The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Ben Needs Someone To Spy on Mercedes

Episode Date: December 8, 2025

Before Mercedes goes on her blind date he’s enlisting the help of a few famously available women to be his eyes and ears!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I know he has a reputation, but it's going to catch up to him. Gabe Ortiz is a cop. His brother Larry, a mystery Gabe didn't want to solve until it was too late. He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the cause. Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it.

When Larry's killed, Gabe must untangle a dangerous past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the brothers Ortiz. the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of, you know, developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different.

Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cuthurban.com. Please enjoy responsibly. Hey everybody, it's Chuck and Josh

from the Stuff You Should Know podcast and it's that time of year again when we knuckle down to do our annual holiday episodes. We collected our best past classic holiday episodes and compiled them into a 12 Days of Christmas toys playlist that the whole family can enjoy. That's right, maybe you missed it the first time we detailed the history of Beanie Babies, Monopoly,

or Yo-Yo's, and a whole lot more. So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist, list on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of footloos?

I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimeless, a true crime comedy podcast. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mail Room. And I'm Jordan, the show's producer.

And like most guys, I haven't been to the doctor in way too long. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Every week, we're breaking down the world of men's health from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility. We'll talk science without the jargon and get your real answers to the stuff you actually wonder about so check out the mailroom on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your favorite shows iHeart podcasts bring you the ultimate summer of love treat this is famously available hey i'm your host ben higgins back with you on famously available

and we're getting ready for mercedes jingle ball blind date so i think this is the perfect time for me to bring in someone that i love that i trust I do trust that I think is one of the best encouragers I've ever met for me personally. And I believe she can be an encourager to everyone she's around. She's going to be my reinforcements tonight, my eyes and ears on the ground. I'm bringing in no other than famously available gal Kathy Swartz. Kathy, hello. Those are such kind words, Ben.

Thanks. I'm glad to be here and be your spy. now tonight Kathy and Deanna are going to be my eyes and ears you're going to be looking out for Mercedes on this date Kathy okay I got her will you agree to the terms that I'm offering if it's protecting her from life and limb I'm on it you are going to be I mean Mercedes has a lot of really close friends going to jingle ball with her tonight which is awesome and and so Kathy really what I want for from you, Indiana, is to be the eyes and ears, to be the watchful supporters, sometimes from a distance and sometimes up close. I need you paying attention to body language, the conversation that's happening,

and how he mingles with others. Now, Mercedes has already told me, Kathy, that something very attractive to her is when her dates can mingle with her friends well. So we got to watch for that. Got it. I'm on it. Because he's coming in because it's like, you know, Katie, Jess, Gabby's going to be there too. And we're all in the same season.

So I'm like, it'll be very telling how he like, you know, yeah. Can I be his mother? Yes, you got it, girl. Make sure he holds doors. What is that? Oh, yeah. You can yell at him. I would love for you to yell at him, Kathy.

I would love for you to be the intimidating. Then I do not yell. I gently encourage. Okay, fair. Mercedes, talking to Kathy right now. as she will be the eyes and ears and also kind of the spy on the ground but strategically placed

to also step in when she sees it's necessary and needed. What are some red flags that Kathy can be looking out for on this date and paying attention to? Oh, like in me or him? I guess both. There's no red flags with you.

Zero. I don't know. I feel like sometimes, like my body language, you can tell if I'm like, someone else could come in the conversation. Maybe it's like it's awkward. I don't know.

I don't know. Maybe just like my body language. Okay. What do you do when you're nervous? What should I be looking for? What do you do when you're feeling awkward or nervous? Laugh a lot. Like I think like someone will be like say something and I'll just like laugh just because

I feel like that makes it feel better. I don't know. So maybe that. I don't know. Laughing is good. Icebreaker. Yeah. For sure.

I don't know. Other red flags. I don't know. You'll be able to see. What's his red flag? What's something that could end this before it gets started? Ooh, maybe. I mean, honestly, what if he gets there and he's like, you know, mingling doing his things

and then doesn't give me the attention? Like, doesn't make me feel seen. I'll have a word with him. Yeah, okay. Yeah. So that's the red flag that you got to be looking for. Make sure he's giving me attention. Okay, got it.

I trust Kathy when she says, I will have a word with him. She will make sure this guy is on the straight note. tonight now kathy i need you to be slick like this is not an up front like he doesn't need to know that i've asked this of you and diana uh but i need you to be slick and i also if you can would you text me some pictures uh does it have to be the two of them together even just some pictures and updates as the night goes on absolutely got i appreciate that and and you know we're going to be strategically talking through the night about how things are going. Now, I think the two of you, because we have the ability to set this up beforehand,

need a code word. So Mercedes, when you need Deanna or Kathy to step in, I think a code word would be really helpful, helpful or necessary, good or bad. Maybe you just need a break and you need somebody to distract him for a bit. Yeah. What should our code word be? I don't know. What comes to mind for you? It's got to be something that you feel comfortable uttering. I don't know I'm not good with coming up with stuff like this I don't know I got it's not a code word

