February 10, 2022 • 33 mins
You’ve seen Blake Moynes find love on The Bachelorette, but now things are totally different since his relationship with Katie Thurston ended. Ben sits down with Blake to hear about everything that happened from Blake’s perspective, and hear the story of his life BEFORE The Bachelorette.
This is an intimate conversation that you can only find on the Almost Famous podcast.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This has been and actually I almost famous in depth Blake,
thanks for joining this in depth episode on the almost
Famous podcast Home to Have You. Thanks for having me.
It's been a little bit since I've done something like this.
So hopefully you're nervous, you know what? You know what
weirdly I was, I was saying that I was looking
a coffee of like, it's got to be the coffee
(00:22):
because I shouldn't be nervous. Yeah, it happens to me. Um,
I don't know what it is. But if I go
a bit without uh you know, having a camera around,
which I do. I go along part of my life
now with no cameras around most Yeah, yeah, I get nervous.
It's weird how you can just step away for a
bit and then you get back into and you even
(00:42):
have an interview to talk about your life and things
feel odd or off and it should just come off.
N Actually, it's just like you're like waiting for something
you might not know how to. It's just like it.
I think it's natural, right too, It's gotta be. Whenever
there's a camera on microphone a little unsettling something, it's
not natural. Well, how you doing, how you're holding up
what's going on in your life? You know what, I'd say,
(01:04):
I'm good only because it's been time, right, Like time
heals a lot of things, and time just allowed you
to kind of reflect and just move past that kind
of the mayhem that's kind of happened over the last
little bit. And things are really good now. You know,
I'm focusing on myself, which I needed, and things are good. Yeah,
so let's beget into the good a little bit. We're
gonna talk about obviously, um, some of the harder times
(01:26):
recently in your life, let's talk about some of the good.
When you say you're good, is there some things that
you've had to step away from or refocus on to
get back to a place where you're feeling good. Yeah,
I would say one. I think that the main thing
was because I've been so wrapped up in you know,
trying to find a person over last year and a
(01:46):
half is completely blanking out women, to be honest, just
because that's the one thing that's kind of toyed with
my mind over the last little bit. So it's taking
a step back. Um, let's stay focusing on me. It's
focusing on things that make me happy, which is uh, wildlife,
the outdoors, just family obviously. But I'm just following my passion,
really diving into that, and it's really playing out nicely,
(02:09):
and that's where I'm finding the most happiness. So I'm
gonna continue to follow that trail until it leads me elsewhere. Yeah,
you know, I have a lot that we could probably
relate on and go back and forth on when it
comes to our experiences on the show and kind of yeah,
the good and the bad and the difficult afterwards in
that that healing process of yeah, trying to get back
(02:31):
to uh a level place, a place that you know
you're not always hurt, you're not as angry um, and
you can get passionate about something again. That it takes time,
and it feels like for me, the only thing that
healed it was just time and getting used to the
new normal. And I think too part of it is control.
(02:52):
I think you lose some control coming off It's a
whole new experience coming off it, and you you don't
know how to manage it, and so you feel like
you don't know what you're doing in a way. And
so now I'm just kind of gaining back some control
in my life and making my decisions and just falling
into what makes me calm again. Yeah, well let's let's
start at the beginning then, and uh, and we'll catch
up with where you're at currently. Uh here obviously, Uh
(03:15):
you were seeing on The Bachelor at um what made
you want to go on the show in the first place? Uh?
Full on, It was a combination of not even I
would say it was. It was a dare in a
way like you're a very out there guy. You always
do new experience in new adventures. The only guy that's
not single or that is single, Why do you will
try on these dating shows? You know what? You're still single?
(03:36):
So I went on. Well, I I applied first, and
then when I got the first call, I was heat.
Didn't think I was gonna get on this U S show.
Then when I like I had my first interview, I
had a good feeling I was gonna get on. And
then I started taking seriously and then I started blanking
out girls in my life, and I was like, I
take this seriously. It's gonna be I potentially clear or
two others and it's I just dobe in. And then
when you got there, well, I would say three months
(03:57):
before I found I was gonna be clear. Then I
started like really diving in and being like, hey, how
can I learn everything about her? That's where I made
a mistake of building her up to be like this
is the one. Yeah, that's the mistake I continue to make,
and that's why I'm done now building up someone based
on what I think they are on on Instagram or
before I even meet them. And that's where a new approach.
We can talk about that later to how I'm going
(04:19):
to go about meeting girls down the line, and we
can talk about now to what like what is your
new approach? Well, man, I just think that you know,
we have all these apps, we have Instagram with all
these things where we can get so attract to somebody
because people spill their life through social media, so you
cant attached that and thinking of you know, somebody based
on an Apple social media or photos or video, and
(04:40):
then it can come to real life and it's it's
not organic. The vibe isn't there, the energy isn't there,
and you like almost you set yourself up for failure
because it's not organic. It's not like the old days
where people met organically and it was like this nice,
Well you know what I mean, like that, I want
I want to try like the old days, I want
to meet you in person. I don't want to put
an emphasis on what I think you are before I
meet you. And so taking a step back from doing
(05:05):
that going forward, do you find like, um, do you
find any of that comes from maybe like a personal
either uh, insecurity or maybe even a personal like inflated ego.
For for me, it came from a place of insecurity.
I would see people on social media or i'd see
them in public, Yeah, and I would build them up,
(05:26):
and I would never feel like I could be good
enough for them. I never felt like I could connect
with them, and so I end up just retreating and
and pushing away, uh and never actually allowing myself to
get to know them as a human. So for you,
where does that come from? Like so you're saying, so
you're asking me, why did I build them up on Instagram?
Like why? Yeah? Why do you build these people up
(05:48):
to a place where you're so into it already, like
you're so committed to it already that like it ultimately
is probably gonna be a little disappointing once you finally
get to be around them, because nobody's as great as
their social media. Nobody's a great at what they are
in television. Well, well that's the issue, is like, and
I'm realizing that that's the case. So you know, I
(06:08):
would just build them up based on what they showing.
But then I come to your life, like, social media
gives us a false indication of what people are, and
I realized that. So it's not necessarily I'm building up
because I didn't think that I was gonna be good
enough for them. You can lay it all your best
cards on social media and so we see that and
so you're almost always going to be let down otherwise.
And so I'm done with being scammed in a way.
You know, I think this is a bad could be
(06:31):
looked at in a bad way. But it's like, we
are the best version of ourselves on Instagram and social
media platform. So I'm just taking a step back from
that necessarily that I have, like they're building them up.
It's just like that's what they show. So it's like, wow,
all the box are checked here, like, and then I
get to real life and it's not necessarily the case.
M do you feel like that. I mean, obviously you
(06:54):
go on this television show. It's I don't know, twelve
weeks of filming. Uh, it's a condensed environment. There's a
lot of really fantastic dates. You have no distractions. Um,
nobody's pulling at you to do anything. You feel like
being on the show was had a similar feeling for
(07:14):
you where even you know yourself and the guys involved,
or for Katie and Claire, you were getting a false
sense of what life looked like. Yeah. I mean, I
you know, the thing is that I'm not specifically speaking
to you know, Claire, Tasa Katie like building I built
clear up for sure, but the other two not necessarily.
