The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Almost Famous In Depth: Colton Underwood

Episode Date: March 14, 2022

Colton’s back and Ben and Ashley are ready to go IN DEPTH. We lay everything out on the table in this honest and raw conversation with Colton Underwood.Colton takes the opportunity to apologize to Ben for a misunderstanding and we find out what Colton REALLY meant when he said he felt no support from Bachelor Nation.Colton shares all the intimate details about his engagement.This is the TELL ALL we need. 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.

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. Do we really need another podcast with a condescending finance broaf trying to tell us how to spend our own money? No thank you. Instead, check out Brown Ambition.

Each week, I, your host, Mandy Money, gives you real talk, real advice with a heavy dose of I feel uses. Like on Fridays when I take your questions for the BAQA. Whether you're trying to invest for your future, navigate a toxic. workplace, I got you. Listen to Brown Ambition on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story. Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack.

Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 hosts 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. This is Ben and Ashley I. Almost Famous In-depth. We got an in-depth episode with Colton Underwood. It's been a while since he's been on the Almost Famous podcast. We're pumped to have him here. Colton, welcome. Well, it's nice to be here. Hello, Ashley. Hello, Ben. Hello. Hello. I mean, wow. More things have happened in your life. since you were here. I don't know. I guess it was like two something years ago. No. Some highs and some lows for sure. And yeah, COVID changed a lot.

I had a time hop on my Instagram come up the other day. And it was a picture of you, me, Jared, Ari, Lauren, and you and Cassie from, yeah, from that movie premiere. And I was like, looking at this picture and it's like some big life event happened with pretty much everyone. it's crazy yeah i mean that was i think that was like right before the world sort of shut down too oh it was legit like i think we're all still making jokes yeah yeah yeah we're like okay uh let's get somewhere where we're okay with staying for the next two months yeah now uh walk is through it uh colden i mean we obviously just mentioned a ton's gone on in your life uh including um professionally personally personally emotionally um how has these last

I mean, we say two years. It's probably more like, what, a year and nine months? How have they been for you? I mean, Rocky. I mean, there's no way to, like, sugarcoat it. I mean, it hasn't been the easiest process. And I'm really happy, really good now, but it took a lot of work to get there. And, I mean, look, it just was like, it was covered pretty much in the documentary as far as, like, how things went right after the,

break up and COVID and all of that. But at the end of it, I mean, look, I could have handled a lot of things better and changed a lot of, you know, and saved a lot of people a lot of time. But at the end of the day, like, you know, my path to coming out, my path to finding happiness was definitely one that was pretty rocky. Now, yeah, I mean, I think, but to finish that up then, what have you learned maybe? Can we close that thought with like where you sit? looking back on like what what's changed within you and what new like uh things have you started to

focus on in your life uh i think i found inner peace i mean and it's and it's not something that like is i find and you get to keep all the time like it's a work in progress it's something that i'm still trying to find what's going to keep that piece inside of me and how i'm going to try to remain you know true to who i am in all times and all aspects of my life i think there's a lot of me, a lot of me that was overcompensating a lot of different aspects of my life. A lot of me that was trying to be somebody who I wasn't. So now that I have found that, I want to keep on that path and I want to keep, you know, holding myself accountable and surrounding myself by good people and really just cutting out things in life that don't, that aren't good for me

or aren't healthy for me. Um, so you talk about, well, we can talk about documentary a little bit later but in the documentary you do talk about what's just called coming out colton on netflix cassie's brought up a number of times of course it was a huge part of your life and a lot of the stuff that you went through she we haven't heard from until perhaps tomorrow night she's might be on the bachelor finale how do you do you feel like she's going to speak do you how do you foresee a conversation with her and maybe jesse palmer going oh i have i have no clue um i did i did know that she was going on uh one of the producers text me just to give me a heads up um which i mean obviously they don't even owe me that at this point but uh i did appreciate that

but i don't i mean i have no clue i in whatever she needs to say like i've always from the very beginning you know whatever she has to say or vent or do like i'm you know i obviously have no control over that so it's you know whatever she feels like she needs to do it is weird um well first off they didn't owe you that i haven't had a producer text me i bet in three years i mean i don't i don't think so they don't give me any heads up anymore and then i just saw a preview of my proposal during uh the bachelor i was like come on guys i'm married like can we stop abc but i know they have how does that make you feel though because that's that's something you know and i got caught in the media and i mean obviously i don't want to like um avoid the elephant in the room i mean

And the title of me, you calling me out for lying, like, you know, I think the Bachelor franchise for me became just so toxic in such a business that I didn't want to be involved in with how they handle things like that. So I stepped away and I just, I don't know, like, how do you reconcile that with yourself internally when they continue to do things that don't sit well with you or don't give you a heads up? Well, yeah, I'd love to talk about, I think there's two things there. I'd love to talk about saying that nobody in Bachelor Nation supported you because that hurt pretty good from a lot of people, like from a couple people that I knew, just like, we like Colton.

