The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - A Golden Opportunity

Episode Date: October 6, 2023

It’s the second week of The Golden Bachelor and this episode has Ben and Ashley jumping out of their bunk beds! What is it about Gerry’s charms that are so irresistible?? Ashley reveals why women of all ages are falling for him this season. Plus, we check in with a real grandma who has some insight on who might go all the way with Gerry, and who seems “rough around the edges”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 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. I was diagnosed with cancer on Friday and cancer free the next Friday. No chemo, no radiation, none of that. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast,

I sat down with Warren Campbell, Grammy-winning producer, pastor, and music executive to talk about the beats, the business, and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. Professionally, I started at Deadwell Records. From Mary Mary to Jennifer Hudson, We get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it. Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain.

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 I heart women's sports production in partnership with deep blue sports and entertainment on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with Iheart Radio. Hey, everyone. Welcome to the almost famous podcast where we'll be breaking down today.

The Golden Bachelor episode two, wowie, zowie, this episode. was incredible. Anyone who watches this episode, in my opinion, will be hooked and will be watching every single week. Last week, I loved it, cute, but it was night one for me. And now that we are in this, I'm dying for more.

Ben, I know that you feel the exact same way. You know, I'm interested, Ashley. I do feel the same way. I am interested in your reaction because I can tell there's a difference in your energy. I know, I know. You know, the, I think last week, I came in, fired up. Oh, man, it's on TV.

Finally, it's super exciting. And you didn't hate it, but you. No, I liked it. But I was like, okay, I liked it. I honestly didn't feel a ton different from a regular night one. I just love that this week we started to like see the big differences in the age. in the histories, the histories. The histories. So the stories, the past experiences,

talking about the past and the things that have happened. Those are the moments that really pulled something out of you. And the way that Gary was so receptive to them, this man's kindness and warmth and active listening, just this is where he got to shine. the way that he like uses the women's names like he's like oh nancy and like just relates to it in just the most wonderful ways oh this was great and it was so freaking fast the 40 minutes which it is with the commercials you're just dying for more and like my mom has always said leave people

wanting more yeah i do think it's a little fast i think that's my biggest complaint right now is I would say it feels like there can be no story development. It kind of flies through. We get bits and pieces of a few women each episode, but we don't get an overarching, we don't get like a secondary story. We get the main stories of each women, but we don't get the behind the scene stories really,

like maybe we do on the other shows. Well, we only had a one-on-one and a group date. We didn't have the third date. That's a good point. That was missing. I think this show's only, going to get better. My point is not that, hey, I think it's a bit massive mistake. I get it at leave people wanting more. I think it's good with Paradise, obviously, coming along for the ride now of the

Golden Bachelor. It's good to keep it short. I just think now the episodes are going to get better because there's going to be less people. And as there's less people, they can really start to expand on some these storylines that maybe we haven't gotten full pictures of yet. I do want to highlight before we break down one section of, before you kind of break down the episode, there is one moment that really stood out to me with Gary this episode, like really blew me out away. His reaction to when, I don't know the woman's name, but she gave him a compliment. And he looked up this guy, he goes, oh my gosh, that is such a nice thing to say about me. That means so much.

and it was with this like almost cartoonish genuineness meaning it was like and it felt like a very big overreaction to something that was said but there was a genuineness that makes me go this is just who he is he is appreciative how did they find this man he is such a freaking treasure okay so i'm thinking like how frustrated do you think that the whole like ABC team is that this show is an hour and Badgling Paradise is two hours. No, I don't think they're, I don't think they're for, yeah, I'm sure they're like, goodness gracious. I think this was such a risk and such a test for them that they knew going in, this was

either going to be a massive hit or a massive failure. And I think they've, they've kind of hedged their bets. Could it have really been a massive failure? I never thought so, but I know they did. Because thinking about like what the ratings of like Zach and Charity season, how could, how could this be a failure? It would have matched. It would have absolutely matched those ratings. I know they, I mean, I know they've had shows, right? They've had many of shows that they've created, Ashley, they think are going to be huge successes that never even get off the ground.

I think TV's hard. And I think this show is so new and so different that I do think there was that risk that maybe nobody would tune in. Maybe people are just over networked network TV. But as we've mentioned, the show is crushing all of those things. I think it's changing the way people see network television, I actually believe people will look back on the Golden Bachelor and be like, we designed content based on that show because of the success of that show. And we're going to get these great heartwarming shows that tell really incredible stories that have elements of drama, that have elements of emotion, elements of little suspense because of the Golden Bachelor.

