The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Counting Clayton’s Roses with Nick Viall

Episode Date: January 4, 2022

For tonight’s premiere of The Bachelor, we have 2 former leads ready to share their expert opinion on Clayton’s journey for love! Nick Viall joins Ben and Ashley to help break down what makes a good “villain” and why we think Clayton isn’t emotionally ready for this experience. Plus, Ashley has a theory about Salley and shares her insider info! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble.

Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your... free iHeartRadio app search emergency intercom and listen now i always had to be so good no one could ignore me carve my path with data and drive but some people only see who i am on paper the paper ceiling the limitations from degree screens to stereotypes that are holding back over 70 million stars workers skilled through alternative routes rather than a bachelor's degree it's time for skills to speak for themselves find resources for breaking through barriers

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or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports Network. I was diagnosed with cancer on Friday and cancer free the next Friday. No chemo, no radiation, none of that. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast, I sat down with Warren Campbell,

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Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hood of you. I'll take it all! I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming?

I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No such thing. This is the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast with IHart Radio. Hey guys, welcome to the Almost Famous Podcast.

Today, obviously Big Day, premiere of The Bachelor. And we have our good friend Nicholas Viol here to break down the episode and to update him on his life. Nick, hello. No, we're going to have you update us on your life, which is like just been sparkling lately. You are sparkling. You look sparkling.

Why is he sparkling, Ashley? When you think of... Because Natalie and Jeff, you said on Instagram this week that basically it's been your best year as far, thanks to Natalie and Jeff. That is your girlfriend of over a year now. Okay, so Nick was always...

always the guy who like did not understand Jared and my obsession with Lois. He didn't understand my sadness when my Lucy passed away. And now he forget. He like, he is a whole different person. You understand. She's not a terror. I would agree. Ben, have you met Lois? No, no, I never have. But I just agree. Hey, I, uh, I got to, uh, intercede here because, Jessica and I, you know, I don't know if you guys saw this on Instagram, but Elise from the Bachelor franchise, you know, rescued a dog on the side of the road on her way from Arizona, Denver, brought the dog to Denver, kind of nursed it back to health, found out that the dog was pregnant with eight puppies and just had eight puppies. And so Jessica and I, Jessica is 100% in. I'm 95% in. 95. What kind of dog?

It's, well, the mom is a blue healer. but the dad isn't known yet and so we don't really know but the mom is the sweetest dog it has had an incredible story it was abused it's one year old and has had two broken legs already

when Elise found it and so the dog's just the sweetest and these puppies are just the cutest so as a potential because Jessica does and we'll listen to this as a potential new dog parent what are some of the advantages

disadvantages and advice you have me are you asking me yeah i'm asking you well i i was blessed uh to be given a saint that is jeff i mean and i i i'm being serious like when i when i got jeff like i you know i have allergies so like i'm allergic to dogs so i i've i've grown to always like dogs but you know i kept my distance with with most dogs um and i've always wanted to get a dog and i've always wanted to get a dog And so combination of allergies and then like my lifestyle and by a lifestyle, I mean like I've been always on the go and busy and I just didn't have the time to properly take care of a dog.

And you never had one growing up. No, that's not true. Oh, really? You did have them growing up? Yeah, we had plenty of dog. We actually had a handful. But it's a long story. But yes, we had dogs.

And so when we got Jeff, I was a little nervous about, you know, how he would be. or my love, you know, like my attachment to them. And not only that I grow immediately attached, but he's been a goddamn delight. Like, I mean, as far as like having a puppy, I mean, he's, like, just objectively, not talking about, like, my love for him. Like, other than the occasional, like, couple accidents early on,

he doesn't drool, he doesn't bite things, he doesn't ruin things. Like, other than Natalie's underwear, like, he's obsessed with. Yeah. Like, he will eat that if she leaves it lying around, but that's, that's on her. Like, don't leave it on the floor, you know? So, like, he's really been such a wonderful, I mean, like, we crate train Jeff right away. He now, like, sleeps with us every night.

But, like, the first month, like, we crate trained them. And so we heard that was helpful and we did that. It was pretty easy to do if you do it right away. And other than that, I don't have a lot of, like, helpful. information because I think I was just blessed with a really great dog who was just well behaved and nice and he likes to cuddle and he gets a little barky with like you know um nature like he seems to bark at nature um but he's a puppy so like all things being equal it's been really easy so I I hope and wish uh my experience with Jeff on anyone who gets a new dog so I hope that for you Ben. but you know i think i just got really lucky yeah yeah it's it's it's it's definitely risk but we went after the runt of the litter um because we thought the run wouldn't be you know we didn't want like this alpha dog that would bark and you know be crazy that's the run to the

litter too really okay and i think i like that personality we're excited jessica uh now for last uh well we we met this little puppy a week ago every night before she goes to bed She goes, I miss him. And I'm like, gosh, dang it. This is happening. This is definitely happening. Well, Nick, transition a little bit. Natalie is awesome in your life.

She is a delight as well. I've been able to meet her and we really enjoy her. Ashley was the first to tell me about her. And she was just telling me how great she was. How does that change your life? I'm less moody. That's good. Oh, he self-admits it.

That's amazing. Like, seriously, Nick is always in a good mood now. I wouldn't say always, but... Well, often. I think having to alley my life, you realize that I was probably slightly cravier with her than I am without, you know? Because it's a challenge. You know, I'm obviously on the wild followers are in life or ask Nick or questions Dick. I often strongly advocate for not being afraid of being single or embracing it, except.

etc, et cetera. But, you know, I was, I was single for a long time. And I think that's fine for people, I think, but I think over, after a while, you know, you can, you, you can get a little, uh, crabby. Yeah. Um, okay, so can you describe why she balances you perfectly, like why you guys are perfect compliments? Because I do believe you are. I don't think there's anything that's perfect. fine not perfect bad word choice um why you compliment each other i mean a lot of her strengths are some of my weaknesses and vice versa she's a very present person she's a generally very happy person i'm neither pleasant or generally happy um oh that's great um and so she really helps uh that with me i mean you'd have to ask her what i help her with but um as corny as it sounds i think we we spend a lot of time together i mean you know our relationship we met each other before the pandemic but our

relationship really started in a pandemic so um you know part of you know part of the pandemic you know you're kind of stuck with each other we don't get in each other's nerves but i think we also are okay with you know there's a yeah you're okay with like having our own time and free time but I think uh I think I you know there's high level stuff right there's like the important things and there's like there's the nice to haves but like also we have a lot of the nice to haves and what I mean by that is like as you know Ashley I'm a creature a habit especially when it comes to like food like I like my rotation and Nally and I have very

similar palettes and like neither of us are like oh i got to like eat this because you like this or vice versa and so we we that's a very nice to have you know what i'm saying like yeah there's some things that she loves that i don't like and vice versa but like that's like condiments we don't like we're not always on the same page condiments wise but that's fine but the like the and so like that's just a nice nice to have you know uh we like the same tv shows uh and and and and for the most part like we like 80% of the same TV shows there's a lot of stuff we you know and again you don't need that but it's a nice it's a nice to have and we so yeah it's just it's just it's fun and enjoyable to be around

and yeah she's just a she's a delight and she keeps me on my toes the uh a year ago i remember being incredibly impressed i think it started about a year ago but you do on sundays for a long time now, questions with Nick. And you get on Instagram and you answer, I mean, it's impressive how many questions you get weekly. And I think I first started picking up on this before I knew you were dating Natalie. Where did all the wisdom?

