The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - 12 Days of The Bachelorette: Engagements and Break-ups with Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young

Episode Date: July 5, 2022

Before we kick off Gabby and Rachel's joint season of The Bachelorette, Ben and Ashley are talking to a couple of our recent leading ladies: Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young!  We get all the details on how Becca popped the question to Thomas and Michelle shares the difficult truth behind her break-up with Nayte. Be sure to catch part 2 of our conversation on The Bachelor Happy Hour!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Just like we mentioned on the former episode, there's two Bacheloretts this season. They could be competitors. They could compete against each other. They could choose the lesser way. But instead, we know that they're supporting each other. that they're friends. And here we are with one of our competitors. We could battle it out.

We could fight it out. We could sell listeners. But instead we said, no, Bachelor Happy Hour. Let's join hands. So this is an almost famous episode with two incredible guests, Becca Kufrin and Michelle Young. And then part two of this episode is actually going to be on Bachelor Happy Hour. So go over there to listen to that episode. Let's just get started.

How are the two of you doing? Let's do it. Great. I mean, I can only speak for myself. I'm so good. It's so good to see you and Ashley. Can I miss these faces? And for me, it's just been, you know, kind of getting back into the groove of things, obviously. But it really is nice to be here. And I love that we're doing this and actually like conjoining and coming together because I feel like there's so much going on where everything is so separate. So yeah, it's nice to do this. Although you can always come listen to part two first if you really want. You can just listen to Part 2. I mean, we're good with that. It does, Michelle, I'm with you. You know, when I heard we're doing this, it is fun.

And this is a podcast, and it's about The Bachelor, so how serious can it actually be? But I do think it's like a really good example of how things could be where you're like, hey, there's a space in this world big enough for the both of us. Let's have fun and give both of our insights, both podcast insights, into this upcoming season. So Ashley and I are pumped to have you too. Absolutely. We're so excited to be here. nothing but love so where should we begin there's so much to cover let's start with be beck and the

engagement and all that because we haven't caught up with you on the podcast about that i know that you wanted to keep some things private and you said that you wanted to keep him private for a while but are you ready to tell us all the details oh yeah i mean listen i'm an open book and this is such a fun time in my life personally with Thomas that I mean I could talk about our engagement and the day of the proposal for hours so you're probably going to need to tell me to shut that shut that f up at some point okay well I feel like I can listen for hours too yeah yeah we love and Thomas over there smiling and I'm just over here smiling that's all I need all right so how long were you planning the proposal start there I had been planning it for just over a month about

a month and a half. It started like early April and then I finally popped the big question mid May. So a few weeks, which it was a few weeks of me like tried not to have word vomit and say too much around him. But it was such a fun process. You know, it's something I never thought I would do in my life. And I would say most women probably never thought that they would do in their life. So it was really cool just to like soak it in and be the one to plan the proposal. Did you get down on one knee. Technically no. I did ask him if he wanted me to, but we were sitting in a very tight spot with a tent that was about to fall down behind us. And we were under this little table with charcutory and wine. So I was like, okay, I love you. I put the ring on his finger and

I said the right words. But I was like, do you need me to actually get on a knee? But I did it like a week later. I did it as a joke. So I feel like that counts. You know, Becca, it's interesting. because two years ago, you and I were hosting Bachelor Live on stage together, traveling the country, two very different places in life. I was just getting ready to propose to my now wife, and you were kind of processing and figuring life out. Also, you know, soon after that, becoming single, and then meeting Thomas. I don't know if you remember this, but something that I was really honored by and that I really appreciated from you as a friend is you called me before paradise and said, should you go? You're working.

about it for obvious reasons you're a lead that's going to paradise that's different it's not really happening uh looking back now i mean obviously you're happy you went but does it all feel like a whirlwind to you like how are you processing these quick changes in life that have happened i mean from my perspective it feels like it's happened so fast in such a good way like in such a healthy fun way but like it's happened really fast so that's actually a question we get all the time is you know especially like in terms of my relationship with thomas now like you guys are already engaged it's only been a year but then i think back to when i actually went on the show you know when i was a contestant on the bachelor and then when i was lead like that that's way sped up you know like so for

me now i'm like yeah it's happening fast but what i've lived through in the past this is kind of drawn out a bit but it but for me like it just feels right like Thomas and i since the get go. We're so on the same page, so in sync with how we wanted our relationship to be, how we wanted our future to be, how we want to, you know, want to raise a potential family one day that it just, it all felt right. Like nothing, nothing with him has felt forced or like we have to do something by a certain time frame. But yeah, going back to what you just said about me going to paradise and not knowing if I wanted to do it in picking your brain. Like that, that, yes, feels like a whirlwind. And it.