I don't know why he's saying this about us. Like this was, you know, I fully support what he's doing. I don't love the path that it took and I can't even comment on that. But I just don't love that he came out and said that. So that's one thing we'll talk about in a second. Personally, I think it's more hard for. for Jessica than it is for me. For me, it is a memory. It is a lot of times a blur in my life. It obviously was a very real relationship and a very real time for me that almost, you know, that I've worked

hard on moving on from. Like there wasn't like this immediate like, okay, it's over. Now I can get past it. It's like, no, that's, you know, that relationship affected me in a lot of different ways, good and bad. And, and so I've worked personally on getting away from that. to then invest fully into my wife like that's that's like that's a big deal um that's hard enough you know is to to be married and to you know give up a lot of yourself for your partner but um i also i think at this point have understood that uh i agreed to the show you know fully agreed to it said i'm i'm on this show i'm going to now be the lead of this show and whatever happens you i fully understand that you own the the rights

to everything that happened on this season for perpetuity. And so however you use that, I cannot be upset because I agreed to that. I don't have to like it. I don't have to enjoy it. And I hope they respect, you know, I hope they care about me enough at this point where they're like, I don't want to have show something that like ruins his marriage or like, you know, not maybe I don't know if they have that power, but they don't show something that like causes, you know, drama within my marriage.

I hope they respect me enough for that. I don't know. You know, that's yet to be seen. But it still isn't fun and it still is not ideal. And it still makes me cringe. And I'm like, gosh, dang it. Like, I don't want to watch myself with another human. Like, that's not where my mind's at.

So, but I understand, I understand what I did. I understand that I gave it up. And as much as I've moved on and I don't have that much of a connection anymore with them, I understand that they still have that piece of me. And shoot, they want to show a couple more clips of me. Maybe that helps my social media following. I don't know. Um, you guys are doing something, right?

They gave you Clayton getting access to their lead isn't the easiest thing. You guys must not be in the dog in the dog hole anymore. No. Um, okay. So then the second part of that, um, is obviously if you hear some background noise, my, my, do have a puppy in the house and stuff gets knocked over and stuff gets growled out. So just I apologize for that. Um, you know, the headlines came out. Um, what, what caught, you know, I'll tell you.

you my side of what happened so that you have some context because I think those headlines oftentimes get skewed and they're good clickbait but I did say what I said I said this isn't true like I you know I know people that reached out to Colton I reached out to Colton I had messages from people that I could show you right now saying you claim to be inclusive you you claim to be welcoming yet Colton has just came out and said nobody from Bachelor Nation supported him. And Ben, you were a lead on the on a season. You were on Colton season. You live in Denver. How can you not support him? And I say, that's not fair to, that's not fair. And so I, that's where I was coming from was I felt like that statement was disregarding

a couple of your friends within, you know, maybe not close friends anymore, but friends who said, hey, I just want to see Colton happy or I want to see Colton with that inner peace. Like, I, I, I can't be mad at this decision he's made in his life to come out. I want to be, at least for him to know that somebody from this world says, hey, that's not like, we're not mad at you for that. And so I guess that's where I was coming from. And it would be great to hear your side of that. Yeah. Well, I mean, first, like the fact that you even got those messages, I'll say sorry because, you know, after coming out, you did reach out to me. I think where you were starting at the beginning is, you know, headlines have to, you know, get clicks and move things.

And the headline that came out, I was more so, and I just, I actually just watched the interview back just to make sure that I wasn't, you know, going to come on here and not have the facts, but it was more so saying, like, when I was going through my mental spiral and my downfall, like when the news first broke of what was going on between me and my ex, the only person who did reach out was Chris. I had no support from the network. I had no support from the production company. I had no support for my own mental health.

And I was really in a dark place. And I'd share that with people in production, how bad it was for me. And I think that's more where I was speaking from at that moment in that interview. When they were asking me, do I still watch a show? And I say, I don't. You know, I don't have a good relationship. It's not for me. I actually, the only person I truly keep in touch with.

