Oct. 25, 2025
A Bachelor And A Housewife Are Off The Market
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RSS Feed Golden Bachelorette’s Gary Levingston is no longer single, and he’s sharing the news with Kelly Bensimon!
We get all the details on what happened between him and Leslie after Bachelor in Paradise…plus Kelly has some romance news of her own!
Email us at: IDOPOD@iheartradio.com or call us at 844-4-I Do Pod (844-443-6763)
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:15
Speaker 1: Welcome back to I Do Part two. I'm one of your celebrity mentors, Kelly ben Simone, and I'm so excited to have my friend on the pod today. You know him from the Golden Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. He is incredible and officially it's official he's off the market, so I wanted to check in and hear everything about what he's doing in his new relationship. Please welcome Gary Livingstone.
00:00:47
Speaker 2: Kelly is in the house.
00:00:49
Speaker 1: There's my boy girlfriend, Shake.
00:00:53
Speaker 2: It is so nice to see your lovely face living color.
00:01:01
Speaker 1: In living color. You look so sunny and so happy, so.
00:01:06
Speaker 2: Happy in the desert.
00:01:08
Speaker 1: Sweet, that's right, life in the palm desert gorgeous.
00:01:12
Speaker 2: You better believe it, You better believe it.
00:01:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, how's my thoughtful man? How's how's mister thoughtful?
00:01:19
Speaker 2: In a great place, in a great place. I was able to get out and do my walk this morning. Played pickleball earlier than normal, But that's okay because you know everyone's out there. Everyone's out there before it warms up, and even though it's going to get into like maybe the high seventies, low eighties, it still feels warmer than that.
00:01:45
Speaker 1: You know well you are. You are a warm person, and I want to ask you a very interesting question.
00:01:52
Speaker 2: Okay, right, so we're gonna die.
00:01:56
Speaker 1: We're gonna dive right now into your romance. Fans want to know you left Bachelor in Paradise with Leslie. Yes, Leslie, who I love Leslie? And you guys were hanging out in Tahoe.
00:02:11
Speaker 2: Yes, I was there.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: Yes, yes, yes, Bachelor and Paradise was airing. Yes, and we have no idea what happened after the show. Okay, did you guys try to date? What happened?
00:02:24
Speaker 2: You know? It's interesting because I wouldn't call it dating as much as it was just a close knit friendship, like a connection like best friends, right, not dating or with an intention of loving each other or I love her dearly, don't get me wrong, but in a friend kind of way, not in a romantic kind of way.
00:02:54
Speaker 1: Okay, So I really like you just said dating with intention? I say that, you know, I love that because I say it.
00:03:03
Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's an interesting dichotomy of when you're dating with intention, you make things happen. Both parties make things. You just make things happen. And yeah, and so we're the best of friends. We've always been. I respect her dearly and it comes back and that that is a wonderful that's a wonderful thing to have.
00:03:32
Speaker 1: Well, I love you saying so many beautiful things about Leslie because she is a beauty. I'm her biggest fan. I love her so much. She's best, she's the grandmother, she's gorgeous, she's so much fun. I did want her to teach me some dance moves, but she did not. But we'll get to that later. But I really love what you just said about dating with intention, and I also really love what you said about you meet a lot of people, but then when you do meet that person, yes, it's like, let's go, we're ready to do this.
00:04:06
Speaker 2: And you know, Kelly, it does hit differently later in life. Later in life, when love hits you, it hits differently because you know what really matters and what's important, and the little stuff that you used to think was important, it really isn't. It really isn't m the respect that you have for one another. It's the recognizing the imperfections are going to be there, but you worked through them later in life to have great times, because that's all that matters. It really is Oh.
00:04:48
Speaker 1: My god, you're giving me like these like beautiful chill not chills, not like in a booth, but like a warm Oh my god, I love that. I love that. It's so true speaking of these beautiful, beautiful thoughts. Yes, you just hard launched that you're in a relationship. I wait, why didn't I know this? There's no DM Hey, Kelly knew that was that's what's happening. Nothing crag well friends. I thought we were like texting buddies, and all of a sudden, it's like.
00:05:24
Speaker 2: You know, Kelly tell us about her. Yes, So we met at church believe it or not, beautiful, and I saw her leaving one day and I said, are you Are you new? And she said. When she turned around and we both looked at each other, it was like the clouds open, the trumpets were playing, and it was just one of those things that hits you like this isn't a fantasy, this is real. And so from that day on it just became something really really special. I cherish I cherish it to no end because I've never felt like this for anyone. And she says the same thing. So it's great getting filled back up when we pour out. So much because you know, like you were givers. We just give and give and give, so when it comes back, it's an amazing it's an amazing feeling. It really really is.
00:06:30
Speaker 1: So do you think the faith brought you guys together or do you think that's one of your common bonds or what do you what do you think? What are your thoughts on the faith?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: Okay, so you've heard of being equally yoked? Right, you've heard of that comment that's saying, and I think it is our faith. But I also think it was divine intervention because she's not on social media. She never saw me on the show, and I thought, you're not on social media? This is twenty twenty five, What do you mean? You kidding me?
00:07:08
Speaker 1: Like, really, she's for really non social media, like no social like nothing.
00:07:12
Speaker 2: Really for her. And I did too, you know, so that's not what brings her joy. And I thought, this is this is really special that someone is liking me because of who I am, not where I came from or what I've done.
00:07:32
Speaker 1: Okay, so tell me. So we we we heard about how you guys first met. Yes, clearly have this amazing beautiful mind heavens. Yeah, I mean, come on, tell me, Kelly, Kelly, I'm like, I'm going to get in trouble. Gary, tell me about your first date. What'd you guys do? I know you're so incredible, You're gonna love this. I'm your biggest fan, by the way, So like, I'm just.
00:08:01
Speaker 2: So our first date now, I'll even go into our second date. Our first date was going out for coffee at iw Coffee Indian Well's coffee shop. We had coffee and we just talked and we talked and talked and talked. And the second date we went on was at at at a protein store for like getting protein shakes. Okay, and I forget the name of the place, but yeah, And so that was our first date. It wasn't some champagne dinner with caviaar and candle lights. It was at my favorite i W coffee, which was yeah. Yeah, So what did you.
00:08:47
Speaker 1: What kind of questions did you ask her? Just give me a couple?
00:08:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, so I asked her. Actually what I did is I told her about me being on the show, like what Like, well, I shared with her that I was on Golden Bachelorade and I was on Bachelor in Paradise and there's lots of people and I now wear this shield of celebrity now on my sleeve, something I'm still getting used to. And she's like, oh my god, really I've never watched the show. And she's saying that. I'm like, I like that, you've never seen this, and you're taking me for who I am as a person. But I had to share that with her. And then she shared a couple of things about what she's into in terms of working out and walking and all the things, and I go, well, I enjoy walking. Also, I'm not a runner anymore. And we talked about going hiking and all the things, and how she likes walking on the beach, and I go, well, I like walking on the beach. And I said, let's go to Malibu. And we end up going to Malibu, and then we went to Santa Monica and and everything was just falling in place. And Kelly, I gotta tell you, wait.
00:10:07
Speaker 1: Your third date, you guys went on a trip.
00:10:10
Speaker 2: You drove to Malibu, well exact the third date, maybe it was somewhere in there.