still like, I mean, I'm surprised in general that I went to Paradise in the first place, but I'm so glad that I did. And what was actually cool about filming, like, that chapter of my life. And actually, maybe you can attest to this is it feels so different from a normal bachelor bachelor bachelor's season. Like, it feels like, because you have so much time with your partner on the beach and so much alone time to, like, have the real deep conversations that you need. Like, that part, like, it still feels like we're all in. But it still felt like I had enough time to, like, make a decision to come out of paradise, like if I wanted to get back together with this man or not, if that makes sense.

1,000 percent, like, when Jared and I left season two, I was like, that wasn't the end of this. You know, but I think that on the main shows, you kind of are forced into thinking that, like, okay, it's this person or it's bust. Like, the other people don't count. There's definitely not a future besides anything. thing than like the decision that I made right here right now. Everything seems a little bit more flexible with Paradise. Would you say that you being one of the few people that kind of got to experience all three

of the franchise shows, you understand why the success rate of Paradise is greater than the others when we like do the ratio? Oh yeah. Yeah, totally. I mean, you just spend more time with people when you're on the beach. I think it has something to do with that. there are so many relationships that the show is trying to catch and film and follow these storylines that a lot of times, at least in my experience with Thomas, our story kind of, and not

to say this in a bad way, it was actually great for us. Our story kind of fell by the wayside because there were other couples that you definitely knew were probably going to get engaged that were, you know, fresh out the gate day one, super strong and solid. And so Thomas and I were able to spend so much time away from the drama and the cameras to actually get to know one another. really form a relationship like I remember the I think it was the night after our first date him and I laid just in the middle of the beach on a bean bag for probably five hours straight just talking about morals and values and like what we learned from our last relationships and what we want to take into a future relationships and like that was never aired that was never filmed

because you know in reality it was such a boring conversation yeah but but you just spend so much more time with your partner on the beach and and and also what's cool is seeing them interact with everyone else. It's not like when I was the lead, I was so removed from the men in the house because it's like you film, you have like your certain things that you have to do. And then they kind of take you away, right? Like I was constantly in the midst and immersed with Thomas and seeing how he interacted with the producers, with other cast members, with everyone on the beach. So I could get a more well-rounded picture and version of who he was, which I think really helped me come out of paradise to be like, oh, I miss that.

I want that, you know, I obviously broke up with him, but in hindsight, I'm like, I wouldn't want to lose him. Yeah. Well, final question for you, Becca, until we just get into a big old group chat, because we do have Michelle here. And I'm really excited to catch up with Michelle and hear how she's doing in life. It's just with four people. We've got to pick and choose our lanes right now.

But, Becca, I've always been intrigued by this. You know, Thomas is, I guess people know. knew him from The Bachelorette and people weren't like fans of Thomas, especially other cast members. We got to see that. I don't think you did. I think you were already gone by the time that was kind of airing. I've got to now. No, I still saw it. Oh, you still saw it. Good. Well, this even makes it juicier. I've gotten to meet Thomas a few times now. I think the world of him. I think he's a great dude. Obviously, you think the world of them. You're engaged to him. So that's a good start. Was that hard for you, though?

to work through that, did that ever pop into your mind? Like, hey, is this really the guy that, that I know? Like, how did you deal with knowing that his perception on The Bachelor was not good? And then allowing yourself to fall in love with that guy. Yeah. So it was definitely I don't want to curse too much on here, but like a mind F, I would say, because I was living with him on the beach, seeing him interact with everyone. And then I was also, you know, once a week going back to watch an episode quick and to recap and podcast. And so I was seen who he was in real life. And keep in mind, like when we were filming on that beach, guys from his season were there.

James lived on the beach with us. Aaron was there. I can't even think of who. Like there were some other guys there. And they all got along. Like they're cool. And so I'm watching like the drama play out on the show and like seeing what Aaron especially is saying about Thomas and then seeing them like bro it out on the beach.

