June 2, 2026
We Came Here For Love! What You Need To Know BEFORE Watching Tonight’s Love Island USA Premiere
Apple Podcasts 
Spotify 
Castro 
RSS Feed We introduce you to the islanders competing for love on Season 8, premiering tonight on Peacock. From a DJ and model to a Paralympian medalist to a daughter of an NBA player, many of these 20 somethings will soon become household names and online fodder for the next six weeks. One contestant even drew the ire from his town’s mayor, clearly upset that he quit his job as police officer to be on the reality show. We also discuss the show’s success rate at finding lasting relationships, you might be surprised how many couples from previous seasons are still together.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, the folks, it is Tuesday, June second, and you can't skip paying all that money for a marriage counselor.
00:00:08
Speaker 2: Oh you got to do.
00:00:10
Speaker 1: If you want to learn what to do and what not to do in relationships, just tune in to Peacock tonight at nine o'clock EU some time for the start of Love Island. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Rols.
00:00:23
Speaker 2: I hope folks aren't dismissive of this.
00:00:24
Speaker 1: There's just some hot folks trying to get famous and hooking up on a reality show, Robes. This is one we get excited about because there's so many relationship lessons in these shows.
00:00:35
Speaker 3: Yes, because for what you just mentioned might also be true. But both things can be true. You can have a bunch of hot people trying to win some money and perhaps catapult themselves to fame while also looking for love, while also learning about love in the process.
00:00:52
Speaker 2: Here's what I don't whatever.
00:00:53
Speaker 1: They show up for every conversation when it comes to relationship, you see something happening. Rodes to go wait a minute, they shouldn't have said that, they shouldn't have done that. This would have been like when you step back and you see other people doing it in real time.
00:01:07
Speaker 2: It's fascinating. I love it.
00:01:09
Speaker 4: It's so fun watching this.
00:01:11
Speaker 3: First of all, it's fun to get personally invested in folks who I think, most of whom are there for multiple reasons, but I do think you get into it. They are isolated, they are in a bubble. They don't have their phones, they don't have communication with family and friends.
00:01:27
Speaker 4: And they aren't totally looped up on alcohol.
00:01:30
Speaker 3: They actually have rules about how many drinks these contestants can have, so it's not some silly drama fest that's alcohol fueled. This actually ends up being people who I have noticed and I have watched, for the most part, are actively engaged in trying to make a relationship work, whether or not it's for the money or to win, or for to win America's heart. But they end up really getting into it, and you watch people genuinely trying to make relationships work this.
00:02:00
Speaker 1: Show and the things that work. Hero robes are one. They're by themselves in this villa, meaning there's not camera crews around. You're not performing for anybody. You can't see where the camera is to even angle yourself or do anything. You're being filmed the whole time, so robes that helps along with the lack of alcohol, it helps in just being natural and normal in the environment. So that's fantastic. Yes, it's a competition you're trying to win. The winning couple gets one hundred thousand dollars. Fine and dandy, but robes. The show goes for six weeks in real time, so essentially it ain't been shot yet. We don't know and they don't know what's gonna happen. It's a fun stion.
00:02:41
Speaker 4: I love that part of it.
00:02:42
Speaker 3: It's almost as if you're watching a true social experiment happen in real time. And yes, they have editors working furiously around the clock, so it's pretty remarkable what they're able to pull off. But it comes off to me is something fairly authentic. Even when it is performative. You can see through it. You're watching somebody and they're not able to adjust based on public perception or reaction because they don't know.
00:03:08
Speaker 4: They find out periodically throughout the show.
00:03:10
Speaker 3: If you've never watched what America is thinking, by sometimes playing games and letting them kind of learn some of what the reaction has been at home from some of these confession cams. That might be the only thing they're not privy to what their fellow islanders are telling to the camera that we all get to see that maybe they don't know, but the reality is they're genuinely, earnestly trying to stay coupled up and robes.
00:03:38
Speaker 2: I do love and it seems silly. There are a lot of reality dating shows out there.
00:03:45
Speaker 3: This is.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: The best one, but not for the reasons I guess a lot of people would say. It is these are hot folks that it gets heated, right, You got young folks out there who are bouncing around and they don't wear clothes. The whole season for the most hot bodies, beautiful place and it's fun. But robes, once we see people start, they get into little spats and fights and dealing with friends, and you see just twelve people trying to make it in robes. Every single episode you look and go, wow, you shouldn't have said that, And right, you put yourself in a position where you can step back and see someone else going through some of the exact same things having to do with vulnerability, ego, competition, Who you're gonna choose? You're a progestion all of that stuff plays out in real time, and if you're paying attention, you can learn so much about what not to do. When you see someone, well, you can remove yourself. You go, damn, that was terrible. Then you did it a week ago in your own house. I love, I do. Maybe I'm the only one. I can't be the only one.
00:04:54
Speaker 3: No, you and I have recognized behavior that we've seen in ourselves and in each other. And when you see other people doing it a it maybe takes some of the you know, we all start thinking the worst case narra.
00:05:08
Speaker 4: You think, No, this is just human behavior.
00:05:10
Speaker 3: And when you can recognize it, and we all have it, and we all do it, and we've all experienced it, we've.
00:05:15
Speaker 4: Received it, and we've perpetrated it.
00:05:18
Speaker 3: And when you see it played out actually in an entertainment, in an entertaining way, you actually, if you're paying attention from that point of view, you can learn so much about other people, but maybe even more importantly about yourself.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: Okay, now that we got all that out of the way, let's talk about these hot folks. Now we got twelve oh excuse me, we got eleven. As you know, the controversy that's happened, we can just briefly Basana Montgomery, she was one of the Islanders.
00:05:44
Speaker 2: She will not be in the premiere.
00:05:46
Speaker 1: She has been kicked out of the villa already because of some social media videos that did pop up after she was announced in which she was using the N words. So she has been pulled off the show, so that leaves eleven Islanders robes. We haven't gotten word if they are going to add somebody else immediately to even things out, or leave it as is, or pull somebody out, which is something that's been kind of talked about out there as.
