February 5, 2025 • 19 mins
Join me for an exclusive conversation with Grant Ellis, the new Bachelor on ABC, right after we tackle a 3-mile run through Central Park. Grant opens up about his journey on the show, giving us a sneak peek into what viewers can expect from his season. He also reflects on his childhood, his time as a professional basketball player, and how his experience on The Bachelor has impacted his personal life. Grant shares powerful insights into his relationship with his father, discussing how the show played a pivotal role in healing their bond, especially in light of his father's struggles with addiction.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
What's up, Runner Gang, Welcome back to post run High.
Today's episode is a special one. I'm sitting down with
Grant Ellis. He's the new bachelor on ABC, and Grant
is about to have his whole world change. Before we
get into our conversation, I want to give you guys
a little bit of context for what you're about to
see in the episode. Grant and I ran three very
(00:23):
cold miles through Central Park and shout out to him
and me for braving through that. You guys know, I'm
a wimp in the cold and it was about fifteen
degrees fahrenheit. After our run, we made our way to Midtown,
New York City to sit down for the interview you
guys are about to hear, and you'll notice that the
set is a little different. We were in Grant's hotel room.
(00:44):
It's always really interesting interviewing someone right before their life
is about to shift in such a huge way. I've
had the chance to sit down with a few bachelors
and bachelorettes over the years, and while everyone's journey is different,
one thing that is definitely always true is that being
on the show changes your life. I actually filmed with
(01:05):
Matt James last week. He was the first Bachelor I
ever interviewed back in twenty twenty three, and spending time
with him again made me reflect on just how much
the show shifts things for people. All of a sudden,
every relationship you have is on display, and the pressure
to live up to a certain image is so huge.
And as you guys might know, Matt James has been
(01:26):
going through it recently with this very public breakup. Everyone
has an opinion and it's just a reminder of how
intense the experience on this show can be, and really quickly,
I just want to add that I love Matt and
he truly is such a nice guy. I've had the
opportunity to meet him a couple times and he really
does mean so well. So if you guys are listening
(01:48):
to this, let's take it as a sign to be
a little bit more gentle on the internet. I know
that we all do have a right to judge others,
but how would you guys feel if you started getting
bashed on the internet over your breakup. I just want
to also add that hawkgirls talk about ideas, not people.
But now here we are with Grant right at the
(02:09):
beginning of his journey and his relationships are about to
be under a microscope. It just all has me thinking, like,
I can't even imagine what this feels like, Like I
can't imagine having my relationship on a stage the way
it is for these people that sign up for the show.
And you guys know how much I love Jeremy, and
(02:30):
I love how much you guys love him too, But
I truly cannot imagine showcasing all of the intimate parts
of our relationship for the world to see. And that's
probably a common thought process. I mean, you guys know,
I share a decent bit about Jeremy and I on
social media, but I definitely do not overly highlight us.
I don't know, it's a personal decision. But when I
(02:51):
was talking to Grant, it was fascinating because he had
a completely different perspective on having a public relationship, which
is what I love about interviewing and talking to people. Anyways,
the whole thing made me realize it's really fun when
people have different opinions, because different opinions are how we
learn and grow. And he really expanded my perspective today
regarding putting his personal life out there in such a
(03:13):
big way and why it's been healing for him. So
it was a really cool conversation to have. And one
part of our conversation that really stood out to me
was when Grant opened up about his dad's struggle with addiction.
I actually didn't know about this part of him going
into our run, and the way he talked about it
really really hit me. And I'm so excited for you
(03:34):
guys to hear this part of the conversation because addiction
is something that so many people are affected by, but
I feel like it's not something that we always openly
talk about. And Grant was so real about it. He
didn't sugarcoat anything, and it made me have a lot
of respect for him. I'm really excited about his vulnerability
(03:54):
and he's going to share a lot of this experience
on the show as well. I think a lot of
us can relate to having someone in our lives who
struggled with addiction, or maybe we've experienced it ourselves, or
we've heard about somebody experiencing addiction, like it's a very
common thing and it's a hard thing to talk about.
It also made me think a lot about impact and
(04:17):
how we use our stories and experiences to help other people.
And this is something that I'm constantly thinking about. I'm
such a chronic overthinker, but I'm always thinking like, how
can I do more? How can I create something meaningful
for people. It's so easy, especially online, to just present
the perfect, polished version of yourself, especially in this space.