00:10:16
Speaker 1: Well, because the first date was coffee, the second date was the protein drink. And so now we're now we're already in Malibu.
00:10:23
Speaker 2: Wow, already I'm like, I'm trying to yeah, to go places that I like to go to, and she likes to go too.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:10:35
Speaker 2: And yeah, we just made it happen for all the right reasons.
00:10:41
Speaker 1: So now you told her about your experiences, but like, what did you and you you know, you talk about walking and running. But let's let's let's go, let's get into this. I don't want to hear about the walking and the running. What did you tell her? You must tell her something really good.
00:11:00
Speaker 2: Well, I told her, I said, I'm not looking for a girlfriend. You did girlfriend?
00:11:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, I said, So you took yourself out of the game.
00:11:09
Speaker 2: You're just saying I said, I'm looking for a wife. I'm looking for a wife, you know, she said, And I'm looking for a husband. Oh my god, she said that. Kelly. I'm like, boy, things just got real real fast.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: Am I heard you a wedding? Am I going to be a flower girl?
00:11:32
Speaker 2: But isn't that how it happens. It's all in God's timing, not mine. And and I truly believe that He's been preparing me as I've been praying to show me her face. I want to hear her voice, and prayers come true.
00:11:48
Speaker 1: Yeah, Oh my god, So did you say, like I really want you to know like who I am? Should we watch the show together? Should we get a glass of wine and kind of go through some of the highlights or go on TikTok and check them out?
00:12:03
Speaker 2: Nope, I did not want to go to the show because that's not something that she particularly wanted to see. But what was also intrigguing was you're gonna love this one. She was listening to sports talk radio and I actually thought it was my phone, and she goes, no, I like listening to sports talk radio.
00:12:31
Speaker 1: You like what?
00:12:32
Speaker 2: Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord. She likes sports, as do I. So all these little golden trinkets are falling and dropping and I'm just in seventh Heaven about who I'm walking with now, and it's truly special.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: First of all, I love that you guys are like talking about things like sports, and you know, I think that's amazing. But I mean I kind of feel like you should be talking to her a little bit about the show because she's going to find out and there has This is just my personal opinion, but I feel like you guys should like have some kind of conversation.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: Because I believe it or not, we have.
00:13:25
Speaker 1: You don't want her to make her own you know, you don't want her to assume you know what I mean, like if you really care about her like wifey material.
00:13:31
Speaker 2: Hello, totally, And that's part of my history, my makeup over the past two years. And so I have shared with her and I have said, you know, if we're at dinner, someone may come over and and call me out. She says, Yeah, just like we did last night at dinner when they were shouting Gary, we love you, and I'm trying to like get away like any celebrity would, but I also acknowledge them and turned around and she as well said that is so awesome.
00:14:01
Speaker 1: Yeah, but you're just a gracious You're such a gracious human. And I would know that because I walked the carpet with you, and you're such a kind, thoughtful, You're just very You're so gracious, Like I can't imagine that her. You know, you made her feel really comfortable. So what about divorce? Did you guys? Have you guys had conversations about divorce or your like real story outside of walking and talking in sports.
00:14:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, I told her about my prior relationship and with my ex wife and the kids or not adult kids.
00:14:41
Speaker 1: And.
00:14:44
Speaker 2: You know, she says, well, we want to be together for the rest of our lives, and that's what's really important. That's all that matters. And we're both forward looking, not looking back too much into the past, but using that as a foundation to keep moving forward.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: Wait, so when did you Because for the for the this is really important Gary, for our listeners, like they want to know they need advice, right, and you're the best person to get advice from because you're a really solid male, like amazing role model. So what did you guys bring this up about divorce and children? When did you guys talk about that?
00:15:20
Speaker 2: That was on the very first date. We got deep like that on the first date. Yeah, I did not want to hold back because I knew that this was someone that was so very very important that I did not want to let go of and not knowing that she was in the same mindset. Yeah, and so I wanted to be upfront and forthright about every possible thing. Oh my gosh, Kelly, and it just played out in my favor. And so, yeah, it was. It was the very first date we got real with each other about about who we were as people, and I am telling you I'm gonna murder this.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: Is she divorced?
00:16:06
Speaker 2: She is divorced. Yes, yes, yes, So we both have been through that, that walk together and and she's a very private person, which I also like about. I love that. And you will get to meet her, and I look forward to sharing lots more with you personally with her present.
00:16:32
Speaker 1: I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: And you're still going strong. We now are getting forgether for taco Tuesdays, and we have movie nights on Fridays, and Saturdays are football Saturdays. And we have our church on Sunday. So we're incorporating everyday life into the relationship of things that we both enjoyed doing.
00:17:00
Speaker 1: I love that. So what about talking to meeting her kids? What about that? What's what's the plan?
00:17:06
Speaker 2: No kids?
00:17:07
Speaker 1: She doesn't have children, And what are her thoughts about meeting your kid?
00:17:13
Speaker 2: We have, she has met them on the phone. We're going to be driving out soon. If I'm not mistaken. I think we're going out for Halloween, so that's going to be a big time, and then of course Thanksgiving which is soon to follow. But yeah, everything is lining up in all the right ways, for all the right reasons. And I am just humbled to knowing that I have that I found my person and it feels wonderful. Kelly, I'm so happy.
00:17:47
Speaker 1: I'm like beaming for you. I don't know why. I'm so proud. I'm so excited for.
00:17:51
Speaker 2: You because you were a big part of my journey, you know, and show the pictures and the videos and the fun times, and you were a big part of that. Really go, so we're connected for the right reasons.
00:18:07
Speaker 1: Are you in love?
00:18:09
Speaker 2: I am in love? I can say that and we have both said it to each other, and I'm so happy to say.
00:18:19
Speaker 1: Wait, how many months have been? Let's go back, because now this is for the listeners.
00:18:23
Speaker 2: It's been let me see, that was like right after the Tahoe trip when we became exclusive.
00:18:35
Speaker 1: So this has been a while. Yeah, but you didn't tell me about this in Tahoe, by the way, nothing.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Because it's just Tahoe. We're working, we're enjoined time, we're just having a great time. And then I think that was before after I went to Africa, I can't recall, and she gave me some special tools while I was away in Tahoe. Just just some writings that she had given me, and it carried me through some pretty difficult times seeing people and you know, I don't want to say in a bad place, but just in a different light. You know that the third world country is just you know, it's it's it is. And so that also brought us closer together. And here we are.
00:19:29
Speaker 1: You're smiling, you're beaming.
00:19:31
Speaker 2: I am smitten.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: I have some news for you too.
00:19:35
Speaker 2: Yes, darling, tell me I'm waiting.
00:19:37
Speaker 1: We have a romance. Yes, it's happening, finally happening. It's happening.
00:19:47
Speaker 2: Isn't it a great feeling? Though?
00:19:50
Speaker 1: You know it's beautiful too. Is that you're talking about privacy? Yeah, And I was going to say, you know, both of us have very public personas and public lives. H and he's very private, and I've always been very private in my personal life. I mean, there's no way I would ever have been able to raise the girls that I've raised if I were publicly you know, you know, showing off my boyfriends, so or the guy, and I won't want to call them boyfriends because that's not fair. Guys that men that I have dated in the past. So this guy, he is my boyfriend. And he is very very incredibly he's very I can't even speak, look at me. I'm like, what's wrong with me?
