Behind The Bachelor Casting Process: Chris Lancaster’s Untold Story

Hey guys, welcome back to After Reality. It's your host Courtney Robertson here. Okay, today's episode is a lot of bit of tea, a little behind the scenes, and honestly, it's pretty wild. I'm sitting down with Chris Lancaster, who went through the full casting process for the Bachelor, and not just casually, he did the interviews, the background checks, and so much more. That point, he was told he was in the running to be the lead of the Bachelor. But then plot twist, casting shifted gears, they announced Taylor Frankie Paul as the Bachelor at, and Chris was actually asked to come on her season as a contested instead. So with the promise that he could go on after her season potentially to be the Bachelor. And this is something that isn't really talked a lot about in Bachelor Nation, but I've heard it time and time again. So naturally, I had so many questions. Like, would he date Taylor Frankie Paul in real life? She publicly stated whoever she ended up with, they would have to move to Utah. So was Chris ready to pack his bags? We're going to dive into it all. So I am so excited to have you, Chris. Welcome to After Reality. But I mean, I guess you didn't star on it, but you went through it. Yeah, went through it. I've never been on reality television in here. I am after reality. In reality. In real life. In real life. Real life, me, reality. So nice to connect with you because a quick little story is you and I talked when you were going through this process because one of my dear, dear friends is Jordan. We grew up together. Our moms were best friends. And before I hit record, I told you, any friend of Jordan's is a friend of mine. She is just incredible. And she's like, my friend is really struggling. If he should do the show, and I'm like, have him call me. We can talk this thing out. And I was actually filming Bachelor of Manchin Takeover at the time. So I guess to kind of start, first of all, I haven't really seen you just on social media. You're adorable. And you have a face. Obviously made for reality TV. I'm sure you've heard that. Compliment, Sam went right here. But let's talk about how it all started when it started. Did you get a DM? Did you sign up for the show? I mean-- Yeah. Well, reality television has never been anything. I've ever pursued. It's come across my DMs through the course of my life, especially in my 20s. And then I don't know what happened. I turned 38, and then all of a sudden, that must have been like a marker for people to reach out and say, hey, you want to lead a dating show. There was multiple shows that had actually approached in the same month. It was in June. And so after the first two denials, where I said, I'm not really interested, but thank you. I'm like the third one. I'm like, OK, obviously this is some sort of signal. What's the worst can happen? Take the 15 minute call. And so the last one actually wasn't the lady that had done the initial scouting. They weren't able to announce the show yet. So it was just a lead for a dating show. So I'm like, in my head, I went bachelor. Because they had approached several times before, just to be a contestant on the show and some of my bachelor. But anyway, I took the call. And so did the 15 minutes, basically summarize my life and sent in a two minute clip afterwards, and then off to work, I went. I didn't really think about it. I was like, kudos to me for talking to a stranger about participating on TV. What a fun way to start a Tuesday. But I remember a week at past, I've forgotten about it, and I got a text from the lady and she had said, hey, so they just announced it's going to be for the bachelor. Do you have a few minutes to talk? I was like, OK, yeah, absolutely. So basically what she was doing was just setting up the 90 minute sort of, I guess, the packaging, right, for how they would present that to ABC One Bros. Whoever's taking care of that. And so we set up the Zoom call. So I had basically eight, five days. And so within those five days, I had to actually go out and fill the application out, which that in itself is three hours of questions. And by the time you get all the pictures and videos from your life, so I'm now going to figure out how am I going to get childhood photos to call my mom? Oh, that's right. They feel all that. I'm like, hey, I need videos, B-roll. I'm like, what is a B-roll? So I'm sitting there on like, you know, Chagy B-T and the car. What is this? And so I get it all packaged up. It literally took me, I don't know, five or six hours collected away. So I submitted it over. And then, so she had set up the interview. So I staged my home at the time and got everything squared away. The interesting thing was at that time, like I wasn't not taking it seriously or I wasn't taking it seriously. So I had like really long hair inside of man bun and got a shirt on. You know, I'm like, hey, here we go. You're going to get 90 minutes from me. And so we got on. And so I was talking with the scout. And so we were getting everything set up. Because there's people in the background that are watching the Zoom call. But which, you know, I'm glad that I wasn't able to see everybody because my 80s, D-E-E-E everywhere. Just watching everybody not paying attention to what I'm actually saying. So she goes, hey, by the way, we've