The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - A Second Chance (Bachelor Mansion Takeover S1 E5)

Episode Date: March 31, 2026

Our Bachelor Nation alums are working on restoring the legendary Bachelor Mansion, but when it comes to building a competition… are they nailing it?Three previously eliminated cast members are challenged with making their own bars but the episode leaves us asking...who’s in the lead?? Who’s on the way out?? The finale is next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's an almost famous podcast. It's another recap of The Bachelor Mansion Takeover. This time, three contestants who were previously eliminated get to compete for a chance at redemption and a spot in the finale. Now, Ashley is not with us today. I'm going to break this down with our producer, Heather. Ashley is not with us because, well, she has a big week of the Real Housewives of Rhode Island press and interviews and media. And as a result, we are blessed and honored to have Heather with us today breaking down

this episode. Heather, what did you think? This didn't feel worthy of an episode to me. This felt like it could have been condensed down to a challenge. And that's kind of how I feel. What do you think of this episode? It's confusing because, you know, obviously the guy, Sam, Dean, and Noah get the week off. and they bring in three people for a redemption.

I do like that idea, especially with Chris. Yeah. I think Chris was, and they said it throughout the episode, I think Chris was arguably the most talented person there who never really got a fair shot at the competition because he was eliminated based on, I think, just the fact that he was like one of the Goldens and these guys are all friends.

And he kind of, he just never had his go at it. So I do like that. I think it was a good tour. twist and it's a fun twist and it's a fair twist. I'm with you, though. This episode dragged in a lot of ways because there just wasn't a lot happening. And again, my critique of this whole season is that we don't necessarily get the highlight. Like, we don't see a lot of the build out and the grit and the mistakes.

That part is taken out. So the renovation part of this is really not shown. if you, I think, watch the episodes as much as the final product. And there's so much time spent on the judging of this. There is. I agree. It's like we see the judges go and critique it and then they go back and they tell the contestants the critique all over again. It's like it's so, it's too much.

It's too much of the same same towards the end of every episode. It feels that way to me. Maybe other viewers would disagree, but it feels like it's a lot of repetitive language and a lot of, I mean, it was very obvious this episode, how it was going to end up. The critique still seem very much like a personal opinion more than, you know, craftsmanship or there's like a lot more stylistic critique, which is fine. Did you think that Chris was the only one who got pointed out for his functionality of his bar? I felt like everybody should have had that note if it worked or not. Right. I mean, that seems like an important element when it comes to a bar is the functionality.

So what makes, I guess I wanted to clear a picture of what actually makes the bar win more than just personal opinion. Because you can put a new paint color on very easily. You can build a roof over the top of one of these very easily. I think I wanted a clear understanding as a viewer of, okay, here's who's going to win based on how they accomplished the goal set out for them at the beginning of, I'll use your language, this challenge. But here's how the episode set up. Jesse does enter the room until the three contestants, Sam, Noah, and Dean that they do have the week off,

that they're going to bring in three people who have been eliminated from the show in the past to have a redemption opportunity. If they win this specific challenge during this episode, one of them, will be able to move on to the finale, which will happen next week. The three people invited back, Courtney, Tammy, and Chris. They are brought back based on the judges, Tasia and Tyler's opinions on who maybe needed a second shot, who maybe got the wrong of the deal or who was showing progress and promise and needed that second shot at redemption. So the guys that are currently still on the show have a week off, the three of them start the challenge. The challenge is this, Heather.

The challenge is to build a bar for the outside area. Now, this bar during my time on the show, was very, very sporadically used. I hardly remember having a bar there. I think part of that is because when you're the bachelor or the lead, somebody's bringing you drinks and you're not necessarily going to the bar to order drinks. But during Caitlin's season, I don't remember a lot of. lot of moments at this bar. It does feel to me like there needs to be a bar out there. It's a big element of the show. Do you remember your bar being so easily mobile as these ones were that they popped up? I mean, this was just some two by fours with some tiles put on

them essentially at the end of the day. I actually think, and I could be totally wrong here, but if I'm pulling back memories from my memory bank, I remember the bar being a catering service. So it was one that could wheel in and wheel out. There was no bar that I remember actually being built or that was permanent. But it's always great to have a pool bar. I think that, I mean, this house is set up for that. And so this outdoor area is now complete with the pool bar. But is this the pool or is this the terrace out in the first? front yard like near, where is this terrace, I guess? Is this located near the fountain in the front yard? No, it's back by the pool. So on the pool, there's a terrace off the side of a bedroom that we never saw during the show.

