December 22, 2025 • 27 mins
Today on “Happy Hour,” Joe and Serena are catching up with Bachelor Nation couple Sam McKinney and Alli Jo! The two open up about how their relationship has evolved since “Paradise,” the biggest adjustments they’ve faced off-camera, and what surprised them most once the show ended. They also talk navigating privacy in the “Bachelor” universe, spending the holidays together, and how they’re approaching conversations about the future. Plus, Sam teases his new HGTV show! Tune in and be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, every well, welcome back to Thatcher Happy Hour. I'm
Joe and I'm Serena, and we are here today with
Sam Dan Joe. Welcome to the podcast as a couple
for the first time on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome, Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Serena's kind of been jumping in taking taking over.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah, my coffee kicked in before Joe's did coffee.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I think I'm just I think I'm just stupid. Sorry.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
So, so, last time Sam, we had you on the
podcast was Paradise. Were yep, right before we were rooting
for you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We were sad to see you go.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
We were sad to see you go. We really were,
And I would say, you know, would love to see
you on next season, But I actually hope you're not
on next season because you're here with your girlfriend Ali Joe,
and we're so excited to chat with you. Guys both
kind of how this came to be, You guys were
ships passing in the night on Bauchler and Paradise. What
a miss?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
What a miss?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Actually, because I really am not just saying this because
you two are both here, but it would you both
together getting together on Paradise would have been a great
addition to the season because you're both fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Some would say that, some would say.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
That, hey, listen, if they're talking, at least you're doing something.
So so it's reality TV, you know, don't get.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Us started on that experience.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Well, let's take it back. Before you know, we get
into The Bachelor in Paradise and all of this fun
relationship stuff. You guys had spoken a little before Paradise, right,
you both knew you were going to be there. Kind
of walk us through where your relationship was before you
went to Paradise and you know how you connected and
what was going on.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Take it away, baby, Well, we didn't definitely know we
were both going to be there. I was really hopeful,
like I had a feeling because I just had a
good feeling. But I had messaged him first, So ladies,
don't be ready to message somebody first. Because we knew
of a mutual person. I don't know, long story short,
somebody like compared me to him, and I just thought
(02:10):
that was like comical, And we just started talking and
Sam had given me like really really good advice just
moving forward. So it was just like a little bit
of chit chat. It wasn't anything crazy. And then yeah,
we would just kind of like swipe up on each
other's stories and that was really it. And then we
just kind of started talking about Paradise, asking if each
other were going. We both really didn't know, and that
(02:31):
was an honest answer, and yeah, that was it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Okay, So going into paradise, I think it's safe to
say you were both on each other's radar, like you
never know until you get there.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
But well, I mean, I don't know if I mean
that's I don't know if that's safe to say. Were
you Well, they were, I mean, but it wasn't. It wasn't.
It was more friendly from what I'm Okay, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Tell us, were you like, maybe there's something that romantically
or were you friend zoned?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
No, I think there was, there was definitely something there romantically.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
I think it's it's kind of easy to figure out
in the way that two people communicate. You can figure
out if somebody's trying to be friends or if they
want something more than that. I think for us, we
were trying not to spoil what could possibly be. You know,
we're still communicating through a phone and through social media
and stuff like that, so just kind of saving the
you know, the the chit chat for in person getting
(03:22):
to know each.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Other and whatnot.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
So my experience on the Bachelorette was completely different than
what hers was on the Bachelor. So whenever she got
compared to me, I was figuring things out week by
week because I didn't necessarily know what was going to
be shown, what wasn't going to be shown. So all
I wanted to do was kind of give her the
heads up of, hey, what could happen. Hopefully it doesn't happen,
(03:44):
Thank gosh, it didn't happen with her, But for me,
whenever I went out to Paradise, she was the only
name that I dropped. I think I was first and
foremost because I talked to it. I knew that was
somebody that I was going to be interested in. There
was nobody else from really any other season that I
was like that I spoke to, that I was really
interested in. So I really just locked in on her,
(04:06):
But ultimately she was She was really the only person
that caught my eye. And now, long story short, I
do understand why. So so yeah, that was That's that's
my take for forgetting to Paradise at.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Least Okay, so you get down there, Ali Joe isn't there.
We see you kind of start talking with Jazz, walk
us through that relationship a little bit.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Yeah, I was extremely disheartened that that Ali Joe was there.
I think I was the last person that came down
for episode one, so everybody was already there on the
beach outside of Kat and Dale. I think they were
on a date whenever I went down there, So I was,
(04:50):
you know, expecting to see Ali Joe there and uh,
you know, and that she wasn't there, and we kind
of took a little bit of a break and I'm like, hey,
what you.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Know, what's going on here? Like I really did.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I put all my eggs into one basket and it
wasn't there. So I had to completely diminish what I
had thought I was going to walk into and just
start from scratch. So ultimately, I was extremely nervous walking
down there. I was definitely uneasy just from the way
that my you know, the last time I was on TV,
the way that it all went. So I went in
there just with kind of just an open mind and
wanted to see the way that some people treated.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Me maybe was going to be different than what other
other people did, and Jess with somebody that.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Was just super warm. She also, i know, caught a
little bit of hate on her season on the on
the Bachelor as well, so it was something that she
was like, hey, you know, don't don't sweat any of
this stuff right here. Everybody that's here right now does
understand this process a little bit. So you know, they're
looking at you as Sam. They want to get to
know you for, you know, what you claim to be,
not what they, you know, the America think you are.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So she was somebody that really just I think took some.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Nerves away from me and uh, and that was something
that was really important to me.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
The timing from me getting to the beach to making.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Somebody to go on that date was very limited, so
I got to talk to three people and that was it. Ultimately,
just went with the person that made me feel the
most comfortable in that moment right there, and.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
That was just nice. I would say for our listeners,
whoever ends up getting cast at Bachelor in Paradise, if
you're listening to this podcast, that is important. You should
go into Paradise and whoever you expect to see there,
tell yourself that they're not going to be there, and
if they are, they are it's a pleasant surprise. But
(06:35):
I think that happens so much on this show, where
people are like, Okay, like this is how I think
it's going to go. Me and this person like hit
it off on DMS, But I really I think we're
going to be something.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
And then it's a matter man, it's a matter of
like human nature is to try and figure things out.