And I'm like, is this all for TV you know I get that people will say and do certain things and like yes the show edited Thomas to be the quote unquote villain but like at the end of the day was he he he personally wasn't fighting with anyone saying anything about other people guys just didn't like him because he's admitted to being like yeah I could be the the bachelor like it's crossed my mind like that is a possibility to come from I loved his honesty so much and we talked about that we were like uh this guy being villainized for being honest and all these other guys are lying that that thought is not in their head. Yeah. And like from what I've gathered now from not only Thomas, but other guys that lived on

that season, because I just said the tour with several of them, like, I don't know how much we can include here, but like there was a conversation one night from, I'm not going to say who it was, but somebody that was on Paradise with Thomas was the guy to be like, hey, have, like, this is crazy. at the end of this one of us here in this house is going to be The Bachelor. Have you guys thought about that? And that's what kickstarted the actual conversation the next day that was filmed to then make Thomas look like this bad guy.

And so there's like so many little pieces that no one will ever realize. But yeah, at first it was very tough for me because I was like, I'm getting to know Thomas on this beach. He seems like a great dude. He's getting along with everyone. There's no issues that I'm witnessing in real life. So what the hell is going on?

And then I finally got out of paradise. And I had to be like, like it's all kind of on the show and editing at this point like i know thomas like i've seen him interact with people from the show and outside of the show now and i love who he is so i'm going to trust myself and go with that and finally when i kind of just brushed everything off and i was like people are going to hate anyone regardless like based on the tv show edit or not like i can't let that affect me in my relationship i just kind of got to the point where i was like eff everything else and like i pick this man we're together and like that's that's who has my heart that's where my loyalty lies

I remember like that even like the first time I met Thomas and I had like seen this edit right and like Becca you and I are close where Minnesota girls is not I'm protective I think he was like in the first five minutes I'm like okay something's not adding up here like the edit went completely wrong whatever it was all I think now is how like this man is the nicest yeah man I've ever met he's so thoughtful I remember he packed me a bag of snacks like not like not He didn't even ask him to. Yeah. He like,

Hey, Michelle, I know you have a really long, like rest of your day when we're doing like a photo shooter stuff for like all the podcasts. And he's like, I packed you a bag of snacks

because I know that you said you were hungry and you have a long day ahead of you. And I'm like, that's just him though. And I think people. That makes me fall in love. I'd be like, all right,

Thomas. Yeah. And it's, it's so, like it is so genuine. And it's just who he is. And he's constantly thinking about other people first. He's constantly.

constantly checking in and like connecting with people whether you are you know what i mean like so a well-known person or somebody else like he just he's just so so so genuine and thoughtful hi my name is enya umanzor and i'm drew phillips and we run a podcast called emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD, oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psycho babble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free Iheart radio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. A foot washed up a shoe with some bones in it. They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was

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And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season, we're leveling up.

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My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heart breaks, men, and, of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Michael Thura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. My name is Ed. Everyone say hello, Ed. Hello, Ed. From a very rural background myself, my dad is a farmer and my mom is a cousin.

So, like, it's not like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. Well, 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club?

A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Can we talk about possibly the fact that these guys were intimidated by him because he is like six foot five and gorgeous and super nice? I mean, that's what people have said that before. And I think Demi or Marissa, somebody last season on the beach said, like, these guys were just jealous of him because like they want to be like him.

I don't know. I just like, the whole jealousy thing just seems so juvenile to me of like, you're actually going to hate this person because of like, who. how tall they are, but I don't know. I don't know how guys minds operate, but maybe you can speak more to that. But all I can say is at the end of the day, like he's cool with everyone that,

you know, the show showed that he had beef with. So I don't know. I saw Thomas at my wedding. I was jealous. It was like, this is my wedding day. Stop looking so good.

Stop. Height is something that guys really, like they do get intimidated by. I'm 6'4. Come on, Ash. Don't act like I'm a short dude. No, no, no, not you. But, like, Jared looking up at Thomas, like, it's the kind of thing that he'll continue.

Jared's six foot. But, like, if he's looking up at a guy, we'll leave the party. And he'll be like, man, that Thomas, like, wow. He's something, you know? I'm really laughing because we're talking about how, like, height is something that guys really matter. And then, Ben, you chime in. I'm six four. I'm totally bothered by the fact that we don't think you're tall enough.

