April 14, 2020 • 37 mins
Their first date was not the success they hoped it would be. But, he had feeling for her...find out how he knew she was the one.
Then, he left her at the altar. Damian reveals why he did that and how things turned around.
The truth about why the sex wasn't good and how they both felt about it.
Damian reveals what made him cry and why.
Damian and Giannina interview each other for the first time...for the Love InSight we need.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Well of Love Insight Podcast with g as we like
to call her, Jeannina. I am at money Smith and
this is the one you likely have all been waiting for.
And we talked to Carlton, We've talked to Rory, we
talked to Chris Cole, and the creator of Love is
Blind is This is the official Love is Blind pod
and you're going to get a whole lot more of
that moving forward, so make sure you subscribe. But today, gee,
(00:29):
we got your guy with us, Damian sitting right across
from us. You have a very special guest, someone that
knows me very very well and has for eighteen months now,
eighteen months Darling. Hello, everyone, thank you for having me
on on my girlfriend's podcast. Girlfriend Girlfriend, there's a ring
on that left hand. Oh yeah, but that's just because
(00:50):
I like it. There is that? What it is? Um?
So let's gosh, that's that's an easy way to get
into this. So girlfriend, let's start at the very last
time we saw you on Love is Blind at the altars.
Certainly emotional for both of you. I don't think we
ever thought we'd be sitting here together based on just
being a viewer of the show. How How did we
(01:12):
end up here. How bad was that day for How
tough was that day for you? So that day was
probably one of the hardest days of my life. And
I've had some hard days, um, every day since then.
I wished I could have took it back, the pain
that she went through on that day. There was nothing
easy about that decision, um. And even you know during
(01:35):
the wedding, you hear me say I do not, And
it's because I wanted to hold that I do, um,
because you know, she's my soul mate. She's somebody you
know I wanted, I wanted to be with, But she's
also a free spirit. She's also somebody that doesn't like
to be grounded or held down. And for me, that
was saying, hey, I'm gonna have to make the hardest
decision here today, UM, no matter how hard it is
(01:58):
in the moment, for to hopefully survive and thrive outside
of this and become best friends first, become partners um
without the time frames of wedding and everything that comes
with marriage, which is a house, kids, finances, family vacations,
right Christmas is splitting them. There's a lot that comes
to that title that can add stresses to it. And
(02:19):
I didn't want that going into relationship with her. What
did you think she was going to say? Um, we
had spoke earlier and she she said that, you know,
I I want this now, and I I'm going to
say yes. And it was honestly really hard for me
to believe. We had a lot of up and downs.
(02:40):
You know, we had so many great moments that you know,
really weren't seen, but I didn't really when she said
I do, I was just It's what I always wanted
to hear, right, I always wanted to hear that. Um.
And I just it was hard to accept that late
in for me to register right then. Um. And if
(03:00):
she would have said I don't, I would have still
left with her. I wouldn't have I have been like, okay,
Like we did this together outside of here, So I mean,
I think at the altar, we both gave the other
what we thought was right. Right, So I gave myself
to you in a way that you knew how and
you did the same for me, and those just it
(03:21):
was hard for the both of us, right, Um. And
I mean he people are like, why didn't you tell
her earlier? And I was going through so much doubt
and fear um, and I didn't give him a clear
answer for weeks. So it was really it's really hard
for me to kind of sit here and say, well,
you know, he should have given me an answer when
(03:42):
I couldn't have done it myself for a really long time.
And he did say, you know, I will know when
I see you at the altar, and that's not something
that any girl wants to hear. But I think you
hear me at the finale saying if it happens for me,
it happens. And I was, you know, just I was
hoping for the best. And um, I mean I still
(04:03):
think we got our happy ending, even those are rough
to it's not over you happy ending. Yes. The one
thing that um, that we we heard or we saw
in the episodes was the relationship with family, and you
were upset that you weren't going to meet his family,
Like kind of how did all that play out? And
(04:24):
where does all that sit now? I m'd say, you know,
the whole family thing, my end and her and her
I'm all on great terms. Um. On the show didn't
work out. We were filming several hours a day, um, NonStop.
My dad travels a lot. Um. We we couldn't make
it terms on you know, like contractual agreements, because I
got a little brother and sister too, So this is
(04:45):
a lot like this choice to go on the show
was my choice. It wasn't for me to drag him into.
They were supportive and said, hey, like you want to
do this, you do his son, You got her backing. Um.
And I think it's a lot on any family to
you know, like what you're engaged, now, you're you're gonna
get married to somebody. Eachrom it in several weeks. Um.
But they said, if you make this choice, we support you. Um.
(05:05):
And they and they did want to meet her, just
not under the time frames if when filming was happening. Um.
So there's nothing easy about that situation. I'm on both sides.
But I'm also like, my family means everything. And when
it comes to you know, kids saying something at school,
you know, or whatever the case is, Like, I don't
want that pressure on my little brother and sister either.
(05:26):
So I mean and I understood that, you know. Obviously
I was in the back of my head, is it
because it's me, Like, what what's driving? Then? Did you
think he was like not comfortable introducing you to his family.
Is that what you were worried about? Or I mean
some part of me I think that anyone would feel
that way. But I know Damien through and through, and
(05:47):
you know, I've always believed that he's a genuine person
and that he would never lie to me. He would say, yeah,
well they're a little uncomfortable. He didn't say anything like that.
He was just saying the timing is not right. Timing
is not right. And because I was I knew his
soul and his spirit and how kind he was. I thought, well,
it has to come from somewhere, and I'm sure it's
his family, and I'm sure I'm going to love them
(06:09):
as well. Um, And you know, I can't hold that
respect that he has for his family against him. She uh.
She shared that she knew right away. When did you
kind of connect with her in the pods? How quickly
did that happen for you? You said you knew right away?
No putting words in your mouth. Yeah, no, no, I said,
(06:31):
I didn't say that, but I was saying that I
didn't have a romantic connection with anyone else. Um, like
at once I picked you, I picked you, like there
wasn't any back and forth after that. Yeah, I mean
it was it was the same for me at first
date didn't go so hot, So what do you mean
it was? So they warned we had fifteen date with
(06:54):
you know, fifteen different women, fifteen different men, seven minutes
a piece, whole bunch of mike issues and stuff. When
you're going into these pots, it's like you're hoping that
you're not linked with the pot across from You're right,
you never know what's going on. So, um, I walked
in and I was like hi, and she's like hi,
and I'm like, hey, what's your name? And I guess
he didn't hear me, so then he goes and then
(07:14):
I go, um, hi, what's your name? I asked you first?
I was like, okay, well my name's Damien. Can I
have your name now? So like okay, um, and you
felt the tension. It was like that yeah, And I
was like, but damn that voice, you know. So I
(07:36):
was I was really in this conflict of like gorgeous voice.
Like I talked to her for a few minutes. I
was like, this is the sexiest voice that I've probably
ever heard of my life. I've traveled around the world
and I was just in awe, and I was like, man,
that was a lodge. She was very aggressive, but but
maybe I should try it again. And I went out
and talking to Nicholastrey, I was like, he's like, so,
(07:57):
how how's your dates go? He's like, there anybody wouldn't
go on a date with? WAS like, well there was?
You were talking to who? I'm sorry didn't catch yeah,
And he's like, was there anybody wouldn't go on to
date with? Again? I was like maybe like one or
two was like one was like really just feisty as
like the other one you know, is like you know,
really really not. I don't know, it just it just
wasn't working. And I was And then day three we
(08:19):
started dating more like we went on another day. I
put it like six or seven on my list after
day one. Wait, when you say you put on, what
do you mean? How does that work? So there was
a list and then of each day you would label
like so day when we label on one through fifteen,
and it's a sense of like who do I really
want to go on a date with again? And who
do I Necessarily it wasn't so hot. So if I
put somebody number fifteen and they put me one. I
(08:41):
don't even know how the algorithm work. I try to
figure it out with cameras. It's like med school residency,
where like you're one matches with one and two two.
Rory creates video games cameras a scientist. You know, I'm
I'm a smart man, and I'm We're sitting here at
this table and we're going out of like, Okay, who'd
you put there? Who'd you put there? Do you going
to date with them? Again? Like what happened? And we're
(09:02):
like this algorithm makes no sense? Like and so like
is there a way to bring this? No, there's no,
we didn't. We're trying to you know, line right dates
something for her. It was so where did you put her?
