Overview of Kaitlyn Bristowe: Welcome to New York!
In this episode of Not Skinny But Not Fat, Amanda Hirsch catches up with Kaitlyn Bristowe for a wide-ranging, funny, and very candid conversation about her recent move to New York City, life with her dogs, her relationship, mental health, and what it’s like to re-enter reality TV after years away. The two also dive into pop culture opinions, the current “skinny epidemic” in Hollywood, Kaitlyn’s therapy journey, and the tension between sharing personal life online and protecting what’s private.
New York Move: Why Kaitlyn Relocated
Kaitlyn explains that moving to New York was a long-term goal she set back in 2022 and finally made happen in 2026. She says the move was driven by a mix of:
- Career opportunities
- A desire for new energy and more social connection
- A sense that New York is better for networking and content creation
She’s keeping her Nashville home and plans to go back for events, visits, and work trips, while using New York as a new base.
Dogs and Apartment Life
A big part of the adjustment has been living in an apartment with two dogs:
- Her dogs are used to having outdoor space and constant access to a yard
- She’s anxious about safety in a high-rise setting
- She bought a fresh grass setup for the terrace, but rainy weather made it messy and impractical
- Walking them one at a time has become part of the new routine
Relationships, Privacy, and “Inside Treats”
A major theme in the conversation is Kaitlyn’s choice to keep her current relationship private.
Why She’s More Private Now
Kaitlyn says her last two relationships were very public, and that experience made her much more cautious. She feels social media can create pressure, speculation, and negative energy, especially when followers start filling in the blanks between posts.
Her therapist has helped her realize that the privacy may be partly a trauma response:
- She wants to protect something sacred
- She fears repeating patterns from past public relationships
- She’s still healing from how social media affected a previous breakup
Her Current Partner
- She refers to her partner as “Bruno” on the podcast
- She talks about how supportive and patient he is
- She jokes that he doesn’t laugh out loud much, even when she thinks she’s being hilarious
- She shares that they record private moments, call them “inside treats,” and keep them for themselves rather than posting them
Mental Health, Wellness, and a Rough Stretch
Kaitlyn opens up about a difficult period earlier in the year where she felt like “everything was going wrong.”
What Was Happening
She describes:
- Dog health issues
- Injuries and bad luck
- Being sent back to Canada because of a visa issue
- Feeling mentally drained and overwhelmed
- Her stepdad’s serious cancer battle
She even went to a medium, not to contact the dead, but to ask if there was a curse or hex on her because everything felt stacked against her.
Stepdad Update
She shares a very emotional update that her stepdad, who had stage four cancer, recently got a scan showing no cancer detected at the moment. She says the family is extremely grateful and hopeful.
Reality TV Comeback: New Show and Highs/Lows of Filming
Kaitlyn talks at length about being back on reality TV in a new “wellness retreat” type competition series.
What the Show Is Like
She says the show involved:
- Inner child work
- Breathwork and emotional healing
- A cast made up of women from different reality franchises
- Deep conversations and heavy emotional scenes
Cast Highlights
She mentions sharing the house with:
- Jenn Tran
- Christine Quinn
- Kenya Moore
- Marge from The Real Housewives of New Jersey
- Hilaria Baldwin
- Brittany from Vanderpump Rules
She says the environment was intense and full of strong personalities, but also fun in a “I’m watching TV while being on TV” kind of way.
Her Takeaway
Kaitlyn enjoyed the experience but felt she held back emotionally and wishes she had been a bit spicier. Still, she says the project was meaningful and unlike anything else on TV.
Bachelor Nation Reflection
The conversation also revisits Kaitlyn’s Bachelorette era and how much of her public identity was shaped by those relationships.
Key Points
- She still receives attention for the season’s drama and the Nick Viall storyline
- She says her breakup with Shawn Booth was deeply affected by what happened on the show
- She feels some unresolved pain around how relationships and public perception got tangled together
- Amanda reassures her that her season remains iconic and one of the most memorable in franchise history
Style, Body, and Beauty Chat
The episode also includes lighter conversations about beauty trends and cosmetic choices.
Topics They Covered
- “No manicure” as a trend and status symbol
- Ballet flats and capri pants
- Kaitlyn’s boob job and eyelid surgery, which she says she researched carefully and chose conservatively
- Her use of hormone therapy and testosterone cream
- Her history with antidepressants and how they affected libido
She says she prefers making decisions based on gut instinct, then doing thorough research afterward.
Notable Personal Insights
A few broader themes came through clearly:
- Kaitlyn is highly self-aware and very open about therapy
- She’s learning how to balance authenticity with boundaries
- She’s motivated by growth, but also wants peace
- She’s embracing a new phase of life in New York with more intention and less pressure to overshare
Final Takeaway
This episode is part celebrity catch-up, part therapy session, and part career/life reset. Kaitlyn comes across as funny, reflective, and more grounded than ever, while Amanda keeps the conversation moving between gossip, vulnerability, and genuine friendship. The biggest theme is simple: Kaitlyn is building a new chapter in New York, and she’s doing it more privately, more intentionally, and with a lot more self-protection than before.