00:06:12
Speaker 3: Well, which makes the first show all the more interesting because Ariano Maddox, it'll be interesting. She's the host, and she's done so well as the host. I have to give her total credit for this. She's really been a great asset to the show. But will they address it? Will they acknowledge it? I feel like they kind of have to and should I feel.
00:06:29
Speaker 2: Like they don't have to and move right on. Go ahead, get.
00:06:32
Speaker 1: That, maybe get her out of here, and I'm okay if they don't say a word and let's just move on now.
00:06:37
Speaker 3: They have to figure out the uneven unless they immediately bring in what do they call the folks that they bring in bombshells, so they could just immediately say, hey, we realize we're one short. Wink wink, nod, nod. We're bringing in a bombshell a little bit early, because usually they do that at the end of the first episode, so everyone couples up, and then just to mix things up to tease ahead to the next day, they bring in some But he knew to tempt the islanders.
00:07:03
Speaker 1: So we'll start with that. One of the islanders that was announced. His name is Gabrielle twenty six from Miami. He's a DJ and a model. Now the reason he's being talked about and I'm starting here with him, Robes, is that, you know, the internet sleuth everybody checking everything out. They noticed that there was something different about his introductory video and they didn't think it was in the right place or it didn't go with the rest. They thought something was missing and he didn't get the same treatment as the other islanders. They're questioning Robes online whether or not he is being pulled and going to be put into the category of a bombshell, and then they will have their even numbers again.
00:07:39
Speaker 2: Oh, that is a big thing being talked.
00:07:41
Speaker 3: About so it would be five and five, five and five, and then he would.
00:07:45
Speaker 4: Come on as the bombshell end of the first episode.
00:07:49
Speaker 2: That's what they are speculating and pieced together.
00:07:52
Speaker 4: So they may be much more.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: They must know this franchise better than we do, because we've really, we really jumped on season six season seven.
00:08:02
Speaker 4: I'll be honest.
00:08:03
Speaker 3: I've watched the UK versions, but I gotta say I love The Love Island USA. I started watching when Arianna started hosting, and I really.
00:08:11
Speaker 2: Got into it when Cordelle started swinging that bag.
00:08:14
Speaker 3: We can't here for love and he's swinging his suitcase around.
00:08:18
Speaker 1: The opening dance routine. Sucked me in and that was awesome. So that's one Islander. Gabriel is his name against twenty six year old Miami DJ and model, and he's not good looking. He's not the only one that's gonna have DJ in model in his resume. As we continue here, Anaya is another Anya Harvey.
00:08:34
Speaker 3: She's a Georgia girl, Georgia girld Tyrone, Georgia. She's twenty three years old, Florida Atlanta grad. She has her business degree. So she's beautiful and she's intelligent and she's the daughter of an NBA player.
00:08:49
Speaker 1: Former NBA or Donnelle Harvey. He played, Oh he had a good run in the league. Played at Florida actually an SEC school. But she is joining the cast. Also we had ro This is a big one. Beatrice is all sold a twenty five year old from San Diego. But Robes her profession is a professional athlete. But it has to be explained a little more than that.
00:09:08
Speaker 4: Yes, she is a two time Paralympian.
00:09:11
Speaker 3: She competed in Tokyo and then once again in Paris just in twenty twenty four where she actually brought home the bronze in long jump. She is missing her right leg. She was warm without her fibula and her right leg so she had to have an amputated below the knee when she was what ten months old?
00:09:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, baby, So this is groundbreaking to include her in this, to make it almost a non issue.
00:09:37
Speaker 4: It's pretty cool.
00:09:37
Speaker 1: We we are going to see her every day for the next month and a half. Potentially Robes finding love someone who is differently able.
00:09:46
Speaker 2: I guess you could argue Robes this, I am fascinated.
00:09:49
Speaker 4: But exceptionally abled. At the same time, he's.
00:09:52
Speaker 1: A Paralympic she's a professional athlete, the only professional athlete on the show, and she is missing a limp and she's in.
00:09:58
Speaker 4: A bikini, so she's walking around. This is the pool with her. I don't know.
00:10:03
Speaker 3: It's a prosthetic and I don't know if she'll change it or how it's going to look. But that's what's cool about it, just making her one of the hot folks on the pool or in the villa. And she is differently able, but she's an amazing young woman.
00:10:18
Speaker 1: Curious how this is going to be received generally, because you know people can be, you know how people can be. He shall see another zach enrobed He I don't know if this is the first one. It might be the first time they have had siblings on. But his brother was on last season.
00:10:32
Speaker 3: Yeah, I had to look because his brother was a bombshell. His brother was Charlie on season seven, so just last season and maybe if you don't even remember that, just he was the British guy who he was the hot guy with the British accent. They're from Birmingham, UK, and yes, he is the younger brother of Charlie. And he says he has a non negotiable here we'll see how this is received.
00:10:54
Speaker 1: Well, how's it received by you? But guy tells you, Hey, if you don't like my cat, we're not going to be together.
00:11:00
Speaker 4: I guess it just depends on the cat.
00:11:02
Speaker 1: Then does it depend on the cat or the guy? Before you even meet the cat, if somebody says to you they're that into that cat that you have to pass the cat's ten, you know.
00:11:09
Speaker 3: What it is. It's a yellow flag for me, I would have my guard up, like hmm, don't know if that's actually sweet and speaks to his loyalty or if it's bizarre and speaks to his craziness. So I would just need to learn more, but my antenna would be up.
00:11:25
Speaker 2: He looks just like his brother. They look just like it.
00:11:27
Speaker 4: They look very similar. Okay.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: Next up here is Trinity Tatum on the younger side. She's twenty two, but she also has a resume that's sound similar to some mother's.
00:11:35
Speaker 4: She's a model.
00:11:37
Speaker 3: She comes from Newport News, Virginia, and I mean she's stunning.
00:11:42
Speaker 4: She's gorgeous.