You put her like mid pack? Yeah, like six and
you put him where? Yeah? And so when you hear's
people say like, oh, you're my number one or you're
my number two, Like that's what we're talking about. Yeah,
(09:24):
So then you guys and exactly talk here we go.
So then you end up what was the second interaction,
Like the second interaction was it was normal. It was
just like okay, like you know, still was enthralled by
that voice, and I was like, manly I like, out
of every date I've been on, I was like, I
actually just want to hear that voice again, Like I
(09:44):
don't care what comes out of that mouth, I just
want to hear that voice again. So but then you
did yeah in the day three and then and then
day three Nicolas goes, so, you know, day three or four,
it's like, so we've been dating these girls for a
few days, and if you could pick somebody to marry
right now, who would it be? And I was like,
g A Nina And He's like, really the girl, like
(10:06):
you weren't so sure about the day when I was like, yeah,
it's like but I said, there's something there and yeah,
and what was your choice when they asked you there?
It is? See, I knew what I wanted from the beginning, right,
so what is Uh? Was there anybody any of the
other guys in the in the facility that we're telling
(10:26):
you they were into g um? Yeah, So it was
sort of back and forth. Taylor. Taylor was one um
and I think it was hard to tell some people
was a game because they were like, after me and
her made a connection, he made a connection with Jessica
and he was all with Jessica so I didn't, and
then people would say some things like, oh she she
did this to me or she made me cry, and
(10:48):
I'm like, I thought we had the emotional connection because
you have different dates to everybody, you know, the way
somebody's like I was like, man, she's just like a
really great spirit. I imagine it's a cute little like
just wonderful female was to come up and hug me
and like, you know, love and support me. And then
you know, Roy comes as a man. I don't think
if worried bout that other girls are freak like what,
I'm like, what what are you talking about? Was like,
(11:08):
and you're crying with this chick, right, So well, I'm
glad you mentioned that that you were crying. Like you
it's hard for me to judge, you know, just the
few hours that we spent together. You don't seem like
a super emotional guy. Am my reading that wrong? Or um?
Did were you surprised how emotional you got through this
whole experience? Oh yeah, yeah, I'm I'm emotional. I think
(11:30):
it's all right to admit. Um, I see a good
film and it and it hits hard, squirt, Yeah yeah, okay,
yeah for real I'll cry, man, I'll go. So then
this didn't surprise you maybe the way you reacted to Yeah,
I did, actually did. Yeah, it still surprised me. I
was I tried not to get like too emotional into
like especially meeting somebody or not even meeting them, just
(11:50):
like understanding them after a few days and not seeing them.
I'm like, what the hell am I crown of this girl? Like, um, yeah,
but you're emotional. Yeah, but I was having caffeine withdrawals too.
That probably had a lot of to do. What about
it the other day? You have caffine withall done too? Yeah, yeah,
I have a lot of caffeine withdraws. Um for people
(12:12):
that you know, and and this like I'm speaking into
a microphone with a two in the room. But I'm
just a guy that watched the show and enjoyed the show.
The one thing that I think is relatable for for
guys that watch is just the mental exercises you're doing
with this one. And it just seemed like it was
a lot of a lot of peaks and valleys and
a lot to to try to corral. Can you maybe
(12:33):
kind of share because we had, you know, Chris Colan
on and he said, Look, there's three hours and this stuff.
You can do twenty shows of just the pods for
what maybe we didn't see. Give us an idea of
like what your relationship was like mentally emotionally, because that
was a theme too from you, of what you were
struggling with to try to kind of reconcile before you
committed to her. Yeah, you're talking about how well I
handled all the extreme circumstances she put me in and
(12:56):
what she would term the self sabotage, you know, things
that she was doing. Um, I could combined every second
of every woman I've ever dated and I wouldn't touch
her so um. And that's not a bad thing because
I've always I've never been in a relationship where I
just felt constantly challenged. I've always like I wanted that
(13:18):
I've always been and not a conceed way. I've always
been one of the smartest people in the room. I've
been able to figure things out, how things take and Um,
every time I turned around, I'm like, what the just happened?
Do you know? Like? What was that? Like we were
getting along five seconds ago? Why are you running away now?
Like I thought we had a great night and you know,
like I thought the sex was great, and you don't, like,
I am so mind blown, right, I have no idea
(13:39):
what's going to because I was I was going to
get there because clearly there's a couple of moments in
the show that are you know, just signature moments that
will always remember. The one where you're in the bedroom,
you're sitting in the kitchen on the counter, and you say,
are you satisfied with our sex? You say yes, she
says no. That's that's a lot to take in. Oh yeah,
I mean talk about just a punch to the solar
(14:00):
lexus of your pride. Yeah. And I think anybody that
watched that can you know or late about like I mean,
I had had a lot of messages, a lot of
reach out like wow, that so sorry that happened, like
and to me, it was hard. I had to watch
it four or five times over and over again to
be able to like, and this is a year and
a half later, right, to be able to like absorb
(14:20):
in like you know we're gonna be going well, yeah,
of course, like, but it's just I had to learn
that it's okay. Why is it not okay for her
to be honest about her feelings. It sucks it wasn't
under a different circumstances buying closed George when I thought
things were going so well. But I can't hold that
against her either. I mean, this is where confined spaces
in tight time frames, and it's so many different emotions
(14:42):
are floating around, and it hurt. It crushed me. I
think it would any man here and that um, but
I had to learn real quick well, like maybe you
know she's right, maybe I'm not seducing her, maybe I'm not.
Maybe there's something I'm not doing on mi nd as well.
And it's not fair for me just to be like, oh,
it's the best and then me get mad at her
for saying it's the worst, like a compliment it versus
a negative who decides that right? And I mean, I
think this happens to a lot of men and women
(15:04):
in relationships that have been together for years, where it's
like maybe in the beginning it was amazing, but then
you kind of get into like this rhythm and then
now it's like not the best anymore. So how do
you bring up this conversation without hurting someone's pride? And
I mean I was very direct with you in a
very public way. And I mean I did, you know
innately like challenge you in ways where it's like, how
(15:28):
are things going to get when they get hard, when
they're when we're done with the honeymoon phase? And um,
I mean you would agree we were going through a
year's worth of a relationship in a in a month
and a half. And I think the way that you
handled it was very, very passionate, very confident. I think
you're the way that you picked up what I was
(15:50):
putting down and you said, hey, like this is something
that's important to you, so let me listen. You passed
with flying colors. But I had to say what I
was feeling because you know, there's just no way I'm
going to go into a marriage not being able to
discuss something that is so pivotal in a marriage. Um. Yeah,
I mean I get that, but it's also like to me,
(16:12):
it was those are things I would rather discuss behind
closed doors, and you know people are ware there's cameras
in the room. I mean, the stuff's going on. And
when we were in a tight spot in relationship where
it was up and down, up and down, and then
when it's down, and then he hit me morever the down.
It's like, man, that that really sucks. And you know,
you see a point in that bedroom where I get
defensive for a second. I'm like, well, you weren't saying that,
(16:32):
you know the other day, And that's an automatic reaction
for a man like getting hit like that to take
that and try to defend themselves. And I'm like, you know,
why am I trying to defend myself If that's how
she feels, that's how she feels. It sucks that this
is how you're gonna open up about it to the
whole world. So that's the thing about our love story
is you know, the good, bad and the ugly the
whole world gets to see, but they're also able to
(16:52):
relate to it. And I'm like, wow, like you know,
I feel for this guy, or I can also see
where gin is come from. I can't tell my husband
or spouse that I'm not feeling it anymore. So what
does that lead to affairs, cheating, all this other stuff? Right?
And it's because there is a lack of communication all
across the world. I think that we now were able
to look at that and say we may have helped
a lot of people, even though it was tough in
(17:13):
that time. Was it was it harder in the moment
or was it harder to see it back for the
first time. Um, it was really hard in that moment um,
and it crushed me internally, but I was still it
was still private at that time. So when it hit
to the world, honestly, man, I broke down a chraytic
watching it. I was just like, Man, that sucks, because
(17:35):
I was like I was waiting for just the tons
of Twitter posts and the messages, and I'm like, this
is this is what I gotta deal with for the
next few weeks, you know what I mean. People are
laughing and saying all that, Uh, you never have a
girl like that, you know what I mean, Especially after
they saw what happened all through They're like just getting bashed,
you know. So it hurt. But at the same time,
I was like, you know what, like who is anyone
else to decide like my relationship or what I stand for?
