October 7, 2023 • 34 mins
On today’s podcast I have 'Ella May Ding' who most of Australia would know from 'Married At First Sight' but is now the narrator of 'Love Triangle' a different dating show with a big twist now on Stan Australia.
The 'MAFS' alumni "never thought in her wildest dreams" she would be a TV narrator – let alone for another dating series. However, with a very worldly tone to her voice and enough experience in the game - I think this transition from reality TV participant to TV Presenter is going to be a smooth transition.
Since we last saw her on television - she has spilt from Mitch, her former TV husband and found love again. Her career in television is on the up and if you missed the first season of 'Love Triangle' that is no bother to her, as there is plenty of time to catch up on the popular 'Stan Australia' streaming service.
- We will talk about the way in which this show works, from setting up three singles up blindly via text to the judgmental way we all approach dating.
- 'Ella' will talk about her social media and if she worries about being cancelled for her opinions. What she thinks of the 'Dominica' vs 'Olivia' debacle now that there is more water under the bridge and how she has grown from her reality TV experience.
- We will discuss some of the shows first matches in episodes 1 and 2. Who 'Ella' thinks did a good job standing up for themselves and if there is a real chance of finding love?
Plus we will get plenty of exclusives from behind the scenes of ‘Love Triangle.’ Which you can catch up on 'Stan Australia’ which already has dropped the first two eps of series two this week.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload, the podcast past.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Deep that line.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back, guys to TV Reload. As you may know,
my name is Benjamin Norris and this is your podcast
to get all the inside goss on the popular TV
shows that you may be watching from around the world. Undeniably,
our TV sets are a major part of our home entertainment,
and yet very little is known about how our favorite
shows get made. So each episode I've been finding guests
that want to dive just that little bit deeper to
(00:26):
the shows they're currently making, so that you can hear
all their exclusive stories and gain access to the biggest
names in Australian television. I want to thank you for
downloading or subscribing to this podcast however you've found me.
I love hearing your feedback, so make sure you leave
a review or a comment on your chosen podcast platform.
On today's podcast, I have Ellen Ding, who most of
Australia would know from Married at First Side, but is
(00:47):
now the narrator of Love Triangle, a different dating show
with a big twist now Onstann Australia. This Math's alumni
never thought in her wildest dreams that she would be
a narrator of a television show alone another dating series, However,
with a very worldly tone to her voice and another
experience in the game, I think this transition from reality
(01:08):
TV participant to TV presenter is going to be a
pretty smooth transition. Since we last saw Ella on television,
she has split from Mitch, who was her former TV husband.
You'd know that if you read the Daily Mail or
any magazine in the country or follow her on social media,
but you would also know that she has found love again.
Her career in television is on the up and up,
(01:29):
and if you've missed the first season of Love Triangle,
that is no bother to her, as there's plenty of
time to catch up on the popular stand streaming service.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
We will talk.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
About the way in which this show works, from setting
up three singles blindly via text to the judgmental way
we all approach dating. Alla will talk about her social
media and if she worries about being canceled from her opinions,
what she thinks of the Dominica versus Olivia Debarkle now
that there's been more water under the bridge, and how
she has grown from her reality TV experience. We will
(02:00):
discuss some of the show's first matches in episodes one
and two, who Ella thinks did a good job standing
up for themselves, and if there's a real chance of
actually finding love on this show. Plus, we will get
plenty of exclusives from behind the scenes of Love Triangle
season two, which you can now catch up on on
stut Australia, which already has its first two episodes out
this week. Anyway, let's bring Ella into the podcasting. Guys,
(02:22):
I really hope you enjoyed this chat, and I'm pretty
sure that you're going to leave being quite desperate to
watch the show. How are you anyway?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm good.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I'm a little bit tired today, but I'm always good.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay, Well, you look fresh, so you don't have to
worry about that. If that's how you look tired, I
sign me up. Oh, this is a pretty cool gig
for you. You know, how did this opportunity come up? Because
people go on shows like Married at First Sight and
that's the last we ever see of them.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Honestly, such a random opportunity to come up, Like, I
never imagined myself.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
To be narrating a show.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
So Tara the ep for Maths we've always stayed in
touch through social media, and then she just reached out
to me through Instagram with the opportunity, and yeah, I
mean it was a no brainer to work with her.
But in a different way. Straight away, I was like, great,
this is a new challenge, it's a new skill, it's
(03:14):
from a different perspective of the show.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Throw me in, let's go.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
You always hear these horror stories. I know Tara and
she's a lovely person, but like you hear the horror
stories of her clashing with some of the contestants on Maths.
Is it hard to navigate that relationship? Like did you
clash with her on the show when you were making it?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I mean I never really clashed like in a bad
way with any production or cars. I wouldn't say it
was ever bad Tara. I just looked at the big boss.
I was like, she's the big boss. Just to do
what she says, Like, if she's telling you to get
to the point of a conversation, just get there, Like,
just don't get on the bad side. I feel like
that's just common sense. Though for me with any of
(03:54):
these experiences, it's like you're not there to piss the
production or like the team off, whether it's build a relationship,
connect or whatever kind of reality show, it is like,
you're there to do that part of it. Don't make
it so hard for them.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, there's a series of mass filming at the moment.
Maybe they'll listen to this and realize the story goes
really well for you if you do what Tara says.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
So to me, it was really just common sense to
kind of be nice to her.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I think your voice suits this series so well. You
have like a very street wise, charismatic way of speaking.
It kind of gives me like Secret Life of Us
narration love.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
That thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I like to think that my voice does come from
a place of like experience. You know, we've all got
a story to tell, right, and so I do. I
listen and watch Love Trianglan was like, Wow, it really
does work well. Like the first time I watched it,
I was like, well, I don't know, Like it's always
a bit weird hearing yourself, especially in this sort of situation.
So I was a bit weirded out at first, But
(04:57):
now I've watched it a few times, I'm like, ah,
I actually think it does work.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I feel like there's something very sexy, but very interesting
about the way in which you are articulating it without
it being too overpowering and distracting from the show.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, and I think as well, like what Tara and
John and what they really were wanting was, or how
they fell in choosing me, I guess was that my
voice is coming from like the place of I've been
through what these guys are all going through. Like I've
done reality TV to hope to find love. I've been
through what they're going through post show, and now I'm
(05:33):
in a healthy relationship. So it's almost like my voice
is coming from where they've all been.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
There's an authority that comes with you doing this, Like
I think even for people who didn't watch Maths, they'll
be like, who is this voice? Like it's very intoxicating.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, thank you, I'll take.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
That for people who might not have seen series one.
So Love Triangle sees, you know, six singles who are
all mad with two suitors. At first, they can only
communicate via text and phone call, which I think is crazy.
The rule is that no one can physically describe themselves,
so like selfies and facetiming up apparently all out of
(06:12):
the question. It's very juicy, but like, after three days
of communicating virtually the singles must choose the match that
they think is the most potential setting people up for
you know, a bit of a disaster, but it makes
very good television.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It's a very interesting and wild concept. You know, we're
also used to on the dating apps, like just choosing
someone based off the looks most of the time, if
you are swiping your looking for that instant oh my gosh, hey,
or she's hot or like something that they're physically attracted to,
rather even getting to.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Know who they actually are as a person.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
So I think it is a really cool concept how
they are texting for just a few days and it's like, okay,
you've got a few days to build a connection or
chemistry or build something so that this the original chooses one.
So it's kind of like and then both the singles
know that they're kind of like in competition in a
way that they've got to spark something fiery or flirty up.