00:11:42
Speaker 3: But she is one of the younger ones. She's twenty two. That is I say that now because I have a twenty three year old daughter. I'm like, my goodness, babes, that'd be hard to see her in a situation like this.
00:11:53
Speaker 1: Thanks up here, brother from New Jersey. Sincere or is his name being pronounced Sincere?
00:11:58
Speaker 4: Oh, that's hilarious. Sanser is a wine.
00:12:01
Speaker 3: Sincere I would think would be described by what it means.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: Sincere is his name.
00:12:08
Speaker 1: But he is also an athlete, but he was a I don't think he did any professional but he what Texas Tech, Penn State, and Miami. Ran at all those schools. He's a sprinter. But he's from Cape May, New Jersey. Twenty five years old. This next one robes.
00:12:21
Speaker 4: Yeah, he's got a story.
00:12:24
Speaker 1: It's a story, but robes it comes with some I mean this, we've heard about others doing this, never heard about a cop doing it.
00:12:30
Speaker 3: No, So Sean Rifle, I hope. I say, that's a strange name for a cop. But maybe Rafel. You're right, it's for foul.
00:12:40
Speaker 2: Wow.
00:12:40
Speaker 4: I went with rifle. That would be terrible. Sean great smile. Twenty nine years old. He's from Easton, Pennsylvania.
00:12:48
Speaker 3: And it's so funny because isn't the whole series called Mayor of Easton or what what's it called?
00:12:53
Speaker 4: Mayor of east Wick. But all I could think.
00:12:55
Speaker 3: Of was the show with uh Titanic girl, right, yeah, what's the name? I always have a mental block with her name Rose from Titanic.
00:13:05
Speaker 4: Oh my god, Well it'll come to me anyway.
00:13:08
Speaker 3: Mayor of Easton is upset because yes, he's a police officer and he resigned to be on the show. He was just sworn in last year, August of twenty twenty five, as a police officer of Easton, Pennsylvania, a year.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: Her name is Kate Winsley, by the way, Kate Winsley and Rose Buckater.
00:13:28
Speaker 1: Anyway, but in again, this guy Sean, Let's get back to Sean here for a second. Sean has been a police officer for one year in Easton, Pennsylvania, one year.
00:13:39
Speaker 2: So he wants to do this show. Now.
00:13:41
Speaker 1: When I heard he was a police officer, Rose like, wow, they're giving him time to do this. That's really cool, that's really supportive that he wants to do this.
00:13:51
Speaker 2: Rose. He quit his job as a police officer right now.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: We have heard rogues in like this happens a lot, does it not, in a lot of these reality shows. They think it's such an opportunity that they leave a steady job they have because they think they're going to blow up online, blow up on the show, and have these other opportunities. You can understand that the mayor over there of Easton, Pennsylvania was not too pleased.
00:14:14
Speaker 3: Yes, and that's why when you had Mayor of Easton, I was thinking of Mayor of Easttown, which is also set in Pennsylvania.
00:14:21
Speaker 4: So with Kate Winslet, all right, but.
00:14:23
Speaker 3: Mayor sorry, Jay Winson, we just had a moment where we couldn't remember uh anyway, but the Mayor of Easton said, our police departments spent a lot of time training and we paid thousands of taxpayer dollars to send him to the police academy. We are disappointed, as disappointed he left, as we now have another vacancy in our department that is impossible to fill until next year. I never thought i'd see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer. I feel like that mayor is living under a rock because I don't know how much police officers, rookie police officers make in Pennsylvania, but I'm sure he is also weighing the fact that he could possibly be making a lot more money as an influencer or as a career that could come from being on this massive juggernaut of a hit.
00:15:18
Speaker 2: He could possibly get a job as a police officer.
00:15:20
Speaker 4: Again, I'm not shocked that he made this decision.
00:15:23
Speaker 1: This opportunity is not going to come along being a police officer. I think they have openings.
00:15:28
Speaker 3: Yeah that sounded personal, because it's not that shocking to me, but.
00:15:32
Speaker 1: It is offensive to that city's, that department robes, what they're struggling with, what their shortages are, finances, crime, don't have enough to cover, and a guy just bounce because he wants to be famous. From the mayor's point of view, I understand being pissed, but I also understand just the reality of it.
00:15:49
Speaker 2: It was too bad. He could have said, wish him well. Yeah, when he comes back, I.
00:15:54
Speaker 1: Hope he gets kicked off that island immediately, so he could come right back here.
00:15:58
Speaker 2: There's another way. But I get it.
00:16:00
Speaker 4: Yeah, he made a choice. He made a choice.
00:16:02
Speaker 1: Let's go to a couple of folks from LA Now, Melanie is up. She's a little on the young side here as well. Ropes twenty four years old.
00:16:09
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, very much so.
00:16:11
Speaker 3: She works at a bikini store, so she'll probably be perfectly outfitted for her and she's gorgeous.
00:16:17
Speaker 4: We're looking at her picture right now. She's stunning, So yeah, she should do well.
00:16:21
Speaker 1: We have another Georgia girl here, Kinsey twenty four. She's from Kennesaw, Georgia. She actually just graduated rose I think last month, from nursing school.
00:16:32
Speaker 4: So who doesn't love a nurse, she'll have warm vibes.
00:16:36
Speaker 1: Speaking of the next one, nursing assistant Casey Chandler. This is a brother from Presno. Also on the young side. But if you looked at some he thinks it's a big advantage. Rogues that women just love a guy in healthcare.
00:16:47
Speaker 3: Well, yeah, if he can take care of you, make you feel good when you're feeling sick, he's the guy you want by your bed.
00:16:53
Speaker 4: I get it. He can play on that. Yes, that makes a lot of sense.
00:16:57
Speaker 1: Does it matter if it's doctor Chandler or nurse assistant Chandler?
00:17:02
Speaker 3: I mean maybe just from if you're looking at a certain income, maybe yes.
00:17:06
Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, we've talked about Gabrielle already.
00:17:08
Speaker 1: We got another a model in dj Roves and another one out of La. I'm gonna pull his picture up for you because this was one that immediately jumped out of me.