(17:58):
Like what what where me and her are? Now? Oh?
That's like I had to be more confident with who
I am and what I had with Janina, and that's
all It's important in the end of the day. How
did you feel when you saw it. I felt horrible
that I put him in that position, um in such
a public way, because you know, the male pride is
(18:18):
a very real thing. But when I saw it, really
that was one of the moments where I where I
was just kind of like stewing over for a year
and a half, and when it finally was released, I
was just like, this is real, this is the truth,
Like there was there's really nothing to be ashamed of.
I I feel for Damien because I know him and
I know how much that this hurt him. But at
(18:40):
the end of the day, I was just like, this
is such a raw and real moment that I think
pretty much everyone had experience, and I just didn't feel
like it was anything to be ashamed of. And if
it just could have been. Yeah, but you also word
of my Shoes, and we discussed that and you even
broke down and cried and said, I'm so sorry that
I happened to you. So for you to sit here
and say now that it wasn't like a as big
(19:03):
of a deal and it, you know, it's something relatable,
is different from sort of how you acted in that
moment when we rewatched it, and you were watched you
were outside in the balcony and I was watching it
and I was just literally what was going on in
my head was like, Okay, this is real, this is honest.
I did go ahead and apologize to you because I
(19:23):
did just say that I felt bad for putting you
in that position, but that's what I said. And I mean,
now you came out there, you hugged me, you're crying.
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Like you know you're
gonna be okay. I mean, because I knew that for you,
this was going to be really tough. But for me,
I said the things that I said because that was
my experience. And I'm glad that we talked about it.
(19:44):
I'm glad that we had the open communication. I'm still
I don't like that I put you in that position,
but you know, we've apologized, we've talked about it, we've
moved on from it. Do you um, because you guys,
(20:06):
the way it ended with you know you guys for
for the viewers, you broke up and then we found
out you're back together in the reunion episode and now
we're sitting here today. Was that something that you thought about, Like,
you know what, when this series comes out, there is
no way that thing is getting cut out. And if
this is did you think about, like, if this thing
becomes popular, this is gonna become like a like an event,
(20:27):
This is gonna become a centerpiece of this series. Did
you ever was it almost like a sort of damna
pleas that's just hanging over you and you're waiting for
that thread, that final thread to break. I think it
was gonna come out. I mean, I had a big phone.
They wouldn't cut something out like that. I mean, they were,
you know, moments where I thought about it through relationship
at the closer to God, I mean, and her had
conversations about it, and you know, we were both worried
(20:47):
about things in our own sense, and you know, I
think both of us we would have our days where
it was really rough before the show came out, and
then but we would have each other's support. I'd be like,
She'd be like, you know, hope they don't show that,
and I'm like, yeah, me too, Like it'll be okay though,
And we did that to keep each other calm. And
the situations of rewatching our life story right played to
(21:08):
the world and you're never really prepared for it, even
when you're the ones that lived it, So it's like
an open wound, you know, just like rubbing salt in it,
and it's one that doesn't he I mean, obviously it
does now because you're sitting here and it seems like, like
like you said, there's this happy ending. Was it the
same for you to watch him say I do not.
Was that something that you were kind of like worried about,
(21:30):
because you know that was sort of that that pride
swallowing moment for you, and for you it's saying I do.
So what was it like when you watched that back?
How did you feel watching it? I mean there are
two times where I cry every single time I watched
the episodes, and it's whenever I see myself running into
Damien's arms for the first time, and then whenever he
tells me no um at the altar, and it's just
(21:53):
a very I just I lived it, right. So I
go back to that moment and I just kind of
I feel that that sadness and that anger all over again.
But it's it's not something that I was that I,
you know, hold against him. I'm with him, and so
I don't put that hold that over his head saying like,
(22:14):
well you told me, now, so you gotta do this, Like,
I don't ever like use that against him. I did
buy some boxing gloves in midst, though, and she's got
some mean punch. Just stay away from the face Streighthart
the money makers close. So I mean, I think I've
said this where it's like I see that and people
see that as this big failure, but I see this
as a really big success where I was able to
(22:36):
open up my heart and get over this really big
fear that I had because my parents got a divorce
and I always saw a marriage is this really scary
awful thing because I can see how how ugly it
can be. But at that moment, I'm actually really proud
of myself, not knowing what he was going to say
at that altar and just putting myself on the line
like that, and then you know, seeing myself run away
(22:58):
and then fall and pick myself back up. It's like
that was that was me going through this moment of
like you can do this, You're not gonna die, Like
go ahead, pick yourself back up, go talk to him,
figure this out now. And overall, like I'm honestly really
proud of how everything went down. That's the one kind
of case where it's you literally picked yourself back as
(23:19):
opposed to being a metaphor if you picking yourself up
and dusting yourself off. So how do we get here? Like?
How what what is? If you can help us understand
the timeline of you know, the show ends or the
filming ends, I should say, you say, I do not,
And here we are today, the two of you together
and seem very happy with one, you know, being together.
So after the wedding, um, we well, let me kind
(23:44):
of rewind. We always said that we would leave together
no matter what happened. Um, And after the wedding, you know,
I didn't want to leave things on a sour note.
I just went through this life changing experience with this
person and I said yes to him at the altar,
So I wanted to see, you know, can we still
(24:04):
be friends? Can we talk it out? I saw how
much he was hurting. Everyone saw how much he was hurting.
So it's like no one's going to understand what we're
going through. So we need to start healing at some point.
And so I reached out to him a couple hours after,
and I just wanted to talk things out. And it
didn't feel right to go out and go out with
(24:26):
my bridesmaids or you know, hang out with my mom,
who was really mad. I wanted to be with this
person and see, you know, can we both heal from this?
Can we move on from it? And he you know,
picked up the phone. We snuck back into our old
apartment and we just kind of like hugged each other
and cried it out and love is blind apartment we
(24:48):
had already wrapped out of the apartment scene. And then
we went back to our places several days before the wedding,
and then and I was like, well, we get a call.
She gets a call from her you know, her bridesmaids
and girls, and I gonna call from you know, my
groom's man or the way, bro, we're out like bridesmaids
right now. And they're like they're awesome. And She's like, yeah,
(25:10):
we're out with Damien's friends right now, and like nobody's
known were reconnecting. I'm like, y'all just went out with
their friends, happening out, like I mean, you know how
guys are. Yeah, actually, so anyways, you know, it was
it was definitely real experience and I was like, I'm
just I said I'm too emotionally and just broken down today.
I know you are. If you want to go out
like I supported, go do it, but I'd love to
(25:32):
spend this evening with you and us. You guys got
back together that night and then I've been together since,
just under the auspices of weren't ready. You weren't ready
to say yes to marriage, but certainly continue the relationship.
I mean, the wedding was just this huge pressure on
us and we're like, okay, who are we outside of
(25:53):
this wedding marriage timeline? Like can we actually survive? Um?
You know? And I think we were just both really
curious to see if this bond was real, and we
just explored that day by day, day by day. Gee
said that she had a sixth sense and she was
able to paint pictures and in her mind's eye of
(26:14):
who everyone looked like, I'm gonna have to leave what what?
You know? Because it was you know, it's a it's
a special moment when you see the reveals, you know,
and and you know, she jumps into your arms, you
lift ther up. She talks about how strong you are,
and um, what did you what did you imagine? She
looked like versus what happened when those two doors open?
(26:36):
I love this question so good good. It was really
so you know obviously I said, you know, his most
beautiful voice, but um, I would go to bed at
night and we were able to exchange gifts throughout it
says something that wasn't really seen right, um. And she
(26:56):
gave me this blanket from peru um, from a healer
that she had met on some words get stuck in
like a sandstorm or something, I mean, and you know,
it's super special to her on her travels, and like
she had that sitting in my root pod when one
of when I came in and there's a little you know,
spray of perfume on there, and she smells like this
is fantastic. You know, obviously it's a storeball perfume. It's
(27:17):
not really her, but I'm like, this is her sense.