Because it is, I mean, and you don't have to admit it, but there's a lot of wisdom behind your answers and there's a lot of experience behind your answers. So two questions there. Where did that come from? And then how easy was it for you when you met Natalie? to transfer some of that wisdom into your relationship? Where did it come from?

I mean, it came from having friends like Ashley. You know, the asking the questions part and then you giving the answers part. Answering the questions. I'm an introspective person. I've always, like, I've always had that mindset. And I think, you know, a combination of my own trials and tribulations in my own personal life and then my need. to learn about my own choices to do things differently and then I've always enjoyed being the friend

you know what I've learned about myself what do we want to go down a rabbit hole or do we yeah yes I love rabbit holes how much time do you have all the time you have um I you know as a podcast host you know you're always trying to understand the relationship you have with your audience right and who am i to my audience you know and and in that kind of self-reflection i was this like you know i'm i'm i'm the brother or the friend that you i'm the friend that you need sometimes but not always the friend that you want and then it made me think about like my life and it was like this kind of it was this kind of self-awareness of acceptance that like the truth of it i didn't like love but then I learned to appreciate it.

And what I mean by that is I've never been a best man, ever. I've never been anyone's best man. However, I've stood up, and I don't know how many weddings. I've have, my friendships are truly important to me. I have a lot of strong, my friendships have always been important to me. And I have a lot of close friends. I've, you know, I've been the lecturer at weddings. I've been the usher at weddings, even people I, like,

became friends with like after they had got engaged with but i've never been someone's best man and that that i think that used to always bother me that i was never like the guy you know i was never the ride or die and then i thought to myself like well i wonder why that is and i feel like the best man is your guy your friend or whatever that you're just like no matter what you want to do or whatever stupid decision you have in mind they're like yeah I'm fucking down I'm let's do it you know and I'm kind of a Debbie Donna that way and I'm always like do you do you really want to like I'm you know I'm the friend you have around that's kind of like as a buzzkill once in a while when I'm just like offering that level

of objectivity that eventually you appreciate but in the moment you might just want me to shut the hell up you know and And I thought about this a while, and I realized that's just kind of who I've always been. And I've learned to- The accuracy of this is just incredible. Keep going. I've learned to, I accept that. I mean, sometimes I wish I could be a best man. And but I'm good enough to, like, I stand, I stood up in a lot of weddings because it's like, you know, I definitely, I definitely appreciate next friendship because, like, he's really been there for me. And, boy, he really helped out.

But, boy, I sure didn't want to hear what he had to say in that moment. and and that's why that's why tony's my best man because this this guy you know he makes me feel really good about myself in the moment but uh so yeah that's this it's just who i am i guess and uh for better or worse uh and sometimes for both uh but yeah it's been a lot of fun i mean the questions like on sundays has really been kind of the launching pad for everything i'm doing right now it's why it's sort of the vial files seamless plug i i have the questions with nick book coming out, I think, in October. Amazing.

That was, it's basically, it's loosely based off of, of questions. Questions of think it's, I think it's the first Bachelor nation book that has nothing to do with Bachelination. But hopefully people enjoy that. And it's a lot, again, a lot of, based off of, and to a very long-winded answer to your question, Ben, what do I do to apply to my, those stuff to my current relationship? Well, I try to be very careful not to try to too, too much in what I mean, but a lot of what I talk about on my show or questions of Nick or the book is it's a lot of things I try to incorporate to have got me to Natalie in the relationship. And it's a lot of being honest with yourself about your own choices.

Either the book is really just about how to get out of your own way and how to control your ego and how to be accountable for your choices and put yourself in the best possible situation because like dating is hard and relationships are hard and and disappointment is inevitable when it comes to to love and dating and we can't control all the other people we meet and all the other people we date that's hard enough and and if we can just try to to improve our own choices and how we handle disappointment we can put ourselves in best possible situations to be you know, ready and available and healthy emotionally when the right person comes along. So a lot of that is about, like, getting to that point so that when you meet someone like

a Natalie, you don't ruin it. You don't, it doesn't pass you by because in my relationship, I try to be very careful about, you know, like I have a partnership with Natalie. So she doesn't need me for, you know, like talking about the how-to is a relationship type of thing. And so in a relationship, I try to be mindful about, like, things I say to my audience. And then I'll ask myself in the moment, is this advice I would give someone, you know, in terms of how I'm responding? But it's easier to respond when you're not emotionally involved with someone, you know, than when you are so yeah i try i try not to bring too much of work so to speak into my relationship i certainly try to be self-aware and obviously in an empathetic and and treat it more

like a partnership rather than the friend who's giving advice i don't want to be that to natalie i do want to be the best man you know yeah nick um you said on instagram something about this being like the biggest year to come for you to are you thinking about engagement i know that i'm just trying to get the likes you know i know i know but also i think you take being with her for a long time very seriously uh i like i said i i will just i i certainly have big plans with natalie this year so i'm trying not to get too ahead of myself but uh if if if if if if if if if if But the rest of myself is, I can confidently say that if I'm, as I sit here now, if I end up spending the rest of my life with Natalie and have a family with her, I would consider myself to

be the luckiest guy in the world. That's great. So sweet. Okay. Well, we want to dive into some bachelor-related questions or I'm going to do so right after this break. Hi, my name is Enya Jumanzoor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom.

If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now.

Hey, sis, what if I could promise you you never had to listen to a condescending finance, bro, tell you how to manage your money again. Welcome to Brown Ambition. This is the hard part when you pay down those credit cards. If you haven't gotten to the bottom of why you were racking up credit or turning to credit cards, you may just recreate the same problem a year from now. When you do feel like you are bleeding from these high interest rates, I would start shopping for a debt consolidation loan, starting with your local credit union, shopping around online, looking for some online lenders because they tend to have fewer fees and be more affordable. Listen, I am not here to judge. It is so expensive in these streets. I 100% can see how in just a few months you can have this much credit card debt when it weighs on you. It's really easy to just like stick your head in the sand. It's nice and dark in the sand. Even if it's scary, it's not going to go away just because you're avoiding it.

And in fact, it may get even worse. For more judgment-free money advice, listen to Brown Ambition on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, 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. 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, 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 Deep 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 rates, men, and of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Michael Tura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hello, it's Honey German And my podcast Grasas Come Again is back This season we're going even deeper Into the world of music and entertainment With raw and honest conversations With some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities You didn't have to audition?

No, I didn't audition. I haven't audition in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators, and culture shifters sharing their real stories of failure and success.

You were destined to be a start. We talk all about what's viral and trending with a little bit of chisement, a lot of laughs, and those amazing Vibras you've come to expect. And, of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity, struggles, and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewash

because you have to do the code switching? I won't say whitewash because at the end of the day, you know, I'm me. But the whole pretending and code, you know, it takes a toll on you. Listen to the new season of Grasasas, again as part of my culture podcast network on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast all right nick i do have a question for you before we kick off uh the bachelor talk you uh you have been a bachelor so this is a little bit relevant uh this has been a big year for you too uh because uh you've gotten some some some tattoos and i recently got a tattoo myself i got my

wedding ring tattooed on my finger it's a big deal did you oh yeah it's a big deal wow oh wow good for you bet that's uh that's uh that's permanent it's permanent it's permanent buddy i'm in it i'm in it and i'm enjoying it but um it's only been six weeks but i'm really loving marriage it's really great for me yeah wow i mean how's the sex fantastic man it has it has changed our lives right three you see a little rest you know yeah yeah very at ease very relaxed very relaxed very I'm just chilling now. You're like more unwounded.

Yeah. It's weird. It's weird how that happens, right, Ash? Yeah. But you did get some tattoos. They look great. But they came, you know, I think your first one was probably this year, right? And you've continued, have you always wanted tattoos?

