The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Be Clareful

Episode Date: November 3, 2020

Ben and Ashley connect with one of Clare’s closest friends, former Bachelorette Deanna Stagliano.Get an inside look at what Clare’s was feeling leading up to her rumored replacement by Tayshia. Plus, Deanna reveals some Clare / Dale information Blake Hortsmann reveals the truth about his relationship with Becca Kufrin! And , we break down all the rumors about Tayshia.Did Clare lie to Bachelor Nation? How do Clare’s guys really feel about Dale and Clare? 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 on 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. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy chisement.

Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special Bestie and you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curley.

And I'm Maya. Get in here. Listen to the Super Secret Festi Club on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult. But it happens all the time to people just like you. And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth.

We're the host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out. Trust me, new episodes every Wednesday on Exactly Right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? Answer, a new podcast called Wisecrack, where a comedian finds himself at the center of a chilling true crime story.

Does anyone know what show they've come to see? It's a story. It's about the scariest night of my life. this is wisecrack available now listen to wisecrack on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts this is the ben and ashley i almost famous podcast with iheart radio hey guys welcome to the almost famous podcast this week the bachelorette um airs on thursday so we decided to get on the mics today just to talk about hot topics and have a few favorites on the podcast including Deanna Stagliano, who was on Claire's last episode.

And to see, like, where her part got edited, you know, we want to talk to her about what went down when Claire decided to cancel the daytime portion of the date last episode. But before that, hello, Ben. What's going on? You know what, Ashley? I think we just love talking to each other. much and we love our listeners so much that we're like why don't just like pump out five podcasts a week maybe six uh well let's start with two okay yeah I think we're going to be doing two for the next

month the month of November we'll have two podcasts so make sure to look out for usually I think it'll be a Tuesday after the episode uh you know Wednesday morning for all you all who don't stay up late and then um probably like a Thursday or Friday episode as well it's just it's just out of I think there's a lot of love going around now. Well, hey, speaking of love, as Ashley mentioned, we do have Deanna coming on. We also have Blake Hortzman coming on on on a podcast later on to talk about some stuff. He's up to what's going on in his life. Blake's always been very vulnerable with us and open with us about where he's at, kind of what he's struggling with, but also what he's rejoicing in. And so we're pumped to talk to him. But before we do all of that,

let's take a break. And when we come back, we're going to talk hot topics and we have a plethora of them. But before we do that, let's talk about Sonobelo. 2020 has been pretty brutal, right? Come on. Yeah. You've all been through a lot. Cook, clean, tutor, repeat.

But you've handled it and you've put everyone's needs before your own. So I'd say it's a great time to give our listeners something special, something you can do for yourselves. And before you see all the family that you're going to see, maybe, maybe during the holidays, and all the stress that comes with the holidays, it might be the perfect time for you to get to know what Sonobelo is. So you know that I'm a fan of Sonobelo, and it's advanced laser fat removal.

Well, Sonobel just offered special employee pricing to almost famous listeners. You pay only what doctors, nurses, and Sonobelo employees pay when they themselves get the advanced laser fat removal. In one comfortable visit, you're in, you're out, and that stubborn fat around your belly, your thighs, back, love handles, muffin tops, it's gone permanently. Don't miss out in our amazing employee pricing gift to you at Sonobelo, and you're also going to look amazing for the holidays. So hurry, visit sonobelo.com.

That is S-O-N-O-B-E-L-O dot com slash famous for your free consultation and to get employee pricing. And with convenient monthly payments, using your care credit credit card, getting your shapeback is super affordable and convenient, but you need to hurry. Sonobello.com slash famous. 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. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement.

Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh, well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special Bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. Get in here! Today we have a very special guest with us.

Our new Super Secret Bestie is The Deepa of the People. The Deep of the People. I'm just like Text Your Ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. Okay. That's us. That's us.

My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heart breaks, men, and of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club As a part of the Marco Tura Podcast Network Available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford,

and in session 421 of Therapy for Black Girls, I sit down with Dr. Athea and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex language system, right? In terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyper fixation and observation of our hair, right?

That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel. It's how our hair is styled. We talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, Don't miss session 418 with Dr. Angela Neil Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show. And we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancée Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate, you can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shi-talk. We've got more incredible guests

like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar A. Z. Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Hello, puzzlers.

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

And then there's the other ones which are like, they gave you the answers and you still blew it. Don't miss Jeopardy legend Ken Jeopardy legend. Jennings on our special game show week of the Puzzler podcast. The Puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We're back for another week of Bachelor hot topics, headlines, whatever you want to call it, doesn't matter. And here's the first Bachelor app producer, PINP. points the exact moment. Claire Crawley had to be replaced. This according to Vulture.

So Benoit actually kind of hinted at this a couple days ago when we did his in-depth. Rob Mills, he is the ABC executive in charge of, if it's not a scripted show, Rob Mills has a large part in its production. So he said on Nick's podcast, actually, that the moment that she didn't, Claire, didn't give out a rose on that group date and she gave it to herself. That was the moment that they knew they had to start thinking about, or that was the moment that they kind of made the call. They were like, okay, we're probably going to need a cultation. Their connection, her and Dale's connection was just like at that point, too strong. She couldn't fake it any longer. It couldn't suffice for the rest of the season, I'd say. I would love Ashley to have been in the

war room of the Bachelorette producers as this was going down like how they're they're brilliant at what they do uh obviously they've made 20 years worth of television but like as this is playing out they're like okay how do we make it a full season as we know how this like she's very obviously into dale dale's into her this is over these guys are starting to realize it like for them to now come up with well we're going to bring in a brand new bachelorette that people are going to be super pumped about and we're going to make this work like that is some massive strategy oh yeah absolutely Absolutely. And I think we also should mention that Rob Mills said something also very interesting.

He says that Claire swears on her dad's grave that she and Dale did not speak before the show. And I completely believe her if she's swearing on her dad's grave. And I also, you know, that's intense. And I think that she knows that she wouldn't have gotten in that much trouble if she just admitted that they did. right like she because how many couples talk before paradise and then it's all dandy I mean

you know people can say what they want about Claire obviously you and I like Claire we think she's a great choice for Bachelorette we wanted mostly because we just wanted to see her find love she found it the one thing nobody can like say about Claire in any type of criticism is she's not honest like that girl

is to a fault like blunt honest and like right to your face And so I wouldn't, I mean, I have to trust her because she's never shown signs of, like, not being truthful. I mean, even when people have tried to call her out for lying through this season saying, oh, yeah, you went to prom, like, that was a big deal or not, like, she still proved them wrong. So, like, Claire, I believe her, not only because she, you know, sworn her dad's grave, which just makes me feel all sorts of heavy. But she's been honest. So next headline is about Claire as well.

