ask for their suggestions,
and my mom's so sweet. It's like whatever Rachel wants.
While I was saying whatever my mom wants. So they
did ask me, like, are you okay with dancing te
Ni Klan? I was like, oh, I would love to.
I that's something I did when I was younger, and
I said I would love to have like Filipino foods.
My auntie cooks and Filipino foods. So we all worked
together to make it as best as possible. And since
(25:58):
it wasn't in my actual hometown hometown, them doing that
made me feel more at home like I was in Hawaii.
They added that aspect to it, so I thought it
was perfect. I wanted it to be.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
I think it's great, and I think the comments are
maybe just I mean, I don't want to but they're
coming from a place of just like discomfort. Unfamiliarness, which
is like the one of the like if you switch
down and be like, hey, when I don't understand something,
that's one of the fun parts of life because when
I get older, there's less and less that's new to me.
And you brought that and so I'm just I'm saying, like,
(26:30):
to your family and to yourself, like you're helping people
see that there's a world outside of our little you know,
spots in our little neighborhoods, and I think that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Yeah, And it's funny because I'm like all of you
guys making these comments when to come to Hawaii so
not like.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
And I'm sure that it made Joey feel like even
more comfortable to be like discovering and exploring something new
then just like, oh, we're just gonna sit around a couch.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Yeah. And it was great too because he lived in
Hawaii for oh duh. Yeah it was I don't know
what it was like a year or two, I think,
so thankfully for him it was. It wasn't like a
wild idea. Maybe the tinnikling was a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
No, he was fine, but it was all good. We're
all good.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
He's fine.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
I do have one kind of like final question here
for you at least, and thanks for giving us your
time today. Are you dating?
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I am.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
To be honest, I think that was just a yes.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
No, I'm not dating this guy, but we're just getting
to know each other.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Yeah, so you're dating.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
We've gone in a couple of dates.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Does he have two first names?
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Does he have with you? No? I actually posted on
my Instagram and people are trying to figure out who
the person is in my Instagram because it's his arm,
his hand.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Does he lived you in California?
Speaker 4 (28:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Is he from Betslar Nation in any way? No, there
we go. It's not the two names.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
I don't think anyone's going to find out who he is.
I called him yesterday and I said, they're going to
eat you live if they find out who you are.
He's like, yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Do you do I would I know him?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
No? Oh, okay, he's a little humble person. No one,
no one, no one knows he is.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's good. How'd you meet at uh at a baseball game? Cute?
Is he a baseball player? No, it's the humble man.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
No he's not. No, he's not, but he does play sports.
So yeah, he's nice, he's but we're just feeling it out.
It's like new, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely new because I don't think
you would have posted the John Henry thing if you
were actually in a relationship, right right.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
So I also told him, I was like, you know,
if we were to do this, I don't want to
bring you into my world. And it's like a lot
are you.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Yeah, have fun with it, just enjoy it for his
long as you want to enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Yeah, I'm just hanging out, keeping it quiet. There you go.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Before we leave, we have to ask about Jen. Have
you spoken to her since I have not?
Speaker 4 (29:11):
We follow each other now on Instagram because I think
when she was gone, you don't have your phone, so
we didn't together, but we messaged before. I wish her luck.
I also, you know, hugged and I said, like, good
luck on your show. I think before she started filming
at the after final rose. So I'm very excited to
see what happens for her. It's just wild, wild that
(29:33):
she's batched for it.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
It will you be watching?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Will I be watching? I will be informed?
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Huh, Look at her, she's really not into the show.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
I think I will love for the season because her
being also the first Asian batcherette. I am very excited
about that. I am very proud of that. But I
don't know, like some of the girls, like they're so
into it. I'm trying to get there.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Is it safe to say you guys weren't really that
close in the house.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
We weren't super close, but we did talk. I mean,
I think for me, I was like Switzerland in the house.
I could kind of talk to everybody. I was pretty neutral. Yeah,
and you know, we had a little discussion stuff. But
we never argued or bickered or anything. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Did you at all look at her cast and think,
oh man, I wish I were the bachelorette or are
you like, uh, I'm glad I wasn't the bachelorrette. I
wasn't going to find anyone in this bunch.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
There's a couple. I said, that's a good one. Well
i'll say the name, but I was like, that's a
good one.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I guess that. I do have one more question than
if they would have asked you to be the bachelorette,
would you have said yes? Be honest?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
You know, I went back and forth. So when I
was leaving when I was in the like when I
was being when tak me back to the hotel after
I didn't get my name was called. I was so
upset and I told the therapist and I said, don't
ask me to do anything for this show ever again.