got a little bit of a switch up. The lady that was going to actually do your interview, who is the next person in the line that typically conducts these things, is isn't going to do the owner of the casting company actually wants to take this interview. So I was like, oh, oh, okay. Yeah, I mean, it's not a bad sign, but cool. Yeah. And, yeah, so boom, we start. And so just, I mean, the lady that was doing it, she was honestly the perfect person for me. Because it was so easy to connect. And she was so warm and welcoming and just allowed me just the space to basically tell my story. And then, you know, they get deep and they go, you know, they want to know everything. They want to know your storyline. And so what they wanted, and this is why I was even, I even took the interview in the first place, is that they wanted a fresh face. That was the whole thing. They wanted a fresh face. They wanted somebody that was relatable. Somebody that has been through life, through has been through, you know, somebody that's been through struggles. Somebody that has had to overcome things, but has established now, or, you know, moving toward that space. And, and who's just, like I said, relatable to the general public. They don't want anybody that's looking for social media presence and all that stuff. And luckily, they found, you know, the most introverted guy on Instagram. So it's, I think I had posted maybe one time in a year. And so it was like a carousel of photos. And I think maybe that's what maybe they had found me somehow, because shortly after that's when the, the DM started happening like, well, it's probably why I don't post on Instagram. But, I'm, but also your age appropriate, your 38. And by the way, this is also, at the time, as public knowledge that they wanted a fresh face, like, mm-hmm, you know, because, I know. The franchise had been kind of declining. There had been a lot of sea change as far as producers. And trying to stay with the times, but also get back to an older format that worked. And, you know, as you've seen, I don't know if you watch reality TV, but a lot of the recent contestants have been in their 20s. And so realistically, they were looking for a lead, the bachelor, just a guy from the sky. And you are that. You are that. I'm from somewhere. I don't know where I'm trying to figure that out myself, personally, but, yeah, I mean, that was the thing. They wanted somebody that had a fresh face, but the intention was to actually get married. They wanted somebody that, you know, truly desired to get married. And actually, you know, was there with intention, was showing up with intention, not to, you know, string people along and play a role and play a character. And I said, well, perfect, because, you know, that, that mass falls off really quickly, which became more evident as I got deeper into the process and was, you know, not to jump ahead, but it's like, you're sitting there talking with, you know, executive producers of the show and you're saying, listen, you're not going to put things in front of me and then ask me to play a script and pretend that I don't wear my heart on my sleeve. Like, that's just me. So if I don't like something, they're not coming along. It's just, if it's not the lemon itself. Yeah, it's just not going to work that way. And it's not because it's, you know, any disrespect to the individual, but I don't want to waste anybody's time just like I would want the same thing. Like the worst thing could, that could happen to somebody is like, oh, shoot, like, I really like this guy. I love this guy. And then, you know, he was just doing it for a show or for a bit or something. So I was very, yeah, very conscious of that. That speaks to everything I've heard about you from our friend and just that you are, that's what America wants and needs the franchise, you know, the franchise needs. And so at that point, you're doing this long interview. Did they talk about timelines? I mean, did it start feeling really real? Because, you know, you kind of take the call and it's like, you're kind of one foot in, one foot out. You start going through this process and I believe you made it to the next step of the process of casting, right? Yeah, I went through everything. I got to the point where they had, I was going into my psyche valve. The day they announced Taylor, Frankie Paul's the pivot, basically. So that day, you know, I was to the point where I was assigned an assistant. I was what? Yeah, I had like this lady commented like, hey, I'm going to be my name is such and such. And I'm going to be assisting you through the rest of this process. You know, I need you to do X, Y, Z for me. If you need anything, you call me. And so I'm calling her and I'm like, hey, I just got an Instagram pose or something sent to me in my DMs from a buddy that was like, hey, it's, it's the pivoting of the bass writer. Are you going on the bass writer? I was like, no, it's shooting. It's for the lead. Yeah, it's for the lead for the bachelor. And it's, wow, it's airing in January or whenever it's supposed to. the air at the same time because they said originally supposed to air some time early 2026 which is like January timeline so I'm like what's happening and I didn't hear from casting until the following week and so by the time I talked to the first lady who was the assistant of the