Okay. And it's a really beautiful area of the property, actually. It's a pretty wide open area. You come out those sliders that you see so many people walking out during the show right off of that like living room. And it would be right to the right of that would be where this bar. looks like it's going to sit. That would be my assumption. I think it would be weird to have a bar in the front yard, right? I guess I was trying to get my bearings on this mansion. I didn't realize that pool area was so vast.

It's a huge pool area. The property itself is massive. I mean, it has a house. There's like a guest house across the driveway from the main house. This is a big piece of property in a beautiful location. They should have made over the guest house. I've never seen inside of it. In fact, I think a little tidbit, I think Chris Souls actually lived in that house while he was the Bachelor.

That would actually be very interesting if The Bachelorette or The Bachelor lived on the property. We would get a lot of those knock on the door moments, I think, late at night with contestants that we've seen happen more so on the travel episodes. Yeah, you're right. I mean, so big piece of property, big pool area, they're going to elevate this pool area. The challenge is to build a bar to make it functional for this pool area. We'll start with, let's start with Chris's ball. Don't forget they also have to make a signature cocktail,

which then they never get judged on. But okay. Yeah, that's true. It all has to match the vibe of the bar they build. And Chris, I do think when it comes to putting together his bar, his craftsmanship was shown. He is working on it. He is focused.

And he is making it a beach theme. Now, one element, and I might have missed this, that would have been very helpful because I love the idea of your pool area, feeling like you're on a beach. It feels like you're on vacation. It's separate from the design of the house. You sit at this bar and you feel like you've escaped, even if it's 100 yards or 10 foot from the house that you're living. And you feel like you've escaped to a different place. So when Chris says, hey, I'm going to make this a Caribbean-style bar, I personally am like, yes, that's what I would want.

It might not fit the aesthetic of the house. But personally, I like the idea. I agree with you. What is this challenge? Is this challenge to be innovative? Or is this challenge to make a bar that fits into the theme of the house? Because they didn't say either way. But in the past, they've been telling these people to make bold design.

choices to do something that represents them. And it seems like really what they wanted was just a bar that kind of fit the theme of the house, which was not conveyed to any of the contestants because I'm with you. I would like something that is bold and stands out. That can get weathered. And as it weather, it actually is even cooler and it shows the age and the grit behind it. I also think the comments that, you know, mostly focused on night one or the cocktail parties of The Bachelor, for me, seem like a secondary thought. This is still a functioning house where people are living in it.

This is not a house built for the show, even though this is the Bachelor Mansion takeover. This is still a house that people live in and breathe in and move in. Oh, you mean just in the season or outside of the season? Outside of the season. I don't think people live there anymore. I think it's Airbnb then. And at some point, it probably will become somebody's house, right? The Bachelor won't take over this space forever.

True. And so if we're building this for people at the pool in cocktail dresses, that feels like a miss to me. How often is this house actually having people in suits and cocktail dresses by the pool? I agree. That's a good point. You know wants to send you and a friend with flights from tripcentral.ca. Two nights at Sheridan Center Toronto.

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I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers, and adrenaline seekers to discuss. the inner landscapes and life experiences that informed and inspired their extraordinary feats. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix so we too can better understand how to face our own seemingly insurmountable challenges. Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to pull out what you already have inside. We're coming into this world, fighting for our lives. All I'm going to do is pull out what you already got inside. We're there to support and celebrate each other. And that's not like your story versus my story. you're going to walk up and over that dang mountain.

You're not just going to put your mind over it. Yep, yep, exactly. And if I can't walk up and over it, I'm going to go through it. Listen to Mind Over Mountain every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything. Here at the Nick Dick and Poll Show, we're not afraid to make mistakes.

What Cougler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer-director. Who do you think he is? I don't know. You mean the, like, the president? You think Canada has a president. You think China has a president. The law crusade.

