This is Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous in Depth. We've got Matt James on the Almost Famous podcast. He's here to talk about his new book coming out Tuesday May third, called First Impressions. We're also here to talk about everything going on in Matt's life. It's a lot. I follow him on Instagram. I'm probably one of his biggest supporters on Instagram. I don't think I miss a story. The only thing is I feel like I also can never figure out where in the world he is or where in the world he is going. Uh. Matt, thanks for joining us, Thank you for having me. Uh. I feel like there's since I've talked last talk to you both, so much has changed. I mean, Ashley's had a son, You've gotten married, your your beard is infringing on my beard now. Um, it's a lot more patchy, buddy, a lot more. Let's let's start there with that beard. Were you offended at all that people wanted you to shave it so bad? Um? No, Because you know, people get comfortable with things like like once you look a certain type of way, or you getting a routine, and then you change it on people, it throws it off. And there was a lot that went into like me growing that beard and just being you know, my own person outside of like this person who I felt like everyone wanted me to be and expected me to be. So like that beard was a representation of just like I'm living my life outside of like how it's been supposed to go through this experience, like I'm no longer conforming to what I'm supposed to be doing. And it was nice. Yeo. I knew that there was symbolism to that beard. I was like, this is the way for this man to turn into something else, to like hide behind a blanket or something like that. Yeah, pretty much. It was great. The I grew my beard out and it doesn't even take me two weeks for people to start saying you should shave Ben, you don't look good. And then I shave it. So we talked about yeah, me standing up for myself. Nah, I just shave it. I just trim it up. Matt. You uh, you have had a lot going on. You said it best. I mean it was it was how we're going to broach This whole podcast is talking about all the changes that have happened in your life and in our lives. The growth that's happened over last year. One of those big things for you. Uh, but it was happening when we were talking last two is you and Rachel are going strong? Uh still to this day, how is that going? Just for anybody curious, it's been it's been incredible, Ben, I mean just being able to live our lives outside of everyone's expectations has been able. It allowed us to establish a really strong foundation and get to know each other and learn about each other and just grow in a way that it's hard to do when you're trying to please everybod idea else and do the things that you know all the other couples are doing and being this circle and that circle, and go to this event like we just do our own thing. And it's been so liberating and freeing in in every sense that you can imagine, just to not have to worry about what people think after going through what we've been through. And um, we do practically everything together, which allows us to spend a lot of time together and just get to know each other on a more personal level. So, uh, it couldn't be going stronger right now? You know. I don't want to focus on a lot of the the beginning of your relationship because you guys are in such a great place right now. But I do have one question that lingers, and that was us coming here to this podcast after your finale, you know, the live show, we all said no way that they have a future. You know, I thought that there could be, but the way that he acted towards her, he was pretty cold. It just doesn't seem like there's ever going to be anything there. Again, how did you get over that hump? And how did you do it so fast? Because it was only about a month later that we saw you guys together. Um, what you didn't see on the final rose was that you know, we left the stage hand in hand. Yeah, really well, but what was going on before the run and show? Um, we we we weren't speaking and when you went out, when we both went out there, like anyone who's been um and in my seat before and that you know environment, it's there's not a lot of room for uh, you have to stick to the script. And there wasn't a lot that we could have discussed that would have progressed our relationship on the stage. And there was I feel like things that the show wanted and things that um, you know, there's things that the show wanted out of that moment that you know, we we were done given um control of our narrative and lives to be exploited for the most part, so I understand. Yeah, we just we just had enough, so we weren't budgeting on anything that we wanted to share and had to say. And after that moment, it was just like we could finally just be at rest, like, all right, let's go figure this out. And UM it took me going through a lot of things to get to the point where, um, I was ready to admit that I was in the wrong on a lot of things, and Rachel was very loving and understanding and accepting my apology and getting back on track with our relationship. And that was literally a year ago, like a couple of days ago. So we hit our one year mark and it's been smooth sailing, and you know, there's things that we go through that we have conversations about, but it's all growth and it's all good. Oh. I'm so happy for you guys. That's awesome. I feel sense of relief for you. I can just see it on your face. Yeah, No, it's nice. Like I, like I said earlier, just nice not having that the expectations of of other people's relationships and whatnot. Honest looking back now, though, do you feel like in your relationship is very strong? It's very fun to watch people enjoy watching it. You guys have a good time together. You