The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - A Golden Snitch? Gerry Turner Spills More PART 2

Episode Date: November 5, 2025

Ben and Ashley continue to spill the tea with original Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner! Gerry shares his unfiltered opinions on the current Golden Bachelor, Mel Owens, and his thoughts on the rumors that this could be the final season of the show.  Gerry pulls back the curtain on a conversation with contestant Faith the night before his wedding, and he gives more clarity to his comments that Theresa "should be nervous" about his new book. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Gary, you are always going to be the Golden Bachelor. And with the season that is, and we're going to talk about this season a little bit here towards the end if you don't mind, but this season is not helping your case to kind of remove yourself from the Golden Bachelor title. You will be known as the Golden Bachelor probably because of the lack of, you know, everything this season. Are you able to give that up?

I mean, even as you get married again, and even as you enter in this relationship, you mentioned that you like to be retired that this pursuit of fame felt unfulfilling and not really worth the time to stay relevant. You'll always be the Golden Bachelor. Is that something that you're okay with? or does that remind you of less happy times? Oh, no, I'm pretty happy to have that title. You know, just to separate two things. I love it when people come up to me and they want pictures

and they want to talk briefly and so forth. They get to share in the fun of the show. I really find that very exciting. The minute they walk away, I'm still Gary, regular Joe, walking on. I'm okay with not person. suing additional attention, whether it's on social media or TV appearances or anything else. I've turned down a number of things because I enjoy being retired. But I also enjoy being the Golden Bachelor. It's a strong responsibility. Going into that show, I knew that

it was something that was marginally considered for a success. I was thrilled that everyone that put their heart and soul into that show, producers, and everyone else involved, found success with it. And it was their success. I was just a small part. So two kind of different things. I hope people never give up coming up to me for pictures and talking and so forth. That's fun.

I don't know, Gary. I think you were a big part of the success. And I think we're now watching the second season of the Golden Bachelor, third of the franchise installment. And people are not watching it the way that they watched you. He is not the lead that you were. So thank you. You're welcome.

But thank you. I've watched it with friends and I've watched it with Lana. And yeah, there's just not a warmth and empathy and charm there that. And the, you know, the ratings numbers are just horrible. So, you know, I hope there's still. additional chances for other Golden Bachelors. Before we dive into the season and kind of your take so far on the season, there are some moments from your season that are just absolutely iconic.

I think the whole season in general felt not just iconic, but sweet and sensitive. And I want to give you credit for that, but I also want to give the cast credit for that and the show and the concept itself. Gary, we had, I had one of my most fun experiences. and it was actually my last experience being a part of the show. You and I did a Bachelor bus together following your season. It was a blast. We had a great night.

It was a long night. We had a lot of fun together and doing this together. At least I had fun. I can't speak for yourself. It never aired on television. I thought that was a really unfortunate thing because I do think it showed, I think that night I saw you be Gary more than just the, golden bachelor you were interacting with people and laughing with people and hugging on people

and it was just a really great expression of who you were and I'm really bummed and I'm I honestly was upset that that didn't air because I gave up three days for that but that's not the point there was and I think about this often and I I try coming into this to think of the appropriate way to ask you this question and I'm just going to ask it how it comes to my mind and you respond however you want to respond. But that evening, if you remember, we had a lady who was about your age. She was at a house with a watch party with her daughter, I think.

And she came up to you, and I got emotional during this. She started crying that evening, and she said, thank you for doing this. This is giving me a hope again and finding somebody. And for, I think she said 12 years, I had no thought or hope of finding a next love. And she was crying. And you, you know, the show represented that to her.

And you could see it came from a deep place, not a fan place, but a deep place. Gary, this is when the question for me, I didn't know how to, I'm not smart enough to figure out how to ask this well. That was before the wedding. That was before the divorce. I guess now you're in this place where you found love again. And it is a real love that will last you for a lifetime here. here for the women like her and there were many that night that had an emotional tie to the story and then saw your story end in a way that was not hope filled that felt at times very very

convoluted and messy what would your message be to her if she happens to listen to this oh such a good question then and and i understand it's difficult to phrase that question. However, I've thought about this a lot and I hope this answer doesn't sound self-serving because it's genuine. I believe the story didn't end when it became less public. I believe my story didn't end and that the show and the philosophy of the show was successful because I bought into the fact that I was going to stay open to opportunities. I was going to keep my heart open and try to find that person. Now, my failures of the show and ending the way it did actually led me to a very happy ending.