God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night. It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep. It was a good one. It is an actual Polish saying. It is an actual Polish saying.

It is an actual Polish saying. Better version of Play Stupid Games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift, who said that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was.

I got that wrong. Listen to the Nick, Dick, and Paul show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Almost 30 years together, four kids and some of reality TV's most unforgettable moments, we know a thing or two about living life out loud.

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and the cultural moments everyone's texting about. And Terry will deliver insider beauty, health, and wellness insights you won't find on TikTok. Together, we'll tell the stories, spill the secrets, and share the hacks that keep life, marriage, and everything in between feeling fresh and fun. We may live in a gated community, but there's zero gatekeeping here. And plenty of, did they just say that moments? Listen to Between Us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him.

I said, hi, Dad. And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen. She says, I have some cookies and milk. This is badass convict. Right. Just finished five years. I'm going to have cookies and milk them all. Yeah.

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So Chris's bar is built with the Caribbean theme. He gets a lot of critique for his sign that really wasn't even built by him. They showed up the next morning and the sign was already built. and they had to glue it together and paint it. Yeah. But the, you know, for the most part, the way the letters were cut out, I'm sure they had a say in that. But the sign itself, if it was on driftwood or if it was on, you know, a piece of plywood,

didn't we didn't see that that was a decision they got to make. So, you know, take that for what it is. But he does get a lot of critique on something that he actually did not have a hand in putting together other than the gluing and the painting of the sign. itself. Also something out of all the bars, out of all the elements of a bar, the sign was definitely the easiest part. It probably took that dude an hour to put all three to cut out all three. But that's what Chris gets a lot of critique. His functionality is high, they said. It's the most functional space of any of the bars from what we understand. It also has a lot of good shade.

So when you're sitting in the hills of L.A. and the sun is baking down on you and it's hot and it's dry, this bar did give the most coverage for shade. So it was the most enjoyable from what I was hearing to sit at. And then we have Courtney's bar. Courtney's bar is called Liquid Courage. Her bar is beautiful. I do think with Courtney, the big miss was,

I don't know how you have an outdoor bar without a backing to your shelving. There's wind. There's weather again. And every time the wind and weather picks up, I don't know if you want to be running out there to throw all of your drinks and cups and glasses underneath the bar or inside. So you do need some protection. And I was with Sean. I think Sean was the one that gave the critique that the back shelving made, like he couldn't understand it. And it made me nervous watching it thinking how many times somebody would be having a good time, put a bottle up there and it falls off and the glass breaks in a pool area where people are barefoot. That was a miss.

But the overall look of her bar was what they called sexy. And I do agree. It was sexy. It looked like if you could sit it in the basement of a home, put it up against a wall, it would really elevate the space. Yeah. I would say with Courtney's out of the three, hers, I think, was the most scaled back in terms of design. I felt like the others went a little bit more.

detailed, whether it was lighting, whether it was, you know, extra things that they had on the bar. And hers was really paired back. She did say she was going for a simplistic look because that's what she got complimented on in the last challenge, which she ended up getting sent home for. But I think, yeah, for this element of a bar, it was missing just, it needed a little bit more to feel complete, for sure. Yeah, it looked for an outdoor bar area. It just looked a little bit incomplete, but it also was beautiful. Yes.

The simplicity of it did stand out. And I do think overall, it looked more like an inside basement bar to me. In fact, Chris is the only one that looked like a pool bar to me. I agree. Yeah. I agree with both of those statements. If I was a judge on this show, I think one of my biggest concerns when it comes to an outdoor bar is how is it going to weather? you know what is going to weather about it it's going to sit outside this thing's not moving around

often if at all and so is it going to be able to hold up to the conditions and the elements that exist outside that's a huge part of functionality to me and it really a part if you're a judge on the show that we should have been talking about is does this look like a bar that can exist you know for more than 12 months outside final bar was tammy's bar Tammy's bar is definitely the most complete. And it is, it takes the elements of Courtney's bar and I think elevates it to a level that is beautiful. It's a gorgeous bar. It is wonderful.