00:20:33
Speaker 2: I usually I'm like kind, caring.
00:20:36
Speaker 1: He's wildly kind, very thoughtful, girl dad, very successful, very creative. I mean when I met him and I saw him in his element, yes, just like the way he was talking about the things that he does, I was like, whoa, this guy is amazing. He's also super adventurous. He's very protective of me, very he encourages me to do everything from work, podcasting, like all my brands, all my influencing. He really like he'll be like, oh this was good, that wasn't so great? Do this? Maybe? Do this a done other time? Like he's very very helpful. Yes, and supportive, super super supportive.
00:21:26
Speaker 2: Isn't that a great feeling when we I mean I've potted.
00:21:29
Speaker 1: I've potted at his home and he like walked by and he like he was like, he's like, keep going, keep going, you're doing it. I'm like, no one does that. My kids are like, mom, why are you talking about all that weirdness? Like no, no, not weirdness, this is important important stuff.
00:21:49
Speaker 2: Yes, that was.
00:21:50
Speaker 1: My daughter just like trying to chime in because my kids are constantly calling.
00:21:53
Speaker 2: Me, and again, you know, it's amazing when they get behind our causes, when they get behind too, not only support, but to push and lift and to pull when we needed. And you know, it's something to be said about someone, as I said earlier, pouring into us Kelly, right, yeah, because you like me. You're such a giving person. You're such a caring, loving and you give to a not to a fault, but out of love you get You're a giver. I'm the same.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: Interesting though, and maybe this, this is some advice that we should both give to the listeners, is that I was, you know, on a podcast with one of my friends a couple of weeks ago, and I told her that I've never been in love, which is true. And I think that, like you just said, I am very giving to my friends. I am very giving to my family. I show them consistently that I care for them, that they can trust me, that I'm here for them, and that is really, really, really important to me. But for some reason, with men, I have a very I just feel I don't feel safe. I feel like they're exploiting me, or they're trying to meet someone through me, or they're trying to use me for business, or like I just always felt like every man that I've been with has wanted to be with Kelly Ben Simone and the figure and not the Kelly Ben Simone that you know.
00:23:33
Speaker 2: You know, Yes, small town USA.
00:23:36
Speaker 1: Girl, small town USA, rock for a little.
00:23:39
Speaker 2: I get it. But again, but.
00:23:42
Speaker 1: Let's talk about the advice. Let's talk about the advice about finding love the second time around. Like, just give us, like some two things to do and I'll think about it too. What do you what are your thoughts?
00:23:57
Speaker 2: My initial thought is, don't ever give up. Just just keep the faith, keep hope alive, and it will happen if you just be patient and persevere. It will come to you. It will find you when you least expected it's coming. So don't ever give up, knowing that there's a much higher source in being that has your back and always has. It's just a matter of his timing, not hours, you know, we can't. He works on a different clock. But when it happens, be ready to take it in and say, you know what they're showing up for me and what a great feeling.
00:24:51
Speaker 1: So mine would be one of mine would be and then I'm going to go back to you. Is kind of like nods to what you're saying. And that's being positive because I feel a lot of people that I have spoken to since they've been hearing me on the pod, they're like, well, how am I supposed to be Kelly? What am I supposed to do? I'm I supposed to FaceTime them. They're asking me all these questions. Questions are like bullet, bullet, blahlah blah, bullet, And I'm like, it's not about that, It's just you have to be you have to feel good about yourself.
00:25:21
Speaker 2: You know.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: I know that people make fun of energy, but it is. I mean, when I walk down the street, I'm smiling. I smile a lot, and people are always like, oh, you're always smiling. I'm not smiling because I'm opening my mouth up catching flies. Like I am a genuinely, inherently happy person. I feel very grateful to be able to do the things that I do, and so there's a positivity that resonates because of that, and I think that's super important. And when I see people that are grumpy, I mean, I will always say something nic if someone's garvy, I'm always like looking good today, and they're.
00:25:56
Speaker 2: Like, ah, I totally get that. I'm going to make a bolt, Yes, go ahead. Yeah. I think it starts from within. It's like a fruit that the tree is bearing fruit, right, and it starts from within. It starts with it with its roots. And so you've got to it starts from within. And there's this little trick that I use, and I've shared this with some folks, looking in the mirror and saying I love you, and when you say I love you, and you're looking at yourself and that sixth sense of hearing it seeing yourself. And I did that and I said I love you, and I smiled and then I said I really love you, and it just turned the inside of me. It took me to a place of total joy and happiness. So I think it starts from within too, you know, so that we're not walking around frumpy and down and it's not going to find me in love is too far away and it's out of reach. It's right there. Just let it come to you and it will and it will.
00:27:15
Speaker 1: So here's another nod to you. You said when you were, you know, talking about your new love, about how when you guys first met that you didn't go into the past, and I'm not a trauma bonder like a lot of people are, like, let me tell you about my past. I'm like, no, no, no, no, thank you. I really do want to hear about your past if it comes up later. Hey, this is a trigger of mine. This happened to me this instance. I definitely want to hear about that. But I don't want you to kitchen think about your past because I want to hear about us. I don't want to hear about going there right going forward. And that was one thing that was really interesting about my new boyfriend is that he he said that to me. He was like, I don't want to hear He asked me like a thousand questions a day, and he's like, I don't want to hear about X or Y. I mean, he was very interested to hear about why I've never been in love because I've been married before and then I was engaged, so he wanted to know about that. And I didn't get the opportunity to be like, Okay, so I'm a little screwed up and I've had some things happened to me in the past which I don't want to talk about.
00:28:30
Speaker 2: Isn't it interesting, Kelly. We all have imperfections.
00:28:33
Speaker 1: So to we have to allow the past to live in the past, and if there are moments where it helps to create clarity, like you can cherry pick those moments. Yes, but I think that, you know, I think that when people go on their first dates and they just start unloading on the other person. First of all, I don't need a therapist like I have one. She's a fortune. It's she's great, like I need a partner in my love crime. That's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for that next chapter with good news, with excitement, with adventure, with you know, just and you know family. I want, you know, I've always said I want a family for my family, and I do. I want sure whoever that is. I definitely want my family and their family to feel a whole. That's really, really, really important to me.
00:29:24
Speaker 2: And the other big piece of that for the listeners is this, we want them as we do. Embrace the imperfections because we're not perfect, but embrace what you have in front of you going forward and knowing that there's going to be challenges, there's going to be hurdles, and if you can both overcome those challenges and hurdles. Oh my gosh, what a wonderful thing. You know. I like to use the roller coaster analogy of life coaster, but it's a two seat roller coaster for you both to go through those ups and downs, in the swirls and the oh here we got, you know, so we've got to embrace the imperfections also, because we're not perfect.
00:30:25
Speaker 1: I heard this beautiful quote from Maril Monroe where she said that, you know, everyone is trying to smooth out the rough edges, but the rough edges are what catched.
00:30:35
Speaker 2: The light eight man. I just saw something on that as well.
00:30:40
Speaker 1: Yeah, how gorgeous is that?
00:30:42
Speaker 2: That is fabulous?