owner she had said you know I'm not supposed to tell you this but you know you are front runner and so they were the only they had the the contract for the bachelor they're the one putting the guy in front of ABC and so I was like cool so almost got it as I perfect I wasn't disappointed it was really honestly a sigh of relief by the time I got to that point and had went through the whole background thing and the the private investigator and all the stuff that starts coming along you have to do the health testing and the blood I hadn't even finished that yet so that's when you and I had spoke and I had yet to complete all that then you get the call basically saying would you be willing to be a contestant on Taylor Frankie Paul's season and what went through your head I mean you just got to see the announcement she goes on Alex Cooper I've got to go walk into a three-hour psyche valve with no no context no idea what's going on so now I'm seeing in front of the psychologist and I'm like all right well I know I can walk around this setting in front of enough therapists in my life that I'm like all right so here we go what do you want what would you like to know I'm going to open book at this point like so we go through and she's like well how do you feel about being the next bachelor I said that was her first question I was like oh I said interesting I said they just pivoted to the bachelorette so I'm still processing that but you don't carry on so it was three hours so here I am and so I finished that and then like I said the following week I get a phone call and so the lady they had called basically was like well traditionally the bachelor selected from the bachelorette and this is how the show goes I'm like correct I said but the packaging was fresh-based authenticity real relatable I said no disrespect to the franchise or the company but I said I'm not somebody who has the performative nature to show up as one of 30 guys and for somebody that truthfully I just wasn't like even attracted by first of all I didn't even know who she was and then I had to you know go through the Instagram and figure that out and that's all like and I'm trying not to look at it through the lens of perception and like all right well let me just assign meaning to this individual because she's done x, y and z but at the same time I'm like all right just from a genuine attraction standpoint is there anything there for you and I'm in tune with myself enough to say yes or no so I can just say no I'm not totally fair and also the thing about Taylor Frankie Paul is she's famous I mean she's been at that point there had already been three seasons of her on reality TV there was already a lot out on her so I mean it probably was a quick Google search search for you so what did they say where they trying to talk you into so they were like would you know would you be willing to come on as you know a contestant for her season you know that's typically how we for crew for the bachelor anyway like I said to be honest no because I had already thought about I already had a few days to sit with that and someone's just like no so I just went with the gut and like no and so we got the call and it was very just easy I'm like perfect done and I didn't even walk into the next room before the owner's calling me she just say hello she'd say Chris it was just I don't accept your answer and I just laughed I'm like what do you mean you don't accept my answer I can't do this she goes I don't accept your answer you need to do this you need to get on there you know you need American needs to experience you just like everybody here at our agency fell in love with you you know you need to be able to go out there and speak on your story and be who you are and allow the world to see you and you need to go change your life and you know it's actually it's just really sweet because she was like I said just very genuine and it was like the in that moment you're you feel seen for the first time like because in our interview going back to that I was just completely open and that's probably the first time in my life where I had to tell my entire life story in its entirety to a woman who was receptive and understanding it had a similar mindset and the way that we think and perceive things so it was just like this connection that was easy for me the safety was there that's how they get you that's about it's also very cathartic it is the to connect on that human level there's something very therapeutic about it 100 percent so it's like okay this person sees that and you know I get that it's like they are running a business at the same time but just the way that she would communicate even the time that she would take after the interviews and stuff are done we would still continue on with different conversations and so it was yes she was saying that and I'm like well I I don't know like it's just now I'm torn like well what do I do and she's like just get halfway through and then if you're not feeling it just hold on just make America fall in love with you and then be the next bachelor in your life and I'm like listen I it's just not that easy by the way yeah by the way yeah I don't know she could just look at me like that this guy's way too he's going to start picking be a part he's gonna do something or she could have you know you walk in and she already has