The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Breaking News: The Golden Bachelorette Cast

Episode Date: August 14, 2024

The men competing for the heart of Joan Vassos have been revealed and Ben and Ashley are ready with their honest reactions! We go through the list of contestants and share our first impressions and make our predictions!See 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 Podcasts and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or 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. And here's Heather with the weather. Well, it's beautiful out there, sunny and 75, almost a little chilly in the shade. Now, let's get a read on the inside of your car.

It is hot. You've only been parked a short time, and it's already 99 degrees in there. Let's not leave children in the back seat while running errands. It only takes a few minutes for their body temperatures to rise. and that could be fatal. Cars get hot, fast, and can be deadly. Never leave a child in a car. A message from Nitsa and the Ad Council.

I'm Simone Boyce, host of the Brightside podcast, and on this week's episode, I'm talking to Olympian, World Cup champion, and podcast host, Ashlyn Harris. My worth is not wrapped up in how many things I've won, because what I came to realize is I valued winning so much that once it was over, I got the blues, and I was like, this is it.

For me, it's the pursuit of greatness. It's the journey. It's the people. It's the failures. It's the heartache. Listen to the bright side on the I-HeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tune in to All the Smoke Podcast,

where Matt and Stacks sit down with former first lady, Michelle Obama. Folks find it hard to hate up close. and when you get to know people and you're sitting in their kitchen tables and they're talking like we're talking you hear our story how we grew up how Barack grew up and you get a chance for people to unpack

and get beyond race All the Smoke featuring Michelle Obama To hear this podcast and more open your free IHeartRadio app search all the smoke and listen now This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast with IHartRadio More breaking news and Bachelor Nation

we're here with the Almost Famous Podcast. We're talking today about the Golden Bachelorette because Season 1's cast has been announced, Joan, as our Bachelorette, the guys that will be, oh, here are suitors, were released just now, hot off the press, less than an hour ago.

We're going to be talking about him here on the Almost Famous podcast. Like Gary's season of the Golden Bachelor, the cast is a little bit smaller. It's not 30. It's 24 guys. and the internet is already saying that their daddy issues are about to come out because these are some lookers. Here's my problem with this is if you look at these guys compared to what we get when like a bachelorette or bachelor seasons announced when it comes to their pictures.

The pictures, no one praises them. We're like, ew, gross. I hope they look better in real life. Because these guys that are coming on Jones season, they were like doing modeling photos and like leather jackets against, like beige walls and they're wait a second i'm looking at these pictures right now and you're right why do they give them a better photo shoot in much better fashion i don't know actually but it's hilarious because it's like what what does the show what do they want all of us to just be like super into these like 60 and 70 year olds and for the people that are in there you know anywhere

from 20s to 40s we're like nah not not that cool yeah i think they do but anyways uh we'll start with Bill from Portland Oregon. Are we going through the guys? Are we going through the list? Yeah, we're going to have to run through the list. You're going to make fun of them? I can't make fun of any of these men. I really can't. Bill's way too handsome.

Perfectly peppered hair. He is from Portland, Oregon. He's a retired videographer. He's 68 years old. Ashley, give us some fun facts. Well, he would love to own a coffee shop. Bill, don't do it. Yeah, please do do it and buy.

Too much work. And too little payoff. Please do and buy generous coffee. Oh, okay. There's that too. We have both sides of the equation here. All right. And then he wants to call his coffee shop.

This is cute. Billy's Beans. Next up is Bob. He's 66 and he's from Marina del Rey, California. And he's a chiropractor. Ben, fun fact. Bob loves to go on walks with his dog, Clarence. Bob doesn't do fast food.

Good for you, Bob. And Bob loves to inline skate, but only on quads. Now, let's be honest here. Bob is a stud. They're all studs. That's not a thing. Later on, Ashley, you and I are going to record an episode and break down these guys a little bit more, tell their backstories, make fun of them a little bit.

It's only deserved. But today we're just kind of releasing the names and the guys. So please go to the link. It's on Us Magazine, actually, release the guy's names today, and follow along with us. Uh, Charles K. is from Rancho, Palo, Verdez, California. He's a portfolio manager. He's 62. I see that Charles is very proud of the work that he's done building homes in rural Nicaragua. So maybe he'll go with you on a generous trip. But hey, Ben, uh, do you like the way that this guy is Charles K? But then like on the regular show, it's like Kevin K or like Ben K.

It's like, no, but the older guy's Charles, because Charles is common enough name amongst them to have to use the initial. No, yeah, there's like three of them here. Yeah, Charles L is next. Yeah, Charles L is next. He's from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He's a retired financial analyst and he's 66 years old. Oh, my gosh. His fun fact is the best.