Chris Harrison addresses if, and this has been a question for me, and it kind of goes back off this topic, Chris Harrison addresses if Claire Crawley was forced out of The Bachelorette, this according to E.T. Okay, so I don't want to get this wrong, so I'm going to read the direct quotes here. He said, I would just say that she has complete control. He also said that he hasn't spoken to Claire for a few weeks now. He said this season of The Bachelorette was completely about Claire. it's all about Claire which sounds very reminiscent of what we heard him say a couple weeks ago where he said what it was a hundred percent Claire season he also says that Claire will decide where we go from here and it's totally completely up to her now it sounds like that is referring to her in the moment and not her now right yes no I mean I don't think she's sitting behind the scenes pulling any you know anything here like she is definitely out of it now

now she's living her life the show has already been taped i think in the moment is what he's referring to actually i'm still though confused because now we have like everything but a confirmation that tasha steps in here like i don't know how it can be a hundred percent clear season yeah if tasha comes in at this point i mean maybe it's like 80 20 maybe it's 50 50 maybe it's reversed but like it's not a hundred percent clear season no okay so i think chris is here trying to defend the show because I think there's been so many conspiracy theories out this week that they went into the taping of Claire's season with the thought that no matter what happens, we're going to bring in another Bachelorette. Whether that's because they got flack when they announced Claire back in March or whether they thought it would be an interesting spin, I don't know, but lots of people have been saying, oh, Tasia was like in the wings the entire time. Well, I can tell you.

Tisha was not asked at all to step in until like three, four days, whatever it took to quarantine her until she started filming, you know? Like the girl was notified. The week she started filming was the week that she got a call from them. Yeah. Like her Instagram post said, you ring? Like 100%. I think that's true.

They called. She's hanging out at home. She's probably like quarantined on her couch, eating some chips. And all of a sudden she gets a call, you want to be the bachelorette? And she's like, well, yeah. win uh like this next week uh yes i think like that's a big move for her and i mean the alternative is that yeah tasha was called months in advance and prep for this i just don't see the show doing that yeah i don't see that you know that yeah no i know this i know this okay so here's a big moment

actually yeah i'm confirming you are ashley i kennedy is confirming that tasha adams was not called previous to the season that she was called just days in advance to her starting the bachelorette yes now i should clarify that was she in talks to be the bachelorette seasons you know like back in the winter yeah yeah yeah in the winter was she in consideration before hannah's season yeah but was she ever thinking about being like a replacement a fill in bachelorette was she in the know about this weeks before for taking over absolutely not and i i think that chris goes ahead and explains this even more so when he says it was all about plan a um we said what do we do with this season with claire where

do we go with that he said it was really about claire and her decisions it's her decisions that you're going to see so well everything will be in this upcoming episode she he said that they put it all in her court completely up to her and he said while I'm saying that it really is something that you're all going to need to see this week, and we want you to see so you can judge. But in my humble opinion, he says, it really, it's really her call from where we go from here. So interesting. I mean, this is going to be a huge week.

I think Bachelor Nation is tuning in. I think they've captivated us all. I think it's just interesting, intriguing. I mean, yeah, like Claire's love story, I don't know if it will have the pinnacle kind of feeling that. um like a full season would feel like like i think it might just feel like okay she fell in love now she's out but like the way that i'm still intrigued is because i want to see how this all goes down and this is the reference to the next hot topic which chris harrison asks this question and we saw this in a dramatic uh bachelor at sneak peak the question he asked

claire is did you lie to all of bachelor nation this according to e news what a statement did you lie to all of Bachelor nation. Okay, so this again is referring to the speculation that she and Dale were in communication before filming began, and we got her answer. She swore on her dad's grave. But, you know, so I think that's the question. The question that everyone is going to be asking when they have this also teased sit down is did you guys talk beforehand?

because we've never seen a connection so strong and so season altering this early on. So on behalf of Bachelor Nation, are you hiding something from us? Did you talk to him? And she's going to apparently say no. I mean, it is the question that we're all asking. And, you know, Claire has came out and said, no, I wasn't. I fell in love. You know, this is a tough one to talk about this next hot topic because it is when we speak about all the

time on this podcast. I mean, we are broken records when it comes to how much we know our friends, how much we ourselves deal with criticism and how hard it is and how much it makes this question are just who we are and our worth and, you know, where we sit in this world. And it doesn't get any easier. I feel like as time goes on, people just get more and more blunt. They get more and more mean. They say things on social media that just aren't fair and not kind. And Claire's obviously sitting in a place right now where there is criticism. She's doing something unconventional when it comes to what we expect out of the Bachelorette. And it's typically change is always the thing that brings the most criticism when it comes to this show. Like

anything radical new or changeworthy is always the thing that people criticize or talk about. Well, this season is definitely that. It's been that since the very beginning. Well, the headline reads, Claire Crawley is struggling with Bachelorette criticism. Bachelor Nation BFF, Michelle Money, who we had in the podcast a few weeks ago reveals and this according to us weekly. Yeah, so she said that she, you know, has been speaking to Claire throughout the weeks and so that she is really struggling right now.

She's having a hard time. But she says that like all these people who are giving her hate, she just wants them to heal. She wants to help them. She hates that she just, you know, wants to lift everyone up. She hates being surrounded by negativity.

She also says that Claire spent an equal amount of time with every single one of these guys. So what's frustrating is that you don't get to see the whole story, Michelle says. She says, but that's, you know, the price that you pay for going on the show. The positives almost always, always outweigh the negatives. But that is something that, like, I think that it's important for Ben and I to also bring up. It's like, I know you guys have heard us say this multiple times before, but you are filming almost 24-7, almost 24-7.

And of course, it's going to get crammed. down into an hour and 20 minutes. So yeah, they're going to show the parts with, with Dale because those are the most critical parts in her love story. If the lead doesn't have a strong connection or nothing really ends up happening with one of the guys, like they're not going to show that. They're going to show what is most crucial to you understanding who they end up with in the end, right?

Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's the story that you set it perfectly. It's compressed. And so you want to show an accurate story. And the story is that she fell in love with. Dale. Now, the crazy part about this in which I wish they wouldn't hide. And I kind of think that Claire shouldn't hide it is I felt like I think I fell in love with this dude from like first glance. Like from night one, he was like so far in my head and so much in my heart that like I

couldn't function without talking to him or I couldn't and it just kept getting better and better and yes like some of these guys didn't maybe get the chance that others would on other seasons but other seasons aren't like this like not everybody falls in love so quickly or at least falls in like so quickly yeah and she could i mean we see we see in the show that the guys are jealous at the time that dale's been getting but let's just say that the time that he's been getting compared to the other guys is super marginal like he might be getting 10 or 15 minutes extra but she's still having sit-downs with all these guys. She is. I mean, yes, I think we don't get to see them, but I'm imagining this. And I have nothing to base this on, Ashley. I'm imagining this is how it plays out. She's sitting down with all these guys, but those conversations just aren't interesting.

Like she's so much into Dale that, like, there's no chemistry between her and these other guys. So it's not worth showing. Or we'd just be watching two people kind of sit there with, like, birds or crickets chirping in the background, and they're just kind of like looking at each other and things get awkward and then they leave. I don't want to watch that. I don't know who does. And maybe it would be helpful if we saw more of that because we would have got a better perspective of her time spent. But you can only show that so many times before it's just awkward and weird.

And actually, I think, would make Claire look worse. And so in a sense, they're kind of like protecting her from that, I'm imagining by saying, hey, we're going to show her love story. Now, we don't know where her love story really ends yet. but we are now assuming that we have for months that Tasha Adams does come in as the Bachelorette. And we see her revealed by her getting out of a pool. Well, she's playing super coy about this. In fact, the headline of this article by people reads Tasha Adams plays coy about her steamy bachelor appearance. She says, I was just swimming around.

Come on. I just hear this coming out of Tasha's mouth. she says on her podcast clickbait with joe and hannah ann she says um you know uh i would just i love palm springs i love lakinta i vacation there it's summer it's hot i was in a pool just like swimming around with cameras i know what you're referring to so she's like because i guess like the franchise itself has not declared her the bachelorette yet and all they've shown is her getting out of a pool she's also not confirming that she's the Bachelorette so she's just there and like they somehow caught her on film

if this is how this plays out like if Tasha actually isn't The Bachelorette I'm gonna be shocked like shocked I can't absolutely just blown away that would be the greatest spin of all time that would be the most shocking thing ever if like it's all like a lie and she showed up to like host a date yeah exactly and then like Claire sticks around

and she ends up with some other dude somebody else yeah well that would be wild um well speaking of this the bachelorette uh host chris harrison did mention um why they waited to address tasha adams in a new york post article actually we wondered you know why are you staying so secret about this why are you not confronting this we all hear about it what's going on well chris addresses it yeah he basically just said that there's a method to their madness in waiting and he said that they wanted the focus to be on Claire this was supposed to be her season of the bachelorette and that he he was also very intimately involved with the decision making to bring in Adams and that makes sense because Chris Harrison is

an executive producer on the show is he is he has been a long time um sad news not like that sad not but uh i love the uh tell-all shows i think they're hilarious and i think they're always interesting to watch the the chemistry will uh just glance over this one but chris harrison did say that he cannot promise a tell-all this year obviously due to covid and the restrictions and so we're kind of up in the air right now if we'll ever see these guys back together in the same room again which is unfortunate yeah if i imagine if they do something along the lines they'll have like a couple guys who are really crucial. Maybe like whoever was in the end, the top five or six, right? But like we don't need any like villains there. We only like bring up a villain storyline. We don't

need Yosef back. You know, we saw like Yosef kind of sucks. We don't need any more confirmation. Yeah. In fact, this week, Tyler C kind of came out and said, hey, this girl that's coming up with these videos that is posting on TikTok that we talked about last week, like that's not even the girl I was talking about. And so one of our listeners wrote in and said, wait, does that mean, there is more than one. I don't know. I don't think we can confirm or deny, but Tyler C did come out and say that that is not the girl that I was referring to on night one. Yeah. So basically, Yosef was messing around with a lot of girls and what Tyler, you know, Tyler C may have been eliminated for very poor reasoning. Yeah, I don't, I don't think he was her number one choice either way.

Yeah, I mean, like, it probably wasn't going to happen, but like, he could have been around a little bit longer. You kind of like will last in a week or two more. We'll bounce in from Claire to the current Bachelor season that's filming right now. The Bachelor is Matt James. Robert Mills sat down with Nick Vile on the Vile files and said that something really crazy went down on night one with Matt James. All we have to elaborate on here is that he says that something happens on night one that

they've never seen before. Maybe it's because of Matt's naivete, you know, like he's ever been through this. He also says, it's not what you think, though. I don't know what we're thinking. So that doesn't eliminate much to me. But he says it's really crazy. And he can confidently say that Matt will be the only bachelor this season. It's probably a good thing.

I don't think we can take too many flips and flops this year. It's already crazy enough. Well, our last headline is one of Hannah Brown. Hannah Brown sat down with Caitlin Bristow on Off the Vine. and she says she was broken after The Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars, this according to Us Weekly. Yeah, so I also don't want to like make up what she's, you know, summarize what she said. So I'm going to read the quotes directly here. She said, I had to look within, think, what just happened, what has the past year and a half been like?

Who even were you before that? And have you lost the girl or is that girl the same or just? different or am I just somebody that I didn't even recognize? She said that there was a lot of things that she didn't like about herself anymore. And she said that a lot of it has to do with just like being filmed 24 hours a day. But it's only on for less than two hours a week when you take away the commercials. And she said that's all people get to see. So, you know, that that shows just like one side of her. And she says that she started her YouTube channel so that fans can see a different side of her and both Caitlin and Hannah agreed that filming The Bachelor was

way more fun than filming The Bachelorette, which I think that if you go back and ask like a lot of leads or even people like me who were on multiple seasons, like when it comes to fun, the first season seems to be always the most fun. Maybe not the most growing. Maybe not like the season you got the most out of, but definitely just the most easy, breezy. I appreciate that Hannah was honest here and open I think one of the things that happens when you get off a show and for anybody out there listening to this like whenever you have kind of your your high points in life like the things that really excite you or are different or you know if it's a promotion at work or if you get engaged or if you meet the love of your life or if you buy your first home

or any of those big like life moments a kid having a kid like there's a letdown and and I think for anybody that goes on the show it is a high like you have cameras around people treat you like you're a somebody for a period of time and like you feel special and I know for me like I struggled with that like as hard as you want to fight hey I don't want this to become my reality I don't want to get used to this because I know it's ending it's really hard when you live in it for so long and the longer you're in it the more comfortable you get in it and the more you expect it to continue and there's a letdown then from that whenever that ends because it ends for everybody no matter, you know, if you're an actor or an actress or if you're a CEO of a company or whatever, like when you have a lot of attention on you, at some point in your life, that ends. And when it does, it is uncomfortable. It hurts. It feels weird. I have had that happen to me. And I know many people that we know how to happen to them. And so I like that she's honest about it. Because one of the worst, one of the things that frustrates me the most, Ashley, about myself.