And I'm going to sound like a broken record. But how is it going to stand up to the test of time with the elements outside? Also, it just felt like another extension of the rose room or the mixer. Like, it didn't feel like a big swing in terms of design. It had arches again. It had the same colors we've been seeing. It just felt like, and I know the judges came at her and we're like, where are you in this, in this like design? But it's like Chris is all over his design and you didn't end up going with that one.

So I didn't really understand this challenge and what the judges were looking for. But I do agree. I liked in her arch that she put spotlights. Like those kinds of details I thought were really nice. I mean, it was a beautiful bar. In fact, all three of these are wonderful. I think I, at the end of the episode, was a little confused on, are we picking the most beautiful bar?

Like, is that the challenge here? Like, the one that, like, is aesthetically pleasing and that makes it look like you're sitting in a hotel lobby, you know, having a drink? Or are we picking an outside pool bar? That's where I'm getting confused. Yeah, I think they chose the one that most looks like the house. That's what I think they did. And maybe in my ideal world, I wish that would have been said at the beginning.

Like, take swings, right, for your design, but also here is the lane that we're judging upon. Does this fit the aesthetic of the house? Does it fit with the overall themes that we've been going with the whole time or does it not? Because if that was the judgment and that's what they were judging on, I don't think Chris goes with the Caribbean theme. I think he was thinking, hey, this is who I am. This is what I think of when I think of pool bar. Let me do a pool bar in the way that I envision it and see it and do it to the best of my abilities. But there wasn't a clear guideline here what the actual judging was going to be about. And I think that's maybe a theme throughout this whole season. Yeah. There's too many

points where I'm like, that's amazing and great. And they choose the thing that feels safe or whatever the judges kind of come to a consensus on what they were looking for. I wish there was more guidelines on the design. Yeah, I agree. That would have been helpful. During this whole experience, Sam, Noah, and Dean, again, have the week off. They decide to work out because they have all the free time in the world. And they're a little bit angry. And it's funny, I wonder fans will pick up on this. I was watching Dean, you know, act like he was so mad that there was a,

these contestants coming back in. And he, trust me, Dean was not mad. He was joking, very much joking. But they tried to, I think the show actually tried to make it look like he was actually upset. I think the show was really trying to make them look all upset. They kept asking them and kept having them sit down an interview being like, oh, I'm really upset about this. It's like, these guys don't care at all.

They're having a good time. It's like even they made Sam be like, oh, it's hard to like enjoy my first victory of this whole season when these people are coming back. It's like he doesn't care, guys. No, he's getting the sound bite that you need. And Dean's is hilarious because if you watch it and you know Dean, you know. you know his sense of humor and you know he's like just saying it to say it

and saying in the most ridiculous way like I'm so angry and he's not but I do think viewers will watch it and be like oh Dean was really mad I feel like Dean was like smiling and laughing

he was it was like almost like scary because if he was actually mad and that's how he communicates anger and he smiles through it you're like that feels really off but no he's fine, he's doing what he does.

These guys are hanging out for the week or for the day, two days, taking a break. And I think that they're jazzed on that, that they don't have to pick up a hammer. They are doing cannon balls in the pool. And then they like to come over and they're like, oh, look at this bar. They're like looking at the bars being built, but they don't care. No, they're having a blast. At this point in the season, all three of them are just hanging out together. They're happy to be there.

and they're glad to have a few days of downtime. Exactly. But that's what these guys choose to do. And they know that one of these contestants who win will be joining them in the final four in the finale that is next week. So the judges come out and judge each of these bars. We bring in Bachelor Nation favorite, Bachelor favorite,

Sean Lowe, to the house, who does have a huge background in design and furniture. I didn't know that. Is that like a known thing that Sean, makes furniture. I didn't know that. I don't think he makes furniture or designed furniture. Yeah, he has a partnership with a company. In fact, the basement in my house right now is a Sean Lowe and Catherine Lowe sofa that we've had since it was their wedding gift to us, which was very kind years ago. And it's a wonderful piece of furniture. But yeah, I think pretty much after the show,

he got this deal. And it must have worked out for both parties because it's been a long deal. And Sean does a lot of like VC investment. I think he does probably have some rental homes. I know he also has invested in some fast food restaurants and probably helped the design of those. It makes sense on, you know, why he's there and kind of his eye for things. So he does show up to join Jesse, Tasha, and Tyler this week. They go to each bar. We've talked about a lot of the feedback.

