The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Bachelor Buzz

Episode Date: June 15, 2021

Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky joins Ben and Ashley for an inside look at Katie’s season so far. She drops some MAJOR secrets from the Bachelorettes only group chat. And she shares her theory of why we have 2 Bachelorettes back to back. Carl has revealed he’s not there for the “right reasons”, but Ben and Ashley think he’s not the only one. And we break down everything we know about the departure of Chris Harrison from the franchise. 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. 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,

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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. Monica Patton, Elaine Welteroth. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on She Pivotts, now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with IHartRadio.

Hey, everybody out there listening, an important note that you should really consider as we start this week's podcast, and this is a good one. Like a lot of stuff in this podcast. You should go out and follow the almost famous podcast that almost understand. famous podcast and if you have any really strong opinions especially the good ones like the really kind ones talking about how amazing Ashley is and just how and Ben is yeah how good Ben is it just like side kicking this thing email us at Ben and Ashley at iHeartRadio.com okay that's a big announcement Ashley talk to me it's been a week since we last spoke a lot has happened bachelor nation and we're going to touch on it including chris harrison's official resignation um a lot of thoughts a lot of opinions on that mostly i know you and i both kind of

texted back and forth we want to hear from the listeners on their thoughts and opinions i mean i think that's really where we're going to understand like what's going on but also in your life i know there's some updates what's going on is there really i just got to be it's been a week it's It's been a week. Sweet of you to pretend like there's been updates. No, I can't say there is. Ben, has there been any updates in your life? Well, it's been a big week.

See, I knew that you would ask me if you had to say. No, nothing like that exciting. It's just been a big week. Why? Well, my dad and mom came out this last week to Denver, Colorado. I also had a miniature board meeting out in, Denver for Humanity and Hope Unite. So I had a full week of people like and obviously having parents isn't as stressful as

maybe like having strangers, you know, come visit. But the board meeting went great. We got on the lake. And then my dad came out for a father's son golf tournament. We got to play in that together. Got fourth place, which I'm very proud of. Out of how many? I bet there was like 25 teams.

So overall, great showing. there. We went to Red Rocks. If anybody's listening and they haven't been to Red Rocks, I know it's a bucket list for a lot of people. And if you have been to Red Rocks, you're going, that was one of the coolest things ever. It was one of the first times. I'd been around that many people in a long time. So that was kind of fun to people watch again. And I'm, I'm the, I mean, I've talked about it before. I am the creepiest people watcher. Like, I can literally just, oh, I could watch like just people walking and doing whatever they did for like an hour and not like really realize it. We've talked about when it comes to the mall.

When I go shopping at the mall with Jessica or my mom, especially as a kid, like I could sit on those couches and just like kind of doze off and just enjoy seeing so many humans functioning, which is I find very creepy, but also very enjoyable. Okay, so you made me think about the things that I did this week.

I went to my first Red Sox game. Oh, how was it? Bachelor Nation was out in full force. I was like, oh, no one's, no one's going to know who Jared and I are after this pandemic. We were wrong. It was cool, but we talked a lot about Chris with, like, all the fans that came up to us. Yeah.

It seems like a lot of, a lot of disappointed people out there. And then I went to watch Hill, Rhode Island twice in one week because everybody wants to see where Taylor Swift lives when they come to visit us. Is that where she lives? Is that her place? That's like one of her five houses. Yeah. But apparently she only stays in this house about, one week out of the year, which is like the ultimate disappointment that this house sits unoccupied

for that long. It is actually the most expensive residence in Oliver Island. So is this one of those celebrity houses? Because my very first trip to LA, all I want to do is do one of those star tours where you drive around and you see where people live. Probably another creepy thing. I'm, I don't know, guys. I think I save myself from going on the show. People are like, okay, he's not that weird. But I really love like just seeing the houses. of where people, like, live. I just like looking at houses in general. Yeah, I think that might be a too.

I just, like to drive around and look at them. Yeah, I think that because I like going to open houses and like seeing like, okay, well, that makes me feel better. Anyways, is this one of the houses you could see from the road or is it kind of like blocked off? You can see it very well from not the road, but from the ocean. Oh, that's. So if you're on the beach, you look up and you can see the whole backyard, the whole back of

the house. I mean, I feel bad, like, calling her out, but, like, she wrote a song about this house. It's the Great American Dynasty song on folklore. Yeah. And then she, I mean, like, everybody knows if you just like type in Taylor Swift House, Rhode Island comes up. I'm about to do that. Well, hey, uh, all of you out there listening, thanks for joining us again for the Almost Famous podcast. We're about to dive in deep to the second episode of Katie's season. We're going to talk everything that came from the episode. We're also, again, going to talk about Chris Harrison's departure, and we're going to sit down with Ali Fittatowski, one of Bachelor Nation's favorite, a bachelor's here in just a bit.

But before we do, let's take a break, and we'll come back with the Almost Famous podcast. 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 head. 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. 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 Sweeten. Monica 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. 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. 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 wildcard 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 IHart Women's Sports. Culture eats strategy for breakfast.

I would love for you to share your breaking. down 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 Volusia 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 seed. You can't win as something you didn't create. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Belich'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 I-heart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. name is Enya Humanzor. 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 Iheart

radio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. All right, guys, we got Ali Fedatowski Mano on the show. And she and I have something in common. We both moved to fresh new states after living in L.A. for years. So, Ali, how's the transition been? You know, I try to keep obviously always things in perspective. Like my uncle says, and I love this thing that he says, he always says like just by being born in this country, you hit the lottery. And I'm like,

you know what? That's so true. So every time I'm like getting down to myself, I always remember him saying that. Um, but honestly, it's been a little bit tough. So that's why when you posted recently about, you know, the move to Rhode Island, I was so curious how it's been going for you. Because for me, it's like been a tough transition. Like I thought, oh, moving to Nashville, the country. It's going to be amazing. And it hasn't been as amazing as I thought it could be. No, I get that. You, you said that it takes two years of, adjust to a place. I definitely had a freak out moment when I first got here. We were living with my sister-in-law for like six weeks and honestly liked living with her, but it was just I could

feel a slower pace of life compared to L.A. And that was even L.A. under COVID, thinking like, am I going to have FOMO? What am I doing here? Am I going to be able to have like all the outlets for like my creative juices and energy and like just events and L.A. Like, am I going to miss going to those? Then when summer came around and when Jared and I got a new, got our own place, it started to feel way more right. This is an easy place to be in the summer. But I, for me, it was weird because it's the first time I'm ever considering someplace to be like my forever home. Like for 33 years, you know, you go to school, you start your career and you're like, you never know where it's going to take you. And I'm like, no, this is like where we're going to like build a house and put down roots. I do have friends but this is the set this is the like kind of like sad thing is that all my friends here are Jared's friends and Jared's friends from like life you know what I mean right um will like go to family get together and he'll be so energetic and so happy and then he'd be like isn't this just the greatest I'm like no I like love your friends they're like some of my best friends too but like sometimes it makes me sad that like it's always going to be like his his circle. is going to be like the primary circle, you know? Well, this is what I'll say to that. Like, one thing I've done since we've moved to Nashville is like I go on friend dates.

And actually, Ben, I have you to think for one of those friend dates, Didi, which is one of Ben's friends, Ben and Jess friends. Dede, yeah, he, Ben just sent me a text one day. It was like, hey, I have friends in the neighborhood that saw you at the farmer's market and I want to connect you. And Ben, we went to dinner with them the other night and, like, talked for hours and it was the best ever. I'm going to her son's birthday party with my family. Oh, how is that? I mean, they are the best. Yeah, they take Justin out to dinner.

I don't know if you've experienced this with them yet, but they know Nashville food better than any other people in the city, and I can almost promise you that. Oh, my God, you have to go to Jack Brown's burgers. It's my favorite burgers in the entire world. Well, I am vegetarian, so I don't know that. Yeah, but they know their food, Allie, and I'm glad I could do that because, yeah, she reached out to me.