You want to put yourself on a path of success,
and the problem is that you can never figure out
what the Bachelor production is going to do because they
are already five steps.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Ahead of you.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
So you think that you're on the right path and
you have this game plan and then you go down
there and Ali Joe isn't there, and my game plan
is shot to hell.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
After that, Yeah, it's this constant fight for trying to
like control your experience and your journey while simultaneously having
no control at all. Exactly, So, Ali Joe has jumped
to you. Obviously Sam didn't work out with Jess. You
(07:33):
get sent home, Ali Joe. You hit the beach, You
have a sick entrance on that jet ski. You look great.
Are you looking for Sam? When you hit the beach.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, So just like to rewind a little bit my
experience on The Bachelor, Just like mentally, I have like
a lot of anxiety behind the scenes. That environment was
just like not the best for me. So preparing for
a Bachelor and powered ice, I went in with it
like such like a great head on my shoulders. I
was like really comfid in myself. Like before the Bachelor,
I had like three weeks to prepare, Like I got
(08:03):
asked extremely last minute. This at least I had months
to prepare. Mentally, I kind of knew what I was
getting into. So when I was told I was going
in with a date card on a jet ski, I
was like, finally, this is my moment, Like I feel
so good, Like I really feel like Sam's going to
be there. They're doing this on purpose, they know like
I want to meet him hopefully he like said he
wanted to meet me, which is how I felt in
(08:23):
the moment. So doing this like sick entrance with Parisa,
who's my friend, I just felt so good and I
was so hopeful. So when I got on the beach
and I saw that he wasn't there, and I had
found out that he had just got sent home. I
was really disappointed, but like Sam just said, I also
did have an open mind because you guys know too,
you like, you know, you give up a lot of
(08:43):
stuff to prepare for this show, Like I almost lost
my job two times. So I was like, you know what,
I'm here, I'm in the moment. I'm going to make
the best of this situation. Everything happens for a reason.
I would have loved to have met him, but you know,
I'm here and I'm going to make the most of
my opportunity. I'm open, Like that's what dating is about,
and I have.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
To you have to be when you go on these shows,
like there's a part of you that has to be selfish,
Like you have to be like hey, like I'm actually
like this could go bad. I'm giving up. I'm giving
up a lot, Like I got to make sure like
I get what I want or try at least to get.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
What I want absolutely, and like that's I feel like
exactly what I did. But I just felt like I
just was so disappointed. And I also was only there
for like thirty six hours, so I really feel like
I didn't get you know, the experience, Like, yes, do
I have Sam, absolutely, but besides him and like separating
the two, I just felt like so disappointed and frustrated.
(09:34):
But you know, the thirty six hours I was there
was cool. I did really good shrimp tacos.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I forgot you guys were having rose ceremonies like non
stop on this season.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And also it rained every single day while we were well,
I was only there for like two days like that.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, but I heard it rained a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Cost Rika was a gorgeous setting to film, but that rain.
I wanted to go a problem.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
I'm never going back, Sam, you should go back though.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Honestly we went to We love Costa Rica. We were
in Costa Rica last last like New Year's Eve, yes,
for like twelve days and it was.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But it did rain like the first three days. Yes,
And I was like, oh.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
No, it did did. Yeah, okay, So so you both
go on paradise. It doesn't work out the way you
want and you have average experiences at best, but you
did it, and then how does this come to be?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
So I had message to him again, but like have
a season to know that, Like, you know, I had
my phone. I was like, I got a message this guy,
and I was like, hey heard you were here a
couple hours ago, and this is like on my way
to the airport, and he was like, hey, here's my number,
text me. We started texting. I got back to Florida,
He got back to South Carolina. From Florida, I went
to Jersey because, like, when I tell you, guys, I
(10:50):
was so upset and I like was so distraught over
this experience. I like literally had to come to Florida,
drop my stuff off, pack new bag, and go to
Jersey and be with my family because I was just
I was so upset. So I was really upset. So
Sam was there, and it's hard to talk to other
people about this, which I'm sure you guys get because
they're not in the same position. They don't understand. So
Sam did and that's kind of when we really just
(11:12):
started talking every day. I remember it was like Mother's
Day weekend and I was with my mom and Sam
and I were texting.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Okay, so let's talk about the first time you guys
met actually in person. So you guys, so you both
get back from Paradise and when do you actually meet up?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
And Wall gave him a shot of whiskey.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, how long was that was? That? Like? A month.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, about a month went by where we were kind
of just like talking back and forth, and then he
finally booked a trip to Florida and the rest of
his history versus His first trip was early June, mid June.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
You guys facetiming or was this mostly like DMS?
Speaker 5 (11:54):
No, we would FaceTime. Yeah, we would FaceTime. I'd like
talked with her and her mom and stuff like that. Obviously,
if I'm gonna fly to Florida, then uh, then I
need to make sure that I'm walking into a situation
where I'm not going to make I'm not gonna feel uncomfortable,
She's not gonna feel uncomfortable. And and ultimately just seeing
if we were compatible, you know, through the.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Through FaceTime and just talking and seeing how all.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
That went, seeing if we could keep that connection for
a month without ever seeing each other or meeting each other,
if that was possible, and if it proved that it was,
then you know, she was definitely worth a trip down there.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I was. I wasn't really nervous leading.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Up until the trip until my dad goes he said.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Where are you staying down there? And I was like,
oh shit.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
I'm like I just assumed that I was gonna stay
with her, and I'm like, oh man, so I'm like
sweating bullets. So she picks me up from the airport
and we go back to her house, and like in
the it's in the back of my brain like if
she asked me where I'm staying, I am so fucked.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I'm so fucked.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
And uh, I think I moved a little timidly around
her for like the entire day. I think, uh, also too,
she only knows me from Bachelor, you know what. Bachelor
has shown not really me as a person outside of
the month that we had spoke, So I don't want
to give off any impression that she might have or.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Anything like that.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
So I moved definitely, uh cautiously around her.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And I think she was the one that finally.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
Was like, yeah, are we doing this or we're not
doing this?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And I was like, all right, here we go, here
we go. You know, yeah, I can get behind this.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Ellie Joe, were you when he flew to Florida? Were
you automatic? Was it like automatically like he's staying with me?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Like I like didn't know, and like I don't.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Have you guys should I don't know how you guys
did have that Cobo.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You're like, I don't want to. You're probably thinking like
I don't want to be, like, so are you staying
with me? And like give him any assumptions or if
he's like no, then you're like putting yourself out there
for rejection. Sam, you're probably feeling the same way, like
I didn't even think of it.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I'm blaming my dad.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
This is such a unique experience too, because I don't
like having people here, like in my apartment, to be honest,
but like, it's just such a unique experience that it
was kind of like okay, but like I was, like,
I can also drop them off at a motel or
something down the street.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I don't like the street.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
But truly, like I think if I was in your shoes,
I picking him up and we hadn't had the conversation,
I'd probably be like, well, let's just see how the
first few hours go, and if it's weird, I'll be like,
so where are you staying? And if it's good, then
you know, we can see where then I take that.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Could you imagine that though? Could you imagine being Sam?