already, Heather, on each bar. But was there any feedback, I think, that you strongly agreed with or disagreed with? I think just going back to the functionality of Chris's bar that that all made sense once Tyler kind of pointed out the things, decisions he'd made in terms of the layout. And I think when you pointed out the fact that Courtney's bar didn't have a backing and how problematic that could be, I think that that's, I agree in that feedback. back as well. I guess my big question mark is on Tammys and what they loved about it when they said basically that they didn't see her in the design was a little surprising that that's the one that

they ultimately went with. I agree with you. I mean, I'm not taking anything away from Tammy in her bar and her design or Courtney in her bar and her design and Chris and his design. They were all great. I just don't know what they were judging upon because this is what we're told they're judging upon design. Okay, don't know what that means, right? Design for an outdoor bar or design to match the house. I think it means design in terms of like, they don't want something sloppy, right? You don't want something that's crooked or like exposed.

That's what I think when I hear like being judged on design, like the perfection of the actual, whatever the design may be. Okay, so all three of them accomplished that goal, right? the design of all three of them was well done for the design that they were wanting. I do think the only one that we could probably dock for design was Courtney just because of the functionality. And it wasn't sloppy. I don't want to put that word behind it. But I do think it was not thought through of how this bar could actually function in the outdoors.

The next was execution. I don't know what that means. Execution, I would think, goes into the functionality element. of like how it's how it's laid out. Okay. So all three of them in a way made that happen because we only heard them comment, though, on Chris's functionality and saying how well done that was.

And so maybe we give him a heads up there and say, hey, you're at this point in the lead. Creativity. I feel like that's so broad. I mean, everybody has to create something out of nothing in this challenge. And creativity to me in a lot of ways,

thinks going outside of the norm, going outside of the box, right? Thinking of something that is not maybe expected or something different. I do think Courtney's and Tammy's bars most aligned in terms of aesthetic and style and thought Chris's bar did stand out because it was so different than theirs. And the final judgment was concept. What is the concept here? And I think all of them had some very creative ways. to do the concept.

Chris is called dark and stormy, so he makes a dark and stormy drink. Courtney's bar is highlighted by a drink that's a spicy jalapeno, jalapeno rosé drink, and the name of her bar is, remind me here. Liquid courage. Liquid courage.

Again, high marks on both of those things. And Tammy's bar is a little more sophisticated. The name of her drink is the killer kiss. It's a mescal drink that she shares with the judges and Jesse. It looked fancy when she revealed the drink. It was like, whoa, she was like in there, like mixing it up, like a real bartender and like all smoky. I was like, okay, props on that. But then they weren't judged on the drink.

So I was like, there's a lot of for nothing. Yes. The newest tracks. Let's go. We use it. And the next big thing. music first your first place to hear it all because you're going to like it love to want to play it twice playing now i heart new music your digital station for brand new drops fresh vines and tomorrow's

bangers discover i heart new music always fresh always first stream now on the free i heart radio Hi, everyone. I'm Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. I'm excited to share that I have a new podcast called Mind Over Mountain. In each episode, I interview athletes, adventurers, and adrenaline seekers to discuss the inner landscapes and life experiences that informed and inspired their extraordinary feats. I also bring a bit of advice into the mix so we too can better understand how to face our own seemingly insurmountable challenges. Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to pull out what you already have inside. We're coming into this world, fighting for our lives. All I'm going to do is pull out what you already got inside. We're there to support and celebrate each other.

And that's not like your story versus my story. You're going to walk up and over that dang mountain. You're not just going to put your mind over it. Yep, yep, exactly. And if I can't walk up and over it, I'm going to go through it. Listen to Mind Over Mountain every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about,

and they are experts at everything. Here, the Nick Dick and Poll show, we're not afraid to make mistakes. What Kugler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer-director. Who do you think he is? I don't know. You meet the president? You think Canada has a president.

You think China has a president? Does law a russet. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night. It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep. It was a good one.

I like that snake. It is an actual Polish saying. It is an actual Polish saying. Better version of Play Stupid Games, win stupid prizes. Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift who said that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was. I got that wrong.