(07:35):
But when I got there, yeah, I mean, you know,
everything was perfect there. Everything was perfect there. And you know,
I think that's a combination of of of things. I
think we really did vibe and mesh really well. Ware
when I'm talking about case specifically. Um, but you know,
we didn't have one thing hold us back really, I mean,
(07:55):
aside from you know, some of the greg stuff that
happen our dates, every conversation we had it was it
was up and up. We didn't have a little setback.
So it's just like it was easy to fall in love.
It was easy to get there is easy to feel
like this was the most incredible thing ever, and then
real life came and it was Yeah. I don't mean
(08:17):
I explain how that feeling was of trying to reel
it back in and making like no, but it was
like this on the show, like Whire, was just a
little setback, but the more setbacks the game, it was
very clear that this was going in a wrong direction
and there is no way of trying to reel it
back because we were in a honeymoon stage and we
were not acting like it was a honeymoon stage. So
there's something clearly wrong with that. So yeah, that's how
(08:40):
I would explain it too. You know. My experience was like, hey, um,
something was off, especially now I'm married, right, and yeah,
I have a terrific wife and uh we have really
hard times where she probably doesn't like me very much.
Um yeah, but there's a difference to that, like that's
there's never a um, there's never a doubt, there's never
(09:03):
a question. So can you explain what it was like
for you, um, walking through that season and then when
can you come to the realization that hey, this isn't
my partner and that's fine? But this isn't my partner. Yeah,
it was very clear for both of us when we
when we spent the first long chunk of time together, um,
(09:24):
and that was about a three week period of time
in New York and then in San Diego, which I
have discussed before, and that was the first, um, you know,
big chunk that we just we were realizing we're compatible
in a lot of different ways and I was expecting,
I think we were both expecting to having a really
amazing time. And loved Sandy, so she had a new
(09:46):
place and stuff, and it just from day to day
there was just tension that I don't really know how
to explain it. We were just not delivering what each
other needed during that time frame. And it was that
three weeks that all ltimately ended it. I didn't see
her for a while after because I did go to Kenya.
You know, with the combination of those two things built
up and it was just like what are we what
(10:07):
are we doing? And we decided to pull the plug. Mhm, Well,
I do want to take one step back here, and um,
it's such an interesting I mean, so many people can
relate to that, to what you just said, right, you're
dating somebody, things are great and then you just have
this moment of clarity and realization that maybe it's not
as good as I thought it was gonna be. And
(10:30):
how much of the show then through you know, clarentatious
season and then your season on Katie's like prepped you
for these moments? You know. One of the things that
a lot of contestants get off and talk about is
their ability to communicate increases. Um how much prep for
you as a person. Did you feel like you got
(10:50):
through going on these seasons to be in a long
term relationship? Yeah? I would say it give me prep,
but it also get in some ways, I feel like
gave me set back for your confidence in your and
your You go thinking you know what you know, you
know what you're doing. You know. I think when you
fail that many times in a row and you feel
(11:11):
as big as as that, it's brings you back to
your life a little bit and you don't know as
much and you're not as ready as you may have
thought you were, which kind of sucks because we're at
a point in you're like, well I am anyways, or
like I want to be you know. Um So in
terms of setting me up, I think, you know, failures,
no matter what, and no matter how big, the failure
is always going to give you growth in some capacity. Um,
(11:35):
I continue to narrow down what I like more, which
again I think scares me in a way because I'm
just am I making myself my partner? Is Am I
gonna be more picky because the more failures, AM like, well,
I know what I don't want it, and now I'm
gonna like narrow it down, narrow down, narrow down? Am
I being too picky? Is it? Now? Am I putting
it on me? Do I need to be more open?
(11:55):
I don't know much way to go, you know, And
I hope that it just falls in my lap instead
of chasing it the way I have been. But I'm
kind of lost to that sense, like, and that's why
I'm trying to focus on myself the most, because I
don't have the answer. Ben, I know how it? Yeah,
you know, Well it's hard too, because, as you're saying,
(12:25):
part of the healing process for you is doing some
of the things you love. And so by doing some
of the things you love, are you now pushing aside
so many of the other things out there? And other
people out there use the word, that's interesting that I
want to talk about. You said, chasing. Yeah, I get
it makes sense. Um is the chasing aspect you think?
(12:46):
Why you went on the two seasons. I mean you
got I don't know if you call it heat or whatever.
But people were like, you know, I would love to
talk about how you went on a season it didn't
really work out fully um for you, and so then
you went on the next season and people said, hey,
he's just out here to be on the show. But ultimately,
why did you choose to do both seasons and both
(13:07):
seasons so quickly? Well, originally I was probably in the
talks while I wasn't a talk of going to Paradise.
Then when Katie was announced as a back track, like,
that's who I was thinking about, you know, seeing my eye,
my eye was on her potential going to Paris. As
soon as she was back Selred, I was like, hey,
well I can take the easy route and like take
(13:28):
the less heat and go meet a bunch of different people.
But she was the one that was different to me.
We had the same humor, kind of crude, a little vulgar,
unapologically ourselves. I felt like she was someone different that
I haven't met before the other girls. I don't know.
She's just it was gonna be different. Now it was
scary because I knew and I got heat. I got
the heat that I knew I was gonna get. But
(13:49):
it was either go do per season meet the girl
that I wanted to meet in Paradise that now I can't,
or I let that go and go two months later
to Paradise. Regardless it's a two months of difference. Yes,
I went on right away, but I'm just chasing the
girl that I wanted to chase because I thought she
was the best match for me. But I mean it
ended up being that way, and like I was right
(14:10):
in that way, but just not long term where it
makes the most, what it means the most in real life.
Would you, I mean, do you regret it? No? I
don't because and this is and I explained this to
somebody the other day when they asked me about it,
because that's the most, that's the question I get the most,
I think, And when I when I weigh them all out,
(14:33):
I remember how exciting and how happy I was in
that moment, regardless of the outcome. Now, I was so happy.
I was a feeling like I've never had before an
experience and the feeling of like truly feeling like it
was love and this was going to be it right,
And I wouldn't take that back even though it didn't
work out, because I remember how great it was, you know.
(14:56):
I mean so like that feeling and that experience and
like every like, I can't and I don't like to
have regrets. I like to not live life that way.
So as much as I yeah, in some way, like
it's a proposal that went tradition and it wasn't my person,
and I did it on that stage and you you kind
of look like an idiot and all those things, I
still remember what that was like with her, and I
hope in some degree that she doesn't regret it either,
(15:18):
because it was a really amazing experience with her. And
that's the way I'm trying to look at it and
be optimistic about it instead of being like, why the
hell did I do that? Dumbest decision ever? I try
not to look at it thinks that way. Why is it?
I mean, why does it matter to you she regrets
it or not. I mean, you said that you hope
she doesn't regret it either? Why? Why? Why does that
(15:40):
play a role in your thought process because I want her,
I I think selfishly want to know that she was,
because I have I have those doubts where of like,
you know, because it was I default all those things
with Greg, right, So I want to feel like this
wasn't some dumb fake thing. I want her to like,
this was as real as you know, those feelings I
(16:02):
had the same ones you had, you know, so it
was on the same wavelane. I wasn't say wave blank,
you know, I don't want it to if that makes sense, Like,
it's like I wanted to feel as real on her
end as it did for me. So I'm like, I
hope that she was, and I and I do. I
really do believe that I do. I do. I think, Yeah,
it makes complete sense. It's yeah. So many people's reaction
(16:27):
to a breakup is I just want to know that
you cared to That's all I need. So have you
had a chance to get closure from it? Um? Has
there been any opportunity for you to get some of
these questions answered? Uh? I mean yes, I mean we
we talked very cordially after we announced engagement the breakup,
(16:52):
and we were really good with that and then obviously
all the other stuff happened, and since then we have
not spoke, but um, she has reached out to me.
