October 19, 2024 • 26 mins
Ravens Marketing & Fan Development Manager Katie Bollinger joins Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to talk about her experience on the show, her Ravens/Commanders one-liner, why it didn't work with Nick D., how the show impacted her, and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome into the lounge, presented by DraftKings. We have a
very special guest today. We are joined by Katie Bollinger,
a star on The Love Is Blind, which I have
to admit I'm a massive fan. When I found out
Katie was on the show, I like lost it. You
can probably attest this.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I was gonna say, make's been trying to get every
little detail out of me, but I've been very close lip.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
She's good.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
She's a tough cookie to crack. So Katy, we'll start here. Okay,
if Garrett and I were to go into the pods, okay,
and which one of us is more likely to make
it to like the tropical islands?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Right, Like, which one's getting?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Who am I sending to Cabos?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
What you're at?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Exactly? Oh, exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well. I've known you guys for a while now, I
think about thirteen years. I know your wives, I know
your families, I know enough of your personalities.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Okay, if I had I would, I would definitely go
with you.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Make I think you've just you've just got more no
events or no offense is.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Taking care, You're just you're just wild.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Like I don't know it's ever going to come out
of your mouth, and I think if we put you
behind a wall where you're gonna have all the confidence
in the world, and if you can just like be
vulnerable and put that all out there like you would
be golden those clips. You would be a meme if
you're not already. I'm sure you're meme already in a
couple of places, but you would just be a meme everywhere.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I can't argue.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I can't argue with that.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, problem is I might you know, on the red
carpet reveal when I walk out, that might be wearing
all torpedoes.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Right, I feel you would have done like the worm
downe the carpet or like something wild like. Then they'd
be like, oh my God, be like can I leave
like MTV next?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
That's my fate, all right?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So to begin, just tell listeners, you know, there's a
lot of folks who are getting to know you better
and want to get to know you more. Tell folks
just what you do for us here with the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Sure, So this is actually my fourteenth season at the
Baltimore Ravens. I'm in the marketing department and I you
fan development. So what that means is I oversee our
women's marketing strategy.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
I also oversee.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Our influencer, content creator, celebrity strategy in partnership activation. I
work closely on our contests and promotions, and you guys know, marketing,
we're all over the place, a little bit of everything,
and events and always kind of run around. Were the
most fun department. But yeah, no, it's been from branding
and advertising. We've done a little bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So that's awesome.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Yeah, so obviously have a demanding busy job here with
the Ravens. How did you balance that with going on
the show and all that went into that?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, I mean it's kind of a crazy story, right.
My friend Katie and I put in the application back
in April of twenty twenty three, and I got a
phone call the very next day and I was like, Oh,
this could be real. And when I had that phone call,
they set up an appointment. They had a couple questions
about my application, and one of them was like, hey,
(02:57):
we see you're employed by the Baltimore Ravens be filming
in the fall, Like do you think this is something
you could do? And I was like, you know, when
we get there and I have to make that ask I.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Will, but I would love I would love this.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
If you guys are gonna give me this opportunity, I
want to see if I can make it work. And
our schedule comes out in May and X amount of
time that I needed for filming where you're completely cut
off from the outside world, it just so happened that
we had away games all of those weeks. So you
guys know, kind of in our world, one of the
biggest no nos is to miss home games. We have
(03:30):
to make a lot of sacrifices in our lives working
in sports, and that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
So I went to my.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Senior leadership and I said, this is probably going to
be the weirdest conversation we've ever had, but I if
given the opportunity, I really want to do this. You know,
he knows me both professionally and personally and knew this
would be something great for my life for the next chapter.
So you know, when we needed those approvals and when
we saw the schedule come out, it was something.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
We were able to do.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So I have the most amazing team, Like I said,
in marketing, everything we do is fantastic. Everybody's so hard working,
and we were able to cover my bases, and everybody
picked up the extra load, and I'm so thankful and
the Ravens organization is the best. Right. Yeah, you know
we talk about family first always here, but being able
to give me this opportunity means the world to me.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Just in general.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
You know, how was the experience of being on the show?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I loved it. I was so funny.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I was the person that was like trying to see
all the behind the scenes stuff. I think like sports
and entertainment is so similar. So I was like, guys,
somewhere here, there's a control room and all these editors
are standing around, there's all these screens, and you got
Chris in the middle of the executive producer and you know,
he's calling the shots and they're.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Like, shut up, Katie. They're like, no, but tell me
about the guys you're dating.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But no. I mean, I really have nothing negative to
say about the experience, truly. I was honored that casting
believed in me. Right, You've got these strangers that you know,
think you're amazing and you're beautiful, and you're intelligent and
you're accomplished, and that they want to help you find
love and find the next step and meet new friends,
and I thought that was the biggest compliment, Like if
(05:04):
you could just bottle that up, it's such a great feeling.
And going on the show, I just learned so much
about myself and I think just the vulnerability of it.
I didn't realize at the time, like how scary that
could have been. When they asked me, you know, what's
your biggest fear, I was like, like a wardrobe malfunction,
Like what you're talking about. Everybody else is like, no,
I'm gonna fall in love and he's not gonna be
(05:25):
attractive or we're gonna have this crazy breakup. And I'm like, oh,
that's that's what you meant, right. I think I just
kind of dove like right in and no regrets, no regrets.
I think everyone from the executive producers to the cameramen
to medical, to the wranglers to audio whoever, they were
all fantastic. Again, we weren't supposed to talk to them
that much, and I'm like chatty Kathy in the back
(05:46):
trying to get to know everybody, but really no Kinetic
casting Netflix, Like they're amazing people.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
They're incredibly hard workers.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It's so fascinating what they do and I have nothing
negative to say about what I experienced.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
So whenever you know when you go on reality TV.
I've ever been on reality TV, but I'm guessing. So
you film this, then you wait and you don't know
what it's going to look like, you don't know what
the edit's going to be. There's like this uncertainty of like,
how is this going to be portrayed? How am I
going to be portrayed? What's the world going to think
of all this stuff? So how did you handle that
and how did you ultimately think it came together in
(06:19):
terms of your portrayal.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, I went into the whole situation knowing I wanted.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
To be as real as possible.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I will say, as soon as you get miked up
and there's cameras like, it just kind of disappears. You're
really not always aware that you're on camera or somebody's
always listening, and like, I like sing to myself a lot.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So I was like, oh, I was like that was
a little sharp again, but I was I.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Was happy with how things play out. I think people
have this perspective reality TV and everybody's like because its
script is a scripted No, it's not scripted at all.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Sure you have producers, but.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Like, everything you see is very real and you can
see some conversations that people think is like really edited
or when, but it happened right Like it's all there.
