May 20, 2024 • 47 mins
He was Bachelor #11 (Season 11, 2007) and Bachelor #15 (Season 15, 2011).
For the first time, he is revealing behind-the-scenes details of why his seasons are so challenging.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is the most dramatic podcast ever and iHeartRadio podcast.
This should be interesting.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
That's a word for it.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I guess this should be interesting. Sitting down with Brad Wollmack.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Huh, here we go. Man, I'm almost I'm a little
scared about this. I'm gonna be honest, buddy, I am too.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I was thinking about what you and I were going
to talk about, sure, and then oddly I drew a blank. Okay,
but there's but there's so much material and so much
we haven't talked about, even though you and I have
been friends. What year let's see, what year were you
the Bachelor?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'll tell you exactly the first time two thousand and seven,
and then second time was twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Ten, two thousand and seven.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, yes, I'm old. I'm very old.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
How old are you?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Fifty one?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I say, you're a year younger than me.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah, that was like the rare time you and Byron Velvick,
the bass fisherman who actually maybe have to look he
might be older than me. So we did this, like
you know, that was the our version of the Golden Bachelor.
Back then. It's like, let's do an older guy, and
so we got Byron Velvic, this bass fisherman, and that
season didn't go awesome. Yeah, but he but we kept
(01:21):
in touch too. He's a really good guy. Still we
still chat. And then you were the next one where
it wasn't old at the time, because what were we
back in what two thousand and seven?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Was thirty four I believe, yeah, thirty four, thirty thirty four, yeah, yeah, yeah,
thirty four. Jesus see, that's how old I am. I
can't even remember things in the past.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Fourteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
It was a long time teen years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Holy cow, so I would have been thirty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Wow, yeah, yeah yeah. So well, good times though, really
good times. That's nuts kind of but it was. I
had to throw that in there. We're good.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Well, I'll tell you what. I think we have to
break this up. Well, because you were the only person
to be on two Bachelor seasons. You were the Bachelor
twice for those that don't know, Brad was the Bachelor
in seven and ten, ten, twenty ten, and we had
never done that before. I think they'll never do it
again after that. But this is also back in the day.
(02:23):
This is old school when we would get really good
guys find them. You didn't have to be on the
show before, right, yeah, yea, you know it's you know,
Bob Guiney had come off the Bachelorette. There were a couple,
but it was more like Aaron Burgee, Andrew Firestone, you
and some of these others where we had never met
you before. The first time we met you was when
(02:45):
you were the Bachelor.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right yeah, yeah, pretty organic way to do it, I
would imagine, you know, for you guys, and yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
It's well, it was a scary thing because sure we
liked it because you got to build a story and
you got to know somebody on the show. But the
other thing is we really you could cheat a little bit,
and if they were on a prior show, there was
a built in audience, right. People loved you, people hated you.
They had an idea of what they thought about you. Therefore,
(03:12):
there was a story built in when the store, when
the season starts, Okay, I already know what I think
about Brad Walmack. Now I'll just meet the ladies and
we're off and running makes sense, And so that was
kind of the change of the show. We felt like
that was the kind of tie we always wanted to have.
But with you, you were kind of a throwback too.
(03:33):
We just met Brad Walmack, this bar owner from Austin, Texas.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Sure, yeah, yeah, how.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Did you become the bachelor? Who found you? How to happen?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'll tell you it's actually a funny story. It's my
brother and my business partner at the time. It was
a Sunday afternoon and as Chad your chid, my twin
brother and my other business partner, Jason, and true story,
I'm just gonna be honest. We were doing a little
day drinking and so we wound up at a popular
restaurant in Austin and and you guys were casting for
the girls, and so we were eating. Casting agent came down,
(04:06):
tapped me on the shoulder and said, hey, this sounds crazy.
Have you heard of the Batcher? And I'm not gonna lie.
I was a big fan of the show. And then
you guys, of course were making waves and.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It would have been huge back then at seven it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Was big, man, it was really big, and so there's
obviously a very flattering encounter. Of course, my first reaction
was I don't know if I'm going to be the
right guy, you know, And she said, well, we can
be very convincing at least give me your number and
we'll call you. And sure enough, you guys called it
think the week after and I was on my way
to LA So I mean, just I mean fast track,
can do you know? This wild adventure? You know?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And who did you meet first? Like, how did that
all go? Because it was different back then than it
is now. I mean it's it's gotten so much more professional,
so much more there's so many more levels you got
to get through back then, right, I'm guessing it was
you know, a couple of the executive producers and you
met a couple exis it is and we're off and running.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That's exactly who what? Who it was? It was well
Mike of course, and then the show, right, and then
uh Lisa at that's her? Yeah, yeah, And then I
was fortunate enough to meet the president of ABC at
the time. But it was such a whirlwind. Man. You
take a guy from Austin that I had no aspirations
being TV man, I'm sure you see.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And then you're sitting down, I'm guessing it was Lloyd
Braun back then. Was that the president of ABC at
the time?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Truly connect it was, And.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So you're sitting down with the president of ABC exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I mean you're like, and they're asking you about love,
and you're like, what do you want out of life?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah? Well that's actually what it was, you know. And
then you know obviously what I did for living on
this lowly bar guy. Yeah, and this well no, I
mean just uh and and I mean, but I'll tell
you it was one of the coolest experiences of my
life meeting people of that caliber, of course, and then
you know, it's a it's a story that I'll hold
on to.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I was trying to think the first time you and
I met, I think.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
It was it was either the very first night. I mean,
obviously we had to have taped something, but.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
We didn't get to hang out a lot before. Like,
there's a lot of times where either it well I'll
get to know the guys the prior season and you
hang out a little bit and then you keep in
touch as they lead into the Bachelor. Other times they'll
just be in town and I'll get to see them,
maybe we'll go out to dinner before I just my
recollection is, I don't think that ever happened with you.
(06:23):
I think you came in hot and I didn't get
to see you really probably and maybe that first night.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I think that's right. I got to tell you. I'm
going to sing your praises real quick. I just want
to tell you something you I was most nervous about meeting.
I just seen you all over the place, and you're
this larger than life personality, and I have to hand
it to you could not have been cooler man. And
so we had a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I think the fact that, well, first of all, thank you.
Second of all, you and I kind of are cut
from the same cloth. I think we got each other
and I found you to be a breath of fresh
air and a bit of a relief. Well, not that
I disliked. I mean, Andrew Firestone's one of my best friends.
So is Bob Ginney. I love those guys. But when
there was a guy from Texas, yeah, and about my age,
(07:10):
I'm like, I can do this, like this, I get like,
I understand this.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It was very.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Easy for me to get to know you, because that's
part of the pressure for me was to try to quickly.
You know, again, if I meet you on the driveway
as a Limos pulling up, I got to figure out
what makes this guy tick? Who is he? What are
the buttons I need to push? How can I get
him to these emotional areas, et cetera. And with you,
I found it very easy.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
I appreciate you because.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I feel like you know, you and I are very similar.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Well again, I appreciate that coming from you. But yeah,
I mean you could not have been more welcoming, and
frankly I needed it. I mean that was a very
overwhelming experience, especially day one, you know, And yeah, you
welcomed me with open arms, and so I thank you
for that.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Did you? Obviously, I'm sure you had some trepidation and
be human if you didn't. But to have your business
and what's your business? By the way, lowly bar guy,
you and your brother and your business partner, you guys
owned own bars here in Austin at the time. I
think it was just Austin were you. They were massively
successful and you guys were killing it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And by the way, back in the day, that was
also the concept of the show. Bachelors would have jobs
and they would be successful, so therefore you would actually
be considered a catch.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Okay, I'll take that whatever it takes.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Right, It's an old concept. We got away from it. It
became like broken people with no jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And I'll tell you, guys, they've had some amazing candidates.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Of course, because I kid, actually a kid, because we
don't care.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I like that. I like that.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
But no. So so that was the original concept, and
that was like Chris Soles, this farmer from Iowa, you know,
hugely successful and if it wasn't for the show, you know,
could they find love? And so that was the premise
of bringing in a guy like Brad Womack of this
guy's working his ass off opening bars. The only thing
he really hasn't found his love.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Sure, yeah, good premise, of course.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah too bad. It did work.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Hey, thanks thanks for reminding me, man, and I'm out. Thanks.
It was a great like drop, good seeing you.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
But you get into this, you had to have some trepidation,
and I'm sure there was the this will promote the
bar business, but what were the other things where you're like, man,
I don't know if I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Man, you know, I got to tell you, I'll back
up a little bit. I don't know if you realize.
So I never one time mentioned the bars on air,
and I did that purposely, you know. And so one,
I didn't want to sell out, but of course, I
mean it went without saying that, you know, you would
get some exposure, of course, but I took my career
at the time especially very seriously, and I was a
(09:51):
little worried about it damaging the career. And another thing
is I know you know me very well, but people don't.
I'm a really, really shy person, and so I was
petrified of losing anonymity, you know. I mean for so
many years I had just gone to work, like you said,
and built a career, tried to find a good girl.
(10:11):
She wasn't having me, and so anyway, but so I
went into the first night, admittedly with a lot of
fear and anxiety.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Well, what was interesting with your time is again remember
seven were coming into this with Brad. Yes, it was
a huge show, and yeah there was probably twenty twenty
four million people watching at the time, So you think,
how did you want anonymity? But we also didn't have
social media.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That was the huge thing. You're exactly You weren't being bombarded. Yes,
you had to do People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight and
all that stuff, but you weren't faced with the social
media dilemma that everybody is now. Sure, so you still
got to you know, the idea was you could leave
and come back and live your life.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Right, Yeah, yeah, well that's a good point. I think
I was just I'm really concerned with what people think
of me. Unfortunately, you and me both, man.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That's honestly, it's one of the things as we bond
over I agree to a fault.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yes we do, and yes we do.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Sure our therapists will could get together.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
We might have the same one. I don't think they
can disclose that, but we might have the same one anytime.
She's nodding very aggressively, like I've heard this before. Now
I know what Harris. Okay, yeah, you guys are it.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Makes us good at what we do. Sure, it actually
makes me a good host because it makes me very
empathetic and I care, and again I care too much.