(04:40):
But it's definitely true that when we're open about the
tough stuff, it helps people feel less alone. And that's
what it's all about, right We're putting out our lives
online for other people to see. You got to just
hope it helps someone else. And that's the part of
our conversation that really stuck with me, and that I'm
excited for you guys to hear. Other than that, I
can't wait for you guys to hear this conversation, and
(05:01):
I'm so excited to see what you think about it
before we get into it. If you guys are loving
post Run High, please be sure to subscribe to my
YouTube channel at Kate max. This is where you can
watch all of our video episodes, including my full running
interview with Grant. We talk about a lot more on
the Running Interview show episode than you guys are about
(05:22):
to hear in the sit down conversation, So definitely go
over there if you want to learn more about him,
and of course follow me on social media at Kate
Max to stay up to date on all of the
guests that we have coming up and everything that I'm doing.
Love you guys so much and appreciate you so much.
And without further ado, let's get into post run High. Oo. Wow,
(05:50):
that was a good run. All right, guys, welcome back
to Post Run High. I'm here with Grant Ellis. We
just ran three miles in Central Park in fifteen degree weather.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Oh my god, that was actually really fun. You know,
I really appreciate that and I never ran in the
cold like that before.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Is running a part of your fitness routine?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Typically actually boxing. I like to box, it's like a
really good part, but running you need to run miles
in order to stay in shape, so I end my
workout with running.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I've had a lot of UFC fighters on the show,
and one of my favorites was Joanna. We were just
talking about this before we started filming it, and I
was so fascinated to find out that for her training
schedule she does a lot of runs, so she actually
does like five to six mile runs. When she's like
getting in. But I guess that's like lateweight fighters. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And she's doing that daily, well she was.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I don't think she's doing UFC.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Guys, Yeah every day.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
All right, let's talk about this because your stamina was
great on the run, Graham was definitely sweating a little
bit more than me.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
I just you know, how was he sweating this much?
It's so cold outside, which is fine, it's good to sweat,
sweat it out. It's showing that we're really running. People
always ask do you actually run?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And they're going to see now we actually and we
were running hard too. Yeah, we probably had like a
solid eight minute thirty pace eight minute pace.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Maybe they always asked too, what's your pace? So yeah,
I agree, it was pretty fast. I was like weaking slowly.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Down a little.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You were picking it up, let's run. Well. I feel
like it's because you were a basketball player, so you're
probably so used to like running at such a fast pace.
Like I find that when I have like athletes on like,
their pace is always so much faster than I would
like expect. So you were crushing it.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Thank you, thank you. I almost did not survive, but
I loved it.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And Okay, I got to ask, because your fitness was
great on the run, stamina was excellent. I'm curious, like,
what was your fitness routine like when you were filming?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Oh so, in the beginning, you start off, you know,
you keep a really good routine, but as a show progresses,
it's really hard to keep to keep a routine. And yeah,
and then on top of that, there's like the cocktail
parties and everything. So towards the end of the season,
I wasn't really working out as much. But when I
got back home, I was like, all right, I need
to get back. I need to get back asap.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Wait, what was that like for you kind of not
be in your routine, Because as an athlete, are you
a very like regiment person?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Very much my routine that's like my comfort place, having
a routine and being able to do the same things
every day. It was different. It was different. And then
you couple that with the emotional stress that comes with
it and the decision making that you have to do
in such a short amount of time. It's definitely a
unique experience.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, the decision making on the show stresses me out.
And like I was a big fan of Joey's season,
And I was actually talking about this before with your
publicist and I was like, I was so impressed by
how level headed Joey was on the season and like
how he managed to stress and in the decision making
like he really it was just like a true testament
to his character. Yes, And I know you've talked about
like getting advice from Joey going into The Bachelor of
(08:43):
film and season, so like, kind of talk to me
about that, Like what advice did he give you?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, Joey's advice is to go, you know, go with
your heart, and you know, when you're in the process,
you make sure you think about the person you're gonna
be with is gonna watch it back. So I think
part of being a Bachelor is being level headed and
being able to maneuver situations and having to give speeches
and assure the woman that you're here to find your wife.
And I feel like that was a really difficult part,
(09:09):
but it also was a part that was challenging and
it helped me grow as well as the women that
were in the season.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Absolutely, do you get to see the women that are
gonna be on the show before opening day or no?
Speaker 2 (09:20):
No, you don't need to see them. The first time
you see the woman is at the limit of night one.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Do they ask you before starting to film and before
the casting what your type is, to try to kind
of pick people that are a match.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, they they ask you typically what your type is.