So when it was me personal, I know, I didn't
get engaged right like, I didn't find love, so my storyline.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Stopped at the pods.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
So I was like, Okay, you know, I know there's
not going to be an abundance of myself in this show,
and I kind of set myself up for that.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
I do come back.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
For the party and you know, so you have more
airtime then. But I think everything that was shown was
true to my character. You can watch things back and
be like, ah, I wish you would have said that
a little differently, or maybe you know, whym my flipping
my hair so much or whatever, But no, it's been
really cool and it's not weird to see me and
my friends back on TV.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I thought that would be.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah, I don't I can't explain that one, but no,
I was. I was very happy with how everything was portrayed.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What was the reaction when you did see yourself for
the first time, Because in my house, when you came
on to screen the first time we were losing it, Chris.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
What were you like?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
You sound like my friends?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
And I was like, I remember there's this one time
we were shooting b roll and they're like, okay, Katie,
like you can breathe because it's like the.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Camera's like going around my face. I'm like, only, so
am I going to look like that? Like You're gonna
look like a stiff little robot or no.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It was cool to see that opening scene with me
and Nick in the first episode, and I just remember
sitting being like, oh my god, there she is. Like
it took me immediately back to who I was a
year ago. And you know, not like I've had this
crazy intense transformation. There's been so many positives that have happened,
but that was like the weirdest thing. It just took
me right back in time. It was like a slingshot
(08:26):
kind of and I'm like.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Wow, there she is. Look at her. She's just bright.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Eyed and ready to fall in love and has no
idea it's actually coming.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
So you bring up your scene with Nick and your
date with him in the Pods and you had like
an epic one liner for him, you know, when you
said you worked in the NFL, and he said, and
I want to make sure I get.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The quote right.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
He said, please tell me you work for the Commanders.
And your response was no, it's the better scene. I
lost it, lost it, so you know, And now we're
taping this after the Ravens beat the Commanders. Were you
like nervous about that game? Were there any emotions because
of that statement?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Was I ever?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I mean, okay, you guys know like we're confident, We're
confident people like I think we're confident brand like it's
also my personality and like charismatic and like you're kind
of flirting in there, and I of course stand behind it,
win or lose. We always stand behind our team and
our organization. But this comes out and of course we're
playing the Commanders and it's like timely, like basically it's
like right in the middle of the season, and I'm
(09:29):
just like, they're gonna troll me so hard, Like we
talk about being a meme, like I'm gonna be a meme.
I'm gonna be trolled, and I'm like I'll laugh at
all of it, right, Like I'll take it all in
stride like I would do the same thing. Yeah, but yeah,
when we won the game, it was a huge weight
off my shoulders, Like I kind of want to thank
like every person in this building, be like thank you personally,
like you saved me from a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Of embarrassment that I would have completely taken.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
But no, that was kind of wild, Like I love
that that moment happened because it's very true, Katie, Like
I would be like flirting with the guy over football
like that would be me. So it was cool that
that moment was captured.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Have you had any like Commanders fans who have been
chirping at you on socials or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Actually, not that many, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
There was there was somebody who commented something like, oh,
just wait till you see the Redskins, and I commented, I.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Was like, hm, I don't know who that is. I
was like, good on them, bro, I can't given insult
me correctly.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
That's great. So when you're going through this experience and
you're talking to these guys like that was one of
the examples where Nick found out that you work for
an NFL team. But what was it like when you
were telling the guys that you were in the conversation
with or the girls in the pods, I work for
an NFL team, and what was their reaction?
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Right? So I think it's a really good conversation that
you saw with me and Nick. I didn't come out
and say, like, I work for the Baltimore Evens, because
that was something like in my life being singles like
always carries the narrative, and I'm like, I'm so much
more than my job.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Do I love my job? Yes?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Am I proud of my job, absolutely, But that's not
one hundred percent who I am. So oh, I'm like,
I work in sports marketing. They're like, oh my gosh,
you know what's what's sport? And I'm like football, I'm like, oh,
the Commanders, And I'm just like I never wanted to
come and be like, yeah, like I'm the marketing and
fan development for the Yeah. I just didn't want to
do that. That's and just a little bit bit a
part of me. And but the guys, like, the guys
(11:10):
loved it, and you guys have to keep in mind,
there weren't fourteen other Katie Ballingers. We were all very
very different, and so when you're dating these other guys,
they're not going to be all Nick Dorcas, you know,
so like you've got Leo if you didn't know, he's.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
An art dealer. Leo's the art dealer.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
So like when Leo and I were on a date,
we didn't really connect. And I can think in my
mind and probably writing in my journal like this probably
isn't your guy. But then every once in a while
you would get a guy that's like, oh, I play
pick up basketball and I'm like, okay, what position do
you like? You know, and it would kind of like
pique my interests because I'm like, okay, more than likely
we're going to have more in common. And I did
(11:46):
a funny story like in normal life, non pod life,
I have met Leo and a bunch of people in person,
and Leo is telling the story about.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Like I'm so sorry, Katie, like you're great, like.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, you're beautiful to this and then you're so
kind and I just I wanted I need to tell you,
like I ranked you last the first day and I'm.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Like, Leo unoffended, and he said, I.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Mean you watch football and you drink beer and like
you go to dive bars. And he's like that's just
like I mean, I think you wanted to say, like,
my perfect date would be like being picked up in.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
A helicopter and like being wine and nice. Yeah, and
then he's like, but don't worry. He's like everybody was
in the lounge like freaking out. There's a girl that
works in football.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And then one of my dates too with like another match.