You're the same being in the service industry that you
get in, not your whole life. But you know, for
the most part, sure it serves you.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Well.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, I appreciate one of our greatest weaknesses is also
a strength.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Well yeah, okay, well I like that take on it,
of course, and I do want to sing your praises
another time as far as you caring, but you're by
far the most compassion one of the most compassionate people,
and so it makes it easy for guys like me
or contestants, whatever you want to call it. Whenever you
do come in with that anxiety, you kind of tamp
that down a little bit. So we appreciate you. Man.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
It's like it's a weird thing. And I always I
was always very empathetic because it was interesting that people
in the control room they're removed, right, they're just looking
through a monitor and they're they're looking on screen and
they they they're not going to get dirty, they're not
going to get oil on them, so it's easy for them.
And they're in their little earpiece to like or in
(12:19):
my earpiece to say, hey, say this to Brad or
make Brad do this, or you know, they're not feeling
the nerves, the tension, the fear, the excitement, the sorrow,
all those emotions that I would feel by standing on
that wet driveway sure as the limos pull up, or
as a girl just walked through, and you know, there's
so many things you guys are trying to do that
(12:41):
gets lost because we're watching the show and we just
want you guys to you know, you're kind of jumping
through hoops all that, but you guys are kind of
serving a lot of masters. And I'm sure you felt this.
You can speak to this. You wanted to please me,
you wanted to please the network, You want to make
sure your family's proud, you want to like you know,
there's a thousand things other than just I would like
(13:03):
to find love.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, another thing and the most important thing I'll be
the first admit again, is I wanted to make a
good impression on the women. Yeah. I mean, let's face it,
you guys, there are some amazing I know I use
that word too much, but there are some amazing women
that come through that show. And then seeing every single
one of them get out of the limo and you're thinking, well,
you know, you almost kind of have imposter syndrome. What
(13:25):
the hell am I doing here?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
You know, I would think so, of course.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I mean, I'm standing next I'm not again just building
you up, but standing next to Chris Harrison. I'm on
one of the most popular shows on television on one
of the most popular networks. And then meetings some just beautiful, achieved,
I guess, motivated women. And so yeah, it was just
it was really nerve wracking.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Well, it's hard to understand the power of the mansion.
The lights. Of course, everything's on you. And then when
you you know, we talk about it and we get
you ready and we prepped you and all that, but
until it's you know, until the director, you know, Fuke
says all right, you know, roll the first limo in sure,
and you have that realization of because then I leave
and you're standing there alone.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Where'd you go, buddy?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
You're standing there by yourself on that driveway and the
limo pulls up. You're like, oh shit, right, you see
the lights, the camera and its action time. That's that's
a big pill to swallow.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It is and and but it's so exciting man, and
and you know, of course I do have some regrets
just on some of the things I personally did before
and after the show. But I'm so grateful for that time, man,
and and the relationships that I made with you and
some of the girls and some of the producers and everything.
So yeah, wouldn't have traded anything.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
What regrets before and after, during and after you.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Know, well, some of the things I say and do.
I'm a complete idiot, man, I'll be the first to say.
I mean, we all are it Jesus buddy. But you
know I didn't carry myself in in ways that I
normally do back home. I don't know if I got
up in moments. I don't have specific examples, but I
really do. It's not like I watch it back, especially now,
(15:06):
but some of the episodes, I'm thinking that that's not you.
I don't know if I was trying to put on
a facade, and because that's typically not like me.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
You know, I don't think you were putting on airs like.
I never got the feeling you were being disingenuous.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I hope not.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
But what I think is if I was your therapist,
and I was for a short.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Time, yes you were. Yes, you're much appreciate. In fact,
you still have an invoice to me. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
No, what I saw from you is you try so hard.
You always do this, and this happens in our own
life when we're at dinner or whatever. You try hard
to make everybody feel loved and appreciates.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So you know when you were with those women, I
think again, you were trying to please everybody. You're trying
to please the camera guy, the audio, you know, the
producers and take care of these ladies. And I think
the way that you really have to go through that
show is you got to be a little selfish.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
You know what. That's a that's an outstanding point, actually,
And I don't That's one thing I'll give credit for.
I don't think I have a selfish bone in my body, right,
And I think a lot of that. I could see
a lot of that same fear and anxiety and the
women and come on, man, we're supposed to be protectors
as men, you know, we just start even if I
just met these girls, and whether they asked for that
(16:17):
protection or not, but so a lot of times I
would I try to make them feel okay, and all
the time I'm just going absolutely insane inside. But it
worked out, man, And so maybe, you know, regret might
be a strong word. I just look back and I wonder,
you know, what was I thinking at that moment, you know,
because I was.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Going to ask you are you were a regret guy.
I'm not a big regret guy.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I'm not either. I'm not either. So maybe again that
might have been the wrong word. So maybe I just
would have done things differently. I mean, I have the
benefit of watching it if I want to change anything.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Well, that's like when you wake up on Monday and
watch the Sunday football game. It's easy to break down game.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
There you go, it's easy.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
There you go, Monday Morning Quarterback. But that's why the
show is so great, right, And there's still that audience,
that insatiable appetite for these reality shows and shows like
this sure is because we get to judge. I mean,
you are the Monday Morning quarterback and you get to
watch Brad Womack and everyone like him, you know, trip
(17:16):
and fall and make mistakes and find love or not
find love, and we get to watch that and judge it.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know what on that Yeah, that's actually an exciting
way to put it, you know. And so you're right,
but sometimes, you know, court of public opinion could be
really brutal. We all know that. We all know that.
Just try not pick you get anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
That leads us to Okay, we're in season one, So
this is two thousand and seven, and it's not like
we had had a run of great success. It's not
like we had all these marriages by then. Trista had
been married. Yeah, yeah, you know, we had gone through
several seasons where there had been engagements, but nothing hugely successful,
(18:07):
right other than Tristan Ryan. You're still hanging on.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
To that one the way the best great people.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
It just had her on the podcast not too long ago,
and it's still like we fall right back into place.
Like when you come in. It's like there's just certain
moments in time and certain people from the show where
I see him and I don't care if I haven't
seen you for five years, yeah, man or five minutes.
We're just you just fall right back into it. I agree,
we're you're concerned percent. When you walked in the door,
(18:35):
I just you came. You just came to the door.
By the way, this is only the second home interview
I've done.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
No kidding, Yeah, oh now I feel I'm damn sure.
It feels special, taking large part.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Because no one wants to see me, I think, secondly
because now I live in Austin. But so Jason Tartick
was here. Oh nice Jay, Jay did it. And so
you're you're the second home interview.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah, yeah, I've heard good things about Jason. By the way,
he's a Nashville guy. Right he is.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, he's trying to get out now. So yeah, you're
you're number two.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Well, I appreciate the invite very much.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
It's the only way I could get you to come
out to the house.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Come on, man, you know when Chris Harris, I think
I told your producers this whenever they texted me and
asked me to come on here. But if you asked
me to do anything, I'm doing it. Period. I mean
it's it's I'm doing it.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
So I've always been that good.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Well, no, no, no, no one. I'm not looking for accola
or a pat on the back. I'm just saying one,
I know you always come from a good place. And two,
I just want to see you. I mean, this is
cool and all. I just want to hang out with you.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, I will tell two stories that will define Brad Womack.
Uh oh, and I tell these stories all the time.
You are still the only person who's ever been on
the show that gave me a parting gift.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Oh well, thanks man, I mean you never of course
I do. I'm getting embarrassed, but yeah, what it was,
I don't remember what it was. I know I gave
you a gift.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
There was a shirt I love that you had. This
is okay, this is back before you know, I kept
wardrobe and all that stuff, and you had a shirt
and I'm like, god, I love that shirt and you
wore it maybe a couple of times on the show.
And clearly, if you're looking at this video, we're not
the same size. I'm actually a normal sized human. Jesus man,
you are a bulk of a huge Come on, we'll
(20:17):
get into that in a minute. Sure, clearly we're not
the same size. I'm a sh medium and you're an excel.
So what you did, though, is when the show was over,
you wrote me a note and you went and bought
that shirt and you gave it to me. It was
like this plaid, red and blue shirt, gotcha. And you
(20:38):
also got something for Carrie Fetman, who should wardrobe, and
Gina Medica, who has been my longtime makeup artist. And
to this day, you were the only bachelor or bachelorette
who has given me a little something, just said just
to say thank you, even though at the first season
was a disaster, did go well and it didn't go
(20:59):
well for you, but you gave me. Now, there is
one other bachelor and I will not out him.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Okay, Okay, he did.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Kind of give me, Carrie and Gina a gift. Okay,
it was a signed headshot.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
No it wasn't. I know, it wasn't. I shit you not, Brad,
if I ever give you a head shot much less assign,
wouldn't punch me in the face.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Swear to you. Really, it was the weirdest moment. I
thought it was a joke at first, and then I
realized there was a note written on it and he
sincerely gave us a headshot say thank you gift. Well,
and I thought, you know what, I'm going to take
the positive here, and he thought of us enough to
write something on his own photo that he gave. I
think I still have it. I think I kept it
(21:42):
in this draw right behind his ear. But so these
head shots, I don't even know if they still do this.
But when a bachelor would come in, we do our
fittings for clothes and all that we have the ABC photographer,
we would do like a whole press kit. We would
do photos for you. So if we ever went out
and you know, did a press meeting or whatever, we'd
sign you'd had those those head shots and you know,
(22:03):
it used to be that was kind of a bigger
deal than you know, again, pre social media, you would
sign photos. Sure, So that was the only other person
that's given a gift is was this bachelor who will
remain nameless. You're welcome, but he gave us signed headshots
and I'll never forget because he gave it to us.
And he walked out and Gina and Carrie and I
were sitting there packing up, and we all just looked
(22:24):
at each other, like did that just happen?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That's uh. I feel bad for how I feel inside
after it was so because I want to think that
came from a sincere place, but yeah, it was who.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Knows not great? Do you remember any of the women
from your first season?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Could you? I'm not that old, okay, I.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Think we all know. I think unless you are too
young and you haven't watched the show, which is shoot good,
but I could watch it. Deanna pappas of course, Jinny
Croft where your final two? Who were some other kind
of stars from that first season? First and foremost man
who I love still to this day. I love to
death and deep into the show, Yeah, of course, And
I mean just an amazing girl. Anyway, did we travel
(23:05):
at all for that first season?