And then and then and then she hits you after
like two and a half hours of hanging out. Where
are you staying?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, but that's gonna be so it's going bad.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I live in a place that people vacation, but my
I wasn't nervous about this because I kind of had
a good feeling about like the flow of our conversations
before we met in person. But something that was always
on my mind is that I don't want a relationship
and our conversations just because we have this in common
to be about the Bachelor, Like there needs to be
something else because in previously relationships are dating things like
(14:56):
dating guys before, like the gym for instance. I'll talk
to me about the gym and like their diet, and
I'm like that's great, Like I don't care, Like there's
got to be more right off the jump, like we
had so much to talk about. We had so many
things that we had in common and so many things
that we definitely didn't have in common. So it's really
nice to know that, like our relationship didn't just start
(15:16):
because of this you know thing that we got kicked
off of Paradise, Like it was more than that.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Yes, totally, do you think do you think you guys,
if you if neither of you were on the show
and you met, you would have hit it off the
same way.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I mean I would have walked up. I would have
walked up too, that's for sure. So yeah, I think so.
I think it was just something. It was such a
good like icebreakers. Really, I think the best way that
I could put it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
It's something that no matter you know, if you haven't.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Walked through the process of this show, then you will
never understand it. I've tried to explain it to my parents,
and it's so difficult to see anything past that, Hey,
this is just a real dating show. The emotion that
we all experience on this show is left only they're
not you know, the eyes of America can't really fathom it.
(16:09):
So for me, it was just a it was a
really easy icebreaker with her her experience. Obviously coming from Paradise,
she definitely had a lot to say and there was
a lot to talk about, so there's always something there
to fall back on. But also too, like she's just
the easiest person really to talk to. She's straightforward, pretty blunt.
(16:30):
I would consider myself the same way, just kind of
a you know, fuck it mentality and that's just how
we move, and if you don't like it, it's totally okay,
and if you do, then great. So knowing that she moves,
you know, she walks through life in a very similar fashion,
just made it very easy to see that, Hey.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Whatever I saw is what I was going to get.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
And I liked everything that I saw and continue to see.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
So after that first meeting, I don't know how many
days it was. You guys go your separate ways.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
A date meeting sounds it was a weekend, Yeah, date?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Wait what meeting?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
His first day ever, he ended up extending his flight
to He was supposed to come from like a Friday
to Sunday. And on Sunday he's like, I think I'm
gonna stay and I was like, okay, okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Out of here. Don't don't freaking nonchalant me saying that
right there, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Now, I've never I've never extended a flight, but we
were having so much fun and also too like whenever
I was booking my flight, the same thing. I didn't
want to be in a place for too long and
her feel uncomfortable or me feel uncomfortable. So I didn't
want to push my you know, push the limits at all.
And then Sunday came around and we were having a
blast on a Sunday fun day and I thought, shit,
(17:47):
I don't want to go home right now. Let's let's
see if we can move this flight. And we did
and it was Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
So when you leave, are you guys officially boyfriend and girlfriend?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Now?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Oh yeah, when did that happen?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Uh, that happened the third time actually that we hung out.
But here's the thing too, Like, and I'm sure you
guys can relate to other people can relate, Like being
with somebody consecutive days in a row is like going
on like five dates. So like by the time we
hung out the third time, that could have been like
the fifteenth date by then. But yeah, the second time
we hung out, I flew to South Carolina and I
(18:28):
met like his entire family, and there was a lot
of people in his family, friends, everybody. Like we weren't
even really alone, like I was in the weeds with
his family. But it was great and I feel like
it was even said He's like, it's like a test,
and I fully respect to that, because if I'm dating somebody,
I need my family's approval, and he's the same way.
So I think once he saw me kind of like
(18:49):
fit in or how do I fit in with his family,
then it was my turn to see how he could
fit in with my family, and then we would go
from there. And you know, you you I feel like
in these types of reallyationships long distance, especially like you
do these things sooner rather than later. And plus I
don't even live in the same state as my family,
so the timing, the timing was just crazy how it
(19:09):
worked out for us all to basically meet.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And what's what is the how does this look moving forward?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
You're Ali, Joe, You're still in Florida. Sam, you're in Charleston,
right or South Carolina?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
South Carolina?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
What what is?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Is?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
There is there a plan yet?
Speaker 4 (19:30):
We talked about it really often. I still have my lease.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
We'll part of Florida, We'll part of Florida.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I'm in Fort Lauderdale.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
See, this is why I needed the show Bachelor and
Paradise to win the money. And I could have just
broke my lease, cup hot us together distance, but no,
I think by you know, twenty twenty six, we'll have
a lot in store for for us.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Yeah, I think whenever her lease ends, I own my
house here in South Carolina. I think the long goal
is to live in Florida. I was just there this
past weekend, and I'm not gonna lie. It was really
tough to be in the you know, eighty degree weather,
and then by the time I landed in South Carolina
at ten o'clock at night, it was twenty five degrees.
(20:13):
I forgot to drip my faucet and my water froze.
So I'm like, sh dude, I did not want to
be here anymore. So long goal is to be in Florida.
But I think the short term goal is to probably
make her way to South Carolina for a little bit.
We'll live together, save some money, and then go buy
home that we can kind of both see ourselves living
(20:36):
in raising a family and down down in Florida.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
What how far of a drive is that?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Ten hours?