I don't want to be involved in it. And she's like,
are you Are you sticking to that? And I was like,
I'm sticking to that. She's like, are you sure, because
(30:58):
I'm going to tell them and I was like, yeah,
I don't want be about to. I don't want to
be I p I don't do anything. And then two
weeks later I said, maybe overreacted. Maybe maybe maybe I
was just really sad. So I was iffy about it.
And I think they knew that. I think they knew
I didn't want to. I just I don't know. I
don't think I would have thrived. Also as a bachelor,
I would have been like, you're out, You're out. I
don't like you half have you gone? And you can't
(31:19):
do that. You have to keep like an amount of people.
And I think I would know if I didn't like
somebody to make it to the end.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
N one, I think you would have been really good
but I definitely see what you're saying because I have
a personality like that too. I couldn't fake it.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Yeah, no, I can't figive I don't like you, You'll know,
You'll just know you. I won't kiss you.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Ben's like, I'm a good faker.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
I'm a pro.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
The Uh Well, Rachel, it's been really great to have
you here and we've really like been excited to catch
up with you. We hope that you can come to
some of our little like iHeart gatherings. They're right, there's
no stress, there's no pressure. It's just a good hang
getting to know some people and creating some more memories.
Now that you know, we don't really have a spin
(32:10):
off show to connect with others on. So Rachel, you're
one of the best people. Love you, Thanks for coming on.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Thanks guys, Thank you, see La Bye.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous podcast on
iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast
with iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Hey everyone, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast. We are
so excited today we have Joey's third place finisher, Rachel
Nance on the show. Hey Rachel, Hi, guys.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
You and I have something in common. We're both third place.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Third place? Okay, though third place is really good?
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Great, this is great. It's yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah, I feel like the emotions like that last week
when you're like, am I gonna be getting like do
I have to say yes or no to this? Like now,
like we never have to consider it when we kind
of think about it, but like we don't actually ever
have to consider it. Third place. You're just like I'm
along for the ride and then you're home and you
know you're good.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean it was, it was. I mean it's
still a tough place to me because like you're like
you make it to the end.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Like you know, final destination, so.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Literally you get there and then it's like either I'm
out or it's me.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
So yeah, Rachel, we're really pumped to have you here.
Tell me if I'm wrong. I feel like you haven't
done many interviews since the show, right.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
I've done like, yeah, not really. I think maybe like
a handful of some But.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
That's why we love it.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Why are they hiding you.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Because they don't know where I'm from? Just hanging out?
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
All right, Well, we definitely got interest in having you
on because we saw that you were in Hawaii recently
and you're doing some gossip bait tiktoks with someone have
had on our show, John Henry, who's over in Hawaii working. Well,
(01:45):
it just cuts to the chase. Well, since I brought
it up, like, is there any real flirtation to those tiktoks?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
No, No, we just we hung out. He's just a
great company, he's a super sweet guy, and we both
thought like, oh, we should just make a TikTok because
we're both not propably the best in social media. And
then we made it and I posted it and I
woke up. I said, oh, I might have this, might
have done something.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
But it was a good move. What do you I
mean that was? That was a perfect move because he's handsome, right, Yeah, No.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
He's handsome, he's sweet, he's a great person. But I
mean it was just I think from the both of us,
it was just dinner.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Oh, but it was a dinner, you know, like it
wasn't like a lunch, which can say so much, so
many different things.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
It was like the timing of it. He had work
and like close to my house. I was like, oh yeah,
he's like, let's just get dinner. I was like, sure,
we ate and yeah, it was fun. And then I
posted it and I was like, oh, the world is talking.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, definitely got the rumor mills started. I think, no
matter what, it was a great move, but it did
get us a little bit excited, Like we could see it,
but you're saying you can't see it.
Speaker 4 (03:01):
No. I mean I'm not saying that. I just think
we didn't think much of it and we're just like, oh,
this is fun and we did it. And then it
was actually one of my cousins sent me an article.
She's like, what is this and it was like a
picture of he and I. I said rumors. I said, no,
just went to dinner. She said, cousin, I don't think
it's rumors.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And well, did you get a little taste of what
Bachelor in Paradise would have been?