So I go back in there to the guy side
and they're like, oh, yeah, blanket, and like Taylor comes up,
he goes you mother. I was like yeah, you know, um,
And so now I have a smell to her, I
have a voice. I have a sense that she's a
(27:37):
free spirit. She doesn't you know, She's like, you know,
she has this artistic soul, and I imagine her being
like this sweet, little like tang girl, like you know,
before I found out she was blonde, which was like,
what kind of Venezuelan Croatian, partially Italian mixed is blonde?
Like that makes no sense. And then they're like, came
(27:58):
up and I'm like I couldn't even remember it up
and looked like when I was in there, I was like,
came up and we can't get a phone. Oh, nobody
has phones, okay, And they're like Sports Illustrated. I was like,
that's good sign, right, that's a good sign. Um. But
I'm imagining this sweet little innocent girl. God was I wrong.
And so at that point I was just like, I
(28:21):
can't imagine what she looks like. I don't want to
ruin what I've fallen in love with by setting my
expectations to Sports Illustrated model Lord, the sweet little girl
and us coming to this reveal and something different being
there that I've already built a block in my mind.
If it's not that, I'm not going to accept it, right,
And so I was just like, I'm gonna let it
(28:42):
go and went open the door and the reveille happened,
and I was like, holy, you know, like wow, um stunning,
and I was like, this girl's hot, right, and then
she right towards me and runs away, and I'm like,
you know, my biggest sphears like, I don't know what
she thought it was. So when she runs away, how
(29:03):
much longer are you without her before you get to
be back with her again? To us? Was she only
like she walked towards me and then turned around right
and then ran back to her a little pot and
then ran back to me. Right, that's right, all right,
I got you, I got you. So I was like that.
But even when she hugged me, like I didn't want
to kiss from the lips. I want to be very
four because she just I saw this sweet vibe that
you know, I'm not gonna push any boundaries. We still
(29:25):
or getting to each other. But I couldn't put her
voice to that face. I couldn't do it, and there
was a block there for me. And as beautiful she was,
I was still in love with this voice. I was
going to bed every single night and I could not wait.
I would go on hours and hours of dating just
to get there. Walking the room and here, hi, right, Damien.
(29:45):
Finally you know that sweet voice, and I couldn't put
that voice to face. So even when we got to
Mexico after and it was like, so we did the Reville,
we got to see each other there for you know,
a few talk and then we didn't see each other
again for about you know, thirty six hours. Um. And
that's understandable because I had a lot you know to
(30:06):
put in you know, into set, and then we got
to get in a nice limo, go to the airport
together and then boom head out of vacation. Um. But
there were several times, and I think we both did
it where I was closing my eyes when I was
talking to her in Mexico because I was still in
love with that voice and I didn't want it to fade.
But looking at her and hearing her talk was completely
(30:28):
different than me closing my eyes and hearing her talk.
It's that sixth sense. It's like it's something so strong. Um.
By the time you went to three days in Mexico,
when it had settled in no really no weeks, I
mean even moving back into the apartments, it was like
that still closed my eyes and I was like I
(30:49):
started to hear fade. You know this voice I fell
in love with. I started hear fade it was going
away and it sort of broke my heart a little piece.
But then I started to fall in love with her
and who she was. I was just gonna ask you, like,
do you wish I stayed that sweet little innocent girl?
Is that just the question? You know me? I mean
(31:12):
part of me love that, like, you know, that's who
we fell in love with in a sense. But I
wouldn't be the man I am today, and I wouldn't
have grown as much as I have without you. You've
challenged me in more ways than I could have ever
possibly imagined. And you know I love that about you
and I always love that, and you've opened my eyes
so many other things. Cultural diversity, You know that, the
(31:34):
fact that you know your whole family speaks Spanish and
I don't, but I take the effort to learn for you,
right um, it just speaks Spanish frandomly. Sometimes I'm like,
I didn't teach you that, How do you do that?
But yes, and I'm not great at it, But you
know it's important to her something I want. I want
to make things that are important to her a priority
to me. And you've taught me that, so I thank
(31:54):
you for that. And it's this relationship hopefully blossoms into something,
you know, even more beautiful as it does every day
that I'm with you. But um, I will take more
from this relationship than anything you know, else or any
other relationship I've ever had in my life. The this
(32:20):
isn't nearly as exciting. But I think probably being a guy,
it's something that that's stuck out because you know, you
think about why marriage is unraveling. The number one reason, well,
obviously there's infidelity, but really financial is one of the
big reasons. And you had a very emotional moment when
you said, I'm afraid I'm gonna not have a job.
I'm not gonna be able to support you. I'm sure
people are wondering, like whatever happened with that? Did you
keep your job? That you lose your job? Oh? Yeah,
(32:41):
I kept it? Okay, yeah it was it wasn't you
lost yours? And that funny how about that little twist? Um?
You know? And and we had we had those moments
where I got back and termination papers. I feel like
we're sort of written up, and I went in today,
you what you have to do. But can you really
(33:03):
replace me? Can you put somebody else here that's gonna
do what I do better? I said, And I turned around,
and you know, I'm I'm a general manager of a
major industrial supply company, so supply materials to build stuff
like the Mercedes beIN stadium to massive skyscrapers and then
keep them operational. I just went back and prove my
worth and killed it. And you know I'm still, you know,
(33:25):
still with that company. Um, but I was able to
you know, we're we've been there to take care of
each other. Yeah, right, So what's you know, what? What's this?
We only have like a couple of minutes left. What
what do you think the future is? You've got a
couple of minutes left? We got a long that I'd
say that exactly. There you go. So what what is
the future like? Can you give us a do mind
sharing like? Kind of where you guys are at right now?
(33:48):
Living together? Traveling together? Well, we're definitely not living together,
and I think we're both okay with that. We enjoy
our own space, Um, but we're with each other all
the time. Um, we're really funny together. And our plans
are to travel more together. But I mean, what what
else does a guy like me do when he's dating
one of the most beautiful I wanted celebrities in the
(34:08):
world right now? You know, So I never I never
saw myself as like this beauty. I mean, I knew
that I had like unique features, but I was never
the girl that got picked in high school. You know,
if I was in between I was talking to a
guy and he was in between two girls, me and
the other one. Like, it was never me. So I
was never like, Oh, he's gonna see me and like
(34:29):
love the way that I look. I was like, he's
gonna see me and probably think that I look really,
really weird. And I dressed really weird because that's what
everyone's been telling me my entire life, and the fact
that I was the guy that had a crush on
you that would never say yes, the guy like me. So,
I mean, it was just sort of a downpall for
all this. I guess right, well, I'm excited to travel
with you. It's going to be a great time. All right,
(34:49):
we'll wrap with this deal breakers. Um, when you're looking
for a partner, it is love is blind or hard pass.
You get one pass, all right. I'm gonna give you?
Um can I can I be blind to it? Are
you gonna you will? Are you willing to overlook it?
Or no? A deal breaker? All right? So love is blind?
Or hard Pass doesn't wear the odorant? Love is blind? Okay?
(35:13):
More than three cats? Oh love? Love is blind, but
a lot of allergy pills. Uh, doesn't watch television? Love
is blind? Okay. Uh, let's see her pies? Oh um, oh,
(35:35):
hard Pass? All that was left? We know snoring is
fine because you already shared with us earlier that you.
I'm glad I had one hard past. Uh. Let's see
how yes, how about m hmm? What else do we have?
You need to ask the last one? I have to say?
Love is blind. No, I don't think I'm exactly No,
(35:56):
I don't. I think that's it. I think we're we're good.
The three cats was the one that I don't know, man,
that you can't do three cats. Cat people are weird.
I just take it as a sign. I'm fine with cats.
It's totally fine. Uh, Damien, thanks for coming on. Yeah,
thanks for having me. It's a great experience. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks bropening up. You guys are killing this. She's the best. Thanks, guys.
(36:22):
I feel like I've known her forever. Yeah, podcast partners
are blind. Well, he didn't watch the show exactly that's true,
exactly right, And I do want to point out because
I said it and I don't know if you heard
it Um in one of the earlier episodes. I don't
know what it is about this show, but for whatever reason,
you typically walk out of TV shows thinking people are
much smaller than they are. But the two of you,
(36:42):
I would imagine uh as as they would say if you,
if you decide to procreate, your children will be very tall.