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Really, it's that I for some reason I thought it
was a lot closer.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Yeah, my sister said the same thing the other day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Yeah, it was like South Carolina and Florida, Like, you're
right there.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Only five hours. It's only five hours to Jacksonville. But
when you get into like the southern part of Florida.
It's yeah, it's down.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
There, Florida.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
That's another thing we also said to like if he
was to live, probably in any other state, this wouldn't work,
like the flights an hour and a half, saying, you know,
we're on the east coast, even if he was, let's
say I was in Florida and he was Injuried Like,
to me, that's even too far, Like we're right, I
feel like where we need to be at least to
make long distance work.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, how have you guys been doing that? What's what
are the hacks? What are the tips to make this work?
Long distance?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
We see each other basically every other weekend the past
time we have it, and that felt really long. But
just like planning things that like we're excited to like
do together, like we always have something to look forward to.
It's only off. I'm not going to lie, but you
know it's really worth it to us.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
So yeah, which is being intentional.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
It's being intentional with I think all of your conversations
and stuff, and obviously there's days where you know the
depth of some the depth of some certain conversations from
an outsider's perspective can be shallow or deep, but to
her and I, whenever you know you can feel the
emotion behind the words that you put out, whether it's
how is your day or if it's something that's you know,
(22:06):
a little bit more deep, as long as the intention
is there with you know, just hey, this person means
everything to me, then yeah, it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
It's kind of easy to maneuver through that.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Not seeing each other is definitely difficult, But the communication
aspect of it, she's a good communicator. I'm working on it,
but yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
I mean it's it's one of those things.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
It's really not as bad whenever the person means as
much to you as what Alijade means to me. What
are guys?
Speaker 4 (22:36):
This horoscope signs I'm a Scorpio.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I'm Capricorn.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
I think what month were you born?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
January January fourteenth?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
What's January?
Speaker 3 (22:48):
January? Is Capricorn and I think you're bordering on Aquarius.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I don't know what I don't Yeah, Okay, before
before we'd let you guys go, Sam, it's been announced
that you were casting on the Home Improvement Bachelor home
rental show. Were you surprised by that. How did it go?
What can you tell us without spoiling it?
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Yeah, yeah, I was definitely shocked. I think anytime I
get a phone call from California, I'm like, oh gosh,
what if I.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Do you keep getting calls? I mean, I mean listen, like, hey,
this is like a year.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah, seriously.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Yeah, And it's still the same shock every time I
get all the time, like these people they can't stand me,
and then they keep calling me. So I was shocked,
but I was also relieved to hear that it wasn't
a reality dating show. It was just more of a
you know, a renovation show. So it was it was
neat because that's definitely obviously more of my wheelhouse. So
it was a lot of fun. Honestly. It was cool
(23:54):
to get there, and I'm probably allowed to talk about
other people that are on the show. Noah Herb was
on the show, so it was cool because I had
met Noah previously. Well, Aaron was on the show, and
so Aaron was my roommate. He was my first roommate
in Australia, so I got to know him.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
He's a twin. They live in Oklahoma. My dad is
from Oklahoma.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
So actually the last time I went there, right after
the show, before the Bachelotte had aired. I was in Oklahoma,
and I stopped and I saw Noah and Abby and whatnot.
So it was cool to catch up with them, and
then to walk into the house and and see Noah there.
I was like, oh, well, this is awesome right here.
You know, I'm already friends with this guy.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
So it was definitely a sense of relief. And then yeah,
the whole process of it was not what I was expecting.
I think in a really good way.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
I had so much fun and definitely the most enjoyable
time I've had being a part.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Of being a part of a show, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Sorry, Yeah, were you were you worried? Were you worried
at all? Because it is still a bachelor, right and
you guys are dating and now he's he's going on
a bachelor show that's supposedly about home improvement.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
You never know, No I remember he called. I mean
he was like, I don't know if I should do it,
and I was like, you need to do this. This
is such a great opportunity, Like this is literally what
you do for a living, Like put yourself out there
First of all, never know what opportunities are going to
come from it, Like this is literally what you do
for a living. So I just thought, from like a
(25:27):
business standpoint regardless, that he should just go. And Yeah,
it was like early on when we first started dating
and we didn't know how long we would be apart
from each other. But I was so excited for him.
I was like, you gotta go, you gotta go. I
was like, I want to how come no one's asking me.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To do there?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Can you tell us a little bit, Sam, just like
your experience, what you do for people that maybe don't know,
and like how it you felt like it was going
to help you in this competition.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
So I am a residential contractor back home, so one thing,
it's the only job I've ever had my entire life,
so being I think having the knowledge to be able
to build a home from the ground up is a
big plus. Also, just the vision that you have to
have in my field is you have to be able
to see the finished product before you ever start, and
(26:15):
that can be challenging.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
So I felt pretty confident going into.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
A show like that where we had to really put
our skill set out on the table, not just not
just building things, but being able to actually design things,
having to see an image and then bring it to life.
So I think me doing that for as long as
I have, and then going out there, I knew that
I would be or I assumed.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
That I would be in pretty good shape.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I didn't know who all was going to be out there,
and yeah, everybody brought a different skill set to the table.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
I think I've just been very fortunate to have a
pretty good teacher back here.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
That has taught me so many different aspects to this field.
And then just being able to go onto that show
and implement all of them, just like it put my
mind to ease a little bit.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
We're really excited to watch maybe you and know it
will be the next Property Brothers.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Who knows if there's.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
A physical Bachelor competition, Ali, Joe, we gotta get you
on it.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
I'll be the new Jesse Palmers.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Thank you both so much for coming on and talking
to us, and hope you guys both enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, hope you guys have a
merry Christmas, a good new year.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Thank you, thank you, And to our listeners, thank you, guys,
so much for tuning in the batter Happy Hour. Make
sure you download and subscribe to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
We will have new and some interviews for you every
single week. Thanks for listening by
Hey, every well, welcome back to Thatcher Happy Hour. I'm
Joe and I'm Serena, and we are here today with
Sam Dan Joe. Welcome to the podcast as a couple
for the first time on this podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Welcome, Thank you, Thank you. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Serena's kind of been jumping in taking taking over.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Yeah, my coffee kicked in before Joe's did coffee.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I think I'm just I think I'm just stupid. Sorry.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
So, so, last time Sam, we had you on the
podcast was Paradise. Were yep, right before we were rooting
for you.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We were sad to see you go.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
We were sad to see you go. We really were,
And I would say, you know, would love to see
you on next season, But I actually hope you're not
on next season because you're here with your girlfriend Ali Joe,
and we're so excited to chat with you. Guys both
kind of how this came to be, You guys were
ships passing in the night on Bauchler and Paradise. What
a miss?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
What a miss?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Actually, because I really am not just saying this because
you two are both here, but it would you both
together getting together on Paradise would have been a great
addition to the season because you're both fun to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Some would say that, some would say.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
That, hey, listen, if they're talking, at least you're doing something.
