The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Almost Famous In Depth: Ariel Frenkel

Episode Date: April 4, 2023

Now that Zach’s season of The Bachelor is all wrapped up, Ben is ready to go IN DEPTH with Ariel Frenkel. Ariel has some strong feelings about what happened during “sex week”. Find out why her relationship with Zach could have turned out COMPLETELY different. And, Ariel shares her honest reaction to the fan campaign to make her The BacheloretteSee 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. Hi, it's Honey German and I'm back with season two of my podcast. Graziez, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment

with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We'll talk about all that's viral and trending.

with a little bit of Cheezement and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great Vibras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dacus Come Again on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy chisement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex.

No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. Get in here.

Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is Ben and Ashley I, Almost Famous in depth. All right, today we're joined on the Almost Famous Podcast for a very special episode. Ariel, welcome. Hi. You have been doing the rounds. here recently. You've been talking about this show a lot. Are you sick of it yet? I could never get sick of talking about the show. That's not true. I promise you that's not true. I think it's nice

to talk about the experience. And I feel like from each conversation, you get a different take from different people and they ask different questions. So it hasn't become redundant for me yet. But maybe one day I'll get tired of it. Well, you know, it is a cool experience. And I will say, as I was prepping for this, you have an experience that not everybody can relate with that came onto the show and then have been removed from the show.

You pretty much personally came out, in my opinion, unscathed. Like nobody is hating on Ariel. Everybody loves Ariel. How does that feel? I feel like there will always be some haters. Some. Okay. Majority.

I was given amazing advice kind of after the experience. about how to handle everything because going in, I kind of didn't know what to anticipate and everything that I might have anticipated was very different once I was actually in there. So I was given great advice on how to handle everything once because there's this interim period of we kind of leave. I left Thailand and then for a long time I don't know what anything's going to look like, what's going to play back, what the episodes are going to be like.

So someone told me that no matter what people say, I have to keep being authentically myself and sticking true to what I know of myself. So even if people are praising you if they're saying really nice things, don't take that to heart, but also then don't take the insults too much to heart either. So I feel like there's always something negative

that people can say to me. There's always something that can be said in any capacity, but instead of putting so much weight on the compliments, I'm also not going to put so much weight there, so I won't put weight on the negative commentary. So I appreciate what everyone's saying. Everyone's been so sweet, so nice, and I love how people have been reaching out

like individually even through like social media and stuff and even in Nashville I ran into people on the street and they had such kind things to say. But I try to like still stay true to myself. So even if I hear insults or hear someone say something, because people always, no matter who you are, have something negative to say. So I feel like I try to ignore that and keep being myself no matter like what people say and not trying to shift that. Who gave you this advice? A friend of mine that I'm actually while traveling. Oh really? So, like, they weren't somebody from the show. No, no, no.

But when they told you this, it just felt like, no, I needed this reminder. Like, I needed this insight. It wasn't someone I was super close to. But they said, let's say someone says that I'm unintelligent, for example. And I'll be trying to prove that person wrong instead of just being intelligent. So whatever the insult or anything is, you're always going to be trying to disprove what people say. So it's better to actually just be yourself because then that way, even the compliments will actually ring true and the insults won't. So it's better to do that than to try

to combat what people are saying online. And I try to honestly only filter in the positive commentary for the most part. You know, the other thing that happens, it feels like when you're saying this, you wouldn't lose yourself, which is so easy to happen in this experience, right? You're in it right now, but you went from zero to 100, right? I mean, a year ago, you weren't getting recognized in Nashville, or maybe you were, and you could correct me there. But now you are, you all. You are, And it's so easy. There's so many different factors that can cause you to lose who you are. And years later, you look back and say, what happened?

Like, what was all this about? Yeah, definitely. And I wanted to make sure that I was being authentic to myself through the experience. And I wasn't going to waver on that, even in moments of being uncomfortable or moments that I didn't feel like myself. It's always important to kind of go back to your center of gravity when you can. Well, I want to talk about who you are as a person. This is an in-depth episode with Airman.