I went in there like listen just what I gave
them a specific type, but I was like, listen, whatever
you guys bring. I know you guys are gonna bring
an amazing women. And they did. They did a good job.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Is there anything that you can tease about the season
that like we can be excited to see and watch?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
The only thing I could tease that's really good seasons,
really great season. And like I said, I think the
main thing I try to go in there, even for
the ladies that I don't end up with, I pushed
them and to challenge yourself and to open up their emotions,
and they pushed me too. And I think that was
really a really big part of the season. I think
(10:08):
it'll come across on screen.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, And we talked a little bit after our run.
I don't know if it's going to make it into
the running interview episode that hopefully you guys will all
go and watch after listening to this, But we talked
a little bit about how you really value like an
active partner and somebody that you can like, you know,
set goals with and challenge each other with. So I'm curious, like,
can we expect to see any fitness in the season,
like any active dates.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah, there's a lot of really good days in the season.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Basketball is a big part of my life. So no teasers,
but there might or might not be some basketball in there, okay,
And in my partner, I do want somebody who's active.
It's not the main thing, but I think it's a
really important part to bond with your partner and to
push each other. And if you have a routine or
an activity that you do together, it builds chemistry.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Absolutely. It's so cool being with you right now because
your life is about to go berserk, Like the next
few months are going to be crazy. Everybody's going to
be tuning in every Monday. I mean, there's so many
fans of the show, So I'm curious, like, what is
your life currently like and I feel and are you like,
are you ready for what's going to happen? Like how
are you feeling? Does that like make you nervous at
all because you're about to get a lot of publicity,
(11:12):
you know, just like how do you handle that.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I think the main thing that I keep in mind
is I'm never gonna let anything change me or my character.
And I think that in my life, I try to
be really rational and make good decisions and stay pretty
level headed, so nothing's going to change. And I think that,
like I said, trading really makes me really calm and mellow.
You can never get too high, you can never get
too low. So I feel like I'm just going to
(11:35):
take the same mentality that I had in sports and
then trading and just apply it to my life. But
I'm also a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, US athletes can do anything.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Also, it's going to have fun, you know, enjoy it
because it doesn't last, huh, you know. And I think
the main thing is trying to develop and a relationship,
and that's what I was trying to do.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
On the show, right, And I mean, I want to
dig into that a little bit because it's like, like
I get what you're saying, like it doesn't last for ever,
but at the same time, like your life is completely
different than what it was. What a year and a
half ago, two years ago, a lot more roses, a
lot more roses, right, Like, all of a sudden, you
have all these eyeballs on you. I'm curious, Like two
years ago or a year and a half ago. I
know your mom submitted you for the show, but like,
(12:14):
could you ever have imagined that you would be in
the public eye like this or never?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
My goal was to start a firm, you know, which
it still is, but I never I never pictured myself
being like a public figure like I'm used to being
in being the eye playing basketball, but on this stage
and when it comes to the matter of finding love,
it's very opinionated. Everybody has their own opinion on what
they think you should do or how they think you
should handle a situation. But as long as I stick
(12:40):
to my core values, I think that's something that makes fun.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I had Jen on after her season, and now I'm
having you on, and it's just wild because you were
in ten season, so it's very like full circle. One
of the questions I asked her was it's hard like
as a girl to not have like girl time, and
like obviously she said, like, you know, there's producers on
the show that are women. You become super close with them,
and you know there's other like females that are around you,
but like, for the most part, you're around guys all
the time. You know, what was that like for you
(13:11):
being like the Bachelor and really just around women all
the time. Like, I know you have a sister, but yeah,
I mean, how did you stay sane in that setting?
You know?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I actually enjoy a woman's presence a lot, you know,
because it's like a counterbalance, you know, with me, I
bring a certain type of energy and the woman kind
of balances you out or whoever. You know. So I
think that it was a really good, a really good dynamic.
And then you know, the producers I had were great.
To the team that I had was really was really good,
and they were crazy and fun and we made sure
(13:40):
we had we had a good time. But the ladies
were great.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
What's it like having like intimate moments films on camera? Yeah,
a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It's kind of weird, but it is. It's part of it,
you know. And I think that being able to show
that side of yourself and the vulnerability and being able
to be that way for America to see it, I
think it's inspiring, honestly, I think that it'll inspire a
lot of men to be more open with their feelings too.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, I completely agree. I also feel like there's a
certain barrier that's like broken when you're intimate in that
way on camera in front of the world, because like,
not only is it in front of the world, which
honestly to me doesn't matter as much as it being
in front of your family. So I'm curious, like, your
mom submitted you for the show, how do they feel
with you being on the show, and what was it like?
