The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - A Fish Fry Kind of Weekend

Episode Date: January 17, 2026

Ben and Ashley let us in on their plans for the long weekend!Ben has an exciting announcement that pits him against two other Bachelor Nation favorites. Find out how he’s training to take on Wells Adams and Joey Graziadei. Plus, Ashley has an update on her sister Lauren’s new baby boy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high. And the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right.

Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on. And the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here.

But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. They're cheap. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast.

Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm and even just reading the comments. That's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow. And the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens

to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know Roll Doll. He thought up Willie Wonka and the BFG. But did you know he was a spy? In the new podcast, The Secret World of Roll Doll,

I'll tell you that story. and much, much more. What? You probably won't believe it either. Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you.

I was a spy. Listen to the secret world of Roll Dahl on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with IHartRadio. It's almost famous podcast. We're here today, and we wanted to pop in and say,

we hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend as Monday is Martin Luther King Day. So, Ashley, you got a long weekend ahead of you, a big weekend ahead of you, what are you doing for it? Well, I'm not doing anything. In influencer life, I wouldn't say that long weekends really feel like a weekend. You know, if you don't have like a corporate government calendar job,

you probably don't feel, unfortunately, like Monday's a holiday. I did really feel like Christmas to New Year's was a holiday this year. That was awesome, especially since there was like two weeks. But what am I doing on Monday? Let me look at my calendar, Ben. Well, Dawson has his first swimming lesson on Monday night. That's exciting. Then, of course, we have the Patriots game on Sunday.

That's exciting. Might have a girls brunch. That's fun. And a new restaurant, also fun. But the Patriots game is going to be like, the big thing in our weekend. You're not a big drinker. When you go to brunch, do you booze?

Yeah, I love a mimosa. I actually, that's my favorite drink. If I had to pick which drink I could just, that would be the only one that I'd ever have. That would be, a mosa, please. Yeah, mimosas are good. I do love a good mimosa.

But Bloody Mary, I kind of like the breakfast drinks more than anything. Yeah, it's fun. I'm on the back end of another cleanse. I've been doing these like sporadic cleanses. And so I haven't had anything for a while, but I'm excited to. So you don't are not dry January.

I'm not doing the whole dry January, but I am doing like, I'm trying to get in like three, three day fast this month. Oh, three, three day fast, Ben, that is a lot of fasting. It is, but it's like, I mean, I can drink juice and stuff,

like healthy juices and water. It actually makes me feel really good. And I'm getting over the flu right now. And so it actually kind of, I think, expedites my immune system to fight stuff harder. This is all stuff I tell myself so that I continue to do what I want to do.

Definitely. What are you doing? I have such, I have so many plans. Ashley, I'm so excited because I get to announce today on this podcast that I'm heading back to Orlando,

Florida for the Hilton Grand Vacations tournament of champions. Joey's going to be, no, it's actually two weeks. No, listen, it's two weeks from today. But I mean,

I'm going to start prepping. I got to stop, start prepping because I'm playing against Joey and Wells and a, bunch of other really cool people. It's one of my favorite events of the year, as I've mentioned before. And it's always such great competition between those two.

It's always so much fun to walk to fairways alongside them for four days, also alongside the LPGA. So this is, I'll get, I'm going to start prepping for that, just because you're going to help me pick out my outfits. Cool. It's a big deal. Saturday, NFL, Sunday, NFL. Monday, Monday, my Indiana Hoosiers are playing in the national.

championship game against the Miami Hurricanes. Congratulations. In Miami. I went to Atlanta last weekend for the Peach Bowl. That was a wild time. I wish I could go to the national championship. Tickets are outrageously expensive. Jessica and I had planned on going. We're not going to make it now, which is too bad.