(07:09):
I couldn't imagine doing I think it would be really hard.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I'm someone who married someone on television that they've never
met before. Maybe it's easier.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I feel like it's easier to do that because I
don't know. It's like you're going on a blind date,
but yes, you're marrying them, But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It's I think it's harder what they're doing in love triangle.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I like it because you know, for me, I always
was attracted to men who were taller than me. I
was like, it was a non negotiable I needed to
be the shorter man in the relationship. And yet I'm
being with a partner now for thirteen years who is
much shorter than me, and we are such a good match.
But it just goes to show you that those superficial
things that we put in place, the things that we
(07:47):
think we need in a relationship, aren't maybe the things
that we need.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
There's so much more to if we're trying to find
that person who we hope to be with forever.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Looks die over time.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's like the soul and the personality and like their
values and the interests and hobbies. It's all those things
that keep relationships alive right like forever.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And I also do think that looks grow.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I've definitely dated before where I wasn't really attracted to them,
but something kept me in and then they went from
being you know, maybe a six out of ten to
like a ten out of ten because of the personality.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
One of my best friends calls it talented man syndrome
because she likes musos and she's like, he could be disgusting,
but if he can play guitar, She's like, he goes
from two to like a ten. So and that changes
for everyone. We've all got our strange dynamics on you know,
what can escalate a two to a ten, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
But I think in this generation that we live in
now and like this this world of modern dating, yes,
it's very scary out there, it's pretty like harsh now.
I just feel like it's really like it's sad the
way that it, you know, is going. I think that
we all just need to be a lot more open
minded because there's so many more women that are, you know,
older in their thirties who are successful, gorgeous, but it's single.
(09:01):
And I feel like men as well, like are becoming
more commitment fobes or noncommittal because they're like, is they're
better than what's in front of me? Like no one's
It seems like people just aren't like happy enough because
they're always wondering is they're better.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Is they're better?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, I think that the fuck boy derivative comes from
there's a lot of younger parents saying to their boys,
don't settle down and get married early, like play the
field just like they've been told to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It is very different.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And the fuck boys, I feel like they're just everywhere now,
like they're just breeding with mates and telling all their
mates how to be. And even the conversations that men
are having these days are very different about women. And
I feel like for women it hasn't really changed that much.
And I'm just speaking from my experience for me being
single for Nelly ten years and my conversations that I
(09:52):
was having with my girlfriends, it always stayed the same.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But I feel like with men it's changed a lot.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, the cheap, cheap being passed around at these pubs.
They're on the beers, the nose beers. They're out there
and they're swapping these ways in which that you can
court a woman and make her feel like the universe
only that they're all lines and they're saying them to everybody.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You know, bread crumbing, there's love bombing, there's ghosting, like
there's these all these things that people have come up
with over time that are so real now and it's
very scary.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
How much of what happens in the series do you
know about when you're recording your part of the show, Like,
that's the thing that I think would be really fascinating.
Are you just reading lines or are you following production
with how these relationships are working out?
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I'm literally finding out as I read.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I didn't get to see basically any of it properly
until I recorded the second last or the final voiceover.
And yeah, so when I was reading the script, I'd
be like, wait what I don't even know what these
people look like.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Properly, Like who's this? Oh my gosh, this actually just happened.
Like I was always a bit distracted because I was like, wait,
I need answers. This can't be this can't be happening.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
But it was hard to like embody the emotion without
actually seeing it. Hey, this is going to be a
really sad scene, so let's try to take it down
the tone and you know, slow it down or okay,
now we're storytelling, or now this is exciting, and like
it was.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It was really it was really challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
But do you have a director there that's sort of
directing you through those emotions, like though that probably doesn't
suit what's happened, or.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Definitely someone there.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I'm not just in a room by myself.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
You can read along with it in your book. You
will know it is time to turn the page when
you know.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I was working with Joseph who was from EndemolShine, and
he was great, like he never made me feel like
I wasn't doing it right, which I was a bit
nervous about going into it. I was like, oh my gosh,
what if I do this really terribly? What if isn't
it's not up to scratch, like this is such a
big deal. But no, he always, like real shured me
and gave me some tips, and pointer is and we're
(12:03):
both very happy with how it's come out. So I
went back and watched Love Triangle season one to hear
who the narrator was, because I was like, wait, sometimes
you just forget, like what it sounds like. And my
voice is very different to season one's narrator, like it's
you know, ten tones deeper.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Now it works so much better. I like the deepness
to it, though, as I said, it's that authority. What
do you think of the matches so far, so episodes
one and two are out, so we don't want to
try and spoil too much, but I guess, yeah, what
are you thinking? What are your thoughts on these matches
so far?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Well, obviously what we've seen is some haven't been overly happy.
Those first impressions are really important, I guess, especially at
the start of an experience. We're we're about to move
in with a complete stranger for six weeks, so your
first impressions are.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Important, but you're also super nervous.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
You're in these controlled environments, so it's hard to adapt
straight away.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I think it's really interesting.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I mean, as it will unfold and as we'll see
how some might flourish, some might not. I think I
really loved Emily at the start where she went on
her date with Sam. I did love how Emily gave
it back to him a bit right away. That was like, Okay,
she's a tough chick, like she knows, she knows her worth,
(13:18):
and she knows she feel like is a confident woman.
So I did love how she gave it back to
him a bit.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I kind of feel like, is this show setting people
up for love or is this show setting us up
as an audience and these contestants to sort of expose
how superficial we are because a lot of the matches
I'm watching, and this is the beauty of this show,
because you yourself are being judgmental. You yourself are making
these snap judgments. But are they setting these people up
(13:44):
to expose those moments that are happening more often than
not where the guy's too short, or she's too masculine,
or she's had too much botox, or she's a comedian
and you know he's a blokey guy, Like, are we
setting people up in situations where those dynamics aren't looking
out to expose that superficiality in the dating world.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think it's really that's a really interesting question.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think for the cast it could be, you know,
a bit of a reality check And I think a
lot of us sometimes need that because we do live
now in this like TikTok, you know, something's up for
five seconds. It's like we live in this short attention
span world now with access to everything at our fingertips.
So I think for the cast it will be a
bit of a wake up call and we need that.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And I think as the audience as well.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And I'm speaking from the way I perceive things, and
I might be different to a lot of people, but
when I see certain personalities or traits and things like that,
I'm like, oo, like I wouldn't want to be like that,
you know. Or people might be able to sit there
and be like, okay, I am like that. They won't
tell anyone, but they might be like, okay, I behave
like that, and they might be able to recognize the
(14:55):
audience what they're saying online and how most people don't
really like that and the negative comments that are going
to come out, because that's inevitable.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Not everyone's obviously going to be liked. I don't know.
I think it's a.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Really good learning experience, like as as a viewer and
as well being the cast. You know, we come off
these shows and we have a we have a lot
of time to reflect, and then we see ourselves on TV,
and I think it's a really good opportunity to look
and be like, Okay, maybe I need to apologize. Maybe
I can learn from this, and maybe I don't want
to be that person anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
But did you self reflect though after watching Married at
First Sight? I mean, I mean, I loved you on
that show, and I thought you handled it all beautifully actually,
But did you look at a thing that you saw
yourself on that show and think I'm going to do
that differently now?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
My relationship with Mitch was like the biggest wake up
call I've ever had with basically any guy I've ever dated.
And even though you know, it was reality TV for
Mitch and I, I mean, it was very real feelings.