Were there any like awkward moments like, yeah, you're gonna
(14:27):
have to prepare.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
For this, Yeah, just preparing for some of the kissing
that have it. That's a little it's gonna be a
little weird, that's definitely. But you know, my mom's excited,
my sister is happy, and my dad is thrilled about
what's to come. And I think that a really big
part of the show you're gonna see is me reconnecting
with my dad. I think that's a love story all
in itself.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Talk to me about that.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, So my dad, you know, he struggled with addiction
for thirty years and he had recently got sober, and
it happened around the time that the show started, which
is I feel like everything that happened was sup to
happen and it's meant to happen. And you know, he
makes an appearance on the show. I won't give away
too much, but there's a coalition of trust there, and
(15:09):
there's a rebuilding of a relationship that you're supposed to have,
and I feel like it could be a story that
really resonates with a lot of people in America.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Wait, that's amazing. So being on the show and on
the shows has really helped you reconnect with your dad
in a deeper way.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Yeah, it's really brought together. It's kind of weird because
my family. Okay, so my grandmother is actually on the
first episode and she passed away, and that brought our
family together. Death has a weird way of doing that,
bringing people together. And then also the show brought my
family together even more and we all kind of gathered
around me and the journey. And I think that aside
(15:48):
from love, right, which is the main goal, I think
another goal of mine was to be a good role
model and to show people what it means to be
a man and to chase your dreams and to follow
your heart and do it in a way that's.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Absolutely and like it's so important for like young like
men and like young women too to be able to
like see that type of man like, especially in the media.
So I do think it's so cool what you guys
do and how you know, you are so vulnerable like
with everything, But it does take, like it it takes
a certain like person to be able to do it.
(16:22):
It's like it's not easy, you know, like not everybody's
comfortable being in the limelight. Like, not everybody's comfortable doing
what I'm doing right now. You know, like it's hard
putting yourself out there. So like I'm always like kudos
to you, like we're it is hard and it is
so important to have role models. I like that you
(16:43):
brought up your dad because I know when we run
our run you had reference challenges and how basketball really
helped you throughout life kind of you know, have separation
from those challenges. And I was like, well, what challenges
and you were like, just challenges? Is that the challenges
you were referencing.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, that was one of the challenges. And then you know,
when you're in a certain environment, you're influenced a lot
of different ways, you know, and some of the ways
aren't the best. And you know, my dad and my
mom were regardless of whatever struggles my dad did, he
always was there to point me in the right direction.
And I saw kind of some of the struggles he
went through, and I said, Okay, I don't want to
(17:20):
be like that. And then I saw some of the
things he did and I was like, okay, I want
to be like that. So I took different pieces from him,
and different pieces from my mom, and different pieces for
my coaches, and I put them all together and like
I kind of it helped me mold the person I
am today. But that was definitely one of the challenges
dealing with addiction, and you know in the inner city,
(17:40):
and you know some of the routes that people take
to to negate the problems, and it's it's definitely something
that I want to inspire people to do the same
way that I did.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It absolutely, Like, how do you feel like your dad's
addiction like impacted kind of your relationship with maybe like
drugs and alcohol growing up.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I think there's two ways you can go. It's either
you could see somebody that's doing something and then you
could say and you would gravitate towards it, or you
could see what that does to somebody's life, and you
can go the complete opposite direction. And I feel like
I chose the opposite direction because I saw what it
does to somebody, and I saw what it does to
your loved ones and your family and your finances, and
(18:21):
I think that's something that makes me who I am
today is I just want to be a positive role
model for people that are going through all types of situations.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
There's so many, like young people that are in the
same shoes that you walked through as a young kid.
So like, I'm curious, you know, what is kind of
your advice for them?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I would say the number one advice would say, when
you're going through a situation where somebody you love maybe
an addiction, and it's affecting you because you live vicariously
through them, you know, especially if they're your parent, I
would say, focus on something that takes your something positive,
that takes your energy and distraction away, and put your
effort into there, and look towards the future. Don't look
(18:58):
towards what you're living in now. Always think about the
future and what you could do to bring your loved
ones out of the situation.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
It's incredible. You're I'm so excited for your season. You're
so motivational. I'm so excited for people to learn even
more about you. Tune in every Monday.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Every Monday.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We're going to learn all about Grant in these upcoming months.