00:30:44
Speaker 1: Mark Jacobs when I wrote this book, and Mark Jacobs gave me a quote about how much he found so much beauty and imperfection, and I just was always like, that's what beauty is. Beauty is the interaction imperfection.
00:30:57
Speaker 2: It really really is, and that's what makes who and what we are. And we're constantly better than the person we were yesterday. But it doesn't mean that I have to be perfect in any form of the imagination.
00:31:12
Speaker 1: Well, you are better every day than Let's make that clearer. I mean you're like everyone, I'm like, not everyone, Gary, Sorry to burst the bubble. You Yes, what about? What what about?
00:31:30
Speaker 2: What about?
00:31:31
Speaker 1: What about? On the Golden Bachelorette. Are you going to introduce your girlfriend to any of the guys from this premiere season or No?
00:31:39
Speaker 2: I plan on doing that. And we have talked about the guys who do have dates or people that they're seeing I'm getting together and what a wonderful uh thing that would be for the bromance and the brotherhood to now share our new fan sweethearts. So yeah, we've talked about that. No, quick, I'm not hiding this from anyone, which is why i had to do my hard lunch because I'm so proud of where I come from and but more importantly where I'm going, right Kelly, It's where we're going. It's where we're going.
00:32:21
Speaker 1: It is. I mean, I'm just super super happy for you, and I'm really really excited about, you know, everything that's happening in your future. And I'm just interested to hear what the guys from the Golden Busherd are going to say. I'm totally I want to be a fly on the wall. I Am like.
00:32:45
Speaker 2: We've already been sharing we've already been sharing and everybody is so you know, we're all just happy for each other. It's like it's like a big celebration, you know, whenever somebody says and this is who I've got and this is who I'm and this is what i'm and it's just like we're so happy for each other. It's like a family member that's that's found, you know, what they've been looking for, and it's it's great, it really is.
00:33:12
Speaker 1: Okay, what about the Okay, I have one more. I have another one more question. That's for our fans. What about the holidays. Are you guys going to be spending the holidays together? Like, what's your big plan?
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Well, as quiet as it's kept, and I'm going to keep it quiet, but we will be traveling someplace together for Thanksgiving and for the end of year after Christmas thing, you know, doing the family thing. But yeah, so stay close, Kelly, and I will I will keep you posting.
00:33:48
Speaker 1: Okay, Now, let's talk about a little bit about the Golden Bachelor. Do you think that mel will find love?
00:33:56
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, that's a tough one. That's a tough one. I want him to, but I don't In my heart of hearts?
00:34:06
Speaker 1: Is he not open? What is it? What's you know?
00:34:10
Speaker 2: It seems like he's very guarded, right, very It's just like he's very protected and very guarded and not being vulnerable. I haven't seen any vulnerability. But that's what makes you, you know, lean in as opposed to working at arm's length. And so, yeah, I haven't seen his vulnerabilities. And it's unfortunate because that's what love is about, being vulnerable, isn't it.
00:34:42
Speaker 1: Well I'm learning that, I mean literally just from being on this pod.
00:34:47
Speaker 2: You have to be vulnerable.
00:34:49
Speaker 1: I have been learning that. I mean, you have to remember that I've spent my entire you know, thirties, you know, twenties and thirties and forties and fifties like on literally Lockdown, Protect Kelly, Protect her Kids, Provide mode, and so I was always in so much fear and just to be with someone who is just asks about me, wants to make sure that I'm safe, wants to make sure that I've eaten the things that I like. You just literally just asks about me, versus tells me about what they're doing. It's just a totally different narrative, and it's just made me he's making me a better person.
00:35:29
Speaker 2: Well, and would you say, or I should say, would you agree with me that to be vulnerable you have to feel safe. You have to feel safe to be vulnerable. And that's a big part of letting go and trusting and then knowing I'm in a safe place so I can be vulnerable.
00:35:53
Speaker 1: I was always like, the shoe is going to drop, something's going to happen. There's going to be a girlfriend, there's going to be this, there's gonna be an X one that does something crazy, There's going to be something that's you know, someone's going to say something mean that's going to hurt my feelings. Like there's always going to be a shoe that drops. And you're right, feeling safe is a is a big, big news for me.
00:36:12
Speaker 2: Huge things And let me ask you, are those things important anymore? Or do they still matter? Because I would think where you are now, those are things that, yeah, it kind of really doesn't matter what it, you know, the whatever.
00:36:32
Speaker 1: All I care about is that. And this is one thing that he did that was really stellar was that he speaks so highly of his past relationships and that and he doesn't ever say anything negative, nothing, It's always like they're great, they're smart, they're doing this and one's great and what's so great? There's no kind of like negativity. And that made me also feel more safe too. And it was never he's like what do you want to do. I'm like, stay home and eat steak and watch TV. Okay. It's like it's never like, oh, let's get dressed up or you know, you know, it's always very it's always about like what we are doing together.
00:37:07
Speaker 2: Which is really Kelly, you're good with just burgers and fries.
00:37:14
Speaker 1: And you're all like having so much fun. It was the best night.
00:37:20
Speaker 2: That was so amazing, big red carpet burgers. That's like at a diner. That was so that's one of those unforgettables. We'll have the rest of our life unforgettables.
00:37:33
Speaker 1: Well, Gary, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing such a beautiful time in your life. I'm so excited for you. I can't wait to come to the way.
00:37:44
Speaker 2: Stay close, I always do, stay close. I need you, I need you.
00:37:49
Speaker 1: I'm here for you.
00:37:50
Speaker 2: Lots and lots of people need you, but I need you too.
00:37:54
Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you. And I also love how you talk about Leslie because she's such a beautiful human she is. You're such a good guy.
00:38:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, honey. One thing, don't forget. Did you forget?
00:38:10
Speaker 1: Be vulnerable?
00:38:12
Speaker 2: You matter? You are genuinely do Okay, I love you. Don't ever forget, and I'll always ask you did you forget?
00:38:27
Speaker 1: No?
00:38:29
Speaker 2: You matter?
00:38:31
Speaker 1: Okay, Wait, I want to tell you something before we finish. Is that Victoria Beckham was talking about she has this new show, and she was talking about how at this time of her where she is in her life, after everything she's been to she said something that I feel like I'm enough, just like you're saying you matter, I mean. And then I said that. I was like, you know, I actually feel like I am enough. And I was like, wait a minute, what do I see right, I'm supposed to be like panic, fear, provide children, work.
00:38:59
Speaker 2: I'm not so to be like not anymore, not anymore. It's now. It's about Kelly. It's your turn. It's your time. Thank you for you well you too, garry your boat. Oh my god, so excited, and go Dodgers. I wore my hat to go. We're gonna We're gonna take the world series from Tom.
00:39:19
Speaker 1: I thought you were gonna say go nixt because they.
00:39:24
Speaker 2: See your season is just getting started. Ours is just finishing up with the World Series. Go down.
00:39:32
Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
00:39:33
Speaker 2: I love you, thank you, thank you as well. Kellyank me take care, Okayle.
00:39:39
Speaker 1: Are you like Gary and I and want to find love again? Stuck on how to navigate dating in chapter two? Call us or email us. All the info are in the show notes. Follow us on socials. Make sure to rate and review the podcast I Do Part two, an iHeartRadio podcast. We're falling in Love is the main objective.