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Not much. I mean I think I think you guys
were going through a rough patch.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Twelve two thousand and seven, we didn't do well. We've
kind of hadn't gotten to the point where we traveled
a whole bunch. That was really kind of kickoff in
Charlie O'Connell's season. Good then, But by the time he
came back in twenty ten, we did right, We definitely
traveled well.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
So we went to Cabo in two thousand and seven,
and I know you know where I'm going with this, right,
tell the story. I want to sing your praises. I
always thought highly of you, but this is when I
knew you were a very real man. If this makes sense.
So we're in Kabo San Lucas and unfortunately, well let
me let me back up a little bit. I'll make
it quick.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Yeah, no, tell the whole story.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
We had a very rare night out. Yeah, okay, and
Kabo San Lucas a pretty wild spot. We all know
that it's fun, but it can get a little rough.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
But this is also before this is kind of old
school days where there weren't really many rules to our
production and what I mean say is there's no there
was no professionalism, there was no line between production casts whatever.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
You know, said yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
So that changed dramatically after a huge flame out and
a big blow up, massive proportions that almost killed the show,
and you know, people went off to rehab and many
things happened. But back then, as you know, we would
wrap for the night and then we would all go out.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
You and clude and man. Yeah, and so we're all
in a van, yes, and three of the production guys, which,
by the way, I love that whole cruise.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
So we went to do you remember where we went?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I think it was squid Row or Giggling Marlin.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
We went to a few plays where it's squid Row.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Okay, So squid Row is again and there was a
dust up and and I know it was with three
of the production guys, and you and I were already
in the van, right.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
We had left and we had pulled around.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
That's exactly right. And we look over and these guys
are in in a little dust up with some locals,
and you said, I'm not going to watch this happen.
I'm going to get out of the van and help him.
Of course, I'm going to help him too. We're both
trying to get after him, and of course it was
one of the executive producers, but threatened both of us
with a lawsuit. I don't know if you remember that. Okay, yeah,
(25:11):
you can get out of the van. You're both going down.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
And we were in like a twelve seater van. Yes,
we were rows, and you and I were kind of
two rows back from the door right and we were
pulling around, you know, from the parking lot because you
and I were heading back to the hotel. And you
were the first one that said, oh, ho crap, there's
a fight, and we're like, I thought it was kind
of cool at first, and then we saw oh my god,
that's our crew. Sure, and you know, we think of
(25:35):
those guys as brothers, family, and so I was like,
screw that. Stop the car, the guy the driver stops
the car. Sure, I go to grab the door. I'm
climbing over the seats, just coming after me, and we're
like going to jump into this frakas outside of the
squid row.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
And yes we were.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
And that's when I think it was David David Albrick.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
That it had to have been David, because I mean,
he made no bones about it.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
And she jumped in front of the door. You cannot
get out of this van, threatened us and told the
driver to drive. And we were screaming as we were
pulling off, trying to get out of the car to
join this fight with these locals.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Well, he definitely mentioned a lawsuit and whether it was
just instill fear. But I got to tell you, man,
that shows your character that you know, above anything else,
you are a good friend to people. You care about people.
And so I tell that story. I've told that story
a thousand times over. I might embellows it a little bit,
like I was the first one jumping out of the van.
(26:32):
I'm kidding, but I held you back.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
But it is funny, Like how funny is that when
I think about if David hadn't been where he was,
Like if we had been reversed, if you and I
had been sitting in the front seat, he had been
in the back. And there's no reason it wasn't the opposite.
We just happened to get in the van first and
you and I hopped in the back. If it had
been the opposite, you and I. In two thousand and seven, sure,
the Bachelor and the host. You would have jumped into
(26:56):
a fight outside squid Rus. Yes, we would have probably
gotten this kicked out.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Of course we would have come on, man, I mean,
neither one. I don't know about you. I can't fight.
I don't want to fight.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
You and I would have been going at it.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
But it would have made for a good story.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
It would have made I mean, luckily, it makes for
a good story. And despite the fact of how you
see me, I've never broken this nose, but that like,
we came moments away from just being in a full
out brawl in the streets of Mexico.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Yeah, I mean. And again, the takeaway from that story
is just how much you care for your friends, you know.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And so I love the crew, and I still have
friends on the crew and producers as well, and and
and love them because, as you know, it is very intimate,
it's very personal. We would travel, you know, we saw marriages, divorces,
babies being born, people passing away in our lives, and
you know, we were this it was almost like a
traveling circus or a rock group that would travel, you know,
(27:55):
on tour. We were together a lot and alone a lot. Yeah,
you rely on each other, and so these people meant
a lot to us all, and he tried to take
care of him. And even if it was you know,
after we had way too many tequila shots at squid Row.
But that was I mean, those were the old days
where we finished shooting. Remember Cassie was there, he and everybody.
(28:17):
We were, you know, doing shots and dancing our asses off,
and we were soaking wet, just sweating and had a blast.
And then we got up the next day and shot
more dates.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes we did, Yes, we did. It was a good time, man,
And so, yeah, you're right. Even in twenty ten it
changed a little bit. Yeah, I mean I could tell,
you know, it was like, oh, no, you're not going
anywhere after we're filming, you know, And so I just
hid in my little corner and did what I was.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Well, there was a downtime you mentioned that, and there
was a downtime in the show where I had heard
Lloyd Brown actually had canceled the show. Oh, where the
show was dead and it was not coming back right,
And partly because they you know, deep down, I think
they wanted to kill it. They did not like the
creator of the show. There was all this horribly contentious
(29:02):
relationship between the network and the production interesting.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Then they hated each other, okay, and then there was
me that was like the bastard stepchild, kind of like
trying to keep everybody happy and trying to be the
liaison between these two warring factions. And it was really weird.
But you know, rumor had it that he had canceled
the show. And then that's when we did Doctor Travis
Stork and we went to France.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, yeah, okay, and we.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Went to Paris and we're like, screw it, We're just
gonna go shoot in Paris and spend all the money.
And then his show did really well, and then the
next thing, you know, we came back and then there
was Doctor Andy Baldwin and the show's back. Yeah, and
you know, in Jake Pavelka and then you know, now
we've gone for twenty some odd years, but back then
there was that time when we had really gone high.
And then because it was a dysfunctional family at the time,
(29:53):
we were kind of falling apart.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
So you're told, meself, why I was selected. I throw
anyone in there, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Know what I'm saying is this is what I wanted
to ask you had to. I know you felt I did.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
That I did, and and that's something yeah, I think
about often.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I know there was a couple of executive producers that
you you know, we will name names, we'll go into
too many intimate details. But there were some rough nights.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
There you hit the nail on the head. And you know,
I'll admit there were some times what the hell am
I putting myself into? You know, like why did I
even make this decision? I don't have to do this,
you know, And I try to kind of go with
the flow a little bit. I was extremely grateful for
the opportunity, but it sure didn't seem reciprocated. And and
(30:42):
you could tell, I mean, anybody with half a brain
could tell that there were a lot of different people
going in a lot of different directions, you know, and
and frankly, it didn't seem like anyone cared about the
actual show, you know. And so I mean, you know,
you've got a guy, like I said, completely untalented, and
you know, I'm just trying to do what I'm told.
(31:03):
But yeah I did. I butted heads with some of
the producers big time. And on that same note, though
I fell in love with some of the other producers, right,
you know.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
And that's the thing is there was this well and
so back in O seven especially, I was really you know,
separated from talent from you, you know. I mean we
were together, we'd go out and stuff like that, but
as far as the production side of things, I wasn't
there to protect you. I wasn't there to produce. I
wasn't even really a producer per se at the time.
(31:32):
I was just kind of doing what I was told
by the executive producers that were really running the thing.
And like you said, then there was this big gap
between the executive producers at the time and then those
producers under them, And I think those under them are
the ones you really found to be lovely and became
very good friends with, and they were really intimately trying
(31:52):
to help you. Then there was the executive producers that
were it was a mess.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
It was rough, man, I mean it was rough. And yeah,
you know, just uh again, I don't know what to
expect in that situation. I don't know what I'm getting in,
would you exactly? And so I'm a little unfair, but
I mean, hey, look, trust may I'm no one to
have a victim mentality. It's just I think we made
it through, and unfortunately it turned out how it did well.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
That was season one, and obviously there is a season
two to come for you that we didn't know about.
But at the end of season one, all I remember
is we get to the end. Yes, and again I'm
a little bit separated. So when I show up that
final day, we shoot your final day in Malibu, that's
how old school the show is. We're still shooting in
(32:52):
l A. Yeah, sure, we have a beautiful house, noting
a beautiful house. And I remember showing up that day
and this is how naive I was back then. I asked,
Who's who's he gonna propose to? Yeah, that's how out
of it out of touch?
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Are you kidding me? You didn't know.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
No, I didn't know, because I would, you know. I
was definitely on a need to know basis back then.
They they When I say they, I'm talking about there
are two or three executive producers who were really running
the show back then. They were uh, control freaks and
definitely kind of megalomaniacs in their personalities, and they really
(33:32):
controlled information. That's how they controlled you. That's how they
controlled the producers under them. That's how they controlled everybody
h and myself included. That's how they wanted to you know,
they really wanted to have everybody under their thumb, and
part of that was by controlling information. And so I
didn't really know exactly what was going to happen that
final day.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Can I ask you something honest question? Yeah, not the
not the podcast answer, but an honest answer. Really, were
you disappointed in me that I didn't pick any.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
No, but I was shocked. I told you so when
we talked that day. So again, if you guys didn't
remember this season, it was the first time ever that
a Bachelor didn't choose anybody. At the end of the show.
It was down to Deanna and Jenny and two lovely women.
You really appreciate it and like them both. I knew that,
(34:23):
and Brad Womack didn't choose anybody. Here's what I remember
about that day. There was a guy named Jason, who
was Jason Carbone who worked on the show at the time,
and you were tight with him, and he was working
with you intimately. And then there were the executive producers,
and I remember the tension. I remember walking on set
that day and everybody was really fired up, like what's happening.
(34:45):
It's supposed to be you know, it's final day. And
they said, he's not going to choose anybody, but we're
working on him. We'll get him to flip, We'll get him.
And I'm like, okay, well, just that sentence alone is
really left up. Of course, if he doesn't want to
pick anybody, and we're going to try to convince him
to do something that he clearly doesn't want to do. Sure,
we're in a pickle. This is this is not great. Sure,
(35:08):
and I saw you and you were despondent and definitely
uh detached.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Of course. Yeah, can I explain that, Yes, I give
you my word. This is as sincere as I can be.
I was thinking more about the girls, and and only
because I knew I had already dug my grave. Man,
I mean, I knew this was going to be really bad.