And by the way, keeping in touch for me is a text once, twice a month to Chris checking in or congratulating him on a milestone or a victory. I don't and maybe it was in a different interview where I said that and if I did I am sorry if they did ask me if anybody since coming out had reached out but that was more so where I was speaking from as far as when I was going through the mental health side of things I didn't really and look the thing is like I didn't expect that from either of you because you know while we have a lot of respect for each other we're not the closest of friends and there's nothing wrong with that you know people come in and out of your life so I think that's sort of more so where I was coming from and I didn't definitely didn't mean to but when all of a sudden that got thrown back on me I had you I had nick vial which like reading messages out on his thing whatever he's got to do for his you know his socials and engagement and stuff and then tasha it just was like a bombardment of misunder like misunderstandings at the time and they sort of took things how they wanted to but I mean truly to you I'm sorry for that but I did just I mean I was making sure that I didn't miss speak in that and say like hey since coming

coming out and nobody's reached out to me because that definitely wouldn't have been true yeah well yeah and i and i you know at this point it is a if you were hurt by during that time or if you felt isolated and alone i mean you didn't make it easy in yourself you changed your number and you shut down your social media accounts and so i i mean yep i kept in touch with you from a distance and i'm sure your friends that your close friends who do did you have your new number um and did have access to you probably told you that it was not not often that I would just ask him how is he doing like is he good is he okay I do actually I do remember that Eric said he said hey I was just with Ben the other night and he wanted to check in on you so I do I do actually remember that so

I can I can say that so and you've been you've always been a great A human being and same with you actually like I mean I obviously wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't have respect for how you guys have gone through this franchise because it's not an easy thing to go through you both have handled it with grace and humility the entire time no matter how you're being portrayed or what's going on in the media so i mean i at least owe that to you to say like i am sorry for how things happened in the in the precedent in the media and also you know i didn't make it easy and i don't and that's something i'm still continuing to work on is i shut off and i shut down pretty quick when when things aren't good yeah well it's water on the bridge i'm glad we could talk about

it um because once you talk about it then there's no reason to to hold it in or to keep perpetuating the thing that happened i just i wanted to make sure when you came on that we we you knew that you weren't on an island alone um that you you know that no matter how hard or no matter how many decisions that weren't great and we're you know talked about we're happening maybe in your life that like your mental health and your stability and your ability to process and work towards things was not something that we neglected or said, hey, good for Colton, screw you, go run off on your own

and, you know, fall off a bridge. Like, that's not what all we were saying. In fact, like, you know, I was hoping you heard and knew that, like, we worked towards reaching out to you. And that's why it hurt, because it was like, I don't know what's going on here. I don't know why this is being said. That's not fair to anybody that tried to reach out

because it makes people look like they didn't care. And that couldn't have been farther from the truth. And so that book is closed. And now we can move on. Which, by the way, I have the gift you gave me right here. Well, thank you. Oh, wait a second. So I actually was thinking about asking you this question.

Colton is holding up a book about... Called Unclobbered. Explain a little bit about what it's about. It's about after coming out, One of the things that Ben and I discussed was how I want to remain a Christian. And obviously, after coming out, I had the internal battle of the homosexuality, Christian bout and sort of battle that goes on. And Ben sent me the book by Colby Martin called On Clavered to help with my path and my road

in, you know, remaining a Christian and, you know, wrestling the fact that, you know, I'm gay. So it's been, you know, a great resource. I'm not, I will disclose, I'm not finished with it. I come in and read chunks of it very similar to how I treat my, my Bible study and my marks there, read a chapter here, a paragraph there. But it's a journey that I'm still on. Yeah, just, yeah, I mean, I guess that, you know, the hope is that you, no matter what, you just don't feel alone in this.

That's not fun. That's not ideal and that's not good for anybody in this world. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Well, 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. 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 Yumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom.

If you're a crime junkie and you live. 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 iHeart radio app search emergency intercom and listen now imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this attention passengers the pilot is having an emergency think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, do this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my eyes close. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin.

And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise, lack the expertise, lack the they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run right. I'm looking at this thing. Listen to no such thing on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condescending finance bro tell you how to manage your money again. Welcome to Brown Ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem a year from now.

When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months, months, you can have this much credit card debt when it weighs on you.

It's really easy to just, like, stick your head in the sand. It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it. And in fact, it may get even worse. For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. My name is Ed. Everyone says, hello, Ed. From a very rural background myself, my dad is a farmer and my mom is a cousin.