And I'm like, exhibit. Exhibit. Exactly. All right. Before we move on from Becca, I do have one question I just have to ask. You got engaged twice on TV. And both of those engagements went, did you feel like you were taking the power back when you decided to be the one to repose? Did that play a factor? I don't know if I would say taking the power back, but I just felt like I finally was at the point where I, I was at the point where I, I had a choice, you know, like I feel like filming the show as a contestant on R-A season and then being lead, like there is such a pressure to get engaged at the end. And realistically, in hindsight now, would it have been a thousand times smarter of me to be like, look, I pick this person.

I'm in love with them, but I'm not ready to get engaged. A thousand percent. Like, that's maybe what should have happened. But, you know, you kind of get sucked into this world and you feel that pressure. And so yes, I said, you know, yes, I will marry these other people when they've asked me very much on somebody else's terms that I kind of just felt like I finally have a partner where we have the same goals in life, especially in terms of this relationship. And it was more so me just wanting to show him how committed I am and like how I want to meet him halfway. And so I mean, I'm not going to lie. It felt really damn good to kind of be the one, not even in control, because I don't want to use that word, but to say, like I'm meeting you halfway and like I finally have a say in my next engagement like the first who I didn't really whatsoever and now we can do this together and start this new part of our relationship together however we want and so that was really special like I made a comment once

in another interview of like Thomas being like the first guy actually want to marry and those probably weren't the right words but like Thomas is the first guy that I like proactively want to be engaged to on my timing, and I proactively want to plan a wedding with. Okay. If that makes sense. I was going to ask you about that because I recently read that and I was like, I could see you saying that about Ari, but you were with Garrett happily for a while.

Yeah, but we were at the place where like we had never planned anything for a wedding. Like we never got to that stage where I was like, I want to take this next step. I want to solidify this. And even when I was in that relationship, like, yes, there was love. And we were committed to each other for two and a half years, but we were never ready to take that next step and be all in and like join our lives together, if that makes sense. And like, Thomas is the first guy that I actually want to do that where I'm like, okay, maybe marriage actually is for me and I want to do this now. Yeah, I just was sitting here thinking, if it wasn't for your situation with Ari, you wouldn't have been the bachelorette. If you wouldn't have been the bachelor, you would have never met Garrett, who then kept you

within the franchise long enough to then go on paradise. If you didn't go on paradise, you wouldn't have found the love of your life, Thomas. And we're so happy for you, Becca. It's just weird how things work out, which transitions. It's not always easy. It's not always fun. I've been. I dig it. I knew that was my transition. I was like, wow, there's a Ben transition for you. That was talent. All right. Continue. Michelle, we're going to start by saying, hey, you're not alone. First off, in this group.

With Becca and I here, we've both had some really, like, truly life, hard, real, difficult scenarios through this franchise and had to then figure out how to talk about him, air them out in the public eye, and it sucks. So answer what you want. Don't answer what you don't want. It's just a really hard time. But how are you doing?

I guess it would be how I start this. How are you holding up? It's been quite a transition, I would say, just because this year I decided to step away from the classroom, this following school year, just because I've been so burnt out. and just really wanting to, you know, get out of that survival mode. I kind of feel like life has taken this thing as like, okay, challenge accepted and like, here, like deal with a breakup. It's definitely not something that I plan to have to work through this summer. But I definitely have the understanding that like sometimes we have to work through things that we did not plan for or that we're not in our life.

plans. And so I really am just leaning on my friends, family for support. And it's been really helpful, I guess, to just kind of maintain, you know, that layer that I can kind of now start working from. So you have your good days. You have your bad days. You know, it comes and goes in waves. When you intended on stepping back from teaching for a while, was that with the intention of spending more time with Nate and, like, living together in some place? Yeah, I think, I would say that I'm very, like, Nate and I are very independent people. But at that same time, you know, I really, I personally, like, want to work towards different things. We're in two different places.