What was the final decision? Walk us through this process. Because, you know, I've been, I've been curious. Something that I've always thought about doing. but they are permanent and so before this year every time I kind of thought about

a tattoo I just you know I'm a I'm an all in kind of guy and so I don't like half-assing things and so you know for me I just didn't want to get like a tattoo and so I have a lot of I have a large family and so

I had this plan for a handful of years now I wanted to get a tattoo that represented and every member in my family and then other parts of my life. And so every tattoo I have tells a story about an individual in my life. Yeah. And so I can't. I think I have like 20 some now. Do you have a favorite?

Like, do you have one that like you look at and you're just really, really appreciative of? All of them. I mean, well, I mean, this isn't on video, is it? no we don't have video okay so that one on the one side this is the lake house which is a sad story because oh no i didn't get an update on that didn't get it no asshole i found it was on my long story short uh my grandfather built a lake house there no well my right my grandfather built a lake house in the 60s they sold it when my grandfather died when i was 10 like 31 years ago it was like my nirvana. I dreamt about this. I have recurring dreams about it. I have a tattoo of

that house because it's a place where if I think of heaven, that's what I think of. And they had to sell it because, you know, when my grandfather died, it's up north and central Wisconsin. And I found out, you know, it's probably the first year of my life that I'd even be in a position to afford like a second home or a lake house. And I found out a day after there was an accepted offer that I was up for sale and I wanted to buy it back and give it to my mom. And I tried to, I offered the buyer 20% of the purchase price to walk away and he did not take it. So my hope is that he will still eventually come around, but I was really hoping to give

my mom a house for Christmas. Yeah, that'd be a gift. Anyway, so then I have the house and then, you know, this line is my dad. It's a line for my dad, family crest, and this is a hummingbird, which is my mom, and the line's looking up to my mom. Hummingbird is my mom because on this lake house is where I first saw Hummingbird and these 11 stars with their kids and then on everything down here are all the children and then you know actually and then I really like my tattoo of

Jeff. Yeah you got a tattooed Jeff I love that well these are Jeff Jeff taught me the value of being unconditionally liked and for anyone if all the people go out there and they will talk about being unconditionally loved unconditionally love I think is not as good as being unconditionally liked liked. That's very interesting. I think I know where you're going with it. Go for it. Well, your mom unconditionally loves you. But your mom still thinks you're an asshole sometimes. You know, I'm sure I can sit down with your mom, and I bet I could get her to complain about you for an hour, Ashley. A thousand percent. Oh, yeah. But Jeff, he loves everything I do. He likes everything I do.

Everything I do is awesome. And it's the first thing I've met, a living thing. because people love me but people also have to tolerate me and Jeff likes everything I do and that's an amazing feeling yeah anyway there there is one thing that you cannot deny about Nick and that is that he's very self-aware and it's amazing and I love this and I could really

we could really talk to you for the whole hour but let's get into some Bachelor things you and I both texted back and forth a little bit about the oddness that was the Clayton as being the bachelor, you know, the choice, the choice to have Clayton be the bachelor. After watching episode one, how are you feeling? I feel good. And all you really needed, there was a specific scene in this episode that told you everything you need to know about Clayton and this season. And I just want to point out, as I point out in my, my podcast,

whatever you think about what makes a good or bad Bachelor or Bachelorette has nothing to do with people as human beings Clayton of the person I've never met I've heard nothing about the good things about him I've had I've had the edit tell us that this Bachelor

Bachelorette is a good person only to have producers be like they fucking suck you know a hundred percent agree with you yes but sounds like everything I heard about Clayton he's a genuinely nice guy all right i want to make that clear i haven't met him but the scene where sally previously engaged sally walks up that scene is all you need to know about this season the good news is is that

i think this season is going to be awesome it's going to be what it's going to be a hot stinky mess of drama and clayton is in no way emotionally ready to get engaged or married anytime soon he is emotionally probably immature and they love a bachelor who's emotionally immature and what i mean by that is like sally comes in she knocks on his door she's like clayton's nice to meet you can i tell you a story by the way i was supposed to get married yesterday yesterday it was my wedding day and i've been having these feelings about like you know oh shoot you know what you know what clayton says to her he's just like well i'm I know you're an amazing person, and he begs her to stay.

That is an insane response to someone who just sat you down and said, hey, listen, I'm a little broken inside, you know, and I don't know if I can be ready in eight weeks to get engaged to you, but apparently Clayton knows that she's a great person. And while that's a nice thing to say to someone and it sounds good, it's an insane response to someone who's clear like the only correct response be like hey listen thank you for being so vulnerable i can only imagine what that's like but it sounds like you're you're still healing and i really want to find love and this is such an insane response a sane world and the only

thing i know so far having even not started this i'm only i'm five hours away from sure of this is that i think everyone needs to kind of be emotionally healed so that you know we can put our best foot forward so fall in love in like eight or weeks or whatever it is but katelyn excuse me begs for begs for her to stay there's a nuts response so so that absolutely that absolutely tells me that this will be an awesome season and and i agree and i feel bad for clayton because they are going to walk circles run circles around clayton he is going to make choices based off of wanting to say and do the right thing and wanting to be the nice guy and he will focus on short-term niceness and gratification at the detriment to his like long-term happiness because that is

not a response you say to someone if your primary focus is to find healthy and happy love that possibly could last you the rest of your life it's going to be like peter webber season you know absolutely a train wreck for him very entertaining for us oh It's going to be so good. And I feel bad because, like, obviously, like, and again, I hope I get a chance to interview Clayton despite me, it seeming like I've been hard on him. I've been hard on the choice of Clayton, not Clayton, the person. And I think he's going to deserve a lot of hugs after this.

And he's probably a good guy. And it's probably why, and I think the way the producers are going to get us to care about Clayton's love story is to get a bunch of women to bring. break up with him. He's, he's, he was 0 for two before he got to his first row ceremony. Yeah. I got dumped twice. Yeah. That's, that hurts. You know, that wasn't an, that wasn't an accident. Like, you do that so you care. Because before we didn't care, we're like, why should we care about you? And now we're starting to care because everyone deserves love. And you're like, this guy got dumped twice before his first row ceremony. I suspect we're going to see a handful of, of, of of Clayton being broken up with

so that by the end of the season we're like, can this guy just fall in somebody? That's my guess. You know what I don't want though? I get frustrated because we went into this for a while with The Bachelor especially was the leads had a really hard time asking questions and following up and digging in a little bit

and sitting in like the messiness of it all. And as a result, it is entertaining but we end up not getting to know the cast at all like we end up at the end of the season being like I have no connection with any of them because there's never been a single question asked past

hey you're really great or in a lot of kisses and that's what I don't want to go back to because we've had it with a couple of bachelor at seasons where good questions have been asked we've gotten to know the cast we've enjoyed the cast and then they go on Paradise

and we root for them there or whatever I don't want us just to fall in this hey I was supposed to get married today oh but you're a great person let's kiss I don't like that in this show I get really tired of it yeah I mean I get what you're saying Ben and I agree with

your premise but overall I don't know I don't think you're thinking big picture I loved Michelle as a Bachelorette I love especially like Katie's season was toxic that's the only way to describe Katie's season everything about it was toxic it was also good TV but like by the

time Katie season was over like I was exhausted recapping it it was just like landmine after landmine triggering episode after triggering episode and having Michelle be the bachelor at was a breath of fresh air I mean having a lead that we often aren't a privilege to have someone like Michelle who emotionally very immature thoughtful clearly had lived some life and experience some ups and down so that every conversation Michelle had with her men like we could learn something from Michelle you know she would say things