So it's not always the result in the timeline that you believe it is, but to a woman like that, I would say, don't look at this book of my life only through nine and a half. half chapters. Read the last half of the final chapter because that's when I find a happy ending and happiness that I believe will stretch through the rest of my life. So stay open to possibilities. I believe the show does work. Yeah. And I always, you know, tell people with a story like yours and a story like Ben's. Somehow, in some way, the show did lead you to your person because Lena wouldn't have been in your DMs or, you know, your friend in box, and Jess probably wouldn't have answered Ben on Instagram if it weren't for who you

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This is Jacob Goldstein. And we used to host a show called Planet Money. And now we're back making this new podcast called Business History about the best. ideas and people and businesses in history and some of the worst people, horrible ideas and destructive companies in the history of business. Having a genius idea without a need for it is nothing. It's like not having it at all. It's a very simple, elegant lesson. Make something people want. First episode, How Southwest Airlines Use Cheap Seats and Free Whiskey to fight its way into

the airline business. The Most Texas Story ever. There's a lot of mavericks in that story. We're going to have Mavericks on the show. We're going to have plenty of robber barons. So many robber barons. And you know what? They're not all bad. And we'll talk about some of the classic great moments of famous business geniuses, along with some of the darker moments that often get overlooked.

Like Thomas Edison and the electric chair. Listen to business history on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Here we go. Hey, I'm Cal Penn. And on my new podcast, Here We Go again, take today's trends and headlines and ask, why does history keep repeating itself? You may know me as the second hottest actor from the Harold and Kumar movies, but I'm also an author, a White House staffer, and as of like 15 seconds ago, a podcast host. Along the way,

I've made some friends who are experts in science, politics, and pop culture. And each week, one of them will be joining me to answer my burning questions. Like, are we heading towards another financial crash like in 08? Is non-monogamy back in style? And how come there's never a gate ready for your flight when it lands like two minutes early? We've got guests like Pete Buttigieg, Stacey Abrams,

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with Cal Penn on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I have to ask, because you brought up earlier, and I've just been curious about this for a long time. I felt like during this moment, I was watching like an inter-council meeting or the President of the United States meeting with his cabinet, and I wasn't supposed to be there, but I was excited to be there. you mentioned this conversation with faith that you had again the night before your wedding and where she tells you you don't have to go through with this was this happening at the bar in the corner of the bar when all of us were in there because it felt like something was being talked about during i remember seeing it and being like something serious is being talked about there i don't know what it is i don't know if he's like if she's telling him she still loves him or what's

happening but something's happening over there and then it like you know it was one of those moments or it's like, well, I'll never know. Now I get to know what was being said because it was a very, it looked like real conversation that was happening in public and it felt like I didn't have been there but being the person I am, I wanted to be right there. I'm assuming it's the one that you said that you were having

where you said you don't have to do this, yeah? That's exactly what it was. And Ben, I wish you would have forced yourself into that conversation. Oh my gosh, Ben, you could have changed the whole. Can you imagine the drama that ABC would have actually gotten? It would have been better than a televised wedding. It would have been a cold off wedding when the entire cast was there.

You know, I would have gotten real firsthand perspective on perhaps what some of my options were that I didn't know. I mean, for the love of God, who knows what would happen. But the bottom line is, yes, that was the conversation. I was expressing doubts and concerns. And she was, I remember, she was poking me in the chest. I mean, that's the kind of friend she is to me. She's putting me in the chest.

You don't have to do this. And, yeah, I kind of do. And I do remember saying, Faith, you know, people at the bar are going to think this is an argument right now. I mean, because she's poking me and I'm gesturing quite, you know, large. And I go, we've got to simmer this down. And, you know, her response was. Gary, you don't have to do this. And she was so deadly serious.

