If there’s such a thing as a curiosity guru, Kendall Long would certainly be one. After she made her debut on season 22 of The Bachelor and later on Bachelor in Paradise, Kendall became a sensation. Her lovable personality, quirky interest in taxidermy, and kind heart are what make Kendall a person we couldn’t wait to interview. We talk to Kendall about her new book, Just Curious: A Notebook of Questions, which is exactly what it sounds like: a book of questions (and a journal too!). And let’s be honest… Just Curious is coming at the best time of the pandemic when Zoom calls and staying indoors during winter could not be more monotonous. We need to stay curious! We also chat about Kendall’s love for animals, represented by her secondhand taxidermy hobby and her rescue pup Pistachio. If you’re curious about Kendall and interested in what she has been up to since her time on reality TV, please read our exclusive interview below.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles.

How did you get interested in acting?
I’m actually not an actress but I’ve worked behind the camera for quite some time before The Bachelor. I worked in the art department putting together sets and props.

I actually do have a background in journalism and hosting. I went to school at Academy of Art University and would do junket crew interviews for my school!

I absolutely love interviewing people! As you can probably tell from my book.

The Bachelor has become an iconic show, can you tell us what your experience was like being part of the show?
It was an amazing experience that was nothing like I expected it to be. I learned a lot about myself in relationships and took away so much from the show. Not only friendships but the ability to be more confident in who I am as a person and what I want moving forward in relationships. Also communication! No one can read your mind you have to tell them how you feel.

You made a splash on Season 22 of The Bachelor with Ari Luyendk when you revealed your love for taxidermy. Why do you love taxidermy and when it began for you as a hobby?
I’ve always loved collecting skulls and animals! I used to go hiking as a kid and would bring dead things home (which my mom wasn’t too psyched about ).

As I got older I discovered the art of taxidermy and the preservation of life which absolutely fascinated me. I would read all about entomology, zoology, botany, and then collect pieces from flea markets and secondhand shops to display and find inspiration in.

Can you talk more about being an animal lover and also loving taxidermy?
Some people think it’s impossible to love both animals and taxidermy but I think it’s just the opposite. I have a deep curiosity and appreciation for life and the beauty of creation. I’ve always seen taxidermy as the art of nature preserved and I think it is absolutely inspiring and when done correctly and respectfully, I believe it is honoring those past lives.

Jejune loves that you find taxidermy second-hand. What inspired this decision and what are the differences between first-hand and second-hand taxidermy?
I believe life should always be respected and I have never personally gone hunting or killed anything but try to never obtain pieces that were a result of trophy hunting or killing specifically for taxidermy.

I also love the story behind secondhand pieces. My collections come from various different backgrounds and I love imagining what their previous owner was like.

You recently released your first book, Just Curious: A Notebook of Questions. The book is an interactive book/journal hybrid. It sounds so interesting! What inspired you to write this type of book?
As you can tell I’m a collector of all things! When I was younger I used to keep a notebook in my backpack where I would collect questions. I would often bring it out during get-togethers with friends, family and also bring it out on first dates! I found it was a way to get to know people at a deeper level. I was a bit shyer in my younger years and would use it as a scapegoat to talk about things I was always curious about.

Journaling is considered a powerful tool for self-care and personal reflection. Do you have a history of journaling?
I do! I own dozens of notebooks where I scribble down all kinds of thoughts, doodles, quotes, questions, and pretty much anything else that pops into my mind. I think it’s really important to create something tangible from your thoughts. It has always served as inspiration for projects or life goals.

That’s why I left blank space in my book, to allow people to interact with the questions.

What do you hope readers can achieve through the journal portion of “Just Curious”?
As I said earlier, I love the idea of tangible thought. Our answers to questions change all throughout our life and having a history of how we previously thought is always interesting to look back and reflect on.

I hope people answer all of the questions in my book more than once and see how they have evolved over time. I also love the idea of having others write in the book. Almost like a collection of our connections with other people!

Are there questions in the book that you were able to ask people during your time on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise?
Yes! A lot of questions that are in the book are ones I’ve asked girls on my season of The Bachelor and I’ve also asked a few to Ari! One of my favorite questions that I asked Ari is in there —The one where I asked if he would eat human meat!

