The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast - Haters Gonna Hate with Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley

Episode Date: July 26, 2025

The OG OC legends return, Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley, for a conversation that dives into karma, betrayal, and reconciliation. After 16 years together, does this couple feel vindicated after so many people said they'd never make it?Amy & TJ ask the question everyone wants to know - why haven't they gotten married after being engaged for 12 years?!Plus, find out why the word "divorce" is getting tossed around at night time in their house!Email us at: [e-mail] or call us at 844-4-I Do Pod (844-443-6763)Follow I Do, Part 2 on Instagram and TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone.

Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, it's Daniel Fischel. Writer Strong. And Will Ferdell from PodMeets World. We are back in Las Vegas and giving the people what they want, a full week of Y2K content. Tell me why. Well, for the Backstreet Boys residency at Sphere, of course.

We joke and say this is our second marriage, but it takes a lot of communication. Plus, it's carrot top, baby. And finally, Ashley Simpson-Ross joins us to talk about her upcoming sold-out Vegas residency. Listen to PodMeets World on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, my name is Enya Umanzor. And I'm Drew Phillips. And we run a podcast called Emergency Intercom. If you're a crime junkie and you love crimes, we're not the podcast for you.

But if you have unmedicated ADHD... Oh my God. 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. Hi, it's Honey German and I'm back with season two of my podcast.

Grazias, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah.

We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of cheesement and a whole lot of laughs. And, of course, the great bevras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dresses Come Again on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Everyone thinks they'd never join a cult.

But it happens all the time to people just like you. And people just like us. I'm Lola Blanc. And I'm Megan Elizabeth. We're the whole. host of Trust Me, a podcast about cults, manipulation, and the psychology of belief. Each week, we talk to fellow survivors, former believers, and experts to understand why people get pulled in and how they get out.

Trust me, new episodes every Wednesday on Exactly Right. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Hey there, folks, and welcome to I Do Part 2. And if you got lucky in love the first time around, this ain't the show for you. I'm T.J. Holmes, alongside my partner, Amy Robach, and Roebuck, it's difficult. Relationships, difficult enough. But you have to go through all that scrutiny and tabloids and constantly being scrutinized for your relationship. I can't imagine. What's that like?

What that is like. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I wouldn't. But our guest today, they've been dealing with it for a while, for years, for a decade-plus. Yeah, and they went away for a while, probably to lick their wounds and to just enjoy some peace and quiet. But guess what? Somehow, some way, they're back for more. And we need to ask them why, among many other questions we have for our next two guests.

But we are very excited to have from the Real Housewives of Our Real Housewives of U.S. O.C. Gretchen Rossi and Slade, Smiley, Slades, and O.G. on the O.C. And both of them are back for more. So welcome. How are y'all doing? Hi, guys. Nice to see you. Yeah, great to see. There's a lot there. She packed a lot into that. I know. I know. You guys ask the question, like, what are we thinking? And we're still asking ourselves the same thing. What are we thinking? So what answer have you come up with so far? Why would you put yourself back out there? Nope. There is absolutely no good answer whatsoever. Yeah. No excuse. You have to tell us, how did it come about? Did they approach you all? Conversations were happening. You got back in the friend group. How did it come about that you all, after 11 years, I think it was, being away from the show, end up back on it? You know, I feel like there's always been rumblings and talks and always kind of like checking in with us and see what our interest is. And for a long time, it was an absolute no, you know, like no interest. We definitely needed that.

break. We got scrutinized a lot. But then this round, they called and approached us. And when they called, I just said, I really, I actually said no. And then he's like, well, let's just think about it. How about don't say no. Just think about it. And then the executives are going to be in town. So just meet with the executives when they're in town. And I said, I'll think about it. So then he was texting saying, you know, they're coming in town. Can we schedule it? So finally I agreed to it. And then I honestly said no three times.

Like they kept making offers and I said no, no, no. And then finally, they ended up making an offer that we couldn't refuse and we felt good about. And that's why we decided to finally say yes. I mean, that's the honest truth. But there's more to it than that obviously. You know, she had an opportunity to go back and do Ultimate Girls trip. Yeah, that's where I did do that. So, you know, that was fine.

