Love Is Blind’s Joe Ferrucci Doesn’t Identify As a Man-child

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While engaged to Madison Maidenburg on Love Is Blind, Joe Ferrucci struggled to express himself. He admitted to producers he wasn’t prepared for how Madison looked in person, and later confessed to her that she wasn’t typically his preferred body type. Despite some initial physical attraction, the couple’s different ways of communicating caused frequent, intense fights, especially when alcohol was involved. Things came to a head when Joe abruptly left his wedding tuxedo fitting, dramatically escaping to the tune of Sabrina Carpenter’s song, “Manchild.”

The day after a night out with Maidenberg and the rest of the show’s cast, Ferrucci ended his engagement – for the second time ever. While Maidenberg cried, Ferrucci simply told her she wasn’t the right fit and wouldn’t elaborate, leaving the season with viewers suspecting he was either avoiding confrontation or keeping secrets. Now the host of a dating podcast, Ferrucci says the experience taught him that healthy relationships require open communication and emotional maturity – something he’s been focused on improving since filming ended. He’s working on this by “sitting with his emotions and maybe drinking less,” and generally “striving to be a better person.”

Honestly, I wasn’t actively looking to be on Love Is Blind! Someone actually contacted me through LinkedIn, and I showed it to my sisters. They were adamant – they said if I didn’t even take the call, they’d disown me! The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized it was a really unique way to try and find someone. Plus, Chris Coelen, the show’s creator, really convinced me it could work, and he encouraged us to take it seriously, which made me give it a shot.

Does it seem like I have trouble committing to relationships? I can see why people might think that. I believe finding a life partner is a huge decision, and it’s okay to realize someone isn’t the right fit and move on. I’ve actually done that – called off engagements pretty late in the game, actually [laughs] – a couple of times. It probably doesn’t look great, but I’d rather end things than stay in an unhappy marriage that ends in divorce.

After you and Madison split up, you were vague about why. Now that some time has passed, could you explain your reasons more clearly? We definitely had some good moments together, but looking back, it became clear we just weren’t a good fit. I’ve seen a couple of interviews where she’s been critical of me, but I don’t want to contribute to any negativity. We talked things through, but rehashing it now after a year and a half doesn’t seem productive. I’ve accepted it and moved forward.

Madison mentioned she developed disordered eating after something you said about women with smaller builds, and you’ve expressed how awful you felt hearing that. I’m curious if you’ve spoken with her directly about it. It was upsetting to learn about, especially since it followed a conversation we had about attraction and past preferences. While I could have phrased things differently, I never intended to shame anyone, and there was no malice towards her. It wasn’t something she brought up again, and I didn’t realize she was struggling with this for over a year until I heard about it through her interviews. I am truly sorry if my words contributed to her difficulties, but I honestly wasn’t aware of what she was going through.

Did you think much about physical appearance when you first joined the show Love Is Blind? Not really. I was actually surprised by how strange and uncomfortable the reveal was – seeing a person you’ve connected with emotionally for the first time is just… unusual. I don’t have experience with reality TV, so nothing could have truly prepared me for that moment.

Someone asked what it was like seeing Netflix show the “Manchild” clip after I’d just left the tuxedo fitting. It was a clever move on their part, and honestly, it was funny. I can laugh at myself, and I definitely did!

People have asked if I acted immaturely on the show, and it’s fair to say I did at times. I was under a lot of emotional pressure and, honestly, I fell apart.

So, have you moved past feeling like an immature person? (Laughs) Honestly, I never really thought of myself as one, even back then! I just admitted I might have acted like one sometimes. But I have good self-respect, and I’m confident in who I am. I think people who know me well would agree.

Thinking about it now, do you wish you’d called off the engagement earlier? Probably not. I really did try my hardest. I kept telling myself, ‘I love her, we’re engaged,’ so I felt like I had to give it a chance.