So, like, it's not like... What do you get? when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club. I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. The 22nd of July 2015,

a 23-year-old man had killed his family. And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So I brought that up because there are three things that now, like six months removed, from watching your documentary.

I have that stuck with me. One, it was the religion episode, which was like, honestly fascinating, which you just kind of said, you're still on that journey of kind of figuring out that. And two was the episode about you dating and getting out there

and, like, dating in, like, the gay community, which you felt is, like, so much different. And I don't know why I found myself like relating to you so much in that episode because you were like I am not like I don't want to be into parties like this is like way too extroverted for me and I was thinking I was like oh man is this how like why does he have to date like this like where it's like all just like a party I don't know and it made me nervous it made me yeah a giant group day made me nervous for you

So how did you come about meeting your fiancé? Were you able to navigate the gay dating world in a way that was just like maybe a little bit calmer? Also, congratulations on your engagement. And yes, very much. Congratulations. That was what I was going to move into and say we can process now and totally turn the table and say, congratulations to you on your engagement. But, okay, so.

Yeah. Oh, gosh. We'll get like lighter now. Yeah. But please tell me how like dating initially went. Oh, geez. I was so intimidated because what I knew of the gay community, which was very little because I was so scared to even look in that direction because I didn't want to be called out or found out. All I knew is it like they really enjoy themselves in the gay community. They like to party and, you know, do amazing things. And I didn't really know how to get into it. And that was obviously just showing.

telling how awkward I was in that group setting and how uncomfortable I still was with dating. And I actually truly honestly didn't date until after the show wrapped, like, legitimately. And when it did, I went on, I think I went on two or three different dates. And I mean, they went okay. It wasn't anything great. And with different people, two or three different people? Yeah. Yeah.

I think after coming out, I dated five people before I met Jordan. And a couple of them twice or three times, but it just was nothing like my connection was with Jordan when we first met. And we met through a mutual friend here in L.A. So it was just one of those things that we hit it off and we went on, you know, there was a trip that a bunch of us went on together and the connection was there. And it was just an awesome time? Okay. So when you did meet, was it like love at first sight? Was it like boom?

Oh my God. Like I'm feeling this or was it a slow grow or like a slower grow? it was obviously not slow you guys got engaged after like six months yeah no um and once again another amazing part that i can thank the bachelor franchise for because i didn't like when i dated with so much intent now which i think it was that's why it's so easy for me to move through the first few people that i was dating because i was like okay i asked the i asked questions and i bring up topics that a lot of couples hold on to until they're like two three four months into dating and that is because of just sort of what i went through the last two years so

Um, we moved pretty quickly and I would say like, yes, I was looking, but I didn't know that I was looking for that right away. And when it happened, I just didn't want to hold back. There was no, there was no holding back for me. There was no playing it safe. I was going to be criticized one way or another, you know, by the public of coming out and getting engaged too soon or whether, you know, I came out and they saw me at clubs in WeHo. Like, I mean, I was going to get shamed or, or hate for either route that I decided to choose. And I chose my happiness. And somebody. who makes me extremely happy and somebody who I make extremely happy and we have an amazing life together. He's so supportive. I can't say enough good things about him, but it was truly like this. I mean, it was so easy and so natural and so meant to be. And there was no holding back. The, and I don't know if I have the timeline here, correct. Um, but when you are in the public spotlight, dating can be difficult. And I remember, on this podcast reading a headline that you were on a trip with somebody that was rumored to be your like boyfriend or partner or like I don't even know if they called it that yet or like

that you're interested in. So like now that you just told us the story of you went on a trip and then the sparks flew like that had to be very early on in your relationship. Did it make it weird? Did it put a hard pressure on it or was it like let's just dive in and go? Like how was your reaction to these headlines that came out so quickly after you started, you know, dating. Oh, gosh. I, I did not like it. I mean, I sort of, I just wanted to protect our bubble and what we, what we were building and having together. And like, I so vividly, I know what you mean. We were in Hawaii at the time. And I know exactly who it was filming and taking the picture because it was a private-ish resort. And when that got leaked, you know, I just my heart sunk for a