It was super sweet and was like, hey, I just saw Ali. I know this is weird and I know probably a lot of people know her, but like she's in my neighborhood and I feel like I would like to reach out to her. And I was like, I think Allie would really appreciate that. I appreciate it so much because we really have been like putting ourselves out there. Like this is what I'll say to you actually being in a new place and so that you don't feel sort of being an outsider to Jared's life friends, lifelong friends is like go on friend dates. Like whether it's somebody who knows you like the way Ben set me up with Didi or whatever it may be. like and I call them friend dates because look at the end of the day do you want to like it's

much easier as to hang out with Jared's friends right like that's the easier thing to do it's comfortable it's easy but you have to put yourself out there like you're single think of it and you have to go out and date you have to force yourself to date friends yeah to find the right to find the one you know the best year I get it I get it I think that definitely when we have kids and like you start like having like mommy hangs that's when the things would probably be really easy have you felt like that's helped you like with the kids in school and stuff so my kids are only in preschool um and what's been hard about covid is that there's no social gatherings at the school like i i've only met my child's teachers like for three seconds when they came outside

to drop them off in the lobby like i haven't seen the school i don't know what it looks like besides like pictures and you know the security cameras they have up um because of covid things have been really strict at the school i think they're going to to start opening things up soon, but like, I don't know any of the other parents. I think that kind of will open up even more when they get in kindergarten, like primary school. But I do think I am going to start meeting more people that way, for sure. Would you say that that is the hardest thing that you've had with the move? Friends?

Yeah. Yeah. Like I, you know, when we were in L.A., it was, so the reason we moved out of L.A. is I always know I didn't want to raise my kids there. Like, you know, I love Los Angeles for what it has to offer. But if you grew up in LA, maybe you want to raise your kids in LA because that's what you know, but that's not what I know. Like, I know small town, small school, you know, the kids you go to kindergarten with or the kids you graduate high school with. And that's just not what L.A. is. And so I knew we didn't want to raise our kids there. So I'm happy that we left. But I had this like, they went to the best preschool. And all my girlfriends and I just happened to have kids at the same time. And they all wanted it in the same preschool or most of them did. And, you know, my girlfriend lived two blocks away. And every night came over for wine. So I think I'm just like, I adjusting to like the COVID transition and then like the transition of just not knowing that many people. But again, I'm like putting myself out there. I'm going on a lot of friends dates.

The birthday party that we're going to with D.D. that Ben introduced me to is today. And that's our first birthday party. So I definitely see it like headed in the right direction. Oh, good. I, uh, I, you know, two things I want to touch on with you, Alex, I think this is a really interesting topic for people listening also. One of the things that, you know, Jessica moved to Denver, uh, for me. And it's a big deal. And we kind of took this strategy where obviously we're going to have some time with my friends. Like that's going to happen. I hang out with them a lot.

But it was always encouraged that like she doesn't need to be around for that. And that like for a bit, it was kind of like that, hey, you're off on your own. Go find what you're looking for. And if it happens to come back full circle with friends of, you know, of the wives or girlfriends of my buddies, great. If not, that's fine too. It's been a really interesting process for her, though, because she, She's, she has a lot of social gatherings. She's dating friends a lot right now.

But I think that's such great advice because it's kind of been that, hey, I'm not going to force you into this like, you have to hang out these five people and their wives thing. It's kind of opened her up, I think, and she encouraged it, like, to explore. So it brings me my question. I say all that. Just say, thanks for that advice, because I think it is great advice, Allie. You've moved.

Ashley, you've moved as well. So maybe the question can be for both of you. What have you found that's important in a city now? I mean, you've gotten comfortable in L.A. Now you're in a new city. What is it when, because a lot of people have moved during COVID. A lot of people have switched around. What is it that you're like, what's important to you there outside of friendships that we've already talked about?

Food. Yeah. Same. Honestly, food. Like when Kevin and I, my husband, when we were trying to figure out where we wanted to live in Nashville, we picked a restaurant that one, let me caveat this with, I'm vegetarian and my husband's vegan. And we moved to the south where a barbecue is kid. Yeah. So we knew that there was this one restaurant, true food, that we really like to go to.

There's a bunch in LA, so you guys might have been. Yeah, they're good. But so we knew that where that restaurant was and we kept saying to our realtor, how far is this from true food? How far is this from true food? Like we just wanted to live near a restaurant where we knew we could get food that we could eat and enjoy. But honestly, the food has been one of the hardest transitions for me because I'm so used to L.A. food where everything is like pretty healthy like you can order like the unhealthiest thing on the menu and like it's it's still kind of healthy like it's kind of crazy and I didn't really

realize that until I move somewhere where that's not the case that's so funny I feel the same way they have no organic foods and vegetables here at the grocery store like even Trader Joe's like you can't necessarily find like every every food like every piece of produce like they don't all always have an organic version of it. And just Rhode Island in general, they're not health conscious whatsoever. And like here, you know, it's all about like barbecue and biscuits and gravy and butter.

And so I will go and order like Kevin and I went to this restaurant the other day. And it was like a new American restaurant, you know, really nice. And we ordered because again, we're vegetarian and there isn't a lot for us to choose on a lot of the menus here. So a lot of times we just order a bunch of sides because that's the only thing we can eat.

So we, like, ordered, like, the brookalini, the brussels, the roasted carrots. And they were all so drenched in sauce and butter. And, like, even the vegetables are healthy. So I've gained, like, 10 pounds as you move here, which is in the end of the world. I'm not, like, Uber focused on that. But, like, I am like, oh, my gosh. Like, I have to pay attention to that. So I'd say friends is the most important thing when you move, you know, friends, like, you know, people that you see yourself being friends with.

And then the second thing for me is food. Food. It's great. Well, Allie, I hope this birthday party goes so fantastically. They are great people. You're great people. Even if it doesn't work out, even if this friendship date doesn't continue to happen. It's just nice. Nice to know you're hanging. Well, you even just said they know their food better than anybody. And I'm obsessed with food too. So it's like a match made in heaven. You gave me the, thank you for setting me up on the perfect blind date. I love it, Ali. Ali, you've watched Katie's. episode second episode right yeah okay is it okay if we break down the second episode with you here on the podcast yes let's do it all right let's take a break and and when we come back we're going to break down katie thurston's second episode of her bachelor's season with the one and only

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And I went out and I actually bought these before I knew Zuru was going to support the podcast. no way they are light change you remember growing up and so many people out there listening can grow up and when the little uh attachment to the faucet that was like you could put a balloon on it easier was like revolutionary yeah but like i didn't have one of those i just had to put it on the sink and it breaks all the time and it was so hard yeah i'm telling you right now i am putting my 100% name and almost famous his name behind this new invention it will make you go why couldn't I think of that, but it also will make

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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. 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. 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 Sweeten. Monica Patton. Elaine Welter. 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. a 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. 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 wildcard 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 IHart Women's Sports. Culture eats strategy for breakfast. I would love for you to share your breaking.

down 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 Volusia 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 seed. You can't win as something you didn't create. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Belich'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 I-heart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 iHeart radio app search emergency intercom and listen now Right, Ali, before we get into the nitty-gritty of the episode,

how do you feel about the state of the franchise currently? I mean, it's shifting, for sure, in so many great ways. And then some ways that might feel a little unfamiliar. Like, even when I was watching Katie's episode, I didn't watch the first episode, just so you know, I did watch the second one. I always find the first episode's boring. We agree. We agree.

But this was actually a good first episode. Oh, no. maybe I need to go back and watch it. But like little things of like, you know, the transitions now is a voice that we don't know, you know, like it makes it almost seem like a different show. And then even, you know, like the girls, Caitlin and Tasha being there, like it just feels a little bit different. And we've had past contestants come on in the past that sort of be there as a common theme throughout. I think I don't know what's going to happen with the show.

I hope it continues. like I love the show. I have a dear place in my heart for the show. I just don't know. Like I do you know, I mean, you guys might know better than me. Do you know why they split up two bacheloretts and did like two short seasons?