And then as a result, probably about others, is when there's like this expectation that this will continue forever. Oh, yeah. And you try to do whatever it takes to make it continue forever because then you do. Like Hannah said, and you lose yourself. You stop being yourself and you start being whatever anybody wants you to be. And then years after that, you're going, I lost myself in the midst of this. It's why a little side tangent here before we bring on some guests. but I have something I want to admit to you.

I cried recently. Okay. And it's going to be over something that you're going to be shocked by. Okay. Here's what I got teary-eyed over. Okay. Justin Bieber's lonely song. I watched.

You talked about this a couple weeks. Did I? Was that off air? No, that was on air? Was it on air? Well, anyways, it's still on my head. Like, that song still, like, gets me. And I don't know why.

Like, I'm not a Bieber fan. I don't dislike the guy. But watching his music. video and I think it's worth mentioning twice now in a podcast is you just get a perspective of this like kid who has so many expectations placed on him so many things expected of him and he feels so lonely in the midst and I and I wonder actually like how many people out there listen to this for whatever their life is involving right now and COVID is obviously one of them like how many people feel super lonely and they don't know how to get out of it well I know that you really relate

on that topic and now I have to admit I haven't seen this video and I'm going to have to. I cannot believe you haven't seen it. Ashley, this is crazy. I've watched a Justin Bieber music video and you haven't. This is now this is another high in my life. And I'll have to come down off of this. I've got something on Ashley.

Hey, Ash, let's move on now. We've got a couple guests coming up on the podcast. We're super excited to talk to. Blake Hortzman's going to be on breaking down his life. What he's up to today. And obviously, Deanna will come on as well. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Oh, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit.

Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, And they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating.

He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here.

And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no, we're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it.

Get in here! Today, we have a very special guest with us. Our new super secret bestie is The diva of the people. The diva of the people. I'm just like, text your ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. Okay.

That's us. That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heartbrates, men, and, of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Mycultura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin-Brandford. And in session 421 of therapy for black girls, I sit down with Dr. Othewt.

Fia and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex language system, right? In terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyperfixation and observation of our hair, right? That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel is how our hair is styled. We talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together,

and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss session 418 with Dr. Angela Neil Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to therapy for black girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Get fired up, y'all. Season two of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show, and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just, you can't replicate, You can't get back.

Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar AZ Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Hello, Puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle.

The answer is Ken Jennings' appearance on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy-truthers, who say that you were given all the answers, believe in... I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. Are there Jeopardy Truthers? Are there people who say that it was rigged? Yeah, ever since I was first on, people are like, they gave you the answers, right? And then there's the other ones which are like, they gave you the answers, and you still blew it. Don't miss Jeopardy legend Ken Jennings on our special game show week of The Puzzler podcast.

The Puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, guys, we have Blake on the line. Blake, I'm starting out with a very Ashley question. So we did an in-depth with Jason a couple weeks ago. And I said, well, now that that Garrett and Becca are no longer together, who from the franchise can you see Becca getting with now?

And he immediately said, Blake, you guys are going to rekindle the romance. Ben has got his hand on his face right now. Have you spoken to Becca since the split? I actually did listen to that podcast with Jason. I was like, Jason, you, S-O-B. I was like, way to put that out there. No, yeah, we've chatted a little bit. I mean, I told her I support her.

And, you know, I hope she's doing well and everything. But it's just a friendship. We have a good relationship. I think for the most part, I mean, we've been friendly the whole time since even the finale, you know. So there's never been any kind of weirdness between us. to do anything like that. So this should have actually been placed in hot topics, but it seems as if Garrett has a new girlfriend. He posted a picture of a girl yesterday on his Instagram. And he said

like something about a cute pumpkin at a pumpkin patch. Have you talked to him about this new relationship? Yeah, I did see that picture. No, I haven't chatted with him about the relationship or anything. We haven't chatted in a bit. But I mean, you know, I think everybody deserves, you know, happiness. So I hope this one sticks for him, I guess, you know. We ask this question all the time on the podcast. Maybe you can answer it for us. Nobody ever has been able to. How soon is too soon to move on? Okay. Thank you. I'm glad that you asked that. That is such a good question. Yeah, I don't have the answer to that. But I always think, you know, in these public relationships, like were they broken up for a while

before they actually said it in public? We don't know the time. I don't think anybody really knows the timeline except for them, probably. But I don't know that. I mean, some people move on quicker than others. Some people hold on to things that aren't there sometimes. So I don't think there really is a right answer to that. I have to say that like putting myself in Chris Randone's shoes and now Becca's shoes, both of those relationships being public on, it's like the new relationships being public on Instagram so fast. Like it kind of makes me feel like my thoughts immediately go to the X. And I'm just like, it feels too soon for me to be watching this on Instagram. I can't imagine where they're at we root for the underdog yeah i mean ah it is hard and i the chris

i don't know how long chris and crystal because again who knows you know when they actually like yeah like they the little different there's more months there for sure yeah yeah for sure but i do agree like going public with it i mean that that is a lot sometimes going public with it pretty soon after um but i don't know like i said everybody has their own timeline and everybody if they feel comfortable enough and they've moved past it they moved on then why hide it i guess too unless you're thinking of the other person. I don't know. It's hard because you try and like there's so many people involved

and, you know, so many variables involved in that situation that it's hard to know what is right and what is wrong. Well, hey, best of luck to you and Becca, man. Hey, Ben, what do you think? Do you think that is, do you think it was too fast? I don't know. I mean, I've been in this, right? Like, I've been in a public relationship and somebody moved on.

And I don't think I can even speak to the timeline. I just know it hurts no matter what. Like I don't know. And it might hurt both people. Like it might feel weird and awkward at first, but like I just know it hurts. And it's, but I also think this, it's the moment that healing can start. Because until then you're kind of like this like questioning what, you know, is this something that we should hold on to? Are we ever going to get back together or hey, I miss them or whatever?