We were back working with them. There's other projects that we had in process with them. And so, you know, the original request to come back to Housewives full time is not just that simple, right? Because there's other things that are happening, other projects in development. So, you know, it wasn't because we just had no desire to be involved with Housewives, but it was because there were so many other things going on. So, you know, I think over the course of several months and in those negotiations, Gretchen was able to talk through everything.

and I said to her when she finally decided to go back that if there was a season to go back, this is probably the right season. She's got longstanding relationships with a lot of the women. Some of them are newer, but she's become close friends. And so there's a lot of authenticity there just with either whether it be history or with that new friendship.

And so this was the season, I think it made sense. Yeah. Well, there are also longstanding rivalries that are now back in play. And it's, I mean, we watch for the drama. And there's no short. of that. We've been catching up on this season already. So you made the decision. You said yes. You're back. Are you glad you made that decision now that you're in the thick of it? And we're

starting to watch these episodes start to showcase, well, I don't know. I mean, short of drama. I mean, there's so much drama. And there's so much surrounding you and Tamara. It gets worse. So, I mean, how does that feel to put yourself back in the boxing ring, so to speak, on public display? You know, I think for me, I've never been afraid to come on the show and share my life and share my truth and share who I am. I think what makes it really difficult is when people are willing to say and do anything and make up lies about you and your life. And sometimes, you know, that part of it is really difficult. And that part of it I absolutely hate.

And you know, you know how they say like in lawsuits? Anybody can file a lawsuit and say anything they want, you know, and then the world automatically believes it. And so that's the part of this narrative that's very difficult is when especially a, you know, nemesis of yours for so many years has proven to be that person where they love to make up lies and love to make up things about you. It just, that part of it's hard. And I really, really enjoyed the season so much.

had such a great relationship with so many of the girls on the show. As a matter of fact, it was the most fun I've had filming that I can remember. Like, I mean, I definitely had some fun times back when I was filming, but this was the first time being back with this group where it was a different group. It was a different dynamic. It wasn't a lot of the same old, like we had new, you know, stuff going on. Obviously, some of the past is going to get brought up because Tamara and I had a lot of stuff that we had to work through. But, um, well, you said something to me was very interesting. She's like, I may have disagreements with the other girls. And yes, there's conflicts and fights. But I feel like I'm fighting with my sister. Right? We can agree

to disagree and everyone can kind of move on. And there's no fracture in really the friendship or the relationship. It's just when people try to go too far. But for the most part, you know, you have being a witness of her coming back and having experienced what she did. I mean, I think for the most part, as you said, you had a really good time. I did. There was lots of Wow. Sorry, I just heard you say worked through. So you and Tamara work through some things in this season. It sounded like it was positive. Well, no, what I meant was there was a lot of things that we needed to work through, but somebody obviously doesn't want to go back and address a lot of those things in the past because my belief, in my opinion, it reminds people of who she is and

the things that she's done. The thing that I find ironic is, is she's done. The thing that I find ironic is She's running around telling the press and telling everyone, oh, Gretchen's stuck in the past. But yet she's literally going to therapy to discuss her past and the things that have caused trauma and pain to her. So why is it okay? Which is this excuse she uses for her behavior. Right. But why is it okay that she gets to go and address her past and go talk through that, but I'm not allowed to do that?

It feels very hypocritical to me. Okay. this doesn't feel to me at least guys manufactured we talk to a lot of reality TV folks over the years and sometimes they'll flat out tell us yeah we need a villain they had to have me back so it's almost manufactured and that's part of playing to the camera you two sound like this is real you too sound like you have some real issues and think she has some real issues is this really beyond repair you know i here here's the thing for me i always say it's never beyond repair, but I do think that in life there's a thing called accountability. And I think

that in order for things to be repaired, both parties have to be willing to take accountability for the pain and the hurt and the struggles that they have caused somebody. And it's not just like, yeah, yeah, okay, I'm sorry, let's move on because they just want to get done with it. It's like to really feel heard and to really feel, you know, recognized of the pain that you went through. It takes more than that. So that's what I was looking for from her. And did I ultimately get that? You're going to have to tune in and see.