00:40:10
Speaker 2: H
Speaker 1: Welcome back to I Do Part two. I'm one of your celebrity mentors, Kelly ben Simone, and I'm so excited to have my friend on the pod today. You know him from the Golden Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. He is incredible and officially it's official he's off the market, so I wanted to check in and hear everything about what he's doing in his new relationship. Please welcome Gary Livingstone.
00:00:47
Speaker 2: Kelly is in the house.
00:00:49
Speaker 1: There's my boy girlfriend, Shake.
00:00:53
Speaker 2: It is so nice to see your lovely face living color.
00:01:01
Speaker 1: In living color. You look so sunny and so happy, so.
00:01:06
Speaker 2: Happy in the desert.
00:01:08
Speaker 1: Sweet, that's right, life in the palm desert gorgeous.
00:01:12
Speaker 2: You better believe it, You better believe it.
00:01:14
Speaker 1: Yeah, how's my thoughtful man? How's how's mister thoughtful?
00:01:19
Speaker 2: In a great place, in a great place. I was able to get out and do my walk this morning. Played pickleball earlier than normal, But that's okay because you know everyone's out there. Everyone's out there before it warms up, and even though it's going to get into like maybe the high seventies, low eighties, it still feels warmer than that.
00:01:45
Speaker 1: You know well you are. You are a warm person, and I want to ask you a very interesting question.
00:01:52
Speaker 2: Okay, right, so we're gonna die.
00:01:56
Speaker 1: We're gonna dive right now into your romance. Fans want to know you left Bachelor in Paradise with Leslie. Yes, Leslie, who I love Leslie? And you guys were hanging out in Tahoe.
00:02:11
Speaker 2: Yes, I was there.
00:02:12
Speaker 1: Yes, yes, yes, Bachelor and Paradise was airing. Yes, and we have no idea what happened after the show. Okay, did you guys try to date? What happened?
00:02:24
Speaker 2: You know? It's interesting because I wouldn't call it dating as much as it was just a close knit friendship, like a connection like best friends, right, not dating or with an intention of loving each other or I love her dearly, don't get me wrong, but in a friend kind of way, not in a romantic kind of way.
00:02:54
Speaker 1: Okay, So I really like you just said dating with intention? I say that, you know, I love that because I say it.
00:03:03
Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's an interesting dichotomy of when you're dating with intention, you make things happen. Both parties make things. You just make things happen. And yeah, and so we're the best of friends. We've always been. I respect her dearly and it comes back and that that is a wonderful that's a wonderful thing to have.
00:03:32
Speaker 1: Well, I love you saying so many beautiful things about Leslie because she is a beauty. I'm her biggest fan. I love her so much. She's best, she's the grandmother, she's gorgeous, she's so much fun. I did want her to teach me some dance moves, but she did not. But we'll get to that later. But I really love what you just said about dating with intention, and I also really love what you said about you meet a lot of people, but then when you do meet that person, yes, it's like, let's go, we're ready to do this.
00:04:06
Speaker 2: And you know, Kelly, it does hit differently later in life. Later in life, when love hits you, it hits differently because you know what really matters and what's important, and the little stuff that you used to think was important, it really isn't. It really isn't m the respect that you have for one another. It's the recognizing the imperfections are going to be there, but you worked through them later in life to have great times, because that's all that matters. It really is Oh.
00:04:48
Speaker 1: My god, you're giving me like these like beautiful chill not chills, not like in a booth, but like a warm Oh my god, I love that. I love that. It's so true speaking of these beautiful, beautiful thoughts. Yes, you just hard launched that you're in a relationship. I wait, why didn't I know this? There's no DM Hey, Kelly knew that was that's what's happening. Nothing crag well friends. I thought we were like texting buddies, and all of a sudden, it's like.
00:05:24
Speaker 2: You know, Kelly tell us about her. Yes, So we met at church believe it or not, beautiful, and I saw her leaving one day and I said, are you Are you new? And she said. When she turned around and we both looked at each other, it was like the clouds open, the trumpets were playing, and it was just one of those things that hits you like this isn't a fantasy, this is real. And so from that day on it just became something really really special. I cherish I cherish it to no end because I've never felt like this for anyone. And she says the same thing. So it's great getting filled back up when we pour out. So much because you know, like you were givers. We just give and give and give, so when it comes back, it's an amazing it's an amazing feeling. It really really is.
00:06:30
Speaker 1: So do you think the faith brought you guys together or do you think that's one of your common bonds or what do you what do you think? What are your thoughts on the faith?
00:06:40
Speaker 2: Okay, so you've heard of being equally yoked? Right, you've heard of that comment that's saying, and I think it is our faith. But I also think it was divine intervention because she's not on social media. She never saw me on the show, and I thought, you're not on social media? This is twenty twenty five, What do you mean? You kidding me?
00:07:08
Speaker 1: Like, really, she's for really non social media, like no social like nothing.
00:07:12
Speaker 2: Really for her. And I did too, you know, so that's not what brings her joy. And I thought, this is this is really special that someone is liking me because of who I am, not where I came from or what I've done.
00:07:32
Speaker 1: Okay, so tell me. So we we we heard about how you guys first met. Yes, clearly have this amazing beautiful mind heavens. Yeah, I mean, come on, tell me, Kelly, Kelly, I'm like, I'm going to get in trouble. Gary, tell me about your first date. What'd you guys do? I know you're so incredible, You're gonna love this. I'm your biggest fan, by the way, So like, I'm just.
00:08:01
Speaker 2: So our first date now, I'll even go into our second date. Our first date was going out for coffee at iw Coffee Indian Well's coffee shop. We had coffee and we just talked and we talked and talked and talked. And the second date we went on was at at at a protein store for like getting protein shakes. Okay, and I forget the name of the place, but yeah, And so that was our first date. It wasn't some champagne dinner with caviaar and candle lights. It was at my favorite i W coffee, which was yeah. Yeah, So what did you.
00:08:47
Speaker 1: What kind of questions did you ask her? Just give me a couple?
00:08:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, so I asked her. Actually what I did is I told her about me being on the show, like what Like, well, I shared with her that I was on Golden Bachelorade and I was on Bachelor in Paradise and there's lots of people and I now wear this shield of celebrity now on my sleeve, something I'm still getting used to. And she's like, oh my god, really I've never watched the show. And she's saying that. I'm like, I like that, you've never seen this, and you're taking me for who I am as a person. But I had to share that with her. And then she shared a couple of things about what she's into in terms of working out and walking and all the things, and I go, well, I enjoy walking. Also, I'm not a runner anymore. And we talked about going hiking and all the things, and how she likes walking on the beach, and I go, well, I like walking on the beach. And I said, let's go to Malibu. And we end up going to Malibu, and then we went to Santa Monica and and everything was just falling in place. And Kelly, I gotta tell you, wait.
00:10:07
Speaker 1: Your third date, you guys went on a trip.
00:10:10
Speaker 2: You drove to Malibu, well exact the third date, maybe it was somewhere in there.
00:10:16
Speaker 1: Well, because the first date was coffee, the second date was the protein drink. And so now we're now we're already in Malibu.
00:10:23
Speaker 2: Wow, already I'm like, I'm trying to yeah, to go places that I like to go to, and she likes to go too.
