Off The Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe

#922. Jess Val Ortiz knows what it means to hear “no.” From brutal Broadway auditions to building a massive online following, she opens up about rejection, resilience, and creating your own path when nothing goes as planned.
Jess also shares where she’s really at emotionally following her recent breakup, the clarity that came with it, and why she believes heartbreak can lead you closer to yourself.
She reflects on the pressure she faced at a young age surrounding her appearance, how it shaped her confidence, and why this season of her life is all about choosing herself.
Plus, wild audition stories, behind-the-scenes Broadway culture, and an unforgettable self-tape moment that did not go as planned!
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/vine15, code vine15 to unlock 15% off. Exclusions apply.
Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code VINE.
Bombas: Head over to Bombas.com/VINE and use code VINE for 20% off your first purchase.
Figs: Check out the limited-edition Team USA collection, and get 15 percent off your first order at Wearfigs.com with code FIGSRX.
Dime Beauty: So if your skin is begging for hydration, head to DimeBeauty.com for 20% off with code PODCAST20 or you can also find DIME on Amazon and at Ulta!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
(1:58) Jess takes us inside the brutal reality of Broadway auditions.
(18:28) Jess opens up about her recent breakup and where she’s honestly at emotionally right now.
(39:40) Jess shares how growing up her mom pushed her toward plastic surgery and how that experience affected her relationship with herself.
(53:53) A hilarious self-tape story that proves anything can happen when you least expect it.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#921. Arielle Kebbel has spent over two decades in Hollywood, but this conversation reveals the parts of her story she’s never shared like this before.
From booking Gilmore Girls just days after moving to Los Angeles at 17, to nearly landing iconic roles that could have changed the course of her career, Arielle opens up about the fear, pressure, and survival mindset that quietly drove her for years.
She shares a deeply honest update on her relationship status, what it really takes to break your own patterns, and why choosing yourself can be both the hardest and most empowering decision you’ll ever make. We talk about the emotional pull that led her to adopt her wild Mustang, Snow White, the unexpected role horses have played in her healing, potentially producing the long-anticipated John Tucker Must Die sequel, and stepping into her current meaningful role in I Can Only Imagine 2!
This is a raw, vulnerable conversation about identity, timing, and what happens when you finally stop running from yourself.
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!
ASPCA Pet Insurance: To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/VINE.
Bombas: Head over to Bombas.com/VINE and use code VINE for 20% off your first purchase.
Tonal: Right now, Tonal.com is offering OTV listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase with promo code VINE.
Audible: Listen to Messy Love: Difficult Conversations for Deeper Connection now on Audible. Go to Audible.com/MessyLove to start listening today.
Apartments.com: The Place to find a place!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
(5:01) — Arielle’s honest relationship status update!
(20:04) — The emotional story behind adopting her wild Mustang, Snow White
(30:15) — Booking Gilmore Girls days after moving to L.A.
(37:50) — Her fear around money, overworking & survival mode
(45:55) — The truth about the John Tucker Must Die sequel
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#920. Before Outlander, Sophie Skelton was working night shifts, facing rejection, and waiting on an audition she wouldn’t hear back about for nearly a year! Then came the trip to Los Angeles where everything went wrong — and the moment that would CHANGE HER LIFE!
In this deeply honest conversation, Sophie opens up about the discipline that shaped her, the pressure of carrying an iconic role for nearly a decade, and the self-doubt that didn’t disappear when success finally arrived.
She also shares the emotional responsibility of stepping into a real woman’s life in her new film, I Can Only Imagine 2, and why some stories stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling.
This episode is about risk, resilience, and what happens when you trust yourself before anyone else does!
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these AMAZING deals!
Covergirl: Go the distance with COVERGIRL’s new Eye Enhancer Wrap Tubing Mascara for a lash extension effect. Shop at your nearest retailer now. Only from Easy, Breezy, Beautiful COVERGIRL.com
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/vine15, code vine15 to unlock 15% off. Exclusions apply.