He's in Austin. I'm in Minnesota. a long distance is difficult. But yeah, I think that, you know, having the summer off and being able to step away from teaching, that would have happened regardless of a relationship, regardless of, you know, influencing whatever we want to call it just because I really needed to take a breath out of teaching. But would that have resulted in spending more time with Nate? Yeah. It's naturally, you know. Yeah. It's such a weird time to, shell and people wonder about this but I remember at the end of my relationship with

Lauren people still expected I mean we saw it red headlines like hey you aren't together or hey you're not posting together as much or you're not commenting on the pictures and so there was a moment in my relationship I mean and this feels so weird now thinking back but it was like hey we need to take a picture together so people stop asking or we need to film a video of us laughing because we're so happy and then in behind the scenes were like, hey, we haven't talked to each other in two weeks, like, really talk to each other. How? I can't do that. Let me just do that. I can't do that. You know, because I, like, if I'm in a very committed relationship with somebody, and this is no, like, shade towards

anybody, like everyone truly does handle this the best that they can, I feel like, you know, to each their own. No, I just, I'm not a person who I've, I've never really, been on social media period. And it's something that's still kind of new to me and being able to like show everybody what I'm doing, what I'm like updates and things like that. And so, yeah, there was never a time for me that I'm like, we need to post this picture so that we can act like this or take this video, you know, with the video. I know that there's like a lot of headlines or whatever about the video where I was talking

about the engagement ring and like somebody videoing me and my friend taking it and everyone's like we should have known like she faked it this and that and like I'm over here sitting like this is why I don't ever respond to the internet because that did not age well yeah that did not age well but damn yeah but no I just I really truly believe in reflecting how you feel And I think that's kind of why I've stepped away from social media because I've had to take this time to kind of work on myself and find that inner piece. You know, and I'm not good with posting if things aren't okay.

Again, like what Ben said, if anything, it feels too personal, don't feel obligated to ask. This is so fresh for you. But do you feel like when you got off the show, you guys felt bliss? happiness that was going to like last a super long time or did you have doubts as soon as you guys wrap the show like was this a breakup that you kind of foresaw or is this sudden um i think where i'm like struggling with this piece is it's like you never know how much to say you never know

how to handle it you never know how it's going to be taken um but i will say that like this is not something that i foresaw and i'll leave it there Yeah. Well, a final really question around this because there's no use of continuing to absolutely hammer in someone else's pain on a podcast. But who is there for you right now, Michelle? Like who's stepped up, been your support system? What kind of advice are they giving you? Or what are they doing to help? The reason I ask this is because I'm sure there's other people out there to have gone through breakups and they don't know how to get help. So what have you found to be helpful right now? yeah um you know i have like i said before really started to lean on my family and friends um and have had you know two of my friends tia and brook who we i took off to iceland with on a spontaneous trip to just you know disconnect um and my mom my dad siblings and then just you know beka and another bachelorette's reaching out that kind of have been through situations like this. And I feel like I've been able to reach out to different people depending on, you know,

kind of what I needed. So like, for example, Becca has been through, you know, a public relationship ending. And, you know, Rachel Lindsay and Tasha and Caitlin have all been through this and they're able to offer certain advice. And then, you know, I have some really close friends who are also able to really know who I am and really know things that, you know, they just get me. They get what hurts. They get my responses to certain things. And they're able to sit there and kind of help me sort through things.

And so it's been hard. It's been very emotional. And there's been a lot of waves of things. But to have family and friends who go on the. waves with you and are willing to take in those waves with you has been just incredible. Yeah. Well, I'd be a bad, a bad podcast host of it and ask a question on behalf of the fandom who are very, very curious to know what happened to the down payment for the house. Answer as you'd like. You know, that was money that was gifted to both of us.

And I think that's something that, you know, is going to be decided how that's going to be utilized going forward. For me personally, you know, I haven't officially decided, but I, you know, kind of have started putting some different things in place to give back, you know, to build an organization or, you know, just promote the change that I've been talking about. You know? And I think that would be something that I'd feel really good about. Yeah. It is. It's so proud of you, Michelle. Yeah. Come on. Thank you. I know. I was literally been crying on the phone with one of the producers. You know, like, it's been emotional. I've been crying on the phone with one of the producers. And like, can I do this money? Like, can I create this to give the money? Like, to somebody else. It's just like, I just, it's something I feel good about. I. And that's, yeah. I know that's been

the million dollar question, no pun intended, but yeah, it's been a lot. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD, oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with. mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app.

Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Hi, I'm Janica Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomber podcast, I'm taking you on an exciting journey of self-reflection. Am I ready to enter this new part of my life? Like, am I ready to be in a relationship? Am I ready to have kids and to really just devote myself and my time? I wanted to be successful on my own, not just because of who, my mom is. Like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did.

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And we didn't know what to expect in the morning. Nobody tells you anything. Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Ed. Everyone say hello, Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself. My dad is a farmer and my mom is a cousin. So, like, it's not like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago.