We think it's because Michelle wanted to continue teaching over this year. And she didn't get out of school until now. Oh, but gosh, it almost feels like why wouldn't they just go do a couple episodes from her hometown? That doesn't seem like a real thing to me. You know what I mean? Like, for instance, Emily Maynard years ago. like she wanted they wanted her to be the bachelorette and instead of breaking it out into

they went to her whole town and filmed there because she's like look I'm not leaving you know so like the show will bend over backwards for you so I don't think I don't think that could be it um maybe that's what they're saying maybe that's like the excuse or they're trying to like let out that that's what it is COVID could have played a role in that too um just you know because like can you be around kids can you isolate hometown I'm with you it still feels like there's more to it. But like COVID can be the used excuse for everything right now. Like I don't know, you know, that makes sense. And that is for me, I just feel like Katie's not like getting her time to shine the way she should. You know, like I feel like having the split season, the short seasons. Um, and don't get me

wrong on this. I love Caitlin and Tasha. I think they bring so much fun to the show. But like, if I was Katie, I would be so intimidated. standing next to Caitlin and Tatia while I'm trying to get these guys to be interested in me. Like when I was the Bachelorette, my biggest fear. Like I, like to this day, like say like I was the worst dress Bachelorette. Like I claimed that title and like the most like, you know, needing help with my appearance, Bachelorette. No. But I was so insecure as the Bachelorette.

I thought all the guys would be disappointed than I was the Bachelorette. I thought that there's no way I can step in these shoes. I'm not pretty enough. I'm not skinny enough. I'm not in shape enough. I'm not whatever it may be. So for me watching it, I was just like, oh my gosh, I would have like, I would have just been even more insecure if I had these two beautiful women sitting next to me.

Like I would, in my mind, I'd keep thinking I wonder which one of these guys wishes they were on last season of the bachelor at with Tasha. You know, like what if they applied for her season? Because you know that happens a lot. Yeah. A guy will apply or somebody will apply and they'll get pushed to the. the next season because they don't make it or even they're um quarantined right in how you're quarantined at the beginning of the season for a couple weeks and some people get let go as extras yeah

what if one of those guys was supposed to be on claritatia season and then i don't know anyway so i feel kind of for her and maybe katie's way more like secure with herself than i am i think she is um or at least than i was back then but i just keep thinking that for her it's interesting to hear you say that because I think every lead I've talked to after doing it has had similar feelings to like you to what you had. I mean, I know I did. I just think it's it's probably very human to feel like, hey, I don't one deserve to be here too. There's no way 30 people are that interested in me to date me at one time and like stick around and go through this for me. We talked about it last week. We brought up that question because Ashley and I both said,

Hey, I remember during my season of The Bachelor, like I had girls that, you know, had a little crush on Harrison or they had a little crush on a producer. Now, not that they were ever acting on it, not that it was ever like a thing that it was kind of a joke. But you're so insecure that like those things start to like poke at you a little bit over time. And so we brought up to question last week, hey, would this feel weird to you? Like would it be odd to have two beautiful people who were recently on the show standing next to you? Like does that add a different factor? or a different level to the show. Yeah, I think so for sure. For all the reasons I just stated. Like, I would just be like, can you guys like stop looking so pretty next to me? Like, you know, but I mean, Katie does seem very confident in herself.

Like, I love how she's handled so many things, you know, even from letting, and I'm not going to know any of the guy's name, so I'm just going to sort of like, I feel like at the beginning of the season, I never know. I just like refer to situations. Exactly same.

Yeah, like the guy, who was there like to get famous she was like I'm not letting you go because I hear say I'm letting you go because there's no trust already like I thought that was so like intuitive of her to even use those words like I would I would have let him go but I would have like been like oh it's because I don't really like you that much and this guy says you're bad bye you know she like she found a really smart way to say like there's already no trust and I don't know I just I appreciate her and I think that she you know she's definitely got some maturity to her. I mean, she showed it to us in last season when she stood up for the bullying in the house. She mentioned that there's a big group message with a whole bunch of former bachelorette guiding her along the way. I'm assuming you're in it. How active? I would be really sad. You just told me about it and I wasn't. That could have been awkward. How active is this thread? I don't know. Let me see what the last thing. I'll tell you the last thing that was Maybe I'll get in trouble for this.

Depending on what it says, I will. Hold on. How do I even, oh, I look it up. It's under just beettes. Here it is. Okay. Oh, it's just Caitlin Bristow saying, so fun. You're so freaking cute and relatable.

It's amazing. So it's very supportive. Good. You know, we're always all there for each other. One thing I will say it's been really great about this group. Like we text a lot when it's, you know, we welcome Katie into the group here. The last text before that. or like, um, so like June 3rd, June 5th.

Actually, it's kind of more May 22nd. Every couple weeks, I would say, it gets like active and then dies down. Um, but I will say like every time someone has a project, like a podcast or something, everybody's like, yeah, what can I post? Give me the link. And so I find like that like women supporting women is really great. Um, yeah. So I think we're all just kind of there like hyping each other up and trying to be supportive

and give advice. And it's funny because the group was kind of like it didn't grow that much for so long. Like you get one and new. person a year right but the last like eight months we've gotten four new people yeah we got claire and then tacia and then now um you know katie and yeah michel it's crazy it's fun who started the threat like who came up with it um probably trista i mean trista's all about bringing people together i feel like it must have been the mother yeah she's like her of the franchise i decided while watching this episode that I prefer the Bachelorette over the Bachelor.

I think it's a more romantic series. And I think that might have something to do with the fact that they decide to do two back-to-back. Oh, because people like it more, you think? But aren't the ratings worse? The ratings are worse. But it is because of the... I do believe it's because of the time of the year.

Because it's the summertime, possibly. Real funny thing, though, before we go off the text chain, so we've had this text chain for a long time. And then we were texting the crew, like some of the things we text each other are like kind of, you know, crazy and girl talk and whatever. You can imagine we're drinking wine texting each other. Like we used to zoom at the beginning of the quarantine and drink wine together. At one point, the text chain had been going on for like a year. And then all of a sudden, this person texts the chain and says, I don't know who all of you are.

Can you please take me off this group message? No. Who was it? Yes. no I think it was my fault because I had Caitlin Bristow's old phone number oh yeah I had put that in because we were like putting the group together and it was we laughed so hard like some person out there in this world those things about the bachelor and bachelor and bachelorette franchise that nobody should know and that's hysterical that is amazing alley I would I mean I hope it's like a super fan

who now is hearing this and listens to the podcast is like I literally could have just stay quiet and I could have had all the info. Oh my gosh, the headlines that person could have sent over to us weekly. So good. I feel like it's got to be someone that's never seen the show before because they would have known who we were based on what this is what I would say. Well, Ali, we are going to break down the episode with you. You are an expert. Ashley always guides us through these episode breakdowns. So I'm going to pass it off to her. Thanks for sticking around for this. You're the best. I'm going to be here for my commentary. But I feel like you're, you can really speak some wisdom into what's going on behind the scenes of the episode.

All right. Let's start with the first group date. We have Christian, Garrett, Trey, Courtney, Mike P., James, Justin, Thomas, Conner B, and Carl. They all get invited on a date. And it's pretty known right off the bat that this guy, Carl, is annoying the guys. And at first, I was like, ah, guy's just annoying, right? He's just the annoying guy. He's not going to be bad.

Then we see later in the episode. That is actually, like, kind of bad. Who, what were the standout moments on this group date for you? Oh my gosh. I literally just watched the episode an hour ago. And you're forgetting already. Wait, what was the group date? Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing.

