The Viall Files

E1084 - We're Having Girls!! Plus, Traitors w/ Natalie, Bachelorette Men, Danae Hays, Love Is Blind & RHOBH

February 24, 2026

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  • Nick and Natalie announced they are expecting twin girls, leading to a discussion about potential baby names like Nirvana and Plum. 
  • Nick spent a significant portion of Natalie's four-day trip visiting her sister by playing 52 games of Madden to de-stress. 
  • The hosts heavily criticized Chris from *Love Is Blind* for his manipulative and insensitive handling of his breakup with Jess, labeling him as a prime example of poor male behavior in reality TV. 
  • The discussion regarding *Love Is Blind*'s Chris and his behavior towards Connor and Ashley/Priyanka/Brie suggests Chris is perceived as toxic and lacking loyalty, while Brie's perceived enjoyment of the conversation with Chris was concerning for not defending her man. 
  • Emma's expressed regret about having children, despite loving them, is viewed as a sensitive and potentially damaging statement to air publicly, though her reasoning tied to past trauma and feeling supported by Mike is seen as a new perspective for her. 
  • Natalie felt overwhelmed by anger at *The Traitors* roundtable, which prevented her from effectively arguing for Rob's removal and instead led to a confrontation focused on Tara. 
  • Natalie felt her anger and false hope about her alliance with Tara and Johnny distracted her at the roundtable, preventing her from effectively targeting Rob as a Traitor. 
  • Natalie regrets playing too cautiously early in *The Traitors* and wishes she had played more aggressively, similar to her final moments, because showing any emotion was perceived as traitorous behavior. 
  • Natalie believes Rob's strength as a Traitor included strategically bonding with 'stragglers' like herself who were outside the main clique, which helped him secure his win by exploiting the faithfuls' lack of unity. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads: Better Wild & BetterHelp
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Better Wild Allergy Relief Soft Chews utilize Ancestral Advantage Wolf probiotics to strengthen pet digestion and allergy defenses.
  • Summary: Better Wild offers allergy relief chews for dogs containing probiotics, kimchi-derived postbiotics, and salmon oil to support skin and immune function. BetterHelp provides access to over 30,000 therapists, allowing users to switch for free until they find a good connection. Listeners can receive up to 40% off BetterWild or 10% off BetterHelp via the provided links.
Personal Announcement: Twin Girls
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(00:02:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Nick and Natalie officially announced they are expecting twin girls, confirming previous social media speculation was partially acted.
  • Summary: The hosts revealed they are having twin girls, which was a planned reveal for social media where they admitted to acting surprised about the second balloon. Nick expressed excitement about having three daughters close in age, drawing parallels to his older sister’s family dynamic. They are currently deep in the process of selecting baby names.
Baby Name Brainstorming Session
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(00:07:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Nick proposed the name Nirvana for one of the twin girls, which was ultimately rejected due to concerns about future pop culture associations.
  • Summary: Nick’s suggestion of ‘Nirvana’ was critiqued by Natalie and ChatGPT, who worried about the name’s association with the grunge band. They also considered ‘Plum’ as a potential middle name, leading to jokes about naming the twins after fruits like Clementine and Apricot. The couple is considering naming one daughter after a famous person, contingent on getting their blessing.
Weekend Trip and De-Stressing
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(00:13:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Nick spent 34.67 hours playing Madden while Natalie and their daughter River visited her aunt’s animal farm in Savannah.
  • Summary: River insisted on visiting her aunt’s animal farm, prompting Natalie to take a four-day trip while Nick stayed home to care for the dogs. Nick used this rare alone time to play 52 games of Madden on his Xbox, admitting he hadn’t played in years. Nick also attended a university Hall of Fame induction ceremony where he received meaningful advice about prioritizing connections over personal accomplishments.
Bachelorette Men Bios Review
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(00:24:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts expressed skepticism toward men who self-identify as ‘mama’s boys’ or who claim to love The Notebook as a fun fact.
  • Summary: The bios for the men on the upcoming season of The Bachelorette were released, prompting immediate judgments based on their fun facts and photos. The hosts noted that many men listed being a ‘mama’s boy’ as a key trait, which they view as a red flag for adult men. They also identified Shane, an Uno enthusiast, as a potential villain for the season.
Punch the Monkey Phenomenon
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(00:39:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Punch, an abandoned baby monkey who found comfort in an IKEA stuffed animal, was eventually accepted by his troop after online attention.
  • Summary: Punch the baby monkey was initially bullied by other monkeys after being abandoned by his mother. He found solace in an IKEA stuffed monkey and a specific zookeeper, eventually being accepted by the other primates. The story is considered a heartwarming phenomenon, though the fate of the stuffed animal is now a concern.
Love Is Blind: Chris’s Behavior
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(00:41:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris is deemed the primary source of negative male behavior on Love Is Blind due to his cruel and manipulative breakup tactics with Jess.
  • Summary: Chris’s comments to Jess regarding their intimacy and subsequent performance anxiety were heavily criticized as being intentionally hurtful to force a breakup. He attempted to paint himself as the victim by claiming he would have continued if Jess hadn’t reacted negatively to his harsh words. The hosts also noted that Chris later tried to DM Brie and posted questionable photos online after the breakup.