But I'm so excited. So a lot of my weekend's going to be really kind of getting nervous for that game. I'm very nervous. I'm very excited. That's on Monday? It's on Monday. Yeah, so on Monday. It's a big game. Obviously, it's a national championship. IU is favored. I would take IU money line if I was anybody. I don't even know if I can give betting advice on this show, but I feel really good about my Hoosiers. It's been a blast this whole season. So I'll be doing that. We're also doing, you knew this, I think, but growing up, my parents, my grandpa really started a fish fry business. So my whole childhood was spent on. the weekends going to fish fries. We would fry fish for fundraisers at churches, schools,

fire departments, lions clubs, etc. And the business no longer is with my family. We sold it, but the people that we sold it to are good friends. And so every once in while, they'll send me some fish and the neighborhood loves it when I do a fish fry. So I'll bring out my friar. I'll fry some fish. We'll eat some fish sandwiches here in Colorado. It's, yeah, I'm excited. I did it for the long weekend. I'm with you where there's always going to be things that pop up during an extended weekend that distract. But the positive to that is, if I wanted to take a Monday off at any point, I could. Exactly.

That is the best point. Thank you. Yes. So, Ashley, 2006 is upon us. We're half of a month in. We talked about kind of our ins and outs for the year. Is 2026 continuing to be a good year for you? Do you feel like you're sticking to the things that you wanted to stick to?

Was there anything that you actually put intention on? Okay. So I've been bad about the whole scrolling in bed. I'm still scrolling too late in bed and not watching enough TV. Yes, Ben, you weren't on the podcast so much. It was more of Jess. My intention was to watch more TV in bed. I love to watch.

Yeah, like it makes me relax. I don't think that scrolling makes me relaxed. Yeah. And I've been bad at that. I would like to improve upon that. I have been writing down what Dawson says and what Hayden does and stuff, which I wanted to put in a journal. I've been doing that. Maybe I skipped a few days, so I got to get back on there.

Let's see. What else did I say that I wanted to do? Oh, take supplements that I've bought? Nope, haven't done that. I have eliminated plastic cups for my kids. They're now drinking out of stainless steel. Yes. And let's see.

Yes. I like that. He just looked at me and he just looked at me and then go outside for a few minutes every day. I wouldn't say it's every day, but I did take a few walks last week. And it made me feel great. Getting the movement and the fresh air and the daylight, the sunlight on me made me feel so good. I need it to incorporate that more and more. Jessica and I talked about that after you two spoke.

She came in the room. I was like, how to go? She was like, it was great. I was like, what was some takeaways? And she was like, well, Ashley wants to walk more. And I was like, you know, we thought we talked about. We're like, that's one of the best habits we have as a couple. I mean, you know, we try hard to, you know, keep our relationship happy and healthy and fresh.

And I mean, goodness, I could have never imagined a marriage as wonderful as we have it because my wife is so great. She gets to deal with me. But I do think one of the like secret tricks to why we feel so good, why we get to like communicate so much is because we go on so many walks. I mean, I walk like right now, I'm averaging just this week about seven miles a day. That's a lot of walking. Holy moly. I'm just trying to get one in. Yeah. And that's a start. I'm just saying getting outside, getting a walk in, feeling the sun, just it's good for you. And here's my other comment.

Ashley, I am with you. I got through a phase where I was scrolling at night. I don't get on social media much during the day. You know, stuff's happening. Exactly. That's the thing. Like, I know that I need to be on it to a certain extent because of what I do. So then I end up looking at it in a like doom scrolling way at night because I'm like, oh, I'm catching up on the whole day.

And this is like kind of fun. And then I look at the class. and it's too late for me to watch TV. Well, and I noticed that, and even if I couldn't pick up on it, and I think this is a key element for so many right now, I didn't even realize how much envy, jealousy, stress, anxiety, whatever, was, like, getting put on me from scrolling. And then there would be like these moments of,

oh my gosh, it's so cool that they're doing this. And then the next one would be like a breakup of two friends of mine that I, you know, saw. And it would just be an emotional roller coaster. And I wasn't sleeping. And so I've stopped. In fact, at 915, my phone doesn't, like, I mean, I could still do it, but it, like, pretty much shuts off.

It's done. It won't even let me in. Yeah. Because at that point, anything can wait to the next day. And that's worked. I have a friend, Ashley, here, listen to this. Yeah. My in-laws, their best friends for 20, they started this actually in 2025, I think.

And it's still going on. when they go out to dinner with like themselves or a couple, they leave their phones at home. Now, granted, they're empty nesters. Yeah, they're empty nesters there, so that's different. They can do that. But I do think making those intentional changes to where our phones are on us less often,

once you get used to it, I do think it has always been good. Like, it's never, I've never been like, I wish I would have done more on my phone. I might with social media because I do so little. But yeah, I like your changes. Thanks. And yeah, 10 o'clock was kind of like my idea.

