The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Almost Famous In Depth: Benoit Beausejour-Savard

Episode Date: October 31, 2020

You know Benoit Beausejour-Savard from Bachelor Canada, Bachelor Winter Games and most recently… Clare Crawley’s fiancé! Ben and Ashley go IN DEPTH with Benoit as he opens up about his “love at first sight moment” with Clare. Find out the TRUE reason their relationship fell apart and hear the shocking differences between “TV Clare” and the REAL Clare.And we get Benoit’s honest reaction to the guys on Clare’s season. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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.

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So this is the perfect time to have him on. Welcome, Benoit. Hey, Benoit. Hi, guys. How are you doing? We're good. How are you? So if you noticed, I didn't say your last name because it's impossibly challenging.

Can you please say your last name for us? I could help you out. So it's boom. say it after me boo si si oh wow

it's good thing I didn't do French oh there's more yeah boo busezou sa va va vaezu

suvard you found that that's good looking guy can't have a name like that that just makes you even better looking at that's frustrating for the Higgins

of this world oh that damn the Higgins remember these night in Vermont, right? I do, man. I do. Well, hey, it's really good to have you here. And Ashley, I obviously want to bring you on for obvious reasons. One, you're a friend of ours that we haven't got to catch up with in a while, and two, you do have a deep and fairly recent connection

to the current Bachelorette. There's a ton of things we want to find out about how you're feeling and what you think of the season and how Claire is being portrayed. So what better time to do it than right now with this podcast. I think, actually, to start this whole thing, we should get a little background of Benoit. Like, how did you end up on winter games? Where did you come from? What's your past history here?

Oh, my God. Okay, so four years ago, I was in here in Montreal, and some lady came at me and said, oh, we're doing a casting for Bachelorette Canada. So I was like, okay, with this trick. I thought it was a scam at first, so I wasn't sure. then I end up showing at the audition and back in the days my English was so bad trust me right now it's not too bad but it was so bad back in the days and I end up making good

depression and get that final call to go on bachelor's Canada there this is where I met Kevin that Ashley knows also and a bunch of dudes and she does doesn't she and after you know in Canada There's not much thing after Bachelor or Bachelor rep. Usually it's pretty much over. So three years ago-ish, some producer from the USA called me and they tell me that they want to meet me to go on to a show with you guys, Bachelor Winter Games. So I end up going on these and right after there was Paradise not too long after, which I shouldn't have gone. but I did. Okay, we're going to question you about that in a second.

What drove you to say okay to that first audition in Canada? Had you had any serious relationships in the past, were you getting out of a serious relationship? Tell us what Benoit was like in his 20s. Okay, so when I first step in there, I was like ending a relationship of six years where she finally ended because she betrayed my trust, Let's just say that.

And so I was a bit broken. It's been like a year that I was single. And then I decided to why not give a shot on this show? So I thought it would be a good experience. And why not giving a shot at love and maybe finding the right person for me in that crazy journey that was a bachelor's Canada? So I did. And I don't regret it because it was a really cool experience. You got pretty far.

Yeah, I had that enough for you. It was a back on the dating scene in front of the public. So it was, so I end up being made top four and you know how Kevin last a little longer than I did. But it was a fun experience and you've been there then. And Ashley also like bachelor, bachelor, bachelor's red season. It's so fun to travel all these destinations and falling for some someone like I did and IQ done. How was a Bachelor franchise in Canada different than the Bachelor experiences you've had through the U.S.?

So in Canada, we don't have the Bachelor Mansion. This is one interesting point. So like the night one was in Vancouver, but right after we flew out directly to Jamaica. So like the traveling started this way. So this is a tricky part where I feel like everything looks more beautiful and you're not living with the other guys in the same mansion. You're all at your separate, I would say, sweet early on. So like you, yeah, it was a little different than what we would we see in the U.S. Would you say that that caused less drama between the guys because you weren't living in such close quarters?

Maybe a little of this, but we were hanging out, like I would say, a ton of times, you know, there was during the day we were all together. So I feel like we were sleeping better than what we experienced on Winter Games. Then you can tell there was a bunch of dudes in the same room. I don't know about you girls, but for us, there was like 13 dudes in the same room. Some of them were like snoring, some of them were farting during the night. It was a pretty tough. So you end up on this show. And one thing that I think, and tell me if I'm wrong, please disagree with me.

But you're a sensitive guy. Like you care, you want to find love deeply. Did you fall in love with The Bachelorette during this Canadian Bachelorette? Jasmine. Yes. I was falling for her. Like, her name was Jasmine. And I fell for her maybe too late in the first.

process because some of the guys were like I don't feel I was like as open as I was on other shows maybe it was like a little barrier that I put in myself and like like because of them the past relationship I was I was before but you know what like yeah there was some real feelings and I'm I'm a little bit I don't know I should have put myself more out there to see if it there there was something for us at the end. But like it happens and I don't have any regret about this. Canada loves the Bachelor franchise. You guys get the American version and then you had your own version with Jasmine.

