Recorded at the famed corner booth of Skip Paige’s Little Bar in Palm Desert, this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar hosted by Patrick Evans and Randy Florence, follows a remarkable journey from church greeter to reality-TV standout. Guest Gary Levingston shares how a chance encounter at Southwest Church led to casting for the senior-edition dating franchise, the sequestered Malibu mansion experience, and the unexpected brotherhood that formed among contestants on The Golden Bachelor, and subsequently on Bachelor In Paradise. Levingston opens up about the stress of rose ceremonies (and expert-level packing), navigating sudden notoriety—including fan encounters at his doorstep—and keeping perspective thanks to lessons from his godmother, Tina Turner. Beyond TV, he’s channeling his platform into purpose: mental-health advocacy as a senior advisor with Talkspace, a lighthearted fashion partnership with Tommy Bahama, and service to kids in the Coachella Valley. He also spotlights his documentary on his uncle, 1950s singer-songwriter Jesse Belvin, and dreams of a feature film—maybe with Bruno Mars in the lead. Heart, humor, faith, and community all show up big in this conversation.

Takeaways:

• A casting director discovered him while he was greeting at church.
• Contestants were sequestered near the Malibu mansion—no phones, lots of bonding.
• The “golden” cast rooted for one another over rivalry.
• Rose ceremonies were nerve-racking—bags packed every time, just in case.
• Sudden fame felt surreal (press pings, fan rose at his door).
• Godmother Tina Turner taught privacy, poise, and inner strength.
• Now a Talkspace senior advisor, advocating mental health for older adults.
• Produces a Jesse Belvin documentary; hopes for a Bruno Mars-led feature.

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