eat a lot of stuff together. And do you do you feel like part of that time period helped you to grow closer together or build a I mean, I'd like to think of maybe building like a trust in the two of you coming out of it, or how would you explain what that time that was difficult? It was difficult for a lot of people that we're watching it very closely. What did it do for the two of you? When you're you are the two people people are watching. I mean, I truly can't imagine a couple having to go through more conflict? Yeah, I think I think conflict turmoil. Ultimately, uh, you know, it's been or break and it really bent um our relationship and um it ultimately made it stronger though, because we went through things that I feel like, you know, couples don't experience, and you know, five or ten years of being together sometimes ever, um and being battle tested means a lot because we both know how we're gonna respond when adversity comes. And you know, Rachiel trusted me, and uh, I've I've always respected that, you know from the very beginning when um, we would have conversations. Uh, she just trusted me. And it's it's it's hard to to blindly trust someone when you're in her shoes and you have no certainty and no reason to trust what I'm saying to the next person because it's seems like everyone's being told the same thing and just being built on trust is the biggest thing. And it's taken um some time for me to regain that with her, but we're we're in a really good spot now and um, now I gotta work on being a better communicator because she always pulled it out of me, like whenever she's feeling some type of way, we like address it on the spot, like you feel like you're this, I feel like this, I feel like that. And it's and it's still like a process for me to to get to that point where I'm just like openly like, yeah, that's where I'm at. Um, So the communications the next thing I'm working on with her, and just like meeting her where she's at you'll get it, because I was, of course the Rachel in this scenario where everything I was feeling it was like in Jared space, and he would stay silent about things for days, and I'd be like, I know there's something up. I know there's something up, and he just wouldn't admit to it. And now he comes home and he's just like, blood, these are my problems. Yeah, I'm getting there. I'm getting there. Actually teach me your ways, guys. It's a conversation, Jessica, I have very often, is you ain't talking, I'm like, I don't know what to say. Uh um, very very common. Um. Hey, I have a random question. And and I know a lot of this is mentioned in your book, this part will not be I don't think you know. When you came onto the show, you were a friend too many. You still are a friend to many, just as many. But your life was like, definitely like a bachelor life. You were on a boat, you were in Florida, you were in New York, you were traveling, eating, doing all this stuff, hanging out with your buddies, filming weird videos, doing all the things that friends do together. And then you go on the show, come off the show. You've got a girl who feels like very much I won't put words to you, but feels like one of your closest friends, maybe your best friend. You can say that if you'd like, and that not that your boys are neglact did but I'm here too, I'm I'm saying this all from experience, right, I'm married now, Ye, how how has that changed for you? Because originally when we first started following you, it was all a bunch of dude content and now it's you and Rachel content. Yeah, so like, how is that changed for you? Oh? Man, that's a great question. Ben. Uh. You know, you know what's funny you said that, you know, you mentioned best friends, and um, early on in our relationship, Rachel referred to me as her best friend, and I was like, oh, that's awesome, like that you feel that, you know what I mean? I was I didn't. I didn't uh reciprocate that because like my I've never had a girl who was the best friend, you know, like my best friend's always been like a teammate or you know, and you do best friend things together, you know, like you go out and you do travel and and then as I'm thinking about what you do with the best friend. Like that's what I was doing with Rachel, Like she was my best friend and it was like okay to date and be with someone who is your best friend. And it kind of changes the way that I thought about relationship. Um, and I always thought that you should be friends with someone before. That's just my thesis. Like I think a strong relationship is like build on a friendship and then you know, you see the things that you like in that person. And that's just my opinion. But UM, I was reluctant to call Rachel my best friend because I just felt like that title was reserved for like a guy or like for like some other But yeah, no, Rachel is my best friend, and um, it's fun to do life with that person that knows you the best. And um, and you can go to about anything. Uh and you're traveling and your your highs and your lows like it's it's it's awesome. So like, yeah, the content is definitely gonna change because you know, um, friends are forever and there, but they're different seasons in your life. And when uh, where I'm at in my life, you know, I'm not doing the things that I was doing before. I was in a relationship. You know, a lot of that time spent, uh has now spent with Rachel and doing things, uh that I would want to do with someone that you know, I'm hoping to marry one day. And um, the people who are in my life who are in that same trajectory understand it because you know, uh, they're in serious relationships, and the ones who aren't, you know, have a hard time kind of getting that because they've never been in the serious relationship. So uh, it's it's a it's a it's a difficult