transcript

Speaker 1:
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Speaker 2:
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Speaker 3:
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Speaker 4:
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Speaker 1:
[01:33] If you are listening to this reunion on audio, be sure to check out the extended video version exclusively on The Viall Files on YouTube, where you can look at all the crazy reactions and intimate moments from the cast of Temptation Island. You'll be glad that you did, so be sure to check it out. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Temptation Island Season 2 Reunion. We are your hosts. I'm Nick.

Speaker 2:
[01:56] And I'm Natalie. We are so excited to welcome the cast of Temptation Island Season 2.

Speaker 1:
[02:01] This season, there were a lot of tears, a lot of messy behavior, and a lot of heartbreak. With Temptation at an all-time high, only one couple survived the island, leaving together.

Speaker 2:
[02:10] Others left alone. While a new couple emerged, today is all about what's happened since everyone left the island.

Speaker 1:
[02:18] During this reunion, we want to unpack it all, where everyone is at, where they've been, and above all else, what they've learned from their experience.

Speaker 2:
[02:26] Cheyenne, you look gorgeous.

Speaker 4:
[02:28] Thank you. You're welcome.

Speaker 1:
[02:30] You look great.

Speaker 2:
[02:31] Thank you.

Speaker 1:
[02:32] Jack, you're blonde now.

Speaker 6:
[02:34] Blonde.

Speaker 1:
[02:34] What was the motivation behind that?

Speaker 6:
[02:36] I did it like three years ago.

Speaker 7:
[02:38] Okay.

Speaker 6:
[02:38] I was like, you know what? I want to change. That show just put me through a lot. Blonde Jack is like more chill.

Speaker 7:
[02:45] Okay.

Speaker 2:
[02:45] Who do you trust more, Blonde Jack or Brunette? Neither. Okay.

Speaker 1:
[02:50] Wait, I thought his hair was blonde.

Speaker 2:
[02:51] Summit, how is your mom?

Speaker 8:
[02:53] She's good. Yeah, everything's good. It's been exciting watching the show with my friends and family, and a lot of support overall.

Speaker 1:
[03:02] Did you two coordinate the mustache or what's going on there?

Speaker 8:
[03:05] No.

Speaker 7:
[03:05] Well, he's wearing my pants, but those are my pants.

Speaker 8:
[03:09] He copied my mustache.

Speaker 1:
[03:10] Kayleigh, do you approve of the mustache?

Speaker 9:
[03:12] I do. I love the mustache and the mini mullet.

Speaker 8:
[03:15] She was doing it for me. Yeah, it was the one who pushed the mustache and now I'm liking it so.

Speaker 2:
[03:20] Sydney, have you been serenaded by any guitars recently?

Speaker 10:
[03:23] Not lately, but definitely on the island, for sure. Okay.

Speaker 2:
[03:28] We'll circle back to that.

Speaker 10:
[03:29] We will circle back to that.

Speaker 2:
[03:30] Yes, we will.

Speaker 1:
[03:31] Mikey, you look great these days. What's new about you?

Speaker 11:
[03:37] It's been a good life, truthfully. Just been focused on the betterment of myself.

Speaker 1:
[03:42] Okay.

Speaker 11:
[03:43] Putting Mikey first.

Speaker 1:
[03:44] Cole, are you reading anything currently?

Speaker 7:
[03:45] Reading?

Speaker 1:
[03:46] Yeah.

Speaker 7:
[03:47] Like a book or a journal?

Speaker 2:
[03:48] A journal or a diary.

Speaker 7:
[03:53] Yeah, I've actually since the show, probably up to my journaling and reading a lot.

Speaker 2:
[03:57] He's reading his own journal.

Speaker 7:
[03:58] Not reading her journal. There you go. My own journal, maybe the newspaper sometimes, I don't know, or something.

Speaker 2:
[04:03] Scarlett, how did it feel to have two men crying for you?

Speaker 5:
[04:07] Bradley was, I think the crying threw me off at the end, just because it was, I don't know. I could tell that there was so much love there, but for me, it was such an amazing friendship that really got me through such a hard time. There's his side and then there's my side, and I don't know, it was a hard situation.

Speaker 1:
[04:28] Well, we are going to unpack all of each relationship as we go through this reunion, but where I want to start is, why the heck did you guys agree to go on Temptation Island? Obviously, this is a show that has an unconventional premise, coming on with your partner and allowing your partner to engage with singles. But what I love about this show, in the words of your wonderful host, Mark Wahlberg, this is a show that really unpacks a lot of the interesting layers about relationships, why they work and why they don't work. So I'd love to just go around the room and just, from each couple or former couple, how did you guys come to the decision to go on Temptation Island? And just from an individual standpoint, I'd love to hear, like, what each person was hoping to get out of going on Temptation Island. So maybe I'll start with Jack and Cheyenne. How did you guys come to going on Temptation Island?

Speaker 3:
[05:21] It was fully Jack's idea to go to Temptation Island. I was not for it when he first brought it up. I was like, not looking at me, but it's not happening. And then, I don't know, he just kind of convinced me. He was like, I think if we can get past this, like we can get past anything. And yeah, so I agreed to go. And we did the experience. We learned what we learned. But I think ultimately, I was just looking to fully trust him after the show. And I don't think that quite went in my favor.

Speaker 2:
[05:57] Yeah, it seems like maybe the opposite.

Speaker 3:
[05:59] But I wouldn't take anything back from what happened on the island. It is what it is and life moves on.

Speaker 2:
[06:04] How long did the convincing process take for him to get you on board?

Speaker 3:
[06:07] I would say it took a couple of months because even honestly all the way up to when we left, I didn't even show up to the last meeting with the executives because I knew what was going to happen. And so it was just kind of like, I don't want to do it, but I don't know. I forced myself to do it.

Speaker 6:
[06:26] No, no, no, no.

Speaker 3:
[06:28] I'm the one who's, I was like, I'm not going on the meeting.

Speaker 1:
[06:31] I was like, Jack's so determined, he showed up.

Speaker 7:
[06:32] He was like, no, she's good for it.

Speaker 3:
[06:35] No, I was like, I'm not going on the meeting. I think this is a terrible idea. And then Jack did his little talking, and he was like, oh, she just doesn't feel well, or whatever his excuse was, and then we ended up going. But we went in as the alternate couple. So technically we weren't supposed to be on the show.

Speaker 2:
[06:51] When you found out you were gonna be on the show, what was that conversation like?

Speaker 6:
[06:56] We went out there, honestly expecting to fly out there, go through all the stuff, and then fly right back home. That was our hope a little bit.

Speaker 2:
[07:05] Her hope.

Speaker 1:
[07:06] Well, her hope. Okay.

Speaker 6:
[07:07] And then we got there, and then we went through everything, and then they obviously came to our room and told us, and then we were just like, kind of looked at each other, and we were kind of just like.

Speaker 3:
[07:16] I was not happy.

Speaker 1:
[07:17] We heard in the room that there might have been a fight.

Speaker 3:
[07:19] Yeah. There was a couple fights in the hotel room.

Speaker 8:
[07:21] A couple arguments, yeah.

Speaker 6:
[07:23] I wouldn't say fight, argument. Arguments were a word, yeah.

Speaker 3:
[07:27] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[07:27] Why were you so unhappy about the idea of you guys going on the show?

Speaker 3:
[07:32] Because I knew deep down what was going to happen. I just knew, and so I just had to accept it. I was just like, he wants to do this. Let's just do it.

Speaker 1:
[07:43] Was there any part of you that thought, if you want to do this show that bad, maybe we should just end it here right now?

Speaker 3:
[07:49] Yes. I feel like that thought did go through my head. But as much as I knew what was going to happen, I still had that little bit of hope that was like, we're going to make it out. We've been together for so long that this could end in a way that I would feel is like a dream come true, right? And that shit failed.

Speaker 2:
[08:10] Sydney, you brought Mikey to the island, right?

Speaker 3:
[08:11] I did.

Speaker 2:
[08:12] Okay. So why did you want to come?

Speaker 10:
[08:14] So with Mikey, when the opportunity presented itself and I brought it to him, he was like, absolutely not. He had watched the show multiple times, multiple seasons. And okay, am I correct me if I'm wrong? Okay. But so he had watched multiple seasons. I had never watched it. I had watched it with him like three episodes. And I was like, oh, we had talked about it before. And we were like, what if this was us? And then when they reached out, I was like, oh, let me talk to him. He was like, absolutely not. We're not doing it. And I was just like, well, in the past, we've talked about different shows like this and dating shows. Like, so why not give it a try? And then that's when I reached back out to the casting producer. And I was like, yeah, he's not going for like, he doesn't want to do it. And then they were like, well, let's just hop on a call and we can talk to him, talk him through it and see if he changes his mind. And at the end of that, he said, you know what? Let's go through the application process. And that's what it was.

Speaker 1:
[09:07] What were you hoping to get out of it? Because obviously, your guys' storyline was one of, you feeling like Mikey wasn't showing up in your relationship the way you had hoped, or you felt like he was taking you for granted and things like that. So I think with this show, we always expect to hear that the men wanted to go, a la like Jack and Cheyenne, you know, in a way that like Cheyenne kind of suspected that maybe Jack was hoping this was an opportunity to meet other ladies. But like, I think it's more of a surprise when you hear it from your end. What were you thinking this would do to your relationship going in?