Okay, what they did was with Heather McDonald, they were supposed to do. They were supposed to, like, express why they were the greatest lover there. Of all time. Right. Of all time. Okay. And Carl's the guy who, like, went up and just started yelling upset. entities and then later in the episode yeah like had the whiteboards and all that yeah carl is the

one who like started drama at the cocktail party so carl will be gone soon yeah car will be gone soon or he's going to stick around for drama sake yeah but katy seems like she's not necessarily doing that whole thing because the way she let cody go but that's later in the episode we'll get there then okay yeah so let's go hathar mcdonald on stage talk about how the guys are gonna have to prove basically how sexual they are. I immediately am like, okay, so we're getting a date like this every single season. I had, I was the host of the date last time when the guys or when the girls had to tell Matt, you know, read it right erotica. Yeah. To him. And I thought that was like, you know, it was fun. And, you know, sometimes I'm not down for the over sexualization, but my date

was fun. Uh, I think you can like really convert it into something romantic. like they like to pretend like you're going to have to be like super sexual but then like all these guys and the girls on mine you can make it sweet you can make it romantic and i was really really feeling for mike the virgin of course oh my gosh yeah oh my gosh like literally beautifully oh my god but i was feeling so awkward for him but way for him to turn an awkward situation into something so beautiful and i I don't know. I mean, again, like you said earlier, I can't believe that he, like, she was able to handle it with, like, such grace and with the perfect word choice. Same with him.

You're given, like, an hour to come up with something. And he came up with that beautiful piece of writing and described it and just like, the classiest way. And I know. And he just got so much respect from Katie and the other guys. I loved it so much. I did too, because I feel like sometimes too, like,

whenever there's a like well i mean i i feel like sometimes with virginity on the show like it can be looked at as i mean it as like as like non-experienced right or like oh he's not going to know what he's doing but it's almost like the way he did it it was like you were like the sexiest man ever oh my gosh exactly right you just said are so sexy and like when you do get in bed oh my gosh you are going to like oh my god it's a woman's world so i feel like you're right he couldn't have done it better And I think especially under the circumstances, like, I mean, you know from experience what it's like being on the show and having that like pressure of like having to talk to somebody about your sexual status. Well, that's what I was so stressed about is because like when I told Chris Solz, I was not ready to do so. And I felt very uncomfortable given the timing that I was to do so.

And I need a little bit more time than one day. I had, I think I did it week three or four. and he's having to do this like the third day he's actually there yeah and he's probably said five words to her and then here he has to tell her oh i i had so much sympathy for him and you can see how emotional he was over it and how like not ready he was and for him to be able to turn it around and you're right to just see so it seems so desirable we asked katy last week when she find when you know speaking in future tense where like when you find out about his virginity like how are you going to take it like is it a turnoff

even for somebody like you who you know you talk you know you're very open about your sex life and she was like i was even surprised by my own reaction and it was a great reaction i cried i cried i cried twice during this episode yeah and you know that oh my gosh don't i know already the second time you cried because i'm bawling my eyes out yeah i cannot wait to talk about that but yeah let's talk about that actually can we talk about that the second time you cried yeah because that's the next one it's the it's the it's the date with gregg of course Well, before we skip ahead, just let's talk about how Mike ends up getting the award, but Thomas ends up getting the group date rose. And they had like the steamyest kiss ever where he dragged her on his lap.

And I don't know that like, I didn't think this was going to be Katie's type. He kind of reminds me of like a Josh Murray, like a Gaston figure. Oh, yeah. But she's into him. They talk about how they have this indescribable chemistry. mystery that it's just in the air. They definitely seen that. But I don't know that I would call any of the makeout sessions in this hot and steamy. I don't know what it is if things are like getting forced too soon, but every makeout scene has just seemed extremely forced

and awkward to me so far. But it could just be early in the season and they'll get there. I don't disagree with you. I really don't because I feel like I'm watching this. This is week one. And, you know, we've, I think it was two guys this time, you know, said, can I kiss you now? Which is a great thing to do. Very respectable. But like it was almost because I feel awkward and now I don't know what to do. And so I'm going to ask this because we're still like unfamiliar with each. It wasn't like out of a respect and out of like it was more like, I just feel awkward right now.

And I feel like I need to kiss you. So can I? Because that would help this moment. Exactly. And they all go in really fast. and then like try to slow it down. It's just something about it. I don't know.

And there's a lot of kind of awkward, quirky guys on the season, which I love. Like that is my type. Awkward quirky and I'm in. Like that's what my husband is. I love awkward quirky. But like it's just it makes for interesting makeout session. You know, I'll just say that.

One note here that I've never brought up. But you bring up a great point, Allie. And Ashley, I'm sure you've experienced this. And I'm sure listeners have all experienced this also. You know what's more awkward than than even the initial kiss or approach. Like, you're kissing strangers. It's like a second date maybe.

Hey, all good. You do get what you got to do. But the moment that gets most awkward and even watching the season, I feel like we're seeing it more is when the kiss ends. And both people are sitting there like, oh, that was good.

Yeah, that was great. The analysis part. Yeah. It's so cringy to watch. And I remember those moments because you're like, we were kissing because we didn't have, anything else to talk about. Now we just kissed and we still don't have anything else to talk about

except that this was a kiss. And so we're just going to sit here and analyze it. And then we're hoping somebody comes in and breaks it up so we can go. Like those moments to me, oh, I just, they're awful to watch. That is so funny and so true. And so true. All right. Let's skip ahead now to Greg's one-on-one date. The second moment that made Allie and I cry. Greg and Katie end up going on a like camp camping sort of fishing date and great you know they have good chemistry we like Greg you know we saw him last week he got the first impression rose he was the one who said I'm so awkward like how to I'm just so nervous I'm so nervous and she know she told us last week that she gave him the first impression rose because she wanted him to like kind of calm

down and to show him like I really like you so like just chill out yeah can I say something interesting Yeah. Really interesting for me when I was watching. So when I was watching their date, I kept thinking something is off. Oh my God. I was like he's hiding something. He's not saying something. Yes, but I thought of it like, I was taking it the negative route.

I'm like, oh, really? He's going to break her heart. He's going to break her heart. Like I was so like, oh, this guy's not. He's holding something back. Like I'm like, I almost don't know. Like, is he not as into her as she is into him? And so I was like, I, and I hated it because I just love them together.

and I think they're so precious together. I was like, oh, something's going to come out later on in the season and, like, he's going to break her heart. And that's why I was so, like, emotional in the next scene when we see him open up at dinner and say, like, well, I lost my dad, too. Like, oh, every, like, I just was a puddle on the floor because I was like, the reason he felt like we felt watching, like, he was holding some back is because he was. And for him to, like, give, I don't know, I don't know why he chose to wait to tell her about his dad,

but in my mind, the reason is, whatever reason it is, it doesn't matter. That's his choice to share that information when he sees fit. But in my mind, he did it because that was her moment to talk about her dad. And, like, he gave her that moment. And then later to come, it was just so beautiful. And it felt meant to be. And if they end up together, like, I feel like that's their dad, setting them up.

Like, oh, I could cry just talking about it right now. Oh, that's so sweet. I was looking at his face. And it just seemed, I kept thinking to myself, this guy, His dad died too. I feel like his dad died too. Why isn't he saying anything? You felt that?

Yes. That's so intuitive of you. So when he decides to do it at dinner, I wonder if she had a moment where she was like, why didn't she tell me this earlier? Well, I would say too, like, you know, pain takes time. And even watching his face, I mean, maybe I've missed it getting to know Katie, which, you know, we talked to her last week, Allie,

and we're like, we really don't know you, like, at all. Like, you know, you weren't around last season much. And then, like, even though first episode didn't really highlight you as much as we would want. So this was a shock to me or new information to me that she had lost her father. I wonder in that moment, I mean, I know in moments of deep pain, like, I wonder if he was so taken back that he's like, I can't just come out and say, oh, me too, because it hurt him so deeply. Like, that was still such a fresh wound that he wasn't expecting to have to open back up. And so him taking time at dinner, like, I'm sure Katie gets it too. Like, it probably took her weeks to even mentally prepare for the moment she was going

to tell somebody on this season that she lost her father. Yeah. And so he was like, yeah, one, I mean, I would love to say because he seems like a good dude, like out of respect, he was like, I'm going to give you your moment to talk about your dad. Who knows? Like, in those moments, I don't know if we're like, it takes a very wise human to like process that much and that fair time.