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Like? Yeah, and so because I wouldn't do Bachelor in Paradise.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
You wouldn't have done it.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Come on, I wouldn't have done it. So I joked
with my mom. I's like, this is kind of my
little VIP moment. I guess they're matching us up. So no,
I wouldn't do Paradise. It's not that's not for me.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But are you sure you're saying not just saying that
because like it wasn't happening. So in your head, you're like,
I don't have to really make this decision, so I'm
just gonna go with whatever. My initial thought is.
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I just don't know if I would thrive in VIP.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I feel like he would for some reason. I definitely
feel like you would have been very much a main character.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
We think, thank you, but I told something.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Probably because you were a third place and you probably
would have been first Sand and all that.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
See, I don't even know how it works.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
These are these are words I don't even know. I mean,
I know what you're talking about, Ashley, but I like
how you have Like.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Maybe in the past two years, they've come up with
that lingo first Sand for the group that goes down first,
the coveted group.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
Oh, so they show they show certain people first.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
The people that like are the original.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Cast, got it got it then you.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Yeah, the ones that are coming in the shake it up,
the ones that are coming in the causal of drama.
You're not a drama started starter.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Choose his first sand.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
That's why I think Paradise could have used you, because
Paradise is like this, and I say use you, like
they could have benefited from you being there because Paradise
has like two elements to it. One is like a
really cool love story, and then you kind of a
side story that's like the drama, the people, like the
love triangles, the fighting. I feel like you would have
(04:58):
probably gone in and said, hey, I'll make the most
out of this weird experience, but I'm not going to
dive into the troubles, which is kind of a like
that's a good ying ying when we watch the show.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
Yeah, that would be me. You're correct, You're correct. I
did tell I said, you know, if VIP were to happen,
I was like, can I go for just one day?
Like I just want to show up just for one
day and then just go home just second.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
See, that wouldn't have been an option for you.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I know, I know that hard works. I was like,
I just want to hang out with the girl, you.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Would you have had a list of guys that you
would have been interested in other seasons?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, no, because I'm I'm finally starting to learn who
everyone is, slowly but surely, Like the girls are educating
me on the past cast because they'll talk about it
and I'll have no idea what they're talking about, So
I don't really know who's out there in ratchroination that's
even single Except you.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Never watched No, So how'd you get on?
Speaker 4 (05:52):
My best friend would watch the show every Monday, and
I would dog on her and I was like, oh,
my goodness, you're watching that show again. She's like, is
she so good? And then they announced Joey and then
I think a week later, she's like, I'm just gonna
nominate you and they'll probably pick you. And I was like,
I don't think they will, and then they did.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
And then your third place, I know, well.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I told her. I was like, I was like, if
they picked me, I think I would leave night one
because we didn't talk night one. So I went on
there and I gave him the lane and that was it.
I was like, Oh, I'm for sure going home. And
then every week I said, why am I I'm still
here fucking alone.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You probably didn't care so much on night one too,
because you're like, oh, I don't even watch the show.
I'm not really even a fan. I don't care if
I get a lot at night one.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Yeah, oh, kind of like, okay, this is wild. Like
there's cameras everywhere. I was like, where's the food. They're like,
all the food's in the back.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's like, ok haha, my kind of girl.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
All he had the drinks in the food.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Not to not to like fast forward to too much though,
but you kind of went into it with probably the
best attitude of anybody, like, hey, this is cool, let
me see it. When did it start becoming real to
you though? Like when did the feelings start to increase
where you're like, no, I actually I want to be here.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Yeah, I think I want to say the first couple
of weeks I was filling it out for sure, because
it's a whole new road. I went from nursing to
cameras in my face and like dulled up. So it
was really wild. And I think right before we started traveling,
he and I had a conversation. I think it was
maybe like the pool party or something like that, where
(07:21):
it kind of clicked with me that we did have
a lot in common, and I was like, oh, he's
you know, he is very genuine, he's very sweet, Like
he's not here just for like the glamor and the
glory of it, and neither am I. So from then on,
I think I started to open up a bit more
and then allow myself to see where it would go.