Listen to the Nick Dick and Paul show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Almost 30 years together, four kids and some of reality TV's most unforgettable moments, we know a thing or two about living life out loud. We're taking you behind the scenes in our new podcast, Between Us, with me, Heather Dubrow. And me, Terry Debrough. Between Us isn't about perfect lighting or curated Instagram grids. It's the unfiltered behind-closed doors conversations you wish you could eavesdrop on. Equal parts, smart, funny, and a little bit scandalous.

Every week, Heather would bring you an unapologetic take on the headline, the trends and the cultural moments everyone's texting about. And Terry will deliver insider beauty, health, and wellness insights you won't find on TikTok. Together, we'll tell the stories, spill the secrets, and share the hacks that keep life, marriage, and everything in between feeling fresh and fun. We may live in a gated community, but there's zero gatekeeping here. And plenty of, did they just say that moments? Listen to Between Us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I went and sat on the little ottoman in front of him. I said, hi, dad. And just when I said that, my mom comes out of the kitchen. She says, I have some cookies and milk. This is a badass convict. Right. Just finished five years. I'm going to have cookies and milk at my mom.

On the senior show podcast, each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience, and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor, cultural icon Danny Trail, to talk about addiction, transformation, and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Addish, Johnny Knoxville, and more. I'm an alcoholic. And without this trouble, I'm going to die.

Open your free I-Heart radio app. Search the CETO show and listen now. Tammy does win this competition. competition, Heather. And I'm not going to say she didn't deserve it. I think she did deserve it, 100%. That's not the point here. I just don't know necessarily how she won. That's what I wanted. I wanted to watch it. What I love in a renovation show, HGTV is a go-to for me. What I love in a renovation show is watching the process unfold and being able to be like, okay, that's a hit, that's a miss, that's a hit, that's a miss, based on what I know from the show going into it.

Or when they put a design idea into motion and it flops midway through and they have to pivot and how they make that pivot, that's always really interesting to watch as well. You're right. This didn't have that. We just kind of have the bars being built. The judges and then the final say, which is Tammy wins, which means Tammy goes on to the finale. I do think she's a force to be wrecked and with during the finale. I could see any of these people in the finale. I think that's what is like difficult about this.

It's like they could all be in there. And I would be like, that's a great contender to be in the finale. I'm very curious watching the preview for the finale. We are told that they're going to renovate the kitchen, which is cool and needed. The kitchen has a really cool look to it right now where when it was built, they brought in some, it looks like really, really old, refurbished, like almost driftwood that they've stained and painted and made in the

cabinets. It is a cool look. It could use maybe like a redo just based on time and years spent of those cabinets being slammed. I'm very curious, though, how they're going to judge the finale if they're all working within one space. Oh, I think it's going to be like somebody's in charge of the island. Somebody's in charge of like this. set of cabinets. Somebody's in charge, like the back splash and the appliances. Somebody's going to be in charge of probably the stove area and like that section.

Yeah. But I agree with you. It is, it's going to be a hard room to divide up for four people. But I do like that we're finally seeing stuff smashed. We haven't seen that this whole season. And we're seeing them smashing countertops and smashing, through the cabinets. And so I'm excited to see some stuff actually get broken in this house.

Yeah, my only question to you, Heather, is, I mean, I've redone our kitchen's countertops, replace them. Smashing was not necessary. Like, it wasn't the way that you remove a nice piece of granite. Yeah. And those countertops were really nice pieces of granite. They can be reused. They can be cut down. be refurbished. That is true. You don't have to smash the countertops. You just kind of like remove them. What are they smashing then? They're smashing. They're smashing the countertops. And it's like, wait, for a renovation show, you, yes, you want the drama of it. But you also want to do things in the way that you would do them in your real life. I'm confused on why they're smashing the countertops, quite honestly, because that is one of the most, the least efficient ways,

because the glue still sticks. And now it's a lot of pieces you have to pick up. And dust. You have to pick up. Yeah. It doesn't necessarily fit when it comes to demo. Demo in a lot of ways is surgical. It's fun to see people take a sledgehammer to things.