Honestly, things really came to a head during that wardrobe fitting. I remember just thinking, ‘What am I even doing?’ It forced me to be brutally honest with myself. That’s when it hit me – this wasn’t good for either of us, and continuing down this path wouldn’t help anyone. Before that moment, I was still trying to sort through my feelings, questioning if I was even good at expressing them. I’m not, really. But that fitting was the turning point. Looking back, of course, I’d change a few things. We tried to distract ourselves that night, going out with friends – a group of women and some other singles showed up, too.

So, this is about the night after the tuxedo fitting? Madison mentioned you had some kind of interaction with Kacie at that event. I know Madison briefly talked about it in interviews and at the reunion – she said Kacie was giving you ‘googly eyes’ or something like that. I told Madison that Kacie seemed a little flirty with me, but it had absolutely no impact on my engagement or the breakup. I wouldn’t have brought it up if I was trying to cause trouble.

You had already decided to end things with Madison, you just hadn’t actually broken up yet. It wasn’t a good time to do it publicly at the bar, with all her friends present. When we got home, I explained to her that I wouldn’t go through with the wedding, and that we shouldn’t continue the relationship. I think she was upset because she wanted to see things through to the end, but I felt it would be dishonest of me to pretend everything was okay when I knew it wasn’t. I couldn’t continue living a lie after I’d already made up my mind.

I definitely felt embarrassed watching the scene where I said Nick wasn’t my type. It’s never fun to hear someone say something negative about you on camera. Honestly, despite all the criticism he gets, I think Nick is a good person with a genuine heart. I’ve apologized to him, and we’re good now, but it was definitely a mean thing to say. I wouldn’t want anyone to say that about me either.

Besides his hats, is there anything else you’d like to say you appreciate about him? He’s a really one-of-a-kind person, and I think people sometimes didn’t quite understand him. If you really get to know him, you’ll see he has good intentions, it just didn’t always come across on TV.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the times when you were drinking on camera. Honestly, it didn’t come across well. I realize now I should have been more focused and engaged. I was using alcohol to avoid dealing with my feelings and to distance myself from what was happening.

It seems like you were relying on this as a way to deal with difficult feelings. Did you realize that about yourself beforehand? I understand it much better now, after reflecting on everything. It was definitely something I leaned on when I was struggling, a kind of support. Now I see it’s really about learning to manage your emotions in a healthier way and growing as a person – it’s a learning experience.

The show portrayed Denver’s dating scene as pretty discouraging. Do you think it was an accurate depiction? Well, a lot of people feel frustrated with dating in Denver, but that’s true in most places these days. Social media and dating apps create the illusion of endless options, making it harder to find a real connection. A big problem is when people assume things won’t work out before they even try. I tend to be optimistic, and I think a more positive attitude can help. While the show might have highlighted some particularly difficult cases, the people featured generally seemed like good, genuine individuals.

I’m not an expert on dating, so I don’t give advice – that would be awkward after watching shows like Love Is Blind! I’m good at just having conversations with people. I used to work in sales for eight years, which meant I was constantly meeting new people and building relationships. That skill really comes in handy with the podcast. It’s great because everyone has a unique story and perspective to share. Ultimately, I’d love the podcast to grow so much that listeners connect with the guests and maybe even spark some relationships – a little matchmaking would be a fun bonus.

Have you ever gotten dating advice from a podcast guest that actually worked for you? I’ve learned that your mindset is really important – if you’re negative, you’ll likely attract negativity. Going in with a positive attitude can make a big difference. I don’t usually go for overly spiritual ideas, but I do believe that having a good outlook and speaking positively about what you want can actually help make it happen, whether you believe it’s thanks to the universe, a higher power, or just good vibes.

After two broken engagements, are you still hoping to get married someday? I’m a romantic at heart, and I believe the third time could be the charm. Yes, I definitely still want to get married and start a family. I really feel like I’m meant to be a dad. I know people watching the show might question that, but I’m still hopeful I’ll find someone to marry.

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2025-10-21 18:56