I just have not been the place yet to respond
to it, especially at the time that it all kind
of was unraveling. I didn't want to respond in a
place of emotion and like writing the heat of things
when I haven't had time to reflect. And there will
(17:13):
be a time where I can respond to that, and
we will, but there's no point in doing it where
I'm going to speak out of emotion and in a
place like I need to let the time go where
I can like step back. So I'm not I'm not
on that She's happy she's making this. She made the decision,
although you know I didn't like it. She made the
best decision for her, just like I would make the
best decision for me. It didn't play out the way
(17:35):
I wanted it to, and like it could have probably
been handled different. But I have no time for grudge.
Grudge takes so much energy. Why why I want to
have a negative energy for It's just it's just a
waste of time. And I do think, I do think
she's a good person, and just like things played out,
not the great way, But I just don't have I
(17:55):
will get to that and I will respond to her
and we will make up one day. It's just not
yet when it still feels kind of fresh. Yeah, I want,
I mean, I don't want to make me promise you
will get there, right? Yeah? You know I remember this
season where it felt like I was never gonna get there,
and where like, you know, then you have jerks like me,
ask me about your ex, you know every couple of
(18:17):
days you know, paid for this. Yeah, yeah, for sure,
you do get there right. Uh. Somebody asked me about
the show today, and it doesn't It has no emotional
toll on me. Takes no pain for me to talk
about it. And but I would have, Oh, it would
(18:37):
have crushed me. It crushed me for a you know,
a year and a half ning it. It would it
was a pain. There was so much inside of me
that I wanted to talk about that I couldn't talk about,
and that you know, you know the same as you.
And I've said it like there's an anger too. It's
like I don't want to say something here. I want
to regretting five years. There's no reason for that. Um,
And so it's a wise place to say it because
(18:58):
regret pupe hopefully be live in a you know, five
years from now when this isn't a pain in your life.
But it hurts, man, it hurts, and then it hurts
even worse, and I want this is you know, something
I want to talk to you about is like, does
it hurt to be talked about talking about it? Um?
You you know it is fresh, it is new. She
is dating somebody else that that band aid. I remember
I called one of the producers in the show when
(19:19):
I found out, you know that Laura moved on on
social media and they're like, here's the good part. The
band aid's now been ripped off your work. It's completely exposed.
There's only one way out of this, and that's now
for you to heal because for a while that band
aid was sitting on there. So for you that we
just is has been open for a bit. The band
aids off. Um does it hurt? M Yes? Yes? Um?
(19:50):
I think just because I have just because there's confusion, right,
I think, as guy, like we want to know and
have have the answers, but just there's still confusion to
it that although I've had the explanations and the reasons
given to me. There's still I don't think there will be.
I'm hurt, but it won't be fully healed until I
maybe ask a couple of questions, right and just clarify
(20:12):
a couple of things. Until then, it'll it'll fester a
little bit, but the majority of that pain is gone
and I can live happy day to day and I'm good.
But there's always be a little piece that won't heal
until I have that wrap up conversation with her eventually
when that comes, and that just will take time to
get there, and it will come. I know it well
because we're both mature. We are, and so they'll get there.
(20:34):
It's just it's just not yet. And I think I
should be the one to determine that, just because I
was on the back end for the wrong end of it,
and I'm just it was you know if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah,
at least it makes sense. We can relate in a
lot of ways, and I'll i'll stop here, continue to
bring it back, but you know, just I got a
guy here and two people and like there is a
(20:57):
time I remember and I was on a walk, right,
but you remember it specifically, I remember specifically and I
took this same walk every day for a year, and
there was some day that I was walking and it
just like there was like a piece of weightlifted from
my shoulders in my chest and I said, you know what,
it's this. I'm not going to carry this with me anymore.
(21:18):
I don't want to carry this with me. Actually, I'm
good to not carry it with me. And at that moment,
I've never said this publicly, but at that moment, you know,
we both apologize to each other and that was it.
That's the last time we've really had like a discourse,
Like there's random stuff that we have to like we
had to say afterwards, but like the last time we
had a discourse, and it it felt good, like we're done,
like I'm sorry, she said she's sorry, and we moved
(21:41):
on and and that's when I really felt like I
could date again too. So I don't know when that's
gonna happen for you, but I do believe it will happen.
I do, Yeah, I mean I in a in a way,
I feel like it's it's that conversation is sitting at
the bottom of my to do list right now. I'm
definitely not making a priority it's there. I know it's
something that has to be done, you know, And so Lingers,
(22:03):
you know when you're like, I stuff to do this,
I you know, this still has to happen at some point.
I guess you could like scratch off and kind of
something not to do. But I know it'll be better
for both of us if we do. It definitely would
be for me, So uh, yeah, it will come. Um,
it's definitely not a priority, but it will be And
maybe I'll just have a day walking down the street
like you and it'll just happen. Yeah, I mean I
(22:24):
didn't expect it, so yeah, you know when um, when
the news came out. Actually, my my my usual ghost
(22:45):
who can't be with us right now because she's a
mother of us. Yes, congratulations. Actually it's a question that
gets asked from breakups, and I told her I would
ask you this, um, And we've been super intrigued and
our listeners seem to really like to hear everybody's thoughts
on this. How but you're in the heart of it.
How long is too long or too short to move
(23:07):
into a relationship post a break up? Is there an
appropriate time is there not? Like? What are your thoughts
around this. M that's a good question. I would say,
you need to do whatever is best that makes you happy,
so we all have to be selfish. I think overall,
(23:30):
like unless like I will get over the fact that
she made her decisions that moved on to it. I
will eventually get over that she is happy she made
the decision to do that because it made her happy.
M hmm. All we want in life is to be happy.
We can't think about everybody else as much as we
want to, but you've really got to think about yourself first.
And yes, sometimes that's gonna throw people to the wayside
(23:51):
that you ultimately loved cared about all those things. But
when it comes down to it, she it maybe could
have been announced a little later, all those things, you know,
in the ways that she did it. Uh, I don't
know what that. I don't. I think I don't. You
can't put a number on it because every circumstances so different,
every relationship is so different the person. Like if it
(24:13):
ended a little bit differently, there could be more of
a part of my French but like a screw you
and it's like, I don't care about it depends where
you're at with that person. What the discussion was there's
so many things I think to go into that you
can't put a solid number, being like, hey, after three months,
it's good for everybody to move. No, I think it's circumstantial,
and I think you need to do You need just
(24:34):
to be happy and whatever that decision is, everyone else
will get on with it because happiness rules all. So
you have a nique situation where you know, obviously this
is so public, yeah, and so much a part of
your story right now, more than most breakups. But the
other side of this is that you have it is
so public, you have gone through a breakup, and now
(24:56):
you have people supporting you. Some people have to do
this alone. U They get broken up with and they
sit alone and they don't have nobody gets it. At
least you have people that have a picked opinion, probably
mostly positive with some negative. Yeah. Do you for anybody
listening who is in the midst of or going through
healing from a really hard breakup, do you mind sharing
(25:16):
your experience when you found out, uh, what you did,
who you reached out to, how you found support, how
you felt um, So hopefully somebody listening maybe that's alone
in this can you can feel like yeah, I get
it too. Yeah are you are you? Are you talking
in an example of somebody else that would be in
the public eye or something, or just generically just that
(25:40):
you know, tabloids writing about their break and yeah, yeah yeah. Um.