Ariel. I'm, Ariel, right? That's how you say it? Ariel. Ariel. Okay. So there's like a longer, yeah. I'm, I'm going to, I'm going to do that correctly, 75% of the time, I promise, okay? From here on now, it's going to be right. But these are our most listened to episodes here at the Almost Famous Podcast, because I think people really like to know who they are watching and who they are seeing on television. So let's start at the beginning before, or not at the beginning necessarily, but who were you before this? show. What was your job? What were your hobbies? What are your friend group like? Give us a little

insight. Should I start for the beginning? Should I start for my college days? Whatever it feels like it matters the most? Well, I grew up in New York. Right after New York, I moved to D.C. for school. I went to DW, George Washington. And I actually made my closest friends there. I don't think I had as many close relationships with people in high school, like typical bully story. but I really made like my lifelong like forever kind of partner friends in college and I still and we're kind of in a group of four and then many people outside of that and then I graduated college and actually moved to L.A. to pursue a job in entertainment. I worked at a talent agency and it's like grad school but it is a very intense experience and I learned a lot in two years. I then worked in

hospitality. I've kind of switched around a lot of different jobs. I most recently was working for the financial times, and then I switched to freelance marketing. So I basically now work with brands, building brands up, doing all the marketing strategy for them, from the beauty space to the fashion space and also through word of mouth, through anyone that actually wants to work with me based on my previous experience. So, and it's a question that so many get asked at this stage now, Do you plan on continuing to work at the job that you had before? So I now work in freelance. I'm going to keep that job as long as I can because I really like building brands from

the ground up and helping people visualize their strategy. I was able to basically apply everything I've learned. I've worked since I was 16 years old. I over the summers entered the first time when I was 16 at a PR firm. And I just loved the rush of like being surrounded by people that are kind of running around the clock. I was with all 26 year olds at that time. And I just felt like writing copy.

and getting involved. And to me, I always prioritize even work over schooling and things like that. So I interned every single year when I was actually in school through both kind of like different semesters of the year and then also the summer. So then now, do you feel like your experience on the show? Has it given you any new insights? Do you feel like it's going to help you? I mean, I would imagine, I don't want to assume because most like good people don't. But you didn't go into this show thinking, hey, this is going to help my career. But now, Now you're seeing the, you know, the backside of the show and what opportunities are available. Do you think it's going to help in this next chapter?

I don't necessarily think so. It can hurt and depending on the job opportunity, but I'm more so, I'm less interested in the corporate world and I kind of left that show. And I'm more interested in like the startup and freelancing space. So that can, it can hurt you in more corporate environments because people question your participation. So I actually really had to think about it before I went into the show because because that could really hurt my chances of going back into kind of a large corporation and

even the previous work experience that I had. So I really had to be meticulous about it, think about it. And so far, I think when people search me, there won't be kind of negative commentary, anything like that that they see from my experience on the show. But I also had to be really careful about what kind of roles I want to pivot into now if I do decide to go back at the startup space. Yeah. Now, you, again, you carried yourself tremendously on the show and you stayed authentic to who you

are. I think that's a big reason why you are such a fan favorite and you have been busy talking about the show since the show. Let's give us a little more insight here. If I did my research correctly, your nationality is Ukrainian, correct? Yeah, I'm Ukrainian Jewish. You're Ukrainian Jewish. You grew up in New York City, as you said. You moved to L.A., but you are a world traveler also. You do enjoy travel. That is a big part of your life, correct? Yeah, it always has been through work. I traveled a lot for most of my jobs and I also worked for a company that was primarily based in London

and then a previous company as well that was between L.A. and New York but we traveled all over because it was in the hospitality space we did a lot of on the ground work where we checked out different hotels and restaurants and so on to kind of see what the market is like.

And in between every job I've made sure to do a big trip usually by myself. Like in between when I left the Talty agency space and was moving into hospitality I went to age on my own because I knew I wouldn't have that like two-month period to have off again. So I think it's important to travel to see the world.

And if you can do it within a certain budget as well, I like the challenge of being able to do so. You definitely, I mean, at least we got the sense that you're adventurous. One of your final dates was Zach was eating insects. And we said here at the Almost Famous podcast, how cool of a moment that was, traditionally on the show or other shows you see people travel to different cultures and kind of get grossed out by whatever's being put in front of you or whatever. And it's always a very awkward, I feel like, seen because it's disrespectful in my mind. And you especially did not disrespect. You dove in and you enjoyed it and you talked about how good it was. I thought it was

a really great moment for the show to see somebody respect culture and different people's lifestyles like you did. I think you always have to, and it's also smart sometimes to do research before you go somewhere to know the customs, because even a handshake can be disrespectful in certain cultures. So I think it's very important to do as much research as you can, no matter which new city you're going to and country as well. Yeah. Well, thank you, I guess. It was a great thing to see on television. Well, I want to dive into your time on the show. Now, we've got a picture of who you are. when you got signed up, when you agreed to come on the show, were you already interested in Zach? Was this already something or in somebody that you were intrigued by? Or is this