I'm so excited for you.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Really enjoy it. It's going to be a crazy couple
of months, all right, guys,
What's up, Runner Gang, Welcome back to post run High.
Today's episode is a special one. I'm sitting down with
Grant Ellis. He's the new bachelor on ABC, and Grant
is about to have his whole world change. Before we
get into our conversation, I want to give you guys
a little bit of context for what you're about to
see in the episode. Grant and I ran three very
(00:23):
cold miles through Central Park and shout out to him
and me for braving through that. You guys know, I'm
a wimp in the cold and it was about fifteen
degrees fahrenheit. After our run, we made our way to Midtown,
New York City to sit down for the interview you
guys are about to hear, and you'll notice that the
set is a little different. We were in Grant's hotel room.
(00:44):
It's always really interesting interviewing someone right before their life
is about to shift in such a huge way. I've
had the chance to sit down with a few bachelors
and bachelorettes over the years, and while everyone's journey is different,
one thing that is definitely always true is that being
on the show changes your life. I actually filmed with
(01:05):
Matt James last week. He was the first Bachelor I
ever interviewed back in twenty twenty three, and spending time
with him again made me reflect on just how much
the show shifts things for people. All of a sudden,
every relationship you have is on display, and the pressure
to live up to a certain image is so huge.
And as you guys might know, Matt James has been
(01:26):
going through it recently with this very public breakup. Everyone
has an opinion and it's just a reminder of how
intense the experience on this show can be, and really quickly,
I just want to add that I love Matt and
he truly is such a nice guy. I've had the
opportunity to meet him a couple times and he really
does mean so well. So if you guys are listening
(01:48):
to this, let's take it as a sign to be
a little bit more gentle on the internet. I know
that we all do have a right to judge others,
but how would you guys feel if you started getting
bashed on the internet over your breakup. I just want
to also add that hawkgirls talk about ideas, not people.
But now here we are with Grant right at the
(02:09):
beginning of his journey and his relationships are about to
be under a microscope. It just all has me thinking, like,
I can't even imagine what this feels like, Like I
can't imagine having my relationship on a stage the way
it is for these people that sign up for the show.
And you guys know how much I love Jeremy, and
(02:30):
I love how much you guys love him too, But
I truly cannot imagine showcasing all of the intimate parts
of our relationship for the world to see. And that's
probably a common thought process. I mean, you guys know,
I share a decent bit about Jeremy and I on
social media, but I definitely do not overly highlight us.
I don't know, it's a personal decision. But when I
(02:51):
was talking to Grant, it was fascinating because he had
a completely different perspective on having a public relationship, which
is what I love about interviewing and talking to people. Anyways,
the whole thing made me realize it's really fun when
people have different opinions, because different opinions are how we
learn and grow. And he really expanded my perspective today
regarding putting his personal life out there in such a
(03:13):
big way and why it's been healing for him. So
it was a really cool conversation to have. And one
part of our conversation that really stood out to me
was when Grant opened up about his dad's struggle with addiction.
I actually didn't know about this part of him going
into our run, and the way he talked about it
really really hit me. And I'm so excited for you
(03:34):
guys to hear this part of the conversation because addiction
is something that so many people are affected by, but
I feel like it's not something that we always openly
talk about. And Grant was so real about it. He
didn't sugarcoat anything, and it made me have a lot
of respect for him. I'm really excited about his vulnerability
(03:54):
and he's going to share a lot of this experience
on the show as well. I think a lot of
us can relate to having someone in our lives who
struggled with addiction, or maybe we've experienced it ourselves, or
we've heard about somebody experiencing addiction, like it's a very
common thing and it's a hard thing to talk about.
It also made me think a lot about impact and
(04:17):
how we use our stories and experiences to help other people.
And this is something that I'm constantly thinking about. I'm
such a chronic overthinker, but I'm always thinking like, how
can I do more? How can I create something meaningful
for people. It's so easy, especially online, to just present
the perfect, polished version of yourself, especially in this space.