and be like oh that's such an interesting way to look at it and that was really nice to have but the criticism of Michelle's season was and while I enjoyed it a lot of people found it to be a little boring by the end and you know not like a little nuts so listen I'm just it's good to mix it up

right I think you know we had a toxic season with Katie we had a very mature but like potentially slightly like too normal too boring so if we get just hot stinky mess with clayton it's fine it isn't a tv show you know we're watching after all if you want like good relationship advice listen to the vial files if you want like if you want toxic if you want uh toxic uh you know what not to do with love and dating watch the bachelor sometimes yeah Nick the ratings are obviously have been steadily going down with each season

it hasn't been since mine and Ben season have they uh it's been it's we'll hold on to that round was pretty high right hanas was really high relatively speaking but they they haven't gone up since been into myself let's go let's go let's go i got the medal behind me representing that golden era um do you and i say this because like jared and i are having a watch party down at Audrey's today. Congratulations, by the way. I can't wait to check it out. Well, we can't wait for you to come. You know, I've got to deliver the baby and then we can have all our friends come. Um, so I'm getting a lot of responses based on like us having a watch

party that people are like, oh, I don't watch anymore because Chris Harrison's not the host. How much do you think that that is affecting the ratings? None at all. But great, I mean, I want to answer your question. Then I want to ask you guys about Jesse Palmer. I think it's a combination of things. The ratings, I think it's disingenuous to compare, like, the ratings from mine and Ben's season to the ratings of today. Like, people are digesting media differently.

They're watching stuff on their phone. They're streaming it differently. So when you compare, like, the Nielsen ratings from, like, six years ago to now, it's, like, it's apples and oranges. So as much as, like, Ben and I might, like, jokingly brag about it, it's completely disingenuous. It's still winning Monday night. It's still very popular.

uh audiences have always come and go you know your legacy fans like that have been with us every season and by awesome you've bachelor nation like those are always been few and far between so you might be asking people that you're used to asking who might not still watch it but there's plenty of new fans you know what i'm saying so i think it's all relative like you know that being said i think there's probably like you know there's going to always be a little bit of like fatigue certainly with like you know I need to take a season off because like I don't know maybe so that maybe they took Michelle season off because like I wasn't used to watching the bachelor or bachelorette in the fall because I watched you know whatever and so

they didn't watch it I honestly think the franchise is doing just fine I think it's it's you just have to figure out how well you're comparing it um of course you're always going to have the I'm not watching because of Chris Harrison yeah I'm sure there'll be people like that More people will say that and still watch it. I think if you're that big of a fan of the Bachelor franchise that you were triggered, and I love, you know, as a person, Chris, I love him, you know, good guy. You know, he made a mistake, but like who is as a person. Like from the Chris I know, I think he's a good guy, right?

And so, but to be that offended that he, like, is not with the show that you can't watch it, I think you're such a fan that you would say that rather than not watch it. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's something to say, but I don't think you actually follow through. What did you guys think of Jesse Palmer? Because I think when you watch it, I'm, and for me, I want to know it because, like, I watched it. It's hard for me not to be biased, right? I think for people like me, you, Ben, Wells, Caitlin, Tasha, you know, who have hosted it.

And then you think, you think, could I do that, right? Could we do that, you know, you know, and when they were looking for a new, host you know you throw your hat in the ring so to speak they hire jesse palmer okay he's the former bachelor and then he comes out and it was just like i i i'm like i'm biased so i have an opinion but i don't know if it's fair because you know i'm sure ben you watch it the same way as me of like how would i what could i have done could i have done that you know sometimes you see someone doing something you go who that was really good you know like when kaitland hosted AFR. Oh, she did. Like, that was a moment. I don't know, like, because it's live, right? Like,

hosting a tell-all, whatever. Like, you can screw up 30 times. I like to believe I could do what Caitlin did at AFR. Do I believe I can do it? Sure, but I don't know. I haven't done it yet. I, you know, like, and she crushed it, right? So I can watch that and objectively go, damn, like Caitlin, she did a great job. It was live. There's no, there's no margin for error and she crushed it um i don't watch and you know so what'd you think then i'm gonna say what'd you think i want your honest opinion well i think you make i mean great points and i do want to reiterate like katelyn crushed it and and i i i am the same as you where i watch it and i go could i have done this can i do this and i i honestly sat and watched katelyn and i said i i i don't know like

she did great and that might be where i would have fallen short but maybe i wouldn't have like i maybe you could have done it well. I thought a few things stood out to me. One, Jesse was barely shown. I know he makes his big announcement. I know he comes out and says, hi, I'm your new host and I was a bachelor long ago and I've never been to this mansion and all that stuff. Either way, I'm married now. Yeah, I'm married. So just to be clear, like, this is not, you know, my dating contest. And then we didn't really see him. And in past seasons, like, Chris, especially during the first episode, he would disappear kind of as the season went on. He would really dig again to the conversations with The Bachelor.

He'd really set up the season for us. And I felt like, you know, this was, I don't even know if we needed a host during this episode. I don't know if at any point a host was necessary. You know, Jesse is talented. He's a professional. And I think they, I mean, I would have to think at this point they chose him if this is the role he's going to play with the limited amount of airtime he has

because they think he's a good face of the franchise. 100% But that's it But it's not that I mean you And I don't If you're only going to be shown For a few minutes

And you're going to read off a teleprompter And you're going to talk to Kate Clayton and say hey Are you excited? Are you ready? Can we do this? Here's the girls. A lot of people can do that job

And so I don't even know if I could fairly judge him as a host Because it's just like A lot of people can do that What he did last night Yeah, no I I completely agree To me it's just like

what they aired is I mean I guessed as much when I was like what role is Jesse Palmer to play and I kind of jokingly said he's going to be there to remind he's going to he's he Jesse Palmer is going to like for the people who can't count remind him how many roses are left like that's going to be his job and it seems like you're right

I think like that's and maybe he will grow into it it's disingenuous so he's like you're not alone I'll be there for you and I hope I'm wrong but I don't think there's going to be a moment where like Jesse Palmer was really like sitting down with them and offering like some insight and and like how to like process these emotions. I think they actively got away from the mentor role that was Caitlin and Tasha. Like I again, I thought Tasha and Clayton both did a great job.

I thought it was clunky to have two. You know, we didn't get to see Tasha AFR. But I think part of the reason why Caitlin shine too because it was just hard. her you know there definitely was like this like let's make sure everyone has a word has a word that was clunky so but it would have been nice to see like katelyn put her own spin on it or wells put his own spin or myself or you ben and it seemed like to me just like you said it was just like just go to your best version of chris harrison and go sit down yeah no that's how it felt i was like all right i mean all that being said i don't think you know kaitland tasha i don't

think it made like does you know it's not why we watched it's not you know if they if they casted any of us to host the bachelor it's not why they're watching you know what i'm saying they're watching for clayton in the love story so let's remember that like it's not about the host um but i think you know of course we're going to critique it when you have chris harrison be the host for so long and then your choice to replace him is is someone who was the bachelor but someone who really hasn't been a recent bachelor and it looked like they hire a football commentator to host the bachelor.

Yeah. They looked so similar next to each other too. I think you just made... He did fine, you know? It's like... It just seemed like... Yeah, it's like all right. Well, I mean, you just made, I think,

the one comment that I was interested in watching for. As somebody that, you know, obviously I would have loved to... I actually wanted the senior citizen show. I thought I... I just think that would be the most fun job ever, but... Oh, my God. God. Yeah. Wait, did Jesse get that, too?