Speaker 10:
[09:40] So when we originally got into our relationship once he graduated college, it was like he was a completely different person that I didn't recognize. So what he was telling me sounded good, but it's like I hadn't seen the actions. So it's like when the show reached out, I was like, this would be a good way for me to see if he has changed, and if he is the person that he's telling me that he is. So that's why I wanted to go.

Speaker 1:
[10:02] What was, and I know you called yourself a dog a lot, and you called yourself a hoe. What did that actually look like?

Speaker 10:
[10:10] So what it looked like was when me and Mikey first met, I didn't know who he was on campus. I was a transfer to ANC. I transferred from a different college. So I wasn't aware that he was the big host on campus. He was well-known and everything like that. So I'm just talking to him, trying to see what it could be. When we start sleeping together and getting romantic, then that's when other people come to me and they're like, oh, he actually is talking to like, like he has a girlfriend. And I was like, what do you mean he has a girlfriend? So that from the jump made me take a step back and be like, oh, I'm done. Mikey, I did not talk to him for two years in college after that. Then that's why when he came back around, when he graduated and was like, oh, I'm this new person. I'm like, why should I believe that?

Speaker 1:
[10:53] Mikey, I'm curious, how about you? When Sydney wanted to come on the show, how did you first initially receive it?

Speaker 11:
[11:00] She picked me up from the airport because I had a show, and she brought it up to me. I wish I still had the video to show you because it's so funny. She said, yeah, we can go to Temptation Island. I looked at her and I said, fuck no. She said, oh, and she cut off the camera.

Speaker 2:
[11:17] That would be viral if you had that video.

Speaker 11:
[11:21] But my biggest thing was I saw the look in her eye, and I was very timid to the opportunity, but talking to whoever, who was it again?

Speaker 10:
[11:31] Chris.

Speaker 11:
[11:32] Yeah. When we were talking to Chris and everything, and just hearing the passion she had behind it, truthfully, that's my best friend. If she told me to jump off of a bridge, I'd ask how high. You get what I'm saying? So, it's just on the side of just like, I always want to support whatever she put in front of me, and same way how I know she'll always support whatever I put in front of her. So, it would be wrong for me to tell her, no.

Speaker 2:
[11:58] Well, you were a fan of the show, so you knew the risks going into it.

Speaker 11:
[12:02] Yeah. I thought it was fake, guys. I thought this was fake. I'm like, oh yeah, island, Hawaii. It's fake. It has to be fake. Truthfully, I thought all of this was fake. I was like, there's no way this is real. What? If you go there with your girlfriend, you guys obviously are like, you guys are going home together.

Speaker 8:
[12:21] You watched the show.

Speaker 11:
[12:22] I didn't. No, I thought it was fake. I thought all of them were actors. Thought everybody was an actor. They give you a script. They're just like, yo, this is how it goes down. No, that shit is real. That shit is fucked.

Speaker 4:
[12:33] That's a fucked experience.

Speaker 1:
[12:35] Oh my gosh. Despite you thinking it was fake and everyone else was an actor, I am curious, what did you think you needed to do to get through to the other side with Sydney? Was it just not hooking up with someone?

Speaker 11:
[12:48] Thousand percent. I truly just thought, I truly believe that if I just flirt, show my personality, get through it, we good.

Speaker 1:
[12:57] Okay.

Speaker 11:
[12:58] But if I touch somebody, if I did anything, if I touch somebody in there, I would be screwed. I would be on a cross. I would.

Speaker 2:
[13:06] You thought she wanted to watch you flirt?

Speaker 11:
[13:07] My biggest thing is when we went into the experience, it was very, I knew the risk. I was like, you have to go on dates. You have to be in these romantic ass settings, and they're beautiful.

Speaker 10:
[13:18] But just because you're in romantic settings doesn't mean that you have to.

Speaker 11:
[13:21] No, and that's truly true, but it's still on the side of just conversation.

Speaker 10:
[13:24] But certain conversations didn't happen.

Speaker 11:
[13:26] No, and I understand that because I mean, the biggest thing from what I watched is my mouth got me in trouble, and I was the most immature person that was on that television show. Out of everybody here, I was the most immature, and it was embarrassing to watch back. So, no, I was way more immature than Jack.

Speaker 1:
[13:42] We'll definitely unpack you guys later. I do want to go back to Jack. Hearing Shannon say she knew it was going to happen, she knew it was going to happen. Do you agree with her? Do you feel like you were kind of destined to end up doing what you did?

Speaker 6:
[13:54] It's going on to the show, like the one thing for me and we talked about was, and they all heard it too when we first got there was, don't drink alcohol. Just because I knew that, and mind you, I changed myself from that. What's really cool about the show, I didn't change myself actually, been working on myself. There we go. But what's really cool about the show is I get to reflect on who I am as a person and who I was nine months ago, and alcohol is honestly what fucking killed me. I mean, I-

Speaker 3:
[14:27] So did you think you were going to cheat on me going into the show?

Speaker 6:
[14:30] No, sorry. Off track. No, I didn't think of it. I honestly know I didn't.

Speaker 1:
[14:34] Why did you want to go on the show? Why were you so determined to convince her to do it?

Speaker 6:
[14:41] Just because prior to the show, like before, our relationship was super rocky. We would argue all the time. I feel like we just weren't happy. We'd spend every day together, and I mean every single day, all day.

Speaker 1:
[14:54] I spent every day with my wife. I don't say it like that.

Speaker 6:
[14:59] No, but I mean every-

Speaker 3:
[15:00] He was fed up.

Speaker 2:
[15:01] He was fed up. He was stuck.

Speaker 6:
[15:04] No, I'm talking like she's sitting on the lap while I'm taking a shit in the bathroom.

Speaker 2:
[15:07] Oh my God.

Speaker 3:
[15:08] What the up?

Speaker 6:
[15:10] Oh my God. I'm just kidding.

Speaker 4:
[15:13] But honestly though.

Speaker 3:
[15:16] Sophie's saying that.

Speaker 6:
[15:17] But honestly though. What? No, we just had troubles before going on to the islands.

Speaker 4:
[15:23] Okay.

Speaker 2:
[15:24] Summit and Kaylee, which one of you's idea was it to go on the show?

Speaker 8:
[15:28] I mean, she had initially brought it to my attention, but she was like very tentative when she did bring it to me, and I was kind of like excited about the opportunity.

Speaker 9:
[15:39] Very excited.

Speaker 4:
[15:40] Excited.

Speaker 8:
[15:42] It was like a crazy concept.

Speaker 1:
[15:44] You almost regretted suggesting it.

Speaker 9:
[15:46] Well, they reached out to me as a single, and we had broken up at this point. I responded because I was like, you know what? Let's just see what happens. I would never go on that show as a single, now looking back. But I responded, and then we got back together, and then casting reached out to me. The week we got back together, which was weird timing. Then I brought it up to him as a joke, and was just like, oh my god, Temptation Island reached out, and he was like, oh my god.

Speaker 5:
[16:11] This is so sick.

Speaker 9:
[16:13] Ask them if they're casting couples.

Speaker 1:
[16:17] Why did you guys break up before?

Speaker 9:
[16:19] You want to talk? You want to go?

Speaker 8:
[16:21] Yeah. We talk about it on the show, and this is really the reason we went on the show, is just my inability to commit to a relationship and just kind of give more of myself to a relationship. For me, before the show, that was just really scary, and I think I had this thing in my head where I was like, if you commit to a relationship, 100%, it means you have to get married and get the dog the next day. And I think that's something that Island taught me, is that's not the case. You can still be 100% committed to someone and give them a lot of time and energy without it meaning you're getting married tomorrow. But anyways, we went on the show basically just so I could get over my commitment issues, and that's why we broke up initially, is I just wasn't giving enough to the relationship.

Speaker 9:
[17:10] Yeah. And I honestly didn't want to go on the show at all, and he told me, if we don't go on the show, I'll think about it for the rest of my life.

Speaker 1:
[17:18] Oh, that's heavy.

Speaker 9:
[17:18] I was sort of left with a do I do this for him situation.

Speaker 1:
[17:22] It feels like almost like an ultimatum.

Speaker 10:
[17:24] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[17:26] Well, we will unpack that later in this episode.

Speaker 8:
[17:31] I don't think that that's the way it is.

Speaker 1:
[17:33] You look like you're in the headlights right now.

Speaker 8:
[17:34] Yeah, I just don't think that I put that much intensity into it.

Speaker 1:
[17:38] Well, we'll unpack that later this episode. Cole and Scarlett, love to hear from you guys about how you guys ended up on Temptation Island.

Speaker 5:
[17:46] So I got reached out to you on Instagram, and I saw the message, and I was like, absolutely not. Didn't reply, and then some time went by, and I was like, would we be okay? So I brought it up to Cole, and I was like, hey, there's this, and we said, let's do the first interview. After that, I was like, I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think we should do this. We were working on our relationship. There was a lot that we were going through, and I was like, this is not smart. And then he said, Scar, let's just try. Let's just do it, and I was like, are you sure? So we continued to go through, and then we both agreed. We were like, all right, let's do it. We clearly have a lot of trust issues right now, and at this time, we were thinking, oh, if we can make it through Temptation Island and not cheat, which that's the bare minimum, then the trust issues will be gone, and we'll be good at the end of this. And so that was kind of like the agreement going on. And so yeah, we agreed to go, and it's pretty much how it happened.