So so it's reality TV, you know, don't get.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Us started on that experience.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Well, let's take it back. Before you know, we get
into The Bachelor in Paradise and all of this fun
relationship stuff. You guys had spoken a little before Paradise, right,
you both knew you were going to be there. Kind
of walk us through where your relationship was before you
went to Paradise and you know how you connected and
what was going on.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Take it away, baby, Well, we didn't definitely know we
were both going to be there. I was really hopeful,
like I had a feeling because I just had a
good feeling. But I had messaged him first, So ladies,
don't be ready to message somebody first. Because we knew
of a mutual person. I don't know, long story short,
somebody like compared me to him, and I just thought
(02:10):
that was like comical, And we just started talking and
Sam had given me like really really good advice just
moving forward. So it was just like a little bit
of chit chat. It wasn't anything crazy. And then yeah,
we would just kind of like swipe up on each
other's stories and that was really it. And then we
just kind of started talking about Paradise, asking if each
other were going. We both really didn't know, and that
(02:31):
was an honest answer, and yeah, that was it.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Okay, So going into paradise, I think it's safe to
say you were both on each other's radar, like you
never know until you get there.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
But well, I mean, I don't know if I mean
that's I don't know if that's safe to say. Were
you Well, they were, I mean, but it wasn't. It wasn't.
It was more friendly from what I'm Okay, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Tell us, were you like, maybe there's something that romantically
or were you friend zoned?
Speaker 2 (02:57):
No, I think there was, there was definitely something there romantically.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
I think it's it's kind of easy to figure out
in the way that two people communicate. You can figure
out if somebody's trying to be friends or if they
want something more than that. I think for us, we
were trying not to spoil what could possibly be. You know,
we're still communicating through a phone and through social media
and stuff like that, so just kind of saving the
you know, the the chit chat for in person getting
(03:22):
to know each.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Other and whatnot.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
So my experience on the Bachelorette was completely different than
what hers was on the Bachelor. So whenever she got
compared to me, I was figuring things out week by
week because I didn't necessarily know what was going to
be shown, what wasn't going to be shown. So all
I wanted to do was kind of give her the
heads up of, hey, what could happen. Hopefully it doesn't happen,
(03:44):
Thank gosh, it didn't happen with her, But for me,
whenever I went out to Paradise, she was the only
name that I dropped. I think I was first and
foremost because I talked to it. I knew that was
somebody that I was going to be interested in. There
was nobody else from really any other season that I
was like that I spoke to, that I was really
interested in. So I really just locked in on her,
(04:06):
But ultimately she was She was really the only person
that caught my eye. And now, long story short, I
do understand why. So so yeah, that was That's that's
my take for forgetting to Paradise at.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Least Okay, so you get down there, Ali Joe isn't there.
We see you kind of start talking with Jazz, walk
us through that relationship a little bit.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
Yeah, I was extremely disheartened that that Ali Joe was there.
I think I was the last person that came down
for episode one, so everybody was already there on the
beach outside of Kat and Dale. I think they were
on a date whenever I went down there, So I was,
(04:50):
you know, expecting to see Ali Joe there and uh,
you know, and that she wasn't there, and we kind
of took a little bit of a break and I'm like, hey,
what you.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Know, what's going on here? Like I really did.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I put all my eggs into one basket and it
wasn't there. So I had to completely diminish what I
had thought I was going to walk into and just
start from scratch. So ultimately, I was extremely nervous walking
down there. I was definitely uneasy just from the way
that my you know, the last time I was on TV,
the way that it all went. So I went in
there just with kind of just an open mind and
wanted to see the way that some people treated.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Me maybe was going to be different than what other
other people did, and Jess with somebody that.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Was just super warm. She also, i know, caught a
little bit of hate on her season on the on
the Bachelor as well, so it was something that she
was like, hey, you know, don't don't sweat any of
this stuff right here. Everybody that's here right now does
understand this process a little bit. So you know, they're
looking at you as Sam. They want to get to
know you for, you know, what you claim to be,
not what they, you know, the America think you are.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So she was somebody that really just I think took some.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Nerves away from me and uh, and that was something
that was really important to me.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
The timing from me getting to the beach to making.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Somebody to go on that date was very limited, so
I got to talk to three people and that was it. Ultimately,
just went with the person that made me feel the
most comfortable in that moment right there, and.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
That was just nice. I would say for our listeners,
whoever ends up getting cast at Bachelor in Paradise, if
you're listening to this podcast, that is important. You should
go into Paradise and whoever you expect to see there,
tell yourself that they're not going to be there, and
if they are, they are it's a pleasant surprise. But
(06:35):
I think that happens so much on this show, where
people are like, Okay, like this is how I think
it's going to go. Me and this person like hit
it off on DMS, But I really I think we're
going to be something.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
And then it's a matter man, it's a matter of
like human nature is to try and figure things out.
You want to put yourself on a path of success,
and the problem is that you can never figure out
what the Bachelor production is going to do because they
are already five steps.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Ahead of you.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
So you think that you're on the right path and
you have this game plan and then you go down
there and Ali Joe isn't there, and my game plan
is shot to hell.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
After that, Yeah, it's this constant fight for trying to
like control your experience and your journey while simultaneously having
no control at all. Exactly, So, Ali Joe has jumped
to you. Obviously Sam didn't work out with Jess. You
(07:33):
get sent home, Ali Joe. You hit the beach, You
have a sick entrance on that jet ski. You look great.