That's not the way demo works most of the time. So I'm watching this. I'm like, this is unrealistic, which here I watch HTT TV because I want the realistic picture, the best they can for TV, of one. a renovation looks like and how they do it. And I like to learn from watching it to say, okay, there's a technique I can now use and utilize when I maybe want to do something like this.

Anyways, just my thought. It's probably a little bit too detailed, but that's me watching it and saying, hey, that feels very aggressive and unnecessary. And whoever owns this house now might love the opportunity to sell like a $5,000 piece of granite to a manufacturer to cut down and reuse. I mean, for me, I think, and I'm like, that's a bargain.

That's where I can get my money back. Who do you think is going to win this season? It's really all how this kitchen is set up. You asked me that question. I think it's all how the, if it is just like building things, I do think Dean and Sam have the advantage. If it is design focused, I think Tammy has the advantage. if it is kind of like a utility knife, a universal, like, hey, how is this whole thing going to go and how are you navigating the process?

I think Noah has the advantage. So I don't know, again, and that's part of the frustration, I think, is I don't know who the best player is because I don't know what they're being judged upon yet. Yeah, this is true. It's not been a linear kind of competition for anyone and having them be paired up versus only doing. individual challenges towards the end has also like been tricky to kind of follow and navigate of whose skills are where. I will say I really do love that Dean is the only one so far who has built his own things that we've seen, whether it's custom art or custom furniture. So I'm excited to see what kind of custom thing he brings to this kitchen challenge because

I think he's going to do that again. Yeah, and he should. He's incredible at it. Yeah. So I don't know who's going to win. I would want to, I mean, obviously, I love Dean. I'd love to see him walk away with the 250K. 100K.

100K. But I don't know. It's all up in the air on what this whole finale will look like. It is the finale next week of the Bachelor Mansion renovation show, the Bachelor Mansion takeover. Tammy, Noah, Sam, and Dean are left standing. And the previews were told that they're going to redo the kitchen. Overall, Heather, I mean, we're wrapping up this season. And as the world knows, we thought we're going to have other seasons to be breaking down during this time. This has been a, I would say I know I've been critical today. It's been a good

spinoff of the show. Like, I've enjoyed seeing these characters come to life in a way that's outside of dating. Yeah. And seeing who they are as people and seeing them a little more relaxed because it's not so stressful and there's not so much emotion that there has been, obviously. But I've enjoyed the idea of this spinoff. I think it could have been executed in a way that's a little bit better. Mostly for me, I want clarity and I want some of the lull, like, awkward moments when it comes. comes to the judges to be cut down. There's so much repetitive feedback and so much repetitive language that it gets a little bit drawn out. But for the most part, I've enjoyed this spinoff. And I do think it is replicable in the future. And I would watch it gladly if maybe my

own personal, my own personal biases could be, you know, solved when it comes to clarity and walling in language. Yeah, I think overall this show had a really great concept to it. I feel like the end goal should have been less about this upcoming season of The Bachelorette. And I think people would have been more invested if the goal was to make this property, yes, beautiful, but also you, the viewer now get a chance to stay at the Bachelor Mansion. and what room are you going to stay in? And like if they had done that and we know that HGTV has done like dream home renovation,

I can't remember the exact name. But the whole point was that you as a viewer could win a stay or win a chance to like live in the house for like a year or something. Don't quote me. But I know HGTV has done contests and things like that in the past. So I think that would have been more fun. and I just wish that the drama was less manufactured feeling, and I wish we would have been able to see more people from Bachelor Nation come in and pop in, whether it's, oh, you're doing a bar thing.

I'm going to have Wells Adams pop in and actually mix up the drinks and serve them and hang out. And Wells is going to judge you on your drink competition. That would a great idea. Or, you know, I'm going to have. Some other people from Bachelor Nation come and mingle at each one of these bars and try the drinks. I don't know. I just feel like as much as we're seeing some of our favorites from past seasons, there's so many more people that could have been incorporated into this show. That's all.

If only there's a way, if only there was a way to bring back people from Bachelor Nation that we've learned to love and follow and grow up with on a show that fits. where they're at in life and fits who they are in life, and that brings out their biggest and best personalities. If only there was a way, Heather. If only, if only that show existed, I'd watch that show. I'd watch that show, too. Hey, we aren't breaking down The Bachelor, obviously, but we are beginning to break down the real housewives of Rhode Island.