I really liked the guy, but also I did lose
myself in there a bit.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
You know, we were under pretty strict rules.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I wasn't able to see my friends off family, so
I wasn't doing things my day to day things that
reminded me of who I am. So I kind of
molded to him and what he was hoping for and
what he wanted. And when I came home after the
show and everything you finished filming, I just remember being like,
where have I been for three months?
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Like?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Who?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Like what?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I was so confused.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
For so for like six months after the show, and yeah,
I realized, you know, don't ever quiet yourself. For me,
it was like, don't ever hold back just because like
he would want that, you know, don't protect him on
in these situations if that's not what you want to do,
like one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
It made me realize so much.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah, not to lose yourself. I think that is. Yeah,
I think that's an important thing, but it's not an
easy thing. I mean, you yourself said this. Reality TV
gave you that opportunity to be able to watch yourself
and learn from it. But I think we kind of
know that as a giver and not to lose ourselves,
but sometimes it's impossible to do with some people.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, definitely is hard, and you know, we're always
working on ourselves. We're always a work in progress. And
I think that's what's exciting about getting older is even
when we're seventy, will be still figuring stuff out, and
even still now, like I'm in a relationship. It's my
first proper relationship in over a decade, and I'm still
figuring it out and still trying to keep my independence,
(17:19):
but you know, learning about compromise and learning about how
to meet someone halfway and like still doing my things.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And He's like, it's we're always learning.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I think it's just being self aware and knowing what
you need to work on, and like reaching out to
friends or reaching out to family, or listening to podcasts
and reading books and figuring out how can I change
this or how can I evolve in that way?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
But I'm very big on all of that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
I listen to podcasts like that every day about relationships
and like stress and hormones, and like, I'm always so
intrigued about it all.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Well, one of the people that's going to ask you
about was Nell.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Nell's the comedian, you know, and I always felt like
right from the start that she was going to get
matched up with boys that didn't want to be with her.
And the reason why I was a little bit nervous
about that is because I feel like Nell is that
girl that a lot of straight boys that I've known
try to avoid. I'll never forget being in an office
environment with a whole bunch of straight boys and we're
watching thirty Rock back in the day and Liz Lemon,
(18:24):
which is Tina Fey, you know, is one of the
central characters and very funny and very smart. But all
of the boys were like, Yuck's she's the woman that
you don't want to be with. And I was like,
it's sad to watch Nell you know, being set up
with these but it's sad to see her go on
a date with a man who proved me right and
(18:44):
that he was kind of a little bit put off
by that side of her.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I think for girls or women like Nelly, I mean
I've also got girlfriends that are similar or have gone
through similar things and don't feel like they fit the
perfect creag right, because again social media, it's like we're
always comparing as women on social media. I think for
Nelly and that kind of personality, it's really who you
(19:12):
surround yourself with, right, Like I think in her job,
she's she's got such a high energy, high personality. I
think it's very courageous and very brave as well what
she does. So I think the kind of guys that
don't see her for who she is, because maybe it's
the looks that they're you know, putting in front of them,
(19:33):
then they're not the right kind of guys. You don't
want to be with a guy that's just looking for
the tall, big boobs ass abs, like you don't want
to be with the guy that just cares about that
kind of stuff, because, like I said, over time, like
that stuff dies, Like we're going to be old and
wrinkley one day, like, no matter how much work you've
(19:54):
had done to your body or your Facebook, going to
get there like.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
You, and then they probably won't even look like her
I were ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
I can tell you that my partner and I we
do not look the same as we did ten years ago.
So I'm hoping that we're there for a different reason
because things aren't looking as tight as they used to be.
And I'm talking about my face just in case someone's
going to in case someone's going to come for me
on that comment. But yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I mean, like, you know, if.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I was someone that was getting rejected because of my looks,
then I would be being I would be saying thank
you for that anyway, you know, because then he's not
the right kind or they aren't the right kind if
they're purely just going for someone who looks a certain way,
because that stuff does go away eventually, and there's just
(20:40):
so much more to connecting with someone than looks. I
think it's a bonus, Like, I think it's absolutely a
bonus if you are completely and utterly attracted to their
looks as well as their personality. I think personality should
come first and all the rest, all the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
We all have different entry points. For me with my relationship,
I always find that yes, I am physically attracted to him,
but also we have very similar family values. What's important
to us and how we spend our time matches quite well.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I think, yeah, all of those, like the looks should
come way after all the other stuff, And yeah, I
do think it's a bonus.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
So we all grew up with magazines, you know, with
Brad Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston or whatever. Like,
we all sort of were brought up with Disney movies
where we want the trophy, whether girls and guys care
to admit it. You know, I think growing up, we
all have this ambition to be with this person who's
quite beautiful that makes us feel better about ourselves because
(21:38):
they're beautiful, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I mean, we look at all the celebrities out there
that we've grown up reading in magazines. Most of them
are not in very healthy relationships or they've divorced, or
that's the way I tend to see it. And then
I watch movies these days, and I see the most
gorgeous actresses that are like out of this world. And
then I go on Google because I'm like, wait, I
(22:00):
think married.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Do they have kids?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Like that's my number one question to my partner because
he knows the insight on celebrities, and I'm like, wait,
do they have kids?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Are they And He'll be like.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
No, no, they're not happy. Hugh Jackman's now single, come.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
On, I know, Like it blows my mind.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
And yeah, like we are always looking at celebrities and
you know, there's that saying now that Instagram is just
a highlight reel, and I think it really is for
a lot of celebrities, you know, especially in Hollywood, Like
they can really filter and pick and choose exactly what
they want us to see and read, and we can't
look at them because I just think it's very unrealistic
and it's like a fairy.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Tale land that they're in that isn't reality.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Instagram's also really fucked up our lives with you know,
curating who we want to be, not even just curating
or you know, putting together the most amazing photos and
touching them up, but also only presenting the certain parts
of our lives that we want to put forward. It's
also unreal, like it's it's just so exhausting to try
and keep up that facade.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I think, yeah, and I impletely agree, Like Instagram is
so different now compared to what it used to be.
All the filters and people editing stuff, like it's it's
out of control, and there's so many young, impressionable women
and meet you know, men who use social media for inspiration,
but they're not really looking in the right places for
(23:19):
that kind of inspiration because it's all filtered, it's not real.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Well, I tell you a funny story. So I did
a reality show and in that world, not in my series,
but someone who's in that show franchise world, very attractive
on social media and a straight friend of mine set
I'll come along to this event with you because I
really want to meet this person. It's important for me
to not say this person's name because I don't want
to shame them. But I was like, yes, you should
(23:43):
come along. You know, they're definitely going to be there,
and he was like, that's.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Her, And that does happen very often. I also hear it.
I hear it very often.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I don't go to well, I like, she's a lovely
person as well, come on, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Of course.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
But I do hear that often, and like, I don't
go to any events. You won't see me really at
any I stay in my little bubble in Melbourne, but
I'll have people message me saying, oh I saw so
and so, like she looks so different in real life,
and it is true, you know, they're two different people
and personalities. People also, I think, especially TikTokers these days.
(24:19):
I mean I don't really use TikTok. I'm very good
at it, but from what I hear from people who
have met famous TikTokers is that they're completely different people.
They have this personality behind a phone, but they don't
you know, they have social anxiety. They don't leave the house.
And I think as well, that's what social media is
doing to us. It's stopping us from having real connections
(24:42):
with humans, like interaction. People are not going out as
much anymore, but everything is virtual now, like everything is
on our laptops and our phones, and don't have enough
real human interaction on a day to day basis. And
as well, everyone sits on their phones at these events.
They're not actually present. It's more like we're going to
these events to say that we've just been there. You're
(25:03):
not really actually bonding with anyone on a deep level.