It just so happened to be he was a Steelers fan, which,
of course, you know, that's our other thing.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
We always we're always.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Just talking smack.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And I don't know if production planned this or anything,
or if it was just a coincidence, but our date
was during the Ravens Steelers game.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yes, So I had like a little keychain on my backpacks.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I sent it over to him. So we walks in
the pods and sees it and.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It's like, what is this?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Get this out of here, And you know, it just
happened to be that every time he left the pod
to go to the bathroom or grab a drink, he
came back and he knew the score. So I was like, like,
who's feeding you info over there? And that game last year,
we were up until the fourth quarter, and I still
I never went back and watched it.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I don't know what happened, but we lost.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So he delivers that news to me and it's like
dates over and you know, you're like, I like laid
on the floor that red shaggy car, but I just
lay that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I was like, no, like my life is over.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I like come into the pa or lounge and I'm
just like, you know, defeated. And the girl's like, oh
my god, you get broken up with So I said, no, guys,
the Ravens lost to the Steelers today and they're like what, I.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Like, sit down and have a couple of beers. I'm
totally having a moment and I'm like, my life is over.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So that the last thing.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
No, sorry, sorry Ravens.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Flocked my bat, But no, it was cool how that
complimented my personality and who I am. But it was
it was a fun little piece because it is it's unique,
and I think not a lot of people understand really
what we do and our lives are very interesting at
work and what we do is fun, sports is sound,
it's entertaining. So there there's a lot of questions and
I see that a lot now, like you talk about
(14:05):
the DMS, which can be a wild place, but it's
a lot of women asking me how did you get
into sports? You know, what's it like being a woman
in sports? And that's something that moving forward, I would
like to tell that story a little bit more because
there's a lot of curiosity out there and people want
to know that's cool.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, you mentioned you know, the guys are all buzzing
about you and working in the NFL and all this stuff,
and you know we've been friends for a long time.
You have a great personality and all this stuff. So
like I thought when you were going on the show,
like I was like, yeah, oh, Katie's making it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Like she's going down the altar.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
You know, when these people get to know Katie, and
especially with the NFL thing in the background, I'm like,
these guys.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Are going to fall for that hard.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Credentials, right, And so I guess my question is like,
why do you think it didn't work for you on
the show?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Why didn't you find love on the show.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That's a great question. I first of all, thank you
for everything you just said about me.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Is very kind. I was convinced my husband was there.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Trust Like I again, like the crazy scheduling, you know,
casting your one of thousands of thousands, and then you're going.
I was like, the universe is hardshipping me on Love's line.
So I was convinced. I was like, this is the
only solution. And I will say dating all these guys
and now watching it back and seeing their stories and
their connections, I really I never had that. So I
(15:23):
think it is safe to say that my person was
not there. I don't have any regrets about that. There's
not anybody I'm looking back and been like, oh, that
that should have been me.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I think about my journey.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
One of my favorite things is that, like I went
with Grace, you know, like I knew my person wasn't there.
I didn't try to make it for TV when I
was out. I was out, you know. And I think
that also speaks to my character. I think I also
learned so much about myself and how you should be dating.
And I think in the real world I lead very
(15:55):
heavy with chemistry versus compatibility. And when you're behind a
wall and you can't see somebody their body language or
their physical appearance period, you really look at like it's
I call it the x's and o's of dating.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
It's you know, like, how you were raised, what are
your beliefs? What do you do for work? Where do
you live?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Like all of those questions that in past relationships I
haven't put that much emphasis on, and it was really
eye opening. But yeah, I mean I was with you.
I'm like, I'm getting married. I'm telling all my friends
and family. I'm like, you guys are coming the wedding,
Like it's gonna be amazing, Like I'm off the market.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
That was like the biggest things.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I remember coming back to the party and being like,
y'all return me to the streets.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I was like, I wasn't ready for this, Like I
really thought. I was like, oh, we're done, We're done,
you know, but not quite, not quite.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
So when the show comes out and obviously you're you're
featured on it, Like, what's the reaction in your life
from a social media standpoint?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Like it's everywhere.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
There's been a lot of clips that have been you know, everywhere,
like especially with.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
The Party, the most recent episode.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
The feature pretty heavily in the party that you mentioned, So, like,
what is it like on social media when you are
you have this presence, the show's being watched by millions
of people all around the world, and the reaction to
that after the show comes out.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I will never forget the first time scrolling on TikTok
and seeing my face like that was weird as in
the cafeterias having a moment because all of our headshots
came out that day and I was like, Okay, just breathe,
You're fine, You're good. I talked to myself a lot,
and it's like one of my favorite people that like
recap reality.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Shows, and I was like, oh, that's my face.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
And it's interesting in the beginning when all these creators
wanted to say, like, based on this one picture and
this bio, what they think about you, Like it's all
I feel like I do have a thick skin. There
are some people who want to love you, some people
want to hate you. Some people are like, yeah, Katie,
she does nothing for me, and I'm like, wow, I mean.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You guys, you get criticized, like we get it.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
But it's like the social media stuff's been fun, right,
And I will say that my reaction has been more
positive than negative.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I do hate to see the negative comments.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I do see my friends being dragged on the internet
and it does not feel good. I mentioned this a
little bit earlier. When you get a comment from a stranger.
It just hits different for some reason, Like me more so,
I can only imagine when it's all negative, how how
hard that can be. And you're kind of consuming that.
You can't really defend yourself. You're trying to make fun
of yourself. It's just this this weird space.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
The internet is a wild, wild place.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
So another or one of your best scenes was when
you did come back for the party after you know,
the couples are back in the real world, and you
you poured some real knowledge into Nick. And I thought
that you came off really well there, like you saw
Nick for who he was.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You know, better than a lot of people will say.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
And so I guess the question is do you this
is going down the rabbit hole because this love is blind,
Like do you have any regrets with how things ended
with Nick? And then secondarily, like what did that seeing
that moment for you? And I know there's been a
positive reaction to that, like like you kept it real,
(18:57):
like you were like this is why I didn't pick
you straight up, you.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Know, and this is why we didn't work out.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
But like here's how I see you, Like, how do
you look back on that scene?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
For you Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So, first of all, I don't have any regrets about
breaking up with Nick or not pursuing with Nick then
or now. Nick again was not my person. We did
rank each other very high the first three days. Again,
I kind of explained how there's a ton of different
personalities people are coming and going, but when you meet
somebody that's more compatible with you, you're like, oh, Okay,
this is exciting, this is it. There is somebody here
(19:28):
for me. And I had that moment with Nick and
a couple other guys and one conversation. Again, you besides
the commander's thing, you don't really see Nick and as date.