And then once it like finally like you see them like holding somebody else. The crescendo. Yeah. I think it's like you're, you hit rock bottom. And that can last as long as you. you want and then you can start to heal but again like we're not getting any younger nobody is ever um and so if you find somebody that you're into and that you want to build a life like a relationship with i don't know if there is that timeline it could happen the next day it could happen

a couple months um never easy at all like really really is i had i had a relationship the one right before i went on the show actually and broke up broke my heart and then within like two weeks had another boyfriend and that hurt. And I didn't even have to do that in public eye. Like, I can't imagine doing like what you did Ben and what Becca's talked about what Becca's going through right now, like in the public eye. That would be another level. Oh, it'd be so brutal. Yeah, it's rough. Okay, so we've talked about Becca. Blake, you and I get to see each other quite a bit. We both live in Denver. We both work out at F-45 here in Denver. I was just there before I got on the podcast today. I'm feeling like

the best shape of my life. I mean, I'm telling you. And here's my problem, though. I stand next to you in there. We do box jumps and you move the box jump like over to the highest level and I'm still on the lowest level and you're hopping up there. So I stopped working out the same time you did. I haven't seen you in a while, Ben. It's not fun. But that's not what I want to talk to you about. Blake, you're up to some stuff right now. Obviously, COVID kind of shut down your world in many ways. You were traveling. You're a DJ. You had some gigs lined up. COVID stops that. but you've rolled into this role of a podcast host. Tell us about it.

Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, COVID definitely put a damper on kind of what my year was going to look like. I had a lot of things set up as far as like DJ sets. I had a residency in Atlantic City and one in Vegas. And those obviously fell through. So we had planned kind of to start this podcast about the Grizzly Rose, which is, I mean, you've been, Ben, a couple times. Yeah, you have.

I know I've been there with you. But it's a local, like, honky ton kind of concert venue here in Denver. and we wanted to name it behind the rose, it's called the Grizzly Rose, but then also have a play on, you know, reality television, Bachelor, all those kinds of things. And so we've been, we're about, gosh, close to two months in right now, and it's fantastic. I love it.

I feel like every time I interview somebody on that podcast, I learned something new, which I didn't expect, you know, as the interviewer, you know. So it's been fun. It's been great. We've had a lot of bachelor people on, a lot of musicians, coaching musicians. And it's kind of basically what we say is it's country music, pop culture is basically what this podcast is and do with my buddy eric bradley and uh producer edie haskell

and we're killing i love it it's a it's a good time it's something to do during quarantine which is fantastic it's nice to find that it definitely is so okay it's where country music meets pop culture what is some what is a what's a topic in their headline that you can use as an example uh i mean so i mean i think we all know this target audience wise the same people that watch the bachelor We're usually our country music fans. Oh, it's just, like, insane. Like, you guys, not to, not to say, we're not often bombarded by fans when we go to the mall.

I, you know, it's like, it can, we can go months without being recognized sometimes, but you go to a country concert and all of a sudden, you might be as popular as Keith Urban. Seriously, I remember. I remember. I say that with all humbleness. Right, right, right. But yeah, more people like, yeah, we'll come up to you and ask her fiction. They would like, yeah, the artist.

you know it's pretty crazy so we knew that was a thing and so we kind of wanted to blend because a lot of these country music artists also watch the show so it's kind of a cool thing like we just had carly pierce on and she's a huge fan of the show she wants to be on one of our recap episodes um i mean dan and shay like dan called me during paradise to check in on he was like are you that's awesome yeah so it's just cool to know that there's that you know cross the audience really crosses and um i enjoy the podcast a lot because I obviously become a pretty big advocate with mental health. And so we talk about that a lot, whether it be with people who've been on the show or musicians

and the pressure and stresses of life on the road of living in the public eye, of relationships in the public eye, whether it be breaking up or getting together. So I'm really enjoying that and seeing how everybody kind of gets through those ups and downs and the rock bottom and everything. So that's been an eye opener for me to see just how many people have hit rock bottom and how they've gotten through it. So that's been pretty exciting for me. One of our hot topics was that Michelle Money says that Claire's, of course, I say of course, because she's gotten so much flack, like, you know, having a hard time.

You know, she's, everybody's criticizing her. And, well, I think she's doing a fantastic job. But what would your, what would your advice be for her right now? And like, how do you feel like she's handled being in the lead role? Yeah. I mean, she's getting so much. We're three episodes in and the amount of criticism she's gotten, I can't believe it. It's absolutely insane. And just how nasty it's got. Like, I understand criticism, but she's getting different kind of criticism. I've never really, even Pete, like, Pete had a rough season in. I don't feel like he even got it this bad for the whole season. She's making, like, listen, I mean, I think she doesn't done himself any favors, you know, with the way

the show's been, you know, been showed. But the editing hasn't helped a lot. I mean, I can't remember who I was talking to recently. There was just Tia on our pot or Kendall somebody, but they basically said, like, obviously they're going to push this Dale and Claire's story a lot because what if they didn't show their connection, didn't show how much she was into him? And then all of a sudden, she runs off with him. That'd be so awkward for us as an audience. Like, what the hell just happened? So they're going to play this up. They're going to play up Dale and Claire and her only being into him because they have to. Otherwise, we'd be so confused when she ran off with him, you know? So in that sense, I get the edit and the kind of the narrative

that they're doing. So it's been rough for her. And I did reach out to her and I said, keep your head up, you know, and she, I think she's just got to keep, she's got to stay off social media, first of all. Stay off social media. And just keep those, you know, close to her, her family, her friends are close and, gosh, take time for herself. Because right now, if I was her, I can't imagine, like, going through Twitter, you know, especially on, like, the actual nights of the show and just stay off social media and hopefully, you know, keep those, the good ones close to you, is what I told her. You get so excited for these airings. Like, I know, I remember, any episode I'm on, like I get so excited, so, like, anxious and nervous still. If there's

even, like, a small commercial I'm on or something, it just happens. Like, it's just part of the euphoria of it all. And the letdown, I mean, I feel for her because, like, the letdown had to be, like, drastic. Like you said, it's not, she's excited. She's pumped. She's talking about how excited is. And then, like, the criticism has been a ton. And, I mean, it's not fair. I don't think because, like you said, Blake, that's a perfect point. like if she runs off with dale in week four we need to know that her and dale were really into each other and like aren't we watching this show still to like see people fall in love like isn't that not i mean yes we want to see the drama that's hilarious we want to have our wine and like laugh at the