I think it's unclear. I mean, they've been, they've been, what seems to be, for me, it seems clear that they are not, not committal. But I think they have every intention of just making Jesse the permanent host for all things bachelor-like. I would agree. But I think they are waiting because they don't need to, like, they don't need to commit to that now. So let's just have them host Clayton, see, like, what's up. them do the bare minimum and you know go from there but my and back to my point and and we can close this thought here is you said it jesse palmer did his best chris harrison impression and that's not like that's fine it works if if we believe the only way to host this show is how chris

harrison hosted it how he evolved as a host how the show evolved around him if the things he said were just spot on perfect and iconic and everlasting and if he should stand out on the wet pavement and welcome The Bachelor in and then say, here's your ladies and show up again with the last and final rows. If that is the best way to do this,

then Jesse did a great job. But I thought, hey, you're changing up the show a bit. You have a new, no matter if you like it or not, you have a new opportunity to change up how this show functions. And I really thought I was watching

Chris Harrison last night or like some guy trying to play him. And that's just weird to me. Yeah, that's why it was weird because that's exactly what it looked like. It looked awkward because it wasn't like, hey, this is a new person with a slightly new vibe. They're not the focal point of the show.

They're not the main character. They are the host. Let's remember that. But it was like Chris Harrison got kidnapped. And they found like his most suitable replacement and threw them in there. So I don't know. Listen, it's not going to affect the show whatsoever. I agree.

It is what it is. We're just a bunch of people they didn't pick who are probably just. salty and talking shit. But I know, but I don't even, like, I want to be clear. I like Jesse. He's a professional host. Like he, he's, of course. There's no, like, it's not like, he did very well.

And you didn't feel awkward watching him at all. No. He's an absolute pro. Yeah. He's, he's a very polished seasoned host. Yep. I agree. And I think to your point, Ben, this is a show about relationships and we're in

2022 now and relationships are becoming more involved. And we're having conversations about like what gas letting is and love bombing etc etc and accountability and emotional intelligence and it would be nice to have a host that either mentors or helps facilitate or drive those conversations and it doesn't seem like they have any intention of having their hosts a la jesse palmer do that well said hey can we pause here for one second take a break and we'll come back with the bachelor recap 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,

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No, I didn't audition. I haven't audition in, like, over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We've got some of the biggest actors, musicians, content creators, and culture shifters sharing their real stories of failure and success. You were destined to be a start.

We talk all about what's viral and trending with a little bit of chisement, a lot of laughs, and those amazing Vibras you've come to expect. And of course, we'll explore deeper topics dealing with identity, struggles, and all the issues affecting our Latin community. You feel like you get a little whitewash because you have to do the code switching? I won't say whitewash because at the end of the day, you know, I'm me. But the whole pretending and code, you know, it takes a toll on you. to the new season of Grasasas Come Again as part of My Cultura Podcast Network on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. All right. So let's just start with the women because, you know, we see the standard blah, blah, blah, I'm going home. I'm going to show my mom that I'm the bachelor and then I'm going to like talk about how I, all I want in life is to get married and have kids and all that.

and then we we get to the girls who stands out to you amongst the girls for me even before teddy got the first impression rose she was one that caught my eye so was the girl from like that was the former miss virginia USA who else i mean teddy i know you mentioned teddy and i know you said who else but like if the producers are doing their job and we know they're good at doing their job. Is there any way she doesn't go to the fantasy suite? Oh, no, she's absolutely doing the fantasy suite. This is what I have a theory on. I'm actually very, very interested in what you guys think. So once she talks about her virginity and the fact that she's like, you know, this is a decision that I made, but I'm not like super stuck to it. I won. She's you. She's you. Yes. I totally

related. And I, and then she said something about going into the fantasy suite and being totally cool. with going into it. My thought now is that that teaser that we see about him having to reveal that he's intimate with like all the women that he goes into the fantasy with, it just now it all makes sense as to why he would have to for some reason announce this.

100%. I mean, I mean, Teddy has got to be the winner or the next bad charrette. I don't see any other scenario. They're all both good, amazing stories. like the virgin goes in a virgin who's willing to have sex oh my god what a dream you had the chance but whatever you and christian vibe let me ask you this actually someone who like was was a virgin

because not because of a religion but because you wanted to have a special moment if you and crystal's vibe and i know this kind of a weird question because you're pregnant with jared's kid and etc but like mentally were you prepared to lose your virginity in the fantasy suite if you were falling in love I would have done stuff. I don't think I would have gone all the way when I knew that there were two other women involved. Okay, all right, fair enough. Yeah.

Well, the fact that Teddy seems to be, and, you know, we don't know that for sure, but seems to be, oh, my God. Like, like, Teddy, I don't know if she's going to win. She's cool, though. She's, like, way suave her than I was. Yeah, she seems very self-confir. confident, which is great and easy to talk to. Awesome. But yes, having a self-proclaimed virgin

lose her virginity on the bachelor and having the bachelor be like, yeah, yesterday also had sex with Janice or whatever. Like, oh my God, that's amazing. And if he doesn't pick her, what an amazing story for your next Bachelorette. Like, I lost my virginity on this show. only to have my heart broken. It's awesome. It's like you, that is such, I mean, like, you don't even need a good bachelor with a storyline like that.

And I don't know if Clayton's going to be a good bachelor. I mean, it depends on, like, I think Peter Weber was a good bachelor for the reasons we just talked about because Peter gave us great TV. Yeah. You know. Yeah.

He got, he got destroyed. That poor dude was just not ready for the... Clayton looks like he might get destroyed too down the road. Yeah, but you know what good. You know what's good for Peter? and I hope the same for Clayton is Peter doesn't give a fuck Yeah

You know like he is And I give that like Peter's like I'm good looking enough I'm six two I fly planes I'm good man Like I have

Like Peter knows how to appreciate The small things And he doesn't sweat Other small things Or maybe he appreciates the big things in life And I don't know But Peter's just fine And I hope the same for Clayton

Because you're right he he is going to be he's going to be put through it man yeah well i mean the one thing they have in common is they both love their moms so we'll see how much of a storyline it becomes of clayton's mom i uh you know i'm i'm with you both where teddy really stood out to me i hope that teddy walks out of this and the story isn't of her getting really hurt by clayton i hope she's the next bachelorette and the story is twisted and turned a little bit um because it just actually you could answer this to me it just seems like it would be so emotionally difficult for a virgin to also have that be the topic conversation amongst everybody for months that you're maybe the

bachelor at for months after the show from months during the show i don't know how a human who's not use of this world can walk out of that unscathed emotionally. I mean, I don't know. I'll say, I'll be super honest here. I think if it's not for religious reasons and she really did have feelings going into it, given the Bachelorette role is pretty good compensation. Fair enough. I mean, that makes sense.

Yeah, I mean, listen, we're all a little screwed up after going on the show. Like, it is what it is. And also, Teddy in her intro package was like, hey, producers, by the way, I'm about to give you a gift. I'm ready to have some sex. Yeah, yeah. You know, like, she was offering this up. Like, I don't, Teddy knows why she's there. She seems like an intelligent woman.

There's a lot of people out there that save it for a long time, then they end up regretting it, and they get over it, and I think that she's going to be fine. I think Teddy's well aware of the opportunity in front of her, and she, if, listen, she's a genius. Most of us lose our virginity on some, like, you know weird backseat of a car or for me it was like out in the woods on a hill full of mosquito bites it's awkward it's weird and teddy's about to leverage the first time she's had

sex on national television and and most likely leverage into like some sort of career i mean she clearly knows what she's doing you know what i'm saying like it was such a like very staged thing on her intracial package. She's no dummy. I bet she watches the show and I have no problem whatsoever. We're about so like watch what I'm assuming is very entertaining and yeah, they're going to use it against her for sure on some level, but they

will award her in spades going forward. So like she's going to be just five. She'll be a name we remember. I want to bring up a name here because we saw a little bit of her. I think she's going to become the villain of the season. That's my guest right now.