And there was one conversation that we had that I
saw Nick in a different light because he's very flirty, charismatic,
smooth talkie.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
He's Niki di Rico, soave. But we talked about what.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It was like to not reach the NFL, what it's
like in life to leave collegiate athletics. We both played
sports in college and you just kind of be dropped
on your head in the real world just to figure
it out. And that was when I really saw a
true side to Nick, like it kind of broke down
and we talked about that because that's something we see
often here, you know, dreams being made and dreams being crushed.
(20:14):
So I could have a real conversation with him, and
I did see depth there, you know, and that's where
I think I was, Like I mentioned talking about his family.
Our family's structure seemed very similar, and he has a
sister and his parents you see in the show.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
They seem great. When he talked about that.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Like you can feel like the warmth through a wall,
like you can feel in somebody's inflection or how they're
talking about things, their pride. Yeah, it's genuine. So I
had that background information about Nick, and we broke up
because I just there was a day where we were
really vulnerable and talking more about like intimacy things, and
(20:50):
I just was not comfortable with the way he talked
about things. And I said a boundary and the date
and he was good, he apologized, and by the end
of the date we were kind of seeing the same behaviors.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
So I just I cut it off.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I was like, I said this at the party, you're
reminding me of past people I've dated, or I'm picking
up on some red flags here, like I'm just gonna
move on. I'm not gonna see this through. So I
think in that conversation, I just I wanted him to
understand that.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Like I do, like I see you, Uh, there's.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
More that's going on, Like you're an onion, you got layers,
you know, just like be confident in yourself. And I
think he is in a position where he is transitioning
in life and I understand that, like I went through
that too. I mean, I'm never gonna go to the
NFL of women's lacrosse, but that was his dream and
it's hard to He's living with his parents and the
basement and doing real estate trying.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
To figure it out. So I just I guess I just.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Had some empathy for that situation and that's how I
would talk to a friend. And I'm glad that that
was portrayed that way because I do think it was
a really a really sweet moment that showed my kindness
and more of my personality.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Because if you are a viewer, you don't know me.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
You didn't get to see that, so you didn't get
to see my kindness and being genuine. So I was
happy with the way that was portrayed, and he was
also really receptive of it. You don't see him get
defensive and he just kind of takes it for what
it's worth. So I thought, I thought that was a
really nice moment in the show.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Yeah, so the whole show like, it's an experiment, right, Yeah,
it's called an experiment.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
It's a social experiment, absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
So the experiment is to test whether love is blind.
You've experienced this, What is.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Your take on that?
Speaker 4 (22:26):
What is your answer to this love blind question?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
That's the big question. You're Nicola right now.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
We love Nack and Vanessa. By the way, they're fantastic.
They're fantastic. Is love blind?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I think, especially talking about this as a social experiment,
I believe in it. I believe in the executive producers.
I think what they have created absolutely can work. But
under the circumstance that you are real, that you are honest,
that you are vulnerable, that you don't hide things from
a partner, that you can just really put yourself out there,
(23:00):
that you don't rely so heavily on the physical, because
if you're making this connection, the physical shouldn't matter. But
if you're in there talking about you look like the
celebrity that celebrity, or you know, not coming in disingenuine
or talking about things that aren't real, like that person's
falling in love with this character you're creating. So is
love blind, yes, if you can be vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
For me, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
But I know, but I totally I believe in it.
I really believe in the process and what they've created,
and it is. It is tricky and casting to find
people that you know will go in for the right
reasons and will open up their hearts. That's cool.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
I think there's no way that love is blind by
the way.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
The experiment can work.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Yeah, I agree with that. But if you walk out
on that red carpet and you're like, I am not
attract to that person at all, it just ain't gonna work.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
So you can develop a.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Connectionally, But like, is truly blind?
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and yes outside of the experience, yes,
so right, Like you the reason you go up to
somebody at a bar is because you physically see them
and you think they're attractive.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Is loud because you hear them telling a story and like, oh,
what a great story?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Right right?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You know?
Speaker 4 (24:17):
But yes, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
And there's so much about like chemistry and compatibility like
I mentioned, and if you don't have that chemistry, it's
not going to be there.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
And y'all can flir.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
As much as you want through a wall, but when
there's physical touch and intocy involved, like, yeah, that can
completely go off the window.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
The premise is right, like get past the first impression
of like that wall that you would never even approach
this person. And I totally agree with the premise. It's
just like, if you don't have those things, it's just
not going to work. If you don't find the other
person attractive at all. Yeah, just take go work as
the fact.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Sorry, and then it just makes and it just makes
for great TV.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
So that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
My last question.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
My last question is like, all right, post show, it's
coming out, You're getting all this social media buzz. How
has like, like do you have a bunch of guys
that are lining up to date you? Like, how does
this change your dating life now that you've been on
the show, to.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Be I haven't gotten back out there, and I'm gonna
be fully honest, in the past year, I haven't done
much dating. I really took this experience and dove in personally, right,
like I've kind of been chasing my own little mental
health journey. I've been looking at past relationships about my
friendships a lot different now, and that's been my focus.
I think this spring the summer I tried a little bit,
(25:27):
but then it's weird because it's like, Okay, you go
on a couple of dates, you think you like this person,
and you're like, well, in a couple of months, like
this show's gonna come out and like rock my world
and rock your world.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
So it just got weird because you can't really say anything,
and it was just a muddied water. So I waited.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I was like, okay, when when the show comes out, like,
I'll give it some time and then I'll get back
out there.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I have not yet.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I think like I'm in the clear that obviously people
know I didn't get engaged.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
So we're married.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
So yeah, I'm getting back out there. Like I said,
the dms are a wild place. They're a wild place.
But no, I don't know what my next step is.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I really don't. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
I know I need to get back out there, like
you can't hide anymore. I'm not in the pod hiding.
But I did say I was like, y'all put me
back in the pods, like Pods All Stars, you.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Do it again, and like if they were like we
want to have you back, Yeah, absolutely, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I would be like, put me back in there. I've
even said that, like, Yo, Loki, put me back in
the Pods.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I did real good there. In person, I'm like glitching.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
That's so funny. Well, we're all rooting for you. I
think America is rooting for you. And thanks for coming
on awesome.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
Thank you guys so much. This is fun.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Thank
Welcome into the lounge, presented by DraftKings. We have a
very special guest today. We are joined by Katie Bollinger,
a star on The Love Is Blind, which I have
to admit I'm a massive fan. When I found out
Katie was on the show, I like lost it. You
can probably attest this.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I was gonna say, make's been trying to get every
little detail out of me, but I've been very close lip.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
She's good.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
She's a tough cookie to crack. So Katy, we'll start here. Okay,
if Garrett and I were to go into the pods, okay,
and which one of us is more likely to make
it to like the tropical islands?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Right, Like, which one's getting?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Who am I sending to Cabos?