something made up in her mind which she sees me and you know vice versa like what if I show up and then I freeze because I'm around 29 people acting like they want to fall in love versus the one guy who's like hey I got to do enough stories old as time I mean right yes fair to say that like it would be incredible to be the lead and have amazing casting producers cast women tailored to what you sat down and told them what you're looking for and where you're at in life but I just think I wanted to pull the curtain back a little bit because I was weary Jordan's like no they're they're gonna be casting him as the lead and I was like they never do it that way it traditionally is you go on the show you get either really great at it or you know villain at it like I got and they kind of like I forget the editing part yeah right I mean you could have gone on and you could have been a villain I mean you just never know how it's gonna shake out but they do try to curate people to like like she said America will fall in love with you get your story out there which could potentially lead to that but I just feel badly because I've heard people that have gone through the show that there'll be like three people like that have already signed the contract to be the bachelor and at the at the like the right when they announced it they're told sorry we went with this direction and there's gotta be such a let down for you because I mean I know from talking to Jordan that you were really struggling like if you even wanted to do it in the first place even you as the lead because and we talked about that on whenever calls like it is life altering yeah I mean you know I've never really pursued I've never saw attention in that way and love is like it's such a sacred thing to me it's something that is like really yeah it's just it's yeah it's deep and so I think putting me in that position I looked at it two ways and it none of them you know were like what can I get from this what am I going to be able to get to the situation in my willing to give every skeleton in my closet in my willing to give every pain point I experienced in my willing to be vulnerable on national television in my willing to be all of me for America to dissect and you know you sit with that question especially when you go through that first zoom call and you know the end of the call goes like this we'll get ready because things are going to change and be prepared for media be prepared for requests be prepared for all these reasons so now now I'm like well in my head I'm so clueless I'm like well maybe I'm like top 1000 and turns out it's like no I so I had the man bun within three weeks they're like hey ABC wants to see you with short hair and you know no way would you like to you know it's like all right they're asking me to cut my hair which you know I'm I could have probably should have brought cut in it earlier but I'm like all right yeah I'll do it and so I'm thinking oh maybe I'm in the top 20 but then you're sitting there and they've got the travel director they've got the executive producer for the show and then you're meeting with the owner again and so you're you're sitting here and you're going through all these things and I'm answering these questions and I always felt good after the interviews because I was just me and it was this very honest and truthful and so I never felt like even if they said no it was never a rejection it was just you know protection in that space of like hey it just wasn't an alignment but it just kept advancing and I'm like okay this is getting real to the point where luckily I'm you know best friends with my employer my boss and so like I'm telling him like listen I may have to be gone for from like November to January essentially and he's like for what and so but the funny part was is literally before I told him he was like hey we were because he's he bought a new home and so he's got it's like a range and so it's like we're doing all this you know home renovation stuff and we I know we're probably hanging drywall and he's like I'm gonna sign you up for for this show I think you should go on this show and I was like well actually now that we're on the subject this is perfect they said that's me if I would be you know available for the bachelor you know you go and so I'm going through that process and so you know that life was definitely changing as far as like yeah who's finding out what was possible but I was always say you know I always say grounded in you know what was that again gonna be able to give to you know to the show to the situation and to the people you know I take everybody into account when I'm thinking about you have 30 girlfriends essentially when you show up on the first day how am I going to be intentional and give everybody that time plus with all the scheduling and things like it's a lot and somebody like me who yes I I'm very high functioning but at some point it can be over simulating so then what what happens if you crash out and so you're playing this you know oh they want they want you know I mean you've [BLANK_AUDIO] I mean, Clay, you've seen it time and time again. There's that story arc that's like, okay, the guy's jumping the fence or, you know, Ben Higgins was like, oh, I don't feel lovable. I mean, it's, there is that story arc in the show. And were they asking you about