Speaker 1:
[18:43] Do you agree with her timeline?

Speaker 7:
[18:44] Yeah, from what I remember, yeah. Something like that. I think it was kind of like me going, let's try it out, go through the process, it was just so long to even get on a show like that. And it just kept kind of snowballing to the next round of interviews. And before you know it, we're on a family trip in Lake Tahoe, and we're sneaking up to the bedroom upstairs to do an interview. And then, yeah, next week we're flying to Hawaii.

Speaker 1:
[19:04] So I'm honestly a little surprised to hear that you had the reluctance and you were the one who almost kind of encouraged you guys to go.

Speaker 7:
[19:11] I don't think I encouraged it or it was reluctance. I think it was like she got reached out to. She obviously has gone on reality TV before and we talked about it. And then it was like, I think it's just like, let's just tried the interview. But we were so at like a lower stage where I didn't think like we were going to like get to like the point of like, we want you on the show. And so we just kind of like went through with it. But like, I mean, I'll say it was like a mutual agreement. We both signed the contract and went on. So it wasn't like, no, maybe similar to the other couples. Like we didn't force each other. It wasn't like, if you don't do this, like I'm breaking up with you. We were like, I think if we both were like, hey, we don't want to do it. And one is one do it, like we wouldn't have done it. And like, we just wouldn't have done it. So it wasn't like a end all be all. It was just, we both agreed.

Speaker 2:
[19:56] Now Scarlett, this wasn't your first time on reality TV, right?

Speaker 5:
[19:59] No, I did Below Deck, which was way fucking easier.

Speaker 7:
[20:03] Yeah, I imagine.

Speaker 5:
[20:04] We were living on a yacht and it was still really hard. Well, one of the things actually, one of the reasons I thought this would be good for us because even that, you're put in these situations where it really does force you to grow and look inward. So I told him going into it, I was like, it's going to be so hard and you don't even realize, but then once you get there, it's like things come up and you're just on the spotlight and under all of this pressure. So I said, if anything comes to this, let's just really use this opportunity for growth. I think that was another reason that I thought it would be good for us.

Speaker 2:
[20:38] We will definitely get to each couple to unpack each relationship, but leaving the show, we only had one couple leave together, Kaylee and Summit. Are you guys still together? Yeah.

Speaker 8:
[20:50] Yeah.

Speaker 2:
[20:51] Okay. Are the rest of you still broken up? Yes. We're together.

Speaker 1:
[20:57] We're together. You guys are together.

Speaker 2:
[20:59] Scarlett and Cole, you are back together. All right. Love it.

Speaker 1:
[21:01] I'm excited to find out how that happened again.

Speaker 2:
[21:03] Jack and Cheyenne, you all are still broken up? Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[21:07] Okay.

Speaker 5:
[21:08] Mutual.

Speaker 2:
[21:09] Oh, got it.

Speaker 5:
[21:09] Okay. Of course. Okay.

Speaker 2:
[21:13] Sydney and Mikey, you all are also not together.

Speaker 11:
[21:16] Not together.

Speaker 2:
[21:17] And are you still with Xavier?

Speaker 10:
[21:19] I am just focusing on myself.

Speaker 1:
[21:22] Okay. All right. Let's take a quick break to hear from our sponsors. Don't forget, Viall Files Plus now offers ad-free episodes for all Viall Files episodes, including Ask Nick, Reality Recap and Going Deeper. Plus, if you love Ask Nick, you will absolutely love our Ask Nick updates where you get updates of your favorite calls, our deep dive on all your favorite Reality Recap TV shows, and our pop culture roundups where we talk about all your favorite pop culture topics that we didn't get to in this week's episode. Plus, deep dives on our Going Deeper guest and so much more. All you have to do is go to Viall Files Plus and you will be lucky you did.

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Speaker 2:
[27:28] And we're back to part one of the Temptation Island Season 2 Reunion.

Speaker 1:
[27:32] Maybe it makes sense to kick things off with the one couple that left the island together, Kaylee and Summit. With Summit's slight slip and slide and Kaylee's realization that she deserved basic respect from her partner, these two lovers may not have looked like they were going to make it out together. But after the beach did its magic, Summit and Kaylee decided to give it another go. Move in and get a dog. Sometimes love really does win.

Speaker 2:
[27:57] So did you two move in together and get a dog?

Speaker 9:
[28:02] Not yet.

Speaker 2:
[28:03] But it's coming. We haven't moved in together, we haven't got a dog.

Speaker 10:
[28:05] Or both.

Speaker 9:
[28:06] Neither.

Speaker 8:
[28:06] Neither.

Speaker 1:
[28:07] How many months has it been since you guys filmed?

Speaker 9:
[28:10] Like eight or nine months.

Speaker 8:
[28:11] Eight or nine months. Yeah. We want to move in and get the dog ASAP. It's just the realities of life that can make things prolong that process. But if I could move in with Kaylee tomorrow, I would. I'm sick of my-

Speaker 1:
[28:28] So it doesn't feel like-

Speaker 9:
[28:29] There's no doubt in our minds that we are both aligned on still wanting that.

Speaker 8:
[28:32] Yeah. And we need the house to get the dog. We've even considered getting the dog not living together, but that seems problematic.

Speaker 9:
[28:41] We really wanted to have the wiener dog to pull out at this podcast.

Speaker 2:
[28:44] I mean, like, where is that? The collar.

Speaker 9:
[28:46] We love the collar.

Speaker 8:
[28:49] I didn't bring it physically here, but I brought it to LA.

Speaker 2:
[28:52] Okay, just in case.

Speaker 9:
[28:53] It just comes everywhere with us.

Speaker 1:
[28:55] In case you find a dog.

Speaker 8:
[28:56] Yeah, no, literally.

Speaker 1:
[28:57] And your dad said a wiener dog?

Speaker 8:
[28:59] Yeah, what's funny is I had never thought in a million years I would get a wiener dog, and she just keeps pointing out cute wiener dogs over, like, the last year we've been together, and now all of a sudden I want a wiener dog. She, like, brainwashed me into wanting one.

Speaker 1:
[29:14] Well, we're definitely excited to hear more about your relationship and how it's grown since Temptation Island, but I do want to go back to kind of where your relationship was when you went on Temptation Island. And there was obviously, I think, the big theme with you guys was one of the themes, was sitting around some comments, some of it that you made about Kaylee. And as difficult as I'm sure that was for both of you to talk about on the show, I do think it's honestly like relatable for relationships, for maybe a well-intentioned guy to say something that we put our foot in our mouths a lot sometimes. But at the same time, it doesn't stop maybe us hurting our partners with our words. And so, I guess just for context, could you guys just kind of like, I feel like we had an idea of what happened, but you guys never really spoke about the specificity of what that conversation looked like, where you found his words so hurtful when talking about your body.

Speaker 9:
[30:08] Well, there's a reason I didn't bring it up at The Final Bonfire. It's because that was something I never wanted to speak on publicly. And it wasn't this main driving issue in our relationship. But the show sort of dialed in on that and made that a big part of it. And that's just that was never my intention. He has said things in the past that hurt me. And those are things you can't erase. Like you hear those little comments and you never have malintent when you say them and then you hear them and you think them in the back of your head and it hurts, right? As a woman, it hurts to feel like you're not enough. But since being on the show and since him realizing that saying those little things is so hurtful, he has never said a word again. Like we have never had an issue with this sense.

Speaker 1:
[30:53] And I'm just curious, how did you learn that lesson? Because again, it sounds like even hearing from Kaylee that she never thought you were coming from a place of trying to hurt her.

Speaker 8:
[31:03] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[31:03] So what was the lesson that you learned to realize? Like walk me through old summit and what you might have thought was okay to say. And now, how have you learned to like, you know what, maybe I'm just going to shut my mouth.

Speaker 8:
[31:15] Yeah. No. I mean, it was obviously with never any sort of maliciousness. And I think it really stems from just this idea that, like, Kaylee is only my second serious relationship ever. And I think I'm just learning. And I've learned, you know, Temptation Island is like the gauntlet. Like, it's like a pressure cooker where it basically expedites that, like, tenfold. And I feel like I learned so much on the island. And I just learned that you can't speak to women like you would a guy is kind of like, you know, I grew up with two younger brothers and a single mom who's, like, hardcore and there was just not a lot of, like, I don't know, like, delicate women walking around, you know? And I guess I'm just was getting used to that. And, you know, it was just silly, dumb things that I never meant with any sort of maliciousness. But now I know, you know, because of Mark and seeing how much it hurt Kaylee, I don't know. Now it's now it seems, I guess, just more obvious that, like, OK, I can understand how that would upset someone. And, you know, Kaylee knows that I think she's literally, like, the most beautiful girl on the planet. And I tell her that every day. But it doesn't matter if you tell a girl a billion times a day, she's the most beautiful girl on the planet because she's only going to remember that time where you're like, you know.