Like you put your phone away. You can look up like a random thing. Yes. But you can't open up like Instagram. It's kind of my thing. It's an app that just showed me that has like, you can block time on things. Like if you spend too much time, it kicks it off. I can't do that though for work reasons.

I can't be like, oh, I have to post this at this time. And then be like, well, no, I didn't allow myself to do it. It's tough. I get it. Because it's all about the algorithm. for me. You know, like, I'm a science. I'm a scientist of the algorithm. I have to do it at certain times and space them out accordingly. Anyway, you need to teach me. Thanks. Thanks for saying that I need to be a teacher of yours. You teach me a lot, Ashley. In fact, you've taught me a lot about life.

No, I have not. No, I have not. What are you talking about? Yes, you have. Thanks, Ben. That's so kind. We can't do this thing for as long as we've done it without you teaching us something, teaching me something. Right? Yeah. Unless you're unhappy with this work relationship. Oh, I'm so very happy. It's such a healthy work relationship. I love it so much. I talk to you more.

I bet you're outside of my wife, you're probably the second most. You're the second. Yeah, talk to human in my world. Really? Well, yeah. In your work? In your world. Oh, your world?

Think about it. I talk to you three times a week. Well, it's so sweet. I definitely talk to my sister more than I talk to you. But like, you're right. If we do log two hours, that is a lot. But I probably log longer than that

with Lauren on FaceTime and stuff. And then my parents are probably like right there with you. Yeah. And obviously Jared is before Lauren because he lives with me. But he does live with Lauren on FaceTime a lot. Speaking of Lauren, the biggest thing that happened to me this week is obviously

my sister had a baby, which is huge for our family. Congratulations. Is it going well? Yes. he had a very, there was a very easy delivery. He came out like three hours after her water broke and she went to the hospital and she wasn't really contracting very much.

They knew that she was going to have to have a C-section because he was a very breach. So they saw where, you know, what was going on down there and was basically like, okay, we're going to call a doctor in and she was rolled into the OR at like 930 a.m. and he was out by 9.50 and it was just easy. Not to sit, I know it's kind of annoying to hear, but like, it was kind of easy-pozy. Good for her. You don't want it hard. No, I mean, like, I just mean, now it's like my sister and I, just like three pretty easy births.

My sister legitimately, she was, she had a C-section and everybody's like, oh, you know, the recovery time. The woman was like walking around like normal, a day. later. It was strange. It's your bloodline. It's that superhuman blood. I don't know. The fact that she had a schedule, it was like, yes, it was technically 10 days before her schedule

C-section, but because she wasn't really in like very active labor. It wasn't an emergency C-section, which obviously helped the healing process. And the kid is very cute. His name is Rocky. He's very adorable. He's a silly little bird, I tell you. He likes to like open his mouth and like look like he's

going to take a worm. And he's so tiny. Like he was born six pounds one ounce. Oh, wow. And then, like, you know, they usually lose a couple ounces. And he's just so tiny. And my kids have always been eight something. You know, like Hayden was eight, eight, and then Dawson was eight four, I think.

So it was just so crazy holding a baby like 30% less. Yeah, that is wild. Well, we're so pumped for her and for them. A little Rocky enters into the family. New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to money podcast. And every week, we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make. it happen. Listen to How to Money on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Dr. Priyanko Wali. And I'm Hurricane de Bolu. It's a new year. And on the podcast's health stuff, we're resetting the way we talk about our health. Which means being honest about what we

know, what we don't know, and how messy it can all be. I like to sleep in late and sleep early. Is there a chronotype for that or am I just depressed? We talk to experts who share real experiences. and insight. You just really need to find where it is that you can have an impact in your own life and just start doing that. We break down the topics you want to know more about. Sleep, stress, mental health and how the world around us affects our overall health. We talk about all the ways to keep your body in mind, inside and out, healthy. We human beings, all we want is connection. We just want to connect with each other. Health stuff is about learning, laughing, and feeling a little

less alone. Listen on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every January, we're encouraged to start over, but what if this year is about slowing down and learning how to understand ourselves more deeply? What if this year is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we've been holding and knowing that it's okay to ask for help? I'm Mike Delarocha, host of Sacred Lessons. This is a podcast for men, navigating stress, emotional health, fatherhood, identity, and the unspoken pressures were taught to carry alone. We talk honestly about mental health, about healing generational wounds, and about learning how to show up with more presence and care. If you want a healthier relationship with yourself and the people you love, then Sacred Lessons is the podcast for you.

Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Dolorotcha on America's number one podcast network, IHeart. Follow Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLaurocha and start listening on the free IHeart Radio app today. Hey there, this is Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA Health and host of the mailroom podcast. Each January guys everywhere make the same resolutions. Get stronger, work harder, fix, what's broken? But what if the real work isn't physical at all? To kick off the new year, I sat down with Dr. Steve Polter, a psychologist with over 30 years' experience, helping men unpack shame, anxiety, and emotional pain they were never taught the name.

In a powerful two-part conversation, we discuss why men aren't emotionally bulletproof, why shame hides in plain sight, and how real strength comes from listening to yourself and to others. Guys who are toxic, they're immature, or they've got something they just haven't resolved. Once that gets resolved, then there comes empathy, as in compassion. If you want this to be the year you stop powering through pain and start understanding

what's underneath, listen to the mailroom on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. Final thing I want to ask you about, Ashley, 2026, I'm hoping, has been off to a good start for you,

and I don't know how you feel about this. I see where we're going on our rundown, and I laugh. What do you think about Joe Jonas being in a relationship? Oh my gosh. I mean, you know what? This is all I have to say as a married woman. I just hope that Joe performs with a girlfriend the way that he has performed being this single guy in the band. Because if you are a Jonas fan, you know that like this past tour, Joe delivered like never before. He was up there like flirting and being so sultry on stage and he was hamming it up. And they they honestly did. I feel like this was such a part. popular tour of theirs and so seen on social media because

Joe was being such a ham and I just hope that he acts on stage the way that he has as a single guy. I know that. If you know, you know. This is all about this stage. You're not hoping he's doing this at home with her?

I don't want to know that stuff. We all want to pretend like Joe is single. Oh, okay. Now that makes it. All right. Yeah. I see we're going with this. Yeah. We need our single energy Joe. Yeah. He's so fucking funny though.

He's so hot and he's so funny. I actually don't even know which one he is. And Ben, that's a little weird. Come on. Oh, he's that one. Wasn't he like calling himself Zane? Like why do I, he looks like a Zane like a Zane guy. Okay, well, Zane is from one direction.

But they both did date Gigi Hadeed. Ah, okay. She has a type. So two separate people. Two separate bands. Two separate bands. Makes sense now. You go, Joe.

He kind of has like a Bon Jovi look to him. Are we looking at the same person? I don't know, Ashley. Good for him. I'm happy. He's happy. I'm happy. I'm sorry.

I just offended Ashley. No, it's totally fine. But I would love to talk about it more. But, you know, good for Joe. Just keep the single energy going. because we really, really have fun around here with it. Oh, my gosh. All right.

Hey, this has been the Almost Fans podcast. We do truly wish you the greatest extended weekend Monday is Martin Luther King Day. There's a ton of stuff on television if you're a sports fan, but also take time to reflect, rest, and relax. Until next time, I've been Ben. And I've been Ashley and Joe, like we're all happy if you're happy. Bye. No, we're happy. Happy. Bye.

Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHartRadio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high, and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right. Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on. and the small moves that make a big difference.

Kick off the year with confidence, listen to How to Money on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, it's Ed Helms. And I'm Cal Penn, and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and IHeart Audio Book Club. This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host

and Harry Potter superfan Rihanna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast. adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you, or just stood out the most? I always loved reading about the Quiddish matches, and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds, like all around you.

It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones. Listen to Earsay. the Audible and IHeart Audio Club on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man, this is your boy, Nav Green,

from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. They're chief.

It's time to run. Rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the I Heart Radio at Apple Podcast or whatever you get your podcast. Whether it is getting swatted or just hateful messages online, there is a lot of harm

and even just reading the comments. That's cybersecurity expert, Camille Stewart Gloucester, on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow. And the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, and each week we dive into real conversations

that help you move with more clarity and confidence. This episode, we're breaking down what really happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.