It's very surface level, and I just crave so much
more than that a lot these days. So that's why
I don't tend to go, because I prefer mingling with
like minded.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Or I was going to say, you know, they've borrowed
a little bit from Maths in this season, and we
got a tease of that later on with these dinner
parties and everything. I just wanted to ask, you, do
you get PTSD from watching some of those dinner parties
back after being gone married at first sight?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
To be honest, I had overall like the best time
on Maths. The dinner parties. Yeah, look, they are long nights.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I don't know the length of Love Triangle nights, but
for Maths, you know, sometimes we would be it'd be
like a ten hour in total situation.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
No PTSD for me. If anything, I probably have a
bit of fomo. I'd be like, I want to be there,
I'm missing out, Like.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
I always had a good time, whether it was mujob
with Dom like we still always somehow I tried to
have fun and yeah, no PTSD.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Okay, well that is good. And the other question I've
always wanted to ask you is there was a lot
of discussion on like blogs and forums and podcasts and
everything about the relationship between Olivia and Dom on your
series Have Married at First Sight, and a lot of
people saying that it could have been played either way.
You know, the version we watched, we saw Dom as
the kind of the hero and Olivia kind of as
(26:20):
the villain. And then I read a lot of about
stuff online from people who either worked on the show
and said it could have been edited either way. What's
your take on that? Do you think what you watched
on that series of the show was presented the way
that it happened, or do you think those two women
were sort of put into character types to make for
exciting television?
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Great question.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Look what you guys see on TV, as you would know,
like you see about one percent, right.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
You know, dinner parties.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Let's say they go for nearly a nine hour time
and it goes to air for an hour and forty minutes,
but really like twenty minutes is getting ready for it
twenty minutes as boxes, twenty minutes as the boxes at
the end the dinner plant is only about fifty minutes
that you guys are seeing and that's one conversation where
there's about ten different conversations, So there's so much content
that is missed. So really, when you put it like that,
(27:12):
you guys only saw like a tiny bit of the
explosive situation that may have gone down. So there was
even more to what Olivia was saying, and you know
what Dom was saying. And I don't think anyone was
really like, I don't think Dom was necessarily made out
to be a hero. I think that she was just
really outspoken and people didn't necessarily like how good she
(27:38):
was at sticking up for herself and saying her point
of view.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
She was saying what everybody was thinking. And I know
that for a fact.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
After the show, the divide that happened, and you know,
the online trolling in the bullying, that was all just
absolutely chaotic and horrible.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Never would wish any of.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That stuff upon anybody, no matter how bad you've done
on reality TV. But you can't make people look a
certain way, like the choice of words that were said
for both of them. They did say, producers aren't telling
us what to say. If they are, and you do it,
that's your own choice. But you can't necessarily blame an edit,
(28:16):
because yes, they can change where you might have said something,
but if you said something, you still said it, and
like all your behavior or your actions, you know, So
I don't think that they were able to control who
was going to be or look better at the end. Yeah,
like it was crazy. You guys saw a snippet of it,
(28:38):
so imagine that times a thousand was crazy. It was crazy,
Like you just can't script that kind of stuff, Like
you just can't. Like it's yeah, far from being a script.
It was just all very real behavior on both ends.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah. I think there's so much pressure as well on
all of these people coming off these shows and what
happens afterwards. It's like you can post one thing, you
can live and die by your social media posts. You know,
I'd be these days if I had the followings of
the people like yourselves that have come off Math. So
I'd be so scared about putting my opinions forward and
being canceled from my opinions. Do you worry about the
(29:15):
content that you push out on your social media that
you may lose your followings or you may gain your
followings for maybe opinions that you've got.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, for sure, I think it's important if we have
a strong opinion that we believe in to share it
understanding that people might not like it. I mean, I've
had backlash before on podcast episodes that I've done where
media outlets might have changed the narrative or the messaging
of my podcast and then I would.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Receive backlash, and you just have to own up to it.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Like if you might have said something that and you're like, okay, shit,
maybe I did fuck up, maybe I did do something
wrong there, just own up to it, Like it's just
easier to do that, take accountability and learn from it.
With people going on reality TV and then coming off,
obviously you don't know what you're about to dive in
to and you don't know what the whole globe or
Australia is going to say, but you just have to
(30:04):
deal with it, Like I personally think in a very
controlled way, like don't be to act, don't be too
quick to act on something and speak on something like
just think about it for a second, because the way
we feel yesterday about an opinion, tomorrow we're going to
feel very different. And I think that, yeah, it's very
good to just like wait, even if it's like twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
If someone's like done something and it's.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Like, holy shit, that's so hectic, wait twenty minutes, like
chat with your mate, your manager, your mom, like before
going on your gram and doing a rent or making
a TikTok, Just like, wait twenty minutes, and then you'll
probably feel different about the situation.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I think Rob Mills once said to me, I think
it was I think it was Millsy, and he was like,
he goes to post on his social media and he
waits half a day. I think it was. He's like,
he puts it in his drafts, and then if he
still wants to post it half a day later, then
it's okay. But he was like, I'm so shocked at
the amount of stuff that I go, what was I thinking?
Speaker 3 (31:01):
You know, I'm not necessarily like as controversial as others.
You know, obviously, I've always got an opinion about anything,
But I just choose whether it's really worth me sharing
my opinion only if I think that it's really worth sharing.
The few times where I did speak up for me,
it was common sense. Like when I spoke up in
(31:24):
those situations with the girls and no one else did,
I'm like, wait, why is everyone not actually saying anything
right now.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I'm so confused.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
This is the truth though, Like I'll just say something
if it's like, uh, this is black, I'm white right now,
So that's when I'll speak up, if it's like, okay,
come on, But otherwise I'm just happy to chill back here,
and if others are going to start a cat fight,
I'll get the popcorn.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I had so many questions. I was like, I wanted
to ask you about Mitch's brothers now on the new
series of Maths when we don't have time for that.
But I was going to ask you about that. So
many questions, but we have run out of time, so
I have to ask you my last question being what
is something from behind the scenes, something that we won't
see that the viewers won't get the chance to see
from the makings of Love Triangle season two for you,
(32:11):
like not necessarily to ruin anything, but maybe just something
funny that happened whilst you were narrating the show.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Well, I mean, like I said, it's I'm in a
bit of a position where it's just me in my lane, right,
Like I don't know the cast, I'm not really with production.
I'm kind of just like in a soundproof room by
myself and then on Zoom with Joseph. So I didn't
really get to like be a part of the filming
aspect of it all. I didn't get to see any
(32:37):
of it. Like I'm watching it basically with you guys.
So I mean, yeah, you know, I hear about the
goths that goes down and waiting for that stuff to unfold,
knowing what could what's coming.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I mean, there's probably already so much more that I
also don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
I almost feel like I'm on the same level as
the audience, if I'm honest.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Like I wish, I wish I was closed to the
cart so I could get the cars because I have Bomo.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
But I think season three you need to have a
producer's credit, and you need to be there with all
of the filming. I mean, you have such a wealth
of knowledge about being a reality TV contestant as well
as being a woman who's been looking for love and
found love, like all of that would be a wealth
of knowledge on set that that might offer, you know,
even more to the way in which nerating the show.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
That would be really cool. I mean, I think that
would be awesome. I could be like their little voice
of reason up here.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Maybe you should putting this into the universe. We're putting it.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
I love what.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I really appreciated chatting with you today. I can't wait
to see what you do with your career. I just
feel like we're at the start of watching what you
can do.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Honestly, it's been already such a wild ride. I can't
believe that my season of Maths only ended last year
in April.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Like that just blows my mind to even think that.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
And I'm super pumped to see I don't know what
the next opportunity, and I've loved chatting today.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Maybe we'll have to do it again because I love
to chat and I'm an open book, so like, we
can do this again for sure if.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
You ever want a debrief at the end of the series, hopefully. Yeah,
absolutely loved it. I think I looked at my thing
and I've asked twenty percent of my questions
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Oh we could you definitely do this again.