Very wise. Yeah. Maybe he did. Who knows? or he was just like, I can't yet. I need a moment before I even start talking about because if I do this now, like I don't know where this goes.

Like I don't know how heavy this comes out. And so it felt like to me he had prepared himself. He was respectful to her. And then he was able to communicate his dad's story in a way that was beautiful in the right time and the right moment. And this is why maybe this second episode was I thought so good. was right away we have two really real moments that I that we all love watching we have Mike

having the wisdom and the time to do something really difficult but also seeing how the guys respected him and responded and how Katie responded and then we had Greg these are two moments that like are huge pivot points in their life and we are able to see it in one episode that's a big deal very authentic genuine moments this is what I'm saying this is why I left this episode being like, I like The Bachelorette more because the last time I felt these things was watching Tasia's season. I loved that they're giving us the romance.

They're giving us the depth and the emotion that we asked for. And there was such little drama this episode. Yeah. And I do like, I think when I chose to be the Bachelorette, I went in with such this thought of like, I was guided here by whatever that is or whatever, you know,

something was guiding me. to be the bachelorette and like I was there for a reason I was supposed to meet somebody on there for a reason I had all these sort of like spiritual and emotional things tied into it so I can only imagine for Katie you know she probably feels a lot of that too like my dad's watching over me there's a reason I'm here and like I don't know I just think it's so beautiful and I think if they do end up together like they're gonna like I just think that date is going to be like one of the most special moments in times of their lives. They'll look back on that day and be like, our dad set this up for us. That's where we're here. This was one of the most special days of my life. It was so beautiful. I loved every second of it. And the fact that both dads took the kids fishing.

I know. They happened to go fishing. I know. And they kissed out of toilet. I was going to say, I was like that moment was just really funny. You know what it reminded me of? This is ridiculous. You know wedding crashers?

When he's sitting on the toilet and she comes in? I felt like that's how this. was going like this is getting weird uh i wonder if they realize that he's still sitting on a toilet and finally they made a joke of it which i'm glad because if they wouldn't have said anything i would be like that that had to be like brooch like somebody had to say something so that was that was a funny moment i mean it's really foreshadowing for the future because all the best marriages especially you'll find out ben uh when you if you guys decide to have kids one day that throughout your marriage it's really all talk about like your relationship and poop it's like love and poop like i

me tell you how many times Kevin and I ask each other about the kid's bowel movements or whatever. So anyway. That's hysterical. Sounds like blast. All right. So let's talk about the last group date. It was mud wrestling. Caitlin and Tasha woke up all the guys early. Mud wrestling, as I've said,

a zillion times, not my favorite kinds of dates. You don't get to know about the guys. Like, even though like the sex dates can be raunchy, at least you get to see what they do with a situation like this. In this case, they're literally just wrestling in the mud. You don't get to know them. um this is when the least favorite date of every season right physical violence date

same i wish they would just get rid of them i hate them yeah me too that's nothing yeah they did olive oil wrestling i mean come on guys let's get a little bit more original on my season olive oil wrestling it's like all the same was that in italy um it was it wasn't in italy uh gosh where i think it was in turkey turkey okay that makes sense um olive oil yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah um And I was just, I hated it. I remember being like, why are we doing this? Like, this is so pointless. So I wish they would do away with those.

Okay. So the only thing that really came out of this is that there was some beef between Aaron and Cody, which we saw last week for a split second during like the original cocktail party. And we're like, what the heck is that random spat? And now we learned that the two of them knew each other in San Diego. And Aaron, who seemed like the dramatic one last week, was actually the one in the right. He said, last week, I've never liked you since the moment I met you. And we thought it was super dramatic because they were like, you met this guy an hour ago.

But really, they had known each other for a while. And apparently, Cody had led on that he was there for the wrong reasons. He's like an unkind dude. And when Aaron got time with Katie, because he won the mud wrestling, he let her know about these issues. And did we not love the way that Katie dealt with Cody? Like, she sat him down. He had no good answers to this. Like, he didn't even deny the things that Aaron was saying about him.

And then she was like, you know what? Gut feeling says no. Like you said, what did you say? There was no trust. And then she sent him home. And I'm like, can we deal with all conflicts this painlessly? I know, right? And the thing is, too, that I really like to.

that she said she said that like if someone had approached me my face would have said it all and like his face said nothing like your face said you're hiding something you're prepared for this like so she's right like i mean she made the right decision and you know like you said if only all decisions could be that way but then again if they all were that way it wouldn't be the bachelorette because if i could have handled every scenario like that on my season i would have but sometimes the drama just has to drag on and you know for cody it was really odd to me I don't think I've ever seen a more emotionalist exit. Like, he didn't even try to offend himself or say, no, this isn't true or Katie.

I'm really sorry that this is going down this way. Like, this isn't what I am feeling. It was just like, okay, well, I hope you find your guy. It's like, no, if somebody is literally calling me out, if somebody is literally, I mean, telling the person I'm trying to get to know that I'm not a good dude, like at least I have a rebuttal, or at least there's something. It was so nothing. It was just like,

okay, see you later, bye. What? Like, what just happened? You just, like, are you not mad? Are you, like, upset? Are you at, like, I don't know. That was really odd for me to see. Really weird.

It was like, he was caught red-handed and was just like, I'm not going to put up a fight. Yeah. Well, good for her then. Also, he's performing. I think the people sometimes who are that way are the people that are most aware that they're on camera

and they're trying not to give a reaction because they don't want that reaction. You know, he's probably boiling up inside to be what people see of him on TV. And he's very aware that people are watching him on TV. Yeah. When you want to be famous. Yeah, good for her. He's gone, you know, and we move on.

Moving on. As far as the rest of that group date, I felt like her moment with Andrew, the football player from overseas, definitely stood out the most. He's so sweet. I love him. Yeah, he seems so great. Something about him, like, he just has that, like, super friendly face. You know what I mean?

like, he smiles. I'm like, oh, I like you. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like if, you know, we'll see what happens with their relationship. I mean, in my mind, it's Greg. But like, then again, would it be Greg? Like, so obvious at this point. So obvious at this point. But it's almost like they have to be so obvious at this point. How do you take away that beautiful connection that they had and, you know, story that they had shared together? But it feels like it has to be Greg. If not, Greg's like in the top two. So whether or not Andrew makes it to the end or not like I feel like he's the type of person that like will stay in the franchise like I hope that he's like on paradise one season like he just seems like a really

nice friendly face I yeah this season I really love to watch Andrew's reactions too like even when the drama's going on at the night with Carl I know I'm skipping ahead and we'll get to that a bit but just Andrews just facial expressions like you can tell what's like how he's feeling what's going on the room when they flash past him and I just love that I'm like you you're feeling every moment you're as surprised and shocked as we are like i i enjoy watching his commentary just by seeing how he reacts he's very animated i guess i would say yeah yeah for sure all right well let's get to the carl drama because that's really all we have left is a standout moment of the episode it's at the cocktail party everything seems to be like pretty settled you know like she got rid of cody

who seemed to be the only guy that was there for the wrong reasons she's feeling good about her group and then Carl comes up to her and says the vaguest i've ever heard he's like by the way he wasn't the only one that's not here for the wrong reasons there are others and she's like but who and he's like well i'm not going to name names okay well what are the examples what they do oh i don't have examples it's like katy he doesn't have anything he's literally just starting drama i felt so bad that she took it to heart so much because you know especially after she pulls air and aside and asked Aaron, like, is there anyone else? Like, I trusted you the one time.

Can you tell me again? And he's like, no, I don't know. I was honestly surprised how she took it, to be honest with you. Me too. I find that Katie just seems like so strong, right? Like emotionally strong and just like very level-headed. And I'm like, just like I've always seen her that way. So when she got so emotional about that, what that told me as a viewer and as someone who's

been in her shoes is that like, there's some insecurity there. You know, like I was saying, I feel like I maybe would have handled it that way if I were in her shoes because of the insecurity of worrying about if people are there for her, if people like her, all of that. I think it was less about what he said and more about her, like, overall feelings on being the Bachelorette because that's how I was. Like, I felt that way. But I think he, why do I think he did it? I mean, that's the question. Why did he do it, right? and I think that he did it because he wants the screen time.