00:10:35
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:10:35
Speaker 2: And yeah, we just made it happen for all the right reasons.
00:10:41
Speaker 1: So now you told her about your experiences, but like, what did you and you you know, you talk about walking and running. But let's let's let's go, let's get into this. I don't want to hear about the walking and the running. What did you tell her? You must tell her something really good.
00:11:00
Speaker 2: Well, I told her, I said, I'm not looking for a girlfriend. You did girlfriend?
00:11:06
Speaker 1: Yeah, I said, So you took yourself out of the game.
00:11:09
Speaker 2: You're just saying I said, I'm looking for a wife. I'm looking for a wife, you know, she said, And I'm looking for a husband. Oh my god, she said that. Kelly. I'm like, boy, things just got real real fast.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: Am I heard you a wedding? Am I going to be a flower girl?
00:11:32
Speaker 2: But isn't that how it happens. It's all in God's timing, not mine. And and I truly believe that He's been preparing me as I've been praying to show me her face. I want to hear her voice, and prayers come true.
00:11:48
Speaker 1: Yeah, Oh my god, So did you say, like I really want you to know like who I am? Should we watch the show together? Should we get a glass of wine and kind of go through some of the highlights or go on TikTok and check them out?
00:12:03
Speaker 2: Nope, I did not want to go to the show because that's not something that she particularly wanted to see. But what was also intrigguing was you're gonna love this one. She was listening to sports talk radio and I actually thought it was my phone, and she goes, no, I like listening to sports talk radio.
00:12:31
Speaker 1: You like what?
00:12:32
Speaker 2: Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord. She likes sports, as do I. So all these little golden trinkets are falling and dropping and I'm just in seventh Heaven about who I'm walking with now, and it's truly special.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: First of all, I love that you guys are like talking about things like sports, and you know, I think that's amazing. But I mean I kind of feel like you should be talking to her a little bit about the show because she's going to find out and there has This is just my personal opinion, but I feel like you guys should like have some kind of conversation.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: Because I believe it or not, we have.
00:13:25
Speaker 1: You don't want her to make her own you know, you don't want her to assume you know what I mean, like if you really care about her like wifey material.
00:13:31
Speaker 2: Hello, totally, And that's part of my history, my makeup over the past two years. And so I have shared with her and I have said, you know, if we're at dinner, someone may come over and and call me out. She says, Yeah, just like we did last night at dinner when they were shouting Gary, we love you, and I'm trying to like get away like any celebrity would, but I also acknowledge them and turned around and she as well said that is so awesome.
00:14:01
Speaker 1: Yeah, but you're just a gracious You're such a gracious human. And I would know that because I walked the carpet with you, and you're such a kind, thoughtful, You're just very You're so gracious, Like I can't imagine that her. You know, you made her feel really comfortable. So what about divorce? Did you guys? Have you guys had conversations about divorce or your like real story outside of walking and talking in sports.
00:14:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, I told her about my prior relationship and with my ex wife and the kids or not adult kids.
00:14:41
Speaker 1: And.
00:14:44
Speaker 2: You know, she says, well, we want to be together for the rest of our lives, and that's what's really important. That's all that matters. And we're both forward looking, not looking back too much into the past, but using that as a foundation to keep moving forward.
00:15:00
Speaker 1: Wait, so when did you Because for the for the this is really important Gary, for our listeners, like they want to know they need advice, right, and you're the best person to get advice from because you're a really solid male, like amazing role model. So what did you guys bring this up about divorce and children? When did you guys talk about that?
00:15:20
Speaker 2: That was on the very first date. We got deep like that on the first date. Yeah, I did not want to hold back because I knew that this was someone that was so very very important that I did not want to let go of and not knowing that she was in the same mindset. Yeah, and so I wanted to be upfront and forthright about every possible thing. Oh my gosh, Kelly, and it just played out in my favor. And so, yeah, it was. It was the very first date we got real with each other about about who we were as people, and I am telling you I'm gonna murder this.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: Is she divorced?
00:16:06
Speaker 2: She is divorced. Yes, yes, yes, So we both have been through that, that walk together and and she's a very private person, which I also like about. I love that. And you will get to meet her, and I look forward to sharing lots more with you personally with her present.
00:16:32
Speaker 1: I can't wait to meet her. I can't wait.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: And you're still going strong. We now are getting forgether for taco Tuesdays, and we have movie nights on Fridays, and Saturdays are football Saturdays. And we have our church on Sunday. So we're incorporating everyday life into the relationship of things that we both enjoyed doing.
00:17:00
Speaker 1: I love that. So what about talking to meeting her kids? What about that? What's what's the plan?
00:17:06
Speaker 2: No kids?
00:17:07
Speaker 1: She doesn't have children, And what are her thoughts about meeting your kid?
00:17:13
Speaker 2: We have, she has met them on the phone. We're going to be driving out soon. If I'm not mistaken. I think we're going out for Halloween, so that's going to be a big time, and then of course Thanksgiving which is soon to follow. But yeah, everything is lining up in all the right ways, for all the right reasons. And I am just humbled to knowing that I have that I found my person and it feels wonderful. Kelly, I'm so happy.
00:17:47
Speaker 1: I'm like beaming for you. I don't know why. I'm so proud. I'm so excited for.
00:17:51
Speaker 2: You because you were a big part of my journey, you know, and show the pictures and the videos and the fun times, and you were a big part of that. Really go, so we're connected for the right reasons.
00:18:07
Speaker 1: Are you in love?
00:18:09
Speaker 2: I am in love? I can say that and we have both said it to each other, and I'm so happy to say.
00:18:19
Speaker 1: Wait, how many months have been? Let's go back, because now this is for the listeners.
00:18:23
Speaker 2: It's been let me see, that was like right after the Tahoe trip when we became exclusive.
00:18:35
Speaker 1: So this has been a while. Yeah, but you didn't tell me about this in Tahoe, by the way, nothing.
00:18:45
Speaker 2: Because it's just Tahoe. We're working, we're enjoined time, we're just having a great time. And then I think that was before after I went to Africa, I can't recall, and she gave me some special tools while I was away in Tahoe. Just just some writings that she had given me, and it carried me through some pretty difficult times seeing people and you know, I don't want to say in a bad place, but just in a different light. You know that the third world country is just you know, it's it's it is. And so that also brought us closer together. And here we are.
00:19:29
Speaker 1: You're smiling, you're beaming.
00:19:31
Speaker 2: I am smitten.
00:19:33
Speaker 1: I have some news for you too.
00:19:35
Speaker 2: Yes, darling, tell me I'm waiting.
00:19:37
Speaker 1: We have a romance. Yes, it's happening, finally happening. It's happening.
00:19:47
Speaker 2: Isn't it a great feeling? Though?
00:19:50
Speaker 1: You know it's beautiful too. Is that you're talking about privacy? Yeah, And I was going to say, you know, both of us have very public personas and public lives. H and he's very private, and I've always been very private in my personal life. I mean, there's no way I would ever have been able to raise the girls that I've raised if I were publicly you know, you know, showing off my boyfriends, so or the guy, and I won't want to call them boyfriends because that's not fair. Guys that men that I have dated in the past. So this guy, he is my boyfriend. And he is very very incredibly he's very I can't even speak, look at me. I'm like, what's wrong with me?