He'd love to see Britney Spears perform one day. Well, you know what, Charles? She says she's totally retired for music, so it may not ever happen for you. I'm so sorry. Our next guy is Chok. C-H-O-C-K. Never heard that name before. He's from Wichita, Kansas.

Looks like a very nice man. Insurance executive, he's 60 years old. Ooh, this is fun. His guilty pleasure is shopping and he can't resist a good sale. Love him. Oh, his, his, we so want him to have a, like, Costco date with her or some sort of shopping date. They go to Marshalls. Ashley, I think his desire to find.

a good sale is not going to be unique among 60 year olds. I think they're all pretty into bargain shopping at this point. Home goods hunt. Christopher from West Babylon, New York. He's a contractor and he's 64 years old. I like his pose here.

He's got one of the best pictures. All these fellows look so good. Yeah. He loves the fact that his birthday is on Christmas Eve. I love that for you too. Dan is next. He's from Naples, Florida. Of course he is. I can't believe they just don't go there to cast every human on this show.

Wait, they should just have it take place in Florida. That would have been amazing. Let's change that up. Yeah, he's a private investor, and he's 64 years old. All right, and he loves to sing, just not in public, so you know that they're going to put him on a karaoke date. Sure, 100%. Okay, this is the picture out of all the pictures that makes me mad.

David from Austin, Texas. You like this man, David 68, Ben's new man crush. Well, yeah, but like, look at this fella. They gave him a little necklace. He's wearing this snazzy outfit. He has his shirt unbuttoned down to his belly button, which is wild for this guy. But I'm still saying, like, they're making these dudes look good, and they've never done it before on a season. David is from Austin, Texas.

Like I said, he is a rancher, and he's 68 years old. He's a rancher, and he looks like he could be in the show, Dallas. His mom is 91, and she is his hero. and it's pretty cool that a 91-year-old gets to watch her 68-year-old go on TV to date. I think it's great. Gary from Palm Desert, California, he's a retired finance executive, and he's 65 years old. Note that all these guys are in their 60s as well. There are no 50-somethings.

He is the godson of Tina Turner. That's a big deal. That is a big, big deal. Very cool. That'll be a huge, I would assume. It's going to be a note night one. Yeah, that's pretty awesome, actually. Gil, Mission Viejo, California.

He's an educator, and he's 60 years old. And his favorite book is the Bridges of Madison County, so we have a romantic on our hands. Next up, we have a guy that likes a cardigan, and I love a cardigan as well. Greg, from Longboat, Key, Florida. He's a retired university vice president, and he's 64 years old. He's not going to be on my sister. in a lot of girls' favorites list because he says that he wears flip flops 90% of the time.

How do you feel about a guy in flip flops? Jared won't do it. Oh, I love a good flip flop. See, for some reason, I feel like you could pull it off. I don't even know if I do. I just do it. I just see you naturally in them. Yeah.

But I would never see Jared in them. I don't know that I've ever seen Jared in them. He'll, like, wear his boat shoes to the pool. I wear whatever is convenient. Okay, well, the next guy up is guy and he's 66 what do you think about that name guy I've always been a little bit weirded out by

anybody who chooses to name their kid guy except for like I have a friend who named their kid guy because that was his dad's name but besides that I've never met a guy like a person named guy that is not confident and not somebody pretty spectacular I could think

of three people and this guy looks like he like he just looks like a dude like an emergency room doctor like can you imagine this guy at like 40 years old, big old chin on him. He looks like he lifts weights. He walks in and he's like, don't worry, I'll save your life. Yeah, that is exactly what he is.

He's like on Gray's Anatomy, but in the older version of the cast. 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. My name is Ed. Everyone say, hello, Ed. Hello, Ed. I'm from a very rural background myself.

My dad is a farmer and my mom is a cousin. So, like, it's not like... What do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? I know it sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that really was my reality nine years ago. I just normally do straight stand-up, but this is a bit different. On stage stood a comedian with a story that no one expected to hear. On 22nd of July 2015, a 23-year-old man had killed his family.

And then he came to my house. So what do you get when a true crime producer walks into a comedy club? A new podcast called Wisecrack, where stand-up comedy and murder takes center stage. Now. Listen to Wisecrack 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. Shock incarceration, also known as boot. camps are short-term, highly regimented correctional programs that mimic military basic training. These programs aim to provide a shock of prison life, emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs. Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six months. The first night was so overwhelming and you don't know who's next to you. And we didn't know what to expect in the morning.

Nobody tells you anything. Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A foot washed up a shoe with some bones in it. They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable. These are the coldest of cold cases, but everything is about to change. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identical.

in our lifetime. A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA. Using new scientific tools, they're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it. He never thought he was going to get caught. And I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha. On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors. And you'll meet the team behind the scenes at Othrum, the Houston Lab that takes on the most hopeless cases, to finally solve the unsolvable.

of the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 your 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 is 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.