just a new experience to have a lot of fun with? No, I was definitely, I found out, I signed up for the experience not knowing that it would be Zach, but I found out before going in. So were you excited? Yeah, I was excited. Okay. I definitely was guarded coming in and I was cautious because I I didn't know what to, like, think of the experience and what to think of someone kind of trying to pursue a relationship in that kind of a dynamic. But the more I got to know him, the more excited I got. And the more I kind of felt like, yes, he wasn't part of like the typical kind of,

I don't really have a type, honestly. I like to say that, but he's definitely not in line with, like, anyone I've dated in the last few years. And he really reminded me of a lot of the relationships I had in college and his kindness and his sweetness. And the way he was really like a great listener and made me feel comfortable. in such an uncomfortable environment. I got more excited as I got to know him. I don't like to really base anything off of what you see on someone on television

or what they might be like because you might be disappointed or they might just be different when you meet them. So I was very excited as much as I could be, but I like to limit my emotions until I really meet someone and get to know them. So, I mean, you know, I think one thing that we've been critical of here, and we said, we don't know if it's always fair to Zach is, you know, his listening abilities was not exactly shown on television. But we had Jess on a week or so ago,

and she said he was a good listener. You're saying he's a good listener. Can you, if you don't mind maybe like supporting the dude a little bit and validating that yes, he did actually listen and he wasn't just quick to cut the conversation off and move on? Of course. He was a great listener. And I think that people kind of said this previously,

but people put such an emphasis on empathy and use these words that they actually don't align with themselves. You don't have to have the same experience as someone to be there for them and to make them feel better about their experience or just to listen. You can give off a sense of sympathy because those are two very different things. So I felt like Zach was very sympathetic to different people's experiences, but there's also a limitation to how much you can really be there for someone that you're getting to know on such a short period of time, especially in the first few weeks.

Because ultimately, like, these people don't know each other. So it's very hard to sit there and hear about a really major life event of someone's and be able to contribute and comment back so much because also if you interrupt them or you don't have a good pace in how you're actually having that dialogue, it can come off as disrespectful if you're, like, too engaged. And you kind of also don't have experience in what they've kind of gone through. So I think that's a lot of pressure to put on someone to always be asking the right questions without even a licensed therapist.

Like, he's not a psychologist, you know. He doesn't understand how to dissect these things. He's also someone getting to know someone. So I think especially as the season progressed and he got to know people better, he was able to get more of an understanding of their experience and also that connection was there. Yeah.

And so when did you feel like your connection with him really sparked then? When did it go from being interested and intrigued to being like, this is somebody now I want to pursue? In our one-on-one, Mastonia, I feel like that was really a turning point for me. I think it was really nice that we were able to have a slow build and a slow progression because it allowed us to kind of enjoy the environment and the difficulty of it

because I was able to see him slowly and slowly each week and I kind of feel like that's how we were able to get to the right pace by the Estonia date. And then we really like transcended everything by that point. 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.

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 Yumanzoor. 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 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. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers.

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Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no such thing on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hola, it's HoneyGerman. And my podcast, Grasasas Come Again, is back. This season, we're going even deeper

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In your mind, I mean, after that, date, did you believe and could you first see yourself being with Zach at the end? I could, yeah. And I think, you know, it's obvious, it's a little bit of a, well, you've been, again, you've been praised by Bachelor Nation for your poise, but it's a little bit of a, it's a sad storyline that I feel like probably most people now are asking you about like the last, you know, episode of the show is kind of the marking on your storyline. because your story was incredible with Zach from start to finish through this season.

And it did. It kind of ramped up and then it continued. And at the end, nobody that was watching could really tell who was going to be there in the end. But it wasn't you. And so people are asking you about that moment. Not to jump completely ahead, but when that last row ceremony existed and you had this such a great thing going with Zach, were you surprised that you're going to be going home or did you pretty much foresee it happening in the overnight that this was your last week?

