Exclusive Interview: Travis Mills Talks Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship!, Approaching the Series with Empathy, and Facilitating Open Conversations

Travis Mills has emerged as one of the voices of his generation. He’s a recording artist, actor, on-air personality, and one of the cohosts of MTV’s docuseries, Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship!

Alongside his fellow cohost Rahne Jones, the pair embark on a journey to help baffled lovers when they discovered that they’re in secret relationship and figure out why their partners didn’t want them to go public.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Travis about the new season, approaching the series with empathy, and how he and Rahne facilitate open conversations.

PC: Tell us about Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship! and the premise behind the show.
Travis: The name truly says it all, right? We travel around the country helping people find out why they’re being hidden by their loved ones. I feel like every relationship has its secrets. Sometimes the secret is you. That’s what we’re here to figure out. You would be surprised at how many people go through life just waiting for everything to get resolved with no real plan of action. We find people that are two, three, four, or five years into a relationship and are in the same place. They’re confused. We’re trying to facilitate honest and open conversations.

PC: There are so many different facets to your talent, and you’ve done so much in your career. What was it about this series that initially attracted you to it?
Travis: I worked on a show called Ghosted with MTV. We have two seasons of Ghosted that are out right now. That show was really cool because it was about a phenomenon that happens so often in dating culture. What interested me about this show though is that the stakes are a lot higher. These are people who have kids together, who are married, who live together, and who are related. It’s not just romantic relationships. It’s very much familial. It’s friendships that span over two decades. The stakes are a lot higher.

PC: Within this docuseries, you and Rahne [Jones] are facilitating these vulnerable conversations with different people and they’re really opening up about personal matters. How have you and Rahne been able to build that trust to have these open conversations with different couples?
Travis: I think it’s a testament to how Rahne and I approach it. It’s definitely with compassion. Rahne is so empathetic and really is able to be there for people emotionally. I am too. I’m a little more blunt, direct, and to the point. That’s why we make a really good team because at the end of the day, people need to trust you when they’re bringing you into their personal lives. That’s something that is always at the forefront of our minds.

PC: You’re no stranger to hosting. Have you found your experiences hosting Apple Music 1, Ghosted, and your podcast have lent themselves to this experience?
Travis: Definitely. At the end of the day, we’re having very real conversations with people. One thing that I pride myself on is that I’m able to pretty much talk and relate to just about anybody. I feel like I’ve lived a ton of life. I can pull from different experiences and different feelings and struggles that I’ve faced personally and use them to relate to people that are on the show. That’s what makes Rahne and I the perfect hosts.

PC: The new season is premiering on February 28th. What can audiences expect from the upcoming season? How does it build on the first season?
Travis: I think that the stories are just much more real. I told you about the familial dynamics. We have a woman who is being hidden by her son. That’s something that we’ve never really done before. Anytime you’re walking into a family, it’s a tough situation to navigate because this is blood at the end of the day.

PC: One of the reasons why this show has been so successful is that these are real people. You’re not sensationalizing things, and everything is approached with a lot of empathy. What’s going on in your mind as couples reveal things? Which has been the most surprising?
Travis: It’s how much people tolerate but also look the other way and turn a blind eye. It’s how much people can ignore. These are obvious issues that pop up in relationships, whether they be romantic or not. People create these narratives in their heads like, “It’s okay. They’re just having a bad day. One day it’ll come out.” First and foremost, when we sit down with anyone, we’re like, “What do you think is going on?” It’s really eye-opening to see how far the mind will go and how much it’ll stretch to create the version of reality that it wants to see.

PC: One of the first questions that you and Rahne ask each person is, “What are your deal breakers?” What are yours?
Travis: That’s a good question. I think not respecting personal boundaries. That’s something that you have to be clear about when you get into any relationship. By the way, that sometimes takes people a really long time to figure out. It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s having these uncomfortable conversations. It takes a lot of inner work. That’s something that I’ve spent a lot of time on in my life because it’s not something that inherently comes naturally for me, so I can relate to people who might know how to do that.

PC: You and Rahne put so much work into each episode. What is the process like when you’re gathering information? Has that changed from Season 1 to Season 2?
Travis: If anything, it’s gotten more extensive. We’re really packing suitcases, sitting on flights, traveling to these towns, getting in rental cars, and driving to these people’s homes. It takes a long time. We’re really out there digging and having these convos. It’s also a testament to our amazing crew. We have the best crew. When we’re out there, we’re all looking out for each other. We’re about to fly to Minneapolis tomorrow. It’s like negative twelve degrees. We’re going to be standing outside in a snowstorm and doing all these crazy things. It’s very real.

PC: Another reason why I think this series is resonating with viewers is that they’re able to see themselves in these different people. What do you hope audiences take away after they see this series? Have you learned anything from being a part of it?
Travis: I hope people take away that it’s a lot easier to have the hard conversations up front rather than delaying it. We try to make things easier for ourselves in the short term, but it makes it more difficult in the long term, so buckling down and having these honest and open conversations when something bothers you, when setting boundaries, when being confronted with the truth, it always works out better in the long run.

I think what I learned about myself and people in general is that we’re a lot stronger than what we give ourselves credit for. I feel like oftentimes when you look back on your own life and experiences and everything that you’ve been through, you should pat yourself on the back every once in a while because you’re still here.

PC: PC: Besides this project, what else can fans expect from you this year?
Travis: I’m the host of The Travis Mills Show on Apple Music. It’s going strong, and I’m talking to the most incredible artists and entertainers in the world. My band, Girlfriends, is about to put out a new song on March 10th. That’s going to be followed by an EP. We’re going to Europe for a tour. We’re hitting the States for a tour this summer. We’ll be filming the show, and I’ll also be focusing on my health, happiness, and personal growth and trying to help people whenever I can.

To keep up with Travis, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Help! I’m in a Secret Relationship! every Tuesday at 9/8c on MTV.