Yeah. I think the only thing I can come up with in my head of why he would do that. Like, why would he just, he doesn't know her enough to just want to hurt her, right? Like, do you want to hurt somebody like that? You got to know them more. Like, you know, it's vicious and vindictive. But so I feel like he just did it because he knew that like that would get his face on camera.

Yeah, no, you're probably right. Can we even when the guys confront? I mean, he's a. motivational speaker like can we stop can we stop for a second and just sit on that because i kept watching this and watching this thing play out and when originally you know when he he did his package it was like oh he's a motivational speaker this will be interesting to see what wisdom and encouragement and support he brings into the house because that's what you would associate with motivational speaking i would think so my question and this is where i want to throw with the listeners

has anybody ever heard carl speak uh or does anybody know what he speaks on when he does this for a career but this felt so um opposite uh and i was trying to think of a bigger word for opposite but i'm not that smart right now um so opposite yeah that's a good word of what you would expect from a motivational speaker and right can we talk about what a motivational speaker does because don't they usually have really full healthy careers and experience to be able to speak about things to inspire people and motivate people about? How do you just be a motivational speaker as like a 20-something who we don't know what you've accomplished?

Well, maybe he has, maybe he does. Maybe he has more of a story to his name than we've seen, but I'm ready to see it now. Like we have, like now he's so much of a character. He's caused so much drama. Like what does Carl do, one? I think for me, a motivational speaker is, someone that like uses sort of feeling is like the way that they lead right like whether it's like it's like using the feelings that you have to sort of motivate your life the positive feelings to take you in a

certain direction do things like whenever I hear a motivational speaker that I feel like is really good they like kind of pull up my heartstrings or just my my soul like to lead me a certain way whereas I almost feel like he is the like you said Ben the opposite antithesis is what the word I was like That was it. Yes. Yay, Ashley. So I feel like he is like doing the opposite in the sense that he is using his words to take a very emotional experience like the Bachelorette where it's all about finding love, tugging at your soul, your heartstrings. And he's making it into a competition and winning. Then he's taking things about people. He should be talking about the guys in the house in such positive ways. Everyone's here trying to find love, go on their path. That's a motivational speaker would do. And instead he's trying to cut the guys down. He's doing it all opposite. I don't know how that's his job. I can't believe he actually makes money doing that. But I mean, we got to find out how successful he is.

That's it. We got to find a lot more. He could have spoken at one conference in front of 10 people and called himself a motivational speaker. You know, this is a bachelor title. But at the same time, it just because, and I say all this to bring up the point, you said he won screen time. Okay. That's some people's pursuit, right?

You want screen time. That's not, you know, that's not unknown when it comes to cast on the franchise. they usually get sorted out pretty well sometimes but for him if you were wanting screen time you're walking into this experience you would think in your mind you'd be like i want screen time to help my career but like i will not be like but i don't want that screen time like i don't want the screen time of the person causing the drama i don't want the screen time of hurting katie like that just that's where this whole thing got weird to me and i was like he's a motivational speaker and yet he's just like kind of like poking holes that don't seem healthy everyone listening has got to look him up do some little

internet digging and tell us if he's actual actually a motivational speaker because my gut is he's not you guys the twist here is that he's the one who is there for the wrong reasons yeah exactly big twist ash that's a good point that's a good point all right well i think that's it for the episode do you have any other comments, Sally, that you think we forgot? I love this episode. I mean, I'll say it. I think it was an enjoyable episode to watch. I was intrigued like 99% of the time. And for episode two, I thought it was, it has, it started a lot of good storylines that

we miss with Matt's season. I think this, with Matt's season, we're always waiting to kind of be like connected to the cast and we're kind of waiting for those storylines to start. And it never really happened until the very end, kind of. But it's episode two. and I feel very connected to these cast members. Same. We didn't even talk about Connor B

and he was somebody that we really feel connected to. The cat. The cat. The cat. Well, Allie Fittatski, before you go, we do want to bring up one thing. First off, today marks a really big day, I think, for you and a lot of people

who are going to be helped by you. Today, E released an article talking about you coming out and talking about a blood disorder that you have and that you've been getting treatment for one that's not uncommon for many probably. Do you mind sharing a little bit about that? Oh my gosh. I didn't know that.

Well, I didn't know that like someone wrote about it. Yeah, I mean, I found, I don't know. I mean, I'm anemic, which I know is very, very common. I've just been super, super tired lately, like weirdly tired. And I couldn't figure out why. So I went to my doctor and they just ran a bunch of blood work. And my doctor was like, you're ferretin levels. And ferreton is essentially the like,

what's in your body that helps your body store iron she's like is almost zero she's like I'm surprised you're walking like you must be so tired so I'm actually I'm gonna like go get like a I'm excited about it I'm gonna go get a IV full of iron I do it once on the once next week and then once the week after um to see how it makes me feel and I hopefully I'll just get all my energy back that's amazing so can you develop anemia I guess yeah I don't know I remember like years ago like I've always from the type of person that's just not very, like, in tune. Like, I never had a primary care doctor. Like, I go to the doctor because, like, something really hurts.

Like, I don't, like, keep up with my health over the years. But I do remember years ago a doctor saying to me, like, after getting some sort of test done, maybe, like, 15 years ago saying, like, you're on the verge of it being anemic. You should watch out for that. And I was like, okay, whatever. And just never thought of it again. So now, yeah, I mean, I just got blood work done because I was just so, so, so tired. And, like, a way that I'm like, this feels not normal that I'm so tired.

Like I was thinking something was really wrong with me. I was so tired. You know, and then I like got this blood test done through the mail that said I had inflammation in my body and I was like, oh my gosh, inflammation. Like this C word went through my brain. You know what I mean? Thankfully, it's not that, anything like that. But that's kind of like what I was feeling.

So to find out I'm anemic is a relief because I know I can like take iron, get the things and like hopefully increase my energy. You've always been somebody that's been open and vulnerable sharing your stories and your health history and everything going on in your life. We appreciate it here. I know many people appreciate it. So even though you didn't know there was an article written, there was.

You can check it out. You can Google your name right now. But it is helpful for many. And so we thank you for that. Ali Fittowski, Mano, you are the best. Have a great time tonight. Enjoy the party. Tell everybody I said hello and then Ashley said hello

because D.D. does listen to the almost famous podcast. She's a great supporter. So she'll hear this. Oh, she does. Oh, yeah. So sweet. Her name on here. I love that.

So, Allie, thank you so much for joining us. See, Ali. Thank you so much. Thank you. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. 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. 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 Sweeten. Monica 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. 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 will 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 wildcard 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 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, and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. This is like watching Michael Jackson talk about Thurley before it happened. Was there a particular moment where you realized just how instrumental music culture was to shaping all of our global ecosystem? I was eight years old, and the Motown 25 special came on.

And all the great Motown artists, Marvin, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Diana Raw. From Mary Mary to Jennifer Hudson, we get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it. Listen to Culture raises us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. 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, until this. Pull that, turn this. It's just... I can do my eyes close. I'm Mani. I'm Noah. This is Devon. 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. 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 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.

It's now time for one of the most listened to segments on the almost famous podcast. It is Bachelor Hot Topics. Everything that's happened this week in Bachelor Nation. And obviously there has been a lot, a lot of reactions to Chris Harrison's departure. We're going to get into that in just a second.