I didn't see it on our date in the overnight because I was the first date. I felt like we had such honestly a great time talking and talking about our futures and things like that. But I was very kind of honest about what I was looking for and honest about the way I was feeling as well. And I kind of forgot about the other dynamics. I forgot about the other women. I forgot that there was other people there because you're also not surrounded by the women at this point. So you don't know how their dates are going. You don't know how their connections are progressing. And you kind of forget that it's not just you and Zach in a way. So I was initially shocked to be going home, but at the actual rose ceremony, I noticed that he wasn't making eye contact, that there was a long speech given

about what it transpired. I knew it wasn't related to me. So I was able to pick up on the fact that I was going home in that moment, but honestly forgot that that was an option walking into the row ceremony just because of how her date went. That's interesting. Most people, we talked to have a pretty good feeling that last week that this that was the that that was it for them like they'd be back on a plane head and home and you are saying that you realized that at the rose ceremony itself that when he wasn't making eye contact you're picking up on his um body language that this was going to be it for you i also had remember that he had other strong connections because you get so wrapped up in your date and your experience with this person. So you forget that they, you objectively know that

they're going on another date, that there's the other women there, but seeing the other women as well, I had remembered how strong those connections were from kind of a very early point because we had progressed so late kind of in the process by Estonia. That was kind of the last one-on-one. So I felt like I had been reminded of the reality of everything. So versus being so wrapped up and caught up in our date and our experience and our relationship because I try to always look at our individual experience versus comparing myself to the other women. And I was also throughout the experience able to gauge more what the other relationships were like based on the women coming back, talking about their date, talking about the connection. So I think being also separate

from women, not being in the same like hotel as them and vicinity, I just kind of was reminded of the reality of everything while the rose ceremony is happening. Yeah. So, I mean, are you close with the other women with Gabby and Katie? Were you close with them going into it? I was very close to them from the really beginning, honestly. It was kind of the three of us being very close throughout the entire experience. I also had close relationships with the other women. But I had a particular closest to Katie and Gabby. Yeah.

So it is a weird, you know, people don't always know this when they're watching it, but it is a weird week because you go from kind of being in this house with, you know, all of these people talking, playing cards, doing whatever you do to entertain yourself. And then all of a sudden, before you know it, you're at your own home. And then you're isolated for, you know, I think for me, it was around like a week and a half, like almost 10 days of being alone, just entertaining myself while at the same time still trying to remember that I'm like dating this person and I am on a show. But it gets a, it's a really weird dynamic at the end.

I think it's very isolating by the end. And I think not being able, it's funny because throughout the entire. experience. It's very overwhelming to be surrounded by so many women at once to have all these dates and all these things. And that can that can breed elements of jealousy. That can breed elements of kind of comparison. But it's actually really hard. I think it would be very difficult as well to have the women come back after their dates because I know that's happened in the past. I know Zach definitely wanted to keep us separate. And that was much better for us objectively. But it was very difficult to also feel so isolated in those moments and those points. And

you're disconnected from your friends from your family from anyone really so you're just a left alone with your thoughts and that's not always the best headspace and feeling to have yeah i wonder you don't have to answer it but i'm just curious now that you say that because in past seasons most of the seasons here is recently we've seen the women come back from these dates um or the men come back from these dates and be around each other i wonder with this particular scenario obviously with what happened with Zach. I wonder what the dynamic would have been like if it would have changed things,

if it would have made the things more tumultuous or if it would have made things easier because everybody could have talked in one space. What do you, I mean, if you want to answer it or if you can't answer it, what do you think? I think we all had so much respect for each other and we still do now, despite the things that had happened, and we would never blame one another for anything.

So, and the way we're able to be so happy for Katie now and have such a normal dynamic and relationship, I just think that if we had been able to have a conversation and it was more so even privatized, that could have been beneficial to all of us. Yeah, that's fair. Just to have that awareness, because I think there was a lack of awareness of what had happened. And I think for me, I'll only speak on my own experience, for me personally, standing at the Rose ceremony and not knowing what it happened or what Zach was talking about and then being sent home and still not knowing.

for a long period of time. I think that would have definitely eased a lot of my own confusion and my own lack of understanding of anything that transpired in Thailand outside of me. How long were you confused for? When did you find out? How did you find out? When did stuff start making sense? I found out a lot of information in watching it.

So I think that was the really difficult part. And watching everything back, we all found out the full scope of what had happened. And I think that was really hard. That episode was the hardest for me to personally watch, not because it was necessarily even just me being sent home and seeing the difficulty of the breakup. I feel like everything was overshadowed for something that I felt like took away from all of our relationships in different ways. And I just didn't like the way anything was handled. What were your emotions watching it? Were you angry?