I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. On 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Michelle, you are the greatest catch of all, like, holy crap-oli. Like, not only, like, is your beauty just absolutely, like, out of this world, but, like, your beauty inside, your intelligence, the way your grace, the way you handle yourself. Like there is never been one person that I've been less concerned about finding her happily ever after. And I don't really know you personally very well. But like you are going to be so, so good. And this is a period of life that you'll get over. And one day you'll be like, that was a moment of growth. And I am so happy of where I ended up. I really that means a lot Ashley and I know that you and I've had like you know a few exchanges and everything and I'll be honest I was talking to Becca yesterday of like I'm nervous to get back on and start podcasting right because I don't know when you're away from something you need to take that time and I understand that but coming back also like there's anxiety around it and I'm such a positive person or like a happy bubbly person typically

And right now I'm not always that. And I know that's okay. But like I didn't want to come on and be like, you know, I want to talk about Becca's engagement. And I want to talk about Ashley and your baby and Ben, everything that's going on in your life. And then I'm like, I'm over here. And I'm like, there's just like this like negative, you know, you know, like that that Charlie Brown Halloween episode like, I got a candy bar. I got a sucker. I got a rock.

Like I got this. I got a rock. But Michelle, I'm like, dang, I truly, I truly feel like this moment, like, even though you feel so low and you don't necessarily know where to turn or like what your life's going to look like, I honestly think this is going to be the catalyst for like one of the most beautiful, as Ashley just said, like times of growth in your life. And everything, I mean, and I can say this from experience because, you know, we've all been through breakups and Ben you contest. We've been through public breakups. But like everything just preps you. for what's to come. And I think with you, you have such a beautiful soul that it's only going to benefit you in the long run. Yeah. When you look back on these moments of darkness when it didn't end up with the person that you so imagine yourself ending up with. And it's weirdly nostalgic. Like when you get past it and you end up finding the person that you're with, you look back at those moments and you're like, man, I suffered so much heartbreak.

but it really did get me to this. It's such a weird thing. It's hard to describe. It's like one of those things where it's like, I need to take my heart and soul out and put it into somebody else. And then they're like, oh, this feeling? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I know this feeling. Yeah. It's so weird. That's exactly. And I think, you know, like breakups suck. Breakups are awful. I don't know. I just, they hurt, right?

And I think what's so difficult is that it's, sometimes feels like it's like not in your control, right? Like you wake up and you sometimes days, you just feel like, okay, I just have to have time pass like with time. Give it time. But like you can't always like speed up that time. Right. You can always like speed up healing. You can put in the work, but you can't always speed it up. But it is like this situation where I'm like, this is not how the story ends for me. This is not, you know, like where I'm at right now, emotionally, mentally, like how my heart feels like this is not how the story ends. And I, and I, I deserve to, you know, really make it to that point where I get those things. And so, yeah,

but it is hard to remember. I may be calling you guys for a reminder here and there. It's like, this is just a building block. Like every relationship that doesn't work out is a building block to help you learn what you want, what you don't want in your next relationship. Yeah, absolutely. It's like every morning, look at yourself in the mirror and be like, my family is happy, healthy, and safe and I am stunning as as my morning hair that I fell asleep with with wet hair didn't wash my face is like

pinked everywhere. You look stunning right now. I was actually going to say I was going to say like you've gone through the ringer in this past month and you've still look like a 10. You're stunning. You're glowing. I'm like, what is your secret girl? Do you even have

makeup on right now? This is just your face without Oh, my God. Y'all. Well, this is, isn't it so annoying, Ashley? This is, no, because no, you should have called me, you should have called me like, whatever. When this first went down, no. It was bad.

It was bad. I'm sure I have a picture somewhere. I, uh, Michelle, if, uh, as we close up here, uh, because we do have a very special episode of Bachelor happy hour to get to, uh, well, we're going to be breaking down a lot of The Bachelorette. I think we're going to talk about that. You guys are hosting it, so you know. Here's a good story for you to close out on, Michelle. I don't know if it'll make you feel any better or worse.

Cool. I feel like this is one of those times where your dad tells you a story and it's like symbolic. No. Yes. Yeah. No, maybe. I agree with everything Becca and Ashley have said. And I'm sure many people in your life have told you all of those things.