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload, the podcast past.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Deep that line.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome back, guys to TV Reload. As you may know,
my name is Benjamin Norris and this is your podcast
to get all the inside goss on the popular TV
shows that you may be watching from around the world. Undeniably,
our TV sets are a major part of our home entertainment,
and yet very little is known about how our favorite
shows get made. So each episode I've been finding guests
that want to dive just that little bit deeper to
(00:26):
the shows they're currently making, so that you can hear
all their exclusive stories and gain access to the biggest
names in Australian television. I want to thank you for
downloading or subscribing to this podcast however you've found me.
I love hearing your feedback, so make sure you leave
a review or a comment on your chosen podcast platform.
On today's podcast, I have Ellen Ding, who most of
Australia would know from Married at First Side, but is
(00:47):
now the narrator of Love Triangle, a different dating show
with a big twist now Onstann Australia. This Math's alumni
never thought in her wildest dreams that she would be
a narrator of a television show alone another dating series, However,
with a very worldly tone to her voice and another
experience in the game, I think this transition from reality
(01:08):
TV participant to TV presenter is going to be a
pretty smooth transition. Since we last saw Ella on television,
she has split from Mitch, who was her former TV husband.
You'd know that if you read the Daily Mail or
any magazine in the country or follow her on social media,
but you would also know that she has found love again.
Her career in television is on the up and up,
(01:29):
and if you've missed the first season of Love Triangle,
that is no bother to her, as there's plenty of
time to catch up on the popular stand streaming service.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
We will talk.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
About the way in which this show works, from setting
up three singles blindly via text to the judgmental way
we all approach dating. Alla will talk about her social
media and if she worries about being canceled from her opinions,
what she thinks of the Dominica versus Olivia Debarkle now
that there's been more water under the bridge, and how
she has grown from her reality TV experience. We will
(02:00):
discuss some of the show's first matches in episodes one
and two, who Ella thinks did a good job standing
up for themselves, and if there's a real chance of
actually finding love on this show. Plus, we will get
plenty of exclusives from behind the scenes of Love Triangle
season two, which you can now catch up on on
stut Australia, which already has its first two episodes out
this week. Anyway, let's bring Ella into the podcasting. Guys,
(02:22):
I really hope you enjoyed this chat, and I'm pretty
sure that you're going to leave being quite desperate to
watch the show. How are you anyway?
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm good.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I'm a little bit tired today, but I'm always good.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Okay, Well, you look fresh, so you don't have to
worry about that. If that's how you look tired, I
sign me up. Oh, this is a pretty cool gig
for you. You know, how did this opportunity come up? Because
people go on shows like Married at First Sight and
that's the last we ever see of them.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Honestly, such a random opportunity to come up, Like, I
never imagined myself.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
To be narrating a show.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
So Tara the ep for Maths we've always stayed in
touch through social media, and then she just reached out
to me through Instagram with the opportunity, and yeah, I
mean it was a no brainer to work with her.
But in a different way. Straight away, I was like, great,
this is a new challenge, it's a new skill, it's
(03:14):
from a different perspective of the show.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Throw me in, let's go.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
You always hear these horror stories. I know Tara and
she's a lovely person, but like you hear the horror
stories of her clashing with some of the contestants on Maths.
Is it hard to navigate that relationship? Like did you
clash with her on the show when you were making it?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I mean I never really clashed like in a bad
way with any production or cars. I wouldn't say it
was ever bad Tara. I just looked at the big boss.
I was like, she's the big boss. Just to do
what she says, Like, if she's telling you to get
to the point of a conversation, just get there, Like,
just don't get on the bad side. I feel like
that's just common sense. Though for me with any of
(03:54):
these experiences, it's like you're not there to piss the
production or like the team off, whether it's build a relationship,
connect or whatever kind of reality show, it is like,
you're there to do that part of it. Don't make
it so hard for them.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Well, there's a series of mass filming at the moment.
Maybe they'll listen to this and realize the story goes
really well for you if you do what Tara says.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
So to me, it was really just common sense to
kind of be nice to her.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
I think your voice suits this series so well. You
have like a very street wise, charismatic way of speaking.
It kind of gives me like Secret Life of Us
narration love.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
That thank you.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I like to think that my voice does come from
a place of like experience. You know, we've all got
a story to tell, right, and so I do. I
listen and watch Love Trianglan was like, Wow, it really
does work well. Like the first time I watched it,
I was like, well, I don't know, Like it's always
a bit weird hearing yourself, especially in this sort of situation.
So I was a bit weirded out at first, But
(04:57):
now I've watched it a few times, I'm like, ah,
I actually think it does work.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I feel like there's something very sexy, but very interesting
about the way in which you are articulating it without
it being too overpowering and distracting from the show.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, and I think as well, like what Tara and
John and what they really were wanting was, or how
they fell in choosing me, I guess was that my
voice is coming from like the place of I've been
through what these guys are all going through. Like I've
done reality TV to hope to find love. I've been
through what they're going through post show, and now I'm
(05:33):
in a healthy relationship. So it's almost like my voice
is coming from where they've all been.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
There's an authority that comes with you doing this, Like
I think even for people who didn't watch Maths, they'll
be like, who is this voice? Like it's very intoxicating.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Yeah, thank you, I'll take.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
That for people who might not have seen series one.
So Love Triangle sees, you know, six singles who are
all mad with two suitors. At first, they can only
communicate via text and phone call, which I think is crazy.
The rule is that no one can physically describe themselves,
so like selfies and facetiming up apparently all out of
(06:12):
the question. It's very juicy, but like, after three days
of communicating virtually the singles must choose the match that
they think is the most potential setting people up for
you know, a bit of a disaster, but it makes
very good television.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It's a very interesting and wild concept. You know, we're
also used to on the dating apps, like just choosing
someone based off the looks most of the time, if
you are swiping your looking for that instant oh my gosh, hey,
or she's hot or like something that they're physically attracted to,
rather even getting to.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Know who they actually are as a person.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
So I think it is a really cool concept how
they are texting for just a few days and it's like, okay,
you've got a few days to build a connection or
chemistry or build something so that this the original chooses one.
So it's kind of like and then both the singles
know that they're kind of like in competition in a
way that they've got to spark something fiery or flirty up.
(07:09):
I couldn't imagine doing I think it would be really hard.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I'm someone who married someone on television that they've never
met before. Maybe it's easier.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
I feel like it's easier to do that because I
don't know. It's like you're going on a blind date,
but yes, you're marrying them, But I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
It's I think it's harder what they're doing in love triangle.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
I like it because you know, for me, I always
was attracted to men who were taller than me. I
was like, it was a non negotiable I needed to
be the shorter man in the relationship. And yet I'm
being with a partner now for thirteen years who is
much shorter than me, and we are such a good match.