Speaker 2 (00:46):
What you're at?
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Exactly? Oh, exactly.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Well. I've known you guys for a while now, I
think about thirteen years. I know your wives, I know
your families, I know enough of your personalities.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Okay, if I had I would, I would definitely go
with you.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Make I think you've just you've just got more no
events or no offense is.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Taking care, You're just you're just wild.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Like I don't know it's ever going to come out
of your mouth, and I think if we put you
behind a wall where you're gonna have all the confidence
in the world, and if you can just like be
vulnerable and put that all out there like you would
be golden those clips. You would be a meme if
you're not already. I'm sure you're meme already in a
couple of places, but you would just be a meme everywhere.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
I can't argue.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I can't argue with that.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah, problem is I might you know, on the red
carpet reveal when I walk out, that might be wearing
all torpedoes.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Right, I feel you would have done like the worm
downe the carpet or like something wild like. Then they'd
be like, oh my God, be like can I leave
like MTV next?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
That's my fate, all right?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
So to begin, just tell listeners, you know, there's a
lot of folks who are getting to know you better
and want to get to know you more. Tell folks
just what you do for us here with the Ravens.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Sure, So this is actually my fourteenth season at the
Baltimore Ravens. I'm in the marketing department and I you
fan development. So what that means is I oversee our
women's marketing strategy.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
I also oversee.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Our influencer, content creator, celebrity strategy in partnership activation. I
work closely on our contests and promotions, and you guys know, marketing,
we're all over the place, a little bit of everything,
and events and always kind of run around. Were the
most fun department. But yeah, no, it's been from branding
and advertising. We've done a little bit of everything.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
So that's awesome.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
Yeah, so obviously have a demanding busy job here with
the Ravens. How did you balance that with going on
the show and all that went into that?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, I mean it's kind of a crazy story, right.
My friend Katie and I put in the application back
in April of twenty twenty three, and I got a
phone call the very next day and I was like, Oh,
this could be real. And when I had that phone call,
they set up an appointment. They had a couple questions
about my application, and one of them was like, hey,
(02:57):
we see you're employed by the Baltimore Ravens be filming
in the fall, Like do you think this is something
you could do? And I was like, you know, when
we get there and I have to make that ask I.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Will, but I would love I would love this.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
If you guys are gonna give me this opportunity, I
want to see if I can make it work. And
our schedule comes out in May and X amount of
time that I needed for filming where you're completely cut
off from the outside world, it just so happened that
we had away games all of those weeks. So you
guys know, kind of in our world, one of the
biggest no nos is to miss home games. We have
(03:30):
to make a lot of sacrifices in our lives working
in sports, and that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
So I went to my.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Senior leadership and I said, this is probably going to
be the weirdest conversation we've ever had, but I if
given the opportunity, I really want to do this. You know,
he knows me both professionally and personally and knew this
would be something great for my life for the next chapter.
So you know, when we needed those approvals and when
we saw the schedule come out, it was something.
Speaker 4 (03:55):
We were able to do.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
So I have the most amazing team, Like I said,
in marketing, everything we do is fantastic. Everybody's so hard working,
and we were able to cover my bases, and everybody
picked up the extra load, and I'm so thankful and
the Ravens organization is the best. Right. Yeah, you know
we talk about family first always here, but being able
to give me this opportunity means the world to me.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Just in general.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
You know, how was the experience of being on the show?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
I loved it. I was so funny.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I was the person that was like trying to see
all the behind the scenes stuff. I think like sports
and entertainment is so similar. So I was like, guys,
somewhere here, there's a control room and all these editors
are standing around, there's all these screens, and you got
Chris in the middle of the executive producer and you know,
he's calling the shots and they're.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Like, shut up, Katie. They're like, no, but tell me
about the guys you're dating.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
But no. I mean, I really have nothing negative to
say about the experience, truly. I was honored that casting
believed in me. Right, You've got these strangers that you know,
think you're amazing and you're beautiful, and you're intelligent and
you're accomplished, and that they want to help you find
love and find the next step and meet new friends,
and I thought that was the biggest compliment, Like if
(05:04):
you could just bottle that up, it's such a great feeling.
And going on the show, I just learned so much
about myself and I think just the vulnerability of it.
I didn't realize at the time, like how scary that
could have been. When they asked me, you know, what's
your biggest fear, I was like, like a wardrobe malfunction,
Like what you're talking about. Everybody else is like, no,
I'm gonna fall in love and he's not gonna be
(05:25):
attractive or we're gonna have this crazy breakup. And I'm like, oh,
that's that's what you meant, right. I think I just
kind of dove like right in and no regrets, no regrets.
I think everyone from the executive producers to the cameramen
to medical, to the wranglers to audio whoever, they were
all fantastic. Again, we weren't supposed to talk to them
that much, and I'm like chatty Kathy in the back
(05:46):
trying to get to know everybody, but really no Kinetic
casting Netflix, Like they're amazing people.
Speaker 4 (05:51):
They're incredibly hard workers.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It's so fascinating what they do and I have nothing
negative to say about what I experienced.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (05:59):
So whenever you know when you go on reality TV.
I've ever been on reality TV, but I'm guessing. So
you film this, then you wait and you don't know
what it's going to look like, you don't know what
the edit's going to be. There's like this uncertainty of like,
how is this going to be portrayed? How am I
going to be portrayed? What's the world going to think
of all this stuff? So how did you handle that
and how did you ultimately think it came together in
(06:19):
terms of your portrayal.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, I went into the whole situation knowing I wanted.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
To be as real as possible.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
I will say, as soon as you get miked up
and there's cameras like, it just kind of disappears. You're
really not always aware that you're on camera or somebody's
always listening, and like, I like sing to myself a lot.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
So I was like, oh, I was like that was
a little sharp again, but I was I.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Was happy with how things play out. I think people
have this perspective reality TV and everybody's like because its
script is a scripted No, it's not scripted at all.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Sure you have producers, but.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Like, everything you see is very real and you can
see some conversations that people think is like really edited
or when, but it happened right Like it's all there.