And I am very excited to announce a very special co-host during this breakdown. One, that will be really fun for everybody listening, be really fun for me, somebody that is talented and skilled, somebody who is close enough to the situation to be able to speak about it in a way that nobody else can. But you're going to have to listen to the first episode of the Real Housewives of Rhode Island Breakdown to find out who that person is. She's been chosen. I will say it's a she. She's been chosen? She's in waiting. she's prepped and ready to go

and so am I to start breaking down our beloved Ashley I and her debut on the real housewives of Rhode Island. It's kind of weird to think Ashley I is a real housewife. I can't wait for you and your special co-host who's not me to break this down because this is going to be your first experience

watching housewives, right? Ben, this is like you being introduced the world, which I think is so fun as somebody who's obsessed with Housewives. It is insane to see Ashley in this new environment, this new world. I will say I've already seen the first episode and I love it. I am super excited to watch this season and watch you get to see it. I'm excited for fans to get to see Ash, the new element. It's all going to be, I think, really interesting to play out.

So yes, that will be coming. later this week it's crazy it's like we've been talking about this for forever and now it's I mean yeah we hit it for so long right Ashley was away and not always on the show and then it was announced and then there was like all this lull and kind of limbo stage and now it's launching I will say I I am personally very excited and I love the preview of them doing the like have you ever or whatever game that's called what you hold a the five fingers and you drop one. Never have I ever.

Never have ever. And they're like, had a threesome. And Ashley's like, all five fingers. I, you know, that's part of my storyline. I can't not wait to see her navigate this to see the, the personalities come out to watch the drama unfold. It's going to be great. So tune in here to the almost famous podcast.

It's going to be right here where we begin to break down the real housewives of Rhode Island. I'm ready for it. Yes, we're missing a bachelorette season or a bachelor's season, whatever was supposed to be filming during this time. That's a bummer. But it doesn't mean we take a break and it doesn't mean we still don't bring you great content. The Real Housewives is a huge franchise and you're going to have the most exclusive, most detailed, and most excited breakdowns right here on the Almost Famous Podcast. So until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Heather. Bye. See all. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous Podcasts on

on IHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. It's the new me. And it's the old them. This Woman's History Month, the podcast, If You Knew Better with Amber Grimes, spotlights women who turn missteps into momentum and lessons into power. My tunnel vision of like I gotta achieve this was off the strengths of like,

I want to make a better life for us. If You Knew Better brings real talk from women who've lived it, unpacking career pivots, relationship lessons, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. Listen to If You Knew Better with Amber Grimes on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This Women's History Month, the podcast Keep It Positive, Sweetie, celebrates the power of women choosing healing, purpose, and faith, even when life gets messy.

Love is not a destination. You have to work on it every day. Keep It Positive, Sweetie creates space for honest conversations on self-worth, love, growth, and navigating life with grace and grid, led by women who have lived, inspire, and tell the truth out loud. I have several conversations with God, and I know why it took the 20 years. To hear this and more, listen to Keep It Posit, sweetie, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Saturday, May 2nd, country's biggest stars will be in Austin, Texas, at our 2026 IHard Country Festival presented by Capital One, C, Cain Brown, Parker McCollum, The man do you need. Riley Green. Shaboozy.

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And I'm kicking off a brand new season of my podcast, Math and Magic, Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. Math and Magic takes you behind the scenes of the biggest business. and industries while sharing insights from the smartest minds in marketing. Coming up this seasonal math and magic, CEO of Liquid Death, Mike Cesario. People think that creative ideas are like these light bulb moments that happen when you're in the shower.

It's really like a stone sculpture. You're constantly just chipping away and refining. Take two interactive CEO, Strauss Selnick, and our own chief business officer, Lisa Coffey. Listen to Math and Magic on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, Here's the Thing.

I talk to composer Mark Shaman. It's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging out with the people that you're with. You know, Rob and I was always a great hang. And journalist Chris Whipple. Every White House staffer, they work in a bubble called the West Wing. And it's exponentially more so in the Trump White House. Listen to the new season of Here's the Thing on the I-Heart Radio app, or wherever.

you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.