Up next, we got Jack. He's from Chicago, Illinois. He's a caterer, and he's 68. On May 22nd, 1977, he was sitting in the front row at an at the last Elvis concert in Chicago. That's cool. I thought Elvis's last concert was in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Wait, for real? I think so. We're going to have to do some research on whether or not Jack is telling a little fib here. We're going to do a little research right now. Elvis's last concert before he died, June 26th, 1977, Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. Oh, Ben, you are right. Okay, wait, so let's just read this one and make sure Jack was sitting front row at Elvis's last concert in Chicago. Maybe it was Elvis's last concert in Chicago.

Yeah, because it says May 22nd. So May and then June was his last. And so, yes, he went the month before to Chicago. Yeah, okay. That makes sense. He's not lying. He's a trustworthy gentleman. Just how you read it, you know.

Next up is Jonathan. He is 61, and he is one of my favorites. just by the looks, particularly him in the video that they have released on Instagram. The guy has a good swoon face. He's got a good, like a good model face. He's up there with, of course, Kelsey's dad for me, who is the one to beat, and he's coming. But anyway, let's get, let's get to it. This is Jonathan, 61. He's from Iowa. He's a shipping consultant. And Ben, do you have a fun fact on him. Yeah, one that's confusing to me. Jonathan starts every day with two cups of coffee in bed. It sounds romantic.

sounds nice. That's like me. But does that mean he has to get out of bed, make a cup of coffee, go back to bed, then get out of bed, make another cup of coffee, and come back to bed? Yeah. That's awful. Why would you do that? Why wouldn't you do that? This is kind of what I do. I have one. I enjoy it. And then I had the second one while I work and stuff. It just feels inconvenient. Anyways, Jordan. Because you have to get up. You have to get up. Jordan from Chicago, Illinois. He's a sales manager and he's 61 years old. Jordan misses the days when visiting. visitors would stop by unannounced. I understand. Did you remember that time? Yeah. It's like our childhood. Nowadays, it sounds worse than... Because you're an adult.

Yeah, I don't really want people coming by. It was fun when you were a kid. It's who's at the door? Yeah, I don't know. What did they bring? I don't know if I would love that nowadays, but we'll, you know, whatever. We have Keith. He's from San Jose, California. He's a girl dad and he's 62 years old. I'm telling you, I look at Keith. I just want to hang out with Keith because he looks. like a guy that would just make me smile and make everybody smile. Yeah, he seems sweet. His guilty pleasure is Beninjerry's, and he can never just have one scoop. Give him an ice cream making date, please.

And I like Keith also because his goal is to play golf at Augusta National, same buddy. And Keith also went to stagecoach this year. He's fitting right in with Bachelor Nation. Good for you, Keith. Oh, G, that is so funny. I wonder if he went with his daughters. Of course he did. Next step is Ken.

He's 60. And I have to say he's probably the youngest looking of all the guys. He does not look 60. That's a full head of dark hair. Mm-hmm. Good for him. He's from Peabody Mass. Ken is a Miley Cyrus fan.

They say Stan. I don't even understand what that means. It's a step above fan. His dream is to throw the first pitch at Fenway Park. I wonder how much that played into him deciding go on the show. Hmm. It could happen. Jared was in talks to do it once, and then guess what happened? COVID. Up next, we have Kim, Seattle, Washington, retired Navy captain. He's 69 years old. Is he the oldest so far?

I think he might be. These are all in their 60s. Kim, interesting name for a dude. He has, if he looks like he's a naval captain, doesn't he not, does he not look like he commands a ship? Sure. He's an excellent whistler, he says, which seems to go along with. Navy Captain. And being 69. I've never met somebody in their 60s, 70s, 70s, 80s, who doesn't know how to whistle. I have no clue. Ben, that's one of the old people traits that I thought that you would take up on. I've tried. I play a harmonica though. Mark is the one you've been waiting for. Kelsey Anderson's dad. Oh, he's 57. They made an exception. He is an Army veteran. you we know of Mark from his time on Joey's season of The Bachelor and he definitely made a name for himself. Yes, he did. Everybody wanted Kelsey's dad who just was not just super attractive

but just the best seeming dad and we all felt for him for the loss of his wife and the way that he welcomed Joey into their home. He just seemed like such a great. guy and we're excited to see more of him and he's afraid of ostriches which honestly that's a legitimate fear ostriches are freaky and nobody ever thinks of it before you spend the next 20 minutes talking about this guy we do have to move on to michael from denver north carolina he's a retired banking CEO and he's 65 i thought you said baking CEO and i was like what the heck banking Well, we have an other guy that is into going to what is perceived as a younger person's music concert. He went to Lallopalooza three times, all times being in his 50s.