Were you sad? I went through a wave of a lot of different emotions. I was very confused. And then I was really sad watching it and seeing that even when you see kind of us parting and me saying goodbye. Zach and all these things. I felt like it quickly shifted to another topic. So it was really sad to see that my relationship was kind of overshadowed by by a single week and a single experience. And yes, things are really poorly handled. But I felt like there was so much like kind of beauty in that relationship and we had gotten so close at that point. And I didn't

like how everything was positioned. So I thought that was really difficult to see and difficult to watch. And then I was angry as well in terms of the whole week being centered around. sex and how things that should have been private were publicized. So I was also angry for my friends and I was angry for myself. And then I was sadness kind of again. It's tough because we got to walk a thin line here between being judgmental and critical, but also understanding, you know, that we have been able now to look back on this, this moment. And there was so, there's a lot of complexity in this moment because I really do believe Zach thought he was doing the right thing. Like I really, I think his intentions were really good. I think he met.

well by it, but I think all of us could see watching it and preparing for it, especially those who have been on the show before, that, hey, this is going to be really hard to navigate. Like, you are making statements early on that you don't know if you're going to be able to keep. So for you, but I can say that and judge that and criticize that from my couch. I have no role in this at all other than talking to people like you on this podcast. but as you look back on it now

how do you wish this would have gone? What do you wish Zach would have done that week knowing that, okay, he didn't believe that having sex with anybody was going to be like he thought the better option would be to keep that off the table for the healthiness of all relationships involved? I think that was his intention.

How would you have liked this to play out then between the four of you? I just wish he had a conversation with all of us that was private it when it came to intimacy, I think there should be discretion decorum in that. And I don't think that should be kind of publicized in any way. I think in previous season, there's always been like this question mark of what happened in the fantasy suites.

I hate that terminology. What happened in the overnights. So I wish that things are handled with privacy. And I also wish that there were like a very one-on-one conversation with each person to gauge how they're feeling. Two people come to that conclusion. It doesn't matter how they're feeling on it. And I respected Zach's intentions.

I respected. I think he tried to approach the week with kind of a noble ideation. He felt very like this decision is noble and I'm helping everyone, but he actually kind of hurt everyone by making a unilateral decision without everyone else. So each relationship is so different. Each person is that requires such different things. We're all very different personality types as well. And I wish he honored all of those relationships by having kind of one-on-one conversation with each person and not approaching the week in a unified way. Well, I mean, for somebody that you've complimented here on the show and other places and for somebody that you have respect in and that you built a relationship with and you know fairly well, why do you think he felt like it was his ability to make this decision for everybody else? I doubt that he thought about the repercussions of this and I doubt that he ever anticipated the week would play out the way that it did.

Again, I think it's kind of like a falsified nobility because I think he was trying to protect everyone. I think he always comes from like an earnest and genuine place. I actually don't think he had malintent at all. And I don't think he's just a malicious person in general. And I just can authentically say that based on my experience with him and based on the person that I got to know. So I think that he was trying to kind of please everyone and trying to like live up to this like persona of being like a really great

kind of bachelor and a great person versus just seeing how everyone else was feeling and tapping into those emotions. I think sometimes there must be so much pressure to be kind of this perfect figure and to be carrying an entire season. So I feel like sometimes when you try to be the best, you don't end up being that because you're not actually being true to your relationships, true to yourself. And I feel like it also just put a really negative spin on just physical intimacy. And we're all adults.

I don't think there need to be such a stigma around intimacy and such a stigma around any decisions that were made. because it made everyone kind of at a disadvantage between all the women. Yeah. It's a weird, you know, you have great insight into this. Because it is a weird week.

And it's also a very vulnerable week. You know, for everybody involved. The lead and the women, and I know from past experience, you're going into this week and you know what it, you know, represents. And it's the first time that cameras get taken away. It's the first time that maybe you don't have like a nice date planned and you don't

have even a time restriction of how late the date's going to go. You typically know there's an out and so you can ask some questions and have a conversation and then if you're not interested, you know you're going home to your own separate place at night. This is a weird week for most people because there is vulnerability and there is this intimacy no matter at what level. And you start to feel a lot of pressure. I think leads do because you're right. They start to feel like they have to be perfect. And if they're not perfect, then none of these people are going to be interested in them anymore. And then they're all going to go home because, yeah, once, you know, the cameras go down and the door closes, we're all very human and none of us have it all together. I personally felt