But it was basically a one-off. Why do you think that the show when produced in Canada, like with Canadian-only contestants, it just they don't seem to continue doing it? Like I'm very confused why you guys would be so, obsessed with the American version and yet it doesn't seem like it's a huge success when you do a Canadian version yourselves. It's a really good question. Like our season was I would say really good. Like the ratings were good. Everything was good. But I feel like they did three bachelor in Canada, three edition. And I feel like they were always picking some random guys that were known. Like there

was some professional baseball player uh football player but there wasn't like any person known from the bachelor franchise i feel like they would have like had way more ratings in these bachelor shows if they would have picked someone uh that is that was known in the bachelor franchise like kathen bisto and some other canadian that were more um that was more yeah that would be uh make better television that makes a lot of sense So let's then fast forward. Obviously, we have The Bachelor at Canada. You start to fall.

You make it a long ways. I remember then you coming on to Winter Games, and everybody was talking about this Benoit that I think they described you as the king of Montreal, that you knew everybody in Montreal, that you could always show somebody a great time in Montreal. So you get asked to be on this Winter Games show. You had hinted at it before to us.

Somebody from the U.S. called you. What made you say, yeah, this is what I want? want to do. I'm willing to risk this again at a shot at love. Like when they explain the concept of winter games, I think it would be so fun. Like I was telling myself, oh my God, I got to be there just like to enjoy some nice time in a cabin with a bunch of like good people and doing some competition, living all together. I feel like the concept was really, really good. and like a big like a big thing they were supposed to go to do summer games this summer actually

it didn't happen because of COVID but I was really interested I didn't give my answer yet but they they were approaching me to do that oh interesting very interesting so let's talk about that first moment that you saw Claire because I believe that you said it was something close to to love at first sight oh definitely yes like when I saw Claire like you've seen it like how she is She's so bubbly. And what I found attractive about her is just like how, like, is she enjoying every single moment? I told her, like, whenever there's, like, an issue or, like, she wasn't even, like, performing on the, on the dates or the competition. She was always thinking it the positive way.

So that this is what that attracts me at first, like, to her. So in the end, like, obviously, like, she's beautiful. but there's way more to that woman and I'm sad right now that the producer don't show that much of her good side and these like the

concentrating more on the drama and stuff like that. Well it's interesting that you say that because for anybody out there listening that didn't watch Winter Games or doesn't know your backstory here you obviously said it was love at first sight with Claire you found her bubbly. You pursued her. I mean I remember you kind of having to work at it a little bit

throughout this whole process. Well, ultimately, if we fast forward through the experience, because I don't know if on the show much, they showed your relationship. I remember being at the live show and kind of being shocked at how it played out. For anybody at the listening, who did not get to watch that,

can you give a little backstory and details of what was happening behind the scenes with you and Claire, ultimately leading up to what happened at the live show? Yeah. So, like, we kept through things like super private. So on the show, there was a lot of things happening, but I, like, when the, the show was, was airing, uh, they wouldn't, like, show a lot of the discussion, the serious discussion that we were having. And I know she was interesting and she kept telling me like she was interesting into Christian, the other guy. And, um, I thought it was okay. Um, so the whole process during the show, she was telling me like, I'm interested in that guys. But they didn't like show that on TV. So that's the tricky part about this. People didn't understand why she just like backslash at me and just turn her back around.

But at the end of this, she was maybe more interested at that moment into that guy. And this is why I had to leave the show just to leave our opportunity to find that person. because I feel like I was like being the, the, the, like, a little, like, blocker. I was blocking her at some point to find a relationship with him because she, she didn't want to feel bad, like, about me. So basically you let her free. You were like, hey, if it's meant to be with us, it could happen off the show. Right now, I want her to explore what she's feeling at the moment. Yeah, because she told me, like, she was really more into that guy.

she said work for word we're not on the same page on the same page right now so I do understand that I don't want to like I wasn't interested into like other people at that point I was telling myself okay maybe I should just go home

and process this whole thing because this was a lot at that moment and I don't want to be that that guy that would stick around and block her from finding that that person so I was really I was like supporting her in finding

happiness so i was um yeah this is all i felt so yes this for christian was uh christian was from germany they had this kind of thing going that ultimately didn't go well like it that he didn't meet her in the hot tub no he didn't go to the hot tub something got weird and it ended that relationship on winter games ended before the show was over and so that brings us then to the moment where we have a live show and claire crawley is sitting right next to me on this live show uh we're catching up about life and whatever's happened in between there. I had no clue what was about to happen. Literally, man, I could never have predicted this next event.