Her name is Chenet, I think, was was her name. Sheenay, even in her intro package, was hinting at the fact that, you know, we see it every season. Nobody's going to stop me. I'm going to go after this thing. I'm going to compete.

I'm going to win. And we see even a little sense when she walks into the house of the girl's already a little upset with her because of her entrance. What was her entrance? She drove over somebody's entrance. Oh, yeah.

They were being, that was so silly for them to be like, oh, how offensive. that she rolled over the toy. Yeah, so this brings me my question. You know, we see the drama already starting to get hinted at. It's great. We know this season's going to be full of drama

because this episode ends with one of the girls going, this is the most beautiful, supportive group I've ever been around and you're like, just wait. Like, this is going to twist and turn fast. Who do you believe is going to kind of come up from the ashes and really cause the drama this season? Do you get a hint? It's hard to say.

I mean, yeah, I mean, basically. off the super t's and the little entrances but i i always kind of reserved a right to you know let things play out they usually tend to surprise us you know they don't want to give everything away episode one i think it's easier to figure out who your final four is in the first two episode than is the villain um my guess is like listen if it's an entertaining season they'll have multiple villains you know i i think they're kind of past a day where they have this like you know the olivia from your season again not a reason civilian life where they like they really beat up on one person and call them their villain um i think you're going to have a

i think it's just going to be a bunch of women being catty and fighting and you'll have a handful of villains um you know like remember like on peter's season is a perfect example like we all thought hannah ann was going to be the villain yeah i know it's so silly you know and and for like three episodes and then like in life she's the sweetest and she was the last thing from a villain And she ended up winning, you know. You know, Chelsea, you know, again, like not a villain, but just dramatic, you know. So what I think is going to be more about just dramatic moments and women fighting more than like, you know, like Olivia from your season villain type of thing. Yeah.

That seems to be the pattern over the past couple seasons that it's kind of like a weekly villain versus a continuous villain. I like a lot more because you have more compelling. characters and it shows like you know we everyone there's everyone goes on the show can be a villain and a hero tyler cameron could have been an amazing villain you know what i'm saying like um it just it's as we're all humans are complicated humans with layers that we go on a show and they choose to oversimplify us ben higgins could have been a villain it wasn't harder with ben but it's possible you know like you know uh yeah it's just So I like this weekly version where they can show, you know, people, it's essentially people having good days and bad days.

And that's more interesting to watch for me. Now, if you had, I didn't answer the question because I thought watching this that like if we were going to have an ongoing villain, it was going to be Sally. So let's talk Sally for a second. Sally is the previously engaged girl who we touched on earlier in the episode. Think she'll be back? Yes, I think she'll be back. You do think she'll be back. I think she'll be back.

So last week, if you guys listened. Oh, you think she'll be back for Paradise. I think she's coming back this season. That's my... Oh, finish your thought, Ashley. Okay, okay. So last week I said on the podcast, I believe that this girl was engaged so recently as of the summer.

Like, I think she had a bachelorette party over the summer. And she keeps talking about, you know, being there. on the set now during the day of her wedding i and she said like i have been previously engaged or like she was very vague about the timeline right um i also know that the girls didn't know that clayton was the bachelor until like pretty much like everything was signed and they were like flying out so i feel like what if she really did dump her fiance for going on to the bachelor but then realized it was Clayton and was like, okay, maybe this isn't a reason. Maybe this isn't good enough for me to leave this guy at home. I'm also just like throwing things out there. My sister,

she's this guy, this girl, Sally is from Virginia. My sister is a hairdresser. She hears all the gossip. She knows one of her clients is no Sally. And apparently Sally is now back together with her fiance. Poor dude. I mean, yeah that that yeah so so what's up did did that it seems like she may have just showed up got cold feet about doing the bachelor thing realized that this isn't better than just being with the guy that she was with well yeah you bring up a lot of things uh let's unpack it um i didn't know that stuff right you know uh on face value i think the show did her they did her a solid because if you're her fiancé you can lie to yourself after watching this because you know she's like she needed to like she needed to meet Clayton and even though she called him hot she was like yeah no I'm good yeah like you know if Tyler Cameron was the bachelor I wonder if she would still be getting you know gotten back I don't know um uh you know so

like why did you need to meet him know she literally said i wanted to meet him and despite her being like you're so hot she was like yeah no i'm good i'm showing up to say goodbye like why are you saying goodbye to somebody that you never met just leave yeah well that was the producers being like you should meet it before you quit um is my guess yeah and and and of course it was such amazing it was like the best scene of this episode and it told us everything you know about this season um i mean yeah if that's all true it's certainly the timeline adds up to her i mean speaking like big picture like if if this was like someone calling it an ask nick episode she did not break up with him to go in the bachelor she

broke up with them because deep down she knows that this isn't her guy and the bachelor was an amazing opportunity and and what a great rebound to not getting married and i guess i i actually applaud Sally for regardless of whether she was into Clayton or not because like I mean let's be real here like um I like I loved who who's the girl who's the second girl who broke up with Clayton oh my God she was amazing that was amazing that was the best that was my favorite part of the episode she was hilariously real and every episode of The Bachelor oh Ben he's amazing oh Nick you're amazing 30 women to not show up in my season all think I was amazing you know what I'm saying like I would agree with that with myself yes and like like there's like at least one girl is like you know what

not my guy I'm good you know and and so I actually give Sally credit for you know whether she's in the clean or not she could have been like I'm going to get followers or whatever or just be on TV you know I don't know but like she you know if what you're saying is true i know and i want to reiterate it could be hearsay um you know you do open yourself up to this when you sign up for the show another question that i have is if you were going to get married in september when did you sign up for the show well she could have been scouted last second i mean uh uh ben ben uh ben uh ben from kail uh the other ben Zorn.

The guy was like casted a week before filming. Oh, really? Okay. Or something like that. Yeah. So it's possible. But listen, like life, life advice? Like, I don't, these two should not be dating anymore.

Yeah. That's what I would say. This is, move on. Move on. Like, you know, I'm not trying to blank point fingers or who's right or who's wrong, but you broke up for a reason. And good for you for realizing. I just don't like, how do you sell that?

I went on The Bachelor and it made me realize I needed to marry you. Like, I don't know, I don't, here's, here's what I'm saying. Either she broke up with him to go on The Bachelor, and that's just shallow and shit, only to realize, like, Clayton, TV, followers, whatever. So I'm going to go back to the guy that I initially broke up with, She was supposedly an orthopedic surgeon. Whatever. It doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with that.

But I'm saying like, or she broke up with them because their relationship, you know, because they, you know, they weren't compatible. You know what I'm saying? Like deep down, she was like orthopedic surgeon or not, not my guy. Yeah. And the Bachelor was the catalyst, you know. The Bachelor was like, you know, my first relationship I broke up with her finally after seven years are off and on because I met someone else and I needed I needed that push so to speak

and we've all been there so I hope it's the latter and not the former because that would be shitty of her that would be you know to break up with someone to go on a TV show break up with your engagement or cancel a wedding so I think it's a really bad look if they're back together but what I saw in TV I actually felt for her and I thought that was a genuine moment uh the ears of truth though we probably won't hear much about it from here on now. I don't think that, I mean, unless she shows back up, I think this is, it's come and gone, but it was a really interesting scene. And Nick, I like that you say, you know, it told us everything we need to know about this season and how Clayton was going

to handle situations. I watched Sally. I was, you know, a little, very judgmental before this episode, knowing she was on it being like, I know the backstory a little bit. I've read the articles. This is ridiculous. How in the world is this going to play out? What is she doing? And after watching her, I said, okay, I get it. Like, maybe not the best decision she's ever made. She might not be thrilled that she's on national television doing this, but I get it. Ended relationship, moved on, the bachelor's awaiting. And so, and then she decides she needs to leave that she can't even do it. I get it. Totally good. I want to bring up, before we let Nick go here, somebody did stand out to me that I think is going to be a frontrunner this season.