But it just goes to show you that those superficial
things that we put in place, the things that we
(07:47):
think we need in a relationship, aren't maybe the things
that we need.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
There's so much more to if we're trying to find
that person who we hope to be with forever.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Looks die over time.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's like the soul and the personality and like their
values and the interests and hobbies. It's all those things
that keep relationships alive right like forever.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And I also do think that looks grow.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I've definitely dated before where I wasn't really attracted to them,
but something kept me in and then they went from
being you know, maybe a six out of ten to
like a ten out of ten because of the personality.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
One of my best friends calls it talented man syndrome
because she likes musos and she's like, he could be disgusting,
but if he can play guitar, She's like, he goes
from two to like a ten. So and that changes
for everyone. We've all got our strange dynamics on you know,
what can escalate a two to a ten, you know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
But I think in this generation that we live in
now and like this this world of modern dating, yes,
it's very scary out there, it's pretty like harsh now.
I just feel like it's really like it's sad the
way that it, you know, is going. I think that
we all just need to be a lot more open
minded because there's so many more women that are, you know,
older in their thirties who are successful, gorgeous, but it's single.
(09:01):
And I feel like men as well, like are becoming
more commitment fobes or noncommittal because they're like, is they're
better than what's in front of me? Like no one's
It seems like people just aren't like happy enough because
they're always wondering is they're better.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Is they're better?
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, I think that the fuck boy derivative comes from
there's a lot of younger parents saying to their boys,
don't settle down and get married early, like play the
field just like they've been told to do that.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It is very different.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And the fuck boys, I feel like they're just everywhere now,
like they're just breeding with mates and telling all their
mates how to be. And even the conversations that men
are having these days are very different about women. And
I feel like for women it hasn't really changed that much.
And I'm just speaking from my experience for me being
single for Nelly ten years and my conversations that I
(09:52):
was having with my girlfriends, it always stayed the same.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
But I feel like with men it's changed a lot.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Yeah, the cheap, cheap being passed around at these pubs.
They're on the beers, the nose beers. They're out there
and they're swapping these ways in which that you can
court a woman and make her feel like the universe
only that they're all lines and they're saying them to everybody.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You know, bread crumbing, there's love bombing, there's ghosting, like
there's these all these things that people have come up
with over time that are so real now and it's
very scary.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
How much of what happens in the series do you
know about when you're recording your part of the show, Like,
that's the thing that I think would be really fascinating.
Are you just reading lines or are you following production
with how these relationships are working out?
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I'm literally finding out as I read.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
I didn't get to see basically any of it properly
until I recorded the second last or the final voiceover.
And yeah, so when I was reading the script, I'd
be like, wait what I don't even know what these
people look like.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Properly, Like who's this? Oh my gosh, this actually just happened.
Like I was always a bit distracted because I was like, wait,
I need answers. This can't be this can't be happening.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
But it was hard to like embody the emotion without
actually seeing it. Hey, this is going to be a
really sad scene, so let's try to take it down
the tone and you know, slow it down or okay,
now we're storytelling, or now this is exciting, and like
it was.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It was really it was really challenging.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
But do you have a director there that's sort of
directing you through those emotions, like though that probably doesn't
suit what's happened, or.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Definitely someone there.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I'm not just in a room by myself.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
You can read along with it in your book. You
will know it is time to turn the page when
you know.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
I was working with Joseph who was from EndemolShine, and
he was great, like he never made me feel like
I wasn't doing it right, which I was a bit
nervous about going into it. I was like, oh my gosh,
what if I do this really terribly? What if isn't
it's not up to scratch, like this is such a
big deal. But no, he always, like real shured me
and gave me some tips, and pointer is and we're
(12:03):
both very happy with how it's come out. So I
went back and watched Love Triangle season one to hear
who the narrator was, because I was like, wait, sometimes
you just forget, like what it sounds like. And my
voice is very different to season one's narrator, like it's
you know, ten tones deeper.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Now it works so much better. I like the deepness
to it, though, as I said, it's that authority. What
do you think of the matches so far, so episodes
one and two are out, so we don't want to
try and spoil too much, but I guess, yeah, what
are you thinking? What are your thoughts on these matches
so far?
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Well, obviously what we've seen is some haven't been overly happy.
Those first impressions are really important, I guess, especially at
the start of an experience. We're we're about to move
in with a complete stranger for six weeks, so your
first impressions are.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Important, but you're also super nervous.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
You're in these controlled environments, so it's hard to adapt
straight away.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I think it's really interesting.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I mean, as it will unfold and as we'll see
how some might flourish, some might not. I think I
really loved Emily at the start where she went on
her date with Sam. I did love how Emily gave
it back to him a bit right away. That was like, Okay,
she's a tough chick, like she knows, she knows her worth,
(13:18):
and she knows she feel like is a confident woman.
So I did love how she gave it back to
him a bit.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I kind of feel like, is this show setting people
up for love or is this show setting us up
as an audience and these contestants to sort of expose
how superficial we are because a lot of the matches
I'm watching, and this is the beauty of this show,
because you yourself are being judgmental. You yourself are making
these snap judgments. But are they setting these people up
(13:44):
to expose those moments that are happening more often than
not where the guy's too short, or she's too masculine,
or she's had too much botox, or she's a comedian
and you know he's a blokey guy, Like, are we
setting people up in situations where those dynamics aren't looking
out to expose that superficiality in the dating world.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I think it's really that's a really interesting question.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
I think for the cast it could be, you know,
a bit of a reality check And I think a
lot of us sometimes need that because we do live
now in this like TikTok, you know, something's up for
five seconds. It's like we live in this short attention
span world now with access to everything at our fingertips.
So I think for the cast it will be a
bit of a wake up call and we need that.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
And I think as the audience as well.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And I'm speaking from the way I perceive things, and
I might be different to a lot of people, but
when I see certain personalities or traits and things like that,
I'm like, oo, like I wouldn't want to be like that,
you know. Or people might be able to sit there
and be like, okay, I am like that. They won't
tell anyone, but they might be like, okay, I behave
like that, and they might be able to recognize the
(14:55):
audience what they're saying online and how most people don't
really like that and the negative comments that are going
to come out, because that's inevitable.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Not everyone's obviously going to be liked. I don't know.
I think it's a.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Really good learning experience, like as as a viewer and
as well being the cast. You know, we come off
these shows and we have a we have a lot
of time to reflect, and then we see ourselves on TV,
and I think it's a really good opportunity to look
and be like, Okay, maybe I need to apologize. Maybe
I can learn from this, and maybe I don't want
to be that person anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
But did you self reflect though after watching Married at
First Sight? I mean, I mean, I loved you on
that show, and I thought you handled it all beautifully actually,
But did you look at a thing that you saw
yourself on that show and think I'm going to do
that differently now?
Speaker 2 (15:39):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
My relationship with Mitch was like the biggest wake up
call I've ever had with basically any guy I've ever dated.
And even though you know, it was reality TV for
Mitch and I, I mean, it was very real feelings.
I really liked the guy, but also I did lose
myself in there a bit.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
You know, we were under pretty strict rules.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
I wasn't able to see my friends off family, so
I wasn't doing things my day to day things that
reminded me of who I am. So I kind of
molded to him and what he was hoping for and
what he wanted. And when I came home after the
show and everything you finished filming, I just remember being like,
where have I been for three months?
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Like?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Who?
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Like what?