But it was a big one. But before we get to it, Benoit, we're going to take one break. When we come back, we're going to figure out what happened on this live show and why and what led up to it. We'll be back with Benoit on the almost famous in-depth podcast. 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 just. 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. Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm

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an I-Heart Women's Sports Production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. I don't write songs. God write songs. I take dictation. I didn't even know you've been a pastor for over 10 years. I think culture is any space that you live in that develops you. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast, I sat down with Warren Campbell, Grammy-winning producer, pastor, and music executive to talk about the beats, the business,

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Listen to Culture Raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, so Benoit, I remember going on a trip with a couple of the Bachelor Winter Games cast, and we had Claire on the phone, and she was kind of alluding to the fact that you guys were now talking and you were in a good place that you would almost consider yourselves exclusive dating. And then before I knew it, I think it was like seven. days later you are on your knee so we have to know what happened in between you leaving the show and the reunion show okay so what really happened is like um since like when she came back home i i messaged her like i just want to say like hope everything is good for you hope you're

doing well hope everything is okay with all this and like i i still want to get in touch with you because, like, she shared a lot of personal stuff, and I, I care about her. Like, I want her to be at. So, and then we start, like, talking. And she gave me a phone call, and then we start talking, FaceTiming. Each and every day we're spending at least three hours on the phone, FaceTiming. And then we saw each other. Sorry?

That gives me a little anxiety attack. That's great, though. Why? Oh, I can't be on the phone. I, that's, like, not my thing. Like, being on the, like, that's true love. I'm glad you guys did that. that's that's that's that's shed some light on this whole situation i'm an in-person talker as well go

good uh so like we were far from each other so that was a solution but at one point uh we we planned the trips i i was going to see her in uh in in in sacramento and st francisco and uh we had we have like a really really fun time uh finally we went to l-a so we had we had like a lot of times together We spend the whole weekend together and it connect like the way we wanted. So at the end of this and we kept like talking to each other and then we've seen each other and then it leads on to the reunion show, which it was super tricky for producer because we were like in the same VIP room and we were kissing each other and producer like they just want to make like big surprise so they want they don't want any.

anybody of you seeing that. So it was fun to be like, you know, like the little kids. Like we were kissing, but we were like kind of far from each other. We had to be far from each other to keep the surprise. And what went into my mind, I just, I just knew like I was so madly in love with her. And I wanted to pursue like a like a long-term relationship with her. This is why I did what I did on the reunion. And I don't have to. any regret about that because it was it was from the bottom of my heart. Was it

an impromptu decision? Like how far out did you decide that you were going to propose? To be honest with you, maybe a week before. Yeah, a week before. We spent some times in L.A. area once again before the reunion. Like I flew

in and she flew in a little early. So we got to spend some more time. I was like, okay, no, this is it. I'm doing this. This is important to know here, because I don't think we've explicitly said this yet. What we're talking about, this big event at the live show, is that you got down on one knee and you proposed to Claire at the live show. And that's the part that was shocking.

That's a big moment. And as Ashley just mentioned, it was thought through. You thought about it. I mean, a week or a month, whatever, there's no period of time. But that is it went, you thought about it. You said, this is the right thing for me. And then she responded. And she said yes.

What happens then? Yeah. Did you guys, had you ever defined the relationship? Were you calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend before? But yes. I mean, like when I say I love you to someone and she replied back, it doesn't have to be like, okay, are you my girlfriend? Are you my, like, boyfriend?

It doesn't have to be sad. So, like, of course, she was my girlfriend and I was her boyfriend. and I was her boyfriend. But like these specific words meant a lot to me. And I'm sure like for everybody else, hopefully yes. So you said I love you. You said you exchanged I love you. Yeah.

Okay. Yeah, exactly. So and then she said it back on stage once again in front of the camera. I don't know if you remember, but that was it. I remember. I remember. I was like, what the heck? I think I looked at Ashley and I was like,

did you expect this like where did this come from i had no idea that this was going on behind the scenes no clue exactly so uh yeah this this was uh what happened on uh on stage but like this this old day was like so uh overwhelming for me there was a lot of emotion i was like on my seats i don't know if you guys realized but i was shaking my head with it like my leg was shaking the whole entire I don't know, we spent like four hours on stage and we were the last one to talk in front of the people. So it was stressful. Did, was she as surprised as the rest of the audience was?

I don't know because we talked about that before, not a lot of times, but we, we like, yeah, we get into the subject. And I was kind of having hints that she would say yes. And, of course, like, that's what she did. What were these hints? Oh, but like, I don't know. You know, when we were talking about that, I just feel like she was on the same page as I was, that she wanted, like, evolve into this for a relationship.

So, I mean, like, sometimes it's just like a feeling, a gut inside of you that is telling you, okay, no, I think she's feeling it. So then what was the first thing she said when you got off stage? A private moment. I don't remember. I think I blacked out that day. I don't remember we called like our families and stuff to announce like everything.

But to be honest with you, I don't remember exact words when I got off the stage because like we were so happy. And I remember we were all like a hugging. hugging each other and like wishing her, like the best for her and best for me. So, and you guys were part of it. So this is where things get really interesting to me, because I don't know what happens next. And none of us got to watch this next season of life.