Bombas: Head over to Bombas.com/VINE and use code VINE for 20% off your first purchase.
Momentous: Right now, Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first order with promo code VINE when you head to livemomentous.com.
Apartments.com: The Place to find a place!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
(06:15) Sophie shares how being forced into ballet at age two shaped her discipline and resilience.
(15:21) Why she chose acting with no backup plan — even when everyone told her not to.
(23:22) She waited nearly a year after auditioning for Outlander — and refused to watch the show during that time.
(25:46) The chaotic audition trip where everything went wrong — but changed her life.
(52:25) Sophie reveals she still doesn’t know how Outlander ends.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#919. This episode is a full-circle moment in every sense!
A few years ago, Blaire Frey came on Off The Vine asking for a boyfriend and Kaitlyn fully committed to her matchmaking era. What started as a fun segment called The Blairette turned into a real love story… one that changed Blaire’s life in ways no one could have predicted!!!
In this conversation, Kaitlyn, Blaire, Luke ( and a very special appearance from baby Dawson) look back on how it all began, then fast-forward through the moments that reshaped everything: marriage, motherhood, an early NICU journey, loss, gratitude, and the identity shifts that come with growing up in real time.
This is the update you’ve all been asking for! An episode that reminds you life doesn’t always go according to plan — but sometimes it gives you something even better!
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsor! Check out this AMAZING deal!
Covergirl: Go the distance with COVERGIRL’s new Eye Enhancer Wrap Tubing Mascara for a lash extension effect. Shop at your nearest retailer now. Only from Easy, Breezy, Beautiful COVERGIRL.com

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
(6:20) The birth of The Blairette — asking for a boyfriend, the five F’s, and how a fun segment turned into something very real!!
(15:15) Luke & Blaire’s proposal story.
(22:40) Dawson’s early arrival — navigating an unexpected NICU journey and all the emotions that came with it.
(25:00) Grief and gratitude — losing their beloved dog, Waffle
(47:19) When content doesn’t perform — comparison, pressure, and being your own worst critic.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#918. Dating advice is everywhere — and somehow it’s made dating feel harder.
This week, Kaitlyn sits down with Blaine Anderson, a dating coach and matchmaker who works with thousands of men behind the scenes of modern dating. She shares what women rarely get to hear: how men experience dating, why “good guys” get overlooked, and where connections quietly fall apart.
They talk attraction, effort vs. interest, dating apps, and how to tell if a man is being intentional or just keeping his options open. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, they also get real about feeling behind, comparison, and staying open to love without settling.
If dating has you confused, burnt out, or questioning the rules — this episode will make you feel clearer, not broken.
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these deals!
Covergirl: Go the distance with COVERGIRL’s new Eye Enhancer Wrap Tubing Mascara for a lash extension effect. Shop at your nearest retailer now. Only from Easy, Breezy, Beautiful COVERGIRL.com
Leesa Mattresses: Go to LEESA.com and use promo code OTV for 30% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off exclusive for my listeners.
Macy’s: So if Valentine’s Day is creeping up on you, take that pressure off yourself. You can shop in store or online at macys.com.
Bombas: Head over to Bombas.com/VINE and use code VINE for 20% off your first purchase.
Chewy: Chewy has everything you need to keep your pet happy and healthy. And right now you can save $20 on your first order and get free shipping by going to Chewpanions.chewy.com/offthevinepodcast. Minimum purchase required. New customers only. Terms and conditions apply. See site for complete details.
Apartments.com: The Place to find a place!
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
(12:29) Why “nice guys” get overlooked.
(17:05) The biggest shift in dating over the last 5–10 years — and why so many people feel burnt out right now.
(45:52) How women can tell if a man is being intentional… or quietly keeping his options open.
(55:08) The unexpected dating dealbreaker Blaine hears all the time.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.