You know, I would say, find that thing that makes
you happiest outside of your person. Focus on that, whether
it's you know, the volunteer work or something that can
take your distraction away the people I rely on. Obviously,
you go right to family first, you know. I want
(26:00):
to be told straight everything that they feel about the
whole situation. I don't want to be sugarcoated. Um. And
then I would say not to jump into, you know,
talking to other people and like the whole rebound thing
right away, because it's just again putting like a band
aid on something you haven't healed through yet. I mean,
(26:20):
m I really just took time, I really dope into
my wildlife conservation stuff because it really made me the happiest.
And um, you know, in some degree, I think depending
on how that how it ends, sometimes it can make
it easier. The way that she did it, uh and
moved on so quick, it was like, hey, well we're
not getting back together, especially based on the song that
(26:42):
she played for me and her probably a breakup, we
never getting never never ever getting back together, right, So
you know, I think so that's that that that was tough,
you know for for those in the sidelines that they
probably thought, oh crap, maybe got a giggle. For those
in it like you probably her, I would assume, yeah,
(27:03):
yeah it was. I definitely was unexpected. Um, but yeah,
I think depending on how it all ends to, right,
Like it's so circumstantial, do you take the time, you
focus on things that make you happiest, and you just
always got to remember, like you think back up old relationships.
I remember the first relationship I had where I was
like high school sweetheart, thought I was loved. I remember
(27:24):
I wasn't a hard depression, Like a month I moved
away like I was nuts, and I thought I was
never gonna find someone better than her, and I thought
it was all over. But the relationships I've had after that,
we're so much better. Things always, you know, get better,
you grow from it. You know, you're they always get better.
So although you feel like you lost the world, in
a sense, she probably wasn't the world. If she's not
(27:45):
with you and you're going to find something probably better.
And that's what I find with all like depressive situations,
all those things, like all those times you've freaked out
overthought about all these things, How did it actually end up?
Was it really as bad as you thought? Did you
find like everything well work itself out in the time.
It doesn't feel like it, But you gotta look back
on your own life experience to think about how you've
moved through things and where you are where, why and
(28:08):
why it's good. It's a really wise word, man, I
mean it is. I'm sitting here thinking, I'm like Je's
look at you know, look at the story of the people.
I know. My buddy goes through a divorce, he marries
in a wonderful woman three years later that he loves
and his loves him. And you know, for me, I
go through a public breakup and I feel like I've
lost everything, and then I meet my wife and I'm like,
I can't imagine my life without her, like I can't
(28:29):
imagine it does. And it's such a good lesson for
those who are in the midst of something so hard
it is to know that, yes, right now it feels
like the world is falling down around you, and that
there's the biggest weight in cloud over everything that you do.
But it continue, like keep taking those steps forward because
it will get better. And we have to remember that
because it sometimes doesn't feel that but exactly, But I
(28:53):
know what the thing is. People always look to other
people to be like they got over this, how do
they do that? But look at your own life. There's
a lot of things that you're probably overlooking that you've
done your life, that you you'll stepped up for, overcome
all these things that you're not thinking about that of like,
this is just another one of those things. So move
past it because you'll look back on this and be like,
oh my god, wow was like so, yes, some of
(29:14):
them are gonna bit more challenging than the others. But
there's a reason where you are. And so look back
on your own experiences because there's probably a lot in
your life and you went through that you're not really
taking the time to appreciate respect for yourself. So well,
to close up here with you, I really appreciate your
time and your honesty. I think it's gonna relate to
many out there, and and your story is yes, it
(29:36):
wasn't the public eye, but if we can take that
element away. It's um incredibly relatable to so many. Um
where you sit now, uh, what are you looking forward to? Where?
Where does life go for you? Like? What? What? What
dreams do you have for years beyond? If you can
close this out with just you know, where is Blake
(29:58):
gonna go? Where do you? What do you dream of? Buddy?
You know I started to become a lot more just
ambitious and really realizing that you know this, There's a
lot of crazy things that happened in this life, but
it's short, and so I love to um continuous ambitious
path find someone that wants to live that adventurous, ambitious
(30:18):
life with me. I'm super happy as I am single alone,
but I know that it could be elevated with that
right person. Until then, I'm not gonna chase it. I'm
not gonna I think I know what I want. I
hope they just falls in my lap. Until then, I'm
gonna continue to focus on the things I love, and
that's focusing on wildlife conservation and animals and try to
do some good in the world and hopefully that that
(30:38):
karma falls back in my lap with the right person
one day and I can continue to just follow that
dream of that passion with them. Well, um, you know
would be inappropriate. I didn't ask, you know, give us,
uh some ways that people are listening and some organizations
you're part of, and some things that if they want to,
you know, help out with as well. What are those
organizations and how can people best support you? Oh, she's okay, Uh,
(31:03):
great organizations. I would start off with World Animal News
Katie Cleary, who does a really amazing job wrapping up
all the most important uh animal related news in the world,
and things that we could do to step up and
help out aside from that Big Life Foundation, whereas that
Kenya working with with them and really bringing to light
(31:24):
all the poaching issues human wildlife conflict because it pertains
to elephants. And yeah I have re Trade and Ryan o'horn.
Um care for what there's There's so many. If you
go to my Instagram and or Mowgli moins Fund where
I do support a lot of these organizations. D m
me if you really need some some help and direction
or just see who I'm following and those are the
right organizations to follow. Great man, Well, thanks for sitting
(31:47):
down with Thanks for sharing you watching Clayton's season. I've
watched the first two episodes. I haven't since I'm trying to.
It gives me weird feelings right now, Like this last date.
Someone told me that Clayton went on a horse state
to a country singer date and that was my one
on KI. So I'm just like, I don't need to.
I don't need to go back there, you know, I
don't need to. Yeah, take some time. The show will
(32:09):
be there when you're ready. Promise. It's it definitely goes away.
It's it's it's the cockroach that keeps on living. Hey, Blake,
thank you again um for joining the almost famous podcast.
This in depth episode has been fantastic, wors some the
best our listeners are gonna wish the best. If you're listening,
go out there and suppoor Blake, tell me, tell him
(32:31):
you got his back. And you know the best thing
about this, Blake, I'll tell you. I'll close it here. Um,
everybody was, you know, team be entertaining Team Lauren, and
ultimately that wasn't helpful either way. I didn't want to
people be on my side or not her side, and
her side not my side. Um, Ultimately we can lift
(32:53):
each each other both up and say, hey, we're gonna
do our best things and there's a good life in
front of you, and I wish that for you, man,
and we all do. I appreciate that, man, I really do,
because it's been crazy. So take all the support we
can get. Let's right back at you. That's right, man. Hey,
thanks Blake, of course, take care, Blake. Appreciate you, man,
Thanks for doing this, no sweat. Enjoy of the rest
(33:14):
of your trip there. Yeah, give Koba a hug for
me if you don't mind. Yeah, well Mr Cleek too. Alright, buddy, alright,
gonna take care later. Follow the Benn and Ashley I
Almost Famous podcast on I Heart Radio or subscribe wherever
you listen to podcasts.