During COVID-19 there’s been an emphasis on digital connection, especially during quarantine. How do you think this book could be used during shelter-in-place?
Oh, I’ve already had a lot of people use my book on zoom dates! I love hearing those stories. It’s also a great way to get interesting conversations going with family group chats. I have learned a lot about my parents through this book.

It’s funny because you feel you know someone so fully and then ask one question and then have a completely different idea of who they are. I love the magic in that.

In light of the theme of your new book, we want to take a turn with our out-of-the-box question skills! If you were to perpetually live in one commercial Holiday season, which would it be and why?
Oh my goodness I love this question! I would have to say Halloween because then I can experiment with a whole array of different characters! I feel like I put so much thought into my costume every year and to always be able to explore my imagination with different characters would be so fun! Also, I can eat free candy all the time.

Alright, one more random question: You have the ability to multiply one mundane item in your household by 100. Which item do you choose?
Oh, I would definitely choose socks! I’m always losing their match and could use 100 of the same pair.

All of us at Jejune are smitten with your rescue pup, Pistachio. Will you give us the details of Pistachio’s adoption story? What was it like working Bunnies Buddies, an international animal-rescue? Can you tell us more about their mission?
Pistachio is my little partner in crime! For me, it was extremely important to save a life and with Bunnies Buddies all of their animals come from kill shelters and meat markets. When they first showed me his picture I instantly fell in love and it was day eight of the ten-day kill shelter so I knew I had to act fast. When I asked if he was available because of the time difference in Korea, I had to wait a bit longer to see if he was still alive. That was a really terrifying moment and when I found out that he was available it was a huge relief and I was ecstatic! Just from that one picture I already felt such a connection with him. It took about a month for him to get to America because he had to be quarantined with shots but when he finally did come it was an instant connection! It was a 16-hour flight so he was in a crate the entire time which I hated… but at the same time, he was coming to a place where he would always be loved and taken care of. He definitely has some personality issues which come with rescuing a pup but I’ve worked really hard to socialize him. He’s always great with other dogs but a little hesitant with people which is understandable. Bunnies Buddies was extremely helpful and even connected me with a pet psychic!

Several rescue dogs, especially if they are rescued from violence or neglect, tend to need more time and care while they transition. How did Pistachio adapt after his rescue?
With me he was always sweet and we attached right away. It wasn’t the same story with others. Pistachio needs time to build trust and a lot of people in my life have been patient with him and he now absolutely loves them. I always save Pistachio grows his heart every day with new people and it’s amazing to see him trust those around him more and more. He is the happiest dog and I am happy he is in my life 🥰.

A few other Bachelor franchise alums have been able to adopt through Bunnies Buddies too. Kaitlyn Bristow’s adorable Golden Retrievers, Ramen and Pinot, and Becca Kufrin’s lovable Corgi, Minnie, were all rescued with Bunnies Buddies. What advice do you have for our readers and/or Bachelor fans who are inspired to rescue a dog as well?
When it comes to rescuing you never know what you’re going to get. I always tell people that you should expect to have to put work and patience into an adopted animal because their backgrounds are always unpredictable. Especially with Bunnies Buddies you don’t really know anything about the dog before you rescue other than their picture. So it is a huge commitment but one that has an amazing reward. I got really lucky with Pistachio because our bond has always been so special and strong.

I also met up with Cesar Malon and he said that dogs can feel the energy that you put towards the world around you so I make a point to internalize the feelings of calmness and trust and that actually has worked wonders with Pistachio!

Many of us have cute, weird, and sometimes embarrassing nicknames for our pets. Do you have any nicknames for Pistachio?
Pistachio has so many nicknames! Weans and Beans, Weenie( when he is in trouble ), P-stash, Stash Man, Little Prince, Little Sir.

Do you have any upcoming projects that we should keep on our radar?
Right now I am putting a lot of focus on my book but I do hope to publish another book in the future! I have so many more questions and I’m planning to release a few more volumes.

How have you been staying positive during shelter-in-place?
I luckily have an amazing support group! I’m extremely close with my family and we constantly check in with each other. I also have an amazing roommate who has a cat and two dogs so it’s definitely a little jungle in our house that keeps things interesting haha.

Pistachio has been an amazing emotional support! I got him right before Covid so he has really helped keep me positive and present.

What is your motto in life?
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

To learn more about Kendall Long, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @itskendalllong
Website: kendalllong.com

Staying Curious with The Bachelor's Kendall Long