but Mercedes I think you need to give Kathy a very clear wink when you need it's like just a nice little wink because that can come off as you're just saying hey to Kathy or I'm saying hey Kathy Indiana I need you to step in right now but a nice wink is just a really kind silent way

what to do. Let me say, let's try it. Oh, good. Yeah, it's a little subtle too. Then I didn't even see it. You got a good wing. I'm not sure I saw it. So this is going to be a ton of fun. And it is an event where it's loud and there's a lot of people. Kathy, obviously you and Deanna are also participating with us in this whole experience. when it comes to a first date, Kathy,

what is your advice for Mercedes as she walks into these type of scenarios? You mean specifically tonight? I think tonight's a good, yeah, in general or tonight. Because I think tonight's going to be a little different because there's going to be so many people there and loud. So if I were him, I'd probably be saying, hey, do you want to just step out in the hallway

and just talk for a few minutes? I would do that if I were you, because otherwise, you know, you're just not going to be able to necessarily hear when you say. Yeah, it'll be like chaotic kind of in there. But not too long, you know, just long enough to see if he deserves a second date. Yeah. It's 5.23 p.m.

One of your kids is asking for a snack. Another is building a fort out of your clean laundry. And you're staring at a half-empty fridge and thinking, what are we even going to eat tonight? Or you could just hello fresh it. With over 80 recipes to choose from every week, including kid-friendly ones, even for picky eaters, you'll get fresh ingredients

and easy step-by-step recipes delivered right to your door. No last-minute grocery runs. No, what do we even have, fridge staring? And the best part, you're in total control. Skip a week, pause anytime, pick what works for you. It's dinner on your terms. The kids can even help you cook. Yeah, it's going to be messy.

But somehow, they tend to. to eat the vegetables they made themselves. Try HelloFresh today and get 50% off the first box with free shipping. Go to HelloFresh.coma and use promo code Mom 50. That's HelloFresh.combeam 50. HelloFresh.C., Canada's number one meal kit delivery service. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes gentlemen's cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product.

With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentleman's cut bourbon.com. Please enjoy responsibly.

Hey, everybody, it's Chuck and Josh from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, and it's that time of year again when we knuckle down to do our annual holiday episodes. We collect at our best past classic holiday episodes and compiled them into a 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist that the whole family can enjoy. That's right. Maybe you missed it the first time we detailed the history of Beanie Babies, Monopoly, or Yo-Yo's, and a whole lot more. So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers?

And what is this? How was that not a story we all know? What's this? Where is that? Why is it wet? Boy, do we have a show for you? From smartless media, campside media, and big money players

comes crimeless. Join me, Josh Dean, investigative journalists. And me, Roy Scoval, comedian, as we celebrate the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. We'll look into some of the silliest ways folks have broken the laws.

Honestly, it feels more like a high-level prank than a crime. Who catfish is a city? and meet some memorable anti-heroes. There are thousands of angry, horny monkeys. Clap if you think she's a witch. And it freaks you out. He has x-rayed vision.

How could I not follow him? Honestly, I got to follow him. He can see right through me. Listen to Crimless on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Dad had the strong belief that the devil was attacking us. Two brothers, one devout household. two radically different paths.

Gabe Ortiz became one of the highest-ranking law enforcement officers in Texas. 32 years, total law enforcement experience. But his brother Larry, he stayed behind and built an entirely different legacy. He was the head of this gang, and nobody was going to tell him what to do. You're going to push that line for the calls. Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry is murdered, Gabe is forced to confront the past he tried to leave behind, and uncover secrets he never saw coming.

My dad had a whole other life that we never knew about. Like, my mom started screaming my dad's name, and I just heard one gunshot. The Brothers Ortiz is a gripping true story about faith, family, and how two lives can drift so far apart and collide in the most devastating way. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

tonight will be a hard place to have like it's a fun place to have a first day i think but it'll be a hard place to have too high of expectations of how much you're going to get to know about this guy because it is loud come on let's be honest when you see someone and you look him in the eye and you see his smile and how he's dressed and what he looks like you're going to know whether you would really rather listen to the music and or talk to him right yeah yeah Yeah, very true. Yeah. The two of you have met how many times previous to this?

Just once before. At Katie and Zach's wedding party. At Katie and Zach's wedding party. And that was like last week. Yeah, like two weeks ago. It's like it was very recent. Yeah. Mercedes, I probably should have asked for your consent before I asked Kathy to be a wing woman at this.