Oh, my God. Gary, I'm like, you guys are communicating, connecting. Did you ever think Faith? I made a mistake. I should have been with her? No, not really. Because my feelings for faith are, like I said, very strong affection, but not a romantic connection.

I root for faith and I root for Leslie and several of the other women constantly, I pray for them that they find the kind of happiness that I have found. They deserve it. But with faith, when I get to that tough spot where I really need a woman's perspective, probably faith would be the woman I'd call. Probably not anymore.

Now that I have Lana, she can provide that. But pre-Lana, faith would have been the person I would have called for that perspective. Yeah, but this doesn't get talked about as much, and again, this book is full. I mean, we mentioned, if you think about it, like five major topics. The book is full of tidbits and things that really give, that highlight not only your life and your relationships through the show and then with Teresa, but then now in your life. So it is worth digging into because it feels like we've covered a lot.

We really haven't when it comes to the whole chunk of the. the book. But Gary, if I was there, or if you had called me as a friend, I'd say, why are you confiding in faith? This feels dangerous the night before your wedding. She's a friend, yes. But like, I'm sure your daughters or friends or somebody else had to be there beside you telling you, hey, man, you don't have to do this. This doesn't feel good. This doesn't this won't end well but you chose the night before your wedding to open up was there anybody else in your life you're confiding in and why did you choose faith and felt comfortable telling faith that evening that's a that's a really good observation um no i appreciate you bringing

that up never really thought about it that way and it's a good point i think at the time a couple of things to consider is you're I was one guy you know I had 22 women you don't have a big gene pool of testosterone to to go to and I wish seriously at this moment I wish that you and I had developed a bit of a better friendship that I could have come to you and said hey I need little counseling here. If nothing else, just a, you know, a bounce off of you, some of the thoughts and ideas I had to maybe give it some perspective. I've never thought about that, but I will give it some thought. But I mean, also, though, the other side of this, and maybe it's just because of the person he was, you know, Jesse Palmer was your host. Chris was the host

during Ashley and I's time on the show. Chris would have presented with me, hey, you guys have an opportunity to get married on television. And then also, I always knew, and I think it's because of how he handled it, I could call him five minutes after the cameras cut down and say, hey, man, this is a bad idea.

And he would say, yes, it is, don't do it. He would. He would, but he would do his job. Was Jesse at all that kind of outlet for you? Because I think it's what made Chris such an incredible host I think Jesse has done an amazing job at stepping in and doing what he does

but this feels like a miss if you didn't feel like you could call him and say hey Jesse what would you do here you know this relationship better than most yeah that's a that's a good observation I think it it points to a fundamental difference with Jesse and Chris

I don't think Jesse ever stepped out of character that's a good thing and in this situation could have been something more helpful whereas had Chris been my host and I had that opportunity I would have been very thankful I would have been very thankful it's just a different kind of care I think I think I knew as a friend Chris wanted what was best but then as a host I also knew he had to do his job and so those two things were very clear all the time okay wait wait Ben I have I have I have a two couple questions i'm like just they're a little random but i'm kind of dying to ask now yeah okay because you and teresa ever have a conversation in december saying like you know what maybe this is not a great idea did you have any concerns getting married that quick like vocally to each other i know they personally you had concerns but like did you guys ever have a conversation like yes we did um there was concerns on both sides and um I think both of us were of the mindset that, hey, we don't know each other, but we feel strongly about each other and we'll make it work.

Remember, too, that she had 40 plus years of marriage. She knew what commitment was all about. And I think the odd fact here is that two people with two good characteristics of commitment came together to create something that maybe wasn't quite as good as it could have been. Um, you know, it's not, two wrongs don't make a right. And two rights kind of made something wrong. Okay. My final dying question. Not dying. Burning question is, there was a headline out there last week that was spicy. You said in the release of your book, Teresa should be nervous. And it raised a lot of eyebrows, our own, our own included. Do you stand by the statement and what should she be nervous about? Well, so Teresa has tried calling me. I haven't returned those calls. She tried