So when it was me personal, I know, I didn't
get engaged right like, I didn't find love, so my storyline.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Stopped at the pods.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
So I was like, Okay, you know, I know there's
not going to be an abundance of myself in this show,
and I kind of set myself up for that.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
I do come back.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
For the party and you know, so you have more
airtime then. But I think everything that was shown was
true to my character. You can watch things back and
be like, ah, I wish you would have said that
a little differently, or maybe you know, whym my flipping
my hair so much or whatever, But no, it's been
really cool and it's not weird to see me and
my friends back on TV.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I thought that would be.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah, I don't I can't explain that one, but no,
I was. I was very happy with how everything was portrayed.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What was the reaction when you did see yourself for
the first time, Because in my house, when you came
on to screen the first time we were losing it, Chris.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
What were you like?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
You sound like my friends?
Speaker 2 (07:56):
And I was like, I remember there's this one time
we were shooting b roll and they're like, okay, Katie,
like you can breathe because it's like the.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
Camera's like going around my face. I'm like, only, so
am I going to look like that? Like You're gonna
look like a stiff little robot or no.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
It was cool to see that opening scene with me
and Nick in the first episode, and I just remember
sitting being like, oh my god, there she is. Like
it took me immediately back to who I was a
year ago. And you know, not like I've had this
crazy intense transformation. There's been so many positives that have happened,
but that was like the weirdest thing. It just took
me right back in time. It was like a slingshot
(08:26):
kind of and I'm like.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Wow, there she is. Look at her. She's just bright.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Eyed and ready to fall in love and has no
idea it's actually coming.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
So you bring up your scene with Nick and your
date with him in the Pods and you had like
an epic one liner for him, you know, when you
said you worked in the NFL, and he said, and
I want to make sure I get.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
The quote right.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
He said, please tell me you work for the Commanders.
And your response was no, it's the better scene. I
lost it, lost it, so you know, And now we're
taping this after the Ravens beat the Commanders. Were you
like nervous about that game? Were there any emotions because
of that statement?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Was I ever?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I mean, okay, you guys know like we're confident, We're
confident people like I think we're confident brand like it's
also my personality and like charismatic and like you're kind
of flirting in there, and I of course stand behind it,
win or lose. We always stand behind our team and
our organization. But this comes out and of course we're
playing the Commanders and it's like timely, like basically it's
like right in the middle of the season, and I'm
(09:29):
just like, they're gonna troll me so hard, Like we
talk about being a meme, like I'm gonna be a meme.
I'm gonna be trolled, and I'm like I'll laugh at
all of it, right, Like I'll take it all in
stride like I would do the same thing. Yeah, but yeah,
when we won the game, it was a huge weight
off my shoulders, Like I kind of want to thank
like every person in this building, be like thank you personally,
like you saved me from a lot.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Of embarrassment that I would have completely taken.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
But no, that was kind of wild, Like I love
that that moment happened because it's very true, Katie, Like
I would be like flirting with the guy over football
like that would be me. So it was cool that
that moment was captured.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Have you had any like Commanders fans who have been
chirping at you on socials or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Actually, not that many, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
There was there was somebody who commented something like, oh,
just wait till you see the Redskins, and I commented, I.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Was like, hm, I don't know who that is. I
was like, good on them, bro, I can't given insult
me correctly.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
That's great. So when you're going through this experience and
you're talking to these guys like that was one of
the examples where Nick found out that you work for
an NFL team. But what was it like when you
were telling the guys that you were in the conversation
with or the girls in the pods, I work for
an NFL team, and what was their reaction?
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Right? So I think it's a really good conversation that
you saw with me and Nick. I didn't come out
and say, like, I work for the Baltimore Evens, because
that was something like in my life being singles like
always carries the narrative, and I'm like, I'm so much
more than my job.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Do I love my job? Yes?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Am I proud of my job, absolutely, But that's not
one hundred percent who I am. So oh, I'm like,
I work in sports marketing. They're like, oh my gosh,
you know what's what's sport? And I'm like football, I'm like, oh,
the Commanders, And I'm just like I never wanted to
come and be like, yeah, like I'm the marketing and
fan development for the Yeah. I just didn't want to
do that. That's and just a little bit bit a
part of me. And but the guys, like, the guys
(11:10):
loved it, and you guys have to keep in mind,
there weren't fourteen other Katie Ballingers. We were all very
very different, and so when you're dating these other guys,
they're not going to be all Nick Dorcas, you know,
so like you've got Leo if you didn't know, he's.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
An art dealer. Leo's the art dealer.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
So like when Leo and I were on a date,
we didn't really connect. And I can think in my
mind and probably writing in my journal like this probably
isn't your guy. But then every once in a while
you would get a guy that's like, oh, I play
pick up basketball and I'm like, okay, what position do
you like? You know, and it would kind of like
pique my interests because I'm like, okay, more than likely
we're going to have more in common. And I did
(11:46):
a funny story like in normal life, non pod life,
I have met Leo and a bunch of people in person,
and Leo is telling the story about.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Like I'm so sorry, Katie, like you're great, like.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
You know, you're beautiful to this and then you're so
kind and I just I wanted I need to tell you,
like I ranked you last the first day and I'm.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Like, Leo unoffended, and he said, I.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Mean you watch football and you drink beer and like
you go to dive bars. And he's like that's just
like I mean, I think you wanted to say, like,
my perfect date would be like being picked up in.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
A helicopter and like being wine and nice. Yeah, and
then he's like, but don't worry. He's like everybody was
in the lounge like freaking out. There's a girl that
works in football.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
And then one of my dates too with like another match.