This has been and actually I almost famous in depth Blake,
thanks for joining this in depth episode on the almost
Famous podcast Home to Have You. Thanks for having me.
It's been a little bit since I've done something like this.
So hopefully you're nervous, you know what? You know what
weirdly I was, I was saying that I was looking
a coffee of like, it's got to be the coffee
(00:22):
because I shouldn't be nervous. Yeah, it happens to me. Um,
I don't know what it is. But if I go
a bit without uh you know, having a camera around,
which I do. I go along part of my life
now with no cameras around most Yeah, yeah, I get nervous.
It's weird how you can just step away for a
bit and then you get back into and you even
(00:42):
have an interview to talk about your life and things
feel odd or off and it should just come off.
N Actually, it's just like you're like waiting for something
you might not know how to. It's just like it.
I think it's natural, right too, It's gotta be. Whenever
there's a camera on microphone a little unsettling something, it's
not natural. Well, how you doing, how you're holding up
what's going on in your life? You know what, I'd say,
(01:04):
I'm good only because it's been time, right, Like time
heals a lot of things, and time just allowed you
to kind of reflect and just move past that kind
of the mayhem that's kind of happened over the last
little bit. And things are really good now. You know,
I'm focusing on myself, which I needed, and things are good. Yeah,
so let's beget into the good a little bit. We're
gonna talk about obviously, um, some of the harder times
(01:26):
recently in your life, let's talk about some of the good.
When you say you're good, is there some things that
you've had to step away from or refocus on to
get back to a place where you're feeling good. Yeah,
I would say one. I think that the main thing
was because I've been so wrapped up in you know,
trying to find a person over last year and a
(01:46):
half is completely blanking out women, to be honest, just
because that's the one thing that's kind of toyed with
my mind over the last little bit. So it's taking
a step back. Um, let's stay focusing on me. It's
focusing on things that make me happy, which is uh, wildlife,
the outdoors, just family obviously. But I'm just following my passion,
really diving into that, and it's really playing out nicely,
(02:09):
and that's where I'm finding the most happiness. So I'm
gonna continue to follow that trail until it leads me elsewhere. Yeah,
you know, I have a lot that we could probably
relate on and go back and forth on when it
comes to our experiences on the show and kind of yeah,
the good and the bad and the difficult afterwards in
that that healing process of yeah, trying to get back
(02:31):
to uh a level place, a place that you know
you're not always hurt, you're not as angry um, and
you can get passionate about something again. That it takes time,
and it feels like for me, the only thing that
healed it was just time and getting used to the
new normal. And I think too part of it is control.
(02:52):
I think you lose some control coming off It's a
whole new experience coming off it, and you you don't
know how to manage it, and so you feel like
you don't know what you're doing in a way. And
so now I'm just kind of gaining back some control
in my life and making my decisions and just falling
into what makes me calm again. Yeah, well let's let's
start at the beginning then, and uh, and we'll catch
up with where you're at currently. Uh here obviously, Uh
(03:15):
you were seeing on The Bachelor at um what made
you want to go on the show in the first place? Uh?
Full on, It was a combination of not even I
would say it was. It was a dare in a
way like you're a very out there guy. You always
do new experience in new adventures. The only guy that's
not single or that is single, Why do you will
try on these dating shows? You know what? You're still single?
(03:36):
So I went on. Well, I I applied first, and
then when I got the first call, I was heat.
Didn't think I was gonna get on this U S show.
Then when I like I had my first interview, I
had a good feeling I was gonna get on. And
then I started taking seriously and then I started blanking
out girls in my life, and I was like, I
take this seriously. It's gonna be I potentially clear or
two others and it's I just dobe in. And then
when you got there, well, I would say three months
(03:57):
before I found I was gonna be clear. Then I
started like really diving in and being like, hey, how
can I learn everything about her? That's where I made
a mistake of building her up to be like this
is the one. Yeah, that's the mistake I continue to make,
and that's why I'm done now building up someone based
on what I think they are on on Instagram or
before I even meet them. And that's where a new approach.
We can talk about that later to how I'm going
(04:19):
to go about meeting girls down the line, and we
can talk about now to what like what is your
new approach? Well, man, I just think that you know,
we have all these apps, we have Instagram with all
these things where we can get so attract to somebody
because people spill their life through social media, so you
cant attached that and thinking of you know, somebody based
on an Apple social media or photos or video, and
(04:40):
then it can come to real life and it's it's
not organic. The vibe isn't there, the energy isn't there,
and you like almost you set yourself up for failure
because it's not organic. It's not like the old days
where people met organically and it was like this nice,
Well you know what I mean, like that, I want
I want to try like the old days, I want
to meet you in person. I don't want to put
an emphasis on what I think you are before I
meet you. And so taking a step back from doing
(05:05):
that going forward, do you find like, um, do you
find any of that comes from maybe like a personal
either uh, insecurity or maybe even a personal like inflated ego.
For for me, it came from a place of insecurity.
I would see people on social media or i'd see
them in public, Yeah, and I would build them up,
(05:26):
and I would never feel like I could be good
enough for them. I never felt like I could connect
with them, and so I end up just retreating and
and pushing away, uh and never actually allowing myself to
get to know them as a human. So for you,
where does that come from? Like so you're saying, so
you're asking me, why did I build them up on Instagram?
Like why? Yeah? Why do you build these people up
(05:48):
to a place where you're so into it already, like
you're so committed to it already that like it ultimately
is probably gonna be a little disappointing once you finally
get to be around them, because nobody's as great as
their social media. Nobody's a great at what they are
in television. Well, well that's the issue, is like, and
I'm realizing that that's the case. So you know, I
(06:08):
would just build them up based on what they showing.
But then I come to your life, like, social media
gives us a false indication of what people are, and
I realized that. So it's not necessarily I'm building up
because I didn't think that I was gonna be good
enough for them. You can lay it all your best
cards on social media and so we see that and
so you're almost always going to be let down otherwise.
And so I'm done with being scammed in a way.
You know, I think this is a bad could be
(06:31):
looked at in a bad way. But it's like, we
are the best version of ourselves on Instagram and social
media platform. So I'm just taking a step back from
that necessarily that I have, like they're building them up.
It's just like that's what they show. So it's like, wow,
all the box are checked here, like, and then I
get to real life and it's not necessarily the case.
M do you feel like that. I mean, obviously you
(06:54):
go on this television show. It's I don't know, twelve
weeks of filming. Uh, it's a condensed environment. There's a
lot of really fantastic dates. You have no distractions. Um,
nobody's pulling at you to do anything. You feel like
being on the show was had a similar feeling for
(07:14):
you where even you know yourself and the guys involved,
or for Katie and Claire, you were getting a false
sense of what life looked like. Yeah. I mean, I
you know, the thing is that I'm not specifically speaking
to you know, Claire, Tasa Katie like building I built
clear up for sure, but the other two not necessarily.
(07:35):
But when I got there, yeah, I mean, you know,
everything was perfect there. Everything was perfect there. And you know,
I think that's a combination of of of things. I
think we really did vibe and mesh really well. Ware
when I'm talking about case specifically. Um, but you know,
we didn't have one thing hold us back really, I mean,
(07:55):
aside from you know, some of the greg stuff that
happen our dates, every conversation we had it was it
was up and up. We didn't have a little setback.