texting and said, hey, I really need to know what's in the book. And it's like, no, you don't. You can read it like everyone else. And if you're afraid of the truth, then you're going to be afraid. I've kept quiet. I've tried to take the high road. And now I feel like it's time to level up. So if that makes her nervous, so be it. Okay. This is going to be good. And Ben, wait a minute. I have to go back. You said there were four or five tidbits in the book. You know, I want to add a sixth tidbit. I put in there that you and I on that bachelor bus

that you displayed such great dancing skills that every woman is on the earth should be looking to have some time with you on the dance floor. Gary Turner, I laugh at this statement because there's nobody I laugh at more than Ben on the dance floor on a wedding. We've been to so many weddings together and I am sad that I feel like our weddings together are numbered, but we got one. We got definitely one more on the docket. And I always look forward to what a fool Ben is.

He's so confident in being that guy that like blow up thing outside of a car dealership. And he's just so confident in his not so great dance moves. And it brings us all joy. My hips are very loose. He's smooth. You're smooth. Thank you, Gary. See?

Did I ever tell you what Jess said to me? Because I think it's time now. Yeah, you can, I'm married to her. Yeah, you can tell me what my wife said. She goes, while watching you on the dance floor wedding, she goes, this is why we have sex before weddings. That's smart. See? That's marriage. Compromise. She sees her lane. She knows when it's time. And then

she goes, once this happens, the ick happens, but goodness gracious, Gary, here's the good point to that. Guess who's still crawling into bed that night right beside each other. That's right. That's right. And I haven't heard anyone say that there isn't also sex after the wedding either. Well, the blow-up arms kind of get her. I don't think it's like a thing. She gets the ick and she needs a 24-hour at least reset before looking yet been different. That's fair. The same again. That's fair.

I just don't think women appreciate it like a good, like a man does. There's a skill set hidden inside of me that comes out. And I just really feel like the world benefits more when I'm doing it. Thank you, Gary. Thank you for that. I appreciate it. We often think we know our type in dating, tall, funny, a certain job, but the research shows we're usually not the best predictors of who will actually make us the happiest.

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so you can date with a bit more confidence. When you treat dating as exploration, instead of sticking to a rigid type, you open yourself up to happier, more meaningful connections. So maybe your type isn't tall, dark, and mysterious. Maybe it's loves podcast as much as you do. Stay open, stay curious, and let yourself be surprised. Download Bumble today. On the podcast Health Stuff, we are tackling all the health questions that keep you up at night.

Yes, I'm Dr. Priyanka Wally, a double board certified physician. And I'm Hurricane Dabolu, a comedian and someone who once Googled, Do I have scurvy at 3 a.m? On Health Stuff, we're talking about health in a different way. It's not only about what we can do to improve. our health. But also what our health says about us and the way we're living. Like our episode where we look at diabetes. In the United States, I mean, 50% of Americans are pre-diabetic. How preventable is type 2? Extremely. Or our in-depth analysis of how

incredible mangoes are. Oh, it's hard to explain to the rest of the world. Like, your mangoes are fine because mangoes are incredible, but like, you don't even know. You don't know. You don't know. You don't know. It's going to be a fun ride. So tune in. Listen to Health Stuff on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And she said, Johnny, the kids didn't come home last night. Along the central Texas plains, teens are dying.

Suicides that don't make sense. Strange accidents and brutal murders. In what seems to be, a plot ripped straight out of breaking down. Bad. Drugs, alcohol, trafficking of people. There are people out there that absolutely know what happened. Listen to Paper Ghosts, the Texas Teen Murders on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Robert Smith. This is Jacob Goldstein. And we used to host a show called Planet Money. And now we're back making this new podcast called Business History about the best ideas and people and businesses in history.

and some of the worst people, horrible ideas, and destructive companies in the history of business. Having a genius idea without a need for it is nothing. It's like not having it at all. It's a very simple, elegant lesson. Make something people want. First episode, how Southwest Airlines use cheap seats and free whiskey to fight its way into the airline business. The most Texas story ever. There's a lot of mavericks in that story.