characters great laugh at us all you want but ultimately if you find a love story it's something to celebrate and if we've lost that we've lost the show and like she found love we need to celebrate I completely agree. And I think that, like you said, that's got to be hard for Claire right now because I bet going to the season after it already filmed and she had left, you know, and she seems, I'm sure she's happy and everything. It seems like she was probably so excited to watch her love story unfold. And now she's going through what she's going through right now. And nobody even cares now that they're in love and that their love story is, you know, how into her, or how into her he is and how into him she is. So I don't know, it's hard because for some reason she's getting this villain edit falling in love too quick. You know? It's bizarre. People are just, like, not having enough empathy for her, in my opinion. Just like, put yourself in her shoes and tell me you do anything differently. Yeah. Well, and then there's always criticism of a lead being like, Ben, you fell in love with two people. What the fuck? But then Claire decides who she wants, falls in love. And now she's getting criticism for that. You can't win. You can't win. I tell you what, though, one of my takes and one of the things that encourages me before we let you go here, Blake, is it seems like in most recent memory, the couples who have gone through the most criticism during the season have made it. And I mentioned like Ari and Lauren. like that was not an easy season to go to Ferrari they made it they made it through right Peter and Kelly like yes not didn't really work out on the show but like he was a hundred percent criticized for that move everybody was against it and then now look everybody's celebrating it so I mean I think like when it comes to this season it's a make a break like either you get really close as a couple and you say hey I'm in it I love you and like I know this is hard but I'm going to sit by you and we're going to get through this together or it breaks you which I don't know is a bad bad thing because ultimately, you know that's not your partner. You know, it's not the person that's going to be with you through thick and thin. So, you know, that's why I love Ari and Lauren

because I look at them like, that cannot have been easy. But now you have a kid and you're happy and so we'll see. I just hope she's good. I agree with you. I think sometimes if you can make it through these rough waters, and honestly, in paradise you see it too, because somebody will come down the stairs, they'll go on a date, but they can get through it. They finish paradise together. A lot of times, you know, it works out. And so I think you just have each other to lean on. And bonds you that much more so um i hope they can make it through this and i think they will um but yeah we'll see i can't wait for that reunion i can't wait for the reunion i can't wait for the reunion hey i can't wait to see like how they leave the show just we're going to his room and being like

hey um i'd like to get out of here you want to come with me yeah i know i'm interested to see how it works too it's so good all right thank you so much yeah yeah blake again once again i just want to mention before we let you go here. It is Behind the Rows podcast, Blake Hortzman and Eric Bradley host it. Blake, best of luck, man. Thanks for coming on. And we'll watch your love story unfold with whoever that may be. Maybe eventually at some point. All right, buddy, thanks. Thanks, guys. I appreciate you have me on. Bye. All right, see you. 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. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast Season 4 is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement.

Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Well, this season, we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. Get in here! Today we have a very special guest with us.

Our new super secret bestie is The Deva of the People. The Deep of the People. I'm just like text your ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. That's us. That's us. My name is Curley.

And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heart breaks, men, and, of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Mycultura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford, and in session 421 of therapy for black girls, I sit down with Dr. Ophia and Billy Shaka to explore how our hair connects to our identity, mental health, and the ways we heal. Because I think hair is a complex language system, right, in terms of it can tell how old you are, your marital status, where you're from, you're a spiritual belief. But I think with social media, there's like a hyperfixation and observation of our hair, right? That this is sometimes the first thing someone sees when we make a post or a reel.

It's how our hair is styled. You talk about the important role hairstylists play in our community, the pressure to always look put together, and how breaking up with perfection can actually free us. Plus, if you're someone who gets anxious about flying, don't miss Session 418 with Dr. Angela Neil Barnett, where we dive into managing flight anxiety. Listen to therapy for black girls on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Get fired up, y'all. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapino, to the show. And we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, co-hosting a podcast with her fiancé Sue Bird, watching former teammates retire and more.

Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really, like, you just can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to locker room every morning just to shit talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Park. and college superstar A. Z. Fudd. I mean, seriously, y'all. The guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And, you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings

around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Hello, puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is, Ken Jennings' appearance, on The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy-truthers who say that you were given all the answers believe in... I guess they would be conspiracy theorists.

That's right. Are there Jeopardy-truthers? Are there people who say that it was rigged? Yeah, ever since I was first on, people are like, they gave you the answers, right? And then there's the other ones which are like, they gave you the answers and you still blew it. Don't miss Jeopardy legend Ken Jennings on our special game show week of The Puzzler podcast. The Puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, just a warning for anybody out there listening right now. in a second we're going to speak with Deanna and it's a great conversation one that Ashley and I really enjoyed having and there's a lot of insight into what it was like behind quarantine and what was like for Deanna to be on the show and what happened with that date and why it never happened but there's also a moment where there is a little bit of a spoiler I'll call it a little bit of a spoiler because it does talk about Claire and Dale and if they're together or if they aren't together today so just if you don't want to hear that go ahead and fast forward through that piece but if you do want to hear it it doesn't give too much away

It's not going to ruin anything, I don't think. But it is worth us mentioning that, hey, if you don't want to know anything, skip through it. All right. So from one person who's just been viewing the show to one person that has been there confirmed, who has seen Claire in love with Dale and having to navigate dating different men, let's get Deanna on the phone. We didn't get to see enough Deanna. That's my take.

too quick too soon that poor girl quarantined for four or five days for like a 30 minutes sit down conversation with Claire and went back oh like this isn't fair okay so Deanna you were there for a date Claire tells you I can't wait to see these guys I can't wait for you to meet these guys and get your feedback on them and then the day never happened did you ever get to meet these men I did not get to meet any of the guys because of the date and the fact that we didn't do it and we only filmed a girl chat

I did not get to meet any of the guys so I only got to hear about them and of course you guys saw in the episode it looks like Claire only talks about Dale but I legit heard about a lot of guys and heard about her experience we did not just talk about Dale my take from this whole episode

was that we didn't get to see enough of you like we were all pumped to watch you host this date and meet these guys and it just kind of ended. Can you give us a little backstory to your like, I'm imagining what was like a four-day quarantine, locked in a hotel room to have like a, what, 30-minute conversation? Were you disappointed?