(04:40):
But it's definitely true that when we're open about the
tough stuff, it helps people feel less alone. And that's
what it's all about, right We're putting out our lives
online for other people to see. You got to just
hope it helps someone else. And that's the part of
our conversation that really stuck with me, and that I'm
excited for you guys to hear. Other than that, I
can't wait for you guys to hear this conversation, and
(05:01):
I'm so excited to see what you think about it
before we get into it. If you guys are loving
post Run High, please be sure to subscribe to my
YouTube channel at Kate max. This is where you can
watch all of our video episodes, including my full running
interview with Grant. We talk about a lot more on
the Running Interview show episode than you guys are about
(05:22):
to hear in the sit down conversation, So definitely go
over there if you want to learn more about him,
and of course follow me on social media at Kate
Max to stay up to date on all of the
guests that we have coming up and everything that I'm doing.
Love you guys so much and appreciate you so much.
And without further ado, let's get into post run High. Oo. Wow,
(05:50):
that was a good run. All right, guys, welcome back
to Post Run High. I'm here with Grant Ellis. We
just ran three miles in Central Park in fifteen degree weather.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Oh my god, that was actually really fun. You know,
I really appreciate that and I never ran in the
cold like that before.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Is running a part of your fitness routine?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Typically actually boxing. I like to box, it's like a
really good part, but running you need to run miles
in order to stay in shape, so I end my
workout with running.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I've had a lot of UFC fighters on the show,
and one of my favorites was Joanna. We were just
talking about this before we started filming it, and I
was so fascinated to find out that for her training
schedule she does a lot of runs, so she actually
does like five to six mile runs. When she's like
getting in. But I guess that's like lateweight fighters. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And she's doing that daily, well she was.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I don't think she's doing UFC.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Guys, Yeah every day.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
All right, let's talk about this because your stamina was
great on the run, Graham was definitely sweating a little
bit more than me.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
I just you know, how was he sweating this much?
It's so cold outside, which is fine, it's good to sweat,
sweat it out. It's showing that we're really running. People
always ask do you actually run?
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And they're going to see now we actually and we
were running hard too. Yeah, we probably had like a
solid eight minute thirty pace eight minute pace.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Maybe they always asked too, what's your pace? So yeah,
I agree, it was pretty fast. I was like weaking slowly.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Down a little.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
You were picking it up, let's run. Well. I feel
like it's because you were a basketball player, so you're
probably so used to like running at such a fast pace.
Like I find that when I have like athletes on like,
their pace is always so much faster than I would
like expect. So you were crushing it.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Thank you, thank you. I almost did not survive, but
I loved it.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
And Okay, I got to ask, because your fitness was
great on the run, stamina was excellent. I'm curious, like,
what was your fitness routine like when you were filming?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Oh so, in the beginning, you start off, you know,
you keep a really good routine, but as a show progresses,
it's really hard to keep to keep a routine. And yeah,
and then on top of that, there's like the cocktail
parties and everything. So towards the end of the season,
I wasn't really working out as much. But when I
got back home, I was like, all right, I need
to get back. I need to get back asap.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Wait, what was that like for you kind of not
be in your routine, Because as an athlete, are you
a very like regiment person?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Very much my routine that's like my comfort place, having
a routine and being able to do the same things
every day. It was different. It was different. And then
you couple that with the emotional stress that comes with
it and the decision making that you have to do
in such a short amount of time. It's definitely a
unique experience.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, the decision making on the show stresses me out.
And like I was a big fan of Joey's season,
And I was actually talking about this before with your
publicist and I was like, I was so impressed by
how level headed Joey was on the season and like
how he managed to stress and in the decision making
like he really it was just like a true testament
to his character. Yes, And I know you've talked about
like getting advice from Joey going into The Bachelor of
(08:43):
film and season, so like, kind of talk to me
about that, Like what advice did he give you?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, Joey's advice is to go, you know, go with
your heart, and you know, when you're in the process,
you make sure you think about the person you're gonna
be with is gonna watch it back. So I think
part of being a Bachelor is being level headed and
being able to maneuver situations and having to give speeches
and assure the woman that you're here to find your wife.
And I feel like that was a really difficult part,
(09:09):
but it also was a part that was challenging and
it helped me grow as well as the women that
were in the season.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Absolutely, do you get to see the women that are
gonna be on the show before opening day or no?
Speaker 2 (09:20):
No, you don't need to see them. The first time
you see the woman is at the limit of night one.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Do they ask you before starting to film and before
the casting what your type is, to try to kind
of pick people that are a match.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Yeah, they they ask you typically what your type is.