UM's very tall and very attractive. Yes, sports illustrated type
at I do get it all the time. When I'm
out there. They're like you are big man, and I'm like, well,
thank you sure have played football. There we go, all right,
(37:05):
Thank you David, Thank you guys. Subscribe to Love Insight
on I Heart Radio or however you get your podcasts.
Well of Love Insight Podcast with g as we like
to call her, Jeannina. I am at money Smith and
this is the one you likely have all been waiting for.
And we talked to Carlton, We've talked to Rory, we
talked to Chris Cole, and the creator of Love is
Blind is This is the official Love is Blind pod
and you're going to get a whole lot more of
that moving forward, so make sure you subscribe. But today, gee,
(00:29):
we got your guy with us, Damian sitting right across
from us. You have a very special guest, someone that
knows me very very well and has for eighteen months now,
eighteen months Darling. Hello, everyone, thank you for having me
on on my girlfriend's podcast. Girlfriend Girlfriend, there's a ring
on that left hand. Oh yeah, but that's just because
(00:50):
I like it. There is that? What it is? Um?
So let's gosh, that's that's an easy way to get
into this. So girlfriend, let's start at the very last
time we saw you on Love is Blind at the altars.
Certainly emotional for both of you. I don't think we
ever thought we'd be sitting here together based on just
being a viewer of the show. How How did we
(01:12):
end up here. How bad was that day for How
tough was that day for you? So that day was
probably one of the hardest days of my life. And
I've had some hard days, um, every day since then.
I wished I could have took it back, the pain
that she went through on that day. There was nothing
easy about that decision, um. And even you know during
(01:35):
the wedding, you hear me say I do not, And
it's because I wanted to hold that I do, um,
because you know, she's my soul mate. She's somebody you
know I wanted, I wanted to be with, But she's
also a free spirit. She's also somebody that doesn't like
to be grounded or held down. And for me, that
was saying, hey, I'm gonna have to make the hardest
decision here today, UM, no matter how hard it is
(01:58):
in the moment, for to hopefully survive and thrive outside
of this and become best friends first, become partners um
without the time frames of wedding and everything that comes
with marriage, which is a house, kids, finances, family vacations,
right Christmas is splitting them. There's a lot that comes
to that title that can add stresses to it. And
(02:19):
I didn't want that going into relationship with her. What
did you think she was going to say? Um, we
had spoke earlier and she she said that, you know,
I I want this now, and I I'm going to
say yes. And it was honestly really hard for me
to believe. We had a lot of up and downs.
(02:40):
You know, we had so many great moments that you know,
really weren't seen, but I didn't really when she said
I do, I was just It's what I always wanted
to hear, right, I always wanted to hear that. Um.
And I just it was hard to accept that late
in for me to register right then. Um. And if
(03:00):
she would have said I don't, I would have still
left with her. I wouldn't have I have been like, okay,
Like we did this together outside of here, So I mean,
I think at the altar, we both gave the other
what we thought was right. Right, So I gave myself
to you in a way that you knew how and
you did the same for me, and those just it
(03:21):
was hard for the both of us, right, Um. And
I mean he people are like, why didn't you tell
her earlier? And I was going through so much doubt
and fear um, and I didn't give him a clear
answer for weeks. So it was really it's really hard
for me to kind of sit here and say, well,
you know, he should have given me an answer when
(03:42):
I couldn't have done it myself for a really long time.
And he did say, you know, I will know when
I see you at the altar, and that's not something
that any girl wants to hear. But I think you
hear me at the finale saying if it happens for me,
it happens. And I was, you know, just I was
hoping for the best. And um, I mean I still
(04:03):
think we got our happy ending, even those are rough
to it's not over you happy ending. Yes. The one
thing that um, that we we heard or we saw
in the episodes was the relationship with family, and you
were upset that you weren't going to meet his family,
Like kind of how did all that play out? And
(04:24):
where does all that sit now? I m'd say, you know,
the whole family thing, my end and her and her
I'm all on great terms. Um. On the show didn't
work out. We were filming several hours a day, um, NonStop.
My dad travels a lot. Um. We we couldn't make
it terms on you know, like contractual agreements, because I
got a little brother and sister too, So this is
(04:45):
a lot like this choice to go on the show
was my choice. It wasn't for me to drag him into.
They were supportive and said, hey, like you want to
do this, you do his son, You got her backing. Um.
And I think it's a lot on any family to
you know, like what you're engaged, now, you're you're gonna
get married to somebody. Eachrom it in several weeks. Um.
But they said, if you make this choice, we support you. Um.
(05:05):
And they and they did want to meet her, just
not under the time frames if when filming was happening. Um.
So there's nothing easy about that situation. I'm on both sides.
But I'm also like, my family means everything. And when
it comes to you know, kids saying something at school,
you know, or whatever the case is, Like, I don't
want that pressure on my little brother and sister either.
(05:26):
So I mean and I understood that, you know. Obviously
I was in the back of my head, is it
because it's me, Like, what what's driving? Then? Did you
think he was like not comfortable introducing you to his family.
Is that what you were worried about? Or I mean
some part of me I think that anyone would feel
that way. But I know Damien through and through, and
(05:47):
you know, I've always believed that he's a genuine person
and that he would never lie to me. He would say, yeah,
well they're a little uncomfortable. He didn't say anything like that.
He was just saying the timing is not right. Timing
is not right. And because I was I knew his
soul and his spirit and how kind he was. I thought, well,
it has to come from somewhere, and I'm sure it's
his family, and I'm sure I'm going to love them
(06:09):
as well. Um, And you know, I can't hold that
respect that he has for his family against him. She uh.
She shared that she knew right away. When did you
kind of connect with her in the pods? How quickly
did that happen for you? You said you knew right away?
No putting words in your mouth. Yeah, no, no, I said,
(06:31):
I didn't say that, but I was saying that I
didn't have a romantic connection with anyone else. Um, like
at once I picked you, I picked you, like there
wasn't any back and forth after that. Yeah, I mean
it was it was the same for me at first
date didn't go so hot, So what do you mean
it was? So they warned we had fifteen date with
(06:54):
you know, fifteen different women, fifteen different men, seven minutes
a piece, whole bunch of mike issues and stuff. When
you're going into these pots, it's like you're hoping that
you're not linked with the pot across from You're right,
you never know what's going on. So, um, I walked
in and I was like hi, and she's like hi,
and I'm like, hey, what's your name? And I guess
he didn't hear me, so then he goes and then
(07:14):
I go, um, hi, what's your name? I asked you first?
I was like, okay, well my name's Damien. Can I
have your name now? So like okay, um, and you
felt the tension. It was like that yeah, And I
was like, but damn that voice, you know. So I
(07:36):
was I was really in this conflict of like gorgeous voice.
Like I talked to her for a few minutes. I
was like, this is the sexiest voice that I've probably
ever heard of my life. I've traveled around the world
and I was just in awe, and I was like, man,
that was a lodge. She was very aggressive, but but
maybe I should try it again. And I went out
and talking to Nicholastrey, I was like, he's like, so,
(07:57):
how how's your dates go? He's like, there anybody wouldn't
go on a date with? WAS like, well there was?
You were talking to who? I'm sorry didn't catch yeah,
And he's like, was there anybody wouldn't go on to
date with? Again? I was like maybe like one or
two was like one was like really just feisty as
like the other one you know, is like you know,
really really not. I don't know, it just it just
wasn't working. And I was And then day three we
(08:19):
started dating more like we went on another day. I
put it like six or seven on my list after
day one. Wait, when you say you put on, what
do you mean? How does that work? So there was
a list and then of each day you would label
like so day when we label on one through fifteen,
and it's a sense of like who do I really
want to go on a date with again? And who
do I Necessarily it wasn't so hot. So if I
put somebody number fifteen and they put me one. I
(08:41):
don't even know how the algorithm work. I try to
figure it out with cameras. It's like med school residency,
where like you're one matches with one and two two.
Rory creates video games cameras a scientist. You know, I'm
I'm a smart man, and I'm We're sitting here at
this table and we're going out of like, Okay, who'd
you put there? Who'd you put there? Do you going
to date with them? Again? Like what happened? And we're
(09:02):
like this algorithm makes no sense? Like and so like
is there a way to bring this? No, there's no,
we didn't. We're trying to you know, line right dates
something for her. It was so where did you put her?