Were you sad? Ben, really? I was like the best mom living my COVID dreams. I was in Palm Springs, except for it was like 120 degrees every single day. So that was the only downfall. But I got to stay in a hotel and get a full night sleep and binge watch TV and order room service and drink wine for five days straight. I mean,

I really think that I'm the one winning here. That's probably true. That is so awesome. Yeah, it was really great. But I did have to have three COVID tests. And since they had to have three negative ones before I could even see anybody or walk on to set. And since they were one of the first shows that went back into production, they were not messing around. They were not like taking any chances. And the doctor that they have on set was really serious. I, She, I am pretty sure, like, scraped as far back in my navel cavities as she possibly could. I remember my nose was bleeding for, like, days. I was so, like, just, like, rocked from the first nasal swab that when she came back the next day, I was, like, crying.

I was like, please don't do that again. I don't like it. That makes me hurt. I don't like it. Yeah, it hurt. It was no joke. Okay. So you don't get to meet the guys.

Claire cancels the date or the day portion of the date. My theory on this is that it was supposed to be an outdoor date and it was too hot and so she like was forced to cancel it. Am I right? I like the way you're thinking because my hair and my makeup looked really good. You know, I was all about Gina doing whatever she needed because it was so great to just have someone do my hair and makeup. But no, it was going to be inside and there was going to be plenty of air conditioning. But in Claire's defense, it was a date that she did not want to do because they had just done the drip dodgeball date. And she came to me and she was like, honestly, I put these guys through

this crazy date the other day and they were really good sports about it. But like the date that we were going to do was kind of like a game show and we were going to quiz them on like women's anatomy and stuff like that. And you know what? She was like, I really don't need to have these guys discussing like a vagina or tampons. Like I just really want to get to know them and have real conversations. So I just don't want to do this. And I was like, totally fine. Totally fine. I'm already thinking about what I'm ordering for dinner. I really like your attitude. You're actually like, this is so spot on because anybody I talked to that have been in

quarantine or have gone on the show, like most people love it because it's like it's four days forced of just doing nothing. Like you cannot do anything. And I can't imagine as a mom just how like awesome that was. Well, I'll tell you what, Ben, I got to shower today alone and wash my hair. And that's as far as I got. And I'm doing well. I'm doing really cool.

That's awesome. Oh, I love it. Deanna, you kind of have like an undercover bachelor love story. So you were the Bachelorette in 2008, right? 2008? Yeah, it was a really long time ago. It was a very long time ago. You end up with, you know, an engagement at the end, but you, you didn't end up with that

bachelor-related person. Can you let the audience know how you met your husband, one of the Stagliano twins? I think we should, we should all be really thankful. I didn't end up with that guy. Like, we should all be very joyful and celebrating that because that was a mess. It was a time in my life that I would love to forget. So, anyway. Unfortunately, it's on TV, so you're not forgetting it.

Michael Stagliano was on Jillian Harris' season of The Bachelorette. And that was the first full season that I had ever watched. And I was super excited to meet Michael, like, in a weird way. I was like, oh, my God, he's so cute. His family is so great. I want to hang out with all them and, like, go to their house for Christmas. And then within, like, two seconds of meeting Michael, I was like, oh, yeah, no, this is never going to work. But do you have, like, a brother that looks similar, a little bit hotter, a little bit more good looking?

Like, can I just have him instead? And he happened to have that. Yeah, Michael and I became friends, and he ended up dating a friend of mine, and they introduced me to Stephen. And then six weeks later, I was like, I love him. I need to be with him forever. I was still on Bachelor time, I think, which is weird. That is awesome. Is it weird now to know that you were attracted to his brother first?

Yes, because I also know Michael so well now. When I look at it, I'm like, I can't believe I ever thought that he was like the one. Oh, that's so good. For a half a minute. It lasted for just like one minute, literally one minute. But Michael had the exact same feeling. As soon as we met each other in person, we were literally like, oh, yeah, no, no, hard pass. Hard pass.

Oh, that's so good. Well, that's great. See? You wouldn't be married and have the kids that you do today if it weren't for you being The Bachelorette. I know, I know. So I always joke and say that the outcome of my season, it really was like a difficult time.

And I thank God that back then, you know, Us Weekly was not like hanging out in the backwoods of noon and Georgia because I really could live off the grid after the show. And I always felt bad for, you know, contestants, people who are on the show now because it is not the same. You know, like you guys are really put through the ringer and the tabloids and with social media and everything else. I didn't have to go through that.

So I was able to go through this really nasty breakup somewhat privately, other than that private maybe YouTube video that's still out there. But other than that, I was able to do this, like, alone and in the privacy of my own home. So I'm thankful for that piece. Now, you are friends with Claire. So how is she doing today? Oh, my gosh. Actually, we sent her some flowers today because poor Claire, man.

she has been put through the ringer and I think anybody who's been on the show and the two of you can relate to this that it is hard and and she's just been put through the ringer and the things that people are saying about her and about her life and stuff online like can just be really hurtful and so I just feel bad for her because I feel like in a period of time where this should be really joyful for her and this should be a really great experience and probably one of the most exciting things that she'll go through it has not been that for her and on most days she's feeling really down about the things that people are saying about her online and the editing of the show. So actually the girls and I, we all sent her some flowers today.

Just let her know that, like, we love her and this is a blip. Like, this will all be done. You know, it'll be done next week. The outcome is tomorrow night, right? She's going to walk away and she's going to be able to move on and hopefully have someone that she genuinely loves and can be with. And people will forget about this. They'll move on.

Apparently, Tasha will be the next bachelorette. So, you know, hopefully this is a blip in what just. seems like a difficult time for her. We were just talking about that with Blake Hortzman before he came on, but how this is like such a high, right? You wait months for this to air and you're so excited for people to see your love story and to celebrate with you and just be involved in your life. And then, and I know it's still exciting because now millions of people watch Claire.