So it's just like it was easy to fall in love.
It was easy to get there is easy to feel
like this was the most incredible thing ever, and then
real life came and it was Yeah. I don't mean
(08:17):
I explain how that feeling was of trying to reel
it back in and making like no, but it was
like this on the show, like Whire, was just a
little setback, but the more setbacks the game, it was
very clear that this was going in a wrong direction
and there is no way of trying to reel it
back because we were in a honeymoon stage and we
were not acting like it was a honeymoon stage. So
there's something clearly wrong with that. So yeah, that's how
(08:40):
I would explain it too. You know. My experience was like, hey, um,
something was off, especially now I'm married, right, and yeah,
I have a terrific wife and uh we have really
hard times where she probably doesn't like me very much.
Um yeah, but there's a difference to that, like that's
there's never a um, there's never a doubt, there's never
(09:03):
a question. So can you explain what it was like
for you, um, walking through that season and then when
can you come to the realization that hey, this isn't
my partner and that's fine? But this isn't my partner. Yeah,
it was very clear for both of us when we
when we spent the first long chunk of time together, um,
(09:24):
and that was about a three week period of time
in New York and then in San Diego, which I
have discussed before, and that was the first, um, you know,
big chunk that we just we were realizing we're compatible
in a lot of different ways and I was expecting,
I think we were both expecting to having a really
amazing time. And loved Sandy, so she had a new
(09:46):
place and stuff, and it just from day to day
there was just tension that I don't really know how
to explain it. We were just not delivering what each
other needed during that time frame. And it was that
three weeks that all ltimately ended it. I didn't see
her for a while after because I did go to Kenya.
You know, with the combination of those two things built
up and it was just like what are we what
(10:07):
are we doing? And we decided to pull the plug. Mhm, Well,
I do want to take one step back here, and um,
it's such an interesting I mean, so many people can
relate to that, to what you just said, right, you're
dating somebody, things are great and then you just have
this moment of clarity and realization that maybe it's not
as good as I thought it was gonna be. And
(10:30):
how much of the show then through you know, clarentatious
season and then your season on Katie's like prepped you
for these moments? You know. One of the things that
a lot of contestants get off and talk about is
their ability to communicate increases. Um how much prep for
you as a person. Did you feel like you got
(10:50):
through going on these seasons to be in a long
term relationship? Yeah? I would say it give me prep,
but it also get in some ways, I feel like
gave me set back for your confidence in your and
your You go thinking you know what you know, you
know what you're doing. You know. I think when you
fail that many times in a row and you feel
(11:11):
as big as as that, it's brings you back to
your life a little bit and you don't know as
much and you're not as ready as you may have
thought you were, which kind of sucks because we're at
a point in you're like, well I am anyways, or
like I want to be you know. Um So in
terms of setting me up, I think, you know, failures,
no matter what, and no matter how big, the failure
is always going to give you growth in some capacity. Um,
(11:35):
I continue to narrow down what I like more, which
again I think scares me in a way because I'm
just am I making myself my partner? Is Am I
gonna be more picky because the more failures, AM like, well,
I know what I don't want it, and now I'm
gonna like narrow it down, narrow down, narrow down? Am
I being too picky? Is it? Now? Am I putting
it on me? Do I need to be more open?
(11:55):
I don't know much way to go, you know, And
I hope that it just falls in my lap instead
of chasing it the way I have been. But I'm
kind of lost to that sense, like, and that's why
I'm trying to focus on myself the most, because I
don't have the answer. Ben, I know how it? Yeah,
you know, Well it's hard too, because, as you're saying,
(12:25):
part of the healing process for you is doing some
of the things you love. And so by doing some
of the things you love, are you now pushing aside
so many of the other things out there? And other
people out there use the word, that's interesting that I
want to talk about. You said, chasing. Yeah, I get
it makes sense. Um is the chasing aspect you think?
(12:46):
Why you went on the two seasons. I mean you
got I don't know if you call it heat or whatever.
But people were like, you know, I would love to
talk about how you went on a season it didn't
really work out fully um for you, and so then
you went on the next season and people said, hey,
he's just out here to be on the show. But ultimately,
why did you choose to do both seasons and both
(13:07):
seasons so quickly? Well, originally I was probably in the
talks while I wasn't a talk of going to Paradise.
Then when Katie was announced as a back track, like,
that's who I was thinking about, you know, seeing my eye,
my eye was on her potential going to Paris. As
soon as she was back Selred, I was like, hey,
well I can take the easy route and like take
(13:28):
the less heat and go meet a bunch of different people.
But she was the one that was different to me.
We had the same humor, kind of crude, a little vulgar,
unapologically ourselves. I felt like she was someone different that
I haven't met before the other girls. I don't know.
She's just it was gonna be different. Now it was
scary because I knew and I got heat. I got
the heat that I knew I was gonna get. But
(13:49):
it was either go do per season meet the girl
that I wanted to meet in Paradise that now I can't,
or I let that go and go two months later
to Paradise. Regardless it's a two months of difference. Yes,
I went on right away, but I'm just chasing the
girl that I wanted to chase because I thought she
was the best match for me. But I mean it
ended up being that way, and like I was right
(14:10):
in that way, but just not long term where it
makes the most, what it means the most in real life.
Would you, I mean, do you regret it? No? I
don't because and this is and I explained this to
somebody the other day when they asked me about it,
because that's the most, that's the question I get the most,
I think, And when I when I weigh them all out,
(14:33):
I remember how exciting and how happy I was in
that moment, regardless of the outcome. Now, I was so happy.
I was a feeling like I've never had before an
experience and the feeling of like truly feeling like it
was love and this was going to be it right,
And I wouldn't take that back even though it didn't
work out, because I remember how great it was, you know.
(14:56):
I mean so like that feeling and that experience and
like every like, I can't and I don't like to
have regrets. I like to not live life that way.
So as much as I yeah, in some way, like
it's a proposal that went tradition and it wasn't my person,
and I did it on that stage and you you kind
of look like an idiot and all those things, I
still remember what that was like with her, and I
hope in some degree that she doesn't regret it either,
(15:18):
because it was a really amazing experience with her. And
that's the way I'm trying to look at it and
be optimistic about it instead of being like, why the
hell did I do that? Dumbest decision ever? I try
not to look at it thinks that way. Why is it?
I mean, why does it matter to you she regrets
it or not. I mean, you said that you hope
she doesn't regret it either? Why? Why? Why does that
(15:40):
play a role in your thought process because I want her,
I I think selfishly want to know that she was,
because I have I have those doubts where of like,
you know, because it was I default all those things
with Greg, right, So I want to feel like this
wasn't some dumb fake thing. I want her to like,
this was as real as you know, those feelings I
(16:02):
had the same ones you had, you know, so it
was on the same wavelane. I wasn't say wave blank,
you know, I don't want it to if that makes sense, Like,
it's like I wanted to feel as real on her
end as it did for me. So I'm like, I
hope that she was, and I and I do. I
really do believe that I do. I do. I think, Yeah,
it makes complete sense. It's yeah. So many people's reaction
(16:27):
to a breakup is I just want to know that
you cared to That's all I need. So have you
had a chance to get closure from it? Um? Has
there been any opportunity for you to get some of
these questions answered? Uh? I mean yes, I mean we
we talked very cordially after we announced engagement the breakup,
(16:52):
and we were really good with that and then obviously
all the other stuff happened, and since then we have
not spoke, but um, she has reached out to me.