I went in there like listen just what I gave
them a specific type, but I was like, listen, whatever
you guys bring. I know you guys are gonna bring
an amazing women. And they did. They did a good job.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Is there anything that you can tease about the season
that like we can be excited to see and watch?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
The only thing I could tease that's really good seasons,
really great season. And like I said, I think the
main thing I try to go in there, even for
the ladies that I don't end up with, I pushed
them and to challenge yourself and to open up their emotions,
and they pushed me too. And I think that was
really a really big part of the season. I think
(10:08):
it'll come across on screen.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Yeah, And we talked a little bit after our run.
I don't know if it's going to make it into
the running interview episode that hopefully you guys will all
go and watch after listening to this, But we talked
a little bit about how you really value like an
active partner and somebody that you can like, you know,
set goals with and challenge each other with. So I'm curious, like,
can we expect to see any fitness in the season,
like any active dates.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah, there's a lot of really good days in the season.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Basketball is a big part of my life. So no teasers,
but there might or might not be some basketball in there, okay,
And in my partner, I do want somebody who's active.
It's not the main thing, but I think it's a
really important part to bond with your partner and to
push each other. And if you have a routine or
an activity that you do together, it builds chemistry.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Absolutely. It's so cool being with you right now because
your life is about to go berserk, Like the next
few months are going to be crazy. Everybody's going to
be tuning in every Monday. I mean, there's so many
fans of the show, So I'm curious, like, what is
your life currently like and I feel and are you like,
are you ready for what's going to happen? Like how
are you feeling? Does that like make you nervous at
all because you're about to get a lot of publicity,
(11:12):
you know, just like how do you handle that.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I think the main thing that I keep in mind
is I'm never gonna let anything change me or my character.
And I think that in my life, I try to
be really rational and make good decisions and stay pretty
level headed, so nothing's going to change. And I think that,
like I said, trading really makes me really calm and mellow.
You can never get too high, you can never get
too low. So I feel like I'm just going to
(11:35):
take the same mentality that I had in sports and
then trading and just apply it to my life. But
I'm also a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, US athletes can do anything.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Also, it's going to have fun, you know, enjoy it
because it doesn't last, huh, you know. And I think
the main thing is trying to develop and a relationship,
and that's what I was trying to do.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
On the show, right, And I mean, I want to
dig into that a little bit because it's like, like
I get what you're saying, like it doesn't last for ever,
but at the same time, like your life is completely
different than what it was. What a year and a
half ago, two years ago, a lot more roses, a
lot more roses, right, Like, all of a sudden, you
have all these eyeballs on you. I'm curious, Like two
years ago or a year and a half ago. I
know your mom submitted you for the show, but like,
(12:14):
could you ever have imagined that you would be in
the public eye like this or never?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
My goal was to start a firm, you know, which
it still is, but I never I never pictured myself
being like a public figure like I'm used to being
in being the eye playing basketball, but on this stage
and when it comes to the matter of finding love,
it's very opinionated. Everybody has their own opinion on what
they think you should do or how they think you
should handle a situation. But as long as I stick
(12:40):
to my core values, I think that's something that makes fun.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I had Jen on after her season, and now I'm
having you on, and it's just wild because you were
in ten season, so it's very like full circle. One
of the questions I asked her was it's hard like
as a girl to not have like girl time, and
like obviously she said, like, you know, there's producers on
the show that are women. You become super close with them,
and you know there's other like females that are around you,
but like, for the most part, you're around guys all
the time. You know, what was that like for you
(13:11):
being like the Bachelor and really just around women all
the time. Like, I know you have a sister, but yeah,
I mean, how did you stay sane in that setting?
You know?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I actually enjoy a woman's presence a lot, you know,
because it's like a counterbalance, you know, with me, I
bring a certain type of energy and the woman kind
of balances you out or whoever. You know. So I
think that it was a really good, a really good dynamic.
And then you know, the producers I had were great.
To the team that I had was really was really good,
and they were crazy and fun and we made sure
(13:40):
we had we had a good time. But the ladies
were great.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
What's it like having like intimate moments films on camera? Yeah,
a lot.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
It's kind of weird, but it is. It's part of it,
you know. And I think that being able to show
that side of yourself and the vulnerability and being able
to be that way for America to see it, I
think it's inspiring, honestly, I think that it'll inspire a
lot of men to be more open with their feelings too.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, I completely agree. I also feel like there's a
certain barrier that's like broken when you're intimate in that
way on camera in front of the world, because like,
not only is it in front of the world, which
honestly to me doesn't matter as much as it being
in front of your family. So I'm curious, like, your
mom submitted you for the show, how do they feel
with you being on the show, and what was it like?