It just so happened to be he was a Steelers fan, which,
of course, you know, that's our other thing.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
We always we're always.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Just talking smack.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
And I don't know if production planned this or anything,
or if it was just a coincidence, but our date
was during the Ravens Steelers game.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Yes, So I had like a little keychain on my backpacks.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I sent it over to him. So we walks in
the pods and sees it and.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It's like, what is this?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Get this out of here, And you know, it just
happened to be that every time he left the pod
to go to the bathroom or grab a drink, he
came back and he knew the score. So I was like, like,
who's feeding you info over there? And that game last year,
we were up until the fourth quarter, and I still
I never went back and watched it.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I don't know what happened, but we lost.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So he delivers that news to me and it's like
dates over and you know, you're like, I like laid
on the floor that red shaggy car, but I just
lay that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I was like, no, like my life is over.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I like come into the pa or lounge and I'm
just like, you know, defeated. And the girl's like, oh
my god, you get broken up with So I said, no, guys,
the Ravens lost to the Steelers today and they're like what, I.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Like, sit down and have a couple of beers. I'm
totally having a moment and I'm like, my life is over.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So that the last thing.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
No, sorry, sorry Ravens.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Flocked my bat, But no, it was cool how that
complimented my personality and who I am. But it was
it was a fun little piece because it is it's unique,
and I think not a lot of people understand really
what we do and our lives are very interesting at
work and what we do is fun, sports is sound,
it's entertaining. So there there's a lot of questions and
I see that a lot now, like you talk about
(14:05):
the DMS, which can be a wild place, but it's
a lot of women asking me how did you get
into sports? You know, what's it like being a woman
in sports? And that's something that moving forward, I would
like to tell that story a little bit more because
there's a lot of curiosity out there and people want
to know that's cool.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, you mentioned you know, the guys are all buzzing
about you and working in the NFL and all this stuff,
and you know we've been friends for a long time.
You have a great personality and all this stuff. So
like I thought when you were going on the show,
like I was like, yeah, oh, Katie's making it.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
Like she's going down the altar.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
You know, when these people get to know Katie, and
especially with the NFL thing in the background, I'm like,
these guys.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Are going to fall for that hard.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Credentials, right, And so I guess my question is like,
why do you think it didn't work for you on
the show?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Why didn't you find love on the show.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
That's a great question. I first of all, thank you
for everything you just said about me.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
Is very kind. I was convinced my husband was there.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Trust Like I again, like the crazy scheduling, you know,
casting your one of thousands of thousands, and then you're going.
I was like, the universe is hardshipping me on Love's line.
So I was convinced. I was like, this is the
only solution. And I will say dating all these guys
and now watching it back and seeing their stories and
their connections, I really I never had that. So I
(15:23):
think it is safe to say that my person was
not there. I don't have any regrets about that. There's
not anybody I'm looking back and been like, oh, that
that should have been me.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
I think about my journey.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
One of my favorite things is that, like I went
with Grace, you know, like I knew my person wasn't there.
I didn't try to make it for TV when I
was out. I was out, you know. And I think
that also speaks to my character. I think I also
learned so much about myself and how you should be dating.
And I think in the real world I lead very
(15:55):
heavy with chemistry versus compatibility. And when you're behind a
wall and you can't see somebody their body language or
their physical appearance period, you really look at like it's
I call it the x's and o's of dating.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
It's you know, like, how you were raised, what are
your beliefs? What do you do for work? Where do
you live?
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Like all of those questions that in past relationships I
haven't put that much emphasis on, and it was really
eye opening. But yeah, I mean I was with you.
I'm like, I'm getting married. I'm telling all my friends
and family. I'm like, you guys are coming the wedding,
Like it's gonna be amazing, Like I'm off the market.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
That was like the biggest things.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I remember coming back to the party and being like,
y'all return me to the streets.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
I was like, I wasn't ready for this, Like I
really thought. I was like, oh, we're done, We're done,
you know, but not quite, not quite.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
So when the show comes out and obviously you're you're
featured on it, Like, what's the reaction in your life
from a social media standpoint?
Speaker 3 (16:45):
Like it's everywhere.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
There's been a lot of clips that have been you know, everywhere,
like especially with.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
The Party, the most recent episode.
Speaker 5 (16:52):
The feature pretty heavily in the party that you mentioned, So, like,
what is it like on social media when you are
you have this presence, the show's being watched by millions
of people all around the world, and the reaction to
that after the show comes out.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I will never forget the first time scrolling on TikTok
and seeing my face like that was weird as in
the cafeterias having a moment because all of our headshots
came out that day and I was like, Okay, just breathe,
You're fine, You're good. I talked to myself a lot,
and it's like one of my favorite people that like
recap reality.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
Shows, and I was like, oh, that's my face.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
And it's interesting in the beginning when all these creators
wanted to say, like, based on this one picture and
this bio, what they think about you, Like it's all
I feel like I do have a thick skin. There
are some people who want to love you, some people
want to hate you. Some people are like, yeah, Katie,
she does nothing for me, and I'm like, wow, I mean.
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You guys, you get criticized, like we get it.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
But it's like the social media stuff's been fun, right,
And I will say that my reaction has been more
positive than negative.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I do hate to see the negative comments.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I do see my friends being dragged on the internet
and it does not feel good. I mentioned this a
little bit earlier. When you get a comment from a stranger.
It just hits different for some reason, Like me more so,
I can only imagine when it's all negative, how how
hard that can be. And you're kind of consuming that.
You can't really defend yourself. You're trying to make fun
of yourself. It's just this this weird space.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
The internet is a wild, wild place.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
So another or one of your best scenes was when
you did come back for the party after you know,
the couples are back in the real world, and you
you poured some real knowledge into Nick. And I thought
that you came off really well there, like you saw
Nick for who he was.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You know, better than a lot of people will say.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
And so I guess the question is do you this
is going down the rabbit hole because this love is blind,
Like do you have any regrets with how things ended
with Nick? And then secondarily, like what did that seeing
that moment for you? And I know there's been a
positive reaction to that, like like you kept it real,
(18:57):
like you were like this is why I didn't pick
you straight up, you.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Know, and this is why we didn't work out.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
But like here's how I see you, Like, how do
you look back on that scene?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
For you Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
So, first of all, I don't have any regrets about
breaking up with Nick or not pursuing with Nick then
or now. Nick again was not my person. We did
rank each other very high the first three days. Again,
I kind of explained how there's a ton of different
personalities people are coming and going, but when you meet
somebody that's more compatible with you, you're like, oh, Okay,
this is exciting, this is it. There is somebody here
(19:28):
for me. And I had that moment with Nick and
a couple other guys and one conversation. Again, you besides
the commander's thing, you don't really see Nick and as date.
