The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Dancing (Down the Aisle) with the Stars

Episode Date: February 3, 2026

Ashley is breaking down the latest Bachelor Nation headlines with special guest Jared Haibon!Sydney Gordon from Joey Graziadei’s season is engaged! But her fiancé gave her the “wrong ring”. And speaking of Joey, we’ll tell you how his Dancing with the Stars casemates will help out when he ties the knot with Kelsey Anderson.Plus, is Colton Underwood skipping the Traitors reunion?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Black history lives in our stories, our culture, and the conversations we still having today. This Black History Month, the podcast, I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. Digs into the moments, perspectives, and experiences that don't always make the textbook. Let me tell you about Garrett Morgan. Brough had to pretend he didn't even exist just to sell his own invention.

Listen to, I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or simply wherever you get your podcast. In the middle of the night, Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband, Mike, was on his laptop.

What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever. I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately, the mask came off. You're supposed to be safe. That's your home. That's your husband.

Listen to Betrayal Season 5 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Ryder Strong, and I have a new podcast called The Red Weather. In 1995, my neighbor and a trainer disappeared from a commune. It was nature and trees and praying and drugs. So no, I am not your guru. And back then, I lied to everybody. They have had this case for 30 years. I'm going back to my hometown to uncover the truth.

Listen to the red weather on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Nav Green, from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs of here. Guess what?

It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts with Nav Green on the Black and Fick podcast. Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The Chief. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the

Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. This is the Ben and Ashley I, almost famous podcast with Iheart Radio. Hello everyone. Welcome to this week's episode of Headlines. Today, as Ben is doing his favorite golf event of the year, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament in Orleans. I can't believe how much promotion I've seen of that.

I was going to say, Jared's here with me, and you see him promoted a lot? Yeah, I'm the... You feel left out? No, I'm the poor man's Ben Higgins, which I have no problem doing. Why are you the poor man's Ben Higgins? Well, he was third. I was fourth. He was the bachelor.

I was not. Yeah, but what about... If he's not on the podcast, I'm here. And he's far superior at golf than I am. Well, yeah, I know. So I don't know. would you qualify for playing in that celebrity tournament? Absolutely not.

Do you have to qualify as a celebrity? I have no idea. You probably have to be able to hit it on the fairway, and that's an issue for me. You are not bad. Yeah, but Ashley, what I do, I'll say this. I hit the ball well. I hit it solid. I mean, if I hit a drive, I can hit it 280, 300, but there are times.

It's going left and right real quick, and there are, there's no crowds where I play, and there are crowds there, and I'd be very nervous for them. Well, I have to say that if there's one thing that I don't pay attention to when Benick talks, it would be golf. And we're like, let's hurry it up, because I feel like most of the audience feels the same. But we are so happy that he is happy out on the golf course where Florida, they have, like, hit the 20 degrees. 20 degrees in Florida? Yes, it hit the 20 degree mark overnight in Florida the other day. Yeah, but it's so rare.

Yeah, and I'm sure it wasn't like even. if it was like 40 something during the day. Like that's a big difference than what. Jared and I are like seriously contemplating Florida as a place to live. All right. We're out of all over the place already. Do you know why? Do you know why we're contemplating it?

Because anybody in the Northeast right now is also contemplating it. Because it's for what feels like the 17th straight day, it's in single digits and freezing. Because this snow is going nowhere. Anyway, I don't know who's listening to this in Northeast. but if you're there, everybody's contemplating living in Florida at this point. Moving forward, here we go. Well, I have lots to say about that, but we won't get there.

All right, headline number one this week. Kelsey Anderson, this is fun, because Jared knows nothing going on a Bachelor Nation. Okay, he doesn't follow. You should see this man scrolling through his Instagram feed. It's as if he scrolls with absolutely not paying attention to anything where I'm like, sir, what are you searching for? I think he's searching for Patriots

and scream 7 or 8 you don't know what number scream is coming out Oh babe I do know I didn't I said of 7 Anywho Yeah I do a lot of respect follows

on Instagram of course Like if somebody's following me I'll follow them And I will You know try to double tap To like or view something But you know I mean a lot of times

As with people watching my content Probably 90% of the time they don't care. Moving forward. Okay, moving forward. We'll talk about Kelsey and Joey. So Kelsey shares the role that she would like Joey's

Dancing with the Stars, castmates to have in their wedding. Basically, she just wants them to teach her how to dance before she gets there and does their first dance. She says that he has been trying to teach her little things.