I think it's that big a show. It could change Hollywood because they always, you know, actors and actresses always complain that once they hit a certain age, they can't get roles anymore and talk about maybe tapping into some desire that people have to watch older romance movies. Romance movies with older leads. Sure. But let's just tell you guys,

if you haven't listened to the headlines episode this week, we do dive deep into the ratings of this series. And I think that the ratings are going to go up even more because if you had caught this episode, and I know we don't really like channel surf very much anymore, But if somebody told you, you got to watch The Golden Bachelor and you end up watching episode two, I feel like you are in for the whole ride. Yeah, you're not stopping. Ashley, before we get kicked off here, and we do need to get kicked off and breaking down the episode, I do want to ask you a very inappropriate, weird question.

Oh, my goodness, yeah. You are my go-to for all these questions in my life that I can't ask my wife or that maybe I forgot to ask her before she left for work. And then I talk to you. You're like, how much plastic surgery did the ladies have? No, that's not my question yet. Because, like I said, last week's episode, there's some filler in those cheeks. Go for it, girls. Go for it. You know, my question is this. Gary is obviously a handsome man. He's very sweet. He's very kind. Do you think people your age are watching this with any type of like attraction to Gary or is it more of a kind of a fatherly grandfatherly like love and admiration and just the sweetness of Gary? Or is there or do you think the majority is like goodness, gracious he could leave you know he he could be around for a while like i like this guy i would

actually be on this show too if they would allow you know 30 year olds i have the perfect answer to this question so i was watching last night with my sister and my friend was here and she was looking at the tv and she just could not stop talking about how attracted she was to him and like how she literally said that like he's the bachelor that she would most want to get in bed I don't even take that offensively. Like, I get it. I mean, he's a good looking fellow. I mean, I get it.

I get it. But, like, I mean, not for me. Like, there's quite a number. Like, you know, I was on the show and very attracted to Chris Souls. And there's so many of my very attractive friends that, you know, like personally, I like to date more within my age range. Sure. When I used to date.

And, but my sister's the exact same way. She just thinks that he's so hot. And I don't, I get it. I get it. But I also personally would, you know, I like more of a age rich. But then just to like draw a full picture, we were at dinner last night. And these two ladies in their 70s came up to us. And they were like so sweet.

They're like, you girls are so pretty. And the women didn't even know I was on The Bachelor. And for some reason, the Golden Bachelor comes up. And she goes, oh, yeah, that guy can like get it. 70-year-old woman goes, oh, that golden bachelor, he can get it. Goodness, it's bringing out a side of people I've never known or seen or heard people talk about. It is. I mean, it's opening my eyes to a whole new world.

I just learned too much, so much. I wasn't going to be surprised if you said that you thought your friends were actually attracted to Gary. I think he would find that unique and different and something he's never experienced. I know my wife watches it and she has this just like love for grandparents. Yeah. She does because of her grandparents and she just like is more in the like sweet like, oh, he's like I just want to protect him kind of like I just love him and I just want him happy kind of thing.

Yeah. But my wife is also not, you know, she isn't as like forward or expressive or, you know, she doesn't think in maybe the ways that everybody else does. she's unique in the way that, you know, she doesn't, hadn't really dated until we got married. And so she has just a different kind of like, yeah, perspective on life and thought when it comes to these things. But I wasn't going to be surprised that, you know, college campuses that are now watching the Golden Bachelor at watch parties are watching this. And the girls are going, oh my gosh. Like I, this is the first time I felt like I've, I watched this 70 year old on TV and I'm like,

he's pretty attractive or he's really funny exactly like I have an appreciation for it am I just like he's very handsome he's so sweet like I would love to have him as part of my family yeah but I just yeah like I just in that girl who's always just been like oh is he within like 10 years of my age okay then yeah but like even 10 years seem like a stretch to me I just like am the personality that I feel like we need to like generationally relate yeah hot uncle Gary. That's who he could be in my family. It's hot Uncle Gary. Okay, we're going to take a break here, actually,

before we start breaking down the episode. I do want to tease this. There is something about Gary that gave Jessica and I the ick. What? Really? We're going to talk about it when we get back. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for

extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person, to believe him because he now wants them

both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. Hi, I'm Janica Lopez and in the new season of the Overcomper 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. Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard. And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing.

Be a part of my new chapter and listen to the new season of the overcomper. podcast as part of the MyCultura Podcast Network on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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

take center stage available now listen to wisecrack on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts you know i think breaking down the golden bachelor ashley is best done and kind of highlights because there it's a short episode right it's just like flashes it's flashes and some of the things here is the girls are waking up in the mansion which is really fun for me to watch because the mansion is a lot. I don't know about your experience in the mansion, but when I was on The Bachelor app, they did not make those rooms as nice and cute and like,

as they did for these women. I mean, those rooms look pretty nice. When I was there, it kind of looked like a, like a bad dorm room. Yeah. I was like,

what's up with the plush comforters and like the cute matching stuff? Like, where ours definitely looks like more of like a, a camp site in the bunk room. And they never got shown on TV. I've talked many time about the interesting part about the mansion. And I do think that the viewers were kind of shocked by the bunk bed situation. I get it.