In fact, one of the most disappointing things about this season was that none of us really knew what was happening in your relationship. So you step off the stage. Walk us through this because there's no good questions that we can ask the lead us. what happens then what goes wrong okay so what happened is like okay this whole engagement I realized myself with time like right now like it went too fast like I should have take more times I should have like processed things more than I was like overwhelmed by my feelings for her and I thought she felt the same way so when we got back to reality we've

seen each other and stuff and the more we were I would say talking because we always have like the best time together like it was it was so fun and it was so uh i don't know it was so natural with her um there's like yeah i think it's the best word to describe it um but when it comes like to a long-term relationship there was issues and i'm not going to give you like these details because these are private but that was like um there there was uh we were so different as persons as maybe are like part of our values the way we see things in life so this was the breaking point well it wasn't like one thing but it was like a few things that were bothering I think both of us and we were just like oh this oh this this thing might not

work so we have to admit it like I don't know like a few months later that it wouldn't work and distance didn't help at that time also because you weren't living together you were in different cities yeah and i was like i was applying on jobs uh to second to san francisco which is now we're in a and something away from sacramento uh and i was doing like a process to get a job over there and maybe to get a green card and to be moving there so i i had to ask myself questions okay is this like the right thing to do right now i don't know and at that at that moment like the answer i don't know was my answer maybe that we have to uh to break off this uh this relationship but you guys did you guys seem to be great now because there was footage

that you even posted of you recording an episode of her season was it back in march that you recorded this or was this back in March exactly yeah just before she was supposed to like her season was supposed to go on and the shooting was supposed to to happen so a week before

so beginning of March like she like she want to do a viral fact like you know like I don't get I don't forget this thing but each and every bachelor or a bachelor like you know that they didn't want for you but like they present you like you're back is called

Colorado doing some like maybe some playing some football with your friends and your family and they're just talking about you all saying oh Ben, you have been great. And this is like the bio back of Blair. She didn't want to get her family involved. She wanted to have like her friend and also my myself to be part of it. So because we we kept like good friends since like over a year now like almost a year and a half. We're talking like on a regular basis. I would say like once a week, once every two weeks, but like we're still good friends after all of this. So it just blown my mind. I'll be skip this old biopact part. You know, like all we get to know, Claire, for people who haven't seen like winter games on our season of Paradise and they show only like some of the footage from our season with Juan Pablo and the paradise part.

So they didn't show it. So like that you filmed all of this at La Quinta. for her no in March before COVID hit in March it was in Sacramento actually and then nothing got shown so like none of it was aired because I don't remember this but Ashley you obviously knew this somehow yeah people were it was all the talk everyone was talking about how Benoit was totally neglected from Claire's intro on episode one and they were like she was engaged in how can we talk about him and then you came out saying that you had you did you did shoot something and that they cut it out.

Is there any reason that you think a good reason that they would cut it out? Or do you think that they were just trying to focus on her being on the bigger shows? You know what? I have my own opinion about this whole production right now. That would be great to share it. Yeah, great. So this is the time to share it. Thank you.

Okay, so guys, like Bachelor, Vacherette, it's a show. It's a business at first, eh? You know that? So I think if they want their own story line to make sense, they have to cut parts. Maybe that she might look better than what they want to show to get the storylines like straight. So what I just have to say like the talk we had, it was so fun. It was so refreshing. And I was hoping that they were going to show this because it makes her like, I don't know,

Like being like a normal, normal person that, like, she has some good qualities. And right now, what we've seen, like, it's only, like, drama part and there's not much of, like, serious talk. To be, you know, Lana's with you guys. This season, I haven't seen, except maybe with Jason, the first one-on-one day, there wasn't that much, like, serious talk. And Claire is a really deep person. She likes to get to know you on a really deeper level. which is not showing at all. So I'm just thinking this.

Yeah. I mean, there's, you know, and I think that's fair. So Benoit, I really want to get in to what you think of this season. I think it's important because you do have a real perspective about Claire that none of us have because you've been in an intimate relationship with her. So I'm assuming she had your blessing as the bachelor at them. Like when you went to talk to her, you were just like completely supportive of this happening. her life and you're ready for that for yourself yeah okay so now she starts to the bachelorette and

you just kind of hinted to it you're a little frustrated with how claire is being shown or at least how this season is playing out why why do you think um there is so little depth to the season and why is there uh so many like kind of just like more contentious moments except obviously with Dale, where do you think this is coming from? I feel like the old story, like, you know, they filmed the show, and after that, they got to make, everything's got to make sense. So I feel like they're talking a lot about Dale, but you know how producer are. When they ask you questions in ITMs, they want to get to know, like, specific stuff.