And there was one conversation that we had that I
saw Nick in a different light because he's very flirty, charismatic,
smooth talkie.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
He's Niki di Rico, soave. But we talked about what.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It was like to not reach the NFL, what it's
like in life to leave collegiate athletics. We both played
sports in college and you just kind of be dropped
on your head in the real world just to figure
it out. And that was when I really saw a
true side to Nick, like it kind of broke down
and we talked about that because that's something we see
often here, you know, dreams being made and dreams being crushed.
(20:14):
So I could have a real conversation with him, and
I did see depth there, you know, and that's where
I think I was, Like I mentioned talking about his family.
Our family's structure seemed very similar, and he has a
sister and his parents you see in the show.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
They seem great. When he talked about that.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Like you can feel like the warmth through a wall,
like you can feel in somebody's inflection or how they're
talking about things, their pride. Yeah, it's genuine. So I
had that background information about Nick, and we broke up
because I just there was a day where we were
really vulnerable and talking more about like intimacy things, and
(20:50):
I just was not comfortable with the way he talked
about things. And I said a boundary and the date
and he was good, he apologized, and by the end
of the date we were kind of seeing the same behaviors.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
So I just I cut it off.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
I was like, I said this at the party, you're
reminding me of past people I've dated, or I'm picking
up on some red flags here, like I'm just gonna
move on. I'm not gonna see this through. So I
think in that conversation, I just I wanted him to
understand that.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
Like I do, like I see you, Uh, there's.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
More that's going on, Like you're an onion, you got layers,
you know, just like be confident in yourself. And I
think he is in a position where he is transitioning
in life and I understand that, like I went through
that too. I mean, I'm never gonna go to the
NFL of women's lacrosse, but that was his dream and
it's hard to He's living with his parents and the
basement and doing real estate trying.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
To figure it out. So I just I guess I just.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Had some empathy for that situation and that's how I
would talk to a friend. And I'm glad that that
was portrayed that way because I do think it was
a really a really sweet moment that showed my kindness
and more of my personality.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Because if you are a viewer, you don't know me.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
You didn't get to see that, so you didn't get
to see my kindness and being genuine. So I was
happy with the way that was portrayed, and he was
also really receptive of it. You don't see him get
defensive and he just kind of takes it for what
it's worth. So I thought, I thought that was a
really nice moment in the show.
Speaker 5 (22:13):
Yeah, so the whole show like, it's an experiment, right, Yeah,
it's called an experiment.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
It's a social experiment, absolutely. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
So the experiment is to test whether love is blind.
You've experienced this, What is.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
Your take on that?
Speaker 4 (22:26):
What is your answer to this love blind question?
Speaker 3 (22:29):
That's the big question. You're Nicola right now.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
We love Nack and Vanessa. By the way, they're fantastic.
They're fantastic. Is love blind?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I think, especially talking about this as a social experiment,
I believe in it. I believe in the executive producers.
I think what they have created absolutely can work. But
under the circumstance that you are real, that you are honest,
that you are vulnerable, that you don't hide things from
a partner, that you can just really put yourself out there,
(23:00):
that you don't rely so heavily on the physical, because
if you're making this connection, the physical shouldn't matter. But
if you're in there talking about you look like the
celebrity that celebrity, or you know, not coming in disingenuine
or talking about things that aren't real, like that person's
falling in love with this character you're creating. So is
love blind, yes, if you can be vulnerable.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
For me, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (23:24):
But I know, but I totally I believe in it.
I really believe in the process and what they've created,
and it is. It is tricky and casting to find
people that you know will go in for the right
reasons and will open up their hearts. That's cool.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
I think there's no way that love is blind by
the way.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
The experiment can work.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Yeah, I agree with that. But if you walk out
on that red carpet and you're like, I am not
attract to that person at all, it just ain't gonna work.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
So you can develop a.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Connectionally, But like, is truly blind?
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and yes outside of the experience, yes,
so right, Like you the reason you go up to
somebody at a bar is because you physically see them
and you think they're attractive.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Is loud because you hear them telling a story and like, oh,
what a great story?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
Right right?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
You know?
Speaker 4 (24:17):
But yes, I agree with you.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
And there's so much about like chemistry and compatibility like
I mentioned, and if you don't have that chemistry, it's
not going to be there.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
And y'all can flir.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
As much as you want through a wall, but when
there's physical touch and intocy involved, like, yeah, that can
completely go off the window.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
The premise is right, like get past the first impression
of like that wall that you would never even approach
this person. And I totally agree with the premise. It's
just like, if you don't have those things, it's just
not going to work. If you don't find the other
person attractive at all. Yeah, just take go work as
the fact.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
Sorry, and then it just makes and it just makes
for great TV.
Speaker 5 (24:50):
So that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
My last question.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
My last question is like, all right, post show, it's
coming out, You're getting all this social media buzz. How
has like, like do you have a bunch of guys
that are lining up to date you? Like, how does
this change your dating life now that you've been on
the show, to.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Be I haven't gotten back out there, and I'm gonna
be fully honest, in the past year, I haven't done
much dating. I really took this experience and dove in personally, right,
like I've kind of been chasing my own little mental
health journey. I've been looking at past relationships about my
friendships a lot different now, and that's been my focus.
I think this spring the summer I tried a little bit,
(25:27):
but then it's weird because it's like, Okay, you go
on a couple of dates, you think you like this person,
and you're like, well, in a couple of months, like
this show's gonna come out and like rock my world
and rock your world.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
So it just got weird because you can't really say anything,
and it was just a muddied water. So I waited.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I was like, okay, when when the show comes out, like,
I'll give it some time and then I'll get back
out there.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I have not yet.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
I think like I'm in the clear that obviously people
know I didn't get engaged.
Speaker 4 (25:52):
So we're married.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
So yeah, I'm getting back out there. Like I said,
the dms are a wild place. They're a wild place.
But no, I don't know what my next step is.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I really don't. We'll see.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
I know I need to get back out there, like
you can't hide anymore. I'm not in the pod hiding.
But I did say I was like, y'all put me
back in the pods, like Pods All Stars, you.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Do it again, and like if they were like we
want to have you back, Yeah, absolutely, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I would be like, put me back in there. I've
even said that, like, Yo, Loki, put me back in
the Pods.
Speaker 4 (26:19):
I did real good there. In person, I'm like glitching.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
That's so funny. Well, we're all rooting for you. I
think America is rooting for you. And thanks for coming
on awesome.
Speaker 4 (26:28):
Thank you guys so much. This is fun.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Thank
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