Like when they're cleaning the house, they'll have little dance breaks. That's so adorable. And so, young of them. And then he'll try to teach me and I'm like, wait, no, it's not that. Wait, what is this? That sounds like me dancing. Absolutely. So they're hoping to, you know, get her to be a better dancer before the wedding. And another thing that they, that she mentioned about their wedding is that they're going to have a band and a DJ, which Jared and I are very much fans of.

That is the way to go if you can manage it. Don't you agree? Yeah, of course. The band was great. for the first portion, and then when it really started turning into what we wanted was a party. Well, we didn't want a party. We wanted a romantic experience. Of course, but the last 40 minutes of the DJ was definitely the most party vibes there were. Which is why we went with a band early on because we wanted that experience, but then we also wanted our songs to play. And the band didn't know the songs. And the way that we knew the songs and the way that we knew the songs. Like we're playing new kids on the block. We want to hear Donnie.

If we're hearing Backstreet Boys or so on and so forth. imagine a band covering new kids on the block like block party? That'd be awesome. Would it be? Why not? I like the DJ version of that better. Well, anywho. I was going to say that with the DJ

make sure that you have them play the songs that you want them to play. Like, give them a list because you do not want wedding standards. Nothing will bring your wedding down more than uptown funk you up.

I was thinking the same thing. Like if the first song is Uptown, if I hear that boom, boom, I'm like, dude, I'm out. I'm out. I love and respect all of you guys and it's nothing personal. But it's just, you know,

we've got two kids at home. Man, kids change everything. We're out. Like, if we hear Uptown, we're like, this is our time to go. It was a great song when it came out, but then it got to be the most overplayed song of all time. And it's not just that song.

What's another one? Like, I don't, It was another one. Well, you've loved playing Mr. Brightside for your wedding guest at Audrey's. Of course. That's not, that's different. Ashley, it is by far the most popular song at every after-party we play that. Except for when you also play Celine Dion.

Even more popular because it's all coming back to me now is awesome. But the song is so long. There's only certain segments that people get really hype for. There were nights of in this pleasure. like that is the best. But Mr. Brightside, the entire song from beginning to end. Everybody knows every word. So basically, if you guys didn't know, Jared is kind of a wedding DJ

because he does the wedding after parties at Audries. I made a playlist on iPod. He made a playlist, but he knows exactly what turns the crowd up. Anyway, moving on to definitely something that we should be talking about together. Our friend Cindy Gordon reveals that she is engaged to Nathan, who, I mean, wow, they've been together for, it's not even seven months. We haven't met him. She was like, she was like, oh my God, you guys need to meet him?

He was like, you guys are being along with him so well. He's from South Africa and we're really, really happy for her. I haven't seen her in months since before she started dating this guy. And my makeup artist, she has seen her. And she said that, like, she's never seen someone like so Uli and I in love. Yeah, I mean, I'm happy for her. I'm very happy. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but, you know, I haven't, we haven't spoken to Sydney in a long time. I personally haven't. Not for like, not for any reason of like, just because like she's honestly been like in South Africa a ton this year. She's in South Africa now, which is, I hope she's happy. She seems. I can never go to her store in Newport because I have two kids now. So it's like, do I want to.

a pay a babysitter to go shop? No. I mean, I have no doubt that she's happy and I hope things are going well with her and the boyfriend, the fiancee, holy moly. But Cindy's a friend. You know, Sydney used to help out with social media at Audrey's and she used to help out a ton with our social media and she's always been a good friend and I really have always enjoyed our time with her. And so I wish her nothing but the best. I wish I had more to say about that. But it's just like it's like a whole different life. It really is.

Like I don't even feel like we know Sydney anymore. Well, not in a bad way. But just like, you know, I see on social media, I'm like, oh, she's dating guy from South Africa. She's moving to South Africa. She's opening a folk vintage store in South Africa. How did I not see this one? I think, right? My last text to her was, when are you back in America?

And she didn't respond yet. So anyway, she just talked about the ring. And she said they've obviously talked about engagement beforehand, and she wanted the ring to be perfect. So they went shopping for rings. Oh, she was like very, very aware that they were going to get engaged. And she also knew that he'd asked her parents for her handed marriage. She knew it was coming, just didn't know when. And then Nathan said that they were supposed to go on a little getaway weekend, but there was a delay.

The ring was supposed to arrive. And then the ring got delayed. so they postponed the whole weekend. And then it was supposed to come the Monday of the next week. So we planned on going the following weekend. And then two or three days before the supposed time it was supposed to come, a friend phones and says, Nathan, listen, we've got a problem.