I just have not been the place yet to respond
to it, especially at the time that it all kind
of was unraveling. I didn't want to respond in a
place of emotion and like writing the heat of things
when I haven't had time to reflect. And there will
(17:13):
be a time where I can respond to that, and
we will, but there's no point in doing it where
I'm going to speak out of emotion and in a
place like I need to let the time go where
I can like step back. So I'm not I'm not
on that She's happy she's making this. She made the decision,
although you know I didn't like it. She made the
best decision for her, just like I would make the
best decision for me. It didn't play out the way
(17:35):
I wanted it to, and like it could have probably
been handled different. But I have no time for grudge.
Grudge takes so much energy. Why why I want to
have a negative energy for It's just it's just a
waste of time. And I do think, I do think
she's a good person, and just like things played out,
not the great way, But I just don't have I
(17:55):
will get to that and I will respond to her
and we will make up one day. It's just not
yet when it still feels kind of fresh. Yeah, I want,
I mean, I don't want to make me promise you
will get there, right? Yeah? You know I remember this
season where it felt like I was never gonna get there,
and where like, you know, then you have jerks like me,
ask me about your ex, you know every couple of
(18:17):
days you know, paid for this. Yeah, yeah, for sure,
you do get there right. Uh. Somebody asked me about
the show today, and it doesn't It has no emotional
toll on me. Takes no pain for me to talk
about it. And but I would have, Oh, it would
(18:37):
have crushed me. It crushed me for a you know,
a year and a half ning it. It would it
was a pain. There was so much inside of me
that I wanted to talk about that I couldn't talk about,
and that you know, you know the same as you.
And I've said it like there's an anger too. It's
like I don't want to say something here. I want
to regretting five years. There's no reason for that. Um,
And so it's a wise place to say it because
(18:58):
regret pupe hopefully be live in a you know, five
years from now when this isn't a pain in your life.
But it hurts, man, it hurts, and then it hurts
even worse, and I want this is you know, something
I want to talk to you about is like, does
it hurt to be talked about talking about it? Um?
You you know it is fresh, it is new. She
is dating somebody else that that band aid. I remember
I called one of the producers in the show when
(19:19):
I found out, you know that Laura moved on on
social media and they're like, here's the good part. The
band aid's now been ripped off your work. It's completely exposed.
There's only one way out of this, and that's now
for you to heal because for a while that band
aid was sitting on there. So for you that we
just is has been open for a bit. The band
aids off. Um does it hurt? M Yes? Yes? Um?
(19:50):
I think just because I have just because there's confusion, right,
I think, as guy, like we want to know and
have have the answers, but just there's still confusion to
it that although I've had the explanations and the reasons
given to me. There's still I don't think there will be.
I'm hurt, but it won't be fully healed until I
maybe ask a couple of questions, right and just clarify
(20:12):
a couple of things. Until then, it'll it'll fester a
little bit, but the majority of that pain is gone
and I can live happy day to day and I'm good.
But there's always be a little piece that won't heal
until I have that wrap up conversation with her eventually
when that comes, and that just will take time to
get there, and it will come. I know it well
because we're both mature. We are, and so they'll get there.
(20:34):
It's just it's just not yet. And I think I
should be the one to determine that, just because I
was on the back end for the wrong end of it,
and I'm just it was you know if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah,
at least it makes sense. We can relate in a
lot of ways, and I'll i'll stop here, continue to
bring it back, but you know, just I got a
guy here and two people and like there is a
(20:57):
time I remember and I was on a walk, right,
but you remember it specifically, I remember specifically and I
took this same walk every day for a year, and
there was some day that I was walking and it
just like there was like a piece of weightlifted from
my shoulders in my chest and I said, you know what,
it's this. I'm not going to carry this with me anymore.
(21:18):
I don't want to carry this with me. Actually, I'm
good to not carry it with me. And at that moment,
I've never said this publicly, but at that moment, you know,
we both apologize to each other and that was it.
That's the last time we've really had like a discourse,
Like there's random stuff that we have to like we
had to say afterwards, but like the last time we
had a discourse, and it it felt good, like we're done,
like I'm sorry, she said she's sorry, and we moved
(21:41):
on and and that's when I really felt like I
could date again too. So I don't know when that's
gonna happen for you, but I do believe it will happen.
I do, Yeah, I mean I in a in a way,
I feel like it's it's that conversation is sitting at
the bottom of my to do list right now. I'm
definitely not making a priority it's there. I know it's
something that has to be done, you know, And so Lingers,
(22:03):
you know when you're like, I stuff to do this,
I you know, this still has to happen at some point.
I guess you could like scratch off and kind of
something not to do. But I know it'll be better
for both of us if we do. It definitely would
be for me, So uh, yeah, it will come. Um,
it's definitely not a priority, but it will be And
maybe I'll just have a day walking down the street
like you and it'll just happen. Yeah, I mean I
(22:24):
didn't expect it, so yeah, you know when um, when
the news came out. Actually, my my my usual ghost
(22:45):
who can't be with us right now because she's a
mother of us. Yes, congratulations. Actually it's a question that
gets asked from breakups, and I told her I would
ask you this, um, And we've been super intrigued and
our listeners seem to really like to hear everybody's thoughts
on this. How but you're in the heart of it.
How long is too long or too short to move
(23:07):
into a relationship post a break up? Is there an
appropriate time is there not? Like? What are your thoughts
around this. M that's a good question. I would say,
you need to do whatever is best that makes you happy,
so we all have to be selfish. I think overall,
(23:30):
like unless like I will get over the fact that
she made her decisions that moved on to it. I
will eventually get over that she is happy she made
the decision to do that because it made her happy.
M hmm. All we want in life is to be happy.
We can't think about everybody else as much as we
want to, but you've really got to think about yourself first.
And yes, sometimes that's gonna throw people to the wayside
(23:51):
that you ultimately loved cared about all those things. But
when it comes down to it, she it maybe could
have been announced a little later, all those things, you know,
in the ways that she did it. Uh, I don't
know what that. I don't. I think I don't. You
can't put a number on it because every circumstances so different,
every relationship is so different the person. Like if it
(24:13):
ended a little bit differently, there could be more of
a part of my French but like a screw you
and it's like, I don't care about it depends where
you're at with that person. What the discussion was there's
so many things I think to go into that you
can't put a solid number, being like, hey, after three months,
it's good for everybody to move. No, I think it's circumstantial,
and I think you need to do You need just
(24:34):
to be happy and whatever that decision is, everyone else
will get on with it because happiness rules all. So
you have a nique situation where you know, obviously this
is so public, yeah, and so much a part of
your story right now, more than most breakups. But the
other side of this is that you have it is
so public, you have gone through a breakup, and now
(24:56):
you have people supporting you. Some people have to do
this alone. U They get broken up with and they
sit alone and they don't have nobody gets it. At
least you have people that have a picked opinion, probably
mostly positive with some negative. Yeah. Do you for anybody
listening who is in the midst of or going through
healing from a really hard breakup, do you mind sharing
(25:16):
your experience when you found out, uh, what you did,
who you reached out to, how you found support, how
you felt um, So hopefully somebody listening maybe that's alone
in this can you can feel like yeah, I get
it too. Yeah are you are you? Are you talking
in an example of somebody else that would be in
the public eye or something, or just generically just that
(25:40):
you know, tabloids writing about their break and yeah, yeah yeah. Um.