So if they're asking always, like, questions about Dale, of course she's going to reply about Dale, and they're all going to focus on this. Like, to me, it makes sense that she's talking a lot about Bill. At the end of this, I'm pretty sure they asked some question about other guys, but they don't show that part. So this is where I'm just a bit, I would say, confused about how they want to portray things, but I get it like it's a show. Like the end is like with probably Dale, like we've seen so far,

and they brought in another Bachelorette. So this whole thing to make sense, it's all about Dale. But I'm sure there's more to it. And like a lot of people, like, for example, like when she called him her fiance or something like that, a lot of people were telling me Bob and Benoit, I feel like they just cut up the ex-fiance part and maybe they made some jokes about you. And that was like not fair. So like there's no way she would have called him like at that moment or like fiancé.

Like I know Claire and I know how she is and she's really like, like she, why would she'd call him like her fiance at that moment, especially in that part because she's just like walking and you can see like the back of her head. So you cannot really leave on their on their ribs, on their lips. So it's weird of it. This week, she also had some drama with Zach. So she she didn't, wasn't Viven Zach. And then he kissed her and she felt like it was very awkward. And people, the fandom, really debated this moment back and forth. Knowing Claire, better than any of us probably, how do you think she, why do you think she handled the situation the way she did?

I just feel like the physical contact that Zach made with her, and I'm not talking about like the kiss or the like the smoothness of it, but I just I just think like the the way he grabbed her, she was, and I would never grab a woman like this when she's just like, there's like a confusion about a kiss and something like that. Just let it go, man. Just like, okay, you're going to have a second chance at the dinner, but he kept like on grabbing her, hey, wait, wait, and for me, that was really aggressive from his part. So I'm sorry, Zach, but like maybe, maybe if you were not like insisting that much, she would have like went to dinner and you can have like some more chance but like she has her past also guys just keep

that in mind and there's a lot of footage that you guys haven't maybe shown so uh and seen so definitely yeah that makes sense and i think that's kind of you know she hinted at that during it said hey i've had a past and this just kind of like um triggered me or kind of brought back memories and that's why i'm reacting the way i am now benoit you uh take producers out of this for a second um and like just you know we're watching claire's story and and most of the seasons uh they do play out in in a similar way or at least a storyline that is making sense to how this you know the how the season play out so take the producers out for a second are you seeing claire in this season or are you watching somebody that you don't even recognize uh i would

say i i this is not the clear that i know this is uh and And I can feel like put yourself into her shoes. I mean, you're doing quarantine in a resort. It's already like we shows are a bit minefired. You've been there. And it's just like it's a lot to manage. And I feel like at some point, maybe she was overwhelmed by all of this. She felt like super strong feelings with Del.

And then this whole thing played out. but this is not the Claire that I used to know. But then again, a lot of things are happening in our lives. And like, it's not easy for her, especially like right now, but it wasn't back in the day being on the show. So, yeah, there's a little different between the Claire that I, like that was shown on TV than the, the Claire that I know in real life. So are you then shocked that she felt so hard for Dale, like right away?

Like is this knowing her and knowing how she loves and knowing her desire for love? Are you surprised that she was like all eyes set on Dale? David, like I feel like she's just so passionate. Like she knows what she wants. And when she sees something, maybe like if the show like wouldn't brought Dale, I feel like she would be more, she would get to know more of the guys. But like she had a big crush on Dale. And she like at the beginning, she was still always.

open to getting to know the other guys, but I feel like feelings were growing so fast for her in that situation. That's where she maybe got caught in those feelings with Dale. Ashley and I've talked about this a few times, but I've wondered through this season if Dale wasn't there, if she would have the same reaction to somebody else that was there. Like because just how much she wants to find love, how passionate she is, if her eyes would been said on one of these other guys and because she just, you know, she isn't made, which I don't know if any of us are. I don't think any of us are, but she isn't made to date multiple people at one time, especially when she's feeling something for somebody. I know Ashley and I've talked

about this and it's something that we've, we've been curious about. Yeah, yeah, definitely. I feel like it would have been a total different season if Dale wasn't there. But then again, like, what can we do? I mean, like she's really into the guy and I just hope like it's going to be the best decision that she's ever made. But at least like people want like a real person on the show. So she's been real from the beginning. She has the feelings for for him. So we cannot blame someone for like being true to themselves and not pretending on or faking other relationship, like she's listening to her gut. She's listening to these feelings. And I mean, like, she's still doing great. Ben Watt, we can assume at this point that she does leave the show

and Tasia comes in to replace her. How do you think that decision came about knowing Claire? Do you think that this is her saying like, you know what, this process isn't for me going off of what you and Ben just discussed? Or do you think that something else happened? I feel like production, they realized, and I've read something about it. What was it? It was maybe Robert Mills that said that, but I don't want to be wrong about this. But at the point where she didn't get that rose on a group date and she was like really into Dale's production, they were looking for another bachelorette. So I think, like, ultimately it was production that came at her.

and just like said, you know what, Claire, I feel you're not giving a fair chance. It's really into Dale, so we want you to be happy. And they add like a common, I would say, agreement on her maybe leaving the show. But I feel like she was like, it wasn't like her ultimate decision. Have you discussed anything with her after she's finished filming? Yes, actually. like we spoke two days ago or maybe yesterday but she's not allowed to say anything because of the contracts but I feel like this is a lot right now for her so I'm just being supportive and she's I'm not allowed to say anything

but I don't think she's really happy on how the edit was turned was made but once again it's what you sign for so I guess it's production it's a business and that's it now we can't forget you in this process right somebody you loved you're watching on television

and you're a great dude a bigger man than me how are you dealing with all this like what are your hopes in this and how are you feeling watching this I just hope like I told her like whoever you're going to pick I want to be able one day to meet that guy and just to shake hands, get to know that person and wish you the best of luck. And even though it didn't work out between me and her, it's going to be a friendship forever.