All of the negativity and the comments and some of the things that have been written about you both in the press with this new season. At any point, has it affected your relationship? Has it seeped into your relationship with one another when you're being attacked like that? I wouldn't say, like, the thing that Slade and I always talk about is that there, there's definitely times where the noise is it's a struggle no matter what. And anyone that says it's not is probably lying to you. It's always going to affect you because, you know, nobody wants to hear something negative about your relationship. If anybody knows, you two know that, right? It's like it's difficult, especially when your heart is with that person and you love

that person. Hearing that negative feedback is very hard. But at the end of the day, the thing about Slade and I is that we are so, we have such a strong foundation and we love each other so much that there's nothing out there that's going to be said that will break us because it's the noise. It's their opinion. It's not what him and I know about each other and what we love about each other. And so when we always come back to that foundation and we remember why we love each other not because of what everyone else is telling us, I feel like that's what's kept us together for 16 years. Yeah.

And so you're, it's not that we don't have conflict or it's not that we don't fight because we do, but that conflict almost always stems from an outside source. And it may be the fact that I'm super affected by something that was said about me and I'm angry about it. And she wants me to shut up and it reminds me why maybe making that common isn't the best decision for you. So it's really, it's conflict in that way where we try to just bring each other back. to center and just remind ourselves of the space we're in. We know the truth. But that's really

what it is because we do. And I get upset too because I see her being affected by something someone has said, right? And it upsets her and she's sad and she's angry about it. And that makes me mad, someone attacking my spouse. So, you know, it's almost always, I can say this truly, almost always. major conflict in our relationship has come from outside sources or outside circumstances. Any conflict that we've ever had in our relationship internally, and I give her mad props for this, is that we can have an agreement, we can either resolve or agree to disagree, but when it's solved, it's solved. She has never once in 16 years gone, you remember that time or you said that?

Nothing ever comes back in the past. When it is done, it is done. We're smiling and we're going to lunch 15 minutes later. My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Oh, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot.

He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor and they're the same age. And it's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them.

I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not? To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hello, it's Daniel Fischel. Rider Strong. And Wilfredel from PodMeets World. And we're bringing you Viva Las Content.

That's right. We are back in Las Vegas, the city of sin, and giving the people what they want. A full week of Y2K content. Wait, we're back in Vegas? Tell me why. Well, for the Backstreet Boys residency at Sphere, of course. We sat down with Kevin Richardson and A.J. McLean just minutes before they took the stage

and our very own Wilfredel basically became the newest. member of the band. Boy band, please. Plus, the man who has the longest running comedy show on the strip joins us and gets his props. It's carrot top, baby. And finally, we all L-O-V-E-Her. Ashley Simpson-Ross joins us to talk about her upcoming sold-out Vegas residency. It's a full week of nostalgic interviews you don't want to miss. Listen to PodMeets World on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. December 29th, 1975, LaGuardia Airport.

The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m., everything changed. There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently, the explosion actually impelled metal glass. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic. chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay. Terrorism.

Law and Order Criminal Justice System is back. In season two, we're turning our focus to a threat that hides in plain sight. That's harder to predict and even harder to stop. Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A foot washed up a shoe with some bones in it. They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable. These are the coldest of cold cases, but everything is about to change.

Every case that is a cold case that has DNA. Right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA. Using new scientific tools, they're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it. He never thought he was going to get caught, and I just looked at my computer screen. I was just like, ah, gotcha. On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors, and you'll meet the team behind the scenes at Othrum,

the Houston Lab that takes on the most hopeless cases, to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the IHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 family secrets almost always need to be told. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the IHeart Radio,

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, what was your last fight? You guys remember what was the last thing you two fought about? Ice cream. It was ice cream, wasn't it? It was nice. Because you said I ate the last drumstick. Yes, I was very upset that he ate the last drumstick.