00:20:33
Speaker 2: I usually I'm like kind, caring.
00:20:36
Speaker 1: He's wildly kind, very thoughtful, girl dad, very successful, very creative. I mean when I met him and I saw him in his element, yes, just like the way he was talking about the things that he does, I was like, whoa, this guy is amazing. He's also super adventurous. He's very protective of me, very he encourages me to do everything from work, podcasting, like all my brands, all my influencing. He really like he'll be like, oh this was good, that wasn't so great? Do this? Maybe? Do this a done other time? Like he's very very helpful. Yes, and supportive, super super supportive.
00:21:26
Speaker 2: Isn't that a great feeling when we I mean I've potted.
00:21:29
Speaker 1: I've potted at his home and he like walked by and he like he was like, he's like, keep going, keep going, you're doing it. I'm like, no one does that. My kids are like, mom, why are you talking about all that weirdness? Like no, no, not weirdness, this is important important stuff.
00:21:49
Speaker 2: Yes, that was.
00:21:50
Speaker 1: My daughter just like trying to chime in because my kids are constantly calling.
00:21:53
Speaker 2: Me, and again, you know, it's amazing when they get behind our causes, when they get behind too, not only support, but to push and lift and to pull when we needed. And you know, it's something to be said about someone, as I said earlier, pouring into us Kelly, right, yeah, because you like me. You're such a giving person. You're such a caring, loving and you give to a not to a fault, but out of love you get You're a giver. I'm the same.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: Interesting though, and maybe this, this is some advice that we should both give to the listeners, is that I was, you know, on a podcast with one of my friends a couple of weeks ago, and I told her that I've never been in love, which is true. And I think that, like you just said, I am very giving to my friends. I am very giving to my family. I show them consistently that I care for them, that they can trust me, that I'm here for them, and that is really, really, really important to me. But for some reason, with men, I have a very I just feel I don't feel safe. I feel like they're exploiting me, or they're trying to meet someone through me, or they're trying to use me for business, or like I just always felt like every man that I've been with has wanted to be with Kelly Ben Simone and the figure and not the Kelly Ben Simone that you know.
00:23:33
Speaker 2: You know, Yes, small town USA.
00:23:36
Speaker 1: Girl, small town USA, rock for a little.
00:23:39
Speaker 2: I get it. But again, but.
00:23:42
Speaker 1: Let's talk about the advice. Let's talk about the advice about finding love the second time around. Like, just give us, like some two things to do and I'll think about it too. What do you what are your thoughts?
00:23:57
Speaker 2: My initial thought is, don't ever give up. Just just keep the faith, keep hope alive, and it will happen if you just be patient and persevere. It will come to you. It will find you when you least expected it's coming. So don't ever give up, knowing that there's a much higher source in being that has your back and always has. It's just a matter of his timing, not hours, you know, we can't. He works on a different clock. But when it happens, be ready to take it in and say, you know what they're showing up for me and what a great feeling.
00:24:51
Speaker 1: So mine would be one of mine would be and then I'm going to go back to you. Is kind of like nods to what you're saying. And that's being positive because I feel a lot of people that I have spoken to since they've been hearing me on the pod, they're like, well, how am I supposed to be Kelly? What am I supposed to do? I'm I supposed to FaceTime them. They're asking me all these questions. Questions are like bullet, bullet, blahlah blah, bullet, And I'm like, it's not about that, It's just you have to be you have to feel good about yourself.
00:25:21
Speaker 2: You know.
00:25:21
Speaker 1: I know that people make fun of energy, but it is. I mean, when I walk down the street, I'm smiling. I smile a lot, and people are always like, oh, you're always smiling. I'm not smiling because I'm opening my mouth up catching flies. Like I am a genuinely, inherently happy person. I feel very grateful to be able to do the things that I do, and so there's a positivity that resonates because of that, and I think that's super important. And when I see people that are grumpy, I mean, I will always say something nic if someone's garvy, I'm always like looking good today, and they're.
00:25:56
Speaker 2: Like, ah, I totally get that. I'm going to make a bolt, Yes, go ahead. Yeah. I think it starts from within. It's like a fruit that the tree is bearing fruit, right, and it starts from within. It starts with it with its roots. And so you've got to it starts from within. And there's this little trick that I use, and I've shared this with some folks, looking in the mirror and saying I love you, and when you say I love you, and you're looking at yourself and that sixth sense of hearing it seeing yourself. And I did that and I said I love you, and I smiled and then I said I really love you, and it just turned the inside of me. It took me to a place of total joy and happiness. So I think it starts from within too, you know, so that we're not walking around frumpy and down and it's not going to find me in love is too far away and it's out of reach. It's right there. Just let it come to you and it will and it will.
00:27:15
Speaker 1: So here's another nod to you. You said when you were, you know, talking about your new love, about how when you guys first met that you didn't go into the past, and I'm not a trauma bonder like a lot of people are, like, let me tell you about my past. I'm like, no, no, no, no, thank you. I really do want to hear about your past if it comes up later. Hey, this is a trigger of mine. This happened to me this instance. I definitely want to hear about that. But I don't want you to kitchen think about your past because I want to hear about us. I don't want to hear about going there right going forward. And that was one thing that was really interesting about my new boyfriend is that he he said that to me. He was like, I don't want to hear He asked me like a thousand questions a day, and he's like, I don't want to hear about X or Y. I mean, he was very interested to hear about why I've never been in love because I've been married before and then I was engaged, so he wanted to know about that. And I didn't get the opportunity to be like, Okay, so I'm a little screwed up and I've had some things happened to me in the past which I don't want to talk about.
00:28:30
Speaker 2: Isn't it interesting, Kelly. We all have imperfections.
00:28:33
Speaker 1: So to we have to allow the past to live in the past, and if there are moments where it helps to create clarity, like you can cherry pick those moments. Yes, but I think that, you know, I think that when people go on their first dates and they just start unloading on the other person. First of all, I don't need a therapist like I have one. She's a fortune. It's she's great, like I need a partner in my love crime. That's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for that next chapter with good news, with excitement, with adventure, with you know, just and you know family. I want, you know, I've always said I want a family for my family, and I do. I want sure whoever that is. I definitely want my family and their family to feel a whole. That's really, really, really important to me.
00:29:24
Speaker 2: And the other big piece of that for the listeners is this, we want them as we do. Embrace the imperfections because we're not perfect, but embrace what you have in front of you going forward and knowing that there's going to be challenges, there's going to be hurdles, and if you can both overcome those challenges and hurdles. Oh my gosh, what a wonderful thing. You know. I like to use the roller coaster analogy of life coaster, but it's a two seat roller coaster for you both to go through those ups and downs, in the swirls and the oh here we got, you know, so we've got to embrace the imperfections also, because we're not perfect.
00:30:25
Speaker 1: I heard this beautiful quote from Maril Monroe where she said that, you know, everyone is trying to smooth out the rough edges, but the rough edges are what catched.
00:30:35
Speaker 2: The light eight man. I just saw something on that as well.
00:30:40
Speaker 1: Yeah, how gorgeous is that?
00:30:42
Speaker 2: That is fabulous?
00:30:44
Speaker 1: Mark Jacobs when I wrote this book, and Mark Jacobs gave me a quote about how much he found so much beauty and imperfection, and I just was always like, that's what beauty is. Beauty is the interaction imperfection.