My guy's flown in with the wrong ring. This is a yellow diamond ring and it's completely different. Yours is still overseas. So quickly he found a backup ring to propose with. That was very similar to Sydney's ring, but not actually the ring. itself and he did propose with the similar looking ring and he's like this isn't your ring

if this isn't it and the funny part is she said that like all the pictures that she's posted it's not even the actual ring but she said she can barely tell the difference so anyway again we are happy for them it's a that is a funny story do we care too much about rings I'm I mean I think that once you're married you don't care about the ring as much I think just as you get older I'm such a grump you are a grump you are You are 1,000% of grump, but I do think that we care about rings until we've been married. And then we're like, oh, it's not that big of a deal.

Well, the only reason I say that is because, of course, rings are important where the ring symbolizes. Well, yeah, the ring is important. But, like, the grander of the ring. Yeah, I think we talk so much about exactly how big a ring is or how many carrots it is. And I'm like, damn, man, now's I get older. And it's like, you know, we got a real. bills to pay. It's like you should probably just sell that

and make some money. Well, I still wear a ring, but you know. I know. Not yours. I'm not going to lie. I can't imagine we'd get much money for yours. Why? You think it's what do you think he's own? It's a Bachelor ring. No, I know, but doesn't resale for rings, not do all that well? Yeah, it doesn't do well for, yeah, no. It doesn't matter

like how much they are. They always go down. It's like a car. I was just going to say, I feel I view it as a car. I would never tell anybody to buy a brand new car. I'd say buy a used car. You got a brand new car. Ours is, the Yukon was new. I know. But now, if we were looking back on it, like, you know, like the truck that we bought.

I know. That had like not that. 15,000 miles, but it went down so much in value just because it wasn't brand new. I know. You're not the first person driving it. So with the ring, it's like, like if you buy a super expensive ring,

you're definitely not getting your money back if you ever need to sell it. Yeah, well, I want to be thinking about on housewives, like how all the women are like obsessed with having like the huge statement rings. That's what I mean. And I'm like, I am here with my, like, it's absolutely. not humble at all. No, it's beautiful.

It's a great ring. In comparison to theirs, and I'm like, I would, just because of the sentimentality value of it, and even just the fact that it sat on my hand now for seven years, that like it's part of me and I have, I don't want to, I don't want anything besides it. Because I even have that other lab grown diamond that we got through the partnership, which is sedunning, but every time it's on my hand, it just doesn't feel as right. And it's fun to go back and forth sometimes, but like this belongs on my finger. Welcome to the A building. I'm Hans Charles. I'm Inalek Lamoma. It's 1969. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had both been assassinated. And Black America was out

a breaking point. Writing and protests broke out on an unprecedented scale. In Atlanta, Georgia, at Martin's Almermata, Morehouse College, the students had their own protest. It featured two prominent figures in black history. Martin Luther King's senior and a young student, Samuel L. Jackson. To be in what we really thought was a revolution. I mean, people would die. 1968, the murder of Dr. King, which traumatized everyone. The FBI had a role in the murder of a Black Panther leader in Chicago.

This story is about protest. It echoes in today's world far more than it should, and it will blow your mind. Listen to the A building on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the middle of the night, Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband, Mike, was on his laptop. What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever. I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately, the mask.

came off. You're supposed to be safe. That's your home. That's your husband. To keep this secret for so many years, he's like a seasoned pro. This is a story

about the end of a marriage, but it's also the story of one woman who was done living in the dark. You're a dangerous person who prays unvulnerable and trusting people. Your creditor, Michael Levin Good. Listen to Betrayal Season 5 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is Ryder Strong, and I have a new podcast called The Red Weather. It was many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea. In 1995, my neighbor and a trainer disappeared from a commune. It was hard to wrap your head around. It was nature and trees and praying and drugs. So no, I am not your good. And back then, I lied to my parents. I lied to police.

I lied to everybody. There were years right in where I could not say your name. I've decided to go back to my hometown in Northern California, interview my friends, family, talk to police, journalists, whomever I can to try to find out what actually happened. Isn't it a little bit weird that they obsess over hippies in the woods and not the obvious boyfriend? They have had this case for 30 years.

I'll teach you sons of a bitch to come around here in my wife. Boom, boom. This is The Red Weather. Listen to the Red Weather on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This is your boy, Navring, from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs are here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcasts

with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. They're cheese. Oh, it's a rap. It's time to rebuild. Who's your MVP right now then? Drake May up there. Josh Allen up there still.

Oh, my boy, Matthew Stafford. Where to have Bull Knicks at? He ain't too far behind. He did all this talk about. What Matthew Stafford is doing statistically, bro, is crazy. Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan. But Matthew Stafford got better weapon. Caleb Williams.