And again mentioning the producers, they let me know it
was going to be really bad for me. And it's
(35:37):
not It's not a good thing to walk into, right,
but but I swear to God above man thinking about
both Jenny and Deanna because I did care for both
of them. They deserved much better than me. But they
also deserve the truth, right, and so that show unfortunately,
you know the premise you kinda even if it's involveoluntarily
(36:00):
lead people on, you just do. Yeah. I never said
the word I love you to either one of them.
I was very adamant about that. But anyway, so I
was thinking about this, and I was really nervous about
how that would go for those two women. I didn't
want them to think I was trying to publicly embarrass them. Yeah,
and again I had, unfortunately producers in my ear kind
(36:21):
of beating me up a little bit. Oh yeah, normally
we have a rap party. You're not getting wey, I
mean telling me that before we're filming.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
With Okay, you're being too nice. I remember, Yeah that day, Yeah,
there was a knockdown drag out five.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Yes there was. There was. I'm glad you're bringing that up.
Yes there was. It was just wild. It's kind of
Hollywood stuff, you know. And and let's just call it
the proverbial open checkbook to make me change my mind, right,
And I'm so glad I have a chance to tell
people this right now, because i'd hold back. But and
(36:55):
I very very proudly.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Declined I've never heard this.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
You didn't know that hand to God. That's a true story, man,
I believe I'm a hand to God. And and I've
never heard that story. And and that's it did get.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
I wasn't in the room that day. Yeah, they kept
oh no, you weren't.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
It was uh, well, you know, yeah, four of the
it was the four right and and so, and it
was just one of those things that basically, what will
it take? And and I'm really proud about that moment.
But after that, after they knew there was no flipping
because again I never knew they said, We're going to
try to flip into you and and so, but it
(37:32):
got really rough. Man reminded that, you know, I'm nothing
without the show, and okay, great. I mean, you know,
one last thing I'll say about that whole situation though,
in my very initial interview went by the very first
one in LA and it was all on camera. I
looked to the camera and I was laughing saying this,
and I said, I want to say this to the camera.
(37:54):
I might not be the right guy because if I'm
not feeling it, I'm not going to pick anybody. And
I brought that up in that meeting that I was
telling you about, and I said, please review the tape
man and so anyway, but yeah, unfortunately they didn't take it. Well.
I get it, there's you know that show, there's an
expected ending, But to me, that's real life. I didn't
(38:15):
go on there to fake it.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
And what when you asked me, was I ever disappointed?
My answer is absolutely not, because I thought that was
the most real ending we'd ever had. And that's not
to say obviously Ryan and Trista and people got married,
that was very real. But what I mean by that
is this was the truth, like, this is what happened.
I never thought the show was successful or that it
was predicated on the fact that it had to be
(38:37):
successful in the end. I think the realism is sometimes
it doesn't work out sure life, and to pretend and
to have a fake, you know, proposal, which we had
had up to that point. We had had a few
couple fake ones. Sure that they just wanted an ending
and the person felt pressure, probably like you did, and
they they caved, maybe they took a check, who knows,
(38:58):
who knows, but at the time they did propose, and
then you know, they would quickly fall apart and there's
different reasons for that, right, you want to impress everybody,
You want to, you know, keep the girl happy, you
want you know, you you do things for a lot
of reasons. But in your situation, I thought I had
no problem with it. My only problem was I really
liked you as a friend by then, and I was thinking,
(39:21):
this guy is going to get crushed.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Oh man, he's.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Going to get his ass kicked in the court of
public opinion. And I did, even though you let everybody
down gently and you were very honest, honest about it. Sure,
but you got your ass.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Kicked, buddy. I this is another thing you don't know
that I'll tell you. I'll tell you how bad it got.
I can sum it up, you know, about three months
after that, and I was just getting railed, man, And
thank god there was no social media then. I can't imagine.
I mean, I just can't imagine.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
And the show wasn't exactly protecting you because they were
mad at you.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Oh no, I mean they And you know, I actually
kind of understand that I was thrown under the bus
by the show. But I kind of understand that. I
get it. I get it, I mean, shield of course,
but also I mean just call it clickbait for ratings.
I mean, you know, yeah, he's a terrible persone. I
get all of that to understand it kind of what
I signed up for. But about three months into that,
(40:13):
the the public beating, I lost my voice for like
eight weeks straight. I couldn't speak, and I mean I
mean literally had to write.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Down my stress.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Stress. Yeah. I would go to every specialist and then
finally a I went to the therapist and she realized
there was stress. And I'm kind of embarrassed to a
bit that because I wish I could say that I
have such thick skin. Shit. But I mean I lived
in a high rise, right. People would come to the
front door, try to get up and just to tell
me to f off and thank God for security. I mean,
I'd be at gas stations and sweet looking young girls
(40:45):
would come up just give me the middle finger walk away.
True story, yeah, true story.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
So but anyway, it was uh a wild time because
you know, when anybody says, and I'll defend anybody on
the show, I don't care who you are, when anybody
says you signed up for this, sure, yes, technically you
signed on the dotted line, but there is no way
that a bar owner from Austin, Texas is in any
(41:10):
way prepared for what you're going to face and whether
it was good or bad.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Well, I agree with that. Man.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
It's like I always say, it's like being shot out
of a cannon without a net on the other side. Yes, sir,
you know you No one prepares you to go from
you know, the concrete cowboy over in Austin to Jimmy
Kimmel Live, and back then was probably Jay Leno the
morning shows. You know, like you just you're the Dance
and Chicken all of a sudden absolute it is. It's
(41:38):
hard to fathom how much attention you get, especially back
then before social media, but the interest level was so high.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Well and on that note, man, you know what's so
funny and one of the main motivators of me doing
the show is and now I think you know me
very well. Now I'm a really shy person. Man, I
don't like attention you are. Yeah, well, I don't know
what I'm thinking here knowing.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
You later after the second season, I never I'm like,
how the hell and why the hell did this guy
ever do the show?
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I'll tell you why. Man. I was talking about twin
brother Chad and said before I ever went on and said,
maybe this is a good way to force me out
of that box. I mean, I'm in a very social industry,
meaning bar business and hospitality, and maybe this is a way.
Maybe that's why I haven't met the right one who knows,
you know. And so anyway, and we mentioned at the
(42:29):
beginning of this, I do care what people think. So
it was a rough time.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
But yeah, it's funny. Your personality is not one that
I would think because it's not like you have this
type a overly you're a charismatic guy. But you know,
when you're in an intimate situation, you're you're fantastic. But
I get the shyness in you. Surely you're not a
I want to be in the lifelike kind of g
(42:53):
I'm still not on social media today.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
I still love that. I think I'm the only dinosaur
that is never Actually I tried Instagram for about six
weeks and posted one thing and it made my skin crawl.
It was so disingenuous.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
God bless you made it out alive, man.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
I mean, I'm telling you. And so anyway, yeah, it
was just rough just being thrown at that spotlight, especially
such a negative one.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Before we go on this episode. What was the reaction
of Deanna and Jenny when you did? You know, obviously
in the moment we all watched it on TV. But
after did you ever talk to them later? Do you
keep in touch with either one of them?
Speaker 2 (43:27):
You know? I wish I kept in touch, you know
that when I talked to them after that. The first
time was when we filmed the first night of my
second season. Okay, and so many people thought that was scripted.
I'll tell it it was not there. It was not.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
It was scripted by us. We had planned it clearly,
of course you did.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
I didn't know it all. And there were a couple of
times Deonna and I stayed in touch. I really cared
for her, Yeah, and actually I really cared for Jenny.
But Deanna and I definitely had a connection and her reaction,
and in particular, she's a very, very caring human being,
and from what I know of her, she wears her
(44:08):
emotions on her sleeve, and I'm saying that in a
good way. She's not afraid to let you know.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
She went on to be a great bachelorette. Yes, And
if we talked about Jenny as well, Jenny I think
was in Arizona and got married kids. I ran into
her or heard from her not too long ago, and
actually I hear from Deanna quite often. We still keep
in touch little bit. You're just like a sweet, sweet woman,
both of them. Yeah, we really are. This is a
(44:34):
might be tough and you could take the fifth. You
do not have to answer this. Tell you how close
were you to actually proposing, you know? Or was that
just completely a.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
No, nowhere close? Okay?
Speaker 1 (44:45):
And if it had been, if you had chosen gun
to your head, sure, were you closer to Deanna or
Jenny Deanna?
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Hands down?
Speaker 1 (44:53):
I thought so too.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Yeah. I think that's been publicly said, and I want
to publicly say it's nothing against Jim. It's just you know,
you have certain connections. Yeah, I really had feelings for Deanna.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Y'all are more similar anyway. Your personality is I could
see that, especially back then.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
She's tough man, she's an obs person. I love that.
I love when people are very direct, right, you don't
have to sugarcoat anything with me.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
So, but I kind of had that feeling that if
it had been somebody, it would have been Dianna. Yep,
such a tumultuous time after the show. Sure you're getting
your brains beat in. Sure people are, like you said,
coming to the door of your condo, and sure coming
after you. And you decide, m h, I'll do this again.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
I knew where this was going and and I'm actually
happy to say this. I give you my word. I
mean this. I believe in that show. I believe in
that show, and I believe and I'm not a guy
that needs redemption for anything. I think life happens how
it should man, And and I really really really derailed
(46:00):
my life in that in the first season. But yes,
I did do it again because you know, I believe
in second chances. But again, it wasn't redemption at all.
It was I believe in the possibility of seeing that
one person that it just gives you that spark and
it's fun and it's it's exciting. You know.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
Well, there was a season two of The Batchel with
Brad Womack. What in the world was he thinking? How
did it turn out? And what's he up to now?
Is he still single? Business wise? How is life for
Brad Womack? That will be in our next episode. Thank
you were the Bachelor twice you get two episodes of
(46:42):
the most dramatic podcast ever. Has there ever been a
more appropriate reason to have two episodes? We'll see you
next time. Thank you, buddy, Thanks for listening. Follow us
on Instagram at the Most Dramatic Pod Ever, and make
sure to write us a review and leave us five stars.
I'll talk to you next time.
This is the most dramatic podcast ever and iHeartRadio podcast.