So I just hope at the end of this, when this is like all this roller coaster would end for her that she can find like some happiness with all of this. and with the man of her dream. So this is what I'm wishing for. And I'm going to support her. And if she needs to talk, if she needs, like, someone to understand what she went through. I mean, I was, I went through this experience also,

so I can relate. Has Claire been as supportive of you and other relationships as you've been to her? Because it seems like you guys, you really have been involved in each other. other's romantic lives as friends. So has there, have you ever gone to her for girl advice? Uh, true, actually.

Like, we've, we've kept in touch. And I, uh, I've, um, I dated some, some women. And I was asking for advice. I was telling her like, oh, this is all going well. And, and I was giving news about, uh, about this whole thing. Uh, like, of course, it's not involving bachelor, like, on my side. So, like, she's being supportive. Um, and, um,

But we're still friends. So we're still giving news about, like, what's happening. And if there's any advice, she would help me out. I think this is awesome. I mean, the way you guys are handling this. And that was a big question for me coming on. You know, we didn't know how you guys are as, you know, as friends. Or if you even have a friendship or if you guys are, like, the worst enemies, you know.

But it's really cool to hear how supportive you are of the two of each other. So we're coming up now to another week. It could be, you know, I think we're assuming that, you know, Claire does leave that there's a new Bachelorette that comes in. Do you know, do you, can you even predict? Do we just kind of like, is Claire just gone? Or do we get to follow her story? Do you hope that we follow her story?

Like, what's next in Claire's season of the Bachelorette? I feel like there is going to be more. Like, we all, like, heard some spoilers that she might be engaged to, one guy, which most likely would be Dale. Jason, right? Yeah, that good Jason guy. Yeah, so, of course, they're going to keep us in touch about, like, what's with Claire has been going through. And I think it would be like a two season at once at one point. So hopefully we're going to see how it all unfold for these two.

But, like, I feel like it would be interesting to watch how it unfold. for Taisha, but also for Claire at the end of this, because this is not like the end of her and dales. No. I like what you may have previewed there for us. I agree. It would be very strange if they're just like, okay, you two.

Get off the cameras now. I do hope that they keep them around at least at Lakeinta for a while and give us like 10 minutes an episode about how their week is gone. He better leave with her. Like, he better, we hinted last week on the podcast, been while like we had a guest on marika and she had said like what if he doesn't go like what if he just does the stay and he wants to pursue tasha i i was sitting after the podcast uh thinking about that comment because i had never even thought about that until she said it and at the time

we all laughed because we're like ah it'd be crazy it's great tv and i was like that sucks no he better go with her because if not he has led that girl on the whole time and that's not fair so like i'm going to hope and assume that dale walks off this show with her as Tasia steps in. He would be the biggest villain of all time. That would suck. He better leave with her. Better leave with her.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, definitely. You know, no, I would be pissed. When we were talking in March, back in March, me and her, I told her, like, if there's any guys missing up with you, just call me and I'll come over and I'll keep their ass. To be honest, like, I don't want you to get hurt in this. this is the last thing that I wanted. So that's so sweet of you. Well, since you guys have been in touch since March,

and you probably were a little bit in touch during quarantine when she was able to see these guys for the first time, did she ever make mention to you that she thought that Dale was the cutest, that she was most excited to meet him? No, she didn't make any comments about the guys. I feel like she wasn't really, like it's a special season. like normally you don't get to see who uh who's going on onto your show like ben imagine you would have like had uh i don't know all the the the names and the the the profile

of everyone that's going through your season you would you would check admit it yeah i i definitely would have appreciated that i would have loved that and like this is this is one thing so like i'm i'm pretty sure like she already looked them up uh before But she wasn't allowed to say anything, and she didn't mention anything about, like, who she was more attracted to or something like that. I think she wanted to give a fair shot to everyone. Do you think that they spoke before the show? Because everybody, well, I don't want to say everybody. A lot of people seem to think that the two of them chatted before the show.