And I've actually put her up with the Teddy Camp on possibly the next. next Bachelorette. I don't think she got enough airtime, but I do believe we'll see more of her. It's Susie from Virginia Beach. Yep, that was my other standout. Yeah, I think she stood out. I thought she handled herself well, and it felt like we saw just enough of her to know that we need to start paying attention to her as the season goes on. Well, she seems like Kalin to me. I mean, first off, she is Miss Virginia. Kalin was from Virginia, was Miss. um north carolina u s a similar vibes um also a little hannah brown like it's kind of like two of them were to meet each other uh yeah i definitely see her getting far i will see

nick anything to know uh yeah i could see her she's got certainly has a bachelorette look for sure um seems like she's gonna be around for a while um yeah because she kind of has like a a legitimately unproblematic vibe to her. I'm also, I think Rachel, I think we'll see more of. I think she'll be involved. I can see her being top four.

Yeah. Sarah, based off the Super T's, which is risky to base anything off to Super T's. Seems like she, Calatant says I'm in love with her. Yeah. To her. I think there's a lot of editing in the Super T's.

I know there. Who is there at the end? Because I remember we talked about like does the bachelor spoil their own ending you know that was like one of our headlines a couple weeks ago now that i'm watching these i think that there is so much editing with that like final three of course of course i mean they make it seem like teddy's on the final three and again i know exactly the producers all deserve to be fired if she's not yeah and i again the only way she is not in is if she leaves on her own and if she leaves in her own she leaves in her own

There's nothing you can do about it. Okay, well, leaving on your own. Let's wrap up our recap with leaving on your own. Claire left on her own. He liked to do a little twist there and said, I sent her home. But she was not interested at all. And I'm pretty sure she would have not accepted his rose. I loved Claire.

I wish she was around a little bit longer. Me too, hilarious. If they could have just found out a way to keep this from Clayton, and we get to see this for two weeks, that she does stick around for whatever reason because she just wants to have a good time and she just totally disrupts the everything, it would have been amazing television.

But she was good television for one episode. And she was honest, and you saw it in that date. Like, I mean, Nick and Ashley, you both get this moment that they had, right? You are, it's night one or it's two weeks in, three weeks, and there's a lot of people to talk to. You're talking to somebody and somebody else comes up after spending, let's say, 10 minutes,

with that other person, which is a long time on night one to spend with one person. And somebody comes up and says, hey, can I interrupt you for a second? And you as the bachelor or you as a contestant? You want to say, yeah. Like, you can because I know how this works. Like, there's a rhythm. There's a flow. We got to keep going here.

And then you always have that one person that's like disappointed, mad at you for leaving, thinking it's personal. That's what happened in that moment. I felt for Clayton, but Clayton just needed to put it. I mean, Clayton just kind of like walked away. What he need to do is be like, hey, there's a lot of people to talk to you. I've enjoyed this date with you if he did. this has been fun for me

but I got to keep talking and he moves on instead he just kind of walks away leaving her sitting there eating a chicken wing no wonder she's a little pissed like no wonder she's like there's no connection here he just totally dropped me he wasn't into her

she wasn't into him and just a little side note Jill who is from Rhode Island and who I've met a couple times now she worded it to me when talking about the first episode without even seeing it that Claire left on her own

yeah yeah I mean I don't know Ben, I think you're being a little hard on Clayton in terms of, you remember, like, one's an absolute insane mess. There's a lot of, a lot of conversations in the moment where I wish I, like, would have said this or would have said that because I wanted to make sure, you know, I don't know, like, I think it's great that she did that.

I think I think to judge Clayton about how perfect response when you have 30 different people grabbing at you is kind of insane expectation. So to say that Clayton should have done something different, I think would be unfair to Clayton. But at the end of day, she, like, she wasn't vibing him. You know, it was not my guy. You know, she's just like, she's not into him. And instead of like sticking around and hoping to like be on TV, she just opted to leave.

So I applaud her for that. But I think it would be unfair to criticize anything Caitlin Clayton did in that moment, you know, given how insane one is. Night one's insane. But I do, I guess the way to look at that is they weren't into each other.

If he was really into her, he would have made sure she knew that before he left. Like that, that, sure. But he would. Can you imagine? Could you imagine?

I don't know. I probably would fall in love with her now that I'm thinking about it out loud. what was her what was her name serene was it serene yeah serene maybe potential villain by the way but also like stunning

and I'm really curious about learning more about her but like she goes up to Clayton she's like the night one tattletail she's like oh by the way this girl's like saying some things and I'm not sure you want to hear and he's like what and she's like that she hates you

that you're too nice that she only days bad boys well final girls to go home during this episode were Ivana, Jane, and Haley Haley was a surprise to me more than any of those others I thought she was going to be around a little bit longer I actually think on our previous episode that we broke down the cast I thought she'd be around a lot longer but those three go home and you know what we missed on this episode

maybe it's not a thing anymore. We missed the final exits outside when the sun is up and they're so tired and they're so angry and they just want to go home and eat. We don't have that anymore. And those are some of my favorite parts, but we didn't get to see it. You know what that means, Ben?

You know what that means? What? They already have too much goodness. Ah, there we go. You throw that in. You throw that in only when you don't have enough. There you go. I will say when it comes to first episodes,

I was intrigued. Ben and I are constantly after the first episode being like, always the same. It's so formulaic. There were nice little pops throughout this episode between the Sally thing and the Claire thing that really kept me engaged. Yeah, I completely agree. I would. I enjoyed it. I did for the first time in years. In years. I enjoyed night one. I am excited to watch this season. I'm excited to watch it for many reasons. I do think Clayton is probably a really nice guy. And I think it's going to be really hard for him. But I do think he's a nice guy. I think

that he was chosen because he's a nice guy. And after talking to you guys during this episode, I get why he was chosen because we needed some mess. It's, you know, Michelle was incredible, but she kept things under control. She kept people operating. She kept the thing going forward. And at times, maybe it did get a little boring because she was so great at it that everybody knew their role. They knew where they stood and the drama was limited. So this season, it's going to get messy. I have to say one thing. I saw this meme a couple days ago that was like Michelle and Nate got $200,000 for their down payment just because they followed the rules. Nick, any thoughts?

Yeah, I actually mentioned that on my recap today too, because actually we didn't talk about it on the finale. I think they, yeah, I don't think it's a coincidence. I don't think it's going to be the new norm. I honestly think it has everything to do with the fact that like Michelle, is the first lead in a long time where they truly believe that she like being the bachelor's wasn't like a new path for her it was a small detour in her life and she has every intention of sticking her out in Minnesota and staying in education and and not going on dancing with the stars or not being an influencer and I'm not sure I hope she does take

advantage of the platform and make a little coin on the side but I I think it has everything to do with you know because that's their dream like in a perfect world mike flies every lead would just like stay in their hometown and and and and fall in love and that person would move their hometown and buy a house and have babies and and like that hasn't happened in a long time and you know in the grand scheme of things i don't think 200 000 is a big deal to them and i don't think it's going to be the new norm but i think it has everything to do with michelle and the choices she's made and throughout her filming and more importantly, the choices she's made from filming on,

that they are rewarding her for not necessarily following all the rules, but for being the kind of Bachelorette post-filming that they've always wanted to have. Incredibly interesting theory, especially since they put it towards the home in Minnesota. Yeah, I bet there's a lot of stipulations about how it has, It can be spent and things like that, right? Not towards a home in L.A.