I think it was that, yeah. I just wanted the whole box. I wanted one drumstick, and I couldn't even get one drumstick. Our biggest fights have been I spilled orange juice. used on a new purse. Yeah. Right? The brand new movie it's on that.

Yeah, she's almost divorcing over that. Yeah. Yeah. It's, you know, we have silly fights. Yeah, is that a good sign? Every relationship, everybody in your relationship, I would love to answer that question. Is it a good sign that you fight over petty stuff? Or is it a bad sign that you fight over small stuff?

Like, it doesn't mean you don't have big stuff to fight about? Well, you know, I mean, listen. Again, there's always, there's always, in life, there's always. big stuff, but I guess to us, like, like, it's never been so big that it has caused a wedge in our relationship or a fracture in the relationship. So I guess to us, it doesn't feel like it was that big because it's never really led to something, you know, more intense between us. But let me, let me tell you one thing that my, my lovely wife did, two things. The first was, she has a degree in psychology. She failed to disclose that when we first started dating.

there's non-disclosure she's smarter than me and she knows what's up she catches everything the other thing she forced me to do and you can relate to this is that when when men typically get upset about something of this conflict what do we do we shut down we want to marinate i want to think about it right she has been adamant in our relationship that she makes me discuss things now and it drives me nuts let me tell you what i've learned let this is for your audience here's what i learned and this is the best analogy ever, is that when you get a splinter, it's best to pull out the splinter. And you find it wasn't that bad.

When you don't pull it out, that splinter gets infected, right? And that infection can get very serious to the point where you end up in the hospital. And what do you do? They want to amputate. They want to end the relationship. Thank you. Thank you for saying this, because we have the same issue. But I just embraced.

And how much better has it been? It has been a thousand times better because. at the end of the day, the conflict comes typically from a misunderstanding, and it was never as bad as I thought it was. The problem is that when I go off and marinate, right? And I start spinning about things that are really starting to say something I regret. I'm just like, I am so guilty of this. It's a male characteristic. I'm telling you. And you get into your head and you create this narrative and then your enemies and all these things just build up. You say things you didn't want to say it's almost like when you've been wronged in some capacity and you want to

send that skating email you want to fire back and then they go just sit on it a day just wait a second think through it then and like you know yeah be more intentful in your response to things so this guy he's like why do we choose these two to see i'm still back on your splinter right because i need to go i need to examine the splinter and see how severe it is and do i need to get tweezers to pull it out? Can I just pull it out with my hand? Is it that bad? How deep? You know, I want to look at this for a little while, guys, and not just

that's hilarious. It's always just a pair of tweezers, dude. It's just a pair of tweezers. It's just a pair of tweezers. You don't get it with the tweez to begin with. Slade, I heard you refer to Gretchen as your lovely wife. On more than one occasion

today, this moment. And I will say, I love the montage that they did. I think it was episode one. this season where all the people, all the doubters who thought y'all were just putting on a spectacle and putting on a show and playing to the cameras with your engagement. They all thought you were doomed and full of it. Well, it was like three or four of them, all, they just kind of show the divorces that have all happened from all of those women who were doubting you and doubting the reality of your relationship. So you haven't officially or technically gotten married, but you've

been together and we're watching you two now, 16 years into it. It's very impressive. Why haven't you gotten married? Gosh, how do we answer that? I know. It's a little complicated. Well, it is, it is, and it isn't. There was definitely the intent. We even had a date on calendar originally engagement.

And I think we even announced that date on an episode of Watch What Happens Live. But it turned out that that date, A, ended up falling on a holiday that was in conflict with some family members. And then I ended up booking a miniseries with History Channel. And so I spent almost a month in Durango, Mexico filming on that project. So we really postponed. And then when we came back, we had conversations around also wanting to start a family and have a baby. And we kind of went, well, do we spend the money on IVF?