Speaker 9:
[32:38] And don't say whatever your example is. Just keep the example to yourself.

Speaker 8:
[32:43] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[32:44] Do you remember what you said?

Speaker 8:
[32:47] Well, I mean, once again, not defending myself, but it is these scenarios where it's exactly what was talked about in the show where Mark, you know, Kayla would come to me and be like, I want to grow my butt. And then I'd be like, okay, do squats. And then she'd be like, oh, okay. So now you're like, think I should do squats.

Speaker 9:
[33:09] There's other comments made.

Speaker 8:
[33:12] Yeah, I don't know the other comments. That was the comment of the one on the show.

Speaker 1:
[33:17] You had a very meaningful conversation with your mom prior to the final bonfire. Why was it so important for you to talk to your mom before that?

Speaker 8:
[33:25] My mom has just, yeah, has like always been everything for me. She was mom and dad and superhero, and she's just always been my rock and like there for me. And she's the first person I go to for advice as my family, my mom, my brothers. And it just seemed like an obvious for me to contact my mom. And it was crazy how she knew exactly what I was going through.

Speaker 3:
[33:48] I just don't think it's fair that we didn't get to call our moms.

Speaker 9:
[33:51] Yeah, I would have liked to have called my mom and cried every day.

Speaker 8:
[33:54] Well, I actually, I wanted to call her and then they were like, you can call her, but.

Speaker 9:
[33:58] You called her every day?

Speaker 8:
[33:59] No, no. They said it needed to be on camera.

Speaker 9:
[34:03] Okay.

Speaker 8:
[34:04] So that was like the.

Speaker 2:
[34:07] And has she watched the show? How does she feel about it?

Speaker 8:
[34:10] Yeah. I mean, she enjoyed it. She's very proud and she's very proud of Kayleigh and I and us making it out and just the fact that we were the only couple that did make it out. And she was very proud with how I handled myself and how Kayleigh handled herself. And yeah, she had all sorts of funny comments and yeah, she's proud.

Speaker 1:
[34:32] Kayleigh, what's your relationship with Summit's mom?

Speaker 9:
[34:35] We're friends. I've only met her three times because she lives in Montana. So I'm not super close with her, but she's a great lady.

Speaker 2:
[34:45] Nick got a DM from Chris and he called your relationship one of the most intense. Oh, I think he said emotional experiences.

Speaker 9:
[34:58] My relationship with Chris.

Speaker 2:
[35:00] Your connection with Chris was the most intense emotional experiences of his life. We did not get to see a lot of y'all's relationship. So can you kind of give us some insight into what that looked like?

Speaker 9:
[35:13] I mean, Chris was like my rock. He really helped me through that whole process and he was an amazing friend. And he made me dig deeper within myself and discover things about myself that I hadn't even realized. And it was like a great, great friendship. It wasn't some, what did he call it? Deep?

Speaker 2:
[35:33] Intense emotional experiences of his life.

Speaker 9:
[35:35] Yeah, that's a little much for me.

Speaker 1:
[35:37] Maybe it was for him.

Speaker 9:
[35:38] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[35:38] You know?

Speaker 9:
[35:39] Yeah. I think he was just-

Speaker 2:
[35:40] He left a lasting impression.

Speaker 9:
[35:41] Yeah. And he left an impression on me. I mean, a lot of the things he said to me, like he empowered me to see the beauty within myself and to be more confident and walk different in life.

Speaker 1:
[35:52] Well, that is interesting. And being one of the few couples still together, I am curious how you both, leaving the island, discussed your time on the island, because you didn't cross any physical boundaries, and that's easy to be like, yeah, I didn't do anything. But like knowing that your partner was talking to and getting to know these other people, it sometimes can be difficult to say, hey, this guy really helped me. He made me realize this about myself. He made me feel this. And how did you guys communicate that to each other? You had a very similar experience with some of the women. Yeah. So that must be challenging to hear, but how did you guys work through that to help you guys be a better couple?

Speaker 8:
[36:32] Yeah. I mean, we binged the show start to end right as it came out, and we weren't shocked by anything we saw in the show because we lived it and the bonfires. But there were still moments where we're like, damn, you said that or he affected you that much. When she's bawling her eyes out and Chris is crying, and she's like, I've never met a human like you in my life. Of course, as a man, my ego is a little shocked. I'm like, well, I'm special too. I think it's hard to not feel that way, like you said. Sure. But at the end of the day, I think you just got to drop the ego. We were in a crazy situation. The single girls helped me out a ton, the single guys helped her out a ton. Without them, we wouldn't have grown, and we wouldn't have gotten off the island together. So, whatever happened, I don't want to change anything, and at the end of the day, I'm grateful for Chris for helping her through that process.

Speaker 9:
[37:26] Yeah. I'm very thankful for those girls. The man I saw at that final bonfire was a changed man, and I know Mark did some wonders, and I know he did a lot of work himself. But I also know living with those girls helped change him, because they taught him sides of girls that he didn't understand before. So, I'm thankful for them.

Speaker 8:
[37:46] Even what we were talking about earlier, where just how you can be more delicate speaking to a girl. I mean, I would come back from bonfires and ask those single girls, I would be like, what do you think about this? They're like, summit, you're an idiot. They would tell me straight to my face.

Speaker 9:
[37:59] Sometimes it takes other girls telling you, that's not right instead of it just being me. Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[38:06] I think Julianne mentioned that you felt like she saw you for who you really were. I think you even expressed that you wanted Kaylee to see you the same way Julianne saw you.

Speaker 8:
[38:18] Yeah. Just this idea, probably the same way she said Chris just saw the beauty in her, which I obviously saw the beauty in Kaylee. But I don't know, you're just in those moments. What I appreciate about Julianne is she just really wanted, she just loved me no matter what. Loved? No, just really appreciated me no matter what. I think you have to be a little realistic in that setting, because at the end of the day, these people are singles on the show as a job, and their job is to please you. When the girls come home from a bonfire, and the guys are waiting there with flowers, it's not like they went and picked the flowers, like production gave them the flowers. Obviously, Julianne is going to be super nice and helpful throughout that entire process. It'd be weird if she wasn't.

Speaker 2:
[39:10] Totally. Speaking of that, we had a chance to talk to Jacinia, and she said that she doesn't think you continued your connection with her, because you knew you would be tempted. Do you believe that to be true?

Speaker 8:
[39:28] No. There was doubts in my mind. Throughout the process, as to whether Kaylee and I would have made it out of the show, and that was more of a personal journey, whether I could just commit. But there was never one time throughout the show where I felt actually physically tempted to the point where I would have done anything with any of the girls. Do I think they're pretty? Totally. Would I have done anything? No.

Speaker 2:
[39:55] Kaylee, you mentioned that you did not remember calling Summit a sociopath at the final bonfire. How was it watching that scene back together?

Speaker 9:
[40:05] I think, I mean, I didn't call him a sociopath. I said the way he was acting was sociopathic. And I think he just heard that word and kind of freaked out and ran around and was like, oh my god, I'm a sociopath. Like, what's going on? Watching it back, I'm like, with the context of the story, I mean, I obviously should have never said that. And I feel bad that now people are going to call you a sociopath because that's not true at all. But I mean, in the context of the story, like it was more of like me just describing the way he was acting was sociopathic. And watching it back, it sucked. I feel like I regret a lot of the ways that I spoke about him on the show. Like, I am sitting here saying, someone used to talk down on me. I sat there for eight episodes straight, talking down on summit and watching that back like hurts. Like, it's hard to see, like, wow. Like, I spoke very negatively of a man that I love so much. And what you don't see on the show is me saying, I love him so much every single goddamn day. And all the guys being like, please stop talking about summit.

Speaker 1:
[41:15] Did you have to prepare summit for that? Did you realize how much shit you talked while filming it?

Speaker 9:
[41:21] The producers make all four of us women sit there and talk about our problems. So by talking about my problems, since I wasn't always the main issue in the relationship, I had to talk about things that he's done wrong. And as a result, that looks like I'm talking shit, but it's like, for the most part, I'm speaking my truth. Like I'm speaking my experience. So, yeah.

Speaker 1:
[41:46] How did you process that? Because again, I think sometimes us guys don't realize how hurtful it can be to hear our partners talk about our character. Sometimes I think that hurts us more than physical boundaries being crossed.

Speaker 8:
[42:00] Yeah. I actually saw that on your other podcasts. I thought that resonated with me because I went into the show as a guy. You go into those shows and you think like, as long as my girl doesn't touch a guy, we're good, whatever. And then you learn that the emotional connections that they build with the dudes does still fuck with you. And I was surprised how much that fucked with me. But it's just like a build up of so many different factors. And you're in this crazy unrealistic scenario where there's no friends, no family, no contact with the outside world. And it's very easy to lose touch with reality. And I think small things can feel very, very big. And so when I heard Sociopathic, I just started spiraling. And it's also from the guy that she's like, has built this emotional connection with. It's just this accumulation of so many things. It's very easy to get very worked up.

Speaker 1:
[42:54] Well, the good news is if you were sociopathic, it wouldn't have phased you. True.