like it was one of my favorite experiences because I took the time off camera and so on to just really ask questions back and forth. I think it's nice to have ample time and it feels. like you're back in a real kind of dating environment. It feels like you're out of this simulated environment of the of the show. So it feels really nice to be able to sit with someone for hours. It feels nice to be able to like see. I think people can always be authentic on camera, but there's just like a different feeling when you're when you're off camera and when you're sitting there for just 15 hours in a row talking. So for me, fortunate that week has looked at in such a negative light and like things happen that were obviously outside of my control

and so on, because in the actual date itself, I really enjoyed my time with Zach, and I really enjoyed speaking kind of into the night and not sleeping and having kind of a romantic date like that because it feels really nice to be able to just have uninterrupted time with someone that you're potentially going to be getting engaged to. 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 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, psychobabble. Yes, yes.

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With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you, stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which family secrets almost. always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So did you leave that evening having any doubts? I think it was hard for me with my family because I felt like after that evening we had spoken about family and we'd spoken about things.

that are obviously my family is so important to me and I just found out more information on how kind of the date went because I obviously couldn't see the conversation that they were having with with Zach and I think I felt a little bit doubtful about how supported my parents were and how they were feeling about everything as well as obviously everyone got to know my brother and I don't make decisions based off my family but I also don't want to make decisions that would they would be just so so against or so hesitant about that was something we had to overcome and that was something that we had to have more conversations about. Do you think if you would end up with Zach at the end and you brought him home to your brother,

do you think the vibe changes or do you think it's similar? I think my brother would become more understanding over time. I think my family was is very loving and my family was supportive of me being pursued in this relationship and they're just happy for me to be happy. But I think they had a hard time conceptualizing, finding a relationship on an experience like this. think they had just very natural qualms and natural hesitations that I feel like any any parent would have, including myself if my daughter were going on over my son. Yeah. It's totally fair for families to feel weird about their loved ones coming back and being like, yeah, I'm good. I might get engaged

at this and everybody being like, I mean, that's cool. We're happy for you. But this is this is not what we expected. And I feel like I've lost all sense of any type of control. or knowledge of where you're at in your life. It's a very weird few months for them, I'm sure. For sure, you sign up for the experience. Your family doesn't. Yeah. And they are, I'm first generation.

So my parents have never experienced anything like this and never even thought this would be something that I would be doing, obviously. So I think it's hard for them to wrap their head around. I think they still don't get what the show is. But I think in the end, they would have been happy for me. But I felt like it would take a lot more kind of conversations and sit downs. they would have seen more like proof of the relationship in a way. Has, did your brother, growing up when you brought people home, was this also a similar

vibe that he would give the people you're dating or is this just because this environment was so weird? Combination, but he was always like this. My brother always tried to grill people and put them on the spot and things like that. It's in his nature to be protective. and it comes from a place of love that I always kind of was hesitant bringing people home because he also just wants the best for me and I don't think anyone can know what the best for you is except for yourself so people can create ideas for the partner you should end up with

but they'll never know better than you do but it comes from a place of love for you always yeah I think he I mean my entire family comes from such a place of love they're so supportive in any decision I make and any relationship that I've been in but they're always going to be honest. And I think honesty is more important than sugarcoating things or putting a nice spin on things because I think honesty is what gets you through to a long-term relationship. You want to be able to be honest with your partner. You want your partner to, it's not about your partner passing a test, but you want to see if your partner makes the effort with your family, let's say if it's more difficult. And I appreciated Zach not really being kind of scared

of the interaction or scared of my brother, not scared, but I appreciate him continuing on in the relationship and not letting that be such a deterrent. Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. Well, switching gears towards the end of this time with you. And again, I want to say thanks for coming on here. I know life's, you know, spinning quickly. You've got a lot of requests. And so thanks for coming on here. But the last few final questions, kind of about to show, you know, after the final Rose moment, a lot of people were vying for you to be the next bachelorette. They were trying to figure out how that could all work because a lot of people, you know, obviously love charity and really are excited for the next season. And that's not being taken away from here. But they wanted