You know, I would say, find that thing that makes
you happiest outside of your person. Focus on that, whether
it's you know, the volunteer work or something that can
take your distraction away the people I rely on. Obviously,
you go right to family first, you know. I want
(26:00):
to be told straight everything that they feel about the
whole situation. I don't want to be sugarcoated. Um. And
then I would say not to jump into, you know,
talking to other people and like the whole rebound thing
right away, because it's just again putting like a band
aid on something you haven't healed through yet. I mean,
(26:20):
m I really just took time, I really dope into
my wildlife conservation stuff because it really made me the happiest.
And um, you know, in some degree, I think depending
on how that how it ends, sometimes it can make
it easier. The way that she did it, uh and
moved on so quick, it was like, hey, well we're
not getting back together, especially based on the song that
(26:42):
she played for me and her probably a breakup, we
never getting never never ever getting back together, right, So
you know, I think so that's that that that was tough,
you know for for those in the sidelines that they
probably thought, oh crap, maybe got a giggle. For those
in it like you probably her, I would assume, yeah,
(27:03):
yeah it was. I definitely was unexpected. Um, but yeah,
I think depending on how it all ends to, right,
Like it's so circumstantial, do you take the time, you
focus on things that make you happiest, and you just
always got to remember, like you think back up old relationships.
I remember the first relationship I had where I was
like high school sweetheart, thought I was loved. I remember
(27:24):
I wasn't a hard depression, Like a month I moved
away like I was nuts, and I thought I was
never gonna find someone better than her, and I thought
it was all over. But the relationships I've had after that,
we're so much better. Things always, you know, get better,
you grow from it. You know, you're they always get better.
So although you feel like you lost the world, in
a sense, she probably wasn't the world. If she's not
(27:45):
with you and you're going to find something probably better.
And that's what I find with all like depressive situations,
all those things, like all those times you've freaked out
overthought about all these things, How did it actually end up?
Was it really as bad as you thought? Did you
find like everything well work itself out in the time.
It doesn't feel like it, But you gotta look back
on your own life experience to think about how you've
moved through things and where you are where, why and
(28:08):
why it's good. It's a really wise word, man, I
mean it is. I'm sitting here thinking, I'm like Je's
look at you know, look at the story of the people.
I know. My buddy goes through a divorce, he marries
in a wonderful woman three years later that he loves
and his loves him. And you know, for me, I
go through a public breakup and I feel like I've
lost everything, and then I meet my wife and I'm like,
I can't imagine my life without her, like I can't
(28:29):
imagine it does. And it's such a good lesson for
those who are in the midst of something so hard
it is to know that, yes, right now it feels
like the world is falling down around you, and that
there's the biggest weight in cloud over everything that you do.
But it continue, like keep taking those steps forward because
it will get better. And we have to remember that
because it sometimes doesn't feel that but exactly, But I
(28:53):
know what the thing is. People always look to other
people to be like they got over this, how do
they do that? But look at your own life. There's
a lot of things that you're probably overlooking that you've
done your life, that you you'll stepped up for, overcome
all these things that you're not thinking about that of like,
this is just another one of those things. So move
past it because you'll look back on this and be like,
oh my god, wow was like so, yes, some of
(29:14):
them are gonna bit more challenging than the others. But
there's a reason where you are. And so look back
on your own experiences because there's probably a lot in
your life and you went through that you're not really
taking the time to appreciate respect for yourself. So well,
to close up here with you, I really appreciate your
time and your honesty. I think it's gonna relate to
many out there, and and your story is yes, it
(29:36):
wasn't the public eye, but if we can take that
element away. It's um incredibly relatable to so many. Um
where you sit now, uh, what are you looking forward to? Where?
Where does life go for you? Like? What? What? What
dreams do you have for years beyond? If you can
close this out with just you know, where is Blake
(29:58):
gonna go? Where do you? What do you dream of? Buddy?
You know I started to become a lot more just
ambitious and really realizing that you know this, There's a
lot of crazy things that happened in this life, but
it's short, and so I love to um continuous ambitious
path find someone that wants to live that adventurous, ambitious
(30:18):
life with me. I'm super happy as I am single alone,
but I know that it could be elevated with that
right person. Until then, I'm not gonna chase it. I'm
not gonna I think I know what I want. I
hope they just falls in my lap. Until then, I'm
gonna continue to focus on the things I love, and
that's focusing on wildlife conservation and animals and try to
do some good in the world and hopefully that that
(30:38):
karma falls back in my lap with the right person
one day and I can continue to just follow that
dream of that passion with them. Well, um, you know
would be inappropriate. I didn't ask, you know, give us,
uh some ways that people are listening and some organizations
you're part of, and some things that if they want to,
you know, help out with as well. What are those
organizations and how can people best support you? Oh, she's okay, Uh,
(31:03):
great organizations. I would start off with World Animal News
Katie Cleary, who does a really amazing job wrapping up
all the most important uh animal related news in the world,
and things that we could do to step up and
help out aside from that Big Life Foundation, whereas that
Kenya working with with them and really bringing to light
(31:24):
all the poaching issues human wildlife conflict because it pertains
to elephants. And yeah I have re Trade and Ryan o'horn.
Um care for what there's There's so many. If you
go to my Instagram and or Mowgli moins Fund where
I do support a lot of these organizations. D m
me if you really need some some help and direction
or just see who I'm following and those are the
right organizations to follow. Great man, Well, thanks for sitting
(31:47):
down with Thanks for sharing you watching Clayton's season. I've
watched the first two episodes. I haven't since I'm trying to.
It gives me weird feelings right now, Like this last date.
Someone told me that Clayton went on a horse state
to a country singer date and that was my one
on KI. So I'm just like, I don't need to.
I don't need to go back there, you know, I
don't need to. Yeah, take some time. The show will
(32:09):
be there when you're ready. Promise. It's it definitely goes away.
It's it's it's the cockroach that keeps on living. Hey, Blake,
thank you again um for joining the almost famous podcast.
This in depth episode has been fantastic, wors some the
best our listeners are gonna wish the best. If you're listening,
go out there and suppoor Blake, tell me, tell him
(32:31):
you got his back. And you know the best thing
about this, Blake, I'll tell you. I'll close it here. Um,
everybody was, you know, team be entertaining Team Lauren, and
ultimately that wasn't helpful either way. I didn't want to
people be on my side or not her side, and
her side not my side. Um, Ultimately we can lift
(32:53):
each each other both up and say, hey, we're gonna
do our best things and there's a good life in
front of you, and I wish that for you, man,
and we all do. I appreciate that, man, I really do,
because it's been crazy. So take all the support we
can get. Let's right back at you. That's right, man. Hey,
thanks Blake, of course, take care, Blake. Appreciate you, man,
Thanks for doing this, no sweat. Enjoy of the rest
(33:14):
of your trip there. Yeah, give Koba a hug for
me if you don't mind. Yeah, well Mr Cleek too. Alright, buddy, alright,
gonna take care later. Follow the Benn and Ashley I
Almost Famous podcast on I Heart Radio or subscribe wherever
you listen to podcasts.
Hosts And Creators
Ben Higgins
Ashley Iaconetti
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.