Speaker 8:
[42:58] Yeah. So boom, I just proved it right there.

Speaker 9:
[43:02] He's not a sociopath, everyone. It's clear.

Speaker 1:
[43:05] It was pretty clear. Like seeing how much it bothers you watching it was pretty clear that you're not a sociopath.

Speaker 9:
[43:11] I appreciate that.

Speaker 8:
[43:12] I think if anything, I'm kind of like sensitive dude.

Speaker 9:
[43:17] But you weren't always sensitive in the past. You hadn't been that sensitive side that you are now.

Speaker 8:
[43:22] Yeah. No. I mean, the show helped a lot. I talked more about my feelings in that month in Temptation Island than I probably have in my entire life.

Speaker 1:
[43:30] So how do you two now, how do you guys go about showing up for each other that allows you guys to, it seems like you guys are in a really good place right now.

Speaker 9:
[43:38] Yeah. I think we're everything we like, everything I ever wanted to be is where we're at. And it's amazing. We do everything together, but we're not so co-dependent. We also have our own things and we're independent in our own ways.

Speaker 8:
[43:52] Yeah. I think ultimately, one of the main reasons we went on the show and something we had to work out was this idea that we are innately different people. And I do like, I think, my independence more than she does sometimes. And it seems like since the show, that just hasn't been a problem at all. Like I'm able to do all the things that I want to do. And she, I think she just like got more confident. I don't want to speak on her journey, but like more confidence in herself. So she doesn't mind as much when I go surfing for five hours or whatever. And then it's also this idea where now I just realize like I, all those things I used to think I wanted to do on my own, I actually do want to do them with Kaylee now. Like everything I do, I invite Kaylee and before the show, I wasn't doing that.

Speaker 2:
[44:37] Do you invite her to sit on your lap when you ship?

Speaker 3:
[44:40] That is the one thing I don't.

Speaker 9:
[44:41] That almost happened in the hotel room.

Speaker 8:
[44:43] We are in a very tiny hotel room here though. And like we're like, we're too close now. Like she was brushing her teeth while I'm shit. You know, like it's a lot.

Speaker 9:
[44:52] I think the main takeaway for us is I feel way more secure now in the relationship and that's what's made everything just so much better for us.

Speaker 1:
[45:01] And how did you get to that point? Because I imagine he's been helpful, but usually when we kind of tackle our insecurities, I think sometimes we're surprised how much it has to do with ourselves.

Speaker 9:
[45:12] I think in knowing, like I can literally look him in the eyes and I know he loves me wholeheartedly without a doubt and I didn't feel like that before we went on the show.

Speaker 1:
[45:21] Do you think going on Temptation Island as an experience was game changing for you guys?

Speaker 9:
[45:25] It was. Like it actually was.

Speaker 8:
[45:28] I don't know where it'd be. It's interesting to think like where we would be had we not gone on the show. Realistically, we either would have been broken up or have broken up and gotten back together several more times.

Speaker 9:
[45:41] And probably had the same issues, like a toxic cycle.

Speaker 8:
[45:45] Yeah.

Speaker 2:
[45:46] Let's take a quick break to hear from our sponsors.

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Speaker 2:
[49:11] To some, attending weddings and meeting the family are the ultimate testaments of love. But when Sidney brought Mikey to the island to see if he could finally put his playboy tendencies to rest, there were three who gave Sidney the clarity she needed. Clarity being one man and one seafoam green guitar. And who would have thought Mikey would be the one committing in the end?

Speaker 1:
[49:35] Sidney, how difficult was it for you to watch Mikey be emotional throughout the entire season?

Speaker 10:
[49:40] It was extremely hard watching him go through those emotions because it's not something that I've seen before. And it broke my heart because I hated seeing him like that.

Speaker 2:
[49:57] Mikey, how does it feel to see her get emotional?

Speaker 11:
[50:00] I mean, truthfully, I know Sydney loves me. Like, no matter what we go through, I know no matter what, she knows. Like, you're my best friend. It don't matter what we go through, it don't matter who comes into a picture. If I don't see her for months, like, we haven't seen each other. How many months is it? We haven't seen each other for like-

Speaker 10:
[50:17] It's been like four months.

Speaker 11:
[50:17] Yeah, it's been like four months since we've seen each other.

Speaker 1:
[50:20] What happened four months ago?

Speaker 11:
[50:24] So, me and Sydney got back together four days after the show.

Speaker 2:
[50:27] Four days after the show?

Speaker 11:
[50:28] Yeah, like four days after we got back from the island.

Speaker 1:
[50:31] You guys agreed to date again?

Speaker 11:
[50:33] Yeah, and we dated four days after we got back. And it was- everything was going so good. And it was going phenomenal, blah, say, blah. But the thing about it was I was holding on to what I experienced on that island. And that was not fair to her whatsoever. Like, I was- like, any inkling of us having an argument, I'm throwing that jab at her. And as a woman, I can- I saw, like, I saw, like, her as a woman really be like, it was tearing her down because I could see, like, her heart was hurt because I'm throwing that at her and that was not fair.

Speaker 1:
[51:13] Yeah. I'm actually a little surprised to hear that because- well, for one, I'm surprised that four days later to hear you guys got back together. Well, it seemed like you had like a second life, you know, that quite honestly, I think as viewers, we didn't expect. And instead of seizing that opportunity to, like, really maybe try to show Sydney that you might appreciate her in ways that she didn't feel appreciated, I'm surprised to hear that it almost sounds like, no offense, like old Mikey came back out because, like, what I took from that relationship is that you really felt like you were in control of yourself in that relationship when you guys dated in a ways that maybe Sydney didn't feel. And to hear you kind of, like, not seize that opportunity and kind of throw what she did in her face was kind of almost like what sounds like old Mikey would do.

Speaker 11:
[52:08] I would say, I wouldn't even say it was old Mikey. I would say it was the immaturities because, truthfully, by watching it back and totally like, I've been on my therapy journey. I've been focused on my relationship with God based upon, like, truthfully losing Sydney. Like, I never thought I would really dive into therapy. I always thought therapy was a joke. I'm looking at it like, I'm really thinking about it like, I'm not that messed up as a person. But to understand that I had so many insecurities in myself and I was projecting those onto this beautiful young lady right here, it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair to her. And when I say that she's my best friend, I said it in the first scene. I said, I love her from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. That's something that I've said to her forever. You know what I'm saying? So the fact that I didn't seize that opportunity, that's just something that I have to live with. But the fact that I'm perfectly okay with having to live in that truth, that just shows the growth. That it's just like, it has to be okay.

Speaker 1:
[53:08] How long did you guys stay together after you got back together?

Speaker 10:
[53:10] We stayed together for three months.

Speaker 2:
[53:13] What happened to cause that breakup?

Speaker 10:
[53:15] Basically what he said with the whole show and everything. And originally when we got back, he was like, forget about the show, what you did and everything like that. We can move past it, we can move past it. And he brought to my attention, he was like, the things that they showed you at the bonfire, that's not what I said. They clipped it up, they edited it. So I was like, so you're telling me what I saw and how I moved after that was off of something fake? So I felt guilt in myself and I was like, I don't want to do that to him. And it's like he was, he's my best friend and I, I didn't know how to move forward with the new connection that I had made on the island because I did care about Xavier. You know, that was real. That whole experience that I had with him was real. And I think trying to say that to Mikey was really hard. And it made me feel guilty when he said, I didn't do anything, you know, talking to the single girls, that's not what I said. He said, my biggest fear is Sidney thinking I'm falling for you, not my biggest fear is falling for you. And then him just telling me all these different things. And I'm like, whoa, wait, this is not what my experience was. So when we got back together and he was like, I changed. I learned so much from those girls on the island. I was like, okay, let's see. So I would say for like a few weeks, I saw a difference. You wrote me two letters in a span of three months. So I was like, there was so much more that I wanted from our relationship. He knows how I am. I'm a lover girl. I want you to show me that you love me. I want you to write me letters. I want you to bring me flowers. I want you to do all the things that tell me that you love me. And I gave him the blueprint of everything he had to do. And it's like, first off, I shouldn't have to do that. And then when he wasn't doing it, I was like, you know what? I'm done. And since then, we have not talked. We haven't spoken. We have not spoken.

Speaker 1:
[55:03] Do you feel like Mikey took you for granted?

Speaker 10:
[55:07] I do.

Speaker 1:
[55:07] Yeah. Do you agree with her?

Speaker 11:
[55:13] I took her for granted. Thousand percent. That's her truth. I respect everything that she says.

Speaker 2:
[55:19] Is that her truth or is that the truth?

Speaker 11:
[55:22] There is no good guy, bad guy. It's just two people that don't align. That's all it is.

Speaker 2:
[55:27] Sure.

Speaker 1:
[55:28] But just to push back a little bit, and I think it's, I think there was a theme here with the guys, which is interesting, because sometimes the, you talked about bare minimum. Being a good guy is the bare minimum. The bare minimum, right? Not cheating on your girlfriends, the bare minimum. But I think sometimes in relationships, we just sometimes can get complacent.

Speaker 11:
[55:47] Thousand percent.