And that's how that feelings started developing, which in the
two of us.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Now, you guys had a moment at the wedding date.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Oh, yes, that was That was fun too. That was
fun too.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I was so memorable that I'm thinking about it four
months later. You guys had chemistry.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
Yeah, that was a good date. But I'm also like,
in my head, I didn't think we did. Then I
watched it back and I was like, oh, shoot, yeah
we did.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
We did it good. The actually I'm thinking about this.
We get a lot of some people that we talked
to who has not have not watched a show previously.
A lot of those end up watching, you know, past
seasons kind of leading up to their time on the show,
so they get educated and then I do think they
become kind of not fans, but they do add in
(08:20):
this nerve these nerves, and there the stress, and then
it becomes this competition almost like I don't want to
go home when I want. I don't want to home
one week two Like I'm kind of you know, it's
trying to stick around. I feel like talking to you,
your feelings might be not that anybody was not genuine
this last season, but your feelings were very genuine because
you didn't really care if you were there or not.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
Yeah. Yeah, And I think one thing is so I
told my parents I got on the show the day
before I left. Bobershul have told them earlier, but.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
I don't wild move.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Hey, mom and Dad, I'm not gonna have my phone
for the next whoever knows how long because I'm going
on the best.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Yeah. I called him. I said, hey, so you know,
I may not have my phone for a couple of months.
And they're like, what's going on? And I said, I
think I'm gonna go on this show, and my dad
goes which one? So when I told them which show
was going on, they were kind of the ones that
my dad specifically, he said, I'm obviously going to support
you if you go on the show. But he's like
if it's not you, You're going to be totally fine. So
(09:22):
he's like, just go in there and just you know,
be yourself and have a good time. So I think
having that mindset and not expecting anything is it helped
me keep calm And to me, like, if there's multiple women,
I don't think it's a competition because at the end
of the day, he's going to pick who he wants
and you're supposed to pick him as well. So to me,
I feel like I was hanging out with my friends
who kind of kissed him after me. But you know,
(09:42):
it's totally fine. You know, that was a part of
the whole thing. But yeah, I agree with you. I
think I was very genuine and it worked out the
best way possible I think for a final three in
my opinion, So I was happy.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Right after the finale or your departure. You were really
honest about the fact that, like when you were in
the top three and at that Rose ceremony, you were like,
I don't think it's I don't fit here anymore. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
can you explain a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, I think go after hometowns. I think it's very
emotionally right, Like you don't see your family for so
long and you finally see them, I think it clicks
for you, and I think a lot of I felt
guilt for some reason when I saw my family. I
was like, you know, I haven't seen them, the notes
going on with my life, And even though Joey was
very supportive and we meshed and we met my family,
(10:44):
I could just feel that I don't think it was
going to continue. After fantasy suites. I think we both
knew that the connection between the other two were stronger
than he and I, and I think I became more
of the platonic type of love than a romantic type
of love and nothing. I think us both understanding that
was the end of our relationship. It was so hard
(11:05):
to not hear my name being called, but at the
same time, I knew it wasn't going to meet me,
so I had some peace going to the ceremony, but
I still cried. So you can't even it's so sad
regardless of yeah, even if you know it's the end,
it's like all of the time you spent together and
everything leading up to it, that it's finally done.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
Yeah, it's and it's such an incredible experience. Especially when
you do it like you did it that you look
back on you This was wild, emotional. I have a
lot of memories. These are things that people want to
talk to me about for the next you know, twenty
years of my life. And it's sad to then say
this is done. Something interesting about your seat about your
(11:45):
season of The Bachelor, because it did feel like a
lot of the women got along a lot better than
previous seasons, especially when it came down, you know, to
the final three. Are you still close with Kelsey and Daisy?
I mean, obviously, you know they have moved on. They're
both doing their thing. But have you guys stayed in contact?
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Oh? Yeah, I think everyone that I was friends with
while filming, I'm still friends with now. So you know,
Leiah has always been my girl since day one, the
whole way connection. Daisy and I have been close since
day one. I was her first hug in the mansion,
and actually we have the Can I tell the story
how days and I met?
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Yes, please.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
She loved telling the story if you ask her this.
So I didn't know that she had her cochlear I
didn't know that she had issues. So we're sitting in
the kitchen. It's super loud, and like I was over
stimulated and she was over stimulated, and we had no idea.