We're going to have mavericks on the show. We're going to have plenty of robber barons. so many robber barons. And you know what? They're not all bad. And we'll talk about some of the classic great moments of famous business geniuses, along with some of the darker moments that often get overlooked. Like Thomas Edison and the electric chair. Listen to business history on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Here we go. Hey, I'm Cal Penn. And on my new podcast, Here We Go again, we'll take today's trends and

headlines and ask, why does history keep repeating itself? You may know me as the second hottest actor from the Harold and Kumar movies, but I'm also an author, a White House staffer, and as of like 15 seconds ago, a podcast host. Along the way, I've made some friends who are experts in science, politics, and pop culture. And each week, one of them will be joining me to answer my burning questions. Like, are we heading towards another financial crash like in 08? Is non-monogamy back in style? And how come there's never a gate ready for your flight when it lands like two minutes early? We've got guests like Pete Buttigieg, Stacey Abrams, Lily Singh, and Bill Nye. When you start weaponizing outer space, things can potentially go really wrong.

Look, the world can seem pretty scary right now, because it is. But my goal here is for you to listen and feel a little better about the future. Listen and subscribe to here we go again with Cal Penn on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you guys. get your podcasts. Gary, let's talk about the Golden Bachelor this season. Obviously, you are, as I said at the beginning, you're going to be known as the Golden Bachelor. I don't think that's going to be leaving you.

You are engaged now at this point. You kind of mentioned this for just a second. You and Lana are watching the Golden Bachelor this season. Is that correct? Yes, we are. I'm assuming also she watched you during your time as the Golden Bachelor, right? Oh, yeah, she did. Every minute.

See, she didn't get the egg. She said, that's the guy. Goodness, Dreamboat. Just right there. Yeah, laser focused, man. Hey, what's her backstory? So has she been married before? Does she have kids?

Yes, been married before. She has three kids. Two days ago we had her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson over for a homemade soup that I made. Last night we went, she and I went to my daughter's house. The families are amazingly in line, sarcastic and smart-assed, and it's fun. It's fun both ways. That's so, so nice. And then just because Mel, he got some heat.

when he said that he was really only interested in dating under 60, ideally between like 45 and 55. What's your age gap with Lana? Ooh. So, yeah. So I kind of refer to Lana as being ageless and timeless. So there is a bit of an age gap there that you probably will be able to find in research, but you can find it.

Okay. Respect. The thing with age is that it's more an issue of understanding the humor references and the culture and the music and all of that. Yeah, that's true. Before I even knew what my age difference with Lana was, she'd already displayed that she kind of filled that gap, that there wasn't a concern with that. So age kind of became unimportant. I still find myself. I have like a seven-year-age gap and, well, six and a half.

And I still find myself with Jess sometimes being like, you might have been too young for this. And then I'll, like, tell a story of like a show from my childhood or a song from a childhood. She actually loves it. She thinks it's like, keep saying I was too young for this. She loves it. I'll go back as far as I can. And she still gets the references to TV shows and all of it. I mean, she's a Midwestern girl.

She grew up 20 miles from where I live in Auburn, Indiana. So it's a pretty easy match. Yeah, those Indiana people, just the best. Yeah, they did you and Mel talk at all before he started this experience? No, I didn't get the opportunity. Did you want it? I would have welcomed it, yes, but it didn't come along. Hmm.

Why do you think that was? Did the producers ever ask? to connect you to? Well, as you're aware, there was a change of guard. Oh, yes. Former producer, Jason, I would have been there. Absolutely. The new regime that is now no longer the new regime probably didn't look at it the same way.

It's an interesting season. We've talked about it at length. I don't need to keep going into it. But Gary, I had so much excitement and hope personally for the golden. franchise. I loved it. My wife and I got to watch it together and she doesn't watch the Bachelor of Bachelorette. It was something that we cried with, that we celebrated with. It just was so good. Obviously, if we just look at the numbers, this season has not done what Joan's season did or your season did. In your opinion, as maybe the only person on earth that can speak to it,

Why? God, that's a heavy question. I think, quite honestly, expectations were pretty high. Two good success stories, mine and Jones. And, you know, Mel's story came along, and it was, in my opinion, and I don't mean to be critical. I just don't think there's anything unique and compelling about his backstory. and no reason to give that initial interests. And then, you know, once people have tuned in, are they seeing what their expectations were?