second, but then also I remembered, like, look, you are the creator of your own happiness. Like, so, so the old Colton would have retaliated in the press or done something on my social media, but then like, it doesn't matter what the headlines saying, what the public thinks. Like, I just wanted to be happy. But I do remember, like, it was just, it was a little upsetting that it got out just because I would rather handle it how I needed, how mentally and how we both agreed that we wanted to handle it. But once again, you can't, like, as much as we wanted to try to hide it was going to come out one way or another yeah well tell us about the proposal who proposed uh he proposed to me and go like did you expect it went great we did ended up doing

necklaces so we have our burst stones in our first um initial and then they're interlocked on our necklaces and i did not expect we had we obviously had a conversation um prior to saying like look i think we're both ready or we didn't say i think we're both ready and I just said, like, look, I would love to be surprised just whenever you feel like that is. And after my 30th birthday, we went on a trip and it was an amazing surprise and an amazing weekend. Can you walk me through? I'm ignorant to this, Colton. Like, how, like, how did you know that he was going to propose to you? Like, how, like, did that process go where you said, I want to be surprised.

I want to be the person getting asked. It was just a conversation that we had. I mean, I think that's what's also beautiful about being gay is there's really no rules and there's no, like, expectations of gender roles now, like the man has to do this, woman has to do this. So we just had the open and honest conversation. And I was like, I came from a past where I was always expected to get down on a knee. and he and his past had some things that both made our conversation lead to, hey, when you feel, I'm giving you the trust and the power to say, hey, when you feel like the time is right, you ask me.

And that was, and he agreed. And it's like, that sounds great. I appreciate that. So it was just a healthy conversation. And it's an example of our communication. Yeah, I was going to say it's an example of your communication amongst each other is being able to talk through those stuff, those big decisions in life. Yeah. I mean, that's one thing that really struck me with Jordan is the way that we communicate and the way that we, we sort of nip problems in the bud.

So like before it becomes a big issue in our relationship, we already just say, hey, that didn't make me feel great. I didn't like that, which is a little new to me as just far as having that direct conversation in a relationship where you don't have to guess what the other person's thinking. It's like, hey, can you work on this? Can you work on that? And there's nothing. We'll never get to a point where we're trying to change one another. but it's just such a healthy dynamic and it's something that I just really appreciate and didn't know that I needed. I need to work on that myself. Jessica just said yesterday.

She goes, it feels like you've been off the last couple days. I have. She's like, why don't you tell me? And I was like, I don't know. I just felt like it was easier to run away. Yeah, I need to work on that. That's what Jared does too.

Okay. Let's talk about the conversation that you guys have must have had about kids because I know that that is something that you want is an important. to you. So where, where do you stand there with Jordan? Well, I had to do a lot of research into figuring out how the kids process worked now that I'm that I'm out and happily in a gay relationship. Yeah. So are we thinking adoption? Are we thinking, you know, surrogate? We're thinking

surrogate. Yeah. So there's a lot of work that goes into that. I did not know all of the, all of the steps. And I'm really, really excited about that, the process. And it's pretty scientifically unbelievable the amount of choices you get to make now when it comes to building your embryos. So it's a very, very exciting process and something that we're excited to start and we have not started yet, but we've had the conversation to start it and figure out what that's going to look like timeline-wise. Cool. And your last two years are insane. I mean, really, like there's so much has happened. And I don't know what your timeline is for kids, but add kids in the, you know, two and a half year mark.

And I don't know how you're ever going to speed back up to the pace that life has been running for you. Because it's not only, you know, that you came out, that you had a Netflix documentary, that you processed a lot. And like, as you mentioned, internally and emotionally and had to work through a lot of things personally. But then you have a new show coming out on CBS. And it's one of the reasons that you're here with us today is a talk about this show. I believe it's called Beyond the Edge. on CBS. I guess my first question,

the one I'm most intrigued by is how in the world did you find time to film anything right now with all these other things going on? Well, to be honest, I went into filming for this I would say a few months after my Netflix show wrapped

just because I sort of said to my business team is like, I sort of just need something light and fun. and I want to like decompress a little bit because these last two years have been so heavy and for me. So I was like, can you can you find something that maybe I can go work on and has a charity component? And this show came up called Beyond the Edge. And it was competition, outdoors, and for charity. And I said, sign me up, please. And it's no secret.

I mean, I like being on TV. I like the entertainment industry. I love being involved in it. so I wanted to to stay in it and I will say this like it was a it was a decision that I had to talk through not only with with my team but my family too just because I was still in such a raw and vulnerable place after filming that show but I got and I still am in therapy I got the help that I needed and really stayed on track and on focus and it's an integral part of my schedule now just to make sure that I can stay mentally as healthy as I can while balancing all of these things. but the show is unbelievable. And I mean, we can get into that too if we want. But as far as like the balance of life right now, just trying to find that rhythm and that routine

of what works for me and what doesn't has really helped. 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. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic. And they're saying like, okay, pull this, until this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do it my eyes close. I'm Mani. I'm Noah.