00:17:15
Speaker 3: Here.
00:17:16
Speaker 4: His name is Bryce.
00:17:17
Speaker 3: He's definitely gonna get a lot of the lady lady's attention. His name is Bryce Debtlof and he's a model and a DJ. And did you say he's a kat O'kaitelen look alone.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: I'm looking at him and I saw his videos as well. Immediately thought about Katoklee.
00:17:31
Speaker 4: I think he's much cuter than kat o'klen, but I get it.
00:17:34
Speaker 3: He's got this vibe, this California vibe, la vibe.
00:17:38
Speaker 4: He's he's hot, but he knows it. But don't they all?
00:17:42
Speaker 1: It's his video he looks. This picture makes him look different than his videos become. Okay, he comes a little more Katokalen.
00:17:50
Speaker 3: Oh, he's a little goof here in his videos a little bit because he looks sexy and hot and like quiet.
00:17:56
Speaker 1: But it it looks like me trying to be sexy. It doesn't seem like it's his natural thing, his personality. I kind of like this guy.
00:18:03
Speaker 4: Oh okay, that's something to look forward to, I have to say.
00:18:06
Speaker 2: But stay here, folks.
00:18:08
Speaker 1: All these folks say they're looking for love, what is their chance really of finding it? On Love Island will give you a reminder of how some of the previous hookups have done.
00:18:17
Speaker 3: Stay here, Welcome back everyone to this Love Island USA edition of Amy and TJ. We are looking forward and getting you caught up to tonight's season eight premiere, and we thought we'd go back.
00:18:38
Speaker 4: And I have to admit.
00:18:39
Speaker 3: I was actually surprised at just how many Love Island USA couples are still in relationships going back to season five.
00:18:47
Speaker 4: And I say this, It's not like there's some huge number.
00:18:50
Speaker 3: I just would have thought none of them were still together, given their age, given the price of fame, just given the conditions in which they fell in love, kind of ideal and in a bubble and away from any sort of scrutiny. Once they got out of the villa, I figured all of them would fall apart.
00:19:09
Speaker 4: Kind of a lot of them did. I would say most of them do.
00:19:13
Speaker 1: Most reality they shows have about the same winning percentage. I mean, you're gonna overwhelmingly have seventy percent not workout.
00:19:21
Speaker 4: But it is cool when you see the ones that do.
00:19:24
Speaker 3: I do think that that is part of the fun in watching knowing that there is usually at least one or two who make it to a certain point.
00:19:31
Speaker 4: So we can go back to season five.
00:19:33
Speaker 3: If you remember Hannah and Marco, they're actually engaged.
00:19:37
Speaker 4: That's pretty cool.
00:19:39
Speaker 3: Carston, who went by Bergie and Taylor from season five also engaged. They had two engagements out of season five and season six you mentioned Cordel, Cordell and Serena are still together and they're adorable together.
00:19:51
Speaker 4: Look at that photo of that.
00:19:52
Speaker 1: They make sense because we saw them go through hell in the Villa they did six weeks. They went up and down together, broken up. I heard you you broke my heart and here they are so even that robes I will embrace as.
00:20:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, you had to go through something.
00:20:05
Speaker 3: They described it as a messy, tested, slow burned romance.
00:20:09
Speaker 4: That one overviewers. Two years later, they're still together. That's cool. Also, this one shocks me.
00:20:16
Speaker 3: Miguel and Leah season six, they were the runners up.
00:20:20
Speaker 4: And they're still together. I am surprised.
00:20:24
Speaker 3: He actually moved from London to la to be on Beyond the Villa and their relationship is going ready and Leah said she's ready to get engaged, So we'll see. That's pretty cool.
00:20:37
Speaker 2: That's probably the end is near.
00:20:41
Speaker 3: Are you shocked? Olandria and Nick? No, that's you know, they're still together.
00:20:47
Speaker 1: I'm not saying anything about their relationship, their true love, how it goes. This is the one that made business sense to me. People loved that they got together at them because they really liked him for a lot of reasons. They really liked her, and they couldn't find each other.
00:21:01
Speaker 4: And they find they're getting thrown together kind.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Of at the end, and here they are, and that they've done a good job robes of leveraging that relationship. That's not a knock, and I'm not knocking what's truly going on, But that one made business.
00:21:15
Speaker 3: Since okay, and they're still together now. Taylor and Clark they are.
00:21:21
Speaker 4: Still together as well.
00:21:23
Speaker 3: It's funny because sometimes they look so different on red carpets, but they're still together from season seven. And then the other couple that's together is Iris and TJ. Iris was with Pepe in season seven.
00:21:34
Speaker 4: You remember them? Oh, I totally do.
00:21:37
Speaker 1: You said all these names. I don't know if everybody else remembered that remedy so funny.
00:21:40
Speaker 3: Well, they broke up, but then Iris found TJ, who was with someone else and now they're together and they're hitting it off. So there are at least three couples that came out of season seven that are still together there.
00:21:53
Speaker 1: But the winners don't do so well. I remember from last year, of course, the four finalists at the end. In a week, three of them weren't together anymore.
00:22:00
Speaker 3: Yeah, in a week they broke that's because, yes, Miguel and Lea, I think some people ended up breaking up getting back together, all of this stuff. But hey, I just feel like it's a better track record than I would have guessed.
00:22:12
Speaker 1: Okay, the winners don't have a good track record. We should mention out of seven season winners, only one is engaged, one still dating.
00:22:19
Speaker 2: Everybody else is broken up.
00:22:21
Speaker 1: So the winners don't do great, but they make the first potential around the villa we will be watching.
00:22:26
Speaker 2: We have a watch party going tonight.
00:22:28
Speaker 1: There are going to be a bunch of folks here that will be one male exactly one.
00:22:32
Speaker 2: That's me. But that's all right.
00:22:34
Speaker 1: I love this show for whatever reason, and it's not to look at hot bodies. It's really roll, just to look at hot moments and situations that get heated, that get resolved and just take the lessons from that.