The next fella looks like the most interesting man in the world. He looks like Steven Spielberg. He looks like the most interesting man in the world. Pablo is his name. He's from Cambridge, Maryland. He's a retired UN agency director. He's 63 years old. Oh, he's also obsessed with ice cream.

handle himself around it and that's all i got on him he's he's gonna be one to look out for he just he has that way pascal from chicago illinois he's a salon owner and he's 69 he looks like a salon owner look at his hair he does and his stackable beaded bracelets yeah seems like he's a swiftie with those bracelets uh he is also he says he's not a good cook but he makes great reservations This is a good one here. RJ from Irvine, California. He's a financial advisor. He's 66.

The first line here says, looking for a man in finance, 65, golden bachelorette cast member will look no further than RJ. So he must be a tall drink of water. Oh, yeah. Well, and he has

a favorite Christmas movie that is controversial. It is diehard. Respect. Coming down to the end here, just a few more guys left. We have Thomas from New York, New York. He is a FDNY chief 62 years old.

Fire Department of New York. That's pretty impressive. Good for him. And he used to own a creepery in Rhode Island. I got to reach out to this guy. Yeah, say hey. What? A creepery?

How niche? In Rhode Island. How niche? Uh, okay. Ashley, to close out this podcast, pick your top. I just want your top two favorites. Oh, well. you know it's Mark

and then it is Jonathan Oh yeah I'm actually going to do with Dan He and Joan just look like they belong together And I'm also going to go with Christopher Because his pose on this chair Makes me think he's around a while We are going to break down these guys

In more detail at a later time We just want to get their names out there to you Their locations so maybe you can look them up If you're from that area Final thoughts on this cast I am insanely surprised and also impressed

with the casting that the show did to find these guys I thought they'd have a really hard time I thought they'd find a lot of duds and from the looks of every single one of these pictures from the pictures

we don't know these guys yet but from the pictures from the looks of these pictures I think this cast is going to be absolutely tremendous and they have a lot of depth and I think we're in for another good season now I know people

we'll hear about the Golden Bachelor and go, gosh, that was such a good season and such a sad ending. And it just kind of got messy at the end and all that stuff. Sure. I don't disagree with that. I don't think we give up on this show yet. No, it doesn't. It's not necessary repeat. Yeah. I think Joan is going to be an tremendous lead. I think she is beautiful. I think she's captivating. I think she's super smart. I think she is going to lead this show really well. and I think these guys are going to bring some incredible television outside of the drama

but bring incredible television because we're going to get to know their stories and that's what got me last time well why would you think that they're going to be duds because I feel like they get they've gotten so many years worth of applications for this show whereas like the regular show

it's a yearly application type thing quite honestly and I could be wrong I thought they would have a hard time finding guys willing to go on the show at that age it's harder to find guys of that age. I thought it would be harder to find guys of that age that would say yes to going on this show. You probably are right, but they only needed to find 24. And I think they probably were successful at that. Well, I think they were very successful. That's what I'm saying.

You're just going based on pictures and bios, but that's all I got. That's all I got, Ashley. I have nothing else right now. We are excited for this season of the Golden Bachelor. As I said, we will be back breaking down these guys in more details, judging them so harshly in the most unfair and untrue ways later on. But for now, we do have their names out there to you. We do have the pictures, as we said. They're posted on Us Magazine. We are excited for the season ahead of us.

It gives us more to talk about and more to do. So until next time, I've been Ben. I've been Ashley. Thanks for tuning in. Love you. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcasts 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 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 podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I just normally do straight stand-down. 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. And here's Heather with the weather. Well, it's beautiful out there, sunny and 75, almost a little chilly in the shade. Now, let's get a read on the inside of your car.

It is hot. You've only been parked a short time, and it's already 99 degrees in there. Let's not leave children in the back seat while running errands. It only takes a few minutes for their body temperatures to rise, and that could be fatal. Cars get hot, fast, and can be deadly. Never leave a child in a car. A message from Nits and the ad council. Tune in to All the Smoke podcast, where Matt and Stacks sit down with former first lady, Michelle Obama.

Folks find it hard to hate up close. And when you get to know people, you're sitting in their kitchen tables, and they're talking like we're talking. You know, you hear our story, how we grew up, how Barack grew up. And you get a chance for people to unpack and get beyond race. All the Smoke featuring Michelle Obama. To hear this podcast and more, open your free IHeart Radio app. Search All the Smoke and listen now. Have you ever wished for a change but weren't sure how to make it?

Maybe you felt stuck in a job, a place, or even a relationship. I'm Emily Tish Sussman, and on She Pivots, I dive into the inspiring pivots of women who have taken big leaps in their lives and careers. I'm Gretchen Wittmer, Jodi Sweetie. Monica Patton. Elaine Welteroth. Learn how to get comfortable pivoting because your life is going to be full of them. Listen to these women and more on She Pivots. Now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast.