Jason Tartick is finally opening up about his split from ex Kat Stickler.
“It was very real. It happened quick, it happened fast,” Tartick, 36, said on the Monday, January 27, episode of his “Trading Secrets” podcast of his and Stickler’s breakup. “It was unexpected and that was really, really hard.”
The former Bachelorette contestant, who announced in October 2024 that he and Stickler, 30, had called it quits, shared that the month “just before and after” the pair separated was “one of the hardest” of his life.
“It was so abrupt and it was so unexpected,” Tartick said. “Then, what I was hearing, these things I’m hearing publicly about speculation of what happened. I’m just sitting in my house, like, pulling my hair out. Like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ That was, like, a really tough month. A really, really, really hard month.”
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Tartick, who noted that he’s now been in two public breakups, said that fans immediately “want to know why and they want to point the finger,” adding that people “want to take sides and pin the people against each other.” (Tartick was previously engaged to Kaitlyn Bristowe. The duo shared in August 2023 that they went their separate ways.)
“Everyone goes through breakups,” Tartick said. “It is what it is and breakups happen. This is why you date. If you have a sudden change of heart, she’s not to blame for that. That’s OK.”
He continued, “It’s really no one’s business what happened, but I will say, I’ve just seen every rumor out there and none of them are accurate. You put a gun to my head and I would never, ever be disloyal to her. I have a ton of respect and care for her.”
Tartick, who currently resides in Tennessee, shared that he was willing to relocate for Stickler, who’s based in Florida. “I was going to go to Tampa, and that no longer became a reality,” he said.
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Elsewhere in the episode, Tartick recalled his 2024 New Year’s resolution for himself was to have “much more responsibility” in his life with a partner and children. While reflecting on his wish, Tartick nearly became emotional as he realized the desire almost came true. (Kat is mom to 5-year-old daughter MK, with whom she welcomed with ex-husband Mike Stickler.)
“That synopsis, it made my heart drop into my stomach. It’s a little sad, honestly. Because all of those things I wanted were on the trajectory of happening and then it all went away,” Tartick said, snapping his fingers for emphasis. “All the things I predicted, happened and were on the path to be. Now as we look in January, I’m right back where I started. I almost shed a tear, honestly. It was, like, sad hearing that back.”
As he navigates life post-split, Tartick said he’s slowly dipping his toe into the dating pool. When asked whether he was going on dates, Tartick simply replied, “yeah,” but added that he’s “not on dating apps or anything.”
When cohost David Arduin asked “what would be the one thing that you would give up in your career or in your lifestyle to find your wife and settle down,” Tartick laughed. “Everything,” he replied. “I would give it all up. I would leave it all. If you told me I had my family tomorrow, I’m done, I’m good.”
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As he rings in the New Year, Tartick shared that he “would love” to add a furry friend to his family after claiming he wasn’t able to “say goodbye” to his and Bristowe’s dogs when she became the sole owner of the pets. (Bristowe, 39, shared during a September 2024 episode of her “Off the Vine” podcast that she and Tartick had reached the end of their shared dog custody agreement.)
When Arduin inquired about the last time he was able to see the dogs, Tartick asked his cohost when he thought it was. “I don’t know exactly, but my guess would be when your last relationship started,” Arduin said, which Tartick confirmed.
“I was supposed to see them twice in June, and I wasn’t allowed to,” Tartick claimed. “Then I engaged several pet experts, one being their vet, attorneys, a therapist, and the best decision for the dogs based on messages I received, was to put them in a place, to keep them where they are at. It’s been a long grieving process of the dogs. I haven’t seen them since the end of May. I won’t see them again.”
Despite navigating the ups and downs in 2024, Tartick shared that he’s “the happiest I’ve ever been.”
“Last couple years has been a roller coaster. I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot, grieved a lot,” he said. “Especially last year. I lost a lot last year. I gained a lot, too. I’m excited about 2025.”