But also, let's talk for a second. We kind of mentioned it last week, but we have more clarity this week on the Bachelor in Paradise hosts. Before we talk about Chris Harrison officially stepping away, we did have the announcement of four new hosts for Bachelor in Paradise. guys. Some of Bachelination had some mixed reviews, specifically Tanner Tolbert, who I know you're close with and have probably been able to kind of process with. Ashley, before we dive into the headlines of it all, what are your thoughts on these four hosts? Well, I love Lance Bass and I love David Spade. I mean, obviously I consider Lance a friend and then David Spade. I've had lunch with with Amy and I think he's hilarious. And I actually think, yeah, he'll be super entertaining. I understand

where Tanner's coming from. Let's talk about what Tanner said on his Instagram last week. He said the franchises hosting decisions have been a train wreck. He doesn't really like the fact that like American Idol, I would say, did once Simon left, they kind of tried to stunt cast, right? It's like Jennifer Lopez and Ellen Generis. Like, wow, huge names are going to try to fill in for Simon, but sometimes people, you know, especially when they've been with a franchise since the very beginning and have been such a figurehead for them, they're like irreplaceable.

So I think I know what Tanner is talking about here when it's just like calls it a circus. It's because there's so many people that they're just like throwing at us to entertain us possibly. But I think what Tanner is also saying is that he thinks that the show is going to become more about to be, well,

in the American Idol case, the judges, right? so they're making The Bachelor in Paradise more about the hosts than they're making it about the contestants and people watch for the contestants. Let's talk about this for a bit. It comes down to the thing we've talked about so many times on this podcast and it's the ultimate question of the franchise. Why do people watch?

Like, why has this thing been successful for... Because of the love stories. Well, that's our assumption. And the drama. But could it be that the franchise who studies this data, who has been, you know, some people have worked there for the 19 years it's been going on, do they know differently?

Are they saying, no, people are watching this, not just for the love stories, probably maybe not even for the love stories at all, but more for the character development. The comfort, I think, is a big deal for the show. And you get the comfort from the consistency that was Harrison. I think you do.

And so now this does seem like a drastic switch. I get Tanner's concern and others concern where it's like we're losing all familiarity with the franchise when we do these hosts. The other question I have in this, and I don't, I'm not saying any of these hosts are bad. I really don't know them as hosts. Like, you know, Lance Bass, I know him from the show. He's great.

Little John, I've seen him on the show, but he was on back of season. Yeah, David Spade, you're telling me he's going to be great. Titus, like, I mean, I think he's funny. I've always enjoyed him. But why, I mean, we have to ask the question here. If they're going to diversify, if they're going to go as far as, you know, replacing with not just one host before. Why is there a woman involved here? Isn't that bizarre? Well, I mean, Sarah Highland. But she's not on this list. Right now, we don't really know Wells and Sarah's roles or if they're

going to be there one week or if they're there consistently. Let's say right now, just for the sake of this conversation, we don't really, and we don't know what Sarah's role is going to be here. If they're going to add four new host, how is there not a woman involved? I mean, we're on this conversation right now. And they have a moment where they can really. change things up. There's not one. That's weird to me person, especially for Paradise. I get it for Bachelorette, right? You have Caitlin and Tasha there, their guides, their mentors. They can sit beside the Bachelorette and relate on a lot of levels. Maybe even go as far as saying on some levels that Chris Harrison couldn't, right? When it comes to being a woman and the power that brings and the

leadership you need for that. But here for Paradise, I mean, it's a very, it's very clear that like a woman's be involved, I think. I mean, it just feels like it fits and there's not. I totally agree. Let's read this Tanner quote. He says, I think the franchise needs to figure their shit out and figure it out quick because I think the show is on a slippery slope right now. And as a fan of the show, first and foremost, I want to see it keep going. But with all the host drama, it's just starting to get ridiculous. The host doesn't need to be the star of the show. I don't need to see commentary on every little thing. And not every little thing needs to be a joke. And I agree.

Well, so, again, and as a fan of the show myself, as a fan of a lot of people that work on the show, as somebody personally who wants to see this show continue, I am now on the edge of my seat to see what Paradise looks like. And we're going to get into a bit on a conversation about the Bachelorette ratings dropping drastically this week. That totally relates. And so we're going to talk about that in just a little bit. It does relate. and there's a lot of things that we can assume are a part of it. But all in here, if we're all honest with ourselves, every fan of the show right now I think would agree with Tanner.

They might not agree that they don't like the hosting choices, but the show right now needs to figure stuff out. It is on a slippery slope. It's being shown in the data. And my question for people who are listening and for you, Ashley, is does these four hosts that they just announced for Paradise? Does it help or hurt the show? You're asking me?

It's not anything personal towards the hosts. You know, I can't wait to see Lance host. I think we needed a more, more consistency, especially right after Harrison leaves to have four hosts. I think she's going to kind of like confuse people about the theme of the show. Like what's the point here? Yeah. I mean, I think one of the things for me, Ashley, you know, all these years is I watch this show because I'm familiar with it. And I, you know, and I enjoy

seeing the process. I like watching Paradise because I'm familiar with it. It's, it's obviously a little more dramatic. It's a little bit more unpredictable. There's weird stuff that happens. New people are showing up every week. I'm feeling, even as somebody that's been a part of the show, I'm feeling less and less like familiar with it. And that goes one of two ways. Either I'm feeling that and that's a good thing because it's moving beyond me and it's entering in a whole new season and it's a whole new franchise and it's going to take on a whole new look and it's going to be very successful in this way or it's not going to work now to close this thought the bachelor has always prized themselves on being that kind of stand-up reality show right it's been around for a long

time uh i remember back in the day they kind of said hey we have the secret sauce like our bread and butter is the format and it works and it tells a story. You know, that's what's made it stand out among so many other reality shows that have tried to come out and be successful. I feel like here, I'm feeling like it's slipping back into what other shows are doing and not necessarily still trying to be this franchise that we've known in love for so long. Well, isn't like it goes back to not to bring up my. former other favorite show but American Idol it's like sometimes like a show peaks and then

one of its stars is no longer there like one of the foundation pieces of the foundation is no longer there and they keep they try to reinvent it they try to like make it sparkly with like big names and twists and all that and it just can't recover from that loss so yeah I guess the storyline here for this franchise. And again, we're going to get into the ratings drops in a bit. We're going to get in the Chris Harrison's resignation and talk more detailed about that. But the big question now that I think people are going to be watching is, does this work? And do people tune in? And does this seem to bring in the viewership? The show might be funnier. But is that what we want? Or do we love stories? Another thing that I think is really interesting about Paradise is that there are so

many big cast stars that we expected to see there who are still very active on social media and doing interviews so it looks like they didn't show up a lot like we're talking like i don't know that you and i thought that mattie would go but like mattie hannah ann victoria fuller kelly flanagan mike johnson they're all around they're on social media feels weird ashley it feels it feels weird well hey uh entering in a new season we're going to be talking about a lot more here on the podcast let's take a break when we come back we're going to talk ratings drops uh what does that mean for the franchise is there a recovery in process we're going to get your opinions on that and then also we're going to talk chris harrison's resignation and everything we know uh about that next step

and what it looks like for the bachelor moving forward but we'll be back with the almost famous 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 there's 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. 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 Sweeten, Monica Patton, Elaine Welteroff. 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. 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 Deuces, 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 IHart 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 Valicia 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, see you can't win as something you didn't create. From the Obama White House to Google to the Grammys, Valicia's journey is a master class in shifting culture.

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. 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 control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Do this, pull that, turn this.

It's just... I can do it my eyes close. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devon. 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 run right. I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no such thing on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, we promised it right before the break, and now it's time to talk about it. Chris Harrison has officially resigned. from the Bachelor franchise. He did get a payout for his time on the show. There's rumors going around from everywhere from 50 million to 25 million to 10 million. Like nobody really knows, but it's some millions.

Ashley, obviously some people believe that he was already ready to leave the show. And that or some people feel like this came out of nowhere and it was as a result of just, you know, kind of what happened over the last year. do you have any insight into, like, this exit now? Like, what was the timing? I have a feeling, but I want to hear your thoughts first. I mean, I think it has everything to do with what happened over the winter with the interview. And I don't think that's what the majority of fans wanted. I don't think a lot of people wanted to see him leave.