00:22:51
Speaker 3: Yeah, we would encourage everybody to watch for fun, but also watch to learn. And with that we thank you for listening to us. I made me roboch alongside t. J.
00:23:00
Speaker 4: Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey, the folks, it is Tuesday, June second, and you can't skip paying all that money for a marriage counselor.
00:00:08
Speaker 2: Oh you got to do.
00:00:10
Speaker 1: If you want to learn what to do and what not to do in relationships, just tune in to Peacock tonight at nine o'clock EU some time for the start of Love Island. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Rols.
00:00:23
Speaker 2: I hope folks aren't dismissive of this.
00:00:24
Speaker 1: There's just some hot folks trying to get famous and hooking up on a reality show, Robes. This is one we get excited about because there's so many relationship lessons in these shows.
00:00:35
Speaker 3: Yes, because for what you just mentioned might also be true. But both things can be true. You can have a bunch of hot people trying to win some money and perhaps catapult themselves to fame while also looking for love, while also learning about love in the process.
00:00:52
Speaker 2: Here's what I don't whatever.
00:00:53
Speaker 1: They show up for every conversation when it comes to relationship, you see something happening. Rodes to go wait a minute, they shouldn't have said that, they shouldn't have done that. This would have been like when you step back and you see other people doing it in real time.
00:01:07
Speaker 2: It's fascinating. I love it.
00:01:09
Speaker 4: It's so fun watching this.
00:01:11
Speaker 3: First of all, it's fun to get personally invested in folks who I think, most of whom are there for multiple reasons, but I do think you get into it. They are isolated, they are in a bubble. They don't have their phones, they don't have communication with family and friends.
00:01:27
Speaker 4: And they aren't totally looped up on alcohol.
00:01:30
Speaker 3: They actually have rules about how many drinks these contestants can have, so it's not some silly drama fest that's alcohol fueled. This actually ends up being people who I have noticed and I have watched, for the most part, are actively engaged in trying to make a relationship work, whether or not it's for the money or to win, or for to win America's heart. But they end up really getting into it, and you watch people genuinely trying to make relationships work this.
00:02:00
Speaker 1: Show and the things that work. Hero robes are one. They're by themselves in this villa, meaning there's not camera crews around. You're not performing for anybody. You can't see where the camera is to even angle yourself or do anything. You're being filmed the whole time, so robes that helps along with the lack of alcohol, it helps in just being natural and normal in the environment. So that's fantastic. Yes, it's a competition you're trying to win. The winning couple gets one hundred thousand dollars. Fine and dandy, but robes. The show goes for six weeks in real time, so essentially it ain't been shot yet. We don't know and they don't know what's gonna happen. It's a fun stion.
00:02:41
Speaker 4: I love that part of it.
00:02:42
Speaker 3: It's almost as if you're watching a true social experiment happen in real time. And yes, they have editors working furiously around the clock, so it's pretty remarkable what they're able to pull off. But it comes off to me is something fairly authentic. Even when it is performative. You can see through it. You're watching somebody and they're not able to adjust based on public perception or reaction because they don't know.
00:03:08
Speaker 4: They find out periodically throughout the show.
00:03:10
Speaker 3: If you've never watched what America is thinking, by sometimes playing games and letting them kind of learn some of what the reaction has been at home from some of these confession cams. That might be the only thing they're not privy to what their fellow islanders are telling to the camera that we all get to see that maybe they don't know, but the reality is they're genuinely, earnestly trying to stay coupled up and robes.
00:03:38
Speaker 2: I do love and it seems silly. There are a lot of reality dating shows out there.
00:03:45
Speaker 3: This is.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: The best one, but not for the reasons I guess a lot of people would say. It is these are hot folks that it gets heated, right, You got young folks out there who are bouncing around and they don't wear clothes. The whole season for the most hot bodies, beautiful place and it's fun. But robes, once we see people start, they get into little spats and fights and dealing with friends, and you see just twelve people trying to make it in robes. Every single episode you look and go, wow, you shouldn't have said that, And right, you put yourself in a position where you can step back and see someone else going through some of the exact same things having to do with vulnerability, ego, competition, Who you're gonna choose? You're a progestion all of that stuff plays out in real time, and if you're paying attention, you can learn so much about what not to do. When you see someone, well, you can remove yourself. You go, damn, that was terrible. Then you did it a week ago in your own house. I love, I do. Maybe I'm the only one. I can't be the only one.
00:04:54
Speaker 3: No, you and I have recognized behavior that we've seen in ourselves and in each other. And when you see other people doing it a it maybe takes some of the you know, we all start thinking the worst case narra.
00:05:08
Speaker 4: You think, No, this is just human behavior.
00:05:10
Speaker 3: And when you can recognize it, and we all have it, and we all do it, and we've all experienced it, we've.
00:05:15
Speaker 4: Received it, and we've perpetrated it.
00:05:18
Speaker 3: And when you see it played out actually in an entertainment, in an entertaining way, you actually, if you're paying attention from that point of view, you can learn so much about other people, but maybe even more importantly about yourself.
00:05:32
Speaker 1: Okay, now that we got all that out of the way, let's talk about these hot folks. Now we got twelve oh excuse me, we got eleven. As you know, the controversy that's happened, we can just briefly Basana Montgomery, she was one of the Islanders.
00:05:44
Speaker 2: She will not be in the premiere.
00:05:46
Speaker 1: She has been kicked out of the villa already because of some social media videos that did pop up after she was announced in which she was using the N words. So she has been pulled off the show, so that leaves eleven Islanders robes. We haven't gotten word if they are going to add somebody else immediately to even things out, or leave it as is, or pull somebody out, which is something that's been kind of talked about out there as.
00:06:12
Speaker 3: Well, which makes the first show all the more interesting because Ariano Maddox, it'll be interesting. She's the host, and she's done so well as the host. I have to give her total credit for this. She's really been a great asset to the show. But will they address it? Will they acknowledge it? I feel like they kind of have to and should I feel.