This should be interesting.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
That's a word for it.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I guess this should be interesting. Sitting down with Brad Wollmack.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Huh, here we go. Man, I'm almost I'm a little
scared about this. I'm gonna be honest, buddy, I am too.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I was thinking about what you and I were going
to talk about, sure, and then oddly I drew a blank. Okay,
but there's but there's so much material and so much
we haven't talked about, even though you and I have
been friends. What year let's see, what year were you
the Bachelor?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I'll tell you exactly the first time two thousand and seven,
and then second time was twenty.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Ten, two thousand and seven.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yes, yes, I'm old. I'm very old.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
How old are you?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Fifty one?
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I say, you're a year younger than me.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Yeah, that was like the rare time you and Byron Velvick,
the bass fisherman who actually maybe have to look he
might be older than me. So we did this, like
you know, that was the our version of the Golden Bachelor.
Back then. It's like, let's do an older guy, and
so we got Byron Velvic, this bass fisherman, and that
season didn't go awesome. Yeah, but he but we kept
(01:21):
in touch too. He's a really good guy. Still we
still chat. And then you were the next one where
it wasn't old at the time, because what were we
back in what two thousand and seven?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Was thirty four I believe, yeah, thirty four, thirty thirty four, yeah, yeah, yeah,
thirty four. Jesus see, that's how old I am. I
can't even remember things in the past.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Fourteen years ago.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
It was a long time teen years ago.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Holy cow, so I would have been thirty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Wow, yeah, yeah yeah. So well, good times though, really
good times. That's nuts kind of but it was. I
had to throw that in there. We're good.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Well, I'll tell you what. I think we have to
break this up. Well, because you were the only person
to be on two Bachelor seasons. You were the Bachelor
twice for those that don't know, Brad was the Bachelor
in seven and ten, ten, twenty ten, and we had
never done that before. I think they'll never do it
again after that. But this is also back in the day.
(02:23):
This is old school when we would get really good
guys find them. You didn't have to be on the
show before, right, yeah, yea, you know it's you know,
Bob Guiney had come off the Bachelorette. There were a couple,
but it was more like Aaron Burgee, Andrew Firestone, you
and some of these others where we had never met
you before. The first time we met you was when
(02:45):
you were the Bachelor.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Right yeah, yeah, pretty organic way to do it, I
would imagine, you know, for you guys, and yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
It's well, it was a scary thing because sure we
liked it because you got to build a story and
you got to know somebody on the show. But the
other thing is we really you could cheat a little bit,
and if they were on a prior show, there was
a built in audience, right. People loved you, people hated you.
They had an idea of what they thought about you. Therefore,
(03:12):
there was a story built in when the store, when
the season starts, Okay, I already know what I think
about Brad Walmack. Now I'll just meet the ladies and
we're off and running makes sense, And so that was
kind of the change of the show. We felt like
that was the kind of tie we always wanted to have.
But with you, you were kind of a throwback too.
(03:33):
We just met Brad Walmack, this bar owner from Austin, Texas.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Sure, yeah, yeah, how.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Did you become the bachelor? Who found you? How to happen?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'll tell you it's actually a funny story. It's my
brother and my business partner at the time. It was
a Sunday afternoon and as Chad your chid, my twin
brother and my other business partner, Jason, and true story,
I'm just gonna be honest. We were doing a little
day drinking and so we wound up at a popular
restaurant in Austin and and you guys were casting for
the girls, and so we were eating. Casting agent came down,
(04:06):
tapped me on the shoulder and said, hey, this sounds crazy.
Have you heard of the Batcher? And I'm not gonna lie.
I was a big fan of the show. And then
you guys, of course were making waves and.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It would have been huge back then at seven it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Was big, man, it was really big, and so there's
obviously a very flattering encounter. Of course, my first reaction
was I don't know if I'm going to be the
right guy, you know, And she said, well, we can
be very convincing at least give me your number and
we'll call you. And sure enough, you guys called it
think the week after and I was on my way
to LA So I mean, just I mean fast track,
can do you know? This wild adventure? You know?
Speaker 1 (04:40):
And who did you meet first? Like, how did that
all go? Because it was different back then than it
is now. I mean it's it's gotten so much more professional,
so much more there's so many more levels you got
to get through back then, right, I'm guessing it was
you know, a couple of the executive producers and you
met a couple exis it is and we're off and running.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
That's exactly who what? Who it was? It was well
Mike of course, and then the show, right, and then
uh Lisa at that's her? Yeah, yeah, And then I
was fortunate enough to meet the president of ABC at
the time. But it was such a whirlwind. Man. You
take a guy from Austin that I had no aspirations
being TV man, I'm sure you see.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And then you're sitting down, I'm guessing it was Lloyd
Braun back then. Was that the president of ABC at
the time?
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Truly connect it was, And.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
So you're sitting down with the president of ABC exactly.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
I mean you're like, and they're asking you about love,
and you're like, what do you want out of life?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah? Well that's actually what it was, you know. And
then you know obviously what I did for living on
this lowly bar guy. Yeah, and this well no, I
mean just uh and and I mean, but I'll tell
you it was one of the coolest experiences of my
life meeting people of that caliber, of course, and then
you know, it's a it's a story that I'll hold
on to.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
I was trying to think the first time you and
I met, I think.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
It was it was either the very first night. I mean,
obviously we had to have taped something, but.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
We didn't get to hang out a lot before. Like,
there's a lot of times where either it well I'll
get to know the guys the prior season and you
hang out a little bit and then you keep in
touch as they lead into the Bachelor. Other times they'll
just be in town and I'll get to see them,
maybe we'll go out to dinner before I just my
recollection is, I don't think that ever happened with you.
(06:23):
I think you came in hot and I didn't get
to see you really probably and maybe that first night.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I think that's right. I got to tell you. I'm
going to sing your praises real quick. I just want
to tell you something you I was most nervous about meeting.
I just seen you all over the place, and you're
this larger than life personality, and I have to hand
it to you could not have been cooler man. And
so we had a lot.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I think the fact that, well, first of all, thank you.
Second of all, you and I kind of are cut
from the same cloth. I think we got each other
and I found you to be a breath of fresh
air and a bit of a relief. Well, not that
I disliked. I mean, Andrew Firestone's one of my best friends.
So is Bob Ginney. I love those guys. But when
there was a guy from Texas, yeah, and about my age,
(07:10):
I'm like, I can do this, like this, I get like,
I understand this.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
It was very.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Easy for me to get to know you, because that's
part of the pressure for me was to try to quickly.
You know, again, if I meet you on the driveway
as a Limos pulling up, I got to figure out
what makes this guy tick? Who is he? What are
the buttons I need to push? How can I get
him to these emotional areas, et cetera. And with you,
I found it very easy.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
I appreciate you because.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
I feel like you know, you and I are very similar.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Well again, I appreciate that coming from you. But yeah,
I mean you could not have been more welcoming, and
frankly I needed it. I mean that was a very
overwhelming experience, especially day one, you know, And yeah, you
welcomed me with open arms, and so I thank you
for that.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Did you? Obviously, I'm sure you had some trepidation and
be human if you didn't. But to have your business
and what's your business? By the way, lowly bar guy,
you and your brother and your business partner, you guys
owned own bars here in Austin at the time. I
think it was just Austin were you. They were massively
successful and you guys were killing it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
And by the way, back in the day, that was
also the concept of the show. Bachelors would have jobs
and they would be successful, so therefore you would actually
be considered a catch.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Okay, I'll take that whatever it takes.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Right, It's an old concept. We got away from it. It
became like broken people with no jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
And I'll tell you, guys, they've had some amazing candidates.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Of course, because I kid, actually a kid, because we
don't care.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I like that. I like that.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
But no. So so that was the original concept, and
that was like Chris Soles, this farmer from Iowa, you know,
hugely successful and if it wasn't for the show, you know,
could they find love? And so that was the premise
of bringing in a guy like Brad Womack of this
guy's working his ass off opening bars. The only thing
he really hasn't found his love.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Sure, yeah, good premise, of course.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah too bad. It did work.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Hey, thanks thanks for reminding me, man, and I'm out. Thanks.
It was a great like drop, good seeing you.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
But you get into this, you had to have some trepidation,
and I'm sure there was the this will promote the
bar business, but what were the other things where you're like, man,
I don't know if I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Man, you know, I got to tell you, I'll back
up a little bit. I don't know if you realize.
So I never one time mentioned the bars on air,
and I did that purposely, you know. And so one,
I didn't want to sell out, but of course, I
mean it went without saying that, you know, you would
get some exposure, of course, but I took my career
at the time especially very seriously, and I was a
(09:51):
little worried about it damaging the career. And another thing
is I know you know me very well, but people don't.
I'm a really, really shy person, and so I was
petrified of losing anonymity, you know. I mean for so
many years I had just gone to work, like you said,
and built a career, tried to find a good girl.
(10:11):
She wasn't having me, and so anyway, but so I
went into the first night, admittedly with a lot of
fear and anxiety.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Well, what was interesting with your time is again remember
seven were coming into this with Brad. Yes, it was
a huge show, and yeah there was probably twenty twenty
four million people watching at the time, So you think,
how did you want anonymity? But we also didn't have
social media.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
You're exactly right.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That was the huge thing. You're exactly You weren't being bombarded. Yes,
you had to do People Magazine and Entertainment Tonight and
all that stuff, but you weren't faced with the social
media dilemma that everybody is now. Sure, so you still
got to you know, the idea was you could leave
and come back and live your life.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Right, Yeah, yeah, well that's a good point. I think
I was just I'm really concerned with what people think
of me. Unfortunately, you and me both, man.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
That's honestly, it's one of the things as we bond
over I agree to a fault.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yes we do, and yes we do.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Sure our therapists will could get together.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
We might have the same one. I don't think they
can disclose that, but we might have the same one anytime.
She's nodding very aggressively, like I've heard this before. Now
I know what Harris. Okay, yeah, you guys are it.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Makes us good at what we do. Sure, it actually
makes me a good host because it makes me very
empathetic and I care, and again I care too much.
You're the same being in the service industry that you
get in, not your whole life. But you know, for
the most part, sure it serves you.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Well.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
Well, I appreciate one of our greatest weaknesses is also
a strength.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Well yeah, okay, well I like that take on it,
of course, and I do want to sing your praises
another time as far as you caring, but you're by
far the most compassion one of the most compassionate people,
and so it makes it easy for guys like me
or contestants, whatever you want to call it. Whenever you
do come in with that anxiety, you kind of tamp
that down a little bit. So we appreciate you. Man.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
It's like it's a weird thing. And I always I
was always very empathetic because it was interesting that people
in the control room they're removed, right, they're just looking
through a monitor and they're they're looking on screen and
they they they're not going to get dirty, they're not
going to get oil on them, so it's easy for them.