So she was stating next to me and I was like,
I was like, hey, I'm Rachel. She's like, I'm Daisy
and I was like cool, and that was it. We
were just sitting and I said and then I guess
(12:44):
she couldn't hear me, so she has got up and
like walked to mid conversation and I was like this,
she's kind of rude. I was like, I really like
her and came back and where'd you go? And she
was like huh. I said, I like you, you're kind
of just in your own world. And I didn't know
it's because she couldn't. Yeah, the next day she told
me and we're laughing. We were just dying laughing about it.
So we just always joked about how we didn't hear
(13:05):
each other.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
The first night, but we just I love that.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
But yeah, so I'm close with them. Kelsey and I talk,
you know when we can. They're so busy, like all
of us are doing our own thing, but we still
have time to kind of reconnect and touch base. So
I love them.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Yeah, and I know that you are really a support
system for my friend Sydney. So thank you for that. Sydney.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
She was going through it, Yes, she was going for it,
but she handled it. She handled it so well. She's
looking at her, she's doing great, she's thriving, so.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Okay, I don't know how many people could get through it.
She is definitely, she definitely proved that she's very strong.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Really resilient. Yeah. She she's such a sweet person. I
think we're like when I go on in public and
some people have still come up to me and they're like,
are your friends with that one girl like Sydney she
has a name, and they're like, yeah, she's so mean.
I'm like, no, dude, she's she's so nice. Like I
don't know, people forget that. It's you're not there for
everything that's going on in the show.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
But also Maria, where is she? Like I haven't seen
her anywhere on social media or anything like that. I mean,
I don't follow her, but like I feel like she's
been quiet.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
I think she's just I think she's enjoying the piece
and then she's making a lot of connections with other
people from other seasons. I think from last time I've
seen what she's doing, just traveling the world. We're all
kind of just in our own world right now, just
doing her own thing, which I love. But yeah, I
haven't talked to her in a minute either.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
There's always this like element and you'd know more than
we do right now of people you know, meeting up
from past seasons, and the singles especially kind of find
their ways to the same events, the same parties, the
same things. And then you see all these you know,
all this stuff come out on social media where they're
they're together. Have you won for you? Have you you know,
(14:49):
kind of connected with anybody from past seasons? And then
two you mentioned earlier in the show that you're getting
educated on some of the past contestants. What names get
hopped up in that conversation?
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Okay, so I was like the basic ones, like I
know who I know who you guys are because I
have to educate myself, but.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Nobody's telling you about us. You're googling us, right, I
had no id?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Okay, I had to. And then there was one time
I was I was at a party and someone came
up to me, Oh.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I think it, I think it's she's like it was
Tyler Cameron, Oh Tyler.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Oh okay, so Toddle Cameron. That's a good one. You know.
I got the invite to go.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
To his Oh that's right, yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
Show right, yeah, And I had to educate myself and
I went up to him. I said, I'm so sorry,
are you Why are you important? Again? Like I just
know your name, I just need to know what it is.
And he's like, oh, it's okay. I was just talking
on Hannah Brown season. I said, oh, I know who
she is. I know who she is. I did you
make it far? And he was like yeah. I said, okay,
(15:56):
I'm so Leah always tells me Leah from the show.
She's like Tita, I mean sisters like Tita. You're gonna
start embarrassing yourself. You just start knowing whose people are
because you go to the events and you have no
id to whose people are, and then you might humble
them too much. I said, sorry, they could use it.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
I know.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
I have to bring like a folder with me to
have like pictures like.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Yeah, product like oppressed, like a press.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Like this is yeah. I think I'm starting to learn,
Like I learned who John Henry rudzs who my best
friend I learned who Tanner was from Leah. I learned
other people through charity. She's kind of told me who
people are. I'm just I'm a slotle learner.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
No, you're fine, You're good. You don't even have to learn.
You're good. Just need people. Yeah, let's talk about like
your life. You are still nursing, yes, And the show
complicated your whereabouts a little bit. They said that you
were based in Maine, but you're based in California. And
if you're not in California, you're with your family in Hawaii.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Yes. So born and raised in Hawaii, left, came to
California for some years of school, moved to Maine for
nursing school, became a nurse in Washington State, Okay, now
working as a nurse in California. And then when I'm
not working, because I'm a travel nurse, I go home
and then I come back and forth. Just the best
of both worlds.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Honestly, why be a travel nurse if you could just
live in Hawaii?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
I like, I love home. I just like to have
my own space and do my own thing and then
go home into my family, you know, like get Island Fever.