00:06:29
Speaker 2: Like they don't have to and move right on. Go ahead, get.
00:06:32
Speaker 1: That, maybe get her out of here, and I'm okay if they don't say a word and let's just move on now.
00:06:37
Speaker 3: They have to figure out the uneven unless they immediately bring in what do they call the folks that they bring in bombshells, so they could just immediately say, hey, we realize we're one short. Wink wink, nod, nod. We're bringing in a bombshell a little bit early, because usually they do that at the end of the first episode, so everyone couples up, and then just to mix things up to tease ahead to the next day, they bring in some But he knew to tempt the islanders.
00:07:03
Speaker 1: So we'll start with that. One of the islanders that was announced. His name is Gabrielle twenty six from Miami. He's a DJ and a model. Now the reason he's being talked about and I'm starting here with him, Robes, is that, you know, the internet sleuth everybody checking everything out. They noticed that there was something different about his introductory video and they didn't think it was in the right place or it didn't go with the rest. They thought something was missing and he didn't get the same treatment as the other islanders. They're questioning Robes online whether or not he is being pulled and going to be put into the category of a bombshell, and then they will have their even numbers again.
00:07:39
Speaker 2: Oh, that is a big thing being talked.
00:07:41
Speaker 3: About so it would be five and five, five and five, and then he would.
00:07:45
Speaker 4: Come on as the bombshell end of the first episode.
00:07:49
Speaker 2: That's what they are speculating and pieced together.
00:07:52
Speaker 4: So they may be much more.
00:07:55
Speaker 3: They must know this franchise better than we do, because we've really, we really jumped on season six season seven.
00:08:02
Speaker 4: I'll be honest.
00:08:03
Speaker 3: I've watched the UK versions, but I gotta say I love The Love Island USA. I started watching when Arianna started hosting, and I really.
00:08:11
Speaker 2: Got into it when Cordelle started swinging that bag.
00:08:14
Speaker 3: We can't here for love and he's swinging his suitcase around.
00:08:18
Speaker 1: The opening dance routine. Sucked me in and that was awesome. So that's one Islander. Gabriel is his name against twenty six year old Miami DJ and model, and he's not good looking. He's not the only one that's gonna have DJ in model in his resume. As we continue here, Anaya is another Anya Harvey.
00:08:34
Speaker 3: She's a Georgia girl, Georgia girld Tyrone, Georgia. She's twenty three years old, Florida Atlanta grad. She has her business degree. So she's beautiful and she's intelligent and she's the daughter of an NBA player.
00:08:49
Speaker 1: Former NBA or Donnelle Harvey. He played, Oh he had a good run in the league. Played at Florida actually an SEC school. But she is joining the cast. Also we had ro This is a big one. Beatrice is all sold a twenty five year old from San Diego. But Robes her profession is a professional athlete. But it has to be explained a little more than that.
00:09:08
Speaker 4: Yes, she is a two time Paralympian.
00:09:11
Speaker 3: She competed in Tokyo and then once again in Paris just in twenty twenty four where she actually brought home the bronze in long jump. She is missing her right leg. She was warm without her fibula and her right leg so she had to have an amputated below the knee when she was what ten months old?
00:09:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, baby, So this is groundbreaking to include her in this, to make it almost a non issue.
00:09:37
Speaker 4: It's pretty cool.
00:09:37
Speaker 1: We we are going to see her every day for the next month and a half. Potentially Robes finding love someone who is differently able.
00:09:46
Speaker 2: I guess you could argue Robes this, I am fascinated.
00:09:49
Speaker 4: But exceptionally abled. At the same time, he's.
00:09:52
Speaker 1: A Paralympic she's a professional athlete, the only professional athlete on the show, and she is missing a limp and she's in.
00:09:58
Speaker 4: A bikini, so she's walking around. This is the pool with her. I don't know.
00:10:03
Speaker 3: It's a prosthetic and I don't know if she'll change it or how it's going to look. But that's what's cool about it, just making her one of the hot folks on the pool or in the villa. And she is differently able, but she's an amazing young woman.
00:10:18
Speaker 1: Curious how this is going to be received generally, because you know people can be, you know how people can be. He shall see another zach enrobed He I don't know if this is the first one. It might be the first time they have had siblings on. But his brother was on last season.
00:10:32
Speaker 3: Yeah, I had to look because his brother was a bombshell. His brother was Charlie on season seven, so just last season and maybe if you don't even remember that, just he was the British guy who he was the hot guy with the British accent. They're from Birmingham, UK, and yes, he is the younger brother of Charlie. And he says he has a non negotiable here we'll see how this is received.
00:10:54
Speaker 1: Well, how's it received by you? But guy tells you, Hey, if you don't like my cat, we're not going to be together.
00:11:00
Speaker 4: I guess it just depends on the cat.
00:11:02
Speaker 1: Then does it depend on the cat or the guy? Before you even meet the cat, if somebody says to you they're that into that cat that you have to pass the cat's ten, you know.
00:11:09
Speaker 3: What it is. It's a yellow flag for me, I would have my guard up, like hmm, don't know if that's actually sweet and speaks to his loyalty or if it's bizarre and speaks to his craziness. So I would just need to learn more, but my antenna would be up.
00:11:25
Speaker 2: He looks just like his brother. They look just like it.
00:11:27
Speaker 4: They look very similar. Okay.
00:11:28
Speaker 1: Next up here is Trinity Tatum on the younger side. She's twenty two, but she also has a resume that's sound similar to some mother's.
00:11:35
Speaker 4: She's a model.
00:11:37
Speaker 3: She comes from Newport News, Virginia, and I mean she's stunning.
00:11:42
Speaker 4: She's gorgeous.
00:11:42
Speaker 3: But she is one of the younger ones. She's twenty two. That is I say that now because I have a twenty three year old daughter. I'm like, my goodness, babes, that'd be hard to see her in a situation like this.
00:11:53
Speaker 1: Thanks up here, brother from New Jersey. Sincere or is his name being pronounced Sincere?