Are those things being fulfilled? So it's a matter of chemistry on a grand scheme, just, you know, like you and your wife, me and Lana. If the chemistry is not there, I don't think it can be contrived. And I kind of think that's what's going on with Mel's story. his women are awesome I think they're a super super interesting group so man that's about all I can say about it we talk about this every week Gary

I'm like these women are awesome like they seem to be really into him but I feel nothing from him do you what do you do you also feel nothing from him yeah yeah okay thanks thanks to just you did to hear that I don't get it

You know, like I said, I don't think there's a backstory that compels the viewing public to identify with him. See, I would say maybe it's an emotional intelligence factor, or at least maybe he's got it in there. It's just he's not very good at vocalizing it. I don't know. I wish I knew. The riff, I think that you're speaking to, Gary, and I think you are one of the only people that can speak to it accurately. I think one of your greatest mistakes, Gary, also became one of the reasons why this season was such a success because of the buy-end.

I think when you said, and I didn't know this, and it makes sense to me now as we're just kind of riffing here, that you went into it 100% committed that your partner was going to be in that mansion. And I think that was a mistake. I would have told you it's a mistake. I don't think it's a good mindset. I think it puts too much pressure on the lead. I think it takes away from any points of levity.

But I also believe it was one of the reasons your season was so compelling because we could feel it. It felt like this, oh my goodness, I'm really hoping Gary finds somebody. Oh, my goodness. I'm really hoping Teresa Leslie, Faith, Nancy, all these people really find somebody. Like this feels so pressing, even though if we were intelligent viewers, we'd be like, it's not that pressing they're going to be fine afterwards. But I do think the pressure of it, the intention of it led us to buy in at a level that was different than any other season we had seen in the past.

I do think we're missing that this season. I feel like the Golden Show, that's why I made the joke, and I kind of mean it. They would have had a more successful season if The Bachelor walked in with a Walker at 80 years old hoping to find love again. And I think people would have watched it because they're like, this isn't, this is necessary. This is immediate. We need him to find somebody now because, goodness, if he gets out of this, the dating pool is not big. That, I think that's like one of the reasons why we felt certain ways towards the show.

Yeah, that's a very good observation. It brings a level of urgency and a level of, you know, connection and so forth that's not there with Mel. Yeah. All right. My last question, Gary, is how are you doing health-wise? We heard that your your bone cancer is such a slow growth that, like, you could live with it for a very long time. Do you feel physically different with it? I'm not sure I do. The tricky part is, how is a guy 74 supposed to feel? And yeah, you know, I know I sleep more. I know that there's the, little issues that come along. I mean, Lana and I went to Niagara Falls and I came back

with a cold, and it was almost a month later, and I still had this bit of a nagging cough. Is that just because that's the way it is? Am I 74? Or is it a contributing factor from this cancer? I'd like to think that it's just run-of-the-mill stuff. And until a doctor tells me that, yeah, Gary, you have this specific symptom, which is indicating progression of the disease. I am going to assume that I'm as healthy as I ever was. I'm just getting older. Final question for you, Gary. Rumors are out there. Articles are being put out that this will be the final season of the Golden Bachelor. How does that make you feel? That makes me sad. That makes me feel very bad because

I think the message if we go back to the original message of the Golden Bachelor it's a true and pure message have heart, hope and humor and just because of one

wayward season I would hate to see those mandates go by the wayside. It's fixable and you know I hope if Jason Ehrlich is back in charge of the franchise and he runs the next season of a golden,

he brings the season back again. That's very well put. Gary's book, Golden Years, is available now. Thank you, Gary Turner, for joining us the best of luck with everything. Yeah, that was a great interview. Thank you so much for your time. You guys were a hoot to talk to.

I appreciate it so much. Thank you. You took a lot of hard questions, so we appreciate you too. See you, Gary. See you. Bye. Gary's book, Golden Years, is out now.

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