No. Correct. Good for them, though. Correct. Well, Nick, thanks for joining us today. You're always a delight. Always a pleasure. Wishing the best.

Thanks for your wisdom and your insight. I hope to talk to you again soon. And please go check out Nick on his podcast. Also, go check out Nick on Instagram all the time, but especially on Sundays. When you ask questions with Nick, Nick, thanks a lot, ma'am. Thanks for having me, guys. Always a delight. Bye, Nick.

So much fun. All right. Bye-bye. Hi, my name is Enya Eumanzor. 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. 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

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Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness, the way it has echoed and reverberated throughout your life, impacting your very legacy. Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the profound and powerful stories I'll be mining on our 12th season of Family Secrets. With over 37 million downloads, we continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. I can't wait to share 10 powerful new episodes with you, stories of tangled up identities, concealed truths, and the way in which

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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,

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Yes, this week has some headlines. And the first one, it's just a little interesting to get started. It's about Clayton. The Bachelor Clayton promises viewers will learn why he told multiple women he loves them. according to variety. Yes. So of course, this is something we've been talking about multiple times over the past couple weeks

since we've seen the super tease. And he says that you'll be hearing about this in interviews with Jesse Palmer. He says, just give me a shot, wait and see, and I promise you'll have answers that you're looking for. I was able to speak with some Bachelor alumni on my journey and they gave me great advice. I'm pretty sure he's referring to Jesse, but we'll see. Maybe there's more.

He said they gave me great advice because these people have been through it before. I'm really excited for everyone to see who those individuals were because their advice really helped shape the way that I did approach some scenarios. Okay. So basically he talked to people who said I love you to multiple people in the past perhaps

Michelle seemed to embrace the fact that she did that and doesn't regret it Maybe Could it have been Michelle Could have Could it have been you Ben Were you on this season

It didn't tell us Hey I'm always around I like to sneak around I'm there for it Well next headline is this This one's interesting to me Ashley Speaking of Michelle, the Bachelorette's Michelle Young and Nate reunite with her ex Joe Coleman, this according to E.

Joe Coleman. Oh, Joe, okay. So Joe was, of course, third place guy and they are from the same town, you know, the same city. And she said that she's run into Joe since the Bachelorette has ended. which is interesting because she supposedly had never, you know, ran into him previously because of the basketball community. But in this quote from E, she she is now running into him because of the basketball community. She goes, Joe and I didn't leave on any bad terms. He's a wonderful person.

He has a good head on his shoulders. And for that, he wished me and Nate well. Nate and Joe talk. Joe's a good friend. You make friends on the show. It's an interesting environment with ex-boyfriends, but Rodney is also a good friend. Joe's a good friend.

They're coming to visit in the near future. It's all love. I will say this. The picture was like a little bit like, you know, it got headlines. I think it speaks to the strength of Nate and Michelle's relationship more than anything. Oh, good, good point.

Yeah, I think if you can hang out with your ex or if you can hang out with somebody from the show so quickly after the show airing and everybody's good. I just think it shows that, hey, Joe knows what his place is at and it's not with Michelle. And Nate knows where his place is at. And that's with Michelle. Michelle knows where her place with Nate is. It just shows the strength of their relationship, which is something really incredible. That is really good because not many leads would be so comfortable hanging out with their second runner-up this soon after. And I said that it was because the basketball community brought them together.

I actually think that was unrelated. She did say that we come from the same basketball community, but that's not why they've seen each other since. And I also think, yes, it speaks to the lead, but I also think it speaks to Nate because just coming from experience, yeah, he's pretty secure in where they're at. And not a lot of contestants that were chosen would want to hang out with a top three person so quickly after the show.

And so, you know, big on them. Well, here's one that I want to start by reading this headline by saying, you know, we love this person dearly. And in some, you know, in July of this year, I had a similar season of life that was difficult and kind of confusing and you don't always know where it comes from and you work through it. And hopefully there is working. through it. But I want to say

that from both Ashley and myself and the almost famous family, we're really thinking about Demi. Demi wrote on her social media, and this is the headline, Demi Burnett is having an emotional breakdown every few hours. She says her ego

is livid, this according to us weekly. And before Ashley kind of explains what's going on, I do want to say, we're ruined for you, Demi. It sucks and it's hard, and there's not any platitudes I want to throw out here. that will make this better or feel better. There's nothing that anybody can really say.

We're thinking about you because this is really difficult. Yeah, it's really sad. And, you know, we totally, I mean, I don't want to say that I can relate, but like, I feel her. You know what I mean? So she says, this is going to be the hardest thing to ever post, and I'm so embarrassed, but I'm going to be real. Happy New Year.

This is me 24-7. I'm not doing anything to envy. I'm not happy. I'm not social. I'm constantly thinking and crying and trying to figure everything out. Countless hours of blaming myself for everything that's caused pain. I haven't had a sip of alcohol in five months. I'm talking to a psychiatrist on Monday. I'm having an emotional breakdown every few hours. I'm feeling pretty shitty and overwhelmed most of the time, but I know that I am growing, even if it hurts, it is worth it. so sad it is sad

my heart goes out to her it's it's it is sad but it's also very human and it's and I appreciate her being so open and real about it yeah many

I mean when I was going through it in July I've never felt so much support but I've also never um felt so numb to the support than when you're in that season you know no better

what somebody says no matter how many message you get the only thing that ever helped was when somebody would look across table from me and say I'm in it too or I've been there or me too

just to know that you're not alone in it is it felt like the most helpful thing and so I just want to say to anybody if you get a chance, reach out to Demi and let her know if you felt something similar if you've been through a season of this that she's not alone because she will get through this.

She's a strong girl. But Ashley, great episode, great first episode. I'm excited to watch next week. I'm actually excited to watch The Bachelor, which doesn't always happen for me. I'm pumped up And we'll see where it goes from here

But we'll be breaking down Clayton's second episode Of his season of The Bachelor Next week right here On the Almost Famous Podcast Until then, I've been Ben I've been Ashley. Hi

Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcasts on IHartRadio Or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor And I'm Drew Phillips And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie

and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you. But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God, perfect. And want to hear people with mental illness, psychobabble. Yes, yes. Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you.

Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. I always have to be so good no one could ignore me. Carve my path with data. and drive. But some people only see who I am on paper. The paper ceiling.

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The U.S. Open is here and on my podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain. I'm breaking down the players. predictions, the pressure, and of course, the honey deuses, the signature cocktail of the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open has gotten to be a very wonderfully experiential sporting event. To hear this and more, listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain, an IHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports Network. I was diagnosed with cancer on Friday and cancer free the next Friday. email, no radiation, none of that. On a recent episode of Culture Raises Us podcast, I sat down with Warren Campbell, Grammy-winning producer, pastor, and music executive to talk about the beats, the business, and the legacy behind some of the biggest names in gospel, R&B, and hip-hop. Professionally, I started at Death World Records. From Mary Mary to Jennifer Hudson, we get into the soul of the music and the purpose that drives it.

Listen to Culture Raises Us on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why are TSA rules so confusing? Got a hoot of you. I'm Mani. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called No Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do. Now, if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, lock him up. Listen to No Such Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. No such thing. This is an IHeart podcast. Thank you.