Hey, he should be in that company. In what conversation? In what conversation? You should be in it. Listen to Broken Play with Navgreen from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. Well, this is such a weird rollover. Vanessa Grimaldi created a touching memento to honor her two pregnancy losses.

Did you know that she had two marriages? Yeah. Since having the baby Winston. Yeah. So. And it's just Winston, right? Yeah. That's tough.

So she did a video where she unboxed this pinky promise that she made to honor the two miscarriages. She decided to, oh, that's so sweet, to pick the birthstones that represent the months that she found out about each pregnancy. A garnet for January, 2024, and a diamond for April 2025. A pinky promise to keep my two babies close every day. She said, a pinky promise means forever.

For the longest time, I wasn't sure how to honor are these two losses and I wanted something I could wear every day and something that carried meaning. For me, it was never about remembering the loss, but remembering that I carried them, that they were and will always be a part of me honoring that day. I found out that I was pregnant like it was the most natural way to do it. Well, now it's so funny that we were talking about the meaning of rings. And then this one is absolutely incredibly meaningful. Yeah, of course. So. Yeah, I mean, as a parent of two, you know, I mean, it's just that's hard.

That's really hard if you want to keep trying. And, you know, we know we have friends that have had similar situations. And it's just there's really no words to put into perspective. It's hard. No. I'm so sorry. I mean, like, I know that it's happened. And I was like, but, you know.

Our heart's going out to Vanessa and her husband. So, wow, we're just like really, really weaving this all together right now. Haley Ferguson is expecting baby number two after ongoing fertility treatments. So she understands how fertility battles can go. She said our second little miracle. Throughout her journey to conceive both of her children, Haley has been candid about her fertility challenges. She opened up about the pregnancy loss,

canceled IVF cycles, and the emotional toll that trying to conceive has taken on her. And now she got to reveal this week that maybe number two is on the way. She said in the caption, somehow love always makes room. We can't wait to welcome our second miracle this summer. So sweet.

Well, congratulations to Haley. Emily has two boys and Haley has a girl. And I feel like this is going to be another girl. two boys and two girls. Well, also three boys and one girl will be also equally as amazing. Everything's amazing. So we're just happy for Haley. Very, very happy for them. Yeah, of course, that's super exciting to be congratulations. And her hockey player. Yeah, they both are married hockey players.

All righty. Well, congratulations. Also, I wanted to say something about the Vanessa thing, because I was thinking about loss of, you know, children. I was thinking about how that's what I want to be religious again because of that. want to go to church. Okay. I think I'm going to stay in my life where I want to believe. I am down for this. That there will never come a time. But you're not with our children.

Exactly. We'll never see them again. Yes, of course. So it's just like I never want to, I just don't want to believe that. Well, you also can, I mean, I'm happy and would love to go to church with you. Yeah. I just also know that you can believe that without going there every Sunday. Yeah, but it just seems like, again, it's like, again, it's like,

But I think that you need that to believe sometimes. Exactly. Because I am just more of an optimistic. You're not very pessimistic, but I'm just like, oh, I am certain. Like, we're good. And I feel like you need a little bit more of like a push. Exactly. Because I feel like if I'm just convincing myself to believe, then I'm like, this is ridiculous.

I'm such a, I'm a loser. Like there's. I got to share some stories with you. You've got to listen to some things. Yeah, maybe. about near-death experiences and such because they're incredible. Okay.

And our final headline of the week is Sean and Catherine Lowe celebrate 12th anniversary since their time on the show. They have welcomed, of course, their three children, Samuel, Isaiah, and Mia. And, oh, man, not in celebration directly with their 12th anniversary, but Sean posted the funniest Instagram

I'm real yesterday of Catherine in their pantry just looking like I do every day. You have to pull it up. It perfectly encapsulates 12 years of marriage. She's in the pantry just shoveling peanuts in her mouth as he looks

at her in pretend-a. My assumption is that. Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry, Jared. You must stick with me for one more headline. Well, anyway, congratulations, Sean, Catherine. 12 years. Of course. That's amazing. It feels like just yesterday I was watching their wedding

But it also feels like it's like a bit of neon I feel like they're just kind of Who else has been? They live down in history now So it feels like history Who else is a Married Bachelor? Well Jared how many