I understand that, you know, having bunk beds for these women is crazy. But the mansion is not that big upstairs. There is not many rooms. There's very few bathrooms. And I know, my issue. Yeah. Yeah. There's only a few bathrooms.

talked about it before. Yeah. When you have a bunch of guys on a show, weird things happen in those bathrooms and those bathrooms become disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. You guys are weird. I got to say, you guys are weird. We're very odd.

We're very odd, you know, like, I don't know why it would get disgusting, but knowing Jared, yeah, like, you guys just like have a thing. I don't know. Let's not get into it. We do have a thing and things get weird. Exactly. Like, I'm like, I never would. have known that things get weird in the bathroom until like what you can ask jared all about it

do i have to bring a blue light in the bathroom or something a hundred percent you should but these women walk in um you know again i talked about it last week and i won't go far into it this week but i do think it's really fun probably for all these women to have sleepovers i'm imagining because i don't know how often they have like sleepovers now in their life uh maybe maybe every once while their friends get to together and they're like, hey, let's go on a girls trip. But they all seem very excited to be in this mansion. There was no complaining really, like we see in other seasons where they entered in the mansion.

And you know it, even if it wasn't shown on television, like when the guys or the girls walk up for the first time, they're like, this is where we're staying. Like, there is a lot of complaining that's kind of like that. But at the same time, it's like also so surreal to see your name on the bunk that you're just like, it's fine. I can't believe I'm here. And that you just got through a rose ceremony and all that. But yeah, you're definitely like, believe me, I must have said out loud like the bathroom situation. Like, how am I supposed

to go in privacy? Like, how am I supposed to even shower in privacy? Because I've just been that girl. I've always been that person that's like, nobody sees my naked body. Not because I'm not confident. It's just like I'm very private. Yeah. You're not when you get into that mansion. Everything is wide open. Everything is to be seen. Everything is shared. Like, there's people in and out at all times. It is, very weird experience. But we do see the women enter into the mansion. And then we see Gary pull up.

Gary is shining. I mean, this dude is talk about him hitting his peak. I don't know if we'll see another peak for Gary this season. But him pulling up in that vintage convertible up to the mansion, to me, I was just like, yeah, this, like, you could not have picked anybody better. You can't. You couldn't. I mean, he's, he's so, he's just so good at it.

He's so relaxed in a position that would be so. I was saying throughout the entire episode. How is this dude who's plucked from obscurity so comfortable in front of the cameras, so comfortably emotionally in front of the cameras, just if there's an ease about him, it's incredible. Ashley, I asked the producers, um, yesterday at a phone call with some of them and I said, Hey, did you give Gary more training than you would have given me? Like, did you prep him in a different way?

or, you know, have the procedures to getting the person ready to be the lead changed. I mean, we also have to remember Gary wasn't a part of a previous season, right? He is the start. So he does not have the camera experience. We always have a trial run, basically. With the lead, they were picked because they are comfortable with the camera, because they're dynamic and, like, people are drawn to them through the screen. They didn't even know.

They didn't give me any more training than they would have given me. Like, there was some conversations about, Gary, how do you feel about this? Are you ready? I do think it comes down to life experience and wisdom that helps him navigate this because I don't think there's any conversation that he's going to be in or any moment that he's going to be. I'm sure he's nervous. But I don't think he's going to be surprised. I think he's probably been through all of these before, right? He sat down with people who have experienced loss. He's walked into rooms where there's a bunch of people with their eyes on him.

As a business owner, I'm sure he's given talks and speeches to his team, you know, as he stands up in front. I just think he has the experience, which I think he's uniquely good at it. I don't want to discredit him as a person here. But I do think life experience probably plays into this little bit. How do you think of the producers interacted with him being, him being an elder? Because normally we're peers, if not they are a couple years older than us. I've asked this question too.

to the people that would be in the know. You know, with my season, there's some leads that really want to be coached. You know, they want to have a producer there. They want to take the break and walk away from conversations and be like, hey, how do you feel about what's going on? Is there a question I should ask? Is there something I should say? Or, you know, in past season, sometimes the lead are like,

I would love for you to step in during these dates and kind of help us along because it's going to get awkward. When I started my season, one of the conversations, we had was I said, I would like you to leave me alone. Because if it gets awkward, let it get awkward. That's just part of it. If it's not awkward, I'm kind of in a rhythm. Then let us, let us sit there in that, in that rhythm. Like, I don't want to be getting pulled. I don't want you to kind of make this less real than it already feels. And they said with Gary, he didn't really know what to ask for, right? He didn't know that he was, he would, he wanted them to stay away. They

said they didn't have to be around. Like, they could have never even been there. that he just did this like he asked the right questions he was engaged he was interested and so no i don't think they treated him differently other than the fact that they just stepped back which is which i think does bring um you know i i would give if i would give my my my the season of the bachelor i was on one compliment uh because i did it i was in it like there was a a realness to it there was a vulnerability and a legitimacy to each conversation because they weren't coached and i think we're seeing that with gary where you're like, he's not just trying to pull out everybody's really deep stories.