I'd venture to even say that, like, based on what I see on social media and what I see from people who come up to me and just say hi, you know, because they're Bachelor fans. But, like, 95% of people just did not want to see him leave. I think there was lots of ways that they could have dealt with, you know, what happened. You know, he did a lot of learning, a lot of growing. I think there was a way that they could have shown that on the show. I am sad that this is how it's gone down. Who would have, I don't know, who would have thought?

right my thoughts are are this and obviously um as a white male that you know the weight of this doesn't really carry too much but i i feel like we just don't have a not a conclusion but i feel like there is an interview that went poorly uh to say the least and i think most people would say yeah this wasn't a good interview there was some things said that we needed clarity on but now we don't get any clarity on like now we're now there's no uh there's there's no like chris is just gone and it just feels like hey this was a moment especially knowing chris and knowing how hard he was working knowing the people he surrounded himself with knowing the questions he was asking knowing what his heart and desire was to learn and to figure out like how how these words that he

said hurt and how he could have done better I just feel like now we don't get that on the show and And I think all the people, all the viewers and Chris himself kind of in a sense, I mean, maybe just like we want it. Maybe it feels like he was a part of our living rooms and our television for so long that it feels like if that is the path he was on, like why aren't we getting it? And I don't know why it just abruptly ended without even an interview on after the final rows or even a moment on the franchise. It just feels like they just said, oh, this was bad.

This wasn't good. Let's totally separate from it. It's like, does that fix the thing? Like, is that a good move for the show? I don't know. That's not a good growth move. It doesn't, it just shows that like when you, it just shows that there's not a lot of room to learn sometimes.

Yeah. And I think, you know, Chris, like Chris is a friend. And we've talked about it many times. And, you know, I know this situation, uh, is, was bad for, for multiple different angles. But it also feels like, hey, Chris has been around and supported all of us. You know, he has supported every person that's gone on this franchise as best he could and to the capacity that he could in incredible ways. And I just don't feel, you know, now it's just done and it feels odd.

But it's happened. And that's the truth of it all. And so now we talk about like, what is this new season for The Bachelor? Is it a good season? How is The Bachelor going to change? And how are they going to evolve to not only learn from what happened with Chris, but also keep viewers interested without Chris? That's a big deal now.

Okay. So let's go on to that headline. The ratings were down significantly for Katie's premiere episode. Okay. So 3.7 million in total viewed this. Um, in comparison, uh, Matt's season had 5.2 million, but the bachelor, it's always down from the bachelor. And Claire's season, oh, damn, Claire season back in October started with five million total

watchers. So ratings are down. And so this is a conversation that, uh, that we want to have with the listeners. and so please email us. But as the Bachelor franchise enters into this new era, and people, we have a quote here, I'll just pull this one out from Tyler Cameron, saying he's excited for this new season,

kind of the fresh faces that will enter in to the franchise as hosts and what that can mean for the franchise. Well, are we getting eerily close to not even having the show any longer? Because from TV Guide, it's on the chopping block at ABC right now. like so they're they're making these big changes did you see that yeah so they're making these big

changes and people are saying oh this is great for the show this is good for the franchise but like what happens when the franchise doesn't exist i mean are people good with that is that kind of where people want it to go or is that why people aren't watching they're saying this thing's done like not even just because not without chris the shows are in its course well ben how much do you think of the ratings job had to do with people saying like i don't i don't want to watch this because Chris isn't part of it and because I think that they didn't it wasn't dealt with properly I don't know if that would be uh the reason I think fans of the show are fans of the show I don't know I just look I know that people say like I'm not going to watch I'm not going to

watch and then they always watch yeah but if you read the comments under these articles online they so many people are saying I'm not watching because of Chris and then you see the ratings drop and you're like oh maybe there is a correlation well and I also wonder kind of like we were talking about earlier, like, why do people watch this show? Is it the love stories? Because if that's the case, it doesn't really matter if Chris is there or not. Is it the drama? Is it the drama of it all? Well, that doesn't really matter if Chris is there or not. Is it the comfort? Comfort. Is it the comfort? And being uncomfortable isn't always bad. Like, you know, changing and evolving and growing is not bad. But were people watching this because they had it

a part of their lives for the last 20 years? And now they're saying, it's time to give it up. Like, it's just, like, I'm done watching it because I've, I've, I've seen enough. I've been a part of it enough. I think the Chris thing has something to do with. I think he has is, like, following. But I don't, I don't think you can attribute almost half of the viewership to Chris being gone. I think that would, I think that would be a big stretch, especially because over the last few years, we've seen less and less of Chris on the show anyways.

Yeah. Well, I guess we'll continue to see, like, how this season. and Paradise and Michelle and then we'll be able to make like some more some more deductions it's just it's it's an interesting topic and um it also is a topic around like how do we grow from mistakes

and then like how do we allow others to grow and was this to write a wrong decision so we want to hear from you um but i mean i'm i'll go as far as to say like and i said on my instagram chris has been really good to me now I don't know if that's everybody's experience I can't speak for everybody but I am going to miss watching him on the show mostly not only because like

I you know he felt like my coach it's like you know when your football coach or basketball coach in high school retires 10 years after you're out of high school you don't feel connected to the high school as much anymore yeah it's gonna be so weird for him like not to start each season with like his hands clasped turning on the wet driveway

like we've seen the last of that that's so bizarre to me it's weird well um that's a big announcement we have some some really great announcements to talk about on headlines we're going to roll through here some really great things to celebrate uh but to close that topic we are i guess ashline i both talked offline we're very intrigued to see what the bachelor does when it comes to the host and when it comes to the leadership of the show and the consistency of the show moving forward uh but here's some really cool things that have happened from the show that we need to celebrate Lauren Burnham gives birth

welcomes her and Ari Lyingdike Jr.'s, twin son and daughter, this according to us. Yay. Happy birthday, baby, twins. So incredible. Yeah. Ari said that mama and babies are doing great. Everything went smoothly, and they're spending time cherishing these moments. They thank them, they think all of you guys for your support.

So, yeah, it's so great. So great. Man, it feels like just yesterday she announced you was pregnant. Now they have three kids. kids. It's absolutely wild. And it's, I've said this before, but like my grandma and my mother and my aunt, they love following Ari and Lauren's story. Like they just are like really into that family and watching them grow and function. It's pretty cool. Well, another big announcement that I, you know, personally really want to say, uh, here for myself and for Ashley and for the

podcast, but mostly for myself, I'm really excited for. Um, Lauren Bushnell, who I obviously know well, gives birth welcomes first child with husband chris lane this according to us weekly and we're so pumped for them she's going to be a great mom and uh just really excited to make that announcement yeah uh remember last week i ended the podcast by saying i think we're going to have some burst to report on next week well we were right all of the pregnant bachelor ladies gave birth um that's Lauren and Chris's baby boy is named Dutton Walker Lane, who's nine pounds. That's a big baby. And I know.

That's a big baby. And Lauren wrote, your dad and I can't get enough of all nine pounds of you. Now back to baby cuddles and praising Jesus over and over again for this little miracle. That's so sweet. Well, the Lauren's had their baby this week. You were right, Ashley. You predicted it. Well, final headline of the day.

Bachelor of Mum, Becca Martinez celebrates college graduation. Her quote is, I freaking did it. This according to people. Ashley, how do we celebrate? Oh, we're so happy for Becca. It took her eight years to graduate college, but for good reason, she did the bachelor in between that. She had two kids.

She said she started at UC Irvine in 2013, fresh out of high school. She had plans to be an elementary teacher or an art teacher. She dropped out in 2015, but he said, Here we are, finally, 2021. She said she's gained two babies along the way, and she's so darn proud. So cool. Well, that's it for the Almost Famous podcast today.

It's been a pleasure talking with you all. Thank you, Allie Fittatski, for coming on the podcast. Thank you all for listening. Please write in your thoughts and opinions on all of the things we talked about today. You can email us at Ben and Ashley at iHeartRadio.com. And guys, we do want to hear your opinions about Chris Harrison's departure. We haven't read emails in a while, and I think it would be a great time to do that next week. Yeah, that would be nice.

Well, with all that being said, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. Bye, guys. Later. 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.

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