The more I watched the season, the more I think it truly was a spontaneous, like a feeling that she got in the moment, that it was love at first sight. But I think that a lot of people will still continue with the thought that they talk beforehand because it was just seemed like such an instantaneous chemistry. I to be honest, I don't know. And I want to believe her when she said it was only Blake that reached out to her. And maybe like some guy like like wrote to her. But like at the end of this, I think it all like played out the first night when he stepped out the limo and like there was all these. parks in their eyes. So, um, hopefully yes. I mean, like, she does, she doesn't tell me these kind of things, but she's not allowed to. So, uh, anyways. I don't tell, I don't tell my ex those

type of things either. I think we just, I don't blame her. Uh, Benoit, you're a good man. And, uh, it's really great to catch up with you and hear about your, you're just your admiration and care for Claire still. I want to take a break. When we come back, uh, Benoit, I want to hear about what you're up to today kind of what you're what's going on in your life give you the stage for a second we do every in-depth podcast uh so we'll come back uh with benoit claire's ex-fiance but good friend on the almost famous in-depth podcast 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 okay story time podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now hold up, isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's

certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So 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. Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it? Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman, and on she pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Whitmer, Jody Sweetie. Onica Patton.

Elaine Welterah. I'm Jessica Voss. And that's when I was like, I got to go. I don't know how, but that kicked off the pivot of how to make the transition. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Every episode gets real about the why behind these changes and gives you the inspiration and maybe the push to make your next pivot. Listen to these women and more on She Pivots, now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, Puzzlers, let's start with a quick puzzle.

The answer is, Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy-truthers, who say that you were given all the answers, believe in... I guess they would be Kenspiracy theorists. That's right. Are there Jeopardy-truthers? Are there people who say that it was rigged? Yeah, ever since I was first on, people are like, they gave you the answers, right?

And then there's the other ones which are like. They gave you the answers, and you still blew it. Don't miss Jeopardy legend Ken Jennings on our special game show week of The Puzzler podcast. The Puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The U.S. Open is here, and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain, I'm breaking down the players from rising stars to legends chasing history, the predictions, well, we see a first time winner, and the pressure.

Billy Jean King says pressure is a privilege, you know. Plus, the stories and events off the court, and of course the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very fancy, wonderfully experiential. sporting event. I mean, listen, the whole aim is to be accessible and inclusive for all tennis fans, whether you play tennis or not. Tennis is full of compelling stories of late. Have you heard about Icon Venus Williams' recent wild card bids or the young Canadian, Victoria Mboko, making a name for herself? How about Naomi Osaka getting back to form? To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an IHeart women's sports production in partnership with deep blue

sports and entertainment on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. Culture eats strategy for breakfast. I would love for you to share your breakdown on pivoting. We feel sometimes like we're leaving a part of us behind when we enter a new space, but we're just building. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us, I was joined by Volisha Butterfield, Media Founder, Political Strategist, and Tech Powerhouse for a powerful conversation on storytelling, impact, and the intersections of culture and leadership. I am a free black woman who worked really hard to be able to say that. I'd love for you to break down. Why was so important for you to do C?

You can't win as something you didn't create. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Belisha's journey is a masterclass in shifting culture and using your voice to spark change. A very fake, capital-driven environment and society will have a lot of people tell half-truths. I'm telling you, I'm on the energy committee. Like, if the energy is not right, we're not doing it, whatever that it is. Listen to Culture raises us on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Benoit, when we knew you, when you were on Jasmine's season, you were a restaurant manager, right?

Yep, yep. Of multiple restaurants in Montreal? Exactly. So I'm the director of three restaurants and the banquet of the Hotel Plasdarm. So there's one rooftop bar. There's one French cuisine restaurant that I was talking with then when we were on the bus up to the skating rink back in Vermont. And I'm also a director of a Japanese Izakaya restaurant and bar. And is that what you're still doing today?

Are you still actively working at those places? yeah yeah i'm actually in the private room of the french cuisine restaurant so and uh no i'm enjoying the restaurant's life actually i know jerry had worked in uh restaurants am i right yes yes he um managed restaurants for a couple years before going the show and it's his dream to open up a restaurant or bar of his own so we are in that first stage of it just exploring that idea Okay, good, good, good. I mean, like, I feel like me and him have a lot of the things in common, but first of all, I just want to congratulate Bo Pote the few guys for the engagement ban

and for the wedding for you, Ashby. A lot of things happened since the past three years, but I'm glad that you guys are at a good place right now. So, yes, I'm still living, living Montreal, doing, working a lot. It's not super easy. The pandemic can you hear. They had to close restaurants and dining rooms. It's been almost like a month. And we're doing another month of closing at the restaurants.

But we're doing takeout and delivery at the Japanese restaurants. At least we're still making some revenues. But it's not the same as with the pandemic. And before, what was it? Before and back in days. Are you dating? Are you in love? Yeah.

I'm actually seeing someone right now. So hopefully, she, she's the one, and she's super sweet. Her name is Maud. She's the owner of a dance studio in here in Montreal area. So, yeah, I mean, like, she's a great girl. And actually, you can see her in my last post on Instagram. Is it my last post? Yes.