Are you looking for Sam? When you hit the beach.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, So just like to rewind a little bit my
experience on The Bachelor, Just like mentally, I have like
a lot of anxiety behind the scenes. That environment was
just like not the best for me. So preparing for
a Bachelor and powered ice, I went in with it
like such like a great head on my shoulders. I
was like really comfid in myself. Like before the Bachelor,
I had like three weeks to prepare, Like I got
(08:03):
asked extremely last minute. This at least I had months
to prepare. Mentally, I kind of knew what I was
getting into. So when I was told I was going
in with a date card on a jet ski, I
was like, finally, this is my moment, Like I feel
so good, Like I really feel like Sam's going to
be there. They're doing this on purpose, they know like
I want to meet him hopefully he like said he
wanted to meet me, which is how I felt in
(08:23):
the moment. So doing this like sick entrance with Parisa,
who's my friend, I just felt so good and I
was so hopeful. So when I got on the beach
and I saw that he wasn't there, and I had
found out that he had just got sent home. I
was really disappointed, but like Sam just said, I also
did have an open mind because you guys know too,
you like, you know, you give up a lot of
(08:43):
stuff to prepare for this show, Like I almost lost
my job two times. So I was like, you know what,
I'm here, I'm in the moment. I'm going to make
the best of this situation. Everything happens for a reason.
I would have loved to have met him, but you know,
I'm here and I'm going to make the most of
my opportunity. I'm open, Like that's what dating is about,
and I have.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
To you have to be when you go on these shows,
like there's a part of you that has to be selfish,
Like you have to be like hey, like I'm actually
like this could go bad. I'm giving up. I'm giving
up a lot, Like I got to make sure like
I get what I want or try at least to get.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
What I want absolutely, and like that's I feel like
exactly what I did. But I just felt like I
just was so disappointed. And I also was only there
for like thirty six hours, so I really feel like
I didn't get you know, the experience, Like, yes, do
I have Sam, absolutely, but besides him and like separating
the two, I just felt like so disappointed and frustrated.
(09:34):
But you know, the thirty six hours I was there
was cool. I did really good shrimp tacos.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I forgot you guys were having rose ceremonies like non
stop on this season.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And also it rained every single day while we were well,
I was only there for like two days like that.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, but I heard it rained a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Cost Rika was a gorgeous setting to film, but that rain.
I wanted to go a problem.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
I'm never going back, Sam, you should go back though.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Honestly we went to We love Costa Rica. We were
in Costa Rica last last like New Year's Eve, yes,
for like twelve days and it was.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But it did rain like the first three days. Yes,
And I was like, oh.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
No, it did did. Yeah, okay, So so you both
go on paradise. It doesn't work out the way you
want and you have average experiences at best, but you
did it, and then how does this come to be?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
So I had message to him again, but like have
a season to know that, Like, you know, I had
my phone. I was like, I got a message this guy,
and I was like, hey heard you were here a
couple hours ago, and this is like on my way
to the airport, and he was like, hey, here's my number,
text me. We started texting. I got back to Florida,
He got back to South Carolina. From Florida, I went
to Jersey because, like, when I tell you, guys, I
(10:50):
was so upset and I like was so distraught over
this experience. I like literally had to come to Florida,
drop my stuff off, pack new bag, and go to
Jersey and be with my family because I was just
I was so upset. So I was really upset. So
Sam was there, and it's hard to talk to other
people about this, which I'm sure you guys get because
they're not in the same position. They don't understand. So
Sam did and that's kind of when we really just
(11:12):
started talking every day. I remember it was like Mother's
Day weekend and I was with my mom and Sam
and I were texting.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Okay, so let's talk about the first time you guys
met actually in person. So you guys, so you both
get back from Paradise and when do you actually meet up?
Speaker 4 (11:29):
And Wall gave him a shot of whiskey.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yeah, how long was that was? That? Like? A month.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, about a month went by where we were kind
of just like talking back and forth, and then he
finally booked a trip to Florida and the rest of
his history versus His first trip was early June, mid June.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
You guys facetiming or was this mostly like DMS?
Speaker 5 (11:54):
No, we would FaceTime. Yeah, we would FaceTime. I'd like
talked with her and her mom and stuff like that. Obviously,
if I'm gonna fly to Florida, then uh, then I
need to make sure that I'm walking into a situation
where I'm not going to make I'm not gonna feel uncomfortable,
She's not gonna feel uncomfortable. And and ultimately just seeing
if we were compatible, you know, through the.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
Through FaceTime and just talking and seeing how all.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
That went, seeing if we could keep that connection for
a month without ever seeing each other or meeting each other,
if that was possible, and if it proved that it was,
then you know, she was definitely worth a trip down there.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I was. I wasn't really nervous leading.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Up until the trip until my dad goes he said.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
Where are you staying down there? And I was like,
oh shit.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
I'm like I just assumed that I was gonna stay
with her, and I'm like, oh man, so I'm like
sweating bullets. So she picks me up from the airport
and we go back to her house, and like in
the it's in the back of my brain like if
she asked me where I'm staying, I am so fucked.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
I'm so fucked.
Speaker 5 (12:56):
And uh, I think I moved a little timidly around
her for like the entire day. I think, uh, also too,
she only knows me from Bachelor, you know what. Bachelor
has shown not really me as a person outside of
the month that we had spoke, So I don't want
to give off any impression that she might have or.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Anything like that.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
So I moved definitely, uh cautiously around her.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
And I think she was the one that finally.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
Was like, yeah, are we doing this or we're not
doing this?
Speaker 2 (13:20):
And I was like, all right, here we go, here
we go. You know, yeah, I can get behind this.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Ellie Joe, were you when he flew to Florida? Were
you automatic? Was it like automatically like he's staying with me?
Speaker 4 (13:30):
Like I like didn't know, and like I don't.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Have you guys should I don't know how you guys
did have that Cobo.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
You're like, I don't want to. You're probably thinking like
I don't want to be, like, so are you staying
with me? And like give him any assumptions or if
he's like no, then you're like putting yourself out there
for rejection. Sam, you're probably feeling the same way, like
I didn't even think of it.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
I'm blaming my dad.