And they're in their little earpiece to like or in
(12:19):
my earpiece to say, hey, say this to Brad or
make Brad do this, or you know, they're not feeling
the nerves, the tension, the fear, the excitement, the sorrow,
all those emotions that I would feel by standing on
that wet driveway sure as the limos pull up, or
as a girl just walked through, and you know, there's
so many things you guys are trying to do that
(12:41):
gets lost because we're watching the show and we just
want you guys to you know, you're kind of jumping
through hoops all that, but you guys are kind of
serving a lot of masters. And I'm sure you felt this.
You can speak to this. You wanted to please me,
you wanted to please the network, You want to make
sure your family's proud, you want to like you know,
there's a thousand things other than just I would like
(13:03):
to find love.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Well, another thing and the most important thing I'll be
the first admit again, is I wanted to make a
good impression on the women. Yeah. I mean, let's face it,
you guys, there are some amazing I know I use
that word too much, but there are some amazing women
that come through that show. And then seeing every single
one of them get out of the limo and you're thinking, well,
you know, you almost kind of have imposter syndrome. What
(13:25):
the hell am I doing here?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
You know, I would think so, of course.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I mean, I'm standing next I'm not again just building
you up, but standing next to Chris Harrison. I'm on
one of the most popular shows on television on one
of the most popular networks. And then meetings some just beautiful, achieved,
I guess, motivated women. And so yeah, it was just
it was really nerve wracking.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Well, it's hard to understand the power of the mansion.
The lights. Of course, everything's on you. And then when
you you know, we talk about it and we get
you ready and we prepped you and all that, but
until it's you know, until the director, you know, Fuke
says all right, you know, roll the first limo in sure,
and you have that realization of because then I leave
and you're standing there alone.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Where'd you go, buddy?
Speaker 1 (14:09):
You're standing there by yourself on that driveway and the
limo pulls up. You're like, oh shit, right, you see
the lights, the camera and its action time. That's that's
a big pill to swallow.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
It is and and but it's so exciting man, and
and you know, of course I do have some regrets
just on some of the things I personally did before
and after the show. But I'm so grateful for that time, man,
and and the relationships that I made with you and
some of the girls and some of the producers and everything.
So yeah, wouldn't have traded anything.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
What regrets before and after, during and after you.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
Know, well, some of the things I say and do.
I'm a complete idiot, man, I'll be the first to say.
I mean, we all are it Jesus buddy. But you
know I didn't carry myself in in ways that I
normally do back home. I don't know if I got
up in moments. I don't have specific examples, but I
really do. It's not like I watch it back, especially now,
(15:06):
but some of the episodes, I'm thinking that that's not you.
I don't know if I was trying to put on
a facade, and because that's typically not like me.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
You know, I don't think you were putting on airs like.
I never got the feeling you were being disingenuous.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
I hope not.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
But what I think is if I was your therapist,
and I was for a short.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
Time, yes you were. Yes, you're much appreciate. In fact,
you still have an invoice to me. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
No, what I saw from you is you try so hard.
You always do this, and this happens in our own
life when we're at dinner or whatever. You try hard
to make everybody feel loved and appreciates.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So you know when you were with those women, I
think again, you were trying to please everybody. You're trying
to please the camera guy, the audio, you know, the
producers and take care of these ladies. And I think
the way that you really have to go through that
show is you got to be a little selfish.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
You know what. That's a that's an outstanding point, actually,
And I don't That's one thing I'll give credit for.
I don't think I have a selfish bone in my body, right,
And I think a lot of that. I could see
a lot of that same fear and anxiety and the
women and come on, man, we're supposed to be protectors
as men, you know, we just start even if I
just met these girls, and whether they asked for that
(16:17):
protection or not, but so a lot of times I
would I try to make them feel okay, and all
the time I'm just going absolutely insane inside. But it
worked out, man, And so maybe, you know, regret might
be a strong word. I just look back and I wonder,
you know, what was I thinking at that moment, you know,
because I was.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Going to ask you are you were a regret guy.
I'm not a big regret guy.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I'm not either. I'm not either. So maybe again that
might have been the wrong word. So maybe I just
would have done things differently. I mean, I have the
benefit of watching it if I want to change anything.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Well, that's like when you wake up on Monday and
watch the Sunday football game. It's easy to break down game.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
There you go, it's easy.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
There you go, Monday Morning Quarterback. But that's why the
show is so great, right, And there's still that audience,
that insatiable appetite for these reality shows and shows like
this sure is because we get to judge. I mean,
you are the Monday Morning quarterback and you get to
watch Brad Womack and everyone like him, you know, trip
(17:16):
and fall and make mistakes and find love or not
find love, and we get to watch that and judge it.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
You know what on that Yeah, that's actually an exciting
way to put it, you know. And so you're right,
but sometimes, you know, court of public opinion could be
really brutal. We all know that. We all know that.
Just try not pick you get anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
That leads us to Okay, we're in season one, So
this is two thousand and seven, and it's not like
we had had a run of great success. It's not
like we had all these marriages by then. Trista had
been married. Yeah, yeah, you know, we had gone through
several seasons where there had been engagements, but nothing hugely successful,
(18:07):
right other than Tristan Ryan. You're still hanging on.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
To that one the way the best great people.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
It just had her on the podcast not too long ago,
and it's still like we fall right back into place.
Like when you come in. It's like there's just certain
moments in time and certain people from the show where
I see him and I don't care if I haven't
seen you for five years, yeah, man or five minutes.
We're just you just fall right back into it. I agree,
we're you're concerned percent. When you walked in the door,
(18:35):
I just you came. You just came to the door.
By the way, this is only the second home interview
I've done.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
No kidding, Yeah, oh now I feel I'm damn sure.
It feels special, taking large part.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Because no one wants to see me, I think, secondly
because now I live in Austin. But so Jason Tartick
was here. Oh nice Jay, Jay did it. And so
you're you're the second home interview.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah, yeah, I've heard good things about Jason. By the way,
he's a Nashville guy. Right he is.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
Yeah, he's trying to get out now. So yeah, you're
you're number two.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Well, I appreciate the invite very much.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
It's the only way I could get you to come
out to the house.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Come on, man, you know when Chris Harris, I think
I told your producers this whenever they texted me and
asked me to come on here. But if you asked
me to do anything, I'm doing it. Period. I mean
it's it's I'm doing it.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
So I've always been that good.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Well, no, no, no, no one. I'm not looking for accola
or a pat on the back. I'm just saying one,
I know you always come from a good place. And two,
I just want to see you. I mean, this is
cool and all. I just want to hang out with you.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Well, I will tell two stories that will define Brad Womack.
Uh oh, and I tell these stories all the time.
You are still the only person who's ever been on
the show that gave me a parting gift.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Oh well, thanks man, I mean you never of course
I do. I'm getting embarrassed, but yeah, what it was,
I don't remember what it was. I know I gave
you a gift.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
There was a shirt I love that you had. This
is okay, this is back before you know, I kept
wardrobe and all that stuff, and you had a shirt
and I'm like, god, I love that shirt and you
wore it maybe a couple of times on the show.
And clearly, if you're looking at this video, we're not
the same size. I'm actually a normal sized human. Jesus man,
you are a bulk of a huge Come on, we'll
(20:17):
get into that in a minute. Sure, clearly we're not
the same size. I'm a sh medium and you're an excel.
So what you did, though, is when the show was over,
you wrote me a note and you went and bought
that shirt and you gave it to me. It was
like this plaid, red and blue shirt, gotcha. And you
(20:38):
also got something for Carrie Fetman, who should wardrobe, and
Gina Medica, who has been my longtime makeup artist. And
to this day, you were the only bachelor or bachelorette
who has given me a little something, just said just
to say thank you, even though at the first season
was a disaster, did go well and it didn't go
(20:59):
well for you, but you gave me. Now, there is
one other bachelor and I will not out him.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Okay, Okay, he did.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Kind of give me, Carrie and Gina a gift. Okay,
it was a signed headshot.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
No it wasn't. I know, it wasn't. I shit you not, Brad,
if I ever give you a head shot much less assign,
wouldn't punch me in the face.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Swear to you. Really, it was the weirdest moment. I
thought it was a joke at first, and then I
realized there was a note written on it and he
sincerely gave us a headshot say thank you gift. Well,
and I thought, you know what, I'm going to take
the positive here, and he thought of us enough to
write something on his own photo that he gave. I
think I still have it. I think I kept it
(21:42):
in this draw right behind his ear. But so these
head shots, I don't even know if they still do this.
But when a bachelor would come in, we do our
fittings for clothes and all that we have the ABC photographer,
we would do like a whole press kit. We would
do photos for you. So if we ever went out
and you know, did a press meeting or whatever, we'd
sign you'd had those those head shots and you know,
(22:03):
it used to be that was kind of a bigger
deal than you know, again, pre social media, you would
sign photos. Sure, So that was the only other person
that's given a gift is was this bachelor who will
remain nameless. You're welcome, but he gave us signed headshots
and I'll never forget because he gave it to us.
And he walked out and Gina and Carrie and I
were sitting there packing up, and we all just looked
(22:24):
at each other, like did that just happen?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
That's uh. I feel bad for how I feel inside
after it was so because I want to think that
came from a sincere place, but yeah, it was who.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Knows not great? Do you remember any of the women
from your first season?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Could you? I'm not that old, okay, I.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Think we all know. I think unless you are too
young and you haven't watched the show, which is shoot good,
but I could watch it. Deanna pappas of course, Jinny
Croft where your final two? Who were some other kind
of stars from that first season? First and foremost man
who I love still to this day. I love to
death and deep into the show, Yeah, of course, And
I mean just an amazing girl. Anyway, did we travel
(23:05):
at all for that first season?
Speaker 2 (23:07):
Not much. I mean I think I think you guys
were going through a rough patch.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Twelve two thousand and seven, we didn't do well. We've
kind of hadn't gotten to the point where we traveled
a whole bunch. That was really kind of kickoff in
Charlie O'Connell's season. Good then, But by the time he
came back in twenty ten, we did right, We definitely
traveled well.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
So we went to Cabo in two thousand and seven,
and I know you know where I'm going with this, right,
tell the story. I want to sing your praises. I
always thought highly of you, but this is when I
knew you were a very real man. If this makes sense.