You put her like mid pack? Yeah, like six and
you put him where? Yeah? And so when you hear's
people say like, oh, you're my number one or you're
my number two, Like that's what we're talking about. Yeah,
(09:24):
So then you guys and exactly talk here we go.
So then you end up what was the second interaction,
Like the second interaction was it was normal. It was
just like okay, like you know, still was enthralled by
that voice, and I was like, manly I like, out
of every date I've been on, I was like, I
actually just want to hear that voice again, Like I
(09:44):
don't care what comes out of that mouth, I just
want to hear that voice again. So but then you
did yeah in the day three and then and then
day three Nicolas goes, so, you know, day three or four,
it's like, so we've been dating these girls for a
few days, and if you could pick somebody to marry
right now, who would it be? And I was like,
g A Nina And He's like, really the girl, like
(10:06):
you weren't so sure about the day when I was like, yeah,
it's like but I said, there's something there and yeah,
and what was your choice when they asked you there?
It is? See, I knew what I wanted from the beginning, right,
so what is Uh? Was there anybody any of the
other guys in the in the facility that we're telling
(10:26):
you they were into g um? Yeah, So it was
sort of back and forth. Taylor. Taylor was one um
and I think it was hard to tell some people
was a game because they were like, after me and
her made a connection, he made a connection with Jessica
and he was all with Jessica so I didn't, and
then people would say some things like, oh she she
did this to me or she made me cry, and
(10:48):
I'm like, I thought we had the emotional connection because
you have different dates to everybody, you know, the way
somebody's like I was like, man, she's just like a
really great spirit. I imagine it's a cute little like
just wonderful female was to come up and hug me
and like, you know, love and support me. And then
you know, Roy comes as a man. I don't think
if worried bout that other girls are freak like what,
I'm like, what what are you talking about? Was like,
(11:08):
and you're crying with this chick, right, So well, I'm
glad you mentioned that that you were crying. Like you
it's hard for me to judge, you know, just the
few hours that we spent together. You don't seem like
a super emotional guy. Am my reading that wrong? Or um?
Did were you surprised how emotional you got through this
whole experience? Oh yeah, yeah, I'm I'm emotional. I think
(11:30):
it's all right to admit. Um, I see a good
film and it and it hits hard, squirt, Yeah yeah, okay,
yeah for real I'll cry, man, I'll go. So then
this didn't surprise you maybe the way you reacted to Yeah,
I did, actually did. Yeah, it still surprised me. I
was I tried not to get like too emotional into
like especially meeting somebody or not even meeting them, just
(11:50):
like understanding them after a few days and not seeing them.
I'm like, what the hell am I crown of this girl? Like, um, yeah,
but you're emotional. Yeah, but I was having caffeine withdrawals too.
That probably had a lot of to do. What about
it the other day? You have caffine withall done too? Yeah, yeah,
I have a lot of caffeine withdraws. Um for people
(12:12):
that you know, and and this like I'm speaking into
a microphone with a two in the room. But I'm
just a guy that watched the show and enjoyed the show.
The one thing that I think is relatable for for
guys that watch is just the mental exercises you're doing
with this one. And it just seemed like it was
a lot of a lot of peaks and valleys and
a lot to to try to corral. Can you maybe
(12:33):
kind of share because we had, you know, Chris Colan
on and he said, Look, there's three hours and this stuff.
You can do twenty shows of just the pods for
what maybe we didn't see. Give us an idea of
like what your relationship was like mentally emotionally, because that
was a theme too from you, of what you were
struggling with to try to kind of reconcile before you
committed to her. Yeah, you're talking about how well I
handled all the extreme circumstances she put me in and
(12:56):
what she would term the self sabotage, you know, things
that she was doing. Um, I could combined every second
of every woman I've ever dated and I wouldn't touch
her so um. And that's not a bad thing because
I've always I've never been in a relationship where I
just felt constantly challenged. I've always like I wanted that
(13:18):
I've always been and not a conceed way. I've always
been one of the smartest people in the room. I've
been able to figure things out, how things take and Um,
every time I turned around, I'm like, what the just happened?
Do you know? Like? What was that? Like we were
getting along five seconds ago? Why are you running away now?
Like I thought we had a great night and you know,
like I thought the sex was great, and you don't, like,
I am so mind blown, right, I have no idea
(13:39):
what's going to because I was I was going to
get there because clearly there's a couple of moments in
the show that are you know, just signature moments that
will always remember. The one where you're in the bedroom,
you're sitting in the kitchen on the counter, and you say,
are you satisfied with our sex? You say yes, she
says no. That's that's a lot to take in. Oh yeah,
I mean talk about just a punch to the solar
(14:00):
lexus of your pride. Yeah. And I think anybody that
watched that can you know or late about like I mean,
I had had a lot of messages, a lot of
reach out like wow, that so sorry that happened, like
and to me, it was hard. I had to watch
it four or five times over and over again to
be able to like, and this is a year and
a half later, right, to be able to like absorb
(14:20):
in like you know we're gonna be going well, yeah,
of course, like, but it's just I had to learn
that it's okay. Why is it not okay for her
to be honest about her feelings. It sucks it wasn't
under a different circumstances buying closed George when I thought
things were going so well. But I can't hold that
against her either. I mean, this is where confined spaces
in tight time frames, and it's so many different emotions
(14:42):
are floating around, and it hurt. It crushed me. I
think it would any man here and that um, but
I had to learn real quick well, like maybe you
know she's right, maybe I'm not seducing her, maybe I'm not.
Maybe there's something I'm not doing on mi nd as well.
And it's not fair for me just to be like, oh,
it's the best and then me get mad at her
for saying it's the worst, like a compliment it versus
a negative who decides that right? And I mean, I
think this happens to a lot of men and women
(15:04):
in relationships that have been together for years, where it's
like maybe in the beginning it was amazing, but then
you kind of get into like this rhythm and then
now it's like not the best anymore. So how do
you bring up this conversation without hurting someone's pride? And
I mean I was very direct with you in a
very public way. And I mean I did, you know
innately like challenge you in ways where it's like, how
(15:28):
are things going to get when they get hard, when
they're when we're done with the honeymoon phase? And um,
I mean you would agree we were going through a
year's worth of a relationship in a in a month
and a half. And I think the way that you
handled it was very, very passionate, very confident. I think
you're the way that you picked up what I was
(15:50):
putting down and you said, hey, like this is something
that's important to you, so let me listen. You passed
with flying colors. But I had to say what I
was feeling because you know, there's just no way I'm
going to go into a marriage not being able to
discuss something that is so pivotal in a marriage. Um. Yeah,
I mean I get that, but it's also like to me,
(16:12):
it was those are things I would rather discuss behind
closed doors, and you know people are ware there's cameras
in the room. I mean, the stuff's going on. And
when we were in a tight spot in relationship where
it was up and down, up and down, and then
when it's down, and then he hit me morever the down.
It's like, man, that that really sucks. And you know,
you see a point in that bedroom where I get
defensive for a second. I'm like, well, you weren't saying that,
(16:32):
you know the other day, And that's an automatic reaction
for a man like getting hit like that to take
that and try to defend themselves. And I'm like, you know,
why am I trying to defend myself If that's how
she feels, that's how she feels. It sucks that this
is how you're gonna open up about it to the
whole world. So that's the thing about our love story
is you know, the good, bad and the ugly the
whole world gets to see, but they're also able to
(16:52):
relate to it. And I'm like, wow, like you know,
I feel for this guy, or I can also see
where gin is come from. I can't tell my husband
or spouse that I'm not feeling it anymore. So what
does that lead to affairs, cheating, all this other stuff? Right?
And it's because there is a lack of communication all
across the world. I think that we now were able
to look at that and say we may have helped
a lot of people, even though it was tough in
(17:13):
that time. Was it was it harder in the moment
or was it harder to see it back for the
first time. Um, it was really hard in that moment um,
and it crushed me internally, but I was still it
was still private at that time. So when it hit
to the world, honestly, man, I broke down a chraytic
watching it. I was just like, Man, that sucks, because
(17:35):
I was like I was waiting for just the tons
of Twitter posts and the messages, and I'm like, this
is this is what I gotta deal with for the
next few weeks, you know what I mean. People are
laughing and saying all that, Uh, you never have a
girl like that, you know what I mean, Especially after
they saw what happened all through They're like just getting bashed,
you know. So it hurt. But at the same time,
I was like, you know what, like who is anyone
else to decide like my relationship or what I stand for?