Speaker 4 (13:51):
This is such a unique experience too, because I don't
like having people here, like in my apartment, to be honest,
but like, it's just such a unique experience that it
was kind of like okay, but like I was, like,
I can also drop them off at a motel or
something down the street.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
I don't like the street.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
But truly, like I think if I was in your shoes,
I picking him up and we hadn't had the conversation,
I'd probably be like, well, let's just see how the
first few hours go, and if it's weird, I'll be like,
so where are you staying? And if it's good, then
you know, we can see where then I take that.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Could you imagine that though? Could you imagine being Sam?
And then and then and then she hits you after
like two and a half hours of hanging out. Where
are you staying?
Speaker 3 (14:29):
Yeah, but that's gonna be so it's going bad.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
I live in a place that people vacation, but my
I wasn't nervous about this because I kind of had
a good feeling about like the flow of our conversations
before we met in person. But something that was always
on my mind is that I don't want a relationship
and our conversations just because we have this in common
to be about the Bachelor, Like there needs to be
something else because in previously relationships are dating things like
(14:56):
dating guys before, like the gym for instance. I'll talk
to me about the gym and like their diet, and
I'm like that's great, Like I don't care, Like there's
got to be more right off the jump, like we
had so much to talk about. We had so many
things that we had in common and so many things
that we definitely didn't have in common. So it's really
nice to know that, like our relationship didn't just start
(15:16):
because of this you know thing that we got kicked
off of Paradise, Like it was more than that.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Yes, totally, do you think do you think you guys,
if you if neither of you were on the show
and you met, you would have hit it off the
same way.
Speaker 4 (15:30):
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
I mean I would have walked up. I would have
walked up too, that's for sure. So yeah, I think so.
I think it was just something. It was such a
good like icebreakers. Really, I think the best way that
I could put it.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
It's something that no matter you know, if you haven't.
Speaker 5 (15:48):
Walked through the process of this show, then you will
never understand it. I've tried to explain it to my parents,
and it's so difficult to see anything past that, Hey,
this is just a real dating show. The emotion that
we all experience on this show is left only they're
not you know, the eyes of America can't really fathom it.
(16:09):
So for me, it was just a it was a
really easy icebreaker with her her experience. Obviously coming from Paradise,
she definitely had a lot to say and there was
a lot to talk about, so there's always something there
to fall back on. But also too, like she's just
the easiest person really to talk to. She's straightforward, pretty blunt.
(16:30):
I would consider myself the same way, just kind of
a you know, fuck it mentality and that's just how
we move, and if you don't like it, it's totally okay,
and if you do, then great. So knowing that she moves,
you know, she walks through life in a very similar fashion,
just made it very easy to see that, Hey.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Whatever I saw is what I was going to get.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
And I liked everything that I saw and continue to see.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
So after that first meeting, I don't know how many
days it was. You guys go your separate ways.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
A date meeting sounds it was a weekend, Yeah, date?
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Wait what meeting?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
His first day ever, he ended up extending his flight
to He was supposed to come from like a Friday
to Sunday. And on Sunday he's like, I think I'm
gonna stay and I was like, okay, okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
Out of here. Don't don't freaking nonchalant me saying that
right there, that's ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
Now, I've never I've never extended a flight, but we
were having so much fun and also too like whenever
I was booking my flight, the same thing. I didn't
want to be in a place for too long and
her feel uncomfortable or me feel uncomfortable. So I didn't
want to push my you know, push the limits at all.
And then Sunday came around and we were having a
blast on a Sunday fun day and I thought, shit,
(17:47):
I don't want to go home right now. Let's let's
see if we can move this flight. And we did
and it was Yeah, it was a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
So when you leave, are you guys officially boyfriend and girlfriend?
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Now?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Oh yeah, when did that happen?
Speaker 4 (18:06):
Uh, that happened the third time actually that we hung out.
But here's the thing too, Like, and I'm sure you
guys can relate to other people can relate, Like being
with somebody consecutive days in a row is like going
on like five dates. So like by the time we
hung out the third time, that could have been like
the fifteenth date by then. But yeah, the second time
we hung out, I flew to South Carolina and I
(18:28):
met like his entire family, and there was a lot
of people in his family, friends, everybody. Like we weren't
even really alone, like I was in the weeds with
his family. But it was great and I feel like
it was even said He's like, it's like a test,
and I fully respect to that, because if I'm dating somebody,
I need my family's approval, and he's the same way.
So I think once he saw me kind of like
(18:49):
fit in or how do I fit in with his family,
then it was my turn to see how he could
fit in with my family, and then we would go
from there. And you know, you you I feel like
in these types of reallyationships long distance, especially like you
do these things sooner rather than later. And plus I
don't even live in the same state as my family,
so the timing, the timing was just crazy how it
(19:09):
worked out for us all to basically meet.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
And what's what is the how does this look moving forward?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
You're Ali, Joe, You're still in Florida. Sam, you're in Charleston,
right or South Carolina?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
South Carolina?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (19:24):
What what is?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (19:27):
Is?
Speaker 1 (19:27):
There is there a plan yet?
Speaker 4 (19:30):
We talked about it really often. I still have my lease.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
We'll part of Florida, We'll part of Florida.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
I'm in Fort Lauderdale.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
See, this is why I needed the show Bachelor and
Paradise to win the money. And I could have just
broke my lease, cup hot us together distance, but no,
I think by you know, twenty twenty six, we'll have
a lot in store for for us.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Yeah, I think whenever her lease ends, I own my
house here in South Carolina. I think the long goal
is to live in Florida. I was just there this
past weekend, and I'm not gonna lie. It was really
tough to be in the you know, eighty degree weather,
and then by the time I landed in South Carolina
at ten o'clock at night, it was twenty five degrees.
(20:13):
I forgot to drip my faucet and my water froze.
So I'm like, sh dude, I did not want to
be here anymore. So long goal is to be in Florida.
But I think the short term goal is to probably
make her way to South Carolina for a little bit.
We'll live together, save some money, and then go buy
home that we can kind of both see ourselves living
(20:36):
in raising a family and down down in Florida.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
What how far of a drive is that?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Ten hours?