There's other conversations going on that matter to him. And there's a, there's a genuineness to these conversations that I think we can tangibly feel as we watch it on the screen because it isn't coached. Yeah, I completely agree. All right. Well, let's get into that first date with Teresa, who was one of the two that he kissed on night one. She made a comment. She was like, you kiss me.

I was like, girl, you kiss him. but okay. Revision is history. Their date was very cute at a diner, and I was pointing out the fact of that their date was actually probably the length of a normal first date. They left at night.

They went to a diner. There was a dance afterward and they went home. It wasn't this whole all-day process. And I kind of liked that. Sure. I think it was, and I think Gary relating it to kind of his, I mean, the fact that he's 70 years old and that he's, you know, said I, 72 that he used to take people to diners, uh, I think was cute. I, I do think we would be remissed. We did not

talk about, uh, the car ride there. The car ride. Yeah. Which they were petrified. I was like, guys, it was, would they scare the convertible factor or just driving in LA? Ashley, this is the brilliance of the show coming out, right? There's no producers in that car. There's no producers in his ear. This is just the two of them probably forgetting that they're even on camera because there's like a little GoPro in the side. They've probably totally forgotten it. And they're in their 70s, right? In late 60s. And so you know, I don't know if your parents are this way yet, but my parents don't love to drive at night. Like they have night classes. Oh my gosh. My mom like won't drive at night now. I'm like, mom, I land at this time. And she's like, well, I can't see at night. So, you know,

I'll have Lauren pick you up. So this is such a real moment where we're like, this is, I'm, I was dying laughing, but also feeling for the two of them because they are so nervous. Because he's in a convertible and he keeps saying on the, in L.A., you know,

in the busy highway, you know, on the interstate driving through traffic. He goes, it's crazy. It's wild. Like, this is such a real adventure.

This is an adventure. And it's so cute. And, you know, that when she put, her hand on his shoulder, he was just calm. He said, I appreciate that. Oh, my God. That's so sweet. This is stuff we don't get with the other show. Like, that would just be like a, yeah, you put my arm on your shoulder because you think I'm hot. Yeah. Picture this. Picture this. I, I'm the bachelor. I go on my first date with

somebody. We're driving a convertible, which we did. We just happened to have Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in the back seat. Yeah, that's right. And at the time it was Kayla Quinn, she puts her hand on my shoulder. Like, how weird would have been if at the end of that. I said, hey, when you put your hand on my shoulder, it just, it just really, it meant a lot. It really calmed me. Like, I could have, I could have said that, but he can because it's so real and it's so relatable.

And we all know our parents and grandparents who feel the same way and would say the same thing. And we would go, that's just sweet. So sweet. So at, of course, the dinner, they discuss the losing, the loss of their spouses. she was married to her high school sweetheart for 32 years. His kidneys weren't good, and she just talks about how she, like, had, like, three days

kind of knowing that it was going to be the end, and she got a call from him that she wasn't doing well at home, and then she watched him take his last breath at home, and he's been gone for eight years now. And just the way that, you know, they're able to relate on stuff, like this is quite beautiful and so sad. Well, and we've seen this, right? This is not a, this is not a unique, you know, situation for so many of them at this point in their life.

And I think, you know, for for for for me and I sit there with my wife and I now get to watch this. As I mentioned, I'm very just excited. I get to watch it with Jess and that we're both so into it. And when these stories get presented, like it does. It does. bring up a different conversation for us of hey like this is a reality for so many and this is really hard and you know life is you know life is short and we got to take advantage of these times like this is what comes from the show for me is those like wow hon like this could be you one day sitting there and like how would you um want to handle that next season of life for for yourself and like yes it's not fun to talk about and yes it's weird to talk about but it is what brings

how these conversations come out of watching this because when you're when you're engaged in the show you are obviously talking about the show at every turn and every moment and you're saying oh my gosh how sweet is it that they were so nervous to drive there and then she brings this up and you go honey like we've never talked about what I dream for you if this would have happened to you one day what's your answer you know I think at that point in time like I'm gone you know I want her to continue on with the with the memory of me which would be amazing like if she had such um like admiration but i also don't want her to be alone like i would never want her to be alone and she she doesn't want to be alone but she can't even think about it right she can't even get there see i as you say this