So we're in Kabo San Lucas and unfortunately, well let
me let me back up a little bit. I'll make
it quick.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Yeah, no, tell the whole story.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
We had a very rare night out. Yeah, okay, and
Kabo San Lucas a pretty wild spot. We all know
that it's fun, but it can get a little rough.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
But this is also before this is kind of old
school days where there weren't really many rules to our
production and what I mean say is there's no there
was no professionalism, there was no line between production casts whatever.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
You know, said yes, okay.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
So that changed dramatically after a huge flame out and
a big blow up, massive proportions that almost killed the show,
and you know, people went off to rehab and many
things happened. But back then, as you know, we would
wrap for the night and then we would all go out.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
You and clude and man. Yeah, and so we're all
in a van, yes, and three of the production guys, which,
by the way, I love that whole cruise.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
So we went to do you remember where we went?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
I think it was squid Row or Giggling Marlin.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
We went to a few plays where it's squid Row.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Okay, So squid Row is again and there was a
dust up and and I know it was with three
of the production guys, and you and I were already
in the van, right.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
We had left and we had pulled around.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
That's exactly right. And we look over and these guys
are in in a little dust up with some locals,
and you said, I'm not going to watch this happen.
I'm going to get out of the van and help him.
Of course, I'm going to help him too. We're both
trying to get after him, and of course it was
one of the executive producers, but threatened both of us
with a lawsuit. I don't know if you remember that. Okay, yeah,
(25:11):
you can get out of the van. You're both going down.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
And we were in like a twelve seater van. Yes,
we were rows, and you and I were kind of
two rows back from the door right and we were
pulling around, you know, from the parking lot because you
and I were heading back to the hotel. And you
were the first one that said, oh, ho crap, there's
a fight, and we're like, I thought it was kind
of cool at first, and then we saw oh my god,
that's our crew. Sure, and you know, we think of
(25:35):
those guys as brothers, family, and so I was like,
screw that. Stop the car, the guy the driver stops
the car. Sure, I go to grab the door. I'm
climbing over the seats, just coming after me, and we're
like going to jump into this frakas outside of the
squid row.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
And yes we were.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
And that's when I think it was David David Albrick.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
That it had to have been David, because I mean,
he made no bones about it.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
And she jumped in front of the door. You cannot
get out of this van, threatened us and told the
driver to drive. And we were screaming as we were
pulling off, trying to get out of the car to
join this fight with these locals.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Well, he definitely mentioned a lawsuit and whether it was
just instill fear. But I got to tell you, man,
that shows your character that you know, above anything else,
you are a good friend to people. You care about people.
And so I tell that story. I've told that story
a thousand times over. I might embellows it a little bit,
like I was the first one jumping out of the van.
(26:32):
I'm kidding, but I held you back.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
But it is funny, Like how funny is that when
I think about if David hadn't been where he was,
Like if we had been reversed, if you and I
had been sitting in the front seat, he had been
in the back. And there's no reason it wasn't the opposite.
We just happened to get in the van first and
you and I hopped in the back. If it had
been the opposite, you and I. In two thousand and seven, sure,
the Bachelor and the host. You would have jumped into
(26:56):
a fight outside squid Rus. Yes, we would have probably
gotten this kicked out.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
Of course we would have come on, man, I mean,
neither one. I don't know about you. I can't fight.
I don't want to fight.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
You and I would have been going at it.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
But it would have made for a good story.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
It would have made I mean, luckily, it makes for
a good story. And despite the fact of how you
see me, I've never broken this nose, but that like,
we came moments away from just being in a full
out brawl in the streets of Mexico.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Yeah, I mean. And again, the takeaway from that story
is just how much you care for your friends, you know.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
And so I love the crew, and I still have
friends on the crew and producers as well, and and
and love them because, as you know, it is very intimate,
it's very personal. We would travel, you know, we saw marriages, divorces,
babies being born, people passing away in our lives, and
you know, we were this it was almost like a
traveling circus or a rock group that would travel, you know,
(27:55):
on tour. We were together a lot and alone a lot. Yeah,
you rely on each other, and so these people meant
a lot to us all, and he tried to take
care of him. And even if it was you know,
after we had way too many tequila shots at squid Row.
But that was I mean, those were the old days
where we finished shooting. Remember Cassie was there, he and everybody.
(28:17):
We were, you know, doing shots and dancing our asses off,
and we were soaking wet, just sweating and had a blast.
And then we got up the next day and shot
more dates.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes we did, Yes, we did. It was a good time, man,
And so, yeah, you're right. Even in twenty ten it
changed a little bit. Yeah, I mean I could tell,
you know, it was like, oh, no, you're not going
anywhere after we're filming, you know, And so I just
hid in my little corner and did what I was.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Well, there was a downtime you mentioned that, and there
was a downtime in the show where I had heard
Lloyd Brown actually had canceled the show. Oh, where the
show was dead and it was not coming back right,
And partly because they you know, deep down, I think
they wanted to kill it. They did not like the
creator of the show. There was all this horribly contentious
(29:02):
relationship between the network and the production interesting.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
Then they hated each other, okay, and then there was
me that was like the bastard stepchild, kind of like
trying to keep everybody happy and trying to be the
liaison between these two warring factions. And it was really weird.
But you know, rumor had it that he had canceled
the show. And then that's when we did Doctor Travis
Stork and we went to France.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, yeah, okay, and we.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Went to Paris and we're like, screw it, We're just
gonna go shoot in Paris and spend all the money.
And then his show did really well, and then the
next thing, you know, we came back and then there
was Doctor Andy Baldwin and the show's back. Yeah, and
you know, in Jake Pavelka and then you know, now
we've gone for twenty some odd years, but back then
there was that time when we had really gone high.
And then because it was a dysfunctional family at the time,
(29:53):
we were kind of falling apart.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
So you're told, meself, why I was selected. I throw
anyone in there, it doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Know what I'm saying is this is what I wanted
to ask you had to. I know you felt I did.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
That I did, and and that's something yeah, I think
about often.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
I know there was a couple of executive producers that
you you know, we will name names, we'll go into
too many intimate details. But there were some rough nights.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
There you hit the nail on the head. And you know,
I'll admit there were some times what the hell am
I putting myself into? You know, like why did I
even make this decision? I don't have to do this,
you know, And I try to kind of go with
the flow a little bit. I was extremely grateful for
the opportunity, but it sure didn't seem reciprocated. And and
(30:42):
you could tell, I mean, anybody with half a brain
could tell that there were a lot of different people
going in a lot of different directions, you know, and
and frankly, it didn't seem like anyone cared about the
actual show, you know. And so I mean, you know,
you've got a guy, like I said, completely untalented, and
you know, I'm just trying to do what I'm told.
(31:03):
But yeah I did. I butted heads with some of
the producers big time. And on that same note, though
I fell in love with some of the other producers, right,
you know.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
And that's the thing is there was this well and
so back in O seven especially, I was really you know,
separated from talent from you, you know. I mean we
were together, we'd go out and stuff like that, but
as far as the production side of things, I wasn't
there to protect you. I wasn't there to produce. I
wasn't even really a producer per se at the time.
(31:32):
I was just kind of doing what I was told
by the executive producers that were really running the thing.
And like you said, then there was this big gap
between the executive producers at the time and then those
producers under them, And I think those under them are
the ones you really found to be lovely and became
very good friends with, and they were really intimately trying
(31:52):
to help you. Then there was the executive producers that
were it was a mess.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
It was rough, man, I mean it was rough. And yeah,
you know, just uh again, I don't know what to
expect in that situation. I don't know what I'm getting in,
would you exactly? And so I'm a little unfair, but
I mean, hey, look, trust may I'm no one to
have a victim mentality. It's just I think we made
it through, and unfortunately it turned out how it did well.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
That was season one, and obviously there is a season
two to come for you that we didn't know about.
But at the end of season one, all I remember
is we get to the end. Yes, and again I'm
a little bit separated. So when I show up that
final day, we shoot your final day in Malibu, that's
how old school the show is. We're still shooting in
(32:52):
l A. Yeah, sure, we have a beautiful house, noting
a beautiful house. And I remember showing up that day
and this is how naive I was back then. I asked,
Who's who's he gonna propose to? Yeah, that's how out
of it out of touch?
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Are you kidding me? You didn't know.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
No, I didn't know, because I would, you know. I
was definitely on a need to know basis back then.
They they When I say they, I'm talking about there
are two or three executive producers who were really running
the show back then. They were uh, control freaks and
definitely kind of megalomaniacs in their personalities, and they really
(33:32):
controlled information. That's how they controlled you. That's how they
controlled the producers under them. That's how they controlled everybody
h and myself included. That's how they wanted to you know,
they really wanted to have everybody under their thumb, and
part of that was by controlling information. And so I
didn't really know exactly what was going to happen that
final day.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Can I ask you something honest question? Yeah, not the
not the podcast answer, but an honest answer. Really, were
you disappointed in me that I didn't pick any.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
No, but I was shocked. I told you so when
we talked that day. So again, if you guys didn't
remember this season, it was the first time ever that
a Bachelor didn't choose anybody. At the end of the show.
It was down to Deanna and Jenny and two lovely women.
You really appreciate it and like them both. I knew that,
(34:23):
and Brad Womack didn't choose anybody. Here's what I remember
about that day. There was a guy named Jason, who
was Jason Carbone who worked on the show at the time,
and you were tight with him, and he was working
with you intimately. And then there were the executive producers,
and I remember the tension. I remember walking on set
that day and everybody was really fired up, like what's happening.
(34:45):
It's supposed to be you know, it's final day. And
they said, he's not going to choose anybody, but we're
working on him. We'll get him to flip, We'll get him.
And I'm like, okay, well, just that sentence alone is
really left up. Of course, if he doesn't want to
pick anybody, and we're going to try to convince him
to do something that he clearly doesn't want to do. Sure,
we're in a pickle. This is this is not great. Sure,
(35:08):
and I saw you and you were despondent and definitely
uh detached.
Speaker 2 (35:16):
Of course. Yeah, can I explain that, Yes, I give
you my word. This is as sincere as I can be.
I was thinking more about the girls, and and only
because I knew I had already dug my grave. Man,
I mean, I knew this was going to be really bad.