Love Is Blind Chris & Connor
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(00:47:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris is criticized for talking negatively about Connor after receiving his breakup text, reinforcing the perception that Connor is superior in both looks and personality.
  • Summary: Chris allegedly spoke poorly of Connor in the bathroom after texting him post-breakup, which listeners found frustrating. Connor was deemed significantly more attractive and better in personality than Chris. The speaker expressed relief at having no intention of experiencing physical intimacy with a man like Chris.
Chris, Ashley, and Jess’s Side
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(00:48:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Brie is suspected of having informed Jess about Chris sliding into her DMs, but Brie’s on-camera reaction to Chris’s story suggested she was entertaining or enjoying the conversation without shutting down his comments about his relationship.
  • Summary: The speaker was frustrated by the conversation Chris had with Ashley, Priyanka, and Brie, noting that none of them seemed to back Jess’s side of the story. It is hoped that Brie was the one who informed Jess about Chris’s DMs, though Brie’s reaction seemed unsupportive of her partner. The lack of defense for her man by the woman in question was noted, especially when Chris criticized his partner for not being dominant enough.
Emma and Mike’s Kid Conversation
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(00:49:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Emma’s candid admission that she would not have had children if she could do it over, despite loving them, highlights the sensitive nature of the non-negotiable topic of parenthood in relationships.
  • Summary: Emma’s adoption background informed her feelings about having kids, leading to her controversial on-camera statement about regretting parenthood. Mike is perceived as pushing the issue too hard, especially in front of the children, given the wedding is imminent. The segment emphasizes that the desire for children is a non-negotiable topic couples must resolve before marriage, as hoping someone changes their mind leads to resentment.
Emma’s Realization on Parenthood
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(01:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The experiment may have opened Emma’s eyes to the possibility of having children because Mike’s support regarding her past surgical issues made the idea feel more attainable than when she struggled alone.
  • Summary: Emma’s initial reluctance to have kids stemmed from her difficult childhood and fear of repeating parental mistakes, a viewpoint her friends dismissed. Having a supportive partner like Mike, who is willing to investigate her underlying issues (like surgeries), has made the prospect of family more realistic for her. Her father seemed unaware that her past struggles were a primary reason for her stance on not wanting children.
Alex and Chris Comparison
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(01:00:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Alex is viewed as a ’late bloomer’ who needs to grow up and stop shape-shifting to gain approval, whereas Chris is seen as inherently toxic, making Alex seem less problematic by comparison.
  • Summary: Alex’s father’s radar seemed accurate regarding his past relationships, specifically catching him admitting to cheating on one partner with another. Alex’s tendency to ‘storytell’ to gain approval suggests immaturity rather than malice, contrasting sharply with Chris’s oozing toxicity. Alex’s difficult upbringing, including not knowing his father, is acknowledged as a factor in his current behavior.
Comedian Danae Hays Interview Start
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(01:00:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Comedian Danae Hays’s journey to comedy involved creating funny videos in college while playing softball and later finding pharmaceutical sales unfulfilling.
  • Summary: Danae Hays, an Alabama alum, was known for creating funny sketches in college, often being told by her coach to mature. After college, she did sports broadcasting for the SEC Network but found it restrictive. She met her current girlfriend after her divorce at the ACM Awards, initially doubting she would date someone who looked like ‘Wayne’s World’.
Danae’s Relationship & Video Games
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(01:00:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Danae is deeply obsessed with her girlfriend, engaging in ‘footsy’ behavior in bed, and recently spent four days alone playing advanced video games where she was verbally attacked by 12-year-old gamers.
  • Summary: Danae expressed intense affection for her girlfriend, noting she is more obsessed now than in the first week of dating, including mandatory leg-wrapping and foot-touching during sleep. Her solo weekend involved playing the PlayStation 5, where she was called names by young, aggressive players online. She humorously noted that she was called a ‘PE teacher’ due to her voice, leading her to question if she was being spied on.
Tony Robbins Seminar Experience
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(01:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Danae attended a four-day Tony Robbins seminar for business growth but ended up coming out as gay on day four, comparing the intense experience to a cult that her ex-Mormon family recognized.
  • Summary: The intense, 12-hour-a-day Tony Robbins seminar led Danae to publicly come out via an Instagram story on the fourth day, surprising even Tony Robbins. She mentioned walking on fire in the parking lot, noting that her family, being ex-Mormon, recognized the cult-like atmosphere. She contrasted her naive online exposure via Chat Roulette/Omegle with how easily modern kids are exposed to adult content.
Danae’s Uncle’s Bar Fight Story
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(01:00:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Danae’s aunt dramatically embellished a story about her 7'2" uncle intervening in a bar fight, turning it into a romanticized rom-com moment that the uncle later denied.
  • Summary: Danae’s tall uncle, ‘Tree,’ intervened in a fight at a Savannah Mexican restaurant, leading her aunt to claim they shared a passionate make-out session in the truck afterward. When the uncle recounted the story later, he denied slamming the fighter’s head on the table or the restaurant chanting ‘hero’ at him, showing a significant difference in storytelling perception.