Do we spend it on a big wedding? And we went, you know what? Time is of the essence. You are geriatric, if I say. Yeah, you told me Jerry. To have a baby. Time for her age. So we just thought we'd put the resources and having Skylar,

And that has been the biggest blessing in our life, right? Yeah. And it was, and, you know, after I had the baby, I had a lot of postpartum depression. I was what I felt overweight still. And so it wasn't until like just this year that him and I started talking about again. We're like, okay, I feel like now it would be a good time to like go finally get married. But here's the thing. We call each other husband and wife because we have been together for 16 years.

We have a daughter together. Everyone views us as if we are married. because we live our lives as if we're married. So for us, it's not, we don't even think of it that we're not married. We are. You know what I mean? In Texas, we would be. Right?

Technically. Common law. Cala law. What about is not from a law state? But yeah, at half the country, I think we are. Does Skyler, does it ever come up with her? Does she care one way or another? Think about it, talk about it.

Or y'all, mommy and daddy, y'all are married in the house anyway. Yeah. Does not care. Yeah. Doesn't care. She'd be thrilled to walk down the aisle and toss some. flowers and be the flower girl. She thinks they're awesome. Yeah. Is there any part of you that is concerned that if you actually did get married, it would somehow change the relationship?

At this point, no. No. No. I think the thing about our relationship is we've really been through so much. And again, this is something you can relate to. I think that when people first start to date. It's easy to go to dinner, go to the movies, hang out, and have all the fun stuff happen. But it's not until those challenges come along or difficulties, whether it be someone becoming ill, loss of work, financial struggles, whatever, that you start to see the true characteristics of a person present themselves. Because I think everyone kind of leads with their best foot forward. They're not always being super authentic in the beginning of the relationship, right? Because everyone's protecting themselves. For us, A, we had a 10-year history as friends. We knew

each other for a very long time. We're at 26 years now that we've known each other. They love each other. Yeah. I mean, I literally used to send my girlfriends to stay at her house. We were just, we've been really, really good friends. And when that friendship evolved into a relationship, we were easy. Well, it was easy on us, but the external circumstances of loved ones being ill, public scrutiny, all of these things happened so quickly at the beginning of our relationship. And what I admire most about Gretchen is that she doesn't run from adversity.

She runs at it. She's that person that stands by your side, no matter what, thick or thin, like she is just there. And when you experience that from your partner in the best of times and the worst of times, you know that I have my forever after. And we went through so much. And that's why we say now, bring it on. There isn't anything that is going to separate us.

There just isn't. We've been through too much together. Yeah. I love that. I just, you know, yes, and we were nodding our heads and smiling because, yeah, we were friends for eight years and talked about relationships with each other and all of that, like, without any design for romance in any way. So we get that. But when you know someone like that, you're not putting your best date foot forward. You're not, you're not hiding your crazy because you're just friends and you're not. Exactly. Yeah, you're not trying to somehow get them to like you or be attracted to you. You're just actually being real. So that's. a cool thing. And we've now said, building a relationship from friendship is amazing. It's the secret sauce to actually getting through those tough times. Yeah. I would agree. And it makes the most sense now. And we were giggling. Was it this morning?

We were playing with Sky upstairs. And she just kind of laid down. She goes, you're my best friend. I was like, yeah. It is. Legitimately are best friends. We've been best friends for 16 years. I have so many people that ask me that. And you know, here's the thing that's so interesting. You talk about that scene about the karma thing or whatever. And when I said, you know, karma's a bitch, whatever. I think what's so interesting about it is there's something to be said that you are together because you want to be together, not because you have to be together.

And I say that because, you know, some people that stay in marriages are miserably unhappy. And they feel like they have to stay because of the financial situation or this or that or whatever. So to me, our relationship. And being together 16 years because we choose to be is sometimes even a lot louder statement than all these people are like, we're married and then they're secretly going, but I'm miserable. You know what I mean? So we're nice to have a very, you know, your best friend where you wake up excited. And I choose every day to be with this man and him with me. And that is a great feeling. Now what she did do, which was quite creative, I do believe I had to. sign a long-term lease? Yes, I did do that. And in that lease, if you don't, if you don't keep up the vehicle, if you don't maintain yourself, she could train me in for another model should she choose at the end of that lease. So, yeah, that was from way back housewives day. And I said, I said, I think everybody should be on a lease because then that way people will keep up with like making

themselves dating people and like really like treating people. Well, I think sometimes you get in this marriage and everything just comes complacent. It's like, because you get lazy, but if you're under a lease, if you're under a lease and I can trade you in for your mom, you might not act up as much. I have had that advice given to me several times in my life about lease and then you have an option to buy at the end of that lease is how they said it to me. I'm pretty sure I came home and it was like a modified automotive lease. 26 pages that were in there. She wanted to kick the tires. It was all kinds of stuff.