Speaker 1:
[55:48] You have to take people for granted. It was interesting when we started this conversation that you thought I could flirt as long as I didn't touch anyone. Which I'm thinking, how is, huh? This is a girl who is expressed to you that she felt like you took her for granted so much. So it was almost shocking to me as a viewer to see you almost walk that tightrope. Where it's just like, how much can I get away with and get her to stick around? I think sometimes as young men, we do that sometimes. We see what we can get away with, is almost a way to test our partners.

Speaker 11:
[56:26] I think my biggest thing is like, I have to be kind to myself because I am only 24 years old and I'm still learning how to become a better individual.

Speaker 1:
[56:36] Okay.

Speaker 11:
[56:37] I'm not going to say that I am the most mature, but I do really wish I had that opportunity again to go on the island as the version of myself that I am right now. Based upon for one, my mindset, how I think about things and how I can actually be serious. Because truthfully, if this was me from the people that saw it on the show, I'll be here joking with you, trying to make a whole bunch of jokes and comical and all that. Ain't shit funny no more. I don't know how I lost my sense of humor from that show to here to now. But it's just like, I know when it's time to lock in, I know when it's time to have fun, and that's something that Sidney truthfully hated about me. It was just like, you never can go in depth, you never can be serious, you think everything is a joke, and I was just always thinking to myself, I mean, life is all about smiles and all that, but it's not. Life is about getting into it for real, actually having those deep and deaf conversations, and watching the show, and seeing that with her and Xavier, I was just on the side of just like, I was happy watching it. I'm not gonna lie, watching it back from this version, I was like, she's happy. And as long as my best friend is happy, that's all I need to care about. That's all I need to care about.

Speaker 1:
[57:54] You still consider her your best friend?

Speaker 11:
[57:56] Oh, thousand percent. I mean, that's always gonna be my best friend, no matter what, even if we don't talk forever.

Speaker 1:
[58:02] Even if you like, meet someone else?

Speaker 11:
[58:06] Yeah. I mean, that's always, I mean, I'm gonna be truthful, I'm gonna be truthful. And the emotions that I displayed on the show is because that is the first woman I've ever experienced love with in my entire life. The only other person that I've ever truly loved is my mother. And she can attest to this too. I've looked my mom in my eyes and I've said, I love Sydney. Am I wrong? No, you're not wrong. So, that's why those emotions of going through all that shit, all that shit, it caught me off guard. I'm like, whoa, like, shit, like, it really went in my life. It went, it went, it went Sydney, my mom, and I was just like, like Sydney was, she could do no wrong in my eyes, ever. She can never do anything wrong. So, but that's why I messed up, so.

Speaker 2:
[58:57] Sydney, is there ever a chance that the two of you would get back together? Or is it over?

Speaker 10:
[59:03] I just, since we broke up and, you know, I'm like, seeing him here now, he's grown so much. I'm loving this new version of Mikey. But I don't think so. I think we're better as friends and I think we support each other better as friends.

Speaker 2:
[59:19] What was that conversation like four days after leaving with Xavier, that you had with him, that you were going to?

Speaker 10:
[59:26] With Xavier?

Speaker 2:
[59:27] Yeah, the conversation that you had with Xavier.

Speaker 10:
[59:29] Yeah. So basically, as you all know, Xavier is a very understanding person and he's somebody that you can talk to about anything. So leaving with Xavier and coming back and being with Mikey, when I talked to him about it, I was like, there's a lot of feelings and emotions that I've had coming back, and it was a lot to go through that in that timeframe, and I didn't know how I would feel coming home. So I had to process that. I had to focus on me and I wasn't going to jump into another relationship. Although I was dating him on the island, it was real. I made a real connection, but I still had to deal with those feelings that I had with Mikey. It's like I couldn't just jump ship and be like, oh, forget about this guy because he was my best friend.

Speaker 1:
[60:14] When you look back on your relationship with Cindy, what's your biggest regret?

Speaker 11:
[60:20] I would say my biggest regret was not being emotionally mature within their relationship. It's my biggest regret because having that emotional maturity, I definitely think we would be sitting here and this would be a totally different conversation that we're having. So I would say my biggest regret is being, and I was intentional at times, but I wasn't intentional all the way. That's something that I regret. That's something that I have to live with. Whoever I find love with, because trust, I'm still looking for love. Y'all see on the show, I'm a lover boy. So I'm still looking for love, and I got all this love that I want to give to somebody. So hopefully one day I can give it to him.

Speaker 1:
[61:05] Do you think seeing Sydney with Xavier, and I think we can all give him props. He seems like a pretty great guy.

Speaker 11:
[61:12] Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1:
[61:12] Do you think that made you appreciate Sydney in ways that you hadn't appreciated about her in the past?

Speaker 11:
[61:20] Well, I would never give that much credit, first and foremost.

Speaker 1:
[61:24] But let's just be honest. Let's just keep it real.

Speaker 11:
[61:26] Yeah, I'm being real when it comes to the fact of, for one, had no idea. Fucking Xavier is, he grew up with my best friend. Had no fucking idea. That's fucking crazy, right? So finding that out and finding out how good of a guy he is, like, Xavier is a great guy. And finding that out and seeing how he treated Sydney, thousand percent, I appreciate him for taking care of her and showing her what she deserved, truthfully.

Speaker 1:
[61:56] Yeah, but doesn't that in any way bother you that you couldn't see that and do that on your own?

Speaker 11:
[62:02] It had me tight in the villa. Oh my gosh, I was so blown. You guys, the guys, they didn't put the scene. I punched a hole in the wall. Oh, it was bad. I punched a hole in the wall. Like, I was blown.

Speaker 2:
[62:12] Punched a hole in the wall?

Speaker 11:
[62:13] Yeah.

Speaker 2:
[62:14] Who paid for that?

Speaker 11:
[62:15] I don't know. Shout out Netflix. What camera is it? Ah, shout out Netflix. But it was just, but those are just those emotions that showed how much of a child I was on the show. Like, it showed like I was a kid. Because it didn't have to get to that point because if I would have stepped up in the ways that a man is supposed to step up, we wouldn't be in that position. So I'm perfectly okay with taking accountability for my actions. I did not treat you the way that you deserve to be treated. And for that, I apologize. One thousand percent. I appreciate it. And the fact that she found that on the island, I mean, yeah, it sucks. But people get that girl took you. Everyone in here has lost somebody before. Everyone in here has lost a partner right or wrong. And from either they left or somebody took them. It just so happens that mine's on TV.

Speaker 1:
[63:06] Yeah. But I think even more relatable to your point is like, I think what's so fascinating about your relationship is that, especially I think with guys, we've seen the unappreciated person finally realize or have someone show them their worth. And it's only until then that their original partner like, I want to try to step it up. Wants to step it up and write all the letters of the poems. And heck, I remember being a young man and having a conversation like that. But you're only doing this now and stuff like that. So it's a tough lesson to learn when you realize that's why you lost someone that you still to this day call her your best friend.

Speaker 11:
[63:43] Oh, for sure. Always. And that's just, but the thing about life, it's not about the destination, it's really about the journey. And Sydney taught me so much, and that's why I'm not bitter to her, I'm not bitter to Xavier, I'm not bitter to any of the 12 guys. But that, it took me a while to get there.

Speaker 1:
[64:01] Do you think if you wouldn't have thrown some of Sydney's choices on Temptation Island in her face that you guys still might be together today?

Speaker 11:
[64:09] Truthfully, I saw myself going into the right direction. I knew I was going to get there. It's just how much more does this beautiful girl have to drag her feet for my own insecurities and my own personal problems? Because my personal problems should not be projected onto her. Simple. That's just not how it's going to go. So I just messed that up. I did.

Speaker 2:
[64:32] Did you ever give her back the photo of her and Xavier that she liked? That was her favorite?

Speaker 11:
[64:37] No. So me and Jack still got those.

Speaker 2:
[64:40] What are you all doing with them?

Speaker 6:
[64:41] I gave them to Cheyenne.

Speaker 2:
[64:42] You gave them back?

Speaker 6:
[64:44] I did.

Speaker 11:
[64:45] No. Actually, when we got back together, I had her throw all that shit away, which is insecure as fuck. But I definitely said, I found them. I was like, what the fuck? I said, throw them away. She said bet. She threw them away.

Speaker 2:
[64:57] You said at the final bonfire that you felt like you made yourself smaller so that Mikey could be bigger. Do you agree that you felt like she did that?

Speaker 11:
[65:08] That's something that's been a trend in like, like I've always heard that my whole entire life. It's always been like, you always, based upon my personality, I shine. I'm just so loud. I'm so outgoing. So it makes the people around me feel like they have to diminish themselves. And I hate that, that it's tiring because I'm just truly just trying to be myself. And even from watching the show, it made me feel like even the world, just seeing my true personality, the world is basically clowning on me for being myself. Like everything y'all see on Temptation Island, like I'm just truly just being my authentic self. I have a huge personality for a man. I get that. That's cool. But also I'm not about to, I'm not about to sell myself short and put down my own personality for the betterment of literally nothing. Because if you're not gonna be yourself, then why the fuck are you here?

Speaker 2:
[66:06] Sydney, did you feel like it was just his personality that was so big?