like, what do you like physically? Were they like, start trying to find out your type and that sort of thing? Yeah. And I mean, of course, you're growing up and things was like, of course, you have the checklist, right? But as I've gotten older, it's really about alignment and connection. And so I said, I don't have like boxes that need to be checked. I said, anything that I've ever really sought out in an individual was from a need that needed to be experienced through me. You know, when you come to that understanding that level of awareness, not that I'm perfect at that, by the way, it's just, it's very mindful. It's very refreshing. And I've, you know, I'm going to put your handle on Instagram and the show notes. But you're just a very normal guy and some of the content that you've posted, I can tell that you're very mindful. Like you said, you've done therapy work and time. I mean, you were like a, a shoe in for the right woman, which I have to ask you, are you single currently? Are you? Yeah. Yeah. Holy moly. Okay. Well, I have a couple more questions for you at the end. Perfect. So you're kind of misled into believing that you are doing this. This is, this is wild. This is, we didn't talk that long. I didn't realize that you were that far down the rabbit hole. Yeah. By the time you and I talked, it was the, so after I spoke with the, the owners said, take your time. I don't need an answer today. I'm like, what do you need one by what tomorrow? Because I'm thinking, this is vast. Just like, take as long as you need. I'm like, can I have a week? And I'm even thinking that's a stretch. She said, take a week. Just, just think about it. Talk to people that have done the show. Do do whatever you need. And that's what I had to reach out to Jordan. And I was like, hey, people. Yeah. Because I spoke with Jordan in, in our, Jordan was, I kind of heated. She sent me a message. She's like, did you see this news? And I remember messaging you. Oh my god. She was like, this is like not for my friend. Like, and don't get me wrong. There are, there's some great qualities about Taylor Frankie Paul. There is a lot of buzz right now, though. I mean, and I'd be curious to see how they reached out to you since all this news happened. I mean, they've got to be kicking themselves at this point. I know the thing are. You know, it was when I saw, like, I didn't know what was going on. I'm not tuned in to reality television. It was my phone blew up one day. I'm like, why are all these people calling me? Why do I have all these DMs? Like, did you see what happened? I'm like, no, I didn't. What's happening? She's like, I'm just a normal guy. Yeah, they just, they canceled the show. I'm like, I said, well, I guess the truth prevails. They wanted authenticity and they went with the famous route. And, you know, now it's kicking them. I mean, you can't package something like that and, and push it and try to recruit for that and then, you know, then do a complete 180 and say, well, we're going to do it this way. It's like, you've affected lives now. And so you've got that energy moving that direction. And no, not to her. I don't know anything about her. But I do, you know, she, from what I have seen, she looks like she's very authentic and very open in who she is and visual, and I respect that. And I respect that, you know, people do operate from pain. People have been hurt in this life. And so our actions are always judged on the surface, never understanding at the root of things. It's a whole well of emotions that nobody gets access to. So we're so quick to throw our perception on how, how could she? But it's like, you don't know what she's been through. You don't know what that guy's done to her. You don't know, like, we just get what somebody recorded. Like, when have you ever been an argument? What if somebody, you know, recorded an argument with you and your partner? It's like, yeah, it's like, okay, we're all, we all have skeletons. We all have issues. But it's like, we live in this sort of like Instagram reality where if it's not perfect, we're the first ones there to condemn these individuals. And so I was not like, oh, good, you know, I'm glad that ABC, like made the wrong pick. I was like, that's super unfortunate for her. And obviously, I'm not-- - And the contestants. - Yeah, and the contestants. - But their life's on hold. - 30, yeah, that did go there too. I'm like, oh, I'm glad I didn't go to show. But then also at the same time, it's like, right, what if somebody actually got down in one knee and they're engaged right now? We don't know it because they have to keep that under wraps. - It's not. - It's a similar alert. It sounds like you're not online that often. Allegedly, she did get engaged. - Oh. - And I think that that's from what the reports are, is has ended. I think it's just, I don't know why. I think it will, I don't think this show will have ever air, Chris. - Yeah, the show. - Hershey? - I don't think so. That's what people are saying, like maybe on Hulu, but they just paused filming for her other show, Secret Lives and Mormon Wives. And, but I'm, today's about you and I just can't thank you enough for this open and sharing your story. I mean, do you feel like, do you feel like you kind of dodged a bullet in a sense or like, or do you feel like you missed an opportunity? - I gain tremendous