(17:58):
Like what what where me and her are? Now? Oh?
That's like I had to be more confident with who
I am and what I had with Janina, and that's
all It's important in the end of the day. How
did you feel when you saw it. I felt horrible
that I put him in that position, um in such
a public way, because you know, the male pride is
(18:18):
a very real thing. But when I saw it, really
that was one of the moments where I where I
was just kind of like stewing over for a year
and a half, and when it finally was released, I
was just like, this is real, this is the truth,
Like there was there's really nothing to be ashamed of.
I I feel for Damien because I know him and
I know how much that this hurt him. But at
(18:40):
the end of the day, I was just like, this
is such a raw and real moment that I think
pretty much everyone had experience, and I just didn't feel
like it was anything to be ashamed of. And if
it just could have been. Yeah, but you also word
of my Shoes, and we discussed that and you even
broke down and cried and said, I'm so sorry that
I happened to you. So for you to sit here
and say now that it wasn't like a as big
(19:03):
of a deal and it, you know, it's something relatable,
is different from sort of how you acted in that
moment when we rewatched it, and you were watched you
were outside in the balcony and I was watching it
and I was just literally what was going on in
my head was like, Okay, this is real, this is honest.
I did go ahead and apologize to you because I
(19:23):
did just say that I felt bad for putting you
in that position, but that's what I said. And I mean,
now you came out there, you hugged me, you're crying.
I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Like you know you're
gonna be okay. I mean, because I knew that for you,
this was going to be really tough. But for me,
I said the things that I said because that was
my experience. And I'm glad that we talked about it.
(19:44):
I'm glad that we had the open communication. I'm still
I don't like that I put you in that position,
but you know, we've apologized, we've talked about it, we've
moved on from it. Do you um, because you guys,
(20:06):
the way it ended with you know you guys for
for the viewers, you broke up and then we found
out you're back together in the reunion episode and now
we're sitting here today. Was that something that you thought about, Like,
you know what, when this series comes out, there is
no way that thing is getting cut out. And if
this is did you think about, like, if this thing
becomes popular, this is gonna become like a like an event,
(20:27):
This is gonna become a centerpiece of this series. Did
you ever was it almost like a sort of damna
pleas that's just hanging over you and you're waiting for
that thread, that final thread to break. I think it
was gonna come out. I mean, I had a big phone.
They wouldn't cut something out like that. I mean, they were,
you know, moments where I thought about it through relationship
at the closer to God, I mean, and her had
conversations about it, and you know, we were both worried
(20:47):
about things in our own sense, and you know, I
think both of us we would have our days where
it was really rough before the show came out, and
then but we would have each other's support. I'd be like,
She'd be like, you know, hope they don't show that,
and I'm like, yeah, me too, Like it'll be okay though,
And we did that to keep each other calm. And
the situations of rewatching our life story right played to
(21:08):
the world and you're never really prepared for it, even
when you're the ones that lived it, So it's like
an open wound, you know, just like rubbing salt in it,
and it's one that doesn't he I mean, obviously it
does now because you're sitting here and it seems like, like
like you said, there's this happy ending. Was it the
same for you to watch him say I do not.
Was that something that you were kind of like worried about,
(21:30):
because you know that was sort of that that pride
swallowing moment for you, and for you it's saying I do.
So what was it like when you watched that back?
How did you feel watching it? I mean there are
two times where I cry every single time I watched
the episodes, and it's whenever I see myself running into
Damien's arms for the first time, and then whenever he
tells me no um at the altar, and it's just
(21:53):
a very I just I lived it, right. So I
go back to that moment and I just kind of
I feel that that sadness and that anger all over again.
But it's it's not something that I was that I,
you know, hold against him. I'm with him, and so
I don't put that hold that over his head saying like,
(22:14):
well you told me, now, so you gotta do this, Like,
I don't ever like use that against him. I did
buy some boxing gloves in midst, though, and she's got
some mean punch. Just stay away from the face Streighthart
the money makers close. So I mean, I think I've
said this where it's like I see that and people
see that as this big failure, but I see this
as a really big success where I was able to
(22:36):
open up my heart and get over this really big
fear that I had because my parents got a divorce
and I always saw a marriage is this really scary
awful thing because I can see how how ugly it
can be. But at that moment, I'm actually really proud
of myself, not knowing what he was going to say
at that altar and just putting myself on the line
like that, and then you know, seeing myself run away
(22:58):
and then fall and pick myself back up. It's like
that was that was me going through this moment of
like you can do this, You're not gonna die, Like
go ahead, pick yourself back up, go talk to him,
figure this out now. And overall, like I'm honestly really
proud of how everything went down. That's the one kind
of case where it's you literally picked yourself back as
(23:19):
opposed to being a metaphor if you picking yourself up
and dusting yourself off. So how do we get here? Like?
How what what is? If you can help us understand
the timeline of you know, the show ends or the
filming ends, I should say, you say, I do not,
And here we are today, the two of you together
and seem very happy with one, you know, being together.
So after the wedding, um, we well, let me kind
(23:44):
of rewind. We always said that we would leave together
no matter what happened. Um, And after the wedding, you know,
I didn't want to leave things on a sour note.
I just went through this life changing experience with this
person and I said yes to him at the altar,
So I wanted to see, you know, can we still
(24:04):
be friends? Can we talk it out? I saw how
much he was hurting. Everyone saw how much he was hurting.
So it's like no one's going to understand what we're
going through. So we need to start healing at some point.
And so I reached out to him a couple hours after,
and I just wanted to talk things out. And it
didn't feel right to go out and go out with
(24:26):
my bridesmaids or you know, hang out with my mom,
who was really mad. I wanted to be with this
person and see, you know, can we both heal from this?
Can we move on from it? And he you know,
picked up the phone. We snuck back into our old
apartment and we just kind of like hugged each other
and cried it out and love is blind apartment we
(24:48):
had already wrapped out of the apartment scene. And then
we went back to our places several days before the wedding,
and then and I was like, well, we get a call.
She gets a call from her you know, her bridesmaids
and girls, and I gonna call from you know, my
groom's man or the way, bro, we're out like bridesmaids
right now. And they're like they're awesome. And She's like, yeah,
(25:10):
we're out with Damien's friends right now, and like nobody's
known were reconnecting. I'm like, y'all just went out with
their friends, happening out, like I mean, you know how
guys are. Yeah, actually, so anyways, you know, it was
it was definitely real experience and I was like, I'm
just I said I'm too emotionally and just broken down today.
I know you are. If you want to go out
like I supported, go do it, but I'd love to
(25:32):
spend this evening with you and us. You guys got
back together that night and then I've been together since,
just under the auspices of weren't ready. You weren't ready
to say yes to marriage, but certainly continue the relationship.
I mean, the wedding was just this huge pressure on
us and we're like, okay, who are we outside of
(25:53):
this wedding marriage timeline? Like can we actually survive? Um?
You know? And I think we were just both really
curious to see if this bond was real, and we
just explored that day by day, day by day. Gee
said that she had a sixth sense and she was
able to paint pictures and in her mind's eye of
(26:14):
who everyone looked like, I'm gonna have to leave what what?
You know? Because it was you know, it's a it's
a special moment when you see the reveals, you know,
and and you know, she jumps into your arms, you
lift ther up. She talks about how strong you are,
and um, what did you what did you imagine? She
looked like versus what happened when those two doors open?
(26:36):
I love this question so good good. It was really
so you know obviously I said, you know, his most
beautiful voice, but um, I would go to bed at
night and we were able to exchange gifts throughout it
says something that wasn't really seen right, um. And she
(26:56):
gave me this blanket from peru um, from a healer
that she had met on some words get stuck in
like a sandstorm or something, I mean, and you know,
it's super special to her on her travels, and like
she had that sitting in my root pod when one
of when I came in and there's a little you know,
spray of perfume on there, and she smells like this
is fantastic. You know, obviously it's a storeball perfume. It's
(27:17):
not really her, but I'm like, this is her sense.
So I go back in there to the guy side
and they're like, oh, yeah, blanket, and like Taylor comes up,
he goes you mother. I was like yeah, you know, um,
And so now I have a smell to her, I
have a voice. I have a sense that she's a
(27:37):
free spirit. She doesn't you know, She's like, you know,
she has this artistic soul, and I imagine her being
like this sweet, little like tang girl, like you know,
before I found out she was blonde, which was like,
what kind of Venezuelan Croatian, partially Italian mixed is blonde?