line to balance for people who don't get it, But for people who get it's fun because you get to do things as a couple and you know, we look forward to like those couples things now. So does Tyler Cameron get it or does he not get it? Tyler gets it because he's been in he's been in serious relationships like I had, Like he was in more serious relationships than I had been in up until this point. It, Um, so he gets it. And when he's in a relationship he kind of uh had he kind of goes into the same pattern. You know, you you travel with that person, you meet, that person's family, spend time with that person's family. UM, so yeah, he understands, and I think most of my friends do. M that's beautiful. Ben recently interviewed Tyler, and it seems like Tyler like he loves the Hollywood life. You know, he'll always like I like to involve that, but he wants to kind of have Florida be his home base, build houses with his dad, which I think is super cool. So where do you envisioned you and Rachel ending up? And I imagine that you envisioned your future with Rachel Rachel races in the room. So I'm gonna have to tread lightly on this question. Okay. UM so beforehand, you know, uh, living in New York was was incredible because I worked in commercial real estate. Um, I established friends up there. And when you live in New York, like so many people come through New York, so you don't really ever have to leave. It's like no one's like when I lived in Pittsburgh, no one was making their way through Pittsburgh. It's like, hey man, I'm casually Pittsburg. Like I didn't get those phone calls. But being in New York, I got this all the time. So I love the social aspect of New York. But with everything that's gone on with you know, the COVID pandemic, people changing their working patterns and they're uh desire to live in cities like this. Uh. It's changed my view on how I wanna, you know, go about spending the rest of my life. And I want to be somewhere warm, because when I was quarantining, I love Jupiter. Jupiter is great, but it's also like an older people's village. You know, I need more livelihood. I need uh, I need something that you know has an economics center the it Uh you're going to be close to the pulse of business. And the closest thing to that in Florida is Miami. And that's where I moved. I moved to Miami a couple of months ago from New York. And you know, I get to reap the benefits of being close to the New York. You know, it's it's it's become a tech chub, and it's become a crypto hub and two things that I'm really interested in. And and so Miami has been incredible. I got the water right there and got traveled back to North Carolina is not very Uh, it's it's not very difficult because you've got Florida, You've got Fort Lardale Airport, Miami Airport. Um, the weather is great. Um. The plan was always for me to get back down to Florida. And Rachel Uh initially was not a fan of the idea because like many people, when they think of Miami, they think of like, yeah, like clubs, like you know, staying out there. But you know, that's not my vibe. And I think as she spent time with me down there, she's realized that, you know, it's like, oh, like there is a residential side to living in Miami. And when we leave now, and you can ask Rachel about this, when we leave now, we will like we had to go to Minneapolis or something New York for something, She'll be like, I missed, I miss Miami, like, and I'm like, I need to get this on record. That's a big victory for you, man. Yeah. I don't know if it's a long term, but for for the for the right now, I love it down there and I could see myself living there nice. Well, hey, we need to wrap here with you. And I don't want to leave this without mentioning two things. And I'm just for sake of time, I'm gonna allow you to speak on them as as much as you want. Your book. First impressions, why should people read it? What should they look forward to? Why did you write it? Would probably be the questions there and then ABC Food Tours, what's going on with that? Where does that stand? And where do you hope that goes? Yeah, so the book, uh, you know selfish that I initially started in the book because I was frustrated with my time on The Bachelor. I was I didn't feel like it left people with a great representation of what I was about, what I was interested in, and what brought me to this point. And so that's what I set out to provide for people who had all these questions about, you know, who I was. And as I began to collect these stories and put it to paper, and I started to realize that a lot of people could benefit from the things that I've been through, and uh it became a you know, a celebration story and uh and uh, something that a lot of people I feel I could relate to. There's a lot of themes in my life that a lot of people have been through, from the family aspect, from my relationship with my dad, being in a multi racial relationship. Uh, the risk that I've taken professionally, you name it. And I think a lot of people I think that they experienced things by themselves. But what I realized through the Bachelor experiences when you share with people and you're vulnerable about where you're at in life, what you've been through, and what you're going through, a lot of people are going through similar things and it allows them to be like, hey, I'm I'm actually I've been through that, Like let me offer this advice. So like, I'm hoping that when people read this book, they're able to see themselves and me and my experiences and pull, you know, strength and energy from the things that I've been through and be a champion for them going forward. Um. So that was a really big part of why I wrote the book and why I'm excited for people to have it in their hands. Matt, Can we please, please please have