insight on what's possible for me. That's, I extracted every ounce of value I could take from the situation. I always believe life is always working for me, even in the moment's worst, like it's upside down and I'm like, I hate life. It's always moving in a direction that is connecting a dot and creating this, you know, it's just another piece into the puzzle of me. And so what this experience showed me is what's possible. You know, how do you take a guy who has no presence, what's whoever online? You find him and then he's catapulted into this space where for a moment in time, he is preparing to be the next lead on a, you know, America's largest dating platform. - Yeah. - And everything to see. And so I never really took it into account. Again, it never really hit me. I always just try to stay rooted here and say, this is, it's not about the clicks and the likes and the followers though, yes, that comes with it. And yes, I can sit here and imagine what that would feel like, but until you're in it, the experience is, you know, it's going to unfold as it does. But I think for me, it was, show me who I could be and where I play small. And, you know, yeah, I mean, that's the truth. It was like, I think there's beauty in not seeing yourself sometimes because then you're always in this pursuit to become more, to give more. And so in this space, it was the mere shift in and now I'm being reflected back when it's possible if I actually move from my heart. And that's what I did throughout the whole thing as I spoke from my chest. You know, you get emotional in those interviews, you're doing everything because it's like, hey, this is really what I want. It's like that little five year old version of you sitting or having a conversation like, I've always wanted to be married. I never wanted to be a firefighter. I never wanted to go throw a football. Though, you know, I could do all of it. It's, I wanted to be married. I wanted to have a wife. And, you know, with the kids and stuff like that, you know, you shift because reality is reality, but, you know, I always would have wanted a family. And so that has been my nor star life, always. And it's like that. - You're white. - Yeah. - Yeah, it's just, you know, love to me is the, it's the connecting point to all of you. And, you know, my definition of love has changed throughout the years, but it really is the, it's the ingredients of wholeness within yourself. And that's usually reflected back in that individual that you've experienced. They show you pieces of yourself. And so even through this situation, it showed me a piece of myself that was like, hey, my darkness and my shadow, whatever you want to call it, is actually part of the greater whole. It's the light in all of it. There's so much power there when people can relate. 'Cause we're all hiding pain. So it's like when you're able to express it in a way that is, it's not beautiful, it's not scripted, it's not performed, it's like this is my life, but this is my mindset toward these situations. And, you know, how can I take these things and, and, and, and, alchemize it into a space where now it's, I can use my story to help other people. Now I'm, now I'm serving. And for me, my mom has always said this to me, and she's like, you're just meant to be helping people. And this is something so instinctively in my nature, because I love to, I'm a solution to things. And I want to provide. It's never about what can I get. Again, it's, what can I give? And that's just really what I live by. And anytime I disconnect from that space on, give me, give me, give me, it's like, I live in this space of emptiness. And so it's, you know, it's like trusting in your own nature. And so it showed me more who I am. And it took time because during that, you know, the, the time when I finally got the email that it was just done. And it was like the end of like middle of October, October 17th, actually. - Wait, so you're talking from June to October. - I'm going through. - You're mentally wrapped up in this. - All the way through. And at this time. - Can you talk about that email and what that was like? - So the email, by the time I had declined, the Baselrat, I took the week, you and I spoke. And I went back and spoke to you and I said, I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no. I'm going to finish off the rest of the medical, because you have to go through and go meet doctors and you've got to be all this stuff. And so I will finish the process because, you know, out of respect for everything, not only the time that I've invested, but you guys this time as well, I will finish everything. I've worked in different areas where the paperwork is really the, you know, you need paperwork. I don't have a contract. I don't need to say anything to you. Really, so I can be ambiguous right now and to say, I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no. It's when I get a contract, then you'll get to know. (laughing) - Yeah, but. - But don't waste my time. - I was just like, I'll finish it, you know, and so never came. And I'm, yeah, that was, I was able to forget about it. Really quickly, I was able to just keep going. - This is so wild. - Yeah, yeah. - Yeah. - Okay, I see, so the email is super generic and it was like, thank you for being a part of the process. We wish you well, thank you for sharing your