i just think like i don't want to think about it at this point because i don't know what i would be like at that age i don't know what i would feel like at that age but if it happened now oh god yeah this is this stuff that comes out of this. And yes, that feels heavy and dark. But then the show brings us back to really great moments, which is obviously then the people dancing in the diner and the two of them having fun and holding their hands across the table. It was the hands across the table. It's like cemented in my mind now. It's one of the most, I don't know. There was something about that. Like an iconic scene? Yeah. It's like a core memory of the Golden Bachelor now. just the holding hands so tightly

like in like we're in solidarity and not in like a romantic sense but more of like the I'm there for you sense that you don't see on the regular show and also there's that moment where there's two here we got a quote here it says a gentle touch and a few words

and they are back to hopefulness in their future in the future yeah gentle touch in a few words they're back to hopefulness in the future yeah I mean and I think the the holding hands is symbolic in a lot of ways, Ashley,

because neither of them want to be where they're at, right? Neither of them dreamed of sitting across a table with somebody new. Nobody dream, neither of them really dreamed of being on this show. This wasn't a plan. This wasn't a want for them. But they find themselves in this moment. And so in this moment, what are they going to do? They're going to make the best of it.

And they're going to sit there and be like, I got you. Like, I'm here. No matter what this plays out like, no matter if we end up together or not. Like, I just want you to know you're not alone, which is what we talk about in this podcast so often, right? Is the desire to help people feel less alone? And I think this moment that holding the hands is symbolic of the Golden Bachelor in a lot of ways.

Because it is showing you're not alone. Like, I know this sucks. I know you don't want to be here. I know this is you're making the best of a really terrible situation. Yeah, like the backup plan. Yeah. This is not what you would have dreamed of. But we're here.

So what are we going to do with this? We're going to hold each other's hands. We're going to have a lot of fun. We're going to do this thing as best we can. And then we're going to see if possibly maybe you and I can spend the rest of our days together. And then I'm going to lean across the table and say, I really like you. And that was also powerful. So good.

It was so adorable. And I want to know this. And I know this may sound really like naive and like immature or, you. young of me. But when he says, I really like you, is he saying, like, I really appreciate who's a person and I love being in your company? Or do you think he's like, you give me butterflies and I'm going to think about you in bed tonight? I'm not going to think about you in bed, like, sexually, but like, I'm going to like daydream of you when I'm about to go to sleep. I think it's, I think it's mostly at this point. I think he's just still in shock that he's

even sitting here. And he's just like, I like everybody. Like, this is, I've never had this much attention to my life. I'm into you and I'm into you. And I think you're great. And I think you're great. And I would like to assume, because I'm selfish, that Gary has a similar thought process that I had where it's like, you know, no matter what, I just hope that all these women here feel like they matter a little bit, a lot of bit. And then I'm really thankful they came. All right. Group date. We have a photo shoot with Franco because of course we do. And, of course, we have another wedding dress date. And I'm sitting here with my friend Nas, who was a producer on the show.

And I go, oh, my God, the wedding dress dates. And she's like, the reason they do it is because it always pays off because there's always some emotion in it. And that's, so now I'm like, okay. And she's like, here we are with Nancy. Nancy's getting emotional because the last time she was in a wedding dress, of course, was when she married her husband, who has now been gone for quite some time. And he just, she, he's just the freaking cutest. The way that he came up to her, just being like, is it me?

Is it the situation? And I was like, of course it's not you, Gary. And then when they shared the story about, you know, the wedding dress bringing back the memory of the best day of her life. And then he was like, it hits you out of nowhere. I had this moment where I was walking by a batch of cinnamon cookies. And it made me break down because my wife used to make cinnamon balls. and their bond over this was just perfect.

Then he gives her the group date rose. And I love the way the women don't really get jealous over the group date rows. They're just like, oh, good for her. You know, as long as I'm here at the end of the day. I think the one word was, I love Nancy. She deserves it. Yeah. It's amazing.

So good. It's adorable. Yeah. I mean, the photo shoot, you know, you and I have talked about in many seasons. It's not something that, like, fires us up. But do you think you touched on the most important. important part is that Nancy's emotions came out. And I think once again, we saw Nancy or this situation become very real. I will say that I don't think Nancy is going to be around for a while,

not because she gets sent home. But I do think I could see it in her eyes as a fan without knowing anything that it just gets overwhelming for her. That it's, this becomes too much. And as much as she's ready for it, that this whole thing, it felt like she was sitting there being like, I don't know, like I wasn't ready or I'm not ready or maybe this isn't for me. Yeah. I could But she does get to group date Rose. The final scene of the episode is that Gary has a birthday party thrown for him. Everybody's celebrating him. It's really fun to see.