you to be there as well. If they would have asked you, would you have said yes is the first question. No, I think it's a lot of pressure for me personally to take something like that on. And I also feel like it, the experience feels like a long time ago, but also doesn't at the same time. I think I'd be ready to be thrown back into environment like that and pursuing multiple relationships in this kind of a setting. Did you feel this way after, I mean, say a month after, you know, you got sent back home and you're looking at the world and, you know, you're waiting for the show to air. Were you pretty confident at that point? Yeah, I'm not, if they asked me, like, because you had to assume that you were in the running, like, I'm not doing

this. I try to be open-minded enough because initially I didn't even want to do the show. And I was trying to be, I was very reticent to participate in anything like this. And I really had predominantly a great experience. And it was really great getting to know Zach. So I didn't want to say definitely no. I want to keep an option. But I think it's a lot of pressure. And I think Charity is handling, I'm sure she's handling yourself beautifully. And she is such an incredible person. And I honestly don't like that people are constantly saying that I should be a bachelorette and all these things because I'm personally so happy for her. And I don't think it needs to be two women pinned against each other or any conversation like that. So I think I haven't really liked

the commentary online, even though it's coming from a positive place. I think people should throw their support towards Charity, who is the present Bachelorette. Yeah, sure. Yeah. I mean, I think people are just really excited about you both. Like, what a compliment to the two of you. But Charity's going to rock it. Like, we have no doubt, right? She's going to be great. I'm so excited for Charity to find a fiancé. And I know that there's going to be guys throwing themselves at her. Yeah. Yeah, we're pumped to watch it here. So then the next question is, would you consider going on Paradise? A lot less pressure than anything you've done so far or being the Bachelorette. If they called you and said, we'd love to see you on the beach, is that something

you'd be interested in? I'm hesitant, but I'm always going to keep my options open and it's not a no, but it's not yes. So it's ambiguous. I got to ask this because my co-host, it's her favorite question. it's one of mine too but i just don't ask it because i let her do it uh if you went to paradise is there somebody in bachelor nation right now um that you are interested in or would enjoy seeing walk down the stairs to the beach um as of right now i don't think so that's interesting but people usually have like a one person they'll see them yeah usually people who have come on the show know the show and so they've typically watched the show previously and they're sitting in a place being like, yes, now that I've, you're different in the

best of ways. And I want to say this. Like, you might be the first person I've ever interviewed on this show in the six years of doing this, that I really believe, you know, if they were asked to be the bachelor, I would have said no, based on it not being right for you and not feeling like it would have been appropriate for the season of life you're in. And also that you're sitting here going, I would think about paradise. Like, I actually think you would think about it. And you might say no, it knowing the season of life you're in. Some people just say it. I get the sense that you're pretty confident in where you're at in life right now. Yeah. And I think that I'm still doing a lot of personal work right now. I think that people don't understand what it's like to kind of be on the

back end of this experience. You are talking about yourself 24 hours a day. You are getting to the real root cause of why you're actually not in a relationship and what kind of failed previous relationships and I had to take a lot of ownership in my past relationships and what had happened to to have those relationships kind of dissolve and I didn't realize how responsible I was and how much I was kind of the arbiter of my own kind of situations falling apart and I feel like the experience taught me so much about myself and I had so much personal growth even outside of my growth and my relationship with Zach so I feel like it's still an ongoing process for me and it's very difficult to be kind of disconnected from everything in your life

disconnected for everything you know and having to truly follow your gut and your intuition and those you're talking about yourself all day and you resurface things that happened to you in middle school that you didn't even realize affected you or bothered you or brought you to the place where you are I didn't realize how kind of inadvertently cold I'd become in certain ways and how I push people away in relationships and I think it took Zach a lot it took Zach and I a minute as well to kind of get through that in a way I was always I became this like kind of mysterious person this person that I wanted to project outwards and I feel like the show really allowed me and these conversations that I was having with Zach allowed me to work through a lot of past issues and in particularly

romantic issues so it takes a real toll to do an experience like this it takes a lot and you can turn that into a net positive. So I really look back on my experience feeling like I've gotten to know myself in a way I never anticipated before. But it takes a lot out of you to do something like that. It takes a lot out of you to put yourself out there in that way. And it is like a very emotionally, physically, and so untaxing experience. So what do you do? What does life look like now then? I mean, you're learning this stuff. It kind of puts you in a liminal space. Like you're kind of sitting between two worlds for a bit as you're processing it. realizing what you're learning about yourself and then where do you go from here? How do you

implement these things? What are you doing for everybody listening who feels very similar to you and that they're learning something about themselves and they want to figure out how to implement it into their lives and actually make real positive change? As somebody that I'm picking up on is very thoughtful. How are you working through this? I think it's about forgiving yourself for where you're at and for giving yourself for anything you might have done in your past to bring you to this point. And I think it doesn't necessarily take getting to a breaking point to start your own personal growth, but that can be little things each day. I feel like for me, a big issue is taking everything personally. I used to put myself in every single situation.