Are you okay with this? Yes, 100%. Oh, she is gorgeous. Listen, any guy that doesn't just say, how did I get so lucky? unless he decides he wants a cougar in which case you're out right in which case Kathy's stepping up in which case this experiment is over yeah that does lead me to a question Kathy for you obviously you and Deanna are going to be there tonight taking part in everything going on and having a blast but will the two of you

be keeping your eyes open for yourselves you think at this event does that really require an answer is that yeah it does dance would be yes always i always have one eye in the present and one eye in the future love that i think it's interesting kathy to to be in the position you are with mercedes you guys have different taste everybody does but is there anything specific that you would be looking out for kathy from a distance when it comes to this guy uh that would maybe bring you a red flag? Well, Mercedes said it. If he is not looking at you and trying to cultivate a relationship as best he can, if he's really busy, for example, talking to the other single girls and not spending

time with you, that is a crimson waving red flag. He better be devoting his time and attention to you. Yeah, for sure. Well, and me. It would be nice if he could listen to this because it is very simple tonight. There's not a lot of like hoops and things you have to do. All you have to do is just give, you know, be curious about Mercedes. Give her attention. Yeah. To see where this can go. There's, there's nothing else. And if he doesn't, I would say that is a red flag. Absolutely. I would agree with that too. And I would say it's here's your hat. What's your hurry? I hope you do, Kathy. I hope you don't have to do that. But I hope you would if that's the scenario that you get placed in tonight. I can't wait to hear how this all goes.

It's going to be absolutely fantastic. Kathy, before we close out, though, is there any updates on your love life as we talk? Not really. I mean, I met a guy. I think I talked to you about him, and it just didn't, he kind of went for the local girl. Nice guy, but he decided Texas was a little too far away for him.

Is long distance now Mercedes kind of in the back of your mind after Boston man is it in the back of my mind yeah is it something that could be a problem for you or are you still open to it I'm still very open to it I feel like it doesn't matter where you are if you like each other you're gonna make it work yeah and doesn't matter you find a way yeah and because like because that was the same thing with Boston like he was like oh the distance but I'm like okay so you just like you weren't willing to make it work we cut up but you didn't want to and that's fine yeah so like that's fun well you know it's you figured out as far as I'm or nice guy, but he didn't waste my time.

I didn't waste his. Exactly. That was one thing, too. I, like, thank him. I'm like, thank you for, like, doing this now rather than in six months when we're, like, you know, deeper or whatever. Although, I will say, being from Boston myself, you would love the city. No, I went there one time and I fell in love with it.

I want to go back, but now I'm like... Not for him. Yeah, no. By myself. This is going to be a night full of stories. And we're going to be recapping them all here at famously available. I cannot wait for Kathy and Deanna to be the slick little supporters from the side on Mercedes date. We'll be introducing Mercedes to her date tonight on the podcast.

So make sure you tune in for that. These episodes will be coming out very, very soon. And of course, we're going to get a full recap after the date to get all the details with all the parties that are involved. Mercedes, you just found out that you're meeting him on the podcast. How does that make you feel? Now I'm nervous. I don't know why that made me more nervous than just like at Iheart or the jingle bell. But it'll be fine.

It'll be great. It's going to be awesome. You are fantastic Mercedes. You are a catch and a half. Oh, thank you guys. Go in, you know, stand tall and just enjoy an evening because goodness gracious, I have a feeling. that that guy is going to be like, how did I get so lucky?

I hope so. I hope so. If he's smart, that's exactly what he's going to think. Yeah, I agree. If he doesn't, then he's not smart and you don't need him anyways.

This has been famously available. I've been Ben, and I am so excited for all the interviews and content coming your way about jingle ball and Mercedes Date. We are giving you,

the listener, the exclusive look into what a first date sounds like, feels like, and how it's experienced. And goodness gracious, what an opportunity. Until next time, I've been bent. I know he has a reputation, but it's going to catch up to him. Gabe Ortiz is a cop.

His brother, Larry, a mystery Gabe, didn't want to solve until it was too late. He was the head of this gang. You're going to push that line for the calls? Took us under his wing and showed us the game, as they call it. When Larry's killed, Game Must Untangle a Dangerous Past, one that could destroy everything he thought he knew. Listen to the Brothers Ortiz on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on gentlemen's cut bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.

Please enjoy responsibly. Hey, everybody, it's Chuck and Josh from the Stuff You Should Know podcast, and it's that time of year again when we knuckle down to do our annual holiday episodes. We collected our best past classic holiday episodes and compiled them into a 12-day of Christmas Toys playlist that the whole family can enjoy. That's right. Maybe you missed it the first time we detailed the history of Beanie Babies, Monopoly, or Yo-Yo's, and a whole lot more.

So listen to the 12 Days of Christmas Toys playlist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Have you ever listened to those true crime shows and found yourself with more questions than answers? Who catfishes a city? Is it even safe to snort human remains? Is that the plot of footloose? I'm comedian Rory Scoville, and I'm here to tell you, Josh Dean and I have a new podcast that celebrates the amazing creativity of the world's dumbest criminals. It's called Crimeless, a true crime comedy podcast.

Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, Dr. Jesse Mills here. I'm the director of the men's clinic at UCLA, and I want to tell you about my new podcast called The Mail Room. And I'm Jordan, the show's producer. And like most guys, I haven't been to the doctor. way too long. I'll be asking the questions we probably should be asking, but aren't. Every week, we're breaking down the world of men's health from testosterone and fitness to diets and fertility. We'll talk science without the jargon and get your real answers to the

stuff you actually wonder about. So check out the mailroom on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.