you back on when after I read the book, because I could have so many more questions after I read the book, and I want to like further this discussion so much more. Absolutely, there's some good tea in there, you know, I'm sure there is, because you gave us the t about walking off the stage hand in hand, and I feel like there's gonna be a lot more of that. So we're gonna have to, like, you know, talk it out. And now, okay, let's talk about ABC Food real quick. First impressions come out May third, and so it's I'm assuming it's everywhere you buy books, right, yes, and there's an audiobook every every which way you can you can get to information. We've got to cover great Okay, ABC Food Tours. ABC Food Tours. So another thing I was hoping that you know, the show would want to highlight and dive a little bit deeper into because it's a lot of who I am. You know, I put a lot of time and resources into that, uh, that nonprofit that um you know, we we we very quickly brushed over and we took a little bit more time and things that I didn't think were was important. So there's a lot of antidotes from you know, why I started ABC Food Tours with Tyler, uh, the impact it's had on my life, and different and different stories from the students that we've worked with. That again, I think can relate to a lot of different people, and it just adds perspective for people who are going through things or think that they have uh life tough, and I I just can't wait to share those stories with people and see how they respond to them. Um. It's it's a long time coming sharing with those students, especially after everything that happened with with COVID and the pandemic and the plans that we have to to work with them and their families in their community. So uh yeah, there's there's some very very strong characters in there that I think will resonate with a lot of people. So to learn more about ABC Food Tours, they can pick up your book First Impressions on May three, anywhere you can buy books. You can listen to it on audio books. You can learn about ABC Food Tours. You can from there go and look it up. Um, so much going onto your life on your on in your Life, Matt. From Ashley myself, we want to wish you and Rachel the absolute best, have a great time. Thanks for joining us. Sorry we went over so many minutes here, um, but we're celebrating the two of you. We're celebrating your book, uh and your work with ABC Food Tours and everything else. They're up to in this world. Um that again. I try to follow you on Instagram. I usually don't know where you're at, and I usually don't know what you're doing, but I usually know you're eating some type of food and that's enough. I know you're healthy. Hey, thanks a lot, Matt, Congrats Matt, thank you, Ashley, see you guys. Follow the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on I Heart Radio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

This is Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous in Depth. We've got Matt James on the Almost Famous podcast. He's here to talk about his new book coming out Tuesday May third, called First Impressions. We're also here to talk about everything going on in Matt's life. It's a lot. I follow him on Instagram. I'm probably one of his biggest supporters on Instagram. I don't think I miss a story. The only thing is I feel like I also can never figure out where in the world he is or where in the world he is going. Uh. Matt, thanks for joining us, Thank you for having me. Uh. I feel like there's since I've talked last talk to you both, so much has changed. I mean, Ashley's had a son, You've gotten married, your your beard is infringing on my beard now. Um, it's a lot more patchy, buddy, a lot more. Let's let's start there with that beard. Were you offended at all that people wanted you to shave it so bad? Um? No, Because you know, people get comfortable with things like like once you look a certain type of way, or you getting a routine, and then you change it on people, it throws it off. And there was a lot that went into like me growing that beard and just being you know, my own person outside of like this person who I felt like everyone wanted me to be and expected me to be. So like that beard was a representation of just like I'm living my life outside of like how it's been supposed to go through this experience, like I'm no longer conforming to what I'm supposed to be doing. And it was nice. Yeo. I knew that there was symbolism to that beard. I was like, this is the way for this man to turn into something else, to like hide behind a blanket or something like that. Yeah, pretty much. It was great. The I grew my beard out and it doesn't even take me two weeks for people to start saying you should shave Ben, you don't look good. And then I shave it. So we talked about yeah, me standing up for myself. Nah, I just shave it. I just trim it up. Matt. You uh, you have had a lot going on. You said it best. I mean it was it was how we're going to broach This whole podcast is talking about all the changes that have happened in your life and in our lives. The growth that's happened over last year. One of those big things for you. Uh, but it was happening when we were talking last two is you and Rachel are going strong? Uh still to this day, how is that going? Just for anybody curious, it's been it's been incredible, Ben, I mean just being able to live our lives outside of everyone's expectations has been able. It allowed us to establish a really strong foundation and get to know each other and learn about each other and just grow in a way that it's hard to do when you're trying to please everybod idea else and do the things that you know all the other couples are doing and being this circle and that circle, and go to this event like we just do our own thing. And