And like that's this cool thing. But when that turns and it's millions of people watch you and it feels like the world is criticizing you, it's such a fall drop from grace that like it, it has, has to hurt and like I imagine she just feels super lonely right now because there's really nobody else that in the world that can relate like nobody can relate I'm literally trying to reach out to her on a daily basis even if she doesn't text back and just say like hey I'm thinking about you I'm praying for you just know that this is almost over like you're doing great you're doing great I'm trying to be a cheerleader because I feel like she has so many cards

stacked against her and something that I think is so interesting is that when they announced Claire as the bachelorette everybody was like yes finally a 39-year-old woman who knows exactly what she wants and she's not messing around and she's not going to take any BS for an answer, right? Except now there's so many people online who are shaming this 39-year-old woman who's not taking BS and who knows exactly what she wants. And now people are hating on her for that exact thing that we were praising her for in the very beginning, which I think just sucks. Like, it just sucks. It does. Well, we're wishing Claire the best and I don't know. Do you wish that just goes away? Because that feels

sad too like oh this like blip in my life that was super exciting that i was so pumped for that i quarantined for and waited for and got pushed back on now we just are kind of like all hoping it let's just like let it go now for claire and we can move on like that seems sad too it really does like in like in the full circle of things you want to see people be happy for her and you want them to be happy for the love story you want them to be her you know cheering her on but i just don't know if that's going to happen which is right that's just such a bummer but claire does like to like kind of go back to her regular life do you am i wrong in thinking that like she just wants to be with dale in the privacy of her own sacramento circle and she's happy with that she doesn't need any more

attention yeah i think that's a pretty good safe thing to say like i am i've had the luxury of of since we filmed seeing claire and and getting to chat with dale and you know stephen and i just celebrated nine years of marriage so we have definitely weathered some storms ups and downs and stuff throughout the years. But what I tried to encourage Claire with is that hopefully some really great things will come out of this, hopefully some really great opportunities, right? I mean, look at you too. What I encourage them both to do is definitely enjoy the ride. Take the opportunities because these things will, you know, they'll forever change the way their lives go and to love it and enjoy it, but also to nurture and take care of what they have. So I think that that would

make her so happy to just be in Sacramento and to live her life and live her love story with Dale and she's totally fine with that she's waited a really long time yeah well again we're wishing the best now this is a good moment for us to talk about something extremely important because you're you're doing it right now uh we have an election coming up that everybody uh that can and is able should go vote for uh you're in line right now getting ready to vote uh just say hey awesome on you i know you're waiting doing this podcast as you're in line because it's not super you know easy to get a vote in right now but just get out there and vote everybody amen get out there and vote i am really really like worried i am losing sleep over the state of our nation right now so it is i don't you know

it is so important to vote it is so important to vote yeah definitely you got to put your voice out there so hey diana thank you for coming on thanks for talking to us um we wanted to see more of you more of you maybe we will uh on a show in the future but until then rest up shower up do everything you need to do as a mom to feel victorious awesome thank you guys have a good day thank you bye thanks a lot all right ben well as the time is running out here it is time for my favorite new segment which is we didn't name it but it's story time with ben weird stories yeah story time with ben weird near death or very embarrassing stories that have happened in ben's life that are not broached in alone in plain sight his new book but you know but you know yeah they almost

let's say they were almost added they were honorable mentions in the book that's the thing there were audible mentions in the book mention it but we didn't dive into them so we're going to dive into them here on the almost in his podcast this is the quote from the book there was a time a cop delivered a trunk stuffed full of toilet paper after you got into a car wreck on your way oh okay got it so this cop discovered that you had a trunk full of toilet paper while you were on your way to toilet paper a friend's house yeah so you know the funny part about story time with ben is there's going to be some stories that come up um in the future that are super intimate and super vulnerable and i laugh at the the idea of hearing him and i never know which

story ashley is going to pull out so just just always off the cuff always a little nerve-wracking also very exciting. So anyways, here's a story. I was 16 years old. I just got in my first car. It was a Honda Civic. I got, I bought it from my grandfather, uh, who was a car salesman. Great, great dude. He's now passed away. But, um, I had had it just a few months. And I was the only one in my friend group that could drive. And so, uh, I was always driving them around doing the most ridiculous things as like a freshman and sophomore in high school. Well, one of those things that we enjoyed doing was TPing our friends' houses. Um, because it's just a lot of fun to see their parents have to put in all the work to clean up the trees. Like, now that I think,

about this at this age if somebody tepee my house i'd be so angry like you'd be the angry old man coming out i'd be so mad just with the idea that hey my sunday football watching and bourbon drinking is now ruined by my stupid high school kids friends tepee my house anyway uh and so on a friday night uh we went out after a football game and just loaded up with toilet paper i mean i'm not kidding you are my honda civic trunk was stuff full like to the point i remember having to push it down to get it like pushed in so we go out in this drive we're driving down the the road and I'm just a few months into driving and I was a very irresponsible driver at that point I had not been in a car wreck since knock on wood um but I was driving and I looked over

my friend in the passenger seat and I was talking to him and I looked back uh in front of me and a lady had stopped to turn into a YMCA and I put my brakes on and it just wasn't soon enough and I had just completely rear-ended her um and so So she was actually turning in to see her mom who was working at the YMCA. So we turned into the parking lot. My car is completely totaled. Like the front is just smashed up and like her back of her car is smashed. Like this is not like a fender bender.

This is a wreck. And I'm feeling terrible. My parents are actually at a funeral at that point in time. And so and I have to call them at this funeral and ask them to come get me. Well, when they come get me, the cop had just opened up the trunk. and because they were searching my car I don't really remember why they were fully searching my car but they were searching my car

probably given the fact that I was an idiot and I was 16 and they were like this guy definitely is up to something and inside the trunk I'm not kidding you is all that toilet paper and it just explodes like out of the car all over the parking lot and the lady was nice enough

to not like do any further stuff with me even though it was my fault. But I'll never forget the time that my parents pulled up, already angry out of a funeral, a little bit sad because it was a friend of theirs, to the parking lot looking at me as I stand behind my car with a cop looking into my trunk

and the whole parking lot around my car is full of toilet paper. That is a time of my life that I won't forget. That's good. That's good. Was they asked? The cop was like, so you were about to go toilet paper somebody's house? I mean, I think it was a given.

Like, I don't. I don't think there's any question that I needed. I mean, like, hey, I'm a healthy eater. But I don't think there is any question I needed to have a trunk full of toilet paper. Okay. All right. That's good one. All right, guys.

Well, we'll be back later this week. We're going to record on Friday after we get some fan reaction to the big event on Thursday night. So we'll talk to you guys then. Hey, with that, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. We'll talk to you later, guys. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast on IHeartRadio,

or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon.

This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want or 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. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy chisement.

Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh, well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya.

Get in here! Listen to the super secret bestie club on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. On the new podcast, America's Crime Lab, every case has a story to tell. And the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to get caught, and I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha.

This technology's already solving so many cases. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced. He said, you are a number, a New York State number, and we own you. Listen to shock incarceration on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.