I hope it was a lot of fun. Sometimes those parties at the mansion are so awkward and weird and uncomfortable. But this doesn't feel that weird and uncomfortable. It was like, is this the cocktail party? And it was. Yeah, it was the cocktail party. So it replaced it. We did have a massive character and person I really like.

I didn't know if they were best for Gary but I really liked her. Natasha was hilarious. I'm really sad. One of the greatest, so yes, she gets eliminated at the Rose Ceremony, but one of the greatest moments of franchise history is at the end

when she's just like, why don't we have stools? We need stools. We are 60s and 70s and we can't stand in a rose ceremony and her passion about it was like every, every girl who's ever been on the show

was like, yes, Natasha, not just you guys, which you especially should have stools, but maybe all of us should have stools because those things last way too long to be standing still in heels. I love that she said it. And I think it would have been a great ad for this show. I think it would be hilarious for all of them

to be sitting down. It should be in the next row ceremony. Could you imagine the next row ceremony? They all have stools. Which, stools is going to look classy. Get some velvet stools. I think it would be a great idea. I really like Natasha.

In fact, halfway through this episode, I told Jess, she is my favorite because I just love when she comes on television. She's always having a good time. She's always making good jokes. She's always there to like, to brighten up whatever is going on. And so I am sad that she's gone. But the ones that are left are April, Leslie, Joan. Let's just a quick mention about Leslie because he does corner her and say, how does it feel to present yourself in such a sexy way? I know. I mean, that's good thing. I was like, whoa, he's got the, he actually, see, he likes her. He's got the hots for her. Yeah. He wants to make out. Leslie's on his mind. Joan, Edith, Ellen, Sandra, Susan, Christina, Faith, Nancy, April, Kathy. And obviously, Teresa are left going into next week. In the next week's preview, we got a hot air balloon date. We do.

see Kathy getting emotional. Women are starting to get jealous, which I did not think we would see. Eventually. Eventually, I imagined it. Yeah. I mean, I think that when emotions get high and attraction runs deep, then obviously people start to get more invested. Jealousy comes out. Well, Ben and I are done with recapping the episode, but we still want more thoughts. And we want the thoughts from somebody of the age group, ish, of the cast. And, To this week, we have one of our producers, Kendall, her grandmother, has agreed to give us her thoughts. Big fan of the whole franchise. She's an 87-year-old, and we cannot wait to hear from her.

Let's get her on. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Oh, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK story time. podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now hold up, isn't that against school

policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, Did we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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. illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you.

Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. My name is Ed. Everyone say hello, Ed. 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. 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 take center stage available now listen to wisecrack on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts hi i'm jennica lopez and in the new season of the overcover 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 my mom is, like, I felt like I needed to be better or work twice as hard as she did.

Join me for conversations about healing and growth. Life is freaking hard. And growth doesn't happen in comfort. It happens in motion, even when you're hurting. All from one of my favorite spaces, The Kitchen. Honestly, these are going to come out so freaking amazing. Be a part of my new chapter and listen to the new season of the Overcomfit podcast as part of the MyCultura podcast network on.

the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. All right. Well, we have a very special guest today. As we mentioned, we have one of our producers. Grandmothers on Lovingly name. Can we call you Mamie? Absolutely. All right, Mamie. Let's get started. You were just sharing with Ashley and I that you keep a scoreboard every episode. Every episode of The Bachelor, right? And now you've added a scoreboard to your viewing of the Golden Bachelor. That's correct. That's correct.

Okay, great. So what's the scoreboard mean? It means who I think is going to get cut. And little notes about them. So who was on your list initially on this episode? Everybody. Oh, everybody was on the chopping block. Everybody makes the list, Ashley.

Everybody needs a point. And then you get both. eliminate okay okay okay okay so what i mean i guess is like who did you think throughout the episode who were you like all right she's probably a goner oh well you know with the bachelor they always keep somebody that's a little rough around the edges right yeah so i i'm not a fan of pathy okay i think she's a little rough and i don't think That's, oh, first of all, he's wonderful. Mm-hmm.

But I think she's a little rough. And Ellen. You don't like Ellen? No. She's entitled to her own opinions here, Ashley. What's the notes that you have for each of those women? Kathy, I have a little rucks around the edges. And Alan comes on too strong.

so Ashley you obviously disagree Susan is a nice lady but not for him I probably agree she's a little rough around the edges she's very Jersey yeah yeah but she's kind she fixes her hair and stuff so she's very kind

oh the way that she did Teresa's hair was so sweet and then it got completely ruined by the car that would be me funny my favorite is nancy nancy's a good one i understand i understand the wedding dress thing i understand that i think she's very sweet i don't know how long she's going to last but i like her are you still married no i've been a widow for 24 years 24 years i'm so sorry that's a long time

It's a long time, but it's funny when she did the wedding dress because I was telling my daughter that it did it for me with a Heath candy bar. Isn't that funny? Oh, it's just like Gary said it was cinnamon. Yeah, it was his favorite, and I went to a vending machine instead of bringing what I want, a Heath candy bar came out. And I cried so much and hyperventilated, and I was on a busy highway, and I didn't know if I could get home. but I've made it. That was your husband. That was a sign from him for sure.