Speaker 10:
[66:09] Yeah. I would say, you know, Mikey has a big personality and it's like I knew that. But at the same time, if we're in a relationship, if we're partners, then bring me up with you. Don't leave me where I feel like I was. I feel like he's very much main character and I was just sidekick. I didn't feel like that was, that's not what I wanted in a relationship. We should be equal and I don't feel like.

Speaker 11:
[66:36] But that's never what I want. You know that's never what I wanted though. I never wanted you to feel like sidekick. I've always.

Speaker 10:
[66:42] No, I'm not saying you wanted me to, I'm saying that's what it was.

Speaker 11:
[66:45] But you know I've always been your biggest fan. Yeah, you're right. I'm just being honest. Whenever you bring something up, I've always been your biggest fan. I support it. That's why hearing the things.

Speaker 1:
[67:00] What do you mean? Can you give me an example?

Speaker 11:
[67:02] Boom, she had her opening for her business. I'm first one there. I'm in there selling candles, making sure everything's good. I'm hyping it up. I'm over here. You get what I'm saying? Anything she needed for her new crib. I'm like, yo, I'm here. I got you. What do you need me to help you with? Are we serious?

Speaker 10:
[67:20] Do you all not remember the bar cart situation that sat there for months?

Speaker 11:
[67:23] That was one thing.

Speaker 10:
[67:25] No. The bar cart?

Speaker 11:
[67:26] It took me a while to build the bar cart.

Speaker 10:
[67:27] I put my dresser together by myself while you sat there on the couch and watched Netflix.

Speaker 11:
[67:31] Are we serious?

Speaker 10:
[67:32] I am dead serious. You don't remember that?

Speaker 11:
[67:34] I don't.

Speaker 8:
[67:35] You got to build the stuff.

Speaker 10:
[67:36] Mikey, you were scrolling on TikTok, watching Netflix while I'm on the floor, putting together my dresser.

Speaker 7:
[67:41] Oh, I up.

Speaker 10:
[67:42] Then, no, my bar cart sat at the door for months.

Speaker 8:
[67:45] You got to build the stuff.

Speaker 7:
[67:46] I love building girls' dresser.

Speaker 2:
[67:48] You watched her build the dresser?

Speaker 10:
[67:49] Yes. You did. I'm serious.

Speaker 2:
[67:52] What do you mean you're serious?

Speaker 1:
[67:53] That's what happened. Are you saying she's lying?

Speaker 11:
[67:55] I'm never going to call you a liar, but I'm just saying on the side of-

Speaker 10:
[67:57] Oh my gosh.

Speaker 11:
[67:58] I've helped you.

Speaker 10:
[67:59] What?

Speaker 1:
[67:59] I've helped you.

Speaker 10:
[68:00] I helped.

Speaker 11:
[68:00] Mikey.

Speaker 10:
[68:00] I didn't help. Bro, stop.

Speaker 1:
[68:01] You've helped her or you helped her?

Speaker 10:
[68:04] I didn't help.

Speaker 9:
[68:05] You put a screw in.

Speaker 10:
[68:06] I'm not going to lie. That's crazy. I didn't help with multiple things. I'm sorry. No, please.

Speaker 2:
[68:11] When did the bar cart get built?

Speaker 10:
[68:12] Two months after the show when I had already brought it up, y'all, the bar cart had sat there for four months before the show. We get back from the show, he's like, I'm going to put it together. It sits there for two more months. I have a picture of it on my phone actually, when it happened.

Speaker 11:
[68:25] If I didn't build this thing, I apologize but still on the side of anything, let's just be real, anything I've ever needed, you helped me with. Anything you ever needed, I've helped you with. So I don't want to be over here. That's not what we're here to do. You get what I'm saying? I've always, come on now, you got to give me a little credit somewhere. And they're like, I was not just a piece of shit. You get what I'm saying?

Speaker 1:
[68:47] I'm not calling you a piece of shit.

Speaker 11:
[68:48] I understand that. I'm just saying it on a shy light. Come on, bro. I always got you, you always have me, we good.

Speaker 1:
[68:52] But that is interesting because I've never ever from watching the show or our time here, ever felt like Sydney ever spoke to you about, it's been clear that Sydney seems to have a lot of respect for you.

Speaker 11:
[69:03] Yeah.

Speaker 1:
[69:04] And a lot of care and consideration. That's even today. But I think what it seems like, and I don't want to speak for you, but she's always been trying to convey to you that you just always seem to stop short of doing what you are capable of doing and she seems to know what you're capable of.

Speaker 11:
[69:21] That's true.

Speaker 10:
[69:22] It's because I've seen it. Even after we broke up and you were writing me letters every day, you bring me flowers every day, 8 a.m. sharp every single day. It's like you're showing me you're capable of it, but why not do it in the relationship?

Speaker 11:
[69:36] Exactly. I truly just feel like we as humans, we don't appreciate something until it's too late. That's how I felt on the island too, like when I was watching her fall in love. Because I'm not going to lie, hearing her say like, I love you, it fucked me up. I will say that, it fucked me up. Then I'm just like, damn, that was fucked. I was fucked. I was fucked. I knew it. I knew I was fucked. I said it to everyone. I looked at everybody in the face.

Speaker 8:
[70:04] Well, we told you, you were fucked.

Speaker 11:
[70:06] Yeah. Everyone told me I was fucked. All 12 girls said, yeah, you're fucked. It was just the thing that I still stood on my 10th of saying, if she's happy, I'm good. If she's happy, I'm good. I mean, it sucked, but it's life. I truly do wish that I appreciated Sydney Moore, but it's always me learning too late. It's always me learning too late.

Speaker 1:
[70:29] Well, you're still a young man, like you said. I will say, I think we have different personalities, but what is... I don't mean that, I'm not as honestly, I'm sometimes envious of your extroverted personality. But what I've always been good at is being comfortable in my skin, and you seem comfortable in yours. But essentially, as you get older, you realize that that's not always an excuse.

Speaker 11:
[70:53] It's not.

Speaker 1:
[70:53] To disappoint people or sometimes it's like, I don't care what other people think, like it's good to know that, but sometimes you just have to realize if you're not going to change, you will turn some people off and some people will choose not to fuck with you, if you don't choose to adjust your behavior.

Speaker 11:
[71:09] I'm example.

Speaker 1:
[71:10] My person, this is who I am, it just kind of gets old.

Speaker 11:
[71:14] Because relationships are supposed to be about growth, and if you're not growing within the relationship, then it's not benefiting each other. I wasn't growing, and that's something I literally... I would never say something like this. If the person I was, I would never say something like this. But truthfully, I wasn't helping you grow. I felt as if I was based upon, you got to understand, you were my first real relationship, like my first actual one, and I was still learning. I was still learning. I was still learning how to love, and I was only loving you to the level that I knew possible. You get what I'm saying? So that's where I got messed up, because just because I thought I was loving you to this high degree based upon what I thought real love was, that doesn't mean that's what you thought love was, and that's disrespectful to you. So yeah.

Speaker 2:
[72:06] Sydney, watching it back, were you, or I guess while you were there, were you shocked that he resisted temptation, or was what you saw kind of what you expected out of him?

Speaker 10:
[72:16] No, I genuinely was shocked that he resisted temptation, and just watching it back, it was like seeing that at the beginning, he was making slick comments, flirting with the girls, and that's what ultimately turned me off, and I was like, oh, I'm done, I'm done with this relationship. But watching him see me fall for Xavier, and what that did to him, I think that just really showed how much he felt on himself to take a step back, look at what was going on around him, and be like, okay, this is how I should handle this moving forward.

Speaker 2:
[72:49] Mikey, you saying you were gonna shoot your shot with India, was that kind of a reactive?

Speaker 11:
[72:54] No, can I just be truthfully honest with you? Please. There's just no way I walk into a confessional, just sit my ass down, look in the camera and say, shit, I need to be selfish. I need to shoot my shot with India. Obviously, somebody asks me a damn question, if this happens, what will you do? Well, shit, I guess I gotta be selfish and you gotta shoot your shot with India. But that's just some shit where it's just, like, you get fucking clipped. I'm the clip master. I'm gonna be real. I get clipped because I just be talking and I always get clipped. Too damn much. I always get clipped. All the guys will be like, Mikey, stop talking, because you're gonna get clipped. And I'm like, I'm like, no, I'm not gonna get clipped. I'm fucking good. Then I say something, I'm like, oh, I'm fucking clipped. I got clipped. That's all it was. I got clipped.

Speaker 1:
[73:37] But nevertheless, you still admitted to like thinking it was okay to flirt.

Speaker 11:
[73:41] Yeah, because we came into it with the boundaries of flirting. So you guys agreed that you could?

Speaker 10:
[73:45] We agreed we would go on dates. I don't know why you keep saying that we agreed that we could flirt. We never said that. We said we were gonna, we knew we had to go on dates. But you can go back and watch the show.

Speaker 11:
[73:55] I understand.

Speaker 10:
[73:57] I'm serious.

Speaker 11:
[73:57] I understand.

Speaker 2:
[73:58] Fans noticed that when y'all separated at the beginning of the show, y'all did not kiss. Was there a reason for that?

Speaker 11:
[74:07] We did kiss.

Speaker 10:
[74:07] We did kiss. It wasn't included.