00:11:58
Speaker 4: Oh, that's hilarious. Sanser is a wine.
00:12:01
Speaker 3: Sincere I would think would be described by what it means.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: Sincere is his name.
00:12:08
Speaker 1: But he is also an athlete, but he was a I don't think he did any professional but he what Texas Tech, Penn State, and Miami. Ran at all those schools. He's a sprinter. But he's from Cape May, New Jersey. Twenty five years old. This next one robes.
00:12:21
Speaker 4: Yeah, he's got a story.
00:12:24
Speaker 1: It's a story, but robes it comes with some I mean this, we've heard about others doing this, never heard about a cop doing it.
00:12:30
Speaker 3: No, So Sean Rifle, I hope. I say, that's a strange name for a cop. But maybe Rafel. You're right, it's for foul.
00:12:40
Speaker 2: Wow.
00:12:40
Speaker 4: I went with rifle. That would be terrible. Sean great smile. Twenty nine years old. He's from Easton, Pennsylvania.
00:12:48
Speaker 3: And it's so funny because isn't the whole series called Mayor of Easton or what what's it called?
00:12:53
Speaker 4: Mayor of east Wick. But all I could think.
00:12:55
Speaker 3: Of was the show with uh Titanic girl, right, yeah, what's the name? I always have a mental block with her name Rose from Titanic.
00:13:05
Speaker 4: Oh my god, Well it'll come to me anyway.
00:13:08
Speaker 3: Mayor of Easton is upset because yes, he's a police officer and he resigned to be on the show. He was just sworn in last year, August of twenty twenty five, as a police officer of Easton, Pennsylvania, a year.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: Her name is Kate Winsley, by the way, Kate Winsley and Rose Buckater.
00:13:28
Speaker 1: Anyway, but in again, this guy Sean, Let's get back to Sean here for a second. Sean has been a police officer for one year in Easton, Pennsylvania, one year.
00:13:39
Speaker 2: So he wants to do this show. Now.
00:13:41
Speaker 1: When I heard he was a police officer, Rose like, wow, they're giving him time to do this. That's really cool, that's really supportive that he wants to do this.
00:13:51
Speaker 2: Rose. He quit his job as a police officer right now.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: We have heard rogues in like this happens a lot, does it not, in a lot of these reality shows. They think it's such an opportunity that they leave a steady job they have because they think they're going to blow up online, blow up on the show, and have these other opportunities. You can understand that the mayor over there of Easton, Pennsylvania was not too pleased.
00:14:14
Speaker 3: Yes, and that's why when you had Mayor of Easton, I was thinking of Mayor of Easttown, which is also set in Pennsylvania.
00:14:21
Speaker 4: So with Kate Winslet, all right, but.
00:14:23
Speaker 3: Mayor sorry, Jay Winson, we just had a moment where we couldn't remember uh anyway, but the Mayor of Easton said, our police departments spent a lot of time training and we paid thousands of taxpayer dollars to send him to the police academy. We are disappointed, as disappointed he left, as we now have another vacancy in our department that is impossible to fill until next year. I never thought i'd see the day in America where reality show participation wins out over being a police officer. I feel like that mayor is living under a rock because I don't know how much police officers, rookie police officers make in Pennsylvania, but I'm sure he is also weighing the fact that he could possibly be making a lot more money as an influencer or as a career that could come from being on this massive juggernaut of a hit.
00:15:18
Speaker 2: He could possibly get a job as a police officer.
00:15:20
Speaker 4: Again, I'm not shocked that he made this decision.
00:15:23
Speaker 1: This opportunity is not going to come along being a police officer. I think they have openings.
00:15:28
Speaker 3: Yeah that sounded personal, because it's not that shocking to me, but.
00:15:32
Speaker 1: It is offensive to that city's, that department robes, what they're struggling with, what their shortages are, finances, crime, don't have enough to cover, and a guy just bounce because he wants to be famous. From the mayor's point of view, I understand being pissed, but I also understand just the reality of it.
00:15:49
Speaker 2: It was too bad. He could have said, wish him well. Yeah, when he comes back, I.
00:15:54
Speaker 1: Hope he gets kicked off that island immediately, so he could come right back here.
00:15:58
Speaker 2: There's another way. But I get it.
00:16:00
Speaker 4: Yeah, he made a choice. He made a choice.
00:16:02
Speaker 1: Let's go to a couple of folks from LA Now, Melanie is up. She's a little on the young side here as well. Ropes twenty four years old.
00:16:09
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, very much so.
00:16:11
Speaker 3: She works at a bikini store, so she'll probably be perfectly outfitted for her and she's gorgeous.
00:16:17
Speaker 4: We're looking at her picture right now. She's stunning, So yeah, she should do well.
00:16:21
Speaker 1: We have another Georgia girl here, Kinsey twenty four. She's from Kennesaw, Georgia. She actually just graduated rose I think last month, from nursing school.
00:16:32
Speaker 4: So who doesn't love a nurse, she'll have warm vibes.
00:16:36
Speaker 1: Speaking of the next one, nursing assistant Casey Chandler. This is a brother from Presno. Also on the young side. But if you looked at some he thinks it's a big advantage. Rogues that women just love a guy in healthcare.
00:16:47
Speaker 3: Well, yeah, if he can take care of you, make you feel good when you're feeling sick, he's the guy you want by your bed.
00:16:53
Speaker 4: I get it. He can play on that. Yes, that makes a lot of sense.
00:16:57
Speaker 1: Does it matter if it's doctor Chandler or nurse assistant Chandler?
00:17:02
Speaker 3: I mean maybe just from if you're looking at a certain income, maybe yes.
00:17:06
Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, we've talked about Gabrielle already.
00:17:08
Speaker 1: We got another a model in dj Roves and another one out of La. I'm gonna pull his picture up for you because this was one that immediately jumped out of me.
00:17:15
Speaker 3: Here.
00:17:16
Speaker 4: His name is Bryce.