I thought I was a very sensitive person, but actually I was leaning on narcissistic because I was putting myself in every scenario and taking a lot of words and actions of other people that are living their own lives personally. So I think it's the best advice that I can ever give is to take yourself out of kind of being in your own way. I felt like I learned a lot from the experience because I saw how much I had self-sabotaged in my past and how much people were even in the experience self-sabotaging, even before their relationship got to a breaking point with Zach in particular. So I feel like it's about being kinder to yourself and knowing that everyone's kind of a work in progress in a way and there's a much more

you can do to kind of progress as a person but to also know how to take yourself out of situations and understand everyone's going through it too so when someone like lashes out at you you should always stand up for yourself and you should always make it clear that you have your own personal set of boundaries but also to understand that like where is this person coming from and why are they actually acting this way why are they so upset it's not about me so it's about taking yourself out of the equations and understanding how everyone's probably going through the same motions and feelings that you are. You know, the show is interesting because people go on to it for a thousand different reasons.

You don't really know what you're getting into. Nobody really does. You get into it. And there's not one person that I've met that hasn't been changed. And then there's also not one person I've met that if they didn't, that if they allowed the show to change them in a positive way, it didn't it did like people got people were changed in a positive way from the show because they did this introspection because they dug deep and because they gave themselves the forgiveness and because

they were criticized and watched under a microscope dating somebody when you come through that I feel like a lot of people gain a sense of confidence and hopefully that's what people's experiences are because the show can be really hard on people too but I hope they come out of it and just allowing themselves to be forgiven a little bit because they've done something really difficult and came through it. And that's something to be proud of. Well, final question for you. We talked about your career before the show. We talked about your experience on the show. We talked about a very difficult ending to the show, just in general, for so many people. And now you're sitting here and you've shared a little bit about what you foresee the next season of your life being. But what can people

who are fans of yours, who listen to the show, what can they be looking forward to from you? What do you foresee your next steps being in life? And what are you looking forward to accomplishing? I mean, after this experience, I'm looking forward to being in a relationship. I'm looking forward to now applying everything that I kind of learned from my relationship with Zach, because if a relationship doesn't come to fruition or you don't get engaged, doesn't mean you can't learn from it. So I want to take my experience with Zach and kind of implement that into my next relationship. And I feel like I'm much more open now to dating and I'm much more open to really being, I hate the word vulnerable now, but there's no other word to use. Why do you hate it? I just feel like it's so

overused now. Only in your world. It's only in your world. Everybody else still enjoys it. You just got it said to you about a thousand times in like a two month span. For me, it's about now entering my next relationship and entering like dating situations and and truly being open minded. I thought I was. I thought I did the personal growth. But I think after this experience, I'm very ready to date and I'm very ready to put myself out there. We wish that for you. We're excited to watch you. You're one of our favorites. Really appreciate you coming on. I would love for you to be a co-host with either Ashley or myself sometime when we need one. Because both of us travel a little bit and she's a mother now and so sometimes she has to be out but uh your

insight um your wisdom you're poised during the during the season and now um is something really admirable and so uh keep being you keep doing you and thanks for coming on the show we really appreciate it awesome well thank you so much for having me that was another almost famous in-depth episode with ariel uh somebody who became a fan favorite on this season of The Bachelor. We hope to see her in paradise. From that interview, I don't know if we will. And I think that's probably a good thing. Like, I think she's going to make the decision that's best for her, even though selfishly. We would all love to see her fine love on the beach. But until then, if you want to catch Ariel's season of The Bachelor, you can find that on Hulu. She's also

very entertaining on TikTok. You can follow her at A-F-R-E-N-K-E-L-1. On TikTok. You can follow her there. Until next time, I've been Ben. We'll talk soon. Follow the Ben and Ashley I,

Almost Famous Podcasts on I-HartRadio 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 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. 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. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you.

And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me. New episodes every Wednesday on exactly right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast, Grasias, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in, like, over 25 years. Oh, wow.

That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of cheesement and a whole lot of laughs. And, of course, the great bevras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dresses Come Again on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.