This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then, as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the runway. I'm looking at this thing, see?

Listen to no such thing on the I-Heart 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

Hey sis What if I could promise you You never had to listen to a condescending finance bro Tell you how to manage your money again Welcome to Brown Ambition This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards If you haven't gotten to the bottom Of why you were racking up credit

Or turning to credit cards You may just recreate the same problem A year from now When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates. I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt

when it weighs on you. It's really easy to just like stick your head in the sand. It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away. Just because you're avoiding it, and in fact, it may get even worse. For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hola, it's Honey German, and my podcast, Grasasas Come Again, is back.

This season, we're going even deeper into the world of music and entertainment, with raw and honest conversations 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've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators, and culture shifters sharing their real stories of failure and success. I feel like this is my destiny. You were destined to be a start. We talk all about what's viral and trending

with a little bit of chisement, a lot of laughs, and those amazing vivras you've come to expect. And of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity, struggles, and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewash because you have to do the code switching? I won't say whitewash because at the end of the day, you know, I'm me.

Yeah. But the whole pretending and code, you know, it takes a toll on you. Listen to the new season of Grasas Has Come Again as part of my Cultura podcast network on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Okay, so I said earlier that there was three things that stood out to me about the documentary, six months removed, and now I realize there's four. Can I talk about the last two? Yes, go for it. So I know we need to talk more about the CBS show,

but I do feel like I'm hung up on your last and then we can go to the future. Okay, so your relationship with your dad, headlines came out then that he did not appreciate you coming out to him on camera. First off, what did he think that the documentary was about? Like, how did you hide this for so long? And secondly, I just want to say

that was pretty awesome to see how your relationship evolved throughout those six episodes. He became very supportive. And I'm assuming that he's very supportive of Jordan and you now. But first, let's go back to how did he get over you coming out to him on film? Yeah. Well, I think to understand that, I'll back up a little bit too. Because the documentary, I didn't, like, completely seek out.

What ended up happening was I was already working with this production company on another show that involved. a completely different group of people prior to me going through sort of my spiral. And once that happened, I dropped, like Ben said, I changed my number, moved back to Colorado, dropped off the face of the earth and handled my, you know, what I was going through mentally, private, very privately. And they had enough information from working with me in the past to realize, you know, at that time I was being blackmailed at that time, there was a, you know, a handful of people

running around L.A. saying I was gay. So they sort of figured out the pieces, and when they re-approached me, they were just say, hey, you know, we would love to take this on if you ever feel like you want to come out, like, let us know. And like sort of wink, wink, like, we'll be here for you. The production companies ran by two gay men. And I trusted them. And after conversations of how we were going to handle this, I felt comfortable enough to put my family in that position, because it is a very uncomfortable position to be put in. And that goes for everybody. who was on the show. So to answer your question directly now, I just told my dad it was a pickup

off of where life after The Bachelor. I mean, basically the show that changed my life. And I obviously went through a lot that a lot of people didn't understand. There was a lot of headlines out there that were false. There was headlines out there that were true. There was just so much out there about me that this was sort of, you know, my opportunity to say, hey, here's who I am. This is what's been going on inside of me. So he just thought it was. sort of a like talk through things and life after series or recap or regroup. He didn't know much about the series, but that just shows you how supportive my parents were from the very beginning. So then how did he feel when you actually had that conversation with him on camera?

Well, it wasn't shown, but he actually, I think he needed a sec. So the cameras went down and just regrouped and then came back, you know, they came back on and we had the conversation. That was one thing that I really appreciated since working with a couple different production companies now is they've really allowed to put the human element first where it's like, hey, instead of what you think might make great TV, like, give my dad a second, like, he needs time to process this. And then once it comes back, you know, and it wasn't very long. And there wasn't a conversation that really took place, like, in that dead time. But, you know, I get where he's coming from, where he's like, it would have been nice for him