story with us. Have a nice life. I'm like, honestly, thank you. But, yeah, 'cause it just would have been one more conversation of, hey, this is why I don't want to really do it. [BLANK_AUDIO] I mean, at the end of the day, like I said, what I gained from this was so much more than what the show would have even provided. Who's to say if I would have met the person I was supposed to be with on TV? I was prepared not to. I was prepared to say, I put myself in the difficult situations in my mind beforehand to say, how is this being handled? If you get all the way through, you get down on one knee, and then they say no. And then how are you going to be able to mentally move through these spaces? And it's all about preparation is everything, though you can't be prepared to have the person you want to marry say no right there on the spot with a camera in your face and millions of people watching it. But then you get to be the next bachelor. I mean, say it. That's-- and there are real emotions. And I heard my bachelor got down on one knee, and she lift on him up by the elbow, and he got sent home on a little tugboat in Thailand. But it sounds like-- I'm sorry that you went through that. And I hate to say it, but I've heard a lot of stories like this. But this was different. This was a unique one, because I know that they were genuinely looking for a fresh lead. They might have just gone with the-- I don't know. I think there was a game day decision. They got Taylor Frankie Paul. And unfortunately, it blew up because the show's been-- her season's been canceled. But I wanted to ask you about-- so if they do boomerang back. And let's say, do you think you would consider it having already gone through all of that? And also, I want to ask you, who was your dream bachelor at the-- if you have one. No. OK. I'm doing that. Not doing that. I'm not-- You're good, dude. [LAUGHTER] But would you consider-- Yeah, they came back. No. I wouldn't consider it. I think my experience with them through the process is I got the lesson. And I got the blessing at the same time. Averville, what I needed to see in me, is my life meant to be on reality television. It's not my intention. It's not something I'm pursuing. If life unfolds in that way, then I'll roll with it as it comes. But for me-- I would love to see you on reality TV. I would. But only if you're-- I don't know. You kind of remind me a lot of myself. And it sounds-- Perfect. Don't. Yeah. And that was so hard in my 20s. I'm glad I went through that in my 20s, because I watch these shows. Love is blind. And you see people just step on it, like a landmine. And it really can throw your life off course. But I personally would love to see you on some sort of reality TV show. I'm just going to put that out into the universe. OK. Now you've learned a lot through the casting process. Is there any advice that you would give somebody potentially going into the casting process for the bachelor? Is there-- looking back, is there any advice that you would give somebody? Be clear on what you want and be true to what you really design your heart and don't back down from that. Ever. Yeah. Just be honest. And make it simple. The truth is very simple. And so when you speak it and you remove what life has taught you, what heartbreak has taught you, all these little boxes that we put ourselves in when you knock down the walls and say, this is what I want. This is why I want it. And there's nothing right or wrong about it. Can you move in that space? You're moving with intention, true intention. And you're going to align with who you're truly supposed to be from that space. And so that's what I would say. Yeah, be true. Be true to your heart. Wow, Chris. Thank you so much for joining after reality. You have just been a doll. Where can people follow along on Instagram? Can you, I'll put your handle in the show notes. I hate to say it, but you might get some lady sliding into your DMs. You have just been a delight. Yeah, takes about three to five days for me to get back to messages. So just put nasty. Yeah. Yeah, my Instagram handle is fine. Yeah, that's perfect. That's the perfect place to find me. Chris like Esther. I think there's underscore on the score. Oh, yeah. You're just so down to earth. And where are you located? I should have done a whole package on you, but I feel like for the listeners, do you live in California? Yeah. I'm so quick. You're quick stats that we America got ripped off on from. Yeah. Well, at the time, the casting was living in Los Angeles last year. Now I've been central California near the Fresno area currently. And it will be here for for some time. But yeah, for now, I'm right here. But California. California, baby. I'm telling everyone to know what I got to go see Matt and Jordan. Oh, well, let me know when you come out, I would love to get a cup of coffee and. Yeah, absolutely. But I cannot wait to see what happens next for you. All right, you guys. What a wild story. If you ever wondered what happened during casting for one of these hit shows like the Bachelorette or Bachelorette, there you have it. Thank you, Chris. And I hope you guys enjoyed listening to this little behind the scenes. If you did, please rate, review, subscribe, maybe share it with a friend. And until next time, I'm your host Courtney Robertson. And this has been After Reality.