My boyfriend's professor is way too friendly, and now I'm seriously suspicious. Oh, wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend has been hanging out with his young professor a lot. He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now, he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Now, hold up.

Isn't that against school policy? That sounds totally inappropriate. Well, according to this person, this is her boyfriend's former professor, and they're the same age. It's even more likely that they're cheating. He insists there's nothing between them. I mean, do you believe him? Well, he's certainly trying to get this person to believe him because he now wants them both to meet. So, do we find out if this person's boyfriend really cheated with his professor or not?

To hear the explosive finale, listen to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hello, it's Daniel Official. Writer Strong. And Will Ferdell from PodMeets World. And we're bringing you Viva Las Content. That's right. We are back in Las Vegas, the city of sin, and giving the people what they want.

A full week of Y2K content. Wait, we're back in Vegas? Tell me why. Well, for the Backstreet Boys residency at Sphere, of course. We sat down with Kevin Richardson and A.J. McLean just minutes before they took the stage, and our very own Wilfredel basically became the newest member of the band. Boy band, please. Plus, the man who has the longest running comedy show on the strip joins us and gets his props.

It's carrot top, baby. And finally, we all L-O-V-E-Hur, Ashley Simpson-Ross, joins us to talk about her upcoming sold-out Vegas residency. It's a full week of nostalgic interviews you don't want to miss. Listen to PodMeets World on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. December 29th. 1975, LaGuardia Airport. The holiday rush, parents hauling luggage, kids gripping their new Christmas toys. Then, at 6.33 p.m., everything changed.

There's been a bombing at the TWA terminal. Apparently, the explosion actually impelled metal glass. The injured were being loaded into ambulances, just a chaotic, chaotic scene. In its wake, a new kind of enemy emerged, and it was here to stay. Terrorism. Law and Order Criminal Justice System is back. In Season 2, we're turning our focus to a threat that hides in plain sight. That's harder to predict and even harder to stop.

Listen to the new season of Law and Order Criminal Justice System on the IHeart Radio 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. 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 div of the people. The diva of the people. I'm just like text your ex.

My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. Okay. That's us. That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heart breaks, men, and of course, our favorite secrets.

Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club as a part of the Michael Thura podcast network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts. 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 aim to provide a shock of prison life, emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs. Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six months. The first night was so overwhelming and you don't know who's next to you. And we didn't know what to expect in the morning. Nobody tells you anything. Listen to shock incarceration on the I-Hy-Hawks.

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We want to ask you all about a few, I guess, relationship trends these days and get your thoughts on it. One has to do with something you all already did, the woman proposing, and then a couple of things. Couples in separate bedrooms, separate bathrooms, separate homes even. Let's go to the engagement thing first. Okay.

And we'll do the others. Take them one at a time. What do you all think it worked for you all? but generally speaking the idea of a woman proposing to a man is that not for everybody well this is all you yeah no i definitely think it's not for everybody i think our circumstance was very different slade had you know wanted to propose he was planned on proposing several times and i had my own hangups and issues from my first marriage and so i feel like when i finally decided to do it it was my way of saying to him has nothing to do with you. It was me. I was just in my own head. And I wanted just to show him how

much I loved him and how much I was willing to take that next step. So our situation is very different than the traditional, you know, dating, fall in love. And then typically the man asked the woman, which I still think is such a beautiful thing. Tradition. But I also think that it also empowers women to let them know that like it doesn't always have to be what tradition is. It doesn't for it to work or for it to be perfect. And the example, is how long we've been together and not married. It's like, or legally married, I should say. You know, it's like you don't have to do it the way everybody else is doing it for it to work.

