Bachelor Nation Newbies

The Newbies started their podcasting adventure at the start of 2021 and it looks like they will finish the year strong with their THIRD installment of BNN by providing captivating mother/daughter commentary on Michelle's love journey!  Claire is back in college, Phoebe is now a senior in high school, and Leane is still the mom cluelessly asking her daughters what it means to be an "F Boy?" 

The trio take a minute to warm up since they hung up their microphones since Katie's wild Bachelorette roller coaster ride but in this slightly less than an hour kick off episode, they manage to cover a variety of topics which include:

Why is Michelle yelling I'm The Bachelorette and twirling on a bridge? Why do women always say they're sorry when there's no need to? How come the fact that Michelle played basketball in high school is celebrated as her most crowning achievement? What does sliding into your DM really mean?? Why does every guy on this season have to love basketball? And much more!

Special Guest Appearance by Uncle Brad and Phoebe's loud water cup. 

Rate and review us and thanks for listening! 

In the earliest morning recording ever, the Newbies gather in the kitchen to make some breakfast and break down the final twists and turns that ended up in an actual engagement between Katie and .... Blake!? Could that even be true?  

The Newbies heads are in a tailspin but they manage to discuss a myriad of topics from the wild intercut Finale /After the Final Rose episode which include:  A woman doesn't have to say she doesn't need a man to claim her independence; how Blake starts making out with Katie whenever he doesn't know what to say; how the reason they're engaged is probably because Blake was "the last guy here"; why was it okay to light a huge ass fire in the desert?; Blake's love for raccoons; Katie's anger at Greg and how anger is never productive; more pain body analysis; and how can the studio audience even clap during Katie and Greg's cringy conversation??? 

The Newbies aren't convinced they will be back for Michelle's bachelorette season....but perhaps after Leane gets out of her Bachelor Nation inspired pain body, she will want to podcast again. :) 

Special appearances by Marvel the Husky; Marvel's bone; and breakfast noises. 

Thanks for your support of Season Two! Here's to LOVE! 

It's a lively Wednesday morning for the Newbies as they record in transit after dropping Claire's car off to be repaired before she leaves again for the infamous undisclosed location.  The Newbies explore whether or not the Bachelor/Bachelorette format is melting down after more and more people both inside and outside the show question ....is finding love this way  really a good idea?  Or just a recipe for disaster?

The Newbies are ecstatic they're uploading an episode so early in the week and topics include: how come Justin and Greg have the same best friend?; do you pronounce the 'H" in Herb?; with Justin's parents deciding not to validate Justin's love journey - should parents feel okay about finding love on a reality show?; why does Blake have such a hard time saying the "L" word?; how Justin is more like-able now that viewers have heard him talk a little more; and of course the Newbies talk ALL ABOUT the Greg and Katie blow-up and how their pain bodies are mainly responsible for it; and how they wish the Bachelor Nation would be way more understanding of how messy and imperfect humans are!!

Special appearances by a loud truck on the freeway and a frustrating gas station experience. 

The Newbies are in shock that they are actually getting an episode out on Katie's season in a kinda timely manner. Especially since Claire got all four wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday morning and they recorded this on Wednesday! It's a late afternoon snack BNN session while Leane and Phoebe dip crunchy carrots into hummus much to Claire's dismay.

In any event, the Newbies power through a lively discussion - much to their surprise - that lasts over an hour! And considering it was one of those weird "Tell All" episodes - the Newbies can't believe they found so much to discuss. Topics include - was Michael A really ever going to be Katie's "person" and yet isn't she a soulmate of his?; the awesomeness of Michael A and Katie's heartbeat hugs; how infuriating it is to hear the detectives act like they aren't mean to one another when they seem to want to stab each other in the back at any turn - at least some of them; a random tangent into the history of kissing; how much Andrew + Katie are couple goals and so much more. 

Special guest appearances by a plane that flies over the house, crunchy carrots and random kissing noises by Phoebe. 

Rate and review if you like having us in your ear! Here's to love! 

Oh wow - after a too long absence of their podcasting life due mainly to technical difficulties and also some summer living - the Newbies return with a Sunday breakfast chat to talk about the invigorating last couple episodes of Katie's love journey.  It takes a minute for the Newbies to get back into a groove, but they were determined to keep extraneous noise to a minimum and to hit all the important topics of the last two episodes.

Topics include - is kissing all that it's cracked up to be when it comes to finding true love?; the confusing WOWO challenge; the crazy EQ and bromance aspect of this particular group of guys with Tre crying real tears over Connor's departure; Blake being the producers' boy toy to get him to do whatever they want him to do; Who exactly is Brendan?; Greg's enthusiasm for rain kisses and was that fish toss done with a real or rubber fish??; how much we can't believe that Mike P believed that telling Katie she reminds him of his mom was a good idea; why did Mike P have to walk off barefoot in his "angel fit" as if he was leaving a cult?; and how much we can NOT STAND that Andrew S is gone... and more. 

Special guest appearances by Marvel the Husky; Tommy the keyboard player; and Ethan -  the boyfriend. 