Were there any like awkward moments like, yeah, you're gonna
(14:27):
have to prepare.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
For this, Yeah, just preparing for some of the kissing
that have it. That's a little it's gonna be a
little weird, that's definitely. But you know, my mom's excited,
my sister is happy, and my dad is thrilled about
what's to come. And I think that a really big
part of the show you're gonna see is me reconnecting
with my dad. I think that's a love story all
in itself.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Talk to me about that.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, So my dad, you know, he struggled with addiction
for thirty years and he had recently got sober, and
it happened around the time that the show started, which
is I feel like everything that happened was sup to
happen and it's meant to happen. And you know, he
makes an appearance on the show. I won't give away
too much, but there's a coalition of trust there, and
(15:09):
there's a rebuilding of a relationship that you're supposed to have,
and I feel like it could be a story that
really resonates with a lot of people in America.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Wait, that's amazing. So being on the show and on
the shows has really helped you reconnect with your dad
in a deeper way.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Yeah, it's really brought together. It's kind of weird because
my family. Okay, so my grandmother is actually on the
first episode and she passed away, and that brought our
family together. Death has a weird way of doing that,
bringing people together. And then also the show brought my
family together even more and we all kind of gathered
around me and the journey. And I think that aside
(15:48):
from love, right, which is the main goal, I think
another goal of mine was to be a good role
model and to show people what it means to be
a man and to chase your dreams and to follow
your heart and do it in a way that's.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Absolutely and like it's so important for like young like
men and like young women too to be able to
like see that type of man like, especially in the media.
So I do think it's so cool what you guys
do and how you know, you are so vulnerable like
with everything, But it does take, like it it takes
a certain like person to be able to do it.
(16:22):
It's like it's not easy, you know, like not everybody's
comfortable being in the limelight. Like, not everybody's comfortable doing
what I'm doing right now. You know, like it's hard
putting yourself out there. So like I'm always like kudos
to you, like we're it is hard and it is
so important to have role models. I like that you
(16:43):
brought up your dad because I know when we run
our run you had reference challenges and how basketball really
helped you throughout life kind of you know, have separation
from those challenges. And I was like, well, what challenges
and you were like, just challenges? Is that the challenges
you were referencing.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Yeah, that was one of the challenges. And then you know,
when you're in a certain environment, you're influenced a lot
of different ways, you know, and some of the ways
aren't the best. And you know, my dad and my
mom were regardless of whatever struggles my dad did, he
always was there to point me in the right direction.
And I saw kind of some of the struggles he
went through, and I said, Okay, I don't want to
(17:20):
be like that. And then I saw some of the
things he did and I was like, okay, I want
to be like that. So I took different pieces from him,
and different pieces from my mom, and different pieces for
my coaches, and I put them all together and like
I kind of it helped me mold the person I
am today. But that was definitely one of the challenges
dealing with addiction, and you know in the inner city,
(17:40):
and you know some of the routes that people take
to to negate the problems, and it's it's definitely something
that I want to inspire people to do the same
way that I did.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It absolutely, Like, how do you feel like your dad's
addiction like impacted kind of your relationship with maybe like
drugs and alcohol growing up.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I think there's two ways you can go. It's either
you could see somebody that's doing something and then you
could say and you would gravitate towards it, or you
could see what that does to somebody's life, and you
can go the complete opposite direction. And I feel like
I chose the opposite direction because I saw what it
does to somebody, and I saw what it does to
your loved ones and your family and your finances, and
(18:21):
I think that's something that makes me who I am
today is I just want to be a positive role
model for people that are going through all types of situations.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
There's so many, like young people that are in the
same shoes that you walked through as a young kid.
So like, I'm curious, you know, what is kind of
your advice for them?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I would say the number one advice would say, when
you're going through a situation where somebody you love maybe
an addiction, and it's affecting you because you live vicariously
through them, you know, especially if they're your parent, I
would say, focus on something that takes your something positive,
that takes your energy and distraction away, and put your
effort into there, and look towards the future. Don't look
(18:58):
towards what you're living in now. Always think about the
future and what you could do to bring your loved
ones out of the situation.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
It's incredible. You're I'm so excited for your season. You're
so motivational. I'm so excited for people to learn even
more about you. Tune in every Monday.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Every Monday.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
We're going to learn all about Grant in these upcoming months.
I'm so excited for you.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Thank you so much for having me. Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Really enjoy it. It's going to be a crazy couple
of months, all right, guys,
Host
Kate Mackz
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