00:30:57
Speaker 2: It really really is, and that's what makes who and what we are. And we're constantly better than the person we were yesterday. But it doesn't mean that I have to be perfect in any form of the imagination.
00:31:12
Speaker 1: Well, you are better every day than Let's make that clearer. I mean you're like everyone, I'm like, not everyone, Gary, Sorry to burst the bubble. You Yes, what about? What what about?
00:31:30
Speaker 2: What about?
00:31:31
Speaker 1: What about? On the Golden Bachelorette. Are you going to introduce your girlfriend to any of the guys from this premiere season or No?
00:31:39
Speaker 2: I plan on doing that. And we have talked about the guys who do have dates or people that they're seeing I'm getting together and what a wonderful uh thing that would be for the bromance and the brotherhood to now share our new fan sweethearts. So yeah, we've talked about that. No, quick, I'm not hiding this from anyone, which is why i had to do my hard lunch because I'm so proud of where I come from and but more importantly where I'm going, right Kelly, It's where we're going. It's where we're going.
00:32:21
Speaker 1: It is. I mean, I'm just super super happy for you, and I'm really really excited about, you know, everything that's happening in your future. And I'm just interested to hear what the guys from the Golden Busherd are going to say. I'm totally I want to be a fly on the wall. I Am like.
00:32:45
Speaker 2: We've already been sharing we've already been sharing and everybody is so you know, we're all just happy for each other. It's like it's like a big celebration, you know, whenever somebody says and this is who I've got and this is who I'm and this is what i'm and it's just like we're so happy for each other. It's like a family member that's that's found, you know, what they've been looking for, and it's it's great, it really is.
00:33:12
Speaker 1: Okay, what about the Okay, I have one more. I have another one more question. That's for our fans. What about the holidays. Are you guys going to be spending the holidays together? Like, what's your big plan?
00:33:26
Speaker 2: Well, as quiet as it's kept, and I'm going to keep it quiet, but we will be traveling someplace together for Thanksgiving and for the end of year after Christmas thing, you know, doing the family thing. But yeah, so stay close, Kelly, and I will I will keep you posting.
00:33:48
Speaker 1: Okay, Now, let's talk about a little bit about the Golden Bachelor. Do you think that mel will find love?
00:33:56
Speaker 2: Oh my gosh, that's a tough one. That's a tough one. I want him to, but I don't In my heart of hearts?
00:34:06
Speaker 1: Is he not open? What is it? What's you know?
00:34:10
Speaker 2: It seems like he's very guarded, right, very It's just like he's very protected and very guarded and not being vulnerable. I haven't seen any vulnerability. But that's what makes you, you know, lean in as opposed to working at arm's length. And so, yeah, I haven't seen his vulnerabilities. And it's unfortunate because that's what love is about, being vulnerable, isn't it.
00:34:42
Speaker 1: Well I'm learning that, I mean literally just from being on this pod.
00:34:47
Speaker 2: You have to be vulnerable.
00:34:49
Speaker 1: I have been learning that. I mean, you have to remember that I've spent my entire you know, thirties, you know, twenties and thirties and forties and fifties like on literally Lockdown, Protect Kelly, Protect her Kids, Provide mode, and so I was always in so much fear and just to be with someone who is just asks about me, wants to make sure that I'm safe, wants to make sure that I've eaten the things that I like. You just literally just asks about me, versus tells me about what they're doing. It's just a totally different narrative, and it's just made me he's making me a better person.
00:35:29
Speaker 2: Well, and would you say, or I should say, would you agree with me that to be vulnerable you have to feel safe. You have to feel safe to be vulnerable. And that's a big part of letting go and trusting and then knowing I'm in a safe place so I can be vulnerable.
00:35:53
Speaker 1: I was always like, the shoe is going to drop, something's going to happen. There's going to be a girlfriend, there's going to be this, there's gonna be an X one that does something crazy, There's going to be something that's you know, someone's going to say something mean that's going to hurt my feelings. Like there's always going to be a shoe that drops. And you're right, feeling safe is a is a big, big news for me.
00:36:12
Speaker 2: Huge things And let me ask you, are those things important anymore? Or do they still matter? Because I would think where you are now, those are things that, yeah, it kind of really doesn't matter what it, you know, the whatever.
00:36:32
Speaker 1: All I care about is that. And this is one thing that he did that was really stellar was that he speaks so highly of his past relationships and that and he doesn't ever say anything negative, nothing, It's always like they're great, they're smart, they're doing this and one's great and what's so great? There's no kind of like negativity. And that made me also feel more safe too. And it was never he's like what do you want to do. I'm like, stay home and eat steak and watch TV. Okay. It's like it's never like, oh, let's get dressed up or you know, you know, it's always very it's always about like what we are doing together.
00:37:07
Speaker 2: Which is really Kelly, you're good with just burgers and fries.
00:37:14
Speaker 1: And you're all like having so much fun. It was the best night.
00:37:20
Speaker 2: That was so amazing, big red carpet burgers. That's like at a diner. That was so that's one of those unforgettables. We'll have the rest of our life unforgettables.
00:37:33
Speaker 1: Well, Gary, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing such a beautiful time in your life. I'm so excited for you. I can't wait to come to the way.
00:37:44
Speaker 2: Stay close, I always do, stay close. I need you, I need you.
00:37:49
Speaker 1: I'm here for you.
00:37:50
Speaker 2: Lots and lots of people need you, but I need you too.
00:37:54
Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you. And I also love how you talk about Leslie because she's such a beautiful human she is. You're such a good guy.
00:38:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, honey. One thing, don't forget. Did you forget?
00:38:10
Speaker 1: Be vulnerable?
00:38:12
Speaker 2: You matter? You are genuinely do Okay, I love you. Don't ever forget, and I'll always ask you did you forget?
00:38:27
Speaker 1: No?
00:38:29
Speaker 2: You matter?
00:38:31
Speaker 1: Okay, Wait, I want to tell you something before we finish. Is that Victoria Beckham was talking about she has this new show, and she was talking about how at this time of her where she is in her life, after everything she's been to she said something that I feel like I'm enough, just like you're saying you matter, I mean. And then I said that. I was like, you know, I actually feel like I am enough. And I was like, wait a minute, what do I see right, I'm supposed to be like panic, fear, provide children, work.
00:38:59
Speaker 2: I'm not so to be like not anymore, not anymore. It's now. It's about Kelly. It's your turn. It's your time. Thank you for you well you too, garry your boat. Oh my god, so excited, and go Dodgers. I wore my hat to go. We're gonna We're gonna take the world series from Tom.
00:39:19
Speaker 1: I thought you were gonna say go nixt because they.
00:39:24
Speaker 2: See your season is just getting started. Ours is just finishing up with the World Series. Go down.
00:39:32
Speaker 1: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
00:39:33
Speaker 2: I love you, thank you, thank you as well. Kellyank me take care, Okayle.
00:39:39
Speaker 1: Are you like Gary and I and want to find love again? Stuck on how to navigate dating in chapter two? Call us or email us. All the info are in the show notes. Follow us on socials. Make sure to rate and review the podcast I Do Part two, an iHeartRadio podcast. We're falling in Love is the main objective.
00:40:10
Speaker 2: H