Please rate and review us wherever you listen!

The Newbies stand in the kitchen and bake banana bread on the eve of Claire's 19th birthday and discuss the emotional dynamic of Katie's group of men.  Instead of a romantic romp, this group seems to be existing in a dark psychological box exploring the deepest of emotions immediately. But perhaps this is where The Bachelor Nation is at when it comes to finding love?

Other topics include: Is Thomas just messing with the guys or is he really there for the "wrong" reasons? Are the guys playing detective constantly to try and uncover who needs to go for being there for the "wrong" reasons?  And while the guys are working together to try and rat one another out to Katie - over there in a field, Michael A and Katie are basically engaged. 

Special guest appearance by the very loud barking evening dogs AKA Tinky the Queen and Marvel the Husky ; Tommy who chimes in with ideas for a new name for the podcast; and Phoebe singing a very special song.

Claire is back home from her undisclosed location for Summer 2021 and the Newbies are back at their kitchen table dishing about the newest Bachelor Nation love journey of Katie Thurston!   The Newbies seem to have forgotten how to record as they are doing entirely too much pounding on the table while talking so hopefully devoted listeners will forgive the noisier than usual episode!

In a mash-up of the first two episodes of Katie's season, there's much to discuss as the Newbies take in their second Bachelorette journey ever! (Last summer's Claire and Tayisha's season was their first.)  Topics include: all that sneaking around by Tayisha and the other chick as the new hosts;  what does sex positive really mean?; how women really do like emotion when it comes to sex just like virgin Mike proved in the greatest lover contest; how come men fighting in mud for love is still happening on this franchise in 2021; how Katie likes any man who comes forth with confidence even if he's in a kitten costume and why is Katie so shocked and hurt to learn that some guys might be on a reality TV show to "be on a reality TV show"? 

Special guest appearances by brother Tommy and of course Marvel the Husky who is more vocal than ever. 

Please rate and review us wherever you listen!

The Newbies are in disbelief that their newbie podcast journey is winding down after successfully recording TWELVE episodes! The Newbies are all together because Claire is back home for Spring Break. In the episode, Phoebe accidentally discloses Claire's "undisclosed location" but Claire plans to hide it in the edit. :) 

As Matt James ends his love journey with an uncomfortably long vacant stare on ATFR,  the Newbies discuss all kinds of topics about this 3 hour finale including big applause for the bachelorette choices in Michelle and Katie; how Matt can't help touching women's legs even after he breaks up with them; how the producers were so mean to have Rachael dress up for a date that they knew Matt was NOT showing up for; the surprise realization that the Bachelor can actually end without a proposal yet still end with a carriage ride; more on the layered racism controversy and the pressure Matt is feeling on how best to handle his response to his relationship with Rachael and the overall controversy; and the aspects of Matt James as leading man that the Newbies both loved and didn't love. :)  And more. 

Special quick guest appearance by Marvel the Husky, Tommy and some random loud noises on the table. 

Thank you to all of our loyal listeners! We will see what's next in our podcasting journey! Stay tuned for our own version of After the Final Episode! 

The Newbies were all confident that this episode recorded on Tuesday would be up on Tuesday night but alas here we are releasing it on Thursday. :) 

In Episode 11, the Newbies face a new challenge when Phoebe decides she has to "dip" out of finishing the conversation.  Despite the mediation effort that Leane puts forth to keep the trio chatting, for the first time ever, Claire and Leane end up having to finish the podcast. And it's just not the same without Phoebes. :)  

But in the course of the episode, the Newbies touch on topics that include: whether or not the conversation between Matt and his Dad contributed to a stereotype in the Black community or if it's just Matt's truth and that is all that matters;  whether all of the final woman could have handled the butter rubbing spa date as well as Michelle did; how Rachel getting in her head was a good example of how we all get into our head sometimes; the benefits of physically "shaking it off" and getting into your body when you are in your head; and whether or not each of us has "my person."  And more of course. 

As Claire reflects on the BNN journey that is coming to a close, she states - "Even though The Bachelor is trash tv, we can still learn something from it."

Special guest appearance by the sound of Phoebe's footsteps.  And special shout out to Claire's VO to help us understand what was going on in this episode. 

Rate and review wherever you listen if you would!! :) 

The  Newbies celebrate their 10th Episode with a late afternoon conversation discussing all the fun that was wrapped up into the Women Tell All episode of the Matt James love journey.

With a concerted effort to be as quiet as possible without any extraneous noise like Leane hitting the table when she speaks, loud forks or snoring dogs,  the Newbies dive in and discuss such topics as Chelsea and Mari going after Katie; whether or not Katie telling Matt about the house toxicity is cool or not cool; Ana owning her insecurities; whether Britney being called an escort is really that bad after all; how it seems Matt is still in love with Serena P; how this is the first episode where we really saw Matt's cute personality; the completely insane group dates that were actually planned  and executed but didn't air; and how long kissing with your eyes open is okay. And more of course....

We can't believe we made it this far and feel so grateful to a our dedicated posse  of listeners. The only special guest is the slight echo of Claire's voice you can hear later in the episode.