Like that makes no sense. And then they're like, came
(27:58):
up and I'm like I couldn't even remember it up
and looked like when I was in there, I was like,
came up and we can't get a phone. Oh, nobody
has phones, okay, And they're like Sports Illustrated. I was like,
that's good sign, right, that's a good sign. Um. But
I'm imagining this sweet little innocent girl. God was I wrong.
And so at that point I was just like, I
(28:21):
can't imagine what she looks like. I don't want to
ruin what I've fallen in love with by setting my
expectations to Sports Illustrated model Lord, the sweet little girl
and us coming to this reveal and something different being
there that I've already built a block in my mind.
If it's not that, I'm not going to accept it, right,
And so I was just like, I'm gonna let it
(28:42):
go and went open the door and the reveille happened,
and I was like, holy, you know, like wow, um stunning,
and I was like, this girl's hot, right, and then
she right towards me and runs away, and I'm like,
you know, my biggest sphears like, I don't know what
she thought it was. So when she runs away, how
(29:03):
much longer are you without her before you get to
be back with her again? To us? Was she only
like she walked towards me and then turned around right
and then ran back to her a little pot and
then ran back to me. Right, that's right, all right,
I got you, I got you. So I was like that.
But even when she hugged me, like I didn't want
to kiss from the lips. I want to be very
four because she just I saw this sweet vibe that
you know, I'm not gonna push any boundaries. We still
(29:25):
or getting to each other. But I couldn't put her
voice to that face. I couldn't do it, and there
was a block there for me. And as beautiful she was,
I was still in love with this voice. I was
going to bed every single night and I could not wait.
I would go on hours and hours of dating just
to get there. Walking the room and here, hi, right, Damien.
(29:45):
Finally you know that sweet voice, and I couldn't put
that voice to face. So even when we got to
Mexico after and it was like, so we did the Reville,
we got to see each other there for you know,
a few talk and then we didn't see each other
again for about you know, thirty six hours. Um. And
that's understandable because I had a lot you know to
(30:06):
put in you know, into set, and then we got
to get in a nice limo, go to the airport
together and then boom head out of vacation. Um. But
there were several times, and I think we both did
it where I was closing my eyes when I was
talking to her in Mexico because I was still in
love with that voice and I didn't want it to fade.
But looking at her and hearing her talk was completely
(30:28):
different than me closing my eyes and hearing her talk.
It's that sixth sense. It's like it's something so strong. Um.
By the time you went to three days in Mexico,
when it had settled in no really no weeks, I
mean even moving back into the apartments, it was like
that still closed my eyes and I was like I
(30:49):
started to hear fade. You know this voice I fell
in love with. I started hear fade it was going
away and it sort of broke my heart a little piece.
But then I started to fall in love with her
and who she was. I was just gonna ask you, like,
do you wish I stayed that sweet little innocent girl?
Is that just the question? You know me? I mean
(31:12):
part of me love that, like, you know, that's who
we fell in love with in a sense. But I
wouldn't be the man I am today, and I wouldn't
have grown as much as I have without you. You've
challenged me in more ways than I could have ever
possibly imagined. And you know I love that about you
and I always love that, and you've opened my eyes
so many other things. Cultural diversity, You know that, the
(31:34):
fact that you know your whole family speaks Spanish and
I don't, but I take the effort to learn for you,
right um, it just speaks Spanish frandomly. Sometimes I'm like,
I didn't teach you that, How do you do that?
But yes, and I'm not great at it, But you
know it's important to her something I want. I want
to make things that are important to her a priority
to me. And you've taught me that, so I thank
(31:54):
you for that. And it's this relationship hopefully blossoms into something,
you know, even more beautiful as it does every day
that I'm with you. But um, I will take more
from this relationship than anything you know, else or any
other relationship I've ever had in my life. The this
(32:20):
isn't nearly as exciting. But I think probably being a guy,
it's something that that's stuck out because you know, you
think about why marriage is unraveling. The number one reason, well,
obviously there's infidelity, but really financial is one of the
big reasons. And you had a very emotional moment when
you said, I'm afraid I'm gonna not have a job.
I'm not gonna be able to support you. I'm sure
people are wondering, like whatever happened with that? Did you
keep your job? That you lose your job? Oh? Yeah,
(32:41):
I kept it? Okay, yeah it was it wasn't you
lost yours? And that funny how about that little twist? Um?
You know? And and we had we had those moments
where I got back and termination papers. I feel like
we're sort of written up, and I went in today,
you what you have to do. But can you really
(33:03):
replace me? Can you put somebody else here that's gonna
do what I do better? I said, And I turned around,
and you know, I'm I'm a general manager of a
major industrial supply company, so supply materials to build stuff
like the Mercedes beIN stadium to massive skyscrapers and then
keep them operational. I just went back and prove my
worth and killed it. And you know I'm still, you know,
(33:25):
still with that company. Um, but I was able to
you know, we're we've been there to take care of
each other. Yeah, right, So what's you know, what? What's this?
We only have like a couple of minutes left. What
what do you think the future is? You've got a
couple of minutes left? We got a long that I'd
say that exactly. There you go. So what what is
the future like? Can you give us a do mind
sharing like? Kind of where you guys are at right now?
(33:48):
Living together? Traveling together? Well, we're definitely not living together,
and I think we're both okay with that. We enjoy
our own space, Um, but we're with each other all
the time. Um, we're really funny together. And our plans
are to travel more together. But I mean, what what
else does a guy like me do when he's dating
one of the most beautiful I wanted celebrities in the
(34:08):
world right now? You know, So I never I never
saw myself as like this beauty. I mean, I knew
that I had like unique features, but I was never
the girl that got picked in high school. You know,
if I was in between I was talking to a
guy and he was in between two girls, me and
the other one. Like, it was never me. So I
was never like, Oh, he's gonna see me and like
(34:29):
love the way that I look. I was like, he's
gonna see me and probably think that I look really,
really weird. And I dressed really weird because that's what
everyone's been telling me my entire life, and the fact
that I was the guy that had a crush on
you that would never say yes, the guy like me. So,
I mean, it was just sort of a downpall for
all this. I guess right, well, I'm excited to travel
with you. It's going to be a great time. All right,
(34:49):
we'll wrap with this deal breakers. Um, when you're looking
for a partner, it is love is blind or hard pass.
You get one pass, all right. I'm gonna give you?
Um can I can I be blind to it? Are
you gonna you will? Are you willing to overlook it?
Or no? A deal breaker? All right? So love is blind?
Or hard Pass doesn't wear the odorant? Love is blind? Okay?
(35:13):
More than three cats? Oh love? Love is blind, but
a lot of allergy pills. Uh, doesn't watch television? Love
is blind? Okay. Uh, let's see her pies? Oh um, oh,
(35:35):
hard Pass? All that was left? We know snoring is
fine because you already shared with us earlier that you.
I'm glad I had one hard past. Uh. Let's see
how yes, how about m hmm? What else do we have?
You need to ask the last one? I have to say?
Love is blind. No, I don't think I'm exactly No,
(35:56):
I don't. I think that's it. I think we're we're good.
The three cats was the one that I don't know, man,
that you can't do three cats. Cat people are weird.
I just take it as a sign. I'm fine with cats.
It's totally fine. Uh, Damien, thanks for coming on. Yeah,
thanks for having me. It's a great experience. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks bropening up. You guys are killing this. She's the best. Thanks, guys.
(36:22):
I feel like I've known her forever. Yeah, podcast partners
are blind. Well, he didn't watch the show exactly that's true,
exactly right, And I do want to point out because
I said it and I don't know if you heard
it Um in one of the earlier episodes. I don't
know what it is about this show, but for whatever reason,
you typically walk out of TV shows thinking people are
much smaller than they are. But the two of you,
(36:42):
I would imagine uh as as they would say if you,
if you decide to procreate, your children will be very tall.
UM's very tall and very attractive. Yes, sports illustrated type
at I do get it all the time. When I'm
out there. They're like you are big man, and I'm like, well,
thank you sure have played football. There we go, all right,
(37:05):
Thank you David, Thank you guys. Subscribe to Love Insight
on I Heart Radio or however you get your podcasts.
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