You have to do what's right for you and what's in your heart. Sure. And Gretchen's a very modern housewife. And I think that for us, the, I think was it twice, twice or three times that I was preparing proposals. I don't remember. And you kind of found out and kind of pooed. But for us, Gretchen's no was not necessarily no.

It was just not now. Yeah. And maybe that's the difference. I think some men go to propose. She says no, they feel rejected. Relationship falls apart. And I just knew with her, it was not now. Yeah.

You know? That's very cool. That's very cool. What about separate bedrooms or even separate beds? What do you all think about that? So we're going through a sleep divorce right now. Oh. We're a couple different reasons.

Yes. Yes, but this guy decided, well, we shouldn't talk about the bed, but he decided to get a bed that I just don't like and I'm very uncomfortable in. And then he got uncomfortable in it too. But he snores so bad that finally I kicked him out of the bed. And so he has to sleep on the couch now, this poor guy. And I feel like you have to go get like one of those machines that you put on your face. Yes. No, I don't. He helps to. It's so bad, you guys. We have tried everything. I have to kick him a hundred. You know all those memes on Instagram. where it's like, how do you sleep last night, honey? And it's like the seal going, you know, like the whole thing is torture. So right now we're in a sleep divorce. I sleep upstairs and he sleeps on the couch. Partly because I'm getting up early and was wanting to go work out. Oh, let's go with that. And he didn't want to be woke up.

Okay. Guys, that cannot be sustainable. How long has it been going on and what is going to be the solution? Okay, so it's been at least six seven months. I actually get really sad at night. Yeah, I was like, do you miss him? I miss him. And we are the type of people where we go to bed, like touching something.

Like, our feet are touching, our hands are folding. We're cuddled, something. And so, like, I absolutely hate it. But I really hate more that right as I start to doze off, like, right there, he's just like, starts snoring. I'm like, I'm going to kill him. I'm literally going to kill him. So I'm like, I just, we just going to do it.

But so we have two solutions. We're going to get a new mattress, which is. is going to hopefully help. And then I'm going to send them. You're going to the sleep place thing. You know what? You want to send me to a sleep institute? I'll stay there for a week.

That place. I would love that. They actually say it's really bad for your health when you're snoring because sometimes it cuts off your air. Sleep apnea, yeah. Like oxygen to your brain. This is for your help. Because I'm blocking. Listen here, Sally.

It's not affecting my brain. I'm fine. How about separate bathrooms? I'm not weird about that. I know people are weird about that. I mean, listen, if I was like, you know, Uber, Uber rich and we could build a house that had two separate toilets or bathrooms or whatever, cool.

But like, I'm not weird about it. Yeah, we pretty much use every bathroom in the house, right? And then there are the people who actually live apart and say this makes their marriage last forever. What do you think about that? I saw a girl on Instagram just talk about her husband, like, lives next door. And she was like, I love it because I get my quiet time. I get this.

And I'm like, absolutely not. We would never be able to do that. We're very codependent. Like, he goes to the grocery store and I'm texting him. I miss him. I'm like, we've been talking about it. Like, I'm in you. Look at these.

It's the same thing. We feel better. We feel seen now. Okay. It's not just us. We're absolutely codependent as well. and we feel a little bit bad about it. Like, this can't be healthy, right?

I mean, it just can't be. Like, when we deserve a part for like an hour, we're like, I miss you, I miss you. And you know what's even better is it gets more like that. Like, the more you fall in love, the longer you're together. I mean, if it's the real deal, for us, it just has gotten more. Like, I fall more in love with him. And I, you know, I don't know.