it's been so liberating and freeing in in every sense that you can imagine, just to not have to worry about what people think after going through what we've been through. And um, we do practically everything together, which allows us to spend a lot of time together and just get to know each other on a more personal level. So, uh, it couldn't be going stronger right now? You know. I don't want to focus on a lot of the the beginning of your relationship because you guys are in such a great place right now. But I do have one question that lingers, and that was us coming here to this podcast after your finale, you know, the live show, we all said no way that they have a future. You know, I thought that there could be, but the way that he acted towards her, he was pretty cold. It just doesn't seem like there's ever going to be anything there. Again, how did you get over that hump? And how did you do it so fast? Because it was only about a month later that we saw you guys together. Um, what you didn't see on the final rose was that you know, we left the stage hand in hand. Yeah, really well, but what was going on before the run and show? Um, we we we weren't speaking and when you went out, when we both went out there, like anyone who's been um and in my seat before and that you know environment, it's there's not a lot of room for uh, you have to stick to the script. And there wasn't a lot that we could have discussed that would have progressed our relationship on the stage. And there was I feel like things that the show wanted and things that um, you know, there's things that the show wanted out of that moment that you know, we we were done given um control of our narrative and lives to be exploited for the most part, so I understand. Yeah, we just we just had enough, so we weren't budgeting on anything that we wanted to share and had to say. And after that moment, it was just like we could finally just be at rest, like, all right, let's go figure this out. And UM it took me going through a lot of things to get to the point where, um, I was ready to admit that I was in the wrong on a lot of things, and Rachel was very loving and understanding and accepting my apology and getting back on track with our relationship. And that was literally a year ago, like a couple of days ago. So we hit our one year mark and it's been smooth sailing, and you know, there's things that we go through that we have conversations about, but it's all growth and it's all good. Oh. I'm so happy for you guys. That's awesome. I feel sense of relief for you. I can just see it on your face. Yeah, No, it's nice. Like I, like I said earlier, just nice not having that the expectations of of other people's relationships and whatnot. Honest looking back now, though, do you feel like in your relationship is very strong? It's very fun to watch people enjoy watching it. You guys have a good time together. You eat a lot of stuff together. And do you do you feel like part of that time period helped you to grow closer together or build a I mean, I'd like to think of maybe building like a trust in the two of you coming out of it, or how would you explain what that time that was difficult? It was difficult for a lot of people that we're watching it very closely. What did it do for the two of you? When you're you are the two people people are watching. I mean, I truly can't imagine a couple having to go through more conflict? Yeah, I think I think conflict turmoil. Ultimately, uh, you know, it's been or break and it really bent um our relationship and um it ultimately made it stronger though, because we went through things that I feel like, you know, couples don't experience, and you know, five or ten years of being together sometimes ever, um and being battle tested means a lot because we both know how we're gonna respond when adversity comes. And you know, Rachiel trusted me, and uh, I've I've always respected that, you know from the very beginning when um, we would have conversations. Uh, she just trusted me. And it's it's it's hard to to blindly trust someone when you're in her shoes and you have no certainty and no reason to trust what I'm saying to the next person because it's seems like everyone's being told the same thing and just being built on trust is the biggest thing. And it's taken um some time for me to regain that with her, but we're we're in a really good spot now and um, now I gotta work on being a better communicator because she always pulled it out of me, like whenever she's feeling some type of way, we like address it on the spot, like you feel like you're this, I feel like this, I feel like that. And it's and it's still like a process for me to to get to that point where I'm just like openly like, yeah, that's where I'm at. Um, So the communications the next thing I'm working on with her, and just like meeting her where she's at you'll get it, because I was, of course the Rachel in this scenario where everything I was feeling it was like in Jared space, and he would stay silent about things for days, and I'd be like, I know there's something up. I know there's something up, and he just wouldn't admit to it. And now he comes home and he's just like, blood, these are my problems. Yeah, I'm getting there. I'm getting there. Actually teach me your ways, guys. It's a conversation, Jessica, I have very often, is you ain't talking, I'm like, I don't know what to say. Uh um, very very common. Um. Hey, I have a random question. And and I know a lot of this is mentioned in your book, this part will not be I don't think you know. When you came onto the show, you were a friend too many. You still are a friend to many, just as many. But your life was like, definitely like a bachelor life. You were on a boat, you were in Florida, you were in New York, you were traveling, eating, doing all this stuff, hanging out with your buddies, filming weird videos, doing all the things that friends do together. And then you go on the show, come off the show. You've got a girl who feels like very much I won't put words to you, but feels like one of your closest friends, maybe your best friend. You can say that if you'd like, and that not that your boys are neglact did but I'm here too, I'm I'm saying this all from experience, right, I'm married now, Ye, how how has that changed for you? Because originally when we first started following you, it was all a bunch of dude content and now it's you and Rachel content. Yeah, so like, how is that changed for you? Oh? Man, that's a great question. Ben. Uh. You know, you know what's funny you said that, you know, you mentioned best friends, and um, early on in our relationship, Rachel referred to me as her best friend, and I was like, oh, that's awesome, like that you feel that, you know what I mean? I was I didn't. I didn't uh reciprocate that because like my I've never had a girl who was the best friend, you know, like my best friend's always been like a teammate or you know, and you do best friend things together, you know, like you go out and you do travel and and then as I'm thinking about what you do with the best friend. Like that's what I was doing with Rachel, Like she was my best friend and it was like okay to date and be with someone who is your best friend. And it kind of changes the way that I thought about relationship. Um, and I always thought that you should be friends with someone before. That's just my thesis. Like I think a strong relationship is like build on a friendship and then you know, you see the things that you like in that person. And that's just my opinion. But UM, I was reluctant to call Rachel my best friend because I just felt like that title was reserved for like a guy or like for like some other But yeah, no, Rachel is my best friend, and um, it's fun to do life with that person that knows you the best. And um, and you can go to about anything. Uh and you're traveling and your your highs and your lows like it's it's it's awesome. So like, yeah, the content is definitely gonna change because you know, um, friends are forever and there, but they're different seasons in your life. And when uh, where I'm at in my life, you know, I'm not doing the things that I was doing before. I was in a relationship. You know, a lot of that time spent, uh has now spent with Rachel and doing things, uh that I would want to do with someone that you know, I'm hoping to marry one day. And um, the people who are in my life who are in that same trajectory understand it because you know, uh, they're in serious relationships, and the ones who aren't, you know, have a hard time kind of getting that because they've never been in the serious relationship. So uh, it's it's a it's a it's a difficult line to balance for people who don't get it, But for people who get it's fun because you get to do things as a couple and you know, we look forward to like those couples things now. So does Tyler Cameron get it or does he not get it? Tyler gets it because he's been in he's been in serious relationships like I had, Like he was in more serious relationships than I had been in up until this point. It, Um, so he gets it. And when he's in a relationship he kind of uh had he kind of goes into the same pattern. You know, you you travel with that person, you meet, that person's family, spend time with that person's family. UM, so yeah, he understands, and I think most of my friends do. M that's beautiful. Ben recently interviewed Tyler, and it seems like Tyler like he loves the Hollywood life. You know, he'll always like I like to involve that, but he wants to kind of have Florida be his home base, build houses with his dad, which I think is super cool. So where do you envisioned you and Rachel ending up? And I imagine that you envisioned your future with Rachel Rachel races in the room. So I'm gonna have to tread lightly on this question. Okay. UM so beforehand, you know, uh, living in New York was was incredible because I worked in commercial real estate. Um, I established friends up there. And when you live in New York, like so many people come through New York, so you don't really ever have to leave. It's like no one's like when I lived in Pittsburgh, no one was making their way through Pittsburgh. It's like, hey man, I'm casually Pittsburg. Like I didn't get those phone calls. But being in New York, I got this all the time. So I love the social aspect of New York. But with everything that's gone on with you know, the COVID pandemic, people changing their working patterns and they're uh desire to live in cities like this. Uh. It's changed my view on how I wanna, you know, go about spending the rest of my life. And I want to be somewhere warm, because when I was quarantining, I love Jupiter. Jupiter is great, but it's also like an older people's village. You know, I need more livelihood. I need uh, I need something that you know has an economics center the it Uh you're going to be close to the pulse of business. And the closest thing to that in Florida is Miami. And that's where I moved. I moved to Miami a couple of months ago from New York. And you know, I get to reap the benefits of being close to the New York. You know, it's it's it's become a tech chub, and it's become a crypto hub and two things that I'm really interested in. And and so Miami has been incredible. I got the water right there and got traveled back to North Carolina is not very Uh, it's it's not very difficult because you've got Florida, You've got Fort Lardale Airport, Miami Airport. Um, the weather is great. Um. The plan was always for me to get back down to Florida. And Rachel Uh initially was not a fan of the idea because like many people, when they think of Miami, they think of like, yeah, like clubs, like you know, staying out there. But you know, that's not my vibe. And I think as she spent time with me down there, she's realized that, you know, it's like, oh, like there is a residential side to living in Miami. And when we leave now, and you can ask Rachel about this, when we leave now, we will like we had to go to Minneapolis or something New York for something, She'll be like, I missed, I miss Miami, like, and I'm like, I need to get this on record. That's a big victory for you, man. Yeah. I don't know if it's a long term, but for for the for the right now, I love it down there and I could see myself living there nice. Well, hey, we need to wrap here with you. And I don't want to leave this without mentioning two things. And I'm just for sake of time, I'm gonna allow you to speak on them as as much as you want. Your book. First impressions, why should people read it? What should they look forward to? Why did you write it? Would probably be the questions there and then ABC Food Tours, what's going on with that? Where does that stand? And where do you hope that goes? Yeah, so the book, uh, you know selfish that I initially started in the book because I was frustrated with my time on The Bachelor. I was I didn't feel like it left people with a great representation of what I was about, what I was interested in, and what brought me to this point. And so that's what I set out to provide for people who had all these questions about, you know, who I was. And as I began to collect these stories and put it to paper, and I started to realize that a lot of people could benefit from the things that I've been through, and uh it became a you know, a celebration story and uh and uh, something that a lot of people I feel I could relate to. There's a lot of themes in my life that a lot of people have been through, from the family aspect, from my relationship with my dad, being in a multi racial relationship. Uh, the risk that I've taken professionally, you name it. And I think a lot of people I think that they experienced things by themselves. But what I realized through the Bachelor experiences when you share with people and you're vulnerable about where you're at in life, what you've been through, and what you're going through, a lot of people are going through similar things and it allows them to be like, hey, I'm I'm actually I've been through that, Like let me offer this advice. So like, I'm hoping that when people read this book, they're able to see themselves and me and my experiences and pull, you know, strength and energy from the things that I've been through and be a champion for them going forward. Um. So that was a really big part of why I wrote the book and why I'm excited for people to have it in their hands. Matt, Can we please, please please have you back on when after I read the book, because I could have so many more questions after I read the book, and I want to like further this discussion so much more. Absolutely, there's some good tea in there, you know, I'm sure there is, because you gave us the t about walking off the stage hand in hand, and I feel like there's gonna be a lot more of that. So we're gonna have to, like, you know, talk it out. And now, okay, let's talk about ABC Food real quick. First impressions come out May third, and so it's I'm assuming it's everywhere you buy books, right, yes, and there's an audiobook every every which way you can you can get to information. We've got to cover great Okay, ABC Food Tours. ABC Food Tours. So another thing I was hoping that you know, the show would want to highlight and dive a little bit deeper into because it's a lot of who I am. You know, I put a lot of time and resources into that, uh, that nonprofit that um you know, we we we very quickly brushed over and we took a little bit more time and things that I didn't think were was important. So there's a lot of antidotes from you know, why I started ABC Food Tours with Tyler, uh, the impact it's had on my life, and different and different stories from the students that we've worked with. That again, I think can relate to a lot of different people, and it just adds perspective for people who are going through things or think that they have uh life tough, and I I just can't wait to share those stories with people and see how they respond to them. Um. It's it's a long time coming sharing with those students, especially after everything that happened with with COVID and the pandemic and the plans that we have to to work with them and their families in their community. So uh yeah, there's there's some very very strong characters in there that I think will resonate with a lot of people. So to learn more about ABC Food Tours, they can pick up your book First Impressions on May three, anywhere you can buy books. You can listen to it on audio books. You can learn about ABC Food Tours. You can from there go and look it up. Um, so much going onto your life on your on in your Life, Matt. From Ashley myself, we want to wish you and Rachel the absolute best, have a great time. Thanks for joining us. Sorry we went over so many minutes here, um, but we're celebrating the two of you. We're celebrating your book, uh and your work with ABC Food Tours and everything else. They're up to in this world. Um that again. I try to follow you on Instagram. I usually don't know where you're at, and I usually don't know what you're doing, but I usually know you're eating some type of food and that's enough. I know you're healthy. Hey, thanks a lot, Matt, Congrats Matt, thank you, Ashley, see you guys. Follow the Benn and Ashley I Almost Famous podcasts on I Heart Radio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.