to just come out to me privately. but we also, I think in that same article, he was like, we also understand like, this is a life he chose. Like he, he loves the TV industry and being on it. So that that's sort of, we knew, we knew what we were signing up for. And then how's his relationship with Jordan? It's good. It really is. And I was very, very nervous. But I think what really made me feel the most comfortable is Jordan came to meet my family very quickly. And they treated him. And once again, I don't know if this is okay to say, but they treated him like they would if I brought a girl home. You know, like there was no, there was no difference. There was no, uh, making him feel awkward or not

asking questions. Like they asked him the same questions that they would have asked if I brought a girl home. I just thought that was the most amazing part of all of it. Yeah, because as much as you're learning, and you mentioned earlier, you were learning a lot at this time. They were learning as well and trying to figure out, you know, okay, how do we best support Colton? How do we best support Jordan how we best support their relationship and so the fact that they chose that even is says so much about them that they chose to go on that path and say okay we're not going to do this perfectly we might need to take a second we might need to just like you know reality for us has changed a bit but let's take a second come back and that that does speak a lot to who they are first off it's

very sweet to see what your face looks like when you talk about Jordan it definitely lights up it's very cute. And then the other standout was that you talk about Cassie reaching out to you and how she hadn't reached out to you. And like your dad was like, I think she's going to reach out to you today. My lingering question was if that was like a topic of conversation, did you, why didn't you reach out to her? Or what? In the documentary, in the documentary. But when you came out, when you came out, you were like, you came out without telling her. that you were getting first. So why didn't you tell her

before you made it public? Because we weren't in a position of speaking to each other. Okay. Yeah. So just legal, legal-wise, we couldn't be done.

Okay, I thought that might be why. But I just wanted to get it clarified. I can say this because I think it's out there. There was, we offered her to come on the show to like sit down and have a conversation, whatever that looked like.

However, she wanted to handle that too but it just wasn't it just I don't think it was in the cards and I think she's moved on and happy in her life and I'm obviously in a great place now so okay I just wanted to get that clarified as like there was probably like a legal thing

okay gotcha yeah well given given that framework to Colton for where your lives are at I just I have a feeling tomorrow night will not be easy on either of you that you know it's national television And I just watched the finale of this season.

And that's going to be, you know, the crazy enough. And it will just be an interesting night where I'm sure there's going to be a lot of processing. Are you going to watch it? Are you going to tune in? How are you going to handle knowing that your name is definitely going to be out there come, you know, Wednesday morning? Oh, well, I don't know. I mean, my text with the producer said she was going to be speaking on a panel and that he doesn't foresee my name being brought up. So, I mean, I've heard that before and it took a completely different shift.

So mentally, though, I'm in a much better place. This is a very similar situation to right before my spiral, you know, where I reached out to the producer and sort of begged him not to like contribute to my mental downfall. But, you know, I'm, I'm in a really healthy spot now. I have a, you know, the love of my life to support me. I have my family to support me. I have a great group of friends and, you know, I'm not going to want. But I'm also like, you know, excited if that, you know, if that's what she needs to do, whatever

that looks like, then so be it. Yeah. Well, I also, I think I was thinking about this. I misspoke earlier. The producers have texted me the last three years. In fact, a couple of them came to my wedding. So I know I was texting with them then. So it's just maybe not about the show.

And then I went on the Matt season, which was probably too. Here's how the headline starts. Yeah, I know, which was probably two years ago. I went on Matt show. I'm saying when my name gets brought up or when there's like clipits of stuff. I don't get the heads up. But, I mean, granted, not too many people from my season are still coming on the show, so I don't know why.

Well, like, for example, I got, you know, I was the worst kisser, I guess, in Paradise. I didn't get the heads up for that episode coming out. But now it makes sense to people why I wasn't in a great kisser. There you go. Yeah, that's actually, that's good for you. All right, so back to CBS. What can fans look forward to? They're going to watch you again as we close up here.

What can they look forward to with this show, with watching you on television? Who else is involved? Give us the best sales pitch for why people should tune in to Beyond the Edge. Well, on the show, it's Ray Lewis, Meta World Peace, Jody Sweeten, Ebony Williams, Paulina, Poroscova, Lauren Elena, and Craig Morgan. Oh, I'm forgetting somebody. Oh, Mike Singletary as well. And it's a show about putting our differences aside and coming together and working together

to raise money for our respective charities. And while there's competitions every single day and money up for grabs, we are there on our own. We are there for as long as we feel like in our hearts, we need to be there, both mentally and physically. So there's no elimination process other than ringing the bell. And when you ring the bell, you're done, you pack up and you leave. So you come and really just push yourself, you push your body,

you push yourself mentally. And it's just interesting to see how, different people from different walks of life can come together and support one another and I think that is so needed right now in our society so it was honestly one of the best decisions I made to go on to that show and something that I truly needed in that moment so when can fans tune in fans can tune in on Wednesday nights I think it follows Survivor on Wednesday nights and then I've been in four different time zones now this week so I don't know exactly what what time zone you know

Pacific time or standard time, whatever it comes on, but it's right after a survivor, I think. Okay. It's probably at 10 Eastern then, I'm assuming. So what was one thing that truly drove you beyond the edge, just to give a little teaser? I'm very particular in the way that I sleep. I need air conditioning. I need white noise. I need a hello in a bed.