Yeah. He leaves pennies. But enough about me. I like talking about you too. Oh, he leaves pennies. Do you ever hear that? Yeah, I've heard about them leaving coins. Yeah.

Sometimes you wonder, he didn't leave a coin, so I guess it's okay for me to do this. You know, Mamie, this is going into such. this conversation here is going into such an interesting part of this show. You know, I imagine, or based on what you're telling us earlier, you've been a fan of the Bachelor franchise for a while. You've watched most of the seasons. Yeah. Have you been relating with the Golden Bachelor in a way that maybe was unexpected?

Or did you believe that you were going to watch this show and be like, no, these are moments that I have definitely felt and I can feel for them? No, it's hard to say. I was anxious to see what he was like, and I was very pleasantly surprised. He's a good guy. I can see that. And the women were very, very nice. So, as I said, I didn't knock anyone out the first of the week of my store sheet.

But I don't know if I would relate to them. I laugh because the bunk beds, that was the dumbest thing in the world. What 60 plus year old girl is going to climb up into a bunk bed When we get down off of it in the middle of the night At least once or twice There's no way to fit everybody in their house otherwise though I know but now they've eliminated people So hopefully the girl on the top bunk

That's move down That's true But the ladies all seem very nice I hope they're all right there for the right reason and not just because they'd want to sell something like themselves. Yeah, I was going to say, I mean, I think they are. I think I would have a hard time picking out anybody that feels like they're not there for the right reasons. Ashley, I am curious. You had mentioned when Mamie said that she wasn't a fan of Ellen, that you said you were.

Why are you a fan of Ellen? And do you agree maybe she is a little too forward? I think she's adorable. I don't know. She seems warm and she's cute. She's a pickleball player. She likes pickleball, sure. I do agree with you who made me, though, on Kathy. She's a little intense. She's extra. Yeah. I like Faith. Yeah. The first girl that got the Rose. She likes to do all the activity. She does. Something's happening with Faith. You see in the scenes for the next episodes, the teaser, it says it looks like Faith leaves. on her own. Oh.

I think she can't handle the pressure. I think so too, Ash. I think it's like one of those moments where you... That's what worries me about Nancy. Yeah. I feel like we have more people here that probably are just like, oh, I've lost before in a big way and I don't need to put myself in a losing situation again. Yeah.

Yeah, the emotions feel like they're just going to get higher and higher, you know, for this show. Like, I actually think that's probably a concern of, the producers part when they put the show together is that by the end of the season like our emotions just going to be like so on edge because everybody's so in it and you already get to see it maybe i am uh you know for all the listeners out there because they won't be able to watch this what categories are you uh scoring each contestant on on your scorecard what are the i know you have notes and i know you have all the names but is it walk us through how you do this scorecard in case somebody at home wants to recreate it

should be created right but i put down all their names sometimes them might forget and then i have to add who they are because i thought they got taxed but they didn't and then i make comments about them like pretty girl with long blonde hair nice smile or you know so i'm just cute or something like that that's my scorecard mostly it's came on strong and did a good job of selling herself do you know who that is leslie uh leslie no no selling herself Mm-hmm. Teresa. That makes sense.

That makes sense. Teresa does come on to you. As soon as I sat down in that booth, she started. Mm-hmm. My friends, I don't think any of my friends would ever act like that. What do you mean by selling herself? What did she say? She said, that's, oh, I love you so much.

I think you're wonderful. I think we'd be wonderful to get blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. She makes a strong push. like immediately yes my dear yes yes i do i do think that that's something that a woman in her 60s can get away with but if a girl in her 20s or 30s on the bachelor said that it would it would come off differently yeah that's what we'd be like whoa girl hold on you know yeah i love you i'm

ready to move i kind of hear that in paradise yeah you know you know um what was i was going to say that Oh, it's funny because most of my friends are widows because I live in a 55 and overactive community. And they're absolutely not interested in finding another man at all. But my mother-in-law, on the other case, when her, she was married three times, four times. Anyway, caught lost count on her. As soon as she put one in the grave, she was out buying. a new convertible and Zoom had to have a man.