RHOBH Denise Richards & Aaron
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(01:00:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Aaron’s volatile on-camera threat to ‘crush’ Denise Richards’s hand while being reminded they were mic’d up is viewed as a terrifying display of emotional volatility that validates Denise’s prior claims.
  • Summary: The clip showing Aaron threatening Denise while she reminded him they were on camera raised serious concerns about his emotional stability. This incident makes listeners believe Denise’s other stories about their relationship, including needing help after her facelift. Erica Jayne reaching out to Denise after the divorce became public highlights a supportive friendship between the two women.
RHOBH Amanda and Cult Talk
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(01:00:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Amanda’s shock that her friends weren’t immediately grateful for her manifestation plans suggests she surrounds herself with people who revere her rather than equals who challenge her, linking to her past involvement in a cult.
  • Summary: Amanda seemed genuinely confused when her friends didn’t immediately align with her financial manifestation plans, suggesting she lacks peers who treat her as an equal. This behavior is seen as potentially leveraging lessons learned from her past involvement in a cult to convince people to give her money. Bose is expected to force Amanda to be honest about her hustling methods.
Natalie Traitors Roundtable Debrief
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(01:00:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie admits she failed to effectively target Rob at the roundtable because she was distracted by anger and held onto a false hope that she, Tara, and Johnny would support each other.
  • Summary: Natalie was too angry and emotionally overwhelmed during the roundtable to focus on presenting evidence against Rob, instead letting the confrontation devolve into a conflict between her and Tara. She acknowledges she should have focused on proving Rob was a traitor instead of getting sidetracked. She felt she lacked the clear mindset needed to execute her strategy effectively.
Roundtable Regrets and Anger
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(01:37:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie’s overwhelming anger at the roundtable prevented her from executing her strategy to target Rob.
  • Summary: Natalie admitted she was too angry and distracted at the roundtable to think straight, failing to redirect her focus toward voting for Rob. She had a false hope of aligning with Tara, Johnny, and Mark, which led to her argument becoming a personal conflict with Tara instead of a strategic attack on Rob. This lack of clear mindset meant she missed opportunities to present key evidence against Rob.
Post-Game Emotional Weight
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(01:39:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie’s emotional investment in winning is higher than her teammates due to life circumstances and past reality TV losses.
  • Summary: Natalie has spoken with Tara and they are fine, but Natalie remains emotional because she cares deeply about succeeding on these shows. She suggested the $250,000 prize difference matters more to her life than it might to some celebrity contestants. She expressed frustration with herself for not playing more aggressively and not wanting to just coast through the experience.
Dagger Fumble and Lying
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(01:41:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie felt embarrassed watching back the moment Rob took the dagger, admitting she fumbled the lie about the cold weather.
  • Summary: Watching the dagger scene back, Natalie realized she failed to make eye contact with Rob, which contributed to him successfully taking the dagger. She noted that she is usually a good liar on shows like Survivor, but she fumbled this crucial move by lying about something trivial like the weather. This initial lie made it easier for Rob to discredit her later regarding the dagger.
Rob’s Traitor Game Analysis
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(01:42:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie asserts Rob did not need to compromise his game or receive outside help to win; the faithfuls’ disunity was sufficient.
  • Summary: Natalie believes Rob played a very good game, earning respect from fellow gamers, and she was rooting for him once she knew he was a Traitor. She stated that the faithfuls were helping Rob enough through their lack of teamwork, meaning he didn’t need to actively seek information from former faithfuls. Her final vote for Tara over Rob was partly petty and partly a strategic move to confuse the remaining players.
Tara’s Betrayal and Faithful Trust
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(01:44:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie was frustrated that Tara confirmed Natalie was a faithful but still voted against her at the roundtable.
  • Summary: Natalie highlighted a ‘come to Jesus moment’ with Tara where they confirmed each other’s faithful status, making Tara’s subsequent vote against her highly frustrating. She contrasted this with her own play, where she avoided targeting Johnny despite suspicions because she was playing as a true faithful trying to ensure the faithfuls could win. The actions of Tara and Johnny were perceived as self-preservation rather than playing to win the game.
Initial Suspicions of Rob
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(01:45:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Tara’s confirmation gave Natalie the authority to finally lean into her existing, ignored suspicions about Rob’s behavior.
  • Summary: Natalie found it difficult to admit suspicions about Rob because he was one of the few people who made her feel trusted in the castle. She had recurring doubts, such as questioning why she was always up for murder if she was safe, and Rob’s demeanor encouraged her to gravitate toward him. Tara’s approach validated Natalie’s ignored feelings, giving her the freedom to pursue the truth about Rob.
Post-Show Reflection and Regret
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(01:47:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Natalie finds losses on reality competition shows difficult because they dredge up past regrets, especially when the stakes feel higher for her.
  • Summary: Natalie finds the experience difficult because regret and forgiveness are hard for her, referencing losing Survivor due to her own mistake. She noted that the weight of the loss feels heavier on her than on some of the celebrity contestants in The Traitors. Despite the frustration, she acknowledged that the thrill of winning is what makes these shows amazing, necessitating acceptance of the losses.