I very badly, if you remember. So we're literally sleeping on bamboo in. to rain. Like it was and it's all I mean we had cameras everywhere so you're going to see it and it was brutal mentally draining and exhausting. I put 10 pounds on before I left for the show just because like I knew I wasn't going to be eating a whole lot. So it's like the opposite of paradise where I gained 10 pounds on accident. I put it on to go out to the jungle to try to embrace it, but it was it was wild. I would say I was really intimidated by a lot of the puzzle challenges and And, you know, I think I was proud.

I think I left the most proud of how I've performed in those. Okay. All right. Well, Colton, thank you for being here. Yeah. It was, we got a lot of answers, a lot of questions answered today. Yeah. And we're very happy for you.

Congratulations. Well, and thank you guys for your support. And Ben, also, sorry for the, obviously, the misunderstanding, the lies, whatever. It shook out to be in the press. I just, I'll make sure you have my new number, too, so you can, That way we can text each other instead of having to speak in the media. Yeah, well, and, you know, that wasn't, you know, I appreciate that a lot that you say you're sorry, but that, you know, this wasn't about me. I was like a small piece that felt like I was like woke up one morning.

I was like, what the heck is happening? Why am I now thrown into this? And, you know, so I appreciate that, that you apologize. I appreciate you coming on here and being big enough to even confront it. But ultimately, you know, it's water under the bridge. Now I'm glad we could talk it through. And I'm glad we're on the same page because I know just as well as you do how messy this can get when you are talking through media and when you are talking through things like this. So I'm glad you come on.

Hey, I think it's important, Colton. If you don't mind as we close out here, the last and final thing word would be just anybody listening who is struggling. And I maybe even want to expand it because I think you probably have. a lot of insight now into many different aspects of life. Maybe it is your sexuality. Maybe it is career changes. Maybe it is just feeling lonely and isolated due to not being accepted at school for whatever reason. What message have you learned that you would share to any listener out there who you could probably relate with with your story of the last two years? I think it would go in hand with what you were saying out at the top of this is like you wanted to make me feel like I wasn't

alone and I felt really alone despite people going out of their way to try to make me not feel alone. So I think sharing the message that trust people, give people in your family and in your circle a chance to try to lean on them and you aren't alone in all of this. And then also, there's no shame in asking for help. When you're at your lowest, when you're at your weakness, when you feel like giving up, it's okay to ask for help. It's okay to seek help and it doesn't make you week and it doesn't make you any lesser than another human being just because you can't handle that moment of life that you're in and no matter how dark it gets there's always you know there's always the next day the next hour and the next moment cold underwood thanks for coming on this

episode of the almost famous podcast um again uh tune in the cbs after survivor for beyond the edge you can see colton there also tune into the finale of the bachelor because even if you haven't watched all season this is by far the wildest finale of every ever seen. I don't have a lot of words to wrap around it because whatever I say is going to be taken wrong and, you know, manipulated to be something it's not. I just will say, wow. And holy cow. And I haven't seen it. And I can't wait. Your teasers are amazing. Yeah. So, tune in to that. But again, Colton, thanks for joining us with that. This has been an episode of the Almost Famous Podcast. In-depth episode with Colton Underwood. I've been Ben.

I've been Ashley. And I've been Colton. Perfect, man. You're good at this entertainment thing. I remember from the last time. Yes. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts 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. 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 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. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wise. Where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story.

Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. This is Wisecrack. Available now. Listen to Wisecrack on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do we really need another podcast with a condescending finance brof trying to tell us how to spend our own money? No, thank you.

Instead, check out Brown Ambition. Each week, I, your host, Mandy Money, gives you real talk, real advice with a heavy dose of I-feel uses, like on Fridays when I take your questions for the BAQA. Whether you're trying to invest for your future, navigate a toxic workplace, I got you. Listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.