Speaker 5 (20:43):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Really, it's that I for some reason I thought it
was a lot closer.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Yeah, my sister said the same thing the other day.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Yeah, it was like South Carolina and Florida, Like, you're
right there.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Only five hours. It's only five hours to Jacksonville. But
when you get into like the southern part of Florida.
It's yeah, it's down.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
There, Florida.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
That's another thing we also said to like if he
was to live, probably in any other state, this wouldn't work,
like the flights an hour and a half, saying, you know,
we're on the east coast, even if he was, let's
say I was in Florida and he was Injuried Like,
to me, that's even too far, Like we're right, I
feel like where we need to be at least to
make long distance work.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, how have you guys been doing that? What's what
are the hacks? What are the tips to make this work?
Long distance?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
We see each other basically every other weekend the past
time we have it, and that felt really long. But
just like planning things that like we're excited to like
do together, like we always have something to look forward to.
It's only off. I'm not going to lie, but you
know it's really worth it to us.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
So yeah, which is being intentional.
Speaker 5 (21:44):
It's being intentional with I think all of your conversations
and stuff, and obviously there's days where you know the
depth of some the depth of some certain conversations from
an outsider's perspective can be shallow or deep, but to
her and I, whenever you know you can feel the
emotion behind the words that you put out, whether it's
how is your day or if it's something that's you know,
(22:06):
a little bit more deep, as long as the intention
is there with you know, just hey, this person means
everything to me, then yeah, it's kind of.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
It's kind of easy to maneuver through that.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
Not seeing each other is definitely difficult, But the communication
aspect of it, she's a good communicator. I'm working on it,
but yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
I mean it's it's one of those things.
Speaker 5 (22:29):
It's really not as bad whenever the person means as
much to you as what Alijade means to me. What
are guys?
Speaker 4 (22:36):
This horoscope signs I'm a Scorpio.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah, I'm Capricorn.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
I think what month were you born?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
January January fourteenth?
Speaker 1 (22:46):
What's January?
Speaker 3 (22:48):
January? Is Capricorn and I think you're bordering on Aquarius.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I don't know what I don't Yeah, Okay, before
before we'd let you guys go, Sam, it's been announced
that you were casting on the Home Improvement Bachelor home
rental show. Were you surprised by that. How did it go?
What can you tell us without spoiling it?
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Yeah, yeah, I was definitely shocked. I think anytime I
get a phone call from California, I'm like, oh gosh,
what if I.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Do you keep getting calls? I mean, I mean listen, like, hey,
this is like a year.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah, seriously.
Speaker 5 (23:32):
Yeah, And it's still the same shock every time I
get all the time, like these people they can't stand me,
and then they keep calling me. So I was shocked,
but I was also relieved to hear that it wasn't
a reality dating show. It was just more of a
you know, a renovation show. So it was it was
neat because that's definitely obviously more of my wheelhouse. So
it was a lot of fun. Honestly. It was cool
(23:54):
to get there, and I'm probably allowed to talk about
other people that are on the show. Noah Herb was
on the show, so it was cool because I had
met Noah previously. Well, Aaron was on the show, and
so Aaron was my roommate. He was my first roommate
in Australia, so I got to know him.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
He's a twin. They live in Oklahoma. My dad is
from Oklahoma.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
So actually the last time I went there, right after
the show, before the Bachelotte had aired. I was in Oklahoma,
and I stopped and I saw Noah and Abby and whatnot.
So it was cool to catch up with them, and
then to walk into the house and and see Noah there.
I was like, oh, well, this is awesome right here.
You know, I'm already friends with this guy.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
So it was definitely a sense of relief. And then yeah,
the whole process of it was not what I was expecting.
I think in a really good way.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
I had so much fun and definitely the most enjoyable
time I've had being a part.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Of being a part of a show, to say the least.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Sorry, Yeah, were you were you worried? Were you worried
at all? Because it is still a bachelor, right and
you guys are dating and now he's he's going on
a bachelor show that's supposedly about home improvement.
Speaker 4 (25:06):
You never know, No I remember he called. I mean
he was like, I don't know if I should do it,
and I was like, you need to do this. This
is such a great opportunity, Like this is literally what
you do for a living, Like put yourself out there
First of all, never know what opportunities are going to
come from it, Like this is literally what you do
for a living. So I just thought, from like a
(25:27):
business standpoint regardless, that he should just go. And Yeah,
it was like early on when we first started dating
and we didn't know how long we would be apart
from each other. But I was so excited for him.
I was like, you gotta go, you gotta go. I
was like, I want to how come no one's asking me.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
To do there?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Can you tell us a little bit, Sam, just like
your experience, what you do for people that maybe don't know,
and like how it you felt like it was going
to help you in this competition.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (25:54):
So I am a residential contractor back home, so one thing,
it's the only job I've ever had my entire life,
so being I think having the knowledge to be able
to build a home from the ground up is a
big plus. Also, just the vision that you have to
have in my field is you have to be able
to see the finished product before you ever start, and
(26:15):
that can be challenging.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
So I felt pretty confident going into.
Speaker 5 (26:19):
A show like that where we had to really put
our skill set out on the table, not just not
just building things, but being able to actually design things,
having to see an image and then bring it to life.
So I think me doing that for as long as
I have, and then going out there, I knew that
I would be or I assumed.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
That I would be in pretty good shape.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I didn't know who all was going to be out there,
and yeah, everybody brought a different skill set to the table.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
I think I've just been very fortunate to have a
pretty good teacher back here.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
That has taught me so many different aspects to this field.
And then just being able to go onto that show
and implement all of them, just like it put my
mind to ease a little bit.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
We're really excited to watch maybe you and know it
will be the next Property Brothers.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Who knows if there's.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
A physical Bachelor competition, Ali, Joe, we gotta get you
on it.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
I'll be the new Jesse Palmers.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Thank you both so much for coming on and talking
to us, and hope you guys both enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Yeah, I appreciate it. Yeah, hope you guys have a
merry Christmas, a good new year.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Thank you, thank you, And to our listeners, thank you, guys,
so much for tuning in the batter Happy Hour. Make
sure you download and subscribe to the podcast.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
We will have new and some interviews for you every
single week. Thanks for listening by
Hosts And Creators
Joe Amabile
Susan Noles
Serena Pitt
Kathy Swarts
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