I lived in my whole life I like to Yeah,
the bigger mainland. I guess.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
It's a it's an interesting world where Hawaii is a
place you're choosing not to live full time. Nobody, it
doesn't make sense to many.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, here in California. California can have a lot of
elements of Hawaii with its like perma summer and all that.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
I think a lot of my coworkers they always ask me,
They're like, why don't you live in Hawaii? And I
mean home will always be there, Like it's it's also
just so expected to live in Hawaii on your own
and here I live with my best friend and we travel,
we can like drive to different states. You can do
all those things here. You can't do it in Hawaii.
Like if you're in Hawaii, you're on that rock.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
So but Maine is so like Maine is not a
home for you, Like even though that's like a like
a place that people continue to speak of, Maine is
Maine is a stop on the way to in your life.
Speaker 4 (18:24):
Yeah, Maine was just two years of my life and
I had I had a really like I think Maine
was my two of my hardest years. So I don't
ever plan it going back there, to be honest, But yeah,
I have like really bad memories in Maine.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Well was that a relationship memory?
Speaker 4 (18:41):
It was? Yeah, it was one of my worst relationships
was in Maine, and where I lived was not the
most progressive place to live safe, right, just weird experiences
with people.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
But but what people don't know you were in Maine
and you were an athlete. I mean you got a
volleyball scholarship.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
Yeah, I've played volleyball while doing nursery school, which was
a wild time. I think when I tell people that,
they always they're like surprised. I'm like, why is that surprising?
Like my bilt weird just told me that they would
I just say that, But yeah, people get surprised. And
I did nursing school and volleyball, so it was a
good experience. But I just definitely would not go back
to me.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Okay, okay, Well you say that in your bachelor bio
that there's nothing better than a Hawaiian Christmas, to which
we're like, really, that's to me personally, as somebody who
could go summer all year long. I think the month
of December is the only time that I do want
(19:43):
that christmasy winter feel, so why is a Hawaiian summer great?
I mean Christmas, y'all.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
Get me wrong. I've experienced my first white Christmas and
it was beautiful. But I think it's just the whole
idea of how my family goes about Christmas back home,
and we just have like really fun tray dish, Like
you can go to the beach on a Christmas morning
if you wanted to, you go for a morning swim.
It just I think the energy in Hawaii is just
always Christmas is such a loving day. So when it's
(20:11):
nice and sunny and you're with your family, it just
feels very warm and loving altogether. And with like my
Filipino culture and how we do things, I always just
think Christmas in Hawaii tops a white Christmas. That's just
my opinion. Come come find out and come to my
family if you want, you can experience a Christmas in Hawaiian.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Speaking of your family, I do want to dig in
a little bit because you were very brave during the
woman tell a hall speaking about some of the hateful
comments that you received following kind of the airing. I
believe it was during hometowns, Like following hometowns was when
you felt like the hateful comments started coming in. I
(21:01):
guess my question for you is, uh, what, like where
did you feel like that was coming from? I mean,
I guess if you could try to speak into the
the criticism, like where was that coming from? And then
like how have you tried to respond? Yeah to those?
Speaker 4 (21:17):
And I think I mean I again, because I don't
really know how the other seasons were. Maybe my family's
hometown was very different than other hometowns, so I think
to many viewers it was just a whole new world
they were kind of forced to watch, I guess, but
I think it's there's just a lot of people who
(21:38):
just maybe just judged my family based of how we look,
and I think that's kind of where it stemmed from.
And obviously I didn't expect any of the hate to
come or I come after hometowns. I thought it was
such a great day. But you know, when I asked
my dad and they saw some of the comments, They're like,
you know, it's just people are just going to have
an opinion about literally anything. If it's not their norm,
they're going to probably be against it. And that's kind
(22:00):
of what happened. And as a result, like I got
the heat for my family got the heat for it,
so it was hard at first. I definitely had to
like delete some of the messages and kind of forget
some of it. But to be honest, I think many
viewers of the show are like Midwest type of I
think the popula should watch the show's like Midwest or
(22:23):
like East Coast, so they don't see a lot of
Filipino stuff, like cultural things at hometowns maybe, which is
very different for them. But yeah, it's still hurt because
why you don't come in my family like that, like
just let us have a gun.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
You wrote an essay for the Today Show about it?
Did that feel cathartic?