How about you? What do you mean? Like Tristan Ryan in 21 or 22 years Yeah Des and Chris have been married for about 10 years Molly and Jason Yeah lots of

double digits around here. Our final headline is from the sun and the sun is kind of a little bit of a tabloid so take it with a great assault. But I know that a lot of people aren't loving Colton on this season of Traders. I think he's start, I don't watch Traders. I do want to watch it though because this season has, I just feel like, well, it sounds juicy, but usually people think it's pretty juicy. And I just think that because it's a Bachelor and Housewives drama, I feel like I really do need to watch it because my worlds are colliding a little bit. Anyway, so Colton said that he considered skipping the reunion after an overwhelming wave of backlash tied to his villain edit

on the show. And that spilled over into the fan reaction and the cast itself. He said he was so, speculated that he was feeling so upset about the social media attacks from fans and his own castmates, particularly when Lisa Rana called him a stalker online, which we talked about in last week's headlines. He said, presumed that that was like the final straw. And he made it clear to producers that he would not show up to the season before reunion just to be attacked from all sides. And the same frustration also apparently explains why he was notably not present on the Watch What Happens Live episode this week, despite him actually being scheduled as a guest on the show.

This is following Bravo announcing that Colton would be on Tuesday show, but was replaced by his rival on Traders Michael Rappaport with no explanation from the networks. He supposedly told the producers that he wouldn't go to the reunion just to be attacked. The frustration led to him also not going on Watch What Happens Live, as they had to iron out how to address everything. And I'm just wondering how Peacock is feeling about having Cass Colton now that they have all this off line.

Well, isn't good for the show? I guess it's good for the show. They're like people talking about it. People are very divided. It's interesting how people are very divided on whether or not he should have been there. And I, well. Well, what he did to cast? he was pretty messed up.

But also people... I can see both sides, I suppose, but yeah, I also just feel like, what are you supposed to do? Like, never let him do anything in his life again? No, of course not. I disagree with that. Everybody deserves a second chance. Also, truthfully, I don't know the exact allegations against him. I know he was accused of stalking and putting a...

A tracker. He was like outside her window. Like was that? I mean, it was so long ago. But also, like, you know, I see both. Both sides is what I want to say. Yeah. I think that...

I'm not at all condoning what he did, but it's also like, do we never let anybody move... Can we never let anybody move on with their lives? No, of course not. I think they're saying that he doesn't deserve these, like, opportunities on a grand scale, which... I don't... I don't know. Listen, guys, if...

I think that if a show wants to cast somebody... And he... Yeah. I mean, unless it's, you know, somebody who's really uh he's not he's not o j an evil yeah somebody did something

horrible but maybe it did rise to that level i just i don't know the exact also look at the kind of platforms they like the media gave oj after all that like that man i don't know he was like always out and like he was always

yeah i feel like he was always i thought that was before i just think of him in the naked gun which was obviously previous to Yeah, no, I'm talking about like... If the glove doesn't fit, you must have quit. People were just, like, still fascinated by him. Well, of course, but we're just fascinated by true crime.

And that's just the society we're in, documentaries. Yeah. Anyhow. Anyway, I mean, just to play devil's advocate here, Taylor Frankie Paul was, you know, arrested for abusing her boyfriend. Physically? Yeah. Damn.

So if she's the best of... Bachelorette. We have to just, I don't know, kind of check ourselves. I don't know. Either way, I see both sides. I don't want to get in trouble here. No. All right. All right, guys, that's headlines. Thanks for joining us. Babe, thanks for pits filling in. Anytime. I'm in the next room. We're crazy rambled. We crazy rambled together. And until next time, I've been Ashley. I've been Jared. Bye. Follow the Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcasts on IHartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Black history lives in our stories, our culture, and the conversations we still having today. This Black History Month, the podcast I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. Digs into the moments, perspectives, and experiences that don't always make the textbook. Let me tell you about Garrett Morgan. Brough had to pretend he didn't even exist

just to sell his own invention. Listen to I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. From the Black Effect Podcast Network on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or simply wherever you get your podcast. In the middle of the night,

Saskia awoke in a haze. Her husband, Mike, was on his laptop. What was on his screen would change Saskia's life forever. I said, I need you to tell me exactly what you're doing. And immediately, the mask came off.

You're supposed to be safe. That's your home. That's your husband. Listen to Betrayal Season 5 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to, but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more.

What's up, man? This is your boy, Nalm Green, from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season, the playoffs of here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in

with Broken Play Podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. It's cheese. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app.

Apple Podcasts or whatever you get your podcast. This is Ryder Strong, and I have a new podcast called The Red Weather. In 1995, my neighbor and a trainer disappeared from a commune. It was nature and trees and praying and drugs. So no, I am not your... And back then, I lied to everybody.

They have had this case for 30 years. I'm going back to my hometown to uncover the truth. Listen to the red weather on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.