And there are women like that and I think these women are like that. Okay. What do you think about Gary? You mentioned that you really like him earlier. I was saying yesterday during the episode, holy moly, there's no way we will be able to find an other man

to be the second or the third of the fourth Golden Bachelor that's going to compare to him. We are always going to compare people now to the wonderfulness that is Gary. I think you're right. We had a say

my set. He could put his shoes under my bed any time. That's so good. I think you have got yourself a permanent spot here on me almost as a podcast recap. He was always Matt McConaughey,

but it might be him now. We go from Matthew McConaughey to Gary. You know, I was, as we closed up with you here, Mamie, I was watching. Watching Ashley, and I wanted to tell you this, I was watching last night's episode and, you know, obviously 7.7 million viewers, we're going to get into that. We already have gotten into that, Mamie, where so many people are watching this show right now. And Gary is, you know, 71. I don't know if he turned 71 on the show or if he was 72. He just had a birthday celebration. I think he might be of turning 72. Yeah, they didn't let us know. He, I've, you know, I've been able to speak with him on the phone twice. now. And each time, this was kind of before the season started. And he was very naive to the

exposure and kind of the fame and the attention he was going to get. And I was watching last night I say, I don't think this show is going anywhere. I think Gary is going to be kind of the like standard now for every Golden Bachelor season from here on out. This dude's life. We know this now. But this dude's life has drastically changed at 72 years old. Like he went from fishing and playing golf. And in northern Indiana to being a legit celebrity, I think. I think he's going to come after this and people are going to want to follow Gary's story forever. I agree with you.

As I said, I think he's a very special person. He really is. They hit the gold mine finding him. What would it feel like maybe if you were 72 years old and you, you know, had lived the life you lived up to that point? And then all of a sudden you find yourself on the side of billboards and the side of buildings and on talk shows like just give us a perspective what you think that would

feel like at 72 it would be funny and it would be funny and thrilling for about the first couple weeks maybe and then it was oh this is too much you know that's the end of that and my last question to you is how would you feel if your grandchildren are watching you kiss on TV. I think they were gross. I don't even want to see them kids. Even the best. Thank you so much. And your granddaughter laughs in our group chat here. She's a L.O.L. Maybe you got a great family. They're all awesome. May I ask you one final question? When you said how many people watch, is it only elderly or is it the young people that are watching? Oh, everyone. That's what's special about this season is like they have the full range of a demographic.

Terrific. I think the metrics that usually get measured by like 18 to 45, I think this show is blowing, like is making the metrics go into chaos because it's like 18 to, you know, 85, 90. Yeah, we don't know how to figure this one. We don't know. We do any air as ads during it.

Yeah, I know. It's everybody. It's fun. It's fun. Sure is. Well, you're fun. You're great. Thanks for coming on.

We hope to have you again, Mamie. Really appreciate you taking the time. Okay, bye-bye. Bye. She was freaking... What was it? You can keep the shoes... No, what's the thing I want to start using?

He can put his shoes under my bed. Oh, I love it. I love it. You know, like, Chenaya Twains. Whose bed have your boots been under? I love it. He can put his boots under my bed. Ashley, two weeks in a row with two incredible guests,

breaking down the golden bachelor obviously their perspective is going to be unique different i love that mamie um can come to us with like the relatability i'm saying hey i know what it's like to have that random moment right whereas you smell cinnamon you put on a wedding dress you have a heat bar whatever it is and it really brings up emotions i also just love i was interested in what you know watching last night and asking may me today like what would it be like what would it be like to be really famous right away at 72. And I think she's right. It'd be really fun for a few weeks.

But then I could see it being like, no. Like, I've got all the money I want. I don't want anybody else breathing down my neck thinking about my life. Like, I'm good. Stop asking me questions. But I have a feeling Gary's life is forever going to be changed. Yeah, probably. I mean, hopefully, you know, he does live in a space.

Like, he lives in, you know, rural-ish Indiana that, like, he can always, like, escape limelight if he wants but he's going to be called back from the show like all the time now you know like he's going to be taking more l a trips than he's ever imagined uh poor guy well hey uh this has been another episode of uh all the almost famous podcast breaking down episode two of the golden bachelor as ashley mentioned earlier and as i agree this show is good it's really good we're loving it so hey we'll be back next time uh again a full slate of content coming your way But until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley.

Thank you for listening. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts on IHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast. So we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out. with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and the IHeart Radio

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 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 crime. 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. I was diagnosed with cancer on Friday and cancer free the next Friday.

No chemo, no radiation, none of that. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast, I sat down with Warren Campbell, Grammy-winning producer, pastor, and music executive to talk about the beats, the business, and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. Professionally, I started at Deadwell Records. From Mary Mary to Jennifer Hudson, we get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it. Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. This is an IHeart podcast.