Speaker 2 (16:17):
I was so confused.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
For so for like six months after the show, and yeah,
I realized, you know, don't ever quiet yourself. For me,
it was like, don't ever hold back just because like
he would want that, you know, don't protect him on
in these situations if that's not what you want to do,
like one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
It made me realize so much.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah, not to lose yourself. I think that is. Yeah,
I think that's an important thing, but it's not an
easy thing. I mean, you yourself said this. Reality TV
gave you that opportunity to be able to watch yourself
and learn from it. But I think we kind of
know that as a giver and not to lose ourselves,
but sometimes it's impossible to do with some people.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
You know, definitely is hard, and you know, we're always
working on ourselves. We're always a work in progress. And
I think that's what's exciting about getting older is even
when we're seventy, will be still figuring stuff out, and
even still now, like I'm in a relationship. It's my
first proper relationship in over a decade, and I'm still
figuring it out and still trying to keep my independence,
(17:19):
but you know, learning about compromise and learning about how
to meet someone halfway and like still doing my things.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And He's like, it's we're always learning.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I think it's just being self aware and knowing what
you need to work on, and like reaching out to
friends or reaching out to family, or listening to podcasts
and reading books and figuring out how can I change
this or how can I evolve in that way?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
But I'm very big on all of that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
I listen to podcasts like that every day about relationships
and like stress and hormones, and like, I'm always so
intrigued about it all.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Well, one of the people that's going to ask you
about was Nell.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
You know.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Nell's the comedian, you know, and I always felt like
right from the start that she was going to get
matched up with boys that didn't want to be with her.
And the reason why I was a little bit nervous
about that is because I feel like Nell is that
girl that a lot of straight boys that I've known
try to avoid. I'll never forget being in an office
environment with a whole bunch of straight boys and we're
watching thirty Rock back in the day and Liz Lemon,
(18:24):
which is Tina Fey, you know, is one of the
central characters and very funny and very smart. But all
of the boys were like, Yuck's she's the woman that
you don't want to be with. And I was like,
it's sad to watch Nell you know, being set up
with these but it's sad to see her go on
a date with a man who proved me right and
(18:44):
that he was kind of a little bit put off
by that side of her.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
I think for girls or women like Nelly, I mean
I've also got girlfriends that are similar or have gone
through similar things and don't feel like they fit the
perfect creag right, because again social media, it's like we're
always comparing as women on social media. I think for
Nelly and that kind of personality, it's really who you
(19:12):
surround yourself with, right, Like I think in her job,
she's she's got such a high energy, high personality. I
think it's very courageous and very brave as well what
she does. So I think the kind of guys that
don't see her for who she is, because maybe it's
the looks that they're you know, putting in front of them,
(19:33):
then they're not the right kind of guys. You don't
want to be with a guy that's just looking for
the tall, big boobs ass abs, like you don't want
to be with the guy that just cares about that
kind of stuff, because, like I said, over time, like
that stuff dies, Like we're going to be old and
wrinkley one day, like, no matter how much work you've
(19:54):
had done to your body or your Facebook, going to
get there like.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
You, and then they probably won't even look like her
I were ten years ago.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
I can tell you that my partner and I we
do not look the same as we did ten years ago.
So I'm hoping that we're there for a different reason
because things aren't looking as tight as they used to be.
And I'm talking about my face just in case someone's
going to in case someone's going to come for me
on that comment. But yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I mean, like, you know, if.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I was someone that was getting rejected because of my looks,
then I would be being I would be saying thank
you for that anyway, you know, because then he's not
the right kind or they aren't the right kind if
they're purely just going for someone who looks a certain way,
because that stuff does go away eventually, and there's just
(20:40):
so much more to connecting with someone than looks. I
think it's a bonus, Like, I think it's absolutely a
bonus if you are completely and utterly attracted to their
looks as well as their personality. I think personality should
come first and all the rest, all the other stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
We all have different entry points. For me with my relationship,
I always find that yes, I am physically attracted to him,
but also we have very similar family values. What's important
to us and how we spend our time matches quite well.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
I think, yeah, all of those, like the looks should
come way after all the other stuff, And yeah, I
do think it's a bonus.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
So we all grew up with magazines, you know, with
Brad Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston or whatever. Like,
we all sort of were brought up with Disney movies
where we want the trophy, whether girls and guys care
to admit it. You know, I think growing up, we
all have this ambition to be with this person who's
quite beautiful that makes us feel better about ourselves because
(21:38):
they're beautiful, you know.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I mean, we look at all the celebrities out there
that we've grown up reading in magazines. Most of them
are not in very healthy relationships or they've divorced, or
that's the way I tend to see it. And then
I watch movies these days, and I see the most
gorgeous actresses that are like out of this world. And
then I go on Google because I'm like, wait, I
(22:00):
think married.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Do they have kids?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Like that's my number one question to my partner because
he knows the insight on celebrities, and I'm like, wait,
do they have kids?
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Are they And He'll be like.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
No, no, they're not happy. Hugh Jackman's now single, come.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
On, I know, Like it blows my mind.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
And yeah, like we are always looking at celebrities and
you know, there's that saying now that Instagram is just
a highlight reel, and I think it really is for
a lot of celebrities, you know, especially in Hollywood, Like
they can really filter and pick and choose exactly what
they want us to see and read, and we can't
look at them because I just think it's very unrealistic
and it's like a fairy.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Tale land that they're in that isn't reality.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Instagram's also really fucked up our lives with you know,
curating who we want to be, not even just curating
or you know, putting together the most amazing photos and
touching them up, but also only presenting the certain parts
of our lives that we want to put forward. It's
also unreal, like it's it's just so exhausting to try
and keep up that facade.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
I think, yeah, and I impletely agree, Like Instagram is
so different now compared to what it used to be.
All the filters and people editing stuff, like it's it's
out of control, and there's so many young, impressionable women
and meet you know, men who use social media for inspiration,
but they're not really looking in the right places for
(23:19):
that kind of inspiration because it's all filtered, it's not real.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Well, I tell you a funny story. So I did
a reality show and in that world, not in my series,
but someone who's in that show franchise world, very attractive
on social media and a straight friend of mine set
I'll come along to this event with you because I
really want to meet this person. It's important for me
to not say this person's name because I don't want
to shame them. But I was like, yes, you should
(23:43):
come along. You know, they're definitely going to be there,
and he was like, that's.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Her, And that does happen very often. I also hear it.
I hear it very often.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
I don't go to well, I like, she's a lovely
person as well, come on, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Of course.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
But I do hear that often, and like, I don't
go to any events. You won't see me really at
any I stay in my little bubble in Melbourne, but
I'll have people message me saying, oh I saw so
and so, like she looks so different in real life,
and it is true, you know, they're two different people
and personalities. People also, I think, especially TikTokers these days.
(24:19):
I mean I don't really use TikTok. I'm very good
at it, but from what I hear from people who
have met famous TikTokers is that they're completely different people.
They have this personality behind a phone, but they don't
you know, they have social anxiety. They don't leave the house.
And I think as well, that's what social media is
doing to us. It's stopping us from having real connections
(24:42):
with humans, like interaction. People are not going out as
much anymore, but everything is virtual now, like everything is
on our laptops and our phones, and don't have enough
real human interaction on a day to day basis. And
as well, everyone sits on their phones at these events.
They're not actually present. It's more like we're going to
these events to say that we've just been there. You're
(25:03):
not really actually bonding with anyone on a deep level.
It's very surface level, and I just crave so much
more than that a lot these days. So that's why
I don't tend to go, because I prefer mingling with
like minded.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Or I was going to say, you know, they've borrowed
a little bit from Maths in this season, and we
got a tease of that later on with these dinner
parties and everything. I just wanted to ask, you, do
you get PTSD from watching some of those dinner parties
back after being gone married at first sight?