And again mentioning the producers, they let me know it
was going to be really bad for me. And it's
(35:37):
not It's not a good thing to walk into, right,
but but I swear to God above man thinking about
both Jenny and Deanna because I did care for both
of them. They deserved much better than me. But they
also deserve the truth, right, and so that show unfortunately,
you know the premise you kinda even if it's involveoluntarily
(36:00):
lead people on, you just do. Yeah. I never said
the word I love you to either one of them.
I was very adamant about that. But anyway, so I
was thinking about this, and I was really nervous about
how that would go for those two women. I didn't
want them to think I was trying to publicly embarrass them. Yeah,
and again I had, unfortunately producers in my ear kind
(36:21):
of beating me up a little bit. Oh yeah, normally
we have a rap party. You're not getting wey, I
mean telling me that before we're filming.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
With Okay, you're being too nice. I remember, Yeah that day, Yeah,
there was a knockdown drag out five.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
Yes there was. There was. I'm glad you're bringing that up.
Yes there was. It was just wild. It's kind of
Hollywood stuff, you know. And and let's just call it
the proverbial open checkbook to make me change my mind, right,
And I'm so glad I have a chance to tell
people this right now, because i'd hold back. But and
(36:55):
I very very proudly.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Declined I've never heard this.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
You didn't know that hand to God. That's a true story, man,
I believe I'm a hand to God. And and I've
never heard that story. And and that's it did get.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
I wasn't in the room that day. Yeah, they kept
oh no, you weren't.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
It was uh, well, you know, yeah, four of the
it was the four right and and so, and it
was just one of those things that basically, what will
it take? And and I'm really proud about that moment.
But after that, after they knew there was no flipping
because again I never knew they said, We're going to
try to flip into you and and so, but it
(37:32):
got really rough. Man reminded that, you know, I'm nothing
without the show, and okay, great. I mean, you know,
one last thing I'll say about that whole situation though,
in my very initial interview went by the very first
one in LA and it was all on camera. I
looked to the camera and I was laughing saying this,
and I said, I want to say this to the camera.
(37:54):
I might not be the right guy because if I'm
not feeling it, I'm not going to pick anybody. And
I brought that up in that meeting that I was
telling you about, and I said, please review the tape
man and so anyway, but yeah, unfortunately they didn't take it. Well.
I get it, there's you know that show, there's an
expected ending, But to me, that's real life. I didn't
(38:15):
go on there to fake it.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
And what when you asked me, was I ever disappointed?
My answer is absolutely not, because I thought that was
the most real ending we'd ever had. And that's not
to say obviously Ryan and Trista and people got married,
that was very real. But what I mean by that
is this was the truth, like, this is what happened.
I never thought the show was successful or that it
was predicated on the fact that it had to be
(38:37):
successful in the end. I think the realism is sometimes
it doesn't work out sure life, and to pretend and
to have a fake, you know, proposal, which we had
had up to that point. We had had a few
couple fake ones. Sure that they just wanted an ending
and the person felt pressure, probably like you did, and
they they caved, maybe they took a check, who knows,
(38:58):
who knows, but at the time they did propose, and
then you know, they would quickly fall apart and there's
different reasons for that, right, you want to impress everybody,
You want to, you know, keep the girl happy, you
want you know, you you do things for a lot
of reasons. But in your situation, I thought I had
no problem with it. My only problem was I really
liked you as a friend by then, and I was thinking,
(39:21):
this guy is going to get crushed.
Speaker 2 (39:23):
Oh man, he's.
Speaker 1 (39:24):
Going to get his ass kicked in the court of
public opinion. And I did, even though you let everybody
down gently and you were very honest, honest about it. Sure,
but you got your ass.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
Kicked, buddy. I this is another thing you don't know
that I'll tell you. I'll tell you how bad it got.
I can sum it up, you know, about three months
after that, and I was just getting railed, man, And
thank god there was no social media then. I can't imagine.
I mean, I just can't imagine.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
And the show wasn't exactly protecting you because they were
mad at you.
Speaker 2 (39:52):
Oh no, I mean they And you know, I actually
kind of understand that I was thrown under the bus
by the show. But I kind of understand that. I
get it. I get it, I mean, shield of course,
but also I mean just call it clickbait for ratings.
I mean, you know, yeah, he's a terrible persone. I
get all of that to understand it kind of what
I signed up for. But about three months into that,
(40:13):
the the public beating, I lost my voice for like
eight weeks straight. I couldn't speak, and I mean I
mean literally had to write.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Down my stress.
Speaker 2 (40:23):
Stress. Yeah. I would go to every specialist and then
finally a I went to the therapist and she realized
there was stress. And I'm kind of embarrassed to a
bit that because I wish I could say that I
have such thick skin. Shit. But I mean I lived
in a high rise, right. People would come to the
front door, try to get up and just to tell
me to f off and thank God for security. I mean,
I'd be at gas stations and sweet looking young girls
(40:45):
would come up just give me the middle finger walk away.
True story, yeah, true story.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
So but anyway, it was uh a wild time because
you know, when anybody says, and I'll defend anybody on
the show, I don't care who you are, when anybody
says you signed up for this, sure, yes, technically you
signed on the dotted line, but there is no way
that a bar owner from Austin, Texas is in any
(41:10):
way prepared for what you're going to face and whether
it was good or bad.
Speaker 2 (41:16):
Well, I agree with that. Man.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
It's like I always say, it's like being shot out
of a cannon without a net on the other side. Yes, sir,
you know you No one prepares you to go from
you know, the concrete cowboy over in Austin to Jimmy
Kimmel Live, and back then was probably Jay Leno the
morning shows. You know, like you just you're the Dance
and Chicken all of a sudden absolute it is. It's
(41:38):
hard to fathom how much attention you get, especially back
then before social media, but the interest level was so high.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
Well and on that note, man, you know what's so
funny and one of the main motivators of me doing
the show is and now I think you know me
very well. Now I'm a really shy person. Man, I
don't like attention you are. Yeah, well, I don't know
what I'm thinking here knowing.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
You later after the second season, I never I'm like,
how the hell and why the hell did this guy
ever do the show?
Speaker 2 (42:08):
I'll tell you why. Man. I was talking about twin
brother Chad and said before I ever went on and said,
maybe this is a good way to force me out
of that box. I mean, I'm in a very social industry,
meaning bar business and hospitality, and maybe this is a way.
Maybe that's why I haven't met the right one who knows,
you know. And so anyway, and we mentioned at the
(42:29):
beginning of this, I do care what people think. So
it was a rough time.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
But yeah, it's funny. Your personality is not one that
I would think because it's not like you have this
type a overly you're a charismatic guy. But you know,
when you're in an intimate situation, you're you're fantastic. But
I get the shyness in you. Surely you're not a
I want to be in the lifelike kind of g
(42:53):
I'm still not on social media today.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
I still love that. I think I'm the only dinosaur
that is never Actually I tried Instagram for about six
weeks and posted one thing and it made my skin crawl.
It was so disingenuous.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
God bless you made it out alive, man.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
I mean, I'm telling you. And so anyway, yeah, it
was just rough just being thrown at that spotlight, especially
such a negative one.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Before we go on this episode. What was the reaction
of Deanna and Jenny when you did? You know, obviously
in the moment we all watched it on TV. But
after did you ever talk to them later? Do you
keep in touch with either one of them?
Speaker 2 (43:27):
You know? I wish I kept in touch, you know
that when I talked to them after that. The first
time was when we filmed the first night of my
second season. Okay, and so many people thought that was scripted.
I'll tell it it was not there. It was not.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
It was scripted by us. We had planned it clearly,
of course you did.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
I didn't know it all. And there were a couple of
times Deonna and I stayed in touch. I really cared
for her, Yeah, and actually I really cared for Jenny.
But Deanna and I definitely had a connection and her reaction,
and in particular, she's a very, very caring human being,
and from what I know of her, she wears her
(44:08):
emotions on her sleeve, and I'm saying that in a
good way. She's not afraid to let you know.
Speaker 1 (44:12):
She went on to be a great bachelorette. Yes, And
if we talked about Jenny as well, Jenny I think
was in Arizona and got married kids. I ran into
her or heard from her not too long ago, and
actually I hear from Deanna quite often. We still keep
in touch little bit. You're just like a sweet, sweet woman,
both of them. Yeah, we really are. This is a
(44:34):
might be tough and you could take the fifth. You
do not have to answer this. Tell you how close
were you to actually proposing, you know? Or was that
just completely a.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
No, nowhere close? Okay?
Speaker 1 (44:45):
And if it had been, if you had chosen gun
to your head, sure, were you closer to Deanna or
Jenny Deanna?
Speaker 2 (44:52):
Hands down?
Speaker 1 (44:53):
I thought so too.
Speaker 2 (44:54):
Yeah. I think that's been publicly said, and I want
to publicly say it's nothing against Jim. It's just you know,
you have certain connections. Yeah, I really had feelings for Deanna.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
Y'all are more similar anyway. Your personality is I could
see that, especially back then.
Speaker 2 (45:09):
She's tough man, she's an obs person. I love that.
I love when people are very direct, right, you don't
have to sugarcoat anything with me.
Speaker 1 (45:16):
So, but I kind of had that feeling that if
it had been somebody, it would have been Dianna. Yep,
such a tumultuous time after the show. Sure you're getting
your brains beat in. Sure people are, like you said,
coming to the door of your condo, and sure coming
after you. And you decide, m h, I'll do this again.
Speaker 2 (45:39):
I knew where this was going and and I'm actually
happy to say this. I give you my word. I
mean this. I believe in that show. I believe in
that show, and I believe and I'm not a guy
that needs redemption for anything. I think life happens how
it should man, And and I really really really derailed
(46:00):
my life in that in the first season. But yes,
I did do it again because you know, I believe
in second chances. But again, it wasn't redemption at all.
It was I believe in the possibility of seeing that
one person that it just gives you that spark and
it's fun and it's it's exciting. You know.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
Well, there was a season two of The Batchel with
Brad Womack. What in the world was he thinking? How
did it turn out? And what's he up to now?
Is he still single? Business wise? How is life for
Brad Womack? That will be in our next episode. Thank
you were the Bachelor twice you get two episodes of
(46:42):
the most dramatic podcast ever. Has there ever been a
more appropriate reason to have two episodes? We'll see you
next time. Thank you, buddy, Thanks for listening. Follow us
on Instagram at the Most Dramatic Pod Ever, and make
sure to write us a review and leave us five stars.
I'll talk to you next time.
Hosts And Creators
Lauren Zima
Chris Harrison
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