#269: A Toastmaster's Golden Experience: Seeking Love on Reality TV – Bill Hernandez
February 14, 2025Categories: Communication, Club Experience, Public Speaking, Relationships
The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin
The Toastmasters Podcast is like a radio talk show featuring interviews with Toastmasters usually featured in the Toastmaster magazine. The purpose of the podcast is to amplify the magazine - to dig deeper or to put a voice to a face or written wordBut unlike a radio show, a podcast is on the Internet, and available, for free, to anyone in the world with an Internet connection, and a connected device capable of playing audio. 250+ episodes are at ToastmastersPodcast.comThe Toastmasters Podcast is co-produced by Toastmasters International and Archieboy Holdings, LLC, for our global audience of Toastmasters and those interested in public speaking and leadership.
[26:31] It’s not every day that Bill Hernandez gets a golden opportunity to put his communication skills to the test on network television—let alone bare his soul while searching for love in front of millions of viewers on an American dating reality TV series for 55+. But that’s exactly what happened to this charismatic, now 69-year-old retired videographer when he appeared on ABC’s The Golden Bachelorette.
In this fun and lighthearted episode, fitting for Valentine’s Day, Bill shares how he got on the radar of ABC producers, how he ended up on the show, and what it was like to go through the reality TV experience.
As a videographer, Bill was used to being behind the camera, capturing the stories of others. But this time, the lens was on him. “It was an entirely different experience being on the other side," he says, describing the surreal feeling of living the moment instead of recording it—while millions watched.
Bill walks us through the nerve-wracking first moments of meeting the Golden Bachelorette, where he carefully balanced charm and sincerity to make a great first impression. He shares what it was like to go through the months-long selection process, including hours of interviews, personal moments from the show, and the tension-filled rose ceremony—held at around 4 AM! He also reflects on how he felt after the entire experience was over.
As a dedicated Toastmaster, Bill reveals how the skills he developed in Toastmasters helped him navigate the show’s many interviews and emotional moments. While non-disclosure agreements prevent him from sharing every detail, he emphasizes how much the experience challenged him, enriched him, and reinforced the value of strong communication skills. He also shares some valuable lessons he learned along the way.
One of the most heartwarming parts of his journey? What his Toastmasters club did for him after the show aired—a story you won’t want to miss.
About Bill Hernandez (Adapted from ABC’s Website)
Bill Hernandez is a retired videographer and an outgoing, charismatic man who is ready to meet "the one." A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Bill says, “I am Latin; romance is in my blood!”
At (now) 69 years old, he enjoys his retired life but was searching for someone to share his golden years with. He has two daughters, who were fully supportive of his journey on The Golden Bachelorette and his hope of finding love again.
Bill had tried every dating site with little success in his local singles' scene. When he isn’t spending time with family, he enjoys playing guitar, public speaking, and rocking out to The Beatles.
He hoped that meeting Joan (The Golden Bachelorette) would end his search for true love—fingers crossed!
Fun Facts About Bill:
- ☕ Dreams of owning a coffee shop called Billy Beans.
- 🎬 Watching his way through every Academy Award Best Picture winner.
- 🗣️ A dedicated Toastmaster for 18 years, Bill is a member of Sporty Speakers and West Beaverton Toastmasters in Beaverton, Oregon.
Bill Hernandez lives in Beaverton, Oregon, and can be reached at [Bill Hernandez at Comcast.net].
📰 Bill’s profile is featured in the January 2025 issue of Toastmaster Magazine, in an article by Laura Mishkind titled, A Golden Experience: One Toastmaster Took His Communication Skills to Reality Television.
📸 Photo Credit: ABC Television Network.
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