Speaker 2 (25:31):
To be honest, I had overall like the best time
on Maths. The dinner parties. Yeah, look, they are long nights.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I don't know the length of Love Triangle nights, but
for Maths, you know, sometimes we would be it'd be
like a ten hour in total situation.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
No PTSD for me. If anything, I probably have a
bit of fomo. I'd be like, I want to be there,
I'm missing out, Like.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
I always had a good time, whether it was mujob
with Dom like we still always somehow I tried to
have fun and yeah, no PTSD.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
Okay, well that is good. And the other question I've
always wanted to ask you is there was a lot
of discussion on like blogs and forums and podcasts and
everything about the relationship between Olivia and Dom on your
series Have Married at First Sight, and a lot of
people saying that it could have been played either way.
You know, the version we watched, we saw Dom as
the kind of the hero and Olivia kind of as
(26:20):
the villain. And then I read a lot of about
stuff online from people who either worked on the show
and said it could have been edited either way. What's
your take on that? Do you think what you watched
on that series of the show was presented the way
that it happened, or do you think those two women
were sort of put into character types to make for
exciting television?
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Great question.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Look what you guys see on TV, as you would know,
like you see about one percent, right.
Speaker 2 (26:48):
You know, dinner parties.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Let's say they go for nearly a nine hour time
and it goes to air for an hour and forty minutes,
but really like twenty minutes is getting ready for it
twenty minutes as boxes, twenty minutes as the boxes at
the end the dinner plant is only about fifty minutes
that you guys are seeing and that's one conversation where
there's about ten different conversations, So there's so much content
that is missed. So really, when you put it like that,
(27:12):
you guys only saw like a tiny bit of the
explosive situation that may have gone down. So there was
even more to what Olivia was saying, and you know
what Dom was saying. And I don't think anyone was
really like, I don't think Dom was necessarily made out
to be a hero. I think that she was just
really outspoken and people didn't necessarily like how good she
(27:38):
was at sticking up for herself and saying her point
of view.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
She was saying what everybody was thinking. And I know
that for a fact.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
After the show, the divide that happened, and you know,
the online trolling in the bullying, that was all just
absolutely chaotic and horrible.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Never would wish any of.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That stuff upon anybody, no matter how bad you've done
on reality TV. But you can't make people look a
certain way, like the choice of words that were said
for both of them. They did say, producers aren't telling
us what to say. If they are, and you do it,
that's your own choice. But you can't necessarily blame an edit,
(28:16):
because yes, they can change where you might have said something,
but if you said something, you still said it, and
like all your behavior or your actions, you know, So
I don't think that they were able to control who
was going to be or look better at the end. Yeah,
like it was crazy. You guys saw a snippet of it,
(28:38):
so imagine that times a thousand was crazy. It was crazy,
Like you just can't script that kind of stuff, Like
you just can't. Like it's yeah, far from being a script.
It was just all very real behavior on both ends.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah. I think there's so much pressure as well on
all of these people coming off these shows and what
happens afterwards. It's like you can post one thing, you
can live and die by your social media posts. You know,
I'd be these days if I had the followings of
the people like yourselves that have come off Math. So
I'd be so scared about putting my opinions forward and
being canceled from my opinions. Do you worry about the
(29:15):
content that you push out on your social media that
you may lose your followings or you may gain your
followings for maybe opinions that you've got.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Yeah, for sure, I think it's important if we have
a strong opinion that we believe in to share it
understanding that people might not like it. I mean, I've
had backlash before on podcast episodes that I've done where
media outlets might have changed the narrative or the messaging
of my podcast and then I would.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Receive backlash, and you just have to own up to it.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
Like if you might have said something that and you're like, okay, shit,
maybe I did fuck up, maybe I did do something
wrong there, just own up to it, Like it's just
easier to do that, take accountability and learn from it.
With people going on reality TV and then coming off,
obviously you don't know what you're about to dive in
to and you don't know what the whole globe or
Australia is going to say, but you just have to
(30:04):
deal with it, Like I personally think in a very
controlled way, like don't be to act, don't be too
quick to act on something and speak on something like
just think about it for a second, because the way
we feel yesterday about an opinion, tomorrow we're going to
feel very different. And I think that, yeah, it's very
good to just like wait, even if it's like twenty minutes.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
If someone's like done something and it's.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Like, holy shit, that's so hectic, wait twenty minutes, like
chat with your mate, your manager, your mom, like before
going on your gram and doing a rent or making
a TikTok, Just like, wait twenty minutes, and then you'll
probably feel different about the situation.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
I think Rob Mills once said to me, I think
it was I think it was Millsy, and he was like,
he goes to post on his social media and he
waits half a day. I think it was. He's like,
he puts it in his drafts, and then if he
still wants to post it half a day later, then
it's okay. But he was like, I'm so shocked at
the amount of stuff that I go, what was I thinking?
Speaker 3 (31:01):
You know, I'm not necessarily like as controversial as others.
You know, obviously, I've always got an opinion about anything,
But I just choose whether it's really worth me sharing
my opinion only if I think that it's really worth sharing.
The few times where I did speak up for me,
it was common sense. Like when I spoke up in
(31:24):
those situations with the girls and no one else did,
I'm like, wait, why is everyone not actually saying anything
right now.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
I'm so confused.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
This is the truth though, Like I'll just say something
if it's like, uh, this is black, I'm white right now,
So that's when I'll speak up, if it's like, okay,
come on, But otherwise I'm just happy to chill back here,
and if others are going to start a cat fight,
I'll get the popcorn.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
I had so many questions. I was like, I wanted
to ask you about Mitch's brothers now on the new
series of Maths when we don't have time for that.
But I was going to ask you about that. So
many questions, but we have run out of time, so
I have to ask you my last question being what
is something from behind the scenes, something that we won't
see that the viewers won't get the chance to see
from the makings of Love Triangle season two for you,
(32:11):
like not necessarily to ruin anything, but maybe just something
funny that happened whilst you were narrating the show.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Well, I mean, like I said, it's I'm in a
bit of a position where it's just me in my lane, right,
Like I don't know the cast, I'm not really with production.
I'm kind of just like in a soundproof room by
myself and then on Zoom with Joseph. So I didn't
really get to like be a part of the filming
aspect of it all. I didn't get to see any
(32:37):
of it. Like I'm watching it basically with you guys.
So I mean, yeah, you know, I hear about the
goths that goes down and waiting for that stuff to unfold,
knowing what could what's coming.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
I mean, there's probably already so much more that I
also don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
I almost feel like I'm on the same level as
the audience, if I'm honest.
Speaker 2 (32:56):
Like I wish, I wish I was closed to the
cart so I could get the cars because I have Bomo.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
But I think season three you need to have a
producer's credit, and you need to be there with all
of the filming. I mean, you have such a wealth
of knowledge about being a reality TV contestant as well
as being a woman who's been looking for love and
found love, like all of that would be a wealth
of knowledge on set that that might offer, you know,
even more to the way in which nerating the show.
Speaker 3 (33:22):
That would be really cool. I mean, I think that
would be awesome. I could be like their little voice
of reason up here.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Maybe you should putting this into the universe. We're putting it.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
I love what.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
I really appreciated chatting with you today. I can't wait
to see what you do with your career. I just
feel like we're at the start of watching what you
can do.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Honestly, it's been already such a wild ride. I can't
believe that my season of Maths only ended last year
in April.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Like that just blows my mind to even think that.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
And I'm super pumped to see I don't know what
the next opportunity, and I've loved chatting today.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Maybe we'll have to do it again because I love
to chat and I'm an open book, so like, we
can do this again for sure if.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
You ever want a debrief at the end of the series, hopefully. Yeah,
absolutely loved it. I think I looked at my thing
and I've asked twenty percent of my questions
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Oh we could you definitely do this again.
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