And they're all true. And so you just got to believe them at some point. Maybe not now. Could still hurt for a bit. But at some point, you're just going to have to believe that these people are not lying to you. You're a gorgeous. You're a catch. You are, whatever is in the future is all going to make sense. We just talked about it with Becca. But really funny story I've never shared publicly and I'll probably get fired for it. That's okay. I'm not getting fired. Spoiler alert.

I feel honored to be the reason. I am going through a breakup. We announce it publicly on a Tuesday. I had already been under contracts and we had already scheduled our very first almost famous episode on that Thursday. So we announced it Tuesday because it just needed to happen like it was time. We had it was it we needed to tell people and so it comes out and I'm broke like I'm sad. I'm a mess and I call I heart and I say, hey, can we not record this week? I'm not in the place. And they say, no, this is. perfect. It's time. Everybody's listening. This is perfect. And so on a Thursday, I had to get

on a podcast and say a bunch of stuff that I didn't even know what I was saying because I didn't know how I felt. And then over time, things get better. And you can begin to move forward. And I wish the best for you. And I'm glad you're back. And I'm glad we're doing this together. This has been really fun. Hey, I do have to ask you this because our listeners need a little teaser going into Bachelor Happy Hour. In a minute, 30 seconds, what are both your thoughts on this coming season of The Bachelorette as we move forward into Part 2 over on Bachelor Happy Hour? Michelle, you want to start? No, you start. Okay, I will try to be concise. I am excited and intrigued because this is something we've never seen before throughout an entire season

of having two leads. I'm skeptical because I in no way, shape, or form want these two women who are now the leads and in this huge pressure situation to be pitted against one another. And all I'm going to say is if they're going to have two women leads at some point, we better be seeing two Matt leads in one season. We did. So just to let you know, I think Ashley and I just found out that there has been two bachelors on a season before. We didn't know this. There has. Yeah. Way back in the day. Way back in the social media. Wait, so a duel. So two guys throughout the entire season. Season six.

Who was it? I don't even remember their names. Byron and so early on in the 2000s. Bring it out of the archives. Byron and the guy we don't even know. No one. Is it Brian or is it Byron? Byron and a guy we don't know.

Okay, we need to see a current season with two men. I don't disagree with you. I'm just saying we said the same thing yesterday and they're like, no, they have. So all right. Yeah, Michelle. We have. We were so confused because when Caitlin and and Britt happened, nobody brought this up either.

We got to, I need the archives. I need the lost footage. I need to see this. Like did the, and they showed both men equally? Or did one just kind of fall by the wayside? No, one got knocked off. Here is.

Oh, so it was the same like the whole Caitlin situation, right? But like not at the same time where two leads have gone through the entire process. Here we go. We got the recap in September 2004, Velvick and Jay over by a 40 year old real estate agent from New Jersey were selected. candidates for the bachelor for season six but their candidates like were they both together i think so were they both for night one like kately and brink we need a full season fair yeah i need to go back and watch that and i also want to know like what are y'all up to and why don't we know who you

are like why why we first say oh yeah it's byron and unknown guy uh you guys we're gonna now fight as to who's going to get these two unknown guys on our podcast that's right you get one and will get one. I want Jay, the guy who went home night one, just to give him some good love. He's like, nobody's talked to me in 20 years. I don't know what I'm. Michelle, what are your thoughts? I'm excited just for both of them because they both seem like they're going to handle

themselves in a very, like, classy way, right? I think that they went into it with a really solid friendship. And I think that's something that they seem like they would continue to work on and, like, work past issues as it goes on. I feel like it's going to get a little intense, though. I mean, it's kind of naive to not think that it, you know, there's not going to be drama with everything. But yeah, I, I'm excited for them both.

I'm super interested in watching. This is, yeah, we're going to have a lot to talk about is what I feel like throughout this whole season. Totally agree. All right, guys. Well, it's time for us to wrap up and head over to your territory. So please sign out with us. Until next time, I've been Ashley.

I've been Ben. I've been Becca. I've been Michelle. I can't believe we're still doing this four years later. Five years later? Oh my God. Bye. Bye, guys.

Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble.

Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. In sitcoms, when someone has a problem, they just blurt it out and move on. Well, I lost my job and my power. Karate is missing. How is your day? But the real world is different. Managing

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I'm breaking down the players, the predictions, the pressure. And of course, the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very wonderfully experiential sporting event. To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an Iheart women's sports production in partnership with deep blue sports and entertainment on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports Network. Culture eats strategy for breakfast, right?

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