Speaker 11:
[74:09] We did a whole handshake and everything. We got a whole hand, we did a whole handshake, little kiss, we did everything.

Speaker 10:
[74:14] I don't know why they didn't. I did see that clip where they were like, they look, yeah.

Speaker 11:
[74:18] Yeah, and my biggest thing is like, everyone thought me and Sydney weren't like a real relationship. That's some fucking bullshit, because, this is my first real actual girlfriend ever.

Speaker 2:
[74:33] Is anyone on TikTok gonna come out and be like, I was actually his first girlfriend?

Speaker 11:
[74:37] I mean, if she would. If she probably would from college, but I don't count that because I cheated on her. I cheated on the girl from college all the time. And so I don't count that as real.

Speaker 9:
[74:49] That's still a relationship.

Speaker 11:
[74:50] No, I don't count that as real.

Speaker 1:
[74:52] I don't even think Jack would say that.

Speaker 11:
[74:54] I cheated. I truly feel like if you can't be a committed individual within the relationship, then you did not deserve that relationship. So you can't even claim that relationship.

Speaker 2:
[75:06] But she would claim that relationship.

Speaker 11:
[75:07] I doubt she would claim me.

Speaker 8:
[75:08] It's just a bad relationship.

Speaker 11:
[75:10] Yeah, that's better, a bad relationship. I know she wouldn't claim me though.

Speaker 2:
[75:15] Was watching him say that he could fall in love, was that the moment of no return for you?

Speaker 10:
[75:20] Yeah, that was when I was like, no way, it's been three days, and he just said, I could fuck around and fall for one of you.

Speaker 11:
[75:27] I got clipped.

Speaker 10:
[75:28] What? I'm like, how does that, like, I'm like, we just got here.

Speaker 1:
[75:32] How did you remember saying it?

Speaker 11:
[75:34] Bro, Jack, Jack was there. He was behind the bushes.

Speaker 2:
[75:37] Behind the bushes, behind the bushes. It was the three girls.

Speaker 11:
[75:39] No, I'm saying, I was by the pool, but I'm talking about around the ball. Do you know how we walk up to things? I walk down, Jack was over there. I literally said, they're going to fuck around and get me clipped up saying, da, da, da, da, da, boom. As soon as I said it, I said clipped. Jack screamed out clipped and I was fucking clipped.

Speaker 2:
[75:54] Seems like you were very hyper aware of the cameras and what would be played back at bonfires. Does that change some of y'all's behavior a little bit?

Speaker 7:
[76:05] No.

Speaker 6:
[76:08] Once you're in there, you forget about it. It just becomes real life.

Speaker 7:
[76:12] It was like two days of weird saying that maybe being somewhat, but then it was like, yeah, it goes in one ear out the other.

Speaker 1:
[76:20] Yeah. Mikey, would it be fair to say that you like being liked and you have a hard time hearing when people don't like you?

Speaker 11:
[76:30] I would say 1000 percent the version that I was when I was in there, very much people pleaser, all of that. But I had learned that that's an insecurity.

Speaker 1:
[76:40] Sure.

Speaker 11:
[76:41] Through therapy, I was just like, it doesn't matter what people think as long as I'm happy with myself.

Speaker 1:
[76:45] That's all that matters. Do you think old Mikey the people pleaser had a bad habit of maybe crossing some boundaries with women while maybe your intention wasn't to cheat or hurt your partner that it maybe would come across as inappropriate to your girlfriend? Let's say if she was watching you interact with other women.

Speaker 11:
[77:04] Thousand percent.

Speaker 1:
[77:06] That's something that you've changed about yourself?

Speaker 11:
[77:08] Yeah, that's something that I learned that my biggest thing was I made an excuse for my personality to be a flirt. I was always saying like, well, that's just who I am. That's just who I am, dah, dah, dah, dah. No, you're dead wrong, my guy. The fact that you feel like you can flirt and you can be this extroverted person and you think that flirting within that makes it okay. No, it's not right. So that's something I really worked on. I mean what I say, always mean what you say and walk with intention and everything that I do.

Speaker 1:
[77:47] I want to ask you a question. I want you to be real with me and not just protect your ego. But I know we already asked Sydney the question and we heard her answer. Nevertheless, if Sydney were to give you another chance, would you take her up on that or maybe a better question? Is there any part of you that has just a little bit of hope that you two can have another shot?

Speaker 11:
[78:10] Truthfully, it wouldn't be the smart thing to do. It wouldn't be the right thing to do because she gave me so many chances. It would be selfish of me to try to take another chance on someone.

Speaker 1:
[78:27] What if she begged you?

Speaker 11:
[78:28] Sydney would never do that. She would never do that because I'm not going to lie. Y'all think my pride is bad. Her pride is out of this world. But it's just on the side of just like, I was irresponsible with the relationship and I truly feel like I don't deserve another chance. I truly just don't deserve that from her. She deserves everything. Mind you, I'm not saying that. I'm a piece of shit. Trust, I'm that guy. But it's just the side of I understand that I messed up and you don't deserve that, and no matter what, I truly feel like she would still be holding on to that version of Mikey that she knew since September 3rd, 2021. You know what I'm saying?

Speaker 1:
[79:11] Do you still have romantic love for Sydney?

Speaker 11:
[79:15] Oh, yeah.

Speaker 1:
[79:15] Look at her. She's fine as hell.

Speaker 11:
[79:16] Look at her fine ass.

Speaker 1:
[79:18] How you know?

Speaker 11:
[79:18] I see her in months. I see her in months, girl.

Speaker 1:
[79:21] You look good.

Speaker 11:
[79:22] You look good. You look healthy.

Speaker 2:
[79:24] So these past four months, have you been back in contact with Xavier? Are you fully cut off the two of them? Where are things?

Speaker 10:
[79:33] So I have been back in communication with Xavier. I did reach out to him and I was like, hey, I know I'm probably the last person you want to talk to, but would you be open to a conversation and grabbing coffee? So he was like, yes, of course. We went, we grabbed coffee, we talked about everything. I told him what happened when I got back, everything that me and Mikey went through and where I was. I told him, I'm really working on myself and trying to process everything that happened in that relationship, process my feelings. And he was very understanding and still very caring, which is hard for me to believe that somebody could go through that experience with me, come out the villa. And I'm like, well, I'm going to go back to my ex, who you helped me get through that relationship on the show. So it was just crazy for him to be open to the opportunity of seeing where it could go again.

Speaker 1:
[80:25] Did he ever throw it in your face that you went back to Mikey?

Speaker 10:
[80:29] No, he didn't.

Speaker 1:
[80:31] What did that mean to you?

Speaker 10:
[80:32] It meant a lot because that's what you expect. You expect him to be like, well, throw it in my face, be like, I'm going to make you work for it. No, that's not who he is at all, and that's something that I really appreciate about him.

Speaker 1:
[80:45] Well, we do have a video. We wanted to maybe consider bringing some of the Tempters and Tempters is here, but out of respect for everyone here, we obviously did not do that. But since I think so many people fell in love with you and Xavier and watching you, he wanted to send you a message, knowing that maybe today would be a tough day. And so we wanted to play that for you.

Speaker 10:
[81:08] Okay.

Speaker 1:
[81:08] It's a nice, very sweet message. Mikey, I just want to be respectful of you, like you're cool, you know. No, I'm good. Okay.

Speaker 2:
[81:28] On part two of the Temptation Island Season 2 Reunion.

Speaker 3:
[81:32] He knew he did not want to look like a hypocrite. Deep down, you know that shit fucking hurt.

Speaker 11:
[81:36] You're good.

Speaker 3:
[81:37] No, I'm speaking the fucking truth. I'm speaking the truth.

Speaker 11:
[81:40] You're good, bro. You're good, you're good, you're good.

Speaker 5:
[81:43] Let it out.

Speaker 2:
[81:44] What are you feeling right now, Jack?

Speaker 5:
[81:49] I had been hurt over and over with lies, and...

Speaker 7:
[81:54] I did get mad at the end. They didn't really show it, but I feel like I had it right. I was frustrated because I cared, though, because I love this woman, you know?

Speaker 1:
[82:00] But what are these little lies?

Speaker 3:
[82:10] We're lost, and the concert starts soon.

Speaker 2:
[82:12] I wanted to get there early. I'm gonna ask that man for directions.

Speaker 3:
[82:16] Hi there, we're trying to get to the amphitheater.

Speaker 4:
[82:19] Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road. Nah, I'm just kidding. Let me get my phone out.

Speaker 5:
[82:26] How is there signal out here?

Speaker 4:
[82:28] T-Mobile and US Cellular are coming together, so the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five-year price guarantee too. Okay, here's the turn.

Speaker 2:
[82:40] Actually, can you pull up the way to a T-Mobile store?

Speaker 4:
[82:43] America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T-Mobile today and get built-in benefits the other guys leave out, plus our five-year price guarantee. And now T-Mobile is available at US Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best mobile network based on analysis by Oklof, Speedtest Intelligence data second half of 2025. Bigger network. The combination of T-Mobiles and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T-Mobile network's coverage. Price guarantee on talk, text and data. Exclusions like taxes and fees apply. See tmobile.com for details.