Speaker 4 (22:44):
I guess I had a hard one. I guess when
I wrote that it was actually hard because I don't
mind speaking up about it, But then it still takes
me back to things that happened to me in Maine
and then things that happened to me on the show.
Being so public and national, it kind of always had
me choked up when I was writing it, and I
was getting angry anxious when they were going to publish
because I was like, oh, this ether is going to
(23:04):
give me more hate because I'm talking about it again.
But it was also very empowering because then I could
just speak about it and whether people want to hear
it or not, it's out there for them to read
it or to hear. And it's still I still get
comments here and there, like you know, the TikTok with
John Henry. I deleted some comments because some people would
make would say stuff like she doesn't like brown people,
(23:24):
he doesn't like brown women, like take this down, and
I'm like, dude, let the man lived, let him come
at dinner. It's it's wild. And so I still get
some things here and owt. But the end of the day,
it's just people who are miserable and they wouldn't say
to my life.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
So well, yeah, those you know, the like the trolls
or whatever you call them, you know, don't interest me
as much as the general like, hey, you felt like
your hometown was not appreciated respected that there wasn't this
level of curiosity too, Hey what's happening here? But I
(24:02):
want to ask a question because I think it happens
so often on the show, or people assume it happens.
When we saw your hometown, which was really entertaining and
really fun and really like there's a lot of like
good things happening there. How much of a say did
your family get? I guess maybe the question trying to
(24:23):
ask is how accurate of a portrayal of what your
family would do at a gathering? Was existing at that
hometown date or was it requested and kind of forced
upon everybody?
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Yeah? So, I because I think it was hometown. You
can't talk to your families, you don't really know what's
actually going on. But all I did tell you know,
the show was my hometown's. I would like it to
be as authentic to my Filipino culture as close as possible,
and it did portray I'm not saying I could go
(24:55):
to my Auntie's house and we do Tinni kling every time,
but Tinni kling is something that we have done as
a family. We had like family footage of us doing that,
the pig, the lech on, we do that special occasion.
So that's very true and authentic to who we are.
And the lay, the leo that I wore and the
lay that they gave Joey. I get that when I
come home. So it's pretty accurate of how my family is.
(25:18):
And I think some people thought maybe we were overdoing it.
But I loved it and the food was great, so
and the show loved the food.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
The producers they're eating they did.
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah, I was like, eat it up.
Speaker 2 (25:29):
It's did they tell your family, like you guys can
come up with the ideas the traditions, So I did ask.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
My mom did tell me. They did ask for their suggestions,
and my mom's so sweet. It's like whatever Rachel wants.
While I was saying whatever my mom wants. So they
did ask me, like, are you okay with dancing te
Ni Klan? I was like, oh, I would love to.
I that's something I did when I was younger, and
I said I would love to have like Filipino foods.
My auntie cooks and Filipino foods. So we all worked
together to make it as best as possible. And since
(25:58):
it wasn't in my actual hometown hometown, them doing that
made me feel more at home like I was in Hawaii.
They added that aspect to it, so I thought it
was perfect. I wanted it to be.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
I think it's great, and I think the comments are
maybe just I mean, I don't want to but they're
coming from a place of just like discomfort. Unfamiliarness, which
is like the one of the like if you switch
down and be like, hey, when I don't understand something,
that's one of the fun parts of life because when
I get older, there's less and less that's new to me.
And you brought that and so I'm just I'm saying, like,
(26:30):
to your family and to yourself, like you're helping people
see that there's a world outside of our little you know,
spots in our little neighborhoods, and I think that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Yeah, And it's funny because I'm like all of you
guys making these comments when to come to Hawaii so
not like.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
And I'm sure that it made Joey feel like even
more comfortable to be like discovering and exploring something new
then just like, oh, we're just gonna sit around a couch.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
Yeah. And it was great too because he lived in
Hawaii for oh duh. Yeah it was I don't know
what it was like a year or two, I think,
so thankfully for him it was. It wasn't like a
wild idea. Maybe the tinnikling was a little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
No, he was fine, but it was all good. We're
all good.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
He's fine.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
I do have one kind of like final question here
for you at least, and thanks for giving us your
time today. Are you dating?
Speaker 4 (27:29):
I am.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
To be honest, I think that was just a yes.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
No, I'm not dating this guy, but we're just getting
to know each other.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
Yeah, so you're dating.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
We've gone in a couple of dates.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
Does he have two first names?