I'm going to be your Instagram before this, and I don't remember seeing her. hold on so she like the drone the drone video that I made like she's the lady beside me so

that's amazing there she is so I'm assuming this is a relatively new relationship since you were running in the running for summer games yeah exactly so

the casting for summer games was around February and March and like yeah I've been dating here for a few months already. So it has been great so far. So hopefully I'm not going to ever go back on any of these shows.

But, you know, we're hoping for the best. It brought you good friendship, man. And if anything, these shows have done that for me. And I know they've done that for you. We've just heard a whole podcast about your friendship with Claire. And it's really refreshing and good to hear. And also awesome to hear your support of her. Benoit, every in-depth episode,

Ashley has a really special thing that she loves to do. It's one of my favorite moments of the podcast. It's super easy. You're off the hot seat until my final question. But Ashley, this is your time. Take it away. All right. So it's just basically rapid fire, a whole bunch of fun questions.

I'm going to start with what's your favorite dish at one of your restaurants? Definitely, me, Gehry, the Amachi one. So it's a yellowfin tuna, and it's delicious. Can't go wrong with tuna. I love tuna. What is something in Canada that Americans don't have that we totally need to adapt? Adopt. Do you have cuisine?

Do you think you have cuisine? That would be my answer. Not common. It's not common. I think that it's becoming a little bit more frequent on menus. Like, they're trying to be trendy and adding it. but what's your favorite type? I know that like what's the standard

poutine and then what is your favorite type of poutine? Because I know that you guys have a vast variety now. Okay, good. So the classic one would be some French fries, some gravy and some nice fresh cheese curts. But you can always like

cricket. My favorite, I like some duck confi on top of it. Maybe you can switch the potatoes for sweet potato French fries. And switch the gravy for like a pepper peppercorn sauce instead. So you can always like play

with that. That's a funny thing about that. We think you can always tweak it in your own way, but the cheese curds are must. All right, all right. Sounds like a nap to me. That's what it says. Absolutely. What was your favorite

event at Winter Games? Oh, I think like the cross-country skiing was that The most entertaining one, right? We had to shoot a paintball gun. It's probably the easiest one. Yeah. It was tough for some of the people.

I remember that. But it wasn't easy, but it was probably the easiest. Because after that, we had to go that downhill skiing, where I was truly like, oh, this is the part of the contract that says I signed my life away. I remember you on skates, Ashley, and you were doing good. Thank you. You're very sweet. At least you were trying, right? You were doing your best. Yeah. Okay. So what, who was your first kiss? Describe your first kiss. Who was my first kiss? Wow. In my old life, her name was Milan and I was my, she was my first girlfriend, if my memory is right.

And I don't even remember because I was drunk, I think. Yeah. You're drunk with your first kiss, so how old were you? I don't know. Maybe, uh, maybe, I don't know, uh, 15, 16. I, I don't remember. No, actually. It was old. It was an old first kiss. Like, I was, I was 19, so it's okay. Oh. Yeah. Yeah, it makes everybody feel better. Okay. Lastly, what's your favorite movie? Uh, oh my God. I don't know. Because it's Halloween, I feel like, uh, Some of the Halloween movies are pretty good.

Maybe Ocus Focus, because when I was young, like, yeah, at that time of the year, I feel like Ocus Focus is one of my best memories of Halloween movies. Very nostalgic. Yeah, really. All right, Benoit, here's my time with you. It's the final thing of the podcast. You're almost done. You've been great.

We appreciate you. We'd like to give you the stage. For anybody out there listening, what message do you have on your heart right now for anybody that you would just like to share. You take 30 seconds a minute. I don't have 20 minutes for you to do this. So please keep it reasonably short. The stage is yours, Benoit. What would you like to share with anybody listening? To be honest with you guys, I just want everybody to keep in mind this old batch for franchise and stuff. Like I said, it's a business. There's a lot of editing. There's a lot of like what you guys haven't seen. So, and keep always in perspective.

There's someone, there's a human that whenever you're doing like some comments on social medias and stuff, that is probably going to like seem somehow or maybe not, but like there might be a human hurt or affected by your comments. So just always be nice and respectful through everything you say because like there's a lot of things that you guys haven't seen and that you guys know some like some of the people they

like you know Ben you know Ashley they tend to get like they know you a hundred percent of you but you just like saw a few of the clips of you on the internet so frustrating it's it's frustrating so just guys whoever is listening

to this like just be nice to people but there's always like a human behind all of this that is going through maybe some tough times maybe some good times maybe some bad times also so please just be nice and there's no way for hate for racism for like whatever like disrespect you can you can imagine so just just be nice guys you the man we love that that was a great way to wrap up the podcast thanks buddy you're the man hey follow our lead here i'm going to start you'll catch on fast this has been an in-depth episode with Benoit from Bachelor in Ro Games, Bachelor at Canada,

and also Bachelor in Paradise. I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. And I've been Benoit. Yes. Amazing. Thanks, Enwa. Bye.

Thank you, guys. It was a pleasure. You're the man. Take care of yourself. See, buddy. Bye, bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHartRadio, or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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

and the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love 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.

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