00:17:17
Speaker 3: He's definitely gonna get a lot of the lady lady's attention. His name is Bryce Debtlof and he's a model and a DJ. And did you say he's a kat O'kaitelen look alone.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: I'm looking at him and I saw his videos as well. Immediately thought about Katoklee.
00:17:31
Speaker 4: I think he's much cuter than kat o'klen, but I get it.
00:17:34
Speaker 3: He's got this vibe, this California vibe, la vibe.
00:17:38
Speaker 4: He's he's hot, but he knows it. But don't they all?
00:17:42
Speaker 1: It's his video he looks. This picture makes him look different than his videos become. Okay, he comes a little more Katokalen.
00:17:50
Speaker 3: Oh, he's a little goof here in his videos a little bit because he looks sexy and hot and like quiet.
00:17:56
Speaker 1: But it it looks like me trying to be sexy. It doesn't seem like it's his natural thing, his personality. I kind of like this guy.
00:18:03
Speaker 4: Oh okay, that's something to look forward to, I have to say.
00:18:06
Speaker 2: But stay here, folks.
00:18:08
Speaker 1: All these folks say they're looking for love, what is their chance really of finding it? On Love Island will give you a reminder of how some of the previous hookups have done.
00:18:17
Speaker 3: Stay here, Welcome back everyone to this Love Island USA edition of Amy and TJ. We are looking forward and getting you caught up to tonight's season eight premiere, and we thought we'd go back.
00:18:38
Speaker 4: And I have to admit.
00:18:39
Speaker 3: I was actually surprised at just how many Love Island USA couples are still in relationships going back to season five.
00:18:47
Speaker 4: And I say this, It's not like there's some huge number.
00:18:50
Speaker 3: I just would have thought none of them were still together, given their age, given the price of fame, just given the conditions in which they fell in love, kind of ideal and in a bubble and away from any sort of scrutiny. Once they got out of the villa, I figured all of them would fall apart.
00:19:09
Speaker 4: Kind of a lot of them did. I would say most of them do.
00:19:13
Speaker 1: Most reality they shows have about the same winning percentage. I mean, you're gonna overwhelmingly have seventy percent not workout.
00:19:21
Speaker 4: But it is cool when you see the ones that do.
00:19:24
Speaker 3: I do think that that is part of the fun in watching knowing that there is usually at least one or two who make it to a certain point.
00:19:31
Speaker 4: So we can go back to season five.
00:19:33
Speaker 3: If you remember Hannah and Marco, they're actually engaged.
00:19:37
Speaker 4: That's pretty cool.
00:19:39
Speaker 3: Carston, who went by Bergie and Taylor from season five also engaged. They had two engagements out of season five and season six you mentioned Cordel, Cordell and Serena are still together and they're adorable together.
00:19:51
Speaker 4: Look at that photo of that.
00:19:52
Speaker 1: They make sense because we saw them go through hell in the Villa they did six weeks. They went up and down together, broken up. I heard you you broke my heart and here they are so even that robes I will embrace as.
00:20:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, you had to go through something.
00:20:05
Speaker 3: They described it as a messy, tested, slow burned romance.
00:20:09
Speaker 4: That one overviewers. Two years later, they're still together. That's cool. Also, this one shocks me.
00:20:16
Speaker 3: Miguel and Leah season six, they were the runners up.
00:20:20
Speaker 4: And they're still together. I am surprised.
00:20:24
Speaker 3: He actually moved from London to la to be on Beyond the Villa and their relationship is going ready and Leah said she's ready to get engaged, So we'll see. That's pretty cool.
00:20:37
Speaker 2: That's probably the end is near.
00:20:41
Speaker 3: Are you shocked? Olandria and Nick? No, that's you know, they're still together.
00:20:47
Speaker 1: I'm not saying anything about their relationship, their true love, how it goes. This is the one that made business sense to me. People loved that they got together at them because they really liked him for a lot of reasons. They really liked her, and they couldn't find each other.
00:21:01
Speaker 4: And they find they're getting thrown together kind.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: Of at the end, and here they are, and that they've done a good job robes of leveraging that relationship. That's not a knock, and I'm not knocking what's truly going on, But that one made business.
00:21:15
Speaker 3: Since okay, and they're still together now. Taylor and Clark they are.
00:21:21
Speaker 4: Still together as well.
00:21:23
Speaker 3: It's funny because sometimes they look so different on red carpets, but they're still together from season seven. And then the other couple that's together is Iris and TJ. Iris was with Pepe in season seven.
00:21:34
Speaker 4: You remember them? Oh, I totally do.
00:21:37
Speaker 1: You said all these names. I don't know if everybody else remembered that remedy so funny.
00:21:40
Speaker 3: Well, they broke up, but then Iris found TJ, who was with someone else and now they're together and they're hitting it off. So there are at least three couples that came out of season seven that are still together there.
00:21:53
Speaker 1: But the winners don't do so well. I remember from last year, of course, the four finalists at the end. In a week, three of them weren't together anymore.
00:22:00
Speaker 3: Yeah, in a week they broke that's because, yes, Miguel and Lea, I think some people ended up breaking up getting back together, all of this stuff. But hey, I just feel like it's a better track record than I would have guessed.
00:22:12
Speaker 1: Okay, the winners don't have a good track record. We should mention out of seven season winners, only one is engaged, one still dating.
00:22:19
Speaker 2: Everybody else is broken up.
00:22:21
Speaker 1: So the winners don't do great, but they make the first potential around the villa we will be watching.
00:22:26
Speaker 2: We have a watch party going tonight.
00:22:28
Speaker 1: There are going to be a bunch of folks here that will be one male exactly one.
00:22:32
Speaker 2: That's me. But that's all right.
00:22:34
Speaker 1: I love this show for whatever reason, and it's not to look at hot bodies. It's really roll, just to look at hot moments and situations that get heated, that get resolved and just take the lessons from that.
00:22:51
Speaker 3: Yeah, we would encourage everybody to watch for fun, but also watch to learn. And with that we thank you for listening to us. I made me roboch alongside t. J.
00:23:00
Speaker 4: Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.