Speaker 4 (27:47):
Does he have with you? No? I actually posted on
my Instagram and people are trying to figure out who
the person is in my Instagram because it's his arm,
his hand.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Does he lived you in California?
Speaker 4 (28:01):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Is he from Betslar Nation in any way? No, there
we go. It's not the two names.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
I don't think anyone's going to find out who he is.
I called him yesterday and I said, they're going to
eat you live if they find out who you are.
He's like, yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Do you do I would I know him?
Speaker 4 (28:19):
No? Oh, okay, he's a little humble person. No one,
no one, no one knows he is.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
That's good. How'd you meet at uh at a baseball game? Cute?
Is he a baseball player? No, it's the humble man.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
No he's not. No, he's not, but he does play sports.
So yeah, he's nice, he's but we're just feeling it out.
It's like new, you know.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely new because I don't think
you would have posted the John Henry thing if you
were actually in a relationship, right right.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
So I also told him, I was like, you know,
if we were to do this, I don't want to
bring you into my world. And it's like a lot
are you.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Yeah, have fun with it, just enjoy it for his
long as you want to enjoy it.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Yeah, I'm just hanging out, keeping it quiet. There you go.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Before we leave, we have to ask about Jen. Have
you spoken to her since I have not?
Speaker 4 (29:11):
We follow each other now on Instagram because I think
when she was gone, you don't have your phone, so
we didn't together, but we messaged before. I wish her luck.
I also, you know, hugged and I said, like, good
luck on your show. I think before she started filming
at the after final rose. So I'm very excited to
see what happens for her. It's just wild, wild that
(29:33):
she's batched for it.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
It will you be watching?
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Will I be watching? I will be informed?
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Huh, Look at her, she's really not into the show.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
I think I will love for the season because her
being also the first Asian batcherette. I am very excited
about that. I am very proud of that. But I
don't know, like some of the girls, like they're so
into it. I'm trying to get there.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
Is it safe to say you guys weren't really that
close in the house.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
We weren't super close, but we did talk. I mean,
I think for me, I was like Switzerland in the house.
I could kind of talk to everybody. I was pretty neutral. Yeah,
and you know, we had a little discussion stuff. But
we never argued or bickered or anything. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Did you at all look at her cast and think,
oh man, I wish I were the bachelorette or are
you like, uh, I'm glad I wasn't the bachelorrette. I
wasn't going to find anyone in this bunch.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
There's a couple. I said, that's a good one. Well
i'll say the name, but I was like, that's a
good one.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I guess that. I do have one more question than
if they would have asked you to be the bachelorette,
would you have said yes? Be honest?
Speaker 4 (30:36):
You know, I went back and forth. So when I
was leaving when I was in the like when I
was being when tak me back to the hotel after
I didn't get my name was called. I was so
upset and I told the therapist and I said, don't
ask me to do anything for this show ever again.
I don't want to be involved in it. And she's like,
are you Are you sticking to that? And I was like,
I'm sticking to that. She's like, are you sure, because
(30:58):
I'm going to tell them and I was like, yeah,
I don't want be about to. I don't want to
be I p I don't do anything. And then two
weeks later I said, maybe overreacted. Maybe maybe maybe I
was just really sad. So I was iffy about it.
And I think they knew that. I think they knew
I didn't want to. I just I don't know. I
don't think I would have thrived. Also as a bachelor,
I would have been like, you're out, You're out. I
don't like you half have you gone? And you can't
(31:19):
do that. You have to keep like an amount of people.
And I think I would know if I didn't like
somebody to make it to the end.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
N one, I think you would have been really good
but I definitely see what you're saying because I have
a personality like that too. I couldn't fake it.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Yeah, no, I can't figive I don't like you, You'll know,
You'll just know you. I won't kiss you.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Ben's like, I'm a good faker.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
I'm a pro.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
The Uh Well, Rachel, it's been really great to have
you here and we've really like been excited to catch
up with you. We hope that you can come to
some of our little like iHeart gatherings. They're right, there's
no stress, there's no pressure. It's just a good hang
getting to know some people and creating some more memories.
Now that you know, we don't really have a spin
(32:10):
off show to connect with others on. So Rachel, you're
one of the best people. Love you, Thanks for coming on.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Thanks guys, Thank you, see La Bye.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
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