It just gets better with time for us. When did you know? you just said when it's the real deal when did you know like you can hope you can want it to be when did you know how many months years into your relationship did you say we ain't ever going to break up four days four days why did you all both know it was four days okay we'll tell you we like we said we had known each other for 10 years we've been really good friends his his girlfriends were coming to stay at my house i was helping him deal with some of his issues he was helping me with mine and um i after my late fiancee passed away jeff he was calling me all the time to check on me

and just see how he's doing because his son had suffered from cancer and so he knew kind of just all of those emotions around it and so he was checking on me all the time and about i think it was eight or nine months later i was going into a business meeting and as i was going into this it was with some men and i just felt still very vulnerable and i was like you know what i'm going to call my friend and say, can you be there as a male presence to help me in this meeting in case I can't articulate what I want to do or whatever. And so he said, of course. So he drives down to the OC and he comes to this business meeting and he walks in through the door and I was like, huh. I was like, I don't remember him ever being this cute. Like it's all about timing in life, right? And he walked

through and it's like, I saw him through this different lens. And I just was like, wow. Like I just don't ever remember feeling like this googly about him and we instantly both had that like it was just there and um and i don't know if it's because over these you know eight months we've been talking and he'd be called me and be like i feel like i have to date five girls to meet the one that i want or get the one that i want all this and so then we're smiling i know i know and so then as we were driving so four days later he had to go to Vegas to meet his dad and as we were driving to he asked me to go with him. And as we're driving to Vegas, we talked the entire way out there with no radio on nothing. And then we had the best time in Vegas. And then on the way home, we, we drove

all the way home four hours with no radio, nothing. And both him and I, a month later, when he finally said he loved me, we both said to each other that on that drive home, we both felt like in that we wanted to say it. Like, I'm in love with you. I know it in my soul. But we both were like that is too soon it's kind of weird it's a little too soon like but we both just knew on that drive that we were going to be together and I knew he was going to be the father of my children like something in my soul just knew it it was wild you guys this is really cool look we're going to have to leave it there we really hope we get a chance to spend some more time with you all we're around a lot of couples and we interview a lot of couples and all this

but we we really believe we don't think you all are faking it and we're looking at you all and talking to you, and even hearing some of the stories are familiar to us. And you all just seem to have a good thing going. So congratulations on the 16 years and continuing on. And good luck with the show. Thank you. We'll look you up the next time we're on the East Coast. Yes, for sure.

And we wish you guys luck with everything in your relationship, too. I know you guys have been through a lot. Yes, my wife and I appreciate that as well. All right, guys. Thank you all so much. We want to remind our listeners here. If you are navigating a new relationship after loss or divorce and needs some advice, you can call us or email us. All the info is in the show notes.

Yes, follow us on social. Make sure to rate and review the podcast. I do part two and IHeart radio podcast where falling in love is the main objective and it's so nice to talk to people who are staying in love. and now I'm seriously suspicious. Wait a minute, Sam. Maybe her boyfriend's just looking for extra credit. Well, Dakota, luckily, it's back to school week on the OK Storytime podcast, so we'll find out soon. This person writes, my boyfriend's been hanging out with his young professor a lot.

He doesn't think it's a problem, but I don't trust her. Now he's insisting we get to know each other, but I just want her gone. Hold up. Isn't that against school policy? That seems inappropriate. Maybe find out how it ends by listening to the OK Storytime podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever. you get your podcast. Hello, it's

Daniel Fischel. Writer Strong. And Wilfredel from PodMeets World. We are back in Las Vegas and giving the people what they want. A full week of Y2K content. Tell me why. Well, for the Backstreet Boys' residency at Sphere, of course.

We joke and say this is our second marriage, but it takes a lot of communication. Plus, it's carrot top, baby. And finally, Ashley Simpson Ross joins us to talk about her upcoming sold out Vegas residency. Listen to PodMeets World on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Then Emergency Intercom is the podcast for you. Open your free IHeartRadio app. Search Emergency Intercom and listen now. The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy cheesement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex.

No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season. Oh. Well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special Bestie and you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. Get in here.

Listen to the Super Secret Festi Club on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast. Grasias, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities.

You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't auditioned in like over 25 years. Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We'll talk about all that's viral and trending with a little bit of chisement and a whole lot of laughs.

And of course, the great vivras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dacias Come Again on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast.